Hong Kong: $65m set for disaster relief

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today approved nine disaster relief applications under the Disaster Relief Fund for grants totalling about $65 million to provide relief in the disaster-stricken Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and Northeast China.

The severe rainstorms and floods in these areas have resulted in serious causalities and property losses, thereby calling for urgent disaster relief work.

The Hong Kong SAR Government expressed deep sympathy to the Mainland compatriots affected and has maintained close contact with various rescue organisations.

It has promptly processed the disaster relief funding applications from nine organisations and informed them of the in-principle approval for the grants to offer help in terms of relief items.

The Hong Kong SAR Government said it will maintain close liaison with these organisations to monitor the implementation progress of their relief projects, so as to help the people affected resume a normal life as soon as possible.

The organisations are required to submit evaluation reports and audited accounts on the use of the grants to the Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee after completing the relief projects.

The Hong Kong SAR Government made it clear that such grants demonstrate the close relationship between Hong Kong and Mainland people and the spirit of mutual help.

It hopes the grants will provide appropriate assistance for those affected and help the disaster-stricken areas overcome difficulties and proceed with post-disaster reconstruction.

"The Hong Kong SAR Government, together with the Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee, will continue to closely monitor the disaster situation and related rescue work, and later process any applications from other organisations to help the people affected by the disaster in a timely manner, it stressed.

This story has been published on: 2023-08-14. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Fighter jet takes off at sunset

China Military Online) 09:20, August 14, 2023

A fighter jet attached to an aviation brigade of the air force under the PLA Western Theater Command takes off for a round-the-clock flight training exercise in early August, 2023. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Yu Zeqi)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
Photo: The Associated Press

Russia launched three waves of nighttime air attacks against the southern Ukraine port city of Odesa, officials said Monday, though the Ukrainian air force said it intercepted all 15 incoming Shahed drones and eight Kalibr missiles.

Falling debris from the interceptions damaged the dormitory of an educational facility in the city, a residential building and a supermarket, Odesa Gov. Oleh Kiper said.

Two employees of the supermarket were hospitalized, Kiper said. Video showed a huge blaze at the supermarket during the night and, the next day, the large buildings charred and mangled wreckage.

Meanwhile, the Dutch Defense Ministry said it scrambled two F-16s early Monday when two Russian bombers were tracked flying toward Dutch airspace.

This doesnt happen often, but todays incident demonstrates the importance of rapid deployment," the ministry said. "The F-16s are on standby 24 hours a day and can take off within minutes and intercept an unidentified aircraft.

The two planes were identified by Danish F-16s in international airspace over the Baltic Sea but did not enter Danish airspace, the Danish Air Force said.

In March, British and German fighter jets were scrambled to intercept a Russian aircraft flying close to Estonian airspace, officials said, amid mounting concerns about aerial standoffs near Russia and Ukraine.

A day earlier, the U.S. said a Russian fighter jet struck a U.S. surveillance drone over the Black Sea. Russia insisted its warplanes didnt hit the MQ-9 Reaper drone, arguing the drone maneuvered sharply and crashed into the water.

The Kremlin's forces have pummeled Odesa in recent times, aiming at facilities that transport Ukraines crucial grain exports and also wrecking cherished Ukrainian historical sites.

The stepped-up barrage followed Moscow's decision to break off a landmark agreement that had allowed grain to flow from Ukraine to countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia and help reduce the threat of hunger.

Following that withdrawal, Russia carried out repeated strikes on Ukrainian ports, including Odesa, and declared wide areas of the Black Sea unsafe for shipping.

On Sunday, a Russian warship fired warning shots at a cargo ship in the southwestern Black Sea.

Russias Defense Ministry said the ship was heading north to the Ukrainian Danube River port of Izmail. Russian forces fired shots from automatic small arms to force it to stop, the ministry said on Telegram.

Ukraines presidential office reported Monday that at least eight civilians were killed and 23 others were wounded in Ukraine over the previous 24 hours.
A Summit County jury had been chosen and was about to be brought into the courtroom for Jaunte Smiths trial Monday for his role in an Akron gunfight that killed a pregnant woman.

Assistant Summit County Prosecutor Jonathan Baumoel, left, listens as attorney Kerry O'Brien addresses the court Monday as Jaunte Smith, his client, prepares to plead for his part in an Akron gun fight that left a pregnant woman dead. Smith was scheduled to go on trial Monday but accepted a plea deal instead.

Smith, though, decided at the last minute to accept a plea deal.

Smith, whose most serious charge was felonious assault, pleaded guilty in Summit County Common Pleas Court to aggravated assault with a gun specification and a weapons charge.

Jaunte Smith, 19, waits before entering a plea Monday for his part in an Akron gunfight that fatally injured Teyaurra Harris, 21, who was pregnant.

Judge Alison McCarty will sentence Smith, 19, of Akron, on Sept. 1. The attorneys agreed on a two-and-a-half year prison sentence, with Smith able to apply for an early prison release.

Assistant Summit Prosecutor Jonathan Baumoel said family members of Teyaurra Harris, 21, who was killed in the gunfight, were in agreement with the plea deal.

Smith is the fifth of six males to plead guilty in the incident, with a sixth man set for trial in early December.

More: 'Be that change,' mother of woman killed in crossfire urges man convicted in shooting

Two women were shot in gunfight, with one surviving

The shooting happened about 7:30 p.m. April 14, 2022. Police said at least 30 bullets from three guns were fired after an individual got out of a car on Rockaway Street in Akrons Kenmore neighborhood and began shooting at a group of people in front of a house down the road.

Akron police released this image taken in the 1400 block of Rockaway Street. Police said the person in black got out of the older Chevy Impala in the photo, and started firing shots at a group of people in front of a home down the road on April 14, 2022.

Police said two males in the group shot back.

Harris was in a vehicle driving by at the time and was struck in the back of the head by a stray bullet that went through the back window of the car, police said. She died four days later.

The driver of the car was uninjured, but a 19-year-old woman who was in the area was also shot and had non-life-threatening injuries.

Smith pleads guilty to two charges and has other charges dismissed

Smith was originally charged with murder, but prosecutors modified his charges prior to his trial that was set for Monday.

Smith pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, a fourth-degree felony, with a one-year gun specification, and discharging a firearm at or near a prohibited premises, a third-degree felony also with a one-year gun specification.

Baumoel said the two charges will merge for purposes of sentencing. He said Smiths other charges will be dismissed.

Smith identifies one other shooter and says he doesnt recall who else was involved

Baumoel requested that, as part of the plea deal, Smith be asked to identify anyone else he knew of who was involved in the shooting.

Kerry OBrien, Smiths attorney, said his client has said from the beginning that the shooting happened very fast and he wasnt sure who else was involved.

Jaunte Smith is sworn in Monday before testifying about what he remembered about who was involved in an Akron gun fight that left a pregnant woman dead. Smith was required to share his recollection as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors.

McCarty placed Smith under oath and asked him who else he saw fire shots.

Smith said the only person he saw shoot was Jaeviaire Small, who previously pleaded guilty. He said he didnt recall anyone else.

I wasnt paying attention to everyone, he said. My first instinct was to defend myself.

Judge says she will consider an early release for Smith

McCarty said she will consider giving Smith an early prison release after he serves his required one-year sentence for the gun specification.

Summit County Common Pleas Judge Alison McCarty addresses Jaunte Smith during his plea for his part in an Akron gunfight that left a pregnant woman dead. Smith was about to go on trial Monday afternoon when he decided to take a plea deal instead.

The judge pointed to his lack of a prior record and the fact that he didnt shoot anyone and wasnt the one who shot Harris. She said this will depend, though, on how he behaves while in prison.

Its kind of up to you, really, she said. Do you understand?

Yes, maam, he said.

Summit County Common Pleas Judge Alison McCarty addresses Jaunte Smith Monday during as he pled guilty to aggravated assault for his part in an Akron gun fight that left a pregnant woman dead.

Smith asked McCarty if prison would be kind of like school.

McCarty told him that he could try to get his GED or diploma and enroll in other programs.

I just want to make good use of my time, Smith said.

Smith will remain on bond with pre-trial supervision and GPS monitoring until his sentencing. McCarty said she may allow him more leeway with the GPS monitoring because he has been complying with his bond conditions.

Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com, 330-996-3705 and on Twitter: @swarsmithabj.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Jaunte Smith pleads guilty just before his trial for fatal gunfight
A century-old mansion in Miami Beach that was gangster Al Capones final residence has been demolished, despite the efforts of local preservationists to save it.

The home at 93 Palm Avenue was torn down last week, eliminating hope for those who had pushed for it to be saved ever since demolition plans were announced in 2021.

Nearly 26,000 people had signed an online petition to preserve it.

What we believe is that we need to remember all the different parts of our history, whether they are good or bad, said Daniel Ciraldo, executive director of the Miami Design Preservation League. This is now a cautionary tale of what happens when we dont have the right protections and incentives in place.

Debris is removed from Al Capones former mansion on Palm Island in Miami Beach on Monday, Aug. 14, 2023.

The Chicago crime boss bought the 30,000-square-foot Miami Beach property for $40,000 in 1928, six years after it was built. He returned frequently and hosted lavish parties there during the Prohibition era. After spending most of the 1930s in federal prison, he returned to the home for his final years. He died there in 1947.

The property, whose ownership has changed hands several times since Capones wife sold it in 1952, consisted of a main house, a guest house and a pool house. It was one of the first homes built on man-made Palm Island, now an enclave for wealthy residents.

The main and guest houses were demolished last week, Ciraldo said. The demolition was first reported by WPLG.

Al Capones former Miami Beach mansion was located at 93 Palm Ave. on Palm Island.

The mansions fate became almost certain late last year, when the property owner, the Claramonte family living next door, requested a demolition permit from the city of Miami Beach. The city issued the permit July 20.

Prospects to save the home have been bleak since the state Legislature modified its property laws last summer to prohibit local authorities from stopping demolitions of low-lying houses in designated flood zones.

Previously, owners of single-family homes built prior to 1942 needed to go through a tedious approval process that included meeting with the citys Design Review Board for approval of any new construction set to replace an existing structure.

The demolition continues as debris is removed from Al Capones former mansion despite the efforts of preservationists on Palm Island in Miami Beach, Florida on Monday, August 14, 2023.

The new state law prompted the Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board to cancel a long-awaited hearing last July to decide whether the house deserved historic designation. The City Commission would have had the final say.

It was determined by the city attorney that the Historic Preservation Board did not have the authority to consider the application without the consent of the property owner, city spokesperson Melissa Berthier said.

Some city commissioners questioned the propertys historic value. At a March 2022 meeting, Commissioner David Richardson said he was troubled by the notion that we would somehow celebrate a notorious mobster once dubbed Public Enemy No. 1.

Locals werent thrilled to have Capone in town at the time. In 1930, with the public up in arms, Dade Public Safety Director S.D. McCreary ordered police to arrest Capone on sight whenever he left the Palm Island home.

Now, with most of the site relegated to a pile of rubble, its not clear whats next.

Albert and Karise Claramonte, who acquired the property in 2021 for $15.5 million and placed it in a trust, could not be reached for comment. Toni Alam, the familys trust representative, also could not be reached.

The property is listed for sale on real estate website Trulia for $31 million  with no mention of the infamous mob boss who once lived there. Instead, the listing boasts of the chance to build your dream waterfront mansion.

Dont miss out on the incredible opportunity at 93 Palm Ave, it says, the ultimate waterfront paradise on Miami Beach!

Famed mobster Al Capone is shown in a family photo provided by Deidre Marie Capone, Capones grand-niece. Deidre Marie Capone owns copyright; not for resale.
Alabama Republicans were ordered by a federal court to redraw their congressional maps to ensure that there were two majority-Black districts.

They didnt. Instead, this week, theyre going back to the same federal court after the Supreme Court weighed in, this time to argue that their attempts at coming up with a new map are good enough.

Hearings over the new map kicked off in federal court in Alabama on Monday, and the state is once again arguing that it is not illegally diluting the power of Black voters. This weeks hearing will be crucial to determining if the fight wraps up quickly  or stretches on for potentially years to come.

It's not an academic exercise. The courts decision could have significant ramifications nationally; Democrats could pick up an additional seat in Congress where they are a handful of seats shy of a majority, and the fight could ultimately make its way back to the Supreme Court. A second majority-Black district in the state would likely lead to a second Democratic representative as well. The states congressional delegation is currently 6-1 Republican.

The new maps that were approved by GOP lawmakers last month maintained the one historically Black district the state has had and drew a second that has a Black voting age population just under 40 percent. The redraw came after the panel of three lower court judges wrote in an early 2022 decision that any new map looking to fix the likely Voting Rights Act violation ought to have two districts with a Black voting-age majority or something quite close to it. The Supreme Court affirmed the lower courts findings of a likely violation earlier this year.

During Monday's hearing, all three of the judges on the panel questioned if Alabama was ignoring the court. Federal District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, pointedly asked if Alabama had chosen to "deliberately disregard" their instructions when drawing the new map, the Associated Press reported.

After the legislature redrew a map that fell short of its second majority Black district, attorneys for the plaintiffs argued to the court that the legislature confuse[s] the issues and ignore[s] precedent.

The group of plaintiffs argued that the new districts plainly do not meet the courts standards, and that Alabama Republicans were engaging in political gamesmanship by ignoring the court and drawing lines that would still only present Black voters the opportunity to elect the candidate of their choosing in one district.

Republicans in the state have been proud of their apparent defiance of the court. The Legislature knows our state, our people and our districts better than the federal courts or activist groups, GOP Gov. Kay Ivey said in a statement when signing the new maps into law.

Republicans argue that the new map they redrew effectively resets the clock for litigation. The defendants acknowledge in a brief that the court opined that there should be two majority-Black voting districts, or close to that. But, they argue, that act of the legislature redrawing the map effectively starts the process of challenging the lines over  especially because the legislature prioritized keeping specific communities of interest together in 2023, which they say was a change from the 2021 map the court previously stuck down.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs reject that assertion, arguing that by allowing the state to name new redistricting principles as they redraw would amount to giving the state infinite bites at the apple.

Alabama would be permitted to simply designate new significant communities of interest and anoint them post hoc, point to them as evidence of newfound compliance, and relitigate the merits again and again  all while refusing to remedy persistent vote dilution, they write. That approach would let Alabama run out the clock and render courts powerless.

The three-judge panel that ordered the state to redraw the maps in the first place seems unlikely to buy this argument from Republicans. In addition to the questioning in the court on Monday, in an earlier order, the judges wrote that the court is not at square one and would not relitigate the likely violation of the Voting Rights Act.

The National Republican Redistricting Trust, the main redistricting arm of the GOP, argued in a briefing to the three-judge panel that the Supreme Courts opinion has been publicly misconstrued, arguing that while the Supreme Court affirmed the finding that the old maps likely violated the Voting Rights Act, it did not order a remedy that would require the drawing of two majority-minority districts.

The Voting Rights Act does not require proportionality, much less super-proportionality  which is exactly what two majority-minority districts here would entail, a brief from the NRRT reads. Any suggestion that the State is defying the Supreme Courts opinion in Allen by passing a law that follows traditional districting principles rather than racial proportionality makes no sense.

The judges on Monday did not indicate when they would rule. But the federal court rehearing the case has taken steps to prepare for someone other than the legislature to redraw the lines. The court appointed special master Richard Allen, an Alabama attorney, and cartographer David Ely, a California-based redistricting consultant, to redraw the lines should the court strike down the new map.

The fight has attracted national attention, with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy previously telling POLITICO that he had been in contact with state lawmakers as the redraw process was going on. It is also the first of a handful of redistricting cases in the South that could create new Democratic-leaning seats across the region.

This doesnt just affect us, this case is precedent setting, Alabama RNC member Paul Reynolds said at a recent party meeting, according to the Alabama Daily News. Louisiana is right behind us, theyre facing the same problem we are. Theyre next in line, and what is decided in our case is going to hit Louisiana right between the eyes.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson is renewing his push for judicial reform, following a recent state Supreme Court decision that found that a group of legislators broke the law in the way they handled a judicial candidate.

Wilson, who for years has advocated for changes in the way judges are selected in South Carolina, hosted a panel discussion Monday concerning why the state needs judicial reform, joined by South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Drew McKissick and Palmetto Family Executive Director Mitch Prosser.

It was Wilsons second panel discussion this summer and comes after the S.C. Supreme Court ruled against a decision by the Richland County Legislative Delegation to not forward a candidates name to the governor, even though the candidate was the only person deemed qualified by the Judicial Merit Selection Commission.

The commission is a 10-member statutorily created body charged with considering candidates qualifications.

In South Carolina, candidates for judicial office must first apply to the Judicial Merit Selection Commission. Following a review of a candidates background, the commission then forwards a report to the General Assembly, detailing whether the candidate is fit to serve. Legislators then decide which candidate theyll recommend to Gov. Henry McMaster for appointment.

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson discussing the need for judicial reform with GOP state party chair, Drew McKissick, and Palmetto Family executive director, Mitch Prosser on Monday, August 14, 2023.

In South Carolina, we have a system of government that is not equal in its balance of power, Wilson said. One of the things I would like to do is bring balance back to our three branches of government so that each branch has an equal and distinct check on the other branches of government.

On Monday, Wilson repeated calls for reforms to the judicial process, including:

Removing the three-candidate cap on judges that can be voted on my lawmakers,

Having the governor appoint members to the Judicial Merit Selection Commission,

And removing some legislators from the commission.

Specifically, Wilson said hes focused on reforming the Judicial Merit Selection Commission.

Currently, of the 10 members, six are sitting legislators. And all commissioners, including the four non-legislators, are appointed by the legislative leadership.

Wilson said the commissions unbalanced makeup places members of the executive branch at a disadvantage.

We spend nearly all of our time in the enforcement of the laws passed by the legislative branch, appearing before the judicial branch, Wilson said. Yet the executive branch of government has absolutely no say whatsoever, or no check ... on the people who are interpreting laws weve been charged with enforcing.

Rather than the Judicial Merit Selection Commission being made up entirely of legislative appointees, Wilson says he wants to strip the Legislature down and put (members of) the executive branch on the JMSC, which he says would create more impartiality and accountability in the judicial selection process.

Lawmakers in the past have generally been resistant to judicial reform, unwilling to give up a power theyve enjoyed for decades. But Wilson said hes spoken to many members of the General Assembly and that theres a lot of openness to reform, although he didnt mention any specific names.

Pointing to the fact that this year ushers an election for both the state Senate and House, Wilson encouraged the public to leverage their voting power this fall to influence lawmakers to support reforming the Judicial Merit Selection Commission.

South Carolina is one of only two states, including Virginia, that elect judges via the General Assembly.

Wilson and McKissick emphasized that while South Carolinas judicial selection method isnt perfect, its not as bad as it could be. And the road to improvement could take many different directions.

Theres a lot of ways to get from A to B, McKissick said. The main thing we need to agree with is that we need accountability, restructuring and a better public perception in terms of how the judicial branch is handled.
Americans alcohol use is holding steady at 62 percent, according to data from Gallups latest Consumption Habits poll.

Gallup found most Americans reported they had occasion to use alcoholic beverages such as liquor, wine or beer, which matches up with Gallups findings over more than eight decades since the company began tracking this measure. This is lower than the peak reading of 71 percent, which was reported between 1976 and 1978.

Thirty-eight percent of participants said they abstain completely, with 24 percent of nondrinkers stating they do not have a desire to or do not want to drink. The poll found between 10 percent to 16 percent of nondrinkers cited various reasons behind their choice, including not liking alcohol, believing it is unhealthy, a fear of the consequences, a bad experience in the past with alcohol, religious beliefs or health-related reasons.

As for those who do drink, 69 percent said they drank within the past week, with 32 percent saying they did so in the past 24 hours and 37 percent saying they did in the past two to seven days.

The poll found drinking is more prevalent in middle-aged adults, college-educated adults, those with higher incomes and those who attend church less than once a week when compared to their counterpart groups.

Around 1 in 5 U.S. adults who drink, or 19 percent, said they sometimes overindulge, or drink more than they should, the poll found. This is around the same percentage as the past three years, but lower than the trend average of 23 percent since 1978, Gallup said.

Men are more likely than women to report overindulging, with 21 percent of men saying they have, compared to 16 percent of women, the poll showed. Additional data showed adults younger than 35 and those between 35 and 54 years old are more likely than those 55 and older to report drinking in excess. Those with household incomes of at least $100,000 are more than twice as likely to report overindulging compared to those with incomes less than $40,000.

Combining the 19 percent of those who said they overindulge with the 13 percent of nondrinkers who cited past problems with alcohol, Gallup said the results indicate a population rate of around 16 percent of adults in the U.S. who may currently or previously have dealt with alcohol abuse.

Polling also looked at drinkers beverage of choice and found beer is significantly more popular than liquor and wine in all but five readings, with 37 percent of drinkers saying they consume beer most frequently, compared to 31 percent who favor liquor and 29 percent who choose wine.

The data comes from Gallups July 3-27 Consumption Habits, which was conducted through telephone interviews with a random sample of 1,015 adults aged 18 or older living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 4 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Allegheny County and Plum Borough officials are explaining what the community can expect following a Plum Borough house explosion that killed six people.

PHOTOS: House leveled in explosion in Plum Borough; several other homes damaged

According to officials, the explosion happened around 10:23 a.m. Saturday on Rustic Ridge Drive and Brookside Drive.

An Allegheny County spokesperson said the county Fire Marshals Office is leading the investigation into the cause and origin of the fire and explosion. The office will work with local, state and federal partners as needed. The spokesperson said the process will be involved and is expected to take quite some time, even months or years.

The spokesperson said after the explosion, the immediate neighborhood of Rustic Ridge had all utilities shut off. As of Sunday afternoon, electricity has been restored to most of the homes in the area. The PA Public Utility Commission and Peoples National Gas are working with officials to restore gas service. Peoples Gas is communicating directly with impacted residents.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE >> LATEST UPDATES: 6 people dead, including child, after massive explosion in Plum

The spokesperson encourages people to avoid the area unless they live there.

The county also is also assisting residents impacted by the explosion. Those with housing needs are being directed to Renton VFD, located at 1996 Old Mine Road. There is also a helpline set up with the countys Human Services. Those who need help can call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE >> Father, son among five killed in Plum Borough house explosion

The county expects identifying people killed in the explosion to take some time. The spokesperson said the Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner will need to use dental records, and potentially DNA, to complete formal identifications.

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ALLIANCE  A 33-year-old driver is accused of leading police on a 25-minute chase that stretched to Canton and back to Alliance at speeds exceeding 100 mph.

The pursuit ended Sunday evening when the vehicle crashed into railroad tracks at East Keystone Street, according to Alliance police Sgt. Michael Yarian.

"Luckily, there didn't seem to be any traffic" during the incident, Yarian said.

More: Woman accused of police chase in stolen vehicle from Massillon to Canton Township

The suspect, a resident of northwest Canton, is charged with intimidating a victim, failure to comply withan order or signal of police officer, menacing by stalking, carrying concealed weapons, improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, domestic violence and aggravated menacing. Five charges are felonies and two are midemeanors. They cover conduct between July 22 and Sunday. The defendant's first court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday.

Alliance police gave this account:

At approximately 10:19 p.m., the suspect threatened to kill his wife with a handgun he loaded in front of her in the 800 block of Wade Avenue.

At about 10:36 p.m., the defendant was at East State Street and Mahoning Avenue when he fled from officers after threatening to point his firearm at police to force them to kill him.

He then drove east in a silver Chevrolet Equinox on State and west on U.S. Route 62, south on state Route 44, west on Main Street (state Route 153) in Louisville, north on Harrisburg Road in Canton and east on Route 62. While approaching state Route 225 on Route 62, the suspect made a U-turn and headed west Route 62.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol put spikes on Route 62 at State Street.

The fleeing motorist left Route 62 at Beeson Street, and traveled east before turning north on Mechanic Avenue and north on North Park Avenue before turning east on Keystone and hitting the tracks. He was arrested at the crash site.

The defendant had a loaded gun at hand during the pursuit. He pointed it at his head when he turned around on Route 62 near Route 225 exit.

Trains had to be stopped after the suspect crashed into the track.

Speeds reached during the chase were listed in one Alliance police record as 105 mph.

The suspect was taken to Aultman Alliance Community Hospital to be treated for injuries caused by the crash. He was then taken to the Stark County Jail.

Reach Nancy at 330-580-8382 or nancy.molnar@cantonrep.com.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canton man, 33, crashes SUV into tracks while fleeing Alliance police
STUTTGART, Germany  Ukraines allies in Europe are sending Ukraine new unmanned aerial systems and counter-drone equipment, as the war instigated by Russia enters its 18th month.

German weapons maker Rheinmetall is preparing to send its LUNA NG (next-generation) unmanned reconnaissance drone to Kyiv, the company announced Aug. 14. The system should be delivered by the end of the year, according to a spokesperson.

The LUNA NG is part of a sizable military aid package for Ukraine initiated by the German government in July. The Bundeswehr calls the system Husar. Per Rheinmetall, it includes a ground control station and several UAVs, as well as a launch catapult, an optional net equipment for catching the drones when they land, and equipment for rapid repair. The system is mounted on a Rheinmetall HX truck with a swap body system.

The company asserts the drone can remain aloft for over twelve hours and maintain a datalink range of up to 100 kilometers normally, and up to 300 kilometers when fitted with optional satellite communication equipment.

The Bundeswehr has operated LUNA UAV systems since the early 2000s. Those were originally developed by German manufacturer EMT Penzberg, which was acquired by Rheinmetall in 2021.

The German Ministry of Defence did not respond to questions regarding the total number of LUNA NG units procured for the Bundeswehr, nor the number of units going to Ukraine. Rheinmetall described the order value as a low, double-digit million euro amount.

Berlin has already delivered a number of reconnaissance drones to Ukraine, including 88 Vector drones from Quantum Systems, 20 RQ-35 Heidrun systems from Danish company Sky-Watch, and 32 unspecified reconnaissance drones, as of August 9.

Meanwhile, Ukraine will also soon receive a series of CORTEX Typhon counter-UAS systems made by Norways Kongsberg, after the company signed an agreement via the International Fund for Ukraine.

The delivery consists of several CORTEX Typhon systems, developed to counter a wide spectrum of UAVs with solutions to either physically harm or otherwise disable the aerial threat, Kongsberg said in an Aug. 14 press release.

The International Fund for Ukraine (IFU) is a funding mechanism run by the United Kingdom on behalf of several international partners  including the UK, Norway, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland, and Lithuania  who together have contributed over 770 million ($977 million) to the fund to date. It was established for those partners to identify and procure critical capabilities and deliver them quickly to Ukraine.

The Kongsberg contract value is 56 million ($72 million), per the company. As part of the delivery, the Norwegian government has donated Dingo 2 armored vehicle personnel carriers, Kongsberg remote weapon systems, and additional weapons. The date of delivery, nor the number of units, was not given.
Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg wave to the fans at the Belgian Grand Prix. Credit: Alamy

Respected F1 correspondent Lawrence Barretto thinks Haas will not be tempted to make any changes to their driver line-up for the F1 2024 season.

Experienced duo Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg are both out of contract at the end of the F1 2023 campaign, but Haas will have the option to trigger one-year extensions for the two drivers.

And, according to Barretto, that is an extremely likely scenario expected to play out as teams get their driver pieces in place for the F1 2024 grid.

Unchanged Haas driver line-up almost certain

Having had their hands burned trialling an inexperienced line-up that brought funding, Haas have flipped back to experience, Barretto said in his latest driver market column for the official F1 website.

Its paying dividends with the American team in the fight to finish seventh in what would be their best finish since 2018. Its almost certain they will name an unchanged line-up for 2024.

Barretto also disclosed that talks are ongoing and believed to be very positive between Kevin Magnussen and the team, while Nico Hulkenberg is close to agreeing a new contract after impressing during his first full F1 season back since 2019.

Team owner Gene Haas was present at both recent races in Hungary and Spa, with the futures of their current two drivers no doubt near the top of the agenda.

Recommended reading

The seven drivers out of contract at the end of the F1 2023 season

Which team has the most experienced driver line-up in F1 2023?

Are Haas making the right decision if they retain their current line-up?

On reflection, the answer is yesjust about. Nico Hulkenberg has been excellent since joining Haas and gave the team even more confirmation that the old double rookie line-up of Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin was simply the wrong way to go ahead of the F1 2021 season.

The question mark over Kevin Magnussen, however, will have grown a little larger with each passing race  but he is still doing just enough to warrant keeping his spot on the grid for at least another year.

Whilst Hulkenberg is making light work of Magnussen in this years head-t0-head qualifying battle, the race day duel is a lot closer. This race day factor, along with Magnussens strong connection with a team he knows very well, will be doing a lot of heavy lifting to ensure his seat in Formula 1 is secure.

Read next: Nico Hulkenberg advised to leave Haas for any other F1 cockpit

The article The almost certain Haas driver line-up for F1 2024 after getting hands burned appeared first on Planetf1.com.
An American Airlines flight dropped 18,600 in minutes after a pressurization problem.

Passenger Harrison Hove said there was a burning smell on the plane and oxygen masks dropped.

The airline told WBTV that the plane didn't need to declare an emergency on landing.

A passenger on an American Airlines flight has described his terror after he heard a loud bang and the plane dropped thousands of feet in minutes.

American Airlines Flight 5916 was flying from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Gainesville, Florida, on Thursday, August 10, when it rapidly descended.

Data from FlightAware, a flight-tracking website, showed that the plane dropped 18,000 feet in six minutes at around 43 minutes into the flight.

"I've flown a lot. This was scary. Kudos to our amazing flight crew- cabin staff and pilots on @AmericanAir 5916," tweeted Harrison Hove, a Florida academic.

He tweeted pictures of himself and other passengers wearing oxygen masks after the cabin apparently depressurized.

"The photos cannot capture the burning smell, loud bang or ear pops. Good to be on the ground," he said.

In an interview with WBTV, Hove described how a burning smell had started to spread on board.

"We started to descend really fast, and once we were breathing, you started to smell this burning smell, so that's when I got really nervous," Hove told the outlet.

"The initial moments were really scary, really freaky because your mind wanders and you have a void of information," Hove said.

In a statement to the outlet, American Airlines said that no one was injured in the incident, and the plane did not need to declare an emergency on landing in Gainesville.

A spokesperson for the airline told Fox Business that the incident was caused by a possible pressurization issue.

"While inflight, the crew received an indication of a possible pressurization issue and immediately and safely descended to a lower altitude," a spokesperson told the publication.

"We apologize to our customers for any inconvenience and thank our team for their professionalism."

Read the original article on Insider
Photo: John Boivin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter A boat high and dry on the Arrow Lakes.

B.C. charges some of the lowest rates in the country to extract fresh water and doesnt monitor how much is being taken, exacerbating drought conditions, say experts critical of the provinces approach.

Amid the worst drought in provincial history  more than 80 per cent of the provinces river basins are experiencing high to extreme levels of drought  academics and First Nations leaders say urgent reforms are needed to conserve fresh water on Canadas West Coast.

Younes Alila, an expert on forest hydrology and watershed management at the University of British Columbia, says the province gauges the health of its fresh-water basins and aquifers through a network of monitoring stations, but it has no idea how much water is being drawn by commercial users such as industrial farmers, pulp mills and mines.

Apart from BC Hydro and oil and gas companies, licensees must apply for a certain amount of water but the government never verifies how much they are actually using, according to Dr. Alila and other experts.

Its a bitter reality, said Dr. Alila. Without the political will to take these hard decisions and change things around, including imposing water metering on  at the very least  the heavy users, I dont know how we could possibly solve this.

Deborah Curran, a scholar on water rights who is also the executive director of the University of Victorias Environmental Law Centre, said she has studied hundreds of B.C.s water-licensing deals and none of them have monitoring conditions.

Were operating in a 19th-century framework here in the 21st century, Dr. Curran said.

Critics argue that British Columbia should greatly increase the rates charged to companies to use groundwater. The rates have not been hiked since the province created the royalty regime in 2016. There are many classes of usage with different rates, but the maximum charged per million litres  or nearly half the water it takes to fill an Olympic swimming pool  is $2.25, which is paid by sectors such as the bottled-water industry.

By contrast, Ontario charges bottled-water companies $500 for a million litres and Quebec is set to match that next year, with that province also raising its rates for other industries that do not store their water from $2.50 to $35 to extract the same quantity.

Water pricing has a significant influence on how water gets viewed and used and how it is consumed, said Zafar Adeel, acting director of Simon Fraser Universitys School of Sustainable Energy Engineering. Discussion on water pricing tends to be highly politicized and most politicians tend to avoid getting into any conversation around pricing because there is a natural negative response from various interests.

Dr. Adeel said royalty rates should continue to take into account the razor-thin margins of small farmers, for instance, but could also be raised for those using it to irrigate more water-intensive crops or hydrate emission-heavy animals like cattle.

Earlier this year, the province announced the creation of a $100-million watershed security fund and is in the process of studying how to change the ways in which it manages and regulates the water and watersheds of B.C.

In response to the criticism, the provincial Ministry of Forests, which oversees the regulation and enforcement of these water licences, says it is actively monitoring watersheds, streams and aquifers across B.C. as it urges people and businesses to reduce their water usage. But, in a statement sent by spokesperson Nigel McInnis, the ministry declined to say how it knows whether the 46,921 licensees are using specific amounts they were approved to take during set periods.

Asked whether B.C. is studying raising its royalty rates to spur more conservation, the ministry said B.C.s current water fees are in line with other parts of Canada. The province gave commercial water users until March of last year to apply for a new class of groundwater licences, with the 7,711 applicants who met that deadline still able to draw from their wells or dugouts as their applications are processed, the ministry said.

The thousands of users that opted out of the licensing regime despite years of outreach and warnings from the ministry are now getting warning letters as part of what the ministry says is its approach of phased enforcement. The statement also said unlicensed water use has resulted in provincial cease-and-desist orders being sent to users in the Koksilah, Tsolum, Fishtrap Creek and Goat River watersheds.

The ministry did not say whether any fines had yet been handed out.

The First Nations Leadership Council acknowledged that low rates lead to more groundwater being used in its recent call last week for the province to begin sharing royalty revenue with Indigenous governments.

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs and acting spokesperson for the council, said Indigenous people are being hit particularly hard by the twin crises of drought and wildfire because many waterways are becoming too dry or too hot for fish to return to spawn.

Weve got a long ways to go until late September or early October for this to begin to diminish, Mr. Phillip said.

Raising royalty rates could help reduce the reckless use of water, he said, as well as sharing the oversight and revenue from this regime with local First Nations.
FILE - Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich stands in a glass cage in a courtroom at the Moscow City Court, in Moscow, Russia, April 18, 2023. On Monday, Aug. 14, 2023, U.S. Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy made her third visit to Gershkovich, who has been behind bars in Russia since March on charges of espionage. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

MOSCOW (AP)  U.S. Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy on Monday made her third visit to Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been behind bars in Russia since March on charges of espionage.

Tracy last visited Gershkovich in early July.

Ambassador Tracy said that Evan appears in good health and remains strong, despite his very challenging circumstances. Embassy officials will continue to provide all appropriate support to Evan and his family. And we expect Russian authorities to provide continued consular access, said State Department spokesman Vedant Patel.

Once again, we call on the Russian Federation to immediately release Evan Gershkovich, as well as fellow, wrongfully detained, US citizen, Paul Whelan, he said. Whelan was arrested in 2018 and in 2020 was sentenced to 16 years in prison for espionage.

A 31-year-old U.S. citizen, Gershkovich was arrested in the city of Yekaterinburg while on a reporting trip to Russia.

He and his employer denied the allegations, and the U.S. government declared him to be wrongfully detained. His arrest rattled journalists in Russia, where authorities have not provided any evidence to support the espionage charges.

Gershkovich is being held at Moscows Lefortovo prison, notorious for its harsh conditions.

He is the first American reporter to face espionage charges in Russia since September 1986, when Nicholas Daniloff, a Moscow correspondent for U.S. News and World Report, was arrested by the KGB. Daniloff was released 20 days later in a swap for an employee of the Soviet Unions U.N. mission who was arrested by the FBI, also on spying charges.
About two dozen campuses in the Fort Worth Independent School District started school Monday morning without air conditioning in parts of their buildings, district officials said.

Monday marked the first day of school in Fort Worth ISD. In a statement, district spokesman Cesar Padilla said about 25 campuses in the district reported HVAC issues due to extreme heat. School leaders relocated students from parts of the buildings without air conditioning to other areas that had functional HVAC systems, he said.

District officials didnt specify which campuses were affected. But a staff member at Trimble Technical High School told the Star-Telegram that air conditioning was out in five classrooms and two offices in the building Monday morning. Air conditioning was out across the campus when teachers and staff came back last week to get ready for the school year, the staff member said. School maintenance crews fixed the outage in parts of the building last week, but it remained out in other areas Monday morning, the staff member said.

Earlier this year, the districts school board approved $11 million to replace rooftop HVAC units at 22 schools.

This strategic initiative reflects our dedication to enhancing the learning experience and ensuring the comfort and safety of all, Padilla said.

Afternoon temperatures were expected to reach 100 degrees in Fort Worth, according to the National Weather Services Fort Worth office. Temperatures are expected to top out in the high 90s or low triple digits for the rest of the week.
Former US president Donald Trump, pictures at the Iowa State Fair on August 12, 2023, is facing a fourth indictment this year (CHIP SOMODEVILLA)

Prosecutors investigating Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election in the US state of Georgia were expected to begin presenting evidence to a grand jury Monday for what could be a sprawling, multi-defendant indictment.

The case would be the fourth brought against Trump this year -- it could lead to the first televised trial of a former president, a watershed moment in US history, and feature charges typically used to bring down mobsters.

Trump posted a number of messages to his Truth Social platform calling the matter "ridiculous" and urging a local election official whom he identified by name and called a "loser" not to testify to the grand jury.

"THOSE WHO RIGGED & STOLE THE ELECTION WERE THE ONES DOING THE TAMPERING, & THEY ARE THE SLIME THAT SHOULD BE PROSECUTED," Trump said, with his indictment expected before the end of Tuesday.

One incident highly likely to feature among the charges is a now infamous phone call Trump placed to Georgia officials asking them to "find" exactly the number of votes he would have needed to overturn his defeat to President Joe Biden.

Analysts are also expecting him to face charges over a scheme to send bogus certification of a supposed Trump victory in Georgia to the US Congress, as well as on false testimony given about election fraud by Trump aides.

The sweeping case could also bring in harassment of two Fulton County poll workers and the accessing of sensitive data from an elections office in a rural county south of Atlanta, one day after the 2021 Capitol riot.

A separate "special" grand jury heard from 75 witnesses last year and produced a secret report in February that, according to the foreperson, recommended numerous indictments.

Judicial analysts expect Atlanta-area prosecutor Fani Willis to wrap the allegations against Trump and several co-conspirators into one case under Georgia's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) law.

Racketeering statutes are usually used to target organized crime, but the broader Georgia law allows prosecutors to string together offenses committed by different people toward one common goal, criminal or not.

Georgia's court system is more transparent than the federal system, meaning there is no bar to the case being televised from the first preliminary hearing onwards.

The grand jury in Fulton County meets on Mondays and Tuesdays, and local court-watchers expect Willis to conclude and bring any indictments that the panel approves within two days, her normal timeline for racketeering cases.

str-ft/sst
Former US president Donald Trump, pictures at the Iowa State Fair on August 12, 2023, is facing a fourth indictment this year (CHIP SOMODEVILLA)

A grand jury investigating Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election in the US state of Georgia on Monday returned multiple indictments in what is expected to be a sprawling prosecution.

Atlanta-area prosecutor Fani Willis has led a two-year probe into the alleged conspiracy and was expected to wrap the allegations against Trump and his co-defendants into one case under Georgia's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) law.

Paperwork signed before TV news cameras showed the jury had agreed to several indictments sought by prosecutors and rejected none, although the documents were still being processed -- the individuals charged and the counts they faced was not immediately clear.

Any charges would be the fourth case brought against the 77-year-old Republican this year and could lead to the first televised trial of a former president -- a watershed moment in US history -- featuring charges typically used to bring down mobsters.

"There will be multiple co-defendants more likely than not, showing a pattern of unlawful conduct to overturn the election in Georgia: hacking, false statements, harassment, etc," Georgia State University political analyst Anthony Kreis said in a social media post.

The southern state, which President Joe Biden won by fewer than 12,000 votes in 2020, presents perhaps the most serious threat to Trump's liberty as he seeks his party's nomination to bid for reelection in 2024.

Even if he is returned to the Oval Office, he would have none of the powers in Georgia that presidents arguably enjoy in the federal system to self-pardon or have prosecutors drop cases.

- 'Ridiculous' -

Trump posted a number of messages to his Truth Social platform calling the probe "ridiculous" and urging a state official whom he identified by name and called a "loser" not to testify to the grand jury.

"THOSE WHO RIGGED & STOLE THE ELECTION WERE THE ONES DOING THE TAMPERING, & THEY ARE THE SLIME THAT SHOULD BE PROSECUTED," he said.

RICO statutes are usually used to target organized crime, and anyone who can be connected to a criminal "enterprise" can be convicted if there is a pattern of crime committed through that enterprise.

But the broader Georgia law allows prosecutors to string together charges committed by different defendants without proving the existence of a criminal organization.

One incident highly likely to feature among the charges is a now infamous phone call Trump placed to Georgia officials asking them to "find" exactly the number of votes he would have needed to overturn Biden's victory.

Analysts are also expecting individuals -- possibly including the former president -- to face charges over a scheme to send bogus certification of a supposed Trump victory in Georgia to the US Congress.

And the sweeping case could bring in harassment of two Fulton County poll workers and the accessing of sensitive data from an election office in a rural county south of Atlanta, one day after the 2021 Capitol riot.

A separate "special" grand jury heard from 75 witnesses last year and produced a secret report in February that, according to the foreperson, recommended numerous indictments.

- Transparency -

The Georgia case looks on the surface like a narrower version of the Justice Department's election interference case against Trump, which focuses on multiple states -- but it differs in other crucial aspects beyond the RICO element.

The federal case listed six co-conspirators but didn't indict them, sparking speculation that they will likely be dealt with separately, and leaving Trump as the sole defendant.

In Georgia, Willis sent target letters to former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani, who pressured local legislators at several committee hearings held after the election, and the 16 bogus electors, half of whom are said to have immunity deals.

CNN reported that Willis is expected to seek charges against more than a dozen people. These could also include former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and other aides who weren't a focus of Trump's federal indictment.

Georgia's courts are also more transparent than the federal system, meaning there is no bar to the case being televised from the first preliminary hearing onwards.

The grand jury in Fulton County meets on Mondays and Tuesdays, and local court-watchers expect Willis to conclude and bring any indictments that the panel approves within two days, her normal timeline for racketeering cases.

Trump's team issued a statement calling Willis' efforts the "latest coordinated strike by a biased prosecutor" that constituted "a grave threat to American democracy."

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The effects of climate change are undeniable, with sweltering heat waves across the United States and massive flooding destroying entire homes. However, this is not unique to the U.S., as climate change has been altering the landscapes of every continent, including the most remote one, Antarctica.

While the desolation of Antarctica's polar desert leads to it often being overlooked, the world's southernmost continent "has been one of the most rapidly warming parts of the planet" over the last 50 years, Discovering Antarctica reported. Not only is it heating up, but Antarctica's circumpolar current is "warming more rapidly than the global ocean as a whole."

Antarctica's climate change issues were recently highlighted by a new study from the journal Frontiers in Environmental Science. The study, co-authored by experts from the University of Exeter, the British Antarctic Survey, the University of Johannesburg and others, concluded that it's "virtually certain that future Antarctic extreme events will be more pronounced than those observed to date" unless steps are taken to abate climate change.

Melting sea ice

One of the biggest issues in Antarctica is undoubtedly the rapid melting of its ice. It was recently reported that sheets of Antarctic ice are melting three times as fast as they did 30 years ago. Sea ice levels hit a record-low in 2017, and "the four lowest annual minimum sea ice extents of the satellite era have occurred since, with both 2022 and 2023 setting new records," the study said.

Antarctic sea ice loss "varies regionally," the study reported, and its effects have been particularly seen in the Ross and Amundsen-Bellingshausen Seas, which "had near-record low extents with little ice remaining" by February 2023. The loss of sea ice can lead to "further absorption of solar heat due to a reduction in surface reflectivity, [and] so too may persistent Antarctic sea ice reductions lead to enhanced warming."

Threats to biodiversity

Many of the animal ecosystems in Antarctica may be affected by climate change, as extreme weather events take a toll on "terrestrial (including freshwater) ecosystems and biodiversity," the study said. This can be especially harmful because land-based marine mammals, such as penguins and seals, "provide an important transfer of nutrients onto land, which can be a major driver of terrestrial biodiversity," the study added. When these animals are threatened, it will have "direct impacts on terrestrial biota which rely on the nutrient supply."

Ocean-dwelling animals may also face similar challenges. "The life that calls this region home relies on this icy landscape for survival," said Chris Johnson of the World Wildlife Fund, noting that sea ice in Antarctica is more than just frozen water. "It is as essential as trees are to land, and without it, many species couldn't exist."

Warnings about biodiversity problems go back years. In 2012, a study from the British Ancatric Survey noted that there "may be increased risk to the biodiversity of this frozen world," especially since tourism to Antarctica continued to bring new invasive threats to the region.

Heat waves

While Antarctica is usually associated with extreme cold, the overarching issue continues to be the continent's rising temperatures. While hot weather has taken over the summer, there's "yet to be as great an appreciation of the occurrence and impact of extreme events in Antarctica," the study reported.

There's conclusive evidence that the temperature in Antarctica is rising, according to the study. The most extreme heat wave ever seen globally, the study stated, "occurred over East Antarctica in March 2022 when surface temperature anomalies of up to [101.3 degrees Fahrenheit] were observed." The highest-ever temperature on the Antarctic mainland was recorded in February 2020, when a reading of 64.9 degrees Fahrenheit was observed.

As these heat waves continue, Antarctica could be "in the process of changing from being the planet's refrigerator to the planet's radiator," The Times reported. This is largely due to melting ice hindering Antarctica's ability to reflect sunlight. When ice is replaced by dark sea water, "that reflecting ability is reduced, and the Earth absorbs that heat," Professor Martin Siegert of the University of Exeter told The Times.

Despite efforts to slow these heat waves, the environment of Antarctica will "become ever more affected" if countries continue to "explore, extract and burn fossil fuels anywhere in the world," Siegert told the Financial Times.

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(Bloomberg) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahims coalition retained half of the six states in the provincial elections, which promises policy continuity and bode well for the improving sentiment on the nations risk assets.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Anwar and his allies retained Selangor, Malaysias most industrialized state, as well as top exporter Penang, and Negeri Sembilan on the Southwest coast. The pro-Malay Perikatan Nasional bloc led by former premier Muhyiddin Yassin won most if not all of the seats in the Malay-majority states of Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.

The results came in-line with expectations, which allows Anwar additional time to consolidate his power before the next Federal elections. They also reduce the likelihood of allies immediately reassessing support for him.

The appetite for Malaysian assets had already begun to improve weeks before the polls. Global investors ramped up purchases of Malaysian stocks and bonds this quarter in their quest for carry returns amid bets that global central banks are nearing the conclusion of their tightening cycles.

Heres a selection of comments from market participants on implications from the election results:

Danny Wong, chief executive officer of Areca Capital Sdn.

It removes the overhang issue and bodes well for a more stable political situation in Malaysia, where this could be one of the catalysts for better sentiment and foreign flow.

Some investors were sitting on the sidelines and now they will be less likely to hold back their investments.

Nirgunan Tiruchelvam, an analyst at Aletheia Capital Ltd.

Anwars partys showing at the state level suggest there is a strong body of support for his coalition across the country and he can consolidate power in the run up to the federal elections.

The results are positive for the stock market, and businesses dependent on government contracts such as infrastructure and construction should do particularly well.

NOTE: Some of Malaysias biggest construction companies include Gamuda Bhd., Sunway Bhd. and its subsidiary Sunway Construction Group Bhd.

Tan Teng Boo, chief executive officer and managing director of Capital Dynamics Sdn.

There is now hope for Anwars government if it can effectively deal with some problems with UNMO.

The impact on markets will be only muted.

TA Research

Significant inroads made by Perikatan Nasional in all three states won by the unity government were beyond expectations and could be a sentiment dampener for local equities due to growing popularity of fundamentalism.

We are inclined to maintain our end-2022 FBMKLCI target of 1,515 and propagate buy-on-weakness undervalued blue chips, defensive plays in the consumer, utilities, healthcare and construction.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
WELLS, Maine  Should the town clerk be an appointed position in Wells instead of an elected one?

Voters said yes when asked during the annual town meeting in June, but there was a twist. Not enough voters reported to the polls to amend the town charter that day, so the favorable 743-657 vote did not take.

To change the town clerk position from an elected one to an appointed one, voter turnout in June needed to be at least 30% of the turnout during the last gubernatorial election, which took place back in November. That didnt happen.

As a result, since June, the position has remained an elected one, with incumbent Town Clerk Brenda Layman continuing to serve in the role.

Town Clerk Brenda Layman continues to serve in the role while advocating that the position becomes an appointed one.

The Wells Select Board is considering asking voters the same question again, hoping the second time at the polls will be the charm.

During a recent Select Board meeting, Town Manager Michael Pardue said Layman had approached him about how she is hoping to retire.

She had concerns about how that position could be filled, recognizing the complexities of the role of town clerk and the complexities of every election now taking place, Pardue said.

A town clerk has many roles at a town hall: election supervisor, record keeper, and agent for the town and state, for example. Layman and her predecessor, her sister, Jessica Keyes, have appeared before the Select Board and talked about the nuances and necessity of the position, Pardue said. Neither Layman nor Keyes said they know of anyone qualified for or interested in the position, he added.

Theyve advocated for the town to give great consideration to making the position appointed, Pardue said.

Carriage House Motel: New owner has big plans for historic property in Wells

The Select Board, he said, is once again considering the idea. The board will hold a public hearing on the proposal at its meeting on Aug. 15 and will hold four more, on Sept. 5 and 19 and Oct. 3 and 17, with the hope the issue can appear on the November ballot.

Brendas feeling is that, based on some of the topics that will be before voters in November, the turnout will be much more significant  and, therefore, the threshold can be met, Pardue said.

Pardue said if voters approve making the town clerk position an appointed one, the town would be allowed to advertise and specify the qualifications, skills and knowledge needed.

The public hearings will be held during the boards regular meetings. Meetings are held at the Wells Town Hall at 208 Sanford Road and begin at 6 p.m.

Beach advisories: What Maine beaches are doing to ensure water is safe for swimming

Select Board chair makes case for an appointed town clerk

Select Board Chair John MacLeod III said the voters approval the first time is whats prompting the town to give the proposal another day at the polls.

If it failed, I dont know if we would be having this conversation again, he said.

MacLeod also brought up what he considered a benefit to having the town clerk as an appointed position.

Part of the issue (is) the residency requirement, he said. Somebody whos running for an elected position has to be a resident of the town, so that limits the pool of availability candidates.

MacLeod also took the occasion to thank Layman for staying on as town clerk, given that unmet threshold at the last election and her own wish to retire.

Her role is crucial, so Im really glad she was able to do that for the community, he said.

More: Maine prosecutors drop charges against ex-Wells pastor accused of endangering senior

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Wells seeks to change town clerk role from elected to appointed
According to a review of recent agendas and meeting minutes, the state Board of Education has yet to be presented with any issues or suggested policy changes involving AP African American Studies.

Just two days before classes begin, Arkansas joined Florida in its decision to drop an Advanced Placement African American Studies course from their high school curriculums.

An Arkansas Department of Education representative reportedly phoned high school teachers on Friday to let them know the state will not accept the course for course credit in the 202324 academic year, Arkansas Times reported.

Teachers at several institutions  including Central High, where nine African American students took charge and were the first to desegregate the school in 1957  prepared for the course offering over the summer.

On Friday, an Arkansas Department of Education representative informed teachers at several schools, including Central High, that Advanced Placement African American Studies has been dropped from its curriculum. (Photo Credit: Adobe Stock)

Former state Senator Joyce Elliott (D-Little Rock), a former teacher, was among those who expressed concerns on social media about the last-minute state decision.

How is it possible to carry out such a promise and not even offer this course? Elliott asked, Arkansas Times reported. They have decided to delete it just days before school begins and deny every student in this state  not just African-American students  the opportunity to take the AP African-American history course. This has to change for this school year.

The state also refused to pay the $90 cost of an end-of-year exam that would have allowed students to earn college course credit. Instead, students will be responsible for covering their test costs, and the course will not count toward the states graduation requirements.

Teachers reportedly received word they could still offer the class, but the state will not recognize it on the same level as other AP courses. The decision could make African American Studies less attractive for students competing for top-class rankings, who often seek out AP classes to bump their grade point average.

In emails sent out on Saturday morning, the state informed district curriculum administrators of the courses non-recognition. The Arkansas Department of Education apparently had yet to approve the course when it was previously listed on the states list of courses.

Its unclear why the department didnt remove the course earlier, rather than 48 hours before the start of the school year when teachers had already finalized their lesson plans and many students had already picked up their class schedules.

According to a review of recent agendas and meeting minutes, the state Board of Education has yet to be presented with any issues or suggested policy changes involving AP African American Studies. On Thursday, the day before the department removed AP African American Studies from its course management system, the board had its final meeting.

College Board, which develops and oversees AP exams, currently tests AP African American Studies in select American high schools. Last year, the organization launched the course in 60 schools nationwide, including Central High and The Academies at Jonesboro High School.

College Board will expand the pilot program to hundreds of schools for the upcoming academic year, and students will take the courses first test for college credit in the spring of 2024.

For the Republican base in Arkansas, who are already outraged by the false threat of critical race theory and the pervasive transgenderism in public schools, eliminating an African American studies course is a surefire way to get their attention. As soon as she took office, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders gave her new education secretary, Jacob Oliva, instructions to examine Arkansas curricula for indications of indoctrination and critical race theory.

Oliva was previously a state-level education official in Florida, which has taken the lead in the fight against history classes that dont emphasize material about heteronormative white people. He assisted in carrying out Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis administrations attack on courses addressing multiculturalism or non-conventional sexual orientations, or gender identities.

Arkansas LEARNS, the significant school voucher and privatization measure supported by the governor, also targets multicultural education. The policy prohibits lessons that clash with the principle of equal protection under the law and indoctrinate students with ideologies, such as critical race theory.

Ruthie Walls, a Little Rock Central High teacher, previously expressed hope that issues surrounding the AP African American Studies pilot course would disappear. Walls said the course, which was already well-liked by students, did not go against Sanders directives banning critical racial theory and indoctrination and expressed disappointment that the governor singled it out for scrutiny.

During the 2023 legislative session, Sanders and other LEARNS advocates demonized public school teachers, accusing them of indoctrinating pupils without providing any concrete instances. Despite worries from both political parties about the possibly disastrous impact it may have on rural districts and communities, Arkansas supermajority Republican legislature quickly approved the LEARNS Act.

DeSantis was the first to reject AP African American Studies, claiming it violates state law and isnt historically accurate. He went on to eliminate AP Psychology because the course covers sexual orientation and gender identity.

While the Republican governor banned the subject, Democrat Phil Murphy announced that his administration is expanding AP African American Studies from one school to 26 in New Jersey, The Associated Press previously reported.

According to Arkansas Times, public education watchdog Jim Ross pointed out that AP European History is still provided for full credit and referred to the Department of Educations rejection of an African American history course as racism pure and simple.

Elliott hopes the Arkansas Department of Education will quickly declare the course fully credit-worthy. She referred to the education departments social media banner: Every Arkansan is equitably prepared, supported, and inspired to succeed in school, career, community, and life.

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The post Arkansas removes AP African American Studies course just two days to the first day of school appeared first on TheGrio.
CHICAGO  When I met Cam Brenson the other day, he was deep into the Es  Estonia, Eritrea, Egypt. We had Ethiopian for lunch. He was expecting to continue the next day with Ecuador. He had already picked through Chile, Cuba, Cameroon and Croatia, and was making plans to hit Finland, Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia and France.

I am a fan of people with unnecessary goals. Like collecting every model of vacuum cleaner, or visiting every Taco Bell in existence. Brenson, who works in marketing at a tech company in Chicago, has a more thoughtful goal: He wants to eat at least one dish from every country on Earth without leaving the greater Chicago area.

Since January, he has been posting videos of himself on TikTok eating those meals. He uses the tag @BoredinChicago, though considering the work and prickly issues he must navigate to accomplish his goal, he may be the least bored person in the city.

His videos, which are posted alphabetically by nation and only now moving into the Fs, have drawn an average of 100,000 viewers per post. What started as a personal project has become decidedly public.

When I did Canada, I went to (Lincoln Squares) Dear Margaret and, in the comments section of the videos, some people got very grumpy, he says. Dear Margaret is clearly French Canadian, but still, people came in hot and told me that it wasnt true Canadian food. Theres even a war going on right now in my comments about whether a salad I ate was Macedonian or Bulgarian. A shopska salad. Its the national dish of Bulgaria and even has the colors of the Bulgarian flag, but a lot of people from North Macedonia, which shares a border with Bulgaria, consider the shopska just as much their tradition.

He looks at me warily and tears off a piece of injera, the spongy Ethiopian bread that, depending who you talk to, is just as much a part of Eritrean and Sudanese tradition.

Consider even the seemingly uncomplicated question of how many nations exist.

The United Nations recognizes 193, plus two observer states, Palestine and Vatican City. But not every U.N. nation recognizes every other U.N. nation. Of those 193 U.N.-sanctioned countries, you wont find the countries of Taiwan and Kosovo. Greenland, which mostly controls itself, is a territory of Denmark  not unlike Puerto Ricos relationship with the United States. Scotland and Wales are a part of the United Kingdom and therefore not really independent. But dont tell that to a Scotsman. Indeed, if we decided the number of nations by flags, we would have about 250 countries.

Brenson is sticking somewhat to a U.N.-affiliated definition of country; hes going with 197, including Palestine and Taiwan.

Sovereignty is a slippery question.

But salad is a minefield.

When he began making these videos, Brenson just wanted to try Cambodian food. Or Romanian. There are bigger TikTok accounts, but if BoredinChicago were a nation, to judge by viewership and vibe, it would be Sweden, midsized, well-meaning.

Hes been tempted to have fun with the definitions. His father is British, so he has considered rocking the boat here and there and acknowledging the fluidity of cultures. For Great Britain, he has thought of eating chicken tikka masala, one of its national dishes, though its often associated with South Asia and definitely not with Yorkshire pudding.

Brensons wife, he says, isnt that thrilled with his passion project. Its become a time suck. Every Wednesday, when their corgi goes to day care, it was a chance to eat out. Now we dont argue over where we eat, he says. But she has to help him hold the camera.

At our Ethiopian spot, a server approaches with a carafe of coffee.

She pours a dark stream of Ethiopian. Brenson stops her. Im sorry, Im being annoying, he says, but would you pour again, so I can film? Sorry, Im causing chaos.

She smiles and pours again.

Brenson sips. His eyes go wide: Wow. He looks at me: Sorry for the camera and stopping, but I was introduced to an expression, The camera needs to eat first.

At the risk of journalistic heresy, I must reveal I held his camera for a single shot of Ethiopian treats. Brenson directs me to play the camera stand and record him picking around a large tray. He nibbles and looks floored, dish after dish. Which, he says, is his actual reaction. Im not a food critic and Im not very critical. I never post a negative experience, he says. I also wouldnt say I have a refined palate because of all this. I havent been anywhere I didnt love. At the worst, the places I have picked have been a 6 out of 10.

Still, compared with the billion other TikTok accounts that claim to reveal the out-of-the-way culinary secrets of Illinois, his videos can be uncommonly smart. When he cant find a restaurant dedicated to food from, say, Estonia, he eats at a festival organized by the Chicago Estonian Center of Lake County. When he finds a strictly Egyptian restaurant harder to come by than expected, he settles for a bowl of molokhia, a traditional Egyptian soup served at Salam, a Middle Eastern restaurant in Albany Park. He includes flags, maps, notes of biodiversity and the correct order of eating Danish dinners, and though he is offered a lot of free meals these days, he never accepts.

I first joined TikTok in 2019, he says, and I think I may have been the first person in Chicago to post that kind of Hey, have you been to this cool restaurant kind of content. But now a ton of people post exactly the same content. To the point where I dont actually go on TikTok, personally, just to browse. Its all the same thing. Its all: This is my day in the life of living in Chicago. I go to the gym and shoot some content, then I was invited to this cool pop-up and look at this cool bar, so shout out to this cool company for comping a meal ... Does anyone actually live those lives?

He shakes his head and takes a bite of sambusa, a samosalike fried pocket, folded up like origami.

You are supposed to disclose if you received free food on those videos and I would bet most of the time, (free meals) go undisclosed, he says. I mean, look, I can afford the $20 or so.

Brenson, who is 30 and lives in Humboldt Park, grew up in La Grange, Illinois and attended Wake Forest University in North Carolina. Because he studied abroad in China for a while, when it came time to eat Chinese in Chicago, he faced another uncomfortable question: If I am eating my way across the globe, do I eat the Chinese food (or Italian food, Japanese food or Mexican food) that is obvious and ubiquitous to most Americans, or try something interesting? For China, he went with the latter, the crepelike jianbing at Jian on Clinton Street, a typical Chinese street food he relied on as a college student.

His tastes, he says, have not evolved during the early months of this project. Instead, its forced me to do the thing I had hoped it would do  force me to expose myself to more. There is so much in Chicago people dont even try once, he says. For Chile, I had this Chilean corn pie that looked like pot pie and had eggs and the server was like, You sure you want this? and I was hyped. And it was absurdly sweet, just mind-boggling for me.

For Cambodia, I went to Khmai in Rogers Park, which is actually fine dining. Incredible. I had no idea what I would be eating and you have these shredded papaya salad, this coconut salmon curry thing wrapped in a banana leaf, sour beef soup. Wonderful stuff.

The project has expanded not only his palate, but also his mindset.

A lot of how we think about food, I think, is kind of defined by what people hate and how people hate on different cultures foods and how they feel it seems weird to them, Benson says. But there is a reason these dishes travel this far, and besides, tastes grow, tastes change. Plus, I will probably never go to Afghanistan, but doing these videos, Im sampling it.

Winter started with As  Armenia, Algeria, Austria.

Spring segued into Bs  Belgium, Bolivia, Belize.

He never could find Azerbaijani food in the Chicago area, and, in his preliminary research on national cuisines, hes come up blank on the Ivory Coast. (Yes, he is open to tips and suggestions. Send him a note through his website, BoredinChicago.com.) The best experiences  this is telling  have been when I didnt do the research I do before figuring out the next restaurant and went in blind and someone saved me, he says. I went to a Belarusian place and the menu was in Russian. What do I do? Someone helped.

When I first saw his videos and the dutifulness of how he approached his project, I assumed he was doing this partly as a modest 2023 cry for world understanding. Turns out, he was just looking for a continuing hook for new videos, something to do between his more ordinary videos about lunch specials and weekend things to do  which does not take away the ambition and thoughtfulness of the project itself.

He is not prone to on-camera gushing. He eats, he says, like a mindless zombie staring into the void. Sometimes he pumps his fist in the air after a particularly good bite, but even then its self-conscious. Intentionally or not, he provides room for you to question what authentic world cuisine even means in an online global community. He eats the ultimate Czech grandma dish (a dill soup named koprova) and makes you hungry for a Belizean restaurant on 63rd Street.

Eventually I will work my way towards Yemen and Zambia and Zimbabwe, he says, but as to where exactly Ill eat that, I dont know. Thats a question for two years or so from now.
CHICAGO  What we are going to do is go for a walk.

JeeYeun Lee, artist, activist, creator of social-justice-minded walking tours along Lake Michigan, stood in front of the Museum of Contemporary Art holding a microphone. Its cord curled over the concrete and ended at a small portable speaker at her feet. She waved a pamphlet. Everyone should have one of these, she said. If you look at the map on the cover, thats from 1902. It showed where the shoreline of Lake Michigan used to be. It used to be where Lee stood now.

She pointed east.

Everything between here to the lake is actually landfill, she said. Several of the three dozen or so people seated on the MCA stairs nodded. Yes, theyd heard this was all landfill. Thats part of the narrative Chicago likes to tell about itself: After the Great Fire of 1871, there was so much debris clogging the streets, the city, in a fit of cleverness, used its rubble to expand its lakefront.

Over time, she went on, white settlers found that extended land to be the most valuable part of the city. Streeterville, Soldier Field, Grant Park, the Field Museum  it was all built atop landfill.

More nods.

So ever since, she said, thereve been fights over who gets to control the lakefront.

Smirks now  everyone knows Chicago politics ...

Thats when Lee threw a curveball: But did they know that part of what made its growth and wealth possible was that Chicago ignored treaty claims of Native Americans who lived on its shoreline? Did they know the Pokagon Band of the Potawatomi argued any treaties it signed referred to the original Lake Michigan shoreline as the boundary of ceded land, and, as many Potawatomi still contend, Chicago had no right to land it added beyond that initial shoreline?

There were no nods now.

Indeed, in 1914, the Potawatomi sued the city over that extended shoreline, a case that made it as far as the U.S. Supreme Court, which decided the tribe had no right to land it had abandoned. A strange decision, considering the Potawatomi, like other Native tribes, were forced into treaties.

OK, Lee said brightly, to the suddenly still audience, the walk they were about to do is a work in progress. It lasts about an hour. By the end of this month, when Lee leads her final walk of the summer, the hike will take at least three hours and cover six miles, moving south out of Jackson Park to Steelworkers Park, near 87th Street. But at the MCA, she intended a brief, mournful jaunt: Were going to walk around the corner, down Chicago Avenue, there will be stairs to under the overpass at Lake Shore Drive, we come out beside the water, then return.

She nodded at her phone: The main part is the audio track.

The crowd pushed in earbuds and strapped on headphones and began to walk. The audio was an alternate story of Chicago. Not of underground speakeasies and aldermanic hubris set to the usual gallop of Sweet Home Chicago, but a story of broken treaties with Indigenous people and snippets of Indigenous songs, interviews with elders, nature sounds, readings of legislation, everything flowing in and out, overlapping peacefully, occasionally interrupted by the drifting thump-thump of music blasting from powerboats anchored in the Playpen off DuSable Lake Shore Drive.

When Lee looks at this lakefront, she explained to me later, she sees so much as a kind of byproduct of the citys original sin  taking the lakefront for itself and paying no heed to those lived there before. When we emerged from the tunnel beneath Lake Shore and stepped across bike lanes, riders slowed and screamed: What the hell? and What the (expletive)! and Bike lane, you idiots!

There was no question of who dominates the lakefront there. A couple of years ago, when Lee led a three-hour walk along Michigan Avenue that left a long, thin line of red sand behind her as she walked  2,000 pounds of red sand, spilling out of a wheelbarrow. It was a way of delineating ceded territory (everything east of Michigan Avenue) from legitimate Chicago (everything west of Michigan Avenue). The bureaucracy to do that, leave a line of sand! she recalled. It kind of reflected everything I know about who claims to control the land and what you can do with land.

Her projects, which are part history, part performance art, part activism, are intended to raise unsettling questions about who is entitled to the lakefront and what is meant by public land.

And, why do these questions rarely come up?

Shore Land, the title of the walks she has been giving this summer (as part of the Navigations series from the Roman Susan Art Foundation near Loyola University), is described by Lee as an audio walk that contemplates the lakefront as a liminal space between land and water, simultaneously a public good, a treaty violation and strategy to suppress insurgence. (She likes to note that though Daniel Burnhams Plan of Chicago is hailed as visionary, the creation of green spaces also was meant to quell growing anger over labor conditions.)

Partly, however, Shore Land also raises questions about who gets to tell the story of Native Americans. Lee, 52, was born in South Korea and her family moved here when she was 9.

A lot of Native folks I reached out to about these projects have been wary, she said. They have had experience with non-Native people wanting to extract information and time and their thinking, in a one-sided transactional way. So Ive tried my best to stick around and be as sincere as I can. The Potawatomi tribal council itself has asked her to include a note in all the materials associated with a previous project that her work has no official association with the tribe.

But shes also had support from many Potawatomi.

John Low, a former Chicagoan and an associate professor at Ohio State University who teaches Native American studies, was partly the inspiration. Lee first read about the tribes 1914 lawsuit in a book by Low. He said, She made sure I got lots of credit for Whose Lakefront (the 2019 Michigan Avenue walk), though credit is not really the point here, is it? Low, a citizen of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, remembers being upset in a Ph.D. program when he wanted to write his dissertation about Simon Pokagon, an early writer and activist, and learned two other students, neither Native, had already claimed him. I got upset, he said. I am Pokagon, but isnt the whole point of scholarship to inspire? Frankly, the more people who talk about Indigenous claims to Chicago lakefront  why not? I dont feel infringed. I want this story alive.

Madolyn Wesaw, an activist and Potawatomi citizen who lives in Michigan, was just as much a part of that first Shore Land walk as Lee, standing and speaking alongside the artist. Wesaw said at the event that Lee is doing meaningful work that doesnt center the oppressors of the story. But erasure was on her mind, and a lot of time when Indigenous people speak about this to white folks, we hear you cant blame people for the sins of their grandfathers ... People ask me: What am I supposed to do? Do you want to kick all white people out? Thats not the goal. But you can go home and learn about us, and when we speak to you about these things, you can believe us. We know what is best for our people and we know our history and it should be Indigenous people telling them  with the assistance of allies.

Lee told me that her motivation for the walks partly stems from being Korean and being raised in a nation not formally colonized (by the U.S.) but under the sphere of U.S. military imperialism. Occupation is on her mind. So I feel sympathetic about what happened and continues to happen on this continent. I see my role as someone who understands a bit about what it is like to be colonized.

Her father was a diplomat and when her family moved to Chicago, they settled in Budlong Woods; then later Winnetka, where Lee attended New Trier Township High School. She said she never learned, at New Trier or earlier in Chicago Public Schools, about Potawatomi. She studied linguistics at Stanford University, ethnic studies at the University of California Berkeley and fiber arts at the Cranbrook Academy of Art, near Detroit. While in Michigan, she began a set of 25-mile solo walks, starting in Detroit and moving outward, reflecting on changes in population, ethnicity, opportunity. After she moved back to Chicago, she started a similar project, 100 Miles in Chicagoland, a series of 20-mile walks tracing the trails once created by native people. She wore traditional Korean dress, pointedly made of denim, an American fabric with the history of slavery in cotton and indigo. Mostly, unless asked, you would not know what she was doing.

Few people have ever asked her what she was doing, she said.

But its also not activism in the traditional way, organizing people to have a direct impact. But then, a lot of things contribute to the way we can change a society. A lot of it are the stories we have in our minds about the world and why the world is the way it is and who gets to do what.

Chicago doesnt think about the fact we are occupying land of people who lived here. My project isnt, Give back land. I see it as a progression of knowledge. Art and activism  social practice art, whatever you want to call it  contributes to changing all this, even in a small way.

_____

The final Shore Land walking tour is Aug. 27 from 63rd Street Beach; more information at jeeyeunlee.com

_____
Photo: Facebook/Mary Jane Martin

Members of the Canadian Forces are being deployed to help deal with wildfires along the Alberta-Northwest Territories boundary that have forced the evacuation of the town of Hay River.

A National Defence spokeswoman says a reconnaissance team was on the ground in the community along the south shore of Great Slave Lake.

The size of the team wasn't immediately known, nor was what equipment or capabilities they were bringing with them.

Hay River was the second area community ordered to evacuate to safety Sunday evening due to encroaching wildfires, which were about 60 kilometres away at the time.

An update on Hay River's Facebook page said a fire was preventing outbound vehicle traffic and directed residents to instead go to the Hay River airport for evacuation by air.

On Sunday, 215 people were flown from Hay River to Grande Prairie, Alta., while health-care patients were transported via other flight services.

Hay River has about 3,500 people.
FREEHOLD - A fatal shooting on Atkins Avenue in Asbury Park is under active investigation, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced Monday.

Just after 11:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 9, Asbury Park Police responded to a location on Atkins Avenue between Adams Street and Boston Way for a reported shooting, Santiago said. At the scene, they found 27-year-old Derek L. Bussey, of Asbury Park, who had been shot multiple times.

Bussey was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where he was pronounced dead shortly after midnight on Thursday, according to Santiago.

As the investigation by the prosecutor's office and Asbury Park Police continues, Santiago is urging anyone with information to contact MCPO Detective Aaron Shaw at 800-533-7443 or Asbury Park Police Detective Scott Ritter at 732-774-1300.

Jenna Calderon covers breaking news and cold cases in Monmouth and Ocean counties. Before coming to the Press, she covered The Queen City for Cincinnati Magazine in Ohio. Contact her at 330-590-3903; jcalderon@gannettnj.com

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Asbury Park investigate fatal shooting on Atkins Avenue
The potential of Asheville passenger rail has taken a notable step with a historically large pot of federal funding now being considered for the estimated $665 million, 139-mile project.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation in May put forward a Salisbury to Asheville line for federal consideration as part of 12 proposed routes.

A decision by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Railroad Administration on which lines to fund could come by November. Boosting the chances is $550 billion set aside for new programs in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed by President Joe Biden in 2021.

"We already know that Amtrak has designed 2035 for restoration of service to Asheville. So, some of the things are aligned in our favor right now," Ray Rapp, a Democratic former state legislator and long-time rail proponent told the Citizen Times Aug. 11.

A train traverses the Old Fort Loops, a series of switch-back loops following a steep grade that is on existing track and is part of a proposed new passenger route.

But some remain skeptical, including Republican Congressman Chuck Edwards, who said he was unsure whether rail would make sense.

"Im open to further discussion with local NCDOT leaders regarding how this would impact our communities," Edwards said.

As of 2015, the estimate to bring passenger rail to Asheville from Salisbury by 2035 was $405 million. The $665 price tag came with the state's Western North Carolina Passenger Rail Feasibility Study whose draft was published in May and which should be finalized by September, said Liz Macam, spokesperson for NCDOT's rail division.

"If the Federal Railroad Administration selects a corridor to participate in the Corridor Identification and Development Program this means that the FRA will fund project planning and development activities for that specific corridor," Macam said. "It also means the FRA supports that corridor advancing to the implementation stages of final design and construction and finally, that corridor becoming operational and providing passenger rail service."

The proposed passenger rail route from Salisbury in the east to Asheville.

The corridor is eligible for up to 80% federal funding for Project Development activities, with the remaining 20% to be supplied from State and/or local funds.

That means backing is important from officials at multiple levels, said Rapp, the four-term state House member who is co-chairing the effort to build that support with Republican Marion Mayor Steve Little.

Answer Man: What's the latest on Amtrak expanding to Asheville?

Visiting Our Past: Trains, reservoirs and a protective patrolman figure in Oakley memories

A high priority on their call list is Edwards, Rapp said.

"We're anxious to have the congressman's support in this. We need it, for sure," he said.

Some highlights of the feasibility plan:

Passenger rail last ran to Asheville in 1975.

Estimated cost of new line is $665 million.

139 miles from Salisbury to Asheville along tracks now used by freight lines.

Includes the "Old Fort Loops," a 13-mile stretch of track that twists, winds and curls through tunnels and over bridges up the Eastern Continental Divide.

Possible stops are in Black Mountain, Old Fort, Marion, Morganton, Valdese, Hickory/Conover.

Fare is estimated at $24, but that could change since it is based on 2023 pricing assumptions.

Asheville's train station: NCDOT owns land near Biltmore Village, but a proposal has been made to stop the train in the River Arts District, which is closer to downtown but would add $5 million to the cost.

Joel Burgess has lived in WNC for more than 20 years, covering politics, government and other news. He's written award-winning stories on topics ranging from gerrymandering to police use of force. Got a tip? Contact Burgess at jburgess@citizentimes.com, 828-713-1095 or on Twitter @AVLreporter. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Proposed Asheville Amtrak train advanced by NC transportation dept.
Counsel for an East Naples man convicted for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection is asking the judge for a reduced sentence while the Department of Justice seeks more than a decade behind bars.

Christopher Worrell, 52, opted to let a judge hear the evidence rather than going before a jury.

On Thursday, attorney William Shipley, who represented Worrell during his trial, asked the court impose two-and-a-half years in home detention, citing medical complications Worrell has faced since he was charged in the mob.

Worrell has argued the U.S. Government and D.C. Jail systems denied access to his life-saving non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma cancer treatment, or any medications since his detention on March 12, 2021.

In response, the Department of Justice on Sunday asked U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth to sentence Worrell to 14 years years in prison; three years of supervised release; $2,000 in restitution; a fine of up to $181,000; and $610 in mandatory special assessments, which are imposed on defendants convicted of federal crimes.

On Jan. 6, 2021, after President Donald Trump's reelection loss, a mob of his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol Building. The mob hoped to prevent Congress from counting electoral college votes and keep then-President-elect Joe Biden from power.

A video of the attack appeared to show Worrell and others accused of storming the building, attacking police officers, breaking building windows and wreaking other damage.

Worrell's trial took 10 days, with the verdict delivered by Lamberth on May 12.

Worrell had pleaded not guilty to all the original charges. He faced 19 counts.

Lamberth found Worrell guilty of seven counts:

Obstruction of an official proceeding.

Entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon.

Disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon.

Engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon.

Act of physical violence in the U.S. Capitol grounds or buildings.

Civil disorder.

Assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon.

More than 1,000 people have been charged with federal crimes as of late July for their roles in the riot  more than 500 have pleaded guilty and 382 have been sentenced. Of those, at least 510 people have received sentences.

Worrell is among at least 111 Florida residents charged in connection with the mob.

Worrell's girlfriend and court-approved custodian, Trish Priller, 52, who used to work for the Naples Daily News, acknowledged a request, but didn't have further comment.

Shipley couldn't immediately be reached for comment. According to court documents is he is based in Kailua, Hawaii  about 78 miles northwest from Lahaina, where deadly wildfires swept last week with alarming speed and strength, killing at least 93.

Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran, Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews and Twitter @TomasFRoBeltran.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Both sides address judge as sentencing looms for Christopher Worrell
Austin lawyer Mindy Montford, shown in this photo from 2020, could be called as a witness in suspended Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's impeachment trial. Montford, former first assistant in the Travis County district attorney's office, had a meeting in 2020 with Paxton about a complaint against federal officials from developer Nate Paul. Paxton is accused of abusing his powers to help Paul. Montford now works for Paxton in the attorney general's office.

Mindy Montford, a prominent Austin attorney who once ran in a Democratic primary to be a felony court judge, could play a pivotal role as a witness in suspended Texas Attorney General Ken Paxtons impeachment trial next month. However, based on a recent filing in the case, its unclear whether her testimony would do more to help or harm Paxton, who now happens to be her boss.

For the past two years, Montford has worked for Paxton in the attorney generals office. Yet its her work from her prior employment, as second-in-command in the Travis County district attorneys office, that caught the attention of lawyers in Paxtons impeachment proceedings.

An affidavit from Montford that Paxtons legal team recently made public says that she has direct knowledge of Paxton hiring an outside lawyer in 2020 to investigate a complaint against federal law enforcement officials by Austin real estate developer Nate Paul. That lawyer, Brandon Cammack, sought more than three dozen subpoenas in the matter, which Montford says caught her and others in the district attorney's office by surprise after Paxton aides told her that he did not have authority to do that.

"I believe it was decided at that point for our office to take the necessary steps to cease any and all communication with Mr. Cammack," Montford wrote in the document.

The affidavit is dated January 2021, the same month Montford left the district attorney's office and shortly before she went to work for Paxton. That March, Montford started with the attorney general's office and helped launch a unit that investigates cold cases and missing persons.

Exclusive: Federal grand jury reviewing Ken Paxton's ties to Austin developer Nate Paul

Montford declined to comment on her role in Paxtons trial, citing a gag order from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick that cautions witnesses against making public statements on their expected testimony. Patrick, who in June received $3 million in political contributions from a pro-Paxton political action committee, will preside over the trial in a role similar to a judge.

Cammack's hiring is the basis for one of 20 impeachment articles against Paxton and is tied to at least one more. Texas House lawyers, who are overseeing the impeachment as prosecutors, say the hiring was a misuse of power and supports their position that Paxton committed bribery to help Paul.

The 16 impeachment articles for which Paxton will be tried in the Texas Senate connect him to Paul, a real estate mogul recently indicted in federal court on eight counts of mortgage fraud. House lawyers say Paul funded a Paxton home remodel and hired a woman with whom Paxton had an extramarital affair. In exchange, they say, Paxton initiated the investigation into federal law enforcement officials and intervened to help Paul in additional legal matters.

The American-Statesman reported Thursday that federal prosecutors have seated a grand jury in San Antonio and have called witnesses close to Paxton to testify, citing two sources familiar with the proceeding. This comes three years after the FBI opened an investigation following allegations from aides in Paxton's office that their boss had committed unlawful acts to help Paul.

It's unclear whether Montford will be called to testify at the secretive proceeding in San Antonio, though in her affidavit she says that she's willing to discuss the affidavit with any prosecutor with authority to investigate and that she has been "cooperating with federal authorities."

More: With flurry of motions, Ken Paxton asks Senate to toss out impeachment charges without trial

Mindy Montford has much to say, but will it benefit Ken Paxton?

As the federal investigation advances in San Antonio, 80 miles southwest of Austin, House prosecutors are preparing for the Sept. 5 impeachment trial. It remains to be seen whether Montford will be called to testify and, if so, by which side.

Lawyers for the defense and the prosecution are at odds over the guidance Montford and the district attorney's office gave to Cammack and the attorney general's office in the investigation into the federal law enforcement agencies.

Paxtons lawyers say it was a formal referral, and that the district attorney's office helped draft subpoenas for Cammacks approval and secured authorization for those subpoenas from a judge.

They also say the idea for the attorney general's office to investigate the agencies came from the district attorney's office, not Paxton, and that Paxton did not proceed until after Montford provided him with a legal analysis establishing his authority to investigate. That notion is supported in Montford's affidavit.

To my knowledge, the idea to refer the Nate Paul matter to the OAG came from our office," Montford wrote. "General Paxton was not certain his office could even review the matter and asked that I forward him the specific statute that would allow his office to review the claims."

More: Ken Paxton wants to disqualify three senators from his impeachment trial. Here's why.

But House lawyers say Montford's office never asked Paxton's office to investigate. Instead, it suggested that Paxton review the complaint to see if it was credible and warranted an investigation. As such, they say Cammack's hiring is an impeachable offense.

Montford says in the affidavit that there was never a formal request to investigate.

At no time did we endorse or comment on the veracity of Mr. Pauls complaints, Montford wrote. It was our intention to have the OAG review the matter and determine whether or not it rose to the level of a formal criminal investigation. As far as our office was concerned, the matter was tabled on our end until further notice from the OAG.

The distinction is important because it cuts to another impeachment article levied against Paxton that says his office later issued a report that contained false or misleading statements on the Cammack hiring. The attorney general's office report says that Montford's office conducted an initial investigation and then retained control of the investigation after it asked for and received assistance from Paxton's office. House investigators said in May that those statements are false.

Those disputes  which a recent filing from Paxton's lawyers calls petty and trifling"  could require Montford's testimony to settle.

Any time youre suddenly and unintentionally at odds with your boss, I think its a challenging position, said Jeremy Sylestine, an Austin defense lawyer who previously worked as a prosecutor for Montford in the Travis County district attorneys office. But Mindy knows how to do her job. I think she will do what the ethical guidelines require her to do, which is tell the truth to a tribunal.

Montford, whose father is John Montford, a former state senator and a onetime Texas Tech University System chancellor, ran for a felony district court bench in 2010. Six years later, she went to work in the Travis County district attorney's office as first assistant to District Attorney Margaret Moore. Montford supervised about 230 employees in the office.

Mindy Montford, left, obtained information in her time as first assistant in the Travis County district fttorney's office that lawyers are using as evidence in Ken Paxton's impeachment. Montford now works for Paxton in the Texas attorney general's office.

The lunch in 2020 that started it all

Montfords affidavit became public through a motion that Paxtons lawyers filed to dismiss the impeachment count on Cammacks hiring. In it, Montford describe how she became involved.

She wrote that in May 2020, she and another top lawyer in the district attorney's office met for lunch with Paxton to discuss a complaint from Paul, then a subject of an FBI investigation. Paul and his lawyer were present.

After the meeting, in which Paul said that law enforcement officials used unlawful warrants to raid his home, Montford said that she and key officials in the district attorney's office reasoned that they lacked resources to investigate. As such, they opted to refer the case to another law enforcement agency. Normally, options would have included the FBI or the Texas Department of Public Safety. But since members of both agencies were subjects in Pauls complaint, they were ruled out. The district attorney's office then turned to the attorney generals office.

Paxton, over objections from some of his aides, hired Cammack, a then-34-year-old lawyer who had been licensed to practice law for five years. Cammack had run in the same Houston social circles as Paul's lawyer at the time, Michael Wynne, who accompanied Paul at the lunch with Montford. Cammack's title was outside counsel, and his contract was for $300 an hour.

Cammack declined to comment on his involvement in Paxton's impeachment, with his lawyer citing Patricks gag order.

More: Texas Lt. Gov. Patrick, who'll oversee Paxton impeachment trial, gets $3M from pro-Paxton PAC

New information in Ken Paxton's attempt to help Nate Paul

Though much of the information from Montford's affidavit had previously been public, one portion is new.

Montford revealed that around Oct. 1, 2020, after Cammack had begun his work in the investigation, she received a call from Paxton, who asked to appear in a Travis County courtroom. Paxton, she said, wanted to oppose a motion by lawyers in his office to quash grand jury subpoenas secured by Cammack. This came on or around the same day that Paxton's aides made the complaint against him to the FBI about his relationship with Paul, then the subject of a separate FBI probe.

This revelation from Montford underscores Paxtons unusual interest in Paul's legal entanglements and could be used by House lawyers to show he went beyond his normal scope of duties to intervene.

Paxton, Montford revealed, never appeared in court. By the time he learned of the hearing, a judge had already killed Cammack's subpoenas.

"I contacted General Paxton the same day to let him know the motion to quash had already been signed," Montford said.

More: Ken Paxton used to be his landlord. Now, Sen. Bryan Hughes will vote on AG's impeachment.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas impeachment: Austin lawyer could be key witness in Paxton trial
The Australian woman who cooked a beef Wellington using mushrooms which killed three relatives and left one critical has told police it was an accident.

Erin Patterson, who is not facing charges, has provided a statement of events to police, local media report.

Police believe the victims had eaten death cap mushrooms, which are lethal if ingested.

In her statement, Ms Patterson said she had used some dried mushrooms but did not know they were poisonous.

"I am now devastated to think that these mushrooms may have contributed to the illness suffered by my loved ones," said the 48-year old.

"I really want to repeat that I had absolutely no reason to hurt these people, whom I loved."

Her statement to Victoria Police has not been publicly released but was reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Nine Newspapers on Monday.

Australia has been gripped by the mystery over the fatal lunch - held in Ms Patterson's home in the small town of Leongatha, Victoria on 29 July.

Ms Patterson had invited her former in-laws Gail and Don Patterson, along with Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson and Heather's husband Ian. Her estranged husband could not attend last minute.

Hours after the meal, all four guests fell ill with what they initially thought was severe food poisoning.

Within days, Heather, 66, Gail, 70, and Don, 70, had died. Ian, 68, is still fighting for his life in a Melbourne hospital as he awaits a liver transplant.

Ms Patterson was identified as a suspect after the deaths - as it initially appeared that she and her children were unharmed from the meal. At the time, Australian police also said she could be totally innocent.

In her statement reported on Monday, Ms Patterson reiterated her innocence and said she herself had been hospitalised after the meal due to stomach pains.

Ian (right) is fighting for his life while his wife Heather Wilkinson died days after the meal

Speaking to reporters outside her home in the immediate aftermath of the incident, Ms Patterson had stated her innocence - but declined to answer questions about what meals were served to which guests, or where the mushrooms had come from.

"I now very much regret not answering some questions following [my lawyer's] advice, given the nightmare that this process has become," she said, in her statement to police.

"I am now wanting to clear up the record because I have become extremely stressed and overwhelmed by the deaths of my loved ones."

Ms Patterson said the mushrooms used to prepare the meal were a mixture of button mushrooms bought at a supermarket, and dried mushrooms purchased at an Asian grocery store in Melbourne several months ago.

Her children, who were not present at the lunch, ate some of the leftover beef Wellington the next day. However the mushrooms had been scraped off the dish as they do not like the fungi, she said.

Ms Patterson said she herself was hospitalised on 31 July. She said she was put on a saline drip and given medication to guard against liver damage.

She said she had also saved and given the remainder of the lunch to hospital toxicologists for examination.

In her statement she also admitted lying to authorities about a food dehydrator seized by police from a local tip during investigations last week.

She said she had been questioned by her estranged husband as to whether she had poisoned his parents, and so panicked and disposed of the dehydrator as she was worried she might lose custody of their children.
Russian attacks against Ukraine's Kharkiv and Kherson oblasts killed one civilian and wounded seven more on Aug. 14, according to regional authorities.

A 50-year-old man was killed when Russian troops hit Kozacha Lopan, Kharkiv Oblast, the regional administration wrote on Telegram. Two more men were reportedly injured and hospitalized.

Kozacha Lopan lies only five kilometers from the border with Russia.

Russia also struck Podoly in the Kupiansk district, wounding two more people, the administration added.

An elderly woman and a 14-year-old boy suffered shrapnel wounds in a Russian attack on Buhaivka, said Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov. They are receiving medical assistance.

Read also: Thats it, its death, guys. What we know about Russias killing of 2 Ukrainian teenagers in occupied Berdiansk

When Russian forces were firing at the settlement, shrapnel also hit an ambulance, added Syniehubov. "Fortunately, the medical team was not injured."

On the same day, the Russian military targeted Kherson Oblast's village of Poniativka, according to the regional administration.

A resident was injured in his home and hospitalized with the loss of an upper limb, the Kherson Oblast Military Administration reported.

Poniativka is located on the west bank of the Dnipro River, about 30 kilometers east of Kherson. The regional capital and other settlements on the Kyiv-controlled west bank have been subjected to daily Russian attacks since they were liberated in November 2022.

Russian forces were pushed to the river's east bank, from where they have since been firing at the liberated territories, regularly resulting in civilian deaths and injuries.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Varsha Sharma has been through some turbulent years on her small farm in the mountainous state of Himachal Pradesh, in northern India.

For more than a century her family have been rice farmers, but erratic rainfall and water being diverted for industry have made cultivating rice more difficult.

Seven years ago she switched to a hybrid rice variety and to growing apples, but that just caused fresh problems.

The hybrid rice variety promised increased production, but needed a lot of additives, which she says damaged the soil.

"We destroyed our soils by adding chemicals and fertilizers," she says.

So in 2018 she switched again, this time experimenting with red rice, a variety which has a long history in Himachal Pradesh, but has dwindled as farmers have switched to modern varieties.

Red rice has attractive qualities. It is hardy and grows well without fertiliser and other chemicals. Research also shows it has nutritional benefits over white rice.

But perhaps for farmers the biggest attraction is that it sells well.

"Red rice fetches a good price, ranging between $3 and $4 per kilo in the retail market, as it completely organic. This has helped many farmers like me," says Ms Sharma.

The government of Himachal Pradesh wants to expand the production of red rice, increasing its area under cultivation to 4,000 hectares (10,000 acres).

Cultivation of red rice had dwindled in India, but is now being revived

Red rice is not the only traditional variety being promoted.

In West Bengal, the largest rice producing state in India, almost half of its arable land is under rice cultivation.

It is home to more than 5,000 varieties of rice, but the majority are no longer grown.

"They [farmers] are only thinking about increased production, hence are switching to hybrid varieties," says Anjan Kumar Sinha, the founder of the Socio-Environmental Welfare Society (ARSWS), which promotes conservation and the restoration of biodiversity.

He says that farming hybrid rice varieties can be expensive.

"When hybrid seeds are used, the demand for pesticide increases and the costs go up in an unsustainable way.

"Indigenous rice seed varieties have adapted to local ecologies and can resist drought and floods. We have varieties of rice seeds in India which can grow without water," says Mr Sinha.

Farmers who join his organisation get a kilo of seeds free, enough to produce up to 60kg of rice. In return the farmers have to return a kilo of seeds.

"These varieties may play a vital role in sustainable agriculture in drought prone regions," he adds.

Rice is widely consumed and grown in India and it is the world's biggest exporter of the grain.

But in July, to tame surging domestic prices after heavy rains hurt crops, the Indian government banned the export of non-basmati white rice.

This came after Russia withdrew from a deal guaranteeing the safe passage of Ukrainian grain, putting more pressure on global food supplies.

Shankar Patnaik's farm is a testbed for dozens of different rice varieties

Shankar Patnaik, who is also a farmer and seed conservationist, says that farmers "became greedy" and started growing rice from hybrid seeds to boost production.

"We used lot of urea and fertilizers which destroyed our soil. Also now very few farmers are using traditional seeds to grow rice," he says.

Mr Patnaik has a collection of 500 rice varieties and is experimenting with many of them on his 14 acres of land.

"There are several indigenous rice varieties that can have higher yields but their potential is not fully explored. Even without application of chemical fertilizers one can get a good yield. But generally, people consider these as low yielding varieties and don't pay much attention," says Mr Patnaik.

As well as experimenting with varieties, Mr Patnaik is working on growing methods that need less water.

In particular he uses the alternate wetting and drying (AWD) method. In that technique famers flood fields, allow them to drain for a few days, and then flood them again.

India is home the thousands of rice varieties

This is one of the processes promoted by India's Centre for Sustainable Agriculture (CSA), an organisation that works with farmers to make farming more sustainable.

"Rice is highly water-consuming crop. It's grown in stagnant water and consumes about 5,000 litres if water per kg of rice," says GV Ramanjaneyulu, executive director of the CSA.

He says bacteria in rice ponds emit methane, and flooding damages the soil structure, and can make it more salty.

He says there are several ways of growing rice with less water, but at the moment they need more support.

"There are no proper campaigns or training on these methods and no incentive for farmers to make a shift," says Mr Ramanjaneyulu.

"Many of the current incentive systems like fertilizer subsidy, free power, canal irrigation, minimum support price and procurement, all work against the interest of farmers to shift towards more sustainable production," he adds.

More technology of business:

One farmer who has embraced a new technique is Prema Devi from Farsali Malde, a village in the northern state of Uttarakhand.

"Most of the people from the village are farmers but with major climatic changes we started facing a lot of problems. Our crops got destroyed because of unseasonal rains or scarcity of water," she says.

So, in 2021 she started to reduce the number of rice seeds she planted.

Rice saplings are grown in nursery beds and are transferred to main field after 12 to 14 days, where they are planted six to eight inches apart.

"The spacing between each plant gives them more oxygen, and minimises the competition between plants for nutrients and sunlight," says Ms Devi.

She says the system has doubled her rice production to 100kg a year.

"It was not easy for us to believe that a simple change in technique was all we needed," she says.
More than 61,000 Volusia County students are returning to classrooms on Monday.

The district is the last in Central Florida to head back to school.

Likely just about every other school district in the area, Volusia County is dealing with a bus driver shortage. But the district said it will have enough drivers to get things started on Monday, but there could be some minor delays.

Aboard those buses is also a new camera system that gives administrators a 360-degree view of the bus both inside and out.

Read: Volusia County students head back to school Monday with new policies, including cell phone rule

They can provide recordings to schools for student behavior situations and law enforcement on the scene of a crash. And the video is constantly streaming.

Now were able to pull that video live wherever the bus may be at that at a split second notice, said Rodney Smith with Volusia County Schools Transportation.

Read: Volusia County Schools recruiting internationally to help address teacher shortage

Parents looking to keep tabs on their kids bus can download the Wheres My Bus app. To sign up your child must be a registered bus rider, and youll need their birthdate and Alpha code to log in.

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Thanks to the efforts of a dedicated team at Greenville Federal Credit Union, students at Greer High School can save their money, spend their money and learn to manage their money  without ever leaving campus  at a financial institution run by their peers.

The fully functioning credit union office, named The Branch at Greer High, opened to students and staff when the school year began Aug. 8.

Located inside what had been a storage closet off the cafeteria, the branch is run by students with the help of one teacher and a staff member from the credit union.

It's been a huge endeavor for a lot of people at this credit union and the school district, and we're really proud of it. This is a labor of love, says Catherine James, Senior Vice President of Marketing & Brand Strategy at Greenville Federal Credit Union.

The first in-school credit union opened seven years ago at Greenville High. Greenville County Schools helped choose Greer High for the second location.

The two high school branches, together, represent a $1.2 million investment by Greenville Federal Credit Union. We do not see it as a revenue generator at all, James says.

The school district does not contribute funding, she says.

The high school branches fulfill our mission to be a resource for financial literacy, especially with youth, and to support Greenville County Schools.

Both Greenville and Greer high schools have business education programs. Greenville High is a magnet school, the Academy of Law, Finance and Business. Greer High has a Virtual Enterprise program, where students under the direction of a teacher develop, produce, distribute and market a virtual product.

The state also mandates that students pass a personal financial management class before they graduate.

Whether young people are leaving school to live independent lives or heading to college, they should learn to manage their finances so that they can save for the future and use credit wisely, James says. That includes basic knowledge about banking, transactions, credit scores and loans.

Students learn those skills from peers who operate the credit unions at each school as part of a teacher-led honors class.

Students are literally running a real credit union. They're performing transactions. It's real money, not pretend. They're opening accounts and helping members, James says.

The honors students take part in 100-hour paid internships during the summer; half of the internship is spent sitting side-by-side with tellers and service representatives at the four credit union branches not located in schools.

Our entire team is committed to preparing the students to run their in-school branches, says James, a Greenville native who graduated from Eastside High School, then Furman University.

Monica Barnett, credit union Vice President of Member Experience, oversees the in-school branch program.

Year after year, we get to see the difference this program makes in the lives of these students, their families and the community, she says.

Two employees from the credit union provide day-to-day support: Samantha Telsrow at Greer High, and Thomora Mosely at Greenville High.

James  who has been at the credit union for 12 years after careers in advertising and marketing  worked with the designers and architects to upfit the space at the high schools; she and her team also developed the branding, signage, publicity, websites and brochures.

The Branch at Greer High will be run by students for their peers and staff with help from a teacher and employees of the Greenville Federal Credit Union.

The in-school branches are open during lunchtime. Any student or school employee can use the services, but the public is not allowed into the schools for safety reasons.

The credit union does not charge students a monthly fee for accounts and does require a minimum balance.

Students can open accounts, practice making transactions in a safe banking environment, learn to read bank statements, use online banking, have paychecks deposited into their accounts, and connect to mobile apps like Zelle and Apple Pay  with guidance from their peers, credit union professionals and teachers.

The credit union mobile banking app has a feature that explains credit scores and how the scores can be improved. A budgeting feature helps users save money to buy a car or attain other goals.

Students working in the branch teach new members how to use those tools. I think hearing that from a peer is impactful, James says.

The program helps students  and student workers  inside classrooms, as well as inside the credit union, she says.

Teachers ask students trained by the credit union to make presentations about financial literacy and financial safety.

How do you protect yourself once you have a bank account or a debit card? A lot of scams prey upon teenagers, says James, whose daughter just graduated from Wade Hampton High School and will attend South Carolina Honors College at the University of South Carolina.

Barnett says that student workers develop the confidence to work in a business environment.

These students enter the program with little-to-no work experience and come away at the end of the school year with valuable financial skills and also soft skills that will put them a step ahead of their peers in career development, she says.

Nearly 50 student workers have graduated since the credit union opened at Greenville High School. Several also have finished college with accounting and marketing degrees.

We have been able to hire eight student employees to work full-time and part-time jobs in the credit union, James says. It is a workforce pipeline, not just for us but also for the community.

Mosely is one of those success stories. She now works for the credit union, overseeing the same Greenville High School program that she graduated from in 2017. She has risen through the ranks and is a great leader, James says.

Greenville Federal Credit Union was founded in 1968 as a not-for-profit financial institution by nine Greenville School District employees, James says.

We exist to serve our community. That's baked into our DNA, she says. Its about listening and recognizing the needs of every individual, not selling them products. Our team is devoted to looking at members finances and helping them figure out the best way to save money and ensure that they're making decisions that will help them prosper.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Banking On Students - The Branch at Greer High
A letter written by former President Barack Obama to a woman he dated in college is giving some new insight on his thoughts about gender and sexuality.

Obama dated Alex McNear during his time at Occidental College in Los Angeles, and the two reportedly reconnected not long after they broke up in 1981. A year later, in November of 1982, Obama wrote McNear a letter that is now owned by Emory University.

Although they have prohibited photography of it, Harvey Klehr transcribed it by hand to send to historian and Obama biographer David Garrow.

In regard to homosexuality, I must say that I believe this is an attempt to remove oneself from the present, a refusal perhaps to perpetuate the endless farce of earthly life, Obama reportedly wrote, according to a copy of the transcript shared with the New York Post. You see, I make love to men daily, but in the imagination.

Obama, who was 21 at the time the letter was written, also reportedly mused on gender, saying that his mind is androgynous to a great extent.

I hope to make it more so until I can think in terms of people, not women as opposed to men. But, in returning to the body, I see that I have been made a man, and physically in life, I choose to accept that contingency, he wrote.

Garrow himself seemed unfazed by these remarks when asked for comment, telling the Post that its public record news that a (vast?) majority of human beings have sexual fantasies.

But the general public already has loud opinions, with conservatives and blue checks screaming about Obama being fake & gay, while another theory suggests, barack obama being a fake bisexual to attract artsy girls in college is much more believable than him being secretly actually gay.

The former president himself has yet to chime in about the 42-year-old letter.
Packaged foods giant Kraft Heinz said Carlos Abrams-Rivera, the companys executive vice president and president of its North American business, will take over as chief executive Jan. 1.

Abrams-Rivera will succeed Miguel Patricio, who has been CEO since 2019. Abrams-Rivera, 56, will become president of the company effective immediately.

The transition from Miguel to Carlos reflects the boards thoughtful succession planning and we are confident that the company will continue to accelerate growth with Carlos assuming the role of CEO, said Jack Pope, lead director of the Kraft Heinz board, in a statement. He is an experienced leader with a long tenure in the food and beverage industry who has shown consistency and excellence in execution.

Abrams-Rivera said in a statement that he was humbled and honored to be appointed CEO. Abrams-Rivera joined Kraft Heinz in 2020 from the Campbell Soup Co., where he was executive vice president of Campbell Snacks. He had previously worked in numerous roles for Chicago-based Mondelez, including a stint as president of Mondelez Mexico. Abrams-Rivera started his food career as a senior brand manager at Kraft Foods Group.

Patricio, 57, will become nonexecutive chair of the companys board. He became CEO in 2019, as Kraft Heinz struggled to come back from declining sales and cost-cutting measures, including the layoff of more than 2,000 workers in 2015. He had previously spent two decades at Anheuser-Busch InBev.

The company announced further cost-cutting measures under Patricios leadership in 2020, when it said it would cut $2 billion in costs over five years with plans to put the savings toward marketing brands with high growth potential, such as Heinz ketchup and Oscar Mayer lunchables. Sales were buoyed during the COVID-19 pandemic, as shoppers loaded up on shelf-stable foods to cook at home.

The company, which is co-headquartered in Chicago and Pittsburgh, has three manufacturing facilities and three distribution centers in Illinois. Kraft Heinz said earlier this summer it has more than 3,300 employees in the state. Its downtown Chicago offices are in the Aon Center, and it also has a research and development center in Glenview. In July, the company announced plans to open a distribution center in DeKalb in 2025.

The company posted net sales of $6.7 billion during the second quarter, up 2.6% compared with the same period last year.
Theres a new barbecue joint in Morro Bay, but its been a long time coming.

For nearly a year, a sign in a window of the former Sabettas Pizza spot promised Los Morros BBQ would open there soon.

The restaurant finally opened its doors July 21 at 897 Main St. The 1,800-square-foot space is located in the same Old Circle Inn building as Legends Bar, Ugly Mug Ceramics and Gaias Garden & Apothecary.

Los Morros BBQ will hold its grand opening beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Business partners Miguel Fuentes and Arturo Guatemala say the celebration will include several dancers in comic robot costumes and 200 giveaway tickets, each good for a free meal.

Hungry Morro Bay residents and cue fans waited a long time for this open sign to appear at Los Morros BBQ, replacing a coming soon that had been in the window for about a year.

Restaurant co-owner started Morro Bay deli

Born and raised in Mexico City, the 45-year-old Fuentes said he came to the United States at the age of 16 or 17.

Owning his own restaurants has always been his dream, he said.

For six years, hes owned Morro Deli, 940 Morro Bay Blvd. in Morro Bay, adjacent to the Sinclair service station that fronts on the roundabout. His older brother Antonio Fuentes runs that eatery now.

Miguel Fuentes also owns a food truck thats on pause for now until it can be properly staffed for use at fairs and special events, as it was before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Unfortunately, he said, the pandemic sank a sister Morro Deli location in San Luis Obispo.

Now Fuentes has opened another eatery, inspired by 22 years of barbecuing experience at a Paso Robles restaurant, he said.

Los Morros BBQ owner-partners Miguel Fuentes, left, and Arturo Guatemala, right, flank employee Paulina Salcedo as they prepare for a long-awaited grand opening of the new eatery Monday, Aug. 14, 2023.

What delayed opening of Morro Bay barbecue joint

In the long delay between agreeing to do Los Morros BBQ and opening it, Fuentes said he and his partner submitted the architects drawings to San Luis Obispo County, waited for permits to come through and had all-new equipment delivered, including a specialty hood-and-vent system.

They then laboriously revamped the former pizza parlor.

The total cost of remodeling, including the new equipment, was about $130,000, Fuentes estimated.

Following the soft opening for Los Morros BBQ, Fuentes, Guatemala and employee Paulina Salcedo have been fine-tuning the restaurants menu, getting ready to launch social media and preparing for the grand opening.

Miguel Fuentes, owner/partner at Los Morros BBQ in Morro Bay, mans his new Backwoods Smoker, which he stokes with red oak wood. He then finishes off the smoked meat by glazing it with a pro propane torch.

Mouth-watering aromas drift out daily from Los Morros BBQ, luring in hungry diners.

The barbecue magic happens within view of customers, who place their orders at a walk-up station counter in front of the open kitchen.

There, Fuentes and his team wield their new Buckwoods smoker unit, flattop Imperial grill, Volcano fryer and an industrial propane torch that sets the final barbecue glaze on the meats.

Customers ordering tacos at the new Los Morros BBQ in Morro Bay will get these piled-high tortillas.

Whats on the menu?

Los Morros BBQs menu includes tri tip on nachos, in a sandwich and with the works, as well as chicken, pork and beef ribs, pulled pork, burgers and tacos.

Those are served with side dishes of fries, beans, cole slaw and garlic bread.

The men make their own dry rubs and barbecue, sweet and sour sauces and aioli from scratch, Guatemala said.

Prices range from $5 to $6 per taco to $31 for a shareable meal with three meats and two side dishes. Sandwiches range in cost from $11 for a cheeseburger to $16 to $19 for a tri-tip sandwich.

Los Morros BBQ is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week, with occasional service longer to the Legends bar next door.

The restaurant plans to eventually offer catering, like Morro Deli.
The U.S. Department of Education has affirmed the exemption of Baylor University, a conservative Christian school, from certain antidiscrimination requirements after LGBTQ+ students submitted complaints of harassment.

The Religious Exemption Accountability Project filed the complaint with the DOEs civil rights office in 2021 on behalf of Veronica Bonifacio Penales. Penales, a queer woman who graduated from Baylor in May, said that while she was a student at the school, based in Waco, Texas, she was frequently harassed by fellow students and the university did nothing about it, The Texas Tribune reports.

Sticky notes with anti-LGBTQ+ slurs were left on the door to her dorm room, and students put homophobic posts on social media, she said. She also said Baylors policy opposing same-sex relationships forced her to hide her identity. She argued that these actions violated Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, a law that bans sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, in educational programs that receive federal funding.

At least three other LGBTQ+ Baylor students have filed complaints as well. These mention Baylors denial of an official charter to an LGBTQ+ student group, Gamma Alpha Upsilon, although it did charter another, and alleged pressure on university media to avoid covering LGBTQ+ events, according to the Waco Tribune-Herald.

The DOE issued a notice in 2021 that it would consider anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination to be covered under the ban on sex discrimination, but a federal judge has temporarily blocked that interpretation as a lawsuit against it proceeds.

Schools that are religiously affiliated can receive an exemption from Title IX requirements. Baylor has what officials call a special relationship with the Baptist General Convention of Texas, part of the conservative Southern Baptist Convention.

In May, Baylor President Linda Livingstone asked the DOE to dismiss complaints by Penales and others on the grounds that the university affirms the biblical understanding of sexuality as a gift from God, to the exclusion of same-sex relationships, according to various media reports. Baylor should be exempt from Title IX requirements that go against its beliefs, she said. The DOE sent a response in late July recognizing several religious exemptions, including one from the sexual harassment regulation.

This is the first time religious exemptions have covered harassment, the Religious Exemption Accountability Project reports. This unprecedented move makes Baylor unsafe for LGBTQIA+ students and is truly shocking, Paul Carlos Southwick, the groups director, said in a press release. For the first time in Title IXs history, a federally funded university has been given special permission, by the Biden administration no less, to allow its LGBTQIA+ students to be sexually harassed. Any reasonable person can see that this coddling of religious extremists has gone too far.

I am saddened by Baylors lack of integrity and accountability to their students, Penales said in the release. I know many will not feel safe returning to campus, and rightfully so. If Baylor believes it has a religious liberty right to allow us to be harassed, there truly are no protections left for us.

The DOE did not make a decision on whether to dismiss Peraless complaint and others. However, Southwick said dismissal is likely.

Lori Fogleman, Baylors assistant vice president of media and public relations, issued a statement to the Waco paper saying that media reports have been misleading about the nature of the exemptions. The university has not received a broad exemption from sexual harassment regulations, she said.

Instead, Baylor is responding to current considerations by the U.S. Department of Education to move to an expanded definition of sexual harassment, which could infringe on Baylors rights under the U.S. Constitution, as well as Title IX, to conduct its affairs in a manner consistent with its religious beliefs, the statement reads. Baylor has taken and will continue to take meaningful steps to ensure members of the LGBTQ community are loved, cared for and protected as a part of the Baylor Family. Further, the University remains committed to promoting and maintaining an educational environment in which students can learn and grow in accordance with our Christian mission and our call to love our neighbors as ourselves.
The BBC Maida Vale Studios have hosted the world's best-known musicians and bands since the 1930s (Justin TALLIS)

The BBC announced on Monday that it has sold its historic Maida Vale Studios to a group including the German film score composer and music producer Hans Zimmer.

The site in northwest London, which was bought by the broadcaster in 1933, is a complex of seven studios housed in a former Edwardian-era roller-skating rink.

Over the years it has hosted major musicians from The Beatles to Beyonce as well as symphony orchestras and thousands of sessions by unsigned bands championed by the legendary DJ John Peel.

It was also home to the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, a pioneering electronic sound laboratory where the theme to the long-running television sci-fi drama "Doctor Who" was created.

But its future had been under threat since the corporation announced in 2018 that it was moving its BBC Music Studios operation to a new purpose-built base in east London.

Zimmer and his business partner Steve Kofsky have teamed up with film producers Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner to buy the venue, the BBC said.

No cost was given but the broadcaster said the group had pledged to keep the building as a studio space and undertake a multi-million-pound (dollar) refurbishment plan.

The original facade of the venue, which has protected heritage status, would be kept, it added.

Zimmer said he first worked for the BBC at Maida Vale Studios 45 years ago as a session musician and had been "in awe" at its place in musical history.

He said he wanted to make Maida Vale "a place that inspires, teaches, technologically serves the arts and humanity, and gives the next generation the same opportunities I was given: to create and to never give up".

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A beachgoer in Italy stumbled upon an object in the sand that likely dates back around 2,000 years, officials said.

While walking along a beachfront in Latina, a municipality south of Rome, a man spotted a long ceramic object along the water Aug. 11, according to Italys National Associated Press Agency (ANSA).

He then alerted a nearby lifeguard, who rushed to secure the object before anyone else could get their hands on it, according to the outlet.

The object was then delivered to local authorities for analysis and conservation, according to News 24. Preliminary findings indicate it is a fragment of an amphora, a container used in ancient Roman times.

Specifically, it is the neck, or top part, of an amphora, the local director of a maritime non-profit told McClatchy News.

Amphora were commonly used to transport goods over long distances, according to research from the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom.

The pottery vessels came in all different shapes and sizes, though most often they were large, cylindrical and equipped with handles, archaeologists at the university wrote.

They were designed primarily for the transport of liquid commodities such as wine, olive oil or fish sauces, the archaeologists wrote. Since they would not stand upright unsupported, they were designed particularly for maritime transport.

The fragment found at the beach appears to date to around the first or second century B.C., and it may have washed ashore during a recent storm, according to ANSA.

Its discovery indicates the beaches of Latina may hold more archaeological treasures than previously thought, according to Latina Quotidiano, an online newspaper.

Local authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News.

Google Translate was used to translate articles from ANSA, News 24 and Latina Quotidiano and an email from the local director of a maritime non-profit.

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It was a bear sighting that former Noahs Ark Animal Sanctuary employee Jesse Worthey says he was surprised to see.

She got right up next to the road, where were standing next to the people drive up and down, Worthey said.

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Worthey told Channel 2s Ashli Lincoln a concerned friend called him Sunday evening after the friend drove by Noahs Ark and saw a grizzly bear walking near the entrance behind a fence.

The first thing I asked her was, Was she sure it was a bear? And she said that she did a triple take because she couldnt believe it was a bear, he said.

The bear, whose name is Anna Lou, was able to get out of her housing pen. Jay Allen, the Operations Manager for Noahs Ark, says they immediately mobilized after learning there was a bear on the loose.

He says they were able to corral Anna Lou into a new pen with oranges. He says after inspecting her original pen, Allen says heavy storms caused a tree limb to crash onto a fencing causing it to break apart.

Allen says Anna Lou was able to get out and walked several yards across the property. Workers say they followed protocol and notified the Georgia Department of Natural Resources about this incident. DNR representatives were at the sanctuary on Monday assisting employees.

Any wild animal on the loose would bring concern to the public, Allen said.

TRENDING STORIES:

Noahs Ark management says this year the sanctuary has been hit hard by storms. In May, we reported on extensive damage that spring storms caused at the sanctuary. The facility is currently in the process of fundraising to remove several fallen trees.

We would really like 40% of the trees in the habitat down, Allen said.

Worthey says whats more alarming is the bear was several feet away from a damaged section of the fence, thats near a busy road.

She was right up next to the road where the fence is currently not repaired yet, he said.

Allen says last Friday a car crashed into the fence. The section has been replaced with temporary fencing to keep the area secure.

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Its Robin Epley with The Sacramento Bee Editorial Board once again, bringing you the best of Californias opinion journalism.

What would you do with almost a billion dollars?

Last Tuesday, three of the five Sacramento County Supervisors voted to begin a process that will cost residents close to $1 billion in the coming years to expand the Countys Main Jail and provide a mere 100 new beds in a mental health facility  in spite of more than three hours of spirited public comment, and all of it entirely in protest.

Opinion

This is, by far, the largest debt the county has ever taken on. It also forces county leaders to prioritize funding jail construction over health services and housing.

The existing jail is the most expensive and least effective place to comply with a court decree to provide mental health services to inmates who need it, wrote The Sacramento Bee Editorial Board. There are such better options if the county would only try.

We believe supervisors Patrick Kennedy and Phil Serna deserved some credit for challenging staff and voting against the two agenda items, which now authorize a $654 million mental health annex at the downtown jail and also approves overall county expenditures of up to $925 million.

This was a fear-based decision by the supervisors, running scared from a threatened federal receivership. The county has been hopelessly out of compliance with a 2018 federal consent decree, the result of a class-action lawsuit seeking better treatment of prisoners with disabilities. The county is bound by law to prove they are moving toward a solution to those findings, and the board clearly felt they had no other option but to vote to move forward.

No Place Like Home

Homelessness is not a uniquely Sacramento problem, but for far too long, leaders in Sacramento, and in other California communities and beyond, have allowed NIMBYs to slow potential solutions. As someone who doesnt live in Sacramento, it was fascinating to watch elected city leaders delegate the authority of finding suitable encampments for homeless people to City Manager Howard Chan, who was not elected by voters.

So wrote our new summer intern, Brian Zhang, in his first column last week. Brian will be with us for the months of August and hes already churning out some great work for the Opinion team; hes a rising junior at Yale, and lives in Brooklyn, New York.

When leaders are slow to make collaborative, educational approaches to poverty, it turns the most vulnerable against each other instead of making new leaders out of us, Brian wrote.

What can California learn from New Yorks prior examples and Houstons unified homelessness response, which has brought together public housing committees, philanthropy, religion, private foundations and dozens of nonprofits? On a national scale, nearly all American melting pots are scrambling to house and feed asylum-seeking migrants on limited funds and space. Who are we to disapprove of homeless individuals walking in any one of our neighborhoods?

Op-Ed Roundup

Forever chemicals are in our bodies and drinking water. We must stop using them by Phil Ting, California State Assembly representative for the 19th District, and Andria Ventura, the legislative and policy director for Clean Water Action California.

Advocates have been sounding the alarm about Californias PFAS crisis for years, but the pace of progress does not yet match the urgency of this growing problem. We dont manufacture PFAS products in California, but they are nonetheless found everywhere, from rivers and groundwater to our own bodies.

Despite what Sacramento DA Thien Ho might say, being unhoused isnt a crime by Erwin Chemerinsky, the dean of and a professor at the UC Berkeley School of Law.

It is possible that the dispute between the DA and the city attorney could go to court if Ho decides to initiate an action against city officials. Such a suit would be frivolous and likely to be quickly thrown out of court. If Ho decides to initiate prosecutions against the unhoused, these will fail based on the Ninth Circuits decisions. Indeed, there almost certainly would be a suit in federal court to enjoin Ho, which will make it back to the court of appeals in a year or two.

For Sacramentos homeless population, summertime is about surviving the heat by Katherine Hunter, a Sacramentan currently residing in New York City.

To some residents of Sacramento, Cesar Chavez Plaza is an eyesore, with anywhere from 20 to 30 or more unhoused individuals set up in tents, sprawled out in the sun or gathered in small groups around the fountain. But for the folks who spend their days or nights here, this park is their home. Its a home with no air conditioning, water or fans. And in the summertime, when Sacramento sees triple-digit temperatures, no one feels the impact of the heat more than the citys unhoused residents.

Opinion of the Week

This is all Hos doing.  The Sacramento Bee Editorial Board on Sacramento County DA Thien Hos announcement that he has launched an investigation into certain, unnamed City of Sacramento officials over their failure to enforce state public nuisance laws and allowing homeless encampments within the city limits.

Got thoughts? What would you like to see in this newsletter every week? Got a story tip or an opinion to tell the world? Let us know what you think about this email and our work in general by emailing us at any time via opinion@sacbee.com.

Congrats on reading this whole newsletter,

Robin
A heat wave thats scorching Western Washington with temperatures 15 to 20 degrees above normal is sparing Bellingham and coastal Whatcom County from its worst effects, because high pressure hasnt changed the areas cooling sea breezes.

Bellingham saw a high of 83 degrees on Sunday, about 10 degrees above the mid-August average but below the record of 90 for the date, set in 2010.

Both Bellingham and western Whatcom County are under a heat advisory until Tuesday, and the forecast highs remain in the mid-80s through Friday, when the heat is expected to break.

Temperatures are warmer inland and in the mountains, however.

Cascade gaps and valleys may be on the verge of triple digits on Tuesday, meteorologist Maddie Kristell said in the National Weather Services online forecast discussion.

A high of 104 degrees was recorded at Diablo in eastern Whatcom County, where firefighters are battling a wildfire on Sourdough Mountain, said Nicholas DiGiacco, spokesman for the National Interagency Fire Center.

A red flag warning remains in effect for high heat and low humidity.

Fuels remain very dry and ready to burn throughout much of Western Washington, fostering quick growth and active burning conditions for new and existing fires in the area, Kristell said.

Smoke and haze from the Sourdough Fire will continue to impact portions of the North Cascades with the potential to drift down into Puget Sound, courtesy of northerly winds in the afternoons over the next several days, she said.

That smoke wont be enough to affect air quality in most areas of western Whatcom County, the Northwest Clean Air Agency said.

Air quality for most of Island, Skagit and Whatcom counties will be moderate (Monday) with unhealthy conditions expected for far eastern Whatcom and Skagit counties, particularly locations along the eastern Skagit River Valley, the agency said on Facebook.

For the rest of Whatcom, Skagit and Island counties, light winds will be sufficient to mix enough clean air from the west to help dilute smoke and keep air quality concentrations comparatively low, the agency said.
Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon prepares for his bench trial on aggravated menacing charges before Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge Gwen Bender, Monday, August 14, 2023. The charge stems from a road-rage incident in downtown Cincinnati on Jan. 21, 2023.

Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon is standing trial on accusations he threatened and pointed a gun at a woman while driving near The Banks in January.

On Monday, opening statements were delivered and the prosecution began presenting evidence in the aggravated menacing case that stems from an alleged road rage incident on Jan. 21. Mixon was recharged with the misdemeanor in April after charges were initially filed on Feb. 2. They were dismissed the next day so police could further investigate.

Mixon opted for a bench trial. Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge Gwen Bender is presiding.

Prosecutors say Mixon pointed a gun at the victim, who is not being publicly identified under Marsy's Law provisions, while their cars were adjacent after they turned from Second Street onto Walnut Street. The defense says there was no gun, and the woman's story cannot be corroborated.

City Prosecutor Tim Horsley said it was "a case about road rage." But defense attorney Scott Croswell said Mixon wasn't to blame.

"There are two sides of this story," Croswell said. "The police know the importance of corroboration, and they looked for it for two months and couldn't find it ... This is a classic case of he said, she said."

According to attorneys, Mixon was driving back to practice at Paycor Stadium after he left to purchase cake for the team, change his clothes and pick up the cellphone he left at home.

Mixon and the woman were driving next to each other on Second Street when he quickly merged into the inner left lane of traffic, cutting off the woman, prosecutors say. The two ended up next to one another when they both turned left onto Walnut Street.

A bird's-eye view video presented by the prosecution of Third Street showed the woman's car next to Mixon's black SUV. Another video from the security cameras at Paycor Stadium shows Mixon returning to practice that day.

That was after the two reportedly exchanged words from each other's cars. The woman, who testified as a witness Monday, said she pulled up next to him and flipped him off, shortly after taking a photo of his license plate.

She said Mixon called her profanities and told her she "ought to be popped in the face." At that time, she said, he brandished a handgun in his left hand.

Defense attorneys disputed the woman's story, saying that no handgun was presented as evidence because the city did not execute a search warrant to retrieve one. Additionally, Mixon is right-handed, not left-handed.

Croswell read from a transcript of a police interview when the woman reported the alleged incident. He honed in on her "fight or flight" response she said she was experiencing at the time, and that she said she was angry or mad six times during the interview. She also never said she was frightened in the interview, and told the officer that she told Mixon "If you're going to pull (a gun), use it."

The prosecution asked her to recount what the gun looked like. She said she saw the gun, its metal, and Mixon's hand around its grip.

"Did I think I was going to get yelled at? Yes," she said. "Did I think a gun would be pointed at me? Absolutely not."

The aggravated menacing charge is a misdemeanor of the first degree, the most serious level of misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to six months in jail and a maximum $1,000 fine.

The trial resumes Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.

What happened earlier this year?

In February, Mixon was accused of pointing a gun at a woman during a road-rage incident. Mixon was at Second and Walnut streets at The Banks at 12:49 p.m. Jan. 21, shortly before he was due at Paycor Stadium, where the team was gathering to leave for a playoff game in Buffalo, according to police.

A warrant was issued, making national news. But the charges were immediately dropped so police could do further investigation.

The prosecutor said charges could be refiled and said the woman who made the complaint indicated she would go forward with the case.

Police Chief Teresa Theetge said at the time the investigation was not finished and there was a new piece of evidence. The case was assigned to a new investigator. Cincinnati's police union president said the original investigator was transferred to a different district over the incident.

Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon sits with his attorneys Scott Croswell and Merlyn Shiverdecker on Aug. 14, 2023. Mixon was recharged with a misdemeanor in April over accusations he pointed a gun at a woman during a road rage incident in January, police said.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Testimony to continue Tuesday on Bengals' Joe Mixon's road rage trial
The youngest daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King said she saw the viral melee as a hell no moment.

Bernice King called the riverfront brawl in Alabama a moment reflecting the nature of karma and generations of frustration in a recent interview with theGrio.

The civil rights activist and youngest daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King said she saw the viral incident of Black Alabamians coming to the defense of a Black boat operator being pummeled by a mob of white attackers in Montgomery as a hell no moment.

Left to right: Bernice King; Reggie Ray, the man seen wielding a chair (right) during the viral Montgomery, Alabama riverfront brawl, has posted bail and been released from the Montgomery Municipal Jail. (Photo: Getty Images/Screenshot/YouTube.com/Rickey Smiley)

However, King also acknowledged that the melee was against the nonviolence that her father preached about. Violence never gets us to where we want to go, she cautioned.

We have to be careful not to relish that moment, King warned. Its a difficult conversation because theres so much more than the chair and everything that happened in that moment.

The moment has captured the attention and consciousness of America and ignited old and existing racial tensions, so much so that a U.S. Department of Justice source told theGrio that it is tracking the viral Alabama riverboat brawl that occurred on Aug. 5.

According to witness testimony found in court documents, the white men involved in the brawl used the n-word against the Black co-captain, Damien Pickett, who attempted to move a pontoon boat that was blocking the docking location for the Harriott II riverboat.

While the incident has not been classified as a hate crime, Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed told NPR as more information becomes available, his office will work with the DOJ to thoroughly vet whether new evidence reclassifies the incident as a hate crime per FBI protocol.

Theres also a question as to whether a Donald Trump rally that took place in the city the day before the brawl played any role in the melee. A 2018 study found that assaults increased in cities where the former president held his signature rallies.

The white men who instigated the fight were arrested, and Reggie Ray, a Black man who used a folding chair to defend the Black co-captain who was attacked by the mob. Ray, 42, was charged with disorderly conduct.

Lee Merritt, the attorney representing Ray, told theGrio exclusively, Mr. Ray was involuntarily roped into the disorderly conduct initiated by a violent white mob. He added, Mr. Ray will continue to participate with the ongoing investigation concerning the same and is committed to being forthcoming about his limited role in the brawl.

WOLFE CITY, TX  OCTOBER 05: Attorney Lee Merritt speaks during a candle light vigil in honor of Jonathan Price on October 5, 2020 in Wolfe City, Texas. Wolfe City police officer Shaun Lucas has been charged in relation to the fatal shooting of Price on October 3, 2020 after Price was allegedly trying to stop a domestic dispute. (Photo by Montinique Monroe/Getty Images)

Lee previously represented the family of Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man chased, cornered and fatally shot by white vigilantes in a white Georgia neighborhood filled with pro-Trump lawn signs. The young civil rights attorney said he is investigating a civil lawsuit against the white assailants and has hired criminal attorneys to look into potential cases against two of the accused.

Rays efforts to defend Pickett with a white folding chair went viral, to say the least. But while King understands why many lauded his actions, she said, Once the initial thing ended, that should have been it.

Reflecting on the nonviolence practiced by her father and other demonstrators during the civil rights movement, King said they did so because they believed that what they were doing to make great sacrifices was going to bring about a change.

She continued, They were willing to face some things that were very violent and despicable because they understood that the fourth step of nonviolence, that unarmed suffering, is redemptive.

Just weeks before the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, a historic nonviolent demonstration in Washington, D.C., the younger King said its one thing to be frustrated, but we cannot justify this violence.

TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. Please download theGrio mobile apps today!

The post Bernice King reacts to Alabama riverfront brawl as DOJ says it is tracking incident appeared first on TheGrio.
An abortion provider has accused Beverly Hills, whose City Hall is shown, of colluding with antiabortion activists and pressuring a landlord to block an all-trimester clinic from opening in the city. (Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images)

After the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade last summer, Beverly Hills officials protested by lighting up the plaza in front of City Hall in a glow of pink.

Council members had already voted 5 to 0 for a resolution backing abortion rights. We have stood up and spoken out when weve seen human rights taken away, then-Mayor Lili Bosse stated after the vote. This is something I wholeheartedly support with all my soul.

But little more than a year later, the affluent city has become a battleground over reproductive rights.

An abortion provider that planned to open a clinic in Beverly Hills offering procedures beyond 24 weeks of pregnancy is alleging that the city colluded and conspired with antiabortion activists to force out the clinic. It gave formal notice Monday of damage claims against local officials.

The dispute illustrates that even in the bluest parts of America, abortion rights face serious challenges  especially when it comes to the most controversial procedures.

Clinics that perform abortions later in pregnancy  a service that abortion advocates say is sorely needed in California  find themselves under extreme scrutiny. Although 69% of Americans say abortion should be legal in the first three months of pregnancy, only 22% of respondents in a recent poll said third-trimester abortions should be legal.

DuPont Clinic, a Washington, D.C.-based provider, said it has spent millions of dollars updating the medical facility on Wilshire Boulevard with the goal of expanding to the West Coast. Its letter to the city  a required precursor in California to a lawsuit  alleges that four city officials, including Mayor Julian Gold, acted to withhold permits to the facility after antiabortion protests.

It claims the city  where voters in 2020 chose Joe Biden by 17 percentage points over Donald Trump  pressured the landlord to back out of the lease; held secret meetings with members of the group Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust and promised them it would stop DuPont from opening.

The clinic alleges city officials bowed to the political pressure of the antiabortion community instead of protecting the right to abortion enshrined in the California Constitution. DuPont is also targeting the landlord, Douglas Emmett Inc., in a separate lawsuit filed Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Its disappointing to try to return to California  after so much has been in the news about how the state is ready to help people access abortion  only to discover that the reality is different, Dr. Matthew Reeves, DuPonts founder, told the Los Angeles Times.

Beverly Hills officials denied DuPonts allegations and said rescinding the lease was the landlord's decision.

"The assertion that the city came to an agreement with protesters to force the clinic out is false," Deputy City Manager Keith Sterling told The Times on Monday. "The permits were issued after our attorneys confirmed the services to be offered were in compliance with state law. We were anticipating the clinic would open in Beverly Hills later this year."

California statute restricts abortions after a fetus is viable, at about 24 to 26 weeks of pregnancy, unless the patients life or health is in danger. That makes California abortion law more complicated than in the nation's capital and six states  Colorado, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon and Vermont  with no gestational limits on when abortion is legal.

Read more: Need abortion legal help in California? There's now a hotline for that

But California's fetal viability limit is in question, however, after voters in November overwhelmingly approved Proposition 1, adding a right to abortion to the state Constitution, that did not mention the word viability. Legal experts say there is little consensus on whether Californias viability standard still holds.

Read more: Proposition 1 abortion rights ballot measure passes

Nationally, 13 clinics perform abortions beyond 24 weeks of pregnancy and only three go beyond 28 weeks, according to Access Reproductive Justice, a California abortion fund that offers patients financial and logistical support. One clinic in the Bay Area goes to 24 weeks, according to the fund, and one in Los Angeles offers abortions at 26.6 weeks, going beyond on a case-by-case base.

California portrays itself as a safe haven state for all abortion, but in actuality, for people who need third-trimester abortions, there are a lot of obstacles, said Ushma Upadhyay, a public health social scientist and professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive science at UC San Francisco.

In the last year, dozens of Californians beyond the 24th week of pregnancy have had to leave the state to access abortion care, according to Access. Some traveled over 2,300 miles to DuPonts clinic in Washington.

As states across the South and Midwest curtailed abortion after the Supreme Court's Dobbs vs. Jackson decision, there was going to be a greater demand, unfortunately, for the care that we provide, which is all-trimester abortion care, a doctor who was going to work at the Beverly Hills clinic told The Times. The doctor did not want to use her name for safety reasons. What happens is that people are pushed later and later in their pregnancy in states that have restrictions.

Read more: In historic reversal, Supreme Court overturns Roe vs. Wade, permitting states to outlaw abortion

Abortions later in pregnancy are rare  fewer than 1% were performed on or after 21 weeks in 2020, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  and more controversial.

Even in California, support for abortion is not absolute: In a Public Policy Institute of California poll, 42% of likely voters said it should be legal in all cases and 33% said in most cases.

The doctor who planned to work for DuPont in California said patients seeking later abortions typically face a change of circumstances, including the discovery of fetal anomalies or a medical problem such as cancer, lupus or preeclampsia. A few may not have been aware that they were pregnant.

Expanding to California, DuPont figured, would reduce the weeks-long backlog at the Washington clinic and offer some patients a less onerous journey. Gov. Gavin Newsom has hailed California as a haven for people from out of state, with some of the nations strongest protections, including a shield law that helps protect patients and providers from civil liability imposed by other states.

Read more: Column: Red states are threatening to criminalize out-of-state abortions. These blue states are fighting back

In September 2022, DuPont entered a lease on the Beverly Hills property with Douglas Emmett, a Santa Monica-based real estate investment trust company, to open a clinic much like in Washington, with doulas and dedicated nurses and private rooms with aromatherapy.

We cant wait to bring our person-centered model of all-trimester abortion care to the West coast," the clinic said on Twitter in October.

A few weeks later  as Californians got ready to vote on Proposition 1  antiabortion activists began to take note. This is horrifying! Greg Burt, Capitol engagement director for the California Family Council, wrote to DuPont on Twitter. Abortion up to the moment of birth. How barbaric.

DuPonts Twitter post was bombarded, mostly from anonymous accounts:

Absolute EVIL

You misspelled eugenics.

You absolute ghouls. You will rot in hell.

DuPont was confident the landlord and city supported abortion rights, its doctors said. There was already a clinic in the Wilshire building and another had historically provided later-trimester procedures. DuPont pressed on, according to its notice to the city, discussing permits and zoning with officials and hiring architects and a general contractor to demolish the old offices and build a new medical suite.

In April, protesters projected MURDER MILL on the side of the building on Wilshire. A week later, three spoke at a City Council meeting.

Tasha Barker, a Sacramento paralegal and harp instructor, called in to argue that the clinic was different from others in California because it performed abortions past fetal viability. Right on their website, it says theyll perform these abortions for no reason at all.

Thats their mission  to offer abortions in the third trimester at will  and most people, whether they be pro-life or pro-choice, agree that that is abhorrent, Barker said, urging a pause in building permits. I'm asking you to consider how extreme this clinic is."

A few days later, DuPont found out the city had suddenly withheld permits for the clinic.

DuPonts clinic in Washington, D.C., is one of a handful in the nation that specialize in later abortions.

"If you are between 26 weeks and 31 weeks 6 days into your pregnancy, we can still see you, regardless of your medical history, background, or fetal indications," DuPonts website states. "We do not require any particular 'reason' to be seen here  if you would like to terminate your pregnancy, we support you in that decision."

But DuPont's doctors were not sure they could perform abortions in Beverly Hills as late as in Washington. They had not fully worked out the limits of the law with their attorneys, said the doctor who planned to work in the clinic.

Of course, we were going to be compliant with California law, she said. But the question of compliance and how to do that is not a concrete, Just stay below 28 weeks.

After protesters raised the issue of gestational age limits with the City Council, DuPont said, Beverly Hills officials began to press for more information.

On April 25, the city attorney told DuPonts lawyer that he had some questions about the building permits, according to the notice letter DuPont filed Monday. Laurence Wiener said the city had concerns, based on language on DuPonts website, that the clinic intended to violate state laws on abortion; he said he would release the permits, but asked for a letter from DuPont.

The city wanted assurance that the clinic would "follow California law, which provides that abortions are not permitted once the fetus is viable, except to protect the health of the mother, Sterling, the deputy city manager, told The Times.

DuPonts doctors said they were shocked; the request, they allege in their notice to the city, was "improper" and "discriminatory."

We have now reached an impasse in Beverly Hills due to the city attorney refusing to release our building permits, which were approved weeks ago, DuPont emailed the mayor and other city officials April 27.

DuPont offered to discuss preparations for the clinic, but no one from the city, DuPont alleges, responded to the email. The permits were issued  without DuPont writing the letter.

Meanwhile, DuPont alleges, the city met with representatives from the Douglas Emmett company and asked if there was a way to avoid opening the clinic. According to DuPont, the landlord's representatives later said city officials became "visibly upset" when told no, that the lease had been signed.

On May 31, Beverly Hills chief of police sent DuPont and the landlord a draft of a letter warning the building's tenants that protesters may attempt to disrupt business and there could be violence or vandalism that requires law enforcement involvement.

Read more: This abortion doctor is not ready to leave Alabama. You don't want me here? That's why I'm gonna stay

DuPont contends it was intended to terrify tenants and pressure DuPont to leave. The city counters it was an information letter offering police contact as protests picked up.

A Douglas Emmett lawyer cited the letter nearly two weeks later when he emailed the clinic that the company would rescind the lease. The notice, copied to the mayor and city manager, instructed DuPont to cease work on the premises.

The real estate company said DuPont had failed to disclose that the primary focus of its practice would be providing abortions for abnormal and high risk pregnancies including what are commonly referred to as late term abortions or that its Washington clinic had drawn protests. The landlord said it did not learn the actual scope of the clinics work until it saw the police chief's draft letter.

DuPont says the company knew exactly what services it intended to offer. Its legal complaint includes a June 2022 letter of intent to Douglas Emmett describing a "private referral center for all-trimester abortion care and ultrasound-guided procedures, primarily for management of abnormal and high-risk pregnancies.

DuPont's lawsuit, which includes 10 claims, maintains Douglas Emmett illegally and improperly breached the lease, without offering to compensate DuPont for millions in renovations.

Douglas Emmett declined to respond to the lawsuit Monday morning, with a spokesman stating the company has "a well-established policy of abstaining from discussing leasing matters with external entities."

As construction halted, protests accelerated.

Small groups  unaware that the company had tried to rescind the lease  gathered outside the Wilshire building, wielding graphic pictures of bloody aborted fetuses. They stood on highway bridges, setting off smoke flares and wielding signs that said, "SHUT DOWN THE DUPONT ABORTION MURDER MILL."

On July 18, a handful of protesters attended the City Council meeting.

Unfortunately, DuPont has come into the city and its an all-trimester abortion clinic that has caused the dark cloud to creep in and sweep over the city, Tim Clement, outreach director for Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust, told the mayor and council members. I would like to have a sit-down with you and talk about maybe celebrating rather than protesting.

More than a week later, Clement said, he and his attorney met the mayor, deputy city manager, city attorney and a detective via Zoom.

Everything is supposed to be hush  like, I cant speak about it, Clement told protesters at a July 29 public rally. But we came to an agreement.

Clement read them an email he said he'd received from Sterling, the deputy city manager: "Per our conversation yesterday morning, this email is to confirm that the attorney for the landlord ... has notified the city that DuPont Clinic will no longer be taking occupancy."

The crowd whooped and cheered.

Read more: Gasps, tears and fear: Inside a Texas abortion clinic the moment Roe was overturned

Victories, sometimes theyre not seen in the pro-life movement, but having a statement saying that theyre not setting up shop Clement told The Times. We just saved babies. That's our goal, because abortion is murder, and killing viable babies is horrifically wrong.

Now, Clement said, the activists are focusing on protesting a Planned Parenthood clinic set to open this month in Murrieta. This is why I haven't left California, Clement said. This is where the fights at.

The mayor did not respond to requests for comment. Sterling, one of the officials DuPont alleges acted against the clinic, told The Times before the formal legal notice was filed that city officials met with antiabortion activists, but there was no agreement. They informed Clement that the city had been advised the lease was rescinded, he said.

Asked if Beverly Hills remained committed to abortion rights, Sterling said the city stood by its public positions.

I think where the concern comes is when the line is crossed and the safety of our community is at risk, Sterling said. So, while the council supports all the things that they've stood for, including a woman's right to choose, at the end of the day, our No. 1 responsibility is to keep our community safe.

The doctor who would have worked at the Beverly Hills clinic said no officials voiced opposition to a third-trimester abortion provider in the city. But they showed clear discomfort  after the protests  with DuPont's website and the services the clinic might provide.

To me, you're pro-choice if you act on your values...," the doctor said. We support abortion rights, but not when theres going to be a protest?"

But the doctor has not given up hope that California might follow through on its commitment to reproductive rights  a principle that, she says, includes abortion in the third trimester.

She still wants to open a clinic in the Los Angeles area  though probably not in Beverly Hills.

A lot of amazing things have been done in California  laws passed, funding created  but none of it means anything if people can't open clinics and patients can't be seen, she said. If we want to be a haven state and be welcoming people from across the country to come here, then we have to really do that. We have to go all the way."

Abortion rights activists chain themselves to the "Urban Light" installation outside the Los Angeles County Museum of Art last summer after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade. (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
How would you feel if you suddenly lost your health insurance? Frightened? Vulnerable?

Well, 4 million Americans, including families with small children, have just faced that terrifying reality. All were on state Medicaid programs, many joining during the pandemic when they lost their jobs and their insurance coverage. Despite returning to work, they were allowed to stay on Medicaid without income review  until last May.

Now the states are required to review their eligibility to continue. In the coming months, more people will face this reality. Many went back to work, but continued to be on Medicaid instead of having a paycheck deduction for employer-provided insurance. They can ignore the renewal packets that come in the mail if they opt for employer-provided insurance

But others work in low-paying jobs that dont offer health insurance. Or they have no income at all. They need to respond immediately when receiving the renewal request packet to verify their eligibility.

Many people arent responding, perhaps because they already have other insurance, or they are confused by the notification. Perhaps they have moved and never received the information.

Even worse, in the rush to reassess eligibility, many states have been overwhelmed by the review process. In fact, CMS, the federal agency that is responsible for health services, has just sent a letter to 36 states reprimanding them for long call center wait times, complicated procedures, and lack of follow-up .

According to a new report by the Kaiser Family Foundation, approximately three-fourths of the dis-enrollments since the process began in early spring were because the renewal packets were not returned. But among those who did return their renewal packets, two-thirds successfully renewed their coverage.

This doesnt seem to be a political issue. Both red states and blue states are accused in this bureaucratic nightmare.

Caught in the middle, though, are millions of Americans who are barely scraping by. If uninsured in a healthcare emergency, they will run to hospital emergency rooms, which are required to treat and stabilize health problems but not to provide further care. Some will receive bills for treatment, which will likely result in collections. And in rising health insurance premiums for all of us!

Medicaid solutions

If you know someone who is being taken off Medicaid, please let them know through local community groups that there is help available. Each state has a program for low- or no-income adults and children, setting its own income limits. There may also be separate programs for children only, with higher income cutoffs. Dont assume you wont qualify.

If you were already on Medicaid, the first step is to return the re-enrollment package you received in the mail, despite its seeming complexity. There is no time limit or open enrollment period for Medicaid, but you must act promptly to prevent dis-enrollment. And if you think you were mistakenly removed, you can immediately re-apply again.

Obamacare health insurance marketplace

One alternative for people who earn more than their states income limit for Medicaid is Obamacare. Its a mistaken assumption that these Affordable Care Act plans are too expensive. In fact, according to HealthInsurance.org, an online consumer resource site, there are actually free Silver plans with excellent coverage available to people with up to about $20,000 in annual income. And free or low-cost coverage for people with higher incomes in many areas. Income limits are much higher if families have children.

You can find your own plan and cost in every state using their calculator at www.healthinsurance.org/Obamacare/subsidy-calculator.

And if you go to the government website Healthcare.gov, you can search specific plans and apply online. If your state of residence is one of those maintaining its own health insurance marketplace, youll be connected to your state marketplace website.

Healthcare is one of those confusing topics that make your eyes glaze over  especially at the moment you lose coverage from your job or through this new Medicaid review. Louise Norris, health policy analyst at HealthInsurance.org says they are trying desperately to keep people from falling through the cracks during this unsettling period. She notes, We all agree that people who are no longer eligible should be taken off Medicaid, but its important to do that without dis-enrolling people who are still eligible.

States need to cut through the re-approval bottlenecks. And people who are uninsured need to understand these additional resources, which I hope you will share. Thats the Savage Truth.

(Terry Savage is a registered investment adviser and the author of four best-selling books, including The Savage Truth on Money. Terry responds to questions on her blog at TerrySavage.com.)

2023 Terry Savage. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
President Joe Biden dipped a toe into the contract talks between automakers and the UAW on Monday, reaffirming his support for electric vehicle jobs as a path to the middle class while urging the companies to address the union's concerns over the transition.

"I support a fair transition to a clean energy future," Biden said in a statement timed exactly a month before the United Auto Workers contract with Detroit automakers is set to expire Sept. 14.

He went on to list things that are key union priorities, including honoring the right to organize unions, providing jobs "that can support a family," and ensuring that industry "transitions are fair and look to retool, reboot, and rehire in the same factories and communities at comparable wages, while giving existing workers the first shot to fill those jobs."

The talks pose a delicate balance for Biden and Democrats between their priorities of transitioning the nation to electric vehicles and courting support of the UAW, which has expressed anxiety about a range of economic concerns, including federally subsidized work going to non-union battery plants.

In separate statements, both the union and General Motors welcomed Biden's comments, while stressing different aspects.

UAW President Shawn Fain said the union agreed with the president that the Big Threes joint venture battery plants should have the same strong pay and safety standards that generations of UAW members have fought for."

Biden's statement didn't directly address the joint battery plants by name.

Meanwhile, GM issued a statement saying the company agrees it is critical for all sides to work together on a fair labor contract  a contract that provides job security, supports good wages and benefits for our team members while enabling companies to compete successfully domestically and globally.

The union has yet to make a presidential endorsement, despite a flood of other labor support for Biden.

A senior administration official told POLITICO last week the UAW has no expectation Biden would discuss specific demands but that the union would like to see the president's support of their perspective in the transition to a clean energy economy.

"Companies should use this process to make sure they enlist their workers in the next chapter of the industry by offering them good paying jobs and a say in the future of their workplace," Biden said in his statement, referring to the transition away from fossil fuels.

The UAW's economic demands, released publicly this month, specifically ask for protections in the case of plant closures, as well as major pay raises.

The union has also said it wants workers at jointly owned battery plants, key in the EV transition, to be brought up to comparable wage and safety standards as union workers. A recent letter from Senate Democrats suggested the automakers include those facilities in national contracts; the UAW hasn't explicitly made that demand.

Tanya Snyder contributed to this report.
The Biden administration released guidance Monday for universities on how to maintain diversity in their institutions after the Supreme Court ruled colleges cant use race as a factor in admissions.

The departments of Education and Justice sent a letter and a questions and answers sheet to outline what the decision said and what steps are legal for universities to take to fulfill their commitment to diversity without explicitly using race as a deciding factor.

The high court ruled in June that universities could not use race as a factor in admissions but also stated: nothing in [its] opinion should be construed as prohibiting universities from considering an applicants discussion of how race affected his or her life, be it through discrimination, inspiration, or otherwise.

Following the Supreme Courts recent decision, the President and Vice President called on colleges, universities, and other stakeholders to seize the opportunity to expand access to educational opportunity for all students and to build diverse student bodies, including by recognizing and valuing students who have overcome adversity, the letter to the universities stated.

In the question and answer sheet, the Biden administration emphasized that while schools could not consider the race of a student itself as a deciding factor, colleges can take into account how race has affected a students life and their experiences with racial discrimination in college essays.

For example, a university could consider an applicants explanation about what it means to him to be the first Black violinist in his citys youth orchestra or an applicants account of overcoming prejudice when she transferred to a rural high school where she was the only student of South Asian descent. An institution could likewise consider a guidance counselor or other recommenders description of how an applicant conquered her feelings of isolation as a Latina student at an overwhelmingly white high school to join the debate team, the letter says.

Other ways the Biden administration is urging colleges to diversify is by recruiting in areas with underserved students and ensuring need-based financial support to students who may not be able to afford their institutions.

After the ruling, many institutions released statements that they intend to comply with the law while also recommitting to their diversity efforts. However, most schools did not provide concrete steps they will take to fulfill that goal.

One step some universities have taken so far is eliminating their legacy admissions  the practice of giving preference to students of alumni in admissions  which benefits rich and white students.

For example, in seeking a diverse student applicant pool, institutions may direct outreach and recruitment efforts toward schools and school districts that serve predominantly students of color and students of limited financial means, according to the question and answer sheet.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
By Nate Raymond and Jarrett Renshaw

(Reuters) - The Biden administration on Monday issued new guidance to colleges and universities on how they could still legally encourage racial diversity on their campuses even after the U.S. Supreme Court ended affirmative action in college admissions.

The guidance, from the Education and Justice departments, came after the conservative-majority Supreme Court in June ruled that colleges cannot legally consider race as a factor on its own when deciding whom to admit to their schools.

Democratic President Joe Biden's administration had defended that long-standing practice in the court cases against Harvard University and the University of North Carolina.

The ruling left some questions unanswered, and more legal challenges by conservative activists are expected targeting diversity initiatives in education and corporate America.

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said promoting campus diversity remained important even after the ruling.

"We know what has happened at colleges, when individual states have banned affirmative action in the past, he told reporters. Fewer students of color applied, and fewer students of color were admitted. We cannot afford that kind of backpedaling on a national scale."

In guidance documents issued on Monday, his department and the Justice Department said that after that ruling, schools cannot allow their admissions decisions to be influenced by any demographic data related to an applicant's race that they collect.

But the departments said universities may consider how race has affected an applicant's life, such as in an applicant's essay. One example would be if someone wrote what it meant to be the first Black violinist in a youth orchestra.

Universities may also pursue targeted outreach and recruitment to boost enrollment of underrepresented groups and may consider race and other factors like geography, financial resources and family background in doing so, the departments said.

Schools may also re-examine other admissions preferences, such as those given to "legacy" applicants related to alumni or donors' children, which "reduce opportunities for others who have been foreclosed from such advantages," the departments said.

The Education Department's Office of Civil Rights last month opened an investigation into whether Harvard racially discriminates by favoring "legacy" applicants, which civil rights groups say favors white applicants.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston and Jarrett Renshaw in Washington; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
President Biden on Monday called on both sides to strike a fair agreement amid the contract negotiations between the United Auto Workers (UAW) and the top U.S. automakers, known as the Big Three.

As the Big Three auto companies and the United Auto Workers come together  one month before the expiration of their contract  to negotiate a new agreement, I want to be clear about where I stand. Im asking all sides to work together to forge a fair agreement, Biden said in a statement.

The unions worker contracts expire in September, and the UAW has warned Ford, General Motors and Stellantis, formerly Chrysler, that it is prepared to strike over negotiations about cost-of-living pay raises, pensions and other issues.

Biden added that he supports a fair transition to a clean energy future, doubling down on the issue while the UAW is currently withholding its endorsement of his reelection bid due to concerns over the White Houses focus on electric vehicles (EVs).

The president argued the transition means ensuring that Big Three auto jobs are good jobs that can support a family; that auto companies should honor the right to organize; take every possible step to avoid painful plant closings; and ensure that when transitions are needed, the transitions are fair and look to retool, reboot, and rehire in the same factories and communities at comparable wages, while giving existing workers the first shot to fill those jobs.

The need to transition to a clean energy economy should provide a winwin opportunity for auto companies and unionized workers, he added.

He also said that UAW helped create the middle class in the U.S. and deserves a contract that sustains the middle class.

When asked about the level of concern in the White House over a worker stoppage if negotiations fail, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden believes in collective bargaining and pointed to the recent successful negotiations between the Teamsters and UPS.

Were just going to have to be hopeful and be positive that they will come to an agreement, she added.

Biden met with UAW President Shawn Fain to discuss contract negotiations in July after union leadership had asked for an opportunity to brief White House senior staff on their analysis and positions related to the negotiations with the automakers.

When UAW announced in May that it would withhold its endorsement, Fain said that the union wants to see a just transition to EVs where the workers who make the auto industry run arent left behind. He noted that taxpayer money is being used to build up the electric vehicle industry.

The union has historically backed Democrats and endorsed Biden in 2020. Fain has made clear that it is not going to support former President Trump.

Updated at 2:51 pm.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in college admissions at the end of June.

The Education and Justice Departments released new guidance for colleges in the ruling's aftermath.

They said colleges can reconsider how they use legacy preference in admissions.

The White House just told colleges they can take a closer look at how they favor legacy students in their admissions processes.

On Monday, President Joe Biden's Education and Justice Departments released new guidance to schools in the aftermath of the Supreme Court decision at the end of July that struck down affirmative action in college admissions. While the high court's ruling made clear that race cannot be considered when deciding whether a student will be admitted to an institution, the administration's new resources are intended to "help colleges and universities as they work to lawfully pursue efforts to achieve a student body that is diverse across a range of factors, including race and ethnicity," the press release said.

"Ensuring access to higher education for students from different backgrounds is one of the most powerful tools we have to prepare graduates to lead an increasingly diverse nation and make real our country's promise of opportunity for all," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. "These resources provide universities with the information they need to determine what lawful tools remain available to them to promote diversity in higher education."

A Dear Colleague letter to colleges penned by Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke and Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine Lhamon said that following the Supreme Court decision, "sustained action" is required to ensure students of color and low-income students have equal access to higher education  and that means, in part, examining how the school currently admits its students.

"With respect to admissions practices themselves, especially for the upcoming cycle, the Departments encourage colleges and universities to review their policies to ensure they identify and reward those attributes that they most value, such as hard work, achievement, intellectual curiosity, potential, and determination," the letter said.

"Conversely," the letter continued, "colleges and universities can examine admission preferences, such as those based on legacy status or donor affiliation, that are unrelated to a prospective applicant's individual merit or potential, that further benefit privileged students, and that reduce opportunities for others who have been foreclosed from such advantages."

Following the affirmative action decision, legacy preference in college admissions entered a harsh spotlight. The Education Department opened a civil rights inquiry into Harvard University over its usage of legacy preference following allegations from three groups  the Chica Project, the African Community Economic Development of New England, and the Greater Boston Latino Network  that claimed Harvard was favoring white and wealthy applications who were less qualified over applicants of color.

Since the decision, a growing number of colleges including Wesleyan and Occidental announced they were dropping legacy consideration from their admissions processes, and there's increased pressure for prestigious schools like Harvard to follow suit. Harvard has yet to comment on how it is evaluating legacy preference.

In addition to the Dear Colleague letter to schools, the departments also released an FAQ that schools can use to better understand the implications of the Supreme Court decision. It included information on how a school can consider race in admissions, saying that while the decision limited a school's ability to consider "race in and of itself," it can still be used as a part of a discussion on how race has impacted the applicants life.

"For example," the FAQ said, "a university could consider an applicant's explanation about what it means to him to be the first Black violinist in his city's youth orchestra or an applicant's account of overcoming prejudice when she transferred to a rural high school where she was the only student of South Asian descent."

Cardona told reporters in a Monday press call that a "comprehensive report on the most effective and promising strategies for colleges to lawfully cultivate diverse applicant pools and achieve diverse student bodies" will be released in a few weeks.

Read the original article on Business Insider
U.S. President Biden returns to the White House in Washington

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday called for union auto workers and Detroit's Big Three automakers to come together on a new agreement before their contracts expire next month.

"Im asking all sides to work together to forge a fair agreement," Biden said in a statement as talks continued between the United Auto Workers (UAW) and Ford, General Motors and Stellantis' Chrysler unit.

"As we move forward in this transition to new technologies, the UAW deserves a contract that sustains the middle class," Biden said in the statement released by the White House.

The union represents 150,000 U.S. hourly workers at the three automakers and has not ruled out striking at all of them if new contracts are not reached by a Sept. 14 deadline.

UAW President Shawn Fain briefed Biden last month on the negotiations and met with U.S. lawmakers as the union pushes for higher wages and benefits. He has also criticized some of the Biden administration's electric vehicle policies, and the union so far has not endorsed Biden's re-election bid.

Biden, a Democrat, campaigned on union support and has weighed in on labor talks in the railroad industry and other sectors.

Addressing climate change is also a key part of his agenda. "I support a fair transition to a clean-energy future," he said on Monday.

UAW is seeking to include workers at joint-venture vehicle battery plants in its contracts.

Fain said the union appreciated Biden's support.

"As the president said, the UAW helped build the middle class and we are fighting for contracts that will bring prosperity back to working-class communities that have been struggling for far too long," Fain said in a statement.

GM said it will "bargain in good faith" with the union.

"We agree it is critical for all sides to work together on a fair labor contract  a contract that provides job security and supports good wages and benefits for our team members while enabling companies to compete successfully domestically and globally," it said in a statement.

Ford said it looked "forward to working with the UAW on creative solutions during this time when our dramatically changing industry needs a skilled and competitive workforce more than ever."

Stellantis said it "remains committed to working constructively and collaboratively with the UAW to negotiate a new agreement that balances the concerns of our 43,000 employees."

Shares of the automakers were nearly flat on Monday.

A strike would hit earnings at each affected automaker by about $400 million to $500 million per week of production, Deutsche Bank analyst Emmanuel Rosner said in a research note on Monday.

The union's proposals for wage increases, cost-of-living adjustments and elimination of a tiered wage system also carry costs for automakers, Rosner noted.

Deutsche Bank estimated that total incremental contract costs to the three automakers combined in the "higher probability" scenario would be $3.6 billion in the first year and total $23 billion in the four years of the contract.

(Reporting by Ben Klayman in Detroit and and Susan Heavey in Washington; Additional reporting by Ismail Shakil in Ottawa; Editing by Caitlin Webber, Matthew Lewis, Alistair Bell and Cynthia Osterman)
Two companies are jockeying for dominance of the market for fast-tracking passengers through airport security lines  and each wants Congress to take its side.

Air travelers could find themselves caught in the middle, if the fight lengthens wait times as demand surges.

The power struggle is part of a recent effort to require all travelers to submit to the Transportation Security Administrations identification checks. That would include passengers who have been pre-screened by CLEAR, which allows its paying customers to cut to the front of security lines with a biometric scan instead of presenting an ID.

CLEAR is under increasing scrutiny forrecent security breaches  including an incident in which a passenger got through security with a boarding pass dug out of the trash. Now its biggest rival  a company called IDEMIA that performs background checks for TSA PreCheck and makes the agencys ID-scanning machines  is seizing the moment to urge lawmakers to make ID checks mandatory for CLEARs members.

That demand could cut into CLEARs business model and potentially gum up security lines that otherwise would be moving faster.

We wholeheartedly believe that every passenger should have their identification verified at the checkpoint with a [TSA agent] using a CAT machine, said Lisa Shoemaker, IDEMIAs vice president of corporate relations, referring to Idemias technology that TSA uses to scan IDs.



The skirmish is just the latest in a long-running competition between the two companies, who have lobbied to win increasing shares of the lucrative market to speed up airport security. Adding to the tension, CLEAR and another vendor have won contracts to start providing PreCheck background checks, potentially cutting into IDEMIAs market share.

An ID check wouldnt stop CLEAR from escorting passengers to the front of the line, but airline and travel industry analyst Henry Harteveldt suggested that any hiccup in the process could hamper the companys ability to justify its $189-a-year membership fee.

CLEARs promise to customers is still speed, Harteveldt said. And if you are not getting the expedited experience that you are paying for and expect to have, why bother?

CLEAR, which has said the recent security lapses were due to rogue employees and not its technology, said it has been working with TSA since 2020 on a system that would integrate its biometric screening with TSAs machines, removing the need for a separate ID check. But that system isnt online yet, and theres no timetable for when it would be.

Biometrics are the strongest form of identity at the checkpoint, said CLEAR spokesperson Annabel Walsh. She added that TSA has reverified the IDs of 4.7 million CLEAR travelers in the last six months without citing a single issue.

The security screening war

CLEARs investors include some airlines but not others, adding even more factions to the battle.

According to an industry official, who was granted anonymity to speak candidly about matters before Congress, IDEMIA and American Airlines recently pitched Senate Appropriations Committee aides on language, seen by POLITICO, that would have required all travelers to submit to TSA ID checks. American is not a CLEAR investor.

Shoemaker declined to comment on whether the company pitched the language. American spokesperson Amy Lawrence said, We appreciate Congress and the Transportation Security Administration taking a leadership role to address this critical aviation security issue.



But Shoemaker said the company has talked to lawmakers about the need for a valid ID check at the security line. Shoemaker didnt directly address CLEARs processes, instead lauding PreChecks procedures, which include an in-person interview, identity documentation and fingerprinting at enrollment that are later cross-referenced at the TSA ID scan. TSAs enrollment process can take days. CLEAR enrolls people on the spot after scanning an identity document to use on the same day.

Considering IDEMIAs long-running cooperation with TSA on the PreCheck program, we believe now is an excellent time to re-evaluate the need for a Registered Traveler program at the checkpoint, Shoemaker said, referring to CLEAR.

The final language in the Senate bill to fund the Homeland Security Department during the next fiscal year didnt go quite as far as IDEMIA and American wanted. Instead the bill, released late last month, strongly encourages TSA to verify the IDs of all passengers including passengers enrolled in and escorted by [Registered Traveler] service providers  in other words, CLEAR.

Also tucked into the spending bill is language that would require TSA to brief the committee on potential security incidents involving CLEAR and a plan to address any security vulnerabilities created by [Registered Traveler] service providers  a nod to at least three security incidents involving CLEAR that have alarmed lawmakers and regulators alike.

CLEARs security breaches

Those incidents include one in July 2022 in which CLEAR registered a passenger under an ID that wasnt his, then escorted him through a TSA checkpoint to the baggage screening line even after CLEARs systems flagged the identification as mismatched. That fraud wasnt discovered until days later, when that passenger tried to carry ammunition through a TSA checkpoint at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

Walsh said the companys technology was not responsible in any way for this incident and said the company took immediate action to end the practice that led to the human error. CLEAR customers whose IDs didnt match the companys biometric system were required to re-enroll in the program, Walsh said.

Two other incidents, including the one where a passenger took a boarding pass out of the garbage, occurred in January and March of this year. They involved passengers that were escorted to the front of the baggage screening line even though they werent enrolled in CLEAR. Neither person made it onto a plane.

CLEAR fired the employees responsible for the lapses and their managers, and required all employees to be retrained on CLEARs verification process, the company said.

As a result of the recent incidents, and under pressure from lawmakers alarmed at the breaches, TSA said last month that some of CLEARs approximately 16 million members would need to show ID instead of just using a biometric scan.

TSA also said all passengers will have to use the same machines the federal agency uses to scan IDs, regardless of membership in CLEAR. But the agency has yet to fully implement that policy and hasnt said when it will  something Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, the top Democrat on the House committee that oversees the Homeland Security Department, has criticized.

Each passing day the homeland is at greater risk until TSA acts to completely close these security vulnerabilities that it was alerted to last year, Thompson said in a statement. We cannot afford any additional delay.

TSA spokesperson R. Carter Langston, responding to questions about requiring all airline passengers to show ID, said, accurate and reliable verification of passenger identity is foundational to aviation security and effective screening by TSA. Langston added that the agency has established a timeline for all passengers to use IDEMIAs CAT machine, though he declined to say when 100 percent of CLEAR users will need to show IDs to a TSA agent.

Though CLEAR is working with TSA to integrate its biometric scans with the agencys ID technology, theres no indication when that might be completed. In the meantime, TSA will require a physical ID check as a result of security concerns.

Airlines for America, which represents major U.S. airlines, said it supports TSAs efforts to enhance passenger screening. Delta and United, both CLEAR investors, referred questions to TSA or CLEAR, with Delta adding it works with all its airport partners to ensure the security of its customers.

The security breaches come amid CLEARs plans to expand services.

Walsh said CLEAR welcome discussions with any interested members of Congress to describe our security track record and the role we play in enhancing homeland security and improving the passenger experience.

Neither company is a novice when it comes to Beltway influence, but both have brought on new heavy hitters recently. CLEAR has hired former Homeland Security Administrator Jeh Johnson, who led the department during the Obama administration. IDEMIA has hired former House Homeland Security Committee ranking member John Katko (R-N.Y.), who shortly before he left office wrote a letter raising concerns about CLEARs security procedures. He registered to lobby for IDEMIA five months later.

The ID check push comes after CLEAR won previous rounds of the fight for influence.

IDEMIA was for many years TSAs sole vendor for PreCheck background vetting  and the company has sought to ensure it stays that way. In 2016, TSA decided to open PreCheck bidding for other companies  and IDEMIA (then known as MorphoTrust) filed a challenge against TSA for it, though the company insisted it wasnt aimed at jamming the competition.

In 2020, TSA announced that CLEAR and technology-provider Telos would be approved as PreCheck vendors, though neither company has started enrolling passengers yet. The PreCheck contractor expansion poses a significant challenge for IDEMIA, and a big opening for CLEAR.

At the same time, more than 15 million passengers have signed up for TSAs PreCheck program, which is currently contracted through IDEMIA  though eventually CLEAR will also be able to provide this service.

Harteveldt said CLEARs latest security issues could spell trouble for its business. If the company cant meet strict standards for accuracy when collecting data and authenticating and properly screening passengers, the companys viability as a business is in question, he said.

Its a very cloudy outlook for CLEAR if they cannot rectify these problems that the TSA has raised, Harteveldt said.
Former President Donald Trump on Monday said that a witness in the Georgia election conspiracy probe should not testify ahead of an expected indictment from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.

Trump fired off a missive on Truth Social after former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan confirmed that he was invited to testify before the grand jury on Tuesday.

"I am reading reports that failed former Lt. Governor of Georgia, Jeff Duncan, will be testifying before the Fulton Country Grand Jury," Trump wrote. "He shouldn't. I barely know him but he was, right from the beginning of this Witch Hunt, a nasty disaster for those looking into the Election Fraud that took place in Georgia. He refused to have a Special Session to find out what went on, became very unpopular with Republicans (I refused to endorse him!), and fought the TRUTH all the way. A loser, he went to FCNN!"

The ex-president followed his warning to Duncan with an all-caps rant about his role in the 2020 presidential election, which he was recently criminally indicted for by special counsel Jack Smith.

"WOULD SOMEONE PLEASE TELL THE FULTON COUNTRY GRAND JURY THAT I DID NOT TAMPER WITH THE ELECTION," Trump fumed. "THE PEOPLE THAT TAMPERED WITH IT WERE THE ONES WHO RIGGED IT, AND SADLY, PHONEY FANI WILLIS, WHO HAD SHOCKINGLY ALLOWED ATLANTA TO BECOME ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS CITIES ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, HAS NO INTEREST IN SEEING THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE AVAILABLE, OR FINDING OUT WHO THE PEOPLE WHO COMMITTED THIS CRIME ARE. SHE ONLY WANTS TO 'GET TRUMP.' I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SHOW THIS INFO TO THE G.J."

Former U.S. Attorney Barb McQuade, a University of Michigan law professor, tweeted that Trump was effectively "witness tampering in real time."

Witness tampering in real time. pic.twitter.com/b0uvQ8dbYK  Barb McQuade (@BarbMcQuade) August 14, 2023

"He is now taunting grand jury witnesses in Georgia," tweeted attorney Bradley Moss. "Just begging for trouble from whatever judge gets assigned that case if, as expected, Willis indicts him tomorrow."

He is now taunting grand jury witnesses in Georgia. Just begging for trouble from whatever judge gets assigned that case if, as expected, Willis indicts him tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/vwh7sBBJES  Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) August 14, 2023

"This is blatantly unlawful stuff," argued Georgia State Law Professor Anthony Michael Kreis. "Add witness tampering to the potential predicate acts for a Georgia RICO charge."

Add witness tampering to the potential predicate acts for a Georgia RICO charge. O.C.G.A.  16-10-93. This is blatantly unlawful stuff. #gapol pic.twitter.com/iA4hKBB1Nw  Anthony Michael Kreis (@AnthonyMKreis) August 14, 2023

MSNBC legal analyst Katie Phang predicted that "This is going to go so very badly for Trump...."

This is going to go so very badly for Trump https://t.co/1K3fHQjc9C  Katie Phang (@KatiePhang) August 14, 2023

Former President & Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Sherrilyn Ifill, argued that a different defendant would be treated differently.

"Imagine an accused gang leader posting this on social media after public reports about a witness to be called before the grand jury?" she wrote. "Would such a defendant be jailed or charged with witness tampering? In the alternative Trump is actively seeking to poison the jury pool."

Trump's Monday post comes mere days after U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan  the Obama-era appointee who was randomly assigned to oversee his election conspiracy case in Washington, D.C.  cautioned Trump during a Friday hearing to stop making repeated antagonizing statements.

Instead, the former president ignored Chutkan's advisory, unleashing another torrent of Truths on Monday, this time attacking the judge herself.

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"The following TRUTH is a quote by highly partisan Judge Tanya Chutkan, angrily sentencing a J-6er in October of 2022. She obviously wants me behind bars. VERY BIASED AND UNFAIR!" Trump wrote in an early morning Truth, before citing Chutkan's sentencing:

"'I SEE THE VIDEOTAPES. I SEE THE FOOTAGE OF THE FLAGS AND THE SIGNS THAT PEOPLE WERE CARRYING AND THE HATS THAT THEY WERE WEARING, AND THE GARB. AND THE PEOPLE WHO MOBBED THE CAPITOL WERE THERE IN FEALTY, IN LOYALTY, TO ONE MAN, NOT TO THE CONSTITUTION, OF WHICH MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO COME BEFORE ME SEEM WOEFULLY IGNORANT; NOT TO THE IDEALS OF THIS COUNTRY, AND NOT TO THE PRINCIPLES OF DEMOCRACY. IT'S A BLIND LOYALTY TO ONE PERSON WHO, BY THE WAY, REMAINS FREE TO THIS DAY.' Judge Tanya Chutkan!"

Last week, Trump took aim at Willis when he advanced an unfounded lie that the no-nonsense Georgia DA had an "affair" with a "gang member," according to Rolling Stone. "They say there's a young woman  a young racist in Atlanta  they say she was after a certain gang and she ended up having an affair with the head of the gang or a gang member. And this is a person who wants to indict me [] wants to indict me for a perfect phone call," Trump claimed of Willis during a New Hampshire campaign event, in a massively misrepresented interpretation of a case Willis oversaw in 2019.

Willis called the allegations "derogatory and false."

Read more

about Fani Willis' probe
Hours before the recent coup in Niger, American diplomats painted a picture of a democratic government that, while imperfect, was more stable than others in the region.

Theres a public perception of general corruption, but its not as bad as other countries in the area, a U.S. official told NBC News on July 25. Later that day, Nigerien security and military leaders overthrew the countrys democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum.

Niger was the sixth country in Africas sprawling Sahel region, which spans the continent from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, to have experienced a coup since 2020. It is also a base for emboldened Islamist militants and one of the worlds largest producers of uranium, which is coveted by many nations. France, the former colonial power in the region, has scaled back its once-frequent military interventions.

But the U.S. response to the coup raises questions about how effectively the West will be able to counter Islamist terrorist groups and Russian disinformation in a region that risks becoming a region of failed states. On Sunday, Niger's new military leaders announced that they will prosecute the country's democratically elected president for "high treason," a charge that could result in the death penalty.

Though rumors of a coup had circulated in Niger for some time, U.S. officials were blindsided when it happened because the U.S. has not prioritized Africa for years and does not have enough personnel there, more than a dozen current and former U.S. diplomatic and military officials said. The U.S. did not even have an ambassador in Niger on the day of the coup.

Once the coup began in the nation of roughly 25 million, it took U.S. officials days to accept that short of an international military intervention, it would not be reversed. Asked why the U.S. was caught off guard, White House National Security Council officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Thousands of supporters of the military coup in Niger gathered at a Niamey stadium Sunday, when a deadline set by the West African regional bloc ECOWAS to return the deposed President Mohamed Bazoum to power is set to expire, according to AFP journalists. (AFP - Getty Images)

At first, U.S. diplomatic and military officials insisted the cause was a personal dispute between the president and the head of his Presidential Guard, Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, and that it could be resolved quickly. Tchiani had allegedly taken Bazoum hostage because he expected Bazoum to fire him.

In the first day, we were told by all of our contacts that nobody supported this, a senior State Department official said 48 hours after the coup began. And then in the second day it seemed to balloon a little bit, but those who we talked to said they were just acting to make sure that the president and his family werent hurt and that there was no conflict among the military or with civilians.

U.S. military officials believed that the head of the Nigerien Special Forces, Gen. Moussa Salaou Barmou, their close ally, was going along with the other military leaders to keep the peace. They noted that in a video showing the coup leaders on the first day, Barmou was in the back of the group with his head down and his face mostly hidden.

Less than two weeks later, Barmou met with a U.S. delegation in Niamey, led by acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland, and expressed support for the coup and delivered a sobering message: If any outside military force tried to interfere in Niger, the coup leaders would kill President Bazoum.

That was crushing, said a U.S. military official who has worked with Barmou in recent years. We were holding out hope with him.

Not only had Barmou worked with top U.S. military leaders for years, but he was also trained by the U.S. military and attended the prestigious National Defense University in Washington, D.C.

Last week, sitting across from U.S. officials who had come to trust him, Barmou refused to release Bazoum, calling him illegitimate and insisting that the coup leaders had the popular support of the Nigerien people. Nuland later said the conversations were quite difficult.

No faction of the army emerged to try to take on the junta, making it difficult for Western governments to respond. There was also no clear, organized opposition group ready to confront the coup leaders.

That would have been much easier for the U.S. and for France. That did not happen, said Michael Shurkin, an expert on West Africa who served at the CIA and the National Security Council and is now the president of Shurbros Global Strategies, a consultancy.

The Sahel is collapsing under the pressure of these jihadist insurgencies. Theres this sort of groping and grasping for solutions, and theres no easy answers, Shurkin said.

An ISIS ambush

U.S. troops have trained Nigerien troops for years as allies in the fight against Islamic terrorist groups. In 2013, the U.S. and Niger agreed to allow U.S. troop deployments in the country to support counterterrorism efforts in a noncombat role.

But the U.S. military role there changed after a deadly attack in October 2017. Searching for kidnapped American aid worker Jeff Woodke, U.S. and Nigerien troops were ambushed by a group of Islamic State fighters outside the village of Tongo Tongo. Outmanned and outgunned, four U.S. soldiers and four Nigerien troops were killed, and many more were wounded. (Woodke was released in March after spending six years in captivity.)

It was the deadliest attack against U.S. troops in Africa since the Black Hawk Down attack in Somalia in 1993, and it sparked a debate about the U.S. presence in Niger. Since that attack, the rules for troops at outposts in Niger have changed significantly, U.S. military officials said.

Tongo Tongo still affects military leaders in the region, a military officer recently deployed to Niger said. We werent allowed to travel more than 15 kilometers from the base for the first few months because of concerns about safety.

We were trying to figure out how to make a mission work, but we were seeing and talking to the same people, talking to the same tribes, all the time, the officer said. Those limitations meant the Americans had only a limited sense of what was happening around them.

A second U.S. military official in the region said: Tongo Tongo had a chilling effect on how we operate in Niger, and its still in the back of military leaders minds every time they leave the base.

We are not able to engage like we would like, the official added, but thats also because we dont have the resources we need. We dont have enough, and so our hands are tied.

A third U.S. defense official said: The entire National Defense Strategy for the U.S. includes exactly one paragraph about Africa. That tells you how much we prioritize the continent.

A U.S. national security official said the Biden administration has paid more attention to the region than previous administrations, including being the first to release a strategy for West Africa and sending several senior leaders to that part of the continent, among them Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

West African leaders on Thursday increased their threat of imminent military action against Niger after the country's coup's leaders moved to consolidate their control two weeks after seizing power. (AFP - Getty Images)

But the Biden administration did not nominate an ambassador to Niger until 18 months after it took office, and then the nomination got held up by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., citing his request for addition information about the origins of Covid. The nominee, Kathleen FitzGibbon, was not confirmed for nearly a year, finally getting congressional approval on July 27, the day after the coup began.

As a result, the U.S. Embassy has been run by Charge dAffaires Susan NGarmin since December 2021. And the administration has not named a new envoy to the Sahel region, a position created during the Trump administration that has been vacant for nearly two years.

Weve invested half a billion dollars in military assistance plus probably somewhere close to $2 billion in humanitarian and development assistance in this country over the last 10 years. And yet we let it go for almost two years without an ambassador, said J. Peter Pham, the former envoy to the Sahel, who has yet to be replaced since he stepped down in January 2021.

In a way we were flying blind, and we knew it, he said.

The Biden administrations inability to anticipate or influence events in Niger reflects how Africa has often been a lower priority compared with other regions and crises, experts and former officials said, especially when compared to Washingtons focus on Ukraine and China.

People in Africa have been telling me for two years now that a coup in Niger was imminent, Shurkin said. But at the end of the day, it wasnt that high of a priority for us, or even for the French."

Disinformation and poverty

Even if Washington had a clearer sense of Bazoums vulnerabilities, it is not clear whether the U.S. or France could have averted the coup or shored up the president in time  short of taking risky military action, experts said.

Ultimately, I dont know if theres anything that we or the French could have or should have done, Shurkin said.

During the Cold War, France might have taken unilateral military action in response to a coup. From 1960, when more than a dozen former colonies in Africa became independent, to the early 1990s, France intervened militarily on the continent dozens of times. More recently, French political leaders have been reluctant to shore up African governments with military force.

French President Emmanuel Macron decided not to for all the right reasons, Shurkin said. He didnt want France to be in a position of intervening like a colonial power.

The coup leader, Gen. Tchiani, has appealed to anti-French feeling, and Russia has helped fuel anger at France by disseminating online propaganda and disinformation in Niger and across the Sahel. Members of the Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary organization, operate in Mali and Sudan, two nations where coups occurred, and also in the Central African Republic

The Sahel, in addition, remains home to some of the worlds poorest countries, and high birth rates have resulted in large numbers of unemployed youths.

You dont need Russia to teach Niger to dislike France, Shurkin said, but the Russians have definitely been turning up the heat a bit. Shurkin added that he had seen an alarming turn on African social media toward the easy answers offered by strongmen.

Democratically elected leaders in Africa have vowed to fight back. Since the 1990s, popular movements across West Africa have pushed aside authoritarian regimes in multiple countries.

Two weeks before the coup in Niger, the democratically elected president of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, who was forced into exile by his countrys past military rulers, vowed to defend democracy. We will not allow coup after coup, he said.

Tinubu has threatened to launch a military intervention in Niger with other democratically elected leaders in the region if Bazoum is not returned to power. But it is unclear if he and other regional leaders have the resources to do so.

Shurkin said the trend lines in the region remain worrisome. A recent report called the Sahel a new global epicenter of terrorism, noting that the number of deaths caused by terrorist attacks in the region in 2022 was higher than the number of deaths in South Asia and the Middle East combined.

People are disappointed by those democracies and how theyve worked out," Shurkin said. "And theyre turning their backs on it, which I find understandable but tragic."

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Human remains found on a hillside have been identified as a man who vanished on an evening walk four years ago, California police reported.

Paul Farmer, 84, who had memory loss, never returned home from his walk Aug. 26, 2019, Belmont police said in an Aug. 11 news release.

Despite extensive searches, Farmer could not be found, police said.

In May 2023, police learned his identification card had been found in a waterway in San Mateo County two months earlier, the release said.

That led officers to search a heavily forested area just south of Highway 92 near Hillsdale Boulevard, police said.

Officers found human remains on hillsides covered in thick brush, police said. The remains were identified as belonging to Farmer.

Although we are deeply saddened by this tragic case, we are very thankful for the agencies that assisted us with locating Mr. Farmer and helping us bring closure to this investigation, police wrote.

Belmont is a city about 25 miles south of San Francisco.

Judge calls out of work, texts office I just shot my wife, California officials say

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Kerala fried chicken sandwich with ChaaterTots at Thattu, a new Indian restaurant at 2601 W. Fletcher St. in Chicago's Avondale neighborhood, Aug. 3, 2023. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

On a leafy corner near the North Branch of the Chicago River, in a stretch of low brick buildings with a former factory life, Margaret Pak and Vinod Kalathil have opened their new home for Thattu, a refuge for fellow nomadic souls.

The Avondale neighborhood restaurant shares their interpretation of Kerala, the state on the southwestern-most coast of India.

Its beautiful, lush and filled with coconut trees, said Pak, chef and co-owner with Kalathil, the general manager. I fell in love with Vinod and the cuisine about 20 years ago.

Hes originally from Kerala. Shes Korean American, originally from Northern California.

I thought I had experienced and enjoyed Indian cuisine, Pak said. But when Vinod first cooked for me, thats when it really hit me, like, this is so different.

That first meal included an egg curry and a shrimp dish.

But also a crab curry that I was eating with my hands, she said That was a whole new experience.

Two years later, they married.

That was my first visit to Kerala, Pak said. My first visit to India, also the first time I met Vinods whole family.

That must have been one intense trip.

Every time they went back, that was pretty much the only time they got to eat Kerala food, Kalathil said. Almost all the Indian food commonly served in the United States is northern, he added.

And even when we do get southern Indian food in the U.S., it focuses on dosa and idli, which is just more commonly known, Kalathil said about the emblematic golden thin pancakes and white steamed rice cakes. Indian food is much more diverse.

Chef Margaret Pak and co-owner and general manager Vinod Kalathil at Thattu, their new Indian restaurant in the Avondale neighborhood. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

The Kerala fried chicken sandwich, however, is their own creation. A so-called naked thigh is anything but, fully dressed in striking dark spices, accessorized simply with spicy housemade cucumber pickles and a curry leaf aioli, all held within a brioche bun.

Its minimalist in form, but maximalist in spice, though not numbing with heat. That holds true throughout the thoughtfully concise menu.

The ChaaterTots should be a required side. Theres an art to perfect tater tots (never from an oven), and here theyre further gilded with a generous dusting of chaat masala, the house powdered spice mix, and a side of chunky beet ketchup.

Do note the sandwich and the tots are available at lunch only, as is the chorum kariyum, the rice and curry of the day youll want every day, served on a round silver thali tray, with two changing sides plus a crisp papadum to crumble and a tangy rasam to sip. A curry moru, traditionally made with buttermilk in Kerala, becomes a buttery yogurt and green plantain bowl here. The dish is paired so beautifully with a green bean coconut thoran and a kadala black chickpea salad, you might start wondering about adding the sides to your family Thanksgiving dishes.

Chorum kariyum vegetarian meal combo at Thattu. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

The fish fry at Thattu, a new Indian restaurant at 2601 W Fletcher St. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

The fish fry is a stunning main event. Banish any thoughts of a British colonial-style mashup. A pair of pristine fillets get the naked spice treatment, and then theyre offered with a watermelon cucumber salad, on an herbal fenugreek leaf chutney, with a supersized quenelle of chilled yogurt curd rice alongside.

They use catfish, unlike in Kerala.

The most common fish there are Indian mackerel, sardines, pomfret and king fish, Kalathil said. But at Thattu, they chose catfish, because its fresh and local.

At dinner, the black chickpeas return as a kadala curry with a deeply roasted coconut gravy. Its been with Thattu since day one, Pak said. You can choose an appam or jeera rice on the side. For me, there was no choice but the appam, which I first fell in love with at the former Thattu food hall stall in the West Loop. They transform coconut milk and rice into a fermented batter, then irresistible lacy white crepes, torn with your hands.

I really hope we can keep going with the appam, Kalathil said, citing Indias rice export bans. I went around to stores, but they wont give us more than two bags.

The payasam uses a different rice from Kerala. A warm rice pudding cooks coarse matta rice silky soft with coconut milk and jaggery, the caramel-hued sugar. I burned my tongue, too tempted after the first taste, but I do wish the cashew and raisin garnish had been toasted or otherwise enhanced.

The masala biscuit has clearly raised my expectations. Their signature sweet and spicy shortbread, another long lost food hall love rekindled, contains cashews and multitudes. They were the beginning of Thattu, inspired by cookies from the historic Delecta Bakery in Kerala, where Kalathils late father bought the treats for his son and daughter-in-law. He eventually obtained the original recipe for her, but it would take years and a world away before she made it her own.

Theyre packaged individually now; I wish they werent, since the wrappers hide a rustic beauty, but they do mention a pairing with coffee or tea.

But theres no masala chai.

Because we like lime tea, Pak said.

And the way south Indian tea is made, its typically kept boiling all day on a samovar, Kalathil said. And to keep that steady temperature, you need a dedicated stove or equipment. If were going to do it, were going to do it the right way.

Kadala curry with appam at Thattu. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

Kaapi coffee at Thattu. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

What they do offer is kaapi. The south Indian coffee with chicory, the frothiest scalded milk and sugar has taken off like crazy, he said.

That type of coffee is not even from Kerala, he added. Its from our neighboring state of Tamil Nadu thats very famous for their coffee.

On their last trip to India last year, they spent some time in Kodagu, a rural district in the neighboring state of Karnataka, and stayed on a coffee farm.

We had really great coffee every day for four days straight, Pak said. When they opened, it became a non-negotiable. We had to figure that out.

After months of tasting, they finally got the right blend with Veloria Coffee, owned by a Filipino couple in Portage Park.

Part of the fun of enjoying that coffee is that it usually comes scalding hot in the dabra, Pak said about the small stainless steel cup and bowl set. They almost hug each other.

You can pour, or pull, the coffee back and forth to cool it down or make it even frothier.

The Sarbath cocktail is their version of a street drink in Kerala by the same name. There its a shaken sweet and spiced lemonade with basil seeds. Here, its a refreshing and balanced mix of Tanqueray Rangpur lime gin, fino sherry and nannari, the Indian sarsaparilla root. The Sassy Spritz, a nonalcoholic translation, substitutes passion fruit, yuzu and Topo Chico into a fun and elegant drink.

The Kerala fried chicken bites, dinnertime nuggets of the lunchtime bird, dont fare quite as well, losing the complexity of other components, despite a nice yogurt sauce. A Malabar chicken biriyani, bone-in chicken layered with basmati rice and baked, was surprisingly undersalted as a whole, in defiance of the tiny but electrifying lime pickle side. The chicken ishtu, a classic Kerala stew, seemed more of broth, but the jeera rice on the side with cumin flecked basmati was so flavorful and flawless that I wanted more of that alone.

Its easy to order on a whim with a QR code-carved menu that sends your order directly to the kitchen. There are print menus and servers if you prefer that too.

With the QR code, I would say 95% of our customers are completely happy with it, Kalathil said. He and the servers also go around and talk to every table. We do have limited staff with our model. Thats one of the things that we had to compromise on. Otherwise, our prices will be way too high.

The service experience was impressive and gracious.

They made another decision without compromise: Theres no tipping or service charge.

Even before we opened the restaurant, this is something that we really wanted, Kalathil said. Theyve been working with High Road Kitchens, an organization trying to bring fair wages and treatment to all employees in the restaurant world. Im also an accountant, so I did a lot of calculations to figure out how we can make this happen. The way we do it, we price everything in.

Employees get a percentage of the restaurants income based on their weekly hours, Kalathil added.

As we hire new folks, we do have a range of hourly rates, Pak said. But instead of tip share, we call it a revenue share.

Its almost like a co-op for our employees, Kalathil said.

But that doesnt mean diners still dont want to tip, as with one couple recently.

At the beginning of their meal theyre like, What? We cant tip? We want to tip, Kalathil said. They were like, Its up to the patron to decide whether or not to tip. And my answer when he said that was, Well, we want our employees to get a fair wage, regardless of if patrons decide to tip or not, which is the reason why we are not letting you tip and we pay our employees.

I think they were a little taken aback when I said that, but by the end of the meal, they were absolutely loving everything, he continued. Basically, we dont want our employees to be at the mercy of the customers, whether they tip well or not.

And diners still do leave a lot of cash tips.

We talk to our employees and ask what they want to do with it, Kalathil said. And their answer was caffeine, maybe a little bit of beer, and they also funded our three-month celebration.

It was literally made possible from all of our guests that dont listen to us, Pak said, laughing.

It seems so simple at Thattu, yet remains so complicated and fraught with emotion and politics elsewhere.

Perhaps its because the whole endeavor is a culmination of choices through lived experience.

Pak worked in finance, then the pharmaceutical industry, and finally a marketing analytics firm, her last office job.

So how does a Korean American woman who started off in the corporate world become the chef of a very personal regional Indian restaurant representing her husbands culture?

I grew up loving Korean food, Pak said. My mom was an excellent Korean home cook.

Shes always been an expert eater, she added, but didnt really start cooking until later in life. Not until she worked in food sales and met so many amazing chefs, including Won Kim at Kimski.

Kim, also Korean American and an artist, painted the graffiti-style murals in Thattus loft-like space.

She worked as his prep cook and made a lot of the banchan, the Korean sides she grew up eating.

But then it was really wild, Pak said, her voice breaking. She lost her father, and then her mother unexpectedly. Song Won Pak died in March 2017, and Mary Ahn Pak died in May 2018.

At that moment their daughter was cooking Korean food more than she ever had, but it became too hard to continue.

Thank God I loved Vinods cooking so much too, said the chef. Thats when I poured everything into it. It was a way to process my grief.

Through her process, Thattu has become a place of comfort and convictions  not just for Pak and Kalathil, not just for the workers, but for anyone who finds their new home.

Thattu

Thattu, a new Indian restaurant, at 2601 W. Fletcher St. in the Avondale neighborhood. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

2601 W. Fletcher St.

773-754-0199

thattu.com

Open: Thursday to Sunday, lunch 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., dinner 5-9 p.m.

Prices: lunch, $11-$18; dinner $16-$32

Noise: Conversation-friendly

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible by entrance in alley, restrooms on single level

Tribune rating: Excellent, 3 stars

Ratings key: Four stars, outstanding; three stars, excellent; two stars, very good; one star, good; no stars, unsatisfactory. Meals are paid for by the Tribune.

lchu@chicagotribune.com

Big screen or home stream, takeout or dine-in, Tribune writers are here to steer you toward your next great experience. Sign up for your free weekly Eat. Watch. Do. newsletter here.
A body has been found in the Blue River Reservoir east of Eugene, Oregon, amid a months-long search for a missing woman named Mekenna Reiley, who vanished under suspicious circumstances after police were called to a construction site near her home where workers say she arrived naked, disoriented and afraid.

Reiley, a 40-year-old speech teacher, has not been seen or heard from since April. Her keys, purse and phone were discovered at her home in Blue River.

The Lane County Sheriff's Office announced the grim discovery Sunday but said the remains had been recovered a day earlier. Authorities have not yet publicly identified the body or revealed a cause of death. A death investigation is underway.

While an official identification has not been made, Scott McKee, the private investigator hired by Reiley's family, told Fox News Digital that "it seems all indications are that it is her."

MAN SPOTTED AT OREGON STORAGE UNIT NOT CONNECTED TO MEKENNA REILEY DISAPPEARANCE, SHERIFF'S OFFICE SAYS

Missing Mekenna Reiley, with a map of the Oregon area where she disappeared, with a hand-drawn outline of the search area in blue ink.

"That's preliminary, but they will get to the actual identification during autopsy," he said.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

A spokesman for the sheriff's office, which was juggling three separate wildfire evacuation orders Monday morning, told Fox News Digital investigators planned to have more information later in the week.

Reiley was reported missing April 5 after a bizarre encounter with construction workers and deputies at a job site in Blue River, about 150 miles south of Portland .

She drove there, and workers found her naked and called law enforcement. She told officers she was scared and "had nowhere safe to go," according to her sister, Bevin Stepp.

Stepp said investigators told the family Reiley appeared to have either been "roofied" or on "a lot of acid" when law enforcement arrived at the construction site, but the sheriff's office has denied making those remarks.

Mekenna Reiley, left, and her sister Bevin Stepp in an undated family photo. Reiley moved from her Pennsylvania hometown to Blue River, Oregon, but was last seen in April after Lane County deputies responded to a bizarre encounter at a construction site. Inset: More photos of Reiley.

Officially, the Lane County Sheriff's Office said only that the missing woman "was possibly suffering from a mental health crisis."

At the time she vanished, Reiley had an Arkansas-bound plane ticket and plans to visit a friend, according to her sister. Reiley, originally from Pennsylvania and the granddaughter of longtime former GOP state Rep. Merle Phillips, told relatives she wanted to move back because "she didn't feel safe out there," her sister said.

MODERN-DAY HUCKLEBERRY FINN VANISHES OFF-GRID FOR OVER A MONTH

Reiley's estranged former boyfriend has also been ruled out as a suspect despite a history of domestic violence between them and an active no-contact order, according to Stepp. It was his ex and former mother-in-law who first reported Reiley missing, she said.

Police found Reiley's phone, car, fresh groceries and pet dog Hilo at her home. Searchers later found a bag of clothes in the woods but no other signs of Reiley, according to her sister.

McKee previously told Fox News Digital that the items left behind appear inconsistent with a potential suicide.

The investigation is ongoing and authorities are asking anyone with information to come forward.

Reiley is described as 5 feet, 2 inches tall and weighing around 110 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes. When she was last seen, she was wearing blue rain boots.
Two Pueblo County residents who purchased property near Ordway to invest in marijuana growing operations only to later find out the people they'd worked with did not have legal ownership of the properties said the whole experience was a real disaster, and "a wild situation."

Brandon Okman of Best Buds Botanical teamed up with his parents to start a marijuana growing operation in Pueblo. On June 2, 2021, the company purchased property at 19655 Tamarack Lane, in the Tamarack Acres Subdivision near Ordway, for the purpose of expanding the grow.

I bought a property I came to find out later the seller had no permission to sell that property. It took me a better part of a year to find out if I was going to lose it, Okman told the Chieftain.

Another local resident, Desiree Sisneros of Boone, teamed up with her grandfather to lease with the option to buy property and a greenhouse under construction at 19723 Tamarack Lane near Ordway, but they too were "screwed," she said.

"The aftermath shut us down. It was supposed to be a family legacy and we invested everything we had in this," Sisneros told the Chieftain.

How the bogus property sales unfolded

Crowley County Improvements Company LLC formed in 2016 to buy 113 acres of land known as Tamarack Acres Subdivision, which was to be subdivided and improved with a water line. Partners in the company appointed Dean Hiatt of Colorado Springs as the managing member.

Hiatt did not respond to a request for comment prior to the Chieftain's deadline Friday.

A lawsuit alleges Hiatt sold property without the unanimous consent of his partners in violation of an operating agreement. Pueblo attorney Anthony Perko, who at the time worked for the Gradisar, Trechter, Ripperger & Roth Law Firm, assisted in drafting the operating agreement.

A 2022 lawsuit filed against Perko and Pueblo attorneys Nick Gradisar  who is now Pueblo's mayor  his son Douglas Gradisar, Charles Trechter, James Ripperger and David Roth, alleges Perko "allowed and assisted" Hiatt in causing about $3 million in income losses to Crowley County Improvement Company partners during his time working for the Gradisar firm. Gradisar did not respond to a request for comment Thursday.

The lawsuit alleges that Perko knew unanimous consent of the partners was required before sales could be executed and he "allowed and assisted" Hiatt in selling property without that consent.

Perko denies the lawsuit allegations

"Almost all of those property sales, I didn't have anything to do with, including Okman's," Perko told the Chieftain. "I had a pretty defensible position on the facts  I just simply didn't do it."

Perko also was accused of preparing quitclaim deeds for Hiatt, without the knowledge or consent of the other company members, conveying 11 lots in the Tamarack Subdivision from the company into Hiatts personal corporate entity, after which Hiatt allegedly sold the lots.

"Those were not my deeds," Perko claimed to the Chieftain. "The font that was used was different from the font I use and I didn't recognize the name of the notary, so I am absolutely positive I did not do those deeds."

Although a settlement agreement for the lawsuit against Perko and the Gradisar law firm members was signed by Pueblo District Court Judge Tim OShea this week, the details of the agreement have been sealed.

The Chieftain asked Perko why he agreed to the settlement if the allegations against him in the suit were false.

"I may feel confident about my position, but the reality is 95% of civil cases are settled. I will forever wonder what would have happened if it went to trial," Perko said.

Although the lawsuit is settled, the fallout from the unlawful land sales continues to rock those who tried to buy the properties.

Buyers who thought they were securing property near Ordway for cannabis cultivation later found out the seller did not actually own the property.

'It was devastating': Property owners share their stories

Sisneros said she signed a lease-to-own agreement with David Lesser, who purchased the property from Hiatt. Lesser, she said, was "supposedly the property owner."

"It was supposed to be a turnkey operation that we leased out on a 30-year loan and we would own the property or have a chance to buy it at the end. Hiatt was supposed to be the facilitator of everything and about four months into our project, after all kinds of issues along the way, he (Hiatt) ends up dropping off the face of the earth and we have a half-done warehouse," Sisneros explained.

"It was strange. Me and my grandfather went in this business together and we're just average people from Pueblo. It's not like we had a lot of funds, but we had enough under the terms of the lease," she said.

Sisneros said she was the third person to attempt to purchase the same partially finished warehouse building.

Left to deal with the aftermath, she said the ordeal shut them down and forced them to lose the entirety of their investment.

"It was supposed to be a family legacy so it is difficult to recover because we invested everything we had into this. It was devastating," she said.

Okman currently makes mortgage payments to a receiver, James Barash, who was appointed by the court to oversee the Crowley County Improvements Company as part of a 2020 lawsuit against Hiatt. Barash has notified Okman that he owes $15,000 for a water tap, but Okman said that was supposed to be included with my property at the price I paid.

Okman currently is able to use the property for his marijuana grow operation. He said he believes Perko, like many others involved in the land transactions, was a victim of Hiatts.

Okman said he has worked with Perko previously and they "had always been on good terms.

There is no way I would ever say that Anthony (Perko) did anything of a criminal nature and he is not charged criminally. I dont think he did anything malicious or intentional, Okman said.

I think maybe he (Perko) was duped, but I dont think he went out of the way to do anything," he said.

A timeline of Perko's involvement

Based on documents obtained by the Chieftain through a Colorado Open Records Act request filed with the Town of Ordway and data from the Colorado Secretary of States office, a timeline of Perkos involvement in Ordway indicates he served as Ordway town attorney, a partner and co-owner of Crowley County Improvements Company and a registered agent for some of the marijuana grow property owners, including Hiatt.

In a Jan. 9, 2017, letter he filed with the town, Perko disclosed he was a partner and co-owner of Crowley County Improvements Company and indicated he could recuse himself if there was a conflict in representing both the company and the town.

"It is anticipated that an experienced partner in our office, Douglas Gradisar, would also be available to assist and contribute to the legal service provided to the city. While Mr. Gradisar would be the primary alternate attorney, other members of the firm may also be available to conduct basic legal research or other legal services when it is economical for the city to do so," Perko wrote in the letter.

"With nine practicing attorneys at GTR&R, a major benefit of utilizing the services of our firm is that other experienced members of the firm would be available in the unlikely event I or Mr. Gradisar were temporarily unavailable," Perko wrote in the 2017 letter.

All the payment receipts the Chieftain was able to obtain from the Town of Ordway, which were not complete, indicated Perkos work was billed to the town through the law firm.

Perko then became the registered agent, or an official point of contact, for several of Hiatt's Maverick Subdivision land purchasers, according to Colorado Secretary of State documents. He became the registered agent for J&J Happy Farms LLC at 8355 Maverick Lane on Feb. 12, 2018, which is owned by J&J Land Company with John Edward Deen listed as the person who formed the company.

Perko then became the registered agent for both the 8745 Maverick Lane LLC and the 8681 Maverick Lane LLC on Dec. 18, 2019. Hiatt sold the properties at both of those addresses to Chi Su of Centennial on Nov. 15, 2019, for a total of $250,000

The Chieftain was unable to determine through its record request whether or not Perko disclosed to the Ordway town council his status as a registered agent for Hiatt and two other growers. Two former town council members contacted by the Chieftain either didnt know or declined to comment.

When asked if he had let the town council know he was serving as a registered agent for some of the growers, Perko said, "I suspect so."

On May 1, 2020, the Gradisar firm dissolved, not long after Nick Gradisar, one of its founding partners, was elected mayor of Pueblo in January 2019.

For the 10 days following the dissolution of the Gradisar firm, Perko acted as the Ordway town attorney without a new contract for legal services through Perko Law, a private firm he'd formed on March 11, 2020.

Perkos law firm was never under contract with Ordway and, We discontinued all services with the Gradisar, Trechter, Ripperger & Roth firm on May 11, 2020, Ordway Mayor Gerald Barber told the Chieftain in response to its open records request for contracts for attorney services. Barber declined to comment further.

According to town council meeting minutes from May 11, 2020, the council voted 5-1 to end its agreement with the Gradisar firm and Perko as the town attorney.

On May 31, 2020, the town of Ordway received its final billing from the Gradisar law firm for attorney fees. The $4,393 bill did not give a detailed summary of the charges.

On June 17, 2020, Perko was listed as the registered agent for Grassland Farms LLC at 8893 Maverick Lane in Ordway. The Grassland Farms company was formed by Hiatt.

On July 7, 2020, a lawsuit was filed in Pueblo District Court against Hiatt and Crowley County Improvements Company in an effort to access records of the company and determine if an operating agreement had been violated by Hiatt. The lawsuit requested the appointment of a receiver.

On June 25, 2020, Ordway received a $332 bill from Perko Law for attorney services rendered between May 5 and May 11, 2020.

On Feb. 19, 2022, the court issued an order appointing Barash as receiver for Crowley County Improvement Company.

On Feb. 24, 2022, Barash fired Perko as the Crowley County Improvement Companys attorney.

Was there a conflict of interest?

According to court documents, Crowley County Improvements Company's expert alleged Perko had a conflict of interest in representing the company, Hiatt individually, and other Hiatt-owned entities.

However, Perko's attorney Margaret Boehmer argued in a motion for summary judgment on May 30, 2023, that, "This is not a clear and palpable case of negligence, and expert testimony is required in this case to establish the standard of care and Mr. Perkos deviation from that standard."

According to the Colorado Bar Association's Ethics Committee Formal Opinion, "A lawyers representation of both the buyer and the seller in a business transaction has been characterized as one of the clearest cases of improper representation of conflicting interests." The opinion does not outline if representing both parties in a business-related real estate sale is improper and its final analysis indicates a lawyers ability to represent each party adequately will depend on the situation in question.

What the future holds for the victims

Okman said he is soured on the marijuana industry and does not believe Hiatt will be held accountable.

It has become such a disgusting nightmare and I probably lost more money in the business than I generated. It was the worst decision I ever made, getting into this industry, Okman said.

He said he likely will get out of the industry within a year.

Sisneros said she does not expect to recoup any losses because she would have to hire an attorney, which would require money she just doesn't have.

"We just cut our losses and walked away," she said.

Perko declines to comment on Hiatt's actions

Perko said ethics rules that attorneys must follow require him to have continued loyalty to Hiatt. He said he would not violate attorney-client confidentiality and declined to comment further on the situation.

"I have gotten an outpouring of support from my current and past clients, so that's nice," Perko said.

More local news: Pueblo attorney who worked for mayor's former law firm accused of malpractice

Chieftain reporter Tracy Harmon covers business news. She can be reached by email at tharmon@chieftain.com or via Twitter at twitter.com/tracywumps. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Bogus land sales victims speak out; Pueblo attorney denies allegations
In order to replace a leaky heating pipe thats almost 50 years old, sections of Warm Springs Avenue in Boise will be closed to traffic over the next few months.

Beginning with the current closure of the road between Bruce Avenue and Elm Street, contractors will shut down and work on two-block segments of Warm Springs until early December, when they hope to finish the project, said Del Eytchison, manager for the Boise Warm Springs Water District. The work is happening between Broadway Avenue and Parkcenter Boulevard, he told the Idaho Statesman, a stretch of roughly 4 miles.

The project started Monday, according to the districts web page about the project. It will cost about $2.1 million, Eytchison said.

The leaky pipe that contractors will replace transports geothermal water to heat houses on Warm Springs, Eytchison said. District customers will see a 40% increase on their annual bills, he said, which will mean households paying anywhere from $360 to $3,400 more a year.

Most feedback has been positive, according to Eytchison, but some people have complained. Theyre a little upset until they hear whats going on, he said.

The Ada County Highway District approved a permit for the closure that ends on Dec. 8, spokesperson Rachel Bjornestad told the Statesman.

Knife River is the company doing the work, according to the districts website.

Eytchison said the water district started in 1892 and is the oldest geothermal organization in the country.
Travel website Booking.com has been accused of leaving accommodation hosts in Scotland thousands of pounds out of pocket because of payment delays.

The online platform allows people to book rooms that hotels and individual homeowners advertise on its site.

However, two Scottish hosts said they have not been paid in months for accommodating guests.

Booking.com said some payments were delayed as a result of planned IT system maintenance.

The company blamed "unforeseen technical issues" and said it was urgently working to resume payments for a small number of hosts.

Accommodation owners in other parts of the UK and Europe have also been affected by the issue with one man claiming he is owed about 50,000.

The row comes weeks after online marketplace Etsy came under fire from sellers for withholding their money.

Booking.com takes payment from the customer and then pays the host once it has deducted fees and commission.

But hosts have told BBC Scotland they are out of pocket after the Amsterdam-based firm carried out some planned system maintenance.

Emma Audain, who rents out a flat in Glasgow, said she is owed 3,000 by Booking.com having not received any payments since June, and is now considering legal action against the company.

She said: "We have a situation where the company is accepting money from customers, and in one case we had been able to issue refunds to them, but somehow is unable to issue payments to the host.

"It doesn't add up. We knew there was going to be a slight delay with the maintenance period but they last paid me in June and have been consistently offering conflicting messages such as we will receive a payment in x days, only not to receive it.

"Guests have paid and I'm not sure they will be entirely comfortable to find out this money has been swallowed by Booking.com.

"This is money we use to pay our bills, the cleaners, management fees and the like. We don't want to pass the impact of this on to guests."

Karen Bancroft manages five short-term let properties in the Nairn area, one of which she owns, and is chasing 3,000 in payments.

She said: "It has been a total nightmare, none of the hosts in my situation are huge corporations so going this long without these payment is really hurting their business.

"Dealing with Booking.com has been really challenging, just trying to get a straight answer has been near impossible.

"This is the guests' money, what have they done with it? I don't think guests will be aware of what is going on and I really don't think they would be comfortable knowing that their hosts have not been paid for the stay."

'Unforeseen technical issues'

A spokesperson for Booking.com said: "We always strive to support our accommodation partners in the best way possible, and fully understand the importance of processing payments on time.

"We have been urgently working to resume payments, which were delayed as a result of a planned system maintenance, which we notified our accommodation partners of ahead of time, and can confirm that payments have now been processed and the majority of our partners have now received payment.

"In a small number of cases, there have been unforeseen technical issues that are being quickly resolved by our team."
The talks are the fourth round of discussions since Colombian President Gustavo Petro resumed negotiations with the country's last active guerilla group (Federico PARRA)

The Colombian government and ELN guerillas began a fresh round of peace talks in Venezuela Monday, with both sides calling for humanitarian assistance for violence-hit areas.

Bogota and the National Liberation Army (ELN) last week kicked off a six-month ceasefire as negotiations aiming to end decades of armed conflict continue.

The talks in Venezuela are the fourth round of discussions since President Gustavo Petro resumed negotiations with the country's last active guerilla group in November last year.

Pablo Beltran, head of the ELN delegation, called for the discussions to result in "humanitarian aid for populations and towns that are suffering the most."

Government negotiator Otty Patino also dedicated the latest round of talks to those "living in areas affected by abandonment and violence."

The talks will take place in Caracas until September 4.

Colombia has suffered more than half a century of armed conflict between the state and various left-wing guerrilla groups, right-wing paramilitaries and drug traffickers.

The ELN started as a leftist ideological movement in 1964 before turning to crime, focusing on kidnapping, extortion, violent attacks and drug trafficking in Colombia and neighboring Venezuela.

With some 5,800 combatants, the group is primarily active in the Pacific region and along the 2,200-kilometer (1,370-mile) border with Venezuela.

Official data shows the ELN has a presence in more than 200 municipalities, where fighting has led to people being displaced, or confined to specific areas -- notably because of the use of anti-personnel mines hampering their movement.

At the end of May, some 1,500 people, mainly from Indigenous communities, had to flee their territory in western Choco, due to fighting between the ELN and The Gulf Clan, the country's biggest drug gang.

The ELN became the oldest armed group in the Americas after the disarmament of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in 2017.

Last week the ELN denied accusations it was plotting to kill Attorney General Francisco Barbosa, who said he had received a tip-off about the plan.

jt-pgf-erc/fb/nro
Both the prosecution and defense rested their cases Monday afternoon in the capital murder trial of Zaeveion Zuiquae Denson.

Zaeveion Denson listens to testimony in his murder trial.

Denson is one of four men charged in the shooting death of Carolyn High in the driveway of her Wichita Falls home in the early morning of Jan. 26, 2020.

The defense presented no witnesses, but attorney Gary Smart of Fort Worth asked that the jury be given the option of considering aggravated robbery as an alternative to the organized crime - capital murder charge against Denson.

The prosecution has argued that Denson and his companions were out looking for someone to rob on the night of the crime, saw High leaving the Texas Nightlife club, followed her to her home on Cumberland Avenue and stole her purse. First Assistant District Attorney Dobie Kosub claimed Denson shot High during the robbery.

High, 65, was a dance instructor who enjoyed dancing with friends at the nightclub.

Shane Diaz, another suspect in the case, testified Monday he brought along the gun that was used in the killing.

Also Monday, Dr. Stephen Hastings of the Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office said High was killed by a single bullet that pierced her heart and lung before exiting her lower back.

The jury, comprised of 11 women and one man, also heard firearms expert James Jeffries of the Texas Department of Public Safety crime lab talk about the .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol believed to be the murder weapon. He matched a fired cartridge recovered at the scene to the gun. The bullet fired from the gun was unique because it was coated in a red, rubberish material that is normally used for target ammunition.

Denson's lawyers have contended Denson was not the shooter and rode along with the others without knowing what they were going to do.

For adults, a conviction of capital murder without a death penalty under consideration requires a life sentence without parole. Because Denson was 17 at the time of the crime, he could be considered for parole in 40 years if he is convicted of that crime.

In addition to Denson and Diaz, Shaundre Ransom and Jiovani Morales are charged in the murder. All were arrested within days of the murder and have remained in jail under high bonds.

The jury will hear closing arguments from attorneys and begin deliberations on Tuesday.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Both sides rest in Denson murder trial
A boy survived a 100-foot Grand Canyon fall after moving out of the way for other tourists taking photos

View of the Bright Angel Trail at sunrise from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. Diana Robinson/Getty Images

Wyatt Kauffman, 13, fell 100 feet down into the Grand Canyon on Tuesday.

He told KPNX he'd been trying to avoid other tourists taking photos at the popular attraction site.

It took two hours for Wyatt to be rescued, but he has since been discharged from the hospital.

A 13-year-old boy survived a 100-foot fall at the Grand Canyon, which resulted in a two-hour rescue mission that felt like "an eternity," his father told local Phoenix news station KPNX.

Dozens of emergency workers rushed to pull Wyatt Kauffman back to safety after he fell from a ledge at the tourist attraction's North Rim on Tuesday, according to a statement on the National Park Service website.

The boy was airlifted to a Las Vegas hospital suffering serious injuries, but he has since been discharged and is traveling home to Casselton, North Dakota, his father Brian Kauffman told KPNX.

"I was up on the ledge and was moving out of the way so other people could take a picture," Wyatt told the outlet. He said he had been holding onto a rock with one hand, but didn't have a good grip and began to fall back.

"After the fall, I don't remember anything after that," he told KPNX in a video interview while still in a hospital bed. The outlet also reported that he was treated for nine broken vertebrae, a ruptured spleen, a collapsed lung, a concussion, a broken hand, and a dislocated finger.

Wyatt's father Brian told the station that he was at home in North Dakota when he received "one of the most heart-wrenching phone calls I've ever had."

"We're just lucky we're bringing our kid home in a car in the front seat instead of in a box," he added.

He also expressed his gratitude for the park rangers who had rushed to his son's rescue.

"We're extremely grateful for the work of everyone. Two hours is an eternity in a situation like that," he went on to say in his KPNX interview.

In a statement from the Grand Canyon National Park's Search and Rescue Team (SAR), they said that it was determined a helicopter rescue wouldn't be possible. Wyatt was instead raised to the rim by a basket and ropes, where he was then flown to a pediatric trauma center, the statement added.

The SAR statement said it responds to on average more than 300 calls for service per year, with incidents ranging from heat illness to falls like Wyatt's. It added that successful rescues such as this case highlight the skill of all personnel involved, and how necessary they are at the park.

Meghan Smith, Preventative Search and Rescue Supervisor, said: "It's clear that their training and hard work paid off, leading to a smooth, timely operation that will no doubt lead to better outcomes for this patient."

Official park guidance for Bright Angel Point, where the accident took place, states that though the trail is both beautiful and popular, it's also "surprisingly steep" and drops off dramatically on both sides in some places.

Grand Canyon National Park Emergency Services did not respond to a request for comment. Brian Kauffman could not be reached for comment.

Read the original article on Insider
The boy was rescued from Bright Angel Trail at the Grand Canyon's North Rim (file photo)

A 13-year-old boy has survived after slipping and falling nearly 100ft (30m) at the Grand Canyon in the US state of Arizona.

It took rescue crews two hours to pull Wyatt Kauffman to safety on Tuesday after falling off a ledge at the popular tourist site's North Rim.

He was flown to hospital with serious injuries but has since been discharged.

Wyatt told a local television station he had fallen while moving out of the way so people could take pictures.

He said he had been squatting down and holding onto a rock with one hand when he lost his grip and started to fall back.

"After the fall, I don't remember anything after that," he told Phoenix television station KPNX while in hospital.

"I just remember somewhat waking up and being in the back of an ambulance and a helicopter and getting on a plane and getting here."

Among his injuries were nine broken vertebrae, a ruptured spleen, broken hand and a collapsed lung.

Dozens of emergency workers were involved in the rescue. Wyatt was pulled to safety by a team from the Grand Canyon National Park, who rappelled down a cliff after deciding a helicopter rescue would not be possible due to the terrain.

"We're extremely grateful for the work of everyone," said Wyatt's father, Brian Kauffman, who was home in North Dakota at the time of the accident.

"We're just lucky we're bringing our kid home in a car in the front seat instead of in a box."

Wyatt had been at the Grand Canyon on trip with other members of his family, who told KPNX they intended to take a road trip home to replace the memories of the fall.

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The Bills make people want to shout. In Buffalo, in Rochester and in Maine, as well.

Maine? Yes, Maine.

Were back from two weeks on Peaks Island, a small community about a 20-minute ferry ride from Portland, and I can safely say that Bills fever has spread.

I know this because of some field reporting by my wife, Cindy.

On her daily walks around the island, Cindy usually wore a Bills shirt, and inevitably someone, often from western New York, but not always, would stop her, confess their love for the team, and/or their admiration of Bills fans.

In the Brady days, Patriots fans strutted their stuff on the island, but, to me, they seemed missing in action. Cindy reported that she only had to put one of them in his place for doubting the Bills.

She was more understanding of a Miami Dolphins fan who pointed out that he and she hated the same team, the Patriots, of course.

People told Cindy that football in Buffalo sure seemed fun to watch, what with all those mildly (mildly?) inebriated Cheektowagians diving onto flaming card tables. That happens all the time, they asserted; its what makes Buffalo special. Cindy stressed that the games are fun, as well.

We came off the island last Saturday, and just to keep the vibe alive, Cindy wore a Bills shirt on our way home. It paid off. Go Bills, said a guy we passed while taking a break in Wilmington, Vermont.

An island in Maine. A small town in Vermont. The Bills are everywhere. Its OK to shout.

A communitys loss: Kurt Cylke

In April 2016, a semitrailer carrying milk smashed into the granite fountain in the middle of Geneseos Main Street.

The fountain, which featured a bronze statue of a small bear at the top of a central column, was damaged beyond repair. The bear, known as Emmeline, survived, though a little battered.

F. Kurt Cylke Jr., a sociology professor at SUNY Geneseo, who died of cancer on July 29, at age 59, led the successful effort to replace the fountain with a new 11-ton basin, the granite taken from Connecticut and milled in Vermont.

Kurt Cylke

The arrival of the new basin in June 2017 was, Kurt told me, like Christmas morning.

Kurt was someone who took on big tasks and got them done, the sort of person who, as his obituary noted, did more than serve the community; he created community.

He was also the driving force behind the restoration of the long stone wall that runs along Route 20A at the edge of the storied Wadsworth Homestead.

Saturday mornings in good weather, for 12 years now, Kurt and other volunteers gathered to save the wall, piecing it together, stone by stone, slowly working their way up a hill, coming close to a mile finished. The wall, like the fountain, stands as a tribute, to Kurt Cylke. He left much behind.

Memmott Welcome home, Emmeline. Geneseo gets its bear fountain back

Save The Wall

A native of New Haven, Connecticut, and a graduate of the University of Richmond, Kurt joined the Geneseo faculty in 1990. His survivors include his wife, Anna Kowalchuk; his daughter, Callaghan Arianna, and son, Thomas; as well as his mother, Mary Cylke; and his sisters, Mary Mattingly and Virginia Cylke.

A celebration of his life is planned for Aug. 12 on the grounds of the Hunt Races on Nations Road outside of Geneseo.

Remarkable Rochesterians: Victoria Brzustowicz

The artist Victoria Brzustowicz of Penfield suggested we add the name of this distinguished journalist, who died on May 29 at age 67, to the list of Remarkable Rochesterians that can be found at https://data.democratandchronicle.com/remarkable-rochesterians/:

Claudia Rosett-Wilson (1955-2023): Writing for the Wall Street Journal, she witnessed, and reported on, the June 4, 1989, massacre at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, as the Chinese government killed hundreds of student protesters. A graduate of Brighton High School living on Keuka Lake at the time of her death, she had degrees from Yale University, Columbia University, and the University of Chicago. At the Journal from 1984-2002, she served in Hong Kong, was bureau chief in Moscow and was a member of the editorial board. Later, as a freelancer, she exposed corruption in the U.N.s oil-for-peace program in Iraq. The recipient of many awards, she was a foreign policy fellow at the International Womens Forum.

Claudia Rosett Wilson Pix

From his home in Geneseo, Livingston County, retired senior editor Jim Memmott, writes Remarkable Rochester, who we were, who we are. He can be reached at jmemmott@gannett.com or write Box 274, Geneseo, NY 14454

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Buffalo Bills fans can be found in surprising places, even New England
Nurhadi uses the two furnaces he owns in the village of Batu Ampar, Indonesia for charcoal production

Indonesia has more mangrove trees than any other country but there's growing concern about the "dangerous" rate they are being cut down, turned into charcoal and exported to places such as Europe, China and Japan. People involved in the work know the trees are important for the environment and would like to quit but they see no other way to survive.

Inside a wooden hut, near his house on the island of Borneo, Nurhadi keeps two furnaces burning all year round. The 68-year-old employs at least a dozen people.

Four men cut up wood collected from mangrove trees, while another throws it into a furnace made from earth and stones. Once burned, the wood is cooled and packaged, ready to be sold.

Mangrove wood is very hard and dense but not very durable, which makes it ideal for charcoal production and particularly good for barbeques. But it is a resource-intensive process with little return.

Sixteen tonnes of raw material only produces three tonnes of charcoal. "If I produce less than three tonnes, it's a loss," Nurhadi says. Once costs are taken into account, he estimates he only makes a profit of about $1,250 (1,000) per year.

"There's no money in cutting down mangroves. Nobody gets rich from charcoal furnaces. We do this to have food on our plate," he explains.

A conversation he once had with a government official sums up his predicament: "He asked me: 'Are you ready to leave the charcoal business?' I answered: 'If you can provide farming land or other opportunities, I'd quit tomorrow.'"

Almost half of the 9,000 people in Nurhadi's village, Batu Ampar, rely on mangrove charcoal for a living, a tradition dating back to the 1940s. Some families like Nurhadi's have been doing this for generations - his father and grandfather owned the same furnaces, so he says this is the only work he knows.

Indonesia is home to 20% of the world's mangroves, and Nurhadi's area, the Kuba Raya Regency has the biggest mangrove forest in the western part of Indonesian Borneo.

But the number of furnaces is increasing - in 2000 there were 90 but today there are at least 490 - and that is speeding up deforestation.

BBC graphic showing deforestation in the region from 2006 to 2020

Arsyad Al Amin, who is involved in a local research project, predicts that the Batu Ampar mangrove forest will only last for another 74 years if things carry on as they are. "It will all be gone in 2096," the researcher from the Bogor Agricultural Institute says.

Thick, dense forest areas of mangrove canopy have decreased so much that bare patches can now be seen from planes overhead.

"If there is no effort to accelerate rehabilitation, this is dangerous. We desperately need intervention," he warns.

Mangrove forests:

Tackle climate change, by reducing carbon in the atmosphere - some do this up to 10 times better than forests on land

Protect people from coastal erosion, storm surges and tsunamis

Provide nurseries for tropical fish

Shield coral reefs from storms and heat waves

Boost economies of many developing countries

Source: The Ocean Agency

Deep in the forest, an hour north of Batu Ampar village by boat, dozens of mangrove trees have been cut down. The people living along the river breathe in air mingled with the smoke coming from rows of furnaces.

There are areas in this forest where it is legal to take wood, but as the number of furnaces grows, it gets harder to source raw materials and loggers venture further into the protected areas.

Among the sound of monkey chatter and birdsong is the unmistakable sound of a chainsaw revving up.

We speak to some men who are cutting down an average-sized mangrove tree. "We would not cut down the big trees," says one lumberjack who refuses to reveal his name because he is operating in a protected forest. He's wearing minimal safety gear. "A logger died from being crushed by wood when cutting," he says. "This is a high risk job, but my children need to eat."

Local officials claim action against illegal logging is hard to enforce

The local environment and forestry agency claims it's been hard to enforce the regulations on illegal logging.

"There are too many home furnaces and a large number of locals involved in this activity," spokesman Adi Yani says.

He also thinks that if they impose the rules strictly "it has the potential to cause social unrest".

"Repressive law enforcement" was carried out a few years ago against loggers and furnace owners in Batu Ampar village, says an official with the local government, Herbimo Utoyo. But, he adds, "it never reached court because it is viewed as a tradition, a culture".

He also says the government has offered to train people how to farm honey from the forest and produce palm sugar to try to move them away from the charcoal industry, but he admits: "It hasn't been successful yet. It's hard to break something that has been done from generation to generation."

Illegal logging has turned many of Indonesia's forested areas sparse

But one man who quit the charcoal business says the government needs to do more. "We feel like we were left alone without the government's support. If they do have programmes, maybe they only came to the head of the village. No-one came to us," 39-year-old Suheri says.

Ten years ago, he used to run two furnaces but decided to stop after a peatland fire smothered his village in smoke. "I thought that if the fire happened in our mangrove forest, we'd be devastated," he explains.

Before the pandemic, he tried farming mud crab in mangrove aquaculture, but the venture failed. "I suffered a huge loss, and I am in debt because of it," he says. Now he collects honey from the forest's bees instead.

Suheri uses his boat to navigate the waterways and can spend hours looking for beehives that are ready to be harvested.

When he spots one, he puts on a homemade hat with a veil, climbs up the tree and uses smoke from burned nipah leaves to distract the bees. "There are many risks with collecting honey - mud, wild animals, snakes and crocodiles. The least of the risks is getting stung by the bees," he says with a little laugh.

Suheri says he is determined not to return to charcoal production

If he is lucky, Suheri can collect up to five bottles of honey in a day, with one bottle of raw, wild forest honey selling for $10 (8). It's a very good price but he says he can't count on just honey for a living because "the harvesting season is uncertain".

When he's not in the forest looking for honey, Suheri breeds croaker fish but the eggs are expensive and there is a high chance they will die.

Even thought it's not easy, he says he is determined to find something other than the furnaces to make money, in the hope it inspires others in his village to stop cutting down mangrove trees to make charcoal.

"I have to do better... If I want people to change, I have to succeed!" he exclaims.
Chicago police officers work the scene early on Aug. 14, 2023 where four people were shot late Sunday night near Clark and Division streets. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

Four people were wounded in a shooting Sunday night in the Old Town neighborhood, according to Chicago police.

Police said they responded to reports of a person shot in the 100 block of West Division Street at about 11:45 p.m. They found multiple people shot outside when they arrived. Police said an unidentified man shot the people and fled the scene in a black sedan.

A 28-year-old man was shot multiple times and is in critical condition at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, police said.

A 22-year-old woman was shot in the leg, police said. Police said a 42-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound to the leg, and a 24-year-old man was shot in the thigh. All three were transported to Stroger Hospital and are in good condition, police said.

No one is in custody and police are investigating.

rjohnson@chicagotribune.com
After 22 years on Wall Street, Caitlin Long got intrigued by bitcoin and the blockchain in 2012. From 2018 through 2020 she served as a member of the Wyoming Blockchain Task Force, which made the Cowboy State the most welcoming for blockchain companies.

Long is the founder and CEO of Custodia Bank, a bitcoin-focused "full reserve" bank proposing to keep 108 percent of customer deposits on hand. The Federal Reserve has denied its application for membership, claiming that "the firm's novel business model and proposed focus on crypto-assets present significant safety and soundness risks." Custodia is currently challenging that decision. Reason's Zach Weissmueller interviewed Long about the ongoing lawsuit and the future of bitcoin in May, at the Bitcoin 2023 conference in Miami.

Q: Why did you start Custodia Bank?

A: The proposal was to be a 100 percent reserve bank that would keep all of our cash at the Fed. Basically, a pure service provider. There's no reason why your bank needs to be a counterparty.

It's just like the law of bailment, which is how a valet parking works or a coat check. When you park your car, you're not turning legal title to your car over to the garage. And if the garage happens to go bankrupt while your car is parked there, you can still get your key and drive your car away. Let's just turn this into a basic money warehouse to the maximum extent possible within the law.

Q: Why were you seeking a master account with the Federal Reserve?

A: We wanted to be able to keep cash directly at the Fed. Like any depository institution, federal law says the Federal Reserve shall provide services to depository institutions.

We actually did apply for FDIC insurance and they were not interested in anything related to digital assets. And as I've said before, I agree with them. We saw how fast the money can move in the digital asset world. The traditional banking system is not set up for that yet. I mean, holy cow, just online banking movement is enough to take down a bank in today's day and age. Crypto moves so much faster than traditional payment rails.

Q: What was your reaction to the Fed denying your application?

A: We were blindsided. We had been making a lot of progress with the Fed. And then something clearly changed.

Q: Wyoming approved your charter but the Fed is basically vetoing that. What worries you most about a future where banking becomes more nationalized?

A: The degree of control that the federal government has tried to exert. Cleaning up fraud is not political. Banking should not be political either. Wewe collectively, all the peopleshould not be using the banking system as a political hammer. And it shouldn't be against abortion clinics as much as it shouldn't be against oil and gas companies. Either side should stay out of this.

We should just let financial services happen and fight out the policy fights in the legislatures, including Congress at the federal level. But the bureaucrats in Washington discovered that they had power they didn't know they had.

This interview has been condensed and edited for style and clarity.

The post Caitlin Long on Why Politics Should Stay Out of Banking appeared first on Reason.com.
Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!

CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS HEAD BACK TO WORK

Summer break is over, and the halls of the Capitol are once more teeming with lawmakers, staffers and lobbyists as they go about the peoples business.

On Monday, theyre jumping back into the mix, with the Senate Appropriations Committee set to hold a hearing on many bills weve been following this year.

Theres AB 28, Assemblyman Jesse Gabriels proposal for an excise tax on firearms and ammunition. The money would go toward gun violence prevention programs.

AB 38, by Assemblyman Alex Lee, would establish standards for light pollution in residential zones.

Assemblyman Chris Holdens AB 280 would restrict the use of solitary confinement in California jails or prisons. Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a previous version.

Another bill up for consideration during Mondays hearing is the so-called Skittles Bill. AB 418 by Assemblyman Gabriel, would ban certain chemicals from being used in foods and beverages.

Assemblyman Corey Jacksons AB 1078, which would require school boards to accurately portray Californias cultural and racial diversity, will also be considered.

Meanwhile, the Assembly Appropriations Committee returns with a hearing on Wednesday.

Lawmakers will take up a number of measures, including SB 14, Sen. Shannon Groves bill to make child sex trafficking a three strikes felony; SB 58, Sen. Scott Wieners proposal to decriminalize certain psychedelics; SB 403, by Sen. Aisha Wahab, which would add caste to the list of statuses covered by the states anti-discrimination law, and SB 447, Sen. Toni Atkins bill to replace Californias travel ban with a LGBTQ advocacy program.

BONTA CONDEMNS MURRIETA VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Last week, the Murrieta Valley Unified School District board voted in favor of a policy of outing transgender students to their parents.

According to the Press-Enterprise, School Board President Paul Diffley defended the measure that he introduced, saying, To me the importance of the bond between student and family, mother and father, is paramount.

This decision followed in the footsteps of the Chino Valley Unified School District, which enacted a similar policy earlier this summer, prompting California Attorney General Rob Bonta to launch a civil rights investigation.

Bonta issued a statement Friday saying that he is deeply disturbed by the actions of the Murrieta Valley Unified school board.

My office remains committed to ensuring school policies do not target or seek to discriminate against Californias most vulnerable communities. California will not stand for violations of our students civil rights, Bonta said.

Also criticizing the decision was the group Our Schools USA, a national advocacy organization created to protect parents and students from extremist school boards, according to a statement from the group.

Co-founder Kristi Hirst said in a statement that the policy breaks down trust between our most vulnerable students and their teachers.

Murrieta following the lead of Chino Valley  with copies of Chino Valleys illegal resolution in hand  makes it clear that attacking LGBTQ students for political gain is part of a larger inorganic movement that Our Schools USA is fighting against, Hirst said.

SEIU CALIFORNIA OFFERS ENDORSEMENTS

SEIU California, a powerful union with more than 700,000 members statewide, last week announced endorsements in a number of legislative races.

Candidates picking up a union endorsement included Democrats Will Rollins in Congressional District 41, Kathryn Lybarger in Senate District 7, Michelle Chambers in Senate District 35 and Paula Villescaz in Assembly District 6.

SEIU members have made our choices and placed the power of our endorsement behind leaders who will fight alongside us for the California our children deserve, said SEIU California President David Huerta in a statement. SEIU members are fired up to elect leaders who know California will only become more equitable and just by empowering workers.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Robust urban rail systems are transformational. Many U.S. cities removed their rail systems at the behest or car & oil companies. Were paying the price for those decisions every day. Lets commit to rebuilding them, in CA & beyond, & making our cities safer & more sustainable.

- Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, via Twitter.

Best of The Bee:

Rancho Cordova residents: Whether youve never attended a city council meeting or youre a vocal city hall regular, the next few months might be a good time to tune in to your local politics, via Sonora Slater .

Some immigrant Californians can still receive up to $4,500 if they were impacted by the series of storms that bombarded the state from December to April, via Mathew Miranda .

Three downtown Sacramento buildings that once served as office space for state workers are one step closer to becoming housing low- and middle-income Sacramentans, via Maya Miller .

There is a new pack of wolves in California, via Joshua Tehee .

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the deployment of 11 members from California search-and-rescue task forces to assist the hardest hit areas from devastating wildfires in Maui that have killed at least 53 people last week in Hawaii, via Hannah Shields.
Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) will likely pay a hefty price for previously peddling natural gas as a renewable resource, according to a settlement agreement announced Monday by California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D).

The settlement, which is still subject to court approval, relates to numerous environmental marketing claims that the company made in 2019 describing natural gas as renewable.

A recent complaint filed by Bonta on behalf of the people of California accused SoCalGas of misleading consumers about the environmental attributes of its principal product: natural gas.

Natural gas can be harnessed from landfills to be converted into useable biomethane, which is generally regarded as being a renewable fuel, the document acknowledged.

But most natural gas  and specifically, the majority of SoCalGass natural gas  is derived from fossil fuels, according to the complaint.

SoCalGas should have known better than to broadcast unqualified claims suggesting that all natural gas is renewable, Bonta said in a statement Monday.

Truth in marketing matters, and its required under state law, the attorney general added.

In an investigation conducted by Bontas office  detailed in the complaint  the attorney general alleged that SoCalGas had made misleading statements in a wide array of formats, including print, electronic media, informative displays, backdrops and promotional swag.

Marketing materials were also displayed and distributed at conferences and community events, conveying slogans such as Natural gas is affordable, clean, and renewable and SoCalGas: clean, affordable, renewable, per the complaint.

Some of these materials, but not all, included additional qualifying information, the document stated.

Among the promotional giveaways were hats, T-shirts and notepads, while a one-day Heal the Bay event provided guests with a photo booth backdrop, the complaint noted.

Under the proposed settlement  which would resolve allegations that the company violated California consumer protection laws  SoCalGas would be prohibited from making similar statements characterizing natural gas as renewable.

In addition, the company would need to pay $175,000 in penalties, of which 50 percent  $87,500  will be funneled to the California Environmental Protection Agencys Environmental Justice Small Grants Program to fund a project focused on environmental justice.

SoCalGas would also be required to publish a corrective statement on its website within 14 days of the settlements effective date.

Todays settlement should send a clear message, Bonta stressed.

The California Department of Justice is committed to holding accountable corporations that mislead or deceive consumers about the environmental attributes of a product, he said.

In response to the proposed settlement, Chris Gilbride, a spokesperson for SoCalGas said that the company is pleased to have cooperatively resolved this matter.

SoCalGas remains committed to delivering increasingly renewable natural gas and other clean fuels to its customers, Gilbride said.

This is part of our aim to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions in our operations and delivery of energy by 2045, he added.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office is searching for 17-year-old Katherine Schneider who has been missing since July 5.

The mother of a missing California teenager Katie Schneider, who was last seen on July 5, said she believes her daughter was found dead in a park over the weekend.

Officials found human remains near Castle Rock Park in Los Gatos, California on Saturday and the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office said the county medical examiner has not yet determined the identity of the person located, according to CBS News.

Nola Schneider shared in an Instagram post the "devastating news" that her 17-year-old daughter died in a car wreck.

Katherine Schneider missing: Police search for 17-year-old California girl missing for a month

"The Santa Clara County Sheriffs office informed us that Katies remains were found in the vicinity of her vehicle in a ravine near Castle Rock State Park. At this time, the circumstances surrounding the heartbreaking incident are still under investigation," Nola wrote Sunday.

USA TODAY has reached out to the Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office and medical examiner for clarification.

Jason Cantrell: Husband of New Orleans mayor LaToya Cantrell dead at 55, city announces

'She radiated authenticity'

"It is hard to put into words how much Katie will be missed. Katie was a bright light that brought emotional vibrancy to our everyday lives. She radiated authenticity, thoughtfulness, a great sense of humor, and an unyielding determination. She taught us all how to live our biggest life without reservation," Nola wrote.

Nola thanked all agencies, community members and friends who helped with the search for Katie including the Sheriff's Office, search and rescue teams, FindingKids.org, National Center for Missing and Exploited Kids, private investigators and families with home security video, among many others.

"As we mourn the loss of our fearless and cherished Katie, we kindly ask for privacy to grieve and come to terms with this profound loss," Nola wrote.

Katie was last seen leaving her Saratoga, California home in a white 2019 Honda Accord, according to a news release issued by the Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office on Wednesday. Authorities found the vehicle on Aug. 7 unoccupied on State Route 35, also referred to as Skyline Boulevard, near Castle Rock State Park. Sheriff's officials said told CBS News investigation is still active.

The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office encouraged anyone with information to contact them at (408) 808-4500 or through the department's anonymous tip line at (408) 808-4431 or PIO@shf.sccgov.org.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Katie Schneider's mother says human remains were of missing daughter
Astonishing video shows a thief using a forklift to knock over an ATM at a Sacramento bank earlier this month.

The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office posted surveillance footage of the August 2 incident, which took place at around 6:15 a.m. at a Safe Credit Union location in North Sacramento.

One suspect operated a forklift to knock over the ATM, while another suspect drove a white pickup truck nearby. Video shows the forklift eventually loading the machine into the truck's bed.

The suspect in the pickup truck quickly fled the bank, but authorities say the suspects lost the ATM after it fell out of the vehicle and caused an accident.

CALIFORNIA JUDGE ARRESTED, CHARGED WITH WIFE'S MURDER AFTER FATAL SHOOTING

One suspect operated a forklift to knock over the ATM, while another suspect drove a white pickup truck nearby.

"The second suspect drove away with it; but during the course of their getaway, the ATM machine fell out of the truck in the middle of Watt Avenue, causing an unrelated traffic crash," the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The two suspects have not been located or identified by authorities.

CALIFORNIA POLICE SOLVE 32-YEAR COLD CASE WITH DNA FOUND UNDER VICTIM'S FINGERNAILS

The forklift eventually loaded it into the truck's bed and fled.

Police are asking anyone with information to call the sheriff's office at (916) 874-5115 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at (916) 443-HELP.

"Tips leading to an arrest are eligible for a CASH reward up to $1000 and tipsters remain anonymous," the sheriff's office's statement said. "Tips are paid in cash and you are never asked for identification."

The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office is actively investigating the incident. No additional details are known at this time.
U.S. Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy said there could be a resolution in the case of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who was arrested in 2019 over his publishing of classified materials and has since fought in British court to avoid being extradited to the U.S.

Assange, an Australian citizen, was arrested by British authorities on behalf of the U.S. in 2019 and expelled from the Ecuadorian Embassy after almost seven years in asylum there. Since then, he has spent the past four years in a London prison fighting against extradition.

Asked by the Sydney Morning Herald if the U.S. and Australia could reach a diplomatic outcome with regards to Assanges extradition, Kennedy said it was an ongoing case, being handled by the Department of Justice.

So its not really a diplomatic issue, but I think there absolutely could be a resolution, Kennedy said.

Assange faces 17 counts under the Espionage Act and one count of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion. American prosecutors allege he conspired to hack a government computer in connection with WikiLeakss publishing of sensitive government files in 2010. With the help of former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning, Assange allegedly obtained and published Afghanistan and Iraq war logs as well as secret diplomatic cables.

During Secretary of State Antony Blinkens visit to Australia earlier this month, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who will be visiting the U.S. in October, said his government stands firm against the U.S. prosecution of Assange. Blinken rebuked that position, noting Assange is accused of very serious criminal conduct.

Kennedy reportedly pointed to Blinkens comments and said, But there is a way to resolve it, adding, You can read the [newspapers] just like I can.

The Morning Herald asked the ambassador whether U.S. authorities could come to a plea deal agreement with Assange, and she repeated that the case is up to the Justice Department.

Earlier this year, a group of Democrats sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland calling on him to drop the case against Assange, arguing that the charges pose a grave and unprecedented threat to journalism practices and the First Amendment. The lawmakers referenced a separate letter from a group of news organizations published last year that also called for the dismissal of Assanges charges.

The Associated Press contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
CBS News chief Neeraj Khemlani shared that hes stepping down from his current role to pursue other ventures with the broadcasting company.

In a staff memo obtained by media outlet Variety, Khemlani told staffers that he plans on pursuing a new multi-year deal with CBS that will have him focus on developing content including books for Simon & Schuster, documentaries and scripted series.

Khemlani joined CBS News in 2021 after a previous stint as a senior executive at Hearst Communications. Khemlanis tenure as CEO saw the hiring of high-profile journalists such as Cecilia Vega, Natiale Morales, and Robert Costa, the revamping of the divisions morning news program, CBS Mornings, and bolstering the divisions investigate unit.

We maintained the #1 position of our iconic weekend programs, successfully developed and launched business plans to grow digital revenue that will sustain CBS News for the next generation, and elevated and promoted so many of the people who work here day after day to deliver on our journalistic mission, Khemlani told staffers in a memo sent on Sunday.

Im so proud of what all of you have accomplished  the scores of journalistic wins, the superb storytelling, the creativity that enhanced every aspect of our programming  that has put this division on a stronger path forward. He said he was looking forward to slipping my reporters notebook back into my pocket and heading out on a new adventure.

Khemlanis departure is the latest in a series of departures by top television executives in the past months, according to Variety. Chris Licht, a former CBS News executive, stepped down from his role as CEO of CNN in June after a tumultuous tenure with the cable news giant.

Noah Oppenheim, who has been the president of NBC News for a six-year stint, stepped down from his position earlier this year as NBC Universal reorganized their newsroom.

The Hill has reached out to CBS News for comment and more information.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
More people died by suicide in 2022 than ever before, according to new provisional data from the CDC. The agency reports the suicide rate also spiked in 2021 after a two-year decline nationwide.

These findings show about 49,500 people took their own lives last year. It shows guns were involved in more than half of all suicide deaths.

Experts say theres more access to guns now along with other contributing factors.

We also have large scale economic uncertainty, social isolation [is a] major factor. Also difficulty around accessing mental health care is really important here, said Dr. Naomi Torres-Mackie, clinical psychologist at Lenox Hill Hospital and head of research at The Mental Health Coalition.

This latest CDC data shows the number of suicide deaths increased for almost every age group. The highest was among seniors over 65. But it also shows these numbers dropped for young people between 10 and 24 years old.

These numbers wont finalized until later this year. However, Dr. Torres-Mackie said the COVID-19 pandemic is another major factor.

We will be seeing the impact of pandemic loss of disrupted income, disrupted plans, the mental health load of surviving a global pandemic, its hard to overstate the importance of that, she said.

This all comes one year since the launch of the 988 Suicide and Crisis lifeline. This number connects you to licensed counselors who are trained to help de-escalate a crisis and provide emotional support or additional mental health resources.

Federal data shows staff responded to nearly 5 million calls, texts, and online messages through the hotline over the last year.

Nine in ten Americans today will tell you that theyre experiencing a mental health crisis, said Secretary Xavier Becerra for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

But a recent poll released by the National Alliance on Mental Illness reveals more than 80 percent of adults were unfamiliar it or hadnt heard of the number.

Sec. Becerra said he wants people to know there is help if they need.

If you have an emergency at home you know to call 911. Now after decades thats in our brain - 911. Well people should think 988 - its the same thing but for mental health crises, he said.

Some experts also want the federal government to increase funding for mental health treatments.

You can find a list of mental health resources here:

https://988lifeline.org/talk-to-someone-now/

https://www.thementalhealthcoalition.org/resources/

https://www.nami.org/Support-Education/Support-Groups
(photo: Facebook)

Navajo Nation is hosting celebrations in Window Rock, Arizona, today in honor of National Navajo Code Talkers Day to recognize the brave Dine men whose service was crucial to the United States' victory in World War II.

Todays events take place from 8 a.m. 6 p.m. MST at Navajo Nation Veterans Memorial Park and include a parade, an honor run by NavajoYES, a welcome address, speakers, descendants exhibit, and gourd dancing.

The day honoring the Navajo Code Talkers, a group of Dine citizens who served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II using the Navajo language to transmit secret tactical messages, was established by a proclamation issued by then-president Ronald Reagan.

It was during World War II, in the South Pacific theater, the Navajo Code Talkers used a secret code that was never broken by the Japanese that enabled the United States military to communicate with each other to ensure victory.

Prior to the Navajo Code Talkers' entry into the South Pacific theater, the Japanese were quite proficient in breaking into U.S. military radio communications and transmissions to decipher the military codes.

To counter this weakness in communication, 29 Navajo men, some still in their teens, were recruited by the U.S. Marine Corps. They traveled to Camp Pendleton, north of San Diego, to develop the code that relied on the Navajo language. The code was 17 pages long, and the Navajo Marines had to memorize it prior to going into battle. After several weeks of training, they were shipped out to fight in the South Pacific.

By the end of World War II, more than 400 Navajo men were recruited and trained in the area of communications. In the South Pacific, these brave Navajo men fought in battles that included Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Guadalcanal, Wake Island, Saipan, Guam, Midway, and Tarawa.

Their valiant contributions were credited with saving the lives of countless American soldiers and are considered essential to the Allied victory in the South Pacific and considered by experts as helping to save democracy.

The Navajo Code Talkers work remained classified until 1968, 23 years after World War II ended in 1945.

This years events will honor the three Code Talkers who are still with us: John Kinsel Sr. of Lukachukai, Arizona, Thomas H. Begaye from Chechiltah, New Mexico; and Peter MacDonald Sr. from Tiis Nazbas.

Regan Hawthorne is one of the key organizers of the Navajo Code Talker Day event. He is a descendant of Navajo Code Talker Roy Hawthorne, who saw action in Okinawa.

Hawthorne said that the three code talkers will be given a personal introduction by former U.S. Marine Sgt. Gilbert James.

We hold our breath looking forward to next years celebration, so I want to encourage everybody who considers the Navajo Code Talkers as heroes, Hawthorne told the Navajo Times. I want them to come out and celebrate this particular occasion to honor the three remaining code talkers.





About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. "

Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net
Rays release came as a GoFundMe started by civil rights attorney Lee Merritt got closer to its $275,000 goal, though its unknown if the money was utilized for his bail.

The Alabama man authorities claim used a chair to defend himself and others during a now-viral altercation on a Montgomery riverfront has posted bail.

According to Insider, Reggie Ray, 42, reportedly turned himself in Friday on disorderly conduct charges and was released from the Montgomery Municipal Jail the following morning.

Civil rights attorney Lee Merritt, representing Ray and at least one other individual involved in the brawl, posted on Instagram about his clients release from jail early Saturday.

Reggie Ray (right) seen wielding a chair during the viral riverfront brawl in Montgomery, Alabama, posted bail and was released from the Montgomery Municipal Jail on Saturday. (Photo: Screenshot/YouTube.com/Rickey Smiley)

Mr. Reggie Ray is out, Merritt wrote, Insider reported. He is in good spirits. He got a speeding ticket on the way home but he was relieved to discover the community showed up for him and others in such [a] strong way.

Merritt said Ray had involuntarily been roped into the disorderly conduct initiated by a violent white mob, but would still participate in the investigation.

After videos surfaced showing the man using the chair to strike a few individuals, the weapon and its wielder quickly gained popularity online. People took pictures with the chair next to the dock after the fight, and some demanded it be incorporated permanently into Black history.

Police claim the Aug. 5 riverfront brawl started when white individuals refused to move their tiny boat from a pier intended for the riverboat Harriott II. One of the white boaters rushed and swung at the Black riverboat co-captain, 43-year-old Dameion Pickett, after he attempted to reason with the group.

As Pickett defended himself, other people attacked him, and as a result, onlookers stepped in with support, based on videos released online. It eventually escalated into a massive brawl with numerous participants.

Darryl J. Albert, chief of the Montgomery Police Department, announced that Richard Roberts, 48, is facing two third-degree assault charges. Zachery Shipman, 25; Allen Todd, 23; and Mary Todd, 21, are each charged with one count of third-degree assault.

According to MPD, the events do not fit the criteria for charges of inciting a riot or a hate crime based on the available evidence, so authorities do not expect to file those charges.

But Jim Kittrell, captain of the Harriott II, disagreed, stating he didnt believe the people attacking his shipmate had any other reason but race.

All he did was move their boat up three feet, Kittrell said, according to Insider. It makes no sense to have six people try to beat the snot out of you just because you moved their boat up a few feet. In my opinion, the attack on Dameion was racially motivated.

Following Rays arrest, Twitter users made calls for police to Free Reggie and denied they had ever seen a man using a folding chair in the first place.

His release came as a GoFundMe effort started by Merritt raised more than $220,000 as of Saturday evening, though it is unknown if the money was utilized for his bail. As of Monday morning, the crowdsourcing campaign had garnered over $265,000 of the $275,000 goal.

The GoFundMe page asserts that the funds will help Merritts clients and others responding to the commotion pay for certain damages, medical bills, lost wages/earnings, professional services, travel and lodges.

Contributors expressed their admiration for Ray in the comments, praising him as a hero and emphasizing how repulsive the perpetrators actions were.

He made me feel, for the first time in my life, like maybe Im NOT at the mercy of a world who was trained to be anti-me, wrote Robin Wright on GoFundMe. He reminded me that Im not alone. That people will ride for me when they need to. Outside of relatives, this is new. And I like it. A sense of security? Wow!

TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today!

The post Chair-wielding man, Reggie Ray, posts bail as GoFundMe surpasses quarter million appeared first on TheGrio.
Chicago police officers work at the scene of a fatal shooting near East 57th Street and Morgan Drive in Washington Park near the University of Chicago on Aug. 13, 2023. The shooting led to a fight in the emergency room at UChicago Medicine, according to Chicago police. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

An 18-year-old man was killed in a Sunday night mass shooting in the Washington Park neighborhood, according to Chicago police. Police said three others, including two teenagers, were wounded.

Police said they responded to reports of a person shot in the 5700 block of South Payne Drive at about 8:15 p.m. They found multiple people shot outside when they arrived. Police said an unidentified man took out a gun and shot people who were fleeing the scene on foot following an argument among several women.

An 18-year-old man was shot in the thigh and buttocks, police said. He was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition, where he was pronounced dead.

Evidence markers line the street at the scene where at least four people were shot, one fatally, near East 57th Street and Morgan Drive in Washington Park on Aug. 13, 2023, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

A 16-year-old boy suffered a gunshot wound to the leg and is in fair condition. Another 18-year-old man was shot in the leg and torso and is also in fair condition. A 52-year-old man was shot in the face and chest and is in critical condition. All three were taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center.

No one is in custody, and police are investigating.

rjohnson@chicagotribune.com
All charges have been dropped against a transgender man in California seen on video getting beaten by a sheriff's deputy during a traffic stop earlier this year, but he said he wont be able to put this behind him until he gets his job back as a schoolteacher.

Brock Emmett, 23, was arrested and initially charged with three felonies for the incident that took place on February 10 in Whittier, a suburb southwest of Los Angeles. The felonies were later reduced to two misdemeanors and a judge reduced his bail from $100,000 to nothing, but Emmett lost his job as a teacher because of the incident.

Last month, a video provided to the LA Times appeared to disprove the official version of events from authorities. On Thursday, Emmett confirmed to the LA Times all charges have been dropped, but that he will not be fully satisfied until a court declares him factually innocent and he gets his old job back.

I am feeling relieved that the district attorney made the right choice and chose justice, Emmett told the LA Times. But I will feel more relieved when I get my job back.

A spokesperson for the Sheriffs Department said the case was dropped for insufficient evidence but provided no further information on the decision.

We have good news: Mr. Brock has confirmed that all charges have been dropped, and the case against him has been dismissed, The LGBT Center of Los Angeles announced in a post to Facebook over the weekend. We stand with Emmett Brock and will continue to support him while following the ongoing investigation into the Sheriffs Department.

The arresting officer, Sheriffs Deputy Joseph Benza, claimed he pulled over Emmett because of an illegal air freshener hanging from his rearview mirror and that he only punched Emmett repeatedly and bashed his head into the pavement because Emmett bit him and because he feared for his own safety. However, a medical expert determined the only injury of note suffered by Benza during the assault was a fractured hand described as a punching injury by Emmetts attorney.

Emmett told the LA Times he witnessed a deputy by the side of the road engaged in a heated discussion with a woman as he was driving home from work on February 10. Still upset about a fellow coworker who had harassed him because of his sexual identity earlier that day, Emmet admitted he flipped his middle finger at the deputy as he drove past. He later said he doubted the officer would see it, but within moments was being followed by a sheriffs cruiser.

Emmett called 911 to confirm the cruiser was following him, but the dispatcher questioned the reason for his call as Emmett had not been stopped. When Emmett pulled into the parking lot of a convenience store, the sheriff followed him and used his vehicle to block him into the parking space. Surveillance video from the convenience store synched with the deputys own recordings showed Emmett calmly asking what is happening when the deputy confronted him and then attacked.

Youre going to kill me, Emmett can be heard screaming in the video as Benza body slams him into the ground and pounds his head into the asphalt. Youre going to f*ck*ng kill me. Help! Help! Help!

He just kept saying, Stop resisting, stop resisting, Emmett told the LA Times. I didnt understand why he was shouting that because I wasnt resisting.

In his 11-page report of the arrest  which made no mention of Emmetts use of the middle finger  Benza wrote he was concerned about safety issues and that didnt know if Emmett had any contraband items hidden in his car during the confrontation.

He claimed he only grew violent when Emmett cocked his right hand back into a fist, indicative of someone about to throw a punch. He also claimed Emmett continuously tried to bite him throughout the arrest, but that he was able to subdue after punching Emmett in quick succession.

My punches had their intended effect, Benza concluded.

An internal use-of-force review cleared Benza of wrongdoing, the Sheriffs Department said in a statement, but other aspects of Brocks allegations are still under investigation.

The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department takes all use of force incidents seriously, the department wrote in a statement. Unfortunately, we cannot comment any further at this time due to the pending litigation in this matter.

Emmett also claims he underwent a humiliating genital exam to prove he was a trans man, but was still housed with female prisoners.
The ground where 16-year-old Eugene Daniel was lynched in Chatham County can only be found using a GPS device and a kayak or a tall pair of wading boots.

The teenager, accused of trespassing and attempted rape in 1921, was taken from the Pittsboro jail by a mob of 50 men on a Saturday night.

He was hanged with a chain and fatally shot near Moores Bridge on the Haw River, and his body became a spectacle viewed by 1,000 people until the coroner removed it at noon on Sunday.

In the 1970s, the construction of Jordan Lake covered the site of Daniels racial-terror lynching with water.

Now Daniel and five others are being honored with a new, permanent exhibit at the Chatham Community Library that could continue to tell their stories for generations.

The library worked with Chatham Countys Community Remembrance Coalition to create the display, which houses six jars of soil collected from known lynching sites in Chatham County. The soil from the site of Daniels lynching was collected in 2021 at a public ceremony attended by descendants of his parents, many of whom had never met before, according to the Chatham News & Record.

The new library display includes biographical information about him and the other victims, killed between 1885 and 1921, and also includes a congressional acknowledgment of the lynching victims.

Library staff is continuing to create a small archive of related materials, county spokeswoman Kara Dudley said.

The permanent display will be featured in the Chatham Community Librarys September newsletter and will also be highlighted again in February for Black History Month, along with a display of related materials from the collections, Dudley said in an email. Ideally, the display would become a destination for K-12 students learning about local history.

A permanent exhibit at the Chatham Community Library is home to six jars of soil collected from each of the known sites where people were killed between 1885 and 1921.

Markers to honor lynching victims

The county erected a marker last year at the Chatham County government annex in Pittsboro to also honor racial-terror victims, many of whom have been lost to history. The six honored in Chatham County, including Daniel, are:

 Harriet Finch, tortured by hanging in 1885 by a mob of 26 people near Pittsboro. Finch was accused, along with Jerry Finch, Lee Tyson and John Pattishall in the murders of two white farmers, their relatives and a Black servant.

 Jerry Finch, Lee Tyson and John Pattishall. All spent months in jail until they were taken by a mob and killed by hanging in 1885 near Pittsboro. They were accused of murdering the two white farmers, their relatives and a Black servant.

 Henry Jones, killed in 1899. He was taken from his home by a mob of 50 people the day after a white widow was found raped and murdered. He was hanged at the site of the murder in southwestern Chatham County.

Sometimes advertised in advance, public lynchings could draw crowds of spectators. About 100 people attended a service Saturday, May 14, 2022, to remember five people lynched in Chatham County over a century ago.

Chatham Countys marker is one of several Community Remembrance Project markers in North Carolina. The markers, provided by the Equal Justice Initiative, based in Montgomery, Alabama, works with researchers across the nation to collect information about racial terror lynchings and honor the victims.

The group has documented over 4,400 lynchings in 20 states between 1877 and 1950. UNC-Chapel Hills A Red Record lynching project has documented over 170 lynchings in North Carolina since the Civil War.

Buncombe County and Rowan County have remembrance markers and more are planned for Orange County at the southeastern corner of the Historical Orange County Courthouse lawn in downtown Hillsborough and outside Carrboro Town Hall.

Chatham Countys new racial-terror lynching display can be viewed during Chatham Community Library operating hours at 197 N.C. 87 North in Pittsboro. The display is located toward the back of the building, near the librarys North Carolina and Local History and Genealogy collections.

Dudley said the exhibit was placed in that location because there was available space and the bottom shelves are sturdy enough to support the large, heavy jars of soil. The cabinet can be locked to prevent tampering, she said.

The display was showcased in the librarys main lobby in February in recognition of Black History Month, Dudley said.
BEIJING (Reuters) -China's defence minister Li Shangfu will visit Russia and Belarus from Aug. 14-19, the ministry said in a statement on Monday.

While in Russia, Li will attend an international security meeting and make a speech there, according to the statement. He will also meet with leaders from Russia's national defence department.

During his visit to Belarus, he will meet with the Belarus' head of state and military. Li will also visit military departments in Belarus.

China and Russia has strengthened military ties, conducting joint patrols and military exercises.

Li had met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in April, vowing to strengthen military cooperation. In July, Li met with the head of Russia's navy in Beijing.

(Reporting by Albee Zhang and Liz Lee; Editing by Kim Coghill)
By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - China opposes a planned United Nations Security Council meeting on human rights abuses in North Korea because it will only "intensify confrontation and antagonism," a spokesperson for China's U.N. mission in New York said on Monday.

The United States, Albania and Japan requested the meeting, which will be held on Thursday. It will be the first formal public meeting of the 15-member council on the issue since 2017.

"China sees no added value for the council to have such a meeting and will be against it," said China's U.N. mission spokesperson, adding that the council's mandate was "maintenance of international peace and security, not human rights."

"A council meeting on human rights in the DPRK falls outside the council's mandate, politicizes human rights issues, and only serves to intensify confrontation and antagonism," said the spokesperson, referring to the country's formal name - the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for an increase in missile production to help secure "overwhelming military power" and be ready for war, state media KCNA said on Monday, as South Korea and the United States gear up for annual military drills.

It was not immediately clear if China would call a procedural vote on Thursday to try and block the Security Council meeting on rights abuses, but a senior U.S. official has said they were confident they have the minimum nine votes needed to move ahead. Vetoes do not apply on procedural issues.

North Korea has repeatedly rejected accusations of abuses and blames sanctions for a dire humanitarian situation. Since 2006 it has been under U.N. sanctions over its ballistic missiles and nuclear programs, but there are aid exemptions.

In March, the United States accused China of attempting to hide North Korea's atrocities from the world by blocking the webcast of an informal meeting of Security Council members on accusations of human rights abuses by Pyongyang.

The council has held annual formal meetings on the issue for the past three years, but behind closed doors. Between 2014 and 2017 the council held annual public meetings on human rights abuses in North Korea.

A landmark 2014 U.N. report on North Korean human rights concluded that North Korean security chiefs - and possibly leader Kim himself - should face justice for overseeing a state-controlled system of Nazi-style atrocities. The United States sanctioned Kim in 2016 for human rights abuses.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Richard Chang)
Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu is set to visit Russia and Belarus this week at the invitation of their defense ministers Sergei Shoygu (RU) and Viktor Khrenin (BY), the Chinese Defense Ministry announced in a press release on Aug. 14.

Li is scheduled to deliver a report at the 11th Moscow International Security Conference. The visit by the defense minister is expected to last from August 14 to 19.

During his time in Russia, Li will engage in a series of high-level meetings, while in Belarus, he is expected to inspect some of the countrys military units.

Read also: China not fully aligned with Russia on settlement to end war in Ukraine  ISW

Li assumed the position of Chinas defense minister in March of this year. In a previous diplomatic engagement, he traveled to Russia in April where he held discussions with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.

Read also: Russia, China exploring paths for military collaboration, says Pentagon

China released a position document on Feb. 24, outlining its stance on Russias full-scale war against Ukraine, consisting of 12 points.

The document emphasized the importance of respecting territorial integrity, and advocated for negotiations and the cessation of hostilities, but opposed the use of sanctions. Notably, the document did not explicitly mention the necessity for Russia to withdrawal from Ukrainian territory.

China will maintain an independent and impartial stance in its efforts to find a political resolution to Russias war against Ukraine, Chinas Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, told his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, on Aug. 8.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu will visit Russia and Belarus as part of an official six-day trip, the Chinese Defense Ministry said on Aug. 14.

Having departed today on Aug. 14, the minister is scheduled to attend the Moscow Conference on International Security, where he will deliver a speech and meet Russia's defense departments' representatives and officials of other participating countries, spokesperson of the Chinese Defense Ministry Wu Qian said.

The Moscow Conference on International Security will be held on Aug. 15 with 102 states and eight international organizations invited to participate, the Russian state news agency TASS reported. Representatives of Western governments have not been invited to join the conference.

The participants will "discuss various aspects of security in the conditions of the establishment of a multipolar world order, ways to restore constructive international cooperation in the context of aggressive claims by Euro-Atlantic elites for world domination", TASS said, quoting Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Alexey Zaitsev.

Part of Li's official tour will be a visit to Belarus, where he will meet with the government and military leaders of the country and visit Belarusian military units, spokesperson Wu said.

While officially positioning itself as a neutral party to the Russo-Ukrainian War and calling for a peaceful solution, Beijing has backed Moscow against Western sanctions in joint efforts to curtail the U.S. global influence.

The Chinese government publicly denied that it had provided military aid to the Kremlin, however, a U.S. intelligence report from July 27 suggested that China has in fact exported significant amounts of dual-use technologies that Moscow deploys for military purposes in Ukraine.

Shortly after the publishing of the report, China decided to limit exports of long-range civilian drones due to fears of their potential military use in Ukraine, The Washington Post said.

According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the relationship between the two countries may be starting to cool. An exchange of "divergent views" between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi following peace talks in Saudi Arabia may point to an increasing divide over Russia's war in Ukraine, the ISW commented.

Read also: US State Department: Productive that China attended peace talks

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Christian Atsu's partner Marie-Claire Rupio says she "hopes his name will never go away", six months after his tragic death.

In an exclusive interview with BBC Radio 5 Live, Rupio has spoken about the former Newcastle United and Ghana midfielder, who lost his life in the earthquakes that devastated parts of Turkey and Syria.

The earthquakes claimed more than 50,000 lives with Atsu, 31, found dead under the rubble of his home in Antakya on 18 February, almost two weeks after the quakes.

He and Rupio had three children together, aged nine, six and three at the time of his loss.

"For me, it's very important that his name is still there, especially for the children, that he was known, that he was loved by everybody," she says.

"I just hope that his name will never go away."

Speaking to media for the first time since his passing, Rubio describes the confusion over whether Atsu was safe, hearing about developments on the radio and the impact his death has had on her and their children.

'I was shocked, it was hard to believe'

Atsu was in Turkey having signed for Hatayspor last September, while his family remained in Newcastle.

Rupio last spoke with him on Saturday, 4 February, and because his team were playing Kasimpasa the next day, he planned to speak with her again on the Monday.

Atsu scored the game's only goal in stoppage time and his wife messaged to congratulate him. His reply to thank her would be the last contact they had.

On the Monday, Rupio heard about the earthquake on the radio while driving.

"I didn't believe that it could happen in a place [where] he would be," she said. "As a human being, you think this can't happen to you or anybody you love.

"I was like 'he's fine and he will call'. But then after a while his sister called and told me that his building had totally collapsed. I was shocked, it was hard to believe."

Subsequent news reports created confusion over what had happened with Atsu, who made 121 appearances for Newcastle between 2016 and 2021.

On 7 February his club's vice-president said he had been "removed from the wreckage with injuries".

However, the following day his agent Nana Sechere said that his whereabouts were yet to be confirmed.

Rupio then told BBC News she believed her husband was still alive and appealed for more equipment to clear the rubble.

"I didn't really read any news," said Rupio. "I relied on his agent, Nana, and his sister.

"Our children heard from their school that he has been found and then they came home and heard on the radio again that he hasn't been found. It wasn't nice, but I told them he might be found because you still want to believe [in] the positive outcome."

Being 'the rock' for their children

Sechere was in the Hatay province to monitor the search for Atsu and later confirmed he had been found dead, after calling Rupio in the early hours of the morning to inform her.

"I couldn't really cry because I was in shock," she said. "I didn't want to believe [it was true]. I think my body just shut down.

"The next morning the children had football and I didn't want to take that from them. After [that] I had to sit them down and explain it to them.

"It's not easy. It's not something you would wish on anybody."

The pair met while Atsu was playing for Porto and he earned a move to Chelsea in 2013, although he did not make a first-team appearance for the Blues.

He had loan spells with Everton and Bournemouth before joining Newcastle, who Rupio said have "helped me in every single way they could help", for which she is "very grateful".

She added that the Professional Footballers' Association have helped her find a therapist while her eldest son has had counselling at his school.

Rupio said that "he is the main one who is struggling because he has more memories" and is "not really ready to talk about it".

Her younger son has talked about his father more and has been asking questions that "sometimes are very hard to answer".

Their daughter recently turned four and on her birthday "she asked when her dad is calling".

"You have to be strong," she added. "You're allowed to show emotions, obviously, but you can't fall down.

"You have to be the rock now for everybody. I do break down a lot of times, so it's not easy to balance everything."

'He wasn't just talented, he's been a good person as well'

Atsu made his international debut in 2012 and went on to win 65 caps for Ghana, helping the Black Stars reach the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations final.

Ghana's all-time record goalscorer Asamoah Gyan was among the many to pay tribute to his former team-mate, and he is remembered for what he did off the field as much as he did on it.

Atsu supported an orphanage called Becky's Foundation, helping to turn a children's home in the Ghanaian coastal town of Senya Beraku into a school, and he was also a regular visitor, with some of the children calling him "father".

A traditional week-long period of mourning was held after his body was returned to Ghana and he was honoured with a state funeral in the capital Accra, with Ghana's president among hundreds of people who paid their last respects.

"He helped a lot of charities, even in the UK," said his widow. "He's helped a lot of people in Ghana. You can't really talk just about [his] talent, he's been a good person as well.

"The people who are close do know that, even from the outside as well, they have seen it.

"He's built a school for children in Ghana and that's something that not everybody would do, if they have money."

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A Cincinnati man is dead after a crash in Logan County this weekend.

Tristan Long, 35, died on the scene of the crash that happened Saturday around 7:15 p.m., according to a Logan County Sheriffs Office crash report.

The crash happened on US 68 near the intersection of Township Road 199 in Liberty Township.

>> Back to School: Challenges both experienced, new drivers face as new school year begins

The report states Long was driving a white Honda motorcycle north on US 68 when he went to pass a blue Chevrolet Silverado. As he was attempting to pass the truck, he hit its rear left tail light.

After hitting the tail light, Long went into the southbound lane and hit a red Chevrolet Silverado head-on.

The blue truck slid into the red truck, at which time a second motorcyclist hit the back of the blue truck.

>> Road work begins today on new bike path, sidewalk in Kettering

The second motorcyclist suffered minor injuries.

The crash remains under investigation.








As of 11 a.m. local time, damages to 203 buildings were recorded in Odesa as a result of Russias overnight aerial attack, the Odesa City Council reported on Aug. 14.

Among the damaged buildings were seven educational institutions, including a cultural heritage site, and four medical facilities, the local authorities wrote.

Russia launched 15 Shahed-136/131 drones and eight Kalibr cruise missiles at Odesa on Aug. 14 night, the Air Force reported, saying that all the aerial targets were shot down.

Ukrainian authorities and the military said the damages were caused by falling missile debris resulting in fires as well as blast waves. The attacks also injured three civilians, according to the regional governor.

Read also: Ukrainian journalists identify Russian officers involved in July strikes on Odesa

However, some commentators speculated that such level of destruction seen particularly in photos depicting local supermarket Fozzy appears to have been caused by a direct hit by a drone or a missile.

In a comment for the Ukrainian outlet Babel, the Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat reiterated that the air defenses downed all the targets, adding that Fozzy was destroyed because of a large-scale fire.

Shahed drones fly at low altitudes and create a very large scattering of burning debris when they are shot down, causing an especially destructive blast wave, Ihnat explained.

The air defense forces had no choice but to shoot down the Kalibr missiles "just above the city, above residential areas," the Southern Command spokesperson Natalia Humeniuk said on national television, cited by Hromadske.

Following Moscows unilateral withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Agreement, Russian forces have intensified attacks against Ukraines southern city of Odesa, targeting critical port and grain infrastructure.

The July strikes also damaged Odesas historical center, which was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in January 2023.

Read also: Anna Husarska: Expel Russia from UNESCO

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Far from its home in Indonesia, a blue, clawed creature moved around an aquarium. Scientists peered into the tank, studying their pet-turned-specimen  and discovered a new species.

Researchers in Czechia acquired several freshwater crayfish from a pet trader specializing in ornamental aquatic animals, according to a study published Aug. 10 in the journal Zootaxa. Crayfish are also known as crawfish or crawdads.

Freshwater crayfish are popular ornamental animals in the pet trade, researchers said. Several different species are all sold under the common name of blue moon crayfish. These species are collected in Indonesia, then exported to Europe, North America and Japan to fill aquariums worldwide.

Over a span of eight years, researchers found five distinct blue crayfish  and discovered a new species: Cherax woworae, or the steel blue crayfish, the study said.

The steel blue crayfish is moderately-sized, reaching about 2 inches in length and just under an inch in width, researchers said. It has two equal-sized and multi-colored claws. Its body has a steel blue color with marbled sides.

Photos show the crayfish. It has dark blue legs and an orange-tipped tail. From arm to tip, its claws change from turquoise blue to peachy orange to black.

A Cherax woworae, or steel blue crayfish, sitting on fabric.

The new species was named Cherax woworae after Daisy Wowor, a crustacean scientist and curator at the Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense in Java, Indonesia, the study said.

Steel blue crayfish are known to burrow and are native to the western coast of New Guinea, the Indonesian side of the island, the study said. The species has also been found in thermal waters in Hungary. The Hungarian population was probably released by irresponsible hobbyists and originate from the pet trade.

Researchers recommended field surveys to determine the full distribution of the new species.

The new species was identified based on its coloring and body shape, the study said. DNA analysis found the species had between 5.6% and 13.8% genetic divergence from other freshwater crayfish.

The research team included Jiri Patoka, Surya Gentha Akmal, Martin Blaha and Antonin Kouba.

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CNN is making a slew of changes to its programming, including adding new weekend shows and tweaking its weekday evening lineup, the network announced Monday.

Anchor and senior political correspondent Abby Phillip will be getting a show in prime time, airing at 10 p.m. on weeknights, while anchors Erin Burnett, Anderson Cooper and Kaitlan Collins will remain in their 7 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. slots respectively. Chief legal analyst Laura Coates will also continue to anchor an evening show at 11 p.m.

Former NBC reporter and anchor Kasie Hunt will return to morning television, anchoring CNNs Early Start program from 5-6 a.m., while Chief White House Correspondent Phil Mattingly will join longtime CNN host Poppy Harlow as a co-host of the networks three-hour morning news program CNN This Morning.

Additionally, journalists Chris Wallace and Christiane Amanpour will host Saturday morning shows airing at 10 and 11 a.m., respectively.

The programming changes come just weeks after the networks top executive, Chris Licht, was fired by CNNs parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, amid a string of controversies his decisions and editorial strategy had sparked internally and externally.

The changes Monday also come during a time of declining ratings across the cable news business generally, but at CNN most acutely.

The network is still reeling from the ouster of several of its top hosts in recent years, such as Don Lemon and Chris Cuomo.

Under Licht, CNN held a rare town hall event with former President Trump earlier this summer that was widely panned by critics for the political boost some observers said it handed the former president.

Updated: 10:57 a.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Four divers were found and rescued about 50 miles off the coast of Cape Fear, North Carolina, after going missing on Sunday, the U.S. Coast Guard said. Crews with the Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy had been searching for the divers since at least Sunday night. They said at the time that the search was to continue into Monday morning.

The Coast Guard said it was notified that the four men were diving from a pleasure craft called Big Bill's approximately 63 miles east of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina near noon on Sunday and hadn't resurfaced.

Numerous aircraft and surface vessels were involved in the search, including an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and HC-130 Hercules aircraft.

"The @USCG & @USNavy found and rescued the 4 missing male divers approx. 46 miles southeast of Cape Fear River, North Carolina," the U.S. Coast Guard announced in a tweet early Monday morning. The agency included multiple images that appeared to show the divers reuniting with their loved ones for the first time since going missing.

#UPDATE The @USCG & @USNavy found and rescued the 4 missing male divers approx. 46 miles southeast of Cape Fear River, North Carolina. pic.twitter.com/O7G5PVkyKd  USCG Mid-Atlantic (@uscgmidatlantic) August 14, 2023

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Four divers who were reported missing Sunday afternoon off Cape Fear, North Carolina, have been found alive, the U.S. Coast Guard said Monday.

The Coast Guard and Navy found and rescued the four divers about 46 miles southeast of Cape Fear River, authorities announced on social media.

The four men were reported missing to Coast Guard officials around noon Sunday after they were diving off a leisure boat called "Big Bill's" and did not resurface, authorities said.

Officials from Coast Guard sectors in Wilmington, North Carolina, and Charleston, South Carolina, were notified and launched a search. The boat was found roughly 63 miles east of Myrtle Beach.

#UPDATE The @USCG & @USNavy found and rescued the 4 missing male divers approx. 46 miles southeast of Cape Fear River, North Carolina. pic.twitter.com/O7G5PVkyKd  USCG Mid-Atlantic (@uscgmidatlantic) August 14, 2023

Authorities did not immediately release the identities of the divers.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coast Guard locates 4 divers missing off coast of North Carolina
Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Vice President Kamala Harris, who was then a U.S. senator, walk together to speak at the 21st Annual Lake Tahoe Summit in 2017, in South Lake Tahoe. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)

President Biden has a problem. So does Vice President Kamala Harris. Sen. Dianne Feinstein is a problem. Theres a solution for all of this.

Bidens problem is Harris. Shes a burden  a drag on his reelection prospects.

Feinstein, 90, is a problem for California because shes no longer capable of fully representing the nations most populous state  a world-class economic power  in the Senate.

A reader emailed me with the remedy: Feinstein could resign from the Senate and Gov. Gavin Newsom could appoint Harris to replace her. Biden then could find a more popular running mate, one more acceptable to voters as a potential successor.

Addresses multiple problems, wrote Blaine Cavena of Pasadena, a retired technology consultant and self-described political centrist. But probably just a dream.

Youre right on all counts, I responded.

A great idea. But itll never happen because it would take all of the presidents persuasive and coercive powers to pull off. And he doesnt seem the type likely to do that.

Feinstein has made it clear she doesnt intend to step down voluntarily before her fifth full term expires at the end of next year. Biden would need to invite her into the Oval Office for a heart-to-heart. She has been a terrific senator with lots to be proud of, but its time to let go  for the countrys sake, the states and her own  hed urge, speaking as a longtime senator himself and a former colleague.

Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) would need to strongly second the motion.

Then would come an even harder task for Biden.

Harris will never give up the vice presidency voluntarily. Shes one step  the proverbial heartbeat  from the top job, serving an 80-year-old president. Eight of our previous 45 presidents have died in office.

Harris would need to be pushed  dumped, as two great presidents have done. Franklin D. Roosevelt dropped Henry Wallace in 1944 and replaced him, fortunately, with Harry Truman. Abraham Lincoln cast aside Hannibal Hamlin in 1864.

But Biden would need to admit that he erred in choosing Harris in the first place. He felt politically obligated to name a Black woman in 2020. But he could have picked the more likable Karen Bass, the California congresswoman who later was elected Los Angeles mayor.

Biden apparently selected Harris largely because of an expected comfort level based on her close working relationship with his late son, Beau, when they were both state attorneys general.

Biden showed continued support for Harris in a campaign fundraising pitch last week, stating that picking Kamala as my eventual vice president was one of the best decisions I made as a presidential nominee. He called Harris the perfect choice, asserting he had been impressed by her fighting tooth and nail for whats right.

But that isnt how many remember Harris as Californias attorney general. She tended to avoid stands on politically tough issues.

An example: Although a career-long opponent of the death penalty, she was publicly neutral on ballot initiatives in 2012 and 2016 to abolish capital punishment. Both measures failed. Neither did she take a stand on a proposition to expedite the death penalty. It narrowly passed.

Harris was elected to the Senate in 2016 and soon began running for president. She ultimately got run over, and dropped out in time to avoid being embarrassed in her own states 2020 primary.

As vice president, her approval ratings have fallen. As of last week, 40% of registered voters had a favorable opinion of Harris and 53% viewed her unfavorably, according to Los Angeles Times tracking of polls.

An NBC poll in June found that only 32% of voters had a positive view of Harris, with 49% holding a negative opinion. It was the lowest net-negative rating for a vice president in the polls history, the network said.

Because of Bidens age and speculation about his ability to serve a full second term, Republicans are already targeting Harris in the 2024 presidential race.

A vote for President Biden, its actually a vote for President Harris. We are running against Kamala Harris. Make no bones about it, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, a GOP candidate, recently told Fox and Friends.

Is Harris the victim of extraordinarily harsh scrutiny and discrimination because shes female and a person of color? Maybe to some extent. But thats not her total problem by any measure.

Shed probably be better off back in her old Senate job.

Two problems with that: To keep her seat beyond 2024, shed need to run against a strong field in next years Senate election  and officially file her candidacy by Dec. 13.

And Feinstein isnt moving anywhere without a strong shove.

Its too bad. She has arguably been the most effective senator in California history. Shes the longest serving  and along with Barbara Boxer, the first female senator elected from California.

But shes no longer capable of a Senate performance that meets her own high standards.

Too much has been made of Feinsteins physical frailties  especially her use of a wheelchair. So what? Franklin D. Roosevelt used one and so does Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott today. The senators brief hospitalization last week because of a routine kitchen fall reminded voters of her physical vulnerabilities.

The problems relative to Feinsteins Senate performance, however, involve declining mental agility and gradual loss of memory. Thats been well reported.

Its hard, Newsom told reporters last week, calling Feinstein an icon and mentor. I wish we were talking about her legacy in a very different way.

Feinsteins legacy as a great senator is secured. But discussing her immediate future is warranted  even if it verges on a midsummer nights fantasy.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Come Back Alive (CBA) foundation, an organization dedicated to providing fundraising support to the Ukrainian military, has teamed up with the United24 fundraising platform and Monobank to raise UAH 235 million ($6.3 million) for 10,000 kamikaze drones, according to a press release on Aug 14.

Read also: German Rheinmetall to deliver next generation drones to Ukraine by year-end

Of the 10,000 FPV drones, a portion worth UAH178 million ($4.8 million) will be procured from foreign sources, while the assembly of components within Ukraine will account for the remaining UAH 57 million ($1.5 million).

Operation Unity is our response to one of the most frequent requests from the military today  combat drones, said CBA head Taras Chmut.

Together with the fundraising platform United24 and Monobank, we are not only acquiring 10,000 FPV drones, but each of them will be equipped with combat-ready components, including thermobaric and cumulative-fragmentation ammunition.

Read also: Ukraine uses more ammunition every day than France does in a year  and Russia uses more

These kamikaze drones have proven effective on the battlefield, destroying dozens of enemy armored vehicles and neutralizing hundreds of occupiers.

Read also: Ukrainian FPV kamikaze drone outwits Russian T-90M tank, which takes a plunge  video

Contributors to the initiative will have the chance to participate in a special raffle. Prizes include a combat flag raised in the recently liberated village of Pyatykhatky in Zaporizhzhya Oblast, meetings with United24 ambassadors, 100 platinum monobank cards, five of which hold UAH 100,000 each ($2,700), and more.

Since the start of the full-scale war, more than UAH 25 billion ($673 million) has been collected for charity through Monobank, said Oleh Horokhovskyi, the banks co-founder.

Read also: Ukrainian Startup Fund launches selection for TechCrunch Disrupt 2023

Meanwhile, we see how much harder it has become for both the charitable organizations and the funds that support Ukraine during this major conflict. Therefore, we are not only uniting our efforts but also adding valuable incentives to the fundraising campaign, as our way of saying thank you to all those who continue to support the Ukrainian military.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
When a terrifying wildfire devoured Lahaina this week, it razed Brown's home and Grace Baptist Church, where he has served for the last five decades (Yuki IWAMURA)

In 60 years of preaching, pastor Arza Brown had never led a service in his sandals. But he had no choice on Sunday, after the wildfire that destroyed a Hawaiian town left him with nothing more than his faith and the clothes he stood up in.

"I have ministered in many disasters, many fires, many things," Brown told believers huddled in a coffee shop. "And I tried to help people.

"But this is the first time that I've been one of them."

When a terrifying wildfire devoured Lahaina this week, it razed Brown's home and Grace Baptist Church, where he has served for the last five decades.

One member of his flock volunteered his cafe in Kahului as a makeshift church, where a shell-shocked congregation could gather as it tries to make sense of a blaze known to have killed almost 100 people -- the deadliest wildfire in the United States for over a century.

Thousands of people have been left homeless by an inferno that effectively wiped Lahaina off the map.

The loss of hundreds of homes has been compounded by an edict from authorities to close off much of Lahaina, even to people who live there.

"That's one of the things that's really bothered me," Brown told AFP.

"As a pastor, I should be visiting people and ministering to them, but we can't, you know, we're not allowed."

Police said Saturday that only a tiny fraction of the affected area had been searched by cadaver dogs, and they did not want anyone to interfere with the hunt for victims.

They also said that many structures were unsafe and there were other hazards that made it dangerous for members of the public to enter.

- 'Still here' -

Nearly 200 people attended the two-hour service at Coffee Attic in Kahului on Sunday, a chance to try to process the disaster with familiar faces.

Some told of their horror as a "ball of fire" bore down on their homes, seemingly from nowhere.

"If there's one thing you're going to hear, it's that it happened so fast," said Pastor Caleb Woodfin, who was assisting Brown in Lahaina.

For Glorymae Lorenzo, the service was an affirmation of her faith, and a comfort after the horror of the last few days.

"Before we came to church, we're like, 'why did this happen?'," she said "But today you know, because of his words, the pastor, it brings me more... peace."

Mirasol Ramelb, who lost her jewelry store on Lahaina's touristy Front Street, hugged Pastor Brown at the end of the service.

"The only thing I could do is keep the faith that I would see (you) again," she told him.

"The service brought comfort to my heart that God is still there, that he is still in charge."

In these testing times for his congregation, Brown says this sense of community and purpose is important.

"That's one thing about getting together today -- just to be with each other and encourage each other," he said.

"The church is not a building. The church was the people, so the church is still here."

pr-hg/aha
The Thurston County jail removed its pandemic-era booking restrictions this month, prompting renewed concerns about crowding and increased caseloads for attorneys and the courts.

The Thurston County Correctional Facility, located on Ferguson Street in Tumwater, once again began accepting bookings for people arrested for lower priority misdemeanor and felony crimes on Aug. 1.

In a statement to The Olympian, Sheriffs Office spokesperson Lt. Mike Brooks said the change had not caused any issues at the jail or led to a significant increase in bookings as of last week.

While some days are more, other days do not have as many, Brooks said. This was consistent with bookings prior to COVID.

However, law and justice workers in the county are monitoring the situation closely. Some are concerned a larger jail population may bring back crowding and lead to higher caseloads for prosecutors, public defense attorneys and the courts.

Sheriff Derek Sanders announced the jail would be fully reopening with a July 24 letter posted on the Sheriffs Office Facebook page. He wrote that the jail is significantly undersized for a county of over 300,000 people. Before the pandemic, he said the jail operated at its breaking point of max capacity.

Should we reach that point again, we will not jeopardize the safety of our deputies or the inmates and booking restrictions may once again be enacted starting with the lowest level misdemeanor crimes and warrants, Sanders said in the letter.

The jail first implemented the restrictions in March 2020. The measures effectively reduced the average daily jail population from the mid-400s prior to the pandemic to the mid-200s after the pandemic began.

Brooks said the average daily jail population was 448 in 2018, 419 in 2019, 282 in 2020, 240 in 2021, 242 in 2022 and 243 in 2023 so far. When asked about the daily average since Aug. 1, Brooks said he was unable to share data for that period.

Attorney concerns

Prosecuting Attorney Jon Tunheim indicated his office has great concern about the changes at the jail, when contacted by The Olympian.

Unless law enforcement uses its discretion in making arrests, the management of the jail population will shift to the PAO and the courts, he said in a statement.

There are only two ways the Prosecuting Attorneys Office can manage the jail population on its end, according to the response. It can limit the cases in which they recommend money bail be posted and delay charging some cases where law enforcement has made an arrest.

In his public letter, Sanders said he hoped this change would hold more people accountable for alleged criminal activity. However, the PAO response said it will continue to prioritize violent and serious crime when seeking bail and making charging decisions.

PAO Chief of Staff Christy Peters clarified that charging decisions for all referrals are made on a case-by-case basis. She added the PAO would not refuse to charge a certain category of crime regardless of the circumstances.

We dont do that because there might be what is considered a fairly low-level crime  but if that individual has a great deal of criminal history and is continuing to be a menace, essentially a danger to Thurston County, were going to look at that differently.

Staffing levels at the PAO also have been a concern. There have been many vacancies and older case backlogs that are limiting staff capacity, Peters said.

We do not have sufficient staff or resources to immediately charge every referral, Peters said. We have not been fully staffed since before the pandemic.

There are 11 vacancies out of the 28 criminal Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys the PAO has funding for, according to PAO spokesperson Tara Tsehlana.

Four of those vacancies are for attorneys dedicated to a backlog of cases that developed during the pandemic, Tsehlana shared.

Two of them are attorneys focused on addressing a backlog of cases affected by Washington State v. Blake, a 2021 decision that invalidated the states felony drug possession law.

Since the state of the pandemic, the PAO has been losing lawyers to local municipalities, state employers and the private sector, Peters said.

The real issue is our ability to recruit and retain lawyers because our current salaries for all of our deputy prosecutors are set by the Board of County Commissioners, Peters said. Theyre not competitive.

To reduce the number of unnecessary bookings, Peters said the PAO is working with the Sheriffs Office to identify pre-pandemic cases in warrant status that should be dismissed.

If theyve been on outstanding bench warrant status, it would be very challenging if not impossible to prove any charges because the evidence has gone stale, Peters said.

The Sheriffs Office has sent the PAO over 900 misdemeanor warrants that were outstanding from 2011 to 2019 to review so far, Peters said. The PAO expects to dismiss a great majority of those misdemeanor cases.

Lower-level felony warrants are expected to be reviewed at a later date, Peters added.

Director of Public Defense Patrick OConnor told The Olympian his office expects to get more clients as jail bookings increase. But he said it remains to be seen what the impact will be.

Weve already seen in 2023 a rise in clients that are appointed to the public defenders office in both Superior Court and in juvenile court, OConnor said. Were monitoring those increases on a monthly basis, and I have a finite number of staff to be able to represent defendants.

Additionally, OConnor said many clients in the jail are still expressing concerns about getting COVID-19.

Its not as though COVID has gone away, OConnor said. People are still testing positive for COVID. Its still in our community although the restrictions arent in place anymore.

Lt. Mike Brooks said every person entering the county jail is still being tested for COVID-19 and being quarantined as needed.

The courts weigh in

Thurston County Superior Court is keeping a close eye on case filing numbers and plans to adjust its scheduling if it sees a surge in cases, Court Administrator Kristin Jensen shared in a statement to The Olympian.

Superior Court operates with a lean staff of judicial officers and professional staff that presents challenges to meet current caseload demands, Jensen said. Court staffing will undoubtedly be challenged with an increase in criminal case filings.

Jensen said Superior Court is recruiting to fill critical vacancies and plans to request additional funding from the Board of County Commissioners in response to increasing caseload demands.

Superior Court removed its social distancing requirements in the courtroom last October. This allowed the court to hold up to four jury trials at a time. Before then, the court could only hold two at a time.

The court has completed 24 criminal trials in 2023 as of Aug. 1, Jensen said. Previously, the court completed 26 in 2022, 23 in 2021 and 19 in 2020.

Before the pandemic, Jensen said the court was completing 50-60 55 criminal jury trials per year.

Case filings at Thurston County District Court also are trending towards pre-pandemic levels, Court Executive Officer Frankie Peters shared.

Before 2020, he said 5,000 to 6,000 misdemeanor cases were filed with the court each year. He said its too early to tell how reopening the jail will affect their caseload.

We continue to put our best efforts to supporting these trends with the resources that are available to us, Peters said.

District Court completed about 50 jury trials each year before the pandemic, Peters said. In the last two years, he said the court has held 15 jury trials each year.

He said there have been no pandemic-related stays on jury trials after March 2022 and pandemic-related courtroom restrictions were lifted in October 2022.

When asked if District Court has any concerns about the jail reopening, Peters said the court philosophically supports various treatment and monitoring programs that offer an alternative to incarceration.

A primary lesson we have learned from our pandemic experience is that the fewer people we have in jail, the better, Peters said. These programs all move us further in that direction without sacrificing community safety.

More people will be booked into the Thurston County jail starting Aug. 1. Heres why
The woman who cooked and served a meal that is believed to have killed three people and left another fighting for his life has spoken out to give her version of events.

Erin Patterson, at the center of the deadly mystery that has drawn attention in Australia and across the world, had declined to answer questions from homicide detectives or the media about many of the details in the suspected death cap mushroom poisoning.

But on Monday, Australias national broadcaster, ABC, published what it said was a written statement Patterson sent to police Friday, in which she gives her first detailed account of the fatal family lunch in a quiet town that has sparked rampant speculation.

Police told NBC News that they continue to investigate the deaths of Pattersons former in-laws, Gail Patterson, 70 and her husband, Don, 70, as well as Gails sister Heather Wilkinson, 66. All three were taken to a hospital with symptoms of food poisoning the day after they ate the meal at Pattersons home in the small town of Leongatha, in the southern state of Victoria, on July 29. All three died a few days later.

Erin Patterson said she prepared a meal of beef Wellington for herself and her guests, allowing them to choose their own plates. (Seven Network Australia)

Heather Wilkinsons husband, Ian, 66, who was also at the meal, is still in the hospital in critical but stable condition, his family said in a statement Sunday.

In the statement, Patterson said she bought the mushrooms at a major supermarket chain and an Asian grocery store in Melbourne, a large city near Leongatha, according to ABC. She also said that she ate the meal herself and that it had landed her in hospital with bad stomach pains and diarrhea, ABC reported. Police said last week that she did not present with any symptoms.

I am now devastated to think that these mushrooms may have contributed to the illness suffered by my loved ones, Patterson said in her statement, according to ABC. I really want to repeat that I had absolutely no reason to hurt these people whom I loved.

Leongatha health authorities and the Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne, where she said she was transported, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

NBC News has asked Pattersons lawyers for a copy of her statement.

Speaking to reporters outside her home in Leongatha last week, a tearful Patterson said she was devastated by the deaths. I didnt do anything, she said.

Police have said all four of Pattersons guests showed symptoms consistent with poisoning by death cap mushrooms, a particularly deadly variety, although the official cause of death has not been confirmed. Her home was searched a week after the lunch, and Patterson was interviewed by homicide investigators and released pending further inquiries.

Detective Inspector Dean Thomas told reporters last week that authorities were keeping an open mind about what happened, awaiting toxicology test results that could take quite some time. While no charges have been brought, Patterson is a suspect, Thomas said, because she cooked the meal that proved deadly.

In her statement, Patterson said that she prepared a meal of beef Wellington for herself and her guests. She said she served the meal and allowed the guests to choose their own plates and then took the last plate and ate a serving herself.

She said her children, who were originally believed to have been at the lunch but not eaten anything, had gone to the movies before the meal was served and instead ate the leftovers from the lunch the next night. But as her children do not like mushrooms, she scraped them off, she said.

Last week, police said they believed the two children did not have any symptoms because their meals may have been different from those the others consumed.

Patterson said in her statement that when her guests fell violently ill, she preserved what was left of the lunch and gave it to hospital toxicologists for examination.,

She also said her estranged husband Simon, the son of the couple that died, intended to join the fatal lunch but told her prior to the day that he would not be attending.

Patterson admitted in the statement that she lied when she told investigators she had dumped a food dehydrator at a local dump a long time ago. She said she was at the hospital with her children discussing the food dehydrator when her ex-husband asked: Is that what you used to poison them?

She panicked and dumped the dehydrator at the dump, her statement said.

Victoria police said Monday that there were no updates and that the deaths are still being treated as unexplained.

In a separate email to NBC News, police said Pattersons statement published Monday was not a police statement taken by investigators but one she appears to have provided to her legal counsel. We have not released any statement and wont be doing so, a Victoria police media officer said in the email.

CORRECTION (Aug. 15, 2023, 2:28 a.m. ET): A previous version of this article misstated the way Erin Patterson said she arrived at Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne. She said she was transported there by ambulance, not airlifted.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The overhead metal screens, known as cope cages, which have become a trademark of Russian vehicles fighting in Ukraine, are now a prominent feature at the Army-2023 defense exhibition, being held outside Moscow.

Cope cages first appeared on Russian armor just prior to the all-out invasion of Ukraine in late 2021. The ad-hoc solutions (or attempted solutions) to different threats to armor, which continue to evolve as the war drags on, are now a more regular accessory for armored vehicles as the Russian defense show indicates. They are also something that Russia is keen to market to foreign customers, who have no doubt been watching developments in the war in Ukraine with great interest.

https://twitter.com/MuxelAero/status/1690524359457148929?s=20

Described as an international military-technical forum, the Army-2023 show opened today at the Patriot Congress and Exhibition Center at Kubinka, west of Moscow, and will run until the end of the week. According to the Russian state-run TASS news agency, around 1,500 Russian defense companies are displaying their products and, this year, their self-protection solutions for armored vehicles are very much in the foreground.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y02UE0nGW3o

Photos from Army-2023 that have been shared with The War Zone by Michael Jerdev, who you can follow on Twitter under the handle @MuxelAero, show some of the apparently new self-protection accessories fitted to a variety of different types of fighting vehicles.

These include examples of the T-72, T-80, and T-90 series tanks with fairly robust-looking cope cages, in the form of a screen mounted on several tubular poles attached to the tanks turret. The top of the cage is a combination of metal mesh (which appears to preserve vision from the tanks hatches, when they are open) and a prominent corrugated metal roof. The thinking behind these parallel ridges and grooves is unclear, but it may have been determined that this shape is more effective at deflecting drone-dropped mortars or FPV kamikaze drones. This is similar to how mine-resistant vehicles use v-shaped hulls.

A T-80BVM main battle tank with the new cope cage and a camouflage wrap. Michael Jerdev/@MuxelAero

A close-up of the cope cage on the T-80BVM. Michael Jerdev/@MuxelAero

There are clearly alternative configurations involving this tank cope cage, some featuring more supporting tubes and with more extensive corrugated metal. The walls of the cage can also be covered with a hanging mesh to defend against attacks from the sides of the turret. The same mesh is found between the turret and the hull, to prevent the entry of drones in this potentially vulnerable area.

A close-up of the cope cage on a T-72B3M main battle tank. Michael Jerdev/@MuxelAero

A close-up of the cope cage on a T-90M main battle tank. Michael Jerdev/@MuxelAero

As noted earlier, basic overhead metal screens started to be seen on Russian armored vehicles in late 2021, ahead of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This was driven by a need to counter loitering munitions and drones, including the Turkish-made TB2 that had proven especially effective in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War. There may also have been an aspiration, albeit misguided, that these screens could also help defeat top attacks by anti-tank guided missiles, too.

As the war in Ukraine progressed, cope cages also began to find their way onto TOS-1 thermobaric rocket launchers and Soviet-era T-62s, the latter of which were returned to frontline service to help address heavy losses among Russian armor. As well as the kinds of cope cages fitted to armor on the front lines, troops in the Russian rear areas also have increasingly adopted similar improvised, Mad Max-style armor as they, too, have faced attacks by Ukrainian forces.

https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1644806233767960577?s=20

More recently, weve also begun to see a more hybridized kind of self-protection for tanks, in which cope cages are combined with layers of explosive reactive armor (ERA) bricks. While the cope cage provides a physical barrier, ERA works by detonating, creating a counter-blast that can defend against attacks by armor-penetrating weapons, before the incoming weapon can penetrate the tanks turret or hull. You can read more about this development, which likely has very questionable efficacy, here.

https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1654930572463026179?s=20

The tanks with the latest cope cage also feature factory-produced camouflage, replicating foliage, as part of a camouflage wrap. This same covering, reportedly known as Nakidza, and produced by the NII Steel company, is also seen on an example of the T-14 Armata new-generation tank at the show. Although unconfirmed, it appears that the manufacturer also claims that these wraps help shield the vehicle from infrared sensors, which would be achieved by masking its heat signature.

https://twitter.com/La_souris_DA/status/1690942799145746432?s=20

A similar type of factory-produced wrap is also displayed at Army-2023 on both BMP-2 and BMP-3 series infantry fighting vehicles. Both of these also feature slat-type armor, along the sides of the BMP-3 (and perhaps also at the front and rear of the hull) and prominently at the front of the BMP-2.

A BMP-3 series infantry fighting vehicle with slat armor and camouflage wrap. Michael Jerdev/@MuxelAero

A BMP-2 series infantry fighting vehicle with slat armor and camouflage wrap. Michael Jerdev/@MuxelAero

Another BMP variant, this time an unarmed ambulance conversion, is fitted with another type of cope cage, this time extending along the entire length of the hull and with multiple bars supporting a mesh covering. The mesh appears to be made of wire and is seemingly arranged to preserve visibility from the vehicle while also offering extensive protection against drone-dropped bomblets or FPV drones which could otherwise simply be dropped or flown into the open-topped part of the hull.

An ambulance based on a BMP-1 chassis, with an extensive cope cage. Michael Jerdev/@MuxelAero

A close-up of the cope cage on the ambulance BMP-1 chassis. Michael Jerdev/@MuxelAero

A more extensive arrangement of slat-type armor is seen on one of the BTR-82 8x8 armored personnel carriers on display at the Army-2023 show. Notable here is the thought that has gone into the slat design, maximizing protection against projectiles approaching the front, sides, and rear of the vehicle, while also allowing the troops to disembark via a section of the slats that opens up outward like doors.

A BTR-82 8x8 armored personnel carrier with slat armor. Michael Jerdev/@MuxelAero

A BTR-82 8x8 armored personnel carrier with slat armor. Michael Jerdev/@MuxelAero

While its by no means clear that the types of vehicle protection on show at Army-2023 are considerably more effective than the earlier versions that we have already seen in the campaign in Ukraine, its apparent that lessons from the fighting have been processed and that these are now being incorporated into what are presumably more capable countermeasures.

Just as telling is the fact that these kinds of designs have progressed from being somewhat ad-hoc additions made prior to deployment or even applied at the unit level once deployed. Now, cope cages are being manufactured in factories for domestic customers but also for export. Its also possible the examples on show are still prototypes, but, even then, they would presumably be available for mass production once ordered in quantity.

And export is what this arms expo is all about and Russia needs those partnerships and the money that comes from them now more than ever. With major issues sourcing high-tech components and those that it can flowing to the war effort, cope cages are a relatively simple export offering that Russia now has great experience in.

With the rapid expansion of the use of loitering munitions, commercially available bomblet-dropping drones, and first-person video kamikaze drones, militaries around the globe are trying to get a handle on this threat. Russian cope cage designs, whether bought with new vehicles or retrofitted to existing ones, could prove highly attractive to those countries that are still customers of Russia's weapons industry. They are also a comparatively low price item, making their barrier to acquisition, at least economically speaking, low. While their effectiveness may be inconsistent, it is something, and even psychologically, it has benefits.

https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1666409755240198145?s=20

The evolution and proliferation of these relatively simple protection measures have been fascinating to watch in the Ukrainian war. Not only is work ongoing to better ensure they are effective, but it seems that they may well now be poised to become more established as a feature of armored warfare globally.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
New COVID subvariant, Eris, is now most common and fastest-spreading in US: 'Never going away'

A new variant called Eris has entered the COVID scene , but experts dont expect it to have a substantial impact on health protocols just yet.

Eris, a subvariant of Omicron, is a fast-spreading variant that is responsible for more than 17% of cases in the U.S., making it the most common in the country right now.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has called Eris, which is officially named EG.5, a "variant of interest," but said it does not pose a greater threat than other variants, Reuters reported.

COVID VACCINES AND BOOSTERS SHOWN TO PROTECT PREGNANT WOMEN AND NEWBORNS: TRANSFERRED PROTECTION

"Collectively, available evidence does not suggest that EG.5 has additional public health risks relative to the other currently circulating Omicron descendent lineages," the WHO said in a risk evaluation.

A new variant called Eris has entered the COVID scene, but experts dont expect it to have a substantial impact on health protocols just yet.

As of Aug. 8, the variant had been found in more than 50 countries, including China, Japan, South Korea and Canada.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"People should not be overly concerned about Eris," Dr. Brett Osborn, a board-certified neurosurgeon in West Palm Beach, Florida , told Fox News Digital. "The disease is self-limiting in the majority of cases."

Like other COVID variants, Osborn said that symptoms are, for the most part, "benign."

"Basically, you feel lousy for several days and then recover without any adverse sequela (after-effect), similar to the influenza virus infection," said Dr. Osborn, who is also the founder of a preventative health care and anti-aging facility, Senolytix.

Dr. Brett Osborn, a board-certified neurosurgeon in West Palm Beach, Florida, told Fox News Digital that he is not concerned about adverse effects from the new Eris variant.

"During this time, infected people should be in touch with their physicians office, rest, stay hydrated and practice handwashing," he went on.

"Limit contact with others for at least five days. These are typical treatment measures for those with other viral illnesses as well."

The main vaccine manufacturers  Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna and Novavax  all created updated versions of their vaccines designed to combat another Omicron subvariant, XBB.1.5, which is thought to be similar to the new Eris subvariant.

OMICRON SUBVARIANT EG.5 NOW DOMINANT STRAIN IN US, CDC DATA SHOWS

Updated versions of the COVID vaccine are expected to be available in the U.S. by mid to late September, CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen said in a recent interview with Andy Slavitt on the "In the Bubble" podcast.

Updated versions of the COVID vaccine are expected to be available in the U.S. by mid-to-late September, said a CDC spokesperson.

"Right now, what we're seeing with the changes in the viruses, they're still susceptible to our vaccine, they're still susceptible to our medicines, they're still picked up by the tests," said Cohen.

"So all of our tools still work as the virus changes."

One potential concern with this new variant, according to Dr. Marc Siegel, a professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, is that many people have less immunity than they did several months ago because they haven't had a recent shot or case of COVID.

Many people have less immunity than they did several months ago because they haven't had a recent shot or case of COVID, Dr. Siegel noted.

"This may be more of a reason for taking the new booster when it comes out, especially if you are in a high-risk group, elderly or immunocompromised, and haven't had a recent case of COVID or vaccine," he told Fox News Digital.

The Omicron subvariants do appear to be predominantly upper respiratory, Siegel noted, "which means they don't go deep into the lungs or cause as much pneumonia or respiratory failure as did earlier variants, such as Delta," he said.

COVID HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE ON THE RISE, COULD SIGNAL LATE SUMMER WAVE, SAYS THE CDC

COVID hospitalizations have been on the uptick this summer, rising 10% in the sharpest increase since December 2022, per the CDC.

"Early indicators of COVID-19 activity (emergency department visits, test positivity and wastewater levels) preceded an increase in hospitalizations seen this past week," CDC spokesperson Kathleen Conley said in a statement.

Despite the uptick, COVID rates are still at "near-historic lows" in the U.S., Conley said.

Experts agree that COVID, in all its forms, is likely a permanent part of life.

"One thing that Americans must understand: SARS-CoV-2 and its variants are never going away," Osborn told Fox News Digital. "It is here to stay because its mutation rate is high, just like influenza."

As with other COVID variants, the symptoms of Eris are, for the most part, "benign," said Dr. Brett Osborn.

"And this is why the flu vaccine is changed yearly  to chase the dominant strains at that time, until it eludes us next year," he said.

Only in the event that the strain becomes more virulent, which would reflect in death counts provided by hospitals, should there be a cause for concern, Osborn said.

"RNA viruses typically become less virulent over time  more contagious, maybe, but less life-threatening," he added. "So, change nothing on account of the emergence of Eris or any other variant unless the CDC instructs otherwise."

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

Dr. Osborn also said, "Dont give yourself any undue stress. Its not worth it."

Reuters contributed reporting to this article.
The so-called "authorities" of temporarily occupied Crimea are initiating tougher penalties at federal level for sharing footage of military facilities, air defence systems and the results of Ukrainian strikes on the Russian invaders on the peninsula.

Source: Sergey Aksyonov, collaborator and so-called Head of Crimea, on Telegram

Quote from the collaborator: "Crimea will initiate amendments to the legislation at federal level to increase liability for the spread of photos and videos of the location and operation of military and strategic facilities, air defence and other defence systems in the public domain, on various Internet resources, on social media, in chats and messenger apps; the same goes for the results of terrorist attacks committed by the Kyiv regime."

Details: Aksyonov called people who publish such photos and videos "conscious or unwitting accomplices of the enemy, regardless of their motives".

Background:

On 12 August, the Russians reported an "attempt of attack by the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the Crimean bridge", and a photo of white and black smoke was posted online.

In the afternoon of 12 August, explosions were heard near the Kerch Bridge for the second time in a day.

Later, sources in the Security Service of Ukraine reported that on the night of 12 August, 17 Ukrainian drones attacked a logistics base of Russian troops near Yevpatoria in occupied Crimea, resulting in dozens of Russians being killed or wounded, early reports said.

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!
Go For Broke

A Tesla Cybertruck has been spotted abandoned and apparently broken down on the side of the interstate near Silicon Valley  and we've got a lot of questions about what's going on.

As Electrek reports, a reader saw someone he presumed to be a Tesla worker poking around under the hood of a still-unreleased Cybertruck prototype off the highway in Los Altos Hills, a small town near the powerhouse tech cities of Palo Alto and Mountain View.

The reader turned around to get a better look and said that once he returned to the stalled truck, it had been abandoned and covered with an unmarked tarp  a strange turn of events that allowed the reader to get close-up photos of the Cybertruck, including its undercarriage and suspension, the latter of which has apparently never before been photographed.

https://twitter.com/FredericLambert/status/1690122717377277953?s=20

Wreck Room

Naturally, this roadside Cybertruck sighting raises more questions than it answers, and it's unlikely we or anyone else will get satisfying answers any time soon though we did reach out to Tesla anyway  because the Elon Musk-owned company infamously shuttered its press office back in 2020.

In its post, Electrek noted that it's not uncommon for prototypes to break down during testing, and that in fact, pushing these test vehicles to break down in order to diagnose problems is the point of stress-testing them in the first place.

But as commenters noted on the r/RealTesla subreddit, the Cybertruck being broken down isn't its biggest issue.

As more than one user noted, it's strange that the person presumed to be a Tesla employee left the Cybertruck prototype alone on the side of the interstate without waiting nearby  a seeming abandonment that allowed an Electrek contributor to get previously-unavailable photos of the unreleased vehicle's inner workings.

Whether leaving broken-down prototypes on the side of public highways is part of Tesla's employee protocol is anyone's guess  as are any implications for the Cybtertruck's purported release date at the end of Q3, which is coming up next month.

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There should have been 16,000 bats flying that night in mid-July. Instead, only about 500 remained at the cave in Central Texas next to the Colorado River. The rest succumbed to white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that has ravaged bat populations across the country.

Gorman Cave, in Colorado Bend State Park, is one of the caves that Nate Fuller monitors. Fuller, the state bat biologist with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, said by the spring of 2020  as COVID-19 became a global pandemic  bats in caves and across Central Texas were facing a pandemic of their own.

White-nose syndrome was first detected in Texas on Feb. 18, 2020, when Charles Pekins, a wildlife biologist at the U.S. Army base Fort Cavazos, formerly known as Fort Hood, found a dead bat covered with a white fungus. A few weeks later, a swab he sent to the National Wildlife Health Center confirmed that the disease had infiltrated the Lone Star State.

Nate Fuller, bat specialist with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, prepares to survey the bat population in Gorman Cave at Colorado Bend State Park. Ive been coming here since I first came to Texas back in 2008, Fuller said. Credit: Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribune

Debbie Hicks, Texas State Park Ranger, second from right, points toward the gate that blocks people from the depths of Gorman Cave during a visit to survey the bat population. Credit: Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribune

Across North America, 52% of bat species are at risk of severe population decline in the next 15 years, according to a report published in April by the North American Bat Conservation Alliance. Texas  home to the greatest diversity of bat species in the nation  has not been spared that decline.

About 70 miles south of where the first case was detected, Lee Mackenzie and Dianne Odegard of the Austin Bat Refuge were flooded with calls in February and March 2020 about dead or grounded cave myotis bats with the white fungus on their bodies and tears in their wings. Mackenzie said their wings looked like swiss cheese, a symptom of the disease in some bats.

They said people brought 23 cave myotis bats into their rehabilitation center during those two months; normally they would receive only a few in an entire year.

Wed lose one after the next, day after day, Mackenzie said. We just couldnt turn them around.

Before long, Fuller with Texas Parks and Wildlife was receiving calls from 18 counties across the Hill Country with reports of dead bats.

It was the worst point in my career, said Fuller, whos been working with bats for 16 years.

So far, white-nose syndrome has been detected only on cave myotis bats, but Fuller said its just a matter of time before it spreads to other species.

After white-nose syndrome was first confirmed in Texas, Fuller started surveying bat roosts in the state. Gradual population declines had been happening for a while, Fuller said, but accurate estimates  bats are notoriously hard to count  didnt exist.

To get that data, Fullers team started taking videos of bats emerging from cave myotis roosts across the state and hand-counting the small, fast mammals one by one as they emerged.

From left: Caesar, a Mexican free-tailed bat, and Rayna, a cave myotis bat, at the Austin Bat Refuge. Rayna was brought to the refuge with a hole in its wing after being attacked by a predator bird. Credit: Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribune

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From left: Juno, a hoary bat, and Saber, a male red bat, at the Austin Bat Refuge. According to Lee Mackenzie, co-founder of the Austin Bat Refuge, hoary bats usually migrate to Canada in the spring to have their babies, but this bat was brought to the refuge after being attacked by crows. Credit: Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribune

That job largely falls to employees like Alex Buckel, who said going through one hour of footage can take an entire workday.

If theyre really fast, I have to go frame by frame, said Buckel, a seasonal bat technician this summer.

At two of the five caves the team surveyed, they recorded population declines of 58% and 70% between 2021 and 2023.

In others, the bats were simply gone. Fuller said they found no bats at Government Canyon in San Antonio, which had an estimated population of 18,000 in 1995.

And at Fort Cavazos, where that first bat with white-nose syndrome was detected, the colony with an estimated 30,000 cave myotis bats in 2015 has also disappeared, according to data collected by Pekins.

While migration and habitat loss could account for some of these drops, Fuller said hes confident that white-nose syndrome is the primary cause.

More bats, less pesticides

Bats are important for insect control in the state and the Texas economy. Bats eat crop pests and help farmers reduce the amount of pesticides they need to use each year.

According to a 2011 study by leading bat researchers published in Science, bats save farmers $12 to $172 per acre in pest control costs nationally each year. In Texas alone, they estimated that bats saved $1.4 billion by eating crop pests.

Pecan farmer Troy Swift said he never planned to get into bats. But after reconnecting with his old acquaintance Merlin Tuttle  a leading international bat expert  there was no going back for Swift, now the proud owner of 18 bat boxes and counting.

When I started growing pecans, my parents started calling me nutty, and now that Ive gotten into bats, they call me batty, said Swift, who owns 266 acres near Lockhart and planted his first tree in 2001.

He said he wants to attract more bats to his property so they can eat insects and help him reduce  or fully eliminate  his use of pesticides.

Swift installed the first bat boxes in his pecan grove in late fall of 2021, and by the following summer, the new tenants arrived.

Troy Swift, owner of Swift River Pecans and president of the Texas Pecan Board, among his award-winning pecan trees at one of his farms in Lockhart. Credit: Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribune

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Swift said hes still in the experimental process  trying to figure out what types of bat boxes work best, which species of bats hes attracting and which insects theyre eating. He wants to confirm that bats are eating pests like the pecan nut casebearer and hickory shuckworm, two moths that damage pecan trees by laying eggs that hatch into larvae and feed on immature pecans. Hes also testing for stink bugs, spittlebugs and flies  which dont hurt pecan trees but are bad for the nearby cattle farmers.

As president of the Texas Pecan Board, Swift says if he can prove that the bats on his farm are eating the insects that damage pecan trees, he can try to convince other farmers to install bat boxes on their farms.

Its probably the only hope bats have, said Swift, who is also vice president of the Texas Pecan Growers Association. We have to prove what they do to agriculture.

Swift, who runs a sawmill, said hes started building bat boxes and selling them to other farmers.

Winged attractions

Bats also draw in tourism to the state.

Austins Congress Avenue Bridge colony attracts 140,000 visitors each year, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Other big bat-watching sites include San Antonios Bracken Cave, the worlds largest bat colony, and Fredericksburgs Old Tunnel State Park  where 40% of the parks visitors in 2022 came for the bats, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife.

It wasnt always that way.

Tourists watch on kayaks, paddle boards and boats as Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin. Credit: Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribune

Lee Mackenzie watches among tourists as Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin. Credit: Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribune

In the early 1980s, when Mexican free-tailed bats first moved into the crevices under the Congress Avenue Bridge, there was widespread fear and calls to exterminate the new residents. That panic is what drew Tuttle to Austin, where he started educational campaigns to calm fears about rabies and highlight the benefits of bats.

His work to protect the now-famous bats  considered the largest urban bat colony in the world  inspired the city in 2021 to declare his birthday, Aug. 26, Merlin Tuttle Day.

Other threats to Texas bats

White-nose syndrome isnt the only threat to bats in Texas.

Across the state, wind turbines kill about 200,000 bats each year  and as more are installed, more bats are being killed, according to Michael Whitby with Bat Conservation International.

There are no policies or regulatory mechanisms in place to reduce bat deaths from wind turbines. That would change if a species like the tricolored bat is added to the endangered species list, according to Sara Weaver, a senior environmental manager at Bowman Consulting.

The tricolored bat, found mainly in eastern and Central Texas, is under consideration to be listed as an endangered species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. If that happens, the agency would develop habitat conservation plans and work with wind facility operators and forest managers to find ways to avoid killing bats, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said.

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That would slow down construction of new wind turbines because companies would have to survey for bats in the area and also meet limits on how many bats can be inadvertently killed, Fuller said.

Weaver, who researches ways to balance wind energy and bats, said wind energy companies are looking for ways to prevent bat deaths. Scientists have found that pausing wind turbines during peak bat flying hours would have small impacts on energy production while saving a lot of bats lives.

This summers sweltering heat also hasnt spared bats.

Swift said his bat boxes were home to up to 200 bats at one time, but when he checked on them in mid-July this year, he found them abandoned.

Under these extreme conditions, they want shade, said Swift, who just installed his first shaded bat box this month.

Bats also need water, and droughts like the one thats gripped much of Central Texas for more than a year can dry up their water sources and limit their nightly hunting range.

The Austin Bat Refuge receives multiple calls each summer about bats that have suffered from dehydration and heat exhaustion from bat boxes placed in the sun. They said that to minimize risk, bat boxes should be placed so theyre not exposed to late afternoon sun. In a pinch, owners can put aluminum foil on the west side of boxes to reflect heat.

Just as climate change has led to an increase in extreme heat events in Texas, its also caused an increase in extreme cold that can harm bats. During the 2021 winter storm that hammered most of Texas with days of below-freezing temperatures, the Austin Bat Refuge took in 4,000 bats that had fallen from bridges across Travis County. Only 600 survived.

Lisa Ramie, bat care specialist at the Austin Bat Refuge, feeds a pair of hoary bats during the daily morning feeding at their flight cage. Credit: Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribune

Dianne Odegard, co-founder of the Austin Bat Refuge, feeds a juvenile eastern red bat a blended mix of milk and bug juice during its rehabilitation process. Credit: Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribune

Last winter, Mackenzie with the Austin Bat Refuge said he spent his Christmas Eve collecting more than 1,000 frozen bats from under Round Rocks Mays Street Bridge and other sites near Austin after a powerful cold front dropped temperatures below freezing across the state. Only 145 survived.

Over the next few years, Fuller, the Texas Parks and Wildlife bat expert, said he plans to continue visiting caves across Texas to count bat populations  and to see if bats return to some of the roosts where they recently disappeared. He wants to concentrate the agencys efforts on researching white-nose syndrome and trying to understand which bats are most impacted by wind power expansion in order to minimize deaths.

Bats are unique, awesome, wonderful parts of nature, Fuller said. Whether I can say that theyre worth money, or theyre worth tourism, or they warn you about things that are happening in the environment around you, theyre just so freaking cool.

Debbie Hicks, Texas State Park Ranger, watches as bats emerge from Gorman Cave during a visit to survey the bat population at Colorado Bend State Park. Credit: Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribune

Disclosure: Texas Parks And Wildlife Department has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

The full program is now LIVE for the 2023 Texas Tribune Festival, happening Sept. 21-23 in Austin. Explore the program featuring more than 100 unforgettable conversations coming to TribFest. Panel topics include the biggest 2024 races and whats ahead, how big cities in Texas and around the country are changing, the integrity of upcoming elections and so much more. See the full program.
FILE - Dave McCormick, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, meets with attendees during a campaign event in Coplay, Pa., Jan. 25, 2022. As Republicans aim to gain the one seat they need to retake the Senate in next year's elections, McCormick is a top recruit. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

WASHINGTON (AP)  David McCormick had a clear explanation for why his fellow Republican, Dr. Mehmet Oz, lost a critical Pennsylvania Senate seat last year: Voters viewed the daytime television celebrity as an interloper from New Jersey with limited ties to the state he hoped to represent.

People want to know that the person that theyre voting for gets it, McCormick, who narrowly lost to Oz in a GOP primary, said in March when asked to offer a postmortem of the general election defeat. And part of getting it is understanding that you just didnt come in yesterday.

As Republicans aim to gain the one seat they need to retake the Senate in next year's elections, McCormick is a top recruit. And before his anticipated campaign, he's working to avoid Oz's fate, frequently noting his upbringing in Pennsylvania, his ownership of a home in Pittsburgh and a family farm near Bloomsburg.

I live in Pennsylvania, McCormick said during a March appearance on Texas Sen. Ted Cruzs podcast.

But the reality is more complex. While McCormick does own a home in Pittsburgh, a review of public records, real estate listings and footage from recent interviews indicates he still lives on Connecticut's Gold Coast, one of the densest concentrations of wealth in America. The former hedge fund CEO rents a $16 million mansion in Westport that features a 1,500-bottle wine cellar, an elevator and a private waterfront resort overlooking Long Island Sound.

The trappings of a wealthy enclave, well outside Pennsylvania, offer a jarring contrast with the political identity McCormick has sought to cultivate, which emphasizes his upbringing buck hunting, his Army service and his desire to serve his home state.

Whether voters care will be tested anew should McCormick formally launch a campaign to unseat three-term Democratic Sen. Bob Casey in the 2024 election, which will help determine partisan control of the chamber. Recent Senate history suggests that even favorite sons can be stung when loose ties to home become a campaign issue.

Chris Borick, a professor of political science at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, said McCormick has more legitimate connections to Pennsylvania than Mehmet Oz. But he questioned the decision to spend significant time out-of-state, particularly given the decisive role that residency played in the 2022 matchup between Oz and Democratic Sen. John Fetterman.

He spent a big chunk of time working for Wall Street and living in Connecticut," Borick said of McCormick. Theres nothing wrong with that choice  unless you want to be a U.S. senator from Pennsylvania.

He added, As someone who is aware that he is going to have to confront this, its questionable to not really devote yourself."

A spokeswoman for McCormick, Elizabeth Gregory, declined to make him available for an interview and would not say how much of his time he spends at his Connecticut mansion, which also boasts a spa, pool and heated pavilion nestled in an area that real estate listings describe as a summer playground of Americas wealthiest families.

Dave has called Pennsylvania home for 30 years and served our country outside of Pennsylvania for an additional 13," she said. It's the place he mailed letters back to when he served in Iraq and the place where three of his daughters were born.

She said, "While he maintains a residence in Connecticut as his daughters finish high school, Daves home is in Pittsburgh and for the last 10 years he has owned a working farm in his hometown of Bloomsburg, which has been in the family for decades.

McCormick was raised in that Susquehanna River town, where his father was a local college president. Political ads emphasize a biography of high school sport, hunting and trimming Christmas trees on his family's farm.

His career since leaving Pennsylvania has been considerably more gilded.

After graduating West Point, McCormick served as an officer in the Gulf War and later earned a doctorate from Princeton. During the heady days of the dot-com bubble, McCormick was CEO of the internet auctioneering house FreeMarkets  amassing wealth as he steered the Pittsburgh-based company to a nearly $500 million acquisition deal in 2004.

He served several years in President George W. Bush's administration, including a stint as a top deputy to then-Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson. Afterward, he joined the upper executive ranks of the global hedge fund behemoth Bridgewater Associates, eventually climbing to CEO. In 2022, McCormick and his wife, Dina Powell McCormick, a former Goldman Sachs executive, held a net worth that ranged between $95.7 million and at least $196.7 million, and included homes in Dallas and the Colorado Rockies, according to an analysis of a candidate financial disclosure he filed with the Senate last year.

Once McCormick set his sights on the U.S. Senate, he began to make some well-timed adjustments.

Three months before launching his first Senate run in January 2022, McCormick sold his family's $6.5 million home in Fairfield, Connecticut. That was followed by the $2.8 million purchase of a stately Tudor-style home in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill North neighborhood, records show.

Around the same time, the Connecticut mansion, which he now lists as his home address in some public documents, was taken off the rental market.

McCormick has also not received a homestead tax exemption on his Pittsburgh home, a tax break reserved for an individual's primary place of residence. He voted in a Pennsylvania election for the first time in 16 years during the 2022 Republican primary, when he was on the ballot, voting records show.

When McCormick delivered his concession speech after losing to Oz by just over 900 votes, he was unequivocal about where he lived.

Were not going anywhere. This is my home. This is our home, McCormick said. This is where my dreams were launched, and this is where we plan to have a future."

Meanwhile, his children continued to attend a $53,000-a-year Connecticut private school where one is still enrolled, according to the schools website.

In January, as McCormick started to eye another run, he shed his $13.4 million condo on Manhattan's Upper East Side. A document signed by McCormick that was filed in connection with the sale was notarized in Westport, Connecticut, and lists the nearby beachfront home as his address.

This spring, McCormick participated in a series of virtual interviews from the kitchen of his Westport home. Distinguishing features in the background match pictures that were posted publicly before the McCormicks moved in.

A $5,000 campaign contribution made in late March also lists the beachside house as McCormick's home.

McCormick's wealth, which he can channel into his political aspirations, makes him an attractive potential candidate to the Republican Washington establishment, which is cheering him to run again.

But it also presents an opportunity for Democrats, who are likely to seize on his ties to Wall Street in what is expected to again be one of the most competitive Senate matchups in the country.

This is all dress up," said J.B. Poersch, the head of Senate Democrats TV spending campaign arm. Covering up for the years that he spent as a hedge fund-monger appears to be just as important as pretending that he fits in."

___

Associated Press writer Marc Levy contributed from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Gov. Ron DeSantis decision to dismantle a North Florida congressional district formerly held by a Black Democrat could be reversed according to a surprise agreement reached late Friday by lawyers for the state and civil rights groups challenging Floridas map.

Under the agreement the plaintiffs will drop their legal challenges to congressional districts in Central Florida and the Tampa Bay area, and focus arguments on the North Florida district they say violates state and federal voting rights protections for Black voters.

While the agreement filed Friday eliminates the need for the two-week trial that was set to begin next week, the matter is unlikely to end there and could set up a legal challenge to Floridas landmark Fair Districts amendment that established constitutional limits on political gerrymandering.

The settlement states that whoever loses can immediately appeal to the Florida Supreme Court, where a majority of justices have been appointed by DeSantis.

The settlement said the parties will seek a Supreme Court decision by Dec. 31, which would open the door for legislators to adopt a new map, if necessary, during the legislative session that begins in January.

This is a landmark decision that none of us have seen given the history of redistricting in the state of Florida but it submits what we have known all along to be true  our state has been diminishing the voting power of Black citizens for decades, said Jasmine Burney-Clark, founder of Equal Ground, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit along with Black Voters Matter, Equal Ground, Florida Rising and the League of Women Voters of Florida.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis took the unprecedented step of vetoing the Legislatures congressional map in favor of his own map during the redistricting process last year.

Neither the governors office, nor House and Senate leadership, would comment on the proposed settlement which allows Leon County Circuit Court Judge J. Lee Marsh to reverse much of what they had agreed to after being threatened by the governor.

Contrasting positions

DeSantis argued in February 2022 that the Republican plan to stretch a district across North Florida to help elect a Black candidate was unconstitutional race-based gerrymandering and would violate the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitutions 14th Amendment. He threatened to veto any map that included the configuration.

The subsequent map dismantled the district held by U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, a Tallahassee Democrat, who lost his seat in 2022, and helped DeSantis deliver four additional Republicans to Congress that year.

But since then, U.S. Supreme Court decisions on redistricting in North Carolina and Alabama have raised questions about whether the nations highest court is ready to unravel the remaining minority protections in the federal Voting Rights Act.

The plaintiffs argue that when Florida legislative leaders backed off their congressional map in favor of one drawn by DeSantis, they violating Floridas Fair Districts amendment to the state Constitution, which mirror protections in the Voting Rights Act, because the district unfairly diminished Black political power in North Florida.

The settlement agreement sets up the dispute this way: The state acknowledges that if the non-diminishment standard applies to North Florida, then there is no Black-performing district in North Florida under the enacted map and it agrees to a predetermined timetable for legislators to return to restore that district in time for the 2024 elections.

But if the state prevails and the court agrees that the states redistricting standards violate the Equal Protection Clause, the ruling would nonetheless prohibit the creation of a Black-performing district in North Florida.

The lawyers for the state also agreed that if it loses, it will follow a predetermined schedule to have legislators restore the congressional district DeSantis ordered Floridas Republican legislative leaders to remove. Congressional District 5 stretched from Jacksonville to Gadsden County, west of Tallahassee.

Burney-Clark acknowledged the settlement was a gamble because it opens the possibility that a court could invalidate portions of Floridas Fair District standards aimed at prohibiting gerrymandering. Voters overwhelmingly approved the amendment to the Constitution in 2010 to prohibit lawmakers from drawing districts that both favor incumbents and diminish the voting strength of minority voters.

It is certainly a gamble but its one thats necessary because not taking it leaves us with the possibility of always asking what if,  she said.

Lawsons prediction: Unconstitutional

In February 2022, before losing his seat to Republican U.S. Rep. Neil Dunn of Panama City, Lawson warned legislators the plan would be deemed unconstitutional.

This unconstitutional map violates the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Fair Districts provision of the Florida Constitution by diluting the voting power of minority communities of interest in north Florida and diminishing the ability of African American voters west of Jacksonville to elect the representative of their choice, he said.

Instead of a two-week trial, the parties will submit the settlement proposal to the judge on Aug. 24 and he will decide either from the bench or in a subsequent ruling whether to approve it.

A separate lawsuit over Floridas congressional maps is pending in federal court. U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor has scheduled a trial to begin Sept. 26.

Mary Ellen Klas can be reached at meklas@miamiherald.com and @MaryEllenKlas
At least 58 people were killed, nine of them in a temple collapse, and many more were feared missing after intense rains caused floods and landslides in India, officials said Monday.

Days of torrential downpours have washed away vehicles, demolished buildings and destroyed bridges in the northern Himalayan states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Flooding and landslides are common and cause widespread devastation during India's treacherous monsoon season, but experts say climate change is increasing their frequency and severity.

In Himachal Pradesh, 50 people were killed in the past 24 hours, up from an earlier official toll of 41. That included at least nine killed in the collapse of a Hindu temple in the state capital, Shimla.

"There is no previous record of such rains and more than 50 deaths in the state in a 24 hour period -- and this toll can go up further, because there are still about 20 people under the rubble," chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu told local media late Monday.

"The local administration is diligently working to clear the debris in order to rescue individuals who may still be trapped," Sukhu said in a statement earlier in the evening.

At least eight others have also been killed since Friday in neighbouring Uttarakhand state, officials said.

Images from hard-hit areas in Himachal Pradesh showed bodies being pulled out of piles of dark earth that had crushed buildings and smashed roofs.

Thousands of people have been stranded, with key roads, power lines and communication networks disrupted.

Railway lines were seen dangling in midair, with the ground beneath them washed away.

- 'Disturbing' -

Sukhu, who posted on social media a "disturbing" video of a raging torrent swamping roads, appealed to residents to stay indoors and avoid going near rivers.

Schools in the state had been shut, he said.

The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, said she was "hurt with the loss of lives in accidents because of heavy rains" and offered her condolences to the families who have suffered in Himachal Pradesh.

Rescue teams in Uttarakhand raced to remove debris after people were feared buried when heavy rainfall triggered landslides.

Five people were buried under the debris after a landslide hit a resort near the popular yoga retreat of Rishikesh on the banks of the river Ganges.

District police superintendent, Shweta Choubey, told AFP that a girl had been rescued from the site but that the rest of her family was still under the collapsed building.

Several riverside towns and villages in both states were at risk of flash floods from the heavy rain forecast in the region.

The monsoon brings South Asia around 80 percent of its annual rainfall and is vital for both agriculture and the livelihoods of millions. But it also brings destruction every year in the form of landslides and floods.

Days of relentless monsoon rains killed at least 90 people last month, while the capital New Delhi saw the Yamuna river -- which snakes past the megacity -- record its highest levels since 1978.

bur-bb/pjm/tjj
MUNCIE, Ind.  A Delaware County man charged in a July 30 shooting spree that saw 18 people hit by gunfire has received a Jan. 29 trial date.

John L. Vance Jr., 36, is charged in Delaware Circuit Court 2 with two counts of aggravated battery, along with unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon and criminal recklessness.

The counts against Vance stem from the shootings of 18 people at an early morning block party at Willard and Hackley streets.

They do not specifically refer to the fatal shooting of Joseph Bonner, a 30-year-old Muncie man who died at the scene.

However, witnesses told Muncie police they saw Bonner and Vance who was reported to be brandishing a handgun  exchanging blows shortly before the gunfire erupted.

More: Affidavit: Muncie victims saw armed suspect fighting with homicide victim

CIty police have indicated their investigation of the shootings is continuing, and could result in the filing of additional charges.

In addition to those hit by bullets, a woman at the scene was seriously injured when she was struck by a vehicle. A press release issued last week by Mayor Dan Ridenour's office said three victims remained hospitalized and were in stable condition.

Vance  listed in court documents at addresses in both Muncie and Yorktown  continued to be held in the Delaware County jail on Monday under a $105,000 bond.

Delaware County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman last week filed a felony firearm enhancement that could add up to 20 years to any sentence Vance might receive if convicted of charges stemming from the shootings.

The two aggravated battery charges are Level 3 felonies carrying up to 16 years in prison, while the criminal recklessness count is a Level 5 felony with a maximum six-year sentence.

The unlawful possession of a firearm count, a Level 4 felony carrying up to 12 years in prison, alleges Vance's criminal record prohibited him from possessing guns.

According to court records, Vance has previously been convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, along with dealing in cocaine or a narcotic drug, resisting law enforcement, battery, domestic battery and false informing.

At an initial hearing last week, Vance told Judge Kimberly Dowling he intended to hire his own attorney.

Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: January trial date set for Delaware County man charged in shootings
Within an hour of taking office as the top prosecutor for Orange and Osceola counties, Andrew Bain wrote in an email to all staff that effective immediately, I am rescinding the catch and release policy that has been in place for far too long.

In the days since Bains appointment by Gov. Ron DeSantis following Monique Worrells ouster, however, the State Attorneys Office has been unable to produce the purported catch-and-release policy. And the offices former chief of staff, who was in charge of writing and maintaining policy, said it never existed in the first place.

On Thursday morning, in response to a request for the policy, the State Attorneys Office sent the Sentinel a copy of the offices bail policy, which outlines instances in which to request pretrial release without a cash bail or to release arrestees on their own recognizance.

The records person said she could not confirm if the bail policy was, in fact, the same policy Bain was referring in his email.

Responding to a follow-up request for the policy on Monday, agency spokesperson Jason Gunn said, Various items and policies are being evaluated currently, including the concept of catch and release of those accused of crimes, in a statement.

That is all encompassing, references any instance of bail, bond, recidivism, and re-offense that allows those accused [to] not answer to crimes theyve committed and puts them back on the street, Gunn said. Once evaluated, well have more clarity on specifics, but our goal remains the same, to stop illegal activity when it happens.

The State Attorneys Office has not responded to another request for the longstanding policy that Bain said he got rid of.

The phrase catch and release is commonly used in the context of immigration, often used by critics to refer to policies that allow people who enter the country illegally to be released from custody while they await a hearing.

Keisha Mulfort, former chief of staff at the State Attorneys Office who was in charge of maintaining and drafting policies, said no catch and release policy existed and accused Bain of running with conservative talking points.

Theyre using dog whistles to the point of frightening the community and theyre doing it by flat-out lying to the constituents, she told the Sentinel. There was absolutely no catch-and-release policy at that office.  If there is a catch-and-release policy, I would like for them to show to me.

Mulfort, who was out on maternity leave since she gave birth on May 30, found out she was fired when two SAO investigators and Orange County deputies showed up at her house on Thursday and demanded she return state property as well as access to the public offices social media pages.

She has retained a lawyer, who said her termination was in violation of the Family and Medical Leave Act. The State Attorneys Office said in a statement that Mulfort being on maternity leave did not protect her from termination.

Andrew Darling, a criminal defense attorney in Orlando, largely agreed with Mulfort, saying in a statement that catch-and-release has never been a policy in the Ninth Judicial Circuit.

Im surprised to see the new State Attorney parroting the Governors talking points, maybe I shouldnt be, said Darling, who ran for Orange County sheriff as a Democrat in 2020. Those are Republican talking points designed to scare people. They have no basis and are only used to further the Governors baseless removal of a duly elected Democratic official.

The SAOs bail policy, which was sent to the Sentinel in response to a request for the catch-and-release policy, is a guide for how the office carries out requests for arrestees to be released without a cash bail, or on their own recognizance.

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The State Attorneys Office did not answer when asked whether the bail policy was the catch and release policy that Bain said he rescinded.

The policy, which has been in place since 2018, states when residents of Orange and Osceola counties are arrested on certain misdemeanor crimes, prosecutors will advocate for those individuals to be released on their own recognizance.

The misdemeanors include possession of less than 20 grams of cannabis or drug paraphernalia, driving with a suspended license, no valid drivers license, no vehicle registration, panhandling, loitering and disorderly intoxication or conduct.

The policy also says, instead of monetary bond, the office will advocate for supervision by pretrial services, such as an ankle monitor, when people are arrested on criminal charges that are not identified by Florida Statutes as a dangerous crime, including those associated with domestic violence, stalking, firearms, and dangerous felonies.

Additionally, the policy says to consider the arrestees failures to appear in court, prior release violations, convictions involving physical violence and the existence of unresolved criminal matters as well as other circumstances that suggest nonmonetary release would be inappropriate.

Through these changes and this approach, we can fully implement Florida law related to bail and further promote fairness, accountability, and safety, the policy states.

ccann@orlandosentinel.com
ORLANDO, Fla.  Glen Gilzean, the head of Gov. Ron DeSantis Disney World oversight district, has continued to serve as the chairman of Floridas ethics commission, despite a state law that members of the government watchdog panel cannot hold public employment.

Florida law specifies that no member may hold any public employment and serve on the ethics board. Gilzean was hired by the governor-appointed Central Florida Tourism Oversight District in May, drawing a $400,000-a-year salary from the special taxing district.

The Florida Bulldog, an investigative news website, revealed Gilzeans potential conflict of interest, which had gone publicly unnoticed. Gilzean attended ethics commission meetings in June and July, videos of those meetings show.

Gilzeans dual roles as ethics commissioner and government administrator appear to violate state law, said Michael Barfield, director of public access initiatives for the Florida Center for Government Accountability.

The legal requirements are there for a reason, and that is for transparency and to prevent conflicts of interest, he said. You cant be sitting in a watchdog capacity in the position of the ethics commission and at the same time be  subject to the authority of the ethics commission. That is an inherent conflict of interest.

A tourism district spokesman referred questions Monday to the Commission on Ethics. A spokeswoman for the Commission on Ethics did not respond to an email and phone message seeking comment.

Gilzean could not be reached by phone. A DeSantis spokesman also did not respond to an email seeking comment.

The nine-member ethics commission is tasked with investigating complaints of breach of the public trust by public officers and employees. With a staff of about 25 employees, the commission describes itself as the guardian of the standards of conduct for officers and employees of Florida.

Board members, appointed by DeSantis and the leaders of the Florida House and Senate, do not receive a salary from the state.

DeSantis first appointed Gilzean to the ethics commission in 2019. He was elected chairman in January. His term on the commission expires in June 2024.

The commission has handled high-profile matters involving Florida politicians. On April 26, the commission dismissed an ethics complaint filed against the governor by allies of former President Donald Trump, DeSantis foe in the 2024 presidential GOP primary.

The super PAC MAGA Inc. filed the complaint, alleging that DeSantis had misused his office to boost his national profile.

The commission rejected that complaint in an order signed by Gilzean concluding it does not provide an adequate factual basis for this allegation.

On May 10, the governor-appointed tourism oversight districts board hired Gilzean. Formerly known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District, the tourism district has played a key role in DeSantis battle with Disney, which started last year over what critics called the dont say gay law. Disney opposed that law, which limits classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools.

The district oversees fire protection, planning, roads and other government services for Disney World.

In February, state lawmakers put DeSantis in charge of picking the five board members of the Disney-controlled Reedy Creek districts board, subject to confirmation by the GOP-controlled Senate. Later that month, DeSantis replaced the five Disney-friendly members with his Republican allies.

In May, board member Michael Sasso resigned when another potential conflict-of-interest issue arose. DeSantis named Sassos wife, Judge Meredith Sasso, to the Florida Supreme Court.

Sasso resigned on May 22, a day before his wife was appointed to the states high court.

The tourism oversight district has sued Disney in state court over development agreements approved ahead of a state takeover. Disney also has a lawsuit against the district, DeSantis and state officials pending in federal court.

In an interview with CNBC Monday, DeSantis urged Disney to drop its federal lawsuit alleging government retaliation, contending the state has basically moved on from issues involving changes to the Reedy Creek district.
TALLAHASSEE  While Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis bid for the Republican presidential nomination is turning into a longshot, his tilting of the states congressional districts toward the GOP also may be in trouble as the first of two pivotal courtroom fights looms.

Voter groups and citizens challenging the boundaries approved last year by DeSantis are scheduled to square off against the state next week before Leon County Circuit Judge J. Lee Marsh.

Challengers contend the congressional map is racially discriminatory and violates the Florida Constitutions Fair Districts amendments, which prohibit creating boundaries that diminish minorities ability to elect a representative of their choice.

The new boundaries powered Republicans to win four additional congressional seats from Florida, helping the GOP gain control of the U.S. House following last falls elections.

In a legal agreement unveiled late Friday, attorneys for the state agreed to center their defense almost exclusively on their claim that Floridas Fair Districts standards, approved by voters in 2010, violate the U.S. Constitutions Equal Protection Clause.

North Florida district at center of clash

The clash over congressional boundaries centers on the plans elimination of a Black-leaning district which formerly ran from the Tallahassee-area to Jacksonville and was held by Black Democratic U.S. Rep. Al Lawson for three terms.

Lawson lost last year to U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn, a Panama City Republican, in a dramatically redrawn district favoring the GOP.

The state, in the new agreement with groups challenging the map, acknowledges that none of the enacted districts in North Florida are districts in which Black voters have the ability to elect their preferred candidates.

As lawmakers gathered last year for a special session on congressional redistricting called by Gov. Ron DeSantis, protesters rallied against the plan's elimination of a North Florida district held for years by a Black Democrat.

But the state plans to argue that the Equal Protection Clause would nonetheless prohibit the creation of a Black-performing district in North Florida.

DeSantis is rolling the dice on getting Marsh, an appointee of former Gov. Rick Scott, to throw out at least a major part of the Fair Districts standards on constitutional grounds.

Marshs eventual ruling could be appealed directly to the Florida Supreme Court, where a majority of justices have been appointed by the governor.

If voting groups are successful, Florida lawmakers could be required to redraw the congressional plan before next years elections. Lawsons old Tallahassee-to-Jacksonville district could return and the former congressman said hed again run for the seat.

I spent 18 years in the state House and 10 years in the state Senate and this is the first time that the House and Senate leadership drew a map that was fine, but the governor did not accept it, and put pressure on to adopt his map, which they did, Lawson told the USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida.

Congressman Al Lawson participates in Gadsden Countys Stroll to the Polls event on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022.

They didnt draw the map. The governor did. Thats never happened before, he added.

For DeSantis, a two-front fight on redistrcting

The DeSantis administration also is fighting a two-front battle.

Next month, the state is set to defend the congressional map in another trial, this time in federal court. Common Cause Florida, Fair Districts Now, the Florida State Conference of the NAACP and individual plaintiffs argue the map violates the equal protection provision and the rights of Black voters, guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution.

The redistricting clashes emerge as DeSantis is forced in his struggling presidential campaign to push back against denunciations from Black leaders over his support for Floridas new teaching standards which portray African-Americans as receiving some personal benefit from slavery.

The governor last week also came under fire for suspending the states lone, elected Black female prosecutor, State Attorney Monique Worrell, for what he said was going easy on criminals.

I think Black voters are aware that their voting rights are under assault, said April Albright, legal director for Black Voters Matter, one of the organizations suing in state court over the congressional map.

Lawsons defeat last fall contributed to Republicans gaining four congressional seats from Florida and dominating the delegation after winning 20 of 28 seats. It was the partys biggest gain from any single state nationwide.

Campaigning earlier this summer in South Carolina, DeSantis took credit for the GOP winning control of the U.S. House during last falls midterm elections. DeSantis continues to trail far behind Republican front-runner, former President Donald Trump, and has been cutting staff and retooling his messaging in an attempt to gain some kind of spark.

We helped elect four additional Republicans to the U.S. Congress, and we probably wouldnt have the majority if that hadnt happened, DeSantis said in June.

Campaigning for president, DeSantis takes credit for gains

The new map scatters Black voters in North Florida across four Republican-leaning districts. Republicans control all of Florida congressional districts north of Orlando.

DeSantis office drew the map approved by the Republican-led Legislature after he vetoed an initial plan advanced by lawmakers that retained Lawsons Tallahassee-to-Jacksonville district.

Rep. Angie Nixon, D-Jacksonville, was among several Democrats who staged a brief protest last month just before the state House approved a congressional redistricting map advanced by Gov. Ron DeSantis

DeSantis refused to accept the North Florida district spanning 200 miles, which had been first drawn by the Florida Supreme Court in 2015 after it ruled unconstitutional the map created by the Republican-led Legislature during a previous round of redistricting.

Redistricting of legislative and congressional boundaries takes place after each decades U.S. Census, to reflect population shifts.

'Race neutral' is what DeSantis wants

DeSantis last year vowed that North Florida districts would be drawn in a race-neutral manner.

But in their complaint before Judge Marsh, Black Voters Matter, Florida Rising, the League of Women Voters of Florida and other plaintiffs contend the DeSantis map clearly violates the state constitutions Fair Districts requirements.

The standards prohibit line-drawing intended to reduce minority voting strength or to deliberately help or hurt an incumbent or party.

Critical to the fate of the Tallahassee-to-Jacksonville district, Fair Districts prohibit boundaries that diminish the ability of minorities to elect representatives of their choice.

Gov. Ron DeSantis broke up Black-dominated district and put its pieces into 4 Majority-White congressional districts in north Florida

With nearly every line-drawing decision, the DeSantis plan advantages the Republican Party, the lawsuit maintains.

Lawyers for the state plan to argue that the Fair Districts standard protecting minorities should be ignored, because it violates the U.S. Constitutions Equal Protection Clause. Basically, they claim, Black voters should have no special protection.

Although Fair Districts has been unchallenged for more than a decade, Marsh earlier this summer ruled that the potential constitutional conflict could be used as part of the states defense.

DeSantis also relied on a 2017 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that found it unconstitutional to racially gerrymander a seat, except in narrow instances, which the governor said the wide-ranging North Florida district failed to meet.

Recent SCOTUS rulings may hurt DeSantis' arguments

But justices this summer may have dealt a blow to the DeSantis side with a pair of fresh rulings out of Alabama and North Carolina.

In the Alabama case, justices in June affirmed a lower court ruling that found the federal Voting Rights Act was likely violated by an Alabama congressional map that diluted Black voting strength by having only a single district with a majority Black population.

DeSantis changed map, and history: Florida lawmakers heeding Gov. DeSantis' demand for new congressional map, enraging opponents

DeSantis pushed for court fight: Ron DeSantis eyes court fight over Florida congressional map to reduce minority seats

GOP lawmakers first defied, then agreed: Legislature defies DeSantis on redistricting, testing his veto threat

More than one-in-four Alabama residents are Black.

Were very hopeful that what came out in Alabama will bode well for Florida, said Kathay Feng, vice president of programs for Common Cause, one of the plaintiffs in the federal court challenge set for next month in Tallahassee.

Feng said justices signaled that the Voting Rights Act is not dead.

Conservative majorities on the high court issued rulings in 2013 and 2021 that made it more difficult for racial minorities to rely on the landmark Voting Rights Act. This summers Alabama ruling surprised many.

Justices also in June rejected a legal theory advanced by North Carolina lawmakers that would have given legislatures unchecked authority to create congressional redistricting maps guided by partisan gerrymandering.

The decision upheld the role of state courts in redistricting disputes. Groups involved in the Leon County Court trial said thats a good sign.

Were very pleased that justices upheld the power of the courts and we do think that this ruling will be helpful in our redistricting challenge, said Cecile Scoon, co-president of the Florida League of Women Voters.

John Kennedy is a reporter in the USA TODAY Networks Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jkennedy2@gannett.com, or on Twitter at @JKennedyReport

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: DeSantis' redistricting under double dose of legal fire in Florida
US investment ban hurts business interests, arouses concerns

Xinhua) 09:36, August 14, 2023

BEIJING - US President Joe Biden signed an executive order Wednesday limiting US investments in advanced technology industries in China. The ban undermines the interests of companies and investors from both sides as well as the wider world, observers have said, and drew widespread concerns from both home and abroad.

"We hope the final rules allow US chip firms to compete on a level playing field and access key global markets, including China," the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) responded just hours after the order was signed.

It is not the first time the SIA has made such an appeal. In a statement issued in July, the industry group had warned that such unilateral restrictions risk diminishing the US semiconductor industry's competitiveness, disrupting supply chains, and causing significant market uncertainty.

During a recent White House meeting, US semiconductor giants also weighed in with opposition. The chief executive officers of Intel, Nvidia and Qualcomm criticized Washington's relentless approach, saying the restrictions would surely backfire, depleting them of a big revenue source.

In fact, China is the world's largest single semiconductor market, accounting for $180 billion in chip purchases last year, or more than a third of the world's total, SIA statistics show. In 2019, 36 percent of all US chip sales came from China.

"If we are deprived of the Chinese market, we don't have a contingency. There is no other China, and there is only one China," Nvidia Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang said. The company's Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress also said in June that over the long term, restrictions on China will "result in a permanent loss of opportunities for the US chip industry."

The investment restrictions will be further "rippling out," non-profit research institute Foundation for Defense of Democracies noted. It will "affect US investors' willingness to dive into other sectors" such as solar power and electric vehicles, where China is ahead of the rest of the world.

In the past five years, the return rate of China's foreign direct investment has reached 9.1 percent, according to the 2023 US Exports to China report. More than 70,000 US companies have invested and operated in China, and nearly 90 percent of the operations are profitable.

Luca David Opromolla, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, deems the potential restrictions "risky." These constraints lead to "a loss of knowledge not only about the Chinese market but also about the complexity of dealing with business operations in foreign countries," Opromolla said.

"Measures to curb China risked damaging relations with its Asian allies," former chip engineer and Samsung executive Yang Hyang-ja was quoted as saying by the Financial Times.

She also said that the more the United States sanctions China, the harder China will try to make rapid technological progress. "The US should abandon its current approach of trying to get something out of shaking and breaking the global value chain," she added.

"The segmentation of the global market will create very capable Chinese chip competitors since Chinese buyers now have no choice but to buy from domestic chips makers, giving them a large captive market," Victor Shih, a political science professor at the University of California San Diego, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Amid fraying tensions with China, the US has adopted a buzzword to describe its strategy: "de-risking." "With high-level summitry and calls to keep trade flowing," the United States continues to "roll out tech and investment restrictions on China," said a recent article in The Economist. "The aim is to limit the risk of escalation in both the political and economic spheres," but "it is unlikely to work."

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Wu Chaolan)
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday said Walt Disney Parks and Resorts should drop a federal lawsuit that claims retaliation by the state and accept changes to a special district that long benefited the theme-park giant.

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In a CNBC interview focused on the economy, the Republican presidential candidate said the state has basically moved on from issues surrounding the changes to the former Reedy Creek Improvement District.

Amid a feud between DeSantis and Disney, the Legislature this year replaced the Reedy Creek district with the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. The changes have led to state and federal lawsuits, with Disney alleging the changes are retaliation for its opposition to a 2022 law that restricts instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in Florida schools.

Your competitors all do very well here. Universal. SeaWorld. They have not had the same special privileges as you have, said DeSantis when pressed on what hed say to Disney CEO Bob Iger about the federal lawsuit.

So, all we want to do is treat everybody the same and lets move forward. Im totally fine with that, DeSantis said. But Im not fine with giving extraordinary privileges, you know, to one special company at the exclusion of everybody else.

RELATED: DeSantis-controlled Disney World district abolishes diversity, equity initiatives

The former Reedy Creek Improvement District was created in the 1960s and largely gave Disney self-governance power. In revamping the district this year, the Republican-controlled Legislature gave DeSantis the power to appoint the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board.

The state is seeking dismissal of the federal lawsuit filed in April by Disney.

Disney and DeSantis have locked horns since former Disney CEO Bob Chapek announced opposition to the law restricting instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in schools. DeSantis has featured his stand against Disney in his presidential campaign.

In the federal lawsuit, Disney argues its First Amendment rights were violated and its business harmed by a relentless campaign of retribution orchestrated by DeSantis and other officials for opposing the 2022 law.

The lawsuit also alleges a violation of a constitutional prohibition on altering contracts, an unconstitutional taking of property without proper compensation and violation of due process rights.

Before the new DeSantis-appointed board could be seated, the former Reedy Creek board entered development-related agreements with Disney. The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board has filed a state lawsuit challenging those agreements.

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DeSantis, who during campaign stops has accused Disney of supporting the sexualization of children, said on Monday, I think parents have lost some confidence that this is a company thats really speaking to what they want, the way it had been traditionally.

During an appearance last month on CNBCs Squawk Box show, Iger dismissed claims by DeSantis that the companys Orlando parks were experiencing a drop in attendance because of the fight with the governor.

Iger described as preposterous arguments by DeSantis that the company was sexualizing children. Iger also defended the companys right to question the 2022 law.

The last thing that I want for the company is for the company to be drawn into any culture wars, Iger said. Weve operated for almost 100 years as a company making products that we actually are proud of in terms of its impact on the world. I joke every once in a while were there to manufacture fun.

Iger didnt bring up the lawsuit during a second-quarter company earnings call last week. He noted that Walt Disney Worlds business has slackened amid an overall softening of tourism in many pockets of Florida.

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Divers embrace loved ones after being reunited back on dry land (USCG)

Four divers have been rescued after they went missing off the coast of Cape Fear during a pleasure craft trip.

The group of four men, who have not been named, set off on the pleasure craft Big Bills on Sunday morning to go diving around 63 miles east of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, according to the US Coast Guard (USCG).

When they failed to resurface sometime later, the alarm was raised and a desperate search was launched to find them.

At around midday, the Coast Guard said that watchstanders at its North Carolina sector received a notification from the Coast Guard sector in Charleston reporting the missing divers.

The Coast Guard began searching for the missing group around 50 miles south of Cape Fear, North Carolina, with crews continuing to search throughout the night.

Multiple crafts were deployed to help in the search and rescue effort including a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew, an HC-130 Hercules aircraft crew, an HC-130 aircraft crew, a 47-foot motor lifeboat crew, and two 87-foot patrol boats.

The Coast Guard said on Sunday night that the current sea state was about two to three feet with 10-knot winds.

Thankfully, the search ended with positive news as the USCG Mid-Atlantic announced that the four men had been found and rescued from the ocean.

Divers embrace loved ones after being reunited back on dry land (USCG)

The @USCG & @USNavy found and rescued the 4 missing male divers approx. 46 miles southeast of Cape Fear River, North Carolina, the agency tweeted.

Heartwarming photos captured the moments the divers were reunited with their loved ones back on dry land.

In one of the photos, shared by the USCG, a diver was seen hugging a small child.
A Mercy Worldwide volunteer makes damage assessment of charred apartment complex in the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina, western Maui, Hawaii on August 12, 2023. YUKI IWAMURA/AFP via Getty Images

The Hawaiian island of Maui has tsunami alert systems to warn residents of emergencies.

Locals say no alerts were issued while a fire blazed, killing at least 93 on the island.

A bar owner said residents "weren't even able to grab any underwear, a shirt, or cash" when escaping.

Every first Monday of the month, residents of the Hawaiian island of Maui know to prepare for a test of their emergency alert system, with blaring sirens meant to warn of incoming tsunamis, floods, or earthquakes.

"It always scares tourists because they think, like, 'oh my gosh.' Because it is so loud and it goes for a little bit  but the people that live here know: That's our warning," Kami Irwin, a Maui resident helping to coordinate fire relief efforts at the Maui Brewing Company location in Kihei, told Insider. "You know, if it doesn't go off on that day and it goes off on a different day, there's something wrong."

This week, as wildfires ravaged the island and burned nearly an entire city to the ground, Irwin and other locals told Insider no sirens went off.

"This is where I believe the ball was dropped  in my eyes and a few other open eyes as well  because there was no warning," Matt Robb, co-owner of a Lahaina bar called The Dirty Monkey, told Insider.

Of the 26 staff of The Dirty Monkey, Robb said 16 lost their homes and everything in them due to the wildfire. Staff with no place to stay are waiting for aid in the home of the bar's other co-owner, Alen Aivazian.

'Get the hell out now'

Small fires had broken out earlier this month, a common occurrence on the island, but when the wind kicked up on August 8  caused by the Category 4 storm Hurricane Dora, which was surging about 500 miles away  the flames began spreading uncontrollably.

But residents of the island had no idea anything was wrong except that the power went out.

Instead of closing that night's shift at the bar, Aivazian, who was visiting family in Minnesota when the fire broke out, told Insider, "Everyone went to my house or they went home because they didn't know what was happening."

"But then, in a couple hours, while they were trying to sleep, they were woken up by policemen telling them, 'get the hell out now,'" Aivazian said. And then they were all running, he said, "they weren't even able to grab any underwear, a shirt or cash if they had any."

He added: "That's probably why so many people have died. It happened that night  and fast. And, you know, not everybody is trained properly on what to do, so they didn't know which way to run."

The death toll rose to 93 on Sunday, making the Maui fires the deadliest in American history. But officials warn that number will continue to increase, as only 3% of the areas affected by the fires have so far been searched for potential survivors and the bodies of victims.

Insider reported FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said in some cases, the ground is still too hot for search-and-rescue dogs to traverse.

"It's absolutely heartbreaking to just see an entire community that is no longer there," Criswell said, describing the scene on the Hawaiian island as like "an apocalyptic movie."

Representatives for the Maui Police Department and the office of Mayor Richard Bissen did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.

Survivors have criticized local leadership for their response to the deadly fire, from the lack of emergency warnings to failure to communicate effectively or provide adequate aid in the immediate aftermath. Citizen groups, including those formed by staff at The Dirty Monkey and Maui Brewing Company, are stepping up to fundraise, coordinate directly with local authorities and aid groups, and form patrols for security and search and rescue efforts.

"There's some police presence. There's some small military presence, but at night people are being robbed at gunpoint," Robb told Insider. "People are raped and pillaged. I mean, they're going through houses  and then by day it's hunky dory. So where is the support? I don't think our government and our leaders, at this point, know how to handle this or what to do."

Read the original article on Insider
The woman at the center of a lethal mushroom mystery gripping Australia has given her account of the events surrounding the meal now linked to the death of three people, and the hospitalization of a fourth person.

For weeks, speculation has been mounting around a close-knit community in rural Australia after a family mushroom lunch ended with three people dead and a local preacher fighting for his life.

The meal was cooked by community newsletter editor Erin Patterson. Police last week said she was being treated as a suspect but that investigators were keeping an open mind. In a statement to police, exclusively obtained by the Australia's ABC, Patterson said she purchased the mushrooms from an Asian supermarket and that she too fell ill after eating the meal.

Police believe the dish was tainted with "death cap" mushrooms, which grow freely in the rolling foothills surrounding Leongatha - a small town about two hours' drive southeast of Melbourne.

Patterson prepared the lunch, a beef Wellington, for her estranged parents-in-law, Don and Gail Patterson, on the afternoon of Saturday, July 29. She was married to their son, Simon, but had been living separately from him for some time.

Local Baptist pastor Ian Wilkinson and his wife, Heather, were also at the meal.

Later that night, the two couples started experiencing food poisoning symptoms and, with their health rapidly deteriorating, they sought help at local hospitals. Heather and Gail died the following Friday and Don died the day after that. Seventy-year-old Ian is still clinging to life, in critical but stable condition.

The investigation has fueled intense speculation as police try to separate clumsy cooking from an alleged act of malice.

According to Australia's ABC, Erin Patterson told police in a statement on Friday that she is "devastated to think that these mushrooms may have contributed to the illness suffered by my loved ones."

"I really want to repeat that I had absolutely no reason to hurt these people whom I love," Patterson added.

She told police she had also been hospitalized after the lunch on July 31, with bad stomach pains and diarrhoea, and later released.

She described preserving the remains of the meal and handing it over to hospital toxicologists for examination. She has repeatedly protested her innocence, tearfully telling reporters last week that "I didn't do anything. I love them and I'm devastated they are gone.".

Patterson hasn't been charged and police have provided no evidence of wrongdoing.

Deadly home explosion near Pittsburgh captured by Ring camera

Frustration mounting over lack of information in Hawaii amid investigation into fire response

Author L'Oreal Thompson Payton on how to let go of perfection and embrace the mess
Homes and buildings on the waterfront burned to the ground in Lahaina, destroyed by wildfires in western Maui, Hawaii. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

Hawaiian government officials are urging tourists to cancel or postpone imminent travel to the Hawaiian island of Maui in the wake of wildfires that have killed at least 96 people.

In the weeks ahead, the collective resources and attention of the federal, state and county government, the West Maui community, and the travel industry must be focused on the recovery of residents who were forced to evacuate their homes and businesses, the agency said in a statement late Saturday.

In the devastated town of Lahaina, toxic fumes and particles are still rampant, and even Lahaina residents are being urged to wait longer to return. Hawaiis state toxicologist, Diana Felton, told Hawaii Public Radio the cleanup will take weeks or months before it is safe.

As of Monday morning, 46,000 people had flown out of West Maui since the fires began last Wednesday.

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said 1,000 hotel rooms are being used to house residents who lost their homes and first responders from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, while some hotels will continue normal business to help sustain the local economy.

Tourism-related industries account for a majority of Maui's private sector jobs, and some analysts are warning of a severe hit to the local economy  although experts say other tourist destinations have rebounded from natural disasters before.

The severity of the fires was caused by a number of factors, including strong winds from Hurricane Dora and dried-out vegetation that provided the fuel. Climate change and the importation of invasive, fire-prone trees and grasses played a part as well. But the fires and the devastation they wrought raise questions about whether Hawaiis largest industry, the lifeblood of its economy, could also have contributed to the catastrophe by draining wetlands and drawing down the states water supply.

The root cause of the blaze

Volunteers load pallets of supplies and aid donations flown in from the Hawaiian island of Kauai into pickup trucks at the Kahului airport cargo terminal in the aftermath of the Maui wildfires. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

Historically, massive wildfires were uncommon in Hawaii because of its humid, tropical climate. But this year, a local drought caused the foliage on Maui to become drier than usual. Invasive grasses covering former sugar plantations were especially dried out this year and fire-prone, the New York Times reported.

Before it was drained by plantation owners irrigating their farms, the Lahaina area was a wetland, according to the local environmental advocacy organization Save the Wetlands.

Lahaina wasnt always a dry, fire-prone region. It was very wet and lush, historically, Kaniela Ing, an Indigenous Hawaiian who is national director of the Green New Deal Network, told the newsletter Heated.

More recently, wetlands have been paved over to build hotels and vacation homes.

In the last 60 years, more than 100 acres of Kiheis wetlands have been gobbled up, which exploded from a tiny rural town to one of Hawaiis busiest tourist destinations over the course of a single lifetime, the Honolulu Civil Beat reported in a June story on the island's last remain wetland.

No water to put out the flames

A resident looks around a charred apartment complex in the aftermath of the Lahaina wildfire. (Yuki Iwamura/AFP via Getty Images)

Firefighters found water pressure from hydrants too weak to extinguish the flames.

There was just no water in the hydrants, Keahi Ho, a firefighter who was on duty in Lahaina, told the New York Times. Its unclear what caused the shortfall: Possible culprits include outages of power  which is needed to pump the water  caused by strong winds and leakage from pipes melting from the fire's heat.

The Times also noted that Hawaii has been struggling with water scarcity, both acutely due to the current drought and in recent years generally, as rainfall has declined  possibly due to factors linked to climate change, such as thinner clouds caused by warmer temperatures and big storms moving northward.

Some environmentalists say that outsize demand from the tourism industry has worsened water scarcity.

Mauis western coastline, where tourists cluster in beachfront hotels, receives less than 10 inches of water per year, but freshwater is diverted from the rainier inland areas to keep its manicured lawns lush and green, with many pools, water slides and fountains, the news outlet SFGate reported in late July.

Of the top 20 water consumers in Maui, 16 are hotels, time-shares and other short-term rentals.

The fact is that the people where the water originates are hurting for water, Lucienne de Naie, chairperson for the Sierra Club Maui Group, told SFGate. There are definitely shortages of water from overtourism.

A housing crisis

The Westin Maui in Lahaina, Hawaii. About 200 of the hotel's employees are living there with their families following wildfires that caused heavy damage in the area. (Rick Bowmer/AP)

The majority of wildfires in Hawaii are started by humans, and the New York Times noted that Hawaiis acute housing shortage, reflected in a large homeless population which often cooks food outside, increases the risks of more ignitions, researchers say.

The housing shortage, and its related high costs, are reportedly caused by a growing population and regulatory restrictions on new development. The diversion of housing to use for tourists as short-term rentals also drives up prices, according to a recent study by the University of Hawaii.
[Source]

The mental health of Asian American students was significantly harmed due to the rise of anti-Asian discrimination fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study.

Pandemic-fueled stressors: The National College Health Assessment (NCHA) found that Asian and Asian American students experienced high levels of stressors during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study collected and compared data from over 6,000 survey responses from Asian and Asian American students in 2019 and 2020.

In 2019, the most significant predictors of suicidality were depression, loneliness and higher alcohol and drug use. Researchers also found variables that protected ones mental health from these factors, including sleeping well, exercising and spending time with loved ones.

But in 2020, the survey participants reported more pandemic-fueled stressors, including death of a loved one (9%), discrimination (7%) and financial stress (61%), with no significant protective variables.

More from NextShark: Judge junks major convictions against Kansas researcher accused of secret China work

About the study: Researchers conducted the study in order to understand the experiences of Asian American students, as they reportedly have the greatest unmet mental health need among the racial groups. In a previous study, Asian college students diagnosed with a mental health disorder were found to have received the least medical treatment at only 20%.

Suicide was also the leading cause of death among Asian adolescents from 2016 to 2020. The study findings can help health care providers and universities understand how to better support students mental health. According to the NCHA, their findings also suggest the need for a holistic approach that uses community-wide prevention efforts to reduce discrimination, as well as culturally relevant practices at the individual level.

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The Department of Justice (DOJ) lambasted the Chamber of Commerces request for an injunction to block the Medicare drug price negotiation program, arguing in court filings that the organization had no standing to file the lawsuit and that pausing the program would harm the public.

The rebuttal comes weeks before the federal government is expected to name the first 10 drugs chosen for price negotiation.

The Chamber filed a motion in July for a preliminary injunction against the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, claiming it would inflict irreparable harm on U.S. businesses and patients.

The DOJ pushed back, pointing out that companies wont feel the impact of the negotiated prices until at least 2026 and saying this case could be fully litigated by that point.

The department also argued pausing Medicare drug price negotiation would harm the publics interests.

The publics interests would be gravely disserved by acceding to Plaintiffs premature efforts to take down the entirety of the Negotiation Program  which achieves a longstanding goal of controlling skyrocketing Medicare spending and making drugs more affordable for seniors  before that program even begins, the motion read.

When reached for comment, Andrew Varcoe, deputy chief counsel at the U.S. Chamber Litigation Center, said, We look forward to responding to the Justice Departments filings.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is set to announce the first 10 drugs eligible for negotiation by Sept. 1. After that, the manufacturers of these drugs will have one month to sign agreements to participate in the negotiations.

Plaintiffs suing the federal government have argued the penalties for not negotiating are too steep, with excise taxes being among the potential consequences. The DOJ argued in its motion that the timeline for negotiations provides companies with plenty of flexibility.

Those who dont wish to negotiate can withdraw from Medicare and Medicaid or divest their interests in the selected drug. Manufacturers can avoid excise taxes if they provide notice at least 30 days before the tax penalties go into effect.

The Chamber of Commerce is one of several organizations, along with the trade group PhRMA, Merck & Co. and Bristol Myers Squibb, suing the Department of Health and Human Services over the negotiation program.

The DOJ argued those suits should have an opportunity to proceed on their own schedules, without interference from this case. The department added these recent lawsuits were an attempt to accomplish what lobbying could not.

Drug manufacturers lobbied hard against legislative efforts to seat the Secretary at the negotiating table. And now that their lobbying failed, manufacturers and interest groups have run to court, filing multiple suits around the country challenging the statute on its face, read the motion.

The DOJ called into question what standing the Chamber had to sue over the program. While the organization is not a pharmaceutical company or trade group that represents that industry, the Chamber has said it is suing on behalf of its members that are drugmakers and has previously said there is precedent for it to file such a lawsuit.

In the 1977 Supreme Court case Hunt v. Washington State Apple Advertising Commission, the justices found that an organization could sue on behalf of its members if certain criteria were met. The organization would be expected to demonstrate that the issue its suing over is integral to the groups purpose.

The federal government argued that the Chamber had failed to demonstrate Article III standing, which is proof that a party has a genuine stake in the outcome of the case due to suffering harm from the opposing partys actions.

According to the DOJs motion, the only member of the Chamber of Commerce who could argue harm would be the U.S. pharmaceutical company AbbVie.

The DOJ emphasized the voluntary nature of the negotiation program repeatedly throughout the motion. Even if companies would lose out on the lucrative income brought in through Medicare, the government argued that this risk in itself is not a form of compulsion forcing companies to participate.

Updated at 6:05 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Legendary musical icon Dolly Parton visited Olympia Tuesday to celebrate statewide coverage of the Imagination Library, Partons free childrens book gifting program.

The event featured a fireside chat with Parton, a small performance, and recognition of people across the state who have worked to make the Imagination Library possible in Washington.

The Imagination Library, which started in 1995, offers all Washington children from birth to age five a free book every month.

To help signify Partons visit, Gov. Jay Inslee proclaimed Tuesday as Imagination Library of Washington Day.

We welcome the great Dolly Parton to celebrate our statewide program and promote registration for our youngest learners into the Imagination Library. It is important to get high-quality books to children from a young age and ensure that their families, and their unique races, ethnicities, and identities are well-represented among the selection of books, Inslee said.

Sixty-five thousand Washington children are enrolled and more than 1.6 million books have been gifted to children across the state.

here we arewere going all over the state of Washington. And that is such a wonderful thing. Just think of all the books were going to put in the hands of so many children. "

Families with children under five can sign up for the Imagination Library here.

We are   to celebrate the success of the Imagination Library of Washingtons statewide program this week... Posted by Imagination Library of Washington on Sunday, August 13, 2023
CHICAGO -- Former House Speaker Michael Madigan has long been known as The Velvet Hammer for the way he quietly wielded power.

But in a federal courtroom on Monday, the man once considered Illinois most powerful politician may have been given a new moniker:

Don Madigan.

Testifying in the perjury trial of Madigans longtime chief of staff, Tim Mapes, a former FBI agent who headed the blockbuster corruption probe likened Madigans style as one more fit for the head of an organized crime family than a legitimate political operation.

Mr. Madigan ran his organization, as close as I can compare it to, almost the head of a mafia family, former Special Agent Brendan OLeary testified, noting that Madigan rarely used the phone, texts or emails to communicate orders. The ability for us to hear about what happened generally came down to the people on the inside being honest, and that is what we relied on.

The line may have been the most memorable so far in Mapes trial, which is now in its second week.

Mapes, 68, of Springfield, is charged with perjury and attempted obstruction of justice. The latter charge calls for up to 20 years in federal prison, while lying to a grand jury carries a five-year maximum prison sentence.

Prosecutors accused Mapes of lying in his grand jury testimony about his knowledge of the political activities of Madigan and ComEd lobbyist Michael McClain, both before and after Madigan ousted Mapes in June 2018 in a #MeToo scandal. It was one of a string of #MeToo issues among Madigan aides that threatened his record run as speaker.

During the trials first week, Mapes attorneys contended he honestly could not recall answers to certain questions when he appeared before federal grand jurors on March 31, 2021. They complained he was hamstrung because prosecutors didnt offer to show records or other evidence that could refresh his memory.

The trial adjourned for the week on Thursday in the middle of cross-examination of former FBI Special Agent Brendan OLeary, who will be back on the stand Monday morning.

And in what would surely be a grab-some-popcorn moment, the defense is seeking to call to the witness stand Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjeet Bhachu, the chief of the public corruption section for the U.S. Attorneys Office who has led the recent investigations into not only Madigan but also former Chicago Ald. Edward Burke and other high-profile elected officials.

Mapes attorneys say Bhachu, who questioned Mapes during Mapes grand jury appearance, could provide insight into the witness, his answers, the setting, the circumstances surrounding the witnesss testimony, and the materiality of the testimony.

Prosecutors, however, say the move is just a distraction for the jury and a ploy to keep Bhachu from being able to assist the team during the trial, since potential witnesses are barred from sitting in the courtroom.

Mapes failure to describe any substance that (Bhachu) might offer strongly suggests that Mapes listed Bhachu as a witness in an effort to distract the government and hinder its trial preparation by preventing the participation of a member of the prosecution team, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Diane MacArthur and Julia Schwartz wrote in a filing over the weekend.

U.S. District Judge John Kness said he will rule on the issue during the lunch hour Monday.

Prosecutors this week are expected to play a number of recordings for the jury that purportedly show Mapes not only knew exactly what assignments Madigan had assigned to McClain, hed discussed them at length with McClain himself.

In May 2018, McClain and Mapes had a series of calls discussing rumors that then-state Rep. Lou Lang, a longtime Madigan ally, allegedly harassed a female activist and discussed how to mitigate the damage to the speaker, prosecutors have said.

Let me put you on with the boss. Okay? Mapes told McClain, according to one prosecution filing. So youre going to inform him what you know and go from there.

Another call prosecutors are expected to play is a February 2019 conversation in which Mapes allegedly talked to McClain about being approached by the FBI weeks earlier and how he later shared a memo he wrote about the encounter with one of Madigans criminal defense attorneys.

The Mapes case represents a relatively small piece of the broad public corruption investigation federal prosecutors have brought against Madigan, who was ousted from his speakership and left the House in 2021.

McClain and three others were convicted in a related case in May on bribery conspiracy charges involving a scheme by utility giant Commonwealth Edison to win the speakers influence over legislation in Springfield.

Both Madigan and McClain are facing separate racketeering charges alleging Madigan was at the top of a criminal enterprise aimed at enriching himself and his cronies and maintaining his nearly unfettered political power. That case is set for a jury trial in April.

Mapes, meanwhile, who cut a diminutive but often-domineering profile as chief of staff, House clerk and executive director of the state Democratic Party, is accused of trying to thwart the overarching investigation into Madigans operation, one of the biggest political corruption scandals in Illinois history.

Prosecutors have so far put on witnesses to demonstrate that Madigan, Mapes and McClain worked extraordinarily closely  an attempt to convince jurors it would be completely implausible for Mapes not to know what the other two men were doing.

In presenting the government case, MacArthur contended in her opening statement on Wednesday that Mapes perverted the grand jury process and jeopardized the corruption investigation against Madigan with false testimony.

The defendant lied. Not just once but again and again and again, to prevent the grand jury from finding out about Madigans actions, she said.

In all, there are seven questions prosecutors charge Mapes fudged on to protect Madigan. Generally, they allege Mapes lied when he testified that McClain didnt tell Mapes about his discussions with Madigan or pass along any insight about what Madigan told McClain to do.

Some of the questions Mapes was asked were open-ended. For example, he was asked what hed heard from other people about McClain performing activities for Madigan between 2017 and 2019.

I dont recall that  that I would have been part of any of that dialogue, Mapes told the 2021 grand jury. I dont know why I would be.

Mapes attorneys maintained the prosecutors cherry-picked from more than 650 questions at the grand jury, a frightening setting where Mapes told the truth but did not want to guess or make assumptions.

Hes a 60-something-year-old man, hes being given whats basically a test of memory, hes scared, the environment is terrifying, and hes aware the government has all of this on tape, defense attorney Katie Hill said.

____
(Bloomberg) -- Dutch Justice Minister Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius was named the leader of the VVD party on Monday, a position vacated by outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte after the collapse of his government.

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Yesilgoz-Zegerius, 46, was seen as the strongest candidate in an uncrowded party leadership race, after Rutte announced he would retire from politics. If elected, she would become the Netherlands first female prime minister.

Yesilgoz-Zegerius, the daughter of a Kurdish political refugee from Turkey, arrived in the Netherlands as an asylum seeker when she was a child. As justice minister in Ruttes fourth cabinet, she played a key role in talks with coalition parties as they tried to reach an agreement over the influx of migrants. Those negotiations werent successful, leading to the collapse of the government, as Ruttes VVD gave an ultimatum to limit the right to family reunification for refugees from war zones.

Read more: Here Are the Main Contenders to Replace Rutte as Dutch Premier

Yesilgoz-Zegerius said she will now get to work with a lot of energy, according to a post on social-media platform X on Monday. Elections in the Netherlands are scheduled for Nov. 22.

Ruttes exit as Netherlands longest-serving premier will change the political landscape in the country. Another key party in the caretaker government, the progressive D66, is also replacing its chief with Climate Minister Rob Jetten. In the meantime, the Dutch Green Left and Labor parties have combined their campaigns ahead of the elections.

Along with Yesilgoz-Zegerius, the other potential candidates to replace Rutte include Caroline van der Plas, the leader of the populist Farmer-Citizen Movement, Frans Timmermans, who is running for the leader of the Left alliance, and Pieter Omtzigt, an independent lawmaker.

The center-right VVD party was leading in a July 25 poll conducted by Ipsos/EenVandaag, narrowly beating the merged left parties by one seat.

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Mark Rutte, Dutch Prime Minister arrives at the Binnenhof for the Council of Ministers

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Dutch Justice Minister Dilan Yesilgoz will lead outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte's conservative VVD party in elections this November, the party announced on Monday.

Yesilgoz, 46, is the first woman to lead the VVD party in national elections and if successful, would be the first female Dutch PM.

She has Kurdish roots and immigrated to the Netherlands from Turkey when she was 8 years old.

Rutte, the longest-serving Dutch prime minister, said in July he would leave politics following the collapse of his government over asylum policy. He will continue to serve in a caretaker role until a new cabinet is installed.

The Dutch will go to the polls on Nov. 22 - the first election since 2006 in which Rutte won't be leading VVD.

(Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout; Editing by Devika Syamnath)
The skatepark's origins lie in impromptu skate sessions during the first summer of Covid (Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD)

Skateboarders in colourful outfits zip around a skatepark unique in Amsterdam, one of the first in the world to provide a safe space for LGBTQ and women skaters.

A sign saying "Skateboarding is for Everyone" hangs on a wall while a rainbow-hued logo is painted above the wooden ramps in a warehouse in the south of the Dutch capital.

"There is no judgement," says Tem, a 22-year-old wearing a black helmet and T-shirt and a pair of blue and white checked trousers while riding an 80s-style freestyle board.

The skater, who works as a food volunteer, added that it was a "comfortable environment where I feel like I can learn to skate without the icky vibe in a public skatepark".

Despite its image as an alternative sport of baggy-trousered rebels, skateboarding has long had issues with sexism, homophobia and a sometimes macho culture.

So it's no surprise that the Netherlands, which was the first country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage and is renowned for its liberal attitudes, should provide an alternative.

"I feel like I have the space to be myself and to skate and to have fun with friends, which is all we want," the skatepark's manager Flip Zonne Zuijderland, 25, tells AFP.

The park is a trailblazer, as NGOs have previously promoted skateboarding for women in countries such as Afghanistan and in the Palestinian territories, but not for LGBTQ skaters.

"For sure, it might be the first," Zonne Zuijderland says.

- 'Respect' -

A collaboration between two organisations, Women Skate the World and New Wave, the skatepark's origins lie in impromptu skate sessions during the first summer of Covid.

"It started out as a group chat being like 'hey, guys, there's a bunch of queer people skating at an outdoor park, who wants to come?'" Zonne Zuijderland says.

"It started out with 10 people and within a few months it was about 40."

When winter came they started having twice-monthly nights at another indoor Amsterdam skatepark, Noord, but it was "way too little" so they wanted a place of their own.

With donations and public funding they found an empty warehouse, and created one.

It's now a safe space for an up-and-coming generation of skaters who might otherwise be put off by what Zonne Zuijderland says can be an "aggressive group with a no pain, no gain mindset".

While women and LGBTQ athletes have become increasingly accepted in skateboarding, particularly after veteran US professional Brian Anderson came out as gay in 2016, the sport still has far to go.

"Because I'm trans, when I was still identifying as a girl, I would even get standing ovations because I could ride on a board. I never felt taken seriously," says Zonne Zuijderland, who is also an actor and filmmaker.

But the park is not just for LGBTQ people and women, even if that was the initial idea, Zonne Zuijderland adds.

"Respect is the biggest focus," he says.

- 'Skate buddies' -

"It really doesn't matter if you're gay, straight, queer, cis, trans, as long as you're here to have a good time and make other people have a good time, you're welcome," he adds.

The dozen or so skaters whizzing around the park on a weekday afternoon wear a variety of styles from traditional outsize skater-wear to flowery skirts -- though most also wear safety equipment.

The park offers "skate buddies" to help people learn the basics of the sport -- ollies, shove-its and kickflips -- a far cry from the "intimidating" atmosphere of traditional skateparks.

"People here are friendly and understanding and actually willing to help me learn new things compared to other places I've been to," says Wiske Mooney, 21, a student.

"I hope that in a few years this is not a unique concept anymore, or that this is not needed," Zonne Zuijderland says.

"But I think that will take a while before we're there, so until that point, here we are."

dk-jcp/imm
Actors Dwayne The Rock Johnson and Jason Momoa express their heartbreak over the Maui wildfires, sharing ways how to donate and support residents who were impacted by the natural disaster.

I know that, by now, all of you around the world have seen the complete destruction and devastation that has hit our Hawaiian islands  our island of Maui  and Im completely heartbroken over this and I know all of you are too, Johnson said in a video posted on Instagram on Sunday.

Everything that Ive seen transpire over these past couple of days, everything that continues to transpire hour by hour, minute by minute, its all heartbreaking.

Johnson, who first gained recognition for his time with the WWE, also informed his followers about donating to the nonprofit organization Hawaii Community Foundation.

I have been speaking with organizations on the ground, who have boots on the ground, and I will continue to get as much information as possible, Johnson, who is of Samoan descent, added.

Momoa, who joined Johnson as a star on the Fast & Furious film franchise, also shared a statement on the matter, warning tourists to stay away from traveling to the devastated island.

Maui is not the place to have your vacation right now, Momoa wrote in an Instagram post on Friday. Do not convince yourself that your presence is needed on an island that is suffering this deeply.

Momoa, who was born in Honolulu, also reposted photos from local organization Aina Momona, which explains the devastation from the wildfires, directing followers to donate and support those who are in need.

Mahalo to everyone who has donated and shown aloha to the community in this time of need, he added.

This comes as Maui County officials on Saturday updated the death total from the Maui wildfires to 93 lives lost, making it the deadliest wildfire in modern U.S. history.

The wildfires that tore through Maui island last week also devastated the town of Lahaina, as 271 structures were left damaged or destroyed due to the wildfire. According to the Associated Press, the wildfire likely consumed most of Lahanias Front Street, home to restaurants, stores and other businesses.

Hawaii attorney general Anne E. Lopez also launched an investigation into the natural disaster, saying her office will conduct a comprehensive review of the critical decision-making and standing policies before, during and after the fires.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Three people were wounded during two early morning shootings in Belltown Sunday.

According to Seattle Police, officers arrived at a Belltown neighborhood around 2:00 a.m. after getting multiple 911 calls reporting gunshots. They then saw several people and cars driving away from two areas where shootings had happened. The first was near First Avenue and Lenora Street and the other was in the 100th block of Blanchard Street.

First responders found a 26-year-old man with several gunshot wounds and took him to the hospital. As the morning continued, officers learned of a 33-year-old man and a 47-year-old woman arriving at a nearby hospital with similar wounds.

Police did find significant damage to cars in the parking lot where the shooting happened but all three people sustained non-life-threatening injuries and are recovering. Officers say that they do not yet know what started the shooting and if you have any information to please call the SPD Violent Crimes Tip Line at (206)233-5000.

Seattle Gun Violence Reduction Unit detectives will be leading the investigation.




Even for one of the typically hottest months of the year worldwide, July was a scorcher.

It was the warmest July in 174 years, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Monday.

"Last month was way, way warmer than anything we'd ever seen," said Sarah Kapnick, NOAA's chief scientist. "It was the warmest July by a long shot, by more than a third of a degree."

Because July is usually the hottest month of the year, it was "very likely the warmest month in history since at least 1850," scientists announced in a joint briefing by NOAA and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

July temperatures were above normal in most areas of the world, helping to boost the global temperature to the warmest July in 174 years, NOAA said Monday.

How hot was July?

According to NOAA and NASA:

The global surface temperature was 62.42 degrees  2.02 degrees above the 20th-century average.

It was the first time a July average temperature was 1.8 degrees above the long-term average.

It was 0.43 degrees warmer than any other July in NASA's global temperature records.

Ocean temperatures were at a record high for the fourth consecutive month.

Global sea ice coverage was the lowest on record for July.

Sea ice coverage in Antarctica was the lowest on record for each of the past three months.

It was the 47th consecutive July and 533rd consecutive month with temperatures above the 20th-century average.

Extreme heat Here's a look at some of the nation's victims from extreme heat

July 2023 was the warmest July in the global record, NASA and NOAA said Monday.

What does the July heat mean for the rest of the year?

With the El Nino in the Pacific Ocean forecast to persist through the winter, it's virtually certain that 2023 will rank among the warmest years on record, NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information said.

So far, 2023 is the third-warmest year on record, and there's a 50% probability that 2023 will rank as the warmest year on record, NOAA said.

"We anticipate the impacts of that El Nino to build over time and the biggest impacts will occur in 2024," said Gavin Schmidt, director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies.

(1 of 5) ITS OFFICIAL:



Earth just had its hottest July in 174 years.



4th consecutive month of record-high global ocean surface temperature.



Antarctica #SeaIce coverage had a record-low in July for the 3rd consecutive month.https://t.co/lRgypbiSed@NOAANCEI #StateOfClimate pic.twitter.com/n1ud8u87x2  NOAA (@NOAA) August 14, 2023

Mounting evidence of climate change

The fingerprints of climate change can be seen in the record temperatures and in local events happening around the world, said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. "We have record flooding in Vermont. We have record heat in Phoenix and Miami. We have major parts of the country that have been blanketed by wildfire smoke, and of course, we're watching in real time the disaster that has occurred on Maui."

Record heat in South Florida also is contributing to a widespread coral bleaching and die-off in Florida and the Caribbean.

The exact contribution of climate change to the Maui fires, which have claimed at least 96 lives, will be carefully studied, Kapnick said.

There are many little things that give rise to these types of incidents, Schmidt said. In Maui, the local factors include abandoned sugar plantations, non-native grasses and high grass growth during the spring, he said. But longer-term climate trends can also be seen in the state, including warmer temperatures and drought. For example, Hawaii has been getting less rainfall by the decade.

"Climate change is kind of a threat multiplier for wildfires," Schmidt said, "so there is an overall tendency that we will increasingly see toward greater and more intense wildfires."

How much of a contribution climate change was in Hawaii is something "we're going to be looking at very very carefully in the future," he said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Earth just saw hottest July on record. What it means for 2023 weather.
Days after an Ecuadorian presidential candidate was assassinated, the backing party, on Sunday, has tapped a new candidate to take his place and the FBI is working with officials to find out who was behind the murder.

Fernando Villavicencio, 59, was killed in an armed attack after a rally in the countrys capital last Wednesday, and according to reports, he had received at least three death threats leading up to the fatal shooting.

The candidates murder sent shockwaves through the country, with a population of about 18 million, which has seen a sharp spike in transnational criminal gang crime over the past few years.

Villavicencio was a journalist who investigated corruption from previous governments before entering the ring as a politician and anti-graft campaigner who vowed he was not afraid of the gangs, even though he received threats.

ECUADOR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE FERNANDO VILLAVICENCIO RECEIVED 3 DEATH THREATS BEFORE KILLING, ADVISOR SAYS

Christian Zurita and Andrea Gonzalez attend a press conference at a hotel, wearing police vests, after the political party of slain Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio picked Gonzalez, the vice-presidential running mate, to replace him as the party standard-bearer, in Quito, Ecuador August 13, 2023.

Interior minister Juan Zapata told reporters on Sunday that local police leaders and the FBI had already met and planned to meet with prosecutors leading the investigation into Villavicencios death.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

So far, six Colombian nationals accused of having ties to criminal groups, have been charged with the crime and remain in custody. A seventh suspect died shortly after the candidates murder in an exchange of gunfire.

ECUADOR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE FERNANDO VILLAVICENCIO ASSASSINATED AT CAMPAIGN EVENT

Ecuadorean presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio speaks during a campaign rally in Quito, Ecuador August 9, 2023.

Earlier in the day, leaders of the Build party, or Construye in Spanish, announced Christian Zurita would replace Villavicencio as the partys top candidate.

The decision came a day after party leaders chose Andrea Gonzalez, the would-be vice-presidential candidate, to replace Villavicencio in the Aug. 20 vote.

Like Villavicencio, Zurita is a journalist who had collaborated with the slain candidate. Zuritas candidacy must be approved by the national electoral council.

"We're going to try to emulate his abilities and we're going to try to emulate his name," Zurita, who was wearing a bulletproof vest, said at a press conference.

Reuters contributed to this report.
The political movement that championed the slain presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio nominated an Ecuador journalist to fill Villavicencios spot on the ticket in the countrys presidential election.

Leaders of the political movement Construye Movement confirmed Sunday journalist Christian Zurita will run as their candidate.

The National Electoral Council initially decided that Villavicencios partner, Andrea Gonzalez, would replace the slain candidate, prompting controversy, according to the Associated Press (AP). Gonzalez will continue to run for the vice presidency position.

Faced with the lack of clear answers from the CNE and the furious reaction of some political sectors, we will not run any risk. Christian Zurita @christianzr will be registered as our presidential candidate, the Contruye Movement wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Villavicencio, 59, was shot and killed last week in broad daylight in the countrys capital of Quito. Villavicencio was one of eight registered candidates for the presidential election. While he was not the front-runner of the race, he was known for his fight against crime and corruption.

Ecuador announced later last week that six Colombian men were arrested in connection with the slaying of the presidential candidate. The men will be held for at least 30 days in the investigation. If convicted, they face around 26 years in prison each.

Zurita, 53, appeared for a press conference Sunday wearing police bulletproof vests with running mate Gonzalez, AP reported.

Zurita said they are waiting for a pronouncement from the National Electoral Council regarding his candidacy, AP reported. The electoral body said the registration of both Zurita and Gonzalez had not yet been sent to the institution.

Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso dismissed the National Assembly of Ecuador in May using a 2008 constitutional provision that allowed the president to dissolve the legislature during times of political crisis under the condition new elections are held for both lawmakers and the president.

Lawmakers challenged Lassos decision claiming he dissolved the legislature to avoid his impeachment over alleged crimes against state security and corruption. Ecuadors Constitutional Court rejected these challenges, allowing the elections to move forward.

Elections for the new presidential and legislative body are still slated for Aug. 20.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Assuming Larry Snelling gets approved by the City Council as Chicagos next police superintendent, the 54-year-old South Side native will have more than just one boss watching over him.

Of course, theres his immediate supervisor, Mayor Brandon Johnson, who picked Snelling for the job. Scrutiny will also come from the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, the civilian police oversight body that has input over the selection and removal of police superintendents. And theres oversight from the federal court, in the form of the consent decree that mandates reform at the Chicago Police Department in training, supervision and accountability.

But the boss that Snelling must heed the most? You. Everyday Chicagoans.

Its not just because Chicagoans are taxpayers who pay the police superintendents salary or because they have the power to vote Johnson out in four years if Snelling doesnt work out.

Its everyday Chicagoans who have the biggest stake in Snellings success or failure. They have endured summer after summer of ceaseless violence and in far too many instances have seen their communities wither as a result. On the South and West sides, they have coped with police indifference, callousness and, at times, outright brutality.

And for years, theyve heard failed pledges from Snellings predecessors who claimed they had the ideal blueprint to, once and for all, make Chicagos streets safer.

We believe Johnson has made the right choice. Snellings resume has heft. In his current post as chief of CPDs counterterrorism bureau, he oversees SWAT team operations along with gang and narcotics investigations. His years training officers at the Police Academy made him CPDs leading expert on firearms and use of force tactics.

Equally important are his years working in the South Sides Englewood neighborhood, a community long neglected by City Hall and for years overwhelmed by violent crime that seemingly never wanes. In the 1990s, Snelling was a tactical and gang team officer in Englewood, and by early 2020, he won a promotion as commander of the departments Englewood District. Thats invaluable experience, particularly at a time when the chasm between South Side communities and CPD remains disturbingly wide.

At a news conference Monday, Snelling sounded like he understood the need for the department to prevent and solve crime through collaboration and connection with the communities it serves, rather than with conflict. The Police Department and our community members are not two separate institutions, because they cant be, Snelling said. We have to work together by listening and learning from each other.

Snelling added: We cannot do this alone as a Police Department. Every member of this city has to be a stakeholder. And Im willing to sit down and have a conversation with anybody and everybody within this city to work together to resolve some of the issues we have and make this city as safe as we can possibly make it.

Soon, it will be up to Snelling to back up those words. If Chicagoans are skeptical, its because theyve heard similar pledges from superintendents before him.

Then-Mayor Lori Lightfoots choice for top cop, David Brown, promised to rebuild community trust in CPD and never succeeded. Charlie Beck came to Chicago from his post as Los Angeles police chief and espoused the right approach to trust-building  but as an interim superintendent, he never had the chance to bring his ideas to fruition.

Podium speeches alone wont rekindle neighborhood trust in CPD. Genuine engagement with communities across the city must happen, but just as crucial will be real, lasting and timely adherence to the consent decree  a blueprint for change at CPD that isnt about checking boxes and fulfilling bureaucratic requirements. Its about ending a corrosive culture that for so long has allowed code-of-silence behavior among officers to persist and permitted officers to lie about their actions and the actions of others, particularly when excessive force is involved.

Neighborhood trust in CPD will also strengthen if Snelling ratchets up the departments relationship with violence prevention and street outreach groups that have shown measurable progress in reducing violence in some of the most crime-wracked neighborhoods.

At the news conference, Snelling said that in 2021, he worked with street outreach workers trying to prevent retaliatory violence on the South Side, and as a result shootings in the territory he was assigned to went down 40%. He suggested he was open to teaming up with violence prevention groups. The idea is to ... bring everyone to the table from these groups, have a conversation with them, and talk to them about whats expected and how were going to move forward to prevent violence. Thats the right tack to take.

We expect that City Council confirmation of Snellings appointment will go smoothly. Once that happens, hell take the reins of the nations second largest police department, a body that is grappling with low morale, understaffing, a massive number of unmet, federally mandated police reforms, and levels of violent crime that remain the citys primary problem.

Its an intimidating assignment, but Snellings approach must be undergirded by an unwavering commitment to forge strong, enduring connections with the communities that CPD serves. If Snelling can accomplish that, hell have a foundation from which to tackle everything else.

Join the discussion on Twitter @chitribopinions and on Facebook.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
Freddie McConnell Jr., 43, from left, Jawonna Smith, 33, and Joe Maddox, 61, who live on the street behind the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, wait for buses to take them to a motel under Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass' Inside Safe initiative in February. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

As soon as Karen Bass became mayor of Los Angeles, she created a program called Inside Safe, dedicated to moving homeless people from the street into interim housing.

In the seven months since it was launched in late December, 1,463 people living on the street moved inside, mostly into motel rooms.

By the end of July, 250 had left their Inside Safe housing, mostly to return to the streets. Of that number, four were in medical or psychiatric facilities, three were incarcerated and six had died. The whereabouts of some are unknown.

A total of 83% remain in the temporary housing of Inside Safe. Its disappointing that its not more, but people fall out for all sorts of reasons, and some people left because they didn't like some of the rules. Some motels and hotels in the program have rules  put in place by service providers  that residents chafe at following.

Read more: Are L.A. leaders trying to sabotage homeless housing in Venice?

For example, the Weingart Center, which provides services at the L.A. Grand, doesn't allow residents to have nonresident visitors in their rooms. Va Lecia Adams Kellum, the chief executive of the L.A. Homeless Services Authority, says that having residents and service providers create the rules together could help keep people in housing.

The more concerning number is how few people  just 108  have moved into permanent housing. That is the ultimate goal  and the only thing that turns a homeless person into a housed person.

Offering people interim housing through programs such as Inside Safe is important and worth continuing. But its incredibly costly. People are staying in motels and hotels for half a year, and many may stay as long as a year before they find a permanent place to live, based on past experience with temporary housing, says Adams Kellum. We need more permanent housing projects for homeless people even though the projects are slow to develop and expensive to build.

Meanwhile, many homeless people already have long-term housing vouchers or limited time subsidies (intended to last two years or sometimes longer) but cant find an available apartment that is affordable or which a landlord is willing to rent. Although landlords cannot legally refuse to rent to someone just because they have a voucher, they do turn down applications from homeless people for other reasons, such as poor credit or lack of rental history.

One smart way to get around these obstacles and house people relatively quickly is to lease entire apartment buildings or several units in buildings under one lease agreement or master lease. In these cases, the city or a nonprofit organization rents the units, taking the reluctant landlord out of the equation and housing the people who desperately need it.

Read more: Editorial: L.A.'s homeless numbers are grim. We must keep building housing and expanding services

This has already been done to some degree by nonprofits. The People Concern, a nonprofit that provides services to 72 people in two Inside Safe motels, also master-leases about 100 units in four buildings and is talking to two other landlords about another 100-some units. "If we were able to get them all we would clear our motels and take more people," says John Maceri, the chief executive of the organization.

Its time to scale up master leasing to get more people housed faster.

The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, smartly, is doing just that.

Adams Kellum says her agency has commitments from owners of various buildings to lease 300 units for which the People Concern and the Homeless Outreach Program Integrated Care System, or HOPICS, will provide services. Adams Kellums goal is to master-lease a total of 800 units by June. Also, the faster people move into apartments, the faster those still on the street can take their place in hotels and motels.

Under its master leasing program, LAHSA will be able to provide rental subsidies and services for residents through Measure H funds. Also, LAHSA will take over property management of these units (another incentive for a landlord to agree to master leasing) covering damage to units and other costs. The funding for that will come from the states Housing and Homelessness Incentive Program  which are Medi-Cal dollars funneled through the managed-care agencies, L.A. Care and Health Net.

As of last week, 15 people from an Inside Safe motel have moved into their own units in master-leased buildings in South L.A. This is a promising start. Master-leasing permanent housing is faster than building it from the ground up and cheaper than expanding the number of hotel and motel rooms being rented.

However, this approach can't end homelessness. The city needs to continue to invest in financing and to help develop permanent housing for homeless people. Only more housing will make a dent in this crisis.

If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
It was the sort of conduct one usually associates with totalitarian governments: Law enforcement officers swarm a newspaper office and confiscate computers, servers and cellphones of reporters and editors. Yet this raid took place not in a faraway autocracy, but in a small town in Kansas, despite a federal law prohibiting such searches in most cases.

On Friday, police acting on a warrant searched the offices of the Marion County Record, a weekly newspaper with seven employees and a circulation of about 4,000. Simultaneously, officers searched the home of Eric Meyer, the publisher and co-owner, seizing computers, his cellphone and the homes internet router, according to Meyer. Meyers 98-year-old mother  a co-owner of the newspaper who lived with him  collapsed and died Saturday. Meyer blamed her death on the stress of the raid on their home.

Read more: Editorial: L.A. city attorney's attempt to weaken public records law is harmful and wrong

Drastic as they were, the searches originated in what might appear to be a trivial dispute between the Record and a local restaurant owner, Kari Newell, who has accused the newspaper of invading her privacy and illegally accessing information about her and her driving record. (The newspaper says it obtained information about her driving record unsolicited and verified it through online public records; and it didn't print a story referencing the information.) The search warrant alleged identity theft and unlawful use of a computer.

The searches left the small news operation in such a dire state that it was not clear whether it would be able to publish the next scheduled edition Tuesday evening; Meyer memorably described the police action as an atomic flyswatter."

It may also have been illegal. The federal Privacy Protection Act of 1980 requires that in most situations, law enforcement seek to obtain material from journalists through a subpoena  which gives the target the opportunity to make a legal challenge  rather than through a surprise search conducted with a warrant.

Read more: Editorial: Local newspapers are dying. Here's how we can save them

The 1980 law was passed after the Supreme Court upheld a search by sheriffs deputies of Stanford Universitys student newspaper seeking photographs from a protest. It serves as a necessary recognition that a free and inquisitive press serves the public interest, and that raids and searches of newsrooms can intimidate reporters and stop their vital work. The law broadly defines who is protected: those reasonably believed to have a purpose to disseminate to the public a newspaper, book, broadcast, or other similar form of public communication.

The law does contain an exception for situations in which there is probable cause to believe that the person possessing such materials has committed or is committing the criminal offense to which the materials relate. In a statement to NPR, Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody pointed to this exception to justify his department's search of the Record.

Read more: Editorial: In San Francisco, police target a journalist  and flout the law

That claim is unpersuasive. In a letter to Cody signed by the Los Angeles Times and more than 30 other news organizations, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press noted that the suspect exception cited by the chief is inapplicable when the relevant conduct consists of the receipt, possession, communication, or withholding of the material, with only limited exceptions for certain federal statutes that are not at issue here.

These searches took place in a small town, but the temptation of law enforcement to overreach in dealing with journalists exists in communities of all sizes. In 2019, police in San Francisco searched the home and office of freelance journalist Bryan Carmody in an apparent bid to identify a confidential source. The city later agreed to pay Carmody $369,000 in a settlement.

Congress decided that journalists needed protection against searches. Local police and judges need to honor that judgment.

If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that a lot of problems arise due to the poor quality of the work of the military medical commissions, so an appropriate decision will be made.

Source: Zelenskyys video address

Quote: "There are a lot of problems due to the poor quality work of the military physician boards. We will prepare a solution."

Details: Zelenskyy did not specify what solutions are being considered.

The president also spoke about his trip to Donetsk Oblast. He noted that, during the visit there, he conducted detailed and frank conversations about the offensive actions of the Ukrainian army, about supplies to the troops, about the capabilities of the commanders.

Quote: "I had the honour to award the best [soldiers - ed.], to thank everyone, each brigade, for their courage, bravery, results for the sake of Ukraine. Together with General Bohomolov, the commander of the Soledar operational-tactical group, we talked with the commanders of brigades and battalions, those who are in battles, about their frontline needs. "

Background:

On 11 August, at a meeting of the National Security and Defence Council, Zelenskyy decided to dismiss all regional military enlistment officers.

On Monday 14 August, Zelenskyy visited the Ukrainian military in Donetsk Oblast. The President discussed the needs and problems of the soldiers.

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!






Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and his Palestinian counterpart Mahmud Abbas and Jordan's King Abdullah II during a trilateral summit in El Alamein on Egypt's northern coast (Chris Setian)

Egypt's president on Monday welcomed the Palestinian and Jordanian leaders, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's spokesman said, with a source adding they discussed speculations over Saudi Arabia moving to normalise ties with Israel.

Sisi met with King Abdullah II of Jordan and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas in the northern coastal city of El Alamein, Egyptian presidential spokesman Ahmed Fahmy said.

During a tripartite meeting, the leaders discussed "the development of the Palestinian cause" and expressed their support for a "two-state solution" to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with east Jerusalem as the future Palestinian capital, Fahmy said in a later statement.

But while there was no mention of the topic of potential Israeli-Saudi normalisation in the official statement, a Palestinian source close to the matter told AFP that it was the key topic on the table.

The summit was held "to discuss US efforts to achieve normalisation of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, and the Palestinian Authority's requirements in the framework of the signing of such a deal", the source said.

Egypt was the first Arab country to normalise ties with Israel in 1979, followed by Jordan in 1994. Both countries are key allies of Saudi Arabia.

A number of Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates and Morocco, followed suit decades later, recognising Israel in a series of US-brokered deals known as the Abraham Accords.

There has been much speculation in the media, particularly in recent weeks, that Saudi Arabia would follow suit, but such a deal has yet to materialise.

Riyadh on Saturday named for the first time a non-resident ambassador for the Palestinian Territories who will also serve as consul general in Jerusalem.

The file for the Palestinian Territories has traditionally been handled by the Saudi embassy in Amman.

Israel has also not officially commented on the rumoured normalisation push, but Foreign Minister Eli Cohen has said that "peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia is a matter of time".

During US President Joe Biden's tour of the Middle East last year, the Saudi civil aviation authority announced that it was lifting overflight restrictions on "all carriers", paving the way for Israeli planes to use Saudi airspace.

Biden himself flew directly to Jeddah from Israel's Ben Gurion airport for his talks with Saudi leaders.

But the kingdom denied at the time that the airspace move was "a precursor to any further steps" towards normalisation.

sar/jsa/ami
Elk Grove leaders defended their response to homelessness while stopping short of endorsing a joint county-wide strategy recommended in a blunt Sacramento County grand jury report that blasted county and cities efforts to address the ongoing crisis.

Elk Groves letter to Sacramento Superior Court Presiding Judge Michael Bowman, dated Thursday, responds to the grand jurys investigative report, Homeless Should Not Mean Hopeless, released in May.

Elk Grove has one of the lowest rates of unsheltered homelessness in Sacramento County, read the response, citing the 2022 point-in-time count, a census-taking of the citys homeless population. Nevertheless, homelessness remains a topic of great importance to the City Council, city staff and Elk Grove residents.

Sacramento County and the countys incorporated cities are legally required to respond to grand jurors findings.

The grand jury in May blasted as an endless loop of failure the combined response of county and cities leaders to the thousands living on the streets, the rising numbers of unhoused deaths, and the hundreds of millions of dollars spent tackling the crisis. The panel called on county and city leaders to work together to develop a comprehensive homelessness strategy.

Too often, jurisdictions work independently or informally together, spend hundreds of millions of dollars, and they fail, the grand jury wrote in the May report. Leaders in Sacramento County must prioritize a more effective regional approach to solve the burgeoning homelessness problem.

Nearly 10,000 people sleep unhoused on Sacramento Countys streets, grand jurors said in their report. Elk Grove counted 45 unhoused people in its 2022 tally, up from seven in 2021. City officials, though, have estimated as many as 150 people are homeless in Elk Grove.

Elk Groves homeless population makes up less than 1% of those unsheltered in Sacramento County, say city officials.

Grand jurors called on county leaders and Sacramento Countys seven incorporated cities to form a joint powers authority to address homeless by December.

But Elk Grove remains cool to the idea, saying the recommendation requires further analysis.

Major changes to how the county and cities respond to homelessness would best be considered by jurisdictions with a greater number of their residents facing unsheltered homelessness, the citys letter read.

City leaders maintain Elk Grove has seen success, citing its mix of outreach and navigation services, transitional housing and efforts to move the unhoused into permanent housing. They point to $2 million in city Measure E sales tax funds and another $1 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars that will go toward a winter shelter, beefing up mental health access and preventing people from falling into homelessness in the first place.

Nearly 675 affordable housing units are under construction and nearly 100 more are readying building permits in October, say city officials. Yet another $9 million in land and loan funding is in the queue to develop an additional 220 affordable housing units, officials say in the letter.

Sacramento County has also opened a wellness center in Elk Grove that offers behavioral health services.

Jurors commenting on Elk Groves response remarked on the resources at its disposal to address homelessness.

Elk Grove is fortunate enough to have sufficient funds and staffing to understand and manage its homeless population, jurors wrote in May. Most of the other cities in the county do not have this enviable level of resources.

Elk Groves response to the report comes a year after two major decisions affecting the citys unhoused: an ordinance barring encampments from nearly all public spaces in the city; and its rejection of a proposed affordable housing development in Elk Groves historic Old Town to provide permanent housing and services for low-income families who had been homeless.

State housing officials put Elk Grove on notice after the councils no vote on the Oak Rose apartment project last July, which led to California Attorney General Rob Bontas lawsuit against the city in March alleging Elk Grove repeatedly ignored state housing law.

Elk Grove is contesting the suit.
Tens of thousands of people streamed through the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Northwest Washington, D.C., on Saturday to attend the 2023 Library of Congress National Book Festival. Many authors were on hand to speak to crowds on several stages at the venue. One of the most popular talks featured actor Elliot Page, whose memoir Pageboy discusses his life and transition.

More than 2,200 people gathered to listen to the talk, a Library of Congress spokesperson told The Advocate.

During an hour-long conversation, the interviewer, Semafor executive editor Gina Chua, and the Academy Award nominee discussed their shared experience as transgender people in the public eye.

After an introduction by the Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, Page explained that his book, purposely written in a non-linear way, was a therapeutic accomplishment that he says he would never have been able to sit down to write before his access to gender-affirming care.

While shying away from discussing film roles specifically given the current SAG-AFTRA strike, Page indicated that he wasnt concerned about how transitioning would affect his career and that it has been an improvement to him.

If I came out as trans and my work got worse, thats fine, he said. I dont need to be in any more movies. Im good.

Page added, I want to be able to live my life truly. But I think its made me feel more embodied and more connected and more able to be fully present in a scene.

But it was during the question and answer period toward the conclusion of the book talk that saw some of the most poignant moments of the event.

Im so short, a simultaneously bemused and frustrated 10-year-old child with painted nails who had made their way to a microphone that towered over them said as they started to ask the actor for some advice.

Me too, Page interjected as the crowd chuckled. Dont worry about it!

2023 National Book Festival - Creativity Stage youtu.be

What would you say to a 10-year-old who is just starting to come out as trans and whose  my friends  [about] myself have been like, Im not calling you that. No. What would you say to somebody like that? the child asked.

Who is it? Page joked. Give me their number.

He then offered the young person encouragement.

I tell them that theyre being incredibly insensitive and unkind and [Id ask] would they ever want someone to react about something like that towards them and that maybe they should take some time to think a little bit more and potentially learn more about trans people and that they arent being a very good friend.

When another young student struggled to get their question out in front of the large crowd, Page patiently waited for them to collect their thoughts.

I was just wondering if you get bullied, and thats before coming out to your school, how would you approach coming out? the young person asked Page.

After taking a moment to think, Page responded and asked an important question.

Id say Id reach out to the people that you trust and love, he said. Do you have those people to talk to?

Yeah, I think. I dont know, the nervous young person replied.

Aww, Page responded reassuringly.

Id say that you should talk to the people that you love and trust the most. The friends you can rely on, the teachers you can rely on, and maybe start there and ask for their support and speak to the bullying because that definitely shouldnt be happening, Page advised.

And have a group and a community of people that is going to embrace you and support you to not have to deal with that silliness, he continued.

Page added, I was bullied, [it] wasnt fun, but itll be okay. It will be.

Im not trained or well-equipped to know exactly what to say, but I just want you to feel the support and love you should feel.

Pages response garnered vigorous applause.

In closing, Chua asked the accomplished actor to imagine another world.

If you had superpowers in real life its not like you havent had characters with superpowers  and you could change one thing about the world today, what would it be? Chua inquired.

Well, right now, its bullying, the Umbrella Academy star responded without missing a beat.
Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said Sunday it was time to move on from a proposed cage fight between himself and Elon Musk, saying his fellow billionaire had failed to show any real desire to enter the arena.

I think we can all agree Elon isnt serious and its time to move on, he wrote on Threads, Metas new alternative to Twitter, now known as X. I offered a real date. Dana White offered to make this a legit competition for charity. Elon wont confirm a date, then says he needs surgery, and now asks to do a practice round in my backyard instead.

Zuckerberg went on to say that if Musk ever gets serious  he knows how to reach me.

Otherwise, he continued, time to move on. Im going to focus on competing with people who take the sport seriously.

Musk replied to the message on his own platform.

Zuck is a chicken, he wrote on X.

In a separate post, he said Zuckerberg cant eat at chick fil a because that would be cannibalism, referring to the fast food chain specializing in chicken sandwiches.

The ongoing drama surrounding the event has always made it seem unlikely. Musk first wrote a few months ago that he was up for a cage match with Zuckerberg amid reports Meta was preparing to launch Threads, a challenge the Facebook co-founder appeared to agreed to.

Various details were bandied back and forth, with Zuckerberg posting a shirtless photo of himself training with mixed martial arts instructors. Musk proposed the fight take place in Las Vegas, then said it would happen at an epic location in Italy. But Musk also said he almost never worked out and needed an MRI before he could agree to a match.

I spoke to the PM of Italy and Minister of Culture, Musk wrote last week. They have agreed on an epic location.

For now, that epic location will remain the internet.

Josephine Harvey contributed to this report.

Related...
Mark Zuckerberg has a lesson to offer archrival and potential cage-match opponent Elon Musk: Beware of Washington when trying to build an everything app.

Lawmakers are warning that Musk could face scrutiny if he pushes ahead with plans to turn X, the social media giant once known as Twitter, into a financial services provider. Its a key step to achieving Musks long-held goal of building a mega-app that serves as a hub for messaging, payments and more.

Musk, the worlds richest man, will need to avoid the political and regulatory pitfalls that killed Zuckerbergs plan to launch a cryptocurrency payments system alongside Facebook. Zuckerberg and his partners scrapped the project following resistance from Capitol Hill, banking regulators and European officials.

As a big company, you have a bullseye on your back  from the average consumer, from politicians, said Morgan Beller, who co-created the failed Facebook crypto venture first known as Libra. You have to ask for permission, not forgiveness.

And thats just not Musks style, as evidenced by his attempt to face off with Zuckerberg in hand-to-hand combat. Zuckerberg said Sunday on his X competitor Threads that Musk isnt serious and its time to move on.

You have a cowboy at the helm of a big company, Beller said. So, whos to say what he will try to do or not do?

Zuckerbergs experience revealed broad concerns in Washington and Brussels about the intermingling of social media and finance that still linger. He faced fatal opposition even as he pledged to delay the project and address officials objections. Its questionable whether Musk, who has long taken a more combative approach to dealing with regulators  and who has also become a political lightning rod  would fare any better.

My guess: Hed run into the same situation that Zuckerberg ran into, said Rep. Bill Foster, an Illinois Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, in an interview.

Musks exact vision is just now taking shape. He wrote last month that the app will soon move to add comprehensive communications and become a conduit for your entire financial world. X has secured money-transmission licenses in some states and is reportedly eyeing stock trading features.

It would expand an empire that  unlike Zuckerbergs  also includes dominant businesses in private space travel and satellite communication, which have helped make him a singular geopolitical force.

Its possible to become the biggest financial institution in the world, Musk said of X in March.

It would be a second act in financial services for Musk, who cut his teeth in business with the online payment platform PayPal. The company was formed out of a merger between Musks earlier X.com and Confinity, a startup co-launched by billionaire entrepreneur Peter Thiel. He briefly led PayPal before being ousted as CEO in 2000.

Zuckerberg turned to another PayPal alum, David Marcus, to help develop and roll out the plan for Facebooks Libra digital currency in 2019. The company, now known as Meta, touted the crypto venture as a powerful new payments system that would give consumers around the world a better way to move their money. The project, which was rebranded as Diem, folded in 2022.

The scope of Zuckerbergs ambition  the potential creation of a private money system linked to one of the worlds largest social networks  spooked lawmakers and regulators at the highest levels.

Aaron Klein, a former Treasury Department official who now serves as a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said he suspects that Musk will be more careful and surgical in how he approaches expanding X into finance.

But Musks history is to think pretty big, he said. The bigger you think, the more regulatory tripwires there are.

If Musk opts to follow Zuckerberg into crypto, he is likely to face the same reception, according to lawmakers.

That would receive its share of scrutiny, said Rep. French Hill (R-Ark.), who leads a House subcommittee on digital assets. Just like you witnessed back four years ago when Zuckerberg and David Marcus were here talking about their failed Libra project.

Spokespeople for X did not respond to a request for comment.

Musks potential move into financial services could also garner opposition from traditional banks, which urged lawmakers to crack down on Libra in 2019. They have fought for years to fend off the encroachment of big tech companies into banking.

The banking industry is on high alert from this, Foster said. They see the huge natural advantage of any organization with a big user base for social media trying to leverage that user base for payment transactions.

Another fundamental takeaway from Zuckerbergs failure: Dont wait to lobby Washington on your vision.

Zuckerberg and Facebook were forced to engage in extensive political damage control after their Libra rollout left policymakers with numerous questions. At the height of the uproar, Zuckerberg himself testified before Congress to allay concerns but it was too little, too late.

The big lesson from Mark Zuckerbergs failed Libra experiment was that they didnt do any of the upfront work in Washington, D.C., getting regulators or lawmakers comfortable with their idea, said former SEC Commissioner Michael Piwowar, now with the Milken Institute think tank. The Silicon Valley approach of move fast and break things does not work once you get into anything related to financial services.

It may require an approach thats uncharacteristic for Musk, who has ridiculed the agencies that oversee his companies, including Tesla, often skirting federal regulations with minimal consequences.

Musk paid $20 million to settle securities fraud charges brought by the SEC  Wall Streets top cop  but is now in a legal battle with the agency over the terms of the deal. He plans to appeal to the Supreme Court.

"I do not respect the SEC, Musk said following the 2018 settlement, later calling the agency bastards.

Beller, the Libra co-creator, said Facebook tried to lay the groundwork with regulators but securing approval from entities around the globe led to death by a thousand paper cuts.

Can he brute force his way? Beller said of Musk. Maybe.
Elon Musk studied Napoleon Bonaparte for advice on leadership, his biographer Walter Isaacson said. Chesnot/Getty Images and Getty Images

Elon Musk has taken leadership notes from Napoleon Bonaparte, Walter Isaacson told Axios.

Napoleon is known as one of the greatest military generals in history.

Isaacson said Musk has likened Tesla and SpaceX factories to a "battlefield."

Elon Musk has analyzed the leadership tactics of the French dictator Napoleon Bonaparte for use in his role as CEO of Tesla, Walter Isaacson told Axios.

Isaacson, who trailed Musk for the better part of three years ahead of the upcoming release of a biography on the billionaire, told the publication that Musk has said knowledge on the history of powerful militaries can be useful for "corporate life"  and has even used at least one of Napoleon's tactics at Tesla and SpaceX.

"He believes that wherever Napoleon was, that's where his armies would do best. So he liked to show up late at night on the assembly lines at Tesla and SpaceX," Isaacson told Axios.

The biographer said that Musk likened Tesla and SpaceX factories to "battlefields" and also liked to listen to Dan Carlin's "Hardcore History" podcast.

"If they see their general on the battlefield, they will be more motivated," Isaacson said the billionaire told him.

Napoleon is considered one of the greatest generals in military history. He was rose to power during the French Revolution and eventually led the Napoleonic Wars in which he conquered much of Europe. He served as the first emperor of France in 1804, but was forced to abdicate the throne a decade later after he unsuccessfully tried to invade Russia.

Musk has been known to sleep on Tesla's factory floor and at sleep at X's headquarters. Last year, Musk said he was basically living in Tesla's Fremont, California, and Sparks, Nevada factories for "three years straight" because he wanted to show staff was wasn't "drinking Mai Tais on a tropical island," as well as inspire them to work harder.

The biographer's comments come after he shared a screenshot from Musk of the Tesla CEO's texts with Mark Zuckerberg. Musk later shared a larger version of the screenshot on X, formerly known as Twitter on Sunday.

In the screenshot of the texts that Musk claims are with the Meta CEO, Musk taunted Zuckerberg saying that he would beat the Facebook cofounder unless he was a "modern day Bruce Lee." Musk also asked to first fight Zuckerberg in his backyard before a public exhibition, but Zuckerberg appeared to turn down the offer.

Isaacson has said in the past he doubts the much hyped fight will take place. Last week, Musk said he needed to get his neck and upper back examined before the fight and it "may require surgery."

Read Axios' full story on its website.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A new, fast-spreading strain of the COVID-19 virus that's fueling new cases around the globe is in Arizona and expected to become more dominant here.

"EG.5 does not seem to pose a significant public health threat. However, we are monitoring it out of an abundance of caution," Arizona State University virologist Efrem Lim wrote in an email.

EG.5, nicknamed "Eris," comprised an estimated 17.3% of new U.S. COVID-19 cases as of the two-week period ending Aug. 5 and was the most prevalent strain in the country, tracking data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows.

COVID-19 indicators, including hospital admissions, emergency department visits, test positivity, and wastewater levels, are increasing nationally, according to the most recent CDC data.

In Arizona, the most recent data shows Eris at an estimated 13% to 15% of new cases, said David Engelthaler, who leads the infectious-diseases division of the Arizona-based Translational Genomics Research Institute. He emphasized that there's been less overall virus sequencing, so estimates both nationally and in Arizona are not as accurate as they have been in the past.

The EG.5 subvariant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 does not appear to pose more of a threat to public health than other variants, according to the World Health Organization. WHO officials say EG.5 has been behind upticks in COVID-19 cases around the world, including in the U.S., China, South Korea, Japan and Canada.

"It's definitely becoming one of the more commonplace variants, and it seems to be growing elsewhere and is likely to become one of the more dominant variants in Arizona as well as the rest of the U.S.," Engelthaler said.

'This is just the latest iteration of omicron'

EG.5 is a descendant of the XBB.1.9.2 omicron subvariant. That means that it is another omicron sublineage branching out as the virus evolves over time, Lim said. Most of the other COVID-19 cases in Arizona are split between the XBB.1.5 and XBB.1.16 omicron subvariants, he said.

Because EG.5 is a subvariant of the omicron strain, Engelthaler said, he doesn't see it as a significant public health concern.

"Rather than being a summer blockbuster, it's really more like a boring sequel," Engelthaler said. "This is just the latest iteration of omicron. And everything we've seen in really the last year and a half has been totally omicron and they all act like omicron."

Changed: 4 years of high school interrupted by COVID-19. Here's what 11 Arizona graduates have to say

Omicron subvariants have the same characteristics: They seem to spread easily and also evade antibodies, which is why new subvariants keep emerging, he said.

"But, maybe most importantly, it still causes the mild form of COVID, by and large. That really is good news, that we haven't seen something new, more serious, pop up over the past year and a half," he said. "It's all been omicron that everybody's transmitting and it's just giving us that same, bad COVID cold, which is not unlike a lot of other human coronaviruses"

Though the federal public health emergency over COVID-19 ended in May, the virus never went away. Severe cases and deaths are extremely low when compared with the height of the pandemic, but they still happen.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, state health officials have reported 33,698 COVID-19 deaths, with 12 deaths during the week ending Aug. 5. Nationwide, COVID-19 has caused 1.14 million deaths. Nationally, there were 473 COVID-19 deaths for the week ending July 15, CDC data shows.

Virus's fallout: After 33,000 COVID-19 deaths, many Arizonans struggle with mental health

Nearly 2,000 new Arizona COVID-19 cases were reported for the week ending Aug. 5, according to state health statistics.

"We are seeing EG.5 increase in proportion each month, so there is a possibility that EG.5 will become the dominant variant over time," Arizona Department of Health Services spokesperson Tom Herrmann wrote in an email on Thursday afternoon.

"It is hard to say how the new omicron subvariant will impact cases here in Arizona. As of now, cases increased slightly four weeks ago and have remained at the same elevated level."

A new COVID-19 booster is expected this fall

A new COVID-19 booster is expected in September, according to the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.

"People who are concerned about their specific situation and potential risk should talk with their medical provider about timing of a booster," department spokesperson Sonia Singh wrote in an email.

The new COVID-19 booster is based on the XBB.1.5 variant, which makes it a closer match to current strains, Lim said. So it's worth it to get the new booster rather than the old one, which was based on the older BA.4 and BA.5 variants, he said. However, if there's an early surge of COVID-19 cases in the fall or a delay in the new booster, people at high risk for severe COVID-19 disease may need to consider the bivalent booster, Lim added.

A healthy person who received the bivalent COVID-19 booster last year or this year would be best to wait for the new booster, which is expected to be more closely aligned with the circulating variants, Engelthaler said.

"I don't think that getting a booster now will provide actually much benefit," Engelthaler said. "Except for those individuals who have a real hard time maintaining any kind of immunity  that is usually the immune-suppressed people and the elderly people, typically over the age of 75."

The Maricopa County Department of Public Health is encouraging residents to get all recommended respiratory virus vaccines before the end of October to provide them with protection before the holiday season. Those vaccines include COVID-19, flu and, for some populations, the new RSV, respiratory syncytial virus vaccines. There's one for babies and one recommended for older adults over the age of 60 based on shared decision-making with their health care provider.

New variants of COVID-19 are likely to appear, but following traditional COVID-19 prevention recommendations remains the best way to protect oneself, Herrmann wrote.

State and county health officials advise the following prevention measures:

Stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations.

Stay home while sick or wear a mask if you can't.

Avoid contact with those who are sick.

Cover your cough and sneezes with a tissue or your sleeve.

Wash your hands frequently with soap and water and avoid touching your face.

New plan: How has COVID-19 changed procedures at emergency shelters?

Reach health care reporter Stephanie Innes at Stephanie.Innes@gannett.com or at 602-444-8369. Follow her on Twitter @stephanieinnes.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: EG.5 strain of COVID-19 has been increasing in Arizona
Etna, pictured in 2021, is the tallest active volcano in Europe and has erupted frequently in the past 500,000 years (Giovanni ISOLINO)

The airport at Catania in Sicily, a top Italian tourist destination, has halted all flights after a new eruption at nearby Mount Etna, its operator said Monday.

"Because of an eruption at Etna and falling ash, flights are suspended until 8:00 pm (1800 GMT)," the airport said on its website.

Earlier Monday, it had said departures and arrivals had been halted until just 1:00 pm.

Catania's Mayor Enrico Trantino has also prohibited the use of motorcycles and bicycles for the next 48 hours, "because several areas are covered with a layer of volcanic ash", city hall said on its website.

The ash can quickly become slippery on roads and increase the risk of accidents.

At 3,324 metres (nearly 11,000 feet), Etna is the tallest active volcano in Europe and has erupted frequently in the past 500,000 years.

Most recently, Catania airport was closed for a day on May 21 due to an eruption.

Around 10 million passengers last year transited through the airport, which serves the eastern part of Sicily.

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EVANSVILLE  The man who died in a "tragic event" at the Toyota Boshoku plant in Gibson County last week was a father of four who came to the U.S. from West Africa.

That's according to the obituary for Thierno Balde, the 49-year-old Evansville resident who was killed on Aug. 7. Toyota Boshoku hasn't released any details in Balde's death. The Gibson County Sheriff's office and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating.

Balde is survived by his wife of 22 years, Cynthia Balde, as well as two stepchildren and a biological daughter and son. He also had four grandchildren, two sisters, and "several extended family members in Guinea, Conakry, with a host of nieces and nephews," the obituary reads.

His services were scheduled for Monday at Alexander Funeral Home-East. Memorial donations in his honor can be made to the Islamic Center of Evansville.

Balde was born in Guinea-Conakry on Oct. 6, 1973. According to Courier & Press archives, he went on to run track at Vincennes University in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

In 2003, the Courier & Press highlighted his efforts to get back into All-American shape when Balde and some friends set up a gym in his front yard along Riverside Drive.

"I wasn't feeling that good anymore, so I had to do something about it," he says in the story. "I've got to have a goal to accomplish."

Balde served as a production worker at Toyota Boshoku. Since his death, several friends, co-workers and family members have taken to social media to praise him as a kind, generous man.

The incident that led to his death occurred sometime in the morning of Aug. 7. Around 10 a.m. that day, Gibson County Sheriff Bruce Vanoven sent a note to media outlets saying his deputies had responded to the plant to "render aid to a worker inside." Gibson County Coroner Barrett Doyle identified Balde as the victim later that afternoon.

Through a corporate statement, Rich Norris, Toyota Boshoku's vice president of corporate planning, said the company "cannot comment on the details."

"We are fully cooperating in the investigation that is underway," the statement read in part. "... We take matters like this very seriously and will thoroughly review all investigation results to ensure that this type of incident does not reoccur."

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Evansville man who died at Toyota Boshoku was a father, ex-track star
Mary McCord, a former top Justice Department official, shot down multiple defenses that Donald Trump and his defense team have been floating in his election conspiracy case.

On Sundays broadcast of MSNBCs The Beat, McCord examined talking points the former president and his allies have been using against criminal charges that he conspired to overturn his 2020 election loss.

They range from Trump not being responsible because he truly thought the election had been stolen to his excuse that he was just joking around when pressuring officials to flip the result.

McCord, a former acting head of the Justice Departments national security division, debunked Trumps claims that his indictment is a violation of his First Amendment rights and that he is innocent because his lawyers told him the election was fraudulent.

Watch Raw Storys video here:

Federal prosecutors last week asked U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing the case, to schedule the trial for January 2024.

It would vindicate the publics strong interest in a speedy trial, they wrote. It is difficult to imagine a public interest stronger than the one in this case in which the defendant  the former president of the United States  is charged with three criminal conspiracies.

Trump, the front-runner in the Republican 2024 race, also has been indicted for mishandling classified materials after leaving the White House and faces trial in the Stormy Daniels hush money payment case next year. He also is likely to be indicted in Georgia prosecutor Fani Willis investigation into his effort to overthrow the election result in the state.

Related...
Valerii Shaitanov, a former Major General of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after being found guilty of treason, an attempted act of terrorism, and possession of ammunition.

Source: Prosecutor Generals Office of Ukraine; Security Service of Ukraine

Details: Valerii Shaitanov, the former first deputy head of the SSUs Special Operations Centre Alpha, was found guilty of treason, an attempted act of terrorism, and illegal handling of firearms, ammunition or explosives by the Shevchenkivskyi District Court in Kyiv on 14 August.

Shaitanov was sentenced to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.

The prosecutors proved in court that he had collected information that was a state secret and passed it on to representatives of the Russian Federation.

The investigation established that the official, under the alias Bobyl [a solitary man - ed.], had been in contact with an agent named Igor "Elbrus" Yegorov, a colonel in the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). Yegorov was involved in the occupation and organisation of terrorist activity in Donbas in the summer of 2014, the Security Service of Ukraine said.

Acting on the instructions of the Russian secret services, Shaitanov looked for people among former SSU servicemen in order to commit a terrorist attack.

His objective was to assassinate a major in the Armed Forces of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria who has headed the Dzhokhar Dudayev International Peacekeeping Battalion since February 2015, during the war in the east of Ukraine.

Law enforcement officers warned at the time that the assassination was being planned by the Russian secret services.

Criminal proceedings against the employee of the FSBs Counterintelligence Operations Department who recruited Shaitanov are currently being heard in court in absentia.

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!
Nearly a dozen Republican-appointed former judges and high-ranking federal senior legal officials on Monday endorsed the January 2, 2024, trial date proposed by special counsel Jack Smith in his 2020 election interference criminal case against Donald Trump.

The amicus brief was submitted to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia as a project of the Democracy 21 Education Fund in the January 6, 2021, case against Trump. It comes as the former president and his team look to push the case until after the election, though the final decision on a trial date will come down to presiding Judge Tanya Chutkan. Her decision is likely to come by the end of this month.

The brief, which stresses a speedy trial is in the American publics interest, amounts to a considerable rebuke of Trumps legal teams calls for the proceedings to be drawn out. The Republican credentials of its authors fly in the face of the former presidents repeated argument that his trials timeline is a partisan exercise against him.

There is no more important issue facing America and the American people  and to the very functioning of democracy  than whether the former president is guilty of criminally undermining Americas elections and American democracy in order to remain in power notwithstanding that the American people had voted to confer their power upon the former presidents successor, President Joseph Biden, reads the brief by 11 prominent Republican legal experts.

Nothing less is at stake than the American experiment in democracy and democratic government that began with our nations founding almost two hundred and fifty years ago.

Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales speaks during the American Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division 2019 Spring Conference in Washington. - Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Among those who signed onto the brief are Alberto Gonzales, a former attorney general of the United States and counsel to the president in the George W. Bush administration, and J. Michael Luttig, a retired federal appellate judge who counseled then-Vice President Mike Pence about his duties certifying the 2020 election. Luttig, a former judge on the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals who is considered a Republican legal heavyweight, has become increasingly outspoken in his criticism of Trump and the GOP.

The brief cites the Speedy Trial Act in arguing that Smiths proposed date is reasonable while also accounting for the American publics interest in a prompt resolution of this profoundly important case.

It also argues that Smiths proposed timeline respects and serves the former presidents own interest in a speedy trial.

Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung did not comment directly on the amicus brief when reached by CNN.

Trump pleaded not guilty earlier this month to four criminal charges related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Smith, in his proposal filed Thursday, said presentation of evidence in the trial would take no longer than four to six weeks, meaning that Trump may need to spend his weekdays in court before a jury in the crucial first two months of a presidential election year and as primary voting begins for Republicans. The Iowa caucuses are scheduled for January 15.

Trump, objecting to the proposal in a Truth Social post, said any trial in the cases against him should take place, if at all, after the presidential election, due to my First Amendment Rights. He described the indictments as election interference.

In this June 2022 photo, J. Michael Luttig arrives to testify before the House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. - Drew Angerer/Getty Images

The authors of the amicus brief argue that Smiths case should be straightforward, presenting little just cause for delay beyond the governments proposed schedule and trial date.

The brief adds, The former president is entitled to this speedy trial as a matter of law. He is not entitled to an unjust delay in his trial to serve his purely personal and political interests in the delay of his trial.

The authors will need permission from Chutkan to include their submission in the record as an outside party to the case.

In addition to Gonzalez and Luttig, the authors include: Steven Calabresi, a co-founder of the Federalist Society; former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld; former high-ranking Justice Department officials Stuart Gerson, Don Ayer and Jonathan C. Rose; Paul Rosenzweig, a former deputy assistant secretary for policy in the Department of Homeland Security; former George W. Bush administration chief ethics lawyer Richard Painter; former New Jersey Attorney General John Farmer; and Stan Twardy, a former US attorney for the state of Connecticut.

This story has been updated with additional reporting.

CNNs Alayna Treene contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Russia is again trying to persuade Lukashenko to take a more active part in the war against Ukraine

Should we expect news from the Belarusian direction in the near future?

Read also: Lukashenko orders subordinates to improve relations with Poland

Russia fired missiles from the territory of Belarus again. On the same day, Ukrainian intelligence announced a possible false flag provocation - an attack by mercenaries of the Wagner PMC on the Mozyr Oil Refinery. Both events were actively commented on in the Ukrainian information space  especially the missile attack. Some commentators gave several mutually exclusive versions of events, each time adding more to the story even after the Ukrainian military clarified the basic information.

It is somewhat unwise to follow this algorithm. Instead, I propose to discuss the logic of the process. Which will lead us to the answer to the question: "Should we expect news from the Belarusian direction in the near future?"

Background

1. Lukashenko was counting on Ukraine's quick surrender, and the dates of the Russian invasion were "convenient" for him  he held a referendum on the new constitution on February 25. The Kremlin was preoccupied with Ukraine, not controlling the Belarusian political process.

In addition, since mid-2021, Viktor Medvedchuk has been a frequent visitor to Minsk, having had six (6) meetings with Lukashenko or his entourage between September and February. The timing seemed "perfect"  you had the combination with the constitution and the "new government" in Ukraine, with whom they had discussed everything in advance. And he himself seemed to be "out of the picture" (after all, the "new government" would talk about Russian aid, not aggression).

Read also: Lukashenko muses about Wagner attacking Poland to distract Ukraines NATO and EU allies

2. It didn't work out. Russia slowed down and then fled from Kyiv. And what seemed like a highly favorable combination became a threat to its position. The Kremlin pressed for participation, but the population's mood was unequivocal  about 80% were against the participation of Belarusian troops in the war against Ukraine.

3. Another danger has suddenly emerged from the constitution "written for Lukashenko." Two "surprises" appeared in the new document. Namely, Article 18 (which previously spoke of neutrality) was amended to say: "The Republic of Belarus excludes military aggression from its territory against other states." That is, we have a direct action norm  a prohibition. An interesting phrase also appeared in Article 88: "The President may be removed from office by the All-Belarusian People's Assembly in case of systematic or gross violation of the Constitution by the President."

4. The changes to the Belarusian constitution were a formalization of the palace coup. The key word is "aggression." That is why, especially since April 2023 (the entry into force of the new version of the Constitution and the Russians' flight from Kyiv), Lukashenko has been so nervous about the words "aggression" and "aggressor." He is scared. From that moment, the first pause in the rocket attacks on Ukraine from the territory of Belarus began.

Where can we look for a definition of aggression? Belarusian legislation lacks a clear definition of aggression. However, Belarus (then the BSSR) voted for UN Resolution 3314 and ratified the text of the convention defining aggression. Article 3 reads: "an act of a State which permits its territory, which it has made available to another State, to be used by that other State to commit an act of aggression against a third State."

Thus, the UN wording is also valid in Belarus. This is not all. There is no definition of aggression, but there is a definition of the term "attack" (Article 4 of the Martial Law), where one of the forms of attack is "actions of another state (coalition of states) that allows the use of its territory by a third state for an attack.

Official Minsk is Fearful

Lukashenko began to gradually "slide away" from the topic of military participation in what the Kremlin calls the SMM. There was even an attempt to have a "repeat of 2014" with Minsk being a mediator.

Inside the country, the propaganda did not contradict its Russian counterparts, but instead built on it. Belarusian propaganda had its own features, emphasizing the "role of Lukashenko," who "did not allow Belarus to be drawn into the war." At first, they simply named external forces as being to blame. Later, they thought that this approach was too bold and daring, so they switched to "Western countries and other external forces." At the same time, Russia is naturally shown as a friend, brother, matchmaker, and generally a good drinking buddy. It's also scary, especially in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war or Russia's ability to undermine the situation inside the country (Lukashenko remembers the role of the Russian media in 2006-2007, 2010-2011, 2019-2020).

Read also: Poland nabs suspected Russian agent in Wagner recruitment poster saga  video

Russia's pressure to intensify collaboration is limited to constant exercises and the deployment (on a rotational basis) of 4-5 BTGs of the Armed Forces of Belarus along the border with Ukraine. At the same time, the contingent of the Russian Armed Forces is gradually being reduced. First, the regular military was replaced by mobilized soldiers, and then they began to leave. However, Russia either has deployed or will deploy nuclear weapons on the territory of Belarus (or may appear), and some personnel of the Wagner PMC have relocated there.

Minsk has attempted to balance the dominance of the Russian Federation. One of the vectors was the accelerated pursuit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, especially since the autocracies of Central Asia demonstrated the effectiveness of this path. China sent signals in response and resumed contacts, but Beijing tends to pull Minsk from Moscow's pocket into its own gradually without going for a sharp confrontation.

Read also: Wagner mercenaries in Belarus pose threat to Ukraine  UA commander

The second area was the desire to find understanding in the EU. But the situation here is extremely complicated: the Belarusian autocracy became temporarily ungovernable after 2020. The conflict has entered the most profound phase since the collective departure of EU ambassadors 20 years ago and the conflict (also related to post-election repression) in 2011-13. That is, the theme of war is superimposed on the theme of democracy. Official Minsk tried (and is still trying) to bargain in the format of "democracy aside, let's talk about distancing ourselves from the war." But there is another difficulty on this path. Even if neighboring EU countries may have favored finding common ground in the past, the conflict with Poland and Lithuania has reached a level that excludes this possibility, at least until elections in these countries. Against this backdrop, although not aggravating the situation, Latvia is by no means seeking to intensify contacts.

Finally, the third direction was Minsk's insistence on getting into the grain agreement as a participating country by any means necessary. In addition to the financial interest in unblocking potash exports, there was a more critical political track. A country that provides a transit area has a chance to distance itself from further participation in the aggression.

Ukraine's Position

At this stage, it is inexpedient for Ukraine to scale up the war. On the one hand, an additional front (albeit with a demoralized enemy army) requires additional forces and means. We don't have that much. On the other hand, scaling up the war and involving another state creates the risk of its further expansion. If it becomes not a Russian-Ukrainian war, but a "regional" war, then it is up to more parties to reach peace agreements (as well as their format, for example, the thesis of returning all Ukrainian territories).

Read also: Chinese defense minister to visit Russia and Belarus this week

At the same time, the threat from Belarus remains. There is the Russian factor, and there is distrust of Lukashenko and his entourage  these people have clearly shown how dangerous it is to take them at their word. As a result, Ukraine keeps a relatively large group of troops near the Belarusian border. They demonstrate that any attempted attack will lead to big problems for the aggressor.

The questions of what to do with the Belarusian regime and how to bring it to justice have been postponed to the post-war period, as this topic is mainly derivative of the subject of Russian responsibility.

Russia Tries to Tie Us Down and Cover Us with Blood

Russia has two goals. One is obvious: to create maximum difficulties for Ukraine. They want to maintain the background of a constant threat from Belarus and, if appropriate, again try to persuade Lukashenko to take a more active part in the war against Ukraine.

Read also: UAE President wants to arrange Zelenskyy-Putin talks  report

The second is formulated differently: to maintain and strengthen its influence in Belarus. They aim to keep Belarus as a dependent territory in the zone of Russian influence. That is why any attempts by Minsk to look for alternatives are met with a fairly quick reaction from Moscow.

As an example, I will cite the previous missile attacks from the territory of Belarus.

August 2022. Discussion of the grain deal and Minsk's initiative to become a transit country for Ukrainian grain to Lithuanian ports. The idea began to be discussed at the UN level. But Lukashenko is flying to Putin. At the same time, two Russian Tu-95s fly into the airspace of Belarus and launch over Ukrainian territory. This is a good argument that it would be foolish to perceive Minsk as a party capable of guaranteeing something (and, let me remind you, it was about guarantees of safe and free transit).

Read also: Putin prepares to defend his regime by equipping Rosgvardia with tanks  Ukrainian intelligence

October 2022. The Belarusian Foreign Ministry holds a series of consultations with European politicians on distancing itself from the war. Information about this gets into the European press. At the same time, Belarus intensifies its dialogue with China, and a joint declaration establishes a level of relations "one step higher" than China's relations with Russia. Lukashenka is back with Putin, and Russian missile launchers are conducting launches in Belarus. Moreover, negotiations between pilots and, possibly, Belarusian military controllers are being streamed online.

Next, we have information about the deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus and Putin's later consent to relocating Wagner's troops to the country. On the one hand, this is a threat to their neighbors. But, more importantly, it is a fixation on the status of the Russian Federation. To understand the point, imagine a situation where Lukashenko is no longer in power. The reason is not important - death, coup, revolution, soft transit - what is important is that the country has a new government, at least formally. Logically, external players would try to contact the new government and determine the possibility of building relations. But when there are nuclear weapons and a PMC base, the first "call" from both the West and the East will be not to Minsk but to Moscow. They must ask: "What about warheads?" and "What about mercenaries?" In this format, even a weak Russia, disorganized in case of defeat in Ukraine, remains a "player" in the Belarusian political solitaire.

What About Today?

Over the past ten days, the Belarusian issue has become more active  Ukrainian intelligence reports on the possible preparation of a "false flag provocation" using the Wagner PMC. The goal is to attack the Mozyr Oil Refinery, an enterprise with which Alexander Lukashenko has an "uneven relationship."

Read also: Poland detains Belarusian spy collecting intelligence about the Polish ports and military facilities

And finally, a report of a missile attack from the territory of Belarus. The phrase "missiles from the territory of Belarus" gave rise to several versions in Ukraine. There was a missile from the Iskander ground-based systems, false targets, and aviation use. Naturally, there are many discussions about the possible need to retaliate. A day later, the military command clarified that these were "Kinzhals" launched from the territory of the Russian Federation that flew over the territory of Belarus.

The question arises: why is Russia doing this today?

Look at the calendar. The next session of the UN General Assembly will take place in September 2023. At which a rather impressive Foreign Ministry delegation will represent the Belarusian side. There will likely be consultations on the sidelines on the "Belarusian issue."

Negotiations will likely resume (and a new agreement may be reached) on a grain deal by October. Against the backdrop of Russia's attacks on Ukrainian ports, rail transit may become relevant again. This means that there will be an attempt by Minsk to enter into agreements.

Read also: Ukraine is ready to participate in 2024 Olympics even if Russian and Belarusian athletes are admitted

Both are against Russia's interests. This means that Moscow is looking for how to do more provocations. Moreover, at this stage, the Kremlin also benefits from increased tensions at the border. After all, the additional forces that Ukraine keeps in the Belarusian direction could otherwise be used as reserves near the front line. Escalation will require deploying more units in the Belarusian direction, drawing them away from the south.

Thus, the Belarusian direction in August and September will be rich in newsworthy events  and perhaps even provocations.

Read also: Russia, China exploring paths for military collaboration, says Pentagon

On the other hand, China's participation in the consultations in Saudi Arabia indicates a gradual change in Beijing's position. And, speaking of Belarus, China is one of the forces capable of hinting to Putin that it is not the time or place for unnecessary provocations.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
U.S. Attorney General Garland announces appointment of Special Counsel Weiss in Hunter Biden investigation at the Justice Department in Washington

Explainer-How Hunter Biden, Trump special counsels work independently U.S. Attorney General Garland announces appointment of Special Counsel Weiss in Hunter Biden investigation at the Justice Department in Washington

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The appointment of an outside prosecutor to investigate President Joe Biden's son Hunter means there are now three special counsel inquiries that could figure prominently in next year's election.

Attorney General Merrick Garland tapped David Weiss on Friday to review whether Hunter Biden violated federal tax and gun laws. Weiss signaled that he would likely take the president's son to trial.

Earlier, Garland appointed Jack Smith to investigate matters related to President Donald Trump's efforts to cling to power after he lost the 2020 election and classified documents found in the Florida estate where he lives.

Garland also named a special counsel to review classified documents found in Biden's home.

WHAT IS A SPECIAL COUNSEL?

Special counsels are appointed to handle sensitive cases - usually involving political figures or allegations of serious wrongdoing by the government - with more independence than is usually afforded to federal investigators.

Justice Department rules allow the attorney general to appoint one when the department would have a conflict of interest or when he or she decides that it would be in the "public interest" to have an outside lawyer handle an investigation.

The attorney general defines the scope of the investigation but the special counsel also has the power to investigate new crimes that occur during the probe, such as obstruction of justice.

Unlike other federal prosecutors, special counsels work without day-to-day control by the Justice Department. But the attorney general can still overrule decisions about how - or whether - an investigation should proceed.

WHAT POWERS DO THEY HAVE?

They have the powers of a federal prosecutor: supervising investigations, deciding whether to bring charges and, if so, taking those cases to trial.

They are required to follow the Justice Department's internal rules, including policies that spell out how to decide whether to bring charges.

They also operate with more public scrutiny. Unlike with other cases, the attorney general must notify Congress if he or she overrules one of the special counsel's decisions. And the special counsel must submit a report laying out the reasons for charging people or declining to do so. Those reports can become public, something that rarely happens in other federal investigations.

WHO CAN BE A SPECIAL COUNSEL?

Usually a special counsel is a lawyer brought in from outside the Justice Department. That was the case with Smith and with Robert Mueller, the former FBI director who investigated allegations that Trump's campaign had conspired with Russia before the 2016 election.

But in some cases, attorneys general have appointed lawyers from within the agency to be special counsels to add heft to investigations they were already supervising.

WHAT EXPERIENCE DO WEISS, HUR AND SMITH HAVE?

Hunter Biden case: Weiss has been the U.S. attorney in Delaware since Trump appointed him to the post in 2018. He was a prosecutor in that office before taking the top job.

Biden Documents case: Robert Hur was the U.S. attorney in Maryland from 2018 to 2021. Trump nominated him for the job. He had been a federal prosecutor in Maryland, worked at Justice Department headquarters and as a partner at a private law firm.

Trump cases: Smith is a former federal prosecutor who led the unit responsible for investigating public corruption. In 2018, he became the chief prosecutor investigating war crimes in the Kosovo War.

HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT FROM INDEPENDENT COUNSELS?

After the Watergate scandal, the government handled the most sensitive cases by appointing independent counsels.

Those lawyers worked with an even greater degree of independence than special counsels. The attorney general would seek their appointment, but they would be put in the job by a special panel of federal judges, and those judges could prevent the counsel from being fired.

When statute creating independent counsels expired in 1999 it was replaced by existing Department of Justice rules for appointing special counsels.

WHAT ARE THE CHARGES AGAINST HUNTER BIDEN? Hunter Biden was charged with two misdemeanor tax offenses and a felony firearm offense by Weiss in June, but a federal judge refused to accept a proposed plea deal.

The special counsel's investigation could weigh on Biden's 2024 reelection campaign, some Democrats say, because it has the potential to broaden to other issues.

(Reporting by Brad HeathEditing by Don Durfee and Heather Timmons)
Drought and extreme heat have plagued Texas this summer, straining the state's massive cattle industry.

About 86% of Texas' land area was experiencing drought conditions as of Aug. 8, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Over 3,000 square miles are currently under exceptional drought conditions - the highest category of drought.

Texas is the top beef-producing state in the United States by far, but the weather conditions this summer have impacted most elements of the industry - how much milk cows produce, the way in which cattle fatten up, reproduction and the eventual price of beef.

This is Texas' second straight summer under severe drought conditions. Last year, drought conditions that affected almost the entire state led to the decimation of pastures, crops and drinking water. Ranchers in East Texas sold more than 2.66 million cattle from January 2022 through August of that year, Reuters reported, which was an increase of more than 480,000 cattle from the same time frame in 2021.

CANADIAN, TX - JULY 28: Cattle use a tree for shade as temperatures rose above 100 degrees in a pasture July 28, 2011, near Canadian, Texas. A severe drought has caused shortages of grass, hay and water, in much of the state, forcing ranchers to thin their herds or risk losing their cattle to the drought. The past nine months have been the driest in Texas since record-keeping began in 1895, with 75% of the state classified as exceptional drought, the worst level. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

"Now we hit August and this is normally our hottest, driest time of the year ... and the only thing I can think of, sometimes it calls for selling cows," rancher David Henderson, 62, told Reuters. Henderson manages a herd of cows in East Texas, and noted that the grass is not growing due to the drought conditions, and the heat can reduce cattle appetite. Amid drought conditions in 2022, he had to thin his herd by about 30 cows.

Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist, said it takes a strong weather system to keep a region in drought for so long, and that heat and drought are part of a cycle. Dry ground makes it easier for the sun to heat an area, he said, because the sun's energy doesn't have to be devoted toward evaporating moisture from the ground.

"Long-term heat and drought tend to go together," Sosnowski said. "In the case of Texas and other parts of the south-central U.S., it has been a dome of high pressure at most levels of the atmosphere that has persisted all summer."

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The high pressure dome hasn't wavered or moved far from Texas this summer, meaning it's been acting as a giant roadblock that prevents storms and fronts from moving in with any beneficial rain, Sosnowski said.

Though Sosnowski said the heat dome will be "tested" during the second half of this month - meaning moisture from a tropical system could move in from the Gulf of Mexico - it's likely to be a long process, with the heat dome and resulting heat and drought conditions persisting through much of week three of August. Texas is forecast to receive little precipitation, and temperatures are expected to be slightly above historical average in the next couple of weeks.

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Ukraine's law enforcement officers exposed the criminal who defrauded the family of a prisoner of war for almost UAH 150,000 (approximately US$4,000)

Source: Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office; Kyiv Police

Details: A 34-year-old native of Chernihiv Oblast, who lived in Kyiv Oblast, posing as an employee of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, engaged in the exchange of prisoners of war, offered a woman her help in establishing the location of her husband, a prisoner of war, for a reward.

She also promised assistance in adding the lady's husband to the list of prisoners of war for exchange as soon as possible.

In May-June 2023, the victim of fraud transferred money to the fraudster six times, with the total sum amounting to UAH 150,000. After that, the suspect stopped contacting her and spent the money on her own needs.

Currently, the perpetrator has been served with a notice of suspicion of taking possession of someone else's property by repeatedly committing a fraud.

It also turned out that the woman had previously been charged with theft.

She was sentenced to seven years of imprisonment with confiscation of property (the court verdict has not yet taken effect).

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!
Darian Dalili holds up a sign as he holds a hunger strike outside the White House to call for the release of his father, Shahab Dalili, a US permanent resident held in an Iranian prison since 2016 (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS)

An Iranian immigrant to the United States who was jailed in Tehran and his son camping outside the White House have together gone on hunger strikes to win the elder's freedom after he was not included in a deal to free US citizens.

Shahab Dalili -- who is a US permanent resident but not a citizen -- was jailed in 2016 after he said he returned to Iran for his father's funeral. He was handed 10 years in prison on espionage-related charges he strongly denies.

His 28-year-old son Darian Dalili, who lives in Massachusetts, said he drove to Washington upon hearing about the deal made public Thursday in which five US citizens are expected to be freed, saying it was "heartbreaking" his father was not mentioned.

It feels "as if my plight and my family's plight apparently don't matter. I don't know how else to put it," said Darian Dalili, who is a US citizen and said his father would have been as well "if he hadn't been taken hostage."

Dalili received a phone call from Tehran's Evin prison from his father, who initially tried to change his son's mind about going on a hunger strike but then decided to do the same.

The younger Dalili, who has set himself up in Lafayette Park outside the White House, said he has only been consuming water since Saturday.

"What I'm hoping to get is a response, an action from the American government," he said Monday. "It's just a move of desperation."

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday that no more US citizens were known to be imprisoned in Iran following the deal, with the five prisoners moved to house arrest as an initial step.

Abram Paley, the State Department's acting special envoy on Iran, has spoken to the Dalili family but Shahab Dalili has not been formally designated as wrongfully detained, State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said.

"There's a process that is ongoing as it relates to actively reviewing and assessing individual cases for indicators for wrongful detention," Patel told reporters.

President Joe Biden's administration has also heard appeals to include in the deal Jamshid Sharmahd, a German citizen who lived in California and who has been sentenced to death.

Patel said Tehran's treatment of Sharmahd has been "reprehensible" but that it was for Germany to address his case.

Under the deal for the five Americans, South Korea will unfreeze $6 billion in Iranian oil revenue frozen to comply with US sanctions, sending the funds to an account in Qatar for humanitarian use.

bur-sct/dw
FBI agents on Monday returned a fugitive to the United States where he stands accused of killing a woman 34 years ago outside a laundromat in a small town in Northern California.

Antonio Lopes Moreno, now 67, was found in Cotija de la Paz, Michoacan, Mexico, on Aug. 19, 2022, the FBI Sacramento Field Office announced Monday in a news release. The International Criminal Police Organization apprehended him with help from the FBI Mexico City Legal Attache.

Lopes Moreno is accused of killing the woman on Oct. 11, 1989 outside the laundromat in Orland, the FBI said. Glenn County District Attorney Dwayne R. Stewart, who is prosecuting the case, was not available Monday to provide additional details about the 1989 homicide, including the womans name.

Glenn Superior Court records show that prosecutors have charged Lopes Moreno with one count of first-degree murder, along with an enhancement for allegedly using a gun in the homicide.

A warrant for Lopes Morenos arrest was issued on Oct. 16, 1989. The FBI said agents obtained a federal arrest warrant for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution on May 23, 2017, following a request from the Glenn County Sheriffs Office in January 2017 and in collaboration with the District Attorneys Office.

The U.S. Justice Departments Office of International Affairs assisted in securing Lopes Morenos arrest and extradition from Mexico. The FBI said Lopes Moreno was booked at the Glenn County Jail and is currently awaiting his first court appearance in the murder case.

The FBI is committed to locating and returning individuals who evade criminal prosecution to honor the memory of victims, support those impacted by the crime, and ensure the accused can face charges before an impartial jury, FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan said in the news release.
U.S. President Joe Biden. Alex Wong/Getty Images

A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit to block student-debt relief from income-driven repayment plans.

Last week, conservative-backed groups filed a lawsuit to block relief for 800,000 borrowers.

The judge said the groups lacked standing to bring the case.

President Joe Biden's student-debt relief for thousands of borrowers on income-driven repayment plans can officially move forward.

On Monday, Judge Thomas Ludington in the Eastern District of Michigan Northern Division ruled that a lawsuit seeking to block $39 billion in debt relief for 800,000 borrowers lacks standing and is dismissed. Last week, the New Civil Liberties Alliance, a nonprofit aimed at protecting constitutional freedoms, filed a lawsuit on behalf of two conservative groups  the Cato Institute and the Mackinac Center for Public Policy  to block President Joe Biden's plans to get relief to borrowers who made the required 20 or 25 years of payments on income-driven repayment plans.

Prior to the lawsuit, the Education Department announced the first batch of relief for borrowers due to a one-time account adjustment that determined the borrowers who completed their necessary payments  and the discharges of their loans began on Monday.

The groups who filed the lawsuit argued that as nonprofits, the relief would undermine their recruiting efforts through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which forgives student debt for government and nonprofit workers after ten years of qualifying payments. Lundington wrote in his decision to dismiss the case that their claims surrounding PSLF were not sufficient to prove injury.

"Plaintiffs' presidents' own declarations do not suggest that any employee was actually impacted by the Adjustment," he said. "Their declarations merely assert that Plaintiffs plan to recruit PSLF participants in the future, some of whom may be impacted by the Adjustment. This is far too speculative for standing."

The Mackinac Center's Director of Public Relations Holly Wetzel told Insider that "the judge's ruling was not on the legality of the Biden administration's actions, but rather he indicated that we were not the right parties to challenge those actions. We are currently reviewing our legal options."

The ruling means that  barring other legal challenges  the Education Department will continue looking at borrowers' income-driven repayment accounts every two months to determine if they qualify for debt relief, and those who do not want the debt relief will have the option to opt out. Borrowers can also apply for the SAVE Plan before federal payments resume  a new income-driven repayment plan intended to make borrowers' monthly payments cheaper.

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From May to July 2022, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, a first-floor apartment at Payne Avenue and East Sixth Street in Erie was the site of constant child sex trafficking that originated online.

The tenant, 20-year-old Ali M. McCoy, is accused of prostituting a 16-year-old girl for sex after advertising her availability for "dates" on a website for an escort service for adults, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. The office said McCoy knew the girl was 16, and that he split the money made from the sexual encounters with her.

Using text messages and other digital information as evidence, the FBI determined McCoy used a website to arrange for as many as 30 people to have sex with the 16-year-old during the "dates" in a bedroom reserved for the activity, the prosecutor on the case, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Trabold, said in federal court in Erie.

"Clearly a lot of trafficking activity" was taking place in the apartment, in the 600 block of Payne Avenue, Trabold said. He said the digital evidence, including messages between "Ms. McCoy and customers" is "overwhelming."

A 20-year-old Erie resident is being prosecuted in federal court in Erie on a charge that he trafficked a 16-year-old girl for sex in Erie in 2022.

Trabold commented on Thursday at a detention hearing for McCoy, who was indicted July 11 and arraigned July 19, the same day the indictment was unsealed. McCoy is charged with one felony count of sex trafficking of a child and attempted sex trafficking of a child.

McCoy is a biological male who uses feminine pronouns, according to statements in court.

McCoy has pleaded not guilty. If convicted, she faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a maximum sentence of life.

Tip that led to sex-trafficking probe came from State College

The investigation of McCoy started in mid-July 2022, when the FBI received information from authorities in State College that a minor female was being trafficked for sex in Erie via a website for the escort service, Trabold said in court. The precise location of the activity was not known at the time, and the FBI in Erie worked with the Millcreek Township Police Department, which has experience with sex-trafficking operations, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The investigators determined the activity was occurring in the first-floor apartment that McCoy was renting in a two-unit apartment house in the 600 block of Payne Avenue, on the city of Erie's lower east side. The FBI and police used search warrants to gather evidence.

Investigators seized a laptop, three iPhones, $577 in cash and two subscriber identity module cards, or SIM cards, according to the indictment. The cards are inserted into cell phones and store data identifying the user.

The investigators also interviewed McCoy and the 16-year-old girl, who is now safe, Trabold said in court. The identity of the the girl and how she came to get involved with McCoy have not been disclosed in court records.

The digital evidence shows that McCoy was present when the sexual encounters with the 16-year-old took place. In one message, Trabold said, McCoy told the girl to "hurry up" with one customer because another customer was arriving at the apartment.

Trabold said the sex trafficking at the apartment stopped after the FBI got involved at the end of July 2022. Investigators continued to examine the evidence before indicting McCoy a year later.

Federal magistrate denies bond for defendant

McCoy has been in prison following her arrest July 19. A Thursday's detention hearing, McCoy's court-appointed lawyer, Patrick Nightingale, of Pittsburgh, asked Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard A. Lanzillo to release McCoy on bond to the custody of his mother.

McCoy did not testify. Trabold opposed the request, citing the nature of the charges.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard A. Lanzillo denied bond for a 20-year-old defendant accused of trafficking a 16-year-old girl for sex in Erie in 2022.

Lanzillo refused to release McCoy. The judge said he had no issues about the ability of McCoy's mother to monitor McCoy, but said the evidence against McCoy is significant and "the offense charged in and of itself is of great concern."

No trial date has been set. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Cathy Bissoon, who is based in Pittsburgh but hears some cases in federal court in Erie.

The indictment of McCoy is the latest case that the U.S. Attorney's Office in Pittsburgh, which includes a satellite office in Erie, has prosecuted as part as part of Project Safe Childhood. It is a nationwide initiative that the U.S. Department of Justice launched in 2006 to fight sexual exploitation and abuse of children.

Indictment: Federal grand jury indicts Erie man on charge of sex trafficking of minor girl in 2022

A look at laws nationwide: Human trafficking laws were supposed to help women. Victims stories say otherwise.

Contact Ed Palattella at epalattella@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNpalattella.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Sex-trafficking case in Erie tied to website, federal prosecutor says
US President Joe Biden walks with the CEO of TSMC, C. C. Wei, and its chairman, Mark Liu, during a visit to TSMC's first Arizona Fab (semiconductor fabrication plant) in Phase 1A in December 2022. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

TSMC says the opening of its Arizona chip factory has been delayed due to a shortage of skilled workers.

The company says it needs to bring Taiwanese workers to Arizona to get construction back on track.

An Arizona union says US jobs are being threatened  and is urging lawmakers to deny the workers' visas.

Who knew that building a chip factory in Arizona could be the source of so much drama?

To get the construction of its Arizona chip factory back on track, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company says it needs more workers with the expertise and skillsets that Americans don't have. Since June, the company has been in discussions with the US government about receiving accelerated non-immigrant E-2 visas for as many as 500 Taiwanese workers.

Not everyone's happy about this potential development.

The Arizona Pipe Trades 469 Union, a labor union that says it represents over 4,000 pipefitters, plumbers, welders, and HVAC technicians, has started a petition to urge US lawmakers to deny these visas. The petition says that TSMC has deliberately misrepresented the skillset of Arizona's workforce. By approving TSMC's visa requests, a union website says lawmakers would be laying the groundwork for "cheap labor" to replace American workers.

The dispute marks the latest development in the US's race to build a presence in the semiconductor-chip industry  something that's become a major priority as the world gets more reliant than ever on the devices that need chips to run. That includes devices as varied as smartphones, televisions, refrigerators, and washing machines. And should the US ever enter into conflict with China  something that looks increasingly possible  it wants to be self-sufficient when it comes to making chips.

Last summer, President Joe Biden signed into law the CHIPS Act, which included over $52 billion in semiconductor subsidies to boost chip manufacturing in the US and create American jobs. The legislation was among the reasons TSMC, the world's leading chipmaker, announced plans last December to build a second factory in Arizona.

But construction of TSMC's first Arizona factory, which began in the Phoenix area in 2021, has run into some hiccups. Initial plans were for the factory to open by late 2024, but in a July earnings call, the company said this would likely be pushed back to 2025.

The reason: US workers weren't cutting it.

"We are now entering a critical phase of handling and installing the most advanced and dedicated equipment," said TSMC chairman Mark Liu. "However, we are encountering certain challenges as there is an insufficient amount of skilled workers with those specialized expertise required for equipment installation in a semiconductor-grade facility."

Liu said the company planned to get construction back on track by "sending experienced technicians from Taiwan to train the local skilled workers for a short period of time"  these workers would join the undisclosed number of Taiwanese workers already in Arizona. But to do this, TSMC needs the US government to approve worker visas, something the Arizona union is trying to stop.

Given that TSMC is seeking billions of dollars in US subsidies via the CHIPS Act, the union says American jobs should be prioritized.

"Replacing Arizona's construction workers with foreign construction workers directly contradicts the very purpose for which the CHIPS Act was enacted  to create jobs for American workers," the petition read.

TSMC, however, has maintained that the incoming Taiwanese workers will not be a threat to any US jobs  and will only be there to support the construction process.

When reached for comment, TSMC said that any Taiwanese workers who come to Arizona will only be there for a limited timeframe and not impact the 12,000 workers currently on-site every day. It said its investment in Arizona is an opportunity to create thousands of high-paying jobs and drive innovation in the state and across the US.

"We have not replaced any of our local workers with foreign workers and continue to prioritize the hiring of local workers in Arizona," the company told Insider. "Our current focus is on recruiting local workers to fill electrical, process-related, sheet-metal, and welding positions."

The degree to which American workers can get the job done without additional assistance is up for debate. The union did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Other factors have contributed to the heightened tensions between TSMC and union workers. In June, The American Prospect spoke with workers who said injuries and safety violations were common on the construction site.

"It's easily the most unsafe site I've ever walked on," said Luke Kasper, a representative of the sheet metal workers union.

TMSC has denied these allegations.

When Biden announced in December that over 3,000 union workers would be helping to build the Arizona factory, TSMC founder Morris Chang reportedly said that this was "a little painful" to hear. In 2016, Chang said one of the key reasons companies such as Google, Amazon, and Facebook had been successful was that they didn't have unions.

The controversy in Arizona has even picked up steam back in Taiwan. On July 24, a Taiwanese Youtube channel with nearly three million subscribers posted a video accusing the Arizona workers of being lazy, a bilingual newsletter on tech, business, and US-Asia relations reported. Insider was unable to contact the administrator of the YouTube channel.

It's not clear when the US government will make a decision regarding the Taiwanese visas. In the meantime, construction on the factory continues.

Do you work in the semiconductor chip industry and have a story to tell? Reach out to this reporter at jzinkula@insider.com.

Update: August 14, 2023  This story was updated after publication to include comment from TSMC.

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US Navy guided-missile frigate USS Hawes leads a reflagged tanker and two US warships in a convoy in the Persian Gulf in October 1987. US Navy/PH2 Elliot

The US military is sending forces to the Persian Gulf in response to Iran's seizure of oil tankers.

The deployments have been compared to a US operation in 1987-1988 to defend tankers from Iranian attacks.

Today, however, Iran fields a much different military, and the situation in the Gulf has changed, experts say.

Tensions are rising in the Persian Gulf, where the US is deploying additional air and naval forces to deter Iranian seizures of commercial tanker ships.

The deployment has led to renewed fears of conflict between the US and Iran, drawing comparisons to another clash 35 years ago that was a decisive victory for the US and a devastating defeat for Iran.

In late April, as part of its sanctions-enforcement effort, the US confiscated a tanker loaded with Iranian oil bound for China. Days later, Iran responded by seizing a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker. In July, the US Navy said it had prevented Iranian seizures of two other tankers and that "Iran has harassed, attacked or seized nearly 20 internationally flagged merchant vessels" since 2021.

In recent weeks, the US has deployed F-35 and F-16 fighter jets to the Gulf along with warships and 3,000 Marines and sailors. The Biden administration is even considering putting Marines on merchant vessels to prevent Iranian seizures.

Earlier this month, during drills near an Iranian-controlled island in the Gulf, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards navy unveiled new naval vessels armed with missiles with a reported range of 370 miles  likely a deliberate display of capability.

Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy fast-attack craft swarm an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on May 3. US Naval Forces Central Command/US 5th Fleet via REUTERS

The rising tensions and military buildup have led to comparisons to Operation Earnest Will, which saw US warships deploy to the Gulf from 1987 to 1988 to escort reflagged Kuwaiti tankers that Tehran had been targeting throughout the second half of the Iran-Iraq War.

In tandem with Earnest Will, the US launched the covert Operation Prime Chance to expose and prevent Iranian mine-laying in the Gulf. The first tanker to be escorted during Earnest Will, the SS Bridgeton, struck an Iranian mine on July 24, 1987.

There were clashes and confrontations between US and Iranian forces throughout Earnest Will, the biggest of them during Operation Praying Mantis, which the US launched four days after guided-missile frigate USS Samuel B. Roberts struck an Iranian mine on April 14, 1988.

Operation Praying Mantis was the US's largest naval action since World War II. During the hours-long fight, US forces sank the Iranian frigate Sahand and crippled the frigate Sabalan, which was intentionally left afloat to avoid further escalation. More than 50 IRGCN and Iranian Navy personnel were killed, while the US lost one SeaCobra helicopter and its two crew members.

Iranian frigate IS Sahand after being hit by Harpoon missiles and cluster bombs from US Navy aircraft on April 19, 1988. US Navy

A naval clash now would likely have a markedly different outcome. After all, Iran has made significant changes to its naval forces and tactics over the past 35 years, becoming "much more asymmetric," according to Bryan Clark, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and expert on naval operations.

Iran's naval force now consists of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, known as the IRGCN, and the regular Iranian Navy, Clark told Insider. "The IRGCN operates in the Persian Gulf and uses mostly small, fast boats that are hard for traditional navies to counter," Clark said. "These fast boats often carry anti-ship missiles or are set up to operate remotely and act as attack drones."

The Iranian Navy still primarily consists of frigates and corvettes, which operate outside the Gulf, and is much more like other conventional navies.

Farzin Nadimi, a defense and security analyst at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, also emphasized the differences in the capabilities and mission of the IRCGN and Iran's Navy.

"The IRGCN has transformed compared to 35 years ago with a vast organization and much more capabilities arrayed along the Iranian coastline," Nadimi told Insider.

Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy speedboats during an exercise at Abu Musa Island in August. IRGC/WANA/Handout via REUTERS

While the IRGCN still largely relies on "lightly armed speedboat swarms firing rockets and machine guns at their targets," it has supplemented that "with a large quantity of higher-quality speedboats" armed with short- to long-range anti-ship missiles and torpedoes, Nadimi said.

The IRGCN also has various drones, large numbers of water-borne improvised explosive devices, better missiles and artillery, and a more effective intelligence network than it did 35 years ago. On top of this, Iranian air defenses are also much better than they were in the late 1980s.

Iran's navy has also improved. Iran has developed a "homegrown shipbuilding capability" and commissioned several indigenous frigates and missile boats, Nadimi told Insider.

While Iranian navy ships have significantly improved their anti-ship and electronic-warfare capabilities, their air defenses have not changed much in the past 35 years, though they are "working on" that, Nadimi said, adding that Iranian navy training has "more or less remained unchanged" for over the past three decades.

Iranian Navy warship Sahand in Persian Gulf near the Strait of Hormuz in April 2019. Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images

In sum, Nadimi said, Iran's naval forces have "increased quantity; higher quality; better communications; expanded organization; marginally better training, unchanged geographical advantages, except they have more underground fortifications now."

The context of the current US deployment is also substantially different. At the time of Earnest Will, the US was intervening to help a partner state export oil amid the Iran-Iraq War, a major conflict that had raged for seven years by that point.

Nadimi said US lawmakers at the time feared the Earnest Will deployment could prolong the "Tanker War" between Iran and Iraq, endanger the flow of oil, harm US neutrality, or push Iran closer to the Soviet Union.

"They were worried the US was about to make the same mistake it made in Lebanon" by employing US forces "on a symbolic mission without clear and attainable military objectives," Nadimi said. "Some of those arguments resonate today as well."

US Marines train in close-quarters tactics aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan while en route to the Middle East in July 2023. US Marine Corps/Cpl. Kyle Jia

Iran's recent seizure of tankers is also not as provocative as attacking them would be. In 1987, Iran had two Silkworm anti-ship missile sites near the Strait of Hormuz. As the convoy operation for the reflagged tankers was about to start in July 1987, "the US warned Iranians against any use of their newly deployed Silkworm missiles," Nadimi said. "It also considered the risk of escalation if Iran interpreted additional US forces in the region as hostile intent and acted accordingly."

Today, Iran has hundreds of high-quality missile launchers aimed at the Gulf. Whether Iran would use those missiles, its large arsenal of sea mines, or some other means to attack a US-guarded tanker in the Gulf today is still a matter of speculation, Nadimi said.

During Earnest Will, US military personnel weren't deployed on the tankers being escorted  the US hasn't put troops on merchant vessels since World War II  and Nadimi doubted that such a deployment today would make conflict more likely.

"I don't think there is a high risk of a clash between Iran and the US, and even placing armed US Marines on merchant ships and tankers  if it even happens  will not significantly increase that possibility, although it might increase the risk of accidental escalation," Nadimi said. "In general, the situation in the Gulf region is not as dangerous and volatile as it was in 1987."

Paul Iddon is a freelance journalist and columnist who writes about Middle East developments, military affairs, politics, and history. His articles have appeared in a variety of publications focused on the region.

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The legal brawl between billionaire Leon Black and a law firm thats represented three women whove accused him of sexual assault is growing viciouswith Black suing the accusers counsel just days after they claimed the mogul sicced private eyes on one plaintiff and her family.

Last month, a woman using the pseudonym Jane Doe filed a shocking lawsuit claiming the 72-year-old investor violently raped her in 2002 at sex-trafficker Jeffrey Epsteins New York townhouse. Doe alleges she was 16 at the time of the alleged attack and that she has autism and a rare form of Down syndrome.

In a legal memorandum filed last week, Does counsel said Black recently hired private investigators to harass and intimidate her and sent them to her parents home in Virginia with cheesecake as a ploy to be invited in for coffee.

Based on Blacks prior use of private investigators to bully and shame women who have accused him of sexual assault, substantial concern exists about what he intends to do with the fact that he has confidentially obtained Ms. Does true name in this action, wrote Jeanne M. Christensen, Does lawyer and a partner at Wigdor LLP.

Epstein Connected JPMorgan Exec to Netanyahu, Prince Andrew

The Manhattan firm has also represented two other women with assault accusations against Black, who was a longtime friend of Epstein and paid him $158 million for estate and tax planning advice from 2012 to 2017. Their financial relationship, which led to Black stepping down from Apollo Global Management, is now under investigation by a Senate committee.

Cheri Pierson sued Black in 2022, alleging he raped her at Epsteins home two decades ago, and Blacks former girlfriend Guzel Ganieva filed a 2021 suit claiming he abused her for years. A judge dismissed Ganievas case in May, ruling that a nondisclosure agreement she signed with the billionaire years before had invalidated her claims, but Piersons case is pending.

On Monday, Blacks legal teamwhich already has a motion for sanctions against Wigdor in the Pierson casesued the firm and Ganieva for malicious prosecution.

Wigdor has a unique business model: it threatens to sue defendants with scandalous allegations that can be avoided only at the cost of a large settlement, of which Wigdor takes a substantial cut, the complaint alleges. When Plaintiff Leon Black had the temerity to reject this scheme, Wigdor sought to teach him a lesson by three separate headline-grabbing lawsuits which it knew, or should have known, were false.

The court battle began to rev up just after the public learned that Black paid the U.S. Virgin Islands $62.5 million to be released from any claims stemming from the territorys probe into Epsteins sex ring. The New York Times, which exposed the payout last month, reported that it shows the extent to which Mr. Black, once a titan of the private equity industry, has gone to limit scrutiny of his decades-long social and business ties to Mr. Epstein.

Four days after the Times report, Wigdor filed Does lawsuit in Manhattan federal court.

In her complaint, Doe claimed that she met someone named Elizabeth at a cheerleading camp for kids and that the woman sexually groomed her before introducing her to Epsteins accomplice, British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell. (Maxwell was convicted of child sex trafficking in 2021 and is serving a 20-year prison sentence.)

Doe claims Epstein and Maxwell abused her in New York and Florida and would also hand [her] off to other men including Black.

In a statement, Christensen told The Daily Beast that the frivolous claims in Blacks new lawsuit were why the state of New York passed anti-SLAPP legislation.

This is nothing but one more feeble attempt to divert attention from the fact that he paid $62.5 million to the USVI and $158 million to Jeffrey Epstein, Christensen said. Sadly, there are always lawyers willing to file such nonsense when someone like Leon Black is paying the hourly rates. We look forward to holding Black accountable in the currently pending cases against him.

According to Does memorandum, a large white Chevrolet Suburban with Virginia tags parked inches from her driveway on July 27, two days after she filed her lawsuit. She claims the mysterious vehicle drove off after someone called the police. (Blacks attorneys claim he had nothing to do with the white SUV parked outside.)

Last week, Does legal filing adds, two men waited for her parents as they returned to their Virginia home with Does minor child. These men said that they were investigating a complaint filed in court and needed to speak to her parents, Christensen wrote in the document. These strangers also had baby photos of Does child, she added.

Undoubtedly, showing baby photos in their possession to Ms. Does parents is a blatant attempt to send a strong and disgusting message to Ms. Doe that should she proceed to assert her claims against Black, that she was placing the safety of her immediate family, including her minor child, in jeopardy, wrote Christensen.

After the investigators arrived with their dessert, they recorded their interview with Does parents, spoke to her kid, and requested childhood photos of Doe. In addition, they asked pressing and intimate questions about Ms. Does medical history, Christensen alleged.

Does latest pleading says two men appeared unannounced at her aunts home the next morning and implied that they were on official business in connection with a lawsuit.

Of course, the only official business they had was private work for Leon Black, the document alleges. In addition to Ms. Does aunt, the men attempted to question her cousin about her personal life. After the two men arrived, Ms. Does aunt, who was afraid, contacted Ms. Doe.

Does aunt told them to leave, and they allegedly showed up outside a childhood friends residence hours later. The men left a business card indicating they were connected to an investigation firm in Florida called SIC, Inc., the filing states.

Leon Blacks Accuser Kicks Her Attorneys to the Curb

The conduct Black believes he is entitled to engage in, despite his clear intent to frighten and intimidate a sexual assault victim, is of heightened concern here based on Blacks recent, substantially similar conduct, in litigation involving another sexual assault victim who has accused Black of raping her in Epsteins townhouse, Christensen added.

According to Christensen, Blacks sleuths spent weeks drudging up information about Pierson that any reasonable person would be humiliated and horrified to learn was publicly filed on a court docket in order to engage in pure unadulterated victim shaming.

Christensen argued that Black will attempt to intimidate Doe by attaching her personal information to a baseless motion for sanctions against Wigdor LLP.

But Blacks attorney, Susan Estrich, said that Doe concocted a false story and never left home at age 16 as she claims. Estrich added that the billionaires counsel has no intention of asking the court to publicly disclose Does identity.

The truth is also that Jane Doe never left home at age 16; has a history of making up stories and diagnoses; and there is no Svengali Elizabeth; and that Jane Doe never met Mr. Black and there was no assault, Estrich said in a statement. Ms. Christensen knows that the Wigdor firm is about to be exposed for using Jane Doe to peddle lies about Mr. Black in its campaign to destroy him. Mr. Black intends to hold Wigdor fully accountable for its unlawful behavior.

Aside from Blacks new lawsuit against Wigdor, his attorneys filed a reply in Does case on Monday, arguing the firm was publicly smearing their client.

In his defense, Mr. Black is entitled to take legitimate steps to investigate claims that he knows to be untrue, attorney Danya Perry wrote in the document. There is nothing remotely inappropriate about using professional, ethical, licensed investigators to ascertain the true facts; indeed, although Wigdor itself does not appear to take steps to investigate its matters, legitimate plaintiffs attorneys routinely use investigators as well.

And as is clear from the voluntarily recorded interviews, the 83-year-old investigator in this case could not have been less intimidating or more professional.

In the lawsuit against Wigdor, Blacks team says Ganieva had a consensual affair with the private-equity tycoon from 2008 to 2014. Throughout their liaison, Black paid for her apartment, fancy vacations, acting lessons, tuition, and more. Ganieva, Black claims, tried to extort him in 2015 before they ultimately signed a nondisclosure agreement that led to him paying her a total of $9.5 million, including $100,000 a month for about six years.

Blacks lawyers argue that Wigdor would file and later amend Ganievas complaint with accusations about Black and Epstein despite clear evidence that the claims were false and barred by the NDA.

They leveled serious claims about Pierson, too, calling her a serial litigator who has been involved in over 35 previous lawsuits, has an extensive criminal record, and has been publicly accused of harassment, stalking, and threatening to kill others.

As for Doe, they claim theyve already uncovered evidence, including from key figures in Does past, that proves Does claims are made up from whole cloth, and that Wigdor knew them to be fraudulent before filing.

According to Blacks suit, Does relatives and friends told investigators that she has a history of making up alternate realities and has been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.

The family members also allegedly disclosed in their recorded conversations that Doe lived at home in high school and was not trafficked to New York. They also allegedly told Blacks investigators that while she claimed on social media that Epstein abused her, she removed those posts after relatives challenged her.

In a pleading in the Doe case, Blacks legal eagles highlighted other supposed holes in her story and said she was never diagnosed with autism or mosaic Down syndrome as a child and did not display symptoms or behaviors of either condition.

Instead, Black argues, Doe became aware of and studied those behaviors and began intentionally displaying them in her twenties in order to present herself as a person with autism.

For example, she once noted that people with autism dont look other people in the eye, and thereafter began to avoid looking people in the eyea behavior she had never before displayed, Blacks memorandum states.

Likewise, the first time her family heard Plaintiff claim to have mosaic Down syndrome was when she was in her thirties, after a relative posted on social media about her child with Down syndrome, and received positive support and attention. According to her family, Plaintiff has a history of seeking attention through any means available to her.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Editor's note: This file is based on the news of the Hawaii wildfires on Monday, Aug. 14. For the latest news and updates on the Maui fire, please see our live updates file for Tuesday, Aug. 15.

LAHAINA, Hawaii  The death toll from the Lahaina fire could double or even triple from the current total of 99, according to Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, adding to what is already the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century.

In a recorded interview with CBS Mornings that aired Monday, Green indicated the number of fatalities is likely to increase considerably. Green later confirmed 99 deaths at a news conference Monday.

We are prepared for many tragic stories, Green told CBS. They will find 10 to 20 people per day, probably, until they finish. And its probably going to take 10 days. Its impossible to guess, really.

His estimate of 10 to 20 bodies found daily over a 10-day stretch would put the death count at around 200 to 300.

In a video posted on social media late Sunday, Green said more than 2,700 structures were destroyed in Lahaina and an estimated value of $5.6 billion "has gone away." The Lahaina fire was one of multiple blazes that began burning Tuesday on Maui.

Green said the "fire hurricane," which he said was new in the age of global warming, was the "ultimate reason" the death toll has been so high.

Starting Tuesday, authorities will begin releasing the names of those who died amid the blaze, Maui County Police Chief John Pelletier said at the news conference. Names of people will not be released until their families have been notified.

Maui rescue teams search ruins 'full of our loved ones'; Hawaii churches offer prayers for dead, missing: Updates

Developments:

Green said Federal Emergency Management Agency has 416 people working in Hawaii, including Administrator Deanne Criswell. The agency has provided dozens of searchers and 20 dogs to aid the search for human remains in Lahaina, the governor said.

The total of missing people in Maui has dwindled from more than 2,000 to about 1,300 as cellphone service has slowly been restored, according to Green.

Green said Monday that nearly 2,000 housing units have been secured, including 402 hotel rooms, 1,400 units from Airbnb starting Tuesday, and that 160 residents have opened up their own homes to families in need.

The Upcountry/Kula fire that sprawled about 678 acres was 60% contained, Maui officials said in a statement late Sunday. Maui County said the fire destroyed at least 19 homes. The Lahaina fire, estimated to stretch across 2,170 acres, is 85% contained, according to officials.

As of Monday, Pelletier said 25% of the area affected by the fire has been searched. He said the aim is to search 85 to 90% of the area by the weekend. Search efforts started with one dog, he said, and there are now 20.

'It's heartbreaking': Without food and fuel, Maui locals lean on neighbors to survive

Burned cars and buildings are seen from Honoapiilani Highway that runs through the heart of Lahaina, Hawaii, on Aug. 13, 2023

Fire thought to be extinguished likely cause of tragedy, governor says

In his Sunday night video, Green pointed to a blaze that authorities deemed to be out and roared to back to life as the likely source of the inferno that wiped away historic Lahaina, although the cause is still under investigation.

"It must have not been completely extinguished," Green said, adding flames were then fanned by winds of up to 81 mph. With those kinds of winds and 1,000-degree temperatures, ultimately all the pictures that you will see will be easy to understand."

Green said a comprehensive review will be conducted in the wake of frustrations that sirens and other warnings did not reach or alert residents to the fires. Because the fire was moving so fast, up to a mile a minute, Green said its unlikely that much could have been done except, of course, moving people out before, and thats what well talk about.

FEMA seeking housing options for short and long term

As search crews make their way through what Criswell called extremely hazardous conditions from the Lahaina fire, the agency is also grappling with finding accommodations for displaced survivors in a state with a longstanding housing shortage that has been exacerbated by the disaster.

In addition to paying for lodging at specified hotels and motels for a certain amount of time, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is working with Green on a plan to help provide survivors housing options beyond their immediate needs, Criswell said Monday at a news briefing from Hawaii.

Whether that means longer term we bring in tiny houses or our transitional housing units to help him create the communities that he wants, she said. We're not taking anything off the table and we're going to be very creative in how we use our authorities to help build these communities and help people find a place to stay for the longer term.

Criswell declined to estimate how long the search-and-recovery mission might last, citing the difficulty of an operation that requires for engineers to assess the stability of structures before cadaver-sniffing dogs and crews can go in.

The dogs can only work so long because of how hot the temperatures are, she said. There's also hot spots, and so we have fire crews that are helping to cool down the areas so the dogs can go in there. Id hate to give an exact estimate because we want to make sure that we are precise and methodical and respectful as we go through this.

Upcoming rain presents its own hardship

In Lahaina, where donations are pouring in to help some of those most impacted by the wildfires, volunteers and residents are scrambling to protect their resources and homes before the expected arrival of rain Monday night. Tropical Storm Greg will pass hundreds of miles to the south Thursday and Friday and is expected to have "no direct impacts in the state,'' according to the National Hurricane Center, but the forecast calls for showers and breezy conditions in west Maui most of the week.Last week, winds gusts caused in part by passing Hurricane Dora helped fuel the flames in Maui. The upcoming rain may help tamp them down but still presents some hardships.Before the fires ignited on Maui, Andrea Fausett, 29, was the creator of a womens fitness app who organized trail races for women. Now, shes become the de facto distribution coordinator, responsible for doling out medical supplies, food and anything else that gets flown into the Kapalua West Maui Airport.As a helicopter whirred in the background Sunday, she said her focus has turned to the incoming storm.So now one of our biggest issues that we're working to solve today before it becomes an issue is how to protect all of our supplies that are sitting out in the open right now, she said. And so that's like our next hurdle. I feel like every day it changes.Father and son Nelson and Wilson Simpliciano worked Sunday to quickly repair their roof, which was damaged by the strong winds last week. The wind already appeared to be picking up, and the elder Simpliciano said hes worried rain could cause a leak. He wanted to get a tarp down to cover the exposed wood before he leaves the island.Its just gonna get worse, Simpliciano said.

Nelson Simpliciano, left, and Addison Simpliciano stand on their roof overlooking Lahaina. Rooftops in the Lahainaluna neighborhood had their shingles ripped off due to 60 mph gusts from Hurricane Dora last week. The winds also fueled a wildfire that destroyed much of Lahaina.

Residents find government efforts lacking, seek to help each other

Maui residents are banding together to help each other through the tragedy, trying to provide food, fuel and other resources to those in the worst-hit areas, including the hundreds of people who lost their homes.

They're finding the task complicated by law enforcement road closures and slow communication from a government some accuse of failing to adequately warn them about the fires, which has prompted the locals to create their own aid systems to provide shelter and other necessities.

"Right now, this is not my home," said Archie Kalepa, who has been directing dozens of volunteers. "This is our community's home."

That community has been devastated by the Lahaina fire, and questions linger about why emergency alert systems failed to notify enough people about the wildfire sweeping through and direct them away from danger. There are also questions about whether the area had the resources to help people, including enough firefighters.

"There probably should have been a more aggressive activation at the onset, more preparation," Hawaii state Sen. Angus McKelvey said. "We heard about the red flag warning as brush fires were definitely a concern initially, not this cataclysmic totality that overwhelmed the community."

 N'dea Yancey-Bragg and Terry Collins

Survivors' lives in turmoil as they mourn dead

Malia Waring's house wasnt destroyed when the nations deadliest wildfire in a century ripped through Maui last week. But her family is gone and she cant bear to sit at home thinking about them. Ever since her cousin came to tell her that four members of their family, including her 8-year-old nephew, burned to death in their car while trying to escape the blaze, Waring, 65, has been spending time with friends at Napili Park, which has become one of several crowdsourced aid depots in the beloved, nearly destroyed area of Lahaina.

I'm very, very emotional if I talk, I dont know, I will cry," she said Sunday.

Waring is one of many locals grappling with major loss. And as the community works to provide for people's immediate physical needs, mental health professionals are preparing to meet the longer-term needs of a town that has barely had time to comprehend and grieve the loss of loved ones, homes, businesses and centuries-old cultural sites. Read more here.

'No time to grieve': Maui death count could skyrocket, leaving many survivors traumatized

Fires hit home for 'The Rock'

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who is of Samoan descent and lived in Hawaii for a part of his childhood, is "completely heartbroken" as the Maui wildfires continue to rage. Johnson said in a video posted Sunday on Instagram that he is in contact with relief organizations in Maui such as The Hawaii Community Foundation on the best ways to help.

"I know that, by now, all of you around the world have seen the complete destruction and devastation that has hit our Hawaiian islands  our island of Maui  and I'm completely heartbroken over this and I know all of you are too," Johnson said. Read more here.

 Naledi Ushe

Lawsuit claims power companies caused wildfires

Authorities have not determined the cause of the Lahaina fire, but a class-action lawsuit on behalf of victims and survivors blames Hawaiian Electric. The suit, filed by LippSmith LLP and other law firms, claims downed power lines owned by Maui Electric, Hawaiian Electric, Hawaii Electric Light and their parent company, Hawaiian Electric Industries, caused the fire.

The lawsuit, obtained by USA TODAY, also claims the utility companies "inexcusably kept their power lines energized during forecasted high fire danger conditions," ultimately causing "loss of life, serious injuries, destruction of hundreds of homes and businesses, displacement of thousands of people, and damage to many of Hawaiis historic and cultural sites."

Hawaiian Electric spokesman Jim Kelly stressed in an email that no cause had been determined and that the company will cooperate with authorities investigating the blaze. "Our immediate focus is on supporting emergency response efforts on Maui and restoring power for our customers and communities as quickly as possible," Kelly said.

Some fire hydrants reportedly ran dry as blaze grew

Some firefighters battling to halt the spread of the Lahaina fire found fire hydrants began to run dry, the New York Times reported. As the fire grew, water pressure faded and some hydrants became "largely useless," the Times reported.

There was just no water in the hydrants, firefighter Keahi Ho told the Times.

The Maui Department of Water Supply did not immediately respond to a request for comment from USA TODAY. John Stufflebean, head of the agency, warned people in Lahaina not to drink water even after boiling it until further notice because hundreds of pipes have been damaged by the wildfires.

Firefighters also struggled with high winds, fueled by Hurricane Dora spinning offshore, that spread the fire quickly and limited aerial assaults on the blaze.

Donations needed after Maui fire

Kakoo Maui Match Donation Fund: Last week the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement helped start the fund and quickly reached its $1.5 million goal. Donations are still being accepted and the council said 100% of proceeds will go toward relief efforts. Information on how to donate can be found here.

Hoola Maui Fund: Contributions to this fund will support Maui youth impacted by the disasters so they can continue to benefit from a strong educational support system. Donations can be made here.

USA TODAY compiled other resources for Americans to help people and animals in Hawaii.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Maui fires updates: Governor says death toll could double or triple
Officer Jonah Oswald was a funny and caring man who was always first to arrive at a scene, his co-workers and friends said Monday morning at his funeral.

Family, community members and officers from across the Kansas city metro area filled the Westside Family Church in Lenexa to pay their respects to the four-year veteran of the Fairway Police Department who died in a shootout last week.

First to a call and always listening to his radio, said Victor Buitrago, a friend and fellow officer. Eager to help and solve whatever problem might be presented.

Before the service, photos flashed on screen of Oswald kissing one of his young sons on the head while donning his Army uniform, at the beach with his family and building a playset for his kids with his wife.

Mission police officer Victor Buitrago, a friend of fallen Fairway police officer Jonah Oswald, is greeted by fellow law enforcement officers following a funeral at Westside Family Church on Monday in Lenexa. Buitrago spoke during the ceremony about how his relationship with Oswald blossomed into one of the greatest friendships Ive ever experienced.

Buitrago said Oswald was a close friend who remembered everyones birthday and bought them meaningful gifts. He helped move Buitrago into a new apartment and didnt ask for any favors in return.

He was also a devoted husband and father who always found time to FaceTime his wife and kids to say good night or talk during his shift. When he had free time, Oswald took his wife on dates and watched movies with her and their kids.

Oswald often reminded Buitrago of a time when they got McDonalds and ate in a gas station parking lot while playing music from the car.

It showed me how simple of a man he was, Buitrago said. He just wanted to be around his friends and family, people he cherished. Thats what meant the world to him, and Im honored to have been a part of that memory.

Fairway Police Chief J.P. Thurlo said Oswald worked hard to become a part of the departments family, previously joining the Army and the Benton Police Department to gain experience before he was hired.

Last week, after the shootout, Thurlo said he got the worst call a police chief could receive. He got to the hospital, held his hand and told Oswald he did good before he passed.

Shooting at Mission gas station

Last Sunday, Oswald and officers from several police departments responded to reports of a stolen vehicle with two suspects.

Lenexa police pursued the vehicle, which allegedly struck a patrol car, until the suspects fled on foot into a Mission QuikTrip at 4700 Lamar Ave.

Oswald was critically wounded in a shootout that ensued and later died from his injuries.

One of the suspects, Shannon Wayne Marshall, 40, of Ashland City, Tennessee was killed at the scene.

The other suspect, Andrea Rene Cothran, 32, of Goodlettsville, Tennessee, was charged with four felonies, including aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, and is being held on $1 million bail.

The Stars Matti Gellman and Bill Lukitsch contributed to this report.
Map of the Sfax area, east of Tunisia, locating shipwrecks of boats with migrants on board since the beginning of 2023 (Guillermo RIVAS PACHECO)

At least five people died Monday and seven others are missing after their Europe-bound migrant boat sank off Tunisia's coast, a judicial official in the city of Sfax told AFP.

Sfax has emerged as a major hub for migrants from Tunisia and other parts of Africa attempting perilous voyages across the Mediterranean, often in rickety boats in hopes of a better life.

Court spokesman Faouzi Masmoudi said "35 people, most of them Tunisians" including women and children were on board the boat that went down "shortly after departing from the coast of Sidi Mansour" near Sfax.

The deaths include at least one child and two women, Masmoudi said, adding that "23 people have been rescued".

The boat sank "less than an hour after departure", according to the spokesman.

Last week judicial officials reported the deaths of at least 11 migrants in a shipwreck off Sfax, as the North African country sees a spike in attempted sea crossings.

The eastern Tunisian port city is located about 130 kilometres (80 miles) from the Italian island of Lampedusa.

The court has launched an investigation into the latest shipwreck, Masmoudi said, as search operations were underway.

More than 1,800 people have died this year in shipwrecks on the central Mediterranean migration route, the world's deadliest -- more than twice as many as last year, according to the International Organization for Migration.

- Growing numbers -

The Tunisian coastguard says it intercepted 34,290 migrants in the six months to June 20, most from sub-Saharan African countries, compared with 9,217 over the same period in 2022.

The number of people from sub-Saharan African countries trying to make the crossing has spiked since Tunisian President Kais Saied alleged in a February speech that "hordes" of irregular migrants were causing crime and posing a demographic threat to the mainly Arab country.

Many have fled since hundreds of migrants were arrested or chased into the desert after the deadly stabbing of a Tunisian man in a brawl with migrants in Sfax on July 3.

Tunisians have also opted for the sea journeys in growing numbers as the country faces a grinding economic crisis and severe shortages of basic staples.

On Saturday, at least two Tunisians including a baby died when their boat sank soon after leaving the coast in Gabes, south of Sfax, the coastguard said.

Italy says more than 97,000 migrants have arrived on its shores since the start of the year -- more than double the number for the same period in 2022.

Tunisians, numbering at more than 7,000 this year, are the fourth-largest group among them, behind migrants from the Ivory Coast, Guinea and Egypt.

Favourable weather conditions in May and June have contributed to a rise in Mediterranean departures.

Mouhamed Borhen Chamtouri, a commander of the coastguard in Sfax, told AFP on Thursday that this month the force had intercepted about 3,000 migrants in just 10 days, 90 percent of whom were from other parts of Africa.

In July, the European Union signed an agreement with Tunisia that provides for 105 million euros ($115 million) in direct European aid to prevent the departure of migrant boats and combat smugglers.

kl-fka/ami/ysm
Dozens of flights were grounded Monday as Mount Etna spewed ash after erupting the evening prior. Photo by Orietta Scardino/EPA-EFE

Aug. 14 (UPI) -- Flights near Italy's Mount Etna volcano, the largest and tallest in Europe, were shut down Monday as the volcano continued to spew ash after erupting the evening prior.

As of 6 p.m. local time, 77 flights at Catania-Fontanarossa Airport were canceled and 25 more had been delayed, according to flight tracker FlightAware.

"Due to Etna's eruptive activity and fallout of volcanic ash, flight operations are suspended until 8 p.m.," the airport said in a statement.

The 10,925-foot volcano near Sicily caused the disruption right before Italy's biggest national holiday, Ferragosto, which will be celebrated on Tuesday.

The few flights that were not canceled were diverted to other airports. Some were diverted to Trapani airport, which is about a four-hour drive from Catania.

The 10,925-foot volcano near Sicily, seen here erupting in 2018, caused the disruption right before Italy's biggest national holiday. File Photo by Photo by Giuseppe Pappa/EPA-EFE

Lava flow from the volcano had stopped by Monday morning but it continued to send ash into the air.

Sicily banned the use of motorcycles and bicycles for 48 hours and ordered motorists to drive slower than 19 mph as the streets were covered with ash.
File: American Airlines passenger planes are parked at the gates of Terminal 2 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (Getty Images)

A Florida-bound flight dropped over 15,000 feet within three minutes, leaving passengers terrified.

The American Airlines flight 5916 departed from Charlotte, North Carolina, when the crew reportedly raised a possible pressurisation issue, a spokesperson from the Federal Aviation Administration told FOX 35 News.

The flight dropped almost 20,000 feet within 11 minutes, according to the data shared by FlightAware. The aircraft 18,600 feet in less than six minutes after 43 minutes into the journey.

University of Florida professor Harrison Hove, who was on the flight, shared photos on social media that include released oxygen masks.

"Ive flown a lot. This was scary," Mr Hove wrote on X, previously known as Twitter. "The photos cannot capture the burning smell, loud bang or ear pops. Good to be on the ground," he added.

He added that "something failed midflight and depressurised the cabin".

"The burning smell can apparently be attributed to using the oxygen canisters. The wing flaps came out to immediately lower our altitude so there would be more oxygen. It was terrifying but turned out ok."

He praised the crew and pilots, saying they kept the passengers informed and calm.

Ive flown a lot. This was scary. Kudos to our amazing flight crew- cabin staff and pilots on @AmericanAir 5916. The photos cannot capture the burning smell, loud bang or ear pops. Good to be on the ground. #AA5916 #CLT #GNV pic.twitter.com/P8pPrvOQDQ  Harrison Hove (@HarrisonHove) August 10, 2023

The plane landed at the Gainesville Regional Airport shortly before 5pm (local time).

In a statement, an American Airlines spokesperson said: American Eagle flight 5916, operated by Piedmont Airlines, from Charlotte (CLT) to Gainesville, Florida (GNV) landed safely in GNV on Thursday, August 10.

While inflight, the crew received an indication of a possible pressurization issue and immediately and safely descended to a lower altitude. We apologise to our customers for any inconvenience and thank our team for their professionalism.
Its a little cheaper to buy gas this week in Florida after prices high a year-high cost last week, according to AAA.

Just over a week ago, Floridas average gas prices were $3.84, which was the highest average since August 2022. This week, prices are down 10 cents to $3.74. Thats the lowest price since July 31.

Despite the recent drop, AAA said Florida drivers are still paying 8 cents more than this time last year.

Florida drivers are likely relieved to see gas prices move lower again, but that downward trend may not last long, said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA - The Auto Club Group.

Read: Hawaii wildfires: Death toll rises to 96; Lahaina fire 85% contained

Jenkins said its not uncommon for gas prices to fluctuate during the summer.

The long term forecast is unclear, as hurricane season remains a major wild card, Jenkins said. Gas prices could spike if a hurricane threatens refineries along the Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi coastlines.

Read: Orlando pilot rescued after small plane crashes near Florida Keys, deputies say

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Floridas temperatures are hot, hot, hot!

Scientists said July was the hottest month in Earths history and warned that warmer temperatures are still coming.

A researcher from the University of Florida is working to cool things off across cities in the Sunshine State.

Yi Luo, an assistant professor in UFs College of Design Construction and Planning, has conducted studies in microclimates or areas with a different climate than others in their region.

One of her most recent projects included reducing the heat for visitors at the St. Pete Pier and the waterfront park.

Read: Its still a hot one! High temps continue Sunday evening

Luo is also working with an architecture firm in the City of Key West to study Mallory Square and find ways to make the area more comfortable during the day.

In Florida, microclimate studies are typically needed at areas of extreme heat, she said. Studying these areas plays a huge role in making them more livable and enjoyable environments.

Some solutions to improve the microclimate in St. Pete Pier include:

Extending the building roofs to have more shade.

Building a tilted lawn with a more shaded area.

Adding over 700 trees in strategic places in the park.

Read: 2023 Orlando Air & Space Show announces performer lineup, ticket sale

In June, Luo and research assistants visited the St, Pete Pier to survey people in the park.

They measured temperature, wind humidity, and solar radiation with a weather station.

Luo said visitors found some areas more comfortable after the parks renovations.

Landscape architecture is an evidence-based discipline, she said. We need to know what works to inform future designs.

Read: Hawaii wildfires: Death toll rises to 93 as efforts to identify, find missing continue

In July, the researcher began to gather data in Key West.

Luo said she plans to continue studying microclimates and to study Gainesville and cities in South Florida soon.

In a new era where more cities are experiencing higher temperatures, this type of research is critical in heat relief for Floridians and visitors, she said.









Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
A Florida man with a long rap sheet is behind bars after a minor traffic stop.

According to the Flagler County Sheriffs Office, deputies spotted a white Mazda 3 in the parking lot of a convenience shop in Bunnell, about 20 miles north of Daytona Beach, at about noon Sunday, Aug 6.

The cars passenger window tint was darker than Florida law allows.

The deputies hit their emergency lights and sirens as they tried to pull over the driver as the car pulled out, but the driver didnt pull over for 48 seconds, the police report says.

After the driver eventually complied, he was identified as Christopher Heath. The 40-year-old Palm Coast man has a long rap sheet in Flagler County, including previous arrests for battery, grand theft and resisting an officer with violence, the sheriffs office noted in a Facebook post on the incident.

READ MORE: He was pulled over in Florida for no headlights, then cops searched his truck

The police report says when Heath stepped out of his car, he smelled of marijuana.

The suspect agreed to a a search of his vehicle, where deputies uncovered a small orange container commonly used by medical professional to distribute pills in his center console.

The defendant said the the bottle contained Bag Balm moisturizer given to him by his mother, the affidavit says, but a field test revealed the golden brown oily substance tested positive for fentanyl and THC. A torch and scale commonly associated with the use of narcotics was also discovered in the car.

READ MORE: Florida man arrested after throwing drugs under patrol car

As he was about to be arrested, Heath told deputies he thought he was having a heart attack and needed a doctor.

He was checked on scene by a medical unit but could not be adequately evaluated due to his actions and demeanor, the Facebook post said.

He was then brought to the hospital, and after being medically cleared, taken to Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility on $1,000 bond.

Heath, who was on federal probation at the time of his arrest, was charged with possession of fentanyl and hashish, possession of paraphernalia and failure to obey law enforcement.

This poison peddler is a serial criminal and wont learn his lesson, Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly said in a statement. Time for him to turn his life around or face serious jail time.
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is slated to hear an appeal to a previously dismissed Florida lawsuit that challenges what it claims is a federal prohibition on medical-marijuana patients rights to buy and possess guns.

The hearing, scheduled for Oct. 5, comes after a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that federal law violated a Mississippi mans Second Amendment rights in a separate lawsuit on Wednesday.

The Mississippi man, Patrick Daniels, was convicted after law enforcement found guns and marijuana cigarette butts in his vehicle during a traffic stop. The case did not involve medical marijuana.

The U.S. Department of Justice made a filing Friday informing the Atlanta-based court of the ruling in the Mississippi case  though it argued the case was incorrectly decided.

Recreational marijuana in Florida: Legal recreational marijuana could be a reality in Florida. What to know

Both the Winsor and the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rulings cited past U.S. Supreme Court rulings that required evaluating gun restrictions by whether they are consistent with the nations historical tradition of firearm regulation, but came to different conclusions.

In his ruling, Winsor said that the U.S. has a historical tradition of keeping guns from those the government fairly views as dangerous  like alcoholics and the mentally ill, comparing them to habitual users of controlled substances.

While the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed that there is historical precedence in limiting an intoxicated persons right to carry a weapon, the Mississippi case didnt check the same boxes.

The appeals court wrote that the government has failed to identify any relevant tradition at the Founding (of the country) of disarming ordinary citizens who consumed alcohol.

Both cases cited the U.S. Constitutions Supremacy Clause, which generally leads to federal laws trumping state laws.

The current law sits in a legal gray area that could soon be put to rest. Heres what to know about the lawsuit.

What does the lawsuit challenge?

The lawsuit alleges that there is a federal prohibition on medical-marijuana patients buying and possessing guns.

The crux of the issue is a conflict between state and federal laws. In 2016, Florida amended its constitution to allow qualified patients to legally purchase medical marijuana.

However, federal law still classifies marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug, maintaining that it has no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse, according to the Controlled Substances Act of 1970.

Federal laws bar certain people from buying and possessing guns, including people who use drugs illegally, which includes marijuana.

Renew medical marijuana cards online: Floridians can once again use telehealth services for medical marijuana cards - with a caveat

Can medical marijuana cardholders carry a concealed gun in Florida?

While there are varying opinions on this topic, the answer to this question boils down to whether or not Florida medical marijuana cardholders can possess a gun, which is the root of the lawsuit.

Technically, Florida Statute 790.06 allows adults with a medical marijuana card to carry a concealed gun in Florida if they meet the requirements. A new law, HB 543, went into effect on July 1 that allows Florida residents to legally carry a firearm without a permit.

Can medical marijuana patients buy or own a gun in Florida?

The act of purchasing a gun while maintaining a medical marijuana card is a bit trickier, thanks to the Firearms Transaction Record (ATF).

The federal ATF form asks individuals purchasing a weapon to truthfully answer questions directly involving their use of marijuana, depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug and any other form of controlled substance.

The form also warns individuals that possession of marijuana remains unlawful under federal law regardless of state laws.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Can Florida medical marijuana cardholders buy a gun? What to know
A Florida suspect allegedly pretended to have a heart attack while he was being arrested during a traffic stop, police say.

Palm Coast resident Brent Christopher Heath, 40, was charged with possession of fentanyl, possession of paraphernalia and possession of hashish. He was also charged with failure to obey law enforcement.

Deputies from the Flagler County Sheriffs Office stopped Heath's vehicle in Bunnell near Mahogany Boulevard and Honeytree Street last Sunday. A deputy noticed the scent of marijuana coming from the vehicle, prompting a probable cause search of Heath's car.

Police said that they found a prescription bottle with a "golden-brown oil substance" that tested likely for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and fentanyl.

FLORIDA DRUG DEALER SUSPECTED OF METH TRAFFICKING ARRESTED FOR 25TH TIME: POLICE

Palm Coast resident Brent Christopher Heath, 40, was charged with possession of fentanyl, paraphernalia and hashish, plus failure to obey police.

Heath told officers that he was having a heart attack, but authorities could not verify if he was actually having a medical emergency.

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"He was checked on scene by a medical unit but could not be adequately evaluated due to his actions and demeanor, so he was transported to AdventHealth South by Deputy Huzior," Flagler County Sheriffs Office said in a statement. "Heath was later transported to SPHIDF [Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility] after being medically cleared."

CBP OFFICERS IN TEXAS SEIZE METH VEGGIES WORTH MORE THAN $4 MILLION

The sheriff's office reported that Heath had an extensive rap sheet, having been arrested for child abuse, domestic violence and grand theft in the past. The suspect had also faced charges relating to burglary, resisting an officer with violence and dealing in stolen property.

"This poison peddler is a serial criminal and wont learn his lesson," Sheriff Rick Staly said in a statement. "Time for him to turn his life around or face serious jail time."

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Flagler County Sheriffs Office is actively investigating the incident.
*Editor's note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the tuition cost for Keiser University.

Classes are about to start for the Fall 2023 semester soon in universities across Florida. Florida has made headlines this year for the state's decision making concerning learning material at both the adolescent and higher-education levels in schools across Florida among other hot-button cultural issues.

And even with that controversy, Florida still places high in regards to a college education. After Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis installed leadership at New College of Florida in Sarasota, the institution drew a record number of students this year despite criticism from students.

In the U.S. News & World Report's 2023 list of best states for pursuing higher education, Florida tops the list likely due to high rankings in factors like tuition and fees costs, two or four-year graduation rates and low debt at graduation.

Here are the 10 best Florida universities ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

Shakeup at New College of Florida: New College of Florida sees record enrollment after DeSantis shakeup, but at academic cost

10: Nova Southeastern University

Located in Fort Lauderdale on a 314-acre campus, Nova Southeastern University (NSU) ranks at ten on this list of Florida's best schools. U.S. News also ranks NSU at No. 219, a tie with Keiser University, for best universities in the nation and No. 97 in best-value schools.

Founded in 1964, the private institution had more than 6,000 undergraduate students enrolled for its Fall 2021 semester. NSU's acceptance rate is 93%, according to U.S. News, and they retain about 80% of those students through their undergraduate program.

Undergraduate applicants to NSU have the choice of including or excluding their SAT and ACT scores from their application.

According to NSU, their current student body is comprised of:

6,971 undergraduate students

10,073 graduate students

4,188 professional students

2,000 university school students

NSU's graduation rate is 71.8% and the percentage of graduates who start a career in the field they were trained in is 94%.

The university costs about $35,880 in tuition annually before scholarships or aid is factored in. Students leave the university with more than $30,000 in debt according to data from U.S. News & World Report.

9: Keiser University

Keiser University is in Fort Lauderdale and ranks ninth on this list of best Florida colleges and universities. It is also tied with NSU for the No. 219 on the list of best universities in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.

Founded in 1977, Keiser offers students a learning plan which has them take a singular class every four weeks.

According to U.S. News & World Report, about 96% of applicants get accepted into Keiser University. According to Keiser's website, about 13,000 students enrolled. Out of those enrolled, 60% of the student base is 25 or older and 76% work full- or part-time jobs during their program.

Keiser does not require scores from standardized tests like the SAT in order to be considered for admission. GPA is the only factor considered out of the typical requirements for college admissions. In order to be admitted to Keiser University, freshman applicants must provide the following information according to their website:

Verification of high school graduation or

Verification of GED completion or

Proof of graduation from a foreign institution comparable to a U.S. secondary school.

$55 for application fee.

According to the U.S. News & World Report, tuition costs for Keiser are estimated to be about $18,000 a semester or $36,000 a year after financial aid is considered. Representatives from Keiser University were unable to confirm tuition prices at the time of writing.

8: Florida Institute of Technology

Located in Melbourne at its 174-acre campus, the Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) ranks eighth on this list and No. 202 on U.S. News & World Report's list of Best National Universities. The private STEM institution was founded in 1958.

According to U.S. News & World Report, the school only accepts 66% of applicants. Those admitted the previous school year had an average high school GPA of 3.72 and the middle 50%'s test scores ranged from 1150-1330 on the SAT and 24-30 on the ACT.

As of July 2023, FIT's tuition will cost about $43,000 annually. The institution has about 7,223 students enrolled, 3,200+ of whom are undergraduate students.

According to U.S. News & World Report about 59% of students graduate in four years, and students leave FIT with nearly $39,000 in debt on average. The mean salary of FIT graduates six years after graduation is $56,600 according to data from FIT.

7: Florida A&M University

Florida A&M University (FAMU), the sole Historically Black College or University (HBCU) on this list and one of four in the state, ranks seventh on this list and No. 202 on U.S. News & World Report's list of Best National Universities. It was founded in 1887 and has grown its main Tallahassee campus to 422 acres with nearly 10,000 students and several satellite campuses.

The institution has a 30% acceptance rate and 82% retention rate according to data provided by their website and the average scores for admitted first-time-in-college (FTIC) students in 2020-21 were a 3.67 GPA and 23 on the ACT.

According to FAMU, tuition and fees for students who live on campus cost $35,007 annually for out-of-state students and $23,062 for in-state students.

According to U.S. News & World Report, 27% of FAMU's students graduate in four years. The average debt for graduates of FAMU is about $26,000 but they also have a median starting salary of about $48,000 once they graduate.

6: Florida International University

Florida International University (FIU) is a public university located in Miami that was founded in 1972. FIU ranks sixth on this list and is tied for spot 151 on U.S. News & World Report's list of Best National Universities.

According to U.S. News & World Report, FIU has a 64% acceptance rate and about 42% of its students graduate on a four-year track. They assign incoming freshmen to one of a variety of pathways depending on their scores and GPA.

According to FIU, tuition and fees will cost about $26,000 annually for Florida residents living on campus and more than $38,000 for out-of-state residents. Enrollment at FIU is 56,000, and 61% of students are Hispanic.

Students will leave the university with about $19,000 in debt but start their careers with a median salary of $47,000.

5: University of Central Florida

The University of Central Florida (UCF) is located in Orlando and was founded in 1963. UCF boasts having the largest enrollment class in the state and seventh-largest in the nation among universities and colleges, with more than 68,000 students studying at the institution. About 93% of its students are in-state residents.

UCF is ranked at five on this list and is tied for No. 137 on U.S. News & World Report's Nation Universities list. According to data from U.S. News & World Report, they have a 36% acceptance rate.

Data from UCF shows that their accepted first-time-in-college class had an average of 1334 on the SAT, 28.3 on the ACT and a 4.23 weighted GPA.

UCF estimates that the cost of attendance during the 2023-24 school year for those who live on campus will be about $24,000 for Florida residents and approximately $40,000 for out-of-state students.

4: University of South Florida

The University of South Florida (USF) is a public university founded in 1956 and serves more than 50,000 students across its main and satellite campuses. USF ranks fourth on this list of best Florida universities but is also tied for #97 in the U.S. News & World Report's best National Universities list.

The institution has a 49% acceptance rate according to U.S. News & World Report. Data from USF shows that the average scores of admitted students in Fall 2022 ranged from:

GPA: 4 to 4.50

SAT: 1240 to 1390

ACT: 27 to 31

USF's tuition and fees will cost $211.19 per credit hour for Florida residents and $575.01 per credit hour for out-of-state residents.

According to U.S. News & World Report, 60% of USF's students graduate on a four-year track and leave with a little more than $20,000 in debt. After graduating, these people end up starting their careers with a median salary of $48,000.

3: University of Miami

The University of Miami, located in Coral Gables, has nearly a century of teaching under its belt on its 239-acre campus. The private institution is ranked third on this list and tied for No. 55 on the best National Universities list by U.S. News & World Report.

More than 19,000 students attend the University of Miami, 73% of whom are likely to graduate in four years.

Last year, the university accepted 19% of nearly 50k applicants, who had an average of 3.8 for their GPA, 1380-1500 for the middle 50%'s SAT superscores and 31-34 for the middle 50%'s ACT superscores.

For the entire 2023-24 school year, tuition and fees will total $88,440 for undergraduates living on campus, $89,306 for undergraduates living off campus and $76,142 for students living with a parent/relative.

U.S. News & World Report says that students will leave the University of Miami with about $18,000 in debt and a median starting salary of nearly $55,000 upon graduating.

2: Florida State University

Florida State University (FSU), located in Tallahassee and established in 1851, comes in at second on this list of best colleges in the state. FSU is also tied for spots 19 and 55 on the Top Public Schools and best National Universities list by U.S. News & World Report.

FSU had nearly 45,000 students enrolled at the institution during fall semester last year, 73.5% of which were undergraduate students.

The middle 50% of students admitted for the Fall 2023 semester had average scores of 1340-1450 for their SAT, 29-33 for their ACT and a GPA between 4.3 and 4.6.

The tuition rates for a program vary by career and campus location. For an undergraduate student at the main Tallahassee campus, a Florida resident would pay about $215.55 per credit hour and an out-of-state student would pay about $721.10 per credit hour.

1: University of Florida

The University of Florida (UF), located in Gainesville, is ranked as the best university in Florida and tied for the spot of fifth-best in the Top Public Schools rankings by U.S. News & World Report. The public university has been around since 1853 and has expanded its campus to about 2,000 acres.

According to U.S. News & World Report, UF only accepts 30% of its applicants. The middle 50% of students accepted into UF for the upcoming school year had scores of 1350-1490 for the SAT, 30-34 for the ACT and a GPA average of 4.4-4.6.

During the fall 2022 semester, UF recorded about 60,000 students enrolled. Tuition and fees will cost in-state students $149 per credit hour and out-of-state students $856 per credit hour regardless of whether they live on campus.

About 72% of UF's students will graduate on a four-year track. Students will leave the university with about $18,000 in debt, but graduates of UF have earned a median salary of approximately $55,000 when entering their career according to U.S. News & World Report.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Florida ranked 2023 best state for college: Top 10 universities
Ford CEO Jim Farley said he set out on an electric-truck road trip to learn what he couldn't from a presentation. Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

Ford CEO Jim Farley hit the road in an electric F-150 Lightning last week.

Charging the massive pickup truck was a challenge at times, he said.

Access to the Supercharger network in 2024 could ease EV challenges.

Ford CEO Jim Farley experienced the headache of electric-vehicle charging firsthand and acknowledged there was much to do to improve the experience for his customers.

Farley hit the road in an F-150 Lightning last week , traversing Route 66 and the American West to put the electric truck through its paces. He documented his trip on LinkedIn and X, the social-media website formerly known as Twitter.

At the end of the trip on Sunday, Farley shared his experience with charging the massive electric pickup truck.

"Charging has been pretty challenging," Farley said in a video posted on X . "It was a really good reality check of the challenges our customers go through and the importance of fast charging."

Farley said he visited a popular charging depot on Interstate 5 in Coalinga, California, where there were plenty of Tesla Superchargers. The Ford CEO, however, had to use a low-speed charger that he said delivered him a 40% charge in about 40 minutes.

Access to the Supercharger network can change the experience

Farley's experience is representative of one of the biggest remaining barriers to EV adoption , especially for non-Tesla owners.

Right now, Ford EVs can't charge at Supercharger stations, which likely would have delivered Farley and his truck more charge in a shorter period of time. But the Dearborn, Michigan, car company is partnering with Tesla to make the Supercharger network available to Ford drivers starting in spring .

After Ford announced its Supercharger partnership, other companies, including GM and Rivian, followed suit.

Ford faces the EV plateau

Addressing problems like charging experience is going to be crucial to EV adoption in the next few years as the industry heads for a plateau in EV segment growth .

Ford already appears to be reacting to this slow in the growth curve. After electric Mustang Mach-Es started piling up at dealerships this summer, Ford adjusted its ambitious EV production goals for the year and appeared to abandon plans to build 2 million EVs by the end of 2026.

Read the original article on Business Insider
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A former FBI agent who helped lead the probe of Hunter Biden told congressional investigators that he was not aware of any political interference in the case, though he said higher-ups blocked an interview with President Joe Biden's son weeks after the 2020 presidential election, transcripts show.

In transcripts from a July 17 interview with the Republican-controlled House of Representatives Oversight Committee, the unidentified FBI supervisory agent corroborated earlier testimony by an Internal Revenue Service whistleblower that investigators were not allowed to interview Hunter Biden on Dec. 8, 2020, after top Secret Service officials and the Biden transition team were notified of the plan.

The former agent, who retired last year after more than 20 years with the agency, told investigators that he was frustrated over the decision by more senior officials to block the interview but didn't consider the outcome problematic.

"I wasn't aware of political interference, personally," the former agent said.

Republicans pointed to the testimony as evidence that the Justice Department intervened to delay the Hunter Biden probe, even though the events took place while Republican President Donald Trump was in office.

"Tipping off the transition team and not being able to interview Hunter Biden as planned are just a couple of examples that reveal the Justice Department's misconduct in the Biden criminal investigation," House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said in a statement on Monday when the committee released the transcript.

Comer said the alleged misconduct occurred under U.S. Attorney David Weiss, a Trump appointee who was named special counsel in the Hunter Biden investigation last week over the objections of many House Republicans including Comer.

Hunter Biden in July pleaded not guilty to charges of failing to pay taxes on more than $1.5 million in income in 2017 and 2018 despite owing more than $100,000. He did not enter a plea in a separate case where he is charged with unlawfully owning a firearm while using illegal drugs, which is a felony.

The former agent said investigators had planned to surprise Hunter Biden with their interview request, but first had to notify the Secret Service, which had begun protecting the son of the then-president-elect days earlier.

In the end, both FBI and Secret Service headquarters were notified about the interview plan, the interviewers' access to Hunter Biden was blocked and the former FBI agent heard from an attorney for Hunter Biden.

(Reporting by David Morgan; Editing by Scott Malone and Howard Goller)
Former Gulf Breeze Mayor Ed Gray, who was sentenced in 2021 to five years in prison for tracking and secretly recording teenage boys undressing at his Gulf Breeze home, is now out of prison and has a chance for a new trial.

The 71-year-old man's sentence was vacated in April after the court granted Grays motion for postconviction relief.

The motion was granted on the grounds that Judge Clifton Drake gave Gray a stiffer sentence than state prosecutors and the defense agreed to when Gray plead no contest to charges stemming from the case in 2021.

Five years in prison: Ex-Gulf Breeze Mayor Ed Gray sentenced to prison for secretly recording teen boys in shower

Plea: Former Gulf Breeze mayor pleads no contest to recording teens in shower, may avoid prison

Former Gulf Breeze Mayor Ed Gray, bottom, listens during sentencing at the Santa Rosa County Court House in Milton on August 24, 2021. Gray pleaded no contest to eight counts of video voyeurism, one count of illegal interception of communications, one count of illegally installing a tracking device and one count of stalking. In April 2023, the court vacated his five year prison sentence because the judge gave him a stiffer penalty than what Gray expected per his plea deal.

Those charges included eight counts of video voyeurism, one count of illegal interception of communications, one count of illegally installing a tracking device and one count of stalking.

Gray mistakenly thought that he scored too low on Floridas criminal scoresheet to quality for state prison. Both the former mayor and the State Attorneys Office expected that he would spend no more than a year in the Santa Rosa County Jail.

However, Florida law allows for prison sanctions when defendants face charges like Grays. Judge Drake based his decision on that law when he sentenced Gray to five years in prison in August of 2021.

He found statute 775.082 sub ten, which actually excludes this statute, that Ed Gray was charged with, from this non state prison sanction, explained chief assistant state attorney Bridgette Jensen. The problem is that the sentence wasn't everyone's understanding. When Ed Gray entered the plea, he's thinking the maximum sentence he can get is going to be a year in the county jail because his score sheet shows only 10 points. That was everyone's understanding of the maximum the judge could do. The defendant filed a motion for post-conviction relief. and it was granted because basically at the time he entered his plea, he was mistaken as to what he could be sentenced.

In April, Judge Drake set aside Grays sentence which included five years in prison, three years of probation, and two years of community control, which is essentially house arrest.

Gray served about eight months behind bars at Jefferson Correctional Institution in Monticello prior to the decision.

He has been out on bond since, under the same conditions he was after his arrest in 2020, including no direct or indirect contract with any of the alleged victims, no contact with juvenile boys, and hes prohibited from attending youth-oriented events or places known to be attended by juvenile boys.

However, some exceptions were made that allow Gray to spend time with his grandchildren.

What lead to Ed Grays arrest

Gray was arrested Sept. 14, 2020, more than a month after agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement searched his home on Gray Oaks Lane in Gulf Breeze and seized several electronic devices.

According to the arrest report, investigators found eight videos depicting four males either nude or undressing in Gray's bathroom.

Most of the videos showed Gray starting the camera before the teenagers came into the bathroom, the report noted.

Voyeurism charges: Ex-Gulf Breeze Mayor Ed Gray arrested on voyeurism, stalking, tracking device charges

Two of the young men were 17 at the time the videos were taken and the other two were 18. Until one of the teens discovered a hidden camera, they were unaware they were being recorded and all said Gray pushed them to shower in his house after they performed work around his home.

One of the alleged victims also told police he thought Gray was tracking him because the older man would unexpectedly show up where the teen was.

Secret recordings: Affidavit: Former Gulf Breeze Mayor Ed Gray recorded teen boys in shower, stalked them

According to the arrest report, when the young mans mother confronted Gray about the allegations, Gray initially told her he was recording the air conditioner repairman, but after the repairman left Gray said he turned the camera on because he was suspicious that (her son) was possibly sexting in his master bathroom, and he wanted proof before confronting the teenager.

The report said Gray also initially denied to the teens mother that he had been following her son, but told her there were a few incidents over the last year that leads him to think I follow him.

Those incidents included Gray turning up at a park where the teen was late one night, as well as showing up in the parking lot of a Gulf Breeze condominium complex where the young man had gone after telling Gray he was sick and couldnt work for him that day.

Police said Gray eventually admitted that he put a tracking device on the young mans vehicle in the fall of 2019. They said he told them he also changed out the battery on that tracking device every couple of weeks, then put it back on the teens truck.

Investigators said Gray also had 160 screenshots of GPS coordinates that the former mayor said were of one of the teens vehicles.

Grays history with City of Gulf Breeze

Gray was a former mayor of Gulf Breeze and longtime city employee, as executive director of the Capital Trust Agency, which issues hundreds of millions of dollars in bonds to fund mostly construction projects throughout Florida.

More: Former Gulf Breeze Mayor Ed Gray leaves city amid investigation

He retired from Capital Trust Agency in 2020, shortly after FDLE agents raided his home and the investigation began.

What happens now

A status conference between the state and the defense on Grays case is scheduled for Aug. 22 at 1:30 p.m., at the Santa Rosa County Courthouse.

Gray will eventually have to decide if he wants to go to trial or make another plea deal, knowing that he could potentially go to prison.

We'll reach out to the victims and see what their take on it is as well and then go from there, said Jensen. Basically, we're starting all over again.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Former Gulf Breeze Mayor Ed Gray out on bond after conviction
Loren Oelkers (left) and Rick Goff meet for the first time, 50 years after Goff helped to save Oelkers from drowning at Canyon Ferry Lake

Loren Oelkers never got to thank the two men who saved his life that day.

In the summer of 1973, he was a 17-year-old kid whod come within seconds of drowning in the murky waters of Montana's Canyon Ferry Lake, the reservoir on the Missouri River. The men who saved him were complete strangers, two unfamiliar guys who just happened to be there that 4th of July morning. Two men whom hed never met before and didnt see again.

Loren learned their names only through the newspaper report that appeared in the Helena Independent Record later that week, but neither Rick Goff nor Jim Funk lived in his hometown. Nor had they reached out to contact him in the days that followed. As life moved on decades later, the knowledge of the debt he owed these two strangers was never far from Lorens thoughts, but the responsibilities of a career and raising a growing family were his first priorities.

This past Friday, for the first time in half a century, Loren Oelkers got the chance to shake the hand of one of the men who plucked him from those deep waters and to thank him for saving his life.

This is just such a beautiful story, said Christine Maillet, rescuer Rick Goffs daughter and one of the people who played a pivotal role in reuniting the two men. I call it a miracle come full circle 50 years later.

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A Perfect Day gone wrong

It was morning on the 4th of July 1973, and Loren and his best friend Steve Miller were camping with Lorens parents at the National Guard Chalet Campground on Canyon Ferry Lake east of Helena. It was a place both young men knew well.

We used to camp out there a lot, Loren said of the camping area just south of the dam and across from the Yacht Basin boat launch. As high school students wed go out there during the week and swim across the bay. Its a little cove probably 50-yards across if that. Id probably swam across it 40 or 50 times before.

By 10:30 a.m. the sun was already warm. Just a slight breeze rippled across the small cove separating them from the boat launch. Loren and Steve had finished their breakfasts and decided it was a good time to take a swim.

It was a perfect day, he remembered. We were just going to swim across the cove and go over to the docks to see if there any high school kids that we knew over there. Probably looking for girls more than anything else.

Loren Oelkers quarterbacked for Helena High School in 1972, the season before nearly drowning in Canyon Ferry Lake

His friend Steve jumped in first, paddling toward a rocky outcropping that young people commonly use as a diving platform into the water. It was a swim that both Loren and Steve had made dozens of times, but on this morning, something went terribly wrong.

On this particular day on the Fourth of July I just didnt make it, Loren said with honest simplicity. I got very close to shore but I just couldnt continue. I dont know if I cramped up or got exhausted or what it was. I just panicked

Lorens friend Steve had already climbed out onto a rock ledge just a few yards ahead of Loren, then turned to see his friend struggling to keep his head above water.

He was on the shore and jumped in to help me, Loren recalled. I grabbed ahold of him, and we both went down. Then we came up and I pushed Steve away and said, Get help. Steve started screaming and thats the last thing that I remember.

Lorens head disappeared beneath the water.

Bad day for fishing on the Missouri

Once know as the National Guard Chalet Campground, the site east of Helena on the shores of Canyon Ferry Lake is where Loren Olekers almost downed 50 years ago.

On July 4, 1973, Rick Goff and his family were camping at the National Guard Chalet Campground for a holiday getaway. Rick and his teenage son Mike had risen early to try their luck fishing on the downstream side of Canyon Ferry Dam.

We got out of camp early, and the family was still asleep, Rick remembers clearly of that day. We didnt want to fish the lake, we wanted to go down to fast water to fish lures below the dam. Both of us are good fishermen, but we couldnt buy a fish that day.

Discouraged, Rick and his son returned early to their camp to eat breakfast. Theyd barely finished eating when Rick heard screaming and yelling from women and children at the waters edge. He ran down to the shoreline to see what was going on.

I saw his friend maybe 20-feet offshore, floundering and yelling, Rick said. I thought he was the one who was drowning, and I was about ready to throw him an empty cooler so he could use it as a flotation device, but he shouted No, no, no  its not me. Down there, its my buddy.

The waters of Canyon Ferry Lake are deep and murky. The only thing Rick could make out was Lorens panicked friend screaming for help. Rick was fully clothed and wearing heavy boots. Hed just eaten breakfast. For a few moments, he hesitated.

'Craziest experience of my life:' Pilot survives crash in waters off Florida Keys

Thoughts raced through my mind, he recalled. Im hesitating about whether Ive got to dive in there or not. What if I drown trying to save the victim, who will care for my family? Here I am this old guy at 43. Where are the other men?

In that moment of indecision, the second hero of this story arrived. Jim Funk was a 25-year-old enlisted man at home on leave for the 4th of July holiday. Dressed only in a bathing suit, Funk raced down the hill, yelling toward Rick as he neared the shore.

I heard a voice from behind that just called out, Where is he? Rick said. I turned around and there was Jim  of course I didnt know him from Adam. I pointed to the area in front of the ledge we were standing on. He was on the run and never even stopped to say hello or goodbye, he dove right in off the rock, never hesitated for a bit.

Rick quickly lost sight of Jim in the murky water.

I couldnt see either of them, theyd both disappeared, he said of the two young men. The next time I saw them they were coming up through that six- or eight-foot depth of water and Jim had Loren in his left arm and was paddling up through the water with the other. He couldnt have been more than six or eight feet offshore. He had an advantage because it wasnt a sand beach. It was about a three- or four-foot rock ledge that we were standing on and he didn't have to wade in to the shore.

Newspaper reports published near the time of Loren Oelkers rescue say that Funk found Loren's seemingly lifeless body lying across a ledge 12- to 15-feet below the waters surface. With limited visibility the thing that had caught Funk's attention was the sweep of Oelkers long red hair.

Had I been over a couple more feet I would have gone down significantly deeper because the rocks end there, Oelkers said.

As the exhausted Jim Funk paddled toward the shore with Loren slung under one arm, Rick yelled to the two women that were standing with him on the rock ledge to, Get ready, he has him.

Rick Goff earned his living as a full time pipe-fitter for the Great Falls Gas Company, and as a part-time Technical Sergeant for the Montana Air National Guard. At the time of Oelkers rescue Goff had recently completed a required multi-medic first aid course that included cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training. Goff said that at the time it was a skill he was certain he would never use.

Rick Goff as he appeared in a newspaper story in July 1973, shortly after helping to save Loren Oelkers life.

With help from the two unidentified women on scene, Goff was able to drag the unconscious teenager onto the rock ledge the three of them were standing upon.

Each woman had him by an arm, and I had him by the hair on his head and we just raked him across that rock ledge, Rick said of the rescue. I dont even know if his feet got out of the water before I started.

His first impression was that things looked grim for the Helena teenager.

When I saw him come out of the water, he had the appearance of death, Rick Goff said. His face was pure white, the white of ashes. His lips and fingernails were absolutely purple. Not blue, purple. I said to myself, Were too late, hes dead. I figured he was gone. I really did.

However, Ricks first aid training kicked in, a skill that no one else on the scene had at the time. Goff began applying mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, followed by repeated rounds of chest compressions. Within a few minutes one of the women on scene screamed we have a pulse. Then, Loren Oelkers coughed out some of the water that had filled his lungs and then began gasping for air.

Throughout the whole ordeal, Lorens parents had no idea what had happened to their son.

My Mom said that somebody came up to their campsite and said, Theres two boys in the water down there and I think they belong to you, Loren recounted. They came running down around the cove, and by the time they got there I had thrown up all the water and was already breathing. I heard somebody say an ambulance was on its way. I was in and out of consciousness. Id spent everything I had to get out of the water.

Oelkers spent three days in a Helena hospital with an oxygen tube attached to his nose. He didnt suffer any permanent injury, but by the time he was released all who had been on that rocky shore at Canyon Ferry Lake had gone their separate ways. The missed opportunity to thank all those who had rescued him would haunt Loren Oelkers for the next 50 years.

Finding his rescuers

Fifty years after Loren Oelkers was saved from drowning at Canyon Ferry Lake, he and his wife, Maureen's, family includes three grown children and 10 grandchildren. Today, Loren and Maureen Oelkers (center) live in Helena.

By his own admission, Loren Oelkers has led a blessed life. He's had a 33-year career in the Army National Guard in Helena, one that saw him rise to the rank of Colonel. He married Maureen, his high school sweetheart, and together the couple has seen their three children grow to adulthood and bring 10 grandchildren into the world as the highlight of their lives.

None of this would have been possible if Jim hadnt jumped into the water and pulled me out, and if Rick hadnt been at the lake that day and knew how to do CPR, Loren commented on Friday. Ive thought a lot about those guys. They added 50 years to my life that I shouldnt have gotten. Thats a miracle.

Still, there was a task left yet undone; to reach out personally and thank the men who had saved him. That task took on more urgency after 2020, when Loren suffered a stroke. As part of his rehabilitation, Loren was asked to write stories about his life to help with his cognitive rehabilitation, motor skills, and perhaps most importantly to share the recollections of his lifes experience with his family.

On Fathers Day this year, his daughter, Erin, bought Loren a subscription to Storyworth, a digital platform that encourages people to write down the stories of their own lives to eventually be printed as a hardcover book.

Each week you get a question and youve got to write a story based on the question that youve been given, Loren explained. One of the questions was, Have you ever been rescued figuratively or literally? So of course, I wrote the story of when I drowned in 1973.

When my daughter read the story she said, 'this is incredible', Loren recalled. I know, I said, but the story isnt finished. I need to find these people. Hopefully theyre both still alive. I want to meet them and thank them.

Storyworth's question could not have come at a more significant time. It had been almost exactly 50 years since Lorens near-death experience. He felt compelled to reach out to those who had saved him.

Once he wrote that story, I think it kind of put something in motion, Lorens wife Maureen said. Hes thought about it for years, but just sitting down and taking the time to write about it and giving our kids that information  I think it promoted him to think 'I need to do this.'

Finding either of the men did not seem like an easy task. With Rick Goff, he had a small advantage in that hed saved the story published in the Helena newspaper a few days after his rescue.

Loren Oelkers (left) and Rick Goff creating new memories at Goff's daughter's house in Great Falls. Goff helped save Oelkers life 50 years ago.

I had a picture of Mr. Goff with the Air National Guard, and I knew he had lived in Great Falls, Loren explained. So, I went to the Montana cadastral and thats how I found his address.

I wasnt confident at all, Loren said of the chances of connecting with Rick Goff 50 years later. I was thinking, well Ricks got to be in his late 80s or early 90s. I wasnt totally confident that I would ever hear from him.

Still, he wrote Rick a letter, telling him in part; I am Loren Oelkers, the 17-year-old teenager you revived at Canyon Ferry on July 4th, 1973. Let me start by saying thank you so much for saving my life. It has been 50 years, but I have thought about you thousands of times over the years. I was truly one of the luckiest persons in the entire world that day and I thank God that he placed you and your family at the lake on that day. Sir, you may not think of yourself as a hero, but I certainly do, and I cannot thank you enough.

By that time Rick had moved out of his home of 67 years in Great Falls to take up residence at the Grandview Assisted Living center. However, his daughter, Christine, was still looking after the mail being sent to Rick's former home and passed the message on to her father. She called Loren a few days later.

I had tears running down my cheeks when I was talking to her, Loren said of learning that Rick was alive and well. I told Chris that I didnt have any outside interest other than I wanted to meet her Dad. I wanted to give him a handshake and a hug and just say thank you for saving my life.

I am not a hero, Rick responded to Loren's first letter, as all true heroes often do. Anyone with knowledge of CPR could have done the same thing. God was busy that day and he asked me to do Him a favor. So, I did. The miracle was in the timing of events. We were down to the last 60 seconds.

I cannot wait to meet you in person to share some stories with you, Loren said in reply. I could hardly sleep after hearing from (Chris) because I was excited like a child that I would have the opportunity to meet you.

After more than 50 years, that long awaited opportunity arrived on Friday. A lot of tears followed.

I dont want this to be a one-and-done deal, Oelkers said. I want us to continue to correspond. I have some regrets that I didnt try and contact with him a long time ago, but Im so happy that I finally did and that weve been able to connect and share these stories. Hopefully I can talk to Jim Funk as well.

What happened to Jim Funk?

The advantage that Loren Oelkers had in finding Rick Goff has not been the same for rescuer Jim Funk.

The newspaper stories of the time offer few clues helpful to identifying Jim Funk, other than he was referred to as a "resident of Helena." Loren believes that he was on active duty with the military at the time of the rescue, and likely returned to post assignment in the immediate days that followed.

Ive been searching for him, but there are a lot of James Funks in the United States, Loren observed. I narrowed down my search to a Helena High graduates and his name came up as graduating in 1968; now living in Greybull, Wyoming.

Sifting through county property tax records, Loren thinks hes found an address for Jim, and recently sent a letter off to the address in Big Horn County that Jim Funk is listed under. If alive today, Jim Funk would by 75-years-old. Loren Oelkers has yet to hear back.

It is hard to put a fine point on the significance of Lorens search for those who saved his life so many decades ago. We live, we die, and somewhere in the moments in-between we hope that somehow, we made some small difference in the lives of the people who surround us.

If there is a lesson to be learned from Lorens and Ricks journey, perhaps it is this; that it is never truly over until it is. The gratitude and heart of our lives can always be expressed, even if it comes half a century later. You just need to take the time to express it.

Now 93, Rick Goff has vivid memories of the day he helped to pull a near lifeless teenage boy from Canyon Ferry Lake

This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: How a Montana teenager, rescued in 1973, found the men who saved him
Public officials across Pennsylvania are mourning and offering condolences following the death of former First Lady Ellen Casey.

The Casey family announced Friday that Ellen died in a Scranton hospital after a brief illness.

We are mourning the loss of our mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, the family statement says. She was the center of our family and we are deeply saddened by this loss.

A statement from the Casey family: pic.twitter.com/g0F9zKo9u6  Senator Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) August 11, 2023

First Lady Lori Shapiro released a statement offering prayers and condolences to the Casey family.

Ellen was an ambassador for the Commonwealth and her beloved home of Scranton. Like Governor Casey, she made family, health, and children part of her lifes work. Her work to raise awareness around breast cancer, literacy, and so much more made the lives of countless Pennsylvanians better, Loris statement read in part.

Lt. Gov. Austin Davis also issued condolences to the family, and highlights Ellen as a pillar of strength.

May her legacy be a source of strength and comfort, and may you find peace in the loving memories youve shared, Davis said.

Dozens of Pennsylvania politicians and other organizations also took to social media mourning Ellens death.

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Former top SBU official sentenced to 12 years in prison for treason

A court in Kyiv has sentenced a former major general of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), Valeriy Shaytanov, to 12 years in prison for treason, the agency reported on Aug. 14.

The court also found Shaytanov guilty of planning to carry out a terrorist attack, as well as the illegal possession of ammunition.

Read also: SBI hands over 17 seized cars of Medvedchuk, Kozak families to Ukrainian Army

Shaytanov was a Russian agent who went by 'Bobyl and actively collaborated with Russias Federal Security Service (FSB). His handler was named in court as Colonel Igor Egorov.

The colonel, who went by the alias Elbrus, was one of the primary organizers of Russian terrorist activities in Ukraines Donbas in the summer of 2014.

Read also: Associates of ex-MP Medvedchuk sentenced to prison for plotting coup

Shaytanov was found to have collected and passed on information about secret Ukrainian military operations in Donbas, as well as about SBU officers and counterintelligence agents.

He is also suspected of involvement in the attempted murder of Adam Osmayev, the leader of Chechen volunteers fighting for Ukraine against Russia.

Osmayev survived several assassination attempts in June and October 2017. The latter killed his wife, Amina Okuyeva, while Osmayev himself received a leg wound.

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Principal Andrea Harper greeted students with a smile, a hug and a good morning! as they walked under a rainbow balloon arch and into T.A. Sims Elementary School on Monday morning.

The hallways of the brick building on Crenshaw Avenue in Fort Worth were crowded with excitement while parents escorted their prekindergarten to fifth-grade students to class for the first day of the 2023-2024 school year.

Today is just going to be a day full of that energy, that hope for a great year, Harper said. Theres always a sense of joy and excitement here at T.A. Sims Elementary.

T.A Sims Elementary School Principal Andrea Harper welcomes back students during the first day of school on Monday in Fort Worth.

Parent Crystal Torres said she was both nervous and excited for her daughters first day of school ever, but she was looking forward to seeing her learn how to write her name and learn colors and numbers.

Shes ready. Im not, Torres said with a laugh.

As Torres and other family members walked into the hallways of T.A. Sims, Taylor Swifts Shake It Off boomed through the intercom. Meanwhile, Harper, Superintendent Angelica Ramsey and Mayor Mattie Parker traversed through multiple classrooms to mingle with parents, students and teachers.

In classroom no. 103, Eva Cantu kicked off pre-K with a breakfast of Lucky Charms, fruit punch and chocolate milk. When asked what she was excited about for the school year, she said her uniform, specifically her navy polo shirt.

Beyond the nutrition, outfits and rowdiness, district and city leadership reiterated the seriousness behind fixing academic and mental health obstacles caused by the COVID-19 pandemic that students are still overcoming.

Children at T.A. Sims Elementary School start their first day of school with breakfast on Monday, August 14, 2023, in Fort Worth.

A multi-tiered support system is in place so that we can attack both academic and behavioral issues that were seeing, Ramsey said. This includes a partnership with TCU that provides a counseling clinic where our families in addition to our students can receive counseling at no cost.

School safety also was highlighted as Ramsey and Parker addressed a new state law going into effect next month which requires all school campuses to have at least one armed officer on site, among other new safety and mental-health-related protocols. Ramsey said its a work in progress that will take time to implement.

The city of Fort Worth is committing to pay half of the costs, but the additional $15,000 increase each campus will receive through the legislation is not enough to yield qualified security personnel, Parker said. Coordinating with other cities and school districts is necessary to communicate that to state legislators, she said.

Its about the right type of talent and individuals that you want in a school to keep our students safe, Parker said.

Additionally, Ramsey noted the district is still aiming to fill about 95 teacher vacancies.

Fort Worth ISD Superintendent Angelica Ramsey visits T.A. Sims Elementary School on the first day of school on Monday, August 14, 2023, in Fort Worth.

In the past, we had up to 300-400 vacancies Thats a huge, huge difference, Ramsey said. If youre bilingual out there (or) you want to help us with students with special needs, please reach out to us.

This year will be Luis Lobos fifth year as a teacher. Hes looking forward to building relationships with his fourth-grade students and embracing a literacy curriculum that aligns reading and writing together.

Its no longer two separate tests. Its just one test. So every day were both reading and were writing, he said. Theres deficits (caused by COVID-19) but we have interventions within that curriculum.

School board president embraces return-to-school

At 11 a.m., Camille Rodriguez, the districts school board president, was leaving North Side High School. It was the fifth campus she visited that morning. She had four more visits to make before the end of the day, she said. At every stop she made, teachers, principals and staff looked excited to welcome kids back to school, she said. And students walked into school buildings with smiles on their faces.

It was a very positive atmosphere and I think everybodys ready to come back and learn, Rodriguez said.

At some campuses, lines of supporters greeted students as they arrived. At Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, Fort Worth Police Chief Neil Noakes gave students fist bumps as they came in. About a half dozen other officers lined up in the hallway at the entrance along with other community members, cheering and handing out high fives and flowers as students walked in the door.

Parents and children arrive at T.A. Sims Elementary School for the first day of school on Monday, August 14, 2023, in Fort Worth.

When community leaders like Parker and Noakes come out to campuses in the district for the first day of school, it sends a message that the city supports public education, Rodriguez said. When law enforcement officers come along, the message is even clearer, she said  do not mess with our schools.

As it is every year, the districts first priority this year needs to be student achievement, Rodriguez said. She said she was encouraged by a presentation by district officials at last weeks board meeting outlining a plan to offer differentiated support to each campus in the district, based on its specific needs. That plan will put the district in a better position to meet each student where they are and give them the support they need to grow, she said.

Every individual student is important to us, and we want to make sure they get everything they need to succeed, she said.
A foul smell led deer hunters to human remains under a blanket in Mississippi, officials told news outlets.

Jefferson County deputies said the group was near a camp when it followed the strong odor and stumbled upon the remains. No one has been reported missing in the area, making officials believe that the persons body was moved from somewhere else, according to WAPT and WLBT.

Deputies told news outlets an investigation continues after the grim discovery was reported late Saturday, Aug. 12. The remains were found in the Lorman area, roughly 75 miles southwest of Jackson.

The remains are believed to have been at the location for three weeks to a month. They were found near a ravine and covered in a throw blanket, Sheriff James Bailey told WJTV and WAPT.

News outlets didnt identify the remains, which were sent to a crime lab. Deputies suspect foul play in the incident and ask anyone with information to call them at 601-786-3403.

The Jefferson County Sheriffs Office, which is investigating the case with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, didnt immediately share additional information with McClatchy News on Aug. 14.

Search for arrowheads leads hobbyist to human bones in rural Louisiana field, cops say

Skull found by hunter decades ago is now identified as missing California 4-year-old
Former President Donald Trump is receiving the vast majority of attention from Fox News and the two smaller conservative cable channels, making it vastly more difficult for Gov. Ron DeSantis and the other lagging candidates to get their messages to Republican primary voters.

DeSantis, who is running a distant second place to Trump in public opinion polls, is faring even worse in the amount of exposure hes getting on the cable channels that are a direct pipeline to Republicans.

Trump had had more than 6 times the candidate airtime that DeSantis received on Fox, Newsmax and OAN in June and July. The figures were reported Monday by Media Matters For America, a left-leaning organization that monitors conservative media.

Trump dominated the three networks candidate airtime, Media Matters reported, receiving 32 hours and 28 minutes  more than half the total. DeSantis garnered a comparatively paltry four hours and 57 minutes.

Overall, Media Matters found, 16 Republican candidates received 63 hours of interview time and live event coverage in June and July on the three right-wing channels.

Trump has a commanding polling lead, though not quite as massive as the coverage advantage. He had more than 3 times the level of support among Republican primary voters than DeSantis on Monday in the RealClearPolitics average of national public opinion polls.

Air time on Fox, Newsmax and OAN is a valuable commodity for Republican presidential candidates. Conservative outlets, especially Fox, are a key source of information for Republican primary voters who will determine who their party nominates next year for president.

That does shape the way the viewers see who is a viable candidate, said Robert Gutsche, an associate professor in the School of Communication and Multimedia Studies at Florida Atlantic University. Gutsche, co-founder of the MediaLab@FAU, wasnt involved in the Media Matters analysis.

On Fox, by far the biggest and most influential of the three channels, Trump commanded the most attention by a wide margin in June and July.

The Trump advantage was not nearly as lopsided on Fox as on Newsmax, headquartered in Boca Raton, and OAN, which stands for One America News. The smaller channels have been attempting to attract voters by positioning themselves as more pro-Trump than the much larger Fox.

Media Matters said Fox and its commentators have provided crucial support to the former presidents candidacy.

Illustrating the importance of Fox, it is the Republican National Committees choice to host the first Republican presidential debate next week. The RNC also picked the smaller Fox sibling channel, Fox Business Network, to host the second Republican debate next month.

It was appearances on Fox years ago that helped catapult DeSantis from obscurity as a junior member of Congress to a prominent national political figure. His constant defense of Trump caught the attention of the then-president, who ultimately rewarded DeSantis with his blessing during the 2018 midterm election, propelling him to the Republican nomination for governor and victory in the general election.

As DeSantis emerged as a 2024 challenger to Trump, their relationship soured with the former president viewing him as an ingrate.

In the early stages of the 2024 campaign, DeSantis appeared to be the favored candidate of Fox, which doesnt hide its political leanings, and the Murdoch family, which controls other media outlets including the Wall Street Journal and New York Post.

But thats no longer the case.

In June and July, Fox aired eight interviews with Trump, totaling 3.5 hours. It also aired 48 minutes of Trump events.

Fox aired 12 interviews with DeSantis in June and July, for a total of 1 hour and 55 minutes, a Media Matters representative said. It also aired 49 minutes of DeSantis event coverage.

Fox granted more total air time to candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, founder of a biotech company and an investor (3 hour and 1 minute), than to DeSantis (2 hours and 44 minutes).

Neither the DeSantis campaign nor Fox News Media immediately responded to requests for comment about the Media Matters findings.

The third Florida candidate, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, has been struggling to gain traction since he announced his candidacy on June 15.

Fox aired 11 interviews with Suarez after that date  the point at which Media Matters began tracking  for a total of 1 hour and 23 minutes, the Media Matters spokesperson said. It didnt air any Suarez event coverage. (Suarez also had three Newsmax interviews totaling 15 minutes.)

Fox relied much more on interviews of the candidates by its personalities than its smaller rivals.

The candidates appeared for interviews on Fox 141 times for almost 20 hours of coverage.

Newsmax had 39 interviews over five hours and OAN had nine lasting 1 hour and 19 minutes.

Newsmax and OAN devoted much more time to live candidate events, such as speeches and town halls. Fox aired 2 hours and 27 minutes of live candidate events. Newsmax aired 13 hours and 10 minutes and OAN aired 18 hours and 12 minutes.

In total time  live candidate events plus interviews  Trump was the overwhelming leader, with DeSantis a distant second. Ramaswamy had total airtime of 4 hours and 24 minutes and former Vice President Mike Pence had 3 hours and 56 minutes.

Trump had the most interview time across the three channels, with 4 hours and 25 minutes on the three channels. Frequent live coverage of Trump events on cable channels in 2016 is widely seen as helping him win the presidency that year.

The combined total interview time for all Republican candidates in June and July was 26 hours and 10 minutes.

Ramaswamy had just under 4 hours of interviews, followed by former Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina, 2 hours and 47 minutes; and DeSantis and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina with 2 hours and 26 minutes each.

Trump also was far ahead in time devoted to coverage of live events. Of the 33 hours and 48 minutes of live event time across the three networks, Trump got 28 hours and 2 minutes.

DeSantis was second with 2 hours and 31 minutes and Pence was third with 1 hour and 41 minutes. No other candidate exceeded 30 minutes of live event time.

Several things are happening at once, Gutsche said.

Trump generates a lot of news, most notably criminal indictments, so hes obviously someone the channels will feature, he said. At the same time, Trump is a ready source of attention-grabbing, provocative statements.

Attention to Trump helps him do better in polling. And doing better in polling turns into more attention for Trump. The converse happens with candidates who dont get much attention. Lack of attention contributes to their poor poll showing, and poor poll showings makes it less likely theyll get media attention.

Whats going on at the conservative channels warrants attention, Gutsche said, and is essential to understanding the information people on the right are receiving.

Thats part of why he watches. When people ask me questions and Im trying to understand an issue, I not only have to go to some of the main(stream) areas, I have to go to Newsmax, right? I have to have an understanding of these other places.

_____
Foxconn, also known by its official name Hon Hai Precision Industry, is the world's biggest contract electronics manufacturer (Sam Yeh)

Taiwanese tech giant and key Apple supplier Foxconn said Monday it sees the potential to invest "several billion dollars" in India, with the firm looking to diversify its manufacturing away from China.

Foxconn -- also known by its official name Hon Hai Precision Industry -- is the world's biggest contract electronics manufacturer and assembles devices for many companies, most notably Apple's iPhones.

It operates in more than two dozen countries but the bulk of its operations is based in China -- a dependence it is looking to reduce, with media reports of major investments in India.

"From the perspective of India's potential market size and if we can fully implement our plans there, I think several billion dollars in investment is only a beginning," Foxconn chairman Young Liu said when asked during an earnings call if the firm planned to invest $2 billion in India.

Foxconn in May announced the purchase of a huge tract of land on the outskirts of Indian tech hub Bengaluru for $37 million.

It currently operates about nine production campuses and has more than 30 factories in India, with "turnover of business size of roughly $10 billion annually", according to Liu.

The company is planning to expand its India operations to "critical components" for consumer electronics and electric vehicles to boost its competitiveness, he said, without giving more details.

"Shipping (for critical components) will probably have to wait till next year but this year, relevant constructions have started," Liu said, adding the operations will take place in three states in India.

Last month, Foxconn withdrew from a $19.4 billion deal with India's Vedanta to make semiconductors in Gujarat state -- dealing a blow to New Delhi's plan to boost self-reliance in the tech supply chain.

Foxconn posted a one percent drop in second quarter net profits on Monday, while revenues fell 14 percent on-year to $1.3 trillion Taiwan dollars ($40.8 billion) -- an indication of a worsening market for global electronics during an economic downturn.

aw/dhc/qan
Fozzy supermarket reacts to destruction of its Odesa store after Russian missile attack

Supermarket chain Fozzy has responded to the destruction of one of its stores in downtown Odesa after Russia launched several air strikes on Aug. 14

The Odesa Fozzy building, equipment, and merchandise have all been consumed by fire. The store is currently non-operational, Fozzy said in a press release.

Several images of the destroyed supermarket have been posted online. Three people were injured in the attack.

Read also: Russia attacks Ukraine overnight, killing two in Zaporizhzhya and hitting Odesas historic city center

Natalia Humeniuk, spokesperson for the South Operational Command, said that debris from a Russian missile strike was responsible.

What youre witnessing is the aftermath of the fire resulting from the falling debris, she said.

Read also: Russia launches big missile attack, targets Kyiv and western Ukraine

Olympic silver medalist Olena Kravatska revealed that this was the store she shopped at, located just five minutes from her parents home.

All in all, 113 buildings in Odesa have been damaged by missile attacks, according to the citys mayor, Hennadiy Trukhanov. These include an architectural monument and seven educational institutions.

Read also: UN official slams Russian missile strike on Zaporizhzhya hotel where UN staff stay

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NEW YORK  El Chapos cocaine supplier, whose testimony helped seal the famed drug lords fate, got one step closer to freedom Monday when a judge sentenced him to 20 years  most of which hes already served.

Colombian drug lord Juan Carlos Ramirez Abadia will likely be out of prison within a year, after Brooklyn Federal Court Judge Brian Cogan handed down the sentence.

The 60-year-old cartel leader, who was arrested in Brazil in 2007 and extradited to the U.S. a year later had originally signed a cooperation agreement in exchange for a 25-year prison term  but that was before anyone realized Chapo would be captured and go to trial in 2018.

It just wasnt foreseeable how valuable this defendant was going to be. Nobody knew that he was going to take the stand at the trial and that he would be such a pivotal witness, Cogan said.

Ramirez committed incredibly horrendous crimes that cant be wiped away, but his cooperation really does a lot to show his effort to make amends, the judge said.

Ramirez, nicknamed Chupeta, or lollipop, turned heads when he showed up in court with a face so altered by plastic surgeries that he looked almost alien. The surgeries were an attempt to evade capture.

I altered the physical appearance of my face by changing my jawbone, cheekbones, eyes, mouth, ears, he testified.

He told the jury that he regularly sold Chapo, whose real name is Joaquin Guzman Loera, planeloads of his best cocaine as the leader of Colombias largest drug gang, the North Valley Cartel. He also described his own violent reign, ordering 150 murders and carrying out at least one himself.

Chapo, the notorious boss of Mexicos Sinaloa cartel, was found guilty after a blockbuster 12-week trial that saw testimony from 56 prosecution witnesses, including a half-dozen Sinaloa Cartel turncoats. Cogan sentenced him to life in prison plus 30 years.

The 66-year-old kingpin, who twice escaped from Mexican prisons, is locked up in the federal Supermax prison in Florence, Colo., known as the Alcatraz of the Rockies.

Ramirezs lawyer, Paul Nalven argued in May the original plea deal came after former Colombian president Alvaro Uribe complained that the high-level cartel members extradited to the U.S. were getting cut loose after short prison terms.

Cogan tossed out the original 25-year plea agreement in May, and approved a new agreement allowing a range of 19-25 years. He went with 20 years, he said, because Theres only so much forgiveness that a person can have for doing things like that.

On Monday, Nalven said that a DEA assessment credited his client with helping prosecutors make several other cases involving high-level Colombian drug traffickers.

Its time, Nalven told the judge, requesting he get 19 years, which would amount to time served. Its time from an objective point of view.

Though prosecutors refused to say on the record whether hed be placed into a witness protection program, Nalven asked the judge recommended that Ramirez be placed in a major metropolitan area capable of handling his complex medical problems.

If hes sent to a fishing town on the northern Pacific coast and wants to find a plastic surgeon that removes polymer from the human head, I think hes gonna be out of luck, he said.

Ramirez, who has a $10 billion forfeiture judgement against him as part of his plea deal, has handed over $1.2 million, and three different governments have recovered about a $1 billion in real estate, securities accounts, cash and precious metals, Nalven said.

I think what happened today was an exercise of fairness of justice, Nalven said after the proceedings Monday.
President Emmanuel Macron's tough-talking Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin is testing the waters for a crack at the French presidency in 2027, with a stark warning that far-right figurehead Marine Le Pen risks taking the Elysee if the wrong candidate stands.

France's politicians will return from holiday later this month and the initial manoeuvring for the 2027 presidential elections is set to mark the new political season.

Centrist Macron, who defeated Le Pen in the previous two editions in 2017 and 2022, cannot stand for another consecutive term and total uncertainty remains over the preferred champion to take on the far right.

Darmanin, only 40 and known for an unrelenting energy reminiscent of his mentor, former right-wing president Nicolas Sarkozy, has thrown his hat into the ring.

"What interests me is no longer to look at what happened in 2017 and 2022. What worries me now is what will happen in 2027," he told the Le Figaro daily on Sunday.

He warned against "putting our future" in the hands of technocrats and "using words that the French do not always understand".

"We must speak from the heart, not with statistics," he said, adding that if the wrong candidate is found "Marine Le Pen will be elected."

- 'Top cop' -

Darmanin, firmly on the right wing of Macron's ruling faction, has been on the front line of the crises and challenges that have hit the country since his appointment in 2020.

He has consistently challenged the UK over its migration policy, deflected criticism over the chaotic 2022 Champions League final in Paris and above all stood by police amid accusations of institutional racism and violence.

Revelling in his informal title of "premier flic de France" ("France's top cop"), Darmanin has unstintingly supported police, including during the riots earlier this summer sparked by the point-blank killing of a teen by an officer during a traffic check.

Darmanin will on August 27 host a major rally in his political fiefdom of Tourcoing in gritty northeast France to set out his vision.

His interview with Le Figaro came as he visits the overseas territory of French Polynesia this week, a reminder that since 2021 he heads a super ministry responsible for mainland France and its overseas possessions.

"After six years in government, I am happy to answer the call of my friends who urge me to make a little more clear the popular compass that I am proposing," he said of the Tourcoing rally.

While still three-and-a-half years off, the sheer importance of an election which analysts see as giving the far right its best ever chance of winning power means early manoeuvring is already intense.

Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, the longest-standing member of Macron's cabinet, makes almost no attempt to hide his ambition.

Former prime minister Edouard Philippe, mayor of the northern port of Le Havre, has founded his own party and is clearly sniffing out the ground.

Macron has in public given no indication of who he favours although he said in July "what we have done needs to be continued", acknowledging Philippe was among those who could "take up the baton".

- Close to Sarkozy -

The son of a bar owner and a mother who worked as a cleaner at France's central bank, Darmanin became the country's youngest interior minister when appointed, taking on a post that helped propel Sarkozy to the presidency.

His rapid rise was shadowed by a complaint filed in 2017 by a woman who alleged he raped her in 2009.

Darmanin denied any wrongdoing and the case was dismissed by a Paris court in 2022. The plaintiff is now appealing this verdict.

Darmanin's articulate and smooth manner have marked him out as a strong media performer, although his sometimes stubborn put-downs of critics have caused discomfort even among allies.

Darmanin remains close to Sarkozy and late last month visited the former president and his wife Carla Bruni at their Mediterranean holiday hideaway, a source close to him said.

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David Hunter, a transitional kindergarten teacher in Fresno Unified, describes the optional grade between preschool and kindergarten as an opportunity for exposure  not just to the building blocks of math and language, but also social-emotional skills like sharing and getting along with classmates.

When parents tell him before classes start that theyre worried their children havent yet mastered their letters or numbers, he reassures them.

I have found consistently that if a child is with me all year, they know their letters and numbers going into kindergarten, he said, and that just gives them that much more of a head start going into kindergarten.

Transitional kindergarten started in 2012 as a way for four-year-old kids who were born after the Sept. 1 birthday cutoff to attend school earlier. Then in 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom announced an ambitious four-year, $2.7 billion plan to make transitional kindergarten available to all four-year-olds in California  or roughly 400,000 students  by the 2025-26 school year.

In Fresno Unified, district leaders have come to see the expansion of transitional kindergarten as an opportunity to reverse years of academic underachievement in the district. By reaching students in the critical years before age five when research shows 90% of brain development takes place, FUSD hopes students will develop stronger math and reading skills earlier.

Thats why the district is determined to continue growing their transitional kindergarten enrollment, despite some hurdles  like adequate staffing  that schools across California experienced. Fresno Unifieds goal is to add close to 100 more classrooms by 2026, according to the districts executive officer of early learning, Maria Ceballos Tapia.

The earlier that we can support (them),she said, the better future theyre going to have. We know that for a fact.

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How Fresno Unifieds first year of expansion went

Like the state as a whole, Fresno Unified saw a slightly lower transitional kindergarten enrollment than projected in the 2022-23 school year, the first year of implementation for Newsoms expansion plan.

The district anticipated 1,626 students would enroll last year. In reality, 1,577  or about 50 fewer students  enrolled by the end of the year, according to data provided by the district.

The lower-than-anticipated enrollment numbers in Fresno Unified actually led to a decrease of about $400,000 in the districts ending balance for the 2022-23 school year.

Statewide, average daily attendance in transitional kindergarten across California was 28,000 students fewer than the governors office estimated for the 2022-23 school year, according to the Legislative Analysts Office.

Challenges with expanding transitional kindergarten

One of the biggest challenges with the expansion last year for districts across California was hiring teachers for transitional kindergarten classrooms, according to research associate Manny Prunty with the Public Policy Institute of California.

Thats partly because transitional kindergarten teachers are required to have extra early childhood education credits, in addition to their degree.

In Fresno Unified, Ceballos Tapia said that hiring teachers was less of a challenge, due to the districts teacher pipeline programs. The district currently is fully staffed with transitional kindergarten teachers heading into the 2023-24 school year.

Hunter, who mentors student-teachers in the program, said that last year, the district had more pipeline participants on the track to teach transitional kindergarten than classrooms for them to ultimately teach in.

The bigger challenge in Fresno has been hiring paraprofessional classroom aides.

With a 6.5-hour day including lunch, Hunter said, and starting pay of $15.90, those positions are harder for the district to fill and retain.

That was an issue in Hunters classroom last year, when his classroom aide left partway through the school year. He said he knew several colleagues who didnt have a classroom aide all year.

That puts them at risk of not meeting the adult-to-child classroom ratio set by the state, which, for transitional kindergarten, is one adult to every 12 children.

If you dont have that one to 12 ratio, Ceballos Tapia said, then theres penalties in place (from the state). But so far, Fresno Unified has been okay.

How Fresno Unified plans to reach more four-year-old kids

The district has a goal of enrolling 1,961 students, or almost 400 more than last year, in transitional kindergarten this coming school year.

To help recruit more 4-year-olds, Ceballos Tapia said theyre pulling out all the stops in terms of advertising the new opportunity to families.

That includes television and radio spots, social media posts, and community events.

She said her department also makes sure to have staff on hand at the early learning enrollment center who can discuss transitional kindergarten in Spanish and Hmong with families whose primary language at home isnt English.

Prunty said growing transitional kindergarten enrollment has benefits not only for the student population as a whole, but also some specific student groups.

Its obviously really good for students because it provides an extra year of schooling, he said, (and) an extra year and opportunity to identify the students that need extra support, like English learners and students with disabilities.

Given transitional kindergartens potential to have implications for those 4-year-old students growth, the district wont let up on its recruitment efforts to help families see it as necessary, even though its technically optional.

Knowing this information, theres a sense of urgency, Ceballos Tapia said. This is a critical time to be able to enroll their children in high quality programs.

The Education Lab is a local journalism initiative that highlights education issues critical to the advancement of the San Joaquin Valley. It is funded by donors. Learn about The Bees Education Lab at its website.
Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, a GOP presidential hopeful Meg Kinnard/AP

The former Florida GOP chairman Joe Gruters took a shot at Gov. Ron DeSantis.

He's the latest former DeSantis ally to take a shot at the governor's struggling presidential campaign.

Gruters told The Washington Post he "fully expected the downfall" of DeSantis' campaign.

The former Florida GOP chairman Joe Gruters told The Washington Post Ron DeSantis' struggles on the presidential stage were expected based on how he had treated people as governor.

"The more he is met by people, the more they are not going to like him," Gruters, who is also a state lawmaker, told the Post. "The more he's out there, the more his numbers go down. It's not a good long-term scenario for him. I fully expected the downfall of his campaign a long time ago."

Gruters was one of more than 30 people in Washington and Florida who dished to the Post about DeSantis' awkwardness and refusal to make some of the political niceties that are necessary for future relationships to flourish. Like other past stories, those about DeSantis in the Post's report included that he tended to be aloof, gave preference to his own opinions, and maintained an insularity that was striking even to longtime politicians. Just like Gruters, many of them ended up endorsing former President Donald Trump over the top official in their state.

DeSantis' campaign has clearly struggled early on. Once within striking distance of Trump, he now trails by nearly 39 points, indicated by FiveThirtyEight's weighted national average. The Florida Republican has also fired more than a third of his campaign staff and demoted his campaign manager all in pursuit of a reset less than six months before the Republican nomination fight begins.

The former GOP chairman said that DeSantis had backed him for the job, but once Gruters was elected he only "infrequently" heard from the governor. Gruters also said DeSantis tried to purge his staff.

Rep. Byron Donalds, another former DeSantis ally who also endorsed Trump, said he knew that DeSantis just didn't excel at building relationships. Donalds said that DeSantis' awkwardness on the campaign trail made sense through this lens.

"In presidential politics, you have to be able to engage and connect with people. It's through TV, it's through interviews, it's charisma," Donalds told The Post. 'You know it when you see it  I never felt like it was something the governor would be able to do or accomplish."

Paul Renner, the speaker of Florida's House of Representatives, defended DeSantis to the publication, saying that the governor's ability to shepherd conservative policies into law virtually spoke for itself.

"He's delivered like no other governor has on both policy and elections. I'm less concerned about having my ego stroked," Renner said.

A representative for DeSantis' campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A funeral was held Monday in Lenexa for Jonah Oswald, the Fairway police officer killed in a shootout at a Johnson County gas station last Sunday.

The service was scheduled for 11 a.m. at the Westside Family Church, 8500 Woodsonia Dr. in Lenexa. The public portion of the funeral was broadcast on video.

Oswald, 29, was killed in a shooting Aug. 6 at a Mission QuikTrip while officers responded to an auto theft.

He died from his injuries last Monday in a hospital. He had been with the Fairway Police Department for four years and was a husband and father to two young children.

No graveside service was held following the funeral, but there was a short ceremony scheduled outside the church once the service concluded.

Over the weekend, community members and law enforcement officials have honored Oswald and his family.

Hundreds from Fairway and surrounding cities attended a parade of patrol vehicles and a candlelight vigil to pay their respects to the first officer to be killed on duty in the departments history. A visitation was also held Sunday.

Jonahs heart radiated, said Fairway Police Chief J.P. Thurlo at the vigil. And it radiated through his badge.

Shooting at Mission gas station

Last Sunday, Oswald and officers from several police departments responded to reports of a stolen vehicle with two suspects.

Lenexa police pursued the vehicle, which allegedly struck a patrol car, until the suspects fled on foot into a Mission QuikTrip at 4700 Lamar Ave.

Oswald was critically wounded in a shootout that ensued and later died from his injuries.

One of the suspects, Shannon Wayne Marshall, 40, of Ashland City, Tennessee was killed at the scene.

The other suspect, Andrea Rene Cothran, 32, of Goodlettsville, Tennessee, was charged with four felonies, including aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, and is being held on $1 million bail.

The Stars Matti Gellman and Bill Lukitsch contributed to this report.
Former Donald Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale, shown during a bus tour stop on Sept. 3, 2020, in San Antonio, was among those who met with social media influencers at a recent event sponsored by Influenceable LLC. Credit: Christopher Lee for The Texas Tribune

In late June, about a dozen conservative Gen Z influencers converged on Fort Worth for a few days of right-wing networking. They hit local night spots, posed for group photos and met a far-right Texas billionaire and Donald Trumps former campaign chair.

And then they took to social media to rally their many followers behind a new, controversial film about human trafficking before turning their support to impeached Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

The event was sponsored by a fledgling company, Influenceable LLC, that recruits young, conservative social media figures to promote political campaigns and films without disclosing their business relationship. On its website, the company touts itself as the worlds largest network of digital activists and offers clients the power to cultivate a community of influencers to leverage their credibility with audiences.

Photos from the event show that Influenceable has powerful allies. Among the speakers were Brad Parscale, who recently moved to Texas after years running the Trump campaigns digital strategy, and Tim Dunn, the West Texas oil tycoon who has given tens of millions of dollars to ultraconservative movements and candidates in Texas  including Paxton.

Now Influenceable appears to be recruiting young conservatives to parrot claims that the attorney general is the victim of a political witch hunt and, more recently, to promote a series of videos alleging that the Texas Legislature is secretly controlled by Democrats intent on destroying Paxton and other conservatives.

The companys emergence comes amid Republican initiatives to connect with young Americans who tend to be more supportive of liberal policies.

Tim Dunn, a West Texas oil executive and prominent donor to ultraconservative campaigns and movements in Texas, speaks at The Texas Tribune Festival in Austin on Sept. 24, 2016. Credit: Brett Buchanan for The Texas Tribune

And while legal experts said Influenceables methods dont appear to run afoul of campaign finance and political advertising rules, the company has already irked some Republicans who say its approaches are deceptive and harmful to democracy. State Rep. Tom Oliverson, R-Cypress, said he may propose new laws to strengthen disclosure requirements because of companies like Influenceable, saying they create manufactured outrage and further polarize the country.

It disgusts me, Oliverson said in an interview. It calls into question the value and the validity of their entire message as an influencer.  I think they should all be investigated. I think the company should be investigated, and I think all of these influencers should be outed.

Dunn, Parscale and Influenceable representatives did not respond to repeated interview requests.

Ties to an anti-woke company

Influenceable is closely linked to another right-wing organization, Today Is America Inc., a self-described anti-woke social media company that was founded in 2019 by North Carolina brothers Camron and Liam Rafizadeh. The company quickly rose to prominence on platforms such as Instagram, where it continues to deluge its quarter-million followers with anti-LGBTQ+ memes and pro-Trump talking points.

According to LinkedIn, Camron Rafizadeh is Influenceables CEO, Liam Rafizadeh is a co-founder and another high-ranking Today Is America employee, Tim Korshunov, leads development.

Liam Rafizadeh also ran the well-known Republican Hype House account on TikTok, which had 1.2 million followers before it was taken down when the platform targeted misinformation ahead of the 2020 presidential election.

The Rafizadeh brothers also attracted the attention of GOP operatives: Business filings for Today Is America LLC, one of a few companies associated with the Today Is America brand, list unsuccessful North Carolina congressional candidate Bo Hines as its CEO. Its chief financial officer is Jason Boles, who was the campaign treasurer for U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., before he joined the campaign of famed fabulist U.S. Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y. Boles is also the leader of Heal the Divide, a political action committee backing the presidential campaign of anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Influenceable was first registered in August 2022 in the infamous Corporation Trust Center, a one-story building in Wilmington, Delaware, that some 300,000 corporations  including Google, Apple and Walmart  have used as a registration address to take advantage of the so-called Delaware loophole that allows them to avoid taxes and many public disclosures.

Influenceables website touts a partnership with Campaign Nucleus, a company that Parscale began developing seven years ago. Parscales digital prowess is legendary: The San Antonio native spent decades working in marketing before leading the 2016 Trump campaigns digital strategy  his first foray into politics  and playing a key role in Trumps unexpected ascendancy to the Oval Office. He served as Trumps campaign manager from February 2018 until July 2020, when he was demoted. Parscale left the campaign a few months later after his wife made, then retracted, domestic violence accusations.

Campaign Nucleus promotes itself as an all-in-one digital ecosystem that cuts out third-party platforms and protects conservatives from cancel culture.

Stop wasting time using big tech platforms to reach audiences, Campaign Nucleus website says. Talk to people directly.

CJ Pearson speaking at an event in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on Nov. 3, 2021. Credit: Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia

As heat waves strained the Texas power grid last year, Campaign Nucleus reportedly pushed anti-renewable-energy talking points favored by oil and gas companies, and Trumps campaign has also reportedly used Campaign Nucleus. Earlier this year, Parscale appears to have moved from Florida to Midland, home to a significant portion of the states energy industry as well as Dunn, an oil executive who has spent tens of millions of dollars to promote his far-right, anti-LGBTQ+ and religious views.

Dunn, Parscale and Dunns son David, a Christian music artist, spoke at the Fort Worth event, according to Instagram photos posted by Korshunov that were deleted after The Texas Tribune reached out to Influenceable and Dunn for comment.

Are you Influenceable? Korshunov wrote in the caption.

Well-known attendees chimed in: Im influenced, commented CJ Pearson, a conservative Gen Z activist with more than 440,000 followers on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, who was at the Fort Worth event.

BIG Influenceable guy, responded Xaviaer DuRousseau, who also attended the event and works with Pearson at PragerU, an activist group that pushes alternative educational materials aimed at young conservatives.

PragerU  which was recently allowed to provide curriculum to Florida public schools despite being unaccredited  did not respond to requests for comment about its relationship with Influenceable or requests to make DuRousseau or Pearson available for interviews.

Promoting movies, coming to Paxtons defense

In the weeks after the Fort Worth event, a pattern emerged on many attendees social media profiles: In posts to Instagram Reels, TikTok or X, they warned their hundreds of thousands of collective followers about an issue that is rarely talked about or is being swept under the rug  human trafficking.

They frequently listed misleading statistics about the annual rate of abducted or missing children, sometimes inserting their own conspiracy theories about globalists and Hollywood elites running trafficking rings aided by Democratic immigration policies.

Actor Jim Caviezel at the Sound of Freedom movie premiere in Miami Beach, Florida, on June 23, 2022. Credit: Alberto E. Tamargo/Sipa USA via REUTERS

And then theyd pivot to their calls to action, telling followers they could save innocent kids and fight evil liberals by simply going to see a new movie, Sound of Freedom, and urging others to do the same.

The movie tells the story of Operation Underground Railroad and its founder, Tim Ballard, who has for years been condemned by anti-trafficking groups for his flirtation with QAnon conspiracy theories and for his groups methods, which experts say endanger children and interfere with the work of local child protection agencies.

The films star, Jim Caviezel, is also a leading QAnon figure who has said he believes that global elites derive their power from adrenaline extracted from children as they are raped or tortured  an extreme QAnon theory that borrows heavily from Nazi and other antisemitic propaganda.

Since leaving the Fort Worth event, Parscale and nine other attendees posted about Sound of Freedom at least 50 times, often using the same talking points, promotional hashtags and studio-quality movie clips. As criticism of the movie poured in, many of them alleged that the pushback was part of a sinister and coordinated attack by Democrats and the media. Jeffrey Epsteins name was sometimes invoked.

Sound of Freedom exposes the dark realities of human trafficking that are largely ignored by legacy media, and perpetuated by left-wing open border policy, wrote Blake Kresses, a Fort Worth-based podcaster who previously worked for Jeff Younger, an anti-transgender activist whose unsuccessful 2022 Texas House campaign was financed by one of Dunns groups.

Liberals, why are you so mad that people are trying to bring awareness to human trafficking? Is there something going on there? asked Vince Dao, a conservative influencer with 196,000 Instagram followers. Everyone watching this: Be sure to go see Sound of Freedom to send them a message.

The films producer, Angel Studios, did not respond to multiple requests for comment about its relationship with Influenceable. Neither Kresses, Dao or others responded to Instagram messages, texts or phone calls.

Some of the attendees have since begun posting about a new anti-vaccination film, Remedy, that prominently features Kennedy Jr., whose presidential bid has been bankrolled by a super PAC run by Boles, the Today Is America CFO.

The influencers have also been vocal about Paxton, parroting anti-impeachment talking points favored by his biggest donors  including Defend Texas Liberty PAC, which gave $18,000 to a similarly named company, Influencable LLC, shortly before the Texas Houses investigation into Paxton was made public.

In the 48 hours before the Texas House voted to impeach Paxton on May 27, at least six of the Fort Worth event attendees made strikingly similar posts in which they accused House Speaker Dade Phelan of being an alcoholic, claimed Republicans in Name Only  RINOs  were attacking Paxton for his conservative values, and used a handful of unique hashtags such as #TXKangarooCourt and #TexasCorruption to rail against the House investigation.

Other major social media figures who were not at the Fort Worth event, but are pictured on Influenceables website, made similar posts supporting Paxton and condemning House leaders.

More recently, Influenceable appears to be recruiting social media figures to share posts about a new film that claims the Texas Legislature is secretly controlled by Democrats intent on destroying Paxton, a claim that has for years been pushed by Dunn-backed groups.

Screenshots of one of the recruitment pitches, which were published recently by the conservative website Current Revolt, offer influencers $50 for sharing one post about the film. Also listed were links to a payment website and to a tweet by Michael Quinn Sullivan, the longtime leader of Texas Scorecard, a far-right website thats received millions of dollars from Dunn.

Defend Texas Liberty PAC is also primarily funded by Dunn and another West Texas oil billionaire, Farris Wilks. And the social media manager for Pale Horse Strategies  a consulting firm for Dunn-backed political campaigns  also attended the Fort Worth event.

Defend Texas Liberty and Texas Scorecard have for years been among Paxtons biggest donors, defenders and cheerleaders. Texas Scorecard did not respond to interview requests. The leader of Defend Texas Liberty PAC declined requests for comment.

In other screenshots published by Current Revolt, the company offered $50 to influencers to share a specific post from Paxtons personal X account by July 26. The recruitment text includes the name and number for Influencables head of recruitment operations and links to a payment portal thats run by a company that Influenceables website lists as a partner.

On July 26, DuRousseau shared the Paxton post to his 144,000 followers, adding that there are few patriots in leadership like Ken Paxton.

Dao also shared the post: RINOs in Texas are still trying to impeach Ken Paxton, he wrote. STOP THE WITCH HUNT!

The Texas Tribune reviewed four of the leading influencers profiles on X and Instagram dating to January 2021 and found that most rarely  if ever  posted about Texas politics or Paxton prior to May. Pearson led the Teens for Ted (Cruz) group in 2015. Other than occasional posts about the border or gerrymandering, he does not appear to have frequently engaged with Texas politics. Dao has posted a few times about the border, while DuRousseaus profile has primarily focused on race issues and anti-Black Lives Matter posts.

Kresses, who lives in Texas and served on Youngers campaign, has been more vocal about state-level politics, telling his 14,000 Instagram followers to vote for Paxton and unsuccessful Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake in 2022, and urging them to vote no on a Michigan ballot measure to expand voting access  a post that he disclosed was a paid political advertisement.

Getting paid by God-knows-who

Influenceables tactics have been condemned by figures from across the conservative political spectrum.

Well-known white supremacist Nick Fuentes has repeatedly railed against the company, accusing it of working with Jewish political figures to paint him as an informant to federal law enforcement. Fuentes has also taken issue with the lack of disclosure by social media figures about their ties to the company.

Why are they so afraid of people finding out about Influenceable? Fuentes said during a February podcast. Is it because people arent supposed to know that influencers are getting paid by God-knows-who to literally follow instructions like animals?

The Federal Trade Commission says social media influencers should make it obvious when they have a material connection  including any financial, employment, personal or family relationship  with a brand.

But campaign law experts say there is little that state or federal regulators can do to force more disclosures when it comes to political messaging.

Ian Vandewalker, an expert on the influence of money in politics and elections at the Brennan Center, said federal campaign regulations have not been seriously updated since the early 2000s. He said outdated rules, coupled with recent court rulings, have allowed dark-money groups and popular social media figures to have outsized  and often undisclosed  sway over political discourse.

The laws around disclosure of campaign spending assumed a traditional model, like paying somebody to print your ad in the newspaper or paying a TV station to play your ad on the air, he said. Paying an influencer to talk about a candidate doesnt fit into those traditional definitions, and so its slipping through the cracks.

In Texas, there are some restrictions on out-of-state donations and on when donors can give to certain politicians, campaigns and specific-purpose committees. The state also requires disclosures of express advocacy political advertising, which the Texas Ethics Commission says is undefined by law but includes any time a candidate, a candidates agent, or a political action committee authorizes political advertising.

Groups and individuals who are not directly connected to candidates or campaigns are also required to make disclosures if they are clearly advocating for the election or defeat of a candidate or for the passage or defeat of a measure.

But the states rules otherwise "allow dark money to run amok and do whatever it wants, said Roger Borgelt, an Austin lawyer who specializes in campaign finance and election law.

If youre not actually advocating for or against the election of someone or a proposition, then you pretty much fall outside most regulations, he said.

State Rep. Tom Oliverson, R-Cypress, on the House floor at the state Capitol in Austin on May 12, 2023. Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune

Oliverson, the Republican state representative, said hed like to address those gaps when the Legislatures next regular session begins in 2025. Though he declined to comment on promotions regarding Paxton because of a gag rule ahead of Paxtons impeachment trial, Oliverson said he was deeply troubled by the idea that influencers are getting paid to advocate for positions without revealing their financial stakes.

Im somebody who cares about truth and motivation, he said. I really dislike manufactured outrage and manufactured narratives. I prefer people to be honest, straightforward and truthful. And so I do think that, at a bare minimum, these things should have to be disclosed.

The full program is now LIVE for the 2023 Texas Tribune Festival, happening Sept. 21-23 in Austin. Explore the program featuring more than 100 unforgettable conversations coming to TribFest. Panel topics include the biggest 2024 races and whats ahead, how big cities in Texas and around the country are changing, the integrity of upcoming elections and so much more. See the full program.
Fulton County DA Fani Willis. Prince Williams/Wireimage/Getty Images

A court document in Georgia indicated Trump would be criminally charged under 13 different statutes.

The top charge would be RICO, over his efforts to overturn election results.

The document was pulled down after a few moments, according to Reuters.

The Fulton County Courts website briefly posted  and then removed  a document indicating former President Donald Trump would be charged under 13 different criminal statutes for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia, according to Reuters.

The document, which was posted online by Reuters reporter Jack Queen, appeared to indicate Trump would face 39 charges overall, with a top charge of racketeering, also known as RICO.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis began presenting evidence from her investigation to the grand jury, which is based in Atlanta, on Monday morning.

Her office has spent years investigating efforts to overturn Georgia's election results, sparked in part by Trump's request to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to "find 11,780 votes" that would close the voting gap between him and now-President Joe Biden in the state.

Last year, Willis empaneled a special grand jury that met for eight months and heard evidence from dozens of witnesses, including top Georgia officials and Trump aides, but did not have the power to bring criminal charges. Trump's attorneys have unsuccessfully sought to block Willis from using the special grand jury's report  which largely remains secret  to bring a criminal case against Trump.

In a statement published later Monday afternoon, Nicholas Cotten, a spokesperson for the Fulton County courts system, said "a fictitious document" was circulating online related to the special grand jury.

"As the official custodian of various county records, the Clerk of Courts understands the sensitivity of all court filings, especially those that are at the forefront of the national spotlight and remains committed to operating with an extreme level of efficiency, accuracy, and transparency," Cotten said.

Trump said on Truth Social that he expects to be criminally charged in Atlanta this week in what would be his fourth criminal case since April.

The current grand jury has been moving more quickly than expected. Two witnesses who were scheduled to testify before it on Tuesday had their meetings moved up to Monday, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The document briefly posted on the court website Monday indicates Trump will be charged with RICO, soliciting public officials to violate their oaths of office, conspiracy, and filing false statements. A spokesperson for the Fulton County Superior Court declined to comment.

Willis's investigation includes Trump's pressure campaign against Raffensperger and other public officials to manipulate the vote count, as well as a state Republican Party plot to have fake electors submit documents to Congress falsely declaring Trump the winner of Georgia's electoral college votes.

The prosecutor has used Georgia's RICO statute numerous times before in her career. Legal experts say that Willis could use the statute to argue in an indictment that Trump and other officials formed a "corrupt enterprise" to attempt to keep him in office.

Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smith earlier this month brought a set of criminal charges against Trump in Washington, DC, over his efforts to stay in power by subverting the election results. His indictment also covers Trump pressuring Georgia officials to "find" votes and conspiring with others to use false electors to convince Congress to declare him the winner of the 2020 election.

Read the original article on Business Insider
News media gathered outside the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta on Monday ahead of a coming grand jury decision on whether or not to indict former President Donald Trump on charges of interfering with the 2020 presidential vote count in the state. Photo by Erik S. Lesser/EPA-EFE

Aug. 14 (UPI) -- A Georgia grand jury heard from a series of witnesses in Atlanta on Monday as it considered possible indictments against former President Donald Trump, based on allegations of vote tampering in the 2020 presidential election.

Should he be hit with state charges in Georgia, it would be Trump's fourth criminal case in the news in recent months. He already is facing federal criminal charges brought by special counsel Jack Smith for allegations of 2020 election interference and his possession of classified documents, as well as state charges in New York over alleged hush-money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis on Monday began laying out her case prior to the jury weighing a decision on a potential indictment, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. That decision would bring the two-year long investigation to a new stage and likely start a new chapter in the ever-growing legal battles for the former president.

Willis' presentation was initially expected to last about two days, but the proceedings appeared to be moving quickly as one witness, freelance journalist George Chidi, indicated he would testify Monday after saying over the weekend he was scheduled to testify on Tuesday.

"Change of plans. I'm going to court today," he wrote in a post on X, the social-media platform formerly known as Twitter. "They're moving faster than they thought."

Former state Rep. Bee Nguyen and former state Sen. Jen Jordan, both Democrats, were also seen entering and leaving the courthouse.

The two former state lawmakers were part of legislative committees that in December 2020 heard testimony from Trump's personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, in which the former New York mayor raised alarms about what the Trump campaign called "widespread fraud" in the state's 2020 presidential election. No such voter fraud was ever found.

Nguyen confirmed her grand jury appearance in a statement released on Monday.

"We all have a duty to preserve our democracy," she wrote. "We owe this duty to the great individuals that fought and sacrificed to create and pass down this democracy to us, and we owe this duty to future generations that cannot pick up the mantle yet."

Trump, meanwhile, blasted the proceedings in several social media posts Monday, including one in which he repeated unsubstantiated claims that it was unnamed others who "tampered" with Georgia's vote count.

"No, I didn't tamper with the election! Those who rigged & stole the election were the ones doing the tampering, & they are the slime that should be prosecuted," he said in the post on Truth Social.

At the center of the case in Fulton County is a phone call Trump made to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. In the conversation, Trump pressured Raffensperger to "find" the votes he needed to overtake Biden in the election.

Giuliani and several more members of Trump's inner circle also were allegedly involved in pressuring state officials.

An indictment by the state of Georgia for election interference would differ from the federal charges issued by Department of Justice in several important ways, including a broader scope focusing not just on Trump, himself, and the insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021, but also on alleged accomplices such as Giuliani and more than a dozen "fake presidential electors."

Several of the would-be electors have struck plea bargain deals and Willis is expected to seek charges against more than a dozen people in total, CNN reported last week.

The network cited sources saying Willis is seeking to bring conspiracy and racketeering charges against Trump and the others, using the same kinds of charges frequently deployed against Mafia bosses in order to take down entire criminal organizations.
Donald Trump is expected to face his fourth criminal indictment next week, in the state of Georgia

The first count in the Georgia indictment charges Donald Trump and 18 others with racketeering for their alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in the state.

Announcing the charges, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis implicated the former president in a sprawling election subversion conspiracy, with him as the ringleader.

"The indictment alleges that rather than abide by Georgia's legal process for election challenges, the defendants engaged in a criminal, racketeering enterprise to overturn Georgia's presidential election results," she said.

These are the fourth set of criminal charges brought against Mr Trump in recent months, but it is the first time a former American president faces charges once used to convict mob bosses like John Gotti and Vincent Gigante.

Organised criminal activity in the US is routinely prosecuted under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (Rico) Act.

Rico laws help prosecutors connect the dots between underlings who broke laws and those who gave them marching orders.

More than 30 US states have implemented their own versions of the federal government's Rico Act and Georgia's adaptation is broader in scope than most.

Federal Rico statutes list 35 crimes that would qualify as evidence of racketeering, but Georgia's Rico laws choose from a list of 65.

Prosecutors are required to show that a criminal "enterprise" exists and to detail a pattern of racketeering that rests on at least two qualifying crimes.

Rudy Giuliani (center) may face charges in any Rico indictment

The Rico Act is a storytelling tool prosecutors can use "to really capture what happened here in the aftermath of the election and to prosecute the full scope of the conspiracy," says Anthony Michael Kreis, a law professor at Georgia State University.

"There were so many different bad actors in Georgia working to undermine the election and to overthrow the vote count. Donald Trump is at the centre of it, but he was working in a broader orbit."

Penalties under Georgia's Rico Act are steep - prison terms between five and 20 years, or fines of up to $250,000 (197,000) - and can help persuade subordinates to cut deals with the prosecution in exchange for lesser sentences.

Such incidents could generate a wave of never-before-seen evidence and testimony prosecutors can use against the alleged ringleaders, Mr Kreis argues.

But to convict Mr Trump himself, prosecutors will have to show the former president was "not some kind of passive participant" following legal advice, but the man "driving the bus", he says.

The campaign was "very sloppy, left a paper trail everywhere they went and had no shame in covering up what they did," says Mr Kreis. "That means there are nuggets of information out there."

Mr Trump is already facing federal charges from the US Department of Justice over his false election claims, in a trial whose evidence could factor into, and overlap with, the case in Georgia.

He is also awaiting trial over his alleged mishandling of classified documents and his hush-money payments to a porn star.

District Attorney Willis, a Democrat, has used the state's racketeering laws for high-profile prosecutions in the past.

In 2013, she led the prosecution - on Rico charges - of Atlanta public school teachers and administrators accused of cheating on state-run standardised tests in order to secure bonuses and promotions.

"You don't, under Rico, have to have a formal, sit-down dinner meeting where you eat spaghetti," Ms Willis explained as she indicted nearly three dozen educators about a decade ago.

Rico is a tool that helps prosecutors tell the whole story, says Fani Willis

"But what you do have to do is all be doing the same thing for the same purpose. You all have to be working towards that same goal."

Eleven of 12 officials were ultimately convicted at trial, the longest in state history, with most other co-conspirators taking guilty pleas.

Famous Rico cases include John Gotti and Young Thug

Last year, Ms Willis leaned on Rico statutes again to allege that Grammy-winning rapper Young Thug and 27 associates at his YSL music label are a "criminal street gang".

"The reason that I am a fan of Rico is, I think jurors are very, very intelligent," she said at a news conference to announce the charges.

"They want to know what happened. They want to make an accurate decision about someone's life. And so Rico is a tool that allows a prosecutor's office and law enforcement to tell the whole story."

But a trial that was set to begin this past January is now eight months into a glacial jury selection process, with thousands of jurors excused and not a single juror seated.

That has left Young Thug sitting in jail for 15 months, while a handful of his YSL co-defendants have taken plea deals or had their cases separated from the trial.

"I am hoping Fani Willis has learned from this YSL case when Donald Trump's case finally gets to that level," said Keisha Steed, an Atlanta defence attorney. "The way it's playing out has been a mess!"

She said Ms Willis's office did not seem "prepared for the number of jurors that they had to call in, the logistics of having everybody be in one place, the time it takes for all attorneys to question jurors".

The plodding pace of Young Thug's trial has set it on course to beat the record set by the Atlanta educators' trial as the longest in state history.

That is not unusual for multi-defendant and multi-attorney Rico cases, which can create major backlogs in the legal system.

"The whole courthouse is basically closed," said Meg Strickler, another local defence attorney.

"I hate the Rico Act," she added, saying clients are frequently intimidated by the penalties they could face, and the time and money needed to defend themselves.

And, given how lengthy and complicated Rico trials are, she expects the Trump trial will prove a confusing and uncomfortable affair for a jury, if one can eventually be seated.

"Jurors are going to fall asleep long before they understand it," Ms Strickler predicted.
A sprawling, multi-defendant indictment. An ex-presidents trial televised for the world to watch. Potential charges typically used for organized crime.

Before charges have even been announced, the possible indictment of former President Trump in Georgia  hinging on his efforts to overturn the states 2020 election results to remain in power  already has the makings of a watershed moment in U.S. history.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D) has signaled charges in her years-long investigation are imminent, setting the stage for the former presidents fourth indictment this year. Trumps prior charges have stemmed from probes into his business dealings, handling of classified documents and behavior after losing the 2020 presidential race.

The work is accomplished, Willis recently said. Weve been working for two-and-a-half years. Were ready to go.

A partial grand jury report released in February included charging recommendations, and an April letter from Willis to police indicated that charges could come near summers end.

The Georgia probe is expected to produce the last Trump indictment after months of back-to-back charges. But its broad scope and potential consequence  likely to play out on the world stage  sets it apart from the rest.

Broader case

While the Georgia case would deal with a narrower set of facts than the Justice Departments election interference case, focusing only on Trumps conduct in the Peach State, in many ways its a broader case.

The Justice Departments indictment of Trump was narrowly focused on the former president, casting him as the ringleader of a far-reaching plot across federal and state governments.

While it lists six co-conspirators, they remain unindicted.

Meanwhile, Willis has sent target letters to at least 17 individuals notifying them that their conduct was being reviewed in the probe. That group includes former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani, as well as 16 Georgians who agreed to serve as fake electors in the campaign. Half of them, however, have since struck immunity deals.

But its possible Willis may cast an even wider net.

And while federal prosecutors brought charges on four counts in its Jan. 6 case, Georgia law includes several statutes that could be used for charging numerous defendants.

Who else might be charged

Williss investigation has multiple targets beyond Trump, including those in his inner orbit and individuals who aided in efforts to overturn the election results in Georgia.

Those individuals could soon find themselves indicted alongside the former president. The foreperson of a special grand jury convened in the investigation has publicly said they recommended multiple indictments, and CNN reported that Willis is expected to seek charges against more than a dozen people.

Some of the potential defendants overlap with the unindicted co-conspirators in Trumps federal criminal case stemming from the 2020 election, such as Giuliani, who pressured legislators during multiple committee hearings convened following the election.

Its possible the indictment could also touch on others close to Trump who received little attention in the federal case, such as former chief of staff Mark Meadows.

Willis in particular has probed an infamous Jan. 2, 2021, phone call in which Trump told Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R), I just want to find 11,780 votes, the margin Trump needed to overturn Joe Bidens victory in the state.

Also on the call with Trump were Meadows and attorneys Cleta Mitchell, Kurt Hilbert and Alex Kaufman.

The probe has also reportedly looked at a breach into an elections office in Coffee County, a rural area of Georgia located south of Atlanta, one day after the Capitol riot.

Footage that surfaced in September 2022 showed a forensics team working for Sidney Powell, an attorney allied with Trump, gaining access to the office and copying data from voting machines.

Charges will differ

With charges expected to cover a greater number of defendants, the case is also likely to tap a wider number of statues than Trumps federal case.

Some experts say Georgias Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) law could be an asset in bringing a case against Trump and several co-conspirators.

RICO statutes are typically used for organized crime, but the Georgia statute is broader than its federal counterpart and can be geared toward any enterprise, enabling the use of the statute for a wider variety of conduct.

Doing so would help weave together different elements of the Trump campaigns efforts, connecting a plot carried out by numerous actors, but it would also allow prosecutors to sweep in criminal statutes in Georgia that arent directly tied to elections  such as making false statements and computer trespassing, following the Coffee County incident.

The various pressure campaigns on state officials could each support charges for criminal solicitation of election fraud and implicate other statutes that bar seeking to interfere with an official carrying out their duties, including those involved with overseeing an election.

The false elector scheme could trigger other charges, including interference with primaries and elections and conspiracy to commit election fraud.

Transparency in court proceedings

The unique rules that run Georgias courts could also set it apart from Trumps other criminal cases.

Historically in Georgia, there has been a value on transparency, said Anthony Michael Kreis, a law professor at Georgia State University. Thats not thats not the case in other jurisdictions.

Federal courts by and large prohibit the photographing and broadcasting of judicial proceedings from courtrooms, while state courts have grown more lenient over time.

The court in Fulton County, however, is comfortable with televising proceedings, Kreis said. In fact, Judge Robert C.I. McBurney of the Fulton County Superior Court  who has overseen matters tied to Georgias Trump investigation so far  has a YouTube channel where he televises his courts proceedings.

Given this information, its likely Trumps case will be televised  from pretrial proceedings through a possible trial. The outcome would grant unprecedented public access to one of the most high-profile trials in U.S. history.

It would really afford the public to see and to evaluate evidence for themselves, and to also understand, or at least appreciate, the process involved  to kind of get a sense of why things are happening the way that they are, as opposed to having to filter everything through court sketches and reports from the courtroom, Kreis said.

Additionally, members of the grand jury deciding which charges Trump will face in Georgia  or whether hell face any at all  will be made public if an indictment is handed down. Georgia law specifies the format of indictments, which includes space on the paperwork to list the grand jurors names.

That might encourage some jurors to speak out about their deliberations, offering insight into their decision-making.

I think that their willingness to be put in the public eye will kind of dictate how some of that works, Kreis said.

No quick, easy out

In the two federal cases where Trump faces criminal charges, questions have swirled over how Trump might use a future presidential reelection to evade potential consequences.

Some have speculated that Trump could direct his Justice Department to stop investigating the cases against him, or that he could issue a self-pardon on any conviction. But Georgias case is different, said Alan Rozenshtein, a law professor at the University of Minnesota.

Trump cant pardon himself, nor can he direct Fani Willis to dismiss charges, he said.

The Constitution grants the president the ability to issue pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment. But one of the pardon clauses two caveats  that clemency may only be granted for offenses against the U.S., not individual states  would prevent Trump from exonerating himself after a conviction in Georgia.

Only the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles could issue a pardon to Trump if he is convicted of criminal charges in the state, according to Kreis. Even then, the board can only consider a pardon if the convicted individual has fulfilled their sentence and five years have elapsed, he said.

There is no quick, easy out for Donald Trump  or any person convicted of a felony  in the state of Georgia, Kreis said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A Fulton County Superior Court judge finds himself at the center of the Georgia investigation looking into former President Trumps efforts to overturn the states 2020 election results as a potential fourth indictment looms over the former president.

Judge Robert C.I. McBurney oversaw the special grand jury tasked with reviewing election interference in 2020 that released a partial report about its findings earlier this year and is now overseeing the grand jury where District Attorney Fani Willis (D) is presenting her case ahead of possible charges in connection to the investigation.

Willis has signaled that charges in her years-long investigation are imminent, meaning that Trump could face his fourth indictment this year in the coming days. Its unclear whether McBurney will be assigned to Trumps case if he ends up being indicted.

McBurney was appointed by former Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal (R) in 2012 to succeed former Judge Marvin Arrington. Since then, McBurney has been elected three times to serve as a judge of the Georgia 5th Superior Court District, Atlanta Circuit.

He had previously served as the assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Georgia and the assistant district attorney of Fulton County, according to the courts website.

Last month, McBurney rejected Trumps efforts to quash the investigation looking into the potential interference during the 2020 election. He wrote in a ruling that Trumps arguments were either insufficient or else speculative and unrealized.

They are insufcient because, while being the subject (or even target) of a highly publicized criminal investigation is likely an unwelcome and unpleasant experience, no court ever has held that that status alone provides a basis for the courts to interfere with or halt the investigation, he wrote.

Trump has also sued McBurney and Willis in a separate lawsuit alongside his petition to the Georgia supreme court  an additional attempt to quash the investigation.

Petitioners every attempt to seek redress in the normal course have been ignored, and the District Attorney has given every indication that the injury is imminent, Trump wrote in the petition last month.

McBurney also issued a separate ruling early in the investigation barring Willis from investigating then-state Sen. Burt Jones, who served as one of the 16 fake electors in the state and is now its lieutenant governor. Willis had previously thrown a fundraiser last year for a Democratic candidate who would go on to face off against Jones in the lieutenant governors race.

This scenario creates a plain  and actual and untenable  conflict, McBurney wrote in his order disqualifying Willis from pursuing Jones at the time. Any decision the District Attorney makes about Senator Jones in connection with the grand jury investigation is necessarily infected by it.

McBurney was also the judge who overturned Georgias ban on abortion starting about six weeks into a pregnancy in November, saying it was plainly unconstitutional.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
American troops landing on Slapton Sands in England during rehearsals for the invasion of Normandy.

In November 1943, Adolf Hitler gave a legitimately smart order. The mustachioed, racist madman issued Directive Number 51, ordering a strategic pivot from their eastern front to the west. Basically, he wanted Germany's forces to focus on preventing an American and British landing and reduce the focus on the Soviet Union. The Kriegsmarine eventually ordered that all vessels risk themselves to prevent Allied success. And they hit pay dirt with Exercise Tiger.

And, on the night of April 27, a group of German S-boats patrolling near the coast of England found an American flotilla practicing to land at D-Day. They launched an attack that led to approximately 700 American deaths. Worse, Allied miscommunications led to another 300 friendly fire deaths.

More Americans died in the fraught practice for Utah Beach than at the actual assault on Utah Beach. Here's how it happened.

The German preparations for a landing

We're big fans of pointing out how stupid and ill-prepared for leadership the Nazis were. Just looking at Hitler, he was a drug addict who faced multiple assassination attempts, had smelly pee, made a dumb attempt at invading the U.S., relied on a Jewish test pilot, was obsessed with Clark Gable, and launched an invasion while its industrial base was weak.

But every once in a while, even the horribly groomed, occult-obsessed Hitler made a good decision. And we have to admit that desperately launching his remaining navy and nearly eradicated air force into the West did pay off.

The Germans sent some of their few remaining Luftwaffe reconnaissance planes to the southeast coast of England. Those reconnaissance planes found a lot of evidence of the upcoming landings.

According to a Navy history:

What German reconnaissance saw was the military buildup in Exercise Tigers staging areathe harbors and inlets around Portsmouth. At Spithead roadstead, the Germans counted more than 200 trucks. In and around Southampton, they observed ships, including destroyers; troop transporters; and a great many LSTs and land vehicles. At Portsmouth Harbour, the Germans sighted cruisers, destroyers, and smaller vessels and vehicles. At Pagham, Chichester, Langstone, and Exbury harbors, as well as in the mouth of the river Hamble, the Germans spied still more landing vessels. "Exercise Tiger: Disaster at Slapton Sands," History.Navy.mil

But a lot of those ships had a prior mission first. Force U had orders to practice a shore landing. Force U would land at Slapton Shores in hyper-realistic conditions. It would compile lessons learned and apply them before its D-Day mission at Utah Beach.

The practice landings were named Exercise Tiger.

And Germany knew that those American and British vessels would be on the move at some point.

Exercise Tiger

Force U and Exercise Tiger made the landings as realistic as they could. They loaded the vehicles with fuel. Troops carried their full combat load. The landing ships were completely filled with weapons, vehicles, and soldiers. Both inland artillery and naval artillery used live ammo for the exercise.

And the S-boats went on patrol to look for them. Unfortunately, the German S-boats, fast attack craft armed with torpedoes, found the force.

The first troops of Force U hit the beaches on the morning of April 27. Follow-on waves hit the beaches throughout the day and into the night. Overnight, a convoy of eight LSTs approached the beach. But that was the one the S-boats found.

The German Schnellbootes, also known as S-boats or E-boats, rarely fought in groups of more than 30 or so. But they could inflict serious damage for a few moments or hours if they caught a convoy unawares.

The boats that attacked overnight April 27-28 were spotted multiple times, but the soldiers and ships' crews taking part in the exercise were in the dark, literally and figuratively. In the dark of night, unsure of which ships were involved in the exercise, and unable to use their radios except for emergencies, the forces that spotted the nine S-boats failed to report the threat or respond to it.

When the nine S-boats spotted the eight LSTs, they lined up for a torpedo attack. At least one, LST-507, sighted green tracer fire and ordered its crew to battle stations.

Sherman DD tank at the Torcross memorial.

The German attack on Exercise Tiger

At just past 2 a.m., the Germans launched the first torpedo at LST-507 and got exceptionally lucky. The torpedo slammed right into the auxiliary engine room and cut all of the ship's electric power. Soon, the order to abandon ship rang out.

As one officer remembered:

The assistant navigator and I jumped over the side of the LST into the near freezing water 25 feet below. The sea around the ship was covered with an oil slick from the badly damaged LST, and the surface was on fire. Steve Sadlon, as quoted in History.com

Soon, another salvo of torpedoes passed right under one LST and then shredded another.

A flare broke over our head, over our ship. I said, 'Oh my god, we're gonna get it.' And apparently we didn't. It must have gone under us, see, because [the] LST was a flat-bottom boat. I looked to the stern and saw LST 531 or 532 get torpedoed. Paul Gerolstein, in NPR

It was LST-531, and it sunk in about 10 minutes after two torpedoes hit it.

A final attack against LST-289 did serious damage to the ship but left the crew alive. The crew managed to make it to shore.

With the ships of Exercise Tiger widely spaced out and the LSTs ordered to a different radio frequency than the shore installations and one escort ship, few realized that a real fight had broken out.

The Fallout

It took two hours for rescue and response to get underway. And when it did, the rescuers didn't have most of the normal tools for fighting extreme hypothermia.

Officers and historians attempted to figure out the death count. Numbers vary, but most historians today think the losses were about 700. Compare that to an actual Utah Beach casualty count on D-Day of 197 dead and wounded.

Miraculously for the actual landings, every deceased officer with Top Secret documents on their person was found, meaning that the real landing plans were safe from Nazi discovery.

But the Army and Navy did learn from the disasters. They remade the communications plans to get rid of the chaos and miscommunications from Exercise Tiger. The military got better life preservers and trained soldiers in their use and in ship evacuations.

Most importantly, the Allied air forces launched a campaign to annihilate and cage up the S-boats before D-Day. The campaign was largely successful and prevented a serious raid on the actual D-Day beaches.
Germany's Finance Minister Christian Lindner arrived in Kyiv on Aug. 14 for his first official visit to Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.

Upon arrival in Kyiv, Lindner said that "we stand at Ukraine's side, shoulder to shoulder" and that he wanted to discuss how his ministry could support Ukraine in the future.

"Ukraine must not lose this war," he told reporters. Lindner last traveled to Ukraine in 2020.

He met Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko to discuss further financial assistance, weapons supplies, and the situation in the capital.

The visit comes after unconfirmed claims from a Ukrainian member of parliament, Yehor Cherniev, that Germany plans to send long-range Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. Cherniev is also the head of Ukraine's delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

The claim is yet to be confirmed by Germany. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was cautious and "did not want to be rushed on this issue" when questioned about Taurus missiles in an interview with public broadcaster ZDF on Aug. 13.

Taurus missiles have a range of up to 500 kilometers. This means Ukraine could use them to strike deep into Russian-occupied territories, including Crimea.

In May, German media reported that Ukraine had submitted a request asking Germany to supply long-range cruise missiles.

In July, Scholz said that Germany expects to provide Ukraine with $19 billion, or 17 billion euros, in arms deliveries until 2027.

Scholz said the calculations began in 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion, and track projected spending until the year 2027.

The $19 billion estimate only accounts for weapons donated or financed by Germany and does not include other forms of aid to Ukraine.

Read also: This Week in Ukraine Ep. 20  Tragedy of civilian life in Donbas





Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
(Bloomberg) -- German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was stranded in Abu Dhabi for more than 18 hours Monday en route to Australia after a technical fault on her government Airbus A340-300 forced the pilot to return to the United Arab Emirates capital after a refueling stop.

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A malfunction meant the wing flaps on the aircraft  which is more than two deacades old and has a history of mechanical problems  could not be retracted correctly and the plane had to jettison fuel before it was light enough to land safely back in Abu Dhabi, the German air force said in a tweet. German news agency DPA reported that around 80 tons of kerosene was dumped.

Flight tracking website Radarbox.com showed the aircraft taking off from Abu Dhabi at 3:33 a.m. local time and circling for almost 2 hours before landing again at 5:33 a.m. The plane, registered as 16+01, flew for 12 years with Deutsche Lufthansa AG before it was acquired by the German air force for VIP transport.

It was not clear when Baerbock, who has a number of appointments in Canberra on Tuesday, would be able to continue her journey, either on the government plane or a commercial flight. As of 4:50 p.m. in Berlin, the minister was still on the ground in Abu Dhabi, according to a foreign ministry spokeswoman.

Baerbocks aircraft is the same one that was forced to turn back to Cologne with former Chancellor Angela Merkel on board on her way to a Group of 20 summit in Buenos Aires in late 2018. Current Chancellor Olaf Scholz, finance minister and vice chancellor at the time, was also on the flight, which was aborted due to an issue with the planes electronics systems.

Just weeks earlier, Scholz was delayed in returning from Bali, Indonesia, when damage to wiring inflicted by rodents incapacitated the aircraft.

The German government is phasing out the aging, four-engine A340s and replacing them with advanced and fuel-efficient A350 twin-jets. The Luftwaffe, which operates the aircraft, has taken delivery of two of three A350s from Lufthansa Technik AG, which fitted out the interiors of the planes.

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UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Ukraine at the UN headquarters in New York

BERLIN (Reuters) -German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Tuesday her planned week-long trip to the Indo-Pacific region had to be cancelled due to repeated mechanical issues with her government plane.

"We have tried everything: unfortunately it is logistically impossible to continue my Indo-Pacific trip without the defective plane. This is more than annoying," said Baerbock on X, formerly known as Twitter.

On Monday, the plane had attempted to make the journey from Abu Dhabi twice but was forced to return for safety reasons due to a technical malfunction with the wing flaps, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on X.

Baerbock had been due to travel to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.

Last year, Baerbock also had to cancel a trip to meet with her British counterpart, James Cleverly, due to poor weather.

In 2018, former Chancellor Angela Merkel missed the opening of the G20 summit in Argentina over a "serious malfunction" that forced her government plane to make an unscheduled landing.

(Reporting by Miranda Murray, Emma-Victoria Farr and Alexander Ratz; Editing by Lincoln Feast and Alison Williams)
The co-owner of a small Kansas newspaper, the Marion County Record, died a day after police launched a raid on her home and the newspaper's office. Police on Friday seized a computer and a router used by an Alexa smart speaker from the home of Joan Meyer, 98, Marion Country Record reported. Along with Meyer's home, police raided the paper's office, taking personal cellphones, computers, the newspaper's file server, and other miscellaneous equipment, per CBS News.

Eric Meyer, owner and publisher of the Record, said the police raid  which included Marion's entire five-officer police force as well as two deputies  came after a confidential source leaked sensitive documents to the paper. Recent news stories had circulated about a restaurant owner who had allegedly ousted reporters from a meeting with U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner, R-Kan., which followed with subsequent leaks about the owner's lack of a driver's license and drunk driving conviction. "It's going to have a chilling effect on us even tackling issues," Meyer said, along with "a chilling effect on people giving us information." The outlet's "first priority is to be able to publish next week," Meyer added. "But we also want to make sure no other news organization is ever exposed to the Gestapo tactics we witnessed today. We will be seeking the maximum sanctions possible under law."

Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody on Saturday defended the raid and said that "the judicial system that is being questioned will be vindicated" once further information comes to light. The Kansas Reflector reported that the search warrant, which was inked by Marion County District Court Magistrate Judge Laura Viar, seems to be in violation of federal law that upholds protections for journalists from having their materials searched and seized. "An attack on a newspaper office through an illegal search is not just an infringement on the rights of journalists but an assault on the very foundation of democracy and the public's right to know," said Emily Bradbury, executive director of the Kansas Press Association.
NEW YORK  Suspected serial killer Rex Heuermann has been removed from suicide watch, weeks after he was charged in the cold case murders of women whose bodies were found along Long Islands Gilgo Beach, officials said.

Heuermann, 59, an architect from Massapequa Park, had been placed under suicide watch at the Suffolk County Correctional Facility following his arrest last month in connection with the decades-old Gilgo Beach murders.

He was being evaluated by the countys mental health team.

He will continue to be evaluated periodically, Sheriff Errol Toulon said in a statement. His housing and security protocols have not changed.

Heuermann is still being held under extra precautions, according to Toulons spokeswoman Victoria DiStefano.

The change in suicide watch status was revealed during a special show on Investigation Discovery, ID Special Report: The Long Island Serial Killer, which was hosted by crime journalist and legal analyst Nancy Grace on Sunday night.

Heuermann was arrested July 13 and charged with three counts each of first- and second-degree murder in connection with the deaths of Melissa Barthelemy, 24, Amber Lynn Costello, 22, and Megan Waterman, 27.

All three womens remains were discovered in the marshes along Ocean Parkway near Gilgo State Park in December 2010.

Heuermann is also the prime suspect in the death of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, authorities said.

All four women were sex workers whose bodies were found along Ocean Parkway in Gilgo Beach.

After an extensive investigation, authorities identified the married father of two last year after a search of his vehicle registration showed he owned a dark green Chevrolet Avalanche previously linked to the unidentified killer, according to court documents. Hes denied the allegations.

Heuermann is due back in court Aug. 15. Last week, a Long Island judge ordered Heuermann to submit to a cheek swab for DNA testing.
Dozens dead from Maui wildfires: What we know about the victims

Devastating wildfires that erupted on the Hawaiian island of Maui on Aug. 8 have claimed the lives of at least 114 people while many more remain missing, according to authorities.

Officials on Maui have repeatedly warned that the death toll is expected to rise as they work to contain the active blazes and assess the damage.

Maui Strong: Charities to directly support wildfire relief efforts

Here's what we know about some of the victims.

Franklin Trejos, 68

PHOTO: Franklin Trejos is seen here in an undated file photo. (Courtesy Shannon Weber-Bogar)

Franklin Trejos, 68, died in the historic town of Lahaina on Aug. 8, his friend Shannon Weber-Bogar confirmed to ABC News.

Trejos, who was originally from Costa Rica, had been living for several years with Weber-Bogar and her husband, Geoff Bogar, at their home on Maui. When the inferno began in Lahaina, Trejos and Bogar stayed behind to try to save the house and help their neighbors, Weber-Bogar said.

Eventually, Trejos and Bogar tried to escape in separate cars. Bogar's car wouldn't start, so he broke a window to get out and was later rescued by police and taken to a local hospital. The next day, Bogar returned to find Trejos' remains inside another car on top of their beloved dog, a 3-year-old golden retriever named Sam, according to Weber-Bogar.

Trejos' niece Kika Perez Grant told ABC News that her uncle, whom she called "Frankie," was a "huge animal lover" and would always think of others before thinking of himself.

"And so even in his very last moments, he thought to protect," Perez Grant said.

"He was just a loving man. He was a free spirit, he was an adventurer, a nature lover, an animal lover, an artist," she added. "He was just a great person to be around. Energetic, he had so much gusto."

Perez Grant also recalled her uncle's great smile and love for chocolate milk.

"He was such a wonderful human," she said. "The best uncle, brother and friend."

Trejos was very close to his older sister, Perez Grant's mother, who has been living with stage 4 breast cancer. He always worried about her and "checked in on her quite often," according to Perez Grant.

"She never imagined losing her brother," Perez Grant said of her mother. "She always thought she would pass first."

Trejos would have turned 69 in September.

"This has been a tragic and heartbreaking loss for our family," Perez Grant told ABC News "To know that he must have been so scared or to imagine him suffering, there are no words."

Carole Hartley, 60

PHOTO: Carole Hartley is seen here in an undated file photo. (Courtesy Hartley Family)

Carole Hartley, 60, died in Lahaina on Aug. 8, her sister Donna Hartley confirmed to ABC News.

Carole's body was found by her longtime partner Charles on their property there. The couple were separated as they tried to flee the flames, Donna said.

Charles told Donna that he and Carole were about to get in their truck when it exploded in front of them. He said he told Carole to "run" and he thought she was in front of him running but he never saw her again, according to Donna.

Charles survived but suffered third-degree burns. He returned to their property on Aug. 12 to find human remains alongside Carole's watch and dental bridge, Donna said.

"It has to be her remains," Donna told ABC News. "Nobody else has been at our house."

Donna, who lives in Alabama, said she has struggled to sleep ever since and has been having nightmares.

"I have dreams my sister is on fire," she added.

Donna described her sister as a "beautiful" person. Carole would have turned 61 later in August.

"She had a heart of gold and she cared about other people more than herself," Donna said. "She was always that way."

Joe Schilling, 67

PHOTO: In an undated photo, Joe Schilling, 67, is seen on a golf course in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Courtesy of Bill Schilling)

Joe Schilling, 67, is believed to have died in Lahaina on Aug. 8, his family and friends confirmed to ABC News.

Schilling hasn't contacted his loved ones since the wildfire broke out in Lahaina that day. His family and friends said they believe he most likely died in the blaze, so they are working with authorities to submit DNA samples.

Based on accounts from those who interacted with Schilling on Aug. 8 as well as text messages he sent to a friend that afternoon, Schilling's loved ones believe he chose to stay behind at his apartment complex, Hale Mahaolu Eono, with several elderly residents who were unable to evacuate due to mobility issues.

In texts to his friend Corie Bluh, reviewed by ABC News, Schilling said there were "multiple houses on fire right across from me" and that he "can't leave can't see."

"We are trapped can't see a thing plus when u try to breath it burns ur lungs," he wrote.

"Breathing through wet towels," he added. "6 of us in one unit."

Schilling also sent photos to Bluh showing a nearby home on fire with thick smoke billowing into the air. In his last text message, Schilling warned: "Cars parked on the road now exploding."

Schilling had lived on Maui for the last 25 years and became known as "Uncle Joe." He met Bluh through her late husband at work years ago. When Bluh's husband, who she said suffered bouts of mental illness, took to to the sidelines of parenting, Schilling stepped in to mentor and help raise their five children.

"We were not the only people that knew him as Uncle Joe," Bluh told ABC News. "His name tag at work was Uncle Joe because he was just that guy that was there for everybody."

Schilling's pronounced role with the Bluh family and the larger community in Maui came as no surprise to his younger brother, Dan Schilling.

"His life, I would describe it with two words: It was selfless and without convention," Dan Schilling told ABC News.

"What Joe did allowed these people not to die alone," he added. "That's the great gesture he did that he sacrificed himself for."

Buddy Jantoc, 79

PHOTO: In an undated photo, Buddy Jantoc, center, is seen with his granddaughter Keshia Alakai and her husband. (Courtesy of The Family of Buddy Jantoc)

Maui County and the Maui Police Department confirmed that 79-year-old Lahaina resident Buddy Jantoc was among those killed in the wildfire.

Jantoc was originally from Honolulu and had lived in Lahaina for 30 years, his granddaughter, Keshia Alakai, told ABC News.

He most recently lived at Hale Mahaolu Eono, a senior housing complex, but was very independent and still able to drive, she said.

To Jantoc, "his family and his music was everything," Alakai said.

Jantoc is survived by two sons as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, according to Alakai.

"We were all close with him, we all had a special bond with him," she said.

"My Papa usually calls me for any little thing, you know? Just if it was raining a lot, or whatever, he would let me know. So not hearing from him for a couple of days, I already knew something was wrong," she said.

"I knew my Papa was older, but for him to be taken from us that way, I think that's what's the hardest to come to terms with," Alakai said.

She said she'll miss "his calls for the silly stuff," like birthday wishes and helping him place orders online.

"Just little simple stuff that we'll never get again."

Robert Dyckman, 74

Maui County and the Maui Police Department confirmed that 74-year-old Lahaina resident Robert Dyckman was among those killed in the wildfire.

Melva Benjamin, 71

The Maui Police Department confirmed that 71-year-old Lahaina resident Melva Benjamin was among those killed in the wildfire.

Benjamin's son-in-law, David Makua, told ABC News, "All I know is just -- I love my mom. Thats all. We're still waiting to hear about other family. So it's -- we're not over yet. We have other people still missing."

Virginia Dofa, 90

The Maui Police Department confirmed that 90-year-old Lahaina resident Virginia Dofa was among those killed in the wildfire.

Alfredo Galinato, 79

PHOTO: Alfredo Galinato, 79, who authorities said yesterday died in the Lahaina wildfire. (Courtesy Joshua Galinato)

The Maui Police Department confirmed that 79-year-old Lahaina resident Alfredo Galinato was among those killed in the wildfire.

Donna Gomes, 71

The Maui Police Department confirmed that 71-year-old Lahaina resident Donna Gomes was among those killed in the wildfire.

Angelita Vasquez,88

The Maui Police Department confirmed that 88-year-old Lahaina resident Angelita Vasquez was among those killed in the wildfire.

Conchita Sagudang , 75

The Maui Police Department confirmed that 75-year-old Lahaina resident Conchita Sagudang was among those killed in the wildfire.

Danilo Sagudang, 55

The Maui Police Department confirmed that 55-year-old Lahaina resident Danilo Sagudang was among those killed in the wildfire.

Rodolfo Rocutan, 76

The Maui Police Department confirmed that 76-year-old Lahaina resident Rodolfo Rocutan was among those killed in the wildfire.

Jonathan Somaoang, 76

The Maui Police Department confirmed that 76-year-old Lahaina resident Jonathan Somaoang was among those killed in the wildfire.

ABC News' Peter Charalambous, Sasha Pezenik, Alyssa Pone, Stephanie Wash, Marilyn Heck and Jennifer Watts contributed to this report.

Dozens dead from Maui wildfires: What we know about the victims originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The synopsis for a Fani Willis biopic would probably go something like this: In Fulton county, the first Black woman to serve as district attorney takes on an unlikely case. Willis grew up attending court with her father, a defense attorney and Black Panther. Now, she sits on the opposite side of the courtroom, hoping to indict a former president who sought to overturn election results and often espoused white supremacist rhetoric while doing so.

The films montage would pull from real life, depicting a determined, unflappable Willis relentlessly poring over documents, leading her team through the long work hours and security risks that come with bringing an indictment against an often inflammatory former president, even as national attention on the case reached a groundswell.

Related: Inside Trumps alternate electors plot to steal the vote in Georgia

Wed watch her face racist threats and unsubstantiated rumors of misconduct, but shed refuse to back down from the task at hand. Shed advocate for what she believed to be right even when it wasnt popular. Shed appear in press conferences and in media interviews delivering stern soundbites such as: Lady justice is actually blind. This is the reality. If you come into my community and you commit a crime, you deserve to be held responsible.

According to some of Williss colleagues who have worked with her over more than 20 years, all of this would be an accurate depiction of the district attorney. Defense attorney Brian Steel has known Willis her entire career and says shes both extremely honest and extremely hard working. The Atlanta NAACP president, Gerald Griggs, described her as transparent, a zealous advocate for the state and the best trial attorney in the Fulton county district attorneys office.

What you see on TV is authentic to who she really is, he said.

Still, there are nuances that film has always eschewed in order to tell a more succinct story. Williss career, like most peoples, is full of the type of complexities that dont always fit neatly into a box. Whats clear from speaking with several of her colleagues in Atlantas legal community, however, is that the district attorneys entire career has been preparing her for this moment in the spotlight.

Fani Willis talks with her team during proceedings to seat a special purpose grand jury in Fulton county, Georgia, on 2 May 2022. Photograph: Ben Gray/AP

On Monday night Willis brought an indictment with numerous charges against former US president Donald Trump and 18 others  including such high-profile names as Rudy Giuliani and Trumps former chief of staff Mark Meadows  for their attempts to overturn the election. The announcement of criminal charges, part of a sprawling racketeering case, was the culmination of more than two years of work.

In early 2021, Willis had just been elected district attorney when she announced plans to investigate Trump. She took office by unseating her former boss, who had served as the DA in Georgias most populous county (which includes the states capital, Atlanta) for six terms, or 23 years.

Her investigation has focused on Trumps efforts to subvert the will of Georgias voters, including his campaigns plot to assemble a slate of fake electors and Trumps phone call to Georgias Republican secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, asking him to find 11,780 votes, which would make him the winner over Joe Biden in the state.

In her first term as DA  and amid ongoing conversations about criminal justice reform in Georgia and beyond  Willis has not only prepared to face off with a former president and his legal team, shes also been tough on crime in a number of other ways, too.

Since running for office, the Democratic official has made no apologies for being a liberal with conservative-leaning views on criminal justice or the fact that she was endorsed and received funding from a police union during her campaign. As DA, shes indicted the Grammy-award winning rapper Young Thug and his music collective under Georgias racketeering statute, fought appeals from teachers she previously prosecuted during a high-profile standardized test cheating scandal, and sought the death penalty for a man who murdered four women during a shooting spree that targeted Asian spas in metro Atlanta.

Shes a prosecutor through and through. She wholeheartedly believes in the work, for better or for worse, depending on which side of the lane you fall on, said Devin Franklin, policy counsel for the Southern Center for Human Rights.

In 2020, Willis unseated the six-term Democratic incumbent Paul Howard, securing 73% of the vote, at a time of both local and national unrest. For many residents of Fulton county, her campaign not only offered a new direction for the DAs office, which had become plagued by controversies, but it also promised to address increasing concerns about reports of a crime wave and the resignation of about 200 officers from the Atlanta police department.

It was a strange period of time, said Anthony Michael Kreis, a Georgia State University law professor. I think there was just a general agitation in the community.

An Inglewood, California, native who attended Howard University and then Emory University for law school, Willis began working in the Atlanta solicitors office in 2000. In that role, she handled petty crimes before working for her predecessor in the Fulton county district attorneys office in 2001.

In Howards office, she was eventually tasked with prosecuting high-profile murder cases and, notably, the Atlanta public schools cheating trial. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has referred to the case as the largest school-cheating scandal in US history. Eleven educators were found guilty in the racketeering case, which spanned six months of testimony to become the longest trial in Georgia history. Twenty-one people accepted plea deals. Willis served as one of three lead prosecutors throughout the trial.

Barricades in front of the Fulton county courthouse on 7 August 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia, as Fani Willis was expected to make an announcement soon about a possible grand jury indictment of Donald Trump. Photograph: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Anna Simonton, an editor and reporter for the criminal justice news organization the Appeal, co-wrote the book None of the Above about the trial. (The other author, Shani Robinson, was convicted during the trial and continues to proclaim her innocence. She is currently out on an appeal bond.) Simonton said she wasnt familiar with Willis until she began reporting on the trial.

In reading the trial transcripts, she began to emerge to me as a distinct part in the prosecution team and someone who was very theatrical, she said. One of her tactics was to really pull on the emotions of the jury. I was surprised by some of the things I was seeing her say in the transcript because of how bombastic it was at the time.

The reporter said the district attorneys offices use of the racketeering statute served as a dragnet for a large number of educators with varying to no levels of culpability.

Georgias Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (Rico) Act was enacted in 1980, a decade after the federal version, which has a notably narrower scope. The federal statute, for instance, requires that prosecutors show proof that there is a threat of ongoing racketeering activity. In Georgia, only two related acts are needed to prove a pattern.

Howard was leading the Fulton county DAs office when prosecutors used the Rico Act against the Atlanta public school educators. Still, the trial gave Willis the knowledge and confidence to use the tool more than any of her predecessors once she became district attorney. Shes since hired attorney John E Floyd, a leading Rico expert, to help with these types of cases.

Kreis said the Atlanta public schools trial gives a preview of how Willis might prosecute Trump and associates.

You had all of these teachers who knew what they were doing was wrong, he said. No one would think falsifying test scores was a good thing or a proper thing, but they didnt know exactly what other teachers or schools were working together. But they were all working towards the same impermissible end.

I think the 2020 election aftermath and attempts to overthrow the election are very similar to that, he added. Theres a lot of moving parts and a lot of different actors and they all dont necessarily have the same degree of information as all of the others, and they all dont get together to say lets do this unlawful thing, but they know that theyre a part of a machine thats doing something that they shouldnt.

Fani Willis meets with members of the the Fulton county DAs office on 20 September 2022. Photograph: The Washington Post/Getty Images

Some in Fulton county arent excited about the expansive use of the Rico Act in the past decade.

Rico is so broad in Georgia that it really is a free-for-all, Franklin said. It allows for the substance of the case to become secondary and it allows for prosecutors to just tell a narrative of whatever they want to tell because the pattern of racketeering only has to be two occurrences that dont necessarily have to be related to one another. It just felt abusive and leans into this concept of prosecutors as bullies who just want to get what they want as opposed to using the tools at their disposal to achieve community safety and justice.

Defense attorney Steel is currently representing Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffrey Williams, in a racketeering case that is poised to unseat the educators trial as the longest in Georgia history. (The trial began the first week in January. A jury has yet to be selected.)

Steel maintains that Williams is totally innocent and wrongfully charged and not a part of any conspiracy.

NAACP president Griggs isnt short on praise for Willis, but even he has been critical of her use of the statute. Specifically, Griggs was one of the defense attorneys in the Atlanta public schools cheating trial. His client was convicted, although she has since had her record expunged and sealed, and has returned to teaching. With that particular case, I think it was a waste of time, he said.

Still, Griggs said he credits Willis for the organization and transparency shes brought to the district attorneys office and warned against underestimating how likable she can be with jurors.

I know Fani and Im looking forward to seeing her actually try this case herself, he said. Especially after the former president has gone after her personally. I think hes going to be very surprised when hes sitting across from her for months on trial. Hell find out how great of a lawyer she really is.

No matter what perceptions voters have had of her until this point, Georgia State professor Kreis said Willis is likely to have a clean slate with her liberal base in Fulton county if shes able to secure a conviction against Trump.
Republican presidential candidate businessman Vivek Ramaswamy holds his son Arjun during a fundraising event for U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. | Charlie Neibergall, Associated Press

Somehow, in the name-recognition game that is presidential campaigning, and amid the cacophony of governors and senators and establishment regulars clamoring for the 2024 Republican nomination, the longest of long shots has emerged as Donald Trumps toughest challenger: Vivek Ramaswamy.

Thats according to one new poll, or at least Ramaswamys interpretation of it. Were in Des Moines at the Iowa State Fair, and in our short walk from the Agriculture Building to the Poultry & Rabbit Building, Ramaswamy tells me he views this primary as a race between him and the former president, full stop.

When I said that at the start of this campaign, everybody laughed at me, he tells me. I think now everybody understands thats where this is going. Hes referring to a Cygnal poll this week that shows, among GOP voters across the U.S., Ramaswamy in the second-place spot, surpassing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Never mind that Trump maintains a monumental 42-point lead and that most polls still show DeSantis in second place. And never mind that most Americans have likely never even heard of Ramaswamy, the entrepreneur turned author. On the first point, Ramaswamy notes we havent even reached the first debate yet  he has plenty of time. And on the second, hes even more comfortable.

The Republican Party is going to become the party that nominates the outsider. And I think thats what its going to come down to: which outsider do we want?

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What Ramaswamy may lack in recognizability, he makes up for in confidence. Granted, hes not the only one who views the 2024 GOP primary as a Trump-versus-all battle  any cursory glance at the current polls shows this  but he is far more outspoken than other candidates in declaring he is the solution.

Take Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, the 2012 GOP nominee who reportedly worked behind the scenes in 2016 to get the non-Trump candidates to coalesce around one candidate.

It didnt work then; now, Romney is calling all candidates and donors to back a single Trump challenger by February 2024, shortly after Super Tuesday.

What does Ramaswamy think of this? I havent even finished the question before he interjects. I dont really care what Romney wants, he says.

But what about the timeline? Is February a reasonable timeframe to have the race whittled down to two candidates, Trump and a non-Trump? I dont view the election that way, he continues, chuckling. Its just about who the people want to select. ... And I think all of this other establishment artifice is nonsense.

If Ramaswamy is anything, its anti-establishment. Hes largely self-funding his campaign, thanks to a net worth of over $600 million. Hes built his brand as an outsider and a firebrand through a steady beat of Fox News hits and book deals and CPAC appearances. Hes earned comparisons to the man hes most focused on defeating, and some have gone as far as calling him Trump 2.0.

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But in many regards, on the scale of radicalism, Ramaswamy is a leap ahead of the former president.

The choice is this: Do you want incremental reform, or do you want revolution? he asked a group of fairgoers.

Trump didnt go far enough in pursuing his agenda, Ramaswamy says. A Ramaswamy administration wouldnt have that problem. A Ramaswamy White House, he says, wouldnt pick fights with the FBI director; it would abolish the FBI altogether. It wouldnt install a pro-school-choice Secretary of Education; it would dissolve the Department of Education. It wouldnt decry voter fraud after the election; it would change the voting age to 25 or install a civic literacy test before voters reach the ballot box.

As we walk, I ask about immigration policy, an area in which Trump left an indelible mark. Ramaswamy is the son of Indian immigrants  who came to this country legally, as patriots, through the front door, hes quick to add.

Ramaswamy has been as aggressive as any of the GOP candidates in proposing changes to the U.S. immigration system.

Your first act in this country cannot to be to break the law, he said in a Saturday speech at the fair. He said he wants to universally deport all undocumented immigrants living in the U.S., send the military to the U.S. border and scrap all visa lotteries in exchange for what he calls a merit-based system.

What about refugees  those fleeing persecution, war or natural disaster? The president has unilateral authority to determine how many refugees the country admits each year. Would he set the annual refugee cap at 125,000, like President Joe Biden, or 15,000, like Trump, or somewhere in between?

I would take it far lower, he tells me. I would say zero  darn close to zero.

If a Ramaswamy administration did so, it would be unprecedented  the lowest since the 1980 Refugee Act took effect.

I think we need pure merit-based immigration, Ramaswamy says. We put the interests of the homeland first. ... If its about advancing the interests of the citizens of this country, its not some other exogenous humanitarian objective.

There would be exceptions in special circumstances, he explains, like admitting Afghans who aided the U.S. military to escape. But those exceptions would be rare. Humanitarian migration has no benefit to the U.S., in his view. I mean, theres a benefit to the world, he says. But unfortunately, I think our reality is that thats hurting the United States.

And yet, such an assertion isnt even the most radical-sounding of his proposals. It is whats gotten him attention, and a week and a half away from the first debate, it is what has helped him surge among a crowded field of political veterans. In choosing between reform and revolution, Ramaswamy doesnt have to think long: I stand on the side of revolution.

Republican presidential candidate businessman Vivek Ramaswamy speaks during a fundraising event for U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. | Charlie Neibergall, Associated Press
The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability released a transcript Monday from a former FBI agent that Republicans say validates a key claim from an IRS whistleblower about management of the tax crimes investigation into Hunter Biden, the presidents son.

But Democrats argue that the interview actually discredits GOP claims of improper political influence in the investigation.

The closed-door interview with the now-retired FBI special supervisory agent, who oversaw the investigation into Hunter Biden conducted in conjunction with the IRS, was conducted in July and has prompted sparring between the two parties in the weeks since. The agents name is redacted in the transcript.

Republican interest in the FBI agents testimony centers on how they say it substantiates a piece of testimony from one of the IRS whistleblowers who raised alarm about how the tax crimes investigation into Hunter Biden was conducted, specifically about how a planned attempt to interview Hunter Biden at his home in California Dec. 8, 2020, unfolded.

That whistleblower, IRS Supervisory Agent Gary Shapley, and the FBI agent said their plan was to show up at Hunter Bidens home for a possible interview and hail mary consent search. They planned to notify the local Secret Service office in Los Angeles at 8 a.m. the day of their planned attempt, since Hunter Biden was a Secret Service protectee.

The initial plan was to have the local field office of the Secret Service be notified the morning of to diminish opportunities for anybody else to be notified, the FBI agent said in the interview.

But the FBI agent said he was notified the evening before, Dec. 7, 2020, that FBI headquarters had contacted the Secret Service headquarters  which upset both the FBI agent and Shapley from the IRS.

I felt it was people that did not need to know about our intent, the FBI agent said. I believe that the Secret Service had to be notified for our safety, for lack of confusion, for deconfliction, which we would do in so many other cases, but I didnt understand why the initial notification.

Shapley had told the House Ways and Means Committee in May that the transition team was also notified about the plan. The FBI agent said he did not recall that until he had heard it from Shapley, but he remembered thats why I was upset that evening, that somebody beyond Secret Service was notified. The agent could not provide any other information about who in the transition team was notified.

On the day of Dec. 8, the plan changed, the agent said. He was told his information would be given to the Secret Service, but that he was to stay away from Hunter Bidens home while he awaited further contact, which he said he had never been instructed to do before.

They were never able to interview Hunter Biden.

During Democratic questioning, however, the FBI agent said he had never interviewed a Secret Service protectee as part of a criminal matter and acknowledged that FBI policy means that politically sensitive investigations require greater approvals from up the chain of command.

The agent also told the committee he couldnt say whether the change in plans was driven by political considerations, but understood that FBI headquarters and Secret Service headquarters could want to foster an ongoing good working relationship, so that one was not blindsided by the other.

The agent also indicated that it was unlikely that Hunter Biden would have agreed to speak to him even if he had been allowed to try to knock on his door.

In my experience, an attorney would be less likely to agree to succumb to an interview, the FBI agent said.

Republicans are using the interview to boost their claims of mismanagement of the investigation into Hunter Biden, which Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has said could evolve into an impeachment inquiry into President Biden.

IRS whistleblower Gary Shapleys testimony that Secret Service headquarters and the Biden transition team were tipped off is confirmed by a former FBI agent, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) said in a statement Monday alongside the transcripts release.

Tipping off the transition team and not being able to interview Hunter Biden as planned are just a couple of examples that reveal the Justice Departments misconduct in the Biden criminal investigation that occurred under U.S. Attorney Weiss watch, Comer added.

Weiss was appointed as a special counsel in the ongoing investigation of Hunter Biden last week, a move that Republicans have criticized given their disapproval with how he handled previous aspects of the case as outlined by the IRS whistleblowers.

But Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the top Democrat on the Oversight committee, said in a statement that the transcript once again confirms that David Weiss, a Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney, hand-picked by then-Attorney General William Barr, has for years been investigating the Presidents son without any political interference from the Administration.

Raskin had for weeks called on Comer to publicly release the FBI agent transcript. Republicans said that the transcript was going through a normal review process and that they planned to eventually release it, as Comer said he wanted to do.

The Chairmans release, obviously timed to distract from news of an imminent potential fourth criminal indictment of Donald Trump, features the same selective and distorted parsing of information we have come to expect in service of the Republicans fruitless investigation into President Biden, which has failed to turn up a single shred of evidence of wrongdoing, Raskin said in his statement.

Updated at 5:12 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Republican strategists are worried that if former President Trump doesnt secure the GOPs presidential nomination next year, or if he is kept off the ballot because of his mounting legal problems, it could spell a voter turnout disaster for their party in 2024.

GOP strategists say theres growing concern that if Trump is not the nominee, many of his core supporters, who are estimated to make up 25 percent to 35 percent of the party base, will take their ball and go home.

The conventional wisdom is theres concern that if Trumps not the nominee, his coalition will take their ball and go home, said Matt Dole, a Republican strategist based in Ohio, where Republicans are targeting vulnerable Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown.

Folks are interested in how that plays out, and so I think right now, they would be happy if Trumps the nominee  in Ohio, its not true across the country  because then his coalition will turn out in November, he said.

A Pew Research Center analysis of the 2022 midterm election published last month found that higher turnout among Trump voters last year was a key factor behind Republicans winning control of the House.

The analysis found that 71 percent of voters who backed Trump participated in the midterm election, compared to 67 percent of voters who supported Biden.

Brian Darling, a Republican strategist and former Senate aide, said there would be significant political fallout for Republicans if federal and local criminal prosecutions derail Trumps path to the nomination.

If somehow hes not the nominee, it will hurt turnout, he said. Hes got a unique coalition. He brings a lot of nontraditional voters to the Republican Party, and it will be difficult to win a state like Ohio and other Midwestern states if you lose all those Trump voters or make them disaffected voters, and they dont show up.

Darling said Trump, who is leading his nearest rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, by more than 30 points in national polls, has a lock on the nomination and the only way he loses if hes prevented from being on the ballot.

Trump already faces three criminal trials in New York City, Miami and Washington, D.C., and Fulton County (Ga.) District Attorney Fani Willis is expected to bring a dozen more charges against him related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia.

Trump is fueling concerns about a split Republican electorate in 2024 by refusing to sign a Republican National Committee loyalty pledge.

I would say theres two scenarios, either Trumps the nominee and we just go with it and whatever, or Trumps not the nominee and then we have a nominee that Trumps going to be trashing, said Bob Clegg, an Ohio-based Republican strategist.

Given the intense loyalty to Trump among many Republican voters, Clegg said theres little chance any other candidate will beat him out for the nomination.

I think Trumps going to be the nominee, he said. Ever since Trump came down that escalator in 2015, the face of politics in the United States has charged dramatically, and were still in that new dynamic.

Republican senators and strategists thought Trump cost them control of the Senate after the 2020 election, when he claimed without evidence that his he lost Georgia because of fraud, depressing GOP voter turnout in the 2021 special election, which Sens. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) won.

A few days before the special election, Trump declared those Senate races illegal and invalid.

A Senate Republican strategist said the special election in Ohio last Tuesday, where voters overwhelmingly defeated a ballot proposition that would have made it tougher to protect abortion rights, showed that if Trumps not on the ballot, it hurts GOP turnout in rural areas.

What it says about the electorate more than anything is that without a presidential candidate  particularly Trump at the top of the ticket  rural voters do not turn out at the same rate, the strategist said.

At the same time, the strategist acknowledged that Trumps overwhelming popularity with blue-collar and rural voters is offset by his unpopularity with college-educated women and suburban voters.

Given the shift of college-educated women and suburban voters to Democrats since the Supreme Courts reversal of Roe v. Wade, Republicans are counting on big turnout in rural areas and from the so-called Trump coalition to win the presidential and congressional races next year.

With controversial issues like abortion in the suburbs, Republicans have to make up for it in rural parts of the state, and without Trump on the ballot, rural parts of the state just didnt turn out at the same rate, the strategist said of the election result in Ohio.

For Republicans, the only hope is that when Trump is on the ballot in 2024  he will turn out rural voters at a rate that overwhelms that phenomenon. Its certainly possible, the source said.

David Paleologos, the director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center, said about 40 percent of Republican voters who feel confident about whom they will vote for next year are solidly behind Trump.

Conservatively, it looks like 4 out of 10, he said of the so-called Tier 1 voters. I havent seen many polls where he below 40 [percent].

The Trump voters, even from our polling, have pretty much said: Its Trump or bust, he said. Theres a percentage of voters who wont even vote Republican if he doesnt get the nomination.

Paleologos said its difficult for other Republican presidential candidates to navigate in this environment, and Trump knows this.

A New York Times/Siena College poll found that 52 percent of likely GOP voters are only considering Trump. Fifty-five percent of white voters without college degrees and 56 percent of nonwhite voters without college degrees said they were only considering Trump.

Trump has rejected entreaties from party leaders that he pledge to back the eventual Republican nominee for president if he fails to secure the nomination.

I wouldnt sign the pledge, he told Newsmax. Why would I sign a pledge? There are people on there that I wouldnt have.

Trump didnt say which rivals in particular he couldnt support over President Biden.

Darling, the Republican strategist, said Trump is the candidate best poised to win critical Midwestern states such as Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Look what happened in 2016. He pulled together a unique coalition, and the Midwestern states of Wisconsin and Michigan were in play all of the sudden, he said. If hes not the nominee somehow, I think those states will be much tougher to win.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Republican Senate hopeful Jeffrey Gunter is learning a painful lesson: What happens in Reykjavik doesnt always stay in Reykjavik.

Gunter is touting his 18-month tenure as former President Donald Trump's ambassador to Iceland in his Nevada primary bid. But his stint abroad also earned him plenty of enemies who dont want to see a Senator Gunter. That points to a tough road ahead as he seeks the GOP nomination to take on Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) in a state where the party hasnt won a Senate race in 11 years.

National Republicans were wary of Gunters candidacy to begin with and warned him not to enter the Senate primary, according to a person familiar with those conversations granted anonymity to discuss the sensitive topic. Among their reasons for trying to dissuade Gunter: his apparent lack of a voting record in Nevada and his Democratic voting registration in California.

Even the State Department stint that Gunter plugged in launching his campaign last week, describing himself as an America First diplomat, is a potential liability. A 2021 report by the State Departments Office of the Inspector General found that Gunter had created a threatening and intimidating environment at the embassy, and that his successors had to work to rebuild U.S.-Iceland relations after Gunter's tenure.

Bolstering those allegations, four Trump-era State Department officials said in interviews that the dermatologist performed his ambassadorial job poorly and tried to work from his California home during the pandemic, a critical period for U.S. diplomacy. Eventually, those four officials said, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo personally instructed Gunter to return to Iceland as the coronavirus raged  citing the moment as further evidence that Gunter is not fit to be a senator.

"When Jeff served as United States ambassador, he completely failed to execute his duties in some of the most important times for the country. He was in Los Angeles, not at his post, when he needed to be there to lead his organization, said one former senior State Department official during the Trump administration, who was granted anonymity to discuss Gunter's job performance given the sensitivity of the topic.

That says all you need to know about his ability to lead and whether he ought to be a United States senator or not," that official added.

The cold reception for Gunter is just the latest sign that Republicans are moving aggressively to filter out unpredictable candidates in critical states that will determine the Senate majority next fall. Republican leaders are pulling for Army veteran Sam Brown to win the nomination in Nevada amid a crowded field of upstarts that includes former state Rep. Jim Marchant, former lieutenant governor candidate Tony Grady, a couple of other lesser-known candidates  and now, Gunter.

It is no surprise that Mitch McConnell and the D.C. elites would be opposing a strong pro-Trump America First fighter like myself, Gunter said in a statement. Like President Donald J. Trump, I am a puppet of no one, and I will never stop fighting for America and the people of Nevada."

The scathing inspector general's report cited Gunter's "frequent failure to respect diplomatic protocol or to coordinate with the Icelandic Government" as severe enough to prompt the State Department to operate around him.

Gunter spokesperson Erica Knight, asked about his alleged poor performance on the job, disputed that Pompeo ever had to take action against the former ambassador: Pompeo did not order Ambassador Gunter anywhere  U.S. ambassadors answer to the President of the United States.

He is a physician, he and his embassy staff worked remotely during the pandemic onset and thanks to his leadership the team had zero U.S. embassy infections and zero U.S. embassy deaths, the spokesperson added.

Pompeo declined to comment on the Gunter spokesperson's response.

The former ambassador to Iceland seems to be vying for a Trump endorsement that could reshape the race. Gunter also has apparent deep pockets given his history of GOP political donations. A photo of him next to a beaming Trump leads his website, a previous version of which once boasted of getting a retweet from Trump.

Even so, Gunter will have to raise significant money to catch up to Brown, whose primary bid also has backing from the National Republican Senatorial Committee, NRSC Chair Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and GOP Conference Chair John Barrasso of Wyoming.

Though Nevada is challenging ground for Republicans, Nevada GOP Gov. Joe Lombardo did oust a Democratic incumbent last year  a sign that with the right candidate and circumstances, Republicans can win in the fast-growing and diverse state.

A Trump spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment about Gunter. Lombardo has not endorsed anyone in the Senate race and is focused on his policy agenda, according to a person close to him.

Gunter has not voted from his Nevada address and was a registered Democrat with an active California voting record for years, according to public records and documents obtained by POLITICO. His business is based in California, where he was registered to vote in early 2021, according to public records.

In recent decades, Gunter has also been a prodigious donor to GOP causes. He sent $100,000 to Trump Victory, a joint fundraising committee, in 2016 and showered Republican Senate candidates with thousands of dollars. Most of Gunter's donations list a California address, though some of his recent donations list his home state as Nevada, where he is also registered to vote.

In other words, despite his past California voter registration as a Democrat, Gunters been a reliable GOP supporter  often a prerequisite for an ambassadorship.

Gunter claimed that, while he was ambassador, his old voter residence registration was fraudulently changed to my medical clinic and also claimed that his broader registration status in California was fraudulently altered.

I have never supported or given a single penny to Democrats and have been a staunch supporter of President Donald J. Trump and his brilliant America First policies since Day One, Gunter said. Anyone peddling this bogus narrative is complicit in covering up voter fraud.

Knight, the spokesperson for Gunter, cited many inaccuracies in public documentation of his voting history documentation and added that Gunter was fully vetted by a Republican Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 2018 and confirmed unanimously by the entire U.S. Senate."

A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk said it could not immediately comment on claims by Gunter and his spokesperson.

The post of U.S. ambassador to Iceland is not typically high-profile, but Gunter made national headlines in 2020 after CBS reported on his demands for a firearm on the job, his refusal to return to Iceland during the pandemic and alleged poor working conditions at the American embassy.

Gunter further rankled career diplomats by calling the coronavirus the China virus, mimicking Trumps attacks.

"Every time you heard the word Iceland,' there was a collective groan, said the second official who worked at the State Department when Gunter was ambassador. This guy, I think, confused being ambassador with being a Maharaja. You're here to represent the country, but you don't need 24/7 security.

Pompeo's department, according to all four former officials, did not anticipate having to police the ambassador to a nation with less than a half-million people at the height of the pandemic. Whats more, the officials said, Gunters tenure made managing diplomacy with the island nation even more challenging.

"To have the secretary call you to tell you to do your job? Ive never heard of that," said the third former State Department official.

Christopher Cadelago contributed to this report.
Republicans blew their best chance to end Donald Trump's hostile takeover of the party. A week after the Jan. 6 insurrection, the House impeached Trump for inciting the attempted coup and sent the case to the Senate. In the fresh horror of the riot, many Republicans jumped off the Trump train. "Count me out. Enough is enough," said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who'd up to then been a groveling Trump apologist. A disgusted Mitch McConnell, then the Senate majority leader, said, "There's no question, none, that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day." But out of fear of the MAGA base, McConnell, Graham and most other Senate Republicans voted to acquit Trump. By letting him off the hook, the Senate also passed on the chance  expressly authorized by the Constitution  to bar Trump from ever again holding public office. McConnell suggested that the "criminal justice system" should hold Trump accountable. Privately, he told Republicans, "Let's just ignore him."

When you ignore a tumor or a raging infection, it doesn't go away. Despite three indictments and a fourth coming soon, Trump is again running for president and dominating the Republican field. Once a globally admired beacon of democracy, our nation is descending into the tawdry, chaotic politics of a banana republic. If Trump  facing dozens of felony counts  is nominated, the stakes of the general election will be enormous. He and his cult following will be keenly aware that defeat may mean Trump will die in prison; if he loses and claims fraud, political violence dwarfing Jan. 6 is a real possibility. If Trump wins, he will use the presidency to escape justice and fulfill his vow to inflict "retribution" on his many enemies, whom in the demagogic spirit of Joe McCarthy he's taken to calling communists. "Either the communists destroy America, or we destroy the communists," Trump said at a recent rally. "This is the final battle." Buckle up.

This is the editor's letter in the current issue of The Week magazine.

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The Rolling Pines Fire blazes through Bastrop State Park on Jan. 18, 2022. Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration Friday for 191 of the states 254 counties as the risk of wildfires has soared due to an intense, extended heat wave and a lack of rain. Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune

Gov. Greg Abbott has issued a wildfire disaster declaration for about 75% of Texas counties, allowing them to use all available state resources to respond to any new fires as the state continues to bake under triple-digit temperatures.

The declaration was issued Friday as wildfires continue to spark across the state: The Texas A&M Forest Service, which monitors wildfire conditions, reports that at least 8,500 acres of Texas land have burned since Aug. 1.

The governors declaration covers 191 of the states 254 counties, including Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Midland and Travis. Many counties across the state have issued their own burn bans, according to the Forest Service.

As we continue to respond to wildfire conditions across the state, Texas is ready to provide any additional resources and aid to impacted communities, Abbott said in a press release. He also encouraged residents to remain weather aware and follow the guidance of state and local officials.

On Sunday, the Forest Service responded to 17 new requests for assistance on wildfires that burned 445.8 acres across the state. Last week, the agency raised its wildfire preparedness to Level 4, which indicates a large number of fires that are difficult to control and recommends a heavy commitment of resources from state and local officials to address fire danger.

Wildfires have destroyed homes, buildings and forests statewide. Last week, a brush fire in Cedar Park, about 20 miles north of Austin, tore through apartment complexes and townhomes, forcing evacuations in Williamson County and surrounding areas. Earlier this year, an Eastland County sheriffs deputy was killed trying to rescue others when a massive, wind-whipped wildfire swept into Eastland, about 120 miles west of Dallas. Hundreds of families evacuated their homes.

Wildfires, even if miles away, can significantly affect health, especially for people with lung or breathing problems, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The agency recommends that people stay inside, pay attention to local advisories and use well-fitted N-95 masks if outside when it is smoky.

Climate change in Texas has led to more intense, prolonged heat waves that help create ideal conditions for wildfires.

On Monday, the Forest Service issued an alert about an unusual August cold front expected to sweep as far south as Interstate 10 that could create scattered thunderstorms in North and Central Texas through Tuesday morning. Lightning could start new fires, and winds from storms could help fires spread quickly, the agency warned.

This could make it tough to control fires during those days, the Forest Service said.

The full program is now LIVE for the 2023 Texas Tribune Festival, happening Sept. 21-23 in Austin. Explore the program featuring more than 100 unforgettable conversations coming to TribFest. Panel topics include the biggest 2024 races and whats ahead, how big cities in Texas and around the country are changing, the integrity of upcoming elections and so much more. See the full program.
Soon after Gov. Tate Reeves was declared the winner of Tuesdays primary, the Mississippi Republican Party congratulated him for a decisive victory.

On the surface, it was.

When all the votes are finally counted, Reeves will garner about 75% of the vote in the Republican primary against two opponents running with little or no name identification and funding.

Reeves is viewed as the heavy favorite this November to capture his second term as governor and his sixth overall statewide office. His supporters viewed Tuesdays results as a validation of those expectations.

Mississippi Republicans overwhelmingly cast their vote of confidence in Gov. Reeves. They are clearly not interested in handing their state over to the package deal of Biden, Bennie, and Brandon, Clifford Carroll, Reeves communications director, said referring to Democratic gubernatorial nominee Brandon Presley, U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson and President Joe Biden.

Granted, almost any candidate would be pleased to capture 75% of the vote. But it is worth noting that the two previous governors, Republican Phil Bryant and Haley Barbour, won their party primaries in their reelection bids by more than 90%.

Is the smaller size of the primary victory for Reeves a foretelling of his vulnerability come November, or is it a reflection of the changing political environment of the state as the size of the Republican primary continues to grow?

The results of the November general election when Reeves will face Democrat Brandon Presley of Nettleton will help answer those questions.

But it also might be worth noting that in a poll conducted in June by Siena College and Mississippi Today, 21% of those who said they were going to vote in the Republican primary said they planned to vote for the Democrat Presley in November. There was no Democratic primary for governor since Presley was unopposed.

Were the 25% of those who did not vote for Reeves in Tuesdays primary among those who told pollsters they plan to vote for Presley in November?

Did Mississippians making up that 25% vote for John Witcher of Flowood or David Grady Hardigree of Jackson because they refused to vote for Reeves under any circumstance, or did they vote for Witcher or Hardigree because that was their first choice and they will be content to vote for Reeves in November?

And perhaps Witcher and Hardigree were more formidable candidates than the opposition faced by Bryant in the 2015 Republican primary or by Barbour in 2007.

In 2019, when Reeves was winning his first term as governor, a record 383,000 voted in the Republican primary in what was a surprisingly competitive gubernatorial election. This year, with no competitive gubernatorial election, the turnout is going to be close to the 2019 election numbers, which is a testament to the growing strength of the state Republican Party.

It is important to note, though, that the record for the Republican primary is far short of the turnout in the Democratic primaries of the past that often had more voters than in the November general elections.

In 1983, 828,211 people voted for governor in the Democratic primary, compared to 742,737 who voted in the general election later that year when Democrat Bill Allain defeated Republican Leon Bramlett and independent Charles Evers in the race for governor.

That will not occur this year. There will be far more people voting in November when Presley and Reeves go head-to-head.

And what makes the turnout and the vote in Tuesdays Republican primary at least a little interesting is that in 2015, 22,738 people voted against Phil Bryant in the Republican primary in his reelection effort. Bryant went on to the general election to defeat surprise Democratic nominee, long haul truck driver Robert Gray, by 233,951 votes. And in 2007, 13,611 people voted against Barbour in the Republican primary in his reelection effort. Barbour then defeated Democratic nominee, John Arthur Eaves Jr., a Jackson attorney, in the November general election by 117,575 votes.

Maybe Reeves will prove political prognosticators wrong, but he is not expected to win reelection by nearly the margin of Bryant and Barbour.

And remember, on Tuesday more than 91,000 people voted against Reeves in the Republican primary. In the 2019 general election, Reeves defeated Democratic nominee Attorney General Jim Hood by about 45,000 votes. So, it is safe to assume Reeves has a much smaller margin for electoral error in his reelection effort than did Bryant and Barbour.

In other words, if those 91,000 who voted against Reeves Tuesday in the Republican primary do so again in November, the results of the general election could be interesting considering he only won the 2019 general election by just more than 45,000 votes.

Reeves likes to say he is a numbers guy. Privately, those numbers have to cause him a little concern.

This analysis was produced by Mississippi Today, a nonprofit news organization that covers state government, public policy, politics and culture. Bobby Harrison is Mississippi Todays senior Capitol reporter.
The grand jury hearing evidence against former President Donald Trump and others has handed up an indictment in the case.

The judge did not read the charges or name anyone who has been listed in those indictment. Later Monday night, Channel 2 investigative reporter Mark Winne learned these details after seeing the indictment moments before it was made public.

You can read the indictment here.

The Trump campaign released a statement, saying:

Like Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, Deranged Jack Smith, and New York AG Letitia James, Fulton County, GAs radical Democrat District Attorney Fani Willis is a rabid partisan who is campaigning and fundraising on a platform of prosecuting President Trump through these bogus indictments. Ripping a page from Crooked Joe Bidens playbook, Willis has strategically stalled her investigation to try and maximally interfere with the 2024 presidential race and damage the dominant Trump campaign. All of these corrupt Democrat attempts will fail.

Combined with the intentionally slow-walked investigations by the Biden-Smith goon squads and the false charges in New York, the timing of this latest coordinated strike by a biased prosecutor in an overwhelmingly Democrat jurisdiction not only betrays the trust of the American people, but also exposes true motivation driving their fabricated accusations.

They could have brought this two and half years ago, yet they chose to do this for election interference reasons in the middle of President Trumps successful campaign. He is not only leading all Republicans by a lot but he is leading against Joe Biden in almost every poll. President Trump represents the greatest threat to these Democrats political futures (and the greatest hope for America).

The legal double-standard set against President Trump must end. Under the Crooked Biden Cartel, there are no rules for Democrats, while Republicans face criminal charges for exercising their First Amendment rights.

These activities by Democrat leaders constitute a grave threat to American democracy and are direct attempts to deprive the American people of their rightful choice to cast their vote for President. Call it election interference or election manipulationit is a dangerous effort by the ruling class to suppress the choice of the people. It is un-American and wrong.

They are taking away President Trumps First Amendment right to free speech, and the right to challenge a rigged and stolen election that the Democrats do all the time. The ones who should be prosecuted are the ones who created the corruption.

President Trump will never give up and will never stop fighting for you, as we all work to Make America Great Again in 2024.

Channel 2 Action News cameras caught former state Sen. Jen Jordan, former state Rep. Bee Nguyen and Gabriel Sterling with the Secretary of States Office walking into the courthouse Monday to testify for that grand jury as well.

[TIMELINE: Fulton County grand jury investigation into potential interference in Georgia elections]

Nguyen was on one of the committee hearings when Rudy Giuliani and his associates made numerous false claims of massive voter fraud and insisted the legislature had the legal authority to throw out the popular vote.

This is your power, your obligation, and I know its surprising. Ive been before state legislatures who didnt realize it and really do, Giuliani told the committee in December 2020.

After her testimony, Nguyen sent Channel 2s Richard Elliot a statement acknowledging her appearance before the grand jury.

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I believe that any individual who wrongfully and illegally tried to overturn our valid election should be held accountable so that we can have a government of laws and not of men, Nguyen said, in part.

Sterling was a guest on ABCs This Week on Sunday and told host Jonathan Karl that would testify truthfully.

My lawyers havent said I can talk too much about this one way or the other. So, but if I am called, when I am called, I will go in and do it, like I did before. I will tell the truth, answer honestly. Thats all we can do in this situation, Sterling said.

Georgia State University professor Clark Cunningham told Elliot that he believes the grand jury will consider a number of underlying crimes including lying to Georgia lawmakers, but will all fall under a larger racketeering charge.

Some of those things are racketeering crimes under Georgia law that could be used in putting together an indictment against the former president and people that he used in fact to assist him, Cunningham said.

Earlier Monday, there was some confusion after the Fulton County clerks office posted what looked like an indictment of Trump.

At least one international news organization ran with it before the document was taken down.

The clerks office sent out a statement, saying:

The Office of the Fulton County Clerk of Superior and Magistrate Courts has learned of a fictitious document that has been circulated online and reported by various media outlets related to The Fulton County Special Purpose Grand Jury.

While there have been no documents filed today regarding such, all members of the media should be reminded that documents that do not bear an official case number, filing date, and the name of The Clerk of Courts, in concert, are not considered official filings and should not be treated as such.

Media members can expect to be notified of any/all filings in real time and will be provided access to filings via equitable communication.

As the official custodian of various county records, the Clerk of Courts understands the sensitivity of all court filings, especially those that are at the forefront of the national spotlight and remains committed to operating with an extreme level of efficiency, accuracy, and transparency.

Trumps attorneys also released a statement, saying:

The Fulton County District Attorneys Office has once again shown that they have no respect for the integrity of the grand jury process. This was not a simple administrative mistake. A proposed indictment should only be in the hands of the District Attorneys Office, yet it somehow made its way to the clerks office and was assigned a case number and a judge before the grand jury even deliberated. This is emblematic of the pervasive and glaring constitutional violations which have plagued this case from its very inception.

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It's not unusual for school administrators to bounce from district to district. Last fall, seven school districts in Greater Cincinnati started the school year under a new superintendent and more than 30 schools welcomed new principals.

While there was less of a shuffle this summer, several local schools underwent leadership changes and will welcome new faces when the new school year begins.

Marlon Styles stepped away from his superintendent role at Middletown City School District last year. Deb Houser stepped in in January.

My goal as superintendent is to ensure that the district doesnt miss a beat. I look forward to continuing to serve the amazing Middie community while guaranteeing the new strategic vision comes alive, Houser said when she was appointed.

Elgin Card is the new superintendent of Princeton City Schools, replacing the retired Tom Burton. Card has worked in the district before, but most recently served Lakota Local Schools as senior director of diversity and inclusion and ombudsman.

In August Clermont Northeastern also welcomed a new superintendent: Tim Sies. Sies has worked in education for 22 years, including as a teacher, athletic coach, assistant principal, principal, campus director and positive school culture and safety manager.

There are so many things that attracted me to CNE, Sies said in a press release. Im big on culture and pride, and CNE has that in spades! I cant tell you how proud I am to now be a part of this community and tradition. When it comes down to it, however, its really about the people. Everyone I have met and interacted with are friendly, hard-working, and, most importantly, work to keep the students at the heart of every decision made and take action.

Elizabeth Lolli announced in January that she was leaving Dayton Public Schools. Starting in July she will be interim superintendent at Lakota Local Schools.

Lakota is still searching for a permanent replacement for Matt Miller, who retired last school year. Elizabeth Lolli is filling in as superintendent in the interim. Lolli is from Dayton Public Schools and led Monroe Local Schools previously.

Darrell Edwards announced he was retiring from Goshen Local Schools in May. Brian Bailey was appointed to replace him, and Theresa Scherzinger is the district's new assistant superintendent. They have worked together in administrative roles at Goshen since 2011.

In May, Goshen Local Schools Superintendent Darrell Edwards announced his retirement.

I look forward to working closely with Brian, the administrative team, our staff and school board members to continue to provide a well-rounded educational experience for all students, Scherzinger said in a news release. Together, we will continue Goshens tradition of excellence.

New principals, leadership changes in Cincinnati Public Schools

Sam Yates is back at Woodward Career Technical High School to serve as interim principal while the district continues its search for a permanent school leader.

Cincinnati Public Schools also hosted meet and greet opportunities this summer for eight other new principals:

Joshua Halliwell at Roberts Academy.

Kaitlin Dauner at Woodford Academy.

Tiffani Byers at LEAP Academy.

Kiele Ferguson at North Avondale Montessori.

Kevin Williams at Silverton Academy.

Michael McGowan at Covedale School.

Taneka Smith at Carson Elementary.

Tina Gordullo at Sayler Park School.

Lakota Local Schools leadership changes

Stacy Maney is joining Robb Vogelmann in an assistant superintendent role at Lakota Local Schools this year. Lance Green and Lauren Webb are also joining district leadership as ombudsman and director of gifted services, respectively. Other administrative changes at Lakota include:

Todd Hartman as principal at Creekside Early Childhood School.

Becky Francko as principal at Hopewell Early Childhood School.

Brandy Berry as assisstant principal at Hopewell Early Childhood School.

Traci Stubenrauch as assistant principal at Wyandot Early Childhood School.

Shelly Kerr as principal at Freedom Elementary School.

Rachel Crew as assistant principal at Freedom Elementary School.

Jacob White as assistant principal at Union Elementary School.

Hannah Klotz as assistant principal at Liberty Junior School.

Forest Hills School District leadership changes

Forest Hills School District also has several new administrators lined up for this fall:

Andy Jados as Turpin High School principal.

Will Amburgy as Anderson High School assistant principal.

Chris Barker as Maddux Elementary School assistant principal.

Trevor Collinsworth as Sherwood Elementary School assistant principal.

Clermont Northeastern, Mason, Mariemont principal changes

Clermont Northeastern High School said goodbye to Principal TJ Glassmeyer, who is starting in a new role this fall at Mason City Schools as the learner well-being and supports supervisor. He served as principal at Clermont Northeastern for eight years. At Mason, Glassmeyer will lead prevention and wellness efforts including crisis care, wellness community partnerships, behavior supports, attendance, homelessness, staff wellness and student discipline. Robyn Jordan is also joining the district leadership team as the learner and family engagement administrator this fall.

Tina Darling has served Mason City Schools for 17 years. I am excited to continue to serve staff, students, and families in the place where I have grown as an educator. MECC holds a special place in my heart, and I am so glad to continue to learn alongside and lead the people that make MECC such a magical place. I look forward to continuing to work with MECC staff to help grow curious, empathetic, and joyful learners," she said in a July news release.

Mason's own Soroya Smith is now working as the interim assistant principal at Mason Elementary and Tina Darling is the new Mason Early Childhood assistant principal. Together, Smith and Darling have served the Mason City Schools community for 32 years.

At Mason High School, Tina Drake is moving from assistant principal to associate principal and Javaris Powell, former Mason Elementary principal, is stepping into the high school assistant principal role. Rob Polca is taking over as the elementary principal. Polca comes from Mariemont Junior High School where he served as principal for four years.

Aaron Pfeffenberger was named new principal of Mariemont Junior High School. Pfeffenberger served as dean of students at Mariemont Elementary School for the last two years.

Leadership changes in Ross, Fairfield and Loveland schools

At Ross Local School District, Steve Castator is stepping into his new role as the district's treasurer. He's worked in the district since 2018.

Chrissy Zboril was promoted this summer to director of the Fairfield City School District Academy. Other changes at Fairfield include Cheron Reid, former administrator in Cincinnati Public Schools, becoming assistant principal at Creekside Middle School and Kyle Chambers, former science teacher at Finneytown High School, becoming assistant principal at West Elementary School.

Loveland City School District has a new Early Childhood Center principal: Matt Patterson, who has worked in Lakota, Mariemont and Forest Hills school districts.

Loveland Early Childhood Center is where our youngest students get their start, and I believe Matt will be a great person to lead the building. He has the qualities that we value in a building principal  caring for kids and building relationships with our families, staff, and community, Superintendent Mike Broadwater said in a news release.

New leaders at Madeira, Sycamore, Mount Healthy and Springboro schools

Sara Gehring, the former Loveland Early Childhood Center principal, is now an elementary school assistant principal at Madeira City Schools.

Sycamore Community Schools announced David Foster's retirement at the end of last school year, after serving in his role as support service director for eight years. Mark Zimmerly is replacing him after serving as an assistant principal at Northwest High School last year. Sycamore's other big change this school year is the addition of another assistant principal at Sycamore High School: Princess Crenshaw. Crenshaw comes from Winton Woods High School, where she served as the assistant principal.

Jayne Sayers-Goedde is joining the Mount Healthy City Schools team as principal at the Mount Healthy Early Learning Center. Last year she worked in the district as a dean of students.

Springboro Junior High School has a new principal: Tyler Lotspaih, former Five Points Elementary assistant principal. He taught in Springboro Schools for 10 years before stepping into an administrative role. Ethan Bettinger is leaving his math classroom to become assistant principal at Five Points Elementary. James Aker, former assistant principal at Springboro High School, is moving to Springboro Intermediate as an assistant principal and Leslie Christofano is the new assistant principal at Springboro High School.

Northern Kentucky school leadership changes

Across the river in Kentucky, Boone County's Ockerman Middle School is welcoming Sara Franxman as new assistant principal. Franxman served as a Conner High School math teacher for 20 years and was a vice principal at the school.

Grandview Elementary in Bellevue also has a new assistant principal: Brandon Forshey.

At Erlanger-Elsmere, Monica Crockett is the new Arnett Elementary School principal.

David Rust, who retired last year from his role as superintendent of Campbell County Schools, is the new interim principal at Scott High School. Other new administrators in Kenton County Schools include:

Sarah Ackel as principal at Fort Wright Elementary.

Tina Wartman as assistant superintendent of elementary.

Jena Smiddy as director of instructional technology.

Brian Vanover as assistant superintendent of operations.

Beechwood Independent Schools also has several new additions:

Alicia Wittmer as Beechwood elementary assistant principal.

Justin Kaiser as director of operations for the district.

Alan Yanke as interim principal at Beechwood High School.

Jana Bromley as assistant principal at Beechwood High School.

Join us in congratulating our new Chief Information Officer and welcoming our Student Support Team Coordinator!  pic.twitter.com/I6sgKD4cnh  Campbell Co Schools (@CCSchoo1s) July 19, 2023

Newport Independent Schools is welcoming a new chief academic officer, Darla Payne, this school year.

I am passionate about ensuring student success and have a healthy respect for the work of teachers and its impact on our society. I believe in the potential of Newport Schools' students and staff and want to be a part of their success," Payne said in a news release.

Grant County Schools announced Nicole Davis as the new Mason Corinth Elementary School principal earlier this year. And Bryley Murphy is the new assistant principal at Grant County High School.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Who are the new superintendents, principals in Cincinnati, NKY schools
Grimes A-Changin'

Electronic artist and AI enthusiast Claire "Grimes" Boucher has taken a cultural stance that just might explain her decision to procreate with Elon Musk.

"I enjoy mansplaining," Grimes tweeted matter-of-factly over the weekend. "It's my love language."

"I will gladly be talked at with pure facts for hours," she continued.

If you're confused by Grimes' apparent definition of mansplaining you're not alone. Defined by Urban Dictionary as "when unsolicited advice or direction is given to a woman by a man in a condescending manner," the biggest distinction between mansplaining and regular explaining is, to most people, the patronizing tone  a distinction the Canadian-born recording artist seemed to miss.

As some replies noted, what Grimes described in her tweet sounds more like "info-dumping," a term often used in the neurodivergent and autistic communities to describe the way many people will over-share information about topics that interest them or on which they're knowledgable.

"Maybe I mean that," Grimes admitted, adding that she refers to the concept as "lore dumping."

She recounted that someone she'd been speaking to  no word on whether it was Musk, since they've been hanging out again  "super apologized for talking for like 4 hours" about biotechnology and she wanted to reassure them that she was interested in the topic and, moreover, the conversation was "totally socially acceptable."

Behind The Scenes

While it's debatable whether info-dumping is "totally socially acceptable," the revelation does provide us with another interesting look into the psyche of the South African billionaire's best-known baby mama  especially after learning more about their relationship in back-to-back media accounts.

Last week, Grimes confessed in an off-the-cuff Wired interview that she and Musk had had a "big, long conversation" about "the trans thing," an apparent reference to her ex's repeated attacks online against trans people. Her takeaway: that the South African billionaire and father of 10 children, two of them by her, was just concerned about wokeness and fertility.

"I was like, OK, you dont hate trans people, you hate woke culture. I get that it can be annoying, and you have concerns about the fertility thing," the artist said. "So lets figure it out, because theres a lot of fertility tech that could be innovated that would help trans people have kids."

Soon after that interview was published, another tasty morsel of gossip dropped via an excerpt from a new biography: that Musk closed his eyes and took his hands off the wheel of his Tesla while driving on Autopilot during one of the pair's first dates. On that same date, Musk reportedly tested the artist's knowledge of "Lord of the Ring" lore, and she apparently passed with flying colors.

Whether any of that aforementioned counts as either "mansplaining" or "info-dumping" is up to the reader, but we must admit: this latest revelation does make the whole Grimes-Musk saga make a lot more sense.

More on Grimes: Grimes Calls First Official Song Made by AI-Cloning Her Voice a "Masterpiece"
Grindr App Thomas Trutschel/Getty Images

Employees at LGBTQ+ dating site Grindr are being asked to return to work in person.

The company gave employees two weeks to decide if they could move by October.

The company's employees say Grindr could be retaliating against them for trying to form a union.

Management at the popular LGBTQ+ dating app Grindr is asking workers to return to the office or lose their jobs, prompting outrage from employees who say the move will upend their lives.

According to a form sent to workers at Grindr on August 4, obtained by Vice's Motherboard , workers would need to confirm by August 17 whether or not they would move within 50 miles of Grindr's three offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, or the San Francisco Bay Area or lose their jobs at the end of the month.

The news comes two weeks after employees announced their effort to unionize under the Communications Workers of America, Grindr United. Grindr United posted Sunday that the pivot to in-person work by the company is a "bizarre coincidence."

The CWA has also filed a complain t with the National Labor Relations Board as a result of the return to office order, arguing that it is retaliation against union organizing.

Timeline review!



July 20: we tell management that we have organized ourselves and request voluntary recognition.



July 20 - Aug 3: no contact from management. At all. None. Zero.



Aug 4: management announces we have two weeks to decide whether to uproot our lives or we're fired.  Grindr United  (@GrindrUnited) August 5, 2023

Rowan Rosenthal, an organizing committee member at Grindr United CWA, told Insider that the move has been a significant hit for Grindr's "majority queer" workplace, as well as for disabled members of the company.

"A big part of our vision as a union was to enshrine this benefit that we had in the past of remote first to accommodate those folks," Rosenthal told Insider. "A lot of people who are disabled or have neurodivergence or mental health concerns or caring for somebody that they love, it just makes it a lot more possible to do your best work when you have the flexibility to work from your home or go into an office in your city a few times a week or month."

Rosenthal told Insider that as of Monday, Grindr has given employees an opportunity to send in questions about the company's new policy but still has not addressed union organizers.

Grindr CEO George Arison told staff that the decision was "many months" in the making, per a memo obtained by Bloomberg.

In a statement to Insider, a company spokesperson said the company began "the process of transitioning away from 'remote-first' to hybrid" in April and that employees were informed of a future switch to hybrid work during an all-hands meeting in June  before the unionization effort was announced .

However, employees told The New York Times that the company told them to expect the transition after one or two quarters. Rosenthal told Insider that they were not at the all-hands meeting but said many employees expected that remote workers would be allowed to stay remote based on company communications.

"We were told that we were going to hire new workers in these specific cities, but specifically that this was not going to affect existing employees," Rosenthal said.

The company spokesperson also said that the decision to move to a hybrid-work model has "nothing to do with the NLRB election petition" and said, "We respect and support our team members' rights to make their own decision about union representation."

Grindr is just one of the latest companies to urge employees to return to the office . Amazon , Apple , Disney , Google , Meta , X (formerly Twitter ), and dozens of other businesses are asking their white-collar employees to work in the office at least part of the time.

That model is unpopular among many workers , who say they would take a pay cut over an in-person job. According to a recent Wall Street Journal report, employers forcing a return to in-person work are seeing slower hiring rates.

Quinn McGee, an employee organizer at Grindr United CWA, told Vice the demands sent by Grindr  which McGee said has refused to meet with employees about the union drive  were "dehumanizing."

"To tell me that I have two weeks to decide whether or not to uproot my family's life for a job that won't come to the table and speak with me as an adult  it's dehumanizing," McGee told the publication.

Rosenthal, who lives in New York, told Insider that they are being asked to move to Los Angeles as a member of the design team. To do this, they said, would mean that they would have to leave their family and community on the East Coast.

They also said that it would affect their goals of eventually getting gender-affirming surgery.

"It feels really awful and scary to be asked to either do this or resign from my job, functionally," Rosenthal said. "In terms of other return-to-office orders that I've seen other companies instate, it just feels shocking, to be honest with you."

Update: August 14, 2023  This story has been updated to include quotes from Rowan Rosenthal, an organizing committee member for Grindr United CWA.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Tens of thousands of online grooming crimes have been recorded during the wait for updated online safety laws.

Campaigners are urging tech companies and MPs to back the Online Safety Bill and are calling for no more hold-ups.

The bill, which aims to crack down on illegal content, has faced repeated delays and amendments.

Children's charity the NPSCC says 34,000 online grooming crimes had been recorded by UK police forces since it first called for tougher laws in 2017.

The proposed new rules state that tech companies should be able to access the content of private messages if there is a child safety concern.

Many popular apps offer an encrypted messaging service, which means that only the sender and recipient can view the content. The tech firms themselves cannot see it.

However, these privacy functions are available to everybody, and the platforms say they offer extra protection to victims of domestic abuse, journalists and political activists, among others.

They also say that if they build in a backdoor, it will make their services less secure for all.

Aoife, 22, from East Kilbride, was targeted on the social network Yubo when she was 15, by an adult male who pretended to be a teenager.

He convinced her to download a different, secure messaging app, and send him explicit images of herself. He then threatened to publish them onto her social media accounts if she did not do what he said.

He also demanded photos of her school uniform and timetable. Aoife said she remembered a primary school lesson about a digital "panic button" run by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) and accessed it.

CEOP contacted her school, who told her parents. They helped her report her abuser to the police.

Yubo told the BBC it was "committed to aggressively fighting threats against our users' safety" and was "always working to evaluate and improve our safety tools and policies".

'Petrified'

"I was petrified," Aoife told BBC News. "It was something silly like two o'clock in the morning that I remember sitting in my room and all I wanted was my mum, but you can't go in then tell your mum that you've just done this, and you're in a lot of trouble.

"It's scary. I felt like I was the only person in the world at the time."

She said she felt "guilty" that no-one else knew what she was going through but also annoyed with herself because she was a "smart girl".

After an investigation by the National Crime Agency in 2022, Aoife's abuser was jailed for 18 years.

He pleaded guilty to 65 offences relating to 26 girls and women aged between 12 and 22.

Citing data from 42 UK police forces, the NSPCC said that 6,350 offences related to sexual communication with a child were recorded last year - a record high.

The new research shows that over the last six years 5,500 offences took place against primary school-age children. This means that under-12s made up a quarter of the over 21,000 known victims over that period.

The findings also showed that 73% of the crimes involved either Snapchat or Meta-linked websites, where the source was known.

A Snap spokesperson told the BBC the platform had improved their technology over the last year to help identify sexual exploitation of young people.

"We also have extra protections for under-18s to make it even harder for them to be contacted by people they don't know, and tools so parents know who their teens are talking to," the spokesperson said.

Meta said that it restricts people over 19 from messaging teens who don't follow them, and uses technology to help prevent potentially suspicious adults from finding and interacting with teens.

"We've developed over 30 features to support teens and their families, including parental supervision tools that let parents be more involved in how their teens use Instagram."

Encryption roadblock

However, ministers have recently had to defend the Online Safety Bill against a backlash from some tech companies, who argue the law will undermine the use of encryption to keep online communications private.

Some platforms are threatening to leave the UK altogether rather than comply with the new rules.

Kate Robertson, senior research associate at Citizen Lab - an organisation where researchers study security on the internet - told the BBC that "we shouldn't be drilling more holes in internet safety".

She said encryption "is an important source of safety for vulnerable individuals and it's also an important safety net for privacy itself".

Rani Govender, senior policy officer at the NSPCC, said: "We don't think there's a trade-off between safety and privacy, we think it's about investing in those technical solutions which we know are out there, that can deliver for the privacy and safety of all users on these services."

But the NSPCC also wants assurances that the legislation will regulate new technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI).

Chief executive of the Internet Watch Foundation, Susie Hargreaves, echoed this, calling for robust safety features to be brought in.

"Without them, end-to-end encryption will be a smokescreen for abusers, helping them hide what they're doing, and enabling them to continue to hurt children and destroy young lives," she said.
Charlotte residents are in for one beautifully bright-colored month. As August marks Charlottes official Pride festival, a slew of events are headed your way in the next few weeks.

The Charlotte Pride Festival & Parade has grown into one of the regions largest  starting with just 2,000 attendees in 2001 and seeing last years parade swelling to 275,000 attendees.

Aside from the iconic Charlotte Pride Festival & Parade, you can expect a few other LGBTQ+ events happening this month, such as Detoxs upcoming visit to Ink n Ivy and a 70s-themed Pride disco. And while the list of Charlotte Pride events continues to grow, weve come up with a list of some events you can look forward to.

Location: 332 West Bland St. Suite C, Charlotte, NC 28203

When: Monday, Aug. 14 at 6:30 p.m.

What to know: Along with a VIP area, full bar and a 400-person standing capacity, HUG Back to Hartigans Pride Party, held at Resident Culture will feature a one hour 80s themed reception exclusively for VIPs and 90s and 2000s hits during the night.

Location: Time Out Youth, 3800 Monroe Road Charlotte, NC 28205

When: Monday, Aug. 14 at 6:30 to 8 p.m.

What to know: Want to make posters for the Pride parade? At Time Out Youths poster night, youll be treated to pizza, salad and refreshments. But, keep in mind, this event does require you to register before its start time.

Make parade signs at Time Out Youths Pride Poster Night on Monday, Aug. 14.

Location: 620 South Tryon St., 33rd Floor, Charlotte, NC 28202

When: Thursday, Aug. 17 at 5 p.m.

What to know: Mix and mingle at this Out in Tech Charlotte LGBTQ+ networking event, hosted by Bank of America, and held on the 33rd floor of the Bank of America tower. Youre required to register at least 72 hours in advance, and make sure to plan to dress smart casual with a summer flair.

Location: 255 Clanton Rd, Charlotte, NC 28217

When: Thursday, Aug. 17, 6-9 p.m.

What to know: PRIDE Trivia Night at Weathered Souls Brewing will feature brainteasers, live painting by Zulynette and drinks, hosted by drag queen Jelly Clarckson. The event is also a fundraiser for BOOM Charlotte, with a dollar from every beer sold going to the arts organization.

Location: The Chamber by Wooden Robot, 416 E 36th St #100 Charlotte, NC 28205

When: Friday, Aug. 18, 6- 11 p..m.

Location: Wooden Robot Brewery, Coffee Bar, & Kitchen, 1440 S Tryon St. #110 Charlotte, NC 28203

When: Sunday, Aug. 20, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Wooden Robot is celebrating Charlotte Pride with two events: A DJ, LGBTQ+ vendor market and a rooftop drag show on Friday, Aug. 18 at The Chamber by Wooden Robot, and a pre-parade brunch on Sunday, Aug. 20 at Wooden Robot Brewery in South End.

The Friday event will include live music from 6-8 p.m. with DJ See Bird Go, a vendor market from 6-9 p.m. and a ticketed 21+ drag show from 8:30-10:30 p.m., hosted by Onya Nerves with performances by Oso Chanel, Marceline Mashic, Faith n Mae, RC Cola and Liam Laughin. Drag show tickets, available online, are $15-$17.

Tickets are not required for the Sunday brunch.

Location: 4544 South Boulevard H, Charlotte, NC 28209

When: Friday, Aug. 18 at 8 p.m.

What to know: As Sapphic Pride Weekend from Lesbian Friends of Charlotte kicks off at Bar Argon, youll enjoy a viewing of RuPauls Drag Race and some hits from the DJ. Get there early because parking is limited, and the venue has limited capacity.

Location: Wells Fargo Atrium, 401 South Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28202

When: Saturday, Aug. 19 at 1:45 p.m.

Location: Queen City Grounds, 644 N Church St, Charlotte, NC 28202

When: Sunday, Aug. 20 at 11 a.m.

What to know: The One Voice Chorus of Charlottes performances at Charlotte Pride will feature songs by The Indigo Girls, Lil Nas X and Lady Gaga. Both performances are free and open to the public.

Location: Merchant & Trade, 19th floor of the Kimpton Tryon Park Hotel, 303 S. Church St., Charlotte, NC 28202

When: Saturday, Aug. 19 at 2 p.m.

What to know: The Perfectly Queer Skies Day Party will feature DJs spinning tunes all afternoon, Pride-inspired cocktails, swag, giveaways and more.

Location: 209 East 7th Street Charlotte, NC 28202

When: Saturday, Aug. 19 at 4 to 10 p.m.

What to know: Get your groove on with drinks, food trucks and live art at The Dancing Queens, hosted by the Beat Machine Truck. The music will have a disco and 70s vibe from DJs like Kakies, Xiamor and Dgtl Diva.

Location: 2433 South Boulevard Charlotte, NC 28203

When: Saturday, Aug. 19 at 5 p.m.

What to know: This 21-and-up event will feature DJ sets, live performances and vendors. But there are two things to keep in mind for Girls Room Presents: PRIDE FEST: No large bags are allowed, and you may want to consider an Uber or Lyft since parking is limited.

Location: Saturday, Aug. 19 at 9 p.m.

When: 222 South Church Street Charlotte, NC 28202

What to know: Are you a fan of RuPauls Drag Race? Well, youre in luck because Drag Race fan favorite Detox will be at Vanity Houses fifth anniversary of Pride Fest celebration. The event, which is open to anyone 21 and up, will feature DJs, performers and even body painters.

Location: N. Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28262

When: Sunday, Aug. 20 from 1 to 4 p.m.

What to know: At Charlottes largest LGBTQ+ Pride parade in uptown, expect to be entranced by a rainbow-filled Tryon Street. With more than 40 floats and 10,000 marchers, organizers say the parade will stop at North Tryon Street and 9th Street and will move south toward 4th Street.

At the parade, an accessible viewing area will be next to the community stage on the corner of Tryon Street & 4th Street, according to Friendly Like Mes Charlotte Pride: Accessibility Guide. ASL Interpretation will be on the mainstage and community stage.

Along the parade route, there are a few places you can use to take a break including, The Mint Museum, First Ward Park, 7th Street Market and Wells Fargo Atrium, which has ADA-compliant and gender-neutral restrooms.

If youre looking for ADA-accessible porta-potties, you can access those at the main stage; community stage; Church Street and Levine Avenue; M odd block of MLK Boulevard; and 300 block of 3rd Street.

Join the crowd at the Charlotte Pride Festival and Parade on Sunday, Aug. 20.

Location: Billy Sunday at Optimist Hall, 1115 N Brevard St UNIT 1, Charlotte, NC 28206

When: Doors open at 3 p.m., and the music starts at 5 p.m.

What to know: Join the PRIDE After Party at Billy Sunday, sponsored by Makers Mark. DJ SweeTee will spin tunes starting at 5 p.m., and the Drag Show, presented by DKO Entertainment, will start at 6 p.m. The event is free and no tickets are required, but come early to reserve a spot.

Location: 225 Fairwood Avenue Charlotte, NC 28203

When: Friday, Aug. 25 at 6 p.m.

What to know: Nows the time for your most colorful clothes or best glow in the dark outfit. With this Rainbow Partys specialty-themed cocktails and beats from DJ Nolo Stage, youre sure to indulge in a night of vivid colors.

Location: SouthPark Christian Church, 6650 Park South Drive Charlotte, NC 28210

When: Sunday, Aug. 27 at 12:30 p.m.

What to know: Down for bingo and karaoke? Along with games, Church Pride Potluck & Bingo hosted by SouthPark Christian Church will also feature a raffle and Kona Ice truck.

Location: 217 I B Shive Dr., Monroe, NC 28110

When: Sunday, Sept. 17 at 11 a.m.

What to know: Union County Prides Festival in the Park, open to all ages, will feature a splash pad and playground, along with a food truck and performances. If youre interested in attending as a volunteer, register here.
A 56-year-old man found guilty of raping a convenience store clerk in 1995 was sentenced to serve between 36 and 44 years in prison after new DNA evidence was revealed.

The trial began Monday, Aug. 7 in New Hanover Criminal Superior Court. According to a news release from District Attorney Ben David, Freddie Anthony Jackson was found guilty of first-degree kidnapping, two counts of first-degree rape, two counts of first-degree sexual offense, and robbery. The trial concluded Friday, Aug. 11, with a jury and judge making a decision.

According to the release, Jackson entered the Scotchman store at 906 N. 23rd St. on Sept. 2, 1995 after 2 a.m. He hid in the bathroom until customers left and the clerk was alone. Jackson then called the 26-year-old female clerk over to ask if she had a larger size Gatorade. The clerk replied that she did not, and as she turned to walk away, Jackson grabbed her by the neck and threw her on her back to the floor. Jackson then forced her into the walk-in drink cooler where he sexually assaulted her four times. Jackson stole money from the cash register and beer, and he dropped a pack of Newport cigarettes on the floor behind the cash register. Jackson fled the scene on foot.

The clerk was transported to New Hanover Regional Medical Center and a sexual assault evidence collection kit was completed. DNA analysis was in its infancy and scientists were not able to analyze potential DNA evidence in a sexual assault evidence collection kit unless they had a DNA sample from a suspect with which to compare. The identity of Jackson was not known. Despite efforts by the Wilmington Police Department to discover the offender, the case went cold.

The national DNA database was later created by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This allows law enforcement officers to submit potential DNA evidence left behind by even unknown offenders to be compared to people in the database. North Carolina enacted a law requiring offenders convicted of serious offenses provide a DNA sample for this database. The sexual assault evidence collection kit from the clerk of the Scotchman was submitted for analysis and a match was made to Jackson.

Jackson is currently serving a sentence from other kidnappings and sexual assaults.

Superior Court Judge Frank Jones sentenced Jackson to serve to a minimum of 36 and a maximum of 44 years in prison. Upon release he will be required to register as a sexual offender for the remainder of his lifetime.

STAY CONNECTED: Keep up with the areas latest news by signing up for the StarNews newsletter and following us on Facebook and Instagram.

Reporter Chase Jordan can be reached at cjjordan@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: New Hanover jury convicts man in 1995 rape case
On today's episode of the 5 Things podcast: Hawaii churches offer prayers for dead, missing

Maui is mourning, as a death toll rises following devastating wildfires. Plus, Afghan children fled the Taliban, then faced years in custody, USA TODAY Supreme Court Correspondent John Fritze looks at an upcoming decision on disability testers, former Vice President Mike Pence avoids saying whether he's a 'MAGA Republican,' and USA TODAY Travel Reporter Kathleen Wong talks about her visit to the Marshall Islands, and how the country is pushing to become a tourism destination.

Podcasts: True crime, in-depth interviews and more USA TODAY podcasts right here

Hit play on the player above to hear the podcast and follow along with the transcript below. This transcript was automatically generated, and then edited for clarity in its current form. There may be some differences between the audio and the text.

Taylor Wilson:

Good morning. I'm Taylor Wilson and this is 5 Things you need to know Monday, the 14th of August 2023. Today, Maui mourns. Plus what an upcoming Supreme Court decision means for disability testers, and Pence won't say he's a MAGA Republican.



The death toll has risen to 93 in a historic Maui wildfire that ripped through the community of Lahaina. It's the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century. Hundreds more are still missing, and nearly 2000 homes and other structures have been destroyed. Parishioners in Hawaii churches mourned the dead and prayed for the missing yesterday. Shelley Hee attended service after losing a home in the fire.

Shelley Hee:

I try and hold it in. They keep telling me, cry, cry, but I'm holding in. I'm sure I'm going to get to the day where it's just going to come out, and this is one of the events. But I am fine. I have my life and I know God's with me.

Taylor Wilson:

Meanwhile, Gov. Josh Green and the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation are launching a program to connect property owners who would like to offer rooms or other accommodations with Maui residents affected by the disaster. Application forms will be available online this morning.



Twelve-year-old Mohammad Halim Shams made it onto a flight out of Afghanistan in August of 2021 as the U.S. withdrew from the country and he reached the United States. But for children like Mohammed, the journey to safety did not end there, it only began. Mohammad's story revealed a rarely seen consequence of the American exit from Afghanistan. Children who fled without their parents arrived in the U.S. as unaccompanied minors, making them maybe the most vulnerable evacuees of all. By the time Mohammad reached a federally run shelter in New York a few months later, the U.S. government was in the middle of the process of reuniting thousands of Central American families with their children, taken from them under the Trump administration's zero tolerance policy. He joined more than 1600 Afghan children who were beginning to stream into the same system of federal custody. Now, even after two years in the United States, hundreds of those children may still be waiting. You can read more about Mohammad and others like him with a link to the full story in today's show notes.



So-called disability testers face an uncertain future with an upcoming Supreme Court decision. I spoke with USA TODAY Supreme Court Correspondent John Fritze to learn more. Thanks for hopping back on, John.

John Fritze:

Thanks, Taylor.

Taylor Wilson:

So who exactly are disability testers?

John Fritze:

These are folks who have no intention of going to these hotels, but who go onto the booking websites that we all use to book a hotel; sometimes the hotels themselves, sometimes third party sites like Expedia. And they look to see whether the hotels are listing ADA compliance information, which is required by federal regulation. And for these people, this is really important because for a lot of us when we go to a hotel, we have to worry about some nuisances potentially; does the wifi work or do we have a view of a parking lot or whatever. But folks who are, for instance, let's say in a wheelchair, have to know in advance whether there's a ramp into the lobby, and in some cases whether they can roll into a shower for instance. And so what many civil rights groups say is that it's really important that the Supreme Court allow these people to bring these lawsuits against these hoteliers because otherwise there's really no way to enforce this requirement that this very important information is included on the websites.

Taylor Wilson:

Advocates argue in defense of this kind of testing as you mentioned. What do opponents argue here, John?

John Fritze:

The plaintiff in this case is a woman named Deborah Laufer and she's very well known in the ADA and litigation space. She alone has brought some 600 lawsuits against hotels. And what critics say, in particular the hotel industry, they argue that this is really an abuse of the system, that Laufer and other testers in her situation don't have standing to sue. Standing's like this threshold thing. To get in the door in a case in Supreme Court, you got to be able to prove that you were injured by somebody else's action. It's like a thing that gets argued all the time in federal court, do you have standing. Cases are often decided on standing. And the hotels are saying look, Laufer doesn't have standing because she had no intention to ever go to these hotels. So how could she have been injured by this lack of information on the websites? And they argue that these cases are an effort to drum up business basically for attorneys. The law does not let the testers themselves recover damages, but the attorneys do. They push for attorneys fees and costs, and there's some documentation in the record that Laufer's attorneys are asking for $10,000 from each of these hotels that they sue.

Taylor Wilson:

So John, the Supreme Court will hear a case on this later this year. What's at stake in this case and what's this mean for this broad conversation going forward?

John Fritze:

Even the Biden administration, which is technically not taking a side in this case, however, they are saying they don't believe Laufer has standing. So in some ways they are opposed to Laufer. Even they sort of acknowledged in their briefing that they don't have the ability to police this, they don't have the ability to enforce these requirements that hoteliers include this information on the site. So I think a loss for Laufer, a lot of these groups argue - groups like the NAACP and ACLU and others are on Laufer's side here - they argue that if she doesn't have standing, if she can't bring these cases in federal court, then that's a real harm and basically hotels are not going to be as good as they might be now with including this information. And you've got a lot of other business types, particularly retail business that also are on briefs in the court case here. And I think they foresee potential spillover no matter how the court rules to a much wider range of businesses.

Taylor Wilson:

All right, John Fritze, always great insight from the Supreme Court. Thank you, sir.

John Fritze:

Hey, thank you so much.



Taylor Wilson:

Former Vice President Mike Pence avoided calling him himself a MAGA Republican in a new interview. Asked the question on NBC's Meet the Press yesterday, Pence said he's proud of what they did in the Trump-Pence administration and that the duo, with the support of MAGA Americans, did make America great again. He also criticized former President Barack Obama and then Vice President Joe Biden for their eight years in office. Pence has ramped up criticism of former President Donald Trump in recent weeks, including after Trump was indicted over his alleged efforts to steal the 2020 election. After Trump's election indictment, Pence said he did not have any right to overturn the election despite Trump's arguments that he could accept or reject results as part of the election's certification process.



The Marshall Islands. When it comes to pristine beaches, few in the world compare to this remote country in the Pacific. But it's one of the least visited countries in the world. I spoke with USA TODAY Travel Reporter Kathleen Wong about her visit there and how the nation plans to become a travel destination. Thanks for hopping on 5 Things, Kathleen.

Kathleen Wong:

Yeah, thanks for having me.

Taylor Wilson:

So Kathleen, can you just start by telling us a bit about the Marshall Islands and what it's like to visit?

Kathleen Wong:

So the Marshall Islands is one of four atoll nations, and atolls are islands that are basically like ring shaped, really beautiful if you see it from an aerial view. But it's an incredible place. It's halfway between Australia and Hawaii, so the weather's beautiful, the beaches are beautiful. It's made up of 1,225 islands, including the larger atolls plus tiny little islands. One I visited was just seven acres. Some of these islands can be private islands, really undeveloped, really pristine and beautiful. But visiting is also difficult and inaccessible for the average person. There's one flight from the United States and it's from Honolulu, so if you can even get to Hawaii, and it costs over a thousand dollars for one way. And then once you get there, there's a lack of infrastructure and capacity to hold tourists. There were only three hotels in the capital Majuro, and there's also a history with the islands. There was nuclear testing done in the forties by the U.S. military that made some islands uninhabitable and gave the Marshallese a lot of really terrible health issues and they're still dealing with that today.

Also in the future there's an uncertainty with climate crisis. They're on the front lines of climate change and they're low-lying, so rising sea levels are really going to impact their future. And some scientists say that as early as the 2030s that they could have some islands where people can't live there anymore.

Taylor Wilson:

Despite some of those challenges, the Marshall Islands seem set on boosting tourism. What's the plan here?

Kathleen Wong:

So ecotourism is the word that I keep hearing. The tourism office really wants to invest in locally owned startups that are sustainable. So promoting diving, which means that the coral reefs have to be healthy and protected, or these places use solar panels. Or one place I visited, they basically set up their island to be a glamping experience with one of those geodesic domes. But it's kind of their way of making sure the money stays in the country. Because I spoke to the tourism office and they said that getting foreign investment is really tough, especially when everyone is saying that your country is sinking because of rising sea levels, and to just use tourism as an economic driver. So the tourism office does have a program in partnership with the International Organization for Migration to train and fund women who want to start their own tourism business.

So I think that kind of helps spread awareness to locals and helps set them up financially to see how tourism can help them make money and boost the country. But they also need to start with the flight accessibility issue. So there is an aviation task force working on getting more flights to stop in the Marshall Islands. That's kind of the first step.

Taylor Wilson:

And you touched on some of the possible reasons, but why hasn't the country explored tourism to this level before?

Kathleen Wong:

Yeah, so I was told that they wanted to back in the late nineties, but the idea just never really got off the ground I think in terms of resources and support. But following COVID, social media was just blowing up on their destinations or getting a lot of light shed on them becoming popular, that there's a renewed effort right now. But the tourism office really is focused on spreading awareness to residents to get them behind the idea so that they can see how tourism can help their country. And then I think the movement will kind of go from there.

Taylor Wilson:

All right, Kathleen Wong, I'm very jealous of your trip. Thanks for the reporting and for making the time. Appreciate it.

Kathleen Wong:

Yeah, thanks for having me.

Taylor Wilson:

Thanks for listening to 5 Things. If you like the show, please subscribe and leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. And if you have any comments, you can reach us at podcasts@usatoday.com. I'm back tomorrow with more of 5 Things from USA TODAY.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Maui in mourning, Pence dodges MAGA question: 5 Things podcast
China, Cambodia pledge to boost bilateral ties

Xinhua) 10:18, August 14, 2023

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (5th L), who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Sok Chenda Sophea (5th R), Cambodian deputy prime minister and foreign minister-designate, minister delegate attached to the Cambodian prime minister, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Aug. 12, 2023. (Photo by Ly Lay/Xinhua)

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister-designate Sok Chenda Sophea here on Saturday, during which the two sides pledged to boost bilateral ties.

Sophea, also the minister delegate attached to the Cambodian Prime Minister, said Wang's visit is the most timely and powerful support for Cambodia.

China has always given a helping hand to Cambodia at critical moments to help the Southeast Asian country achieve peace, stability, development and revitalization, which has strengthened its confidence and ability to safeguard independence, he added.

Noting that bilateral cooperation has helped Cambodia rapidly improve people's livelihood, Sophea said Cambodia looks forward to working with China to continuously enhance the strategic nature of Cambodia-China relations, expand cooperation areas and set a good example for high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said the traditional friendship between China and Cambodia, forged by the older generation of leaders of the two countries, is long-tested and ironclad, which is the most valuable asset of both sides and deserves to be cherished.

Noting that China attaches great importance to China-Cambodia relations, Wang said China will always be a reliable partner for Cambodia to seek development and revitalization, and a strong supporter when Cambodia encounters difficulties.

Calling the recent general election in Cambodia a great success, Wang said the support of the general public provides the greatest confidence and solid foundation for the CPP to face up to challenges and eliminate external interference.

Wang said China is ready to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with Cambodia, and enrich the bilateral "diamond hexagon" cooperation framework that covers politics, production capacity, agriculture, energy, security, and people-to-people exchanges.

The two sides also exchanged views on deepening cooperation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). They agreed to maintain close communication and coordination, support ASEAN centrality, and promote regional peace, stability and development to achieve all-win and win-win outcomes.

Cambodia is the last leg of Wang's Southeast Asia tour which has taken him to Singapore and Malaysia.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
LAHAINA, Hawaii  The death toll from the devastating wildfires in Hawaii has risen to 99 per Gov. Josh Green, with search and rescue teams still looking through the charred remains of scorched buildings for any signs of the hundreds of people still missing from the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than 100 years.

Firefighters are still working to contain flare-ups and extinguish the wildfires that broke out nearly a week ago, with the Upcounty/Kula fire now at 60% containment, the Lahaina fire at 85% containment, and the Pulehu/Kihei fire at 100% contained.

However, officials stress that even if and when a fire is 100% contained, it doesnt mean its extinguished. It only means that firefighters have the blaze entirely surrounded by a perimeter, inside of which can continue to burn. The fire will only be declared extinguished when firefighters believe nothing is left burning.

FOX CORPORATION PARTNERS WITH AMERICAN RED CROSS TO HELP HAWAII FIRE VICTIMS

Officials have been providing details of the current situation as containment, search and rescue efforts and support for the thousands of residents who have been affected all continue.

Residents of West Maui have slowly been allowed to return to their homes. On Monday, travel into West Maui was set to be expedited with access placards but Maui police later suspended the placard program because of "overwhelming demand" from non-essential individuals and non-Maui residents.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

Volunteers sort out donations for those affected by a wildfire, at a parking lot in Lahaina, western Maui, Hawaii on August 12, 2023. (Photo by Yuki IWAMURA / AFP) (Photo by YUKI IWAMURA/AFP via Getty Images)

Power is also being restored, and officials said the Napili Plaza is open 24 hours a day. And with power being restored in areas of West Maui, Ohana Fuels/Minit Stop on Keawe Street in Lahaina and Kahana Gateway Shell are open for gasoline.

An unsafe water advisory has also been issued for many residents until further notice, and residents have been told not to drink or boil water. Bottled water should be used for all drinking, brushing teeth, ice making and food preparation until further notice.

HAWAII BRUSH FIRES BY THE NUMBERS: THE SCOPE OF THE CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE

Officials said residents cannot treat the water in any way to make it safe, and drinking water sites have been set up in many areas of Lahaina and Kula.

Six shelters have been set up across the area, with one shelter at Maui High School, Kahului, being closed on Sunday. People staying there were transported to the South Maui Community Park Gymnasium, Kihei.

MAUI CHURCH SERVES AS BEACON OF HOPE STANDING UNSCATHED AMID CHARRED RUBBLE CAUSED BY DEADLY WILDFIRES

Maui resident John Rey Serrano reacts while looking from a road above Lahaina Town in the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina, western Maui, Hawaii on August 11, 2023.

People across Maui and Hawaii are searching for answers as to what sparked the fires that claimed so many lives last week.

Theres no official reason as to what sparked the blazes, but a class-action lawsuit was filed in Hawaiian Circuit Court alleging that Hawaiian Electric was negligent, essentially ignored weather warnings and didnt de-energize power lines when they should have when they were aware that windy conditions and fire weather alerts were in place.

Hawaiian Electric issued a statement and said they couldnt comment on pending litigation.

"Our immediate focus is on supporting emergency response efforts on Maui and restoring power for our customers and communities as quickly as possible," Hawaiian Electric spokesperson Jim Kelly said in a statement. "At this early stage, the cause of the fire has not been determined, and we will work with the state and county as they conduct their review."

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green says he wants an investigation into how the disaster happened, into the aftermath and into why people may not have been warned or didnt receive the life-saving information in time.

Green said that initially, firefighters thought that the fire was out, but then the winds picked up to around 80 mph and caused what he called a "fire hurricane."

"That meant that the fire traveled one mile every minute, resulting in this tragedy," he said. "With those kinds of winds and 1,000-degree temperatures, ultimately all of the pictures that you will see will be easy to understand."

Maui residents John Rey Serrano and Lexie Lara look from a road above Lahaina Town in the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina, western Maui, Hawaii on August 11, 2023. A wildfire that left Lahaina in charred ruins has killed at least 67 people, authorities said on August 11, making it one of the deadliest disasters in the US state's history. Brushfires on Maui, fueled by high winds from Hurricane Dora passing to the south of Hawaii, broke out August 8 and rapidly engulfed Lahaina.

Access to Lahaina is still limited because of the dangerous conditions that remain nearly a week after the deadly fire.

The search for victims continues, and in one case, a family of four was identified as victims.

An overnight curfew also remains in effect across West Maui from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., with limited access during the day to residents only and those with hotel reservations.

"Never, I think, in my life would I have imagined that we would have something like this," Ed Gazmen said.

With the death toll expected to continue to rise as the search continues for hundreds of people who remain missing, survivors of the fire are being urged to submit DNA samples to help identify those who were killed.

The fire destroyed thousands of buildings in Lahaina, with nearly 90% of those being residential structures.

Several homes were also burned in the Upcountry/Kula wildfire, with officials saying 19 were destroyed in Kula and three were destroyed in Olinda.

Several other homes sustained damage; however, officials said a total number of homes destroyed are not yet available because the fire is still active.

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green announced a new relief program to re-house the thousands who now have no home.

"This means we will be able to get people into hotel rooms, Airbnbs and so on so that they are safe," he said. "Look out for your neighbors. Love them. That's what we will be defined by in the future. How we take care of our ohana (family)."

If you would like to help the people of Lahaina and Maui, check out this page.
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green (D) said that rescue crews could find 10 to 20 people a day until theyre finished with ongoing searches for causalities in the aftermath of the Maui wildfires.

In an interview with CBS Mornings that aired Monday, Green said that there is a grim expectation that rescue crews will find more causalities from the natural disaster.

There are more fatalities that will come, Green told CBS Mornings co-anchor Tony Dokoupil. The fire was so hot that what we find is the tragic finding that you would imagine, as though a fire has come through, and its hard to recognize anybody.

Green, who has been Hawaiis governor since 2022, told Dokoupil that residents of Lahaina, a historic town that took the brunt of the wildfire, have either escaped or perished. Green added that officials are prepared to receive more tragic stories from the natural disaster.

They will find 10 to 20 people per day probably until they finish, and its probably going to take 10 days, Green added. Its impossible to guess really.

Green also said that a comprehensive review will be conducted to find out the reasoning why sirens and other warnings didnt alert residents of the approaching fires. The governor added that the review is not to find fault in anyone but to say why this worked and this didnt work.

Greens remarks come as officials updated the death total from the Maui wildfires to 96 lives lost, which marks it as the deadliest wildfire in U.S. history. Green said that more than 2,700 structures have been damaged in Lahaina and nearly $6 billion was lost due to the damages.

Hawaii Attorney General Anne E. Lopez also launched an investigation into the natural disaster, saying her office will conduct a comprehensive review of the critical decision-making and standing policies before, during and after the fires.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Lahaina, a historic tourist town of about 12,000 people on Maui's west coast, was decimated by a raging fire last week (Yuki IWAMURA)

When the devastating wildfire ripped through Hawaii's Lahaina community last week, some of the archipelago's most renowned chefs sprang into action to help as best they could: in the kitchen.

"We know that food is medicine," Sheldon Simeon, a Maui-based chef known nationally as an ambassador of Hawaiian cuisine, told AFP.

"For these people to be able to give them a hot meal... it's something that connects them with Hawaii... instead of something that's, you know, out of a can," he said at a bustling center in Kahului cranking out thousands of fresh meals a day.

"Hopefully it's the start of a little bit of healing."

Lahaina, a historic tourist town of about 12,000 people on Maui's west coast, was decimated by a raging fire last week, leaving at least 96 dead and thousands homeless.

Authorities believe the death toll will continue to rise as teams continue to comb the charred area.

Over 1,400 residents who lost everything are now in shelters, staying with relatives or spending the nights in their cars.

As criticism mounts over what many have termed a slow official response, communities have been launching their own initiatives to cope with the tragedy.

In the kitchen at the University of Hawaii culinary school in Kahului, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of Lahaina, the pace is frenetic.

Dozens of trays of food disappear in minutes, with an endless row of volunteers filling small containers, which are then placed in coolers.

Simeon and other culinary stars -- such as fellow "Top Chef" contestant Lee Anne Wong, whose restaurant was razed in the fire -- are now working in three shifts to feed the homeless and those who remain in Lahaina.

"Some of our chefs have lost their homes (in the fire), and they're right here right alongside us cooking for their community. Just gives you a sense of what the 'aloha' spirit is," Simeon said.

- 9,000 meals a day -

The team of chefs and dozens of volunteers prepare and package about 9,000 meals every day.

"I've worked in high volume restaurants and kitchens my whole life and I've never seen the sheer mass of this food," said private chef Taylor Ponte.

"We have pig farmers... dropping out 4,000 pounds (1,800 kilograms) of meat. We just got 2,000 pounds of salmon coming over from Alaska. People are dropping hundreds of pounds of local watermelon. It's a... very, very massive amount of food," he added, taking a short break from the intense day.

Menus are tailored based on what's available, but are always prepared with a local touch.

Lunch on Sunday, for example, was a Thai curry with local mahi.

Dinner was macaroni and cheese, with bolognese and tomato sauce.

"I know that's a lot to crank out anywhere from 7,000 to 9,000 meals a day and you get kind of creative with what you got," Simeon explained.

Members of the Salvation Army and other volunteer networks pick up the food, which arrives at shelters and in Lahaina still warm.

They're hardly done with lunch when it is time to start dinner.

And while the arrival of more volunteers has guaranteed additional hours of rest for the chefs, the shifts are still long.

Ponte, in his blue apron, doesn't complain.

"We're just tired. These people (the survivors) are tired, hungry and homeless," he said.

"You know as chefs, we never really sleep anyways."

pr/aha/des
Just one week ago the neighbourhoods of Maui were bustling and surrounded by colourful foliage. Now, ash and soot blanket nearly every surface, buildings and homes are destroyed, and nearly 100 people are dead.

Fast-moving wildfires hit unknowing residents in Maui and other parts of Hawaii last week leading to destruction and death.

While some people managed to escape the blazes before they engulfed towns, others had no choice but to flee to the ocean to prevent themselves from being burned.

As of early Monday morning, the death toll is at 96 people, with most of the remains being unidentifiable due to the scorching fires.

Now, as officials work to identify victims and try to find hundreds of other missing people, locals are wondering why emergency alerts were not sounded and what could have been done to lessen the damage.

The wildfires in Hawaii are some of the deadliest to occur in the United States and one of the worst natural disasters in Hawaiis history.

More than 2,800 acres of land have been burned and firefighters are still working to extinguish flames and contain smaller fires throughout Maui.

Part of the reason the fires were so deadly was the lack of preparation and a warning that many residents were given before the flames engulfed entire towns like Lahaina.

Shortly after midnight on 8 August, smaller wildfires began breaking out but quickly turned into massive blazes  in part due to 60 miles-in-hour winds caused by a hurricane hundreds of miles off the coast of Hawaii.

The strong winds carrying the flames combined with the islands drought conditions, caused flammable vegetation to erupt into flames rapidly.

Though the National Weather Service (NWS) warned Hawaii that conditions could create high fire danger, it appears little action was taken to conduct evacuations and warnings.

An aerial image taken on 10 August shows destroyed homes and buildings burned to the ground in Lahaina (AFP via Getty Images)

From the time the wildfires were recognised on Tuesday evening until the morning when they spiralled out of control, residents say they were given little information.

JD Hessemer, a business owner in Lahaina, told CBS News last week that he received nothing on his phone regarding an emergency alert system. He made the decision to evacuate early on Tuesday himself.

I received nothing at no point in time, Mr Hessemer said. I got nothing on my phone, he told the network.

Initially, officials told news outlets that they sounded alarms indicating residents should look to their phones, radio or television for further instruction. But later a spokesperson for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency confirmed to NPR that officials did not activate the system.

One Maui resident, Ydriss Nouara, told Sky News that police told him to jump into the ocean as flames approached the town of Lahaina.

The ocean was pulling us, we had debris falling on us, we were trying to get wet and not burned, he said.

Mr Nouara was in the ocean for approximately three hours before being rescued.

Lahaina residents escape wildfires by jumping into the ocean (@chefjoshuamarten / TMX)

Similar stories of chaos and fear are evident from the victims that have been identified.

The remains of four family members were found in a burned car near their home in Lahaina. The four people, Salote Takafua, her son Tony Takafua and parents Faaso and Malui Fonua Tone, were seemingly trying to flee from the blaze before they got caught.

Maui police chief John Pelletier told reporters in a press conference that they dont know how many people have died as a result of the wildfire, but that death toll number will likely increase in the coming days.

Cadaver dogs have searched just three per cent of the search area for the remains of people as of Monday morning. So far, 96 people have been found and very few of them have been identified due to the state of their bodies.

The remains were finding is through a fire that melted metal, Mr Pelletier said. When we pick up the remains and they fall apart.

Mr Pelletier urged people who are missing family members to submit their DNA to the Family Assistance Centre to help with identifying the victims

Nobody saw this coming, Mr Pelletier said. If we did, we wouldnt have this situation, but this is a tragedy.

On 12 August, three law firms filed a class-action lawsuit against Hawaiian Electric  the company that supplies the islands with 95 per cent of its electricity.

The lawsuit, obtained by Spectrum News, claims that the company inexcusable kept their power lines energised during forecasted high fire danger conditions.

They are alleging that several energy companies in Hawaii and Maui did not take proper action when the NWS issued the fire danger warning. De-energising power lines is common practice in the Western United States when high wildfire warnings are issued.

There was absolutely knowledge within the state and within the electric industry that fire was a huge, huge concern on the island of Maui, and even more so than any of the other islands," the complaint says.

People watch as smoke and flames fill the air from raging wildfires on Front Street in downtown Lahaina, Maui on 9 August (Alan Dickar via AP)

In a statement provided to The Independent, Hawaiian Electric said, As has always been our policy, we dont comment on pending litigation. Our immediate focus is on supporting emergency response efforts on Maui and restoring power for our customers and communities as quickly as possible. At this early stage, the cause of the fire has not been determined and we will work with the state and county as they conduct their review.

Hawaii senator Mazie Hirono told CNN she was not going to make any excused for this tragedy and that the attorney general has launched a review into the alarm system and actions that were taken.
Recovery crews combing through charred homes and vehicles in Hawaii are likely to find 10 to 20 more victims per day, the governor has warned.

The death toll from the fire now stands at 99, making it the deadliest US wildfire in more than a century.

Governor Josh Green told CBS News it could take up to 10 days to learn the full death toll.

The number of missing now stands at around 1,300, he said.

He later told a press conference that 25% of the area affected by the fire had been searched for bodies.

Nearly the entire town of Lahaina was destroyed in the fire.

"There is nothing to see except full devastation," Mr Green told CBS, the BBC's US news partner, on Sunday.

All residents of Lahaina - home to 12,000 people - probably escaped or perished in the fire, he added. He said crews would probably discover more victims and that it would take time to identify them.

"It's hard to recognise anybody," Mr Green said.

Officials said 20 dogs trained to search for cadavers had been deployed to the island by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema).

"We've got an area that we have to contain that is at least five square miles, and it is full of our loved ones," said Maui Police Chief Jeff Pelletier at a weekend news conference.

On Monday, Fema Administrator Deanne Criswell declined to give an exact estimate of how long the search and recovery mission would take, calling the situation "extremely hazardous".

"The dogs can only work so long because of how hot the temperatures are," said Ms Criswell, participating in the White House daily press briefing remotely from Hawaii.

A map showing buildings damaged in Lahaina after Maui fires

At one point, there were more than 2,000 people who had been reported missing since the fire broke out on the island of Maui last week.

That number went down to 1,300 as people were able to reconnect with one another after access to cell phone service improved.

Chief Pelletier has encouraged people with missing family members to submit DNA samples to help with search efforts.

He also urged patience for those looking to enter the town, as there are still remains that need to be recovered and identified.

"When we find our family and friends, the remains we're finding is through a fire that melted metal," he said. "We have to do rapid DNA to identify them. Every one of these ... are John and Jane Does."

Speaking to reporters on Monday afternoon, Mr Green said just under 2,000 housing units, including 402 hotel rooms, had been made available for people who had lost their homes.

The deadly fire in Lahaina is still burning and is about 85% contained, according to Maui County officials. How the fire started remains unconfirmed, though it was fuelled by winds from nearby Hurricane Dora and drought conditions.

A class-action lawsuit was filed on Saturday against Hawaii's largest electricity provider, Hawaii Electric, which alleges the company's downed power lines contributed to the wildfires.

The lawsuit accuses the company of failing to shut off the downed lines despite advanced warning from the National Weather Service cautioning that Hawaii was under high alert for wildfires.

Temporarily shutting off power to reduce fire risk is a tactic used in western US states, where wildfires are common. In California, power lines have been blamed for half of the state's most destructive wildfires.

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The fires have been the subject of false posts that have spread rapidly online

False claims about the deadly wildfires in Hawaii - including that shadowy forces orchestrated the disaster with a laser beam - have gained traction online.

The misleading posts come from a variety of sources and accounts, but generally imply that "elites" or government agencies deliberately started the fires.

Some of the most popular theories are couched in questions about a "narrative" and make claims that alternative views are being "censored", despite collecting millions of views.

While there are specific rumours circulating about Maui, they fit into a general pattern repeatedly seen after extreme weather events and natural disasters - politically motivated activists seeking to downplay the potential impact of climate change.

'Energy weapon'

Videos and images claiming that the wildfires were not a natural disaster - and were instead caused by a "directed energy weapon", a "laser beam" or explosion - have been viewed millions of times.

One video viewed 10 million times claims to show a large explosion in Maui just before the fires.

But the video was originally a viral clip shared on TikTok in May showing a transformer explosion in Chile.

Chilean TV network Chilevision ran a report on the viral video, confirming the explosion was the result of a blown transformer caused by strong wind.

An image of a church on fire in Hawaii has been viewed 9 million times, with claims it shows a laser beam striking it.

But it has been digitally altered. The original image - of the Waiola Church in Lahaina in flames on 8 August - has no laser beam or ray of light visible.

Two other false images have been racking up huge numbers of views.

One shows a fireball and a bright streak of light rising up towards the night sky. It, too, has been accompanied by claims that wildfires are not a natural phenomenon.

But a search on the internet for previous versions of this image reveals the photo shows a controlled burn at an Ohio oil refinery and was first posted online in January 2018. The streak of light, known as a "light pillar", is an optical illusion formed by reflections off ice crystals on a cold day.

A similar image claims to show a huge beam of light in Maui just before the wildfires. But it shows the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in California in May 2018.

Why are trees standing?

There are claims circulating about videos from Maui showing some trees still standing while houses and vehicles have been burned, with people pointing to the pictures as "evidence" that the fires were deliberately set or that their real cause is being hidden from the public.

One post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, includes a video of the destruction and the message: "Everything is burnt but the trees, but don't point that out or you're a conspiracy theorist."

That post - which has been seen more than 24 million times - has been challenged by X's Community Notes feature, where users add context and facts around viral content.

Dr Rory Hadden, senior lecturer and expert in fire investigations at the University of Edinburgh, told BBC Verify that it is common for trees to remain standing even after severe wildfires because "burning through a large piece of wood takes a long time", "thick pieces of wood are usually not able to sustain burning on their own" and "the high moisture content of trees will also make them hard to burn".

Some plants, known as pyrophytes, have also adapted to survive wildfires due to thermal insulation or other means.

'Elite land grab'

Alongside the "directed energy weapon" rumours, speculation spread in viral posts that some of the island's rich inhabitants and second-home owners deliberately started the wildfires to grab valuable land in Lahaina.

One viral video includes claims by a podcaster that native landowners in Maui have refused to sell land to investment management companies and rich locals. He notes the false "directed energy weapon" rumours before going on to speculate that there might be something to them because news outlets have called the rumours "conspiracy theories".

Another viral thread was seen 10 million times on an X account that frequently spreads false information debunked by Community Notes. It includes a list of wealthy people who purportedly own property on Maui, a video including aerial footage of Lahaina, and claims that the pattern of destruction is suspicious.

The cause or causes of the fires on Maui are still unknown, but no real evidence has emerged to suggest they were deliberately started as part of a land grab.

X had not responded to a request for comment as of Monday (14 August).

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What do you want BBC Verify to investigate?
At least 96 people have been confirmed dead and 1,000 others are missing in Hawaii in what is the deadliest fire in the U.S. in over a century, according to data from the National Fire Protection Association. The number of lives lost is likely to increase as rescue efforts continue across the island of Maui.

By the numbers:

At least 96 people confirmed dead

85% containment on Lahaina wildfires

3% of affected land searched

An estimated 1,000 people reported missing

More than 1,600 residents staying in shelters

2,200 structures damaged or destroyed

Below is the latest on Hawaiis wildfires.

Sacred Hearts Mission Church hosted congregants from Maria Lanakila Catholic Church in Lahaina, Hawaii, including several people who lost family members in the wildfires. (Haven Daley/AP)

Calls for probe on emergency response

Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez has called for an investigation into the emergency response to the wildfires. None of the 400 alarms stationed on Hawaiis archipelago activated when the wildfires began, Adam Weintraub, spokesman of Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, said. Nobody at the state and nobody at the county attempted to activate those sirens, based on our records, Weintraub said. It was confirmed that text alerts had been sent out, as well as warnings on television and radio stations. But some residents claimed to have not received any phone alerts. The review, Lopez said, would provide an understanding of the decisions that were made before and during the wildfire catastrophe.

Read more on Yahoo News:

A man searches for the urn containing the ashes of his son in the ruins of his bedroom, destroyed by a wildfire in Lahaina. (Etienne Laurent/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

I will be here for the long haul, Oprah tells Maui residents

Oprah Winfrey, who owns 1,000 acres in Maui, visited an emergency shelter on the island on Sunday to deliver goods to those affected by the wildfires. Were all still going to be here trying to figure out what is the best way to rebuild, she told the evacuees. I will be here for the long haul, doing what I can. Winfrey dropped off personal hygiene products and water, as she spoke to those who had fled their homes.

Lawyers send experts to investigate power lines as possible cause

A group of attorneys has organized several experts to investigate downed power lines as a possible source of the wildfires. Lawyers from Frantz Law Group, Singleton Schreiber and Watts Guerra have been collecting evidence around the damaged infrastructure owned by Hawaiian Electric Industries. All evidence  videos, witness accounts, burn progression and utility equipment remaining  points to Hawaiian Electrics equipment being the ignition source of the fire that devastated Lahaina, Mikal Watts, a lawyer at Watts Guerra, said. Hawaiian Electric has been criticized for not shutting off the power despite reports of hurricane winds hitting the islands. Government officials have not concluded their investigation into the source of the fires.

Residents amid the ruins left by a wildfire that swept through Lahaina. (Etienne Laurent/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

Lahaina water system collapsed during efforts to contain the blaze

The water system in the now devastated town of Lahaina collapsed as firefighters attempted to contain the fires that eventually overwhelmed the town. Last Tuesday, those involved in the rescue effort noticed that the hydrants began to run dry, forcing firefighters to risk their lives in order to save others. Dry conditions and the rise in population on the island caused the water system to dry up sooner than expected.

Maui rebuild to cost billions

Government officials estimated that the cost of rebuilding Maui after days of catastrophic wildfires could be more than $5 billion. Preliminary estimates released by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the University of Hawaii's Pacific Disaster Center state that the wildfires affected both residential and commercial properties that could cost $5.52 billion to reconstruct. Most of the buildings affected were located in Lahaina, a popular tourist destination and an important historical landmark.

The town of Lahaina in ruins after wildfires. (Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources via AP)
An aerial view of the wildfire devastation in Lahaina, Maui on August 11, 2023. Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

A Maui resident told the BBC tourists are swimming where "people died" during the wildfires.

"That says a lot about where their heart and mind is through all of this," the woman added.

Wildfires that erupted on Hawaii's Maui last week left at least 96 people dead.

A Hawaiian resident was left shocked after she said some Maui tourists were back to swimming and vacationing on the wildfire-ravaged island days after victims' bodies were pulled from the water.

"The same waters that our people just died in three days ago are the same waters the very next day these visitors, tourists were swimming in," an unnamed Maui woman told the BBC in a report published on Sunday.

The woman added, "And that says a lot about where their heart and mind is through all of this and where our heart and mind is."

"You don't see our people swimming, snorkeling, surfing. Nobody is having fun in tragedy and continuing their lives like nothing has happened," she said. "There is two Hawaiis right now  there is the Hawaii we're living in and the Hawaii they're living in, they're visiting in."

Wildfires erupted in Maui last week, completely devastating parts of the island, including the historic town of Lahaina, and killing at least 96 people.

A view of damage cause by wildfires in Lahaina on Maui. ENATOR BRIAN SCHATZ VIA INSTAGR/Getty Images

As the ferocious fires raged, some Maui residents were forced to jump into the ocean to escape the flames.

More than a dozen people were successfully rescued, but one survivor from hard-hit Lahaina told Hawaii News Now that bodies were found in the waters in a horrific scene after the fires essentially leveled much of the town.

In the aftermath of what has become one of the deadliest wildfire disasters in US history, Hawaii officials and Hawaiian-born celebrities like Jason Momoa and Auli'i Cravalho have urged tourists to stay away.

"Maui is not the place to have your vacation right now," Momoa wrote in an Instagram post, while Cravalho wrote in another: "DO NOT TRAVEL TO HAWAII UNLESS YOU ARE RENDERING AID."

The Hawaii Tourism Authority has said that vacationers have "largely heeded the call to leave" Maui.

Read the original article on Insider




British actor Joe Locke came out publicly recently. The Heartstopper lead has long assumed to have been queer, but hes never acknowledged his sexuality  until now.

Locke, 19, spoke with Teen Vogue, and shared that hes been out for a while.

I have been openly gay since I was, like, 12, Locke explained. People have assumed and written it, [but] I havent ever corrected anyone because I havent felt the need to  Ive never specifically stated my sexuality [until now].

In the Netflix series Heartstopper, Locke plays Charlie Spring, an out teenager who develops a crush and then a relationship with another boy at his school, Nick Nelson (played by Kit Connor). The first season won praise for its depiction of queer high schoolers and the development and chemistry between Lockes and Connors characters. The show is written by Alice Oseman who also created the graphic novels on which the series is based.

Its a weird guilt I sometimes feel that, by association, their [Locke's familys] lives are affected by choices in my life, Locke told Teen Vogue. Its a mutual thing. I need to learn my boundaries and people need to learn theirs. Most attention comes from a really good place, and I hope I always appreciate that.

That pressure from the outside world forced Lockes co-star out of the closet before he was ready. Connor wrote on a post last year that he was bi, then later voiced how criticism of alleged queerbaiting led to him making a public statement about his sexuality.

"I also dont know if I would have ever done it," Connor told British Vogue recently. "But at the end of the day I dont regret it. In many ways it was really empowering."

Locke was proud of his co-star for how he handled that situation, he told the magazine. We were all very proud of him, and were proud of him controlling the narrative, he said. Im very proud of him for doing his own thing and what was right for him.

He added that it also made him appreciate his own boundaries and privacy.

Theres an idea that its part of the job to lose your privacy, that you lose your right to having privacy, he shared. Thats something I hope the next generation of people in the public eye can change  I think people are understanding that privacy is non-negotiable.

Catch Locke in Heartstopper season 2 now streaming on Netflix. Last November, it was announced that Locke will star in the upcoming WandaVision spin-off Agatha: Coven of Chaos for Marvel Studios and Disney+.

Check out some images of Locke below.

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Heartstopper: Season 2 | Official Trailer | Netflix

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Heartstopper: Season 2 | Official Trailer | Netflix

Nick, Charlie and the gang return as they journey through the next chapter of life, love and friendship. SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/29qBUt7About Netflix:Netf...

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As thousands of residents continue to flee the devastating wildfires in Maui, Hawaii, which has now become the deadliest wildfire in modern U.S. history, many are wondering how they can lend a helping a hand.

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green called the wildfires, which have killed at least 96 people and resulted in more than 11,000 evacuated, the largest natural disaster in Hawaii state history. Green estimated the flames had already caused billions of dollars worth of damage, according to NBC News.

Follow NBC News live updates on the Maui fires here.

Jeff Hickman, spokesperson for Hawaiis Department of Defense told TODAY Monday that the biggest thing people can do now to assist in the recovery is to send monetary donations. There are at least 1,100 people in shelters and an overflow of donated items like water, baby formula and pillows.

What organizations are helping victims of the wildfires?

Weve put together a list of credible relief organizations that are accepting donations to help those affected by the wildfires, including pets.

Hawaii Community Foundation

On Aug 10., Gov. Greens office shared a link for donations to the Hawaii Community Foundations Maui Strong fund. The fund was created to provide community resilience with resources for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.

HOW CAN YOU HELP the people of Maui?



Donations: Hawaii Community Foundation, this fund is currently being used to support communities affected by the wildfires on Maui: https://t.co/Q45yb3p88t



To locate missing loved ones:1-800-RED-CROSS pic.twitter.com/oXAHMHd5EP  Office of the Governor, State of Hawai`i (@GovHawaii) August 10, 2023

American Red Cross of Hawaii

The American Red Cross of Hawaii is accepting donations to help those displaced by the wildfire find safe shelters where they can get information, eat a hot meal, charge their phone, pick up relief supplies and get health services.

Additionally, shoppers in Hawaii can donate up to $249 in the checkout lines of local Foodland grocery stores to support the American Red Cross of Hawaiis efforts.

American Red Cross

The American Red Cross is on the ground in Maui helping those affected by the fires. The Red Cross Disaster Relief fund enables the organization to prepare for and respond to crises like wildfires. Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767), or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Americares

Americares has a long history of helping communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters. The organization is now accepting donations in response to the Maui wildfires.

Feeding America

Feeding America is a nationwide network of food banks, food pantries, and community-based organizations in the United States, which helps to provide essential resources during a disaster. Through donations, the organization is working to help feed those affected by the Maui wildfires.

Aloha United Way

Aloha United Way, a non-profit organization based in Honolulu, has created the Maui Fire Relief Fund with donations going directly toward efforts that support victims of the fires.

Hawaii Community Foundation

Hawaii Community Foundation is working to support communities affected by the Maui wildfires through the Maui Strong Fund. The foundation is accepting donations which will provide resources for disaster response and recovery.

The Salvation Army

The Salvation Armys Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division is accepting donations to provide meals for the thousands of displaced residents in Maui emergency shelters.

The Maui Food Bank

The Maui Food Bank will use donations to help provide meals for displaced residents. The organizations says with every $1 given, they can provide 4 meals to those in the community.

World Central Kitchen

World Central Kitchen provides meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises. Donations sent in will allow the organization to continue working with local partners in Maui to get much-needed meals to evacuees and emergency workers.

How can I help pets affected by the fires?

Its not just people who have been displaced or injured by the wildfires. Pets, too, need our help. Heres how you can help displaced pets.

Maui Humane Society

The Maui Humane Society is accepting donations on its website and on Facebook to help feed and care for displaced pets, many of whom need medical treatment.

Pet food, pop-up kennels, and litter are pivotal to providing sustenance to animals, as staff and volunteers are putting together kits for families and animals in need, the organization, whose shelter was already over capacity before the fires began, wrote on Facebook.

You can also help by ordering supplies from the Maui Humane Societys Amazon Wishlist that will be delivered directly to the organization.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Irregular periods make symptom onset hard to predict.

Irregular periods make symptom onset hard to predict.

Whether you use a period tracker app (be careful with these!) or turn to a trusty paper calendar, keeping tabs on your cycle is a smart idea. Not only can it help you avoid getting stains on your favorite pants, but its also an important piece of your health.

If your body doesnt seem to be in sync with your notes, however, youre not alone. It can be hard to accurately nail down the exact date your period will come, even if its generally within the same time frame. In fact, several Redditors have had the same question. Basically, do those times count as irregular when the timing is only kind of irregular?

This question rings even louder at doctors offices when nurses ask when your period typically comes, either to check in or as a diagnostic criterion for a hormonal disorder, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

I mean, what do you say without spewing some confusing run-on sentence like, Well, it came on the 21st last month, and the 30th this month, but that one time it came on the 17th, but generally Id say the last week of the month, so basically yes, its normal, but not like down-to-the-day normal.

To save you the major awkwardness and confusion, HuffPostasked OB-GYNs to share all you need to know about irregular periods.

A Normal Amount Of Irregularity vs. Straight-Up Irregularity

What regular entails for your friend may differ from what regular looks like for you. People who menstruate typically get their periods once every 28 days or so, said Dr. Irina Ilych, an OB-GYN and medical advisor at the womens health app Flo, noting that for some this happens like clockwork, but others have cycles that are much less predictable.

More specifically, she said the normal range is anywhere from 21 to 35 days. If your cycle length is continually less or more than this, meaning your periods arrive less than 21 days or more than 35 days apart, then your periods are considered irregular, she clarified.

The amount of time in between periods isnt the only indicator of irregularity, though. Ilych mentioned other signs, too, such as periods that:

Last a longer or shorter amount of time

Are heavier or lighter

Start within a different number of days each month

Come with significantly increased pain

Last longer than seven days

Irregular periods can make it hard to track ovulation for birth control or family planning.

Irregular periods can make it hard to track ovulation for birth control or family planning.

What That Means For Your Health

Periods actually offer a good bit of insight into your health. Gynecologists consider the menstrual period the fifth vital sign after temperature, pulse, breathing rate and blood pressure, said Dr. Mary T. Jacobson, the chief medical director of Hello Alpha. Identification of abnormal menstrual patterns can help to improve early identification of potential health concerns.

However, changes in your cycle dont always signify a problem. Its important to note that even if some of the above signs sound familiar, your menstrual health may be just fine.

Its crucial to grasp that our menstrual cycles can undergo fluctuations throughout our lives, which may not necessarily indicate a health condition, Ilych said. Stress, weight changes and excessive exercise are a few contributors to these variations, she added.

The most common reason is due to not ovulating regularly, Jacobson said. She clarified that this goes for periods that are more than 35 days apart. However, this can be physiologically normal, she added, for adolescents in the first year of their first period (by 15 years old) and in people who are perimenopausal.

Since irregular periods can lead to irregular or absent ovulation, you may struggle to get pregnant, though. Despite irregular periods potentially making conception more difficult, its essential not to lose hope, as pregnancy can still be possible, Ilych continued. Various medications and IVF, for example, can help.

Irregular periods can also be attributed to thyroid disorders, PCOS, and other health issues, Ilych said. These conditions can impact menstrual regularity and require medical attention for proper diagnosis and management.

Symptoms of thyroid disorders include fatigue, weight changes, diarrhea and feeling hot or cold all the time, to start. PCOS can lead to hair on the face/chest/nipples, scalp hair loss and/or acne, among other signs, according to Jacobson.

On the other hand, if your periods are less than 21 days apart, or are heavier or last longer, you may be looking at different causes. Jacobson pointed to abnormal uterine bleeding, which she said is due to structural causes (polyps, fibroids, hyperplasia, malignancies, etc.) or nonstructural causes, such as ovulatory dysfunction, endometrial issues and medications.

Lastly, dont forget about pregnancy as a potential reason for changes in your period, even if youre doubtful. According to Jacobson and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 45% of pregnancies in the U.S. are unplanned.

What To Do If You Think Your Period Could Be Irregular

The short and sweet answer: reach out to your doctor. Ilych discussed how they can provide guidance, answers and support. She especially encouraged this route if you noticed any of the signs of irregularity mentioned above that pertain to when your periods come, how long they last, how heavy and painful they are, and how badly they make you feel.

Other than that, Jacobson advised continuing to track your periods and taking a pregnancy test if needed.

As far as treatment goes, the answer varies. The treatment for irregular cycles depends on various factors, including the underlying cause, specific symptoms, age and reproductive plans, Ilych explained. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, and a personalized plan should be developed based on individual circumstances.

For example, PCOS care might include birth control, while thyroid disorder care could entail beta blockers. This only scratches the surface, however, thats why its important to talk with your doctor who knows your symptoms and medical history.

Related...
A Palestinian flag and the yellow banner of Hezbollah fly on the Lebanese side of the border with Israel (JALAA MAREY)

The leader of Lebanon's powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah movement said Monday his group could send Israel "back to the stone age", in tit-for-tat threats following similar Israeli remarks as border tensions brew.

During a tour of the Lebanese-Israeli border last week, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant had threatened to send Lebanon "back to the stone age" should Hezbollah escalate tensions at the border.

In a televised speech on Monday to mark the anniversary of the latest war in 2006 between Israel and the Lebanese armed group, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah said: "You too will be returned back to the stone age... if you go to war with Lebanon."

The comments come amid increased tensions along the border area between Israel and Lebanon, which remain technically at war.

South Lebanon, near the Israeli border, is a Hezbollah stronghold and the site of sporadic incidents and skirmishes.

Hezbollah is the only Lebanese faction that kept its weapons after the end of the 1975-1990 civil war. It is considered a "terrorist" organisation by many Western governments.

Nasrallah said it would take "a few high-precision missiles" for his group to destroy targets including "civilian and military airports, airbases, power stations... and the Dimona (nuclear) power station".

If a future conflict "draws in the resistance axis... there will be no such thing called Israel anymore," he said, referring to Hezbollah's regional allies including some Palestinian factions and other Iran-backed groups.

Nasrallah also urged calm days after a Hezbollah ammunition truck overturned in a town near Beirut, triggering deadly clashes between Christian residents and members of the Shiite Muslim group.

One resident of Kahale and one Hezbollah member were killed by gunfire.

Nasrallah blamed unnamed politicians for stoking intercommunal tensions and "driving the country towards civil war".

"Today my call is a call for reason," he said addressing Lebanon's Christian community.

"The interest of Lebanon, the Lebanese people and the resistance is for calm to prevail in Lebanon."

The Lebanese army said it had seized the munitions from the truck after the incident in Kahale, a town in the mountains east of the Lebanese capital, on the road linking it to the Bekaa Valley bordering Syria.

at-aya/ami
This week thousands of sixth-formers will receive their A-level results  and, inevitably, many will be disappointed as they miss out on their university of choice.

Though going through clearing is always an option, in todays job market having a degree is increasingly seen as superfluous.

Josh Graff, managing director at LinkedIn, said: A degree is not the only indicator of talent and businesses are increasingly recognising that.

Degrees will always be critical for certain jobs, but there are a number of exciting opportunities and alternative routes out there for people who didnt go to university.

In June, cereal giant Kelloggs announced it would be dropping the requirement for a degree for most jobs at the company  and last year PwC said it would no longer require candidates to have a 2:1 degree in a bid to boost diversity.

Here, Telegraph Money reveals the lucrative careers open to those that dont have a degree  some pay up to 70,000.

High salary jobs that dont require a degree

Wage growth has remained at a strong 6.9pc, according to the latest official figures. Meanwhile, low unemployment and high vacancies have caused a talent war which has forced companies to be flexible when jostling for workers they desperately want.

Expectations that candidates will have gone to university have therefore fallen, according to figures compiled by job search engine Adzuna. The number of vacancies requiring a degree of any kind on the site fell from 44,181 in July 2022 to 32,073 in July this year  a drop of 27pc.

The careers outlined in the table below show how much someone at the start of their career could earn, having achieved A-levels but without any university education. The jobs are for junior and entry level positions, excluding managerial roles.

The highest paying jobs that don't require a degree

School leavers who opt not to go to university can still have ambitions of earning lucrative salaries early on in their careers, Adzuna found. There were more than 500 vacancies listed for estate agent roles in July, with an average salary of 58,199.

Blue-collar jobs also offered high pay for entry-level positions, with average pay for several manual labour jobs exceeding 45,000. These included door installers (54,000), tile fitters (51,000), and scaffolders (48,000).

Other high-paying roles, such as those in accountancy, would require specific qualifications, but not necessarily a degree. Adzuna said there were 4,677 vacancies on the site in July, with an average salary of 45,000.

Though not listed on most job sites, the Metropolitan police pay non-degree holding recruits 31,500 a year as a starting salary, rising to between 33,000 and 34,000 after probation.

Andrew Hunter, of Adzuna, noted that there isnt much differentiation between different types of A-level and the different salary pathways a choice can lead to.

He added: School leavers not choosing to go to university should take heart, the subjects chosen will likely have little impact on entry-level earnings, and instead it will be the skills you hone on the job that can bump you up the pay charts.

Whats more, those who eschew the university route will also avoid years of student loan payments  with this years A-Level leavers becoming the first generation who could be paying off their debts into retirement.

Now read: The companies that let you work from anywhere  and how much they pay

Higher education to become increasingly less important

A survey of businesses last month by apprenticeships startup Multiverse found that a third believed a graduates degree grade was one of the top three indicators of their potential.

More than half of the business leaders surveyed currently have degree requirements in place, but four in 10 of those predicted that higher education will matter less for applications in the next five to 10 years

Tom Cornell, of hiring platform HireVue, urged employers not to let a piece of paper from a university stand in the way of hiring the capable, bright and young talent available.

He added: With the latest university marking strikes in the UK, job offers and grad schemes are in limbo.

This is a great opportunity for employers to shift their mindset about how much value to place on a degree when it comes to assessing and hiring the 800,000 students leaving university every year.

Employers are also less picky about the degree classification obtained by graduates, Adzunas data showed. In July last year, 11,560 vacancies required a 2:1 degree  in 2023 that figure fell to 7,622.

Even the type of institution no longer matters to companies as much as it might have once done: the number of job vacancies requiring a supposedly prestigious degree from a Russell Group university fell from 710 to 315 in a year.

Now read: The most common job interview questions  and how you should respond

This article is kept updated with the latest information.

Have you built a career without a university degree? Share your experiences in the comments section below

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
A highly-intoxicated Richland woman was arrested Saturday on DUI charges after backing into and damaging a police cruiser.

Officers were called out around 4:20 p.m. to the Circle K at 1915 Columbia Center Blvd. after reports that a woman who was already drunk was trying to buy alcohol, according to a Facebook post by the Richland Police Department.

The clerk refused to sell her alcohol and employees called police. So, she left the store and got into her car.

As she was trying to drive away, she backed into a responding officers patrol car, causing some minor damage.

Its unclear if she did it intentionally.

Police did not release her name but jail records show Molly Lein, 31, was arrested on charges of DUI, operating a vehicle without an ignition interlock and driving with a suspended license.

Police said on Facebook that a breathalyzer test showed her blood alcohol level was 0.340%  about four times over Washingtons 0.08 legal limit.

Bail is set at $12,000.

She has faced previous charges related to DUI and has six previous charges of driving with a suspended license from 2018 to 2023 in Washington state, according to online court records.
UPDATE: The 21-year-old hikers body was recovered via helicopter Monday, Aug. 14. Officials flew her body to Upper Beaver Meadows and took it to the Boulder County Coroners Office, according to the National Park Service.

The original story is below.

A 21-year-old hiker died after she plunged 300 feet down a steep gully on a mountainside in Rocky Mountain National Park, officials said.

She was heading down the Flying Dutchman couloir above Chasm Lake with a 25-year-old from San Angelo, Texas, who also fell and was critically injured Saturday, Aug. 12, National Park Service officials said in an Aug. 13 news release.

Bystanders whod seen the fall called park rangers for help and activated a personal locator beacon so first responders could find the area between Longs Peak and Mount Meeker, officials said.

When they arrived, first responders started treating the injured hiker where hed fallen. But it quickly became apparent his injuries were so severe he would need treatment at a medical center, so they called the Colorado Air National Guard for help, officials said.

First responders hoisted him into a helicopter and flew him about 35 miles northeast to Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland.

Because of bad weather that night and on Sunday, search and rescue teams werent able to recover the other hikers body by Sunday night, officials said. Theyll try again Monday depending on weather and available resources.

The Boulder County coroner will release her name after they notify her family, officials said. She was from Severance, Colorado, about 60 miles north of Denver, officials said.

Another hiker was injured in a fall late Friday afternoon Aug. 11, officials said. In that separate incident, a 64-year-old man from College Station, Texas, tumbled 60 feet down from the Ledges along the Keyhole Route on Longs Peak, officials said.

A bystander gave him critical care until park rangers arrived and took over after midnight, officials said. The Colorado Air National Guard flew the injured hiker to the Medical Center of the Rockies.

Information about his condition was not released.

San Angelo is in central Texas, about 205 miles northwest of Austin, and College Station is about 95 miles northwest of Houston.

13-year-old boy plunges 100 feet over edge of Grand Canyons North Rim  and survives

Man dies after hikers find him unresponsive by Rocky Mountain National Park trailhead

Climber dies after 300-foot fall from mountain into rocky ravine, Oregon cops say
Almost 50 people have died in rain-related incidents in the past 24 hours in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.

In one of the deadliest incidents, at least nine people died when a temple collapsed in the state's capital, Shimla.

Officials fear more people may still be trapped beneath the rubble.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said heavy rains triggered landslides and flash floods in the hill state.

Hundreds of roads have been closed and parts of the Kalka-Shimla railway have washed away.

Mr Sukha posted on X about a flash flood and cloudburst - a sudden, very heavy fall of rain - that had occurred in other parts of the state, in which 14 people had died.

He also shared a video of the floodwaters in Mandi, where a torrent of water - that looks much like a river - can be seen moving downhill over main roads and houses. He described the video as "disturbing" and said seven people had been swept away by the water.

A temple is submerged in floodwaters after the river Beas overflowed in Mandi

Thousands of tourists visit the hill state of Himachal Pradesh, especially its capital Shimla, around the year to enjoy its cool weather and picturesque scenery.

But the state has been experiencing heavy rains during the monsoon season, leading to flooding, landslides and cloudbursts which cause further damage.

Many factors contribute to flooding, but a warming atmosphere caused by climate change makes extreme rainfall more likely.

The world has already warmed by about 1.1C since the industrial era began and temperatures will keep rising unless governments around the world make steep cuts to emissions.

Videos shared on social media over the past few days show vehicles and buildings being swept away by gushing rivers, trees falling on cars and tourists stranded due to road closures.

Mr Sukhu has appealed to people to stay indoors and not go near rivers.

Incessant rains have also been battering the neighbouring state of Uttarakhand for the past couple of days, where officials fear several people have been buried in landslides.

The hill state is home to many revered Hindu shrines and sees a large number of tourists around the year.

On Monday, officials said that the Char Dham Yatra - a pilgrimage to the four holiest sites for Hindus in the state - has been suspended for two days due to the rains.

Videos shared on social media showed huge boulders blocking the path to the Kedarnath temple, which is part of the Yatra.

Environmentalists have frequently raised concerns over infrastructural changes made to accommodate an influx of tourists in India's Himalayan states. They say that this could cause havoc in these ecologically fragile regions, especially when combined with extreme weather events.

BBC News India is now on YouTube. Click here to subscribe and watch our documentaries, explainers and features.

Read more India stories from the BBC:
Dozens of advocacy groups have joined in a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul demanding the state force towns to accept migrants from New York City, pressuring the governor to take a more aggressive approach to the citys deepening asylum seeker crisis.

Hochul should take executive action overruling county-level orders meant to block the movement of migrants, according to the Monday letter, which was led by the Coalition for the Homeless and the Legal Aid Society.

The groups said in the letter that Hochul should deploy executive powers to invalidate executive orders in counties that have refused to accept new arrivals or alternatively, have the State intervene in pending cases to overturn the obstructive executive orders.

The letter also asked Hochul to personally pressure mayors and county executives to accept migrants; to help coordinate relocation efforts; and to identify more state-run spaces to house people.

Gov. Hochul has gone above and beyond to help the City meet their legal obligation to shelter asylum seekers, Avi Small, a Hochul spokesman, said in a statement. Gov. Hochul will continue this hands-on approach, working closely with federal, State and local officials to provide additional support.

The sort of executive action urged by the groups could swiftly invite lawsuits. The state is already a party to a flurry of legal proceedings around the treatment of migrants and the citys efforts to bus arrivals upstate.

The letter, which was sent to the governors office Monday morning, carried about 100 signatories. But the count of supporters behind the letter was still growing, said Dave Giffen, executive director of the Coalition for the Homeless.

Giffen said he was grateful that Hochul had secured $1 billion for the citys support of asylum seekers, but that the Democratic governor still needs to take a more aggressive posture.

Shes allowed this complete chaos to fester, he said, where you have dozens of counties and municipalities issuing executive orders that are precluding New York City from sheltering people  who are desperately in need of shelter  in their counties.

Giffen argued the governor would be on strong legal footing to force counties to take asylum seekers, citing a public relief and care clause in the state Constitution.

We need to make sure that people arent sleeping on the streets, he said.

The city has been strained by the arrival of about 100,000 asylum seekers since 2022, a historic influx. The number of people sleeping in the citys shelter system has doubled since last summer.

In June, New York City sued more than 30 localities over efforts to block the relocation of migrants.

Hochul has said regions of the state have employed bigoted policies based on fear and intimidation.

But she has sometimes seemed reluctant to push upstate communities on the issue, perhaps concerned about alienating areas that could be pivotal in 2024 House races, as noted by political observers.

In recent days, she has vocally defended her record, insisting that she has brought enormous resources to the table.

Her office issued a statement on Saturday outlining its investments, including National Guard deployments to asylum seeker sites.

This week, a migrant shelter is set to open at the state-run Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in Queens Village, Queens, according to the governors office. The state is expected to reimburse the city for costs associated with the center.

In May, Hochul issued an emergency declaration to unlock equipment and logistical resources.

We will continue our efforts to provide financial support, personnel and equipment, and continued advocacy for federal assistance, Hochul said in the Saturday statement.

But the letter highlighted steps Hochul has so far shied away from, saying that while the groups appreciate her efforts, much more is needed.
Coming from a military family, Judge Charles E. Roberts faced a tough decision at the cusp of his career: follow in the footsteps of his father and two brothers by accepting a position with the Army JAG Corps. or forge his own path following his newfound love of the criminal trial process.

The path he choose put him at the forefront of introducing the first DNA evidence into trials in Florida; prosecuting high-profile cases including the murder of Sheila Bellush, a mother of quadruplets who were home during the murder; and establishing changes in the 12th Judicial Circuit that remain in place today.

Roberts retired on June 30 after more than 40 years in law, first as a chief homicide prosecutor, then as a judge and chief judge of the 12th Judicial Circuit, which encompasses Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties.

In case you missed it: Murder of Sheila Bellush, Sarasota mom of quads, featured on CNBC series, 'Blood & Money'

In other Sarasota Court news: What's happening in 'Take Care of Maya' case? Hearing sets parameters for jury selection

Roberts is known by fellow judges and local attorneys for his wisdom, calm demeanor, compassion, and attention to detail in the cases he presided over and prosecuted.

We hope that anyone who serves this community as a judge recognizes the responsibility that they have, Sarasota Judge Stephen Walker said. Judge Roberts did that, and he took his responsibilities very seriously, and he served every day with dignity.

Early career begins with passion for criminal court

Born in Washington D.C. in 1955, Roberts childhood was spent growing up overseas in countries like Switzerland and Yugoslavia because of his fathers work in the United States Foreign Service.

The Roberts family returned stateside during his high school years, and after graduating, Roberts attended Duke University, where he received his bachelors degree in political science and French.

Roberts then graduated from American Universitys Washington College of Law in 1981, where he fell in love with the criminal trial process.

Assistant State Attorney Charlie Roberts questioned DNA a expert in 2001 during a pre-trial motion hearing for Joseph Magaletti. Magaletti was accused of the murder of Kathleen Leonard.

I think, the being in the courtroom and the preparation for a trial and presenting the evidence and persuading a jury of your position, the competition, all of that really intrigued me, Roberts said.

While Roberts had internships with the Army Judge Advocate Generals Office, spending two summers in Washington D.C. and Germany, he chose to not pursue a career in the military. Instead, a good friend from law school received a job in Fort Myers and encouraged Roberts to apply.

At the time, Florida had a program allowing interns to become certified legal interns, which allowed them to prosecute cases before they became a member of the Florida Bar.

Following graduation, Roberts applied to work at State Attorneys Offices from Washington D.C. to Florida and accepted a job in the 20th Judicial Circuit, which encompassed Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties.

He moved to Punta Gorda in the fall of 1981 to become an assistant state attorney.

Life in sleepy Punta Gorda was a change of pace from D.C., but it wasnt without its own shocking events. Just months after Roberts had moved, his supervising attorney, Eugene Barry, was shot and killed by the wife of a man whom Barry had prosecuted.

It was also during his time in Charlotte County that Roberts met his wife, Valerie, a fifth-generation Floridian. The two wed, settling in Sarasota after Roberts accepted a job in the 12th Judicial Circuit Court, and had three kids, Sherra, Chelsea and Trevor.

In 1989, Roberts became the first prosecutor in the circuit and one of the first in Florida to present DNA evidence in the trial against David Stephens, who was convicted of burglary and violent rape.

Roberts said while he hadn't been good at science in school, he had to really understand the science behind DNA to be able to educate judges and juries.

Assistant State Attorney Charlie Roberts, left, speaks with Jamie Bellush during day three of Daniel Rocha's trial for first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder, in the death of Jamie's wife Sheila Bellush, of Sarasota, in 1997.

Sarasota defense attorney Derek Byrd remembers watching Roberts as a prosecutor, describing the scenes between him and assistant public defenders Adam Tebrugge and Jim Slater as if one were watching a legal drama. Both sides were professional and respectful of the other side while vehemently arguing their cases.

Roberts was also the lead prosecutor in two cases connected to the killing of Sheila Bellush in 1997. The mother of quadruplets was found murdered by her 13-year-old daughter just weeks after moving to Sarasota following a divorce and messy custody battle with her ex-husband, San Antonio millionaire Allen Blackthorne.

The cases had been challenging, Roberts said, dealing with four defendants spanning two states but the outcome was successful. Both defendants in Florida were found guilty and sentenced to life in prison.

Sarasota Judge Charles E. Williams first met Roberts when he was a prosecutor.

He was always even-tempered as a prosecutor, Williams said. He was very rational. He never took indefensible positions as a prosecutor, he was always well prepared, and always maintained a very calm and very positive demeanor.

Read more: Meet the judge set to take over the helm of the 12th Judicial Circuit Court as chief

Earlier court coverage: Wife takes the stand in Panitz trial A prosecutor tries to show that she hated Ralf Panitz's ex-wife, Nancy Campbell.

'Someone that we as the judiciary were very proud of'

In 2002, after more than 20 years as a prosecutor and being an advocate for victims and victims families, he was ready for a new role  a judge.

Roberts ran against three opponents in the primaries, including Tebrugge, and private lawyers Susan Chapman and Laurie Zimmerman. He faced Chapman in the general election, and won, taking his place on the bench in 2003. From that election on, he ran uncontested until his retirement.

Byrd said he always thought Roberts was a fair judge, adding he was tough on gun cases and violence.

When career prosecutors move to the bench, they are typically pro-state. However, as they gain more experience on the bench, that bias wanes. I have witnessed this firsthand with Judge Roberts, Byrd said in a written statement. Judge Roberts actually was our specialty courts judge at the end of his career which shows his compassionate understanding of individuals with mental health and/or substance abuse issues.

Roberts also remained active with the Florida Bar, often attending Bar functions, giving educational presentations, and being seen outside of the courtroom, which Byrd pointed out was rare as most judges once appointed to the bench seem to distance themselves.

Roberts' contributions to the court go beyond just his decisions in cases.

Judge Charles Roberts listens to motions in court during a hearing on the re-sentencing of Joseph Smith. Smith was found guilty of the 2004 kidnapping, sexual battery and murder of Carlie Brucia.

In 2005, he put into place a weekly Criminal Case Management system that has allowed early meaningful discussion of cases, helping to conclude them quickly. Roberts also established the weekly Early Case Resolution docket for felony violation of probation cases. The process helped to reduce the jail population by bringing violators to court earlier than they would have otherwise appeared, thus moving up sentences for offenders.

In 2021, Roberts became the chief judge of the 12th Judicial Circuit while still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, dealing with restrictions that had been placed on judicial centers across the state and nation and the criticisms from those for and against the restrictions. Williams said Roberts was able to stay above the fray and did what was best for the public and the justice system.

Previous reporting: Right choice in murder case

Sarasota court news: Jury finds Sarasota man, 20, guilty of murder, attempted murder in 2019 shooting

He never hesitated about being willing to step in and help his colleagues, and despite the fact that it might be an enormously complex case, he never got rattled, Judge Walker said. He always handled things with decisive and correct decisions, and he was someone that we as the judiciary were very proud of because of the fine work he did.

Charles E. Roberts recently retired from the 12th Judicial Circuit Court in Sarasota County.

Walker was fond of knocking on his closest friends chamber door at around 3 p.m. or whenever he had a 10-minute break to chat over a shot of espresso from the machine that stood in Roberts chamber. It had become like a ritual.

It was quick, but it was always an opportunity for a quick, fun story about whats going on and check in with one another, Walker said, adding Roberts was a coffee connoisseur.

Walker kept the cup from the last espresso Roberts made for him on his last day in the courthouse. It sits in a cabinet in his office.

Judge Roberts compassionate understanding in the specialty courts

Jordan Wallach received a second chance at life the day he was sentenced to two years in a Florida state prison by Roberts on April 5, 2019.

Wallach, 68, began practicing law in Sarasota in 1979 and was a divorce and family attorney at the time he was arrested in 2018 and charged with stealing more than $200,000 from clients. Wallach explained that he relapsed due to the stress from carrying guilt over his actions.

He was facing up to 30 years in prison but entered into an open plea. Roberts was the presiding judge and had known Wallach for years. Not only that, but Roberts was also very attuned to addiction, alcoholism, and mental illnesses, Wallach said.

Wallach received 24 months in prison  where he began his recovery process and leaned into his faith  and 28 years of probation with the condition he would pay monthly restitution to those hed stolen from.

Benjamin Best of Bradenton, happened to see the Judge, Charles E. Roberts being photographed and stopped by to get a selfie with him and show him the progress he's been making after his arrest.

Wallach, who had also practiced before Roberts and saw firsthand Roberts compassion with his own clients, said the judge was kind, yet firm when he delivered his sentence. It was the awakening he needed to re-center his life.

Judge Roberts saved my life, said Wallach, who was released from prison in 2021 and now works as a legal assistant in the 12th Judicial Public Defenders Office. Wallach has since re-centered his life around his faith and the 12-step process of recovery.

Retirement plans

Roberts has no plans of leaving the Sarasota community where he has lived with his wife for almost 40 years. Hes excited to spend time traveling across the U.S., including some national parks, which have been their favorite vacation spots in the past. The couple will also venture abroad.

While Roberts is glad to be able to relax a little, he sees himself still staying connected to the legal system, including coming back as a senior judge to help out with caseloads and volunteering with Teen Court of Sarasota.

He also plans to continue teaching at the Florida Judicial College, where hes been teaching about criminal law at the college for years, including educating others on death penalty law.

Gabriela Szymanowska covers the legal system for the Herald-Tribune in partnership with Report for America. You can support her work with a tax-deductible donation to Report for America. Contact Gabriela Szymanowska at gszymanowska@gannett.com, or on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota Chief Judge Charles E. Roberts retires after 40 years in law
Scorching temperatures will sear the Sacramento Valley and parts of the foothills in the coming week, while thunderstorms may strike the neaby Sierra Nevada.

Highs well in excess of 100 degrees are expected in the Valley and foothills beginning Monday, according to Sara Purdue, a meteorologist with the U.S. National Weather Service in Sacramento.

The weather service posted a heat advisory to social media Sunday afternoon. It will be in effect from 11 a.m. Monday to 11 p.m. Thursday. The advisory warns of the increased risk of heat stress and illness in humans and animals.

People are encouraged to stay cool and hydrated and reduce their time in the sun from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.

Purdue said there is a chance for thunderstorms in the Sierra Nevada and that those storms could drift down to foothills in the region. However, these thunderstorms are unlikely to increase fire risk, she said.

There is always a chance that lightning can strike outside the core of the thunderstorm where the rain is falling, and that would increase the chances of a fire start, Purdue said. Based on what weve seen so far, I dont believe were expecting that, especially at higher elevations. Things are still not super dried out yet because of all the snow that we got last year.

She said the thunderstorms are not expected to impact the Valley.

If people see lightning, they should go indoors, seeking out a sturdy structure with a roof and staying inside for 30 minutes after last hearing thunder and also avoid touching electronics, trees or metal, according to a separate social media post by the weather service.

If you see a flash, dash inside, the post reads.
As the largest freshman class (again) enters the University of Kentucky, one question has (again) come up: Where are they going to live?

As university enrollment continue to increase each year, the number of students wanting to live on campus also grows. UK has more than 8,000 assigned on-campus beds this year, the most it has offered at one time, said Heath Price, associate vice president for partnerships at UK.

Price and Andrew Smith, assistant vice president for auxiliary services, said they try to use data to drive their decisions and choose whats in the best interest of students.

We want to make sure our students have a positive start to being a Wildcat, Smith said. This year compared to last year, or previous years, the expectations are still the same. They want to live on campus, which is a great thing. Emerging after a pandemic, that was a concern for us. But what were finding is that our students want to have a community and a sense of belonging, and that really starts with the fact that theyre living on campus.

Housing and enrollment numbers continue to shift throughout the beginning of the school year as some students change their plans, but as of this week, there were more than 5,700 new students and 2,270 returning students planning to live on campus, Smith said.

UK is expecting between 6,400 and 6,500 freshman students this fall  meaning that up to 89% of first-year students could live on-campus.

Converting dorm rooms for the 23-24 school year

UK doesnt turn away undergraduate students who apply for housing by the deadline, although graduate students may be placed on a waitlist if housing fills up. If there are not enough beds on campus, staff have to get creative, Smith said.

To prepare for higher numbers of students in dorms, UK is utilizing space in different ways. UK faced housing shortages last year, too.

UK is again converting multi-purpose rooms in dorms into living spaces, which ended up being popular with students, Smith said. They offer the same amenities as regular dorm rooms.

That turned out really well last year, primarily because theyre a lot bigger, Smith said.

To accommodate its largest-ever freshman class, the University of Kentucky has converted multi-purpose rooms in several residence halls into dorm rooms. The rooms feature the same amenities as other dorm rooms, including two twin XL beds, a full bathroom and closets for each student. Provided by the University of Kentucky

UK also launched the TRI-IT pilot program for this fall, where two-bedroom, two-person suites were converted into three-person suites. One of the single beds in the suites was replaced with bunk beds, allowing an additional student to live in the room. All three students in the suite will share a bathroom.

Students who live in a TRI-IT suite will pay a discounted housing rate: $500 off for students in the single room, and more than $2,000 off for students in the double room, according to the housing website. But not every student who was assigned an alternate housing option was pleased, he said, adding that there have been a lot of conversations with parents and students who were expecting a more traditional dorm room.

Price said the housing staff had underestimated the number of returning students who would want to live on campus, meaning they had to look at several options for increasing the number of beds. Other options included offering off-campus housing for students, or converting older dorms on a short timeline.

We didnt know that the return numbers were going to be so high, and it caught us a little off guard, Price said.

Kirsten Turner, vice president for student success, said UK looked at all the options and weighed them against some guiding principles: safety of students, price and the opportunity to live on campus. TRI-IT emerged as the best option for students, she said.

In two months, the dorms were converted with bunk beds and additional storage options, Price said. The dorms were built to be configured in multiple ways, like the converted multi-purpose rooms and three-bedroom suite set ups, but UK didnt need to utilize those options until now.

Its not a problem that more students want to live on campus, Price said. We want them to live on campus.

Turner said UKs internal data indicates positive results for staying enrolled at the university, grades and a sense of belonging if a student lives on campus.

Its easier to get to class, its easier to access different resources, and in terms of time management, just being present, Turner said. Building out those kinds of opportunities, particularly in the first year, (is important). That said, we know that for lots of really good, valid reasons, we know that not everyone wants to, or is able to, or can live on campus.

Looking into the longer-term housing plans, Turner said UK has begun discussing what can be done for upcoming, larger classes, but no decisions have been made yet about increasing campus housing.

What are students asking for in dorms?

Smith and Price said the student population and their needs have changed a lot in the past five years. Coming out of COVID, more students are hoping to live on campus, something UK was unsure would happen immediately after the pandemic, Smith said.

Technology is very important to students, they said. UK is constantly doing upgrades to Wi-Fi and technology in dorms, since students need up-to-date technology for their classes and assignments, Smith said.

Students are also asking for more study spaces and quiet rooms in dorms, where they can leave their dorm rooms but not have to leave the building for a place to study and complete assignments. UK has also changed laundry vendors this year, Smith said, which was something they regularly heard complaints about.

What does this mean for next year?

Though this fall semester hasnt started yet, Smith and Price said they are already looking at options for next fall. If incoming classes continue to grow, so will the number of students seeking on-campus housing.

Price said they hope to have plans set in place sooner for the next school year than they did this year. Smith said they are also looking at options for potentially updating older residence halls, like Smith, Baldwin, Ingles and Roselle, which opened in 2005. Those dorms are suite-style, with four students living in two rooms that share a bathroom.

Working with a student intern in the housing office, UK has formed focus groups to get feedback on the future of housing.

I want to make sure that what were doing is addressing the needs of the students now, as well as those in the future, Smith said. So weve been running some focus groups on ways we can improve the living spaces in those 2005 buildings.
Indiana is turning into an abortion island. Girded by gerrymandered General Assembly maps, along with an anemic and broke Democrat Party, a year ago Republican super majorities passed and Gov. Eric Holcomb signed some of the most restrictive anti-abortion measures in the United States.

But on a single-issue referendum vote earlier this month, Ohio voters followed a national trend, rejecting by a 57% no vote a measure that would have increased the threshold for constitutional amendments from a simple majority 50% plus one to 60%. That sets the stage for November, when voters in our red state neighbor to the east are expected to ensure continued abortion access.

According to Ballotpedia, in 2022, there were six ballot measures addressing abortion  the most on record for a single year. Measures were approved in California (67%), Michigan (57%), and Vermont (77%) to preserve abortion access. Measures for constitutional amendments outlawing most abortions were defeated in Kansas (59%), Kentucky (52%), and Montana (53%).

In Kansas and Kentucky  which are as conservative as Indiana, though both have Democrat governors  voters rejected ballot measures to state that nothing in their state constitutions creates a right to abortion or requires government funding of abortions. In Kentucky, 52.3% rejected a constitutional amendment. In Montana, voters rejected a measure called the Born-Alive Infant Protection Act.

In Michigan, 56.7% passed Proposal 3, the Constitutional Right to Reproductive Freedom in 2022.

While Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky have a constitutional amendment process that requires a citizen signature threshold to appear on a ballot, Indiana's process requires two bills in separately elected General Assemblies to pass a constitutional amendment qualify for the ballot. That will not happen on the abortion issue in the super majority House and Senate.

But Indiana voters are not unlike those in Michigan and Kansas. In a 2022 Hoosier Poll by Ball State University's Bowen Center, 56.7%  identical to the Michigan result  believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases. Most Hoosiers  more than 76%  find abortion to be an important or at least somewhat important issue. Hoosier voters were almost even split on whether they would vote for a candidate that has a different stance on this issue, with 48% saying they would not and 52% saying they would or might still vote for such a candidate.

What does this mean for Hoosiers?

Abortions had been legal up to 22 weeks. But after Gov. Eric Holcomb quietly signed SEA 1SS last August (there was no ceremonial gathering with pro-life supporters for the signature), or instances of rape or incest, abortion will only be allowed up to 10 weeks. Fetal anomaly abortions are only permitted up to 20 weeks.

This means that for Indiana women seeking an abortion, instead of traveling to Indianapolis, Bloomington or South Bend, they will have to drive to Chicago, Kalamazoo, Lansing or Louisville, and after the expected passage of abortion access amendment in November, to Ohio cities like Toledo, Dayton, Columbus or Cincinnati.

As for the political atmosphere, Republicans seeking the 2024 gubernatorial nomination  U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Fort Wayne businessman Eric Doden, and former attorney general Curtis Hill  are all ardently pro-life.

The lone Democrat running, former Republican superintendent of public instruction Jennifer McCormick, is pro-choice. She told me last June, "I do support the standards that were set by Roe. I support a womans right to choose."

McCormick's campaign has had little traction, after she posted just $250,000 on her mid-year campaign finance report (compared to well over $4 million for Braun and $3.8 million for Crouch and Doden).

Indiana Right to Life CEO Mike Fichter noted that not one legislator who voted for SEA 1SS lost in 2022. In spite of predictions by some pundits and pollsters that Indiana went too far in its approach to protecting unborn children, yesterdays election results serve as a reminder that Indiana is a pro-life state, Fichter said the day after the election.

Beyond McCormick's gubernatorial candidacy, few Democrats are stepping up, though many campaigns begin to take shape between Labor Day and next February's filing deadline. One is Matt McNally, who is seeking a rematch against State Rep. Jerry Torr, R-Carmel, after he lost in 2022 by a 52.4% to 47.6%.

Citing "supermajority rule" since 2014 and the signing of SEA 1SS, McNally said, "I believe decision makers at our state capitol have embraced extreme policies that are out of step with our Carmel and Westfield communities.

Beyond Indiana, the recent referendum results have gotten the attention of Republicans.

The Ohio result tonight, coming on the heels of the shellacking in Michigan and the unexpected loss in Kentucky, needs to be a five-alarm fire for the pro-life movement, Patrick Brown, a conservative scholar at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, tweeted late Tuesday.

There shouldnt be any sugarcoating over what happened last night. It was a major setback in what became a very public fight between pro-choice and pro-life groups, Bill Stepien, the campaign manager for former President Donald Trumps 2020 campaign, said on Fox News. This happened in Ohio, which is not a pink state anymore. This is a state that is red.

Brian Howey is senior writer and columnist for Howey Politics Indiana/State Affairs. Find Howey on Facebook and Twitter @hwypol.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Howey: Indiana is becoming an abortion restriction island
INDIANAPOLIS  Indiana is turning into an abortion island. Girded by gerrymandered General Assembly maps, along with an anemic and broke Democrat Party, a year ago Republican super majorities passed and Gov. Eric Holcomb signed some of the most restrictive anti-abortion measures in the United States.

But on a single-issue referendum vote on Tuesday, Ohio voters followed a national trend, rejecting by a 57% no vote a measure that would have increased the threshold for constitutional amendments from a simple majority 50% plus one to 60%. That sets the stage for November, when voters in our red state neighbor to the east are expected to ensure continued abortion access.

According to Ballotpedia, in 2022, there were six ballot measures addressing abortion  the most on record for a single year. Measures were approved in California (67%), Michigan (57%), and Vermont (77%) to preserve abortion access. Measures for constitutional amendments outlawing most abortions were defeated in Kansas (59%), Kentucky (52%), and Montana (53%).

Howey: Preparing for the trial  and the election  of the millennium

In Kansas and Kentucky  which are as conservative as Indiana, though both have Democrat governors  voters rejected ballot measures to state that nothing in their state constitutions creates a right to abortion or requires government funding of abortions. In Kentucky, 52.3% rejected a constitutional amendment. In Montana, voters rejected a measure called the Born-Alive Infant Protection Act.

In Michigan, 56.7% passed Proposal 3, the Constitutional Right to Reproductive Freedom in 2022.

While Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky have a constitutional amendment process that requires a citizen signature threshold to appear on a ballot, Indiana's process requires two bills in separately elected General Assemblies to pass a constitutional amendment qualify for the ballot. That will not happen on the abortion issue in the super majority House and Senate.

But Indiana voters are not unlike those in Michigan and Kansas. In a 2022 Hoosier Poll by Ball State University's Bowen Center, 56.7%  identical to the Michigan result  believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases. Most Hoosiers  more than 76%  find abortion to be an important or at least somewhat important issue. Hoosier voters were almost evenly split on whether they would vote for a candidate that has a different stance on this issue, with 48% saying they would not and 52% saying they would or might still vote for such a candidate.

What does this mean for Hoosiers?

Abortions had been legal up to 22 weeks. But after Gov. Holcomb quietly signed SEA 1ss last August (there was no ceremonial gathering with pro-life supporters for the signature), or instances of rape or incest, abortion will only be allowed up to 10 weeks. Fetal anomaly abortions are only permitted up to 20 weeks.

This means that for Indiana women seeking an abortion, instead of traveling to Indianapolis, Bloomington or South Bend, they will have to drive to Chicago, Kalamazoo, Lansing or Louisville, and after the expected passage of abortion access amendment in November, to Ohio cities like Toledo, Dayton, Columbus or Cincinnati.

Colwell: Colwell: Maybe Democrats should try a 'help wanted' ad for Indiana's 2nd district

As for the political atmosphere, Republicans seeking the 2024 gubernatorial nomination  U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Fort Wayne businessman Eric Doden, and former attorney general Curtis Hill  are all ardently pro-life.

The lone Democrat running, former Republican superintendent of public instruction Jennifer McCormick, is pro-choice. She told me last June, "I do support the standards that were set by Roe. I support a womans right to choose."

McCormick's campaign has had little traction, after she posted just $250,000 on her mid-year campaign finance report (compared to well over $4 million for Braun and $3.8 million for Crouch and Doden).

Indiana Right to Life CEO Mike Fichter noted that not one legislator who voted for SEA1ss lost in 2022. In spite of predictions by some pundits and pollsters that Indiana went too far in its approach to protecting unborn children, yesterdays election results serve as a reminder that Indiana is a pro-life state, Fichter said the day after the election.

Beyond McCormick's gubernatorial candidacy, few Democrats are stepping up, though many campaigns begin to take shape between Labor Day and next February's filing deadline. One is Matt McNally, who is seeking a rematch against State Rep. Jerry Torr, R-Carmel, after he lost in 2022 by 52.4% to 47.6%. Citing "supermajority rule" since 2014 and the signing of SEA 1ss, McNally said, "I believe decision makers at our state capitol have embraced extreme policies that are out of step with our Carmel and Westfield communities.

Beyond Indiana, the recent referendum results have gotten the attention of Republicans. The Ohio result tonight, coming on the heels of the shellacking in Michigan and the unexpected loss in Kentucky, needs to be a five-alarm fire for the pro-life movement, Patrick Brown, a conservative scholar at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, tweeted late Tuesday.

There shouldnt be any sugarcoating over what happened last night. It was a major setback in what became a very public fight between pro-choice and pro-life groups, Bill Stepien, the campaign manager for former President Donald Trumps 2020 campaign, said on Fox News. This happened in Ohio, which is not a pink state anymore. This is a state that is red.

Brian Howey

Brian Howey is senior writer and columnist for Howey Politics Indiana/State Affairs. Find Howey on Facebook and Twitter @hwypol.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Anti-abortion measures make Indiana an island
By Sarah Morland

(Reuters) - International security assistance for Haiti's police should include safeguards to prevent abuses, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said, as debate intensifies over a Kenya-led force to help stem worsening gang violence.

Haiti's unelected government requested urgent help last October as heavily-armed gangs expanded their control over large parts of the country, driving a humanitarian crisis amid bloody turf wars that have displaced some 200,000 people.

Wary of supporting a government many Haitians consider corrupt, no country answered the call for a foreign security force until Kenya stepped forward last month.

A U.N. report is due this week, after which the plan, with U.S. backing, will pass to a Security Council vote.

In a report published on Monday, HRW said it had interviewed 127 people in Haiti. Many reported widespread sexual violence and a lack of basic needs.

"I want the international community to bring peace if they can," 42-year-old mother Rosie told HRW researchers in a report. "There's no water, no electricity, no food, no peace."

The researchers noted that most people interviewed supported an international force helping police, though safeguards are needed, such as monthly U.N. situation reports, independent abuse oversight and investigation bodies.

It also urged the neighboring Dominican Republic and United States to stop deporting migrants back to Haiti.

Past U.N. peacekeeping missions left behind a cholera epidemic that killed over 10,000 and over a hundred allegations of sexual abuse of women and children. There have been no reparations.

UNDER GANG CONTROL

HRW documented dozens of cases of rape - often collective - but said these are vastly under-reported due to fear of reprisals and lack of trust in authorities. Most victims it spoke to had not received medical attention.

The government has said it has helped thousands of rape victims through support such as legal certificates, medical aid and emergency contraception, but local rights groups say the state has been paralysed and impunity is normalised.

"The rapes and killings happen every day at Deye Mi," said 34-year-old Anne, whose Port-au-Prince neighborhood has been besieged by the powerful G9 Alliance fighting rival G-Pep gang.

"There's only one road into the area, and there's a pile of bodies there," added Natalie, 42. She said she was raped on her way home from the market and her 16-year-old son was killed days later while coming home from school.

A humanitarian officer told HRW sexual violence had become usual practice in gang-controlled areas "simply because they have the power to do so".

Fighting has also moved to farmlands as many suppliers are unable to move food across the country.

The U.N. ranks Haiti alongside Yemen and Somalia as the countries most at risk of communities entering starvation.

HRW said a multinational force should secure access to roads, ports and hospitals so food, aid and people can move.

"We can't run from one place to another all the time to flee these attacks," said Quentin, 30, left homeless after an attack on his neighborhood. "If the situation continues like this, it's like we're already dead."

(Reporting by Sarah Morland)
As deadly gang violence unfolds against another Port-au-Prince neighborhood and another police officer lost his life trying to help the public fend off armed attacks, Human Rights Watch is calling on the international community to act urgently to support Haiti in overcoming its security crisis and ensuring a transition to democracy.

The call from the international rights group comes as United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is due to present options to the Security Council on how to fight Haitis criminal groups and as the government of Kenya prepares to send a team to New York and Port-au-Prince to weigh leading a multinational force into the country.

It also comes as residents in metropolitan Port-au-Prince continue to be victims of killings, kidnappings and sexual violence at the hands of armed groups. Last week, residents in the Carrefour Feuilles neighborhood found themselves under siege from a fresh round of attacks, and on Sunday many spent the night fleeing heavily armed men.

Urgent action is needed to address the extreme levels of violence and the palpable fear, hunger, and sense of abandonment that so many Haitians experience today, said Nathalye Cotrino, crisis and conflict researcher at Human Rights Watch. International security support may be needed, but it will likely only help with a new transitional government in place and as part of a multi-faceted response with robust human-rights safeguards.

Should the U.N. Security Council authorize the deployment of an international force to Haiti, it should ensure that its based on clear human-rights protocols and has adequate funding and robust oversight mechanisms, Human Rights Watch said, adding that there should be provisions for humanitarian aid and other basic services provided to those in need.

The ongoing legacies of past abusive foreign interventions in Haiti should not be an excuse for inaction, Cotrino said. It should instead be a call to action to right past wrongs and to support Haitian efforts towards true democratic governance, respect for basic human rights, and an end to the deadly cycles of violence and abuse.

READ MORE: Are Haitian artists being forced to perform for gangs? Recent arrest triggers debate

On Monday, Human Rights Watch published a new 98-page report, Living a Nightmare: Haiti Needs an Urgent Rights-Based Response to Escalating Crisis. The report provides a list of recommendations for both the Haitian government and foreign nations involved in Haiti, including the United States, Canada, France and the Caribbean community as well as the United Nations. It also documents some of the horrific abuses committed by criminal groups, showing the states inaction  from no response by police and government authorities to the lack of response by the judiciary. Based on available information, there have been no prosecutions or convictions of those responsible for killings, kidnappings, and sexual violence, or their supporters, since the start of 2023, the group said.

The Haitian government has failed to protect people from the violence of criminal groups, the report said. To those living in affected areas, the police and other authorities scarcely exist.

The report calls on the administration of Prime Minister Ariel Henry to urgently address the crisis in the judicial system and to engage with a diverse group of Haitian social and political actors to craft a solution to the countrys crises with clear objectives and a precise timetable.

It also calls on U.S. and others in the international community to facilitate the establishment of a transitional government to restore basic security and ensure adherence to fundamental human rights.

Nearly all Haitian civil society representatives and victims of abuse interviewed said that the situation had deteriorated so drastically that an international response is needed, including a security component. Many highlighted the need to avoid more harm and abuses now, with adequate safeguards to avoid the serious abuses that resulted from past international interventions, the report said. Haitian civil society representatives also said that other countries should stop supporting Prime Minister Henry, whom they see as heading an illegitimate and corrupt government with alleged links to criminal groups.

Citing the U.N.s Integrated Office in Haiti, Human Rights Watch says more than 2,000 people have been killed in Haiti by criminal groups between January and June of this year, a 125% increase compared to the same period last year. At the same time, the U.N. said at least 1,015 kidnappings have been reported for the same period.

During the violence and kidnappings, women and girls are also raped, some repeatedly, as sexual violence increasingly is used by criminal groups to terrorize and control the population.

Demonstrators in North Miami joined Haitians across the United States and the world to bring awareness to the escalating gang violence and kidnappings in the Caribbean country. The march began at City Hall and ended at North Miami High on Sunday. Carl Juste/cjuste@miamiherald.com

The new report documents some of the abuses committed by criminal groups in four communities in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince  Cabaret, Cite Soleil, Croix-des-Bouquets and the city of Port-au-Prince itself. The areas have caught in the middle of a gang war between two rival armed alliances, the powerful G-9 led by former policemen Jimmy Barbecue Cherizier, and G-Pep, led by Gabriel Jean-Pierre, who views himself as a community leader rather than a gang chief.

For several years, residents of Brooklyn and other areas controlled by the G-Pep have been besieged and attacked by G9 members who want to gain control of all of Cite Soleil, the report notes.

In June, the two gang alliances and two other leaders aligned with them entered a truce. But that truce, Human Rights Watch said, remains shaky as neighborhoods remain under gang control and reports of abuses continue to mount.

Residents still struggle to send their children to school, and many can often only eat one meal every two or three days, the report said.

During a visit to Haiti earlier this year, Human Rights Watch said it interviewed 21 victim and witnesses, mostly from the Brooklyn area of Cite Soleil. They described how people were killed, raped or injured between mid-March and late April by members of the G9 coalition on a block known as Carrefour la Mort, or the Crossroads of Death, and another area, Deye Mi, Behind the Wall, which leads to the rest of the capital.

One resident of Broklyn, 34-year-old Anne J., whose brothers were shot by armed men, told the organization that the rapes and killings happen every day at Deye Mi. [T]he bandits have us cornered. When we have to go out to look for food or money, they rape and shoot us; there is no police or anyone to help us.

She described being sexually assaulted by five men at the same location after they dragged her inside an abandoned house. Her assailants, she said, were members of the G-9 federation.

They told me that this was happening to me because I was one of Gabriels women, she said, a reference to the leader of the G-Pep. My 29-year-old sister was also raped on the same day by three G9 members.

Others shared similar stories about being repeatedly raped or watching as men were killed with machetes and guns in front of them.

While Human Rights Watch says it documented 35 killings in the area, a local community organization documented the killings of more than 100 people and over 100 cases of sexual violence during the period.

In the report, Human Rights Watch states that political and security experts along with government officials and Haitian civil society representatives asserted a link between the increase in violence and upcoming elections that have been promised by Henry, who took power after the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise in July 2021.

The report notes that the dire security situation is exacerbated by Haitis intense deadlock, dysfunctional judicial system and long-running impunity for human-rights abuses. People are increasingly at risk of starvation and more than 195,000 Haitians have been internally displaced since last year due to the violence.

Among its recommendations, the report said governments, institutions and donors should stop supporting political actors in Haiti who are credibly implicated in supporting criminal groups.
An attorney for Hunter Biden has come out swinging against Justice Department (DOJ) prosecutors, who he blames for the collapse of a plea deal that resulted in his clients case taking yet another bizarre turn.

Biden was set to plead guilty to tax charges and settle a gun charge during a July 26 hearing in Delaware, but the judge in the case questioned the parameters of the deal and whether Biden fully understood what he was agreeing to.

Abbe Lowell, Bidens attorney in the case, said Sunday that federal prosecutors changed their decision on the fly during the hearing  when such plea agreements are typically ironed out by both sides before appearing before a judge. Instead, the hearing took numerous twists and turns for nearly two hours until Biden ultimately pleaded not guilty in order to give both sides time to have another chance at coming up with a deal.

Lowell gave a trifecta of reasons for why the plea agreement ultimately wasnt approved.

And so the possibilities are only, one, they wrote something and werent clear what they meant. Two, they knew what they meant, and misstated it to counsel. Or third, they changed their view as they were standing in court in Delaware, Lowell said on CBSs Face the Nation.

In a court brief dated Sunday, he doubled down on those comments, maintaining that federal prosecutors opted to renege on the previously agreed-upon Plea Agreement and argued the diversion program to avoid jail time agreed to previously should remain in place.

The Justice Department declined to comment on the case or Lowells accusations.

On Sunday, Lowell said he did not expect his client to face any additional charges, including possible violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which he said had to be part of federal prosecutors five-year investigation. He noted that only tax charges and a diverted gun charge had resulted.

The tax charges stem from Bidens foreign and domestic business dealings in which he failed to pay taxes on his earnings.

The collapse of such a high-profile plea deal involving the presidents son  being prosecuted by a Justice Department under his fathers own administration  has legal watchers scratching their heads over how attorneys on both sides could have entered a court room without coming to clear terms on the agreement that required a final seal of approval from the judge.

It seems from the hearing transcript that there was not a meeting of the minds about what the deal was, said Carissa Byrne Hessick, a law professor at the University of North Carolina and author of Punishment Without Trial, a book about plea bargains.

The failed deal is the latest twist in an investigation that began during the Trump administration when the Justice Department began investigating Biden in 2018 on potential violations of tax and money laundering laws. After the Biden administration took over, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, who was appointed by President Biden, said he would keep in place the Trump-appointed U.S. attorney in Delaware overseeing Hunter Bidens case.

Prosecutors reached a plea deal with Biden in June, under which the presidents son would have pleaded guilty to two tax offenses and entered a pretrial diversion program on a gun charge, allowing him to avoid a formal charge under specific conditions.

At a hearing in Delaware last month where the deal was set to be formalized, U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika asked pointed questions about the complex agreement  in particular, questions regarding the scope of Bidens immunity from any potential future charges.

Without revealing details, prosecutors indicated that the presidents son remains under active investigation, according to The Associated Press.

The deal crumbled in real time.

When [Noreika] asked additional questions about this  she got very different answers from defense and prosecution, Hessick said. At that point, the judge would be wrong to accept the plea agreement because the judge has a constitutional obligation under Supreme Court case law to make sure that a defendants waiver of his or her right to a jury trial  is knowing, voluntary and intelligent.

It cant be knowing if there is a lack of clarity about what the agreement is, she said.

After the hearing, Noreika directed both parties to submit in writing their responses to her concerns, but on Friday, the Justice Department asked her to set those briefing deadlines aside. Prosecutors said plea deal negotiations with Bidens team were at an impasse.

Garland also on Friday appointed U.S. Attorney David Weiss  who was leading the investigation  as a special counsel, a title that grants more powers than those of U.S. attorneys.

Thea Johnson, a law professor at Rutgers University who specializes in plea bargaining, said its typical for plea deals to mark the end of criminal investigations and that misunderstandings over such agreements are unusual.

The defendant is saying, I agree to plead guilty and to give everybody the certainty to end the case, and in exchange, the certainty I want is to know that the case is over  that the investigation is over, Johnson said. So, it is quite unusual that there is a disagreement over the nature of the immunity deal.

Certainly, it would make the typical defendant less likely to plead guilty if they thought that they were facing future criminal liability and they werent sure what the nature of that liability would look like, she added.

Still, its possible that DOJ prosecutors did go back on their deal  a move thats entirely legal, Hessick said.

She compared plea bargaining to buying a car from an independent seller, reaching a deal on the price, and then having the buyer putting more terms on the deal resulting in the seller charging more.

Colloquially, would you say that I reneged on a deal like that? Yeah, Hessick said. But from a legal standpoint, we didnt have a contract.

The stakes are much higher in criminal plea negotiations, Johnson said, using the same analogy.

Unlike a typical negotiation  where if we cant come to a resolution over the price of a car you dont buy the car  in a criminal case, if you cant come to a resolution then you go to trial, Johnson said.

Though prosecutors have indicated that a trial in Bidens case is imminent, whether the parties will reach a deal before then is still yet to be seen.

Its certainly possible that it goes to trial, Hessick said. But in an awful lot of cases, somebody blinks just before the trial starts.

Updated 4:47 p.m.

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A Georgia man has been granted bond three months after investigators charged him with the murder of his wife who disappeared.

Mindi Mebane Kassotis remains were found in coastal Georgia in December. Officials were able to determine that the womans body had been placed on the land of a hunting club in Liberty and McIntosh counties sometime after Nov. 18.

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It wasnt until May when the Georgia Bureau of Investigation was able to identify the body. At the time of her death, Kassotis was living in Savannah with her husband, 40-year-old Nicholas James Kassotis. Officials charged him with murder.

On Monday, the Coastal Courier newspaper reported that a Liberty County judge granted Nicholas Kassotis a $5 million cash bond and $10 million property bond. The newspaper reported that he must wear an ankle monitor and cant contact witnesses.

TRENDING STORIES:

WTOC-TV in Savannah attended the bond hearing on Monday where the state prosecutors and the GBI agent who found Mindi Mebane Kassotis body spoke.

The GBI agent said that Nicholas Kassotis was seeing another woman at the time of his wifes death and told the other woman that Mindi Mebane Kassotis died from pregnancy complications, WTOC reported.

As of Monday afternoon, its unclear if Kassotis has posted his bond.

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IN OTHER NEWS
A Michigan couple was on their way home from work when they decided to stop for lunch at Amores Grill & Spirits.

We only eat at places that have Club Keno because its fun to watch the drawings while we wait for our food, Angela Antico told Michigan Lottery officials. Amores is one of our favorite places.

As Club Keno drawings take place every few minutes, she and her husband, Paul, can watch several while out to eat.

During draw 2229315 on July 29, Antico matched eight of the 20 numbers drawn, according to an Aug. 14 news release. Because she played the Kicker option, her prize was multiplied to $100,000.

We watched the drawing, and it was hard to believe what we were seeing, Antico told Michigan Lottery officials while claiming her big win. We started yelling and soon everyone in the place knew wed won. We cashed out and took the ticket home and scanned it with the Lottery app. Seeing the confetti on the screen and the $100,000 prize amount was amazing!

She and her husband claimed their winnings Aug. 10, but they still couldnt believe it.

Winning still hasnt sunk in yet and probably wont until Ive got the money in the bank, Antico said.

The couple plans to use the prize money to pay bills and renovate their home, according to the release.

Amores is in Chesterfield, part of the Detroit metropolitan area.

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.

Wife nearly convinces husband he didnt win lottery  until she checks ticket 3 times

Man wins record-setting lottery prize in Michigan. Never seen this much money at once

Wifes unusual request leads husband to win big on Maryland lottery game
You can feel the tension in Courtroom A of the Bibb County courthouse in downtown Macon most mornings.

Whether its just before a Monday calendar call in which swaths of pending criminal cases are called before a judge for evaluation or a trial thats set to begin, the air is anticipatory  the room buzzes with conversations between attorneys, clients and bystanders.

Since 2010 that tension has been punctured, indeed, utterly disarmed, by four casual words.

Yall have a seat.

Thats what Chief Superior Court Judge Howard Z. Simms said in his deep Southern accent every day as he entered the courtroom for more than a decade, foreshadowing his candid nature before courtroom events even began.

Public servants, private counsel and citizens alike know Simms, who is set to retire at the end of August after working in the Bibb County courthouse for nearly 40 years, as a long-time attorney and judge who is not only straightforward, but also one of the most caring and dedicated employees of the justice system.

Peers ranging from attorneys to fellow judges ruminated on Simms influence and memorable moments ahead of his retirement.

Owning the courtroom

Simms, a Macon native who grew up in south Bibb County, began working at the courthouse as a law clerk in 1986 after a brief stint in television news between college and law school at Mercer. His prosecuting skills made an immediate impression.

Ive been coming in and out of this building ever since then, he said.

The 1993 trial of Teresa Fargason, a mother accused of killing her 6-year-old daughter, was one of the more infamous cases in Bibb Countys crime-filled history and inspired incessant public interest. Prosecution of the case fell to Simms when he was still an assistant DA, and the trial quickly became a defining moment in his early career.

It was the only case Ive ever seen tried in this courthouse where it got to be so crowded that you had to have a ticket to get in, Simms said. [The presiding judge] said if I catch anybody selling them, youre going to jail.

Simms successfully prosecuted Fargason in front of a captivated audience and demonstrated his ability to rattle off precedents at will in the process, an ability that continued to impress peers throughout his career.

He owned the room when he was in it, as a prosecutor, said fellow judge David Mincey, who became a Bibb Superior Court judge and Simms colleague in 2017.

Though Mincey only worked with Simms as a judge, hed seen Simms work as a prosecutor while in Crawford County and was blown away.

He has got an incredible mind and an incredible recall Ive not met more than a handful of people in my travels and education that have his recall. Its amazing, truly, Mincey said.

Even beyond legal knowledge, his arguments themselves kept impressionable minds engrossed in law.

Ill never forget it, I used up all of my absences for all of my classes (in law school) to attend that trial, said Nancy Malcor, a student at the time who later became Simms coworker in the Bibb DAs office.

Malcor has known Simms for 30 years and, even while at her current job as an assistant DA in Baldwin County, remains friends with him.

Thats still the greatest trial Ive ever seen his closing argument, phenomenal. I still steal pieces of it sometimes, and he still lets me know that he knows when I use it, she said.

The trial and his dedicated work after it helped Simms get elected to the position of Bibb County District Attorney in 2000, a role Malcor says he stepped up to take when nobody else could. She said he continued trying cases even after filling the role, a bit of a rarity for district attorneys, because he simply loved to prosecute.

Even defense counsel respected the always-amicable Simms.

Through all the cases he tried, he was always respectful, said Floyd Buford, a longtime defense attorney who has known Simms for roughly 30 years and worked many trials opposite him. He never let it become personal, and he always was straightforward.

Learning from mistakes

Bibb County Superior Court Judge Howard Simms is retiring after working at the Bibb County courthouse for nearly forty years in different capcities.

After roughly a decade in the position, Simms resigned as district attorney and was elected as Superior Court judge in 2010. His work from the bench began a portion of his career that would come to define him.

Its given me a deeper appreciation of what people go through, Simms said of his career, particularly as a judge. Naturally, when we deal with people, were dealing with them at their lowest point you see a lot of people at rock bottom. Hopefully, you help some of them along the way. You do what you can.

Simms himself hit one of the lowest points of his career soon after his tenure as a judge began when he was stopped twice for drunk driving in 2012.

Thats the wonderful thing about addicts, you have to hit them upside the head with a sledgehammer to get them to understand anything, and that was me, too, Simms said.

His bouts with alcohol came as a result of his personal struggles, which came in large part after then-DA Willis Sparks III shot himself in the head at the courthouse in 1993. Simms, an assistant at the time, found his wounded role model in the bathroom. Sparks died the next day.

It was around then that I learned that alcohol could ease a world of pain, Simms said.

The investigation into Simms drunk driving did not lead to any arrests, but generated controversy after deputies let Simms go following a traffic stop. Problems with protocol during the traffic stop meant that Simms was not charged with DUI and that deputies were suspended.

Simms mistake  and how he adjusted because of it  changed his outlook on the work he was doing. He expressed deep regret for his actions, and took it upon himself to remember them in the courtroom.

That helped me understand a lot of things that an addict never wants to admit theyre an addict, Simms said. To me it was an important first step in listening to other people and trying to figure out whether theyre being honest with me.

Simms entered rehab in 2012 immediately following the controversy and, after a year of sobriety and a shift in perspective, took control of the courts drug rehab program. He dealt with people, many at their aforementioned rock bottom, who were dealing with the same demons.

Hes a funny guy

Bibb County Superior Court Judge Howard Simms is retiring after working at the Bibb County courthouse for nearly forty years in different capcities.

Simms personality contributed greatly to his reputation. His frankness with convicted killers and trial attorneys alike further boosted his notoriety and respect.

You may be the vilest bitch that I have ever met, Simms told Amanda Arellano in 2014 after she pleaded guilty to helping her boyfriend sexually assault her children. He told her there was a special place in hell for her.

Simms penchant for the unabashed did not wane later in his career, either.

You need to die in a penitentiary, he told Caesar Crockett moments after he was convicted of triple murder.

A jury convicted Crockett of killing the family of his childs mother. His case unfolded in May with Simms as steady from the bench as ever.

I believe, and have now for a long time, that Im gonna be honest as the day is long about pretty much everything, Simms said. People need to hear that what they do has consequences. I think a lot of people nowadays dont know that, or if they do know it they dont believe it. They need to hear it and I want them to hear it, and I want them to know it.

Simms uncomplicated language with defendants and convicted criminals may have been sensational and sometimes sarcastic, but it also established a sincerity in the courtroom that many admired.

He doesnt sugarcoat, but hes not unreasonably harsh. Sarcasm can also be a way to deal with (the violent cases), Mincey said of Simms job. At the end of the day, its because that man has the biggest heart and more compassion for whos in the courtroom than any of us. And thats a tough thing to replace.

Simms also did his job in ways beyond the law itself by taking care of the people dealing with issues every day, his peers said.

I like him as a person, as a judge. I like his commitment, said Ivory Courts, who has been a bailiff on and off since 2011.

Courts is known for both his kindness and his suave outfits at the courthouse downtown.

After a brief hiatus in 2016, the aptly-named Courts returned to the justice system in 2020 to be a bailiff again  but only if he could be stationed in Simms courtroom.

Courts remembered one day when a young girl, no older than high school age, was summoned to court for a check-in about a case she was involved with, though Courts was not certain of the exact charge. After she missed the calendar call, the court put a bench warrant out for her.

Later that day, Courts was in the courtroom when the girl arrived  she had overslept and her parents didnt wake her up. Courts took the girl to Simms and explained her situation.

He dropped everything he was doing, took her into his chambers, called the DA and said Look, drop this warrant, Courts said. Then he told her, You go to school and get your education. He understands what counts.

Simms humor also made a big impression on those he worked with.

Weve told a lot of jokes over the years, both in public and in private chambers, Buford said. He is a funny guy.

One afternoon this year as a murder trial was about to resume, the victims families returned to the courtroom after lunch. Courts, looking dapper as ever at his normal post monitoring the courtroom and helping with the trial, drifted towards the families holding one of the courtroom microphones.

Okay folks, Im gonna be singing some Luther Vandross now, Courts quipped into the mic, using his best DJ voice. The family members laughed softly, still looking slightly anxious.

From the judges chambers on the other side of the room, Simms head appeared, a necktie floating below it as he popped out from his own lunch break for a moment.

Courts, if you sing, he said, youre going to prison.

For the first time in the courtroom that day, the family members grinned.

A new beginning

Though Simms does not officially retire until Sep. 1, his last calendar call came at the end of July. By the first week of August hed more or less moved out, his belongings cleaned out of his office and his pending cases closed.

Flanked by furniture in the hallway and accompanied by the roar of vacuums cleaning office carpets, Judge Mincey strolled into his new chambers. The quarters that once belonged to Judge Philip Raymond III, Simms successor as chief judge, became his after Raymond moved into Simms office.

(Simms) only just walked out these doors a few days ago I can already see (the changes), Mincey said. Raymond is an absolutely brilliant person and hell take the reins as chief well be fine, and look forward to looking with a new colleague.

Raymond, Mincey and the other judges will now have to dole out the serious criminal cases that Simms took the majority of over the past decade. Mincey described the toll that can take on a judge and admired Simms ability to tackle the toughest of cases, something other co-workers echoed fervently.

Keep in mind, hes had a tremendous judicial load with all these violent crimes hes had over the years, defense attorney Buford said. Every Monday morning hes hearing about blood and guts hes a wonderful guy. Weve been fortunate to have him.

Simms led by example, Mincey said, one that other judges will try to follow.

Some judges when they get that robe, they forget, the prosecutor Malcor said. They forget what it was like to practice and are kind of unreasonable in what their expectations are. Judge Simms was not like that.

As for the footprint he leaves behind at the corner of Mulberry and Second Street, Simms summed it up succinctly in a way perhaps few could.

Fair is, at the end of the day, what you really expect from a judge everybodys got a story. You can walk by a thousand people in a crowd, and you dont even think about it, Simms said. Sometimes the answer is life in a penitentiary, sometimes the answer is go home and do better. The tightrope you try to walk is the area between there. You try to get it right.

Any judge is never gonna get it right all the time. I hope my legacy is that I got it right more than I got it wrong.
Civil and immigration rights groups are moving to temporarily block part of Floridas new immigration law, arguing that a provision that makes it a felony to transport undocumented immigrants into the state causes extreme hardships.

Section 10 is inflicting enormous harm on Plaintiffs and countless other Florida residents, according to the court documents asking for a preliminary injunction. Florida has no valid basis to impose this kind of suffering on its residents.

The attorneys for the groups initially filed the preliminary injunction last week. But Judge Roy Altman of the Florida Southern District Court turned down the request, telling them they had to show evidence they had served all the defendants with the initial complaint first. As of Monday, lawyers involved in the case had filed proof they had notified all defendants but one, and were moving quickly to refile the original motion for the preliminary injunction. If approved, the preliminary injunction would block the transportation provision while litigation takes place.

The legal action is part of a federal lawsuit, filed in July by the Southern Poverty Law Center, Americans for Immigrant Justice, the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida and others to block Section 10 of a new state law that creates several new immigration-related restrictions.

The part of the law being challenged says that people who knowingly and willfully transport someone into Florida who the person knows, or reasonably should know, has entered the United States in violation of law and has not been inspected by the Federal Government since his or her unlawful entry from another country will face third-degree felony charges.

The community is terrified. And its not just anyone who is undocumented who is nervous. Its faith leaders, family members. Its anyone who provides transportation to the state, said Anne Janet Hernandez Anderson, senior supervising attorney at the Southern Poverty Law Center.

The Farmworkers Association of Florida, a group of almost 12,000 members that advocates for migrant and seasonal farm workers, is the main plaintiff. Many of its members travel through Florida, Georgia, and Alabama to do agricultural work and have been doing so for a long time, said Nezahualcoyotl Xiuhtecutli, the associations general coordinator.

They are afraid of leaving the state whether to visit a relative or for work and not being able to return. They have always felt that they could move freely within the United States, said Xiuhtecutli about some of his organizations undocumented members. But with this law, they feel they no longer have this type of free movement.

A sworn declaration from Xiuhtecutli said the group expects that at least 100 families they know are not expected to return to Florida for Septembers planting season. Xiuhtecutli also said that the law has diverted staff resources, leading to delays in submitting Medicaid and food stamp applications, as well as applications to other government welfare programs for members.

Other plaintiffs include a 70-year-old U.S. veteran turned Catholic deacon who views helping immigrants as part of his religious mission.

The lawsuits defendants are Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, state Attorney General Ashley Moody, and all county state attorneys. In May, when DeSantis signed the law that includes Section 10, his office described the bill as the strongest anti-illegal immigration legislation in the country to combat Bidens border crisis.

The lawsuits grounds

The lawsuit argues that the state law, which went into effect July 1, is unconstitutional because it violates the Supremacy Clause, a constitutional provision that cements the authority of federal law over state law.

The federal government is solely charged with the immigration system. There is federal law about any repercussions of transportation of folks who may have entered unlawfully, said Katie Blankenship, deputy legal director for the ACLU of Florida, States cannot pass laws that impede on areas that are strictly left to the federal government. And thats what Section 10 does.

The lawsuit also argues that the language in Section 10 is hopelessly vague and incoherent, because its unclear exactly what entering without federal government inspection means.

Lawyers for the rights groups told the Miami Herald that the scope of the law could include previously undocumented people who now have lawful immigration status or are now naturalized U.S. citizens, since these adjustments can happen without federal government inspection as defined by federal law.

Nobody knows what inspection means in the context of this law. There are any number of people who could be impacted and people who the federal government knows are here.... So its impossible to know when you are violating it, said Blankenship.

Farm workers, a grandmother, and a nonprofit leader are among the plaintiffs

The preliminary injunction filed last week includes several sworn statements from people, identified only by initials, who describe emotional, financial and social harm that the passage of Section 10 has inflicted upon their lives.

Our plaintiffs show the profound human impact of who this law affects. We have families that are now afraid to travel together back into Florida, farmworkers who are now afraid to leave the state, coworkers who carpool, even married couples, said Evelyn Wiese, attorney for the litigation program at Americans for Immigrant Justice.

One sworn statement came from a 57-year-old nonprofit director and U.S. citizen from rural Georgia identified as AM who helps immigrants seek medical care in northern Florida. He shared the story of an undocumented woman from the Mexican peninsula of Yucatan in his community who currently has renal failure.

I am 100% willing to transport her to Florida or anywhere else she needs to go to get the care she needs. [The new law,] however, has made me extremely anxious that my efforts to help this woman may result in significant jail time and prosecution for me, said AM.

Another case involves a young undocumented couple from Mexico with children who travel between Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee for work. The 33-year-old husband said that the family had decided to not leave Florida because of the law, and that he had struggled to find work over the summer. He took a landscaping job for less money, while his wife remains unemployed.

My children asked why they dont get to see their friends in Georgia and Tennessee this year and wonder if they will ever get to see them again. I dont know what to say, he said, I do my best to keep going forward. But every day, we live in fear for our familys future.

There is also a sworn statement from a 72-year-old Nicaraguan grandmother with lupus from Florida City and her 19-year-old grandson, of whom she has custody. In light of the law, they canceled their trip to visit family members in Georgia. While the grandmother is a U.S. citizen, her grandson is still waiting on an application for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. The grandmother said that the new law had aggravated the mental health of her grandson, who is a recent high school graduate.

And the grandmother fears what the law could mean for both of them if they ever risked crossing state lines to see their families.

I do not know if I would even be able to survive being arrested and sent to jail, she said, according to the sworn statement. It also fills me with fear to think of my grandson being alone if I were arrested.
The News

A Montana judge on Monday ruled that youth in the state have a constitutional right to a healthy environment, marking a historic first in the climate change battle on the political stage.

District Court Judge Kathy Seeley found that the states emissions were a substantial factor in affecting the climate, and that current laws limiting regulators from considering climate effects are now unconstitutional. The lawsuit had been filed by several climate activists between the ages of 5 and 22.

Weve curated reporting and analysis on the precedent the victory could set in the courtroom fight for climate change.

Insights

The Montana case is far stronger than federal lawsuits targeting greenhouse emissions because the states constitution specifically contains a clause compelling it to maintain and improve a clean and healthful environment in Montana for present and future generations, notes Slate legal writer Mark Joseph Stern.

Indigenous people of Montana live in post-apocalyptic communities, one of the plaintiffs, Sariel Sandoval, testified this summer. After surviving genocide and assimilation, she said that Indigenous people can survive climate change but it doesnt make it right, arguing before the court that she has a constitutional right to preserve her heritage. She testified that her tribes creation stories can only be told when theres snow on the ground on their land, something that is becoming less frequent because of climate change. The time that we can share those stories and explain to our youth who we are and our place in the world is becoming shorter, she said. 

Immediate changes are not expected following the win, because the ruling allows for the Republican-controlled state legislature to bring the new policy into compliance. GOP lawmakers have already described the ruling as absurd and called the lawsuit a publicity stunt. 
Tourists visit the Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, Aug. 2, 2023. (Xinhua/Pema Yangtso)

During her summer vacation, Gao Yong'e had just one day in Xining, the capital city of Qinghai Province in northwest China, and she knew exactly where she was going to go: the Tibetan Culture Museum.



"I wanted to spend the day learning and experiencing the rich and diverse traditional culture of my country," said the 31-year-old, who hails from Anhui Province in east China.

In the museum, Gao's camera raced to capture the array of treasures  from Tibetan costumes to glass incense bottles, and even the ancient coins that once traversed historic trade routes. Inspired by the sheer beauty and historical significance, Gao clicked away in a blur.

The Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum boasts a collection of more than 50,000 works, spanning Tibetan medicine, literature, calligraphy, folk culture, art, and astrology. Many items are national-level cultural relics.

"The number of visitors to the museum has reached a historic high during the summer vacation. In July alone, nearly 200,000 people visited the museum, while the daily flow of tourists reach over 6,000 since August," said Dorje Gyal, deputy director of the museum.

"We hire out all the audio guides within an hour of opening each day, and there is an overwhelming demand for guided tours," he added.

Aside from exhibitions, the museum also features interactive activities, such as thangka painting and traditional costume photobooths, so visitors can get hand-on when exploring the vast collection.

Sun Xinyi and her mother made the museum their final stop after enjoying the breathtaking natural landscapes in the plateau province. "The unique Tibetan culture is an important part of our Chinese culture, therefore, we should learn and understand it well," the nine-year-old said.

"Currently, more and more young people are enthusiastic about museums, consciously seeking to understand the profound historical heritage of our country. This is due to their identification with traditional culture, and this identification leads to their fondness," said Dorje Gyal. "The 'museum tourism fever' enriches cultural and tourism activities, demonstrating the charm and confidence of traditional Chinese culture."

Data from the provincial culture and tourism department showed that, in the first half of the year, Qinghai received nearly 18.22 million visitors, achieving tourism revenue of 16.23 billion yuan (about 2.27 billion U.S. dollars), representing a year-on-year increase of 98 percent and 146 percent compared to 2022.

Qinghai has a total of 41 museums, including 25 at the national level.

Tourists visit the Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, Aug. 2, 2023. (Xinhua/Pema Yangtso)
In his 1974 novel Tamas (Darkness), a vivid portrayal of the bloody partition of India, author Bhisham Sahni vividly depicts the atmosphere changing in a violence-wracked village as a plane circles above it thrice.

"People ventured out. The fighting seemed to have stopped and dead bodies were being disposed. People went back to their houses to assess their losses in terms of clothes and armaments."

Sahni wrote a fictional account of the carnage that accompanied the partition as it split the subcontinent into the new independent nations of India and Pakistan. Religious violence erupted, displacing some 12 million people, and claiming the lives of up to one million people.

Fiction might have been mirroring reality when the planes swooped over the troubled villages, suggests Aashique Ahmed Iqbal, an Indian historian.

The mere presence of the aircraft, he says, had a deterrent effect, dispersing mobs and giving villages time to prepare their defences. "The aeroplane played a small, but highly crucial role during the division of the British empire in India into the independent dominions of India and Pakistan," notes Mr Iqbal in his fascinating book, The Aeroplane and the Making of Modern India.

Of the 12 million people who fled from India and Pakistan, the overwhelming majority travelled by train, vehicle, cart and on foot. Up to 50,000 people - or less than 1% of the people evacuated - were flown out of what became India and Pakistan, Mr Iqbal says. A near-complete exchange of population was completed in three months, between September and November in 1947.

Planes flew over railway tracks to safeguard refugee-laden trains from potential mob ambushes

The Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF) - the aerial force of British India and later the dominion of India - would play a key role in quelling disorder and help in evacuating partition refugees, notes Mr Iqbal.

Every morning, their aircraft embarked on tactical reconnaissance missions, flying over railway tracks to safeguard refugee-laden trains from potential mob ambushes, and checking the rails for any signs of tampering. The planes would also look out for armed mobs and communicate with trains using wireless radio.

In September 1947, aircraft flying over Punjab reported a startling sight: up to 30,000 refugees trekking on foot along a 25-mile (40-km) stretch, as recounted by Mr Iqbal. These planes detected lurking mobs poised to attack weary refugees, relaying their locations to military patrols. They witnessed ominous columns of smoke rising from incinerated villages. "If you flew low," Mr Iqbal writes, "you would spot bodies floating through Punjab's famous canal system."

That was not all. RIAF planes - mostly trusty Dakotas - transported 1.5 million doses of cholera vaccines from Delhi to Karachi to help prevent an epidemic in the unsanitary refugee camps. They also dropped cooked food, sugar and oil for refugees. Both India and Pakistan used planes to drop leaflets warning rioters to cease violence, Mr Iqbal writes. The RIAF also ended up evacuating non-Muslims from distant parts of Pakistan like Multan, Bannu and Peshawar.

In scenes reminiscent of the desperate Afghans who attempted to flee their country by running alongside and clinging to military jets at Kabul airport in August 2021, the airfields of Delhi and Punjab in 1947 also witnessed moments of "great danger and desperation".

Indian companies bought cheap aircraft left behind by the US forces after the end of World War Two

"Refugees in camps near the airfields would rush to the planes as soon as they were permitted. Passengers desperate to be flown out of danger bribed crew with money and gold to board the plane," Mr Iqbal writes.

Tickets were expensive. Passengers were allowed to carry very little luggage: there are accounts of a refugee from Hyderabad in India carrying only her Quran to Pakistan; and others carrying a "battered child's cane chair" and a "moth-eaten-looking parrot".

Not surprisingly, the planes were packed to the gills. Seats and carpets were removed to accommodate as many refugees as possible. Dakota DC-3 planes meant to carry 21 passengers often carried five times the number.

A private airline technician was given a pair of knuckle-dusters by his pilot to control the crowds. "He would punch his way to the door collecting undercarriage pins and punch his way into the plane before firmly locking in," Mr Iqbal writes. Once the doors closed, the engines would start. "Then the crowd would automatically vanish due to the slip stream of the engines."

That no major crashes were reported because of the overcrowding, lax airport security and overworked planes was remarkable. "Refugees often crowded airfields before planes landed because of lack of security. Matters were not helped by hostility of the authorities to air crews of the 'other' country," writes Mr Iqbal.

Muslim refugees gather in India to seek transport to Pakistan

By early 1947, India had 115 civilian airplanes run by 11 private companies. The end of World War II had sparked an "unprecedented boom" for civil aviation as Indian companies bought cheap aircraft - mostly Douglas DC-3 Dakotas - left behind by the departing US forces. But there was a glut in supply and not enough demand and profits plummeted. During partition, civilian planes not flying on scheduled routes were diverted to ferry refugees from Pakistan to India; and 10 of these planes were made available for the government.

But civilian airline operators were not able to cope with the mass evacuation. They also refused to risk aircraft and personnel for this "impossible task". Eventually foreign help was sought: 21 British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) planes flew "non-stop" for 15 days to move 6,300 people from Delhi to Karachi. They also carried 45,000kg of food, tents and vaccines for Muslim refugees stranded at Delhi airfields.

Two Royal Air Force transport aircraft deployed to evacuate British nationals were also used to evacuate some 12,000 people between India and Pakistan. Only 2,790 were British personnel; the rest would be railways, post, and telegraph employees who would play a key role in the exchange of population on the ground, writes Mr Iqbal.

By October 1947, India realised this effort was still not enough. This was when 'Operation India' was launched: over six weeks in October and November, 21 planes - mainly Dakotas chartered from eight British companies - transported 35,000 people and more than 1.5 million pounds of baggage between India and Pakistan. Some 170 aviation personnel were flown in from Britain to help.

Indian aviation companies were overwhelmed by the magnitude of evacuation, so both the governments had to rely on chartered British aircraft. And the use of planes, says Mr Iqbal, "enabled the rapid constitution of independent India in the crucial first months after Independence".

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LAS VEGAS  Caison Robinson, 14, had just met up with a younger neighbor on their quiet street after finishing his chores when a gunman in a white car rolled up and fired a torrent of bullets in an instant.

Mom, Ive been shot! he recalled crying, as his mother bolted barefoot out of their house in northwest Las Vegas. I didnt think I was going to make it, for how much blood was under me, Caison said.

Las Vegas police say the shooting in May was carried out with a pistol rigged with a small and illegal device known as a switch. Switches can transform semi-automatic handguns, which typically require a trigger pull for each shot, into fully automatic machine guns that fire dozens of bullets with one tug.

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By the time the assailant in Las Vegas sped away, Caison, a soft-spoken teenager who loves video games, lay on the pavement with five gunshot wounds. His friend, a 12-year-old girl, was struck once in the leg.

These makeshift machine guns  able to inflict indiscriminate carnage in seconds  are helping fuel the national epidemic of gun violence, making shootings increasingly lethal, creating added risks for bystanders and leaving survivors more grievously wounded, according to law enforcement authorities and medical workers.

The growing use of switches, which are also known as auto sears, is evident in real-time audio tracking of gunshots around the country, data shows. Audio sensors monitored by a public safety technology company, SoundThinking, recorded 75,544 rounds of suspected automatic gunfire in 2022 in portions of 127 cities covered by its microphones, according to data compiled at the request of The New York Times. That was a 49% increase from the year before.

This is almost like the gun version of the fentanyl crisis, Mayor Quinton Lucas of Kansas City, Missouri, said in an interview.

Lucas, a Democrat, said he believes that the rising popularity of switches, especially among young people, is a major reason fewer gun violence victims are surviving in his city.

Homicides in Kansas City are approaching record highs this year, even as the number of nonfatal shootings in the city has decreased.

Switches come in various forms, but most are small Lego-like plastic blocks, about 1 inch square, that can be easily manufactured on a 3D printer and go for around $200.

Law enforcement officials say the devices are turning up with greater frequency at crime scenes, often wielded by teens who have come to see them as a status symbol that provides a competitive advantage. The proliferation of switches also has coincided with broader accessibility of so-called ghost guns, untraceable firearms that can be made with components purchased online or made with 3D printers.

The gang wars and street fighting that used to be with knives, and then pistols, is now to a great extent being waged with automatic weapons, said Andrew M. Luger, the U.S. attorney for Minnesota.

Switches have become a major priority for federal law enforcement officials. But investigators say they face formidable obstacles, including the sheer number in circulation and the ease with which they can be produced and installed at home, using readily available instruction videos on the internet. Many are sold and owned by people younger than 18, who generally face more lenient treatment in the courts.

Social media platforms like YouTube ban content that shows people how to make illegal weapons. However, such content is protected under the First Amendment and remains widely available online.

Federal law enforcement officials have contacted Glock, the company that produces a weapon that has come to define an entire class of easily available 9 mm handguns, in search of ways to modify the weapon to make it harder to attach switches. Carlos Guevara, a vice president at Glock, said the company has collaborated with law enforcement officials to target illegal sellers and users of switches but has determined the design of the pistol cannot be altered in that way.

In 2021, a man with a gun modified with a switch fired at two police officers in Houston, killing one and injuring the other. One of the gunmen in a 2022 gang shootout in Sacramento, California, that left six dead and injured 12 people carried a gun fitted with a switch, according to police. In recent months, shootings using modified weapons have been caught on camera in Milwaukee, prompting the citys mayor to compare the scene with a war zone.

Dr. James Miner, the chair of emergency medicine at Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis, which has the largest trauma center in Minnesota, said he first heard about switches in 2020 when he was trying to make sense of why gunshot victims were arriving at the hospital with numerous wounds and why more people seemed to be reporting being shot by stray bullets.

Its more common now for someone to say: I was walking down the street and I heard the sound and all of a sudden my leg hurt, my chest hurt, he said. Rather than: I was held up or I was involved in a drug deal gone wrong.

Since the 1930s, federal laws have tightly restricted ownership of machine guns outside of the military and police departments. In 1986, Congress banned the production of new machine guns for civilian use, making them even more uncommon in the years that followed.

Devices to turn firearms fully automatic have existed for years, but they had not been a major concern for authorities until recently.

In 2019, federal agents began seizing a significant number of switches imported from China, said Thomas Chittum, a former associate deputy director at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives who now oversees analytics and forensic services at SoundThinking.

Soon, authorities began seeing a rise in switches  which in 2019 sold for as little as $19  in several major American cities. Between 2017 and 2021, the ATF recovered 5,454 machine gun conversion parts, a 570% increase from the preceding five years.

Steven M. Dettelbach, director of the ATF, said that trend ominously echoed the days of Al Capone and the Tommy gun, when criminals often had more firepower than law enforcement.

In an interview, he recalled having asked one of his advisers to bring an inexpensive 3D printer to his office last year to show how a switch was made. The speed, ease and cheap cost, he said, were chilling.

He said they handed one to him after a half-hour, 40 minutes.

The Justice Department has stepped up prosecutions of sellers and suppliers over the past few years. Under the Gun Control Act of 1968, it is a crime to manufacture a machine gun, a violation that carries a maximum of 10 years in prison. Last week, prosecutors in Chicago charged a 20-year-old man with selling 25 switches and a 3D printer to an undercover agent. In November, federal prosecutors in Texas charged a supplier who, they assert, had sold thousands of switches  shipping some inside childrens toys.

Switches are fast becoming embedded in youth culture, and have been the subject of rap songs and memes on social media. One of four teenagers accused in the killing of an off-duty Chicago police officer this year posted on the internet a song called Switches, rapping shoot the switches, they so fast as he showed an arsenal of weapons.

Caison Robinson said he knew about switches before he was nearly killed by one. Teenagers he knew began bragging about having acquired the converted guns, often from older siblings, he said. They called the switches buttons, he said, which came in several colors.

Its become a thing you get to be cool, Caison said.

In an interview, he said that he tried to steer clear of armed cliques of teenagers in his Las Vegas neighborhood. Its like a trend now.

His mother, Takeila Peebles, moved to Las Vegas from Chicago seven years ago. She said she thought he would be safer in their new city.

The day of the shooting, Peebles, who works in medical billing and as a chef from her home, told Caison he could go outside to play only after he tidied up his bedroom, threw in a load of laundry and vacuumed the stairs. When Caison finished his chores, around 3:45 p.m., he headed out. Not long after, she heard gunfire and caught a glimpse of a white Kia Optima speeding away.

A soldier in uniform who happened to be nearby saw what had happened and tended to Caisons wounds until a passing motorist rushed him to the hospital.

One bullet struck his colon, part of which had to be removed, medical officials say. Another pierced his liver. A third punched through a principal vein in his abdomen. The other bullets broke his femur and caused nerve damage to his forearm.

Investigators concluded that the shooting was tied to a gang dispute and that Caison was not the intended target. In late June, Hakeem Collette, 17, pleaded guilty to battery with a deadly weapon and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He will be eligible for parole in two years.

Peebles said the punishment is outrageous, considering the anguish her family has experienced. For three weeks after her son was shot, she had a recurring nightmare in which she watched helplessly as Caison bled to death on the pavement.

Lately, Peebles said she often tiptoes into his bedroom to make sure he is still there.

Im always at a loss for words when I look at him, she said. Hes not a touchy person, but I just always want to hug him.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
An internal war has erupted in the American Civil Liberties Union as the organization that once defended the First Amendment rights of Nazis and the Ku Klux Klan is being sued by ousted members of the board of directors of its Florida affiliate because, they say, they resisted putting partisan politics over free speech protections.

In a lawsuit filed in state court in Sarasota late Friday, the seven board members  Jeanne Baker, Michael Barfield, James Benjamin, Jeff Borg, Daniel Cook, Marcia Hayden and Martin Novoa  allege that they were wrongfully removed last year by the national organization after objecting to the organizations shift in mission.

The lawsuit asks the court to restore their positions on the board and rule that the national organization and the staff of ACLU Florida violated the law when it removed the board because it was unhappy with governance decisions that resisted partisan political activity, the mission drift away from core civil liberties issues towards socio-economic justice and other oversight functions exercised by the board of directors over staff.

The suit comes just two weeks after the ACLU of Florida announced it is laying off 10% of its staff due to budget constraints.

In a statement, Executive Director Tiffani Lennon said the ACLU of Florida, a nonprofit known for pursuing legal challenges against the government, increased its staff to meet an unprecedented onslaught of attacks on civil rights and liberties in the state, but now finds itself needing to reduce its expenses by 20%.

The plaintiffs do not address the financial challenges in their lawsuit but state that ideological differences and a disagreement over the naming of Lennon as the new executive director led the organization to violate the law.

ACLU supported gay marriage in Florida

For more than 20 years, the ACLU of Florida was led by Howard Simon, who retired in 2018. During that time, the organization helped to establish the right for gay couples to marry and adopt in the state of Florida, helped to advance the voting rights of former felons and engaged in redistricting legal challenges at both the state and local levels.

Lennon replaced Amy Turkel, who took over to serve as interim executive director in January 2022, after Micah W. Kubic held the post for three years but left to return to his home state of Kansas.

In the last year, the ACLU of Florida has seen a handful of high-profile court victories. It successfully persuaded a federal court to order fairer maps for the Jacksonville City Council and Duval County School Board for its 2023 elections and has challenged the Miami City Commissions racial gerrymandering of commission district lines, winning one early decision that is being appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court while the overall case is yet to go to trial.

It is also challenging state legislation that seeks to criminalize abortion providers, and legislation restricting healthcare for transgender people.

But the simmering disagreement over whether the organization has stepped away from its founding principle  being a content-neutral defender of the First Amendment  preceded those initiatives.

Trumps presidency a pivot point

The cleavage began in 2017, according to the 77-page complaint filed in Sarasota district court, when ACLU national started a nationwide campaign known as People Power whose purpose was to organize at the grassroots level in response to the election of Donald Trump as President.

The lawsuit alleges that the People Power group engaged partisan conduct under the name and logo of the ACLU in violation of longstanding policy: improper fundraising solicitations; and advocating support for non-civil liberties goals and neither the ACLU-FL board nor the board leadership had any input into the decision.

When the board pushed back, the national organization signed a memorandum of understanding that agreed to refrain from partisan political messages or advocating for socio-economic justice issues in Florida.

But, according to the lawsuit, the agreement was short lived and the organization ran afoul of the agreement by touting broadband access and housing equity as civil liberty issues and by treating student-debt relief and climate change as civil liberties and ACLU issues.

The lawsuit said the Florida board also objected to guidelines that emerged after the ACLU sided with the far-right groups responsible for the violence in Charlottesville. The guidelines suggested lawyers should balance taking a free speech case representing groups whose values are contrary to our values against the potential such a case might give offense to marginalized groups.

Mary Ellen Klas can be reached at meklas@miamiherald.com and @MaryEllenKlas
Iranian security forces have arrested eight foreign suspects after detaining a gunman in the killing of two people at a Shiite Muslim shrine, authorities said on Monday.

The attack on the Shah Cheragh mausoleum in Shiraz, capital of Fars province in Iran's south, came less than a year after a mass shooting at the same site later claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group.

Iranian state media on Sunday reported that one person was killed and eight others were wounded.

On Monday, official news agency IRNA quoted Fars province chief justice Kazem Mousavi as saying "one of the wounded had succumbed to his wounds and died."

Mousavi earlier told the judiciary's Mizan Online news website that "eight people suspected of links with the terrorist attack... have been arrested."

"All the people arrested are foreigners," he said without elaborating.

The main suspect was arrested on Sunday night shortly after the attack, and Mizan identified him as Rahmatollah Nowruzof from Tajikistan.

Windows were left shattered by bullets, and blood stained the ground in a courtyard of the arched and colonnaded complex after the shooting.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but Fars provincial governor Mohammad Hadi Imanieh blamed IS extremists.

He told state TV that the assailant sought "to take revenge for the execution of two terrorists" hanged over last year's shooting at the shrine.

On Monday, Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi told state TV during a visit to the site that the "terrorist" was collaborating with a "network operating" outside Iran.

The European Union and several countries including Iraq, Russia and France have condemned Sunday's shooting and expressed their condolences.

Baghdad rejects "terrorism in all its forms" and stands "with the international community in confronting terrorism", said foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed al-Sahhaf.

On October 26, a mass shooting at the shrine in Shiraz left 13 people dead and 30 wounded. IS later claimed the attack.

Iran hanged two men in public on July 8 over the killings after their conviction for "corruption on earth, armed rebellion and acting against national security," Mizan said at the time.

Three other defendants in the case were sentenced to prison for five, 15 and 25 years for being members of IS, according to Moussavi.

In November, Tehran said 26 "takfiri terrorists" from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan and Tajikistan had been arrested in connection with the mass shooting.

In Shiite-dominated Iran, the term takfiri generally refers to jihadists or proponents of radical Sunni Islam.

The Shah Cheragh mausoleum is home to the tomb of Ahmad, brother of Imam Reza -- the eighth Shiite imam -- and is considered the holiest site in southern Iran.

Last year's shooting occurred as nationwide protests gripped Iran following the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, 22, arrested for an alleged breach of strict dress rules for women.

rkh-mz/ami
Iranian security forces have arrested eight foreign suspects after detaining a gunman in the killing of one person at a Shiite Muslim shrine, state media reported on Monday.

The attack came less than a year after a mass shooting at the same holy site, the Shah Cheragh mausoleum in Shiraz, capital of Fars province in Iran's south.

"Eight people suspected of links with the terrorist attack... have been arrested," according to the judiciary's Mizan Online website, quoting Fars province chief justice Kazem Mousavi.

"All the people arrested are foreigners," Mousavi said, without elaborating.

The eight are in addition to the main suspect arrested on Sunday night after the attack. Mizan identified him as Rahmatollah Nowruzof from Tajikistan.

Sunday's shooting wounded eight people, the official IRNA news agency reported.

Windows were left shattered by bullets, and blood stained the ground in a courtyard of the arched and colonnaded complex after the shooting.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility but Fars provincial governor Mohammad Hadi Imanieh blamed the extremist Islamic State group.

He told state TV that the assailant sought "to take revenge for the execution of two terrorists" convicted of carrying out the similar attack last year.

On Monday, Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi told state TV during a visit to the site that the "terrorist" was collaborating with a "network operating" outside Iran.

On October 26, a mass shooting at the shrine left 13 people dead and 30 wounded. IS later claimed the attack.

Iran hanged two men in public on July 8 over the killings after their conviction for "corruption on earth, armed rebellion and acting against national security," Mizan said at the time.

Three other defendants in the case were sentenced to prison for five, 15 and 25 years for being members of IS, according to Moussavi.

In November, Tehran said 26 "takfiri terrorists" from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan and Tajikistan had been arrested in connection with the mass shooting.

In Shiite-dominated Iran, the term takfiri generally refers to jihadists or proponents of radical Sunni Islam.

The Shah Cheragh mausoleum is home to the tomb of Ahmad, brother of Imam Reza -- the eighth Shiite imam -- and is considered the holiest site in southern Iran.

Last year's shooting occurred as nationwide protests gripped Iran following the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, 22, arrested for an alleged breach of strict dress rules for women.

rkh-mz/it
DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran has detained eight suspects related to Sunday's attack on Shi'ite Muslim shrine in the southern city of Shiraz, the judiciary said on Monday, adding that all were foreigners.

One person was killed and ten people were wounded, Iran's Nournews reported, calling it a "terrorist attack" on the shrine known as Shah Cheragh. Authorities said a man had opened fire at the shrine before being arrested.

The judiciary's Mizan news agency said the main perpetrator was identified as a citizen of Tajikistan while the nationalities of the other suspects, all foreign nationals, remained unknown.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack on the shrine, where 15 people were killed in an attack last October claimed by Islamic State.

The militant group has claimed other attacks in Iran, including the deadly twin bombings in 2017 that targeted Iran's parliament and the tomb of the Islamic Republic's founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

(Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
DUBAI (Reuters) -Iran is committed to resolving its nuclear dispute with world powers through diplomacy, the country's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian told reporters in a televised news conference on Monday.

"We have always wanted a return of all parties to full compliance of the 2015 nuclear deal," Amirabdollahian said.

Indirect talks between Washington and Tehran to revive the nuclear agreement have stalled since last September.

Having failed to revive the pact, Tehran and Washington said on Thursday they had reached an understanding under which $6 billion in Iranian funds will be unfrozen from South Korea while five American nationals detained in Iran will be released.

The United States would also release some Iranians from U.S. prisons as part of the deal, Iran said.

(Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; Editing by Toby Chopra)
(Bloomberg) -- Iran said last weeks deal with the US on the release of prisoners and frozen funds could lead to diplomacy in other areas including its nuclear program.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The prisoner deal isnt directly related to talks on Irans atomic work but the issues can affect each other, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani said in a press conference in Tehran.

Developments in one area can be conducive to easing tensions and opening up other paths, he added.

Iran transferred four US citizens from prison to house arrest on Friday as part of a deal in which the US is expected to unfreeze $6 billion of Iranian assets stuck abroad due to sanctions. Iran said it will release the prisoners once it gets the money.

The US unilaterally withdrew from an agreement that curbed Irans nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief in 2018. Since then Iran has increased its enrichment of uranium to near weapons grade and formal efforts to revive the nuclear deal have been inconclusive.

--With assistance from Patrick Sykes.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Eli Cohen, Israeli Foreign Minister, has promised that his country will not abolish health insurance for the Ukrainian refugees.

Source: Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraines Foreign Minister, on Twitter

Quote: "I spoke with Eli Cohen. He assured me that health insurance for Ukrainians in Israel will remain in place; the problem will be resolved soon."

Details: Ukraines Foreign Minister thanked his Israeli counterpart.

I spoke with @EliCoh1. He assured me that health insurance for Ukrainians in Israel will remain in place; the problem will be resolved soon. I thank my Israeli counterpart, who is personally taking care of this. We also discussed a broader bilateral agenda.  Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) August 14, 2023

Background:

The Israeli government recently decided to abolish health insurance for refugees from Ukraine.

Yevhen Korniichuk, Ukraine's ambassador to Israel, urged Jerusalem to renounce this step.

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!
FILE PHOTO: Members of the 'Brothers in Arms' reservist protest group demonstrate, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's nationalist coalition government presses on with its judicial overhaul, in Kiryat Ono

Israel's Netanyahu cools censure of protesting reservists as judicial crisis simmers FILE PHOTO: Members of the 'Brothers in Arms' reservist protest group demonstrate, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's nationalist coalition government presses on with its judicial overhaul, in Kiryat Ono

By Dan Williams

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has offered Israeli military reservists protesting against his judicial overhaul plan a nominal olive branch, cooling his earlier censure of them as concerns for the country's war-readiness mount.

Protest leaders say thousands of reservists have stopped reporting for duty. Among them are hundreds of air force pilots or navigators whose absence from weekly refresher flights means that by next month they may no longer qualify for combat.

As Israel faces potential flare-ups with Iran, Lebanon and the Palestinians, Netanyahu raged, in a cabinet recording leaked to a TV station on July 12, against what he deemed "insubordination" that threatened military capabilities.

The protesters have bristled at the term, noting that many of the reservists are designated as volunteers and arguing that their no-shows were a last resort to defend Israeli democracy.

Convening the top brass for consultations on the crisis late on Sunday, Netanyahu changed his language somewhat, saying in a statement he "utterly rejected the phenomenon of conditional reserve duty".

"Brothers in Arms", a reservist protester group, seemed unmoved by the gesture, accusing Netanyahu of playing down risks to military readiness.

The seeping of the reform furore into the armed forces, which Israelis long viewed as an apolitical melting pot, could be exacerbated by an unprecedented showdown among branches of government next month.

The Supreme Court will on Sept. 12 hear arguments against a bill limiting some of its powers to void government decisions, which was ratified in a parliament controlled by Netanyahu's religious-nationalist coalition.

'LIMITED' IMPACT

Netanyahu has been hazy on whether he would heed a ruling against the law. He has argued that the court meddles in his mandate and reminded the military that, in a democracy, it is subordinate to the elected government.

Such debating was akin to "dancing on the deck of the Titanic", Amos Gilad, a retired Israeli military intelligence general and regional analyst, told Army Radio on Monday, referring to perceptions of the country as vulnerable to its foes.

The military has so far acknowledged a "limited" impact from the reservist protest, citing the loss of some veteran instructors from the air force's flight school.

It has also said more than half of crews that take part in bombing runs in Syria and elsewhere are reservists, signalling the possible impact of the protest on ongoing combat operations.

National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi declined to expand on Israel's military readiness in an Army Radio interview.

"There are matters to which our enemies' ears should not be exposed. As of now, the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) can handle its missions and the goal is to put this matter behind us," he said.

(Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
Pianist Liu Shikun plays The Yellow River on the third Sino-French Cultural Forum held in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, on Sept. 17, 2018. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)

Liu Shikun, an 84-year-old Chinese piano maestro, has been honored with the Most Outstanding Asian Artist Lifetime Achievement Award in New York City over the weekend.



Born in 1939 into a family of wealthy merchants and music enthusiasts in Tianjin, Liu started playing the piano at the age of three. He is an outstanding composer, a distinguished arts educator and also a pioneer in U.S.-China cultural exchange.

"I have received numerous awards in the past, but this award holds a profound meaning for me and has made me feel particularly honored," said Liu in his acceptance speech at a ceremony presented by the Chinese American Arts Council (CAAC).

Chinese Consul General in New York, Huang Ping, who jointly presented the award to Liu with Alan Chow, the CAAC founder and director, highlighted how Liu's artistic achievements serve as a bridge of friendship between different cultures.

Established in 1981, the Most Outstanding Asian Artist Lifetime Achievement Award is one of the most significant honors in the United States dedicated to recognizing excellence in the Asian arts community.
Pro-war Russian bloggers are complaining of poor Russian morale and personnel failures after Ukrainian troops made gains in Urozhaine, Donetsk Oblast, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote in its Aug. 13 report.

Criticisms of Russian brigades in Donetsk arose after Ukrainian forces advanced in the area of Urozhaine on Aug. 10. One author claimed that Russian soldiers "prematurely withdrew" because "the unit's personnel were drunk," the ISW reported.

While some objected to this characterization, other voices in the Russian information space echoed and expanded these complaints, according to the ISW.

One author attributed Russian defensive failures on the front to the dismissal of a unit commander, Major General Ivan Popov.

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The bloggers "targeted their complaints at the personnel of these units rather than the unit or theater commanders, suggesting that Popovs removal and other rumored command purges may have removed mid-level Russian military commanders as a readily available scapegoat for Russian military failures," the ISW wrote.

The ISW also said that Russian commander Alexander Khodakovsky, who leads a battalion near Urozhaine, acknowledged on Aug. 13 that "Russia expended its resources too early in the war."

Read also: Putin cracks down on pro-war opposition as all-out war falters

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FILE - A view of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge in Genoa, Italy, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. On Monday, Aug. 14, 2023, Italy marked the fifth anniversary of the collapse of Genoas Morandi Bridge with a minute of silence and demands for justice for the 43 people killed in what authorities say was an example of greed-fueled negligence. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File)

ROME (AP) 

Italy marked the fifth anniversary Monday of the collapse of Genoas Morandi Bridge with a minute of silence and demands for justice for the 43 people who died in what authorities say was an example of greed-fueled negligence.

Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini told relatives of victims, local residents and authorities at the Genoa commemoration that the people who plunged to their deaths werent victims of a flood or natural disaster. Rather, he said, they were victims of greed, of people who didnt do their jobs.

A huge section of the Morandi bridge broke off during a rainstorm on Aug. 14, 2018, when highways were packed on the eve of Italys biggest summer holiday, sending cars plunging into the dry riverbed below.

Fifty-eight people went on trial last year, accused of manslaughter and other charges. They include former executives and technical experts of the company that managed many of Italys bridges and highways, as well as former officials of Salvinis ministry.

Prosecutors allege the defendants knew the bridge, which was built in the 1960s, was at risk of collapsing and that corners were cut on maintenance to save money. The bridges designer had recommended regular upkeep on the cement span to remove rust, especially due to the corrosive effect of moist salty air from the nearby Ligurian Sea.

Salvini told the crowd, gathered under the new span that was inaugurated in 2020 to replace the Morandi, that he had read some of the documentation from the trial. While he said he didnt want to prejudge the outcome, he argued the evidence of greed and carelessness was clear.

There were billions of euros in profits, some of which were supposed to have been reinvested in maintenance, that obviously, based on what transpired, were not invested in maintenance, he said.

He added that by next years commemorations he hoped that Parliament would approve a law, proposed in the aftermath of the collapse, that considers victims of such negligence in public works equivalent to victims of terrorism or organized crime, in terms of their eligibility to recover financial compensation.

After he spoke, and as church bells tolled and sirens roared across Genoa, the crowd observed a minute of silence at 11:36, the moment of the collapse.

Egle Possetti, a prominent member of the committee of relatives of Morandi victims, told the crowd that the Morandi families trusted in the justice system, but that developments in the trial to date had been disheartening.

She cited testimony of executives and technical experts denying any responsibility, claiming not to know or remember details, and evidence of a transport ministry that blindly, nearly kneeling, accepted the word of a maintenance company that it was meant to regulate.

There has also been testimony from many people who knew this bridges problems and didnt speak up. They pretended not to hear, she said, her voice breaking. They toyed with the lives of millions of people, without the minimal civic sense to speak up.

While the Morandi was the deadliest collapse in recent years, Italy has seen other bridge and highway collapses that have underscored the crumbling state of the country's aging transportation infrastructure. Salvini told the crowd his ministry, which is responsible for 21,000 bridges and viaducts nationwide, was working to catch up on decades of inattention to upkeep.
MILAN (Reuters) -Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Monday took "full responsibility" for last week's shock decision to impose a one-off bank tax that has been blamed for causing lasting damage to her government's credibility with financial markets.

In comments to Italian newspapers Corriere della Sera, la Repubblica and La Stampa, Meloni said the 40% levy had no punitive intent.

"I would do it again. Because I believe that the right things must be done...This is a decision that I took (on my own)", she was quoted as saying by la Repubblica.

"It's a sensitive issue and I take full responsibility for it."

In a drive to shore up its political base, Italy's conservative government unveiled the surprise decision late last Monday, only to backtrack in part by clarifying there was a cap on proceeds 24 hours later - and after having changed the threshold to apply the tax in the meantime.

The new tax targets a rise in profits banks have derived from higher rates.

Sources told Reuters when the measure was announced the Treasury expected to draw less than 3 billion euros ($3.3 billion) from the tax. However, prior to the clarification on the cap, calculations pointed to much higher sums.

With Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti noticeably absent from the press conference to announce the tax, Meloni said he had been informed about the decision.

However, other government members had been kept in the dark because of the sensitivity of the matter, she said.

The government had toyed with the idea of taxing banks' record profits from higher rates but appeared to have set it aside, and Rome's muddled communication over the issue has caused alarm among international investors.

Asked about a veto posed by junior coalition partner Forza Italian on a potential alliance with France's Marie Le Pen at next year's EU parliamentary elections, she said it was too early to discuss any such moves.

"I don't veto anyone, I don't feel I have the authority to do that and in any case it's premature", she said.

(Reporting by Claudia Cristoferi; editing by Federico Maccioni, Valentina Za and Bernadette Baum)
Jacksonville politicos take on high profile roles in Trump campaign

Jacksonville is taking on an outsized role in former President Donald Trumps Presidential campaign, with two local political figures taking on high-level positions.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

The latest, former Jacksonville Chief Administrative Officer Brian Hughes, was just confirmed to have been tapped to lead the Trump campaigns Florida operations in recent days.

In a photo posted to social media Saturday, Hughes posed in front of Trumps plane with Susie Wiles, another Northeast Florida political figure.

Wiles serves as senior advisor to the Trump campaign and she ran his Florida operations back in 2016.

Jacksonville isnt quite Mar-a-Lago, but the thing with politicos and these relationships is, they are relationships, said UNF political science professor Dr. Michael Binder.

READ: Georgia court website publishes, then takes down, list of criminal charges against Trump

With Hughes leaving Jacksonville city government after the mayoral transition, Binder said Hughes was likely an easy choice, as he and Wiles have worked together on various campaigns in the past.

Shes not just running Florida like she had in the past. So, somebody needs to run the state. Youre going to reach out to people that you know and youre familiar with if you have those people at your disposal, said Binder.

As for what Hughes brings to the table, Binder argued Jacksonville residents should be quite familiar with his campaign style.

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Hes got a history of lots of negative ads, targeting those ads, playing to the base, mobilizing base voters, said Binder. Listen, that can absolutely be an effective tactic. It wasnt this past election cycle in Jacksonville, but certainly, theres a history of success with that type of campaign style.

The first test of Hughes effectiveness in Florida will likely come in March.

Governor Ron DeSantis glided to a 20-point reelection victory last year.

If Hughes can turn the tables and deliver a win for Trump in the Florida Primary, it could be a death blow for DeSantis Presidential aspirations.

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Monday was meant to be a historic day, one in which a woman for the first time ascended to the ranks of the militarys Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Instead, the Defense Department will mark a more sober milestone. With the retirement of Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday, for the first time in U.S. history, interim officers are filling three of the eight seats on the Pentagons storied board of most senior military members.

So Monday brought a different sort of handover ceremony. Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the vice chief of naval operations and the nominee to replace Gilday, assumed the role in an acting capacity  with no idea of when shell be confirmed.

The remarkable situation is thanks to an eight-month blockade on military promotions put in place by Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who opposes a new Pentagon policy on paying for service members to travel to another state to receive abortion and other reproductive services. More than 300 senior officer nominations are now on hold due to the standoff.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin noted the painful milestone in remarks at the ceremony. The Pentagon chief has spoken multiple times with Tuberville about the hold, to no avail.



This is unprecedented. It is unnecessary. And it is unsafe, said Austin, speaking at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. This sweeping hold is undermining Americas military readiness. Its hindering our ability to retain our very best officers. And its upending the lives of far too many American military families.

With or without a timely confirmation, Franchetti will need to get in front of Congress and make the case for the Navy which has found itself unable to grow or modernize in key areas at a time when policymakers warn China is growing more aggressive.

The next chief must be aggressive and clear with Congress and the public and what the state of the Navy is  no more we have what we need when all facts say otherwise, said Brent Sadler, a retired Navy officer now at the Heritage Foundation.



In the acting role, Franchetti can legally perform the duties of the top job for as long as necessary. But she cant issue new official planning guidance to the force, as is typical for the new boss, until she is confirmed.

As the vice chief of the Navy since September 2022, Franchetti has already grappled with some of the Navys most pressing issues, including developing plans for new classes of crewed and uncrewed ships, along with the Navys increasingly dire recruiting and retention problems.

Regardless of her formal title, Franchetti has major tasks ahead of her as she takes over a fleet that has struggled to build new ships and has been unable to offer a workable shipbuilding plan to hit its desired mark of 355 ships since it declared that as its goal in 2016. That struggle has spanned three presidential administrations, and two separate secretaries of defense have seen fit to briefly assume control over fleet planning to move things along.

Neither attempt has managed to move the needle.

The issues with fleet size predate Gilday, and are unlikely to be solved under Franchetti, given the size of the services yearly shipbuilding budget and the high cost and long timelines involved in building new ships. The shortage has also been decades in the making. The Navy first fell below the 300-ship mark in August 2003 and hasnt been able to rise above that number since.



Still, Bryan Clark, a retired Navy officer now at the Hudson Institute, said Franchetti could immediately exert some influence to say, we got to recognize that resources are finite, and [budgets] are not likely to go up. Probably more likely to go down, in the coming years.

One of the most frequent criticisms voiced by members of Congress over the past two years has been the Navys refusal to provide a single shipbuilding plan to describe how it plans to add new ships, and retire aging hulls. Instead, its 2023 and 2024 shipbuilding plans have included a range of options with different budgets, fleet sizes and structures, none of which the service would publicly stand behind.

It's not one plan, it's four plans, House Armed Services Chair Mike Rogers (R-Al.) said at a hearing in April. Rogers said he didnt understand how this administration can conclude reducing the size of our fleet will somehow deter China.

Franchetti will also inherit a long-running and increasingly bitter feud with the Marine Corps about building more amphibious ships to ferry Marines and their equipment around the globe.

Over the past year, Gilday and then-Marine Commandant Gen. David Berger engaged in public disagreements over the issue. The Corps says it needs at least 31 amphibious ships, but Gilday and Del Toro declined to fund a new San Antonio-class amphibious ship in their 2024 budget.

The Navy is still in what it has characterized as a strategic pause on building amphibs while the Pentagon studies the usefulness and cost of the ships.

Franchetti has joined a nomination logjam in the Senate, as Tubervilles hold has snared over 300 officers in its web. With no resolution to the blockade in sight, top nominations are quickly backing up.



Last month, the Senate Armed Services Committee sent the nominee for Army chief, Gen. Randy George, and for Joint Chiefs chair, Gen. C.Q. Brown, to the full Senate for consideration. The head of the Marine Corps, Berger, has already retired, leaving Assistant Marine Commandant Gen. Eric Smith as the temporary chief until he is confirmed as commandant.

And its not only the Joint Chiefs. The blockade is also jamming up command changes for the 5th and 7th fleets, which run naval operations in the Middle East and Pacific, and the next leaders of the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Missile Defense Agency and the Air Forces Air Combat Command.
(Bloomberg) -- Indonesia is considering measures to improve Jakartas air quality, which deteriorated to become the worst in the world on Sunday.

Most Read from Bloomberg

President Joko Widodo is considering imposing a pollution tax and requiring vehicles with 2.4-liter capacity or more to use the highest octane fuel. The extended dry season, vehicle emissions and fumes from nearby factories especially those relying on coal for power have worsened the capitals air quality, he said in the cabinet meeting on Monday.

Over the last week, the air quality in the Greater Jakarta Area has been very, very bad, the president said.

The city of 10 million people has been under a haze thats kept its air quality at unhealthy levels. It isnt the first time that Jakartans have complained about the pollution, which may be causing more than 100,000 people to suffer from acute respiratory infection each month. In 2021, a local court ruled that the citys residents have a right to clean air and the government must devise clear strategy to reduce pollution.

Jokowi is finally calling for action. He is urging stricter supervision of industrial sites and power plants as well as weather manipulation to reduce the haze. The government is also encouraging civil servants to use public transportation or to work from home. Vehicles must pass emissions test to travel within the Greater Jakarta Area, while power plants and factories will be subject to industrial chimney standards.

In the longer term, the government will seek to reduce the use of combustion engine vehicles and replace public transportation with electric models faster while urging people to use it more.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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The Board of Directors of the Kansas Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists condemns law enforcement officials, including the Marion City Police and Marion County Sheriffs Department, and the Magistrate Court of Marion County for a blatantly illegal raid and seizure of intellectual property on Aug. 11 from the offices and journalists of the Marion County Record.

Marion Chief of Police Gideon Cody has refused to publicly disclose any alleged crimes committed by journalists.

He has claimed he will be vindicated when all of the facts come out.

We ask that those facts be revealed immediately.

The entire world is watching.

Such a huge breach of the public trust is a dangerous affront to the entire system of checks and balances necessary in a healthy democracy.

According to reporting by the Kansas Reflector, the raid followed news stories about a restaurant owner who kicked reporters out of a meeting last week with U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner, and revelations about the restaurant owners lack of a drivers license and conviction for drunken driving.

We join Emily Bradbury, executive director of the Kansas Press Association, who said the police raid is unprecedented in Kansas.

An attack on a newspaper office through an illegal search is not just an infringement on the rights of journalists but an assault on the very foundation of democracy and the publics right to know, Bradbury said. This cannot be allowed to stand.

However, law enforcement could not have executed this illegal raid without the signing of a warrant by Marion County District Court Magistrate Judge Laura Viar.

The Kansas Professional Chapter of SPJ Board of Directors is particularly disappointed with the actions of Viar, which we assert violate established federal law protecting journalists and news organizations from searches and seizures of materials.

Federal law requires law enforcement to instead subpoena materials from journalists, a precedent that has been upheld by U.S. Supreme Court ruling dating back more than 45 years.

Viar, who was appointed as magistrate judge in November 2022, has displayed either a lack of knowledge or a blatant disregard for the law.

Either way, the citizens of Marion County and Kansas should be distressed at the judge for signing off on what is clearly an illegal raid.

We call on the 8th Judicial District Chief Judge Benjamin Sexton to rescind the illegal warrant and order the immediate return of materials to the Marion County Record and its employees.

Further, we believe Viars actions should be reviewed by the Kansas Commission on Judicial Conduct.

We join journalists and First Amendment supporters from around the world who are sounding the alarm of this attack on the foundation of American journalism.

Attempting to criminalize news gathering is beneath contempt and worthy of condemnation.

The shame of law enforcement and the courts of Marion County stain all Kansans and must never be repeated.

This statement was submitted by Molly McMillin, an aviation trade journalist and former Wichita Eagle reporter, and president of the Kansas Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, on behalf of the organization. At an emergency meeting Sunday night, SPJ also voted to purchase a full-page advertisement in the Marion County Record and run the statement there.






A proposed quarry next to Umstead State Park on land owned by Raleigh-Durham International Airport is back on again after a judge overturned a decision by state environmental regulators to deny a mining permit.

Administrative law judge Donald van der Vaart said the state agency that regulates mining waited too long to make a decision about the permit and that the agencys director, Brian Wrenn, was not authorized to make it.

But van der Vaart also said Wrenn misapplied state regulations when he concluded in February 2022 that the proposed quarry would have a significantly adverse effect on the purposes of a publicly owned park. Van der Vaart wrote that the mining company, Wake Stone Corp., provided plenty of evidence to show it could operate an open pit mine next to William B. Umstead State Park without harming the park and called Wrenns decision arbitrary and capricious.

The small area of the park potentially affected by the proposed operation would not, due to the prohibition against visitors in that area, affect anything at all, van der Vaart wrote.

Mining permit within 30 days?

Administrative law judges like van der Vaart hear appeals from companies, organizations and individuals who feel that a state agency is not properly applying the law. Van der Vaart, who was Secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality for two years under Gov. Pat McCrory, ordered DEQs Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources to issue the mining permit within 30 days.

The agency can appeal his ruling to Superior Court. A spokesman said Monday that DEQ was reviewing van der Vaarts 53-page ruling and had no other comment.

The permit is actually a new version of an existing one that has allowed Wake Stone to operate the Triangle Quarry on property between Umstead and Interstate 40 since the 1980s.

The modified permit would allow the company to build a new quarry across Crabtree Creek on 105 acres it has leased from RDU known as the Odd Fellows property. Stone from the 400-foot-deep pit mine would be moved via a new bridge over the creek to the companys existing operation off North Harrison Avenue, where it would be crushed and washed and trucked to customers.

Wake Stone has made lease payments to RDU since the airports governing board approved the mining lease in March 2019.

We are pleased with the judges ruling, which allows for the expansion of the existing Triangle Quarry onto the adjacent RDU Airport property, Sam Bratton, the companys president and CEO, said in a statement. We look forward to beginning the mining process while upholding our 50+ year commitment to our industrys highest environmental and safety standards.

A controversial quarry

The proposed quarry has been controversial since it showed up on the airports 25-year master plan, called Vision 2040, which was approved in 2016. Opponents say the state parks department has long hoped to acquire the wooded property off Old Reedy Creek Road to add to Umstead State Park, which shares a long boundary with the airport.

Jean Spooner, head of The Umstead Coalition, a park advocacy group, said the quarry is incompatible with Umstead and Old Reedy Creek Road, which is now part of the East Coast Greenway trail.

There is no doubt that a heavy industrial operation with over 400 huge quarry haul trucks passing daily within 25 feet of William B. Umstead State Park and the East Coast Greenway, blasting, dust, rocks crashing, etc. will have a devastating impact on our prized public recreational corridor, Spooner said in a written statement.

RDU acquired the Odd Fellows property in the 1970s as part of a plan to build a new runway that was never built.

In 2017, the airports governing board turned down an offer from The Conservation Fund, a national environmental organization, to buy the 105 acres for $6.46 million so it could be added to Umstead. At the time, airport officials say they did not want to sell any property.

Instead, the Airport Authority approved a lease with Wake Stone allowing it to mine the property for up to 35 years. At the time, RDU expected to received $24 million over the life of the lease, mostly in royalty payments as stone is removed and sold.
The New York state judge overseeing former President Trumps criminal hush money case has rejected the former presidents demand for recusal.

Trump called for New York Supreme Court acting Justice Juan Merchan to step aside in June, citing Merchans daughters employment at a progressive digital agency and the judges participation in a previous case related to Trumps business.

Trump also demanded an explanation about an apparent political donation Merchan made to President Biden.

In a six-page decision, Merchan rejected all of Trumps requests. The judge noted his decision was based in part on guidance he sought, prior to Trumps motion, from the states judicial ethics advisory committee about some of the concerns.

Merchan is set to oversee Manhattan prosecutors attempt to convict Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with payments he made to his then-fixer, Michael Cohen, after Cohen provided a $130,000 hush payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election.

Trump pleaded not guilty, and he has repeatedly attacked Merchan in speeches and on social media. Merchan has set a trial start date for March 2024.

Merchans ruling did confirm his daughter is employed at Authentic Campaigns, a digital marketing agency that lists Bidens campaign and other Democratic candidates as clients, as Trumps attorneys alleged in the recusal motion.

But the judge cited the ethics committees guidance, which found nothing to suggest that the outcome of the case could have any effect on the judges relative, the relatives business, or any of their interests.

Defendant has failed to demonstrate that there exists concrete, or even realistic reasons for recusal to be appropriate, much less required on these grounds, Merchan wrote. The speculative and hypothetical scenarios offered by Defendant fall well short of the legal standard.

Merchans decision went on to seemingly confirm that he donated $35 to political causes in July 2020, comprising a $15 donation to Bidens presidential campaign, $10 to the Progressive Turnout Project and $10 to a group called Stop Republicans.

But he similarly cited the ethics committees guidance saying he was not obligated to disclose the contributions.

The donations at issue are self-evident and require no further clarification, Merchan wrote.

Merchan also rejected notions that he acted improperly while overseeing the criminal prosecution of Allen Weisselberg, the Trump Organizations former chief financial officer who agreed to a plea deal last year.

Merchan said the Trump Organization had unsuccessfully sought his recusal in that case, too.

That the identical grounds are now raised on behalf of a different defendant, on an entirely different indictment, only serve to weaken the plausibility of the claim, Merchan wrote.

Trump has also mounted an attempt to move his case to federal court, but a separate judge rejected that effort last month. Trump is now appealing that decision, and the case is meanwhile moving ahead in Merchans court.

Beyond the hush money charges, the former president also faces criminal charges in connection with his alleged mishandling of classified materials and efforts to remain in power following the 2020 election. Trump has pleaded not guilty in all of the cases.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A Fulton County Superior Court judge who has presided over key parts of the Georgia probe against former President Donald Trumps efforts to overturn 2020 election results in the Peach State has demonstrated a willingness to speak frankly to both sides of the contentious proceeding.

Its unclear whether Judge Robert McBurney will preside over Trumps trial, if he is charged. But McBurney presided over the selection process for the grand jury last month that will hear the Trump case.

His rulings and temperament have already had a deep impact on the closely watched matter, in which indictments are expected to be handed up from a grand jury this week.

McBurney, a Harvard-educated lawyer who was appointed by then-Georgia Republican Gov. Nathan Deal in 2012, oversaw the special grand jury that collected evidence in the investigation.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, a Democrat, is expected to seek charges against more than a dozen individuals when she presents her case before a grand jury, sources familiar with the matter have told CNN. Charges could include racketeering, conspiracy and more.

Last month, in a major ruling, McBurney rejected Trumps request to throw out the evidence collected by the special grand jury and to disqualify Willis from overseeing the criminal investigation because of her public comments about the case.

The drumbeat from the District Attorney has been neither partisan (in the political sense) nor personal, in marked and refreshing contrast to the stream of personal invective flowing from one of the movants, McBurney wrote, in an apparent swipe at the Trump teams barbed filings regarding Willis.

He continued: Put differently, the District Attorneys Office has been doing a fairly routine  and legally unobjectionable  job of public relations in a case that is anything but routine.

However, in a major ruling earlier in the investigation, McBurney blocked Willis from investigating Burt Jones, then a Republican state senator, who was one of the fake electors who signed an illegitimate Electoral College certificate. (Jones is now Georgias lieutenant governor.)

Willis had hosted a campaign fundraiser for Jones Democratic opponent in the Georgia lieutenant governors race, Charley Bailey, for which McBurney criticized Willis. Its a What are you thinking moment, he said at the time. The optics are horrific.

In his recent ruling denying Trumps bid to shut down the probe, McBurney referenced the Jones dispute, saying Willis had injected direct partisanship into a criminal investigation that should remain as politically neutral as possible when it came to Jones. But McBurney concluded that Willis didnt cross that line with Trump.

McBurney was previously a former federal prosecutor in the Northern District of Georgia and the state prosecutor in Fulton County, according to the Fulton County court website.

In some other notable cases, McBurney overturned Georgias six-week abortion ban before it was reinstated by the Supreme Court last year. In his opinion, he wrote that when Georgia lawmakers passed the bill and Republican Gov. Brian Kemp signed it into law in 2019, the supreme law of this land unequivocally was  and had been for nearly half a century  that laws unduly restricting abortion before viability were unconstitutional.

In 2014, he was the presiding judge in a family dispute between the children of civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. regarding control of his Bible and Nobel Peace Prize.

Kings daughter, Bernice, did not want to give the items to her brothers, arguing that he wanted to sell them. Bernice Kings lawyer said she wasnt interested in selling critical, sacred items, no matter the price.

The judge compared Bernice Kings stance against the sale of her fathers possessions to Coca-Cola not wanting to sell its cola recipe. McBurney later noted he was not trivializing the value of Kings possessions with the comparison. The dispute was resolved with McBurney signing a consent order that turned over the items to Bernice Kings brothers, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported in 2016.

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This aerial photo taken on July 11, 2023 shows new energy vehicles for export at a terminal of Taicang Port, east China's Jiangsu Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

China's automobile exports maintained robust growth momentum in July 2023, data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) showed.



Last month, China shipped a total of 310,000 vehicles overseas, a surge of 63 percent year on year, according to the CPCA.

Chinese homegrown passenger vehicles expanded their global presence, with the export of Chinese-brand cars reaching 248,000 units, up 56 percent year on year.

In the first seven months, passenger vehicle exports expanded by 81 percent from a year ago to 1.99 million units, the data revealed.
A Montana judge handed a significant victory on Monday to more than a dozen young plaintiffs in the nations first constitutional climate trial, as extreme weather becomes more deadly and scientists warn the climate crisis is eroding our environment and natural resources.

In a case that could have legal reverberations for other climate litigation, District Court Judge Kathy Seeley ruled that Montanas continued development of fossil fuels violates a clause in its state constitution that guarantees its citizens the right to a clean and healthful environment. Montana is one of several states that have explicit environmental guarantees written into their state constitutions.

While Seeleys ruling wont prevent mining or burning fossil fuels in the state, it will reverse a recently passed state law that prohibits state agencies from considering planet-warming pollution when permitting fossil fuel projects.

It is also a landmark win for young climate advocates who are turning more to the courts for judgments on the causes and impacts of the climate crisis.

Plaintiffs have a fundamental constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment, which includes climate as part of the environmental life support system, Seeley wrote in her order.

Rikki Held, one of the plaintiffs, told CNNs Jake Tapper on The Lead the outcome was a long time coming and she was very excited.

Getting a ruling that listens to our stories and our voices and the best available science is just really important, she said.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs called the courts decision a sweeping win in a statement.

Today, for the first time in US history, a court ruled on the merits of a case that the government violated the constitutional rights of children through laws and actions that promote fossil fuels, ignore climate change, and disproportionately imperil young people, said Julia Olson, chief legal counsel and executive director of Our Childrens Trust. This is a huge win for Montana, for youth, for democracy, and for our climate. More rulings like this will certainly come.

Olson told Tapper she thinks the ruling will hamper the states ability to approve fossil fuel projects.

The judge says its unconstitutional to continue to do so. And the states going to have to look hard at continuing to allow fossil fuel development and emissions in Montana going forward, Olson said.

Experts noted that while the state of Montana didnt try to dispute the science of climate change during the trial, they argued the states greenhouse gas emissions were a drop in the bucket compared to global emissions.

The Montana attorney generals office will appeal Seeleys ruling to the Montana Supreme Court, Emily Flower, a spokeswoman for Attorney General Austin Knudsen, said in a statement.

This ruling is absurd, but not surprising from a judge who let the plaintiffs attorneys put on a weeklong taxpayer-funded publicity stunt that was supposed to be a trial, Flower said. Their same legal theory has been thrown out of federal court and courts in more than a dozen states. The State will appeal.

Yet some legal experts believe this case sets a tone for climate litigation in the US.

Seeleys decision is dramatic, said Pat Parenteau, emeritus professor of law at the Environmental Law Center at Vermont Law School. Any decision by any court recognizing a constitutional right to a safe climate would be a breakthrough in the US for sure.

Impact on other cases

Olson and other attorneys are also pursuing a federal case against the Biden administration, as well as cases in four other states; another youth climate trial could start in Hawaii as soon as this fall.

The youth victory in Montana could serve as a new legal underpinning for future cases  especially in other state courts, legal experts said.

People are very attuned to whats happening in other jurisdictions, said Daniel Farber, an environmental law professor and expert at the University of California Berkeley. It does send a signal to judges in other states that maybe these cases arent so far out after all.

The Montana case wont have a direct impact on another federal climate case  Juliana v. United States  that Our Childrens Trust lawyers are also bringing in hope it will go to trial by spring of 2024. The federal climate case alleges the federal governments activities allowing further fossil fuel development, including permitting and leasing for oil and gas drilling, is violating young peoples constitutional rights to life, liberty and property.

Olson recently told CNN she hopes the state case will boost the Juliana case.

I do think it will inform at the federal level as well, even though its not binding on federal courts, Olson said.

But independent experts said they expect the Juliana case to have a difficult path forward: The Biden administrations Department of Justice is aggressively fighting it from getting to trial, the US constitution does not contain such explicit guarantees to a clean environment and a conservative US Supreme Court likely wont look favorably on it, given its recent opinions that have made it more difficult for federal agencies to regulate planet-warming pollution.

Were all operating under the shadow of a conservative Supreme Court, Michael Gerrard, founder of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University Law School, told CNN. This Supreme Court has been more about taking away rights than granting new ones.

Still, Gerrard and other experts said the Montana case is an important step in a small but growing body of climate change law in the US.

I think with any really new idea, a big part of what youre trying to do with a new kind of litigation is get it from seeming like a very fringe speculative activity to the point where it becomes thinkable for judges that they take these cases seriously, Farber told CNN. And they cant just put them aside into the category of far-out legal efforts.

This story has been updated.

CNNs Virginia Langmaid contributed to this report.

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A Pueblo man was sentenced Friday to 37 years in prison for shooting and killing his ex-wife's husband during an argument in 2021.

Juan Claro-Mendoza, 39, previously pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on May 24 in connection to the shooting death of Antonio Murillo Alvarado, 42, in March 2021.

During the sentencing hearing on Friday, Alvarado's former wife, Rosio Badillo, described how her life changed after her husband's death at Claro-Mendoza's hands.

"He didn't deserve this, he was a good man," she said. "I did not just lose my loving husband, I lost the father of my girls."

Badillo described the psychological impact of losing her husband, including becoming distant and "pushing away" her family, including her children, who were also grieving.

She stated she did not hate Claro-Mendoza but just wanted him to know he "destroyed a lot of lives" by killing Alvarado, who police said in and affidavit was the boyfriend of Claro-Mendozas childs mother.

Claro-Mendoza shot Alvarado during an altercation the night of March 28, 2021. Pueblo police said video footage of the incident captured by a surveillance camera showed the two begin fighting, throwing some kicks and punches that did not appear to land.

It was then, the childs mother later told police, that Claro-Mendoza pulled a handgun from his waistband and shot twice at Alvarado, striking him at least once. The mother then separated the two men and called 911.

Several family members of Claro-Mendoza made statements to Judge Allison P. Ernst, stating that Claro-Mendoza had been a good person growing up and saying they were surprised and saddened to hear of the murder.

Claro-Mendoza's mother asked the judge for mercy. "You are a mother yourself, I am sure you can understand my pain," she said in her statement.

A cousin of Mendoza's told the judge that Claro-Mendoza was not just a cousin to her, but viewed him as a brother.

"Whenever I'm in trouble or need advice, he's the one I call," she said. "He has a big heart."

Claro-Mendoza's attorney, Becky Briggs, said Claro-Mendoza felt remorse for the killing, and said he did not have "any ill-will" towards his ex-wife or new husband.

Briggs also stated that Claro-Mendoza had been suffering from drug addiction, and stated that while it was not an excuse, the murder would likely not have happened if Claro-Mendoza had not been under the influence of drugs at the time of the lethal shooting. "If he could go back and change things, he would," the attorney argued.

In her sentencing statement, Ernst noted that Claro-Mendoza had not just ruined the lives of one family, but severely hurt his own as well. "I understand there were serious accusations made in this case, and emotions ran high," she said, referencing legally unsubstantiated claims made by Mendoza to police that the victim had assaulted one of his daughters. However, Ernst noted that Mendoza had been afforded due process and an attorney in the case, which he had not afforded his victim.

"You acted as judge, jury, and executioner that day," she said. Ernst also stated that drug addiction was not an excuse for his actions, sentencing him to 37 years in the Department of Corrections. Under the plea deal made with the district attorney, the maximum sentence allowed would have been 40 years.

Ernst granted 867 days of jail time credit in the case and ordered Claro-Mendoza to pay an as-yet-undetermined amount of restitution to the victim's family.

Questions, comments or story tips? Contact Justin at jreutterma@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @jayreutter1. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain atsubscribe.chieftain.com.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo man sentenced to 37 years for shooting, killing ex-wife's husband
After three years of litigation, a federal judge has ruled the Shawnee Mission school district violated special education law and failed to provide needed services to a boy who has autism.

Under the 84-page ruling, the district must provide several remedies, including paying for outside professionals to reevaluate the elementary student, hiring a specialist to develop a new individualized educational program, or IEP, for the boy, and contracting with an independent behavior analyst.

The district will bear the cost for those outside services, after already incurring $430,000 for its own legal fees in the case, according to data provided to The Star through an open records request.

The district also is paying $400,000 of the attorney fees for the Westwood parents, says a settlement agreement provided to The Star.

Ultimately, almost a half-a-million dollars was spent on this, Natalie Beer, the boys mom, said in an interview. What could that money have done for all of these other kids? Why do you have money to fight these children that need services, but you dont have money to just give them services? Its absolutely kind of ridiculous. What does that say about our culture?

The Beers attorney, Matthew Rogers, told The Star that its rare in Kansas for a special education case to go this far, all the way to a ruling in federal court.

It takes a strong family to litigate a case as long as this case took to litigate. And kudos to the Beers for standing firm and advocating for their rights, Rogers said.

The Beers, whom The Star profiled last year, have argued that Shawnee Mission failed to appropriately evaluate their son for special education and provide adequate services, both before and after he was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. They said their son was operating under an IEP based on faulty data and an evaluation done when he was in kindergarten.

Their son is now entering fifth grade.

In 2020, the couple filed a due process complaint against the district, alleging that Shawnee Mission violated the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, denying their son his right to a free, appropriate public education.

A hearing officer  a third party attorney who is trained to conduct special education hearings and is usually assigned by the school district  largely sided with the Beers. And a review officer agreed with the majority of that ruling, ordering the district to provide several remedies, including hiring the outside experts to support the student.

The district has continually denied the Beers claims, saying in court records it employed extraordinary efforts to develop an appropriate special education program for the child and meet the various demands of the family. Shawnee Mission appealed the decision in federal court, saying it was harmed by the unsupported findings and conclusions issued.

The Beers also appealed, arguing the services awarded for their son did not go far enough.

Now U.S. District Judge Daniel Crabtree has ruled that the district did violate special education law, by failing to properly evaluate the student and implement services, while relying on outdated and insufficient data.

I feel confident now, Beer said. To see now that this is how things should have been done. Thats a good fight. And I want my son to know that we stood up for him. Maybe he wont recognize it now, but maybe when hes older hell see that.

District spokesman David Smith told The Star in an email that, it would not be appropriate for the district to comment on a legal matter concerning the education of a specific student. The judge did agree with the district that it met its child find obligations under federal and state law, which requires schools to do a timely evaluation of students they believe may have disabilities  a point the Beers fought in their appeal.

The Star is not naming the student, who is only referred to by his initials in court documents.

The family of a Westwood View Elementary School student argues that the Shawnee Mission district has failed to implement needed special education services.

A difficult start at school

Beer said her 10-year-old son is a pro with computer software, spending time designing his own video games and a 3D model of a zeppelin. And hes recently been captivated by his family tree, researching his roots and connecting with distant relatives on Ancestory.com.

But while he thrives when engaged in his passion projects, school has been difficult for him from the beginning. Concerns were first raised by a teacher in a district summer program in 2017, before he entered pre-K. The teacher said the boy had difficulty following directions, withdrew from his peers and would need additional support the following school year.

That fall, the district agreed to evaluate him to see if he was eligible for special education services. Special education staff determined at the time that the student did not qualify, and Beer accepted that decision, relieved that the team didnt find anything wrong with her son.

An outside expert later testified that she felt the evaluation was inadequate given the students struggles. And the boys behavior problems persisted at school, raising concerns.

This took place during a turbulent time for Shawnee Missions special education department. Critics claimed the department was mismanaged, pointing blame at former superintendent Jim Hinson and then-special education director Jackie Chatman. They said some protocols flirted with violating the law, a concern that was substantiated in a small number of cases in a 2017 state probe.

And, special education is a difficult field that educators say is made more challenging due to decade-long underfunding in Kansas. Educators across the state have pleaded with lawmakers to increase special education funding to the level required by law, a move that Shawnee Mission has estimated would add $8 million to the districts budget.

In summer 2018, the Beers son underwent genetic testing that suggested he may have autism. And the family got on the wait list at Childrens Mercy for an evaluation.

In the 2018-19 school year, their son attended kindergarten at Westwood View, and his behavioral issues continued. He reportedly bit his shirt as a nervous tick, didnt participate or follow directions in class, and ripped up papers at his desk at the back of the room.

Beer requested the district evaluate her son to determine whether he qualified for special education services. Staff collected data over several months. But over the course of the evaluation, the data became inconsistent and contradictory, causing a prolonged evaluation period, court records say.

Such data is crucial for determining what interventions a student might need.

The Beers asked the district to gather more data. And staff eventually agreed the boy was eligible for special education services.

He received autism and ADHD diagnoses from Childrens Mercy in January 2019, court records say.

Beer disagreed with the districts proposed special education plan for her son and pushed for an independent evaluation. Over the summer, the family enrolled their son in the Riley ABA and Autism Center in Kansas City, hoping to help him catch up.

She also disagreed with the proposed IEP during the fall of her sons first grade year, arguing that it remained mostly unchanged despite her concerns and that the district still did not have baseline data to properly evaluate her son.

After multiple drafts and negotiations on what resources would be provided, the team finished an IEP that Beer consented to in winter 2019.

The court process revealed that internal emails among staff showed some had concerns that the student needed resources that Beer requested but were not offered under the IEP.

A special education teacher said in another email in January that she thought the IEP team should meet because (t)he current plan is no longer effective.

After staff implemented the IEP, they did not observe any progress in his behavior between December 2019 and March 2020, court records say. And after Beer learned staff had implemented changes to her sons schedule that went against the IEP and didnt tell her, she filed a complaint that spring.

A protracted dispute

The Beers filed a due process complaint listing several concerns and possible special education violations.

And a hearing officer in 2021 largely ruled in the Beers favor. He determined that the district failed to complete the students evaluation during the time frame required under law, unnecessarily prolonging the process to correct evaluative errors. He wrote that the district also failed to communicate critical information to the Beers, including data that showed their child likely had autism spectrum disorder.

The hearing officer also ruled that the district did not reasonably calculate the IEP, as it was based on unmeasurable goals and contradictory data, and failed to revise it. He wrote the district also failed to implement the IEP and track goal progression, violating federal law.

The district appealed the ruling, arguing it was not based on independent findings. When a hearing officers ruling is appealed in Kansas, the state education department must conduct an impartial review of the proceedings and render an independent decision.

In late 2021, a review officer affirmed much of that ruling. The officer sided with the district on a claim, saying it did satisfy its child find obligation requiring schools to identify and evaluate all children with disabilities.

The review officer ruled that the district must offer several remedies, among them: hire an outside specialist to develop a a new IEP, a board-certified behavior analyst and a tutor for three semesters.

Shawnee Mission appealed the ruling in federal court, arguing that there was no evidence or legal justification for the relief awarded to the Beers. And the district argued it properly evaluated the student for special education eligibility and appropriately determined his placement by developing an IEP.

The Beers also appealed, arguing that the district did not meet its child find requirements, and that the review officer awarded too little in relief.

Now a federal judge has affirmed the review officers decision, ruling that the district violated federal special education law and denied the student a free, appropriate public education.

The judge ruled the district did not evaluate the student within the required time period, conducted an insufficient evaluation and developed a vague IEP that the district failed to implement and monitor.

The goals in the IEP relied on outdated data that didnt reflect (the students) current levels. The IEP employed vague language that caused confusion among staff and led to (his) removal from the classroom without his parents consent, the judge, Crabtree wrote.

USD 512 failed to implement (the IEP), and it didnt attempt to modify them when staff identified their shortcomings. And USD 512 failed to measure (the boys) progress adequately or provide the Beers with the underlying data.

The judge also agreed with the review officer that the district did meet its child find obligations under federal and state law.

In addition to requiring the district to contract with outside experts to evaluate the student and develop a new IEP, the district also must reimburse the Beers nearly $1,500 for the boys placement in Riley ABA and $1,800 in private evaluation expenses. And the parties reached an agreement requiring the district to pay the $400,000 in attorney fees.

My hope for the outcome of this litigation, first and foremost, is that (the student) receives the services they have fought for since August 2020, Rogers, the Beers attorney, said. Secondary to that, my hope is that that this will be an encouragement for school districts not to resort to years-long litigation, but to instead collaborate with the parents and find a way to resolve disputes.

Rogers said he believes the case provides a road map for school districts of how critical every step of the IEP process is and how to do it right. He also hopes the case shows parents that, you are, in my view and through law supporting this, one of if not the most important people in the IEP team room. And its OK for you to express disagreement.

Beer called the outcome bittersweet, especially as she watches her son continue to struggle with depression and identity issues. But she said the family is looking forward to the start of fifth grade, hopeful that the outside experts will help ensure he is given the resources he needs.

It was really difficult, she said of the case. The personal pressure, the financial stress, the what ifs and the risks. And also thinking about other families. I was a stay-at-home mom and didnt have a full-time job. So I felt privileged to be able to take this stance. If I had been a single mother, theres no way I would have been able to catch any of this stuff or advocate. And its a very difficult position to take, to fight. And not everybody has the opportunity to do that.

She said she often hears from other families with special education students, asking for advice as they advocate for their own children.

I know Im not the only one. And thats why I feel kind of like maybe it was a blessing that I got to stand up and talk about this. Because some people cant.
Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts via AP/Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts via AP

Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts via AP/Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts via AP

The judge in former President Donald Trumps capitol riot trial has been portrayed as a hard-liner in her sentences to Jan. 6 defendants.

But she has shown mercy to three Capitol riot defendants with South Carolina ties.

In 2022 and this year, U.S. Judge Tanya Chutkan gave sentences to South Carolinians Elias Irizarry and Elliot Bishai that were less than what prosecutors recommended. Chutkan also gave Irizarrys and Bishais co-defendant, Grayson Sherrill, a North Carolina man who was with them on Jan. 6, a far lighter sentence than prosecutors had urged.

Chutkans merciful side contrasts with recent portrayals in stories and headlines in national newspapers describing her Jan. 6 sentences as consistently tough:

 New York Times. Judge in Trump Jan. 6 Trial is Known for Tough Capitol Riot Sentences.

 Wall Street Journal. Judge Assigned to Trump Federal Case Has Been Tough on Jan. 6 Rioters.

 Washington Post. Judge Tanya Chutkan is the toughest Jan. 6 sentencer. Next on her docket: Trump.

 Associated Press. The judge assigned to Trumps Jan. 6 case is a tough punisher of Capitol rioters.

The Washington Post story, for example, noted that of 31 cases Chutkan has handled, she sentenced every defendant to prison or jail, exceeding prosecutors recommendations nine times and granting them 14 times.

None of the stories mentioned Chutkans lenient sentences in the two South Carolina cases or in the case involving their North Carolina co-defendant, all of whom traveled to Washington on Jan. 5, 2021, a day before the Capitol attack.

Joanne Slaight, a Washington, D.C., court-appointed attorney who represented Sherrill, said she had been surprised at the way Chutkan was portrayed in the media.

She (Chutkan) doesnt just sentence mechanically. She really looks at people and looks at individuals, Slaight said. In Sherrills case, Chutkan defied the stereotypes and evaluated the case on its unique merits and gave him a much lower sentence than prosecutors wanted, Slaight said.





Chutkans statements to defendants in these cases also show that she is concerned with defendants actions, not their beliefs, and also that she regards the events of Jan. 6 as an extreme threat to democracy.

Here are those three cases:

 Elias Irizarry, of York County, was 19 years old and a Citadel freshman at the time of the Capitol breach. Prosecutors had recommended a 45-day sentence after he pleaded guilty to one count of misdemeanor entering and remaining in a restricted area. Chutkan gave him a 14-day sentence.

According to evidence in the case, Irizarry attended President Trumps Jan. 6 Stop the Steal rally and went to the Capitol, where he picked up a metal pole and entered the building through a broken window. He watched as other rioters beat police, heard flash-bangs, joined in chants and posed for photos while sitting on a Capitol statue.

Arguing for a probation sentence, Irizarrys lawyer, federal public defender Eugene Ohm, told Chutkan in a pre-sentence memo that his client had just turned 19 when he went to the riot, was not an election denier and was truly remorseful. Ohm submitted numerous letters from high school teachers, college professors and others testifying to Irizarrys character, history of community service, fine academic record and leadership traits.

After sentencing Irizarry, and learning about his life and observing him in court, Chutkan wrote a letter to The Citadel vouching for his good character, said Irizarrys lawyer, public defender Eugene Ohm, last week.

A Citadel spokesman said last week that he could not comment on Irizarrys current status because school has not yet started for the fall semester.

 Elliot Bishai, of York County, 19 at the time of the riot, pleaded guilty to entering and remaining in a restricted building. Prosecutors wanted 30 days incarceration; Chutkan gave him 14 days.

Evidence in Bishais case was roughly the same as in Irizarrys, except Bishai was more active, encouraging other rioters, shouting things like Civil War Two! and Go, come on, you got it!

Bishai had been accepted to attend an elite U.S. Army program for training as a helicopter pilot. But his arrest and conviction in the Jan. 6 riot disqualified him from that, according to Bishais attorney, Don Brown.

Like Irizarry, Bishai submitted numerous letters testifying to his good character. After his arrest, Bishai began working with a group that fights wilderness forest fires, and in recognition of that dangerous job, Chutkan said she was not giving him any required community service hours.

 Grayson Sherill, of Cherryville, 21 at the time of the riot, pleaded guilty to assaulting, resisting or impeding law enforcement. Prosecutors had wanted three years and five months. Chutkan gave him seven months.

During the riot, Sherill  who had gone with Bishai and Irizarry to the Capitol  violently struck an officer with a pole, breached the Capitol when chaos was at an all-time high, roamed the building for 34 minutes, banged on a door with his pole, joined a mob of rioters that overtook a police line in the Crypt, chanted NANCY! NANCY! as he approached House Speaker Nancy Pelosis office, climbed on statues, and watched and took videos as rioters fought with officers, according to a prosecutors statement of the case

In a pre-sentence memo, Sherrills lawyer, Joanne Slaight, told the judge that he was sincerely remorseful and had no extremist tendencies. The lawyer asked for a sentence of home detention or halfway house.

Common factors in Chutkans lenient sentences to Irizarry, Bishai and Sherrill are the defendants young ages, their lack of any criminal records and their exemplary records as citizens before and after the riots, according to public records in their cases.

Irizarry and Bishai had both worked hundreds of hours in community service before the Capitol riot. Afterwards, Irizarry continued at the Citadel until December, after he pleaded guilty and the Citadel suspended him. At the Citadel, he racked up top grades and was known for his good conduct.

Sherrills attorney submitted 16 letters from people in his community attesting to his generosity and thoughtfulness.... Their support confirms that his actions on the Capitol grounds were totally out of character, and will not be repeated, Slaight wrote, noting the letters were from former educators, family and community members.

Young people do stupid things

Chutkan was randomly assigned to Trumps case.

Irizarry, Bishai and Sherrill were the youngest defendants to come before her, she has said.

Youre young, and young people do stupid things, Chutkan told Bishai before giving him 14 days incarceration, according to a court transcript. I have a 23-year-old and a 25-year-old. You know, its almost  you are almost programmed to do dumb things at this age. I have taken that into consideration.

Despite her light sentences in those cases, Chutkans record shows she takes the events of Jan. 6 very seriously.

In a May 2022 hearing on Bishai and Irizarrys case, Chutkan told Bishai that on Jan. 6, 2021, he was part of a mob (that) almost caused the halt of the transfer of power in this country in whats tantamount to an attempt to overthrow this government.

Chutkan also made it clear, when told by a prosecutor that Bishai had anti-semitic and racist images on his cellphone, that she was concerned about actions, not words.

I have said and I will continue to say and I will say today, I am not punishing anyone for their political beliefs. Every defendant before me has a right to believe whatever they want. That is of no moment, Chutkan told prosecutor Grace Albinson on July 29, 2022, at Bishais sentencing hearing, according to a court transcript.

Later in that hearing, Chutkan said, People are entitled to their political beliefs no matter how offensive they may be other to people. His political beliefs do not count one bit with me. In a previous life (as a public defender), I worked very hard to defend peoples rights to protest and to believe what they want to believe. Im never going to punish him for what be believes. I am punishing him for what he did.

But, Chutkan has also said the threat to democracy posed by the Jan. 6 mob that Irizarry, Bishai and Sherrill were part of and events of that day could not have been more serious.

In the 45-page multi-count indictment issued Aug. 1, Trump is charged with using the riled up mob to go to the Capitol as a means to obstruct the certification (of Biden as president) and pressure the Vice President (Pence) to fraudulently obstruct the certification.

Chutkan, 61, born in Jamaica, was appointed to the federal bench in 2014 by then-President Barack Obama. She was confirmed by the Senate by a 95-0 vote, according to news accounts. She has worked for a private law firm and spent 11 years as a federal public defender representing low-income criminal defendants in the District of Columbia.

Biggest trial in U.S. history

Chutkan will be presiding over what is arguably the most significant trial in the nations history, and her every action will be scrutinized.

The indictment charges Trump, 77, with taking part in four different conspiracies to overturn the November 2020 presidential vote, which was won by President Biden.

Trump is already openly critical of Chutkan. There is no way I can get a fair trial with the judge assigned to the ridiculous freedom of speech/fair elections case, Trump wrote in all caps in a Truth Social post Sunday. Everybody knows this, and so does she!

Trump also faces other criminal charges.

In federal court in Florida, the former president is charged with unlawfully retaining classified documents and obstructing government efforts to get them back, among other charges. In New York, he is charged in state court with falsifying business records in a hush-money payment case. In Georgia, he is expected to face state charges in connection with alleged efforts to overturn that states 2020 presidential election.

Some 1,106 people have been arrested for offenses in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Of those, 632 have pleaded guilty. Approximately 140 police were assaulted that day.

Brown, Bishais lawyer, is a Trump supporter. If he were representing Trump in the upcoming trial, he would likely ask for a change of venue based on the demographics of the Democratic leanings of the District of Columbia and the adverse publicity about the case, he said.

But, he added, he found Chutkan to be a judge who had empathy and did her homework. A change of venue motion in Trumps case would not be based on who the judge is, he said.
Jurors in the murder trial of Zaeveion Zuiquae Denson on Monday learned that Carolyn Sue High was killed by a single gunshot wound from a high-powered handgun on the early morning of Jan. 26, 2020.

Zaeveion Denson listens to testimony in his murder trial.

Dr. Stephen Hastings of the Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office said the bullet pierced High's heart and lung before exiting her lower back. Prosecutors contend Denson was the man who pulled the trigger during a robbery in the driveway of High's home on Cumberland Avenue.

Denson, 21, was 17 at the time of the shooting, meaning he could face 40 years in prison if he is convicted of the capital murder charge against him. He is one of four men charged in the case.

The state argues the four were out for a night of robbing people when they spotted High leaving the Texas Nightlife club and followed her to her home.

Former Wichita Falls Police homicide detective John Laughlin testified about how investigators tracked electronic messages from the suspects and found a text from Denson on the day after the murder that talked about going to Texas Nightlife to find a robbery victim because "he thought rich people went there."

The jury, comprised of 11 women and one man, also heard firearms expert James Jeffries of the Texas Department of Public Safety crime lab talk about the .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol believed to be the murder weapon. He matched a fired cartridge recovered at the scene to the gun. The bullet fired from the gun was unique because it was coated in a red, rubberish material that is normally used for target ammunition.

First Assistant District Attorney Dobie Kosub also called Wichita County Jail inmate Coy Davenport to the stand. Davenport testified he was "dumpster diving" and found a purse that contained some of High's identification. He said when he learned the purse belonged to a murder victim he tried to burn it in a barbeque grill because he was afraid he might be tied to the killing. Police arrived before the purse and its contents where entirely burned and retrieved one of High's cards.

On Thursday, suspect Shaundre Ransom testified he and Denson were friends since childhood and often referred to each other as brothers. Under questioning by Kosub, Ransom testified how he and Denson confronted High in her driveway. He said he grabbed at her wallet, but she resisted and Denson yelled, "Don't touch my brother!" then shot her.

In addition to Denson and Ranson, Shane Allen Diaz and Jiovani Morales are charged with capital murder in the case. All four men have remained in jail under high bail since their arrests in the days following the murder.

Diaz was scheduled to testify Monday afternoon.

Denson's Fort Worth defense lawyers have contended Denson rode along with the others but didn't know what they were going to do.

The trial has been plagued with delays. A juror who didn't show up on the first day was discovered to be in jail in Lawton and a power outage from a storm Thursday night cancelled testimony on Friday.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Jurors in Denson trial hear details on the shot that killed Carolyn High
Editor's note: This story has been updated with a corrected profession for Martin Dumler.

The Enquirer's Just Askin' series aims to answer the questions that no one seems to have an answer for, not even Google.

Everyone here seems to know it, but we don't know much: Charles Manson is somehow tied to Cincinnati.

The mass murderer was convicted in 1971 of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder for the deaths of seven people.

His cult followers, known as the Manson family, were instructed by Manson in 1969 to commit five of the seven murders. Among the victims was actress Sharon Tate, who at the time was pregnant and married to film director Roman Polanski.

Charles Manson: The mass murderer's Cincinnati roots

Manson died in on Nov. 19, 2017. He was 83.

And indeed, Manson was a Cincinnati native.

Question: What is Charles Manson's connection to Cincinnati?

Answer: According to a 1969 Enquirer article by Karen Heller, Manson was born on Nov. 12, 1934 at Cincinnati General Hospital  now University of Cincinnati Medical Center  with no name (the name filed at City Hall read "no name Maddox."), and no identified father. His 18-year-old mother, Kathleen Maddox, was reportedly a prostitute from Ashland, Kentucky.

He didn't stay in Cincinnati long. In 1942, he was sent to live with extended family in McMechen, West Virginia, while his mother was incarcerated for a series of robbery schemes. He subsequently stayed in boys' homes and penal institutions throughout childhood, and had multiple brushes with the law.

He landed in federal prison in adulthood for stealing cars, pimping and forging government checks in the late 1950s, and was released in 1967. A few years later, he reportedly came back to the Queen City.

According to the 1969 Enquirer article, Cincinnati police reached out to California authorities in that year inquiring if Manson had been in the Cincinnati area around Oct. 22 when a Cincinnati businessman, Martin Dumler, his wife and mother-in-law were found murdered in their Mount Lookout home. The case remains unsolved.

Local legends have since swirled around the time that Manson was believed to be here in the '60s. The rumor mill says he was a regular at Mount Adams' City View Tavern.

Deb Henning, who bought the bar in 1985 from Ted Lagemann, shared this story:

Lagemann was manning the bar one night in the late '60s when Manson (everyone called him "Charlie") came in. He went with his usual libation of choice, tequila, and became more intoxicated than usual. That's when Manson tried to jump off the back balcony, Henning said.

To this day, City View Tavern doesn't sell tequila.

Do you have a question for Just Askin'? Send it to us at cinlocalnews@enquirer.com.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How is Charles Manson connected to Cincinnati?
Update: Wondering when police can legally raid a newspaper like the Marion County Record? That story is posted here.

Police in the small Kansas town of Marion raided a local newspapers office Friday.

If you follow the news closely, you may have heard about it over the weekend  the story was picked up by national outlets like CNN, the Associated Press and the New York Times, with First Amendment advocates voicing concerns about the newspapers press freedom rights.

But what exactly happened in Marion, and why should we care? Here are five key takeaways to get you caught up.

What to know about Marion and its newspaper

Marion is a small town home to fewer than 2,000 people in east-central Kansas. Its located about an hours drive northeast of Wichita and two and a half hours drive southwest of downtown Kansas City.

Known locally as the town between two lakes, Marion is also home to the Marion County Record, a weekly newspaper founded in 1869.

The paper publishes an issue every Wednesday and employs five reporters, one columnist and one editor  Eric Meyer, who also serves as the co-owner and publisher.

Eric Meyer, owner and publisher of the Marion County Record, on the phone with media Aug. 11, 2023, in his office that was raided by local police.

Why do police say they raided the Marion County Record?

The official reason given by police is that they raided the Records offices to determine where reporters found information about a local restaurant owners past DUI charge.

But heres the thing: The newspaper already told police they got the information through a tip on social media. In fact, they reached out to the police department to fact-check the claim.

We sent them a note saying that a source had given us a file that we thought had suspicious origins, Meyer told The Star. He added that he told police to contact the newspaper with any questions. Instead, they got a warrant.

At a City Council meeting on Aug. 7, the business owner, Kari Newell, alleged her private information was illegally obtained by a reporter. The paper did not publish any information about the DUI.

We checked it out to verify that it was accurate, but were not planning to do anything with it, Meyer said.

Read more: After police raid at Kansas newspaper, KBI director says media is not above the law

Marion County Record papers for sale in the newspapers office beside a collection of Kansas Press Association awards on Aug. 11, 2023, the day the office was raided by local law enforcement.

New Marion police chief previously worked for the KCPD

The Record had previously investigated Marions new police chief, Gideon Cody. Cody had recently started the job after 24 years working for the Kansas City Police Department, where he reached the rank of captain.

Meyer declined to comment on the exact nature of the investigation, but characterized the charges as serious. The paper informed city officials of allegations against Cody, but had not published anything about them at the time of the raid.

Cody led the raid Friday based on a search warrant.

I have already been vetted. Theyve (the newspaper) actually did a background on me. And thats why they chose not to (publish a story), Cody said in a Sunday interview with The Star.

However, if they can muddy the water, make my credibility look bad, I totally get it. Theyre gonna try to do everything they possibly can.

Read more: Kansas newspaper raided, shut down by police had investigated chief who came from KCPD

Ruth Herbel, a member of the Marion City Council, is pictured in a photo on the city website.

Who else got raided over the weekend?

The Records offices werent the only place where police conducted searches and seized documents and electronics Friday.

The private home of Record editor and publisher Meyer was raided too, as was the home of Marion city councilwoman Ruth Herbel, with police taking phones, computers and documents.

Herbel called the seizures ridiculous, adding that police took her homes only phone and frightened her 88-year old husband, who has dementia. She has since purchased a new phone.

Longtime newswoman Joan Meyer, Eric Meyers mother and a co-owner of the Record, was also shaken by the raid of her home. She died of a heart attack the next day. The Record attributed her death in part to the stress of the raid.

Read more: Police seized phone, computer from town official the same day as Kansas newspaper raid

What is the larger significance of these raids?

For police to raid the offices of a newspaper and seize journalists materials is exceptionally rare in the United States.

Press freedom advocates say that the warrant in this case was carried out illegally, arguing that the federal Privacy Protection Act requires documents from journalists and media outlets to be subpoenaed instead.

On Monday, the Society of Professional Journalists released a statement condemning the raid, adding that they are prepared to provide up to $20,000 in legal fees to help the paper challenge its legality.

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press also condemned the raid Monday, calling it overbroad and unduly intrusive. The organizations letter was cosigned by 30 other news organizations, including the Associated Press, Reuters and the Kansas Press Association.

Read more: Raided Kansas papers lawyer demands police chief not review info from illegal searches

Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press letter by Ian Cummings on Scribd

The Stars Glenn E. Rice, Judy Thomas, Luke Nozicka and Jonathan Shorman contributed.

Do you have more questions about the police raid this weekend in Kansas? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com.
What is the difference between $12.75 an hour and $19 an hour?

For Carmen Franco, it was a house. With the raise she got as a dental assistant at the University of Rochester Medical Center's Eastman Dental, she was able to afford a down payment on a small house in southwest Rochester.

She could afford to paint the whole inside the exact colors she wanted and to put in a shed for all her tools. Before she'd only used them to repair other people's property; now she could do it for her own.

"I've been fixing other people's houses as a renter," she said. "I wanted my own house so I could do it how I wanted. So it feels really good."

There are many people in Rochester hoping to get that same lift from economic vulnerability to relative comfort. It is with that possibility in mind that the Rochester Monroe County Anti-Poverty Initiative, a coalition now in its ninth year, has adopted a new approach.

Gone is a single-minded fixation on lifting people above the federal poverty line, Executive Director Aqua Porter said,. Instead the new Unity Agenda focuses on what she called "true upward mobility" that transcends simple economics.

Aqua Porter.

"Getting a dollar above that poverty limit doesnt reduce the experience of people who are truly having poverty as an experience," Porter said in a recent interview at the RMAPI office near Village Gate. "There are so many other things going on that we have to change to uplift people."

The poverty rate in the city in 2013 was 33%. The most recent federal data, from 2021, shows the rate at 28%. Both numbers place Rochester among the poorest mid-sized cities in the United States.

A few of the nagging items on RMAPI's fix-it list: housing, education, transportation, criminal justice and health care.

"I don't want to be Pollyannish about it," Porter said. "It is huge; it is everything. ...

I'm about to participate on the Upward Mobility panel. Let's go #LiveAtUrban pic.twitter.com/JIbWh8viZE  Waterlady (@PorterAqua) July 19, 2023

"But it's like being a parent. If you stop for a moment and think how hard it is, you'd probably just give up. But you just keep going. Because what choice do you have?"

Moon launch, but for poverty

The poverty-fighting coalition in the Rochester was never meant to be called RMAPI. That was just an unwieldy acronym for a working group title that somehow stuck.

RMAPI leaders -- before Porter came Leonard Brock -- have spent a great deal of energy over the last nine years attempting to clarify misperceptions and bad first impressions of that sort, dating to its founding in 2015.

First of all, it is a coalition of entities with their own funding and programs, not an autonomous organization of its own. The annual RMAPI budget is about $1 million, Porter said, with most of it going to personnel costs for the small paid staff.

Carmen Franco, a dental assistant at the pediatric dentistry at Eastman Dental, prepares for a tooth extraction.

Similarly, Porter said, the bombast with which the creation of the coalition was first announced has proven counterproductive.

"I feel like (President John) Kennedy announcing were going to the moon, and they didnt have anything built, Joe Morelle, then the state Assembly majority leader and now a congressman, said at the launch. "This is real. ... It's a fundamental shift in how this community addresses poverty."

From 2017: Internal documents reveal early challenges for Rochester anti-poverty initiative

In particular, Porter said, it was unrealistic to aim for a 50% reduction in the poverty rate in 15 years.

"We framed it in a way early on where we implied to the community that these huge, huge goals were possible in a fairly short amount of time," she said. "There's no silver bullet to this."

As early as 2019, Brock was walking back the initial goal of a 50% poverty reduction and instead redirecting attention to progress on the guiding principles of community building and anti-racism. The new Unity Agenda is another step in that direction.

'Easier to function'

RMAPI partners have undertaken a wide array of initiatives since 2015, with varying degrees of success. One they believed worked was a push for local employers to increase their minimum wage to at least $15 an hour before that became the state law.

By their estimates, more 110 employers gave raises to more than 10,000 employees in 2020 and 2021, bringing them over the $15 an hour limit.

Carmen Franco was one of the beneficiaries. In 2020 she was working as a cleaner earning $12.75. She first got to $15 an hour working as a porter and then was offered a role as a dental aide, adding another dollar.

"It allowed me to put clothes on my kids backs and food on the table," she said. "It allows you to buy yourself a car to get to work on time, to go to your appointments, to not depend on anyone to go do groceries or wait at the grocery store for a taxi to come pick you up with all your bags."

As important, she said, was the mental strain that was lifted once she had the assurance of some savings in the bank.

"When you see the checks not enough and youre just getting by day-by-day or week-by-week with the little bit youre getting, and youre hoping with the next check theres a little bit left so you can take your kids out to the movies or get some lunch  its hard," she said. "Its hard not to be able to do for your kids the way youd like to."

Carmen Franco, a dental assistant at the pediatric dentistry at Eastman Dental, brings out supplies for a tooth extraction

Nancy Rivas-Sanchez, a medical assistant at URMC's Red Creek location, got a boost from $14.25 an hour and now is above $17 an hour. Now she's trying to qualify for URMC's tuition-free nursing program.

"When I saw my first paycheck, it was a big difference," she said. "Youre able to function better. .... Mortgage, rent, car insurance, everything is going up, and so the pay increase is a big help to pay for all that."

Now RMAPI partners hope to expand on that $15-an-hour push by extending the same challenge to benefits or expanded career pathways, among other things. There is also a specific focus on the employment gap for Black men.

Opportunity is knocking at the Gantt Recreation Center. @RochesterWorks and RMAPI teamed up this PM for a unique job fair, connecting our residents exclusively with Level Up Champions- business that pay a higher starting wage. pic.twitter.com/tR6cy9LnnM  Dave Seeley (@daveseeley430) October 27, 2022

"I think we know the problem, and now its looking at solutions," said Dave Seeley, executive director of RochesterWorks and co-chair of RMAPI's employment working group. "RMAPIs success has been in bringing the community together around a broad agenda. Just that focus and concentration is helpful."

Efforts not in vain

RMAPI's Unity Agenda identifies three preconditions to upward mobility: economic success; dignity and belonging; and power and autonomy.

Those manifest in a wide-ranging set of 2023 priorities, including improving child care subsidies, expanding access to mental health care and using code enforcement mechanisms to improve the quality of rental housing.

Porter specifically mentioned a number of ongoing initiatives in housing as well as the city's small-scale experiment with guaranteed basic income.

Those efforts are largely being led by what she called "the usual suspects" -- governmental entities as well as large non-profits like the United Way, Action for a Better Community and the Ibero-American Action League.

"We need to expand the coalition," Porter said. "We really need to get the private sector and the faith community on board."

It is likely that by 2030 there still will be tens of thousands of Rochesterians living in poverty, just as there are now and there were eight years ago. But Porter said that would not mean RMAPI's efforts were in vain.

"We're not not working," she said. "It's just a lot of work."

Justin Murphy is a veteran reporter at the Democrat and Chronicle and author of "Your Children Are Very Greatly in Danger: School Segregation in Rochester, New York." Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/CitizenMurphy or contact him at jmurphy7@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: RMAPI Unity Agenda aims for upward mobility in Rochester amid poverty
Vice President Kamala Harris greeted supporters on Marthas Vineyard Saturday on behalf of the Biden-Harris campaign.

Her arrival at the idyllic, high-priced Massachusetts resort was touted as a "grassroots fundraiser."

However, access to the VP, on an island in which 75% of voters pulled a lever for the Democrat ticket in 2020, cost as much as $10,000.

JOE CONCHA FLAMES KAMALA HARRIS OVER 2024 CONCERNS: PROPAGANDA IN BROAD DAYLIGHT

"I guarantee you not one working-class Democrat (was) invited to the Kamala event," long-time Marthas Vineyard homeowner, high-profile attorney and longtime Democrat supporter Alan Dershowitz told Fox News Digital.

The big-ticket appearance underscored growing concerns, according to many long-time island residents, on an island overrun in recent years by powerful leftist elites who rule Washington D.C., and shape pop culture.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Vice President Kamala Harris in Jacksonville, Florida, on July 21, 2023. She landed on Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts on Saturday, Aug. 12 to host a fundraiser for wealthy island Democrats.

Marthas Vineyard as a result, they say, is now unaffordable for the average person, increasingly hostile to both working-class residents and its Native Wampanoag population, and ruthlessly intolerant of opinions that run counter to hard-woke Democrat talking points.

"Marthas Vineyard has been socially engineered for the elite of the Democrat National Party," Jim Powell, a longtime Marthas Vineyard teacher and union rep, told Fox News Digital.

Former President Obama and Michelle Obama purchased a $12 million estate on the island in 2019 after vacationing on Marthas Vineyard several times while in the White House.

Robert Soros, son of billionaire Democrat donor George Soros, owned property on Marthas Vineyard for years before selling it in 2020 following his divorce.

The Soros and Obama families are known to have a cozy relationship. Members of the Soros family had frequent access to the White House when Obama was in office.

Former President Clinton made Martha's Vineyard a summer retreat four times while president.

The vice president's sister, Maya Lakshmi Harris, owns a home in Edgartown and has hosted fundraisers there, according to local sources.

A long list of Democrat heavyweights have visited, vacationed or owned property on Marthas Vineyard in recent years.

The average home sale price on the island was $2.1 million in the first half of 2023, according to market data from local realtor Tea Lane Associates.

A sprawling mansion in Chilmark, Massachusetts, on the island of Martha's Vineyard, Aug. 18, 2016. The average home sale on Martha's Vineyard in the first half of 2023 was $2.1 million.

"Working people and young people have been forced to move off island," said Powell, who is also a former local and state official and host and producer of "The Jim Powell Report" on Marthas Vineyard Community Television. "People just can't afford to live there. The price of food. The price of gas. People here call getting by each day the grind."

He said Martha's Vineyard has become a "tax shelter" for Democrat leaders.

The wealthy and powerful are enchanted by the largely rural island's tranquil pace, stunning waterfront properties and one of the nation's most favorable local tax environments.

LIBERAL CITIES, STATES STRUGGLE WITH TOUGH REALITY OF MIGRANT SURGE DESPITE WELCOMING RHETORIC

The fiscal year 2022 tax rate in Edgartown was just 0.3%, according to local data. The tax rate in Chilmark is just 0.28%.

So wealthy Chilmark homeowners pay just $2,820 on each $1 million in assessed value. Each rate is among the lowest in the United States.

The islands six municipalities have few social services, tiny police and fire departments, and small school systems. They share one high school.

From left to right, the late Mike Wallace, Ted Danson with wife Mary Steenburgen, Alan Dershowitz and wife Carolyn Cohen attend a book signing party for Dershowitz on Martha's Vineyard, July 1999. Dershowitz has long been friends with high-profile Democrats on Martha's Vineyard such as Danson and Steenburgen. The island's Democrat elite turned on the attorney savagely when Dershowitz began representing then-President Trump in 2017.

Few expenses paired with astronomic real estate prices mean island communities can fund their thin budgets with taxes a fraction of those elsewhere in Massachusetts or around the nation.

High demand for real estate from wealthy outsiders is accompanied by very low inventory. Much of Martha's Vineyard is protected from development by a variety of public and private land banks, trusts and parks.

So prices continue to soar.

Vineyard Haven, the common name for the town of Tisbury, is the commercial hub of the island. It was named the least affordable town in the United States in a report by LendingTree in 2021.

A young girl fishes as the sun sets Aug. 7, 2009 in Menemsha, Massachusetts on the island of Martha's Vineyard. Former President Obama and his family began vacationing on Martha's Vineyard in 2009, raising the resort island's global profile and its reputation as a stronghold of Democrat elites. The Obamas bought a $12 million home on the island in 2019.

The median home value in Vineyard Haven was nearly 10 times greater than its median household income.

Everyday items are already more expensive on the island than elsewhere because of the costs associated with shipping trailer trucks via ferry from the mainland.

Meanwhile, a night out to eat at a casual restaurant for working families, a luxury even in less expensive parts of the country, is nearly impossible on Marthas Vineyard.

There are no affordable family-friendly chain restaurants or retailers on the island, which are banned by local zoning laws.

No Applebee's, McDonald's or Walmart. Nor is there a Dunkin' Donuts, even though the popular coffee chain was founded in Massachusetts and is beloved and ubiquitous elsewhere around the state.

Many local eateries close in the off-season and charge exorbitant prices to capitalize on the short three-month tourist season.

The islands original Wampanoag Natives, many of them hunters and fishermen, are among those who can no longer afford to live on their tribal homeland.

Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head member David Vanderhoop and Roxanne Ackerman harvest oysters at Cook's Landing on Martha's Vineyard. The influx of wealthy political and pop-cultures are causing a spike in the cost of living on Martha's Vineyard is forcing many Wampanoags to leave their traditional lands on the island.

"Our tribal members are being forced to move off the island, and not just our tribal members  families that have lived on the island all their lives, for generations," Cheryl Andrews-Maltais, chairwoman of the Wampanoag Tribe, said in a 2021 interview with Boston public radio station WBUR.

Martha's Vineyard already suffers a lack of diversity, even with its Native community.

Venezuelan migrants and volunteers celebrate together outside of St. Andrew's Parish House in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, Sept. 16, 2022. Two planes of migrants from Venezuela arrived suddenly two days prior causing the local community to mobilize and create a makeshift shelter at the church.

The 2020 U.S. Census reported that 89.2% of island residents are White, compared with nationwide population that was only 59% White.

The population of Martha's Vineyard included only 0.5% of people who are non-U.S. citizens, compared with 13.5% of the population nationally.

The border crisis landed on Martha's Vineyard last September, when 50 mostly Venezuelan migrants arrived from Florida, sent by Gov. Ron DeSantis, to highlight the challenges and strain on resources faced by southern states.

The migrants did not find work or housing on the Island. They were instead shipped to the mainland in less than 48 hours as Vineyard residents washed their hands of responsibility to help.

Aerial view of Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts, on the resort island of Martha's Vineyard. Oak Bluffs is famous for charming gingerbread houses, small harbor and, like all of Martha's Vineyard extraordinarily high costs of real estate and living.

"We have a major housing crisis as it is," Rachel Hines, who works for the nonprofit Vineyard Preservation Trust, told Fox News Digital at the time.

Working-class Vineyard residents are the hardest hit by shocking home and rental prices, lack of housing and high cost of living.

TRUMP RALLY-GOERS REFUSE TO WAVER SUPPORT FOR FORMER PRESIDENT AMID LEGAL TROUBLES: EVEN IF HES IN JAIL.'

Four firefighters on the tiny "on-call" department in Edgartown moved off the island in 2021 alone because of affordability issues, according to the WBUR report.

Others have left the island since, say local residents.

Mechanics, plumbers and healthcare workers are leaving, too.

Left, Wampanoag Natives of Martha's Vineyard and Vice President Kamala Harris, right. Harris hosted a $10,000-a-head fundraiser on Martha's Vineyard on Saturday, Aug. 12 while soaring cost from an influx of political elites is forcing the island indigenous Wampanoag people to flee their traditional homeland.

"We are becoming a third-world country with the haves and have nots," one long-time island resident told Fox News Digital.

The Vineyarder works two jobs to make ends meet but declined to give their name for fear of retribution, including the loss of employment, for speaking out against the leftist orthodoxy that rules Marthas Vineyard.

The resident has to move every six months because their employer offers housing only during tourist season, in a phenomenon known locally as "the Vineyard shuffle."

Other friends sleep in cars or tents.

"People are ultra-closeted about their views because they don't want to lose their job or business," the source said.

Dershowitz, the powerful Harvard attorney and long-time Democrat supporter, provides a troubling example of what happens to islanders who stray from acceptable woke-party positions, statements or actions.

Dershowitz arrived on Marthas Vineyard for the first time in 1969, he said, to defend "liberal lion" Sen. Ted Kennedy following his scandal on Chappaquiddick, a remote part of Edgartown. Mary Jo Kopechne was killed in vehicle driven by the senator.

The celebrity attorney has since represented top Democrat insiders, including the notorious Jeffery Epstein, and vocally supported and befriended presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and former President Obama.

However, the island elite turned on him savagely when he represented then-President Trump against charges of Russian collusion starting in 2017.

Attorney Alan Dershowitz, a member of then-President Trump's legal team, walks toward the Senate chamber during the Senate impeachment trial at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 27, 2020 in Washington, D.C.

Dershowitz has been kicked out his synagogue, denied opportunities to attend various book fairs and events  he is the author of three dozen books  dropped from the invite list of political leaders and operatives, many of whom he has counted as friends for decades, and been mocked by cartoons and editorials in island newspapers.

"The Vineyard has become a totalitarian intolerant environment for dissenting views," Dershowitz said.

"Its a very poisonous place of woke people who are intolerant of working people," he added.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said Monday that questions need to be asked about a raid by local police of the Marion County Record newspaper, but stopped short of directly criticizing the search.

The Democratic governor said she was anxious for answers because she is a strong advocate for freedom of press, freedom of speech. Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody led a search of the newspapers offices and the publishers home on Friday that the paper and press advocates swiftly condemned as egregious violations of the United States Constitution.

And so I want to make sure that in the state of Kansas, that we are not violating either individuals or presss constitutional right to free speech, Kelly said Monday before an event with country music legend Dolly Parton.

So we will continue to support the questions that are being asked all over and we look forward to getting all of the facts out so we know what kind of issue we have.

A search warrant shows police were looking for evidence that a reporter had run an improper computer search to confirm an accurate report that a local business owner applying for a liquor license had lost her drivers license over a DUI.

Cody is a former Kansas City Police Department captain, who left the agency after 24 years to become chief in Marion earlier this year. Record owner and publisher Eric Meyer said the paper had investigated Codys background and his time in Kansas City but ultimately didnt publish a story.

The Records attorney, Bernie Rhodes, on Sunday sent a scathing letter to Cody and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, which assigned an agent to the case earlier this month, demanding that the police not review information obtained from the computers and other devices seized during the search. Kansas has a journalist shield law that entitles the paper to a hearing before the authorities review any of the information seized, he wrote.

Asked whether she believes the search violated rights, Kelly said it may have or may not have.

We need to continue to ask the questions, and officials asking those questions, so that we can get to the bottom of it and determine if rights were violated, Kelly said.
You are here: Business

A staff member performs quality testing on randomly-sampled soybeans at a grain trading company in Suihua of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Oct. 25, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua]

China imported 62.3 million tonnes of soybeans in the first seven months of this year, up 15 percent from a year earlier, customs data showed.



In July alone, the country's soybean imports reached 9.73 million tonnes, down from 10.27 million tonnes in June but more than the 7.88 million tonnes imported in the same month last year, according to data from the General Administration of Customs.

The per-tonne value of the soybean imports increased 1.3 percent year on year in the first seven months to 4,334.6 yuan (about 605.39 U.S. dollars).

The country, as the world's largest soybean importer, imported a total of 91.08 million tonnes of soybeans last year. Imported soybeans are usually crushed into meal for animal feed in China.
Longtime Marion County Record journalist Joan Meyer, 98, died on Saturday less than 24 hours after a police raid at her home - THE WICHITA EAGLE

The elderly co-owner of a local newspaper in Kansas has died after police raided her home.



Joan Meyer, 98, who owned the Marion County Record with her son Eric, collapsed after being traumatised by police descending on her home.

Police were accused of behaving like the Gestapo in the raid on the paper, which has a circulation of 2,200.



The raid on the offices and the proprietors home by five police officers and two deputies has ignited a debate of the freedom of the press and the first amendment right to free speech.

According to the paper, Mrs Meyer was stressed beyond her limits when police descended on her home.



She watched in tears as the officers, armed with a search warrant, took away her computer, internet router and Alexa smart speaker.

Mr Meyer, 69, said his mother, who was previously in good health for her age, was unable to eat or sleep after the raid.

Eric Meyer, the editor and publisher of the Marion County Record - AP

Police also raided the offices of the paper, confiscating computers and two reporters mobile phones.



Mr Meyer told the Kansas Reflector police took everything we have.



He added that in his 20 years at the Milwaukee Journal or 26 years teaching journalism at the University of Illinois, he had never heard of the police raiding a paper.



Its going to have a chilling effect on us even tackling issues, Mr Meyer said, as well as a chilling effect on people giving us information.

The offices of the Marion County Record - AP



It was also condemned by Emily Bradbury, executive director of the Kansas Press Association, who said it was unprecedented.



An attack on a newspaper office through an illegal search is not just an infringement on the rights of journalists but an assault on the very foundation of democracy and the publics right to know, Ms Bradbury said. This cannot be allowed to stand.

According to the papers website, Mrs Meyer tearfully watched during the raid as police not only carter away her computer...but also dug through her son Erics personal bank and investment statements.



The last printed issue of the Marion County Record - AP



Mr Meyer added: Basically, all the law enforcement officers on duty in Marion County, Kansas, descended on our offices today and seized our server and computers and personal cellphones of staff members all because of a story we didnt publish.



The raid was triggered by a dispute with a local businesswoman over a story which was not even published.



Local police chief Gideon Cody said: As much as I would like to give everyone details on a criminal investigation, I cannot.

I believe when the rest of the story is available to the public, the judicial system that is being questioned will be vindicated.



He added: The Marion Kansas Police Department believes it is the fundamental duty of the police is to ensure the safety, security and well-being of all members of the public.



This commitment must remain steadfast and unbiased, unaffected by political or media influences, in order to uphold the principles of justice, equal protection and the rule of law for everyone in the community.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
Local law enforcement seized computers, cellphones and reporting materials from the Marion County Record office and the publisher's home on Aug. 11. (Mark Reinstein/MediaPunch /IPX via AP)

A police department in Kansas is facing a wave of scrutiny following a raid on a small-town newspaper.

Police in the town of Marion, which is home to 1,900 people, raided the offices of the Marion County Record as well as the home of publisher Eric Meyer on Aug. 11, seizing computers, cellphones and the papers server. Meyers 98-year-old mother, Joan, was present at his home and died Saturday, which Meyer attributed to the stress of the events. The paper said the home of 80-year-old Vice Mayor Ruth Herbel was raided at the same time.

In a story on Aug. 12, the Record wrote that the elder Meyer collapsed at her home after being stressed beyond her limits and overwhelmed by hours of shock and grief. Eric Meyer has alleged that Police Chief Gideon Cody, who was hired to the position in late April, injured a reporters finger when grabbing her cellphone, and that police photographed Meyers personal bank and investment statements at his home.

Our first priority is to be able to publish next week, Meyer said, but we also want to make sure no other news organization is ever exposed to the Gestapo tactics we witnessed today. We will be seeking the maximum sanctions possible under law.

Eric Meyer, the editor and publisher of the Marion County Record, answers questions Sunday about the raid by local law enforcement. (John Hanna/AP)

Police defended the raid in a statement Saturday posted to Facebook, writing, The victim asks that we do all the law allows to ensure justice is served. The alleged victim is restaurant owner Kari Newell, who had ejected reporters from an event with Rep. Jake LaTurner, R-Kan., earlier this month and accused the newspaper of illegally obtaining information about her previous drunk-driving conviction.

Meyer has denied that accusation, saying the newspaper got the information about the restaurateurs drunk-driving record from a separate source and published it only after Newell publicly accused the paper of wrongdoing at a City Council meeting. Newell said the paper was targeting her and hurting her chances of obtaining a liquor license for her catering company.

According to a copy of the search warrant obtained by the Kansas Reflector, the raid was conducted on suspicion of identity theft and unlawful acts concerning computers. Marion County District Court Magistrate Judge Laura Viar has faced criticism for her approval of the search warrant, which cites Newell. Authorities havent made the affidavit that led to the warrants authorization available to the public yet.

Ongoing investigation into the police chief

The police department defended the raid in a statement posted to Facebook on Aug. 12: "When the rest of the story is available to the public, the judicial system that is being questioned will be vindicated." (Mark Reinstein/MediaPunch /IPX via AP)

In an interview with journalist Marisa Kabas, Meyer said his paper had been investigating Cody, the new police chief, after former co-workers with the Kansas City police began reaching out after Cody was named to his new position with allegations that he was about to be demoted at his previous job and that he retired to avoid demotion and punishment over sexual misconduct charges and other things.

Meyer said that although the paper had half a dozen or more anonymous sources, it had not run the story because no one would go on the record, and it had been unable to get Codys personnel file to confirm.

But the allegations  including the identities of who made the allegations  were on one of the computers that got seized, Meyer said. I may be paranoid that this has anything to do with it, but when people come and seize your computer, you tend to be a little paranoid.

Cody told the Kansas City Star that the paper had not published any of the allegations against him because they werent true. He added, However, if they can muddy the water, make my credibility look bad, I totally get it. Theyre gonna try to do everything they possibly can.

A potential violation of the Constitution and federal law

An empty spot on reporter Phyllis Zorn's desk shows where her computer tower sat before law enforcement officers seized it. (John Hanna/AP)

The raid has sparked criticism from journalists and organizations both local and national. It has also inspired a wave of new $35 annual online subscriptions to the Marion County Record from those wanting to support the paper.

An attack on a newspaper office through an illegal search is not just an infringement on the rights of journalists but an assault on the very foundation of democracy and the publics right to know, said Emily Bradbury, executive director of the Kansas Press Association. This cannot be allowed to stand.

In a letter to Cody, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press called the raid significantly overbroad, improperly intrusive, and possibly in violation of federal law, and urged police to immediately return any seized equipment and records to the newspaper; purge any such records retained by your department; and initiate a full, independent, and transparent review into your departments actions.

Lynn Oberlander, a First Amendment attorney, told NPR that police raids on newsrooms are rare because theyre illegal under the Privacy Protection Act of 1980. Police defended the raid by saying they were directly investigating a crime committed by the journalists. However, experts say, while the federal law allows police to search journalists when there is probable cause to believe theyve committed a crime, that exception doesnt apply if the journalists alleged offense is connected to news gathering.

It raises concern for me, Oberlander said. It normalizes something that shouldnt be happening  that Congress has said should not happen, that the First Amendment says should not happen.

The Marion paper isnt the only recent example of reporters being targeted by law enforcement. A small-town newspaper in Oklahoma has been harassed by local authorities in recent years for its reporting on corruption in the sheriffs office. In 2019, San Francisco police raided the home of a journalist investigating the mysterious death of a public defender, with the city eventually agreeing to a $369,000 settlement in the incident. Last year, a newspaper publisher in New Hampshire accused the state attorney generals office of overreach after she was arrested on charges tied to illegal political advertising.
A small-town Kansas newspaper was investigating the background of a local public official before it was shut down by a police raid Friday, according to the newspapers publisher.

The public official in question?

The recently hired police chief, Gideon Cody, who had just left the Kansas City Police Department as a captain after 24 years.

Cody was the same police official who led the raid on the offices of the Marion County Record, backed by Marions entire five-officer police force, along with two sheriffs deputies. The raid, previously reported on by the online news outlet the Kansas Reflector, effectively stopped publication of the paper and placed a national spotlight on Marion, a city of fewer than 2,000 people about 160 miles southwest of Kansas City.

A search warrant shows police were looking for evidence that a reporter had run an improper computer search to confirm a report that a local business owner applying for a liquor license had lost her drivers license over a DUI.

The owner and publisher of the Record, Eric Meyer, along with First Amendment advocates and journalism organizations from across the country, have said the raid went too far.

Police seized computers, cellphones and reporting materials from the newspaper, its reporters and the home of the publisher. Meyer said police injured a reporters finger while taking away her cellphone.

Meyers 98-year-old mother, Joan Meyer, a newswoman for decades and a co-owner of the paper, was upset by the police search of the home she shared with her son.

She died Saturday.

Thats one of the things my mother said Friday night before she died, Meyer said Sunday. Which is, Where are all the good people that are supposed to stop this? How come these people that think theyre thugs, think that theyre part of the Gestapo, can come in and just bully people?

Meyer said he worries what the ordeal is doing to his citys reputation.

Theyve got to be stopped from doing this, he said of the citys police department. This is just intimidation tactics.

But what concerns me as a citizen is I hate the bad name that its giving Marion, Meyer added.

Marion County record investigated new police chief

Meyer said the Marion Police Department would not have even known about the newspapers investigation of the local business owner if the newspaper had not told them.

We sent them a note saying that a source had given us a file that we thought had suspicious origins, Meyer said. We checked it out to verify that it was accurate, but were not planning to do anything with it.

Meyer said he told police that if they had questions about it, they should contact the newspaper.

They never did, he said. Their response was the typical fashion of a bully. Instead of asking a question or getting material, they came with an atomic flyswatter to seize our equipment and apparently tried to put us out of business.

Meyer said that, before the raid, his newspaper had investigated Codys background and his time at the Kansas City Police Department before he came to Marion. He declined to provide details of the newspapers investigation of Cody.

I really dont think it would be advisable for me to say what it was we were investigating, other than to characterize the charges as serious., Meyer said.

He told The Star the newspaper didnt publish a story about the allegations.

We didnt publish it because we couldnt nail it down to the point that we thought it was ready for publication, he said. He (Cody) didnt know who our sources were. He does now.

Meyer said the newspaper told city leaders they had received information about Cody but could not confirm it.

But, you know, in a small community, were at least going to give you the heads up that you might be doing something, he said he told city officials. You should check his background.

Meyer said the newspaper contacted the Kansas City Police Departments human resources department and asked if anyone had inspected Codys employment file. He said they were told that no one had.

Two days later, Meyer said, the newspaper again contacted Kansas City police, who said that someone had inquired about the file but had asked only for information in which Cody had been found guilty and there was an action taken against him.

In an exclusive interview with The Star on Sunday, Cody said that if the Marion County Record had found anything newsworthy to publish, it would have done so.

If it was true, they wouldve printed it obviously they are reporters, they chose not to print it for a reason, Cody said.

I have already been vetted. Theyve (the newspaper) actually did a background on me. And thats why they chose not to (publish a story).

Cody continued, however, if they can muddy the water, make my credibility look bad, I totally get it. Theyre gonna try to do everything they possibly can.

A spokesperson for the Kansas City Police Department did not immediately answer questions this weekend about Codys time with the force.

Marion County Record papers for sale in the newspapers office beside a collection of Kansas Press Association awards on Aug. 11, 2023, the day the office was raided by local law enforcement.

Meanwhile, criticism of the police action continued to grow.

On Sunday afternoon, The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, along with 30 news media and press freedom organizations, released a four-page letter emailed to Cody condemning the raid.

Newsroom searches and seizures are among the most intrusive actions law enforcement can take with respect to the free press, and the most potentially suppressive of free speech by the press and the public, the letter said. Based on public reporting, the search warrant that has been published online, and your public statements to the press, there appears to be no justification for the breadth and intrusiveness of the search  particularly when other investigative steps may have been available  and we are concerned that it may have violated federal law strictly limiting federal, state, and local law enforcements ability to conduct newsroom searches.

The letter urged Cody to immediately return the seized material to the Record, to purge any records that may already have been accessed, and to initiate a full independent and transparent review of your Departments actions.

Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press letter by Ian Cummings on Scribd

Marion police chief defends raid

Critics and legal experts say the search warrant signed by Magistrate Judge Laura Viar and used to seize the newspapers equipment violates federal law that provides protections against searching and seizing materials from journalists. The Privacy Protection Act requires authorities to subpoena materials instead.

Emily Bradbury, executive director of the Kansas Press Association, told the Kansas Reflector the police raid is unprecedented in Kansas.

An attack on a newspaper office through an illegal search is not just an infringement on the rights of journalists but an assault on the very foundation of democracy and the publics right to know, Bradbury said. This cannot be allowed to stand.

Cody acknowledged that federal law protects journalists from most searches of newsrooms by federal and state law enforcement officials. But he said those protections did not apply if the journalists were themselves suspects in a criminal investigation.

Were well aware of how the protection acts work, he said.

It is true that in most cases, it requires police to use subpoenas, rather than search warrants, to search the premises of journalists unless they themselves are suspects in the offense that is the subject of the search.

Gideon Cody is pictured in an LinkedIn profile.

In a written statement, Cody said, I believe when the rest of the story is available to the public, the judicial system that is being questioned will be vindicated. I appreciate all the assistance from all the State and Local investigators along with the entire judicial process thus far.

Cody said the case was not a First Amendment issue.

This is a Fourth Amendment issue, and the police are protecting peoples Fourth Amendment, but you have to come to that conclusion on your own. Because I can only speak in generalities right now because this is an open investigation and I cannot speak on it.

The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects people from unlawful searches and seizures by the government. But it is not a guarantee against all searches and seizures  only those deemed unreasonable under the law.

Attorneys say Marion police are wrong on law

Max Kautsch, a media attorney and president of the Kansas Coalition for Open Government, said while it is indeed the Fourth Amendment that protects the public against unlawful searches and seizures, so far, law enforcement has not revealed how the publicly available evidence, which is extensive, provides probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed.

What the publicly available evidence suggests instead is that the Marion County Record was gathering and reporting truthful information about a matter in the public interest, not engaged in criminal activity, Kautsch told The Star in an email. A search warrant based on insufficient probable cause violates the Fourth Amendment.

Marion County District Court Magistrate Judge Laura Viar signed a search warrant authorizing the police raid of the newspaper office.

Kautsch also said the case does raise a First Amendment issue, because the action taken by the authorities appears to be in retaliation for bringing publicly available information to the attention of local authorities about a matter of public interest.

Ultimately, it is difficult to fully evaluate law enforcements conduct without access to the affidavit in support of the search warrant.

Bernie Rhodes, an attorney who is representing the Marion Record and also represents The Star, said Cody was wrong in claiming the raid did not violate the federal Privacy Protection Act when officers seized computers and other items from the newsroom.

The law requires a high burden of probable cause to believe that a crime had been committed by a reporter, Rhodes told The Star.

It is lawful for a reporter to access the states Department of Revenue website to confirm information that a confidential source had provided them. The newspaper had information about the local business owner but chose not to publish it, he said.

Nothing that paper did gets even remotely close to rising to the level of probable cause that a crime was committed, Rhodes said.

The law requires that a hearing is held before reporters are compelled to provide their source material.

By his actions, Cody is violating Kansas law as well as provisions of the First and Fifth amendments to the Constitution, Rhodes said.

His belief that hes (Cody) complying with federal law is simply a joke and thats to ignore state law. Kansas law recognizes both a privilege for confidential source information and which he just completely ignored when he seizes everything in the newsroom, he said.
Republican presidential candidate and former Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen, cover their hearts during the Pledge of Allegiance at the Clinton County GOP Hog Roast in Clinton, Iowa, on July 30, 2023. AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall

Former second lady Karen Pence said that she "never felt afraid" while at the Capitol on January 6.

"I really felt like we just had such a peace and God's presence," she recently told ABC News.

Karen Pence said her role as second lady prepared her for the precautions she took that day.

Throughout the chaos of the January 6, 2021, riot at the United States Capitol, countless lawmakers spoke of the fear that they felt as the invading mob sought to halt the certification of now-President Joe Biden's 2020 electoral victory.

As many lawmakers and aides sought refuge in offices and conference rooms in the Capitol complex, seeking to shield themselves from the raucous rioters just feet away, then-Vice President Mike Pence and then-second lady Karen Pence were moved from the Senate chamber to the vice president's ceremonial office before being whisked away to an underground Capitol loading dock.

But throughout that harrowing day, Karen Pence in an interview with ABC News said that she "never" feared for her life and remarked that she felt "God's presence" despite the uncertainty that filled the air. Many of the rioters infamously chanted "Hang Mike Pence" as they protested her husband's role in certifying Biden's win.

"I just was discussing this with someone here in Iowa a few minutes ago, I never felt afraid," the former second lady told ABC News anchor Linsey Davis. "I really felt like we just had such a peace and God's presence. And just a sense of purpose and determination that I don't think any of us in the whole group  all the staff and everyone with us  I don't think any of us felt fear. I think we felt like a sense of resolve."

When Davis asked Karen Pence about her drawing the curtains in the ceremonial office, the former second lady attributed it to "conditioning" from being in the public eye.

"I think once you become, you know, second lady, life changed a lot for us," she said. "In fact, during the transition, we rented a home near DC. And I remember walking in that home the first day  and Secret Service had put a butcher block paper, you know, all over the windows  and you couldn't even see outside."

"Every time we traveled, they would have bulletproof glass in every hotel room. So it's a conditioning thing that I just knew," she continued. "Whenever you're in a situation where someone might be able to shoot through the window, just close the drapes. That was my thinking at the time was like, 'Wait a minute. Things are starting to happen out there. Let's close the drapes.'"

Karen Pence praised the Secret Service members who were with her family that day, calling them "phenomenal," as they informed her, the then-vice president, and their daughter, Charlotte, that they would have to move to a new location from the ceremonial office.

"It was clear pretty early on that we might need to vacate that room and go somewhere else," she told Davis.

In the former vice president's 2022 memoir, "So Help Me God," he also recounted his sense of spirituality as he endured the ordeal with his family.

"I have often told our three children that the safest place in the world is to be in the center of God's will," the former vice president wrote in his book. "I knew in my heart that we were where we were supposed to be, doing what we were supposed to be doing I felt resolve and at peace informed by my upbringing in Indiana, my faith, my family, a lifetime of service and lifelong love of the Constitution."

The Pences eventually remained at the Capitol until January 7, 2021, when the certification of Biden's victory concluded in the early morning hours.

As a 2024 Republican presidential candidate, Pence has not shied away from his role on January 6, as he has stood by his decision to reject former President Donald Trump's entreaties to overturn the 2020 presidential results.

"I know I did the right thing," he told the Christian Broadcasting Network in a 2021 interview.

Pence remains far behind Trump in polls of the Republican presidential field, but he'll likely have to opportunity to jostle with his onetime boss at the first GOP debate later this month should the ex-president participate in the event.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Former second lady Karen Pence said she never felt afraid on Jan. 6, 2021, despite being whisked away from the Senate chamber by the Secret Service to hide from a mob that was targeting her husband, former Vice President Mike Pence, amid the attack on the Capitol.

In an ABC News Live Prime interview that will air Monday night, Karen Pence made some of her first public remarks on the events that transpired that day and provided additional insight into the extensive safety precautions the former vice president and his family had to take during the transition after former President Trump lost the 2020 election.

Asked whether she ever feared for her life on Jan. 6, Karen Pence responded, Never.

I never felt afraid, and I really felt like we just had such a peace and Gods presence and just a sense of purpose and determination, that I dont think any of us in the whole group  all the staff and everyone with us  I dont think any of us felt fear, she said. I think we felt like a sense of resolve.

Karen Pence was asked about her decision to close the drapes in the former vice presidents office after they were evacuated from the Senate chamber  a moment that is now documented in a well-known photo.

She described her move as a result of the conditioning from her time as second lady and from the transition, in particular, when she and Mike Pence had to take additional security precautions.

Once you become second lady, life changed a lot for us, she said when asked about the photo. In fact, during the transition, we rented a home near D.C., and I remember walking in that home the first day and Secret Service had put butcher block paper, you know, all over the windows, and you couldnt even see outside. And every time we traveled they would have traveling bulletproof glass in every hotel room.

So its a conditioning thing, that I just knew: Whenever youre in a situation where someone might be able to shoot through the window, just close the drapes, she said. That was my thinking at the time. I was like, Wait a minute, things are starting to happen out there. Lets close the drapes.

When asked when she realized her family could be in danger, Karen Pence further praised the Secret Service and said they always made it clear on Jan. 6 that the Pence team might need to vacate his office.

Secret Service are phenomenal men and women, and they made it clear to us right away that, you know, there might be a point where we would need to move to a different location, so that was pretty clear to us from the very beginning. Because they had come and gotten us out of the Senate chambers and taken us back to Mikes office in the Senate. So it was clear pretty early on that we might need to vacate that room and go somewhere else, she said.

Karen Pences interview comes as her husband mounts a bid for the presidency. Among his GOP opponents is his former running mate, Trump, who currently leads in virtually all hypothetical primary polls.

Pences resistance to Trumps efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election is detailed in the most recent federal indictment against the former president. According to the indictment, Trump repeatedly asked Pence to take a more active role Jan. 6, when the vice president is tasked with presiding over a ceremonial process of counting the certified electoral votes.

Youre too honest, Trump told Pence during one of the instances, according to the indictment. Pence subsequently started selling campaign merchandise with the words, too honest.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Despite rioters chanting hang Mike Pence on January 6, the former vice presidents wife admitted she was never afraid during the Capitol riot, in her first public comments about the incident.

When asked if she was afraid throughout the course of the turbulent day, Karen Pence told ABC News: I never felt afraid.

I really felt like we just had such a peace and Gods presence, the former second lady recalled. And just a sense of purpose and determination that I dont think any of us in the whole group  all the staff and everyone with us  I dont think any of us felt fear. I think we felt like a sense of resolve.

ABC News then asked Ms Pence about one specific moment, captured by a now iconic photograph: her closing the curtains to a ceremonial office near the Senate floor while her family was hiding from the rioters. The image shows Mr Pence with his wife, their daughter Charlotte, and the vice presidents brother, Rep Greg Pence. The photo was snapped shortly after Mr Pence was evacuated from the Senate floor.

I think once you become, you know, second lady, life changed a lot for us. In fact, during the transition, we rented a home near DC. And I remember walking in that home the first day  and Secret Service had put a butcher block paper, you know, all over the windows  and you couldnt even see outside, she said. And every time we traveled, they would have bulletproof glass in every hotel room. So its a conditioning thing that I just knew.

Ms Pence said she applied that logic on that historic day: Whenever youre in a situation where someone might be able to shoot through the window, just close the drapes. She added, That was my thinking at the time was like, Wait a minute. Things are starting to happen out there. Lets close the drapes.

The former second lady was then asked when she felt that her family was in danger.

Well, the Secret Service are phenomenal men and women, she replied. And they made it clear to us right away that, you know, there might be a point where we would need to move to a different location.

She continued, And so that was pretty clear to us from the very beginning because they had come and gotten us out of the Senate chambers and taken us back to Mikes office and in the Senate. So, it was clear pretty early on that we might need to vacate that room and go somewhere else.

Interestingly, Mr Pence rehashed a similar telling of the days events in his memoir So Help Me God: We stood together in that cramped office and watched the mayhem unfolding inside and around the Capitol on a small television set. The scenes were alarming.

He wrote: I have often told our three children that the safest place in the world is to be in the center of Gods will. I knew in my heart that we were where we were supposed to be, doing what we were supposed to be doing. I felt resolve and at peace informed by my upbringing in Indiana, my faith, my family, a lifetime of service and lifelong love of the Constitution.

Ms Pences comments come at an interesting time, as her husband vies for the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential election. A number of the candidates in the crowded GOP field have downplayed the Capitol riot.

During the election certification process, the former vice president refused to partake in attempting to overturn the 2020 election in favour of Donald Trump. Mr Pence earlier this month recalled that the former president and his advisers asked me to reject votes, return votes, essentially to overturn the election.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is currently polling second behind former Mr Trump in the race, said last month that the insurrection was a protest that ended up devolving. He also said that the notion that there was a plan to somehow overthrow the government of the United States is not true, and its something that the media had spun up.

Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy also contended that Mr Trump was not the cause of the riot. The real cause was systematic & pervasive censorship of citizens in the year leading up to it, Mr Ramaswamy said. If you tell people they cant speak, thats when they scream. If you tell people they cant scream, thats when they tear things down. If we fail to admit the truth, Jan. 6 will just be a preview of far worse to come & I dont want to see us get there.

As the mob was chanting to hang the then vice president, Mr Trump allegedly said he deserves it, according to former staff.
Brodie Moss was kayaking in Western Australia recently when he saw something in the distance: a whale tail.

But instead of disappearing into the surf, the humpback whales tail stayed straight in the air.

My heart is beating so fast. I think thats a whale tail, Moss said in an Aug. 13 YouTube video posted to his account, YBS Youngbloods. Its just come up and stuck its tail up and its not going anywhere. I dont even know what to say.

As Moss backs away from the creature, drone footage shows a baby humpback circling the adult as it remains in the headstand-like position.

This is the craziest thing thats ever happened, Moss said in the video. Look at it, thats a huge whale tail right in front of me!

Moss said in an Instagram post he thinks the humpback was tail sailing.

Its really rare for humpbacks to do, rarely been captured on film and no one really knows why they do it, Moss wrote. Hopefully this footage will help understand it a little better.

An underwater clip of the humpback shows the creature completely still in a vertical position as small fish and the humpback calf swim near it.

This is the weirdest thing in the world, man, Moss said in his video.I dont know what to say...speechless.

Social media users reacted to Moss footage and encounter.

Amazing sight, one person commented on Moss Instagram post.

That is so cool that you got to see that, another person wrote on the post.

Several others suggested the whale was exhibiting humanlike behavior.

Hes just doing some yoga, dont judge, one person commented.

Maybe its like us when we stick a foot out of the blankets to regulate body temp, another commenter said.

Why do kids do handstands in the pool? Cause its cool to show off, a third comment read

Tail sailing

Experts dont know much about tail sailing, but there are several theories about why humpbacks exhibit the peculiar behavior.

One hypothesis is that tail sailing gives mother whales a chance to rest while still watching their calf, Ed Lyman, resource protection specialist for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, told The Huffington Post in 2016. Another reason could be that the mother whale tail sails while she nurses.

Some studies have suggested the position helps whales cool down and regulate their body temperature, Lyman told the news outlet. Most likely, all three theories are a possibility.

It could be resting, it could nurse its calf and cool off when its hot, all at the same time, Lyman told the outlet. Its not one particular advantage or function, but a combination of all three.

Majestic 55-foot sea creature and her baby seen in very rare Australia sighting

Mysterious and super rare sea creature spotted in California. See the video

Nature in its rawest form: Watch as mother-son orca duo take down humpback calf
As debate on gun confiscation has swirled across the state, Senate Speaker Pro Tempore Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin, has worked through the summer to identify a proposal that could help prevent mass violence that Covenant families and the National Rifle Association can agree on.

We've threaded a needle, Haile said in an interview. It's taken three months of working with this and talking with lots of people to try and come to something that is meaningful, that will make a difference.

Haile has drafted legislation to make any threat of violence against four or more people a felony, regardless of whether the violence could be committed with a firearm, vehicle, bomb, or other weapon. Penalties would be heightened if the threat is made against a school, church, government building, or other location where 250 or more people visit each day. Currently, threats of mass violence at a school are a misdemeanor offense.

Folks are just kind of appalled that this is only a misdemeanor, which is not much different than a speeding ticket, Haile said.

This special session call is a result of the shooting at Covenant school. There's no question about that. But that should not be our only focus, Haile told The Tennessean. We feel like if we change this, then we could have (if there had been a report made and had been followed up), then we could have gotten the Christmas bomber, the Covenant shooter, and the patient that killed a physician in Memphis just last week.

Threats could be verbal, written or electronically communicated, and a defendant would have to have taken substantial steps toward carrying out the threat  like writing down a specific plan for an attack, or obtaining a weapon. What constitutes substantial steps would remain at the discretion of law enforcement and district attorneys.

State Sen. Ferrell Haile speaks at Good Morning Gallatin, a conversation with local elected officials.

With the Covenant shooter, theres quite a bit of written documentation  thats a substantial step: theyve made plans, this is what theyre going to do, this is how its to be done, Haile said.

Defendants charged with the felony awaiting trial would be eligible for bail, at a judges discretion, as other felony defendants are, and no weapons would be confiscated from them.

Thats due process, Haile said.

But defendants will be required to undergo a mental health evaluation and behavioral risk assessment, on which the judge can base their bail decisions.

Law enforcement would have discretion on how to deal, for example, with a teenager who spouts off without thinking. The current misdemeanor charge for threats of violence against schools would remain on the books.

Haile said he has shared draft language with representatives of the NRA, and the group does not oppose the proposal.

I had not been working with the NRA, Haile said. I had paid attention to the ideas they had put forward  they wanted due process, and they felt like it was an individual issue, not an across-the-board, everybody-who-owns-a-gun-is-a-suspect-type deal.

Hes also met with Covenant parents to get their feedback on the draft bill, and theyre supportive, Haile said.

Haile has also sought feedback from a variety of state agencies, and does not anticipate opposition from the Tennessee Attorney Generals Office, the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, the Administrative Office of the Courts, the District Attorneys General Conference, and the Department of Mental Health.

Hes also spoken with several House members who are supportive, and hes identified a House sponsor, though is not ready to name them.

I anticipate therell be a lot of co-sponsors on these bills, Haile said. If this gets to the floor, I think it gets passed very easily.

Other GOP bills will also raise penalties for gun crimes

Haile's proposal comes as several Republican senators are planning to file bills to enhance penalties for gun-related crimes.

Sen. Page Walley, R-Savannah, will file a bill to create a mandatory five-year minimum sentence for using a firearm while committing a crime, mirroring federal law. Walley says the discrepancy disincentivizes criminals from committing federal crimes with firearms and leaves a loophole for violent criminals to avoid a longer sentence.

Sens. Paul Rose, R-Covington, and Brent Taylor, R-Memphis, plan to propose bills to enhance felony penalties for possession of stolen guns and guns with altered serial numbers, and selling or transferring guns to people who are prohibited from owning them.

Crime in Memphis is out of control, and this special session is an opportunity to look at how the state can help address crime and protect our citizens, Taylor said.

Hundreds of Memphis residents submitted comments to Gov. Bill Lee calling for action to address crime in Shelby County during the special session.

Haile is also working on a bill to expand the number of health care professionals who will have a duty to warn law enforcement if their patient becomes a risk of harm to themselves or others. Currently, state law requires psychiatrists to warn of threats of violence. Haile plans to propose to have the duty to warn protocol also apply to physicians, physicians assistants, and nurse practitioners.

Walley is also planning to file a bill to clarify how law enforcement and courts are to be informed when a patient who lives in their community is committed or released from a mental institution. Currently, institutions only alert law enforcement about commitments in their own jurisdiction. If a patient lives in a different county, law enforcement is not notified.

Reach reporter Vivian Jones at vjones@tennessean.com or on X and Threads at @Vivian_E_Jones.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Senator proposes bill to expand mass threat law, penalties
A Florida woman was hit, kidnapped and kept in a cage by four people looking for information, deputies and news outlets report.

A woman knocked on the front door of a Pine Hills home on Aug. 12 and begged the homeowner for help, the Orange County Sheriffs Office said in an Aug. 14 news release.

The woman said she had been held captive in a cage at a nearby home, deputies said.

The sheriffs office responded to the neighborhood and began what became a six-hour standoff until four people were taken into custody, WOFL reported, citing an arrest affidavit.

Now, they have been charged with armed kidnapping and false imprisonment, according to the sheriffs office.

McClatchy News reached out to the Orange County Sheriffs Office for arrest documents on Aug. 14 and was awaiting a response.

Deputies said the four, ranging in age from 19 to 39, worked together as a group to approach the woman and tie her hands together, WFTV reported.

They threatened her with a gun, and one of the accused kidnappers pistol-whipped the woman before forcing her into a car, according to the outlet, citing the affidavit.

The woman was taken to a second location and her hands, feet and mouth were duct taped, according to the arrest affidavit obtained by WESH.

Once wrapped up, the woman was put in a dog cage in a shed in one of the accused kidnappers backyard, the affidavit said, according to the outlet.

The affidavit said the group was holding her captive for information about a potentially stolen item, WOFL reported.

It is unclear how the woman was able to escape or if she knew the accused kidnappers, according to the outlet.

All four accused kidnappers were charged with armed kidnapping and false imprisonment with a weapon, and one suspect was additionally charged with aggravated battery with a firearm in connection with the pistol-whipping, deputies said in the release.

Pine Hills is a western suburb of Orlando.

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W in the Chat

In an unprecedented ruling, a state judge has sided with a group of youth climate activists who sued the state of Montana over its promotion of fossil fuels, which the young environmentalists said harms their right to a "clean and healthful environment."

The first-of-its-kind ruling in "Held v. Montana"  which found that Montana's fossil fuel boosting violated the state constitutional rights of its 16 plaintiffs, aged five to 22  could set an important judicial precedent.

Over the course of the trial, the sixteen young plaintiffs offered stirring testimony about how harmful climate change has been in their short lives, including the particularly intense tale told by one asthmatic teen who said he was a "prisoner in [his] own home" while isolating from both COVID-19 infection and wildfire smoke.

"This is a huge win for Montana, for youth, for democracy, and for our climate," Julia Olson, the founder of Our Children's Trust, told The Guardian. "More rulings like this will certainly come."

Big Picture

Lawyers for the plaintiffs and their sponsoring organizations argued that a carve-out in the Montana Environmental Policy Act that barred the state from reviewing or analyzing the environmental impact of fossil fuels was unconstitutional. Judge Kathy Seeley, who presided over "Held v. Montana," agreed.

The case, as the Washington Post notes, is both the first youth-led constitutional climate law suit to go to court in the United States. Winning it is a massive victory not just for the young plaintiffs, but for climate activists writ large.

"People around the world are watching this case, Michael Gerrard, the founder of Columbias Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, told WaPo.

While the win, which was a long time coming for the case first filed back in 2020, is certainly huge, it's far from the only case of its kind.

A look at the press release page for Our Children's Trust, one of the nonprofits that brought "Held v. Montana" to trial, shows that there are several other similar cases awaiting trial, including one led by youth in Hawai'i, where wildfires have ravaged the island of Maui and left nearly 100 people dead.

All the same, the win in "Held v. Montana" is certainly cause for celebration  especially as evidence of climate change's acceleration keeps happening all around us.

More on climate change: Ocean Hits Highest Recorded Temperature, Still Rising
You are here: Business

The Chinese commerce ministry on Monday announced that deposits will be levied on polycarbonate (PC) imports from the Taiwan region starting from Tuesday as an anti-dumping measure.

PC imports from Taiwan have engaged in dumping activities, causing concrete damages to the mainland's PC industry, the commerce ministry said in a statement, citing a preliminary investigation.

Last year, the commerce ministry announced the launch of an anti-dumping investigation into PC imports from Taiwan.

PC can be used in many fields such as electronic appliances, automobiles, optics, packaging and medical devices.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for a "drastic boost" in missile production during visits to key weapons factories, state media said Monday, as South Korea and the United States prepared for joint drills next week.

The tour of the plants from Friday to Saturday came after Kim called for stepping up war preparations at a key military meeting last week.

Kim's two-day inspections included visits to factories producing tactical missiles, large-calibre control multiple rocket launcher shells, as well as armoured combat vehicles, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

During the tactical missile factory visit, Kim "expressed satisfaction" as the plant had "perfected the scientific and technological issues arising in production" and pushed ahead with the modernisation of the weapons.

"He set forth an important goal to drastically boost the existing missile production capacity" and underlined the factory's role in "speeding up" war preparations, KCNA said.

Kim stressed the "need to ensure boost in the production of shells" and personally drove a armoured combat vehicle, according to the report.

Photos carried by the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper showed a beaming Kim seated in the driver's seat of a "newly-developed utility combat armoured vehicle" as he took it out for a test drive surrounded by three officials.

Kim also inspected a factory producing transporter erector launchers -- vehicles for transporting and launching tactical missiles -- and stressed the importance of developing and producing the mobile platorms.

The North Korean army should have an "overwhelming military force" and be "fully prepared for coping with any war at any moment" against the enemy, Kim said, adding they must "surely annihilate them if they launch an attack," KCNA reported.

The inspections come as South Korea and the United States prepare for the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise set to take place August 21 through August 31.

North Korea views such exercises as rehearsals for an invasion and has repeatedly warned it would take "overwhelming" action in response.

Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff on Monday described the upcoming joint drills as "a tough and realistic exercise to strengthen the combined defence posture and alliance response capabilities."

Leaders from South Korea, the United States, and Japan are also set to hold a trilateral summit in Washington on Friday, as they seek to bolster security cooperation in response to North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threats.

Last week, Kim presided over a meeting with key military officials, calling for stepping up war preparations "in an offensive way" including boosting weapons production and conducting more drills.

sh/mtp
WORCESTER  Kimberlee Henry, the Worcester public school districts new chief equity officer, said that one of the main reasons she was drawn to the job was because of the diversity of the city.

Henry, who started in the post last week, said she is currently in the learning and observing phase of the job, working closely with Ivonne Perez, the current chief diversity officer, who is retiring from the district Sept. 12.

Our work together has included really just coming up to speed, Henry said. The organization is doing some shifts. It was previously focused primarily on diversity and we are shifting to a focus on equity, which certainly is inclusive of diversity.

Born in Springfield and raised in Massachusetts, Henry has been working in and around education for over 20 years.

In her new role, Henry said, she is looking forward to developing and strengthening the districts policies and practices, working to ensure things like hiring and retiring candidates are more equitable, and that students and families feel valued and heard.

She said she is both professionally committed to and personally invested in working closely with the office of family and community engagement to work with families and engage them, particularly families of diverse backgrounds.

She is also looking forward to moving all of the work forward from a theoretical level to seeing it implemented in schools.

During her career, Henry has held positions at education nonprofits, as well as public and charter schools, working as a classroom teacher, principal and administrator through Massachusetts and Connecticut.

She also previously worked in the Watertown Public School district as the director of equity and inclusion.

In 2018, the Telegram & Gazette reported that while working as the principal at Oxford High School, Henry was put on paid leave.

Former Oxford School Superintendent Elizabeth A. Zielinski posted a letter at the time, announcing that Henry had not been put on leave for disciplinary reasons.

You have received reports that this was done as a disciplinary action, which is not true, Zielinski stated in the letter.

Henry had also been forced to resign from her assistant principal position at Hartford's Hall High School after Connecticut state officials said she did not complete enough teaching hours toward her administrator certification.

When asked about the incidents, Henry said that she enjoyed her time in Oxford and learned from the experience, but out of respect for her previous districts, she declined to comment further on those past issues.

I certainly have a strong record of success in teaching, learning and equity, which is why I was the chosen candidate for this position, Henry said.

When asked about the incidents and whether or not they were addressed during the hiring process, district spokesperson Dan OBrien said there was a community process that went into hiring for the position.

There were many community partners, parents, and WPS staff that were recommending Dr. Henry for this role because of the panel interviews that they had with her, OBrien said. Because she did so well and clearly has the qualification for this role, we fully support her and we're very happy that she's here.

Perez, who has spent the last 18 years of her career in Worcester, said she felt extremely honored to help with the transition.

Kimberlee has got some impeccable qualifications and she's been doing this work for a long time, she said. I'm familiar with her work and have collaborated with her in the last several years, so I know that she is the right fit for this district.

Perez said she has been blessed to have been a part of the Worcester Public School district and that she has had wonderful experiences over the years.

She spent 15 years as a principal at Chandler Magnet Elementary School and three years in her current role.

I feel that as a district, we are movingnot only in an equity direction, but also in a direction that honors innovation that includes people from all walks of life, Perez said. As a gateway city, we have a lot to offer, so again, I feel terribly blessed to be in this district.

Henry said she feels lucky to have the transition time with Perez and is looking forward to being a part of a diverse community.

I'm quite optimistic, she said. Worcester is a wonderful city and I'm happy to be joining their learning community.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Kimberlee Henry, former Oxford High principal, is new equity officer for Worcester schools
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has dispatched search-and-rescue teams and their canines to assist in Maui. (Los Angeles County Fire Department)

A Los Angeles County Fire Department urban search-and-rescue team with three K-9s was dispatched Sunday to Maui to assist in rescue efforts in the wake of the island's devastating wildfire.

The fire, which broke out last week in the historic community of Lahaina, has killed at least 93 people, with more than 1,000 people unaccounted for.

Many buildings in Lahaina have yet to be searched. More than 2,000 structures, mostly residences, have been reported damaged or destroyed.

On Saturday, California Task Force 2  made up of Capt. Celina Serrano and K-9 Prentiss, firefighter-paramedic Edward Ruiz and K-9 Harper, and firefighter-paramedic Nicholas Bartel and K-9 Six  departed for the island from Los Angeles International Airport. The Federal Emergency Management Agency task force is based in L.A. County and sponsored by the Fire Department.

Read more: Lahaina resident tells of desperate escape with cars stopped, wall of fire in rearview mirror

The LACoFD sends our heartfelt condolences and prayers to the families who have lost loved ones; to the injured; and to all who have been displaced, lost homes and businesses due to the wildfires that have ravaged the beautiful island of Maui," L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said in a statement. We send our Maui ohana strength and our support during this difficult time.

Earlier this year, L.A. County Fire Department urban search-and-rescue team members were dispatched to Turkey after a magnitude-7.8 earthquake ravaged the country.

The Maui wildfire is now the deadliest in the U.S. in the last 100 years. The next deadliest is the 2018 Camp fire, which killed 85 people and destroyed the city of Paradise in Northern California.

The Lahaina fire was first reported Tuesday morning and was quickly declared contained by fire officials.

But the blaze flared up that afternoon and roared through Lahaina, leaving a swath of devastation in its wake.

Sign up for Essential California, your daily guide to news, views and life in the Golden State.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The girls' mother was inconsolable when she spoke to the BBC after their deaths last year

A court in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has sentenced two men to life in prison for raping and murdering two Dalit sisters last year.

Two other convicts were found guilty of destroying evidence and were sent to jail for six years each. The convicts are likely to appeal in the high court.

The teenaged girls were found hanging from a tree in Lakhimpur district in September.

The gruesome crime had made headlines and sparked global outrage.

Police had arrested six people - four of them were convicted on Friday while judgements against two minors are pending.

On Friday, a special court that deals with cases of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) convicted two of the four adults of kidnapping, gangraping and murdering the girls.

On Monday, Judge Rahul Singh described the crime as "rarest of the rare" and said that the two convicts' life sentences would "run until their last breath". They have also been ordered to pay 41,000 rupees ($500; 390) each as fine.

The bodies of the two sisters - aged 17 and 15 - were found hanging on 14 September near their home in Tamoli Purva village, just over 200km (124 miles) from the state capital, Lucknow.

Less than 24 hours after the crime, police had arrested all the six suspects.

Police said the girls had been friends with some of the accused and had "willingly gone" with them on their bike. They said the accused raped and strangled the girls as they were putting pressure on them to get married and later, hanged them from a tree with the help of their associates.

But the girls' family had questioned the investigation and alleged that the sisters had been kidnapped by the accused from outside their home.

The police claim was also contested by families of the accused who said their sons were innocent.

On Friday, after the court convicted four of the adult accused, prosecution lawyer Brajesh Kumar Pandey told the media that the judgement against the two minor accused would come at a later date.

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(Bloomberg) -- Latvia may raise about 140 million ($153 million) in additional tax revenue next year under a proposal that would force banks to pay taxes annually, instead of when they pay out dividends.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The proposal is part of a package of potential tax changes ahead of 2024 budget talks and was chosen over a windfall tax on lenders profits, the Finance Ministry said Monday.

The Baltic countrys financial sector, which is dominated by Nordic lenders such as Swedbank AB and SEB AB, has seen profit rise as about 95% of housing and non-financial corporate loans have floating rates, boosting banks net interest income.

The government still needs to discuss the proposal and support is uncertain, Finance Minister Arvils Aseradens said in an interview on TV3. Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins said on Friday that he would work on forming a new government that would include parties from the opposition.

In May, Lithuanian lawmakers backed a temporary windfall tax on banks to finance defense spending, while Estonia plans to raise the tax level on banks to 18% from 14% as part of a series of tax measures to narrow the budget deficit.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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(Bloomberg) -- Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins said hell resign his post as his party seeks to form a new government, handing the reins of the Baltic nation to a party ally to be announced this week.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Karins, who will remain in office until a new administration is formed, said he wont lead the next coalition after announcing Friday that his New Unity party would seek a re-formed government. The party will nominate a candidate for the premiership on Wednesday, he said.

For any country, there are difficulties when someone tries to hold on to their office, Karins, 58, told reporters in Riga on Monday. Thats never been my goal.

Prime minister since 2019, Karins is Latvias longest-serving head of government since it regained independence in 1991. One of the European Unions most vocal critics of Russia, the US-born premier, a former member of European Parliament, batted away questions from reporters about whether he harbors ambitions to enter EU politics in Brussels.

Potential successors include Latvias finance minister, Arvils Aseradens, and Welfare Minister Evika Silina, both of whom flanked Karins during the press conference. The new government will aim to thrash out policies including a proposed overhaul of a bank tax aimed at increasing revenue.

Read More: Latvian Leader to Form New Government After Talks Break Down

Karins has led a three-party alliance since December after winning a second term in office. Tensions emerged in the coalition during the May election of Edgars Rinkevics as president, with Karins forced to seek support for the vote among the opposition, outmaneuvering his coalition partners.

Karins last week said hed form a new alliance rather than forge ahead with the current government after the partners didnt meet his demands. On Monday, he accused party leaders in the current formation of doing everything to stop a new government from taking shape.

(Adds context, potential successors, from second paragraph.)

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Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) faced backlash online after she criticized President Joe Biden for his response to the devastating wildfires in Hawaii.

There is a total crisis in Maui, she wrote on Saturday in her first tweet addressing the disaster. 3000 destroyed homes. 80 people dead. Wheres Joe Biden? On vacation of course. There is no bottom for this president.

There is a total crisis in Maui.



3000 destroyed homes.



80 people dead.



Wheres Joe Biden?



On vacation of course.



There is no bottom for this president.  Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) August 12, 2023

Biden spent the weekend at his Rehoboth Beach home in Delaware. He approved a major disaster declaration in Maui on Thursday and pledged that every asset that we have will be available to the people of Hawaii.

Aid from the disaster declaration will get aid into the hands of people who desperately need help, Biden said, promising that anyone whos lost a loved one or whose home has been damaged or destroyed is going to get help immediately.

Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell arrived on Maui over the weekend. Biden said he directed her to streamline requests for aid.

Vice President Kamala Harris said last week that she and Biden werent planning to visit the island because we dont want to distract from the resources that need to go in to the victims of this tragedy, and of course the needs of the first responders.

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green (D) said recovery efforts would be lengthy, but we have the support from every level of government, especially given President Bidens approval of our disaster declaration request today.

The death toll from the disaster has climbed to 93 as authorities continue searching in the Lahaina community that was razed by a wildfire last week.

Boeberts tweet attracted hundreds of critical responses from social media users.

Some noted that Biden had already mobilized support. Others accused Boebert of failing to do anything helpful herself, like providing information about ways to support those on Maui to her millions of followers.

Since the fires began, this is the only mention of #Maui by Lauren Boebert. Not a call for donations. Not a repost of someone gathering care packages for the victims. Not a repost of a go fund me. She doesnt care about the people or homes destroyed, just scoring #maga points. https://t.co/KYDcOL8Fqn  Coach D (@CoachD_Speaks) August 14, 2023

Hawaii Governor Josh Green yesterday:



We have the support from every level of government, especially given President Bidens approval of our disaster declaration request today. https://t.co/Te1KvgegAq  Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) August 13, 2023

Projection to English translation: There is a total crisis in Maui.



3000 destroyed homes.



80 people dead.



Joe Biden has declared it a national disaster, FEMA is on the ground.



Because, as an adult, he can be in Delaware and still govern.



There is no bottom for me. https://t.co/RedscNsxlzpic.twitter.com/dD2UVYhx0Y  CRMWebb (@cynroseM) August 13, 2023

The last thing the rescue effort needs is a presidential entourage. Theyre encouraging homeowners who live off the island to let their houses open to locals and firsts responders. They dont need more hotel rooms taken up by Secret Service. Its an island, not Baton Rouge. https://t.co/AteGfBBn4f  Bruce Godfrey (@BruceGodfrey) August 13, 2023

What are you talking about? He already approved Maui for disaster relief and has been doing all he can up to this point. You want him to do what, land into Maui while the wildfires are still going? Come on Congresswoman, stop using other peoples grief for political gain. Thats  Reggie Townsend (@Reggieman30) August 12, 2023

Boebert is completely clueless. President Biden has already declared Maui a disaster area and is sending emergency supplies and the National Guard. Boebert is trying to use the victims of the Maui victims to her advantage.



District 3 for Gods sake vote for Adam Frisch in 2024! https://t.co/16cGI0AO3B  Rocky Mountain Progressives  (@RockiesProgs) August 13, 2023

A number of Hawaii residents chimed in.

Hawaii state Rep. Adrian Tam (D) slammed Boebert for failing to do the bare minimum to help us like reposting a link for donations to the Maui Strong Fund, as he encouraged supporters to donate to the aid fund.

Lauren cant even do the bare minimum to help us like reposting a link for donations to the Maui Strong Fund. Please donate to: https://t.co/c67tTHqZUdhttps://t.co/ngIr1qmDSR  Adrian Tam  (@adrianktam) August 13, 2023

Activist Delilah Asterales, who uses the handle @HawaiiDelilah, told Boebert: Hawaii is my home. You dont speak for me, and pointed to the federal response on the ground in Lahaina. She accused Boebert of exploiting the pain of us in Maui in order to attack Joe Biden.

Maui is my home. You don't speak for me. @Potus immediately declared a "major disaster" in Hawaii & ordered all available federal assets to help with response. The head of FEMA is ON THE GROUND in Lahaina with Gov Green to determine immediate & long term needs. You are despicable pic.twitter.com/PGHB8Kxk3W  HawaiiDelilah  #MauiStrong (@HawaiiDelilah) August 13, 2023

A word to voters in Colorado's 3rd District: @AdamForColorado is running to unseat Boebert. I don't know him but I am pretty sure he will not embarrass you or exploit the pain of us in Maui in order to attack Joe Biden. Now is a good time to support him.https://t.co/KwPgxrZKED  HawaiiDelilah  #MauiStrong (@HawaiiDelilah) August 13, 2023

And user @GaryChun, whose bio lists his location as Honolulu, had his own message for Boebert and her House Republican colleagues:

Rep. Boebert, we in Hawai'i look forward to you and your House Republican colleagues to expedite help to the Maui community affected by this tragedy ... as soon as you get your head out of your akea. Mahalo. https://t.co/JsDtnYKFYR  Gary Chun  (@garychun) August 13, 2023
The citys efforts to weed out illegal pot shops have a new feature: a law punishing commercial landlords who knowingly lease space to the unlicensed joints.

The law, which took effect July 23, was highlighted by two of its City Council sponsors at a public service announcement outside a licensed pot seller near Union Square on Monday.

This is a game changer in shutting down illegal cannabis shops that are proliferating in New York City and threatening our communities, said Councilwoman Lynn Schulman, a Queens Democrat who pushed the law to passage.

The measure differs from previous rules targeting the illegal businesses, Schulman noted, predicting the law would inspire landlords to evict lawless pot shops.

The penalty for landlords that violate the law would be $5,000 for an initial offense and $10,000 for subsequent offenses.

Schulman said she did not know of any enforcement actions so far. Under the law, the city is required to issue a quarterly report on enforcement actions.

Last month the New York State Cannabis Control Board issued more than 100 new licenses to applicants seeking to run pot shops in the city. The Legislature legalized recreational cannabis use more than two years ago.

A Council report published in January found illicit cannabis sales in 11 of 17 smoke shops located within a roughly 10-block radius of the states first legal marijuana store, the Housing Works Cannabis Co. dispensary in NoHo.

It is difficult to determine exactly how many shops illegally sell marijuana in the city. But Mayor Adams has estimated there could be about 1,500.

Officials say many are targeting children.

The illegal shops that are undermining the entire market are selling to people that are underage. They are using cartoon-y packages, said Councilwoman Carlina Rivera, a Manhattan Democrat.

Rivera, who represents the Union Square area packed with illegal pot shops, described the stores as incredibly problematic.

We have an obligation to protect a healthy, legal cannabis market, she said.

With Josephine Stratman
Gun-rights groups can move forward in a lawsuit against Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden over claims that he has slow-walked the concealed handgun permit process, a federal judge says.

A November complaint alleged that the sheriff has delayed granting permits by making numerous irrelevant mental health records requests to agencies, including the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

North Carolina is a shall-issue state, meaning that sheriffs offices are supposed to issue permits to applicants who meet requirements. One of those requirements involves a mental health check.

Yet what takes other North Carolina sheriffs days or weeks to accomplish, Sheriff McFadden drags out for anywhere from many months to over a year, a Dec. 12 document filed by the plaintiffs says.

Originally challenging McFadden, his office, state Attorney General Josh Stein and North Carolinas mental health provisions themselves, the lawsuit now names the sheriff as the sole defendant.

Disagreeing with those suing, federal District Court Judge Max Cogburn in an Aug. 1 opinion said that North Carolinas mental health statutes are consistent with the countrys historical treatment of firearm regulation, and that they are not unconstitutional by default.

Incumbent Mecklenburg Sheriff Garry McFadden, center, speaks to the crowd at the Black Political Caucus Election Night watch party at Studio 29 on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 in Charlotte. McFadden won a second term, defeating two former Sheriffs Office employees. Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez/mrodriguez@charlotteobserver.com

On a claim that McFaddens way of conducting those mental health checks could be unconstitutional, Cogburn allowed the case to move into a discovery phase, when parties in the dispute are obliged to exchange information.

McFadden has done nothing wrong, lawyers representing him in court filings have said. Instead, he is ensuring that its safe for applicants to carry a concealed handgun, as is required by state statute, they argue.

The Sheriff cannot control how long it may take any given mental health provider to return the requested records, but so long as the Sheriff issues or denies the CHP within forty-five days of receiving those records, the Sheriff is in compliance with the law, they wrote.

Whats alleged

The sheriff may conduct any investigation necessary to determine the qualification or competency of the person applying for the permit, including record checks, state law says.

Mecklenburg County residents Sara Beth Williams, Bruce Kane and Jason Yepko waited months or more than a year to get a concealed handgun permit or a renewal, according to court filings. Their waits included especially long mental health checks, they allege.

Other plaintiffs include Gun Owners of America, Gun Owners Foundation, Grass Roots North Carolina and Rights Watch International.

Williams saw on the online application portal for her permit that, at one point, the sheriffs office was waiting on mental health records from the VA, according to the lawsuit.

However, I do not and have never had mental health problems, she wrote. Nor have I ever served in the military, and thus am not a veteran. And while my father did serve in the military, I have not been a dependant of his for almost 25 (twenty-five) years.

Plaintiffs in December asked the court to order McFadden to speed up the process. Before a judge ruled, they received their permit and renewals.

The lawsuit can continue, however, giving plaintiffs a chance to make a case that McFaddens practices infringe Second Amendment rights.

What we hope is that the sheriff will be forced to comply with the law, Grass Roots North Carolina President Paul Valone told The Charlotte Observer.

Paul Valone, president of Grassroots NC, says he supports a bill that would allow teachers with concealed carry permits and extra training to carry guns at school He spoke at a press conference held at the Legislative Building in Raleigh on June 5, 2018. Abby Igoe

One defense for McFadden in the court filing states that its vital to confirm that permit applicants dont lie.

For example, a recent applicant indicated that he had never served in the military, but VA records showed that not only had the applicant served (and thereby qualified for treatment at the VA), he had also attempted suicide on multiple occasions and threatened physically to harm VA employees at a VA facility, McFaddens attorneys wrote.

The plaintiffs have said that there is a faster way to get the same information.

Gun groups have sued before

This is not the sheriffs first challenge from Gun Owners of America, Gun Owners Foundation, Grass Roots North Carolina and Rights Watch International.

They sued him in 2021, alleging that he dawdled fingerprinting applicants for pistol permits by making them schedule an appointment. In May 2022 a judge ordered him to take walk-ins and provide fingerprinting within five days.

This is actually the fourth lawsuit weve filed against sheriffs, Valone, the president of Grass Roots North Carolina, told The Observer.

Individuals and guns-rights groups accuse Mecklenburg sheriff arry McFadden of taking too long to approve concealed weapon permits. Travis Long/tlong@newsobserver.com

That group in 2020 sued then-Wake County Sheriff Gerald Baker for pausing issuing gun permits during the COVID-19 pandemic. A judge ordered him to resume processing them in as timely a fashion as possible under the current conditions,

On its website, Grass Roots North Carolina cites its work to affect state politics, as well as policies. Its Political Victory Fund was central to electing two North Carolina Supreme Court justices and securing conservative control of the Court, it claims.

McFaddens lawyers accuse the plaintiffs in the current lawsuit of pushing an activist agenda to strike down North Carolinas statutes requiring citizens to obtain permits to carry concealed weapons, in court filings.

Ronald Shook, a Gastonia-based attorney representing the gun groups, told The Observer that the lawsuit is not partisan.

Its not a Republican or Democrat issue, he said. People across the spectrum, all sides of the political aisle and races and creeds are being affected by this equally. Everybodys Second Amendment is the same. And hes infringing on every citizen of Mecklenburg Countys Second Amendment rights.

Bradley Smith, a spokesperson for McFadden, said neither the sheriff or the sheriffs office comments on pending litigation.
A citizen receives a dose of COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination site in Yinchuan, capital city of northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region. [Photo/Xinhua]

Despite rising numbers of people on social media claiming to have been infected with COVID-19 for a third time recently, experts have said that those reinfected most likely only had mild symptoms.

While the phrase "third-time COVID" has trended on microblogging platform Sina Weibo, experts said that only a relatively small number of people in the general population have been infected three times and the public doesn't need to worry about a third wave of COVID-19.

The World Health Organization on Wednesday classified the EG.5 coronavirus strain as a "variant of interest" but said it did not pose more of a threat than other variants.

The EG.5 strain is a substrain of the Omicron variant and has been detected in 51 countries, according to the WHO.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that while overall risk is low, based on its genetic features, immune escape characteristics and growth rate estimates, EG.5 may spread globally and contribute to a surge in case incidence.

However, the risk of severe disease and death is vastly lower than it was a year ago, due to increasing population immunity  whether from vaccination, infection or both  and from early diagnosis and better clinical care.

Data released by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention on Aug 3 show that the number of severe cases and cases in fever clinics both declined in July.

All 9,591 COVID-19 cases reported in July were the Omicron variant, mostly the XBB subvariant, according to the center.

Peng Jie, director of the treatment center for infectious diseases at Nanfang Hospital in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, said only a very small number of the patients treated at the hospital were third-time COVID patients, and they only had mild symptoms.

COVID-19 is still stable and at a low level of infection in China, he told local media Nanfang Plus.

He said online speculation that the next wave of COVID-19 infections might happen in November has no scientific basis, and the public does not need to worry.

Wang Gang, deputy director of the infectious disease department at Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, said the more times people get infected, the milder the symptoms become.

When people get infected for the third time, it is likely they will only feel very mild symptoms and pay little attention to it, he told newspaper Dazhong Daily.

"Most people with normal immune systems do not need to worry about getting infected multiple times because their symptoms are too mild to be noticed or need medication."

Li Tong, a doctor at the department of respiratory and infectious disease at Beijing YouAn Hospital, affiliated with Capital Medical University, said the number of COVID-19 cases has increased recently, but overall, infections are still low. Most of the cases are first or second-time infections, he said.

Zhao Wei, director of the biosecurity research center at the School of Public Health of Southern Medical University, said the fluctuation of COVID-19 cases is still within a manageable range, and the public can rest assured.

However, if COVID-19 infections lead to new symptoms or a significant increase of serious cases or deaths, disease control authorities will raise the alarm, and then the public will need to take more precautions, he said.
Intense rains have caused floods and landslides in India, killing at least 24 people (-)

At least 49 people were killed, nine of them in a temple collapse, and dozens more were feared missing after intense rains caused floods and landslides in India, officials said Monday.

Days of torrential downpours have washed away vehicles, demolished buildings and destroyed bridges in the northern Himalayan states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Flooding and landslides are common and cause widespread devastation during India's treacherous monsoon season, but experts say climate change is increasing their frequency and severity.

In Himachal Pradesh, 41 people were killed in the past 24 hours, up from an earlier toll of 16, an official toll showed. That included at least nine killed in the collapse of a Hindu temple in the state capital, Shimla.

At least 13 others were missing, it said.

"The local administration is diligently working to clear the debris in order to rescue individuals who may still be trapped," chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said in a statement.

At least eight others have been killed since Friday in neighbouring Uttarakhand state, officials said.

Images from hard-hit areas in Himachal Pradesh showed bodies being pulled out of thick piles of dark earth that had crushed buildings and smashed roofs.

Thousands of people have been stranded, with key roads, power lines and communication networks disrupted.

Railway lines were seen dangling in midair, with the ground beneath them washed away.

- 'Disturbing' -

Sukhu, who posted on social media a "disturbing" video of a raging torrent swamping roads, appealed to residents to stay indoors and avoid going near rivers.

Schools in the state had been shut, he said.

The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, said she was "hurt with the loss of lives in accidents because of heavy rains" and offered her condolences to the families who have suffered in Himachal Pradesh.

Rescue teams in Uttarakhand raced to remove debris after people were feared buried when heavy rainfall triggered landslides.

Five people were buried under the debris after a landslide hit a resort near the popular yoga retreat of Rishikesh on the banks of the river Ganges.

District police superintendent, Shweta Choubey, told AFP that a girl had been rescued from the site but that the rest of her family was still under the collapsed building.

Several riverside towns and villages in both states were at risk of flash floods from the heavy rain forecast in the region.

The monsoon brings South Asia around 80 percent of its annual rainfall and is vital for both agriculture and the livelihoods of millions. But it also brings destruction every year in the form of landslides and floods.

Days of relentless monsoon rains killed at least 90 people last month, while the capital New Delhi saw the Yamuna river -- which snakes past the megacity -- record its highest levels since 1978.

bur-pjm/pbt
Rescue workers trying to locate the missing miners swept into the lake after a landslide on Sunday

At least 30 people are reported missing after a mudslide at a jade mine in northern Myanmar.

The mountainous town of Hpakant in the Kachin state is home to the world's biggest and most lucrative jade mines.

Many of those affected are believed to be locals digging through the mud along the cliffs, many of whom work and live in abandoned mining pits.

Lethal landslides are common in the area when heavy monsoon rain pummels Myanmar between May and October.

At least 162 people died in a landslide in the same area in July 2020, while an accident in 2015 left more than 110 dead.

Mining operations had been suspended because of the rainy season. However, many of those caught in the accident, which happened at about 15:30 local time on Sunday, were independent scavengers looking to find jade.

The intense rain had loosened massive piles of earth more than 150m in height, left over from excavations by mining companies, sending the dirt and debris hurtling down the cliff and sweeping up miners on the way.

Survivors have also described a wall of mud, rocks and floodwater overwhelming them as they were digging for jade.

The landscape in this part of Myanmar is scarred with hundreds of unregulated mines. These attract huge numbers of migrant workers from other parts of the country who come to search for jade, most of which ends up being sold in China.

One rescue worker told the Associated Press than 34 people were missing, while eight were injured and were taken to a hospital on Sunday.

He said the search and rescue efforts were continuing, but some miners had already returned to the scene in the hope of finding jade.

"We haven't found any dead bodies yet," said the rescue worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he feared being arrested by the military.

Jade mining is an important source of revenue for Myanmar's military government. It also finances the Kachin Independence Army, an ethnic armed group.

For many years, the military and Kachin insurgents have fought for control over this part of the Kachin State because of its jade mines, estimated to be worth some $30bn (23.6bn) a year.

There has been frequent fighting there before and after the military coup in 2021, which deposed the civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi.
A 25-year-old man who was shot by Leavenwoth police in Kansas Citys Northland last week has died in the hospital.

Jonathan Heath-Taylor, of Leavenworth, was critically wounded in the early hours of Aug. 8 after Leavenworth police chased him across the state line toward suburban Kansas City. Police Chief Pat Kitchens has said Heath-Taylor was a suspect in a reported domestic violence incident that included attempted first-degree murder, rape, kidnapping and violation of an order of protection.

Kitchens has said Heath-Taylor was shot as officers were attempting to take him into custody. In an email Monday, Kitchens confirmed Heath-Taylor had died.

The police chase started in response to a report made in Leaveworth around 12:45 a.m. Heath-Taylor was spotted in Leavenworth shortly after, police have said, and allegedly fled from pursuing officers at high speed.

Authorities as of Monday had yet to disclose many details about how the police shooting unfolded. It happened shortly before 2 a.m. Missouri Highway 45 Spur near Stillings Road in rural Platte County.

No police officers were injured during the encounter with Heath-Taylor.

The Platte County Sheriffs Office is handling the shooting investigation. A spokesman for the agency did not immediately respond to a voicemail from The Star seeking additional information Monday.

Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson said his office was prepared to file criminal charges against Heath-Taylor prior to his death. He said that was since determined to be unnecessary.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the man involved and our law enforcement partners who spend so much time in the line of danger as they keep our community safe; their jobs are never easy, Thompson said in a statement Monday.
Youre sitting at a red light waiting to turn left. Theres no oncoming traffic and the thought crosses your mind: Can I turn?

A Sacramento Bee reader had a similar thought, and asked our journalists whether motorists can turn left against a red arrow if there isnt a sign around it that says on left arrow only.

We reached out to the Sacramento Police Department to help answer this question, who sent us information about the law and associated fines for violating it.

Heres what California law says about turning at red lights, and how much you can be fined for breaking the law:

Drive through the yellow light or stop? Heres what California law says you should do

Red light vs. red arrow

Whether you can turn at a red light all boils down to what the traffic sign displays, not necessarily the color of it, according to California law.

DMVs California Drivers Handbook says you must stop at a red light. It also says you can turn at a circular red light if there is not a no turn on red sign posted and you stop at the limit line, yield for pedestrians and turn when its safe.

You can make a left turn at a red light if youre on a one-way street turning on to another one-way street, according to the law. In this scenario, youre turning against a circular red light  not an arrow.

Motorists can never turn on a red arrow, no matter if theyre turning left or right, the law says.

Fines for breaking red light laws

The total amount is determined by a few factors, including whether or not the violator attends traffic school.

Motorists can be fined up to $1,073 for violating a red light law. With traffic school, applicable fees are a total of up to $663.

If the fine is not paid within 20 days from the mailing of the notice, a late fee will be charged that includes a base charge, 50% of the original penalty and an enhancement for prior convictions if applicable.

A late fee can cost $319.50, according to court documents.

What do you want to know about life in Modesto? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@modbee.com.
The potential expansion of automatic license plate readers across Davidson County lies in the hands of Nashville's council.

On Tuesday, in the final meeting of the term, Council members will consider legislation that would greenlight full implementation of the cameras across Nashville.

The Metro Nashville Police Department concluded a six-month pilot program of the technology on July 22, which itself narrowly passed Council scrutiny in February 2022.

The cameras capture images of every license plate and vehicle that passes. Legislation for the pilot program limited law enforcement use to comparing plate numbers to those linked in national crime databases to missing persons cases, felony offenses, violent crimes, reckless driving, and stolen vehicles and license plates.

License plate readers in use at the intersection of Gallatin Pike and Old Hickory Blvd in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, June 29, 2023.

Over the six-month period, cameras read about 71 million license plates, ultimately resulting in 112 arrests.

Proponents of the technology, known as LPRs, say the cameras are a powerful tool to aid Nashville's police force in solving crime, recovering stolen vehicles and locating missing people. At a council committee meeting on Aug. 1, Haynes Park resident and neighborhood association board member Gina Coleman recounted her community's efforts to fundraise for private LPR installation in 2020 after a series of shootouts and arrests in the area.

But numerous community organizations have consistently urged against LPR use, citing instances of mistakes or misuse that put people in danger, risks of disproportionate impact on minority communities, and the potential threat of state or federal officials obtaining LPR data for purposes like immigration enforcement.

More: Where mayoral candidates stand on license plate readers in Nashville

The results of the pilot program, they said, do not assuage their concerns.

Nashville's police oversight board released a report in June examining the first three months of the city's LPR pilot program, finding the devices were largely concentrated in non-white, low-income areas. Parts of North Nashville, East Nashville and Madison saw more LPR-related stops, searches, arrests and vehicle recoveries than any other part of the city. MNPD representatives said the locations were not chosen using racial or economic data, and the department has received no complaints about the technology during the pilot program.

The oversight board and community organizations say Nashville needs more than a couple weeks to analyze and learn from the pilot program. Questions remain unanswered: How often do misreads occur? Where would cameras be located? How much will the expansion cost? What is the return on investment?

"Please take a second to fully digest the data, to fully understand how discriminatory this pilot program has been, and how important it is for myself, for other community members ... to feel like we're being heard and for our questions to be answered as to the placement of these license plate readers and the future of our city when it comes to surveillance technology," community organizer Cathy Carrillo told members of the council.

License plate reader cost and placement

MNPD Deputy Chief Greg Blair said the six fixed-location pilot program cameras in each of the four city quadrants were placed based on violent crime data from 2021 to 2022. They were arranged in clusters to allow the technology to "get multiple hits" and indicate a direction of travel that would make it easier to take a suspect into custody, he said in a presentation to council committees on Aug. 1.

The location of license plate readers in Nashville's 6-month pilot program compared to Davidson County non-white populations. License plate readers are divided into quadrants: Quadrant A (yellow), Quadrant B (red), Quadrant C (blue) and Quadrant D (green). Darker areas of orange represent a higher non-white percentage of the population.

Mobile LPRs moved throughout the county.

"There's no way we could do a pilot program and cover every inch of this county," he said. "It would be too much money and too much burden on our vendors."

The pilot program served as a type of audition for the technology and its providers. The cost of an expansion is unknown because bids are confidential while Metro is engaged in a procurement process. That process is currently on pause, but should the council approve expansion on Tuesday, procurement could be complete by late September or early October, Blair said.

If the council does not approve the resolution on Tuesday, MNPD must cease using the LPR technology.

Last August, the city council of Concord, California  a bay area city home to about 125,000 people  approved up to roughly $789,000 for the purchase of 65 LPRs and software to match from Atlanta-based LPR company Flock Safety.

Nashville police, district attorney see pilot as success

Before a plate number can be sent to dispatch for action, two officers and an LPR program administrator (a command-level sworn MNPD officer who manages the LPR program) must verify the hit is valid using the National Crime Information Center law enforcement database.

The pilot program saw 1,316 verified hits, according to the oversight board's analysis.

LPRs were connected to the recovery of 14 guns, 87 vehicles and 14 license plates.

Blair shared stories of the technology being used in cases that led to arrests. Police used LPRs to help identify a 16-year-old and recover from his room licenses, ID cards, keys, license plates, ammunition and machines used to make key fobs. Arrests like this allow law enforcement a chance to intervene, he said.

"This is a 16-year-old kid, and if he keeps going down this path, he's going to go down the wrong way."

License plate readers in use at the intersection of Charlotte Pike and White Bridge Road in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, June 29, 2023.

Nashville Assistant District Attorney Jenny Charles recounted a case in which a license plate reader was used to identify a stolen vehicle used by a man who is now serving time for homicide using a firearm.

"Mass incarceration is an injustice, wrongful convictions are an injustice, and crime is also an injustice, and people having their bodies maimed and shot with firearms," Charles said. "These cases going unsolved is an injustice. We need every tool in our toolbox to solve these crimes, and license plate readers are an important part of that."

Oversight board: Technology has scant recovery rate

The Metro Nashville Community Oversight Board requested more detailed pilot program data from May 7 through May 17, finding the rate of verified hits, recoveries and apprehensions as a result of using the technology to be scant.

About 3.5 million scans in the 10-day period resulted in around 1,400 hits (a hit rate of 0.041%). Of those, about 119 hits were verified (a verified hit rate of 0.0033%). The recovery and apprehension rate for that period was about 0.00025%, according to MNCO Digital Evidence and Data Analyst Dylan DePriest.

He said a cost effectiveness audit is necessary before a full LPR rollout. Blair said the limited number of overall arrests during the pilot period is evidence of "precision policing."

Of the 35 people arrested from May 7 through 17, nearly 49% of them were Black, and around 8.6% were unhoused, DePriest said. Sixty percent had force used against them, and of those, nearly 62% were Black.

He said more time is needed to do further research on topics spanning types of warrants, charges, the resident status of those arrested, rates of false hits and the impact of LPRs on houseless individuals, "since we saw a surprisingly high rate in the arrest data we had access to."

MNPD reported that of the 112 people arrested through the duration of the pilot program (81 adults and 31 juveniles), 103 had a local criminal history, having been arrested a collective 829 times under charges including violent felonies, robbery, auto theft, burglary, misdemeanor assault, and drug and gun infractions.

Because the most law enforcement outcomes occurred in non-white and low-income areas, DePriest said MNPD should release the locations of the 117 prospective cameras to the council and public, "to ensure the requirement of equitable distribution is met."

Traffic drives through the intersection of Dickerson Pike and Trinity Lane, one of several intersections with license plate readers, in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, July 3, 2023.

Community groups say risks are 'just too big'

Judith Clerjeune, campaigns and advocacy director for the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition, said the risks are "just too big."

"It's hopefully common sense that we would actually do the due diligence necessary before committing all of us to something that might have drastic and unforeseen consequences to the community," she said, noting that there is no way to secure LPR data from the state.

The data is wiped after 10 days unless it is evidence in a criminal investigation.

The council has passed additional legislation barring LPR data use for anti-abortion law enforcement and restricting data use for immigration enforcement, but the strength of those barricades could have limited efficacy if faced with subpoenas. Per state and federal law, Metro could still use LPR data to verify or report a person's immigration status.

Emily Herbert, a deputy public defender in Nashville, said she believes LPRs will have a disproportionate impact on her office's clients.

"We're choosing to cede our privacy interests in the interest of public safety, (but) public safety doesn't just encompass solving crimes," she said. "It encompasses preventing crimes. We could be investing in a better educational system, we could be investing in community mental health care."

MNCO Executive Director Jill Fitcheard said the oversight board hasn't received a formal complaint about LPR use, but clarified that citizens stopped as a result of an LPR hit would not be aware unless an officer informed them. And even then, the waters are muddy: The use of an LPR does not, in itself, constitute misconduct.

"The feedback that we have received is more informed, and it's more sincere," she said. "People are concerned about the overall use of LPRs and their placement in low-income and non-white areas of the city. They are concerned about Nashville becoming a surveillance city, specifically one where the racial and social economic disparities of our criminal justice system are exasperated by technology. They are concerned that LPRs are opening the door to facial recognition technology."

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Will Nashville expand license plate reader use by police?
Little-known senator Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar was sworn in Monday as Pakistan's caretaker prime minister to see the country through to an election due in months.

Kakar, 52, takes charge of a country that has been wracked by political and economic instability for months, with Imran Khan -- Pakistan's most popular politician -- in jail and disqualified from elections for five years.

Kakar was sworn in by President Arif Alvi on Pakistan's Independence Day in a ceremony carried live on TV, having resigned from his post as senator on Sunday.

"I Anwaar-ul-Haq, do swear solemnly... that I will bear true faith and allegiance to Pakistan," he said.

Kakar's first task will be to choose a cabinet to run the country as it heads into an election period that could last for months.

Parliament was officially dissolved last week, with elections due within 90 days according to the constitution.

But data from the latest census was finally published earlier this month, and the outgoing government said the election commission needed time to redraw constituency boundaries.

There has been speculation for months that a vote would be delayed as the establishment struggles to stabilise a country facing overlapping security, economic and political crises.

"I am relinquishing heavy responsibility after 16 months... We came constitutionally and leave as per the direction of the constitution," outgoing premier Shehbaz Sharif said in a farewell address to the nation on Sunday.

Pakistan has been in political turmoil since Khan was dismissed as premier by a no-confidence vote in April 2022, culminating in him being jailed last weekend for three years for graft.

He has been disqualified from standing for office for five years, but is appealing against his sentence and conviction.

- Cracked down -

Authorities have cracked down hard against Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party in recent months, crushing his grassroots power by rounding up thousands of his supporters and officials.

Political analyst Hasan Askari Rizvi told AFP at the weekend that Kakar "has a limited political career and not much weight in Pakistani politics".

"This can be an advantage because he has no strong affiliation with the major political parties," he said.

"But the disadvantage is that being a lightweight politician, he may find it difficult to cope with the problems he's going to face without the active support of the military establishment."

Analyst Ayesha Siddiqa noted that Kakar had done courses at the National Defence University -- formerly the military's war college -- and said he would be close to the establishment.

"It seems that the establishment has struck and they have found somebody who will be watching over their interests rather than that of politicians," she said.

Last month, parliament rushed through legislation that gives the caretaker government more power to negotiate with global bodies such as the International Monetary Fund, another clue it may be around for a while.

Some analysts think the delay could give time for the main coalition partners -- the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) -- to figure out how to address the challenge of Khan's PTI.

"But in reality, delaying the election could simply anger the public more and galvanise an opposition that has already suffered through months of crackdowns," said Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center.

Behind any election in Pakistan lurks the military, which has staged at least three successful coups since the country was forged from the partition of India in 1947.

Khan enjoyed genuine widespread support when he came to power in 2018, but analysts say it was only with the blessing of the country's powerful generals -- with whom he reportedly fell out in the months before his ousting.

For analyst Rasul Bakhsh Rais, Kakar is the "best possible choice given the circumstances" in Pakistan today.

"He is well educated and from a minority province, where the sense of deprivation is very high," he said, adding that another point in the new premier's favour is that he "doesn't carry much political baggage".

zz-fox/sw/qan
Ken Chesebros name hasnt been in as many headlines as some of Donald Trumps other coup-plotting allies, but it may soon be listed next to several of them on a criminal indictment.

The Justice Department indicted Donald Trump last month for his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, listing six unnamed, as-yet-unindicted co-conspirators who helped him plot to stay in power. Chesebro has been identified as one of them, but Special Counsel Jack Smiths probe may not even be the most pressing legal issue the conservative lawyer faces. Chesebros role in the coup attempt very much involved Georgia, and many believe hell be indicted this week by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.

Chesebro played an instrumental role in the former presidents undemocratic push to remain in office. John Eastman, another alleged co-conspirator, is widely credited with masterminding the scheme to halt the certification of the Electoral College by submitting a slate of fake electors, but it was Chesebro who first proposed the idea in a Nov. 18 memo to Jim Troupis, a Trump attorney working in Wisconsin.

Chesebro sent another memo a few weeks later about expanding the strategy to other states. Ive mulled over how January might play out, and it seems feasible that the Trump campaign can prevent Biden from amassing 270 electoral votes on January 6, and force the Members of Congress, the media, and the American people to focus on the substantive evidence of illegal election and counting activities in the six contested states, he wrote in the memo, which was detailed by The New York Times last week. Chesebro called the plot a bold, controversial strategy that the Supreme Court would likely reject.



Chesebro wasnt finished. He sent another memo laying out ways to get around some of the complications with the scheme on Dec. 9. Then on Dec. 13, he sent a note to Rudy Giuliani, also an alleged co-conspirator, explaining how Mike Pence could halt the Electoral College certification, with allied senators refusing to count votes from states that submitted alternate slates of electors. Chesebro continued to correspond with Trumps legal team and other allies about how to work the courts and what congressional Republicans needed to do ahead of Jan. 6 in order to give the plan a chance.

Chesebros eagerness to insert himself into a scheme to subvert the democratic process in order to keep Donald Trump in the White House is remarkable considering his background. He ran in liberal circles in law school, donated to Democrats, and praised Barack Obama before he became a senator. He even worked on the team representing Al Gore in the Supreme Court following the 2000 election. Chesebro got really into cryptocurrency in the 2010s, however, sparking a conservative turn, as Air Mail detailed in a recent profile. He was representing top Republican senators by the end of the decade, and donated the maximum amount to Trumps 2020 campaign before working to reverse the result of the election.

Chesebros role in the coup attempt has put him in the crosshairs of the House Jan. 6 Committee, the Justice Department, and Willis, who subpoenaed him last year. Rolling Stone reported last week that Willis is likely to indict multiple Trump associates involved in the effort to overturn the election, and that Chesebro could be near the top of the list. He already appears to be trying to distance himself from the scheme.

Whether the campaign relied upon that advice as Mr. Chesebro intended will have to remain a question to be resolved in court, Scott Grubman, Chesebros attorney, said in a statement to Rolling Stone. We hope that the Fulton D.A. and the special counsel fully recognize these issues before deciding who, if anyone, to charge, he added.

More from Rolling Stone

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Click here to read the full article.
4:52 p.m.

The level 2 and level 3 evacuation orders previously issued for North Leonard PR, Montana PR, West Sunrise PR Northwest, Wagon Wheel PR Northwest and West 682 have been reduced to level 1.

That means everyone who has left their homes in those areas can return.

But people should still be prepared to leave in case the fire gets worse, say fire officials.

There are three levels of evacuation orders that can be issued ranging in severity. At level 1, you should be aware of the fire and make plans if you need to leave.

At level 2, you should get ready to go, and at level 3 you need leave right away.

3:10 p.m.

Highway 225 is being opened again after the fire moved away from that area.

2:50 p.m.

Five small planes have been seen helping firefighters battle the slow moving fire.

A fire fighting aircraft drops a load of water at a two-alarm wildfire that forced people from homes Monday afternoon just north of Benton City. There were no immediate details on the size or cause of the blaze.

Firefighters continue to battle the blaze north of Benton County. It does not appear that any homes have been touched and firefighters have been using a bulldozer to clear the ground ahead of the fire.

1:15 p.m.

Highway 225 between Acord Road and the Rattlesnake shooting range is being closed to traffic.

1 p.m.

The Washington State Fire Marshals Office has reported the fire is 100 acres and growing.

State mobilization to battle the Trinity PR fire has been authorized while the fire continues to burn grass and threaten homes.

There are three airplanes and two helicopters dousing water from the air.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

_______________

A two-alarm wildfire forced people from homes on a rural road north of Benton City on Monday afternoon.

People in homes on North Leonard private road are being told to leave ahead of a fire that started near West Trinity private road at about 10:15 a.m. Monday, the Benton County Emergency Services said.

The area is near Highway 225 and Rattlesnake Mountain.

Residents on Leonard Road PR have reported that the fire was approaching their homes. A team of firefighters was dispatched to the area to try to protect the properties.

A fire truck stages next to a home that was threatened by a two-alarm wildfire that forced people from homes Monday afternoon just north of Benton City. There were no immediate details on the size or cause of the blaze.

A Level 2 notice, meaning to prepare to leave, has been issued for Montana PR W, Sunrise PR NW, Wagon Wheel PR NW and West 682 PR NW, according to the Benton County Emergency Services.

This means to be prepared to evacuate at a moments notice.

The area of West private road 682 Northwest, south of West Acord Road are being told to make preparations to evacuate.

An American Red Cross Shelter has been set up at 7202 W. Deschutes Ave. in Kennewick.

There were no immediate details on the size or cause of the blaze.

Wildland fire trucks patrol the perimeter of a two-alarm wildfire that forced people from homes Monday afternoon just north of Benton City. There were no immediate details on the size or cause of the blaze.

A wildland strike team was called in to help and aerial support from planes or helicopters are coming to help, according to dispatch reports.

Officials are asking people to avoid driving in that area.

A group of fire fighting aircraft line up in the sky preparing to drop their loads water at a two-alarm wildfire that forced people from homes Monday afternoon just north of Benton City. There were no immediate details on the size or cause of the blaze.

This is a breaking story. Check back for updates.
CHICAGO  Michael Ciszewski and Susanna Triantafillou stood before a seemingly endless wall of snacks: spicy lobster-flavored Lays, truffle-infused Pringles, garlicky shrimp Cheetos. Around the corner, chocolate spoons and matcha KitKats beckoned.

The couple came to Exotic Snacks R Us a few days before a road trip to Colorado to stock up on snacks for the drive. Ciszewski said he was excited to get some of his favorite Polish snacks for Triantafillou to try.

I wanted to share that with my girlfriend because Im Polish, but then I also wanted to just try some different ones, he said. Itll be interesting to taste them and try and figure out what they are and where they are from.

International snack stores have made quite the mark on Chicagoland  and beyond  in 2023, with new stores that give locals the chance to try hundreds of sweet, salty, fizzy, crunchy or creamy tastes from around the globe.

Triantafillou said they learned about the northwest suburban Arlington Heights store through Instagram, so the pair drove over from Norridge, Illinois.

We thought it would be cool to try something new, all these fun snacks, and were honestly having fun just trying to figure out what everything is, Triantafillou said. Its a whole experience really, and its just exciting. It kind of adds a little spice to life when you try something new.

Online search interest for international snacks has doubled over the past two years, and search for exotic snacks  which some consider an offensive term because it presumes an Anglocentric view of nonwhite culture  has surged even more. On TikTok and Instagram, videos of shop owners packing up orders of international snacks rack up hundreds of thousands of views.

One such store opened in Lincoln Park in late June and has been reveling in the steady stream of visitors ever since. Exotic Snack Guys is both a retail storefront and an online store shipping international snacks across the United States.

Zohaib Naman, one of the owners, said he and his business partner grew up in the Chicago area and are friends from high school. Last year, they noticed international snacks trending on social media as stores opened in markets like New York and Toronto.

It seemed like such a good idea. And I told him I walked into a Middle Eastern store  I was born in the Middle East  and I saw this candy that I remembered from when I was a kid and it brought back memories, Naman said. Its a good feeling to bring back those kinds of memories for people, and its exciting to learn about different kinds of snacks too.

Naman said he also enjoys traveling, so being able to visit different countries to research snacks and find suppliers is a dream. Up next on his list is Brazil, which he is particularly excited about.

The store carries snacks from over 30 countries currently via some 30 different suppliers, Naman said, and he hopes to represent 70 to 80 countries by the end of the year.

The shop has a wide assortment of munchies covered, from imaginative chips and drinks to different candy confections and ice cream designed to serve a global range of palates. Some of the stores bestsellers include a mojito-flavored 7UP and mango-dragon fruit Fanta from France, along with KFC-flavored Ruffles from Canada  which Naman said tastes like KFC chicken for real  Magic Masala Lays from India, green onion Cheetos from Poland and Tiger Chips from Egypt, which are flavored like kebabs.

The store will also take special orders, Naman said. Customers have come in looking for a particular snack theyve been wanting to try or enjoy again  paprika and oregano chips from Greece were a recent example. If its not in stock, the owners will track it down and order it.

We keep an ongoing list through the store and online of snacks people want us to have, and its a way for us to discover new snacks also, he said.

The store has been so popular, Naman said, we basically outgrew ourselves in a month, and the team is working to transition from in-house processing and packaging to a new storage and distribution center in suburban Bensenville.

Naman is also opening stores in other cities with the help of close friends and family. He said two more locations of Exotic Snack Guys are under construction in Milwaukee and Houston, and stores in Miami and Orlando, Florida, should be in the works in the next couple of months.

In Arlington Heights, Exotic Snacks R Us has a sibling store in Roselle that opened this summer, Exotic Snacks N Anime, said Ali Judah, one of the owners. He and his partners have plans for a third location in Harwood Heights.

Judah said he wanted to get into the international snack business as a way to bring people together.

A lot of people are separated from each other and judging other peoples cultures, so I thought maybe I can bring snacks from all over the world and people can come together and love each other and other countries and cultures, Judah said.

The snacks are imported directly from some 20 countries of origin, Judah said, with help from suppliers in those countries.

The Arlington Heights shop quickly drew customers after opening in March, said Ana Alvarez, who started working there soon after the launch. The store was so, so busy, especially in the first few months, she said. Customers have come from Wisconsin and Indiana for a taste of the international offerings.

She said snacks from China, Japan, Turkey, Poland and the Middle East are crowd favorites, and the Chinese chip flavors like crab and spicy fish are popular sellers.

Many of the popular snacks are common U.S. brands, but in flavors that you dont see here, Judah said, like steak-flavored Lays from Taiwan or chicken-flavored Doritos from Korea.

Judah said he loves seeing smiles on peoples faces while they walk around and try new snacks.

When people see how good snacks from other countries are, they start to change their minds about other people and places, Judah said. They start to respect other cultures.

Exotic Snacks R Us, 1085 E. Golf Road, Arlington Heights; 847-258-5660; exoticsnacksrus.com

Exotic Snack Guys, 2521 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-904-7479, exoticsnackguys.com
You are here: China

This aerial photo taken on Aug. 9, 2023 shows workers operating machinery to repair a bridge in Sanpo Town, Laishui County, north China's Hebei Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

China will enhance credit support for infrastructure reconstruction and upgrading in disaster-stricken areas to help people and businesses tide over difficulties, the National Administration of Financial Regulation (NAFR) said on Monday.

Transportation, telecommunication, gas and power supply, water conservation, and waterlogging prevention projects will be provided more lending support, the NAFR added.

Banks are encouraged to develop special credit products to help small and micro companies, individual businesses, farming and breeding enterprises, and rural households in the affected areas, according to the NAFR.

Insurance companies are encouraged to provide long-term capital for key projects in infrastructure and public services, the NAFR said.

It has called on financial institutions across the country to address the needs of those in the disaster-hit areas to mitigate the impact of flooding on social and economic development and people's lives.
The oldest enclosed mall in Columbia could soon have a new owner.

Word of God Church and Ministries International, a large multicultural church with a campus on Columbias Diamond Lane, announced Sunday on its website and across its social media channels that it has entered into a contract to purchase Dutch Square Center mall at 421 Bush River Road. Word of Gods Bishop Eric Davis also announced the plans during his Sunday sermon, to the cheers of the churchs congregation.

With the addition of Dutch Square Mall to its portfolio, (Word of God) aims to revitalize this space, breathing new life into it and transforming it into a place of inspiration, unity, and prosperity for the local community and region at-large, the church said in a release.

Davis said during his Sunday sermon that the mall purchase is under contract and the church hopes the deal closes before the end of the year.

Dutch Square, located just southeast of where Interstates 20 and 26 meet, was Columbias first true indoor mall, opening in 1970, and has had scores of retail tenants through the years. Like many malls across the shifting retail landscape of the U.S., it has struggled to retain national tenants in recent years and has a number of empty storefronts. However, there remain notable tenants at Dutch Square, including Burlington department store, a 14-screen Bow Tie Cinemas movie theater, Office Depot, a Planet Fitness gym and a number of other businesses.

Richland County property records show the mall property is currently owned by New York-based Nassimi Realty, which purchased the property in 2017, according to a release from the company.

Full details of Word of Gods future plans for the mall property have not been announced. A Word of God video announcing the planned purchase of the mall touts its 40 acres and more than 500,000-square-foot building, as well as some of the key tenants that are at the mall.

There is a big vision that is global as a result of this acquisition, but Im not going to share it all now, Davis told his congregation Sunday. There will be some time in the near future where Ill call the congregation together and lay out the entire vision, even as the pieces come together.

Its not unprecedented for a Columbia church to add a shopping complex to its portfolio. Seven years ago, Meeting Place Church of Greater Columbia, led by Bishop Eric Freeman, purchased 23 acres and a quarter-million square feet of a shopping center at 201 Columbia Mall Blvd., not far from Two Notch Road. That complex includes the Spotlight Cinemas Capital 8 movie theater and other businesses.

The news of the planned purchase of Dutch Square mall comes after a different mall across town made headlines last week. Developers announced earlier this year that Richland Mall, located at 3400 Forest Drive, would be demolished and the property would be overhauled with new retail, residences and more. Last week, the Belk department store at Richland Mall announced it would close in early September, and the Barnes & Noble bookstore announced it would move out of Richland Mall in early 2024 and relocate to Garners Ferry Road.
[Source]

The Miss Asian Global and Miss Asian America Pageant  the United States' longest-running Asian American beauty pageant  has crowned Kylie Chang and Erin Kwon as this year's winners.

Miss Asian Global: Chang, 18, was crowned the 38th Miss Asian Global at the Herbst Theatre in San Francisco on Saturday.

All the hard work has paid off. It was a very exciting moment for me, Chang told KRON4.

Chang advocates and promotes the arts through dance in her community, especially with underserved youth. She currently volunteers as a dance teacher at Friends of Children with Special Needs to help children build confidence.

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Chang is also an ambassador for Catwalk for Charitable Causes, a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization that creates fashion events for charitable causes.

Miss Asian America: Kwon, who won this year's Miss Asian America title, is a 24-year-old medical student from Irvine, California. She advocates for better healthcare education in the Asian American elderly community. Kwon combines her love for elderly people and the medical field through hospice volunteering.

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I didnt even expect to place. I just wanted to have an experience where I meet other women and just do something outside of my comfort zone, but I got way more than I ever expected so Im very, very pleased, Kwon told KRON4.

About the pageant: The Miss Asian Global and Miss Asian America Pageant was founded in 1985 by Rose Chung at the Asian Arts Festival in Santa Clara, California.

According to its official website, the pageant is committed to the personal and professional growth of young Asian women and empower[s] them to break into leadership.
Los Angeles police fatally shot a man early Sunday after going to a home where there was a reported vehicle theft in progress, the department said.

Police went to the home in the 6300 block of South Hoover Street around 5:20 a.m. after a call about a theft with the "suspect there now," the L.A. Police Department said in a statement posted on social media.

Officers said they found a man in his 30s in a vehicle parked in the driveway. They said he had a gun.

Read more: L.A. County search-and-rescue team with K-9s heads to Maui to scour Lahaina buildings

An unknown number of officers shot the man, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

There were no further details late Sunday on the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

A gun was found at the scene, police officials said.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Mining has traditionally been a major industry in Madagascar, contributing to the majority of inbound investment between 2005 and 2013.

The Madagascan president's chief-of-staff has been charged in the UK with seeking a bribe from a gem mining firm.

Romy Andrianarisoa and an associate are accused of offering the British firm Gemfields licences in Madagascar in return for around 225,000.

She and her associate, Philippe Tabuteau, have been charged with requesting, agreeing to receive or accepting a bribe.

Both were remanded in custody after a brief court appearance on Saturday,

Ms Andrianarisoa, 46, and French national Mr Tabuteau, 54, are also accused of trying to land a 5% equity stake in any Gemfields Madagascar projects, according to the National Crime Agency (NCA).

The agency said that the pair were arrested in the Victoria area of central London on Thursday afternoon, at a meeting where they were suspected of having attempted to solicit a bribe.

Andy Kelly, the NCA's head of international corruption, said: "I am grateful to Gemfields for bringing this matter to our attention and for their ongoing co-operation with the investigation."

Ms Andrianarisoa and Mr Tabuteau appeared in court on Saturday and have both been remanded in custody to next appear at Southwark Crown Court on 8 September.

The NCA did not specify what licences the alleged offences related to.
By Sachin Ravikumar and Lovasoa Rabary

LONDON/ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) -The Madagascan president's chief of staff has been arrested in London on suspicion of seeking a bribe from precious stone miner Gemfields and removed from her post, British and Madagascan authorities said on Monday.

Britain's National Crime Agency (NCA) said Romy Andrianarisoa, 46, and a French associate Philippe Tabuteau, 54, were detained at a meeting in London where they were believed to have sought a bribe to secure licences to operate in Madagascar.

They had wanted around 225,000 pounds ($286,000) in upfront charges as well as a 5% equity stake, the NCA statement said.

A lawyer for Andrianarisoa did not respond to a request for comment, while another who represented Tabuteau in court over the weekend declined to comment.

Madagascan President Andry Rajoelina's office said in a statement the aide had been sacked with immediate effect.

"The President remains firmly devoted to ethics in the conduct of state affairs and to fight corruption in all its forms," it said.

"Under the provisions of the bilateral relations between Madagascar and the UK, we are convinced that honest cooperation will help shed light on this matter and bring the truth to light."

Rajoelina's office said it was unaware of the reasons for Andrianarisoa's trip to Britain but that she had taken official leave from Aug. 9-22.

Andy Kelly, head of the NCA's international corruption unit, said in a statement that he was grateful to Gemfields for raising the matter and cooperating with the investigation.

"Their quick reactions to engage the NCA have been critical to our ability to pursue this case," he said.

The UK-based miner owns the Faberge jewellery brand, operates ruby and emerald mines in southern Africa and has been exploring setting up operations in countries including Ethiopia and Madagascar. It declined to comment on the case.

Andrianarisoa and Tabuteau appeared in court on Saturday and have been remanded in custody until their next hearing in London on Sept. 8, the NCA said.

($1 = 0.7881 pounds)

(Reporting by Sachin Ravikumar in London and Lovasoa Rabary in Antananarivo;Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
Editors Note: A version of this article originally appeared in the weekly weather newsletter, the CNN Weather Brief, which is released every Monday. You can sign up here to receive them every week and during significant storms.

The Northwest US has mostly been able to dodge major heat this summer, but it has arrived with a vengeance and could help to stoke and start wildfires, including in parts of western Canada where hundreds of wildfires are raging out of control.

People across parts of Washington and Oregon will face a rare extreme level of heat risk through Wednesday with temperatures expected to run as much as 20 degrees above normal.

The extreme HeatRisk is the highest possible risk level for heat, akin to a high risk for tornadoes. It is meant to warn of significant heat impacts, including heat-related illness, and urge preparation.

The temperatures are forecast to break records: Portland could hit 107 degrees Monday, which would break its old daily record and tie its hottest recorded temperature for August.

Eugene, Oregon, is also forecast to hit 107 degrees Monday, which would shatter its previous daily record of 101 degrees.

All told, more 230 heat records could be broken on Monday and Tuesday across the country.

Get your local forecast here

In addition to the high heat, red flag warnings signaling the increased fire danger cover much of western Oregon and Washington.

Low humidity levels and gusty winds will make for prime fire conditions.

Trees catch fire during the Eagle Bluff wildfire after it crossed the Canada-US border from the state of Washington and prompted evacuation orders in British Columbia, Canada on July 30, 2023. - Jesse Winter/Reuters

Roughly 2,600 firefighters are out battling the seven large fires burning across Oregon and Washington.

Even small fires, like the Lookout Fire in Lane County, Oregon, can cause issues fast. The 200-acre fire forced evacuations Sunday night, one of two fires forcing evacuations in the county. Weather conditions will cause the fires to easily spread and allow new ones to ignite.

The hot conditions are reaching as far north as Canada which is in the middle of its worst fire season on record. Heat warnings are currently in effect for southern sections of the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. The hot, dry conditions also fed more fires across British Columbia, where more than 375 active fires are currently burning. More than half of those have ignited in just the last 24 hours.

Monday high temperature potential across the South.

The exceptional heat also hasnt let up across the South. The entirety of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida are under heat alerts.

Excessive heat warnings, which is the highest level of heat alert, include major cities like Houston, New Orleans, Atlanta and Jacksonville, Florida.

Heat indexes will be 110 to 120 degrees across these cities.

Some temporary heat relief is coming for parts of the South, minus the Gulf Coast and Florida.

A cold front will push through the region tonight, dropping high temperatures for a large chunk of the heat oppressed back into the upper 80s to low 90s  a much more seasonal forecast.

The low 90s are still hot but will feel like a temporary break from the dangerous heat before it builds back in again by the end of the week.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
A male was found dead after a hit-and-run in the city Sunday night, according to police.

Officers responded to reports of an unresponsive male found in the middle of the road in the 2300 block of 2nd Avenue just before 10 p.m.

The male had severe head injuries. Officers began CPR until medics pronounced him dead at the scene.

On Tuesday, the Allegheny County Medical Examiners Office identified the victim as 23-year-old James Jerry Vas-Patterson.

The 10th Street Bridge was temporarily shut down, according to a 911 dispatcher.

The investigation is ongoing.

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LATEST UPDATES: 5 people dead, including child, after massive explosion in Plum Father, son among five killed in Plum Borough house explosion PHOTOS: House leveled in explosion in Plum Borough; several other homes damaged VIDEO: RAW: New doorbell vdieo shows moment house exploded in Plum Borough DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts
A local roofer is behind bars after police say he started a fire at a Westmoreland County Gentlemans Club early Saturday morning.

Javier Ramirez is facing aggravated arson, risking a catastrophe, making terroristic threats, and other charges after police say he set fire to The Filly Gentlemans Club in South Huntingdon Township this weekend.

There were people inside the building when the fire was started, so these are very serious offenses, said Trooper Kalee Barnhart of Pennsylvania State Police Uniontown.

According to court documents, state police were called to the club around 2:30 a.m. Saturday. Troopers were told by fire officials that they believed the fire was intentionally set, as they could smell kerosene.

Police said surveillance video from the neighboring Citgo gas station shows Ramirez buying fuel for the fire.

We had that surveillance video which showed Mr. Ramirez filling up a five-gallon bucket with gasoline, purchasing a lighter, and also grabbing something to set that fire, Barnhart said.

Police say footage from the club shows Ramirez entering the club with another man hours before the fire. Barnhart said that man told police Ramirez was an employee for his moms construction company. Police say that man was not involved in the fire.

Later that morning, police said Ramirez called the police himself about the fire. He allegedly told police he was walking and didnt know where he was. Police told him to go to a gas station, and they arrested him at a GetGo in New Stanton.

He did state that he was aware of the arson, and they located him after that phone call was received, Barnhart said.

Barnhart said there is no known address for Ramirez in the area, but that he is originally from Mexico.

Ramirez is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison without bond. Hes due in court on Aug. 23.

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A Lee County jury has convicted one of three suspects in the 2015 killing of a Lehigh Acres man following a five-day trial.

Jurors on Friday evening convicted Dexter Thomas, 42, of Fort Myers, of first-degree premeditated murder; first-degree burglary; and conspiracy to commit first-degree burglary for a deadly home invasion robbery.

The Lee County grand jury indicted Thomas on the charges on Dec. 18, 2020. Assistant State Attorneys Daniel Feinberg and Jennifer Royal prosecuted the case.

His trial began nearly one week after one of the co-defendants, Antonio Crews, 32, accepted a plea deal from the state July 28.

On Feb. 21, 2015, deputies responded to the 4000 block of Centennial Boulevard, where they found Luis Enrique Vazquez-Ocasio, 36, with a gunshot wound. Vazquez-Ocasio later died.

Detectives said a trio of suspects entered the home to rob Vazquez-Ocasio and fatally shot him.

Tiphanie Dawn Sager, 30, of Cape Coral, in September 2020 was sentenced to nine years in prison after she pleaded guilty before Lee Circuit Judge Robert Branning.

The third co-defendant, Crews, of Cape Coral, was arrested in September 2020 by the Fugitive Warrants Task Force. He faced charges of second-degree murder; first-degree burglary; and conspiracy to commit first-degree burglary with an assault or battery conspiracy.

Crews pleaded guilty on Friday before Thompson and was sentenced to 14 years in prison for the second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree burglary with an assault or battery. The state dropped the first-degree burglary charge.

Thomas' sentencing is slated for Sept. 22.

Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran, Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews and Twitter @TomasFRoBeltran.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Lee County jury convicts Fort Myers man in '15 Lehigh Acres fatal
A man trying to break into his parents Arizona home ended up getting shot by his dad, police said.

At 6 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 12, deputies responded to reports of a shooting at a home in Sun City West, according to a news release from the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office.

The man wasnt allowed at his parents house because of drug-related issues, deputies said.

His father shot him and he was sent to the hospital for possible life-threatening injuries, the release said.

On Aug. 14, Sgt. Monica Bretado of the sheriffs office told McClatchy News the charges for the man are being filed to the county attorney as hes still in the hospital.

The father isnt facing any charges at this time, Bretado said.

Sun City West is about 20 miles northwest of Phoenix.

Kia owner shoots accused car thief while standing on apartment balcony, Texas cops say

70-year-old with blade hidden in cane fatally stabs man fighting her son, officials say

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U.S. attorney general appoints special counsel in Hunter Biden probe

Xinhua) 10:24, August 14, 2023

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland on Friday appointed a special counsel for the probe into Hunter Biden, the son of U.S. President Joe Biden, according to an Associated Press report.

David Weiss, the U.S. attorney in Delaware who had already been probing Hunter Biden's financial dealings, was named by Garland as special counsel after plea deal talks in the case broke down, said the report.

The appointment of the special counsel is deemed as a significant development from typically cautious Garland, and provides Weiss with independence, authority and budget to pursue the investigation.

The U.S. Department of Justice said in a June court filing that Hunter Biden, who has been under investigation by a federal grand jury since 2018, will plead guilty to two misdemeanor counts of failing to pay his 2017 and 2018 taxes on time.

However, prosecutors in Delaware announced Friday that the plea deal talks had hit an impasse.

Special counsels in the United States are typically appointed to investigate cases where the Justice Department perceives itself as having a conflict or where it's deemed to be in the public interest.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
Even as Linhui Yan was being investigated for human trafficking in Louisiana, he held a massage therapy license in Washington.

That license was used to open and operate 12 massage businesses across the state, including four in Kennewick. At least one of those involved a woman who offered to sell sexual services to an undercover officer.

The state Department of Health recently suspended Yans license after he was charged criminally in Chelan County with leading an organized crime organization, promoting prostitution and money laundering.

The Kennewick raid on West Clearwater Avenue in March highlighted a problem hiding in plain sight.

It ended up being the first of three raids over a few months that led to 11 Tri-Cities massage parlors closing.

Six were directly tied to sex trafficking allegations and two because of licensing problems. Three others closed for unknown reasons but were tied to one of the owners.

Its a problem thats been an open secret in the community for while, said Tricia MacFarlan, who runs the faith-based Mirror Ministries working to help survivors of human trafficking.

The shops often dont stand out.

Theyre not flashy and are often found in shopping centers, providing them with an air of legitimacy, said Chris Muller-Tabenera, the chief strategy officer with The Network, an intelligence-driven counter human trafficking organization.

A combination of a lack of resources and a lack of will to find the businesses has created an open market where women are usually brought in from East Asian countries and required to sell sex, he said.

The number of illicit massage parlors across the U.S. has grown 10% a year since 2019, Muller-Tabenera said.

Whats really driving the increasing market is the level of impunity and invincibility that operators feel in running an illicit massage parlor, he said.

A new Kennewick ordinance will help police investigate and shut down illicit massage businesses. They searched a massage business at 6201 West Clearwater Ave. in March 2023.

Most of the eight shops searched this year in Richland and Kennewick opened within the last year.

Sgt. Chris Littrell said the booming population in the Tri-Cities is also a factor.

As we grow, things tend to quietly settle in, he said. Sometimes its good things. Sometimes its unlawful things. We have to decide as a Tri-City community what were going to tolerate. If we approach it as a community, its going to increase the ability to solve it.

Kennewick and Richland city councils are taking steps to address the issue. Each adopted new rules this year in an attempt to curtail what has been a growing issue not only in the Tri-Cities, but nationwide.

City officials hope the changes will be the first steps to making it more difficult for illicit massage parlors to open and stay operating in the Tri-Cities.

Pasco doesnt have current plans to change its ordinances, said officials.

Kennewick police help federal agents search a massage business at 6201 West Clearwater Ave., Kennewick. A series of searches across Washington state March 1, 2023, focused on human trafficking.

Illicit massage parlors

Kennewicks efforts to find illicit shops this year started with people calling police about their unusual experiences at the storefronts, said Littrell.

Then in March, Kennewick police were contacted by the Wenatchee-based Columbia River Drug Task Force. The task force was in the middle of a 7-month investigation into Linhui Yan and Yan Yang.

Yan already had been tied to a Louisiana massage parlor in 2019 that was accused of engaging in human trafficking, according to a story from WAFB-TV.

Yan held a massage therapist license issued by the Washington State Department of Health in 2015, according to public records. However, court records show he wasnt at any of the locations police investigated.

That includes the raided Clearwater Avenue shop.

According to public records, Yan had business licenses for three other locations in Kennewick. One was closed before the investigation and two others were closed after. Its not clear whether those closures were tied to the investigation.

Currently, Yan and Yang are facing criminal charges in Chelan County.

In late April, Richland massage businesses with different owners were raided.

Richland police were helping with a King County investigation that lead to the Eastern Silk Spa on George Washington Way.

A suspected organized crime operation from Burien was allegedly operating the business, according to police.

Gerald and Jing Emtage have since been charged in King County with leading a criminal organization and promoting prostitution.

6 suspected massage shops

Then in May, Kennewick investigators, state Department of Health inspectors and Mirror Ministries officials visited six other shops on busy Kennewick streets.

Fragrant Oil Spa was at 5009 W. Clearwater Ave. in Kennewick before it closed.

None were reportedly following state laws required for massage businesses.

The six businesses searched were:

ShangriLa Massage 5917 W. Clearwater Ave.



VIP Massage at 3321 W. Kennewick Ave. Fragrant Oil Spa at 5009 W. Clearwater Ave. Royal Massage appears to be located at 4727 W. Clearwater Ave. Joy Spa at 2459 South Union Place Dream Spa at 5612 W. Clearwater Ave.

Two of them, Joy Spa and Dream Spa, were not linked to selling sexual services, Kennewick Commander Christian Walters told the Herald.

None of the businesses have reopened at those locations.

All of the businesses posted a license for a massage therapist, but permitted several unlicensed practitioners to operate. The youngest woman was in her late 30s and the oldest was in her 50s, according to Kennewick officials.

VIP Massage was at 3321 W. Kennewick Ave.

Investigators found nine women, who appeared to be living the buildings, and all except one didnt speak English, according to Kennewick officials.

In the past, police arrested the women found at illicit massage parlors but that has changed not that officials are recognizing that the women are mostly likely trafficking victims.

This time, Mirror Ministries officials were on hand to offer help to the women, instead. MacFarlan said at least one woman had been so deprived of personal belongings she broke down crying when she was offered some new underwear.

Its those little pieces of dignity that are so very powerful, MacFarlan told the Herald.

Most of the women we talked to didnt feel like they had any other options for employment, she said. Its disheartening that there isnt more uproar for these women from our community. We all seem to know these massage parlors are here.

Officials said their investigation found that some of the women didnt know what town they were in and some had been flown to Seattle before being driven to the Tri-Cities. Many were clearly living in the stores, bathing in the store restrooms and eating and sleeping in office areas.

Who owns the businesses?

The ownership of the questionable businesses is often hard to determine, Assistant City Attorney Laurencio Sanguino told the Kennewick City Council at a hearing.

A search of the Department of Revenue records shows the Kennewick businesses were either listed as a sole proprietorships or a limited liability corporations with names like BB Management and Consulting, Toan LLC and Eel Electric LLC.

Sanguino explained that these business allow the license holders to hide additional owners and then reopen under another name.

State records show three of the locations, ShangriLa Massage, Dream Spa and Joy Spa were owned by the same person.

Shangri La Massage was at 5917 W. Clearwater Ave. in Kennewick.

The names of the owners and corporations are general enough that there are hundreds of entries in public records for the same name, making it hard to identify the exact owner.

With one exception, they all used the business address as the mailing address for their business license applications. And one only listed a home address for a couple months.

The oldest of the business licenses was issued in 2018.

While police didnt arrest anyone in connection with the search of six businesses in May, Littrell said they are continuing the investigation. To date, none of the owners have been charged in Benton County in connection with an illegal massage business.

Muller-Tabanera said the increase in storefronts are generally driven by an environment that is ripe for exploitation.

The stores open in areas where they see a low level of oversight and where people often dismiss the businesses as harmless or unimportant.

Kennewick police help federal agents search a massage business on Clearwater Avenue in Kennewick in March 2023. The effort was part of a series of searches across Washington state focused on human trafficking.

How to combat it

While police are working to shut down the businesses they find, the owners can just as easily open another store front, Muller-Tabanera said.

Thats because regulations generally make it easy to open new businesses, he said.

When Kennewick business owners apply with Washington state for a business license, they automatically apply with the city as well, Evelyn Lusignan, said the citys public relations and customer service manager.

About 6,800 licenses that have city of Kennewick endorsements are processed through the Department of Revenue.

Normally the only review done by the city in those cases is to make sure the area is zoned for the type of business that is being conducted.

City officials are hoping a new set of regulations will help police spot a problem shop sooner. The restrictions limit the hours massage businesses can be opened, along with setting other requirements.

The rules go into effect in September, and Lusignan told the Herald, police are planning to have regular inspections of massage businesses to make sure there is a licensed therapist on site.

It hasnt been decided how often police will be going out, but they will be making sure everyone working has a massage therapist license from the state Department of Health, she said.

The first violation could result in a maximum sentence of three months in jail and a $1,000 fine. Each subsequent violation, including those that happen at the same time as the first violation, could be punished with a maximum sentence of up to a year in jail and a $5,000 fine.

In addition the person holding the city business license would have to give up their Kennewick-issued massage or reflexology business licenses if they are found in District Court to have violated the city code, and they could not reapply.
[Source]

Despite Elon Musks announcements about the location of his highly anticipated cage fight with Mark Zuckerberg, the latter recently declared on social media that the match will not happen.

Musks announcements: Musk, 52, revealed in X posts on Friday that the supposed event will take place in Italy. While a specific venue has yet to be confirmed, he said the Italian Prime Minister and Minister of Culture have agreed on an epic location.

Musk also said that everything in the camera frame will be ancient Rome, so nothing modern at all.

In June, the Tesla chief executive suggested that the fight could be held at the historic Colosseum, the largest ancient amphitheater ever built.

Beneficiaries: The match will allegedly be managed by Musk and Zuckerbergs foundations, according to the former. Musk also promised that everything done will pay respect to the past and present of Italy, with proceeds going to veterans and pediatric hospitals in the country.

More from NextShark: Chinese influencers are posing by Ikea lockers for photos as part of 'American high school' trend

Zuckerbergs response: Zuckerberg, 39, has yet to confirm any of Musks announcements. Over at Threads, he referred to his rivals lack of confirmation for a fight date as a reason why Elon isnt serious and its time to move on.

Zuckerberg also pointed to Musks earlier announcement of a surgery, whose recovery period will take a few months. Additionally, Musk allegedly proposed to have a practice fight in the Meta chiefs backyard in Palo Alto, California, as per an iMessage screenshot shared by author Walter Isaacson.

Post by @zuck View on Threads
It certainly didn't take long for AI's other shoe to drop, what with the emergent technology already being perverted to commit confidence scams and generate spam content. We can now add censorship to that list as the Globe Gazette reports the school board of Mason City, Iowa has begun leveraging AI technology to cultivate lists of potentially bannable books from the district's libraries ahead of the 2023/24 school year.

In May, the Republican-controlled state legislature passed, and Governor Kim Reynolds subsequently signed, Senate File 496 (SF 496), which enacted sweeping changes to the state's education curriculum. Specifically it limits what books can be made available in school libraries and classrooms, requiring titles to be "age appropriate and without descriptions or visual depictions of a sex act, per Iowa Code 702.17.

But ensuring that every book in the district's archives adhere to these new rules is quickly turning into a mammoth undertaking. "Our classroom and school libraries have vast collections, consisting of texts purchased, donated, and found," Bridgette Exman, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction at Mason City Community School District, said in a statement. "It is simply not feasible to read every book and filter for these new requirements."

As such, the Mason City School District is bringing in AI to parse suspect texts for banned ideas and descriptions since there are simply too many titles for human reviewers to cover on their own. Per the district, a "master list" is first cobbled together from "several sources" based on whether there were previous complaints of sexual content. Books from that list are then scanned by "AI software" which tells the state censors whether or not there actually is a depiction of sex in the book.

Frankly, we have more important things to do than spend a lot of time trying to figure out how to protect kids from books, Exman told PopSci via email. At the same time, we do have a legal and ethical obligation to comply with the law. Our goal here really is a defensible process.

So far, the AI has flagged 19 books for removal. They are as follows:
The fires began burning early August 8 on Maui. PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images

The emergency response to the fires that have left at least 93 dead is being botched, locals say.

Displaced residents told Insider they're increasingly desperate for first aid, food, and water.

Locals described rerouted supply drops, looting, and nearly riot-level confrontations with police.

Maui residents are becoming increasingly desperate for local leadership to take control of the emergency response to the catastrophic fires that leveled parts of the Hawaiian island and left at least 93 dead.

While rescue crews made their way across the island with water, food, and first aid, locals told Insider supply drops were being rerouted and anguished residents were taking matters into their own hands.

"There's some police presence. There's some small military presence, but at night, people are being robbed at gunpoint," Matt Robb, a co-owner of a Lahaina bar called The Dirty Monkey, told Insider. "People are raped and pillaged. I mean, they're going through houses  and then by day, it's hunky-dory. So where is the support? I don't think our government and our leaders, at this point, know how to handle this or what to do."

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported a riot nearly broke out between police and about 100 residents after officers closed off access to a highway leading to Lahaina, one of the hardest-hit areas on the island, preventing people from returning home to gather items that could be salvaged.

Members of the staff of The Dirty Monkey said they had been coordinating with local authorities and community members, organizing and trying to direct supply drops and shipments of essential medications such as insulin to families in need.

The rubble of a home that was destroyed by a wildfire on August 12 in Kula, Hawaii. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

But as a small crew with no formal training in handling emergency response, Robb and Alen Aivazian, another co-owner, said they were left feeling like they'd been abandoned by local leadership, who they said had not communicated effectively with community members about what's going on or how the response was being handled.

"It's just been really interesting to see how when you have a full truck of a pallet of water or feminine products or whatever, and you're trying to help people, that you're being turned away," Robb said. "And I think there's a better way to organize that to be done. I just don't think it's been done the correct way. I think it comes down to the lack of leadership and the lack of knowledge of how to handle this."

Representatives for the Maui Police Department and the office of Mayor Richard Bissen of Maui County did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Aivazian and Robb told Insider they believed the mayor, who has offered limited public comments regarding the tragedy, had floundered in response to the emergency.

"I think it's the mayor's fault," Aivazian said. "If he would've asked, they had Marines, Coast Guards sitting there waiting, ready to go, and he didn't send them over. Why wouldn't the feds send them over? The mayor didn't ask and the governor didn't push. I mean, what the hell are they doing over there? They're just hanging out at the beach."

Robb added: "A lot of blood was shed because of the way the streets were closed by the police department."

Volunteers sort out donations for those affected by a wildfire in Lahaina on August 12. YUKI IWAMURA/AFP via Getty Images

Kami Irwin, a Maui resident helping to coordinate relief efforts at the Maui Brewing Co. location in Kihei, told Insider that locals were working around the clock, forgoing sleep and creating neighborhood patrols to help keep each other safe and find essentials such as clean drinking water and medications.

"I had to deal with a situation that wasn't even part of who I am or what I do," Irwin said. "I had to talk to pilots that got grounded with our medical supplies who were stuck on the Big Island because the Department of Health stopped them from transporting insulin. And we have people all over the island that need insulin."

She said residents chose to take matters into their own hands after realizing they were repeatedly seeing the same local volunteers, not government officials, coordinating aid efforts.

"We literally have no idea because we are not hearing answers from anybody," Irwin said. "We are still left without knowing what to do. And we just got word that they stopped all air and ground transportation to drop more supplies to the west side of Lahaina today."

While Irwin said she was heartened by the way Maui residents were stepping up to take care of each other, she said she couldn't put into words how devastating the fires had been, which she said was worsened by the "lack of leadership" being displayed by local government officials.

"I haven't even had time to watch the news, but people are telling me on the mainland that, from the videos that I'm sharing, that it is way worse than what the news is even sharing," Irwin said. "We have so many people that are missing and unaccounted for. It's an actual horrific nightmare that you just cannot wake up from. It's beyond words."

Correction: August 14, 2023  An earlier version of this story misnamed the news outlet that reported the tensions between residents and police over a highway closure. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported the news.

Read the original article on Insider
The death toll in Hawaii from the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century ticked toward 100, fueling criticism that government inaction contributed to the heavy loss of life.



At least 99 people were confirmed to have died as of Monday, but officials warned the figure was likely to rise as recovery crews with cadaver dogs work their way through hundreds of homes and burned-out vehicles in Lahaina. =

"There are more fatalities that will come," Hawaii Gov. Josh Green told "CBS Mornings." "The fire was so hot that what we find is the tragic finding that you would imagine, as though a fire has come through and it's hard to recognize anybody."

The historic coastal town on the island of Maui was almost entirely destroyed by the fast-moving inferno Tuesday and Wednesday, with survivors saying there had been no warnings.

Destruction is seen in a neighborhood on Aug. 13, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii, following a deadly wildfire that caused heavy damage days earlier. / Credit: AP Photo/Rick Bowmer

When asked Sunday why none of the island's sirens had been activated, Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono said she would wait for the results of an investigation announced by the state's attorney general.



"I'm not going to make any excuses for this tragedy," Hirono, a Democrat, told CNN's "State of the Union."



"We are really focused, as far as I'm concerned, on the need for rescue, and, sadly, the location of more bodies."

Rep. Jill Tokuda, of Hawaii, said on the CBS News broadcast "Face the Nation" Sunday that the state's warning sirens "likely did not go off" in Maui as the fire raced toward Lahaina.

Tokuda, a Democrat whose district includes Maui said, "Everybody who has ever lived in Hawaii knows the warning sirens. It goes off once a month, every month, at 12 noon and it blares. And if it doesn't, it gets fixed because that is our first line of defense."

She also suggested that warning signals typically sent to mobile phones could have been affected by mass power outages reported on Maui, which was experiencing extremely windy conditions when the wildfires broke out. Those outages likely prevented people from accessing useful information about the nature of the warning and guidance on how they should proceed.

How did the Maui fire start? What we know about the cause of the Lahaina blaze

Gov. Josh Green said Sunday that some 2,700 structures were destroyed in Lahaina with an estimated value of $5.6 billion.

Thousands were left homeless.

"The remains we're finding is through a fire that melted metal," Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said during a news conference Saturday. "... When we pick up the remains ... they fall apart."



That was making identification difficult, he said, appealing for those with missing relatives to give DNA samples that might speed up the process.



Pelletier said cadaver dogs still had a vast area to search for what could still be hundreds of people who are unaccounted for.



"We're going as fast as we can. But just so you know, 3%  that's what's been searched with the dogs," he said during Saturday's briefing, referring to the portion of Lahaina that had been systematically checked by crews so far.

Clint Hansen provided an aerial view of some of Lahaina:

The wildfire is the deadliest in the United States since 1918, when 453 people died in Minnesota and Wisconsin, according to the nonprofit research group the National Fire Protection Association.



The death toll in Maui surpassed the 2018 Camp Fire in California, which virtually wiped the small town of Paradise off the map and killed 86 people.

The wildfires make up the deadliest natural disaster in Hawaii since it became a state in 1959.



Questions are being asked about how prepared authorities were for the catastrophe, despite the islands' exposure to natural hazards such as tsunamis, earthquakes and violent storms.



In its emergency management plan last year, the state of Hawaii described the risk wildfires posed as "low."



Yet the layers of warning intended to buffer a citizenry if disaster strikes appear not to have operated.

A firefighting helicopter makes a water drop as a Maui County firefighter extinguishes a fire near homes during the upcountry Maui wildfires in Kula, Hawaii on August 13, 2023. / Credit: PATRICK T. FALLON / AFP via Getty Images

Maui suffered numerous power outages during the crisis, preventing many residents from receiving emergency alerts on their cellphones.



No emergency sirens sounded and many Lahaina residents spoke of learning about the blaze from neighbors running down the street or seeing it for themselves.



"The mountain behind us caught on fire and nobody told us jack," resident Vilma Reed, 63, told Agence France-Presse.



"You know when we found that there was a fire? When it was across the street from us."



Reed, whose house was destroyed by the blaze, said she was dependent on handouts and the kindness of strangers, and was sleeping in a car with her daughter, grandson and two cats.



The New York Times reported Sunday that firefighters sent to tackle the flames found some hydrants had run dry.



"There was just no water in the hydrants," the paper quoted firefighter Keahi Ho as saying.



The congregation of Grace Baptist Church, which was leveled in the blaze, gathered Sunday in a coffee shop in Kahului for two hours of solace.



Pastor Arza Brown led the service in his sandals, the only shoes that survived the blaze that destroyed his house.



But the trappings of ministry were far from his mind as he comforted fellow evacuees.



"That's one thing about getting together today  just to be with each other and encourage each other," he said.



For some survivors, the difficult days after the tragedy were being worsened by what they see as official intransigence, with roadblocks preventing them from getting back to their homes.



Maui police said the public wouldn't be allowed into Lahaina while safety assessments and searches were ongoing  even some of those who could prove they lived there.



Maui's fires follow other extreme weather events in North America this summer, with record-breaking wildfires still burning across Canada and a major heat wave baking the U.S. Southwest.



Europe and parts of Asia have also endured soaring temperatures, with major fires and floods wreaking havoc.

Scientists say human-caused global warming is exacerbating natural hazards, making them both more likely and more deadly.

Georgia grand jury investigating Trump election interference allegations returns 10 indictments

U.S. Fire Administrator: More data and research needed on lithium-ion battery fires

Automaker takes fire training on the road
Hello, and welcome back to Max Q!

In this issue:

More propulsion troubles on-orbit

News from Astranis and more

By the way . . . Were out-of-this-world excited to announce that weve added a dedicated Space Stage to TechCrunch Disrupt 2023. Plus, weve joined forces with the Aerospace Corporation to host the Space Domain Awareness Challenge Pitch-off for startups using AI to analyze satellite data streams. Learn more and apply here.

OK, on to the news.

Remote-sensing satellite operator HawkEye 360 is the latest to experience problems in orbit, due to an irreparable failure of propulsion systems made by Austria-based Enpulsion, compounded by high solar activity.

The Cluster 4 spacecraft are currently operating at an orbital altitude of approximately 477 km, as a result of failures in the propulsion systems of each of the Cluster 4 spacecraft, the company told the U.S. Federal Communications Commission. The company has unsuccessfully tried to remedy these failures and recently concluded that the propulsion system failures are irreparable.

The news follows earlier reporting from TechCrunch that some Capella Space satellites were starting to prematurely de-orbit due to solar activity and issues with third-party propulsion.

Image Credits: HawkEye 360 (opens in a new window)

More news from across TC

Array Labs has ambitious plans to scan Earth in 3D using clusters of radar satellites.

Astranis provided exclusive details on its newest product, UtilitySat, which CEO John Gedmark called "the Swiss Army Knife of satellites."

Boeing 's Starliner capsule will not be ready to fly astronauts for its next test mission until March 2024 at the earliest, Boeing and NASA officials estimated.

Exotrail , a French in-space transportation startup, is expanding its global footprint with two U.S. subsidiaries, including one focused on serving U.S. government and defense customers.

Firefly debuted its line of orbital transfer vehicles, called Elytra, with the first Elytra variant heading to space in 2024.

Max Q is brought to you by me, Aria Alamalhodaei. If you enjoy reading Max Q, consider forwarding it to a friend.

Join us at TechCrunch Disrupt 2023 in San Francisco this September as we explore the impact of space exploration on our world today. New this year, we will have a whole day dedicated to all things space, featuring some of todays leading space figures. Save up to $800 when you buy your pass now through September 18, and save 15% on top of that with promo code MAXQ. Learn more.
Mayor Brandon Johnson quoted slain rapper Tupac Shakur as the mayor deflected questions about firing Chicago public health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady.

Johnson addressed the firing, which he executed late Friday, at an unrelated news conference where he was asked whether the decision was retaliation due to disputes between the Chicago Teachers Union and Arwady during COVID-19 over school reopenings.

Every single administration has to be prepared for transition. My administration is no different in that regard. Transition is difficult for everyone, Johnson said. But as has been already articulated, I dont know how many times youre allowed to quote Tupac in a press conference, but you cant always go by the things that you hear. Real eyes, right, realize real lies. Thats also Tupac Shakur.

Johnson did not address whether he had ever met with Arwady one on one but said his decisions are fully vetted by staff.

Arwady became a household name during the pandemic, providing regular updates on case numbers and restrictions, rolling out vaccination efforts and explaining how people could best protect themselves from infection. But she was criticized in some circles for being too hasty in loosening pandemic restrictions, especially in reopening public schools, and went against activists demands regarding environmental permitting and mental health services.

In addition to her leadership on COVID-19, Arwady pushed to expand mental health services citywide and the Family Connects program providing in-home nursing visits for newborns, and was a driving force behind an executive order on environmental justice that Lightfoot issued at the end of her term. Arwady also worked to ensure equitable vaccine access for vulnerable Black and brown residents when the vaccine became available.

Prior to his election, Johnson was a Chicago Teachers Union organizer, and the CTU had serious clashes with Lightfoot and Arwady over the reopening of schools during the pandemic. The union forced several delays in the resumption of in-person classes and twice refused the citys directives to return to classrooms.

Large pieces of Johnsons progressive agenda  such as reopening the mental health clinics  will run through the public health department. Selecting a successor who can work with federal officials on funding and the City Council on implementing new programs will be critical to Johnsons success or failure as a mayor.

Unlike Arwady, her interim successor, Fikirte Wagaw, is not a doctor.
Patients in temporarily occupied Mariupol are being discharged from hospital to die at home. Meanwhile, the death rate in the city is increasing.

Source: Petro Andriushchenko, adviser to the mayor of Mariupol, in an interview with Hromadske Radio

Andriushchenko says that insulin is in short supply in the city, so the situation is extremely difficult.

"And this is a very widespread practice  people are not allowed to die in hospital. That is, they [the Russian doctors] will give them something [medicine  ed.], and then, when they realise the situation is not going to improve, they send them home and the people die at home," Andriushchenko says.

The mayor's adviser maintains that the death rate in the city is steadily rising. About 400 people die in the city every week, he says.

Mariupol in 2022

"A year ago, after the occupation and destruction of the city, when there was still no water or electricity, the death rate was approximately 250 people per week. This is despite the fact that the hospital seems to be working and there seem to be ambulances. In general, this situation is indicative of the lack of doctors," the mayor's adviser says.

Andriushchenko says there is only one intensive care unit in the city - in Hospital No. 2.

"As far as medical care in Mariupol is concerned, the only real possibility in this city is to die, and that's basically it. They have allegedly opened three hospitals in the city's districts, but you can't call them hospitals because there are no inpatients," the mayor's adviser says.

Background: The Russians in temporarily occupied Mariupol have begun to carry out checks on Ukrainian children for "loyalty to Ukraine".

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell meets with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office in July 2020. Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images

Mitch McConnell said fighting for the future of the GOP is the most important thing he's doing now.

McConnell told Politico that he does not want to "redefine" what it means to be a Republican.

Trump and the Senate's top Republicans are at primarily odds over US aid to Ukraine.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is refusing to concede in his fight over the Republican Party's direction, pushing for a Reagan-esque foreign policy and against President Donald Trump's more isolationist approach.

McConnell told Politico that he views this fight over the GOP's future as the most important thing happening right now that he may still be able to influence.

"There are those who are trying to redefine what a Republican is  I'm not in that group," McConnell told Politico's Jonathan Martin. "And so this is, I think, an important point for the futuparty's futured given my place in my career at this point, this is the most important thing going on that I might be able to have some impact on."

The expansive interview occurred a week before McConnell froze up during a news conference, raising questions about his age and standing. Martin describes McConnell's push as one of the final pieces the powerinfluentialte GOP leader wants to add to his legacy.

McConnell has been a stout proponent of US support for Ukraine during Russia's war, a position that puts him at odds with Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and a large chunk of the Republican House that has questioned the tens of billions Americans have sent since the start of the large-scale invasion.

"I think, and this got me attacked by Tucker Carlson back when he was still on his show, I think the most important thing going on internationally right now is the Ukraine war," McConnell said.

Trump and McConnell have long had a complicated relationship. According to Politico, McConnell privately told Finnish President Sauli Niinisto that Trump "redefined narcissism" during a meeting last year. Part of McConnell's push against a Trump-backed foreign policy is a broad defense of NATO and the military alliance's expansion into Finland and Sweden.

A spokesperson for the former president did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Since leaving office, Trump has repeatedly attacked McConnell and former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, who is McConnell's wife. Together, Trump and McConnell teamed up to usher in a bid to reshape the federal judiciary, including the confirmation of three Supreme Court justices that have been instrumental in gutting abortion rights, expanding gun rights, and curtailing affirmative action. But as Insider previously reported, Trump's role in instigating the January 6 Capitol riot shattered any remaining ties between the pair.

Read the original article on Business Insider
PORTSMOUTH  Sixty years ago this month, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke of freedom for the nations Black population ringing from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire following hundreds of years of enslavement and generations of Jim Crow injustice.

The civil rights leaders words were delivered from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in his famed I Have a Dream speech, given before a Washington D.C. crowd of 250,000 at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on Aug. 28, 1963. The protest called for an end to racial discrimination and took place just a year before the Civil Rights Act was signed into law, barring discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin.

When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir, King said. This note was a promise that all men  yes, Black men as well as white men  would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked insufficient funds.

Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire executive director JerriAnne Boggis noted that marchers sought an end to segregation in America, in addition to fair wages, economic justice, civil rights protection and equal education.

Decades later, she said that advocates seeking a better, more equitable tomorrow for the countrys marginalized people continue to fight for such liberties.

Sixty years later, we could be marching for the same things, Boggis said.

JerriAnne Boggis, executive director of the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, left, and Gina Bowker, the organization's program coordinator, are previewing the Trail's silent march across the Memorial Bridge from Kittery to Portsmouth being held on Saturday, Aug. 26. The event is to mark the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, which occurred on Aug. 28, 1963.

And as the 60th anniversary of the march approaches, thats exactly what the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire plans to do.

The organization will hold a public silent march over the Memorial Bridge on Saturday, Aug. 26, in honor of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

In 2013, the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, then named the Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail, honored the 50th anniversary of the march with bell-ringing, a reading of Kings speech at the city's African Burying Ground Memorial Park, and New Orleans-style music.

This years ceremony will begin at John Paul Jones Memorial Park in Kittery, with the group then quietly marching over the Memorial Bridge into Portsmouth.

Im hoping people are going to be reflecting on all of the years since the original march, said Gina Bowker, the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshires program coordinator. It's been 60 years and were still fighting the same battles and protesting the same things. Its been longer than Ive been alive and were still striving for all of this.

JerriAnne Boggis, executive director of the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, right, and Gina Bowker, the organization's program coordinator, are previewing the Trail's silent march across the Memorial Bridge from Kittery to Portsmouth being held on Saturday, Aug. 26. The event is to mark the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, which occurred on Aug. 28, 1963. The Navy Yard is seen across the Piscataqua River.

The procession will walk through town to the African Burying Ground Memorial Park, where human remains were discovered in 2003 by maintenance crews, with eight of the people later identified through DNA to be people of African descent. There, another community reading of Kings speech will take place, followed by the reading of names of those enslaved in the Seacoast years ago.

The list spans multiple pages, according to Boggis.

Whenever we read the names of the enslaved people, people are always surprised at how many we have and its always quite emotional, she said.

The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire will additionally honor a few local citizens who participated in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom before closing out the program with a song led by the Rev. Robert Thompson.

The anniversary ceremony is one thats mimicked by municipalities and organizations across the United States. In Washington D.C., a 60th anniversary rally will be held, with Kings son, Martin Luther King III, planning to be in attendance.

Through events like this, the Black Heritage Trail (of New Hampshire) really helps people to understand that remembrance is a key to progress, said Terry Robinson, a marketing specialist with the organization. We cant continue to move forward without understanding whats happened in the past. Marches and commemorations like this really put into perspective the things that people went through 60 years ago and what people continue to go through.

What excerpts or messages from Kings speech should Americans be reminding themselves of as they push forward for progress?

JerriAnne Boggis, executive director of the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, right, and Gina Bowker, the organization's program coordinator, are previewing the Trail's silent march across the Memorial Bridge from Kittery to Portsmouth being held on Saturday, Aug. 26. The event is to mark the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, which occurred on Aug. 28, 1963.

We forget the part where he says weve come to cash a check, meaning that weve got to be aware of the country that we live in and not keep on those rose-colored glasses when we look at where we are around equity and justice, Boggis answered. I think we really need to pay attention to that dream that were striving for, but not forget the steps that it takes to get to that dream Are we working for one group of people and not others? Are we lifting the boat for all of us?

The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshires March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom anniversary event will begin in Kittery at 11 a.m. The public is invited to join the march.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: March across Memorial Bridge to honor 1963 March on Washington, MLK
Mercedes-Benz has made it impossible for its cars to be serviced in-house in Russia

German carmaker Mercedes-Benz has denied its Russian dealer access to proprietary software, Russian newspaper Izvestia reported on Aug. 13.

Read also: Russian hackers try to lure embassy workers with fake BMW car ad

The report cites a statement made by MB RUS, the official distributor of Mercedes-Benz in Russia. According to company, access to online software used for car maintenance services has been halted.

MB RUS stated that repair and maintenance of vehicles will now be conducted based on locally "accumulated experience and expertise."

Dealers are disconnected from the manufactures online software systems, MB RUS told Izvestia.

In some cases, the lack of access to online systems will result in extended repair times.

Read also: Russian propagandist in medical coma following car bombing

The Association of Russian Automobile Dealers announced that official dealers are experiencing problems with the software for most foreign brands, but did not provide specific names.

This concerns not only Mercedes, but also BMW; it is clear that now dealers are making all-out efforts to fulfill warranty obligations to car owners, the report reads.

Read also: Intel reenables software downloads for Russia and Belarus

Restrictions are being circumvented with the help of third-party software and parts sold on marketplaces. The term official dealer loses its significance, essentially.

In late 2022, Mercedes-Benz announced its withdrawal from the Russian market. As of the end of 2021, the companys assets in Russia were valued at EUR 2 billion ($2.18 billion).

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Craig Sherman spent 45 years as a Florida lawyer, 43 of them as the city attorney for Bay Harbor Islands. He ran his own law firm in Boca Raton, where he shared a 2,517 square foot, three-bedroom, three-bathroom condominium with his wife.

Since November 2019, Sherman has lost all that and more, the and more soon being his freedom after pleading guilty to two counts of wire fraud last week in West Palm Beach federal court. The sentencing of Sherman, 80, hasnt been scheduled.

The lawsuit and investigation that started the disintegration of Shermans life stems from his misuse of money loaned him by a former longtime client Barry Smith, who sued Sherman, and a friend-sometime client.

READ MORE: The $4.1 million that has Bay Harbor Islands former city attorney under FBI investigation

A financial analysis showed that Sherman was running a Ponzi scheme, using money from [Smith] and Victim 2 to pay back each other, or on some occasions paying back the same investor with his or her own money, Shermans guilty plea admission of facts said.

Money for nothing and loans for free

In June 2016, Sherman convinced Smith to invest in coming Bay Harbor Islands development with loans that would bring Smith 6% to 8% interest annually. Smith would get his principal when the projects were done, according to promissory notes.

Smiths lawsuit says Sherman quelled his concerns about conflict of interest by saying the city was aware of his role with Smith. Smith also believed Sherman was putting his own money on the line in these projects.

So, Smiths lawsuit said, he sent 17 wire transfers to Shermans law firms trust account from June 2016 through March 2019 for investment in projects Grand Beach Hotel, Casa Verde, Bijou (La Boutique) and Wharton Kane Concourse.

Instead of using [Smiths] money to fund the construction projects  like he claimed he would  Sherman used it to pay for his personal expenses and to try to keep his law firm running, Shermans guilty plea said.

Sherman made the same promises to the friend-client and used the money the same way. Also, he used some of that money to make payments to Smith.

But when Sherman tried to give himself a little more time in 2019 by telling Smith that Bay Harbor Islands put a moratorium on one of the projects, thus delaying interest payments, Smith smelled something.

[Smith] decided to contact the Bay Harbor Islands Building and Zoning Department and learned there was no moratorium, and the projects were going forward as planned, Shermans guilty plea said. One of the projects was almost compete yet [Smith] had stopped receiving interest payments months earlier.

Eventually, when Smith confronted Sherman about the investments, Sherman told him that he screwed him.

Sherman also admitted that he never purchased any rights or provided any loans for the construction projects in Bay Harbor Islands. Sherman told [Smith] that the money went to pay off his personal debts as well as pay his personal expenses.

In late 2019, Shermans other victim read an article on Shermans devolving situation. Sherman told her the media mischaracterized the situation and assured her that her investments were safe.

She said she wanted her money back. Sherman said hed give her the money when the promissory notes said he would.

Craig Sherman, former town attorney for Bay Harbor Islands

Disintegration of a fraud

 November 2019: Sherman resigned as Bay Harbor Islands city attorney after 43 years.

 December 2019: Smith filed a civil suit against Sherman in Palm Beach County Circuit Court. Bay Harbor Islands asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to look into Shermans actions. Anticipating a Florida Bar investigation into ethics violations, Sherman petitioned for disciplinary revocation. If a disciplinary revocation petition is granted, the attorney gets ejected from the Bar and cant apply for readmission for at least five years, if ever. In return, the professional discipline and ethics cases go away. Civil or criminal cases are not affected. Disciplinary revocation is tantamount to disbarment, the state Supreme Court says.

 March 2020: Shermans disciplinary revocation petition is granted.

 May 2020: Smiths lawsuit results in a $4.175 million judgment against Sherman and the Sherman & Sherman law firm.

 November 2020: Sherman and his wife sell their Boca Raton condominium for $1.295 million, according to Palm Beach County property records.

 September 2021: Shermans wife files for divorce.

 May 2023: Sherman is indicted on eight counts of wire fraud.

 August 2023: Sherman pleads guilty to two counts of wire fraud.
Two people aboard a Soviet-era warplane ejected to safety just before it crashed and "burst into a raging fireball" during a Michigan air show, officials said.

The pilot and passenger sitting tandem in the MiG-23 jet were operating the plane as part of the Thunder Over Michigan air show on Sunday.

Parachutes carried them safely to the ground, where they were then sent to the hospital out of precaution.

There have been no reported injuries.

The crash occurred shortly after 16:00 ET (21:00 BST) on Sunday in Belleville, Michigan, during the Yankee Air Museum's Thunder over Michigan air show, according to a Wayne County Airport Authority statement.

The jet crashed into unoccupied vehicles in a parking lot at the Waverly on the Lake Apartments, narrowly missing one apartment building, the airport authority said.

The plane then "burst into a raging fireball", as local media described it, shortly before emergency crews arrived to extinguish the flames. Thick clouds of black smoke bellowing into the sky could be seen from the ground.

Video footage of the incident shows two short bursts of flames coming from the aircraft as the pilot and passenger are each ejected.

The cause of the crash remains unclear. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident.

The old Russian war craft was piloted by Dan Filer, who is a retired Navy pilot from Texas, according to the air show's website.

"It's the only privately owned flying MiG-23 in the world," Mr Filer, who collects Soviet-made fighter jets, told a local news outlet in Louisiana last year.

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 was one of the most utilised Soviet war planes during the Cold War, known for its advanced radar and fire control system. It could fire missiles at targets beyond visual range, according to the National Museum of the United States Air Force.
A sheriff's deputy in Michigan was hospitalized Sunday after he was shot multiple times following a domestic dispute that turned into a car chase and then a shootout with a suspect, officials said.

The Muskegon County Sheriffs Office said Deputy Joshua Hankins was transported to Trinity Health Hospital for multiple gunshot wounds after deputies attempted to arrest a suspect who fired multiple shots at the responding officers.

The deputies returned fire in the exchange, striking and killing the suspect.

Muskegon County Undersheriff Kenneth Sanford told Fox News Digital that Deputy Hankins was released from the hospital at 5 a.m. "He is home and doing well," Sanford said.

DETROIT POLICE SEARCHING FOR 3 SUSPECTS AFTER OFFICER SHOT IN THE LEG

Muskegon County Sheriff's Office Deputy Joshua Hankins was shot multiple times following a shootout with a suspect, who was killed in the exchange.

The Muskegon County Sheriffs Office said the Muskegon Township police and Muskegon Heights police responded to a domestic dispute around 10:15 p.m. Sunday.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Before law enforcement personnel arrived, the suspect fled the scene in a Subaru Forrester, they said.

Deputies found the fleeing suspect a few hours later, who was incompliant, prompting a chase.

At 12:52 a.m., "an off-duty deputy observed the vehicle and attempted to stop the vehicle. The vehicle fled. Deputies, troopers and officers from Muskegon County, Michigan State Police, Muskegon Township Police and Fruitpoint Township Police were involved in the pursuit of the suspect vehicle over several miles," the Muskegon County Sheriff's Office said.

MICHIGAN WOMAN CHARGED WITH PERFORMING SEX ACT ON DOG, CAUGHT BY EX-BOYFRIEND

The suspect ultimately stopped after they drove into a ditch near Ravenna, a village of about 1,200 people.

Deputy Joshua Hankins, who was shot overnight on Monday, is a 2020 graduate of the Grand Valley State University Police Academy.

The suspect refused to surrender to police and fired a weapon at officers, officials said.

"Deputies attempted to take the driver into custody at gunpoint. The suspect fired a weapon at Officers. Officers returned fire and the suspect was shot and killed," the sheriff's office said.

Hankins is a 2020 graduate of the Grand Valley State University Police Academy.
A TikTok video of Michigan police arresting a 12-year-old boy and putting him in handcuffs was an "unfortunate misunderstanding" that stemmed from the foot chase of a suspect wanted in a suspected vehicle theft.

The video led to three statements by Mayor of Lansing Andy Schor and local police by late Friday afternoon.

The video appears to show a young, Black male wearing neon yellow shorts and a white T-shirt being detained by a police officer outside an apartment complex. A man tells officers they are traumatizing his son and the male was put into a police vehicle before later being released to the man who said he was the individual's father.

A video posted to TikTok account careyann372 has generated millions of views and posts throughout social media with users saying the boy was detained as he was throwing away garbage.

The video lasts just more than 4 minutes. It was not clear where in the city the video was taken.

Warning: Video contains the use of strong language.

"Kid taking out trash being harassed by police. Father defending his son. Wrong person," the TikTok poster wrote on Thursday.

In a Zoom call with reporters on Friday night, lawyers for the family of Tashawn Bernard asked that police take down its Facebook post, saying the photo makes it appear as though the shirt Tashawn was wearing was white, when it actually was gray. The suspect police were looking for was wearing a white shirt, they said.

"It does not accurately reflect what Tashawn was wearing," said Ayanna Neal of Grewal Law. "They need to take down the post."

Lansing police posted an initial explanation on its social media accounts earlier Friday, followed late Friday afternoon by a statement from Police Chief Ellery Sosebee.

"On Thursday afternoon, our officers were investigating a string of Kia thefts, including a specific one reported on the 3600 block of W. Jolly Road with multiple suspects," the first post on Facebook said. "A witness described a suspect as wearing neon shorts and a white shirt. A responding officer saw a subject matching this description and attempted to make contact but the subject fled and ran west in to the nearby apartment complex.

"A different officer was in the area and saw the young man pictured in the viral video wearing a very similar outfit and made contact with him. The initial officer was able to respond and clarify the young man in the video was not the suspect who fled earlier. Once this information was obtained, the young man was released and officers continued to search the area.

"We are including pictures of both individuals. We have blurred both photos to protect the identities of the subjects."

A photo of the people involved was posted, blurred out, along with the statement.

Posts on X, formerly Twitter, expressed outrage over the video and the number of officers involved in the incident.

Just a kid taking out the trashAmerica pic.twitter.com/OhNWTbCnqA  Kenny Akers (@KeneAkers) August 11, 2023

"Just a kid taking out the trash  America," user Kenny Akers wrote.

"This city is paying 6 police officers to arrest a child for throwing out garbage," user Frank Giugliano wrote.

"I hope someone gets ahold of the young man detained today while taking out the trash because he 'fit the description' and lift him up. He will need support around him," Rob Thomas wrote in a Facebook post.

LPD said they hope to put the situation behind them.

"Community relations is a top priority for us as a department, from top-down," the department wrote. "Our hope is we can put this unfortunate case of 'wrong place, wrong time' behind us and continue to represent the community that we serve."

After 4 p.m., the department released a statement attributed to Sosebee.

"The officers of the Lansing Police Department are working very hard to address the recent car thefts plaguing our city. In doing so, yesterday officers detained a young man who was wearing similar clothing and in the same apartment complex as an accused car thief who fled from officers on foot. When the officer made initial contact, it was near a trash bin but was after he had disposed of any garbage. The young man was then released to his father when eliminated as the accused. The command officer on the scene made contact with the young mans father and explained the situation and apologized for the misunderstanding. I have reviewed the incident and can confirm the officer who contacted and detained the young man was respectful and professional during his investigation."

"Its unfortunate that incidents like this occur but through communication and sharing of information, we can help people understand the whole story. We understand that something like this has an impact on all parties involved," the statement read.

"As the Chief of Police, I want to apologize that this incident had such an effect on this young man and his family. Im asking for the community to consider all the facts of the situation before making a judgment. The relationship with our community has been and will continue to be a top priority for the Lansing Police Department."

And late Friday afternoon, Schor apologized to the 12-year-old and his family in a statement.

"The Lansing Police Department made a mistake in detaining the wrong person during a vehicle theft investigation," Schor said in the statement. "The young man was wearing the exact same clothing as the suspect, however it was quickly confirmed he was not the suspect in question and he was released. I join Chief Sosebee in offering my apologies to the young man and to his family."

"LPD is in contact with the family and providing resources and support for any trauma involved. Our officers do their absolute best to protect Lansing, but in this case a mistake was made and we own it and apologize to those affected. As Mayor, I once again offer my sincere apology to this young man.

Attorneys for the family said Tashawn was taking out the trash at his home when he was approached by an officer holding a gun at his side. The boy was put in handcuffs and placed into the back of a police vehicle.

"Our client has been traumatized by this incident, so much so that young Tashawn does not want to go outside ... even to get the mail," attorney Rico Neal said.

"Instead to trying put the incident behind them, police should have apologized to Tashawn and considered how they can make the situation right." the attorneys said.

Tashawn's father, Michael Bernard, described looking outside and seeing his son in handcuffs. He said his son "should not have been subjected to this treatment."

The attorneys said they were exploring "all legal options" for the family, including a possible lawsuit. The family wants to ensure that the same situation doesn't happen to anyone else, they said.

Reporter Ken Palmer contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan police apologize after arrest video of 12-year-old boy goes viral
Mick Fleetwood has spoken out about the catastrophic wildfire disaster that ravaged the Hawaiian island of Maui last week.

The fires have claimed the lives of at least 93 people, making them the countrys deadliest fires in more than 100 years, while the historic town of Lahaina is almost completely destroyed.

Fleetwood lives in Hawaii, though was out of the state when the fires began. When the news broke, the Fleetwood Mac musician, who owned a restaurant on Maui, immediately flew back to help provide aid and supplies.

Speaking to Sky News, he said: These hills were ablaze and I wasnt there... I was feeling helpless, and switches were going on and off as to what to do.

While Fleetwoods house was not damaged by the fire, his restaurant, Fleetwoods on Front St, in the town of Lahaina, was completely destroyed.

Its an incredible shock for everyone, Fleetwood said. The whole town of Lahaina is no more. That in itself is a statement that leads you immediately to the people who lived there.

Selfishly, I havent lost a family member. I didnt lose my house. Yeah, it could have happened, but it didnt happen... Im really lucky. Now, what the hell can I do? The immediacy is finding people. The immediacy is communicating and knowing whos here and whos safe.

The British drummer went on to implore people to pay attention to the situation in Lahaina, and warned of land developers who would seek to profit from the aftermath of the disaster.

The thought of it becoming some form of playground with no reference to the dignity of that town, to me, would be abhorrent, he continued.

Hawaii Fires (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Fleetwoods former bandmate Stevie Nicks, who also owns a house in Lahaina, recently shared her own reaction to the wildfire tragedy.

On Instagram, she wrote: As I am sure you have heard  the island, Maui, where I own a house I have been staying at since the 80s  and the small village, city, most magical place on earth, Lahaina, burned to the ground over the last few days.

And to make the situation worse my young niece, her husband, and their little boy had just arrived for a very needed vacation before she started up her school year (on her way to becoming a psychologist) for 10 days. They had one and a half days of fun and then  the fire started.

The power went out at 5.12am (Tuesday morning) but they had no idea why  It was still out at noon, realising that many surrounding houses had also lost power. It was a mystery. My house is 15 to 20 minutes from Lahaina  but still no one knew about the fire. We knew here in Houston, but there was no way to get Jessi (my niece) on the phone. The entire area of Lahaina and everything around it was down. But here in Houston we knew.

While some commenters criticised Nicks for her privileged response to the disaster, others stepped in to defend her, praising her for raising awareness of the fires.

You can find live updates about the wildfires here.
A controversial lesson on sexual harassment at a middle school in southern China has stirred online debate about victim-blaming, with many criticizing both the school and what they say is an inadequate response from officials.

The school, located in Zhaoqing city in Guangdong province, had held a mental health education class  the equivalent of a sex education class in China  last year, according to Chinese state media Peoples Daily.

But photos of the teaching material only began circulating this month, showing papers that said victims of sexual harassment suffer because they dress flamboyantly and behave flirtatiously. It added: Girls shouldnt wear transparent or skimpy clothes and should avoid frivolous behavior.

The photos prompted anger and disbelief on social media, with many blaming conservative attitudes they said reflected deep-rooted gender inequality in a patriarchal society.

The teacher of that class is problematic, read one top comment on the Chinese social platform Weibo, with 19,000 likes. Others pointed out the dangers of victim-blaming, and the ways women are often targeted regardless of what they wear.

The outrage prompted local education authorities to release a statement last week, confirming that the photos online showed a lecture held at the school last April.

The lecture contained some inappropriate expressions, which caused misunderstanding among (online users), the statement said.

It added that the countys education bureau had criticized and educated relevant personnel, and had ordered the school to review its lectures and improve teacher training.

But for some, the official statement also sparked backlash. Many took issue with the statements wording of misunderstanding, arguing the teaching materials had not been an innocent error but a reflection of real, pervasive beliefs across the country.

People online didnt misunderstand, one comment read. The punishment is too mild.

The school has not yet posted any public statements on its website or social media. CNN has reached out to the school for comment.

A number of incidents over the years have provoked similar controversies, especially in light of Chinas #MeToo movement, which has stayed resilient despite frequent setbacks due to censorship and an ongoing crackdown on feminist activism.

For instance, last November a young woman was attacked by a man at a public toilet in Zhejiang, according to state media The Paper. After online critics accused the woman of being skimpily dressed, her mother told The Paper: What does clothing have to do with being beaten? Is that a reason for a crime?

And in 2021 a controversial ad for makeup removal wipes  which showed a woman being followed down the street at night by a would-be attacker, who runs away in horror after she removes her makeup  was pulled from the internet after strong backlash.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Brandi Jones grew up hearing about the extraordinary history of her familys deep roots in military service to America, despite facing the ugly reality of extensive racism. Those stories inspired her to begin a years-long battle for the Medal of Honor.

I grew up as a military child in California and my earliest memory of military service was welcoming the troops home from the Gulf War, she shared. Growing up in a military town, I remember the local radio host would go live to announce the arrival of buses carrying troops returning from war. My family and I would go down with our American Flags and wave to the caravan as they passed.

In between welcoming troops home, her parents told her about her great-grandfather Henry Dorton. He was an enslaved Black man who fought in three different battles of the Revolutionary War.

I learned that he was one of the few Revolutionary War veterans to successfully petition the court for his pension and receive it through an act of Congress, Jones said.

Her grandfather (whom she lovingly called Pap), Army Cpl. Fred B. McGee, would follow his grandfathers footsteps into service. His actions overseas during the Korean War made him an American war hero.

Photo courtesy of Jones

During his tour in Korea he earned two Purple Hearts and a Silver Star, she explained. He was inducted into the Ohio Hall of Fame as well as the Purple Heart Hall of Fame after serving in one of the 1st Integrated Army units back in 1953.

While in college, Jones fell in love with and marry a Marine.

He served two tours in Iraq. The first tour was a six month deployment in 2004 with the 2/7 out in 29 Palms. After that tour we welcomed our two children before our first PCS as a family. Not long after he shipped out for his second tour in 2009 with 8th Marine Regiment attached to Camp Lejeune, she shared. He was deployed so long there was a R & R respite care break in the middle. That was a really difficult time but I learned how important it is to have support and how vital our military community is to our families. I created my first business, a preschool playgroup called Mommies Like Us in support of other spouses and children. This program was recognized by then Second Lady of the United States, Dr. Jill Biden.

Today, she is the Organizing Director at Secure Family Initiative and a Council Member of the District Attorney of Monterey Countys Multicultural Committee. She is passionate about not only serving the military community but educating, as well.

Photo courtesy of Jones

Im currently pursuing my Ph.D. in Education with an emphasis in Organizational Leadership. I believe in lifelong learning. My grandfathers story and those like it, are missing from the story of our nation. This story is part of the greater American story and its important that its told, Jones explained. His story showcases the fact that Black Americans not only have fought in every battle in the history of our nation, they fought heroically and at a time when they themselves didnt have equality or civil rights.

Though her grandfather was a literal hero, he never talked about his time in uniform until late 2009. Jones said when he returned from war, he went back to his steel mill job, where he stayed until retiring after 54 years of work.

My grandfather served in one of the 1st integrated units in the U.S. Army and the climate was filled with racism, she said. After his heroic actions in the Korean War, he was asked to have his story and name used in a comic book called Heroics by Frank Frazetta. When the comic was released in 1953 he was shocked to see he was depicted as a white man, though he was Black.

mcgee family photo

After both he and her grandmother passed away in 2020 after 63 years of marriage, Jones made it her mission to not only help tell his story but fight to get his Silver Star changed to a Medal of Honor.

I know that where I am today has a lot to do with the push for equality. Those who came before me, those who first integrated the military, endured so much, Jones said. Their strength, determination and audacity to hope for change is a legacy that I would like to carry on for this generation as well as the next.

In 2022, she opened a Congressional Inquiry with Congressman Jimmy Panettas office. On June 20, 2023 she sat with her family in Congressman Bill Johnsons office on Capitol Hill. There they were informed his Silver Star was in the process of being upgraded to a Medal of Honor.

The quote from then-President George W. Bush sharing how Americas veterans have taken on the toughest tasks imaginable, now its our turn to continue to help really resonates with me as a granddaughter of a combat veteran and a military child who went on to become a military spouse, Jones said. Advocacy is an issue near and dear to me as a person who represents so many communities.

Photo courtesy of Jones

As of this interview, the amendment awarding her Pap the Medal of Honor is sitting on President Bidens desk awaiting his signature. WATM looks forward to celebrating this American hero, right alongside his extraordinary family.
The second migrant arraigned on sex crime charges in cases that forced an upstate New York Democrat to change course and stop the bussing of asylum seekers from New York City was pictured for the first time in a newly released mugshot.

The Erie County District Attorneys Office on Monday released the booking photo for Kindu Z. Jeancy, a 22-year-old asylum seeker from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Jeancy is said to have come to Erie County under New York City Mayor Eric Adams controversial "decompression" plan.

Jeancy was arraigned on Saturday evening before Cheektowaga Town Court Justice John J. Wanat on one count of sexual abuse in the first-degree  a Class "D" felony  and one count of unlawful imprisonment in the second degree  a Class "A" misdemeanor  Erie County District Attorney John Flynn announced.

Court documents allege Jeancy, an asylum seeker, subjected the victim to sexual contact by forcible compulsion at approximately 4 p.m. Friday inside a hotel room on the 600 block of Dingens Street in the town of Cheektowaga. He is also accused of pushing the victim onto a couch, holding her arms down and forcing himself on top of the victim to prevent her from leaving the room, according to prosecutors.

SECOND MIGRANT PART OF ADAMS' RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM CHARGED WITH SEXUALLY ASSAULTING WOMAN

Kindu Z. Jeancy, a 22-year-old asylum seeker from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was charged with sexually assaulting a woman working to help migrants placed at a hotel in Erie County, New York.

This comes after Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, a Democrat, and Cheektowaga Chief of Police Brian Gould hosted a press conference Saturday regarding the case  the second involving sex crime charges filed against an asylum seeker in the past two weeks.

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They identified the victim as a 27-year-old woman employed by Platinum Community Care  one of the agencies providing services to the asylum seekers being housed at the hotel.

Poloncarz alleged that DocGo, a third party hired by New York City to run the migrant hotel operations, may have interfered in the Cheektowaga polices investigation, and demanded Adams immediately stop sending additional asylum seekers to Erie County. The comments signaled a change of course for the Democrat Poloncarz, who initially welcomed asylum seekers in June, claiming the migrants had been "fully vetted by federal authorities," and decried "racist and bigoted statements on social media and other places" opposing the resettlement program.

"These are asylum seekers who are legally in the country," he said in June.

Hundreds of migrants are seen outside the Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan on Aug. 2, 2023. New York City Mayor Eric Adams has called on other jurisdictions in the state to help house asylum seekers.

NYC MAYOR ADAMS SAYS MIGRANT CRISIS THREATENS TO DECIMATE CITY AS HE APPEALS FOR FEDERAL HELP

Gould on Saturday also flagged "quality of life" issues involving the placement of asylum seekers at the hotel on Dingens Street by a residential neighborhood.

Poloncarz said Democrat New York Gov. Kathy Hochul agreed to send National Guard troops to act as a "stabilizing presence" at the migrant hotels.

Jeancy is scheduled to return to court on Aug. 17 at 9:30 a.m. for a felony hearing. He was held without bail. A temporary order of protection was issued on behalf of the victim, Flynns office said. If convicted of the highest charge, Jeancy faces a maximum of seven years in prison, prosecutors added.

Jesus D. Guzman-Bermudez, a 26-year-old asylum seeker from Venezuela, was arraigned on a rape charge in Erie County, New York.

Flynns office previously released the mugshot for Jesus D. Guzman-Bermudez, a 26-year-old asylum seeker from Venezuela.

Guzman-Bermudez was arraigned on Aug. 4 before Cheektowaga Town Court Justice David M. Stevens on one count of rape in the first degree, a Class "B" violent felony, one count each of unlawful imprisonment in the second degree, and endangering the welfare of a child, both Class "A" misdemeanors, and one count of harassment in the second degree, a violation.

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The defendant is accused of forcibly engaging in sexual intercourse with the victim, who was known to him, on Aug. 2 inside a hotel room on the 4000 block of Genesee Street in the town of Cheektowaga in the presence of a 3-year-old child, prosecutors said. He allegedly restrained the victim by holding the victims head down during the commission of the rape.

Guzman-Bermudez, who was held without bail, faces a maximum of 25 years in prison if convicted of the highest charge, prosecutors said.
Ukraine is ready for any large-scale offensives that Russia could potentially launch in the near future, military intelligence (HUR) General Vadym Skibitskyi said on Aug. 14, commenting on recent rumors about such attacks in Western media.

Moscow is currently exerting efforts to slow down Ukraine's counteroffensive, and destroy the country's internal unity and the trust between Kyiv and its partners, Skibitskyi told Obozrevatel in an interview.

"They want to win time to restore weapons stockpiles and the fighting capacity of their occupying forces. Our task is to prevent this," the military intelligence officer said.

"Yes, it is not easy for our security and defense forces, but we have no choice but to continue the fight and we are moving forward wisely and courageously."

Skibitskyi pointed out that despite predictions of a large-scale Russian offensive during the last winter, such plans have failed.

Read also: Endless Russian assaults near Kreminna test Ukraines defenses

Since mid-July, Russian forces have been concentrating around Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast, trying to regain the positions lost during the Ukrainian surprise counteroffensive last autumn.

On July 17, Serhii Cherevatyi, spokesperson for Ukraine's Eastern Military Command, said that Russia was concentrating "more than 100,000 personnel, more than 900 tanks, more than 555 artillery systems, and 370 multiple rocket launchers" in the Lyman-Kupiansk direction.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in its analysis on Aug. 13 that according to Russian military bloggers, Moscow's troops are slowly advancing toward Kupiansk but still require reinforcements to break through the Ukrainian defenses.

The Russian command is not currently able to deploy more forces in the Kupiansk direction for this purpose, the ISW added.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A Wall Street sign is viewed at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Wall Street in New York City. [Photo/VCG]



The U.S. government attacked Fitch Ratings, the U.S. credit ratings agency, for downgrading the country's credit rating from AAA to AA+.



Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen called the downgrade "arbitrary and based on outdated data." The White House, through President Joe Biden's press secretary, also criticized Fitch. But Fitch's decision to downgrade didn't come out of the blue or based on temporal factors. Fitch was clear in its explanation that they were responding to long-term trends that haven't been resolved.

In the third paragraph of Fitch's rating action commentary, the agency writes: "In Fitch's view, there has been a steady deterioration in standards of governance over the last 20 years, including on fiscal and debt matters, notwithstanding the June bipartisan agreement to suspend the debt limit until January 2025."

Yellen and the White House want to emphasize recent economic growth and a short-term deal to resolve the debt ceiling, but the same underlying problems will remain. In just over one year, the United States will have to raise the debt ceiling again in a Congress that continually argues over made-up issues that are nonsensical to outside observers.

For example, the United States Marines currently lack a commandant because a Republican member of the Senate has blocked every military appointment until President Biden agrees to ban military members or their wives from having abortions. In addition, most members of the Republican Party voted against a military funding bill because of their opposition to gay and transgender people; if they can't even agree to routine maintenance of the military, how can we be sure they will vote to raise the debt ceiling?

Elections for President and Congress are coming up in 2024, so it's currently unknown who will be in charge when the next debt ceiling fight takes place. The presidential election is going to match up incumbent President Joe Biden, who is 80 years old, against the 77-year-old businessman and former president Donald Trump, who is facing criminal charges for his attempt to stage a coup to remain in power after losing the 2020 presidential election.

If Trump loses again, he will likely try to sew distrust in the American political system and take power illegitimately, as he did in 2020. His last efforts to sow distrust culminated in a riot by Trump supporters at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, who demanded that Congress overturn the election results. Over 100 members of the Republican caucus voted to throw the election results in question. The fact that Americans cannot be sure their votes will be respected by their own legislature does not inspire confidence.

If Trump does win, it will also not be good for American governance, as he is demonstrably unstable. Then again, he may also be in prison by the time the election rolls around. Who knows?

In its report, Fitch also pointed to rising American deficits and a growing national debt, which has largely been driven by spending on healthcare and social security for a growing class of retired Americans. "We expect the general government deficit to rise to 6.3% of GDP in 2023, from 3.7% in 2022, reflecting cyclically weaker federal revenues, new spending initiatives, and a higher interest burden," their report states.

This problem has also not been solved and won't be solved anytime soon. Spending on social welfare programs for retired Americans naturally increases every year because of aging; more Americans are reaching retirement age than are being born. Immigration can only partially address the mathematical problem.

The only way to solve the long-term debt issue is to increase government revenue or decrease spending generally and on social welfare and entitlements, meaning that there will need to be a raise in the retirement age or a cut to benefits. How can a dysfunctional Congress achieve such a feat? Even a rational Congress won't want to cut benefits as it will anger voters.

In 2013, Standard and Poor Global Ratings also downgraded the U.S. from AAA to AA+ for similar reasons. They, too, cited the unpredictability of whether the U.S. would raise the debt ceiling. At some point, American leaders need to take responsibility and solve the problem instead of blaming the messenger.

Having a rating of AA+ is not a crisis. It is the second-highest rating. It is on par with Canada, Finland, and Austria. But the negative trend is concerning. The problem did not arise yesterday, and it will not go away tomorrow. President Biden, Congress, and Americans writ large should take it as a warning and a call to act now.

Mitchell Blatt is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:

http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/MitchellBlatt.htm

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
The West African bloc ECOWAS is mulling military intervention to restore Niger's elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, after he was detained by members of his guard on July 26.

But experts say any such move is freighted with operational and political hazards -- from mustering an intervention force to inflicting civilian casualties.

These, they say, are the main issues:

- Mobilising the force -

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) last Thursday mandated the deployment of a "standby force to restore constitutional order" in Niger.

The force has intervened six times among ECOWAS members since 1990, in such events as civil war or political chaos.

But, today as in the past, there is no clear agreement among ECOWAS members on the force's parameters, said Marc-Andre Boisvert, a Sahel specialist affiliated to the Centre FrancoPaix think tank in Montreal.

"Basically, the African standby force wasn't conceived to restore constitutional order in a country where there has been a coup," said Elie Tenenbaum of the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI).

Gathering the force "depends on the will of the contributors," said Boisvert -- an effort that requires lengthy negotiations and overcoming "enormous suspicion".

Out of 15 ECOWAS members, three -- Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso -- have been suspended from the organisation's ranks because of military coups.

Of the others, West Africa's superpower Nigeria as well as Benin, Ivory Coast and Senegal say they are willing to send troops, although they also face strong opposition at home for this.

- Force numbers -

"An operation of this kind needs to mobilise between 3,000 and 4,000 soldiers," said a Senegalese general, Mansour Seck.

So far, only Ivory Coast has publicly named how many troops it would commit -- around a thousand.

"African states generally keep a jealous grip on their sovereignty when it comes to security and defence," Tenenbaum said.

Also, "it's hard to muster troops in armies which are already fragile and under-equipped."

Niger's own armed forces number around 30,000, of whom 11,000 are deployed fighting jihadists, according to figures given by Bazoum last year.

The military regimes in Mali and Burkina Faso have also said that any intervention in Niger would be considered a "declaration of war" against them.

On the other hand, their armed forces are weak and already embroiled with fighting jihadist insurgents.

- Operational risk -

Ousting the regime in Niger, a vast arid nation, means focussing on its capital Niamey.

A land offensive would mean having to cross several hundred kilometres (a couple of hundred miles) of hostile terrain.

In this light, specialists say a key lies in air mobility, possibly using Niamey's airport as a staging point for targeting the presidential palace where Bazoum is being held.

ECOWAS military chiefs "want to take Niamey airport and bombard the presidential palace, but we have modern anti-aircraft defence which is able to shoot down their aircraft," said Amadou Bounty Diallo, a Nigerien analyst and former soldier.

Seck said: "The landing strip is easy for the putschists to occupy -- all you need to do is put thousands of young people on it" to discourage pilots from opening fire to seize it.

"It won't be a simple military operation... one of the risks is that it could get bogged down, and that depends on the determination of the people on the spot," he warned.

Resistance to intervention will be based on the Presidential Guard, an elite force of 700 men, although the willingness of other army units to fight is a matter of debate.

Other components of the army outwardly endorsed the coup "in order to avoid bloodshed -- they don't want to be in a war," a Bazoum advisor said.

"As soon as things start getting serious, you will see many units break away."

In contrast, a Nigerien security source predicted that foreign intervention would cause the armed forces "to close ranks".

- Civilian casualties -

High civilian casualties is one of the big risks, said Tenenbaum.

Pro-coup supporters have rallied several times in the capital, many of them declaring they are willing to come to the help of their army if it were attacked.

"All this to free a president that putschists have said they will execute in the event of ECOWAS intervention," Tenenbaum said.

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Germany plans to provide Ukraine with 5 billion euros ($5.5 billion) in annual military aid until 2027, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said on Aug. 14, Forbes Ukraine reported.

The decision still needs to be approved by the German Parliament, Lindner said during a joint press conference with Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko in Kyiv.

The minister noted that apart from military support, Berlin's aid for Ukraine has also included humanitarian assistance, support for Ukrainian migrants living in Germany, and the country's contributions to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Since the start of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Germany's support amounted to 22 billion euros ($24 billion), Lindner added.

Germany's finance minister arrived in Kyiv earlier on Aug. 14 for his first official visit to Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.

Lindner added that he hoped the question of Germany supplying Taurus long-range cruise missile could be resolved soon, and that he personally supported the weapons' delivery.

In July, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that Germany expects to provide Ukraine with $19 billion, or 17 billion euros, in arms deliveries until 2027.

Scholz said the calculations began in 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion, and track projected spending until the year 2027.

The $19 billion estimate only accounts for weapons donated or financed by Germany and does not include other forms of aid to Ukraine.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Germany transfers 2 Patriot launchers to Ukraine in latest aid package

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Miss Indonesia competes in the 71st annual Miss Universe pageant. Benjamin Askinas

Miss Universe has cut ties with its Indonesia franchise after sexual-harassment allegations.

Five contestants said they were asked to strip down for body checks at the 2023 pageant in Jakarta.

One contestant said she was asked to pose with her legs open, Reuters reported.

The Miss Universe Organization said it has parted ways with its Indonesia franchise after six contestants said they experienced sexual harassment at the 2023 pageant in Jakarta, which took place between July 29 and August 3.

Mellisa Anggraeni, an attorney representing the six contestants who competed at Miss Universe Indonesia, said on Tuesday that they have filed complaints with Indonesian police, accusing the organizers of sexual harassment, Reuters reported.

The contestants who filed the police report alleged that organizers asked five of them to strip down to their underwear for topless "body checks," Reuters reported, noting that the incident occurred in a room, with more than 20 people in attendance, that also contained men.

Representatives for Miss Universe Indonesia, the national director for the Indonesian competition's national director, and Indonesian National Police did not respond to Insider's requests for comment. Anggraeni could not be reached for comment.

As Insider previously reported, Anggraeni said in an Instagram post that "body checking" took place in a hotel ballroom in Jakarta on August 1.

One contestant said in a press conference with local news broadcaster Kompas TV that she had been asked to pose with her legs open, Reuters reported.

"I felt like I was being peeked on, I was very confused and uncomfortable," the unidentified woman, whose face was blurred, said in the press conference, according to Reuters.

In a statement shared on social media on Saturday, the Miss Universe Organization said it has terminated its relationship with its franchise in Indonesia, PT Capella Swastika Karya, and its national director, Poppy Capella.

"In light of what we have learned took place at Miss Universe Indonesia, it has become clear that this franchise has not lived up to our brand standards, ethics or expectations as outlined in our franchise handbook and code of conduct," the statement said.

"Providing a safe space for women is the Miss Universe Organization's utmost priority, and the events at this particular pageant are diametrically opposed to everything we stand for at this organization," it continued.

The statement added that this year's Miss Universe Malaysia had been canceled, as PT Capella Swastika Karya holds the contract for that pageant as well. The organization "will make arrangements for" Fabienne Nicole Groeneveld, the winner of Miss Universe Indonesia's 2023 pageant, to compete in the Miss Universe final, the statement said.

The Miss Universe final is expected to be held in El Salvador on November 18, Hola reported.

Capella said in a statement on Instagram that she was "not involved at all and have never known, ordered, requested or allowed anyone who played a role and participated in the Miss Universe Indonesia 2023 process to commit violence or sexual harassment through body checking," The Guardian reported on Sunday.

The statement appears to no longer be visible on Capella's Instagram account as of Monday.

Jakarta police spokesperson Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko said in a press conference that they are investigating the claims, The Guardian reported. Police are reviewing surveillance footage from the event and interviewing the contestants who made the allegations, according to The Guardian.

Read the original article on Insider
A 21-year-old Utah native and National Guard member stationed in Alaska was found dead days after her husband reported her missing, police told news outlets.

Now he has been charged with murder, police said.

Saria Hildabrand was first reported missing on Aug. 7 in Anchorage, police said in a news release.

She was reportedly last seen the day before and left her home in a black T-shirt, black jeans and black shoes and was carrying her purse, Anchorage police said.

She was reported missing by her husband, Zarrius Hildabrand, the Anchorage Daily News reported, who told police he and his wife had been out drinking with friends on Aug. 5 for his birthday.

He told police they got back to their apartment at about 2 a.m., KTUU reported.

Around 2:45 a.m., a neighbor heard a gunshot and called police but did not go outside to check it out, the outlet reported, citing charging documents.

Zarrius Hildabrand told police Saria was hungover on Sunday but still left to walk to work around 9 a.m., according to the Anchorage Daily News, citing a criminal complaint.

A friend of Sarias told police she was not planning on working Sunday, according to the outlet.

Her co-workers told police they had gotten a text from Saria around 10:45 a.m. on Aug. 7 telling them she was going to call off work, but charging documents said her husband told police she didnt take her phone with her to work, according to KTUU.

Her family believed she went missing on her way to work, according to a GoFundMe created on their behalf.

After days of searching, a body was found in a storm drain and was later identified as Saria, Fox News reported.

On Aug. 11, police announced her disappearance was now being investigated as a homicide, and Zarrius Hildabrand had been taken into custody, according to the release.

He has been charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder and tampering with evidence, according to jail records.

Saria had moved to Anchorage to be with her husband at the beginning of this year, KTUU reported.

Zarrius Hildabrand is a cannon crew member in the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, according to the outlet.

Saria was a member of the Army National Guard and joined the Alaska National Guard when she moved to join her husband, while also taking college classes and working at a local restaurant, according to her familys GoFundMe and the Anchorage Daily News.

She was an amazing young woman, her family said in an Aug. 12 statement made on a Facebook page to share information about her case.

Saria is a genuine, caring woman that is independent, courageous, and brave, her family said. She was a good student in training to become a combat medic and preparing for her future.

Saria was originally from Midvale, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City, KSTU reported.

Body found on hill identified as man who vanished on walk in 2019, California cops say

Hiker dies after falling off mountain in Grand Teton National Park, officials say

Search for missing man leads to body wrapped in plastic at couples home, Texas cops say

Teen shot and killed three years ago, North Carolina cops say. Suspect just arrested
As the 2024 primary elections loom on the horizon, candidate recruitment is in full swing for both the Republican and Democratic parties.

Many statewide races are already becoming crowded with contenders. In the race for Missouri governor, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and Missouri Sen. Bill Eigel are the frontrunners for the GOP nomination. For Democrats, Missouri Minority House Leader Crystal Quade is the top contender.

In smaller races around the state, Democrats have at times failed to muster a candidate at all, allowing Republican to run uncontested. That's something the party is working to change, through efforts such as the candidate recruitment rally hosted Aug. 6 by the 4th District Democratic committee.

It's not okay for us to leave an empty seat. Then there's no competition and there's also no democracy, said Randi MCallian, a Democrat running in the 8th Congressional District. It's literally not a democracy if there are no choices on your ballot.

Urban-rural divide presents obstacles for both parties

Randi McCallian, the Democratic candidate for Congressional District 8 in 2024, gives advice on kickstarting political campaigns at a candidate recruitment rally on Aug. 6 in Rocky Mount, Missouri.

Outside of urban areas, most of the state voted for Republicans in the last election cycles. Uncontested races tend to be more common in those rural areas, where Democratic candidates at times see little chance of success.

I know that candidate recruitment in a lot of our red spaces is hard, said Lyra Noce, chair of the Boone County Democratic Central Committee. It is something where you just have to get up and lose sometimes.

In the past two presidential election years, Missouri has overwhelmingly voted for Republican candidates at both the state and federal level.

In 2020, Gov. Mike Parson beat former State Auditor Nicole Galloway by a margin of than 16%. Four years earlier, Eric Greitens triumphed over Chris Koster by a smaller margin of just 5.5%.

In 2016 and 2020, Republicans swept every election for statewide office. Galloway, the sole Democrat, chose not to run again in 2022. Since Scott Fitzpatrick replaced her as auditor in 2023, every one of the states top executive offices is held by a Republican.

At the same time, the GOP has faced stiff competition in urban areas such as Springfield, where Democrats have picked up two seats in the legislature since 2020.

Greene County is becoming more difficult, especially the center city. Its becoming more blue, where our rural areas are bright red, said Danette Proctor, chair of Greene County Republican Central Committee.

Even when Democratic candidates don't win an election, there are other forms of victory when running in a traditionally conservative area, party members said.

Losing isn't exactly losing if we redefine what a win is, said Alex Johnson, the field director of the House Democratic Campaign Committee. A win in that district isn't getting that person to 50% plus one. A win in that district could be stopping the bleed.

Providing competition, rather than allowing an uncontested race, can also push opposing candidates to work harder and spend more campaign dollars to win a seat.

It's not just stopping the bleeding, Johnson said. It's making it where they have to spend money and resources in a place where they thought they could just do fundraising and send that money elsewhere.

Thinking about running for office? How to get started

Anyone thinking about launching a campaign should first contact their county clerk or local political partys county committee. It is important to learn the requirements of each office prior to filing.

Some offices, like county clerk, county collector and public administrator, require the candidate to obtain a public officials bond. This provides insurance against losses incurred if the candidate should engage in unlawful activities while in office.

This process can take a few days, so knowing the filing deadlines for each race is important.

Candidates seeking federal, statewide, and state legislative offices will file with the Missouri Secretary of State. Filing for state and county level offices begins Feb. 27.

More: Parties prepare for Missouri caucuses to replace presidential preference primary in 2024

However, it doesnt have to be a campaign for a state level office. Running for nonpartisan positions such as the school board, the emergency services board or other city level positions are great ways to get involved in the community and enact local change.

Those seeking local office will file at their county clerks office. Filing for municipal elections starts on Dec. 5.

Candidates who miss the deadline may still run as a write-in candidate, but will need to register with the county clerk for that, as well. Votes for write-in candidates who don't register won't count in the election.

Noce, the Boone County Democratic committee chair, said imposter syndrome can take over, causing a potential candidate to doubt their qualifications to hold public office, even if they meet all the requirements. She encouraged candidates to view the struggles theyve overcome as strengths.

You can be a regular Missourian and run for office, Noce said. You can have challenges and hardships and be a part of this process.

Resources and support available for candidates

John Russell, the Republican candidate for Greene County District 2 Commissioner, knocks on doors with his children Harper, 10, and Hudson, 8, while campaigning on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020.

Once the official filing has been submitted to the respective election authority, campaigning kicks into full swing. Both the Democratic and Republican parties provide tools aimed at simplifying the process.

The National Democratic Training Committee offers resources for candidates. Nonprofit organization Lead MO currently offers training for campaign staff, but will be launching a candidate version in the fall.

The Missouri Democratic Party offers data for sale, including the addresses of Democratic voters to use when mailing campaign materials and knocking on doors. The price varies according to the office being sought, but more information can be found through the partys Votebuilder and Data Resources webpage.

The Missouri Republican Party offers similar resources through the GOP Data Center, which helps candidates identify voters in their district. Local data can sometimes be obtained from county clerks' offices.

Apart from resources available through the statewide office, the Greene County Republican Central Committee headquarters are open year-round to help candidates and supporters navigate the campaign process, Proctor said.

Running a campaign can be a full-time job in itself, meaning that a candidate would do well to appoint a campaign manager.

That candidate needs to be there out front with the people mixing and mingling and have a good manager back behind the scenes that can help make sure the candidate gets where they're supposed to and help schedule different events, Proctor said.

Although it may seem intuitive, connecting with voters where they live is a great way to inform them about campaign goals. Experts recommend knocking on doors in the voting area, as well as attending local events, parades and fairs.

Knocking and walking is so important, Proctor said. I stress that with everybody. They have to be willing to get out there and walk and knock and meet the people.

More: Quade retains key advantages in gubernatorial campaign, but faces headwinds

Candidates are advised to learn about the communities they hope to represent. They should be asking voters about their daily lives and the issues that matter to them, which will often present some common ground even if they stand on opposite sides of party lines.

Campaigns can be costly, necessitating fundraising events and direct donation requests to keep afloat.

The best way to get money for that candidate is to actually ask for it, Proctor said. Fundraisers are good, and they help with networking, getting your name out and everything, but your money really comes from a one-on-one ask.

Other helpful tips given by candidates include giving a precise donation amount needed to accomplish a specific goal. Putting a QR code on campaign materials to register volunteers and collect donations is also helpful. For those sending mailers, ask the post office about bulk mailing discounts.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri Democrats and Republicans recruit candidates for 2024
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on Monday stressed that he wants the U.S. House and Senate committees that are drafting the new federal farm bill to understand the drought conditions that Missouri farmers are facing.

These farmers do this year-round to be able to try to make a living for their families, and when you cant produce, then you cant make any money, then thats going to have an effect for the whole family and itll have an effect for the economy, the Republican governor told reporters during a listening session over the federal farm bill at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia.

Mondays listening session, hosted by U.S. Rep. Mark Alford, a Missouri Republican, gave Parson and other Missouri officials an opportunity to outline their priorities for the federal farm bill, which will shape food, farm, conservation and nutrition programs for the next five years. The listening session was also a chance for farmers to lay out what industry issues they would like to see in the bill.

The session came as, despite recent rainfalls, the Midwest has experienced significant drought conditions caused by abnormally low precipitation and high temperatures. Increasing access to broadband in rural parts of the state and the need for more conservation programs were also among some of the major topics discussed during the roughly two-hour session.

The current federal farm bill is set to expire at the end of September. Congress passes a farm bill every five years to set the nations food and agriculture policy.

The legislation deals with everything from prices for crops such as wheat, corn and soybeans; agricultural trade policy; federal crop insurance; and eligibility for the supplemental nutrition assistance program. The package is expected to surpass $1 trillion in programs.

Alford described the farm bill as a three-legged stool, with the first leg involving a need to protect farmers through insurance programs and safety nets. The second leg, he said, is feeding the country with the supplemental nutrition assistance program, which he said makes up roughly 80% of the federal bill. And the third leg is protecting farmland through conservation programs, he said.

The Republican told The Star he would like to see the bill include money for farmers to build new ponds to respond to worsening drought conditions. He also floated money for technology so farmers can report drought conditions.

A lot of the farmers who are my age or older dont even know how to go about reporting their conditions and the system, the way it is now, is relying on self reporting from farmers, ranchers and producers, he said. We need to move into modern technology.

Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, a Republican who is running for governor in 2024, told The Star in an interview that he heard lots of interesting factors from the listening session. One of the biggest issues he heard was the need for conservation programs for farmers.

The Republican candidate for governor said he also would like to see the states timber industry represented in the farm bill.

Most people dont think of growing timber and processing it as agriculture but its very much part of agriculture, he said. We need to make sure that forest products industry all across the country, but especially here in Missouri, is well represented in this new farm bill.

Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, a Missouri Republican, also attended the session. The panel also drew lawmakers from other states, including Rep. Glenn GT Thompson, a Pennsylvania Republican who chairs the House Agriculture Committee, Rep. Jonathan Jackson, an Illinois Democrat and Rep. Monica De La Cruz, a Texas Republican.

Parson, who owns a cattle farm in Bolivar, said that he hoped Mondays session showed how important agriculture and small farms are to Missouris economy.

Yes theres a lot of big farmers in the world across there and they have lots of representation, but I really want them to understand what its like for us small farmers, for the people who are sitting here today to understand what our struggles are, he said.
Republican lawmakers are privately expressing their alarm at Senate minority leader Mitch McConnells declining health after a series of recent falls.

Mr McConnell froze for 20 seconds during a press conference on 26 July, prompting fears the 81-year-old had suffered a medical event.

It was later revealed that Mr McConnell had suffered three falls in the preceding months, including two previously undisclosed incidents.

Mr McConnells GOP colleagues are becoming increasingly concerned at how quickly he has aged, according to Politicos Jonathan Martin.

One GOP lawmaker told Politico that they had spoken to a member of Mr McConnells staff about whether he should consider hearing implants, after he appeared unable to follow conversation at a recent Senate Republican lunch.

Mr Martin, who has covered the Kentucky senator for years, wrote that it was jarring to see his decline.

Politico reported that Mr McConnells wife, former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, had to help him up from his chair during an appearance at the annual Fancy Farm picnic in Kentucky on 5 August.

US Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, center, is helped by, Senator John Barrasso and Senator Joni Ernst (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Hecklers interrupted Mr McConnells speech with boos and jeers, and called for him to retire.

This is my 28th Fancy Farm, and I want to assure you, its not my last, Mr McConnell told the audience, playing down health concerns.

Ms Chao has become a forceful protector of the Senate leader and keeps a close eye on him at public events, Politico noted.

Mr McConnell has insisted he will remain in his leadership position and serve out his full six-year term which ends in 2027.

Unlike President Joe Biden, whose every slip and gaffe is widely covered, Mr McConnells health issues have largely remained out of sight.

That was until 26 July, when Mr McConnell had to be helped by fellowsenators after he appeared unable to speak for about 20 seconds at a Senate Republican press conference.

Mr McConnell returned a few minutes later, and insisted he was fine.

In March, Mr McConnell took six weeks away from the Senate after suffering a concussion and fractured a rib when he fell and hit his head after a dinner event at a hotel earlier this year. He was hospitalised for several days.

It emerged that the GOP Senate leader also suffered a face plant after boarding a flight at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on 14 July.

In February, Mr McConnell fell during a visit to Helsinki where he was leading a delegation of GOP senators.

In 2021, Kentuckys Republican state legislator voted to change the laws surrounding the appointment of a new senator in the event of a death or retirement to ensure that the successor is from the same party.

Politico reported that there is growing speculation that Kentucky governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat, could try to flout the law and send the replacement process to the courts.

Mr Beshear told Politico that it would be total speculation to comment as there was no vacancy.
The woman in Australia who cooked a meal using mushrooms suspected to have caused the deaths of three of her relatives gave a written statement to police on Friday insisting that the fatalities were a tragic accident.

Erin Patterson, who has not been charged in connection with the case which has gripped Australia, said she too was hospitalized after eating the beef wellington. Authorities say Pattersons 70-year-old parents-in-law, Don and Gail Patterson, as well as Gails 66-year-old sister, Heather Wilkinson, displayed symptoms associated with the ingestion of death cap mushrooms before they died following the lunch at Pattersons home in the town of Leongatha around 70 miles southeast of Melbourne on July 29.

Man Sentenced for Killing Neighbors in Garden Hose Dispute

Heather Wilkinsons husband, Ian Wilkinson, 68, was also left in critical condition after consuming the mushrooms. He remains in hospital while waiting for a liver transplant. Police said last week that Patterson is being treated as a suspect in their investigation into the deaths but that detectives are keeping an open mind. The mushrooms have not yet been definitively ruled as causing the fatalities.

I am now wanting to clear up the record because I have become extremely stressed and overwhelmed by the deaths of my loved ones, Patterson, 48, said in her written statement to Victoria Police, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported Monday. She added that she is devastated to think that these mushrooms may have contributed to the illness suffered by my loved ones.

I really want to repeat that I had absolutely no reason to hurt these people whom I loved, Patterson wrote.

Patterson also said she was sorry to have followed advice of giving police a no comment interview in the wake of the deaths. I now very much regret not answering some questions following this advice given the nightmare that this process has become, she wrote, calling the interview itself terrifying and anxiety-provoking.

She also contradicted initial police reports that her children were present in the house at the time of the meal but they did not eat the food. Instead, she says the kids had gone to a movie before the lunch took place, and that they did eat the leftovers the following night. Patterson said the children dont like mushrooms, so she scraped them off the meal before serving the food.

Patterson said she required hospital treatment for stomach pains and diarrhea after eating the ill-fated dish and was given a liver protective drug. She also preserved what was left of the wellington when her other guests fell seriously ill, with health officials contacting her about what may have caused the severe sickness. The remains of the meal were handed to hospital toxicologists for analysis.

Patterson claims that the mushrooms involved in the dish were a mixture of button mushrooms bought at a well-known supermarket chain and dried mushrooms which shed bought months before the meal at an Asian grocery store in Melbourne. Although she was unable to identify the specific store in the latter case, health officials sent her images of packs of mushrooms marked by hand-written labels which resembled the packs she had described to them.

Patterson also spoke about reports that police had seized a food dehydrator from a dump, confirming that it belonged to her. She admitted that she lied to cops that shed got rid of the device a long time ago, and that she was speaking about the dehydrator with her kids at the hospital when her ex-husbandwhose parents died after eating the wellingtonasked her: Is that what you used to poison them? Patterson explained that she feared losing custody of her children and, in a panic, decided to dump the device.

She added that she had been close with her parents-in-law even after she became estranged from her husband, Simon Patterson, who was also supposed to attend the meal but canceled prior to the day.

I had a deep love and respect for Simons parents and had encouraged my children to spend time with their grandparents as I believed they were exceptional role models, she wrote.

Police say their investigation into the deaths is still underway.

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A woman described the incident at Brandon Mall as the "scariest moment" of her life. TikTok screenshots

A TikTok video documenting a woman's response to a gunshot at a mall has gone viral.

The TikToker told Insider she was on a ride with her daughter when she heard a loud "boom."

She made a video about the aftermath to help others feel less alone.

A reality TV star documented the direct aftermath of witnessing a gunshot incident with her young daughter in a TikTok that has gone mega-viral as viewers praised her response.

32-year-old Cher Gopman, who goes by the TikTok username @cherhubsher, stars in "sMothered," a TLC reality TV series about mother-daughter duos.

On August 5, she was on a carousel ride with her 4-year-old daughter at Brandon Mall, in Tampa, Florida, when they heard a loud "boom" sound.

Local police believe that a firearm accidentally went off inside a woman's purse and struck the side of the countertop when she leaned over a counter to pick up food, according to a news release by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, which stated that there had been no reported injuries.

A viral TikTok video posted by a user who goes by @albac2.0 captured the moment Gopman tried to get her daughter off the ride after what appeared to be the sound of the gunshot.

Gopman told Insider that she saw the video because people kept tagging her in it asking if it was her. She said it was "extremely hard" for her to watch.

"It made me very emotional seeing it," she said. "But I think it allowed other people to see what we actually went through and the fear and the reaction."

Gopman went on to post her own video on the day of the incident, describing it as the "scariest moment of my life."

She panned the camera to her bare feet and told viewers that she'd had to throw down her shoes and purse so she could get her daughter to safety more quickly.

"I don't know if it's a shooting or a balloon pop or what it was, but there are helicopters and cops here and I have no purse," she told viewers.

Meanwhile, Gopman's daughter, who was standing beside her while she cried, smiled and said, "In the mall there was just a balloon pop, but now she's upset."

Gopman told Insider that she recorded the TikTok video while she was waiting to be evacuated in the parking lot. She said that she and her husband told her daughter that the gunshot was a balloon pop because they didn't want her to be afraid.

Her video has been viewed over 9 million times and Gopman said that she has been flooded with "love and kindness" from viewers.

Many praised Gopman for her actions and validated her feelings that the incident was traumatizing. Other viewers shared their own experiences of being involved in gunshot incidents. Several people criticized the US's current gun laws and called for stricter controls.

Gopman told Insider that some of the people who were at Brandon Mall that day had reached out to her saying they had seen her crying outside the mall and that they were glad she was OK. Others told her that they had "felt silly" having such an emotional reaction when they heard it was an accidental discharge, but that they felt less alone seeing her video.

Gopman told Insider that she posted the video because she wanted to share her experience to let others know that this is a "real thing that's happening," and to help others who went through the same thing to feel less alone.

"I've gotten a lot of people who unfortunately have had similar situations or been involved in shootings sharing their stories with me and telling me how they've worked to overcome that," said Gopman. "Even though this was an accident, this accident has changed so many people's lives."

Gopman said that her daughter now refuses to go on carousel rides because she is too scared.

"Whether it was an active shooter or not, that same reaction happened. That same fear happened," said Gopman. "It was very scary."

Read the original article on Insider
The sun rises behind a ridge of trees near Missoula, Montana (CHIP SOMODEVILLA)

In a landmark climate trial, a Montana court on Monday ruled in favor of a group of youths who accused the western US state of violating their rights to a clean environment.

District Court Judge Kathy Seeley said a state law preventing agencies from considering the impacts of greenhouse gases when issuing permits for fossil fuel development was unconstitutional.

The case, Held v. State of Montana -- brought by 16 plaintiffs ranging in age from five to 22 -- has been closely watched because it could bolster similar litigation that has been filed across the country.

"By prohibiting analysis of GHG0 (greenhouse gas) emissions and corresponding impacts to the climate... the MEPA (Montana Environmental Policy Act) Limitation violates Youth Plaintiffs' right to a clean and healthful environment and is unconstitutional on its face," Seeley wrote.

"Plaintiffs have a fundamental constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment, which includes climate as part of the environmental life-support system," Seeley added in her more than 100-page ruling.

The closely watched case was the first involving a constitutional claim against a state and also represented a rare instance in which climate experts were questioned on the witness stand.

Julia Olson, executive director of the nonprofit Our Children's Trust, which represented the plaintiffs, welcomed the ruling as a "huge win for Montana, for youth, for democracy, and for our climate."

"Today, for the first time in US history, a court ruled on the merits of a case that the government violated the constitutional rights of children through laws and actions that promote fossil fuels, ignore climate change, and disproportionately imperil young people," Olson said.

"As fires rage in the West, fueled by fossil fuel pollution, today's ruling in Montana is a game-changer that marks a turning point in this generation's efforts to save the planet from the devastating effects of human-caused climate chaos," she said in a statement.

- 'Dystopian movie' -

Emily Flower, spokeswoman for Montana attorney general Austin Knudsen, denounced the ruling and said the state would appeal.

"This ruling is absurd, but not surprising from a judge who let the plaintiffs' attorneys put on a weeklong taxpayer-funded publicity stunt," Flower said.

"Montanans can't be blamed for changing the climate  even the plaintiffs' expert witnesses agreed that our state has no impact on the global climate," she added.

At the heart of the case was a provision within fossil fuel-friendly Montana's constitution that says: "The state and each person shall maintain and improve a clean and healthful environment in Montana for present and future generations."

The youths said they had been harmed by the "dangerous impacts of fossil fuels and the climate crisis," with children "uniquely vulnerable" to its worsening impacts.

During closing arguments, Nate Bellinger of Our Children's Trust said his clients were asking the state government to "embrace its constitutional responsibility to alleviate the harms of its own conduct."

"The plaintiffs acknowledge that the work to stop and reverse climate change will be a lifetime journey, but they are asking this court for help," he said.

Montana assistant attorney general Michael Russell on the other hand argued that energy policy should be decided by the people through their elected representatives.

Russell said that while the state accepted that man-made emissions were responsible for warming, expert witnesses had not been able to quantify the extent to which Montana's laws were responsible.

The trial began on June 12 and concluded a few days earlier than expected after Montana declined to call to the stand several experts, including its only climate scientist, Judith Curry.

Over the course of the proceedings, the court heard testimony from the plaintiffs about ways their health, emotional wellbeing, family finances and cultural traditions had been affected.

Lead plaintiff Rikki Held, 22, whose family runs a ranch in Montana, said that their livelihoods and quality of life had been increasingly impacted by wildfires, extreme temperatures and drought.

Claire Vlases, 20, said: "When I think about summer, I think about smoke. It sounds like a dystopian movie, but it's real life."

cl/jh
At the invitation of Saudi Arabia, China's Special Representative on Eurasian Affairs Li Hui attended a two-day meeting in Jeddah on the Ukraine conflict. The attendance of the Chinese representative, alongside security advisors and representatives from 43 countries, gave way to collective deliberations to consolidate an international consensus on Ukraine, and to mobilize global support for joint peace imperatives. "All parties positively commented on Li Hui's attendance and fully backed China's positive role in facilitating peace talks," said China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a written statement to Reuters.



China's attendance at the meeting, reflecting its staunch support for a negotiated peace in Ukraine, underscored its responsible and committed role in conflict resolution. Beijing is keen to consider other countries' perspectives and motivations for peace. It is prepared to work with the international community to devise shared principles to inform a possible peace summit later in the year.

The agreements made in Jeddah, backing "further Ukraine peace talks," align with Beijing's roadmap for a political settlement of the issue. At the same time, the desire to factor in different positions on a matter of shared global concern reinforces Beijing's point: that the path to enduring peace in Ukraine runs through constructive dialogue. "It is important that our principles are shared," said Li ahead of the meeting, according to Reuters.

One of the key impediments to a political breakthrough on the issue is the selective focus on the principal parties' sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. China's relationships with Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, Russia, and the West strengthen its case for bridging the trust deficit between Moscow and Kyiv, given its support for the "equal and uniform application of international law" in the lead-up to a solution. The attendance of the Chinese representative at the two-day meeting testifies to Beijing's positive traction with diverse parties across regions, where mutual trust is a top priority.

China's approach to the meeting was informed by a series of successful diplomatic engagements in major European capitals in May. These discussions allowed China to coordinate peace imperatives and future dialogue prospects with Russia and Ukraine. The resulting effort serves as a template for the international community to approve enhanced communication between Russia and Ukraine without letting Cold War mentalities or third-party interference keep a settlement out of reach.

The Saudi-hosted meeting is a welcome step towards reviving productive consultations, a process valued by Ukraine, Russia, China and other regional players. Unlike nations that impose unwarranted sanctions or supply arms to the battlefield, China stands firmly opposed to any escalation of the conflict. It understands the value of prioritizing the "legitimate security interests and concerns of all countries" through its own 12-point peace plan.

Considering the potential impact of energy market disruptions and NATO's possible eastward expansion, the consequences of a prolonged Ukraine conflict are daunting. China's comprehensive Ukraine peace plan takes stock of such global concerns and leaves Beijing uniquely positioned to deepen the Global South's stakes in substantive peace talks. At the Jeddah closed-door meeting, significant representation from the developing world made it possible to align various proposals for enduring peace with key elements of China's 12-point Ukraine peace plan. That includes supporting Russia and Ukraine in "working in the same direction," exercising restraint and "resuming direct dialogue as quickly as possible."

As a result, the Chinese delegation's constructive participation in the Saudi-hosted meeting underscores China's credibility in conflict resolution and its relevance to facilitating peace between Russia and Ukraine. Beijing's healthy diplomatic ties with all parties, and a stated desire to reconcile disagreements through shared principles, are all central to the pursuit of meaningful peace in Ukraine.

Hannan R. Hussain is a foreign affairs commentator, author and recipient of the Fulbright Award.

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
A judge in Montana has ruled in favor of a coalition of young people who claimed the state had violated their constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment.

The case, Held vs. Montana, was brought by 16 youths from all over Montana, whose ages range from five to 22. They alleged that theyd been significantly harmed by a provision of the Montana Environmental Policy Act that curbed considerations of climate change when state officials made decisions on energy projects. The new ruling, handed down by Judge Kathy Seeley on Monday, Aug. 14, ruled that provision violated the state constitution.

Melissa Hornbein, an attorney for the plaintiffs, celebrated Seeleys carefully considered and comprehensive order, in a statement shared with Rolling Stone. She said the ruling recognizes and makes explicit that these youth plaintiffs are already suffering disproportionately from the climate crisis, that the state has known about the dangers for decades, yet proceeded with a litany of actions that worsened their suffering, and that the challenged laws preventing the state from considering the climate impacts of its actions both exacerbate the climate crisis and prevent the state from taking meaningful and technologically feasible action to address it.

She added: Most important, her ruling that these laws blatantly violate the youth plaintiffs constitutional rights and that the state has the ability to prevent such violations in the future is unsurprising but absolutely critical for the vindication of their rights going forward. Were very happy with the order.

A spokesperson for the Montana Attorney Generals office called the ruling absurd and said the state would appeal (via The Associated Press). Montanans cant be blamed for changing the climate, the spokesperson said. Their same legal theory has been thrown out of federal court and courts in more than a dozen states. It should have been here as well, but they found an ideological judge who bent over backward to allow the case to move forward and earn herself a spot in their next documentary.

The ruling is not only a major victory for activists trying to address climate change through the courts (an already difficult task), but specifically efforts driven by youths who stand to bear the brunt of the crisis. Such efforts had previously fallen short, like a case in Utah that was dismissed, and a federal suit that was delayed for years before a federal appeals court reluctantly threw it out in 2020, saying climate change was not an issue for the courts.

But as Rolling Stone reported earlier this year, activists saw a greater possibility for success in Montana thanks to language in the states constitution (adopted in 1972) that aimed to endure a clean and healthful environment for present and future generations. (Only two other state constitutions contain similar language, Pennsylvania and New York.)

That language, however, did not prevent the state from embracing a litany of energy projects, especially the construction of two coal-fired power plants in the 1980s. In the early 2000s, as concerns about climate change grew, the fossil fuel industry successfully lobbied the state legislature to adopt rules that not only promoted fossil fuels to the states energy policy, but prohibited permit reviews from considering the effects of climate change. It was those provisions that the youth-led lawsuit targeted, with the plaintiffs laying out the ways climate change had impacted their physical and mental health.

While the suit was originally brought in 2020, it finally went to trial this past June. Most of the plaintiffs  save the youngest  testified over the course of the five-day trial. The state, meanwhile, rested its case after just a day. While many had expected the state to specifically argue against the climate science underpinning the youths suit, they instead argued the state legislature should handle the issue, not the courts.

During closing arguments, the assistant attorney general derided the trial as a week-long airing of political grievances that properly belong in the Legislature, not a court of law. As Rolling Stone noted, the plaintiffs and lawsuit faced similar political attacks in the lead-up to the case. State representatives even suggested the youths were being exploited by out-of-state special interests, and that they were exaggerating their anxieties about climate change.

It really bothers me to have this pushback from the state when were fighting to protect the Attorney Generals children and grandchildren, their land and their home, one of the plaintiffs, Grace Gibson-Snyder, said. And the blame  theyre such straw man arguments. Its not Missoula running this case [a reference to the largely liberal city]. Its people from all across the state. Thats what gives it such power.

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Inflammatory and hateful fliers promoting a white supremacy group were distributed throughout Grover Beach over the weekend, police said  weeks after similar fliers were found in San Luis Obispo.

Fliers found in the city Sunday were affiliated with proponents of the European race,  the Grover Beach Police Department said in a news release Monday.

Police said the content of the fliers, which were left on doorsteps and vehicles overnight, were perceived by many as inflammatory and hateful.

While these fliers fall within the bounds of free speech protected by the First Amendment and do not explicitly endorse hate or violence, their messaging stands in stark contrast to our communitys cherished principles of inclusivity, diversity and mutual respect, the department said in the release.

In late July, similar fliers surfaced in the city of San Luis Obispo, folded into bags with rocks on them in the South Street area.

The fliers read: Live with pride, die with honor, and shared a link for a white supremacist website.

In its release, the Grover Beach Police Department said it would not share photos or reproductions of the fliers in an effort to not amplify their misguided content.

Police encouraged anyone who encounters the fliers to responsibly discard them.

The police department remains steadfast in supporting an environment of unity throughout Grover Beach, the release read.
Def Con, the world's largest hacker conference, has long been a place for cybersecurity ninjas to put their skills to the test, from breaking into cars to discovering smart home vulnerabilities, or even rigging elections.

So it isn't exactly surprising that hackers at this year's Def Con in Las Vegas have turned their sights on AI chatbots, a trend that's taken the world by storm, especially since OpenAI released ChatGPT to the public late last year.

The convention hosted an entire contest, NBC News reports, not to identify software vulnerabilities, but to come up with new prompt injections that force chatbots like Google's Bard or ChatGPT to spit out practically anything attackers want.

According to the report, six of the biggest AI companies, including Meta, Google, OpenAI, Anthropic, and Microsoft, were a part of the challenge, hoping to get hackers to identify flaws in their generative AI tools.

Even the White House announced back in May that it's supporting the event.

And that shouldn't be surprising to anybody. These chatbots are technically impressive, but they're infamously terrible at reliably distinguishing between truth from fiction. And as we've seen again and again, they're easy to manipulate.

And with billions of dollars flowing into the AI industry, there are very real financial incentives to discovering these flaws.

"All of these companies are trying to commercialize these products," Rumman Chowdhury, a trust and safety consultant who worked on designing the contest, told NBC. "And unless this model can reliably interact in innocent interactions, then it is not a marketable product."

The companies involved in the contest gave themselves plenty of leeway. For instance, any discovered flaws won't be publicized until February, giving them plenty time to address them. Hackers at the event were also only able to access the systems through provided laptops.

But whether the work will lead to permanent fixes remains to be seen. Chatbot guardrails implemented by these companies have already proven to be hilariously easy to circumvent with a simple prompt injection, as Carnegie Mellon researchers recently found, meaning that they can be turned into powerful disinformation and discrimination machines.

Worse yet, according to these researchers, there's no easy fix for the root of the issue, despite how many specific issues a horde of Def Con hackers identify.

"There is no obvious solution," Zico Kolter, a professor at Carnegie Mellon and an author of the report, told the New York Times last month. "You can create as many of these attacks as you want in a short amount of time."

"There are no good guardrails," Tom Bonner of the AI security firm HiddenLayer, a speaker at this year's DefCon, told the Associated Press.

And researchers at ETH Zurich in Switzerland recently found that a simple collection of images and text could be used to "poison" AI training data, with potentially devastating effects.

In short, AI companies will have their work cut out of them, with or without an army of hackers testing their products.

"Misinformation is going to be a lingering problem for a while," Chowdhury told NBC.

More on chatbots: Supermarket's Meal-Planning AI Suggests Deadly Poison for Dinner
A mother in northwest Illinois is facing multiple felony charges after police said officers found the body of her 10-year-old son in a trash can at her home during a welfare check.

According to a press release, the Rock Island Police Department launched a probe into a suspicious death case at the home last week.

Just before 9:30 a.m. on July 26, police said, officers responded to the Rock Island house where they found the body of a boy, later identified as Zion Staples, in a garbage can in the home's garage. The home is located in the city's Highland Park Historic District near the Iowa state line, just south of the Mississippi River.

Police did not say how the boy died in the release and did not specify what prompted the welfare check.

Rock Island County Coroner Brian Gustafson told USA TODAY a preliminary autopsy revealed the boy died from a gunshot wound.

A 10-year-old boy was found dead in a trash can on July 26,2023, at his mother's northwest Illinois home. Sushi Staples, 37, is charged in connection to his death. Rock Island Police Department launched a probe into the suspicious death case after Zion Staples' body was found.

Later that day, police said, they arrested the boy's mother, 37-year old Sushi M. Staples, on charges including concealment of death and obstruction of justice.

Staples was taken to the Rock Island County Jail where she was held, pending her first court appearance on the charges, police said.

Woman killed after fall in Colorado: 21-year-old woman dies after falling 300 feet at Rocky Mountain National Park

Coroner: Boy likely died in December 2022

Gustafson said the boy's body had been in the trash for eight months.

"It's not definitively known how long he's been dead," Gustafson said. "But it's believed he died sometime in December 2022."

Maui fires: How to help victims of the wildfires in Hawaii

Mother to appear in court this week

According to Rock Island County court records, Staples made her first appearance in court Friday and a judge set her bond at $500,000.

She is due back in court for a hearing on Tuesday.

The case remained under investigation on Monday, police said, and further details will be released when they become available.

Natalie Neysa Alund covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter @nataliealund

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Zion Staples found dead in trash can at mother's Rock Island, IL home
Los Angeles mother finds murdered woman wrapped in plastic inside her sons room (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

A homicide investigation has been launched after a mother called the police to report discovering a woman wrapped in plastic in her sons bedroom.

The Los Angeles Police Department received a call on Sunday just after 1am about a possible homicide at a home in the 2200 block of Wall Street, a department spokesperson told the Los Angeles Times.

According to KTLA 5, the mother told officers that she walked into her sons room after sensing a gas smell. When she went inside, she discovered what appeared to be a body.

Authorities told the publication that they found a woman wrapped in plastic in the home, and called the paramedics.

The woman, identified as 30-year-old Hannah Rachel Collins, was pronounced dead at the scene, ABC7 reported.

The son has not been located as of Monday afternoon, police told the outlet. The officers also told the Los Angeles Times that they are investigating the case as a homicide.

It was not immediately clear how long the body had been in the room.

A spokesperson for the LAPD confirmed the suspect was the 26-year-old son of the woman who called the police. He is not under arrest, but investigators are looking for him, the spokesperson said.
Despite three decades of advances in medical science, it is roughly just as dangerous now for new mothers in Missouri as it was 30 years ago, said Traci Johnson, a doctor at University Health.

It shouldnt be that way, she said.

New reports from state agencies in Kansas and Missouri found that maternal outcomes had been getting worse in both states as of 2020, when the analyzed data ends. The majority of deaths that were recorded in both states were found to be preventable.

Thats what I think is the biggest public health disaster, said Johnson, who serves as chair-elect of the board that conducted the Missouri report, acknowledging the 30-year difference was an estimate.

Medical providers in Missouri know how to prevent deaths from postpartum hemorrhage, Johnson said. We know that cardiovascular disease is a problemWe know that the screening tools work, but we dont use them. We know that gun violence is a problem, but its political.

State agency reports released this month in Kansas and Missouri showed an increase in deaths and illness during or within a year after pregnancy.

The reports were the first for each state to include data from the COVID-19 pandemic and follow a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that showed a dramatic increase in maternal deaths nationwide during the height of the pandemic. The U.S. remains the most dangerous wealthy country for pregnant women and new mothers in terms of maternal outcomes.

But even predating the pandemic, the data showed deepening problems for maternal healthcare in Kansas and Missouri that disproportionately harm women of color.

Between 2018 and 2020, 210 Missouri women died while pregnant or within one year of pregnancy, according to the report released this month from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services

The report, conducted by Missouris Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Board, determined that the mortality ratio in those three years was 32 deaths per 100,000 live births, an increase from 25.2 deaths between 2017 to 2019. Most of those deaths  84%  were preventable, the report determined, which is nine percentage points higher than the previous report.

In Kansas, a report summary published last week by the Kansas Maternal Mortality Review Board found 105 cases in which a woman died while pregnant or within a year of pregnancy between 2016 and 2020. It determined that 29 of those were determined to be pregnancy related, 79% of which were preventable. While the report found an increase in deaths between 2018 and 2020 versus 2016 to 2018, the report said the number was statistically insignificant.

Roughly two-thirds of the pregnancy-related deaths in Kansas were among women of color, while Black women in Missouri were three times more likely to die within a year of pregnancy than white women.

The progression of medical care has not benefited some populations in the same way it benefited others, said Sharla Smith, an associate professor at the University of Kansas Medical Center and founder of the Kansas Birth Equity Network. She noted that nationwide Black maternal and infant mortality rates are worse now than they were 15 years before the end of slavery.

Reports, Smith said, have found inequity in maternal outcomes came as a result of bias, systemic racism, mental health and weathering, the stress bias has on bodies over time.

It really is kind of the canary in the coal mine in terms of  what are we doing around health in this country? said Tracy Russell, executive director of Nurture KC, a group focused on reducing infant mortality and improving family health. When you look at these rates for Black mothers in particular, its irrefutable that there are systemic issues that are playing an outsized role in these outcomes.

Extending Medicaid coverage

The release of the Missouri report comes after lawmakers this year passed legislation that allows low-income pregnant mothers to receive Medicaid benefits for a year after they give birth  up from the previous two months.

The American Rescue Plan Act, a COVID-19 relief package signed by President Joe Biden in 2021, allowed states to expand postpartum coverage up to a full year. Forty-seven states have expanded coverage since according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Missouri is among 10 states currently implementing the extension.

Renee Wilde, a spokesperson for the Missouri Hospital Association, based in Jefferson City, said there hasnt been enough emphasis on helping women pre- and post-pregnancy to get to the root causes of the high maternal mortality rate.

Extending Medicaid coverage to a full year after birth was a huge step in the right direction, she said.

Lawmakers from both parties hope that the legislation will improve the survival rate of women in Missouri.

Im hopeful that by giving new mothers access to health care, including mental health care, which is an important part of it, that were giving them the tools they need to stay healthy, said Missouri state Sen. Lauren Arthur, a Kansas City Democrat who sponsored a version of the legislation.

The policy has been in place in Kansas for just over a year.

Before the extension when they were dropping off at 60 days they were not being screened for all the potential things they had, Linda Sheppard, a senior analyst at the Kansas Health Institute, said of new mothers. If they already had hypertension or they already had diabetes or they already had mental health issues, for that matter as well, those things are not being screened for and not being treated.

Data on whether the program improved outcomes in Kansas is not yet available. But a Texas study showed women take advantage of more mental health, substance abuse and postpartum services when care is extended.

Early prevention in Kansas

In both states mental health issues and substance abuse were major contributors to deaths. In Kansas, the review board found that substance abuse disorder, obesity and mental health conditions were common contributors each contributed to one in four deaths.

Its only recently that weve even looked at the mental health aspects around pregnancy and postpartum and thats something that hasnt been invested in at all, said Russell with Nurture KC. When you see thats the leading driver, its a problem.

Mariah Chrans, program director at Cradle KC and a member of the Kansas Maternal Mortality Review Board, said more work needed to be done to address mental health, substance abuse and family planning before a pregnancy.

We need to do a better job at wraparound support, Chrans said. We know that the better supported a person is and the better supported a community is and the better supported a community is the healthier they are.

In this region we are not doing well. Our numbers indicate that and we have to go for the things that do well but are hard and take a long time to really address infant and maternal health. We have to invest in changing our systems.

In Missouri, the MHA has been working to improve the health outcomes of mothers and babies, said Wilde. This includes providing better care for moms with high blood pressure and distributing at-home blood pressure cuffs.

Weve been working on designing ways to have those sensitive but essential conversations about substance use and mental health disorders that can affect the patient and the child both short and long term, she said.

A major barrier to that early intervention in Kansas, advocates say, is the states continued resistance to expanding Medicaid. About two-thirds of the 105 deaths in Kansas were among women on Medicaid, without insurance or with an unknown insurance status. The leading cause of death was motor vehicle accidents, accounting for 19 deaths, followed by cardiovascular conditions and homicide.

Kansas is one of 10 that has not expanded Medicaid. As a result, a coverage gap remains for Kansans who do not qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford coverage through the Affordable Care Act.

Smith said Kansas has taken good steps, referencing training shes been involved in at KU, postpartum extensions and efforts to address the cost of living through eliminating the food sales tax and affordable housing initiatives.

But the most impactful step the state could take, she said, would be Medicaid expansion.

Based on the data and on states that have improved their rates and improved the health of their population, thats one of the factors we see as being extremely different than what we have here, Smith said.

But Rep. Brenda Landwehr, a Wichita Republican, said Medicaid expansion wouldnt help because she believed the problem stemmed from cultural issues and people not seeking out prenatal care. Expansion is heavily opposed by GOP leadership in the state Legislature.

Existing resources in the state, like community mental health centers and crisis pregnancy centers, provide the needed help, Landwehr said.

I just want to get away from government has to be the answer to everything, because thats not the case, Landwehr said.

Missouri voters approved an amendment to the state constitution that expanded Medicaid in 2020, but data is not yet available to show its maternal health impact.

High suicide and homicide rates in Missouri

The Missouri report found that the number of suicide deaths of pregnant women and new mothers doubled since the states previous report. Of those suicides, 50% involved the use of a firearm. And 75% of pregnancy-related homicides also involved guns. Kansas report summary did not describe method of homicide or suicide.

That just speaks to how comfortable and how accessible guns are and how bad mental health is, Johnson said.

In cases where a death is both pregnancy-related and a homicide, the state determined that the pregnancy initiated a chain of events that led to the homicide, said Sarah Ehrhard Reid, chief of the Office on Womens Health at DHSS. In each of the cases, the perpetrator was a current or former partner and half of the records indicated a history of domestic violence or intimate partner violence.

Our hope is that by including every pregnancy related death, we can show all the ways that providers and communities can help prevent these tragedies, she said in an email.

Arthur, who acknowledged that she could not say definitively why homicide rates would be so high, said Missouri has become a very dangerous place for people in violent partnerships.

She pointed to the states lax gun laws, which do not bar those convicted of domestic violence from purchasing firearms and a state law that prevents pregnant women from filing for divorce.

I just see different threads that could tie together and explain why Missouri has a long way to go to protect women, she said.

Advocates expressed some optimism that, with increasing alarm over the issue of the high maternal mortality rate, there would be increasing attention. But there is still a lot to learn.

It is really trying to figure out what is really happening with these moms and experiences they are having with their healthcare services when theyre pregnant, Sheppard, with the Kansas Health Institute, said.

If you or someone you know is at risk of self-harm, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24-hour support at 988.
Mount Etna spurts red-hot lava into the night sky, as seen from Rocca Della Valle

Mount Etna eruption closes Sicily's troubled Catania airport Mount Etna spurts red-hot lava into the night sky, as seen from Rocca Della Valle

CATANIA, Sicily (Reuters) -Flights serving the eastern Sicilian city of Catania were halted on Monday after an eruption from nearby Mount Etna, local authorities said, bringing fresh travel woe to the crisis-plagued Italian airport.

The 3,330 metre (10,925 ft) high volcano burst into action overnight, firing lava and ash high over the Mediterranean island. The lava flow subsided before dawn, but ash was still coming from one of the craters.

Flights to and from Catania, a popular tourist destination, will remain suspended until 6 a.m. (0400 GMT) on Tuesday morning, the airport operator said in a statement, dashing hopes they could resume on Monday night.

Passengers were advised to check with airlines before heading to the airport on Tuesday.

Incoming flights were diverted to other airports on Sicily on Monday. It is the peak of the summer holiday season in Italy where Tuesday is a public holiday.

Catania Mayor Enrico Trantino banned the use of motorcycles and bicycles in the city for the next 48 hours, because many streets were covered in ash, and ordered cars to drive no faster than 30 kph (19 mph) due to the skiddy conditions.

The latest cancellations at Catania airport, which attracts more arrivals than the island's capital, Palermo, came a month after a fire at a terminal building led to weeks of disruptions for passengers.

The last major eruption of Etna was in 1992.

(Reporting by Crispian Balmer and Keith Weir; Editing by Conor Humphries)
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' team obtained text messages and emails that directly connect former President Donald Trump's legal team to a January 2021 voting system breach in Georgia's Coffee County, CNN reported on Sunday.

Willis, who is expected to seek charges against more than a dozen people as early as Tuesday, has gathered evidence indicating the breach "was a top-down push by former President Donald Trump's team to access sensitive voting software" as part of a larger push to get evidence to back up Trump's baseless fraud claims, multiple sources told the outlet.

While the probe has focused on Trump's and his allies' efforts to overturn the election in the state, including Trump's infamous phone call demanding George Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger "find" enough votes to overturn his loss, the voting system breach has "quietly emerged as an area of focus" over the past year, according to the report.

The texts and other court documents show that Trump lawyers and other operatives sought to access the Coffee County voting systems days before the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

A former Trump official testified to the House Jan. 6 committee that plans to access Georgia voting systems were discussed in White House meetings, including a December 18, 2020, Oval Office meeting that included Trump.

Six days before pro-Trump operatives got unauthorized access to the voting systems, a local election official who helped facilitate the breach sent a "written invitation" to lawyers working for Trump, according to texts obtained by CNN.

Prosecutors have examined the role of the former election official, Misty Hampton, as well as the involvement of Trump attorneys Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell. Hampton's invitation was shared with attorneys and former NYPD Commissioner Bernie Kerik, an investigator working for Giuliani at the time, according to CNN.

Katherine Friess, an attorney working with Giuliani and Powell, shared the letter and notified operatives who carried out the breach that Trump's team had gotten written permission to access the systems, according to the texts.

"Rudy Giuliani had nothing to do with this," Giuliani attorney Robert Costello told CNN. "You can't attach Rudy Giuliani to Sidney Powell's crackpot idea."

Giuliani received a letter notifying him he is a target in the probe last year.

Coffee County was specifically mentioned in a draft executive order to seize voting machines that was presented to Trump during a chaotic December 18, 2020, Oval Office meeting in which Giuliani alluded to a plan to gain "voluntary access" to Georgia machines, according to the report.

"This is damning stuff and the kind of evidence built for Georgia RICO. This shows a pattern of unlawful activity all over the state," tweeted Georgia State Law Prof. Anthony Michael Kreis. "Rudy Giuliani is almost certain to get indicted on Tuesday after this news. I'd be curious if Bernie Kerik gets roped in, too."

Former U.S. Attorney Harry Litman wrote that the report described "multiple crimes" and "ham-handed conduct reminiscent of Watergate."

CNN legal analyst Norm Eisen, who served as Democratic counsel during Trump's first impeachment, said the report "connects the dots."

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

"We now have evidence that goes from Coffee County to Sidney Powell and Rudy Giuliani, and as CNN reports, right into the Oval Office because this was discussed on Dec. 18th in one of the very notorious meetings in the Oval Office, whether it's possible to get access to these Georgia voting systems and others around the country," he said. "It matters, of course, because it is one of the most serious crimes that we have in the 21st century is unauthorized access, hacking of computer systems."

Eisen predicted that Willis' indictments would target the fake elector scheme, the call to Raffensperger and the Coffee County breach.

"It pulls together those three conspiracies we were talking about, including this hacking conspiracy, into one large case that you can present to a jury where you say, 'Hey, what was the point of those fake electoral certificates? What was the point of pressing Georgia officials to do the wrong thing? What was the point of the computer hacking?'" he explained. "The same point, all of these people were working together in one, as we put it, enterprise in order for Donald Trump to allegedly hang on to his office when we know he had lost the election. You can't do that in American law."

Read more

about the Fulton County probe
Andy Murray is back in the Great Britain Davis Cup team for next month's matches against Australia, France and Switzerland.

Former Wimbledon champion Murray was left out of Britain's 3-1 qualifying round win against Colombia on clay in February.

British captain Leon Smith suggested the surface was not conducive for Murray, who had at the time played just three matches on clay since 2017.

But the former world number one was named in the squad on Monday for the September dates in Manchester.

Murray takes his place alongside Cameron Norrie, Dan Evans and Neal Skupski for the Finals Group Stage as Britain attempt to qualify for November's knockout stage.

Only two of the four nations will advance from Group B for the Davis Cup quarter-finals in Malaga.

Murray, a three-time Grand Slam champion, was integral to Britain ending a 79-year wait for glory in the team competition when they triumphed in 2015.

His most recent Grand Slam appearance ended in a second round exit at Wimbledon against Stefanos Tsitsipas.

"It's been a long time since we played in the north-west (of England) and I'm sure we are going to feel and hear a lot of energy from the fans," Smith said.

"We have a great team with a lot of Davis Cup experience who will be ready to give it everything in a tough group with Australia, Switzerland and France."

smg/bsp
Game of Chicken

X-formerly-Twitter owner Elon Musk is accusing Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg of being "chicken"  yes, these are some of the world's wealthiest middle-aged dudes  after the Facebook founder pointed out that Musk has been trying to find every excuse in the book to weasel out of their fight.

In a scathing Threads post, Zuckerberg accused Musk of not being "serious," saying it was "time to move on."

"I offered a real date," he wrote. "[UFC head] Dana White offered to make this a legit competition for charity."

Meanwhile, Musk has been vague-posting about a possible "Gladiator"-style fight in Italy, while stopping far short of actually coming back to Zuckerberg with an actual date. He even tried to argue that he needed surgery, a procedure he said could set the date back by months.

In short, it's the kind of squabbling you'd expect from middle schoolers  a childish game of finger-pointing that is looking increasingly unlikely to culminate in an actual showdown. Can we finally talk about something else? The Earth is literally dying.

Take It Outside

Musk told Zuckerberg via alleged text on Sunday that he was going to be in Palo Alto on Monday and ready to "fight in your Octagon"  yes, he's got one in his backyard  after Zuckerberg accused him of "hyping something that will never happen."

"Elon won't confirm a date, then says he needs surgery, and now asks to do a practice round in my backyard instead," Zuckerberg wrote in reply in his Threads post. "If Elon ever gets serious about a real date and official event, he knows how to reach me."

Musk's refusal to commit to an actual date  whether that's because of his hectic schedule or being a "chicken" himself  is clearly a sign that there isn't much of a plan. Giving your rival a single day of advanced notice isn't exactly playing it fair, either.

Perhaps we should heed Zuckerberg's advice and forget about the whole thing. Musk has demonstrated on a number of occasions that he doesn't seem particularly serious about meeting his fellow tech CEO rival in the ring  let alone treat it as a sporting event.

Musk's latest promises of fighting in front of an "ancient Rome" backdrop were also quickly refuted.

"I'm going to focus on competing with people who take the sport seriously," Zuckerberg wrote.

Besides, there are a million more important things we could be talking about, like Tesla's battle with regulators over its deadly driver-assistance software, or Meta's decision to block news content in Canada.

More on the fight: Elon Says the Zuck Fight Is Back On, Gladiator-Style
 Flash

At least one person was killed and eight others injured on Sunday in a "terrorist" attack on the Shah Cheragh shrine in Iran's southern Fars province, the official news agency IRNA reported.

In the evening, several staff and worshipers were caught under the gunfire of an armed assailant who attempted to break into the shrine at a main gate, IRNA reported, citing Deputy Governor of Fars Province Esmail Qezel Sofla.

He said the "terrorist" has been arrested and is under interrogation, adding that all the injured have been transferred to the hospital.

According to the Iranian Students' News Agency, the person killed in the attack was one of the staff working at the shrine.

The shrine encountered a similar "terrorist" attack in October last year, in which 13 worshippers, including a woman and two children, were killed and 30 others injured.
Five aircraft have crashed in the Myrtle Beach area so far this year, while Hilton Head has not seen any accidents since 2019.

July 2023 had three crashes in the Myrtle Beach area, the most recorded in a month in the region since 2000, according to the National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB.

On Sunday, a single-engine Cessna 182 plane made an emergency landing on Highway 22 in North Myrtle Beach. The two adults and two children aboard were not injured, though the plane was damaged, according to a Facebook post by Horry County Fire Rescue.

On July 2, all five aboard a single-engine Piper PA-32 died when the plane crashed in North Myrtle Beach.

On July 4, a tourist helicopter was damaged during takeoff at the Myrtle Beach International Airport, injuring three people, according to NTSB records.

One person was seriously injured in a United Airlines Boeing 737 on July 28. The NTSB has not released a preliminary report on the incident.

On July 31, a banner plane crashed into the ocean off of Myrtle Beach. The pilot was taken to the hospital. This incident is not included in the NTSB database.

Since 2000, the Myrtle Beach area has experienced more than twice the number of crashes than the Hilton Head area, another S.C. coastal tourist destination.

Here are plane accidents in the Myrtle Beach area by the numbers, according to NTSB data from January 2000 through July 2023.

Myrtle Beach area

Crashes: 51





Fatalities: 33





Types of planes that crash: Piper, 18. Cessna, 7.





Twice the state percentage of helicopter crashes  14% in Myrtle Beach area versus 7% in S.C.





Cities: Aiken, Conway, Georgetown, Longs, Loris, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach.





Hilton Head area

Crashes: 20





Fatalities: 9





Types of planes that crash: Cessna, 3. Mooney, 2.





Has not had an accident since May 2019.





Cities: Beaufort, Bluffton, Hilton Head, Hunting Island.




A Florida man went on a wild, naked rampage at a Naples hospital last week and ended up behind bars.

According to a police report from the Collier County Sheriffs Office, deputies responded to the North Collier Hospital at around 10 a.m. Aug. 5 in reference to a battery on a nurse and criminal mischief in the emergency room.

READ MORE: Florida driver crashes into emergency room

Deputies made contact with the 53-year-old suspect who was agitated and causing a disturbance in the waiting area.

Witnesses reported that the defendant had barged into the ER, pushed a patient, then came up behind a nurse and suddenly, with great force and violence pushed his head, causing pain and tingling down the spine, shoulders and legs, according to the complaint.

The man then fled down a hallway and became even more belligerent and violent, proceeding to take off all his clothes for an unknown reason, police said

READ MORE: Naked man threw machete at surveyor, Florida police say

Workers got the man into a private room. But things escalated from there, with the suspect yelling and gesturing while pulling a high pressure water pipe from the wall, causing the area and other rooms to flood. The entire ER had to be shut down for hours.

When the deputies approached the suspect, he was yelling that he was going to kill them and determined to attack. He was Tasered and taken into custody.

The Naples resident, a New Jersey native, is facing a single charge of aggravated battery and four charges of criminal mischief.

The hospital sustained tens of thousands of dollars in damage.
Hoop Dancer Eric Hernandez dances at Utah Native Market Days at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023. All proceeds are going to native student scholarships. There was hoop dancing, food and crafts. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Navajo fry bread, a hoop dance competition, a fashion show and Indigenous made goods  Lehi's native Market Days has it all.

The event is organized by Lehi-based nonprofit American Indian Services, which provides scholarships for Native American students across the country. All are welcome to attend the event at Electric Park at Thanksgiving Point Friday and Saturday.

Chauma Kee-Jansen, the nonprofit's executive director, said the event is both a fundraiser and an opportunity to bring Native and non-Native communities together.

"This event is so important because growing up in Utah as a Native American, you never saw events that focused solely on Native American art and culture and brought the two communities together. It was kind of separate," she said. "This kind of opens up that space to Native and non-Natives where they could share and learn."

Kee-Jansen, who received an American Indian Services scholarship as an undergraduate student, said nonprofits hope the proceeds will help 20-30 students.

"When a student has to worry about what they're going to eat or their housing, if they're going to have a bed to sleep in  I think it impacts them greatly. (With a scholarship), they can focus more on getting the schooling done and completing their degree in a timely manner, instead of taking time off, which statistics show that if any student takes time away from college, they're more likely not to finish their degree and more so I think with Native Americans."

According to data published by the National Center for Education Statistics in 2021, only 36% of Native American students in 2014 were able to complete their degrees in six years, compared to 60% of all other students. A number of Utah colleges have recently announced tuition waivers for Native students in an attempt to close that gap; however, Indigenous students still face a number of unique barriers to higher education, with a 2022 study finding that 72% of Native students reported running out of money at least once in the previous six months and almost 50% of respondents saying they served as the primary source of income for their household during college.

Kansas John looks at crafts with his daughter Tyler John at Utah Native Market Days at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi on Friday. All proceeds are going to Native student scholarships. There was hoop dancing, food and crafts. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Receiving scholarships from American Indian Services made the difference for Mapleton resident Brandon Benally and his wife as undergraduates at Brigham Young University.

"It helped me tremendously. ... I was really grateful for their services. It actually really helped us graduate from college," he said. "I would like to see more people come out, like more of the community. I think it's a great opportunity to enrich and teach the community more about Native American culture. Let people know that there are Native Americans here in Utah. They're everywhere, the culture is live. It's still thriving, and there's tons for us to share with the community."

Kelina Anderson, a 22-year-old hoop dancer from Spanish Fork, is excited at the opportunity to share the dance with Utahns. She began dancing at age 6 after watching her dad perform and continued dancing with BYU's Living Legends group.

"The hoop dance is a healing dance and it's really special to our people and our cultures. It really is spiritually uplifting. We have a saying that we dance for those who don't or those who can't. And so that's always something that's been really important to me," she said. "I do believe that when we dance, we do it with a good heart and good intentions and then we are really uplifting a community."

Britney Tourangeau, along with her two sisters, owns Ozaawigwane. Native Market Days is the trio's first time selling a number of Native-inspired handmade items and bead-work jewelry. Tourangeau, who is of Navajo and Saulteaux descent, grew up in Lehi and said the event is unique.

Sisters Britney, Rachel and Kim Tourangeau talk while sitting at their craft booth at Utah Native Market Days at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi on Friday. All proceeds are going to Native student scholarships. There was hoop dancing, food and crafts. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

"Growing up, it was hard to really be involved with the Native community because we're a very small community out here. I think it's really neat that more people are setting up these events," she said. "I think it's a good opportunity to learn about the culture of Native Americans of Utah, and you'll be able to see all the hard work that everyone has put into making their crafts and everything."

Rebekah Jarvey, the producer for the event's fashion show, said the show will feature designers from the Southwest and Canada.

"I hope people just get more familiar with the Indigenous fashion industry. It's a new industry. We're building it and it's been growing in popularity through the past couple of years," she said. "It's just something new and exciting that we're doing. I hope people just enjoy it and get good feelings and hopefully support the artists that designers with their work and respect it."

More information about the event, including a schedule and ticket fees, is available on American Indian Services's website.

Carved items for sale at Utah Native Market Days at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023. All proceeds are going to native student scholarships. There was hoop dancing, food and crafts. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Visitors look at the different crafts for sale at Utah Native Market Days at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023. All proceeds are going to native student scholarships. There was hoop dancing, food and crafts. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Brenda Camarena makes an earring while sitting at her craft booth at Utah Native Market Days at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023. All proceeds are going to native student scholarships. There was hoop dancing, food and crafts. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Jackson Kroll and his little brother Cooper Kroll look at items for sale at Utah Native Market Days at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023. All proceeds are going to native student scholarships. There was hoop dancing, food and crafts. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Hoop dancer Kelina Anderson of Spanish Fork performs at Utah Native Market Days at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023. All proceeds are going to native student scholarships. There was hoop dancing, food and crafts. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Handmade crafts are out on display at Utah Native Market Days at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023. All proceeds are going to native student scholarships. There was hoop dancing, food and crafts. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
An explosion occurred in the Black Sea near the resort village of Costinesti, Romania, on the morning of 14 August.

Source: European Pravda with reference to Digi24

Details: Local authorities report that a naval mine exploded after hitting a pier. It is noted that there was no serious damage, but another mine could be floating in the sea.

A man was injured as a result of the explosion. He complained of some hearing loss but refused to be hospitalised.

The Romanian Navy has prepared a team of sapper divers who, together with the Coast Guard, will go to the specified area to assess the situation and defuse the second mine if detected.

Background:

28 unexploded shells were found at the end of July near Sofular beach in the tourist area of Sile, in Istanbul.

The Turkish army subsequently carried out a controlled explosion of all detected ammunition.

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!
Department of Navy personnel are no longer banned from attending events put on by the nonprofit Naval Attaches Association, according to a fleetwide message issued by Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro late last month.

Del Toro, on Dec. 28, 2021, had banned any interaction with the group after Chinese officials became enraged over Taiwanese military officers being invited to a Beltway breakfast hosted by the group a few months earlier.

The fraternal society brings together international naval attaches for breakfasts, talks and networking.

In his July 28 message to the fleet, Del Toro wrote that the association has re-asserted its ability to function as an autonomous and apolitical organization, even in the face of continued coercive tactics by representatives of the Peoples Republic of China.

What this means precisely remains unclear.

Del Toros office declined to explain what actions the association had specifically taken that prompted the lifting of the ban.

How a Beltway naval breakfast sparked Chinas ire over Taiwan

Association officials did not respond to requests for comment sent through the groups website.

The secretarys message notes that active and informed engagement by (Department of the Navy) leadership with foreign naval representatives is expected and encouraged.

The associations website appears to have gone through a makeover since Navy Times first reported on Del Toros ban in early 2022, but little else exists on that site reflecting the groups mission or purported reforms.

While China contends that the independent and democratic Taiwan is part of the country, U.S. presidents have walked a fine line of not formally recognizing Taiwan as an independent state while concurrently selling weapons to the island.

China regularly expresses outrage over any Western outreach to Taiwan, and President Xi Jinping has dubbed his countrys quest to take control of Taiwan an historic mission.

Navy Times previously reported that, after a September 2021 breakfast attended by Taiwanese military officials, Chinese military officers warned Pentagon counterparts about such practices.

It was another reflection of just how prickly the Chinese government can be where there is any hint of treating Taiwan like an independent nation, and not adhering to the Chinese Communist Partys position that the island belongs to Beijing.

In one email after the event, a Chinese military officer warned a Pentagon official that it was dangerous and could lead to many consequences, intended or not, if U.S. officials didnt step in and get the three Taiwanese officers disinvited from the event, according to messages reviewed by Navy Times in early 2022.

Another Chinese email sent to association leadership, with several association members ccd, warned that there is no doubt that your military personnel in Beijing will be adversely affected if Taiwanese officers attended the breakfast.

It is outrageous to note that three Taiwan military personnel are invited and their names appear on the (association) list, Chinese Senior Capt. Meng Zhang wrote to the head of the association, Spanish Capt. Pablo Murga Gomez, in a Sept. 2, 2021, email that had other association members ccd. It is known that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China.

The incident has been reported back to Beijing, and your Embassies will be approached through diplomatic channels, the senior captain wrote.

Gomez pushed back in an email the following day, writing that the group is a private association that fosters relationships between its members with U.S. Department of Defense sea services, and that it welcomes any foreign officer assigned to the Washington, D.C., area.

Video purportedly shows U.S. naval attache flicking off a Russian military Z

On Sept. 6, Chinese Senior Col. Ge Zhang emailed a senior U.S. Pentagon official, who is not identified in the emails reviewed by Navy Times, stating that the U.S. has no official contact of any form with Taiwan and there are not official representatives from Taiwan whatsoever in the U.S.

Meng pinged Gomez the following day and wrote that his absence from the Sept. 8 breakfast would be a strong protest against the presence of the Taiwanese officials there, calling it a blunt violation for One-China principle.

Ge emailed the senior Pentagon official on the same day, Sept. 7, and called the Taiwanese invite a gross interference in Chinas internal affairs, a severe violation of related international laws and norms, and a blunt political provocation against China.

Ge argued that the association is an official organization because U.S. Navy officers attend in an official capacity.

The U.S. side keeps a blind eye on or even encourages the participation by Taiwan military personnel in the event exclusively open to military attaches from sovereign states, Ge wrote. This is absolutely double-faced and in violation of the basic norms of international relationship.
The writer is a candidate for NC labor commissioner.

We are more than a month into North Carolinas new fiscal year and we still dont have a state budget. This is a huge problem for N.C. workers, their safety and the safety of residents.

When a Carowinds visitor spotted a crack in the Fury 325 roller coaster in June, the fear went national. People wondered: Whos supposed to inspect those to make sure people dont get on rides that are damaged? Ive talked to parents whose children rode the Fury days before that video went viral who now dont trust the safety of our amusement parks.

Braxton Winston

North Carolinas Department of Labor has over 100 compliance officer jobs, charged with inspecting every elevator, amusement park ride and every escalator every year. But as N.C. Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson said on a WUNC podcast, just weeks before the Carowinds discovery, about 25% of those jobs were empty.

House Speaker Tim Moore said last week there is zero chance the state budget will be ready by Sept. 1. Not having a new budget, and not knowing what  if any  raises will be possible, is making it hard for departments to hire and keep workers. And job vacancies make it hard for state employees to do their jobs. That hurts our safety.

The budget sets salaries for people key to our daily life: safety compliance officers, teachers, medical professionals and other public safety workers. Without a new budget, state departments have to use last years numbers for pay. They dont know if they can offer competitive wages  and that means more vacancies, as people choose not to work in these jobs.

North Carolinas Office of State Human Resources says nearly 1 in 4 state jobs are unfilled. That includes 5,000 public school teachers.

Teachers: Would you choose to take a job when you dont know what your pay will be?

Parents: Are you OK with your child starting a new year without a teacher?

Due to the bus driver shortage, Wake County is now encouraging parents of public school students to find their own transportation to and from school for the 20232024 school year. While superintendents and principals try to hire, and families try to plan their lives for the school year, heres what they can count on: No new budget until after the school year starts.

Heres an even scarier aspect of the safety issue: Part of a N.C. Department of Labor compliance officers job is to prevent accidents. Another part is to look into accidents after they happen. If one-fourth of those jobs are empty, more accidents are likely  at a time when workplace deaths in the state are rising. Those accidents must be investigated, leaving even less time for prevention.

We need a fully staffed state compliance team so that every elevator, escalator, roller coaster, ski lift, and every ride and Ferris wheel at every county and state fair is inspected correctly, and as often as it needs to be. An efficient government means making sure departments can do their jobs on time, every time  not waiting until a tragedy happens.

In January, three Charlotte construction workers were killed after the improperly installed scaffolding they were working on collapsed. Two construction companies were fined over $100,000. According to the Department of Labor, the scaffolding was not properly inspected for defects before shifts.

Compliance officers, like state workers across all departments, work hard and are having to work overtime to keep our state safe and running. The WUNC podcast noted that 37% of people hired for state jobs leave them during the first year. Constantly having to hire and train new workers is expensive for taxpayers and fiscally irresponsible.

Our state workers deserve raises. Raises will help fill the empty jobs, prevent turnover and improve workplace and public safety across the state. When these jobs are empty, important work does not get done, safety is less sure, and it is harder for families and businesses to thrive. The N.C. General Assembly must do its job and pass a budget to fill jobs and do right by our workers as they work to keep our state  and all of us  safe.

Braxton Winston is serving his third term on the Charlotte City Council.
The Nevada Republican Party announced Monday it will hold its presidential caucus on Feb. 8, setting the Silver State up to likely host the nations third nominating contest in the GOP White House race.

This event marks a crucial step in shaping the Republican nomination process for President and amplifies Nevadas significance in the national political landscape. The First in the West Caucus underscores Nevadas prominence as a key player in the Presidential nomination process, the party said in a release.

In announcing the date, state GOP leaders are effectively ignoring a schedule announced by Nevadas secretary of state to hold a presidential preference primary on Feb. 6.

The state is supposed to be switching over to a primary system in 2024 under a new law geared at making Nevada the first-in-the-nation presidential primary, but the Nevada GOP has signaled it plans to move forward with its caucus plans.

The Nevada GOP says it will use the results of its party-run caucus to determine how the states delegates are apportioned at the Republican National Convention, but the dueling dates could sow confusion around the nominating process in the state.

I do believe its going to create confusion among the voters, longtime Humboldt County Clerk Tami Rae Spero told The Associated Press.

The early February caucus would likely put Nevada third in the GOP nominating calendar. The Iowa GOP is set to hold its first-in-the-nation caucus on Jan. 15, while New Hampshire is expected to schedule its primary for late January.

The Hill Elections 2024 coverage

South Carolina is scheduled to host its GOP primary on Feb. 24.

With a filing window for presidential hopefuls open from Sept. 1 to Oct. 15, the Nevada GOP said it looks forward to the partys full slate of candidates participating in the caucus nominating process.

Nevada plays an instrumental role in determining the next President of the United States, and we are excited for each Republican nominee to engage with Republican grassroots voters, the party said Monday.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The legislative war on college and university free speech has sadly become a persistent feature of the policymaking process in statehouses across the country. Another round of state legislative sessions has come and gone and with it many new proposals that would impose extensive restrictions on what can be taught in higher education classrooms.

Since January 2021, state governments have introduced 99 educational gag orders focused on higher education and dozens of other censorious higher ed restrictions as part of what PEN America has dubbed the Ed Scarea sweeping nationwide campaign to upend the integrity and autonomy of educational institutions in favor of state dictates on what content and curricula are appropriate in schools.

This drive to muzzle core questions about race, identity, and history has triggered a broad counter-movement, as former higher education presidents, faculty, students, and grassroots communities have joined hands to preserve the crown jewel of American democracy: a welcoming, independent higher education system that enables diverse viewpoints and challenging ideas to flourish.

Right-Wing Cancel Culture Has a Home at Texas A&M University

Their efforts to draw attention to and fight back against legislative efforts to censor our campuses have been invaluable. There is another key factor, however, that has flown under the radar yet been a vital bulwark against state censorship: the voice of university accreditation agencies.

Unfortunately, those same agencies are now the target of the latest attacks on campus free expression.

Accreditation is a largely unknown but vital element of the higher education system. The seven regional accreditation agencies exist to ensure a basic standard of educational quality and a basic commitment to core principles like graduation rates, curricular standards, and sound institutional management. They also ensure that colleges and universities protect the academic freedom of faculty and resist undue political interference from the government.

If an institution fails to uphold these standards, it can lose accreditation, which then costs its students access to federal financial loans, Pell Grants, and work-study funds, all tied to accreditation by federal law. In addition, many employers and licensing boards withhold recognition of degrees granted by unaccredited colleges.

Accrediting agencies are a powerful tool for protecting academic freedom. In North Dakota, for example, a legislative effort to impose harsh limits on tenure protections was defeated after a former chancellor of the states university system publicly aired his concerns that political interference could lead to loss of accreditation.

Georgetowns Got a Serious Free-Speech Problem

Meanwhile, in both Texas and Ohio, legislators carved out important exceptions to their proposals to ban diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in order to meet accreditors basic DEI standards. And prominent advocates across the higher education space, including the accrediting agencies themselves, have noted that educational gag orders, or laws that restrict what can be taught in schools, chill free speech, and violate academic freedom.

Thats exactly why accreditors are now under attack.

Christopher Rufo, a leading figure behind the rising tide of educational censorship, announced last month that the accreditors are the next target. New federal proposals, including the ironically titled Accreditation for College Excellence Act, would bar accreditors from assessing universities based on their adherence to baseline DEI standards.

In addition, the Heritage Foundation, one of the main clearinghouses for higher education censorship bills, recently implored Congress to dismantle the higher education accreditation cartel by creating alternativeand potentially unaccountableavenues for financial aid eligibility.

If these groups are successful in their quest to destroy accreditation agencies, we can expect a renewed (and unrestrained) wave of attacks against academic freedom, college and university autonomy, and the basic principle that campuses should be a place where all ideas are up for debate. But the consequences wont end there.

Ron DeSantis and the New Campus Free Speech Crisis

The collapse of accreditors could do serious damage to American higher education as we know it. American colleges and universities are the envy of the world. They are engines of innovation, excellence, and social mobility, breaking down barriers and helping millions of people achieve their dreams. All of this rests on a foundation of quality education ensured through impartial oversight. This is what the censors are putting at risk.

Thats why we urge free expression and higher education advocates alike to lift their voices in defense of accreditation agencies. Their work is a vital prerequisite for intellectual freedom and free expression on campus. If politicians dismantle accreditation for the sake of censorship and political gain, studentsand free expressionwill be poorer for it.

Jeremy C. Young is senior manager of free expression and education at PEN America. Jeffrey Sachs is a political scientist at Acadia University and a research consultant at PEN America.

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WASHINGTON and MOGADISHU Fadumo Abdi has been hungry for months now. Shes already lost one child to starvation and she doesnt know if her surviving children will make it to the end of the year.

Having recently relocated to a camp for internally displaced persons, or IDPs, near Mogadishu after fleeing the drought-and war-ravaged areas of south-central Somalia, Fadumo has lost almost everything. She came to the capital hoping to find steady work, to figure out a way to ensure her children have a future.

When we arrived here, there were no services or support, Fadumo, a slender woman draped in a dark green hijab and brown dress, tells Rolling Stone during a visit to her camp. The only help we got was from fellow IDPs, who gave us sticks and sheets to assemble a makeshift tent. But that was all.

Getting access to food and water for my children is out of the question, she adds.

Veteran aid workers say hundreds of thousands of people are already looking death in the eyes, with 48 million facing an acute food crisis across East Africa this year.

Perched on a wooden stool in that tent, Fadumo has little time to worry about current events elsewhere in the world. She has her hands full trying to keep her two sons  eight-year-old Imran and seven-year-old Ahmed, who sit beside her on a torn mat that covers only a portion of the dirt floor  alive. Its already been more than a day since their last meager meal, often just a few scraps of food shared by her neighbors in the camp. In any case, shes never been outside of Somalia.

Fadumo doesnt know that Russia recently pulled out of a key humanitarian agreement to allow grain and other foodstuffs to trickle out of Ukrainian ports. She doesnt know that the resulting reduction in food shipments, volatility in commodity markets and rising prices for wheat mean even less humanitarian aid for millions of refugees around the globe.

An IDP camp outside of Mogadishu, Somalia.

More than 80 percent of food imports in Somalia and East Africa were already coming from Ukraine and Russia even before the war, Shashwat Saraf, the regional emergency director for East Africa at the International Rescue Committee (IRC), tells Rolling Stone by phone from Nairobi. Over the past year, Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya are coming out of one of the worst drought periods in years. The dependence on food imports has only increased since the war in Ukraine started.

But the amount of food aid being delivered has been decreasing.

Fadumo and people like her  from Sudan, to Yemen, to Afghanistan, to Haiti  are caught in the crossfire of the invasion launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin, their lives endangered by it as surely as any resident of Bakhmut or Zaporizhzhia.

Fadumo and her children may die in Somalia, casualties of the war in Ukraine.

At the beginning of the war, Russia seized three of Ukraines five biggest ports  Mariupol, Yuzhny and Berdyansk  and attempted to seize the other two: Odesa and Chornomorsk, only miles apart on Ukraines southwestern Black Sea coast. That attempt failed, and port facilities in Odesa oblast, or province, remain in Ukrainian hands. But with the beleaguered Russian Black Sea Fleet essentially unchallenged in open water, the only safe passage through the blockade for commercial vessels has been with Russian cooperation.

Ukraine was the worlds third-largest exporter of corn and fifth-largest exporter of wheat in 2021, according to data from the USDAs Foreign Agricultural Service, which monitors global food trade. Since the invasion, the countrys total agricultural exports have plummeted 65 percent, with some exports  like planting seeds and dairy  collapsing entirely.

But Ukrainian farmers are still working. Harvests continue to roll in: agriculture accounted for 41 percent of Ukraines exports before the war, and employs 14 percent of the countrys workforce. Millions of tons of Ukrainian grain have accumulated in silos around the Black Sea.

Enter Turkey, which controls access to the Black Sea via the Bosphorus, and whose President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has shrewdly sought to position his NATO-allied country as the go-to honest broker between Moscow and Kyiv.

Amid dire warnings about the humanitarian impact of the loss of Ukraines food exports on global markets, a flurry of diplomacy coordinated by Turkey and backed by the United Nations resulted in an agreement last July known as the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which allowed third-party ships to load food and fertilizer in three Ukrainian ports  Yuzhny, Odesa and Chornomorsk  and deliver it overseas.

The first vessel to sail under the deal  the World Food Program-chartered Brave Commander  headed for the Horn of Africa from Yuzhny in mid-August, loaded with Ukrainian grain seized by Russia. As wheat is the primary crop used for humanitarian aid, it carried 23,000 tons of it to Ethiopia. Further vessels followed, from both Ukrainian- and Russian-controlled ports. By the time Russia pulled out of the deal, approximately 32.8 million tons of food, including corn, wheat and sunflower oil, had been shipped out of Ukraines Black Sea ports over one year.

The food shipments  57 percent of which went to developing countries, and included 725,000 tons purchased by the WFP for emergency aid in countries like Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen  helped reverse spiking global food prices, which dropped 23 percent from their peak in March 2022, according to the UN.

Now, the grain in Ukrainian facilities is no longer being loaded onto ships, and commercial vessels are largely avoiding Ukrainian ports. After withdrawing from the Initiative, the Russian Ministry of Defense released a statement saying any ship sailing to a Ukrainian port would be regarded as a combatant carrying weapons. Ukraines Ministry of Defense followed with a statement in kind, saying any ship traveling to a Russian or Russian-controlled port in the Black Sea would be subject to attack.

Although few commercial shipping companies are willing to risk their crews and their ships navigating a blockade without security guarantees, on July 30th three merchant vessels appeared to do just that. The Israeli, Greek and Turkish-Georgian registered vessels sailed to the Danube port of Izmail, on Ukraines border with Romania, with their automatic identification systems announcing their registration and destination. The Russians did not stop them.

In the days following the suspension of the grain deal, Russia began carrying out a systematic series of strikes against agricultural infrastructure across Ukraine, targeting grain silos and freight facilities with advanced cruise missiles and drones.

Odesa was the particular target of wrath, with a succession of nightly attacks damaging and destroying hundreds of buildings across the city and port.

It started the first night after the end of the grain agreement, says Julia Gorodetskaya, a writer who currently lives in Odesa, having relocated from New York City shortly before the invasion last year. It was quite quiet here for some time. After that there were four nights of hell.

The Russian strategy is the long-term degradation of Ukrainian agricultural production. Using waves of drones and long-range ballistic and cruise missiles to saturate Ukrainian air defenses, the Russian military has destroyed processing plants, grain silos, shipping facilities, and transport nodes.

Our farmers work at their own risk these days  they have to farm in minefields, and for what? Julia asks. For nothing. Because those bastards are sending those missiles to destroy it all.

After the suspension of the Grain Initiative on July 18th, EU officials were quick to reassure Ukraine that they will be able to make up for the lost shipping capacity out of Black Sea ports with alternate routes, overland through Poland to Baltic ports, or via rail and Danube riverboat to Black Sea ports in Romania and Bulgaria, or Aegean ports in Montenegro and Croatia.

But Ukraines existing shipping routes and infrastructure cant be replaced easily. It takes 1,500 tractor-trailers to carry the cargo equivalent of a single supramax freighter ship. Adding an extra 1,000 miles of overland transhipment per ton of wheat increases inefficiency and drives up costs, and theres nothing to stop Russia from targeting the alternative routes where trucks, trains or riverboats load grain in Ukraine.

Grain is loaded aboard a cargo ship at the Azov Sea Port, Rostov region, on July 22, 2023. Russian grain exports are booming because of the war.

In fact, it already has, striking grain shipment facilities in the town of Reni, on the border with Romania, on July 23rd. After the blockade runners made their way into Izmail, that port was subjected to a wave of air attacks, which targeted grain silos. The Ukrainian defense ministry said 40,000 tons of grain were destroyed.

The thousands of tons of grains that were damaged would have been enough to feed approximately 66 million people for a day, said Denise Brown, the UNs humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine, after a visit to the site of the attack.

One of Moscows key demands to keep the grain deal going was to reconnect its largest agricultural bank, Rosselkhozbank, to the SWIFT international financial transaction network, from which it is banned under current sanctions. Russia needs hard cash to prop up its economy and continue the war in Ukraine, and food exports to a hungry world are a ready source of funding.

In fact, Russian grain exports are booming. Russian wheat exports are forecast to hit a record 45 million tons in 2022-2023, up 36 percent from the prior year, according to a report from international trade researchers at the USDA.

In the wake of the deals suspension, wheat and corn futures spiked around the world  meaning food prices will increase, which also means more cash in Russias pockets.

Thats the other really cynical part of this. Russia could have 47.5 million tons of wheat to export this year, says Jacob Shapiro, a geopolitical analyst who specializes in global risk to supply chains and agriculture for Cognitive Investments. Maybe they just want to drive the price up to get hard currency.

The subsequent attacks on Ukrainian agricultural and port facilities also reduced the amount of food making its way out of Ukraine, further driving up prices. Again, this means more cash for Russia. And the dismantling of Ukraines economy is a Russian military goal in-and-of itself. Theres no viable military solution that will open the doors to Ukraines ports. There is only diplomacy.

But negotiations are at an impasse, with Western countries refusing to lift the ban on Russian banks using SWIFT, and Moscow refusing to budge. As soon as the Russian part of the agreement is fulfilled, the Russian side will return to the implementation of this deal immediately, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Meanwhile, with Putin deaf to pleas about 48 million people on the brink of starvation in Africa from international aid groups and the United Nations, pressure can only come from key economic partners like China, whose food imports from Russia have actually increased since the war began, and which will not be pleased at having to spend more money for less imported food.

Other than peace breaking out, experts believe Turkey holds the key to unlocking Ukraines ports. How much pressure Erdogan is willing to exert  and whether Putin will listen to him  is unclear. But the Black Sea is the linchpin to Moscows maritime trade in petroleum and agricultural products with Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

This is Russias primary strategic challenge. They dont have other options for access to the open oceans, Shapiro added.

And there is one country that controls the Bosphorus.

Turkey is the wild card, Shapiro says. They have all the leverage.

In a phone call with Putin on Aug. 2nd, Erdogan reportedly told his Russian counterpart that the grain deal must be reinstated. The two leaders also agreed to meet in Turkey soon.

Meanwhile, Russia continues targeting Ukrainian food supplies. As the wave of attacks continued, Julia recorded a video of herself telling the Russians to Go fuck yourselves, instead of Odesa.

The phrase went briefly viral across Ukraine.

In September, the UN announced that famine is at the door in Somalia.

People are already dying, said Martin Griffiths, the Emergency Relief Coordinator for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, in a statement released after visiting IDP camps across Somalia.

I repeat: This is a final warning to all of us. The situation and trends resemble those seen in 2010-2011, in that crisis, Griffiths said, referring to a famine that killed more than 250,000 people, mostly children. Except now they are worse.

Over the past year, the worst regional drought in 40 years and an increasingly unstable security situation has forced hundreds of thousands of Somalis to pour into IDP camps in search of assistance, even as the war in Ukraine sapped the resources of aid groups, diverted donor dollars, and reduced the amount of essential food aid being delivered to humanitarian crises around the world.

In Somalia, Washington is central to humanitarian relief efforts.

The United States is the single largest donor of humanitarian assistance to Somalia, with the U.S. governments total contribution of approximately US$1.7 billion since the beginning of fiscal year 2022 representing more than two-thirds of all humanitarian funding for Somalia to date, a spokesperson at the aid agency USAID tells Rolling Stone.

But efforts to provide humanitarian aid go hand-in-hand with efforts to stabilize the country. Washington has spent more than $3 billion over the past decade to provide security assistance to the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), which since its creation in 2012 has been at war with the extremist group Al-Shabaab. The US has supplied the FGS with tons of small arms and ammunition, military training and advisers, intelligence and air support in an effort to defeat the group.

In 2019, at the peak of a years-long air campaign against Al-Shabaab, the US and FGS conducted at least 60 airstrikes and drone attacks against alleged militants, reportedly killing hundreds  including, in several cases, civilians.

Meanwhile, Al-Shabaab continues to control wide swathes of countryside, and has demonstrated that it still has the ability to strike, even in the heart of government-controlled territory.

There was a lot of optimism when the new government [FGS] was established, says Dr. Tricia Bacon, a counterterrorism researcher at American University, who focuses on Al-Shabaab. Now there is political infighting and corruption. The FGS clears territories held by Al-Shabaab, but cant offer governance.

By comparison, Al-Shabaab governs the territories it runs like the most effective mafia you can imagine, Bacon says.

She adds that the U.S. has no appetite for the kind of concerted nation-building that would be required to root out Al-Shabaab. The U.S. has been conducting airstrikes for years, and they  and the FGS  claim to have killed thousands of fighters. But the estimates of the groups size remain the same.

Theres such an emphasis on the military piece of it, but it just doesnt produce any real progress.

This ongoing instability has a direct impact on deliveries of aid, not only making it exceedingly dangerous for aid workers to try to reach many areas in need of assistance, but also by jacking up food prices.

Essential food items such as bread, rice and cooking oil remain unaffordable for many families and individuals affected by the drought, particularly those languishing in camps. Feeding a family of three or four on less than a dollar a day  as Fadumo is attempting  is impossible.

Taxation by al-Shabaab and other non-state actors drives up the costs of food staples, passing on the costs to consumers as goods move through the country, the USAID spokesperson says. The result of this unofficial taxation is that even in the more accessible areas of Somalia, prices increase by an estimated 30 percent, while less accessible areas may experience a 100 percent increase in the price of food and other essential goods.

Compounding this challenge is the fact that many aid programs designed at alleviating malnutrition and hunger take the form of support programs which provide cash or vouchers to families, allowing them to purchase essential items on their own.

We do quite a bit of cash-support programs, to allow families to directly purchase their own minimum expenditure basket, Saraf, the IRC emergency director, says. About 80 percent of the aid is intended to cover food costs, he says. So when food prices go up, it means we have to increase our cash assistance to each family, which means we have to reach fewer families.

Now, the collapse of the Black Sea Grain Initiative only makes things worse.

Any fluctuation in global markets where the situation is so dire can have a very big impact, says Alyona Synenko, the regional spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross, speaking from Nairobi. It makes a huge difference in Somalia, where a rise in price can be the decisive factor between having a meal and not having a meal.

Any instability will impact that person in the camp in Baidoa [home to the largest concentration of IDPs in Somalia] more than anyone else, adds Sharaf, the IRC emergency director. They have nothing to do with the war in Ukraine.

Fadumo Abdi says she first fled her home in Janaale in March of 2020, after numerous airstrikes damaged infrastructure, destroyed livelihoods and took lives. Janaale had become an active conflict zone, and a target of US airstrikes against Al-Shabaab.

It was a difficult time. Many people died.

At a childrens IDP burial ground, a local aid worker douses a water offering onto the grave of a two-year-old IDP girl, Iqra, who died from complications due to malnutrition in Doolow, Somalia this year.

My husband was in Mogadishu battling an illness at the time and could no longer support us, she says. Besides, whatever support we got, it would be of no use in warding off airstrikes.

Thats when Fadumo made the decision to leave Janaale and make her way to Kurtun-Waarey, a farming town about 30 miles to the southwest, where some of her relatives had previously resettled.

Kurtun-Waarey shared many similarities with Janaale. It was also administered by Al-Shabaab, and was an agricultural town home to countless farmers and their families.

Then, last year, the drought came.

We were staying with family members in Kurtun-Waarey that had sympathy for us because of what we experienced in Janaale, Fadumo says. But once our relatives lost their crops, we could no longer be a burden.

So she had to flee for the second time in two years.

She made her way to Mogadishu with her three children  aged four, seven and eight  to try to reunite with her husband, who she says was now bedridden with his illness and wasnt able to help with the journey. This brought even more anxiety and uncertainty. After two days of trekking by foot, Fadumo and her children were able to reach the government-controlled town of Afgooye, just 15 miles west of Mogadishu.

Upon reaching Afgooye, we were able to get a ride from good samaritans that took us to a squalid IDP camp outside Mogadishu, Fadumo says.

She has been there ever since.

The outskirts of Mogadishu now host numerous IDP camps, with hundreds of thousands of people calling them home. With her husband ill and three children dependent on her, Fadumo began to look for work and pick up odd jobs on her own.

If Im lucky I get to clean clothes and sweep floors for other families, she said. Sometimes I make a dollar a day. Its not a lot, but it allows me to put something in my childrens mouths from time to time.

But Fadumo would soon learn it wasnt enough. After four months at the IDP camp, the young mother noticed her youngest child, four-year-old Yonis Abdullahi, had begun withering away from malnutrition.

He started to get sick. Then his body started thinning, and thats when his ribs became visible, she says. I knew he was dying, but theres nothing I could do about it. I couldnt afford to feed him or get him the medicine he needed.

I blame myself, Fadumo adds, as she begins sobbing.

Since Yonis died, Fadumo has fallen into a deep state of depression. She knows she is not able to get enough food for her two surviving children.

Weve been hungry since arriving last year. I dont know where our next meal will come from, or which one of my children will die next.

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After months of prompting, I have finally managed to help my husband form a daily sunscreen habit. Whenever I see traces of paper-white cream in his dark beard, I think, Were halfway there.

Hoping to avoid the white cast, heaviness and greasiness common in many sunscreen products available in U.S. drugstores, some Americans, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, have taken matters into their own hands, opting for sunscreens manufactured abroad. In a recent interview, the congresswoman said she toggled between Biore in the summer and Beauty of Joseon in the winter  two Asian brands that employ active ingredients not approved for use in the United States.

The technology is very sophisticated, Ocasio-Cortez said. You dont feel like you have a layer of sunscreen on, and it kind of just feels like youre putting on a moisturizer in that sense, which makes it easier to use.

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While sunscreen is regulated as a cosmetic in major skin-care hubs such as South Korea, Japan and the European Union, in the United States it falls under the purview of the Food and Drug Administration. Any drug product marketed to American consumers must be approved by the FDA, and because sunscreen makes a drug claim  namely, that it can prevent sunburn, decrease the risk of skin cancer and mitigate early skin aging  the agency regulates it as an over-the-counter drug.

The last time the FDA approved new active ingredients for use in sunscreens was more than two decades ago, and at times it can feel as if the rest of the world has surpassed the United States in the development of new sunscreen formulations and protocols. Skin-care influencers on TikTok and Instagram are in a near-constant state of frenzy over exciting new products and innovations that are nowhere to be found on American shelves. Currently there are 14 sunscreen filters approved for use by the FDA. The European Union employs more than 30.

Frustrated by what seems to be a wealth of more exciting options for sun protection overseas, skin-care-conscious Americans have been quick to point the finger at the FDA for the delay in approving new active ingredients. But according to Ocasio-Cortez, the agency is not to blame for the holdup, at least not entirely.

I think the assessment here is that Americans need sunscreen, and they have sunscreen, she said. Are there other avenues that we can use in order to kind of break through this standstill? Yeah.

Congress has begun a preliminary, early process of examining what a better approval procedure might look like, she said: a way that pushes the manufacturers of sunscreen filters to do the appropriate research and development to submit drug information to the FDA for approval.

I also think its very important that we maintain a level of rigor around safety, Ocasio-Cortez said. We want to make sure this is not about advocating for the deregulation of these filters.

Many sunscreen ingredients that have appeared in foreign-made sunscreens for decades, favored by consumers for their ease of use, are still awaiting approval by the FDA. The ultraviolet-filtering compounds amiloxate, enzacamene and octyl triazone, for instance, have been stuck in the FDA regulatory pipeline since at least 2003.

In November 2014, President Barack Obama signed the Sunscreen Innovation Act into law. The legislation gave the FDA five years to approve or deny the use of new sunscreen ingredients, including several under review since 2002. In 2019, the FDA reaffirmed the safety of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide in mineral sunscreens and asked manufacturers for more information on 12 other ingredients.

They said you can continue to market products and utilize these but we want to see more data, said Thomas F. Myers, executive vice president for legal and regulatory affairs at the Personal Care Products Council, a trade group representing companies that make cosmetics and personal care products. As long as the FDA continues to defer a final decision on a product, Myers said, it remains eligible for use on the market.

In 2020, the CARES Act included a change in the approval process for over-the-counter drugs.

Under the new procedure, the FDA asked for more information from manufacturers on new sunscreen filters, essentially kicking the can  or bottle  back over to them but not flat-out denying approval. The 14 chemicals moved up from 2019 to 2020 to satisfy the CARES Act are the chemicals allowed for use now.

In a statement, the FDA said it was committed to helping facilitate the marketing of sunscreen products that include additional over-the-counter sunscreen active ingredients. It continued, To do so, the FDA relies on industry to submit the data needed to make safety and effectiveness determinations for these ingredients.

Although skin cancer remains the most common type of cancer in the United States, the worrisome rates of the disease cannot be blamed on a lack of new sunscreen filters, according to Dr. Steven Q. Wang, chair of the Skin Cancer Foundations photobiology committee.

The current rate of skin cancer in the United States is a result of the past 50 years, Wang said. Even today, new diagnoses are the legacy of the lack of awareness of sun damage in the 1950s, as well as the sun tanning and tanning bed culture of the 1980s and 90s.

Sunscreen is only a part of the overall protection, said Wang, who is also a member of the Public Access to SunScreens Coalition. The other parts? Avoiding sunlight during the hours of most intense daylight, seeking out shade and wearing protective clothing.

U.S. sunscreen manufacturers, he added, have done a pretty good job with the existing UV filters to make a superior, better sunscreen to protect Americans.

Although there are many potential solutions, the onus to provide the greatest possible sun protection to Americans is on Congress, Ocasio-Cortez said, adding that there had not been much attention on the matter since Obama signed the Sunscreen Innovation Act in 2014.

It just doesnt seem that this issue has risen to a level of awareness in Congress that creates the political momentum necessary to make things a priority, Ocasio-Cortez said. What Im very excited about is that it does seem like there is a growing awareness among everyday people about this issue.

Across her various platforms, she is trying to foster that political momentum. On Thursday, the congresswoman posted an Instagram video in which she told her 1.5 million followers that U.S. sunscreens are far behind the rest of the world, adding, We deserve better here in the U.S.

Online, influencers have been more outspoken about sunscreens, developing their own rules of thumb for use and creating videos of themselves trying one brand after another to determine which takes to the skin best. New, targeted brands such as Black Girl Sunscreen populate the shelves at Target. Americans are branching out when it comes to the sunscreens they want to use.

That, I think, is also creating a certain political and popular and cultural momentum thats necessary for us to actually make changes around these things, Ocasio-Cortez said.

I dont think this is a left or right flashpoint, she added. I think this is something that all people need.

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Six people, including two children, were killed and several others were injured in explosive weapons attack in northern Myanmar, according to the state-run media.

The so-called People's Defence Forces (PDF) launched the attack in the Yamanay village of Kanbalu township, Sagaing Region on Saturday morning, according to the report.

The terrorists attacked with drop bombs using drones and light and heavy weapons, killing six local residents and injuring three others. Two school buildings were also destroyed, it said.

Security personnel have initiated investigations to bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure that they face punitive measures.
Federal, state and local officials attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the Holyoke Veterans Home on Monday, amid plans for a massive $482.6 million reconstruction project at the facility where nearly 80 veterans died from a COVID-19 outbreak in the early days of the pandemic.

The newly-constructed Massachusetts Veterans Home at Holyoke will house 234 long-term care beds, officials said.

Every day of this rebuilding project and beyond, it is going to be all about the veterans and those who have served, Gov. Maura Healey said, joining other elected officials for the groundbreaking at the facility at 110 Cherry St. around noon. We want to provide the very best, not just here in Holyoke but in Chelsea, all across our veterans services, programs and facilities.

This renewal of the Veterans Home at Holyoke is a labor of love and respect for our administration, Healey said.

This is a $482 million investment in our veterans. Its going to be a facility that veterans, their families, the entire state of Massachusetts will be so proud of and we want to be clear that our investment in the home symbolizes a next level of care and commitment to veterans and their families all across the state, Healey said.

Deadly COVID-19 outbreak at Holyoke Soldiers Home results in $58M settlement

In March, the Executive Office of Veterans Services completed the final steps to ensure compliance and receive grant funding through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs State Home Construction Grant Program, officials said. The Holyoke Veterans Home then entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the VA, committing $263.5 million in federal funds. So far, $164 million of the grant has been awarded this fiscal year, with the remainder to be paid out in future fiscal years.

The projects total cost is $482.6 million, as a combined federal and state investment, officials said.

Report: Hell broke loose after series of leadership errors at Holyoke Soldiers Home

Several elected officials spoke about the need for supportive care for veterans in Massachusetts.

This is obviously a very joyful but somber occasion, a tough conversation to have to talk about, Sen. John Velis, D-Hampden, who is also a veteran, said during his remarks on Monday.

Velis spoke of his discussions with other veterans following the COVID deaths at the Holyoke facility at the start of the pandemic.

Two words: Never again, said Velis.

State lawmakers agree to legislation to overhaul oversight of Soldiers Homes

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The News

A military junta has threatened to charge ousted Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum with high treason. If convicted, Bazoum, who has been held in the basement of the presidential compound since last months coup, could be sentenced to death.

Weve curated reporting and analysis on the increasingly tense situation in Niger.

Insights

Coups in Africa have long been treated as individual crises, but countries dotting the Sahel region are increasingly struggling to build functional states, writes World Peace Foundation executive director Alex de Waal. Citizens in these nations are disenfranchised, and democracy cant survive there unless it can deliver results, de Waal notes. African leaders face no room for maneuver at all. They are trapped between lethal scissor blades: much bigger challenges and much less government capacity to respond to them. 

The situation in Niger may stem from a failure in French foreign policy. Anti-French rhetoric is growing among former colonies, with whom France had previously maintained a fairly warm relationship. The end of Frances rule in Niger in 1960 left the country in a terrible state, writes columnist David Pilling. And its unsurprising that Bazoum, the mild-mannered civilian president with pro-French tendencies, struggled to bring a sense of progress, Pilling writes, adding, He is gone. And so soon may be France. 

France and the U.S. still maintain a presence in the Sahel region through Niger. The country is ripe with foreign investment, and extensive mining and construction projects mean coup leaders have a vested interest in Nigers continued stability. Even if the West decides to pull its military support from Niger, the heavy investments from China, Russia, and the U.A.E. mean foreign presence will continue in the nation. These financial interests and security imperatives could convince outside powers to strike a Faustian bargain with Nigers junta, writes Samuel Ramani, an Oxford tutor of politics and international relations. 
NIAMEY, Niger  The military junta that seized power in Niger said it plans to prosecute deposed President Mohamed Bazoum for high treason and undermining state security, an announcement that came hours after the mutinous officers said they were open to dialogue with West African nations to resolve the regional crisis.

If convicted, Bazoum could face the death penalty, according to Nigers penal code.

A spokesperson for the junta, Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane, said on state television that the military regime had gathered the necessary evidence to prosecute before competent national and international authorities the ousted president and his local and foreign accomplices."

The Sunday night announcement said Bazoum was being charged following his post-coup exchanges with high-ranking West African politicians and their international mentors, whom the leaders of the revolt accuse of making false allegations and attempting to derail a peaceful transition in order to justify a military intervention.

Mohamed Bazoum

The statement did not identify specific foreign nations and did not specify a date for the trial of Niger's democratically elected president.

Still, on the streets of the capital on Monday, some residents told The Associated Press they believe Bazoum is guilty. Crimes for high treason is really what he deserves because this man betrayed Niger by stealing all of Nigers resources," Niamey resident Assan Zakite said.

A jihadi insurgency

Niger, an impoverished country of some 25 million people, was seen as one of the last countries that Western nations could partner with in Africa's Sahel region to beat back a jihadi insurgency linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. Before last month's coup, Europe and the United States had poured hundreds of millions of dollars into propping up its military.

Members of the presidential guard ousted Bazoum on July 26. He has since been under house arrest with his wife and son in the presidential compound in the capital, Niamey.

The junta has faced international pressure to release and reinstate Bazoum. Immediately after the coup, the West African regional bloc ECOWAS gave the regime seven days to return him to power and threatened to use military force if that did not happen. The deadline came and went with no action from either side.

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ECOWAS condemns charges

On Monday, ECOWAS condemned the junta's treason charges against Bazoum, calling them provocative and contradictory to reported willingness to peacefully restore constitutional order.

Last week, ECOWAS ordered the deployment of a standby force, but its unclear when or if it would enter Niger. The African Union Peace and Security Council was meeting on Monday to discuss the crisis and could overrule the West African bloc's decision if it thought an intervention threatened wider peace and security on the continent.

A street merchant waits for customers in Niamey, Niger, Monday, Aug. 14, 2023. Niger's mutinous soldiers say they will prosecute deposed President Mohamed Bazoum for "high treason" and undermining state security.

People close to the president and in his political party reported last week that the first familys electricity and water were cut off and theyre running out of food. The junta dismissed the reports and on Sunday accused West African politicians and international organizations of waging a disinformation campaign to discredit the junta.

Rights groups worry Bazoum won't get a fair trial because the junta's newly appointed justice minister is the former president of the country's military tribunal.

We dont trust him. He cant embody ideal independence and free justice, Ali Idrissa, executive secretary of a local human rights group, the Network of Organizations for Transparency and Analysis of Budgets.

New Cabinet members

The junta named a 21-person Cabinet last week that includes both civilians and military officers, but the uncertainty and mixed messages from those claiming to run Niger continued.

Before the military accused Bazoum of treason, a member of the juntas communication team told journalists on Sunday evening that the regime had approved talks with ECOWAS that would take place in the coming days. A mediation team of Islamic scholars from neighboring Nigeria that had met with the junta over the weekend also said it was open to dialogue with ECOWAS.

Previous attempts by ECOWAS to speak with the junta foundered as its delegations were barred from entering Niger. The military regime's stated openness to talks could reflect the toll of severe economic and travel sanctions that West African leaders imposed after Bazoum's ouster but does not mean the discussions will go anywhere, according to Sahel experts.

"Lets see what these negotiations actually look like, because its also in the junta's benefit to, in the least, entertain talks. That doesnt mean theyll be serious about them, said Aneliese Bernard, a former U.S. State Department official who specialized in African affairs and is now director of Strategic Stabilization Advisors, a risk advisory group.

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Military mobilization talks

Talk of a potential military mobilization outside Niger also continues.

In an Aug. 11 memo seen by The Associated Press, Senegals security forces ordered a regroupment from bases in Senegal for Monday as part of the country's contribution to the ECOWAS mission in Niger. It was unclear what the move entailed exactly.

In the weeks since the coup, the junta has entrenched itself in power, appointing a new government and leveraging anti-French sentiment against its former colonial ruler to shore up support among the population, creating a tense environment for citizens who oppose the junta and for many foreigners and journalists.

The board of directors for the Press House, an independent Nigerien organization that protects journalists, said Sunday that local and international media representatives were being threatened and intimidated by Nigerien activists who support the junta. The organization said it was deeply concerned about the very difficult climate in which reporters were operating.

The military takeover also has not stamped out jihadi violence, which the coup leaders originally cited as a justification for removing Bazoum. Fighters on motorcycles and believed to be with the Islamic State group ambushed Nigerien security forces on Sunday, according to a security report for aid groups seen by the AP.

The attack and another last week claimed by the al-Qaida linked group known as JNIM are largely a consequence of military operations to combat extremist violence being suspended since the coup, according to Wassim Nasr, a journalist and senior research fellow at the Soufan Center.

This is due to the halting of cooperation and the military being busy with consolidating their coup in Niamey, Nasr said. Communications and dialogue attempts with some jihadi groups, which had been established under Bazoum, also were cut after the coup, he said.

A former jihadi, Boubacar Moussa, told the AP that he's received multiple phone calls from active jihadis saying they were celebrating the chaos created by the coup and the greater freedom of movement the revolt gave them.

Moussa is part of a nationwide program that encourages jihadi fighters to defect and reintegrate into society. It is unclear if the program will continue under the military regime. He thinks as the situation evolves, jihadis will take advantage of the security gap and launch new attacks.

Associated Press writers Lorian Belanger in Shintotsukawa, Japan; Jean-Fernand Koena in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; and Chinedu Asadu in Abuja, Nigeria, contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mohamed Bazoum, Nigers deposed President, faces 'high treason' charge
Mohamed Bazoum was toppled as president more than two years after he took office

Niger's military junta has announced plans to prosecute deposed President Mohamed Bazoum for high treason and undermining national security.

This is the latest sign that the junta intends to resist international pressure to return power to Mr Bazoum.

The West African regional bloc Ecowas said it was shocked to learn that the junta wanted to prosecute him.

He has been held in the basement of his palace since the military staged a coup about three weeks ago.

Mr Bazoum was in "good spirits" despite being held in "difficult" conditions, his doctor said after a visit.

Saturday's visit was approved amid growing international demands for Mr Bazoum's release.

The US State Department expressed its dismay that the Niger leader had been charged, with spokesperson Vedant Patel describing the charges as "completely unwarranted and unjustified".

Mr Patel said they would not "contribute to a peaceful resolution of this crisis", and said they were a "further affront, in our opinion, to democracy and justice and to the respect of the rule of law."

But in a sign that it is hardening its position, the junta said in a statement read out on state TV that it had gathered evidence to prosecute "the deposed president and his local and foreign accomplices for high treason and undermining the internal and external security of Niger".

It did not give further details.

Mr Bazoum, 63, is being held captive with his wife and son and there were growing concerns about their health.

Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani, the head of the presidential guards unit, declared himself Niger's new ruler on 26 July after overthrowing him.

Ecowas has threatened military action to reverse the coup, but it has so far failed to follow through on its threat.

The coup leaders have warned they will defend themselves against any intervention.

Ecowas has also imposed sanctions on the junta, including cutting electricity to Niger. This has caused blackouts in the capital Niamey, and other major cities.

Ecowas said the move to prosecute Mr Bazoum was a new form of provocation which contradicted the military's reported willingness to find a peaceful solution to the crisis.

On Saturday, a high-powered delegation of Muslim clerics from neighbouring Nigeria met junta leaders in Niamey in a bid to mediate an end to the crisis.

Junta-appointed Prime Minister Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine said he was optimistic that talks with Ecowas would take place in the coming days "to discuss how the sanctions against us will be lifted".

The coup in Niger mirrored similar takeovers in neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali, amid an Islamist insurgency and a growing Russian influence in the wider Sahel region through its mercenary group Wagner.

Despite his captivity, Mr Bazoum was able to publish an article in The Washington Post stating that he was a hostage and that the coup would have "devastating consequences for our country, our region and the entire world".

Mr Bazoum is reported to have lost a "worrying" amount of weight, while his 20-year-old son, who has a chronic medical condition, was also reportedly denied care.

UN human rights chief Volker Turk described the conditions of the detention as inhumane, degrading and in violation of international human rights law.

His daughter Zazia, 34, who was on holiday in France during the coup, told the UK-based Guardian newspaper last week that her father, mother and brother had no clean water or electricity and were living on rice and pasta.

Fresh food was rotting in the fridge because there was no power, she said.

The deputy director at Human Rights Watch Africa, Carine Kaneza Nantulya, also told the BBC that they were concerned the charges may be politically motivated.

"In terms of the potential charge that has been talked about we're also concerned that this might be a politically motivated charge, given the length and the nature of President Bazoum's detention and the other co-detainees", she added.

Mr Bazoum has been seen once since he was overthrown, in a photo released after he met Chad's leader Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno.

Mr Deby met both the junta and Mr Bazoum soon after the coup in a failed bid to resolve the crisis.
Nigers junta claimed Sunday it had gathered evidence to prosecute the countrys ousted President Mohamed Bazoum for high treason, upping the stakes in their brinkmanship against key neighbors in West Africa who have vowed to restore constitutional order in the coup-hit country.

The Nigerien government has to date, gathered the necessary evidence to prosecute the deposed president and his local and foreign accomplices before the competent national and international authorities for high treason and undermining internal and external security of Niger, said a statement by the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) of Niger, the military council that toppled the government in July.

Niger has been engulfed in political chaos since late last month, when Bazoum was ousted in a coup detat by the presidential guard. The July putsch sparked international condemnation and renewed uncertainty in a volatile part of Africa, beset by coups and militant extremism.

Niger, which lies at the heart of the Sahel, was one of the few remaining democracies in the region.

Bazoums election win in 2021 marked a relatively peaceful transfer of power and capped years of military coups following Nigers independence from France in 1960.

Leaders from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) responded to the coup by enacting sanctions and issuing an ultimatum to the ruling military junta: stand down within a week or face a potential military intervention.

But Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea, three other West African nations that have all recently experienced military coups, have expressed solidarity with Nigers junta, raising the specter of the tussle becoming a regional crisis.

Diplomatic efforts appeared to have stalled, but on Sunday the Nigerien junta told a Nigerian delegation that it is willing to meet with ECOWAS representatives, and delegation member Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau said that fruitful deliberations had taken place.

We created an avenue whereby the ECOWAS leaders and the leader of Niger now, General Tiani and his team have a place either here in Nigeria or in any place in West Africa for them to sit and discuss, Bala Lau said.

We dont want war, or military force to take place between Niger. We are neighbors, he added.

Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, who was appointed by Nigers military junta to be prime minister, also commented on the visit, which he said comforted the Nigerien authorities.

Zeine told German media outlet Deutsche Welle (DW) that the delegation included ulemas, who are regarded as highly respected scholars and constitute the voice of a segment of Nigerian society.

Nigerian parliamentarians have also voiced their disapproval of any military intervention in Niger, said Zeine.

In Sundays interview Zeine also said Niger will overcome the sanctions imposed by ECOWAS.

We think that even if its an unfair challenge thats been imposed on us, we should be able to get together to overcome it, and we will, he said.

Bazoum has accused the junta of depriving him of all human contact and failing to supply him medicine or food.

In its statement, the CNSP denied those accusations, saying the ousted leader regularly receives visits from his doctor  the most recent of which was on Saturday.

The doctor did not raise any problem as to Bazoums state of health, the statement claimed.

Increasing pressure

West African leaders have ramped up rhetoric against Nigers coup leaders and ordered the activation and deployment of a regional standby force to restore constitutional order in the country.

ECOWAS, a regional political and economic union, said that it had formed a parliamentary committee it aims to send to Niger to meet with coup leaders, a source told CNN on Sunday.

The source also said committee members would first meet among themselves via Zoom on Monday but did not make clear when they would meet with coup leaders. The parliamentary committee was made up of 12 members and chaired by Nigerian first deputy speaker of ECOWAS parliament, Ahmed Idris Wase, the source added.

ECOWAS previously gave coup leaders the deadline of August 6 to release and reinstate Bazoum as president and cede power or face possible military action as a last resort.

On Wednesday, ECOWAS said a separate joint mission with the United Nations and African Union to meet with the Nigerien military junta on Tuesday was aborted after the military authorities in Niamey communicated their unavailability to receive the tripartite delegation.

Meanwhile self-proclaimed Niger defense chief Gen. Moussa Salaou Barmou met with Guineas junta leader and transitional president Mamadi Doumbouya in Guineas capital Conakry. Guinea underwent its own military coup in 2021.

We are pan-African  we will always be there, Doumbouya said during the meeting on Saturday.

Nigers new military leader, Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, has also asked Mali for support despite its considerably reduced military capacity.

CNNs Martin Goillandeau contributed to this report.

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By Abdel-Kader Mazou

NIAMEY (Reuters) -The military junta that seized power in Niger in a coup last month has said it will prosecute ousted President Mohamed Bazoum for high treason over his exchanges with foreign heads of state and international organisations.

The United States, United Nations and West African leaders condemned the move, calling it a further sign that the junta is unwilling to seek a peaceful route out of the crisis.

The coup leaders have imprisoned Bazoum and dissolved the elected government, drawing condemnation from global powers and West Africa's regional bloc ECOWAS, which decided last week to assemble a standby military force that could intervene if diplomacy fails.

At stake is not just the fate of Niger - a major uranium producer and Western ally in the fight against an Islamist insurgency - but also the influence of rival global powers with strategic interests in the region.

Junta spokesperson Colonel Amadou Abdramane said in a statement read out on state TV late on Sunday that the military authorities had "gathered the necessary evidence to prosecute the ousted president ... for high treason and undermining the internal and external security of Niger".

U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the attempt to bring charges against Bazoum was "very worrying" and reiterated calls for the president to be released immediately.

"This action is completely unwarranted and unjustified and, candidly, it will not contribute to a peaceful resolution of this crisis," U.S. State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said.

ECOWAS condemned the move and called it a provocation.

"(This) contradicts the reported willingness of the military authorities in Niger to restore constitutional order through peaceful means," the regional bloc said.

Residents of Niamey, many of whom were deeply disillusioned with Bazoum's government and are supporting the coup leaders, said they backed the prosecution of the deposed president.

"This comes as no surprise given that you've heard the various declarations and appeals (he made) to the international community not only to impose sanctions but also to intervene militarily on Niger's territory," said Illiassou Boubacar, a civil society activist in his 50s.

"But what we would like is for it to be carried out according to the rule book, respecting all procedures and hiring magistrates with the skills required to do the job."

Mucahid Durmaz, senior West Africa analyst at risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft, said the junta wanted to diminish Bazoum's legitimacy and dissuade foreign powers from trying to reinstate him.

"The prosecution of Bazoum will likely force ECOWAS to soften its stance against the junta and focus on establishing a transitional deal to allow for a return to democratic governance," he said.

'MISINFORMATION'

Abdramane said there was a misinformation campaign against the junta to try to "derail any negotiated solution to the crisis in order to justify military intervention ... in the name of ECOWAS".

On Monday, the junta criticised Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara for voicing his strong backing last week for such an intervention if Bazoum is not reinstated and promising to supply a battalion of troops to a joint force.

Spokesperson Abdramane said the junta had decided to recall the Nigerien ambassador from Ivory Coast for consultations in response to Ouattara's "excessively threatening statements."

The junta rebuffed several diplomatic missions in the first two weeks after the coup, though it has signalled a potential willingness to engage since ECOWAS said it would "activate" standby troops for possible use in Niger.

The ECOWAS parliament on Saturday said it wanted to send a committee to meet the junta in Niamey, but the proposed timing of that mission is not clear.

The African Union, the European Union, the United States and the United Nations have all said they are worried about the conditions in which Bazoum is being kept.

Bazoum's political party has said his family has no access to running water, fresh food or doctors. The junta said on Sunday that Bazoum last saw a doctor on Aug. 12, and that there were no concerns about his health.

Bazoum's daughter, who is abroad, told Britain's Guardian newspaper last week that the junta was keeping him in deplorable conditions to try to pressure him to sign a resignation letter.

The Peace and Security Council of the 55-nation African Union met on Monday to discuss the situation in Niger, which is West and Central Africa's seventh coup in three years.

U.S., French, German and Italian troops are stationed in Niger, in a region where local affiliates of al Qaeda and Islamic State have killed thousands and displaced millions.

Meanwhile, Russian influence has grown as insecurity increases, democracy erodes, and leaders seek new partners to restore order.

Western powers fear Russia's clout could increase if the junta in Niger follows Mali and Burkina Faso, which ejected the troops of former colonial power France after coups.

(Additional reporting by Felix Onuah in Abuja and Simon Lewis in Washington; Writing by Anait Miridzhanian, Alessandra Prentice, Estelle Shirbon and Nellie Peyton; Editing by Alexander Winning, Lincoln Feast, Angus MacSwan, Alison Williams and Sonali Paul)
Nigerian men to face US justice in sextortion scheme that led to teen's suicide

This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Two Nigerian men accused of running an international sextortion ring that led to the suicide of a Michigan teenager were extradited to the U.S., and a third suspect is expected to follow.

Samuel Ogoshi, 22, and Samson Ogoshi, 20, of Lagos, Nigeria, as well as Ezekial Ejehem Robert, 19, allegedly bought hacked social media accounts, posed as young women to lure teenagers and young adult men into sexual chats that included explicit images and videos, and threatened to release them unless they paid a ransom.

Jordan DeMay, 17, was one of at least 100 American victims. He received a message from a username "dani.robertts" that said, "All you've to do is cooperate with me and I won't expose you," according to prosecutors.

The next day DeMay shot himself.

MICHIGAN FAMILY SOUNDS ALARM ON SON'S SEXTORTION SUICIDE AFTER ARRESTS OF 3 NIGERIAN MEN

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

John DeMay is sounding the alarm about a crime called "sextortion" after his 17-year-old son, Jordan DeMay, died by suicide after becoming the victim of a sextortion scheme last year.

Samuel Ogoshi allegedly sent the messages to DeMay and was charged with his death, which carries a mandatory 30 years to life in federal prison if he is convicted.

"Sextortion is a horrible crime," U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten said in a statement. "To those who commit these crimes: we will pursue you around the world. And to those who are victims: please know we stand ready to help you."

AI DEEPFAKES OF INNOCENT IMAGES FUEL SPIKE IN SEXTORTION SCAMS, FBI WARNS

The May 2023 indictment against Samuel Ogoshi, Samson Ogoshi and Robert detailed their alleged scheme, which is an example of a rapidly advancing crime trend that's been fueled by artificial intelligence.

Sextortion cases increased 322% between February 2022 and February 2023, according to the FBI, which recently said there's been an additional significant uptick since April.

Sextortion isn't new, but the number of cases has boomed since the pandemic . From 2021 to 2022, the FBI recorded a 463% increase in reported sextortion cases, and now open-source artificial technology tools have simplified the process for predators, the FBI said.

DEMAY'S DAD TALKS ABOUT LOSING HIS SON AFTER A SEXTORTION SCAM

Samuel and Samson Ogoshi are expected to appear in federal court Monday afternoon in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where the federal indictment was filed.

Both were charged with conspiracy to sexually exploit minors and conspiracy to distribute child pornography. Samuel faces two additional charges of sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of a minor resulting in death.

LAWMAKER EXPOSES DANGERS OF SEXTORTION AFTER TEENAGE SON'S SUICIDE

The extradition of the third defendant, Robert, is still pending, prosecutors said.

"My son was smart. He was a good student. He was a great athlete," John DeMay, Jordan's father, told Fox News Digital in a previous interview. "Someone came to his bedroom at 3 in the morning and murdered him through Instagram when we were all sleeping at night, and we had zero chance to stop it."

The FBI describes sextortion as a crime that "involves coercing victims into providing sexually explicit photos or videos of themselves, then threatening to share them publicly or with the victim's family and friends."

In most cases, these crimes are financially motivated rather than sexually motivated, the FBI said in a June PSA.

Jordan DeaMy began chatting with someone he thought was a woman on Instagram under the username "dani.robertts."

Predators, who are typically in another country, weaponize sexually explicit photos that they've either tricked the victims into sending or used artificial intelligence to doctor innocent images of juveniles to coerce money out of them or their families, according to the FBI.

Many victims are males between the ages of 10 and 17, although there have been victims as young as 7, the FBI said. Girls have also been targeted, but the statistics show a higher number of boys have been victimized.

WARNING SIGNS OF SUICIDE: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT PREVENTION, RED FLAGS AND HOW TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE

"Financial sextortion is a global crisis that impacts teens in our country and around the world," Devin J. Kowalski, acting special agent in charge of the FBI in Michigan, said in a statement.

"As this case demonstrates, the FBI is committed to working closely with our domestic and international law enforcement partners to prevent young men and women from becoming victims of this tragic crime."

Alicia Kozak , who escaped a sexual predator's dungeon where she was kept in chains, is now an internet safety expert who regularly speaks in schools to educate students about the dangers of online predators.

She told Fox News Digital in a previous interview that sextortion is one of the biggest and most devastating threats to today's teens.

In a world where kids chase social media influencer status and fame, they blindly accept followers without vetting them, she said.

KIDNAPPING SURVIVOR REMEMBERS DRAGGING COLD, HEAVY CHAIN FROM CAPTOR'S DUNGEON DURING RESCUE

Alicia Kozak

"I speak in schools, and every single school Ive spoken in has had several sextortion victims and nearly all of the communities have had a child die by suicide as a result of sextortion and the threats, shame and fear that go along with it," Kozak said.

The FBI issued a PSA on June 5 about sextortion because of the boom in cases, which law enforcement said is largely fueled by AI-generated "deepfakes."

WHO IS WATCHING YOU? AI CAN STALK UNSUSPECTING VICTIMS WITH EASE AND PRECISION: EXPERTS

"Malicious actors use content manipulation technologies and services to exploit photos and videos  typically captured from an individual's social media account, open internet or requested from the victim  into sexually-themed images that appear true-to-life in likeness to a victim, then circulate them on social media, public forums or pornographic websites," the FBI said in a June 5 PSA .

"Many victims, which have included minors, are unaware their images were copied, manipulated and circulated until it was brought to their attention by someone else."

WATCH FULL INTERVIEW WITH ALICIA KOZAK

Sextortion is a crime that predators have carried out in the shadows for years. In what authorities called one of the largest sextortion cases ever prosecuted in the U.S., 31-year-old Lucas Michael Chansler was sentenced in 2014 to 105 years in prison.

The Florida man had targeted more than 350 victims from 26 states, three Canadian provinces and the U.K. between 2007 and 2010.

VIDEO: WATCH SCARY EXAMPLE HOW AI USED IN SEXTORTION SCAMS

FEARS OF AI HITTING BLACK MARKET STIR CONCERNS OF CRIMINALS EVADING GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS: EXPERT

He posed as a 15-year-old boy on MySpace, AIM and Stickam to befriend girls between 13 and 18, and used 135 different online IDs to conceal his identity and locations, the FBI said.

He pleaded guilty to child pornography charges and was sentenced to prison, but there are still more than 200 child victims who have not been identified in his case.

Michelle DeLaune, president and CEO of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, said in a previous statement that young victims of this crime "feel like there's no way out."

"But we want them to know that theyre not alone. In the past year, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has received more than 10,000 sextortion-related reports," DeLaune said earlier this year. "Please talk to your children about what to do if they (or their friends) are targeted online. NCMEC has free resources to help them navigate an overwhelming and scary situation."

NCMEC also provides a free service called "Take It Down," which works to help victims remove or stop the online sharing of sexually explicit images or videos.

The website is: https://takeitdown.ncmec.org .

The FBI provides recommendations for sharing content online, as well as resources for extortion victims, at https://www.ic3.gov/Media/Y2023/PSA230605.

The FBI also urges victims to report exploitation by calling the local FBI field office, 1-800-CALL-FBI, or report it online at tips.fbi.gov.
A man who was arrested over the weekend in connection with a nightmarish attack on a woman on a street in Bostons South End has been ordered held without bail.

Amos Sykes, 35, of Quincy, was arraigned Monday in Boston Municipal Court on charges of indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over, assault to rape, strangulation, assault, and battery with a dangerous weapon, and assault and battery with injuries. A plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf.

Officers responded to a report of an assault and battery in progress and a possible sexual assault in the area of West Canton and Appleton streets just before 9:45 p.m. Saturday. They spoke with several witnesses who said they heard screams and saw Sykes punching a woman in the head as he sat on top of her, according to the Boston Police Department.

Police noted that one witness was spotted by officers defending the victim and fighting off Sykes, who tried to run away before being taken into custody.

The victim had been walking on Columbus Avenue when Sykes grabbed her from behind, forced her onto the ground, and began punching her in the head, according to investigators. Sykes also allegedly tried removing the victims clothing.

She was crying. She was covered in blood, a prosecutor told the court. He made sexual advances towards her. At this point, another individual came over and began to fight the defendant to get him off of her.

At one point during the reported incident, another witness claimed to have seen Sykes attempting to strangle the victim with his bicep and forearm, according to the prosecutor.

She was bleeding from her face so bad that it looked like somebody got shot in their stomach, thats how bad she was bleeding, said Sam Holder, a witness of the attack.

The woman was taken to a local hospital with lacerations to the face and injuries to her nose.

Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden praised the good Samaritan who stepped in and intervened.

This was a nightmarish attack that left the victim bloodied and bruised, and would likely have resulted in an even worse outcome if not for the extraordinarily brave intervention of a good Samaritan, Hayden said in a statement. In cases like this, the victims injuries often transcend the physical. Our office has advocates specially trained to treat this type of trauma, and they will be by this victims side throughout the court process and after. I thank Boston Police for their quick response and arrest and I am especially grateful for this Good Samaritans courageous action.

Im not a hero, Im not a hero at all. I just did what any man should do. Im not a hero. At all, said Holder.

Others disagree, including his sister, Bernadette.

Its just so amazing what he did. To not know her, to just come to her rescue and not fear for his safety, I thought that was amazing, but thats who he is, said Bernadette Holder.

Detectives assigned to the Boston Police Sexual Assault Unit are leading an investigation into the alleged incident.

Sykes has a criminal record. In 2017 he was convicted of assault and intimidating a witness and spent 79 days in the House of Correction. More recently, Sykes was a witness in a homicide case in Dedham Superior Court.

Sykes was ordered held without bail and is due back in court Wednesday for a dangerousness hearing.

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A new centrist political party backed by former Republican Gov. Pat McCrory has been officially recognized in North Carolina.

At a meeting on Sunday, the State Board of Elections certified the party, which is called No Labels, in a 4-1 vote.

No Labels received almost 15,000 valid signatures from voters in its petition drive, nearly 1,000 more than are required to certify a new party.

Its a great day for democracy in the Tar Heel State, Dennis Blair, No Labels Party of North Carolina chair, said in a statement. The North Carolina Board of Elections chose to stand with voters to give the No Labels Party of North Carolina access to the ballot. I commend them for setting aside partisan politics to hear the voices of thousands of North Carolinians who support No Labels and who are part of Americas growing commonsense majority.

Voters can now register with No Labels in addition to the Democratic, Republican, Green or Libertarian parties.

The certification also gives No Labels the opportunity to run candidates in upcoming elections under the new party, though no candidates have been announced yet.

No Labels describes itself as a Commonsense party, rejecting extremism on both sides of the aisle.

We are Democrats, Republicans, and independents, with different political opinions, the partys national website says. Sometimes, we have serious disagreements over policies. But one thing we all share is a commitment to respect those differences, and to find areas of common ground so we can move the country forward.
Former Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has rejoined the political fray, although not as a candidate for political office.

He has accepted an unpaid role as director of ballot integrity for the No Labels group, an organization exploring an independent unity ticket for the 2024 presidential election.

Founded in 2009 by former U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman, No Labels advocates for bipartisan solutions, believing that the partisan division in the country has left many feeling politically homeless.

It is co-chaired by former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory, former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and Benjamin Chavis, president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association.

Former Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon, pictured at a dedication ceremony for Convoy Of Hope in 2021, has signed on as director of ballot integrity for the No Labels group that is considering putting together a third-party presidential ticket.

With some critics bemoaning the possibility of a repeat of the 2020 presidential election in 2024, No Labels hopes to offer an alternative  but only if voters indicate their desire for a third-party candidate from the organization.

In what it has called an insurance plan, No Labels is pushing for ballot access in all 50 states so that it could nominate a candidate if the two major parties select candidates the vast majority of Americans dont want to vote for in 2024.

Requirements vary by state, but in Missouri that would mean that No Labels would need about 10,000 signatures from registered voters before July 29, 2024 to make the ballot that November.

According to the organization, it has already gathered 700,000 signatures and obtained ballot status in five states  Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Oregon and Alaska.

The plan is not without opposition. Democrats in Arizona have sued to keep No Labels off the ballot and former U.S. House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt launched the Super PAC Citizens to Save Our Republic to counter the third-party movement.

In a letter to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Aug. 3, Nixon, a Democrat who served as governor from 2009-2017, condemned the opposition. Although he acknowledged fears that a third-party ticket may split the vote, he offered assurance that the party would honor its agreements.

I am confident that No Labels will not play spoiler in the 2024 election. Nixon wrote. It has pledged to stand down if extensive polling reveals an independent Unity ticket has no chance to win.

Nixon points to recent attempts to raise barriers to ballot access as his reason for joining the No Labels movement.

In several landmark cases, the Supreme Court has ruled that organizing voters for ballot access is protected speech under the First Amendment, Nixon wrote. But that hasnt stopped an increasingly organized group of operatives and partisans from trying to keep No Labels off the ballot.

Some political experts in Missouri were surprised by Nixons decision to join the organization.

Trying to get back into the fray of national and statewide politics seems an interesting choice, said Thomas Ringenberg, professor of political science at Rockhurst University. I think it's just one of those things where watching from the sidelines, you say, Wow, we were able to do it better. I won state office. There's got to be a way here.

Trump v. Biden 2.0  the rematch many hope not to see

As the 2024 election draws nearer, the likelihood of a rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump only seems to grow.

New York Times/Siena polling from July shows that neither the Democratic nor Republican parties have produced candidates with greater traction among voters than Biden and Trump. The two remained deadlocked, each with 43% of respondents indicating their preference for the candidates.

While both appear to have majority support within their own party, polls have shown many voters think neither man should seek a second term.

In April, an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll showed only 30% of Americans thought Trump should run again, while only 26% felt the same about Biden. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9%.

Such results seem encouraging for third-party candidates considering a run on a more moderate platform.

A USA TODAY/Suffolk Poll from April found that 9% of Biden voters and 6% of Trump voters would support an independent candidate if the two face off again. However, 50% of Biden voters and 42% of Trump voters said they would back their respective candidates.

About a third of voters polled who already identify as independent planned to support a third-party candidate no matter what. That poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 4%.

Experts believe that voters are sometimes less enthusiastic about support their party's candidate than they are to ensure that the opposing candidate does not win.

Its not so much because of people's love for their own party but hatred generally of the other party, Ringenberg said. It's called effective polarization.

More: What Josh Hawley, Eric Schmitt, other Missouri lawmakers said about State of the Union

Many Democrats worry that a third-party candidate will be unable to win, but will split the vote for Biden, giving Trump a clear path to victory.

It's a problem for the Democrats, said Peverill Squire, a professor of political science at the University of Missouri. Probably not so much in Missouri, but potentially in some other places.

However, leaders of No Labels have indicated that the group would exit the race if it appeared the inclusion of its candidate ticket would give Trump an advantage. It plans to pursue if and only if, such a ticket has a viable path to victory.

Third-party candidates have seen little success in recent history

While a third-party candidate sounds attractive to many frustrated with the current partisan divide, it is rare for one to win the presidency.

In fact, the last third-party candidate to reach the White House was Abraham Lincoln in 1860, when the Republicans were not yet considered a major political party.

Although they rarely win, third-party candidates often cause upsets for candidates who may have won otherwise.

A third party almost never wins and is not likely to win in 2024, said Daniel Ponder, a political science professor at Drury University. But third parties can certainly be determinative.

The last third-party candidate to win electoral votes was former Alabama Gov. George Wallace, who ran as an independent in 1968 against Hubert Humphrey and Richard Nixon, who won by a narrow margin.

There's at least an argument to be made that Hubert Humphrey was denied the presidency because of a third party, Ponder said.

Although he received no electoral votes, independent candidate and businessman Ross Perot pulled 19% of the popular vote in the 1992 presidential election. Although incumbent George H. W. Bush lost reelection to Bill Clinton, analysts speculate that Perot pulled votes equally from the two candidates.

Independent presidential candidate Ross Perot holds aloft a copy of the 1948 Chicago Daily Tribune newspaper proclaiming Thomas Dewey the winner over Harry Truman in that year's presidential election. Perot displayed the paper while addressing a rally Sunday, Nov. 1, 1992 in Long Beach, Calif.

In more recent presidential elections, third-party candidates have garnered single-digit support from voters. In 2020, Libertarian Jo Jorgensen won just over 1% of the popular vote.

Who would run as a candidate on this third-party ticket?

If the No Labels movement were to offer an alternative candidate, the true question lies in who they would choose to represent them. The group has not yet offered any insight into the matter.

If you ask people, Would you prefer somebody other than Joe Biden or Donald Trump? Everyone says, Yes. Ringenberg said. But if you tried to say what sort of person that would look like, it's really hard to imagine very many people who fit that.

Given the partisan divide that inspired the No Labels movement, it may be difficult to find someone who is generally palatable to voters across the board. Anyone who has already been associated with a political party or movement could face instant opposition, so the key may lie in finding someone outside of politics.

I think it would be tough to talk people into that, Ringenberg said. Even if you're a celebrity or a business person or somebody who truly is in that middle ground, getting into politics right now is not pleasant.

More: At retreat, SPS board members agree to curb smartphone use in meetings, stop interrupting

However, before No Labels can think about selecting a candidate, it will need to secure ballot access. It has less than a year until the deadline to make the 2024 ballot in 45 states and the District of Columbia.

If you don't have a good organization on the ground in each state early, then you're not just focusing on campaigning, but you're really scrambling to try to make the ballot in the first place, Ponder said.

Some experts feel that to be truly competitive, No Labels should be playing a long game by building support at the state level before setting its sights on the presidency.

Unless you can prove your case in these polarized county elections and everything else, I think you should probably stay off the Senate and presidential tickets because you're just going to create chaos and a really expensive race, Ringenberg said.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Experts weigh in about impact of No Labels effort on 2024 election
 Flash

China and Morocco sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on agricultural cooperation after a meeting of agricultural officials in Rabat, Morocco, on July 4, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

Morocco welcomes China's decision to resume group tours to more overseas destinations, including Morocco, believing the move will give a fresh boost to the country's tourism industry, local media said on Sunday.

The decision is "a development that holds the potential to breathe fresh life into the flow of Chinese travelers to the North African kingdom," said Morocco's online news website Hespress on Sunday.

Nasser Bouchiba, the chair of the African-Chinese Development Cooperation Association, stressed in the Hespress report that there is a strong interest among Chinese citizens to explore Morocco, which has been encouraged by visa exemption and Morocco's growing international reputation.

The tourism industry serves as an important pillar of Morocco's economy. In the first six months of 2023, Morocco witnessed an influx of 6.5 million tourists. Forecasts from the Ministry of Tourism anticipate that this figure could rise to approximately 14.5 million by the end of 2023.
CANTON  The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force arrested on Monday a 27-year-old woman charged with escaping from the Stark Regional Community Correction Center.

The Massillon woman is accused of climbing a picnic table and a fence to reach the roof before jumping to freedom on Thursday. She had been ordered by a judge on July 19 to enter and successfully complete the residential program at SRCCC following a conviction for aggravated drug possession. She was in the program three days before leaving.

The task force and the correction center began investigating the suspects whereabouts in the Canton area immediately following the escape, according to a press release from the task force, which arrested her in the 400 block of Hazlett Ave NW.

Breakout: Picnic table helps inmate escape Stark Regional Community Correction Center

The strong partnership between the U.S. Marshals Service and the Stark Regional Community Correction Center resulted in the arrest today," U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott said in a statement. "We will continue to build upon our strong relationship, to make the communities we serve a safer place to live. Without this partnership and our dedicated officers, an escaped fugitive would still be on the streets of Stark County."

The U.S. Marshals Service leads the violent fugitive task force.

The SRCCC is a community-based correctional facility at 4433 Lesh St. NE with the capacity to hold 124 inmates.

Reach Nancy at 330-580-8382 or nancy.molnar@cantonrep.com.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Woman who used picnic table in escape is arrested in Canton
Human rights abuses in Haiti are soaring while the Haitian state is almost nonexistent and unable to protect its people from the brutality of armed gangs, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has warned in a new report.

Rival criminal factions now have such a tight grip over the country that international security forces could be necessary to restore order, the rights groups said.

HRW investigators documented 67 recent killings by armed gangs in its report, Living a Nightmare, including the murders of 11 children and 12 women. It also verified more than 20 cases of rape  many of them committed by multiple perpetrators to sow terror among the population.

Related: Womens bodies weaponized: Haiti gangs use rape in spiraling violence

Urgent action is needed to address the extreme levels of violence and the palpable fear, hunger and sense of abandonment that so many Haitians experience today, said Nathalye Cotrino, crisis and conflict researcher at HRW.

Haiti has fallen into chaos since president Jovenel Moise was assassinated in 2021 and gangs began grabbing control of the country in bloody turf wars.

Harrowing human rights violations have become commonplace, 4.9 million people cannot regularly get enough food to eat, and cholera has returned amid the conflict.

Criminal groups have killed at least 2,000 people and kidnapped more than 1,000 in the first half of 2023, according to the UN.

The explosion of violence is being driven by about 150 gangs who are vying for control of the capital, Port-au-Prince.

The government response to the conflict has been weak to non-existent, HRW said, in part because the police and the government have affiliations with the criminals, who receive a steady flow of arms and ammunition from Florida.

Based on available information, there have been no prosecutions or convictions of those responsible for killings, kidnappings, and sexual violence, or their supporters, since the start of 2023, HRW said in the report.

The rights body verified accounts of gruesome killings in its interviews, the use of sexual violence as a weapon, and the practice of dismembering of bodies with machetes and setting corpses alight to intimidate rivals.

They rape us because they are in control, because they have guns, because there is nobody to defend us. There is no police or state, a survivor of sexual violence in the sprawling Port-au-Prince slum of Cite Soleil told the rights body.

Most of the gangs are affiliated to either the G-Pep federation or the rival G9 alliance. A recent push by the G9, led by the notorious warlord Barbecue, into the G-Pep stronghold of Brooklyn in Cite Soleil has caused the violence to flare.

Related: Its hell: vigilantes take to Haitis streets in bloody reprisals against gangs

The rivals called a truce in late June but the ceasefire is flimsy and the two groups continue to abuse local populations.

The polices inability to fight back means a growing number of Haitians are turning to vigilante groups for protection. Vigilantes, sometimes co-operating with police, have killed more than 200 suspected criminal members as of June, HRW said.

The 97-page report comes days before the UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, is expected to propose a plan to deploy international peacekeeping forces to Haiti.

Ariel Henry, who became interim leader following Moises assassination, requested assistance from the UN in October last year to restore order. The Henry government has failed to hold elections and now has no single elected official in office.

Kenya proposed leading a taskforce earlier this month with the backing of the US and Canada, though civil society groups raised concerns over the human rights record of police in the east African country.

Nearly all of the civil society representatives interviewed by HRW said the situation is so dire that international forces are now necessary to push back the gangs.
Perfection is rare  as the 1972 Dolphins wont hesitate to tell you  but when it comes to restaurant inspections in Miami-Dade, more places have zero violations than enough to get closed by inspectors.

Heres this weeks list of perfect inspections in Miami-Dade County.

REMINDER: We dont choose what eateries get inspected nor do we decide how strictly they get inspected. If you have a problem with a restaurant or food truck, you can file a complaint with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

READ MORE: A Wendys, a PDQ, insects inside onions and other restaurant inspection fails

In alphabetical order...

 Chinito Burger food truck.

 Conflei, 8280 NW 66th St., Medley.

 Curbside Cuisine food truck.

 El Bocata food truck.

 Groovin Bean, 801 NW Third Ave., Miami.

 Just Salad, 18801 Biscayne Blvd., Aventura.

 Last Call Diner, 1624 79th St. Causeway, North Bay Village.

 Quinto Miami Support Kitchen, 788 Brickell Plaza, Miami.

 Red Hot Catering food truck.

 Sabor Seijo food truck.

 Sushi Kong, 2005 NW 97th Ave., Doral.

 Takitows food truck.

 Wynwood Bar, Miami International Airport, Concourse E, Miami.

READ MORE: Wood in the chocolate chip cookie dough? A recall from Nestle
LAHAINA, Hawaii  Malia Waring cant go home.

Her house wasnt destroyed when the nations deadliest wildfire in a century ripped through Maui last week. But her family is gone, and she cant bear to sit at home thinking about them.

Ever since her cousin came to tell her that four members of their family, including her 8-year-old nephew, burned to death in their car while trying to escape the blaze, Waring, 65, has been spending time with friends at Napili Park, which has become one of several crowd-sourced aid depots in the beloved, nearly destroyed area of Lahaina.

I'm very, very emotional if I talk, I dont know, I will cry," she said Sunday.

Waring is one of many locals grappling with widespread loss. As the death toll continues to climb, officials in Maui have only just begun the complex process of finding and identifying the dead. And as the community works to provide for people's immediate physical needs, mental health professionals are preparing to meet the longer-term needs of a community that has barely had time to comprehend and grieve the loss of their loved ones, homes, businesses and centuries-old cultural sites.

Malia Waring, 65, lost four members of her family in the Lahaina wildfire. Since the blaze, she spends her days at Napili Park to take her mind off the tragedy.

Maui fire victims identified by officials, many still missing

At least 96 people have been killed by the wildfire but only two have been officially identified using DNA, Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said. Some estimates suggest more than 1,000 people are still missing. Officials have said they don't know the exact number and have encouraged relatives of people still unaccounted for to visit a family assistance center in Kahului to submit DNA samples.

But as the days drag on, many, including Leslie Hiraga, are beginning to assume the worst. Hiraga said she was volunteering at the busy depot in Napili Park on Saturday when a man came looking for his cousin.

"And then he starts telling me the name is Toni Molina," Hiraga said. "She was at my wedding. She's a really good friend of mine and by this time I would have heard from her."

Hiraga said she believes Molina may have perished in a car like Waring's family, and she's trying to find Molina's brother to get a DNA sample. On Sunday, she flagged down residents at the supply depot to get them to fill out a county form that includes a section on missing loved ones.

A volunteer at the Napili Park donation hub shows a county form that people can fill out to help locate missing loved ones.

She said she and other volunteers turned in about 30 of those forms on Saturday. When asked if she knew of anyone who had been reunited because of the forms, she shook her head no.

Crews with cadaver dogs have covered just 3% of the search area, Pelletier said Saturday.

Joani Morris, 71, is worried about what investigators will find as rumors swirl about horrific scenes in the neighborhoods and the county offers little information.

"We don't want to blame them," said Morris, a volunteer with Jose Andres' World Central Kitchen. "But we deserve to know where our family and friends are."

What happened in Maui fires, historic Lahaina

Lahaina is centuries old and was once the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii in the early 1800s. The town of about 13,000 people was home to the sacred Moku'ula palace, the center of the kingdom and the burial home to many "ali'i"  chiefs.

"This is hard psychologically because of the loss. We lost the whole culture of the village of Lahaina," Morris said. "Like now my grandchildren won't go to a school that's been here for 50 years, won't dance hula."

Eileen Domingo saw the destruction in Lahaina for the first time as she drove in to deliver supplies Sunday. As the skeletal remains of burned buildings and ashen cars came into view, she wept.

"I'm devastated," she said through tears. "This is my hometown."

When the fires started Domingo, 36, was in Seattle, where she works as a family medicine physician. Her job can be demanding and being on the mainland with little information left her "so depleted emotionally."

So, she took leave to "grieve the loss of her community" and flew to Hawaii on Friday along with boxes of donated goods.

Eileen Domingo, 36, carries aid packages from the mainland U.S. at Kahului Airport on Aug. 11, 2023. The packages include items such as toiletries and clothing for victims of the devastating Maui wildfires.

When Domingo rolled into Napili Park on Sunday with a community aid convoy, her car was stuffed to the roof with toilet paper, paper towels, sanitizing wipes and coffee filters. By the afternoon, as the group drove through neighborhoods not far from Lahaina's iconic and decimated Front Street, her car was completely empty.

She said gathering supplies has helped keep her occupied and given her hope during the emotional time. But, she said, as in any disaster "you're just in survival mode, there's no time to grieve."

"There's a lot of people who haven't really seen the damage in person yet, because they're all on the other side," she said. "I think that's really when it's going to set in."

Paula Ventura, 76, sweeps debris off her front porch as her cat, Bones, looks out the window.

Like Domingo, Paula Ventura, 76, cried when she returned to her home after the fires ripped through. As the flames approached her home, she said she fled uphill with her cats. Her neighbors managed to save the house she has lived in for 52 years.

Now, the house she built is covered in soot and could be without power for months, she said. Her neighbors are gone and she worries some may be dead.

"You go to sleep crying, you wake up crying. That's what happens," she said. "The smell. The smell. The smell will never leave me ever."

She said cadaver dogs have been searching nearby, but the streets are eerily devoid of the neighborhood noises she'd grown accustomed to.

"At night, especially, it's so lonely and sad," she said. "But I can't go. I can't leave because my cats are here, so I'll stay in with them."

Maui death toll fuels mental health crisis

As trucks and cars filled with supplies moved in and out of Napili Park, John Oliver, the Maui branch chief of the Community Mental Health Center, arrived flanked by other health officials.

Once people who have gone through a disaster like this get their basic needs met, they can start to focus more on the trauma of what happened to them, Oliver later said, and the center is working to meet those intermediate and long-term needs. He said the center has coordinated with the American Red Cross and the governor's office to make sure they had volunteers that were doing "mental health first aid" and is now branching out into communities to assess their needs.

Two unidentified people examine a burned house in Lahaina.

He urged residents who are feeling despair or loneliness to reach out and said he hopes most will take refuge away from the most devastated areas.

"It's such devastation. ... It's hard to comprehend at times," he said. "And so to actually be living inside that, I don't know if it'd be safe and psychologically safe either."

Oliver said Asian Americans have one of the lowest uses of mental health care services in the country, which can breed stigma and shame, and there are similar challenges for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. He said it's crucial that mental health services are provided in a culturally competent way, noting that the Napili area is home to many Native Hawaiians.

"For some, it's looking at more kind of cultural practitioners and sort of natural healing and working with a totally different system than what you would say for Western medicine," he said.

He said the center is hiring additional staff and is in the process of piloting the state's first certified community behavioral health clinic, which would allow them to work with children as well as adults.

Oliver said much of their support is also focused on first responders. About 30% of the firefighters working this week lost their own homes, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green told Hawaii News Now television.

Like many in the area, Oliver applauded the community's efforts to support one another.

"Something we do really well together here on the island is that your 'ohana, your family, is your community," he said. "So our community is definitely coming together."

Contributing: The Associated Press; Sandy Hooper, John Bacon and Minnah Arshad, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: As Maui death count grows, many survivors are left traumatized
Editors note: The Ray C. Anderson Foundation is one of the nonprofits that philanthropically supports the L-Es climate change reporting position.

In west Georgia, a humble 4-acre piece of land on the shoulder of Interstate 85 is buzzing with bees and soaking up the suns energy via 2,600 panels of solar power.

This project is the brainchild of The Ray, a nonprofit created by the Ray C. Anderson Foundation. The foundation, established in the early 2010s, honors the legacy of Ray Anderson, an environmentalist and founder of Interface Carpets, headquartered in LaGrange.

The project runs along an 18-mile stretch of highway between LaGrange and West Point. The Ray has inspired similar projects in Maine, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Florida. Transportation departments across the country and the Federal Highway Administration are learning from right-of-way (ROW) solar in LaGrange.

The Ray is complex: it works to bring transportation and energy partners together and its an experimental living lab for testing energy, land and transportation ideas. The Rays work touches on safety, innovation, efficiency, mobility, decarbonization and energy transmission, but its roadside renewables program has generated the most interest nationally.

The Ray executive director Allie Kelly is fixated on combining transportation land and energy needs. She wants to utilize forgotten green turf alongside highways and create clean energy.

Over the past half-century of highway development, DOT agencies have left land next to highways unused.

Georgia alone has 19,000 suitable acres for right-of-way solar installation, Kelly said. This is empty land that the public owns. Using that land for solar is simple and elegant.

In 2018, The Ray brought together the Georgia Public Service Commission, Georgia Power, Georgia DOT, Electric Power Research Institute, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the University of Georgia to work together to launch the project.

Solar arrays along highways were constructed in Oregon and Massachusetts prior to The Ray installation in LaGrange in 2019. But The Ray is unique: multiple agencies collaborated on the one-megawatt project to incorporate native plants, creating a meadow of pollinator gardens, and inviting endangered bees to pollinate beneath the panels, a first in the U.S. solar industry.

But it wasnt easy.

It was like crawling over broken glass to get [the project] done at times, Kelly said.

The project nearly died and had to be resuscitated, because the Federal Highway Administration did not have a unified vision.

National Highway Land Management Impact

This right-of-way solar array is located along I-85 near exit 14 in LaGrange, Georgia. Mike Haskey/mhaskey@ledger-enquirer.com

In 2020, The Ray solar array project started to deliver energy to Georgia Powers grid. One year later, the Federal Highway Administration suggested using ROW solar and vegetation management as strategies to combat energy security needs while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Our pain developed a national plan for the FHWA to create consistency and conformity of how it would treat these projects, Kelly said.

Maine DOT wanted to combine transportation, land use and roadside renewables to meet its lead by example initiatives set out by Gov. Janet Mills in 2019.

[ROW solar in Maine] caught on and that has been a direct result from The Ray, said Laura Rogers, deputy director of The Ray.

Three DOT solar projects in Augusta, Maine in collaboration with Central Maine Power will generate nearly eight megawatts of energy, enough to power 1,850 Mainer homes and reduce state electricity costs by $5.5 million over the next 20 years.

This is a map of The Ray in Georgia. Courtesy of The Ray

When the project is complete, it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 8 million pounds per year. That is equivalent to 8,393 barrels of oil.

Three other states have asked us about this program, Gardner said. I tell them its a lot of work but its worth it. Were getting lease payments from the solar developer as part of the deal and we dont have to maintain the areas.

These are spaces that would otherwise be green turf that needs to be mowed, costing DOTs money and maintenance.

Instead of expenses, Maine DOT is receiving $56,000 a year to lease the 15 acres of property to the solar developer, Synergy.

Inspired by The Ray, Maine DOT required pollinator plants when they sent out their request to bidders.

Life under the arrays

This pollinator research area is located underneath the right-of-way solar array thats located along I-85 near exit 14 in LaGrange, Georgia. 08/01/2023 Mike Haskey/mhaskey@ledger-enquirer.com

Georgia Native Plant Society executive director Nikki Belmonte praised The Rays decision to incorporate native plants.

This is a really fantastic plant, she said, referring to the partridge pea that was abundant and sprawling below the arrays at exit 14 in LaGrange.

The bright, attractive, yellow flowers were abundant with bees bouncing from flower to flower when the Ledger-Enquirer went to visit the area.

A lot of thought was put into this, Belmonte said. Its a great plant for sprawling meadows. Its adaptive. They are good for erosion solutions and because they are in the pea family, they fix nitrogen and help mend the soil.

The nectar and pollen are food sources for native bees which, according to Belmonte, are the most important pollinators in the U.S.

This pollinator research area is located underneath the right-of-way solar array thats located along I-85 near exit 14 in LaGrange, Georgia. Mike Haskey/mhaskey@ledger-enquirer.com

The Ray team intentionally planted only half of the solar plot with the pollinator plants and left the other half as turf. Interim results show 84% of the seeds that were planted were detected by 2021, and 72% of the seed species were flowering. Native bee populations were significantly higher in the pollinator plot than in the turf plot, according to Rogers.

In all, Milkweed, butterfly weed, Verbena, Black-eyed Susan, and Indian blanket were also planted.

The Ray also incorporated 8 miles of bioswales throughout the 18-mile stretch of highway. This is essentially a vegetated, concentrated area to absorb water runoff. Trees planted in the middle of the highway are near the Kia plant in LaGrange.

The Ray has popularized these notions of ROW for wind, solar, vegetation management, said Wishnia. Theyve shown that states can actually generate profit from their mobility system by having solar in the right-of-way. Its encouraged the national conversation as to how we ought to be using land that both boosts community outcomes and improves mobility.

Why not more highway solar in Georgia?

The Welcome Center on I-85 in Georgia on the western end of The Ray has a solar-powered electric vehicle charging station. 08/01/2023 Mike Haskey/mhaskey@ledger-enquirer.com

ROW Solar has not extended beyond the gates of the 4-acre plot off exit 14 in LaGrange. Kelly suggests this is due to a lack of awareness that such technology and collaborations are possible and that they produce long-term benefits.

John Hibbard, director of operations at GDOT, was one of the collaborators who worked closely with The Ray for several years.

There is potential applicability to a project like this beyond that location, statewide, he said, adding that a project like this has to make sense for the power companies. We are willing to talk with power companies. Its at their expense and needs to fit [their needs].

While GDOT is open to moving forward with more ROW solar projects, the initial spark of interest needs to come from solar developers.

Specific locations are up to the developers and the best projects are selected, Georgia Power spokesperson Kelly Richardson wrote in an email to the L-E. The company implements PSC-approved renewable energy expansion.

In 2015, The Ray installed its first pilot project: an EV charging station powered by attached solar panels at the Georgia State Welcome Center in West Point.

Everyone thought we were nuts, thought we were crazy, that it was random, Kelly said.

In March, the Biden administration announced it would fund $2.5 billion to add to the $5 billion that support the presidents plan to install chargers every 50 miles along interstate highways.

The transportation sector is now intertwined with the energy sector, Kelly said.

This right-of-way solar array is located along I-85 near exit 14 in LaGrange, Georgia. Courtesy of The Ray
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) detected and tracked four Russian military aircraft operating in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) late Sunday and early Monday morning.

The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace, NORAD said in a press release Monday.

"This Russian activity in the Alaska ADIZ occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat," the command said. "An ADIZ begins where sovereign airspace ends and is a defined stretch of international airspace that requires the ready identification of all aircraft in the interest of national security."

NORAD said it employs a layered defense network of satellites, ground-based and airborne radars and fighter aircraft to track aircraft and inform appropriate actions.

CHINA, RUSSIA SEND NAVAL WARSHIPS NEAR ALASKA, TRIGGERING FORCEFUL US RESPONSE

"NORAD remains ready to employ a number of response options in defense of North America," the release added.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

NORAD said it detected, tracked, positively identified and intercepted six Russian aircraft operating in and near the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone on May 11, 2023.

This comes after China and Russia conducted a joint naval operation near U.S. territory earlier this month, triggering a large response from the U.S. Navy.

That joint operation, conducted by two significant American adversaries, consisted of 11 ships and neared Alaska's southwestern coast, Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, who was briefed on the matter by U.S. defense officials, told Fox News Digital on Aug. 5.

Sullivan said the U.S. Navy ultimately mobilized four destroyers to guide the Chinese and Russian ships away from American waters.

"This is unprecedented in terms of the size and scope of this joint naval task force between Russia and China, working very closely together," Sullivan said. "Whether you live in Alaska like I do, or on the East Coast of the United States, a very large surface action task force between our two main adversaries, probing very closely to United States shores is concerning."

"It just solidifies this idea that we've entered a new era of authoritarian aggression led by the dictators in Beijing and Moscow who are increasingly aggressive," he added.

NORAD said it validated its capability to defend Canada and the United States against threats through Operation Noble Defender on June 26. The command said Russian aircraft were detected by Alaska on Aug. 13 and 14.

CHINA MAINTAINS SUPPORT FOR RUSSIA AFTER ABORTED WAGNER MUTINY

NORAD has reported similar incidents of Russian aircraft entering the Alaska defense zone on July 3, May 15, May 11 and April 17.

The May 11 and April 17 incidents went beyond just the detection of Russian aircraft, and NORAD went a step further in performing what it called a "routine intercept."

The six Russian aircraft, including Tu-95 bombers, IL-78 tankers and Su-35 fighter aircraft, detected and intercepted May 11 had remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace.

"These flights occurred as several planned large-scale U.S. military training exercises are ongoing within Alaska," NORAD said at the time.

Operation Noble Defender demonstrated the NORAD's ability to intercept a potential threat heading towards the east coast of Canada. NORAD said it detected more Russian aircraft in the ADIZ on Aug. 13 and 14.

"NORAD aircraft, including F-16 fighters, F-22 fighters, KC-135 Stratotankers, and E-3 AWACS, conducted the mission," NORAD wrote in May.

"Since Russia resumed out of area Long Range Aviation activity in 2007, NORAD has seen a yearly average of approximately six to seven intercepts of Russian military aircraft in the ADIZ. These numbers have varied each year from as high as 15 to as low as zero," they said.

NORAD tracks and positively identifies all military aircraft that enter the ADIZ. NORAD routinely monitors aircraft movements and as necessary, escorts them from the ADIZ.

Fox News Thomas Catenacci contributed to this report.
(Bloomberg) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for the increased production of missiles as he toured plants making weapons to strike Americas allies, just ahead of a summit among the leaders of Japan, South Korea and the US this week.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Kim gave field guidance over the weekend at factories making missiles, launchers, armored vehicles and munitions, the states official Korean Central News Agency reported Monday. It was his second such visit in about a week, placing a spotlight on the security threat posed by his country as the Biden administration seeks help from Seoul and Tokyo to deter the North Korean leaders atomic ambitions.

He set forth an important goal to drastically boost the existing missile production capacity, KCNA said, adding that he called on workers to step up production to aid in front-line defenses and strategic weapons systems.

Kim placed an emphasis on production of what are known as transporter erector launchers. These mobile systems designed to hold nuclear-capable missiles have been a choke point for North Korea. The more TELs it can roll out, the greater the number of missiles it can fire in a first strike, or retaliatory strike on South Korea and Japan, which host the bulk of US military personnel in the region. Intercontinental ballistic missiles on massive TELs could also target the American mainland.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and US President Joe Biden plan to discuss practical cooperation measures to jointly respond to the North Korean nuclear and missile threats when they meet at Camp David on Friday, Kim Tae-hyo, a South Korean National Security Council official, told reporters Sunday.

The three countries have increased information sharing on North Korean missile launches to better track rockets and are looking to boost joint military drills among the three, Kyodo News of Japan reported last week. The US and Japan are expected to announce an agreement to jointly develop missile interceptors for hypersonic weapons during the meeting, the Yomiuri newspaper reported, citing several people in government.

The US and South Korea will start Ulchi Freedom Shield joint military drills a few days after the summit. North Korea has bristled for decades at the exercises and Kim in recent years has conducted weapons tests to coincide with drills.

These are the things that Kim Jong Un hates the most, Moon Seong Mook, a former general in South Koreas military, said of the drills and summit. Moon, now with the Seoul-based Korea Research Institute for National Strategy, added Kim may respond strongly.

Kims regime has been firing off missiles at a blazing pace since the start of last year and may seek to rattle the meeting with a military provocation. The US has also raised concern that cash-strapped North Korea is supplying weapons to Russia to support its invasion of Ukraine.

Read: Secret Deals With Russia Help Kim Jong Un Fund Nuclear Program

In his visits this month Kim toured plants making munitions, including multiple rocket launchers. The Kremlins war machine has been burning through these rockets at a high pace and North Korea has systems that are interoperable with Soviet-era weaponry Putins forces have deployed in Ukraine.

--With assistance from Shinhye Kang.

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Red Cliff Ojibwe tribal members in northern Wisconsin are voting this month whether to allow the tribal council the authority to banish, or exclude, tribal members from the reservation.

The tribal council, like most tribes in Wisconsin, already has the authority to banish non-tribal members from the reservation if they break laws, trespass on tribal property, pollute tribal lands or waters, destroy tribal property, destroy tribal fish and game or harm the natural, social, psychological or physical well-being of others on the reservation.

It's unclear why tribal officials want to extend this power over tribal members. Officials haven't responded to a request for comment.

Tribal seal of Red Cliff Nation

The referendum is Aug. 18 for tribal members to vote at the Legendary Waters Resort and Casino grand ballroom on the reservation, near Bayfield, from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Other tribal nations in Wisconsin also have the authority to banish non-tribal members from the reservation, but it's rarely used.

Richard Ackley, who was a tribal judge at the Bad River Ojibwe Reservation near Red Cliff, said the exclusion option, or banishment, was never used during his years of service, from 1999 to 2017.

Other tribes, such as Menominee Nation, Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe and Lac Courte Orielles Ojibwe, have exercised the banishment option on occasion, primarily for non-tribal members convicted of dealing drugs.

The Red Cliff Constitution says anyone excluded from the reservation has an opportunity to appeal in tribal court.

It also says those authorized by federal law to be present on tribal land can't be excluded and anyone who owns property on the reservation can't be denied access to the property.

Frank Vaisvilas is a former Report for America corps member who covers Native American issues in Wisconsin based at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact him at fvaisvilas@gannett.com or 815-260-2262. Follow him on Twitter at @vaisvilas_frank.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Wisconsin's Red Cliff Ojibwe to vote on banishing tribal members
The wreckage of a military vehicle with the Russian OZO symbol in the village of Oleksandrivka, Ukraine, Jan. 26, 2023. (Nicole Tung/The New York Times)

In a month spent at the front line, Alexander, an ex-convict serving in the Russian army, hadnt seen a single Ukrainian soldier and had barely fired a shot. The threat of death came from a distance, and seemingly from everywhere.

Sent to guard against a potential river crossing in southern Ukraine, his hastily formed unit, made up almost entirely of inmates, endured weeks of relentless bombardment, sniper attacks and ambushes. The marshy, flat terrain offered no cover beyond the burned-out hulks of cottages. He said he had watched dogs gnaw at the uncollected corpses of his dead comrades, drank rain water and scavenged garbage dumps for food.

Alexander said that of the 120 men in his unit, only about 40 remain alive. These survivors are being heavily pressured by the Russian military to remain on the battlefield at the end of their six-month contracts, according to Alexander and accounts provided to The New York Times by two other Russian inmates fighting on the front line.

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We are being sent to a slaughter, Alexander said in a series of audio messages from the Kherson region, referring to his commanders. We are not human to them, because we are criminals.

His account provides a rare window into the fighting in Ukraine from a Russian inmates perspective. Units made up of convicts have become one of the cornerstones of Russian military strategy as the prolonged fighting has decimated the countrys regular forces. Alexanders descriptions could not be independently confirmed, but they aligned with accounts from Ukrainian soldiers and Russian prisoners of war who said that Moscow used inmates essentially as cannon fodder.

The soldiers accounts were obtained through voice messages over the past two weeks, some in direct interviews and some through messages provided by family members and friends. Their last names, personal details and military units have been withheld to protect them against retribution.

Alexanders testimony conveys the brutality imposed on Russian convicts, and the human cost Moscow is prepared to pay to maintain control of the occupied territory.

The Russian Defense Ministry began to sign up thousands of inmates from the countrys jails in special units called Storm Z in February, after taking over a prison recruitment model used by the Wagner private military company in the first year of the war.

Alexander said he had enlisted in March, shortly after receiving a long prison term for homicide in central Russia. He left at home a wife, a daughter and a newborn son, and he was worried that he would not survive the torture and extortions in his jail.

Like other inmate fighters, he was promised a monthly salary of $2,000 at todays exchange rate, and freedom at the end of his six-month contract, a copy of which he shared with the Times.

Wagner claims that 49,000 inmates fought for its force in Ukraine, and that 20% of them died. Former fighters have described brutal disciplinary measures imposed by the paramilitary group. .

However, Wagner survivors have also broadly said that they were able to collect wages and return home after six months as free men. To lift the recruitment numbers, Wagner also worked to rehabilitate the inmates in the eyes of Russian society, presenting their military service as a patriotic redemption.

Yet by February, Wagner had lost access to prisons during a power struggle with the military high command, allowing the Defense Ministry to supplant them in terms of recruiting convicts.

The size and casualty rates in the Russian armys own inmate units are unknown. However, a tally of the countrys war deaths collected by the BBC and Mediazona, an independent news outlet, shows that inmates became the most frequent Russian casualties starting this spring, underlining the oversize contribution they have made to the countrys war effort.

The testimony of Alexander and three other former inmates shows how convict units have evolved under the direct control of the Russian army. The Times obtained Alexanders contact information through a Russian rights activist, Yana Gelmel, and verified his and other inmates identities using publicly available court records and interviews with their relatives and friends.

They have described irregular wage payments that fell far short of the amounts promised to them by the state and an inability to collect compensation for injuries. Alexander also said that his officers had explicitly prevented men in his unit from collecting dead comrades from the battlefield.

He claimed that this was done to prevent their families from claiming compensation, because the dead soldiers would be registered as missing rather than as killed in action.

There were bodies everywhere, Alexander said, describing the fighting on the banks of the Dnieper River in May. No one was interested in collecting them.

Russias Ministry of Defense did not respond to a request for comment.

Alexander also claimed that his officers used threats and intimidation to force surviving inmates to remain at the front for another year after the end of their contracts. Another inmate soldier serving on the Zaporizhzhia front farther east said that his contract had obliged him to remain in Ukraine for an additional year after obtaining his pardon, this time as a professional soldier.

All inmates spoke of colossal casualties in their units and of their commanders seeming disregard for their lives.

Every day, we live like on top of a powder barrel, Alexander said. They tell us, You are nobodies, and your name is nothing. 

After a month of training near the occupied city of Luhansk, Alexander said he was sent with his unit to hold a line of former holiday homes near the Antonovskiy Bridge, an area that Ukraine has been targeting with hit-and-run attacks since Russias forces withdrew to the east bank of the Dnieper in November.

They spent the next 3 1/2 weeks under constant bombardment from the invisible enemy, who shelled their exposed positions from across the river and targeted them with snipers and in night ambushes. Enemy drones constantly hovered in the air.

The aim of their mission was unclear to them; they were told to simply remain in their positions. They had no heavy weapons and no means to defend themselves against Ukrainian attacks.

Im running around with an automatic gun like an idiot. I havent made a single shot, I havent seen a single enemy, a former inmate from Alexanders unit named Dmitri, who is now deceased, said in a voice message at the time. We are just a bait to expose their artillery positions. The message was shared with the Times by Dmitris wife.

Why the hell do I need to be here? To sit around and shake like a rabbit because shells keep on exploding all around you? Dmitri said in one of the messages.

Alexander said his unit had been left without food and water for days after asking their commanders to be relieved, forcing them to scavenge for ration biscuits and drink rain water treated with chlorine.

In late May, Alexander was sent on a mission to mine a riverbank. His unit was hit by a Ukrainian howitzer shell, which detonated nearby mines.

All of the other men in his detachment died instantly, he said; Alexander was injured.

It was raining, and I fell into a puddle, he said, describing the attack. I crawled away bit by bit and then covered myself with some rubble, because I knew they would finish me off. He said he had managed to send text messages to his unit before losing consciousness.

The next day, he was dragged out by his comrades and evacuated to a hospital in Crimea. Though he still couldnt walk well, he was sent back to the front line, before being put in a hut in the rear with other convalescing fighters.

Its so scary to remain here, Alexander said. This is not our war. Theres nothing human here.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE  Since the mid-1980s, Eglin Air Force Base has been a partner in helping the endangered sea turtle population along the Emerald Coast.

Along 17 miles of beach in Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties, which is a mix of both restricted and public use, scientists see some of the greatest sea turtle nesting activity during the warmer months of the year.

To help better understand the efforts of Eglin Air Force Base, the Northwest Florida Daily News sat down with 96th Test Wing biologist Kathy Gault and Christina Meyer of the Jackson Guard Volunteer Program to understand more about Eglin's efforts with sea turtle conservation.

Sea Turtle Nesting 101

Five of the world's seven species of sea turtles are found in the Gulf of Mexico. The Kemp's Ridley, green, loggerhead, hawksbill and leatherback are all found in local waters and listed as threatened or endangered under the Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973.

Most sea turtle species come ashore at night between May and September, usually during a high tide cycle. Once a female sea turtle chooses a site, the turtle will use her hind flippers to dig holes up to two feet deep and then lay her eggs.

Beach temperature will determine the sex of the hatchlings. If the sand around the nest keeps the temperatures cooler, then the nest will produce mostly males, while warmer temperatures produce females.

After an incubation period of up to two months long, the hatchlings will emerge and hopefully make their way toward the sea.

Update on the 2023 nesting season

According to Gault, Eglin has seen four of the five species known to this area make nests on the beach so far this year.

To her knowledge, this area is the only part of the Panhandle where all four species have made nests so far, which has been a rare occurrence, with the last known instance being in 2019. Currently, there are 46 nests that Eglin and the Jackson Guard have found on the property, with their first nest being spotted on May 6.

What the public needs to know

One of the biggest problems Eglin can experience each year is that beachgoers who visit the public beaches could dig large holes and not fill them back up when they leave.

Loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings photographed near Eglin Air Force Base.

"A turtle can actually come and fall in that hole and not be able to get out," Gault said. "We try to encourage everybody we see that has a big hole dug for them to fill that back in at night."

Another problem is light pollution. On the Eglin properties, no artificial light can disrupt sea turtle hatchlings. Gault went on to explain that if a light came from an artificial source on the public beaches, the hatchlings could follow the source of the light and go in the wrong direction.

"People out there walking around with flashlights can cause disorientation to the hatchlings when they are coming out," Gault said. "So they are going to go toward the water, but if they see a brighter light, then they will go toward that light."

This year Eglin scientists and volunteers with the Jackson Guard program have recorded 46 sea turtle nests on the property. Four of the five species known to this area have made nests here this season.

Because of this, Okaloosa County ordinance No 18-07, Section 5-95 lays out these rules within the sea turtle conservation zone:

The operation of any motorized vehicles (except emergency and law enforcement or vehicles permitted for sea turtle conservation) is prohibited.

Building of campfires or bonfires is prohibited.

Lighting that purposely and flagrantly illuminates the beach, a nest, sea turtles, or hatchlings is prohibited.

Any personal property such as canopies, volleyball nets, hammocks, tents, and other items that could entrap a sea turtle is prohibited.

Eglin Air Force Base: Endangered no more: Okaloosa darter swims its way off the federal Endangered Species List

Want to Volunteer?

If you are interested in wildlife conservation, you may be able to help the Jackson Guard at Eglin Air Force Base. The Jackson Guard handles environmental conservation on Eglin property.

According to Meyer, program coordinator for the Jackson Guard, there are about 40 volunteers who give their time to the cause. Each day, two volunteers go on patrol along the beach searching for sea turtle nests and contribute up to 4,000 hours per year in time served. Currently, there are 10 openings for residents to take advantage of.

To sign up, you can go to the website at eglin.isportman.net/volunteer%20program.aspx and download a PDF form to fill out. Once you do, you can then email her at Christina.Meyer.4.ctr@us.af.mil to submit the application.

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Going inside Eglin's sea turtle conservation program
 Flash

People visit the booth of southeast China's Taiwan during the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 5, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]

China firmly opposes any form of official interaction between the United States and the Taiwan region, firmly opposes any visit by "Taiwan independence" separatists to the United States in any name or under whatever pretext, and firmly opposes any form of U.S. connivance and support for "Taiwan independence" separatists and their separatist activities, said a spokesperson of the Chinese Consulate General in New York on Saturday.

The spokesperson made the remarks responding to the so-called "stopover" in New York of Lai Ching-te, deputy leader of China's Taiwan region.

Lai has openly described himself as a "pragmatic worker for Taiwan independence," attacking the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, the spokesperson said, adding that Lai is an out-and-out "Taiwan independence" separatist.

The purpose of his "transit" in America is to build momentum for the election and seek support for "Taiwan independence" from the United States, the spokesperson said, noting that being fully aware of his real intentions, the United States deliberately greenlighted the "transit," conniving at "Taiwan independence" separatists.

The Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests and the first red line that must not be crossed in China-U.S. relations, the spokesperson underscored.

U.S. President Joe Biden has reiterated his commitment that Washington does not support "Taiwan independence," "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan," nor does it seek to use Taiwan as a tool to contain China, but the United States has taken tricks to obscure and hollow out the one-China principle, constantly using tactics to challenge the red line, said the spokesperson.

Driven by selfish gains, "Taiwan independence" separatists have no scruples to betray the interests of the nation and people, and it will only bring disastrous consequences for the Taiwan people as well as tension and instability in the Taiwan Strait, said the spokesperson.

The vast number of Chinese in America firmly oppose Lai's "transit" by publishing open letters and holding protests, proving once again that "Taiwan independence" is unpopular, the spokesperson said, adding that the outrageous acts of flattering the United States and betraying Taiwan and the Taiwan people will never succeed.
[Source]

Actor Jason Momoa recently took to social media to tell his followers not to visit the Hawaiian island of Maui as deadly wildfires continue to spread.

About his post: On Saturday, Momoa, 44, reposted videos and images that nonprofit organization Aina Momona shared last week on Instagram.

The videos show areas of Maui that have been affected by the wildfires, which started on Tuesday.

Maui is not the place to have your vacation right now, the Aquaman star, who was born in Honolulu, wrote in his recent Instagram post. DO NOT TRAVEL TO MAUI. Do not convince yourself that your presence is needed on an island that is suffering this deeply.

More from NextShark: South Korean singer-songwriter BIBI to make K-drama debut in Netflixs Sweet Home

He also thanked the people who have shown support and given donations to help those affected by the wildfires.

Raising awareness: In his post, Momoa mentioned a fundraiser that Aina Momona set up to support the Maui community.

More from NextShark: South Korean indie artist Cheeze releases new EP Blank

All the funds raised will be given to the Hawaii Community Foundation Maui County Strong Fund to support disaster relief on Maui. ... An accounting of all the monies raised through this fundraiser and our distribution to HCF will be posted to our website," he stated.

About the wildfires: At least 96 people have died because of the Maui wildfires, which came about due to dry conditions and strong winds passing through Hawaii from Hurricane Dora, a Category 4 storm.

"We have suffered a terrible disaster in the form of a wildfire that has spread widely as a result of hurricane-force winds in the region and underlying drought conditions," Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said in a statement. "Maui and the Big Island both experienced significant fires. Much of Lahaina on Maui has been destroyed and hundreds of local families have been displaced."

More from NextShark: Oppenheimer sex scene sparks outrage in India for referencing sacred Hindu text
A Russian strike on the Ivano-Frankivsk region shattered the illusion of safety in western Ukraine (Genya SAVILOV)

Dinosaur-shaped balloons floated over the coffin of an eight-year-old boy in a western Ukrainian village on Monday, as mourners gathered for a final farewell after he was killed in a Russian strike involving hypersonic missiles.

Volodymyr Balabanyk was killed on Friday outside his family home near the town of Kolomyia in the Ivano-Frankivsk region.

The scenic part of southwestern Ukraine has so far been spared the worst of the 17-month war.

Sobbing family members and Kolomyia residents gathered around the coffin, draped in white.

The boy's parents placed his portrait at their son's feet. His mother embraced his small head, while his father gently stroked his forehead.

Balloons tethered to bouquets of flowers and a teddy bear apparently belonging to the boy were perched next to the little coffin.

The local cemetery where he was buried had already received several adult victims of the war -- mostly military veterans from the region killed in distant battlefields.

The sombre ceremony underscored how the war is taking a heavy toll on children.

"What has happened is not just a loss, it is a tragedy," Oksana Shegda, the boy's teacher told AFP.

"It is not just our tragedy, it's for the whole of Ukraine."

- 'His desk will remain empty' -

Balabanyk was fatally wounded by shrapnel just outside his house after a Russian missile struck close by.

Two of his siblings who remained indoors were spared the effects of the explosion which shook houses and blew out windows in the area, witnesses and neighbours said.

Shegda said his family, who declined to talk to the media, was gripped by sorrow.

"It is scary to think that his desk will remain empty, notebooks and textbooks will remain closed," she said.

"For our Kolomyia, this was the youngest" victim of war, said Svetlana Ivaniuk, a 31-year-old baker whose son was a close friend of Balabanyk.

Her son Oleksandr, who also loves toys like Lego and Hot Wheels like Balabanyk, was in shock.

"He told me: 'is it really him? Maybe you made a mistake','" Ivaniuk said her son told her after Balabanyk was killed.

When the news hit, she said she could not believe the strike hit their corner of western Ukraine:

"Here? Can that really be?"

- 'Senseless war' -

The strike shattered the illusion of safety in the relatively quiet region, known for its picturesque cathedrals, that has offered refuge to people fleeing war-ravaged areas in eastern and southern Ukraine.

"We are not protected in this country, in this city," Vladyslav Limishko, a taxi service employee in Kolomyia who attended the funeral told AFP.

"Nowhere is safe."

Many residents of Kolomyia, a sedate town on the Prut river cut off from conflict-ridden areas, had been inclined to ignore air raid alerts, but have now urged their children to take them more seriously.

Balabanyk was killed after Moscow launched a volley of hypersonic missiles at western Ukraine.

Ukraine said one of the missiles had been intercepted in the Kyiv region while others hit "civilian facilities" as well as an airfield.

The killing highlighted the suffering of children since Russia mounted its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

"Time and time again we are seeing children's lives cut short and families suffering the insurmountable grief of losing a child, all due to this reckless and senseless war," Aaron Greenberg, a UNICEF child protection advisor, told AFP.

An average of three children have been killed or injured every day in Ukraine since the escalation of the war, according to Save the Children.

"Innocent children are hurt as attacks on populated areas in Ukraine occur almost daily, and state of constant distress and fear has become the new norm for them," Amjad Yamin, advocacy director for Save the Children in Ukraine, told AFP.

"The toll on children and their families continues to show that explosive weapons must not be used around towns and villages."

bur-ac/oc/pvh
The New York state judge overseeing Donald Trumps criminal case tied to hush money payments denied the former presidents bid to have the judge recuse himself from the litigation.

In an order dated Friday, Judge Juan Merchan said he has carefully weighed the arguments and finds that recusal would not be in the public interest. Further, this Court has examined its conscience and is certain in its ability to be fair and impartial.

Trump asked for Merchan to recuse himself because of work his daughter does for Democratic organizations, for the judges role overseeing the indictment and plea deal prosecutors reached with Allen Weisselberg, the former chief financial officer of the Trump Organization, and small donor donations the judge made to Democrats.

The donations at issue are self-evident and require no further clarification, Merchan wrote.

Addressing Trumps argument that the judges daughter stands to profit from work on digital advertising work she does for Democratic campaigns, the judge wrote, Defendant has failed to demonstrate that there exists concrete, or even realistic reasons for recusal to be appropriate, much less required on these grounds. The speculative and hypothetical scenarios offered by Defendant fall well short of the legal standard.

The judges order indicates the New York State Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics weighed in on the judges daughters employment in May, issuing an opinion finding nothing in the inquiry to suggest that the outcome of the case could have any effect on the judges relative, the relatives business, or any of their interests.

Trump was indicted earlier this year on 34 counts of falsifying business records for reimbursement payments made to his former attorney Michael Cohen who facilitated a hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels days before the 2016 presidential election.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is set to go to trial in March 2024.

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Correction Department officials failed to perform required weekly and monthly fire safety inspections for at least a year before a near-deadly blaze in April in a Rikers Island jail that injured 20 detainees and officers, records obtained by the Daily News show.

A July 27 internal Correction Department memo states that an audit of fire safety records in Rikers North Infirmary Command could not find the mandated fire inspection reports from April 1, 2022, through April 30, 2023.

The April 6 fire in in the North Infirmary Command burned one detainee severely enough to send him to an intensive care unit. Several other detainees and as many as a dozen correction officers were treated for smoke inhalation.

The blaze spread as a sprinkler system in the housing unit sputtered once and fell silent, the Daily News reported.

The sprinklers had been turned off for an indefinite period after a detainee damaged one of the sprinkler heads.

The Correction Department audit of the fire safety records was conducted after agency officials realized they could not say how long the units sprinklers were out of service.

Veronica Vela, a supervising attorney with the Legal Aid Societys Prisoners Rights Project, said if inspections of fire safety equipment were not being conducted in one jail, its likely they also werent conducted in other jails.

The NIC [North Infirmary Command] fire exposed a lot of other issues with fire safety, Vela said. They dont seem to have policies and procedures in place to deal with fire emergencies.

Former detainee Hector Rodriguez previously described to The News how he had to stick his head in the toilet bowl of his cell to get air during the fire.

The Correction Department left people in solitary confinement to die in the likely and foreseeable event of a fire, said MK Kaishian, a lawyer who represents Rodriguez and five other detainees injured in the blaze.

Fires have been happening all across the jails on Rikers Island. This was not something unforeseeable, and yet they made a series of intentional choices to continue to expose people to danger.

The News previously reported that fire safety observation posts in another jail, the West Facility, were often left unstaffed over the past two years.

Those posts were important because that jail has no other means of fire safety protection.

Because the sprinklers werent working, not only did you have 20 people taken to the hospital including correction officers, you had serious damage done to the building, Vela said. Thats a lot of money on top of the risk of life that is happening because of these failures.

Even if people want to be dismissive of people in custody, there are thousands of people who work in the jails every single day.

A Correction Department directive requires inspections to be done under state standards. State law requires an agencys fire safety officer to inspect for compliance on a continued basis and ensure deficiencies are corrected.

Chapter 9 of the New York City Fire Code requires sprinkler systems to be inspected at least once a month to make sure they are functioning, and detailed records are supposed to be kept. Sprinkler systems that are not working have to be reported.

The rules also require facilities to keep six extra sprinkler heads onsite to replace damaged ones.

The city Fire Codes Chapter 9 sets forth more specific requirements for fire protection systems  there are requirements of monthly inspections of sprinkler systems and reporting of systems that are out of order.

In a statement, Correction Department spokesman Frank Dwyer said a review of the North Infirmary Command fire is still ongoing and all sprinklers are now operational.

[The department] complied with all annual and semiannual inspections for fire safety equipment  including sprinklers and alarms  in all facilities, he said.

Dwyers statement did not address the missed weekly and monthly inspections discussed in the July 27 Correction Department audit memo.

FDNY spokeswoman Amanda Farinacci said the FDNY has not generated any report or recommendations to the Correction Department in the wake of the North Infirmary Command fire, or otherwise sanctioned the agency.

On June 29, Marvens Thomas, the detainee accused of starting the North Infirmary fire, was indicted by a Bronx grand jury on a series of arson and assault charges.

Prosecutors said he used stripped headphone wires and batteries from a TV remote control to make a heat source to start the fire.

Thomas is currently being held in the West Facility at Rikers after spending days in intensive care for burns and smoke inhalation suffered in the fire. He is awaiting trial for murder and a subsequent attack on a correction officer, and is being held without bail.
A New York City socialite perhaps best known for her unspeakably acrimonious divorce from the worlds leading Andy Warhol collector allegedly threatened to have a professional photographer shot dead over a petty personal spat, then allegedly had the man thrown in jail on bogus criminal charges and destroyed his once-promising career.

In an explosive new lawsuit, shutterbug Jacob Beam says his entire life has gone down the tubes thanks to Libbie Mugrabiwho reportedly once had a physical altercation with ex-husband David Mugrabi over a $500,000 Keith Haring sculptureand that he now works as a part-time food deliveryman while attempting to get past the psychological and emotional issues caused by [the] horrific ordeal he has undergone.

The multi-million-dollar suit was filed Sunday by Beams attorney, Kenneth McCallion, in New York State Supreme Court. McCallion declined to comment on the case or to make Beam available on Monday for an interview.

Mugrabi, 42, made headlines in 2018 for a nasty divorce she said she financed by selling her engagement ring for $100,000. (The same thing that got me into this marriage is going to get me out, she told The New York Times.) The split was touched off by accusations of psilocybin-and-ketamine-fueled infidelity, and the pair battled in court over everything from tens of millions in art to a $72 million Upper East Side townhouse to a nine-bedroom Hamptons house to a classic 1974 Ferrari.

Earlier this summer, Mugrabi showed up to court in body armor, claiming her ex was scheming to have her killed. (David Mugrabi called the claim the most ridiculous story I ever heard.) In June 2020, at the height of the COVID pandemic, an unrepentant Mugrabi disregarded public health guidelines and held a dinner for 50 people during Art Basel in Miami. The following year, Mugrabi was arrested for allegedly pulling a knife on her live-in housekeeper, who also said her hotheaded boss threatened her with a mop handle. She pleaded not guilty last December to charges of menacing, criminal mischief, and criminal possession of a weapon; it is unclear exactly where the case currently stands.

Libbie Mugrabi attends an October 2022 event in London. David M. Benett/Getty Images

Today, Mugrabi produces a line of streetwear under the label Libbie Love, selling accessories like trucker hats, handbags, and vibrators. It was through Libbie Love that Beam first got involved with Mugrabi, according to his complaint.

The two met in December 2021, through a mutual friend, the complaint states. Mugrabi was impressed with Beams photography portfolio, and flew him to Hawaii for a photoshoot, it says. And although the Hawaii shoot was later canceled, Beam, who was living at the time in Bloomington, Indiana, says Mugrabi asked him to come work with her in New York, which he agreed to do.

Mugrabi paid for Beam to pick up and move in with her, according to the complaint. He says he worked out of Mugrabis home studio, doing web design, graphic design, and photography for Libbie Love while also working as Mugrabis personal assistant.

But on May 22, 2022, things suddenly took a turn for the bizarre. Thats when Beam says Mugrabi had a fit of rage, and impulsively shouted at [Beam] to get out of the townhouse, the complaint states.

[Mugrabi] had apparently rummaged through [Beams] personal belongings and had found a journal that he was keeping, which made reference to her, it goes on. She loudly told him, How dare you write about me. You know I have a book deal with Simon and Schuster, and if you try to profit off my name I will send someone to shoot you through the head. Do you understand? (Mugrabi did reportedly sign a six-figure book deal in 2020, for an as-yet unreleased novel based on her bitter split from David.)

Beam dutifully left, and Mugrabis then-publicist booked him a room at a nearby hotel, which Beam paid for upon arrival, according to the complaint. The next evening, Beam was taking a walk through Central Park when Mugrabi called, demanding he return some clothing designs he had stored on his laptop, the complaint continues.

She also threatened him, telling him that she was calling the police, it states. [Beams] co-worker later told [him] that she was present with [Mugrabi] during a conversation with the police, and that [she] had a wine glass in her hand and there were prescription pills all over the place. The co-worker also overheard [Mugrabi] tell the police that they needed to take her seriously because she was a rich woman.

Libbie Mugrabi with model Tyson Beckford and singer Little Paris last month, in Paris. Victor Boyko/Getty Images for L'Scher

After Beam got back to the hotel, the NYPD showed up at his door, according to the complaint. It says the officers informed Beam that a woman reported that you had held her at gunpoint and forced her to book this hotel room. Beam was also told that Mugrabi had accused him of stealing her camera, which in fact belonged to Beam, the complaint states, adding that Beam was never in possession of and has never owned a gun.

Nevertheless, Beam was arrested on a raft of charges, including stalking, menacing, and criminal possession of a weapon, the complaint says. He spent a night in jail before being arraigned the next day in New York County Criminal Court and released on his own recognizance.

After Beam was sprung, he went back home to Indiana in a total state of shock and mortification, according to the complaint.

Thereafter, he has continuously suffered from extreme anxiety and depression, it says.

On Sept. 6, 2022, all of the charges against Beam were dismissed.

Due to the post-traumatic distress that he has continued to experience, [Beam] has been unable to work full-time, and has been in a near-constant state of anxiety and depression, the complaint states. He supports himself as best he can by delivering food on a part-time basis, and he has sought the assistance of a therapist to help him try to function and to try to overcome his psychological and emotional issues caused by horrific ordeal he has undergone, which was directly caused by [Mugrabis] outrageous and malicious actions.

Beam is asking for a jury trial and at least $5 million in damages. Mugrabi did not immediately respond on Monday to a voicemail, email, and text seeking comment.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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According to an investigation by Ukrainian journalists at Skhemy, Russia is striking Ukraine with Kh-55 cruise missiles, which Kyiv handed over to Moscow in a 1999 deal. In an interview with NV Radio on Aug. 11, one of the authors of the investigation, Serhiy Andrushko, expands on the details of the agreement and who was responsible for it.

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NV: How did you manage to establish that Russia is using these very missiles to strike Ukraine?

Andrushko: When it first emerged that Russia had begun to use Kh-55 missiles, I became interested in finding out whether these were the missiles that Ukraine had transferred, as there were contradicting media reports on the matter.

Some argued that this could not be the case, because these were not Kh-55s, but so-called improved Kh-555s. Others said it could be the case. There was, however, no clear evidence.

There were only, for example, reports from The New York Times, referring to information from Ukrainian intelligence. So, I decided to poke around Kyiv archives.

I called one of these archives where this sort of information can be found, and spoke politely with the archivist. And she told me: You know, we ourselves are very interested in finding these documents about missiles, but we have not found them. If you like, you can of course take the time to walk around and search. We havent managed to find them."

Despite this information, I went to the archive and began to search day after day, week after week, month after month. So far, it has turned out that information on this topic is often classified. One of the reasons why there is no name of a president [who signed the deal] or someone else: these documents may exist, but they are classified. Or just not found yet.

The most valuable thing was a list with a series of entries including serial numbers of missiles and numbers of bombers [which Ukraine also transferred to Russia]. There were 11 Tu-95 and Tu-160 bombers and hundreds of items of various equipment. Dozens of engines were also added there. And all this together was added to the agreement in a separate appendix.

Read also: Damaged plant near Moscow was developing next-generation bomber aircraft  report

These missile serial numbers were the most interesting thing to my editors and me. We began to explore together whether these were indeed the missiles which Russia was using against us now.



NV: You mentioned Prime Minister Valery Pustovoitenko, during whose tenure all this happened. And you mentioned the president, which, they say, does not appear anywhere, but which we know for a fact to be Leonid Kuchma. You don't need any special documents for this.

Andrushko: Thats true. However, we still rely on documents, on who signed them. And if we are talking about names, then, in addition to Pustovoitenko, there was a whole list of officials who agreed to the transfer of 575 missiles. Among them are those who still exercise a certain degree of influence on our country and its politics.

For example, there is then-Foreign Minister Boris Tarasyuk, who prepared an explanatory note, drafted this agreement for the Cabinet, and a brief in support of this agreement, signed by Pustovoitenko and [Russian dictator Vladimir] Putin. This document justified everything.

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In particular, [the agreement] was justified by the fact that it would be beneficial for the economy, and also that the Ukrainian delegation managed to ensure that Russia would pay for the deliveries. We are talking about $275 million for gas that Ukraine supposedly owed Russia at the time. Tarasyuk, in fact, explained all this.

And, in particular, he explained why this agreement over missiles and bombers did not need to be ratified by the Ukrainian parliament.

NV: How did he explain it?

Andrushko: This agreement allegedly concerned the treaty on the reduction of strategic offensive weapons, previously signed [with Russia] and ratified by the parliament.

Tarasyuk now works as Ukraines main representative at the Council of Europe.

NV: Did the Defense Minister sign off on this?

Andrushko: He did, indeed. That is, he agreed to it and signed it.

NV: Who was this?

Andrushko: [Oleksandr] Kuzmuk. By the way, he is now an adviser for Territorial Defense Force command, as far as I understand. In any case, this was reported repeatedly in the media. I [will not] state his position, because, unfortunately, Boris Tarasyuk did not find [the time to] explain his rationale.

Kuzmuk, however, did provide a comment. He explained the decision by the fact that both the bombers and Kh-55 missiles had already been decommissioned by the Ukrainian military. They were not in service. And no one at that time could even imagine that this [the current war] could happen. They were also relying on the cornerstone Friendship and Cooperation Treaty between Russia and Ukraine, signed in 1997.

NV: And how did you establish using the serial numbers that these are the specific missiles that are now striking Ukraine?

Andrushko: After we found the list with the missile and bomber serial numbers in the archive, we began investigating this as closely as we could. In particular, [we studied] media reports that provided photos of [the debris] from these Kh-55 missiles [falling on Ukraine]. Some of the fragments had serial numbers intact. And by some miracle, after a few days of work, we identified the first such Kh-55 missile, which had fallen in Kyiv Oblast.

In total, we identified about 10 missiles whose serial numbers were a perfect match with those that were transferred to Russia under the 1999 agreement.

Read also: From the archives: Former NATO Commander-in-Chief on Ukrainian tactics - NV exclusive

We were able to identify only 10 of them. One missile struck an apartment building in Kyiv in late 2022. There was a big fire, and a woman died.

Another one hit a city in Kyiv Oblast. Fragments from it hit an apartment and sent a girl to the hospital.

Read also: Summit in Saudi, weekend bombings, ending the row with Poland

There were cases when these missiles landed in yards or in lakes, particularly in Kyiv Oblast. In Khmelnytskyi Oblast (one of the latest cases), a missile [with a matching serial number] struck a house. This is something that we have identified with the means we have, using only publicly-available information.

Some of these missiles are stored in the open, at the Institute of Forensic Science in Kyiv.

Despite the fact that they are more than 30 years old, Russia is using these missiles. And this is a huge problem, as they can strike targets anywhere across Ukraine.

NV: Ukraine also transferred 11 strategic bombers to Russia. Do you know anything about them? Are they bombing Ukraine, too?

Andrushko: Some of these bombers were state of the art at the time. They were only a few years old  a year, maybe two for some of them. And it is obvious that they are still in service. Some of them have been identified.

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However, we are still in the process of establishing this more concretely. When we know more, we will let you know.

NV: What is known about these agreements? To what extent was Ukraine really forced to take this step?

Andrushko: In my opinion, no one forced [the authorities]. There was not a single document found by me or other journalists which would indicate that Ukraine was obliged to transfer these strategic bombers and Kh-55s to Moscow.

You must understand that Ukraine did not have any nuclear warheads, as of 1996. And perhaps the majority of them (I did not investigate this issue) were similarly delivered to Russia.

Read also: Spectacular fire at suspected shell manufacturer in Moscow suburb  video

And when it comes to who is responsible for this decision that would be the Ukrainian officials in charge at that time. The Western world very much wanted for Ukraine to not have these weapons. They were not opposed to moving them from Ukraine to Moscow. They were not interested in whether they would be scrapped or otherwise transferred to Moscow. As far as I understood, they were interested in them not being in Ukraine anymore.

According to, for example, Yuriy Kostenko, who was the head of the People's Movement of Ukraine [Ukraines first nationalist political party] right at the beginning of independence, was just preparing the signing of [the treaty on] the reduction of strategic offensive weapons. If you read this agreement, Ukraine was obliged to reduce its strategic bomber fleet by 30-40%. Let's summarize. As of 1999, Ukraine did not have nuclear weapons, and it was Ukraine's decision to transfer them to Moscow. It was not possible to establish whether this was done at Ukraines initiative or Moscows. But it is obvious that this particular agreement was not connected with Western pressure.

NV: Because we are not talking about nuclear weapons.

Andrushko: They [the bombers] can carry nuclear weapons. However, there is no agreement in the public domain that directly states that Ukraine had to transfer them to Moscow. It was about gradual dismantling.

Read also: Western observers failing to understand Ukrainian military tactics in counter-offensive  Friedman

For example, in the Western media, I found articles stating that Ukraine would have to eliminate its strategic bombers by 2021. Other articles named other dates. All this depended on [various] agreements.

In the process of preparing this report, I spoke with various experts. They said that there were proposals to create joint ventures with the United Sates and the Western world for liquidation [of these weapons] or some other options. There were different scenarios, either to send them to the West or to Moscow. However, this is the option that was chosen.

Read also: Putin prepares to defend his regime by equipping Rosgvardia with tanks  Ukrainian intelligence

To understand the context. This was done when Putin had become PM in the summer of 1999, and this agreement was signed two months later. This agreement was signed on the eve of the 1999 presidential elections [in Ukraine].

NV: By disarming itself and strengthening Russia, what did Ukraine get?

Andrushko: Unfortunately, there is a terrible lesson to learn, I think. How can you negotiate with the Russian Federation? This is an instructive lesson.

A year before, Ukraine had signed the friendship and cooperation treaty with Russia, where Russia promised to respect Ukraines territorial integrity. And it turned out that they would violate this treaty in 2014 with the occupation of Crimea.

Secondly, we still need to find out information about the transfer of tactical nuclear weapons  thousands of nuclear warheads. How much money did they cost? How much could we, as Ukraine, have gotten for them?

Read also:

At the same time, in preparing this report, we visited other archives, in particular the audiovisual archive [in Kyiv], where we reviewed many video programs that from that time. Both daily news reports and analytical programs. We found a speech by [Oleksandr] Razumkov at one of these TV programs, who at that time was the Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council. It was six months before the signing of this agreement, and he was speaking about Sevastopol. He said: "If Russia wants to return Sevastopol, then Ukrainians need to prepare for war."

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Oklahoma City has emerged as a prime destination for young professionals, according to a recent study by Forbes.

The Oklahoma City metro was ranked No. 2 top city in the United States for young professionals.

Forbes' study revealed that Oklahoma City offers a winning combination of low living costs, job opportunities, and a vibrant atmosphere.

With average rent at $1,114 per month, ranking ninth-lowest among the top 100 metro areas, and a median home price of $227,300, well below the national average, Oklahoma City proves to be an affordable haven for those starting their careers.

What makes OKC so attractive for young professionals?

The study highlighted Oklahoma City's appeal as an affordable city that retains the perks of a vibrant metro area while maintaining a welcoming small-town feel. Factors such as low living expenses and a thriving job market have increased popularity among young professionals seeking a high quality of life without breaking the bank.

Yawn, another day, another ranking for OKC. #2 top US city for young professionals, says Forbes! https://t.co/WNL2p6ntUT  Mayor David Holt (@davidfholt) August 11, 2023

Moreover, the report shed light on the diverse industries that call Oklahoma City home. With positions available in healthcare, business services, and telecommunications, the study lauded the city for its range of opportunities for young professionals looking to establish themselves in a variety of fields.

More: Oklahoma ranked 50th worst state for education, new study reports

Taking the top spot in the study was Des Moines, Iowa, which also boasts a favorable environment for young professionals. Joining Oklahoma City in the top five were Omaha, Nebraska, Columbus, Ohio, and Cincinnati, Ohio.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Forbes ranks Oklahoma City as a top city for young professionals
The pilot of a Piper plane may have been trying to make an emergency landing when he crashed near an Oklahoma interstate on Sunday, officials say (Oklahoma City Fire Department)

The pilot of a plane that crashed along an Oklahoma interstate on Sunday has been identified by family.

Richard Stanford, an Oklahoma City padeatrician, was left with critical injuries after his 1962 Piper PA-24 Comanche reportedly struck power lines near Interstate 44 just before 1pm, authorities say.

Mr Stanford, the sole occupant, was rushed to hospital with multiple serious injuries and faces a lengthy recovery, relatives told News 9.

He was awake and responsive on Sunday, the family members said.

Mr Stanfords plane had departed North Texas Regional Airport in Denison, Texas, and was en route to Wiley Post Airport.

The Oklahoma Fire Department said in a statement Mr Stanfords plane hit power lines and may have been trying to make an emergency landing along the interstate.

The crash ignited a small fire and brought down power lines on the I-235 ramp to the I-44, causing the closure of the highway. The highway has since reopened, and power has been restored to around 250 homes in the area.

Witness Camille Wynn told KFOR said she saw the plane fly in a circular pattern before it came down.

I looked over in the field and I just started praying and tears started flowing down my eyes, it was just crazy, Ms Wynn said.

An air traffic controller discussed with Mr Stanford whether he could attempt to land on the highway, according to The Oklahoman.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol told News 9 it was working to remove the wreckage.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the crash.
Margaret Sisk, a member of the Osage Nation, harvests vegetables at the tribe's Harvest Land Farm in Pawhuska, Okla. Sisk works with the OSU-CHS' Center for Indigenous Health Research and Policy on their FRESH study that partners with the Osage Nation. (photo: news.okstate.edu)

Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Center for Indigenous Health Research and Policy received a $3.5 million donation from a Denmark-based pharmaceutical company, Novo Nordisk Inc.

The money will go toward the centers Indigenous Foodways and Health Initiative, supporting language revitalization and access to traditional foods.

After 20 years of working in public health with Native American communities, I have found that initiatives that support and strengthen cultural practices and traditions are the

most effective strategies for promoting health, said Valarie Blue Bird Jernigan, a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the director of the Center for Indigenous Health Research and Policy. Gifts like this one from Novo Nordisk support Native peoples to implement programs of greatest priority to them, which are culturally centered and use indigenous research methods.

Novo Nordisk Inc. is a healthcare company leading initiatives to prevent and treat chronic illnessincluding diabetes and obesity around the world.

About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. "

Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net
 Flash

Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni meets with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on August 13, 2023, in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia. [Photo/Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni met with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Phnom Penh on Sunday, with the two sides pledging to boost bilateral friendship and cooperation.

Calling China his second hometown, King Sihamoni said he looks forward to visiting more cities in China.

He said this year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations and the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, expressing heartfelt thanks to all of China's support for and help to Cambodia.

Sihamoni said Cambodia will firmly abide by the one-China principle, carry forward the ironclad friendship between Cambodia and China, and support building a high-quality, high-level and high-standard China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era, so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples. Cambodia-China friendship will last forever, he noted.

Hailing the traditional friendship between China and Cambodia as the most valuable common treasure of the two countries, Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that during their meetings this year, the leaders of the two countries have reached essential consensuses on building the China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era, drawing up a blueprint for the long-term development of bilateral relations.

"We are ready to work with the Cambodian side to take this as the guide and join hands to promote the construction of the China-Cambodia community with a shared future to a new level," he said.

Wang said that during his visit to the kingdom, he had in-depth communication with its old and new leaderships, dovetailed development strategies, planned cooperation in the next phase, and achieved positive results.

He said he believes that under joint efforts of the two countries, the exemplary relationship of mutual respect, equal treatment and common development between China and Cambodia will make greater progress.

China will work with Cambodia to advance the implementation of the bilateral "diamond hexagon" cooperation consensus and promote the cooperation on "Industrial Development Corridor" and the "Fish and Rice Corridor" to help Cambodia accelerate its development and revitalization and improve the living standards of its people, said Wang.
A 50-year-old man has been killed and five other people injured in Russian attacks on settlements in Kharkiv Oblast on 14 August.

Source: Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration

Quote: "As a result of a Russian attack on the village of Kozacha Lopan, a 50-year-old man has been killed. Medics say two other men were injured and have been taken to medical institutions."

Details: The Russians also fired on the village of Podoly in the Kupiansk district of Kharkiv Oblast. A man and a woman were injured and are receiving medical treatment.

A 42-year-old woman was injured during a Russian attack on the city of Izium at about 01:00. She was taken to hospital with a blast injury. Her home was damaged in the attack.

Background:

FOZZY Cash&Carry, a hypermarket in the city of Odesa, has been completely destroyed  "everything was burnt"  but fortunately there were no fatalities. The damage caused is thought to be worth hundreds of millions of hryvnias.

Seven of Odesa's educational institutions were damaged in the Russian overnight attack on 14 August  six in the city's Prymorskyi district and one in the Khadzhybeiskyi district.

Two people were killed in a Russian attack on the Zaporizhzhia district on the night of 13-14 August.

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!
On Sunday, around 200 people gathered in the port city of Calais to pay tribute to the victims (Sameer Al-Doumy)

French authorities said on Monday one person could still be missing after six migrants died when their boat sank in the Channel as they tried to cross to England from France.

The six Afghan men died when the migrant boat thought to have been carrying 65 or 66 people sank in the early hours of Saturday.

The identity of the six was still being investigated, the local maritime authorities Premar said.

"Possibly" one person remained unaccounted for, a spokeswoman told AFP.

All passengers were men, most of them from Afghanistan.

The spokeswoman said Premar, expecting a possible surge of Channel crossing attempts, was keeping six patrol boats mobilised in the area.

The French government meanwhile denounced what it said were "criminal traffickers" behind the crossings, and promised to fight their networks.

On Sunday, around 200 people gathered in the port city of Calais to pay tribute to the victims.

They marched behind a large banner listing the names of the 376 migrants that activists say have died attempting the perilous Channel crossing since 1999.

The death toll in the latest tragedy is the highest since November 2021 when 27 migrants lost their lives in the Channel, sparking tension between Britain and France over who needed to do more to prevent such disasters.

cab/jh/sjw/imm
Hi OnPolitics readers. What do you worry about when youre booking a hotel room? A neighbor playing loud music? A broken air conditioning unit?

Thats not all for Julie Reiskin and millions of Americans living with disabilities, who fear theyll show up to a hotel that doesnt have necessary accommodations, such as ramps or roll-in showers.

People with disabilities and their loved ones rely on hotels to make note of accommodations on their reservation websites, disclosures that are required by a 2010 federal regulation, USA TODAYs John Fritze reports.

 Advocates fear a Supreme Court case this year could undermine the requirement, making it harder to punish hoteliers who defy or overlook it.

At issue for the Supreme Court is whether self-styled "testers" who scrutinize hotel booking websites for a lack of information about accommodations may sue those hotels in federal court  even if they have no intention of ever staying there.

Wait, whats the controversy? Civil rights groups such as the NAACP Legal Defense & Education Fund and the American Civil Liberties Union say testers are critical to enforcing the Americans with Disabilities Act.

But opponents frame the practice as a cottage industry of lawyers using the courts to extract thousands in settlement fees from hotels.

How are officials responding? The Biden administration isn't taking a side technically, but it told the Supreme Court that a woman should not be allowed to sue. She lacks standing, the administration said, because she is only viewing the hotel reservation sites with no plans to use them.

'Sleeping in my car': This Supreme Court case could change how disabled Americans book hotel rooms

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Supreme Court case could change how people with disabilities travel
Single-family homes in South L.A. More than three-quarters of the region is zoned for them. (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times)

The median price of a home in Los Angeles will soon cross a startling threshold: $1 million . The median price of a home in California, meanwhile, is approaching $750,000 , according to Zillow. That is more than double the national median and more than triple the figure in Ohio .

This is the definition of housing unaffordability.

Homeownership is becoming farther and farther out of reach for more and more Californians. As of 2019, only 55% of Californians, and just 36% of Black Calfornians, owned a home. The American Dream is increasingly living up to its name  by being no more than a dream  in California.

This isnt just about homeownership. Renters face proportionate price increases. For the first time, the median monthly rent in the United States rose above $2,000 in the last year, and its closing in on $3,000 in California . Many people cant afford to buy or rent a home here.

The cost of housing is high for many reasons, including the cost of labor and materials and myriad environmental regulations and mandates, many of them important. But chief among the reasons are supply restrictions. As with any other commodity, if you restrict the supply of housing, you can charge more for it.

This is essentially what zoning and other restrictive land-use regulations do. So its no wonder that a wealth of empirical evidence has shown that restrictive zoning makes housing more expensive.

Read more: Opinion: Newsom says California's anti-housing environmental law is 'broken.' So why won't he fix it?

The Los Angeles region has been a prolific producer of such restrictions. A study I led last year found that 78% of residential land in the Greater Los Angeles region and 74% in the city of Los Angeles itself was zoned exclusively for single-family homes, prohibiting apartment buildings and other multifamily developments.

We also found that home prices were correlated with the degree of stringent and exclusionary zoning in every community in the region. So were racial diversity and segregation.

UC Berkeleys Terner Center modeled six different housing policies for Los Angeles and found that the single intervention with the biggest impact on supply growth was loosening density restrictions.

Yes, California has eased single-family zoning, the ultimate density restriction, by allowing more  accessory dwelling units   backyard cottages, in-law units and the like  and through plex reforms, which allow homeowners to subdivide and redevelop parcels for duplexes and four-plexes. But these measures are too modest to bend this wicked cost curve.

What we need is deeper density, more multifamily housing and  missing middle  developments that provide a variety of designs suitable to different incomes. We need localities to allow it, and we need the state to mandate it.

Whats at stake is nothing less than the old notion that people born on the lower rungs of the income and wealth ladder can climb higher, the only limit being their ambition and effort. Since World War II, a prominent pillar of this widespread belief has been homeownership. New-Deal-era laws, financial institutions and the GI Bill created the 30-year mortgage, and suburban developers sold homeownership to tens of millions of (mostly white) Americans.

It worked. In 1940, just 44% of Americans owned their own home. By 1950, that figure had reached 55%, and it steadily climbed in every subsequent decade until the subprime mortgage crisis of 2007. By 2000, 67% of Americans owned their own home.

These figures, however, mask enormous disparities. In 2020, white homeownership reached a postwar peak of 75%, while Black homeownership lagged far behind at 44%, only slightly higher than it was in 1970, the year the Fair Housing Act took effect.

Huge generational disparities also persist. Older Americans are far more likely to own their homes; younger generations are struggling to catch up.

Read more: Opinion: California housing development remains abysmal despite reforms. Here's what's missing

One major obstacle to closing these gaps is that the cost of homeownership has soared relative to incomes. According to data from the Federal Housing Finance Agency , the price of housing in the United States rose an average of 4.6% per year from 1975 through 2022, outpacing economic growth and wages . The rate in California was an astonishing 6.7% a year, higher than in any other state .

While its true that housing appreciation hasnt matched the stock market  the S&P 500 rose almost 12% annually on average during the same period  this also underscores the problem. Housing and shelter are a human necessity; stocks are not. And yet housing in the United States and particularly California has become an investment vehicle available to far fewer of us.

For many Americans fortunate enough to own a home, its their largest investment  a nest egg for retirement or an asset to borrow against to raise cash for an emergency or a childs college education. Many homeowners therefore place a premium on maximizing not just the present value of their asset but also its future appreciation.

This is why homeowners not only upgrade kitchens, cabinets and bathrooms, but also fight against multifamily housing, affordable housing and homeless shelters in their neighborhoods and communities in an effort to protect their investments. These  homevoters  will fight to the hilt to prevent any loosening of zoning restrictions.

Overcoming this impulse and undoing restrictive zoning wont make housing affordable or revive the American Dream on its own. If we dont, however, the dream will become an impossibility for most of us.

Stephen Menendian is the assistant director and director of research at UC Berkeleys Othering and Belonging Institute.

If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Editors note: David Axelrod, a CNN senior political commentator and host of The Axe Files, was a senior adviser to former President Barack Obama and chief strategist for the 2008 and 2012 Obama presidential campaigns. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion on CNN.

In the fall of 2007, a group of nervous donors summoned then-candidate Barack Obama to a meeting in Chicago and demanded changes in the leadership of his campaign in response to lagging national poll numbers. Obama listened intently and politely.

CNN

Shortly after that meeting, Obama convened those of us who were running the campaign. He asked some pointed and justifiable questions as we entered the final stretch before the Iowa caucuses, the nations first nominating contest, on which we had made a win-or-go-home bet.

The amount of candidate time and resources we had spent collecting commitments from citizens in Iowa to caucus for Obama had come at the expense of national visibility and, panicked donors argued, national polling. But we believed from the start that a win over front-runner Hillary Clinton in Iowa was our best chance to upend the dynamics of the national race. In fact, we built our campaign on the premise.

By the time we met with Obama that fall, our numbers in Iowa, where we had built an army of organizers, were beginning to show progress. We outlined our strategic recommendations for the final months, got his input and sign-off, and proceeded on a path to victory.

While the doubts of anxious donors and prominent supporters  or bedwetters, as Obama campaign manager David Plouffe indelicately called them at the time  predictably found their way into anonymous quotes in The New York Times, the internal deliberations of the campaign did not. Nor did Obama shake up his team.

I thought about that history last week when Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, now a Republican candidate for president, replaced his campaign manager after months of sliding polls. This move followed decisions to significantly pare back his payroll amid alarming warning signs about campaign spending and fundraising, and a promise to his own emergency meeting of nervous donors and key supporters to reboot his strategy.

But often its the product, not the packaging, that is the problem. And since DeSantis would, and could, not replace himself, he replaced part of the team around him.

Its been a rocky road since those heady days last fall when DeSantis, fresh from a landslide reelection victory in Florida, emerged as the Great Right Hope for Republicans wary of another nomination for embattled former President Donald Trump.

DeSantis soared in Republican primary polls at the end of last year  even beating Trump in one poll  then hunkered down in Tallahassee for the winter to pursue a relentless war on woke agenda meant to thrill social conservatives and the MAGA base. Team DeSantis reasoned that when Trump collapsed under the weight of his legal woes, the governor would be there to scoop up the base. But a funny thing has happened on the way to the White House.

Trump has been indicted three times and faces a possible fourth one in Georgia. With each indictment, his Republican primary voters have remained firmly loyal to him  embracing his defiant claim that the prosecutions were politically motivated exercises in election interference. Simply put, these voters are not searching for a new and improved version of Trump. Theyre inclined to stick with The Original. (Trump denies wrongdoing in all three indictments.)

DeSantis, who officially announced his candidacy in May, has seen his numbers steadily sink in the national polls as Trumps have risen. The governor still clings to second place nationally but today trails Trump by a staggering 37 points, according to a recent New York Times/Siena College poll. The polling gap between them in the first state contest, Iowa, where DeSantis is hoping to follow Obamas upset strategy and change the trajectory of the race is a less daunting but still formidable 24%.

Sometimes overhauls can work for presidential campaigns. Republican John McCain, who had slipped from front-runner to a money-starved, back-of-the-pack contender in the summer 2007, laid off staff, shook up his leadership team and, a year later, won the Republican nomination. John Kerry made changes when he was flailing in the fall of 2003 and ended up winning Iowa, New Hampshire and the Democratic nomination in 2004.

But that may not be the case for DeSantis.

He has proven himself to be an awkward campaigner, more comfortable lecturing on the perils of wokeism from a platform than mingling and mixing with prospective voters. He has stumbled in interviews, and often parses his answers in nakedly political ways  especially when asked about Trump.

This has set up a contrast among Republican voters, who view DeSantis as an ambitious, conventional politician versus Trump, the audaciously authentic and potent avatar of an anti-establishment populist movement. The contrast was especially clear last weekend at the Iowa State Fair, where Trump received rock-star treatment  and DeSantis, by and large, did not.

DeSantis flaws as a campaigner are problems that cannot easily be fixed, in part because the candidate may be resistant to their fixing.

Abraham Lincoln is alleged to have once said, A man who represents himself has a fool for a client. The same can be said of a candidate for president who runs his own campaign. One of the concerns that has long bounced around Florida political circles is DeSantis overreliance on his own political instincts and those of his wife, Casey DeSantis, a former television news anchor.

Maybe DeSantis has been chastened by the humbling opening stanzas of his campaign. But its not clear how much of a shake-up last weeks change really represented as DeSantis moved his manager  a longtime political aide  to the position of chief strategist and summoned his chief of staff from Tallahassee to become the new manager.

Still, while this midsummer drama is a sign of distress, its too early to count DeSantis out. Iowa has traditionally broken late and often in unexpected directions. Trump lost the state in 2016 to Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who, as DeSantis is today, played to the social conservatives and evangelical voters who dominate the Republican caucuses.

Indisputably bright and energetic, DeSantis has strong support within Iowas elected Republican establishment, including warm relations with the states popular governor, Kim Reynolds, who has not ruled out the possibility of a late endorsement. He is spending much of his campaign time in the state and should, with recent adjustments and the help of a well-funded super PAC, have the resources to make a strong final run.

Next weeks Republican presidential primary debate also offers DeSantis a chance to reset the narrative and stay a step ahead of others seeking to become the alternative to Trump.

As with everything in presidential politics today, so much relies on Trumps trials. Will his support begin to fray amid growing concerns about what his nomination would mean in a race against President Joe Biden? Or will the base dig in and his grip hold?

There are reasons to doubt whether DeSantis can live up to his extravagant advance billing. But he, like Obama, is placing all his chips on Iowa.

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Editors note: Dean Obeidallah, a former attorney, is the host of SiriusXM radios daily program The Dean Obeidallah Show. Follow him on Threads at www.threads.net/@deanobeidallah. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. Read more opinion at CNN.

On Sunday, The New York Times published a front-page article titled How Trump Benefits From an Indictment Effect. As the Times wrote, Donors sent checks. Fox News changed its tune. The party apparatus rushed to defend Mr. Trump. And the polls went up  and up.

Dean Obeidallah - CNN

But while former President Donald Trump is seeing a bump now, it could be just akin to the now-debunked idea of a sugar high. And at some point, Trump will likely suffer a sugar crash. In fact, the signs are there that he is already beginning to see the sugar high wear off.

The Times is correct in noting Trump has seen a spike in GOP support since he was first indicted back in April. But Trump is not running simply to be king of the GOP base. He needs to win in the general election in November 2024, yet reality suggests these indictments likely will become an albatross around his neck.

Trump is now facing 78 criminal charges, all felonies, in three cases, including four counts over attempts to overturn the 2020 election, 32 counts of willful retention of national defense information under the Espionage Act, obstruction of justice and more. He has pleaded not guilty in all three cases and denied wrongdoing.

Trumps trial over the 2020 election interference may start in early 2024 if special counsel Jack Smith has his way. Trumps attorneys have not responded to Smiths request to begin this trial on January 2, but we know from Trumps classified documents case that his lawyers would like to delay a trial date as long as possible.

However, US District Judge Tanya Chutkan  who is presiding over the election subversion case and is expected to announce a trial date on August 28  made it clear during oral arguments Friday over a protective order that she intended to move this case forward without regard to the political calendar. The fact that he (Trump) is running a political campaign currently has to yield to the administration of justice, Chutkan said. Theres a real chance the former president could not only be tried but even potentially convicted by mid-2024.

Trumps legal woes are also having an impact on his campaign funds  which are a finite resource  as hes hemorrhaging money to pay his lawyers. Trumps Save America PAC  which had more than $100 million at the beginning of 2022  per the most recent filing with the Federal Election Commission in late July now has only about $3.6 million in cash on hand, according to The Washington Post.

This PAC has become the primary vehicle to pay legal bills for Trump and his associates, and FEC reports show it and five other Trump-related committees have spent more than $40 million in legal fees since the beginning of 2021, the Post reported. These hefty costs may explain why Trump was lashing out Saturday on his social media platform Truth Social for the vast legal fees he has spent  which he blames on the Lunatic Left.

Trumps indictments have also cost him funds in another unexpected way. He recently began running ads attacking prosecutors who are investigating him. That is money he could have spent on ads attacking his fellow Republicans vying for the 2024 presidential nomination or even criticizing President Joe Biden, but instead the money went to address his felony indictments.

And while Trumps criminal charges yielded an online gold mine, according to The New York Times, its unclear how much this bump in bigly fundraising will continue. The day Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 felony criminal charges of falsifying business records in his first indictment, his campaign raised nearly $4 million in online donations. But he raised a little more than a quarter of that amount online when he was arraigned on the second indictment in the classified documents case. The Times noted there were no public records of fundraising available covering his third indictment.

Then there are polls of voters beyond the GOP base that raise red flags for Trump in the general election. A recent ABC News/Ipsos poll conducted after his indictment in the election interference case found that nearly two-thirds of Americans believe the charges against him are serious. The poll also found that a majority of Americans  52%  agree Trump should have been charged, including a majority of independent voters. Only 32% of Americans believe he should not have been charged.

And while theres no disputing Trump has seen his lead in the race to be the GOPs 2024 presidential nominee jump, theres been no similar spike in general election polls. A New York Times/Siena College survey released August 1 found Trump and Biden tied at 43% in a hypothetical matchup.

Given our polarized electorate, the 2024 presidential election will be close regardless of who the Republican nominee is. But with Trump facing 78 criminal charges  as well as possibly more to come  his sugar high in the GOP primary is going to come crashing down. And so it should.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Oprah Winfrey, a long-time resident of Maui, has spent the past several days offering support and aid to people impacted by the Maui wildfires.

Winfrey has been visiting survivors at the War Memorial Complex in Wailuku, which is sheltering 1,000 residents five days after the worst of the deadliest U.S. wildfire in over a century swept through Maui. Although cameras were barred from the shelter, which is the largest evacuee shelter in Maui County, Winfrey described a scene of people storing their few belongings in garbage bags and sleeping side by side on cots.

Among those whom Winfrey encountered within the shelter was Kanani Adolpho, the spouse of a firefighter and a dedicated volunteer. Despite losing members of her own family in the fires, Adolpho has been a consistent presence at the shelter since its opening.

"I'm just a volunteer, I'm a nobody. I'm just part of the public," she said. "This is my calling. I was born and raised here, I'm never leaving."

Adolpho said "every day is different" for her in terms of what's needed most, but said on Sunday that mental health was her focus as children and families grappled with what they've experienced.

At least 96 people died in the fires, with officials expecting the death toll to rise as crews continue to search for victims.

"We are prepared for many tragic stories," Hawaii Gov. Josh Green told CBS News.

Some Maui residents who escaped the blaze shared their stories of survival. Amelita Tingson sought refuge in the ocean, enduring six hours in the water. Julius, another survivor, recounted his harrowing escape. Overwhelmed by the heat and darkness, he found his way to safety through an opening in the flames.

"At that moment, when I'm running, I cannot see anything. It's all black. I thought I was going to die," he said.

He said he heard his skin popping in the heat as he ran. As his sneakers melted, he reached the harbor and extended help to an older woman, carrying her to safety on his back. At the water, he went into the waves to survive the fire.

As the Maui community starts its journey toward recovery, Winfrey said the stories of resilience and survival stand as testaments to the unyielding human spirit in the face of adversity.

"Seeing entire families who've lost everything, yet are grateful to have each other, living on air mattresses, cots, and chairs  it truly embodies the Aloha spirit of community and family. We've witnessed this in ways that most people can't even imagine," she said.

Georgia grand jury could announce Trump indictment soon

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Editors note: This story is available as a result of a content partnership between WFTV and the Orlando Business Journal.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has accused an Orlando man and his company of allegedly perpetrating a fraudulent multi-level marketing scheme and unregistered offering.

Read: Florida pastor, wife, mother arrested after $1.4M in goods stolen from Home Depot stores, police say

The SEC in a release announced a civil case against Ashraf Mufareh and his company, Onpassive LLC, on Aug.11 in the U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida Orlando Division. The SEC alleges that since 2018, Murfareh and his company fraudulently raised over $108 million from over 800,000 investors across the globe with a company that was said to develop computer applications using artificial intelligence.

In the complaint, the SEC said the company allegedly sold investors a position in a multi-level marketing arrangement for $97, where investors would earn passive income from subscription fees paid by later investors into the company. The SEC alleged the company said the fees would be used for the start of the commercial rollout of computer applications, but as of June 2023 the company allegedly had not launched any applications or started paying commissions.

Click here to read the full story on the Orlando Business Journals website.

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An Orlando pilot was rescued following a plane crash in the Lower Keys waters Sunday morning, according to the Monroe County Sheriffs Office.

Deputies said they were notified of the crash around 10:18 a.m. and rescued the pilot approximately three miles off Sawyer Key.

According to a news release, Deputy Trevor Pike transported the pilot to Venture Out Resort on Cudjoe Key until paramedics arrived.

Officials said the pilot was the only one on the plane, and he had non-life-threatening injuries.

Read: As Florida heat keeps breaking records, one researcher is finding ways to make cities feel cooler

Deputies identified the pilot as 40-year-old Adam Joseph Barney of Orlando, and the aircraft was an Aero Commander 500.

The U.S. Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission also responded to the incident.

The sheriffs office said aviation authorities will be investigating the crash.

Read: 2023 Orlando Air & Space Show announces performer lineup, ticket sale









Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
InformNapalm, a Ukrainian open-source intelligence outfit, reported on Aug. 13 that the Russian authorities had lied about a Russian ship firing warning shots in the Black Sea earlier on the same day.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported on Aug. 13 that Vasily Bykov, a Russian patrol boat, had fired warning shots after the captain of the Palau-flagged cargo ship Sukru Okan failed to respond to a request to inspect the vessel.

According to InformNapalm, the ministry also lied about the successful inspection of the vessel.

Sukru Okan did not comply with the demand to stop, but temporarily changed its course in the direction of Turkish territorial waters, the report reads. There was no helicopter and no warning shots either. There were only threats from the Russians over the radio.

Natalia Humeniuk, the spokesperson for Ukraine's Southern Operational Command, reported that the alleged inspection of the vessel cannot be confirmed.

This has not been confirmed by any other official sources. I think that we need to keep in mind the peculiarities of hybrid war, Humeniuk said. They are trying by all available means to show their dominance in the Black Sea."

Humeniuk added that the current transport corridors in the Black Sea should be under international guarantees.

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Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov also said that Ukraine cannot confirm whether the information stated by Russia was true. But at the same time, such actions can be seen as a gross violation of the norms of international law by Russia," he said.

Russia is trying to intimidate and obstruct the movement of commercial vessels, he added.

Currently, the Sukru Okan ship is near the Bulgarian coast and heading towards the Romanian port of Sulina, according to the Refinitiv shipping data, Reuters reported.

When Russia quit a U.N.-brokered grain deal on July 17, Moscow announced that ships heading to Ukrainian seaports could be considered military targets.

The grain deal had allowed Ukraine to export its grain through the Black Sea. Russia has been bombarding Ukrainian agriculture infrastructure daily since the end of the agreement.

The Ukrainian Navy on Aug. 10 announced new temporary routes for civilian vessels moving to or from Black Sea ports amid the blockade imposed by Russia.

The navy didn't clarify whether the new routes had been agreed with Moscow.







Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Volusia County Sheriff Office bailiffs escort defendant Othal Wallace to the defense table Friday, July 28, 2023, during a hearing in Judge Raul Zambrano's courtroom in Daytona Beach.

A judge has approved the appointment of a jury selection expert to join the defense team for Othal Wallace, who will go on trial next month in the killing of a Daytona Beach police officer.

Wallace, 31, was charged with first-degree murder in the shooting of Daytona Beach Police Officer Jason Raynor on June 23, 2021. The 26-year-old Raynor remained hospitalized until his death on Aug. 17, 2021.

Prosecutors will seek the death penalty if Wallace is convicted at his trial, which is scheduled to begin next month in Clay County.

Circuit Judge Raul Zambrano Monday approved the appointment of Allison Ferber Miller at the rate of $100 per hour with a cap of $8,500. Zambrano said if the defense sought more money, they would have to return to file another motion at that time.

The money will be paid by the Justice Administrative Commission, which had opposed the appointment.

Defense attorney Garry Wood had asked for a rate of $150 per hour but he said Miller was agreeable to $100 per hour. Wood, though, had asked for a cap of $12,500.

Attorney worked the Xbox Mass Murder resentencing

Miller was one of the defense attorneys representing Jerone Hunter. Hunter and Troy Victorino were in court earlier this year for resentencing in a Deltona mass murder known as the Xbox mass murder. Circuit Judge Randell Rowe III in DeLand declared the resentencing a mistrial when the proceedings were delayed as the two sides fought over the death penalty.

Wood said during the Zoom hearing Monday that the case against Wallace involved complex issues and referred to the uniqueness of Mr. Wallaces situation.

Being a man who is of a minority status, hes a Black man, who's alleged to have killed a police officer, Wood said. This is a highly publicized case and theres a great deal of issues in race relationships and relationships with law enforcement almost every day, if not every week, in this country.

Christian Lake, the assistant general counsel for the Justice Administrative Commission, objected to appointing an expert on jury selection, saying that jury selection was the job of the attorneys representing the defendant.

Our opposition is that since the defendant is already represented by death-qualified lawyers, this is a luxury thats not required under due process, Lake said.

Wood said that while he was death-qualified, Terry Shoemaker, another defense attorney on the case, was not. The other defense attorney representing Wallace, Tim Pribisco Jr., is also not death-qualified.

A defense attorney must work as second-chair in two death penalty cases before being death-qualified, said Matt Phillips, a former assistant public defender who handled death penalty cases but is now in private practice. He is not associated with the Wallace case.

Wood said that defense attorneys go through a process during breaks and at the end of the day evaluating the potential jurors and discussing which jurors to keep and which to strike from consideration.

He praised Millers work and intensity.

Wood said: Ms. Miller is very intense and thorough in evaluating jurors both during and after jury selection.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Othal Wallace case: Judge approves jury selection expert for defense
Last summer, a bakery in Chicagos northwest suburbs was vandalized ahead of its plans to host a family-friendly drag show, leading to a cancellation of the sold-out event.

For Corinna Sac, the UpRising Bakery and Cafes owner, the broken windows and spray-painted messages were only the beginning.

In March, Sac told Illinois lawmakers that harassment stemming from the planned drag show at her Lake in the Hills business grew to include doxxing  usually defined as the sharing of personal identifiable information about another person for the purpose of harming them.

Not one person, not even the amazing Lake in the Hills police, could help us and defend us against this, she testified before the House Judiciary Civil Committee. I was advised to not leave my kids alone, report anything strange, take a different way home every day, never go out in public alone, and I was advised not to work alone, which put my business under even more stress.

Earlier this month, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law a measure that makes anyone in Illinois who engages in doxxing to be found civilly liable in court. The bill passed through the House and Senate with bipartisan support  and without any opposition  during the spring legislative session.

But an often key ally to progressives like Pritzker and other like-minded Democrats, the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, opposed the bill, citing free speech issues.

Some of the groups issues were hashed out before the bill was signed into law, which goes into effect on Jan. 1. But even though the free speech concerns remained, the main House sponsor of the measure said the legislation was a necessary step to combat online harassment because previous legal remedies have been inadequate.

Like a lot of things involving technology, the law is slow to catch up, state Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, a Glenview Democrat, said in an interview. Here, the focus isnt on how you get that information, or even necessarily the information itself, but what that person does with that information.

The anti-doxxing bill was not the only legislation that Gong-Gershowitz sponsored in the spring aimed at helping victims recover damages caused by online harassment. Earlier this summer, Pritzker signed legislation that makes anyone civilly liable if they alter images of someone else in a sexually explicit manner, a practice referred to as deepfake porn.

How do we as lawmakers address the kind of severe harm that perpetrators are capable of using technology and do so in a way that, one, is effective, not only to provide victims with legal recourse but also to deter harmful behavior, but then also allows for free speech? Gong-Gershowitz said.

Doxxing can take the form of publishing with malicious intent someones home address, phone number, Social Security number or any other identifiers on social media or elsewhere on the internet.

Under the anti-doxxing law, a person could be found civilly liable if they share information with knowledge or reckless disregard that the person whose information was shared publicly would be reasonably likely to suffer death, bodily injury, or stalking.

Under the law, doxxing has occurred if the actions cause the victim to suffer significant economic injury or emotional distress or to fear serious bodily injury or death of the (victim) or a family or household member, or cause the victim to suffer a substantial life disruption.

In the final version of the law, legislators clarified that constitutionally protected protesting is not a form of stalking, and neither protesting nor news reporting can be considered doxxing. That version also fine-tuned what it means for doxxing to cause emotional distress or a substantial life disruption.

Similar anti-doxxing laws with noncriminal penalties have been put in place in Oregon and Nevada.

A national survey of more than 2,100 respondents released this year by the Anti-Defamation League showed that 52% of adults reported having been harassed online at some point, up from 40% in 2022 and the highest number the ADL said it has seen in four years.

These attacks are literally ruining peoples lives by stoking fear, silencing voices and causing harm to peoples physical safety, professional reputations and emotional well-being, David Goldenberg, the ADLs Midwest regional director, said at the March hearing. These actions are a severe threat to our community and are why a nuanced victim-centered approach, like (Illinois anti-doxxing bill), is so necessary.

But even after the clarifications made for the final version, the ACLU expressed concerns the law could be interpreted too broadly and deprive someone of their constitutional right to free speech.

For the ACLU, the problem lies with how the law defines what it means to publish information, which, in the initial legislation was expressed as to circulate, deliver, distribute, disseminate, post, transmit, or otherwise make available to another person.

That definition was later clarified in an effort to exclude instances where two people are engaging in private communications, such as texting or email.

Angela Inzano, an attorney and lobbyist for the ACLU of Illinois who testified against the bill in Springfield, said the laws definition of publish remains too broad because it only excludes one-on-one texts or emails, raising questions over whether those kinds of communications between three people are included, despite their reasonable expectation of privacy.

Also too broad, she said, is what the law considers to be personally identifiable information.

The way the law is drafted right now, a persons name and then where they work, in combination, would be considered personally identifiable information, Inzano said in an interview. And so, to us, a lot of folks are sharing information like that on social media and were just concerned about a chilling effect on that speech.

Gong-Gershowitz, who is also an attorney, argued the final version of the law is exceptionally narrow and requires a plaintiff to show that the defendant intended for them to suffer death or physical injury or become a stalking victim, which is a very high bar.

Were talking about the kind of conduct that would give rise to somebody being in fear of their life, she said. Unfortunately weve seen examples of extremists whove doxxed individuals in order to cause them ... to end up feeling threatened and afraid for their life and their personal safety.

At the March hearing, another woman testified being slandered online by a man who posted various personal information about her on social media. The woman also said she had taken this man to court after filing orders of protection against him.

Sac, who ended up closing her bakery a few months ago, told legislators she was targeted simply because I chose to support all members of the local LGBTQ community and welcome a popular social gathering to take place at my place of business after hours.

In an interview with the Tribune last week, she said she now helps low-functioning individuals with autism in the northwest suburbs and tries to work with lawmakers on issues related to hate crimes and LGBTQ issues.

She said what she went through has had an impacton her feelings about getting back into the culinary business. She expressed concern about the well-being of some of the scheduled performers at the drag show who were also doxxed.

What you dont have the right to do is to crowdfund hate and say, This person works here. This is their name. Make them lose their job because they support gay people. And then that person loses their job, right? said Sac. That is not OK.

jgorner@chicagotribune.com
Why did police raid the offices of a small-town Kansas newspaper? The Friday raid on the offices of the Marion County Record certainly looks like a major incursion on freedom of the presswith disastrous results for not just the civil liberties but also the physical well-being of newspaper staff.

The paper attributes the Saturday death of 98-year-old co-owner Joan Meyer to stress from the raids on her home and the paper's office. "Stressed beyond her limits and overwhelmed by hours of shock and grief after illegal police raidsMeyer, otherwise in good health for her age, collapsed Saturday afternoon and died at home," the paper reports. It adds that she "had not been able to eat" or sleep on Friday after the raids.

The root of the raids appears to involve local entrepreneur Kari Newell, who reportedly runs a restaurant out of a hotel owned by the brother of the county attorney.

A social media source provided both the Record and Marion Vice Mayor Ruth Herbel with information about an alleged drunk driving incident involving Newell. The source said the information had been obtained from a public website. Unable to verify this and suspecting the leak had occurred as part of a legal fight between Newell and her estranged husband, the paper decided that it shouldn't publish the information. ("We thought we were being set up," Record co-owner Eric Meyer told the Kansas Reflector in the wake of the raid.)

But "without naming Newell," Meyer eventually "notified [Marion County] Sheriff Jeff Soyez and [Marion Police Chief Gideon] Cody that the newspaper had received the information and that the source who provided it alleged that law enforcement officers knew Newell did not have a valid driver's license and ignored her violation of the law," according to the Record.

Police alerted Newell, who at an August 7 council meeting publicly accused the paper of illegally obtaining information about her and illegally disseminating it to the vice mayor, who allegedly shared the information with a city administrator considering Newell's application for a catering liquor license.



"After the council meeting, Newell acknowledged" that "the state suspended her license because of a drunken-driving conviction in 2008 and a series of other driving convictions," reports the Record, which responded to Newell's public accusations by publishing a story last Thursday about the situation.

On Friday, city and county police raided the Record's office, "forcing staff members to stay outside the office for hours during a heat advisory" and disallowing them from making any phone calls, the paper reported. They seized the newspaper's file server as well as "personal cell phones and computers" and "other equipment unrelated to the scope of their search."

Herbel's home was also raided, as were the homes of Joan and Eric Meyer.

According to the paper, the search warrants "alleged there was probable cause to believe that identity theft and unlawful computer acts had been committed involving Marion business owner Kari Newell." But when a Record reporter requested a copy of the probable cause affidavit necessary for such a warrant, the district court reportedly "issued a signed statement saying no affidavit was on file."

"Based on the reporting so far, the police raid of the Marion County Record on Friday appears to have violated federal law, the First Amendment, and basic human decency. Everyone involved should be ashamed of themselves," Seth Stern of the Freedom of the Press Foundation declared in a statement.

It's unclear exactly what police were looking for in the raid on the Record office or its owners' homes. But if the situation laid out by the Record is accurate, its staff did nothing wrong and should not be being treated like criminals. They absolutely have a right to investigate information leaked to them, no matter where that information originally came from. And they certainly have a right to question or notify police about what they were told.

Nor is a raid on the newspaper office justified if police were investigating criminal wrongdoing by a third party. If the aim was to obtain the identity of the source who provided the information about Newell, police could have questioned the vice mayor, subpoenaed records from the social media company, or subpoenaed records from the paperall paths that don't involve literally raiding a press outlet, seizing its servers, and taking reporters' computers and phones.

At best, that would be an illegal overreaction to allegations of criminal wrongdoing by a third party. But the fact that the Record's leadership came to police with accusations about law enforcement corruption not long before the raid suggests something worse may have been afoot: retaliation, intimidation, or an attempted cover-up.

Eric Meyer told the Reflector the message was clear: "Mind your own business or we're going to step on you."

Meyer "believes the newspaper's aggressive coverage of local politics and issues played a role," reports the Associated Press. "He said the newspaper was examining Cody's past work with the Kansas City, Missouri, police as well."

The raid has received national attentionand further reason to believe police were targeting the paper or its staff.

"Cody, the police chief, defended the raid on Sunday, saying in an email to The Associated Press that while federal law usually requires a subpoenanot just a search warrantto raid a newsroom, there is an exception 'when there is reason to believe the journalist is taking part in the underlying wrongdoing,'" the AP reports. "Cody did not give details about what that alleged wrongdoing entailed."

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Libertarianism, New Zealandstyle. In "New Zealand, many conservatives are beginning to embrace an old ideology: libertarianism," writes Washington Post columnist Henry Olsen:

This surprising trend is thanks to David Seymour, leader of New Zealand's classically liberal ACT Party. He has rapidly transformed his faction from a nearly extinct institution to a vibrant, growing movement, setting an example for conservatives worldwide.

In 2014, Seymour became the party's only member of Parliament. And in the country's 2017 election, the party got just 1 percent of the vote. But things have been changing:

The party received its highest share of the vote ever in the 2020 election, winning 10 seats in the 120-seat Parliament. More recent polls show ACT could win 15 seats or more in the upcoming October election. With the traditional center-right party, the National Party, tipped to win 46 seats, ACT could become a crucial governing partner. That's a stunning reversal of fortune in just a few years. This success is fueled by Seymour's insistence on applying classically liberal principles to issues beyond just taxes, regulation and spending. He can do that because, as he told me, "there is a deep underlying philosophical base to what we're saying, so it's all coherent." That themestick to your principles and calmly explain their application to whatever issue is at handrepeatedly came up in our discussion.

That said, not all of the wider issues embraced by the New Zealand libertarians sound like American libertarianism. For instance, "ACT calls for trying 17-year-old violent offenders as adults and a host of other 'law and order' policies," writes Olsen.

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Barbie economics. "The average working woman in 2023 earns enough money to buy a Barbie doll every 33 minutes. In 1959, it took nearly two hours," writes Reason's Eric Boehm, citing figures from University of Central Arkansas economist Jeremy Horpedahl.

Working mothers today can buy 3-4 times as many Barbies for their daughters as their counterparts in 1959 could buyhttps://t.co/bX2NbS2XjK pic.twitter.com/vLxZ7mhupA  Jeremy Horpedahl ???? (@jmhorp) August 9, 2023

Call it Barbenomics. Call it the Barbie Price Index. Whatever you call it, it shows good news about American women's economic progress:

"Another way of thinking about it: with the same amount of work, a working mother today could buy her daughter 3-4 times as many Barbies as her counterpart in 1959," Horpedahl notes at Economists Writing Every Day, an economics blog. On one hand, the decline in the Barbie Price Index shows how much women's wages have grown in the past six and a half decades. While women are still paid less than men, on average, the gap has closed considerablyand effectively vanishes once other lifestyle factors are taken into account. But it also demonstrates something about the relative level of prosperity that today's Barbie-loving kids get to enjoyand about the amount of work their parents have to do to deliver it. It has become fashionable on the populist right to complain about stagnating male wages and a supposedly declining standard of living. Oren Cass, executive director of the right-wing think tank American Compass, published a "Cost-of-Thriving Index" earlier this year, claiming that the basic necessities for a middle-class lifestyle were no longer within reach for households relying on a single breadwinner. It would take 62 weeks of earningsmore than a full yearto pay for a year's worth of groceries, a home, health insurance for a family, a car, and to save for a child's college education, he argues. That's up from just 40 weeks' worth of earnings in 1985. The study has some serious flaws, as Horpedahl and Scott Winship, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, have detailed at length. Chief among those problems is that Cass' analysis does not take into account taxes and various family-oriented subsidies delivered via the tax code. With those included, the so-called "cost of thriving" for families with a single male breadwinner has actually fallen since 1985. But Cass' study also ignores the crucial role that women now play in the work force and in earning income to support their families. Including them in the overall assessment means that the cost of thriving has fallen by about 7 weeks since 1985, in part because women have seen bigger gains in earnings during recent decades.

More here.

QUICK HITS

 "A Georgia prosecutor appears on the verge of bringing criminal charges in her investigation into former President Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in that state," reports Politico. "Two witnesses confirmed Saturday that they will appear before a grand jury in Fulton County, Ga., early next weekthe clearest sign yet that Fani Willis, the district attorney there, soon plans to ask the grand jury to approve criminal indictments against Trump or his allies."

 U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland has appointed a special counsel to oversee investigations into President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden.

 Theoretical physicist Michio Kaku says fears about artificial intelligence are overblown. "It takes snippets of what's on the web created by a human, splices them together and passes it off as if it created these things. And people are saying, 'Oh my God, it's a human, it's humanlike,'" commented Kaku in a Sunday interview with CNN's Fareed Zakaria. Tools like ChatGPT are "glorified tape recorders," he added.

 Why politics should stay out of banking.

 The New York Times looks at the growing number of U.S. prisoners with dementia.

The post Owner of Kansas Newspaper Dies Amid 'Shock and Grief' After Police Raid appeared first on Reason.com.
In this photo released by Pakistan's President Office, President Arif Alvi, right, administrates oath from Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar as caretaker Prime Minister during a ceremony, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Monday, Aug. 14, 2023. Kakar was sworn in as the country's prime minister to head a caretaker national government that will oversee parliamentary elections amid one of the worst economic crises the Islamic nation has faced, officials said. (Pakistan President Office vis AP)

ISLAMABAD (AP)  Former Pakistani Senator Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar was sworn in on Monday as the country's prime minister to head a caretaker government that will oversee parliamentary elections during one of the country's worst economic crises.

Kakar, who is comparatively new to politics and is close to the powerful military, has represented his Baluchistan province in the Senate since 2018. President Arif Alvi administered the oath of office to him inside a white marble palace known as the Presidency in a brief ceremony.

Kakar quit as the head of his small Baluchistan Awami Party on Sunday and resigned as a senator after being named by outgoing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and opposition leader Raza Riaz to oversee the vote and run the administration's day-to-day affairs until the people elect a new government. It is normal practice in Pakistan to appoint a caretaker government for the election period.

Under the constitution, the election should be held in the next 90 days.

The swearing-in took place as Pakistan celebrated its 77th Independence Day amid deepening political turmoil, which began after the ouster of former Prime Minister Imran Khan last year.

Pakistan gained independence when the departing British left India and split the subcontinent in 1947.

Monday's festivities began with gun salutes in the capital, Islamabad, and in each of the four provincial capitals. In Islamabad, President Arif Alvi hoisted the national flag at a ceremony attended by officials and other dignitaries.

Security was high across the nation following multiple attacks over the weekend, including an assault in which Chinese working on a construction project escaped unharmed but two militants were killed when troops quickly returned fire in the coastal town of Gwadar in Baluchistan province.

On Sunday, a journalist, Jan Mohammad Mahar, was shot and killed by gunmen as he was heading home in Sukkur, a district in southern Sindh province, police said. The motive for the killing was unclear and officers were still investigating.

In his overnight farewell address to the nation, Sharif asked his countrymen to make the right decision when they go to vote. He blamed Khan for the economic crisis the country was facing when he came to power.

Sharif replaced Khan in April 2022 when he was ousted in a no-confidence vote in parliament.

Khan was sentenced to three years in prison in a graft case earlier this month and is currently being held at the high-security Attock prison in eastern Punjab province.

But he remains a popular politician and his opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party is expected to give a tough time to Sharifs ruling Pakistan Muslim League in the elections.

Khan is unable to take part in the election unless his conviction is overturned because no one with a criminal conviction can lead a party, run in elections or hold public office. He has appealed the ruling.
Viewers are set to see the late Paul O'Grady on screens one last time in 2023, as ITV confirm plans to air the entertainer's final TV project.

Paul O'Grady's Great Elephant Adventure is a two-part documentary series that was filmed before the TV presenter's death in March this year.

O'Grady, who was known for his love of animals, travelled to Thailand and Laos for the TV special, giving insight into the countries' elephant rescue centres and the work done to rescue, rehabilitate and protect one of the planet's most endangered animals.

ITV confirmed the show will be one of many TV highlights airing this autumn.

Joe Maher - Getty Images

Related: Paul O'Grady receives a posthumous nomination at the 2023 NTAs

"Thailand has the largest number of elephant rescue centres in the world while Laos is nicknamed the 'land of a million elephants', and each episode sees Paul travel across the region to roll up his sleeves and muck in to help out at a different rescue centre," reads the programme synopsis.

"Along the way, Paul also heads out from the sanctuaries to grab a slice of local life by exploring nearby colourful markets, temples, apothecaries and sampling the local cuisine."

ITV said that Paul's final TV project was one he was "incredibly passionate about".

Related: Paul O'Grady was so much more than just a national treasure

Viewers have been promised that the O'Grady many knew and grew fond of will shine through on screens.

"The tone is warm, playful and heartfelt and always characterised by his much-loved wit and humour," the broadcaster said of the late comedian's final TV appearance.

O'Grady teased the TV project last December, sharing snaps of him up close with the elephants on his Instagram.

Related: Paul O'Grady's widower Andre Portasio pays tribute on wedding anniversary

"Im now at the Elephant Nature Park in Chang Mai run by a truly remarkable lady called Lek Saengduean," read his post caption, alongside a snap of him petting one particular elephant.

"Theres not just herds of rescued elephants here theres cattle and lots of dogs and cats so Im in seventh heaven.

"This Elephant was rescued from a circus. She was tortured to make her do stupid tricks and due to the harsh lights of the circus ring shes now blind. I spent a good hour feeding her bananas and because the herd had just had a mud bath Im absolutely caked-not that I give a damn," he joked.

ITV

Related: Paul O'Grady and more remembered in British Soap Awards tribute

O'Grady called the two "kindred souls" before calling out the cruelty inflicted on the animals.

"Its heartbreaking to learn what these beautys have been through but its more than reassuring to know that they are now in safe, caring and loving hands whilst still being respected for the wild animal that they are. Im off the human race at the moment."

Fans of the star last saw O'Grady on screens posthumously in April, when the final few episodes of Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs were aired on ITV.

The show, filmed at London's Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, is up for a National Television Award in the Factual category, competing against Sort Your Life Out, The Martin Lewis Money Show Live and Clarkson's Farm.

The results will be revealed during the NTA ceremony, taking place on September 5 at London's o2 arena.

Paul O'Grady's Great Elephant Adventure will air on ITV this autumn.

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Start your week in #ncpol #ncga with our latest Under the Dome politics podcast. Dawn Vaughan here, your News & Observer Capitol bureau chief and podcast host.

For the week of Aug. 14, 2023, I talked with Suzanne Beasley, the government relations director for the State Employees Association of North Carolina. If you spend any time in the legislature, youve probably met Beasley, who lobbies on behalf of state employees. Shes been through delayed budgets before, which means a delay in raises for tens of thousands of state employees. But its not just about the wait on raises, according to Beasley, its about what the amount will be.

SEANC is lobbying for a 10% raise over two years as well as a $5,000 one-time bonus to retain employees.

Money is the bottom line. Money is the issue when we are trying to hire people, as well as trying to keep people, she said.

Beasley said with eroding benefits for state employees, pay is the top priority.

Suzanne Beasley, a lobbyist for the State Employees Association of North Carolina, is pictured in The News & Observer studio after a recording of the Under the Dome politics podcast with Dawn Vaughan on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023 in Raleigh.

The Office of State Budget and Management, which is part of Democratic Gov. Roy Coopers administration, recently announced that the state has increased revenue because of the high vacancy rate among state employees. The statewide vacancy rate is nearly 25%.

The last thing the state of North Carolina can afford to do is lose employees right now, Beasley said. As a lobbyist, she talks about the relationship building she does with lawmakers to advance SEANC goals.

The budget probably wont be passed until sometime in September, in the best case scenario. House Speaker Tim Moore, a Kings Mountain Republican, told reporters this past week there is zero chance itll pass by Sept. 1.

Beasley has worked as a SEANC lobbyist for about 20 years, so she knows her way around the Legislative Building and Legislative Office Building. We talk about the SEANC table near the House chamber, the legislative library in the LOB and the lack of available chairs.

Headliner of the Week

As I ask every guest who spends a lot of time in the Legislative Building, not just lawmakers, Beasley shares her favorite food to get in the cafeteria, too. Cafeteria workers get a shout out, as they are state employees.

Stay tuned to the end for our picks for Headliner of the Week. Beasleys is about the devastation in Hawaii, and I highlight a new town in North Carolina I visited, along with my first visit to the Fort Fisher Aquarium.

Listen to our latest episode below and catch up on previous episodes. You can also listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Audible, iHeart, Pandora, Amazon Music and Stitcher.

Now you can also watch video of our Under the Dome podcast on our N&O YouTube page.
Following a devastating house explosion in Plum Borough Saturday morning, Pennsylvania politicians are offering condolences to the community.

PHOTOS: House leveled in explosion in Plum Borough; several other homes damaged

According to officials, the explosion happened at around 10:23 a.m. on Rustic Ridge Drive and Brookside Drive. Six people died, including one person who died at the hospital. Two others were hospitalized for their injuries but have since been released.

Gov. Josh Shapiro says he and his wife Lori are praying for those who lost someone in the explosion, and says hes grateful for the first responders who ran into danger in order to save lives.

The five Pennsylvanians who passed and their families are in our thoughts today. May their memories be a blessing, he said on Twitter.

Lori and I are praying for family, friends, and neighbors who lost someone in Plum yesterday, and we're grateful for the first responders who ran towards danger to save lives.



The five Pennsylvanians who passed and their families are in our thoughts today. May their memories be  Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) August 13, 2023

PREVIOUS COVERAGE >> LATEST UPDATES: 5 people dead, including child, after massive explosion in Plum

Lt. Gov. Austin Davis said he and his wife Blayre are standing with Plum during these trying times.

Blayre and I extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends affected by the tragic house explosion in Plum.



We have you in our thoughts and are standing with you amidst these trying times. May the cherished memories of those lost bring comfort to all who knew them.  Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis (@LTGDavis) August 13, 2023

PREVIOUS COVERAGE >> Father, son among five killed in Plum Borough house explosion

Senator Bob Casey also offers condolences and says his office has been in touch with local officials to offer support.

My prayers are with the families of those killed in the explosion and the Plum community. I'm grateful to the courageous first responders who answered the call. My office has been in touch with local officials and will continue to offer support.  Senator Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) August 13, 2023

RELATED >> New video shows moment house exploded in Plum Borough

State Rep. Brandon Markosek said of Facebook that words cannot express the feelings and concerns he has toward the Plum Borough.

All of my energies will be devoted to helping those who are in need of assistance, he said.

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Police were called just before 6 p.m. Sunday to a shooting in the 3600 block of Norton Avenue, Officer Alayna Gonzalez, a spokesperson with the Kansas City Police Department, told reporters at the scene.

There, inside a home, officers found a man suffering from a gunshot wound, she said. Despite first responders attempting life-saving measures, including CPR and tourniquets, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

The man who initially called 911 and who was inside the home as police arrived, has since been identified as a person of interest in the shooting, Gonzalez said. Police believe the two men knew each other, but it wasnt yet clear what led up to the shooting.

Police are not looking for any other possible suspects. No other information was immediately available.

Yellow crime scene tape marked off the surrounding roads. Inside the tape, one person fired up their grill, watching from their porch as detectives went door-to-door talking to neighbors. Just outside the tape, children rode bikes up and down the street, illuminated by police lights.

The homicide marks the 127th homicide so far in 2023, according to data maintained by The Star, which includes fatal shootings by police. The city remains on pace with its deadliest year in history. The homicide record was set in 2020 with 182 people killed.

I really do believe the way that were going to combat this violent crime problem is by working together collaboratively as a community and holding each other accountable and ensuring that the trust between the police department and the community is there and is strong, Gonzalez said Sunday.

Kansas City police were asking anyone with information about any unsolved Kansas City homicide to contact homicide detectives at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS.
One tenant who was just trying to water their garden claims their landlord has gone so far as to block access to an outside tap.

The complaint was posted on r/LandlordLove, an ironically named subreddit for tenants to vent about their landlords. Many Redditors have written about their problems with landlords who refuse to repair appliances or make ridiculous alterations to their homes. One user wrote about a landlord who expected them to overwater their grass and drive up their water bill in the midst of a drought.

Another Redditor said they have the opposite problem. Apparently, theyve had a longstanding disagreement with their landlord about watering their garden with the outdoor faucet. Recently, they came outside to find the spigot covered in ragged plastic and tape, with a note taped above it saying, Do not use for plants. The post includes a photo of the covered faucet and the obnoxious orange sign.

Photo Credit: u/madman15 / Reddit

According to the poster, its not about money. I offered to pay for my share of water usage and she refused, the user wrote. In a comment, they clarified, The original lease said I contributed $50 a month in utilities that, surprisingly, are unspecified. She later told me I dont pay for utilities. One commenter concluded, Petty, infantile landlords strike again.

Just use it, another commenter suggested. Whats he gonna do?

When the original poster worried that the landlord may evict them, the same commenter replied, Any judge would laugh that landlord out of court  Unless it states in your lease that this spigot isnt working/available for use, then it should be used.

Other commenters offered more creative solutions. Run a hose out from the kitchen, or fill a bucket up if you cant get a hose, suggested one user. Several other Redditors echoed the idea.

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Philadelphia 76ers star James Harden called his own teams president Daryl Morey a liar in a surprising attack amid ongoing trade speculation surrounding the 2018 NBA Most Valuable Player.

Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that hes a part of, Harden said during an event in China. Let me say that again, Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that hes a part of.

Footage of Hardens comments has been widely circulated on social media. The comments were in response to a question from the crowd about ending trade talks, according to NBA.com.

When approached by CNN for comment, a member of the Sixers organization with knowledge of the situation said: Morey was not surprised by Hardens commentary and his attempt to make things personal given that Hardens agents had warned they may take that approach when Morey notified them that he was unable to find a suitable trade deal.

Harden has reportedly made it clear to the 76ers that he wants to be traded this offseason following another disappointing playoff exit last season.

According to multiple media reports, including from ESPNs Adrian Wojnarowski, the 76ers have spent the majority of the offseason looking to facilitate the 33-year-olds wishes.

Daryl Morey looks on during a press conference on February 15, 2022 in Camden, New Jersey. - Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images/FILE

Wojnarowski reported on Saturday that the team broke off trade talks and expected Harden to return to training camp.

Preseason games for the upcoming 2023/24 season begin on October 2.

Harden has been emphatic in wanting a trade, so the Sixers are setting up an uncomfortable situation to start camp. Ultimately, Philadelphia wouldnt make a trade that they believed would compromise their title hopes, Wojnarowski posted on social media on Saturday.

Sixers president Morey was general manager of the Houston Rockets when the 10-time All Star played there.

Harden has previously pushed to be moved from his former teams: the Rockets and the Brooklyn Nets.

In 2021, he was traded to the Nets after saying the Rockets were just not good enough following an underwhelming playoff exit.

Just over a year later, he was traded to the 76ers from the Nets after rumors of his desire to leave Brooklyn had surfaced.

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Pakistani president approves appointment of Senator Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar as caretaker prime minister

Xinhua) 10:30, August 14, 2023

This photo released by the President House shows Pakistani President Arif Alvi signing a document on approval of Senator Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar as the caretaker prime minister, in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan, on Aug. 12, 2023. Arif Alvi on Saturday approved the appointment of Senator Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar as the caretaker prime minister, said a statement from the President House Media Wing. (President House/Handout via Xinhua)

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani President Arif Alvi on Saturday approved the appointment of Senator Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar as the caretaker prime minister, said a statement from the President House Media Wing.

The president has given the approval in terms of Article 224(1A) of the Constitution of Pakistan, according to the statement.

Earlier, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, after detailed consultations with the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, or the lower house of the parliament, Raja Riaz, forwarded a summary to this effect to the president for approval, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office said.

Kakar has been a member of the Senate of Pakistan since March 2018. He was elected to the Senate of Pakistan as an independent candidate in the general seat from the southwest Balochistan province in the 2018 Pakistani Senate election.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
By Jacqueline Howard

(CNN)  As rates of sexually transmitted infections continue to skyrocket across the United States, a growing number of physicians are prescribing a commonly used antibiotic as a way to prevent chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis infections in gay and bisexual men and transgender women.

Doxycycline is a class of medications traditionally used to treat bacterial STIs after someone has been infected. Yet recent research suggests that one 200mg dose of the drug can be effective in preventing such infections among men who have sex with men if taken within 72 hours after unprotected sex.

This approach, called doxyPEP, has garnered so much attention that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to post draft guidance for public comment in the next several weeks on how health care workers may deploy the preventative treatment, such as how many pills should go into a prescription or which people could benefit most from the drug.

The number of syphilis cases in the United States are at their highest level in over 50 years. The nation needs new tools to prevent STIs, Dr. Jonathan Mermin, director of CDCs National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, said in an email.

CDC is working on formal clinical guidelines on the use of doxycycline as STI PEP and will be requesting public comment on the agencys draft recommendations, he wrote. This step allows us to gather important input before finalizing guidance, and gives clinical providers, people affected by STIs, and partner organizations the opportunity to weigh in before our guidance is finalized.

However, some local health departments already have their own recommendations for the use of doxyPEP to prevent STIs.

The San Francisco Department of Public Health released doxyPEP guidance in October. In April, the California Department of Public Health released similar guidance for health care providers recommending doxyPEP to men who have sex with men or transgender women who have had at least one bacterial STI in the past 12 months.

We have high rates of sexually transmitted infections in San Francisco, and we consider this to be one of our urgent public health issues that we face as a city. And so, we felt like there was an imperative to move forward with providing a framework for the safe and equitable use of this innovative new tool for sexual health, said Dr. Stephanie Cohen, director of the HIV/STI Prevention Section in the San Francisco Department of Public Healths Disease Prevention and Control branch.

We knew that it would take the CDC some time to develop and release consensus guidelines. But we also knew that we had people in our community and providers who were prescribing doxyPEP, so we didnt feel that we could wait, she said. Were now not the only health department who has released guidelines. A growing number of health departments throughout the country are putting out guidelines as they also see the need for this in their community.

Cohen noted that Seattle and King County in Washington state have also released guidelines on the use of doxyPEP to prevent bacterial STIs in men and transgender people who have sex with men.

But not all of these local and state guidelines are aligned, she said, and there are some subtle differences emerging, especially when it comes to who is recommended to use doxyPEP. The hope is that any forthcoming CDC guidance can help settle those differences and clarify which people may be eligible.

Right now, clinicians are learning from each other in real time how to provide doxycycline as STI PEP, David C. Harvey, executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors, said in an email. He added that any guidance from the CDC will help fill gaps, provide direction to clinics and offer a framework for using doxyPEP for STI prevention.

An increasing number of doctors are providing their patients with doxycycline as STI PEP, including many of the nations most renowned STI clinics. Doxycycline is a safe, inexpensive, well-understood drug, and the evidence it works as PEP for men and transgender women is well-documented and consistent across research, Harvey wrote. Doctors recognize the urgency of the STI epidemic, which is why so many clinics are moving forward and so many bigger agencies are pressing CDC to provide them with the information they need to roll it out more broadly.

Its a way to prevent a full-blown infection

DoxyPEP was found to be about 65% effective at reducing the incidence of gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis in a recent study.

About 500 men who have sex with men and transgender women were enrolled in the study from August 2020 through May 2022. The participants  who all had a history of STIs in the past year  were randomly assigned to receive either doxyPEP or their usual standard of care without doxyPEP. The study, published in April in the New England Journal of Medicine, was conducted at clinics in San Francisco and Seattle.

This is not a new concept, the concept of post-exposure prophylaxis. We use it for a number of other infectious diseases like Lyme disease. If someones been bitten by a tick and theres concern that they might have been exposed to Lyme disease, they can be given a single dose of doxycycline, said Dr. Annie Luetkemeyer, professor of infectious diseases at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital at UCSF and co-principal investigator of the study.

Its a way to prevent a full-blown infection, she said. We know that some populations of men who have sex with men are really disproportionately impacted by sexually transmitted infections.

Among the study participants without HIV, a bacterial STI was diagnosed in about 10.7% of quarterly visits to clinics in the doxyPEP group, compared with 31.9% of visits in the standard care group.

Among the participants living with HIV, a bacterial STI was diagnosed in about 11.8% of quarterly visits to clinics in the doxyPEP group, compared with 30.5% of visits in the standard care group.

At the end of the study, the researchers found that every quarter  or about every three months  the combined incidence of gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis was lower by two-thirds among those who took doxyPEP within 72 hours after having sex without a condom than in those with standard care.

There was a large reduction in chlamydia and syphilis. We werent sure if it was going to work against gonorrhea, Luetkemeyer said. But we saw about a 55% reduction in gonorrhea.

However, the researchers also found a slight increase in the number of gonorrhea infections with doxycycline-class resistance in the doxyPEP group compared with the standard-care group in the study. This suggests that doxyPEP may offer less protection against existing gonorrhea strains that have developed resistance to doxycycline.

Still, the number of gonorrhea cases that were tested for resistance was low, and population-based evaluations of people taking doxyPEP will be needed to understand the potential impact of doxycycline use on gonorrhea antibiotic resistance.

Antimicrobial resistance happens when germs, such as bacteria and fungi, develop the ability to defeat the medications that have been engineered to destroy them. Bacteria can sometimes develop this ability when certain antibiotics are being overused.

There are some remaining questions about long-term effects on antimicrobial resistance in particular, said Dr. Connie Celum, professor of global health and medicine at the University of Washington and co-principal investigator of the doxyPEP study.

The challenge is, we dont have a great outpatient antibiotic resistance surveillance system. Most of what we know about antibiotic resistance system is from hospitalized patients, she said. Now, were talking about doing doxyPEP in outpatient settings. So were trying to think about how to nest in antibiotic resistance surveillance in selected implementation projects to give us more information on antimicrobial resistance.

As doxycycline is an antibiotic, doxyPEP doesnt prevent viral sexually transmitted infections such as mpox, herpes or HIV. There also hasnt been much research on the medication as post-exposure prophylaxis in cisgender women.

In one study, more than 400 women in Kenya were separated into two groups: One group was given doxyPEP to take after having sex, and the other group wasnt. The researchers  from Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute, the University of Washington and Kenya Medical Research Institute  found that there was not much of a difference in the incidence of bacterial STIs between the two groups.

It was a disappointment to see that doxycycline PEP was not protective for cisgender women in the dPEP Kenya Study. We now have data to help understand these results a bit more, Dr. Jenell Stewart, project director for the DoxyPEP Kenya study and infectious disease physician at Hennepin Healthcare and the University of Minnesota, said in an email.

That new data reveals that there were low rates of women in the study actually taking doxycycline, Stewart said, as well as a high prevalence of a gonorrhea strain that is known to be resistant to the medication. She added that it remains unclear why some of the study participants were not taking their doxyPEP pills, which probably skewed the study findings.

Additional studies are needed among cisgender women, transgender men, and nonbinary people with vaginas to provide additional data on the potential of doxycycline PEP to be an effective preventive tool regardless of sex and gender, Stewart wrote.

Condoms work very well at preventing STIs, but its clear from rising rates of STIs around the world that condoms dont fit into everyones sex life, so we need additional options for preventing infections and reducing the spread of STIs, she said. I dont think everyone needs to use doxycycline PEP, but this is a potentially important tool, especially for people who are not in monogamous sexual relationships.

US sees surging STI rates

When used for STI prevention, doxyPEP is an off-label prescription, since the US Food and Drug Administration has not officially approved it for STI post-exposure prophylaxis and the CDC has yet to release its final guidance.

Along with STI clinics providing doxycycline as a post-exposure prophylaxis medication, people can order it online from some providers, such as the sexual health care company Wisp.

Even though most of the studies on doxyPEP have been in men, Wisp offers doxyPEP for everyone, including women, Dr. Suneer Chander, a provider at Wisp, said in an email, adding that that decision is due to the ongoing rise in STIs among both men and women in the United States.

Considering the potential impact of this treatment and the low risk associated with a single dose of doxycycline, Wisp believes its important for all our patients, especially those with limited access to care, to have access to this preventative treatment, Chander wrote.

Some people may be worried about antibiotic resistance if they take doxyPEP without actually having been exposed to a bacterial STI. Currently, clinical trials have not proven that doxyPEP will increase antibiotic resistance, Chander said in part. Drug resistance when taking doxyPEP is currently being studied in people using this treatment for STI prevention. Still, given the increase in STI cases in the US over the past few years, this treatment is vital in preventing STI spread.

Rates of sexually transmitted infections have been rising across the United States, with more than 2.5 million cases reported in 2021, a jump of 7% in one year, according to data released in April by the CDC.

Chlamydia accounted for more than half of those cases, with rates increasing about 4% in 2021. Cases of gonorrhea rose nearly 5%. Cases of syphilis surged 32% in one year, including an alarming rise in infections passed from pregnant mothers to babies developing in the womb. In 2021, congenital syphilis caused 220 stillbirths and infant deaths.

The CDCs Mermin said that publishing guidance on doxyPEP is not the end of the agencys efforts to reduce rates of STIs across the country.

To decrease incidence of STIs and reduce health disparities, we will need to remove barriers to STI services and prioritize equitable access to this new prevention strategy so it can reach the people who need it most, he wrote in his email.

There are still many STI prevention and treatment gaps left to fill. Continued research and investment are needed to discover new interventions and fully implement testing, prevention, and treatment solutions for everyone impacted by STIs, he said. In STI prevention, weve been relying on tools that are decades, sometimes centuries old. This new intervention is not enough, but it brings hope that we can finally turn the STI epidemic around.

CNNs Deidre McPhillips contributed to this report.

The-CNN-Wire

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An Orlando man survived a plane crash 3 miles off the Florida Keys, calling it "the craziest experience of my life."

Officials at Key West International Airport notified area emergency departments that a plane was experiencing problems and would soon be in the water on Sunday morning, said Adam Lindhardt, a spokesman for the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.

The Miami Herald reported that the pilot radioed air traffic control to say that his aircraft was experiencing engine issues and he was going to attempt a water landing.

Deputy Trevor Pike of the sheriff's marine patrol water unit arrived to the site of the crash in the Gulf of Mexico and rescued the pilot, identified as 40-year-old Adam Joseph Barney from Orlando, Florida.

'Thanks, man'

Footage from Pike's body camera captured the moment that he rescued Barney, showing the pilot swimming in open water with a flotation device and confirming that he was the only one in the plane.

Barney had enough energy to climb into the back of the boat with Pike's help. As soon as he was safely aboard, he shook Pike's hand with a smile.

"Whew! Thanks man, I appreciate it," Barney told Pike.

He had been in the water for more than an hour at that point.

"Holy (expletive)," Pike responds.

"Dude, tell me about it," Barney says back.

Deputy Trevor Pike rescued pilot Adam Joseph Barney after his plane crashed in the water off the Florida Keys on Sunday, August 14, 2023.

'The craziest experience'

According to their conversation, Barney was flying from Orlando to Key West to pick up a friend. The plane had approximately 50 gallons of fuel on board when the engine stopped. The whole thing happened fast, Barney said.

"That definitely lists on the craziest experience of my life," Barney said.

He started swimming to shore with his floating device. "I'll eventually make it or drown, one or the other," he figured.

Barney, who did not have life-threatening injuries, was taken to paramedics who were waiting at a nearby resort.

U.S. Coast Guard spokesman Eric Rodriguez said the Aero Commander 500 aircraft that Barney was flying sank.

Barney has a private pilot license that was issued in 2019, according to the FAA.

Aviation authorities will be investigating the crash.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pilot survives 'craziest' plane crash in waters off Florida Keys
Robert Ray Berger was sentenced to six months probation on Monday, Aug. 14, after he pleaded guilty to carrying a weapon into a weapon-free school zone.

PINCKNEY  Robert Ray Berger, 45, who pled guilty in July to possessing a weapon in a weapon-free school zone, has been sentenced to six months probation.

Berger was sentenced Monday, Aug. 14, by Judge Daniel Bain. In addition to six months probation, he will attend a gun safety course, surrender his firearm and pay $1,255 in fines and fees.

More: Volunteer arraigned after handgun fell at Pinckney elementary school

More: Pinckney man pleads guilty after dropping weapon in front of students

Berger was charged following a March 17 incident where he forgot to leave his concealed pistol in his car before entering Navigator Upper Elementary School in Pinckney. While engaging with students at the school, his holster fell off and onto the floor.

While Michigan law allows someone with a CPL to carry a weapon onto school grounds, a Michigan Court of Appeals decision allows districts to ban guns, whether concealed or openly carried.

According to his attorney Devin Boria, Berger has been a volunteer with the school for seven years and has a daughter who still attends.

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(The school) has only great things to say about the guy and they said that hes been extremely helpful with them, Boria said.

This was Bergers first offense.

 Contact reporter Tess Ware at tware@livingstondaily.com. Follow her on Twitter @tess_journalist.

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Man charged with bringing weapon to school sentenced to probation
As of Aug. 13, Ukraine has repaired 80% of the main power grids and high-voltage stations damaged by Russian attacks to their pre-war condition, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal reported.

He added that 62% of the planned repair work on power units has been completed at the country's thermal power stations. In addition, 32 units at the hydroelectric power stations have either been repaired or are undergoing repair work.

We are preparing for winter," Shmyhal said. "We understand the high chances that the Russians will continue large-scale attacks on the energy system.

According to Shmyhal, five out of nine damaged power units at Ukraininan nuclear power plants have already been repaired.

The repair campaign is going in accordance with the plan. We are creating multi-level protection for energy facilities, Shmyhal said.

In November of last year, Russia severely hit almost half of Ukraines energy system. On Nov. 15 alone, the Russian military launched about 100 missiles targeting energy infrastructure in Kyiv and 10 regions across the country.

Read also: Kenneth Rogoff: Europe must lead Ukraines reconstruction

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
(Bloomberg) -- Poland has detained two Russians for allegedly disseminating propaganda for the Wagner Group and accused them of spying.

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In recent weeks, Polish and Baltic authorities have issued warnings about a mounting security threat from Belaruss authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko, who is hosting Russian mercenaries from the Wagner group.

Two Russians were distributing propaganda materials in Krakow and Warsaw, Polish Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski said on Monday in a post on X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter. He didnt elaborate.

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A suspected Russian agent who posted recruitment posters for the Wagner mercernary group has been arrested, along with an accomplice, after he was identified in a viral video on Aug. 11.

Two Russians, one in Warsaw and one in Krakow, were detained and charged with espionage, Poland's Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski said on Aug. 13.

The agents posted leaflets and posters in several Polish cities. They included a QR code which, when scanned, provided recruitment information about Wagner.

Read also: Explosion rocks Vladivostok, unidentified flying object spotted

People who witnessed their activities reported the men to police, which helped secure the arrest of the detainees.

Commentators were quick to note that it was ironic that the Russians placed their posters on garbage cans and public toilets.

Read also: Wagner military drills in Belarus intended to tie down Polish forces, says NRC

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
An 18-year-old man was killed in a Sunday night mass shooting in the Washington Park neighborhood, according to Chicago police. Police said three others, including two teenagers, were wounded.

Police said they responded to reports of a person shot in the 5700 block of South Payne Drive at about 8:15 p.m. They found multiple people shot outside when they arrived. Police said an unidentified man took out a gun and shot people who were fleeing the scene on foot following an argument among several women.

An 18-year-old man was shot in the thigh and buttocks, police said. He was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition, where he was pronounced dead.

A 16-year-old boy suffered a gunshot wound to the leg and is in fair condition. Another 18-year-old man was shot in the leg and torso and is also in fair condition. A 52-year-old man was shot in the face and chest and is in critical condition. All three were taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center.

No one is in custody, and police are investigating.

rjohnson@chicagotribune.com
Lexington police arrested and charged a man who allegedly made threats to the Chabad Jewish Student Center, officials announced Monday.

Sendil Nathan, 58, was charged with second-degree terroristic threatening. Police said he made threats to the student center and a local religious leader for several days.

Nathans threats featured hate speech and were focused on Jewish faith, police said.

Nathan was arrested Monday and booked into the Fayette County Detention Center, according to jail records. He was being held on a $10,000 bond.

Nathans first court appearance was scheduled to happen Monday afternoon, according to court records.

Police started investigating the case after a local rabbi contacted detectives, a police spokesperson said. The Chabad of the Bluegrass later put out a statement about the incident, saying the the threats did not have their desired effect. There are plans for a new permanent Jewish center.

Acts like this do not represent our community at UK or in Lexington, the Chabad said in a Facebook post. Kentucky has led the nation in addressing antisemitism in many ways over the last few years, and this hate has no place in our commonwealth.

The statement also thanked Lexington police for their quick and impactful investigation. The statement said command staff at the police department paid careful and personal attention to this incident, as did the detectives assigned.

While the Jewish Student Center provides for the Jewish community at the University of Kentucky, it is not affiliated with UK.

Jay Blanton, a spokesperson for UK, said the university was just learning about the allegations Monday.

No one should be subject to threats, discrimination or intimidation, Blanton said. As the Chabad Center is not affiliated with the institution and is located off campus, our understanding is that Lexington police are investigating.

Blanton said UK was reaching out to members of the Chabad student organization to provide support.
After police raided a local newspaper in Marion, Kansas, igniting concerns from press freedom advocates nationally, one of the states top law enforcement officials appeared to defend the search.

In a statement Sunday, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation said its director, Tony Mattivi, believed the freedom of the press is a vanguard of American democracy. The statement also noted that members of the media are not above the law.

The KBI is entrusted to investigate credible allegations of illegal activity without fear or favor, the agency said. In order to investigate and gather facts, the KBI commonly executes search warrants on police departments, sheriffs offices, and at city, county and state offices. ... No one is above the law, whether a public official or a representative of the media.

Marion, a town of fewer than 2,000 people north of Wichita, was embroiled in controversy after its entire five-officer police force, along with two sheriffs deputies, executed a search warrant at the Marion County Record  sparking criticism from First Amendment advocates who said it violated federal law that protects journalists from searches and seizures.

The search appeared to stem from questions about how the newspaper obtained information that a local business owner, who was applying for a liquor license, had lost her drivers license over a DUI citation in 2008.

At a City Council meeting Aug. 7, the business owner, Kari Newell, alleged her private information was illegally obtained by a reporter, who she said then shared the information with Councilwoman Ruth Herbel.

Eric Meyer, the publisher of the Record, said the paper did not obtain the information illegally. He said someone sent the paper the information on social media, adding that the paper did not share the information with Herbel or publish a story about it.

Herbels home was also searched Friday, with police seizing her cellphone and laptop. Speaking to The Star on Sunday, she called the police action ridiculous.

In her own statement, Newell said journalists are not exempt from the laws they blast others for not following. She described the Record as having a reputation of contortion.

Police seizures of journalists materials are exceptionally rare in America.

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, along with 30 news outlets and press organizations, condemned the raid and urged Marions police chief, Gideon Cody, to return the seized material.

Before the raid, the Record had been investigating Codys background with the Kansas City Police Department, where he had worked for more than 20 years before becoming chief in Marion earlier this year, Meyer said.

In its statement, the KBI said it was asked by Marion police and the Marion County attorney to join an investigation into accusations of illegal access and dissemination of confidential criminal justice information.

The agency assigned an agent to the case earlier this month. The statement noted that the KBI agent did not apply for the search warrants and said he was not present when they were executed.

Without free speech and a free press, our society is not likely to see appropriate accountability of public officials, the KBI said. But another principle of our free society is equal application of the law.

Video from inside the newspapers office, which was published by ABC News, showed officers taking photographs of the space and seizing computers Friday. Meyer has described the seizures, which also unfolded at his home, as Gestapo tactics.

The next day, Meyers mother Joan Meyer, who was also the newspapers co-owner, died at age 98. The stress from the illegal raids, the Record reported, contributed to her death.
A councilwoman of a small Kansas town says police seized her electronic devices Friday, the same day a law enforcement raid on the local newspaper made national news.

Speaking at her home on Sunday, Marion Councilwoman Ruth Herbel called the police action ridiculous.

I just think it was an invasion of a business, Herbel told The Star. The printing of the press is what makes us free.

The town of fewer than 2,000 people was embroiled in controversy after its entire five-officer police force, along with two sheriffs deputies, executed a search warrant at the Marion County Record  sparking criticism from First Amendment advocates and journalism organizations from across the country.

Also searched from 10:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Friday was Herbels home. She said her 88-year-old husband, who is disabled and has dementia, was traumatized when he answered the door to find an officer. He ran though the house screaming Herbels name.

Law enforcement took Herbels laptop and cellphone, though she said she does not know why. She was presented with a warrant saying police were investigating identify theft and unlawful acts concerning computers.

Herbel said not having a phone was initially a problem: She does not have a landline and could not call for help in case her husband had a medical emergency. She has since purchased a new phone.

At the newspaper, police seized computers, cellphones and reporting materials from its reporters and from the home of the owner and publisher, Eric Meyer. Meyer said police injured a reporters finger while taking away her cellphone.

Records show police were looking for evidence that a reporter had run an improper computer search to confirm a report that a local business owner applying for a liquor license had lost her drivers license over a DUI.

Marion County Record papers for sale in the newspapers office beside a collection of Kansas Press Association awards on Aug. 11, 2023, the day the office was raided by local law enforcement.

Meyers 98-year-old mother, Joan Meyer, a newswoman for decades and a co-owner of the paper, was upset by the police search of the home she shared with her son. She died Saturday and was remembered as a well-respected member of the community.

Meyer told The Star the raid amounted to intimidation tactics by the police.

Reached Sunday afternoon at his home, Mayor David Mayfield largely declined to comment, saying police were conducting a criminal investigation and that the situation would be handled by attorneys.

The town, Mayfield said, had never seen this kind of national attention.

The raid, first reported on by the online news outlet the Kansas Reflector, severely hampered publication of the Record.

Eric Meyer, owner and publisher of the Marion County Record, on the phone with media Aug. 11, 2023, in his office that was raided by local police.

Meyer said that, before the raid, his newspaper had investigated Police Chief Gideon Codys background and his time at the Kansas City Police Department, where he worked for 24 years before coming to Marion.

Cody did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the seizure of Herbels belongings.

In a previous written statement, Cody said he believed that when the rest of the story is available to the public, the judicial system that is being questioned will be vindicated.

Herbel said she was skeptical of Cody when he was being vetted as a candidate in Marion, though she was hesitant to say more.

The Record intends to file a lawsuit over the search as First Amendment advocates urge the police to return the journalists materials.

Star reporters Glenn E. Rice and Judy Thomas contributed to this report.
A doctored graphic has been repeatedly shared on social media alongside the false claim South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol ranked third on the 2022 list of the "World's 50 Greatest Leaders" by the US-based Fortune Magazine. A spokesperson for the magazine told AFP it has not released a new ranking since 2021. Yoon has not been included in any of the magazine's rankings which began in 2014.

"Fortune Magazine selected President Yoon Suk Yeol as number three on its list of the World's 50 Greatest Leaders in 2022," reads the Korean-language claim shared here on South Korean social media platform Naver Band on August 2, 2023.

"Our country's reputation is rising rapidly."

The post includes a purported graphic that includes the Fortune magazine ranking logo alongside a photo of Yoon.

Screenshot of the misleading claim shared on Naver Band. Captured August 8, 2023.

The doctored graphic and false claim were also shared on Facebook here, here and here.

But a spokesperson for Fortune Magazine told AFP the publication has not released a new ranking for 2022.

No ranking since 2021

The magazine's Chief Customer Officer Selma Stern confirmed on August 8 the magazine "hasn't published the World's 50 Greatest Leaders list since 2021".

In the 2021 list, published on May 12 of that year, Fortune ranked PayPal CEO Dan Schulman third -- behind then-New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and the scientists responsible for developing Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna's mRNA vaccines (archived link).

Yoon was not included in that year's list, nor in any of the publication's previous rankings dating back to 2014 when it was first published (archived link).

Yoon's predecessor, former South Korean president Moon Jae-in, was ranked fourth in 2018 for his reformist policies and attempts to broker peace with North Korea (archived link).

South Korean media reported Moon's inclusion on the list here, here and here (archived links here, here and here).

AFP did not find any credible reports or announcements about Yoon being included on the ranking.

Altered graphic

A reverse image search on Google found the graphic used alongside Yoon's photo in the misleading posts corresponded to a similar one posted on an Indian digital education website's blog post on March 27, 2016 (archived link).

The post is about Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal placing 42nd on Fortune's 2016 list of the World's 50 Greatest Leaders -- which matches the ranking on Fortune's website (archived links here and here).

Below is a screenshot comparison of the doctored graphic featuring Yoon (left) and the original graphic featuring Kejriwal (right):

Screenshot comparison of the doctored graphic featuring Yoon (left) and the original graphic showing Kejriwal (right)

The Kejriwal graphic includes the official Fortune ranking logo published in 2014 (archived link). But AFP found no other instance of the image on Fortune's official lists or websites.

A separate Google reverse image search found the picture of Yoon used in the doctored graphic matched his photo published on a website operated by South Korean broadcaster SBS (archived link).

AFP has debunked falsified claims of Yoon being ranked on a "world's most harmful leaders" list here.
By Nidal al-Mughrabi

GAZA (Reuters) - A heatwave and worsening power cuts in Gaza have left some of those living in the overcrowded Palestinian enclave struggling to breathe.

Ismail Nashwan, who suffers from pulmonary fibrosis, has had to shuttle between his home and hospital since temperatures rose over 38 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), because he could not run his ventilator, or even just a fan, at home.

"I go to the hospital, and when I come back home the electricity goes off again so I go back into the hospital," Nashwan, 65, said through an oxygen mask, with dozens of bags of medicines on a table next to breathing equipment in his room.

"This is how my life has become."

More than 2.3 million people live in a narrow strip of land squeezed between Egypt and Israel. Power cuts, which are unpredictable at the best of times, now last for around 12 hours a day instead of 10 as demand for air conditioning soars.

The Islamist group Hamas, which has run the territory since 2007, blames a 16-year-long Israeli blockade - backed up by neighbouring Egypt - for devastating Gaza's economy. Israel says its blockade is necessary to stop arms reaching Hamas.

Doctor Mohammad Al-Haj of Gaza's Shuhada Al-Aqsa Hospital, said the extreme heat and power interruptions means they have had to treat more people with respiratory problems this July and August - typically the hottest time of year.

"Power cuts deprive patients of their right to regular oxygen ventilation and that pushes patients to keep visiting hospital," Haj said.

Alongside cases of acquired pulmonary fibrosis, Gaza health officials say more than 300 people in the enclave were born with cystic fibrosis, which causes the lungs and digestive system to become clogged with sticky mucus.

Abdel-Majeed Al-Sbakhi, who has diabetes as well as cystic fibrosis, was among those forced in hospital by the heat.

"I can't stand the heat at home, it causes more chest inflammation and sends my heart rate up, so I spend most of my time in the hospital," he said.

(Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
Since at least the 1960s, the American right has worked to create a parallel set of civil society institutions: think tanks, interest groups, foundations, educational institutions, many forms of media, churches and religious communities and much more. Their ultimate goal all along has been to transform American society to fit their vision.

Liberals, progressives, and others who believe in a genuine democracy and humane society have no comparable network of institutions.

The right-wing social engineering project is predicated on such ambiguous concepts as "traditional" American values and untrammeled "freedom," which in practice means a society dominated by the moneyed classes and specifically by white Christian conservatives. In an increasingly global, pluralistic, and diverse society, that goal is clearly antithetical to democracy and the long-term health of the nation.

Because leading figures on the right understand that time and changing demographics are not on their side, in response their plan is to capture the hearts and minds of young people, who they can then develop into the future leaders and foot soldiers for their counterrevolutionary project.

As seen in Florida and numerous other states, PragerU, the powerful right-wing media, advocacy and pseudo-educational organization, is playing an integral role in that project. PragerU is clear in its mission, which it describes as being "a free alternative to the dominant left-wing ideology in culture, media, and education."

In this conversation, John Knefel, a senior writer at Media Matters for America, explains the origins of PragerU, its relationship to the larger right-wing revolutionary project (especially under Ron DeSantis in Florida), and how education is being weaponized by the global right-wing.

Towards the end of this conversation, Knefel highlights two specific examples of the ways PragerU's "educational" videos and other materials are literally whitewashing African-American history and Christopher Columbus' role in the genocidal white European colonial and imperial project that decimated the Indigenous peoples of the Americas.

How do you locate Ron DeSantis and his Orwellian attacks on public education, as seen recently with the claim that chattel slavery in America was basically a job skills program, within a larger story about the conservative movement today?

The things we're seeing in Florida right now are either long-simmering or open goals of the conservative movement to attack public education. And that includes at the elementary school, middle school, high school level and at the university and college level as well. What see in Florida is an attempt to either destroy public education through defunding it and allowing parents to transfer public tax dollars to charter schools or private schools, or to just starve the public school system more broadly.

What the Republicans in Florida and elsewhere can't starve in terms of public schools and education, DeSantis wants to capture with the right-wing propaganda being produced and disseminated by the likes of PragerU Kids. There is another component here as well because these attacks on public education are a labor story.

This move for "parents' rights"  which in reality is a euphemism for the concerns and anxieties and bigotries of wealthy white suburban parents  comes out of the COVID lockdowns and the school closures. The right wing blamed teachers' unions for those lockdowns. These efforts by DeSantis also consist of an attempt to propagandize children at a young age into right-wing beliefs and lies about history.

What do we know about how the Republican Party and conservative movement have been propagandizing and recruiting young people as part of a largert strategic plan?

PragerU has been at the forefront of a lot of those efforts. It was founded in 2009 by Dennis Prager and his longtime radio producer Allen Estrin. They initially wanted to create a physical university. Pretty early on they realized that was prohibitively expensive. In 2011, very early in the digital media boom, PragerU saw an opportunity to target young people, millennials and now Gen Z, to try to counter the myth of the liberal "politically correct" media and educational system and society more generally. For the entire decade of the 2010s, Prager amassed a huge online viewership. Prager continues that growth by bringing in right-wing personalities such as Ben Shapiro, Charlie Kirk, Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, Jordan Peterson and others. PragerU's longer-term goal was to infiltrate public school classrooms. There was some successful infiltration, but that came with pushback.

When PragerU Kids launched in 2021, they switched their target audience from college and high school students to elementary school kids. It appears that PragerU is afraid of public backlash because in some of their ads on Facebook, they say, "We are now an approved vendor and teachers can't get in trouble for showing our videos in class." PragerU knows that for parents outside the right-wing media and echo chambers, many of these "educational" videos are going to be deemed offensive and ahistorical and clearly not fit for the classroom.

While reputable and award-winning books by serious and acclaimed writers are being purged from the schools in Florida and elsewhere, Prager propaganda is being approved for teaching. How do we reconcile that? What machinations in the Florida school bureaucracy have facilitated this?

The radical right-wing astroturf group Moms for Liberty is a very close ally of Prager. Dennis Prager, the organization's namesake and founder, just spoke at a Moms for Liberty conference in Philadelphia in July. At that conference, Prager admitted that what PragerU does is indoctrinate kids. Now, it's worth noting that a couple days later on his syndicated radio show, he downplayed the idea that there was any ideological component to PragerU's materials, saying that it isn't "right-wing." it is just "responsible."

Depending on the context and audience, PragerU and its executives tailor their messaging and try to naturalize the reactionary right-wing ideology that they present as being value-neutral. As for the networks and behind-the-scenes connections, we know that PragerU Kids saw Florida as an incredibly welcoming environment to try to infiltrate public schools in that state and to leverage their connections in the Republican Party and conservative movement, as well as DeSantis' obvious presidential ambitions.

This is about ideology and also about money, right? This is a highly lucrative operation. Always follow the money on the right.

Prager is blessed to have connections with Dan and Ferris Wilks, who are hydrofracking multi-billionaires. The Wilks brothers were the initial largest donors to Prager, and they gave at least $6.5 million as of 2015. The Bradley Foundation, a right-wing charity, is another top donor. One of the members of their board is [attorney] Cleta Mitchell, allegedly one of the top architects of Trump's failed coup. Interestingly, there are PragerU and now PragerU Kids curriculum videos that totally embrace climate denialism. These videos are so extreme they could have been produced by the fossil fuel companies themselves. PragerU is absolutely raking in the money. They are a 501(c)(3), so we often don't know exactly where their money comes from. But as of 2020, they had at least a $25 million operating budget, and a huge amount of that money goes to YouTube and Facebook marketing. Contrary to claims by the right that they are being censored by "big tech"  which is not true; we know for a fact that the algorithms amplify right-wing sources  they are making lots of money and getting lots of traffic and attention from social media.

What is the worldview and ideology being advocated by PragerU?

The picture of the world painted by PragerU is one that naturalizes the status quo. It normalizes every existing system of hierarchy, especially in the United States, but also globally. The PragerU view of the world consists of an ideology that depends on telling kids that any inequality or power imbalances or injustices that they may observe either don't exist or exist for good reasons. There is no such thing as structural inequality or racism. Racism, sexism, class domination and class exploitation are all made up buzzwords of "the left" or the "woke mob." Instead, what exists is a system of meritocracy: The United States is the shining city on the hill and the greatest country that's ever existed. If the United States may have inadvertently committed sins in the past, they weren't really committed by anyone.

Moreover, any wrongs of the past cannot be deemed as such or judged because we can't judge the past by the standards of the present. The result of Prager's worldview is that if you tell kids that existing inequality is natural, and the United States is inherently good, then there's no reason for them to organize to create positive social and political change. In fact, there is no political remedy for injustice at all.

The PragerU worldview also has an almost religious devotion to capitalism that equates capitalism as synonymous with freedom and democracy. PragerU also celebrates colonialism and imperialism, "Western civilization" and "Judeo-Christian values," the latter of course interpreted through a right-wing, white supremacist frame, and in a propagandistic way. PragerU videos are also teaching kids "copaganda," urging them to "back the blue" and support the Second Amendment.

Let's focus on the Booker T. Washington PragerU Kids video. That's an especially foul example of using history as propaganda. If the implications were not so serious, the video would actually be funny, like material for a skit on the Dave Chappelle's show or the golden age of "Saturday Night Live."

It's incredible. The Booker T. Washington video is breathtaking for its inaccuracies. That video is part of a PragerU Kids series called "Leo and Layla," the adventures of two fictitious white kids who travel back in time to meet historical figures and learn lessons from them. Sometimes the lessons are pegged to current events. So Leo and Layla travel back in time to meet Booker T. Washington and learn about slavery and the Civil War. There are so many offensive things in the video, but one of the worst is when Washington explains to Leo and Layla how proud he is to be an American, saying, "I was a slave and now I'm free." Booker T. Washington goes on to give this talk about the Civil War in the passive voice that robs Black people of agency in fighting for their own freedom, as opposed to sitting around waiting to be saved by white people.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

The PragerU Kids videos also remove any blame or moral dimensions to the Civil War and present the North and the South, anti-slavery and pro-slavery forces, as equivalent. The video goes even further and has this fake Booker T. Washington telling the white kids that they shouldn't worry or feel nervous because future generations are never responsible for the sins of the past. Then Layla says, "Thanks, I'll try to remember that and stop feeling guilty about all this historical stuff." So what we have here is a complete dramatization of the DeSantis "stop woke" legislation in Florida and the effort to stop the teaching of accurate history and events, because white children can't ever be made to feel uncomfortable.

The Christopher Columbus video is an abomination as well.

Here is a quote from the video: "The place I discovered was beautiful. But it wasn't exactly a paradise of civilization. And the native people were far from peaceful." So again, you have a justification for colonialism and for Columbus enslaving the indigenous peoples. Columbus is depicted as responding to existing violence, rather than himself being an agent of violence. The video starts with Leo and Layla talking about Columbus Day at school and a teacher correcting them that it is now called Indigenous People's Day. As with the Booker T. Washington video, the overall thesis of PragerU is that teaching white kids about actual history produces anxiety that must be alleviated. Real history has to be ignored and buried, and these videos are a perfect tool to do that.

What is PragerU and Ron DeSantis' vision for the future? What is the grand plan?

Where PragerU goes next is to try to get into other schools. They are explicit that they want to expand from Florida into other school systems across the country. It's not hard to imagine them going after a state like Texas or Virginia. As far as DeSantis and PragerU, they want to indoctrinate kids at a young age into a far-right belief system. The goal is to create a generation of right-wing media consumers who adopt their framing on issues both historical and current, whether that's the George Floyd uprisings in 2020, trans rights, feminism and women's liberation or any number of other issues.

The PragerU vision is to have consumers of their product from K through 12 and then into college. There is also Prager's radio show for adults. The ultimate vision is to create a completely closed information system that doubles down on white supremacy, patriarchy, unfettered capitalism and other extreme right-wing values. If this project comes to fruition, it will be much easier for conservatives and the extreme right to implement their regressive policies at the state and federal level across the country.

Read more

about Florida and the education wars
I didnt intend to break the law. It was a crime of omission, which I committed because Im forgetful, and honestly, sometimes a little dumb.

I was living my life blissfully unaware of my fugitive status. Then one day, out of nowhere, it hit me  like remembering I owed someone an email six years ago or that my kids have a half-day and Im already 10 minutes late picking them up  that I hadnt updated my car registration in a while.

Like, a long while.

How long had it actually been, I wondered. How long had I been driving all around the valley in a vehicle that could have, and probably should have, been impounded? I crept around to the back of my car like a minor character in a horror movie who is about to turn a corner and come face-to-face with an ax murderer, and, through laced fingers, glanced at my license plate. My heart dropped to my bowels as I read the digits on the tags  09 21.

My registration was two years out-of-date.

I dont know for sure how this happened, but I think that years ago, in an effort to be a good person and live a greener lifestyle, I opted for paperless registration renewal reminders. Then, I have to assume, the reminder landed in my promotions folder, spam or just general inbox that currently contains 51,815 unread emails. Anyway, I never saw it.

This was the explanation I planned to offer to the judge and jury when I was inevitably tried in a court of law. But I knew this would not be defense enough for an acquittal  my peers probably all have up-to-date plates  and I prepared myself for the worst as I went to my computer and pulled up the Utah Department of Motor Vehicles registration renewal page online. I expected to be hit with a major fine and a court date.

But what I was actually given was a notice that explained that so much time had passed since my last renewal, I would need to go to the DMV in person. This was a punishment even worse than I had imagined.

I once spent an entire afternoon in a windowless room in the Longmont, Colorado, DMV waiting for my number to be called. It felt as though each patron was taking a full hour at the single registration desk. I was living the infamous DMV scene in the Zootopia movie.

As time passed, I felt my youth slipping away. My phone, which had been fully charged when I walked in, died after three hours of scrolling. The patrons sitting behind me, who had initially been engaged in juicy conversations, ran out of things to talk about. We sat together in painful boredom until, at last, I heard my number announced over the muffled sound system. Im pretty sure the sun had set.

I was reliving that memory when I scheduled an appointment at the Draper DMV. The morning of the appointment I said my goodbyes to my family, still thinking there was a good chance that the DMV employees would drag me out of the building and into the back of a squad car. I pulled up to the parking lot and spent a minute contemplating what I was about to do. I Googled prison visitation and then average DMV wait time before checking in online, then braced myself for what was to come.

Related

The website had given me a number and instructed me to wait for my number to appear on the digital board in the waiting room before approaching a station. To my surprise, my number was already on the board of the large, spacious and very clean waiting room when I walked in. I was going to face my fate sooner than I thought.

I made my walk of doom toward the DMV employee behind my assigned station, then placed all my outdated documents on the counter between us. I launched into the explanation I had rehearsed after watching a few episodes of Law and Order, and then finally confessed the problem at hand, my lapsed registration.

No problem, she said, then found my information in the system, told me how much I owed, processed my payment, and handed me my new tags within 20 seconds.

In a state of dazed disbelief, I left the DMV five minutes after I had walked in, handcuff-free. I was overjoyed to not be incarcerated or thrown into a dank pit, and I gleefully attached the new decals to my license plate.

But I also had some hard questions to ask myself.

How had I escaped what should have been my fate? How will I make sure I dont accidentally archive the 2024 renewal reminder? Had I momentarily entered a parallel universe where time and space bent and bureaucracy was efficient?

And, perhaps most troubling of all, am I now a fan of the Department of Motor Vehicles?

I contemplated these philosophical quandaries as I drove home, shiny new decals gleaming, and fresh registration documents in my glove box.

Ultimately, I could only answer my final question. Yes, I am a fan of our DMV, because it might be the best in the world. At the very least its better than Colorados, and thats what really matters.
A Texas prison guard is suing the prison that she worked for in November. In the lawsuit filed against the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and prison officials, Salia Issa says that she was prevented from going to the hospital for two and a half hours as she experienced extreme pain while seven months pregnant. The baby was eventually delivered stillborn.

Issa says that she called her supervisors to ask for relief from her post although she knew that the prisons policy states that she cant leave until someone come to relieve her. After calling several times for help, she was accused by her supervisors of lying about her contractions. Two and a half hours later, her replacement came. Once she made it to the hospital, the doctors rushed her to emergency surgery to find out the babys unfortunate fate. The lawsuit claims that medical personnel told her that if she would have made it to the hospital sooner, the baby would have survived.

The Lawsuit

Issa and her husband, Fiston Rukengeza, filed the lawsuit on behalf of themselves and their unborn child. They are suing the prison as well as three of Issas supervisors. Issa and Rukengezas argument states that the death of their child was caused by her supervisors violation of state and federal laws as well as the U.S. Constitution. The couple is seeking money to cover medical costs and funeral expenses and to compensate for their suffering.

The state attorney generals office and prison system have asked a judge to dismiss the case. Republican attorney general Ken Paxton is also arguing that the unborn child did not have rights, which is a stark difference from what the Texas attorney generals office has based its reputation on. In the anti-abortion fight, the office gave itself the title of a nationwide leader in the protection of the unborn.

A TDCJ spokesperson recently said that the agency hasnt had an opportunity to present its side of the story this early in the legal process.

The post Prison Guard Says Child Was Stillborn After Job Forced Her to Work Through Labor appeared first on 21Ninety.
Never Back Down, a super PAC supporting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), released a new ad Monday highlighting the governors experience in the Navy.

The ad, which is part of a seven-figure broadcast and digital ad buy airing in Iowa and New Hampshire, was first seen by The Hill.

The 30-second spot titled Oath notes DeSantiss decision to volunteer to go to Iraq with the Navy after graduating from Yale and Harvard Law. The ad also highlights that DeSantis earned a Bronze Star as a lieutenant and assisted Navy SEALs.

Service to country is Ron DeSantis story. Thats the American story, the ads narrator says.

The super PACs ad comes less than a week after the DeSantis campaign also released an ad highlighting his military service. The Florida governor has spoken frequently about his experience in the Navy on the presidential campaign trail. If elected president, DeSantis would be the first president since George H. W. Bush to have served in a combat zone.

Last month, DeSantis unveiled his plan to revamp the countrys military, marking his second major policy rollout of the presidential campaign. The plan, titled Mission First, features four pillars: Ripping Political Agendas Out of Our Military; Restoring Military Standards; Breaking the Swamp and Promoting Accountability; and Turning the Tide Against Bidens Military Recruitment Crisis.

The plan takes aim at diversity, equity and inclusion administrators, as well as policies impacting transgender service members.

Its a military that has been ordered by civilian officials to pursue political ideology, to pursue social experimentation, to be yet another institution in American life that gets infected with the woke mind virus, DeSantis said at a campaign event in South Carolina. This is changing the character of the military, its changing the culture of our services, and its creating a situation in which great warriors have been driven away and recruiting is at an all-time low.

DeSantiss campaign is in reset mode in a bid to gain more traction in the polls against former President Trump. Last week, the campaign announced it would be switching campaign managers, which followed news of two rounds of staff layoffs.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Southbound lanes of Interstate 59 near Poplarville are blocked Monday afternoon after a semi-truck hauling propane bottles crashed and caught fire, the Pearl River County Sheriffs Department said.

The crash occurred in the southbound lane but all lanes were blocked for at least two hours because the propane bottles on the truck have been exploding and first responders are trying to contain the scene, Mississippi Highway Patrol in Biloxi said on Twitter.

Photos from MHP show dozens of propane bottles in the roadway and a semi truck bed destroyed by fire.

The nortbound lanes were reopened around 4 p.m. MHP said, but southbound lanes will be closed for the next several hours as a safety precaution.

The crash occurred near the 28-mile marker, in between the Poplarville (29) and Necaise (27, near Hancock County) exits.

Lanes will be closed for at least an hour as crews work to clear the scene, the Mississippi Department of Transportation said just before 2 p.m.
The State Department said on Monday that it would be unwarranted and unjustified if Nigers military junta moved forward with its plan to prosecute ousted President Mohamed Bazoum on treason charges over his dealings with foreign leaders and organizations.

Military authorities who have taken over the nation, in the Sahel region of Africa, gathered the necessary evidence to prosecute Bazoum for high treason and undermining the internal and external security of Niger, junta spokesperson Col. Amadou Abdramane said in a statement read on state television on Sunday night, according to Reuters .

This action is completely unwarranted and unjustified, and, candidly, it will not contribute to a peaceful resolution of this crisis, State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters on Monday. It is a further affront, in our opinion, to democracy and justice and to the respect of the rule of law, and a threat like this underscores the urgency of respecting the constitutional order in Niger.

The latest threat against the detained president, less than three weeks after the coup, follows the juntas warning last week that it would kill Bazoum if the Economic Community of West African States tried to reinstate him via military force.

As the West and neighboring countries worry about the fate of Niger, the State Department didnt rule out supporting the use of military force if needed.

ECOWAS has been  very clear publicly that military intervention should be a last resort, something that we agree with, and we continue to be focused on finding a diplomatic solution, Patel said.


A 71-year-old Hasbrouck Heights man has been charged with murder in his wife's killing, the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office said on Sunday night.

The Prosecutor's Office claims that Michael Manis "killed his wife and later staged a robbery to cover up the homicide." The name of the victim has not been released.

On Saturday around 5 p.m., Hasbrouck Heights police were called to the Hamilton Avenue home after receiving a 911 call from Manis who stated he arrived home and found his wife dead, a release from the prosecutor stated. Through the ensuing investigation by police, the Bergen County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit and the Bergen County Sheriffs Office, authorities determined that Manis' wife was killed on Friday and Manis later staged the robbery, the prosecutor stated.

Manis was arrested and charged on Sunday with murder, disturbing/desecrating human remains, hindering apprehension and filing a false report to law enforcement.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Hasbrouck Heights man charged with wife's murder
Supporters of Islamist leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee gather after his death in Dhaka on August 14, 2023 (Munir UZ ZAMAN)

Thousands of furious protesters chanting anti-government slogans marched in Bangladesh on Monday hours after a powerful jailed Islamist opposition leader died of a heart attack aged 83, officials said.

Delwar Hossain Sayedee, vice president of the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami party, died in a prison hospital early Monday evening, just over a decade since his conviction by a controversial war crimes court triggered the deadliest political violence in the country's history.

Thousands of mourners and supporters of Sayedee rallied outside the hospital after his death, chanting "Allahu akbar", or "God is greatest", with large numbers of police deployed.

"We won't let the blood of Sayedee go in vain", supporters shouted, with many blaming the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, which is preparing for key general elections slated for January.

Hospital authorities said Sayedee was admitted to the health facility after suffering a heart attack in Kashimpur Prison outside the capital Dhaka on Sunday.

"He faced another heart attack today (Monday) at 6.45 pm (1245 GMT) and died at 8.40 pm," hospital director Brigadier General Rezaur Rahman told AFP, adding he had had five stents inserted into his arteries.

Jamaat-e-Islami announced Sayedee's death on its Facebook page, where it accused the authorities of "slowly turning him into a martyr without treatment in the prison".

Sayedee was sentenced to death in 2013 by a war-crimes tribunal on eight charges of murder, rape and persecution of Hindus, triggering deadly protests by thousands of supporters nationwide, leaving more than 100 people dead.

The party said tens of thousands of its supporters were arrested in a subsequent crackdown, and the party was only this year able to hold public protests again.

In 2014, Bangladeshs Supreme Court said Sayedee should spend "the rest of his natural life" in jail for crimes during the 1971 liberation war with Pakistan.

Sayedee shot to prominence in the 1980s after he started preaching in some of the Muslim-majority nation's top mosques.

In his heyday he would draw hundreds of thousands to his sessions and CDs of his speeches were top sellers.

Even people who were not supporters of Jamaat attended his Koranic preachings.

Jamaat-e-Islami was banned for much of the 1970s for its support of Pakistan during the war, but by the 1990s it had become the country's third largest party and the biggest Islamist outfit.

Political analysts credit Sayedee's preaching for transforming the party into a major force.

mma-sa/pjm/tjj
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Qantas on Monday unveiled plans for some aircraft to carry special livery supporting recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Straits Island people in Australia's constitution, stepping into the divisive debate on Indigenous rights.

Australians will vote in a landmark referendum later this year on whether they support altering the constitution to include a "Voice to Parliament", an Indigenous committee to advise parliament on matters affecting First Nations people.

Support for the proposal has been dipping in recent months, according to opinion polls.

The national carrier said livery featuring a 'Yes23' logo, asking Australians to vote Yes in the referendum, will be carried on three aircraft: a Qantas Boeing 737, a QantasLink Dash 8 Turboprop and a Jetstar Airbus A320.

"We are supporting the Yes23 campaign because we believe a formal voice to government will help close the gap for First Nations people in important areas like health, education and employment," Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce told a press conference revealing the new livery.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said every Australian will have an opportunity in the referendum "to show respect, to uplift our whole nation and to send a message to the world that we are a confident mature nation."

"Australia has been talking about this for a very long time and that is why it is absolutely time for us to say yes," he said at the event.

Australia's Indigenous people are not mentioned in the constitution. They make up about 3.2% of its near 26 million population and track below national averages on most socio-economic measures.

Supporters of the 'Voice to Parliament' argue that voting yes will help mend fraught ties with the Aboriginal community and "unite the nation", while opponents say the move would hand excessive powers to the Indigenous people.

In addition to the Yes livery, Qantas will support the Yes23 campaign teams with travel so they can engage with regional and remote Australians ahead of the referendum, the company said in a statement.

(Reporting by Praveen Menon; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
As first Republican presidential primary debate approaches on Aug. 23, some candidates are still scrambling to meet the criteria.

To qualify for the first debate in Milwaukee, the Republican National Committee requires that candidates reach at least 1% in multiple eligible polls, gather at least 40,000 donors, and sign a pledge committing to supporting the ultimate GOP nominee.

The RNC has not yet independently verified which candidates qualify for the stage. Here is where the candidates stand.

Qualified, according to their campaigns

Doug Burgum

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum's campaign announced in late July that he qualified for the first debate, following Burgum offering donors $20 gift cards for $1 donations. Burgum's spokesman said the governor "is looking forward to sharing his focus on the economy, energy and national security at the August debate."

Burgum was a little-known name outside of North Dakota politics before he announced his presidential bid.

Ron DeSantis

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who trails former President Donald Trump in most polls, meets the polling and donor requirements for the first debate, according to his campaign. The candidate also says he signed the RNC loyalty pledge.

DeSantis' performance will be critical for an operation that's shrunk and reorganized in recent months. DeSantis' campaign shaved more than a third of its staff in the second quarter of 2023 to remain afloat financially through the fall.

Nikki Haley

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley signed the RNC loyalty pledge on Aug. 9, according to her campaign. Her campaign says Haley  the only woman in the GOP field  meets the donor and polling threshold for the debate.

Tim Scott

Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina has qualified for the first debate, according to his campaign. He has also signed the RNC's loyalty pledge, according to a copy of the pledge shared with CBS News.

Scott, the only Black Republican in the Senate, has sought to pitch what he describes as an optimistic vision for the country's future.

"I look forward to sharing my positive, optimistic message on the GOP Debate stage in Milwaukee," Scott said after his campaign announced that he qualified. "Republicans are ready for conservative leadership with a backbone, one that will crush the cartels, stand up to China, and protect the America we all love."

Vivek Ramaswamy

A political outsider who has campaigned relentlessly, the formerly unknown, 38-year-old entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has captured the attention of a chunk of the GOP electorate. Technically, Ramaswamy became the first Republican candidate to qualify after he said he signed the RNC loyalty pledge in early August. He has met the polling and donor requirements, according to his campaign.

Unclear

Francis Suarez

As of Aug. 14, the political action committee supporting Republican Miami Mayor Francis Suarez says he has attained the debate thresholds. Suarez has reached 1% in three national polls, and previously reached the fundraising threshold, the PAC said. But a spokesperson for Suarez' campaign said they have "no announcement at this time."

"Another day, another poll confirms that conservative Miami Mayor Francis Suarez will be on the RNC debate stage," said SOS America PAC Spokesman Chapin Fay. "Having a successful Republican with a strong record of accomplishment, who is also a prominent Hispanic voice in a campaign with no other Hispanic candidates is a critical step in winning over one of the fastest growing demographics in America."

Hasn't signed pledge but campaign says they qualify

Chris Christie

Chris Christie, who blasted the RNC over a similar loyalty pledge in 2015, has balked at the latest RNC loyalty pledge. But Christie told ABC News on Aug. 13 that he hadn't been presented with such a pledge.

"They're still going through, I guess, the process of verifying all of our donors and all the rest of it, but I'm sure I'll be presented with the pledge at some point in the next week," Christie said on ABC's "This Week."

Christie said in July he'd met the qualifications for the debate.

Mike Pence

Former Vice President Mike Pence reached the donor threshold and qualified for the debate on Aug. 8, according to his campaign. The former vice president told Fox News he will sign the RNC pledge to support the ultimate nominee, "especially if it's me." But Pence's team hasn't announced any such signature yet. Pence has struggled to poll above a few percent, as he faces off against his former boss.

Donald Trump

Trump, the leading candidate in the GOP field, qualifies by the donor and debate metrics. But Trump has questioned aloud whether he needs to participate when he's polling so well, and has suggested he might hold another, competing event the same night. Trump also told Newsmax he won't sign the RNC's loyalty pledge.

Trump said to Newsmax on Aug. 9 "what's the upside" of debating when the others on the stage are "not dumb people."

If he does appear on the debate stage, Trump will do so against a backdrop of multiple felony criminal cases against him.

Who hasn't qualified

Former Rep. Will Hurd, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and conservative talk radio show host Larry Elder have not yet met the criteria for the GOP debate.

Why Donald Trump is facing a RICO charge originally meant for Mafia

Exclusive discounts from CBS Mornings Deals

Back-to-school book recommendations for parents and caregivers
A group of potential witnesses seen on the hiking trail where Rachel Morin was killed have now come forward, according to authorities.

On Thursday, Harford County Sheriffs Office said investigators had been made aware of potential witnesses who may have seen Morin on the Ma & Pa Trail in Bel Air on Saturday. The witnesses  either three men, two women and two dogs or two men, three women and two dogs  were urged to come forward.

Officials said that these individuals had been identified and were contacted by investigators.

Morin, 37, was last seen heading to the Ma & Pa Trail at around 6pm on 5 August. Her boyfriend reported her missing that night after she failed to return home and her body was found the following day.

Margaret Woltz, who frequently hired Morins cleaning services, remembered the slain Bel Air woman as a devoted mother.

She was very warm and above all she loved her children ... She had a flexible work schedule that allowed her to make sure her kids were always taken care of. We were like grandparents to the kids and we trusted her implicitly, Ms Woltz told The New York Post.

Key points

Rachel Morin last seen alive heading to Ma and Pa hiking trail in Maryland

Mother-of-five killed just a week after her baby niece died

Boyfriend breaks silence over death to deny involvement

Morins sister launches GoFundMe page to help with funeral expenses

Police department purchases ATV amid Rachel Morin investigation

21:41 , Andrea Blanco

Just a week after Morins homicide rocked the town of Bel Air in Maryland, the Harford County Sheriffs Foundation has purchased a new Gator ATV in response to an immediate police operational need, Fox Digital News reports.

According to WBALTV, law enforcement has increased patrols along the Ma and Pa Trail in the aftermath of Morins homicide.

It is unclear if the new vehicle is being actively used in the Morin case. The Independent has reached out to the Harford County Sheriffs Office.

Officials said that three potential witnesses have been identified and were contacted by investigators.

Where is The Ma and Pa Trail?

20:18 , Andrea Blanco

The 6.25 mile (10km) trail gets its name from the former Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad corridor that ran through the town of Bel Air in Harford County.

The track was dismantled in the 1950s, and later turned into a heritage trail along the railroads former route.

It consists of a 3.3mile section through Bel Air and a 1.7mile segment in neighbouring Forest Hill.

According to Alltrails.com, the trail is moderately challenging and takes around 2 hours and 25 minutes to complete.

In the wake of Ms Morins death, authorities have warned hikers to take particular care and be aware of their surroundings.

Report: Rachel Morins boyfriend provided DNA sample, cellphone to police

18:01 , Andrea Blanco

Ms Morins boyfriend Richard Tobin reported him missing on Saturday after she failed to return home.

Responding to speculation in the case, Mr Tobin, 27, previously said on a Facebook post that he would never do anything to Morin.

A source close to Mr Tobin has since told The Baltimore Banner that he gave his cell phone and a DNA sample to police.

Authorities have not identified any suspects in the investigation.

On Thursday, Harford County Sheriffs Office said investigators had been made aware of potential witnesses who may have seen Morin on the trail that night. The witnesses  either three men, two women and two dogs or two men, three women and two dogs  were urged to come forward.

Slain mother-of-five was devoted to her children, according to employers

16:56 , Andrea Blanco

Rachel Morins boss Margaret Woltz told The New York Post that Morin loved her children above all.

She raised them very well. She had a flexible work schedule that allowed her to make sure her kids were always taken care of. We were like grandparents to the kids and we trusted her implicitly, Ms Woltz, 69, said.

Ms Woltz, who hired Morins cleaning services, also said that she seemed distracted during the week before her death.

Rachel Morins family faced tragedy just days before the mother-of-five was killed

15:43 , Andrea Blanco

Ms Morins sister Rebekah, herself a mother of seven children, revealed on a GoFundMe page that the family had been grieving the death of their niece Lily Beth to sudden infant death syndrome just a week earlier.

It is with devastating sadness and a broken heart that our family has been hit with yet another heartbreak.

My sister, Rachel Morin went missing on Saturday August 5 2023 around 6pm. In less then 24 hours her body was found by local law enforcement. It has only been a week since my niece Lily Beth passed away from SIDS, and I find that I have to make yet another gofundme to help my mother, Patty Morin with funeral costs.

Rebekah confirmed that her sister did not have life insurance, and appealed for financial assistance to provide for her five surviving children.

Rachel Morins family walks in remembrance of the most beautiful, sweet and loving woman

14:00 , Andrea Blanco

Rachel Morins family walked the Ma and Pa trail together in silent remembrance of the late mother-of-five, her sister Rebekah Morin wrote on Facebook last week.

Along the way we placed pictures of her and us her siblings on the trees. I was thinking how beautiful would it be to have flowers along both sides of the trail in remembrance of her! Ms Morin wrote. If you would like to place flowers along the way, or take pics of what we put up, we would love to see, please post a picture and use the hashtag #RememberingRachelMorin to honor and remember the most beautiful, sweet and loving woman I have known

(Rebekah Morin)

Rebekah Morin shares heartbreaking poem in memory of slain sister

11:00 , Andrea Blanco

Shrouded in grief/Suffocating /In soul crushing/Heartbreak, Ms Morin wrote in a poem shared on Facebook.. A pain I know well/And hate/My sister/My friend/Now gone/Alone I am/With my pain/My old friend/The only one/That stays til the end.

Who was Rachel Morin?

08:00 , Andrea Blanco

Ms Morin was originally from Dover, New Hampshire, and was a long-term resident of Bel Air. She was one of five siblings.

Her sister Rebekah, herself a mother of seven children, revealed on a GoFundMe page that the family had been grieving the death of their niece Lily Beth to sudden infant death syndrome just a week earlier.

It is with devastating sadness and a broken heart that our family has been hit with yet another heartbreak.

My sister, Rachel Morin went missing on Saturday August 5 2023 around 6pm. In less then 24 hours her body was found by local law enforcement. It has only been a week since my niece Lily Beth passed away from SIDS, and I find that I have to make yet another gofundme to help my mother, Patty Morin with funeral costs.

Rebekah confirmed that her sister did not have life insurance, and appealed for financial assistance to provide for her five surviving children.

In an update, Rebekah asked for anyone with information to notify law enforcement to get justice for my sister, her children, her mother and all her siblings.

On social media, Rachel Morin posted touching photos with her children, selfies at the gym and spending time with friends.

Rachel was so unabashedly herself: witty and genuine, brilliant, daring, and headstrong. Her spirit would light up the room and her smile was contagious, her best friend Claudia Brown wrote in a Facebook post after her death.

Her faith was so strong,

Trail of flowers and light planned to honour Rachel Morins life

05:00 , Andrea Blanco

Morins family invited members of the community to meet at 11 am on 19 August at the William Street entrance of the Ma and Pa trail.

Attendees will then begin walking to the end of the first half of the trail and back.

We are hoping to have a Trail of Flowers and Light to line both sides of the trail for our walk on the Ma & Pa Trail, Morins sister Rebekah Morin wrote on Facebook. If you are able to, we ask that you bring flowers and a battery operated candle to lay on either side of the trail somewhere as we walk Rachels last steps.

(Rebekah Morin/Facebook)

Maryland police set up tip email in Rachel Morins homicide investigation

02:00 , Andrea Blanco

Rachel Morins mother breaks silence on daughters killing

Sunday 13 August 2023 23:00 , Andrea Blanco

The mother of Rachel Morin has broken her silence with a plea for compassion as the family takes time to grieve the sudden and tragic loss of the 37-year-old whose body was found after she vanished while going for a jog on the Ma and Pa Trail in Bel Air.

Rachel Morins mother breaks her silence with a post on Facebook asking compassion and time to grieve (Rebekah Morin/Facebook)

Report: Rachel Morins boyfriend provided DNA sample, cellphone to police

Sunday 13 August 2023 20:00 , Andrea Blanco

Ms Morins boyfriend Richard Tobin reported him missing on Saturday after she failed to return home.

Responding to speculation in the case, Mr Tobin, 27, previously said on a Facebook post that he would never do anything to Morin.

A source close to Mr Tobin has since told The Baltimore Banner that he gave his cell phone and a DNA sample to police.

Authorities have not identified any suspects in the investigation.

On Thursday, Harford County Sheriffs Office said investigators had been made aware of potential witnesses who may have seen Morin on the trail that night. The witnesses  either three men, two women and two dogs or two men, three women and two dogs  were urged to come forward.

WATCH: Rachel Morin's boyfriend speaks out about her death

Sunday 13 August 2023 17:00 , Andrea Blanco

Sheriff urges the public to keep sending in tips

Sunday 13 August 2023 14:00 , Andrea Cavallier

Harford County Sheriff Jeffery Gahler reiterated that the public should continue sending in tips even if the details may seem insignificant.

That might be the key piece of evidence of information we are looking for, the sheriff said.

Some of your tips have been promising and tremendous in advancing the investigation and bringing us closer to getting the answers that we need, the answers that Rachels family needs, and the answers that our community needs.

#Alert Rachel Morin Investigation

If you were on the Ma & Pa Trail on Saturday, or near the trail or trail heads and took photos or video, we are asking if you would please share them with investigators. Please send it to Sgt. Maddox at maddoxc@harfordsheriff.org.  Harford Sheriff (@Harford_Sheriff) August 8, 2023

Homicide investigation continues after mother-of-five was found dead

Sunday 13 August 2023 11:00 , Andrea Blanco

Rachel Morin was last seen alive leaving her home to head to the Ma and Pa Trail in Bel Air, Harford County, at around 6pm on Saturday evening, according to the Harford County Sheriffs Office.

When the 37-year-old failed to return home that night, her boyfriend called police to report her missing. On Sunday morning, Morins vehicle was found at the parking lot close to the entrance of the trail on Williams Street but there was no sign of the missing mother-of-five.

The desperate search turned to tragedy at around 1.07pm on Sunday afternoon when a member of the public discovered the body of a woman off the trail.

In a press conference on Sunday night, Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler announced that the investigation had now changed from a missing persons investigation to a homicide investigation.The cause and manner of death remain unclear and are still under investigation, the sheriffs office said.

At this time, the sheriff said that police have no suspects.

A man claimed he saw Rachel Morins body, but police says he is lying

Sunday 13 August 2023 08:00 , Andrea Blanco

Michael Gabriszeski, the Maryland man who claimed he saw the body of 37-year-old Rachel Morin was not even within eyesight of the crime scene when she was found, the Harford County Sheriffs Office told The Independent.

Mr Gabriszeski, 49, claimed to multiple news outlets that he and his stepdaughter came across Morins body on Sunday when they joined the search for the missing mother-of-five, who had vanished on Saturday after going for a jog on the Ma and Pa Trail in Bel Air, Maryland.

Mr Gabriszeski said that his stepdaughter, who he said was a friend of Morins, was the first to discover the body in a tunnel near the trail before they alerted police.

But a spokesperson for the Harford Countys Sheriffs Office confirmed to The Independent on Thursday that Mr Gabriszeski did not find Rachels body and that he did not view her body.

WATCH: Harford County sheriff provides update on Rachel Morin case

Sunday 13 August 2023 05:00 , Andrea Blanco

Rachel Morins chilling Facebook post before mother-of-five found dead on Maryland hiking trail

Sunday 13 August 2023 02:00 , Andrea Blanco

Rachel Morin shared a post on Facebook that hinted at her possible affinity for thrill months before she was found dead along a forest trail in Maryland.

The Independents Alisha Rahaman Sarkar reports:

Rachel Morins Facebook post before she was found dead on Maryland hiking trail

Rachel Morin did not go willingly, according to sister

Saturday 12 August 2023 23:00 , Andrea Blanco

Ms Morins devastated sister Rebekah Morin confirmed in a post on a GoFundme page that the remains located on the Ma and Pa Trail belonged to her sister.

Rachel Morin was last seen alive heading off on the Ma and Pa Trail near Bel Air in Maryland

My sister, Rachel Morin went missing on Saturday August 5 2023 around 6 pm. In less then 24 hours her body was found by local law enforcement, she wrote.

Rebekah Morin added her death was not accidental, and she did not go willingly.

She also revealed that the family had been devastated by the loss of her niece to sudden infant death syndrome just a week earlier.

Rachel Morins boyfriend says he would never do anything to her

Saturday 12 August 2023 20:00 , Andrea Blanco

Rachel Morin, 37, disappeared after reportedly heading out for a hike on the Ma and Pa Trail in Bel Air, Hartford County, at around 6pm on Saturday.

Her boyfriend Richard Tobin, 27, reported her missing at around 11pm that night after she failed to return, Hartford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler told a press conference on Sunday.

Authorities launched a missing person investigation and Ms Morins car was found at the Williams St entrance to the trail on Sunday morning. A member of the public found a womans body near the trail at 1.07pm, and authorities launched a homicide investigation as they await formal confirmation of the deceaseds identity and cause of death from the medical examiners office.

On Sunday night, Mr Tobin took to social media to state his innocence while also making reference to his lengthy criminal rap sheet.

I love Rachel, I would never do anything to her, let the family and I grieve, Mr Tobin wrote.

Yes I have a past but I also have 15 months clean and have changed as a person. Please.

No suspect identified in Rachel Morins death

Saturday 12 August 2023 17:00 , Andrea Blanco

Harford County Sheriff Jeffery Gahler said investigators do not yet have a solid suspect in the killing of Rachel Morin.

We do not have a solid suspect. Not knowing whether this was a targeted event specific to Rachel, we are going to say, yes, be aware, be thinking there could be somebody out here and this is a random event, Mr Gahler said.

Mr Gahler urged the public to be vigilant when walking along the Ma & Pa Trail and said there will be increased patrols along the trail.

Developments in Rachel Morins case

Saturday 12 August 2023 14:00 , Andrea Cavallier

Saturday, 5 August

6pm  Rachel Morin is last seen heading out to run on the Ma & Pa Trail in northern Maryland.

11.23pm  The boyfriend of Rachel reports her missing after she does not return home.

Police begin searching for Rachel on the trail and surrounding areas.

Sunday, 6 August

1pm  Body of female victim located off of the Ma & Pa Trail is reported to police.

Monday, 7 August

Police confirm the body found on the rail is Rachel Morin.

GoFundMe started by Rachel Morins family tops $42,000

Saturday 12 August 2023 11:00 , Rachel Sharp

A GoFundMe launched to help with funeral expenses for Rachel Morin has now topped $42,000.

It is with devastating sadness and a broken heart that our family has been hit with yet another heartbreak. My sister, Rachel Morin went missing on Saturday August 5 2023 around 6pm. In less then 24 hours her body was found by local law enforcement. I have made a gofundme to help my mother, Patty Morin with funeral costs. There was no life insurance in place, the GoFundMe read.

This was not an accidentally death, and she did not go willingly and she deserves a funeral worthy of her her beauty. If there are any remaining funds they will go towards things her 5 children may need. Please share, donate, comment and keep this going.

Once we have made the arrangements I will update with service dates and times. If you wish to donate directly please message me on Facebook.

As of Friday morning, it had reached $42, 317.

Where is The Ma and Pa Trail?

Saturday 12 August 2023 08:00 , Andrea Blanco

The 6.25 mile (10km) trail gets its name from the former Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad corridor that ran through the town of Bel Air in Harford County.

The track was dismantled in the 1950s, and later turned into a heritage trail along the railroads former route.

It consists of a 3.3mile section through Bel Air and a 1.7mile segment in neighbouring Forest Hill.

According to Alltrails.com, the trail is moderately challenging and takes around 2 hours and 25 minutes to complete.

In the wake of Ms Morins death, authorities have warned hikers to take particular care and be aware of their surroundings.

The Ma and Pa Trial, viewed from the Williams St trailhead, where Rachel Morins car was located on Sunday morning (Google Maps)

Maryland police confirm body found on trail is missing mom-of-five Rachel Morin

Saturday 12 August 2023 05:00 , Andrea Blanco

The identity of a body found on a Maryland hiking trail on Sunday has been confirmed as mother-of-five Rachel Morin.

A spokesperson for the Harford County Sheriffs Office told The Independent that the medical examiners office had identified the 37-year-olds body on Monday.

The spokesperson could not provide a cause of death, what injuries she suffered, or whether any suspects have been identified.

Morin was reported missing after she failed to return from a hike on the Ma and Pa Trail in Bel Air, about 30 miles northeast of Baltimore, on Saturday night.

Her body was found by a member of the public along the 6.25m (10km) trail just after 1pm on Sunday.

Maryland sheriff calls out heinous coward who killed mother-of-five Rachel Morin

Saturday 12 August 2023 02:00 , Andrea Blanco

A sheriff in Maryland has vowed that the heinous coward who authorities believe killed mother-of-five Rachel Morin will be brought to justice - though investigators still have yet to identify a suspect.

Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler did not share many details in the Wednesday update over concern of jeopardising the ongoing probe, but said there was one thing he was sure of, and that this was an intentional taking of a persons life.

The Independents Andrea Cavallier reports:

Sheriff calls out heinous coward who killed Rachel Morin

Trail of flowers and light planned to honour Rachel Morins life

Saturday 12 August 2023 00:00 , Andrea Blanco

Morins family invited members of the community to meet at 11 am on 19 August at the William Street entrance of the Ma and Pa trail.

Attendees will then begin walking to the end of the first half of the trail and back.

We are hoping to have a Trail of Flowers and Light to line both sides of the trail for our walk on the Ma & Pa Trail, Morins sister Rebekah Morin wrote on Facebook. If you are able to, we ask that you bring flowers and a battery operated candle to lay on either side of the trail somewhere as we walk Rachels last steps.

(Rebekah Morin/Facebook)

Maryland police reveal potential witnesses on hiking trail where Rachel Morin was killed

Friday 11 August 2023 23:00 , Andrea Blanco

The group of people who had dogs with them on the trail Saturday evening may have seen something, Harford County officials said as they urged them to come forward.

Morin was last seen heading to the Ma & Pa Trail around 6pm on 5 August. Her boyfriend Richard Tobin reported her missing that night after she failed to return home. The mother-of-fives body was found the next day, and her death is being investigated as a homicide.

Read more:

Police reveal potential witnesses on hiking trail where Rachel Morin was killed

Rachel Morins boyfriend has been interviewed, sheriff says

Friday 11 August 2023 21:04 , Andrea Cavallier

Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler addressed questions about whether Morins boyfriend Richard Tobin had been interviewed.

The answer is yes, we have, the sheriff said, Along with many other people who are close to Rachel.

That is the way an investigation is conducted, he added.

Mr Tobin released a statement on Facebook earlier this week saying he had nothing to do with Morins death.

Investigators in the Harford County Sheriffs Office do not have an official suspect yet in the case.

We do not have a solid suspect. Not knowing whether this was a targeted event specific to Rachel, we are going to say, yes, be aware, be thinking there could be somebody out here and this is a random event, Mr Gahler said.

Rachel Morins boyfriend agreed to give DNA to police, source claims

Friday 11 August 2023 20:00 , Andrea Blanco

Ms Morins boyfriend Richard Tobin reported him missing on Saturday after she failed to return home.

Responding to speculation in the case, Mr Tobin, 27, previously said on a Facebook post that he would never do anything to Morin.

A source close to Mr Tobin has since told The Baltimore Banner that he gave his cell phone and a DNA sample to police.

Authorities have not identified any suspects in the investigation.

On Thursday, Harford County Sheriffs Office said investigators had been made aware of potential witnesses who may have seen Morin on the trail that night. The witnesses  either three men, two women and two dogs or two men, three women and two dogs  were urged to come forward.

Where is The Ma and Pa Trail?

Friday 11 August 2023 19:00 , Andrea Blanco

The 6.25 mile (10km) trail gets its name from the former Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad corridor that ran through the town of Bel Air in Harford County.

The track was dismantled in the 1950s, and later turned into a heritage trail along the railroads former route.

It consists of a 3.3mile section through Bel Air and a 1.7mile segment in neighbouring Forest Hill.

According to Alltrails.com, the trail is moderately challenging and takes around 2 hours and 25 minutes to complete.

In the wake of Ms Morins death, authorities have warned hikers to take particular care and be aware of their surroundings.

WATCH: Rachel Morin's boyfriend speaks out about her death

Friday 11 August 2023 18:00 , Andrea Blanco

Rachel Morins family faced tragedy just days before the mother-of-five was killed

Friday 11 August 2023 17:00 , Andrea Blanco

Ms Morins sister Rebekah, herself a mother of seven children, revealed on a GoFundMe page that the family had been grieving the death of their niece Lily Beth to sudden infant death syndrome just a week earlier.

It is with devastating sadness and a broken heart that our family has been hit with yet another heartbreak.

My sister, Rachel Morin went missing on Saturday August 5 2023 around 6pm. In less then 24 hours her body was found by local law enforcement. It has only been a week since my niece Lily Beth passed away from SIDS, and I find that I have to make yet another gofundme to help my mother, Patty Morin with funeral costs.

Rebekah confirmed that her sister did not have life insurance, and appealed for financial assistance to provide for her five surviving children.

Maryland police say man who claimed he saw Morins body was lying

Friday 11 August 2023 16:00 , Andrea Blanco

Following the discovery of Morins body on Monday, 49-year-old Michael Gabriszeski said that his stepdaughter, who he said was a friend of Morins, was the first to discover the body in a tunnel near the trail before they alerted police.

On Thursday, multiple media outlets published interviews in which Mr Gabriszeski described seeing Morins remains in a horrifying state.

But the Harford County Sheriffs Office has since told The Independent that Mr Gabriszeski was not even within eyesight of the crime scene when she was found.

A spokesperson for the law enforcement agency confirmed that Mr Gabriszeski did not find Rachels body and that he did not view her body.

He has no first-hand knowledge of the crime scene, the sheriffs office added.

GoFundMe tops $42,000

Friday 11 August 2023 15:00 , Rachel Sharp

A GoFundMe launched to help with funeral expenses for Rachel Morin has now topped $42,000.

It is with devastating sadness and a broken heart that our family has been hit with yet another heartbreak. My sister, Rachel Morin went missing on Saturday August 5 2023 around 6pm. In less then 24 hours her body was found by local law enforcement. I have made a gofundme to help my mother, Patty Morin with funeral costs. There was no life insurance in place, the GoFundMe read.

This was not an accidentally death, and she did not go willingly and she deserves a funeral worthy of her her beauty.If there are any remaining funds they will go towards things her 5 children may need. Please share, donate, comment and keep this going.

Once we have made the arrangements I will update with service dates and times. If you wish to donate directly please message me on Facebook.

As of Friday morning, it had reached $42, 317.

Rachel Morins mother appeals for compassion in first public comments since daughters killing

Friday 11 August 2023 14:00 , Andrea Cavallier

The mother of Rachel Morin has broken her silence with a plea for compassion as the family takes time to grieve the sudden and tragic loss of the 37-year-old whose body was found after she vanished while going for a jog on the Ma and Pa Trail in Bel Air .

We are grieving. We need the time and space to grieve as a family. We have not forgotten our community, the post read.

We just need time. . . I need time. It has only been 4 days since we received the horrific news. I ask that as mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters, that you would please have compassion on us and allow us this.

The heartfelt letter, which was shared on Thursday in a post on the Facebook page of Rachel Morins sister Rebekah, thanked the community for its support and announced that a Celebration of Life service and a 5K run would be held in Morins honour thanks to the money raised.

Andrea Cavallier reports.

Rachel Morins mother appeals for compassion after daughters killing

Michael Gabriszeski says he saw Rachel Morins body, but the sheriff denies this claim

Friday 11 August 2023 13:00 , Andrea Cavallier

Michael Gabriszeski, the Maryland man who claimed he saw the body of 37-year-old Rachel Morin was not even within eyesight of the crime scene when she was found, the Harford County Sheriffs Office told The Independent.

Mr Gabriszeski, 49, claimed to multiple news outlets that he and his stepdaughter came across Morins body on Sunday when they joined the search for the missing mother-of-five, who had vanished on Saturday after going for a jog on the Ma and Pa Trail in Bel Air, Maryland.

Mr Gabriszeski said that his stepdaughter, who he said was a friend of Morins, was the first to discover the body in a tunnel near the trail before they alerted police.

But a spokesperson for the Harford Countys Sheriffs Office confirmed to The Independent on Thursday that Mr Gabriszeski did not find Rachels body and that he did not view her body.

Maryland police urge group of witnesses with dogs to come forward

Friday 11 August 2023 12:30 , Rachel Sharp

On Thursday, Harford County Sheriffs Office said investigators had been made aware of potential witnesses who may have seen Rachel Morin on the trail that night.

The witnesses  either three men, two women and two dogs or two men, three women and two dogs  were urged to come forward.

Detectives have been made aware of potential witnesses that may have observed Rachel Morin on the trail. These individuals were walking on the Ma and PA trail from the Rt. 24 tunnel toward the split in the trail that leads to the Williams Street trailhead between 6:00 pm and 7:30 pm. These witnesses were described as either being 3 men, 2 women and 2 dogs OR 2 men, 3 women and 2 dogs. If this is you, please reach out to Sgt. Maddox at maddoxc@harfordsheriff.org. Thank you! read the post.

Timeline in Rachel Morin case

Friday 11 August 2023 12:00 , Andrea Cavallier

Saturday, 5 August

6pm  Rachel Morin is last seen heading out to run on the Ma & Pa Trail in northern Maryland.

11.23pm  The boyfriend of Rachel reports her missing after she does not return home.

Police begin searching for Rachel on the trail and surrounding areas.

Sunday, 6 August

1pm  Body of female victim located off of the Ma & Pa Trail is reported to police.

Monday, 7 August

Police confirm the body found on the rail is Rachel Morin.

Rachel Morins mother asks for compassion following daughters killing

Friday 11 August 2023 22:29 , Andrea Blanco

The mother of Rachel Morin has broken her silence with a plea for compassion as the family takes time to grieve the sudden and tragic loss of the 37-year-old whose body was found after she vanished while going for a jog on the Ma and Pa Trail in Bel Air .

We are grieving. We need the time and space to grieve as a family. We have not forgotten our community, the post read.

We just need time. . . I need time. It has only been 4 days since we received the horrific news. I ask that as mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters, that you would please have compassion on us and allow us this.

The heartfelt letter, which was shared on Thursday in a post on the Facebook page of Rachel Morins sister Rebekah, thanked the community for its support and announced that a Celebration of Life service and a 5K run would be held in Morins honour thanks to the money raised.

The Independents Andrea Cavallier reports:

Rachel Morins mother appeals for compassion after daughters killing

Police have yet to identify a solid suspect in Rachel Morin homicide case

Friday 11 August 2023 11:00 , Andrea Cavallier

There is no solid suspect yet in the homicide case of Rachel Morin, the mother of five who was found dead on sunday.

We do not have a solid suspect. Not knowing whether this was a targeted event specific to Rachel, we are going to say, yes, be aware, be thinking there could be somebody out here and this is a random event, Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler said.

Read more:

Sheriff calls out heinous coward who killed Rachel Morin

Sheriff calls out heinous coward who killed Rachel Morin

Friday 11 August 2023 09:00 , Andrea Cavallier

Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler vowed to bring the heinous coward who killed mother-of-five Rachel Morin to justice - though investigators still have yet to identify a suspect.

Mr Gahler did not share many details in the update over concern of jeopardising the ongoing probe, but said there was one thing he was sure of, and that this was an intentional taking of a persons life.

Together we will solve this crime and find the heinous coward who took Rachel Morin from her family and friends, Mr Gahler said on Wednesday.

Andrea Cavallier reports.

Sheriff calls out heinous coward who killed Rachel Morin

What is The Ma and Pa Trail?

Friday 11 August 2023 07:00 , Andrea Cavallier

Rachel Morin was reported missing on Saturday night, and after law enforcement appealed for information to find the mother of five, a body was found on The Ma and Pa Trail on Sunday afternoon.

The 6.25 mile (10km) trail gets its name from the former Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad corridor that ran through the town of Bel Air in Harford County.

The track was dismantled in the 1950s, and later turned into a heritage trail along the railroads former route.

It consists of a 3.3mile section through Bel Air and a 1.7mile segment in neighbouring Forest Hill.

According to Alltrails.com, the trail is moderately challenging and takes around 2 hours and 25 minutes to complete.

In the wake of Ms Morins death, authorities have warned hikers to take particular care and be aware of their surroundings.

The Ma and Pa Trial, viewed from the Williams St trailhead, where Rachel Morins car was located on Sunday morning (Google Maps)

Rachel Morin's mother breaks silence after shocking homicide

Friday 11 August 2023 05:00 , Andrea Cavallier

The mother of Rachel Morin has broken her silence with a plea for compassion as the family takes time to grieve the sudden and tragic loss of the 37-year-old whose body was found near a hike trial on Sunday,

We are grieving. We need the time and space to grieve as a family. We have not forgotten our community, the post read.

We just need time. . . I need time. It has only been 4 days since we received the horrific news. I ask that as mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters, that you would please have compassion on us and allow us this.

The heartfelt letter, which was shared Thursday in a post on the Facebook page of Rachel Morins sister Rebekah, thanked the community for its support and announced that a Celebration of Life service and a 5K run would be held in Morins honor thanks to the money raised.

Rachel Morins mother breaks her silence with a post on Facebook asking compassion and time to grieve (Rebekah Morin/Facebook)

Sheriff denies mans claim that he saw Rachel Morins body

Friday 11 August 2023 03:00 , Andrea Cavallier

Michael Gabriszeski, 49, claimed to multiple news outlets that he and his stepdaughter came across Rachel Morins body on Sunday.

However, the Harford County Sheriffs Office told The Independent that Mr Gabriszeski was not even within eyesight of the crime scene when her body was found.

Mr Gabriszeski did not find Rachels body and that he did not view her body and he has no first-hand knowledge of the crime scene, the sheriffs office added.

Mr Gabriszeski gave graphic accounts of what he claimed he saw to both the Daily Mail and WBFF, telling the latter that he saw a terrible mess.

Read more:

Sheriff denies mans claim that he saw Rachel Morins body

Sheriff says Rachel Morins boyfriend has been interviewed

Friday 11 August 2023 01:00 , Andrea Cavallier

Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler addressed questions about whether Morins boyfriend Richard Tobin had been interviewed.

The answer is yes, we have, the sheriff said, Along with many other people who are close to Rachel.

That is the way an investigation is conducted, he added.

Mr Tobin released a statement on Facebook earlier this week saying he had nothing to do with Morins death.

Investigators in the Harford County Sheriffs Office do not have an official suspect yet in the case.

We do not have a solid suspect. Not knowing whether this was a targeted event specific to Rachel, we are going to say, yes, be aware, be thinking there could be somebody out here and this is a random event, Mr Gahler said.

Richard Tobin has denied involvement in his girlfriend Rachel Morins death as homicide probe launched after womans body found (Facebook / Rachel Morin)

Investigators do not have a suspect in Rachel Morin case

Friday 11 August 2023 00:00 , Andrea Cavallier

Harford County Sheriff Jeffery Gahler said investigators do not yet have a solid suspect in the killing of Rachel Morin.

"We do not have a solid suspect. Not knowing whether this was a targeted event specific to Rachel, we are going to say, yes, be aware, be thinking there could be somebody out here and this is a random event," Mr Gahler said.

Mr Gahler urged the public to be vigilant when walking along the Ma & Pa Trail and said there will be increased patrols along the trail.
After six white former Rankin County Mississippi law officers pleaded guilty Monday morning to state charges for torturing two Black men in an assault that occurred in January, Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey released a statement on the matter.

"We hope that todays guilty pleas bring some sense of justice to the two victims in this case," Bailey's statement reads. "In one of our first public statements, we said 'if any deputy or suspect involved in this incident is found to have broken the law, he will be held accountable in accordance with the law.' I believe todays guilty pleas show the community that our system of checks and balances is effective. An unbiased and impartial investigation into these former officers uncovered their criminal actions.

"We thank the men and women of the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Mississippi Attorney Generals Office, the U.S. Attorneys Office, and the U.S. Department of Justice for their time, energy, and effort devoted to this case.

"The Rankin County Sheriffs Office continues to evaluate and modify its policies, procedures, and training for all sheriffs office employees. We have asked for assistance from outside agencies and contracted with outside firms to evaluate us, make recommendations, and conduct training. These actions are taken to prevent anything like Januarys tragedy from ever happening again."

All six of the former officers  five formerly with the Rankin County Sheriffs office and another former City of Richland police officer  recently admitted guilt in a connected federal civil rights case.

The former Rankin County Sheriff's deputies are Brett McAlpin, Hunter Elward, Christian Dedmon, Jeffrey Middleton and Daniel Opdyke, and the former police officer from the city of Richland is Joshua Hartfield.

This combination of photos shows, from top left, former Rankin County sheriffs deputies Hunter Elward, Christian Dedmon, Brett McAlpin, Jeffrey Middleton, Daniel Opdyke and former Richland police officer Joshua Hartfield appearing at the Rankin County Circuit Court in Brandon, Miss., Monday, Aug. 14, 2023. The six white former Mississippi law officers pleaded guilty to state charges on Monday for torturing two Black men in a racist assault that ended with a deputy shooting one victim in the mouth.

During Mondays hearing, Circuit Judge Steven Ratcliff recommended the officers take the advised sentencing, which is at least five years for all officers except Elward, who was recommended for 30 years. Elward faced an additional charge of aggravated assault for "shoving a gun into the mouth of one of the victims and pulling the trigger, in what authorities called a 'mock execution,' according to the Associated Press.

The state charges against the former officers include aggravated assault, home invasion, obstruction of justice, hindering prosecution in the first degree and conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice/hindering prosecution.

All six former officers pleaded guilty to state charges of obstruction of justice and conspiracy to hinder prosecution. Dedmon and Elward pleaded guilty to additional charges of home invasion.

The federal sentences are due to be handed down in mid-November. Meanwhile, the six former officers will remain behind bars.

Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch who brought the state charges against the former officers issued a statement following the hearing.

Today, a strong message has been sent: abuse of power will not be tolerated in Mississippi, said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. I am grateful for the collaboration and cooperation of our state and federal counterparts who helped us deliver justice for the two victims of this brutal attack. The six officers who committed these heinous acts caused more than physical harm, they severed the vital trust with the people they pledged to protect. However, these six officers are the exception, not the rule. Every day men and women in uniform put their lives on the line to protect Mississippians. It is my hope that we can now help these victims begin to heal and restore confidence in the criminal justice system.

Prosecutors say some of the officers nicknamed themselves the "Goon Squad" because of their willingness to use excessive force and cover it up, including the attack that ended with a deputy shooting one victim in the mouth.

Bailey was not in attendance during the hearing but released his statement later in the day.

Monica Lee, right, the mother of Damien Cameron, a Black man who died in 2021 after former Rankin County sheriff deputy Hunter Elward allegedly punched and tased him during an arrest, is hugged by Camerons grandmother Annie Morris after exiting a Rankin County courtroom Monday. Elward is one of six former law enforcement officers who pleaded guilty to state charges on Monday for torturing two Black men in a racist assault that occurred in Rankin County in January.

In attendance was Monica Lee, the mother of Damien Cameron, another Black man who died in 2021 after Elward allegedly punched and tased him during an arrest.

Lee case update: Civil suit can continue against corrupt former deputy linked to death of Mississippi man

Lee said she believes this incident would have never happened if Elward had been adequately removed from the streets prior to the incident.

"I feel relieved that he (Elward) is off the street," Lee said. "He was involved in my son's case as well."

A motorcade leaves the Rankin County Courthouse in Brandon, Miss., moving west on U.S. Hwy. 80, carrying six former Rankin County law enforcement officers who pleaded guilty to state charges for torturing two Black men in a racist assault that occurred in Rankin County in January. All six had recently admitted their guilt in a connected federal civil rights case.

Below are the specifics each officer was charged with and pleaded to, according to the court report:

Former Rankin County Sheriff Deputy Hunter Elward was charged with Aggravated Assault, Home Invasion, and Conspiracy to Commit Obstruction of Justice/Hinder Prosecution.

Former Rankin County Sheriff Narcotics Investigator Christian Dedmon was charged with Home Invasion and Conspiracy to Commit Obstruction of Justice/Hinder Prosecution.

Former Rankin County Sheriff Chief Investigator Brett McAlpin was charged with Obstruction of Justice/Hindering Prosecution in the First Degree and Conspiracy to Commit Obstruction of Justice/Hinder Prosecution.

Former Rankin County Sheriff Lieutenant Jeffrey Middleton was charged with Obstruction of Justice/Hindering Prosecution in the First Degree and Conspiracy to Commit Obstruction of Justice/Hinder Prosecution.

Former Rankin County Sheriff Deputy Daniel Opdyk was charged with Obstruction of Justice/Hindering Prosecution in the First Degree and Conspiracy to Commit Obstruction of Justice/Hinder Prosecution.

Former Richland Police Department Narcotics Investigator Joshua Hartfield was charged with Obstruction of Justice/Hindering Prosecution in the First Degree and Conspiracy to Commit Obstruction of Justice/Hinder Prosecution.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Six former officers have pleaded guilty to multiple state charges
The author flew on Cebu Pacific, a low-cost carrier from the Philippines. Marielle Descalsota/Insider

I flew Cebu Pacific, a low-cost carrier known for its delays, for just $86.

My short-haul night flight was delayed for more than an hour.

I made six mistakes, including not bringing a jacket and refusing to book a seat in advance.

I recently flew on Cebu Pacific, a low-cost carrier from the Philippines that's notorious for delayed flights.

Cebu Pacific is a low-cost carrier from the Philippines. Courtesy of Cebu Pacific

Growing up, I frequently traveled between Singapore and the Philippines. I've continued to explore the region as an adult and fly low-cost airlines when traveling across Southeast Asia. Cebu Pacific, a budget airline that's often a more affordable alternative to the national carrier, Philippine Airlines, was one that I flew most recently.

Cebu Pacific is certified as a three-star low-cost airline by the aviation ratings site Skytrax. The airline has 36 domestic destinations, and 14 international ones, including cities in Australia, China, and the United Arab Emirates.

It's known for many things  the cabin crew's casual, bright yellow uniform; the in-flight games that passengers are often invited to play with flight attendants; and, notoriously, the long delays. In fact, the Philippine Senate even had a hearing in June about the recurring delays that were plaguing the airline. While delayed flights aren't unique to Cebu Pacific, the airline was ranked the third-most delayed regional airline in a June survey by the personal finance site MoneySmart. On a recent trip to Cebu, a province in central Philippines, I flew Cebu Pacific to Singapore, and  no surprises here  my flight was delayed too. Here are six mistakes that made my experience on a delayed night flight worse than it had to be.

1. The first mistake I made was packing too light  all I had was a small backpack with my laptop and camera inside.

The gate at the airport in Cebu. Marielle Descalsota/Insider

I paid $86 for a one-way ticket from Cebu to Singapore, and this included the extra fee for a 20-kilogram or 44-pound baggage allowance. It's a direct flight that takes three hours and 45 minutes.

My flight was scheduled to leave at 7:50 p.m., but the day before, I received an email informing me of a "minor schedule change" which was set to delay my flight by 40 minutes. I still arrived at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport about three hours before the rescheduled time in case there were any issues with check-in, but to my surprise, there wasn't anyone in the line.

I usually fly in the afternoon and never think to bring a jacket on board short-haul flights around the region as the weather is typically hot, but that's one of the biggest mistakes I made on this flight.

I had an iced tea before making my way through immigration and it was surprisingly a chilly night with the airport's air conditioner blasting out cold air, making me feel freezing. As I didn't pack a jacket, I browsed a couple of the shops near the gate. But the jackets there were extremely expensive and retailed for about $600.

I ended up just walking around for an hour to keep my body moving and to warm up.

2. Despite the cheap flight ticket, I decided to skimp on paying the fee for a seat with extra legroom  making my already tired legs even more sore.

The legroom on this flight was super tight, even for someone short like me. The legroom on board was so narrow.

The Cebu-Singapore route is popular among passengers flying Cebu Pacific, so I wish I had anticipated that it would be a fully-booked flight. Unlike my flight with the Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia  which was near-empty  every seat was filled, which meant it was more difficult to recline my seat or even lean my head on the seats beside me.

Cebu Pacific's seats, like many budget airlines, are small, so I had limited legroom. In fact, Cebu Pacific holds the record for cramming the most seats into a plane  460 seats, to be exact  on its A330neo aircraft.

I'm only about 5'2" and the legroom was tight, even for me. I wish I had booked a seat in advance for just a small fee of less than $20 to make the flight more comfortable.

3. As I didn't book a seat that allowed me to board first, I ended up stuck in the back of the line  which meant I had no space to stow my backpack.

The author had no room for her bag in the overhead compartment. Marielle Descalsota/Insider

Another thing that I would do the next time I fly with the airline is to pay for priority boarding.

With a delayed flight, passengers are often raring to go. So even an hour before the new scheduled flight time, many passengers had already crowded in front of the gate. I lined up for some time, and when I got on the plane, there was no space left to stow my items.

I wanted some room to stretch my legs, so I had to alternate between placing my backpack on my lap and putting it underneath the seat in front of me.

4. I forgot to bring a battery pack.

The seats were small and functional, similar to those on many other low-cost airlines. Marielle Descalsota/Insider

Like many budget carriers, Cebu Pacific's planes are mostly bare-bones. On this aircraft, there weren't any ports to charge up my phone. We ended up leaving about 9 p.m., which meant the flight was delayed for an extra 30 minutes. I wanted to charge my phone at the airport, but the ports were fully occupied. Thankfully, my phone still had almost 20% of the battery left when I landed in Singapore.

Next time, I wouldn't take any chances. I'll be sure to bring along a portable charger in my carry-on as passengers aren't allowed to check them in for safety reasons.

5. There weren't many dining options inside the gate at Mactan-Cebu International Airport, so I decided to skimp on dinner until I was on board. It turned out to be a big mistake.

The food served on board the flight. Marielle Descalsota/Insider

I usually don't pre-book meals on short-haul flights and prefer to pack some fresh food in my bag. But as there weren't many restaurants at the airport, I had no choice but to get on the flight hungry.

I find that Philippine carriers do not offer that many options when it comes to in-flight meals, and Cebu Pacific was no exception. After waiting over an hour and a half for the cart to finally be wheeled to my row, a flight attendant informed me that they had no hot meals left.

I settled for a cup of instant noodles and a bottle of Gatorade, which felt like the best meal ever in the moment. In hindsight, it would have been better for me just to buy an in-flight meal in advance so I could have had a more substantial dinner.

6. My final mistake was not asking for a window seat on a night flight.

The view from inside the plane when landing in Singapore. Marielle Descalsota/Insider

While I didn't pay for a seat in advance, I could have requested a window seat during check-in  and chances are, as I arrived early, I might have gotten it.

The views of the bright city lights, the dim glow of ships out at sea, and the runway at night were stunning. It was a shame I only had a glimpse of them as I was assigned to a middle seat, sandwiched between two other passengers.

Overall, my delayed flight with Cebu Pacific didn't need to be that uncomfortable and could have been much better if I had prepared for it. Next time, I'll be sure to bring along a bigger backpack with all my essentials, and not skimp on the add-ons  especially when the flight ticket is affordable.

Read the original article on Insider
Redditors are compiling a list of Los Angeles restaurants that charge diners extra fees on their checks. Tom Werner/Getty Images

Redditors are compiling a list of Los Angeles restaurants that charge diners extra fees on their checks.

The Google Sheets document has more than 200 entries for bars and eateries across the city.

The additional costs include security charges, service charges, card fees, and "administrative fees."

As the cost of living remains high, customers are increasingly getting fed up of companies adding extra charges to their advertised prices.

Restaurants are among the worst offenders.

Some restaurants have gone viral on social media after customers noticed extra charges being added to their checks, and it's sparked debate over whether the surcharges should just be included in the menu prices.

Redditors have begun compiling a list of restaurants in Los Angeles that charge diners additional fees on their checks. The Google Sheets document, which started in r/LosAngeles, has more than 200 entries, with fees including corkage charges, service charges, and credit card fees. Some are a bit more vague, described on their menus or websites as "administrative fees" or "restaurant fees."

In many cases the fees are stated on company's menus. While some are optional and diners can ask to have them removed, others are mandatory. Many add suggested gratuities to the bills of larger parties, typically of six people plus.

Some fees cover staff health insurance and wages

Many of the restaurants explicitly say that they charge a fee to cover their employees' health insurance.

At Xuntos in Santa Monica, customers have to pay a 20% "mandatory service charge," which the restaurant says is "non-negotiable, non-discretionary, non-removable."

"We disagree with systems that have heavily recognized only the front-of-house," the restaurant says, noting that the charge is designed to help "push our industry towards a more equitable wage distribution between the kitchen, bar & floor teams." It adds that a tip is "not expected," but diners can still leave one if they wish.

Kali in Hollywood adds a 5% "kitchen appreciation charge." Chulita in Venice says that it adds a 4% surcharge "to support our dedicated kitchen team and to help provide benefits for all eligible team members." The surcharge isn't shared with service staff, it notes.

Il Fornaio, a chain of Italian restaurants, says that it adds a 3% surcharge "to comply with wage, benefit and insurance requirements and continue to provide healthcare & benefits for our eligible employees," like paid sick days, training, 401(k) plans, and staff meals.

Some of the restaurants on the list have no-tipping policies and instead charge a set-percentage service fee, which they clarify isn't a gratuity or tip. These include Hinoki & The Bird in Century City, which adds a 20% fee to all checks, and the chain KazuNori, which says the revenue from its 16% fee "is used to fund all of our operations."

Some restaurants are charging security, card, and eco fees

Customers can dine for less at some restaurants in Los Angeles if they opt to pay with cash. Vino Wine & Tapas Room in Encino says that prices on its menu "reflect cash pricing" and card transactions incur a 3.8% fee, per a photo of its menu posted in a review from May. Oceanview Cafe in Manhattan Beach similarly says that its menu prices include a "4% cash discount," according to a photo of a receipt submitted by a Reddit user.

Two of the restaurants in the document  the Ruby Fruit in Silver Lake and Perch in Downtown Los Angeles  charge security fees of 4% and 4.5% respectively, which the Ruby Fruit says is "to ensure the safety of our guests and staff."

Hodori Korean Cuisine in Eagle Rock adds a $1 surcharge for each item ordered to-go.

Yang's Kitchen in Alhambra adds a 1% Zero Footprint Restore the Planet fee, which goes towards things like building healthy soil and carbon farming, though the restaurant notes that customers can opt out of this.

Some of the fees are a bit vague. Otium in Downtown Los Angeles and Katsuya in Hollywood, for example, add a 5% surcharge to help "defray" the rising costs of the restaurant industry, which customers can have removed from their check.

Are you fed up of being charged extra fees when you dine out? Or do you work at a restaurant that charges additional fees and have to face the wrath of annoyed customers? Contact this reporter at gdean@insider.com.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Even if you never set foot in the place, you knew about The Symposion.

So when the cocktail lounge announced that it was closing late this spring, Boise noticed.

Nestled between Fairview Avenue and the I-184 Connector, The Symposion was treasured for decades for its isolated charm. In 2005, the Idaho Statesmans Thrive magazine wrote that its owner at the time described it as a neighborhood bar with no neighborhood.

So several weeks ago, regulars gathered for one last hurrah at 2801 Fletcher St. The farewell gathering June 17 even included a potluck.

Then the Sympo, as bartenders and regulars have sometimes called it, went dark.

Except in case you havent noticed  and I had not until recently  it didnt stay closed. It reopened July 11. Like, less than a month after it had shuttered.

What the heck is going on?

We are open, manager-operator Chris Leverenz confirmed when I phoned the bar, which is family-owned.

Its complicated, he added.

The Symposions history stretches back to 1975.

Rumors had flown for a while about the dog-friendly bars demise  all in the name of progress. Apartments were proposed at the site in 2022, according to previous Statesman reporting.

But, apparently, potential bulldozers and construction werent the cause of the brief vanishing act.

The Symposions closure was related to a liquor license issue, according to reporting from KTVB. Specifically, recent changes made by the Idaho Legislature that affect how licenses can be transferred.

(Is it me, or does it definitely seem as if the Legislature needs to readdress Senate Bill 1120?)

Either way, Idahoans shouldnt take The Symposion for granted, even if its been around since 1975.

Between liquor license challenges and the frenetic pace of Boise development, its difficult to imagine that old building surviving another five years, let alone 50.

No overpriced apartments? a commenter asked on The Symposions Facebook page when it announced its unexpected return.

Not yet! the business replied.
Extremist Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) really, really doesnt think Donald Trump should have to debate his 2024 Republican rivals.

Greene over the weekend backed Trumps vow to skip the Fox News-hosted first debate in Milwaukee on Aug. 23. She asked on X, formerly Twitter: Why would President Trump have to debate the other candidates?

Why would President Trump have to debate the other candidates?



He already has a PROVEN track record of the best 4 years in America!!



The American people dont need to hear his ideas, weve already lived his policies, loved them, and want more!!



The primary is over.  Marjorie Taylor Greene  (@mtgreenee) August 12, 2023

He already has a PROVEN track record of the best 4 years in America!! Greene continued. The American people dont need to hear his ideas, weve already lived his policies, loved them, and want more!! The primary is over.

Trumps GOP rivals and others say any serious presidential candidate should appear on the debate stage. Others agreed Trump had a PROVEN track record, but not one they wanted to be repeated.

Proven failure, I agree.  Mike Sorensen   #NAFO (@MikeLSorensen) August 12, 2023

You're absolutely right, we don't need to hear ANY of his ideas....  Dr. Elizabeth Desnoyers-Colas (@MOVEprofPHD) August 12, 2023

If he truly had the best 4 years in America and a proven track record he would WANT to debate.



But he doesnt. So he wont.  Brenda Frost  (@BrendaFrost18) August 13, 2023

For once, I agree with @mtgreeneepic.twitter.com/Xbn5EbllZo  Jon Lion Fine Art  (@jonlionfineart2) August 12, 2023

Lmfao no. Still waiting on those healthcare and infrastructure plans  Patrick D (@mrpatrickdurbin) August 12, 2023

Youre really hoping he picks you for VP arent you, or a pardon? Thats the only thing that makes sense of your unhinged blind loyalty.  David Weissman  (@davidmweissman) August 12, 2023

He proved he's the worst president. Besides, we have heard it all before.  evie (@evieb52) August 13, 2023

Related...
An Athens man recently fell prey to a romance scam, losing about $60,000. Georgia citizens are among the most targeted by con artists, according to a recent report.

Georgia tops the United States in the percentage of its residents becoming the victims of fraud.

A study by Forbes Advisor, an editorial website covering financial news, reached this conclusion recently by showing that 437 fraud reports were generated for every 100,000 citizens of Georgia in the first three months of 2023.

Georgia is also among the 10 most financially scammed states thus far this year, placing fifth behind California, Florida, New Jersey and Texas.

Georgia ranked 12th in terms of total fraud loss, amounting to $33.4 million, Forbes reported.

The study shows that people ages 60 through 69 lose the money money in scams.

How are Georgians getting scammed?

Scam artists victimize people throughout Georgia through a variety of scams.

The Forbes study shows that nationwide, the imposter scam is the most common. In those scams, the con artist poses as someone from a parent to an IRS agent and even police officers.

In just one day in August, the imposter scam was reported to police in Athens by three different residents, according to Athens-Clarke police reports.

One involved an imposter posing as 20-year-old mans grandmother. Another posed as a loan provider to bilk a 58-year-old woman and in a third a person had posed as a woman pretending to be in love with a 32-year-old Athens man.

All three people lost money ranging from a low of $795 to a high of about $60,000.

Romance scam: Athens man confronts a scammer about stealing $60,000. See these tips to avoid the cons.

Oconee Blotter: A mother and daughter fight over a phone after scammer steals $200,000

Athens-Clarke police Lt. Jody Thompson, the public information officer for the department, was previously a supervisor in the Financial Crimes Unit that investigated scams. He has seen most every scam happen in Athens that are used elsewhere. Last year, he said there were approximately 600 cases of fraud and finance-related crimes reported in Athens that the unit investigated.

The imposter scam, he agreed, is the most common.

Once con artists were able to get the technology to clone or spoof a telephone number, that made it easier for them to make it look like they were calling from an actual government agency or organization, he said.

These con artists quickly convince victims to pay off warrants or other matters by gift cards or other methods. Real police departments would not use those tactics, according to Thompson.

A graphic showing how scammers get their victims to pay.

We would never receive money from bitcoins or gift cards and obviously we would never call anybody and try to get them to pay off a warrant via telephone, Thompson said. But still people do think it is so and I dont know why.

The Forbes study showed that credit cards were the most common payment for fraudulent activities as more than 25,000 cases were reported that totaled more than $64 million in losses in the U.S.

However, scammers in the imposter scams dont generally ask for credit card information; rather, they seek money usually through gift cards, bitcoin and apps such as cash app, according to Thompson.

Other scams that entrap people are the online shopping scams that rank second nationwide with 75,500 cases reported in the first four months of this year.

The investment scams generated 19,600 reports across the nation during this same period.

How to avoid becoming a victim of con artists

Forbes Advisor recommended the following tips for people to avoid being scammed:

Be suspicious of all incoming calls, emails and other communication. Assume any incoming communication is fraudulent. If you receive such a communication dont respond. Instead contact the source of the message, whether a bank, the IRS or other entity, using a verified channel. Dont use the phone number or link provided by the communicator.

Dont trust caller ID. Scammers can spoof caller ID to make their cons look authentic.

Dont be tempted by prizes or free cash. Scammers often use prizes or promises of free cash to lure people into divulging their private information. One tactic is asking a victim to pay a small fee in exchange for a prize.

Block unwanted calls and text messages. Both iPhones and Androids have useful settings that will weed out spam and lessen the threat of scams. You can also use call-blocking apps to filter spam calls and robocalls.

Dont let yourself be scared into acting. Many con artists rely on fear to motivate victims. They may threaten to repossess your car or house if you dont pay. Before you act, always verify the callers identity. Simply hang up and call the agency or organization yourself using a known telephone number.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia is one of most targeted states in nation for scam artists
With gas prices still above $5 a gallon in Washington state, drivers have changed their habits, many are even canceling trips.

Right now its $83, 16 gallons, said Santisack Sengsavang.

The average price for a gallon of gas in Washington is $5.02, according to AAA.

Thats why now more than ever drivers are on the look, checking to see where gas is cheaper.

Well, I shop around as much as I can, so my goal is to get it under $5 a gallon, said Danni Austin.

Austin struck gold at the Fred Meyer gas station in Burien off First Avenue South.

I got it for $4.89, said Austin.

Like many, Danni is wondering when prices will drop.

I was hoping that they would start declining after things peaked out with the inflation, but that hasnt been happening as Ive seen. Its a significant part of my budget, said Austin.

Its so significant that a new report found that almost 40% of people have canceled their trips due to high gas prices.

Austin says hes more open to using public transportation.

If theres an event going downtown, I do try to use public transportation, said Austin.

Sengsavang, who was also filling up in Burien, says he drives to Tacoma Monday through Friday and has to fill up twice a week.

I fill up on Monday, and Wednesday I fill up again, said Sengsavang.

Sengsavang says on the weekend he switches to a more economical car.
Republican-controlled states across the country are seeing record investment in renewable energy industries. Jason Kozlowski / EyeEm

GOP-controlled states like Oklahoma are seeing major economic investment in clean energy industries.

A solar power exec told The New York Times the "financial opportunity" is drawing people in.

But conservative groups behind The Heritage Foundation are pushing for more fossil fuel production.

Across the US, Republican-controlled states are seeing major investments in clean energy such as wind and solar. But conservative groups are banning together to slash renewables and increase oil and gas production should a Republican be elected president in 2024.

The conservative-led Heritage Foundation's policy playbook for renewable energy seeks to reverse regulations to rein in greenhouse gases, cut federal spending on wind and solar, and bolster oil and gas production. The plan is part of the foundation's Project 2025, a sweeping agenda designed by dozens of conservative groups to "pave the way for an effective conservative administration" should a Republican be elected president in 2024.

No leading Republican presidential candidate has responded on whether they support the project, according to The New York Times, but several officials involved were former members of the Trump administration and their plans match Trump's 2024 platform.

But as The Heritage Foundation pushes back against renewables, clean energy companies and projects are leading the way in Republican-led states. About two-thirds of new clean energy investment is in Republican states such as Oklahoma, Texas, and South Dakota, the Times reported.

A solar farm plan in Arkansas, for example, will be the state's largest and power a major nearby US Steel factory by late 2024, which the company Entergy says will help them meet their sustainability goals and cut the steel factory's greenhouse gas emissions by 80%, the Times reported.

Meanwhile, Texas produced the most renewable energy of any US state in 2021, according to a 2022 report from the American Clean Power Association, and renewable energy sources have kept its power grid stable this summer despite record heat.

And in Oklahoma, economics takes precedence over politics, as renewables lead to record profits.

"The environmental benefits are nice," J.W. Peters, president of Solar Power of Oklahoma, told the Times, "but most people are doing this for the financial opportunity."

Read the original article on Business Insider
The News

Republicans and right-wing media personalities criticized U.S. President Joe Bidens response to the wildfires in Hawaii after he told reporters he had no comment on the rising death toll while on vacation over the weekend.

The White House and some Democrats in Hawaii, meanwhile, praised Biden and the federal government over the swift declaration to unlock federal disaster resources.

Nearly 100 people have died, making it not only the states worst natural disaster, but the deadliest wildfire the U.S. has seen in a century. The states response  including the decision to not cut off power in the area  has also come under scrutiny.

Know More

On Friday, Biden approved a major disaster declaration for the state, saying, Our prayers are with the people of Hawaii, but not just our prayers: Every asset we have will be available to them.

The controversy began Sunday, after Biden responded no comment to a question shouted by a reporter about the rising death toll from the disaster Biden was heading back from the beach in Delaware. His response was reported by Bloombergs Justin Sink.

When asked if he was planning to visit the state, Biden reportedly said: Were looking at it.

Republicans, including former Trump administration officials, immediately criticized Biden. Former Treasury official Monica Crowley said Biden doesnt give AF about the suffering people of Maui.

Matt Wolking, who works for the PAC supporting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis presidential bid, called it revolting.

A White House official said Biden has mobilized and led a whole-of-government response to the wildfires in Hawaii from the beginning, working closely on it and receiving detailed briefings every day since.

Some Hawaii Democrats have praised his actions. Gov. Josh Green thanked him for approving the emergency declaration within six hours.

It was incredible. Within six hours. And so, that opened up ... FEMA and amazing support for recovery, Green told MSNBC.

Former U.S. president Donald Trump had also faced criticism over his response to destructive California wildfires in 2018, blaming local officials and threatening to withhold federal funding before expressing sympathy for the victims. He approved a disaster declaration 24 hours after it was requested.
Members of the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol meet on Capitol Hill on July 27, 2021. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

The Republican chairman of the House subcommittee examining last year's Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection hearings said last week that some of the evidence gathered for the inquiry wasn't preserved.

Though some Republicans and former President Trump have jumped on the statement as a sign the House Jan. 6 select committee did something wrong, the rules and standards of what is preserved following a congressional investigation are loose and subject to the interpretation of each new Congress.

Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) chairman of the House Administration Subcommittee on Oversight told Fox News on Tuesday that the House Jan. 6 select committee did not adequately preserve documents, data and video depositions  including communications it had with President Biden's administration  and failed to provide any evidence that it looked into Capitol Hill security failures on the day of the insurrection. Loudermilk's spokesman did not respond to a request for comment from The Times.

On the Truth Social platform Wednesday, Trump falsely stated that "The January 6th Unselect Committee got rid of EVERYTHING! Discarded, Deleted, Thrown Out. A Flagrant Violation of the law. They had so much to hide, and now that I have Subpoena Power, they didnt want to get caught. They knew EXACTLY what they were doing. AN EGREGIOUS CRIMINAL ACT & BLATANT DISREGARD OF THE LAW! Can you imagine if I would have done such a thing???."

That is not accurate. Much of the committee's work was made public through an 845-page, eight-chapter report, several televised hearings and about 180 released transcripts and interviews.

Loudermilk himself alleged only that the information his subcommittee has is incomplete, not that it was all destroyed.

"We've got lots of depositions, we've got lots of subpoenas, we've got video and other documents provided through subpoenas by individuals," he told Fox News.

Possession of the massive trove of evidence collected by the committee was long expected to remain an issue on Capitol Hill once the panel's work was done. The select committee's 18-month investigation is believed to be among the most extensive probes in congressional history, but much of it was done behind closed doors, so the full extent of what was collected is unknown.

Read more: The public may not see all of the Jan. 6 committee's work for decades  if ever

Committee staff spoke with more than 1,000 people for the investigation, which resulted in potentially millions of pages of depositions, cellphone and text records, emails, staff notes and analysis by outside organizations.

Official records are typically handed over to a successor committee, then to the House clerk, and eventually to the National Archives, where theyre shielded by law from public view for at least 30 years. Sensitive information can be held back for up to 50 years.

When Republicans took control of the House in January, they included something new in the rules for the 118th Congress: an order that all documents that were retained from the House Jan. 6 select committee go to the House Administration Committee. All materials already sent to the National Archives were to be returned.

Read more: Republicans move to retain Jan. 6 committee documents

House Rule VII, which outlines preservation of House records at the end of each two-year Congress and has been used by nearly every Congress including the current one, loosely defines what has to be preserved. It says that committees should preserve an "official, permanent record of the committee (including any record of a legislative, oversight, or other activity of such committee or a subcommittee thereof)."

What committees consider an official record have varied widely over the years. For some, the definition includes hearing transcripts, official correspondence and drafts of legislation. Other committees might include staff notes and internal memos. Some preserve only their final report and notices of hearings that were held.

Then-House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield), who is now speaker, sent Select Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) a letter in December demanding the preservation of all records collected and transcripts of testimony taken during your investigation in accordance with House rules, but he had no authority to enforce it.

Because the committee disbanded moments before the new Congress controlled by Republicans was sworn in, their new rule ordering preservation of "any noncurrent records" from the committee could only apply to records that had already been transferred to a successor committee or to the National Archives. In essence, the Republicans couldn't order the Jan. 6 select committee to turn over anything because it no longer existed.

Loudermilk shared with Fox a series of letters he and Thompson exchanged this year. In a footnote from a July 7 letter, Thompson wrote that, consistent with guidance from the Office of the Clerk, "the Select Committee did not archive temporary committee records that were not elevated by the Committees actions, such as use in hearings or official publications, or those that did not further its investigative activities."

Thompson also said the select committee was not obligated to archive all video recordings of transcribed interviews or depositions, but determined that written transcripts were sufficient under House Rule VII.

Trump and his legal team will get access to at least some materials, including potentially those that were not deemed official and saved for the National Archives. The select committee provided a trove of information in December to special counsel Jack Smith, who brought an indictment against Trump early this month on four felony criminal charges.

Smith said in a court filing Thursday that he is ready to turn over discovery materials in the case as soon as a protective order is in place, including unredacted materials obtained from other governmental entities, including the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol.

On Friday, prosecutor Thomas Windom said information not made public by the select committee but provided to the special counsel is among the information that would be marked sensitive in an effort to keep Trump and his legal team from disclosing it publicly during the trial.

Get the best of the Los Angeles Times politics coverage with the Essential Politics newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Scene

DES MOINES  The Gannett-owned Des Moines Register is one of those medium-sized American dailies hanging on in a tough environment. Its signature political event is the annual Political Soapbox, long the premier venue for speechifying on the main drag of the Iowa State Fair.

But this year, the Register has a new rival. Republican Governor Kim Reynolds is hosting a series of Fair-Side Chats with presidential candidates on the other side of a set of stalls selling pork-on-a-stick, Spam-burgers, and other delicacies.

And Reynolds has the better bookings: Governor Ron DeSantis and Senator Tim Scott, seen as among the campaigns top tier, are skipping the Registers wide-open public platform in favor of Reynolds safer stage. (Trump, in a snit with Reynolds, did neither.)

Reynolds is a star of retail politics who practically lives at the fair, and a welcoming public presence  but a rookie interviewer. In her first outing Thursday, the radio host and candidate Larry Elder cheerfully rolled over her attempt to ask questions. Friday, she mixed up the state from which North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum hailed, and found herself chiming in yep, yep to inanities like Miami mayor Francis Suarezs declaration, were ideators, we generated ideas. She got out of the frame for Vivek Ramaswamys performance of Eminems Lose Yourself. It was the safest political space.

Thursday evening, DeSantis and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley visited the other main media event of the day, a live taping of the Ruth-Less podcast, founded by former aides to Senator Mitch McConnell. Its name refers to the GOP-dominated Supreme Court after Ruth Bader Ginsberg. The podcast is raucous and beloved by the partys political class, and the Des Moines bar was full of staffers for various campaigns. But its hosts arent looking to put their guests in a bad spot the Republican consultant Eric Wilson called it a trusting, safe space.

Thursday night at Johnnys Hall of Fame in Des Moines, the Ruthless hosts played a game with DeSantis called Dem or Journo, reading quotes calling DeSantis things like fascist dictator and asking him to guess which quote came from a political enemy, which from the main enemy, the media. He guessed right. History has shown that siding with Governor DeSantis is has to be the right move when you face a crisis, one of the co-hosts, who goes by the name Comfortably Smug on Twitter, concluded.

Bens view

Public figures migration away from neutral or adversarial public platforms and toward safe spaces is a long-running trend, hardly unique to the right. President Joe Biden prefers progressive influencers to tough TV interviews, Elon Musk talks to friendly podcasters like Lex Fridman, and the list goes on.

The shift in Iowa, however, is one more body blow for the role the local media used to play in national campaigns, pulling them away from the polarized national discourse and toward more grounded local issues.

The Register, like virtually every American newspaper, has denounced Donald Trump on its editorial pages. But Reynolds move on her hometown paper is new, and the Register has not always been an automatically Democratic outlet. The paper endorsed Mitt Romney over Barack Obama in 2012, and its lead political reporter, Brianne Pfannenstiel, is well-regarded by the local Republicans on whom she regularly breaks news. (When Reynolds gets the inevitable Fox News show, this will have been good practice, grumbled a top State Senate Democrat, Zach Wahls.)

But Iowa, which seemed at times to set the culture of presidential politics, is now mostly subject to the same national trends of a new era of hyper-polarized politics and partisan media. The notion of a neutral platform has nearly dissolved, and  particularly in primary season  the leading candidates see no rewards in reaching toward the center. And Trump helped shift Republicans from hating the legacy media to merely mocking it, the theme of Ruth-less.

The View From Western Iowa

What youre seeing at the state fair is whats happening everywhere, said Kyle Munson, a former Register reporter who is president of the Western Iowa Journalism Foundation.

His foundation is trying to support and revive community journalism in the states rural western regions, where publications like the twice-weekly Storm Lake Times used to be essential parts of the political infrastructure.

The sheer proximity of community journalism to the people local journalists cover  the fact that editors and public officials have to make eye contact, and shake hands  is one antidote to polarization, he noted.

Room for Disagreement

Benjy Sarlin noted in Semafor that Donald Trump never limited himself to an alternative conservative media space:

Trump, who has done more to rally conservatives against the press than any modern politician, has also been more eager to cultivate a relationship with them than his chief opponent, Ron DeSantis, who has largely resisted interviews and engagement with non-conservative outlets.

And in fact, DeSantis recent campaign reset has come with a modest amount more openness to the press.

Notable

Without a source of news on local matters of shared interest, people instead turn to the polarizing environment of national news, the Posts Dana Millbank wrote in a moving column on community journalism.

Debate requirements are competing with Iowa caucusgoers for candidates attention, the dean of the Iowa press corps, O. Kay Henderson, wrote: Its probably more important for candidates at this point who are trying to find those donors to get themselves on Fox and get some attention for themselves than to campaign in Iowa, which isnt really going to drive any small dollar donations into their campaign, the veteran GOP operative David Kochel told her.

DeSantiss team had local law enforcement block a political journalist from the site Iowa Starting Line from one of his events. Our Dave Weigel reports that the campaigns explanation was that the reporter registered as an attendee, not press. Rushing called it bizarre in an email to me.
Fighting between the forces of Sudan's rival generals rocked Monday the capital Khartoum and a major city in the western Darfur region, witnesses told AFP, displacing thousands within days.

Residents of violence-wracked Nyala, Sudan's second city and state capital of South Darfur, awoke to "the sound of artillery strikes", witnesses said

Hundreds had on Sunday fled paramilitary attacks in the city as fighting intensified in recent days in the restive region bordering Chad.

"The violence has displaced an estimated 20,000 people from several neighbourhoods" of Nyala, according to the UN's humanitarian agency OCHA.

It warned that "the clashes are currently hampering any transport of aid into Nyala from East Darfur".

Darfur and the capital Khartoum have been in the throes of nearly four months of fighting between Sudan's army led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.

"Despite difficulties in accessing the hospital in Nyala due to the bombardments, we received on Sunday 66 injuries and six deceased," a medical source at a local facility told AFP.

Darfur has long been the site of deadly fighting since a war that erupted in 2003 and saw the feared Janjaweed -- precursors of the RSF -- unleashed on ethnic minority rebels.

The vast region has now become a stronghold for RSF fighters, with the city of El-Geneina having been the site of likely "crimes against humanity", according to the United Nations.

Numerous rights groups and witnesses have reported the massacre of civilians and ethnically driven attacks and killings in Darfur, largely by the paramilitaries and their allied Arab tribal militias.

- 'Inadequate' refugee aid -

Since the start of Sudan's conflict on April 15, "more than 358,000 refugees have arrived" in the town of Adre, across Sudan's border with Chad, according to Doctors Without Borders (MSF).

The charity sounded the alarm over refugee accommodation in Adre, saying "shelter and basic facilities available in the camps are wholly inadequate to meet the needs of the incoming people".

As a result, the refugees "are exposed to harsh sun and rain, with insufficient food, water, and even cooking supplies", said Susanna Borges, MSF's emergency coordinator in Chad.

And with the arrival of the rainy season in June, epidemic risks have multiplied, MSF said, with a single clinic in Adre recording "956 malaria cases, nearly three times the previous week's count".

Fighting also continued on Monday across various parts of the Sudanese capital, where residents reported "intense air strikes and powerful explosions".

The conflict has so far killed at least 3,900 people, according to a conservative estimate by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project.

More than four million Sudanese have been displaced by the brutal warfare, according to UN figures.

In a rare public address on Monday, Burhan said Sudan "is facing the largest conspiracy in its modern history, targeting the entity, identity, heritage and fate of our people".

He accused Daglo, in a video statement broadcast on state TV and shared on social media, of subjecting the Sudanese people to "the worst of terrorism and war crimes".

bur/ami/jsa
In early November 2022, the Armed Forces of Ukraine liberated a significant part of Mykolaiv Oblast which had been under Russian occupation for almost nine months. However, the Kinburn Spit still remains under Russian control.

On his special NV Radio program on Aug. 9, head of the Transformation Office Maxim Bakhmatov spoke to Mykolaiv regional governor Vitaly Kim about how the restoration of the region is taking place during and what plans he has to develop it and attract investment after the end of the war.

Bakhmatov: What needs to be done for Mykolaiv Oblast and the south-eastern region as a whole for it to flourish? I'm sure you had plans to develop it. Let's start with what has been destroyed, and then move on to plans.

Kim: About 14,000 objects have been destroyed or damaged in the oblast. As of now, about 23% have been urgently restored in one way or another. The oblast has been lucky in this regard, as there has been a lot of media attention.

We were able to organize a back office for interaction with foreign donor partners, volunteer organizations, and non-governmental international organizations. We have established transparent work, and now there are already a number of results in the region.

Read also: Only registered volunteers can avoid taxes on donated funds, says tax service

I wont even say that its a lot, but most of the objects are now being rebuilt using [the money received from this] assistance, and not at the expense of the state. For state-financed projects, 10 large, important objects are already in the process [of being rebuilt]. These include seven educational facilities and three medical facilities.

Therefore, Mykolaiv Oblast has been lucky in this regard. We are working with international organizations and volunteers specifically for restoration, and I am very, very grateful to them for this. They cannot legally help the military, so all their attention is focused on civil reconstruction, in particular in our region.

Bakhmatov: And who are these partners? Who is the main investor in recovery today?

Kim: There are no main ones. I can provide a list so that I dont forget anyone, but they include all international organizations, such as the UN, UNDP , the Red Cross, Denmark, Moldova, Poland ... We have a dozen countries and 11 international state companies and volunteer organizations [involved].

For example, we have direct interactions with businesses in Kazakhstan, in Latvia, with Riga, and with individual cities. The list is very large. We discuss, develop, and sign off on projects to be directly implemented by communities, districts, and localities, so that they themselves continue to follow [the projects] and work directly.

Therefore, there are a lot of projects, and we need to bring everything together to show results. But now I cant even tell you in numbers  its a lot.

I can give you an example: 20 national, local, and municipal-level bridges have been destroyed in our country. 17 of them have been restored. And we spent six million in state and regional funds for this, with everything else coming from UNITED24 and directly from donors. This is the combination of factors that is now allowing us to quickly restore infrastructure in Mykolaiv Oblast.





Bakhmatov: I read your interview in Deutsche Welle. You say that almost everyone  400 thousand people  has returned to Mykolaiv after they had left. The situation is even better in the oblast. But at the same time, 50% of businesses have shut down. 90% of the country's recovery will rely on private domestic and foreign investments. Business investment attractiveness depends, in particular, on the head of the oblast. How would you comment on this?

Kim: I understand this, and I am betting on creating favorable conditions for investors. Of course, there are restrictions right now, because there are very big military risks, but we are preparing projects which, after victory, will not need a year and a half of planning, but will be shovel-ready.

We have a case during the war, when DTEK and the Danish company Vestas completed a wind farm project. It provides an additional 114 MW of energy. They completed it between September 2022 and May 2023  right during the active phase [of the war].

Read also: Ukraine's Pozhmashina teams with Danish firm to manufacture mine-clearing equipment

As a business person, I understand perfectly that it is necessary to create conditions for business. It is very difficult, but I was an investment consultant before the war. My primary task was to accompany investors so that no one would put a stick in their wheels and would not ask anything from them. Just help them to create jobs.

Nothing has changed. I work with investors. I can say that I will accompany all large businesses personally. This is my task. Lots of meetings. Everyone is being held back by [ongoing] hostilities and [military] risks. But this will change at some point, and Mykolaiv Oblast will endure.

Bakhmatov: We talked with the large concrete manufacturer and developer Kovalska. They always try to build everything transparently. They are very, very attentive to the legality of their actions. Despite this, the Obolon district prosecutor's office in Kyiv has been circling them and even filed a suit. Have you, as a leader, experienced such situations when law enforcement is hostile towards investors?

Kim: I'm not in the loop on this investigation, so I can't comment. Perhaps Kovalska, with all due respect, violated something and they are objectively doing something there. I dont want to [say] in absentia I didnt read it, but I condemn it.

When I was in business and the then-authorities tried to take [it] away from me, I went to the highest court. I understand business perfectly well, and what the authorities do and in what ways. And I'm trying to use this experience in the opposite direction, when we work and accompany business as government officials.

Bakhmatov: According to a survey of businesses, approximately 65% of them have faced pressure from various law enforcement agencies. That is why a special assistance committee was created, which includes Rostislav Shurma, deputy head of the President's Office, where these cases are analyzed, where these raids have been unfair, and where they have been fair. But 65% is a lot. Why am I saying this? As soon as Mykolaiv Oblast shows that its share of this sort of pressure is minimal, businesses will immediately understand that it is possible to work and develop there. How would you rate this story, how critical is it?

Kim: The horizon of business planning for investments is much longer than the term of my tenure in power, or that of law enforcement agencies, or even the leadership of the country. These indicators are important, but above all, these are conditions and risks that can be eliminated at the planning stage. Further, it will be more difficult for the security forces to interact and ask for something there if everything is formalized and done in accordance with the law. In other words, there will be nothing to cling to.

We are in a state of war, and war affects different regions a little differently. Mykolaiv business, even when it has moved, is helping here with everything. Some businesses have lost a lot in terms of equipment, premises, and staff who have gone to war; but still continue to carry out tasks and help the army.

Now my task is to restore these companies so that they are at least breaking even. Local businesses have agreed to work just breaking even until victory, and then talk about profits. I am very grateful to them for this position.

For international companies, we are preparing sites that will be of potential interest to them once there are no risks. And these things will be worked out from the point of view of minerals, human resources, logistics... I can't do much, but I can create the conditions  connecting electricity, allocating land, and transparent licenses on resource extraction. There's a lot of everything needed. Previously, it was

Bakhmatov: What exactly are you doing? What advice would you give to other regions? What can you share, given that the war may last a long time?

Kim: Are we talking about domestic business, or foreign?

Bakhmatov: I would just talk about numbers and turnover, realizing that we need a lot of money. Ukrainian money, too, of course. But it will be limited. Well also need Western money.

Kim: The situation varies by region. I can't give advice, because businesses that have relocated to the west of our country are working there, the amount of taxes has been increased there, and the like. This is logical.

Regarding the conditions that are here. When I was in business, I said: I dont need help from the state, just dont bother me. This is the basis. We must not interfere in business affairs.

But for specific cases. The large enterprise Agrofusion is the world leader in the production of tomato paste. It had four factories, two in Kherson Oblast, and two in ours. Two are under occupation now, and one is very significantly damaged. The Russians stole only 600 million euros in turnover. And this tomato paste is now sold throughout Russia.

Helping this company means having meetings with leaders in the government and having programs. Not everything is going smoothly, but the plant has almost recovered. There is the lack of pressure from regional energy companies, installments, compensation, extension of contracts  a lot of things. This is our current work. We didnt have a recipe for what to say or what order to issue to make everything go. That would have been done a long time ago. It is necessary to spend time and delve into the problems of each enterprise separately.

Read also: Kyiv streamlines drone ammunition production

For example, we helped the company conclude a land lease agreement, with which it could grow seedlings on thousands of hectares, which was essential for its plant. The issue was timing. And they are still paying more than market value. This kind of support means protecting business interests, from an administrative point of view.

Bakhmatov: If you look at countries that have been tested by war, it was quite difficult, but, of course, in terms of the moral and volitional qualities of the leadership and the support of society, they handled it.

Kim: Let me comment on what I'm counting on. I won't name any more examples, as there are a lot of them.

There is an erroneous opinion that the war will be over once we win ... We still do not understand when that would be, or that we will have a problem with guys returning from the frontlines, with psychological issues they will face, and so on. These will only be problems for those who have not worked directly towards the victory. And I'm betting that it is these guys who will return from the war who will be the basis of fair changes in the country. Because they have higher [expectations] of justice. They're there because they think it's the right thing to do, and they're going to be the basis for these changes. Because it will be impossible to steal, as there will be a lot of people who came from the war. And they will justly demand that everything be fair.

Therefore, on the contrary, I am betting on all these people returning back to the region, in particular to us, and participating in the socio-political life of the region and the country.

Bakhmatov: And what to do with those military registration and enlistment offices? To date, 112 proceedings have been opened by the SBI (State Bureau of Investigations) for corruption. The war does not prevent them from engaging in criminal corruption.

Kim: I would not want a shadow to fall over the entire military because of some bad apples, because there are 200,000 people in the army, and there are 112 high-profile cases. Anything can happen, and there is no perfect system.

Read also: Rivne mayor suspended from office for one year over corruption offense

This will be an ongoing issue. Even in European countries, there is a level of corruption, and there are also such cases. Im not too worried about this. If someone plunders, he goes to jail, and his property is confiscated, it's okay, it happens. But it's all about change.

Bakhmatov: Is there any strategic planning going on today, during martial law? What will happen in a year, two, three, or five? Is someone doing this?

Kim: During martial law, nothing bad will happen, because there is an over fulfillment of the budget for personal income tax revenues. The big question is the solvency of business, so that it develops, and it survives. As well as a lack of loans and access to cheap money.

Regarding strategy: we are an agricultural region, and we are a shipbuilding region. We are currently working on a naval strategy in cooperation with the Navy, the General Staff, the Defense Ministry, the Ministry of Strategic Industry, and defense contractors. Now there are things that we want to start here. We are organizing and coordinating actions to restart shipbuilding [in the region].

What is the near-term, five-year target? In 2010, 23,000 people were involved in shipbuilding in Mykolaiv Oblast. Add in subcontractors, and you multiply that by seven  more than 100,000. And in 2020 there were just 7,000.

It was a huge fall. The task is to return to the capacities of 2010. I have a plan to return at least 23,000 people to shipbuilding. This is a difficult task in terms of strategic planning.

Read also: Mixed messages on NATO, Kryvyi Rih death toll rises, 1st German national security strategy

You just need to do those things that will be useful for the future. It's about strategy. Solutions for specific problems which fix things  this is something everyone should do. This is a mandatory thing. But to return production is another matter. This is a very difficult task. We have lost a lot, including because of the Russians, who for 30 years have been buying up factories and bankrupting them intentionally in order to kill shipbuilding here. But we have what we have. Our task is to work in the conditions that we have.

Bakhmatov: Regarding businesses that have not yet opened. Are there any support programs for them from the state or from foreign partners?

Kim: There are grants for starting a business for those who have returned from the war, and there is an extended loan program for farmers. I'm talking about what the whole country, the entire Cabinet of Ministers, the government, the parliament are working on this. They are all working on these programs. But these are many elements that should lead to a climate that is good for business.

Bakhmatov: ArcelorMittal issued a press release that its metal production has halved due to the lack of water for the operation of Kryvorizhstal. As far as I understand, this will be the most critical problem in the region, in this region as a whole, after the [Kakhovka HPP] dam was blown up. Explain what needs to be done to help you?

Kim: I spoke with [Head of the Kryvyi Rih City Administration Oleksandr] Vilkul and put his deputy in touch with my colleague in restoring the water supply in Kryvyi Rih, reiterating our warnings about how this would affect Mykolaiv Oblast.

But I must tell you that we had this problem a year and a half ago because the Russians deliberately destroyed the Dnipro-Mykolaiv water canal. We have been living with this problem for a long time. And we solved this problem. I don't want to reveal the details so that the enemy does not know what we are doing and continue to do, primarily with the help of the Office of the President and the Cabinet of Ministers, which have allocated money to eliminate this problem.

I'll tell you from a technical point of view. This is a problem due to the point of water intake  at what level it is, given that the Kakhovka HPP has been destroyed. The water level fell in the Kakhovka reservoir, which Dnipro and Kryvyi Rih drew from, but it remained the same at the point where Mykolaiv was drawing water from. That is to say, this situation will not significantly affect us.

Bakhmatov: Let's talk about the risks and solutions in the event of an accident at the Zaporizhzhya NPP. To what extent is the region ready for terrorist attacks that the Russian Federation could commit? What should be done, and what should we and the people of Mykolaiv be aware of?

Kim: We are also lucky here. The ZNPP is 130 kilometers away from Mykolaiv, perhaps even 150.

Read also: Risks and Dangers at the Zaporizhzhia NPP

We have the South Ukrainian nuclear power plant in our region. And since the beginning of the war, we have worked out all the types of measures that would be needed in case there is a man-made disaster. Therefore, when the issue arose with the Zaporizhzhya NPP, we already had plans to work with, and we finalized them. We are potentially in the affected zone if the wind blows in our direction. But we have not only worked out this theoretically. We have had exercises, and we have been preparing for this. Therefore, as always, there will be panic, but we will be ready to respond. But I don't think it will come to that.

Bakhmatov: Why do you think so?

Kim: But because it has no military purpose and will not affect [the war]. The Russians, I think, are also analyzing how this or that action will globally affect the events in Ukraine. I think that this will only embitter Ukraine and Ukrainians more. And there will be no compromise.

Bakhmatov: And how much did the destruction of the dam help them in realizing their intentions?

Read also: Russia attacks Ukraine overnight, killing two in Zaporizhzhya and hitting Odesas historic city center

Kim: Ill offer my subjective point of view so that it is not construed as analysis. I think that this was deliberately done in order to flood part of the left bank and complicate the advance of our troops here. So that they can remove most of these troops and send them to the Zaporizhzhya front. They needed reserves, but they could not cover a large section of the front. They blew up the dam, removed the troops and sent them to Zaporizhzhya.

Bakhmatov: Mykolaiv Oblast is preparing an investment map for natural resources, labor resources, and logistical advantages. And you have a program for industrial parks. Is this all for development?

Kim: Yes. These efforts have updated data from 30 years ago. Some data was from 2010 for minerals that were available to investors. A feasibility study is being worked out for an industry which could potentially be a driver for local development.

Read also: Deputy PM reveals details of Ukraines military logistics

There are very large projects, which I dont even want to talk about, so that no one jinxes it. I would now talk about what has already been implemented. Our Danish partners in humanitarian demining say, "What can we do?" I say: "Create 500 jobs with a salary of UAH 25,000 in order to teach people how to clear mines, and they will teach others." They said, "Good idea." Now 300 people are working and are financed by Denmark. That is, 300 jobs were created at once, helping to clear territory in the Snihurivka area. There are many such examples. We can talk about them because they are being implemented.

As for strategic plans... First, they have not yet been implemented. Second: God willing, they will be. Third: I need to coordinate, because everything is being discussed at a very high level. And I'm not a genius here doing it alone. This is being done together with the government and the Office of the President.

Bakhmatov: About the aluminum (the largest in Europe or in the world) plant owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska.

Kim: It doesn't belong to him anymore. It is now state-owned.

Bakhmatov: Is it operating now?

Kim: No, it is not.

Bakhmatov: The Mykolaiv area is ready for its ports to be unblocked. As you said, "Ochakiv and Mykolaiv ports are 40% of the economy." What can you tell us about this that isnt classified?

Kim: Our ports are ready. And our operators are ready to resume work here. The only question is that the occupied Kinburn Spit and right bank of the Dnipro are not far away, about four to seven kilometers. That is, the Russians control this section of the sea. And we cannot move ships, because they can fire at them with the simplest weapons. They threaten everyone now with ballistic missiles and everything else. But the passage is very narrow. We cannot do this without de-occupation.

Read also: Putin raising stakes with grain blackmail

We are ready to join the Black Sea Grain Initiative, but we understand that this will not change anything strategically, because the Russians are also metering the number of ships that depart from Ukraine. There are geopolitical agreements on the quantity traveling through this corridor.

If there is an additional port, logistics will be a little easier and Mykolaiv Oblast will start generating revenue. But for Ukraine, this will not change anything globally, because the Russians limit the amount of grain that leaves. There is a bottleneck.

Bakhmatov: What would encourage Ukrainians to return in general and to Mykolaiv Oblast in particular?

Kim: We have a lot of people coming back. I'll give my opinion. I believe that more than 90% [of people] will go back at least once to see what has changed, what has become better after and during the war, what happened to their property, and so on. When people return and see that it makes sense to stay here, they will stay. There is another problem. A lot of people have never traveled outside their region or country before.

Bakhmatov: 90% of people in Ukraine had never left their oblast.

Kim: It is very difficult for them to get up and do something. This is the biggest problem in bringing back people, particularly older ones.

The youth can find work. They are very active and adapt quickly. So: in order to bring everyone back, we need to be better than before. I am confident in the patriotism of our people. They are ready to do this as soon as there is feedback from the state and from the authorities. If the government meets the needs of the people, then people will return. Therefore, it is necessary to respond to these needs.

Bakhmatov: Speaking of the needs of the people: 96% are directly afraid of war. 89% are afraid of the kind of corruption  Ukrainian or international  that may prevent them from creating the kind of state they would like.

Kim: As long as salaries are higher and expenses are lower somewhere else, then no one will return. I think that Ukraine will be very promising. It is a very promising country, but after the war it will rebuild and become better than it was before. All the experts say it will be. Therefore, the demand from investors and entry into Ukrainian markets will be massive.

Read also: SBU identifies 15 collaborators preparing sham elections in Luhansk Oblast

In order [for investors] to come here, there needs to be a local workforce. And, for example, if a factory opens in a village or in a community, then a person will return to their place. Because they understand that this is a guaranteed place of work with social protection and with confidence for the next 10 years, with social guarantees. And they will come back and work. Therefore, it is necessary to create jobs and competition. And with competition, corruption will disappear. Corruption hinders open competition.

Bakhmatov: In the Transformation Office, we work a lot on corruption cases. We have information, according to the State Bureau of Investigation, that every third hryvnia in Kyiv is stolen. And we also understand that the State Bureau of Investigation, NABU, and the SAPO cannot cover all these tens, hundreds of thousands of potentially corrupt officials. We came to the conclusion that an effective, decent manager with a good reputation, can, by their own decisions, create a model of public management that will make corruption disappear. Whats your view on this?

Kim: I agree with it. The thing is, I think it all depends on the leader. The Ministry of Digital Transformation, in my subjective opinion, is one of the most effective ministries in this regard. Everything is digitalized. And Ukraine is now leading the world in the implementation of digitalization, and digitalization strongly diminishes the corruption component.

Read also: DBR agents stage fake assassination to nab potential killer city councilor

But with regard to NABU (National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine), SAPO (Special Anti-corruption Prosecutors Office) and SBI. They can do their jobs. They're just working [with big criminals] right now. And when they are done with that, they will go one level deeper. The government and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have created conditions for the transparent operation of these institutions. This is still changing. That is, these tools will continue to work.

We have more high-profile cases now than a decade ago.

Bakhmatov: I'm not saying it's not being investigated. I just understand that the volume is very large.

Kim: This is an evolutionary process. We need to look not at what is wrong with us now, but to compare every year [with what] it was before.

When I look at what I have done in a year, what the state has done in a year, I always evaluate by parameters. We have a lot of cases that have been brought to fruition in Mykolaiv Oblast. One traitor is in prison for life. This is the first such verdict in history. That is, everything is changing.

Regarding the [head of the] Supreme Court [being arrested and charged with corruption]  this has not happened in history, or at all in other countries. Therefore, untouchables do not exist. This is the position of the president. I clearly understand this and completely agree. If you want to work, do so. If you dont, goodbye.

These are obvious changes. It is impossible to miss them. You must either take part in them, or disagree with them and say goodbye.

Read also: Corruption in Ukraine at its lowest level for 20 years, says finance minister

Gradual steps are being [taken] that make it possible to change attitudes towards corruption in broad circles. If we add to this conditionally 300,000500,000 troops who will return from the war, who will demand that everything be done without corruption, this combination will provide for rapid changes in the country.

Bakhmatov: A formula emerges: half a million military plus digitalization means an efficient country without corruption. Right?

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
It had been more than 100 years since a Catawba Indian had woven a basket from river cane.

Teresa Dunlap, a cultural class specialist at the Catawba Reservation in Rock Hill, S.C, proudly held up a primitive basket she had recently woven from the bamboo-type cane.

Well, this basket does not look like much and theres definitely a lot of work to be done to learn how to do it a little better, she said with a smile. The baskets that we made in our last workshop with the cultural center, were the first river cane baskets to be made in over 100 years, so to me, thats really exciting.

Cassidy Plyler, cultural programs docent and exhibit coordinator at the Catawba Indian Nation, weaves a basket using river cane.

The Catawba Indian Nation has joined a group of Southeastern Indian tribes in an effort to restore the river cane. For the Catawbas, that means they will replenish a diminished swath along the Catawba River, which borders their reservation.

We refer to ourselves as Ye Iswa, which is people of the river, said Kassidy Plyler, cultural programs docent and exhibit coordinator at the reservation. So we settled on the river and utilized it as a main resource.

River cane was used by the Catawbas to make vital everyday objects  baskets, mats, blow guns, flutes, spear points and thatch for dwellings.

One must split the cane to have usable material for baskets, Dunlap said. It has to be thin enough to be woven. The Catawbas also will learn dyeing techniques using bloodroot and walnut hulls.

Weve been to several trainings and had some some visitors come to us to help us understand and relearn how to use the cane in basketry, Dunlap said. So to do that, its quite the process.

The tribe has secured a grant to pay for training, Dunlap said.

Weve always used the resources that were readily available for us, said Wenonah Haire, cultural services director for the tribe.. And in that, in our ancestors time, river cane was quite abundant.

Not readily available today

Dunlap said the river cane started to decline after settlers came to the United States.

So it has been a really long time since Catawba people were using it on a daily basis, just because its not readily available anymore and what is available is not as healthy as it once wasso weve lost a lot of those traditions, unfortunately, she said.

Also, river cane has been overused. Animals have grazed on it. Developments have replaced it. Invasive species have choked it. Prescribed burns to keep it prolific have been squelched.

Nowadays, river cane is very sparse, Haire said.

Marvin Bauknight, the natural resources program manager at the reservation, is fighting to bring back the plant. Though hes not a Catawba Indian, Bauknights job is to return the plant to its prolific state. He has implemented a river cane restoration project that he says will be a multi-generational effort.

Herald reporter and photographer Tracy Kimball traveled with Bauknight last month on the Catawba Reservation along the Catawba river to see the cane in its natural state.

The cane grows alongside the dense trees and growth under a vast, shaded canopy. With an appearance similar to shrubs, the cane is one of three native bamboos.

On this July afternoon, Bauknight walked under the shaded path along the river, pointing out whats river cane and whats not.

He was excited.

A butterfly fluttered on the cane.

As a scientist, Bauknight pinpointed invasive plants cropping up around healthy stands of river cane.

Look at that vine, its growing on it and choking it out, he said. Thats what happens when river cane struggles to grow, because its just being out-competed for sunlight.

He pointed to the plants harmful to the growth of the cane: Burford Holly, Chinese Privet and Elaegnus. Bauknight said he is constantly trying to remove the invasive plants.

Cane just cant get a foothold here, he said. So what weve done is, as part of this river cane project, weve come in and eliminated competition, and its a constant battle because privet grows at an incredible rate and its got a seed bank that we can hardly deplete.

If we remove the invasives and let the river cane grow, it will just practically sprout up and jump up real quick, he said.

River cane is culturally important, but its also is environmentally vital.

The rhizomes, or underground stems, are so profuse and thick that they provide a filter to keep trash and debris out of the river. The rhizomes also provide chemical purification.

Its been estimated that if you had a 30-foot wide swatch of river cane, it can actually remove 80-90 percent of the phosphates and nitrogen thats generated through agricultural (chemicals) in the fields, he said. Thats huge for a river like the Catawba.

SC has plans for a new state park to honor Catawba Nation. Heres where it will be

A new ally





York County is now helping in the fight to regrow river cane.

In 2018, York County bought 1,900-acres along the Catawba near the reservation to be used as a park. The park is now named Catawba Bend Preserve.

One of the biggest coming attractions in York County, maybe ever, now has a name

Workers for York County found large patches of river cane -- some growing under a power line right-of-way.

County workers were studying the propertys wildlife and environment along the five miles of riverfront to ensure the parks design wouldnt encroach on endangered species.

The Catawbas had already started growing river cane on their reservation.

So the York County Council approved a memorandum of agreement with the Catawbas that allows them to harvest the river cane.

The cane in that area are stout and grow well, said Joe Allen, Catawba Bend Preserve senior park superintendent. The Catawbas took samples of the cane to see if it would grow on the reservation and to work out some of the kinks in the process of transplanting it.

The patch of cane the Catawbas transplanted has started to grow. In 2024, the Catawba will return to the park to get more.

They have done absolutely outstanding and they have had better survivorship of those samples then they ever expected, Allen said.

We hope that this is kind of the beginning of a great relationship and extending into other ways that we can partner together. Were excited to see where it takes us and branches out.
On the night of 13-14 August, fires broke out at two facilities, one of which was a supermarket, in Odesa. It was due to the falling debris of downed missiles, and three people were injured.

Source: Oleh Kiper, Head of the Odesa Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "As a result of the enemy attack, several fires broke out in Odesa as pieces of missiles fell. The blast wave smashed windows in buildings."

Details: Kiper said that three people were injured in the attack by the occupiers, they are being treated.

Suspilne.Odesa news outlet reported that a fire broke out in a supermarket as a result of Russia's night attack on the city.

Later, the defence forces of Ukraine's south clarified that due to the Russian missiles hitting the centre of Odesa, a student accommodation building of an educational institution and a supermarket were damaged by the debris.

The blast wave also smashed windows and balconies in several buildings and damaged cars parked nearby.

It is noted that a fire broke out at two of the facilities, and firefighters are working to extinguish it.

As the defence forces of Ukraine's south reported, three employees of the supermarket were injured and received medical assistance.

Background: Earlier, the Air Force reported that the Russians had launched attack drones and missiles in the direction of Odesa.

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FILE PHOTO: Signage is seen outside of FDA headquarters in White Oak, Maryland

By Leroy Leo

(Reuters) - The U.S. health regulator has approved expanding the use of Revance Therapeutics' Daxxify to treat a painful neck muscle condition, intensifying the anti-wrinkle injection's rivalry with AbbVie's Botox.

The approval by the Food and Drug Administration helps Revance enter the $2.5 billion U.S. market for therapeutic neuromodulator, a method that directly acts on nerves, the company said on Monday.

Cervical dystonia accounts for about $345 million of that market. The painful condition involves involuntary contraction of neck muscles and causes the head to twist to one side.

Revance will move into a preview phase with some doctors and key opinion leaders (KOLs) initially after the approval, company executives told Reuters before the decision.

"We'll use that group as our faculty to then train that broader launch group which will be in 2024," President Dustin Sjuts said.

Revance said it would share more information on the pricing when the product is launched commercially.

The company has been trying to attract clients to Daxxify from its more popular rival with its "Break Up with Botox" marketing campaign.

The newer anti-wrinkle injection recorded $22.6 million in sales in the second quarter.The California-based company is counting on Daxxify's longer treatment duration to attract more doctors and patients from Botox.

Most cervical dystonia patients saw the treatment effect last about 20 weeks and 24 weeks when using different dosages of Daxxify, a late-stage study showed, compared with three months for Botox, as per FDA data.

This was similar for Daxxify when it had secured U.S. approval as an anti-wrinkle injection last year.

(Reporting by Leroy Leo in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)
An external review found no culture of discrimination in a Georgia police department after social media posts showed white citizens using images of a Black man for target practice.

Channel 2 Action News showed you in June the posts shared by Villa Rica police after one of its citizen gun classes. Police Chief Michael Mansour told Channel 2s Tom Jones there was no sinister intent in posting the images.

The perception of it looks like we have people just shooting at black guys and thats not at all what it was, he told Jones.

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Many wondered why there were no images of white people used for target practice. The chief says they were used, just not posted.

That day, they started with that target, Mansour said while pointing at an image of a white man.

The city launched an external review into the police departments training practices. The review said previous gun training classes used a diverse range of photo-real targets representing different races and genders.

The review found no evidence that a photo of a Black man was intentionally selected for the June class and there was no intent to promote bias against Black men.

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However, it is deeply concerning that no one within the VRPD present at the range, recognized the potential implications of using targets depicting only a Black male armed with a revolver. This lack of awareness and judgment is acknowledged by the police chief, who expressed regret and apologized upon learning of the incident, the report stated.

The review concluded that the department should add new cultural awareness training and regularly evaluate its training practices to prevent things like this in the future.

You can read the full review and its findings here.

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On a leafy corner near the North Branch of the Chicago River, in a stretch of low brick buildings with a former factory life, Margaret Pak and Vinod Kalathil have opened their new home for Thattu, a refuge for fellow nomadic souls.

The Avondale neighborhood restaurant shares their interpretation of Kerala, the state on the southwestern-most coast of India.

Its beautiful, lush and filled with coconut trees, said Pak, chef and co-owner with Kalathil, the general manager. I fell in love with Vinod and the cuisine about 20 years ago.

Hes originally from Kerala. Shes Korean American, originally from Northern California.

I thought I had experienced and enjoyed Indian cuisine, Pak said. But when Vinod first cooked for me, thats when it really hit me, like, this is so different.

That first meal included an egg curry and a shrimp dish.

But also a crab curry that I was eating with my hands, she said That was a whole new experience.

Two years later, they married.

That was my first visit to Kerala, Pak said. My first visit to India, also the first time I met Vinods whole family.

That must have been one intense trip.

Every time they went back, that was pretty much the only time they got to eat Kerala food, Kalathil said. Almost all the Indian food commonly served in the United States is northern, he added.

And even when we do get southern Indian food in the U.S., it focuses on dosa and idli, which is just more commonly known, Kalathil said about the emblematic golden thin pancakes and white steamed rice cakes. Indian food is much more diverse.

The Kerala fried chicken sandwich, however, is their own creation. A so-called naked thigh is anything but, fully dressed in striking dark spices, accessorized simply with spicy housemade cucumber pickles and a curry leaf aioli, all held within a brioche bun.

Its minimalist in form, but maximalist in spice, though not numbing with heat. That holds true throughout the thoughtfully concise menu.

The ChaaterTots should be a required side. Theres an art to perfect tater tots (never from an oven), and here theyre further gilded with a generous dusting of chaat masala, the house powdered spice mix, and a side of chunky beet ketchup.

Do note the sandwich and the tots are available at lunch only, as is the chorum kariyum, the rice and curry of the day youll want every day, served on a round silver thali tray, with two changing sides plus a crisp papadum to crumble and a tangy rasam to sip. A curry moru, traditionally made with buttermilk in Kerala, becomes a buttery yogurt and green plantain bowl here. The dish is paired so beautifully with a green bean coconut thoran and a kadala black chickpea salad, you might start wondering about adding the sides to your family Thanksgiving dishes.

The fish fry is a stunning main event. Banish any thoughts of a British colonial-style mashup. A pair of pristine fillets get the naked spice treatment, and then theyre offered with a watermelon cucumber salad, on an herbal fenugreek leaf chutney, with a supersized quenelle of chilled yogurt curd rice alongside.

They use catfish, unlike in Kerala.

The most common fish there are Indian mackerel, sardines, pomfret and king fish, Kalathil said. But at Thattu, they chose catfish, because its fresh and local.

At dinner, the black chickpeas return as a kadala curry with a deeply roasted coconut gravy. Its been with Thattu since day one, Pak said. You can choose an appam or jeera rice on the side. For me, there was no choice but the appam, which I first fell in love with at the former Thattu food hall stall in the West Loop. They transform coconut milk and rice into a fermented batter, then irresistible lacy white crepes, torn with your hands.

I really hope we can keep going with the appam, Kalathil said, citing Indias rice export bans. I went around to stores, but they wont give us more than two bags.

The payasam uses a different rice from Kerala. A warm rice pudding cooks coarse matta rice silky soft with coconut milk and jaggery, the caramel-hued sugar. I burned my tongue, too tempted after the first taste, but I do wish the cashew and raisin garnish had been toasted or otherwise enhanced.

The masala biscuit has clearly raised my expectations. Their signature sweet and spicy shortbread, another long lost food hall love rekindled, contains cashews and multitudes. They were the beginning of Thattu, inspired by cookies from the historic Delecta Bakery in Kerala, where Kalathils late father bought the treats for his son and daughter-in-law. He eventually obtained the original recipe for her, but it would take years and a world away before she made it her own.

Theyre packaged individually now; I wish they werent, since the wrappers hide a rustic beauty, but they do mention a pairing with coffee or tea.

But theres no masala chai.

Because we like lime tea, Pak said.

And the way south Indian tea is made, its typically kept boiling all day on a samovar, Kalathil said. And to keep that steady temperature, you need a dedicated stove or equipment. If were going to do it, were going to do it the right way.

What they do offer is kaapi. The south Indian coffee with chicory, the frothiest scalded milk and sugar has taken off like crazy, he said.

That type of coffee is not even from Kerala, he added. Its from our neighboring state of Tamil Nadu thats very famous for their coffee.

On their last trip to India last year, they spent some time in Kodagu, a rural district in the neighboring state of Karnataka, and stayed on a coffee farm.

We had really great coffee every day for four days straight, Pak said. When they opened, it became a non-negotiable. We had to figure that out.

After months of tasting, they finally got the right blend with Veloria Coffee, owned by a Filipino couple in Portage Park.

Part of the fun of enjoying that coffee is that it usually comes scalding hot in the dabra, Pak said about the small stainless steel cup and bowl set. They almost hug each other.

You can pour, or pull, the coffee back and forth to cool it down or make it even frothier.

The Sarbath cocktail is their version of a street drink in Kerala by the same name. There its a shaken sweet and spiced lemonade with basil seeds. Here, its a refreshing and balanced mix of Tanqueray Rangpur lime gin, fino sherry and nannari, the Indian sarsaparilla root. The Sassy Spritz, a nonalcoholic translation, substitutes passion fruit, yuzu and Topo Chico into a fun and elegant drink.

The Kerala fried chicken bites, dinnertime nuggets of the lunchtime bird, dont fare quite as well, losing the complexity of other components, despite a nice yogurt sauce. A Malabar chicken biriyani, bone-in chicken layered with basmati rice and baked, was surprisingly undersalted as a whole, in defiance of the tiny but electrifying lime pickle side. The chicken ishtu, a classic Kerala stew, seemed more of broth, but the jeera rice on the side with cumin flecked basmati was so flavorful and flawless that I wanted more of that alone.

Its easy to order on a whim with a QR code-carved menu that sends your order directly to the kitchen. There are print menus and servers if you prefer that too.

With the QR code, I would say 95% of our customers are completely happy with it, Kalathil said. He and the servers also go around and talk to every table. We do have limited staff with our model. Thats one of the things that we had to compromise on. Otherwise, our prices will be way too high.

The service experience was impressive and gracious.

They made another decision without compromise: Theres no tipping or service charge.

Even before we opened the restaurant, this is something that we really wanted, Kalathil said. Theyve been working with High Road Kitchens, an organization trying to bring fair wages and treatment to all employees in the restaurant world. Im also an accountant, so I did a lot of calculations to figure out how we can make this happen. The way we do it, we price everything in.

Employees get a percentage of the restaurants income based on their weekly hours, Kalathil added.

As we hire new folks, we do have a range of hourly rates, Pak said. But instead of tip share, we call it a revenue share.

Its almost like a co-op for our employees, Kalathil said.

But that doesnt mean diners still dont want to tip, as with one couple recently.

At the beginning of their meal theyre like, What? We cant tip? We want to tip, Kalathil said. They were like, Its up to the patron to decide whether or not to tip. And my answer when he said that was, Well, we want our employees to get a fair wage, regardless of if patrons decide to tip or not, which is the reason why we are not letting you tip and we pay our employees.

I think they were a little taken aback when I said that, but by the end of the meal, they were absolutely loving everything, he continued. Basically, we dont want our employees to be at the mercy of the customers, whether they tip well or not.

And diners still do leave a lot of cash tips.

We talk to our employees and ask what they want to do with it, Kalathil said. And their answer was caffeine, maybe a little bit of beer, and they also funded our three-month celebration.

It was literally made possible from all of our guests that dont listen to us, Pak said, laughing.

It seems so simple at Thattu, yet remains so complicated and fraught with emotion and politics elsewhere.

Perhaps its because the whole endeavor is a culmination of choices through lived experience.

Pak worked in finance, then the pharmaceutical industry, and finally a marketing analytics firm, her last office job.

So how does a Korean American woman who started off in the corporate world become the chef of a very personal regional Indian restaurant representing her husbands culture?

I grew up loving Korean food, Pak said. My mom was an excellent Korean home cook.

Shes always been an expert eater, she added, but didnt really start cooking until later in life. Not until she worked in food sales and met so many amazing chefs, including Won Kim at Kimski.

Kim, also Korean American and an artist, painted the graffiti-style murals in Thattus loft-like space.

She worked as his prep cook and made a lot of the banchan, the Korean sides she grew up eating.

But then it was really wild, Pak said, her voice breaking. She lost her father, and then her mother unexpectedly. Song Won Pak died in March 2017, and Mary Ahn Pak died in May 2018.

At that moment their daughter was cooking Korean food more than she ever had, but it became too hard to continue.

Thank God I loved Vinods cooking so much too, said the chef. Thats when I poured everything into it. It was a way to process my grief.

Through her process, Thattu has become a place of comfort and convictions  not just for Pak and Kalathil, not just for the workers, but for anyone who finds their new home.

Thattu

2601 W. Fletcher St.

773-754-0199

thattu.com

Open: Thursday to Sunday, lunch 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., dinner 5-9 p.m.

Prices: lunch, $11-$18; dinner $16-$32

Noise: Conversation-friendly

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible by entrance in alley, restrooms on single level

Tribune rating: Excellent, 3 stars

Ratings key: Four stars, outstanding; three stars, excellent; two stars, very good; one star, good; no stars, unsatisfactory. Meals are paid for by the Tribune.

lchu@chicagotribune.com

Big screen or home stream, takeout or dine-in, Tribune writers are here to steer you toward your next great experience. Sign up for your free weekly Eat. Watch. Do. newsletter here.
Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Sunday said he would support a federal ban on abortion after the first three months of pregnancy, but his campaign later said he "misunderstood" the question.

Speaking to NBC from the Iowa State Fair, Kennedy said, I believe a decision to abort a child should be up to the women during the first three months of life, but added: Once a child is viable, outside the womb, I think then the state has an interest in protecting the child.

He said he would sign a federal ban on abortion after 15 weeks or 21 weeks of pregnancy if he were elected president.

But his campaign subsequently said Kennedy did not mean to support any federal limits on abortion.

"Today, Mr. Kennedy misunderstood a question posed to him by a NBC reporter in a crowded, noisy exhibit hall at the Iowa State Fair," his campaign said. "Mr. Kennedys position on abortion is that it is always the womans right to choose. He does not support legislation banning abortion."

NBC reporter Ali Vitali posed a string of abortion questions to Kennedy, who answered "yes" to "So you would cap it at 15 weeks?" She followed up by asking "Or 21 weeks?" to which he said, "Yes, three months." The exchange continued, and Vitali said: "I'm surprised to hear you say you'd cap it."

Kennedy responded to that last statement by saying, "I think the states have a right to protect a child once the child becomes viable, and that right, it increases."



A longtime advocate of what he calls medical freedom, Kennedy has been in the public eye in recent years largely for discussions about public health issues, in particular his stated doubts about mandates for vaccinations and some conspiracy theories about Covid-19, including widely condemned suggestions that the virus could have been engineered to spare Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people. (Kennedy used the phrase "medical freedom" in his exchange with Vitali.)

In June in a town hall in New Hampshire, he called himself pro-choice and spoke in favor of legal abortion.

Im not going be in a position, put myself in a position, where I am going to tell a woman to bring a child to term, he said at the time.

Limits on abortion have been widely discussed in the Republican presidential field. Former Vice President Mike Pence, for instance, has called for his fellow GOP presidential candidates to support a 15-week national ban.

Kennedys remarks come only days after voters in Ohio rejected a ballot measure that would have made it harder for the states voters to codify abortion rights in the state constitution in November.
Robert F Kennedy Jrs campaign is once again in damage control mode after the Democratic primary contender appeared to come out in support of a national abortion ban after three months into a pregnancy.

The latest controversy began on Sunday, when NBC Capitol Hill correspondent Ali Vitali tracked down Mr Kennedy at the Iowa State Fair, a weeklong phenomenon that during election season draws just about every prominent presidential contender to the fairgrounds  not to mention the throngs of no-name contenders who are often present as well.

Mr Kennedys campaign teeters somewhere on the edge of seriousness, buoyed by his famous last name and financial support from right-wing operatives eager to weaken President Joe Bidens reelection bid. He has clashed numerous times with the media and members of the party he is ostensibly a member of over issues including the Covid vaccine, the independence of medical experts, and even antisemitism.

On Sunday, he offered the latest sign that his views more closely align with Donald Trump and the Republican Party: He told Vitali in an interview, with no signs of misunderstanding her question, that he thought abortion should be legal during the first three months of life.

Vitali then questioned whether this meant hed support a federal abortion ban similar to the one currently being advanced by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, which would ban the procedures after 15 weeks into the pregnancy. Mr Kennedy said he would, according to NBC.

But later on Sunday, his campaign claimed that the candidate had not meant what he had said.

Today, Mr. Kennedy misunderstood a question posed to him by a NBC reporter in a crowded, noisy exhibit hall at the Iowa State Fair. Mr. Kennedys position on abortion is that it is always the womans right to choose. He does not support legislation banning abortion, said a campaign spokesperson.

Abortion rights have become a more relevant issue than ever before with the Supreme Courts decision scrapping Roe vs Wade in 2022. The courts conservative majority, installed under Donald Trump, ended decades of federal protection for the medical procedure with only a leaked draft decision to provide any warning for the millions of Americans the decision affected.

It became a central issue in the midterm elections later last year, when Democrats swept to victory in several key statewide elections where the issue was front and centre either through direct ballot measures or the vows of Republicans to pass bans should they take power. The issue was one of several reasons blamed for the GOPs poor performance in the contests, with the party losing ground to the incumbent presidents party in the Senate and barely eking out a tiny majority in the House.

Were Mr Kennedy to formally endorse a national abortion ban after any time period, it would set him apart from every single prominent politician in the party of which he claims to want to lead.
Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has walked back his remarks saying that he would support a federal ban on abortion.

In an interview with NBC News at the Iowa State Fair, Kennedy said he would sign a federal ban on abortion after 15 weeks or 21 weeks of pregnancy if he were elected president.

I believe a decision to abort a child should be up to the women during the first three months of life, Kennedy said, adding, Once a child is viable, outside the womb, I think then the state has an interest in protecting the child.

Im for medical freedom, Kennedy said. Individuals are able to make their own choices.

In a statement to The Hill, Kennedys campaign team said that the candidate misunderstood the questions asked by NBC News congressional reporter Ali Vitali, citing a crowded and noisy exhibit hall at the fair.

Today, Mr. Kennedy misunderstood a question posed to him by a NBC reporter in a crowded, noisy exhibit hall at the Iowa State Fair, the statement said. Mr. Kennedys position on abortion is that it is always the womans right to choose. He does not support legislation banning abortion.

In response, Vitali posted to X, a social media platform formerly known as Twitter, a transcript of her full exchange with Kennedy, stating that she asked her questions multiple times to make sure the presidential candidate understood the subject.

Heres the full exchange with Kennedy, in which I ask the questions multiple times to make sure were understanding- even at one point saying I was surprised by the stance, Vitali said in her post.

Kennedy, who announced his 2024 presidential campaign in April, previously referred to himself as pro-choice and spoke in favor of legalizing abortion.

Im not going be in a position, put myself in a position, where I am going to tell a woman to bring a child to term, Kennedy said at a town hall stop in New Hampshire earlier in June, according to Politico.

Its been more than a year since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision established nearly 50 years ago that gave the constitutional right to abortion to women. Multiple GOP-led states have either implemented or enacted their own abortion bans and restrictions when Roe was overturned.

Kennedys remarks come days after Ohio voters rejected a ballot measure that would have made it harder to amend the state constitution  which was partly seen as an effort to prevent a statewide vote in November on a ballot measure that would enshrine abortion rights into the states constitution.

Updated: 12:21 p.m. ET

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall confirmed on Aug. 14 that it will be ready to deliver a Luna New Generation reconnaissance drone system to Ukraine over the course of 2023.

The system comprises a ground control station and several drones, capable of detecting and classifying objects in real time, the arms producer said.

It also includes the launch catapult and optional net equipment for catching the drones when they land, as well as equipment for rapid repair. The entire system is mounted on an HX truck with a swap body system made by Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles, the company clarified.

According to Rheinmetall's statement, the price of the order for the new drones is set at a "low double-digit million euro amount" and comes as part of a larger military aid package initiated by the German government in July 2023.

"Rheinmetall is therefore making another important contribution to enhancing the effectiveness of the Ukrainian military through advanced technology," the company said in its press release.

"The LUNA NG has already clocked on several thousand hours of flying time, to include active deployment."

The German newspaper Bild am Sonntag reported on Aug. 12 that Rheinmetall is planning the delivery of the Luna drone system to Ukraine by the end of 2023.

Drones are integrated into every phase of fighting on both sides - Russian and Ukrainian, with extensive fleets, air defenses, and jamming systems.

A report from the U.K.-based Conflict Armament Research published in early August indicated that Russia has started making copies of attack drones obtained from Iran in the previous year and has been using them against Ukraine.

Read also: Media: Rheinmetall purchases 50 Leopard 1 tanks, will supply 30 to Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The health of the river has been updated to "unfavourable declining" because of a deterioration in key wildlife

Farming leaders say they are being unfairly blamed after the River Wye's status was downgraded to unfavourable and declining.

The Welsh government has responded by putting a hold on all new chicken farm developments in mid Wales.

NFU Cymru has described the move as a "knee-jerk reaction" which does not have a scientific basis.

UK government body Natural England downgraded the river's status from unfavourable and improving in May.

In its own assessment, Natural Resources Wales also raised concerns about pollution from poultry farming.

About 24 million chickens, a quarter of UK poultry production, are raised in the river's catchment area, which covers both sides of the border between Wales and England.

Some farmers use the resulting chicken manure as a fertilizer to feed the soil and grow crops on their land.

However a study by Lancaster University suggests up to 70% of the phosphate load in the River Wye originates from agriculture.

NFU Cymru has said the Welsh government has to look at the science before putting a hold on poultry farms

Aled Jones, president of NFU Cymru, said stopping production "is not the method for addressing these issues", but said he understands the need to improve the Wye's water quality.

"I have a huge respect for maintaining the water quality but I can't get away from the legacy impact of things undertaken 50 years ago. We've got to address the methods of production."

NFU Cymru say that modern farming techniques are not harming the river.

"Farmers are making very good use of the nutrients and demonstrating they are harnessing science and maintaining food availability," Mr Jones said.

'Close to collapse'

Angela Jones, known as the "Wild Woman of the Wye", has been swimming in the river for decades.

She first noticed the changes six years ago and said immediate action was needed to prevent ecological collapse.

"The stones on the river bed started to go brown and it really did start to get foul," she said.

"Its totally changed the whole ecosystem. The wildlife, everything that is this river has changed, and you can't imagine the beauty that was there and what we've lost."

Angela Jones took her protest to the Senedd in Cardiff in 2021

Rob Powell's family has been running Blaenbwch Farm in Powys since 1962. He said the chicken manure helps the growth rate of their crops and if used properly could be "a benefit and not a hazard" to the river.

"We're not allowed to spread in the winter now so we have a storage silo pit. Its improved our soil, increased our worm count on the ground and upped our organic matter in the soil. I think its got a big place to make farming profitable," he said.

Rural land use is responsible for 72% of phosphorus entering the Wye, according to Welsh Water

In a statement Natural Resources Wales acknowledged significant challenges remained.

It said the organisation was working within the resources and legal powers they had to tackle pollution.

The Welsh Government said it is concerned about the health of our rivers including the impact from chicken farms but could not comment on the effects of individual planning applications.
Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. walked back comments endorsing a federal abortion ban, a longtime Republican goal virtually no other Democratic politician has embraced.

In an interview with NBC News at the Iowa State Fair over the weekend, Kennedy repeatedly said yes when asked if he would sign a federal ban on abortion after 15 weeks or 21 weeks of pregnancy if he were elected president.

I believe a decision to abort a child should be up to the women during the first three months of life, Kennedy said. Once a child is viable, outside the womb, I think then the state has an interest in protecting the child.

Im for medical freedom. Individuals are able to make their own choices, Kennedy continued, before adding that at some point states have a right to protect a child once a child becomes viable.

But in an unsigned statement issued by his campaign hours later on Sunday, Kennedys team said he misunderstood the question in a crowded, noisy exhibit hall at the event, which drew nearly every GOP presidential candidate over the weekend.

Mr. Kennedys position on abortion is that it is always the womans right to choose. He does not support legislation banning abortion, the statement said.

NBCs Ali Vitali, the reporter who asked him the question, posted the transcript of her interview with the candidate online. Heres the full exchange with Kennedy, in which I ask the questions multiple times to make sure were understanding- even at one point saying I was surprised by the stance.

Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during The Des Moines Register Political Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 12 in Des Moines.

Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during The Des Moines Register Political Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 12 in Des Moines.

Kennedy called himself pro-choice at a campaign stop in June. Im not going be in a position, put myself in a position, where I am going to tell a woman to bring a child to term, he said at the time.

The son of former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of former President John F. Kennedy announced his long-shot bid challenging President Joe Biden for the Democratic presidential nomination in April.

The prominent anti-vaxxer has been embraced by the right for his endorsement of numerous conspiracy theories, drawing praise from prominent Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, and condemnations from Democrats and his own family members.

Although Kennedy is running for president as a Democrat, his poll numbers suggest hed be far better positioned in the GOP primary. Several polls in recent weeks found his favorability ratings surging with Republicans and tanking with Democrats.
WASHINGTON  Democratic presidential contender Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he would support a federal abortion ban after the first three months of pregnancy on Sunday, but walked back those comments hours later.

During the Iowa State Fair over the weekend, Kennedy Jr. told NBC News reporter Ali Vitali that he believes a decision to abort a child should be up to the women during the first three months of life. When asked whether he would sign a federal ban on abortion at 15 weeks or 21 weeks, the presidential hopeful said yes, three months.

You know, once a child is viable, outside the womb, I think then the state has an interest in protecting the childIm for medical freedom. Individuals ought to be able to make their own choices, Kennedy Jr. said.

The campaign said that Kennedy Jr. allegedly misunderstood the question in a crowded, noisy exhibit hall at the Iowa State Fair.

Mr. Kennedys position on abortion is that it is always the womans right to choose. He does not support legislation banning abortion, the campaign said in a statement.

The statement came after the organization Susan. B Anthony Pro-Life America, an anti-abortion group, issued a statement calling Kennedy Jr's remarks "a stark contrast to the Democratic Partys radical stance of abortion ."

"Kennedy is one of the few prominent Democrats aligned with the consensus of the people today," SBA Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser said in the statement.

Kennedy Jr. previously told USA TODAY that he feels the government should not be telling people what to do with their bodies and it should be up to the woman during the first three months of pregnancy.

His comments come as states across the country have implemented their own restrictions  or protections  for abortion after the Supreme Court last year overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision that granted a constitutional protection for abortion. Ohio voters last week rejected a controversial ballot measure that turned into a proxy war over abortion.

President Joe Biden, the Democratic frontrunner in the 2024 race for the White House, has pushed to codify abortion rights into law, though his party currently lacks the votes to achieve that goal in the House.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. walks back federal abortion ban comments
ROCKLEDGE  A Rockledge man and woman who drew attention from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security after agents intercepted a drug-laden package from China have been arrested on charges of trafficking 6.6 pounds of the designer drug Molly.

Rockledge police said the two arrested Thursday were a part of a major drug trafficking operation after recovering the Molly, also known as Ecstasy. The drug is typically sold at about $20 to $40 a pill and remains popular for its energy boost or feelings of euphoria, experts say.

Dimethylpentylone is a cathinone analog sold in powder and tablet form on the streets as Ecstasy or Molly.

Maurice Javon Wright, 38, and Simone McIntosh, 32, were both charged with one count of possession and trafficking of Ecstasy after Rockledge police and federal agents carried out a search warrant on a residence in the 900 block of Bayward Lane.

Both were being held Sunday at the Brevard County Jail Complex on $50,000 bail, jail records show. More charges were anticipated in the case, police reported. Agents said they also located an unknown amount of heroin, three guns, and pills of the prescription painkiller Percocet.

Homeland Security began investigating the pair Aug. 2 after intercepting a parcel from China en route to the Bayward Lane residence where the two lived, court records show.

More: 'Enough fentanyl to kill 302,500' people seized in West Melbourne raid

The package, according to investigators carried 6.65 pounds of Molly. Federal agents arranged for a delivery to take place Thursday. The package was brought into the home and opened, prompting police to raid the home, court records show.

Police found the package near the end of a bed in the southwest bedroom, reports show.

All I did was touch the box, pick it up and open it, Wright told arresting officers.

J.D. Gallop is a criminal justice/breaking news reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Gallop at 321-917-4641 or jdgallop@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @JDGallop.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Rockledge couple charged with trafficking designer drug Molly
Romania plans to increase the transit capacity of Ukrainian grain from 2 million metric tons to 4 million every month, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Sorin Grindeanu said on Aug. 11, the Romanian news agency Agerpres reported.

The minister's statement came after the meeting of representatives from the U.S., the EU, Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine in Galati, Romania to address Ukrainian grain exports following Russia's unilateral termination of the grain deal.

"We agreed that the Ukrainian grain exports must be accelerated in the context of the recent attacks that we are all aware of in recent weeks on the Ukrainian ports of Reni and Izmail," Grindeanu said.

"During these meetings, we emphasized the importance of Romanian transport routes by land, by rail, and also by sea, to maintain a continuous flow for exports and imports from Ukraine," he added.

The minister said that regarding the Danube River transit, the Sulina Canal remains the only viable waterway and it is therefore essential to optimize its capacity.

"It was an extremely good meeting, fruitful, which will lead us through the measures we will take to increase the transit capacity of grains coming from Ukraine, through Romania, so that from over 2 million tons we currently have monthly we will reach the target we have proposed in the next period, namely of almost 4 million tons," the minister specified.

Read also: Ukraine, US, EU, Romania, Moldova convene to discuss Ukrainian grain exports

Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative on July 17, effectively terminating the deal. The agreement, brokered in July 2022 by Turkey and the U.N., allowed Ukraine to export its agricultural products through its Black Sea ports.

Shortly after the withdrawal, Russian forces began systematically targeting Ukrainian ports and agricultural infrastructure, including Izmail and Reni ports at the Danube River lying just 200 meters from the Romanian border.

This only exacerbated fears of food insecurity worldwide as prices of grain products began to rise following the deal's collapse.

Ukraine's grain exports are vital to the world's food supply. Before the full-scale invasion, Ukraine was the fifth-largest wheat exporter globally. The grain deal had allowed for nearly 33 million metric tons of food to be exported through Ukrainian ports while it was in force, according to the U.N.

The EU pledged to increase the capacity of its "solidarity lanes," which facilitated the transit of more than 45 million metric tons of Ukrainian agricultural products since May 2022.

Romania's Foreign Minister Luminita-Teodora Odobescu told Bloomberg in an interview on July 27 that Bucharest plans to expand its capacity for transiting Ukrainian grain. The country has already facilitated the transport of 20 million metric tons of Ukrainian grain, which is almost half of the produce shipped via the EU's solidarity lanes.

Read also: This Week in Ukraine Ep. 17  Black Sea grain deal is dead. What can Ukraine do?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis addresses attendees during a campaign event in Rochester, New Hampshire, in July. AP Photo/Charles Krupa

A Florida restaurant owner was forced to fire undocumented staff after being fined $500,000, The Miami Herald reported.

Richard Gonzmart, the owner of the restaurant, is an ardent supporter of Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida.

But he thinks DeSantis' immigration crackdown has gone too far and wants stronger protections for migrants.

The owner of a 117-year-old Florida restaurant chain was forced to fire undocumented staff who had worked for his family for decades after being fined $500,000, The Miami Herald reported.

Richard Gonzmart is the head of the Family of Restaurants chain based in Tampa, which owns several landmark restaurants across the state.

He's also been a strong supporter of Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, but he told the Herald DeSantis' immigration crackdown had gone too far and that he wanted stronger protections for migrants.

Gonzmart was forced to fire 19 of his employees in 2021 after federal immigration officials showed up at one of his restaurants and discovered noncompliant work documents for those staffers. Seven of them had worked for Gonzmart's family for decades.

"We think they're legal, but when we had to check, we found seven people who have been with me 30 years  paying taxes, had children, grandchildren  and we were required to terminate them," he told the paper.

Gonzmart said that he was "very proud" of DeSantis, a 2024 GOP presidential candidate, "and everything he's done."

"But my concern is the governor putting in a law that says those who have an expired driver's license cannot renew it because they're no longer legal," he added. "They cannot work. Their papers are no longer legal."

He was referring to a Florida immigration law that requires businesses with more than 25 employees to check their employees' work eligibility using E-Verify. The law also says it's a felony to transport people who illegally entered the country to Florida.

DeSantis signed the law in May. He also made headlines for sending migrants from Texas to other Democrat-run states using Florida funding.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Research Triangle Park is set to welcome its first live-in residents next year, developers say, and with apartments and townhomes already booming nearby, first responders are making plans for the anticipated flood of population growth.

Durham County Sheriff Clarence Birkhead said theyre preparing for the countys unincorporated population to double in the next few years.

About 40,000 of the countys estimated 332,680 people live outside the city limits, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The census tracts surrounding RTP are among the fastest growing in the region.

It is simply amazing to watch, Birkhead told the Board of County Commissioners recently.

Construction continues on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, at Hub RTP in Research Triangle Park.

Research Triangle Foundation President and CEO Scott Levitan said deputy response has been slow at times. The Sheriffs Office has buildings downtown and in north and east Durham, but not south Durham.

There have been some incidents inside the park where its been difficult, Levitan said at a county commissioners meeting last week. Its not anyones fault. Its just ... it happened.

The Sheriffs Office asked the county at the meeting for money to build an RTP annex that will help them handle the anticipated population growth.

Building it could cost an estimated $27 million. The 18,000-square-foot building would contain space for patrol and administrative work, a communications center, a records office so people dont have to travel to the downtown courthouse, showers and a war room for coordinating major incidents. County commissioners objected to calling it that.

They propose to build it along Davis Drive, on part of a campus owned by Fidelity Investments, a financial services firm. Levitan said Fidelity is in talks to donate the land.

Construction continues on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, at Hub RTP in Research Triangle Park.

A new fire-EMS station

Fidelity paid $34 million for its 121-acre campus over a decade ago. The company carved off 3.8 acres in 2021 and donated it to the city for the future Fire Station No. 19.

Deputy Fire Chief Chris Iannuzzi said an EMS station will likely operate out of the same building.

The Durham Fire Department has been run by the city since a 2018 merger, while the county operates EMS. The two newest stations house both fire and EMS personnel.

Construction continues on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, at Hub RTP in Research Triangle Park.

Station No. 19, which is expected to open in late 2025, has a projected $11 million cost.

The Fire Department has a meeting this week to write a request for proposals from contractors, Iannuzzi said.

The Sheriffs Office proposal is to position the annex just south of the planned fire station, stretching the tract of Fidelitys donated land to 7.3 acres.

A diagram proposed by the Sheriffs Office shows a 120-space parking lot between the fire station and Sheriffs Office.

The Board of Commissioners will consider the Sheriffs Office proposal, but no timeline has been proposed.

The first people to live inside the park

Construction is rapidly proceeding less than a quarter-mile away on Horseshoe, a U-shaped set of buildings with restaurants, shops and offices alongside the parks first 406 apartments.

We are scheduled to be open this time next year, said Linda Hall, executive vice president and CFO of the Research Triangle Foundation. It will be the first time we have residents sleeping in the park in its 64-year history.

Research Triangle Park was founded in 1959. It sits on 7,000 acres in Durham and Wake counties.

Construction continues on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, at Hub RTP in Research Triangle Park.

Its the beginning of a multi-year transformation of Hub RTP. They have $105 million in funding so far from public and private sources, the foundation told the commissioners:

$20 million: Durham County government

$10 million: A special tax property district, which landowners pay into

$75 million: Research Triangle Foundation

Hub RTP will one day include a hotel, two apartment buildings, a large parking deck, an eight-story life science tower and several office buildings with shops and restaurants sprinkled in. The eventual transformation is expected to cost over $1 billion

Horseshoe and the yet-unnamed apartment complex are being built on the northeast corner of Davis Drive and N.C. 54.

The parking garage, which contains about 1,000 spaces, is finished. Hall said about half of the spaces will be free and public, while the rest are for office workers.

Construction continues on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, at Hub RTP in Research Triangle Park.
The Ukrainian government is concerned about the possibility that Israel might be handing over to Russia classified information from Ramstein-format meetings. This issue was discussed during an ambassador meeting in Uzhhorod, western Ukraine, in early August.

[Ramstein-format meetings gather representatives and senior defence officials from over 40 states to discuss Ukraine's defence against the full-scale Russian invasion - ed.]

Source: Yevhen Korniichuk, Ukraine's Ambassador to Israel, on Radio Liberty

Quote from Korniichuk: "I share our top officials' concerns. This is true.

And I can confirm that this issue was discussed both during the ambassadors meeting [which took place in Uzhhorod on 3 August - ed.], and [unofficially in the government]. Its true that there are a number of factors that have to be considered.

But I'm drawing your attention to the fact that if the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Security and Defence Council have not confirmed this, I, as an ambassador, also cannot confirm it. But let me draw your attention to the fact that no one has refuted this information, either."

Previously: Several media outlets reported, with reference to Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council (NSDC), that the NSDC might introduce sanctions against the Israeli government  such as cancelling visa-free travel between Israel and Ukraine and banning Israel from taking part in the Ramstein-format meetings  in light of Israel's possible use of classified information in its own interest and the risk that this information was being transferred to Russia.

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Russian forces shelled nine communities near the Sumy Oblast border on Aug. 13, damaging a house and apartment building, the Sumy Oblast Military Administration reported via Facebook.

Over the course of the day, 21 attacks caused 144 explosions. Russian forces attacked with mines, artillery, and mortar shelling. The communities of Krasnopillia, Khotin, Esman, Seredyna-Buda, Novoslobidske, Znob-Novhorodske, Bilopillia, Velyka Pysarivka, and Shalyhyne came under fire.

In Krasnopillia, shelling damaged an apartment building.

In Velyka Pysarivka, the attacks struck a private house and garage.

No further casualties or damage to civilian infrastructure was reported.

Sumy Oblast lies on Ukraine's northeastern border with Russia. The communities there are vulnerable to daily attacks from Russian forces.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Child killed in Russian Kinzhal attack aimed at airfield in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast

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Air alarms awoke Ukrainians in eastern, southern, and central Ukraine, including in the capital of Kyiv, in the early hours of Aug. 14.

alerts.in.ua

Two people were killed in a Russian attack on residential buildings near Zaporizhzhya. Three people were rescued from the rubble.

Russia also initiated a three-wave assault on Odesa, utilizing a combination of missiles and drones. Air Force Command confirmed the successful downing of eight Kalibr missiles and 15 Shahed drones near the city.

A supermarket located near Odesa city center was destroyed, as was a dormitory in an educational institution. Three supermarket workers were injured in the attack.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Your slice of the headlines in Ukraine. Daily. August 14, 2023.

 Russia fires warning shots at civilian ship heading to Ukrainian Black Sea port

The Russian patrol ship Vasily Bykov fired warning shots on the Palau-flagged Sukru Okan cargo vessel after the captain refused to stop for an inspection, the Russian Ministry of Defense said on Telegram on Aug. 13.





 Spectacular fire at suspected shell manufacturer in Moscow suburb  video

A large-scale fire broke out in the suburbs of the Russian capital on the afternoon of Aug. 13, Mash Telegram channel reports.





 Zelenskyys chief-of-staff says 58 states have endorsed Kyiv's peace formula

Fifty-eight countries have already supported the peace formula presented by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak said in a post on his Telegram channel on Aug. 12.





 Less than a quarter out of planned 1 million artillery rounds delivered to Ukraine by EU

The European Union has delivered 223,800 shells to Ukraine as part of the plan to provide 1 million artillery rounds to help combat Russian aggression, EU spokesperson Peter Stano told AFP, DW reported on Aug. 11.





 Ukraine says Russia's plans property inventory in occupied Kherson Oblast, aims to steal unclaimed property

Russian occupation authorities plan to conduct an "audit" of movable and immovable property of Ukrainians in the occupied part of Kherson Oblast, the Defense Ministry's National Resistance Center reported on Aug. 11.





 Ukraine opening new front in Kherson Oblast  just 83 kilometers from Crimea

Ukraine may be looking at opening a third front in its ongoing counteroffensive after capturing a small bridgehead of land on the east bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast, military observer Denys Popovich said in an interview with Radio NV on Aug. 13.





 Two teen girls among 7 Ukrainian civilians gunned down in Kadyrovite feud with Russian occupiers

Seven Ukrainian civilians were gunned down in a shootout between fighters of Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov and commandant office soldiers of the Russian occupiers in the temporarily occupied Ukrainian settlement of Urzuf on the Azov Sea, said an advisor to the Ukrainian mayor of Mariupol, Petro Andriushchenko, on Telegram on Aug. 13.





 BBC Ukraine reports on Ukraine's air-launched cruise missile capabilities

Until the Ukrainian Armed Forces receive Western fighters, Ukraines old Soviet-era aircraft carrying long-range Storm Shadow missiles will remain the main air threat to the Russian invasion forces.





 Russian Central Bank warns of National Welfare Fund depletion risk

According to an analysis by Russias Central Bank (CB), falling state revenues from oil and natural gas sales could force the government to tap into its National Welfare Fund to cover the shortfall, independent Russian newspaper The Moscow Times reported on Aug. 11.





 Eight-year-old boy killed as Russian Kinzhal missiles strike western Ukraine

Russian aeroballistic missiles screamed into Ukraine on the morning of Aug. 11, impacting in the west of the country and killing an eight-year-old-boy in his home, Ukrainian authorities said.





 Zelenskyy orders overhaul of Ukraine's regional military recruitment leadership

All regional military commissars in Ukraine will be dismissed and replaced by combat officers, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced following a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine on Aug. 11.





 Ukraine dismisses head of its Economic Security Bureau  MP Zheleznyak

The Presidents Office has decided to dismiss the chief of the Economic Security Bureau (ESB), Ukrainian MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak said in a Telegram post on Aug. 11.





 Optimistic forecast from Economy Ministry for 2023 GDP growth, despite Kakhovka dams destruction

Despite significant losses, the Ukrainian economy has displayed a resilient trend of growth since the beginning of 2023, Ukraines Economy Ministry has said, Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform reported on Aug. 11.





 UN official slams Russian missile strike on Zaporizhzhya hotel where UN staff stay

United Nations and non-governmental organizations often stayed in the Zaporizhzhya hotel that was damaged by a Russian cruise missile strike on Aug. 10, the UNs Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Denise Brown, said in a statement on the UNs website.





 Media investigation uncovers tripled costs of clothing shipment for Ukraine's army

A fresh defense procurement scandal has erupted in Ukraine, with investigative journalists reporting that winter uniforms for Ukrainian troops tripled in price between being ordered and being delivered.





 Pentagon says Ukraine using cluster munitions appropriately

The U.S. Department of Defense has assessed that Ukraine is using cluster munitions "properly" on the battlefield, Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said at a briefing on Aug. 10.

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Russia is deploying hypersonic missiles on a new class of nuclear-powered submarines, according to a Russian businessman.

Alexei Rakhmanov, the CEO of the Russian-government-owned company United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC), told state-run media outlet RIA Novosty that Yasen class nuclear submarines will be outfitted with Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles.

Work in this direction is already underway, Rakhmanov said in the interview published Monday.

Yasen-class submarines are nuclear-powered cruise missile submarines. The attack subs are stealthy and have long-range strike capabilities with conventional cruise missiles.

The addition of true hypersonic missiles  which travel at five times the speed of sound or faster and are maneuverable in mid-air  poses a greater threat to Western allies in the maritime domain.

The Zircon hypersonic missile is a type of cruise missile that is fired by a rocket booster or supersonic jet before a scramjet engine takes over, propelling it forward with the flow of air at supersonic speeds.

Russia has used hypersonic missiles such as the Kinzhal to devastating effect during the war in Ukraine but there has not been a reported use of the Zircon.

The U.S. is in a race to catch up with Russia and China in the hypersonic missile field, where Moscow and Beijing are much further ahead in the deployment of the weapons.

Washington has yet to field a true hypersonic missile, but it has been quickening its pace of development with more funding in the past few years.

The deployment of nuclear-powered submarines has also been an intense focus for both Russia and the U.S. Earlier this year, President Biden announced a major deal known as AUKUS with Australia and the U.K. to boost nuclear-powered submarines for Canberra.

Russia has modernized its fleet of submarines in recent years and now boasts 11 nuclear-powered submarines, according to the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation.

American nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed subs travel to ports across the world, including two this year in South Korea amid rising nuclear tensions with North Korea.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Debris from missiles and drones shot down over Odesa fell on residential and administrative buildings

Odesascity center was targeted by multiple Russian air strikes on the night of Aug. 14, said Natalia Humeniuk, spokesperson for the Southern Operational Command.

The city center of Odesa was directly under attack, as the missiles had to be intercepted right over the city, above residential neighborhoods. This indicates that the enemy aimed the rockets precisely. As a result of the rocket debris, a fire broke out at a supermarket, she said.

Read also: Russia disperses Black Sea fleet following drone attacks  OK South

The State Emergency Service of Ukraine is currently on the scene, said Odesa Governor Oleh Kiper said on Telegram.

"All relevant services are at the scene. Three supermarket employees were reportedly injured. They received medical attention, and two of them were hospitalized," Kiper said.

Read also: TikToker arrested in Odesa for sharing videos of Ukrainian military positions

Russian forcesattacked Odesa overnight on Aug. 14, launching 15 Shahed-136/131 kamikaze drones and eight Kalibr cruise missiles. All targets were successfully intercepted, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.

In addition to the supermarket, a dormitory used by one of the citys educational institutions was damaged.

Russia executed the most extensive attack on the center of Odesa since the outbreak of the full-scale war on July 23, launching 19 cruise and ballistic missiles, including Oniks, Kalibr, Kh-22, Iskander-M, and Iskander-K. Air defense forces neutralized nine targets.

The shelling resulted in the loss of two lives and 21 injuries, including four children. Significant damage occurred in the historic city center, with the Transfiguration Cathedral destroyed by Russian missiles, and 25 other historically significant buildings being damaged.

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Russia launched three waves of overnight drone and missile attacks on the southern Ukraine port of Odesa, but the Ukrainian Air Force rebuffed the attacks, Ukrainian officials said Monday.

Russia launched 15 Shahed drones and eight Kalibr missiles, the Ukrainian Air Force said in a Telegram post. The Ukrainian Air Force said it used anti-aircraft guided missiles and small arms to intercept the attacks.

Falling debris from the intercepted attack damaged a dormitory of an educational building in the city, a residential building and a supermarket, where two people were hospitalized, Gov. Oleh Kiper said in a Telegram post. Kiper said the blast waves damaged more than 200 buildings and several parked cars while three fires also broke out. The Ukrainian Air Force said rescuers are working to address the fires.

Neither Kiper nor the Ukrainian Air Forces claims could be independently verified.

Mondays attacks come amid Russias repeated assaults on Odesa, a key hub for exporting grain. Moscow announced last month it would suspend the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which allowed Ukraine to export wheat from its southern ports via the Bosporus. Prior to the Russian invasion, Ukraine was considered one of the worlds largest wheat exporters.

Earlier Sunday, a Russian warship fired shots at a cargo ship in the Black Sea that was heading to Ukraine. In a statement to Russias news agency Tass, Russias Defense Ministry said it fired warning shots after the cargo ship would not stop for inspection. Once the cargo ship was forcibly stopped, it was inspected and then continued to the Ukrainian port of Izmail.

The Associated Press contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Russian command is being forced to consider redeploying reinforcements from its priority area near Zaporizhzhia to the left bank of the Dnipro River near Kherson as Ukrainian defenders step up their fight to control newly taken positions on this territory.

Source: European Pravda with reference to the UK Defence Intelligence review on 14 August

Quote from UK Defence Intelligence: "The combatants also continue to skirmish for control of small islands in the Dnipro estuary. Russian commanders face a dilemma of whether to strengthen this area or to deploy troops in the areas of Ukraines main counter-offensive operations, farther to the east."

Details: UK Defence Intelligence reported that small-scale fighting intensified in the lower reaches of the Dnipro River last week as Ukrainian forces conducted raids and attempted to gain ground on new positions on the left bank.

In addition, the foothold that Ukrainian defenders have held next to the destroyed Antonivka Road Bridge since June 2023 continues to expand.

UK Defence Intelligence suggested that in some of these operations, Ukrainian forces likely took advantage of moments of rotation of Russian units in their positions.

Background:

In one of their previous reviews, UK Defence Intelligence said that Russia had probably redeployed airborne troops from Kherson Oblast to the Orikhiv district of Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

UK Defence Intelligence also reported that Wagner Group was experiencing funding problems.

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Russia may launch a series of missile attacks "dedicated" to Ukrainian Independence Day on Aug 24, Deputy Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine (HUR), Vadym Skibitskyi, said in an interview with Obozrevatel on Aug. 14.

"On the occasion of Ukraine's Independence Day, Russia, of course, may launch another act of missile terror," Skibitskyi said.

"It may happen a day earlier or a day later. Or it may last for several days with several waves."

Read also: Russias nighttime attack on Kyiv damages administrative building  photos

"However, its Russia that should be worried on the eve of our Independence Day, as well as on any other day, because as long as our country is occupied there will be no peaceful life for Muscovy (a term for Russia)," he said.

Read also: Russia attacks Ukraine overnight, killing two in Zaporizhzhya and hitting Odesas historic city center

Air raid sirens sounded 189 times during Independence Day in 2022  a record amount of air alerts.

Russian occupying forces have continued to relentlessly attack peaceful Ukrainian cities with missiles and suicide drones since the beginning of the full-scale war on Feb. 24, 2022.

The last air strike on the Ukrainian capital was launched by Russia on Aug. 11. Several Kh-47 Kinzal cruise missile were intercepted by air defense forces.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Vadym Skibitskyi, representative of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, has stated that Russia may resort to another missile attack on Independence Day of Ukraine on 24 August, but it is Russians who must be worried on that day.

Source: Press service of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine; Skibitskyi in an interview for Obozrevatel.com

Quote: "On Independence Day of Ukraine, aggressive Russia may resort to another act of missile terror. It may happen the day before the holiday or after it. Or it could last for several days and several waves.. I dont think it will take any of the Ukrainians by surprise

It is not the residents of the Ukrainian cities but Russians who must worry before the Independence Day of our state, just like on any other day because as long as the Russian occupiers are in our land, Russia will not live in peace and quiet."

Details: Skibitskyi called upon Ukrainians to take bomb shelters in case the air-raid siren is activated.

He added that Independence Day of Ukraine is the main state holiday. Many generations of Ukrainians fought for sovereignty, and this value motivates modern-day fighters for freedom and the liberation of Ukraine to continue working with determination and creativity.

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A Russian warship fired warning shots on Sunday at a cargo ship in the Black Sea that was headed to Ukraine, the first such incident since Russia left the UN-brokered grain deal, which had guaranteed safe passage for ships exporting goods from Ukraine, despite the ongoing war.

Russias Defense Ministry said in a statement to Tass, its state news agency, that it fired warning shots after the cargo ship would not stop for inspection. After the ship was forcibly stopped and inspected, it continued to its destination, the Ukrainian port of Izmail.

The dry cargo ships captain did not respond to the demand to stop for an inspection of the potential carriage of prohibited goods. The Russian combat ship fired warning shots from automatic small arms to forcibly stop the vessel, Russias defense ministry said in the statement.

The ministry said the incident took place at about 6:40 a.m. local time, after the patrol ship detected the Palau-flagged dry cargo ship Sukru Okan.

A Ka-29 helicopter with Russian servicemen responded, according to the statement, and subsequently searched the ship.

Mykhailo Podolyak, senior adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, described the incident as a deliberate attack and a clear violation of international law of the sea, an act of piracy and a crime against civilian vessels of a third country in the waters of other states.

Ukraine will draw all the necessary conclusions and choose the best possible response, Podolyak continued, in the statement on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The incident comes after last month Russia left the grain-export deal, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey, repeating claims that it wasnt getting enough benefit from the deal. The grain deal has been hugely consequential in reducing world hunger and stabilizing the global economy, as much of the world depends on Ukraine for its grain.

Last week, Zelensky announced humanitarian corridors in the Black Sea to allow for civilian cargo ships that have been stuck since the beginning of the war in February 2022 to be released. Some expressed concerns about the safety of traveling through the corridors as it remains unclear how Russia would respond.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Members of the Russian Air Force perform with their Su-27 type aircraft during the International Air Show at the Hungarian Air Force base in Kecskemet, southern Hungary, in August 2013. ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP via Getty Images

An engineering expert says the Russian air force is being depleted through overuse in Ukraine.

The arrival of Ukraine's F-16s could worsen the problem, wrote Rand's Michael Bohnert.

Ukraine says it urgently needs F-16s to reduce Russia's air dominance.

Russia's fighter planes are malfunctioning because of overuse, handing Ukraine a potential advantage in its air battles against the Russian air force, an engineering expert said.

In an article for Defense News, Michael Bohnert, an engineer at the Rand Corporation think tank, said that Russia's warplanes were running out of "aircraft life".

"Overuse of these aircraft is also costing Russia as the war drags on," he wrote, adding that by his calculations as many as 57 Russian planes, many repurposed Soviet-era machines, might have been lost because they broke down since the start of the war.

That's in addition to UK intelligence figures in February, which suggested about 130 of the estimated 900 planes in Russia's air force deployed in Ukraine had crashed or been shot down during the war.

Bohnert said that because many of the aircraft are reaching the limit of their 3,000 hours of flight time, the problem could worsen.

"To make up for it, they'll have to procure more aircraft, increase maintenance, reduce operations, or accept a smaller force  or some combination of those," he said.

He added that the delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by its Western allies, which had been delayed by bureaucracy, could damage Russia's air force even more.

"As the VKS devotes a greater share of its dwindling force to countering those, it will have fewer aircraft left to support Russian ground operations," he wrote, referring to the Russian air forces. "VKS fighters in the sky will also be less capable, stemming from two years of overuse."

But not all experts share Bohnert's conclusions. The International Institute for Strategic Studies, a British think tank, said in a report that Russia retained the capacity to rapidly add to its aircraft supplies from its aeronautical factories, potentially meaning old aircraft can be quickly replaced, and its overall strength in the air had not significantly diminished.

In the early weeks of the conflict, some analysts believed that Russia would be able to establish rapid control of Ukrainian air space, with its air force more sophisticated and bigger than Ukraine's. But effective Ukrainian air defenses meant that Russia was unable to do so.

As it seeks to retake territory from Russia in its counteroffensive, Ukraine has been requesting F-16s from its Western allies that it says would help tip the air battle in its favor.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Russian S-400 missile air defence systems are seen during a training exercise in Kaliningrad region

(Reuters) - Russia will deliver an order of S-400 anti-aircraft systems to India within the agreed timeframe, Interfax news agency quoted a senior Russian defence export official on Monday as saying.

India is the world's biggest arms importer and still mostly uses Russian technology for traditional arms, but officials in New Delhi have expressed concern that Russia's war in Ukraine could delay planned deliveries of weapons and equipment.

"The production of S-400 Triumf anti-aircraft missile systems is being carried out according to schedule," Interfax quoted Dmitry Shugaev, head of Russia's Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, as saying.

"The delivery of the equipment of the S-400 Triumf system is expected to be completed within the agreed time frame," he said in comments made during an armed forces event.

India purchased the S-400 Triumf air defence system units in 2018 for $5.4 billion. Three of the systems have been delivered and two more are still awaited.

The deliveries are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024, according to Interfax.

The Indian Air Force said in March that the war in Ukraine was holding up vital defence supplies from Russia.

New Delhi has been seeking in recent years to diversify imports or replace them with home-built hardware.

It is buying French fighter jets, Israeli drones and U.S. jet engines. But Russia still accounted for $8.5 billion of the $18.3 billion India has spent on arms imports since 2017, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

(Reporting by Felix Light; Writing by Gareth Jones; Editing by Toby Chopra and Sharon Singleton)
Volga-Dnepr, Russia's largest cargo airline, has issued an ultimatum to the Canadian government, threatening to take the matter to arbitration over a seized An-124 Ruslan aircraft, Russian news agency Interfax reported on Aug. 14.

In doing so, the Russian company is trying to resolve a dispute concerning the detained cargo plane, which has been in Toronto airport since Feb. 27, 2022.

Read also: Turkmenistan Airlines cancels Moscow-bound flights; cites Moscows inability to protect its air space

The Russian carrier is proposing that the Canadian government resolve the dispute "amicably" in accordance with Article 9 and Canada's Policy on Encouragement and Mutual Protection of Investments from Nov. 20, 1989.

Copies of the notification were sent to the Canadian PM and several other top officials.

Read also: Chinese airlines begin avoiding Russian airspace on flights to USA

"If this dispute is not resolved within six months from the time Canada receives the notification, Volga-Dnepr will officially initiate arbitration proceedings," the company said.

Read also: China ignoring Russia in its economic rivalry with West, Canadian expert says

The Russian airline added that it was conducting a humanitarian flight commissioned by the Canadian government, delivering COVID-19 test kits from China. However, after unloading, the plane was forbidden to leave Canadian territory due to a NOTAM (Notice to Air Missions) that bans Russian airlines from using the country's airspace.

In June, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau announced that Volga-Dneprs confiscated An-124 plane would be transferred to Ukraine.

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Seven educational institutions were damaged in Odesa as a result of a Russian attack on the night of 13-14 August.

Six institutions were affected in Prymorskyi district in Odesa, and one in Khadzhybeiskyi district, the city council reported.

Quote: "Windows and doors were damaged in kindergartens, schools and development centres. Work is being carried out to eliminate the consequences," the mayor's office says.

Olena Buinevych, the head of the city's education department, reported that more than a hundred windows had been broken in educational institutions, ceilings were destroyed, and in one facility, the roof was destroyed.

Educational institutions in Odesa after the attack on 14 August

Photo: Odesa City Hall

Pieces of a missile also fell on the building of the former Girls' School, built at the end of the 19th century. The building had been renovated, and children were studying there.

"With a new facade, roof, stadium, and wonderful courtyards, which were completed a few years ago thanks to our city communitys budget. This school has a wonderful museum, where you can even see school magazines from those years, and photos of frail students and teachers. The school participated in competitions and won funding to create it," Olena Buinevych says.

The ceilings and windows of the building were damaged after the attack.

Windows, doors and facades of damaged schools

Photo: Odesa City Council

"I have this feeling now, as if some freak came in and rummaged with their dirty hands in things that are dear to me, my family. This, by the way, does not only apply to the school. It concerns my Odesa in general," the head of the department says.

Background:

The Russian invaders attacked Odesa three times on the night of 13-14 August, using 15 drones and eight Kalibr missiles. Air defence troops shot down all the missiles and drones. However, pieces of the downed missiles damaged a supermarket and a hostel, and three people were reportedly injured.

On 23 July 2023, several city educational institutions were also damaged after an attack on Odesa, and the city's residents joined in efforts to deal with the aftermath.

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Russian attacks against several Ukrainian oblasts killed nine civilians and wounded 24 over the past day, according to regional authorities.

A total of 10 Ukrainian oblasts were targeted during this period  Odesa, Sumy, Kherson, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Luhansk, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia.

Russia launched 15 attack drones and eight Kalibr cruise missiles at Odesa Oblast overnight on Aug. 14, wrote Governor Oleh Kiper. Ukrainian forces reportedly shot down all aerial targets.

Missile debris damaged an educational institute's dormitory, a residential building, and a supermarket in Odesa, according to Kiper. Three employees of the supermarket were injured, he said. The blast wave knocked out windows in several buildings and damaged parked cars nearby, the official added.

The same night, Russian troops hit Kherson, wounding two men and a woman, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported. He added that the men, aged 48 and 44, had received severe injuries while the 85-year-old woman suffered a moderate one.

A day before, Russian forces struck Kherson Oblast 83 times, firing 399 projectiles from various weapons, according to the oblast governor. Seven people were reportedly killed, including two children, and 13 more were injured.

The Aug. 13 attacks damaged a garage cooperative, a medical laboratory, warehouses, a store, and a medical facility, Prokudin wrote on Telegram.

Russian forces targeted 24 settlements in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, the regional administration wrote, adding that it had received 15 reports about the destruction of residential buildings and infrastructure facilities.

According to the Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration, a Russian missile strike against Stepne near the city of Zaporizhzhia killed two residents, aged 77 and 70. Another 64-year-old woman was reportedly injured and hospitalized.

In Ukraines eastern Donetsk Oblast, Russian attacks injured two civilians, said Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko. Russia hit eight settlements and three communities in the region, damaging eight houses, two industrial buildings, and an infrastructure facility, according to Kyrylenko.

The Russian military attacked four districts in Kharkiv Oblast, wounding a 51-year-old man in the village of Kucherivka and a 68-year-old woman in Petropavlivka, according to Governor Oleh Synehuibov.

An educational institution and a two-story residential building were also damaged in Kharkiv Oblasts settlement of Lukiantsi next to the Ukrainian-Russian border, Synehuibov said on Telegram.

Read also: Thats it, its death, guys. What we know about Russias killing of 2 Ukrainian teenagers in occupied Berdiansk

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Russia launched Shahed drones and missiles at Odesa on the night of Aug. 14, the Ukrainian Air Force announced shortly after 1 a.m local time.

Three people were injured in the attacks and are receiving medical attention, Oblast Governor Oleh Kiper said via Telegram.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces said that the Russian military launched a total of 15 drones and eight Kalibr missiles in three attacks over the course of the night.

Falling debris from missiles damaged a educational institute's dormitory and a supermarket in the city center. The three injured victims were employees of the supermarket.

Kiper also said that the attacks caused multiple fires to break out in the city and that the blast smashed windows in several buildings.

Earlier in the night, Kiper reported that the Air Force was responding to four groups of attack drones. He said that three were bound for Odesa and the fourth was headed south of the city, toward Yuzhne.

Kiper advised all residents to stay in their homes and not post information about air defense activity.

The attacks followed an earlier act of aggression from Russian forces in the Black Sea.

On Aug. 13, Russian authorities reported that a Russian patrol boat fired warning shots at a cargo ship. Natalia Humeniuk, the spokesperson for Ukraine's Southern Operational Command, said this report could not be confirmed.

They are trying by all available means to show their dominance in the Black Sea," Humeniuk said.

Read also: Putin cracks down on pro-war opposition as all-out war falters

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Four Russian military planes flew into Alaskas air defense zone Sunday and again Monday morning, according to North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), which said the planes were deemed not a threat.

NORAD said in a press release that it detected and tracked the four warplanes, which were operating in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) surrounding the U.S. and Canada but remained in international airspace.

This Russian activity in the Alaska ADIZ occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat, NORAD officials wrote in a statement.

While the ADIZ lies within a stretch of international airspace, NORAD tracks and detects foreign activity in the zone.

The U.S. is on edge after Russian and Chinese warships earlier this month patrolled near Alaskas Aleutian Islands.

Moscow and Beijing have said the patrols were part of a larger set of maritime drills across international waters.

American aircraft have also had several run-ins with Russian planes operating within or near the ADIZ for years.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Ukrainian forces have destroyed a Russian UR-77 Meteorit mine-clearing vehicle in a spectacular fashion using an improvised munition dropped from a drone. The small bomblet causes a massive secondary explosion that obliterates the vehicle.

A video of the drone attack was posted online through social media accounts linked to Ukraine's 79th Air Assault Brigade. It's not immediately clear where or when the footage was shot. The vehicle is also stationary with hatches open, suggesting it may have already been damaged, immobilized, or otherwise abandoned before the bomblet falls inside. UR-77s have been used on both sides of the conflict as valuable tools for cutting through enemy minefields, but they can even be used for attacking hostile forces, especially in dense urban environments.

https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1691084867839172609?s=20

A stock picture of a Russian UR-77 Meteorit. Vitaly V. Kuzmin/Wikimedia Commons

The bomblet appears to be based around a grenade for use in 40mm grenade launchers combined with a black-colored tail assembly. The gold-colored tip of the grenade points to it being a high-explosive dual-purpose (HEDP) type. A typical HEDP 40mm grenade features a shaped charge designed to penetrate through relatively light armor, as well as a body designed to turn into a hail of deadly fragments that present a threat to unarmored vehicles and personnel.

A composite image showing a 40x46mm M433 grenade and a cutaway, as examples of a 40mm HEDP type round and its design. National Defense Corporation

A graphic giving a basic breakdown of the M433 grenade's internal components. National Defense Corporation

Even with its multi-purpose design, a 40mm HEDP grenade would, of course, still not be capable of causing the blast seen in the video on its own. This suggests that the UR-77 still had at least one line charge inside when it was struck, which then caused a huge secondary detonation.

The UR-77's primary role is to fire rocket-assisted line charges to clear minefields from a launcher fitted to the top rear portion of the vehicle's hull. The launch system on the Meteorit, which uses a chassis derived from the one used on the 2S1 Gvozdika 122mm self-propelled howitzer, can be loaded with up to two line charges at a time.

Each line charge is essentially a rope made up of high-explosives. They are fired into a desired area and then detonate. The overpressure from the blast then sets off any nearby mines, helping to create a safe corridor for friendly forces to pass through.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEtgC5hwzcg

At least two types of line charges exist that can be used with the UR-77, the UZ-67 and UZP-77. The UZ-67 and UZP-77 can create 'lanes' through a minefield that are between 75 and 80 meters (246 and 262.5 feet) and 80 and 90 meters (262.5 feet and 295 feet) long, respectively, according to a 2016 U.S. Army manual on foreign military capabilities. The width of the lanes that both types produce is generally around six meters (nearly 20 feet). The rocket-assisted nature of the charge allows the vehicle to stay well clear of the target area and the blast radius of the explosion.

The devastating explosive force that the line charge produces means that it can also be used in a more direct role against enemy forces as short-range artillery of sorts. Russia and Ukrainian forces have both reportedly made use of UR-77s in this way during the current conflict.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biJig8f0-wQ https://twitter.com/Tendar/status/1643232372584861699 https://twitter.com/mil_in_ua/status/1499376932810547208

UR-77s have been used outside of their main mine-clearing role in other conflicts, as well. Russian and/or Syrian forces made notable use of Meteorits in this way in urban fighting in the early years of the civil war in Syria.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fq8uUMjkteQ

Ukraine did not start out the conflict with Meteorits in its inventory, but has since captured a number of these vehicles from Russian forces. The importance of mine clearing and other armored combat engineering vehicles has only been underscored since the Ukrainian armed forces launched its counter-offensive back in June.

The new video of UR-77 being blown apart is also just more evidence of the very real threat that even small weaponized commercially available drones present, especially if their attacks can be used to trigger much larger secondary explosions. This is a reality that has impacts on and off traditional battlefields, including when it comes to protecting critical civilian infrastructure.

If nothing else, from what can be seen in the recent drone attack video, there now looks to be at least one less UR-77 on the battlefield in Ukraine on either side.

Contact the author: joe@thedrive.com
The Sukhoi Su-30SM jet fighter of Russian Navy performs its demonstration flight at MAKS-2015 airshow near Zhukovsky, Moscow Region, Russia : aviation-images.com/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

A Russian Su-30 crashed during training on Saturday in Kaliningrad, killing its crew.

According to 112, both pilots didn't have time to eject as the fighter's nose was pointed down.

Officials told state media that the crash probably happened due to a "technical malfunction."

A Russian warplane crashed in Kaliningrad on Saturday, killing its crew during a training exercise, military officials told state media.

"On August 12, a Su-30 aircraft crashed in an uninhabited area while flying a training sortie in the Kaliningrad Region," the Western Military District told state agency TASS.

"The fighter crew died," the district added. "According to preliminary information, the crash was caused by a technical malfunction."

The Su-30, a Soviet-era fighter, is typically run by a two-man flight crew. It's been heavily used by the Russian military to carry out long-range attacks on ground targets in Ukraine via air-to-surface missiles.

Russian Telegram news channel 112 reported on Saturday that the plane crashed in the Chernyakhovsky district in Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave bordering Poland and Lithuania.

Both pilots had no time to eject, per 112.

The aircraft's nose was pointed downward, after which there was a bang in the air, and the plane banked and fell from the sky, 112 reported. The Su-30 contained no ammunition, and no civilians were harmed, the channel further reported.

It also posted a video that showed the ground-level view of a jet fighter flying over a crowd of onlookers before the aircraft inverts and seemingly attempts a loop. The clip cuts off before any crash is shown. Insider was unable to independently confirm when and where this footage was taken.

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Russia's air force has repeatedly suffered mishaps away from the frontlines, at times costing the Kremlin valuable equipment or inflicting civilian casualties.

In April, a Su-34 accidentally bombed a civilian district in Belgorod, injuring two civilians. And in October, another Su-34 crashed into an apartment in the port city of Yeysk, killing 13 people and hospitalizing another 19, officials said.

The Russian Ministry of Defense did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside regular business hours.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A video of Russian soldiers tucking their tails and fleeing for their lives after being routed by Ukrainian forces in the village of Makarivka, Donetsk Oblast, has gone viral.

While the video isnt close enough to see the soldiers faces, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys description that Russians have only fear (in their eyes) is certainly evident from the footage.

The video comes from months ago after the settlement was liberated at the beginning of Ukraines counteroffensive in June 2023.

The footage was uploaded around the same time that Russia lost control over the village Urozhaine, where the invaders were also forced to retreat, abandoning their equipment and heavy weaponry.

Read also: Ukrainian military makes strategic gains in southeast, Bakhmut, says spokesman

While Ukraines General Staff has yet to confirm the complete liberation of Urozhayne, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar has announced that Ukraine has had certain successes in the area. Meanwhile, Kremlin propagandists persist in claiming that not everything is lost there.

Read also: Ukraine makes small gains near Bakhmut, other centers on Eastern front

However, if the video from Makarivka suggests that any Russian response to Ukraine's actions near Urozhayne is unlikely to prove fruitful.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
For the first time in nearly a month, a Russian warship has fired warning shots toward a cargo ship in the Black Sea on Sunday after the captain allegedly failed to respond to a request to inspect the ship.

Last month, Russia pulled out of the Black Sea grain deal, which gave Ukraine the ability to ship agricultural produce by way of the Black Sea.

Reuters reported that Moscow officials considered all ships were potentially carrying weapons if they were heading into Ukrainian waters.

The Vasily Bykov patrol ship, Russia said, fired its automatic weapons at the Palau-flagged Sukru Okan ship after its captain did not acknowledge a request to stop so an inspection could be completed.

RUSSIA UNLEASHES DRONE ATTACK ON UKRAINIAN PORT CITY, THOUSANDS OF TONS OF GRAIN DESTROYED

Russian Navy patrol ship Vasily Bykov sails during the Navy Day parade in Kronstadt near Saint Petersburg, Russia July 26, 2020.

Russia also claimed the ship was moving toward Izmail, Ukraine, though shipping data from Refinitiv showed it was heading to Sulina, Romania. When the shots were fired, the vessel was near the coast of Bulgaria.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The Russian Defense Ministry reportedly alleged the warning fire was taken to get the vessel to stop.

Once the cargo ship stopped, Russian military personnel boarded from a helicopter and conducted the inspection, according to the defense ministry. Once finished, the ministry added, the ship continued toward Izmail.

UKRAINE TROOPS ADMIT RUSSIA TOUGHER THAN EXPECTED AS COUNTEROFFENSIVE CRAWLS AHEAD

Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said on X, formerly known as Twitter, the incident was a "clear violation of international law of the sea, an act of piracy and a crime against civilian vessels of a third country in the waters of other states."

"Ukraine will draw all the necessary conclusions and chose the best possible response," he added.

PENTAGON INSISTS US WEAPONS WILL STAY IN UKRAINE AS ZELENSKYY EYES ATTACKS IN RUSSIAN TERRITORY

Ukraines Operational Southern Command spokesperson Natalia Humeniuk said Russias statement had not been confirmed, adding, "I believe that attention should be drawn to this, and the peculiarities of hybrid warfare should be kept in mind."

Humeniuk went on to say Russia was attempting to assert its right to stop a ship and deploy an aircraft in the Black Sea without consequences.

Russias actions, she noted, could be a signal to all civilian ships in the Black Sea.

Russia and Ukraine agreed a year ago on a deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey that reopened three Ukrainian Black Sea ports blocked by fighting and provided assurances that ships entering the ports would not be attacked. Russia declined to renew the agreement in July, complaining that its own exports were being held up.

Reuters contributed to this report.
On the evening of 13 August, Russian invaders fought with each other in the occupied city of Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast.

Source: Petro Andriushchenko, advisor to the mayor of Mariupol, on Telegram

Details: As Andriushchenko said, the Russians started a fight on the city's central beach, near the Santa Barbara cafe.

Judging by the video posted by Andriushchenko, the fight involved a lot of people.

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Sacramento County unveiled its first Safe Stay temporary shelter Monday that officials say aims to assist homeless people in finding affordable housing.

The site was a former grocery store and is located at 8144 Florin Road at Power Inn Road in the unincorporated Florin area. Each unit comes equipped with a light, HVAC, a bed, a desk and a fire extinguisher. There are disability-friendly bathrooms on site, and Wi-Fi is available in a community trailer at the front of the complex.

The county partnered with City Net, a nonprofit organization geared toward ending homelessness and headquartered in Southern California, which will operate the site.

Officials said it is a non-congregate space, meaning each unit offers some level of privacy. There are 75 single units and 26 double units that can house couples, friends or families, according to Jessica Avelar-Bruce, the chief program officer for City Net.

Monday marked the sites opening, and a ribbon was cut by Sacramento County Supervisor Patrick Kennedy.

This has been too long in the making, but its here, Kennedy told other in attendance for the ribbon-cutting. I want to make sure that we all understand that when people are going to be sent to those gates, there is hope. This is a place where people can come and get off the street in a dignified, safe setting.

Kennedy said that prospective residents are selected by the county after a qualifying process from Sacramento Covered, a separate nonprofit that works to achieve health care access for all, according to their website.

Avelar-Bruce said the site will offer several services including medical, behavioral health and job training.

We have a welding company that wants to come in and teach people how to weld, she said.

Brad Fieldhouse, City Nets executive director, said the temporary shelter is generally meant to house individuals for 90 days at a time, but there can be exceptions.

Ninety days, that just gets everybody focused, Fieldhouse said. If theyre here in 92 days, we dont kick anybody out that were working with.

County says it works to keep encampments off the street

Emily Halcon, the countys director of homeless services, said a smaller site with 45 cabins is expected open in the fall on East Parkway, and the Board of Supervisors approved construction for a 13-acre, 140-tiny-home site on Watt Avenue in North Highlands.

Sacramento County spent roughly $40 million in federal dollars to open the latter: $23 million for purchasing the property and $17 million for construction.

Several homeless people have camped around the site on Florin Road since its 3-to-2 approval in 2022; Supervisor Sue Frost voted against it as well as former Supervisor Don Nottoli, both citing that it would be too close to a church and a day care facility.

Kennedy, who represents the property and other parts of south Sacramento  including the Pocket, Meadowview and the Vineyard neighborhoods  said that people no longer camp around the site because they have been moved.

A lot of them had been navigated elsewhere to other locations, other shelters, he said. Those that qualify will be allowed to come back in here once theyve been vetted.

Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho made waves last week when he blasted the city of Sacramento over its handling of the homeless crises in the city limits and accused the city of failing to enforce an ordinance against tent camps blocking sidewalks.

Ho said enforcing the ordinance might have given homeless individuals chances to interact with police and seek assistance.

Ho has publicly praised the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office for enforcement. Between Jan. 1 and July 31, the sheriffs homeless outreach team had contacted 926 individuals and written 602 citations, according to figures released Thursday.
Straight to Jail

Do not pass go, do not collect $200.

Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried is officially heading to a Brooklyn jail to await his fraud trial, Reuters reports, after a Manhattan US district judge ruled he tampered with witnesses while on $250 million bail at his parents' mansion in Palo Alto, California.

That means that in just nine months, the disgraced crypto baron has gone from living in a lavish luxury villa in the Bahamas to being locked inside a notorious NYC jail that's been called out for its "inhumane" conditions. Ouch.

Wake-Up Call

Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty after being charged with fraud following the spectacular collapse of his crypto exchange empire late last year.

The subsequent revelations surrounding the firm's less-than-stellar track record of keeping track of billions of dollars worth of investments have likely only strengthened his prosecutors' case.

The clink might be a wake-up call for Bankman-Fried. Convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell, for instance, filed more than 100 complaints over how she was treated at the same jail, Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center, from invasive shower surveillance to excessive body cavity searches.

In filings, Maxwell's lawyers compared conditions to the ones faced by Hannibal Lecter in the 1991 horror movie "The Silence of the Lambs," according to Reuters.

In short, Bankman-Fried just got a whole lot more than a slap on the wrist, despite posting bail for a staggering quarter of a billion dollars in February.

It looks like he'll be at the facility for the next 50 days or so, at which point his fraud trial will kick off. It could even be a preview of things to come; he's facing life behind bars if convicted.

More on Bankman-Fried: FTX Considered Buying an Island to Conduct Human Genetic Experimentation
A new report found South Carolina has the third highest incidence of binge drinking in the Southeast and is higher than the national average.

Using data from the Centers for Disease Control, USA Facts said 16.2% of South Carolina residents are binge drinkers. The national average is 15.3% or 1 in 6 people. Virginia also had 16.2% of residents classified as binge drinkers.

The immediate health risks of binge drinking are injuries, violence, alcohol poisoning, risky sexual behaviors and miscarriage and stillbirth among pregnant women, the CDC reports.

And continued over-indulgence can cause various forms of cancer, a weakened immune system, learning and memory problems, poor mental health, social challenges and alcohol use disorders.

The Surgeon General says hypertension and liver disease are also related to binge drinking.

Binge drinking is a serious but preventable public health problem, USA Facts wrote in its report. Binge drinking is the most common and costly pattern of excessive alcohol use in the United States

The definition of binge drinking according to health experts may surprise many people. Its five or more drinks for men and four or more for women during a single occasion.

USA Facts found Wisconsin at 23.5% as having the most binge drinkers. Utah, where 66% of residents are members of the Church of Latter Day Saints, which expressly prohibits alcohol consumption, had the least at 11.7%.

Across the South, six of the 10 states had higher excessive alcohol use than the national average. Louisiana and North Carolina had the largest percentage. The least was Mississippi at 13.5%

A 2020 study by Forbes magazine ranked South Carolina No. 7 in the country of worst states for drunk driving and found 29.6% of South Carolina deaths that year were caused by a drunk driver. South Carolina was the only Southern state in the top 10.

Highest drunk driving rate in the US was in Wyoming.

South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services has a number of programs relating to alcohol and drug abuse, including providing funding for local programs geared toward school-age children.

USA facts said the top 10 worst states for binge drinking after Wisconsin were Montana 22.9%, Iowa 21.8%, North Dakota 21.7%, South Dakota: 21.1%, Nebraska 20.8%, Colorado 19.5%, Vermont 19.2%, Rhode Island 18.9% and Ohio 18.5%.

South Carolina is No. 27 nationally.
Kayden, left, playing with his brother. Courtesy of Alexandria Brown

Alexandria Brown is a mother of two and lives in Gahanna, Ohio.

Her son Kayden was born prematurely and has cerebral palsy.

She's fighting to get her school district to keep him in the school where he succeeds.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Alexandria Brown. It has been edited for length and clarity.

My son Kayden has cerebral palsy, a motor disorder that affects his ability to move and maintain balance and posture. He can talk and loves to learn, he knows his colors and shapes, he loves swimming and playing, and he loves to go to the playground and go down the slide. He can do many things that other kids his age can do.

He's pretty much a typical 6-year-old. The main difference is that he uses a wheelchair.

Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the developing brain. In Kayden's case, he was born early, at 23 weeks. We spent eight months at the hospital in the neonatal-intensive-care unit. When he came home, he was on oxygen until his lungs grew strong enough for him to breathe on his own.

There's no cure for cerebral palsy, but early intervention can significantly improve motor functions and prevent or delay the development of secondary complications. Since he was released from the NICU, I've been advocating for him. I've fought for him to get the medical care he needs  and now I'm fighting to ensure that he receives an appropriate education.

He was successful in preschool

During the early days of COVID-19, some of Kayden's learning was online.

He resumed in-person therapies in 2021 and went to in-person preschool as soon as he could. At his preschool, there were typical children they called "peer models"  that is, nondisabled children who are meant to serve as positive examples. And then his class had kids with special needs. It was a smaller class size, so everyone got the attention they needed, but it had both sets of kids  and it was a mainstream school, as opposed to a therapeutic school for disabled children only.

Kayden sat at a desk. The kids practiced letters, shapes, numbers, and all those typical preschool things. He was successful. So when I started to hear rumblings in our community about how our special-needs children could be sent to a different school, I worried. The rumors weren't specific to Kayden  we heard that all children with special needs were educated in a different building, away from their nondisabled peers. I didn't want this for my son, but it turns out that this was exactly what the district recommended for him. When it came time to find out whom his kindergarten teacher was going to be, the district informed us that it intended to bus Kayden to an alternative school, one solely for kids with special needs.

Students with disabilities have rights  but they are often denied them

Students with disabilities have a fundamental right to receive their special education in a regular classroom unless the student's individualized education program cannot be satisfactorily implemented in that setting, even with the use of supplementary help. Under the Least Restrictive Environment requirement, a child with a disability should be allowed to attend a general educational class in his or her zoned school and receive the services needed to make that placement work unless there's proof that he or she cannot receive educational benefits in that setting.

We had hoped that Kayden would at least be given an opportunity to stay at our local public school and that Kayden and his brother could go to school together. He has friends in the community. The school is right down the street, and he does well among nondisabled kids.

Kayden requires a wheelchair to move around. Courtesy of Alexandria Brown

Sure, he would need a paraprofessional to provide one-on-one help. He can maneuver his own wheelchair, but he can't go to the bathroom on his own, so he would need extra support. He can feed himself, but he needs someone to prepare the food and put together a plate. In other school districts, it's not uncommon for a paraprofessional to assist a special-needs student in a mainstream classroom, but our school district says it cannot make this accommodation.

This is why the school district recommended that Kayden attend an alternative school. It wants to group him with mostly kids who are nonverbal and have intellectual disabilities.

Kayden can talk. He's a little developmentally behind, but I'm working hard to keep him near grade level. I fear he will fall behind in a setting without an appropriate peer group, one that's not designed to educate a child with Kayden's intellectual abilities. Our only option is to sue the school district, but every due-process case decision on individualized education programs in Franklin County since 2005 has been ruled in favor of the school district. If we won at the hearing, the district would be mandated to place Kayden in a regular classroom  but a hearing would take years, and Kayden is supposed to start kindergarten in September. So we have no options, really.

Kayden is a miracle  but prejudice is everywhere

When Kayden was born, he weighed just 1 pound. He's come so far, and I'm determined to see that he continues to succeed.

We've spent tens of thousands of dollars on advocates and lawyers, but it's not like we're rolling in the dough. The district hasn't changed its mind, so we've looked into private schools, but they're not legally obligated to accommodate our son  and every school I've called says they won't.

One school said the building wasn't wheelchair-accessible. Most places don't even return my messages. We just wish people would look at our son as an individual, not a disability, and give him a chance.

Read the original article on Insider
Summer break is almost over, and Wichita Public Schools will welcome back students Tuesday.

While parents are working on making sure their children have everything they need, Wichita Public Schools is trying to fill many positions. Those roles dont just include teachers, but also administration, custodial staff, student support staff and more.

For those already in the school district, there are also opportunities to advance your career in a new position.

If youre wanting to work in an educational setting and not sure what kind of jobs are out there, weve gathered various openings from Wichitas (Unified School District 259) job portal to help you get an understanding of what working in public schools could look like.

These are just a few of the many jobs posted on the districts career page, open as of Monday. While salary depends on an applicants prior experience and other factors, the base rate for teacher pay is $45,528, according to a Wichita Public Schools spokesperson. The school system declined to provide a pay range for the individual openings.

To check out every job open, visit Wichita Public Schools website.

Secondary assistant principal

Posted: Jan. 9, 2023

Location: This position is not tied to a specific school, a spokesperson said.

Description: The secondary assistant principal assists in all factors of the educational program and provides support to services and activities provided in the school.

Qualifications: The successful candidate will need to have an up-to-date Kansas building administration license, five years of teaching experience and technology skills, according to the posting.

Master facility planner, design and construction

Posted: July 31, 2023

Location: School service center, 3850 N. Hydraulic

Description: This position manages the Wichita districts capital planning software, analyzes data and more, the job post indicates.

Qualifications: Candidates must have a high school diploma or a GED certificate, a bachelors degree in a field related to the position and one year of prior experience in Wichita Public Schools or a related field.

Talent acquisition specialist

Posted: July 13, 2023

Location: Alvin E. Morris Administrative Center, two positions open

Description: The successful candidates for these roles recruit and evaluate other candidates for open jobs, track applicants through a system, provide advice to managers regarding new hires and more.

Qualifications: Applicants must either have a bachelors degree with a human resources emphasis or five years of experience working in human resources with an associates degree.

Custodian (multiple open positions)

Posted: Varies by location

Location: Positions available at multiple facilities

Description: This role provides assistance to the custodial staff and perform tasks to create a clean classroom environment.

Qualifications: Successful candidates should have a high school diploma or a GED certificate, and its preferred to have a proficiency of custodial operations certificate.

Library media specialist

Posted: June 13 and April 24, 2023

Location: Two positions are available, one at Cessna Elementary School and another at Park Elementary School

Description: The library media specialist provides students and teachers with knowledge on how to use resources in an educational setting, according to the job post.

Qualifications: The successful candidates must have a Kansas teaching license and a Kansas library media endorsement.

Vocal music teacher

Posted: Aug. 9, 2023

Location: Gordon Parks Academy

Description: In this role the teacher will provide musical education to Gordon Parks students.

Qualifications: Applicants must have vocal music teacher certification, a bachelors degree and prior experience teaching, the job post says.

Fifth-grade teacher

Posted: Aug. 2, 2023

Location: Colvin Elementary School

Description: This position teaches and facilitates a fifth-grade classroom, the post says. The successful candidate also works with students and parents to meet student needs.

Qualifications: Applicants must have a teaching license and a bachelors degree. Prior teaching experience is preferred.
Universities can continue to target recruitment efforts at predominantly Black and Hispanic high schools even if race cant be used as a factor in admissions, the Biden administration said in new guidance released Monday.

The parsing is part of a package of materials responding to the June U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning affirmative action in admissions. The education and justice departments  which argued in favor of maintaining racial preferences in admissions  said summer enrichment camps for students from groups underrepresented in college are also allowed, as well as pathway programs that guarantee high school graduates a spot in the freshman class. Awarding slots in those programs based on race, however, would trigger  strict scrutiny from courts in light of the ruling against Harvard and the University of North Carolina.

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This moment demands a sense of urgency, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a call with reporters. This moment demands the same courageous commitment to equal opportunity and justice we saw from leaders at the height of the civil rights movement.

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said the Supreme Courts decision on affirmative action in admissions demands a sense of urgency. (Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)

The release of the resources  a letter to institutions and a question-and-answer document  is the second formal action the administration has taken on admissions since the decision. Last month, the Education Department held a day-long summit on ways colleges and K-12 schools can continue to legally foster diversity. And in a few weeks, Cardona said, the department will issue a report on strategies colleges already use.

Related

Harvard Ruling Will Put Spotlight on College Elitism, Georgetown Economist Says

Rep. Bobby Scott, ranking Democrat on the House education committee, welcomed the guidance, but wants the department to do more to investigate racial disparities in K-12 schools in areas like discipline, and college practices like legacy admissions that have historically favored white students. Following the courts decision, Lawyers for Civil Rights, a Boston nonprofit, sued Harvard over such policies.

This is important because race-conscious admissions policies were able to provide a counterbalance to factors  such as inequitable K-12 schools, racially biased admissions tests, and developmental and legacy admissions  that have discriminatory impact against students of color, Scott said in a statement.

He argued that some Republican leaders have misinterpreted the courts decision, pointing to Missouri Attorney General Andrew Baileys warning, for example, that racial preferences in scholarships and employment would violate the law.

Biden officials did not specifically discuss scholarships Monday, but the document suggests institutions review policies  such as application fees, standardized testing requirements, early decision deadlines and prerequisite courses, like calculus  that could prevent Black, Hispanic and low-income students from applying to a selective institution.

Universities can still collect race and ethnicity data to plan which geographic areas to target for recruitment, for example, or where to participate in college fairs, the Biden administration said, so long as the resulting information doesnt influence admissions decisions

Universities dont have to unsee the racial makeup of their applicants, a senior department official said on the call. Students may continue to discuss race in their admissions essays, and guidance counselors can discuss a students battles with discrimination in a letter of recommendation.

Although this decision changes the landscape for admissions and higher education, it should not be used as an excuse to turn away from long-standing efforts to make those institutions more inclusive, said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta.

Related

After Harvard Ruling, Will Admissions Policies at Elite K-12 Schools Be Next?

Richard Kahlenberg, a school integration expert who served as an expert witness for Students for Fair Admissions and is a non-resident scholar at Georgetown Universitys McCourt School of Public Policy, said some higher education institutions have taken the courts ruling seriously and are pursuing authentic race-neutral alternatives to achieve diversity. Those perfectly legal strategies include increasing financial aid for low-income students and adopting plans like those in Texas that accept a percentage of top students from every high school.

But he said hes also hearing that some universities are taking the much riskier route of basing admissions decisions on what students say about race in their personal essays.

If universities magically get similar racial numbers without announcing new race-neutral alternatives or showing an increase in socioeconomic diversity, he said, I think theyre putting a litigation target on their backs.
Nearly a week after a wildfire incinerated the historic town of Lahaina, killing at least 99 people, search efforts are intensifying. As teams have combed through just 25% of the devastated area, the death toll is expected to climb significantly.

Twenty cadaver dogs and more than 90 workers with the Federal Emergency Management Agency are leading the search through the ash and rubble, Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said Monday. The identities of several of the victims are expected to be released publicly starting Tuesday, Pelletier said.

There are some close to the search who suspect the death toll from what is now the deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century could climb into the hundreds. When asked by CBS about the estimate, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said: If thats what theyre telling you, I wouldnt second-guess them.

Fatalities have surpassed those from the 2018 Camp fire, which destroyed the Northern California town of Paradise, where at least 85 died.

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said the number of dead would certainly rise. In an interview with "CBS Mornings" that aired Monday, the governor said there were "obviously no survivors left in the area."

Experts say identifying the dead could take weeks, if not longer.

Read more: Mapping how the Maui fires destroyed Lahaina

About 1,300 people are still unaccounted for, down from around 2,000 after cell service returned and family and friends were able to make contact, Green said. Crews are likely to find the remains of 10 to 20 people each day until search efforts cease, which he estimated could take 10 days.

"We are prepared for many tragic stories," the governor said.

Recovery and identification efforts have faced scrutiny as families and friends wait for information. State crews are escalating their hunt through the charred debris at a disaster site described as unrecognizable, and other forensic anthropologists may be brought in soon, authorities said.

Only two of the nearly 100 victims counted so far have been identified using rapid DNA testing. Three have been identified using fingerprints. Pelletier has told families looking for loved ones to submit DNA samples to help with identifying any remains.

Jeff Hickman, a spokesperson for Hawaiis Department of Defense, told NBC's "Today" show that search crews were working diligently, "going street by street, block by block between cars, and soon theyll start to enter buildings.

At least 400 agents from FEMA are in Maui. Additional search-and-rescue teams with dogs were headed to the island, including one from the Los Angeles County Fire Department that arrived Sunday. Search efforts should move faster now, Hickman said, which can "hopefully bring some closure to those on Maui."

Read more: Anatomy of a monster: Maui fire seemed under control. Then it exploded with lethal force

Jeremy Greenberg, FEMA's director of operations, said in a call with reporters Monday that officials were processing the remains "in a compassionate and caring way."

Dr. Michael Baden, the former chief medical examiner of New York and a forensics expert, spoke about the long haul ahead for those attempting to identify victims. The rapid DNA test used for the first two identifications suggests authorities have set up an emergency lab on the island, he said.

But identifying remains from a wildfire is challenging, he said. DNA can be destroyed if temperatures reach 300 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, rendering traditional collection methods, such as mouth swabs or from soft tissue, ineffective.

Authorities can use dental records or X-rays to identify victims, Baden said. Identifying approximate areas where remains were found  along a certain street or specific address, if possible  is crucial, he said, because authorities can then try to contact surviving family members for medical files. Authorities also may be able to extract DNA from drilling into thigh bones, Baden said.

Criswell, of FEMA, described Lahaina in an interview on CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday as a "scene from an apocalyptic movie," with rows of scorched cars lining the streets of a community that has been reduced to ash.

Search teams had mapped out the disaster zone and scoured about 3% of the targeted area as of Sunday, Criswell said, adding that some structures were partially standing, making search efforts challenging. The size of the searched area increased to 25% by Monday afternoon. Engineers are embedded with crews to help assess buildings' stability.

Read more: 'There are bodies everywhere': In devastation of Maui fire, California's past horrors lurk

About 3,000 animals are estimated to be missing after the Maui fires, according to Maui Humane Society Chief Executive Lisa Labrecque. At least 367 lost-animal reports had been made as of Monday morning, and 52 animals have been found and taken in by Humane Society personnel, 12 of which required medical attention. Each animal found has its location recorded before it's checked for identification and microchips to connect it with its owner.

"People are desperately searching for their pets, and they've been incredibly grateful to our team for any closure that we've been able to give them," Labrecque said, adding that the remains of deceased animals should not be removed until they are catalogued.

The Lahaina fire, one of several that broke out last week on Maui, was 85% contained late Sunday, Maui County officials said. Maui Fire Department Chief Bradford Ventura said Monday that an aerial scan of the containment perimeter with infrared cameras was planned for Tuesday morning to locate any remaining hot spots.

An estimated 1,100 residents were in shelters. FEMA was set to begin paying for displaced residents to stay overnight in hotel rooms on the island, Greenberg said. The agency also planned to supply $700 one-time payments to help with food, water, baby formula and other basic necessities.

More than 2,200 structures were destroyed in Lahaina  86% of which were residential  with an estimated damage of $5.6 billion, Green, the governor, said. Officials say the U.S. Small Business Administration is offering loans of up to $5 million for businesses and up to $500,000 for homeowners. Personal property loans are available for up to $100,000, public information officer Cynthia Cowell said.

This way," she said, "we can give people a little bit of comfort room, a chance to get back into their normal routine."

Green said he ordered Anne E. Lopez, the state's attorney general, to lead the investigation into what caused the fires and the overall response to the devastating blaze.

After first erupting last Tuesday, the fire was initially deemed to be out, but winds whipped up by far-off Hurricane Dora that reached up to 81 mph fanned the flames and spurred the blaze to travel about one mile every minute, Green said.

A Times review of Maui County's Facebook page showed that the first report of a brush fire in Lahaina came in at 6:37 a.m. on Aug. 8, and evacuations were ordered within three minutes around Lahaina Intermediate School on the towns northeastern edge. The fire erupted as crews were battling another wildfire farther east.

The sense of alarm seemed to fade by around 10 a.m., when Maui County said it had declared the Lahaina brush fire 100% contained, although it did warn of power outages limiting the ability to pump water and a report of a downed electrical line in the area.

The blaze then flared up in the afternoon, racing toward communities on West Maui. Nearly all of central Lahaina was eventually reduced to ash.

Records indicate that neither the state nor the county activated sirens ahead of the fire, though other systems were used, including messages broadcast to television stations, radios and cellphones. But with the power out and communications systems down, many residents reported receiving no alerts.

Times staff writer Jeremy Childs contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A 10-year-old girl found dead inside a house in Woking has been described as a beautiful and amazing daughter by her devastated mother.

Detectives in Surrey launched a murder investigation in the early hours of Thursday morning after discovering the body of Sara Sharif, who was alone when police arrived at the property.

Police have said they want to speak to three people who were known to the girl but who are believed to have left the country.

Saras mother Olga Sharif confirmed her identity in an interview with The Sun, telling the newspaper she learned of her daughters death through a phone call by officers.

My life will never be the same again. Sara should be with me right now. She was too young. Sara was an amazing child, she said.

Police outside the property in Woking

Polish-born Mrs Sharif said she was only allowed to see her daughter and son, Saras 13-year-old brother, twice in four years after losing a custody battle against her ex-husband and the childrens father in 2019.

Saras father has been named locally as Ufran Sharif, a taxi driver, who lived at the property with his wife and six children.

Mrs Sharif said she bonded with her Sara over a shared love of arts and crafts and said she was a fan of Disneys Frozen films.

She told The Sun her popular and outgoing daughter had dreamed of a modelling career.

She would walk in and say, Mum, look how pretty I look. It was always modelling - she was so pretty that I never had to ask her to pose for a picture because every time she looked at the camera she was already smiling and beautiful.

She would tell me that I want to be like Mummy. She was like a younger version of me - but much prettier than her mum.

A wellwisher leaves flowers outside a house in Woking, Surrey, where the body of a 10-year-old girl was found - Jonathan Brady/PA

Mrs Sharif said she planned to bury her daughter in her native Poland, where she has been intending to move back to, once the authorities have completed their investigations.

A post-mortem investigation to establish the cause of death is likely to take place on Tuesday afternoon.

No one present

A Surrey Police spokesman said: Enquiries are ongoing to locate the three identified people we would like to speak to in connection with our investigation into the death of a 10-year-old girl in Woking.

Detectives have confirmed that no other people were present at the address when they attended in the early hours of Aug 10. The three people they would like to speak to were known to the victim.

Formal identification is yet to take place but we understand the child has been named locally. No arrests have been made at this time. Officers remain at the address whilst the investigation continues and further updates will be provided in due course.

Detectives said they believed the three people they want to speak with left the UK the day before the body was discovered.

Police were called to the smart semi-detached house in the village of Horsell, near Woking, at 2.50am on Thursday following a concern for welfare.

Following the discovery, police stressed they did not believe there was a wider threat to the public.

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Logan Lauger loved learning but couldnt bear to attend classes. As a Sebastian River High School student in the late 2000s, Lauger arrived late or skipped, with the restroom providing regular respite from classmates cruelty.

Lauger, whose pronouns are they/them/their, endured bullying so severe it stifled their intellectual curiosity and academic achievement. Not to mention the anxiety and depression that hemorrhaged into other areas of their life.

The city was too conservative for Lauger to feel comfortable in their own skin, plus they were teased about their weight.

I was afraid that coming out would just put another target on my back, Lauger said. I felt pressured to conform to societal norms  it felt really hard for me to be different.

A family portrait is seen Thursday, July 27, 2023, in Logan Laugers Sebastian home, which they share with their wife, Heather Lauger, and Heathers son, Landon. Logan, 31, double-majored in psychology and sociology at Florida Atlantic University, and is a graduate student at Southern New Hampshire University working toward a masters degree in clinical mental health counseling in hopes of launching a private mental health care practice for LGBTQ+ children and teens in Sebastian.

Laugers preference for masculine clothes got the rumor mill grinding. They didnt come out on their own terms; by senior year, their peers had made an assumption about their gender identity and sexual orientation.

I didnt really acknowledge the rumors, even though they were true, Lauger said. I just didnt want to prove that everybody was right, because I figured it would make [the bullying] worse.

Lauger, now 31, identifies as queer, nonbinary and is dedicating their career to what they navigated adolescence without: mental health care tailored to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer and/or questioning youth. Lauger wants to launch a private mental health care practice for LGBTQ+ children and teens in Sebastian.

Logan Lauger, whose pronouns are they/them/their, poses with their wifes son, Landon, 9, in their Sebastian home, Thursday, July 27, 2023. Lauger, 31, double-majored in psychology and sociology at Florida Atlantic University, and is a graduate student at Southern New Hampshire University working toward a masters degree in clinical mental health counseling in hopes of launching a private mental health care practice for LGBTQ+ children and teens in Sebastian.

Mental health care lacking for LGBTQ+ youth

In 2020, less than a third of U.S. youth-serving mental health facilities offered care specific to LGBTQ+ patients, according to a study published this summer in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) Pediatrics. In terms of facilities per 100,000 children, Florida ranked 46th, with 1.92 per capita.

Top-ranked Alaska had 9.79, while bottom-ranked Alabama had 0.83. Florida ranked higher  21st  in its percentage of youth-serving mental health facilities offering treatment for gender and sexual minorities: 28%.

With fewer than two facilities per capita, access to care in Florida is inequitable, said study coauthor Kristen Choi, a child and adolescent psychiatric nurse and assistant professor at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Nursing.

This is an emerging (research) area, Choi said. We hope that the work can point all of us who work in mental health toward thinking a little bit more carefully about how we can serve this population.

Nearly 2 million adolescents ages 13-17 identify as LGBTQ+, according to a 2020 population estimate published by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law. About 114,000 live in Florida. Only California and Texas have more.

Despite decreasing stigma surrounding mental illness and increasing social acceptance of LGBTQ+ people, the mental health disparities they weather have received less attention, Choi said.

I have seen a trend in practice that theres always a really high share of our patients who are attempting suicide who are on the LGBTQ+ spectrum, Choi said. Thats been notable and frustrating to me.

LGBTQ+ high schoolers disproportionately consider suicide

In 2021, a larger share of LGBTQ+ high school students reported having seriously considered suicide compared to their heterosexual peers, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey:

47%: Lesbian, gay or bisexual

40%: Other/questioning

14%: Heterosexual.

Depressive symptoms and disorders were three times more prevalent among sexual minority youth than their heterosexual peers, per a 2017 study in the Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. In a 2020 Trevor Project survey, over half the LGBTQ+ individuals ages 13-24 reported wanting mental health care but not receiving it  particularly in the South.

Lauger hopes to mend that fissure after an inspiring three-year AmeriCorps stint in Washington, D.C., working at an elementary school alongside a social worker and a mental health counselor.

I enjoyed every minute of it, Lauger said. It was the coolest experience and it  told me that this is what Im meant to do.

Lauger double-majored in psychology and sociology at Florida Atlantic University and is a graduate student at Southern New Hampshire University, working toward a masters degree in clinical mental health counseling.

SunServe, an LGBTQ+ social service agency with offices in Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manors, is another inspiration.

They offer a place for LGBTQ+ youth to go after school. They do all sorts of different things for the community, Lauger said. I wanted to do something like that for Indian River County.

Parent of LGBTQ+ teens: I dont know how to fix it

Thirteen years after Lauger graduated high school, Mary Espositos children are enduring their teenage years in eerily similar fashion. Espositos 14-year-old daughter is bisexual, her 16-year-old son is pansexual and her 18-year-old is nonbinary.

The Vero Beach mother supports them unconditionally, she said.

Its the other people that hate my kids for just existing, Esposito said. It hurts my heart.

On top of being teased for being LGBTQ+, her multiracial children have withstood racial slurs. The Indian River Charter High School administration doesnt tolerate bullying, so its been under the radar for her son, she said.

Vero Beach High School, however, was hell for her eldest child. The experience was so traumatic, Esposito pulled them from school and plans to homeschool her youngest, who wouldve been a freshman there this fall.

They dont know how to deal with this, Esposito said of the in-school counseling her eldest received.

Aside from scaling up the countrys mental health workforce and designating more research funding toward the psychiatric treatment of sexual and gender minorities, clinical education must be revamped, Choi said.

A handful of schools and programs do an excellent job teaching their medical students and nursing students about how to provide compassionate care, Choi said. But the problem is that its just not consistent.

Floridas political climate has worsened matters with such controversial legislation as the so-called Dont Say Gay bill. It was championed as child protection by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and the conservative Legislature, and condemned as anti-LGBTQ+ by Democrats and civil rights groups.

Finding LGBTQ+ support in Florida

Esposito and her children have found solace at the Mental Health Association in Indian River County. Things are back on track for her eldest, who earned an accounting degree from Indian River State College and will start on a bachelors this fall.

Still, Esposito wonders if her children will ever enjoy a hate-free life.

I want what the Statue of Liberty says. I want unity. I want everybody to get along, Esposito said. I dont know how to fix it.

Lauger is set to graduate next spring, then get a state license. A private practice remains on the horizon.

People think Im crazy when I say that I want to start off opening my own practice, Lauger said. I want to go right out of school and start from the ground up.

Until then, Laugers advice to LGBTQ+ youth is to find a support system of family, friends or a peer who identifies the same way. But connecting with anyone who can lend an ear helps make life more bearable, Lauger said.

If I were to go back and tell my younger self something, it would probably be, Trust yourself, be who you are and be proud of it. 

Lindsey Leake is TCPalms projects reporter. She has an M.A. in Science Writing from Johns Hopkins University, an M.A. in Journalism and Digital Storytelling from American University and a B.A. from Princeton University. Follow her on Twitter @NewsyLindsey, Facebook @LindseyMLeake and Instagram @newsylindsey. Call her at 772-529-5378 or email her at lindsey.leake@tcpalm.com.

Read more of Lindseys stories and support her work with a TCPalm subscription.

Logan Lauger, whose pronouns are they/them/their, spends time at their Sebastian home working on their laptop, Thursday, July 27, 2023. Lauger, 31, double-majored in psychology and sociology at Florida Atlantic University, and is a graduate student at Southern New Hampshire University working toward a masters degree in clinical mental health counseling in hopes of launching a private mental health care practice for LGBTQ+ children and teens in Sebastian.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: LGBTQ+ children, teens in Florida face mental health care inequities
Ukraines Air Force reported that the Russian invaders launched a group of missiles toward the city of Odesa on the night of 13-14 August.

Source: Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Telegram

Quote: "Attention! A group of missiles [heading] toward Odesa. Go to the shelter right now!"

Details: Previously, the Air Force warned that Russian forces launched attack drones toward Odesa.

An air-raid warning is ongoing in Odesa Oblast.

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!
The suspect in a carjacking at a Daytona Beach gas station was arrested Monday morning after deputies say he tried to barricade himself in a warehouse.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

The initial carjacking was reported just before 8:30 a.m.

According to Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood, the victim was pumping gas at the BP gas station on Derbyshire Rd. when the suspect approached and put a gun to the victims side. Chitwood said the suspect too the victims keys and drove off in the car.

READ: Boy, 17, girlfriend arrested after Volusia teen shot over Instagram post, deputies say

Moments later, officers with the Daytona Beach Police Department found the car parked, but unoccupied.

And now the hunt is on, Chitwood said of the search for the suspect.

According to Chitwood, deputies used video from inside the gas station captured before the carjacking and video of the carjacking itself to identify the suspect.

READ: Florida pastor, wife, mother arrested after $1.4M in goods stolen from Home Depot stores, police say

He was eventually spotted on Mason Ave. and chased into a business where Chitwood says the suspect barricaded himself in one of their workshops.

Chitwood says they were able to monitor the suspects actions on the companys security cameras while they worked towards a peaceful resolution, something the sheriff said was a first for his career.

After negotiating for more than an hour, Chitwood says deputies maned to coax the suspect towards the door of the business and were finally able to reach inside and take him into custody.

READ: Man killed, suspect charged after Sunday morning shooting in Bithlo

The suspect was identified as 42-year-old man Anthony Galloway. Chitwood says he faces a long list of felonies including armed carjacking, robbery and burglary.

Chitwood says he also had two open warrants out of Orange and Lake Counties for probation violations. He also has a history of dozens of other prior felony charges.

No injuries were reported in the initial carjacking.

However, the suspect will have to be booked into the Volusia County jail once hes treated for injuries sustained while breaking into the window of an apartment after the carjacking, Sheriff Chitwood said.

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.




In the temporarily occupied village of Mykhailivka, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, a conflict between units of the Russian army has occurred.

Source: National Resistance Center of Ukraine

Details: Reportedly, on 12 August, the Russian propagandists arrived in the village of Mykhailivka in the Vasylivskyi district of Zaporizhzhia Oblast to shoot a news piece about the "great contribution" of a top official from the Kadyrovites fighters to the reconstruction of Russia-occupied territories in Ukraine. [Kadyrovites are pro-Russian Chechen forces led by Ramzan Kadyrov, the Chechen leader  ed.]

At about 20:00 on the same day, a verbal altercation occurred between Kadyrovites and Dagestanis from another unit of the Russian occupying forces near the Central Park of the village.

During the argument, one of the occupiers opened fire into the air from an automatic small arm.

During the fight, one of the participants received multiple stab wounds incompatible with life. It led to an open confrontation between the units with the use of GP-25 Kostyor under-barrel grenade launchers, offensive hand grenades and automatic small arms.

Dagestanis have reportedly won the fight.

The National Resistance Center reports irreversible losses on both sides: 20 soldiers of the Russian units were killed, and 40 more were injured.

The commander of the Kadyrovites (likely a colonel) was sent to frontline positions as a punishment.

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!
It is becoming more and more common for Black people to openly share the benefits of being mentally sound. The best way to do that is to seek help through a counselor, therapist, psychiatrist or other mental health professionals. But recognizing that you could use the help is only half the battle. The bigger challenge is finding the right person to help you along your journey. If you dont get a good match the first time around, it can be difficult to leave that person in search of another. When youre serious about being well, however, sometimes difficult decisions have to be made. If youve been on the fence about changing mental health professionals, here are some signs you need a new therapist.

21 Ninety spoke to licensed professional counselor Theresa Rose to identify the signs and how to move forward in your journey toward sound mental health.

Incompetency

Rose says that a successful therapist/client relationship begins with the establishing a good rapport between both parties, called a therapeutic alliance. Additionally for people of color, cultural competency is vitally important.

And then theres general competency.

Not everyone is a trauma-informed therapist, Rose says. Not everyone knows what modality to use and wont implement the right treatment modality, like CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) which is a very standard, person-centered therapy, narrative or psycho-analytical approach. It stems from not having experience or the passion.

Generational Gaps

If there is a significant age gap between you and your therapist, that can present a problem. But Rose says its less about the age itself and more about an inability to stay current.

That comes with not keeping up with the research, Rose explains. When you do take the exam to be licensed, youre not going to be tested on what happened 50 years ago. Its always whats current and whats trending. You have to keep up with whats going on in mental health. And part of your licensure is to make sure that you continue education and research, so you can actually implement whats going on.

Lack of boundaries

Every relationship needs boundaries. That is true of the ones that exist between clients and therapists. Sometimes therapists can share too much.

If it feels like the therapist is being the client, its time to go, Rose said.

While it may seem like this goes without saying, flirting and any sexual advances are a no go according to Rose.

Bias

Therapists operate on different levels of objectivity. But if a therapists bias is too apparent, the relationship likely wont work. It can prevent the client from opening up as they should and, Rose says, it becomes a barrier for them to continue.

Signs in the client

The warning signs are not only evident in the mental health professional, as the client you will also notice patterns in yourself that point to a stagnation.

There arent any signs of improvement, Rose said. Therapy begins to feel like a routine. Youre talking about the same thing over and over. Youre not being challenged. Sometimes youre not even getting homework assignments. Providing assignments really challenges what theyve learned during the session.

Additionally, if you find you have a hard time being honest with your therapist, thats something you need to discuss.

If youre uncomfortable being honestthe therapist is judgmental the relationship is not going to last long, Rose said. Therapists have to create the relationship where clients can be comfortable. If theyre hiding things, thinking, I dont want to tell my therapist because shes going to be disappointed. Instead, you should feel like, Im going to tell my therapist so we can process this and see what I can do differently next week.

How to move forward

When you realize your current therapist isnt the one for you, Rose says you shouldnt be afraid to tell that person. It can actually do you some good.

You can say to your current therapist, I dont think this is a good fit, Rose said.

She even suggests asking your current mental health provider for a referral.

Therapists can make the referral. If the therapist is rude and you dont feel comfortable, you dont have to go back. But its common courtesy to let them know,

Tips to finding a good therapist

Rose encourages people not to be discouraged on their search for the right therapist.

Finding a therapist is like trying to find the perfect shoes or a nice pocketbook, she says. You might have to go to Marshalls, go to the mall. Go to Nordstrom. You keep shopping around until you find the right one.

Rose also tells clients to get curious before settling on one person.

You can interview your therapists. Ask them questions. How many years of experience do you have? Have you worked with people of color? What do you think about the Black Lives Matter movement? You can challenge them too. I dont mind my clients interviewing me about why I became a therapist? Thats how you establish the rapport.

The post Signs You Need A New Therapist appeared first on 21Ninety.
(Bloomberg) -- Singapores prime minister-in-waiting called for the global economy to be prepared for the unpredictable, amid strained relations between the US and China over matters of trade and geopolitics.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Intense, extreme competition will be the defining feature in the bilateral relationship, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said, referring to ties between the worlds two largest economies. He was speaking at a conference Reinventing Destiny in Singapore on Monday.

Changing relations between the US and China have implications for the global economy at a time when demand for goods is witnessing a sharp downturn. Trade-reliant Singapore faces the prospect of slower expansion amid a faltering recovery in China and expectations of cooling growth in the US.

We already see the bifurcation in high-end semiconductor chips, Wong said. And Im sure that bifurcation will expand to new areas particularly contested areas of technology like quantum computing, or artificial intelligence.

Countries in the region are faced with the difficult choice of siding with one nation or the other amid geopolitical disputes including the issue on Taiwan. Theres no equilibrium in US-China relations right now, Wong said, adding that Singapore wants to maintain close ties with both.

There will be a price to pay for a global economy that is organized not by economic efficiency but by geopolitics and security considerations and imperatives, he said. Its worrying, Wong said, that the external environment is increasingly becoming less hospitable for small states like Singapore.

Wong, who is expected to succeed Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong around election due by 2025, warned of possible accidents and miscalculations as the two economic powers face-off on geopolitical hotspots in the region, including in the Taiwan Straits and South China Sea primacy.

Those tensions mean added risks for growth in the region. The city-states trade and industry ministry last week narrowed its projection for gross domestic product expansion this year to a range of 0.5%-1.5% from 0.5%-2.5% previously.

Singapore is still confident of avoiding a recession, amid strength in aviation- and tourism-related businesses and expectations of expansion in consumer-facing sectors such as retail trade and food and beverage services, according to the trade ministry.

--With assistance from Aradhana Aravindan, Xiao Zibang and Low De Wei.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Editor's note: Yup, we added a seventh big change from the initial publication of this story. There's a lot of new things going on in Iowa schools this year.

Iowa students and parents will notice significant changes in school classrooms this year after Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a tsunami of sweeping education-related laws over the summer break.

Reynolds, a Republican, staked her reelection bid on "parents' rights," rallying the Republican-led Legislature to approve her plan to offer state-funded private school tuition to all Iowa students.

Republican lawmakers then turned their attention to removing school books they deemed "age-inappropriate" and prohibiting instruction on LGBTQ topics in elementary schools.

Transgender students will likely notice the most significant changes this year, with new laws restricting which bathrooms they can use and requiring parents to be notified if a student requests to use different pronouns.

As part of the "parents' rights" push, lawmakers also passed bills that would:

Notify parents sooner when students are violent or threatening;

Require parental consent for student surveys;

And include more parents on Iowa's teacher licensing board.

"This legislative session, we secured transformational education reform that puts parents in the driver's seat, eliminates burdensome regulations on public schools, provides flexibility to raise teacher salaries and empowers teachers to prepare our kids for their future," Reynolds said in May, as she signed several education bills into law. "Education is the great equalizer and everyone involved  parents, educators, our children  deserves an environment where they can thrive."

Head of Schools at Pella Christian Schools Dan Zylstra, left, and Executive Director of Hispanics Aligned for Choice in Education Reform Arlene McClintock are introduced by Gov. Kim Reynolds before they gave their testimonies at the signing of the House File 68 in the rotunda of the Iowa State Capitol Building on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023.

As you're preparing for the new school year to begin, here are some of the major changes to expect in Iowa classrooms this year.

These new laws apply for public, private and charter schools.

No books with sex acts in Iowa schools

A new Iowa law prohibits school books with descriptions or visual depictions of a sex act, which Iowa law specifically defines as a list of explicit actions between two or more people.

Supporters of the law have pointed to a few, controversial books that they say are inappropriate for minors  such as "Gender Queer: A Memoir" by Maia Kobabe and "All Boys Aren't Blue" by George Johnson.

A number of books have been challenged in Iowa in recent years including "The Hate U Give," "All Boys Aren't Blue," "Hey, Kiddo," "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian," "This Book is Gay," "Gender Queer" and "Melissa."

But Iowa education professionals have warned that the law will apply more broadly, requiring the removal of many more books, including some works of classic literature.

The Urbandale Community School District has a list of 64 books it believes will be prohibited, including classics like "The Color Purple," "Ulysses" and "The Handmaid's Tale."

Norwalk Community School District also has a list of 64 prohibited books, including "What Was Stonewall?" "The Kite Runner" and "My Moms Love Me."

No LGBTQ-related instruction in elementary schools

Iowa teachers may not provide "any program, curriculum, test, survey, questionnaire, promotion or instruction" about gender identity or sexual orientation in kindergarten through sixth grade, under a new law.

The Iowa Department of Education has not issued guidance about whether that will require the removal of books with LGBTQ characters.

Flags waving at LGBTQ+ rally

One Republican lawmaker who led the law's passage said he believes it does prohibit books with gay and transgender characters for those grade levels.

Norwalk's list includes several books about LGBTQ people and communities, including "Who Was Harvey Milk?" a politician and the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California who advocated for gay rights, and "Frequently Asked Questions about Same Sex Marriage."

New reporting requirements for violence, threats in school

If a student threatens or commits violence in school, administrators are now required to notify the parents of the student within 24 hours. The school is also required to notify the parents of any student who was threatened or hurt within the same time frame.

School districts must also adopt policies to discipline students who are violent or make threats of violence. Each district may decide on the specifics of its discipline policy, as long as there are options to remove a student from the classroom or suspend or expel them.

Parents added to the Iowa state board that licenses teachers

The Board of Educational Examiners creates and regulates standards for Iowa teachers. Starting this year, some members of the board will include Iowa parents who have never been teachers.

A new law adds four members to the 13-person board who "have demonstrated an interest in education but have never held a practitioner's license." Two of those members must be parents of enrolled students, and one must be a current or former school board member.

Gov. Kim Reynolds has appointed eight members to the board.

Parental consent for student survey participation

Expect to see more permission slips this year: New laws will require schools to ask for parental consent before students take surveys in school.

Parents will be asked to provide written consent before their child takes any school survey about their mental, emotional or physical health, or any survey that asks about political affiliation, sexual behavior, illegal activities, religion or family income.

New restrictions for transgender students on pronouns, bathrooms

Transgender students in Iowa will notice even more changes than their peers.

Starting this school year, schools must notify parents if a student requests to use new pronouns or a new name that affirms their gender identity.

That law came in response to a controversial policy in the Linn-Mar Community School District that allowed students in seventh grade or higher to request to use new pronouns in school without the knowledge or consent of their parents.

Another law, which went into effect near the end of last school year, prohibits transgender individuals from using school bathrooms that align with their gender identity. Instead, students must use the restroom that matches their birth sex, or their parents may request the student have access to special accommodations, such as a single-user restroom.

Damian Thompson, director of public policy at LGBTQ advocacy group Iowa Safe Schools, said the laws will be harmful to the social, emotional, mental and physical health of transgender students.

"Whether it's censoring the curriculum, banning books, restricting common-sense (bathroom) accommodations we've had in law for almost 20 years and never had a single documented issue in the state of Iowa, these attacks on our students are going to irreparably harm Iowa schools in being known as a safe and inclusive place for everybody to learn," Thompson said.

How many students will switch to private schools at taxpayer expense?

Iowa's public schools face a potential exodus of students as the state's new education savings account program kicks in, helping to pay for private school costs for thousands of kids.

The state has approved 18,627 applications for education savings accounts, which can be used to pay private school expenses like tuition and fees.

More: 18,000-plus Iowa students approved for taxpayer-paid private schooling. Polk County leads way.

About 60% of those applications were from families whose students already attend private schools, while 40% of students attended public school last year.

Public school districts will lose the $7,635 per student in state aid for every child who switches from public to private school, although public schools will receive about $1,200 from the state in new money for every student in their district's boundaries who receives an ESA.

Students who have been approved for ESAs won't receive that money from the state until they are accepted to and enrolled in an accredited private school.

The full financial impact of the law on schools won't be known until districts complete their enrollment count this fall.

Stephen Gruber-Miller contributed reporting.

Katie Akin is a politics reporter for the Register. Reach her at kakin@registermedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @katie_akin.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: 7 big changes for Iowa parents and students for the new school year
One of the victims, Michael Corey Jenkins, who was tortured by the six officers (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Six white former Mississippi police officers pleaded guilty on Monday to state charges for torturing two Black men.

Five of the former officers are from Rankin County Sheriffs Office  Chief Investigator Brett McAlpin, Narcotics Investigator Christian Dedmon, Lieutenant Jeffrey Middleton, Deputy Hunter Elward, and Deputy Daniel Opdyke  while one is from the Richland Police Department, Narcotics Investigator Joshua Hartfield. Some of the group calls themselves the Goon Squad, as they were known for using excessive force and not reporting it.

All pleaded guilty to state charges of obstruction of justice and conspiracy to hinder prosecution. Each reached individual plea agreements that include prison sentences ranging from five to 30 years, according to court records obtained by the Associated Press.

The guilty pleas to the state charges arrive just over a week after all six men also pleaded guilty to 16 federal felonies stemming from the torture and physical abuse of two Black men.

They will be sentenced for the federal charges in mid-November.

According to the Justice Departments release earlier this month, the officers admitted kicking in a door and entering a home belonging to two Black men  Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker on 24 January  without a warrant.

The two men were handcuffed and arrested  without probable cause to believe they had committed any crime. The officers called them racial slurs, and warned them to stay out of Rankin County, according to the release.

The officers reportedly punched and kicked Mr Jenkins and Mr Parker, tased them 17 times, forced them to ingest liquids, and assaulted them with a dildo.

On top of other torturous behaviour, the former officers devised a cover-up, involving making false statements and charging the two men with crimes they did not commit, but also neglected to provide medical aid to them.
WASHINGTON  When Julie Reiskin books a hotel, she worries about the usual potential nuisances: A noisy TV in the neighboring room, say, or subpar air conditioning.

As a wheelchair user, Reiskin also agonizes over whether she'll be able to get through the door.

Reiskin and millions of Americans living with a disability rely on hotels to make note of accommodations like ramps and roll-in showers on their reservation websites, disclosures that are required by a 2010 federal regulation. Advocates fear a Supreme Court case this year could undermine the requirement, making it harder to punish hoteliers who defy or overlook it.

"Once you're at the hotel and there's no shuttle, it's not like there's something somebody can do about it then," said Reiskin, a disability rights advocate in Denver. "It would be really nice if I could look at a website and have reliable information."

At issue for the Supreme Court is whether self-styled "testers" who scrutinize hotel booking websites for a lack of information about accommodations may sue those hotels in federal court  even if they have no intention of ever staying there.

Ended up sleeping in my car

Civil rights groups such as the NAACP Legal Defense & Education Fund and the American Civil Liberties Union say testers are critical to enforcing the Americans with Disabilities Act, the 1990 law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability. Opponents frame the practice as a cottage industry of lawyers using the courts to extract thousands in settlement fees from hotels.

"If you have no intent to stay at a property, then access to the hotel is not an issue," said Chip Rogers, president of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, one of the trade groups opposing the practice. "Every hotelier I've ever spoken to wants to fully comply with the ADA. Its not their intent to try to get around the law."

Schools: Special education clash: How one student's Supreme Court case could make schools more accountable

Deborah Laufer, a Florida woman whose case is now pending before the high court, sued Acheson Hotels in 2020 after she discovered an inn the company had operated in Maine did not disclose on its booking page whether it offered accessible rooms. Laufer wasn't planning to visit Maine. Instead, she filed a suit to force the company to make the information available.

"Once I needed a wheelchair to move around, I became extremely frustrated at how difficult it was to reserve an accessible room at a hotel when I would travel," Laufer, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis just before she turned 40, told the high court. When she could book an accessible room, she said, sometimes it wouldnt be available when she arrived.

"I sometimes ended up sleeping in my car because I could not get an accessible room at a hotel," she said.

Lawyers for Acheson declined an interview request. Laufer, through her attorney, also declined to comment.

President Joe Biden speaks during a celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and to mark Disability Pride Month, in the Rose Garden of the White House, Sept. 28, 2022.

Shakedown? Critics say testers clog the courts

Her opponents are quick to note the lawsuit isn't a one-off: Laufer has filed over 600 cases across the country.

Testers do not receive monetary damages for federal suits  and Laufer told the Supreme Court she never received money from a federal lawsuit. But the lawyers representing testers do seek fees and cost reimbursement from the hotels. A recent disciplinary investigation against one of Laufer's attorneys found he regularly demanded that hotels pay $10,000 in fees to settle out of court.

Serial litigants like Laufer have been shaking down legitimate businesses for years, said Deborah White, president of the Retail Litigation Center. They just clog the courts without bringing any sort of meaningful change for people who are disabled.

Supporters dispute that characterization, insisting that testers have had an enormous influence in pressuring the hotel industry to make reservation sites easier for people with disabilities to use. And lawyers handling the cases, they say, must be able to set fees for their work or no one will do it.

More than 25 million Americans have a disability that limits their travel, according to the Department of Transportation.

Testers have played a role in enforcing other laws, including prohibitions on racial discrimination in the housing industry. In 1982, the Supreme Court ruled that a Black woman who posed as a potential renter could sue an apartment complex owner in Virginia because management told her they had no units available.

The same managers told a white tester that the building had vacancies.

Supporters say that tester lawsuits over housing and accessibility are sometimes the only way to enforce the law. The Justice Department acknowledged its "limited enforcement resources" in court documents.

Amy Robertson, a Denver attorney who helped author another brief on behalf of several disability rights groups, said that a ruling against Laufer would significantly weaken enforcement of the ADA.

Its disheartening when businesses put more effort into creating legal barriers than removing accessibility barriers, she said.

Biden administration wades into disability rights case

But there have also been high-profile scandals involving the litigation. Prosecutors in California last year sued a law firm they said was filing thousands of boilerplate, cut-and-paste federal-court lawsuits falsely asserting ADA violations. A state trial court dismissed that lawsuit, and an appeal is pending.

A former member of Laufer's legal team has also been caught up in controversy: One of her lawyers was recently suspended after an investigation that found he appears to have exaggerated the fees he sought from hotels. In response, Laufer dismissed her case against Acheson and, last month, suggested the Supreme Court drop it too.

The high court declined that request Thursday, meaning it still plans to decide the case. Oral arguments in Acheson Hotels v. Laufer are set for October.

Airlines: 'On the ground sobbing': Flier devastated as her wheelchair was dropped, damaged by worker

The legal question for the Supreme Court involves the concept of standing, whether a plaintiff like Laufer has been injured by the hotels' action  or lack of action. When it comes to testers such as Laufer, the question has divided federal appeals courts.

Laufer lost her suit in U.S. District Court but a federal appeals court in Boston sided with her.

The Biden administration isn't taking a side technically, but it told the Supreme Court that Laufer should not be allowed to sue. She lacks standing, the administration said, because she is only viewing the hotel reservation sites with no plans to use them.

Laufer's lawyers rejected the distinction.

"She could be looking for a hotel where she can visit relatives or friends if they choose to stay there; she could be daydreaming about a trip she might take if she wins the lottery," they told the Supreme Court. "In every scenario, the disabled website user encounters a discriminatory barrier."

An American flag waves in front of the Supreme Court on Nov. 2, 2020.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Woman who sued 600 hotels over disability info heads to Supreme Court
A highway remains closed across the North Cascades but crews are making progress against the wildfire that forced its closure twice and have saved the town of Diablo, Washington, and power-generating facilities for Seattle City Light, authorities said.

Firefighters who are monitoring burned areas near the small mountain town with thermal-imaging cameras reported no hot spots remain after flames slowly burned past, said Nicholas DiGiacco, spokesman for the National Interagency Fire Center.

Theyre picking up no heat sources. Theyre confident in calling that area contained, DiGiacco told The Bellingham Herald in a phone interview.

No injuries have been reported and no buildings have been damaged as a result of the fire, which has been burning more than two weeks, he said.

As of Monday, the fire had burned 2,953 acres and was 11% contained, DiGiacco said.

It started with a lightning strike July 29 on Sourdough Mountain and still threatens the campus of the North Cascades Environmental Leaning Center, Ross Lake Resort and the historic 1933 fire Lookout on Sourdough Mountain.

Fire is creeping west along state Highway 20 in steep terrain, burning vegetation in the understory.

Firefighters have been using burnout techniques to send the fire toward Newhalem, where a a 2015 wildfire left burn scars that should stop its western progress, DiGiacco said.

Thats really what our intent was, to move this fire into that scar with the intention that it would run out of fuel., he said.

Helicopters are still making water drops on the fires east flank and firefighters are monitoring buildings that remain in the fires path, he said.

A red flag warning from the National Weather Service with low humidity and temperatures nearing 100 degrees meant that burnout operations have stopped, DiGiacco said.

A high of 104 degrees was recorded at Diablo on Sunday, he said.

Highway 20 is closed from Newhalem to Rainy Pass for firefighting operations and because rocks and debris loosened by flames are falling onto the roadway, the Washington State Department of Transportation said in tweets over the weekend.

No ETA for reopening. WSDOT crews are at fire camp today. The fire remains active and near the road.

Meanwhile, travelers can use Interstate 90 and U.S. Highways 2 and 12 linking Eastern and Western Washington, WSDOT said.
Native American dancers at the Smithsonian which is embroiled in a row over stolen body parts - Alex Wong/Getty Images

Americas Smithsonian Institution will return human brains which had been stolen from ethnic minorities as part of a plan to demonstrate the superiority of white brains.

A years-long investigation by the Washington Post has revealed that tens of thousands of human remains, including 255 brains, are being stored by the Smithsonian.

The institution, a publicly subsidised body created by Congress, is made up of research facilities, 21 of Americas top museums and the national zoo in Washington DC.

Most of the remains are held by one of the Smithsonians premier museums, the National Museum of Natural History.

The collection is thought to be one of the largest in the world and includes mummies, skulls, teeth and other body parts, representing an unknown number of people.

It was started by Ales Hrdlicka, an anthropologist who founded and curated the museums physical anthropology department in 1903 until his death in 1943.

He was seen as one of the countrys foremost authorities on race at the time and worked to prove that it determined a persons physical characteristics and intelligence.

Based on racist attitudes

Lonnie Bunch, the natural history museums director, said the institution would try and return the brains in its possession.

I know that so much of this has been based on racist attitudes, that these brains were really people of colour to demonstrate the superiority of white brains, so I understand that is just really unconscionable, Mr Bunch said.

And I think its important for me as a historian to say that all the remains, all the brains, need to be returned if possible, [and] treated in the best possible way.

They include that of Mary Sara, an 18-year-old girl whose brain has been stored for more than 100 years.

She lived in a small town in Alaska and was a member of the Sami indigenous group. She died of tuberculosis in Seattle in 1933.

The National Museum of Natural History - Robert Alexander/Getty Images/Archive Photos

The Washington Post tracked down a surviving first cousin, Martha Sara Jack, and other relatives of Mary Sara who said they were unaware the Smithsonian had taken her brain.

They are now working to have the brain returned.

Its kind of like an open wound, Fred Jack, the husband of Martha Sara Jack, said.

We want to have peace and well have no peace because we know this exists, until its corrected.

According to the Washington Post, the Smithsonians collection includes at least 30,700 human bones and other body parts, including 255 brains.

Only four of the brains are recorded as voluntary donations.

Hrdlicka promoted his belief in white peoples superiority, and wrote of important differences between the brains of black people and white Europeans.

How to collect body parts

He promoted the idea of a racial brain collection to research the brains of people across the world, especially Indigenous people and black Americans.

In 1904, he created a Smithsonian manual instructing others on how to collect body parts and conceal the marks of an autopsy.

The majority of the brains in the Smithsonians collection were removed from the corpses of African Americans and indigenous people.

It is unclear whether Hrdlicka and other doctors took the brains illegally or exploited legal ambiguities over unclaimed bodies.

The remains were taken from graveyards, battlefields, morgues and hospitals in more than 80 countries.

The National Museum of the American Indian, which is also part of the Smithsonian, said it still had 454 remains and had repatriated 617.

The natural history museum has formed a human remains task force and hired two researchers to look into the ethical return of body parts.

It also restricted access to its human remains, and plans to relocate the brains from a storage building in Maryland.

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(Bloomberg) -- President Joe Bidens administration urged the US Supreme Court to strike down key parts of Florida and Texas laws that would sharply restrict the editorial discretion of the largest social media platforms.

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In a court filing Monday, US Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar said the Republican-backed measures violate the First Amendment rights of social media companies by limiting their freedom to decide how material is presented and requiring detailed explanations for content-moderation decisions.

When a social-media platform selects, edits, and arranges third-party speech for presentation to the public, it engages in activity protected by the First Amendment, Prelogar argued. The filing largely backed two industry trade groups challenging the laws.

Prelogar, the administrations top Supreme Court lawyer, urged the high court to review both laws. The Supreme Court asked Prelogar for her views in January.

The trade associations  which represent Meta Platforms Inc., Alphabet Inc.s Google and X Corp., the company formerly known as Twitter Inc.  say the laws would impose onerous requirements and put platforms at risk of being overrun by spam and bullying.

The measures have divided federal appeals courts. The Atlanta-based 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals blocked most of Floridas law as probably violating the First Amendment. The New Orleans-based 5th Circuit upheld the Texas law but left the measure on hold to allow time for an appeal to the Supreme Court.

Texas, Florida and the trade groups all are asking the Supreme Court to intervene on at least some of the issues in the two cases. The court could say as soon as September whether it will hear the cases.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Texas Governor Greg Abbott say the laws are needed to keep conservative voices from being silenced. If Big Tech censors enforce rules inconsistently, to discriminate in favor of the dominant Silicon Valley ideology, they will now be held accountable, DeSantis said when he signed his states bill into law in May 2021.

Viewpoint Discrimination

The centerpiece of the Texas law is a sweeping provision barring large platforms from discriminating based on viewpoint. The prohibition includes a handful of exceptions, letting platforms bar content that incites violence or criminal activity or concerns the sexual exploitation of children or harassment of sexual-abuse survivors.

The Texas law also imposes a number of operational and disclosure requirements. The law sets out procedures for user complaints, requires companies to disclose their content- and data-management practices and publish a sweeping biannual transparency report.

The law applies to platforms with more than 50 million monthly users, a threshold that exempts conservative social media sites such as Parler and Gab.

The Florida law includes a dozen major provisions, including a requirement that platforms provide a thorough rationale for each content-moderation decision. The 11th Circuit called that provision particularly onerous.

The law also bars platforms from banning political candidates or journalistic enterprises. As with Texas, the Florida law applies only to the biggest social media companies.

Though largely siding with the social media groups, Prelogar said the Supreme Court shouldnt take up their arguments against what she called the general-disclosure provisions in the laws, including the requirements that platforms publish content-management policies and produce transparency reports.

She said that those issues have not been the focus of this litigation and that high court review would be premature.

The Texas case is NetChoice v. Paxton, 22-555. The Florida case is Moody v. NetChoice, 22-277, and NetChoice v. Moody, 22-393.

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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.  Brightline is informing customers who booked trips along its widely anticipated rail extension to Orlando starting Sept. 1 that all rides are canceled until further notice.

The higher-speed rail line, which currently serves South Florida, had sold tickets for rides starting over the Labor Day weekend between West Palm Beach and its new station at Orlando International Airport.

Were working through the final stages of certification and crew testing but its apparent that we wont hit our opening weekend as planned (Sept 1-5), Brightline said in a statement. Knowing its a holiday weekend, we want to give guests as much time as possible to adjust their travel plans.

An unspecified number of customers have been told by text and email that theyll have to wait a little longer as the railroad is still working on certifications and crew testing.

Your trip is canceled and we want to provide you with as much notice as possible so you can adjust your plans, the message says.

Were working hard to launch service for Brightline Orlando station but will not be operating September 1 as planned, the notice says. Were in the final stages of certification and will announce a confirmed opening date soon.

Brightlines online schedule now shows that no trips are being sold until at least Sept. 15.

According to the notice, the company is taking three steps to ease customer inconvenience:

Full refunds for the rides that are canceled.

The gifting of premium level service for future use that is the equivalent to the party size of your original purchase.

Brightline has two classes of service. They include Smart, a business class section; and Premium, a first-class experience with added amenities. For the rides between Miami and Orlando, the Smart fare is $79; Premium is $149.

Two company spokespersons did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment.

_____
A group of squatters trashed an 11,000-square-foot multimillion-dollar Hollywood Hills home and tagged it with graffiti reading "f--- rich people," according to the Los Angeles Police Department and local media reports.

Police were called to the residence on Thursday over a report of a woman screaming, Fox 11 reported, and soon found the home was trashed with graffiti, broken glass, feces and destroyed furniture.

"Its an abandoned house," an LAPD officer told KTLA 5. "Theyre just trespassing, squatting. The screaming was somebody, I think they got bit by a dog."

HANDYMAN WHO TURNED THE TABLES ON SQUATTERS CLAIMS HE'S HACKED THEIR SYSTEM AND CAN HANDLE YOURS TOO

The sprawling home was previously listed for $10 million and includes a home theater, two gourmet kitchens and a pool, the New York Post reported.

Three people, two woman and a man, were cited for trespassing and then released, but claimed to KTLA 5 that the situation was an alleged misunderstanding.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

10 SQUATTERS RAVAGE $1M FORT LAUDERDALE HOME, LEAVE IT 'BUG INFESTED'

"I was hired to clean up, take the squatters out, get the house ready for lease or for sale," one of the women who was cited told the outlet.

The real estate agent for the home, however, said that the three people were not authorized to be on the property. While neighbors said the trio had been on the property for about five days before the cops showed up on Thursday.

"I didnt know it was going on. Im just finding out," one neighbor told KTLA. "It doesnt make me too happy. It makes me aware of my surroundings a little bit more."

SQUATTERS ARRESTED AFTER DAUGHTERS LOCKED UP, FORCED TO EAT MATTRESS TO SURVIVE: POLICE

An LAPD spokesperson said the call about squatters "is not unusual for Hollywood, honestly," according to the New York Post.

An aerial view of the downtown Los Angeles skyline as seen from the Pico-Union area Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022.

"Officers did make contact with the property owner, so its definitely not abandoned, but its unclear if somebody lives there," the spokesperson continued.

Police previously responded to the home in January of last year after a man barricaded himself inside with a dog. The man was accused of pointing a shotgun at a person and police said at the time they believe he was squatting in the residence, according to KTLA.
The words on the front of Sundays bulletin at St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church in downtown Raleigh might have seemed like a simple message.

You belong here, they said.

But for a Black church celebrating its 175th anniversary, the phrase was more than a modern-day welcome. It encapsulated the churchs whole history, going back to its formation in 1848, when some of its founding members still were enslaved and all of them had to worship separately from white believers of the same Christian faith.

The Rev. Dr. Larry McDonald Sr., pastor at St. Paul, reminded the congregation of the churchs history in his sermon for the anniversary celebration. Behind him, the choir underscored the message.

Nobody told me that the road would be easy, McDonald said. But I dont believe that he brought me this far to leave me.

God has had his hand on St. Paul for 175 years, McDonald said, and will continue to guide the congregation for another 175 years if the church stays focused on its work.

In the early 1800s, what was then Edenton Street Methodist Episcopal Church allowed freed Blacks and the enslaved people of its members to worship with the congregation, something that wasnt allowed at all churches across the South. But by 1846, according to St. Pauls National Register of Historic Places designation, Edenton Streets congregation had grown to the point where it relegated Black worshipers to hold separate services in the basement.

In 1853, the white members of Edenton Street bought the former Christ Church building nearby and the Black membership moved the wood-frame structure to the corner of Edenton and Harrington streets. They began holding services there the next year.

In 1865, the new church separated from Edenton Street and joined the African Methodist Episcopal Conference, one of the nations first Black denominations. The church got its first Black pastor through the denomination.

St. Paul AME was Raleighs first independent Black church.

According to the National Register nomination, St. Paul counted as members a number of skilled masons who began work on a new building to house the growing church  an ambitious structure, late Victorian Gothic architecture with an elaborate brick facade and 75 stained-glass windows imported from Europe.

It would be as lovely as any church in town.

Work started on the building in 1884, and members deprived themselves at times, vowing to live on biscuits and molasses if they had to in order to support the building campaign.

Throughout its history, the church has served not just as a spiritual home, but a springboard for civil rights and social justice activism.

In 1865, St. Paul hosted the first lawful assembly of Black residents, and delegates came from 200 miles around to draft proposals calling for the repeal of unjust racial laws and the improvement of social conditions. From the church members came some of the states most notable leaders: the Rev. Henry Eppes, Stewart Ellison, and the Rev. R.W.H Lea, a leader in the Republican-Fusionist movement.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson made a speech at the church during his second run for the presidency in 1988.

The congregation at St. Paul today is smaller than in the past, as it is at most churches. But the church is still busy at work in the community, conducting SAT prep workshops, offering tutoring and homework assistance, job training, writing clinics, money management training and programs around the arts.

For Sundays celebration, the first level of the sanctuary was nearly full.
As artificial intelligence slowly seeps into the political space, one company is harnessing the technology to help write fundraising email copy for campaigns.

Writing out campaign fundraising emails can be tedious, time-consuming and contribute to burnout for political staff in a field that already sees high turnover.

Quiller, founded by Democratic strategist Mike Nellis, aims to use artificial intelligence to give Democratic campaigns a first draft of fundraising emails.

Hillary Lehr, Quillers CEO, described the benefits of the product in three ways: Efficiency, access and combating burnout for staff.

The narrative is that AI is a job killer, but the point here is it can combat burnout in this field, Lehr said in an interview with The Hill.

The company officially launched in July, after a pre-seed funding round that raised $1.2 million.

Nellis, the founder of Quiller, is also the founder and CEO of Authentic Campaigns, a Democratic firm that specializes in fundraising, advertising and online organizing. He partnered with Higher Ground Labs, an investment firm that works on political tech startups.

The technology behind Quiller uses artificial intelligence to produce copy for fundraising emails that Lehr said is the equivalent of a first draft that is 70 percent of the way done.

Campaign staff can then add in more nuanced language, references to a particular candidate, race, or location and current events, and polish the email so its ready to send.

The technology can be particularly helpful for local and down-ballot candidates who may not be able to afford to hire an independent fundraising agency, Lehr said.

We definitely need people in todays world who can synthesize breaking news into the most effective way. Having the first draft can be a starting point, she said.

Quiller was built by taking thousands of high-performing fundraising emails written for campaigns up and down the ballot, Lehr said, and using those examples to train the underlying algorithm that generates drafts.

In addition, the technology allows clients to customize the platform and train Quiller on the particulars of what a candidate is campaigning for. For example, a candidate could put in writing samples and position statements, as well as nicknames for their district or other facts about their location.

Quiller will spit out draft, after draft, after draft that can be refined, Lehr said. The goal here is to get your staffer that first draft of an email thats 70 percent of the way there. Its then up to a staffer to finalize and improve it.

Quiller is still in beta and refining its product as it prepares to make it more widely available. Lehr said company leaders will be careful about working with stakeholders and refining best practices, acknowledging that there are broad questions and concerns about the ethical use of AI in technology.

Artificial Intelligence has become increasingly prevalent in politics in a short time, and it appears poised to play a role in the 2024 campaign.

The Republican National Committee (RNC) in April released a campaign ad generated by artificial intelligence, billing it as the first of its kind.

The 30-second video, which the RNC called an AI-generated look into the countrys possible future if Joe Biden is re-elected in 2024, depicts dystopian hypothetical scenarios in a Biden second-term.

The Biden administration, meanwhile, has in recent months held multiple events focused on the future uses of AI.

During a June trip to San Francisco, Biden met with experts and researchers about managing the risks of the new technology.

We need to manage the risks to our society, to our economy, and our national security, he said at the time. I have a lot to learn and we also have a lot to discuss.

The White House in July announced it had secured voluntary commitments from seven major companies around responsible use of AI, including a pledge to develop ways to help users determine when audio and visual content is AI-generated.

Lehr said Quiller views its role as one of the first companies using AI for campaign fundraising as a chance to help set guidelines and ensure the technology is used for its intended purpose.

Its easy from the sidelines to talk about doom-and-gloom and negative effects, Lehr said. But when youre in there doing the work in the trenches,  you see room to really cooperate on wins, and thats when the best practices are going to be defined.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
China sends world's first synthetic aperture radar satellite into space

Ecns.cn) 11:22, August 14, 2023

A Long March-3B carrier rocket carrying the Land Exploration-4 01 satellite, the world's first synthetic aperture radar satellite, blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 13, 2023. (Photo: China News Service/Zhang Yingjian)

The satellite equipped with a synthetic aperture radar payload with high resolution, wide coverage, multiple modes, and lightweight advantages can improve the accuracy and efficiency of identifying abnormal changes in weather and enhance the nation's comprehensive disaster prevention and control capabilities.

A Long March-3B carrier rocket carrying the Land Exploration-4 01 satellite, the world's first synthetic aperture radar satellite, blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 13, 2023. (Photo: China News Service/Zhang Yingjian)

A Long March-3B carrier rocket carrying the Land Exploration-4 01 satellite, the world's first synthetic aperture radar satellite, blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 13, 2023. (Photo: China News Service/Zhang Yingjian)

A Long March-3B carrier rocket carrying the Land Exploration-4 01 satellite, the world's first synthetic aperture radar satellite, blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 13, 2023. (Photo: China News Service/Zhang Yingjian)

A Long March-3B carrier rocket carrying the Land Exploration-4 01 satellite, the world's first synthetic aperture radar satellite, blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 13, 2023. (Photo: China News Service/Zhang Yingjian)

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Wu Chaolan)
This article was originally published in Georgia Recorder.

Georgias program for gifted students has problems with too-large class sizes, teacher training and student selection, a new report from the state auditors office finds.

In the 2020-2021 school year, about 199,000 Georgia students were designated as gifted, representing about 12% of the 1.7 million statewide student body. The state Department of Education says these students need special instruction and/or special ancillary services to achieve at levels commensurate with his or her ability(ies).

To help make sure they get that instruction, the state spends between 30% and 68% more on each gifted student based on Georgias Quality Basic Education formula for per-student spending. That makes the gifted program the largest non-general education program funded according to the formula.

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Class sizes and instruction methods

Gifted funding is based on a ratio of 12 students per teacher, but the auditors found more than 77% of gifted classes across the state exceeded 12 students, and gifted classes averaged 23 students per teacher. That means that the state is paying a higher rate for gifted students but may not be reaping the intended benefits of more individual instruction for gifted students, the auditors found.

Gifted coordinators told auditors that a lack of resources can lead to larger classes.

The auditors found that this issue was exacerbated in larger school systems  Georgias 36 school systems with more than 10,000 students had an average of 23 gifted students per teacher, while 11 systems with less than 1,000 students had an average of 12 students per teacher.

The auditors recommended that the General Assembly should consider tweaking funding for gifted students in discussions about altering QBE, and the state Department of Education should periodically review gifted class sizes.

The DOE agreed with these findings but added Georgia is a local control state, which allows school districts to choose which gifted service delivery model(s) best serve the students in the various grade bands. For all QBE categories, school districts earn funding based on a formula but are afforded flexibility per state law.

The DOE also noted that the 1:12 ratio is the formula for funding, not a limit, and that local districts can waive class sizes under state law.

But different methods of teaching may prevent gifted students from receiving individualized attention, the auditors found.

The DOE allows eight models for gifted instruction, including resource classes, in which students are pulled out of classes one day a week for a class that can only include gifted students. Seventy percent of Georgia gifted elementary students have at least one resource class.

Other methods include cluster grouping, in which six to eight gifted students are placed in an otherwise general education classroom led by a teacher with a gifted endorsement who provides different lesson plans for both groups, and collaborative teaching, which is similar to cluster grouping, but the classroom is led by a teacher without gifted certification who is assisted in lesson planning by a teacher with certification.

Statewide, 40% of gifted elementary school students were enrolled in a class with cluster grouping and 12% had at least one collaborative teaching class.

The National Association for Gifted Children says gifted students should receive differentiated instruction  lessons that give them the opportunity to be challenged and grow their skills  and general education services should not replace differentiated instruction provided by models like the resource class.

Cluster and Collaborative models, however, are at higher risk of lacking differentiation because students may have a broad array of skills in the same classroom, the auditors found.

The education department disagreed with the audits recommendations to review class data and work with districts to ensure differentiation, noting that Georgia is a local control state, which allows school districts to choose which gifted service delivery model(s) best serve the students in the various grade bands.

Teacher training

The education department requires gifted classes to be led by teachers with gifted in-field endorsements, certificates which typically require nine to 12 hours of college credits, equaling about 200 hours of coursework, which can be expensive and time-consuming for working teachers.

The courses and field work are designed to allow teachers to nurture students talents and provide them with appropriately challenging work, but auditors found 7,500 of 76,000 gifted classes in the 2020-2021 school year were taught by teachers without an endorsement.

The auditors found that rural districts were more likely to have higher percentages of teachers without the endorsement, but there were also other outliers, including one suburban system in which 805 classes, half of the total gifted classes, were taught by teachers without a record of an endorsement. Only 34 systems, or about 20%, had all gifted classes taught by an endorsed teacher.

That means the state may have overpaid up to $9.7 million to gifted classes without a certified gifted teacher, the auditors estimated.

The auditors also found that about 3,800 students, about 2% of children in gifted classes, were not identified as eligible for the program and that the state may have paid an additional $3.6 million for gifted classes for ineligible students.

The education department partially agreed with the auditors recommendations to handle these discrepancies and said new policies are already in place starting this school year, but they noted that most of the data was collected during a time when the pandemic was at its height, which limited opportunities to attain endorsements.

Related

Students with Disabilities Often Overlooked in Gifted Programming

Student selection and instruction

The auditors also found fault with schools processes for selecting students.

One problem they listed was that the DOE does not require screening all students for gifted status, which they said may cause students to miss out, especially those in disadvantaged groups.

Students can be referred by teachers, counselors or others with knowledge of their academic abilities, or they can be automatically referred if they score high on standardized tests. Referred students are reviewed by a panel, and, if approved, can be enrolled subject to parental approval.

But eligibility declines as poverty levels increase, the researchers found, and Asian and white students are overrepresented in gifted programs compared with members of other races, both in Georgia and nationally. The researchers noted that most school systems do provide universal screening, but that it is not required as it is in other states.

The National Association for Gifted Children recommends universal screening as well as steps including training for general education teachers to recognize gifted students early and providing information to parents in multiple languages.

The education department partially agreed with the auditors recommendations, saying it would be willing to incorporate universal screening guidance into its best practices if it were added in state law and with additional appropriated state funding.

Georgia Recorder is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Georgia Recorder maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor John McCosh for questions: info@georgiarecorder.com. Follow Georgia Recorder on Facebook and Twitter.
State Rep. Matt Schaefer, R-Tyler, wearing a red tie, sits with his family on the House floor on opening day of the 88th Texas Legislature on Jan. 10, 2023. Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune

State Rep. Matt Schaefer, the Tyler Republican who chairs the staunchly conservative House Freedom Caucus, announced Monday he will not run for reelection.

Its time for the next conservative leader to be the voice of House District 6 in Austin, Schaefer said in a Facebook post, adding that he looks forward to spending more time with my wonderful wife, young children, church, and business.

He added that his political future remains in Gods hands and that he would consider running for state Senate if his local seat became open.

Schaefer was first elected in 2012 and represents a deeply conservative district anchored by Tyler in East Texas.

Schaefer is known for being one of the farthest-right members of the lower chamber. He chaired the Freedom Caucus when it launched in 2017 and then took the helm again for 2023.

The caucus started out as a rambunctious group but grew to become more collaborative with leadership  and Schaefer carried some important bills in recent years. In 2021, he authored what Republicans call constitutional carry legislation that allowed the permitless carry of handguns, one of several proposals that made up what some Republicans deemed the most conservative session ever.

Schaefer has been especially strident on issues related to the border. In 2017, he authored a controversial amendment to the states sanctuary cities ban that allowed local law enforcement officers to question the immigration status of people they legally detain. During the latest regular session, he authored an unsuccessful proposal to create a state-run Border Protection Unit.

Schaefer also stood out this year for vocally opposing the impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton, splitting with most House Republicans. Despite siding against Paxton in his 2022 primary  backing Paxton challenger Louie Gohmert  Schaefer said the impeachment process was too flawed to support the extraordinary step.

Schaefer was on hand in June when Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis visited Eagle Pass to announce a hard-right border policy. Schaefer endorsed DeSantis that day and remains one of the few elected officials in Texas to publicly go against former President Donald Trump in the 2024 primary.

Schaefer made clear in Mondays statement that he may not be done with politics.

If our outstanding State Senator Bryan Hughes ever chooses higher office, I will strongly consider running for the Texas Senate, Schaefer said.

The full program is now LIVE for the 2023 Texas Tribune Festival, happening Sept. 21-23 in Austin. Explore the program featuring more than 100 unforgettable conversations coming to TribFest. Panel topics include the biggest 2024 races and whats ahead, how big cities in Texas and around the country are changing, the integrity of upcoming elections and so much more. See the full program.
Oklahoma tax collections slid again in July compared to the year before, but sales tax revenue reflected continued consumer strength in an economy with less than 3% unemployment.

Overall tax revenue in July was $1.32 billion, according to state Treasurer Todd Russ, about 4% below the level of July 2022. Tax revenue from oil and gas production was $88 million in July, a drop of nearly $100 million from the previous year, when oil prices spiked on higher demand and supply hits caused by sanctions against Russia. The spot price for oil at Cushing was $101.62 per barrel in July 2022 according to the Energy Information Administration; it was $76.07 last month.

Sales and use tax revenue hit $614 million last month, the highest since January and up from $590 million in July 2022. That includes revenue that will be remitted to cities, which are dependent on it for services. Use taxes are those collected on out-of-state purchases. Individual and corporate income tax revenue hit $392.6 million, up 5.5% from July 2022.

More: As the school year begins, more funding and optimism along with challenges

Overall tax revenue slid somewhat in Oklahoma last month compared to a year earlier, but sales and income tax collections were strong.

Gov. Kevin Stitt announced this month that the states rainy day fund balance hit a record $1.3 billion after a deposit of $223 million from the General Revenue Fund, the main account for legislative appropriations. Revenue to the fund for the fiscal year that ended on June 30 was about $1.6 billion more than estimated and was nearly 6% higher than in the 2022 fiscal year.

Stitt said the boost to the Rainy Day Fund and continued growth in other savings accounts justified more tax cuts.

"Oklahomans know how to spend their money better than the government, so let's leave more in their pocket, said Stitt, who has asked the Legislature for the past two years to eliminate the state portion of the sales tax on groceries.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oil revenue plunges, but Oklahoma tax receipts show consumer strength
AUSTIN  Lawyers for Gov. Greg Abbott and the state of Texas have invoked the "invasion clause" of the U.S. Constitution in court documents seeking to keep the buoy barriers in the Rio Grande while the Justice Department's lawsuit plays itself out.

In a memorandum filed with the federal court in the Western District of Texas and signed by the top lawyer in the governor's office, the state argues that the sharp increase in unlawful border crossings and drug trafficking since 2020 is analogous to 18th century attacks by "smugglers" or an "Indian tribe."

Buoys used in the Rio Grande to stop unauthorized boarder crossings sit in a staging area along the river on Saturday, July 16, 2023, in Eagle Pass, Texas.

Texas retains sovereign authority to defend itself in the event of invasion," the court filing signed by Patrick K. Sweeten, Abbott's general counsel.

The document is the state's response to the Justice Department's request in late July that Judge David Alan Ezra order that the 1,000-foot string of large buoys that Abbott directed to be placed in the river near Eagle Pass be removed pending the outcome of the federal lawsuit.

More: Feds ask court to order removal of floating barrier from Rio Grande as lawsuit proceeds

The Justice Department has said that when the state of Texas installed the buoys it violated the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, which prohibits "the construction of any structure in or over any navigable water" without the approval of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The state's response disputes that assertion, saying the section of the Rio Grande where the buoys were placed is too shallow and too narrow to be considered navigable. And it says the buoys, which run parallel to the river's shoreline, do not obstruct any watercraft that might venture close to the string, that is anchored to the riverbed by concrete and a steel mesh.

The state's memorandum, dated Aug. 9, argues that the buoy system is needed to route would-be Rio Grande crossers to ports of entries that connect Texas to Mexico and to help combat the cartels that smuggle illegal drugs, especially often-deadly fentanyl, across the border.

"That buoy system is effective; it has nearly eliminated illegal crossings of people and drugs where it has been placed and will ultimately save lives." the memorandum states.

However, a September 2022 report by the conservative-leaning Cato Institute found that 90% of fentanyl seizures occur at legal points of entry and not from migrants attempting to enter the country unlawfully.

"The location of smuggling makes sense because hard drugs at ports of entry are about 97 percent less likely to be stopped than are people crossing illegally between them," the report says.

The report also said "fentanyl drug traffickers are overwhelmingly U.S. citizens, not illegal immigrants."

Additionally, the Justice Department last year found that San Diego, not Texas, was the "epicenter for fentanyl trafficking into the United States."

From October 2021 through June 2022, the Justice Department said, border and immigration authorities "seized 5,091 pounds of fentanyl  which amounts to about 60 percent of the 8,425 pounds of fentanyl seized around the entire country."

More: Two found dead in Rio Grande where Texas' floating barrier and razor wire sparked federal lawsuit

The buoys, which came at a cost of about $1 million and can be moved from place to place along the river, have been a source of controversy since they were installed. In early August, a body was discovered stuck to the floating devices.

It remains unclear whether the person's death could be directly attributed to the floating barriers, but Texas authorities have said the person likely drowned upstream and was carried by the river's current to the devices.

Ezra has yet to rule on the Justice Department's request that the buoys be removed, and not trial date has been set for the federal lawsuit and it remains uncertain when that date might be.

On Thursday, the lawyers for state of Texas asked that the judge give them until Nov. 1, or until 30 days after a ruling on temporarily removing the buoys to file their official response to the lawsuit that was brought on July 24.

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Abbott's lawyers: Buoys helping limit unlawful immigration 'invasion'
Thunderstorms that swept through the Kansas City area Sunday brought heavy rains that soaked the metro and surrounding areas, bringing record rainfall to some areas.

At Kansas City International Airport (MCI), 2.91 inches of rain fell, breaking the previous record of 2.71 for Aug. 13 set back in 2005, the National Weather Service in Kansas City said on X, formerly known on Twitter.

Because of the storms, Sunday became the 12th wettest day in Kansas City for any August day on record dating back to 1888, the weather service said.

The wettest August day was on Aug. 15, 1969, when 7.45 inches of rain fell, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Regional Climate Centers. In more recent history, the wettest August day was Aug. 21, 2017, when 4.08 inches of rain fell.

Record rainfall also was reported in St. Joseph. On Sunday, 3.26 inches of rain fell there, setting a new record for the wettest Aug. 13. The previous record was 2.87 inches set in 1982.

The 3.26 inches that fell today (Sunday) was also good enough for the 7th wettest for any August day on record in St. Joseph dating back to 1897, the weather service said on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter. The wettest August day was Aug. 24, 2007 when 4.12 inches of rain fell, according climate data.

Kansas City area rainfall totals

There were parts of the metro area that saw even higher rainfall totals, according to rainfall data from StormWatch.com, an early warning system for flash flooding that relies on remote weather stations through the Kansas city area.

Areas in Kansas Citys Northland saw more than 4 inches of rainfall, according StormWatch. A gauge along Rock Creak near Northeast Vivion Road and North Highland Avenue in Kansas City, North, reported that 4.26 inches of rain fell on Sunday.

Meanwhile, 4.22 inches of rain was reported along Mill Creek at North Palmer Street in Claycomo and 4.02 inches of rain along east fork of Shoal Creek near Missouri 152 highway in Kansas City North.

Rainfall totals across the metro included 3.06 inches of rain at the Wheeler Downtown Airport, also setting a record for daily rainfall; 1.72 inches at Lees Summit Municipal Airport and NewCentury AirCenter in Johnson County; 1.46 inches in Sedalia; and 1.05 inches at Johnson County Executive Airport.

The heavy rains caused some minor flooding concerns along Fishing River near Mosby, Missouri. A flood warning for the area was canceled Sunday night.

A flood warning for the Platte River near the village of Agency in Buchanan County, Missouri, remains in effect until Wednesday morning. Minor flooding is occurring.

At 3:30 a.m. Monday, the river was at 20.1 feet and was expected to crest at 21 feet Monday afternoon. Flood stage is 20 feet and low lying areas east of agency were beginning to flood.

Drier and cooler weather is expected for the work week, with temperatures on Monday and Tuesday being in the mid-70s, about 10 to 15 degrees below normal. Conditions are expected to return to near normal by the end of the week, the weather service said.
Editors note: This article was first published in KFF Health News, a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. It is one of the core operating programs at KFF  the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism.

Gary Flook served in the Air Force for 37 years, as a firefighter at the now-closed Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois and the former Grissom Air Force Base in Indiana, where he regularly trained with aqueous film forming foam, or AFFF  a frothy white fire retardant that is highly effective but now known to be toxic.

Flook volunteered at his local fire department, where he also used the foam, unaware of the health risks it posed. In 2000, at age 45, he received devastating news: He had testicular cancer, which would require an orchiectomy followed by chemotherapy.

Hundreds of lawsuits, including one by Flook, have been filed against companies that make firefighting products and the chemicals used in them.

And multiple studies show that firefighters, both military and civilian, have been diagnosed with testicular cancer at higher rates than people in most other occupations, often pointing to the presence of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in the foam.

But the link between PFAS and testicular cancer among service members was never directly proven  until now.

A new federal study for the first time shows a direct association between PFOS, a PFAS chemical, found in the blood of thousands of military personnel and testicular cancer.

Using banked blood drawn from Air Force servicemen, researchers at the National Cancer Institute and Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences found strong evidence that airmen who were firefighters had elevated levels of PFAS in their bloodstreams and weaker evidence for those who lived on installations with high levels of PFAS in the drinking water. And the airmen with testicular cancer had higher serum levels of PFOS than those who had not been diagnosed with cancer, said study co-author Mark Purdue, a senior investigator at NCI.

To my knowledge, Purdue said, this is the first study to measure PFAS levels in the U.S. military population and to investigate associations with a cancer endpoint in this population, so that brings new evidence to the table.

In a commentary in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, Kyle Steenland, a professor at Emory Universitys Rollins School of Public Health, said the research provides a valuable contribution to the literature, which he described as rather sparse in demonstrating a link between PFAS and testicular cancer.

More studies are needed, he said, as is always the case for environmental chemicals.

Not just soap and water

Old stocks of AFFF that contained PFOS were replaced in the past few decades by foam that contains newer-generation PFAS, which now also are known to be toxic. By congressional order, the Department of Defense must stop using all PFAS-containing foams by October 2024, though it can keep buying them until this October. Thats decades after the military first documented the chemicals potential health concerns.

A DoD study in 1974 found that PFAS was fatal to fish. By 1983, an Air Force technical report showed its deadly effects on mice.

But given its effectiveness in fighting extremely hot fires, like aircraft crashes and shipboard blazes, the Defense Department still uses it in operations. Rarely, if ever, had the military warned of its dangers, according to Kevin Ferrara, a retired Air Force firefighter, as well as several military firefighters who contacted KFF Health News.

We were told that it was just soap and water, completely harmless, Ferrara said. We were completely slathered in the foam  hands, mouth, eyes. It looked just like if you were going to fill up your sink with dish soap.

Fire-retardant foam was unintentionally released in an aircraft hangar at Travis Air Force Base in California on Sept. 24, 2013. The non-hazardous foam is similar to dish soap, says the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. No people or aircraft were harmed in the incident. (Ken Wright/Air Force)

Photos released by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service in 2013 show personnel working in the foam without protective gear. The description calls the small sea of fire retardant foam at Travis Air Force Base in California non-hazardous and similar to soap.

No people or aircraft were harmed in the incident, it reads.

There are thousands of PFAS chemicals, invented in the 1940s to ward off stains and prevent sticking in industrial and household goods. Along with foam used for decades by firefighters and the military, the chemicals are in makeup, nonstick cookware, water-repellent clothing, rugs, food wrappers, and a myriad of other consumer goods.

Known as forever chemicals, they do not break down in the environment and do accumulate in the human body. Researchers estimate that nearly all Americans have PFAS in their blood, exposed primarily by groundwater, drinking water, soil, and foods. A recent U.S. Geological Survey study estimated that at least 45% of U.S. tap water has at least one type of forever chemical from both private wells and public water supplies.

Health and environmental concerns associated with the chemicals have spurred a cascade of lawsuits, plus state and federal legislation that targets the manufacturers and sellers of PFAS-laden products. Gary Flook is suing 3M and associated companies that manufactured PFAS and the firefighting foam, including DuPont and Kidde-Fenwal.

Congress has prodded the Department of Defense to clean up military sites and take related health concerns more seriously, funding site inspections for PFAS and mandating blood testing for military firefighters. Advocates argue those actions are not enough.

How long has [DoD] spent on this issue without any real results except for putting some filters on drinking water? said Jared Hayes, a senior policy analyst at the Environmental Working Group. When it comes to cleaning up the problem, we are in the same place we were years ago.

On a mission to get screening

The Department of Veterans Affairs does not recommend blood testing for PFAS, stating on its website that blood tests cannot be linked to current or future health conditions or guide medical treatment decisions.

But that could change soon. Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Mich.), co-chair of the congressional PFAS Task Force, in June introduced the Veterans Exposed to Toxic PFAS Act, which would require the VA to treat conditions linked to exposure and provide disability benefits for those affected, including for testicular cancer.

The last thing [veterans] and their families need to go through is to fight with VA to get access to benefits we promised them when they put that uniform on, Kildee said.

Evidence is strong that exposure to PFAS is associated with health effects such as decreased response to vaccines, kidney cancer, and low birth weight, according to an expansive, federally funded report published last year by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The nonprofit institution recommended blood testing for communities with high exposure to PFAS, followed by health screenings for those above certain levels.

It also said that, based on limited evidence, there is moderate confidence of an association between exposure and thyroid dysfunction, preeclampsia in pregnant women, and breast and testicular cancers.

The new study of Air Force servicemen published July 17 goes further, linking PFAS exposure directly to testicular germ cell tumors, which make up roughly 95% of testicular cancer cases.

Testicular cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among young adult men. It is also the type of cancer diagnosed at the highest rate among active military personnel, most of whom are male, ages 18 to 40, and in peak physical condition.

That age distribution and knowing AFFF was a source of PFAS contamination drove Purdue and USUHS researcher Jennifer Rusiecki to investigate a possible connection.

Using samples from the Department of Defense Serum Repository, a biobank of more than 62 million blood serum specimens from service members, the researchers examined samples from 530 troops who later developed testicular cancer and those of 530 members of a control group. The blood had been collected between 1988 and 2017.

A second sampling collected four years after the first samples were taken showed the higher PFOS concentrations positively associated with testicular cancer.

Ferrara does not have testicular cancer, though he does have other health concerns he attributes to PFAS, and he worries for himself and his fellow firefighters. He recalled working at Air Combat Command headquarters at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia in the early 2010s and seeing emails mentioning two types of PFAS chemicals: PFOS and perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA.

But employees on the base remained largely unfamiliar with the jumble of acronyms, Ferrara said.

Even as the evidence grew that the chemicals in AFFF were toxic, we were still led to believe that its perfectly safe, Ferrara said. They kept putting out vague and cryptic messages, citing environmental concerns.

When Ferrara was working a desk job at Air Combat Command and no longer fighting fires, his exposure likely continued: Joint Base Langley-Eustis is among the top five most PFAS-contaminated military sites, according to the EWG, with groundwater at the former Langley Air Force Base registering 2.2 million parts per trillion for PFOS and PFOA.

According to the EPA, just 40 parts per trillion would warrant further attention, such as testing and amelioration.

The Defense Department did not provide comment on the new study.

Air Force officials told KFF Health News that the service has swapped products and no longer allows uncontrolled discharges of firefighting foam for maintenance, testing, or training.

The Department of the Air Force has replaced Aqueous Film Forming Foam, which contained PFAS, with a foam that meets Environmental Protection Agency recommendations at all installations, the Air Force said in a statement provided to KFF Health News.

Both older-generation forever chemicals are no longer made in the U.S. 3M, the main manufacturer of PFOS, agreed to start phasing it out in 2000. In June, the industrial giant announced it would pay at least $10.3 billion to settle a class-action suit.

Alarmed over what it perceived as the Defense Departments unwillingness to address PFAS contamination or stop using AFFF, Congress in 2019 ordered DoD to offer annual testing for all active-duty military firefighters and banned the use of PFAS foam by 2024.

According to data provided by DoD, among more than 9,000 firefighters who requested the tests in fiscal year 2021, 96% had at least one of two types of PFAS in their blood serum, with PFOS being the most commonly detected at an average level of 3.1 nanograms per milliliter.

Readings between 2 and 20 ng/mL carry concern for adverse effects, according to the national academies. In that range, it recommends people limit additional exposure and screen for high cholesterol, breast cancer, and, if pregnant, high blood pressure.

According to DoD, 707 active and former defense sites are contaminated with PFAS or have had suspected PFAS discharges. The department is in the early stages of a decades-long testing and cleaning process.

More than 3,300 lawsuits have been filed over AFFF and PFAS contamination; beyond 3Ms massive settlement, DuPont and other manufacturers reached a $1.185 billion agreement with water utility companies in June.

Attorneys general from 22 states have urged the court to reject the 3M settlement, saying in a filing July 26 it would not adequately cover the damage caused.

For now, many firefighters, like Ferrara, live with anxiety that their blood PFAS levels may lead to cancer. Flook declined to speak to KFF Health News because he is part of the 3M class-action lawsuit. The cancer wreaked havoc on his marriage, robbing him and his wife, Linda, of affection, assistance, and conjugal fellowship, according to the lawsuit.

Congress is again trying to push the Pentagon. This year, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) reintroduced the PFAS Exposure Assessment and Documentation Act, which would require DoD to test all service members  not just firefighters  stationed at installations with known or suspected contamination as part of their annual health checkups as well as family members and veterans.

The tests, which arent covered by the military health program or most insurers, typically cost from $400 to $600.

In June, Kildee said veterans have been stymied in getting assistance with exposure-related illnesses that include PFAS.

For too long, the federal government has been too slow to act to deal with the threat posed by PFAS exposure, Kildee said. This situation is completely unacceptable.

Fire-retardant foam temporarily covered a small portion of the flight line at Travis Air Force Base in California after it was released inside a hangar on Sept. 24, 2013. (Ken Wright/Air Force)
(Bloomberg) -- UK health authorities and civil servants repeatedly warned Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks government about the potential for an infectious disease outbreak on board a vessel holding asylum seekers, people familiar with the matter said.

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The warnings were given before the British government last week moved the first 39 asylum seekers into the Bibby Stockholm barge moored off the south coast of England  only to be forced to evacuate within days after traces of the Legionella bacteria were detected, according to the people, who requested anonymity discussing internal advice.

The Home Office said in a statement that it had worked with the UK Health Security Agency to ensure appropriate health and safety arrangements are in place.

Tests for the bacteria were carried out before the migrants were moved to the barge, but the results were only communicated to ministers afterward, Sunaks spokesman, Max Blain, told reporters on Monday. He said the tests were precautionary and there was no requirement to wait for the results before allowing people to move into the accommodation.

The incident is an embarrassment for Sunak and Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who are struggling to deliver on a pledge he made to stop the boats full of asylum seekers crossing the English Channel from France, one of five key promises he made to voters in January. His government has sought to project the threat of being put on a vessel as a deterrent to future arrivals.

The policy of housing asylum seekers on barges was previously rejected by former Prime Minister Boris Johnsons home secretary, Priti Patel, as too expensive, an insufficient deterrent and a risk to the health of the occupants.

Officials at the Home Office advised ministers on several occasions that putting migrants on ships or barges would mean a risk of them contracting infectious diseases, according to people familiar with the matter. The officials were concerned that the department could be sued by asylum seekers if they became ill while living in government accommodation.

Vessels have been used safely and successfully by Scottish and Dutch governments recently, the Home Office said. We will continue to follow all health advice when using the barge and other sites to house asylum seekers.

Their concerns centered on the heightened risk of keeping people in confined spaces at sea, something which the Covid pandemic had shown to increase the chances of infection, the people said. They were also worried about the dangers to the asylum seekers themselves as they tend to have poorer health outcomes, especially in the wake of various scabies breakouts at other migrant housing facilities, they added.

The UKHSA had advised the Home Office on a range of health protection issues on board the Bibby Stockholm prior to it coming into use, one of the people said.

Infectious diseases were one of the risks flagged, and the UKHSA had agreed with the Home Office that it should be allowed to inspect the vessel once the migrants were on board, to ensure it complied with health and safety guidance on infectious diseases. The Home Office is responsible for the health of migrants in its care, the person said.

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As flames engulfed Maui homes in a deadly blaze, lifelong resident Jubee Bedoya had nowhere else to go.

We were trapped, Bedoya told KNBC. There was nothing we could do. That fire and wind just came so fast. There was nothing anybody could do.

The lifelong Lahaina resident dashed for the Pacific Ocean for shelter from the flames, he told Today.

As Bedoya ran past vehicles stopped in traffic, a father visiting Hawaii handed him his 2-year-old son and the family of five joined him in the ocean, he told KNBC.

When youre in that situation of life and death, you dont care whos around, Bedoya told the station. You just want to try to help anybody.

The family and Bedoya spent hours clinging to a piece of plywood in the ocean as Lahaina burned, he told Today.

As we were in the water, we heard people screaming, Bedoya said. They were among several others who also escaped the blaze by fleeing into the ocean and were later rescued.

The current was pulling us out, Mike Cicchino told Today. You cant see anything. At one point, we have fire on us, and we dont know where land is.

The death toll from the devastating Maui wildfires stands at 96 as of Aug. 14, but searches continue, The Washington Post reported. It is the nations most lethal fire in the past 50 years.

More than 2,700 structures with an estimated value of $5.6 billion were destroyed in historic Lahaina, CBS News reported.

Hawaii officials warned tourists to stay away from Maui as hotel rooms are needed to house survivors, the Associated Press reported.

Everybody has their story, and everybody lost something, J.P. Mayoga told the publication. So everybody can be there for each other, and they understand whats going on in each others lives.

Newsom sends California search-and-rescue teams to Hawaii in wake of deadly Maui wildfires

Maui wildfires: Whats happened so far, how to help and travel information for tourists

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A man has been arrested after a bank on Pittsburghs North Shore was robbed last Tuesday.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Police searching for suspect after North Shore bank robbery

According to Pittsburgh police, Dwayne Russell Harvey, 55, was arrested Monday for the robbery at Citizens Bank on Isabella Street.

Harvey was also wanted in connection to a robbery at Huntington Bank in North Versailles on July 28.

He is charged with robbery and theft by unlawful taking and is now in the Allegheny County Jail.

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A routine traffic stop led to the arrest of a man accused of forgery, identity theft, and possessing multiple stolen credit cards.

On June 29, an officer with the Gwinnett County Police Department made a traffic stop on a driver after the officer says he observed the man using his cell phone while driving.

During the traffic stop, the officer saw the driver had multiple credit cards with various other names than his own.

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Multiple deposit receipts and images of checks were also discovered.

The driver, Charles Clay, 22, was arrested and interviewed by a fraud detective before being booked into the Gwinnett County Jail.

He is charged with driving without a valid license, failure to exercise due care (Georgias hands-free driving law), seat belt violation, and financial transaction card theft.

After Clay bonded out of jail, the lead detective continued his investigation into the financial transaction card fraud by obtaining bank records and surveillance video.

Nine additional arrest warrants were secured for Clay.

They include three counts of financial transaction card fraud, three counts of forgery 3rd degree, three counts of identity fraud.

Clays location is currently unknown.

Detectives are asking for the publics help in locating him.

If you have information to share, you are urged to contact GCPD detectives at 770-513-5300.

You can also remain anonymous and submit a tip to Atlanta Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477).

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The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office is seeking information on the location of 34-year-old Jairo Oquely Mena Guifarro, a white man with an active warrant for attempted murder and armed burglary. He is known to drive a silver Toyota pickup truck.

Anyone who has seen or knows the whereabouts of this suspect is asked to contact the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office at 904-630-0500 or email them at JSOCrimeTips@jaxsheriff.org. To remain anonymous and receive a possible cash reward you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS or text **8477.
FILE - Supporters of a radical Islamist party 'Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan' burn the representation of Swedish flag during a rally to denounce burning of Islam's holy book 'Quran', in Karachi, Pakistan, on July 7, 2023. A senior Swedish official said Monday Aug. 14, 2023 Swedes abroad and businesses linked to Swedenshould observe increased vigilance and caution, following recent Quran burnings in the country and protests in the Muslim world. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP)  A senior Swedish official said Monday Swedes abroad and businesses linked to Swedenshould observe increased vigilance and caution, following recent Quran burnings in the country and protests in the Muslim world.

Henrik Landerholm, Swedens National Security Adviser, said there are signs of a heightened threat" to the country and to Swedish interests abroad, adding the security situation has worsened.

In a statement, Landerholm said that representatives of terrorist groups have called for attacks against Sweden. States and other actors have helped amplify such messages. He said extremists who previously considered Sweden a legitimate target" now consider it a priority." The statement did not identify those involved.

Landerholm said there also were indications" that groups are planning other acts against Swedish interests abroad, and cited the storming of Swedens Embassy in Baghdad last month and an attempted attack on the diplomatic mission in Beirut last week.

The Swedish government and relevant authorities are monitoring developments, taking a variety of measures and working closely with international partners to protect Swedes and Swedish interests abroad and to counteract the hate messages being spread about Sweden," he said,

This month, Sweden stepped up border controls and identity checks at crossing points.

A recent string of public Quran desecrations by a handful of anti-Islam activists in Sweden  and more recently in neighboring Denmark -- has sparked angry demonstrations in Muslim countries.

Sweden does not have a law specifically prohibiting the burning or desecration of the Quran or other religious texts. Like many Western countries, it doesnt have any blasphemy laws; Swedens were abandoned in the 1970s.

The right to hold public demonstration s is protected by the Swedish Constitution. Police generally give permission based on whether they believe a public gathering can be held without major disruptions or risks to public safety.

Swedish officials repeatedly have condemned the desecrations and have also debunked claims that the government in Sweden grants permission for people to burn Islams sacred text or other religious books,

Last month, the Scandinavian countrys domestic security service SAPO said the overall security situation has deteriorated and said the risk of terrorism in Sweden remains at an elevated level.
Taiwan will never back down in the face of growing threats from China, the islands vice president and presidential hopeful said Sunday during a transit through the United States, defying Beijings condemnation of his trip.

William Lai, a front-runner in Taiwans presidential race in January, made a stop in New York en route to Paraguay, where he will attend the inauguration of its new president Tuesday.

The South American country is one of only 13 states that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, a self-governing democracy that Chinas ruling Communist Party claims as its own territory despite having never controlled it.

In a speech to supporters at a lunch banquet in New York, Lai portrayed Taiwans long-term survival as something the international community should take an interest in.

When Taiwan is safe, the world is safe, and when there is peace on the Taiwan Strait, there will be world peace, Lai said, according to Taiwans presidential office.

No matter how great the threat of authoritarianism is to Taiwan, we absolutely will not be scared nor cower, we will uphold the values of democracy and freedom.

Lais comments came after Chinas foreign ministry condemned his stopover, calling Lai a trouble maker through and through.

It said China firmly opposes any official interaction between the US and Taiwan and any Taiwan independence separatists to the US.

Taiwan and the US have both said that Lais transits, including a stop in San Francisco on his way back Wednesday, are routine.

These transits of senior officials are unofficial, in keeping with our US One China policy, a senior administration official told CNN on July 16, calling such transits fairly common.

Lai last transited the US in January 2022.

Lai, 63, hails from the so-called deep green faction of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)  known for its more openly pro-independence leanings.

The Harvard-educated doctor-turned-politician has previously called himself a pragmatic worker for Taiwanese independence.

That has made him particularly loathed by Beijing, which has not renounced the use of force to take the self-ruled island.

Since winning the DPP nomination, however, Lai has adopted a more moderate line on China.

Under the leadership of Xi Jinping, Beijing has ramped up economic, diplomatic and military pressure on Taiwan, particularly after the 2016 election of President Tsai Ing-wen, who won a second term in 2020.

Under Taiwans constitution, Tsai cannot stand for a third term.

Taiwans election will take place in January and could have profound consequences for international relations at a time of intense scrutiny over whether Xi might one day follow through on his vow to reunite the island with China.

The DPPs historical challenger is the Kuomintang, a political outfit that was once the bitter enemy of Chinas Communist Party but has since morphed into a party that favors much closer relations with Beijing.

Trips to the US by Taiwans officials are referred to as transits instead of visits because the US does not have formal diplomatic relations with the government of Taiwan and the stopovers come as part of an unofficial trip en route to another destination.

In March, Taiwans President Tsai transited in California and met with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, despite warnings and threats from Beijing. Following Tsais trip, China launched three days of live-fire military drills around Taiwan.

CNNs Alex Stambaugh and Heather Chen contributed reporting.

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China has called Taiwan's vice president William Lai a "troublemaker" for his ongoing visit to the US.

Mr Lai, a frontrunner in Taiwan's upcoming presidential election, visited the US on his way to Paraguay.

Beijing, which considers Taiwan a breakaway province, has increasingly voiced its disapproval of meetings between US and Taiwanese lawmakers.

China on Sunday accused Washington of engaging Taiwan in political activities under the guise of a stopover.

Mr Lai, a candidate of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was in New York over the weekend. He gave a speech at an informal gathering, pledging to protect Taiwan's sovereignty in the face of "authoritarianism". He is scheduled to also stop in San Francisco on his way back to Taiwan later this week.

The visit from the 63-year-old former doctor, who has previously called himself a "pragmatic worker for Taiwanese independence", comes at a low point in US-China relations. Taiwan has emerged as the biggest flashpoint between the two countries.

Taipei has said Beijing is most likely to conduct military drills near the island this week.

It's "very likely" within days of Mr Lai's return, said David Gitter, a non-resident fellow at the National Bureau of Asian Research.

He said it was a "a boundary that Beijing once rarely crossed but has done so with increased frequency since [then US House Speaker Nancy] Pelosi's trip last year".

Her visit in August 2022 saw China launch its largest ever military exercises in the waters around Taiwan. Then in April this year, Beijing again responded with drills to a meeting between Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California.

Ms Tsai's earlier visits to the US - in 2015 and 2020, both of which were months before she was elected president - also led to a show of military might on the part of Beijing.

The ostensible reason for Mr Lai's visit is that he's representing President Tsai at the swearing-in ceremony for Paraguay's newly elected president, Santiago Pena. Paraguay is one of only 13 countries that continues to maintain formal ties with Taiwan

But it's also the moment when Mr Lai steps out on to the international stage, ahead of a crucial election.

China, which views Mr Lai as a Taiwan independence advocate, probably does not want him to win the election next year. However, it's widely believed that Beijing's hard-line tactics against President Tsai ahead of the 2020 election backfired, helping her to secure re-election.

This time China has a difficult path to tread. While it wants to show its disapproval, it is keen to do so without boosting Mr Lai's image and his message. Instead, analysts say, it may turn up the volume on military intrusions around Taiwan.

But the average number of intrusions per week is already higher compared to last year. And that rate is being sustained by Beijing, which has made so-called "grey zone warfare" - the use of tactics that fall short of qualifying as armed conflict - the new normal, wearing down Taiwan's defences, exhausting its personnel and wearing out its aircraft.

Some analysts have warned that Mr Lai's remarks may further escalate tensions between Washington and Taipei.

Mr Lai said that only Taiwan's people can decide their future, and that Taiwan and China are "not subordinate to each other". He also stressed that he was "very willing" to talk to China to seek peace and stability - common rhetoric in the run-up to the election, as candidates look to gather support without angering Beijing.

Though the US severed formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1979, it has remained a close ally, selling billions of dollars worth of arms under the Taiwan Relations Act, which states that the US must provide the island with the means to defend itself.

Taiwan regards itself as distinct from mainland China, with its own laws and a democratically elected government. But Beijing, especially under Xi Jinping, has vowed to take the island, by force if necessary.
TAMPA  The sunshine-yellow streetcars that rumble between downtown Tampa and Ybor City have evolved from an oft-disparaged tourist attraction into one of the regions few reliable public transit options for those lucky enough to benefit from their 2.7-mile footprint.

Free to ride for about five years, the line welcomed more riders last month than any in its modern history.

But the routes fare-free status hangs in the balance.

The TECO Line Streetcar, owned by the city of Tampa and operated by the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority, may resume charging fares if a pending application to the state proves unsuccessful.

Weve all known that this day was coming when the state grant would run out, Justin Willits, director of planning and scheduling for Hillsboroughs transit agency, told the Tampa Bay Times. Our contingency plan is to try to reduce the cost of our services but also, maybe, reimplement a fare.

Reducing operational costs could involve increasing wait times from 12-15 minutes to 20 minutes, he said.

Hillsboroughs transit agency  facing a dire financial situation, according to interim CEO Scott Drainville  is running out of money to provide the current service free to passengers.

The agency has relied on a state subsidy to keep the streetcar service free since 2018, with a $2.7 million grant from the Florida Department of Transportation. Since 2021, the department has contributed another $700,000 annually to maintain the fare-free status, alongside Community Redevelopment Areas and the city of Tampa providing a 50% match. Now, that grant is coming to an end.

The agency awaits a response to a grant application submitted to the department in June.

We are currently working with HART staff to make some necessary changes to the application, regional department spokesperson Kris Carson said in a statement. We will consider the application for funding along with other grant applications that we have received.

To keep the streetcar fare-free long term, Carson added, Tampa will need to find a continuing funding source.

Willits said if the grant application falls through, the earliest riders could see fares is late this year or early next year.

Before the state subsidy began, streetcar fares were $2.50 one way or $5 for a day pass. At least 75% of current riders would still use the service if there was a fare, according to a Tampa Downtown Partnership survey.

This June and July, over 316,000 riders used the service. Thats 14,000 more than in all of 2018  the year the service became free to ride, Oct. 7.

Earlier this month, Mayor Jane Castor unveiled her $1.92 billion 2024 budget proposal, which includes the citys first property tax rate increase in five years. The budget includes historic investment in city infrastructure, she said, including sidewalk maintenance, street repaving and the replacement of traffic signs  but not for the streetcar.

My preference is to make all transit free, Castor recently told the Times.

When asked Monday afternoon why, then, the mayors proposed budget did not include funding for the streetcar, city communications director Adam Smith said staff were not available to provide an answer by deadline. But, he added, the mayor wants the service to remain free to ride.

In Hillsborough County and communities across the country, one-time federal cash injections during the pandemic are running out, leaving transit agencies facing a rocky road ahead.

Your COVID relief funds will be spent down sooner than wed been assuming, Amanda Vandegrift of InfraStrategies, a management consulting firm hired to conduct a deep dive into the Hillsborough transit agencys financial strategy, told board members earlier this year.

In fiscal year 2023, the Downtown Community Redevelopment Area contributed $270,000 to the streetcar, the Channel District CRA gave $265,000, and the Ybor City CRA gave $225,000. HART expects to receive a total of $1.35 million from local governments for the streetcar this year, Juston Lafler, director of budgets and grants at Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority, said at the agencys Monday board meeting.

Beyond fares, the streetcars route also faces an uncertain future.

In December 2020, the streetcar secured a $67.3 million grant from the Florida Department of Transportation  the most for any transit project in the regions history. But more than two years later, the city has been unable to produce the local match needed to secure the state funding to help modernize the streetcar and extend the line north into Tampa Heights.

That money is still sitting untouched, waiting for Tampa to show it has sufficient local funds to match the states.

The states department of transportation has agreed to defer the money for another year, giving Castors administration until next summer to provide a local funding match.
The News

Donald Trump is sending a parade of MAGA celebrities to keep himself the main focus at the Iowa State Fair this week.

The efforts began on day one: Ahead of the former presidents trip, Kari Lake spent a few days on the ground stumping for Trump. Texas Rep. Wesley Hunt hit the ground running on Sunday, and a Trump campaign staffer told Semafor they also plan to bring in former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker, Sen. Eric Schmitt of Missouri, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene throughout next week.

The Trump campaign told Semafor it has more than 30 campaign staff working at the fair from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. The crew has handed out branded swag, including 60,000 beer koozies, and yard signs, while distributing pamphlets hammering DeSantis record on issues dear to Iowans. Theyve also been pushing pledge cards to potential caucus goers, while the campaign has used geotagging to target fairgoers with smartphone ads.

On Saturday, Trumps campaign also left a parting gift that would ensure he remained top of mind for potential voters: Over $20,000 for food and drinks at two popular on-site restaurants. At one of the locations, wristbands for free drinks were still being used well into the night, and a screen advertised a MAGA Meal Deal.

The Trump teams aggression has occasionally grated on the fairs administrators and Governor Kim Reynolds Iowa nice motto. On Thursday, pro-Trump canvassers collecting signatures at the fair were temporarily booted from the grounds, prompting complaints from Trumps campaign to Reynolds aides.

Shelby and David's View

There are two ways to look at Trumps state fair strategy.

On the one hand, his campaign recognizes that hes leading in the polls, and feels entitled to skip most of the formal political events that other campaigns have had to slog through  even the 30-minute FairSide Chats organized by Gov. Reynolds.

On the other, the ground game at the event showed how Trump isnt taking Iowa  where his polling lead over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is somewhat smaller than it is nationally  for granted. His two-hour appearance (which included stops at the popular Pork Tent, the Animal Learning Center, and the Steer n Stein) was clearly designed to suck away attention from opponents. It largely succeeded thanks to a heavy dose of trolling aimed at his top rival.

Trump arrived at the event with an entourage of Florida lawmakers well-known to conservative media. As DeSantis flipped burgers, Trumps private plane strategically flew overhead, distracting fairgoers who turned to take photos and videos of the moment. A Trump aide also confirmed that the campaign was responsible for a smaller plane that flew above the fair throughout the day with a banner reading Be Likable, Ron!

By the time DeSantis wrapped up, a crowd of pro-Trump attendees had gathered, and chants of we love Trump broke out around him as he exited the building. And at the Steer n Stein, Trump let his endorsers do most of the talking, praising his record and dunking on his opponents.

The other candidates came here  they had, like, six people! Trump boasted.

The drop-in show, which brought out thousands of curious onlookers and supporters, fueled more Trump-focused questions to his rivals, reminding campaigns just how centered the Republican race is around the frontrunner.

The media loves to talk about Trump, Nikki Haley told reporters as she moved through the fair. That is what they are talking about. Americans are not talking about Trump.

Meanwhile, new developments in the Hunter Biden investigation prompted Trumps opponents to echo his long-held argument that the legal system is rigged against him

If youre connected to the DC ruling class, you can get away with a lot, DeSantis told voters at a stop in Panora, on his way to the fair. If youre somebody that the DC ruling class doesnt like, man, theyll nail you for jaywalking.

Room for Disagreement

Despite all the fanfare, we are seeing some evidence of what rival campaigns have been arguing for months: That there is significant interest in a Trump alternative.

Kevin OKeefe, whod driven five hours from South Dakota to hear Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. speak, said that hed voted for Trump in 2020, but had doubts about how hed behave in a second term. And Chad Ferris, who came to hear Vivek Ramaswamy speak, said that he loved Trump but worried about how many enemies hed made  and how theyd treat him in a return to power.

I feel like, if he gets elected, well go nowhere, because theyll keep trying to pin him down, said Ferris, 51. Our countrys got to move forward, and we need someone in there who can do that.
Parks

A teenager accused of shooting and killing a Shelby teen asked that he be assigned a bond after being held in jail for eight months without one.

Nineteen-year-old Dontarius Cansler stood beside his attorney, John Bridges, who said the young man has a lot of family support, and he asked Superior Court Judge Robert Ervin to assign a $250,000 bond.

Cansler is one of six charged in connection to the shooting death of Jemari Parks.

Parks, of Shelby, was outside a house in the 1900 block of Petty Road in Kingstown, at about 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, when a vehicle pulled up, shots were fired, and Parks was struck twice. He was taken to Atrium Health Cleveland where he died from his injuries.

A total of six teenagers have been arrested in connection with the incident, three of them whose names havent been released because they are juveniles.

While there were several people in the car from which investigators say shots were fired, Assistant District Attorney Rick Shaffer said in court that Cansler was the shooter and ring leader.

He asked that the judge either continue to have Cansler held without bond or to assign one no lower than $1 million.

Ervin ultimately assigned a $1.5 million bond and electronic monitoring.

Canslers hearing was on Thursday. His codefendant, Tyquavious Johnson, 19, was in court Wednesday. He was also asking to be assigned a bond which was set at $750,000.

A third defendant, Nyjrek Chatman, 19, Gaffney, South Carolina, is also being held in Cleveland County jail without bond.

In addition to the murder charge, each of the three teens is charged with discharging a weapon into an occupied property and felony conspiracy.

Cansler is also charged with resisting a public officer.

Johnson is also charged with financial card fraud.

According to his obituary, Parks graduated high school early and was working in Cleveland County.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Teen charged with murder asks judge to set bond
A teenager came home after her mom wasnt responding to her calls and found her shot dead, Nevada police told news outlets.

At 12:24 p.m. on Aug. 13, Las Vegas police were dispatched to a home after a mother was found shot in her bedroom, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

The girl who found her mom was staying at a friends house but went home to check on her mom, according to FOX 5. The womans other daughter was asleep in another room during the shooting.

The other teen daughter and neighbors didnt hear anything, the outlet reported.

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel, according to KTNV.

Police are looking for the womans husband of 20 years, the outlet reported.

The husband is a person of interest and the couple has a history of domestic violence altercations, according to KLAS.

McClatchy News reached out to police on Aug. 14 for more information and was awaiting a response.

Police ask anyone with information to call 702-828-3521, KLAS reported.

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The body of a Saratoga teenager who vanished without trace more than a month ago has been found near the wreck of a car that plunged into a ravine in northern California, her mother says.

Katie Schneider, 17, was last seen on 5 July when she left her home in Saratoga, west of San Jose, in her white Honda Accord, sparking a desperate search.

Ms Schneiders car was found last week about 20 miles west of her home in Castle Rock State Park, and human remains were found nearby on 12 August, according to the Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office.

Ms Schneiders mother Nola Schneider said in an Instagram post the family had been informed by authorities that the remains belonged to her daughter.

Its with heavy hearts that we must announce the devastating news that our beloved Katie Schneider has passed away in a car accident, Ms Scheider wrote.

At this time, the circumstances surrounding the heartbreaking incident are still under investigation.

Human remains found in search for missing California teenager Katie Schneider (Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office)

In a separate statement on a dedicated Facebook page, Ms Schneiders family described her as a bright light that brought emotional vibrancy to our everyday lives.

She radiated authenticity, thoughtfulness, a great sense of humor, and an unyielding determination. She taught us all how to live our biggest life without reservation.

The family asked for privacy as they grieve her loss.

The family thanked the efforts of law enforcement, federal agencies, private investigators and friends who had helped to locate her.

They also thanked the Finding Kids non-profit and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Kids.

Family confirmed that human remains found near a crashed vehicle belonged to missing teen Katie Schneider (Facebook / Finding Katie Schneider)

Search and rescue crews had been combing areas of an isolated stretch of Highway 35 near the Castle Rock State Park for weeks for any sign of Ms Schneider.

Deputies from Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties were all involved in the search with some crews using ropes to access the rugged terrain.

In an Instagram post to mark the one month anniversary of her disappearance, Nola Schneider wrote that the family was closely following the advice of law enforcement.

We continue to work closely with law enforcement and have delayed going public in part because we wished to honor their efforts to find Katie, wrote Nola Schneider.

At the same time, because Katie is a shy, introverted child, we have tried to protect her privacy, and to do whatever we can to find her.

According to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, there are 3,343 active missing person cases in California.
ARLINGTON, VA - APRIL 22, 2018: The graves of U.S. veterans and their spouses fill Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C. In the background is the historic Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial, the former home of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. (Photo by Robert Alexander/Getty Images)

It might surprise some readers who have never visited Arlington National Cemetery that the site has a Confederate section, just as it has a section set aside for the graves of dead from other wars. The Confederate section is section 16, in Stonewall Jackson Circle. It looks a lot like other sections, but there are a few noticeable differences.

First, the Confederate gravestones arent rounded across the top, like those of Union veterans and other American war graves. Confederate markers are pointed on top. The graves are also not arranged in neat, packed rows. Instead, they are in concentric circles around the center of the circle.

Whats in the center of the circle is the controversial Confederate Memorial, and that memorial is the latest target of the Naming Commission, the Congressionally-mandated board that has reviewed Department of Defense assets for honoring Confederate battles, individuals and the Confederacy itself. Since 2021, it has been directing the Secretary of Defense to remove those assets, such as plaques, battle streamers and statues.

The Confederate Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery is due to be removed and relocated as a part of the Naming Commissions directive. Before it can be moved, the cemetery is asking for public commentary for the next 30 days, to get input on "alternatives that will avoid, minimize or mitigate adverse effects of the monument's removal."

Its a monument that has a long history, and is steeped in controversy. After the Spanish-American War of 1898, President William McKinley toured the American South and was shown the graves of Confederate veterans, which he found to be in terrible condition. He decided he would allow the Federal government to start taking care of the graves.

Confederate Memorial, Arlington Cemetery ca. 1910-1920. (Photo by: HUM Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

The war had revived a sense of national unity in the decades after the end of Reconstruction and some of the deep wounds had healed. So when McKinley was presented with a petition to create a Confederate section of the cemetery and allow the scattered graves of Confederates to be moved to the new section, he approved the measure.

Congress passed the appropriate legislation in 1900, and fundraising and planning began in 1904. The designer, a Confederate veteran and renowned sculptor Moses Jacob Ezekiel, created a 32-foot-tall bronze statue of a woman holding a laurel wreath, a plow stock and a pruning hook. The woman, representing the South, however, isnt controversial. The 32 figures depicted on the base are much more controversial.

According to the cemeterys website, Two of these figures are portrayed as African American: an enslaved woman depicted as a Mammy, holding the infant child of a white officer, and an enslaved man following his owner to war. An inscription of the Latin phrase Victrix causa diis placuit sed victa Caton (The victorious cause was pleasing to the gods, but the lost cause to Cato) construes the Souths secession as a noble Lost Cause. This narrative of the Lost Cause, which romanticized the pre-Civil War South and denied the horrors of slavery, fueled white backlash against Reconstruction and the rights that the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments (1865-1870) had granted to African Americans.

Regardless of the depictions on the base, the monument is honoring the Confederate States of America, and the Naming Commission ordered Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to remove it. There are, however, certain processes the facility must undergo before it can be removed. One of those is opening it up for public comment.

"The removal of the Confederate Memorial must be conducted in a manner that ensures the safety of the people who work at and visit ANC and that protects surrounding graves and monuments. The entire process, including disposition, must occur according to applicable laws, policies, and regulations," according to the notice on the Confederate Monument removal website.

To comment on the removal, visit the Arlington National Cemeterys Confederate Memorial Removal Website and fill out the form by Sept. 2, 2023.
An ex-Tennessee state senator who once introduced a bill to turn away the gays was sentenced to nearly two years in prison Friday. The Republican was found guilty of violating campaign finance laws while running for Congress.

In the Middle District of Tennessee, Brian Kelsey was sentenced to 21 months in prison after unsuccessfully pursuing to withdraw his guilty plea in March, the Associated Press reports. He'd called the investigation a "political witchh unt."

As part of Kelseys 2016 congressional campaign, he concealed a $91,000 contribution to a political organization supporting him.

The 45-year-olds attorney says he cannot run for state office anymore.

I do think theres a need to sentence you that sends a message for general deterrence, U.S. Judge Waverly Crenshaw said during the hearing.

A second conviction was handed down last week for Joshua Smith, 46, who owns a Nashville social club that Kelsey belonged to and was charged with conspiring with Kelsey. After pleading guilty to soliciting funds for Kelseys campaign in October, Smith was sentenced to five years probation.

A lawyer by trade, Kelsey was first elected to the General Assembly in 2004. His election to the state Senate in 2009 followed.

In addition to being barred from running for office in Tennessee, he has lost his law license. He must also surrender any firearms he owns.

According to the federal grand jury indictment, Kelsey funneled so-called soft money  i.e., funds not subject to federal limits or mandatory reporting  to a national campaign committee to benefit his election campaign.

He was accused of transferring $25,000 from a nonprofit that fought for legal justice and $66,000 from a state senatorial campaign to an organization that ran ads supporting him in 2016. According to the indictment, Kelseys campaign received $80,000 from the American Conservative Union.

Im truly sorry for the actions that led me here today, Kelsey said in court, according to the AP. I knew I was taking a risk and yet I did it anyway and in doing so, I broke the law.

In 2014, Kelsey sponsored a bill that allowed discrimination against gay people based on sincerely held beliefs. After receiving criticism for the measure, he withdrew his support, ABC News reported.
Aug. 14 (UPI) -- A 17-year-old Philadelphia youth has been charged in connection with a planned "catastrophic" terrorist attack by Islamic extremists that was thwarted by investigators, authorities announced Monday.

The teen was arrested by FBI SWAT officers at his residence in the Wynnefield section of Philadelphia on Friday and now faces a range of counts including charges related to weapons of mass destruction, according to Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner.

The juvenile is also facing charges of criminal conspiracy, arson, causing/risking catastrophe and attempt to commit criminal mischief, the DA said in a statement.

"The charges we have filed against this individual represent the most serious alleged terrorist activity prosecuted in Philadelphia County court in recent history," Krasner said. "We intend to pursue full accountability for these crimes and will continue to work vigilantly with our law enforcement partners to protect all of our communities from hateful, ideologically driven acts of violence."

"Protecting the United States from terrorist attacks is the FBI's number one priority, and I think it's very fair to say that lives were saved because of this investigation," added FBI Special Agent in Charge Jacqueline Maguire.

The exact nature of the alleged planned terror attack was not disclosed in the statement, but the teen is accused of having been in contact with "global terrorists," including Syria-based Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad, or KTJ, who last year was named by the U.S. State Department as a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist" with links to al-Qaida.

The U.S. holds KTJ responsible for carrying out a subway attack in St. Petersburg, Russia, in April 2017, which killed 14 passengers and injured 50 others, as well as a suicide car bombing of the Chinese embassy in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, in August 2016, which wounded three people.

Krasner said the Philadelphia suspect contacted KTJ through an Instagram account and is alleged to have received messages related to construction of improvised explosive devises.

Further, authorities said, the juvenile "purchased materials online such as chemical cleaners that are used to construct IEDs, as well as outdoor or tactical gear."

Customs agents recorded 14 international shipments of military and tactical gear to the juvenile's address, they said.
Tesla is the leading manufacturer of electric vehicles, and among many new improvements to its cars, you can now charge your EV with the Charge on Solar feature using excess energy produced by the Tesla solar panels on your house.

These panels can look like a regular roof, but they actually capture and store the suns energy, creating a more sustainable energy source while saving people money on energy bills.

Teslas solar panels, along with other renewable energy sources, sometimes produce too much energy for a home to use  which is where the Charge on Solar feature comes into play.

Using the feature, EVs are charged with a combination of grid power and excess solar energy, and users control when the car switches from being charged by both to being charged solely with excess energy, Electrek reported. Charging using both is faster if youre in a pinch, but if not, you can set it to use up as much excess energy as youd like.

So far, the feature is available to anyone in the U.S. or Canada, but it can only be used with Teslas Powerwalls and specific EVs. Over time, this will hopefully expand to include other EVs and renewable power sources.

The improvement not only makes charging easier, but according to Tesla, [it] maximizes the value of your homes solar system.

If you have solar panels, the excess energy typically goes to the power grid, and youll often receive a credit for it. However, this new method allows you to make use of the energy. Its all controlled by the Tesla app, so its simple and convenient to use and represents another step toward environmentally friendly vehicles.

EVs are already considered so because they dont directly produce planet-warming gases like gasoline cars do. However, they have room for improvement in a few areas, and focusing on using entirely renewable energy  especially excess energy  is an exciting advancement.

The announcement was met with mixed reviews. Some were excited by the idea, while others were looking for more variety in the types of cars and solar panels that could be used, per Electrek.

One user wrote: This development has caused me to think a little more positively with my intention to eventually get two Tesla Powerwalls to go with my Solar PV. I suspect after I get them I will shake my head wondering what took me so long.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
An explosion at a Shell USA Inc. facility on May 5 in Deer Park. The state of Texas sued the company last week, claiming that it caused air and water pollution in violation of state law. Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune

Texas has filed a civil lawsuit against the oil giant Shell, claiming the chemical fire that burned for close to three days at its facility near Houston in May caused environmental damage from airborne contaminants and waste that flowed into nearby waterways.

The lawsuit, which seeks $1 million in damages from the oil company and a neighboring facility jointly owned by Shell and Mexicos national oil company, was filed last week in Travis County by the Texas attorney generals office, which typically handles major industrial accident lawsuits, on behalf of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. It alleges that Shell violated state environmental laws protecting the air and water from pollution.

A Shell spokesperson said the company is aware of the lawsuit and doesnt comment on pending or ongoing litigation.

The Deer Park chemicals facility remains in a recovery phase as we continue to investigate the cause of the fire and rebuild the damaged portion of the plant, spokesperson Natalie Gunnell said in a statement.

The May 5 fire at Shells Deer Park chemical facility north of State Highway 225 started in the olefins unit, which holds a chemical compound made of carbon and hydrogen atoms, around 3 p.m., according to Shell. The fire spread and burned other oil and gas products.

The lawsuit states that when the facility caught fire it began unlawfully emitting mass quantities of air contaminants into the environment and that vast quantities of water used to extinguish the fire resulted in at least 68.7 million gallons of wastewater unlawfully discharged into the Houston Ship Channel. The water discharges went on for more than 20 days, according to the lawsuit.

The polluted water discharges occurred in both Shell and the adjacent petroleum refinery facility Deer Park Refining Limited Partnership  a joint venture of Shell and PEMEX, Mexicos national oil company.

Jennifer Walsh, communications director for PEMEX Deer Park, said the company is dedicated to conduct their business in a safe and environmentally responsible manner to protect the local community.

"Ever since the fire occurred at Shell Chemical LPs Deer Park plant in May, our company has committed to working cooperatively and proactively with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and other regulatory agencies to resolve any concerns they may have," Walsh said.

No injuries were reported at the time of the fire, although a contract worker later filed a lawsuit alleging that he suffered severe injuries to his neck and spine during the fire. The worker is seeking over $1 million in damages.

In a press conference during the fire, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the fire ignited while workers were doing routine maintenance. Texas environmental regulators deployed air monitors from the Houston, Beaumont and Austin offices.

On May 8, a day after the fire was finally extinguished, Shell released a statement that said no harmful levels of chemicals had been detected in neighboring communities.

The Shell facility in Deer Park has a long history of environmental and safety violations.

According to a recent report by the Environmental Integrity Project looking at chemical incidents between 2016 and 2022, Shell in Deer Park had 68 emissions events, releasing 974,847 pounds of pollution into the air without authorization. According to the report, Shell also had eight excessive events, making it the plant with the fourth most excessive emission events in Texas during that time. That same report found that industries in Texas that reported unauthorized emissions rarely faced legal consequences.

Environmental advocates said the fire was reminiscent of a chemical fire in Deer Parks Intercontinental Terminals Company in 2019, when chemical tanks caught fire in a massive blaze that burned for days that released dangerous levels of benzene, a known carcinogen, into the air.

Air Alliance Houston, a nonprofit environmental justice organization, said in a press release the day of the Shell fire that communities were left fearing for their health and safety as dark smoke billowed across the area just like in 2019 and that this chemical event served as yet another reminder of the threat posed by the petrochemical companies that line our Houston Ship Channel.

The TCEQ referred the ITC case to the attorney generals office, which filed a lawsuit. The case is still pending, according to Travis County District Court records.

Disclosure: Air Alliance Houston has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

The full program is now LIVE for the 2023 Texas Tribune Festival, happening Sept. 21-23 in Austin. Explore the program featuring more than 100 unforgettable conversations coming to TribFest. Panel topics include the biggest 2024 races and whats ahead, how big cities in Texas and around the country are changing, the integrity of upcoming elections and so much more. See the full program.
Georgia prosecutors have obtained text messages and emails directly linking members of former President Donald Trumps legal team to a suspicious 2021 voting system breach in the states rural Coffee County, according to a report.

The sprawling investigation into Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia uncovered evidence showing the breach in the small Republican County came from the top down by the former presidents team to get access to sensitive voting software, CNN reported Sunday, citing sources.

The messages implicate former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and his longtime associate Bernie Kerik, a former NYPD Police Commissioner, the network said.

Trumps supporters wanted access to voting systems after the 2020 election in their effort to produce evidence backing his baseless claims of widespread fraud.

Trump already faces likely charges to be filed this month in Fulton County, Georgia linked to his infamous 2021 telephone call to the Georgia Secretary of State asking him to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have because we won the state.

The breach in the Coffee County voting system first caught the investigators attention about a year ago, CNN said.

The messages obtained in their probe show Trump lawyers and other hired operatives sought access to the voting system in the days before Jan. 6, 2021, hoping they could cite evidence to delay certification of President Joe Bidens victory at the polls.

The House was meeting on Jan. 6, 2021 to certify the election results when a pro-Trump mob violently attacked the U.S. Capitol.

The messages show a local elections official inviting Trumps team to examine the voting systems in Coffee County, according to CNN.

The invitation was shared with Kerik, who was acting as an investigator for Giuliani, then one of Trumps attorneys, CNN said.

Giuliani has already been identified as a target in the Fulton County probe.

Kerik served three years in prison for federal tax fraud and other financial crimes and won a full pardon from Trump in 2020.

Robert Costello, an attorney for Giuliani, told CNN his client had nothing to do with this  crackpot idea.

_____
A 13-year-old girl who just gave birth  after being denied an abortion under Mississippis ban  is about to start seventh grade.

The girl, who Time called Ashley as a pseudonym, was raped in the fall of 2022 by a stranger in the yard outside of her home after he grabbed her and covered her mouth, the outlet reported.

Ashley used to love being outside, especially to make TikToks, but after that fall, it became hard for her to want to leave her bedroom. She started complaining to her mother about not feeling well.

She just said, It hurts, her mother, dubbed Regina, recalled to the outlet. She was crying in her room. I asked her what was wrong, and she said she didnt want to tell me.

Regina even said she asked Ashley if she thought she was pregnantwith the caveat that Regina had never had the conversation with Ashley about how one could even become pregnant. They need to be kids, Regina reflected to Time.

By 11 January, the teen started throwing up so much that it prompted Regina to take her to the emergency room. Blood tests indicated that Ashley was pregnant; thats how Regina found out.

The on-call gynecologist determined Ashley was 10 or 11 weeks along. She recalled to Time: It was surreal for herShe just had no clue.

A week later at a follow-up appointment, the mother asked the doctor if there was any way to terminate the pregnancy; but in Mississippi, on 27 July 2022, the states trigger ban went into effect, meaning all abortions, except to save the life of the pregnant person or in the cases of rape or incest that were reported to law enforcement, were prohibited.

Shortly after discovering that her daughter had been raped, the outlet said, Regina filed a complaint with the police, but the investigation went nowhere. Authorities confirmed to Time that no arrests had been made in the case. Since the investigation is incomplete, police have not publicly confirmed that they believe Ashleys pregnancy resulted from the rape.

As the states last abortion provider shuttered in July 2022, following the trigger ban going into effect, the gynecologist told Regina that the closest abortion provider would be Chicago  which isnt actually that close. The teens mother considered it, the outlet reported, but after calculating the price of the abortion, travel costs, and factoring in the fact that she would have to take off work, she decided against it. I dont have the funds for all this, Regina told the outlet.

So, the 13-year-old had no choice but to carry the baby.

But Mississippi is a particularly risky place to have a child under any circumstance, and especially so under Ashleys circumstances.

According to KFF, Mississippi has the second-highest maternal-mortality rate in the nationArkansas, its neighbor, is the first. A study also showed that in the state, when compared to white mothers, Black mothers are four times more likely to die from reasons related to pregnancy.

Still, the months went on and Ashleys stomach grew as she finished sixth grade from her computer. Weve been keeping it quiet, because people judge wrong when they dont know whats going on, Regina told Time. Shes been trying to keep Ashley away from nosy people. Regina even said that her family is unaware of the pregnancy: Its going to be a little private matter here.

Ashley delivered the baby over the weekend. When asked how it went she said succinctly: Painful. Even before the rape, Ashley had never talked much, but after, she became almost mute, her mother told the outlet.

Regina explained to Time that the police told her that she needed to bring DNA from the baby after the birth. Three days later, the investigators still hadnt collected a DNA sample. When Time started asking around, the publication noted, the investigators cooperated.

Her mother is trying to arrange a plan with the school so that her 13-year-old can start seventh grade from home until she feels ready to face that environment again.

When the outlet asked if Ashley wanted to say anything to other girls the teenage mother said, Be careful when you go outside. And stay safe.
This photo released by the Cambodia Mine Action Center, CMAC, shows unexploded ordnance at Queen Kosamak High School in Kratie Province, northeastern of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. Cambodian authorities have temporarily closed the high school where thousands of pieces of unexploded ordinance from the country's nearly three decades of civil war have been unearthed. (Cambodia Mine Action Center via AP)

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP)  Cambodian authorities have temporarily closed a high school where thousands of pieces of unexploded ordnance from the countrys nearly three decades of civil war have been unearthed.

The ordnance was found at the school in the northeastern province of Kratie after deminers were invited to search for buried landmines on the campus before a new building was constructed, Chheang Heng, the provincial deputy chief for education. More than 1,000 students study at Queen Kossamak high school.

The site was an ammunition warehouse during the Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s before being turned into a school and all of the ordnance was thought to have been removed, Chheang Heng said.

From Friday through Sunday, 2,116 pieces of ordnance were collected by deminers from the Cambodian Mine Action Center, the government agency's director general, Heng Ratana, posted on Facebook

They included M79 grenades, FuzeM48 shells and ordnance for the B40 rocket launcher. Photos posted on its Facebook page showed the dirt-covered items placed in a row on the schools ground.

Heng Ratana said many more pieces of ordnance are believed to still be buried, so the school will be closed for some days while the deminers work to collect the dangerous material.

I know that this school site used to be a big ammunition warehouse of the Khmer Rouge in late 1970s, but I could not believe that there was a huge amount of ammunition buried underground like this, Chheang Heng said.

How many casualties would have happened if this ammunition exploded? he said.

The brutal rule of the radical communist Khmer Rouge was blamed for the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million Cambodian from starvation, illness and killing before being ousted by a Vietnamese invasion.

Three decades of war finally ended in the late 1990s but left Cambodia littered with an estimated 4 million to 6 million land mines and other ordnance.

Most has been cleared but the explosives continue to kill people.

Since the end of the fighting, nearly 20,000 people have been killed and about 45,000 have been injured by leftover war explosives, although the average annual death toll has dropped from several thousand to less than 100.

Three members of a local demining team were killed by a leftover anti-tank mine as they were working in northern Preah Vihear province in early 2022.

The Cambodian government aims to clear all the nation's leftover land mines and unexploded ordnance by 2025.
A 45-year-old Tri-Cities man screwed up a good deal that he was offered for a crime spree by talking too much.

Brandon VanWinkle was nearly all of the way through a plea agreement that would have taken years off his sentence when he said he wasnt responsible for threatening Deputy Prosecutor Brittnie Roehm.

The only thing I was looking from you was an apology, Judge Jacqueline Stam said before adding about half a year more onto his two-year prison sentence. I never heard you say, Youre sorry. ... I am concerned that youre not taking any responsibility.

Stam still gave VanWinkle a much lesser sentence than he could have faced for the crime.

Thursdays guilty plea brought an end to VanWinkles yearlong string of crimes, including threatening a judge and two deputy prosecutors and damaging a jail bathroom.

Those incidents came after being arrested for stealing items at a Columbia Center mall clothing store.

His time in jail was marked with claims he was the Messiah and sent back to Earth to study the criminal justice system.

VanWinkle admitted to misdemeanor assault, third-degree theft, second-degree malicious mischief, intimidating a judge and two counts of intimidating a public servant.

Deputy Prosecutor Brendan Siefken and Defense Attorney Ian Sinclair said his stay at Eastern State psychiatric hospital had helped him curb his impulses.

Ive observed a change of behavior in the courtroom, Siefken said. Hes spent a good portion of the last 15 to 18 years of his life incarcerated. I do not wish to see him back here.

Sinclair agreed, saying putting these crimes behind him will possibly give him a new lease on life.

While VanWinkle spent most of his time at his sentencing talking about how he wasnt guilty of the crimes he had just pleaded to, he did say that his mental health treatment and medication helped him.

Significant cut

VanWinkles cases were divided into two groups. Siefken handled three of them, and because he was one of the two victims in the fourth case it was handled by Franklin County Deputy Prosecutor Daniel Stovern.

All four were resolved together, and the highest potential sentence range, he faced was about 6 1/2 years and 8 1/2 years for intimidating a judge.

The two deputy prosecutors both agreed to a two year and one month sentence for VanWinkle.

Siefken said the drop in his cases came about because witnesses didnt feel like testifying, one of them wasnt credible and the mental health treatment appeared to help.

But when it came to the final case, he faced a potential four years in prison at a minimum, and Roehm didnt feel like it was enough time in prison.

I do not believe there were any facts that would warrant an exceptional sentence down, she said. I dont believe this recommendation is appropriate.

This spurred VanWinkle to say that it was three unnamed women who had threatened Roehm and he was just passing along a warning. He didnt believe the women would carry out the threats.

Stam responded by pointing out that he didnt appear to understand the impact of his actions against people who were merely trying to do their jobs.

VanWinkle tried to apologize after the fact, but Stam said it was too late. She added seven months onto the sentence, bringing it to a total of two years and eight months in prison.

Im taking into consideration that youre different now, the judge said, adding that if he came back in front of her for another crime, she would not be as lenient.

Yearlong series of crimes

VanWinkle had been out of prison for about 10 months after serving five years for threatening to kill Judge Alex Ekstrom in 2016, when he got into trouble again.

When he was released from prison in April 2021, he was supposed to stay in touch with the Department of Corrections.

He stopped reporting in November, and then, two months later, he was caught stealing clothes at a store at the mall.

When an employee tried to stop him, he hit her in the face.

He was arrested and four days later he had a destructive outburst in the jail, including throwing feces, breaking things and spitting blood and saliva. He was charged with malicious mischief for that outburst.

The day VanWinkle was supposed to be court on those charges, Judge Ekstrom was the judge hearing cases that day. Since he was the victim of VanWinkles previous threats, the judge removed himself from hearing the case and rescheduled for another judge.

When a jail corrections officer told VanWinkle about the delay, he allegedly told the officer to tell him (Ekstrom) that Im going to kill him, according to court documents.

Then he sent a letter to Roehm saying his friends were going to follow her home and attack her for charging him with crimes he did not commit, according to court records.

The letter went on to say that he didnt order this, but he cant stop it because he is in jail.

The cases then had to be transferred to a different deputy prosecutor, and VanWinkle sent another letter, this one claimed that members of the Gypsy Jokers motorcycle gang would wait for that deputy prosecutor after work and follow him home and shoot him.

They said they will handle the prosecutor for charging me for charges I never committed, VanWinkle wrote. Its out of my hands. I would try to help you, but you got me on lock for some charges I never committed.

Its unclear if VanWinkle has any ties to the Gypsy Jokers.

Both attorneys believed that he was trying to influence their decisions by sending the letters.
Another US military service chief has relinquished command without a Senate-confirmed replacement in place, marking the first time in the Defense Departments history that three services are operating without a confirmed senior military officer in place.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday relinquished command on Monday. His nominated replacement, Adm. Lisa Franchetti, is one of more than 300 military officers whose promotions are being stalled by Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville, in protest of Pentagon reproductive health policies.

Franchetti will serve as the acting Chief of Naval Operations in the absence of her Senate confirmation.

Gildays relinquishment follows the retirement and relinquishment of command by former Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville on August 4, and former Marine Corps Commandant David Berger last month.

Admirals Mike Gilday and Lisa Franchetti. - Getty, US Navy

Because of this blanket hold, starting today, for the first time in the history of the Department of Defense, three of our military services are operating without Senate-confirmed leaders, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Monday at Gildays relinquishment ceremony. This is unprecedented. It is unnecessary. And it is unsafe.

Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro echoed Austins sentiment, saying it is well past time for the Senate to address the outstanding nominations.

Not doing so will continue to degrade our readiness and will even put the very lives  yes, the very lives of our servicemen and women, your young men and women  at risk by not allowing our most experienced warfighters to lead, Del Toro said. The American people deserve to have their best military leaders in place, and in our Department of the Navy that includes a confirmed Chief of Naval Operations and Commandant of the Marine Corps.

Steven Stafford, Tubervilles spokesman, said Monday that Austins comments that the hold is unprecedented, unnecessary, and unsafe are wrong.

The only thing unprecedented about Coachs hold is the length of time that it has gone on, Stafford said, pointing to threats to hold nominations from Democratic Sens. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois and Michael Bennet of Colorado.

[T]hey got what they wanted, and quickly, Stafford said of Duckworth and Bennet.

Franchetti, who has been serving as the vice chief of naval operations, would be the first woman in the CNO seat, and the first woman on the joint chiefs of staff. She has previously served as the commander of US Naval Forces Korea, deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfighting Development, director for Strategy, Plans, and Policy of the Joint Staff, and commanded two carrier strike groups.

During Mondays ceremony, Gilday said that Franchetti is a warfighter with combat experience and operational leader who has made the Navy better.

Shes a strategist, shes an innovator, shes a team builder, shes a trailblazer, shes an example of personal and professional resilience and a testament to the power of American dream to inspire service and sacrifice, Gilday said. I cant wait to see what is next for her as shes leading our Navy  I will be proud to call her my CNO.

Pentagon officials, including Austin, have repeatedly warned of the consequences of Tubervilles ongoing hold, saying it would impact national security by not allowing the right leaders to take their positions at the right time.

In a memo to the force earlier this month, Austin said that lower-ranking officers may be assigned to lead organizations in the absence of Senate-confirmed commanders, and that three- and four-star officers would not be able to leave their current roles.

I understand that these steps will not end or offset the risk to our readiness or our global leadership position, Austin wrote. Nor will they resolve the uncertainty and stress inflicted upon our general and flag officers and their families, or alleviate the worries rippling further down our ranks.

Tuberville has not budged on his position, saying that the Pentagon is violating law with the reproductive health policies that include, among other things, a travel allowance for troops and their families who must travel to receive an abortion because of the state laws where they are stationed. Pentagon officials have pointed to a Justice Department memo that says the policies are lawful.

Tuberville has said that all of the positions awaiting Senate-confirmed leaders are being done. My holds are NOT affecting national security. He also said last month he didnt start the fight and is trying to get politics out of the military.

Stafford, Tubervilles spokesman, said Monday that the Alabama senator is not blocking votes  hes forcing votes, putting the responsibility on Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to vote individually on nominations.

Contrary to false reporting, no jobs are going unfilled while the hold is in place. Instead, highly experienced acting officials are serving in these roles, Stafford said.

Indeed, many of the positions awaiting confirmation are being filled on an acting basis. In some cases, however, the officer filling the role on a temporary basis is lower-ranking than the officer who was nominated to take the position. The Missile Defense Agency, for example, is being led by a one-star in an acting capacity despite the position typically being filled by a three-star general.

By the end of this year, there will be more than 600 military officers up for nomination  and thus far, there is no end in sight to Tubervilles hold. That hold includes the nominee for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force Gen. C.Q. Brown, who is expected to take over for Army Gen. Mark Milley.

Our troops deserve better, Austin said Monday. Our military families deserve better. Our allies and partners deserve better. And our national security deserves better.

This article has been updated with additional comments.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Tia Mowry is no stranger to being transparent with fans about her motherhood journey and now shes opening up about her experiences with breastfeeding. The mother of two shared some insight on her nursing and pumping journey on Instagram, sharing a few images from those times with her followers.

Mowrys moment of transparency was in celebration of National Breastfeeding Month which is recognized every August. Her children, Cree and Cairo, now 12 and five respectively.

Tia Mowry on Breastfeeding

Since its National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, I wanted to share a little bit about my breastfeeding journey with yall, she shared in the caption of the post.

The carousel featured images of her breastfeeding both Cree and Cairo when they were infants.

When I had Cree, I was struggling to breastfeed him. I was only able to breastfeed for 3 months before having to switch to formula.

Mowry went on to explain that once she had her second child, Instagram came to her rescue. She leaned a lot more through the app and even found a community of women online who helped her push through. That assistance lead her to breastfeed Cairo successfully for 13 months. Nonetheless, she said the journey was still very difficult.

I was pumping every 3 hours at work while working 14 hour days on set, she continued to explain. At times I would have to breastfeed on set as well.

She added that after those long days on set she would return home and have to continue breastfeeding her child. She took time to encourage mothers who are currently struggling with breastfeeding.

It is more than okay to feed your children formula. As long as your children are fed, loved, happy, and supported thats all that matters, Mowry said.

According to a Breastfeeding Medicine study, Black mothers continue to have the lowest rates of breastfeeding initiation at 60 percent compared with all other racial and ethnic groups in the United States.

The post Tia Mowry Discusses Difficult Breastfeeding Journey appeared first on 21Ninety.
Five of Mississippis best middle schools are located on the Mississippi Coast.

Biloxi Junior High School, Ocean Springs Middle School, Bayou View Middle School, Biloxi Upper Elementary School and Long Beach Middle School ranked in Niche.coms list of the top 20 public middle schools in Mississippi. Each schools overall Niche grade was A.

After analyzing data and reviews of the states 258 public middle schools, Niche graded each school for its academics, diversity and teachers.

The 2023 report ranked Biloxi Junior High School as the best public middle school on the Coast and the fifth best public middle school in the state. The Biloxi Public School District middle school has a student-teacher ratio of 11 to 1 and earned an overall grade of A in the Niche ranking.

Ocean Springs Middle School was the second highest middle school on the Coast, with an overall grade of A and a student-teacher ratio that was also 11 to 1. More than 60% of students ranked at or above proficiency in state reading, language and math tests. The middle school was ranked seventh in the state. Its teachers ranked 15th in the state.

Bayou View Middle School ranked 12th in the state and third on the Coast. As part of the Gulfport School District, Bayou View serves 907 students and has a student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1.

Biloxi Upper Elementary School ranked 13th in the state. The school teaches about 860 students in fifth and sixth grades. The student-teacher ratio is 15 to 1.

Long Beach Middle School ranked 17th in the state with a student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1. The school is part of the Long Beach School District and serves about 500 students.

Niche grades and analyzes schools and neighborhoods throughout the U.S. using data from the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Census and FBI plus more than 100 million reviews and survey responses from students, parents and residents to rank schools in every county and city in the country.

We get deep too, asking questions about everything from college prep to cafeteria food, said Niche on its website. Though quality data is a priority, at Niche, we know that a school is more than a collection of stats.

These are the top 25 elementary schools in Mississippi. See where your school ranked

These are the top 20 private schools in Mississippi. See where your school ranked

Niche also looks at each schools academics and culture.

Academics Grade: Based on state assessment proficiency and survey responses on academics from students and parents.

Teachers Grade: Based on teacher salary, teacher absenteeism, state test results, and survey responses on teachers from students and parents.

District Grade: Based on rigorous analysis of academic and student life data along with millions of reviews from students and parents.

Culture & Diversity Grade: Based on racial and economic diversity and survey responses on school culture and diversity from students and parents.

Parent/Student Surveys Grade: Niche survey responses scored on a 1-5 scale regarding the overall experience of students and parents from the school.

Here are the top 20 middle schools in Mississippi:

Petal, Mississippi

Petal Public School District

743 students, student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1

Grades 7 and 8

Overall grade: A+

Academics: A

Diversity: A-

Teachers: A+

According to state test scores, 72% of students are at least proficient in math and 55% in reading.

Petal, Mississippi

Petal School District

608 students, student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1

Grades 5 and 6

Overall grade: A+

Academics: A

Diversity: A-

Teachers: A+

According to state test scores, 67% of students are at least proficient in math and 57% in reading.

Madison, Mississippi

Madison County School District

1,167 students, student-teacher ratio of 10 to 1

Grades 6 to 8

Ranked best public middle school in the Jackson area

Overall grade: A

Academics: A

Diversity: A-

Teachers: A

According to state test scores, 66% of students are at least proficient in math and 57% in reading.

Oxford, Mississippi

Oxford School District

673 students, student-teacher ratio of 15 to 1

Grades 7 and 8

Overall grade: A

Academics: A

Diversity: A

Teachers: A+

According to state test scores, 55% of students are at least proficient in math and 48% in reading.

Biloxi, Mississippi

Biloxi Public School District

1,002 students, student-teacher ratio of 11 to 1

Grades 7 and 8

Ranked best public middle school in Harrison County

Overall grade: A

Academics: A

Diversity: A+

Teachers: A+

According to state test scores, 60% of students are at least proficient in math and 43% in reading.

Clinton, Mississippi

Clinton Public School District

396 students, student-teacher ratio of 17 to 1

Grade 6

Ranked best public middle school in Hinds County

Overall grade: A

Academics: A

Diversity: A

Teachers: A+

According to state test scores, 54% of students are at least proficient in math and 49% in reading.

Ocean Springs, Mississippi

Ocean Springs School District

975 students, student-teacher ratio of 11 to 1

Grades 7 and 8

Ranked best public middle school in Jackson County

Overall grade: A

Academics: A

Diversity: B+

Teachers: A

According to state test scores, 66% of students are at least proficient in math and 61% in reading.

Oxford, Mississippi

Oxford School District

674 students, student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1

Grade 6

Overall grade: A

Academics: A

Diversity: A

Teachers: A+

According to state test scores, 51% of students are at least proficient in math and 50% in reading.

Booneville, Mississippi

Booneville School District

390 students, student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1

Grades 5 to 8

Overall grade: A

Academics: A

Diversity: A-

Teachers: A+

According to state test scores, 47% of students are at least proficient in math and 43% in reading.

Madison, Mississippi

Madison County School District

1,073 students, student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1

Grades 6 to 8

Ranked third best public middle school in the Jackson area

Overall grade: A

Academics: A

Diversity: A-

Teachers: A

According to state test scores, 55% of students are at least proficient in math and 58% in reading.

Clinton, Mississippi

Clinton Public School District

911 students, student-teacher ratio of 18 to 1

Grades 7 and 8

Overall grade: A

Academics: A-

Diversity: A

Teachers: A+

According to state test scores, 69% of students are at least proficient in math and 54% in reading.

Gulfport, Mississippi

Gulfport School District

907 students, student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1

Grades 6 to 8

Ranked second best middle school in Harrison County

Overall grade: A

Academics: A

Diversity: A

Teachers: A

According to state test scores, 54% of students are at least proficient in math and 49% in reading.

Biloxi, Mississippi

Biloxi Public School District

860 students, student-teacher ratio of 15 to 1

Grades 5 and 6

Overall grade: A

Academics: A-

Diversity: A+

Teachers: A+

According to state test scores, 61% of students are at least proficient in math and 45% in reading.

Enterprise, Mississippi





Enterprise School District

260 students, student-teacher ratio of 10 to 1

Grades 5 to 8

Overall grade: A

Academics: A

Diversity: B

Teachers: A

According to state test scores, 67% of students are at least proficient in math and 51% in reading.

Flowood, Mississippi





Rankin County School District

1,431 students, student-teacher ratio of 12 to 1

Grades 6 to 8

Overall grade: A

Academics: A

Diversity: A-

Teachers: A

According to state test scores, 63% of students are at least proficient in math and 51% in reading.

Brandon, Mississippi

Rankin County School District

1,240 students, student-teacher ratio of 12 to 1

Grades 6 to 8

Overall grade: A

Academics: A

Diversity: A-

Teachers: A

According to state test scores, 67% of students are at least proficient in math and 49% in reading.

Long Beach, Mississippi





Long Beach School District

499 students, student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1

Grades 7 to 8

Overall grade: A

Academics: A

Diversity: A-

Teachers: A

According to state test scores, 65% of students are at least proficient in math and 52% in reading.

Caledonia, Mississippi





Lowndes County School District

554 students, student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1

Grades 6 to 8

Overall grade: A

Academics: A

Diversity: B

Teachers: A

According to state test scores, 60% of students are at least proficient in math and 50% in reading.

Tupelo, Mississippi

Tupelo Public School District

1,118 students, student-teacher ratio of 11 to 1

Grades 7 and 8

Overall grade: A

Academics: A-

Diversity: A

Teachers: A

According to state test scores, 51% of students are at least proficient in math and 40% in reading.

Pontotoc, Mississippi

Pontotoc City Schools

404 students, student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1

Grades 7 and 8

Overall grade: A

Academics: A-

Diversity: A

Teachers: A

According to state test scores, 59% of students are at least proficient in math and 37% in reading.
We asked and you answered.

Last week we surveyed readers on what store the Myrtle Beach area was missing.

About 330 people filled out the survey and five stores easily emerged as readers favorites. Trader Joes, Wegmans, Whole Foods, Macys and The Cheesecake Factory each received at least ten votes. Of the five, Trader Joes, Wegmans and Whole Foods were the most popular responses.

Now, readers get to vote for which of these businesses they want to see come to the Grand Strand the most. Interested voters have until Sunday, Aug. 20, 11:59 a.m. EST to vote for their choice.

Myrtle Beach residents want healthy, diverse food thats affordable too.

The survey also asked what kind of stores and businesses residents wanted to see more of in the area and several popular trends emerged. Voters said they wanted more grocery stores and restaurants, particularly ones that offered healthy choices in The Grand Strand. The Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach and Conway metro area have previously been ranked as one of the most obese cities in the United States, as reported by The State newspaper in 2020.

Survey participants also said they wanted more diverse eating experiences, specifically more Asian-inspired restaurants, Italian markets, bakeries and other multicultural choices. Affordable and discount shopping was a priority for lots of survey participants too, while others wrote they wanted more high-end or boutique shopping stores to choose from. Additional clothing stores were also frequent responses.

Other popular choices were music or vice-related. Some respondents said they wanted more live concert venues or a casino to open in the Grand Strand area.

But dont get your hopes up for a new Myrtle Beach casino. Currently, South Carolina law bans running a tavern, inn, retail store, public place, or house used as a place for gaming, according to the South Carolina Legislature website. The penalty for doing so could result in a maximum of one year in prison for each offense.
The latest in our Asked & Answered series, in which we answer questions from the community, looks into grocery store food waste around the Triangle.

Carys Elaine Pace asked about grocery store leftovers after seeing a Harris Teeter employee throw out bagels one evening this summer, she said.

I went to Harris Teeter at the end of the day, and I went to the bakery for a raspberry donut. The thing was full of donuts and bagels, and an employee was taking them out and throwing them in the trash can, Pace told The News & Observer.

This really bothered me. Im a Depression baby, and were used to saving everything. And seeing him throw away the food? There has to be a better way.

There are, in fact, local programs in place to deal with grocery store food waste  and what Pace witnessed is not the standard at Harris Teeter and other national grocery chains.

The N&O connected with local food banks and other non-profit feeding groups to learn more about how those programs work in the Triangle.

The Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, along with the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, regularly pick ups leftover food from grocery stores at the end of the day in and around the Triangle. Courtesy of the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle

Where does grocery store waste go at the end of the day?

Almost every single national grocery store chain has a food redistribution program, helping unsold food make its way to people who need it.

We reached out to Harris Teeter and other national grocery chains, who said they participate in food redistribution programs across the country through the nationwide hunger relief nonprofit Feeding America.

Ensuring we have extensive food donation and food waste diversion processes in place at every level of our business is part of living our purpose to enrich lives, said Paige Pauroso, a Harris Teeter spokesperson.

The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina and the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle are two major players in the food redistribution cause in our region. They operate on regular schedules to pick up leftover food from grocery stores at the end of the day, working in tandem with food pantries, soup kitchens and other hunger relief efforts.

Feeding America supports both organizations in establishing relationships with retail chains, said Caitlin Cohn, director of network strategy for the Food Bank.

The Food Bank and Food Shuttle have regular check-ins, assessing programs and determining coverage plans for new grocery stores popping up in the region, she said.

This is what you dont see at the grocery store, because they do it so well, Ron Pringle, the Food Shuttles CEO, told The N&O.

Its a hidden process, going through the back door and turning over grocery store shelves in an inconspicuous way. Theres a whole process with accountability in mind, making sure theres a local food bank to receive it and getting it on the plates of the many who need it.

Note: If you see a grocery store employee throwing out materials, like Pace did in Harris Teeter, that doesnt mean the store does not participate in food recovery programs. In fact, Harris Teeter is a major partner for the Food Shuttle and the Food Bank, Pringle said, often providing enough food for multiple pick-ups a week.

Sometimes, the manager just didnt have the chance to talk about the program with a new employee. And since we follow such a robust system, we need to make sure the process is done right, he said.

The Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, along with the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, regularly pick ups leftover food from grocery stores at the end of the day in and around the Triangle. Courtesy of the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle

Grocery store and food bank partnerships in Raleigh, Durham

National food rescue and redistribution programs include a large number of grocery stores in the Triangle, said Brittanie Frieze, the Food Banks food partnerships supervisor.

The Food Bank covers 34 counties, partnering with grocery stores such as Aldi, Carlie Cs, Food Lion, Harris Teeter, Publix, Sams Club, Sheetz, Starbucks, Target and Walmart.

About 500 donors actively donate to the Food Banks Retail Donation Program, Frieze said.

The Inter-Faith Food Shuttle salvaged about 7 million pounds of food last year, which would have otherwise been thrown right in the garbage, Pringle said.

[This program] has millions of pounds of food staying out of the landfill, which is huge, and its social impact has food making its way to someones table, meeting an immediate need, he said.

The Inter-Faith Food Shuttle packs and delivers grocery bags for seniors in and around the Triangle. This is one way grocery store leftovers are distributed to people who need it. Courtesy of the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle.

NCs programs to pick up, distribute groceries across the region

The Inter-Faith Food Shuttle  based in Raleigh but in operation in and around the Triangle  runs a number of feeding initiatives.

These include picking up food from grocery stores on a regular schedule, dropping off supplies at local food pantries, running mobile markets to distribute fresh food to individuals and operating mobile food delivery services, such as for elderly members of our community, to bring necessary food to them.

Trained staff members, often with the help of volunteers, pick up food from partner grocery stores seven days a week. The Shuttle picks up food in a regular rotation, though stores give different quantities of food each time.

Its not a set amount, but it depends on the stores volume. But at each one of these stores, we pick up from various departments  dairy, bakery, meat, produce. Each one has its own protocol on how they collect that product and store it until they get there, Pringle said.

Accountability measures are at the forefront of these programs, ensuring all the local buildings for national chain grocery stores are doing whats necessary to get good quality food to people who need it safely and efficiently.

We pick up in bulk, and we redistribute in bulk. This could mean dropping items off at the local pantry or church or nonprofit, Pringle said.

It could be a soup kitchen, where the volunteers take produce and cook with it, or it could be a food pantry, where someone can come in and get the items that they want. And some food pantries have home delivery services, too.

Larger food pantries in the region, such the Durham Community Food Pantry (which is run by Catholic Parish Outreach), also directly pick up from grocery stores in the region, said the pantrys regional director Barkley Sample.

The Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, along with the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, regularly pick ups leftover food from grocery stores at the end of the day in and around the Triangle. Courtesy of the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle

Do all grocery stores have food donation programs?

No, but the vast majority of them do.

Nearly all chain grocery stores have corporate partnerships at the national level, making sure all their locations take part in distribution programs with local partners, Pringle said.

Small, independent grocery stores sometimes choose not to participate in these programs, mostly citing liability concerns.

Theyll say, Its a great idea but I dont want someone to sue me, just not knowing whats involved within the official program, Pringle said.

We have approached some grocery stores that are locally owned, and they eventually participate. And thats because we reached out and made the partnership, talking about accountability measures and protections, and they felt comfortable and signed up.

Carol Anne Moehring, a volunteer at Dorcas Ministries Food Pantry in Cary, gathers groceries for a family in need Friday, Dec. 18, 2020. Travis Long/tlong@newsobserver.com

How to volunteer with hunger efforts in Raleigh, Durham

Both the Food Shuttle and the Food Bank rely on volunteer efforts to keep their operations running smoothly and effectively. If youre interested in volunteering, heres what you can do:

Inter-Faith Food Shuttle: Visit foodshuttle.org/volunteer to learn the many different ways you can volunteer in their efforts. There are frequent individual and group opportunities to get connected.

Food Recovery & Distribution programs can include assisting drivers, inspecting eggs, sorting food donations or helping in other ways.

Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina: Visit foodbankcenc.org/get-involved/volunteer to find your closest branch (there are six, including ones in Raleigh and Durham) and learn about opportunities to get connected.

These large organizations work with smaller food banks, food pantries, soup kitchens, home delivery services and more to ensure necessary food makes its way to those who need it. If you want to volunteer with those smaller, local groups, you can get in touch with the Food Shuttle or Food Bank to learn where you can volunteer near you and how to get in touch with those groups.

Volunteers packing and sorting food at an Inter-Faith Food Shuttle volunteer event. Courtesy of the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle

How to receive food in Raleigh, Durham

Heres what The N&O previously reported in a package about food pantries in the Triangle:

Step 1: Identify the food pantries in your area.

You can check in with your place of worship or nearby schools, or you can use The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolinas Food Finder website tool to find pantries in or near your zip code: foodbankcenc.org/food-finder.

Step 2: Check out the pantrys website.

Here, you can learn when the pantry operates, what kind of food they distribute and if you need to sign up ahead of time to receive their services.

Make sure you check out eligibility requirements and double check that this pantry can serve you.

Step 3: Visit the pantry on its distribution day.

Websites and social media pages will have this information. Pantries are typically only open a few hours a week, and distribution days can often be once a week or once a month.

Step 4: Follow instructions to get food.

Youll either stay in your car and have food brought out to you, or youll park and go inside to shop (meaning you can decide what food you want to bring home, but you wont pay for items like you would in a grocery store).

You can typically find out which model the food pantry uses ahead of time by visiting their website. When you arrive, food pantries will normally have signs for drive-through traffic and/or parking.

Step 5: Find out when youre able to come back.

Different food pantries have different requirements.

Hope Community Church in Raleigh, for example, has families come back for more food and supplies every 30 days, while Urban Ministries of Wake County lets families come once a week.

Volunteers packing and sorting food at an Inter-Faith Food Shuttle volunteer event. Courtesy of the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle

Food Pantry 101: How to get free food from a food pantry (and how to donate)

Get free food or donate: Heres a list of food pantries in Triangle towns
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks to reporters at the Des Moines International Airport after a visit to the Iowa State Fair, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

NEW YORK (AP)  Donald Trump is assailing the federal judge overseeing the election conspiracy case against him, days after she warned him not to make inflammatory statements about the case.

The former president made posts Monday on his social media network calling U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan highly partisan and  VERY BIASED & UNFAIR! because of her past comments in a separate case overseeing the sentencing of one of the defendants charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Chutkan in a hearing Friday imposed a protective order in the case limiting what evidence handed over by prosecutors the former president and his legal team can publicly disclose. She warned Trump's lawyers that his defense should be mounted in the courtroom and not on the internet.

Trump posted about the case online anyway, firing off about the judge.

A spokesperson for special counsel Jack Smith declined to comment Monday.

Prosecutors sought the protective order after calling attention to another earlier post on Trump's social media platform, in which he said he would be coming after those who go after him. The prosecutors said improper of sharing evidence could have a harmful chilling effect on witnesses.

Chutkan said that if anyone makes inflammatory statements about the case, she would be inclined to move more quickly to trial to prevent any intimidation of witnesses or contamination of the jury pool.

The judge agreed with Trumps defense team on a looser version of a protective order barring the public release only of materials deemed sensitive, like grand jury material. But prosecutors consider most of the evidence in the case to be sensitive, and she largely sided with the government on what will get that label and protections.

Protective orders are standard in criminal cases to protect the disclosure of sensitive information that could impact the trial.

In his social media post Monday, Trump quoted from remarks Chutkan made in a 2022 sentencing hearing for Christine Priola, an Ohio woman who pleaded guilty last year to obstructing Congress certification of Bidens electoral victory - one of the same charges Trump is facing.

The people who mobbed that Capitol were there in fealty, in loyalty, to one man -- not to the Constitution, of which most of the people who come before me seem woefully ignorant; not to the ideals of this country, and not to the principles of democracy, Chutkan said, according to a transcript of the October 2022 hearing. Its a blind loyalty to one person who, by the way, remains free to this day.

Trump has indicated his legal team will ask Chutkan to recuse herself from the case, which judges are supposed to do when their impartiality might reasonably be questioned."

But David Weinstein, a former federal prosecutor, said Chutkan's comment won't help Trump's case that he needs a new judge.

I understand why he's trying to twist her words and use them against her, but I dont think it crosses the line, said Weinstein, now a white collar criminal defense attorney.

Weinstein said Trump appears to be trying to egg her on into doing something that's going to give him the grounds to file a motion to recuse."

She has to careful not to take the bait," he said.

Prosecutors with special counsel Smith's team have asked the judge to set a Jan. 2 trial date, which is less than two weeks before Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses. That prompted other angry posts online from Trump last week.

Trump and his lawyers claimed prosecutors' proposed protective order that sought to prevent the public release of all evidence they provide the defense would violate his First Amendment rights of free speech. And the Republican has vowed to keep talking about the case and his other legal challenges as he campaigns again for the White House.

Trump spoke about the case while he was campaigning at the Iowa State Fair over the weekend, declining to tell reporters whether he would comply with the protective order. He said, The whole thing is a fake  it was put out by Biden, because they cant win an election the fair way.

Trump, in another post Monday, wrote of Chutkan: She obviously wants me behind bars. VERY BIASED & UNFAIR!

Chutkan, a former assistant public defender who was nominated to the bench by President Barack Obama, was confirmed to the bench with Republican support in a 95-0 vote in the Senate in 2014.

She has been one of the toughest punishers of rioters who stormed the Capitol. federal judges in Washington have sentenced nearly 600 defendants for their roles in the attack, which was fueled by Trump's baseless claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen by fraud.

The case cited in Trump's post, however, is one where Chutkan actually imposed a sentence that was lighter than prosecutors sought. She sentenced Priola to 15 months in prison. Federal prosecutors had asked for 18 months.

___

Associated Press writers Alanna Durkin Richer in Boston, Lindsay Whitehurst in Washington and Thomas Beaumont in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed to this report.
Donald Trump, the former US president, has a number of pending court cases - Mike Stobe/Getty Images North America

Donald Trump has attacked the judge overseeing his 2020 election subversion case just days after she threatened to speed up his trial if he used inflammatory rhetoric online.

The former president said in a post on his Truth Social app that Tanya Chutkan, a district judge in Washington DC, was highly partisan and obviously wants me behind bars.

He added that the case against him was VERY BIASED AND UNFAIR!

Last week, Ms Chutkan threatened to speed up proceedings against Mr Trump if he made statements which could taint the jury pool or intimidate potential witnesses.

Prosecutors have asked for the trial to begin on Jan 2. Mr Trump himself has argued that any trial should be held after the 2024 presidential election.

Mr Trump is facing four charges in the case, which alleges that he orchestrated a plot to overturn the 2020 vote and keep himself in power.

Prosecutors have been investigating his link to the US Capitol riot, on Jan 6 2021, which followed the result and which he is alleged to have encouraged and weaponised.

Mr Trump is charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy against the rights of citizens, obstructing an official proceeding and conspiring to obstruct an official proceeding.

He has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.

Testing the limits

On Sunday night, the former president appeared to be testing the limits of Ms Chutkans warning, which came in response to a prosecution counsel request for a protective order to restrict his comments about the trial online.

The attorneys said there was a risk Mr Trump could threaten witnesses and jurors involved in the case, after he posted on Truth Social: If you go after me, Im coming after you.

Ms Chutkan refused to grant an order restricting Mr Trump from talking about the case altogether, but issued a general word of caution that his language could lead to a faster trial.

Tanya Chutkan, a US District Judge, said: 'In a criminal case such as this one, the defendants free speech is subject to the rules' - Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts via AP

The more a party makes inflammatory statements about this case the greater the urgency will be to complete the trial to ensure a jury pool from which we can select an impartial jury, she said on Friday.

I caution all of you, therefore, to take special care in your public statements about this case.

She added that Mr Trump, like every American, has a First Amendment right to free speech, but the right was not absolute.

In a criminal case such as this one, the defendants free speech is subject to the rules, she said.

She obviously wants me behind bars

In an apparent response, Mr Trump posted a quote on Truth Social, citing Ms Chutkan at an earlier hearing of a Jan 6 rioter.

In the quote, Ms Chutkan said that the people who mobbed that Capitol were there in fealty, in loyalty, to one man, not to the constitution.

Mr Trump added: The following TRUTH is a quote by highly partisan Judge Tanya Chutkan, angrily sentencing a J-6er in October of 2022. She obviously wants me behind bars. VERY BIASED & UNFAIR!

The former presidents apparent escalation of the dispute with Ms Chutkan comes ahead of his expected indictment in Georgia, where he is accused of election interference.

Prosecutors are expected to seek multiple charges against several defendants, including Mr Trump, later this week.

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(Bloomberg) -- The New York judge presiding over Donald Trumps hush money case rejected the former presidents request that he step down from it.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Trump has failed to demonstrate that there exists concrete or even realistic reasons for recusal to be appropriate, much less required on these grounds, New York State Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan said in a decision dated Friday and made public Monday, calling his arguments speculative and hypothetical.

Read More: Trump Seeks to Oust Judge From New York Criminal Case

In seeking the recusal, Trump had cited Merchans daughters work for a Democratic consulting firm with Vice President Kamala Harris as a client, as well as Merchans donation of $15 to Joe Bidens 2020 presidential campaign. Trump is the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination in the 2024 race, in which Biden is the presumptive Democratic candidate.

In his ruling, the judge called the donation de minimis.

This court has examined its conscience and is certain in its ability to be fair and impartial, Merchan wrote.

Trumps lawyers Susan Necheles and Todd Blanche and Trumps campaign didnt immediately return emails seeking comment on the decision.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records related to $130,000 his former lawyer Michael Cohen paid porn film actress Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet before the 2016 election about a sexual encounter she claims she had with the former president a decade earlier. Trump has denied the encounter. Merchan has scheduled the trial to begin March 25.

The indictment, filed in March, marked the first time a current or former US president had been criminally indicted and has since been followed by two others. Trump denies wrongdoing in all the cases and says they are part of a political effort to derail his candidacy.

The case is New York v. Trump, 1543-23, New York State Supreme Court, New York County (Manhattan).

(Adds requests for comment in sixth paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Former President Trump on Monday said former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan (R) shouldnt testify before a grand jury that is preparing to potentially indict Trump this week.

I am reading reports that failed former Lt. Governor of Georgia, Jeff Duncan, will be testifying before the Fulton County Grand Jury. He shouldnt, Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Duncan confirmed Saturday that he had been requested to testify before a Fulton County grand jury Tuesday, indicating charges in District Attorney Fani Williss (D) 2020 election investigation are imminent.

Duncan, a Trump critic, is one of multiple witnesses expected to testify behind closed doors early this week before grand jurors vote on indictments in the case.

I barely know him but he was, right from the beginning of this Witch Hunt, a nasty disaster for those looking into the Election Fraud that took place in Georgia, Trump wrote. He refused having a Special Session to find out what went on, became very unpopular with Republicans (I refused to endorse him!), and fought the TRUTH all the way. A loser, he went to FNCNN!

Independent journalist George Chidi also indicated that he had been asked to testify before the grand jury Tuesday.

Any charges brought against Trump would mark the fourth indictment facing the former president as he attempts to campaign to return to the White House. Willis has been probing an infamous Jan. 2, 2021, call between Trump and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) and other efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.

Trump has been warned in his other criminal cases against intimidating witnesses or making inflammatory statements, but has repeatedly attacked judges, prosecutors and juries taking part in the probes.

No, I didnt tamper with the election! Those who rigged & stole the election were the ones doing the tampering, & they are the slime that should be prosecuted, Trump wrote in a Truth Social post earlier Monday.

Would someone please tell the Fulton County grand jury that I did not tamper with the election, he said in another post.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Donald Trump slammed the judge presiding over his newest criminal case early Monday, testing her three-day-old warning that he refrain from inflammatory attacks against those involved in his case.

In a Truth Social post just before 1 a.m., Trump assailed U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan as highly partisan and very biased and unfair, citing as evidence a statement she made during the sentencing of a woman who participated in the mob that breached the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

She obviously wants me behind bars, Trump wrote.

Trump was alluding to Chutkans remark during the October 2022 sentencing of Christine Priola of Ohio. Chutkan admonished Priola, before sentencing her to 15 months in jail, about the Jan. 6 mobs threat to the peaceful transfer of power.

I see the videotapes. I see the footage of the flags and the signs that people were carrying and the hats that they were wearing, and the garb, Chutkan said. And the people who mobbed that Capitol were there in fealty, in loyalty to one man, not to the Constitution, of which most of the people who come before me seem woefully ignorant; not to the ideals of this county and not to the principles of democracy. Its blind loyalty to one person who, by the way, remains free to this day.

Chutkans sentiments have been common among judges who have sentenced Jan. 6 rioters. Several have expressed discomfort over punishing rioters  who had been deluged with lies about the election by Trump and steered to the Capitol with a warning that their country was being stolen and their livelihoods were in danger  while those who misled them have faced no consequences. But Chutkan is the first of those judges to end up with Trump as a defendant in her court, charged by special counsel Jack Smith with seeking to subvert the 2020 election with lies and a plan to violate the constitution.



During a hearing Friday, Chutkan  appointed to the bench in 2014 by then-President Barack Obama after a unanimous confirmation in the Senate  repeatedly emphasized she would not consider politics in her courtroom during Trumps proceedings. And she warned Trump, who has a history of publicly assailing judges, prosecutors and those arrayed against him as witnesses, that his inflammatory remarks could force her to speed up his criminal trial.

I caution you and your client to take special care in your public statements about this case, Chutkan told Trump lawyer John Lauro during the hearing. I will take whatever measures are necessary to safeguard the integrity of these proceedings.

Trump appeared to test that premise on Sunday, when he amplified another allys attack on Chutkan, falsely accusing her of admitting to a plan to interfere in the 2024 election to harm Trump. But his Monday morning post was his first directly criticizing Chutkan since Fridays hearing.

Trump has repeatedly called for Chutkans immediate recusal without a clear basis, a sentiment Lauro has not adopted and suggested was premature. Lauro did not immediately respond to a request for comment.



Chutkan is not alone on the bench in underscoring the gulf in accountability for those who stormed into the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 and Trump, who spent months perpetrating lies about election fraud and exhorting supporters to come to Washington before steering them toward the Capitol.

People  were told lies, told falsehoods, told our election was stolen when it clearly was not, U.S. District Court Judge Amit Mehta said during the Nov. 2021 sentencing of defendant John Lolos. Were here today deciding whether Mr. Lolos should spend 30 days in jail when those who created the conditions that led to Mr. Lolos conduct, led to the events of Jan. 6 [havent been] held to account for their actions and their word.

U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson  who was seated in the chamber during Trumps Aug. 3 arraignment  similarly noted the dissonance during the Sept. 2022 sentencing of a rioter who assaulted police.

It is not patriotism, it is not standing up for America to stand up for one man  who knows full well that he lost  instead of the Constitution he was trying to subvert, she said, directing her comments at other Republican leaders.

Smiths newest charges against Trump for obstructing Congress on Jan. 6 are laden with allegations that Trump knowingly lied to his supporters before thousands of them marched on Congress.

Trumps conditions of release at his arraignment earlier this month included a vow  which Trump swore to uphold in court  that he would not intimidate or harass witnesses and officers of the court or threaten the administration of justice. Its unclear what Chutkan will do if she determines Trump has violated those conditions.

Prosecutors have previously flagged a broader Trump social media post in which the former president said he will come after anyone who goes after him, as well as his posts attacking Mike Pence, a GOP rival who is likely to be a star witness in the case. Chutkan noted those posts when she issued her warning in court last week



Judges confronted with violations of pretrial conditions can impose stricter conditions, like limits on social media use, prohibitions on travel and even pretrial detention. Those conditions would be particularly draconian for a defendant who is also leading his partys primary for the presidential nomination. Chutkan has vowed not to let his candidacy affect her decision making and to treat him like any other defendant.

Chutkans comments at Priolas sentencing hearing made no mention of Trump by name, despite the clear allusion. She spent the bulk of her remarks describing the danger the mob attack caused for police who were wounded and traumatized that day, as well as the larger threat it posed to democracy.

We have officers who committed suicide. We have officers who still have suicidal ideation. We have many individuals, both law enforcement and individuals working in the Capitol that day, still suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, she said. The damage continues.

Chutkan sentenced Priola to 15 months in prison, though Bureau of Prisons records indicate shes due for release next month. Her lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Former President Trump unleashed a torrent of social media posts Monday targeting investigators and witnesses in Georgia as a grand jury meets in Fulton County to hear evidence about efforts by him and his allies to overturn the states 2020 election results.

Trump posted multiple times on Truth Social early Monday, with each message lashing out in some way about Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and her investigation. The barrage of posts, most written in all capital letters, comes as charges could be filed as early as this week.

Trump bashed Willis as phoney in one post and wrote that she wants desperately to indict me on the ridiculous grounds of tampering with the 2020 presidential election.

No, I didnt tamper with the election! he wrote in all capital letters.

Would someone please tell the Fulton County grand jury that I did not tamper with the election, the former president wrote in a subsequent all-caps post.

The people that tampered with it were the ones that rigged it, and sadly, phoney Fani Willis, who has shockingly allowed Atlanta to become one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the world, has no interest in seeing the massive amount of evidence available, or finding out who these people that committed this crime are, he added.

There is no evidence that the Georgia 2020 election was rigged. The vote was recounted and certified by state officials, and various allegations of fraud were either debunked by state and local officials or dismissed in court.

Trump in a phone call after the 2020 election asked Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to find the number of votes necessary to put him ahead of President Biden in the state.

In another post, Trump responded to reports that former Georgia Lt. Gov. Jeff Duncan (R) is expected to testify before the Fulton County grand jury this week.

He shouldnt. I barely know him but he was, right from the beginning of this Witch Hunt, a nasty disaster for those looking into the Election Fraud that took place in Georgia, Trump wrote. He refused having a Special Session to find out what went on, became very unpopular with Republicans (I refused to endorse him!), and fought the TRUTH all the way. A loser, he went to FNCNN!

Duncan served as lieutenant governor for one term and opted not to run for reelection in 2022. He has since joined CNN as a political commentator and has been outspoken in pushing back on Trumps claims of election fraud in the state.

Trumps targeting of a potential witness in the Georgia case comes as a judge in Washington, D.C., specifically warned the former president against intimidating or influencing witnesses in a separate case, where Trump faces federal charges over attempting to subvert the 2020 election results.

The Georgia-focused posts came hours after Trump shortly after midnight blasted special counsel Jack Smith, who is overseeing two federal probes of the former president, and Tanya Chutkan, the judge in the D.C. case.

Trumps burst of posts on social media comes as Willis is expected to present her case to a grand jury Monday and Tuesday against Trump and his allies.

Two witnesses over the weekend said they have been asked to appear before the grand jury Tuesday, including Duncan.

CNN reported last week that Willis is expected to seek more than a dozen indictments in the case, with an eye on conspiracy and racketeering charges. The investigation has focused on efforts to pressure election officials and a scheme to put forward an alternative slate of electors who would go against the outcome of the vote in the state.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Former President Trump Monday lashed out at ex-Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan as an Atlanta grand jury is already hearing evidence in the Peach state election interference case.

Trump warned Duncan to defy a legal subpoena for his testimony in the case that stems from the ex-presidents push to overturn President Bidens narrow win in the key battleground state.

I am reading reports that failed former Lt. Governor of Georgia, Jeff Duncan, will be testifying before the Fulton County Grand Jury. He shouldnt, Trump wrote on his social media site.

Trump derided Duncan, a longtime critic, as a nasty disaster for opposing his broader alleged scheme to overturn the election and stay in power.

Its not known if Trump may face legal consequences for his threat to Duncan, who has said he will comply with the summons to testify.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis began investigating more than two years ago, shortly after a damning phone call Trump made to Georgias top election official.

If Trump is indicted in Georgia, it would be his fourth indictment in recent months.

Leaked details of the Georgia probe suggest that Willis is building a case under the states Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations, or RICO, law which would allow her to charge numerous people in a potentially wide-ranging scheme involving Trump and others.

The Georgia investigation was prompted by the Jan. 2, 2021 call Trump made to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a fellow Republican.

Trump suggested the states top elections official could help find just enough votes needed to overtake Biden in the state.

All I want to do is this: I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have, Trump is heard saying on a recording of the call, which was leaked to news outlets. Because we won the state.

Trump has insisted he did nothing wrong and has repeatedly said the call was perfect.

The Georgia probe covers some of the same issues that special counsel Jack Smith has charged Trump with carrying out nationwide, including efforts to recruit a fake slate of pro-Trump electors who falsely claimed he won the state.

In Georgia, prosecutors are also reportedly investigating a Trump campaign effort to improperly gain access to voting machines in a rural heavily Republican county after the 2020 vote.

CNN reported over the weekend that Georgia prosecutors have text messages and emails directly linking members of Trumps legal team, including Rudy Giuliani, to the voting system breach, which was aimed at uncovering non-existent evidence of voter fraud.

When his various efforts to overturn the election failed in Georgia and elsewhere, Trump urged his followers to fight like hell to keep him in power in a fiery Jan. 6, 2021 speech.

Thousands of violent pro-Trump extremists stormed the Capitol in an effort to physically block Congress from certifying Bidens win.
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Attorneys for Donald Trump on Monday criticized the Georgia Fulton County District Attorneys Office over a report that a document listing criminal charges against the former president was briefly posted earlier in the day, then abruptly taken down, arguing that it reflects flaws in the investigation into Trumps attempts to overturn Georgias 2020 election results.

The Fulton County District Attorneys Office has once again shown that they have no respect for the integrity of the grand jury process, attorneys Drew Findling and Jennifer Little said in a statement issued by the Trump campaign.

This was not a simple administrative mistake, the attorneys added. A proposed indictment should only be in the hands of the District Attorneys Office, yet it somehow made its way to the clerks office and was assigned a case number and a judge before the grand jury even deliberated. This is emblematic of the pervasive and glaring constitutional violations which have plagued this case from its very inception.

The statement is the latest instance of Trump and his allies questioning the credibility of the case against the former president.

Reuters reported earlier Monday on a legal filing against Trump posted to the court docket. But the news outlet later clarified that the courts website had briefly posted a document Monday listing several criminal charges against Trump before taking the document down without explanation.

A spokesperson for the Fulton County clerk issued a statement late Monday afternoon referencing a fictitious document circulating on social media, but they offered no further explanation about the document that was posted.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D) is investigating Trump and his allies over their efforts to overturn the states election results in 2020 by pressuring state officials and putting together a group of alternate electors to go against the states certified results.

A grand jury met Monday and was expected to hear evidence in the case.

Two witnesses who were expected to appear before the grand jury Tuesday were spotted Monday, a sign that the process is moving more quickly than expected and an indictment could be imminent.

Trump spent much of Monday morning lashing out at Willis on social media over the Georgia investigation.

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Prosecutors involved in the Georgia investigation into former President Trumps attempts to stay in power in 2020 have obtained evidence showing a 2021 voting machine breach was part of a top-down push by Trumps legal team to access sensitive voting software, according to a report published Sunday by CNN.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis reportedly will use this evidence when she presents her case before a grand jury next week, CNN reported.

Willis has led an investigation into efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn 2020 election results in Georgia and is expected to announce charges against Trump and more than a dozen others. This would be Trumps fourth indictment announced in less than 5 months.

The connection between Trumps attorneys and the voting machine breach in Trump-friendly Coffee County in Georgia has been previously reported. In September 2022, video footage was released that showed a forensics team hired by Trumps attorney, Sidney Powell, spent hours handling voting equipment on Jan. 7, 2021. The footage showed the team copying data from the voting machines and handling poll pads containing sensitive voter data.

The incident also compelled Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to replace voting machines in the county ahead of the 2022 midterm elections, saying at the time, To allay the fears being stoked by perennial election deniers and conspiracy theorists, were replacing Coffee Countys election machines.

The new reporting from CNN, however, reveals conversations among key Trump allies ahead of the voter machine breach.

According to text messages, CNN reported, a local elections official who helped facilitate the voting machine breach sent a written invitation to Trumps attorneys six days ahead of the breach. Former Coffee County elections official Misty Hampton reportedly authored the letter. She, along with Rudy Giuliani and Powell, according to CNN, have been questioned on the issue.

The letter giving written invitation to access voting machines was shared widely with a group of Trump allies, CNN reported, including with members of the firm Powell hired to help with the operation, Sullivan Strickler.

Giulianis attorney, Robert Costello, reportedly told CNN that Giuliani had nothing to do with this, and, You cant attach Rudy Giuliani to Sidney Powells crackpot idea.

Text messages obtained by CNN, however, seem to reference Giuliani multiple times, referring to him as the Mayor, in connection with the written invitation and with plans for the breach. Giuliani has been informed he was a target of the investigation in Fulton County.

A Jan. 1, 2021, text message from a Sullivan Strickler employee to a group chat read, Just landed back in DC with the Mayor huge things starting to come together! and Most immediately, we were just granted access  by written invitation!  to Coffee Countys systems. Yay!

CNN also obtained text messages that showed efforts to gain access to the Coffee Countys voting system started in mid-December.

Hampton, while serving as the top election official in the county, was spreading theories about Dominion voting machines, which caught the attention of Trump officials, who reached out to her to obtain as much information as possible.

In early December, Hampton refused to validate the recount results in Georgia by the deadline, delaying certification of Bidens victory. She represented the only county in Georgia that failed to certify the results of the election, CNN reported.

2024 Republican presidential candidate Will Hurd responded Sunday to the CNN report by describing it as a prime example of why the issue in question, he said, is not a matter of First Amendment rights.

This is about a president trying to overturn an election and creating a conspiracy. This kind of infrastructure is considered critical infrastructure, and its supposed to be defended. The Trump team tried to get access in other places. And they went through the legal process, and the courts gave access to some of the information, Hurd said in an interview on CNNs State of the Union.

In this case, they werent getting it, so they tried to take it themselves. And, to me, its an indication of how fragile our election system is and how Donald Trumps efforts were making us increase our lack of trust in our systems, and one more example of why Donald Trump is running for president, is because hes trying to stay out of jail, because, as more of this information comes out and as the American people recognizes the extent of his baggage, theyre getting sick and tired of it, he continued.

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Former President Trump ripped into special counsel Jack Smith over his recently disclosed search warrant for Trumps account on X, formerly known as Twitter, calling Smith deranged.

How dare lowlife prosecutor, Deranged Jack Smith, breaking into my Twitter account without informing me and, indeed, trying to completely hide this atrocity from me, Trump posted to Truth Social on Monday. What could he possibly find out that is not already known.

Court filings unsealed last week show Smith subpoenaed and obtained a search warrant that ordered X to hand over documents related to Trumps account, which had been shut down after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. The case also fined X $350,000 for delaying compliance with a court order of the records.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) also acquired a nondisclosure order prohibiting X from disclosing the existence or contents of the search warrant to anyone, including Trump. The case ruling did not go into special detail regarding the search warrant or the subpoena.

What could he possibly find out that is not already known. Just like the early morning raid of Mar-a-Lago! Why isnt the DOJ raiding Crooked Joe Biden, the most CORRUPT (and Incompetent!) President in the history of the United States? Trump continued in his post, in reference to the FBIs raid of his home in Florida last year, where it found more than 100 classified records.

Trump railed against the subpoena last week following the unsealing of the court filings, claiming the DOJ secretly attacked, his account, calling it a hit, on his civil rights in a social media post.

Smiths office has brought two federal cases against Trump: one related to his handling of classified documents after leaving the White House and one regarding his efforts to remain in power after losing the 2020 election.

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Former president Donald Trump inflated attendance numbers of his appearance at the Iowa State Fair, saying he had a record attendance for his campaign stop.

Mr Trump gave a press conference at the fairgrounds in Des Moines that was broadcast by Real Americas Voice.

Its a real honour to be here, he said. We have a record that was set. The record is the largest crowd theyve ever had and I can see that because you cant get any more people here. Im very honoured by it, tremendous thing.

Mr Trump attended the state far as he seeks to win the Iowa Caucus, where he came in second place in 2016. Florida Gov Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov Nikki Haley, former vice president Mike Pence and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, among others, also attended the state fair as they attempt to court voters.

But all of the candidates significantly trail the former president, who won Iowa in the general election both in 2016 and in 2020 as it has moved from being a battleground to a solidly conservative state.

The Des Moines Register reported that the third day of the state fair, on which Mr Trump attended, had 5,000 more people attend than the third day of the 2022 state fair and 118,000 people attended altogether on the third day of the fair. The all-time attendance record for the state record came in 2019 when 1,170,375 attended throughout the entire fair.

Mr Trump has regularly inflated attendance numbers for his events. Most notably the day after his inauguration, then-White House press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters incorrectly that Mr Trumps inauguration had the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period, both in person and around the globe.

The former president made the appearance as he faces three indictments, two on the federal level and another from New York, as well as a potential indictment from the office of the district attorney for Fulton County, Georgia.
Former President Donald Trump's failed attempt to move Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's hush-money case to federal court may end up bolstering the prosecutor's case, according to The Daily Beast's Jose Pagliery. Trump's move gave U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein a chance to "take the first swing," which he used to "make it clear that the case against Trump is far more serious than it otherwise seems," Pagliery wrote. Former New York prosecutor John Moscow told the outlet that Hellerstein's rejection of Trump's effort was effectively "a seal of approval on the indictment."

Bragg's case hinges heavily on federal issues  when Trump allegedly arranged for his former personal attorney and fixer, Michael Cohen, to send a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels he did so "in the service of sparing his presidential campaign from potentially calamitous embarrassment during a national, and thus federal, election." Trump's ostensible plan in pushing his case to federal court was to hope for a trial appeal, as any appeal would likely see the Supreme Court  and thereby the 6-to-3 conservative majority Trump helped to position there  take the reins.

Following a June hearing, Hellerstein wrote in a June 19 order affirming the strength of the DA's case. "Whatever the standard, and whether it is high or low, Trump fails to satisfy it," Hellerstein wrote. "Trump has not explained how hiring and making payments to a personal attorney to handle personal affairs carries out a constitutional duty. Reimbursing Cohen for advancing hush money to Stephanie Clifford cannot be considered the performance of a constitutional duty." The judge added: "Falsifying business records to hide such reimbursement, and to transform the reimbursement into a business expense for Trump and income to Cohen, likewise does not relate to a presidential duty. Trump is not immune from the People's prosecution in New York Supreme Court. Trump can be convicted of a felony even if he did not commit any crime beyond the falsification, so long as he intended to do so or to conceal such a crime."
Serdar Berdimuhamedov, President of Turkmenistan, son of the former president

Turkmenistan has decidedly rejected Moscows proposal to create a "gas union" for the delivery of natural gas to China using existing pipelines on its territory, according to a press release by the countrys Foreign Ministry on Aug. 12.

Read also: Russian native named as saboteur by Russian occupiers in Crimean gas pipeline explosion

The message said that all three branches of the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline are fully saturated with gas extracted by Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. Ashgabat is clearly not expecting participation of other suppliers.

This reaction was in response to the Russian Foreign Ministry proposing a "trilateral gas alliance" involving Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.

According to reports, Dmitriy Birichevsky, Director of the Department of Economic Cooperation of the Russian ministry, stated that Moscow does not dismiss the "possibility of expanding trilateral cooperation in the gas field and acknowledges that "other countries are also interested.

The statement by Birichevsky raises, at a minimum, several questions, said Deputy Head of state company Turkmengaz, Myrad Archayev.

Read also: Ukraine makes certain successes in the southeast as it crawls toward Berdyansk and Melitopol

What 'opportunities for expansion' are implied, which 'other countries' are interested, and what, in principle, stands behind 'trilateral cooperation' in the gas sector?

Read also: Russians claim drones attacked Druzhba oil pipeline near Bryansk overnight

Currently, three branches of the Turkmenistan-China pipeline are in operation supplying gas from Turkmen deposits in the east and southeast of the country. All three lines, and the production capacities that ensure their operation, were jointly constructed exclusively by Turkmen and Chinese parties  namely Turkmengaz and Chinese oil and gas company CNPC.

Read also: Russia, China exploring paths for military collaboration, says Pentagon

He added that gas supplies from other nations via the pipeline are not anticipated and plans to expand the participants' list for the Turkmenistan-China pipeline project are not included in the current gas volume distribution plan.

Turkmenistan called the Russian statement "a deviation from the norms of international law and the industry practice in the gas sector."

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CHISINAU (Reuters) -Twenty-two Russian diplomats flew out of the Moldovan capital of Chisinau on Monday, leaving behind a skeleton staff as relations between the two countries deteriorated after Moldova last month ordered Moscow withdraw most of its delegation.

Moldovan officials have said the reduction of staff at the Russian embassy to 25 from 80 will establish parity with Moldova's embassy in Moscow.

Ex-Soviet state Moldova has been buffeted by Russia's war in neighbouring Ukraine and its pro-European President Maia Sandu has denounced the invasion and accused Moscow of trying to destabilise her country.

Moldovan media outlets published a video of two buses being escorted out of the Russian embassy by police and driving in the direction of the airport.

A source at Chisinau airport told Reuters that the plane carrying the embassy staff had left for the Russian city of Sochi, from where it would continue to Moscow.

Twenty-three technical support staff and their families were also asked to leave along with the diplomats.

According to Moldova's foreign ministry, no more than 10 Russian diplomats and 15 support staff can remain in Chisinau from Tuesday.

Russia's foreign ministry said on Monday evening that employees of Russian institutions - the embassy, trade mission and Russian centre for science and culture - and their family members who were forced to leave Moldova had already returned to Moscow.

"This unfriendly step of official Chisinau will undoubtedly have consequences for Russian-Moldovan relations," the ministry said in a statement.

Moldova's foreign ministry last month told Russia to reduce its embassy presence in Chisinau, citing concerns about alleged Russian attempts to destabilise the small state, which borders Romania and Ukraine.

Chisinau has distanced itself from Moscow since Sandu came to power in 2020. In February, Sandu accused Moscow of plotting a coup against her government.

(Reporting by Alexander Tanas, additional reporting by Maxim Rodionov, writing by Max Hunder, editing by Nick Macfie and Cynthia Osterman)
A dormant August stretch of storm activity in the tropics is set to conclude as the National Hurricane Center is forecasting two disturbances off the west coast of Africa.

After a week and a half of quietude over the Atlantic Ocean, the 8 a.m. update Monday described one area of low pressure in the east-central Atlantic and another farther east.

Both systems initially have been given a low odds of developing over the next week, with one at 30% over the next seven days and the other at 20%. Both are expected to move in the general direction of the Caribbean, if the latest outlook holds.

As of early Monday, the potential system farther to the east had slightly better odds of developing. The area of low pressure was forecast to move off Africa and over the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday or early Thursday, with slow development possible late in the week as it moves slowly west-northwest or northwest, forecasters said.

According to the 8 a.m. outlook Monday, the other area of interest, located closer to the central tropical Atlantic, was given 20% odds of developing in the middle to latter portion of this week over the east-central tropical Atlantic. It was expected to move slowly west-northwestward.

The next named storm would be Emily.

The National Hurricane Center is now predicting an above-normal 2023 hurricane season, increasing the likelihood from only a 30% chance in its last outlook to a 60% chance going forward.

The update announced Thursday comes as a result of ongoing record-breaking sea surface temperatures that continue to fight off the tempering effects of El Nino.

While sea surface temperatures have remained hot for longer than anticipated, El Ninos effects, which typically reduce hurricane chances, have emerged more slowly.

The NHC, which operates under the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, is now calling for 14-21 named storms, including 6-11 hurricanes, and two to five major hurricanes.
Two men were sentenced Monday to 30 years in prison for two armed robberies committed in Frankfort and New Lenox in 2019.

Justin Brown, 24, of Park Forest, and Terwon Matthews, 25, of Chicago, pleaded guilty to felony armed robbery before Judge David Carlson for the November 2019 robberies, according to a news release from the Will County states attorneys affice.

Shortly before 6 a.m. Nov. 16, 2019, Brown and Matthews, and two others, cut off a woman who was attempting to withdraw money from an ATM on LaGrange Road in Frankfort, according to the release.

The group blocked the womans car by cutting in front of her, according to the release. Brown and Matthews, armed with a gun, took her phone and credit card before withdrawing money from the ATM, according to the release.

They then took the womans car, and, with her still inside, used it for a three-hour armed robbery spree taking cash withdrawals from the womans accounts and buying items from different stores in the south suburbs, according to the release. A total of $8,900 was taken from her accounts, according to the release.

Ultimately, they left the woman and her car in Chicago before driving off in another vehicle, according to the release.

On Nov. 29, 2019, at about 6 a.m, Brown and Matthews, masked and believed to be carrying a gun, walked up to a man in New Lenox as he walked to his vehicle parked in the driveway and demanded his debit card, according to the release.

They put the man into the car they arrived in and for four hours kept him covered with a jacket while they engaged in an armed robbery spree, using the mans debit card, taking cash advances and making purchases in the south suburbs and northwest Indiana, according to the release.

After the mans bank closed the account, they left him along the expressway in Hammond, Indiana, according to the release.

Brown and Matthews will each receive 1,333 days credit for time served. They will also serve 18 months mandatory supervised release after completion of their sentence, according to the release.
COLDWATER  Corrections officials waited and were ready to stop plans reportedly to throw cellphones and drugs over the outside fences at Lakeland Correctional Facility on the citys north edge Sunday morning.

A 28-year-old woman and a 59-year-old man were arrested outside the 1,500-inmate facility.

Michigan State Police and the Department of Corrections have been conducting investigations into plans to provide prisoners with illegal items.

Lakeland Correctional Facility Coldwater

MSP Det. Sgt. Matt Berry said in a press release the investigators received advanced notice that another attempt may occur soon.

Investigators were ready at 5 a.m. Sunday when a car with two people stopped on Marshall Road along the western side of the prison.

Barry said the man exited the car but was quickly apprehended by officials.

The woman driver fled, but troopers waiting nearby stopped her on Marshall Road.

Officers recovered illegal controlled substances and cellphones with other evidence during searches.

Officers took both people across the street to the Branch County jail.

MSP withheld names until charges were authorized by the Branch County prosecutor.

The matter is still under investigation and additional suspects are being looked into," Berry said.

Officers impounded the 2013 Chrysler 200 registered to a third party.

Prior story MSP: Woman charged for allegedly smuggling drugs to son in Coldwater prison

Prior story Update: Lawyer accused of smuggling drugs into Coldwater prison arraigned

In the past month, an attorney has been charged for allegedly delivering paperwork laced with drugs and a mother is facing charges after allegedly bringing drugs in a face mask to her son in the prison.

Corrections officials routinely monitor communication at the prison, looking for schemes to get illegal items to prisoners.

Subscribe Follow this story.Subscribe to the Daily Reporter.

The Michigan State Police and Michigan Department of Corrections also encourage anyone who sees suspicious activity near a jail or prison to call and report it to authorities immediately.

---Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Two more arrests in Lakeland contraband investigations
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested Erik Gabriel Sterling, 39, and Martin James Sterling, 35, both of Pensacola, on one count each of trafficking in 1,4-Butanediol.

The FDLE was alerted to a suspicious package addressed to the two men, a news release from the agency said. The parcel contained 20 bottles of 1,4-Butanediol, weighing 24.75 pounds (11.22 kilograms).

After the package was delivered to the suspects residence, FDLE, with a warrant, conducted a search of the residence. Agents located the delivered package and an additional 20 empty bottles of the drug.

In case you missed it: Pensacola police arrest 4 teens in connection to string of antisemitic vandalism

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Sometimes known as "BD," 1,4-Butanediol an illicit GHB analog drug. GHB is a schedule I depressant that became popular among teens and young adults at dance clubs and raves in the 1990s and gained notoriety as a date rape drug, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.

The two suspects were arrested on Aug. 10 and booked into the Escambia County Jail. Both men were released on $30,000 bond each.

The Sterlings' arrests were a result of a multi-agency investigation conducted by FDLE, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the Naval Criminal Investigative Services and the Florida Highway Patrol, the release said.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Erik Sterling, Martin Sterling charged with trafficking 1,4-Butanediol
A woman who worked as a Tyngsboro daycare teacher will be allowed to be released from federal custody as she faces child pornography charges, according to new court documents.

A judge granted Lindsay Groves, 38, a motion for a pretrial release, according to a filing. The Hudson, NH woman is accused of taking explicit photos of young children at work.

Critically, however, the court finds that conditions of release can be fashioned to address this risk and reasonably assure the safety of the community, the judge writes.

The judge writes that Groves would reside with her parents, serving as third-party custodians, no children would be allowed to visit the home and that she would not have access to her or her parents phone.

Allegations of sexual misconduct came to light in court documents in June, alleging Groves took nude images of children at Creative Minds daycare and sent the photos to Stacie Laughton, a former New Hampshire lawmaker also charged in the case. She allegedly had an intimate relationship with Laughton between May 2022 and June 2023.

Former N.H. lawmaker, Tyngsboro daycare teacher facing child pornography charges

The allegations involve both boys and girls.

Groves allegedly used regular bathroom breaks for the children (routine diaper/pull-up changes prior to naptime) to take multiple photos of the prepubescent children in a private bathroom and then sent the photos to Laughton via text message, according to U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy.

Prosecutors say a review of Groves cellphone allegedly revealed over 2,500 text messages between Groves and Laughton.

According to court documents, these messages allegedly included discussion about, and transfer of, explicit photographs that Groves had taken of children while employed at Creative Minds  including at least four sexually explicit images of children who appear to be approximately three to five years old.

Prior to Groves release, the court will conduct a hearing in the near future to explain the conditions of her release.

The full court filing can be read below:

Tyngsboro daycare worker accused of child pornography allowed to be released from custody by Boston 25 Desk on Scribd

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Swiss bank UBS has agreed to pay $1.4bn (1.1bn) to resolve fraud claims in the US stemming from the 2008 financial crisis.

It brings to a close the last case brought by US prosecutors investigating banks' conduct in the run-up to the crash, which sparked a global downturn.

Prosecutors said the bank had lied about the quality of mortgages that were packaged and sold to investors in a series of deals in 2006-2007.

UBS did not admit or deny the claims.

In a statement, it said it had already set aside money for the "legacy" matter and the deal would resolve all civil claims in the US.

The bank had previously sought to have the case dismissed, saying prosecutors had not presented evidence of any intentional fraud.

In the lawsuit, which was brought in 2018, US prosecutors alleged that the Swiss bank had misled investors in connection with the sale of mortgage-backed securities more than a decade ago.

Ryan K Buchanan, United States attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, said UBS' conduct had "played a significant role in causing a financial crisis that harmed millions of Americans".

"The scope of this settlement should serve as a warning to other financial institutions - both large and small - of the significant penalties that can result when corporations misrepresent vital information to investors and undermine trust in our public markets," he added.

UBS, which is one of the world's top investment banks, is the eighteenth firm to reach a settlement in the US over its role in the 2008 crisis, prosecutors said.

The deals have led to more than $36bn in penalties altogether, involving the world's biggest banks, ratings firms and others.

US banks including JP Morgan and Bank of America have agreed to pay far larger sums than UBS.

Global banks' exposure to bad US mortgages in the early 2000s played a key role in sparking the financial crisis, which led to a sharp contraction in the global economy and the most severe downturn since the Great Depression of the 1930s in America.

Unexpected losses stemming from the loans created strains in the financial system and led to the collapse of several major banks, including Lehman Brothers in the US in 2008.

Prosecutors have accused banks of fuelling the crisis with illegal mortgage lending, which spread to the wider financial system thanks to widespread trading of securities backed by mortgages.
After Ukrainian cross-river raids in Kherson Oblast, Russia has faced the dilemma of whether to strengthen this area or deploy forces in the main sectors of Ukraine's counteroffensive operations, the U.K. Defense Ministry reported on Aug. 14.

Over the last week, small-scale combat has intensified along the banks of the lower reaches of the Dnipro River, the ministry wrote in its latest intelligence update.

Ukrainian forces have carried out raids and tried to gain a foothold at new locations on the Russian-occupied east bank, according to the update.

In addition, Ukrainian troops have expanded the bridgehead they have been holding next to the destroyed Antonivsky Bridge since June 2023, reads the report. "Some of these operations likely took advantage of a local Russian force rotation."

The two sides also continue to fight for control over small islands in the Dnipro estuary, the U.K. Defense Ministry added.

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On Aug. 9, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported that Ukrainian forces had conducted a cross-river raid deep into Russian-held territories in Kherson Oblast, managing to breach Russian defenses and push forward by up to 800 meters.

The Kyiv Independent's source in Ukraine's Armed Forces later confirmed the information. He added that the operation's participants had taken 16 Russian soldiers as prisoners and brought them back to the government-controlled side of the river.

Ukrainian forces in the area told the Kyiv Independent that they have been conducting small overnight raids across the river for months.

Read also: Ukrainian troops regularly cross Dnipro River, probing Russian defenses in Kherson Oblast





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Military strategists and policymakers across the West are already starting to think about a 2024 spring offensive by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, The Wall Street Journal reported on Aug. 13.

When Kyivs counteroffensive began in the spring, optimists hoped Ukrainian troops could replicate their success last year in routing Russian forces. But an initial attempt to use newly supplied Western tanks and armored vehicles to punch through fortified Russian lines stalled, the WSJ said.

Since then, progress has been slow and painful, relying on small-unit tactics. A renewed push could still be in the offing. But military leaders and policymakers already are grappling with the question of what can be achieved in the next few months and how to prepare for a protracted conflict, as reported by WSJ.

Read also: Pentagon chief and General Milley praise Ukrainian counteroffensive  Ambassador Markarova

A nagging concern in Kyiv and Western capitals is that politicians and voters may come to see the war as a quagmire and sour on supporting Ukraine. Even if Kyivs Western backers stay resolute, clocks are ticking as Ukrainian forces burn through munitions, manpower, and stamina for a grueling fight.

Kyivs goal now is for its current offensive to culminate with sufficient gains to show Ukrainian citizens and backers in Washington, Berlin, and elsewhere that their support hasnt been misplaced  and should continue, the report says.

Read also: Russian forces are overwhelmed as Ukraine steps up counteroffensive

Rain and snow might slow operations of heavy equipment such as tanks, but Ukrainian forces have proven most effective so far when operating in small units, often with lighter equipment.

The Ukrainian military continues to adapt faster than the Russian military, said Gordon Skip Davis, a retired U.S. Army major general and former NATO deputy assistant secretary-general.

By next spring Kyiv will have both more Western equipment and more skilled operators of the gear, he said.

As time passes, Ukraine will eventually employ more of its NATO-trained and equipped brigades, while Russia will struggle to maintain its rate of fire and its front-line coherence, Davis said.

Read also: Ukraine can deploy 75% more forces for counteroffensive  retired officer

WSJ reiterated that Ukraine has committed only a portion of its best-trained troops to the offensive, and only some of the more than 60,000 Ukrainian troops trained by NATO militaries have been drilled in combined-arms operations.

By the middle of next year, Ukraine might also be flying U.S.-made F-16 jet fighters, which European operators of the plane, including Denmark and the Netherlands, are eager to donate. Pressure is mounting on Washington to provide ATACMS long-range ground-launched rockets and on Germany to offer Taurus cruise missiles, the WSJ reported.

Read also: Ukrainian counteroffensive seeing notable success on southern front, says military

The West might also eventually provide more advanced equipment, such as sophisticated drones capable of air attacks.

Strategists looking to next year and beyond hope that over time  even as Russia reinforces impediments to Ukrainian assaults  Ukrainian troops can acquire the skills and experience that allow them to outmaneuver and outsmart Russian forces, the report says.

Since the beginning of June, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have undertaken a counteroffensive in southern and eastern Ukraine, progressively liberating occupied territories and securing positions on recaptured frontiers.

While the Ukrainian counteroffensive is difficult, the initiative is on the side of Ukraine and things are even more difficult for Russias invading forces, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Aug. 6.

The newest thrust of Ukraines counteroffensive is toward Ukraines southeast, The New York Times reported on July 27. The counteroffensive operation is complicated with large areas of mined land and relentless enemy artillery fire.

Ukrainian defenders step by step continue to create conditions for advancing, Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi said on Aug. 7.

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The Ukrainian Armed Forces has made significant progress in its counteroffensive operation near the village of Urozhayne, Donetsk Oblast, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar announced on Aug. 14.

Fighting continued in the village of Urozhayne this week, followed by some successes, she said.

Read also: Ukrainian military announces liberation of Novodarivka

Ukraines Armed Forces also achieved certain successes south and southeast of the village of Staromayorske, as well as gaining a foothold in certain areas, Malyar said, advancing in the Melitopol and Berdyansk areas.

Urozhayne is a village in Volnovakha district, Donetsk Oblast. Several days ago, Russian military correspondents declared that the Russian army had retreated from the village.

Read also: Over a quarter of Ukraines territory requires demining, says President Zelenskyy

In total, the Ukrainian military has liberated over 192 square kilometers in southern Ukraine and 40 square kilometers in the eastern Bakhmut area since the beginning of the counteroffensive.

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Ukraine is making inroads in its counteroffensive against Russia. The campaign, which has seen slow progress since it launched in the spring, has secured some battlefield advances in recent weeks. Despite these gains, however, fears are mounting that the war will be lengthy, eroding foreign support for Kyiv.

Ukraine has made tactically significant advances in its counteroffensive, the Institute for the Study of War says. The wins have been enough to force Russia to redeploy its troops around western Zaporizhia Oblast, suggesting that Ukrainian efforts may be significantly degrading Russian defenses, the ISW notes. The lack of Russian operational reserves means that the Russian command will have to conduct more lateral redeployments if they wish to reinforce certain sectors of the front in the future.

This has turned into a war of attrition, and Ukrainian forces are conserving ammunition and making small gains. Kyiv is targeting Moscows supplies, and troops have advanced as much as 12 miles from their starting point in June. Analysts, however, are warning that Ukraine still faces a long road ahead, given Russias advanced military defenses.
Ukraines Ambassador to Israel, Yevhen Korniichuk, has firmly denied speculation that Ukraine intends to scrap the visa-free arrangement for Israeli visitors during an interview with Radio Liberty on Aug. 14.

He clarified that the discussions revolved around suspending the visa-free arrangement, not terminating it.

Its not about canceling the visa-free regime. The issue under consideration was the suspension of it. No one was planning to cancel the intergovernmental agreement.

He did, however, openly acknowledge significant concerns and challenges, noting that this matter is under careful consideration at the highest levels of Ukraines political leadership.

Read also: Putin shuffled his commanders at least 17 times to compensate for Russian military inadequacies, Israeli expert

Recently, on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, the question arose again about the advisability of diverting a large number of our government officials during military operations to ensure the safety of pilgrims, Korniichuk said.

He said that around 30,000 Israeli pilgrims plan to visit Uman this year. However, due to the absence of air defense systems, Ukraine cannot safeguard them from potential Russian attacks.

21 people, including several children, died after a Russian missile attack on civilians in Uman in April 2023.

Korniichuk pointed out that if, for some reason, Israel doesnt want to provide weapons for the defense of Ukrainian citizens, they should consider protecting their own.

Read also: Israeli govt to summon Ukrainian ambassador for explanation over social media post

Another point of contention is the increasing number of Ukrainians being deported without explanation, from Israel, he said, adding that he is actively addressing the issue and engaging in open discussions with the Israelis to find a solution.

An NV report on Aug. 11, citing sources, indicated that the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine plans to revoke the visa-free regime for Israeli citizens and also seek the exclusion of Israels representative from defense ministers diplomatic meetings in the Ramstein format.

Among the reasons cited were the unfriendly treatment of Ukrainians visiting Israel and the termination of the medical insurance program for Ukrainian refugees in the country.

Read also: Israeli cargo vessel breaches Russian blockade in the Black Sea

There are suspicions, according to NVs sources, that important information from the Ramstein meetings is being leaked to third parties by Israelis.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The International Fund for Ukraine (IFU), an initiative from the U.K. defense ministry, has signed a contract with Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace Group to provide several C-UAS air defense systems, the Norwegian company announced on Aug. 14.

The contract is valued at a total of $71 million. The devices can disable various types of attack drones, the company said.

The C-UAS will provide a significant capability boost for the Armed Forces of Ukraine and will support their ability to protect their people," said Eirik Lie, president of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace.

The company added that the Norwegian government also donated Dingo 2 vehicles, weaponry, and remote weapon stations made by Kongsberg.

The UK set up the IFU with international partners to identify and procure equipment for Ukraine and ensure their quick delivery. The fund's executive panel comprises of the UK, Norway, Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden.

Read also: This Week in Ukraine Ep. 8  How Ukrainian air defense denies Russia air superiority

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KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine on Monday reported fierce fighting along its entire front line and "some success" in pushing back Moscow's troops in one part of the southeast where Ukrainian forces are trying to retake Russian-occupied territory.

Progress has been hampered by widespread Russian-laid minefields and strong fortifications, Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said.

But the Ukrainian military had pushed forward around the village of Staromaiorske, around 60 miles southwest of Russian-held Donetsk, and was pressing on two fronts in the south, Maliar said.

Troops were fighting for control of the neighbouring settlement of Urozhaine, she said. A Moscow-installed official in an occupied part of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region said on Sunday that Kyiv was attempting to pierce Russian lines by gaining a foothold in both villages.

"Hostilities are taking place in the vicinity of Urozhaine and the fight is for this particular locality," Maliar said in a statement to an official military platform. "There is some success on the southern and southeast axes in the vicinity of Staromaiorske."

Ukrainian forces have made incremental gains since kicking off their long-awaited operation in June, but officials in Kyiv have acknowledged that progress has been slower than they would have liked and hampered by rigid Russian defences.

In Monday's statement, Maliar described the nature of that challenge.

"The Armed Forces are facing complete mining of the territory, cement fortifications of the key heights, (and) constant mortar and artillery shelling," she said. "Additionally the Russians are densely using aviation."

Maliar added that the Ukrainian military managed to retake nearly 2 square miles during the past week around the ruined eastern city of Bakhmut, where Russian and Ukrainian forces fought the bloodiest battle of the nearly 18-month war.

She also said Russian troops were continuing their assault around the eastern towns of Kupyansk and Lyman, where she said they were regrouping.

"The Russians have intensified these offensives after success of the Ukrainian army on Bakhmut axis," Maliar said.

Russia still controls around a fifth of Ukraine, including the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, Luhansk region in the east and swathes of the regions of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. The occupied territory includes most of Ukraine's coast line and parts of its industrial heartland, the Donbas.

(Reporting by Dan Peleschuk; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
Ukrainian forces have made incremental gains in blood-stained Bakhmut, provoking a wave of revenge attacks from Vladimir Putins forces.

Deputy defence minister, Hanna Maliar, said the Ukrainian military managed to retake nearly two square miles during the past week around the ruined eastern city of Bakhmut.

But Russian troops were continuing their assault around the eastern towns of Kupyansk and Lyman, where she said they were regrouping.

The Russians have intensified these offensives after success of the Ukrainian army on Bakhmut axis, she said.

She added: The Armed Forces are facing complete mining of the territory, cement fortifications of the key heights, (and) constant mortar and artillery shelling, she said. Additionally the Russians are densely using aviation.

Troops were also fighting for control of the neighbouring settlement of Urozhaine, the deputy defence minister said.

A Moscow-installed official in an occupied part of Ukraines Zaporizhzhia region said on Sunday that Kyiv was attempting to pierce Russian lines by gaining a foothold in both villages.

Key Points

Russia to equip new nuclear submarines with hypersonic missiles

Ukraine reports fierce fighting, 'some success' in counteroffensive

Baby among seven killed as Russia strikes Kherson

Russian troops forced to retreat as Ukraine retakes key Donetsk village

Realistic possibility Kremlin no longer funds Wagner, says UK

Putins forces strike eastern towns after Kyiv makes gains in Bakhmut

15:25 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ukrainian forces have made incremental gains in blood-stained Bakhmut, provoking a wave of revenge attacks from Vladimir Putins forces.

Deputy defence minister, Hanna Maliar, said the Ukrainian military managed to retake nearly two square miles during the past week around the ruined eastern city of Bakhmut.

But Russian troops were continuing their assault around the eastern towns of Kupyansk and Lyman, where she said they were regrouping.

The Russians have intensified these offensives after success of the Ukrainian army on Bakhmut axis, she said.

She added: The Armed Forces are facing complete mining of the territory, cement fortifications of the key heights, (and) constant mortar and artillery shelling, she said. Additionally the Russians are densely using aviation.

Ukrainian soldiers ride an APC at the front line near Bakhmut, Donetsk region (AP)

What are hypersonic missiles and how do they work?

14:44 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russia is in the process of equipping its new nuclear submarines with hypersonic Zircon missiles, the head of Russias largest shipbuilder has said.

Multi-purpose nuclear submarines of the Yasen-M project will ... be equipped with the Zircon missile system on a regular basis, , Alexei Rakhmanov, chief executive officer of the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC), told RIA.

Work in this direction is already underway.

Yasen-class submarines, also known as Project 885M, are nuclear-powered cruise missile submarines, built to replace Soviet-era nuclear attack submarines as part of a programme to modernise the army and fleet.

The sea-based Zircon hypersonic missiles have a range of 900 km (560 miles), and can travel at several times the speed of sound, making it difficult to defend against them.

What are hypersonic missiles and how do they work?

Twenty-two Russian diplomats leave Moldova as relations slide

14:20 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Twenty-two Russian diplomats flew out of the Moldovan capital of Chisinau on Monday, leaving behind a skeleton staff as relations between the two countries deteriorate.

Moldovan officials have said the reduction of staff at the Russian embassy to 25 from 80 will establish parity with Moldovas embassy in Moscow.

Ex-Soviet state Moldova has been buffeted by Russias war in neighbouring Ukraine and its pro-European President Maia Sandu has denounced the invasion and accused Moscow of trying to destabilise her country.

Moldovan media outlets published a video of two buses being escorted out of the Russian embassy by police and driving in the direction of the airport.

A source at Chisinau airport told Reuters that the plane carrying the embassy staff had left for the Russian city of Sochi, from where it would continue to Moscow.

Twenty-three technical support staff and their families were also asked to leave along with the diplomats.

Two Russian citizens held in Poland on claims of spreading propaganda for Wagner

14:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Two Russian citizens have been arrested on allegations of spreading propaganda for Russias Wagner mercenary group, Polands security authorities said.

The Internal Security Agency, or ABW, alleged the men had been acting on behalf of Russias secret services and were distributing leaflets in Warsaw and Krakow advocating joining the mercenaries.

The two, identified only as Alexei T and Andrei G, were to receive the equivalent of some 5,000 dollars (3,940) for their work, the agency alleged.

They were arrested on Friday on allegations of working for a foreign intelligence agency and participation in an organised group having terrorist goals.

If convicted, they could face up to 10 years in prison.

In recent months Poland has arrested 22 people suspected of spying for Russia or for its ally, Belarus, in what Warsaw sees as part of a hybrid war on Poland due to its support for Ukraine in the war against Russias aggression.

In pictures: Aftermath of Russian shelling

13:38 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Pictures show local residents search for their belongings in the ruins of a house destroyed by recent shelling in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in Donetsk, Russian-controlled Ukraine.

(REUTERS)

(REUTERS)

Russia targets Odesa again

12:57 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russia launched three waves of night-time air attacks against the southern Ukraine port city of Odesa, officials said on Monday, but the Ukrainian air force said it intercepted all 15 incoming Shahed drones and eight Kalibr missiles.

Falling debris from the interceptions damaged the dormitory of an educational facility in the city, a residential building and a supermarket, Odesa Governor Oleh Kiper said.

Two employees of the supermarket were taken to hospital, he said.

The Kremlins forces have pummelled Odesa recently, aiming at facilities that transport Ukraines crucial grain exports and also wrecking Ukrainian historical sites.

The stepped-up barrage followed Moscows decision to break off a landmark agreement that had allowed grain to flow from Ukraine to countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia and help reduce the threat of hunger.

Following that withdrawal, Russia carried out repeated strikes on Ukrainian ports, including Odesa, and declared wide areas of the Black Sea unsafe for shipping.

On Sunday, a Russian warship fired warning shots at a cargo ship in the south-western Black Sea.

Russias Defence Ministry said the ship was heading north to the Ukrainian Danube River port of Izmail.

Russian forces fired shots from automatic small arms to force it to stop, the ministry said on Telegram.

Ukraines presidential office reported on Monday that at least eight civilians were killed and 23 others injured in Ukraine over the previous 24 hours.

Ukraine reports fierce fighting, 'some success' in counteroffensive

12:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ukraine on Monday reported fierce fighting along its entire front line and some success in pushing back Moscows troops in one part of the southeast where Ukrainian forces are trying to retake Russian-occupied territory.

Progress has been hampered by widespread Russian-laid minefields and strong fortifications, Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said.

But the Ukrainian military had pushed forward around the village of Staromaiorske, around 60 miles southwest of Russian-held Donetsk, and was pressing on two fronts in the south, Maliar said.

Troops were fighting for control of the neighbouring settlement of Urozhaine, she said. A Moscow-installed official in an occupied part of Ukraines Zaporizhzhia region said on Sunday that Kyiv was attempting to pierce Russian lines by gaining a foothold in both villages.

Hostilities are taking place in the vicinity of Urozhaine and the fight is for this particular locality, Maliar said in a statement to an official military platform. There is some success on the southern and southeast axes in the vicinity of Staromaiorske.

(AP)

Russia's weapons showing effectiveness in Ukraine, Shoigu says

11:31 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Monday that Russian weapons were showing their effectiveness in Ukraine.

In remarks shown on state television, Shoigu said that much-hyped Western weaponry had shown itself to be far from perfect in the course of fighting in Ukraine.

(via REUTERS)

Russia supplying S-400 air defence systems to India on schedule - defence official

11:06 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russia will deliver an order of S-400 anti-aircraft systems to India within the agreed timeframe, Interfax news agency quoted a senior Russian defence export official on Monday as saying.

India is the worlds biggest arms importer and still mostly uses Russian technology for traditional arms, but officials in New Delhi have expressed concern that Russias war in Ukraine could delay planned deliveries of weapons and equipment.

The production of S-400 Triumf anti-aircraft missile systems is being carried out according to schedule, Interfax quoted Dmitry Shugaev, head of Russias Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, as saying.

The delivery of the equipment of the S-400 Triumf system is expected to be completed within the agreed time frame, he said in comments made during an armed forces event.

India purchased the S-400 Triumf air defence system units in 2018 for $5.4 billion. Three of the systems have been delivered and two more are still awaited.

The deliveries are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024, according to Interfax.

The Indian Air Force said in March that the war in Ukraine was holding up vital defence supplies from Russia.

New Delhi has been seeking in recent years to diversify imports or replace them with home-built hardware.

It is buying French fighter jets, Israeli drones and U.S. jet engines. But Russia still accounted for $8.5 billion of the $18.3 billion India has spent on arms imports since 2017, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

Wagner tracker: Charting Yevgeny Prigozhins mercenary group through the Ukraine war

10:36 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Since Vladimir Putin rose to power as Russias president 23 years ago, few things have rocked his leadership as much as Saturday 24 June when Wagner mercenaries barrelled towards Moscow.

The army within an army who had been ruthlessly grinding away for months at the vanguard of some of the bloodiest fighting in eastern flanks Ukraine were now on the verge of triggering a war within a war - this time, against the Kremlin.

But the Russian president was spared that when the mutiny was halted in its tracks about 125 miles from the capital, in a deal between the leader of the mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin and Putin  brokered by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Prigozhin himself was due to head to Belarus  although he has been pictured in Russia since  with an invitation for Wagner fighters to gather in Belarus. Thousands are set to entered the country since.

Below we track Wagners involvement in the invasion of Ukraine and their infamous- but failed- march to Moscow:

Charting Yevgeny Prigozhins Wagner mercenary group through the Ukraine war

Danish air force intercepts Russian bombers headed to Dutch NATO airspace

10:14 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The Danish air force has intercepted two Russian bombers that were identified over Denmark and flying towards the area that the Netherlands monitors for the NATO military alliance, the Dutch Royal Airforce said on Monday.

It added that Dutch F-16s were called into action Monday morning, but the Russian bombers were intercepted before they could enter Dutch NATO airspace and have now turned back.

A spokesperson for the Dutch Royal Airforce said that planes are intercepted if they do not have a unique identifying code, did not provide a flight plan, and if there is no two-way conversation.

He also said that its not rare for Russian airplanes to violate a European countrys airspace or approach it.

Reuters could not immediately reach the Danish Ministry for Defence for comment.

German network regulator names 2nd managing director of Rosneft Deutschland

09:54 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Germanys network regulator on Monday said it had appointed Udo Giegerich as a second managing director of the German subsidiary of Russias Rosneft , Rosneft Deutschland, which Berlin put under a trusteeship last year.

The regulator said Giegerich was a proven financial expert as a former finance chief at various companies and would be responsible for Rosneft Deutschlands finance department.

Chinese Defense Minister Li to visit Russia and Belarus in show of support despite West's objections

09:39 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu is visiting Russia and Belarus in a show of support for those nations which the West has sought to isolate over Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Li departed Monday on the six-day trip, during which he will deliver an address at the Moscow Conference on International Security and meet with defense leaders from Russia and other nations, the Defense Ministry said on its social media account, citing spokesperson Col. Wu Qian.

Russian Foreign Ministry Sergey Lavrov is due to speak at the conference on the topic of the Majority World countries search for ways to development outside Western mechanisms, including strengthening multilateral associations of a new type, Russias official TASS news agency reported.

It said representatives from about 100 countries and eight international organizations had been invited to attend.

Chinese Defense Minister Li to visit Russia and Belarus in show of support despite West's objections

Ukraine condemns 'provocative' Russian actions in Black Sea

09:02 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ukraine on Monday condemned what it called provocative Russian actions and called for decisive countermeasures by the international community, a day after Moscow said one of its warships had fired warning shots at a cargo vessel in the Black Sea.

Moscow said in a statement on Sunday that its Vasily Bykov patrol ship fired automatic weapons on the Palau-flagged Sukru Okan vessel after the ships captain failed to respond to a request to halt for an inspection.

Russia has said it will treat any ships approaching Ukrainian ports as potential military vessels after it left a U.N.-brokered deal last month that allowed the safe passage through the Black Sea of Ukrainian grain.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine strongly condemns the provocative actions carried out by the Russian Federation on August 13 in the Black Sea in relation to the Turkish dry cargo vessel Sukru Okan, which was en route to the port of Izmail, the ministry said in a statement.

Kyiv said the incident was a gross violation of international law and exemplified Russias deliberate policy of endangering the freedom of navigation and safety of commercial shipping in the Black Sea.

We express our support and solidarity with Turkiye, our strategic partner, and we call on the international community to take decisive action to prevent Russian Federations actions that impede the peaceful passage of vessels through the Black Sea, the ministry said.

Russia to equip new nuclear submarines with hypersonic missiles

08:28 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russia is in the process of equipping its new nuclear submarines with hypersonic Zircon missiles, the head of Russias largest shipbuilder told the RIA state news agency in an interview published on Monday.

Multi-purpose nuclear submarines of the Yasen-M project will ... be equipped with the Zircon missile system on a regular basis, , Alexei Rakhmanov, chief executive officer of the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC), told RIA.

Work in this direction is already underway.

Yasen-class submarines, also known as Project 885M, are nuclear-powered cruise missile submarines, built to replace Soviet-era nuclear attack submarines as part of a programme to modernise the army and fleet.

The sea-based Zircon hypersonic missiles have a range of 900 km (560 miles), and can travel at several times the speed of sound, making it difficult to defend against them.

President Vladimir Putin said earlier this year that Russia would start mass supplies of Zircon missiles as part of the countrys efforts to boost its nuclear forces.

The Russian multi-purposes frigate Admiral Gorshkov, which has tested its strike capabilities in the western Atlantic Ocean earlier this year, has been already equipped with Zircon missiles

Ukraine condemns 'provocative' Russian actions in Black Sea

08:15 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Ukraine has condemned Russia for its "provocative" actions, a day after a Russian warship fired warning shots at a cargo vessel in the Black Sea.

"The ministry of foreign affairs of Ukraine strongly condemns the provocative actions carried out by the Russian Federation on August 13 in the Black Sea in relation to the Turkish dry cargo vessel 'Sukru Okan,' which was en route to the port of Izmail," the ministry said in a statement today.

"The Russian Navy grossly violated the UN Charter, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and other norms of international law. These actions exemplified Russia's deliberate policy of endangering the freedom of navigation and safety of commercial shipping in the Black Sea."

Purported video shows huge fire as Russia strikes Odesa

07:45 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Night attack on #Odesa through the lens of the mayors office cameraman. Someone must stop this terror. It cant be like that in 21 century. #RussiaIsANaziState #RussiaIsATerroristState #UkraineWarNews #UkraineWillWin pic.twitter.com/Z1aQNizqAu  Julia Gorodetskaya (@gorodetskaya) August 14, 2023

Ukrainian forces blow up minibus used to transport Russian soldiers

07:15 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Footage shows the Russian vehicle being hit and exploding, with black smoke rising into the air as it burns.

The images were shared by Colonel General Oleksandr Stanislavovych Syrskyi, Commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Wednesday saying: The 63rd OMBr destroys the minibus that the Russians used to transport their personnel. Good job.

Ukrainian forces blow up minibus used to transport Russian soldiers

Search teams comb rubble after factory explosion close to Moscow

06:45 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Rescuers in Russia combed through the rubble following an explosion on the grounds of a factory in Sergiev Posad, north of the capital Moscow.

Twelve people remained missing after the explosion on Wednesday at a factory that makes optical equipment for Russian security forces, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported, citing emergency officials.

Russias Emergency Ministry released footage showing crews clearing the debris, with excavators and heavy machinery being used to comb through the site.

Watch: Search teams comb rubble after factory explosion close to Moscow

Russia fires warning shots at Ukraine-bound international cargo ship

06:15 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

A Russian warship fired warning shots at a dry cargo ship in the Black Sea yesterday, after the Russian defence ministry said it intercepted the Palau-flagged Sukru Okan ship heading towards Ukraine.

Issuing a statement, Russia said its Vasily Bykov patrol ship open fired with an automatic weapon at the vessel after its captain did not respond to their request to halt for an inspection.

"To forcibly stop the vessel, warning fire was opened from automatic weapons," the Russian defence ministy said. A Ka-29 helicopter carrying Russian soldiers was then scrambled to inspect the ship.

While Russia claims the ship was heading towards Ukraines port of Izmail, Refinitiv shipping data showed the ship was heading north towards the coast of Bulgaria, reported Reuters.

"After the inspection group completed its work on board, the Sukru Okan continued on its way to the port of Izmail," the Russian defence ministry said.

Namita Singh has more.

Russia fires warning shots at Ukraine-bound cargo ship in Black Sea

Russia equipping new nuclear submarines with zircon missiles, says shipbuilder

05:45 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Russia is in the process of equipping its new nuclear submarines with hypersonic Zircon missiles, the head of Russias largest shipbuilder has said.

Multi-purpose nuclear submarines of the Yasen-M project will ... be equipped with the Zircon missile system on a regular basis, Alexei Rakhmanov, chief executive officer of the United Shipbuilding Corporation told RIA state news agency.

Work in this direction is already underway.

Yasen-class submarines, also known as Project 885M, are nuclear-powered cruise missile submarines, built to replace Soviet-era nuclear attack submarines as part of a programme to modernise the army and fleet.

Russian president Vladimir Putin said earlier this year that Russia would start mass supplies of Zircon missiles as part of the countrys efforts to boost its nuclear forces.

Russia vows retaliation after Ukraine attack on Crimea bridge

05:15 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Russia has vowed revenge after claiming to have shot down Ukrainian missiles targeting a key bridge linking them with the annexed Crimea.

Videos on social media appeared to show smoke rising from near Kerch Bridge, an important resupply route for Russian forces.

The Kremlin accused Ukraine of terrorism, while also claiming to have thwarted an attack by 20 drones targeting Crimea overnight.

Russian foreign spokesperson Maria Zakharova wrote on Telegram: There can be no justification for such barbaric actions and they will not go unanswered.

More here.

Russia vows retaliation after Ukraine launches attack on key Crimea bridge

Three injured in Russian attack on Odesa

04:45 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

At least three people sustained injuries in Russias overnight attack on the port city of Odesa, the governor of the Ukrainian region said.

As a result of the enemy attack in Odesa, several fires broke out from falling rocket fragments, the governor, Oleh Kiper, said today.

Windows in buildings were blown out by the blast wave.

Baby dead in Russian attack on Kherson

04:19 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Artillery shelling in the village of Shiroka Balka, on the banks of the Dnieper River killed a family  a husband, wife, 12-year-old boy and 23-day-old girl  and another resident.

Two men were killed in the neighboring village of Stanislav, where a woman was also wounded.

The attack on Kherson province followed Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliars comments on Saturday attempting to quell rumors that Ukrainian forces had landed on the occupied left (east) bank of the Dnieper in the Kherson region.

Again, the expert hype around the left bank in the Kherson region began. There are no reasons for excitement, she said.

7 killed in Ukraine's Kherson region, including a 23-day-old baby girl

Ukraine is the most mined country in the world, claims defence minister

04:00 , Matt Drake

Since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian forces have been laying down landmines year after year in an effort to thwart any counteroffensive.

The Ukrainian defence minister Oleksii Reznikov claimed that millions of explosive devices have been placed along the frontline which extends roughly 600 miles.

Speaking to The Guardian, he said: "Russian minefields are a serious obstacle for our troops, but not insurmountable.

"We have skilled sappers and modern equipment, but they are extremely insufficient for the front that stretches hundreds of kilometres in the east and south of Ukraine.

Ukraines Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov said Ukraine is the most mined country in the world (REUTERS)

Polish minister says reinforcement at the border with Belarus is due to hostile rhetoric and actions

03:00 , Matt Drake

Polands defense minister said Saturday that the country has increased the number of troops protecting its border with Belarus as a deterrent amid destabilizing actions by its pro-Russian neighbor.

Mariusz Blaszczak met in Jarylowka, in eastern Poland, with some of the troops recently deployed close to the Belarus border.

He insisted that the increased military presence is purely a deterrent move, not a hostile act, as Minsk and Moscow are claiming.

There is no doubt that the Belarus regime is cooperating with the Kremlin and that the attacks on the Polish border are intended to destabilize our country, Blaszczak said.

Read the full report by Rafal Niedzielski below.

Polish minister says reinforcement at the border with Belarus is due to hostile rhetoric and actions

Further shelling in Kherson region

02:00 , Matt Drake

There has been further shelling in the village of Bilozerka on the outskirts of Kherson.

It comes after reports that shelling in Shikora Balka killed seven people, including a 23-day-old baby.

Air raid sirens were reported across the region for the rest of Sunday.

According to military officials on Telegram, 12 houses were damaged, injuring a man and a 31-year-old woman.

A 23-day-year old baby and her family were killed in shelling (Ihor Krylenko/Telegram)

Ukrainian troops shoot flyers at Russian positions urging them to surrender

01:00 , Matt Drake

Images show Ukrainian soldiers preparing artillery shells filled with flyers near Bakhmut, Donetsk region.

The flyers have messages urging Russian troops to give up and are then fired towards enemy positions using a Grad multiple-launch rocket system.

A Ukrainian soldier watches a Grad multiple launch rocket system firing shells with flyers near Bakhmut, Donetsk region (AP)

Ukrainian soldiers load flyers urging the Russian soldiers to surrender (AP)

A Ukrainian soldier loads flyers urging the Russian soldiers to surrender, into a Grad multiple launch rocket system (AP)

Russia says it has foiled Ukraine drone attack over Belgorod region

Monday 14 August 2023 00:00 , Matt Drake

Russias defence ministry claimed on Sunday that their air defences shot down another drone over the western Belgorod region at around 10 pm Moscow time.

The ministry said in a post on its Telegram channel: There were no casualties or destruction.

Russian rockets are launched against Ukraine from the Belgorod region, seen from Kharkiv, Ukraine, Sunday, July 16, 2023 (AP)

Newborn baby girl killed alongside parents and brother as Putins troops bombard Kherson village

Sunday 13 August 2023 23:00 , Matt Drake

An entire family including a newborn baby girl and her 12-year-old brother were among seven people killed during intense Russian shelling in a village in southern Kherson on Sunday.

Russian shells hit the village of Shiroka Balka, on the banks of the Dnieper River, and killed a family that included a husband, wife, 12-year-old boy and 23-day-old baby girl, Ukraines Internal Affairs Ministry said.

Another resident was also killed, as well as two men in the neighbouring village of Stanislav.

Ukraines interior minister Igor Klymenko said the shells hit the familys home in Shiroka Balka, adding: Terrorists must be stopped. They must be stopped by force. They dont understand anything else.

Read the full report by Matt Drake below.

Newborn baby girl killed as Putins troops bombard Kherson village

Torture is antithesis of a peaceful settlement, warns UN special rapporteur

Sunday 13 August 2023 22:26 , Andy Gregory

War crimes such as torture are the antithesis of a peaceful settlement, the UNs special rapporteur on torture has warned, after writing to Russian authorities to detail allegations brought to her concerning Moscows forces in Ukraine.

Torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of your enemy is one of the crimes which is so hard for societies and individuals to recover from. That is the antithesis of a peaceful settlement, said Dr Alice Jill Edwards, in an exclusive interview with The Independent.

Its not the investigations into these allegations, its the actual acts themselves. There really is never any peace without justice, and I think the Ukraine context is very interesting how this [bid] to investigate crimes of torture is being carried out in real-time while a war is underway. That is rare.

Ukrainian accounts of torture go way beyond rogue Russian troops, UN warns

Charting the Wagner mercenary groups movements through the Ukraine war

Sunday 13 August 2023 21:29 , Andy Gregory

The UKs Ministry of Defence first reported that Wagner mercenaries had been deployed in Ukraine on 28 March 2022, little over a month into Moscows invasion  after Russian losses had already begun to hamper the pace of the initial assault.

Military consultant Nicholas Drummond told The Independent: Wagner was involved from the start but the group started to become a key player when the initial assault ran into difficulty. By the end of March, it was very evident that the invasion had gone wrong. Putin used Prigozhin as a troubleshooter and Wagner was there to fill the gaps.

But despite handing Mr Putin the rare opportunity to vaunt a military success in Ukraine with the grinding and costly capture of Bakhmut, Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin would ultimately turn on the Kremlin, and his exact whereabouts now are up for debate, as his mercenaries presence in Belarus raises concerns across the border with Nato.

My colleague Maryam Zakir-Hussain takes a look below at Wagners movements since the wars outset:

Charting Yevgeny Prigozhins Wagner mercenary group through the Ukraine war

Russian scientists begin processing first data from Luna-25 space mission

Sunday 13 August 2023 20:22 , Andy Gregory

Russia has switched on the scientific instruments aboard its lunar lander and scientists began processing its first data, as the space craft sped towards the moon in a bid to be first to find ice on the Earths only natural satellite.

The Russian Luna-25 mission, the first since 1976, is racing against India, which launched its Chandrayaan-3 lunar lander last month, to complete a soft landing on the moons south pole where scientists believe there are pockets of water ice.

A Soyuz 2.1 rocket carrying the Luna-25 craft blasted off from the Vostochny cosmodrome in Russias Far East at 2:11am on Friday Moscow time and was boosted out of Earths orbit an hour later.

There is much riding on the Luna-25 mission for Russia  if it succeeds, Moscow is likely to say it shows that the Wests sanctions over the Ukraine war cannot hold it back, while failure would again raise questions over Russias space ambitions after decades of superpower competition with the US during the Cold War.

The rocket carrying the lunar lander blasts off from a launchpad at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the far eastern Amur region of Russia (Roscosmos/Vostochny Space Centre via Reuters)

Seven killed in Ukraines Kherson region, including a 23-day-old baby girl

Sunday 13 August 2023 19:26 , Andy Gregory

Seven people  including a 23-day-old baby girl  were killed in Russian shelling in Ukraines southern Kherson region on Sunday, the countrys Internal Affairs Ministry said.

Artillery shelling in the village of Shiroka Balka, on the banks of the Dnieper River killed a family  a husband, wife, 12-year-old boy and 23-day-old girl  and another resident.

Two men were killed in the neighbouring village of Stanislav, where a woman was also wounded.

Susie Blann has the full report:

7 killed in Ukraine's Kherson region, including a 23-day-old baby girl

Ukraine claims to have liquidated 560 Russian troops in 24 hours of fighting

Sunday 13 August 2023 18:31 , Andy Gregory

Ukraine claims to have liquidated a further 560 Russian troops in its daily roundup of Moscows losses.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine also claimed to have destroyed 20 vehicles and fuel tanks, 11 armoured personnel vehicles, three tanks, and 19 artillery systems.

Ukraines count of Russian losses is somewhat higher than estimates by Western allies, media outlets and other analysts, which in turn are significantly higher than those admitted to by Moscow.

Large fire extinguished at fertiliser warehouse in Moscow region, Russian authorities say

Sunday 13 August 2023 17:34 , Andy Gregory

A large fire that broke out at a fertiliser warehouse in the Moscow region on Sunday has been extinguished, Russias emergency service has said.

The size of the fire in the town of Ramenskoye reached 2,700 square metres before it was localised and put out, Russian state news agency RIA reported.

Videos of the fire posted online earlier showed thick black smoke and a flame, seen from hundreds of metres away.

Moscow region prosecutors office said the preliminary cause of the fire was a violation of fire safety requirements during welding work, state news agency Tass reported, citing the warehouses owners as saying that all employees had left the premises.

Kerch bridge reopens after suspension, official says  day after rocket strike

Sunday 13 August 2023 16:25 , Andy Gregory

Road traffic on the bridge linking Russia to the Crimean peninsula has resumed after a brief suspension on Sunday, an official Telegram channel said.

It did not state the reason for the road closure, but it came a day after Russias defence ministry claimed Ukraine had unsuccessfully tried to strike the bridge across the Kerch Strait with S-200 rockets, forcing its temporary closure.

The bridge, a prized trophy of Vladimir Putin built following his illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, and has been targeted on more than one occasion since Russias full-scale invasion last February.

Flame and smoke rise from the bridge after an attack last October (AP)

Exclusive: Ukrainian accounts of torture go way beyond rogue Russian troops, UN warns

Sunday 13 August 2023 15:27 , Andy Gregory

Allegations of Ukraines civilians being snatched from their homes and abused in makeshift detention centres go way beyond the actions of rogue Russian soldiers, the UNs special rapporteur on torture has warned.

Dr Alice Jill Edwards has written to Russian authorities detailing the accounts she has received of harrowing and widespread human rights abuses by Moscows troops in Ukraine  including electrocutions, mock executions and threats of genital mutilation.

The 22-page letter serves to put Russia on notice of the extensive war crimes allegations, and in effect triggers Moscows obligations to investigate them under its international obligations.

But a two-month deadline to formally respond to the warning has now passed  with Russia failing to do so, while ignoring Dr Edwards requests for a meeting to discuss the allegations, as she prepares to embark on a fact-finding mission in Ukraine.

Speaking exclusively to The Independent, Dr Edwards warned that consistencies in the geographically widespread testimonies she has received show not just a pattern, but really state authorisation by Moscow.

Ukrainian accounts of torture go way beyond rogue Russian troops, UN warns

Russia fires warning shots at Ukraine-bound international cargo ship in Black Sea

Sunday 13 August 2023 14:00 , Tara Cobham

A Russian warship fired warning shots at a dry cargo ship in the Black Sea on Sunday, after the Russian defence ministry said it intercepted the Palau-flagged Sukru Okan ship heading towards Ukraine.

Issuing a statement, Russia said its Vasily Bykov patrol ship open fired with an automatic weapon at the vessel after its captain did not respond to their request to halt for an inspection.

"To forcibly stop the vessel, warning fire was opened from automatic weapons," the Russian defence ministy said. A Ka-29 helicopter carrying Russian soldiers was then scrambled to inspect the ship.

Namita Singh reports:

Russia fires warning shots at Ukraine-bound cargo ship in Black Sea

Russian troops forced to retreat as Ukraine retakes key Donetsk village

Sunday 13 August 2023 12:19 , Tara Cobham

Russian troops have been forced to retreat as Ukraine has retaken a key village in Donetsk, according to reports.

Moscows forces have abandoned their positions in Urozhaine, which is a strategically-significant southeastern village that Kyiv has been attempting to recapture for days as part of its counteroffensive.

In reports that The Independent has been unable to independently verify, it has been suggested that Ukrainian soldiers used US smart bombs that were shipped over in March.

Ukraine launched a counteroffensive in June, attempting to retake swathes of territory captured by Russia in the south and east of the country (Viacheslav Ratynskyi/Reuters)

Ukrainian forces seek to pierce Russian lines in south, says official installed by Moscow

Sunday 13 August 2023 11:30 , Tara Cobham

Ukrainian forces are trying to pierce Russian lines in the western parts of Donetsk region where waves of Kyivs fighters were used to gain a foothold to the east of the town of Staromaiorske, a Russian-installed official said.

Vladimir Rogov, a Russian-installed official in parts of Zaporizhzhia controlled by Moscow, said that there had been intense fighting south of Velyka Novosilka - in that area - as Ukrainian troops try to pierce Russian lines to push down to the coast on the Sea of Azov.

"The enemy managed to enter and gain a foothold in the northern part of Urozhaine after two weeks of the heaviest and bloodiest battles for this settlement," Rogov said, referring to the same part of the frontline.

He said Russian soldiers still controlled the southern part of Urozhaine, adding that Ukrainian forces were clearly aiming to take control of a town further south, Staromlynivka.

Ukraine launched a counteroffensive in June, attempting to retake swathes of territory captured by Russia in the south and east of the country. It has recaptured several villages in the south and some territory around the ruined city of Bakhmut in the east, but has so far not achieved major gains against well-dug in Russian troops.

Moscow says the Ukrainian counteroffensive has failed.

Russias emergency service 'reports large fire at warehouse in Moscow region

Sunday 13 August 2023 11:08 , Tara Cobham

Russia's emergency service said on Sunday that a large fire broke out at a warehouse in the town of Ramenskoye in Moscow region, Russian state news agency TASS reported.

"The size of the fire is 1,800 square metres," TASS quoted the statement.

Another state news agency, RIA, reported that the fire broke out at a fertiliser storage.

Videos of the fire posted online show thick black smoke and a flame, seen from hundreds of metres away.

The footage below, tweeted by an advisor to the Ukrainian government, has not been independently verified by The Independent.

Russian media report a large fire in an (allegedly) industrial warehouse in Moscow region. pic.twitter.com/TcZTt5aluQ  Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) August 13, 2023

Russian warship fires on dry cargo ship in Black Sea, says Moscow

Sunday 13 August 2023 11:03 , Tara Cobham

A Russian warship opened warning fire on a Palau-flagged dry cargo ship in the southwestern Black Sea on Sunday as it made its way to Ukraine, the Russian defence ministry has said.

Russia said its Vasily Bykov patrol ship fired with automatic weapons on the "Sukru Okan" vessel after the captain did not respond to a request to halt for an inspection.

The Sukru Okan was making its way towards the Ukrainian port of Izmail, the defence ministry said.

"To forcibly stop the vessel, warning fire was opened from automatic weapons," the Russian defence ministy said.

The Russian military boarded the vessel with the help of a Ka-29 helicopter.

"After the inspection group completed its work on board, the Sukru Okan continued on its way to the port of Izmail," the defence ministry said.

Shipping databases list the Sukru Okan as a Palau-flagged vessel with a tonnage of 2155 whose home port is Istanbul.

Baby among seven killed in Russian shelling of Kherson, says Ukrainian minister

Sunday 13 August 2023 10:45 , Tara Cobham

A baby is among the seven civilians who were killed when Russian forces shelled the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson on Sunday, Ukrainian authorities have said.

A couple, their 23-day-old child and another man were killed in the village of Shyroka Balka, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said. The couple's 12-year-old son was critically wounded and died in hospital, he added.

Two people were killed and one wounded in the neighbouring village of Stanislav, which Klymenko said was struck 12 times with artillery.

"The terrorists will never willingly stop killing civilians," Klymenko wrote in a Telegram post along with two photos of damaged houses. "The terrorists must be stopped. With force. They don't understand anything else."

Three people were wounded when Russian forces shelled Kherson city in a separate attack on Sunday, said Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine's presidential administration.

Ukraine's military reclaimed the western part of the Kherson region from Russian occupation last November but Russian troops have continued regularly shelling the area from across the Dnipro River.

At least four Ukrainian drones launched over Russia, says Moscow

Sunday 13 August 2023 09:55 , Tara Cobham

At least four Ukrainian drones have been launched over western regions of Russia on Sunday, Moscows defence ministry has said.

Russian air defences shot down three drones over the Belgorod region and another over the Kursk region, it said, adding there were no casualties or damage caused by the incidents.

Drone air strikes deep inside Russia have increased since a drone was destroyed over the Kremlin in early May. Civilian areas of the capital were hit later in May and a Moscow business district was targeted twice in three days earlier this month.

Recap: Watch search teams comb rubble after factory explosion outside Moscow

Sunday 13 August 2023 09:13 , Tara Cobham

Recap: Russia vows retaliation after Ukraine launched attack on Crimea bridge

Sunday 13 August 2023 08:10 , Tara Cobham

Russia has vowed revenge after claiming to have shot down Ukrainian missiles targeting a key bridge linking them with the annexed Crimea.

Videos on social media appeared to show smoke rising from near Kerch Bridge, an important resupply route for Russian forces.

The Kremlin accused Ukraine of terrorism, while also claiming to have thwarted an attack by 20 drones targeting Crimea overnight.

Russian foreign spokesperson Maria Zakharova wrote on Telegram: There can be no justification for such barbaric actions and they will not go unanswered.

Holly Evans reports:

Russia vows retaliation after Ukraine launches attack on key Crimea bridge

Realistic possibility Kremlin no longer funds Wagner, says UK MOD

Sunday 13 August 2023 07:28 , Tara Cobham

There is a realistic possibility the Russian state no longer funds the Wagner Group, the UK Ministry of Defence has said.

In its latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine, it states: Since the abortive mutiny of June 2023, the Russian state has acted against some other business interests of Wagner owner Yevgeny Prigozhin. There is a realistic possibility that the Kremlin no longer funds the group.

The update suggests the Belarusian authorities are the second most plausible paymasters, but adds, The sizable force would be a significant and potentially unwelcome drain on modest Belarusian resources.

Overall, the MOD writes of the mercenaries currently experiencing financial pressure. It says: The Wagner Group is likely moving towards a down-sizing and reconfiguration process, largely to save on staff salary expenses at a time of financial pressure.

Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 13 August 2023.



Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/kqqs8BQtnU



 #StandWithUkraine  pic.twitter.com/SWEsdzEGl2  Ministry of Defence  (@DefenceHQ) August 13, 2023

Polish minister says reinforcement at the border with Belarus is due to hostile rhetoric and actions

Sunday 13 August 2023 07:03 , Namita Singh

Polands defence minister said on Saturday that the country has increased the number of troops protecting its border with Belarus as a deterrent amid destabilising actions by its pro-Russian neighbour.

Mariusz Blaszczak met in Jarylowka, in eastern Poland, with some of the troops recently deployed close to the Belarus border.

He insisted that the increased military presence is purely a deterrent move, not a hostile act, as Minsk and Moscow are claiming.

There is no doubt that the Belarus regime is cooperating with the Kremlin and that the attacks on the Polish border are intended to destabilise our country, Mr Blaszczak said.

More here:

Polish minister says reinforcement at the border with Belarus is due to hostile rhetoric and actions

One killed, six wounded in Donetsk, says Russian-installed official

Sunday 13 August 2023 06:33 , Namita Singh

A civilian was killed and six people were wounded, including a 12-year-old girl, following intense Ukrainian shelling in Donetsk, including cluster munitions, a Russian-installed official in the eastern Ukrainian region said on Saturday.

One civilian was killed in a district of the city of Donetsk, while the six wounded people were in Makiivka, which lies east of Donetsk, Denis Pushilin, the Russian-appointed head of the region, said on his Telegram channel.

In total, the enemy fired 127 rounds of ammunition at peaceful cities and regions in the republic, Mr Pushilin said, referring to the Donetsk Peoples Republic as Moscow calls the region it said last year it was annexing.

Rescuers carry a wounded person from a damaged residential building following Russian missiles strikes in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, amid Russian invasion of Ukraine (AFP via Getty Images)

Mr Pushilin said cluster munitions were among the artillery used. Both sides have used cluster munitions in the course of Russias 17-month-old invasion of Ukraine. Kyiv received cluster munitions from the United States last month and vowed to only use them against concentrations of enemy soldiers.

Reuters could not independently verify the information out of Donetsk, which had been partly controlled by pro-Russian separatists since 2014.

Russia, which early last year launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine that it calls a special military operation, says Ukrainian forces shell the Russian-controlled parts of the Donetsk region on a daily basis.

Ukraine begins consultations with Britain on security guarantees

Sunday 13 August 2023 06:00 , Matt Drake

Ukraine has been holding consultations with the UK to secure security guarantees.

Kyiv aims to have the first agreement in place by the end of the year and is pushing to secure guarantees from powers including the US in hopes it may be let into the NATO alliance.

Ukrainian presidents chief of staff Andriy Yermak said: "Our goal is to have the first such agreements in place by the end of the year.

"Our consultations with Britain have begun."

Chief of Staff of Ukrainian Presidential Office Andriy Yermak speaks during a press conference (REUTERS)

Rheinmetall to deliver Luna drone system to Ukraine by year end

Sunday 13 August 2023 05:30 , Namita Singh

Germanys Rheinmetall will deliver a Luna New Generation drone system to Ukraine by the year end, Bild am Sonntag reported on Sunday, citing company sources.

Ukraine is desperate to boost its weapons arsenal, from drones and munitions to tanks, as it battles to repel Russias invasion.

The Drones Package consists of a ground control station with several drones, a launch catapult and military trucks, Bild said, adding the drone system could be used as a reconnaissance system, provide an LTE network and intercept or jam communications.

The company was not immediately available for comment.

Zelensky thanks Germany for additional Patriot launchers

Sunday 13 August 2023 05:00 , Matt Drake

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz for two additional Patriot air defence system launchers.

Speaking in his evening address, Mr Zelensky said: "This is very important. Thank you. Thank you, Germany.

"Thank you to the people. Thank you, Olaf!

Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskiy holds a press conference during a NATO leaders summit in Vilnius, Lithuania July 12 (Reuters)

Ukraine border guards remind Russia Snake Island is again theirs

Sunday 13 August 2023 04:30 , Namita Singh

Ukrainian border guards placed a new sign on Snake Island this weekend, recalling the early hours of Russias invasion when a comrade on the strategic Black Sea outcrop used a choice phrase to refuse to surrender to a warship.

The next border sign will be installed in our Ukrainian Crimea after its liberation by the defence forces of Ukraine, a uniformed man said, standing before a post painted blue and yellow like the countrys flag, in a video shared on Facebook late on Saturday by the head of the border service, Serhiy Deineko.

A participant wears a t-shirt that celebrates the Ukrainian soldiers on Snake Island who refused to surrender to Russian naval forces during a protest gathering to demand Europe keep its promises towards supporting Ukraine on 5 June 2022 in Berlin, Germany (Getty Images)

Tiny Snake Island became synonymous with Ukrainian resistance in the first hours of the 24 February 2022 invasion, when Russian officers on the Black Sea Fleet flagship Moskva radioed Ukrainian guards stationed there and ordered them to surrender or die.One of them radioed back Russian warship, go f*** yourself.

The phrase became a national slogan, depicted on Ukrainian billboards, T-shirts, and eventually a postage stamp.

Russia's defence ministry says it destroyed Ukraine drone over Belgorod

Sunday 13 August 2023 04:16 , Namita Singh

Russian air defence systems destroyed a Ukraine-launched unmanned aerial vehicle over the territory of the Belgorod region early on Sunday morning, the Russian defence ministry said.

There are no casualties and no damage, the ministry said on the Telegram messaging app, adding the attack took place around 4am local time.

The report could not be independently verified. The Belgorod region in Russias south borders Ukraine.

Germany to deliver Luna drone system to Ukriane by the end of the year

Sunday 13 August 2023 04:00 , Matt Drake

A delivery of the Luna New Generation drone system will be sent to Ukraine by the end of the year, according to Bild am Sonntag.

The drone pakcage will consist of a ground control station with several drones, a launch catapult and military trucks.

Ukraine is said to be desperate for a boost in its weapons arsenal.

The drone system could be used as a reconnaissance system and could intercept or jam communications.

An operator carries a reusable airstrike drone called Punisher made by the Ukrainian company UA Dynamics (AFP via Getty Images)

UN Security Council members demand Russia gives back seized land to Georgia

Sunday 13 August 2023 03:00 , Matt Drake

The US, UK, France Albania, Japan and Malta have issued a joint statement demanding Russia gives back land in the South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions, occupied after the 2008 invasion of Georgia.

Russia's brutal invasion of Georgia was also condemened and they claim it marked a "more aggressive trend" in its policy toward neighbouring countries.

The statement spoke out against the continuous provocations which go in parallel with the Russian Federations unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Ukraine.

Russia is being urged to give back land it has occupied since the 2008 invasion of Georgia (EPA)

Russia vows retaliation after Ukraine launches attack on key Crimea bridge

Sunday 13 August 2023 02:00 , Matt Drake

Russia has vowed revenge after claiming to have shot down Ukrainian missiles targeting a key bridge linking them with the annexed Crimea.

Videos on social media appeared to show smoke rising from near Kerch Bridge, an important resupply route for Russian forces.

The Kremlin accused Ukraine of terrorism, while also claiming to have thwarted an attack by 20 drones targeting Crimea overnight.

Russian foreign spokeswoman Maria Zkharova wrote on Telegram: There can be no justification for such barbaric actions and they will not go unanswered.

Read the full report by Holly Evans below.

Russia vows retaliation after Ukraine launches attack on key Crimea bridge

Ukraine amputations as bad at First World War

Sunday 13 August 2023 01:00 , Matt Drake

Since the Russian invasion of 2022, both soldiers and civilians have faced devastating injuries.

According to the Wall Street Journal, between 20,000 and 50,000 Ukrainians have lost one or more limbs since the start of the war but the real number could be much larger.

The numbers are comparable to the injuries sustained by British and German soldiers in the the First World War.

Around 41,000 in Britain had some form of amputation while Germany had around 67,000.

There were fewer than 2,000 military personel lost a limb in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Injured prisoners are seen in the hospital area in the Russian POW detention camp in the Lviv region (Getty Images)

Polish minister says reinforcement at the border with Belarus is due to hostile rhetoric and actions

Sunday 13 August 2023 00:00 , Matt Drake

Polands defense minister said Saturday that the country has increased the number of troops protecting its border with Belarus as a deterrent.

Mariusz Blaszczak met in Jarylowka, in eastern Poland, with some of the troops recently deployed close to the Belarus border.

He insisted that the increased military presence is purely a deterrent move, not a hostile act, as Minsk and Moscow are claiming.

There is no doubt that the Belarus regime is cooperating with the Kremlin and that the attacks on the Polish border are intended to destabilize our country, Blaszczak said.

Read the full report by Rafal Niedzielski below.

Polish minister says reinforcement at the border with Belarus is due to hostile rhetoric and actions

Ukraine military reports progress in south

Saturday 12 August 2023 23:47 , Matt Drake

Ukrainian military officials said on Saturday that Kyivs forces had made progress in the south, capturing unspecified territories and claiming partial success near the key village of Robotyne.

Tavria direction, General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, commander of Ukrainian forces in the south, wrote on Telegram, referring to the southern front. There are liberated territories. The defence forces are working.

He did not specify where or when the advances were made. Separately, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said they had partial success in the Robotyne area of the Zaporizhzhia region. The battlefield report has not been verified.

Ukrainian servicemen fire a BM-21 Grad multiple launch rocket system towards Russian troops near a front line (REUTERS)

Video has emerged of Russian fighter jet before crash

Saturday 12 August 2023 23:00 , Matt Drake

Two pilots were killed when their Su-30 fighter jet crashed during a demonstration in Russia's Kalingrad region.

Footage has emerged on Twitter of the plane flying above a crowd of spectators before taking a sudden dive and disappearing out of view behind a tree.

According to Russian state media, local officials said early investigations suggested the crash was caused by a technical malfunction.

Earlier today, a Russian Su-30 went down in Kaliningrad Oblast after what appears to have been a demonstration for a crowd during a training flight. pic.twitter.com/tD8eDZTweV  OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) August 12, 2023

Ukraine military reports 'partial success' at Robotyne in south

Saturday 12 August 2023 22:00 , Matt Drake

Ukraines military said on Saturday that its forces had made progress near Robotyne on the front line in the southern Zaporizhzhia region.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine also said children were among the dead or wounded civilians following a day in which Russians launched six rockets and 36 air strikes and fired 32 rocket salvo fire systems at populated areas and Ukrainian troop positions.

It said 33 combat clashes had taken place and noted that Ukraines defence forces continued an offensive operation in Melitopol and Berdyansk directions.

It said they had partial success in the Robotyne area of the Zaporizhzhia region. It added that Ukrainians had dug in at the point of their advance and were conducting defensive attacks from there.

A Ukrainian serviceman is seen at his position at a front line in Zaporizhzhia region (REUTERS)
The Ukrainian military on Monday said it had pushed Russian forces out of pockets of territory along front lines in the east and south of the country, building on a gruelling counter-offensive launched two months ago.

The gains -- announced by Ukraine's deputy defence minister -- came as Russia claimed its forces had progressed in the eastern Kharkiv region, undermining Kyiv's highly anticipated campaign.

Ukraine kicked off its counter-offensive against Russian forces in June after building up assault battalions and stockpiling Western-donated weapons.

But Kyiv has acknowledged that movement against heavily fortified Russian positions has been slow and said it had gained only a clutch of land around the war-battered city of Bakhmut last week.

"In the Bakhmut sector, three square kilometres (1.2 square miles) were liberated last week," Deputy Defence Minister Ganna Malyar told state television, adding that Ukrainian forces had clawed back 40 square kilometres there since June.

She said that Ukrainian forces had been diverted from offensive operations around the city -- captured by Russian forces in May -- citing building Russian pressure in the Kharkiv region.

"It was important for the enemy to divert our forces in other directions, so we could not concentrate our forces for the offensive in the Bakhmut sector," Malyar said.

- Zelensky in the east -

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he visited troops in the east and "discussed with the brigade commander problems faced by the warriors."

Ukrainian forces have also been pressing against deeply entrenched Russian forces in the south of the country, in two regions the Kremlin said it had annexed last year.

Malyar said Kyiv's army had made gains in two villages on the southern front but also confirmed Ukrainian troops had conducted "certain tasks" on the left bank of the Dnipro river in the Kherson region.

The river was rendered the de facto front line between Ukrainian and Russian forces in the region after Kyiv recaptured the territory's main city, also called Kherson, in November.

In its latest intelligence update, the British defence ministry noted "an uptick in small-scale combat" along the lower Dnipro river, where it said Ukrainian forces were attempting to conduct raids and set up new bridgeheads.

Ukraine has urged its Western allies to ramp up arms deliveries, including long-range missiles and F-16 fighter jets to speed up its offensive.

That was the message Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said he took to his meeting with Germany's Finance Minister Christian Lindner, who arrived in Kyiv on Monday.

- Child's funeral -

Russia is pursuing its air strikes campaign, saying it targets military facilities, but civilian infrastructure is often hit.

On Monday, residents of the western region of Ivano-Frankivsk attended the burial ceremony of 8-year-old Volodymyr Balabanyk.

Tearful family members huddled around the white-draped coffin of the child, who died when a missile targeting a nearby airfield hit his home.

And overnight, Russian missiles and drones aimed at the port of Odesa.

All eight Kalibr cruise missiles and 23 drones were shot down, the defence ministry said on social media, but debris damaged a student dormitory and a supermarket.

Russia and Ukraine have stepped up attacks in the Black Sea since Moscow exited a deal last month that had granted Kyiv's grain exports safe passage during the conflict.

Since withdrawing from the agreement, Moscow has pounded ports in the Odesa region that were key for Ukrainian grain exports under the deal.

The overnight attacks come a day after Moscow said warning shots were fired from a Russian warship at a cargo vessel heading towards Izmail, a city on the Danube river in Odesa.

The Russian ship spotted the Sukru Okan cargo vessel sailing under the flag of Palau and fired the shots after its captain did not respond to demands to stop.

After inspection, the cargo ship was allowed to continue its journey.

"These actions exemplified Russia's deliberate policy of endangering the freedom of navigation and safety of commercial shipping in the Black Sea," Ukraine's foreign ministry said on Monday, accusing Moscow of breaching United Nations accords and norms of international law.

bur-brw/kjm
The Ukrainian military on Monday said it had pushed Russian forces out of pockets of territory along front lines in the east and south of the country, building on a gruelling counter-offensive launched two months ago.

The gains -- announced by Ukraine's deputy defence minister -- came as Russia claimed its forces had progressed in the eastern Kharkiv region, undermining Kyiv's highly anticipated campaign.

The Russian army said its its forces repelled six attacks and counterattacks in Ukraine's north east, and attacked Ukrainian facilities used to produce drone boats in an overnight strike.

"The aim of the strike was achieved. All designated targets were hit," it said in a statement Monday.

Ukraine kicked off its counter-offensive against Russian forces in June after building up assault battalions and stockpiling Western-donated weapons.

But Kyiv has acknowledged that movement against heavily fortified Russian positions has been slow and said it had gained only a clutch of land around the war-battered city of Bakhmut last week.

"In the Bakhmut sector, three square kilometres (1.2 square miles) were liberated last week," Deputy Defence Minister Ganna Malyar told state television, adding that Ukrainian forces had clawed back 40 square kilometres there since June.

She explained that Ukrainian forces had been diverted from offensive operations around the town -- captured by Russian forces in May -- citing building Russian pressure in the Kharkiv region.

"It was important for the enemy to divert our forces in other directions, so we could not concentrate our forces for the offensive in the Bakhmut sector," Malyar said.

- 'Uptick' in fighting -

Kyiv has also been pressing against deeply entrenched Russian forces in the south of the country in two regions the Kremlin said it had annexed last year.

Malyar said Kyiv's army had made gains in two villages on the southern front but also confirmed Ukrainian troops had conducted "certain tasks" on the left bank of the Dnipro river in the Kherson region.

The river was rendered the de facto front line between Ukrainian and Russian forces in the region after Kyiv recaptured the territory's main city, also called Kherson, in November.

In its latest intelligence update, the British defence ministry noted "an uptick in small-scale combat" along the lower Dnipro river, where it said Ukrainian forces were attempting to conduct raids and set up new bridgeheads.

Ukraine has urged its Western allies to ramp up arms deliveries, including long-range missiles and F-16 fighter jets to speed up its offensive.

That was the message Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said he took to his meeting with Germany's Finance Minister Christian Lindner, who arrived in Kyiv on Monday.

While the offensive is ongoing, Russian territory has also been targeted by almost daily drone attacks.

On Monday, the Russian army said it downed drones over the region of Belgorod bordering Ukraine, without any casualties or damage.

- Odesa strikes -

Ukraine's claims of advances in the east came after its air force said it had downed several waves of Russian missiles and drones targeting Odesa.

All eight Kalibr cruise missiles and 23 drones were shot down, the defence ministry said on Twitter, which has been rebranded as X.

Russia and Ukraine have stepped up attacks in the Black Sea since Moscow exited a deal last month that had granted Kyiv's grain exports safe passage during the conflict.

Since leaving the agreement, Moscow has pounded ports in the Odesa region that were key for Ukrainian grain exports under the deal.

Falling debris damaged a student dormitory and a supermarket in Odesa city centre, wounding three workers, the army said.

"The blast wave damaged windows and balconies in several buildings and damaged cars parked nearby", it said, adding that firefighters were battling two blazes.

Images shared by the army showed firefighters trying to extinguish flames engulfing a multi-storey supermarket, with a large plume of smoke rising into the air.

The overnight missile and drone attacks come a day after Moscow said warning shots were fired from a Russian warship at a cargo vessel heading towards Izmail, a city on the Danube river on the border with Romania.

The Russian ship spotted the Sukru Okan cargo vessel sailing under the flag of Palau and fired the shots after its captain did not respond to demands to stop.

After inspection, the cargo ship was allowed to continue its journey.

Ukraine accused Russia of breaching United Nations accords and norms of international law.

Izmail, one of the main export routes for Ukrainian agricultural products to neighbouring Romania, was attacked by Russian drones earlier in August.

bur-brw-cad/oc/cw
Key developments on Aug. 14:

Defense Ministry: Ukraine liberates 3 square kilometers near Bakhmut in last week

Air defense downs 15 Shahed drones, 8 Kalibr missiles overnight

UK Defense Ministry: Russia considers deploying more troops to Dnipro River's east bank

Military intelligence: Ukraine ready to face any Russian offensive in foreseeable future

Minister: Germany plans $5.5 billion in annual military aid for Ukraine until 2027

US announces $200 million military aid package for Ukraine.

Ukrainian forces have liberated three square kilometers of land near Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast over the last week, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said on Aug. 14.

Maliar said that a total of 40 square kilometers on the southern flank of the Bakhmut area had been regained by Ukrainian forces. Bakhmut fell to Russian forces in late May.

She added that Russian forces attempted to regain positions they had previously lost in the areas west of Klishchiivka, Andriivka, and Kurdiumivka.

On Aug. 8, Serhii Cherevatyi, spokesman for Ukraine's Eastern Military Command, said that Ukrainian forces continued to hold the initiative on the battlefield around Bakhmut despite heavy Russian artillery fire.

The Bakhmut area remains one of the main sectors of the ongoing Ukrainian counteroffensive.

Maliar said on Aug. 1. that Russia is concentrating its forces along the eastern front line, namely near Kupiansk, Lyman, and Svatove, trying to pull Ukrainian forces away from Bakhmut and stop their advance in that area.

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Air Force: Ukraine downs 15 Shahed drones, 8 Kalibr missiles overnight

Russia attacked Ukraine in several waves overnight on Aug. 14 using Iranian-made kamikaze drones and cruise missiles, the Air Force reported.

According to the report, Russia used 15 Shahed-136/131 drones and eight Kalibr missiles, all of which were shot down.

The drones were launched from Primorsko-Akhtarsk, a town on the Azov Sea coast in Russia's Krasnodar Krai, and the missiles flew from a ship stationed near Yalta in Russian-occupied Crimea, the military wrote.

Fragments of missiles and drones fell in Odesa, causing fires in several city locations, added the Air Force. First responders are working on the spots.

According to Odesa Oblast Governor Oleh Kiper, the debris damaged an educational institute's dormitory, a residential building, and a supermarket.

Three employees of the supermarket were injured, Kiper said in his update on Telegram.

The blast wave knocked out windows in several buildings and damaged cars parked nearby, the official added.

As of 11 a.m. local time, damages to 203 buildings were recorded in Odesa due to Russias overnight aerial attack, the Odesa City Council reported on Aug. 14.

The local authorities wrote that seven educational institutions, including a cultural heritage site, and four medical facilities were damaged.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Kyiv, southern Ukraine ports hit by Russian strikes overnight

Some commentators speculated that such a level of destruction, particularly in photos depicting local supermarket Fozzy, appears to have been caused by a direct hit by a drone or a missile.

In a comment for the Ukrainian outlet Babel, the Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat reiterated that the air defenses downed all the targets, adding that a large-scale fire destroyed Fozzy.

Shahed drones fly at low altitudes and create a very large scattering of burning debris when they are shot down, causing an especially destructive blast wave, Ihnat explained.

The air defense forces had no choice but to shoot down the Kalibr missiles "just above the city, above residential areas," the Southern Command spokesperson Natalia Humeniuk said on national television, as cited by Hromadske.

Following Moscows unilateral withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Agreement, Russian forces have intensified attacks against Ukraines southern city of Odesa, targeting critical port and grain infrastructure.

The July strikes also damaged Odesas historical center, named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in January 2023.

Read also: This Week in Ukraine Ep. 20  Tragedy of civilian life in Donbas

UK Defense Ministry: Russia considers deploying more troops to Dnipro River's east bank

After Ukrainian cross-river raids in Kherson Oblast, Russia has faced the dilemma of whether to strengthen this area or deploy forces in the main sectors of Ukraine's counteroffensive operations, the U.K. Defense Ministry reported on Aug. 14.

Over the last week, small-scale combat has intensified along the banks of the lower reaches of the Dnipro River, the ministry wrote in its latest intelligence update.

According to the update, Ukrainian forces have carried out raids and tried to gain a foothold at new locations on the Russian-occupied east bank.

In addition, Ukrainian troops have expanded the bridgehead they have been holding next to the destroyed Antonivsky Bridge since June 2023, reads the report.

"Some of these operations likely took advantage of a local Russian force rotation."

The two sides also continue to fight for control over small islands in the Dnipro estuary, the U.K. Defense Ministry added.

On Aug. 9, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported that Ukrainian forces had conducted a cross-river raid deep into Russian-held territories in Kherson Oblast, managing to breach Russian defenses and push forward by up to 800 meters.

He added that the operation's participants had taken 16 Russian soldiers as prisoners and brought them back to the government-controlled side of the river.

The Kyiv Independent's source in Ukraine's Armed Forces later confirmed the information.



On Aug. 9, the Kyiv Independent's source in Ukraine's Armed Forces confirmed that Ukraine had successfully conducted a raid deep into Russian-held territories across the river.

The source, granted anonymity to speak freely about Ukraine's military operations, told the Kyiv Independent that Ukraine's military had taken 16 Russian soldiers as prisoners and brought them back to the government-controlled side of the river.

Read also: Ukrainian troops regularly cross Dnipro River, probing Russian defenses in Kherson Oblast

Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar sought to tamp down speculations about a Ukrainian raid across the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast.

"There are no reasons for excitement. I just returned from those places," Maliar wrote. "Yes, certain units performed a certain task there," she added.

"In order to get there, and not to be destroyed and also to gain a foothold, you need to clear the territory and repel the enemy," Maliar said.

"We are saving our people, which is why we're using counter-battery fire," she added.



Ukrainian forces in the area told the Kyiv Independent that they have been conducting small raids across the river for months under the cover of night.

Ukraine ready to face any Russian offensive in foreseeable future, says military intelligence

Ukraine is ready for any large-scale offensives that Russia could potentially launch in the near future, military intelligence (HUR) General Vadym Skibitskyi said on Aug. 14, commenting on recent rumors about such attacks in Western media.

Moscow is currently exerting efforts to slow down Ukraine's counteroffensive, and destroy the country's internal unity and the trust between Kyiv and its partners, Skibitskyi told Obozrevatel in an interview.

"They want to win time to restore weapons stockpiles and the fighting capacity of their occupying forces. Our task is to prevent this," the military intelligence officer said.

"Yes, it is not easy for our security and defense forces, but we have no choice but to continue the fight and we are moving forward wisely and courageously."

Skibitskyi pointed out that despite predictions of a large-scale Russian offensive during the last winter, such plans have failed.

Since mid-July, Russian forces have been concentrating around Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast, trying to regain the positions lost during the Ukrainian surprise counteroffensive last autumn.

On July 17, Serhii Cherevatyi, spokesperson for Ukraine's Eastern Military Command, said that Russia was concentrating "more than 100,000 personnel, more than 900 tanks, more than 555 artillery systems, and 370 multiple rocket launchers" in the Lyman-Kupiansk direction.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in its analysis on Aug. 13 that according to Russian military bloggers, Moscow's troops are slowly advancing toward Kupiansk but still require reinforcements to break through the Ukrainian defenses.

The Russian command is not currently able to deploy more forces in the Kupiansk direction for this purpose, the ISW added.

Read also: Ukraines counteroffensive lurches forward: Key moment looms as more forces committed

Minister: Germany plans $5.5 billion in annual military aid for Ukraine until 2027

Germany plans to provide Ukraine with 5 billion euros ($5.5 billion) in annual military aid until 2027, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said on Aug. 14, Forbes Ukraine reported.

The decision still needs to be approved by the German Parliament, Lindner said during a joint press conference with Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko in Kyiv.

The minister noted that apart from military support, Berlin's aid for Ukraine has also included humanitarian assistance, support for Ukrainian migrants living in Germany, and the country's contributions to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Since the start of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Germany's support amounted to 22 billion euros ($24 billion), Lindner added.

German Finance Minister Christian Lindner and Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko in Kyiv on Aug. 14, 2023. (Photo: Vitali Klitschko/Telegram)

Germany's finance minister arrived in Kyiv earlier on Aug. 14 for his first official visit to Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.

Lindner added that he hoped the question of Germany supplying Taurus long-range cruise missiles could be resolved soon, and that he personally supported the weapons' delivery.

In July, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that Germany expects to provide Ukraine with $19 billion, or 17 billion euros, in arms deliveries until 2027.

Scholz said the calculations began in 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion, and track projected spending until the year 2027.

The $19 billion estimate only accounts for weapons donated or financed by Germany and does not include other forms of aid to Ukraine.

Read also: Minister: Ukraine will need at least $42 billion in foreign financial aid in 2024

US announces $200 million military aid package for Ukraine

The U.S. has announced a $200 million military aid package for Ukraine, including munitions for Patriot air defense systems and HIMARS, as well as other support, the Pentagon said on Aug. 14.

"Air defense, anti-armor, and munitions will keep the Ukrainian armed forces in the fight to defend their country's sovereignty, territory, and people," U.S. State Secretary Anthony Blinken tweeted.

The 44th tranche of U.S. weapons support for Ukraine includes ammunition for Patriots and HIMARS, 155mm and 105mm artillery shells, 120mm tank ammunition, Javelin anti-tank systems, TOW anti-tank missiles, and other anti-tank munitions and systems.

The Pentagon has further pledged 37 logistics vehicles, 58 water trailers, over 12 million rounds of small arms ammunition and grenades, mine clearing equipment, explosives for clearing obstacles, spare parts, and other field equipment.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said during a press briefing on Aug. 8 that next to this latest package, the U.S. is considering the transfer of new missiles and defense systems to Ukraine.

The spokesperson did not respond to a question about whether these new systems include the much-anticipated long-range ATACMS missiles.

The new funds will be allocated thanks to the $6.2 billion "accounting error" discovered in June.

According to Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh, the U.S. Defense Department overestimated the value of arms sent to Ukraine over the past two years by $6.2 billion, freeing up additional funds for Ukraine military aid.

The U.S. announced its previous package for Ukraine worth $400 million on July 25, including additional munitions for Patriot air defense systems, NASAMS, HIMARS, as well as Stingers, Javelins, and other weapons.

Read also: Biden asks Congress for $24 billion for Ukraine aid, related needs















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The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has identified 15 collaborators who are preparing sham elections to local occupation bodies in the temporarily occupied part of Luhansk Oblast.

Source: Security Service of Ukraine; Ukrainska Pravdas sources in law enforcement agencies

Details: According to one scenario, the occupiers plan to hold sham elections in September 2023. During the illegal voting, they are to elect "MPs" to the pseudo-parliament of the "LPR" [self-proclaimed and non-recognised Luhansk Peoples Republic  ed.], as well as "councils" of the so-called "municipalities".

The collaborators exposed by the SBU are engaged in the arrangement of "polling stations" and the recruitment and instruction of "personnel". They are also conducting a large-scale campaign in support of the sham elections.

In addition, they formed so-called territorial election commissions to falsify voter turnout and voting results.

Six of the defendants have already held a sham referendum in Luhansk Oblast in September 2022.

Quote: "Among the enemy's supporters are the heads of the election commission of the LPR, as well as representatives of the territorial branches of the Kremlin's United Russia political party and other political forces presented in the State Duma [the lower chamber of the Russian parliament  ed.]."

More details: Ukrainska Pravda sources in law enforcement agencies shared a list of those involved in the occupiers sham elections:

Olena Kravchenko (born in 1983), head of the so-called election commission of the LPR;

Maksym Prykhodko (born in 1978), member of the so-called election commission of the LPR;

Tetiana Prykhodko (born in 1972), member of the so-called election commission of the LPR;

Kateryna Tereshchenko (born in 1986), secretary of the so-called election commission of the LPR;

Marianna Skorniakova (born in 1990), deputy head of the so-called election commission of the LPR;

Volodymyr Babenko (born in 1990), member of the so-called election commission of the LPR;

Nataliia Kulichenko (born in 1972), member of the so-called election commission of the LPR;

Oksana Nykytiuk (born in 1986), member of the so-called election commission of the LPR;

Serhii Bielov (born in 1983), member of the so-called election commission of the LPR;

Olena Sakura (born in 1968), member of the so-called election commission of the LPR;

Oleksandr Yermolenko (born in 1985), second secretary of the Luhansk Republican Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation;

Vitalii Neveselyi (born in 1983), head of the Sievierodonetsk city branch of the New People political party;

Maksym Uvarov (born in 1980), head of the Luhansk Republican Department of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia;

Hennadii Tarakanov, chairman of the council of the regional branch of the party A Just Russia - For Truth;

Denys Miroshnychenko, secretary of the Luhansk branch of the United Russia party.

The SBU investigators initiated criminal proceedings under Article 111-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (collaboration).

Since the exposed collaborators are located in the temporarily occupied part of the oblast, comprehensive measures are being taken to bring them to justice. The offenders face up to 15 years in prison.

Background:

The Ukrainian parliament called on the world not to recognise sham elections in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine.

In September 2022, the SBU announced the exposure of three more collaborators in Luhansk Oblast, including a 19-year-old girl who was actively involved in Russian propaganda.

The SBU detained two women in the liberated part of Luhansk Oblast who leaked information about Ukrainian patriots and IDPs to the occupiers and then tried to gain the trust of the Ukrainian military.

The Security Service of Ukraine identified four occupiers' accomplices who joined the occupiers' punitive Ministry of Internal Affairs units in the occupied part of Luhansk Oblast.

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Ukraine's President Zelenskiy visits members of the the Special Operations Forces near Bakhmut

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy visited troops at brigade headquarters in the eastern Ukrainian frontline region of Donetsk on Monday, his website said.

According to the site, Zelenskiy visited brigades involved in attacks on the section of the frontline facing Soledar, the Russian-held town north of Bakhmut.

Pictures on the website showed the president and his top aide talking to soldiers in a room with screens which had been pixellated out.

(Reporting by Max Hunder; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
Ministry of Defense confirms success of Ukrainian Armed Forces on the left bank of Kherson Oblast

Ukrainian forces are conducting small combat operations along the lower reaches of the DniproRiver in Kherson Oblast to set up more bridgeheads, according to the latest British Defense Intelligence report on Aug 14.

Theseoperations are aimed at supporting the bridgehead Ukraine has maintained since mid-July 2023, near the ruined Antonivsky Bridge.

Ukrainian soldiers could have taken advantage of the rotation of the Russian troops in the region, the report said. A tug of war for control of small islands in the Dnipro estuary remains ongoing.

"Russian commanders face the dilemma of whether to strengthen this area or to deploy troops in the areas of Ukraines main counteroffensive operations, farther to the east," the report stated.

Ukrainian forces landed boats on the left Russia-occupied bank of the Dnipro River near the settlement of Kozachi Tabory on Aug. 8, the ISW reported.

"Ukrainian forces appear to have conducted a limited raid across the Dnipro River and landed on the east bank of Kherson Oblast, although it remains unclear whether Ukrainian troops have established an enduring presence on the east bank," the ISW stated.

TheUkrainian army announced on Aug. 14 that it had conducted a successful operation on the left bank of the Dnipro River, providing no further details.

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Russia continues to experience losses in its aggressive war against Ukraine. Ukraine's defenders have killed 254,380 Russian soldiers, and destroyed 4,306 Russian tanks, 5,099 artillery systems, and 4,213 UAVs.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook

Details: The total combat losses of the Russian forces from 24 February 2022 to 14 August 2023 are estimated to be as follows [figures in parentheses represent the latest losses  ed.]:

approximately 254,380 (+530) military personnel

4,306 (+8) tanks

8,354 (+19) armoured combat vehicles

5,099 (+27) artillery systems

714 (+1) multiple-launch rocket systems

479 (+2) air defence systems

315 (+0) fixed-wing aircraft

313 (+0) helicopters

4,213 (+9) tactical UAVs

1,379 (+0) cruise missiles

18 (+0) ships/boats

7,562 (+19) vehicles and tankers

766 (+6) special vehicles and other equipment

The information is being confirmed.

Background:

The Ukrainian Air Force shot down a Russian helicopter on the Bakhmut front on the morning of 14 August.

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The Ukrainian Air Force shot down a Russian helicopter on the Bakhmut front on the morning of 14 August.

Source: Ukraine's Air Force on Facebook

Quote: "At around 05:00 on 14 August, an anti-aircraft missile unit of the Ukrainian Air Force destroyed an enemy helicopter (type to be determined) on the Bakhmut front."

Details: The Air Force also confirmed information from the defence forces in Ukraine's south about the downing of 15 Shahed-136/131 strike UAVs and 8 Kalibr cruise missiles that tried to attack Odesa at night.

It is noted that the UAVs were attacking from the southeast (Primorsko-Akhtarsk), and the Kalibr missiles were attacking from the Black Sea, from a frigate near the city of Yalta.

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The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has reported that on 13 August, Ukrainian troops conducted counteroffensive actions in at least two front areas and advanced in the western part of Donetsk Oblast, as well as eastern and western parts of Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

Source: the ISW

Details: The ISW cited the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces, which said Ukrainian troops conducted offensive actions on the Berdiansk and Melitopol fronts and gained partial success in the vicinity of Robotyne (western part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, located 13 km south of Orikhiv).

The ISW noted that several Russian sources claimed on 12 August that the Russians withdrew their troops from the village of Urozhaine (located on the border of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts). However, on 13 August, many Russian sources denied these reports. Instead, they said Russian troops were still occupying the southern part of Urozhaine.

The ISW cannot confirm that the Russian occupiers have completely withdrawn from Urozhaine.

"Russian forces likely currently maintain positions in at least the southern part of the settlement,"the ISW reported.

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The Defence Forces of Ukraine continue to conduct an offensive operation on the Melitopol and Berdiansk fronts, reinforcing their positions and carrying out counter-battery operations.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 18:00 on 14 August

Details: It is reported that in total, the Russians launched 12 missiles and 67 air strikes, launched more than 40 using multiple-launch rocket system attacks on the positions of our troops and settlements. Unfortunately, these Russian terrorist attacks have resulted in civilian casualties, both dead and injured. Residential buildings, a shopping centre, a student dormitory, kindergartens, schools and other civil infrastructure were damaged or destroyed.

The possibility of missile and air strikes across Ukraine remains high.

A total of 11 combat clashes took place over the past day.

The situation on the Volyn and Polissia fronts remained unchanged.

On the Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna fronts, the Russians carried out an airstrike near Stepne (Sumy Oblast). They carried out mortar and artillery attacks on more than 25 settlements.

On the Kupiansk front, the Russians carried out airstrikes near Ivanivka, Zahryzove (Kharkiv Oblast), and Stelmakhivka (Luhansk Oblast). The Russians carried out mortar and artillery attacks on more than 15 settlements

On the Lyman front, the Russian troops carried out airstrikes near Bilohorivka in Luhansk Oblast and Spirne in Donetsk Oblast. More than 25 settlements were hit by Russian artillery fire.

On the Bakhmut front, the Russians carried out airstrikes near Vasiukivka and Klishchiivka (Donetsk Oblast). More than 25 settlements were damaged by Russian artillery fire.

On the Avdiivka front, the Russians launched an airstrike near Avdiivka. The settlements of Oleksandropil, Keramik, Novokalynove, Stepove, Avdiivka (Donetsk Oblast) were hit by artillery fire.

On the Marinka front, the Ukrainian Defence Forces continue to hold back the Russian troops offensive near Marinka and Krasnohorivka (Donetsk Oblast). The Russians launched an airstrike near Krasnohorivka and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk Oblast). More than 10 settlements were hit by artillery fire.

On the Shakhtarsk front, the enemy carried out airstrikes near Velyka Novosilka, Blahodatne, Makarivka, and Urozhaine (Donetsk Oblast). More than 10 settlements were hit by artillery fire.

On the Zaporizhzhia front, the Russians carried out an airstrike near Novodanylivka, Zaporizhzhia Oblast. More than 20 settlements were damaged by Russian artillery shelling.

On the Kherson front, the Russians launched an airstrike near Olhivka (Kherson Oblast). More than 20 settlements were hit by Russian artillery fire.

General Staff also said that the Moscow regime continues the illegal integration of the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine into its social and political space. For example, in the village of Svatove, Luhansk Oblast, in order to change the leadership in local self-government bodies, the occupiers demand that representatives of administrations and village councils resign from their positions at their own will. The Russians plan to create so-called "municipalities", which will be headed by local collaborators based on the results of pseudo-elections in the captured territories on the only voting day in Russia, 10 September.

During the day, the Air Force of the Defence Forces of Ukraine struck a command post, launched seven strikes on the areas of concentration of personnel, weapons and military equipment, and three strikes on Russian anti-aircraft missile systems.

Ukrainian defenders also destroyed a Russian Ka-52 attack helicopter.

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KYIV, Ukraine  They sang about love and loss, their lyrics reflecting the hopes and fears of their fellow Ukrainians as brutal battles raged a few miles from their home city, Zaporizhzhia, in the countrys south.

Now their musical lament is playing at their graves.

Street musicians Svitlana Siemieikina, 18, and Kristina Spitsyna, 21, were killed by a Russian airstrike on a residential area of Zaporizhzhia last week. Their deaths  and a video of them singing in the streets that was purportedly shot hours before the attack  prompted an outpouring of grief across social media in Ukraine, with thousands mourning the loss of two young lives.

From the graveyard where the budding artists were buried side by side Friday, Svitlanas father, Yuriy Siemieikin, said the girls bonded over music and formed their duo shortly after the start of the war in February 2022.

See how they are looking at each other, he said Saturday, pointing at the adjoining graves decked out in colorful wreaths with blue and yellow Ukrainian flags waving in the breeze above them.

Siemieikin, 41, said that the family had chosen not to play Svitlana and Kristinas songs at the funeral but that he had decided to play some of them through his car speakers when he returned to the burial site the next day. In a video he shared with NBC News, Kristinas voice can be heard ringing across the cemetery.

They had more than 200 songs that they could play and sing, he said.

They were playing some the day they died, busking in central Zaporizhzhia on Wednesday.

Kristinas mom, Halyna Spitsyna, said in a separate interview that the girls had left Svitlanas boyfriend, Mykyta, to look after their equipment so they could go to a park. At that very moment, those 2 minutes and those 300 meters became fatal for them, she said.

Ukrainian officials said the Russian rocket hit a residential quarter in Zaporizhzhia on Wednesday, killing Svitlana and Kristina and injuring nine other people, including an 11-month-old baby. A church and shops were also damaged.

Russia denies hitting Ukrainian civilians or civilian infrastructure. There was no public reaction to the attack or the girls death from Moscow. The Russian Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Since the outbreak of war in February last year, the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has estimated that 9,083 civilians have been killed. The actual number is likely to be considerably higher, given the difficulty of gathering and corroborating information in areas where fighting is ongoing.

Siemieikin, Svitlanas father, said he was at home in the citys suburbs when he heard the explosion from far away. I immediately started to call her, but she didnt answer. I started to realize that something was wrong, he said.

He said that after he grabbed his backpack and first aid kit, he drove to the city center, picking up Halyna Spitsyna on the way. When he arrived at the scene, he said, Kristina was still alive and had left yet some signs of life, and Svitlana was there, already dead.

Kristina would be pronounced dead later.

The two young musicians posted a message on their Telegram channel shortly before the attack in Zaporizhzhia. (Similar Girls / Telegram)

The Similar Girls

Siemieikin, a railway worker, said his daughter initially enjoyed rock bands like Queen and Nirvana.

Later, when she became more professional, she switched to the Ukrainian artists and started to copy them, to learn from them and to play their songs, he said. The pair, who made up a musical duo known as the Similar Girls, wrote and recorded their own music, Siemieikin said.

His daughter was also a foreign languages student at a local university, he added, and dreamed of going to South Korea one day as a fan of K-pop.

Kristinas mom, Spitsyna, 44, a furniture factory sales manager, said her daughter was surrounded by musicians since she was a kid, because I had many friends among them.

Kristina grew up in music, she said, adding that her daughter started dancing when she was 5 and performed onstage. From there, she became interested in singing, she said.

Although Kristina and Svitlana went to the same school and later remembered singing together on the same stage at school, Spitsyna said, they really got to know each other around three years ago, when Kristina was invited to sing in a band that featured Svitlana on guitar.

About this time a year ago, she said, the two decided to perform together as street musicians, despite Svitlanas initially having doubts.

Their first show wasnt very successful, Spitsyna said, adding that they had nonetheless earned some money, so the girls decided to continue.

As they gained confidence, Spitsyna said, they performed multiple times in Zaporizhzhia, which sits close to the front lines, as well as a major nuclear power plant that Russian forces have occupied since the early weeks of the war. Shelling around the plant has raised fears of a nuclear accident.

Musicians Svitlana Siemieikina and Kristina Spitsina. (Yulia Bielashkova)

Spitsyna added that they also regularly traveled to perform in cities across the country, including the capital, Kyiv., and Dnipro in central Ukraine.

They went to bars and cafes if they could get an invite and get paid, or they just sang on street corners and in public spaces, she said. They performed for Ukrainian soldiers, too.

She added that her husband, Oleksandr Spitsyn, 43, Kristinas father, is a private in the National Guard of Ukraine who had served on the front lines since last fall. In a statement to NBC News, his regiment expressed its condolences and said the girls had raised funds to support the military. Their deaths were yet another terrible testimony of Russian terrorist attacks on the civilian population, the statement said.

Although some family members had opted to move abroad after the Russian invasion, Siemieikin said that, like all military-age men, he could not leave the country, and that his wife, Anna, also a railway worker, decided not to leave him behind. Svitlana also categorically refused to go, he added.

She had started to communicate with Kristina a lot. They had common interests, he said.

She wanted to be only here at that period of her life.

The graves of Svitlana Siemieikina and Kristina Spitsyna, who were killed in the missile attack in Zaporizhzhia on Wednesday. (Courtesy of Yuriy Siemieikin)

The girls deaths sparked a wave of outrage and grief across Ukraine.

Alongside a video of a cover of one of their songs, the Ukrainian pop band Dzidio wrote on Instagram that the Russian missile mercilessly took away their voice, their life, and at the same time, a piece of the soul of each of us.

A local cultural center was the first to break the news of the girls death online, saying on Facebook that Svitlana and Kristina believed in a bright and peaceful life under the Ukrainian flag and that the Ukrainian people will never forgive Russia for the loss.

Offering condolences to the families, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that Russian terrorists had carried out the attack, which he called a war crime. He also shared a video showing the smoking ruins of buildings near a church, an area where Siemieikin said the women often performed.

The comments under posts in the girls Instagram channel were also filled with messages of disbelief and sorrow.

Back in the graveyard, Siemieikin said the families had decided to lay Svitlana and Kristina to rest next to each other.

They understood one another well, complemented one another, he said. Kristina was better with vocals; Svitlana was better with guitar. They felt each other.

Siemieikin said he wants the world to know about what has happened. This tragedy has to be stopped, he said.

Victor Sema and Anastasiia Parafeniuk reported from Kyiv and Yuliya Talmazan and Leila Sackur from London.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Ukraine's Education Ministry is developing a course in cooperation with UNICEF on mine safety for Ukrainian schoolchildren, one that will become a mandatory part of the curriculum, the ministry announced on Aug. 14

"Education should give a child useful knowledge and skills. Unfortunately, now and for a long time to come, mine safety knowledge and skills will be extremely relevant in Ukraine," Education Minister Oksen Lisovy said.

"It is the job of adults and the entire education system to provide children with all possible information on how to stay safe."

Teachers will be able to access online courses on teaching mine safety to children of all ages. They can already use a manual and presentations adapted to primary and secondary schools, developed by UNICEF and its partners, the ministry said.

According to the statement, over 5,000 educators, social workers, and members of public organizations have received UNICEF mine safety training courses for children in 2023. Together with partners, they have conducted classes for more than 640,000 children.

In cooperation with psychologists, UNICEF experts have prepared interactive materials that explain the rules of safe behavior in mined territories. This includes cartoons, games, and videos featuring the famous detection dog Patron.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said that Ukraine is now the "most heavily mined country in the world" as a result of the Russian aggression.

According to President Zelensky, over 200,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian land  roughly one-third of its territory  have been mined by Russian forces as of June.

The Washington Post wrote that clearing Ukraine of mines would take the 500 currently operational teams 757 years to complete.

According to the U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, landmines have already caused 100 child casualties since the start of the full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022.

Read also: Minister: Croatia allocates 1 million euros for demining in Ukraine

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Ukrainian soldiers fire a cannon near Bakhmut on May 15, 2023. Libkos/AP

A Ukrainian soldier captured by Wagner says they tortured him "the way a cat plays with a mouse."

The soldier told The Washington Post about being a prisoner of war during the battle of Bakhmut.

He sustained serious injuries, and says Wagner sloppily amputated his arms above the elbows.

A Ukrainian soldier was captured by Russian forces  and rather than interrogating him for information, he said they tortured him for fun, like "the way a cat plays with a mouse," he told The Washington Post.

Ilia Mykhalchuk, a 36-year-old soldier from the 67th Mechanized Brigade, told The Post that was captured while fighting in Bakhmut earlier this year and then spent 46 days as a prisoner of the Wagner Group before a swap. While captive, Mykhalchuk told The Post he noticed he wasn't being interrogated for battlefield information or intelligence like higher-ranking prisoners  instead, he was being tortured psychologically.

"They tried to make us believe that we couldn't trust each other, and that it was a kill-or-be-killed situation," Mykhalchuk told The Post. "They were just playing with us, the way a cat plays with a mouse  when he catches it before he kills it."

Mykhalchuk also said the Wagner Group crudely amputated both his arms above the elbow after they were severely damaged in battle, not stitching the skin before bandaging the sites.

Before the group's failed mutiny against Russian military leadership in June, Wagner's battlefield forces in Ukraine were made up of mercenaries, convicted killers, and other former prisoners serving for reduced jail time.

The group, financed by Yevgeny Prigozhin, was previously accused of perpetrating hundreds of violent attacks and killings against African civilians.

Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, there have been various reports of Russian forces committing war crimes against both civilians and soldiers.

In May 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, alleging he is responsible specifically for the "unlawful deportation" and "unlawful transfer" of Ukrainians, specifically children, "from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Ukrainian soldier Illia Mykhalchuk who was captured by the Russian troops near the city of Bakhmut had his arms amputated in a dark basement by the Russians, and no stitches were applied to his wounds.

Source: The Washington Post

Details: The Ukrainian soldier told a story of how in February 2023, mercenaries from the Wagner Private Military Company hit a convoy of Ukrainian military armoured vehicles. Back then, an anti-tank missile pierced Mykhalchuk's vehicle. He had to pull the tourniquet on his mutilated limbs himself: his right arm was covered in shreds of cut flesh, and his left arm was cut by shrapnel. A few minutes later, the Russians drew closer and shot him in the legs.

The Wagnerites removed his tourniquets and replaced them with rough rubber tubes, tying them in tight knots that could not be undone. Later, Mykhalchuk was taken to another location, where he was placed in a dark, poorly ventilated basement.

Mykhalchuk believes his left arm could have been saved, but the rubber tubes caused necrosis and blackened it. The Wagnerites said they would provide medical care only after interrogations which lasted for many hours. The Ukrainian defender was sedated after the interrogation, and when he regained consciousness, both arms were amputated. At the same time, the stumps had not been stitched up but simply bandaged.

Mykhalchuk says he lost consciousness several times during the hours-long interrogations and was injected with an unknown substance that brought him back to his senses. Illia suggests his value to the Wagner PMC was simply to be subjected to psychological torture. Following his amputation, he was asked if he liked fishing and told that he would never be able to fight again.

Mykhalchuk sought help from other prisoners of war to get through his imprisonment. They bathed and fed him, kept watch and talked to him when the pain was too severe to sleep.

Mykhalchuk was brought back in a prisoners-of-war exchange on 15 April. Illia is currently undergoing treatment in the United States, where he has been fitted with bionic prosthetic arms worth US$200,000.

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After Russian troops intensified offensive actions on the Kupiansk and Lyman fronts, the Ukrainian forces managed to prevent the Russians advance and significantly reduce their offensive potential.

Source: Hanna Maliar, Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine, on Telegram

Quote: "At the moment, there is a certain decrease in the number of attacks launched by the Russians and in the quantity of ammunition they are using, but it does not mean that they have given up their plans. They are regrouping and trying to restore lost capacities. The fighting is ongoing."

Detail: Maliar stated that the situation on the Kupiansk and Lyman fronts is complicated. Russia is constantly launching attacks, and the Ukrainian forces are repelling them.

On the Kupiansk front, the Russian army is increasing the density of mine barriers along the Russian state border in Belgorod Oblast, Russia, and searching for weaknesses in the Ukrainian defence.

On the Lyman front, the Russians continue conducting assault operations to drive the Ukrainian forces out of the district of the Serebrianka Forest in Donetsk Oblast, but to no avail.

Heavy fighting is ongoing on the Bakhmut front.

The Russians are trying to stop the advancing Ukrainian forces and regain their lost positions in the areas west of the settlements of Klishchiivka, Andriivka and Kurdiumivka.

Maliar also reported that during the previous week, the liberated territory on the Bakhmut front was increased by 3 square kilometres, and the total liberated area on the Bakhmut front is now 40 square kilometres.

On the Avdiivka and Mariinka fronts, Russia is trying to conduct an offensive with the goal of fully taking over the settlement of Marinka and encircling the settlement of Avdiivka.

Quote: "Our defenders do not allow the Russians to implement their plans, but it is extremely difficult. Heavy fighting is ongoing. The situation there is tense and complicated."

Moreover, the Russians are constantly trying to return their lost positions near the settlement of Staromaiorske."

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Civil rights icon and one of my mentors, Fr. George Clements, thanked the crowd of a couple thousand people gathered to celebrate his accomplishments. He said, Im glad you are giving me my flowers now, while Im still on this side of the earth. I wont be able to smell them from the other side. It is time to give the Rev. Jesse Jackson his flowers. Jesse is one of our last living civil rights/Black power leaders. Nearly all the rest have joined the ancestors. None of the primary speakers from the 1963 March on Washington or the 1965 Selma March are still alive.

I first met Jesse in 1967 in Miami at a pre-planning meeting for the Poor Peoples Campaign, which had been organized by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Jesse had left the University of Chicagos Theological Seminary. King had told him, You can preach the word of Jesus, or you can do the work of Jesus. Jesse chose to do the work.

I had come with Fr. Clements. The religious leaders were there to discuss shifting the focus of the movement from protesting racial discrimination to finding ways to empower those being oppressed through systematic economic exploitation. One of the strategies suggested was building Resurrection City, a lobbying group of poor people who would camp out in DC until Congress enacted meaningful legislation to deal with poverty.

A year after the 67 meeting, Jesse was in the Hotel Lorraine when King was assassinated supporting the Sanitation Workers strike. People attempted to fill the vacuum left by MLKs murder. The Rev. Ralph Abernathy assumed the leadership of SCLC. Coretta, Kings widow, continued his legacy by leading the Resurrection City project to DC. Andrew Young and John Lewis moved into the political arena, as did Jesse. In 1984 he became only the second African American, after Rep. Shirley Chisholm, to run for U.S. President. He finished third, garnering 18% of the vote. He ran again in 1988, won seven primaries, four caucuses and finished second.

He served as the shadow U.S. Senator for DC but never again ran for political office. His activism prepared the stage for the winning campaigns of President Obama in 2008 and 2012. I remember standing at the office building at 125th Street in Harlem when Barack announced his victory. Jesse was in Chicago. We were both crying with joy. It had been a long, difficult, but ultimately triumphant journey. Jesse also mentored his two sons, Jesse Jr. and Jonathan, to win seats in the House of Representatives, where Jonathan still serves.

Jesse focused his energies on establishing Operation Breadbasket, an SCLC branch in Chicago that evolved into the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, a multi-racial, multi-issue, progressive, international organization fighting for social change. Last week Jesse announced that he was stepping down as president of PUSH. Dr. Frederick Haynes will take over the reins. Jesse ran up against a foe more formidable than the KKK  Parkinsons disease, which he has been living with since 2015. This may be his twilight, but we still stand in the shadow of this great oak whose seeds have propagated a lush forest and a more just world. Thank you, Jesse.

Locally we have our own heroes who have righteously served and are stepping down. Barbara and Edgar Farmer were recently named Renaissance Honorees of the year. Barbara was the first African American school principal in Centre County and became chair of the MLK Plaza committee. Former Borough Council member Peter Morris proposed that Fraser Street square be changed to the MLK Plaza. The Rev. Harold McKenzie and his wife Sherren have delegated some of their duties at Unity Church of Jesus Christ. Pastor Mac, along with former Police Chief King, founded Community and Campus in Unity. Because of their commitment our community is better.

Charles Dumas is a lifetime political activist, a professor emeritus from Penn State, and was the Democratic Partys nominee for U.S. Congress in 2012. He was the 2022 Lions Paw Awardee and Living Legend honoree of the National Black Theatre Festival. He lives with his partner and wife of 50 years in State College.
Pilot Vince Eckelcamp flew a plane of some 330 people from Hawaii to the mainland during the wildfires that engulfed Maui last week. Courtesy of Vince Eckelcamp

A United Airlines pilot helped evacuate 330 people from Maui to the mainland US.

While on vacation, Vince Eckelkamp volunteered to fly a plane that was left without a pilot.

Devastating wildfires have wreaked havoc in Hawaii, resulting in a death toll of at least 93 people.

A United Airlines pilot volunteered to help about 330 people escape Maui's raging wildfires by working during his vacation to pilot a plane out, he told Insider.

Vince Eckelkamp was wrapping up a five-day vacation in Hawaii with his family when the devastating wildfires broke out last week. The family was originally scheduled to fly out on Tuesday, right around the time the blazes began, he said.

The hotel the family was staying at lost power early Tuesday morning, so they decided to head to Kahului Airport early, driving through Lahaina just hours before the fires tore through the town, leaving charred remnants in its wake.

"It's surreal that we drove down Front Street and then five hours later it was just gone," Eckelkamp told Insider, recalling the family's early morning drive to the airport.

The pilot said he witnessed roaring winds, downed power lines, fallen trees, and people being pelted with sand and roof shingles as the family made their way to the airport battling stand-still traffic near Lahaina.

The Eckelkamps' flight was delayed and rescheduled for the following day, forcing the family  and scores of other stranded travelers  to spend the night in the airport with no hotels available across the island, he said.

"We went behind a ticket counter," Eckelkamp said. "Everyone just found a little corner and claimed it as yours."

It was only on Wednesday morning that Eckelkamp and others started to learn just how much damage the fires had caused as video footage and photos started populating online.

Thanks to his industry connections, Eckelkamp said he learned early Wednesday that his family's flight was in danger of being canceled due to crew regulations that require pilots to clock a certain amount of rest hours in between flights, leaving the plane without one of its necessary pilots.

This was when Eckelkamp volunteered, making it clear that he was ready and available to fly, he told Insider.

"I was in the right place at the right time," he said. "I like to think most pilots in my situation would have stepped up and did exactly what I did."

Since the fires started, 46,000 residents and visitors have flown out of Kahului Airport, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, per the Associated Press.

But at least 93 people have been confirmed dead, authorities said on Saturday, with hundreds of homes destroyed.

Airlines have scrambled to get people out, offering cheap tickets and running extra flights.

A firefighting helicopter drops water near a home that was destroyed by a wildfire on August 11, 2023, in Kula, Hawaii. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Eckelkamp ultimately flew the plane to the mainland, helping some 330 people escape the fires, he said.

The flight made it off the island only 25 minutes before his co-pilot would have "timed out" on his duty hours, Eckelkamp told Insider.

"It was amazing it all came together in the end," he said.

Amid the chaos and confusion, Eckelkamp said he notched a first in his pilot career: flying a passenger plane while wearing his polo shirt, shorts, and tennis shoes.

Only a handful of people on the plane were aware of the work behind the scenes that made the flight possible, Eckelkamp said. But he still wanted to say goodbye to his passengers after the ordeal they had all shared.

"I was in my shorts and polo shirt and tennis shoes standing at the door, saying goodbye to everyone as they got off the airplane," he said. "I can only imagine after they walked off the plane like 'who was that guy saying goodbye to us? What was his business there?'"

Eckelkamp insisted he "didn't do anything special," saying he was glad he was able to help Hawaii in a small way.

"The people working at the airport, they were the true heroes in all of this," Eckelkamp said. "With all this going on back home, losing their houses, and still they're helping people get out. It's pretty amazing."

August 14, 2023: This story has been updated to include original comments from Vince Eckelkamp and firsthand details of his experience.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The University of Chicago Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images

University of Chicago agreed to a $13.5 million settlement over claims it conspired with top colleges over financial aid.

Five former students accused 16 top schools in 2022 of working together to limit financial aid packages.

UChicago is the first school to resolve those claims, and the settlement now awaits the court's approval.

The University of Chicago became the first of 16 top schools to settle claims it engaged in a scheme to keep financial aid packages low.

In January 2022, five former undergraduate students who attended Duke, Northwestern, and Vanderbilt filed a lawsuit against 16 schools including UChicago, Brown, Yale, and Northwestern. The suit targeted a group called the 568 Presidents Group, which allowed schools to work together to determine common standards for disbursing financial aid.

Through that group, the lawsuit accused the schools of having "participated in a price-fixing cartel that is designed to reduce or eliminate financial aid as a locus of competition" which had "artificially inflated the net price of attendance for students receiving financial aid," according to the original legal filing. The plaintiffs said the schools favored wealthy applicants and "conspired" to reduce financial aid packages, and that they "overcharged over 170,000 financial-aid recipients by at least hundreds of millions of dollars."

The lawsuit targeted an antitrust exemption in Section 568 of the Higher Education Act that allowed schools to collaborate on financial aid formulas if they were "need blind," meaning they do not consider a student's ability to pay in the admissions process. The plaintiffs claimed the schools' admissions were not truly need blind and found ways to consider the wealth a prospective student would bring to the school.

Last week, UChicago agreed to a $13.5 million settlement that is still awaiting approval from the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The school agreed to make cash payments to students who attended one of the named schools' full-time undergraduate programs, received financial aid from one of the schools, and directly paid for tuition, fees, room, or board that was not fully covered by financial aid within the following categories. The settlement class period is defined as:

Attended UChicago, Columbia, Cornell, Duke, Georgetown, MIT, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Penn, Rice, Vanderbilt, and Yale from 2003 through the settlement date

Attended Brown, Dartmouth, or Emory from 2004 through the settlement date

Attended Caltech from 2019 through the settlement date

Attended Johns Hopkins from 2021 through the settlement date.

According to the legal filing on the proposed settlement, there will be an email and media campaign to notify members of the settlement class of this relief. Members can also expect to access a toll-free number to learn more about the settlement, along with a settlement website where they will be able to find important dates and deadlines regarding the cash payments.

"We look forward to putting this matter behind us and continuing to focus our efforts on expanding access to a transformative undergraduate education," the University of Chicago said in a statement.

The settlement now awaits preliminary and final approval from the court. The named schools did not admit any wrongdoing.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Well before Taylor Swift fans co-opted the term, there was another group of Swifties  Navy veterans who operated highly dangerous Swift Boat missions in Vietnam.

When someone talks about Swifties today, however, its unlikely they are referring to the Vietnam vets. Todays Swifties obsess about Taylor Swift and know everything about her music and her life.

But for Swift Boat veterans, co-opting the name creates angst. Kate Zernike wrote a New York Times story about the original Swifties. When Navy vets talk about Swift Boats, she wrote, They recall friends and crewmates killed, countless moments of sheer terror in their young lives, the pain of coming home to a country that offered less than a hero's welcome.

Will Croll, a Vermont native who now lives in Portsmouth, understands those feelings. He enlisted in 1958 and went to Vanderbilt University under the Navy Enlisted Scientific Education Program. After graduation, he commissioned from Officer Candidate School, served one tour on a destroyer, then went to Vietnam for Swift Boat service. Croll was reluctant to go into detail, saying, I left a lot of that behind.

This photo provides a good look at the unusual weapon each Swift Boat had mounted in its stern. The gunner has the option of two different weapons. On top is a standard .50-caliber machine gun, but below is a 81 mm mortar. The muzzle-loaded mortar could be trigger-fired if needed.

The men and their Swift Boats

Swift Boats were basically fast, light gun platforms, agile enough to patrol in shallow waters, but still powerful enough to serve as fearsome offensive weapons. Some 125 were built, and they fought in the U.S. Navy from 1965 to 1970, when they were transferred to the Vietnamese Navy.

The 50-foot aluminum craft had radar, and its two 475-horsepower diesel engines generated a maximum speed of more than 30 knots. Its narrow draft (less than 5 feet) allowed it to get close to shore and into smaller canals that larger patrol boats could not approach.

They were loaded for bear, with twin .50-caliber machine guns mounted over the pilot house forward. A unique over-and-under mount in the stern featured an 81 mm mortar with a .50-caliber machine gun piggybacked above it. In trigger-fire mode, the mortar could become a direct-fire weapon.

Each crew of six had an officer-in-charge (usually a lieutenant junior grade) and five enlisted sailors. Everyone was cross-trained on the various weapons and equipment.

This early configuration Swift Boat is pictured in the South China Sea. It was adapted from an offshore oil rig crew boat used in the Gulf of Mexico. Two diesel engines powered this 50-foot-long craft. Its shallow draft allowed it to get close to shore and into smaller canals.

Swift Boat duty was for volunteers only. Despite the stressful and always dangerous duty, Swift Boat sailors (some 3,600 of them) maintained unusually high morale and esprit de corps through the course of their five-year mission.

Of these members of the Brown Water Navy, some 400 were wounded. Fifty died.

Life serving aboard the Vietnam-era Swift Boats

In addition to supply interdiction and combat patrols, these boats also inserted Navy SEAL teams into enemy territory. Simply stated, Swift Boats conducted some of the most harrowing missions of the war. They faced the constant threat of naval mines, as well as rocket fire from an enemy bunkered on riverbanks as few as 30 feet away.

And, as former Swift Boat skipper John Scholl told the New York Times, "The bad guys shot at you on the way up the river, and they knew you had to come back down."

Firefights involving Swift Boats were not long, drawn-out engagements, simply because the boat was a very visible target to a dug-in and largely invisible enemy.

The best solution for survival was a massive return of fire combined with a high-speed departure. Though most cruising and patrolling was done at 8 to 10 knots, the boats could reach a top speed of 32 knots.

Other operational challenges

Jamestown resident Daniel Ustick, originally from Philadelphia, graduated from Bates College in 1963. He enlisted in the Navy and earned an OCS commission early in 1965. After a tour on a guided missile destroyer, he volunteered for Swift Boats and graduated from that training in May 1968.

We responded not just to firefights along the river banks, but also to calls for fire support further inland, Ustick told me. In the stern, we had an 81 mm mortar mounted in an over-and-under combination with a .50-caliber machine gun. We would set bow and stern anchors to give us some stability. Then we could fire mortar rounds usually flares  to help units in contact with the enemy.

Weather was also an issue, especially at the mouth of the Cua Viet River, up near the border with North Vietnam. While the Swift Boat base was sheltered in a calm spot upriver, getting to it could be a challenge in rough weather. During monsoon season, 15- to 20-foot waves crashed through a narrow, 200-foot-wide channel at the river mouth.

Surfing the 50-foot-long boat was often the only way to reach the safety of the base. (At least two boats were lost attempting this maneuver.)

Lt. Daniel Ustick poses with a large snapping turtle at Cam Ranh Bay in 1967. His Swift Boat is on the right.

Will Croll also lived through the Cua Viet surfing experience, since his crews tour was as a replacement boat.

When a boat assigned to a unit went off-line for repairs or maintenance, my crew and I would fill that hole. I actually bounced up and down the entire Vietnam coast from Cua Viet to Phu Quoc Island.

David Browns quest begins

I have written about veterans receiving their awards many years after the fact. Each such column has been about one person getting one set of overdue medals.

Todays column is about some 60 veterans getting 60 sets of overdue medals.

And one man  retired Navy Capt. David Brown of Middletown  is largely responsible for getting this error corrected.

What Dave Brown has accomplished is amazing, says Ustick.

Retired Navy Capt. David Brown displays a model of a Swift Boat at his home in Middletown.

Brown, a 1962 Naval Academy grad, served aboard a destroyer and attended Naval Postgraduate School before undergoing Swift Boat training at Coronado, California. He headed for Vietnam in June 1967.

Brown commanded Coastal Division 11, a unit of Swift Boats based at An Thoi, adjacent to Cambodia. He was responsible for 30 six-man crews who, in rotation, operated 20 PCFs (Patrol Craft Fast, the Navy lingo for Swift Boats).

Administrative nightmare begins

By the end of his tour, Brown had assembled the necessary information to submit awards for more than 70 junior officers and sailors from his unit. I worked nights and weekends at my next duty station finishing up this paperwork, Brown told me. He submitted the recommendations and forgot about it.

Sadly, the entire packet of nominations disappeared within the Navys bureaucracy  but Brown did not know about it for many years.

He eventually crossed paths with a fellow Swift Boat officer from 1968, and only then did he learn that none of his men had received their awards.

This situation did not sit right with Brown, and it bothered him for years.

After my retirement, I was going through a box of Navy papers, Brown told me. I found the files I had used to prepare the original submissions in 1968.

They werent copies of the award recommendations, but they were the next best thing: drafts of the documents and the raw data used to submit them.

Daniel Ustick, of Jamestown. He attended the University of California at Berkeley and earned a teaching certificate on the GI Bill after getting out of the Navy. He then spent 32 years as a teacher in Portsmouth.

Brown was able to re-create 73 recommendations. But changing official military records can be an arduous and time-consuming process.

For eight years, Brown tried on his own to get the files moved through the approval process. While he waited, more of his aging shipmates passed away without ever receiving their medals.

In 2019, Brown turned to U.S. Sen. Jack Reed for help. Reed and his staff jumped on the case, and they worked with Brown to navigate the administrative process (which eventually required the secretary of the Navy's approval). Federal government help to locate the award recipients was also needed.

Reed acknowledges that lost paperwork and delays in receiving awards are not uncommon. What is uncommon, said Reed, is Mr. Browns tireless efforts over the years to ensure his fellow sailors were appropriately recognized. I salute his hard work.

Brown is harder on himself. Im not the hero here, he said, pointing out that had he followed up back in 1968, none of this would have happened. I spent years trying to fix my own failure. I should have made sure before I left Vietnam that all those award recommendations were properly processed.

To date, 58 of the original 73 award recommendations have been approved, and about half have already been presented. Thirteen of these were Bronze Stars for Valor, our countrys fourth-highest award for heroism.

These medals are a symbol of honor and a small but meaningful token of our profound thanks to these veterans and their families, said Reed.

After his Swift Boat days, Brown completed a full Navy career, retiring as a captain. After retirement, he was appointed rear admiral in the U.S. Maritime Service and headed both the Great Lakes Maritime Academy and New York Maritime College.

With special thanks to Chip Unruh of Sen. Jack Reeds staff, who did the heavy lifting for this column.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Vietnam era Swift Boat crewmen finally get recognition
BEIJING, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- There has been a continuous influx of indigenously-developed aircraft, fortifying the country's air emergency rescue system and bolstering its capabilities, according to the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).

New models and added capabilities of homegrown aircraft will consistently contribute to elevating the country's emergency rescue capabilities, thereby safeguarding the well-being and livelihood of its people, said the AVIC, the country's leading planemaker.

According to China's 14th Five-Year-Plan (2021-2025), the country's national emergency management system will be improved by strengthening and improving the air rescue system and capabilities.

The AVIC said it has been endeavoring to bolster the development of aeronautic equipment for use in air emergency rescue, with major progress in multiple specialized aircraft for rescue missions.

A new member of the Modern Ark aircraft family, the MA60 firefighting airplane successfully made its maiden flight in late July, marking a major step forward in its further development and airworthiness certification work.

The MA60 firefighting aircraft is a medium-sized fixed-wing plane model tailored to serve forest firefighting and other emergency missions.

It enhances China's forest fire protection methods while supporting the development of the country's emergency rescue system, the AVIC said.

Prior to this, the AG600 large amphibious aircraft have been verified as capable of performing firefighting tasks. At this stage, it has the practical application capabilities to safely perform firefighting tasks, the AVIC announced in mid-July.

Codenamed Kunlong, or "water dragon" in Chinese, the AG600 aircraft family is developed to strengthen China's emergency rescue capabilities by combating forest fires, carrying out maritime search and rescue, and other critical rescue missions.

A vast country with complex landforms, China has been constantly strengthening its capabilities in the air emergency rescue sector. Various types of aeronautic equipment are in need to serve rescue operations.

China's State Council has issued a plan to boost the construction of the modern emergency management system and capabilities over the 2021-2025 period, by increasing aircraft for forest fire-fighting missions and making air-rescue capacities cover key forests and grasslands across the country.

Diverse models of homegrown aeronautical equipment have already shown the capabilities and adaptabilities in supporting emergency rescue.

In response to the impact of Typhoon Doksuri in late July, the Wing Loong-2H large civil unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has been dispatched to provide crucial support for emergency rescue operations in east China's Fujian Province.

Assigned by the Ministry of Emergency Management, the large UAV rushed to Fujian to monitor the water level, building damages, and other disaster conditions caused by the typhoon. It also collected and sent back real-time images and visual data involving meteorological information, which sustained the efficient commanding and management of emergency rescue.

Besides the Wing Loong-2H, other models of the Wing Loong civil UAV family had also served diverse rescue missions, such as telecommunications restoration, marine meteorological observation, and more. 
US ambassador to Russia visited WSJ journalist Gershkovich in jail Moscow court hears appeal by WSJ reporter Gershkovich

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy met with jailed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich on Monday, a State Department spokesperson said, in her third such visit since his March detention on espionage charges he denies.

"Ambassador Tracy said that Evan continues to appear in good health and remains strong, despite his circumstances," the spokesperson said, adding that it was Washington's expectation that Moscow would provide continued consular access.

"Once again, the United States calls on the Russian Federation to immediately release Evan Gershkovich and also to release wrongfully detained U.S. citizen Paul Whelan," the spokesperson added.

Russia has said Gershkovich was caught trying to obtain military secrets while on a trip to the Russian city of Yekaterinburg, but has provided no details supporting that assertion. The Wall Street Journal also denies the allegations.

The State Department has designated Gershkovich and Whelan as wrongfully detained and described the charges against both men as baseless. Whelan, a former U.S. Marine detained in Moscow in 2018, is serving a 16-year sentence in a Russian penal colony on espionage charges.

Russia has agreed in the past to high-profile prisoner exchanges with the United States, most recently last year when American basketball star Brittney Griner, sentenced in Russia on a drug charge, was exchanged for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms trafficker convicted in the United States.

But Moscow has said no exchange could take place in Gershkovich's case until a verdict has been reached. No date has so far been set for his trial.

U.S.-Russian relations are at their lowest point in more than six decades following Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

(Reporting by Simon Lewis and Humeyra PamukAdditional reporting by Rami AyyubEditing by Alistair Bell)
The U.S. has announced a $200 million military aid package for Ukraine, including munitions for Patriot air defense systems and HIMARS, as well as other support, the Pentagon said on Aug. 14.

"Air defense, anti-armor, and munitions will keep the Ukrainian armed forces in the fight to defend their country's sovereignty, territory, and people," U.S. State Secretary Antony Blinken tweeted.

The 44th tranche of U.S. weapons support for Ukraine includes ammunition for Patriots and HIMARS, 155mm and 105mm artillery shells, 120mm tank ammunition, Javelin anti-tank systems, TOW anti-tank missiles, and other anti-tank munitions and systems.

The Pentagon has further pledged 37 logistics vehicles, 58 water trailers, over 12 million rounds of small arms ammunition and grenades, mine clearing equipment, explosives for clearing obstacles, spare parts, and other field equipment.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said during a press briefing on Aug. 8 that next to this latest package, the U.S. is considering the transfer of new missiles and defense systems to Ukraine. The spokesperson did respond to a question about whether these new systems include the much-anticipated long-range ATACMS missiles.

The new funds will be allocated thanks to the $6.2 billion "accounting error" discovered in June. According to Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh, the U.S. Defense Department overestimated the value of arms sent to Ukraine over the past two years by $6.2 billion, freeing up additional funds for Ukraine military aid.

The U.S. announced its previous package for Ukraine worth $400 million on July 25, including additional munitions for Patriot air defense systems, NASAMS, HIMARS, as well as Stingers, Javelins, and other weapons.

Read also: Pentagon: US to further increase 155 mm ammunition production

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The U.S. on Monday announced a $200 million security assistance package for Ukraine, providing Kyiv with another round of munitions and tactical vehicles for use in the fight against Russia.

The latest package places total U.S. security assistance to Ukraine at roughly $43 billion since Russia invaded in February 2022, meaning the remaining funds for Ukrainian forces is fast approaching their limit.

The Biden administration unveiled the critical assistance for Ukraine in the midst of a major counteroffensive operation.

The package includes more munitions for advanced weapons systems coveted by Ukraine, including High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and Patriot missile defense systems.

Air defense, anti-armor, and munitions will keep the Ukrainian armed forces in the fight to defend their countrys sovereignty, territory, and people, Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrote Monday on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

More than 12 million rounds of small arms ammunition and grenades will also be provided, along with mine-clearing equipment and 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds.

The security assistance also includes 37 tactical vehicles for towing and hauling equipment.

The package comes as Ukrainian troops pushing ahead in a slow-moving counteroffensive in the southeast are coming up against fierce resistance from dug-in Russian forces.

Ukraine is often outgunned by Russia with an inferior amount of artillery and is struggling against trenches and mine fields. Kyiv will undoubtedly need more Western support to keep the operation going and reclaim territory in Russian-occupied Ukraine.

Congress has passed about $47 billion in direct security assistance for Ukraine since the start of the war, with the latest aid package approved in December.

The White House last week asked Congress for an additional $40 billion in security assistance, including about $13 billion specifically for defense needs.

Its unclear whether a new package can be approved swiftly or at all, with some House Republicans cautioning against additional funding.

Updated: 3:05 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
AUGUSTA, Ga.  To ensure soldiers are equipped with the right communication tools, U.S. Army network experts are testing gear in radically different environments and among troops employing specialty tactics.

Portions of the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii and the 82nd Airborne Division in North Carolina were recently provided tailored packages of radios, variable height antennas and the like, or whats known as the integrated tactical network.

The goal, according to Col. Shermoan Daiyaan, a radio expert with the Program Executive Office for Command, Control and Communications-Tactical, is to collect feedback from both, compare the results and, ultimately, better inform Army decisions down the road.

We are in two different regions, two different fighting styles, two different types of demands and two different mission sets, Daiyaan told C4ISRNET Aug. 11, ahead of this weeks AFCEA TechNet Augusta conference in Georgia. That will show the tailor-ability of both units.

The executive office, known as PEO 3CT, develops, deploys and supports networking gear across the service.

The 25th, they do things like island hopping, theyre a lot more dispersed. So, how do they use these capabilities on watercraft, when theyre coming ashore, or commanding from offshore? Daiyaan said. The 82nd, they are joint forcible entry, and they take airfields, right? Its a different mix; not one size fits all.

At Army experiment, experts tinker with tanks and communications kit

As the Army readies for potential conflict in the Indo-Pacific, where it could clash with China, or across Europe, where fighting could break out with Russia, it is placing growing emphasis on the division, a formation of some 15,000 soldiers capable of long-term fighting and maintenance.

The preparations are motivating a pivot to the so-called division as a unit of action network design  a connectivity scaffold that will take months of deliberation, real-world experimentation and tweaking to construct.

PEO C3T and Network Cross-Functional Team leadership unveiled the initiative earlier this year at Fort Myer, Virginia.

We have to have assured voice communications between commanders, we have to have a common operating picture, focusing on the common, and then we have to have digital fires, Maj. Gen. Jeth Rey, the cross-functional team director, said at the time. Modernization of the network is one of six service priorities. Others include improved air-and-missile defense and long-range precision fires.

As we pivoted to the division as the unit of action, the questions kept coming, he said. We all came to the conclusion that we needed a better  a different  approach in order to iterate on getting the equipment into the hands of soldiers a little faster.
The United States on Monday called for calm from China, which has voiced anger over a stopover in America by Taiwan's vice president, with Washington describing the travel as routine.

William Lai, who is the frontrunner in Taiwan's presidential election next year, stopped in New York and will return via San Francisco on a trip to Paraguay, one of a dwindling number of nations to recognize Taipei.

"There is no reason to overtorque this transit into anything escalatory," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters.

He said it was the 11th time in the past two decades that a Taiwanese vice president has transited through the United States, which recognizes only Beijing despite its strong ties with self-governing democracy Taiwan.

"This is consistent with our One China policy. We are not interested in deviating from the status quo," Patel said.

It should not be "any kind of pretext or coercion or provocative activity," he said.

China has called Lai a "troublemaker" and vowed to take "resolute and forceful measures to safeguard national sovereignty."

China claims Taiwan and has not ruled out using force to seize it. It launched major military exercises after Nancy Pelosi, then House speaker, visited Taiwan last year and later when President Tsai Ing-wen met top US lawmakers as she transited through the United States.

Lai is not expected to hold high-profile meetings although in remarks in New York he vowed to "resist annexation" and "uphold the value of democracy and freedom."

While not meeting him, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Mike McCaul, led a statement welcoming Lai to the United States and calling on allies to "stand with Taiwan."

sct/dw
U.S. Coast Guard and Navy crews rescued four divers who were reported missing Sunday after launching a search off the coast of Cape Fear, North Carolina, officials said Monday.

The divers were rescued about 46 miles southeast of Cape Fear River, the U.S. Coast Guard Mid-Atlantic announced on social media.

No further details about the rescue or how the men survived were immediately released.

The four men were reported missing after they went diving off a leisure boat called "Big Bills" about 63 miles east of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina., around noon and never resurfaced, the Coast Guard said.

SMALL AIRCRAFT CRASHES IN RAVINE AT ALASKA'S DENALI NATIONAL PARK; PILOT, PASSENGER PRESUMED DEAD

The four missing male divers were rescued and returned to shore, officials said Monday morning.

Coast Guard crews from sectors in Charleston, South Carolina, and Wilmington, North Carolina, deployed multiple boats and aircraft, including an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew and a HC-130 Hercules aircraft crew, to search for the missing divers about 50 miles south of Cape Fear. The area is near the state line between the two Carolinas.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Officials said the search for the four men continued through the night on Sunday into Monday.

The four men were reported missing after failing to resurface during a dive off a leisure boat about 63 miles east of Myrtle Beach, S.C., officials said.

At the time of the search, officials said waves were 2 to 3 feet high with winds of around 11 mph.

COAST GUARD RESCUES 3 COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN OFF MASSACHUSETTS COAST

The identities of the missing divers were not immediately released.

It was unclear when U.S. Coast Guard crews located the men, though officials said they had been working overnight from Sunday into Monday.

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The many shipwrecks off the coasts of both states are a popular draw for divers. The area is known for hundreds of shipwrecks and is called the "Graveyard of the Atlantic."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The U.S. military has detected and tracked four Russian warplanes flying in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) late Aug. 13 and on the morning of Aug. 14, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) reported.

According to NORAD, the planes remained in international airspace and did not violate U.S. or Canadian airspace. The Russian activity in the Alaska ADIZ occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat, the report clarified.

NORAD defined ADIZ as a "stretch of international airspace that requires the ready identification of all aircraft in the interest of national security."

Earlier today on Aug. 14, two Danish F-16 fighter jets were sent to intercept two Russian borders flying close to Danish and Dutch airspace over the North Sea, the Danish Defense Ministry said.

In a similar incident on the same day, British Typhoon jets were scrambled to intercept two Russian Tu-142 bombers flying north of Scotland, according to the British Defense Ministry.

Read also: Belarus Weekly: Helicopters violate Polish airspace; Wagner moves closer to border

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U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken listens to a speech by Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi

Japan and the United States will jointly develop new missile systems to intercept hypersonic projectiles currently being developed by China, Russia, and North Korea, Japanese newspaper Yomiuri reported on Aug. 13.

The agreement is set to be announced at the trilateral summit between the leaders of Japan, the U.S., and South Korea on Aug. 18.

The cooperation is aimed at strengthening the capabilities of both countries to counter potential threats and will represent the second joint missile development between Japan and the United States, following the completion of the Standard Missile-3 Block 2A in 2017, Yomiuri reported.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and U.S. President Joe Biden are expected to hold separate talks before the summit, which could affect the details of the deals announcement.

Hypersonic missiles are capable of reaching speeds five times higher than the speed of sound (Mach 5), and follow irregular trajectories at low altitudes, making it difficult to detect and track with existing radars.

To successfully intercept hypersonic missiles, it is important to have the ability to detect and track missiles at an early stage, Yomiuri stated. This is confirmed by practical experience in Ukraine, where Russian hypersonic missiles have been successfully intercepted by the Patriot missile system.

The US currently employs a satellite cluster, which includes many small satellites operating in a swarm, to intercept missiles. Japan is also exploring cooperation opportunities with the U.S. satellite network.

In addition, Japan seeks to have a counterattack capability, which would allow it to attack missile bases in other countries for self-defense. This includes the development of new missiles for interception and subsequent counterattacks. This system has received approval from Ukrainian defense experts.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A US Army soldier who is accused of murdering his new wife had posted a plea on Facebook for help in the search a day before her body was found stuffed in a storm drain.

Zarrius Hildabrand, 21, was taken into custody on Friday after a days-long search for Alaska National Guard combat medic Saria Hildabrand, 21, the Anchorage Police Department said. He is charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence.

Mr Hildabrand reported his wife missing on 7 August. She was last seen on Sunday morning, leaving the Campbell Park apartment complex in Anchorage where she lived with her husband, to walk to work. But she never returned home.

As a search was launched for Saria, her husband joined the effort and shared his wifes missing poster to his Facebook page, pleading with the public for help.

Updated information on my missing wife PLEASE SHARE AND REPOST!!!!!! Mr Hildabrand wrote on the post on Wednesday.

Sarias body was found the very next day in a 4-by-5-foot storm drain near the couples apartment.

She had a gunshot wound to her left temple, Anchorage Daily News said, citing the police incident report.

The couple met at basic training last summer and were married in December 2022, according to her family.

Zarrius Hildabrand shared his wifes missing poster to his Facebook page, pleading with the public for help finding her (Zarrius Hildabrand/Facebook)

Mr Hildabrand is a cannon crewmember assigned to the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 11th Airborne Division at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

Saria joined the Alaska Army National Guard in April of 2023 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment as a combat medic. She moved from Utah to Alaska to be with him.

Her devastated mother, Meredith Barney, accused Mr Hildabrand of lying to the family, telling the Anchorage Daily News on Friday, He walked around for hours with me searching for my daughter knowing that she was dead.

He lied to me multiple times and tried to play it off like he was a concerned husband.

Mr Hildabrand reportedly told investigators that he didnt really worry about his wife until around 10pm on Sunday, when she didnt return from her second job at a local restaurant.

He also told police that his wife walked to work that day because they were both hungover from the night before and neither felt like driving. She had also left her phone at home, he reported, which her family said was unusual for her to do.

In charging documents obtained by Law&Crime, Mr Hildabrand and Saria were out with friends on the night of 5 August, celebrating Zarrius 21st birthday.

They returned home around 2am and it was later reported that a neighbor heard a gunshot around 2.45am from a nearby apartment. Its not confirmed what apartment the shot came from.

Saria Barney Hildabrand was found dead in Anchorage after a days-long search. Her 21-year-old husband has been arrested and charged with murder (Saria Barney Hildabrand/Facebook)

Sarias co-workers later told police they received text messages from her phone at 10.45am on Sunday stating she was calling out of work. This conflicted with Mr Hildabrands statement that she had left her phone at home when she went to work. He reportedly denied sending the texts himself.

When police interviewed Mr Hildabrand at the couples apartment on Tuesday, they spotted two guns on the table, according to KTUU. It was reported that one of the guns was fully loaded and the gun was missing a single bullet.

According to the criminal complaint, police noticed the bed was covered with only a mattress pad and new unopened sheets were nearby. When they asked Mr Hildabrand about it, he declined to lift the bed claiming there were embarrassing items like stuff used for sex underneath.

Police later learned that on 6 August, Mr Hildabrand had purchased a set of new sheets, a mattress cover, hydrogen peroxide, an empty spray bottle, and a jar of marinara sauce, according to the complaint. Its not clear what the sauce was used for.

A search warrant was executed for the apartment and police found the mattress saturated by human blood, the complaint said.

There was so much blood on the mattress that the blood soaked through onto the carpet and into the wood frame.

The complaint also detailed evidence of blood all over the bathtub, most likely after cleanup attempts were made.

Mr Hildabrand was dressed in an orange jail jumpsuit when he appeared in court on Friday. He was appointed a public defender and is being held on a $500,000 bond.

A GoFundMe page was originally set up to help raise money for Sarias search. Its now being used to help cover funeral costs (GoFundMe)

Sarias distraught family spoke to the media after the hearing and her mother said she had not had previous concern about her daughters husband.

I didnt, not anything that wasnt abnormal for like newlywed people trying to figure out living together, Barney said.

But she added that she suspected something was not right when Mr Hildabrand reportedly called her from Sarias phone which he claimed she had left at home.

A GoFundMe page was originally set up to help raise money for the search. Its now being used to help cover funeral costs and return Sarias remains to Utah.

As of Monday morning, the fundraiser surpassed its $20,000 goal with a total of $20,452.

Shes just like the most amazing, precious child ever, her mom tearfully added on Friday. Shes just always been looking for the future, happy, and really loved. She loved everybody. Everyone loved her.
The US has announced its new US$200 million military aid package for Ukraine.

Source: European Pravda

Details: Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, reported that Ukraine will be supplied with a new military aid package according to the Presidential Drawdown Authority mechanism which allows it to hand over weapons from American supplies.

Ammunition for air defence systems, artillery shells, anti-tank means and equipment for mine clearance will be included in the package.

The Pentagon specified that the new package includes:

additional missiles for the Patriot and HIMARS systems, 155-mm and 105-mm artillery shells, as well as 120-mm tank projectiles;

TOW missiles, Javelin anti-tank systems and others;

37 tactical means of transporting military equipment, 58 trailers for water equipment;

over 12 million rounds for small arms;

equipment and systems for mine clearance, projectiles for removing obstacles and parts for repairing equipment.

Blinken added that the US military support for Ukraine will last until Russia ends the war, withdraws its troops from the Ukrainian territory and ceases its cruel attacks.

The latest military aid package from the US was the first using the US$6.2 billion in funds discovered after a Pentagon accounting error overestimated the cost of billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine.

Background:

The previous US$400 million package announced at the end of July included additional ammunition for Patriot, NASAMS and HIMARS systems, Stinger anti-aircraft systems, Javelin anti-tank systems and more.

The total sum of the US military aid for Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 is approaching US$44 billion.

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BEIJING, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- China firmly opposes all forms of official interaction between the Taiwan authorities and countries having diplomatic ties with China, foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Monday.

Wang made the remarks when asked to comment on the visit last week to Taiwan by three lawmakers from the Baltic States, one each from Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia.

Wang stressed that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory.

"We urge relevant parties to abide by the one-China principle, refrain from sending wrong signals to the 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces and take concrete actions to safeguard the sound and steady development of bilateral relations," Wang said. Enditem
Parents were dropping off their children for the first day of school when another driver struck a security officer who was directing traffic, authorities in Arkansas said.

Pulaski County Special School District Officer Victor Montgomery was directing traffic between Robinson High School and Robinson Elementary at the time, according to a news release.

A vehicle traveling westbound struck the employee, dragging him several yards in the road before coming to a stop early Monday, Aug. 14, the district said. Another district employee called 911 right away.

Montgomery was rushed to a hospital with several injuries, officials said. He died later that morning.

Montgomery had been employed by the district for seven years, according to the release. He served Robinson High School and assisted with elementary school traffic.

The driver of the involved vehicle was a 55-year-old man from Little Rock, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. He is not a school employee or parent involved with the district.

He stopped immediately and has been cooperative in all aspects of the investigation, Arkansas Department of Public Safety spokesperson Cindy Murphy told the newspaper. He consented to testing, and there was no suspected impairment.

Charges are pending, she added.

PCSSD is very upset and saddened that this accident happened, district officials said. It is imperative for motorists to slow down in school zones. There are three schools within walking distance of each other in this area.

There is absolutely no reason for any motorist to drive above the speed limit in this area any time day, much less during school drop off and pick up time, officials continued in the release. This could have been avoided if motorists were more attentive and aware of their surroundings while driving in school zones.

McClatchy News reached out to the Arkansas Department of Public Safety for additional information and was awaiting a response.

Officer Montgomery may be gone but he will not be forgotten, Dr. Jay Pickering, principal of Joe T. Robinson High School, said in the release. Paw Paw will forever be in our hearts and the halls of Robinson High.

Pulaski County Special School District is part of the Little Rock metropolitan area.

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CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's top prosecutor launched an investigation on Sunday into death threats against a presidential candidate, as fears of political violence in the region have risen following last week's assassination in Ecuador.

Attorney General Tarek Saab wrote in a post on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that human rights prosecutors have been assigned to investigate the threats against Delsa Solorzano, a presidential hopeful competing in an opposition primary in October.

The opposition primary aims to pick a standard-bearer to face off against President Nicolas Maduro's ruling socialists in next year's general election.

Solorzano, the head of the Citizen Encounter party, said on Saturday that insult-laden death threats were sent to her via a Facebook account, and on X she posted a screen shot that appeared to show a message attributed to Colombia's National Liberation Army (ELN) rebel group threatening to kill her.

Last week, Colombian President Gustavo Petro and the ELN, a Marxist group that has fought Colombia's government for decades, began a six-month ceasefire as part of an effort to end to their conflict.

The next round of talks between Petro's government and ELN representatives is expected to begin in Caracas on Monday.

The message posted by Solorzano purportedly from the ELN also mentioned the slain Ecuadorean presidential candidate, Fernando Villavicencio, gunned down last week in Quito.

In her post, Solorzano cited "the grave incidents that recently occurred in Ecuador" for motivating her to speak out.

(Reporting by Deisy Buitrago; Writing by David Alire Garcia; Editing by Robert Birsel)
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is expected to bring charges related to former President Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia as early as Tuesday.

Willis and her team are presenting their case from their two-and-a-half-year investigation into Trump and his allies' efforts to reverse Joe Biden's victory in the state. While Trump has already been indicted in three separate cases this year, the Georgia indictment could look much different. Clark Cunningham, a professor of law at Georgia State University, drew comparisons between the potential indictment and special counsel Jack Smith's charges against the former president over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

"Smith is going for the quick score and District Attorney Willis is playing the long game," Cunningham told Salon. "We don't know if it's going to be one indictment with multiple defendants or if it's going to be separate indictments."

While Smith's indictment of Trump was simple and straightforward, Willis is "filing a much more complicated case," he added.

At least two witnesses have received notifications requiring them to appear before a grand jury in Fulton County on Tuesday. Grand jurors will hear from former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan and independent Atlanta journalist George Chidi Tuesday.

Former Georgia state senator Jen Jordan and former state lawmaker Bee Nguyen have also received subpoenas in the case.

Willis is expected to pursue charges against more than twelve individuals in connection to the alleged efforts to overturn the outcomes of the 2020 election.

"Prosecutors will be looking at this with the mindset of convincing a jury," said Joshua Ritter, a former Los Angeles County prosecutor and a partner at the firm El Dabe Ritter. "They are probably going to focus on people who played a direct role rather than people whose roles were more ancillary. If prosecutors throw too many ancillary people into the mix, a jury could get the impression that some defendants are being railroaded. That would tear away at the credibility of the overall case."

The district attorney has described her probe in court filings as an investigation of "multistate, coordinated efforts to influence the results of the November 2020 elections in Georgia and elsewhere."

CNN reported over the weekend that prosecutors obtained text messages and emails linking Trump's legal team to a voting system breach in Coffee County in January 2021 as part of a Trump-led effort to undermine Georgia's vote. Some of those potentially facing charges are connected to the breach within the larger criminal investigation.

Willis could pursue Trump under the state's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO)  a law often associated with addressing organized crime but with wider potential applications to pursue Trump in this case.

"The district attorney has signaled an interest in using that from the beginning," Cunningham said.

She has a "track record" of using the RICO statute when she was the "star trial attorney" and an assistant district attorney in Fulton County, he added, pointing to Willis using the RICO Act against Atlanta public school educators in a cheating scandal.

"She successfully prosecuted the Atlanta school board cheating case and got convictions," Cunningham said.

Willis is using the RICO Act right now in a "very creative way," going after the rapper Young Thug, who is facing gang-related charges stemming from the RICO indictment in Fulton County, Georgia. Several people have been indicted under RICO and are cooperating.

The RICO Act was passed by the federal government in 1970 "pretty clearly aimed at organized crime," Cunningham said. It came with the understanding that if people work together in a criminal enterprise, that's more dangerous than people working alone. Georgia passed its own version in 1980.

"When you have a criminal organization, [or] organized crime, you really need strong investigative and prosecutorial tools," Cunningham said. "So it's tough to reach the godfather. The godfather tries to keep his hands clean."

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In this case, Trump's alleged conspiracy to undermine democracy and keep himself in power by any means makes him the mastermind behind the effort to overturn election results in Georgia, he continued.

The DA could identify the Stop the Steal campaign or the unindicted co-conspirators as part of the RICO organization, Cunningham said. Arguably, the office of the presidency, after the election, was a RICO organization  an organization that was corrupted, he added.

"In putting together a racketeering case, it's all about establishing a latticework of connections between different parties," Ritter said. "Even if all the connections do not lead directly to Donald Trump, if prosecutors can build this theory that a network and a criminal enterprise was at work on Trump's behalf, then they can point to certain actions that were clearly illegal and other actions that weren't strictly illegal but were undertaken in furtherance of an overall criminal scheme."

The RICO Act not only carries a prison sentence of 20 years but also includes a unique provision mandating a minimum of five years of imprisonment.

"So it's a very, very serious crime and one of the things that it does is if you indict a lot of people under the RICO Act, that creates a huge incentive for people who are kind of lower the food chain to cooperate to avoid spending at least five years in prison," Cunningham said.

A RICO indictment would bring all the important pieces of evidence together and make the case for how these different events all relate to each other.

"That's what a RICO indictment does, is that you've got all these different pieces of evidence that by themselves may not even seem criminal, may not seem that significant, like the phone call to [Brad] Raffensperger or Mark Meadows showing up unannounced in Cobb County" Cunningham said. "All of these things fit together into a plan, a plan that really had a tremendous number of people working on it and a plan that came very close to succeeding."

Read more

about the Fulton County probe
Nearly 20 Virginia Beach parents have asked a judge to force the school division to redo its selection process for Old Donation School. They claim the decision to fill the gifted schools limited spots through a lottery violated its own rules and unfairly excluded their children.

Old Donation serves gifted students in second through eighth grades.

Parents of rising second-graders were notified of their childrens selection to attend Old Donation in May. The children of the parents involved in the suit were put on a waiting list for the upcoming school year, which begins Aug. 28.

The parents argue this was not in the five-year local plan for the education of the gifted, approved by the board in 2020.

Ashley Barrineau, a parent of a rising second-grader and the wife of one of the petitioners, said this process did more than deny her son a spot in the sought-after school.

My son is frequently upset because he feels he has no friends, Barrineau said. The other kids do not understand him. They dont know how to relate to him.

She said she has tried to work with his teachers and counselors, but there is only so much support her son can get in the regular classroom setting. Thats why she hoped her son would be placed at Old Donation  to find a peer group with which he can connect.

Barrineau said the lack of transparency and frustrations with how the process was conducted led the parents to take legal action.

According to division officials, more students were identified as gifted this year than in previous years. Kipp Rogers, then the chief academic officer, told the school board in June that nearly 1,000 first grade students had been identified as gifted and applications for Old Donation were automatically started  parents had the opportunity to opt-out. Of those, 244 were considered top students, which meant they were considered for placement at the school.

There were only 130 seats available in second grade, and each of those students had received a rating of four on the one-to-four scale from a selection committee. So a random selection process was used.

According to division officials, this was not a new practice. In past years, if there were extra seats after the top applicants were placed, a lottery system would be used for the next highest-ranked students.

The issue this year appeared to be that there were more top applicants than seats, and the parents said the administrators should have known that would happen based on the changes to the ranking scale.

] The selection committee used to provide three individual scores, Rogers explained in the June meeting. At first, it was a one-to-five scale, with one being not recommended and five being a definite yes. Those who received all fives were given top priority.

Over the years, Rogers said this was changed to a one-to-four system, and instead of three individual rankings from the selection committee, they just provide one to address concerns that any members ranking was subjective or biased in some way. The 244 students identified had all received a four ranking under this practice.

According to the parents statement, This shift inadvertently led to an overidentification of the highest-rated students and, ultimately, the implementation of a lottery system that excluded profoundly gifted/top students if their number was not selected.

The parents also allege the random selection disregards the divisions commitment to diversity. Under-represented groups and twice-exceptional students, meaning gifted students with a disability, were not considered in the process. Barrineau said those students, like her son, are being left behind in the neighborhood schools.

According to court documents, the parents request the division redo the selection process. A hearing is set for Monday afternoon.

The parents attorney, Patricie Drake, said the division absolutely has time to go through the selection process before school begins.

Instead, she said Virginia Beach school leadership is backtracking and working to adopt amendments that legitimize the practice used this year.

During the Tuesday meeting, the school board was presented with proposed amendments that would formalize the use of a one-to-four scale and would also allow administrators to make reasonable adjustments and interpretations to the plan as necessary with notice to the board.

Largely, the board agreed that the rating system should be addressed. Board member Kathleen Brown said she would need to see three individual ratings instead of one consensus rating in order to support the plan moving forward.

Kerwin Kolheffer, chair of the Gifted Community Advisory Committee, said the group had wanted to see the amendments minimize the need for another random selection process. He said this could potentially be done through a greater degree of differentiating and objectivity in the ranking system.

He said there had also been some concerns raised in the committee about the amendment to allowing administration to make changes with just board notice.

Many people shared concerns Tuesday that the committee had not recommended the proposed amendments shared with the board. Kolheffer said the committee does not have any policy creating capacity, and is only there to advocate for the gifted students.

Board member Jennifer Franklin said the division also needs to consider enhancing the gifted-cluster program at neighborhood schools, especially if more gifted students are being identified.

Board member Kimberly Melnyk also said of students who are not placed at Old Donation, of course wed be meeting their needs. She said there are resources available at each school.

A spokesperson with Virginia Beach Public Schools told The Pilot on Friday afternoon the school board attorneys are working on a response on the matter.

Kelsey Kendall, kelsey.kendall@virginiamedia.com
Insider's reporter traveled to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, during a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains. Bettmann/Contributor/Getty Images, Joey Hadden/Insider

I visited Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, during a recent trip to the Great Smoky Mountains.

The town's Old Mill District had pioneer-style architecture and a 200-year-old working gristmill.

Strolling through the historic district made me feel like I'd traveled back in time.

I visited the town of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, in April during a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains and stumbled upon a square that made me feel like I had traveled back in time.

It was the Old Mill District  Pigeon Forge's 200-year-old hidden gem filled with shops, pioneer-style architecture, and a 19th-century gristmill that still operates today.

See for yourself.

Welcome to Pigeon Forge, a Tennessee town near the Great Smoky Mountains.

A rainy day in Pigeon Forge. Joey Hadden/Insider

The town is 25 minutes north of the national park by car.

Pigeon Forge is north of the Great Smoky Mountains. Google Maps

Read more: I've been terrified of driving my whole life, but a recent trip to Tennessee without a car made me realize I need to get over it

During a recent trip to the Great Smoky Mountains, I spent one night in Pigeon Forge, a tourist destination that attracts 10 million visitors each year, according to the city's website.

A general store in Pigeon Forge. Joey Hadden/Insider

Source: City of Pigeon Forge

Much of the town felt vibrant and seemingly built for tourists with rides and other attractions.

Shops and cars parked along The Parkway in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Photo by George Rose/Getty Images

Read more: 15 photos that will transport you to the Great Smoky Mountains, from cozy cabin views to jaw-dropping landscapes

It's also home to Dolly Parton's Tennessee theme park, Dollywood.

Dollywood. Talia Lakritz/Insider

Read more: I visited Dollywood for the first time and here are 8 things that surprised me

But to me, the most interesting part of the town was the Old Mill District, a shopping hub that felt frozen in time with pioneer-era architecture and 200 years of history.

A bridge to the Old Mill District. Joey Hadden/Insider

Before it was a hot spot for visitors, Pigeon Forge was a farming town in the 1800s, according to the city's website.

An undated photo of Pigeon Forge's old mill built in 1830. Bettmann/Contributor/Getty Images

Source: City of Pigeon Forge

During my visit, I spotted historical elements of the city's past. This water-powered gristmill was built in the 1830s and still runs today, according to the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism.

The same mill in 2023. Joey Hadden/Insider

Source: Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism

The mill is known as the square's landmark. It inspired the nearby shops and restaurants, according to the Old Mill website.

The mill's general store. Joey Hadden/Insider

Source: The Old Mill

The mill is connected to a general store that sells food and souvenirs, including grits and cornmeal, according to the same source.

The district's general store. Joey Hadden/Insider

Source: The Old Mill

Nearly all of the buildings I saw in this area seemed to be designed in the same 19th-century pioneer style as the mill.

The district's information center. Joey Hadden/Insider

The Old Forge Distillery stood out to me with a red facade. According to Pigeon Forge Cabins, the store sells small batches of Southern moonshine.

The Old Forge Distillery in Pigeon Forge. Joey Hadden/Insider

Source: Pigeon Forge Cabins

Across the street from the mill, there's a candy store, an ice cream shop, and a pottery studio.

Signs along the sidewalks. Joey Hadden/Insider

For my day trip to Pigeon Forge, I expected to find a typical resort town full of rides, but the historic district was certainly a surprise.

The bridge leads out of the Old Mill District. Joey Hadden/Insider

Read more: What it's like to visit Gatlinburg, a Tennessee town known as the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains

Read the original article on Insider
Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is breaking with his party when it comes to the drug epidemic gripping communities across the nation by supporting the decriminalization, and eventual legalization, of certain hard drugs.

While on the campaign trail in recent weeks, Ramaswamy frequently addressed the issue surrounding the war on drugs and the tragic prevalence of fentanyl deaths, and has offered what he's called a "bold" willingness to cross boundaries to address the demand side of the drug market to prevent such tragedies.

"You dont hear me talk about the war on drugs. Im not a war on drugs person," Ramaswamy said while appearing at a Free State Project event in New Hampshire in June.

At the event, Ramaswamy said he was "probably the only person in the modern history" of the Republican Party open to a conversation about providing "off ramps" for people to access certain hard drugs, such as "psychedelics, from ayahuasca to ketamine."

VIVEK RAMASWAMY CAMPAIGNS IN IOWA, SUGGESTS US MILITARY COULD BE USED TO ANNIHILATE MEXICAN DRUG CARTELS

Entrepreneur and 2024 Presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy raps after doing a Fair Side Chat with Governor Kim Reynolds, at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa, on August 12, 2023.

Although he specifically mentioned veterans and those dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Ramaswamy suggested others could eventually have the same access to certain drugs, citing people who died as a result of ingesting fentanyl that he said could have survived if they had "an alternative path."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"Im eyes wide open and willing to be bold in crossing boundaries we havent yet crossed to address the demand side of this as well," Ramaswamy said.

"I think in the long run, and I'm talking about over a long run period of time, decriminalization, serially, is an important part of the long run solution here.  That's gotta be part of the solution," he later added.

Ramaswamy went on to stress the need to use the U.S. military to secure the border and combat the Mexican drug cartels enabling the importation of fentanyl, a policy point he has often touted.

RAMASWAMY FIRST GOP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE TO QUALIFY FOR DEBATE WITH PLEDGE TO SUPPORT EVENTUAL PARTY NOMINEE

Customs and Border Protection agents in Detroit, Michigan, seized 2,175 pounds of marijuana on May 11 from boxes that were disguised as foam pool toys.

He repeated his stance toward drugs during an appearance on the Liberty Lockdown podcast in July, saying that rather than being "a war on drugs guy," he was "actually a path to legalization guy for a lot of different drugs, and a path to reasonable decriminalization."

In the conversation, Ramaswamy noted his distinguishing of fentanyl from other illicit drugs, describing it as a poison people unknowingly take with their drug of intention.

"Many veterans are dying of fentanyl. I think fewer would be dying if there was access to ayahuasca, if there was access, legal access, to psychedelics more broadly. We can talk about, we can have a reasonable conversation about ketamine and others. So, I'm in that direction," he said.

In an interview the following day, Ramaswamy also argued marijuana "should be decriminalized."

"We got to catch up with the times. It's not a popular position in the Republican Party, but I'd just, again, I guess Im going to speak the truth. Whether you vote for me or not is your choice. I think the time has come to decriminalize it," he said.

VIVEK RAMASWAMY ON 9/11: I DONT BELIEVE THE GOVERNMENT HAS TOLD US THE TRUTH'

A bag of rainbow-colored fentanyl pills seized in New York.

Opponents of the legalization of hard drugs often point to Portugal as an example of when such policies have adverse affects that some would argue end up being worse than before.

Last month, The Washington Post published a story on "doubts" Portugal was now having after the nation decriminalized all drug use in 2001, citing rises in crime, the litter of drug paraphernalia, the spread of homeless encampments, year-long waits for those wishing to undergo drug rehab and overdose rates hitting a 12-year-high.

When reached for comment, Ramswamy's campaign said, "The current state-level legalization farce contributes to the culture of lawbreaking. It's literally against the law. For us to pretend otherwise only undermines the rule of law in this country. For that reason, Vivek is in favor of federal legalization of marijuana."

They did not specifically address his comments on hard drugs.
Youth plaintiffs in the climate change lawsuit, Held vs. Montana, arrive at the Lewis and Clark County Courthouse, on June 20, 2023, in Helena, Mont., for the final day of the trial. A Montana judge on Monday, Aug. 14, sided with young environmental activists who said state agencies were violating their constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment by permitting fossil fuel development without considering its effect on the climate. (Thom Bridge/Independent Record)

The legal victory in Montana today for 16 young people who claimed their environmental rights were violated by fossil fuel projects wont stop Big Coal from dominating energy production in the West anytime soon. It wont make the air cleaner or halt oil drilling.

But for the youth climate movement, and until now the legally undefeated fossil fuel industry in America, it was a seismic shock. Think Greta Thunberg with a law degree. Even Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his anti-climate cohorts will sweat this one.

For the first time, a judge held that the state violated its own constitution by denying its citizens a clean and healthful environment as mandated in the awarding of fossil fuel projects. Some of the 16 youngsters who brought the case, aged five to 22, testified in June that they had suffered emotional harm and damage to their family properties by the unhealthy air caused by the projects.

This was not the first case brought by the youth movement. The non-profit law firm Our Childrens Trust has brought cases in all 50 states, as a matter of fact. But this was the first one that scored, in part because Montanas constitution has a provision for the right to a clean and healthy environment.

But for young people who are frustrated by the growing list of climate disasters  such as the Maui fires last week  and the governments apparent inability to do anything about it, this was a major victory. At last, someone is listening. In this case a judge.

Many of us think of the youth climate movement in terms of raucous street protests; teenagers handcuffing themselves to government buildings, or throwing paint at art exhibits. Causing more distraction than anything else. Previous legal attempts had all fallen short.

Now, with legal precedent, this rightful frustration can hit governments and their fossil-fuel backers in the courts, and possibly balance sheets. A federal case brought almost a decade ago by Our Childrens Trust and delayed is reportedly back on track for trial. More cases are expected.

What was striking about this particular case was the complete lack of any sort of defense by the state government whatsoever. Its defense basically was that Montanas coal industry, with the largest reserves in the country, was still only responsible for a small part of the global greenhouse gas emissions that are overheating the Earth this summer.

Looking across the country at some of the other red states, long dependent on fossil fuels, its easy to find similar excuses. In Florida, which has taken the lead under DeSantis in trying to ban climate discussion in everything from education to state investment decisions, any sort of environmental action is labeled a woke attack on freedom.

Meanwhile, as politicians search for ways to limit climate action, disasters such as wildfires, heat domes and unprecedented rainfall and flooding, pile up around us.

The Montana verdict will likely be appealed, and lawyers will find new and better ways to argue in favor of fossil fuel projects. Energy security is the most common theme these days. As I said, the case wont stop the drilling or clean the air overnight.

But the verdict will go down as a landmark one, in that it will give the younger generation hope that there is still time for them to make a difference. And it will put Big Oil and Big Coal on notice that the next generation of politicians wont be so friendly.
The deployment of Wagner PMC along the Belarusian border with Poland and Lithuania is a threat to Ukraine, Commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Serhiy Nayev, said in an interview with RBC-Ukraine on Aug. 14.

Wagner mercenaries, potentially aided by the Belarusian State Security Committee and the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), are likely to focus on vulnerable sections of the border. Their activities could involve disabling technical surveillance equipment and other similar actions, said Nayev.

In the event of the implementation of this scenario, the adversary may focus their activities on complicating the supply of military material and technical assistance to Ukraine from partner countries, Nayev emphasized.

Read also: Wagner military drills in Belarus intended to tie down Polish forces, says NRC

There are estimated to be around 6,500 Wagner fighters stationed in Belarus. Nayev anticipates a heightened threat level once they establish sabotage and reconnaissance groups, or ground offensive formations.

We, in turn, will not wait for this threat to materialize. We are doing everything to enhance our defensive capabilities, Nayev said.

The Suwalki Gap and the Wagner PMC: What is known

After a failed mutiny attempt in Russia, some Wagner mercenaries ended up in Belarus through an agreement with Belarusiandictator Alexander Lukashenko. He told Russian dictator Vladimir Putin that the Wagner mercenaries were stressing him out because of their threats to attack Poland during their July 23 meeting.

He later clarified that he was joking.

Read also: Another Russian army officer flees to Lithuania, BBC reports

More than 100 mercenaries from Wagner PMC had moved towards the Suwalki Gap, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced on July 29. The Suwalki Gap is a 100-kilometer stretch between Poland and Lithuania that connects the Baltic states with Poland and the rest of NATO  and also separates the Russian enclave in Kaliningrad Oblast from Belarus.

He called such actions a dangerous situation and a step towards afurther hybrid attack on Poland.

Morawiecki suggested that Wagner mercenaries would disguise themselves as Belarusian border guards and help illegal migrants enter Poland. In addition, he said that militants could begin to enter Polish territory under the guise of illegal migrants, which would create additional risks.

NV

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
For folks who want to represent cities and towns across the Rock Hill region, its time to put pen to paper.

Candidate filing is open for communities large and small. Most for elections are in early November, though the largest city in the area comes sooner. Rock Hill holds its municipal election Oct. 17.

Candidate filing in Rock Hill ends at 5 p.m. Friday. Wards 1, 2 and 3 are open. As of noon Monday, four candidates filed for those seats. Incumbents Derrick Lindsay filed for Ward 1 and Kevin Sutton for Ward 3. In Ward 2, Brent Faulkenberry and Hope Matthews filed.

Anyone interested in filing can get more information online at scvotes.org.

The general election Nov. 7 includes a swath of decisions across the area.

In York County, elections will be held in Fort Mill, Clover, York, Tega Cay, Hickory Grove, McConnells, Smyrna and Sharon. Lancaster County has municipal elections for Van Wyck, Kershaw and Heath Springs seats. Lowrys, Fort Lawn and Richburg hold town elections in Chester County.

For the York County seats, filing runs through 5 p.m. Sept. 8. The filed candidates listed below are all as of noon Monday.

Fort Mill will elect its mayor and three council seats. Incumbents Lisa Cook, Ronnie Helms and Chris Moody have respectively filed for their seats.

Clover has its mayor and three town council seats up for vote. No candidates are shown on the state election listing site.

York will elect a mayor and three council seats. Mayor Mike Fuesser is the only listed candidate, for the same position.

Tega Cay has two city council seats on the ballot. Ron Kirby and Carmen Miller are on the candidate list.

Hickory Grove, McConnells, Sharon and Smyrna each elect a mayor and four council seats. Ashley Glenn filed for a council seat in Sharon.

In Lancaster County, Heath Springs and Van Wyck each have two council seats up for vote. Iva Drakeford, Howard Mickle and Vincent Webb are on the list for Heath Springs. Loyd Fox, Kristen Setzer and Kyle Starnes are candidates in Van Wyck.

Kershaw will elect a mayor and three council seats. Mike Dorman filed for mayor. Bobbie Faulkenberry, Michael Cook and Randy Seegars filed for council seats.

Candidates arent yet listed for Lowrys, Fort Lawn and Richburg seats in Chester County.

Upcoming elections follow others in the area already this year. Watts Huckabee won a seat on York County Council in January, filling the remainder of state Rep. Brandon Guffeys term when Guffey left the county seat for that state role. In March, Great Falls elected Keevi Worthy to fill an unexpired term on its town council.

Chester elected Mayor Carlos Williams and city council members David Claytor, Ursula Crosby and Wade Young in May.
Want to make sure your child's school is safe? These are the questions parents should ask

With gunfire in schools at an all-time high, though still rare,back-to-school season begins this year with many parents more concerned than ever about school safety.

While many schools and states have turned to physical safety measures such as extra police presence and metal detectors, others rely on social-emotional learning to improve school climate.

You have these two genres  the zero-tolerance policies and making each school look like a little prison on one side. Ironically, you have  at the same time  the opposite vision of making schools a more loving and caring and supportive place, said Ron Avi Astor, a professor of social work and education at the University of California, Los Angeles.

He noted that schools are increasingly leaning on both methods simultaneously to address school safety  a route he said might not work.

Are both of these views compatible? Can (students) feel like they belong  if their school is doing both? We dont know for sure, Astor said. These are really, in some ways, scary times in our country, because its not a simple list that parents should think about. They have to balance all these issues.

Experts, educators and advocates offered USA TODAY some of the questions parents should consider when assessing the safety of their childrens schools.

What is social-emotional learning?

School climate, which refers to students feelings of acceptance, appreciation and value in their school, is the most important factor for maintaining safety, said Aaron Kupchick, professor of sociology and criminal justice at the University of Delaware.

To maintain a positive school climate, experts stress the importance of teaching social emotional learning (SEL)  which prioritizes the development of social and emotional skills in students, including self-awareness, empathy and resilience. Over the past few years, SEL has been linked to critical race theory, and conservatives have said the practice as a form of woke indoctrination.

SEL at school is crucial for student safety and success, said Heather Reynolds, a professor of teacher education at State University New York, Empire State University.

It impacts not only safety, but academics. It improves mental health and students feel safer. Theyre more engaged, more likely to come to school and have a positive perception of school.

Moms for Liberty: No to mental health care in schools, but it's Florida law

What creates a safe, supportive learning environment?

Experts said restorative justice  a philosophy that emphasizes a community-oriented approach to address wrongdoings, needs and responsibilities of the classroom  is also crucial to a safe school environment.

The practice  which has long been used by some indigenous communities  is an alternative theory of justice that focuses on mediation and agreement rather than punishment. Rather than relying on punitive measures like suspensions or detention, restorative justice  which has been criticized by some conservatives  centers on rebuilding relationships after harm has been done.

These are really, in some ways, scary times in our country, because its not a simple list that parents should think about. Ron Avi Astor, a professor of social work and education at the University of California, Los Angeles

But Reynolds and Astor expressed concern about the way restorative justice programs have been implemented at schools, noting they are often inconsistent across schools, grade levels and even classrooms.

Someones doing trauma-informed work in fourth grade. Someones doing restorative justice practices in eighth grade. Someones doing mental support or community circles in a 12th grade advisory period  but all of these things are not connected, Reynolds said. We think thats great, but what about the connections? Because once the kid leaves that classroom, they may never be exposed to that again.

Astor encourages schools to pick one program that fits the needs of the schools environment.

Parents really need to be aware of what is being done to create a positive school climate. Whats being done to support nonpunitive disciplinary practices? Whats being done so that my kid has the skills to exist in the world? Reynolds said.

What funding is available in your district or state?

Over the past year, federal and state initiatives have allocated millions of dollars districts can use to enhance school safety.

The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act was signed into law by President Joe Biden last year and allocated $15 billion in funding for schools to expand mental health and early intervention programs as well as improve physical safety and train school personnel. Grant applications are expected to open in March 2024. In addition, schools in Utah can apply for state grants to improve the safety measures on their campus. Ohio's most recent round of K-12 School Safety Grants sets aside more than $200 million for school safety.

Can new federal money help? US kids face mental health crisis amid school psychologist shortage.

Does your campus have a school police officer?

Police officers at schools, or school resource officers (SROs), are sworn law enforcement officers who work either part time or full time on campus and have a direct relationship with local law enforcement.

States such as Tennessee have allocated millions to hire more SROs, and cities such as Norman, Oklahoma, have pledged to have an SRO in every school by the end of the upcoming academic year.

St. Lucie County, Florida, Sheriff's Office K-9 Deputy Jeff Ward plays with Rosco, a golden retriever narcotic and firearm detecting K9 joining the school resource officer unit. "They are very, very sociable but they perform a very important function for us," Sheriff Ken Mascara said about the two K9 dogs joining the Sheriff's Office school resource team.

Kupchick said there is mixed evidence on the efficacy of police presence at schools, though a majority of evidence suggests that they do not make schools safer.

We see that the presence of officers can, in unintended and subtle ways, affect the schools social climate, Kupchick said.

Increased police presence in schools can lead to higher suspension rates and greater number of law enforcement referrals and arrests.

School environment and policing dont always go well together, Kupchick said. Sometimes, when we put police officers in schools, the school becomes less a site where were hyperfocused on student emotional and academic wellbeing and more a site of law enforcement.

Who can carry guns on your campus?

Scott DiMauro, president of the Ohio Education Association, said his union's biggest concern is the presence of guns on campus. In Ohio, the state allows teachers to carry guns on school grounds, and a new law last year cut required training time from 700 hours to 24.

We think thats the wrong direction. Teachers already have a full-time job. They are focused on the learning and success of their students, DiMauro said.

About 30 states have passed similar legislation allowing teachers to carry guns, according to data collected by the Giffords Law Center. Sixteen states prohibit the practice.

Who is suspended at your school?

Exclusionary discipline  when students are removed from the classroom as a form of punishment through suspensions and expulsions  has been used as a tool to maintain school safety and create a positive learning environment for other students.

But experts warn that pushing students out of their own classrooms is ineffective and disproportionately affects students of color and students with disabilities.

Tina Pool tells the Rutherford County Board of Education in Tennessee at a meeting last year that she would like to see principals reduce the out-of-school suspensions to keep students in the classrooms.

Although schools reliance on out-of-school suspensions has decreased since its peak in the 2010s, racial disparities among who get suspended persist. Black students make up 15% of public school enrollment but accounted for 38% of total suspensions in 2018, according to the federal Civil Rights Data Collection.

What about bullying and violence prevention?

Rates of bullying, fights and drug use in schools have significantly decreased over the past 20 years, Astor said, and a stronger connection to community resources, the hiring of more social workers and prioritization of student empowerment have driven the decline.

A study Astor co-wrote analyzing California schools over an 18-year period found that student victimization and weapon use has substantially decreased.

Oftentimes, they see on the news a shooting that happened within a school. Its very salient and very awful," said Justin Heinze, associate professor at the University of Michigan and co-director of the National Center for School Safety. "But, what I try to remind parents is that severe violence within schools is actually pretty rare.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: With school safety a growing concern, what should parents be asking?
5 killed in U.S. house explosion

Xinhua) 11:30, August 14, 2023

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Five people were killed and three others injured after a house explosion in U.S. Pennsylvania on Saturday, authorities said on Sunday.

First responders from the police and fire department arrived on scene after a report of the house explosion in Plum, a borough in western Pennsylvania's Allegheny County at around 10:23 a.m. Saturday local time (1423 GMT), according to a Facebook post of the county.

The post added that there were three structures destroyed and at least a dozen more damaged in some way.

Plum Borough Police Chief Lanny Conley said at a press conference Sunday morning that medical examiners had determined four adults and one adolescent child died from the explosion.

County Emergency Services officials told reporters that two people had been released from the hospital, while one remained in critical condition.

Gas and electrical services were temporarily shut off in the affected area out of an abundance of caution.

Officials said the cause of the house explosion is still under investigation.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
ISLAMABAD, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Seven people were killed in two separate road accidents in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province in the past 24 hours, the rescue service reported.

Two people were killed early Sunday when an oil tanker collided with an electric pole in Talash Banda Gayi area in Lower Dir district of KP, said the rescue service.

The collision caused an explosion which resulted in the burning of the two people in the tanker, causing their death on the spot, it added.

Separately, five people were killed at midnight Saturday when a car caught fire in Kala Katha area in Haripur district of the province, the rescue service said, adding that the fire erupted after a tire burst.

Upon receiving the information about both accidents, the rescue workers reached the site and shifted the bodies to the local hospitals, according to the rescue service. 
Watch Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez explain why US sunscreen is so bad

null @AOCinthehouse/TikTok

In a video, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez shared why US sunscreens are lacking compared to the rest of the world.

The FDA has stricter regulations around sunscreen, leading to less advanced formulas.

AOC urged viewers to contact Congress to loosen FDA restrictions and fund public research.

If you've ever avoided reapplying American sunscreen because it leaves a white cast or you still somehow still get burned anyway, you're not alone.

Some Americans are even bringing back sunscreen from abroad, lugging French bottles in their suitcases or paying extra fees to get Asian sunscreens shipped internationally.

But Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez just proposed a simpler solution: Why not just make US sunscreens better?

"US sunscreens are far behind the rest of the world," the representative said in a TikTok video with Charlotte Palermino, a licensed esthetician.

In the video, Ocasio-Cortez noted that she traveled to South Korea earlier this year, and noticed how "far advanced" the rest of the world is in terms of sunscreen formulas  and felt that Americans deserve better products, too.

The FDA is really slow to approve new UV filters

Ocasio-Cortez  citing Insider's previous reporting  pointed out that the FDA regulates sunscreen as a drug rather than a cosmetic product, making the approval process for new UV filters much slower than in other countries.

In the video, Ocasio-Cortez said that there are things the US can do to change this FDA rule.

"Congress has not been very aware of this issue," she said, explaining the lack of action to fix it.

"Really, it's not too corny  please contact your member of Congress," she said. She noted that Congress members who sit on the Energy and Commerce committee in particular have some jurisdiction over the FDA.

When calling , she suggested asking members to push for looser FDA restrictions on sunscreen and more funding for public research.

Countries like France and South Korea use more advanced formulas

Dr. Ellen Gendler , a dermatologist practicing in New York City, previously told Insider that US sunscreens are "very good" at blocking UVB rays  the ones that cause sunburn.

But, Gendler said, when it comes to protecting against UVA rays (which penetrate the skin more deeply and might be more harmful than UVB rays), our sunscreen formulas are lacking.

It's why you can still tan a lot when wearing sunscreen; plus, UVA rays are also linked to skin cancer .

Due to more relaxed regulations, countries like France, South Korea, the UK, Japan, and Australia all have more protective sunscreens that also boast smoother application.

Gendler's favorite international sunscreen is La Roche Posay's SPF 50 Anthelios UVMune 400, which uses Mexoryl 400, an advanced version of one of the best UVA-blocking ingredients. She stocks up on it every time she's in France because the American version of the same sunscreen can't use that ingredient.

Read the original article on Insider
A Russian MiG-23 fighter jet. Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images

A Soviet-era fighter jet was performing aerial maneuvers at a Michigan air show when it crashed.

"Oh my god!" a spectator could be heard yelling in a video recording of the incident.

The pilots managed to eject themselves before the plane went down.

Two pilots had a close shave while flying a fighter jet at a Michigan air show on Sunday.

The MiG-23, a Soviet-era fighter jet, was performing aerial maneuvers at the Thunder Over Michigan Air Show on Sunday afternoon before it crashed, per the Detroit Free Press. The plane's two pilots managed to eject themselves successfully before the aircraft went down.

Some spectators viewing the demonstration uploaded photos and videos of the incident to Facebook and Twitter. In one video, an explosion was seen after the jet flew past. Two objects that appeared to be parachutes opened up in the sky after the explosion, and were filmed floating toward the ground.

"Oh my god!" a spectator could be heard yelling in another video, as the plane appeared to plummet toward the ground.

The Wayne County Airport Authority said in a statement on Sunday that the fighter jet had "crashed into the parking lot at the Waverly on the Lake Apartments in Belleville." The airport authority said the plane had "struck unoccupied vehicles in the apartment complex's parking lot."

"The pilot and the backseater successfully ejected from the aircraft before the crash. While it did not appear they sustained any injuries, first responders transported the pair to a nearby hospital as a precaution," the statement said.

"No one at the apartment complex nor the air show was injured," the statement continued, adding that the Federal Aviation Administration was investigating the crash. A representative for the airport authority told Insider that they had no further comments.

A representative for the Federal Aviation Administration told Insider that they would be investigating the incident along with the National Transportation Safety Board.

"The NTSB is in charge of the investigation and will provide any updates," the representative added.

Editor's note: August 15, 2023  This story has been updated with responses from the Wayne County Airport Authority and the Federal Aviation Administration.

Read the original article on Business Insider
RICHMOND, Ind.  A Wayne County woman is accused of striking a Richmond police officer  after stealing an acquaintance's vehicle and handgun, among other items.

In one Wayne Superior Court 2 case filed last week, Jennae Anne Cole, 24, of Centerville, is charged with battery resulting in bodily injury to a law enforcement officer, driving as a habitual traffic violator and resisting law enforcement.

In another Superior Court 2 case, she is charged with theft, theft of a firearm and auto theft.

According to affidavits, a Richmond man on Aug. 8 reported his Ford Taurus, 9mm handgun and cellphone were missing from his Porterfield Road home and that $100 in cash had been removed from his wallet.

The man said Cole  who had been at his home when he fell asleep  was missing.

More: Richmond man held in woman's stabbing

Another man who had been at the house said $190 in cash, his Ohio driver's license and a Social Security card had been taken from his wallet.

An acquaintance told one of the men that the stolen Taurus was parked in an alley along the 300 block of South Seventh Street, and that Cole  described as appearing "very frantic" and with a "nervous look on her face"  was in the vehicle.

When police arrived, Cole allegedly tried to flee from the scene on foot, and struck an officer while being taken into custody, leaving a laceration under the victim's right eye.

The Centerville woman tried to persuade officers the car's owner had given her permission to use the vehicle. She denied any knowledge of the other missing property.

The stolen cellphone was found in the car's truck. A text exchange found on the phone appeared to reflect Cole had recently sent a message offering a handgun to a person she was communicating with.

The two most serious charges filed against Cole last week  battery resulting in bodily injury to a public safety officer and theft of a firearm  are Level 5 felonies, each carrying up to six years in prison.

Cole continued to be held in the Wayne County jail on Monday under a $15,000 bond based on the charges filed last week, and a $20,000 bond stemming from a burglary count filed against her, also in Wayne Superior Court 2, on July 14.

The burglary charge is a Level 4 felony carrying up to 12 years in prison. An initial hearing in that case is set for Aug. 21.

On Aug. 9, the Wayne County woman pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of theft, filed in Wayne Superior Court 3 in June, and was sentenced to six days in jail.

She had earlier convictions for neglect of a dependent, driving while intoxicated, leaving the scene of an accident and criminal mischief.

Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Wayne County woman accused of stealing car and gun, striking officer
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police arrested a man accused of shooting at four different Wells Fargo ATMs on Friday.

Police said Johnny Rivera allegedly shot at Wells Fargo ATMs on Tyvola Road, South Boulevard, and Providence Road, as well as one in Belmont.

Channel 9s Anthony Kustura saw apparent bullet holes when he visited the location on Providence Road, which is in Myers Park, on Monday. The police report for that incident says there was $4,000 of damage to the ATM outside the branch.

READ MORE: 3 arrested in connection with Matthews bank robbery

Channel 9 has asked CMPD if they are considering whether the shooting on Providence Road was a drive-by, and if the suspect took any money.

Employees were inside the Myers Park bank when it happened, and one customer was turned away from entering due to the police activity.

This area is pretty safe. Im here for 20 years, working in this area for 20 years, said Maribel Godinez. So I always come into this place and I had to know what was going on. Thats really sad.

No one was injured in the incident.

Rivera is being charged with three counts of injury to personal property and shooting into occupied property.

CMPD seized a firearm from Rivera.

This is a developing story; check wsoctv.com

(WATCH: Serial bank robbery suspect arrested after police chase along I-40 in western NC)
The coup in Niger has become a grave escalation of the confrontation between Western and non-Western countries

The current political crisis around the West African nation of Niger goes far beyond being an internal conflict or an exclusively African issue. Although the war in Ukraine and the events in Niger are in no way related, both processes are part of a more global confrontation between the collective West and the non-West.

Read also: Blinken called "laughable" Russia's promises to supply grain free to African countries

On July 28, a military coup took place in Niger (not to be confused with neighboring Nigeria). The Presidential Guard (elite units guarding the presidential palace) overthrew the government of President Mohamed Bazoum and formed a transitional government, the Committee for the Salvation of the Fatherland. Later, their rebellion was supported by the Nigerian Armed Forces on the condition of guaranteeing the immunity of the president and members of his government, who were detained and placed under house arrest.

The main reasons for the coup include the following:

Read also: Putin remained transfixed by Ukraine during Russia-Africa summit  expert

Poverty and socio-economic problems: Niger is one of the poorest predominantly rural countries in the world, with more than 40% of the population (10 million people) living below the poverty line, i.e., earning less than $1.90 per day. Almost 4 million people need regular humanitarian assistance, and 20% of the population cannot fully cover their daily basic needs. Niger is home to 250 thousand refugees from neighboring countries. It is also a country that is considered one of the hottest on the planet, with most of its territory located in the Sahara Desert. At the same time, Niger has a very young population. Half of Niger's 24 million inhabitants are children under the age of 14, and more than 50% of children do not have full access to schooling due to violence, lack of schools, or infrastructure. This creates a toxic socio-economic environment that is easily manipulated and a breeding ground for protest and frustration.

Read also: A dangerous moment: what African countries propose to Ukraine

Anti-French sentiment: Many Nigerians blame their troubles on the former metropolis of France. French companies are active in the local market, often under unfair conditions, importing strategic resources such as gold, tungsten, and uranium. The country's national currency, the African franc, was created by France and pegged to the French franc and now to the euro, giving Paris the ability to dominate Nigerian fiscal policy directly. Niger's foreign exchange reserves are kept in French banks. France is accused of exploiting the country, and many Nigeriens believe that their companies forced the government to sign bondage agreements under which Paris siphons off large amounts of resources from Niger and pays little. In addition, the locals reasonably suspected France of interfering in internal affairs to support pro-French politicians who gave France mining concessions in exchange for money but did not improve life in the country. This is how Nigeriens perceived the overthrown government of President Mohamed Bazoum, who had a reputation as a pro-French political leader. Historically rooted and partly justified anti-French sentiments became the main background for the military coup, which was clearly anti-French in nature.

Read also: Ukraine to build grain terminal in Nigeria

Interethnic competition and imbalances: Niger is a country inhabited by several peoples: the sedentary Hausa agricultural tribes (55%), the Zarma and Songhai tribes engaged in animal husbandry, the nomadic Tuareg, Toubou, Fulbe tribes, Kanuri farmers and traders, and Arabs. President Mohamed Bazoum, who was ousted from power by the military, is an ethnic Arab, a group composing up to 1.5% of the country's population, a small minority. This is unlike his predecessor, Mohamed Issouf, who was a Hausa. In an effort to consolidate power, President Bazoum has reshuffled his staff and appointed his own people to key positions, which could lead to discontent among other ethnic groups who may have perceived his decisive dismissals of key security officials this year as an attempt to redistribute influence and flows in favor of his inner circle.

Read also: Russias Solovyev uses racist language to speak about brother nation of Niger  video

Personal conflict between the president and the commander of the presidential guard: President Bazoums decision to dismiss General Abdrahmane Tchiani from the post of commander of the presidential guard is the event that precipitated the coup. The general was known for his loyalty to Niger's presidents and had helped suppress several coup attempts since 2011. Thus, he perceived his dismissal as a slap in the face and an insult, and therefore decided to go into open conflict with the president.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
WESTBOROUGH - Police allege a Westborough man threatened several children with what appeared to be a gun on Wednesday, and it led to several drug-related charges.

Police initially went to the hotel after staff members called to report a man threatening children who were running in the hallway with a handgun.

"He did it to intimidate the kids, who were making noise," police spokesman Lt. Michael Daniels said on Friday.

Police arrested Marcos Menezes, 38, at the Extended Stay America, 19 Connector Road, Wednesday around 10 p.m., police said.

A parent witnessed the alleged incident and reported it to hotel employees, who called the police. When officers arrived, they knocked on the room that was identified as Menezes. According to a press release, officers could hear someone "rummaging around," in the room before opening the door.

More: Worcester man faces more than a dozen charges in Westborough stalking case

According to the release, officers began an investigation and got a search warrant from Westborough District Court to search the room.

The officers found what they believe was the gun Menezes allegedly used to threaten the children with, Daniels said.

"The officers described it as a small replica gun and non-functional," said Daniels. "It was a lighter."

The lighter did appear to be a real gun and was used in a threatening manner, the lieutenant said.

Police also made another discovery in the room. Officers allegedly found more than 100 grams of a substance believed to be methamphetamines, cash and other drug paraphernalia in the room.

More: Replacing a police chief, the Westborough Select Board has a major decision to make

Daniels said it is unknown if Menezes was dealing drugs in town. He said the police had one prior interaction with him about four and a half years ago when there was a report of possible drug activity at the hotel, but no one was charged.

"He wasn't someone we were watching," Daniels said.

Police charged Menezes, who gave the hotel as his home address, with trafficking of more than 100 grams of methamphetamines, three counts of possession of a Class B substance and assault with a dangerous weapon.

At Menezes Westborough District Court arraignment on Thursday, he was ordered held on $50,000 bail. He is due back in court on Sept. 11 for a probable cause hearing.

Menezes' lawyer could not be reached for comment on Friday.

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date public safety news, follow Norman Miller on Twitter @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Westborough man charged for trafficking drugs after threatening kids
Ukrainian army's 35th Marine Brigade members conduct mine clearance work at a field in Donetsk, Ukraine on July 11, 2023. Photo by Ercin Erturk/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Ukrainian schoolchildren will enroll in mandatory landmine safety courses this year.

Meanwhile, Russian students learn how to operate drones and clean guns.

The moves show the contrasting sides of the war  and a heartbreaking reality for children.

This upcoming school year, Russian and Ukrainian students will be learning vastly different subjects in the classroom. While Russian schoolchildren will operate airborne drones, drill rifles, and train in hand-to-hand combat, Ukrainian kids will undergo a safety course for navigating treacherous landmines.

The online course, announced by Ukraine's Education Ministry on Monday, will be a mandatory part of the curriculum, according to The Kyiv Independent.

"Education should give a child useful knowledge and skills. Unfortunately, now and for a long time to come, mine safety knowledge and skills will be extremely relevant in Ukraine," Education Minister Oksen Lisovy said, the Kyiv Independent reported.

The Education Ministry said that the course has been developed in cooperation with UNICEF and will feature interactive cartoons, games, and lessons on how to navigate mined areas and best safety practices for avoiding landmines. It'll also have several videos of Patron, a Ukrainian landmine detection dog who became famous in the early weeks of Russia's full-scale invasion.

It's a harrowing reality for Ukrainian children and presents an even bleaker future, with the country now the most heavily mined in the world, according to Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov. Potential cleanup projects are projected to take decades and cost billions of dollars.

Meanwhile, Russian students will face an increasingly militarized classroom this school year.

Pilot courses on rifle drilling and hand-to-hand combat were first reported last March at some schools, with videos showing students in occupied Crimea participating in military lessons.

"Now, more than 60 people are engaged in martial arts, drill training, including kindergarten students and school children," Vladimir Konstantinov, speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Crimea, said at the time. "Children show great interest in activities." The number of schools and children participating in the military lessons was expected to increase this upcoming school year.

One course called "Basics of Life Safety" will also be in Russian classrooms this fall, featuring lessons in drone warfare, hand grenade skills, and assault rifle training. Students as young as year 10 and 11 will learn how to operate combat drones.

For Russia, all of this isn't necessarily to develop genuine capability in these subjects; more likely than not, these lessons are meant to "cultivate a culture of militarized patriotism," Western intelligence said in July.

But the courses speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin's indoctrination of school children, a move that reflects a desire to normalize the invasion of Ukraine and Russian military culture.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The White House on Monday blew off criticism over President Biden being on vacation and offering a no comment this weekend during the catastrophic fires in Maui, the deadliest wildfires in the U.S. in more than a century.

Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was questioned by CNNs Kayla Tausche on whether the American people should see the president working the phone rather than spending time on the beach during the crisis, after Biden spent the weekend in Rehoboth, Del., and returned to the White House on Monday morning.

You all have gotten pool reports on who the president has connected with, Jean-Pierre said, referring to the White House press pool reports and Bidens interactions with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The [FEMA] administrator has been there for two whole days, two whole days on the ground by the presidents request to make sure that the government has what they have, the local government has what they have, the people of Maui have what they have, she added. When you talk about a dozen agencies on the ground, helping and assisting  hundreds of FEMA personnel. Thats what  thats what matters.

Biden on Sunday morning, during a bike ride in Rehoboth, replied, Were looking at it, when asked about whether he would go to Maui. Later on Sunday, following a stop at the beach, he responded no comment when asked about the rising death toll in Maui.

Jean-Pierre was pressed again by Tausche about the White House response to critics who suggested that the president should not have been vacationing during the wildfire.

She responded that the president is deeply concerned to the point that he has mobilized a whole-of-government response. She pointed to the 300 FEMA personnel on the ground, 50,000 meals brought in and thousands of cots and blankets.

Jean-Pierre also said the American people can expect to hear from the president directly on Maui, not elaborating on the timing of such remarks.

You could expect to hear from the president on this issue, clearly it is something that is deeply concerning to him, she said. Youll hear from the president on this  certainly, hes the president.

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell joined the briefing from Hawaii on Monday and, when asked about Biden visiting the devastation, she said that her focus is on not disrupting operations.

Right now, we want to make sure that they have all of the resources and the space that they need and not disrupt operations, she said, referring to the federal government responders.

At this point, we just want to make sure that we are working to help this community identify everybody thats missing, and we need to stay focused on that right now, Criswell added.

Jean-Pierre highlighted Monday that Biden has signed a major disaster declaration, which allows all federal resources to help with the wildfire response. And, she said, the president has spoken to Criswell multiple times as well as Hawaii Sens. Mazie Hirono (D) and Brian Schatz (D).

Jean-Pierre also pointed numerous times to his comments Thursday, during which Biden spoke about the federal response to the wildfires as part of remarks on the one-year anniversary of the PACT Act.

Biden said he approved of a major disaster declaration for Hawaii, directed a surge in first responders and has kept in touch with Gov. Josh Green (D) and Criswell throughout the day.

The wildfire on the Hawaiian island is the deadliest in the U.S. in more than a century with at least 96 confirmed deaths, and search and rescue missions are still underway, suggesting that toll will likely rise.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A network of 20 Missouri school districts is asking the state to implement a more responsive assessment system in order to personalize student learning.

The state Board of Education is considering the districts proposal to change testing at its Aug. 15 meeting. If approved, it would be the inception of a shift in Missouris education system that will resurrect student engagement, district leaders say.

The group of schools, part of the Success-Ready Students Network, want to move away from the states annual standardized testing to assessments that would be administered multiple times a year. The coalition consists of public school districts and one St. Louis charter school, and includes a mix of rural and urban campuses with a wide range of student performance scores and poverty rates, according to state demographic and assessment data.

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During a June state board meeting, district leaders argued that the current system doesnt provide results in time to be effectively used in the classroom.

The schools want to instead take advantage of a new pilot waiver program created last year that offers exemptions for districts to bypass specific education laws for up to three years. These innovation waivers are intended to boost student performance and benefit educators by giving schools the room to implement unique strategies, said Lisa Sireno, assistant commissioner with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

The state legislature enacted a statute that allowed the school innovation waivers in 2022 and so weve been working on what that process might look like, Sireno told The 74. The group with our very first innovation waiver request  the Success-Ready Students Network  kind of grew out of a (state) work group that was looking at competency-based education.

While 20 school districts in the Success-Ready Students Network have agreed to launch new assessments if approved, other schools will join in the future, said Mike Fulton, one of the networks facilitators. The plan is for a new cohort of districts to use the innovation waivers each school year until the entire state is involved.

Mike Fulton

If approved, districts will be able to administer multiple interim tests, but will still have to give the normal annual standardized test until a federal waiver is approved to get rid of it. Fulton said the Success-Ready Students Network will be working on a federal waiver later this year.

Fulton said the states innovation waivers are key to competency-based learning, which allows students to move through education at their own pace as they demonstrate a full understanding of the material.

The whole proposal is designed to support the participating districts in using personalized, competency-based approaches in their learning design, Fulton told The 74. The assessment system was designed to provide feedback to both students, teachers, parents and every stakeholder, on how individual students are progressing, how classrooms and schools are doing and how districts are doing as a whole.

Related

St. Louis Schools Face One of the Steepest Post-Pandemic Climbs Anywhere

Jenny Ulrich, superintendent of the Lonedell School District, part of the Success-Ready Students Network, said her teachers are always asking for feedback on what they are doing in the classroom, but assessment results are returned too late to make an effective change for individual students.

Jenny Ulrich

We are alone out there trying to figure out how we get real-world learning to our kids, Ulrich told the state board in June. This work supports educators. It gives them a platform, an opportunity and the data they need to make good instructional design and decisions for their kids.



Besides lagging results, standardized tests have been criticized around the U.S. for sucking up too much time, being culturally biased and doing little to improve students academic outcomes.

Ulrich said instead of the one-time tests, schools will administer tests several times a year and keep results updated online on a district dashboard for teachers to use in real time. The dashboards, which will go live in November, will show a students progress in becoming high school ready or college, career and workforce ready.

By the end of the 2025-26 school year, it is our aim  our lofty goal  that 100% of our graduates would have an individualized plan, Ulrich said. As we reach these goals, all students will be able to declare, I am truly college, career and workplace ready.

Fulton said districts will be transitioning to competency-based learning even if the state innovation waivers arent approved. Students will progress on evidence of mastery of skills based on state standards, meaning they might move through the K-12 education system faster or slower than their peers.

That scares people a bit and I understand that, Fulton said. Thats a big shift.

Sireno, the assistant state education commissioner, said the desire to switch Missouri schools to competency-based learning emerged from the learning loss caused by the pandemic. Earlier this year, more than a 100 Missouri districts experienced a drop in their student assessment scores to levels that would typically threaten their state accreditation.

This will allow students to move at the appropriate pace. So, if some students finish mastery of the content a little bit quicker, if some students take a little bit longer, thats OK, Sireno said. Its a heavy lift, but its important work, and (districts) realize that it can have a real positive impact on student learning.

Other schools around the nation have been tackling competency-based education as a way to help students recover ground in learning. Idaho, South Carolina, Kansas and Utah are among those that have successfully created competency-based learning systems, according to a 2021 state education department report.

Related

Carnegie, ETS Team Up to Develop Competency-Based Assessments

Some states havent done as well implementing competency-based education. In 2018, Maines Department of Education had to scrap its competency-based learning model several years after it went into effect. The system lacked specifics in things like proficiency and grading, which also sparked parent backlash.

This is a common failure in putting the approach into practice, according to the Missouri education departments 2021 report.

Researchers attribute negative outcomes to schools that implemented (competency-based learning) without clear definitions and expectations, as well as uneven implementation, the report says.

When Missouris innovation waiver plan was unveiled in June, the entire State Board of Education voiced support for it.

It is a gift to the students, the parents and families in Missouri, and I would say nationwide, said Charles Shields, board president. Others will learn from us nationwide.

Vice President Carol Hallquist said she believed it will change the face of education in Missouri.

Fulton, of the Success-Ready Students Network, said he hasnt heard from any stakeholders warning against the use of innovation waivers or the switch to competency-based learning, but there is some wariness from the state department about using a model that hasnt been tested.

I think were all going at this cautiously. Research is going to sit at the core of this, he said. But you have to be willing to be entrepreneurial and innovative and thats what I think these districts are being asked to do. We need more of that in public education.
[Source]

A mural has been set up in Denver to honor the citys long-gone Chinatown, which was destroyed following an anti-Chinese riot in 1880 that displaced many Chinese immigrants.

About the project: Colorado Asian Pacific United (CAPU) chose Hmong American artist Nalye Lor to create the mural as a way to honor the former Chinatown and acknowledge the contributions of Chinese Americans in the region.

That's what my hope is, their timeline has gone on and on. The Chinatown isn't here anymore, but it lives on and it will continue in the future," Lor told Denver 7.

The mural was unveiled on Saturday.

More from NextShark: Filipinos turn social media pink after VP Robredo announces pres. run vs. Marcos, Pacquiao, Dutertes candidates

Key details: Work on the mural, which can be found on the brick wall outside of Denver Fire Station 4, began in April.

Joie Ha, vice chair on the CAPU board and mural project manager, noted that the project "is a way for us to physically, and metaphorically in a way, reclaim this space and let folks know what this place used to be like.

The backstory: Denvers Chinatown was once considered the largest Chinatown in the interior West. Many Chinese immigrants went to Colorado in the late 1860s to work on railroads and in the mines during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush, also known as the Colorado Gold Rush. At its height, Denver's Chinatown reportedly had nearly 1,000 residents.

More from NextShark: Chinese Woman Who Lived on 29 Cents Per Day Dies of Malnutrition Complications

The district was once located along Wazee Street between 15th and 17th Streets and later expanded to parts of Market Street between 15th and 20th Streets. Several people reportedly referred to Chinatown using the derogatory term Hop Alley due to the opium dens located in the district.

Why it was destroyed: An anti-Chinese riot erupted in Denver on Oct. 31, 1880, following an argument at a saloon between two Chinese patrons playing pool and a few intoxicated White patrons. A mob of around 3,000 people eventually formed, with many of them shouting Stamp out the yellow plague! while going on to tear down the city's Chinatown.

Several homes and businesses of Chinese immigrants were destroyed, and one person was murdered during the riot: a man identified as Sing Lee, whose actual name was Look Young.

More from NextShark: Calling all allies: Here's what happened on Bidens mission-driven tour of Asia

The aftermath: The incident resulted in over $30,000 in damages, a massive amount at the time. Chinese business owners were reportedly never compensated for their property or business losses despite the Chinese governments efforts.

Although surviving residents tried their best to revive Chinatown, their efforts were in vain as the U.S. passed the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which banned Chinese laborers from entering the U.S. for 10 years.

Denvers Chinatown fully vanished by the 1940s.

More from NextShark: Family-Owned Chinese Restaurant Vandalized, Attacked By Online Trolls in Seattle

In todays time: A plaque was previously placed in Denver's Lower Downtown neighborhood, but it was removed in August 2022 for inaccurately describing events surrounding the so-called Chinese Riot of 1880.

Besides the new mural, two other historical markers can be found at 1520 16th St. and 1620 Wazee Street.
TEHRAN, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Monday rejected any link between the prisoner swap with the United States and the recent release of the country's frozen assets abroad, the Iranian Students' News Agency reported.

Amir-Abdollahian said Iran views the prisoner exchange with the U.S. as a humanitarian issue, stressing that Iran deals with issues of prisoners and frozen funds separately, said the report.

The minister noted that the assets, newly released from the banks of the Republic of Korea (ROK), have been transferred to a European bank, with a limited part still remaining in ROK for future transactions with the East Asian state.

He added that after being converted into euro, which will take up to a few weeks, the transferred funds in Europe will be deposited into Iranian accounts in a regional country.

On Friday, Mohammad Jamshidi, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's deputy chief of staff for political affairs, said in a post on X, previously known as Twitter, that simultaneously with the release of the illegally held Iranians in the U.S. and the full transfer of frozen Iranian assets in ROK, a number of U.S. prisoners in Iran will leave.

Iran's central bank chief Mohammad Reza Farzin confirmed the next day in a post on X the entire release of these funds, adding that they would eventually be transferred to accounts of six Iranian banks in Qatar. 
This years summer heat wave in Arizona has already killed 59 people with 345 deaths now under investigation.

Our July set a new record for the most consecutive days (31) with high temperatures at or above 110 degrees, reports The Arizona Republics Fernando Cervantes Jr.

That we know.

What we dont know is why.

Why are we seeing these record-smashing temperatures this year in metro Phoenix and across the globe?

Is climate change the only cause?

Some will scoff at the question. But its actually a mystery that will take time to study and understand.

Yes, climate change undoubtedly played a role.

Prior to this summer, the warmest eight years on the planet had all been recorded since 2015, reports the World Meteorological Organization.

But well before this summer, scientists were predicting that other factors could significantly raise this years temperatures to extreme levels across the globe.

One of those factors was a massive underwater earthquake near the island nation of Tonga more than a year and a half ago.

On Jan. 15, 2022, the Hunga TongaHunga Haapai underwater volcano erupted.

The energy released was enormous  so powerful it was the most violent eruption anywhere in the world since Mount Pinatubo blew its stack in the Philippines in 1991.

Tonga volcano could make it warmer

This combination of satellite images taken by Himawari-8, a Japanese weather satellite operated by Japan Meteorological Agency and released by National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), shows an undersea volcano eruption of the Pacific nation of Tonga Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022.

A year later, January 2023, scientists mostly from Oxford University published a study in the peer-reviewed Nature Climate Change that noted the Tonga-Hunga volcanic eruption was extraordinary in that it pushed an enormous amount of water into the atmosphere.

Most volcanic eruptions spew large amounts of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere that form particles that can actually reflect the sun and cool the planet.

This one did that as well, but was offset and exceeded by the amount of moisture it sent skyward  roughly the equivalent of 58,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools, according to separate research done by NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Because water vapor is a greenhouse gas, it is possible that over a multiyear period Hunga TongaHunga Haapai will cause a temporary increase in global surface temperatures, the Oxford group noted.

As reported in the UK climate-science website CarbonBrief, the Oxford group reported that the eruption had increased the likelihood that global temperatures would exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels at least once by 2026.

2 caveats to the volcano research

The number 1.5 C is an important threshold that nations agreed to try to stay under, based on the 2015 Paris Climate Accords.

The study authors said the volcano had raised the chances by 7% of exceeding 1.5 C at least once by 2026, making imminent 1.5 C exceedance a greater possibility.

In separate research, Professor Pasquale Sellitto of the Interuniversity Laboratory of Atmospheric Systems says the Tonga research is very reasonable but raised two caveats:

The paper assumes the water pushed upwards is globally well mixed, when, in fact, its plume was confined in the southern atmosphere, reports CarbonBrief.

The other is that the paper does not include the cooling influence of the sulfur dioxide.

NASAs Millan says more models will need to be run and studied to discern the small Hungas contribution from the anthropogenic (caused by human activity) one.

El Nino could push up temperatures

Another factor in the Pacific Ocean that was expected to raise world temperatures this year has been the cyclical climate pattern known as El Nino, which returned in July.

El Nino is the warming phase of an irregular but periodic variation in wind patterns and sea surface temperatures over the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean, as explained by the German international broadcast news network Deutsche Welle.

Its cooling phase is known as La Nina, which we had experienced the prior three years.

Heat kills homeless people: Why deaths are hard to prevent

The record high heat we are seeing this year is more likely to occur during the El Nino cycle, Chris Hewitt, head of climate services at the World Meteorological Organization, told Deutsche Welle.

And hold on to your seat. We are not likely to feel the full effect of this El Nino until 2024.

Pollution controls also could be a factor

Another significant factor that could be turning up the heat are the pollution controls placed on global shipping.

The International Maritime Organization placed new limits on ocean ships to reduce their sulfur emissions.

Those new regulations came into full force in 2020 and have cut sulfur emissions by more than 80%, reports The Economist.

As explained above, sulfur particles in the lower atmosphere act as a reflector of sunlight and thus a cooling agent on the planet. Fewer sulfur emissions from ocean ships means less sunlight is bouncing back out to space, and is instead being absorbed by the oceans below, The Economist reports.

Another factor is what happens when the Earth undergoes an interglacial period as were in now  the end of an ice age, reported The Economist.

The Earth develops more tropical wetlands that, as they die, produce methane gas, whose atmospheric changes can heat the planet.

None of this is to dismiss climate change and the real impact it has on the world.

But what we perceive as an acceleration of conventional climate change may have been stoked by other factors as well. Something we need to consider as we try to understand our changing planet.

Phil Boas is an editorial columnist with The Arizona Republic. Email him at phil.boas@arizonarepublic.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Why is it so hot? Climate change may not be the only explanation
You may have read an editorial on these pages this past weekend about a police raid:

Raid on Kansas newspaper is an intolerable overreach by police.

And then, you might have noticed the author: By The Wichita Eagle and Kansas City Star Editorial Boards.

Yes, that editorial came from both editorial staffs of the Kansas and Missouri news outlets. We are two entities, both part of the McClatchy publishing company, that came together to tell an important story. Unusual?

The Star doesnt do this very often, but we have done it before, and when we collaborate to run a joint editorial, it usually signifies an important moment in news history. Im writing about this today because any time I get a chance to speak about transparency  why we do what we do  Ill take it.

The last time The Star ran an editorial with a colleague news outlet, it was in 2017 with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, which is owned by Lee Enterprises. A call for transparency  Eric Greitens still governing in the dark was about then-Missouri Gov. Greitens collaborating in the creation of a bogus nonprofit designed to share propaganda about the governors political stances.

Both news outlets felt so strongly about our state leaders participation in this, we came together to do so. We called the nonprofit an insult to Missouri voters. We also explained why we treated this editorial so uniquely:

We feel so strongly about the governors lack of transparency and repeated attempts to evade the Missouri news media that the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and The Kansas City Star are publishing this joint editorial, hoping Greitens will change course.

This time, the story was about the Marion, Kansas, police and the Marion County sheriffs office conducting a raid on the offices of the Marion County Record and the home of its owners, Eric Meyer and his 98-year-old mother, Joan. Even worse, Mrs. Meyer died the next day, apparently from the stress of the situation.

We were shocked with outrage upon hearing the news and set out to criticize the police actions while asking for swift follow-up from the state legislative and judicial levels.

We ended the editorial with a promise: In the meantime, The Wichita Eagle and The Kansas City Star stand ready to assist the Record in any way we can.

A police raid on a newspaper is unusual. I have known police to raid college newspaper offices (a guest columnist discusses this topic) but rarely a professional shop. It calls to question First Amendment rights. A Google search yielded just one other raid, in 2009, when New York City police raided several newspapers as part of a union corruption probe. But that was not about news coverage.

Sometimes a story is so important that we set aside our competitive nature, our quest to be first.

When The Washington Post collaborated with The Las Vegas Review-Journal on a murder investigation last September, Review-Journal Executive Editor Glenn Cook told PBS NewsHour: Our industry is an incredibly competitive one. Everyones competing for readership, for audience. But, at the same time, nothing brings our industry together like fighting for press freedoms, the First Amendment, ensuring that important stories can be told everywhere, not just in certain places.

The First Amendment is not a dusty piece of paper from 1791 cared about just by news nerds. Its five promises of freedoms (speech, press, religion, petition of the government and peaceful assembly) affect you, too. In this case, the raid sent a chilling message to reporters and their sources. We must fight back against  to use Mrs. Meyers word  Hitler tactics.

And we will combine forces when we need to, working together to shine light into the darkness.
Operator Gary Hayes controls an underground drill is used to ream a hole where new natural gas pipeline is being installed at a work site of Consumers Energy's mid-Michigan pipeline project on Monday, Aug. 14, 2023, in Unadilla Township.

UNADILLA TWP.  Juliet Matko, who has spent a decade working on a $550 million Consumers Energy pipeline project, said she gets asked one question a lot: Why is a utility company investing in a natural gas pipeline, given all the talk of green energy goals?

Matko, who spoke to a State Journal reporter while driving between construction sites on M-52 in Ingham County Monday, said the answer is simple: Natural gas is vital at the moment for Michigan residents who use it to heat their homes.

Natural gas is the primary heating fuel in more than 75% of Michigan homes, and the state has over 50,000 miles of distribution pipelines and over 3 million service lines, according to the Michigan Public Service Commission.

Matko is the project manager for the replacement of the 1940s era, 20-inch steel Mid-Michigan Pipeline that runs between Chelsea in Washtenaw County northwest through Livingston, Ingham, Shiawassee and Clinton counties to Ovid. The project is to replace the old piping with new, 36-inch steel pipeline over the 55-mile span. Construction work started this summer with 30 miles of pipe and the rest is planned for next summer.

The pipeline is being built using two techniques: Trench digging, relatively close to the surface and typically in farm fields, and horizontal drilling, typically in hilly or wetland areas, said Matko.

The pipeline can deliver natural gas north or south and aims to keep taking advantage of Michigan's geography: Unique underground natural storage tanks  remnants of Michigan's prehistoric history, Matko said  let the utility buy cheaper natural gas during the summer and pipe it northward for storage before sending it back down to southern Michigan homes during the winter. The state has the nation's largest underground storage capacity, about one-eight of the nation's capacity, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

This year's work will go from Chelsea to Webberville and next year's 25-mile stretch will go from Webberville to Ovid, crossing through Sleepy Hollow State Park.

At one construction site, three 500-foot lengths of pipe sit waiting to be pulled into place.

Matko said the pipelines are being replaced on a company maintenance schedule, with one phase being finished this year and the second phase next summer. She said the project has been in the works for more than a decade, with planning and permits from a variety of state and federal regulators as well as updating easement agreements with landowners.

The company is spending $550 million on the replacement pipeline.

David Mifsud, herpetologist and wetland ecologist, holds a Blanding's turtle while talking about his efforts working with Consumers Energy to keep turtles and other wildlife safe during the construction of the Mid-Michigan Pipeline project on Monday, Aug. 14, 2023, in Unadilla Township.

Relocating turtles and snakes

The construction site is unusual in part for its conservation work, said David "Turtle Dave" Mifsud, who runs Herpetological Resource and Management, a Chelsea-based contractor for Consumers Energy.

He said on most of the construction sites he's worked, workers would typically not stop heavy equipment to avoid running over a snake.

But at the pipeline, and other Consumers Energy projects he's been involved with, he has seen heavy equipment operators halt construction and use their buckets to retrieve snakes in difficult terrain where people couldn't walk. The animals are moved nearby but out of the way, some are allowed to grow larger before release.

"You don't often see that," Mifsud said.

The pipeline runs into the territory of the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake. Workers have only found one of those and it was during the winter, said Lindsey Johnson, an environmental engineer with Consumers Energy.

More common are the Blanding's turtles, which are studied because they show few signs of aging and can reproduce up to ages of 80 to 90 years-old, said Mifsud.

The turtles are classified as a species of special concern in Michigan.

When construction workers find wildlife, like a clutch of white bubbles that was preserved a few weeks ago and is now a handful of baby snapping turtles, the animals can be saved, Mifsud said.

Green energy goals

Baby Banding's turtles to be released back into the habitat after Consumers Energy competes construction of the Mid-Michigan Pipeline project on Monday, Aug. 14, 2023, in Unadilla Township.

Consumers Energy, like other Michigan utilities, is aiming for aggressive green energy goals.

Michigan regulators are expecting the state to get to a 35% renewable threshold by 2035. The state currently generates about 11% of its energy from green sources: Most of that, about 80%, is from wind with solar making up 12% of the green slice.

Solar and wind power has slowly been increasing in Michigan and will need to considerably ramp up to meet the state and utility goals.

Matko said the natural gas project will continue to move gas during the transition period and that the larger pipelines can also mean that the gas can move with less energy used.

Contact Mike Ellis at mellis@lsj.com or 517-267-0415

An underground drill is used to ream a hole where new natural gas pipeline is being installed at a work site of the Mid-Michigan Pipeline project on Monday, Aug. 14, 2023, in Unadilla Township.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Consumers replacing 55 miles of natural gas pipeline in Lansing area
Earlier this month, a shooting led to a car crashing into the swimming pool at Smith Recreation Center.

According to the Fayetteville Police Department, family and friends were gathered Aug. 2 for a balloon release in memory of 22-year-old Lorenzo McLaughlin Jr., who was shot and killed in the nearby Broadell subdivision. As the event ended, an altercation broke out and gunshots were fired.

Fortunately, no one was killed, but the cars driver was shot and it was a scary experience for witnesses.

Fayetteville Police Chief Kemberle Braden said, "We are experiencing a cycle of violence that our community has the power to stop." I agree with Chief Braden. Our community does have the power, but the question remains whether we have the will. Like many other cities, Fayetteville has to cope with increased homicides and other violent crimes.

A couple of years ago, the Council on Criminal Justice launched some guidance for police leaders to curb violence.

Some of the strategy highlights included:

 Focused Deterrence, which is an effective strategy, but it must be carried out in collaboration with the community. Boston reduced youth homicide by 63% using Focused Deterrence.

 Proactive Policing, which focuses on preventing crimes, not reacting to them.

 Targeting illegal gun-carrying, a precursor to gun violence. Targeting illegal guns can help reduce violence.

 Boosting shooting clearance rates.

 Building community trust between the police and residents is essential to a free and safe society.

The Kansas City Star reported on the unique response of African American morticians using their voices for change to stop the violence they see claiming too many lives in their communities. Funeral home directors are the last responders that bear witness to the carnage.

Troy Williams

More from Troy Williams: Colvin, Evans Fayetteville mayor race could strain relations in Black community

Funeral directors nationwide are addressing the violence on social media and at peace rallies. They say the violence is spilling over into their workplace. An 18-year-old man was killed outside a church in High Point during a "violent and brazen" attack that began when drive-by shooters targeted funeral mourners, who then fired back. A similar incident happened at the Conference "A" Free Will Baptist Headquarters in Erwin following a funeral attended by rival gangs. Shots were fired outside the building after the service, but no one was injured. Incidents like these have a growing number of Black funeral home directors across the country speaking out and taking action.

Mimicking the 1970s "Scared Straight" programs used throughout the United States as a means of deterring juvenile crime by troubled teens visiting adult prisons, morticians are employing their updated version of "Scared Straight" by inviting parents and their youngsters to take a seat in their offices  and plan the youngster's funerals. I hope it makes a difference. The senseless killings have to stop. Murder does irreparable damage to families. I know. Friday was the anniversary of my youngest brothers murder in Washington, D.C. in 2011.

Chief Braden is right, "It will take the cooperation of our community to help solve this crime [Seabrook Park incident] and prevent future acts of violence."

Troy Williams is a member of The Fayetteville Observer Community Advisory Board. He is a legal analyst and criminal defense investigator. He can be reached at talk2troywilliams@yahoo.com.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Troy Williams: Finding the will to stop the violence in Fayetteville
APPLETON  Friday mornings in Outagamie County Circuit Court Branch 7 look different than a typical courtroom setting.

The morning starts out with conversation, jokes and laughter. Judge Mark Schroeder enters and banters with people in the room. It feels more like a classroom than a courtroom.

Court begins at 9 a.m., but not always on the dot. Court participants sit in the jury box, while county staff from various departments take seats at the counsel tables and in the gallery. Once it's time to start, Schroeder's tone becomes serious and he calls up court participants, one by one, to discuss how the previous week has gone.

The program is the Outagamie County Mental Health Court. It is an opportunity for people with mental health diagnoses to have charges reduced or dismissed, or avoid incarceration upon successful completion of the program.

People who have graduated from the program say it helped them turn their lives around.

John Hendricks of Appleton participated in the Mental Health Court from April 2022 to February of this year.

"I ended up there because mentally, I wasn't really stable. ... I was just making the wrong choices. And I don't think I would have gotten any better, I would have gotten in way more trouble, if I didn't do the program," Hendricks said.

It's no "get-out-of-jail-free card," said former Mental Health Court coordinator Robyn Van Bogart. The program is rigorous, and requires participants undergo therapy, maintain absolute sobriety, participate in outreach events with the community and more.

Discussion in court shifts between lighthearted and serious. Sometimes participants had difficult weeks, with stresses in their personal life and relapses. Some become tearful and voice frustrations with themselves. But through it all, there is support and camaraderie in the room. Participants applaud each other for their successes, and staff offer words of encouragement when someone's week did not go as hoped.

Mental Health Court is just one model of a slew of treatment courts across the state.

Outagamie County also has a Veterans Treatment Court and a Drug and Alcohol Treatment Court  which is separated into two tracks, one for OWIs and one more focused on drug addictions. The county will start a family recovery treatment court in September.

Brown County offers the same types of treatment courts, with some slight variations on criteria, in addition to a juvenile treatment court for people ages 17 to 21 and a heroin/opioid treatment court  which was the first of its kind in the nation when it was implemented in 2015, said Brown County Criminal Justice Services manager Mark Vanden Hoogen.

Other counties with highly populated cities  like Milwaukee, Dane, Eau Claire and La Crosse  similarly have a variety of treatment courts. The programs are scarcer in more rural parts of the state.

These courts all have the same goal: to replace traditional methods of punishment for criminal behavior with rehabilitation.

Success stories show benefits of treatment courts

When Outagamie County started its Drug and Alcohol Treatment Court in 2009, Judge John Des Jardins was skeptical.

"My initial reaction to that was it was just an excuse to be soft on crime," Des Jardins said.

If he was going to be against something, Des Jardins decided, he should learn more about it first. So he sat in on a day of drug court.

"It just totally blew me away, how effective it seemed to be," he said.

Des Jardins, who retired from Outagamie County Circuit Court in 2021, had at the time already spent more than 30 years working in the criminal justice system, as a district attorney in Outagamie and Oconto counties, then as a judge in Outagamie County.

On the day Des Jardins sat in, sometime around 2010, one participant was graduating. The person's family shared how the participant had turned their life around since starting the program, and it hit Des Jardins  treatment courts can really help a person change their behavior.

"As a judge, you know, you're sentencing people, and you just realize, well, I'm punishing the person. And the rehabilitation that takes place in prison or incarceration, oftentimes it just does not work at all, doesn't even come close to transforming the person's life," Des Jardins said.

Inspired by what he saw, Des Jardins started the county's Veterans Treatment Court in 2010.

In 2012, Outagamie County implemented its Mental Health Court. In 2019, the county expanded its Drug and Alcohol Treatment Court Program to include a separate OWI track, primarily for people who might be functioning in their daily lives but struggle with alcoholism and have received their fourth or subsequent OWI.

The Family Treatment Court will help parents who have active cases in Child Protective Services and who have substance use disorders regain parental rights. Unlike the other treatment courts, it will not require a parent to face criminal charges, Outagamie County Judge Mitchell Metropulos said.

Judge Mark Schroeder, presiding over Mental Health Court, applauds a participant's accomplishment on July 28 in Branch 7 at Outagamie County Courthouse in Appleton.

Treatment courts started in Dane County

Wisconsin's treatment courts date back to 1996, when Dane County implemented its adult drug court. Wisconsin's first veterans court started in 2009 in Rock County, and Eau Claire County developed the state's first mental health treatment court in 2011.

Like Outagamie County, Brown County's drug court started in 2009, followed by a veterans court in 2012, and its mental health and heroin courts in 2015. OWI court was implemented in 2018 and family recovery court in 2020. Brown County's newest treatment court, the Juvenile Treatment Court, was piloted in 2021 and fully implemented earlier this year, Vanden Hoogen said.

Both counties have seen significantly lowered rates of recidivism by people who have gone through a treatment court program.

In 2022, Brown County's average rate of recidivism three years after exiting a treatment court program was 36%.

For that same year, Outagamie County's rate of recidivism for graduates three years out of Veterans Treatment Court was 26%; for Drug and Alcohol Treatment Court, 27%; and around 48% for Mental Health Court, according to county data.

By comparison, a 2018 study from the Wisconsin Department of Corrections found the average rate of re-arrests in Wisconsin in a three-year period after release from prison was 52%.

Treatment courts are not only more helpful than jail time for helping a person turn their life around, but are also a better alternative for taxpayers.

"Opposed to spending, you know, $55 a day in jail, these programs are a fraction of the cost," said Bernie Vetrone, director of Outagamie County Criminal Justice Treatment Services.

It's more productive to society for a person to be working, paying taxes and engaging in their community than sitting in jail, Brown County's Vanden Hoogen said.

Darek Nash of Neenah went through Veterans Treatment Court beginning in 2021 through May of this year. Nash was in the Marines from 2008 to 2013. After leaving the Marines, he began using drugs and fell into a cycle of selling drugs to support his own addiction, engaging in "reckless behavior" for about five years, he said.

"I ended up getting a lot of charges for selling drugs. I sat a year in jail. I was homeless. At times I wasn't homeless, but I didn't take care of the places I was at, I broke a lot of my family down, you know, burnt a lot of bridges. I stole things, I did things I would never normally do," Nash said. "It was a pretty rough multiple years."

Nash was accepted into Veterans Treatment Court as part of his sentence following his year-long jail stay.

Now, he lives with his girlfriend and their 6-month-old baby, and works as a maintenance technician at a factory in Little Chute.

"I don't think I would be where I'm at today if I did not have veterans court, I guarantee it," Nash said. "If I would have just been thrown in jail or prison, I probably would have continued the crap that I was doing before."

How treatment courts work

Treatments courts offer individualized programs, molded to fit each participant's needs.

Schroeder said that in Outagamie County Mental Health Court, determining what types of therapy and resources each participant will benefit most from can be a challenge for him and the treatment court staff.

"Trying to figure out what their needs are, what the available resources are for a particular individual and how to balance the treatment needs they have against trying to avoid disrupting those parts of their life that are stable  while also trying to protect the public from any sort of meltdowns or crises moments  that's a difficult thing to do," Schroeder said. "It's not easy, and there's some trial and error involved, unfortunately, at times."

Participants go through phases of their programs that change based on their goals and needs, said Beth Robinson, deputy director of Outagamie County Criminal Justice Treatment Services.

"You might be focusing first on basic needs  housing, food, shelter  but then you're shifting into treatment needs, and then you're shifting into errors in thinking, and then you're shifting into employment education goals," Robinson said. "It really depends on where they are in the program."

For example, in Outagamie County Mental Health Court, participants go through five phases before graduation.

During the first two phases, they must attend court weekly and complete requirements like going to medical and dental appointments and creating a budget.

Starting in phase three, they attend court biweekly and enroll in group therapy, which can involve one or more of various programs, like Moral Reconation Therapy  a type of therapy that involves learning how to change thinking processes and make better choices  or anger management group therapy.

By phase five, they only need to attend court once a month, and maintain a stable routine.

All of Outagamie County's treatment court programs include five phases and involve regular drug and alcohol testing, Robinson said.

On average, Outagamie County Mental Health Court and the OWI track of Drug and Alcohol Treatment Court take an average of about 20 months to complete. Veterans Treatment Court and the primary Drug and Alcohol Treatment Court track have a slightly longer average of around 25 months, Robinson said.

Nash said each phase in veterans court was progressively more challenging, as he was given more freedom but had more responsibilities expected of him. However, the longer he spent in the program, the more he grew in confidence.

"When you feel more comfortable and stuff like that, you can open up about the problems you had," Nash said. "I did open up, and I got a lot off my chest, and I got the help that I needed."

Veterans Treatment Court is the only one of the county's treatment courts that pairs each participant with a mentor, Robinson said. Veterans court mentors have to be graduates of the program for a year. Nash said he plans to return as a mentor once he is eligible.

Treatment court teams consist a presiding judge, a court coordinator, a representative from the district attorney's office, a representative from the public defender's office, probation agents, and sometimes other county staff. Some treatment court programs have court weekly, while others meet twice a month.

Josh Hopkins, behavioral health investigator for the Outagamie County Sheriff's Office, sits in weekly on Mental Health Court. He said he believes having a law enforcement representative participating in the court is crucial.

"We are building rapport with these clients that have very high needs. And that rapport becomes very crucial when there's welfare checks or things like that that need to be done," Hopkins said. "In the past, law enforcement who are directly involved with Mental Health Court can really go out and do welfare checks and things like that on participants that with other officers may not be successful, but when they see a familiar face, it tends to be more impactful and more beneficial."

While participants are expected to follow the rules, missing a therapy appointment or failing a drug test does not mean automatic expulsion from the program. Schroeder said the program aims to give "treatment responses" to relapses, and helps provide participants with the tools to find success and keep moving forward even when they take a step back in recovery.

"Success on this stuff isn't linear," Schroeder reminded a frustrated court participant during Mental Health Court on July 28.

Brown County had 96 active participants in its treatment courts and 53 graduations in 2022, according to the county's annual report. During the existence of each of Brown County's treatment courts, 59% of all participants made it through the program to graduation.

In Outagamie County, the treatment court graduation rate differs vastly between programs. The OWI track of Drug and Alcohol Treatment court has an 89% graduation rate; the Veterans Treatment Court, 81% graduation,. Meanwhile, the rate for the drug track of Drug and Alcohol Treatment Court is 41% and Mental Health Court is just 21%, Robinson said.

A person in a treatment court program may not finish for a variety of reasons  they may voluntarily drop out of the program, or get kicked out if they refuse to engage in treatment or commit new crimes, or they may simply run out of time on their probation sentence, Schroeder said.

"Even the folks who don't graduate, the data suggests that they're benefiting from the program, if they're in it for a period of time and experience some treatment or levels of success before they end up dropping out of the program," he said.

Vanden Hoogen said he's seen people who were terminated from treatment court programs still take what they learned during their time and apply it to their lives, even though they were not able to be successful in completing the full program.

There are limitations to who can participate

Treatment courts are not available to everyone in the justice system dealing with addictions or mental health issues.

According to Outagamie County data, between 2014 and 2021, Drug and Alcohol Treatment Court accepted 147 of 431 referrals. The most common reason for denial was that a person was convicted of a violent offense, followed by being deemed a high risk to the community.

But people can also get turned away from treatment courts for not being a resident of the county in which they're charged, or if they scored low on the COMPAS test, an exam that assesses a person's risk of reoffending.

They also need to be sentenced to a lengthy enough period of extended supervision, otherwise they won't have time to complete the program.

Van Bogart, who since stepping down as Mental Health Court coordinator now works as a clinical therapist with Outagamie County Crisis, said court coordinators consider a variety of factors when determining if someone can be accepted into Mental Health Court.

"We look at violence on a case-by-case basis, because we are obviously in our community, and we need to understand the ability or the potential of reoffending," Van Bogart said. "So when we look at somebody who may have had a violent offense, we're looking at intent to harm someone, whether there was a weapon involved and whether they were treated and medicated at that time."

Some people turn down the opportunity to go through a treatment court when they are sentenced, because it involves more work than a traditional sentence.

"The supervision in those courts are much more intensive, and there's a lot more requirements. And a lot people are like, 'well, I'd rather just sit my two months in jail than do that,'" Vetrone said.

Sometimes, defense attorneys advise clients that it might not be in their best legal interest to go through the program, if they are unlikely to adhere to regular drug tests and close supervision, Vetrone said.

Reforming the justice system

As someone who had a 40-year career in the courtroom as a prosecutor and judge, Des Jardins acknowledged that the justice system needs improvements.

"We need to be smarter in our justice system, not just harsh  but smarter in dealing with addictions that can be treatable and restore that person, rather than sending people into a place where they learn more about drugs and addictions," Des Jardins said. "We want them to be a kinder and nicer person, but in these places, it's cruelty and aggression and brutality that rules the roost when you're incarcerated. Kindness is not part of the prison system."

Part of the issue is negative perceptions of addictions that can lead people to the criminal justice system, Vanden Hoogen said.

"When people see someone that has an addiction issue, they see a criminal, they see someone that doesn't care. But if people consider looking at addiction as, like, the common cold  it's an illness," Vanden Hoogen said.

As an example, Vanden Hoogen pointed to the heroin epidemic that stemmed from people getting addicted to prescription opioids for medical issues. He said he's heard many stories where people immediately became addicted to a drug the first time they tried it. Addiction is not an issue that only affects a certain type of person; it can happen to anyone.

Schroeder said he would like to see growth in the size of Outagamie County's treatment court programs, but said he is not sure about the likelihood of that.

Treatment courts require funding  Outagamie County was planning for a family recovery court years ago, Metropulos said, but the project was suspended due to a lack of funding. It wasn't until the county received a three-year grant in late 2022 that official preparations for the court were able to be made.

"It's certainly going to be a part of the criminal justice system, as we continue to try to figure out to strike a balance between which folks need traditional outcomes, like formal probation supervision without a treatment court component, or incarceration or other punitive sanctions like fines, versus those folks that we can try to get at some of the underlying issues with the supervision of a court through a treatment court setting," Schroeder said. "Because that's the whole idea, to try to get at the underlying issues that get these folks out of the revolving door and continually coming back into the system on preventable crimes, if we're able to help them unpack their trauma, their addiction issues and mental health concerns."

Contact Kelli Arseneau at (920) 213-3721 or karseneau@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ArseneauKelli.

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Wisconsin's treatment courts prioritize rehabilitative needs
Everyone kept the petting zoo a surprise, so the happy rush of kids taking selfies with a llama named Tony and climbing into the pen with two Polish chickens is unexpectedly joyous.

Staff and volunteers have intentionally made the morning nothing but fun. With the drumming circle and singing, the coloring and story time, this could be a regular summer camp. But the 42 children enrolled in Camp Monarch, a service of Angela Hospice in Livonia, Michigan, are here for a dual purpose.

Theyre here to enjoy themselves, but also to remember lost loved ones, learn coping skills for the grief that will follow them through their childhoods and to connect with people who understand the complex emotions and behaviors that stem from bereavement.

(L to R) Zack Mokachar, 15 and his sister Jenna Mokachar, 12, get in the selfie that camp friend Vaughn Truskin, 12 was taking with Tony the Llama during a petting farm session at the second annual Camp Monarch run by Angela Hospice Center at the Madonna University Welcome Center in Livonia on August 4, 2023. The two-day camp is for children ages 5 to 17 who have experienced the loss of a loved one to allow them to bond with other kids their age, talk about grief and get consoling from adults. The three lost their fathers and were attending the camp to help with the healing process.

One child out of every 11 in Michigan  nearly 200,000 total  will experience the death of a parent or sibling by the time they turn 18, according to Judis House, a research organization focused on child bereavement data. By the time youth hit 25 years old, that number more than doubles.

The children at Camp Monarch have lost parents, siblings or other close loved ones from homicide, suicide, car accidents, overdoses, COVID or other health conditions.

Yet our culture doesnt teach children how to grieve, rarely validates their experiences or acknowledges their pain. Grief camps are a place where, just for a day or two, children who have lost someone they love can connect with other kids who are walking the same heart-rending road, and know they arent alone.

Becca Guenther, 30 of Garden City and a grief counselor at Angela Hospice Center adds a quote of inspiration to the memorial walk during the second annual Camp Monarch run by Angela Hospice Center at the Madonna University Welcome Center in Livonia on August 4, 2023. The two-day camp is for children ages 5 to 17 who have experienced the loss of a loved one to allow them to bond with other kids their age, talk about grief and get consoling from adults.

Grief shared is grief diminished, said Debbie Vallandingham, Angela Hospices director of grief care services. We want to instill in children that being open, talking, sharing, being able to discuss your feelings is a normal part of life, not something that we should hide or something that we should be embarrassed of.

Can I visit Mommy in heaven?

Children dont grieve the same way adults do. Adults swim down that river at their own pace, sometimes swept along, sometimes dragged under and sometimes, especially after time has passed, able to float. Children tend to hop in and out of those waters, experiencing deep sadness, isolation and anger but then running outside to do cartwheels.

Their ability to make sense of a loss and process their thoughts and feelings is very much dependent on their developmental stage, according to Joshua Magariel, regional director of patient experience with AccentCare Hospice and Palliative Care, which offers the long-running Camp Kangaroo in Detroit each year.

Jai'Ari Brisco, 5 and Jackson Davidson, 7, try and feed a Mini Rex rabbit a leaf during playtime during the second annual Camp Monarch run by Angela Hospice Center at the Madonna University Welcome Center in Livonia on August 4, 2023. The two-day camp is for children ages 5 to 17 who have experienced the loss of a loved one to allow them to bond with other kids their age, talk about grief and get consoling from adults.

A very young child might not understand the permanence of death or might conceive of it as a place. Mom is in heaven, but maybe I can go visit her, a little kid might think.

An older child understands that death cant be undone but might struggle to deal with the complex emotions that follow or deploy harmful magical thinking  believing their actions somehow caused the tragedy.

For bereaved children, every advance in understanding and awareness ushers in a fresh round of processing grief.

Most parents dont realize that the kids going to keep revisiting this until they are literally an adult, said Vallandingham. Thats a lot for their adult to handle, usually, because they move at a very different pace than that child thats grieving.

They are not alone in this journey

At Camp Monarch, kids from age 5 to 15 are learning that grief is like a jungle. It has dark, menacing shade and thorny overgrowth but also patches of sunlight and unexpected secret waterfalls. A hunt for paper sloths reminds them to take things slowly. Music therapist Heather Dean leads them in deep monkey breaths, and other volunteers encourage them to get support and find their pride, as a lion might.

Elijah Brisco, 9, works at coloring on a page with a message during the second annual Camp Monarch run by Angela Hospice Center to play with at the Madonna University Welcome Center in Livonia on August 4, 2023. The two-day camp is for children ages 5 to 17 who have experienced the loss of a loved one to allow them to bond with other kids their age, talk about grief and get consoling from adults.

Each child has brought a photo of the adult they lost to hang, along with a note or thought, on a green paper leaf, clipped and strung up across a hallway to simulate a jungle passage where their loved ones are memorialized. Theyll walk through it, seeing all the other leaves that arent their own.

The important thing is the kids see they are not alone in this journey, said Leah Bengel, a social worker who volunteered for this years Camp Monarch.

Bengel lost her mother to suicide when she was 12 years old, and went to a camp like this one, through the Henry Ford SandCastles grief support program. Now, she says, Im here to support the kids through their grief journey like so many people were there to support mine.

Bengel remembers her camp experience as allowing her to just be a kid but also devote time to expressing her grief in different ways, including art. Its a memorable experience that obviously has impacted what I do today, she said. I would have felt lost without programs like this.

For some kiddos, camp may truly be the only place where they have an opportunity to grieve openly, to be encouraged to find support and meaning in their loss, said Magariel.

You carry her in your heart

A little boy sits with Camp Monarch volunteer Shalyn Fuller, coloring his small portion of a memorial tablecloth. Did your mom die? he asks her. No, she responds, but my baby brother did.

How did he die? the boy wants to know. And Fuller tells him, simply, honestly.

I lost my mom, says the little girl across the table.

I lost my mom, too, the boy says.

We went to the hospital to visit her for two days, the girl says. Then, a pause. My mama died, she says again quietly.

Now her heart beats in your heart, Fuller says to her, and to the listening boy sitting beside her, coloring absentmindedly. When your heart beats, her heart beats because thats where she lives. You carry her in your heart.

Whats your moms name? Fuller asks the littler girl. Shell write it for her, she offers, in a heart shes drawn on one of the blank spots on the tablecloth.

Mommy, the little girl answers.

I wish that people understood how hard it is

It can be hard for adults to talk to children who are grieving. For surviving parents, their own grief can feel insurmountable. Other adults just dont want to make things worse.

A lot of adults shy away from this stuff because they dont want the kids to feel bad, said Jasmine Kendrick, Angela Hospices grief care counselor. But they need to express it.

Kendrick says children want the adults and friends in their life to know what theyre going through and that they need help. She speaks from experience. Kendrick was just 4 years old when her mother passed away. She never got to attend a grief camp or get counseling, but shes grateful for the ways her family kept the memory of her mom alive for her.

Elijah Brisco, 9, feeds a goat from Duke Petting Farm who brought a variety of animals for kids attending the second annual Camp Monarch run by Angela Hospice Center to play with at the Madonna University Welcome Center in Livonia on August 4, 2023. The two-day camp is for children ages 5 to 17 who have experienced the loss of a loved one to allow them to bond with other kids their age, talk about grief and get consoling from adults.

Thats what Essra Mokachar is trying to do for her own children. Zack, 15, and Jenna, 12, are at Camp Monarch today, and she sends them to other grief camps and support groups to make sure they have an outlet and a network.

The Mokachars lost their dad suddenly to a heart attack, nine days before their baby sister was born to a shell-shocked family that didnt know how they would go on without him.

Two years later, they still have their days. One cries and the other picks them up, as Mokachar puts it.

Zack Mokachar says these camps remind him that its OK to ask for help and that hes not alone in his grief. I wish that people understood how hard it is, he said. You dont know what people are going through.

But the other kids at grief camp do. A boy Zack and Jenna met at another grief camp also lost his father, and now his mom and Essra Mokachar are great friends.

Im always looking for resources, and I find that its a good release for them, Mokachar said. Im so happy we live in a community where this is available to us.

For subscribers: US kids face mental health crisis amid school psychologist shortage. Can new federal money help?

Walking through the jungle of grief

Its time for the children at Camp Monarch to walk through the jungle of memorialized loved ones, the faces of parents and other beloved family members dangling just overhead along with the words of the children they left behind: I love you. I wish we could play one more time. Are you doing OK? Were doing OK.

Each camper writes a note to the adult theyre missing on special paper that dissolves in water. Once they walk through the memorial, theyll drop their message into a bucket representing a waterfall and watch it become froth.

Members from Angela Hospice Center in Livonia laugh when having pictures taken with Tony the Llama during the second annual Camp Monarch run by the center at the Madonna University Welcome Center in Livonia on August 4, 2023. The two-day camp is for children ages 5 to 17 who have experienced the loss of a loved one to allow them to bond with other kids their age, talk about grief and get consoling from adults.

Jenna Mokachar goes first, slowly taking in the pictures and childlike writing of the other kids at camp. A girl breaks down crying, and Bengel puts her arms around her, tears filling her own eyes as she slowly walks her to the bucket and onward. Two sisters with bows in their hair cling to a volunteer, their sobs echoing down the hallway.

It is an exquisite and unique kind of pain to hear a child cry for someone theyve lost and can never hold again.

Last to journey through the jungle is a little boy who walks dolefully down the hall, his eyes downcast, until he reaches the bucket and stops. He cannot go forward. Kristina Kosta, an Angela Hospice nurse, is dressed as a giant monarch butterfly for this occasion. She envelops him in her beautiful purple wings and her knee digs hard into the cold floor so that he can sit for a moment in softness.

Dean, the music therapist, strums a guitar at the end of the corridor, singing the refrain to Youll be in My Heart.

In the stark hallway, her voice sounds angelic.

More: Ed Sheeran opens up about friend's death, wife's cancer: 'Grief instantly ends your youth'

Jennifer Brookland covers child welfare for the Detroit Free Press in partnership with Report for America. Reach her at jbrookland@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Camp Monarch from Angela Hospice helps grieving children cope
A former Georgia official and a journalist appeared Monday to testify before a Fulton County grand jury investigating alleged efforts by former President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election in that state.

Former Georgia Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan and journalist George Chidi were called to the courthouse a day earlier than anticipated.

Duncan first acknowledged in an interview on CNN Saturday that he was expected to testify before the grand jury. Duncan, a Republican, later tweeted about it.

"I can confirm that I have been requested to testify before the Fulton County grand jury on Tuesday. I look forward to answering their questions around the 2020 election," Duncan said in the tweet. "Republicans should never let honesty be mistaken for weakness."

After losing the election in 2020, Trump allegedly sought to pressure Duncan and other Georgia officials to convene a special legislative session to overturn the state's results. Duncan and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, both Republicans, declined that alleged request.

The investigation began shortly after a recorded phone call that occurred between Trump and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger on Jan. 2, 2021, in which Trump said: "I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have."

It has since expanded into a sweeping probe examining a range of efforts to overturn the state's results after Trump's loss, including an alleged scheme to substitute then-President-elect Joe Biden's electoral college votes from the state with a slate of alternate, or "fake," electors.

Chidi also tweeted Saturday that he's been asked to appear before the grand jury Tuesday.

"I've just received a call from District Attorney Fani Willis' office. I have been asked to come to court Tuesday for testimony before the grand jury," Chidi wrote.

Chidi previously wrote in The Intercept about accidentally "barging into a semi-clandestine meeting of Republicans pretending to be Georgia's official electors in December 2020."

Willis' office did not reply to a request for comment.

Willis indicated in letters to Fulton County's chief judge and sheriff that potential indictments in the case could come between July 31 and Aug. 18.

Trump has not been charged in the case an has denied wrongdoing. He has accused Willis, a Democrat, of investigating him for political gain.

Jennifer Little, an attorney for Trump, said in a Feb. 26 interview that Trump intends to fight a potential indictment.

"We absolutely do not believe that our client did anything wrong, and if any indictments were to come down, those are faulty indictments," Little said. "We will absolutely fight anything tooth and nail."

Earlier this month, Trump was indicted by federal special counsel Jack Smith in the Justice Department's own investigation into Trump's alleged efforts to interfere with the results of the 2020 election. He was charged with four counts of conspiracy to defraud the United States; conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding; and conspiracy against rights. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Fulton County DA Fani Willis speaks after Trump indictment

Breaking down the charges against Trump and associates in Georgia

Georgia indicts Trump and 18 allies in election interference case
A jury awarded a Texas woman more than $1 billion in a revenge-porn case.

The woman's ex posted intimate images on Facebook, Twitter, and Pornhub, according to court documents.

He also distributed links to the explicit content to her friends, family, and coworkers, documents said.

A woman in Texas who said she lived in fear for years was awarded over a billion dollars by a jury in a revenge-porn case, considerably more than her attorneys had asked for, local news outlet KHOU 11 reported.

Identified only as Jane Doe in legal documents, the woman had dated the man, named as Jamal Jackson Marques, for four years before their relationship ended in 2021.

It was then that the harassment began, with Jackson posting intimate photos and videos on Facebook, Twitter, Dropbox, and Pornhub, her attorney Bradford J. Glide said, according to KHOU 11.

"Every day was me, wake up, I'm checking, I'm trying to prevent it, I'm trying to constrain it," the woman told ABC 13.

"This type of experience is devastating," she added, per the local news outlet.

During their relationship, Jane Doe had consented to privately sharing some intimate photos with Jackson. However, she had made it clear  both explicitly and implicitly  that they were not to be disclosed to anyone else, court documents said.

But court documents said that the ex-boyfriend began unlawfully distributing the private photos and videos by publicly uploading them to multiple social media and other online platforms, often accompanied by identifying features such as her name and home address.

Jackson took the invasion of privacy further, gathering additional material by secretly logging into Jane Doe's mom's home security system to spy on her via its audio and visual features, according to court documents.

The woman's attorneys did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Jackson could not be reached for comment.

Court documents, as well as remarks by her attorney to ABC 13, showed that Jackson went to great lengths to share the private material, creating fake profiles on platforms including Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

He would then send messages and emails containing hyperlink URLs to Jane Doe's friends, family, and coworkers, according to court documents.

Jackson also created a public website with a Dropbox folder attached, which contained intimate images, court documents said, along with a page impersonating her on Pornhub, an attorney told KHOU 11.

Additionally, Jackson tagged the social media accounts of Jane Doe's workplace and gym on social media, directing them to links containing the photos and videos, according to court documents.

"His purpose is to ruin her," the woman's attorney, Gilde, said, per KHOU 11.

Adding to the torment, Jackson gained unauthorized access to Jane Doe's bank account, using her money to cover his own rent, while further subjecting her to relentless calls and messages from concealed phone numbers, according to court documents.

Texas made it a felony to share intimate photos or videos of someone without their consent in 2015, with the law updated in 2019 to include the intention of harming the person.

The case went to a jury last week, which took just 30 minutes to reach their verdict, ABC 13 reported.

Jane Doe was awarded $1.2 billion, more than the $1 billion her attorneys had asked for, but it is unlikely she will receive anywhere near that much

Regardless, her attorney Jacob Schiffer told KHOU 11 that the ruling sends a powerful message: "Do not mess with Texas and do not mess with Texas women."

Read the original article on Insider
A woman who went viral for her outburst on an American Airlines plane has apologized in a video.

Tiffany Gomas said she has "highly enjoyed so many of the memes."

But she also added that the backlash she's faced has been "very invasive and unkind."

An American Airlines passenger was dragged online after a TikTok video where she appeared to call another passenger "not real" went viral. Now she's saying her piece and clearing the air in a new apology video posted to YouTube, Twitter, and TikTok.

"It's me, Tiffany Gomas, probably better known as the 'Crazy Plane Lady,' which is completely warranted," Gomas, a marketing executive, said at the start of her video.

In her video, Gomas apologized for using profanities and for not controlling her emotions during the incident. She added that she has seen the memes of her outburst and did find some of them funny.

"While it has been really comical for everyone, and I have highly enjoyed so many of the memes  on the flip side, it is very invasive and unkind," Gomas said. "And I don't know what I would do without the love and support of my friends and family. They are loyal to a fault, and I don't know what I did to deserve them."

Gomas added that she hopes to move on with her life soon despite one of her worst moments having been caught on camera.

Gomas first went viral when she was filmed in July looking visibly distressed and screaming at her fellow passengers on AA Flight 1009 from Dallas to Orlando.

"I'm getting the fuck off, and there's a reason why I'm getting the fuck off," Gomas was seen yelling. "But I am telling you right now, that motherfucker back there is not real." It's unclear what, or who, Gomas was referring to, but she was seen pointing at the back of the plane while yelling.

In an article published on August 10, she told the Daily Mail that her life has been "blown up" by the attention.

"It's frightening. Things go viral, and everything changes," Gomas told the Daily Mail.

Gomas did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider sent outside regular business hours.

Read the original article on Insider
Editor's note: The Boulder County Coroner's Office identified the woman who died as Jadyn Weiss. Weiss' cause and manner of death were not released and are pending further investigation, the coroner's office said in a post on Aug. 15, 2023.

A woman from Severance died after falling about 300 feet in Rocky Mountain National Park this weekend, the park announced Sunday.

Park officials say the 21-year-old woman, who has not been publicly identified by the park, and a 25-year-old man from San Angelo, Texas, fell while descending in the Flying Dutchman couloir above Chasm Lake between Longs Peak and Mount Meeker Saturday. The man was critically injured in the fall.

Bystanders called park rangers, activated a personal locater beacon and cared for the man until emergency responders arrived, the park said in a news release. He received medical care from rangers, a park paramedic and a paramedic with Estes Park Health on scene but was ultimately taken to UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies.

The man was extricated from the area by a Colorado Air National Guard helicopter from Buckley Air Force Base with assistance from Rocky Mountain Rescue Group, and then flown to the hospital in a Flight for Life air ambulance Saturday night. The rescue operation included 31 people, according to the park.

Park officials recovered the woman's body Monday morning after weather impacted recovery operations Sunday, the park said. A helicopter and helitack crew from Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control assisted in recovery efforts.

The woman's body was taken to the Boulder County Coroner's Office. Her death remains under investigation, which the park noted is standard protocol.

Her death is the fourth fatality in Rocky Mountain National Park this year.

Here is previous reporting on the other three deaths:

Man rescued after fall on Keyhole Route on Longs Peak

Before Saturday's rescue operation, rangers and other emergency responders rescued a man who fell above the Ledges on the Keyhole Route on Longs Peak, the park said in its news release.

Park officials say the 64-year-old man from College Station, Texas, had taken a tumbling fall of about 60 feet. Similar to Saturday's rescue operation, a bystander aided the man and provided critical care while they waited for park rangers to arrive, the park said.

After receiving medical care from Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue, the man was extricated from the area by a Colorado Air National Guard Helicopter from Buckley Air Force Base and then flown to UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies via a Flight for Life air ambulance, according to the news release.

Snow lingered on the Keyhole Route about a month longer than usual this year, with the park warning those who weren't experienced mountaineers to stay away from the area until earlier this month.

More than 70 people have died trying to summit Longs Peak since Rocky Mountain National Park opened in 1915, according to previous Coloradoan reporting.

More: Rocky Mountain National Park's Longs Peak Keyhole Route finally free of snow

Safety advice for attempting to summit Longs Peak

Depending on your route, packing traction devices such as Microspikes, Yaktrax or crampons and an ice axe may be prudent.

Pack extra warm clothes, waterproof layers, extra food and water, a headlamp, a personal first-aid kit and a cellphone.

If you are traveling alone, explain to a friend or family member detailed plans of your trip and take extra care with decision making.

Be smart and turn around when conditions exceed your abilities.

Visit the Longs Peak conditions report at nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/longs_peak_conditions_report.htm.

Coloradoan reporter Miles Blumhardt contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Woman dies in fall above Chasm Lake at Rocky Mountain National Park
This photo taken on Aug. 14, 2023 shows the site of a blast in Khost, Afghanistan. At least three people were killed and seven others injured as a blast shocked Khost city of east Afghanistan's Khost Province on Monday, according to a statement of the provincial government. (Photo by Yusuf Mangal/Xinhua)

KHOST, Afghanistan, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- At least three people were killed and seven others injured as a blast shocked Khost city of east Afghanistan's Khost Province on Monday, according to a statement of the provincial government.

Security personnel have cordoned off the blast area, and further investigations are underway to determine the related facts, the statement said.

It said the blast occurred inside a hotel in the provincial capital at around 11 a.m. local time when some refugees back from Pakistan's Waziristan region and Khost residents were present.

The injured persons were taken to the hospital, it added. 

This photo taken on Aug. 14, 2023 shows the site of a blast in Khost, Afghanistan. At least three people were killed and seven others injured as a blast shocked Khost city of east Afghanistan's Khost Province on Monday, according to a statement of the provincial government. (Photo by Yusuf Mangal/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Aug. 14, 2023 shows the site of a blast in Khost, Afghanistan. At least three people were killed and seven others injured as a blast shocked Khost city of east Afghanistan's Khost Province on Monday, according to a statement of the provincial government. (Photo by Yusuf Mangal/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Aug. 14, 2023 shows the site of a blast in Khost, Afghanistan. At least three people were killed and seven others injured as a blast shocked Khost city of east Afghanistan's Khost Province on Monday, according to a statement of the provincial government. (Photo by Yusuf Mangal/Xinhua)
Tiffany Gomas was infamous on TikTok after a video of her looking visibly distressed on an American Airlines plane went viral. Screenshot/TikTok/@knuckleslawncare

Tiffany Gomas went viral after she was filmed while visibly distressed on an American Airlines plane.

Gomas says she now wants to work on promoting mental health and wellness.

Gomas said she hoped to "use this experience and do a little bit of good in the world."

An American Airlines passenger who went viral for an outburst on a flight in July says she now wants to promote mental health and wellness.

Tiffany Gomas, a marketing executive, was filmed storming off a plane in Dallas on July 2 and looked visibly distressed while appearing to accuse a fellow passenger of not being real.

But Gomas now seems to have found a silver lining amid the backlash she's received. On Sunday, Gomas uploaded an apology video on her YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram accounts, and announced that she was planning to find a way to "do good."

"I apologize and take accountability for my actions, they were uncalled for," Gomas wrote in the caption of her YouTube video.

"I'm thankful for my friends and family for supporting me through this," she added in the caption. This experience has been life-altering and I hope to do good from it and promote positive mental health. Stay tuned!"

In her apology video, Gomas said that she hoped that she could "use this experience and do a little bit of good in the world." She also said that the TikTok clip of her meltdown captured her worst moment on camera "for the whole world to see, multiple times."

"I hope that you guys can accept my apology and I can begin to move on with my life," she added.

Gomas's video ended with a line of text asking viewers to support her journey to promote mental wellness and to stand up against cyberbullying. The text also included a link to her website, which currently only contains links to Gomas's social media accounts and the apology video.

She did not elaborate in her video on how she intended to go about promoting mental health.

Gomas's identity wasn't public when the initial TikTok video of her outburst was posted online. However, the New York Post later released her name and details about her occupation and address in a story published on August 7.

Gomas told the Daily Mail that her life had been ruined after the New York Post's report came out.

"My life has been blown up. It's frightening. Things go viral, and everything changes," Gomas said in an article published by the Daily Mail on August 10.

Gomas did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider sent outside regular business hours.

Read the original article on Insider
FIRST ON FOX: Wyomings Republican secretary of state is sounding the alarm over potential vulnerabilities of his state's election system to the influence of outside private groups, including groups that take funding from a Swiss billionaire known for spreading political influence in the United States.

"I am writing to warn and caution against any attempts made by third parties to fund the administration of elections in Wyoming," Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray wrote to county clerks in his state in a letter obtained by Fox News Digital.

"This is especially imperative, given the influx of millions of dollars to initiatives, including the deceptively named U.S. Alliance for Election Excellence, that have set their sights on misleading tactics on local election offices across the country."

Gray referred to the U.S. Alliance for Election Excellence as the "latest attempt for third parties to influence election administration." The U.S. Alliance for Election Excellence, a program launched by the Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL) in 2022, has been criticized by conservatives across the country for pedaling liberal election influence and was investigated by Georgia officials this year over allegations of violating state law.

'END ZUCKERBUCKS': GOP BILL AIMS TO BAN MARK ZUCKERBERG-STYLE ELECTION FUNDING

Left: Wyoming residents vote in the 2022 election. Right: Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, left, shakes hands with Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss.

In the letter, Gray outlines concerns about CTCL's involvement in the 2020 election during which hundreds of millions of dollars were funneled into various districts, some of which came from a one-time donation from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, with the stated purpose of providing COVID-19 related resources.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"While approximately $400 million was ultimately funneled to local election offices in 47 states, only small portions of grant dollars were traced to PPE (personal protective equipment) and large discrepancies remain with reporting which funds went to where," Gray wrote. "A large portion of money did, however, go toward massive electioneering efforts which had nothing to do with COVID-19. Many of these grants came with significant strings attached, including the divulgence of elections operations, sharing of information, and being subject to improvement plans aimed at structural change of election administration."

Honest Elections Project Executive Director Jason Snead told Fox News Digital that much of CTCL's operations were focused on liberal strongholds.

MONTANA MAY SHOW HOW ELECTION OFFICES ARE 'ADDICTED' TO PRIVATE MONEY LIKE MARK ZUCKERBERG'S, REPORT FINDS

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, left, and Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss attend Oceana's New York City benefit in 2015.

"The left-wing Center for Tech and Civic Life's private funding of election administration has been revealed to be a turnout operation in largely Democratic strongholds," Snead said. "CTCL's newest operation, the U.S. Alliance for Election Excellence, is more of the same: An attempt to use additional funds to lure local election offices into becoming key parts of the left's election strategy."

"What's worse, CTCL creates opportunities for foreign actors to influence how American elections are run," Snead added. "A single Swiss billionaire, Hansjorg Wyss, has funneled hundreds of millions of dollars into various left-wing causes meant to influence American politics. Since 2016 he has given at least $245 million to Arabella Advisors dark money behemoths New Venture Fund and Sixteen Thirty Fund. In 2020 alone, CTCL received $25 million from New Venture Fund. CTCL and its new Alliance are opening avenues for foreign billionaires to pump funds directly into the heart of US elections."

Caitlin Sutherland, executive director of Americans for Public Trust, told Fox News Digital that Wyss is the "most influential figure in politics that you've never heard of."

'ZUCK BUCKS 2.0': ZUCKERBERG-FUNDED GROUP PUSHING MILLIONS TO INFLUENCE LOCAL ELECTION OFFICES, REPORT SAYS

"Wyss has shipped nearly half a billion dollars to left-wing causes, impacting every American, largely routing his foreign money through groups in the Arabella Advisors dark money network," Sutherland said. "The fact that a foreign national can have such a massive influence in our elections should alarm every American."

Gray told Fox News Digital that it is "deeply disturbing" that private entities are "working to influence election administration nationwide" and "could be used as a conduit for foreign actors to improperly influence American election administration."

"I am also disturbed that Wyoming remains especially vulnerable, given our lack of a statutory ban on private funding of elections," Gray said. "This is why our office is leading the charge in Wyoming to ensure county clerks are aware of the complexity of strategies used to strong-arm election administration and to ensure that Wyoming adopts a ban on private funding of elections. Under our administration, we will work to make sure private funding of elections and foreign influence have no place in the Cowboy State."

Voters cast their ballots at a polling location in Cheyenne, Wyoming, on Aug. 16, 2022.

Snead told Fox News Digital that every state should be taking similar steps to ensure that private and foreign election funding doesnt happen.

"Honest Elections Project applauds Secretary Gray for moving to warn clerks in Wyoming of the Alliance's grave risk to public confidence in elections," Snead said.

"For years, Congress has underfunded state and local election departments," Tiana Epps-Johnson, founder and executive director of CTCL, told Fox News Digital in a statement. "Just last year, Congress slashed funding for election departments from $400 million to just $75 million and with 10,000 jurisdictions in the country, that is not enough to ensure election departments can prevent hacking, keep IT networks secure, make polling places ADA compliant, and ensure enough staff to keep poll workers safe."

"The Wyss Foundation and Berger Action Fund support projects to increase access to public lands, lower the cost of health care, and address income inequality. In Wyoming, we partnered with local officials and Indigenous communities to help preserve more than 58,000 acres of land in the Hoback Basin for hunting, fishing, and recreation.

Marnee Banks, a spokesperson for the Wyss Foundation and Berger Action Fund, told Fox News Digital that the groups "do not support or oppose political candidates or parties or engage in political campaigns."

"They comply with all rules governing their activities and have strict policies prohibiting grants from being used for get-out-the-voter activities or voter registration," Banks said. "Additionally, both groups support increasing transparency in our campaign finance system through the DISCLOSE Act."

"The Wyss Foundation and Berger Action Fund support projects to increase access to public lands, lower the cost of health care, and address income inequality. In Wyoming, we partnered with local officials and Indigenous communities to help preserve more than 58,000 acres of land in the Hoback Basin for hunting, fishing, and recreation."

Fox News Digital's Aaron Kliegman contributed to this report.
Yes, the email you may have received recently saying you have a digital payment in a FirstEnergy settlement case is legitimate and it is not a scam.

FirstEnergy customers have begun receiving an email with the subject: Ohio Electricity Litigation: Your Digital Payment is Ready. The email says a distribution from a net settlement is now available via a virtual prepaid card.

Is the FirstEnergy settlement email legit?

Yes, its legitimate, Dennis E. Murray, Jr., one of the attorneys representing plaintiffs in the class-action suit confirmed in a phone interview on Monday.

The settlement is from a federal class-action case that was settled last year and the settlement funds began being distributed on July 31, Murray said. His firm, Murray & Murray Co. of Sandusky and others are representing the plaintiffs in the case, Smith v. FirstEnergy Corp., et al., Case No. 2:20-cv-3755.

A notice of the settlement went out to all FirstEnergy customers about a year ago, said Murray. If FirstEnergy had an email address, the notice was sent by email and by mail for others, he said. Now, the distribution of payment is happening, he said.

All customers of FirstEnergys three operating companies in Ohio were automatically included if you paid to Toledo Edison, Cleveland Electric, or Ohio Edison any rates, charges, fees, tolls, or other costs pursuant to HB 6 or any recovery mechanism approved by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) pursuant to HB 6 from January 1, 2020 through June 22, 2022. The class includes residential and commercial customers, Murray said.

What is the settlement from?

The settlement is one of many in various court cases involving Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp. and its involvement in the House Bill 6 bribery scandal. The public corruption case led to the conviction and sentencing this year of former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and Matt Borges, former chair of the Ohio Republican Party.

The scandal involved $61 million in bribe money paid by FirstEnergy via dark money groups to help Householder seize political power and, in turn, pass and defend the HB 6 bailout law. The law provided a $1.3 billion bailout of struggling nuclear plants owned by FirstEnergy's former subsidiary FirstEnergy Solutions, to be paid for by Ohio utility customers.

More: Who is FirstEnergy's new CEO and what are his plans to move past HB 6 bribery scandal?

How much do I get?

The settlement was $49 million and is being shared by all FirstEnergy customers.

The settlement payments range from $1 to $250. The larger sums are most likely going to large commercial customers, said Murray. The smaller amounts may be for someone who rented a property for a month for electricity service and then moved out, he said. In Northeast Ohio, FirstEnergy operates three regional utilities  Ohio Edison, Cleveland Illuminating Co. or Toledo Edison.

The average payment is about $16.

How do I get my FirstEnergy settlement money?

The settlements are not credits to customers bills. Murray said attorneys wanted this settlement to be an automatic credit to the bill, but it did not work out that way.

All customers were automatically included in the settlement and customers must request the payment either in digital form, a physical debit card or a physical check.

Digital form payments will be in a pre-paid debit card. Physical debit cards should be in the mail for customers who FirstEnergy did not have email addresses for, Murray said, and physical checks will be sent to customers who have a $250 settlement amount.

In a Frequently Asked Question section on the settlement website, the administrators said electronic payment is "the easiest and quickest way" to get funds to customers. Customers can also contact the administrators if they want a different form of payment, such as the physical debit card or check.

Customers who accidentally deleted an email or want to find out more about the settlement can go to the official website for the settlement, https://www.ohioelectricitylitigation.com/ or call the settlement administrator hotline at 877-888-9895.

Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at 330-996-3724 or blinfisher@thebeaconjournal.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Email about free money in Ohio electricity litigation case legit
Editors note: This story is available as a result of a content partnership between WFTV and the Orlando Business Journal.

Zaza Cuban Comfort Food will open its first drive-thru location next year.

Read: Florida pastor, wife, mother arrested after $1.4M in goods stolen from Home Depot stores, police say

The Orlando-based chain is leasing a 3,000-square-foot space from RD Management at 191 State Road 436 in Fern Park near Casselberry, company co-founder Ruben Perez told Orlando Business Journal.

Zaza serves up a variety of hot and iced coffees and chai latte, as well as all-day breakfast sandwiches and scrambles such as veggies con queso, plus pastries, various Cuban sandwiches, entrees, sides such as fried green plantains, soups, starters such as empanadas and more.

Click here to read the full story on the Orlando Business Journals website.

Click here to download our free mews, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
A testing site for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is seen in Wellington

By Lucy Craymer

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand's government will lift all remaining COVID-19 requirements from midnight Tuesday, bringing an end to some of the toughest COVID-19 pandemic rules in the world more than three years after they were put in place.

Minister of Health Ayesha Verrall said in a statement on Monday that from Tuesday people will no longer have to wear a face mask in health care facilities or isolate for seven days after contracting the virus.

While our case numbers will continue to fluctuate, we have not seen the dramatic peaks that characterised COVID-19 rates last year. This, paired with the populations immunity levels, means Cabinet and I am advised were positioned to safely remove the remaining COVID-19 requirements, Verrall said.

Most of the restrictions were removed last year as vaccination rates reached high levels and the countrys hospitals successfully navigated a winter without being overwhelmed.

The decision to remove the requirements comes just two months out from a closely contested election.

While the New Zealand governments handling of the pandemic was globally recognised for keeping infection and death rates at low levels, domestically it faced criticism for the extended lockdowns, school closures and closed borders.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said the formal end of restrictions was a significant milestone.

I believe that New Zealanders can be enormously proud of what we achieved together. We stayed home, we made sacrifices, we got vaccinated and there is absolutely no question that we saved lives, he told his weekly press conference.

While no longer mandatory, the Minister of Health still recommends that people stay home for five days if youre unwell or have tested positive.

(Reporting by Lucy Craymer; Editing by Lincoln Feast)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday vowed retaliation after Russia attacked the Kherson region of Ukraine with shelling, killing at least seven people and wounding others.

Everywhere our warriors retaliate against the occupiers terror. There is not a single day when Russian evil does not get our completely fair retaliation, Zelensky said in a statement Sunday.

Every occupier destroyed, every piece of Russian equipment burned, fire instead of their headquarters and warehouses, the very eloquent smoke on Kerch bridge and more  all this proves that we will not leave any of Russias crimes unanswered, Zelensky added.

The Ukrainian leader said that as of 6 p.m. local time Sunday, there had been 17 reports of shelling in the Kherson region. Zelensky said Russia used artillery to attack the village of Shyroka Balka, killing five people  including a mother, her 22-day-old daughter and her 12-year-old son. Two men also died after the village of Stanislav was shelled, according to Ukraine.

Ukraine launched its long-anticipated counteroffensive against Russia in early June and has made incremental progress since, notably in the south. Russia, meanwhile, has launched a new offensive in the eastern Luhansk region, which appears to be smaller in scope than Moscows winter offensive.

Zelensky on Sunday thanked Ukrainian soldiers, paratroopers and medical workers, saying in his statement, Every time we have something to thank our warriors for, Ukraine becomes closer to justice, closer to victory. And Russian murderers on our land become closer to destruction.

This is the only way we can create the conditions for the whole of Ukraine to become free and safe again, Zelensky added. Russian terrorists must feel only one thing: they will be destroyed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
By: Victoria Ojeme Niger Republic coup leader, General Abdourahmane Tchiani has agreed to dialogue with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) after his meeting with Nigerian Islamic Scholars led by the national leader of Jamaatu Izalatil Bidah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS), Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau in Niger Republic. According to Niger Republics Prime Minister, Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, General Tchiani gave the green light for talks with ECOWAS and was optimistic the talks with ECOWAS would take place in the next few days. We have agreed and the leader of our country has given the green light for dialogue. They will now go back and inform the Nigerian President what they have heard from us . we hope in the coming days, they (ECOWAS) will come here to meet us to discuss how the sanctions imposed against us will be lifted, he said. Meanwhile, a report published in Voice of Nigeria (VON) stated how the Nigerias Intervention Team, which included notable Islamic scholars from the country, met with the coup leaders in Niger over the weekend, and all parties decided to strengthen the option of dialogue in resolving the countrys political problem. The Islamic Ulammas led by Sheik Bala Lau was said to have met with General Abdourahmane Tchiani for several hours in Nigers capital Niamey during which they deliberated on all the issues including the demand by ECOWAS leaders that former President Bazoum be reinstated. Bala Lau, who is the National Chairman of Jamatul Izalatu Bida Waikamatu Sunnah, said the clerics were in Niger on behalf of President Bola Tinubu who accepted their request to intervene. Sheik Lau said the team had earlier told President Tinubu who is also the Chairman of Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government that their position is that the political impasse in Niger is resolved through dialogue. He, therefore, told General Tchiani that the visit to Niger was to engage in constructive dialogue to encourage him and other military leaders behind the coup to toe the path of peace instead of war to resolve the crisis. Responding, General Tchiani who accorded the team warm reception welcomed their intervention. He said their doors were open to explore diplomacy and peace in resolving the matter. General Tchiani, however, said it was painful to the coup leaders that the ECOWAS leaders did not hear their side of the matter before issuing ultimatum to them to quit office. VANGUARD

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The new Sahel nation states have obviously failed to embrace diversity and integrate the Tuareg people whose leaders in Mali and Niger consider a return to the armed struggle against the centralized states.

The Tuareg are a nomadic Amazigh people scattered in the greater Sahara notably in what is now southern Algeria and Libya to a lesser extent in addition to northern Mali and Niger.

The Tuareg have led multiple rebellions against Niamey and Bamako in the 1990s. The most recent remarkable revolt that was in 2012 when the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) led an armed uprising to establish a state in the Azawad in northern Mali.

Now, with the military coups in Mali and Niger, the Tuaregs feel previous deals to ensure a sort of cohabitation with the centralized states are sapped and the prospects for a peaceful solution to the Tuareg issue are dim.

After the coup in Niger, powerful Tuareg leader and former minister in Bazoum administration, Rhissa Ag Boula announced the formation of the Council of the Resistance for the Republic (CRR), will aim to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, who has been in detention at his residence since members of the presidential guard took power on July 26.

This marks the beginning of armed resistance against the new military leaders who are also facing pressure from neighboring ECOWAS countries, except fellow military junta leaders in Mali and Burkina Faso.

Boula has strong influence and operational knowledge of Niger as he has led two Tuareg insurgencies in the 1990s, the other from 2007-09.

In Mali, Tuareg political and armed factions in the Azawad region formed a coalition called CMA in a context of deterioration of relations with Goita, Bamako kingmaker.

Analysts fear that a return to arms in the Azawad is very likely as CMA accused Bamako of violating the power sharing deal of 2014.

Meanwhile, Algeria continues to watch events as they unfold to its disadvantage. Containing the Tuareg struggle and averting any independence of the Tuareg nation or even autonomy has been a prime goal of Algiers which fears a spill over in its south.

Recently, the media reported about the killing of Algerian soldiers by a newly formed Tuareg independence movement in southern Algeria.

The Tuareg in Mali and Niger distrust Algeria whom they blame for terrorism in the Sahel.

Algerias security services have combated terrorism in the black 1990s decade but has also created terrorist groups and manipulated terrorist attacks. with the advent of Bouteflika, Algerias strategy has been to combat terrorism by pushing terrorists or rather exporting terrorism outside its borders to its neighbors in the Sahel.

Furthermore, some terrorist groups have been used by Algerias intelligence agency as a tool to maintain an upper hand on Sahel states. The connivance of Algerias secret services with Algerian national Moukhtar Belmoukhtar, AKA Mr Marlboro, is documented. International reports have also accused Algeria of cooperating with Ansar Eddine and its leader Ag Ghali to quell the independence ambitions of the secular Azawad movement. Algerias support for Ag Ghali was intended to foster extremism in the region to avert a spillover of an independent Tuareg state on its own Tuareg population.

Algerias laxism with Ag Ghali facilitated the merger of four terrorist groups operating in the Sahel into one group pledging allegiance to Al Qaeda and its Jordanian leader Azarkawi. The four terrorist groups were brought together under the command of Ag Ghali. The new terrorist organization bears the name of Jamaat Nasr Al islam wa Al mouminin (Group for the Defense of Islam and the Muslims).
Five people including a Syrian-Turkish national have been arrested for organ trafficking in Tunisias impoverished Kasserine province, a judiciary source has told a local media.

Slah Eddine Rachdi, prosecutor and spokesperson for the Kasserine Court of First Instance told Mozaique FM Sunday August 13 that the arrest came following an arrest warrant issued Friday August 11 by the ministry of Justice against the five, among whom one woman and a Syrian-Turkish national, for forming an international organ trafficking network.

The judiciary official indicated that the organs are sold in Turkey and the price can reach up to $10,000.

Kasserine, west-center of the country and near the border with Algeria, is one of Tunisias poor governorates. It is often theater of clashes between youth demanding better living conditions and security forces.

Known as the red market, the global human organ trade generated between $600 million and $1.2 billion annually before the coronavirus disease pandemic, according to Global Financial Integrity, a Washington-based Think Tank that produces analyses of illegal financial flows.
SEOUL, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- A group of South Korean peace activists on Monday urged calling off the country's joint military exercises with the United States scheduled to be held later this month.

"The Korean Peninsula is now again at the crossroads of war and peace. The stop of South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises could be a decisive step in preventing war and opening a door to dialogue again," the Korea Peace Appeal, which organized the peace rally, said in a statement.

The activists shouted for peace during the rally, staged in front of the presidential office in Seoul, where the defense ministry is also headquartered.

"This extremely dangerous show of force, which raises a possibility for military conflict, will just end up in a disaster," said the Korea Peace Appeal, which is composed of hundreds of civic and religious groups in South Korea as well as dozens of overseas anti-war groups.

The organizer called on the governments of South Korea and the United States to ease military tensions and make all-out efforts to prevent armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula.

The Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise between the two allies, a summertime joint military exercise involving large-scale field maneuvers, was slated to be held from Aug. 21 to 31, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

The annually held military exercises this year will reportedly involve about 30 field maneuvers, compared to 13 conducted last year. 
Nigers new authorities who took power late July in a coup are planning to try deposed leader Mohamed Bazoum for treason amid international calls to release the 63-year old man.

The Nigerien government has gathered the necessary evidence to prosecute the deposed President and his local and foreign accomplices before national and international bodies for crimes of treason and undermining internal and external security, Amadou Abdourahmane, spokesman for the junta in power said Sunday August 13 in a statement.

The junta branding itself the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) deposed Bazoum on July 26 on allegations that he failed to fight terrorism and corruption in the country.

Niger, like most countries in the Sahel has been battling against terrorism activities mostly near its joint borders with Mali and Burkina Faso.

The coup has been condemned by world powers and regional organization ECOWAS which has demanded that the junta reinstates Bazoum or face military action.

The coup however has received support at home, where many believe Bazoum, elected in disputed 2021 elections, is working with foreign powers including France and the U.S. against the nation.

The CNSP has so far surfed the foreign pressure. It appointed on August 9 a transitional Prime Minister and indicated Sunday August 13 that it is ready to consider a diplomatic solution to its stand-off with West African bloc.

The CNSP leader General Abdourahamane Tchiani received on August 12 a group of Muslim religious leaders from neighboring Nigeria who visited Niamey to help defuse the crisis.
Republicans have many complaints about the various indictments of Donald Trump. They think the prosecutors are too liberal or (if they are Ron DeSantis supporters) that the charges are designed to help Trump win the nomination or that it will foment violence or that Joe Biden and/or Hillary Clinton are just as bad. What you rarely hear them say is that Trump is innocent.

This rather gaping hole in their line of defenses was exposed yet again Monday morning when Trump urged a witness in his pending prosecution in Georgia not to testify:

Photo: @realDonaldTrump/Truth Social

Georgia law prohibits intimidating potential witnesses. This message is probably not witness intimidation as it does not contain any threats. It may be witness tampering, but we can leave that to the lawyers.

What can certainly be ascertained, without any legal training, is that this is not the behavior of an innocent man. If Trump did not commit any crimes in the course of attempting to overturn the election and secure an unelected second term, wouldnt he be in favor of securing testimony from relevant witnesses? What theory supports the assumption that Jeff Duncan, a Republican, would fabricate incriminating evidence against him?

Obviously, in a court of law, any defendant, including Trump, enjoys the presumption of innocence and has no legal requirement to rebut the case made by prosecutors. But doesnt it seem just a tad suspicious that he is trying to keep relevant witnesses from testifying?

And for that matter, doesnt it raise some red flags in the Republican mind that Trump attacks rats for flipping on bosses as the worst people in the world, that he worked with mobsters and personally retained a mob lawyer, is known to berate his own lawyers and aides for taking notes of their conversations, and that an unusually large number of his associates have been convicted of or admitted to crimes?

Maybe, just maybe, the reason Trump keeps getting indicted for crimes is not that the criminal justice system is in the grips of a vast liberal conspiracy but that he is, in fact, a criminal?
Its been a bumpy ride for Ron DeSantis as he chases Trump on the campaign trail. Photo: Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Political people in Iowa love their rituals, and thats truer than ever among Iowa Republicans now that their party is the only major party holding first-in-the-nation caucuses. The high altar of Iowa political rituals is the State Fair, held in the August preceding a competitive presidential-nomination contest, and there are many obligatory moments for the presidential candidates, who are as thick on the ground as ants. One is the chore of grilling and then devouring pork chops on a stick at the Iowa Pork Producers tent. Another is admiring prize livestock in the Swine Barn, the Sheep Barn, the Cattle Barn, the Animal Learning Center, and the Avenue of Breeds. Still another is speechifying on a bale of hay as part of the Des Moines Registers Political Soapbox series. This year, Republicans are also obeying Governor Kim Reynoldss edict that they let her interview them for what she is calling Fair-Side Chats.

Actually, all but one of them are going along with Reynoldss event and the other solemn set pieces. While his rivals are all running for president, Donald Trump is running as president, distancing himself from the mere senators, governors, and very wealthy former tech entrepreneurs in the field and attending the fair like a sovereign with a fixed, limited schedule. He was on the fairgrounds for just two hours on Saturday, August 12, and aside from skipping the Reynolds and Register command performances, he made just one set of mostly self-congratulatory remarks to a large group of supporters in an open-air bar.

To some extent, his elevated position is beyond his control: As a former president, he is under the protection and guidance of the Secret Service, which isnt going to give direct access to the famously germophobic Trump to every random child holding a corn dog in one hand and a cell-phone camera in the other. But the royal treatment also meshes nicely with the 2024 front-runners self-presentation as a great white shark among minnows. As Elaine Godfrey of The Atlantic reported, Trumps appearance at the fair was sui generis:

People near me at the Iowa State Fair were frantic. Do you see him yet? they panted. Do you think hell come out into the crowd to talk? When the presence of Secret Service officers made it clear that former President Donald Trump would appear at the Steer N Stein restaurant on the Grand Concourse, fairgoers formed a line whose end was out of sight.

Not all of them could squeeze into the restaurant, so they filled the street outside, one giant blob of eager, sweating Iowans. When the former president finally appeared, the scrum was so dense that they could barely make out his silhouette through the restaurants open side. You know, the other candidates came here, and they had like six people, Trumps giddy voice said through the speakers above us. The audience responded with hoots and cheers.

The other mere mortals running for president have had their moments: Vivek Ramaswamy managed to rap his way out of his fair-side chat with Reynolds to Eminems Lose Yourself:

The candidate with the most to win or lose at the fair  and in Iowa generally  however, had tougher sledding. Its increasingly clear that Florida governor Ron DeSantiss bid to defeat Trump is almost entirely coming down to Iowa, where DeSantis has invested huge amounts of money and secured some key endorsements and semi-endorsements (the latter, by most accounts, including not-so-secret admirer Reynolds and conservative evangelical majordomo Bob Vander Plaats). But while he attracted big crowds at the fair, all the attention wasnt positive, as Politico reported:

Its a rite of passage for presidential candidates at the fair to visit the pork tent to flip pork chops. But on Saturday, when Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis took his turn at the grill, he was met with loud chants of We love Trump. At the same time, a banner flew above in the sky with the words Be likable Ron!

DeSantis ignored the Trump supporters at the pork tent. But they kept chanting. And when it wasnt Trump supporters trolling DeSantis, he was forced to contend with protesters on the left.

Earlier that day, as soon as DeSantis fair-side chat with Reynolds began, protesters in the crowd began to blow whistles and ring cowbells to interrupt DeSantis speech.

The day at the fair was just one of many tough days ahead in Iowa for DeSantis, who has pledged to visit all 99 counties (a ritual in itself known as the full Grassley for the Republican politicians who undertake it). He doesnt have much choice: Although he trails Trump in Iowa by 27 points, according to the current RealClearPolitics polling averages, its probably his very best state. Indeed, as he battles to close the gap there, bad news keeps emanating from polling data elsewhere. Two new national polls of the GOP race came out the day after his fair appearance. One from Kaplan Strategies showed him slipping behind Ramaswamy into third place:

2024 National Republican Primary



 Trump  48% (+37)

 Ramaswamy  11%

 DeSantis  10%

 Pence  8%

 Christie  4%

 Haley  4%

 Scott  2%

 Burgum  1%



 @dougjkaplan | Kaplan Strategies

 n=800 LV | August 9-10 | 3.5%https://t.co/JON42XQnkb pic.twitter.com/qVHT2ucnb2  InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) August 14, 2023

Another new poll, from TIPP, was less alarming but still showed Trump expanding his national lead over DeSantis from 39 points in July to 45 points in August. Without much question, Trumps third criminal indictment on August 1 has done nothing to slow his momentum.

For the time being, then, the 45th president can campaign as virtually a front-running incumbent, which most of his supporters, as a matter of fact, think he should be. One more example of his chutzpah on display at the Iowa State Fair were hats that some of his supporters wore with the text President Donald J. Trump Back to Back Iowa Champ 2016 2020. Trump actually lost the Iowa caucuses to Ted Cruz in 2016. But he charged Cruz with rigging the outcome. In the minds of his MAGA fans, he really cant lose.
Photo: Shawn Thew/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

At the moment, no one involved in the Justice Departments investigation into Hunter Biden could possibly be happy. In June, prosecutors and lawyers for Biden announced that they had reached a plea deal to resolve a long-running criminal investigation that began during the Trump administration under David Weiss, the U.S. Attorney for Delaware who was asked to stay on after the 2020 election to complete his work. Under the deal, Biden would plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges, enter a pretrial diversion program to resolve a felony gun charge connected to his prior drug use, and avoid prison time. But as of Friday afternoon, that plea deal is officially in tatters  the latest development in an unwieldy, often befuddling criminal investigation that, from the outside looking in, seems to exist in a permanent state of epistemic fog.

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If you had asked me after the announcement of the plea deal, I would have told you that the DOJs investigation into Hunter Biden was effectively over. That is usually what a plea deal means. But then a few weeks ago, the federal judge in Delaware who was supposed to approve the deal asked some pointed questions at a surprisingly contentious plea hearing.

One of those questions concerned the scope of the immunity provision that the parties had agreed upon. An immunity provision  under which the government agrees that it will not further prosecute the defendant for certain conduct as part of the deal  is a common term in plea agreements. Among other reasons, the defendant needs some assurance that he is actually resolving the investigation in whole or in significant part, rather than pleading guilty to certain crimes only to face more down the line based on the same underlying conduct. In this case, the immunity provision specified that Biden would get immunity for any federal crimes encompassed by the facts described in the plea documents, which included his alleged failure to pay taxes on income from his consulting business and his unlawful gun possession.

At the plea hearing, the presiding judge asked whether the proposed immunity provision covered other potential criminal conduct tied to Bidens consulting work, and a prosecutor on Weisss team answered in the negative, telling her that the investigation remained ongoing. This was apparently news to Bidens lawyers, who balked. (The press release announcing the deal also said that the investigation was ongoing, but I assumed, apparently like Bidens lawyers, that this was boilerplate language that referred to ongoing investigative work concerning other people who might be charged later.)

The judge directed the parties to submit briefs in response to her questions and gave them an opportunity to revise the plea paperwork, but it appears that she exposed  or perhaps created  a serious rift between the two sides. According to CNN and the New York Times, prosecutors and Bidens lawyers could not come to an agreement on the scope of immunity that Biden would receive.

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David Weisss team told the judge that the parties are at an impasse and are not in agreement on either a plea agreement or a diversion agreement. They also informed her that they believe that the case will not resolve short of a trial. They asked her to dismiss the pending tax charges and informed her that the Justice Department is considering what tax charges to bring in another district and may elect to bring the same charges  or different ones.

Also on Friday, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced that he had appointed Weiss as a special counsel. One obvious reason for this  though not necessarily the only one  is that it allows Weiss to file charges outside of Delaware, including in the Central District of California or in the District of Columbia, where, according to Weisss team, the venue would be appropriate for the tax charges. (Hunter Biden had agreed to waive any venue defense in Delaware as part of the plea deal, but without that agreement, the charges cannot be resolved in that district.)

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First, a plea deal is apparently off the table, at least for now  though the judge in Delaware still needs to close out the pending proceeding after hearing from Bidens team. Weisss team is also preparing to charge Biden elsewhere and to go to trial on the tax charges.

Second, Weiss is now free to file charges in any jurisdiction as special counsel, subject to limited oversight by Garland. He is not confined to the charges that were proposed as part of the plea deal.

And third, Weiss is required to produce a report once his work is over. That report could provide a vehicle for Weiss to address any lingering questions about the scope and process of his investigation, including questions that have emerged as a result of testimony from two IRS agents who worked on the investigation and have argued that Biden received preferential treatment from the department.

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This is the big question at the moment and a difficult one to answer for at least two reasons.

First, prosecutors have considerable discretion in fashioning plea agreements, and they will often forgo charges  particularly ones that are harder to prove and that would expose the defendant to more prison time  in the interest of getting a deal done. Now that the deal has apparently been scuttled, every charge is theoretically back on the table for prosecutors. With respect to Bidens tax case, for instance, prosecutors could try to escalate the misdemeanor charges to felony charges or add different types of felony charges connected to Bidens overseas consulting work.

The other element of significant uncertainty here stems from Weiss and the Justice Departments incredibly ham-handed handling of this affair. If the plea deal was in fact intended to conclude the investigation, then we should not expect to see categorically different charges or a significantly larger number of them.

Weiss, however, either appears to have never intended to conclude the investigation  despite leading pretty much everyone to believe that was what was happening  or he has now decided to reconsider the possibility of charging Biden for other offenses. It is otherwise hard to understand why, in the wake of the aborted plea hearing, he could not come to terms with Bidens lawyers on a more specific or explicit immunity provision than the one that had originally been proposed.

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Actually, there could be a couple trials  one concerning the tax-related charges that Weiss now intends to file in another jurisdiction, and another concerning the felony gun charge that may now be brought in Delaware (where Biden bought the gun).

It is also possible that another plea deal could come together at some point in the future, even after the filing of more charges. One thing that is apparent from the recent plea hearing and subsequent reporting is that there has been a serious breakdown in trust between the lawyers on both sides  a crucial element of any negotiation, including plea deals  but that could change.

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Not nearly as much as Republicans would like you to.

All year, House Republicans in particular have been trying to create as much public and political controversy around Hunter Bidens business dealings as possible, in a transparent effort to deflect attention from the fact that the last Republican president  and the partys leading contender to be its nominee again next year  has been credibly accused of far more serious crimes, like trying to steal the last election.

There is no meaningful equivalence between the accusations that have been lodged against Hunter Biden  who is not running for public office, much less the presidency  and those that are pending against Donald Trump.

However, you should also considerably discount some of the dubious defenses that have emerged among some Democrats on Capitol Hill, who have adopted a conspicuous move along, nothing to see here approach to Hunter Bidens business dealings.

You are, in fact, allowed to care that the presidents very grown son was trading off of his fathers name and government position in order to line his pockets in the private sector. And caring about that does not make you an apologist for Trump or anyone in his family.
The man charged with killing 37-year-old Auburn police officer William Buechner told the court that his reflexes and muscle memory pushed him load his rifle and shoot.

Grady Wayne Wilkes, 33, faces one count of capital murder and three counts of attempted murder in the May 2019 shooting that killed Buechner and injured two other officers. Prosecutors have decided to seek the death penalty.

The trial started on Monday with testimonies from the three surviving officers. The jurors have reviewed body and dash camera footage from the shooting.

On Tuesday, jurors heard more testimonies from responding officers and Wilkess ex-girlfriend. On Wednesday, the State rested after calling forensic scientists and investigators to testify.

The defense first called Wilkes to the stand then a neuropsychologist who evaluated Wilkes. Wilkes told the jury about his time in the National Guard and recounted the events of the night of the shooting.

He said he was a corporal in the National Guard. He'd been in the military for nine years and was deployed once to Eastern Europe. He didnt see combat.

Wilkes said he met Brooklyn (Isaacs) Flaherty in 2016, and they moved into a trailer together that year. In 2017, their son was born. Around 2018, they started having relationship problems, according to his testimony.

On May 19, 2019, Wilkess and Flahertys son was in Kentucky with Flahertys parents. Flaherty had gone to a friends house and Wilkes went to the store to buy whiskey, he said. Wilkes described his drinking habits at the time as very bad and very undisciplined.

By the time Flaherty came back to the trailer that night, Wilkes said he attempted to save their relationship by begging, but it didnt go well. He said the sadness inside him turned into rage.

His testimony matched what Flaherty had testified earlier. He told her he could hurt her and theres nothing she could do about it. He threw her on the bed, got on top of her and choked her, according to his testimony.

Wilkes told the court he strangled her and said, "I love you and you took everything from me. Youre trying to take him from me."

Wilkes said he let go, began to cry and told Flaherty to leave or hed hurt her. He told the jury he didnt want to hurt her.

I needed her to be away from me because of the mental state that I was in, he said.

Wilkes said Flaherty left and he began pacing the trailer, talking to himself, putting on his military gear and loading his rifle out of muscle memory.

The military, it has discipline and its so rigid. When you get into that mindset, it takes away all of the chaos of life, the everyday ups and downs of a job or relationship. Its very straightforward, Wilkes said. Being in that mindset and having that plate carrier on, it makes me feel safe. It makes me feel empowered.

When Wilkes heard the knock on the door that night, he said he thought it was Flaherty coming back.

He opened the door and said he made eye contact with the officer who knocked, Evan Elliot. Wilkes didnt know the names of the officers at the time. Wilkes then told the jury that he noticed the officer near the bottom of the trailer, Webb Sistrunk, raise his gun. Wilkes said he heard a pop and he reacted reflexively, opening fire on the officers.

Sistrunk testified on Monday and said he heard one of the officers scream and saw officer Ron Askelson jump off the porch before he drew his weapon.

Due to the fact that they screamed, I remember I drew my weapon just trying to figure out what the threat was, Sistrunk said on Monday.

After seeing Wilkes, Sistrunk said his first thought was that they were outmatched and outgunned. He ducked down looking for cover and was hit in the right shoulder. The bullet hit him from behind and exited out the front of his chest.

Lee County District Attorney Jessica Ventiere pointed out that Sistrunk was shot in the back of the shoulder while he was attempting to flee. Wilkes said at the time he thought Sistrunk was looking at him.

Wilkes also said he is the one who yelled, Get back, which can be heard on the body camera footage. Askelson previously testified that he is the one who yelled the phrase.

Wilkes said he yelled at the officers to get back and get down numerous times. After he ran into the woods, Wilkes said he called his father and made a 911 call, which was played in court.

In the call, Wilkes tells the dispatcher that hed shot an officer and wanted to know if he was okay. He refused to tell the dispatcher where he was and said he couldnt turn himself in because he needed to survive.

Wilkes said he spent the night next to a creek, woke up the next morning, hid his gear and knocked on the doors of several homes looking for a phone. His had been waterlogged.

When he finally met someone who let him borrow a phone, he said he called his father and promised to turn myself in. Then he called 911. He told the jury that he showed the officers he was unarmed and obeyed their orders when they arrived. He also said after he was shackled, the officers beat him.

Stephen Zieman, the neuropsychologist who evaluated Wilkes in 2022, said he found Wilkes to have the presence of mental defect or disease, specifically bipolar disorder and PTSD from childhood trauma.

From an early age, he always had problems with irritability, anger and impulse control, Zieman said.

Ventiere countered that "most people with bipolar disorder live without killing anyone."

Zieman said Wilkes also had periods of mania with elevated moods of happiness and depression, had auditory hallucinations where he heard voices and had visual hallucinations where he saw shadow people.

The way he describes the voices is that they were telling him things and giving him the perception that he was being surveilled, that he was being watched, that he was under some sort of a presence, Zieman said.

Zieman told the jury he thinks Wilkes fits the definition of insanity.

Ventiere pointed out that Wilkes has a remarkable memory for someone who claimed to be having a psychotic break. She also revealed records from a trial in an Escambia County court room in which Zieman testified for a separate case. The document stated that Zieman's testimony was found to be "not credible."
I mean it's literally all about her

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and the small village, city, most magical place on earth, Lahaina, burned to the ground over the last few days. And to make the situation worse my young niece, her husband, and their little boy had just arrived for a very needed vacation before she started up her school year



This is thoughtful to you? Oh yes, your young niece missing her vacation is what made the Maui fires even worse than they already were. Not the island being decimated, but that her niece was missing a vacation

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This was the worst part to me. People are dying horrible deaths and her "situation even worse" moment is someone didn't get a vacation?

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People write these things when they're emotional, they're not writing a book or an article for the NY Times. They're not thinking clearly.



Edited at 2023-08-14 11:26 pm (UTC)

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Under no circumstance is



my house and the surrounding area was not burned...Jess said there were three doves at the house the whole time. There have never been doves there ever. The end result could have been very different.



Thoughtful when people have died and the island was burning



Edited at 2023-08-14 07:31 pm (UTC)

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I don't mean this agressively but if that's your sober opinion, please look at your life, look at your choices.



Edited at 2023-08-14 10:27 pm (UTC)

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I see what you all are saying, and since I can't edit my comment, I shall simply delete it.

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Does anyone have a list of places to donate? I'd use Twitter but all the activists I follow aren't on there anymore. I'll donate to Red Cross is there isn't a proper list but I'd rather not

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The Hawaii Community Foundation started a Maui Strong Fund to support residents affected by the wildfires, which firefighting crews continue to battle in Lahaina, Pulehu/Kihei and Upcountry areas. Donations can be made at www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/maui-strong.

Maui United Way is accepting donations to its Maui Fire and Disaster Relief fund at

Maui Food Bank

The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement is partnering with Alakaina Foundation Family of Companies and Kakoo Haleakala to match up to $100,000 in community donations for ohana impacted by the wildfires. Visit Hawaiiancouncil.org/maui to give.

Maui Divers Jewelry is donating 100% of online sales through August 9th to the Hawaii Red Cross.

The Lahui Foundation is accepting monetary donations.



*Maui Divers Jewelry is August 15th, not August 9th Information on where you can donate resources to those impacted by the fires in Maui:The Hawaii Community Foundation started a Maui Strong Fund to support residents affected by the wildfires, which firefighting crews continue to battle in Lahaina, Pulehu/Kihei and Upcountry areas. Donations can be made at www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/maui-strong.Maui United Way is accepting donations to its Maui Fire and Disaster Relief fund at https://mauiunitedway.org/disasterrelief Maui Food Bank https://mauifoodbank.org/donate/ The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement is partnering with Alakaina Foundation Family of Companies and Kakoo Haleakala to match up to $100,000 in community donations for ohana impacted by the wildfires. Visit Hawaiiancouncil.org/maui to give.Maui Divers Jewelry is donating 100% of online sales through August 9th to the Hawaii Red Cross.The Lahui Foundation is accepting monetary donations. https://www.lahuifoundation.org/ *Maui Divers Jewelry is August 15th, not August 9th

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Thank you!

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Adding to the post, thank you!

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Thank you for sharing this list!!

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Theres also this google doc I saw being passed around (hopefully the link works, if it doesnt, just copy and paste) to immediately help to families in need as govt/nonprofit organizations are taking too long:



https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1lExatubPl6zvsDcy4qUd3Sv1PvvKrzMhUyOzaKuId0o/htmlview Ill use this as a reminder to people who are thinking of donating to Red Cross: dont. They have failed thousands of people. Keeping millions to themselves while survivors of disasters live in shacks or continue to be displaced. Give them blood, never give them money.Theres also this google doc I saw being passed around (hopefully the link works, if it doesnt, just copy and paste) to immediately help to families in need as govt/nonprofit organizations are taking too long:

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https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1lExatubPl6zvsDcy4qUd3Sv1PvvKrzMhUyOzaKuId0o I follow paigerragerreads on instagram, she's a woman who lives in Lahaina. She regularly shares links and profiles of her friends who live in Lahaina on her personal page, paiger_rager. I donated through the links she shared. I've been following her bookstagram account for over a year and if you have an Instagram, it might be easier to follow updates through her personal page. There's also a Drive Excel document where you can see individual needs and gofundme pages of people from Lahaina. Since paiger_rager also posted it, I trust the source.

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No Red Cross, please. Their response on Katrina was abysmal.

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I'll add Greater Good Charities to the list. They have a 4/4 rating on CharityNavigator and they say they're distributing cash grants, pet food, and supplies in Maui. They posted recently seeking donations for a dog that had all his toes burned while trying to escape the fire  https://greatergood.org/disaster-relief-maui-wildfires?utm_source=hubspot&utm_medium=web&utm_term=08092023&utm_content=homepage-subhero-disaster-relief-maui-wildfires-button&utm_campaign=disaster

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Every one of these rich celebs needs to just shut the fuck up and give their money to relief efforts. And once that's done leave and give their land back to the native Hawaiians.

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I'm sure the people of Lahaina who have lost everything are feeling comforted by these white tears.

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I read this in Rachels voice.

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Was the point of her post that her niece not getting a vacation? It was like one line, then she expressed how worried she was about her niece, the burned-down places she cherished, and the people she couldn't reach.

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I dont follow her but I think in a previous post, some of her fans did mention Stevie has a tendency to be self-centered lol.



I know she wants to give a picturesque description of her feelings but I can see why people are rolling their eyes at this. Just donate or post resource links.



Edited at 2023-08-14 06:17 pm (UTC)

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Nah. She has been alive and in the public eye long enough to know how to carefully choose her words. She couldve easily mentioned her familys spoiled plans and then put the focus on Hawaiians. Instead she reversed it.



I know that Id be devastated if my once-in-a-lifetime experience went to shit. But, Id quickly get over myself, thank the universe that Im safe, and then start spreading awareness/get my hands dirty. Or, if I was told it would be better to leave, Id go home. Its not about you and your vacation, its about a horrible disaster that has claimed lives, ffs.

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Self centered but well meaning. "I hope she got all her opals and escaped" grated a bit on me. Like I hope the woman escaped period jewels or not, because I can't see anyone buying them right now.

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Take out all the unnecessary stuff thats self centered around her its a nice statement.

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okay so were left with " ". poignant.

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I, for one, am moved.

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I love Stevie's music, but it's obvious from watching any interview with her that she is extremely self centered.

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Yup, and definitely not hte brightest crayon in the box because if you're gonna be a self absorbed prick, HIDE THAT SHIT

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I LOVE Stevie, but giiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiirl.

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I mean, she's an old lady. Old people love to tell stories about themselves and the past.

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Ya'll don't talk to your grandparents, huh?

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lol My mom is like this. I can literally be talking about the most tragic situation ever and she'll somehow find a way to tell a story about HER past and how it relates. Its so annoying.

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Yes its nice to reminisce about your lovely life. But nearly 100 people have lost their lives. And so many have lost their homes and livelihoods. I mean, wake the fuck up.

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i see nothing wrong with her post. she's a human first, and just describing her experience as well as promoting locally owned shops and the devastation the fires have created. why does everything have to be so negative and hive minded? people were reaching with this one, in my opinion. did others want her niece and family to die too? the actual fuck. she worked hard for what she has, just like a lot of people. but yeah, let's shit on another woman for showing love toward Maui. smh.

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did others want her niece and family to die too?



the actual fuck. is this leap in logic.

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Really? Because I don't think that's a jump, because if someone did pass away that she loved people would feel bad for her but instead someone she loved lived and she's talking about how much the island is wonderful and it's sad this is happening but yeah let's use ageism against her like some people in this post.

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This entire comment is asinine.

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might be time to take off your rose tinted glasses - no one ever mentioned wanting her family hurt but she's extremely tone deaf in saying how sad it is for them to only have fun for 1.5 days and leave the island safely, when so many people have actually lost their lives/homes/families/etc.



i don't give a shit what a rich white woman has to say about her vacation home unless she's giving $$$$$

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grimes is that you?

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This is possibly the whitest thing I've ever read on ONTD. It has gaslighting, victim blaming, capitalism, and a shoe horn of girlboss white feminism hivemind. Iconic.

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did others want her niece and family to die too? the actual fuck.

I like the part where you made up a person with a bad opinion and then started fighting them.

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Emirates Global Aluminum Now Uses Wearable Safety Tech to Combat UAE Heat

The decision is part of the companys Beat the Heat campaign.

Emirates Global Aluminum (EGA) specializes in the global production of aluminum. And now the company is leaning on technology to fight record-breaking heat.

In a release dated August 9, EGA announced the company is now using wearable technology in its Beat the Heat program. Throughout the summer of 2023, EGA has introduced a renewed focus on heat stress throughout its operations. Previous efforts include employee training to detect early signs of heat stress, hydration tests before and during the workday, encouraging regular breaks and the introduction of cooling showers.

Now EGA is leveraging Kenzens wearable safety monitoring solution. Three hundred and fifty EGA employees volunteered to wear the technology, which monitors real-time body indicators such as temperature, heart rate and activity. The decision to integrate Kenzens products at EGA follows a trial run in the summer of 2022, in which 50 employees participated.

Heat-related illness is a serious threat to health and even life in our region, and increasingly around the world, EGAs CEO Abdulnasser Bin Kalban said in a statement. Our work has shown that heat-related illness is entirely preventable, even in challenging industrial environments like ours. Wearable technology offers the potential to protect people even more, and I am looking forward to the results of the wider trial we are conducting this summer.

EGAwhich is based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)has made continuous efforts to eliminate heat-related illness each summer for more than a decade, according to the release.
Three numbers encapsulate the story of Saudi Aramco since its initial public offering (IPO) in December 2019. The first is that its net income for the second quarter (Q2) of this year was US$30.1 billion. The second is that its regular quarterly dividend was US$19.5 billion. And the third is that on top of this regular dividend, it will also start paying an additional promised performance-linked dividend of US$9.9 billion in the next quarter. So, even with a Brent oil price averaging around US$80 per barrel (pb) in Q2  an historically elevated price for non-crisis oil markets in recent years - 65 percent of its net income went on a debt to shareholders, in the form of dividends. If the net income stayed the same in Q3, this debt payment would rise to 98 percent. The story is, then, that due to the ill-conceived IPO thought up in late 2015/early 2016 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS), Saudi Arabias corporate crown jewel must continue to operate under a crushing debt burden. Because of that, it is limited in the new exploration and development work it can do, which cripples its ability to increase its reserves and its production numbers. Because of that, it will keep having to act as the instrument through which Saudi Arabia continues to push oil (and gas) prices higher. And because of that, the U.S. at some point will fully enact the No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels (NOPEC) bill and destroy Saudi Aramco as we know it today.

It should be remembered that back in late 2015/early 2016, MbS conceived the plan to IPO Aramco as a key part of his strategy to take over the position of heir-designate to King Salman from Prince Muhammad bin Nayef (MbN). In theory, the idea had several positive factors going for it that would benefit MbS. First, it could raise a lot of money, part of which might be used to offset the economically disastrous effect on Saudi Arabia of the 2014-2016 Oil Price War, as analysed in my new book on the new global oil market order. Second, it could boost Saudi Arabias reputation in the global financial markets, which would help with further IPOs and would boost foreign investment into the countrys domestic capital markets more broadly. And third, both new funding flows could be used as part of the National Transformation Program 2020 - in turn part of Saudis Vision 2030 development plan  that sought to diversify the Kingdoms economy away from its reliance on oil and gas exports. After a few months of further discussion, MbS assured senior Saudis that he could absolutely ensure the flotation of 5 percent of Aramco, which he said would absolutely raise at least US$100 billion in much-needed funds for Saudi Arabia. This, in turn, would place a valuation on the entire company of at least US$2 trillion. In addition, MbS said, Saudi Aramco would absolutely be listed on one of the worlds major stock exchanges, with the New York Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange being the two preferred options.

Related: Sudan Oil Exports Rising Despite Conflict

This theory ran into practical difficulties from the moment that major Western investors began to look at Aramco in more depth. For a start, the crude oil production figures that Saudi Arabia had long bandied around as being fact were evidently no such thing, as forensically analysed in my new book. Far from being able to produce 10, 11 or 12 or more million barrels per day (bpd), Saudi Arabia struggled to produce anything over 9 million bpd. To be accurate: from 1 January 1973 to Monday 14 August 2023, Saudi Arabias average crude oil production is 8.257 million bpd. This means that its equally much-vaunted spare capacity of around 2 million bpd is also not true, founded as it is on a false baseline crude oil production capability. Additionally concerning then, as now, were Saudi Arabias equally fantastical claims about its oil reserves. Specifically, at the beginning of 1989, the country claimed proven oil reserves of 170 billion barrels. Just one year later, and without the discovery of any major new oil fields, it claimed proven oil reserves of 257 billion barrels, an increase of 51.2 percent. Shortly afterwards, Saudi Arabias proven oil reserves miraculously increased again, this time to just over 266 billion barrels, again without the discovery of any major new oil fields. Proven oil reserves increased once more in 2017, to 268.5 billion barrels, again with no new major oil finds being discovered. At the same time as these increases being announced, the country was extracting an average of 8.162 million bpd. Therefore, from 1990 (the year in which Saudi Arabias claimed proven oil reserves jumped from 170 billion barrels to 257 billion barrels), to 2017 (the year when Saudi Arabia was claiming proven oil reserves of 268.5 billion barrels), Saudi Arabia had physically removed from the ground forever an average of just over 2.979 billion barrels of crude oil every year. The total amount of crude oil permanently removed from the beginning of 1990 to the beginning of 2017, was, then, 80.43 billion barrels. In short, from 1990 to 2017, Saudi Arabias official crude oil reserves number had gone up 98.5 billion barrels, despite there being no new oil finds and it physically removing 80.43 barrels forever.

These facts - together with Aramco being used as a key source of funding for various socio-economic projects that had nothing to do with its business and would destroy shareholder value  meant that no major global financial players wanted to invest in Aramco and not a single major Western or Eastern stock market wanted Aramco to list on it. Given this, the stage was set for a series of events that help to define the new global oil market order, as also analysed in depth in my new book on that subject. One of these was a face-saving offer for MbS from China that he has never forgotten and that has underpinned Saudi Arabias drift towards China since then. Another was the expediting of Saudi Arabias move away from the U.S. and towards Russia that had been gathering pace since the end of the Second Oil Price War in 2016. Even more specifically for Saudi Aramco, it meant that MbS had to offer massive incentives to investors to buy any of the IPO. One of these was a guarantee by the Saudi government that, whatever happened, it would pay a US$75 billion dividend payment in 2020, split equally into payments of US$18.75 billion every quarter. These payments, of course, have now risen and will be made even more destructive to Aramcos basic functioning by the addition of extra performance-linked dividends. These are designed to target 50-70 percent of annual free cash flow, net of the base dividend, and other amounts including external investments, according to Aramcos chief executive officer, Amin Nasser.

The highly precarious financial tightrope on which Aramco finds itself also means that Saudi Arabia has no alternative but to keep pushing oil (and gas) prices ever higher. And, as day follows night, this means a collision course with the U.S. and its allies, who regard rising energy prices as direct threats to their economic and political well-being. This comes on top of an increasingly antagonistic relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, following the de facto break-up of their foundation stone 1945 agreement. The mechanism to destroy Aramco in its current form is already in place, in the form of the NOPEC bill, as also analysed in my new book. This legislation would open the way for sovereign governments to be sued for predatory pricing and any failure to comply with the U.S.s antitrust laws. OPEC is a de facto cartel, Saudi Arabia is its de facto leader, and Saudi Aramco is Saudi Arabias key oil company. The enactment of NOPEC would mean that trading in all Saudi Aramcos products  including oil  would be subject to the antitrust legislation, meaning the prohibition of sales in U.S. dollars. It would also mean the eventual break-up of Aramco into smaller constituent companies that are not capable of influencing the oil price.

By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Last month, Chinas Guangzhou Futures Exchange launched its first ever lithium carbonate future contracts, making it the fourth exchange worldwide to offer such contracts. The introduction of these trading instruments is intended to stabilize prices of raw materials to promote the EV industry's sustainable development. But in that short period of time, Guangzhou Futures Exchange's new lithium carbonate business has already gained more market activity than competitors such as the London Metal Exchange and Singapore Exchange, thanks to Chinas dominance in the global lithium supply chain. China is the largest lithium consumer in the world, and is also home to a rich lithium reserve of 17.0 megatons of LCE, good for 23% of global reserves.

For decades, the London Metal Exchange has been the global hub for metals trading thanks to a vast network of warehouses outside of China. However, LME is now facing greater competition and damage to its reputation following the historic nickel crisis. Last year, a record-breaking nickel short squeeze sent nickel prices soaring to an astonishing $100,000 per tonne--doubling the previous all-time high over the course of one morning-- and plunged the London Metal Exchange into an existential crisis. The LME subsequently closed trading and took the dramatic step of retroactively scrapping $3.9bn worth of trades made prior to the suspension--outlining the nickel market had become disorderly with prices no longer reflecting the underlying physical market.

Interestingly, just like the famous copper squeeze of more than a century ago, the nickel market snafu was largely linked to enormous short positions held by a single man: Chinese metal trader Xiang Guangda, the founder of China-based Tsingshan Holding, the worlds biggest nickel producer. According to Bloomberg, Xiang Guangda, also known as the Big Shot for his towering position in the metal industry, held an enormous short position of over 150,000 tons of nickel, more than 5x the 30,000 tons held directly by LME. The remainder was held via bilateral, over-the-counter deals with banks led by JPMorgan Chase & Co, and including BNP Paribas SA, Standard Chartered Plc and United Overseas Bank Ltd. Guangda had built up the biggest short position in the metal, and is now facing a hit of nearly $8bn.

The proposal for greater transparency for over-the-counter positions came at the same time as the LME was facing an outcry from users over a proposal to close its open-outcry trading floor, the Ring, from which it later backed down. The LME, which since 2012 has been owned by Hong Kong Exchange & Clearing Ltd, is the ultimate decision maker on changes to its rules and consults with market participants, including many big banks. The industrial metals industry relies on LME prices as benchmarks for physical transactions, while financial investors in products like commodity indexes use the exchanges prices to value their positions.

Australian Threat

Its, therefore, hardly surprising that hordes of lithium speculators view Guangzhou Futures Exchange as a viable alternative to LME. But it wont be a walk in the park for GFE to completely steal the show from LME thanks to the latters large network of warehouses as well as the use of a currency that is not freely traded.

Chinas lithium dominance is likely to continue thanks to challenges being faced by a key rival, Australia.

Australias dream to refine lithium hydroxide onshore in a bid to break Chinas global battery supply chain dominance is facing a serious threat as local lithium producers have been opting to strike refining deals with major Asian conglomerates. Although Australia is the worlds largest lithium producer, it ships almost all of it to China as low-grade ore where it is refined into a battery-grade chemical. The Australian government has been harboring ambitions to build lithium hydroxide refineries in the country and become less dependent on China.

But local lithium producers have started partnering with Asian companies mostly due to cost issues. Pilbara Minerals Ltd. has partnered with South Koreas Posco Holdings Inc. to manufacture a highly-refined product in the Asian nation. Liontown Resources Ltd., developer of large lithium mines in Western Australia, has announced an agreement with Japanese trading company Sumitomo Corp. on Monday to explore production of lithium hydroxide in Japan. Back in May, Posco revealed that it was 40% cheaper to build a lithium processing plant in South Korea than Australia thanks in large part to cheaper labor and materials costs.

The current Australian lithium hydroxide refineries--operated by US-based Albemarle Corp. (NYSE:ALB) and Chinas Tianqi Lithium Corp.--have been struggling to meet production targets. Meanwhile, domestic conglomerate Wesfarmers Ltd. is slated to commence production next year.

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By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

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BEIJING, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese commerce ministry on Monday announced that deposits will be levied on polycarbonate (PC) imports from the Taiwan region starting from Tuesday as an anti-dumping measure.

PC imports from Taiwan have engaged in dumping activities, causing concrete damages to the mainland's PC industry, the commerce ministry said in a statement, citing a preliminary investigation.

Last year, the commerce ministry announced the launch of an anti-dumping investigation into PC imports from Taiwan.

PC can be used in many fields such as electronic appliances, automobiles, optics, packaging and medical devices. 
Russian producers have been selling their crude oil to India at prices below the G7 price cap of $60 per barrel, but since shipping costs are not included in this price ceiling, Russia has been overcharging for freight costs and getting more revenue from oil trade, a Financial Times analysis showed this weekend.

FT has analyzed the fees and charges on tankers leaving the Baltic Sea ports in Russia for India. The findings suggest that the overcharging for shipping costs, plus the fees for Russia-linked tankers, may have boosted Russias oil trade revenues by a combined $1.2 billion in May, June, and July.

The loophole in the price cap is that it does not include freight costs. So Russian sellers, traders, and Russia-linked tanker operators have been overcharging for the shipping of the crude, inflating Russian revenues from oil sales despite the fact that it appears that the cargoes were sold below the price cap.

In June, Indias crude oil imports from Russia were estimated to have been the cheapest since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The average cost of a barrel of Russian crude that landed at Indias ports in June was at $68.17, per data from Indias Ministry of Commerce and Industry cited by Bloomberg. The price exceeds the $60 price cap set by the G7, but the cap does not include shipping.

Most of Indias purchases of Russian crude oil are being done on a delivered basis inclusive of freight, insurance, and other costs.

Russias crude oil and refined products exports remained steady at some 7.3 million barrels per day (bpd) in July, while higher oil prices and narrower price differentials for Russian crude pushed Moscows revenues higher compared to June, according to estimates by the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Russias export revenues, at $15.3 billion in July, rose by $2.5 billion from June, but they were $4.1 billion lower compared to July 2022, the agencys estimates showed.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Energy suppliers have given heat pumps a fresh vote of confidence despite calls from backbench Conservative MPs to slow down the shift from heating systems powered by fossil fuels.

The government has been consulting on oil-powered boilers, which heat 1.7m homes across the UK, and is considering beginning a phase out of new sales from 2026.

New installations of gas boilers are also potentially set to be banned in all homes by 2035 as part of the push to net zero carbon emissions.

Clementine Cowton, director of external affairs at Octopus Energy told City A.M. that oil boilers were expensive and inconvenient, which meant they were only installed in homes that cant connect to the gas grid.

She said: Heat pumps are suitable for all types of homes and are simply a better, cleaner and more efficient form of heating than both gas and oil. With prices coming down all the time, we believe people will willingly choose to replace their boilers with a heat pump when the time comes.

Heat pumps are large refrigerant units which extract energy from the air which is turned into zero carbon heating.

A recent government study determined that any style of home could utilise the device, despite claims from companies such as Bosch earlier this year they did not function effectively in older homes.

Octopus is currently offering heat pumps at an installation price of 2,500 for customers using the 5,000 grants offered in the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, bringing them in line with fossil fuel alternatives  with British Gas owner Centrica also offering 3,000 units.

The government is targeting 600,000 new low-carbon heat pumps on an annual basis within five years, however the latest figures covering the period from May 2022 to July 2023 revealed only 21,438 applications were made for discount vouchers.

By contrast, over 20m heat pumps have been installed across Europe.

Government should avoid bad science

There are now fresh media reports the government is considering amending its mooted oil boiler ban, so that households will be allowed to new oil boilers as long as they run on greener fuels.

This follows a proposed amendment to the EBy Nicholas Earl via CityAMnergy Bill from former environment secretary George Eustice calling for boiler upgrade subsidies to be applied to hydrotreated vegetable oil, which can be used as a replacement fuel in boilers that have minor adaptations.

Nigel Pocklington, chief executive of challenger supplier Good Energy, warned the government should avoid engaging in bad science and bad business.

This was particularly damaging in the context of vast subsidy packages for green upgrades in the EU and US, compared to the UK that was peddling backwards.

He revealed a third of the new heat pump installations overseen by his company since it snapped up Igloo Works last year were transitions from oil boilers  and instead called for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to be more consumer friendly.

Its a generous incentive and is beginning to get the cost of an install down to parity with a new boiler setup. But its obviously poorly understood, quite bureaucratic to apply for and not being taken up in great numbers, he said, speaking to City A.M.

Jess Ralston, head of energy at research group, the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, believed the government to needed provide more clarity to homeowners with off gas grid facilities.

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She said: Unfortunately this is a pattern that we keep seeing from Whitehall  delays to confirming plans leave the public and industry in the dark, and dont help to secure green investment or build certainty for installers wanting to re-train. Long term policy stability is key for newer industries so theres no doubt that eyes will be on the government for clarity.

When approached for comment, a spokesperson for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: We have consulted on new regulations to phase out boilers in homes and non-domestic buildings off the gas grid from 2026. We will confirm our plans when we publish our response to the consultation in due course.

Weve issued over 81m in vouchers to installers in the first year of our Boiler Upgrade Scheme and are fully focused on meeting our aim of 600,000 heat pump installations a year by 2028, having offered grants of 5,000 and 6,000 towards the cost.

By Nicholas Earl via CityAM

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Earlier this month, the price of natural gas in Europe spiked by as much as 40% on the news that gas platform workers in Australia may launch industrial action.

The strike could affect a tenth of global LNG, media reported last week, which would send prices higher. Indeed, the very threat of a strike sent prices higher, and once again highlighted Europe's difficult energy security position.

Last year, the EU celebrated the success of its efforts to reduce its dependence on pipeline Russian gas. Indeed, that dependence was greatly reduced, not without the help of Gazprom itself, which significantly reduced the flow of gas to Europe, prompting buyers there to look for alternatives.

The celebrations did not take very long to turn into complaints. Accustomed to cheap pipeline gas, European buyers were finding out that the LNG spot market had very different rules, which ultimately resulted in highermuch higherprices when a new buyer as big as the EU appeared on the stage.

By the end of the year, politicians in Europe were complaining about having to pay through the nose for natural gas on that spot market, and some were already closing long-term deals with Qatar and the United States. Even Germany, a staunch opponent of continued reliance on gas, gave up and signed long-term deals and decided to build a permanent LNG import terminal.

What this did was cement the continent's now almost complete dependence on LNG. Bar some pipeline imports from Norway and Azerbaijan, most of the European Union's gas in the years to come will be sourced from the international LNG market. And this means higher prices for longer. And even higher prices and the constant threat of a price shock in case of supply disruption, as evidenced by the Australian strikes news.

"The potential for strike action at LNG export plants in Australia once again highlights the fact that we are now clearly in a globalised gas market," ICIS analyst Tom Marzec-Manser told the Financial Times.

"Europe has understandably backfilled Russian pipeline supply with versatile LNG. But that versatility leads to increased price volatility."

Currently, European gas stocks are at a record high for this time of the year. In fact, a week ago  days before the news broke that Australian LNG workers are considering a strike  Reuters' John Kemp reported that this record-high level of gas stocks was keeping a lid on prices. All it took for the \\cover to blow off was the news of a potential strike in one of the world's biggest LNG producers.

There are already warnings that the energy crisis in Europe is not over. Indeed, these warnings began as early as last year amid the celebrations of switching from pipeline to liquefied gas and how independent that made Europe.

At the time, few were in the mood to listen to warnings that the show was only beginning, not ending. Now, things are changing. Winter is once again on the way, asmj far as it may seem in August. This means there's a spike in demand for LNG on the horizon. And a spike in demand means a spike in prices, inevitably.

"The crisis is not over yet," the chief executive of E.ON, one of Germany's biggest utilities, said earlier this month. "We must continue to work on the issue of austerity. This is the best way to ensure affordability for customers and also to achieve competitiveness of our society and our economy."

If the CEO of E.ON is talking about austeritynot exactly a popular idea among regular electricity consumersthen the situation must be serious. It suggests there is no great chance of abundant LNG supply and weak competition from Asia that would make the commodity cheaper. That leaves limiting demand as the only choice.

Indeed, austerity is already in place. The exorbitant prices last year made it a natural choice to curb consumption. Indeed, Reuters reported last month that since last year, Europe's gas consumption has fallen by between 10% and 15% compared to the previous decade. The decline is particularly marked among industrial consumers.

Consumption remained lower even as gas prices calmed down. That's no wonder since even calmer prices have been 35% higher this year than the average for 2018 to 2021. These higher prices have hit especially hard industries that make the backbone of the EU's manufacturing sector, including steel and cement making, fertilizers, and petrochemicals.

Last year, LNG made up 34% of the European Union's gas imports in 2022, the FT reports. This year, this is expected to rise to 40%. That would be virtually the same market share Russian pipeline gas had in the European Union prior to the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

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That means that the EU, for all its self-congratulations on achieving energy independence, has simply replaced one form of dependency for another. This new form goes hand in hand with austerity and loss of competitiveness for some of the most important industries on the continent.

All this suggests some unpleasant facts about the very source of that competitiveness and the EU's economic and social wealththe era of abundance that Emmanuel Macron bid farewell to last year.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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The oil market is in a bullish move and heading well into the $90 per barrel range, Bob McNally, President at Rapidan Energy, told CNBCs Squawk Box program on Monday.

Oil hitting $100 per barrel is entirely possible, McNally added.

Oil prices are climbing a wall of doubt and skepticism, he said.

So far, traders have been focused on the lack of a significant drop in Russian supply. The market is also dancing in a macro minefield, McNally told CNBC.

There are good reasons to be skeptical. But fundamentals are fundamentals. OPEC+ is going to put a huge deficit into the market into the second half, he added.

The Saudis are unlikely to reverse the cuts at $90 or $92 oil, McNally said. The Kingdom is more likely looking to be sure that the deficits they are creating are materializing before our eyes, before they decide to put the brake there.

The U.S. Administration doesnt have any good options for bringing the price of gasoline down. Should national average prices hit $4 per gallon again, there could be more draws from the Strategic PB etroleum Reserve (SPR), but this isnt a very good option after last years releases from the SPR, McNally told CNBC.

Oil prices traded lower on Monday as Chinas economic recovery continued to disappoint while the U.S. dollar strengthened.

The downside risks remain limited as long as OPEC+ maintain production at the current tight levels, not least considering IEAs forecast from last week that oil demand surged to a record high in June and may rise even further, Saxo Bank analysts said in a market commentary on Monday.

Brent prices have now registered seven consecutive weeks of gains as tighter fundamentals continue to feed through to a stronger flat price and time spreads, ING strategists Warren Patterson and Ewa Manthey said on Monday.

Sentiment remains largely positive with the oil balance set to continue to tighten, while stronger refinery margins are also providing some support, they added.

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By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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When the European Union officially imposed another round of restrictive measures on Belarus on August 3, it put an end to one of the longest-running sanctions sagas in the bloc in recent years.

The new measures were the first targeting the regime of Alyaksandr Lukashenka since the summer of 2022. While early sanctions on Russia following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 were to a large degree imposed on Belarus as well, further EU sanctions on Moscow were not applied to Minsk. That was largely due to the belief in Brussels that Belarus's role in the Ukraine war couldn't be compared to Russia's.

Then a new problem appeared: Many of the sanctioned components that Russia requires for its war effort -- in particular, dual-use goods that can be used for both civilian and military purposes -- were being rerouted via Belarus. The latest round of sanctions on Belarus is partly meant to address this problem.

The original proposal from the European Commission, seen by RFE/RL, suggested measures such as a ban on EU companies providing IT, consulting, and polling services to Belarus; a ban on the export of luxury goods to the country; and a prohibition on the import of Belarusian gold and steel.

The final agreed-upon package, though, was a good deal watered down, with EU export bans on firearms, ammunition, and materials used in the aviation and space industries, along with restrictions on potential dual-use items, such as drones, semiconductors, and computer hardware. The rest from the original proposal was left out.

To understand why the final sanctions were weaker than originally envisioned, and why they took so long to come to fruition, it is helpful to understand two considerable drivers of EU policy. The first is the importance of the so-called Global South -- countries with growing political and economic clout in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The second is classic Brussels horse-trading on political issues that are, at best, only tangentially linked.

Deep Background: The main reason for the delay in agreeing a new round of sanctions on Belarus -- apart from all the loopholes that needed to be closed -- was a proposed derogation, or exception, that would allow for the import of Belarusian potash, a key ingredient in fertilizers that the EU had already sanctioned as it is one of Minsk's main sources of income. A derogation on Russian potash exports had been agreed by the EU in December 2022, but a similar exception for Belarus was seen as being a little trickier.

Allowing the import of Belarusian potash would mean unfreezing the assets of the Belarusian tycoon Ivan Halavaty -- the CEO of Belaruskali, one of the biggest fertilizer producers in the world -- and those of Russian billionaire Mikhail Gutseriyev, who is building a potassium-chloride mining and processing plant in Belarus.

Crucially, allowing Belarusian exports of potash would mean the shipments being transported via Lithuanian ports, something which is deeply unpalatable to most Lithuanian politicians who tend to be the fiercest critics of the Lukashenka regime.

While Vilnius's refusal to agree on any potash derogations was backed by Estonia, Latvia, and Poland, there was a bigger group within the EU -- led by Portugal and other European countries with large ports -- that was pushing for the potash derogations.

This wasn't just a case of countries looking to secure vital income streams but also concerned issues of food security and allegations -- often stoked by the Kremlin -- that EU sanctions have led to food shortages in the developing world.

Drilling Down

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The EU has not sanctioned food exports, neither from Russia nor Belarus. However, those in favor of the potash derogation have argued that some countries, notably Brazil, a former Portuguese colony, have suffered because they have had to import alternative fertilizers for their agricultural sectors.

Diplomats with knowledge of the matter but who are not authorized to speak on the record told me that Lisbon drove a hard bargain on the derogation issue because UN Secretary-General and former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres is particularly sensitive to the concerns of the Global South.

Recent developments in Belarus have given new urgency to the sanctions issue. First, there was the signing of an agreement in May to allow the deployment of Russian nuclear warheads on Belarusian territory; and then, making the situation even more acute, Wagner troops moved to Belarus from Russia under a deal to end the mercenary group's June rebellion led by its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin.

The deal started to come together at a summit of the EU and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in Brussels at the end of July. With Spain now holding the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, where ministers from EU countries convene to coordinate policies and adopt laws, Madrid was keen to show its partners -- including many of its former colonies in South America -- more than just goodwill.

To show it meant business, Spain pushed for the EU to green-light the Post-Cotonou Agreement -- a pact between the EU and 79 African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries that had been only provisionally agreed upon. The first Cotonou Agreement -- signed in 2000 in the largest city in the west African country of Benin -- created the foundation for Brussels to strike deals with these countries, covering areas such as trade and migration, and was hailed as a groundbreaking development in the EU's relations with the Global South.

The updated agreement, which would set the framework for EU relations with these countries for the next two decades, had been blocked by Hungary for the last three years. Hungary's reluctance to sign off was likely less to do with any objections to the pact but more about its tendency to bargain with the EU. Budapest made its support for the Post-Cotonou Agreement conditional on getting money from the EU budget that was still being withheld by the European Commission due to concerns about the rule of law in the country.

While Budapest eventually came on board, Poland introduced its own veto. Warsaw also used the Post-Cotonou Agreement as a bargaining chip, noting the desperate situation of its own farmers in an attempt to get the 100 million euros ($110 million) promised to Warsaw by the European Commission to compensate for financial losses incurred due to Ukrainian agricultural imports. The commission, in turn, said it would not release the compensation until Poland implemented a Brussels-brokered deal that would allow Ukrainian agricultural products to pass through EU territory once again.

While Poland received the money earlier this summer, Warsaw still blocked the Post-Cotonou Agreement, using its support as leverage to get the Belarus sanctions over the line before the EU's August break.

After some intense horse-trading, the Post-Cotonou Agreement finally got the thumbs up on July 20, and the new Belarus sanctions were agreed without any exceptions for potash. The sanctions, however, were more limited in scope than the original European Commission proposal and came with a commitment to look into their possible impact on food security in the fall. The commission also made a pledge to explore further sanctions on Belarus going forward.

By RFE/RL

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Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (ADNOC) has signaled a willingness to raise its informal offer to 60 euros per share for a valuation of $12.6 billion for German plastics and chemicals maker Covestro. The latest offer would represent a premium of nearly 30% to Covestro's closing share price on Friday.ADNOC last raised its informal offer to 57 euros per share in July, although no final decision has yet been made.

ADNOC appears willing to go on an M&A spree: Abu Dhabis national oil company is separately in talks with Austria's OMV regarding a possible merger of the two companies that could form an entity worth $30 billion.

Its not clear why ADNOC is interested in buying Covestro, considering how badly the petrochemical business has been doing lately. Earlier in August, Covestro reported a 21%Y/Y fall in second quarter revenues to 3.7 billion euros. Covestro is hardly alone, with U.S. oil and gas giants facing a similar fate. Sluggish consumer demand as well as a deluge of new factories coming online over the past few years means petrochemical margins face a protracted downturn. The situation is so dire that Cologne-based Lanxness AG has called it a Lehman 2 moment for the chemicals industry.

Its been a pretty dramatic downturn. With chemicals oversupplied right now, large oil companies will find other areas to invest in, Joseph Chang, a New York-based analyst at ICIS, has told Bloomberg.

Over the past decade, Big Oil has relied on petrochemicals as a growth engine, acting as a hedge when oil and gas prices drop and a long-term growth driver in the transition to clean energy. Previously, several Wall Street analysts predicted that oil demand will actually grow over the coming decades primarily driven by petrochemicals demand growth. Indeed, Energy Intelligence is not the only bull here. No less than 10 organizations, including OPEC, Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE:XOM), and the Energy Information Administration (EIA), have predicted that global oil demand will actually grow over the next few decades and not shrink as most analysts have forecast.

By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

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Blackouts in Niger have become more frequent after neighbor Nigeria cut off exports of electricity, which covers 70% of Nigers demand.

While Niger struggles to keep the lights on, not all in Nigeria see the halt of exports as a good move.

The strategic decision of Nigeria to halt its electricity provision appears to be a form of leveraging power, akin to Russias gas supply cutoff to Europe. From my perspective, this choice does not align with Nigerias enlightened self-interest, Wolemi Esan, managing partner at a Nigerian law firm told local media.

He went on to say that Nigerias exports to Niger were meant to discourage the latter from building a dam upstream of the river Niger. If a dam gets built, this would worsen the rivers downstream flow that goes through Nigeria.

In other words, Nigeria has a material interest in keeping Niger dependent on it for electricity supply. Once this supply is removed, Niger will have no motivation to avoid building the damn, the comments suggest.

A group of military commanders overthrew the Niger government in late July and the countrys army declared its support for the coup. Other African countries, grouped in the Economic Community of West African States, including Nigeria, imposed sanctions on Niger immediately.

Other military-led countries in the region, however, supported the coup, with Mali and Burkina Faso warning against any external attempts to remove the new leadership of Niger. The two said any such attempt at intervention would be considered a declaration of war against them, too, Al Jazeera reported this week.

ECOWAS has threatened the use of force unless the junta reinstated the elected president of Niger, with one official saying The military option is the very last option on the table, the last resort, but we have to prepare for the eventuality.

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The military leadership of Niger, meanwhile, vowed last weekend to prosecute former president Mohamed Bazoum for high treason.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Via Metal Miner

Multinational commodity trader and mining group Glencore will acquire a 56.25% stake in the Mara copper and gold project in Argentina. The Swiss-headquartered group struck the Deal with Canadas Pan America. In a boost for Glencore stock, this agreement gives them sole ownership of the site.

The deal stipulates that Glencore will pay Pan American $475 million for the stake upon the transactions closing, expected in Q3. Glencore stated on July 31 the agreement will also grant Pan American 0.75% copper of the net smelter return royalty.

Most Analysts Have High Hopes for Site

Mara is in northwestern Argentinas Catamarca Province, which borders Chile. The site contains proven and probable mineral reserves of 5.4 million metric tons of copper. Furthermore, it also boosts 7.4 million ounces of gold in over 1.1 billion metric tons of ore.

Indeed, analysts expect Mara to be in the top-25 global copper producers when operational. Reports say that the site has an expected average copper production exceeding 200 metric tons per annum (with further material by-product credits) over the first 10 full years.

Moreover, the site will also integrate the Alumbrera concentrator plant. This facility lies at the site of the exhausted mine of the same name. Maps show the distance between the two plants is about 145 kilometers by road. One analyst told MetalMiner that there was even talk about constructing a conveyor belt between the mine and plant, which is just 30 kilometers away.

One of Several Deals that Could Impact Glencore Stock Price

In 2020, Glencore, Yamana, and the Argentine federal government saved the Alumbrera concentration plant. This was accomplished by integrating it with the unexploited Agua Rica copper mine, the source added. Later that same year, the site became a joint venture between Glencore, Yamana, and Newmont.

Glencore acquired Newmonts 18.75% stake in October 2022, bringing its shareholding to 43.75%, Glencore noted. Pan American acquired Yamana Golds 56.25% stake as part of its acquisition of Yamana Gold Inc. in March 2023.

The source also believed that Glencores new project would prove viable. Now that they have 100%, they can do what they want on their timetable, he said if the acquisition.

Back in April, Glencore also began an unsolicited bid for Canadian base metals producer Teck. Furthermore, that company has two copper mines in Chile and one in Canada. According to industry watchers, the move was an attempt to corner the market for the base metal. if successful, this would have massive implications for the Glencore stock price. The Chilean operations produce copper cathode, while the Highland Valley Copper mine produces copper concentrate.

Glencore Stock and Project Insights

Coppers three-month closing price on the London Metal Exchange was $8,662.50 per metric ton on July 28. According to data from that bourse, this was an increase of 4.17% from the $8,315.50 seen on June 30.

Pan Americas agreement to sell its stake in Mara was just one of three deals that the Canadian company announced on July 31. It also announced the sale of its 57.75% stake in Agua de la Falda, a Chilean company that holds the Jeronimo project in the Atacama region, to Rio Tinto for a total of $45.5 million. Pan America notes that the National Copper Corporation of Chile holds the remaining percentage in that project.

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In addition to this, Peruvian mining company Alpayana also entered into a binding agreement to acquire a 92.3% stake in Compania Minera Argentum to Pan Americas Peruvian subsidiary, which also owns a Morococha mine.

By Christopher Rivituso

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Crude oil exports from Iran have gone up to 1.4 million barrels per day, a senior government official said, as quoted by Mehr News Agency.

Davoud Mansour, head of Irans Planning and Budget Organization, also said, addressing parliament, that the country had exceeded the amount of oil to be exported in its current fiscal year as stipulated in the budget for that year.

"Therefore, we (the government) ask for permission from the parliament to export the excess oil production capacity and use the resources from those exports to develop infrastructure and complete unfinished projects, Mansour said.

Separately, oil minister Javad Owji said that Irans crude oil production stands at 3.18 million barrels daily and is about to rise to 3.3 million barrels daily over the next ten days, Mehr also reported.

Earlier this month, the head of the National Iranian Oil Company said there were plans to boost oil production to 3.5 million barrels daily by the end of September.

At the time when the current Iranian administration took office in 2021, the country was producing 2.2 million bpd of oil, NIOCs chief executive Mohsen Khojastehmehr was quoted as saying by the semi-official Tasnim news agency.

Iran has boosted output by nearly 1 million bpd since President Ebrahim Raisi took office in August 2021. Iranian oil production increased from 2.2 million bpd back then to 3.1 million now, Hossein Hosseinzadeh, a member of the energy committee at the Iranian Parliament, the Majlis, told Iranian news agency IRNA.

According to estimates by Argus, the last time Iran produced that much oil was in October 2018.

That was the year in which then-U.S. President Donald Trump re-imposed sanctions on Irans oil exports after withdrawing the United States from the nuclear deal.

OPEC said in its latest Monthly Oil Market Report that Irans production, per secondary sources, averaged 2.83 million bpd. That was up by 68,000 bpd from the previous month, the data showed.

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By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Nigerian crude oil exports from the Forcados export terminal restarted on Sunday, a spokesperson for Shell told Reuters on Monday, one month after Shell suspended exports over a potential leak.

On July 12, Shell suspended loadings of Forcados crude oil at the export terminal of the same name after workers saw fumes near the single buoy mooring that was loading crude onto an oil tanker. Repair works began and now the terminal is exporting crude again.

Before the suspension of the Forcados exports on July 12, Nigeria had planned to export around 220,000 barrels per day (bpd) of the crude grade in July, sources told Reuters at the time.

As a result of the halt in Forcados loadings in July, Nigerias crude oil production slumped by 40,000 bpd last month compared to June, marking one of the biggest drops in OPEC output. Saudi Arabia led the declines in crude oil production, due to 968,000 bpd lower output as the Kingdom nearly delivered its promised 1-million-bpd cut last month.

Production in Saudi Arabia, Libya, and Nigeria dropped last month compared to June, while rising production from Iran, Angola, and Iraq offset some of the Saudi reduction, according to secondary sources in OPECs Monthly Oil Market Report (MOMR) published last week.

Crude oil production in Nigeria dropped by 12.56% in July to 1.29 million bpd from 1.48 million bpd in June, Business Day has reported, citing data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.

According to the state agency, one of the reasons for the decline was the temporary shutdown of the Forcados terminal, which Shell announced in mid-July.

Earlier this year, the Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission warned that Nigeria is producing 1 million bpd of crude less than it has the capacity to produce. The agency cited a lack of investments, a shortage of funding sources because of the energy transition, and insecurity among the factors driving the situation.

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By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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BEIJING, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu will attend a security meeting in Russia and pay a visit to Belarus from Aug. 14 to Aug. 19, a spokesperson said Monday.

In Russia, Li will deliver a speech at the 11th Moscow Conference on International Security and meet with defense leaders from Russia and other countries, said Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense.

During his visit to Belarus, Li will hold meetings and discussions with Belarusian government and military leaders and visit military units, Wu said. 
Vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz in the Middle East are being warned by the U.S. and the UK to steer clear of Iranian waters to avoid possible seizures, the U.S. Navy said this weekend.

The International Maritime Security Construct is notifying regional mariners of appropriate precautions to minimise the risk of seizure based on current regional tensions, which we seek to de-escalate, Commander Timothy Hawkins, spokesman for the Bahrain-based U.S. Fifth Fleet, said this weekend, as carried by Reuters.

The UK also issued an advisory about ships in proximity to the Strait of Hormuz, the worlds most important oil transit chokepoint between Oman and Iran which connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman.

UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), part of the navy, said this weekend that it had been made aware of an increased threat within the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz.

All vessels transiting are advised to exercise caution and report suspicious activity to UKMTO, the UK said in its latest advisory.

So far this year, Iran has seized oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, where daily oil flows are equivalent to about 21% of the daily petroleum liquids consumption worldwide.

At the beginning of last month, Iran attempted to seize two oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. Navy said.

The previous two such incidents took place at the end of April and early May. A commercial oil tanker was seized by Iran on May 3 transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

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A previous incident occurred six days earlier when the Iranian Navy seized Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker Advantage Sweet while it transited international waters in the Gulf of Oman. The oil tanker had departed the Mina Saud Port in Kuwait and was destined for Houston, Texas, after being commissioned by U.S. oil giant Chevron.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Crude exports by South Sudan have climbed to their highest level in almost two years despite an ongoing war between Sudans government forces and a paramilitary group that erupted in April. Crude shipments now average 154,839 barrels per day, about double Marchs figure at 77,419 barrels per day.

Experts have grown increasingly worried that East Africa's oil hub will be plunged further into chaos and leave it without its main source of livelihood ever since clashes broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) over demands by the army and pro-democracy groups for RSF to become integrated into the regular armed forces.

South Sudan gives ~10,000 barrels of crude per day to Sudan as transportation fees because the oil has to go through Sudan to reach Port Sudan where it is loaded into cargo ships. In effect, Sudan receives ~$20 million from South Sudans oil every day. RSF has been demanding that South Sudan stop providing funds to the SAF, which might see the SAF retaliate by preventing the export of South Sudans oil through Port Sudan, which it controls. With the situation in a stalemate, a complete meltdown would not only destabilize the region but also potentially lead to the collapse of the volatile state.

Sudan is the latest case of a well documented resource curse that tends to grip resource-rich nations in the poorer nations of the world. The DRC and Mozambique are the other famous cases. Back in 2010, Texas-based Anadarko Corp.--now a subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum Corp. (NYSE:OXY)--and Italian energy giant Eni S.p.A. (NYSE:E) announced the discovery of approximately 180 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves, equivalent to ~29 billion barrels of oil, in Mozambiques supergiant offshore basin of Rovuma, immediately catapulting the south African nation to a potential global LNG superpower. Unfortunately, it was not long before terrorism and the long tail of the hidden loans corruption scandal, in which senior officials had formed state-owned companies that borrowed billions of dollars off-the-books, started to cast a pall on the economy and took a toll on investor confidence.

Luckily, Mozambique has managed to get its act together, and kicked off its first ever LNG exports to Europe last year.

By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

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The UK government has used inflated carbon price assumptions to show that solar and wind projects would be much cheaper compared to fossil-fuel-powered electricity generation in the coming years, analysts have told the Financial Times after the cabinet published a cost estimate for power generation.

Last week, the UKs Department for Energy Security and Net Zero published a paper, Electricity Generation Costs 2023, which suggests that solar and wind power plants would have lower costs over their lifetime compared to new natural gas-fired capacity.

However, the carbon price assumption for the fossil fuel plants  not published in the paper  is estimated to be more than three times higher compared to the current carbon price in the UK, analysts, who have used the available assumptions of costs per MW of electricity from new gas stations this decade, told FT.

For fossil fuel plants, the total carbon price up until 2030/31 includes illustrative estimates for the UK ETS price. Carbon prices are significantly higher than assumed in the previous 2020 report, which has resulted in an increase in LCOE for fossil fuel plants, the UK government said in the paper.

The department, when shown analyst estimates of an inflated carbon price of nearly $190 (150) per ton for new gas-fired stations in 2025, told FT that these were illustrative assumptions and not government projections and that the analyst estimates were based on crude and simplified assumptions.

Meanwhile, the UK government last week announced a $35.5 million (22 million) increase in government backing for renewables through the flagship Contracts for Difference scheme  taking the total budget to $288 million (227 million) for this auction.

BP plans to build two offshore wind farms in the Irish Sea without entering government schemes for support, The Times reported last week, in what could be the first subsidy-free offshore wind projects ever.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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The United States needs a diversified supply chain in the clean energy industries to avoid leaving a large part of the materials and processing in a handful of countries, according to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

As we move away from fossil fuels, we remain concerned about the risks of over-concentration in clean energy supply chains, Yellen said in a speech in Las Vegas on Monday, per the excerpts obtained by Reuters.

Today, the production of critical clean energy inputs  from batteries to solar panels to critical minerals  is concentrated in a handful of countries, the secretary added.

China, Indonesia, and several African countries dominate a large part of the supply chain, of raw materials and processing, of many technologies including batteries, solar panels, and wind turbines.

As global investments in minerals are soaring, China continues to dominate supply and supply chains, which is a challenge to the energy transition.

Bank UBS expects China to end up controlling nearly one-third of the global lithium supply by 2025. Mines controlled by Beijing, not only in China but also in Africa, will see their total lithium output jump more than threefold in just three yearsfrom 194,000 tons in 2022 to 705,000 tons by 2025, UBS said in a note earlier this year, carried by Bloomberg.

This surge in supply would raise the Chinese share of global lithium supply to 32% in 2025, up from 24% in 2022, the bank said.

A report from Darton Commodities, quoted by the Financial Times, expects that Chinas cobalt share is set to hit 50% of global cobalt output in the next two years. Chinas CMOC Group is currently the second biggest producer of cobalt in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the country providing 75% of global supply now.

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Limited diversification of supply could present a challenge to the industry, the International Energy Agency (IEA) warned last month. China, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Indonesia continue to dominate a large part of the critical raw material supply, while China is a dominant player in refining operations, the IEA noted.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Nebraskans love their cranes, especially the red-capped Sandhills kind that make a migration pitstop each year along the Platte River.

But this year two giant cranes, one yellow, one blue, have settled in for a lengthy stay near Omahas riverfront.

The big yellow one is a Liebherr model 630 Hammerhead tower crane.

The smaller blue one is a Comansa 310 luffing tower crane.

The two machines are providing a free daily show for curious office workers, engineering geeks and visitors to the Gene Leahy Mall as the machines do the heavy lifting on the new 677-foot-tall Mutual of Omaha headquarters building.

And theyre just getting started.

In the years ahead, the yellow crane will rise to 780 feet above the ground, making it the tallest crane ever in Omaha, according to Brian Krause, director of construction and development for Lanoha Real Estate Co.

That heights necessary, given what theyre assembling.

When finished in the summer of 2026, the skyscraper will be the citys tallest building.

The $600 million skyscraper will be 43 feet taller than First National Bank Tower, which has been the citys tallest structure for the past two decades.

While the yellow crane will eventually top-out taller, the blue one can work in tight spaces because it has the ability to raise and lower the long arm in front called a jib.

Crane operators get a birds-eye view of the city  a job not for the faint of heart.

They couldnt pay me enough to sit in the crane tower, said Dan Sall, eyeballing the big yellow crane from the Farnam Street sidewalk below.

Sall, a former Omahan now living in Indianapolis, was in town to help move a niece into the dorms at Creighton University.

Its great to be back in Omaha again and see all the new developments, he said.

Krause said the crane operators communicate with their co-workers via radio to put loads into the correct place.

The crane operators climb to the cabs early in the morning and stay up all day, Krause said. The cabs are equipped with heat and A/C as well as many safety features to help ensure the work is done safely.

Wind is the biggest challenge they face, he said.

About seven months have passed since city officials celebrated the groundbreaking on the headquarters. Renderings of the building depict a glowing, sky-scraping tower of glass.

The skyscrapers top floor will offer views in all directions from a two-story atrium and hold large conference rooms and other meeting spaces.

The public street-level lobby will feature displays paying homage to the companys history, the services it offers and impact.

Only recently have the first signs of upward construction become visible at the buildings site, bounded by 14th, 15th, Douglas and Farnam Streets.

The groundwork on such a project comes first, securing the base of the cranes and seating the buildings supports in bedrock.

The supports for the future building are steel-cased, drilled shafts seated into bedrock and filled with concrete. The shaft diameters range from 3 feet to 8 feet in diameter depending on the load requirement.

At the Starbucks coffee shop across from the job site, employees felt the rumble of the initial groundwork.

We have felt vibration here when they drill into the ground, said shift supervisor Adriana Huerta. The whole building shakes. Its wild.

The base of each tower crane is a large, cast-in-place concrete structure shaped like a box. It is anchored by several piles drilled deep underground to bedrock.

The first section of the tower is cast into the poured base and given time to cure and gain strength before additional tower sections are secured on top of the base, Krause said.

A third crane was needed to assemble the cranes initially.

As the building grows in height, the cranes will grow in height  they even build themselves. They lift new tower segments and, with help of a hydraulic jack, add the segments to raise themselves vertically in 20-foot increments.

Both cranes are located just outside the footprint of the building. As the building structure rises, they will be attached for additional stability during construction, Krause said.

The center core portion of the tower is a concrete shear wall structure.

The final pieces of glass will be installed as the crane lowers itself back down to the ground after the building is topped out and mechanical systems are hoisted to the roof.

Omahans should start to see the garage structure taking shape this fall, Krause said. The first 15 floors of the building are a concrete parking garage. The timeline calls for completing the garage structure in summer 2024.

Completion of the tower structure is expected in summer 2025. The garage skin would be completed in winter 2025. Interior finishes would begin in spring 2025, with the tower skin complete in spring 2026.

The project is set for completion in summer 2026.

The general contractor is J.E. Dunn Construction Group.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of August 2023
A 20-year-old man was taken to an Omaha hospital in critical condition following a shooting Sunday afternoon.

The incident occurred about 3:40 p.m., according to an Omaha police spokesman. Officers responded to the area of 40th and D Streets and located Angel Mata suffering from gunshot wounds.

Mata was taken to the Nebraska Medical Center by ambulance. A 23-year-old man at the scene was taken to Omaha police headquarters for questioning.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact the Omaha Police Department at 402-444-5656 or anonymously contact Omaha Crime Stoppers at 402-444-STOP, at www.omahacrimestoppers.org or on the P3 Tips mobile app.
A Toyota SUV crashed into a laundromat in midtown Omaha on Monday afternoon, injuring one person.

At 12:54 p.m., the Omaha Fire Department and Omaha Police Department responded after an SUV crashed into Midtown Laundry at 38th and Leavenworth Streets. Photos submitted to The World-Herald by reader Harald Wilke showed the crash took out a section of the laundromats wall. Structural debris can be seen around and on top of the SUV.

According to a police spokesman, it appeared a southbound car collided with a westbound vehicle. The crash pushed the westbound vehicle, which Wilkes photos show appear to be the SUV, into the business.

One driver, a 24-year-old woman, was taken to the Nebraska Medical Center with a possible broken ankle. The other driver was not injured.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of August 2023
Six white former Mississippi law officers who tortured two Black men have pleaded guilty to state-level charges. One of the officers shot one of the victims in the mouth during the racist assault, and then they covered it up for months. All six already admitted their guilt in a connected federal civil rights case. Prosecutors say some of the officers nicknamed themselves the Goon Squad because of their tendency to use excessive force. The state charges include home invasion, aggravated assault, conspiracy to hinder prosecution and obstruction of justice. An Associated Press investigation linked some of the officers to at least four violent encounters with Black men since 2019.
LINCOLN  Gov. Jim Pillen has named Jim Kamm, a University of Nebraska at Omaha administrator and former banker, as Nebraskas new state tax commissioner.

Kamm currently is the assistant vice chancellor for UNOs Business and Finance Division. He will be paid $190,000 in his new position and start Sept. 5. The position, the top job in the Nebraska Department of Revenue, has been filled by an interim director since December.

Pillen said he chose Kamm because of his decades of experience in banking and financial services, along with his interest in public service.

Before working at UNO, Kamm held leadership roles at First Westroads Bank, TierOne and First National Bank of Omaha. He has a bachelors degree from the University of NebraskaLincoln in finance and a masters degree in business administration from UNO.

Scott Moore, a Union Pacific Railroad executive and former Nebraska secretary of state and state senator, praised the choice.

Jim has that grounded Nebraska background coupled with a long history in state business and higher education that make him an outstanding choice for this role in the Pillen administration, Moore said.

While at UNO, Kamm worked for a previous state tax commissioner, Doug Ewaldt.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of August 2023
A Nebraska teen died Saturday when the vehicle he was driving crashed into a creek in Cuming County.

William P. Smeal, 18, of rural Snyder, was pronounced dead at the scene about 3 p.m., according to the Cuming County Sheriffs Office. Smeal was a 2023 graduate of West Point-Beemer High School, a school official said Monday.

Investigators determined that Smeal was eastbound on County Road A between County Roads 12 and 13 in a Buick LaCrosse CXL. The Buick left the roadway about two miles north of Snyder and clipped a portion of a bridge before landing in the creek.

The village of Snyder is located about 70 miles northwest of Omaha. The crash remains under investigation.

The Dodge County Sheriffs Office, Snyder Volunteer Fire and Rescue and Cuming County Emergency Management assisted at the scene.
PHNOM PENH, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's four-day visit to three Southeast Asian countries has given new momentum to the strategic relations between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Cambodian experts said on Sunday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, concluded his three Southeast Asian-nation tours on Sunday, which had taken him to Singapore, Malaysia, and Cambodia.

During his trip, he met with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Singapore, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Malaysia, King Norodom Sihamoni, outgoing Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen as well as incoming Prime Minister Hun Manet in Cambodia.

Kin Phea, director-general of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia, a think-tank under the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said Wang's visit highlighted China's strong commitments to solidarity and friendship with ASEAN.

"For Cambodia, his visit charts together the way forward for bilateral cooperation in building a high-quality, high-level, and high-standard Cambodia-China community with a shared future in the new era," he told Xinhua.

Wang's visit to Cambodia has also further deepened the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, the ironclad friendship, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation, and the diamond hexagon cooperation framework between the two countries, he added.

"His visit plays an important role in promoting China-Cambodia cooperation, enhancing mutual understanding and strategic trust, and deepening the building of a community with a shared future between the two countries," Phea said.

The expert added that the visit also expressed China's full support for ASEAN and its unwavering commitment to working with ASEAN to promote multilateralism, win-win cooperation, inclusive growth, and sustainable development.

"A stable China-ASEAN relationship is crucial to ensure peace, security, stability, development, and prosperity in the whole region," he said.

Seun Sam, a policy analyst of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said Wang's visit to Cambodia was essential to deepen the two countries' strategic partnership.

"His visit serves as a testament to the enduring friendship and strategic partnership between Cambodia and China," he told Xinhua.

"It also demonstrates China's continued efforts to strengthen its ties with ASEAN, particularly within the framework of the BRI," he added.

Sam said the visit also demonstrated China's dedication to fostering strong relationships with its neighbors and promoting a shared vision of peace, development, and cooperation.

Thong Mengdavid, a research fellow at Phnom Penh-based independent think tank Asian Vision Institute, said Wang's trip represented China's vigorous and strategic engagement and collaboration with ASEAN, aiming at strengthening bilateral ties with those countries.

Mengdavid said China is the forerunner of multilateralism and a key promoter of peace in the region and in the world at large. 
No injuries were reported after a Union Pacific Railroad train collided with a vehicle stuck on its track Sunday night just south of Modale in western Iowa.

The eastbound train, which was hauling coal, collided with the vehicle about 9:30 p.m., according to the Harrison County Sheriffs Office. The vehicle caught fire and was demolished.

Firefighters from Modale and Missouri Valley responded to the scene and put out the vehicle fire. The train took approximately one-half mile to stop following the collision, according to a social media post by the Missouri Valley Fire Department.

Thankfully no one was hurt, this incident could have been a lot worse, the statement said. Even with technology, training and guarding available, accidents like these still occur. Always look for trains at crossings.

The crash is under investigation. The Iowa State Patrol also assisted at the scene.
Rebel Wilson was hit in the face with a gun on the set of her new movie.

The actress recently revealed she needed stitches after suffering facial injuries during filming of 'Bride Hard' - which has been granted permission to continue during Hollywood's SAG-AFTRA strike because it is an independent production - and now she's opened up about the stunt which went wrong explaining she was accidentally smacked in the face with a prop weapon.

In a post on Instagram, she revealed: "I was shooting an independent movie in Savannah, Georgia. In the middle of a night shoot, my last scene of the movie, so I'd done all these kick-ass fight sequences and then just, in the last one, I got hit in the face with the butt of a gun."

Rebel went on to say it was "such a shock" but insisted it was a "complete accident". However, she's pleased to report her stitches have now dissolved and her injuries are healing well.

She said: "I just wanted to say thank you for all your well-wishes. I've actually been healing quite amazing. The stitches have dissolved out ... I hopefully will be totally, totally fine. It was really fun doing an action movie, but it can be dangerous at times. But I'm all good, so thanks, everybody."

In the `action comedy, Rebel plays "badass secret agent" Sam who is tasked with "one of her hardest missions yet" - being Maid of Honour at her childhood best friend's wedding.

Last week, the actress shared a photo of her battered and bruise face on her Instagram Story and wrote: "NOT the way I wanted to end this movie!. 3 stitches and in hospital last night after a stunt accident at 4am.(sic)"
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BLOOMINGTON  A California man is wanted on a McLean County arrest warrant after he was convicted of trafficking several pounds of cannabis.

Judge William Yoder has issued a no-bond warrant for Martin Bonilla Hernandez, 59, who did not appear for his jury trial last week.

Despite his absence, Bonilla Hernandez was found guilty Aug. 9 on an amended Class X felony charge of cannabis trafficking with more than 5,000 grams of cannabis. The original text of the charge accused him of trafficking more than 2,500 grams of cannabis.

A second Class X charge of unlawful possession of more than 5,000 grams of cannabis with the intent to deliver was dismissed.

The Pantagraph previously reported Bonilla Hernandez of Red Bluff, California, was arrested in October 2021 following a traffic stop on Interstate 55 in McLean County. Prosecutors said at the time he was found possessing 86 pounds of cannabis. Prosecutors added that Bonilla Hernandez told police he grew cannabis in California and was on the way to Ohio where he intended to sell it.

At an Aug. 3 pre-trial hearing, Yoder told Bonilla Hernandez he was required to be present for the jury trial and if he chose not to appear, the trial would be held in his absence.

Assistant States Attorney Spencer Chikahisa said as of Monday, Aug. 14, the arrest warrant was still outstanding. He declined comment on the verdict.

Bonilla Hernandez also failed to appear for a motion hearing Aug. 7, when Yoder denied a defense motion to suppress evidence involving a police dog that was called to the traffic stop.

His attorney Andres Ybarra could not be reached for comment Monday.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Oct. 10.

Cannabis tax boom: States collect a whopping $15.1 billion in revenue since weed legalization Cannabis tax boom: States collect a whopping $15.1 billion in revenue since weed legalization Cannabis Tax Revenue State By State
CHICAGO  Tourists hoping to take a reflective selfie at The Bean in Millennium Park may soon have to opt for a picture at another mirror instead.

Access to the iconic downtown sculpture, officially called Cloud Gate, will be limited for months starting Tuesday as construction begins around it, according to the citys Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.

Grainger Plaza, the space surrounding The Bean, will undergo construction set to continue through the spring of 2024," the departments website said.

During this time, public access and views of Cloud Gate will be limited, the department wrote.

The necessary maintenance project will include repairs, accessibility upgrades and paver replacements, the statement said.

Since the sculpture designed by artist Anish Kapoor was first unveiled in 2004, it has quickly become as essential destination for tourists visiting Chicago and symbol of the city.

The glassy, stainless steel artwork attracts 20 million visitors to Millennium Park each year, a DCASE spokesperson told the Tribune in February. It is the No. 1 attraction in the Midwest and No. 7 in the United States, the spokesperson added.

The construction will to enhance the nearly 20-year-old Parks appearance, visitor experience, and position as the #1 attraction in the Midwest, the department said.

Photos: Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2023 Brandon Johnson - 2023 Brandon Johnson - File Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022
SPRINGFIELD  Illinois 4-H Youth Leadership Team President Naomi Dolan "can say confidently" that she "missed at least a month of school" her senior year for various events through the organization.

But she was still keeping up with her schoolwork, not to mention picking up valuable leadership skills and knowledge through her participation.

"I stayed up very late to work on my assignments because that's something that 4-H and FFA tells the youth is that, 'hey, you are doing a responsibility. You need to be a part of this,'" said Dolan, of the Vermilion County village of Catlin. "And so you still need to do your school, but then still (be) following up on your FFA and your 4-H duties."

As of Monday afternoon, students participating in work-based learning events through organizations like 4-H and FFA will no longer be punished with unexcused absences.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed legislation allowing students to count such events towards school attendance. The measure was approved without opposition by state lawmakers during the spring legislative session.

The governor, who was flanked by 4-H and FFA members as he signed the bill at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Monday afternoon, called it "a major win not just for our students, but the future of our agricultural industry."

"These learning opportunities cultivate professional development and responsibility in our youth," Pritzker said. "Our FFA and 4-H members are living proof of that fact. And their hands-on experiences ought to count towards their education."

FFA, which stands for Future Farmers of America, is an intracurricular student organization for those interested in agriculture and leadership. 4-H is an organization in which kids and teens complete hands-on projects in areas like health, science, agriculture and civic engagement.

Participation in FFA has exploded in the past year from 23,000 to more than 41,000. The bump can largely be attributed to legislation signed by Pritzker in 2022 that pays organization dues for all students enrolled in an agriculture class.

State Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, the chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee and the bill's chief sponsor, said that many 4-H and FFA events centered around state and county fairs increasingly conflict with the start of school.

While in the FFA barnyard at the fair on Sunday, Turner said she encountered two 4-H members from Whiteside County who were facing that dilemma.

"Illinois' agriculture industry is the backbone of our state," Turner said. "Illinois is home to some of the most fertile farmland in the world. And without our farmers, we wouldn't have food on the table or any of the thousands of byproducts derived from that farming. And we need our youth to continue to invest in Illinois' agriculture opportunities."

Under the new law, a student's parent or legal guardian will be responsible for obtaining assignments missed while the student was participating in an eligible program.

States that grow the most vegetables States that grow the most vegetables Kansas (unranked) Nevada (unranked) #48. Wyoming #47. South Dakota #46. Alaska #45. Rhode Island #44. West Virginia #43. Vermont #42. New Hampshire #41. Oklahoma #40. Iowa #39. Utah #38. Hawaii #37. Louisiana #36. Missouri #35. Kentucky #34. Connecticut #33. Arkansas #32. Delaware #31. Montana #30. Maryland #29. Alabama #28. Nebraska #27. Illinois #26. New Mexico #25. Tennessee #24. Massachusetts #23. Virginia #22. Indiana #21. Mississippi #20. South Carolina #19. Ohio #18. Minnesota #17. Maine #16. North Dakota #15. Pennsylvania #14. Oregon #13. New Jersey #12. Wisconsin #11. Michigan #10. New York #9. Colorado #8. Washington #7. Texas #6. Georgia #5. North Carolina #4. Arizona #3. Idaho #2. Florida #1. California
DID YOU KNOW?

Most veterans who enlisted after Sept. 7, 1980, or entered active duty after Oct. 16, 1981, must have served 24 continuous months or the full period for which they were called to active duty to be eligible for VA health care. This minimum duty requirement may not apply to veterans who were discharged for a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty; were discharged for a hardship; or received an early out. Since there are several other exceptions to the minimum duty requirement, VA encourages all veterans to apply to determine their enrollment eligibility. Veterans who are not enrolled in VA health care or have been denied because of the income means test implemented in 2003 should apply for VA health care now. The PACT Act has expanded eligibility for both filing for disability compensation and VA health care. Contact your McLean County Veterans Assistance Commission office at suite 400D in the McLean County Health Department building at 200 W. Front St. in downtown Bloomington or call 309- 888-5140.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Support Expanded Review for Veterans in Combat Environment, the SERVICE Act (P.L. 117-133), expands eligibility for VA mammograph screenings to veterans who served in certain locations during specified periods, including those who were exposed to toxic substances at such locations. The following listed locations do not include bodies of water around or airspace above such locations. The list includes Iraq between Aug. 2, 1990, and Feb. 28, 1991, and from March 19, 2003, until burn pits are no longer used in Iraq; the Southwest Asia theater of operations, including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar, from Aug. 2, 1990, until burn pits are no longer used in such locations; Afghanistan, Djibouti, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon and Yemen from Sept. 11, 2011, until burn pits are no longer used in such locations; and other locations and time periods as determined by the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry.

NATIONAL PURPLE HEART DAY

Aug. 7 marked the 240th anniversary of the creation of the Badge of Military Merit, which eventually evolved to become the Purple Heart. This day of recognition offers Americans a special opportunity to thank the nearly 2 million brave men and women who fought for our nation's freedom and now bear the physical scars of war. Ceremonies have been held at various locations across America each year since the official recognition of Purple Heart Day. Locally, the American Legion conducted a Purple Heart Day ceremony on the east steps of the McLean County Museum of History. After an opening prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance and brief remarks, the names of approximately 50 Purple Heart recipients were read to the assembled crowd. Taps were sounded to close the ceremony. The legion will conduct a similar ceremony on each future Aug. 7.

The legion is still collecting the names of Purple Heart recipients for future ceremonies. If you know of a Purple Heart recipient, contact the McLean County Veterans Assistance Commission at 309-888-5140 and the veteran will be included in future events. The National Purple Heart Honor Museum requests those Purple Heart recipients who have not registered with the Purple Heart Foundation and the families and friends of Purple Heart recipients visit the National Purple Heart Foundation website. While at the website, the Purple Heart recipient can be registered with the Museum Hall of Honor. The National Purple Heart Foundation is creating a database with not only the names of the recipients, but also their stories about their Purple Heart. While on the website, explore the fascinating story of how the Badge of Military Merit eventually became the Purple Heart.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

The world and America seem to be mesmerized with social media and technology. These can be great things for humanity, but too often result in the loss of the most valuable intangible in our lives and our nation. The following quote illuminates it all.

Sometimes you have to disconnect to stay connected. Remember the old days when you had eye contact during a conversation? When everyone wasnt looking down at a device in their hands? Weve become so focused on that tiny screen that we forget the big picture, the people right in front of us.  Regina Brett

Photos: How a Florida nonprofit is helping veterans overcome PTSD
Leading the way in cross-border payments, Zeepay has announced a remarkable surge in both its total processed volume (TPV) and revenue. Over the course of just one year, TPV has surged from US$1.9 billion in 2021 to an impressive US$2.9 billion in 2022.



This exponential growth in TPV has been paralleled by revenue, which has risen from GH39.4 million in the previous fiscal year to an outstanding GH96.4 million in 2022.



This exceptional achievement can be attributed to Zeepay's diversified portfolio of services, with remittance services emerging as the driving force behind this impressive expansion.



Andrew Takyi-Appiah, Founder and Managing Director, addressing the 2023 Annual General Meeting (AGM), credited Zeepay's resounding success to its unwavering resilience in the face of one of the most severe economic and financial crises in human history. "Despite the global economic challenges of 2022, Zeepay achieved exponential growth. It remains our most successful year to date," Mr. Takyi-Appiah remarked.



During this same period, Zeepay effectively streamlined its operations in various markets, most notably in Zambia, marking the beginning of a profitable journey. The company's activities in Barbados also unfolded seamlessly, securing mobile money licenses in four additional markets: Gambia, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, and Guyana.



Mr. Takyi-Appiah outlined the company's strategic focus for 2023, highlighting the operational readiness of these markets. This expansion initiative aims to foster sustained growth and aligns with Zeepay's vision of becoming the premier global mobile money operator across Africa and the Caribbean.







A comprehensive breakdown of revenue by service type underscores the significant contribution of remittance services to Zeepay's financial triumph. Local income from remittances surged to GH75.5 million in 2022, a substantial increase from GH31 million in the previous year. This boost can be attributed to a growing customer base and increased demand for remittance services within the local market.



The impact of mobile money on local income also surged, reaching GH12.86 million compared to the previous year's GH4.4 million in 2021. This growth is attributed to the accessibility and convenience provided by Zeepay's mobile money solutions within the local market.



In 2022, the company generated GH8 million in revenue from foreign remittances, demonstrating its global reach and ability to provide seamless cross-border financial solutions.



Despite facing significant economic challenges, Zeepay's post-tax profit reached GH32.8 million, marking an impressive 274.5 percent improvement from the GH8.76 million reported in the previous year.



Mr. Takyi-Appiah also highlighted the substantial growth of the company's assets, increasing from GH143.8 million in 2021 to an impressive GH406.8 million in 2022. This robust growth signifies Zeepay's enduring strength and resilience since its inception, leading to the declaration and distribution of dividends totaling GH1.89 million.



Zeepay's impressive revenue growth from customer contracts underscores its commitment to innovation, customer satisfaction, and providing vital financial services to individuals and businesses alike. The strategic focus on remittance and mobile money services has proven successful, solidifying Zeepay's position as a prominent player in the financial services sector, he said, adding that plans are underway for further expansion.



Daniel Giyimah, the Board Chairman added that as the financial landscape evolves, Zeepay's adaptability and expansion of its service offerings position it well for future success. With a proven track record of revenue growth and a customer-centred approach, Zeepay is poised to maintain its industry leadership, delivering tailored financial solutions to meet diverse client needs, he noted.





Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Thousands of Ecuadorian soldiers and police have been involved in a dawn operation to move a notorious gang leader to a maximum security jail.



Jose Adolfo Macias, known as "Fito" is accused of sending death threats to Ecuador's murdered presidential candidate, Fernando Villavicencio.



The anti-corruption campaigner was shot three times in the head leaving a campaign rally on Wednesday.

Before his murder Mr Villavicencio said he had been threatened by Fito.



"If I continue... mentioning Los Choneros [the gang], they are going to break me," he said.



His death has shocked a nation that has largely escaped the decades of drug-gang violence, cartel wars and corruption that has blighted many of its neighbours. Crime has however shot up in recent years, fuelled by the growth of Colombian and Mexican drug cartels.



On Sunday, his Construye party announced Christian Zurita, another journalist, would replace Mr Villavicencio as its presidential candidate.



This was a reversal from Saturday when the slain politician's running mate, Andrea Gonzalez, had been named.

Mr Villavicencio's widow Veronica Sarauz said she held the state responsible for her husband's death that she was unhappy Ms Gonzalez had been named as her husband's replacement.





Mr Villavicencio's campaign focused on corruption and drugs. He was one of the only candidates to allege links between organised crime and Ecuadorian government officials.



The day before his assassination, he complained to the Public Prosecutor's Office about alleged irregularities in oil contracts negotiated during former president Rafael Correa's administration which had cost the country US $9bn (7 bn).



Six Colombians have been arrested in connection with the murder, while a seventh was killed in a shootout. The authorities have not said who hired and paid the hitmen.



Gang leader Fito had been held in Prison 8 in Guayaquil since 2011, and videos shared by security forces showed him handcuffed in his underwear as security forces moved him to another facility.



Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso said Fito had been moved to La Roca, a 150-person maximum security prison that is part of the same complex.

Source: BBC









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Niger's military junta has announced plans to prosecute deposed President Mohamed Bazoum for high treason and undermining national security.



This is the latest sign that the junta intends to resist international pressure to return power to Mr Bazoum.



He has been held in the basement of his palace since the military staged a coup about three weeks ago.



Mr Bazoum was in "good spirits" despite being held in "difficult" conditions, his doctor said after a visit.



Saturday's visit was approved amid growing international demands for Mr Bazoum's release.



But in a sign that it is hardening its position, the junta said in a statement read out on state TV that it had gathered evidence to prosecute "the deposed president and his local and foreign accomplices for high treason and undermining the internal and external security of Niger".



It did not give further details.



Mr Bazoum, 63, is being held captive with his wife and son and there were growing concerns about their health.



Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani, the head of the presidential guards unit, declared himself Niger's new ruler on 26 July after overthrowing him.



The West African regional bloc Ecowas has threatened military action to reverse the coup, but it has so far failed to follow through on its threat.



The coup leaders have warned they will defend themselves against any intervention.



Ecowas has also imposed sanctions on the junta, including cutting electricity to Niger. This has caused blackouts in the capital Niamey, and other major cities.



On Saturday, a high-powered delegation of Muslim clerics from neighbouring Nigeria met junta leaders in Niamey in a bid to mediate an end to the crisis.



Junta-appointed Prime Minister Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine said he was optimistic that talks with Ecowas would take place in the coming days "to discuss how the sanctions against us will be lifted".



The coup in Niger mirrored similar takeovers in neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali, amid an Islamist insurgency and a growing Russian influence in the wider Sahel region through its mercenary group Wagner.



Despite his captivity, Mr Bazoum was able to publish an article in The Washington Post stating that he was a hostage and that the coup would have "devastating consequences for our country, our region and the entire world".



Mr Bazoum is reported to have lost a "worrying" amount of weight, while his 20-year-old son, who has a chronic medical condition, was also reportedly denied care.



UN human rights chief Volker Turk described the conditions of the detention as inhumane, degrading and in violation of international human rights law.



His daughter Zazia, 34, who was on holiday in France during the coup, told the UK-based Guardian newspaper last week that her father, mother and brother had no clean water or electricity and were living on rice and pasta.



Fresh food was rotting in the fridge because there was no power, she said.



Mr Bazoum has been seen once since he was overthrown, in a photo released after he met Chad's leader Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno.



Mr Deby met both the junta and Mr Bazoum soon after the coup in a failed bid to resolve the crisis.

Source: BBC









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations persists in delivering aid to Niger, three weeks following President Mohamed Bazoum's detention by his own guards, a UN spokesman said on Monday.

Agencies continue to reach people despite the challenges, including the ongoing rainy season, Stephane Dujarric told journalists in New York on Monday.

Approximately 4.3 million individuals in the West African nation depend on humanitarian assistance.

Just last week, in the central Maradi region, 22,000 residents received both cash support and food supplies.

"We and our humanitarian partners are also working with de facto authorities to identify and prepare a site to accommodate about 13,000 internally displaced people in Ouro Gueladjo, in the Tillaberi region," Dujarric said.

He noted that these individuals were displaced from various villages in mid-July, prior to the ongoing political turmoil.

The UN and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have denounced the attempted coup against Bazoum.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, along with other high-ranking UN representatives, have consistently advocated for the restoration of the democratically chosen leader, who is currently under house arrest.

Last week, both Guterres and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, voiced concern following reports that the President and his family were living without electricity, water, food or medicine.

"Those responsible for the detention of the President must ensure the full respect and protection of his human rights, and of all others being held," Turk said on Friday.

The Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Santos Simao, representing the secretary-general, has further cautioned that the region's security scenario might deteriorate if the political unrest in Niger remains unresolved.

The UN is backing ECOWAS's mediation initiatives aimed at re-establishing constitutional governance in Niger.

At a recent assembly in Abuja, Nigeria, the regional assembly mandated the swift deployment of its intervention brigade.

Following its special summit convened in Abuja shortly after the onset of the crisis, regional leaders released a communique demanding Bazoum's reinstatement within a week from their gathering.

On Monday, global news outlets reported that the interim leaders of Niger intend to charge the president with high treason and jeopardizing both internal and external security. 
Renowned legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu, has accused Ghanaian politicians of being the reason why Ghana is not making any progress in its development process.



According to him, the only correct politician, Ghana has had is the late former President, John Evans Atta Mills, who always put the interest of the country first before his.



Kpebu, who made these remarks in an interview on Asempa FM, described the remaining politicians in Ghana as criminals who are only interested in enriching themselves.



Politicians are usually crooks . . . bad boys and girls. NDC, NPP, all of them are crooks. Apart from Atta Mills who did not steal from us, the rest are crooks . . . Atta Mills was an honest man, the rest have been dribbled with corruption.



We must have a special session on politicians and profile them, otherwise they would keep deceiving Ghanaians, these are crooks.



 . . you would be there and your classmate who is not even doing well like you are, gets a position and all of a sudden, he builds a mansion. These guys are causing us headaches, he said in Twi.



He added that politicians would lead Ghana to its end if Ghanaians remain silent on how they have been stealing from the country.



He said that the amounts of money reported to have been found at the home and in bank accounts of the former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Dapaah, show the kind of mayhem, politicians are causing the country.



The lawyer added that if the homes and bank accounts of Ghanaian politicians are searched, the monies that would be recovered would be enough to transform the country.















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.

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The Youth Employment Agency (YEA) has launched the Youth in Garment and Textiles Module in Kumasi.



Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of YEA, Kofi Baah Agyepong said the garment and textile industry plays a significant role in Ghana's economy, contributing to export revenue, employment generation and culture preservation.



The module, he said, aims at bridging the skill gaps as well as creating sustainable employment opportunities for young people interested in tailoring or dressmaking and ultimately contributes towards growth and development.



The module has been designed carefully to afford beneficiaries the opportunity to receive in-depth knowledge and hands-on training in various aspects of tailoring and dressmaking including fabric selection, cutting techniques, sewing, garment construction, pattern making and alterations.



The programme also targets to directly engage already existing apparel startups to support in the implementation process to achieve the desired objectives and this will involve on-the-job training in the various skill areas to be undertaken by selected Garment and Textile partner companies, Micro and Small-scale seamstresses and tailors. They would provide apprenticeship for the youth within their communities.



"Ahead of the launch, the garment and textile module has generated positive response from the stakeholders as two thousand (2000) registered beneficiaries have so far been shortlisted as trainees with five hundred (500) mastercraftmen in the category of micro and small-scale dressmakers and tailors selected as trainers of the trainees.



He also revealed that over twenty (20) selected industrial garment companies are being engaged as trainers of the beneficiaries in large-scale garment manufacturing.



According to him, the YEA has exceeded its 2023 youth employment projection by 16% as it projected to engage 71500 youths throughout its programmes.



However, as of May 2023, the agency had engaged 84483 youths who are working and contributing to various sectors of the economy.



He further stated he has always been guided by the vision of His Excellency the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of creating sustainable jobs for the youth by ensuring that majority of them benefit from various programmes rolled out by YEA.



Under the current management, YEA has recruited 6000 community health workers, 15000 community protection assistants, 1500 Prisons Service Assistants, 800 artisans for the INZAG project.



We still have the 45000 beneficiaries for the youth in sanitation module, recruitment of 4000 farm workers for the Afarinick Cocoa rehabilitation programme; recruitment of 6000 insurance agents, creation of over 11000 employment opportunities through the YEAs job centre, he expounded.



Kofi Baah Agyepong also pointed out that the YEA has collaborated with other State institutions like the Building and Road Research Institute of the CSIR, the Ghana Library Authority, the Accra Digital Centre, National Labour Commission, National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) to give training to Ghanaian youth.



He also explained that the garment and apparel training and employment programme under the apparel and textiles module is aimed at creating sustainable opportunities for young people interested in dressmaking or industrial sewing.



According to him, YEA has surpassed its set targets and is poised to introduce other innovative ideas by creating additional 31600 job opportunities for the youth of Ghana in 2023.



"But we cannot do this without additional funding", he noted.

Chief Of Staff

Chief Of Staff at the Office of the President, Madam Akosua Frema Osei-Opare also, speaking at the launch of YEA "Youth Employment Agencys Garment and Apparel Module" in Kumasi, said government is committed to youth employment interventions by initiating policies aimed at providing skills necessary for productivity growth and sustained development.



According to her, the Free SHS policy, Free TVET intervention and the numerous business support schemes available for youth start-ups and youth entrepreneurs across the country are key programmes government has adopted to make lives better.



She lauded the YEA for the garment and apparel module initiative stressing it plugs into governments efforts at promoting the technical and vocational sector as a viable alternative means of employment.



The Chief of Staff called on all master-craftsmen of the garment and apparel module to demonstrate strong commitment by providing high quality training to all beneficiaries, urging them to provide topnotch technical skill transfer and acceptable business culture for all the beneficiaries.



Minister for Employment



Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, on his part, stressed efforts government is making to build the capacities of youth and create an enabling environment for them to secure and create jobs.



He mentioned job creation has become a major factor in the development of the country, hence government would not gloss over issues relating to the sector.



Ignatius Baffour-Awuah said his ministry together with YEA will soon add other disciplines to the modules, asserting that more is in the pipeline and the Ghanaian youth must have confidence in the government.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The CEO of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), Mr Kofi Baah Agyepong, has appealed to the government to increase its annual budget for the agency to roll out more youth-centred programmes to create jobs in Ghana.



The YEAs source of funding was capped at 67.6% in 2022 during the global economic meltdown leaving Ghanas economy in a turbulent state. In 2023, it was capped at 44%, that is, 23.6% below the previous year.



Speaking at the launch of its new module - Youth in Garment and Textiles - in the Ashanti regional capital, Kumasi, on Monday (14 August 2023), Mr Agyepong said, in spite of the cut in funding, the YEA under his leadership still exceeded its 2023 projections by 18%.



I must place on record that for 2023, the Agency projected to engage 71,500 youths throughout its programmes. I am delighted to announce that as of May 2023, the Agency has engaged 84,483 youths who are working and contributing to various sectors of the economy. This means that, the Agency has already exceeded its 2023 projections by 18%, the YEA chief executive stated.



He added: The YEA is poised to introduce other innovative ideas by creating additional 31,600 job opportunities for the youth of Ghana in 2023. But we cannot do this without additional funding.



On behalf of the board, management, and staff of the agency, I would like to make a passionate appeal to our listening government to increase the financial support to YEA to enable us to roll out more youth-centred programmes that would create more jobs and reduce the level of youth unemployment in Ghana, which is now considered a national security issue.



Under the one year tenure of Agyepong, the YEA has been able to recruit 6,000 Community Health Workers; recruitment of 15,000 Community Protection Assistants; recruitment of 1,500 Prisons Service Assistants; recruitment of 800 artisans for the INZAG Project; we still have the 45,000 beneficiaries for the youth in Sanitation Module, recruitment of 4,000 farm workers for the Afarinick Cocoa rehabilitation Programme; recruitment of 6,000 insurance agents, creation of over 11,000 employment opportunities through the YEAs Job Centre.



The YEA has also collaborated with other state institutions like the Building and Road Research Institute of the CSIR to train 1,000 youth in modern building technology, the Ghana Library Authority to train young entrepreneurs across the country under the Entrepreneurship Re-imagined Programme, the Accra Digital Centre to provide ICT training for 2,000 youth in ICT, collaboration with National Labour Commission to sensitise the youth on labour- related issues and collaboration with the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) to train 5000 young Entrepreneurs (Trade and Vocation). All these collaborations were fully funded by the YEA.



However, Mr Agyepong hinted that the YEA will be reviewing its sanitation module, which began in 2006, in order to give value for money.



I must admit that much has not been achieved under our Sanitation Module. Government on its part has shown enough commitment by investing hugely into this module. We must be asking ourselves: are the cities clean? What about the streets and our markets? Are we getting value for money? What about our beneficiaries? How are they faring? Dispassionate, and patriotic answers to these questions, will help the YEA shape this module as we seek to review it in the coming months, the CEO noted.

Agyepong gave assurance to Ghanaian youth that the government is committed to create more jobs, stressing that the YEA under his watch will strive to achieve the vision of President Nana Akufo-Addo.



Although you can see ice on my face, there is fire running through my veins. I have sleepless nights thinking about that young mother hawking in the scorching heat with a baby at her back and sometimes one on the side. I wake up every day thinking about that frustrated young graduate wasting his talent as a hawker around the market in Kejetia all because of nokofio (Something small). Our youth are resorting to hard drugs and ending up as hardened criminals and call girls because there are no jobs.



We cant fail them. For how long are we going to watch on for the future generation to waste their talents? The YEA has proven to be the most effective agency of the Akufo-Addo government in job creation, especially over the past one year, and we want to challenge ourselves to go a step further to create an estimated 31,600 additional jobs before the end of the year. We pray for a positive outcome from the seat of government after this passionate appeal, Agyepong noted.



The Youth in Garment and Textiles Module is aimed at creating sustainable opportunities for young people interested in dressmaking or industrial sewing.



Under this new module dubbed a game-changer, beneficiaries of the training programme will be equipped with in-depth knowledge and hands-on training in various aspects of tailoring and dressmaking including fabric selection, cutting techniques, sewing, garment construction, pattern making and alterations.



Under the programme, YEA will support about 40 large garment companies with between GHC100, 000 to GHC200, 000 each. The agency will also support 500 micro/small scale seamstresses and tailors with GHC10, 000 each to enable them to train the beneficiaries. The beneficiaries will also be provided with monthly stipends throughout the period of their training, Agyepong said.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Mark Zuckerberg just shared some disappointing news for those who've been waiting to see him and Elon Musk face off in the octagon.



On Saturday, the Meta CEO, 39, announced on Threads that "it's time to move on" from the proposed -- and frequently teased -- cage match between the two billionaires, as he claimed Musk, 52, was not being "serious" about the potential fight.



"I think we can all agree Elon isn't serious and it's time to move on. I offered a real date. Dana White offered to make this a legit competition for charity," Zuckerberg wrote. "Elon won't confirm a date, then says he needs surgery, and now asks to do a practice round in my backyard instead."



"If Elon ever gets serious about a real date and official event, he knows how to reach me," he continued. "Otherwise, time to move on. I'm going to focus on competing with people who take the sport seriously."



The comment comes nearly two months after the duo seemingly agreed to a cage match on social media, when UFC President Dana White said in an interview with TMZ that he spoke with both men on the phone and that they were "dead serious" about the matchup.



"Because they both said, 'Yeah we'll do it.' They both want to do it. Mark Zuckerberg hit me up first and said, 'Is he serious?' I said, 'I don't know, let me ask [Musk].' I asked him and he said, 'Yeah, I'm dead serious," White said in June.



White also revealed that both men discussed "how much they could raise for charity" while on the phone with him, but that they were only in the "early stages" of piecing a cage match together. Since then, Musk has proposed that the fight should be "managed by my and Zucks foundations (not UFC)," with "all proceeds" going to veterans and pediatric hospitals in Italy.



"Livestream will be on this platform and Meta," Musk wrote on X on Aug. 11. "Everything in camera frame will be ancient Rome, so nothing modern at all. I spoke to the PM of Italy and Minister of Culture. They have agreed on an epic location."



Zuckerberg and Musk have continued their back-and-forth on social media over the last two months, with Musk sharing just last week that he had been "preparing for the fight" by lifting weights. At that point, Musk said the exact date for the fight is still in flux due to his health.



Im getting an MRI of my neck & upper back tomorrow, he wrote this month, before adding that he may require surgery before the fight can happen and will know this week.



On Sunday, Musk then shared a screenshot of a text exchange that he claimed was between himself and Zuckerberg. In the messages, Zuckerberg reportedly encouraged Musk to train on his own and "let me know when you're ready to compete." A rep for Zuckerberg and Meta did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request to verify the screenshot shared by Musk.



"I don't want to keep hyping something that will never happen, so you should either decide you're going to do this and do it soon, or we should move on," the Meta CEO wrote in Musk's screen-grab message.



In response, Musk recommended they fight in Zuckerberg's own octagon on Monday, and revealed that he personally had not been "practicing much."



"While I think it is very unlikely, given our size difference, perhaps you are a modern day Bruce Lee and will somehow win," Musk wrote.

Source: People









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Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumias campaign tour across the country has become a fertile ground for business, traders of NPP paraphernalia disclose.



Selling of paraphernalia is normally associated with national congresses or major outdoor events of political parties but traders selling NPP paraphernalia say the Vice President's nationwide tour and his popularity has opened an unexpected business opportunity.



Dr. Bawumia is on a nationwide campaign tour dubbed "Connecting With NPP Delegates" and has been touring the Eastern Region in the past week.



The traders, who have been conspicuous throughout Dr. Bawumia's tour of the Regions explained what got them to pitch camp with Dr. Bawumia's campaign.



"It is an unexpected opportunity for us because normally, we sell at Congresses or major party events. We don't set up to sell for such meetings, but we got information from our colleagues in Accra when Dr. Bawumia started his tour that business is always good when he visits and people buy things with his name," one of the traders based in Suhum said.



She added; "So we also got our things ready for his tour in the Eastern Region. What our friends told us is true. He is very popular and when he comes many people show up and business has been good. We don't regret it."



Another trader based in Koforidua also confirmed high sales during all of Dr. Bawumia's tours she has attended.



"He is not yet the NPP's candidate but people are really buying things printed in his name. I can't imagine how great sales will be if he becomes the candidate."



"We are colleagues and we know ourselves so there is no need for all of us to set up at one venue, since he visits 4 places per day. And also because of transportation issue, we have shared. We are here, and others have set up at the other constituencies he will visit. This is how we do it," another trader noted.



Asked whether sales are good with the other candidates, almost all the traders admitted sales are not as good as it is with Dr. Bawumia.



"I have tried with two other candidates; Ken when he came and Alan during his tour in Accra, but it wasn't good so I have stopped setting up."



For the souvenir traders, mostly women, they are eager to see Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia officially elected as the NPP Presdiential candidate in anticipation of a business boom.



"We can wait for him to win the NPP Primaries. If we are making as much sales now, then business will even be better for us when he is the NPP's candidate."

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Dennis Miracles Aboagye, Director of Local Government Services at the Office of the President, says Ghanaians will in the future remember President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his government's interventions in saving their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.



According to him, the citizenry seem to have suddenly forgotten the President's sacrifices in safeguarding them against the deadly disease that swept across the world and claimed millions of lives.



He said this in relation to the brouhaha concerning Bank of Ghana (BoG) incurring GH60 billion loss in 2022 and the Minority's call for the resignation of the Governor of the bank, Dr. Ernest Addision and his deputies.



The Bank of Ghana recorded a staggering loss of GHS60.8 billion, which is equivalent to $6 billion. This is twice the amount we are to receive from our recent IMF bailout, Minority leader, Ato Forson told journalists during their event dubbed "Moment of Truth".



The bank has also recorded a negative equity of over GHS55.1 billion. What this simply means is that the Bank of Ghana is insolvent", they added and as well blamed the President for this mess saying "the once prestigious Bank of Ghana, the mother of all banks in Ghana, has been bankrupted and collapsed by this NPP economic management team led by Dr Mahamudu Bawumia with the complicity of the Governor of the Central Bank.



But Dennis Miracles has justified why government relied on the BoG, stating it did so to save the lives of the citizens.



He reminded Ghanaians of many measures that were installed by the government during the COVID-19 pandemic such as government paying allowances to workers during the lockdown, the free provision of water and food, the cost of quarantining people to curtail the disease among others; all of which demanded money.



"Where was the money coming from? What was government supposed to do? Government was supposed to pretend as if once there is no money, there is nothing to do and allow people to die?", he questioned.



He wondered why the bank and government are today being penalized for their good decisions stressing "this basically comes to confirm the long-standing position of government that our economy was doing very, very well and was on the growth path between 2017 and 2019 until COVID came".



Miracles also blasted the Minority and the opposition National Democratic Congress for their position on the matter saying "you can do all the politics and partisanship but the Ghanaians who experienced the situation know that when it comes to the COVID management, this government has done this country a lot of good. And in the future, maybe not today, maybe not 10 years from now; in the future, every single person that lived between 2020 and now will remember Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the NPP government".



He made these comments on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show Monday morning.







Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayiribe Constituency, has lent his support to Vice President Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia's aspiration to become the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the upcoming 2024 elections.



During an event in his constituency, captured in a Twitter-shared video, Nkrumah expressed his deep admiration for Dr. Bawumia's substantial contributions to the party over the years.



Describing Bawumia as a steadfast pillar of the NPP, Nkrumah highlighted the vice president's unwavering commitment to defending the party whenever it faces challenges. He also commended Bawumia's humility and dedicated approach to party matters.



"Today, I want to share something with you. Ever since I became acquainted with Dr. Bawumia in 2008 when he was at the Bank of Ghana and I was at Joy FM, and throughout our political journey, I have silently learned some invaluable lessons from him."



"Whenever the party finds itself under attack, Dr. Bawumia consistently steps forward to shield it, even at the risk of facing personal criticisms. His commitment to this cause has been unwavering."



Nkrumah went on to underscore the principle of reciprocating good with good, emphasizing the significance of acknowledging Bawumia's dedication and contributions to the NPP. He stressed that Bawumia's devoted service to the party merits support rather than opposition.



Citing Proverbs 17:13, Nkrumah quoted, "Whoever repays evil for good, evil will never depart from their house. So, if Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has been beneficial to us, should we respond with negativity?"



He further stated, "In this month, our Chairman and I will cast our votes for him (Dr. Bawumia), and come November, delegates from Ofoase Ayirebi will wholeheartedly support Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia."



Dr. Bawumia is among ten contenders vying for the flagbearership slot, with prominent figures such as former trade minister Alan Kyerematen and Kennedy Agyapong considered his key rivals.



Following the vetting stage, the NPP will narrow down the ten candidates to five in a preliminary vote scheduled for August. The final contest is set for November 2023, where the party will elect a successor to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as the party's leader.





Source: GNA









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This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

In this photo provided by NOAA Ocean Exploration, a lone sunstar rests among many brittle stars taken from the Okeanos Explorer off the coast of Alaska on July 24, 2023, while exploring the mounds and craters of the sea floor along the Aleutian Islands. The ship, a reconfigured former U.S. Navy vessel run by civilians and members of the NOAA Corps, is specially outfitted with technology and tools needed to access deep into the ocean, and to share that data with the public and on-shore researchers in real-time. Credit: NOAA Ocean Exploration via AP

For the team aboard the Okeanos Explorer off the coast of Alaska, exploring the mounds and craters of the sea floor along the Aleutian Islands is a chance to surface new knowledge about life in some of the world's deepest and most remote waters.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research vessel is on a five-month mission aboard a reconfigured former Navy vessel run by civilians and members of the NOAA Corps. The ship, with a 48-member crew, is outfitted with technology and tools to peer deep into the ocean to gather data to share with onshore researchers in real time. The hope is that this data will then be used to drive future research.

"It's so exciting to go down there and see that it's actually teeming with life," said expedition coordinator Shannon Hoy. "You would never know that unless we were able to go down there and explore."

Using a variety of sonars and two remotely operated vehiclesDeep Discoverer and Seriosresearchers aboard the ship are mapping and collecting samples from areas along the Aleutian Trench and Gulf of Alaska. High-resolution cameras that can operate at depths of up to 6,000 meters (19,685 feet) allow researchers to document and immediately share their findings. The ship can also livestream dives to the public.

Shannon Hoy, an expedition coordinator, stands in front of control room screens inside the NOAA Okeanos Explorer, Friday, June 23, 2023, in Kodiak, Alaska. The ship, a reconfigured former U.S. Navy vessel run by civilians and members of the NOAA Corps, is specially outfitted with technology and tools needed to access deep into the ocean, and to share that data with the public and on-shore researchers in real-time. Credit: AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel

Many factors, such as depth, speed and sonar capability, influence how much sea floor can be mapped. In 2 to 4 weeks, the Okeanos Explorer can map as much as 50,000 square kilometers (31,069 square miles), Hoy said.

During these dives, Hoy said the team plans to investigate some of the area's cold seep communitiesplaces where gases from under the sea floor rise through cracks and where plants don't rely on photosynthesis for food production.

"We're also going to be looking through the water column to see what interesting animals and fauna that we can see there," she said.

Kasey Cantwell, the ship's operations chief, said the data will help researchers and the public better understand these remote stretches of ocean, including marine life and habitats in the area. That could inform management decisions in fisheries. Data could also help detect hazards and improve nautical charts.

The NOAA Okeanos Explorer sits at a dock on Friday, June 23, 2023, in Kodiak, Alaska. The ship, a reconfigured former U.S. Navy vessel run by civilians and members of the NOAA Corps, is specially outfitted with technology and tools needed to access deep into the ocean, and to share that data with the public and on-shore researchers in real-time. Credit: AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel

"It's really hard to care for things you don't understand, to love things you don't understand," Cantwell said.

The deep ocean off Alaska's Aleutian Islands is one of the least mapped places in the U.S., partly due to its remoteness. Modern mapping standards have covered just 34% of the sea floor around Alaska, which has one of the nation's largest coastal ecosystems, and only a fraction of that has been seen, according to the expedition's web site.

Closing these gaps is a mission priority, and will help meet a goal of mapping all of the United States' deep waters by 2030 and near-shore waters by 2040, according to Emily Crum, a communications specialist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

But the data collection process is laborious.

Thomas Morrow, a physical scientist on the ship, likened the effort to "walking the length of several city blocks in complete darkness with a tiny flashlight."

In this photo provided by NOAA Ocean Exploration, a sunstar eats an unknown prey taken from the Okeanos Explorer off the coast of Alaska on July 24, 2023, while exploring the mounds and craters of the sea floor along the Aleutian Islands. The ship, a reconfigured former U.S. Navy vessel run by civilians and members of the NOAA Corps, is specially outfitted with technology and tools needed to access deep into the ocean, and to share that data with the public and on-shore researchers in real-time. Credit: NOAA Ocean Exploration via AP

Captain Colin Little explains how he controls the NOAA Okeanos Explorer during a tour, Friday, June 23, 2023, in Kodiak, Alaska. The ship, a reconfigured former U.S. Navy vessel run by civilians and members of the NOAA Corps, is specially outfitted with technology and tools needed to access deep into the ocean, and to share that data with the public and on-shore researchers in real-time. Credit: AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel

The remotely operated dive vehicle Deep Discoverer is visible aboard the NOAA Okeanos Explorer, Friday, June 23, 2023, in Kodiak, Alaska. The vehicle, which is designed to explore the deep sea and sea floor, can reach depths depths of up to 6,000 meters (19,685 feet). Credit: AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel

In this photo provided by NOAA Ocean Exploration, a brisingid sea star taken from the Okeanos Explorer off the coast of Alaska on July 19, 2023, while exploring the mounds and craters of the sea floor along the Aleutian Islands. The ship, a reconfigured former U.S. Navy vessel run by civilians and members of the NOAA Corps, is specially outfitted with technology and tools needed to access deep into the ocean, and to share that data with the public and on-shore researchers in real-time. Credit: NOAA Ocean Exploration via AP

Andy O'Brien explains how he pilots the remotely operated dive vehicle Deep Discoverer during a tour, Friday, June 23, 2023, in Kodiak, Alaska. The ship, a reconfigured former U.S. Navy vessel run by civilians and members of the NOAA Corps, is specially outfitted with technology and tools needed to access deep into the ocean, and to share that data with the public and on-shore researchers in real-time. Credit: AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel

The main camera of the remote operated dive vehicle Deep Discoverer is visible aboard the NOAA Okeanos Explorer, Friday, June 23, 2023, in Kodiak, Alaska. The vehicle, which is designed to explore the deep sea and sea floor, can reach depths depths of up to 6,000 meters (19,685 feet). Credit: AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel

Nevertheless, all these small looks add up to a better understanding of what lies in the deepest parts of the sea.

In the expedition's first two months, researchers recorded methane seeps and saw a Brisingid sea star at a depth of 2,803 meters (9,200 feet) that had not been documented in the Aleutians before. At least two potential new species have also been discovered.

Earlier this year while on an expedition off the coast of Washington state, researchers aboard the ship documented a jellyfish floating in the deep, and soon had a call from an excited scientist who told them the jellyfish was behaving in ways not seen before.

"The feeling of wonder that sometimes happens in that control room is so palpable," he said.

 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

A microscopic image of the tiny device containing antiferromagnetic manganese bismuth telluride (green) that the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore researchers did their experiments on. The lines (light yellow) radiating from the center are electrodes from which current was passed through the manganese bismuth telluride. Credit: NTU Singapore

Scientists led by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) investigators have made a significant advance in developing alternative materials for the high-speed memory chips that let computers access information quickly and that bypass the limitations of existing materials.

They have discovered a way that allows them to make sense of previously hard-to-read data stored in these alternative materials, known as antiferromagnets.

Researchers consider antiferromagnets to be attractive materials for making computer memory chips because they are potentially more energy efficient than traditional ones made of silicon. Memory chips made of antiferromagnets are not subject to the size and speed constraints nor corruption issues that are inherent to chips made with certain magnetic materials.

Computer data is stored as code comprising a string of 1s and 0s. Currently, methods exist to "write" data onto antiferromagnets, by configuring them so that they can represent either the number 1 or 0.

However, "reading" this data from antiferromagnets has proved elusive to researchers as there were no practical methods in the past that could figure out which number the materials were coded as.

Research fellow Dr Wang Naizhou (left) and Assoc Prof Gao Weibo from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore with the cryogenic superconducting magnet used to conduct their experiments on antiferromagnets. Dr Wang is the first author of the research paper and Assoc Prof Gao led the team of scientists on the research. Credit: NTU Singapore

Now scientists led by Associate Professor Gao Weibo from NTU's School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (SPMS) have found a solution.

Results from their experiments, published online in Nature in June 2023, showed that at ultra-low temperatures close to the coldness of outer space, if they passed a current through antiferromagnets, a unique voltage was measured across them.

Depending on whether this voltage was positive or negative, the scientists could figure out if the antiferromagnets were coded as 1 or 0. This then allows the data stored in the materials to be read.

"Our discovery provides a straightforward way to read data stored in antiferromagnets by being able to distinguish the two states the materials can take," said Assoc Prof Gao. "The findings advance research in using antiferromagnets for computer memory in the future."

Chips for computer memory, also called random-access memory (RAM), are used to quickly access data, such as for opening software and editing documents in computers.

Memory chips made with antiferromagnets are expected to store and change data more quickly than those made from magnetic materials called ferromagnets because they can change between the 1 and 0 states about 100 times faster. This is useful for resource-intensive computing tasks.

Researchers from Israel's Weizmann Institute of Science, Japan's National Institute for Materials Science and China's Chongqing University also contributed to the NTU-led study.

The research findings exemplify a key focus of the NTU 2025 strategic plan on interdisciplinary research with significant intellectual and societal impact.

Magnetic problems

Computer memory traditionally comprises silicon microchips. But in the past few decades, researchers have been looking at using magnetic materials called ferromagnets, made from alloys of cobalt and iron, for memory chips, and that are now used in artificial intelligence and space applications. This is partly because ferromagnetic chips are more energy efficient than silicon ones.

Memory chips make use of the internal properties of ferromagnets to store data. Ferromagnets have "mini magnets" in them owing to how their electrons behave. When these mini magnets are aligned in a specific way, the materials will be in a state that can represent 1. Orienting the mini magnets in a different way results in a state representing 0.

The cryogenic superconducting magnet where electrical measurements were taken in the experiments at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Credit: NTU Singapore

However, if ferromagnetic chips are exposed to magnetic fields, such as those from power lines or industrial equipment with electromagnets, these intrinsic propertiesthe alignment of the mini magnetscan get disrupted, thus corrupting or destroying the data that is stored.

While this problem can be solved by shielding the chips, ferromagnets also produce magnetic fields themselves that can disrupt the internal properties of other nearby ferromagnets.

Antiferromagnets can overcome these issues as they do not produce magnetic fields because their internal properties are slightly different from those of ferromagnets, due to how their mini magnets are aligned.

This also means that they will not become disturbed in the presence of other magnets, and more antiferromagnets can be packed in the same amount of space than ferromagnets, thus increasing memory capacity.

Still, despite finding ways to configure the antiferromagnets to encode data as 1s and 0s, reading this information has been difficult since there were no practical methods that could distinguish what state the materials were in.

Unique voltage solves data-reading problem

While studying the physical properties of a new antiferromagnetic material called manganese bismuth telluride, Assoc Prof Gao's team stumbled on an observation that solved the data-reading problem.

In their experiments, the scientists passed an alternating current through a very tiny device the size of a raindrop consisting of manganese bismuth telluride crystal flakes at extremely low temperatures of around 5 Kelvin or -268 Celsius, which approaches the coldness of outer space.

The cryogenic superconducting magnet where electrical measurements were taken in the experiments at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Credit: NTU Singapore

Surprisingly, the researchers found a unique voltage signal across the crystals with a frequency double that of the alternating current. For instance, passing a current of 10 microamperes at a frequency of 100 hertz produced a voltage of 0.2 millivolts with a frequency of 200 hertz. The scientists had expected the frequencies of the voltage and current to be the same.

They also found that depending on how the antiferromagnetic manganese bismuth telluride was configured, the sign of the voltage would change.

If the voltage was positive, it meant the antiferromagnet was in a state representing 0. If the voltage was negative, the material was in a state representing 1. This observation solves the problem of not being able to easily read information stored in antiferromagnets.

The scientists believe that other antiferromagnets will display a similar behavior and their next step will be to test such materials that can encode data at room temperature.

The researchers said that the unique voltage arises from the electronic properties of the manganese bismuth telluride crystals, called the quantum metric. The properties have not been experimentally observed until recently. This latest finding points the way towards further investigations into systems where such properties matter and which are explained by quantum mechanics, the study of how matter and energy behave at the atomic and subatomic level.

One of the independent and anonymous reviewers of the paper wrote that the group's experiments "discover the transport phenomenon caused by the quantum metric, which is significant for topology physics," adding that the "experimental results are solid and convincing."

The NTU-led scientists also found that besides the unexpected voltage they detected, there was another voltage that arose from a direct current induced by the alternating current passing through the manganese bismuth telluride crystals. For example, they found that a 10 microamperes alternating current would produce a voltage of 0.3 millivolts that was linked to the direct current.

The discovery suggests that wireless energy, like that from Wi-Fi and mobile signals, could cause antiferromagnets to produce electricity that might one day be tapped to power portable electronic devices.

Assoc Prof Gao said that his team is planning further research to increase the amount of energy that could be harvested in this way.

More information: Naizhou Wang et al, Quantum metric-induced nonlinear transport in a topological antiferromagnet, Nature (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06363-3 Journal information: Nature
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A blistered pyrgomorph grasshopper. How will Australias alpine invertebrates cope as the climate warms? Credit: Kate Umbers, Author provided

We may not pay invertebrates much thought, but they're the workhorses of all ecosystems. Insects and other invertebrates do essential jobs such as pollinating plants, improving soils and controlling pests. They're also food for many larger animals, which moves nutrients up the food chain.

Invertebrates are vulnerable to rising global temperatures. In response to climate change, many are moving to cooler areas, be that across land towards the poles, or upward in elevation.

But not all invertebrates have that option. In Australia, invertebrates already living at the highest possible elevationon mountain summitshave nowhere higher to go. So how will they cope? And how can we help them?

Answering these questions is important. Invertebrates underpin Earth's ecosystemsso if their numbers decline, the ecological damage will be felt far and wide.

A life at the top

The invertebrates of the Australian Alps are beautiful and diverse. As in all ecosystems, they make up the largest proportion of our alpine animal species.

Most of our alpine invertebrates are found nowhere else If we don't look after them they're gone forever. And each species extinction is like losing a rivet in an airplane wing; eventually whole ecosystems will crash.

Warmer temperatures can affect invertebrates in many ways. For example, pollinating insects that collect nectar may hatch before plants flowercreating issues for both the insects and the plants. Species that rely on wet or damp conditions may find their habitat dried out. Less harsh, cold conditions may also bring new predators and competitors into their habitats.

Overseas, where mountain ranges are typically much higher, animals have been moving up in elevation to survive. But Australia's mountains are smallless than half the height of many key mountain ranges overseas. This leaves little room to move higher.

Alpine invertebrates tend to live in small, isolated populations on mountain tops. This limits their genetic diversity and therefore the potential that offspring can survive and adapt to changing conditions.

A spider from the Australian Alps looking out from her hole. Credit: Kate Umbers, Author provided

What's more, many invertebrates don't have wings, so can't fly away to a more hospitable place. And being trapped on mountain tops also makes them vulnerable to devastating local threats such as unusually severe or extensive bushfires.

Extraordinary bogong moths

Some species might seem to be moving higher up the Australian Alps. For example, it seems bogong moths inhabit low elevation caves less frequently than they once did. But this probably just shows the species' habitat is shrinking upward.

Each year, bogong moths undertake an extraordinary nocturnal migration. From their starting point many hundreds of kilometers away, they use the stars and Earth's magnetic field to navigate to the Australian Alps in search of cool caves and rock crevices. There, they rest and take refuge from the summer heat, before returning to their winter pastures.

In 2021, bogong moths were listed as endangered because the availability of their summer habitat is declining.

Bogong moths bring an incredibly important influx of nutrients to the alps. They provide food for many animals, including the adorable, critically endangered mountain pygmy possum, as well as many types of birds.

The Taungurung people refer to the bogong moth as "Deberra". The annual concentration of Deberra in the alps is culturally significant to the Taungurung and other traditional custodians.

Deberra have a high fat content and were harvested by Taungurung and other groups for eating. During the harvest, large gatherings of many Aboriginal nations were held and cultural business was conducted.

So Deberra offers not only a rich source of food, but also connection with deeply significant cultural landscapes. They are an important element in the cyclical movement of people and exchange of knowledge within and between Indigenous nations.

For Traditional Owners, Deberra is, like all things, part of the interrelated web of Country. When Deberra travels, human and non-human entities follow. It supports energy flows of many kinds.

Bogong moth habitat on Mount Kosciuszko in summer. The moths migrate to alpine areas in summer. Credit: James Trezise/author supplied, Author provided

The decline of Deberra is a sign that Country is sick. Sick Country tells us the land is not being managed well.

Color-changing skyhoppers

The adults of many alpine invertebrate species live for just a single summer, lay their eggs, then die. They include skyhoppers, a group of alpine grasshoppers unique to Australia, many species of which are threatened.

Skyhoppers rely on a thick snow layer to protect their eggs in winter. But Australia's snow cover is becoming increasingly unreliable as the planet warms.

Thermocolour skyhoppers, listed as endangered, are unique among grasshoppers in that they change color from black to turquoise when their body temperature exceeds 25.

Until recently, five skyhopper species were known to science. But when researchers walked the entire 655-kilometer Australian Alps walking track, they discovered 15 species of skyhopper existeach separated by the rugged mountain landscape.

The true biodiversity of the alps is unknown. What we do know is that it is heavily fragmented. What may look like one species across the alps is likely to be many species each occupying small areas. This means they're even more vulnerable than currently recognized.

Helping them hang on

Much of the Australian Alps region is contained in national parks, but this alone is not adequate protection for our alpine biodiversity.

Greenhouse gas emissions to date have put our alpine biodiversity on a knife's edge. Australian and international governments must swiftly undertake far more ambitious climate action to cool the alps.

And more effort is needed to give our alpine ecosystems the best chance of coping with climate change. This includes allowing Traditional Owners to connect to and manage Country and removing threats such as feral species, disease and habitat destruction.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
BEIRUT, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's authorities announced on Monday the freezing of bank accounts belonging to former Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh, his family members and associates in banks and financial institutions across the country.

The Special Investigation Commission at the central bank, also known as the Banque Du Liban, decided to revoke the banking secrecy of their bank accounts.

The decision came in a statement issued by the central bank's acting Governor Wasim Mansouri, who heads the Special Investigation Commission at the central bank.

The commission decided "unanimously, to freeze all accounts belonging, directly or indirectly, to each of Riad Salameh, his son Nadi, his brother Raja, his assistant Mariane Howayek, and his confidant Anna Kozakova, permanently with all banks and financial institutions operating in Lebanon."

Salameh concluded his tenure as governor of the Banque Du Libanon on July 31, a post he held for 30 years.

Riad Salameh, alongside his brother Raja, is currently under investigation both in Lebanon and abroad for allegedly embezzling more than 330 million U.S. dollars from the Banque Du Liban.

Salameh has consistently denied these allegations, reiterating that his wealth is a result of his prior occupation as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch, in addition to inherited properties and investments.

Lebanon has been facing a steep financial crisis amid the collapse of the local currency by over 90 percent. 
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A mother bear and her cubs in the Abruzzo National Park. Credit: Paula Meyer

The media uproar over wolf attacks on livestock in Switzerland and a bear attack in Italy show how charged the issue of large carnivores and humans coexisting in Europe is. ETH Zurich researcher Paula Mayer has now created a participatory model to help facilitate human-bear coexistence using the example of the Apennine brown bear.

Less than two hours' drive from the metropolis of Rome, bears still roam the woods. The Marsican or Apennine brown bears, a subspecies of the European brown bear, currently number about 70. For now. Thanks to improved protection, educational work and measures to prevent the damage these animals sometimes cause, this population has survived and has even increased slightly in recent times.

But the endangered bears still perish on highways or die from poison bait laid out by truffle hunters for their competitors' truffle-sniffing dogs. And not everywhere in their home range do people sympathize with the large carnivores.

Map identifies coexistence areas

For this reason, Paula Mayer came up with the idea of creating a model for the coexistence of humans and bears in the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park region and plotting it on a map in her Master's thesis.

This map is intended to support those involved at the local levelauthorities, conservationists, farmers and tourism specialistsin identifying areas and measures that should be prioritized to promote human-bear coexistence.

"This project is an attempt to take a rational look at the landscape and figure out where and under what circumstances humans and large carnivores successfully coexist and where they don't," Mayer explains. Her supervisor, ETH Zurich Professor Adrienne Gret-Regamey, encouraged Mayer to turn the methodology of her work into a scientific publication, which has just been published in the Journal for Nature Conservation.

Twenty-one municipalities evaluated

Mayer used her model to create maps for a total of 21 municipalities located in and around the Abruzzo National Park. As examples, she selected three municipalities and analyzed them in more detail.

While one municipality has a positive attitude towards the large carnivores, making bear-human coexistence very likely possible there, peaceful coexistence is rather unlikely in another of the municipalities surveyed. "It depends on things like whether the people in the municipality have been in contact with bears for a long time, or whether they know these animals only from hearsay." Mayer says she was surprised that in some cases municipalities just a few kilometers apart often had different opinions about the bears. This is mostly because of individual opinion makers who spread (false) information, she explains.

The question of coexistence also depends on whether the people in a given municipality rely on their own agricultural products or earn their living in tourism or away from home. "Tourism-reliant municipalities even stand to benefit from the bears, since wildlife tourism is booming in the Abruzzo National Park." Money is also being invested to make the local waste disposal, fruit crops and livestock bear-proof. The situation is different in rural municipalities, where preventive protection measures often lag behind. "If you own only ten sheep and a bear kills one of them, you feel your livelihood is threatened," Mayer says.

Landscape from the perspective of bear (left), human (r.) and calculated map of human-bear coexistence (HBC, center). Red: zones with low coexistence probability, green: high coexistence probability. Credit: Journal for Nature Conservation (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2023.126387

A global problem

Mayer believes that the "large carnivore problem" is the same everywhere. She says it's mostly an urban-rural conflict charged with emotion, and with a lot of symbolism projected onto the animals. "But it's more about interpersonal issues and control; the wild animals only serve a symbolic function."

The question, Mayer adds, is what measures are needed on the ground so that bear-human coexistence can succeed. One important factor that emerged from interviews with locals is that they want government compensation payments to be disbursed more quickly and with less red tapeor indeed for the government to actually make such payments in the first place. "Some people are angry because they've never been compensated for any damage caused by individual bears, despite promises to the contrary."

A practical tool

The model and generated coexistence maps constitute a practical tool, for example for examining how bear-human coexistence in the landscape changes over time. It can also be used to test whether measures are effective at the local level.

"If the model produces a map that shows areas of low coexistence despite measures like fences to protect beehives from bears, you can infer how effective a measure isand whether other measures might be better for promoting coexistence in that location," Mayer says. "That's something we can assess very wellor even predictwith the model."

And it doesn't take a powerful mainframe computer to generate these maps either: the current maps were made on Mayer's laptop.

Network with many nodes

Mayer used a Bayesian network to approach this multi-layered problem. Such networks operate with conditional probabilities and can take into account and connect a variety of different factors. The model approach considers factors that both represent the human perspective and reflect the needs of the bears. These variables can be updated with explicit local information. To obtain this information, she worked with experts from nature conservation, tourism and research and conducted interviews with local people.

The bears' perspective is represented by factors such as suitable habitats, migration corridors and whether attractive human-made food resources are present. The latter include waste disposal facilities, orchards and livestock that aren't bear-proof. This affects the probability of bears appearing in and around settlements.

The model also considers threats to bears, such as unfenced sections of roads and railways or areas with a lot of tourist disturbance. The human perspective is influenced by network nodes such as different types of agriculture, hunting and truffle collecting as well as by local policies, damage compensation, knowledge and emotions regarding the bears.

To generate a map, the model links all these nodes and factors them in. This map shows the areas where human-bear coexistence works best. These are zones where people's tolerance is high and living conditions for bears are good. But it also shows areas where conditions are worse. "This model lends itself very well to mapping the complex web of interdependencies that underlie the coexistence of large carnivores and humans," Mayer says.

Moreover, the network nodes can be expanded as needed: in other contexts, nodes can be removed and replaced or new ones added. This makes it relatively easy to adapt and tailor the model to other casesfor example, to other regions or animal species such as wolves. "It is crucial to work with the people on the ground to incorporate the specific information from the local context into the model," explains the researcher.

Mayer came across this topic during an internship that was part of her Environmental Sciences study program at ETH Zurich. She worked for the conservation organization Rewilding Apennines in a project that aims to promote the coexistence of humans and the Marsican brown bear and other wildlife in the Central Apennines.

More information: Paula Mayer et al, Mapping human- and bear-centered perspectives on coexistence using a participatory Bayesian framework, Journal for Nature Conservation (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2023.126387
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Tardigrade under a microscope. Credit: Nadja Mberg

They're found on Mount Everest, in the deep seas, aboard the International Space Station and thousands of them have even crash landed and been spilled onto the moon. The microscopic water bear has a nearly unfathomable ability to survive in the most hostile environments. New research from the University of Copenhagen demonstrates that a wide variety of them also live in Denmark.

They look a bit like chubby teddy bears. But at roughly half a millimeter in length, they are one of the smallest multicellular animals on Earth. Their wobbly exterior belies a hardy survivor that can be found in Earth's most extreme locations, from the Himalayas to the deepest of seas.

Water bears can withstand being frozen in liquid helium to -273C as well as total desiccation. They can even withstand extreme levels of radiation and the vacuum of outer space.

But they're also found in Denmark, in more everyday places, such as in soil, moss and rain gutters.

For the first time, researchers from the Department of Biology, the Globe Institute and the University of Copenhagen's Natural History Museum of Denmark have studied the species richness of water bears, known scientifically as tardigrades, across Denmark. The work is published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.

By analyzing environmental DNA, known as eDNA, a method that can trace DNA from all living organisms in soil, water and air, scientists studied DNA sequences extracted from soil samples gathered around Denmark. The result? Denmark is crawling with tardigrades.

"We don't know how many species of tardigrade there are in Denmark in all, but we did find 96 unique tardigrade DNA sequences during our studyof which only 13 are known species. And there are probably more, so their diversity is apparently huge," says Associate Professor Nadja Mbjerg of the University of Copenhagen's Department of Biology, a tardigrade expert.

Tardigrades last studied in 1972

It is well known that water bears are found nearly everywhere on Earth, from parched desert landscapes to the frosty Arctic. However, we know far less about how the different species are distributed locally and how many species there are in all.

The last occasion that the species richness of tardigrades was studied in Denmark was more than a half-century ago, in 1972, when today's DNA methods and computers didn't exist.

In the new study, the researchers analyzed DNA sequences from 130 soil samples collected in various regions of Denmark. They could see that the vast majority of samples contained DNA from the microscopic water bears.

"Water bears that live on land thrive in extreme environments, where they are exposed to being desiccated, for example. But they can also be found in wetter soils, and our results demonstrate that they seem to do quite well on the Danish island Lolland, in the wild and boggy areas of Skelsns, Fuglse Mose and Musse Mose," says Nadja Mbjerg.

Tardigrades are closely related to arthropods, to which insects and crustaceans belong. But there is still disagreement among scientists about exactly where in the animal kingdom tardigrades deserve to be classified.

Tardigrades can suspend life for 30 years

The secret to the tardigrade's incredible capacity to survive in extreme environments is found in its unique ability to enter cryptobiosis, a reversible state in which the animal suspends its metabolic activities. The tiny animal can enter this state if exposed to desiccation, cooling and other extreme environmental challenges.

Scientists have observed tardigrades waking up and reproducing after thirty years of cryptobiosis. One study even showed tardigrades that were dormant for a full 120 years being able to move again, but without being able to reproduce.

"When there is water, they are active, reproduce and feed. But as soon as the water evaporates, they stop living, shut down their metabolic processes and allow themselves to desiccate. And then they lie there, waiting for the water to return," explains Nadja Mbjerg.

Their unique ability to survive in cryptobiosis has made water bears the object of great interest to scientists in areas like biomedicine and space research.

"Near sci-fi-like perspectives are imaginable if we could transfer some of the tardigrade's abilities to other organisms. This is why intense research is being conducted into how cryptobiosis works right down to the molecular level," concludes Nadja Mbjerg.

More information: Frida Lkkegaard Pust et al, Environmental DNA metabarcoding of Danish soil samples reveals new insight into the hidden diversity of eutardigrades in Denmark, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society (2023). DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad059 Journal information: Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society
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Chromolaena odorata (Syn. Eupatorium odoratum)Siam Weed, Bitter bush, Devilweed, Hagonoy, Jack in the bush, Triffid weed. Credit: J.M.Garg/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY

CABI has led new research which demonstrates the value of using citizen science to monitor the establishment and spread of a natural enemy to fight the invasive shrub Chromolaena odorataalso known as Siam weedin South and South-East Asia.

Dr. Matthew Cock, a CABI Emeritus Fellow, used the iNaturalist.org platform to assess the establishment and spread of the moth Pareuchaetes pseudoinsulata which was released in six countries in South and South-East Asia to control C. odorata.

Dr. Cock, together with colleagues from Australia's Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and MIA Consulting, Utah, U.S., found that"adding to existing knowledge"P. pseudoinsulata is established in Thailand and Vietnam and has spread to China, Cambodia and West Malaysia.

The researchers, whose findings are published as a short communication in the CABI Agriculture and Bioscience journal, say the results extracted from observations shared by citizen scientists on iNaturalist also confirm widespread establishment of P. pseudoinsulata in southern India and Sri Lanka.

They argue that iNaturalist can provide an additional source of information regarding the incidence and spread of introduced species, including biological control agents, but will be most effective where the subjects are readily identifiable from photographs.

Citizen science is described as scientific research conducted in participation from the general public who are sometimes referred to as amateur/non-professional scientists.

According to a "Green Paper on Citizen Science," which was published in 2013 by the European Commission's Digital Science Unit and Socientize.eu, participants "provide experimental data and facilities for researchers, raise new questions and co-create a new scientific culture."

C. odorata is a weedy pioneering shrub native to the Americas, from southern U.S. to Argentina and has become one of the worst invasive plants in the Old-World humid tropics and subtropics.

P. pseudoinsulata was released in selected countries in Africa, South and South-East Asia and parts of the Pacific, and became established in parts of these areas.

For several releases of P. pseudoinsulata, the agent was reported not to have established (e.g., Thailand and Vietnam), or there have been no published follow-up studies to assess whether or not introductions were successful.

Dr. Cock said, "This paper investigates the validity of some of these reports and also discusses the value of using citizen science to monitor the establishment and spread of weed biological control agents.

"The images shared by citizen scientists on iNaturalist confirm the presence of P. pseudoinsulata in several areas, including some where it had not been previously reported.

"Areas where it has been reported as established but there were no images to confirm this indicate opportunities for a more targeted citizen science project or some other form of on-the-ground truthing involving biological control researchers."

More information: Matthew J. W. Cock et al, Citizen science to monitor the establishment and spread of a biological control agent: the case of Pareuchaetes pseudoinsulata (Lepidoptera, Erebidae) for the control of Chromolaena odorata (Asteraceae) in South and South-East Asia, CABI Agriculture and Bioscience (2023). DOI: 10.1186/s43170-023-00171-5

Provided by CABI
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Artists depiction of a Borebot (the red & blue cylinder) being deployed from a rover. Credit: Morley & Bowen / James Vaughn

The south pole of Mars is a likely candidate for future exploration efforts there. It is also an area of interest for astrobiologists, as there is a decent chance that there might be signs of ancient water there and, therefore, signs of ancient lifeif there was any on the red planet anyway.

But to access that ancient life, explorers would have to get to it, which means digging much further than has ever been dug on Mars before. Typical deep-bore drilling equipment is bulky, heavy, and difficult to set up on remote terrain like the Martian south pole. So a group of engineers from Planet Enterprises, a Space Technology Incubator based in Washington, developed a new deep bore drilling concept they call Borebots.

NASA's Institute for Advanced Concepts NIAC) support the Borebots concept back in 2021, and the engineers, led by Quinn Morley and Tom Bowen, produced a mammoth 96-page report of their efforts. That report details how Borebots are unique in the world of extraterrestrial drilling and how widely accepted the concept was in numerous other exploration contexts.

But the context it was designed for was to look for underground water in the Martian south pole. The engineers estimated they could collect interesting scientific data from a borehole measuring about 50 meters down.

Typically, a borehole that far down, even on Earth, would require some sort of tether back to the surface. Usually, that would include a cable or a rigid piping system that would provide power and control to the drill bit. That means a lot of material, most of it heavy, making it costly in space exploration.

So the team at Planet Enterprises came up with a solutionmake autonomous bots that could do the drilling without being tethered to a base station. The bots themselves look like pieces of drilling tubing. Still, they are autonomous robots with a self-contained battery, drill bit, motor, and electronic system, all contained in a cylindrical housing that is 64mm in diameter by 1.1 meters long.

They could be deployed by a rover similar to the Perseverance rover already trundling around Mars. The rover could extend a deployment tube, which the bot would descend and start busily drilling away at the surface. Since it is remotely powered, its primary constraint would be its battery life, as using a drill bit to dig through regolith is power intensive. However, once it begins to run low on battery, it can simply engage a series of traction spikes on its side and climb back up the hole it had just dug.

Once the Borebot makes it back into the deployment tube and safely into the rover, it can be shunted aside to a cleaning and recharging station while another one takes its place. With this speed, the Borebot system could almost continuously dig down without the need for heavy support equipmentjust a set of Borebots to keep hacking away at the rock.

The engineers thought of plenty of potential problems, including how to power a dead Borebot in the holethey could be developed to power each other. And how could one make a branching bore if something is exciting in a particular areaby employing an articulated joint that would allow the next Borebot to proceed at a slight angleand hopefully not mess up the climbing process of any other Borebots that decide to continue the central hole.

Plenty of interesting CAD designs and even some 3D-printed devices are described in the final report. It's not short on math eitherdescribing calculations from the power electronics to the torque necessary for the drill head. They also mention there was some expressed interest from The Mars Society to flesh out the concept for resource extraction, as well as an idea to potentially utilize the idea on ocean worlds.

But for now, it's unclear if the project is undertaking the next step in development. While the paper details a clear plan to increase the Technology Readiness Level, it does not appear to have received further funding from NIAC, other any other funding source. However, the Planet Enterprises engineers haven't let that get them downtheir TitanAir concept received a NIAC Phase I award in 2023. So they'll have plenty of time to keep working on their wildly innovative ideas.

More information: Borebots: Tetherless Deep Drilling into the Mars South Polar Layered Deposits: www.nasa.gov/sites/default/fil  _borebots_tagged.pdf
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Credit: Simon Corrall / shutterstock

Britain's rivers and coasts are pollutedthere's no escaping that factand water companies are coming under more and more pressure to fix things. Most recently, a law firm has announced its plans to take collective legal action against the UK's six biggest water companies over alleged pollution and overcharging.

Private water companies have admitted they need to do more and pressure must be kept on them to do sothey cannot be let off the hook. But anyone who wants to see cleaner rivers and coasts can't simply sit back and wait for the promised investment and improved practices, because the problems facing Britain's waterways are far greater than those caused solely by the water industryand the solutions will need many other sectors of society and industry to get involved.

Here are three things that would improve Britain's rivers and coastswhich don't require the water companies.

1. Less concrete, more soil

The first is to develop a water-conscious construction industry: new developments need to do everything they can to reduce the amount of rainwater entering standard drains. Too many of these drains combine with the sewage treatment system, which then becomes overloaded during periods of heavy rain resulting in water companies releasing the overflow into the environment.

Therefore, instead of having areas of impermeable concrete, buildings and developments must allow rainwater to soak naturally into the ground through so-called Sustainable Drainage Systems, or SuDS.

This can take the form of everything from permeable street paving to wonderfully biodiverse mini-urban ponds and wetlands, all of them doing their bit to reduce the amount of rainwater from roofs or surface water flowing across roads and carparks, from entering the sewage system.

2. Develop the UK's 'kidneys'

The second action is to enhance the natural functioning of different habitats that can help protect rivers and coasts. This approach is often referred to in the latest ecological jargon as using "nature-based solutions".

Sustainable drainage in Salford, Greater Manchester. Credit: PJL909/shutterstock

What it means is encouraging the natural biology, chemistry and ecology of an ecosystem to lend us a hand in tackling some of the biggest environmental problems. In this case we must look at conserving and constructing more wetland habitats.

Since 1700 the UK has lost 75% of its wetlands. These "kidneys of the landscape" can remove pollutants from watercourses and even help control levels of water throughout the year, acting as giant sponges during the wetter months and releasing it during drier periods.

Strips of reeds and shrubs are essential for healthy rivers and there must now be a national push to reintroduce these riparian wetlands along whole stretches of water where they have been lost. They can filter out pollutants and remove some of the excess nutrients flowing through rivers more effectively and efficiently than any hard engineered system we could build.

Along the coasts saltmarshes have the same superpower and not only must they be protected but, if possible, restored. For instance novel techniques to restore a saltmarsh using dredged material are currently being tested near Chichester on the south coast of England.

3. Individual responsibility

As with many environmental issues it's easy for us to think individual actions don't matter, but they do. All of us need to look at our water use and consider what we flush down the toilet, as both of these actions can put unnecessary pressure on an already struggling water industry (avoid flushing wet wipes whatever you do).

Even dropping litter in the street can result in clogging up a water treatment process, or simply adding to the levels of pollution floating in our rivers and polluting our coasts. A piece of street art in France next to a gutter sums up this last point pointedly, the stenciled text says "ici commence la mer"the sea starts here:

As well as the pathogens and excessive nutrients sewage brings to our rivers, there is the as of yet unknown quantities of microplastics, pharmaceutical waste and other drug and chemical compounds entering during these pollution events. Improving the water quality in our rivers is clearly vital for the health of entire ecosystems, wildlife and our own well-being.

To do this we mustn't stop demanding better from Britain's water companies. But the high level of pollutants in these watercourses has been caused by shortcomings in various areas of society and cleaning it up will therefore require a determined societal approach.

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Eastern Iranian Khotanese is among the languages that influenced ancient Tocharian. Credit: CC0 via Wikimedia Commons

Painstaking archaeological exploration is a familiar, often widely admired, method of unearthing history. Less celebrated, but also invaluable, is the piecing together of fragments of ancient languages and analyzing how they changed over thousands of years.

Historical linguists have reconstructed a common ancestral tongue for most of the languages spoken today in Europe and South Asia. English, German, Greek, Hindi and Urduamong others in the Indo-European family of languagescan all trace their origins to a single spoken one named Proto-Indo-European (PIE).

Linguistic ripples

The language is believed to have been spoken from roughly 4,500 BC to 2,500 BC. No written traces remain.

The people who spoke PIE probably lived in an area that is now eastern Ukraine. As groups broke away over the centuries to migrate across the continent, daughter languages stretched from Ireland to the Indian Ocean.

Yet the pattern included a notable exception: a now-extinct branch of the Indo-European language family made its way from Europe more than 4,000 kilometers eastward to end up at the Tarim Basin in northwest China.

Learning how and when these people, known as the Tocharians, undertook the odyssey are the goals of an EU-funded research project.

"It gives us a fascinating insight about how far people could migrate and what sort of risks and hardships they were actually prepared to expose themselves to," said Professor Michael Peyrot of the Center for Linguistics at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands.

Peyrot coordinates the European project, which is called TheTocharianTrek and is due to end in December 2023 after almost six years.

Tocharian trek

The research is helping to pin down where the Tocharians were located in the period between 3,500 BC, when they may have left their ancestral home, and their first written history in 400 AD.

In sum, the initiative is mapping the migration route from the PIE homeland all the way to China.

Through the journey, the Tocharians brought their dialect of PIE into contact with people speaking different languages. This influenced and changed the way the Tocharians spoke until finally their recorded languages evolved.

Archaeological and genetic evidence suggests that the Tocharians first moved to southern Siberia.

Peyrot and his research colleagues have sought to provide a linguistic assessment of this route. Their work reveals that, indeed, some of the quirkiest features of the language fit very well with tongues spoken in southern Siberia.

"Languages preserve precious information about their prehistory through the effects of language contact," said Peyrot. "Observing the effects of language contact, such as borrowed words, enables us to draw conclusions about the proximity of the speakers of different languages and at which point in time the contact took place."

As an example of a borrowed word, he cited a term for sword in a language strand known as Tocharian B: "kertte" was taken from "karta" in Old Iranian.

The research team has concluded that the Tocharians arrived in the Tarim Basin in around 1,000 BClater than was previously thought.

As result, their window of influence in the Tarim Basin has narrowed and the Tocharians are being assigned a more muted role in the prehistory of the area than they have traditionally been given.

Instead, the project has found a strengthened role for Iranian languages and peoples in the area, especially Khotanese, its relative Tumshuqese and Niya Prakrit. All influenced Tocharian.

The project is also piecing together which languages left the PIE community first and when.

As their work enters its final phase, the researchers agree with the theory that the Tocharians may well have left the PIE family second and certainly well after the Anatolians, a group of ancient languages once spoken in present-day Turkey.

Weather terminology

Aside from offering insights into people's interactions and movements, comparing vocabularies in languages descended from PIE provides a picture of the material world and day-to-day life at the time.

Much research has already been done on the family and social structure of the day, the livestock that people had and their tools in daily life.

But few studies have examined the shared vocabulary that these ancient peoples used when talking about something that is an equally popular topic of conversation today: the daily weather.

Dr. Julia Sturm is combing through the lexica of ancient languages to pull out any words relating to weather and climate as part of another EU-funded projectIE CLIMATEthat she leads.

"It's important to have many perspectives on how we relate to climate and how we experience ourselves in the world," said Sturm, a postdoctoral fellow with the Roots of Europe Center at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark.

The European project is due to wrap up in October 2023 after two years.

The work has involved scrutinizing the written evidence of 10-plus Indo-European languages to find, for example, a word to convey cloud and then piecing together conclusions and timeframes about how one tongue influenced another.

Word atlas

The ultimate goal is to create an atlas that maps where the words were used and when. The completed atlas is due to be available on the university's website beginning in late 2023.

While an archaeologist digs up physical objects at historical sites, Sturm combines formal linguistics and philologythe study of language in written and oral historical sourcesto "excavate" words.

In both cases, the aim is to draw conclusions about the material world of the distant past.

Carried out in tandem with paleoclimatology, which is the study of climatic conditions in different periods of history, Sturm's work gives new insights into the weather of the past and people's attitudes towards it.

The persistence of metaphor is striking: how humans have personified elements in the natural world and related to them.

Greek, Latin and Vedic Sanskrit, for instance, all describe gods as wearing clouds, using the same verb to depict how people might don a shawl or a cape.

"The more information we have about geography and time, the better," said Sturm. "In a world where the climate is changing so much and we are realizing our role in the system, looking at the past brings an important new perspective."
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

The increasing number of extreme bushfires around the world, as currently seen in Canada and Greece and previously during the Australian Black Summer, could exacerbate climate change and further disrupt Earth's systems, leading to devastating impacts across the globe.

In an article published in Science, researchers from University of New South Wales Canberra and The University of Tasmania have highlighted the global impacts of the Black Summer fires and detailed lessons learned, while emphasizing the urgent need for the global community to better respond to extreme fires.

The world is experiencing larger and more destructive fires; the area burned by the Black Summer bushfires was 800 percent larger than the average area burned in fires between 1988 and 2001, and the fires released the equivalent of 80 percent of Australia's typical annual greenhouse gas emissions.

UNSW Canberra Professor of Bushfire Dynamics Jason Sharples said fire thunderstorms, which were prevalent across the 201920 fire season, have the potential to significantly disrupt Earth systems, such as the climate.

"During the Black Summer we witnessed 44 fire thunderstorms, also called pyrocumulonimbus, where extreme fires alter the surrounding atmosphere," Professor Sharples said.

"It shattered all previous records for a single fire season in Australia.

"While these enormous fires had devastating immediate impacts, people were killed, homes were destroyed and innumerable wildlife and habitats were lost, they also had a significant effect on systems that influence global climate.

"The unprecedented amount of smoke and greenhouse gases released by the fires led to such immense stratospheric pollution that it damaged the ozone layer, caused a drop in sea temperatures and produced algal blooms in the Southern Ocean that were larger in size than Australia.

"These impacts might be less obvious than the immediate destruction, but they pose a serious risk to the health of ecosystems across the planet.

"It is crucial that the global community takes steps to limit the effects of climate change and improve fire management techniques to prevent these extreme fires as much as possible.

"If not, we will be locked in a vicious cycle of climate change leading to larger fires and then those larger fires amplifying the effects of climate change."

University of Tasmania Professor of Pyrogeography and Fire Science David Bowman said Australia, and other fire-prone countries, needed to re-think fire management practices and adopt a diversity of approaches to meet the challenge.

"For a long time, we have relied primarily on prescribed burning to reduce the fuel load for bushfires, but this is less effective in hotter and drier conditions, like those we will experience more frequently due to climate change," Professor Bowman said.

"Add to that the fact we have an increasingly smaller window to complete prescribed burns and it's clear we need a re-think.

"Following the Black Summer, policy discussions have focused on increasing firefighter capability and capacity, but with the extreme fires we expect in future no firefighting service could adequately respond to those. This means we need to get better at management and prevention.

"In addition to prescribed burns, we must adopt the cultural burning practices used for centuries by First Nations Australians and determine to what extent they can be implemented at scale across the country.

"We should also consider what benefit marsupials and non-native herbivores can have on reducing the understory vegetation across different parts of Australia. Thinning bushland surrounding urban areas and establishing 'green fire breaks' with irrigated, low flammable vegetation may also help to prevent the spread of fires.

"The fires we expect to face in future are going to be bigger and more dangerous than those we've experienced in the past, so we can't just keep doing the same things to combat them."

More information: David M. J. S. Bowman et al, Taming the flame, from local to global extreme wildfires, Science (2023). DOI: 10.1126/science.adi8066 Journal information: Science
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The pairs of bars show that the full groundwater abstractions for tanker deliveries estimated with the UFZ model for 2015 (pink) substantially exceeded the licensed groundwater abstractions (green) in Jordans six monitored groundwater basins. The difference is particularly large in the Amman-Zarqa basin. According to the UFZ model, over seven times more tanker water was illegally abstracted than well licenses permit. Credit: UFZ

Water scarcity is a basic problem in many regions of the world. The consequences of this are black markets for drinking water, unauthorized water extraction from private wells, and the uncontrolled decline of groundwater supplies.

For Jordan, one of the world's most arid countries, a team of international scientists coordinated by the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research (UFZ) has analyzed the role of water markets and discusses the increasing dependence of the population on illegal water trade in an article published in Nature Sustainability. The article identifies solutions with which the state would be able to stabilize the supply of water in the face of climate change.

In more than 30 cities around the world, millions of people obtain their drinking water from storage tanksbecause tap water is often available for only a few hours at any one time. When the public water supply is insufficient, households and businesses mostly resort to private providers.

Trucks bring drinking wateroften tapped from groundwater wellsfrom the countryside to the cities and sell it there. This is partly licensed by the state but largely takes place illegally. "In Jordan, these water deliveries by tanker truck make up for the deficit of the public water supply network," says UFZ economist Dr. Christian Klassert, lead author of the study. But the role that these (largely) illegally traded water supplies actually play in the Jordanian water market was unclear until now. "The official data on well extractions for truck water deliveries does not reflect the actual situation. They are considerably lower because the black market for water from tanker trucks had so far not been quantified."

Moreover, as long as private water markets compensate for the weaknesses of the public water supply, there is little pressure for the state to take measures to improve it. However, groundwater supplies will eventually be depleted, so a greater insight into such black markets is required. With the increasing threat posed by climate change, more information on the contribution of these black markets to water security and their impact on society, the environment, and especially on groundwater supplies, as well as the possible consequences of stricter state regulation of the markets, is urgently needed.

The UFZ scientists, together with hydrologists from Stanford University, therefore developed a socio-economic computer model of the Jordanian water sector that links the human-driven water cycle with the natural water cycle. They extended the model by simulating the black market for water. This was a difficult undertaking because there were hardly any reliable data available for this until now.

In order to be able to reliably model the amount of water traded in Jordan and the effects on groundwater levels, energy consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions, the researchers asked well owners and tanker water truck drivers from which wells they extract how much water, how great the distances between the well and the sales market are, and how frequently they take these routes.

With this modeling approach, the UFZ economists were able to quantify the extent of the black market for 2015 as an example. According to the model, the amount of water traded illegally exceeded the amount that was officially allowed to be traded by a factor of 10.7. This means that in 2015, 91% of the water delivered by truck was extracted illegally from wells. "The implications of illegal water deliveries by tanker truck have been completely underestimated so far," says Klassert.

According to the projections of the researchers, the importance of water deliveries by tanker truck will continue to increase. "Household dependence on water tanks will increase 2.6-fold by 2050from 4.6% of the population to 12%", says co-author and UFZ economist Prof. Dr. Erik Gawel. The main reasons for this are high population growth and decreasing groundwater supplies. Some households will also no longer be able to use this type of water supply because of increasing water prices.

Because the average distances between wells and sales markets have increased from 13 to 20 km and water extraction is becoming more costly, the price for water could increase from US$3/m3 in 2016 to US$ 4/m3 in 2050. Poorer households will thus reach their financial limitsespecially because the price for this is already almost five times higher than for tap water.

"However, the prices are not arbitrarily inflated but rather realistically reflect the production, personnel, and transport costs," says Gawel. For poorer sections of the population living in areas with an insufficient public water supply, the high water prices will become a growing problem. "In these cases, the state would have to intervene. For example, by improving the state water supply or subsidizing the purchase of water for these populations," he says.

However, the uncontrolled extraction of drinking water not only has social consequences but also affects groundwater supplies. In regions where the proportion of illegal wells is particularly high (e.g. around the capital Amman and the city of Zarqa), the groundwater level is dropping rapidlyand in some places by 3.5 m per year. Even now, wells have to be drilled to a depth of 220 m in order to still be able to extract water from them.

In the north of the country, the groundwater available in some regions will have decreased by up to 60% by 2100 according to the modeling of the UFZ economists. The extraction of well water for tanker trucks greatly contributes to this development and, in some parts of the country, accounts for one third of the over-extracted water.

The UFZ scientists also investigated how the state can intervene in order to curb the negative effects of the black market. There are a few possibilities. For example, the Jordanian government is currently shutting down illegal wells. "Although this stabilizes the decline in the groundwater table, it has negative consequences for the poorer sections of the population, who are dependent on the supply of drinking water via tanker trucks and can thus no longer afford the water," says co-author Prof. Dr. Bernd Klauer, a water economist at the UFZ who researches water scarcity and water quality problems.

The trucks increasingly have to drive to more remote wells. This, in turn, increases transport costs and makes it more difficult for the authorities to control water transports. Other measures are also possible. These include the construction of large desalination plants for seawater or greater regulation of the supply of water for commercial uses. According to the UFZ scientists, repairing the water pipes from which a considerable amount of water is lost because of leaks would be quite efficient.

"If the state were to invest in the deteriorating water pipes, this could curb the increase in uncontrolled groundwater extraction to 19% by 2050. That's because not only would less water be lost but the water supplied would also be distributed more equitably," says Klauer. Coupling this with the large-scale expansion of desalination plants could decisively curb the demand for water deliveries by tanker truck. For the UFZ economists, there is no question that the state should act.

"The scale of the water deliveries shows how insecure access to drinking water already is in Jordan. The population is also growing rapidlyespecially because the country has taken in many refugees from Iraq and Syria. The problems of drinking water supply will not disappear but rather become increasingly more pressing," says Klassert.

More information: Unexpected growth of an illegal water market., Nature Sustainability (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41893-023-01177-7 Journal information: Nature Sustainability
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The possibility of introducing mandatory prison sentences for prolific shoplifters has been mooted by government ministers. Credit: Neil Bussey/Shutterstock

The UK government is taking a harsher approach to tackle criminal activity which is blighting local neighborhoods. And recently, government ministers have been talking tough about repeat shoplifting, including the possibility of introducing new laws which would see prolific shoplifters imprisoned. This has all been against a backdrop of concern about a rise in shoplifting across the UK.

But there are some serious practical problems with any such measures and questions remain over whether such a policy could break the cycle of offending. Meanwhile, there is an innovative approach to this issue which may be a better way of dealing with crimes such as shoplifting called "integrated offender management" (IOM).

Rolled out over the past few years, IOM is a novel criminal justice approach that is designed to break the cycle of re-offending. It is operated by 39 out of 43 police forces in England and Wales.

IOM involves police officers working closely with prison and probation services and criminal justice intervention teams. These are support staff who provide both clinical and therapeutic interventions for drug users involved in the criminal justice system. It is all in an effort to change or control the criminal activities of prolific offenders.

IOM was designed to address the underlying causes of offending. By the end of 2020, it was central to the government's neighborhood crime strategy. In a report issued that year, former minister for crime and policing Kit Malthouse and former minister for prisons and probation, Luzy Frazer, said,

"We need a new approachone with the tools to come down with full force on those responsible, but which also encourages rehabilitation and supports offenders to overcome the complex problems that we know can fuel this type of behavior, such as substance misuse, poor mental health and issues with housing or employment."

Any proposals which would see prison sentences for repeat shoplifters could risk undoing any positive progress made under IOM.

The problem with prison

The UK's prison estate is running out of capacity for adult males. In November 2022, the Ministry of Justice announced emergency measures that would see some offenders who would ordinarily be imprisoned (typically remand prisoners) housed in police cells. Figures released in August 2023 show a total of just 980 available prison places.

The government has already stated that more prisons need to be built. But any criminal justice initiative that requires new prisons will take a long time to deliver. This is because, on average, new prisons take two to three years to build and open.

Also, 70% of shoplifting is estimated to be carried out by people funding an addiction to class A drugstypically heroin and crack cocaine. These people arrive in prison as addicts and likely leave as addicts and so will continue shoplifting. Custody is not a panacea for prolific shoplifting and is unlikely to break the cycle of offending.

Integrated offender management

IOM work is done through a mix of rehabilitative and restrictive or enforcement-orientated interventions. Here, the police take a "carrot and stick" approach to the management of offenders. Plain-clothed officers, deployed as police offender managers, gather intelligence and monitor people for signs of re-offending.

Simultaneously, these officers attempt to draw offenders away from crime by working alongside the other agencies, facilitating access to drug services, education, employment and transitions into stable housing arrangements. This is the "carrot" approach.

Where there is evidence that a person is failing to comply with license conditions, or engage with IOM positively, traditional catch-and-convict policing methods are used by uniformed patrol officers. This is the "stick" approach.

Prolific shoplifters are the type of offenders IOM schemes should be engaging with.

My own research has focused on how police officers contribute to IOM schemes.

I have also spoken with offenders who were engaged with IOM in the community. A number said that, while it was initially challenging to do so, in time they were able to form working relationships with police officers.

And, significantly, because of this, IOM had had a positive impact on their lives. This was particularly the case when it came to IOM helping them enter employment and tackle any drug-related issues they were experiencing.

Broadly, IOM seemed to have a strong motivational influence and a positive impact on those who wanted to leave their criminal lifestyle behind.

But IOM can only fully operate when people are able to access the relevant support services in the community. People may be able to get very limited employment and substance misuse help when in prison, but IOM offers a much deeper and enduring level of support.

The prospect of removing sentencing discretion for prolific shoplifters from magistrates and judges and introducing mandatory jail sentences, would risk disrupting a significant criminal justice program. IOM may be a better and more cost effective way to deal with the pressing issue of repeated shoplifting.

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Intense rains have caused floods and landslides in India, killing at least 24 people.

At least 58 people were killed, nine of them in a temple collapse, and many more were feared missing after intense rains caused floods and landslides in India, officials said Monday.

Days of torrential downpours have washed away vehicles, demolished buildings and destroyed bridges in the northern Himalayan states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Flooding and landslides are common and cause widespread devastation during India's treacherous monsoon season, but experts say climate change is increasing their frequency and severity.

In Himachal Pradesh, 50 people were killed in the past 24 hours, up from an earlier official toll of 41. That included at least nine killed in the collapse of a Hindu temple in the state capital, Shimla.

"There is no previous record of such rains and more than 50 deaths in the state in a 24 hour periodand this toll can go up further, because there are still about 20 people under the rubble," chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu told local media late Monday.

"The local administration is diligently working to clear the debris in order to rescue individuals who may still be trapped," Sukhu said in a statement earlier in the evening.

At least eight others have also been killed since Friday in neighboring Uttarakhand state, officials said.

Images from hard-hit areas in Himachal Pradesh showed bodies being pulled out of piles of dark earth that had crushed buildings and smashed roofs.

Thousands of people have been stranded, with key roads, power lines and communication networks disrupted.

Railway lines were seen dangling in midair, with the ground beneath them washed away.

Flooding and landslides are common during India's treacherous monsoon season, but experts say climate change is increasing their frequency and severity.

'Disturbing'

Sukhu, who posted on social media a "disturbing" video of a raging torrent swamping roads, appealed to residents to stay indoors and avoid going near rivers.

Schools in the state had been shut, he said.

The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, said she was "hurt with the loss of lives in accidents because of heavy rains" and offered her condolences to the families who have suffered in Himachal Pradesh.

Rescue teams in Uttarakhand raced to remove debris after people were feared buried when heavy rainfall triggered landslides.

Five people were buried under the debris after a landslide hit a resort near the popular yoga retreat of Rishikesh on the banks of the river Ganges.

District police superintendent, Shweta Choubey, told AFP that a girl had been rescued from the site but that the rest of her family was still under the collapsed building.

Several riverside towns and villages in both states were at risk of flash floods from the heavy rain forecast in the region.

The monsoon brings South Asia around 80 percent of its annual rainfall and is vital for both agriculture and the livelihoods of millions. But it also brings destruction every year in the form of landslides and floods.

Days of relentless monsoon rains killed at least 90 people last month, while the capital New Delhi saw the Yamuna riverwhich snakes past the megacityrecord its highest levels since 1978.

 2023 AFP
RAMALLAH, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian official emphasized the significance of unified Arab efforts on the Palestinian matter following a trilateral summit held earlier in Egypt on Monday.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, King Abdullah II of Jordan, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held a tripartite conference in Egypt's coastal city of New Alamein, where the three leaders touched on the latest developments in the Palestinian cause.

Wasel Abu Youssef, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), told "Voice of Palestine" that the summit comes in light of Israel's disregard of everything related to opening "a real and serious" political path that ends the Israeli occupation.

Abu Youssef said the summit takes place as part of a broader Arab coordination effort, aimed at establishing frameworks to guide political operations in the region, particularly regarding the Palestinian cause.

The summit was held amid growing tension between Israel and the Palestinians, mainly in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Since January, 27 people, most of them Israelis, have been killed in a series of attacks carried out by Palestinians, and more than 200 Palestinians, including children and women, were killed by Israeli soldiers and settlers, according to official figures. 
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Declining rainfall and rising temperatures have hit Lake Habbaniyah and the rest of Iraq.

Iraqi merchant Mohamed has never seen such a grim tourist season: years of drought have shrunken the majestic Lake Habbaniyah, keeping away the holidaymakers who once flocked there during summer.

"The last two years, there was some activity, but now there's no more water," said 35-year-old Mohamed, asking to be identified by his first name only.

He laid out inflatable water floats, nets and shirts in front of his lakeside shop, but expected few if any customers.

"This year, it's dry, dry!" Mohamed told AFP, his shirt soaked in sweat in the inhospitable heat of nearly 50 degrees Celsius (120 Fahrenheit).

Shorelines at Habbaniyah, about 70 kilometers (45 miles) west of the capital Baghdad, have receded by several dozen meters after four consecutive years of drought ravaged parts of the country.

The United Nations ranks water-stressed Iraq as one of five countries most impacted by some effects of climate change.

When full, as it last was in 2020, the lake can hold up to 3.3 billion cubic meters (117 trillion cubic feet) of water, said Jamal Odeh Samir, director of water resources in Anbar province, where Habbaniyah is located.

But now "the lake contains no more than 500 million cubic meters of water", he told AFP.

To get to the water, visitors must walk through foul-smelling mud that was once submerged under the lake surface.

Shops like Mohamed's and holiday homes by the lake now sit empty in the height of summer. On the beach, stray dogs wander between unused umbrellas.

To get to the water, visitors must walk through foul-smelling mud that was once submerged under the lake surface.

'Only place to relax'

The resort was created around the artificial lake in 1979, becoming a popular destination for tourists from across the Middle East in the following years.

Declining rainfall over the past four years and rising temperatures have hit Habbaniyahalongside much of the rest of the countryhard.

Baghdad blames upstream dam construction by Turkey on a staggering low water level in the Euphrates river, which feeds the lake and also runs through Syria.

"The strategic water reserves in Iraq are at their lowest point" in nearly a century, Khaled Shamal, spokesman for the water resources ministry, has warned.

Last week during a visit to Baghdad, United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk warned that "rising temperatures plus the drought, and the fact that the loss of diversity is a reality, is a wake-up call for Iraq and for the world".

A boat is grounded by the receding shoreline of Iraq's Lake Habbaniyah, affected by a severe four-year drought.

Sada'a Saleh Mohamed, a local official overseeing finances at the Habbaniyah resort, said "the lake has receded" and tourism has become "really very weak".

"The lake has become a pond of stagnant water, unsuitable for consumption or for swimming," he said.

When evening fell and temperatures dropped slightly, a few people finally arrived to barbecue on the beach.

Qassem Lafta came with his family from the nearby city of Fallujah.

"Before, we would come here and it was much better, the water was higher," said the 45-year-old merchant.

He said he hoped authorities would revive the lake.

"It's the only place where people from Anbar, southern Iraq and Baghdad can come to relax."

 2023 AFP
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U.S. map of projected change in crop irrigation value for corn and soybeans by the middle of the 21st century with currently irrigated areas outlined in black. Credit: Trevor Partridge et al.

With climate change, irrigating more crops in the United States will be critical to sustaining future yields, as drought conditions are likely to increase due to warmer temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns. Yet less than 20% of croplands are equipped for irrigation.

A Dartmouth-led study finds that by the middle of the 21st century under a moderate greenhouse gas emissions scenario, the benefits of expanded irrigation will outweigh the costs of installation and operation over an expanded portion of current U.S. croplands.

The results show that by mid-century corn and soybeans that are currently rainfed would benefit from irrigation in most of North Dakota, eastern South Dakota, western Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Soybean farmland that relies on rain throughout parts of Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, Kansas, and Oklahoma would also benefit from irrigation. The findings are published in Communications Earth & Environment.

Installing, maintaining, and running irrigation equipment comes at a significant cost to farmers, as much as $160 per acre per year. "Our work essentially creates a U.S. map of where it will make the most sense to install and use irrigation equipment for corn and soybean crops in the future," says first author Trevor Partridge, a Mendenhall Postdoctoral Fellow and research hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Mission Area, who conducted the study while working on his Ph.D. at Dartmouth.

The High Plains region, including Nebraska, Kansas, and northern Texas, has historically been one of the most heavily irrigated areas, and was found to have the highest current economic returns for irrigation. However, the increasing costs of drought are pushing farmers to invest in irrigation throughout regions of the Corn Belt and southeastern U.S., and the long-term economic return on these investments is difficult to predict.

To conduct the cost-benefit analysis of irrigating corn and soybeans, the researchers ran a series of crop model simulations. They applied several global climate projections that span the range of potential future climateshot and dry, hot and wet, cool and dry, cool and wet, each relative to the average climate projectionto simulate future crop growth under fully irrigated or rain-fed conditions.

For each climate scenario, the crop model was run for both corn and soybeans across all cultivated areas in the U.S. The crop model simulations examined three periods: historical (19812010), mid-century (20362065), and end-of-century (20712100) under moderate and high greenhouse gas emissions scenarios. The simulations factored in county-level crop management and growth data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistical Service, including planting, maturity, and harvest dates.

To determine the economic benefits of irrigatingthe team calculated the additional simulated crop yield from irrigating and the corresponding increased market value that could be expectedrelative to the irrigation costs, which included the electricity required to pump groundwater and distribute it over the field, and associated expenses per acre to own and operate the irrigation system.

The team investigated not only where and when it makes sense to install irrigation for corn and soybeans but also if there will be enough water to do so. They calculated the "irrigation water deficit," which is the simple difference between how much water is applied to the field relative to how much water should be available for irrigation.

U.S. map of projected mid-century irrigation groundwater deficitthe volumetric difference between irrigated water and available waterwith currently irrigated corn and soybean areas outlined in black. Credit: Trevor Partridge et al.

The results show that by mid-century there will likely be enough water to irrigate soybeans in Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio, and northern Illinois and Indiana, but not corn. Iowa is the largest producer of corn in the U.S. groundwater resources for irrigation were found to be the most abundant in the southeast U.S., especially in the lower Mississippi Valley where agriculture is less intensive. However, in this region the benefits of irrigation are minimal.

"Our results suggest that there is relatively little overlap between where there is enough water to fully irrigate crops without placing additional stress on water resources and where farmers can expect the investment in irrigation to pay for itself over the long term, " says Partridge.

For example, the Ogallala Aquifer in the Great Plains is the largest aquifer in the U.S., providing water to eight states, and supports one the most extensively irrigated areas for corn and soybeans.

"The increasing benefits of irrigation, could incentivize farmers to use more water, which will place additional stress on key aquifers, including the Ogallala," says senior author Jonathan Winter, an associate professor of geography and lead of the Applied Hydroclimatology Group at Dartmouth. Prior research has shown that water is being extracted from the Ogallala Aquifer faster than it can be replenished. "There's just not enough water to continue irrigating at the current rate from the Ogallala, especially in the southern portion where groundwater levels are rapidly falling," says Winter.

With greater warming, such as end-of-century under a high greenhouse gas emissions scenario, heat stress will dominate impacts on crop yields and reduce the effectiveness of irrigation as an adaptation strategy throughout most of the U.S., especially for corn. Corn typically has a higher yield than soybean, but soybeans are more heat tolerant, don't require as much water, and have a slightly shorter growing season.

"By the end of the century, our simulations suggest that it will be more economically beneficial to irrigate soybeans than corn," says Winter. "Once irrigation is installed, we could see some places that historically grew corn switch to soybeans because it's a low-cost adaptation."

When it comes to irrigation, farmers must consider a range of complex and competing factors: previous yield performance, crop market values, energy costs, economic incentives, and seasonal weather forecasts. The researchers hope that their analysis can be used to help agricultural and water resource management policies in adapting to a warmer climate.
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Phased radial-velocity curves of WD 0032317. a, Trailed UVES spectrum for the H line of WD 0032317 (blue represents lower fluxes and yellow represents higher fluxes), folded over the orbital period (P = 8340.9090 s). The primary absorption is clearly seen in blue. The emission from the companion (in yellow) appears in antiphase with the primary and is visible only from the irradiated day side, between orbital phases ~0.20.8. Its inverted shape, evident especially near quadrature, is the result of NLTE effects58. b, Radial-velocity curves (top panel) of the white dwarf (blue circles) and the irradiated companion (red diamonds), folded over the orbital period (P = 8340.9090 s). The primarys (secondarys) best-fit curve is marked by the blue dashed (red dotted) line on both panels. The bottom panels show the residuals of the white dwarf component (middle) and the irradiated companion (bottom). The error bars show the standard deviation. The illustrations on the top of b demonstrate the systems configuration at each orbital phase. Credit: Nature Astronomy (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41550-023-02048-z

The search for exoplanetsplanets that orbit stars located beyond the borders of our solar systemis a hot topic in astrophysics. Of the various types of exoplanets, one is hot in the literal sense: hot Jupiters, a class of exoplanets that are physically similar to the gas giant planet Jupiter from our own neighborhood.

Unlike "our" Jupiter, hot Jupiters orbit very close to their stars, complete a full orbit in just a few days or even hours, andas their name suggestshave extremely high surface temperatures. They hold great fascination for the astrophysics community. However, they are difficult to study because the glare from the nearby star makes them hard to detect.

Now, in a study published today in Nature Astronomy, scientists report the discovery of a system consisting of two celestial bodies, located about 1,400 light years away, that, together, offer an excellent opportunity for studying hot Jupiter atmospheres, as well as for advancing our understanding of planetary and stellar evolution.

The discovery of this binary systemthe most extreme of its kind known so far in terms of temperaturewas made through analysis of spectroscopic data gathered by the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope in Chile.

"We've identified a star-orbiting hot Jupiter-like object that is the hottest ever found, about 2,000 degrees hotter than the surface of the sun," says lead author of the study Dr. Na'ama Hallakoun, a postdoctoral fellow associated with Dr. Sagi Ben-Ami's team in the Particle Physics and Astrophysics Department at the Weizmann Institute of Science.

She adds that, unlike glare-obscured hot-Jupiter planets, it is possible to see and study this object because it is very large compared to the host star it orbits, which is 10,000 times fainter than a normal star. "This makes it a perfect laboratory for future studies of hot Jupiters' extreme conditions," she says.

An extension of research she conducted in 2017 with Prof. Dan Maoz, her Ph.D. advisor at Tel Aviv University, Hallakoun's new discovery may make it possible to gain a clearer understanding of hot Jupiters, as well as of the evolution of stars in binary systems.

Massive brown dwarf with a 'Moon-like' orientation

The binary system that Hallakoun and colleagues discovered involves two celestial objects that are both called "dwarfs," but that are very different in nature. One is a "white dwarf," the remnant of a sun-like star after it has depleted its nuclear fuel. The other part of the pair, not a planet or a star, is a "brown dwarf"a member of a class of objects that have a mass between that of a gas giant like Jupiter and a small star.

Brown dwarfs are sometimes called failed stars because they are not massive enough to power hydrogen fusion reactions. However, unlike gas giant planets, brown dwarfs are massive enough to survive the "pull" of their stellar partners.

"Stars' gravity can cause objects that get too close to break apart, but this brown dwarf is dense, with 80 times the mass of Jupiter squeezed into the size of Jupiter," Hallakoun says. "This allows it to survive intact and form a stable, binary system."

When a planet orbits very close to its star, the differential forces of gravity acting on the near and far side of the planet can cause the planet's orbital and rotational periods to become synchronized. This phenomenon, called "tidal locking," permanently locks one side of the planet in a position that faces the star, similarly to how Earth's moon always faces Earth, while its so-called "dark side" remains out of sight. Tidal locking leads to extreme temperature differences between the "dayside" hemisphere bombarded by direct stellar radiation and the other, outward-facing "nightside" hemisphere, which receives a much smaller amount of radiation.

The intense radiation from their stars causes hot Jupiters' extremely high surface temperatures, and the calculations Hallakoun and her colleagues made about the paired white dwarf-brown dwarf system show just how hot things can get. Analyzing the brightness of the light emitted by the system, they were able to determine the orbiting brown dwarf's surface temperature in both hemispheres.

The dayside, they discovered, has a temperature of between 7,250 and 9,800 Kelvin (about 7,000 and 9,500 Celsius), which is as hot as an A-type starSun-like stars that can be twice as massive as the Sunand hotter than any known giant planet. The temperature of the nightside, on the other hand, is between 1,300 and 3,000 Kelvin (about 1,000 and 2,700 Celsius), resulting in an extreme temperature difference of about 6,000 degrees between the two hemispheres.

A rare glimpse into an unexplored region

Hallakoun says that the system she and her colleagues discovered offers an opportunity to study the effect of extreme ultraviolet radiation on planetary atmospheres. Such radiation plays an important role in a variety of astrophysical environments, from star-forming regions, through primordial gas disks from which planets are formed around stars, to the atmospheres of planets themselves. This intense radiation, which can lead to gas evaporation and the breaking of molecules, can have a significant impact on both stellar and planetary evolution. But that's not all.

"Merely one million years since the formation of the white dwarf in this systema minuscule amount of a time on the astronomical scalewe have gotten a rare glimpse into the early days of this kind of compact binary system," Hallakoun says. She adds that, while the evolution of single stars is fairly well known, the evolution of interacting binary systems is still poorly understood.

"Hot Jupiters are the antithesis of habitable planetsthey are dramatically inhospitable places for life," Hallakoun says. "Future high-resolution spectroscopic observations of this hot Jupiter-like systemideally made with NASA's new James Webb Space Telescopemay reveal how hot, highly irradiated conditions impact atmospheric structure, something that could help us understand exoplanets elsewhere in the universe."
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Schematic drawing of a photon collision at a time interface. Credit: Anna Umana, Advanced Science Research Center at the CUNY Graduate Center

A research team at the Advanced Science Research Center at the CUNY Graduate Center (CUNY ASRC) has shown that it is possible to manipulate photons so that they can collide, interacting in new ways as they cross paths. The discovery, detailed in Nature Physics, will allow scientists who develop technologies rooted in electromagnetic wave propagation to make significant advances in telecommunications, optical computing and energy applications.

The breakthrough took place in the lab of Andrea Alu, Distinguished Professor and Einstein Professor of Physics at The City University of New York Graduate Center and founding director of the CUNY ASRC Photonics Initiative. It was facilitated by another recent experiment demonstrating time-reflections for electromagnetic waves.

"Our work is building on a series of experiments that show how we can create metamaterials with unique properties that emerge from abrupt time variations of their electromagnetic properties. These variations allow us to manipulate wave propagation in ways not seen in nature," said Alu.

"This newest work shows that we can use abrupt temporal changes in tailored metamaterialsknown as time interfacesto make waves collide as if they were massive objects. We were also able to control whether the waves exchanged, gained or lost energy during these collisions."

Typically, when two electromagnetic waves cross paths, they move right through each other without interacting. This is very different from what happens when two massive objects, like two balls, bump into each other. In the latter case, the particles collide, and their mechanical features determine whether the energy is conserved, lost or increased in the collision. For example, when two billiard balls collide, the total energy in the system is conserved, while when two rubber balls collide, they typically lose energy in the collision.

While photons would be expected to go through each other without any interaction, by triggering a time interface the scientists were able to demonstrate strong photon-photon interactions and control the nature of the collision.

The research team's work was inspired by speculation about whether it would be possible to erase an unwanted mechanical wave, such as a tsunami or a seismic wave, by throwing another similar wave against it to counter it. "While such an outcome is impossible in conventional wave physics, we knew it was possible in principle with a temporal metamaterial," said Emanuele Galiffi, a postdoctoral fellow with Alu's lab and the study's leading author. "Our experiment allowed us to demonstrate this concept in action for electromagnetic waves."

The scientists also proposed and demonstrated an application of their concept to shape electromagnetic pulses by colliding them against each other. "This technique allows us to use an additional signal as a mold to sculpt a pulse that we are interested in structuring," said Gengyu Xu, a postdoctoral fellow with Alu's lab and co-leading author of the paper. "We have shown this for radio frequencies, and we are now working to realize this sculpting ability at higher frequencies."

The team's work developing methods to dictate how propagating electromagnetic waves interact and shape each other could benefit wireless communications, imaging, computing and energy harvesting technologies, among other advances.

More information: Broadband coherent wave control through photonic collisions at time interfaces, Nature Physics (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41567-023-02165-6 , www.nature.com/articles/s41567-023-02165-6 Journal information: Nature Physics
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Destroyed homes and cars are shown, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii. Hawaii officials urge tourists to avoid traveling to Maui as many hotels prepare to house evacuees and first responders on the island where a wildfire demolished a historic town and killed dozens. Credit: AP Photo/Rick Bowmer

When flames swept through western Maui, engulfing the town of Lahaina, residents saw toxic fumes spewing into the air as burning homes, pipes and cars combusted, transforming rubber, metal and plastic into poisonous, particulate matter-filled smoke.

Retired mailman and Vietnam veteran Thomas Leonard heard a boom as a propane tank at a nearby home exploded, leaving a cloud that looked like "a gigantic mushroom" in its wake.

Thirty-seven year old Mike Cicchino, who grew up on Maui, said he could tell how close the flames were based on how far away cars sounded as their gas tanks erupted. He and his family sought refuge in the ocean across a knee-high sea wall and as he helped others onto the rocks, his rib cage ached, his eyes were nearly swollen shut and he vomited.

"It was like a war," Cicchino said.

About 46,000 residents and visitors have flown out of West Maui since the devastation became clear last week, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Officials are now mourning the deaths of more than 90 people and preparing the island, particularly Lahaina, for a long recovery.

In addition to lives lost, property damaged and a culture forever transformed, authorities are worried about returning to some parts of the island where toxic byproducts of the fire likely remain.

Residents of some parts of the island have begun returning home, finding melted cars, flattened homes and burnt elevator shafts rising from ashy lots where apartment buildings once stood. But even in places where the destruction has begun to subside, officials are warning residents that it remains too dangerous to return and Federal Emergency Management Agency officials are surveying the area for additional hazards.

"It is not safe. It is a hazardous area and that's why experts are here," Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said in a news conference Saturday. "We're not doing anybody any favors by letting them back in there quickly, just so they can get sick."

Hawaii's state toxicologist Diana Felton told Hawaii Public Radio that it could take weeks or months to clean up the pollutants.

Makalea Ahhee, left, tears up while her husband, JP Mayoga, right, a chef at the Westin Maui, Kaanapali, stand on their balcony at the hotel and resort, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023, near Lahaina, Hawaii. About 200 employees are living there with their families in the resort. Officials urge tourists to avoid traveling to Maui as many hotels prepare to house evacuees and first responders on the island where a wildfire demolished a historic town and killed dozens of people. Credit: AP Photo/Rick Bowmer

Officials like Bissen and Felton have taken their cue from scientists who warn that fireseven once extinguished in a particular neighborhood or areacan leave lasting health hazards, including in the air and drinking water.

Such lasting effects could prolong recovery, compound residents' agony and complicate the return of the island's tourism-driven economy.

Maui water officials warned Lahaina and Kula residents not to drink running water, which may be contaminated even after boiling, and to only take short, lukewarm showers in well-ventilated rooms to avoid possible chemical vapor exposure.

Though others have returned, some residents, like JP Mayoga, are electing to stay away. Mayoga said on Sunday that he, his wife and two daughters planned to stay at the hotel where he works north of Lahaina because they worry toxic debris now covering Lahaina might negatively impact members of the family with sensitive health.

"It's safer than it is at home right now," he said of the hotel.

Unlike factory pollution or forest fires where scientists have a strong grasp about the kind of toxins emitted, fires like the one in Maui can leave a less unpredictable trail of destruction in their wake. As towns like Lahaina burn, propane tanks explode, pipes melt and oil spills.

"When you burn people's belongings, vehicles and boats, we don't necessarily have a good understanding of what those chemicals are," said Professor Andrew Whelton, the director of Purdue University's Center for Plumbing Safety. "When much of that infrastructure burns, it's transformed into other materials that are never meant for human contact."

Whelton said airborne pollutants from smoke often fall to the ground and can require removal by emergency response teams to ensure they aren't kicked up and inhaled as people return to the burn areas. Melted pipes can compromise the water supply, a concern reflected in the unsafe water alert issued Friday for upper Kula and Lahaina.

Though these concerns may be less apparent than charred trees and homes, the invisible hazards can often extend beyond burned areas to wherever smoke plumes have traveled.

"If you go back into some zones even where maybe all the fires have been put out, you can then be really exposed. If there's dust and debris kicked up, you can get it in your eyes, on your hands or you can inhale it," Whelton added, imploring people to wear protective gear, cover their arms and legs and follow evacuation orders.

 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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This July 24, 2023, handout image from the British Columbia Wildfire Service shows an aerial view of the Horsethief Creek wildfire as Canada has faced a record-breaking wildfire season.

Canada's military deployed to far north Sunday in the fight against hundreds of out-of-control wildfires as residents of several remote communities fled the advancing blazes.

The province of British Columbia, on the country's Pacific Coast, meanwhile, braced for a heat wave expected to further fuel fires burning there.

"We stand with the people of the Northwest Territories as they deal with serious wildfires," Defense Minister Bill Blair said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"In response to a request for assistance, the @CanadianForces will help with firefighting efforts, air transportation, and planning, coordination and logistics," he said.

The size of the deployment was not announced, but the Canadian military has sent hundreds of troops to four other provinces in recent months to help battle wildfires alongside nearly 11,000 firefightersincluding 5,000 brought in from abroad.

This season, megafires have spread across the country with remarkable intensity, forcing 168,000 Canadians to flee their homes and scorching 13.5 million hectaresalmost twice the area of the last record of 7.3 million hectares, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center (CIFFC).

Four people have died so far in this year's wildfires.

The blazes have also emitted an unprecedented amount of carbon dioxidemore than a billion metric tonswhich is roughly the same amount that would be produced in a year by 217 million cars, or approximately the annual emissions of Japan.

Over the weekend, several communities in the Northwest Territories were ordered to evacuate, including 2,500 residents of Fort Smith, as 233 wildfires raged over 2.1 million hectares of the boreal forest.

Environment Canada, meanwhile, warned that temperatures in Vancouver and other parts of British Columbiawhere 390 wildfires are burningwould soar through Wednesday.

Temperatures, however, are not expected to top a record high set in June 2021, when the mercury in Lytton hit 49.6 degrees Celsius (121.3 Fahrenheit) before the village was ravaged days later by a fire that killed at least two residents.

"A strong ridge of high pressure will bring rising temperatures to the South Coast (region of British Columbia)," the agency said in an advisory.

"Well above seasonal daytime temperatures combined with elevated overnight temperatures will mean little relief from the heat."

Cultus Lake, east of Vancouver, was Canada's hotspot on Sunday, at 31.1 degrees Celsius. Parts of British Columbia are forecast to rise to 40 Celsius this week.

 2023 AFP
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Plaintiffs in the landmark climate change lawsuit arriving at the Lewis and Clark County Courthouse in Helena, Montana.

In a landmark climate trial, a Montana court on Monday ruled in favor of a group of youths who accused the western US state of violating their rights to a clean environment.

District Court Judge Kathy Seeley said a state law preventing agencies from considering the impacts of greenhouse gases when issuing permits for fossil fuel development was unconstitutional.

The case, Held v. State of Montanabrought by 16 plaintiffs ranging in age from five to 22has been closely watched because it could bolster similar litigation that has been filed across the country.

"By prohibiting analysis of GHG0 (greenhouse gas) emissions and corresponding impacts to the climate... the MEPA (Montana Environmental Policy Act) Limitation violates Youth Plaintiffs' right to a clean and healthful environment and is unconstitutional on its face," Seeley wrote.

"Plaintiffs have a fundamental constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment, which includes climate as part of the environmental life-support system," Seeley added in her more than 100-page ruling.

The closely watched case was the first involving a constitutional claim against a state and also represented a rare instance in which climate experts were questioned on the witness stand.

Julia Olson, executive director of the nonprofit Our Children's Trust, which represented the plaintiffs, welcomed the ruling as a "huge win for Montana, for youth, for democracy, and for our climate."

"Today, for the first time in US history, a court ruled on the merits of a case that the government violated the constitutional rights of children through laws and actions that promote fossil fuels, ignore climate change, and disproportionately imperil young people," Olson said.

"As fires rage in the West, fueled by fossil fuel pollution, today's ruling in Montana is a game-changer that marks a turning point in this generation's efforts to save the planet from the devastating effects of human-caused climate chaos," she said in a statement.

'Dystopian movie'

Emily Flower, spokeswoman for Montana attorney general Austin Knudsen, denounced the ruling and said the state would appeal.

The sun rises behind a ridge of trees near Missoula, Montana.

"This ruling is absurd, but not surprising from a judge who let the plaintiffs' attorneys put on a weeklong taxpayer-funded publicity stunt," Flower said.

"Montanans can't be blamed for changing the climateeven the plaintiffs' expert witnesses agreed that our state has no impact on the global climate," she added.

At the heart of the case was a provision within fossil fuel-friendly Montana's constitution that says, "The state and each person shall maintain and improve a clean and healthful environment in Montana for present and future generations."

The youths said they had been harmed by the "dangerous impacts of fossil fuels and the climate crisis," with children "uniquely vulnerable" to its worsening impacts.

During closing arguments, Nate Bellinger of Our Children's Trust said his clients were asking the state government to "embrace its constitutional responsibility to alleviate the harms of its own conduct."

"The plaintiffs acknowledge that the work to stop and reverse climate change will be a lifetime journey, but they are asking this court for help," he said.

Montana assistant attorney general Michael Russell on the other hand argued that energy policy should be decided by the people through their elected representatives.

Russell said that while the state accepted that man-made emissions were responsible for warming, expert witnesses had not been able to quantify the extent to which Montana's laws were responsible.

The trial began on June 12 and concluded a few days earlier than expected after Montana declined to call to the stand several experts, including its only climate scientist, Judith Curry.

Over the course of the proceedings, the court heard testimony from the plaintiffs about ways their health, emotional well-being, family finances and cultural traditions had been affected.

Lead plaintiff Rikki Held, 22, whose family runs a ranch in Montana, said that their livelihoods and quality of life had been increasingly impacted by wildfires, extreme temperatures and drought.

Claire Vlases, 20, said, "When I think about summer, I think about smoke. It sounds like a dystopian movie, but it's real life."

 2023 AFP
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Aerial image of Tulare Lake in July 2023. Credit: Mark Yasuda, Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Out on the water, a silence hangs in the air and the sun's harsh glare reflects off the lake's still surface. Small fish float belly-up alongside snakelike tubes of irrigation piping. Five feet below, abandoned chicken coops, dairy barns and equipment sheds slowly rot, their shapes blurred in the murky green water.

The Central Valley summer heat is unrelenting, even while boating across this ghost lake. It roared to life last spring after epic winter storms and runoff from the snow-laden Sierra Nevada overwhelmed the human-made systems that long ago drained the Tulare Lake basin. The reborn Tulare Lake submerged thousands of acres of farmland used to grow pistachios, almonds, cotton and safflower in one of the nation's most productive agricultural regions, creating a seemingly endless blue horizon. But with little breeze and a wispy veil of high-flying clouds, the lake hardly offers the cooling reprieve afforded by its closest comparison, Lake Tahoe, the state's eternal playground.

Even so, with Tulare Lake's return, ducks, egrets and other waterfowl have flocked en masse to its dusty shores. Frogs wade on the water's edge, diving in at the slightest movement. Tule grass sprouts along the shoreline. As Tulare Lake reclaims its historic footprint in the lowlands of the San Joaquin Valley, long-forgotten ecosystems have been revived.

The Times took a tour with the Kings County Sheriff's Office, which purchased an airboat this summer for the purpose of patrolling the reborn lake.

"When this lake obviously appeared, it just added a whole new dimension to what we needed to be able to accomplish," said Sheriff's Sgt. Nate Ferrier, standing on the lake's southeast shore near Corcoran. Even months after Tulare Lake's reemergence, he remains in awe of its size and presence. "I've driven up and down all these roads and dirt roads and levees, and to see this much water covering all this farmland, it's  kind of like a biblical moment."

While the sheriff's office has boats deputies use to cut across the nearby Kings River, they needed something with a flat bottom because of all the junk floating in the lake, Ferrier said. A normal boat with propellers would likely get stuck, he said, so they purchased the airboat for about $95,000 and trained five deputies how to operate it.

The lake flooded private land, so technically, wading or boating into the waters is a form of trespassing. The shoreline is peppered with "Private Property" signs featuring a big, red hand warning against hunting, fishing or trespassing. But in some ways, what looms below the surface is a bigger concern. The floodwaters swallowed up storage sheds stocking fertilizer and other chemicals, along with manure piles, electrical wires and sharp-edged farm machinery.

Deputies have not had to deal with people trying to get boats out on the water to date, Ferrier said. But it hasn't stopped people from getting close. In August, deputies came across an abandoned, half-submerged silver Nissan sedan that wasn't there before. In other instances, they've found people fishingand warned them it's unclear whether it's even safe to eat the fish.

"Word's gotten out that water is pretty dirty, so it's just not safe to be in. And most people don't want to be in dirty water," he said. "I wouldn't recommend eating the fish just because of the amount of contaminants, and we don't even really know what all is in there, honestly. So it's just not worth the risk."

Still, they needed to learn how to live with the lake, he said.

Already, it is shrinking. Once 120,000 acres, roughly the size of Lake Tahoe, Tulare Lake had receded to 61,000 acres as of early August, Ferrier said. At its highest, the lake's depth averaged between 5 and 7 feet.

As snowmelt streamed into the basin in spring, Tulare Lake's rising waters threatened to inundate the city of Corcoran and its massive prison complex, as well as the farm communities of Stratford, Allensworth and Alpaugh. State water officials bolstered local efforts to head off disaster, diverting more than 20 billion gallons of water upstream from the rivers flowing into Tulare Basin. In late June, with the Sierra snowmelt slowing, the state declared success, saying Tulare Lake was in retreat.

As the water recedes, remnants of the agricultural life it brought to a halt are slowly reemerging. On a Foster Farms ranch that had housed more than a million chickens, mildew cut dark lines across the exterior of buildings where some chickens had drowned in their coops. Some of the barns were barely standing, stripped to their wooden beams by the water.

The ranch also housed workers, who lost their rental homes and belongings in the flooding. Here and there, a car roof was visible. Roads that had been swallowed were slowly reappearing, the asphalt gutted and cracked. Utility poles poked up in neat rows, hinting at the roads they once framed.

Near the chicken sheds, the stench of manure was strong. Signs declaring the farmland a "biosecure area" remained upright.

Gliding across the lake's surface in the airboat, these signs of what used to be merged awkwardly with the signs of new life. Egrets made nests among the uppermost branches of drowning nut trees. Mallards paddled by, diving headfirst into the water as they searched for food. Yellow butterflies flitted above the water.

Jason Coslovich, a biologist with the California Waterfowl Association, said the lake is an ideal spot for the egrets that have claimed the orchard treetops.

"It's definitely a big win for waterfowl," he said, "all types of different birds and wildlife."

What exactly is in the water, as far as pesticides, chemicals and bacteria, remains somewhat of a mystery, said Rose Mary Rahn, director of the Kings County Department of Public Health. The department has been testing the surface water, and the latest July results identified high levels of coliform and E. coli bacteria, which is typical in floodwater.

"There's nothing unexpected," Rahn said, but added, "We don't really know everything that was on those properties."

While the lake is not considered toxic, the department is discouraging people from entering the water or washing their hands in it because of the known and unknown contaminants, she said. It would be like dipping "a hand in a toilet bowl," she said.

Patrick Pulupa, executive director of the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board, said the agency was treating the lake as a "stormwater retention basin on somebody's property."

"Tulare Lake is really just kind of one of these interesting dynamics out there, where it doesn't neatly fit in a box of how we regulate water in California, or frankly, in the United States," Pulupa said. It's unusual, he admitted, because of the lake's sporadic occurrence.

Pulupa said the agency is not concerned with the lake's contaminants. "The flood flow is so high that the water is just diluting it out," he said of the concentration of nitrates.

But some other water experts expressed concern about how the lake water will affect groundwater supplies in surrounding communities. Michael Claiborne, directing attorney for the Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, said the group's primary worry is whether nitrates from the flooded dairy farms will bleed into groundwater basins used for drinking water. He said nearby communities such as Allensworth regularly test their water to ensure it is safe.

The last time the lake returned in a substantial way was 1983, when it survived for two years before disappearing again. And local officials say it could once again be years before this newest version of the lake fully recedes.

For the Kings County Sheriff's Office, that means lake patrol is now part of the job. The airboat is here to stay, at least for the foreseeable future.

2023 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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A graphic abstract of the approach to develop a model for predicting the photocatalytic properties of zinc oxide nanosheets. Credit: Mikhail Voznesenskiy

Chemists at St. Petersburg University have used big data analysis techniques to predict the photocatalytic properties of zinc oxide nanosheets, i.e. a nanostructured material consisting of particles in the form of thin sheets. The study aimed to solve the issue of waste-free degradation of organic dyes, which are widely used both in paint and textile industries. The research results and outcomes can also be applied for other similar environmental problems.

New materials development is an essential task of modern science. These materials can reduce harmful emissions into the biosphere and lower environmental pollution. New materials development is a complex and labor-intensive process. It includes several stages. Each stage is incredibly time-consuming and chances are that it may not provide the desired outcome.

Chemists must, first, synthesize a material; second, study its properties; and, finally, test it to see if the new material can solve a specific task. Scientists aim to simplify and accelerate this development process. Yet they have to understand first, even before they synthesize a substance, which properties to develop to make the substance more effective for solving a particular problem.

Scientists at St. Petersburg University have developed an approach for predicting the photocatalytic properties of zinc oxide nanosheets. The approach opens up broad prospects for the development of nanomaterials with the properties of interest that can be used, for example, to treat wastewater from dyes. The work is published in the journal Applied Surface Science.

The researchers used zinc oxide nanosheets as a photocatalyst, i.e. a material capable of degradation of organic dyes under visible light. Zinc oxide is non-toxic and simple in its production. Nano-sized particles have a larger surface area compared to a usual bulk material. As a result, dye degradation is faster and more efficient. It is the transition to the nanoscale that reveals the unique properties of many substances, including defect-related properties.

"Imagine, you have a completed Rubik's cube with all the colors correctly matched. Now imagine that not only are the colors mixed up, but some parts are also missing. Yet, no matter how paradoxical it may sound, it is these defects that explain many interesting properties of semiconductor nanomaterials, including those that enable us to use zinc oxide nanosheets to solve environmental problems," said Dmitry Tkachenko, a co-author of the study, a laboratory assistant and researcher in the Department of General and Inorganic Chemistry at St. Petersburg University.

The study had three stages. First, synthesizing zinc oxide nanosheets and describing their properties; second, considering the process of dye degradation at the molecular level; and, third, developing a model for predicting the photocatalyst efficiency.

"At the moment, it is not clear yet how we can regulate and determine the number of defects (mixed and missing colors in the Rubik's cube) in nano-objects. However, in the course of the work, it was possible not only to find a way to regulate the number of such defects in nanosheets, but also to apply an original approach to predict them," said Olga Osmolovskaya, Head of the group for the synthesis and study of nanoparticles and nanostructured materials, Associate Professor in the Department of General and Inorganic Chemistry at St. Petersburg University.

As a result, the chemists at St. Petersburg University obtained a set of parameters describing the structure and properties of zinc oxide nanosheets.

"The consideration of phenomena and processes in chemistry is often associated with an experiment in the laboratory, which requires a certain level of equipment and skills. We propose to use computer simulation, which does not require special and expensive equipment and has much greater capabilities and flexibility," explained Mikhail Voznesenskiy, the author of the computational part of the study, associate professor in the Department of Physical Chemistry at St. Petersburg University.

As a result, from the entire set of parameters, the scientists selected those that had the greatest impact on the activity of the photocatalyst.

"Thus, we have developed a unique model to predict the efficiency of dye degradation in the presence of zinc oxide nanosheets. Now, any scientist, without conducting an experiment, can find out how effective a photocatalyst with certain parameters will be. This, in turn, opens up completely new opportunities in the development of nanomaterials with the properties in interest," explained Dmitry Kirsanov, the author of the chemometric part of the study, professor in the Department of Analytical Chemistry at St. Petersburg University.

More information: N.D. Kochnev et al, Regulation and prediction of defect-related properties in ZnO nanosheets: synthesis, morphological and structural parameters, DFT study and QSPR modelling, Applied Surface Science (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2023.156828
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Flight path of the Artemis II mission. Credit: NASA

Multiple space agencies plan to send astronauts, cosmonauts, and taikonauts to the moon in the coming years, with the long-term goal of establishing a permanent human presence there. This includes the NASA-led Artemis Program, which aims to create a "sustained program of lunar exploration and development" by the decade's end. There's also the competing Russo-Chinese International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) effort to create a series of facilities "on the surface and/or in orbit of the moon" that will enable lucrative research.

Beyond these government-agency-led programs, there are many companies and non-government organizations (NGOs) hoping to conduct regular trips to the moon, either for the sake of "lunar tourism" and mining or to build an "International Moon Village" that would act as a spiritual successor to the International Space Station (ISS). These plans will require a lot of cargo and freight moving between Earth and the moon well into the next decade, which is no easy task. To address this, a team of U.S./UK researchers recently released a research paper on the preprint server arXiv on the optimum trajectories for traveling between Earth and the moon.

The team consisted of Professor Emeritus Thomas Carter from Eastern Connecticut State University and mathematical sciences Professor Mayer Humi from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute. For the sake of their study, Carter and Humi examined how a shuttle could transport supplies to a lunar outpost and carry back resources extracted from the surface. Based on their calculations, they concluded that a trajectory that places the shuttle into an elliptical orbit and minimizes the thrust requirements would be optimal.

During the Space Race, both NASA and the Soviet space program relies on free-return trajectories to send missions to the moon. This consisted of using the moon's gravitational pull to perform a figure-eight-shaped maneuver resulting in the spacecraft returning home with only minimal orbit adjustments (minimizing the amount of propellant needed). The orbits of Artemis missions will be similar to their Apollo predecessors in that they will also perform figure-eight flights that end with "splashdown" in the ocean.

In other words, these missions will be one-way trips. But beyond returning astronauts to the moon, assembling the Lunar Gateway, and establishing the Artemis Basecamp on the surface, the long-term aim is to use the Artemis infrastructure to create a permanent human presence on the moon. There is also the need to keep things cost-effective, which makes launching heavy payloads from the surface to the moon inefficient. As co-author Professor Humi explained to Universe Today via email, their proposal envisions a shuttle that would orbit Earth and the moon:

"One of [the ISS'] 'functions' is avoid sending large loads to low Earth orbits. Instead we send 'capsules' with provisions and replacements for astronauts. To accomplish [lunar settlements] with minimum cost, we need something similar to the ISS but with an orbit around the Earth and the moon. This shuttle will never land on Earth or the moon. Capsules from Earth will dock with it when it is close to Earth, and similarly, capsules from the moon will dock with it when it is near the moon. This will avoid the need to lift large loads from Earth or the moon, and this will save a lot of money and resources."

However, the shuttle will need engines and propellant to keep this shuttle in orbit as it is subject to gravitational perturbations (from Earth, the moon, and the sun). While the shuttle will not require the massive thrusters and propellant tanks needed to break free of Earth's gravity, engines and propellant add significant amounts of mass to a mission, which drives up costs. To address this, Humi and Carter considered maneuvers that would minimize fuel consumption while allowing the shuttle to circle the Earth-moon system in a reasonable amount of time.

"The process we used to obtain our results was to develop proper mathematical models based on the gravitational forces of Earth, the moon (and the sun) that impact the orbit of the shuttle," said Humi. From this, they determined that a circular, elliptical orbit with a perigee near Earth and an apogee beyond the moon would be the optimal trajectory. Only minimal thrust would be required for course corrections, negating the out-of-plane effects of solar gravity, which could be further reduced by ensuring that the orbital eccentricity stays near zero.

NASA created this chart in 1967 to illustrate the flight path and key mission events for the upcoming Apollo missions to the moon. Credit: NASA

This type of shuttle and trajectory, said Humi, is needed for any plans to establish a permanent Human presence on the moon, but could also lead to a thriving Earth-moon economy:

"At present, there are plans for a permanent 'outpost' on the moon. This outpost will need supplies from Earth to function properly (food, medicine computers, replacement parts for the Robots, etc.) and a mechanism for astronauts' replacements). At the same time, it will send back to Earth items that are in very short supply on Earth (e.g., helium-3) which, according to all theoretical calculations, is the fuel needed for a fusion reactor."

With the signing of the U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act in 2015 and the U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act order of 2020, the U.S. government has clarified that commercial activities on the moon will include resource extraction. In addition to securing mineral resources (such as rare Earth metals that are vital to electronics and digital devices), scientists have dreamed of the day when lunar sources of helium-3 would be within reach since it would allow for the widespread use of fusion reactors to meet our energy needs. Humi and Carter included a caveat in their study, saying that their results would require further testing and verification. As they noted in their conclusions:

"It should be possible to devise a control system that drives the craft back to the designated orbit in order to compensate for disturbances that were not considered in the analysis. It might be argued that could one could guess that the circular orbit of the shuttle provides the optimal orbit in terms of thrust. However this orbit has a trajectory of maximum length. It follows then that the result obtained in this paper though it might be 'intuitively clear' is not necessarily obvious."

More information: T. Carter et al, Determination of the Optimal Elliptical Trajectories Around the Earth and Moon, arXiv (2023). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2308.01133 Journal information: arXiv
China holds cultural and tourism event in L.A. following resumption of group tours

Xinhua) 13:06, August 14, 2023

A dancer performs during a Chinese cultural tourism promotion activity in Los Angeles, the United States, Aug. 11, 2023. A Chinese cultural tourism promotion activity was held in the western U.S. city of Los Angeles on Friday, aimed at promoting bilateral tourism and cultural exchanges. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua)

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese cultural tourism promotion activity was held in the western U.S. city of Los Angeles on Friday, aimed at promoting bilateral tourism and cultural exchanges.

The event was held during "Nihao China!," a 2023 Yellow River-themed tourism overseas promotions season, USA special, featuring a photo exhibition and presentation of the glamorous Yellow River culture.

During the event, Chinese Consul General in Los Angeles Guo Shaochun underscored the significance of exchanges and cooperation in the areas of tourism as an integral part of China-U.S. economic and trade relations and a great opportunity for deeper understanding between the two peoples.

Adam Burke, head of the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board, said tourism is "the bridge that builds up the people-to-people exchanges."

"When you think about the shared experiences, it's the people-to-people exchanges that brought our cultures so close together," he said.

"You probably all know the quote by the noted American writer Mark Twain who said Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness. It's only through people-to-people exchanges, through dialogue, that we understand we have far more in common than anything that may divide us."

China on Thursday announced the resumption of group tours to dozens of more overseas destinations, including Japan, Britain, the United States and Australia.

This year's Yellow River edition was rolled out as part of an effort to promote cultural exchanges between the provinces and regions along the Yellow River and countries across the world and to boost tourism.

Around 200 business leaders, tourism industry executives, and government officials from both countries attended the event.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi (C), King Abdullah II (L) of Jordan and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas attend a tripartite conference in New Alamein, Egypt, on Aug. 14, 2023. Leaders of Egypt, Jordan, and Palestine stressed on Monday the necessity of ending the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian lands in order to revive peace and the Palestinian cause, according to a statement issued by the Egyptian Presidency. (Egyptian Presidency/Handout via Xinhua)

CAIRO, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of Egypt, Jordan, and Palestine stressed on Monday the necessity of ending the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian lands in order to revive peace and the Palestinian cause, according to a statement issued by the Egyptian Presidency.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, King Abdullah II of Jordan, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held a tripartite conference in Egypt's coastal city of New Alamein, where the three leaders touched on the latest developments in the Palestinian cause.

The leaders emphasized the need for the Palestinian people to obtain their entire legitimate rights, including the establishment of an independent and sovereign state on the 1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital, resolving the issue of Palestinian refugees in accordance with international legitimacy resolution, and achieving the two-state solution based on the approved references.

The leaders also emphasized the necessity of Israel to implement its obligations and pledges in accordance with international law, international humanitarian law, previous international agreements and understandings, including the outcomes of the al-Aqaba meeting.

The Arab leaders urged Israel to stop its attacks against the Palestinians and raids in the occupied West Bank cities, and called on Israel to lift the blockade on the Gaza Strip.

Additionally, the leaders required Israel to release the Palestinian funds it holds without any legal basis.

The three leaders voiced their intention to continue their efforts with the main international players and to revive a serious peace process on the basis of international law, peace references, within a mechanism, and a specific timetable.

Egypt, which signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1979, has repeatedly reiterated its position that supports the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the internationally-recognized two-state solution. 

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi (C), King Abdullah II (L) of Jordan and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas attend a tripartite conference in New Alamein, Egypt, on Aug. 14, 2023. Leaders of Egypt, Jordan, and Palestine stressed on Monday the necessity of ending the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian lands in order to revive peace and the Palestinian cause, according to a statement issued by the Egyptian Presidency. (Egyptian Presidency/Handout via Xinhua)

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi (C), King Abdullah II (L) of Jordan and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas attend a tripartite conference in New Alamein, Egypt, on Aug. 14, 2023. Leaders of Egypt, Jordan, and Palestine stressed on Monday the necessity of ending the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian lands in order to revive peace and the Palestinian cause, according to a statement issued by the Egyptian Presidency. (Egyptian Presidency/Handout via Xinhua)
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A segment of the Mu2e transport solenoid that will use superconducting magnets to focus roughly 10 billion muons per second onto an aluminum stopping target. Credit: Vito Lombardo, Fermilab

An important recent discovery in physics came from measuring neutrinosneutral, weakly interacting particlesproduced by the sun. Nuclear reactions in the sun produce only electron neutrinos. According to the standard model, neutrinos come in three distinct "flavors" (electron, mu, and tau). Scientists originally thought neutrinos to be massless, but they recently discovered that neutrinos have mass.

An interesting consequence of this discovery is that neutrinos can change flavor. This means two-thirds of the neutrinos reaching Earth from the sun are not electron neutrinos. Now, advances in theory and experiment are helping scientists to determine whether the neutrinos' charged counterpartselectrons, muons, and tauonscan also change flavor.

In two new experiments, scientists will search for a negatively charged muon, the electron's more massive cousin, decaying into an electron. This would violate the standard model. These experiments, Mu2e at Fermilab and COMET at J-PARC in Japan, will be able to detect electrons from this process even if the conversion probability is only 1 in 100 quadrillion.

This makes these experiments 10,000 times more sensitive than previous searches. Recent theoretical work has identified new physics information available in these experiments and how to measure it. The results may tell scientists about interactions that might exist beyond the standard model.

Muons are captured in a nuclear target, where they bindlike electronsin an atom. When muon-to-electron conversion occurs, scientists can only observe those electrons that leave the nucleus in its lowest-energy state. These electrons have a precise energy, simplifying their detection and eliminating backgrounds if only they are selected for measurement. Because the nucleus remains in its ground state, it restricts what can be measured.

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst found that with this filter in place, experimentalists can measure six independent observables if researchers use a set of nuclear targets carefully selected for their properties.

Nuclear theory can help guide this selection, as it can predict which target properties will enhance a given observable. The six observables represent the "fingerprint" of the new physics and define a program of measurements that teams like Mu2e and COMET can complete. Once this program is carried out, particle theorists will have six new clues about possible physics missing from the standard model.
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Existing patrimonial political structures in Ghana and Nigeria are being replicated as campaigning moves to WhatsApp, analysis shows.

The empowerment of new actors is being restricted in social media and it is not being used to challenge pre-existing power dynamics.

Digital spaces have allowed new people to enter the political/campaigning arena, but they are often incorporated into existing structures of power rather than disrupting the whole system.

The study shows WhatsApp campaigning in Nigeria is driven and shaped by individuals with loose direction from party officials, whereas in Ghana political parties have greater control.

Researchers found more formal online structures in Ghana, with tighter control of messaging and strategy. In Nigeria there was less internal coherence, and campaign messaging focused more on the fortunes of individual candidates.

The study, by Elena Gadjanova from the University of Exeter, Jonathan Fisher and Jamie Hitchen, both from the University of Birmingham, has been published in Party Politics.

Researchers carried out 113 interviews and 15 focus group discussions with political candidates, their campaign teams and advisers, and party activists in both countries. The focus of this research was principally on the presidential races.

They found that Ghana's two main political parties have developed a complex and hierarchical social media communications structure and have integrated WhatsApp within this in order to connect national-level executives with office holders and candidates at the regional, constituency, and ward levels. This structure extends to the most remote and rural parts of the country.

Dr. Gadjanova said, "Intra-party messaging over WhatsApp was carefully monitored by group administrators and party activists to ensure adherence to the party line. This has discouraged the worst attempts at disinformation. The strength of the opposing party's 'social media army' acted as a deterrent to disseminating outright lies. This also extended to messaging that could be easily presented by opponents as ethnically divisive and destabilizing. In Ghana's north, this was most evident when it came to chieftaincy disputes."

In Ghana, securing a permanent position within the party was cited as a primary motivation by young tech-savvy men who had volunteered to create social media content for local politicians prior to the 2020 election.

While Ghana's "big two" political parties were able to reap the benefits of their prior institutionalization for harnessing the potential of WhatsApp for organizing, fundraising, and connecting to voters, the smaller parties struggled. Interviewees from two of Ghana's smaller political parties (the Convention People's Party and People's National Convention) described falling victim to online scams and impersonations, being subject to organized and coordinated disinformation campaigns, having members defect to the NDC and NPP but remain in WhatsApp groups as "spies," and having their messages "drowned out" by the social media armies of the big parties. The CPP and PNC lacked the extensive organizational structures that could be doubled up on WhatsApp, the capacity to monitor online communication, and the resources to recruit and retain digital communicators.

Jonathan Fisher said, "The organizational and communications structures established by Nigeria's major political parties on WhatsApp have tended to lack coherence and stability, both in terms of messaging and personnel. They have tended to reflect and build on the continued power of individuals and 'godfathers' in Nigerian politics and the prominence of informality in political structures."

By 2018, when its well-equipped Abuja headquarters was opened, the ruling party-affiliated Buhari Media Centre had put in place structures that could potentially reach over 200,000 individuals directly through a series of predominantly open WhatsApp groups. There was, however, very limited vetting of individuals who joined, and it was accepted that in these more public groups "opposition spies" were likely present. But they presented a network through which political actors could reach Nigerians all over the country almost instantaneously with a similar message. A degree of monitoring was provided by group administrators. But this was less about controlling the message, or aligning with a particular party line, and more about positioning the candidate positively with voters.

Unlike in Ghana, a premium on the accuracy and credibility of the information was not a feature of much of the content created within LGA or state-level groups, nor was there any effort to sanction those responsible for sharing falsehoods. Even though messages were often simply forwarded from elsewhere, the fact that many individuals outside of party-affiliated groups received the content directly from a trusted sourcea friend, relative or community leaderwas important in establishing its credibility, even if it was false.

Jamie Hitchen said, "The rise of social media has certainly led to the creation of new campaign structures in both countries, and has introduced a new set of young, tech-savvy actors into the equation. In neither case, though, do we find that the former has created space for the latter to challenge the status quo, or to secure significant influence in what is often a party system dominated by party baronsin Ghanaand political 'godfathers' and their coteries in Nigeria."

More information: Jonathan Fisher et al, WhatsApp and political communication in West Africa: Accounting for differences in parties' organization and message discipline online, Party Politics (2023). DOI: 10.1177/13540688231188690
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Major wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui have killed dozens of people and caused heavy damage, particularly in the historic town of Lahaina, as of Aug. 10, 2023. The state has asked all visitors to leave Maui and those planning to travel there to reschedule their tripsa harsh blow to a destination whose economy relies heavily on tourism. University of South Carolina research professor Rich Harrill, an expert on hospitality and tourism, explains how such events affect places like Maui in the short and long terms.

How tourism-dependent is Hawaii compared to other popular destinations?

Compared to other destinations, Hawaii is very reliant on tourismit comprises about 25% of the state's economy. According to the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, visitor spending was projected to be US$20.8 billion in 2023 and $23.4 billion in 2026.

Tourism plays an even greater role on Maui. Maui County has the state's highest reliance on tourism, with 51% of its jobs falling into sectors directly associated with tourism. That means household incomes and purchasing power there are strongly influenced by the tourism economy.

What are the main steps that tourist-related businesses on Maui will have to take in the coming days and weeks?

The first step any business owner should take is to ensure that their business opens in line with all state protocols and laws related to the safety, health and welfare of residents and visitors.

In the short term, the top priorities are helping visitors get flights home, handling cancelations and assessing damage to facilities and property. Then, in the weeks that follow, businesses will clean up and make repairs. They will have various aid sources, including the county, state and federal governments, nonprofits and private insurers.

As we saw during the COVID-19 shutdowns, downtime can give business owners an opportunity to reflect on their product or service and how they market it. Some business owners decided to close up shop and retire. Others redoubled their efforts to accommodate the post-pandemic rebound in visitor demand.

Maui is asking visitors to leave and to delay planned tripswill a lot of tourism-related jobs be lost? Hawaii has weathered other major disasters, including Hurricane Iniki, which devastated the island of Kauai in September 1992.

Individual businesses and corporations may offer some types of worker protection. But historically, many jobs in the tourist sector get cut in the short term when a crisis shuts down business. Then, as conditions improve, companies gradually hire employees back.

How do local governments decide when to start inviting visitors back?

This is a process that's led by groups known in the travel industry as destination marketing and management organizations. They often have names like tourist boards, or convention and visitors bureaus, and they help promote and market local attractions.

Working with their local destination marketing organization, local governments should make decisions carefully about inviting visitors back. First and foremost, they need to consider the health, safety and welfare of everyone who's involvedresidents, visitors and hospitality providers. All of those groups should be involved in the decision, and it needs to be communicated through carefully crafted marketing messages to reach globally diverse audiences.

Once the needs of the community and its residents have been met, a new marketing campaign takes place that typically presents a revitalized destination that is open and ready for visitors. This message may emphasize new and improved aspects of the destination, or simply show that its beloved and iconic qualities are still there to enjoy. That includes making sure that transportation is available to reach the destination and that there's quality lodging and dining readily available for all price points.

In your experience, does interest in top destinations like Hawaii usually bounce back to pre-disaster levels?

Globally, tourism revenues are projected to grow by almost 5% yearly through 2027. Unlike other forms of economic development, travel and tourism have shown resilience through many different types of crises.

Even destinations that have been massively damaged can regain their markets, although rebuilding may be a multi-year process. New Orleans was a major destination within a decade after it was flooded by Hurricane Katrina. The same was true for the Hawaiian island of Kauai after Hurricane Iniki ravaged it in 1992.

Tourism is a experience that is unique to the human condition. It sustains our hopes and dreams, and offers relaxation and tranquility, or excitement and adventure, through good times and bad.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
NIAMEY, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Niger's junta vowed Sunday to prosecute ousted President Mohamed Bazoum for "high treason" and slammed West African leaders for imposing sanctions on the country, reported local media.

Bazoum would be prosecuted "for high treason and undermining the internal and external security of Niger," said Col Maj Amadou Abdramane, a member of the country's Defense and Security Forces and the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) that was newly established by soldiers.

The CNSP and the transitional government strongly denounce the campaign of disinformation and misinformation being deliberately waged in the sole interest of the president and his clique, said Abdramane in a statement.

This aims to discredit the transitional authorities of Niger and undermine all negotiated solutions to the crisis to better justify foreign military intervention by certain heads of state in the name of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), he said.

ECOWAS has imposed sanctions on Niger in response to the recent coup and approved the deployment of a "standby force to restore constitutional order" in Niger as soon as possible but remains committed to finding a diplomatic solution to the crisis, with Niger's coup leaders denouncing the sanctions as "illegal, inhumane and humiliating," local media reported.

"The CNSP and the transitional government assure the Nigerien people that, under the guidance of CNSP President Abdourahamane Tchiani, urgent measures are being taken to minimize the impact of ECOWAS sanctions on our resilient population," he added.

With regard to the apprehended officials of the ousted government, he said that the CNSP and the transitional government promise to "treat them with humanity" in accordance with traditional and religious values.

Soldiers in Niger detained Bazoum on July 26 and chose Tchiani, former leader of the country's presidential guard, to lead the CNSP, a governing body established by them after the coup. 
By Septimus Senessie

The civil society organisation Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD) has donated food and non-food items to 90 households of 30 quarantined homes in the Kono District, eastern Sierra Leone.

The distribution of food items, which include rice, cooking condiments, among others, comes after huge outcries from quarantined homes in the district with some people constantly complaining of not receiving timely food supply.

Notably people in Sukudu Village in the Kamara Chiefdom and other quarantined homes in Koidu town have been making several telephone calls to Politico urging the media to intervene on their behalf.

NMJD also awarded two hundred thousand Leones to each of the 50 Ebola survivors in the district, alongside mattresses and bed sheets.

This is all part of a five-month project which started in December last year, and is being funded by the Disaster Emergency Committee in the United Kingdom, through Christian Aid.

Josepha Ansumana, District Field Manager at NMJD in Kono, explains that the project has two phases. Phase one, he says, seeks to address the present emergency situation in the country through the distribution of food and non-food items to quarantined homes and Ebola survivors.

The second phase, he adds, is intended to provide support for agricultural activities to Ebola widows or widowers as well as caretakers of Ebola orphans.

The NMJD representative however laments the limited resources available for distribution to the entire 154 quarantined homes in the district and fears that that may pose another challenge. Their desire, he says, is to provide support for all the quarantined homes in the district.

He describes the donation as a restoration of the dignities of Ebola Survivors and people in quarantined homes.

The coordinator of food distributions at the Kono District Ebola Response Centre, Sahr Dagbi, thanked NMJD for supporting their quarantine program. He agrees that to feed over 154 quarantined homes for 21 days is never an easy task to carry out.

In her quarantined home at Bungalow New Site, Tankoro Chiefdom, Kumba Allieu, 15, who lost her mother and younger sister to Ebola, received the food items in between tears and sobs. She thanked NMJD for the gesture.

 Politico 16/01/15
By Umaru Fofana

Sierra Leone has agreed to contribute troops to the crisis-ridden Niger where the army overthrew the elected president, Mohamed Bazoum in July, prompting West African heads of state to put on standby the ECOWAS Standing Force.

Minister of Information, Chernor Bah told Politico that the country would be contributing troops to the force that should move into the former French colony to reinstate the ousted president.

Sierra Leone had made a long-standing pledge to contribute troops to ECOWAS standing force. That pledge has not changed. We remain ready whenever called upon to honour our contribution to ECOWAS with a company of troops and the necessary equipment to carry out any approved mission, Bah said.

He would not state the absolute number of soldiers, with a company varying between 100 and 300 troops. The number of soldiers will be based on the assessment of ECOWAS defense chiefs and the need of the specific mission, he said.

ECOWAS heads of state have asked their defence chiefs to prepare a plan for the intervention, while wide-ranging and far-reaching sanctions have also been slammed on Niger and the junta leaders led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani who took over on 26 July 2023.

Bah said Sierra Leone owed a moral obligation to contribute troops to the regional bloc. As a beneficiary of ECOWAS peace and democracy intervention, we particularly understand the need to fulfil our obligation as part of the bloc, he said.

ECOWAS intervened in Sierra Leone to help end the war but also to reinstate the elected government of President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah following his ouster in a coup in 1997.

On Thursday, west African leaders met in Abuja and adopted their earlier stance of going into Niger to boot out the junta. Speaking after that second ECOWAS heads of state summit on Niger since the coup, the president of Ivory Coast, Alhassane Ouattara, said it was a critical problem they needed to be solved. He stressed on the bodys zero-tolerance position on coups.

ECOWAS cannot accept this. This is not a matter of Nigeria against NigerThe decision that we have made today  and I hope it will be implemented immediately  is a decision of ECOWAS Ouattara said.

All the heads of state think that we have tried dialogue with the putschists of Niger. We have sent delegationsto talk to them. But they are keeping President Bazoum as a hostageAnd we cannot let this continue. We have to actWe will not accept coup detats, the Ivorian president stressed.

He said the coup leaders must allow the ousted president to continue to govern. If they dont let President Bazoum out to be able to exercise his mandate, I think we should move ahead and get them out, Ouattara said.

ECOWAS has roundly condemned the recent coups in Guinea, Mali and Burkina Faso but has fallen short of threatening the use of force to reinstate the ousted presidents. But the body have used force in the past such as in Sierra Leone in 1997, and more recently in The Gambia where the then president Yahya Jammeh reneged on stepping down after he had lost an election to Adama Barrow.

Copyright  2023 Politico
A former corrections officer at the Washington Correctional Facility is raising concerns that the prisoner who assaulted him was able to remain free pending sentencing and skipped his court date to go on the run for almost a year.

However, the district attorney says the suspects release conformed to the provisions of the bail reform law.

Andrew Ladd, of Fort Ann, was attacked by inmate Arthur Ellis on Dec. 3, 2020 at about 7 a.m.

Ladd noticed that Ellis was wearing nonstandard clothing and asked him about it. Ellis responded with what are you going to do about it and stood up at the end of his cubicle with crossed arms in a menacing manner, according to court documents.

Ladd then activated his personal alert button. Ellis then lowered his head and charged at Officer Ladd using both his arms under the officers arms to push him up and drive him rearward.

According to court records, Ladd then tried to grab his pepper spray, but Ladd knocked it out of his hands and tackled him to the ground. He then struck Ladd while three more officers came in to try to pull Ellis off Ladd.

Ellis, 39, was serving a sentence for assault at the time. He maxed out the sentence and he was formally charged in October 2021 with the assault on Ladd.

Washington County District Attorney Tony Jordan said the court had to go by the bail reform law. Because it was a violent felony, it was a qualifying offense and bail could be set. Ellis bail was $10,000 cash, $75,000 bail bond or $100,000 partially secured bond. At first, Ellis came to his court appearances after he was bailed out of jail, Jordan said.

Jordan said the case was scheduled for hearings in February 2022 in preparation for a trial. Then, Ellis agreed to plead guilty in exchange for a sentence of 5 years in prison. There was nothing to indicate that he would not appear for sentencing.

The guys history of showing up was indicative of the fact that he would show up, Jordan said. And when he didnt, he paid the consequences.

Ellis was scheduled to be sentenced a few weeks after pleading guilty.

However, Ladd recalled receiving a phone call from the Washington County District Attorneys Office that Ellis was shot in the leg during a drive-by shooting.

He was going to be granted the ability to stay home and heal until he could go to prison, Ladd said.

Ellis was scheduled to be sentenced in May 2022. However, that did not happen.

He was nowhere to be found. He was on the run for over a year. Nobody knew where he was, Ladd added. It was just hell for me and my family because this guy was a 20-year felon.

Ellis has a lengthy criminal record dating back to 2001, when he was sentenced to 3 years in prison for first-degree sexual abuse, according to the New York state inmate database. He violated parole and was sent back to jail in 2006 after being arrested on a charge of assault. Ellis was sentenced in Suffolk County in 2007 to two to four years in prison for assault. He was released in 2011.

That year, he was arrested and charged with first-degree assault-intent to cause serious injury with weapon and second-degree assault. He was sentenced in 2012 to 5 years in prison. He was paroled in 2016, but violated parole and was sent back to prison.

The court file does not contain much information about where Ellis ultimately was found. In March, he was arrested for allegedly failing to register as a sex offender and described as living in Fort Edward, according to Post-Star archives. He was arrested in June on the bail jumping charge while being held at the Elmira Correctional Facility.

Ellis pleaded guilty in Washington County Court in March to bail jumping and failure to register as a sex offender.

Ellis was finally sentenced in Washington County Court on July 21 to 1 to 3 years in prison for failure to register as a sex offender and 1  to 3 years in prison for bail jumping. This is on top of the 7 years in prison on the assault charge.

All of the sentences are to run consecutively, so he could face close to a decade in prison.

Ladd criticized prosecutors for plea bargains in which the defendants plead to lesser crimes. The sentence that Ellis was serving when he assaulted Ladd was for shooting someone in Suffolk County. It got pleaded down to second-degree assault.

It should have been attempted murder, Ladd said.

Ladd said he has been put through the ringer. He felt like he didnt have a voice during the process.

Ladd worked at the prison for five years, has not returned to work since the assault. He had shoulder surgery and had to undergo physical therapy. Ladd said he cannot go back into that environment after all he has been through.

Its wreaked havoc on my family, he said.

Jordan said there is no way to speculate what the judge would have been done pre-bail reform. His sense that the bail would have been set higher.

In the end, Jordan said Ellis is winding up with significantly more time than he would have gotten. Bail reform has ultimately led to longer sentences for some defendants.

Weve seen many people since 2020 end up with more significant consequences because of their conduct when they were out, he said.

Another issue is the financial cost. Jordan said Ellis was found in Suffolk County. Police have had to get people who fled to Texas or Washington state or West Virginia.

That becomes a significant taxpayer expense when they run and we have to go find them, he said.
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand made a quick stop in Glens Falls on Sunday Aug. 6 to meet-and-greet local Democratic candidates and encourage them to run hard in upcoming elections.

We have a huge opportunity to flip the House this year, she told them, adding later: We only need five seats, and we have six here in New York that she said can be turned from Republican to Democrat, three on Long Island and three in the Hudson Valley.

Republicans currently control the House of Representatives with 222 seats to the Democrats 212. New York lost a seat in Congress after the 2020 census, and the state went through a contentious redistricting process that ended shortly before the election. Add that to some unexpected wins on that of the GOP, and the Democrats dropped four seats while the GOP scooped them up.

We can win every single one of them, and were going to do it by doing a coordinated campaign, she said. She said the state party at all levels is looking to coordinate the campaign activity similar to the way they do it in places such as Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Instead of sending multiple mailers from different candidates, they will put Gillibrand, who is up for re-election, on the same flier as the House candidate, the state senate candidate and the Assembly candidate, cutting the cost for each. Also, they will work to canvas neighborhoods at the same time.

Well have one message, one really strong message, Gillibrand told the collected candidates. Im really excited about it.

She also offered a nod to the local candidates: These three counties  Warren, Washington and Saratoga  youre very good at getting your vote out. Youre extremely good and going door-to-door.

During the body of her speech, she highlighted the bipartisan infrastructure bill. She drew attention to the CHIPs bill that brings what is called quantum or superfast computing into the economy. She said at least three computer chip manufacturers in the state, including GlobalFoundries in Saratoga County, will get money from the CHIPs bill. Finally, among the laws that gained bipartisan support, she discussed the Gun Trafficking Prohibition Act.

It makes gun trafficking a crime, she said. We paired with money for mental health for violence disruption. She has been talking to not-for-profits to apply for this money for after-school and summer programming along with mental health support.

She stayed to take photos with local candidates.
Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, D-Round Lake, provided a tour of Glens Falls for Speaker of the New York State Assembly, Carl Heastie Monday morning Aug. 14.

She welcomed him to what she called The head of the Capital District and the toes of the Adirondacks.

Heastie, who represents Assembly District 83 in the Bronx, assumed the Speakers office in 2015. He has done a statewide tour every year, except for during the pandemic. He uses the tour to gain a better understanding of the needs in local communities when it comes time for budget talks, he said.

When I became speaker I thought that Upstate New York was Westchester County. This tour originated because I want people in the state to know that I care about all corners of the state, Heastie said. I always try to give a lot of resources.

The first stop on the visit was to the Glens Falls Senior Center, where Speaker Heastie, Assemblywoman Woerner, and Glens Falls Mayor Bill Collins were given a tour of the historic building by the Centers Executive Director Kim Bren.

The officials even participated in line dancing with seniors.

For those of you who have paved the way for all of us, the least we could do is make sure that your golden years are done with fun, dignity, and respect. Im here along with Carrie to see if theres anything we can do financially to make the senior center even better, Heastie said.

He then asked for ideas.

Off the top of her head, Bren identified some key necessities including wheelchair accessibility in the basement, which may include an elevator; repairing the outside ramp; working on the windows; and other minor fixes to the building.

The Glens Falls Senior Center building is a part of the historical registry, which makes improvements to the building another hurdle, Mayor Collins said.

Heastie promised to provide $500,000 in grant capital to the senior center, and an upgrade, he said a bit tongue-in-cheek, to the speaker system for their line dancing.

Assembly member Woerner and Mayor Collins then took Speaker Heastie to The Gourmet Cafe on Glen Street for lunch.
ATLANTA  Rasheeda Frost's relationship with hip-hop started in 1981.

She was a kindergartener when her mother gave her a record player, and she would continuously spin it, not knowing what it was. Then her mom gave her a record from The Sugarhill Gang.

"She must've just known hip-hop was embedded in me at such a young age," the MTV "Love and Hip-Hop: Atlanta" reality star said. "I played that record until I tore it up."

Frost fell in love with hip-hop. Lyrics, music videos, and magazine covers display a genre that is male-centered and male-dominated. But Frost took her passion a step further and joined the ranks of female rappers and emcees who battled misogynoir, sexism and patriarchy to send hip-hop spinning in a different direction.

"I had to go out there and work triple as hard, make sure I'm respected, not get taken advantage of as a female, and really go hard for what I know and stand for something," Frost said.

From The Sequence releasing the first rap record by an all-female group in 1979, to MC Sha-Rock's iconic performance on "SNL" as a part of Funky 4+1, female rappers have always been a part of hip-hop.

Women have gone from donning a male-imitated aesthetic, to owning their sexuality in lyrics, to selling out stadiums. At hip-hop's 50th anniversary, female rappers are taking their moment to shine  while still demanding respect and facing challenges.

Msia Kibona Clark, an African culture and feminist studies professor at Howard University, said women were "largely invisible" in hip-hop during the '80s and early '90s.

"Early on, the idea was to imitate men in terms of the aesthetics, and the idea was the hip-hop uniform  baggy clothes and sneakers and t-shirts," said Clark.

Clark said early female rappers had the challenge of navigating sexism and sexual harassment, as well as carving out a perspective that often wasn't heard.

In an interview, hip-hop icon Queen Latifah called it "the dark ages of hip-hop because it just wasn't enough women voices."

SiriusXM host Roxanne Shante started entering rap as a young teen in the 1980s. The hip-hop legend's battle tracks solidified her as one of the earliest and fiercest emcees at the age of 14.

"I came in as little sis; even to the point of where sometimes they didn't even want to let me participate, because sometimes the men felt that I was that good," Shante said.

Entertainer and philanthropist Yo-Yo was known for rapping about female empowerment and demanding respect, but she still dealt with having to "stay in a woman's place."

"Those were some of the challenges when the record labels only respected men," Yo-Yo said.

Female emcees found themselves having to defend the genre as well as prove themselves worthy of holding the mic.

"When there was negativity or any kind of misogyny, it only pushed us even more," said DJ Spinderella, a member of the hip-hop group Salt-N-Pepa. "Our first goal was to shake our thing, but then the fact that we were inspiring women to become their better selves despite the negative was important."

By the late '90s and early 2000s, women were becoming more visible in hip-hop. Female artists offered a variety of sounds, from Lauryn Hill to Missy Elliott.

But challenges persisted. As more women entered, some were uniting on hit records such as "Ladies Night," while others were pitted against each other. The hypersexualization of women was also ramping up.

Although female rappers have pushed sex positive lyrics since the '80s, the mid-to-late '90s saw the advent of artists such as Lil' Kim and Foxy Brown more overtly displaying and owning their sexuality. This drew controversy  and hypocrisy.

"When I came out with songs like 'Make It Vibrate' and songs like 'Georgia Peach', I got a lot of resistance from radio because they said it was too sexy," said Frost, who released her first album "Dirty South" in 2001. "It was a battle every single day just to be heard, to be respected."

As rap continued to evolve, rappers such as Remy Ma and Trina continued to hold down the booth. Nicki Minaj's impact on the genre was explosive in the 2010s  as reflected by her winning the BET Awards best female hip hop artist from 2010 through 2016.

The late 2010s saw a change in technology. Internet access gave rise to a new era of artists using social media as a way to gain traction. Hip-hop became bigger in pop culture and hip-hop artists became the faces of popular brands and fashion labels.

The shifting pop culture landscape, along with the tenacious work of female rap pioneers, helped pave the way for an explosion of female rappers and artists.

"I love it. I think that we have our own table. We just don't have to get in to fit in. I think women are making powerful moves," said Yo-Yo.

The theme of female empowerment remains, but the message has changed  with artists such as Megan thee Stallion and the City Girls rapping about sexual liberation and hypergamous values, as well as women having their own money.

The pervasiveness of misogyny and patriarchal violence still threatens the existence of female rappers. Some experts think that female rap is more hyper-sexualized than ever before.

There's also a push for more femme-presenting queer and non-binary artists to have a platform in a genre that has been largely homophobic and heteronormative since its inception.

Here are the 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees Missy Elliott Willie Nelson Kate Bush Iron Maiden Cyndi Lauper Soundgarden Sheryl Crow George Michael Rage Against the Machine The Spinners A Tribe Called Quest White Stripes Warren Zevon Joy Division/New Order
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Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni (R) meets with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Aug. 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Changwei)

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni met with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi here on Sunday, with the two sides pledging to boost bilateral friendship and cooperation.

Calling China his second hometown, King Sihamoni said he looks forward to visiting more cities in China.

He said this year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations and the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, expressing heartfelt thanks to all of China's support for and help to Cambodia.

Sihamoni said Cambodia will firmly abide by the one-China principle, carry forward the ironclad friendship between Cambodia and China, and support building a high-quality, high-level and high-standard China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era, so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples. Cambodia-China friendship will last forever, he noted.

Hailing the traditional friendship between China and Cambodia as the most valuable common treasure of the two countries, Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that during their meetings this year, the leaders of the two countries have reached essential consensuses on building the China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era, drawing up a blueprint for the long-term development of bilateral relations.

"We are ready to work with the Cambodian side to take this as the guide and join hands to promote the construction of the China-Cambodia community with a shared future to a new level," he said.

Wang said that during his visit to the kingdom, he had in-depth communication with its old and new leaderships, dovetailed development strategies, planned cooperation in the next phase, and achieved positive results.

He said he believes that under joint efforts of the two countries, the exemplary relationship of mutual respect, equal treatment and common development between China and Cambodia will make greater progress.

China will work with Cambodia to advance the implementation of the bilateral "diamond hexagon" cooperation consensus and promote the cooperation on "Industrial Development Corridor" and the "Fish and Rice Corridor" to help Cambodia accelerate its development and revitalization and improve the living standards of its people, said Wang. 

Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni (4th R) meets with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (5th L), also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Aug. 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Changwei)
ATLANTIC CITY  A judge has dismissed a lawsuit over a new ordinance forcing some businesses in high-crime areas to close from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. as a public safety measure.

The Pakistani-American Muslim Organization of South Jersey and business owners filed suit against the ordinance July 14, and a judge quickly kept it from taking effect until further court action.

In his decision, Atlantic County Superior Court Assignment Judge Michael Blee said store owners had not exhausted a waiver process available to them, and should do so before pursuing any legal action.

On its face, Ordinance No. 22 is not unconstitutional, Blee wrote in his decision Friday. Plaintiffs must avail themselves of the waiver application process and exhaust their administrative remedies.

According to the ordinance, waivers can be obtained from Director of Licensing and Inspections Dale Finch based on hardship to the business, the effectiveness of restricting problem activities and other factors.

We look forward to working with businesses to be safe and successful, but recognize that certain criminal activity is fostered in or around businesses that operate during late night hours, police Chief James Sarkos said in a statement.

Council passed the ordinance in April to discourage drug dealers and others breaking the law while loitering in front of open stores  many on Atlantic Avenue  often ducking inside when police approach.

Restaurants, retail food establishments, retail sales and personal services businesses identified by the Atlantic City Police Department as areas of concern due to crimes involving but not limited to guns, drugs and other violent offenses are to be closed daily from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m., the ordinance reads.

Atlantic City store closing law angers South Asian community A large group of affected store owners, mostly from the South Asian community, crowded an Atlantic City Council meeting this week to protest what they considered unfair restrictions on their business hours.

About 20 businesses that met the criteria were sent letters stating they must comply or face fines of up to $2,000 and up to 90 days in county jail for each offense, according to the city. Additionally, mercantile licenses could be suspended, not renewed or revoked.

Store owners will have the right to appeal a decision of the waiver review, Blee said.

This court would have a more complete record to consider whether the ordinance is constitutional in such an appeal, Blee wrote.

No decision has been reached yet about filing an appeal, said Samuel Lashman, the attorney for the Pakistani-American Muslim Organization and the store owners.

We havent discussed that yet, Lashman said Monday. Some people are going to go through the waiver process.

Lashman had argued the waiver process was a sham, because while a waiver process was mentioned in the ordinance it was not created and available until after the lawsuit was filed.

Our first request was that they hold off enforcement while they have waiver hearings, Lashman said. The city first refused but then agreed to do so during the course of the case, he said.

Members of the organization  many of whom own convenience stores in the city  came out to a City Council meeting last month, saying they felt singled out as an ethnic group.

Raucous hearing on offshore wind energy route through Atlantic City A large group of folks often interrupted Thursday night's 3-hour scoping hearing at City Hall for a plan by Atlantic Shores to move electricity across the city from a planned offshore wind farm.

We feel this is discrimination, said MD Alam of New York Deli at 649 New York Ave. during the July council meeting. For crime you cant shut down business like this. Its not going to stop the crime.

Their competitors are being allowed to stay open 24 hours, they argued, and criminals will simply move to hang out by open stores.

Other store owners said they are being unfairly blamed for the citys failure to control crime.

The original proposed ordinance required closing from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., but Councilwoman LaToya Dunston convinced council to extend the closing to 8 a.m. to allow students more time to get to school before the businesses in troubled areas reopen.
3:45 p.m. Monday update: A flood watch has been issued for all of New Jersey, except Cumberland, Atlantic and Cape May counties from 8 p.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday.

The watch means that there's the potential for widespread flooded roadways, streams and creeks. If flooding is imminent, a warning will be issued.

Moisture in the atmosphere will be unusually high, even for August. Rain will actually need to fall over you to cause issues but when it rains it could quite literally pour.

Original Story

For the second Monday in a row, the region will have to watch for more severe weather, including tornadoes and flooding.

The threat for severe weather will be between 7 p.m. and 1 a.m. The flooding rain potential will continue overnight, though. Rain will be sporadic. Some places will be completely dry, most likely in Cape May County. Others, mainly far away from the ocean, will see up to two hours of rain.

A tornado watch may be issued by the Storm Prediction Center, a government agency in Norman, Oklahoma. The watch indicates the ingredients for severe weather are present.

If a tornado or severe weather is imminent, a warning will be issued by the National Weather Service. That's the time to seek shelter immediately.

Extra attention needs to paid Monday night. It'll be dark, storms won't be apparent to us with the naked eye. Many of us will be in homes, some of which mobile homes, which are more dangerous to be in.

What's the difference between a weather advisory, watch and warning? The National Weather Service has three main tools at their disposal to alert you of weather 

While tornadoes are a threat to life and property, damaging winds will be a threat as well, bringing the risk of power outages.

The highest threats for severe weather will be for inland Atlantic, inland Ocean, Cumberland, Salem, Gloucester, Camden and Burlington counties. To the south and north, the risk for tornadoes and damaging winds is lower, but still possible.

Flooding rain will also be a concern, where it does actually rain. Precipitable water values, the amount of water in a slice of the atmosphere, measured in inches, is well above average. It's higher than roughly 80% of what is expected Aug. 14.

The severe weather and flooding risk comes from a warm front that will move north through New Jersey Monday evening.

The north side of the warm front provides the lift (known as convective available potential energy, or CAPE) and spin (known as wind shear) needed to generate severe weather.

This is an unusual setup. Typically, the lift, or CAPE, decreases overnight, as the sun's ability to create unstable air drops.

However, once the warm front approaches during the night, the lift will actually increase. The same will be true with the wind shear.

If caught in a tornado warning, don't panic. Get into a sturdy house or building. Go into the basement if you have one. If not, go to a room without windows and protected by walls. Put a blanket or coat over you to shield yourself from flying objects. Crouch down as low as possible. This will make you a smaller target.

New Jersey is in the midst of another active year for tornadoes. The 13 twisters in the state so far is tied with 2021 for the second most in one year, with records going back to 1950, according to the Office of the New Jersey State Climatologist.

On Thursday, two tornadoes spun through New Jersey. One was in East Greenwich Township in Gloucester County, the other was in the Browns Mills section of Pemberton Township, Burlington County.

2 tornadoes confirmed from Thursday's storm; NJ now in 2nd place for most in a year The two funnel clouds spotted Thursday in South Jersey are now confirmed tornadoes, bringing New Jersey to second place for most tornadoes in a year.

After Monday night, the next risk of severe weather will come Friday. In between, expect spotty showers and storms Tuesday afternoon into the night. Wednesday will be sunny and comfortable, perfect for the Atlantic City Airshow.
The Police Commissioner's WhatsApp helpline in Pune has earned the trust of residents as it successfully resolves a significant number of complaints, reaching a total of 525 cases addressed so far. This innovative platform, initiated on July 10th, has garnered 678 responses, with an impressive 77.43% (equivalent to 525) being pertinent and actionable messages.

The official Twitter handle of Pune City Police shared updates on the helpline's accomplishments, highlighting the diverse range of issues it has effectively tackled. The array of concerns covered in the 678 messages encompasses a broad spectrum:

175 complaints related to police matters

127 miscellaneous issues

125 traffic-related concerns

80 reports of noise pollution

50 complaints concerning women and children

35 suggestions for improvement

34 issues related to cyber activities

26 reports of illegal business activities

20 messages pertaining to patrolling

4 instances of road rage or fights

2 requests for passport verification

The Pune police authority commends the public for their active participation in utilizing the helpline to lodge complaints. They assure the community that each complaint received through this mobile number is treated with the utmost urgency, and a swift response is provided to address the concerns raised.

It's essential to clarify that the helpline is dedicated to reporting noise pollution and is not intended for emergency situations. The authorities encourage citizens to use appropriate emergency channels when immediate assistance is required.

The success of the WhatsApp helpline underscores the Pune City Police's commitment to engaging with the community and fostering transparency and accessibility in addressing various issues. By creating this direct line of communication, the police are enhancing public engagement and trust.
St. Ambrose University  the first campus in Iowa to become an Every Campus A Refuge chapter  is joining the nationwide initiative.

Founded at Guilford College (Greensboro, N.C.) by Dr. Diya Abdo in 2015, ECAR partners local resettlement agencies with colleges and universities to host refugee families on campus. These families live on campus grounds for up to a year while ECAR chapters support their successful integration.

This is not necessarily something most higher education institutions would consider a natural representation of their mission in the world because theyre so focused on working with students, Abdo said. So, to engage students to work with (refugee) families, who are on campus, is truly a wonderful expression of radical hospitality.

Nicky Gant, service and justice coordinator at Ambrose, said the universitys traditional emphasis on service and social justice makes ECAR a natural fit.

It also feels exciting, like an opportunity to set an example for our students, she said. They will hopefully take that idea of radical hospitality with them to their future careers, occupations and communities  to hopefully be a part of that solution long after they leave campus.

So far, 15 ECAR chapters exist across the United States, including St. Ambrose, with more than 20 campuses expressing interest.

Viewing every U.S. state as a possible place for resettlement, Abdo hopes to continue growing ECARs reach.

Looking at Iowa, specifically, initiatives like ECAR may help foster a global mindset on campuses.

We dont always have the global refugee crisis knocking on our door (in Iowa) Gant said. So it seems like a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness of that global issue, here in our community.

To her, the depths of this global crisis are often distorted by media. She hopes students at Ambrose gain a greater sense of empathy, compassion and perspective through ECAR.

When you meet a family of refugees, it stops being a number and starts being a person, Gant said. It just changes you and makes you want to help as many as you can  (ECAR) can promote depolarization on campus and build community around a positive cause.

Coordinated by Gant, students can get involved with ECAR through Ambroses campus ministry organization. After students are trained, they will help support the familys resettlement throughout the year, alongside activities like fundraising or promoting ECAR on campus.

Gant said Ambrose had existing plans to off-load student housing when Ann McGlynn, executive director of Tapestry Farms, approached the university about ECAR. Upon identifying a suitable campus-owned home, Gant and colleagues proposed the initiative to the presidents cabinet, which earned swift support.

Working regularly with local refugees, McGlynn is confident Ambrose will embrace these families with, kind and abundant care as they navigate resettlement.

We know that when refugee families have the right support in place, their chances of thriving in their new country increase significantly. One aspect to the right support is ease of logistics for basic needs, she said. In the case of St. Ambrose, the house offered is safe and welcoming. The campus location allows for access to services such as food, work, medical care, banking, and public transportation.

McGlynn extends these sentiments off-campus, too.

We know that the Davenport schools will offer the children of this family an inviting and rich learning environment, she said. If the adults so choose, they can attend English classes at Scott Community College, which is a simple bus ride away.

Thankful to play a role, McGlynn hopes Ambroses ECAR chapter enriches the lives of all involved.

Meanwhile, Gant and Abdo hope it helps ECAR gain traction in the region.

Photos: St. Ambrose University Commencement Saturday at Vibrant Arena at The MARK
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, Ellsworth AFB Office of Special Investigations, the Pennington County Sheriffs Office, and the Rapid City Police Department conducted a joint sex-trafficking operation during the 2023 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

The operation began on August 4 and continued through August 10.

As a result, the following five men were arrested and charged:

Burton Dave Chief, Jr., 35, Rapid City  Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

Vincent Alberto Barrios, 42, Box Elder  Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet

James Halen Dreamer, 41, Rapid City  Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet

James Peter Fast Horse, 45, Rapid City  Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet

Jacob Chinni Wilson, 38, Rapid City  Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet

Working with our law enforcement partners, we were able to take more dangerous sexual predators off the streets of South Dakota this week, said Ramsdell. We appreciate the exceptional collaboration between state, local, and federal agencies that made this operation a success.

The mandatory minimum penalty for attempted sexual exploitation of a minor is 15 years up to 30 years in federal prison; the mandatory minimum penalty for attempted enticement of a minor using the internet is 10 years up to life in federal prison.

The charges are merely accusations, and all five defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys Offices and the DOJs Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit justice.gov/psc.

The cases are being federally prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah B. Collins and Heather Knox.
Trying to get mental health care in rural parts of South Dakota can be difficult, from lack of access and transportation, to coordinating with emergency responders who may not see mental health crises very often.

But Lewis & Clark Behavioral Health Services, based in Yankton, has been finding new solutions to make sure rural South Dakotans can get the help they may need before or during a mental health crisis.

Thomas Stanage, the executive director of Lewis & Clark, shared some of the organizations efforts on Friday during the second annual We Need to Talk Suicide Prevention Conference in Sioux Falls.

Pilot efforts for rural mobile crisis responses

In larger cities, such as Sioux Falls and Pierre, residents have access to mobile crisis units where trained mental health counselors will respond to a behavioral health emergency rather than law enforcement.

Stanage said in rural areas, such as Charles Mix County, its difficult to get a trained mental health professional to someone in crisis who might be over 80 miles away. It can also be difficult to follow up with that person for a next-day appointment.

We certainly can't even do mobile crisis care in rural areas, he said. There's just no way that we would ever send a mobile crisis unit 70 or 80 miles to Platte.

In order to address the lack of mobile crisis units in rural areas, Lewis & Clark has created a pilot effort in Charles Mix County and Union County to develop the response teams in the rural communities served by Lewis and Clark to offer next-day follow-up care to someone in crisis.

Better coordination with local emergency services

Stanage said it can be a challenge at times to educate and coordinate with rural law enforcement and emergency services on proper protocols.

We're just trying to keep those people educated in terms of how the process works because in our smaller counties they just dont have the opportunity to have procedures in place because it may happen once or twice a year, he said. They just dont have the experienced people to be confident in how to work through a behavioral health crisis.

As a solution, Lewis & Clark is creating relationships between itself and law enforcement to provide support on what to do if police encounter someone in crisis. Partnerships with Avel eCare, which provides mental telehealth, can also help connect law enforcement to a trained mental health professional when theyre responding to a behavioral health crisis.

Law enforcement in 38 counties have access to a trained mental health professional through an iPad provided by Avel eCare, Brian Erickson, vice president & general manager of Behavioral Health and Specialty Clinic Services at Avel eCare, said Friday.

When they identify somebody in crisis, they can call us and were there within a minute, launched on an iPad to have a conversation with the individual in crisis, Erickson said.

Retired law enforcement has also offered to serve as volunteers to transport people who made a crisis contact with Lewis & Clark and who want to have the follow up contact be in person.

Incentives for workforce

Stanage spoke about how it can be difficult to find staff willing to work in the smaller communities Lewis and Clark services. Sometimes, staff at Lewis & Clark will travel over 500,000 miles a year to provide support for the smaller communities.

As a solution, Lewis & Clark has implemented pay raises and has offered to pay off a staff members student loans or pay for their schooling so long as the staff member makes a commitment to serve Lewis & Clark.

We're convinced that we have to grow our own staff, he said.

This story was originally published in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader.
YMCA of Rapid City will expand its after-school offerings by opening a Y Teen Center. The community is invited to tour the center during an open house from 3 to 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18.

The Y Teen Center at 830 Quincy St. will offer a fun, enriching after-school drop-in site for youths ages 12 to 18. The public is invited to speak with staff and learn more about the new teen center during the open house.

The Y Teen Center will offer homework help, introduction to business-basics through the Y Perspective program, and a creative outlet via Youth Institute where teens will learn about photography, videography, digital illustration and so much more, according to Keiz Larson, CEO of YMCA of Rapid City.

Well be offering after-school snacks to ensure students dont leave hungry. Well also be implementing healthy activities to ensure teens are given the tools to form productive habits and are encouraged to live a healthy lifestyle.

Larson said she is excited to bring the Ys mission to life through important teen programs.

The YMCA has a rich history in our community. It is exciting to see the YMCA come full circle 75 years after opening Rapid Citys first Teen Center. At that time, local businessmen including Don Knecht, Charles Whiting and Jim Keck were concerned that teens didnt have a safe and fun place to congregate in Rapid City, she said. We are excited to once again offer Rapid City teens a place to go. The YMCA has always been and will continue to be more than a place to work out  were a place for community, youth development and social responsibility.

Larson said the YMCA is grateful for donations from community members. Anyone who would like to support the new Y Teen Center can do so online at rcymca.org/donate or by visiting the YMCA at 815 Kansas City Street.
BRANDON, Miss.  Six white former Mississippi law officers pleaded guilty to state charges on Monday for torturing two Black men in a racist assault. All six had recently admitted their guilt in a connected federal civil rights case.

Prosecutors say some of the officers nicknamed themselves the "Goon Squad" because of their willingness to use excessive force and cover it up, including the attack that ended with a victim shot in the mouth.

In January, the officers entered a house without a warrant and handcuffed and assaulted the two men with stun guns, a sex toy and other objects. The officers mocked them with racial slurs throughout a 90-minute torture session, then devised a cover-up that included planting drugs and a gun, leading to false charges that could have sent one victim to prison for years.

Each reached individual plea agreements that include prison sentences ranging from five to 30 years, court records show. Time served for the state charges will run concurrently with federal sentences they are scheduled to receive. Each could get longer prison sentences in federal court in November.

The men include five former Rankin County sheriff's deputies  Brett McAlpin, Hunter Elward, Christian Dedmon, Jeffrey Middleton and Daniel Opdyke  and a police officer from the city of Richland, Joshua Hartfield.

All six pleaded guilty to state charges of obstruction of justice and conspiracy to hinder prosecution.

Dedmon and Elward, who kicked in a door, pleaded guilty to additional charges of home invasion. Elward also pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, for shoving a gun into the mouth of one of the victims and pulling the trigger, in what authorities called a "mock execution."

The victims  Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker  arrived together. They sat in the front row, feet away from their attackers' families. Monica Lee, the mother of Damien Cameron, another Black man who died in 2021 after Elward punched and tased him during an arrest, embraced both men.

After the brazen acts of police violence in Rankin County came to light, some residents pointed to a police culture they said gave officers carte blanche to abuse their power.

The civil rights charges followed an Associated Press investigation linking some of the officers to at least four violent encounters with Black men since 2019, which left two dead and another with lasting injuries. The Justice Department launched a civil rights probe in February.

Rankin County's majority-white suburbs have been a destination for white flight out of the capital, Jackson, which is home to one of the highest percentages of Black residents of any major U.S. city.

The officers warned Jenkins and Parker to "go back to Jackson or 'their side' of the Pearl River," the documents say.

Jenkins and Parker were targeted because a white neighbor complained that two Black men were staying at the home with a white woman, court documents show.

Parker was a childhood friend of the homeowner, Kristi Walley. She's been paralyzed since she was 15, and Parker was helping care for her.

"He's a blessing. Every time I've needed him he's been here," Walley said in a February interview. "There were times I've been living here by myself and I didn't know what I was going to do."

Parker and Jenkins have left Mississippi and aren't sure they will ever return to the state for an extended period. They took solace that at least one part of the justice system appears to have worked.

"With a little fight, with a lot of fight, you can come out with the truth," Parker said a day after the guilty pleas were announced. "And the truth always prevails over any lie or story you make up."

Jenkins still has difficulty speaking because of his injuries. The gunshot lacerated his tongue and broke his jaw before exiting his neck.

"As far as justice, I knew we were going to get it," Jenkins said. "But I thought it was maybe going to take longer."

Kristen Clarke, who heads the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, said the officers fomented distrust within the community they were supposed to serve. Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch said the abuse of power would not be tolerated.

States with the highest rate of people killed by police States with the highest rate of people killed by police #51. Rhode Island #50. Connecticut #49. New York #48. Massachusetts #47. New Jersey #46. Pennsylvania #45. Illinois #44. Michigan #43. Iowa #42. Minnesota #41. New Hampshire #40. Virginia #39. Maryland #38. Delaware #37. Vermont #36. Ohio #35. Nebraska #34. Wisconsin #33. North Carolina #32. North Dakota #31. Indiana #30. Florida #29. Maine #28. South Carolina #27. Texas #26. Hawaii #25. Kansas #24. Washington #23. Georgia #22. California #21. Utah #20. Alabama #19. Oregon #18. South Dakota #17. Kentucky #16. Tennessee #15. Louisiana #14. Missouri #13. Mississippi #12. Washington D.C. #11. Idaho #10. Arkansas #9. Nevada #8. West Virginia #7. Wyoming #6. Montana #5. Colorado #4. Arizona #3. Oklahoma #2. Alaska #1. New Mexico
To honor her late brothers memory, Trinity Peoples placed a roadside memorial down the hill from where he died.

The Oglala Lakota woman even got a city permit for the memorial. Family members traveled from as far as Florida to pray and install a custom-made cross. Shortly after, the cross was gone and so were the prayer ties that had been placed in nearby trees.

Since then, her brothers cross was vandalized nine times. Each time Trinity installed a cross, it was removed, sometimes within an hour.

The repeated vandalizations of her brother's roadside memorial led her to ask community leaders for help, but she found out the initial permit had been issued in error, and there was no way to protect the cross.

All I wanted was to have a place, a spot, to honor Barneys memory. Every time I went there the cross was removed within an hour or so, Peoples said. It was like Barney was being shot all over again, I felt that pain all over again.

Trinitys brother, Barney Peoples, was killed by Rapid City Police responding to a burglary call on March 26, 2022. On May 6, 2022, Peoples went to the Rapid City Public Works Department for a permit to erect a permanent cross. The permit was granted, but on March 17, Trinity found out it had been issued in error.

In fact, according to the city, none of the roadside memorials around town have permits.

When the original concern was raised, we reviewed right-of-way permits that have been issued as far back as the limits of our tracking software would allow and found no other instances of the Public Works Department issuing a permit for this type of occupancy of the right-of-way, said Shannon Truax, Public Works executive coordinator, in an email. I can confirm that those memorials were not issued a permit by the Public Works Department.

According to city ordinance, No person shall erect or maintain any building, fence, sign or structure upon any public right-of-way or upon any public property.

After her brothers memorial was repeatedly vandalized, Peoples recruited the help of James "Magaska" Swan, a citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and also of Sicangu Lakota descent, who has been a community advocate for decades.

I couldnt understand why someone would do that (vandalize), Peoples said. All I wanted was a memorial site, and we couldnt even have that without it being destroyed or removed, even when I had the permit.

Swan, who is the founder of the nonprofit activist organization United Urban Warrior Society, called the police to file a report on the memorials vandalization; however, since the permit was invalid, nothing could be done.

Community members can erect their own roadside memorials, but the city cant provide permits. So if anything happens to the memorials, theyre not protected.

On June 27, Swan spoke to the Public Works Committee, which oversees the granting of roadside permits for other situations, regarding his concerns and later was able to meet with a city council representative. Swan said that the new mayors inauguration and other changes within city government may delay efforts to draft any amendments to city codes, but all of the city council members hes spoken with have been in favor of some type of resolution.

We have a permit for everything else in town, so it just makes sense, Swan said.

The city acknowledged the permit was issued in error and refunded the $105 that Peoples had spent on permit fees.

We understand the familys desire to create a tribute in honor of their loved one. The city does offer a program to help families create a lasting remembrance through the placement of memorial trees, plaques and benches within the citys park system, Truax said.

Swan said that toward the end of December, a City Council discussion to protect future memorials should happen.

Once we make it a permittable thing if someone tears out a memorial, the police can fine them for destruction of property, Swan said.
NJ Thakuria





Guwahati: Denouncing the diktat of separatist armed outfits, Patriotic Peoples Front Assam (PPFA) urges the north-eastern citizens to hoist the national flag on 15 August and pay their respects to the martyrs, who made supreme sacrifices to create a sovereign nation called Bharat/India. The forum of nationalists issued the statement countering the boycott call of 77th Independence Day by some militant outfits of northeast India.





It is our primary duty to pay respect to those martyrs who laid down their lives to free us all from the clutches of British colonial forces. When many individuals and organizations go on fighting for various rights and political benefits guaranteed by the Constitution of India, they often forget to salute the Tricolour which represents the sacrifice of millions of known and unknown martyrs during the freedom movement, said the PPFA statement.





The likes of Moje Riba, Matmur Jamoh, Kushal Konwar, Tilak Deka, Bhogeswari Phukanani, Kanaklata Barua, Mukunda Kakati, Nidhanu Rajbangshi, Piyali Phukan, Maniram Dewan, Piyali Barua, Kamala Miri, Lerela Boro, Madan Rauta, Hemoram Patar, Gunabhi Bordoloi, Thagi Sut, Balaram Sut, Sambhudan Phonglo, Beer Tikendrajit Singh, Paona Brajabashi, Tirot Singh, Shoorvir Pasaltha Khuangchera, Ran Gaidinliu, Jitendra Chandra Paul etc from the region, who fought selflessly against the abusive imperial forces to rule India for centuries, should not be forgotten, it added.





Earlier, militant groups like Ulfa (Independent), NSCN/GPRN, KCP, KYKL, PREPAK, RPF, UNLF etc called for a general strike from the midnight of 14 August till the evening of 15 August. They asked the residents to keep inside their residences and avoid participating in any kind of I-Day celebrations in the region (they often describe it as the western part of south east Asia). Needless to mention that some banned armed groups regularly direct the north-eastern people to boycott the celebrations on I-Day or Republic Day as a mark of protests against New Delhis colonial rule over the region.




KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- With the concluded state elections in Malaysia, analysts on Monday said they believe the administration of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim now has ample room to deliver on its promised reform agenda.

In line with most research houses base case, the conclusion of the six state elections over the weekend showed the political status quo retained as the Anwar-led Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional (PH-BN) coalition formed the governments in the West Coast states of Penang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.

RHB Research said in a note that it believes the outcome of the state elections offers the Anwar administration the political leeway to make good on its reform agenda.

According to the research house, these initiatives will need to include measures to rebalance the subsidy bill, improve the state of public sector finances, introduce political reform, attract new foreign investment, improve competitiveness and drive the next phase of growth.

"Effective public messaging, managing market expectations and steady execution of the reform agenda will be critical," it said.

UOB KayHian also said in a note that with the uncertainty of the state elections ended and political stability ensured until the next general elections, it anticipated a notable acceleration in the implementation of crucial economic reforms in Malaysia.

According to the research house, these reforms are expected to encompass subsidy rationalization to a greater extent, strategic investments to facilitate the transition towards renewable energy, diversification of the government's revenue sources, and enhancements to the social welfare safety net for the lower-income segments through direct cash transfers funded by surpluses arising from the subsidy rationalization.

It also noted the rollout of the impactful economic initiatives or policies embraced by Anwar's Madani economic framework, such as the National Energy Transition Roadmap, loosening of Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) requirements, and the proposed Malaysia-Singapore special economic zone in Johor.

Kenanga Research also said in a note that it is mildly positive on the outcomes of the just-concluded state elections in Malaysia as it did not result in a change in the balance of power in the Southeast Asian country.

With the unity government's grip on Selangor, Penang and Negeri Sembilan remaining intact, the research house believes Anwar will continue to muster support from the existing partners of the unity government.

Also, having crossed the key final hurdle, it believes the unity government will expedite its policy initiatives, particularly, subsidy rationalization and tax reform, that will address the long-standing concern of investors over the long-term fiscal sustainability of the nation. 
The Louisburg College Learning Partners Program is one of the few comprehensive academic support programs for college students with learning differences in North Carolina. Students with learning disorders or learning differences have difficulties in comprehending or processing information, and thus have specific needs required in the classroom.

Learning Partners is a fee-based experience that offers students with learning differences the academic strategies and support needed to become successful, independent learners. Each student is paired with an experienced learning specialist, who meets with the student at least three times weekly.

The learning specialist aims to provide an exciting approach to learning while meeting the unique needs of the student. Student learning labs are open during the day and evening to assist students with class work. In addition, each student has access to the academic resources, services and accommodations they need in order to become a successful college student.

Learning Partners is great for students with:

Learning differences

Attention deficits

Social-emotional difficulties

Challenges with time and task management

IEP or 504 Plan during high school

Other unique learning challenges

Sharon Bryson, a parent of one of the students at Learning Partners, has witnessed firsthand how the program has helped her son. Learning Partners provided the structure and guidance to assist my son to form study habits that adapted to his learning style, not the other way around. This program was the perfect blend of adaptability and advice my son needed to help him become the successful student he is today, says Bryson.

Interested students, parents or guardians can contact the Louisburg College Learning Partners Program at 919.497.3302 or learningpartners@louisburg.edu for application information or to schedule an appointment for a Learning Partners campus visit.

For more information, visit louisburg.edu or follow them on Facebook.
Jim Weaver has had two major surgeries in the past decade: one to remove cancerous tumors from his bladder and another to clear a blocked artery.

Weaver, 70, knew that after he emerged from surgery, he'd want privacy. But because he and his wife drove more than 150 miles from Bend, Oregon, to Oregon Health & Science University Hospital in Portland, immediately returning home was not an option.

So, the couple brought their Escape 19 camping trailer, a small but comfortable home on wheels, and parked it in one of the hospital's 17 on-site RV parking spaces.

"Leaving that hospital with the bandage, the scar, and the rest of it, there's no way I wanted to be in a hotel," he said. "Being able to go down and stay in the trailer there, jeez, it was so huge."

Weaver was fortunate. OHSU Hospital, one of two Level I trauma centers in the state, is one of several medical centers in the United States that maintain parking spaces specifically for RVs, electric hookups included. The hospital has offered the free amenity to patients since 2009.

Medical and RV industry professionals say hospitals that offer RV parking are easing access to health care for some patients who drive long distances for care, like many rural residents.

Monika Geraci, a spokesperson for the RV Industry Association, said she understands the appeal to patients who travel with campers. "It's your home away from home on wheels," she said. "You're able to bring all of your creature comforts. It's your bed, it's your sheets, it's your bathroom, it's your kitchen."

Many patients drive eight to 10 hours to receive care at OHSU Hospital, said Brett Dodson, who oversees the facility's parking and transportation services.

"They've seen the rural clinics and they need to come to that next level," he said. "When they do, I think they're more comfortable with an RV than they are trying to find a hotel."

The average stay for a patient in the RV spaces is about seven days, and the limit is 30 days at a time. If a patient depends on the hospital for a recurring treatment like kidney dialysis, they'll stay every few months. Recently, spots were occupied by transplant patients and a family with a baby in the intensive care unit, Dodson said.

The spots help patients keep close to their medical providers and avoid paying for hotels. If patients don't have access to an RV or would rather stay in a hotel, Dodson's team refers them to the on-site lodging that OHSU runs in partnership with the local chapter of Ronald McDonald House Charities or a nearby hotel that gives patients a discounted rate.
The 41st annual Carytown Watermelon Festival began Sunday with about 1,800 watermelons and at around 4:30 p.m. had about 400 left.

The one-day festival, which closes off West Cary Street for about three-quarters of a mile, has become one of the largest single-day festivals for Richmond as local vendors set up stalls in the middle of the road.

The festival started when Three One One Productions contacted the Shriners Temples about doing a festival to help raise money for the temples, which in turn could use the money to help the Shriners Hospitals across the country.

With all of the watermelons being donated by Publix Super Markets and members of the Shriners volunteering to cut the watermelons and fill the cups, the Shriners are able to raise an estimated $24,000 to $32,000 every year, according to Thornton Holt, a past Potentate of Richmonds Acca Shrine.

That money just goes right back into the temples to help us promote and raise money for the hospitals, Holt said.

Shriners Hospitals transports and provides medical care for children around the globe at no cost to those who are admitted into the hospitals.

The partnership with Three One One Productions and the Shriners Temples created a route for local businesses in Carytown and greater Richmond to take part in the festival.

The businesses here thrive, too, Holt said. Were not here to cut them off or anything. But the watermelon part is ours, through Three One One.

Despite the heat, Carytown was crowded with festival-goers enjoying the vendor booths, music and, of course, the sweet fruit synonymous with summer.

One of the participating local businesses was Charlies Way, which was back again selling watermelon smoothies served out of smaller, hollowed-out watermelons.

An employee of the Brook Road restaurant, Jessica Mendoza, came up with the recipe to create a watermelon smoothie and serve it out of a smaller melon.

Weve been doing this for 16 years, said Alex Haddad, owner of Charlies Way. This is the only place where we serve it. Just for this festival. Its a lot of work, and everybody seems to love it. And every year we run out.

This years festival was no different as Haddad ran out of watermelon smoothies at around 3 p.m.
Extensive damage after driver blows intersection stop sign in Jose Maria Morelos

Jose Maria Morelos, Q.R.  The driver of a private vehicle who failed to stop at a marked intersection crashed into a government truck. The accident happened Saturday afternoon at an intersection in Jose Maria Morelos.

According to witnesses, the driver of the Kia SUV did not stop at the intersection stop sign, which caused her to crash into the side of a state government truck. Police were sent to the intersection of Morelos Avenue and Jacinto Canek Street in response to the 4:30 p.m. crash.

The government truck involved belonged to the Integral Port Administration of Quintana Roo (Apiqroo). During the crash, the driver of the Apiqroo truck was forced into a CFE light pole, which caused a power outage as well as additional vehicle damage.

Both vehicles were heavily damaged in the crash, however, neither driver required hospital transfers. CFE personnel were on scene to repair the pole and restore power, which was knocked out due to the accident.
Five arraigned in Cancun on charges of kidnapping

Cancun, Q.R.  Five people have been taken into custody for the kidnapping of two from Cancun. On Saturday, Enrique Uriel N, Gerardo N, Adrian N, Ruben Octavio N and Yanira N were arraigned on charges of the kidnapping of two unidentified victims from July.

According to investigations, the five are alleged to have kept two people deprived of liberty in a building in the Paseos del Mar subdivision of Cancun. The victims were kidnapped July 28 of this year.

The five kidnappers demanded that relatives hand over a large sum of money to release them, the State Attorney General (FGE) reported. The two kidnapping victims were rescued through a joint operation between the Secretary of Citizen Security and the Investigative Police, they added.

The victims were rescued unharmed. The five now-accused were arrested from the scene. The presiding Cancun judge ordered all five to remain imprisoned for the duration of their trial.
SSC expands 911 emergency service to include legal and psychological help

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  To provide comprehensive support to all people who request help through the 911 emergency line, the SSC has expanded its range of services. The Emergency 911 system now also provides psychological and legal guidance to victims.

The guidance is provided by agents of the Specialized First Intervention Unit for the Care of Gender Violence. The services are offered by a trained team of psychology professionals who respond to 911 emergency reports.

In this process, psychologists are able to provide emotional support in times of crisis to victims of violence. The planning of the Specialized Unit also includes the participation of online lawyers who will be in charge of helping women at risk with legal guidance.

The SSP Emergency 911 now offers psychological guidance to victims of abuse.

Photo: Secretaria de Seguridad Ciudadana de Q.Roo August 12, 2023.

With this project, the Secretary of Citizen Security of Quintana Roo (SSC) will respond to calls in Cancun (Benito Juarez), Cozumel, Solidaridad and special attention to Lazaro Cardenas, which is characterized by having a high population of indigenous origin.

Since the implementation of the services in August 2022 to date, the operational unit has served 7,345 people of which 92 percent are women who have faced situations of violence and vulnerability and 8 percent which correspond to care of men who requested support in crisis situations.
Botetourt County deputies arrested five people after a group of kayakers got in a fight Saturday along the James River near the town of Buchanan.

One person was injured in the physical altercation that occurred around 4 p.m. Saturday, when police said they responded to mile post 39 of the James River Water Trail, according to a sheriffs office social media post.

Botetourt deputies, Virginia State Police officers and Botetourt County Department of Fire and EMS volunteers in a watercraft searched the river between the boat landings in Buchanan and Arcadia until they found an intoxicated kayaker, plus a female companion, who had been involved in the fight, the post continued.

Deputies determined that the two had been left behind earlier that day after losing their kayak and paddle.

They later rejoined the group, confronting them about being left behind and a physical altercation ensued, the sheriffs office said. Others within the group then joined in the brawl resulting in one kayaker suffering from a laceration after being struck in the back of the head with a paddle.

Deputies charged Adrianna Shepherd, 23, of Hurt, with public intoxication and malicious wounding; Christopher Seeds, 24, of Hurt, with public intoxication and assault and battery; Nikie Bowers, 31, of Goodview, with public intoxication and assault and battery; Remington Wright, 31, of Goodview, with public intoxication; and Sammie Byrnes, 25, of Goodview, with assault and battery.

The Botetourt County Sheriffs Office remains committed to maintaining the safety and security of our citizens, Sheriff Matt Ward said. Unsafe or illegal activity on our waterways will not be tolerated. We will uphold the laws so that everyone may enjoy the accessibility of our recreational opportunities and the natural resources our county has to offer.
A federal safety agency is calling for additional inspections of pipes that may have been compromised by exposure to the elements along the route of the Mountain Valley Pipeline.

The U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration may also require an independent, third-party review of a process to inspect the steel pipes and, where needed, reapply a protective coating designed to protect them from corrosion once they are buried.

As legal challenges have delayed construction of the natural gas pipeline, prolonged exposure to sunlight  which can break down the fusion bonded epoxy coating applied to sections of the pipe  has taken its toll.

PHMSA says a weakened pipe could be vulnerable to landslides or earth movement in the rugged mountain terrain and karst topography though which the 303-mile pipeline passes.

Conditions may exist that pose a pipeline integrity risk to public safety, property or the environment, the agency said late Friday in its proposed safety order, which mentions explosions of other pipelines in similar landscapes.

Mountain Valley, which says it has been doing rigorous inspections of the pipe since work resumed earlier this summer, welcomed additional oversight by state and federal agencies.

Safety has always been MVPs top priority, and we are committed to meeting or exceeding all applicable regulations to ensure the safety of our employees, contractors, assets, and communities, company spokeswoman Natalie Cox wrote in an email.

Actions like the one taken by PHMSA are rare, said Richard Kuprewicz, an independent pipeline safety expert who is president of Accufacts Inc., a consulting firm in Redmond, Washington.

Its a good thing what PHMSA has done, Kuprewicz said Monday. In this case, they probably had a lot of good reasons.

In some places, including Bent Mountain in Roanoke County, pipes with coating that was applied in 2017 remain laid out along the projects 125-foot-wide right of way.

Industry standards call for such pipes to be above-ground for no longer than six months, unless additional coating is applied.

Mountain Valley says more than 270 miles of pipe along the projects 303-mile path through West Virginia and Southwest Virginia have already been buried, and that the coating met specifications at the time.

The remaining pipe is inspected and, where necessary, scrubbed and sandblasted before an additional layer of coating is added. The company has declined to say how many times that has happened.

Under PHMSAs proposed order, Mountain Valley would be required to submit quarterly reports to the regulatory agency that include data and results of its testing and a description of the repairs.

Already, inspections by PHMSA have identified questions about the projects cathodic protection system  which entails sending low-voltage electricity to the buried pipe to limit corrosion  and several locations in West Virginia where the pipe was placed in rock-laden trenches without adequate support needed to prevent damage.

A warning letter was issued in 2020 and corrective action was taken.

To date, Mountain Valley has not been notified of any outstanding compliance concerns, and the proposed order includes no new allegations of non-compliance, Cox wrote.

Under federal rules, Mountain Valley has 30 days to respond to the proposed safety order. Its options include asking for an administrative hearing or requesting an informal consultation in which it would explain the current conditions and present a plan for remediation.

Approval of the plan rests with the director of PHMSAs eastern regional office of pipeline safety.

Mountain Valley has requested an informal consultation and looks forward to an expeditious resolution, according to Cox.

Day-to-day construction operations will not change as a result of the proposed safety order, and the company said it still plans to have the pipeline completed by years end.
LAHAINA, Hawaii  Hawaii's governor warned that scores more people could be found dead following the Maui wildfires as search crews go through neighborhoods where the flames galloped as fast as a mile a minute and firefighters struggled to contain the inferno with what some officials complained was a limited water supply.

The blazes that consumed most of the historic town of Lahaina are already the deadliest in the U.S. in more than a century, with a death toll of at least 96.

"We are prepared for many tragic stories," Gov. Josh Green told "CBS Mornings" in a recorded interview that aired Monday. "They will find 10 to 20 people per day, probably, until they finish. And it's probably going to take 10 days. It's impossible to guess, really."

As cellphone service has slowly been restored, the number of people missing dropped to about 1,300 from more than 2,000, Green said.

Twenty cadaver dogs and dozens of searchers are making their way through blocks reduced to ash.

"Right now, they're going street by street, block by block between cars, and soon they'll start to enter buildings," Jeff Hickman, director of public affairs for the Hawaii Department of Defense, said Monday on NBC's "Today."

Meanwhile, some state officials said there is a shortage of water available for firefighters, and they blame a recent ruling by an environmental court judge. Its part of a long-running battle between environmentalists and private companies over the decadeslong practice of diverting water from East Maui streams that started during Hawaiis sugar plantation past.

Elsewhere, evacuees were expected to begin moving into hotels Monday evening. Green said Sunday that 500 hotel rooms were made available for displaced locals, and additional 500 rooms will be set aside for workers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency who are aiding in the recovery.

In addition, FEMA has started to provide $700 to displaced residents to cover the cost of food, water, first aid and medical supplies, agency administrator Deanne Criswell said Monday. The money is in addition to whatever amount residents qualify for to cover the loss of homes and personal property.

"We're not taking anything off the table, and we're going to be very creative in how we use our authorities to help build communities and help people find a place to stay for the longer term," Criswell said.

The Biden administration is seeking $12 billion in additional money for the government's disaster relief fund as part of its supplemental funding request to Congress.

The blaze that swept into centuries-old Lahaina nearly a week ago destroyed almost every building in the town of 13,000. That fire is 85% contained, according to the county. Another blaze known as the Upcountry fire is 60% contained, officials said.

"There's very little left there," Green said of Lahaina in a video update Sunday, adding that "an estimated value of $5.6 billion has gone away."

Even where the fire retreated, authorities warned that toxic byproducts could remain, including in drinking water, after the flames spewed poisonous fumes.

Many people gathered at the War Memorial Gymnasium in Wailuku, which is serving as a shelter. Among the visitors was Oprah Winfrey, who told Hawaii News Now that she delivered personal hygiene products, towels and water in recent days.

Winfrey, a part-time Maui resident, warned that news crews will eventually depart from the destruction, and the world will move on. But she said that "we're all still going to be here trying to figure out what is the best way to rebuild  I will be here for the long haul, doing what I can."

The cause of the wildfires is under investigation, and Green said authorities would also examine their response.

One fire, for instance, was thought to be out but later flared again. Before the blaze engulfed Lahaina, Maui County officials also failed to activate sirens that would have warned the entire population and instead relied on social media posts.

Fueled by a dry summer and strong winds from a passing hurricane, the flames on Maui raced through parched brush. One fire moved as fast as a mile every minute, according to Green.

"With those kinds of winds and 1,000-degree temperatures, ultimately all the pictures that you will see will be easy to understand," he said.

Many gathered Sunday to mourn the dead. Maria Lanakila Church in Lahaina was spared from the flames that wiped out most of the surrounding community, but with search-and-recovery efforts ongoing, its members attended Mass up the road. The Bishop of Honolulu, the Rev. Clarence Silva, presided.

Taufa Samisoni said his uncle, aunt, cousin and the cousin's 7-year-old son were found dead inside a burned car. Samisoni's wife, Katalina, said the family would draw comfort from Silva's reference to the Bible story of how Jesus' disciple Peter walked on water and was saved from drowning.

"If Peter can walk on water, yes we can. We will get to the shore," she said, her voice quivering.

J.P. Mayoga, a cook at the Westin Maui in Kaanapali, is still making breakfast, lunch and dinner on a daily basis. But instead of serving hotel guests, he's feeding the roughly 200 hotel employees and their family members who have been living there since Tuesday.

His home and that of his father were spared. But his girlfriend, two young daughters, father and another local are all staying in a hotel room together, as it is safer than Lahaina, which is covered in toxic debris.

"Everybody has their story, and everybody lost something. So everybody can be there for each other, and they understand what's going on in each other's lives," he said of his co-workers at the hotel.
DICKINSON, N.D.  Maksym Bunchukov remembers hearing rockets explode in Zaporizhzhia as the war in Ukraine began.

It was terrible, he said. He and his wife sent their adult daughter west to Lviv for safety and joined her later with their pets.

Now, about 18 months after the war broke out, Bunchukov is in North Dakota, like thousands of Ukrainians who came over a century ago.

He is one of 16 new arrivals who are part of a trade groups pilot effort through the Uniting for Ukraine humanitarian program to recruit refugees and migrants during a workforce shortage. Twelve more Ukrainians are scheduled to arrive by Aug. 15 as part of the North Dakota Petroleum Councils Bakken Global Recruitment of Oilfield Workers program.

Some workers want to bring their families to North Dakota while others hope to return to Ukraine.

I will try to invite my wife, invite my daughter, invite my cat and invite my dog," Bunchukov said a week after his arrival.

The Bakken program has humanitarian and workforce missions, said Project Manager Brent Sanford, a former lieutenant governor who watched the Bakken oil rush unfold during his time as mayor of boomtown Watford City from 2010 to 2016.

The oil boom initially was met by an organic workforce" of western North Dakotans with experience in oil field jobs elsewhere, but as the economy reeled from the Great Recession, thousands of people flocked to the Bakken oil field from other states and even other countries to fill high-wage jobs, Sanford said.

Technological advances for combining horizontal drilling and fracking  injecting high-pressure mixtures of water, sand and chemicals into rocks  made capturing the oil locked deep underground possible.

People came by planes, trains and automobiles, every way possible from everywhere for the opportunity for work, Council President Ron Ness said. They were upside down on their mortgage, their life or whatever, and they could reset in North Dakota.

But the 2015 downturn, the coronavirus pandemic and other recent shocks probably led workers back to their home states, especially if moving meant returning to warmer and bigger cities, Sanford said. Workforce issues have become very acute in the past 10 months, Ness said.

Ness estimated there are roughly 2,500 jobs available in an oil field producing about 1.1 million barrels per day. Employers don't advertise for every individual job opening, but post once or twice for many open positions, he said.

An immigration law firm told Ness that Uniting for Ukraine would fit well for North Dakota given its Ukrainian heritage, similar climate and agrarian people, he said.

The program's sponsors, including company owners, managers and employees, agree to help Ukrainians find work, health care, schools for their children and safe and affordable housing.

About 160 Ukrainians have arrived in North Dakota, the majority in Bismarck, as part of Uniting for Ukraine, according to State Refugee Coordinator Holly Triska-Dally.

Applications from prospective sponsors from around the state have gone up considerably in recent months, likely due to more awareness but also Ukrainians who are working and beginning to thrive and filing to support their family, she said.

The two dozen or so Ukrainians might not seem like many arrivals on national or statewide scales, but they will make a significant difference for cities like Minot and Dickinson. The cities haven't traditionally been major resettlement hubs, but now "there's a strong likelihood" the workers' families will join them, adding to the economy and schools, Triska-Dally said.

Bunchukov, who had jobs in mechanics and furniture sales in Ukraine, works for road contractor Baranko Bros. Inc. He and other new arrivals have experience in Alaskas seafood industry. Others have worked on cruise ships or held different seasonal jobs. Because of those jobs, many workers already hold Social Security numbers and have studied English, Sanford said.

Dmytro Haiman, who said his English skills steered him toward the Bakken program, recalled sheltering with relatives in his grandmother's cellar as the war began and bombs fell on his hometown, Chernihiv. In the first months of the war he drove people west to safety and brought canned food, medicine and even generators to Chernihiv amid supply shortages.

He said he expected to work in water transportation and hopes to earn enough money to help his family, to help us to rebuild our country.

The Bakken program aims to recruit 100 workers by the end of 2023, and 400 after one year. Those 400 may not all be Ukrainians. Some will drive, start in shops or build roads, pads and fences, everything from there up to well site operations, Ness said.

The workers will start in construction and other basic jobs starting at $20 an hour and can rise quickly. They also can leave their jobs or the state while theyre in the Uniting for Ukraine program, which grants humanitarian parole lasting two years with a goal of a longer path beyond, but that depends on the federal government, Sanford said.

Four translators help workers with forms, training and community acclimation, Sanford said. One employer has rented eight apartments for workers, while others are in extended-stay hotels until they can find apartments.

Glenn Baranko, president of the contractor building paths to drilling rigs and providing environmental services in the oil field, planned to assign jobs to five initial workers based on their skillsets.

The labor shortage led his company to hire a full-time recruiter, but there's still a need, said Baranko, whose great-grandfather came to the area from Ukraine.

Ivan Sakivskyi, who works for Baranko, said he looks forward to opportunities for promotion, such as driving heavy equipment, and gaining new experience.

Though he doesnt plan to live long-term in the U.S., Sakivskyi said he would like to return for work after visiting loved ones in his home country.

My heart and my soul are in Ukraine. Its my friends, the Odesa native said. Its my family.

Photos: Children of Ukraine war struggle after thousands of schools destroyed
by Hazel Reyes

HONOLULU, United States, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- The smell of charcoal dominated the air where Lahaina's Pioneer Inn hosted visitors from around the world for over 120 years.

"There's nothing left, not even a stick of wood," said Chantal Weaver, daughter of the former owner of the hotel. "Everything has been burnt to the ground. If it weren't for GPS no one would have any idea where the hotel stood because there is no reference point whatsoever. Front Street, Wharf Avenue, Lahaina Luna Road, everything is gone."

Lahaina's Front Street is one of the most popular attractions in Maui Island with many stores and restaurants, as well as a lot of historical sights. However, in a devastating hurricane-driven wildfire scorching Maui since Tuesday, the street and the seaside town were all burning down to the ground.

As tears began to well in her eyes, Weaver said: "The people of Lahaina need our kokua (help) to get through this catastrophe. The Aloha Spirit in Hawaii shines light into the darkness of every tragedy and exchanges beauty for ashes in the worse of times."

The Aloha Spirit is at the heart of the Native Hawaiian value system which sees treating everyone with love and kindness as the basis for all societal interaction.

"I encourage everyone to give as much as they can," Weaver told Xinhua in an interview by phone on Friday.

On Friday, the town of Lahaina looked like an ash heap. It was razed flat by the wildfires that continue to ravage the island of Maui seemingly without end and claim the lives of 93 at last count.

As reports roll out across the globe documenting the wholesale destruction, the island of Maui churches, charitable entities and private businesses statewide came to work hand in hand in bringing relief to those affected by wildfires.

Even with 80 percent of the fires contained, flames still leaped up in stubborn pockets across this island. Maui County said in its news release Friday afternoon "the Lahaina fire is not yet contained."

Although unspoken, most officials and relief workers traveling the area believe that the death toll could skyrocket, adding seemingly endless heartbreak to a community already overwhelmed with grief.

About 46,000 residents and visitors have flown out of Kahului Airport in West Maui since Wednesday, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, which is freeing up precious resources for those who don't have the option to leave.

As thousands flee this beleaguered island back to safety, those left behind face continued deprivation and no hope for energy, running water or internet service anytime soon.

The population of Lahaina is 12,702 as of the 2020 U.S. Census.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green gave a dismal prediction on power restoration in hard pressed Lahaina. "We're talking about more than just days. We're talking about weeks or months, in some cases, to get energy fully restored."

Barbara Tengan, senior pastor of The Wailuku Door Of Faith and president of The Maui Christian Ministers Association, saw her church as a sanctuary quickly filling with goods donated from across the state and entrusted to her care for distribution to those in need.

"The spirit of Aloha is the spirit of love spread by kind actions! When the worse happens, the Aloha Spirit arises," she told Xinhua.

Kandi Miranda, the founder of the Hawaiian Donut Franchise USA, took a very tough financial hit when her popular Lahaina gas station was reduced to ashes during the firestorm that blazed through Lahaina Tuesday.

The licensed psychologist, undaunted by her own losses, remained determined to reach out and help others. Profits from her Hawaiian Donut Shops on Maui and Oahu would be donated to relief efforts in Lahaina Town, and she was spearheading the collection of food and blankets for distribution to areas especially hard hit by the fires when Xinhua reached her on Wednesday.

In addition to her practical contributions, Miranda is volunteering her professional services to the many shell-shocked survivors rescued from disaster areas and suffering from a litany of challenges ranging from sudden displacement issues to post traumatic stress.

On her charitable efforts, Miranda said she was just "in the hopes that others will be inspired to give." 
While the Summer weather persists for another month or so around Richmond, the school children and college students will be venturing back into the classrooms in about a week. Worry not, for theres plenty to do around Richmond for young families and undergrads looking to grab one last bit of Summer vacation before the school year starts back up again. On this weeks SOUND CHECK weve got some great acts for everybody from pop junkies looking for a the next polished group with a fresh sound, to 90s ska enthusiast who might want to get a visit from a band you havent had the chance to see in decades, and Bostonians Twisted Pine bring their new grass chops. On top of all of that some Richmond legends are on the up and up again with their new track and a familiar sound.

If you want to reach out, send an email to Bones@rvamag.com with your new tunes or suggestions.

OUT OF TOWN ACTS TO SEE

TWISTED PINE

8/15 @ The Camel

Doors: 7pm

What started out as a quasi-bluegrass band has turned into something completely different as Twisted Pine brings their unique newgrass to Richmond this Tuesday. This group out of Boston that started with a traditional bluegrass sound has evolved in their instrumentation, yet have held onto the bluegrass ethic of quick tempos and virtuosic soloing. With three albums to their name, their most recent from 2020, entitled Right Now, is their most mature and sonically complex. Almost like a bluegrass band with the attitude of an indie-rock group, the delightful instrumentation with the inclusion of a flute adds a much-needed freshness to this genre that, though richly historic, desperately needs young new blood to liven it up. With their green eyes, Twisted Pine might be exactly what modern string bands need to revitalize the scene. Make your way down to The Camel this Tuesday night for a group that is sure to bring the string-like thunder. You dont have to be a bluegrass fan, but it sure doesnt hurt either.

LOCAL & REGIONAL ACTS TO SEE

FIGHTING GRAVITY, CRACKER & EVERYTHING

8/19 @ Browns Island

Doors: 6pm

Its a night of throwbacks down at Browns Island this Saturday. If youve been around the scene since the 90s, you are sure to remember these three groups gracing the stage to celebrate some anniversaries. Ill touch on them each individually:

Fighting Gravity formed in the 80s when the members all met as students at Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Originally called Boy O Boy, they got caught up in the ska craze and found success touring the country, playing hundreds of shows a year. Though its been a while and they wont have the full original lineup, this group is sure to rock this show full of Richmond 90s staples.

Cracker is silently one of the biggest groups to come out of Richmond. Though the group hasnt released a record since 2014, they still manage to pull huge crowds around the country and regularly attract more than 700,000 monthly listeners on streaming platforms. The group is celebrating the 30th anniversary of their hit record Kerosene Hat, featuring their hit single Low, which reached #64 on Billboards Hot 100 in the summer of 1994. Their lineup has changed dramatically over the years, but originals David Lowry and Johnny Hickman are sure to be there.

Everything formed in the late 80s from a group of students at James Madison University. The group has been steadily playing since their formation and has been releasing records, though sporadically, the whole time up to 2019 with the release of Supernatural. Everything was perhaps at their height, however, in the mid-2000s with In The Juju Underworld in 2006, which featured the track Hooch. Making it near the top of some of Billboards more specific charts, the real kicker for the success of Hooch was its inclusion in the Adam Sandler flick The Waterboy.

A whos who of Richmond 90s bands, its going to be a fun night full of good old days and recollections. Who knows, you might find your newest obsession.

LOBBY BOY

8/19 @ The Camel

Doors: 8pm

If your tastes are a bit more contemporary for a Saturday night out on the town, then by all means, look no further than The Camel again this weekend. Lobby Boy represents a sect of music of this city of electronic pop-oriented sound, which can be seen in bands like Drook and Deau Eyes in her newer music. Lobby Boy, however, heavily embraces the electronic aspects. Their most recent record, PURE POP, wouldnt sound out of place among euro pop or dance music at a nightclub. Utilizing the often-forgotten technique of autotune and exploring sonic landscapes slowly oscillating between punchy and repetitive melody vocal lines mixed with mechanical rhythms and electronic instrumentation, they can be a real shock to Richmond music lovers who are used to the punk/alternative or southern influenced scenes around town.

LOCAL & REGIONAL RELEASES

TIM & NEKO

Orbiting The Block (Single)

Featuring numerous feel and tempo changes, something of a theme in their music, Tim & Neko verge on the progressive in this propulsive and high-velocity track. Consisting of Tim Beavers II and Nekoro Williams, this duo is fresh and ready to rock. A hard-hitting song, Beavers cant help himself with the melodic guitar licks that magnetically attach themselves to the mind and refuse to let go, prompting numerous relistens. The group is also experimenting with horn lines, adding a degree of scale to their music that wasnt there despite the lengthy track times. Lyrically, Orbiting The Block evokes the quiet dread often prevalent in Beavers music, and the music echoes it with its melancholy melody and trumpet solos often running in tandem, yet in slight dissonance, to Beavers guitar. Williams remains a technical if manic talent that would likely fly out of his drum throne if he didnt have the slower moments to pull him back down. There are few who can challenge Williams in the city in terms of pure skill and versatility on the kit. I could go on, but Ill let the music speak for the rest.

Top photo by Blake Hannahson
That question is what made Lee think about pareidolia. He'd read those stories of people seeing images of Jesus, Elvis and angels in their toast and tortillas, and wondered if he could build an experiment around it.

" " This is the 10-year-old cheese sandwich that sold for $28,000 in 2004. The seller, Florida resident Diana Duyser, said after taking a bite she saw the Virgin Mary staring back at her. She said she had done nothing to preserve it but keep it in a plastic box. AFP via Getty Images

So, Lee recruited a bunch of regular people, hooked them up to an fMRI scanner, and showed them a series of grainy images, some of which contained hidden faces and some of which were pure noise. The participants were told that exactly half of the images contained a face (not true) and were asked with each new image, "Do you see a face?" As a result of this prodding, participants reported seeing a face 34 percent of the time when there was nothing but static.

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What was most interesting to Lee were the images coming back from the real-time fMRI scan. When participants reported seeing a face, the "face area" of their visual cortex lit up, even when there was no face in the image at all. That told Lee that another part of the brain must be telling the visual cortex to see a face.

In a paper provocatively titled, "Seeing Jesus in toast: Neural and behavioral correlates of face pareidolia," Lee and his colleagues reported that when the brain was properly "primed" to see faces, then the expectation to see a face was coming from the frontal lobe, specifically an area called the inferior frontal gyrus.

"The inferior frontal gyrus is a very interesting area," says Lee. "It's related to generating some kind of idea and then instructing our visual cortex to see things. If the idea is a face, then it would see a face. If the idea is Jesus, I'm pretty sure the cortex is going to see Jesus. If the idea is Elvis, then it's going to see Elvis."

The "Jesus in toast" paper won Lee a 2014 Ig Nobel prize, a cheeky award handed out by the humorous science magazine Annals of Improbable Research, but Lee says the pareidolia experiment proved that top-down processing plays a critical role in how we experience the world around us.

"A lot of things we see in the world aren't coming from our sight, but are coming from inside our minds," says Lee.
All purported proof of the creature's existence has thus far been discredited. Still, avid cryptozoologists argue that the northwestern United States (along with parts of western Canada) are home to this enormous, hairy beast.

Bigfoot Sightings

Bigfoot believers are, of course, less skeptical than the scientific community when it comes to alleged sightings. Many scientists argue that these eyewitness reports are merely as misidentifications of known animals or are otherwise unreliable, due to poor lighting conditions and the power of suggestion, but at least one account merits some head-scratching.

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Back in 1924, a group of miners claimed they had a harrowing encounter with several large, ape-like creatures near Mount St. Helens, Washington. The miners said they were staying in a cabin when the "gorilla men" attacked, and the miners shot at the beasts to get them to retreat.

Skeptics have suggested that the miners' perceptions could have been influenced by the remote and eerie environment. Regardless, the Ape Canyon incident remains foundational in the broader discussion of alleged encounters with such creatures.

Bigfoot Evidence

We'll say it again: There is no concrete evidence that Bigfoot exists. The FBI even examined hair samples that had supposedly come from the forest-dwelling monster, and the bureau concluded in 1977 that the hairs in question were "of deer family origin."

That hasn't stopped people from insisting that mysterious footprints and alleged photographs (always blurry, of course) prove it exists. The most famous piece of "evidence" is the Patterson-Gimlin film, which Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin shot in Bluff Creek, California, in 1967.

The short clip shows what appears to be a large, hairy, bipedal creature  which the two men claimed to be a female Bigfoot  walking through a Northern California forest. It turns its head briefly, providing a profile view of its face.

Skeptics gripe about the film's grainy quality and the creature's seemingly nonchalant behavior while being filmed. The lack of follow-up proof from the same location doesn't help the believers' case.
" " Expedition 65 flight engineers Thomas Pesquet and Megan McArthur are pictured inside BEAM, the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module. Some companies allow you to experience space travel like this right from Earth. NASA

While the space race of the 1950s and 1960s was an exciting time to be alive, humanity has never lived through a more fast-paced period of space exploration and human spaceflight. It seems almost impossible to catch up on the news without seeing a headline about a new Mars Rover, space telescope or astronomical event  and the public clamors for all of it.

We're finally on the cusp of a huge leap in space exploration: commercial spaceflight, also known as space tourism. But advances in space tourism are mostly due to billionaires and private development, and tickets have been primarily bought by the ultra-wealthy  for instance, it costs $250,000 to book a seat on Virgin Galactic for a trip to space. And when NASA said in 2019 that it would allow private citizens to fly to the International Space Station (ISS), it put the cost to stay there at $35,000 a night, and the price to get there at around $50 million.

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However, while we wait for prices to come down, there are still ways to experience space tourism on Earth. These earthly adventures cover the range of experiences you could have in space, while still fitting the budget many people have for other "bucket list" travel, like visiting Antarctica.
Piyush Gupta, chief executive officer of DBS Group Holdings Ltd., speaks during the Reinventing Destiny Conference in Singapore, on Monday, Aug. 14, 2023. The conference runs through today. Photographer: Lionel Ng/Bloomberg

By Low De Wei

(Bloomberg)  Singapore needs to figure out how to better deploy its sizable reserves and leverage its wealthy status by investing more in the region, according to Piyush Gupta, the chief executive officer of the city-states largest bank.

Weve still not caught up around the fact that we are a rich country, the head of DBS Group Holdings Ltd., said at a conference titled Reinventing Destiny on Monday. We have capital resources, how do we put it to work to create competitive advantage?

Piyush Gupta Photographer: Suhaimi Abdullah/Bloomberg

The financial hub has over the years accumulated a large, undisclosed sum of reserves, which has been estimated at over a trillion dollars, a figure Gupta referenced in his remarks. Still, authorities have mostly batted off calls for a greater deployment of the pile, especially for welfare payouts.

The administration should consider whether to use it to address the underbelly of society or more importantly, to scale up Singapores presence in new sectors and industries, Gupta said.

It should also consider using capital differently by learning from nations like Japan, and investing long-term in regional countries to get greater solidarity, said Gupta, whose bank is also the largest in Southeast Asia. Our neighbors think of us as a self-serving country, he said.

Gupta, a high-profile figure that has led DBS for over a decade, has weighed in on economic issues in the past, including saying that Singapore can afford to raise taxes on the rich and Chinas common prosperity drive is a good thing.

On Monday, he also said that Singapore has become more fearful of failure, especially now that the wealthy nation has more to lose. Still, the country cannot always be risk-averse due to a fast-changing world, he said.

This view was echoed by former US Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers who attended the same event remotely. I wonder how a person with the mixture of traits that Elon Musk has or that Steve Jobs had would function, and would or would not be permitted to flourish in the Singaporean system, he said. The optimal amount of rule-breaking in a creative society is substantially greater than zero.

With assistance from Xiao Zibang and Selina Xu.

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
The wildfires that have devastated Hawaii in the past week now officially constitute the worst natural disaster of its type that America has seen in a century, its death toll now at 111, surpassing the number of people killed in Californias notorious Camp Fire of summer 2018.

Tens of thousands of residents and tourists had to flee the Big Island and Maui after the blazes that erupted on Tuesday 8 August, fanned by high-speed winds from Hurricane Dora, laid waste to the historic town of Lahaina and many other locations, in some cases forcing people to retreat into the ocean to escape the flames.

Hawaiis governor Josh Green has estimated that the island chain will require billions of dollars of investment to recover from the disaster, with the US Civil Air Patrol and the Maui Fire Department reporting that hundreds of residences and businesses have been damaged or destroyed.

Mr Green has thanked President Joe Biden and the Federal Emergency Management Agency for its support so far but it is clear the recovery effort will have to be considerable to restore the tropical paradise to its former glory and ensure it is better safeguarded against calamity in future.

Right now, the emphasis of the response remains on putting out the fires and ensuring the safety of the public, a goal complicated by stories of lootings and armed robberies taking place amid the breakdown of law and order.

However, once the crisis is contained and a degree of normality restored, Hawaiian officials could face tough questions about the extent of the islands preparedness for the situation that unfolded.

Specifically, the public will expect answers on why its alert system failed, why expert warnings were ignored and whether domestic electricity providers played any role in the disaster.

Silent alarms

Maui is understood to have 80 outdoor sirens in place to warn locals of imminent tsunamis or other natural disasters  which are tested monthly, according to the BBC  but not one of them sounded as the brush fires broke out, officials have since confirmed.

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Residents of Lahaina were initially concerned when they woke up without power on Tuesday morning but were reassured when Maui County reported at around 9.55am that wildfires raging nearby had been 100 per cent contained, only for the blazes to be whipped up by the winds again that afternoon without further warning.

Some residents subsequently told the media they had received phone alerts but it is possible the earlier blackout played a role in limiting the dissemination of messages further afield. In many cases, it was only the smoke alarms in private buildings that notified them of the need to evacuate, leading to a panicked exodus that might perhaps have been avoided.

Mr Green announced on that the states attorney general, Anne Lopez, would be launching an investigation into Mauis emergency response policies to try to determine what went wrong.

People watch as smoke and flames fill the air from raging wildfires on Front Street in downtown Lahaina (AP)

He has largely preferred to avoid blaming human error, however, saying in a statement issued on Sunday: That fire travelled one mile every minute, resulting in this tragedy. A fire hurricane, something new to us in this age of global warming, was the ultimate reason that so many people perished.

Announcing her inquiry, Ms Lopez said: My department is committed to understanding the decisions that were made before and during the wildfires and to sharing with the public the results of this review.

As we continue to support all aspects of the ongoing relief effort, now is the time to begin this process of understanding.

Hawaii Democratic senator Mazie Hirono, addressing the matter during an appearance on CNNs Jake Tapper Sunday over the weekend, said: I am not going to make any excuses for this tragedy.

But the attorney general has launched a review of what happened with those sirens and some of the other actions that were taken.

In a press conference on 17 August, Herman Andaya, the Maui County Emergency Management Agency administrator, said that officials made the decision to send out emergency messages via phone, radio and television because they did not believe the outdoor sirens would be of use.

Destroyed homes and cars in Lahaina (AP)

Had we sounded the siren that night, we were afraid that people would have gone mauka [to the mountainside], Mr Andaya said.

He added that their outdoor sirens are typically used for tsunamis in which residents are trained to seek higher ground. Mr Green echoed this in a press conference saying the siren is advertised as being used almost exclusively for tsunamis.

And if that was the case, they would have gone into the fire, Mr Andaya added.

He noted that the outdoor sirens only exist on the coastline so even for the people who live mountainside, they would have been useless to them. He also said that most people probably would not have heard the siren due to the winds and incoming fire.

Mr Andaya has since abruptly resigned, citing unspecified health problems.

Expert warnings ignored

Historically, Hawaii has rarely been afflicted with wildfires and, when they have occurred, they were most commonly ignited by volcanic eruptions or lightning strikes.

But University of Hawaii professor Clay Trauernicht, for one, had been warning of the growing dangers posed by brush fires since at least 2014, noting that the area of the state burned annually has quadrupled in recent decades.

Professor Trauernicht attributed the increase to the invasion of non-native dry vegetation, which has been allowed to colonise former agricultural lands and deforested spaces, turning them into grassland savannas that serve as ideal kindling, particularly in periods of drought.

He has called the present crisis the inevitable outcome of benign neglect.

His warnings were previously validated when Hawaii suffered deadly wildfires fanned by Hurricane Lane in August 2018 and again in 2019.

Linemen repairing damaged elecricity wires in Lahaina (AP)

In the aftermath of those developments, a Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HIEMA) risk assessment report from 2021 duly noted that: Fires occurring as a result of and concurrent with another major threat or disaster, such as a hurricane, are particularly challenging.

That same year, a Maui County report on wildfire prevention recommended an aggressive plan to replace the dangerous grass while also condemning the extent of funding available as inadequate and finding that the absence of any advice on what can and should be done in its fire departments strategic plan amounted to a significant oversight.

Despite all that, there remains no specific advice for how the public should respond to wildfires on the HIEMA website, although it does concede their growing frequency.

The agencys latest report from 2022, meanwhile, rates the risk posed by fires compared to other forms of natural disaster as low.

Among those making the official counter-argument against accusations of negligence so far has been Hawaii lieutenant-governor Sylvia Luke, who observed: When we are preparing for the hurricane, we expect rain, sometimes we expect floods. We never anticipated that in this state that a hurricane, which did not make an impact on our islands, would cause this type of wildfires.

Downed power lines to blame?

Another local institution facing criticism over the disaster is Hawaiian Electric  which supplies 95 per cent of the states electricity  which is the subject of a class-action lawsuit brought by three law firms alleging that downed power lines played a role in the inferno on Maui.

The complaint, obtained by Spectrum News, claims that the utility inexcusably kept their power lines energised during forecasted high fire danger conditions.

It argues that the National Weather Service warned on Friday 4 August that Hawaii could experience indirect impacts from Hurricane Dora, including strong and gusty trade winds and dry weather and high fire danger, issuing a red flag warning that Hawaii Electric, it is alleged, neglected to react to.

A Hawaiian Electric spokesperson declined to comment on the lawsuit in a statement, saying that the company does not discuss pending litigation as a policy.

Our immediate focus is on supporting emergency response efforts on Maui and restoring power for our customers and communities as quickly as possible, they said.

At this early stage, the cause of the fire has not been determined and we will work with the state and county as they conduct their review.
Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong speaking during a dialogue session at the "Reinventing Destiny" conference at Marina Bay Sands. (PHOTO: Jacky Ho/Institute of Policy Studies)

SINGAPORE  Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong believes that Singapore has developed an "ethos of accommodation and compromise" that has enabled the city-state to thrive despite being a society of great ethnical diversity.

DPM Wong added that while Singapore has managed in its 58 years of existence to build a sense of solidarity among its diverse population, some tensions among ethnicities still remain and the city-state remains a work in progress in forging a common bond among the citizens.

"There will always be tensions, but I think we have developed an ethos of accommodation and compromise among our society," he said on Monday (14 August).

"Accommodation and compromise are not seen as a bad words in Singapore. In a multi-ethnic society and a society of great diversity, if every group insists on their maximum entitlement and takes every compromise as a slight or an insult to their tribe, I think we will be in for huge trouble.

"But over the years, we have instead developed a sense that, while no group will get everything it wants, there is a sense that this is a (societal) system that works for all, and that's what we'll try to stay for as long as we can."

DPM Wong was speaking at a dialogue session for the "Reinventing Destiny" conference at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, held to mark the 100th birth anniversary of the late founding prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew.

It was organised by the Singapore University of Technology and Designs Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities, the National University of Singapores Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, and the Institute of Policy Studies.

New challenges amid less benign, less hospitable climate

During the dialogue session, which was chaired by CNN show host and Washington Post columnist Fareed Zakaria, DPM Wong said that while Singapore has defied the odds of history to thrive after independence, there are new challenges and uncertainties for the city-state in a "topsy-turvy" global climate ahead.

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He highlighted three broad shifts: the evolving global multilateral trading system, with outlines of a new paradigm with more active state involvement in markets; a different pattern of globalisation, shaped not by economic logic but by geopolitical alignment and security; and the big shift in the nature of the relationship between the United States and China from strategic engagement to strategic competition.

"These big changes mean that we will be operating in an external environment that will be less benign and less hospitable for small states like Singapore," he said.

"(But) we are starting off in a far stronger position today. We have more resources, we are better-equipped to deal with our vulnerabilities, we have a good system to put in place effective and long-term policies, and we have a solid reputation as a reliable and trusted hub for the region and the world. We can build on all of these competitive strengths to move forward."

Greatest contestation of ideas amid domestic politics

On the domestic front, DPM Wong noted that the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) does not have the near-total dominance it once enjoyed, and the political environment in Singapore nowadays is that of a "greater contestation of ideas" for every new policy and decision that is made.

"It's harder and harder to have policies where everyone says is a wonderful thing to do. There will be some trade offs to make, balances to strike," he said.

"What's important, certainly for me as a leader of (the fourth-generation PAP) team, is to think about what makes sense, what's right for Singapore and Singaporeans now and in the long term, and convince people that this is the right thing, and that's what we'll continue to do."

Responding to a question by Dr Fareed on whether he will be able to clean up PAP's image after the recent spate of scandals, DPM Wong said that, beyond those incidents, he has learnt to have a certain sense of equanimity after the broader experience he has had in the government.

"When things go right, when people praise us and say 'we are No.1, we are the gold standard', don't let that go into our heads," he said.

"At the same time, when there are challenges and setbacks, we learn from the setbacks. we learn from the challenges. It's the mistakes and the failures where we find greater motivation to learn and be better. That's the attitude I take."

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Pure Panda Joy: Le Le indulging in specially crafted enrichments, from bamboo cake to sugarcane delights. (PHOTO: Yahoo Southeast Asia)

SINGAPORE  Le Le, Singapore's first giant panda cub, is displaying "signs of independence" and is on the cusp of being separated from his mother, Jia Jia.

The Mandai Wildlife Group, which operates River Wonders where Le Le and Jia Jia are staying, shared this update on Monday (14 August), as celebrations were underway to mark his second birthday.

Le Le's growing comfort in his own space has prompted the panda care team, in collaboration with Chinese experts, to prepare him for the next phase of his life, the group said in a media release.

The group had previously stated that Le Le would return to China when he reached two years old.

However, Yahoo Southeast Asia understands that his return date is still in discussion.

Transitioning towards independence

Regardless of his "visa status" in the country, one place Le Le will not be staying for long is with his mother.

However, it isn't a bad thing, as this transition toward independence is considered a "natural process" for giant pandas.

The Mandai Wildlife Group said Le Le has been engaging in activities like eating, resting, and playing on his own, apart from Jia Jia.

This mirrors the natural behaviour in the wild, where panda cubs exhibit signs of comfort when alone, while their mothers undergo behavioural changes that lead to "the eventual rejection of their cubs".

This process usually occurs between 18 and 24 months of age.

Given that giant pandas are solitary animals, this phase of development is a typical part of their maturation process.

The animal care team at Mandai has been facilitating Le Le's preparation for a new den, separate from Jia Jia's, according to the media release.

The group stated, "As it is critical to assist the cub and mom safely through the separation, the Animal Care team has been conditioning Le Le to enter a new private den that is segregated from (his) mom's. This will empower him to live apart from Jia Jia when the time comes. Le Le is growing comfortable in his own space, and his panda care team is working closely with the Chinese experts to prepare him for the next phase of his life."

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After the separation, Jia Jia and Le Le will rotate their time at the Giant Panda Forest exhibit in River Wonders. The visiting public will be able to see Le Le between 10am and 2pm, and Jia Jia from 2pm to 6pm.

Signs of Independence: Le Le, Singapore's first giant panda cub, embracing independence as separation from mother Jia Jia draws near. (PHOTO: Yahoo Southeast Asia)

Celebrating Le Le's second birthday

Amid Le Le's second birthday festivities, the excitement from visitors was evident throughout the event at River Wonders.

Even before the gates opened at 10am, a line of over 20 eager spectators had formed, attendees eagerly awaiting the birthday cub.

Le Le's delighted the crowd as he interacted with enrichments prepared by the panda care team, which included a bamboo cake and an assortment of treats made from banana leaves, ice blocks, and sugarcane goodies.

The panda cub also received presents containing bamboo shoots, and a display of confetti crafted from straw, hay, and wood shavings.

Subsequently, Jia Jia entered the enclosure to join in the festivities alongside her son, where they shared endearing moments, such as Le Le sneakily grabbing a bite of bamboo shoot from her.

Having made several mating attempts since 2015, she, along with Kai Kai, welcomed the birth of Le Le in 2021.

While Le Le's situation is uncertain at the moment, the stay of Jia Jia and Kai Kai in Singapore has been extended until 2027.

Mother-Son Bonding: Jia Jia joins Le Le in the festivities, capturing a playful moment as he snatches a bamboo shoot from her. (PHOTO: Yahoo Southeast Asia)

Visitor hopes for Le Le's future

Meanwhile, some Singaporeans are weren't taking any chances on the local panda cub's future.

Carol Ong, one of the visitors, expressed her eagerness to seize the opportunity to see Le Le before any potential return to China.

"Although the official opening time was 10am, the instant the doors opened, we all started running to catch a glimpse of Le Le. Knowing that his time here might be limited and he might return to China, we're determined to make the most of his presence. We really hope that he stays in Singapore, though; we want him to stay with his family together."

Salbiah Sirat, another attendee, shared her affection for the pandas, particularly Le Le, and the solace they brought during challenging times.

"Due to work commitments, I came once every two months this year, a change from my frequent visits last year. When I feel fed-up about my personal life, I come and see the pandas, and it makes me less stressed and relieved just seeing their cuteness," she told Yahoo.

Some visitors were not even aware of the occasion, chancing upon the celebration by coincidence.

"My side of the family, who is Japanese, is here, so we decided to come here and see the pandas. We didn't expect to see such a crowd for Le Le," shared visitor Mei Kimura.

Finding Comfort in Cuteness: Salbiah Sirat shares how her bond with pandas, especially Le Le, offers solace amid life's challenges. (PHOTO: Yahoo Southeast Asia)

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Ben Van Leeuwen, CEO and co-founder of ice cream company Van Leeuwen still spends 20 per cent of his day the shops. (Photo: Van Leeuwen Singapore)

Ben Van Leeuwen may be the CEO and co-founder of the ice-cream company that bears his name, but he doesnt look the part at all.

At the media preview for Van Leeuwen's first shop in Singapore (located at Orchard Central) on 3 Aug, the 39-year-old was dressed in a humble outfit comprising a black cap, v-neck tee and pants.

He greeted his guests with a boyish smile and a warm welcome, flitting about from table to table before eventually sitting down with us.

Despite only arriving in Singapore at 6.15am that day, he was positively brimming with energy - perhaps a manifestation of his eternal optimism, but more on that later.

Van Leeuwen is a 15-year-old ice-cream brand that started as a truck on the streets of New York City but its roots extend way beyond that.

In fact, it started when Van Leeuwen drove old-fashioned ice-cream trucks and sold pre-packaged ice cream as a summer job in high school and university.

He told Yahoo Southeast Asia, In America, we have a brand called Good Humour. And it's like a classic ice-cream truck that in most neighborhoods, the trucks drive around in the summertime serving prepackaged ice cream bars, ice cream, sandwiches, popsicles, all different sorts of things. So as a summer job, that is what I did from like the age of 18 to 21.

The turning point came when he was finishing university and realised he needed a job. That was when Van Leeuwen got the idea of building his own beautiful and whimsical ice cream truck to sell really good ice cream.

Starting an ice-cream truck business made sense

While some may balk at the idea of building a business selling ice cream, Van Leeuwen admitted that he didnt consider selling anything else besides that.

To him, it made sense to take that thing (an ice-cream truck) and upgrade it as the ice-cream truck is a thing in America.

He also wanted to capitalise on the premiumisation trend that was going on in the American market and how people, in affluent areas, were demanding higher quality foods made in a cleaner way, made with better ingredients, [and] made in a more delicious way.

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When you look at the European and Asian markets, that's just a normal thing here. People have always cared a lot about food. But in America, for a long time, a lot of the food wasn't great. And it's starting to get better. And we were a very small part of that change that's been happening.

The brand was eventually co-founded by the Van Leeuwen brothers (Ben and Pete) and Laura O'Neill, a close friend of Ben's.

Ben (left) with his co-founders, brother Pete (middle) and close friend Laura. (Photo: Van Leeuwen Singapore)

While it may seem like a tricky dynamic to navigate, Van Leeuwen assured us that their working relationship has been very harmonious.

He said, There's never been great periods of tension. The three of us fight, but we fight quickly and intensely, and then it blows over almost immediately. We're family, best friends, so there's no inhibition, there's no filter. We also have complete trust in each other to work really hard.

Retrofitted used post office truck as ice-cream truck

One of the big challenges in the business, in fact, came from trying to raise funds to kick it off. While Van Leeuwens friends and family were supportive of his entrepreneurial pursuit (as opposed to taking a corporate job), investors werent buying what they were selling.

A lot of people didn't believe in us, though, because when we tried to raise money, we went to maybe 20 people who we knew were wealthy, and we were confident would invest, and none of them invested in the business.

Ultimately, they raised a sum of US$60,000 (S$80,948) from friends and family but Van Leeuwen said it wasnt enough to get a new truck. Instead, they got a used post office truck and spent half of their funds retrofitting that into an ice-cream truck.

When they finally opened for business in New York City, Van Leeuwen said there was demand and people were really excited for it

With that said, it was one truck, he pointed out. So though we had a lot of sales and a lot of demand, the challenge that remained was it wasn't really enough revenue off one little truck to support the organisation that we would need to grow the business.

Add to the fact that there was tough competition and many of the existing ice-cream trucks in New York werent happy with them hitting the road.

They gave us a really hard time. They threatened us, they slashed our tires. So that was scary, and that was not pleasant, Van Leeuwen recalled.

Hence, they couldnt go to a lot of the good locations and also pivoted to opening stores instead of just continuing selling ice-cream out of a truck.

Now, 15 years later, the brand has become a cult favourite with 50 shops in America. The shop in Singapore marks their first business venture abroad.

Van Leeuwen is now open in Singapore at Orchard Central. (Photo: Van Leeuwen Singapore)

Theyre known for serving ice cream made with double the amount of egg yolks, making it french ice cream, and vegan ice cream made with real natural whole ingredients sourced from the finest small producers in the world.

He likes serving ice cream

Despite being active in every aspect of the business as the CEO, Van Leeuwen still dedicates 20 per cent of his day to being on the ground and staying in touch with the core of the business - selling ice cream.

He shared, In terms of like what my days are like in New York, it's probably 20 per cent in the ice cream shops in New York, saying hi to the team, scooping ice cream. So just staying really close to that because that's the core of our operation.

We're serving ice cream to people, we're serving cups, we're serving cones. So the closer myself and the rest of the leadership team can stay to that part of the business, the more we learn, the more ideas we have on how to improve. And then just selfishly, it's really fun.

Van Leeuwen isnt afraid to get his hands dirty with the rest of his team as ice cream brings joy and he loves spreading that joy.

Ice cream is a universally nostalgic part of so many peoples childhood, after all, he noted.

Starting an ice cream business is a way to spread joy. One of the things that we love about serving ice cream is, it's very easy to make people happy, because they're usually already happy when they come to get ice cream. Like when you're getting ice cream, it's a good thing. You're in a good mood. It's dessert time, he said.

With a history working in hospitality, Van Leeuwen also finds comfort and satisfaction in serving people.

He said, I love serving ice cream to people. I love serving people. I love hospitality. Like I started working in hospitality. I think, at the age of 13, in the US. Started in a snack bar, went on to work in restaurants, bakeries, then on to ice-cream trucks, then in more restaurants when I was writing the business plan to start this company.

But, I love being on my feet. I love interacting with people. Just makes me feel good at the end of the day and satisfied.

COVID-19 and burnout

And though he was burnt out after COVID-19, Van Leeuwen never thought of giving up.

The burnout was due to the fact that they had worked so hard for so many years and were ready to grow but the pandemic put a stop to that.

Thereafter, they were focused on surviving instead of being able to make money for the business to be profitable.

Part of that's just because they have no choice, Van Leeuwen explained of his choice to persevere.

I don't know what else Id do. Its scary, you know - this is what I've done for 15 years. And then the other part of it is just, like, we've put so much into this and we get better at this every year So it's really interesting and fun to see how we get better at running this business as it grows, and how we learn things.

For the self-proclaimed eternal optimist, he unwinds by participating in intense exercise like HIIT, and also yoga and meditation.

If I have more time, it would be like swimming, hiking, being in nature, cooking - I love to just cook at home. And then of course, spending time with friends and family is the best.

As for how he maintains his optimism, he replied, I think I'm naturally just an optimistic, pretty happy person. But I maintain it [by] trying to stay mentally healthy, which, for me, means physically healthy. So exercise, sleep enough. Don't drink too much alcohol, like that kind of stuff. You know, stay balanced.

Van Leeuwen Singapore is located at Orchard Central, #01-19/20

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SAC CITY, Iowa -- A Lytton, Iowa, man has pleaded not guilty of having sexual contact with a 13-year-old girl.

Antonio Pharms, 37, entered his written plea Friday in Sac County District Court to four counts each of second-degree sexual abuse and lascivious acts with a child. He is charged with performing sex acts with the girl on four occasions in April and May inside and outside her home.

The Sac County Sheriff's Office began an investigation on June 30, when the girl's father learned of messages between Pharms and his daughter.

Pharms was arrested later that day on a charge of violating a no contact order in an unrelated case.

During a subsequent interview at the Child Advocacy Center in Waterloo, Iowa, the girl said he had had sexual contact with Pharms.
CHICAGO, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) agricultural futures closed mixed on Monday, with corn and soybean rising and wheat falling.

The most active corn contract for December delivery rose 0.5 cents, or 0.1 percent, to settle at 4.8775 U.S. dollars per bushel. September wheat fell 10.75 cents, or 1.72 percent, to settle at 6.16 dollars per bushel. November soybean gained 18.5 cents, or 1.41 percent, to settle at 13.26 dollars per bushel.

Renewed fund selling forced new lows in wheat. Volume remained deflated, which exacerbated daily moves. There remained a general feeling of exhaustion within the speculative community.

Physical supplies will be adequate in late summer and early autumn, and EU and Black Sea inventories remain elevated. However, sourcing wheat from the United States, Canada, Australia and Argentina will be arduous amid tight supplies, which leans support to the markets. Chicago-based research company AgResource recommends end users to scale into long-term coverage on weakness, as U.S. weather forecast is concerning.

U.S. export inspections through the week ending Aug. 10 were 16 million bushels of corn, as against 15 million bushels in the previous week; 11 million bushels of soybeans, as against 10 million bushels; and 7 million bushels of wheat, as against 11 million bushels in the prior week.

Cumulative U.S. soybean inspections through Aug. 10 were a normal 95 percent of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) annual forecast. Wheat shipments were disappointing, but given better than expected sales in the recent week, a seasonal uptick lies ahead beginning in late September or October.

U.S. exporters sold another 416,000 metric tons of new crop soybeans to unknown destinations, which is expected to be China.

Weather forecast calls for near complete dryness into the final week of August as well as blast furnace heat throughout much of next week. An expansive high pressure ridge will define the North American climate in the second half of August, and hot and dry conditions are forecast to extend into Aug. 29. 
SIOUX CITY -- A Sioux City man has been charged with pouring hot water on another man and causing burns that led to treatment at a burn center.

According to a complaint filed in Woodbury County District Court, the victim was visiting his niece and her husband, Brian Henderson, at a home in the 1100 block of Virginia Street on July 17 because they had just lost a friend.

The victim told police he was talking with his niece when Henderson left the room. He then heard his niece say, "Brian, don't." The victim turned around to see Henderson behind him holding a pot of hot water over him. As the victim got up to run away, Henderson poured the water on him, causing severe burns to his back, check, buttocks and ankle, the complaint said.

The man ran from the house and later went to MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center for treatment. He was ultimately referred to a burn unit in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he spent several days.

Henderson, 55, was arrested Friday and booked into the Woodbury County Jail on a charge of willful injury causing serious injury, a Class C felony. His bond was set at $15,000.
SIOUX CITY  The Sioux City Council appointed city representatives to fill vacancies on the wastewater treatment plant reconstruction and design advisory committee on Monday.

Mayor Pro Tem Dan Moore and Councilwoman Julie Schoenherr will be the two council members on the committee, after the council approved a motion to delete Mayor Bob Scott as a committee member.

The other individuals the council appointed to the 25-person committee are Tom Pingel, the city's utility director in charge of the plant; Vicki Baker, wastewater plant manager; Sioux City Manager Bob Padmore; Sioux City Finance Director Teresa Fitch; Will Martin, project manager; North Sioux City Administrator Eric Christensen; Sergeant Bluff City Administrator Aaron Lincoln; and South Sioux City Administrator Lance Hedquist.

"I want to thank all who have agreed to serve on this committee and encourage major industries to consider or, in some cases, please reconsider serving as well," Moore read from a statement before the vote.

In May, the council approved the creation of the committee as a formal mechanism to address concerns by users during the design stages of the plant's reconstruction. The committee's overall mission is to ensure the reconstruction addresses the needs of the community now and in the future.

"The wastewater treatment plant reconstruction and design advisory committee was established to provide citizens, businesses and industries a voice as the design of the wastewater treatment plant progresses. The role of this committee is to provide valuable insights into the needs of the various types of users to ensure that the reconstruction is designed to meet the needs of all users now and in the future and in the most economical manner," Moore read from the statement.

During the council's May 1 meeting, Siouxland Chamber of Commerce President Chris McGowan warned council members were jeopardizing their relationship with the business community if they didn't "tap the brakes" on a projected $470 million rebuild of the city's aging wastewater treatment plant. At that time, McGowan handed council members a proposal to form a workgroup or committee.

A week later, on May 8, the council voted unanimously in favor of a resolution to form such a committee. The committee was initially slated to have 15 members, but that number has since grown to 25.

Sioux City wastewater treatment plant (copy) (copy) The Sioux City wastewater treatment plant is shown in this 2022 file photo. Rebuilding the aging plant in phases is expected to cost $470 million.

The council, at its Aug. 7 meeting, approved a nearly $38 million consulting services agreement with Hazen and Sawyer P.C. for the wastewater treatment plant facility plan improvements project. The Minneapolis environmental engineering firm, will provide design, site survey and geotechnical investigation, construction administration and observation, as well as post construction services for the project in an amount not to exceed $37,822,334.

"We haven't had a meeting yet to discuss any of this. The business community is concerned that we're getting our cart in front of our horse," McGowan told the council before the vote. "We've been asking for this dialogue since March or April, and we'd like to see that commence before we commit to spending $37 million on the scope."

On Monday, Moore noted in the statement he read that the committee was never intended to review the contract for the design engineer. He said this was outlined various times, including in the passage of the resolution which established the committee.

"During last week's meeting, there was discussion of the scope of the engineering contract. The engineering scope is not the same as the scope of the work in which the city needs input from all users as contemplated in the formation of the committee. The contract scope outlines the timeframe and work tasks that will be performed in designing the reconstruction. The scope that the committee will provide input and expertise on is in the actual design itself," Moore read from the statement.

The wastewater treatment plant facility plan improvements are intended to be implemented across two phases, with a potential third future growth-driven phase.

The plant, 3100 S. Lewis Blvd., poses significant safety issues for city staff and has a history of compliance issues with the state. In January of 2022, the Iowa DNR filed suit against the city over alleged repeated environmental violations at the plant, which dated back to March 2012. The city faces fines adding up to millions of dollars.
"We haven't had a meeting yet to discuss any of this. The business community is concerned that we're getting our cart in front of our horse," McGowan told the council before the vote. "We've been asking for this dialogue since March or April, and we'd like to see that commence before we commit to spending $37 million on the scope."

Padmore said Friday that a date for the wastewater treatment plant reconstruction and design advisory committee's first meeting has not yet been set.

"After we get enough appointed to have a quorum, and hopefully more, we're going to suggest some dates. We really want to have 100% attendance at the first meeting."

The wastewater treatment plant facility plan improvements are intended to be implemented across two phases, with a potential third future growth-driven phase.

The plant, 3100 S. Lewis Blvd., poses significant safety issues for city staff and has a history of compliance issues with the state. In January of 2022, the Iowa DNR filed suit against the city over alleged repeated environmental violations at the plant, which dated back to March 2012. The city faces fines adding up to millions of dollars.
SIOUX CITY -- The Siouxland Foster Closet will receive a $10,000 donation from the 100+ Men Who Care and 100+ Women Who Care organizations Tuesday.

The Siouxland Foster Closet provides free clothing and necessities for youth in foster and out-of-home placement in Sioux City, according to a news release.

100+ Men Who Care and 100+ Women Who Care are two organizations that each meet quarterly to select a local nonprofit organization to receive that quarters donations, which is $100 from each of the members.

Siouxland Foster Closet was the nonprofit selected during a joint meeting of the two organizations, held on July 13. The check will be presented to the organization on Tuesday, according to the news release.
Johnson County officials may follow Polk Countys lead in providing funding for emergency contraception and crisis services for victims of sexual assault and rape after the Iowa Attorney Generals Office halted  at least for now  covering those expenses.

The Polk County Board of Supervisors last week voted unanimously to direct Polk County Crisis and Advocacy Services to pay for the services previously funded by the state office.

Johnson County Attorney Rachel Zimmerman Smith is looking into the feasibility and potential hang-ups should the county follow suit, after two county supervisors inquired about the Polk County initiative.

Once we hear back from her and once theres enough will on the board, and I think there will be, well have a discussion about that, Johnson County Supervisor Rod Sullivan said. While no formal proposal has been made, Sullivan said it is his intention to vote to provide the funding.

I think this is just horrific, Sullivan said of victims of rape potentially being denied timely access to contraception to prevent unintended pregnancy and abortion care resulting from a crime. Cost, he said, should never be a barrier for rape victims seeking medical care.

I think its unconscionable the attorney general has stopped providing payment for the medications, Sullivan said. What should be happening is the attorney general should be continuing to support these victims.

Linn County officials have not said if theyre also considering funding.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird paused the funding as part of an audit of the victim services administered through her office. Bird announced the audit upon taking office in January.

However, it was not until early April that sexual assault response teams and other victim advocacy organizations first learned of the policy change after the Iowa Attorney General's Office confirmed it to the media, according to interviews and emails obtained by The Gazette under a public records request.

As a part of her top-down, bottom-up audit of victim assistance, Attorney General Bird is carefully evaluating whether this is an appropriate use of public funds, Birds office said in a statement issued April 5. Until that review is complete, payment of these pending claims will be delayed.

Sexual assault nurse examiners, hospitals and victim advocates say they have not received word on the timeline of the ongoing review. A spokeswoman for Bird told The Gazette late last month that a decision is expected soon.

Bird said during an appearance last month on Iowa Press on Iowa PBS that policy decisions made as a result of that audit, including whether to stop state funding for emergency contraception and abortions for rape victims, will be permanent and will no require legislative action.

We are working on that audit and what the outcome of that will be. But youre right, we did pause payments to entities like Planned Parenthood and others that were being reimbursed for abortions and for Plan B, Bird said. However, those services still remain available under Iowa law to victims. Its just whether public funds will pay for them.

Are patients getting billed?

Sexual assault nurse examiners who spoke to The Gazette say hospitals and pharmacies are continuing to dispense medications to victims who request them, and continue to submit invoices to the Attorney Generals Office seeking reimbursement. Patients are not being billed at this point.

As of April, 67 reimbursement claims for emergency contraception for sexual assault survivors totaling about $2,600 had yet to be reimbursed since Bird took office in January. The office also put on hold one claim for an abortion from a rape victim, which cost about $730, according to records from the Attorney Generals Office obtained by Iowa Public Radio.

The Attorney Generals Office did not respond to multiple request for an updated figure as of Friday. The office has also not disclosed how much it previously spent on emergency contraceptives and abortions.

In one claim submitted by the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics to the Attorney General's Office in late March obtained by The Gazette, the cost for the emergency contraceptive pill Ulipristal  sold under the brand name Ella  is $77.50.

At retail pharmacies, the typical cost for one dose of Plan B, a type of morning-after pill commonly be used after unprotected sex, is $50.

For now, the University of Iowa is temporarily holding claims while it awaits the outcome of the attorney generals review.

"University of Iowa Health Care is committed to supporting the health care needs of sexual assault victims," according to a statement from the Iowa City-based health system. "We are currently preparing for any potential operational changes that may be necessary in the event the Iowa Attorney Generals Office stops payment of emergency contraception for sexual assault victims."

Though the payments are not explicitly required by law, it has been the states longtime policy to cover the cost of emergency contraception from the victim compensation fund. In rare cases, the fund also has paid for abortions for rape victims, Sandi Tibbetts Murphy, director of the victim assistance division under previous attorney general, Democrat Tom Miller, previously said.

Bird, a Republican, defeated Miller in the 2022 November election.

Why has the AG paused payments?

The scope of the audit by the Attorney Generals Office remains unclear. Bird has not publicly said why she has opted to pause reimbursement for those services, and her office has not identified particular concerns.

Bird has been a vocal opponent to abortion, and represented Gov. Kim Reynolds in her failed effort to get the Iowa Supreme Court to lift a lower courts block on abortion restrictions passed in 2018. Iowa Republican lawmakers subsequently passed and Reynolds signed into law a new abortion ban thats been temporary halted pending the outcome of a legal challenge.

The Iowa Attorney General also joined other Republican-led states in a brief supporting a Texas judge's ruling that put a hold on government approval of mifepristone, a commonly used abortion pill.

Iowa law requires the state to pay for many of the expenses facing assault survivors who seek medical help, including the cost of forensic examinations to collect evidence and treatment for sexually transmitted infections. That is funded through the state's victim compensation fund, which comes from fines, fees and penalties paid by criminals. No taxpayer dollars go into the fund.

The decision to pause payments has caused anxiety and confusion for Iowa sexual assault nurses, response teams, victim advocates, hospitals and pharmacies, according to interviews and emails obtained by The Gazette.

Sexual assault nurse examiners, along with other victim advocates, continue to emphasize that emergency contraceptives are not abortion pills. The medication delays or prevents ovulation, preventing a pregnancy from occurring, and does not prevent a fertilized egg from implanting in the womb, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Its unclear how many other states cover abortions as part of their victim compensation program.

The Iowa Attorney General's Office Crime Victim Assistance Division asked that question of Dan Eddy, executive director of the National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards, according to emails obtained by The Gazette. Eddy replied that it often depends on state law.

"The basic rule is this: If it's legal in the state to pay for abortion for rape and incest victims, then the program should be paying for it, and we assume it is, he wrote. And if it's not legal, or no longer legal, either for an abortion to be paid for, then the abortion can't be paid for.

Regardless, the morning-after pill should not be affected, since it's "not an abortion drug, Eddy wrote.

There are many states that pay for Plan B; these are mostly the ones that pay for forensic exams as a separate procedure, since that is when it generally comes up, he wrote. Plan B is not an abortion drug. It is emergency contraception.  So it shouldn't caused any concerns  it's perfectly legal, and perfectly ordinary for a comp program to pay for it.

Escalating anxiety

Shannon Knudsen has seen women and girls at their most vulnerable, including a terrified 12-year-old patient who sat on an exam table after being raped and asked whether she could become pregnant.

Knudsen is the coordinator for sexual assault nurse examiners for Polk and Story counties. She stressed the importance of giving patients choices and autonomy over their health and body at a time when they feel powerless.

Knudsen and Jacinda Bunch, a sexual assault nurse examiner for the Johnson County sexual assault response team, said they worry about the possible looming implications for victims in Iowa should the state permanently stop payments once the audit is completed.

Free, confidential emergency contraception is critical, the forensic nurses said  not only for those who cannot afford the medication and health services, but for victims assaulted by a partner or family members who could be endangered if they have a record they sought care after an assault.

A bill to their insurance can be a safety risk if theyre on a parents insurance, or in an abusive relationship and on their partners insurance, and dont want them to know, said Katy Rasmussen, coordinator for the Johnson County Sexual Assault Response Team.

Rasmussen, too, noted, Its not a significant charge.

She said from April to June, eight patients seen by Johnson County sexual assault nurse examiners were prescribed emergency contraception.

Last year, the Johnson County Sexual Assault Response Team saw 90 patients. Of those, 39 were prescribed emergency contraception. For the fiscal year that ended in June, the team saw 101 patients. Of those, 46 were prescribed morning-after pills.

During the fiscal year that ended in June, the Mid-Iowa Sexual Assault Response Team responded to 270 sexual assaults to conduct a forensic medical examination. Of those, 105 survivors requested medication to prevent a pregnancy, said Eric Kool, director of Polk County Community, Family and Youth Services, which oversees the county's sexual assault response team.

Both Kool and Bunch, the Johnson County nurse, said the Attorney Generals decision has created unnecessary confusion and anxiety among patients. Patients are often traumatized by their attack, and dont know if theres a possibility they could get pregnant. Getting free, confidential access to medications and other health care they need to heal is essential, she said.

Patients should not have to worry about making decisions about a baby and raising a child that obviously wasnt planned and was the result of violence, Bunch said. By supporting emergency contraception, youre lowering the potential need for an abortion later from an unwanted pregnancy resulting from violence.

The morning-after pills are effective at preventing pregnancy if taken within three to five days of unprotected sex.

And that uncertainty escalates anxiety and fear survivors are already experiencing, Kool said. It was creating some anxiety in what was already one of the worst moments of their life.

Knudsen and Rasmussen said they wish that emergency contraception could be under consideration separately from abortion. They worry that conflating the two could imply they serve the same purpose.

Regardless of the outcome of the Attorney Generals review, the pair said they and other sexual assault nurse examiners will continue to provide the same level of care to all victims of sexual assault. And said they are committed to finding creative ways to continue to care for patients and provide emergency contraception free of charge going forward.

Kool said Polk County's Mid-Iowa Sexual Assault Response Team is looking at raising money through foundations and private donations to cover expenses.

Rasmussen, of the Johnson County Sexual Assault Response Team, said until we have a final answer from the Attorney Generals Office she doesnt want to waste time making alternate plans in case the office reinstates payments.
Do phrases like global boiling help or hinder climate action?

Posted on 14 August 2023 by Guest Author

This article by Noel Castree, Professor of Society & Environment, University of Technology Sydney is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Recently, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres coined an arresting new term. The era of global warming has ended, he declared dramatically, and the era of global boiling has arrived.

You can see why he said it. July was the hottest month on record globally. Searing temperatures and intense wildfires have raged across the Northern Hemisphere. Marine heatwaves are devastating the worlds third-largest coral reef, off Florida. And as greenhouse emissions keep rising, it means many even hotter summers await us.

But critics and climate sceptics have heaped scorn on the phrase. Taken literally, theyre correct  nowhere on Earth is near the boiling point of water.

Is Guterres phrase hyperbolic or an accurate warning? Do phrases like this actually help drive us towards faster and more effective climate action? Or do they risk making us prone to climate doomism, and risk prompting a backlash?

Rhetoric and reality

Guterres is rhetorically adept. He uses the moral authority of his position to vividly depict the climate crisis. For instance, he told attendees at last years COP27 climate summit in Egypt we are on a highway to climate hell with our foot on the accelerator. In many ways, its one of the only tools he has, given the UN has global influence but limited real power.

Global boiling ups the verbal ante. Its designed to sound the alarm and trigger more radical action to stave off the worst of climate change.

Guterres chooses his words carefully. But does he choose them wisely?

At one level, global boiling is clearly an exaggeration, despite the extreme summer heat and fire during the northern summer.

But then again, global warming is now far too tame a descriptor. Prominent climate scientists have pushed for the term global heating to be used in preference.

Similarly, phrases such as the climate crisis havent gained traction with either elites or the ordinary public. Thats because many of us still feel we havent seen this crisis with our own eyes.

But that is changing. In the past few years, extreme weather and related events have struck many countries  even those who may have thought themselves immune. Australias Black Summer brought bushfires that burned an area the size of the United Kingdom. Germany suffered lethal flooding in 2021. The unprecedented 2022 deluge in Pakistan flooded large tracts of the country. China has seen both drought and floods. Savage multi-year droughts have hit the Horn of Africa. India has banned rice exports due to damage from heavy rain.

Once-abstract phrases are now having real-world purchase  in developed and developing nations alike.

Climate scepticism has also dropped away. Fewer doubters are trying to discredit the fundamental science than during the long period of manufactured scepticism in Western nations.

In this context, we can see global boiling as an expression of humanitarian concern backed by rigorous science showing the situation continues to worsen.

The hazards of theatrical language

There are risks in warning of catastrophe. People who dont pay close attention to the news may switch off if the predicted disaster doesnt eventuate. Or the warnings can add to climate anxiety and make people feel theres no hope and therefore no point in acting.

Theres another risk, too. Catastrophic language often has moral overtones  and, as we all know, we dont like being told what to do. When we hear a phrase like global boiling in the context of a prominent official exhorting us to do more, faster, it can raise the hackles.

You can see this in the emerging greenlash, whereby populist-right figures scorn solar and wind farms. Even struggling mainstream leaders like UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak can pivot this way, as evidenced by his recent positioning as pro-car and pro-oil extraction.

Opponents of climate action  who tend to be on the right of politics  often complain about what they see as the overuse of crisis talk. If everything is a crisis, nothing is a crisis. This view has some merit.

But even critics such as Danish controversialist Bjrn Lomborg, author of False Alarm, may have more in common with Guterres than one might think. In admittedly different ways, they pursue similar ends: a world where people can live free from harm, with dignity, and with reasonable prospects of a fulfilling life pursued sustainably. The question, as always, is how to get there.

Hot language can motivate us, just as quieter, process-heavy, technocratic language can. It can be folded into a discourse of hope and aspiration for the future, rather than of fear and trembling.

Rethinking calamity

Climate writer David Wallace-Wells has written that the future will be contested and combative, combining suffering and flourishing  though not in equal measure for every group.

As the critics Frederick Buell and Rob Nixon remind us, a hotter Earth will worsen existing human vulnerabilities as well as creating new ones. The poor and marginalised, both authors observe, are already living through crises, year-in and year-out. They suffer what Nixon dubs slow violence, punctuated by dramatic environmental events such as landslides and failed harvests.

Are there better phrases to capture this? Possibly. Take the challenge yourself: can you think up a pithy, accurate phrase to cover intensifying local and regional-scale droughts, fires, typhoons and floods; damage to crops and food insecurity; water shortages; existential threats to coral reefs and low-lying communities? You can see how hard it is.

When Guterres uses highly charged phrases, hes not inviting to us to imagine a Hollywood-style apocalypse. What hes hoping is to make people listen  and act  now we can see what climate change looks like.

What happens if we write off his comments as overblown rhetoric? The risk is it becomes another form of denial. Climate change, global warming, global heating, the climate crisis, global boiling  whatever the phrase, it is now undeniable that its upon us.
This is part of Help! Wanted, a special series from Slate advice. In the advising biz, there are certain eternal dilemmas that bedevil letter writers and columnists alike. This week, were taking them head-on.

Todays columnist is Cody Rigsby, the popular Peloton instructor. His book, XOXO, Cody: An Opinionated Homosexuals Guide to Self-Love, Relationships and Tactful Pettiness will hit the shelves in September.

We asked Rigsby to weigh in on scandalous affairs, one-sided feuds, and the aftermath of a breakup:

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Dear Prudence,

My husband and I got married right after New York made it legal for same-sex couples. Were a loving and compatible pair. A couple of years ago I found myself in a state of limerence with another guynothing happened, but it was exhilarating and Ive been chasing that dragon ever since. Im sure this sound obnoxiously passive of me, but I seem to be drifting toward some kind of dalliance. My husbandtrust mewould never agree to that, so some part of me seems to be preparing to cheat. Am I insane? Is cheating always repugnant?

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Monogamized Up

Dear Monogamized,

Is cheating always repugnant? Yes.

This is coming from someone who has cheated on many boyfriends. I believe that honesty, communication, and trust in a relationship are so important, especially with someone you made a lifetime commitment to. I think this dragon you are chasing is the feeling of excitement that you truly only get at the beginning of a relationship or from a one-night stand. It is completely natural to have those desires, but before you go ruining the trust that youve invested 10-plus years in building, remind yourself of the special things that you have with your current boo. If you truly feel you cant get over your want for nonmonogamy, I think its time to have that conversation with your partner, which might ultimately, lead you to recognize that this partnership is not meant for you. Just know that if you do move forward with that choice it will come with a lot of sacrifices. Youll be letting go of a big investment.

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How to Get Advice From Prudie

Submit your questions anonymously here. (Questions may be edited for publication.) Join the live chat every Monday at noon (and submit your comments) here.

Dear Prudence,

Im a male high school senior in my first-ever real relationship with my really cool boyfriend. Weve been together for a few months, and Im super obsessed with him on nearly every front. The only issue is that he really doesnt like my friend. This friend is someone Ive grown really close to because of shared interests in animation (something my boyfriend also likes, but maybe isnt passionate about). This friend is pretty introverted and theyve confessed to me how they want to become friends with my boyfriend. Meanwhile, my BF starts whining about them whenever they come up! I hate this situation.

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My BF has said they just dont mesh well, which is totally fine and I dont want to force them to be friends, but he says stuff about them that feels just unnecessary. We both kinda talk crap about annoying kids in our school, but my friend hasnt done anything to offend them! BF (mostly jokingly) tells me I should reschedule hanging with them and it makes me really sad, especially because the friend keeps talking about their own issues with being seen as an outcast. Ive told BF to please stop talking about how much they dislike said friend but every time I have to mention them, he becomes visibly annoyed. I dont want this to be a dealbreaker!! I really like him. And I cant just stop hanging out with the friend either, I really like them too! This feels so weird and one-sided What can I possibly say to fix this?

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One-Sided Frenemies

Dear Frenemies,

Im going to be extremely honest with you: You are young and its very likely neither of these people are going to matter to you in four to five years. With that said, I always stick to the motto chicks before dicks. You should continue to invest in your friendship because theyll probably be there for you when you need a good cry. If you and your current boyfriend break up when/if you go to college next year (where, by the way, youll find plenty of dick), your friend will likely still be there for you. If you want to maintain both of these relationships, take a hard stance with your boyfriend and let him know you wont tolerate any slander of your friend, even if hes joking. And if he really cares about you, he will respect that boundary. It seems to me like your friend is a delicate soul and could use your love and care. Dont toss them aside.

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Dear Prudence,

I broke up with a long-term partner earlier this year. It was after a lot of trials and tribulations in the relationship. The breakup was fairly amicable. Ive got two issues.

There are pictures and other artifacts of our relationship EVERYWHERE. I dont want to delete them (electronic pictures) or throw them away (prints, etc.). I took any prints that were framed out of the frames and have been unsure of a good way to preserve but put them away where I dont have to look at them all the time. These are history and its my history too.

The second issue is related to the connections I made with his family and friends. I didnt advertise that we broke up. I left that up to him to communicate what he wanted (he always got mad if I ever mentioned him on social media). So anyway, his whole family is still friends with me on Facebook. I love his grown kids, his father, and his sisters. Is it weird that we are still friends on Facebook, etc.? Do I have an obligation to let these people know we broke up? I kind of assume they know but my ex never communicated with his own family willingly.

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Respectfully an Ex

Dear Respectfully an Ex,

As your pictures and artifacts go, I think you should take the physical pictures and put them away in a box for probably the next year or two. I promise that these things that are triggering you in this moment, will one day, in the future, bring you a lot of joy. Once you process this breakup, the good memories will be the ones that last.

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Even though you became close with his family and friends, the mature and respectful thing is to take space from those relationships. Your ex and his people will need to grieve this relationship, too. There is nothing wrong with reaching out to his people and letting them know that you really care about them, but that you will be taking space because you and your ex broke up and that you look forward to reconnecting when the dust has settled. Take time to really grieve this relationship with your ex and everyone in his orbit. Youll need that to be able to start looking toward the future.

When Isabel Allende Was Prudie

Why does compromise in a relationship always seem to mean You do what I want this time, and at some point in the future, Ill do the same thing for you? I know thats a loaded question, but thats how I feel. My fiance and I have been bickering endlessly about stupid things that neither of us wants to give way on. However, it always gets thrown in my face that I wont compromise, except that what he means when he says that seems to be doing what he wants.
Welcome to Help! Wanted, a special series from Slate advice. In the advising biz, there are certain eternal dilemmas that bedevil letter writers and columnists alike. This week, were taking them head-on.

It feels as if advice columns, in their numerous iterations, have been around forever. Even if youve never written to one, you probably recognize the hallmarks: Letters typically start with a story, a profession of love, or a seemingly simple question to anchor what comes next. Then come the tangled, anxious emotions. Sometimes were looking for reassurance, answers, a magic trick. But ultimately, we land at a few questions: Did I do the right thing? What do I say? Am I allowed to feel this way? Is thisam Inormal?

Im somewhat obsessed with the ways we ask for and give advice. The fascination probably began with talk shows on the radio, with indelible host Delilahs callers seeking solace as the backdrop to my long drives home. In Tumblrs heyday, Id send anonymous questions to bloggers who likely didnt have any better answers than I did. Ive written into, and been a diligent fan, of my fair share of columns. (I even held a brief stint in a college magazine answering other students questions about doomed crushes.) And now, as Slates advice editor, I read more letters a week than I ever thought possible. Across all these different forms, Ive come to a simple conclusion: Were all asking the same questions.

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I am a sucker for the zany dilemma that gives me something to fiercely debate over the dinner table as much as the next person. But advices bread and butter? Its the inquiries that all start to melt into each other: Should I leave this relationship? Is the person the right one for me? How do I get my in-laws to stop making my life miserable? How do I talk to my kid about grief/dating/family? What do we do if our tastes in the bedroom are completely at odds? How do I let go of this failing friendship?

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When Slates first advice column, Dear Prudence, launched in 1997, Herbert Stein answered a readers question about whether they should still open the car door for a date or if power locks made that unnecessary. But really, what the person was asking was: How do I impress this person Im taking out? Though these days we might be on the hunt for dating-app etiquette instead, its the same idea. The nuts and bolts of our questions are changing, but at their core, the build is the same.

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So this week, our columnists are taking on the challenge of your eternal questions. Again. And again. Expect lots of breakups, friends in awful relationships, in-law feuds, mismatched bedrooms, and inheritance duels. The writers will swap columns, in the hopes that a fresh perspective can bring some new insights to these age-old problems. Well have guests sharing new approaches. Well show you how to write the perfect advice letter. A columnist will give the ultimate answers to your online dating questions. Our podcasts will help you think about kids screentime, finding community in a foreign place, and wedding anxieties. Well revisit past advice, potentially get schooled on some common pitfalls, and hear from former letter writers. Youll keep asking those questions, and well keep answeringbut this time, we hope to give you some hard-earned answers that will endure.

Read all of the Help! Wanted series so far.
Summer is prime time for mosquitoes. Yet, despite spending most summers in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, I manage to come home unscathed. But not everyone is as luckymosquitoes have preferences. Why do mosquitoes bite some people more than others?

One reason has to do with mosquitoes main target: blood. Contrary to popular belief, mosquitoes do not feed on animal blood for food. In fact, only female mosquitoes do the biting, as the blood meal is necessary for reproduction. And scientists have found they prefer one type over the rest. A 2004 study demonstrated that mosquitoes were more attracted to Type O. This was also supported by a 2019 study, where mosquitoes, when presented with different types of blood, had a higher blood-feeding preference for Type O.

Bacteria on the skin itself can play a role in how attractive you may be. Mosquitoes are also attracted to certain bodily emissions. The irritating insects have organs called maxillary palps that allow them to detect carbon dioxide from their prey. So if youre someone who releases a lot of, well, gas, you may be more of a target. (This is also why pregnant women are mosquito magnets: They reportedly exhale about 21 percent more carbon dioxide). Molecules that humans expel through sweat, such as ammonia and lactic acid, also seem to attract the little guys. The mentioned attractants could be due to individual differences that can be explained by genetics. Researchers observed a genetic basis for attractiveness to mosquitos in a 2015 study that looked at twins.

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There are some incidental factors that could play a role in whether mosquitoes are drawn to you. Although the critters do rely on scent, they also use their simple visual system to locate potential targets. Thus, vibrant colors that draw attention would be more likely to lure them in.

Another seemingly random attractant? Beer. As mosquito scientist Grayson Brown told CBS News in 2016, its not clear why, but it could be because alcohol raises the body temperature of drinkers and makes them sweat more and C02 that fizzles out of a beer bottle when its top is popped could be an attraction factor, too. Who knew sobriety could be a natural mosquito repellent?
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 14)  After a China Coast Guard vessel fired water cannon on Philippine boats, an official from the Chinese government said the West Philippine Sea issues must be properly resolved through dialogue and consultation.

It won't do anyone good to adopt a confrontational attitude, or to leave our relations to instigation and disruption, Chinese Embassy deputy chief of mission Zhou Zhiyong said during a forum on Monday.

He also echoed Chinas stance that the United States government was the mastermind behind the issues in the contested waters, including arousing contradiction and even confrontation between China and the Philippines.

READ: China claims US 'mastermind' behind South China Sea arbitration case; US says it's 'an insult to PH'

We hope that the Philippine sides will remain vigilant against the masterminds behind all this and keep hands on the wheels for peace and tranquility in the South China Sea, he said.

US State Department Counselor Derek Chollet earlier dismissed the allegation as preposterous and an insult to the Philippines.

The Chinese officer also reiterated that Manila has promised to Beijing that it would remove the BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, a claim that was refuted by Filipino officials.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the BRP Sierra Madre will stay at the Ayungin Shoal.
Experts see many obstacles to better technology transfer in Slovakia, both ideological and practical.

In terms of technology transfer, Slovakia lags far behind not only Western states, but increasingly its closest neighbours, such as the Czech Republic and Hungary. (Source: Courtesy of Pavol Jozef Safarik University)

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Infertility affects more than 48 million couples worldwide every year, and while in vitro fertilisation (IVF) assisted reproduction is still one of the most effective methods of treatment, its success rate is not high and varies depending on a number of factors.

But new technology, developed by a team including Slovak researchers, is helping to fundamentally increase the success rate.

The technology, developed by Pavol Jozef Safarik University (UPJS) in Kosice, Comenius University in Bratislava, and Masaryk University in Brno in the Czech Republic, caught the eye of Czech financial holding FABA Capital, which negotiated a 441,000 contract for transfer of the rights to it.

Honey Laboratory The laboratory developed an accredited method for determining the antibacterial properties of honey. Slovakia has become the first EU member state to offer an accredited method for determining the antibacterial activity of honey as a commercial service for beekeepers and consumers. The aim of our project was, on the one hand, to commercialise the results of research by providing laboratory testing of honey, but also to give the beekeeping community the opportunity to valorise their main bee product  honey  and at the same time give consumers the opportunity to obtain honey that has proven antibacterial potential, Juraj Majtan of the Honey Laboratory.

This, however, was one of just a handful of intellectual property transfers from the Slovak academic sector in recent decades, highlighting what experts say is the countrys poor technology transfer system.

Given the number of academic institutions and the number of scientific researchers, Slovak academic institutions should, every year, generate dozens of cases of successfully commercialised technologies in the form of transfer of rights or licensing of rights to use intellectual property, Miroslav Kubis, head of the Technology Transfer Department at the Education Ministrys Centre for Scientific and Technical Information in Bratislava (CVTI SR), told The Slovak Spectator.

Experts blame vaguely worded legislation, and a lack of financial support and incentives for academic institutions for the low rate of technology transfers.

Natalia Molnarova, Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Manager at the Know-How Centre of the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (STU), described technology transfers as a process of cooperation between stakeholders which should result in the successful commercialisation of an innovative technology.

But she added that this is a developing story and Slovakia is just at the beginning of that story.

The country, she notes, lags far behind not only Western states, but increasingly its closest neighbours, such as the Czech Republic and Hungary.

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This is a problem because, as she explains, functioning technology transfers are the driving force behind a countrys innovation economy and have a positive impact on improving quality of life.

In general, it enables competitiveness to be strengthened, regions to develop and societies to prosper, said Molnarova.

It started in America
Slovakia destroyed the Soviet ballistic missiles stored in its territory in 2000. One such missile is on display in eastern Slovakia.

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The Soviet Union deployed nuclear weapons even to the territories of its satellites, and during the Cold War they probably reached Czechoslovakia as well.

Petr Suchy, an expert on the role of nuclear weapons in international relations from Masaryk University in Brno, explains how Czechoslovak nuclear weapons could have been used, how the Soviet Union also kept the deployment of ballistic missiles to the country a secret from the US, and why Slovakia still possessed them for a long time afterwards.

"Czechoslovakia clearly had carriers that we call dual-use. This means that they could carry conventional weapons, explosives, but nuclear weapons as well; whether they were rockets, airplanes, or some types of cannons that could launch nuclear missiles," he says.

In the interview, he also describes how the intercontinental ballistic missile that former Slovak President Rudolf Schuster received for his 70th birthday from former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma worked in the past.

Were there ever nuclear weapons in Czechoslovakia?

Very likely yes, from about the second half of the 1960s until the end of the Cold War. However, there is still some speculation about how many. The Soviet Union was very reserved and distrustful of even its most loyal vassals. Therefore, it preferred to store large numbers of nuclear warheads on its own territory, with the provision that in the event of escalation of tensions, they would be moved to bases in western satellites. In addition, carriers capable of carrying the warheads were deployed in Czechoslovakia.

What types of nuclear weapons were in Czechoslovakia?

The ballistic missiles and other missiles deployed had different ranges. According to Soviet classification, Czechoslovakia had tactical missiles with a range of up to 50 kilometres, operational-tactical missiles with a range of 50 to 300 kilometres, operational with a range of 300 to 500 kilometres, and operational-strategic with a range of 500 to 1000 kilometres. An example of tactical ones would be the Frog-3 rocket (Soviet name 2K6 Luna - Ed. note). These missiles, along with many others, were deployed in Cuba in 1962 and played a very dangerous role in the Cuban Missile Crisis.

The most important carrier in Czechoslovakia was deployed just 40 years ago at the end of 1983. This was the SS-12 ballistic missile (Soviet designation TR-1 Temp-S) with a range of 800 to 900 kilometres. Soviet and Czechoslovak propaganda justified the deployment by the fact that the United States began deploying ballistic missiles to West Germany and other European NATO states. Despite the fact that the Soviet Union constantly declared that the United States had nuclear superiority, it later had to destroy up to a thousand more such missiles than the US.

What exactly is the difference between a nuclear weapon, carrier and warhead?

A carrier is the means that will bring a nuclear weapon to its destination. A nuclear warhead is a nuclear device that can be placed on a selected type of carrier and can be integrated with it. When we talk about a nuclear weapon, this represents a carrier integrated with a nuclear warhead, for example, an intercontinental ballistic missile. It's a carrier and one or more nuclear warheads fixed on top. Czechoslovakia clearly had carriers that we call dual-use. This means that they could carry conventional weapons, explosives, but also nuclear weapons. Whether they were rockets, airplanes, or some types of cannons that could launch nuclear missiles.

How did the Soviet Union decide that they wanted to place nuclear weapons in Czechoslovakia?

The Soviet Union perceived the territories of its Western satellites as a suitable buffer zone to minimise damage, population and infrastructure losses in a possible confrontation with the West. For that reason, it sent its own troops to some satellites and in addition to conventional forces, placed nuclear forces there as well, in an attempt to have these assets closer to the site of a supposed conflict, which would be along the line of the Iron Curtain.
A new criminal case involving a Smer candidate shows the two parties share common ground.

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Welcome to your weekly commentary and overview of news from Slovakia. A prominent Smer candidate and former police chief is arrested and charged, but Smers snowball of support continues rolling. The highest-ever number of Slovaks living abroad want to vote in the upcoming election. One of the three judges on the panel who decided on the Kuciak murder case three months ago opined that Kocner could have masterminded the killings.

If you have a suggestion on how to make this overview better, let me know at michaela.terenzani@spectator.sk.

Smers support keeps rising despite mounting criminal cases

Smer may now be benefiting from the snowball effect, the latest election modelling by the NMS polling agency for the Sme daily suggests. The survey comes just six weeks before the election. It shows Smers percentage continuing to grow, albeit gradually, at the expense of some of its potential coalition partners  namely the Hlas party, founded in 2020 by breakaway Smer politicians, and the Republika party, comprising another group of renegades, this time from the neo-fascist Peoples Party Our Slovakia (LSNS).

In fact, the results of the latest survey using the NMS model  which weighs support based, among other things, on how committed voters say they are to voting for the party they prefer  show that there may be an option for Smer to gather a coalition that would not include Republika. This makes a difference especially with regard to Hlas, which has labelled Republika as one of the parties with which it will not go into government. The Smer-Hlas coalition scenario partly relies on the Slovak National Party (SNS), which failed to get elected in 2020, making it into parliament this time.

Meanwhile, Smer last week was confronted with another challenge  the latest of many  in the realm of criminal prosecution. Police brought charges against the number nine candidate on Smers election slate, Tibor Gaspar.

The police are sticking with biblical allusions when it comes to naming their cases: following on from Purgatory and Judas, the latest is dubbed Ezekiel 7 (The end has come!, declares the relevant book and chapter of the Bible).

Who is Gaspar?
A semi-sweet chocolate aroma fills the room, offset by the sharp scent of espresso. The all-encompassing ambiance invites you to sit on a well-loved burgundy leather bench, where locals gather and converse. The sounds of laughter fill the air, mixed with the occasional pause and reflective silence, creating a lively and contemplative atmosphere. Its where memories are shared, friendships forged, and a sense of belonging permeates the conversations. Being a part of this scene, I feel a sense of connection and homecoming, as if I have stumbled upon a gathering of kindred spirits.

As you wander through the coffee shop, you are drawn to contemporary art adorning the walls; stepping into a carefully curated room with modern black Wassily chairs centered around books from contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama, known for whimsical expression of polka dot motifs and bold colors, as well as late fashion icon Virgil Abloh, a renowned innovative disruptor in luxury fashion and streetwear. A 1950s D-Pocket Varsity Jacket hangs below a vintage Houston Astros hat as a testament to nostalgia and cherished memories. A continuation of art and meaning collide as I stumble upon the cafes resident tattoo shop, a neon pink sign lights up against a red and grey brick wall that reads, It Always Hurts.

Here there are layers upon layers of of creativity and self-expression. This is The Tipping Point.

Located in the heart of downtown Houston, the cafe is a mixed-use concept offering a unique combination of specialty coffee, vintage fashion, and culture. The visionaries behind this extraordinary establishment are owner David Rodriguez and co-owner Joseph Boudreaux. Theyre both Houston natives, and each one brings a unique concept to life by imbuing the cafe with a piece of their own personal style.

The Tipping Point was established in 2007, and adopted its namesake and philosophy from the book The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell. This book embraces the concept that ideas can be spread quickly by a select group of early adopters who take something unknown and make it a trend they genuinely exemplify. Rodriguez sees this concept in the evolution of streetwear, and the impact this style movement has had on the city of Houston. I wanted a place for people like me, where people could feel welcome, and we could express our creativity and culturethis was a way for us to do that.

Coffee plays an important role at The Tipping Point. Drawing from their culinary expertise and using their well-honed palates for tasting, they create coffee offerings that showcase specialty coffees unique flavors and characteristics while fostering a sense of connection and community among their patrons. We knew what a great cup of coffee tasted like, and we wanted to create that same experience while building community, Boudreaux explains.

Boudreaux, a former project manager, regularly visited the shop while traveling from Dallas to Houston, which led to an organic friendship and business partnership. Rooted in his Southern background and Cajun-infused family culinary experiences, his love for food and coffee shaped a strong sense of community and family within him. Community is the heartbeat of the Tipping Point culture, exemplified in every aspect of their business. We host pop-ups, and we love it; it brings people together, and coffee and culture are two ways we get to do that, he tells me. At the renowned Tipping Point pop-up events, Boudreauxs Boos Burgers became a culinary highlight, seamlessly integrating with the establishment and fostering a familial bond with customers. This inclusive atmosphere allows people to gather, connect, and truly belong.

Our passions brought us together and allowed us to continue to develop a space for community, but most importantly, we became family; and thats what we bring to the shop, which is why many of our locals take ownership of the shop, says Boudreaux. The shops regulars feeling a sense of ownership is a testament to the welcoming environment fostered by Boudreaux and Rodriguez. The Tipping Point has become a space where customers are embraced as part of a family, sharing in the warmth and camaraderie that defines the essence of the establishment.

The establishments signature roast, a collaboration with Three Keys Coffee, a local roastery, showcases the harmonious fusion of flavors from Mexico and Guatemala, delightful notes of semi-sweet chocolate, nuttiness, and subtle acidity. This unique blend of coffee pays homage to Rodriguezs Mexican heritage while honoring modern coffee traditions.

The coffee community has been a place for us to continue to grow as coffee professionals and not limit ourselves in our pursuits, Rodriguez says. The Tipping Point takes pride in featuring pour-over options from a diverse selection of roasters, including renowned names like Coffee Project New York, Creature Coffee Company, and Three Keys Coffee. Their most recent collaboration with Deadstock Coffee commemorates the 2023 Portland SCA Coffee Expo, a blend of pulp natural Brazil and anaerobically fermented Colombian coffee.

The Tipping Point invites coffee enthusiasts and locals to savor the artistry and passion that define Houstons thriving coffee culture while bringing about creativity, community, and connection. Its a place where time slows down, allowing for moments of genuine connection and shared experiences. Whether seeking solitude or seeking companionship, locals find respite here, knowing that they are part of something greaterthe tapestry of a community woven together by the simple act of gathering and savoring the small moments that make life truly meaningful.

Lisa Hicklen is a freelance journalist based in Dallas, Texas. This is Lisa Hicklens first feature for Sprudge.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230813/russia-conducted-highest-number-of-military-drills-with-china-in-past-decade-1112570995.html

Russia Held Record Number of Military Drills With China in Past Decade

Russia Held Record Number of Military Drills With China in Past Decade

Russia and China have held the highest number of joint military exercises over the past ten years while tensions with the West have increased.

2023-08-13T23:51+0000

2023-08-13T23:51+0000

2023-08-14T06:35+0000

china

russia

shanghai cooperation organisation (sco)

military

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Since the 18th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, held from November 8-15, 2012, Russia and China have held at least 45 joint military drills, 20 having been exclusively bilateral exercises, the outlet said on Sunday. Military cooperation between China and Russia was not affected by the coronavirus pandemic and is being strengthened within the framework of joint work in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), The South China Morning Post said. In particular, the SCO often conducts counter-terrorism exercises. Pakistan has become Beijing's next most important military partner after Russia, the newspaper specified. Meanwhile, cooperation with the United States against the backdrop of growing tensions between Beijing and Washington, has deteriorated and partner contacts in the military sphere between the US and China have become increasingly rare.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230812/dc-scholars-us-press-pushing-american-public-to-confrontation-with-china-1112558149.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230814/afghan-refugee-in-us-says-nobody-was-prepared-for-taliban-takeover-1112594741.html

Afghan Refugee in US Says Nobody Was Prepared for Taliban Takeover

Afghan Refugee in US Says Nobody Was Prepared for Taliban Takeover

Afghan refugee Ajmal Hussainkhail shared his memories with Sputnik of the 2021 Taliban takeover of Afghanistan on what now marks the second anniversary of the incident.

2023-08-14T21:07+0000

2023-08-14T21:07+0000

2023-08-14T21:08+0000

world

afghanistan

kabul

pakistan

transport ministry

taliban

usaid

us troop withdrawal

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The Taliban regained control of Kabul on August 15, 2021, two decades after being ousted by US-led forces in the wake of the September 11 attacks. The development accelerated the US troop withdrawal, which began in April and was completed in late August of that year. The militant group's return triggered economic disarray and food shortages that have pushed the country to the brink of a humanitarian crisis. Thousands of Afghans have fled the country fearful of the Taliban amid widespread violations of human rights as women and girls are said to be deprived of their freedoms. "We were not prepared for that. We were not informed that the Taliban will take over Afghanistan," Hussainkhail said. "We didn't think that it would happen." No Way OutHussainkhail, 31, a former director of revenue collection at the transport ministry and an owner of his own suit brand, came to the United States two years ago and is still trying to digest what happened in those days. Hussainkhail still remembers the day that forever changed the lives of millions of people in Afghanistan. He and his colleagues had gathered at the ministry as they always did on Wednesdays and Sundays, to send money they had collected from tours to the Transport Ministry account at Afghanistan's Central Bank. "That day, 12 members of the Taliban came to my office and asked what my job title was. I said, 'I'm director of revenue collection,' and they inquired why I had not escaped from the office as the others did," Hussainkhail recalled, adding that he immediately pointed out to the Taliban that both he and them were Afghans. "They told me that they needed cars and as they were with the guns, I said, 'Every car that you need, you can take it.'" As Hussainkhail agreed to give them the vehicles, the Taliban members promised not to take his car, and he went home. Being overwhelmed with thoughts and emotions, he fell asleep in the middle of the afternoon, and woke up the next morning to more than 100 missed calls and text messages from his wifes sister from Germany. When he called her back, she started anxiously telling him to go to the airport and all people were already there trying to escape. The Taliban took control of all gates of the airport and there was no way to go inside. So, Hussainkhail said, they turned around and came back home at midnight. On the way home, his car was stopped at several checkpoints as Taliban looked for guns. Over the ensuing days, he rarely went outside. Although he did not close down the clothing brand store, no customers ever came to buy suits. Meanwhile, the ministry remained closed with only security guards on site. The EscapeAbout nine days later, Hussainkhail suddenly received a phone call from his brother-in-law, who is an American citizen and worked as a translator for the US government. "He said 'I'm so sorry. When I was in Afghanistan I couldn't help you, but if you... go to the airport, the soldiers will definitely help you, because you worked with the US Embassy,'" Hussainkhail recollected. His father soon drove them to the airport and once they got out of the car and approached the crowd waiting to get inside the airport, the Taliban hit Hussainkhail, as they were hitting everyone. "A five-minute walk from the entrance, but we spent 30 hours to get to the gate of the airport," he remembered. When asked for documents at a fourth checkpoint, he showed the officer the contract he had with the US embassy. The officer said he did not care about Afghan documents and told Hussainkhail to leave the area. Then, suddenly, the officer instructed him to wait. The US official then noticed Hussainkhail had a certificate from USAID in his folder from a financial management course he took. "[The official] said that is my US visa," Hussainkhail said. "They let me in." Once inside, Hussainkhail said US soldiers gave them food and water. From Afghanistan, they had a four-hour flight to Kuwait where they were sent to a US military base for 10 days before flying to Washington, DC. Life TodayThe family now live in Alexandria, Virginia, where Hussainkhail works as an Uber driver, while his wife is looking for a job as a midwife. Hussainkhail said he needs to pay for both his family in the US and his family back in Afghanistan, including his sister who is fighting cancer. And every month, because medical care in Afghanistan is not as high quality, his sister has to go to Pakistan, he explained. "They have to pay a lot of money to the cops in order to cross the border, and also to the Taliban members and the Pakistani soldiers to let them go to Pakistan for treatment."While the memories of the chaos in his country are still fresh, Hussainkhail feels like he is lucky to be where he is now and dreams about bringing his parents and sister to the United States. He also dreams of reopening his clothing brand store to make suits.* Taliban is under UN sanctions for terrorist activities

https://sputnikglobe.com/20220622/state-dept-us-to-accept-more-afghan-refugees-in-coming-months-1096572276.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230814/ecuadors-construye-picks-another-presidential-candidate-after-murder-of-villavicencio-1112572206.html

Ecuadors Construye Picks Another Presidential Candidate After Murder of Villavicencio

Ecuadors Construye Picks Another Presidential Candidate After Murder of Villavicencio

The party of assassinated Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, the Construye Movement, says it has picked a new candidate.

2023-08-14T03:48+0000

2023-08-14T03:48+0000

2023-08-14T03:48+0000

americas

ecuador

national assembly

ecuador's president

elections

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On Saturday, Construye Movement said that Villavicencios running mate Andrea Gonzalez Nader was going to be the partys presidential candidate. On Sunday, the party said that Ecuadorian journalist Christian Zurita would be its candidate at the August 20 election. The announcement came after concerns were raised that the National Electoral Council of Ecuador (NEC) may not accept her as a candidate because she was already registered as a vice-presidential candidate.Villavicencio was shot dead at a campaign rally on Wednesday, less than two weeks before the election. The main suspect in the assassination died of gunshot wounds, the General Prosecutor's Office said, while six other suspects were detained. Diana Atamaint, the president of the NEC, said on Thursday that the date of Ecuador's early presidential election scheduled for August 20 would remain unchanged despite the assassination of Villavicencio. She said the country's armed forces would guarantee the security of Ecuadorians throughout the planned electoral process, adding that the protection for the remaining presidential candidates would be doubled. Ecuadorian media reported that, on Thursday, Estefany Puente Castro, a left-wing opposition politician running for a parliamentary seat in the National Assembly, came under an armed attack while driving in the city of Quevedo, in the Ecuadorian province of Los Rios, with her father and a company employee. Puente was not injured.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230810/what-is-known-about-killing-of-ecuadors-presidential-candidate-fernando-villavicencio-1112505153.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230814/german-foreign-ministers-visit-to-australia-disrupted-due-to-plane-malfunction-1112583898.html

German Foreign Minister's Visit to Australia Disrupted Due to Plane Malfunction

German Foreign Minister's Visit to Australia Disrupted Due to Plane Malfunction

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock's planned visit to Australia has been hindered by a mechanical malfunction of her plane, a German newspaper reported on Monday.

2023-08-14T10:16+0000

2023-08-14T10:16+0000

2023-08-14T12:16+0000

world

annalena baerbock

abu dhabi

german foreign minister

germany

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The government plane carrying Baerbock was scheduled to land in the Australian capital of Canberra on Monday, with the official program of the week-long visit set to begin on Tuesday morning. After visiting Australia, the minister was also expected to visit New Zealand and Fiji. On Monday morning, three minutes after taking off from a refueling stop in Abu Dhabi, the plane's crew reported a flap extension malfunction and had to return to the city, the report said. To land safely in Abu Dhabi, the plane had to burn most of its fuel by circling for about two hours. It landed safely at 05:33 local time (01:33 GMT), the media added. In order to resume the flight, the crew will have to determine if all the problems can be fixed with on-board resources or if spare parts are needed. The newspaper also noted that the minister was unlikely to continue her trip until Tuesday because the plane's crew need a rest. In May, during her three-day visit to the Arabian Gulf countries, Baerbock had to alter her schedule twice in three days due to governmental aircraft malfunctions. First, one plane broke down just before a flight to the Saudi city of Jeddah, forcing a change of planes, then the second plane broke down in Qatar, delaying the minister's departure by a day.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230810/lawmaker-fears-german-support-for-ukraine-could-spark-european-war-1112518548.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230814/how-team-biden-hurts-us-prestige-and-credibility-by-walking-into-ukraine-trap-1112585807.html

How Team Biden Hurts US Prestige and Credibility By Walking Into Ukraine Trap

How Team Biden Hurts US Prestige and Credibility By Walking Into Ukraine Trap

US observers have raised the question whether President Joe Biden could shift from his maximalist aims in Ukraine which threaten to turn into a trap for Washington.

2023-08-14T13:55+0000

2023-08-14T13:55+0000

2023-08-14T13:55+0000

nato

ukraine

joe biden

americans

ukrainian armed forces

us

ukrainian counteroffensive attempt

americas

chris christie

washington

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Prior to the much-anticipated 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive, American politicians and mainstream press had drawn a picture of what the endgame in Ukraine should look like, with Kiev forces seizing as much territory as it could to gain the upper hand in negotiations. Citing White House officials, the US media suggested that by the end of summer, Ukraine would tip the balance in its favor. However, the reality on the ground does not match expectations.The Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, a DC-based think tank, has raised the question as to whether Team Biden has a Plan B for a face-saving exit after it persuaded everyone in the West that anything short of Kiev's victory would be a global catastrophe.In fact, the Biden administration set a trap for itself by employing a "hyperbolic rhetoric" in order to sell the idea of Washington's Ukraine war to the American public and the world's community. President Biden raised the stakes as high as possible while claiming in February 2023 during his speech in Poland that "what literally is at stake is not just Ukraine, it's freedom."Another talking point of the US foreign policy establishment, lawmakers and academia was that Russia's victory would not only "embolden" Moscow for new "invasions" but also encourage Beijing to "take military action" against Taiwan  something that has been repeatedly denied as nonsense by China which has always seen the island as its inalienable territory.Republican presidential contender Chris Christie has even gone so far as to claim that China's potential "invasion" of Taiwan would inevitably necessitate putting American boots on the ground.As a result, the hyped-up narrative deprived Team Biden of room for maneuver: should the US president decide to pull out, he would have to explain to the international community why he is "giving up" on democracy and human values, bowing down to "dictators", and leaving the world in "danger."According to the think tank, the fear of losing prestige and credibility was one of the factors behind the US protracted involvement in Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and other wars.To complicate matters further, Biden will run for re-election in 2024 with Kiev's expected win in the counteroffensive having been seen as a selling point for the incumbent's campaign. Now that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have lost over 43,000 troops, and 20% of the NATO weaponry and got bogged down, the Biden administration has found itself between a rock and a hard place, as per the think tank.On the one hand, Biden's calls for another $20 billion for Ukraine came at a time when a majority of Americans, including 71% of Republicans and 55% of independents, oppose further military assistance to Ukraine, according to recent polls. Under these conditions keeping the conflict going is fraught with the risk of a growing negative sentiment and, subsequently, worse election odds.On the other hand, Biden's pull-out from Ukraine as the latter is losing would evoke strong memories of the US' humiliating and botched withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021. Furthermore, in any event of the Ukraine conflict being ended on terms less favorable to Kiev than earlier promised, a storm of criticism against Team Biden could be expected, as per the think tank.On top of this, the longer the US administration waits to lay the groundwork to end the conflict diplomatically, "the harder it will be to do, with the steepest costs borne by the Ukrainian people," the think tank warned.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230804/judge-andrew-napolitano-biden-doesnt-have-coherent-strategy-in-ukraine-1112373103.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230811/alexander-mercouris-how-zelensky-blackmails-the-us---1112524718.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230809/ukraine-defeat-ominous-to-team-biden-admitted-by-us-press-1112488800.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230814/iran-opens-probe-into-deadly-attack-on-shiite-shrine-in-shiraz-1112571728.html

Iran Opens Probe Into Deadly Attack on Shiite Shrine in Shiraz

Iran Opens Probe Into Deadly Attack on Shiite Shrine in Shiraz

Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi ordered an investigation into the shooting at a Shiite shrine in the city of Shiraz.

2023-08-14T03:01+0000

2023-08-14T03:01+0000

2023-08-14T03:01+0000

world

iran

shooting

terrorist attack

shiraz

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The minister called Mohammad Hadi Imaniyeh, the provincial governor, to urge him to do what it takes to find those responsible for the attack and bring them to justice, media reported on Sunday. Authorities of the Fars province were told to conduct a prompt investigation into what Vahidi called an act of terrorism and provide assistance to those injured. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi called Interior Minister Vahidi and Governor Imaniyeh to demand that security at the Shah Cheragh mausoleum be bolstered and those responsible for the attack be prosecuted, the presidency said in a statement. Vahidi dismissed Deputy Interior Minister for Political Affairs Mohammad-Reza Gholamreza immediately after the start of the investigation into the attack, Iranian media reported. Iranian officials revised the death toll from the gun attack down to one after initially suggesting that four people were killed. Fars Deputy Governor Esmail Ghezel Sofla said that eight people were injured in the Sunday attack, which occurred less than a year after another attack on the holy shrine left 13 people killed and dozens wounded. One suspect was shot dead during the assault, while the other fled and was later detained by Iranian security forces. Qatari news channel Al-Jazeera reported that both men were foreigners and that Daesh* claimed responsibility for the attack.*Daesh (also known as ISIS/ISIL/IS) is a terrorist group banned in Russia

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 14)  Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) should be given one more chance to prove these foreign-owned online casinos can generate income and jobs for the Philippines, the head of the state-run gaming agency said on Monday.

"Alam niyo naman naghihikahos ang ekonomiya natin at pa-recover pa lang, eh," Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco said Monday. "Palagay ko wala namang masama na bigyan sila ng huling pagkakataon to prove if it's really a worthy industry to support."

[Translation: You know that our economy is struggling and it is still recovering. I think there is no harm in giving them one last chance to prove if it's really a worthy industry to support.]

The PAGCOR chief made the case before Congress as the House appropriations committee sought the closure of POGOs amid findings of increased crime incidence, violation of immigration and human trafficking laws, and non-payment of taxes.

Tengco argued that from zero collection in fines, PAGCOR already gathered over $1 million in fines and penalties from POGO operations in the first six months of 2023, while tax revenues from the industry are expected to hit up to P4.5 billion this year.

He said POGOs employ 48,000 foreign nationals, almost matching the 50,000 Filipinos the industry has hired so that the ratio of foreign-to-local workforce is 1:1.

"I don't want to say this is the final chance I am giving to all the licensees. But that is why we have placed all our licensees in a probationary status and I have warned them that this is a one-strike policy, and that if they will continue to be involved in illegal activities such as credit card scams, crypto scams, love match scams and whatever different scams then I will have no recourse but to recommend the closure of the industry," Tengco explained.

At least 1,000 foreign nationals had been repatriated to their home countries following PAGCOR's closure of POGO operations within the Clark Development Corporation property, north of Manila, he added.

By PAGCOR's reckoning, there are 32 POGO licensees left and over 100 companies that cater to these licensees via ancillary services, Tengco told lawmakers.

READ: PAGCOR taps COA to audit POGOs
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230814/maui-wildfires-linked-to-damaged-power-lines-as-death-toll-rises-to-93-1112572336.html

Maui Wildfires Linked to Damaged Power Lines, As Death Toll Rises to 93

Maui Wildfires Linked to Damaged Power Lines, As Death Toll Rises to 93

Hawaiian Electric has yet to ascertain the definitive cause of the fires due to restricted access to the affected areas, which still remain closed off.

2023-08-14T03:53+0000

2023-08-14T03:53+0000

2023-08-14T03:53+0000

americas

us

hawaii

fema

wildfire

wildfires

maui wildfires 2023

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In a shocking turn of events, investigations into the devastating Maui wildfires that claimed the lives of at least 93 individuals have asserted that the catastrophic blaze was ignited by damaged equipment owned by Hawaiian Electric, according to lawyers involved in the case as reported by US media. The fires wreaked havoc on the picturesque city of Lahaina, reducing it to ashes and causing widespread destruction last week.Legal teams from Watts Guerra, Singleton Schreiber, and Frantz Law Group firms have all independently reached the conclusion that Hawaiian Electric's compromised infrastructure served as the ignition source for the inferno. Governor Josh Green has cautioned that the investigations into the cause could extend for weeks or even months, compounding the distress in a state reeling from what he termed its worst natural disaster ever. Governor Green also reported staggering damage, with over 2,200 structures either ruined or severely damaged in west Maui, resulting in an estimated total loss of nearly $6 billion.Hawaiian Electric had previously reported that powerful winds had toppled power lines in the affected region.The extent of destruction was most pronounced in Lahaina, where the majority of its infrastructure was obliterated by the blazes, leaving some residents with no alternative but to leap into the ocean for their safety.As survivors return to their devastated neighborhoods, officials have issued warnings to Lahaina and Kula residents against consuming running water and have advised them to only shower in well-ventilated spaces to mitigate potential chemical vapor exposure. Amidst the wreckage, federal emergency teams are methodically sifting through the ruined cities, marking locations with an "X" to be systematically searched by rescue crews and cadaver dogs.Maui Police Chief John Pelletier has grimly predicted that the current count of casualties is likely to rise, adding to the already heartrending loss.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230809/videos-wildfires-destroy-historic-hawaii-towns-as-islands-dodge-hurricane-hit-1112494375.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230814/rebels-in-niger-ready-to-start-talks-with-ecowas---reports-1112571911.html

Rebels in Niger Ready to Start Talks With ECOWAS - Reports

Rebels in Niger Ready to Start Talks With ECOWAS - Reports

Niger military takeover leader General Absourahamane Tchiani approved talks with the Economic Community of West African States, according to reports.

2023-08-14T03:37+0000

2023-08-14T03:37+0000

2023-08-14T03:37+0000

africa

economic community of west african states (ecowas)

niger

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The prime minister said that Nigers new leadership is "optimistic" about the start of talks with ECOWAS in the coming days. A military takeover took place in Niger on July 26. President Mohamed Bazoum was ousted and detained by his own guard, led by Tchiani. The caretaker National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland closed the country's borders. Following the military takeover, ECOWAS suspended all financial aid to Niger, froze rebels' assets and imposed a ban on commercial flights to and from the country. The organization gave the military takeover leaders one week to reinstate Bazoum and restore order, hinting that it would resort to military intervention otherwise. Its ultimatum expired this past Sunday. Nigers media reported on Sunday that Tchiani had expressed willingness to resolve the situation in the country by means of diplomacy.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230813/niger-rebel-leader-hints-at-threat-to-nigeria---reports-1112570253.html

africa

niger

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230814/russia-launches-next-generation-glonass-k2-navigation-satellite-into-orbit-1112584720.html

Russia Launches Next-Generation Glonass-K2 Navigation Satellite Into Orbit

Russia Launches Next-Generation Glonass-K2 Navigation Satellite Into Orbit

Russia launched the next-generation Glonass-K2 navigation satellite into orbit on August 7, Alexander Ivanov, the deputy head of Russia's state space corporation Roscosmos, said on Monday.

2023-08-14T13:19+0000

2023-08-14T13:19+0000

2023-08-14T13:19+0000

russia

roscosmos

russian federal space agency roscosmos

glonass

glonass-k2

russian defense ministry

soyuz-2.1b

space

russia

army-2023

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The Russian Defense Ministry stated on August 7 that a Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket carrying a military satellite had been launched from the Plesetsk cosmodrome, without disclosing details on its type and functions. The Glonass global navigation satellite system is used to determine the position, speed and exact time of objects on land, at sea, in the air and in space. In January, Glavkosmos, a subsidiary of Roscosmos, announced that the Glonass constellation would be replenished with new Glonass-K and Glonass-K2 satellites in 2023.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230807/soyuz-rocket-with-military-satellite-launched-from-plesetsk---russian-defense-ministry-1112442641.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230814/russia-open-to-deepening-military-technical-cooperation-with-other-states-1112581109.html

Putin: Russia Open to Deepening Military-Technical Cooperation With Other States

Putin: Russia Open to Deepening Military-Technical Cooperation With Other States

Russia is willing to develop military-technical cooperation with other countries and everyone who defends their independent path of development, President Vladimir Putin said on Monday.

2023-08-14T10:43+0000

2023-08-14T10:43+0000

2023-08-14T15:05+0000

russia

army-2023

russia

kubinka

russian army

military equipment

forum

exhibition

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According to the president, "we are talking about equal interaction with the states interested in protecting their national interests and sovereign development path." In particular, Russia offers cooperation in the training of personnel, training of military personnel and organization of joint exercises.Putin also pointed to the need to jointly create an equal and indivisible security system that reliably protects each country."Russia is open to deepening equal, technological partnership and military-technical cooperation with other countries, with all those who defend their national interests, their independent path of development. And it[ Russia] considers it fundamentally important to build together an equal indivisible security system that would reliably protect each state," Putin stated in a video address to participants of the 9th international military-technical forum Army-2023. Russia also offers foreign companies to develop military-technological cooperation, the president added.Addressing participants of the Army-2023 forum Putin said that the market for products using artificial intelligence is growing in Russia.He also noted that this year the business program of the forum, consisting of 250 events, is dedicated to the diversification of the military-industrial complex and the development of artificial intelligence technologies. "Russia has something to offer in these breakthrough and promising areas," he said."Year by year, we have a growing market for products that use artificial intelligence technologies," Putin said.The Russian president pointed out that more and more foreign military-industrial companies are becoming participants in the forum, noting that 82 foreign organizations participated in the event this year. We intend to actively work both in the format of already established cooperation ties and create new ones based on many years of successful experience of such a mutually beneficial partnership, the Russian leader emphasized.The Army-2023 defense industry forum is taking place from August 14-20. Sputnik is the official media partner of the event.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230814/russian-arsenal-unleashed-highlights-of-the-army-2023-military-expo-in-moscow-1112569435.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230814/russian-air-defense-systems-destroy-drones-over-belgorod-region-1112583272.html

Russian Air Defense Systems Destroy Drones Over Belgorod Region

Russian Air Defense Systems Destroy Drones Over Belgorod Region

Russian air defense systems have destroyed Ukrainian drones over the Belgorod region, the Russian Defense Ministry said, adding that there were no casualties or damage.

2023-08-14T12:30+0000

2023-08-14T12:30+0000

2023-08-14T12:30+0000

russia

ukrainian drone attacks on russia

russian defense ministry

russia

belgorod region

drone attack

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"On August 14, at about 12:15 Moscow time [09:15 GMT] and 12:45 Moscow time, attempts by the Kiev regime to carry out terrorist attacks by unmanned aerial vehicles of an aircraft type against objects in Russia were suppressed. Russian air defense systems detected and destroyed UAVs over the territory of the Belgorod Region," the ministry stated.Belgorod region has recently faced a hike in Ukrainian drone attacks targeting civilian infrastructure. Russian air defenses shot down at least three drones on Sunday alone.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230814/russian-su-34-strike-aircraft-target-ukrainian-troops-in-dpr---defense-ministry-1112571621.html

Russian Su-34 Strike Aircraft Target Ukrainian Troops in DPR - Defense Ministry

Russian Su-34 Strike Aircraft Target Ukrainian Troops in DPR - Defense Ministry

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Su-34 fighter-bombers of the Russian "Yug" Group of Forces have attacked three points of temporary deployment of Ukrainian troops in the... 14.08.2023, Sputnik International

2023-08-14T02:19+0000

2023-08-14T02:19+0000

2023-08-14T02:19+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

ukraine

russia

dpr

defense ministry

su-35

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"Su-34 fighter-bombers of the Yug Group of Forces inflicted damage with guided munitions at two points of temporary deployment of the third separate air assault brigade of the armed forces of Ukraine," the spokesperson said. The spokesperson added that the Russian strike aircraft have also launched a missile and bomb attack on a temporary deployment point and an ammunition depot of the Ukrainian 110th separate mechanized brigade.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230809/su-57-edges-out-f-35-to-emerge-sentinel-of-skies-1112468913.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230814/singapore-blasts-us-for-extreme-competition-with-china-warns-disastrous-for-global-economy-1112595823.html

Singapore Blasts US for Extreme Competition With China, Warns Disastrous for Global Economy

Singapore Blasts US for Extreme Competition With China, Warns Disastrous for Global Economy

Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong warned of the potential for disaster ranging far beyond the US and China thanks to their heavy-handed use of trade restrictions such as economic sanctions.

2023-08-14T21:33+0000

2023-08-14T21:33+0000

2023-08-14T21:32+0000

world

singapore

china

regional comprehensive economic partnership (rcep)

wang yi

economic sanctions

us-china relations

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Speaking at an event marking the 100th birthday of the late Singaporean independence leader Lee Kuan Yew, Wong warned the collateral damage in US-China competition could not be foreseen, making it the biggest issue in the world.There will be a trade-off in terms of performance, in terms of power consumption, in terms of reliability  but you can design a workaround solution, Wong said about the impact of US sanctions on Chinas tech sector. Yes, it will slow down Chinas access to high-end capabilities to some extent, but its not going to keep China down forever.Among the measures Washington has adopted to curb the advance of Chinese tech industry include blacklisting major firms from US markets, banning US companies from investing in Chinese companies tied to the government or military - which is most in the socialist state - and pressuring other nations to adopt similar policies, particularly with regards to 5G internet networks and selling advanced microchips to Chinese firms.Wongs words come just days after the Southeast Asian city-state was paid a visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who called the US the biggest destabilizing factor in the world.On the one hand, it condones and supports the Taiwan independence forces relying on the United States to seek independence, trying to cross Chinas red lines, he said. On the other hand, it tears away the pretense of fair competition and coerces other countries into unilateral protectionism against China. These perverse practices will only damage its own credibility, laying bare the fact that the United States has become the biggest destabilizing factor in the world.During Wangs visit, he and Singaporean officials also discussed their close economic relationship, which has expanded in recent years with the ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade bloc and other similar agreements. China was already Singapores biggest trading partner and ethnic Chinese form nearly 75% of Singapores population.Singapore also has a strong relationship with the US, however, including trade and military ties.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230814/singapores-deputy-pm-warns-city-state-facing-structural-decline-without-immigration-1112588169.html

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Fantine Gardinier

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singapore; extreme competition; us-china competition; southeast asia
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230814/sinn-feins-kelly-claims-dissident-republicans-intimidate-him-with-leaked-docs-1112583851.html

Sinn Fein's Kelly Claims Dissident Republicans 'Intimidate' Him With Leaked Docs

Sinn Fein's Kelly Claims Dissident Republicans 'Intimidate' Him With Leaked Docs

Revelations about Sinn Fein MLA and former IRA bomber Gerry Kelly have emerged in recent years, including that he received a royal pardon for the 1973 Old Bailey bombing as part of an extradition deal with the Netherlands.

2023-08-14T13:17+0000

2023-08-14T13:17+0000

2023-08-15T13:19+0000

world

sinn fein

republicans

northern ireland

irish republican army (ira)

new ira

police service of northern ireland (psni)

united kingdom (uk)

britain

great britain

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A leading Northern Irish Republican legislator has accused an Irish Republican Army (IRA) splinter group of trying to "intimidate" him.Garry Kelly, the Legislative Assembly member (MLA) for Belfast North and a junior minister in the devolved government, claimed dissident republicans were responsible for posting a picture of him with a threatening message opposite the office of his Sinn Fein party's Northern Ireland central office on Falls Road in the west of the city.It was accompanied by a redacted version of a list of Police Service for Northern Ireland (PSNI) employees, accidentally released by the force last week in response to a Freedom of Information request.The MLA said he had reported the incident to the police and urged anyone who knew those responsible to inform on them.Sinn Fein is currently the largest single party in the Stormont Assembly and the power-sharing regional government with unionist parties mandated by the 1999 Good Friday peace agreement.Kelly insisted that his party "represents the vast majority of people in the nationalist community," while splinter factions such as the New IRA "have virtually no support" and "offer nothing but disruption and threats in an attempt to make themselves relevant.""They should disband and end their anti-community activities," he added.Several revelations about Kelly's career as an IRA paramilitary have surfaced in recent years.In 2009, former Royal Ulster Constabulary detective George Clarke claimed in his book that a senior IRA "godfather" tipped off British authorities to the 1973 bombing outside the Old Bailey courthouse in London in return for a pay-off of 15,000 ($37,000 at the exchange rate of the time).Despite that and other warnings hours ahead of the terrorist attack, one person was killed and 243 injured by the blast. Kelly, Marian and Dolours Price and Hugh Feeney were arrested and convicted of the attack. Kelly was one of 37 IRA prisoners who escaped in the mass breakout from the Maze prison in County Antrim in 1983, shooting and seriously injuring a prison officer in the process.After three years on the run, Kelly was arrested in the Netherlands. Dutch authorities demanded all outstanding prison sentences against him be quashed before they would extradite him to the UK. The Republican revealed in 2015 that he received a royal pardon for the 1973 bombing as part of that deal.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230223/new-ira-splinter-group-in-frame-for-shooting-of-senior-police-detective-1107734186.html

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republican party sinn fein, new ira, dissident republicans, northern ireland troubles, good friday agreement
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230814/state-of-the-art-russian-weapons-on-display-during-first-day-of-army-2023--1112591638.html

State-of-the-Art Russian Weapons on Display During First Day of Army-2023

State-of-the-Art Russian Weapons on Display During First Day of Army-2023

As the inaugural day of the 9th International military-technical forum Army-2023 wrapped up, Sputnik sums up the most impressive developments demonstrated at the event.

2023-08-14T18:41+0000

2023-08-14T18:41+0000

2023-08-14T18:47+0000

military

army-2023

vladimir putin

ukraine

nato

armata

t-90m

lancet

russia

society

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Russia's Army-2023 event kicked off on August 14 at Patriot Park in Kubinka, Moscow Oblast, bringing together thousands of people from all over the world and at least 28,000 military and dual-use goods.Some of these military items have been developed on the basis of new battleground experience gained by the Russian Armed Forces during the special military operation in Ukraine.The program of the forum consists of 250 events with a focus on the diversification of the military-industrial complex and the development of artificial intelligence technology. A whopping 80 foreign organizations are presenting their military goods alongside Russian arms-makers at the exhibition this year.Addressing the participants of the forum, President Vladimir Putin stated that "Russia is open to deepening equal, technological partnership and military-technical cooperation with other countries, with all those who defend their national interests, their independent path of development."New Protection for Armored VehiclesHeavy armored vehicles call the shots at the show, having proven especially useful and efficient during the Russian special military operation in Ukraine. To the left of the main entrance, visitors could see the Russian main battle tanks T-90M, T-72B3, T-80BVM, T-64M, as well as infantry fighting vehicles BMP-3 and BMP-2 "Berezhok" lined up in a row.The Tigr-M is a super-protected multipurpose all-terrain infantry mobility vehicle which makes a debut at the show. The vehicle's armor can withstand a 7.62 mm bullet and a close explosion of an artillery shell.The military vehicles on display have additional protection against drones, taking into account the experience of the special military op.Armata, Malva & BREM-TRussian military manufacturers also demonstrate products that have yet to enter mass production: the T-14 Armata tank, the B-10 armored personnel carrier and the B-11 infantry fighting vehicle on the Kurganets-25 platform, as well as the Boomerang armored personnel carrier.Russia's first wheeled 152-mm howitzer Malva debuts at the expo. The weapon is designed to destroy command posts, defensive structures, artillery, rocket and mortar batteries, air defense systems, columns of armored vehicles and enemy manpower.Yet another novelty on display is the T-16 Armored Recovery Vehicle, also known as Armata ARV or BREM-T, developed on the basis of the universal Armata platform. The system can swiftly remove the wrecked equipment to the rear for repair. The T-16 crew doesnt need to go outside to dock with a wrecked tank as the personnel gets an image from all-round cameras on special displays.Automated Command and Control SystemsThe upgraded automated command and control system (ACCS), the Polyana-D4M1, has been demonstrated at a military-technical forum for the first time.Previously, the Polyana used to "manage" only long-range (S-300 type), medium-range (Buk type) and short-range (Tor and Tunguska type) anti-aircraft missile systems of the air defense forces.The upgraded variant, the Polyana-D4M1, allows managing up to 14 objects simultaneously and provides protection for an area of 640,000 square kilometers. Up to 500 air objects can simultaneously be located in the airspace of the ACS-controlled area.New Unguided Aircraft MissilesThe Institute of Applied Physics (RAS) presents the latest unguided aircraft missile S-8KL with a cluster warhead for the first time.The new missile can be fired from standard launchers, as well as from intelligent B8V10-UV Rocket Pod. Thus, the new cluster unguided missile can be launched from all major types of helicopters and combat aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces.Russia Masters Itself in Producing DronesUnmanned vehicles obviously made a splash during the Ukraine conflict, prompting Russia to focus on the production of drones and anti-drone electronic warfare systems.A plethora of UAVs by dozens of manufacturing companies are presented at the exhibition. One of them is the Supercam SX300H reconnaissance drone from the Unmanned Systems Group. The drone combines the advantages of aircraft and helicopter-type copters. Thus, the UAV can hover in the air, and then quickly change position and fly like a plane. Reportedly, Supercams have already been tested on the front lines.For its part, the Gryphon-61T can hang in the air for up to seven days. The unhackable drone is an indispensable tool for reconnaissance.The famous Lancet kamikaze drones are also on display at Army-2023. According to some, the Lancet manufacturer Zala is fixing to demonstrate a new version of the drone that operates in a swarm.Cutting-Edge Military RobotsAttacking, reconnaissance and sapper robots have also proven instrumental on the battlefield. These robots have been upgraded according to the experience gained during the special military operation. Sapper robots are especially useful given that both sides of the conflict are extensively using mines. The Ukrainian military has no scruples about mining residential areas or firing munitions-loaded Lepestok (Petal), scatterable high explosive anti-personnel land mines, into populous districts of cities.NATO Weapons Not Superior to Russian ArmsRussia's weaponry demonstrated at the Army-2023 forum has once again shown that the nation's defense industry is by no means inferior to NATO's multi-billion dollar military-industrial complex. In fact, Ukraine's military units armed with NATO-grade weapons have failed to outperform their Russian peers.The Army-2023 exhibition is running until August 20. In addition to Russian military equipment, the Russian Defense Ministry will present captured equipment supplied by NATO to Ukraine.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230814/russia-open-to-deepening-military-technical-cooperation-with-other-states-1112581109.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230812/what-are-the-capabilities-of-russias-tunguska-anti-aircraft-system-1112557025.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230702/watch-russian-lancet-kamikaze-drone-destroy-ukrainian-tank-and-electronic-warfare-station-1111619203.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230814/widely-advertised-western-equipment-useless-in-real-combat-conditions---shoigu-1112581471.html

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Ekaterina Blinova

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230814/ukraines-nato-supplied-trophy-equipment-to-be-on-display-at-russias-army-2023-expo-1112576809.html

Ukraines NATO-Supplied Trophy Equipment to be on Display at Russias Army-2023 Expo

Ukraines NATO-Supplied Trophy Equipment to be on Display at Russias Army-2023 Expo

Army-2023 is a flagship annual event to showcase advanced technology and military equipment for the Russian Armed Forces and security agencies. The forum will take place at Patriot Park outside Moscow from on August 14-20

2023-08-14T06:01+0000

2023-08-14T06:01+0000

2023-08-14T07:08+0000

russia

russia

army-2023

nato

military equipment

special operation

ukraine

troops

ukrainian counteroffensive attempt

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Russia will display its latest military trophies, Ukrainian NATO-provided military hardware, at the Army-2023 international military-technical forum, which is due to open in the Moscow Regions Kubinka later on Monday, a well-informed source has told Sputnik.The Russian military captured several samples of equipment in the special operation zone, including German-made Leopard 2 main battle tanks, US Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, Frances AMX-10RC light tank and the Swedish-made SV-90 armored infantry carrier.The remarks come after a separate source told Sputnik that the captured Western equipment had been explored by a wide pool of specialists from various companies of the Russian military-industrial complex.The Western equipment was seized amid Kievs botched counteroffensive, which was launched by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on June 4.Russian President Vladimir Putin underscored late last month that "the enemy was not successful in all directions of firefight. According to him, All counteroffensive attempts have been stopped, and the enemy has been pushed back with heavy losses."The US and its NATO allies increased their supplies of military equipment to Kiev shortly after Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine. Moscow has repeatedly warned countries sending weapons to Ukraine that the Kremlin sees these military shipments as legitimate targets. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, for his part, stressed that NATO allies arming and training Ukrainians is tantamount to direct involvement in the Ukraine conflict.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230730/watch-first-swedish-cv90-infantry-fighting-vehicle-turns-into-russian-military-trophy--1112265508.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230806/kievs-western-allies-getting-tired-of-ukrainian-counteroffensive-1112417311.html

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russian special military operation in ukraine, kiev's counteroffensive, military equipment, army-2023 international military-technical forum, german-made leopard 2 main battle tanks, us bradley infantry fighting vehicles, frances amx-10rc light tank, swedish-made sv-90 armored infantry carrier
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 14)  The gaming regulator on Monday said it has tapped the Commission on Audit (COA) to audit its licensed Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) after terminating its contract with its previous "fraudulent" third party auditor.

Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) chief Alejandro Tengco said the agency immediately requested state auditors to take over auditing of POGOs right after it cut its contract with third party auditor Global ComRCI.

"Yes, tinerminate na namin ang 5.8-billion contract at ang COA na ang kasalukuyang nag-audit ng overseas gaming licensees," he said during the national budget deliberations in the House of Representatives.

[Translation: Yes, we terminated the 5.8-billion contract and COA is currently auditing our overseas gaming licensees.]

In March, the gaming regulator announced the termination of its contract with Global ComRCI, which was earlier flagged by lawmakers as questionable.

"Nakita po namin na fraudulent po 'yong pagkaka-award ng PAGCOR sa kompanyang Global ComRCI," Tengco said.

[Translation: We saw that PAGCOR's award to the company Global ComRCI was fraudulent.]

The agency chief said that the company's submitted bank certification during the bidding process was supposed to be issued by Soleil, a New York-based international investment bank.

PAGCOR's investigation later found that the bank never issued the certification and Global ComRCI did not have an existing account.

Tengco said this was enough ground to begin the process of terminating the contract with the company.

Tengco said they have also sought help from the Office of the Solicitor General to claim back the 1-billion worth of funds offered by PAGCORs previous management to the auditors who processed the contract.

Missing collectibles

During the meeting, Minority Floor leader Rep. Marcelino Libanan also sought clarification on the 2.2 billion receivable from a POGO that closed during the previous administration  an amount flagged by COA in 2022.

Tengco replied that there is "no way to collect" the remaining receivable as the operator closed shop during the pandemic.

"I had an exit conference with COA about a month ago, and I made a manifestation to the supervisor of COA in PAGCOR and there is no way we can collect that said P2 billion anymore," the PAGCOR chief said.

He said the team deployed to look into the case of the POGO firm found that all individuals involved are foreign nationals who already left the country.

Tengco added that the licensee only operated for eight months in the country.

Libanan then asked the agency for its proposed solutions to avoid a repeat of the incident.

To this, Tengco reiterated that PAGCOR has been implementing since Aug. 1 a new framework requiring players in the offshore gaming industry to reapply for their licenses until Sept. 17.

Tengco said all existing licensees are placed under probationary status until they submit requirements for reapplication. This is part of efforts to filter out operators linked to illegal activities, he added.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230814/us-ambassador-claims-guilty-plea-could-help-assange-return-to-australia--1112583059.html

US Ambassador Claims Guilty Plea Could Help Assange Return to Australia

US Ambassador Claims Guilty Plea Could Help Assange Return to Australia

A potential plea deal between WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and the US authorities could allow him to return to Australia, with the case being handled by the US Department of Justice, a Australian newspaper reported on Monday, citing US Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy.

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Kennedy indicated that a plea deal could end the US criminal prosecution of Assange and help him avoid extradition from the United Kingdom, where he is currently held in a jail, the newspaper reported. She added that the Assange matter was an "ongoing case" that is currently being worked on by the US Justice Department. Since April 2019, Assange has been held in London's high-security Belmarsh prison while he faces prosecution in the US under the Espionage Act. If convicted, the WikiLeaks founder could face 175 years in prison. In December 2022, he appealed to the European Court of Human Rights to fight his extradition. WikiLeaks was founded by Assange on October 4, 2006, but rose to prominence in 2010 when it began publishing large-scale leaks of classified government information, including from the US.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230707/codepink-us-tone-deaf-to-global-calls-for-assanges-release-as-prosecution-mocks-free-press-1111711295.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230814/vicegerent-of-kiev-pechersk-lavra-metropolitan-bishop-pavel-hospitalized-1112589277.html

Vicegerent of Kiev-Pechersk Lavra Metropolitan Bishop Pavel Hospitalized

Vicegerent of Kiev-Pechersk Lavra Metropolitan Bishop Pavel Hospitalized

The vicegerent of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan Bishop Pavel has been hospitalized in a cardiology department to undergo surgery, his lawyer Nikita Chekman said on Monday.

2023-08-14T16:53+0000

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"Metropolitan Pavel was urgently hospitalized today in the cardiology department of one of the hospitals in Kiev and underwent surgery," Chekman wrote on his Telegram channel.On August 7, Metropolitan Bishop Pavel has been released from custody following a 33 million hryvnia ($900,000) bail payment. In April, the Ukrainian authorities sent Metropolitan Pavel of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) under house arrest over "collaboration with Russia and inter-religious incitement" charges. On July 14, a court in Kiev ruled to put him in custody until August 14.The Russian Orthodox Church said that Patriarch Kirill addressed various religious and political prominent figures and urged them to pay attention to the ongoing persecution of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Ukraine.Tensions between the Ukrainian government and the UOC escalated after Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. UOC monks were ordered to leave the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, jurisdiction over which is divided between the National Kiev-Pechersk Historical and Cultural Preserve, a Ukrainian cultural organization, and the UOC, for allegedly violating the terms of the lease. Ukrainian Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko then said that the monks could stay in the Lavra if they joined the non-canonical Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU). Lavra monks slammed the unilateral eviction order as illegal as it was not backed by a court decision.In April, Tkachenko said that the Ukrainian Culture Ministry had formed a commission to look into the use of state property pertaining to the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230328/what-happened-to-the-orthodox-church-in-ukraine-1108821316.html

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Looks Like Amuscle led all freshman trotters on Sunday (Aug. 13) evening at Georgian Downs, posting the fastest time of the Prospect Series in 2:00.2 in the $8,900 division for the young males.

J.R. Plante was at the controls of the Luc Blais trainee as they rocketed off the gate from post five and into the lead. After a :29.4 opening panel, Dontalkaboutbruno (Brett MacDonald) took command to the half in 1:00.3, where Looks Like Amuscle regained the lead. Looks Like Amuscle clocked the three-quarters in 1:30.1 before stepping off to a 2-1/4 length victory in 2:00.2. Poof (Thomas Smith) was second and Nzuri (Paul Walker) rallied late to take third.

Determination owns the gelded son of Lookslikeachpndale as he won his first race in two starts. Looks Like Amuscle paid $4 to win.

In the $8,500 Prospect Series for freshman trotting fillies, Radical Legacy (Travis Cullen) sat fourth as favoured Chaud Holliday (Ryan Holliday) led the field of five through the quarter in :30.3 and half in 1:02.2. A miscue from Had Me A Whiskey (Wayne Henry) allowed Radical Legacy to move into third at the three-quarters in 1:32. Around the final turn, Radical Legacy pulled away from the field to win by 6-1/4 lengths in 2:02. Chaud Holliday took second with Yell It (Tyler Borth) third.

Gregg McNair trains the Muscle Mass daughter, who earned her first win in her debut appearance. Radical Legacy paid $12.80 to win.

In the second $8,500 Prospect Series for freshman trotting fillies, Sandoon (Bruce Richardson) sat third through the quarter in :30.2 and half in 1:01.4 before getting shuffled back to fifth at the three-quarters in 1:33.2 and moving second over behind Cleveland U Bet (Jean-Francois Maguire). Sandoon took big and fast steps down the stretch to make up the distance and the pacesetter for the majority of the mile, Muscle Charm (Cullen), and win by 2-1/4 lengths in 2:04.2. Cleveland U Bet took second with Graceful China (Jason Ryan) third.

Sandoon is trained by John Holding, who co-owns the Lookslikeachpndale filly with Morley Bosomworth as she earned her first win in her first start. She paid $18.60 to win.

To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Georgian Downs.
On Sunday (Aug. 13), Red Mile hosted 10 second round sire stakes divisions on a 15-race card for freshman and sophomore fillies of both gaits. Geocentric remained a perfect four-for-four in her young career in the $80,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes split for two-year-old filly pacers and Mambacita resumed her winning ways in the leg for three-year-old trotting fillies.

Pilot Tim Tetrick placed Geocentric (Sweet Lou-Geometry) on the lead immediately from their spot on the rail and the filly never relinquished that position en route to a gate-to-wire victory over Gifted One (Todd McCarthy) and Seeuontheotherside (Tony Hall).

Geocentric, trained by Brian Brown, established fractions of :29.3, :57.4 and 1:26.1 prior to stopping the clock in 1:51.3. The filly finished nearly a full second faster than her closest rival, and by virtue of her 1:49.4 victory over this surface on Aug. 1, she remains the fastest two-year-old pacer this year.

Bred by Diamond Creek Farm, Geocentric was purchased by Milton Leeman, Alan Keith, James Stambaugh and Joe Sbrocco for $55,000 at last years Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. Her dam is a daughter of Dan Patch Award winner See You At Peelers and a half-sibling to Toronto (sired by Always B Miki, $158,106) and Threshold (Sweet Lou, $130,665).

Geocentric paid $2.10 as the heavy favourite and boosted her bankroll to $128,501.

Mambacita and Scott Zeron rebounded after an off-the-board finish in the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks to score in a new lifetime mark of 1:50.4. Caviart Gwen was second and favoured Railee Something was third.

The daughter of Tactical Landing sat the pocket behind fellow Oaks contestant Railee Something (Yannick Gingras) right from the beginning of the mile after her departure from post position two. Railee Something clicked off quarter-mile times of :27, :55.4 and 1:23.3 before Mambacita and her driver assumed control in the lane over a swiftly closing Caviart Gwen (Andrew McCarthy).

Mambacita improved her lifetime record to 24-8-6-2 and has now collected $673,688 in purse money. The filly was bred by Crawford Farms and was selected for $80,000 at the 2021 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale by owners Alagna Racing, Crawford Farms Stable and Pryde Stables.

The winner paid $21.64 to her supporters as the fourth choice.

Flawless Breaks Through in Commonwealth Series

Flawless (Gingras, $21.10) took the $30,000 Kentucky Commonwealth Series leg for two-year-old filly pacers in 1:51.4 by a nose to break her maiden in her fourth career start. Her granddam is world champion and Dan Patch Award winner Yellow Diamond. Trained by Nancy Takter, Flawless races as a homebred for Marvin Katz and Sam Goldband.

Piano Bar (Tetrick, $12.24) won the division for three-year-old trotting fillies in a new lifetime mark of 1:53.4 for her third victory in nine trips to the post. Trained by Ake Svanstedt, the filly competes as a homebred for Al Libfeld, Katz and Goldband.

Tactical Landing Offspring Sweep Golden Rod Series Divisions

Una Madonna (Zeron, $6.66) was victorious in the division for sophomore trotting fillies and Foolish Games (T. McCarthy, $3.50), another daughter of Tactical Landing, scored in the split for two-year-old filly trotters.

Every Mans Dream (Gingras, $12.34) and Odds On Live Ball (Peter Wrenn, $8) captured the divisions for two- and three-year-old filly pacers.

T. McCarthy, Tetrick and Gingras reined two winners over the red clay oval.

Red Mile offers a rich buffet of wagering items including a 20-cent Pick-6 with 15 per cent takeout, a 50-cent Pick-5 with an industry low 12 per cent takeout, a Super Hi-5 15 percent takeout, and Pick-4 events, with a $10,000 guaranteed pool in conjunction with the U.S. Trotting Associations Strategic Wagering Program.

Red Mile races on a Sunday, Monday, Tuesday schedule with a 1 p.m. EDT post time through Oct. 8. Free program pages are available at the Red Mile website in addition to race replays and a daily livestream of each card.

Red Mile has announced that due to severe storms forecast to hit the Lexington, Kentucky area over the next 24-30 hours, qualifying events scheduled for Monday, Aug. 14 have been re-scheduled and will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 15 at 10:30 a.m. There is no need to re-enter.

(With files from The Red Mile)
The Rev. Sanford Reaves Jr., a Culpeper native, has been elected to a third term on the Rappahannock Electric Cooperative board of directors.

More than 18,000 Rappahannock Electric Cooperative member-owners on August 9 elected three of their peers to the board via proxy designation card and at the virtual Annual Meeting.

Reaves was reelected to Region IV seat, representing REC customers in Culpeper and Orange counties, according to an REC release.

He has been on the board since 2017 and is a 26-year member of REC.

The position has been very rewarding and the issues in my REC territorymaking sure the co-op is ready for what is coming up the road, Reaves said in a phone call Saturday.

The whole purpose of the board is to continue to provide safe, reliable, affordable and sustainable energy, he said.

We have to be more diverse, Reaves said of energy sources. Everything around us is changing. Electric vehicles will one day be the normsomeone has to be able to provide that power.

The board notices the data center development in the REC service territory, he added. The Fredericksburg-based electric cooperative will be playing a major part in serving some of those developments, Reaves said.

It will benefit our members because it will help us control costs, he said.

Serving the data centers will also require improvements to REC infrastructure, Reaves added.

Another hot topic, REC has been working with residential broadband service providers to expand their networks into rural areas. The cooperative has formal agreements for use of its power poles with All Points Broadband in Culpeper County as well as Firefly in Louisa County, Reaves said.

Firefly and REC are already connecting rural customers, he said. Progress on that front in Culpeper, meanwhile, has been slower.

Reaves mentioned his daughter and her husband living out on the eastern end of the county, Richardsville, without high-speed internet. They built their house two years ago and both have the ability to work virtually.

They have a hotspot and they come to my house three times a week to work, said Reaves. Were praying that All Points will make it out to their house soon.

Reaves graduated with the Class of 1974 from Culpeper County High School and went on to Smithdeal-Massey Business College of Richmond. He holds a masters of divinity from Virginia Union University School of Theology.

Reaves is a member of Antioch Baptist Church of Culpeper and pastor at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Orange County. He works in real estate and runs Sanford and Sons Construction and Janitorial Services.

Reaves is longtime chairman of the Culpeper County Planning Commission, and lives in the Salem District with his wife of 40 years, Lorraine.

In Region V of the REC coverage area, Randy Thomas was re-elected at last weeks Annual Meeting. This region covers Spotsylvania County.

In Region IX, Eugene Gene L. Campbell, Jr. was re-elected. This region covers the counties of Essex, King and Queen and King William.

REC President and CEO John D. Hewa and Christopher D. Shipe, Region II Director and Board Chairman, shared highlights from the past year while looking to the future. After safety, RECs top focus continues to be on taking care of the grid and serving member-owners, according to a release from REC.

We are making wise investments in our infrastructure to ensure power is there when you need it, Hewa stated.

Last year, REC removed more than 25,000 hazard trees and cleared more than 1,300 miles of right-of-way, according to the release. Despite ongoing supply chain constraints, more than 3,000 poles were replaced with taller and stronger structures, more than 2,500 new transformers were installed, and 325 miles were strung with new wire last year, the company stated.

These wise investments in the grid are also enabling our ongoing broadband partnerships supporting counties across our service territory, which directly benefits and helps improve your quality of life, Hewa said.

REC is powering game-changing solutions, the company stated, through broadband partnerships to energize economic health and attract new jobs, Hewa noted. The first REC members have already connected to high-speed internet through independent service providers partners, according to the release.

REC continues to remain engaged in its communities with employees attending 400 community events last year. Over $120,000 was given to the community through donations and sponsorships, $20,000 was given in scholarships to local students, and $187,500 was given back to the community through the member-funded The Power of Change.

At the Annual Meeting, Hewa announced expanded services through Vividly Brighter Marketplace, a virtual storefront on Amazon offering find energy-efficiency items and services such as as installing a generator transfer switch, upgrading an electric panel and installing ceiling fans or a camera doorbell.

REC provides electric service to over 175,000 connections in parts of 22 Virginia counties. It operates and maintains more than 18,000 miles of power lines from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay.
U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer met with local stakeholders at a roundtable meeting Friday morning as part of a statewide tour while Congress is out of session. Conversation centered on the upcoming farm bill and how the legislation can help farmers in the area.

The farm bill is a legislation package traditionally passed every five years and is an omnibus bill, covering a wide variety of subjects in the agriculture industry.

Fischer spoke with local stakeholders about what issues they see impacting the Panhandle and how the legislation will impact the region. She said they presented concerns about crop insurance, especially after recent storm damage in the area.

We always hear from everybody across the state, the ag producers, how important crop insurance is, said Fischer, (making) sure that we keep the safety net programs in place.

She also spoke about a bill that she is working to include in the farm bill to streamline the process for disaster payments so producers can get payouts faster. This was especially relevant as she said some members of the roundtable discussion spoke about extensive crop damage from recent hailstorms.

One bill that I have that were hopeful to get into the farm bill deals with disaster payments, Fischer said, and we had some producers here talking about the hail damage.

Developments in precision farming also were of importance to Fischer, who said she wants to work to make those advancements more available to area farmers. This includes reaffirming her commitment to developing infrastructure in the state.

Most precision farming techniques require internet connections to be used effectively. In more rural parts of the state, like much of the Panhandle farmland, a stable internet connection is not always available.

Fischers bill called the Linking Access to Spur Technology for Agriculture Connectivity in Rural Environments (LAST ACRE) Act would extend broadband internet coverage to rural acreage in the state, providing better opportunities for producers.

The LAST ACRE Act is an extension of the LAST MILE Act. Both would operate under the USDAs Office of Rural Development and strive to extend broadband internet coverage to rural areas.

We have a couple bills there to take advantage of the new technology thats out there, Fischer said, but you have to have the connectivity with broadband to be able to have it work for you.

If the bill passes, she said, she hopes it would help more farmers to make use of new technologies. That helps a producers bottom line, she said, to be able to not have to spend as much on inputs, and its more sustainable for the land.

She has also worked on the Federal Aviation Administrations reauthorization, which is supposed to improve efficiency at the FAA as well as build infrastructure at airports like Western Nebraska Regional Airport.

Its extremely important, said Fischer, to make sure that we keep that program. Its vitally important for our smaller airports across the state.

Fischer has also been hard at work on her six committee assignments, which she said are the most of any senator. This includes work on the Armed Services and Appropriations committees.

Out of the Armed Services Committee, Fischer helped to pass the National Defense Authorization Act, which authorizes investments in the military to keep pace with what she referred to as peer adversaries Russia and China.

The legislation received bipartisan support, receiving only 11 no votes on the Senate floor.

Moving forward, the senator is also working on 12 bills in the Appropriations Committee, in her first year on the committee. The committee has been holding hearings and Fischer hopes for the opportunity for floor time in the Senate to debate the bills when Congress reconvenes.

As her tour across the region continues, Fischer said she is excited to keep hearing from constituents before she returns to Washington, D.C.

Its always good to be out and listen to whats on peoples minds, Fischer said.
The clash between supporters and opponents of a petition drive to repeal Nebraskas newly signed law that offers tax credits for donations to scholarship funds for private and faith-based schools was inevitable.

It didnt take long for Keep Kids First, the advocacy group in favor of the new law, to accuse Support Our Schools, the organization leading the petition drive, of intentionally deceiving voters about the laws intent in order to get them to sign, or for Support Our Schools to counter with accusations of intimidation and harassment.

That public clash was triggered by incidents of a since-dismissed petition circulator who gave erroneous information to a voter outside an Omaha store and opponents blocking potential signees outside a Cornhusker State Games event. The conflicts can best be seen as continuing evidence of the controversy that has surrounded LB753 since it was introduced in the Legislature.

Dubbed the Opportunity Scholarships Act, the law offers a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for individuals and entities who donate to scholarship funds intended to help students attend private and parochial schools. Individuals and businesses could not receive more than $100,000 in annual credits, while estates and trusts would be capped at $1 million per year.

Those credits are essentially providing public money  money that otherwise would have been taxed  for private and parochial schools, triggering opposition from teachers unions, school board leaders, education policy organizations and advocates of individuals with disabilities, who say the policy harms students, families and schools in multiple ways.

So those organizations launched the petition drive, just a week after Gov. Jim Pillen signed the law, and now have to gather just more than 60,000 signatures, at least 5% of Nebraskas registered voters, by Aug. 30.

Enter Keep Kids First, a group led by a half-dozen state senators who supported the bill, which is urging voters to decline to sign and have churned up enough concern to prompt Lancaster County Election Commissioner Todd Wiltgen to release information on how to remove signatures from the petition.

Few in Lancaster County, or anywhere in the state, have had their signatures removed from the petitions, demonstrating that voters know what they are signing, either supporting the petitions goal or wanting it to be on the ballot.

And it appears enough of those voters in enough counties will put their names on the petition so that the repeal will be on the 2024 ballot.

That is how it should be. The unprecedented organized decline-to-sign effort at the state level was, put simply, aimed at stopping the oft-used function of petitions as Nebraskas second house of the Legislature, allowing the public to vote on controversial measures or issues on which the Legislature refuses to act.

If the Opportunity Scholarships Act is, indeed, the will of the people, putting it to a vote of the people is the best way to settle it. Why wouldnt both sides want that?
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 14)  The National Security Council (NSC) said that the Philippine government is gearing up for another resupply mission in Ayungin Shoal amid another possible reaction or opposition from China.

NSC Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said that the government is committed to bring the much-needed supplies to Filipino troops there despite the firing of a water cannon and dangerous maneuvering of the Chinese Coast Guard last August 5.

Hindi tayo titigil. We will do what is necessary to provide our troops with supply and we will be ready with any eventualities but we will not back down kasi atin 'yan, Malaya said.

[Translation: We will not stop. We will do what is necessary to provide our troops with supplies and we will be ready with any eventualities but we will not back down.]

The NSC however said that they will no longer give additional information for security reasons'.

The NSC also defended the strong statements issued by government officials in defending the Philippines over Ayungin Shoal.

All our statements were consistent with President Marcos guidance and we have regular consultations with the NTF-WPS and with the Office of the President, Malaya said.

We dont go beyond what the President wants us to say and its always consistent with the guidance of the President, he added.

The Philippine government also reiterated its willingness to dialogue with China.

We have never closed our door with China for diplomatic relations, we are open on negotiations but with the national intere'st at the core, Malaya added.
DENVER  Bobbie Boyd is in a losing battle against near triple-digit temperatures in northwest Arkansas.

Her window air conditioner runs nonstop and the ballooning electric bill carves about $240 out of her $882-a-month fixed income. So the 57-year-old cuts other necessities.

Boyd eats one meal a day so her 15-year-old grandson, who she's raising alone, can have two. She stopped paying car insurance and skips medical appointments.

The rent and the light bill. And Im broke, said Boyd, who needs the cooling to stave off her heat-induced asthma attacks.

As climate change ratchets up temperatures across the U.S., millions of the poorest Americans grapple with the same agonizing decisions as Boyd  between perilous indoor heat or paying costly bills. While President Joe Biden has invested billions into federal programs that subsidize the poorest Americans' energy costs, the money reaches only a fraction of the most vulnerable during the sweltering summer months.

Nationwide, nearly 30 million American households struggle to pay their energy bills and qualify for the subsidy, but less than 3% receive it for their summer bills, according to the latest, preliminary federal data.

Compared to food stamps, which reach over 80% of the eligible population nationwide, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, falls far short even as climate change helped make July Earths hottest month on record and air conditioning becomes a means of survival.

That's because most states run out of their federal funding every year, according to the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the program.

Were likely to see the energy insecure population grow unless we have some pretty significant and substantial government intervention, said Michelle Graff, who studies the federal subsidy at Cleveland State University.

As it stands, many states don't even offer the assistance for summer months, and those that do often run out of funds before the hottest days roll around. The program was founded decades ago with a focus on winter heating bills and has been slow to adapt to climate change's hotter summers.

Biden has promoted LIHEAP as crucial for low-income families to help with their energy bills, saying last week that during the sweltering summer, even when the heat is over, many of our families may see their largest-ever energy bill.

On a visit Tuesday, Biden told a crowd north of Phoenix  where residents endured 31 straight days above 110 degrees in which at least 18 people died indoors without air conditioning  that extreme heat is Americas No. 1 weather-related killer."

Still, in Arizona, the nation's hottest state where roughly 650,000 low-income households qualify for the federal energy help for cooling assistance, only about 11,600 actually received it, according to the federal data.

Samira Burns, a Health and Human Services official, said in a statement that the Biden administration doubled the LIHEAP budget through the American Rescue Plan and that HHS has updated guidance to help states target support during extreme heat.

Just outside Phoenix five years ago, the death of 72-year-old Stephanie Pullman on a sweltering day after her electricity was cut off because of a $51 unpaid bill brought attention to the danger heat poses to people who are energy insecure.

While Arizona power companies are now banned from cutting off customers during the hottest months, last year nearly 3 million people had their power disconnected for failing to pay bills  a third within the three hottest summer months, according to data collected by the Energy Justice Lab.

In the more extreme, but not at all rare circumstance, the risk is death, said Sanya Carley, who studies energy policy at the University of Pennsylvania and is co-director of the Energy Justice Lab.

When Candace Griffin of Houston, Texas, received disconnection notices this summer, she scrambled to keep the electricity flowing by seeking nonprofit assistance to pay monthly bills that surpassed $400. There wasnt anywhere else to pull extra money from.

I have to pay the energy bill, I have to have lights, I have to have AC, the 51-year-old said. And, I have to eat.

The poorest Americans and minority communities already live in hotter neighborhoods and many suffer without air conditioning at all. While there are tax credits and rebates to help install air conditioning, most remain out of reach for impoverished households.

But even with air conditioning, those with the lowest incomes face higher costs than their wealthier counterparts  in part because they are more likely to live in older, less insulated and drafty homes.

Energy insecure households paid 20 cents more per square-foot for energy usage than the national average, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The federal Weatherization Assistance Program helps shore up low-income homes to make them better insulated, less leaky and reduce reliance on air conditioning and heating altogether. Still, while almost 40 million low-income households are eligible, only about 35,000 households get the help each year, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

National nonprofits, including the The Salvation Army and Catholic Charities, offer emergency financial aid, which thousands rely upon, especially since LIHEAP requires a multi-step application every year.

Boyd doesnt receive LIHEAP; she didnt even know that the financial aid was available.

The only thing between me and the sun is the roof, she said.

5 smart strategies to lower your air conditioning bill this summer 1) Optimize your thermostat settings. Optimizing your thermostat settings can keep you cool without major changes to your comfort level. Experiment with setting your thermostat a few degrees higher than you normally would during the day. You might find youre unnecessarily blasting the AC. Turning your thermostat down during cooler nighttime temperatures can also add up to major savings. A programmable smart thermostat can also help you track your cooling costs, reduce unnecessary energy usage, and adjust your settings when youre away from home. 2) Use natural ventilation. Maximizing natural ventilation is an effective and eco-friendly way to cool your home. During cool morning and evening hours, open your windows to let in a fresh breeze. Then, once temperatures rise during the middle of the day, close windows and doors to keep the indoor temperature low. Ceiling and window fans also use less energy than HVAC units while increasing air circulation to keep you cool and comfortable. 3) Maintain your HVAC system. If you cant remember the last time you had your HVAC system serviced, youre probably paying more than you need to in cooling costs. To optimize your HVAC, clean and replace any filters every few months, and schedule a professional maintenance visit once a year. An HVAC specialist can ensure your system has proper airflow and check for issues that make your air conditioner less efficient. 4) Increase insulation to block outside heat. Upgrading your homes attic or wall insulation can be costly, but keeping the heat out could be as simple as installing energy-efficient window treatments. Adding blinds, blackout curtains, or reflective film will block out sunlight during the hottest parts of the day and keep your homes internal temperature cooler. 5) Skip the mid-day chores and cooking. Modifying your routine could help you reduce your cooling costs. Instead of cooking lunch in the oven, opt for sandwiches or salads while the sun is up. You can also line dry clothing or wait until the evening to use your dryer. A few simple changes to your habits could add up to some fun-money savings for your summer vacation.
BUCHAREST, Romania  After receiving distressed text messages from a young man worried about the conditions his friend was living in at a social care home in central Romania, Georgiana Pascu arranged an impromptu visit to inspect the facility.

In the beginning, we were quite sure there is nothing there, said Pascu, program manager at the Center for Legal Resources, a rights group. She said that a day earlier, state authorities had carried out an inspection of the care home for older and disabled people, and no issues had been flagged.

But what she and her colleagues uncovered at the care home in the village of Bardesti, she said, was outrageous  inhuman.

There was a very young woman who looked malnourished, she didnt move, she didnt speak at all  she was lying on the basement floor, she told The Associated Press. There was another young woman, she was crying and asking for water.

The nongovernmental organization discovered six residents in late July living in the Little House of Mins cluttered, dingy basement surrounded by construction materials in addition to 23 people living on the floors above. Four residents with severe disabilities were lying on mattresses soiled with feces, urine, and blood, with flies on them, they said, who couldnt defend themselves and couldn't ask for help.

The team of three from the Center for Legal Resources immediately called the emergency services, and police and ambulance crews arrived, but even they called for backup, Pascu said. Hours later, a resident directed Pascu to what she describes as a small secluded room  with just a bed inside where two residents lived with no artificial or natural light.

The NGOs findings triggered a judicial investigation and follow similar discoveries in other private institutions. So far, two Cabinet members were forced to resign over what Romanian media have dubbed the horror homes scandal.

The discovery is just the latest in a string of disturbing revelations that have made front-page news in the local media, spotlighting the impact corruption can have on the socially vulnerable in Romania, which joined the European Union in 2007.

One of the main conditions of Romanias accession to the EU was that it crack down on endemic corruption, but it remains one of the blocs most corrupt members, according to Transparency International.

In early July, police raids at three separate care homes in Ilfov County near Bucharest also uncovered widespread abuse and neglect of older and disabled people. Images emerged of residents tied to beds in filthy rooms, some exhibiting signs of physical abuse and appearing rake-thin.

In those cases, Romanias anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT, said that two organized criminal gangs accused of human trafficking and other charges were formed in 2020 to exploit people with disabilities or in vulnerable situations. Prosecutors said residents were subjected to unpaid labor via acts of coercion as well as physical violence, and weren't given enough food.

Prosecutors launched a criminal investigation and said there are more than 20 suspects in the case.

DIICOT detained three people after the findings at the Little House of Min, which it alleges formed a criminal gang in 2020 to commit the crime of human trafficking, and that residents were subjected to inhumane and degrading treatment through acts of physical and mental aggression.

Residents were being exploited under the guise of an association that withheld their state benefits payments or sums sent to them by friends and relatives, prosecutors said. Instead of the money going toward the residents care, it was mainly used for the benefit of the members of the group.

Two local officials were fired over the findings and the authorities shuttered the home.

The AP contacted the young man who had raised concerns to Pascu about the Little House of Min, but he wasnt authorized to talk because hes considered a victim in the legal case.

Doru Constantin, a spokesperson from Mures County social services, confirmed to the AP that the Little House of Min was checked by inspectors a day before the NGOs discovery, but said they didnt find anything because they didn't have access to the basement of the building.

I cant believe even now something like this could happen in our county, he added.

President Klaus Iohannis has called the revelations a national disgrace and said measures must be taken to cut evil from the roots.

One of the Ilfov care home bosses, DIICOT alleges, was squandering residents money on prostitutes, drugs and parties. He is also being investigated for abuse of office by the National Anti-Corruption Directorate, which is also investigating two social inspectors for corruption who carried out favorable checks on his home in May.

Family Minister Gabriela Firea, who is reported to have close ties to that care home boss, was forced to resign amid the sprawling scandal, as was Labor Minister Marius Budai. They both denied knowledge of care homes woes.

Alin Mituta, a Romanian legislator at the European Parliament, asked the European Commission in July if it planned to investigate Romanias abusive care homes issue, which he said directly violated the blocs Charter of Fundamental Rights. The responsible Romanian authorities, Mituta said, were made aware of these issues  but no action was taken.

European Commission spokesperson Anitta Hipper said in a statement sent to the AP on Wednesday that the Commission is deeply concerned by this case as there is no place for mistreatment of vulnerable people in the EU, adding it can't comment on ongoing investigations.

Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu expressed gratitude last week to the NGOs that exposed abuses in the welfare system."

It is obvious that the Romanian state needs help, he said. We need to close this chapter of abuse.

The history of how roads are built, and what future construction may look like Past: The foundation of the road systems Present: An enormous investment in resources Future: Toward more innovative infrastructure
China has spent a lot of effort trying to improve the Chinese military since Chinese leader Xi Jinping came to power in 2012 as well as reinforcing government control of the military. Historically, China has always had to deal with those two problems and Xi Jinping, like most Chinese leaders, pays more attention to history than foreign counterparts do. Chinese military history is measured in thousands of years while Westerners, in most cases, have a few centuries of it and dont pay as much attention to past experiences as China does. This explains why Xi Jinping frequently replaces senior military leaders for no apparent, to Westerners, reason. There is a reason and it is the long military history of China and the tendency of that history to regularly repeat itself.

Xi Jinping is aware that although the Chinese military has achieved many visible signs of modernizing, like new weapons, equipment, uniforms, troops and officer training, it is still having problems in several key areas. When it comes to leadership there are problems with the political officers. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) long ago borrowed the concept of the political officer (Zampolit) from the Soviet Union. The political officer represents the Communist Party and has the authority to overrule any order a military officer gives. In reality, the political officer usually acts as a combined morale and special events officer. The political officers are primarily responsible for preventing anything happening in their unit that would embarrass the party. In theory, political officers are supposed to prevent their commanders from getting involved in fiscal corruption, but often it's the other way around, with the political officers getting involved in illegal money-making schemes first. The CCP has long been trying to purge political officer ranks of dishonest and unreliable elements. It has been slow going. This has caused more friction between commanders and their political officers. That tends to reduce the effectiveness of the unit these two officers are in charge of. There is no easy solution to this problem. Russia got rid of the zampolits in the early 1990s but a decade later brought them back to assure the loyalty and reliability of the armed forces.

Then theres another leadership problem, one which seriously hurt Japanese efforts against the United States during World War II. This is the fact that the Japanese Army then, like the Chinese Army now, is the senior service to the extent that generals can overrule admirals and generally interfere in navy matters that the army generals really know little about. This is already causing China problems and there is no solution in sight. This is particularly true when it comes to joint training. In wartime this army runs the show sort of thing is a serious problem; just read any history that covers Japanese army and navy relationships during World War II.

An offshoot of the army domination problem is that there is little real joint (all services working together) planning. Currently, the Chinese army tells the navy and air force what it wants done and that is the end of that. The Chinese understand that their next war will likely be in the Pacific, not mainland China. The navy should be in the lead here but it isnt.

Another old custom, from before modernization began, is local government having shared control with the army of about 40 percent of local army personnel. These are mostly support and security forces like border security and any key facilities inside a province or major metropolitan area. Dealing with this problem has been put off for a long time because the local (especially provincial) officials dont want to give up control of these local units. Its mainly about power in a bureaucracy but these support units provide many opportunities for corruption, which cannot be admitted openly. The army is aware that a lot of the officers assigned to these local units got their job because of support, often paid for, from a local politician. The army wants to get rid of a lot of these officers in general and specifically weed out all unqualified and/or corrupt officers. But because so many officers have political sponsors, this is a delicate task to carry out. There is growing urgency about this because the surplus of staff and support officers is in sharp contrast to a shortage of officers in combat units.

Another leadership problem is the development of NCOs. Russia downplayed NCOs in the 1930s and China followed that model until, in the late 1990s, they realized the Western custom of developing experienced NCOs was a major asset. It takes time to develop these NCOs and it will be another decade before Chinese NCOs catch up with their Western counterparts.

Not only is it difficult to get rid of unproductive officers, but the Chinese government insists that older weapons and equipment be kept in service long past the time when these older, often ancient, items can still be useful. Yet there are often practical reasons for keeping the previous generations of weapons around. Thats because the government will not pay to produce enough of new models (of tanks, trucks, artillery, electronics and so on) to re-equip everyone. Having multiple generations of major equipment around does complicate training and maintenance.

Unfortunately, one popular solution for all the maintenance problems is to concentrate on keeping the weapons and equipment looking ready while in fact the stuff is not fully operational. This is an old problem especially in forces that have had little recent combat experience. Senior Chinese military leaders and staff officers recognize this and understand that one thing that makes the Americans a formidable foe is lots of recent combat or operational, as in flight time for aircraft and long periods at sea for ships, experience.

Senior commanders have done staff analysis of the combined impact of all this and the conclusion is not something they want to publicize. While Chinese forces have gotten much better since the 1990s, they still have a serious combat capability gap with potential opponents; especially the United States.
Mountain Dew. The Snurfer. Nolan Ryan. Carnegie School. Bucks Drive In. Sherwood Anderson. The Dip Dog. Even Mr. Pickles. All these facets of life in Smyth County made their way into the newborn PBS Appalachias recent Marion installment of its series Hometown Stories of Central Appalachia.

The Smyth County story was celebrated during a special screening of the segment at Marions Lincoln Theatre Wednesday afternoon.

PBS Appalachias team, including Julie Newman, the vice president and general manager of the countrys first all-digital PBS station, joined the audience to talk about the show and their work in their first public function since the station launched two months ago.

We are your brand new PBS station, Newman said, noting that PBS Appalachia serves the 14 counties and three cities that compromise Southwest Virginia.

As part of their work, she said, the team will create programs that appeal to and reflect the region.

Our mission is to shine light on Southwest Virginia and share that light with the world, Newman said.

Hometown Stories of Central Appalachias first season will highlight about 10 communities and their heartbeat, she said.

The stations producers, who have roots in Southwest Virginia, are telling those stories with an authentic voice, Newman said.

Emmy Award-winning executive producer, Jacob Dellinger, has direct ties to Smyth County. His mother grew up in Adwolfe. The teams corporate support executive and grants administrator, Shannon Naff, grew up in Marion. After working away from Southwest Virginia for 30 years, Naff said Wednesday, that he saw PBS Appalachias job posting and was so grateful for it allowed me to come home.

Naff remembered watching Channel 52 as a kid in Marion and falling in love with television and public broadcasting.

The teams senior producer, Josh Deel, is doing much of the field work for Hometown Stories.

Wednesday, they were joined by Blue Ridge PBS President and CEO William Anderson, who referred to the PBS Appalachia crew as an Apollo 11 team an incredible superstar team.

Speaking about Southwest Virginia, Anderson told the audience, We believe in you.

He explained that area transmitters for Blue Ridge PBS had to be taken off line for economic reasons. Each transmitter costs about $1.2 million and two are needed to serve this region, he and Newman said.

However, with new technology and innovation, Anderson said, the idea for PBS Appalachia, which can be accessed online and through an app, was born.

You the people of Southwest Virginia deserve it, Anderson said.

The Marion episode of Hometown Stories brought applause from Wednesdays audience of more than 50 people.

Interviews with the late William Fields, a Chilhowie artist, educator, and community servant, served as a thread for the local installment, which also featured reflections from his son, Ammi Fields, a downtown Marion barbershop and gallery owner.

While marketed as Marions story, the segment also included Chilhowie and Saltville. Sarah Gillespie, the chambers executive director, a resident of the Saltville and Rich Valley area, brought a special focus to those communities in her interview.

Ken Heath shared his reflections, including the truth about how the name Hungry Mother was born for Marions state park.

As the end credits rolled, the documentary declared, In Loving Memory of William Fields.

Were so thrilled and proud of how it turned out, Newman said.

New installments of the series are released every other Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

PBS Appalachia is also producing the show French Magnolia Cooks, a field to table cooking show, and Life of a Musician, which features one-on-one conversations and performances with some of the countrys best musicians.

Folks in Southwest Virginia get to see the shows first and then theyll be distributed to stations across the country later this year, Newman said.

On YouTube, PBS Appalachia is also developing Storytellers of Appalachia to allow the regions voices to be heard.

PBS Appalachia can be seen through local cable, on its website, pbsavirginia.org, the PBS Appalachia app, and on demand through PBS.org.

Through a partnership with the Hard Rock casino in Bristol, Newman said, a physical studio will be developed next year.
The Turkish-backed National Army in northern Syria has denied any coordination with the U.S.-backed Free Syrian Army, according to Athr Press.

The Turkish-backed National Army in northern Syria has denied any coordination with the U.S.-backed Free Syrian Army faction at the al-Tanf base situated on the joint Syrian-Jordanian-Iraqi border.

According to the opposition website Enab Baladi, the spokesperson for the National Army, Ayman Sharara, firmly refuted the social media reports claiming the deployment of fighters to the Tanf base. Sharara dismissed these claims as baseless rumours.

Addressing the alleged coordination between the National Army and the Free Syrian Army, Sharara emphasized the absence of any relationship between the two factions. He dismissed recent reports of meetings between them as unfounded rumours, without elaborating on the actual nature of their interaction.

These statements from the National Army follow the recent denial by the Free Syrian Army faction regarding any collaboration with the National Army. The denial came in response to information disseminated by the Observatory and the opposition Sham agency. These sources had suggested that the National Army was enlisting its members to be deployed to the Tanf area on the Syrian-Jordanian border as border guards, in exchange for financial compensation of up to a thousand US dollars.

The commander of the Free Syrian Army faction, Muhammad Farid al-Qassim, indicated that the faction had been making strides in coordinating with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and other unnamed armed factions. They aimed to establish a joint operations room to pool their efforts for a common cause. al-Qassim further noted that the SDF and various armed factions across Syrian territory shared a mutual determination to unify their endeavours to achieve their objectives, as reported by opposition media.

Regarding the Free Syrian Army factions activities in the Tanf region, the factions commander in that area clarified that recent exercises were all geared towards active participation in upcoming military actions. He emphasized the factions readiness to assume a frontline role in the event of any attacks in the region.

National Army instead of SDF

Amid the mutual denial by both the National Army and the Free Syrian Army regarding the alleged armed factions movement to the Tanf area, the Turkish newspaper Yeni Safak, known for its allegiance to President Erdogan, has reported on what it calls a new American strategy aiming to reshape the dynamics in Syria. According to the paper, this strategy is becoming evident through the deployment of around 3,000 militants along the Deir-ez-Zor-Tanf axis. The purported objective of this deployment is to disrupt the overland route connecting Tehran and Damascus via Baghdad.

The report suggests that the United States has dispatched a delegation to Ankara to present this new plan. The plan purportedly involves relocating Kurdish militants from areas such as Deir-ez-Zor, Tal Rifaat, and Manbij to areas east of the Euphrates River, while substituting them with forces from the National Army. These forces would supposedly counter the Syrian army and its allies.

According to the newspaper, commanders within the National Army faction have communicated their intention to align themselves with the Turkish military. Its mentioned that these faction leaders have expressed to American officials that Turkey, not the PKK, should be the primary interlocutor with the United States. These commanders reportedly conveyed their skepticism about entrusting Washington due to concerns about reliability.

In summary, the Yeni Safak article highlights a perceived American strategy that involves redeploying militants and altering the dynamics in Syria, particularly in the Deir-ez-zor-Tanf region. This alleged strategy includes the involvement of the National Army faction in coordination with the Turkish military while raising doubts about the trustworthiness of dealing with the United States directly.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Hamas intends to reestablish its office in Damascus and appoint a representative in the near future, according to al-Souria Net.

The Palestinian Hamas movement is set to establish an office and designate a representative in Damascus, Syria, despite critical comments made by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad towards its leadership. Moussa Abu Marzouk, who heads the movements international relations office, announced on Monday that Hamas intends to reestablish its office in Damascus and appoint a representative in the near future. Meanwhile, Abu Marzouk noted that the movement is engaged in discussions with Iraqi officials to arrange a delegations visit to Baghdad.

Abu Marzouq also indicated that Hamas rapport with Saudi Arabia is progressing, particularly in the wake of several recent visits made by the movement to the country.

Treachery and hypocrisy

The Hamas leaders address follows a statement from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad two days earlier, in which he directed derogatory remarks towards the Hamas leadership during an interview with Sky News Arabia.

Assad stated, Hamass past stance amounted to betrayal, not because they supported us, but due to their assertion of being a resistance movement at the time. He clarified, I am referring to the leaders, not the entirety of Hamas. I am not acquainted with all members of Hamas. The faction that purportedly aligned with the resistance is the same entity that waved the flag of the French occupation of Syria. How can a group that proclaims to resist align itself with an occupying force stemming from the joint occupation by the United States, Turkey, and Israel? This occurred under the banner of a French occupying power.

The head of the Syrian regime labelled this standpoint as a blend of betrayal and hypocrisy.

Qatar Finance

In the meantime, a recent BBC report has disclosed that Qatar has diminished its monetary assistance to Hamas as a result of the movements recent efforts to mend relations with the Syrian government.

An undisclosed source stated on Friday that the reduction in financial support is a direct consequence of the movements tangible steps toward reconciling with the Syrian government.

Salameh Maarouf, who oversees Hamas government media office, affirmed that the Qatari financial aid has indeed experienced a decrease in its monetary magnitude.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Outlined within this mechanism is a plan to construct joint housing facilities in partnership with Qatar, al-Modon writes.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the President of Turkey, has initiated the establishment of a tripartite mechanism aimed at facilitating the repatriation of Syrian refugees back to their homeland.

Reportedly, this tripartite mechanism is a collaborative effort involving the Turkish Ministry of Interior, the ruling Justice and Development Party, and its parliamentary bloc in the Turkish parliament. The primary objective of this mechanism is to promptly implement practical and legal measures to encourage the return of asylum seekers and effectively counteract irregular migration.

Outlined within this mechanism is a plan to construct joint housing facilities in partnership with Qatar, providing shelter for returning refugees. Additionally, there are plans to stimulate economic and commercial activities in northern Syria. The strategy involves enabling entrepreneurs, including Turkish businessmen, to establish facilities and factories within secure regions, thereby generating employment opportunities.

Of particular significance is the inclusion of Aleppo, a key economic center in Syria, in this tripartite mechanism. Turkey is currently engaged in negotiations with Russia and the Syrian regime to establish safe zones within Aleppo. This strategy aims to revitalize the economic and social landscape of the city, creating avenues for substantial job opportunities. The successful revival of Aleppo is projected to facilitate the return of a significant number of Syrian refugees currently residing in Turkey.

Addressing the issue of illegal immigration, the plan involves enhancing diplomatic ties with the countries of origin for the migrants or through which they transit. The objective is to take proactive measures to curtail illegal immigration and establish constructive channels for cooperation.

Recent reports from the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet suggest that an upcoming meeting between President Erdogan and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will center around the repatriation of refugees, particularly those from Aleppo. The Turkish governments priority is to ensure the safe return of around one million Syrian refugees. To achieve this, Turkey is implementing a robust policy against irregular migration and promoting the return of refugees to their homeland. The meeting between the two leaders is expected to address this issue along with the process of normalizing relations between their respective countries.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
The regime's conditions to maintain the crossing included coordinating aid distribution with the Syrian government, Enab Baladi writes.

After the United Nations endorsed the extension of the Syrian regimes control over border crossings along the Turkish border, a subsequent revelation emerged regarding an understanding between the international body and the regime, specifically concerning the Bab al-Hawa crossing. This development has raised questions about potential concessions granted to Russias ally, which holds significant power within the Security Council.

On August 8th, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs announced the Syrian governments decision to extend the usage of the Bab al-Salamah and Al-Rai crossings until November 13th. These two crossings, under Syrian opposition control, originate from Turkey and lead into northwestern Syria. The Bab al-Hawa crossing, a vital passage, is also managed by the opposition.

Simultaneously, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed approval for an understanding reached with the regime. This agreement outlines the use of the Bab al-Hawa crossing for humanitarian aid delivery to northwestern Syria over the next six months. The understanding was the result of negotiations between Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths and the regime, aiming to ensure comprehensive and principled humanitarian access while maintaining the operational independence of the United Nations.

However, the regimes conditions included coordinating aid distribution with the Syrian government, which has been met with reluctance. The regimes willingness to allow United Nations agencies to transport aid through the Bab al-Hawa crossing was contingent on cooperation with the government.

Sabbaghs letter outlined that United Nations agencies should avoid engagement with terrorist organizations, referencing local authorities in the region. He also proposed that the Syrian Red Crescent oversee aid distribution. However, the United Nations rejected these terms, citing concerns about operational necessity and the potential compromise of the international bodys autonomy.

Since July 11th, the Bab al-Hawa crossing has ceased to receive international aid due to the Security Councils failure to renew the cross-border mechanism, resulting from Russias veto of a draft resolution. In contrast, following a catastrophic earthquake in February, UN delegations visited northern Syria, coinciding with meetings in Damascus. The regime agreed to deliver aid through additional border crossings with Turkey over a three-month period.

The Syrian regimes representative to the United Nations, Bassam Sabbagh, asserted that an agreement between Syria and the United Nations obviated the need for Security Council approval. This marked a shift in decision-making authority from the Security Council to the regime.

Muhammad Katoub, a Syrian doctor, humanitarian activist, and former aid and advocacy worker, communicated to Enab Baladi that a new phase has emerged, necessitating regime approval for the cross-border aid entry mechanism. This approval effectively precludes intervention by the Security Council.

While the traditional process involved the Security Council granting aid entry approval based on the lack of consent from the relevant country, the current understanding places this decision squarely in the hands of the regime. This shift is significant, as the decision-making authority had resided with the Security Council for a span of nine years. Despite the issuance of numerous legal analyses confirming that United Nations agencies can operate independently of the regimes government or Security Council endorsement, as per Katoub, the United Nations maintains a preference for adhering to the Security Councils mechanism or securing regime approval.

This approach serves to preclude the establishment of a precedent whereby UN officials operate under an alternate mechanism for the first time. Additionally, it aims to mitigate potential pressure from both the regime and Russia, as articulated by Katoub.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Angola's president inspects Chinese-built dam

Xinhua) 13:17, August 14, 2023

LUANDA, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- President of Angola Joao Lourenco has inspected a dam under construction by Chinese company Sinohydro, which will alleviate water scarcity in the country's southern region upon completion.

Lourenco praised the Chinese company's professionalism and operational efficiency, saying he is satisfied with the progress of the project, according to a statement from Sinohydro.

The Ndue Dam project is located about 170 km from Ondjiva, the capital of Cunene province. Once completed in 2024, the dam will provide water to meet the needs of approximately 55,000 local residents, ensure a water supply for 60,000 heads of livestock and facilitate the annual irrigation of 9,200 hectares of land.

The dam, with a capacity to hold 170 million cubic meters of water, is important for the Southern African country, said Narciso Ambrosio, general director of the National Institute of Water Resources, who visited the construction site with the president on Friday. He said it will adequately cater to the needs of local populations and livestock, and notably enhance the overall quality of life in local communities.

According to the statement, the Ndue Dam will effectively address the persistent problem of water scarcity in the region.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
(CNN)  Yet another likely criminal indictment is looming over Donald Trump this week, which would deepen his already extreme legal quagmire and further divert an unparalleled election season from the campaign trail into multiple courtrooms.

Atlanta-area prosecutor Fani Willis, a Democrat, has called at least two key witnesses to appear before a grand jury on Tuesday in a sign that her probe into the ex-presidents bid to overturn his 2020 election loss in Georgia, a vital swing state, is nearing its end game. Willis is expected to seek charges against more than a dozen people. Trump believes he will be among them and is already fundraising off of the possibility of more criminal charges, casting them as Democratic efforts to interfere in the 2024 election.

If Trump does face any fresh charges, they would follow three previous indictments. Hes already facing a March trial in Manhattan over business fraud charges related to a 2016 hush money payment to an adult film actress. Hes also facing federal charges from special counsel Jack Smiths two probes  in Florida, into his mishandling of classified documents, and in Washington, DC, over his efforts to subvert the 2020 election. Hes pleaded not guilty in all the cases against him so far.

But there will be key differences between the potential case in Georgia and Trumps previous indictments. While Trumps 2024 campaign has predominantly become an extension of his legal defense, any possible trial and conviction in Georgia would be far harder for him to meddle with if he is elected to a second term since presidential powers that could help him interfere with federal cases do not extend to local matters.

Not only would he not be able to pardon himself, but the pardon process in Georgia means Gov. (Brian) Kemp would not be able to pardon him either. Theres a pardon board. So its a more complicated process, former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti said on CNN Newsroom on Saturday. He also would not be able to shut down the investigation in the same way.

If he wins the White House in November 2024, Trump could potentially make an argument in state courts that hes immune from state indictments, but that would set off a complex period of constitutional litigation. He could, however, install an attorney general in Washington who could shut down Smiths federal investigations.

The potential charges in Georgia could be more profound than in the case brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, which is also not a federal case. They would cover conduct from Trumps time as a sitting president and hes now the Republican front-runner to run in a general election in which Georgia is likely to be a key battleground.

There are also indications that a Willis case would be the broadest yet arising out of the post-election drama in 2020. She has been eyeing charges under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (or RICO), which would allow her to sketch a comprehensive narrative of an alleged conspiracy involving multiple actors. While Smith referred to multiple co-conspirators in his indictment of Trump over post-election activity, he has not yet charged others  possibly in an effort to get the case involving the former president before a jury quickly, given the political significance of an approaching election.

Expectations that the Willis investigation is reaching its critical point ahead of possible indictments grew when the states former lieutenant governor  Geoff Duncan, a Republican and now a CNN commentator  said on Saturday hed been told to appear before a Fulton County grand jury on Tuesday. Independent journalist George Chidi posted on social media that he had received a similar summons. CNN previously reported that Democratic state Sen. Jen Jordan had received subpoenas to testify before a grand jury later this month.

How Trump asked officials to find votes

The Georgia case would likely be anchored to Trumps efforts to pressure Republican election officials in the Peach State to defy the will of voters and hand him victory in 2020, including in a call in which he asked Georgias GOP Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to find sufficient votes for him to overtake Bidens lead.

Trump has claimed the call with Raffensperger was perfect.

But an exclusive report by CNN over the weekend hinted at the vast scope of the Willis investigation and the gravity of the potential charges. Prosecutors have text messages and emails directly connecting members of Trumps legal team to the breach of a voting system in Coffee County, Georgia, early in January 2021, sources said. Investigators have long suspected the breach was not an organic effort sprung from sympathetic Trump supporters in the Republican stronghold. They have gathered evidence indicating it was a top-down push by Trumps team to access sensitive voting software, according to people familiar with the situation.

None of the allegations against Trump or his team have yet been tested in court, and he has already denied all wrongdoing. But the investigation seems likely to point to yet another serious attempt to overturn American democracy to keep Trump in power.

A political and legal collision amid an unprecedented campaign

Any new charges against Trump will most immediately create an extraordinary situation with the first Republican primary debate scheduled for Milwaukee next week. Normally the first such clash would be a moment for candidates to create a strong early impression as they seek to leap out of the pack. But the event risks being completely overshadowed by Trumps tribulations as his GOP rivals delicately seek to profit from his growing liabilities. They must navigate making the argument that hes unelectable in a general election without alienating Republican base voters who regard the ex-president as a persecuted hero. Trump has not said whether he will show up to the debate.

New charges against Trump would also add to the collision of legal proceedings and trials expected next year at a time when he would normally be barnstorming the country with rallies  especially if he converts his lead in most primary polling into his third straight presidential nomination.

Smith, for example, has asked a judge to open a trial into the election interference charges in January  just two weeks before the Iowa caucuses. The judge is expected to set a date next week, with Trumps team likely to push for a post-election trial. The Manhattan case is due to start in March, while the Florida judge in the classified documents affair has walled off May. These dates could slip, both as pre-trial litigation plays out and as judges and prosecutors potentially seek to accommodate one another. But the coming months in court will create pressure on Trumps time, his lawyers and his campaign.

Trumps team has warned that he cant get a fair trial while running for president  a claim for which judges, so far, appear to have little time. But its not hard to see that sooner or later, the realities of being a criminal defendant are likely to grate on the GOP front-runner.

In a dramatic hearing on Friday, for instance, Judge Tanya Chutkan  who is presiding over the federal election subversion case  asked his lawyers to accept that some of the former presidents expectations of free speech, including the practice of attacking potential witnesses on the campaign trail, would be constrained by the fact that he was awaiting trial. The defendants desire to conduct a campaign, to respond to political opponents, has to yield  there are limits regardless of you know, I hate to say  his day job? Chutkan said. I mean, this is a criminal case. The need for this criminal case to proceed in the normal order and protect witnesses and the integrity of the process means that there are going to be limits on the defendants speech.

The exchange on the particular conditions of that case might stand as a metaphor for Trumps legal entanglements as a whole. There is no doubt that the court schedule will infringe his day job of running for president in an unprecedented complication for a presidential campaign. And because of that day job, American politics will be dragged through his legal drama in a way that could taint yet another general election in the eyes of millions of voters. Americans have never seen the spectacle of a front-running candidate seeking a nomination while under such a cloud.

And if Trump becomes the Republican nominee, he will potentially be vying for the presidency against an incumbent whose Justice Department is trying to put him on trial. (While Smith is a special counsel, hes ultimately still under the auspices of Attorney General Merrick Garland.)

This unique political equation was further complicated last week with the announcement that David Weiss, the Trump-appointed prosecutor investigating Hunter Biden, would become a special counsel himself. This followed the collapse of a plea deal, which would have addressed two tax misdemeanor charges and resolved a felony gun charge against the presidents son, and means the case could head to trial. Such a development could be a huge political headache for the president as he seeks reelection. It could also play into an attempt by Republicans to portray Joe Biden and his family as corrupt and to claim his administration has intervened to offer the younger Biden preferential treatment that was not available to Trump, even though House Republicans  who are investigating such claims  have offered no proof of wrongdoing by the president.

While the scale of offenses allegedly committed by Trump and Hunter Biden are not comparable, the split screen of two legal imbroglios is allowing Republicans to blur the distinctions.

So far, Trumps indictments have only boosted his brand among Republican primary voters. And Trump, whose leadership PAC is spending millions of dollars to pay his legal bills and those of his associates, is launching new fundraising efforts ahead of a possible fourth indictment in Georgia this week. This would mark the FOURTH time in nearly as many months that Crooked Joe and his accomplices set fire to the rule of law all in the name of getting Trump, the ex-president wrote in an email solicitation from the Trump Save America Joint Fundraising Committee on Sunday.

A fourth indictment and multiple trials may not harm Trump in the primary, but they would raise questions about his already tarnished standing among swing and suburban voters, who will be important in a general election. Its too early to speculate how headlines about these cases could weigh on Trump or Biden in November 2024. But since their last duel came down to tens of thousands of votes in a handful of states, dramatic events taking place now could haunt either of them next year.

This story was first published on CNN.com. "A stunning possible fourth indictment looms over Trump and the 2024 election"
Your daily brief of the English-speaking press on Syria.

On Sunday, the Jordanian military successfully intercepted a drone attempting to transport crystal meth as it entered the kingdoms airspace from Syria. Meanwhile, Turkeys Defense Minister, Yasar Guler, rejected the demands of Syrias President, Bashar al-Assad, who requested Turkish withdrawal from the northern region of Syria. Guler emphasized that such a move would require Turkey to take responsibility for border security in that area. Additionally, the Syrian pound (SYP) is experiencing a significant and concerning depreciation against the US dollar (USD). As of Monday, the exchange rate in most Syrian regions has reached an alarming 13,900 SYP to 1 USD.

Jordanian army downs drone from Syria carrying meth  state news agency

Reuters reported that the Jordanian military on Sunday downed a drone carrying crystal meth that was flying into Jordanian territory from neighbouring Syria, the state news agency Petra reported.

War-torn Syria has become a hub for a multi-billion-dollar drugs trade, with Jordan a main transit route to the oil-rich Gulf states for a Syrian-made amphetamine known as captagon, Western anti-narcotics officials and Washington say.

Citing a source within the Jordanian armed forces, the state agency said in a statement the drone was taken control of and downed.

The Jordanian military has previously downed drones from Syria carrying narcotics or weapons but has rarely identified seized drugs as crystal meth.

Military and security officials from Jordan and Syria have met to discuss ways to curb the growing smuggling problem. Despite pledges by Damascus, Jordan says it has not seen any real attempt to clamp down on the illicit trade.

There was no immediate comment from Syrian authorities. In an interview last week, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad denied Syrias role in the drug trade, saying that ending narcotics smuggling was a common interest that Syria shares with Arab countries.

Turkey dismisses Assads tirade, says withdrawal from Syria unimaginable now

Turkeys Defense Minister Yasar Guler dismissed Syrias President Bashar al-Assads demand of a Turkish withdrawal from the northern part of the war-torn country, saying such an outcome is not possible without Ankara ensuring border security, Al-Monitor reported.

In response to a question over Assads comments setting the Turkish troops withdrawal as a precondition to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last week, Guler said such a move would be unimaginable before securing Turkeys national security.

Turkey sincerely wants peace but we also do have sensitivities. It is unthinkable for us to withdraw without ensuring the security of our borders and our people, Guler told Turkeys pro-government A Haber TV over the weekend.

In comments to Sky News Arabia last week, Assad brushed aside a potential meeting with Erdogan. Erdogans objective in meeting me is to legitimize the Turkish occupation in Syria.  Why should I and Erdogan meet? To have soft drinks? he was quoted as saying.

In response to those comments, Guler also voiced hope that the Syrian leader would use common sense over the issue.

I believe that the Syrian president will act more sensibly on this issue. The most important stage to achieve peace in Syria is drafting a new constitution and its acceptance by the [Syrian] people, Guler continued.

Ankara maintains that a withdrawal of Turkish troops from Syria can only be possible after establishment of a 30-kilometer deep buffer zone emptied out of any Syrian Kurdish groups.

Turkiye eyes new model for safe return of Syrians

Turkiye is gearing up to launch a comprehensive plan dubbed the Aleppo model to repatriate Syrian refugees to their homeland and return illegal migrants, according to the Turkish newspaper The Daily Sabah.

As part of a scheme to eliminate any problems regarding the refugee population, as well as irregular migration, in the country, President Recep Tayyip Erdogans ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), its governing committee and the Interior Ministry have formed a trilateral mechanism to take swift action and legal steps, a report in Sabah said.

Turkiye has been home to some 3.7 million Syrians who fled persecution and brutality in their country when the civil war broke out in 2011 after the Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests with unexpected ferocity. A decade of fighting has left at least half a million Syrians dead and more than 14 million in need of humanitarian aid.

In the countrys north, Ankara helped Assads opposition sustain moderate ground against regime forces while starting in 2016, Turkish counterterrorism operations Euphrates Shield, Olive Branch and Spring Shield liberated swathes of territory from terrorist groups like the PKK and its U.S.-backed Syrian branch, the YPG, and enabled the safe resettlement of civilians.

Some 554,000 Syrians have so far returned from Turkiye to the region now improved with new schools, hospitals, organized industrial sites and better infrastructure. Returns have also increased following the twin earthquakes that left over 56,000 dead combined in southern Turkiye and northern Syria.

More than 6 million Syrians now live in nearly 107,000 briquette homes erected in Afrin.

Priorities under the Aleppo model include solving housing and unemployment in the war-torn country.

Upcoming talks with Damascus and Moscow will focus on reviving social and economic life by centering Aleppo, whose rejuvenation could ensure the return of hundreds of Syrians.

Additionally, Turkiye is also a vocal backer of the U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a political solution to the Syrian crisis.

Assads insistence on ignoring the political method, however, still poses a major problem for the return of his citizens.

Exchange rate of 1 USD reaches about 14,000 SYP in Syria

The Syrian pound (SYP) continues its rapid decline against the US dollar (USD), as the exchange rate of one USD reached on Monday 13,900 SYP in most Syrian regions, according to North Press.

The exchange rate of one SYP against the USD in the city of Qamishli, northeast Syria, was 13,900 SYP for sale and 13,750 SYP for purchase, moneychangers told North Press.

In Damascus, the exchange rate reached 13,450 SYP for purchase and 13,650 SYP for sale. In Hasakah, it reached 13,870 SYP for sale and 13,820 for purchase.

In Aleppo, the exchange rate of the USD was 13,800 SYP for sale and 13,600 SYP for purchase, while the exchange rate in Idlib was 13,900 SYP for sale and 13,850 SYP for purchase.

The Central Bank of Syria maintained the exchange rate of the USD against the SYP at 10,100 SYP per dollar, according to the bulletin issued this morning.

Syria becoming a key battleground in US-Russia rivalry

Columnist Maria Maalouf sheds light on the escalating tensions between the United States and Russia within the Syrian context.

The piece, published by Arab News, highlights the strategic implications of the rivalry, underscores the increased Russian pressure on the US in Syria, and discusses the Biden administrations response to this challenge. The op-ed analyzes the dynamics between the two countries in Syria, their military deployments, and the potential consequences of their actions.

Maalouf argues that Russian President Vladimir Putins efforts in Syria are aimed at coercing American troops out of the country, thus prompting the US to re-evaluate its strategic goals in the region. The Biden administration is encouraged to articulate its objectives in Syria clearly and to communicate its concerns about Russian threats to American lives in the region. The European Union is suggested as a potential mediator to mitigate the combined efforts of Russia, Iran, and Syria to expel US forces.

She also acknowledges the limited cooperation and coordination between the US and Russia in combatting terrorism in Syria. It criticizes the Biden administration for not addressing Russias provocative actions against American military personnel more assertively.

The analysis highlights the underlying motivations behind Russias intensified approach, tying it to Putins frustrations over Ukraine. It is suggested that Russia seeks to provoke the US through actions in Syria as a means of retaliation for developments related to Ukraine. The author cites the opinion of experts, indicating that the conflict in Ukraine has influenced Russias behavior in Syria.

Moreover, the op-ed delves into six strategic issues that President Biden must grapple with concerning the Russian-Iranian aggression against American troops in Syria. These include Turkish involvement, the role of Kurdish militias, the effect on anti-ISIS efforts, potential direct military clashes between Iran and the US, economic assistance to the Assad regime, and the impact on Lebanons stability.

Maalouf acknowledges the existing power imbalance between the U.S. and Russia in Syria, with Russia having a more significant military presence. The op-ed concludes by asserting that the situation in Syria remains fluid and complex. The actions of both the US and Russia will determine the level of influence, competence, and leadership exhibited by President Biden and President Putin.

Overall, the op-ed provides an insightful analysis of the evolving US-Russia rivalry in Syria, exploring both strategic and tactical aspects of this multifaceted situation. It offers a balanced perspective on the dynamics between the two nations and the potential implications for regional and global politics.

The Upsides of Syrian Normalization: Assad Is Heinous, but Arab Isolation of Him Did More Harm Than Good

Sam Heller wrote a long analysis in Foreign Policy, exploring the controversial topic of Arab countries normalization of relations with Syrian President Bashar al-Assads regime. The author argues that while Assads actions have been heinous, the Arab worlds decision to restore ties with Damascus is a pragmatic move that can yield positive outcomes for both Syrias population and regional stability.

The piece starts by highlighting the Arab Leagues decision to suspend Syrias membership in 2011 due to Assads brutal crackdown on protests during the Arab Spring. It then traces the dramatic shift in Arab countries approach towards Syria, especially from 2018 onwards. Saudi Arabia played a pivotal role in reintegrating Syria into the Arab community in 2023.

Heller acknowledges that Arab normalization with Syria has generated criticism, especially from the West, due to the atrocities committed by Assads regime. Critics argue that normalization rewards a brutal regime and may exacerbate human rights abuses.

The analysis argues that Arab normalization is a pragmatic response, given Assads continued rule in Syria. The regions isolation of Syria failed to stop Assads regime and did not lead to improved conditions for the Syrian population. By restoring ties, Arab states can engage Damascus on issues such as curbing drug trafficking, mitigating Iranian influence, and improving the humanitarian situation.

The author suggests that Arab normalization could dilute Iranian influence in Syria. It is noted that some coordination has already taken place to combat drug trafficking, indicating a level of Syrian cooperation.

Arab normalization is argued to have the potential to benefit ordinary Syrians. The author cites joint humanitarian measures outlined in a communique signed by Arab states and Syria. These measures include clarifying amnesty for refugees, releasing detainees, and focusing on rebuilding infrastructure and essential services.

The analysis points out that while normalization may seem distasteful, it acknowledges the realities on the ground. The author argues that continued isolation was not achieving accountability for Assads atrocities but was instead harming the Syrian people.

Heller acknowledges that the United States and its Western allies are unlikely to endorse normalization with Syria. However, it suggests that the U.S. should not obstruct Arab partners efforts to engage with Assad. Instead, the US should encourage Arab states to prioritize the well-being of Syrians through meaningful actions.

He proposes that the United States should support its Arab allies in their engagement with Syria by encouraging efforts that benefit Syrians, such as aid access, detainee releases, and coordination with UN initiatives.

In summary, the analysis presents a nuanced perspective on the Arab normalization of relations with Syria, focusing on the pragmatic considerations and potential positive outcomes for Syrians and regional stability. It acknowledges the complexities of the situation while suggesting ways the international community, particularly the US and its Western allies, can contribute to improving conditions for Syrians within the new regional context.
The city of Vancouver will repave Fort Vancouver Way across from Clark College and eliminate parking along the thoroughfare, forcing a community of people living in their RVs on the street to move elsewhere.

The roadway was due for repaving, said Ryan Lopossa, the city of Vancouvers streets and transportation manager. The city wanted to use the repaving project to improve safety for bicyclists. Wider bike lanes and buffers separating bicyclists from traffic will replace the roads parking spots. The work is expected to be complete by fall.

In an emailed statement, Clark Colleges vice president of operations, Sabra Sand, said the school anticipates that the road improvements will increase safety and accessibility for those who use Fort Vancouver Way.

A parking study by the city found that the parking spots were underutilized because hybrid learning has caused fewer students to attend class in person.

However, a growing number of RVs have been utilizing spots for the last several months.

Google Maps shows the street was empty of RVs in June 2019. But this May, it showed seven RVs on the stretch of street. Around five more had arrived by August.

Jamie Spinelli, the citys homelessness response coordinator, said the Homeless Assistance and Resources Team had been working with residents of the RVs for months before officers gave out official notices to move.

Since the city of Vancouver informed her of the repavement plans in July, Spinelli had been reserving new openings at the citys Safe Parking Zone for people relocating from Fort Vancouver Way.

The citys Homeless Assistance and Resources Team offered to help tow people to another location if their RV wasnt operable. The city could also store peoples belongings for 60 days if they had too many things to move.

Available spots at the Safe Parking Zone, where people living in their vehicles and without other shelter options can stay, are rare because the city doesnt limit the amount of time people can stay.

Owners of a few of the dozen vehicles accepted spots. Those who did not move to the Safe Parking Zone are expected to scatter to different locations, parking there until they are told to move again.

We have really done everything we could to find these folks alternative spaces, and some people took us up on those offers; some did not, Spinelli said. But there was ample opportunity for 100% of the people on that street to get help moving somewhere else.

There are various reasons why someone might not move to the Safe Park, Spinelli said. Some may want to stay in the same neighborhood. The Safe Park is more than 8 miles from Clark College.

The Clark College adjacent location is near the Veterans Administration office and about a 30-minute walk to downtown, where many community services are.

People tend to choose the area of town that they stay and camp in because thats the area they consider home, and thats whats comfortable for them, Spinelli said. And for people whose vehicle is inoperable, moving clear across town with a vehicle that doesnt operate can feel very disorienting, disconnecting.

For some, moving to Safe Park isnt an option.

For about a month, Maria Negron had lived in her small RV on Fort Vancouver Way. On Aug. 1, an officer handed her a notice that said she had to leave in two weeks or her vehicle could be impounded and she could be arrested for violating the law.

Negron, who is deaf, has experienced homelessness for about a year, living in her RV. This is the third time she has been asked to move. She said she would consider going to the Safe Park, but she was kicked out last time and cannot return for a while.

Tina Pederson, 53, had lived in her RV with her pregnant daughter on Fort Vancouver Way for about a month before their vehicle was towed, in a separate incident several weeks before the day all the vehicles had to be removed.

Pederson, who has had throat cancer for two years, became homeless in October after her husband died of pancreatic cancer. Her daughter, who lived with her, also fell into homelessness.

When I lived in Hazel Dell, (we were) told to move every other day, Pederson said. This is the first place where they didnt mess with us  and then they did.

The average monthly rent for RV parks in Vancouver is $817, leaving limited options for people who cannot work. Safe Park is the only place in the city where people can legally live in their vehicles without paying rent. Its also frequently full and has a waitlist.

The city plans to create a second Safe Park and is seeking a location. There is not yet a timeline for when it will open.

Spinelli said the city moves camps only when its necessary, including instances where camps are unsafe or theres roadwork.

We are, as much as possible, trying to keep people in place.  Were really trying to balance the needs of everyone, Spinelli said.
Even with Mount St. Helens most popular tourist spot now closed, young students have been up at the mountain ready to learn.

Some engaged in a discussion about volcanic eruptions. Others prepared to visit where the debris slide happened in May on Spirit Lake Memorial Highway.

The annual GeoGirls overnight field camp program at Mount St. Helens, headed by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Mount St. Helens Institute, began Aug. 7 and ended Friday.

Middle- and high-school girls showed up to the Coldwater Science and Learning Center, and their days were quickly jam-packed with geological projects, small-group workshops, self-reflection time and a chance to stay overnight in the learning center with an astounding view of Mount St. Helens.

PHOTOS: Girls learn about seismology, geology, more at Mount St. Helens camp Close GeoGirls campers put on protective gear in preparation for field study at the Mount St. Helens Science and Learning Center on Thursday, Aug. 10. GeoGirls, a geology and technology camp for girls, is organized annually by the Mount St. Helens Institute and the U.S. Geological Survey. GeoGirls campers pose for a portrait at the Mount St. Helens Science and Learning Center on Thursday, August 10. GeoGirls Camp is offered at no cost to selected middle school participants. U.S. Geological Survey Geophysicist Emily Montgomery-Brown teaches GeoGirls campers how to install GPS sensors to detect changes in the ground's surface at the Mount St. Helens Science and Learning Center on Thursday, Aug. 10. Cascades Volcano Observatory Intern Gabrielle Davy teaches GeoGirls campers how to install GPS sensors to detect changes in the ground's surface at the Mount St. Helens Science and Learning Center on Thursday, Aug. 10. The GeoGirls Camp schedule whiteboard lists a detailed itinerary for the campers at the Mount St. Helens Science and Learning Center on Thursday, August 10. Lex Culver, 13, poses for a portrait at the Mount St. Helens Science and Learning Center on Thursday, August 10. Culver is enjoying her first year as a GeoGirl Camper, "It's been great, we got to chuck a bunch of rocks down a hill for an experiment," she said. Samantha Garcia-Hernandez, 17, poses for a portrait at the Mount St. Helens Science and Learning Center on Thursday, August 10. Garcia-Hernandez, a GeoGirls High School Mentor, says she enjoys seeing the younger girls' expressions as they hike and perform experiments. +7 +7 +7 +7 +7 +7 +7 +7 +7 +7

Girls this year had the unique chance to go with the Washington state Department of Transportation officials to the location of the Spirit Lake Memorial Highway debris slide, which wiped out a bridge leading to the Johnston Ridge Observatory and closed the tourist center for the rest of the summer.

The girls were busy: they used seismological equipment to learn about the movement of magma below Mount St. Helens; classified different types of rock and ash; used geophones to track landslides; and learned from local teachers about how and why volcanoes erupt.

The GeoGirls field camp began in 2015, said Liz Westby, geologist at the Cascades Volcano Observatory.

Its a chance for them to learn about the forces of nature, she said. Its not just about the geology. Its about learning the ecology of this area.

Stay up to date on Lower Columbia news, wherever you go Easily access the latest Lower Columbia news in an app that lets you select the topics that matter most to you.

At the end of the week, the girls connected what they learned in a hazard crisis mission, Westby said, which involved learning the different levels of crisis at the mountain.

Depending on the emergency level, they learned what happened in terms of deformation, seismic activity, changes in gas and communicating with the public during a crisis. The entire experience was very hands-on, Westby said.

You get to be outside in nature and do things you normally dont get to do, said Paulina Dhanens, who will enter eighth grade this school year at Vancouver iTech Preparatory School.

Dhanens, who wants to be an astronaut when shes older, said her favorite parts of the camp were the hikes to old logging deposits and, of course, the view.

The GeoGirls program is a competitive process, said Gina Roberti, youth education and rental programs manager with the Mount St. Helens Institute. This year, they had about 100 applications come in from students; 25 were chosen.

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The costs for the program vary depending on which project is scheduled during the week, Roberti said. The institute, which is funded through donations, ends up footing the bill for the program.

Planning the event starts in the fall, almost immediately after the current GeoGirls head back home, Roberti said. Then its a flurry of nailing down different partnerships with agencies like WSDOT or USGS, setting up the overnight provisions, scheduling workshops and hiring volunteer teachers and researchers to help facilitate some of the scientific activities.

Its fun to tap into our community, Roberti said.

One of the main goals of GeoGirls is to address how young girls often feel isolated in STEM, Westby said.

This historically has been a field that has been dominated by men, Roberti said. Even today, the people who are in charge, in positions of power, are predominantly male.

Women make up 8% of the physical science workforce, according to 2021 data from the Pew Research Center, which includes jobs in conservation, environmental science and geology. When factoring in other STEM careers, this field is where women are the most underrepresented. Women in STEM jobs also tend to earn about $20,000 less annually than their male colleagues in the same position, the report says.

They have a chance to feel encouraged and to think about what theyre interested in, Westby said. It gives them confidence.

Editor's note: This article has been updated to clarify Gina Roberti's title at the Mount St. Helens Institute.
In another twist to the ongoing Musk vs Zuckerberg saga, Mark Zuckerberg looks to have called off his cage fight match with the Tesla CEO, saying that its time to move on. It all started in June this year when Musk challenged Zuckerberg to a cage match, to which his response was Send Me Location, a catchphrase previously used by decorated UFC fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov. Both CEOs have been showing glimpses of their training via social media posts on their respectively owned platforms.

However, the fight could now be in jeopardy as the Meta CEO seems to have moved on.

Musk vs Zuckerberg

In a post on Threads, Zuckerberg wrote, I think we can all agree Elon isn't serious and it's time to move on. I offered a real date. Dana White offered to make this a legit competition for charity. Elon won't confirm a date, then says he needs surgery, and now asks to do a practice round in my backyard instead. If Elon ever gets serious about a real date and official event, he knows how to reach me. Otherwise, time to move on. I'm going to focus on competing with people who take the sport seriously.

Interestingly, Musk on Friday revealed specifics of his fight with the Meta CEO in an X (formerly known as Twitter) post, highlighting that it would be live-streamed on both X and Meta's new platform Threads. The fight would not be managed by UFC but by the foundations run by both CEOs. He also spoke to the Prime Minister of Italy and the Minister of Culture about hosting the cage match in Rome, a city historically known for its gladiator battles.

Preparation for the fight

Both Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg have been preparing for the cage match fight ever since it was proposed. Last month, the Meta CEO was seen training with MMA fighters Alexander Volkanovski and Israel Adesanya. During the same period, Zuckerberg also announced that he had earned a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

On the other hand, Musk has also been seen training with seasoned UFC fighters like Georges St-Pierre, as well as American computer scientist Lex Friedman who also holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Talking about the fight, American presenter Oscar De La Hoya called it the biggest fight in MMA history. In an X post on August 12, De La Hoya wrote, @elonmusk vs @finkd will be the biggest fight in MMA history without the @ufc 50/50 fight.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Pilots based in Belgium have accused Ryanair of failing to implement an agreement signed during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Belgian pilots staged their latest strike against Ryanair on Monday, forcing the Irish operator to cancel 88 flights through Charleroi, one of its busiest European hubs.

The strike, the third during this summer season, hit 15,000 travelers planning to fly on Monday or Tuesday, Belgium's mid-August Assumption Day public holiday, the airport said.

Pilots based in Belgium have accused Ryanair of failing to implement an agreement signed during the Covid-19 pandemic to give them extra days off in exchange for accepting a salary cut.

Ryanair has previously urged the pilots to negotiate rather than strike and noted it had reached deals on working conditions with its Italian, French and Spanish staff.

Around half of the Ryanair flights out of Charleroi are piloted by non-Belgian crews, and the company said these went ahead as planned.

 2023 AFP
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Shutterstock

ChatGPT has been touted as a tool that is going to revolutionize the workplace and home. AI systems like it have the potential to enhance productivity but could also displace jobs. The ChatGPT website received 1.5 billion visits last month.

Though no comprehensive statistics exist, these users are likely to be relatively educated, with access to smartphones or computers. So, can the AI chatbot also benefit people who don't have all these advantages?

We are associated with Friend in Need India Trust (FIN), a non-governmental organization (NGO) based in an isolated fishing village named Kameswaram in Tamil Nadu state. FIN wages a daily battle against women's lack of empowerment, pollution and a lack of functioning sanitation.

These problems and others act as key obstacles to local economic development. Recently a FIN colleague, Dr. Raja Venkataramani, returned from the US keen to discuss ChatGPT. He wondered whether the AI chatbot could help to create awareness, motivation and community engagement towards our sustainability goals in Kameswaram.

For one experiment, we worked with local women who are FIN staff members but didn't have a high level of education. The women staff at FIN are local villagers grappling with patriarchal attitudes at home, who find it difficult to construct engaging arguments to motivate local peopleespecially boys and mento conserve water, use toilets and not litter in public places.

We introduced ChatGPT to them as a tool to aid them in their lives and work. After installing it on their phones, they found it very helpful. ChatGPT acted like a companion and remembered what had been discussed previously.

One staff member wanted to use it to debate politics with her husband in the run-up to the state elections. She asked ChatGPT what was good and bad about her preferred candidate and requested that it back this up with data.

She then repeated this for that politician's opponent. She found the responses for both candidates were equally convincing. The staff member did not have the patience to check the veracity of the arguments and so ended up even more confused. This made her reluctant to use ChatGPT again.

Sam Altman, ChatGPT's creator, along with other tech leaders in the US are calling for regulation to contain the risks of AI hallucinations, which is when the technology generates false information that could trigger social tensions. We asked ChatGPT to produce a speech calling to quell a mob bent on carrying out honor killings.

Even today, India remains plagued by communal violence such as honor killings against, for example, couples who marry outside their caste or young women who seek employment outside the village. ChatGPT proved to be a very effective speech writer, producing compelling arguments against these acts.

However, those in favor of maintaining the status quo could also use the chatbot to justify their violent behavior to the community. This might happen if they were seeking to retain their status within the village, countering any efforts to encourage community members to end the practices. We found that the AI system was just as adept at producing arguments in favor of honor killings.

In a different experiment, we aimed to see how the chatbot could help NGOs promote women's empowermenta central mission of FIN'sin a way that could benefit the community. We asked ChatGPT to create a speech explaining the relevance of International Women's Day to villagers.

The speech was very impressive, but it contained factual errors on sex ratios, the abortion of fetuses outside legal limits, and women's participation in the workforce. When ChatGPT was asked to justify the errors, it replied: "I apologize for any confusion. I provided a hypothetical statistic to illustrate the point."

Pollution problem

In another experiment, we wanted to address the problem of pollution from traditional festivals in India. These frequently involve firecrackers and parties, which increase the levels of air and water pollution.

Though street theater has previously been used successfully to motivate behavioral change, neither FIN's staff nor its mentors felt capable of writing a script. However, within three minutes of being fed the right prompt, ChatGPT came up with a skit involving young people.

It included both male and female characters, used local names and was mindful of local nuances. The FIN staff boosted the local character of the skit by inserting their own jokes into it. The short theater piece argued that the impact on our oceans of microfibres from synthetic clothing represents a significant environmental problem that can harm livelihoods.

Asking the AI

We asked ChatGPT for its opinion on our results. It asserted that ChatGPT can be a valuable tool for both economically disadvantaged people and NGOs because it provided valuable information, offered emotional support and made communication more effective.

But the chatbot avoided discussing its obvious downsides, such as making arguments based on false, incomplete or imperfect information. Just as it can help us, it can also act as a capable speech writer for those who would seek to divide or raise tensions.

For the time being, ChatGPT seems like a handy tool for well-intentioned NGOs, but not so much for the ordinary individuals that they assist. Without users having the means to monitor the ethics and truthfulness of ChatGPT's suggestions, AI systems could become dangerous enablers for disinformation and misinformation.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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System engineering-based BEV technology system architecture. Credit: Dr. Hongwen He, Beijing Institute of Technology

A paper describing the achievements and technological breakthroughs of China's battery electric vehicles was published in the journal Green Energy and Intelligent Transportation. Researchers summarizes the current research situation and progress of the three core components of "technology system architecture for BEVs," namely, BEV platform, charging/swapping station, and real-time operation monitoring platform, and their key technological points.

Due to the late start and weak foundation of China's automotive industry, especially its dilemma of long-term dependence on imported key technologies such as automatic transmission and electronic engine control, developing EVs has become an important choice for China's automotive industry to achieve "lane changing and overtaking."

This process can be divided into the following four stages. The first stage started in the early 1990s. The second stage started at the beginning of this century, a time that coincided with China's tenth "Five-Year Plan" period. The third stage was the demonstration application stage marked by the green transportation of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The fourth stage began in 2014, the first year to open the era of Chinese electric vehicles' commercial application.

To systematically solve the key problems of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) such as "driving range anxiety, long battery charging time, and driving safety hazards," China took the lead in putting forward a "system engineering-based technology system architecture for BEVs" and clarifying its connotation.

The three key technologies of BEVs consist of motor and controller, battery and management system, and vehicle controller. And the current technical research is focused on promoting the power density, system efficiency, and control performance of the motor drive system, enhancing the energy density, safety, and durability of the power battery system, and improving the vehicle-level control system architecture to achieve intelligent integrated control, reduction in energy consumption, improvement of the all-climate adaptability and all-day safety of EVs.

(a) Tesla's battery heating scheme. (b) ACB scheme. (c) ACB system with battery-heating sheet sandwich structure. Credit: Dr. Hongwen He, Beijing Institute of Technology

The construction of charging/swapping compatible infrastructure, the application of new technologies such as wireless charging, and the integrated control of vehicle-pile-grid interconnection are the keys to systematically solving the charging problem of BEVs and improving the convenience of use. As the driving range of BEVs increases continuously, the demand for new charging technologies such as super-fast charging and charging with micro-grid energy storage is evident.

Solving the operational safety problems of BEVs is crucial. To this end, improving operational safety monitoring based on the terminal-network-cloud architecture, building a digital twin model of power batteries, enriching diagnosis methods for BEV power battery SOH, improving safety early warning accuracy, extending the duration of safety early warnings, and implementing active and passive safety protection for the whole life cycle of power batteries are important technological means.

Battery electric buses and fuel-cell buses adopting the core technologies of all-climate new energy vehicles successfully served the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Credit: Dr. Hongwen He, Beijing Institute of Technology

After more than 20 years of high-quality development of China's electric vehicles (EVs), China's new energy vehicle market has ranked first in the world since 2015. At present, China's BEV technologies are leading the global development, and complete sets of technologies are exported to the European Union.

In the future, battery swapping technology and operating business models will receive unprecedented development. Meanwhile, a carbon asset platform for EVs in China will provide a foundation for supporting the development of the carbon market in the future.

More information: Hongwen He et al, China's battery electric vehicles lead the world: achievements in technology system architecture and technological breakthroughs, Green Energy and Intelligent Transportation (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.geits.2022.100020

Provided by Beijing Institute of Technology Press Co.
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Government legislation to flag and moderate dangerous content on social media can be effective in reducing harm, even on fast-paced platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) new research shows.

Social media posts such as those that promote terrorism and hate, dangerous challenges that put teen lives at risk, or those that glamorize suicide, pose a significant threat to society. And this harm spreads exponentially, like an infectious disease.

Dr. Marian-Andrei Rizoiu from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Behavioural Data Science Lab and Philipp J. Schneider from Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne harnessed state-of-the-art information spread modeling to analyze the dynamics of content dissemination.

The study, The Effectiveness of Moderating Harmful Online Content, has been published in the journal PNAS. It finds that even with a 24-hour turnaround time, government mandated external moderation is likely to be effective in limiting harm.

"Social networks such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, now X, don't have much incentive to fight harmful content, as their business model is based on monetizing attention," says Dr. Marian-Andrei Rizoiu from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Behavioural Data Science Lab.

"Elon Musk acquired Twitter with the stated goal of preserving free speech for the future. However, alongside free speech, mis- and disinformation spreads and prospers in this unregulated space."

In response, many countries including Australia, are looking to intervene and regulate. The European Council has taken the groundbreaking step of introducing the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act to combat the dissemination of dangerous content.

The EU legislation requires trusted flaggers to identify harmful content, which platforms must then remove within 24 hours. However, critics have suggested the legislation might be ineffective given the speed at which social media content spreads.

"We've seen examples on Twitter where the sharing of a fake image of an explosion near the Pentagon caused the US share market to dip in a matter of minutes, so there were doubts about whether the new EU regulations would have an impact," says Dr. Rizoiu.

To better understand the relationship between the moderation delay and the likely harm reduction achieved, the researchers examined two key measures: potential harm and content half-life.

Potential harm represents the number of harmful offspring generated by a single post, and content half-life denotes the time required for half of all offspring to be generated.

Prior research has determined the half-life of social media posts on different platforms. X (Twitter) has the fastest half-life at 24 minutes, followed by Facebook at 105 minutes, Instagram 20 hours, LinkedIn 24 hours, and 8.8 days for YouTube.

"A lower half-life means that most harm happens right after the content is posted, and content moderation needs to be performed quickly to be effective. We found the reaction time required for content moderation increases with both the content half-life and potential harm," he said.

The study has implications for policymakers looking to introduce similar legislation in other countries. It can provide a framework and valuable guidance around mechanisms for content moderation by indicating where to focus fact-checking efforts and how quickly to react.

"The key to successful regulation includes appointing trusted flaggers, developing an effective tool for reporting harmful content across platforms, and correctly calculating the necessary moderation reaction time," Dr. Rizoiu says.

"By understanding the dynamics of content spread, optimizing moderation efforts, and implementing regulations like the EU's Digital Services ACT, we can strive for a healthier and safer digital public square where harmful content is mitigated, and constructive dialog thrives."
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Cost-optimal hydropower expansion. Proposed (dashed line) and cost-optimal (bars) capacity expansion for continental Africa and its major river basins under the scenarios considered. In total, 32% to 60% of the proposed capacity is not cost-optimal. More than half of the capacity proposed for the Nile, Congo, and Niger basins is always cost-optimal, whereas the expansion in the Zambezi River basin depends on the considered scenario. The colors of the shaded areas in the map correspond to the river basins represented by each graph. Credit: Science (2023). DOI: 10.1126/science.adf5848

A team of hydrologists and bioengineers affiliated with several institutions across Europe has found, via modeling, that building dams to generate hydroelectricity in Africa may be not be a cost-effective approach in light of falling costs for solar and wind power. In their study, reported in the journal Science, the group developed models projecting energy needs up to the year 2050.

Currently, Africa's energy needs are provided mostly by fossil fuelsup to 70% comes from burning coal, gas or diesel fuel. Africa is also in transition, as areas without electricity seek to join the grid. That, plus a growing population, suggest that Africa is going to require a lot more electricity in the coming years.

Fortunately for the planet, most countries in Africa have pledged to reduce carbon emissions. And most have suggested that the way to achieve that goal is to build more dams to produce more hydroelectricity. But that approach might not be the most sensible one, according to work by the team on this new effort.

Noting the falling costs for producing electricity using solar or wind, the team wondered if they might now be more cost-effective than building dams. To find out, the group collected data from a host of agencies regarding projected energy demands across the continent in the coming years. They also obtained data regarding the costs of building and maintaining hydro dams and solar- and wind-power-generating projects.

They then input the data into several models, adding other information such as population growth statistics and projected rainfall in the coming decades. They ran their models under several scenarios to provide comparisons of cost-effectiveness of building hydroelectric facilities versus solar and wind projects. The different scenarios involved such things as fluctuations in the cost of fossil fuels, changes in amount of rainfall, and increases in atmospheric temperatures.

The research team found that under most scenarios, building new hydroelectric facilities was not as cost-effective as building new wind and solar facilities. As an example, they found that under the most optimistic conditions, approximately a third of all the hydro-facilities currently planned will likely be uneconomical compared to renewables by the time construction starts.

More information: Angelo Carlino et al, Declining cost of renewables and climate change curb the need for African hydropower expansion, Science (2023). DOI: 10.1126/science.adf5848 Journal information: Science

 2023 Science X Network
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

New research by Wake Forest Associate Professor of Economics Mark Curtis looks at the implications for U.S. workers in the transition to a low-carbon economy.

The paper, "Workers and the Green-Energy Transition," looks at carbon-intensive industry workers and the transition to green jobs. Curtis and co-authors R. Jisung Park, an assistant economics professor at the University of Pennsylvania, and Layla O'Kane, a senior economist with the data analytics group Lightcast, analyzed data on 130 million U.S. workers and their 300 million unique job transitions.

Using workers' job titles, company names and industries, the study first identifies green or "clean energy" jobs as jobs in solar, wind, renewables and electric vehicle manufacturing. It also identifies carbon-intensive or "dirty" jobs as those in fossil fuel sectors. It then examines the transitions that workers make away from dirty jobs and the transitions that workers make into "clean energy" jobs.

When it comes to shifting from dirty to green jobs, the research findings show:

The number of workers moving directly from a dirty to a green job has dramatically grown in recent years, increasing tenfold since 2005.

Younger workers are far more likely to transition from a dirty to a green job and approximately 25% of green jobs appear to be taken by first-time job-holders.

Nonetheless, since 2020 only about 1% of all workers who left a dirty job have transitioned to a green job.

Workers in "dirty jobs" are far more likely to transition to another dirty job than a "green job." In certain cities like Oklahoma City, Denver and Houston, more than half of the transitions away from a dirty job are into another dirty job.

These findings add to the growing body of research on green jobs and the labor market consequences of environmental policies.

"As green jobs continue to grow, we should expect an increasing number of workers in dirty jobs will move to green jobs," said Curtis. "However, workers without a college degree and older workers are significantly more likely to remain in carbon-intensive jobs. There also may be limits to the extent that local labor markets can absorb the workers who will be displaced by the shift away from fossil fuels."

The results suggest that Electric Vehicle (EV) and manufacturing jobs are an important source of employment opportunities for dirty job workers. By 2021, half of dirty-to-green job transitions were into the EV / EV battery sector. Of workers leaving dirty jobs, approximately 30% go into manufacturing. The prevalence of dirty-to-dirty transitions in some areas of the country provides a guide to policymakers looking to identify areas of the country most at risk from the green energy transition.

More information: E. Mark Curtis et al, Workers and the Green-Energy Transition: Evidence from 300 Million Job Transitions (2023).
(CNN)  Taiwan will never back down in the face of growing threats from China, the islands vice president and presidential hopeful said Sunday during a transit through the United States, defying Beijings condemnation of his trip.

William Lai, a front-runner in Taiwans presidential race in January, made a stop in New York en route to Paraguay, where he will attend the inauguration of its new president Tuesday.

The South American country is one of only 13 states that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, a self-governing democracy that Chinas ruling Communist Party claims as its own territory despite having never controlled it.

In a speech to supporters at a lunch banquet in New York, Lai portrayed Taiwans long-term survival as something the international community should take an interest in.

When Taiwan is safe, the world is safe, and when there is peace on the Taiwan Strait, there will be world peace, Lai said, according to Taiwans presidential office.

No matter how great the threat of authoritarianism is to Taiwan, we absolutely will not be scared nor cower, we will uphold the values of democracy and freedom.

Lais comments came after Chinas foreign ministry condemned his stopover, calling Lai a trouble maker through and through.

It said China firmly opposes any official interaction between the US and Taiwan and any Taiwan independence separatists to the US.

Taiwan and the US have both said that Lais transits, including a stop in San Francisco on his way back Wednesday, are routine.

These transits of senior officials are unofficial, in keeping with our US One China policy, a senior administration official told CNN on July 16, calling such transits fairly common.

Lai last transited the US in January 2022.

Lai, 63, hails from the so-called deep green faction of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)  known for its more openly pro-independence leanings.

The Harvard-educated doctor-turned-politician has previously called himself a pragmatic worker for Taiwanese independence.

That has made him particularly loathed by Beijing, which has not renounced the use of force to take the self-ruled island.

Since winning the DPP nomination, however, Lai has adopted a more moderate line on China.

Under the leadership of Xi Jinping, Beijing has ramped up economic, diplomatic and military pressure on Taiwan, particularly after the 2016 election of President Tsai Ing-wen, who won a second term in 2020.

Under Taiwans constitution, Tsai cannot stand for a third term.

Taiwans election will take place in January and could have profound consequences for international relations at a time of intense scrutiny over whether Xi might one day follow through on his vow to reunite the island with China.

The DPPs historical challenger is the Kuomintang, a political outfit that was once the bitter enemy of Chinas Communist Party but has since morphed into a party that favors much closer relations with Beijing.

Trips to the US by Taiwans officials are referred to as transits instead of visits because the US does not have formal diplomatic relations with the government of Taiwan and the stopovers come as part of an unofficial trip en route to another destination.

In March, Taiwans President Tsai transited in California and met with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, despite warnings and threats from Beijing. Following Tsais trip, China launched three days of live-fire military drills around Taiwan.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Taiwan will never back down to China threats, islands presidential hopeful says during US transit"
AirBoss of America (TSE:BOS  Free Report) had its target price reduced by National Bankshares from C$11.00 to C$8.50 in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, BayStreet.CA reports.

Other analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. National Bank Financial restated an outperfrom under weight rating on shares of AirBoss of America in a research note on Thursday, April 13th. TD Securities cut their price target on AirBoss of America from C$10.50 to C$8.50 and set a speculative buy rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, August 1st. Canaccord Genuity Group cut AirBoss of America from a buy rating to a hold rating and cut their price target for the company from C$15.00 to C$6.50 in a research note on Friday, July 28th. Finally, Pi Financial cut AirBoss of America from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, July 28th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of C$8.50.

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AirBoss of America Trading Up 4.4 %

AirBoss of America Announces Dividend

TSE:BOS opened at C$5.00 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of C$135.65 million, a PE ratio of -2.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of -550.53 and a beta of 1.94. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of C$6.33 and a 200 day moving average price of C$7.50. AirBoss of America has a 12-month low of C$4.50 and a 12-month high of C$15.50. The company has a current ratio of 2.44, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 66.67.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, October 16th. Investors of record on Friday, September 29th will be given a dividend of $0.10 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 28th. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 8.00%. AirBoss of Americas dividend payout ratio is currently -20.41%.

AirBoss of America Company Profile

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AirBoss of America Corp., together with its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and markets rubber-based products in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It operates through three segments: AirBoss Defense Group, Rubber Solutions, and Engineered Products. The AirBoss Defense Group segment develops, manufactures, and sells healthcare protective equipment, personal respiratory protective products, rapid deployment negative pressure isolation shelters, and cold weather combat footwear, as well as chemical, biological, radioactive, and nuclear and explosive protective equipment for military, law enforcement, healthcare and industrial providers, and first responders.

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The Berkeley Group Holdings plc (LON:BKG  Get Free Report) has earned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the seven brokerages that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and five have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year target price among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is GBX 4,494.43 ($57.44).

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on BKG shares. Berenberg Bank reissued a buy rating and issued a GBX 5,100 ($65.18) price target on shares of The Berkeley Group in a research note on Thursday, June 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of The Berkeley Group from GBX 4,800 ($61.34) to GBX 4,400 ($56.23) and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, July 4th. UBS Group increased their price target on shares of The Berkeley Group from GBX 4,450 ($56.87) to GBX 4,580 ($58.53) and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, June 12th. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price target on shares of The Berkeley Group from GBX 4,651 ($59.44) to GBX 4,474 ($57.18) and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, June 22nd. Finally, Barclays reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a GBX 4,350 ($55.59) target price on shares of The Berkeley Group in a research note on Thursday, June 22nd.

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Insider Activity

The Berkeley Group Price Performance

In other news, insider Sarah Sands purchased 247 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 13th. The shares were purchased at an average price of GBX 3,998 ($51.09) per share, for a total transaction of 9,875.06 ($12,619.88). Corporate insiders own 5.16% of the companys stock.

BKG stock opened at GBX 4,255 ($54.38) on Monday. The Berkeley Group has a 1 year low of GBX 3,120 ($39.87) and a 1 year high of GBX 4,549 ($58.13). The company has a market cap of 4.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 1,012.56, a PEG ratio of -0.87 and a beta of 1.14. The firm has a 50-day moving average of GBX 4,076.71 and a 200 day moving average of GBX 4,158.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 19.96, a current ratio of 3.43 and a quick ratio of 0.57.

The Berkeley Group Cuts Dividend

The company also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 8th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 17th will be issued a dividend of GBX 59.30 ($0.76) per share. This represents a dividend yield of 1.39%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 17th. The Berkeley Groups payout ratio is 2,156.40%.

The Berkeley Group Company Profile

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The Berkeley Group Holdings plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the residential-led and mixed-use property development activities in the United Kingdom. The company is also involved in land selling activities. It operates under the Berkeley, St Edward, St George, St James, St Joseph, and St William brand names.

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Shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD  Get Free Report) have been assigned a consensus rating of Hold from the ten analysts that are covering the company, Marketbeat reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, two have assigned a hold recommendation and six have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price target among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $67.06.

BUD has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and upped their price target for the company from $64.00 to $68.50 in a research note on Thursday, July 20th. Evercore ISI dropped their price target on shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from $80.00 to $70.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 8th. HSBC cut shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 10th. StockNews.com cut shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 8th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, June 22nd.

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Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Stock Down 1.0 %

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV stock opened at $56.30 on Monday. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV has a twelve month low of $44.51 and a twelve month high of $67.09. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $56.87 and a 200-day moving average price of $59.79. The company has a market capitalization of $97.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.16, a P/E/G ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a quick ratio of 0.43, a current ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.88.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The consumer goods maker reported $0.72 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.68 by $0.04. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV had a net margin of 10.59% and a return on equity of 14.69%. The firm had revenue of $15.12 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $15.33 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.73 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV will post 3.05 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Global Retirement Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 18.5% during the 2nd quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 1,116 shares of the consumer goods makers stock valued at $63,000 after buying an additional 174 shares in the last quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC raised its position in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 3.1% during the 4th quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 5,833 shares of the consumer goods makers stock valued at $350,000 after buying an additional 174 shares in the last quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC raised its position in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 1.3% during the 1st quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC now owns 14,343 shares of the consumer goods makers stock valued at $957,000 after buying an additional 180 shares in the last quarter. Keybank National Association OH raised its position in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 2.4% during the 1st quarter. Keybank National Association OH now owns 8,159 shares of the consumer goods makers stock valued at $544,000 after buying an additional 188 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Moors & Cabot Inc. raised its position in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 3.9% during the 4th quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 5,034 shares of the consumer goods makers stock valued at $305,000 after buying an additional 190 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 5.53% of the companys stock.

About Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV

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Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV produces, distributes, markets, and sells beer and beverages. It offers a portfolio of approximately 500 beer brands, which primarily include Budweiser, Corona, and Stella Artois; Beck's, Hoegaarden, Leffe, and Michelob Ultra; and Aguila, Antarctica, Bud Light, Brahma, Cass, Castle, Castle Lite, Cristal, Harbin, Jupiler, Modelo Especial, Quilmes, Victoria, Sedrin, and Skol brands.

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Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA (publ) (OTCMKTS:SVCBF  Get Free Report) and Western Forest Products (OTCMKTS:WFSTF  Get Free Report) are both basic materials companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, valuation, profitability, risk, dividends and earnings.

Dividends

Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA (publ) pays an annual dividend of $4.75 per share and has a dividend yield of 37.0%. Western Forest Products pays an annual dividend of $0.06 per share and has a dividend yield of 8.0%. Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA (publ) pays out 47.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Western Forest Products pays out 22.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years.

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Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA (publ) and Western Forest Products revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA (publ) N/A N/A N/A $9.96 1.29 Western Forest Products N/A N/A N/A $0.26 2.82

Profitability

Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA (publ) is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Western Forest Products, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

This table compares Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA (publ) and Western Forest Products net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA (publ) N/A N/A N/A Western Forest Products N/A N/A N/A

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent recommendations for Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA (publ) and Western Forest Products, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA (publ) 0 0 1 0 3.00 Western Forest Products 0 3 0 0 2.00

Western Forest Products has a consensus target price of $1.33, suggesting a potential upside of 78.43%. Given Western Forest Products higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Western Forest Products is more favorable than Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA (publ).

Institutional and Insider Ownership

27.6% of Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA (publ) shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 75.3% of Western Forest Products shares are held by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

About Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA (publ)

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Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA (publ), a forest products company, develops, manufactures, and sells forest, wood, pulp, and containerboard products in Sweden, the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, Asia, and internationally. The company offers various sawn wood products; wood solutions for industrial buildings comprise construction timber, outer panels, dimensionally planed timber, laths, base rafters, planks, and shaped timber products; wood solutions for merchants include joists, batten, and untreated and painted outer panel, as well as pressure-impregnated wood products; and marine and land transportation services, including forwarding services using RoRo vessels, container express, and road and rail. It also provides pulp products under the Pure, Star, and Cirrus names; bleached softwood kraft pulp and chemi-thermomechanical pulp; and Kraftliner products for consumer durables, electronics, hazardous goods, industrial products, fruit and vegetables, and frozen foods, etc. In addition, the company engages in the generation of energy from wind power projects, bioenergy, and liquid biofuels; and pellets manufacturing and sales. Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA (publ) was incorporated in 1915 and is headquartered in Sundsvall, Sweden.

About Western Forest Products

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Western Forest Products Inc. operates as an integrated forest products company in Canada, the United States, Japan, China, Europe, and internationally. The company is involved in the timber harvesting, sawmilling logs into specialty lumber, value-added lumber and glulam remanufacturing, and wholesaling purchased lumber activities. Its products have applications in outdoor living, exterior appearance, interior living, industrial, and structural applications. Western Forest Products Inc. was founded in 1955 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

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Forge First Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Carrier Global Co. (NYSE:CARR  Free Report) in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund bought 177,900 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,139,000. Carrier Global accounts for approximately 3.7% of Forge First Asset Management Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 8th biggest holding.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of CARR. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Carrier Global by 83,676.3% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 8,410,303 shares of the companys stock valued at $346,925,000 after buying an additional 8,400,264 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Carrier Global in the 4th quarter valued at $297,581,000. Fisher Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in Carrier Global by 109.6% in the first quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 10,892,166 shares of the companys stock valued at $498,317,000 after purchasing an additional 5,694,510 shares during the period. Victory Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Carrier Global by 1,140.8% during the 4th quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 4,138,117 shares of the companys stock worth $170,697,000 after purchasing an additional 3,804,624 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its holdings in shares of Carrier Global by 126.0% during the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 5,306,931 shares of the companys stock worth $243,429,000 after purchasing an additional 2,958,400 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.33% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on Carrier Global from $54.00 to $64.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, July 28th. Argus increased their price target on Carrier Global from $52.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, August 1st. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Carrier Global from $45.00 to $50.00 in a research report on Monday, July 10th. Mizuho lifted their price target on shares of Carrier Global from $53.00 to $63.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, July 28th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on Carrier Global from $49.00 to $57.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, July 28th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Carrier Global currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $54.65.

Carrier Global Stock Performance

Shares of Carrier Global stock traded up $0.51 during trading on Monday, reaching $56.05. The companys stock had a trading volume of 2,474,784 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,208,083. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $51.61 and its 200-day moving average price is $46.63. Carrier Global Co. has a one year low of $33.10 and a one year high of $60.04. The firm has a market cap of $46.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 1.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a current ratio of 1.63.

Carrier Global (NYSE:CARR  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 27th. The company reported $0.79 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.76 by $0.03. Carrier Global had a return on equity of 25.42% and a net margin of 9.87%. The company had revenue of $6 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.83 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.69 earnings per share. Carrier Globals revenue for the quarter was up 15.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Carrier Global Co. will post 2.63 earnings per share for the current year.

Carrier Global Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 10th. Investors of record on Friday, June 23rd were issued a $0.185 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, June 22nd. This represents a $0.74 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.32%. Carrier Globals dividend payout ratio is presently 29.37%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Jurgen Timperman sold 164,450 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $59.25, for a total transaction of $9,743,662.50. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Carrier Global news, insider Jurgen Timperman sold 164,450 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $59.25, for a total value of $9,743,662.50. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, VP Kyle Crockett sold 6,817 shares of Carrier Global stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $59.22, for a total value of $403,702.74. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 42 shares in the company, valued at $2,487.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 310,223 shares of company stock worth $16,401,775 over the last ninety days. 0.38% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Carrier Global Profile

(Free Report)

Carrier Global Corporation provides heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC), refrigeration, fire, security, and building automation technologies worldwide. It operates through three segments: HVAC, Refrigeration, and Fire & Security. The HVAC segment provides products, controls, services, and solutions to meet the heating, cooling, and ventilation needs of residential and commercial customers.

Further Reading

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Gladius Capital Management LP acquired a new stake in Unifi, Inc. (NYSE:UFI  Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund acquired 4,309 shares of the textile makers stock, valued at approximately $36,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Bank of America Corp DE grew its position in shares of Unifi by 2.3% in the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 29,269 shares of the textile makers stock valued at $530,000 after purchasing an additional 664 shares during the period. Prudential Financial Inc. boosted its position in Unifi by 8.0% during the 2nd quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 16,021 shares of the textile makers stock worth $225,000 after acquiring an additional 1,180 shares during the last quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS boosted its position in Unifi by 13.9% during the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 11,961 shares of the textile makers stock worth $216,000 after acquiring an additional 1,458 shares during the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its position in Unifi by 6.7% during the 3rd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 27,070 shares of the textile makers stock worth $258,000 after acquiring an additional 1,691 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC boosted its position in Unifi by 15.0% during the 3rd quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC now owns 16,463 shares of the textile makers stock worth $157,000 after acquiring an additional 2,153 shares during the last quarter. 72.40% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, StockNews.com assumed coverage on Unifi in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a sell rating for the company.

Unifi Trading Up 1.6 %

NYSE:UFI opened at $7.64 on Monday. Unifi, Inc. has a twelve month low of $6.33 and a twelve month high of $13.80. The company has a quick ratio of 2.02, a current ratio of 3.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $7.83 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $8.25.

Unifi Profile

(Free Report)

Unifi, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells recycled and synthetic products in the United States, China, Brazil, and internationally. Its polyester products include partially oriented yarn, textured, solution and package dyed, twisted, beamed, and draw wound yarns in virgin or recycled varieties; and nylon products comprise virgin or recycled textured, solution dyed, and spandex covered yarns.

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Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited (OTCMKTS:JMHLY  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decline in short interest in July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 9,100 shares, a decline of 35.5% from the July 15th total of 14,100 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 19,800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.5 days.

Jardine Matheson Stock Up 0.2 %

JMHLY stock opened at $48.05 on Monday. Jardine Matheson has a fifty-two week low of $45.01 and a fifty-two week high of $58.20. The companys 50 day moving average price is $49.60 and its 200 day moving average price is $49.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a current ratio of 1.22.

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Jardine Matheson Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 18th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 17th will be paid a $0.55 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, August 16th.

Jardine Matheson Company Profile

Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, operates in motor vehicles and related operations, property investment and development, food retailing, health and beauty, home furnishings, engineering and construction, and transportation businesses in China, Southeast Asia, the United Kingdom, and internationally.

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Shares of nVent Electric plc (NYSE:NVT  Get Free Report) have been given an average rating of Moderate Buy by the five ratings firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and three have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $55.25.

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on shares of nVent Electric from $55.00 to $58.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 30th. William Blair assumed coverage on shares of nVent Electric in a research note on Thursday, July 27th. They issued an outperform rating on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on shares of nVent Electric from $57.00 to $60.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, July 31st. Barclays boosted their price target on shares of nVent Electric from $55.00 to $69.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, July 31st. Finally, Seaport Res Ptn reaffirmed a neutral rating on shares of nVent Electric in a research note on Monday, August 7th.

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View Our Latest Analysis on nVent Electric

Insider Buying and Selling

Institutional Investors Weigh In On nVent Electric

In other nVent Electric news, Director Greg Scheu bought 4,700 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 22nd. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $43.23 per share, with a total value of $203,181.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 16,828 shares in the company, valued at $727,474.44. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website . In other nVent Electric news, CAO Randolph A. Wacker sold 1,519 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $55.21, for a total value of $83,863.99. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 20,366 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,124,406.86. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website . Also, Director Greg Scheu acquired 4,700 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, May 22nd. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $43.23 per share, for a total transaction of $203,181.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 16,828 shares in the company, valued at approximately $727,474.44. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here . Insiders have sold a total of 33,523 shares of company stock valued at $1,588,842 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 2.40% of the companys stock.

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of nVent Electric by 1.7% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 17,799,850 shares of the companys stock valued at $619,079,000 after buying an additional 302,124 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of nVent Electric by 0.8% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 15,251,841 shares of the companys stock valued at $654,914,000 after buying an additional 128,168 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of nVent Electric by 2.9% in the 2nd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 5,751,280 shares of the companys stock valued at $297,169,000 after buying an additional 164,267 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in shares of nVent Electric by 1.7% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 4,842,509 shares of the companys stock valued at $207,932,000 after buying an additional 81,399 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Boston Partners boosted its holdings in shares of nVent Electric by 2.3% in the 4th quarter. Boston Partners now owns 3,313,930 shares of the companys stock valued at $127,500,000 after buying an additional 75,366 shares in the last quarter. 86.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

nVent Electric Stock Performance

NYSE:NVT opened at $53.71 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 2.09 and a quick ratio of 1.32. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.75 and a beta of 1.33. The companys 50-day moving average is $51.27 and its two-hundred day moving average is $45.92. nVent Electric has a 1-year low of $30.48 and a 1-year high of $56.34.

nVent Electric (NYSE:NVT  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, July 28th. The company reported $0.77 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.68 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $803.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $809.05 million. nVent Electric had a net margin of 15.14% and a return on equity of 16.85%. nVent Electrics revenue was up 10.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.57 EPS. Analysts forecast that nVent Electric will post 2.9 EPS for the current year.

nVent Electric Company Profile

(Get Free Report

nVent Electric plc designs, manufactures, markets, installs, and services electrical connection and protection products worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Enclosures, Electrical & Fastening Solutions, and Thermal Management. The Enclosures segment provides solutions to connect and protect critical electronics, communication, control, and power equipment; physical infrastructure solutions to host, connect, and protect server and network equipment; indoor and outdoor protection for test and measurement and aerospace and defense applications in industrial, infrastructure, commercial, and energy verticals; and metallic and non-metallic enclosures, cabinets, sub racks, and backplanes.

Further Reading

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Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co., Ltd (OTCMKTS:SHPMF  Get Free Report) saw a large decline in short interest in the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 106,100 shares, a decline of 20.7% from the July 15th total of 133,800 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 0 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently  days.

Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Stock Performance

Shares of Shanghai Pharmaceuticals stock opened at $1.79 on Monday. The stocks 50-day moving average is $1.90 and its 200 day moving average is $1.89. Shanghai Pharmaceuticals has a one year low of $1.28 and a one year high of $2.08.

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About Shanghai Pharmaceuticals

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Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co, Ltd. researches, develops, manufactures, distributes, and retails pharmaceutical and healthcare products in China and internationally. It operates through four segments: Production, Distribution, Retail, and Others. The company offers chemicals and biochemicals, Chinese medicines, healthcare products, and medical devices in various therapeutic areas, including anti-tumor, heart and cerebral vessels, psychoneural, anti-infection, auto-immunity, digestive tract and metabolism, and respiratory system.

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Azul S.A. (NYSE:AZUL  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decrease in short interest in July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 3,030,000 shares, a decrease of 17.9% from the July 15th total of 3,690,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 2,160,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.4 days.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. BlackRock Inc. lifted its stake in Azul by 9.0% in the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 23,570 shares of the companys stock valued at $323,000 after purchasing an additional 1,941 shares during the last quarter. Campbell & CO Investment Adviser LLC purchased a new position in shares of Azul during the 2nd quarter valued at $590,000. Landscape Capital Management L.L.C. bought a new position in shares of Azul during the 2nd quarter worth $799,000. William Blair Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in Azul in the 2nd quarter worth about $2,750,000. Finally, ExodusPoint Capital Management LP bought a new stake in Azul in the 2nd quarter valued at about $201,000. 2.30% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have weighed in on AZUL. Raymond James raised their price objective on Azul from $12.00 to $14.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 31st. Barclays upgraded shares of Azul from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $8.00 to $14.00 in a report on Monday, July 10th. Finally, Bank of America upgraded shares of Azul from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and increased their price objective for the company from $6.90 to $11.00 in a research note on Monday, May 22nd. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $11.34.

Azul Stock Down 6.9 %

Shares of Azul stock opened at $10.40 on Monday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $11.82 and a 200-day moving average price of $8.57. Azul has a 1 year low of $3.82 and a 1 year high of $13.86.

Azul (NYSE:AZUL  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 15th. The company reported ($0.99) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.42) by ($0.57). The company had revenue of $862.07 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $930.89 million. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Azul will post -1.53 EPS for the current year.

Azul Company Profile

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Azul SA, together with its subsidiaries, provides scheduled air transportation services in Brazil. As of December 31, 2022, the company operated approximately 1,000 daily departures to 158 destinations through a network of 300 non-stop routes with an operating fleet of 177 aircraft and a passenger contractual fleet of 194 aircraft.

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Enerplus (TSE:ERF  Free Report) (NYSE:ERF) had its price objective lifted by Stifel Nicolaus from C$29.00 to C$31.00 in a report issued on Thursday morning, MarketBeat reports.

Several other analysts also recently commented on the stock. BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on shares of Enerplus from C$19.00 to C$20.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 13th. Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of Enerplus from C$30.00 to C$26.00 in a research note on Friday, June 30th. Desjardins dropped their price target on shares of Enerplus from C$23.50 to C$21.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, July 25th. Finally, Scotiabank lowered their price objective on shares of Enerplus from C$25.00 to C$23.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 13th.

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View Our Latest Analysis on ERF

Enerplus Stock Up 1.2 %

Enerplus Increases Dividend

Shares of ERF stock opened at C$22.57 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of C$4.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.00, a PEG ratio of 0.25 and a beta of 2.84. Enerplus has a one year low of C$17.02 and a one year high of C$25.72. The companys fifty day moving average price is C$20.23 and its 200-day moving average price is C$20.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 22.96, a current ratio of 0.71 and a quick ratio of 0.61.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 31st will be issued a $0.06 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, August 30th. This represents a $0.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.06%. This is a positive change from Enerpluss previous quarterly dividend of $0.06. Enerpluss payout ratio is currently 5.67%.

About Enerplus

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Enerplus Corporation, together with subsidiaries, acquires, develops, and explores crude oil and natural gas in the United States. Its oil and natural gas properties are located primarily in North Dakota, Colorado, and Pennsylvania. Enerplus Corporation was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

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Tower Research Capital LLC TRC increased its stake in shares of Boston Scientific Co. (NYSE:BSX  Free Report) by 37.7% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 39,464 shares of the medical equipment providers stock after acquiring an additional 10,801 shares during the quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRCs holdings in Boston Scientific were worth $1,974,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC raised its stake in Boston Scientific by 8.5% during the 1st quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC now owns 6,657 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $340,000 after purchasing an additional 524 shares during the last quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. raised its stake in Boston Scientific by 3.0% during the 1st quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 139,354 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $6,972,000 after purchasing an additional 4,049 shares during the last quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund raised its stake in Boston Scientific by 14.3% during the 4th quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund now owns 145,406 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $6,728,000 after purchasing an additional 18,216 shares during the last quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. raised its stake in Boston Scientific by 3.2% during the 4th quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 136,437 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $6,313,000 after purchasing an additional 4,188 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dubuque Bank & Trust Co. raised its stake in Boston Scientific by 4.3% during the 1st quarter. Dubuque Bank & Trust Co. now owns 5,112 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $256,000 after purchasing an additional 209 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 92.20% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

BSX has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on shares of Boston Scientific from $52.00 to $58.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 27th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on shares of Boston Scientific from $56.00 to $58.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 12th. Raymond James increased their price objective on shares of Boston Scientific from $60.00 to $61.00 in a research note on Friday, July 28th. CL King started coverage on shares of Boston Scientific in a research note on Friday, June 30th. They issued a buy rating and a $64.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Needham & Company LLC restated a buy rating and issued a $61.00 price objective on shares of Boston Scientific in a research note on Friday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Boston Scientific currently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $58.35.

Insider Activity at Boston Scientific

In related news, EVP Arthur C. Butcher sold 6,697 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $53.80, for a total value of $360,298.60. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 17,453 shares in the company, valued at approximately $938,971.40. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Boston Scientific news, EVP Arthur C. Butcher sold 6,697 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $53.80, for a total transaction of $360,298.60. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 17,453 shares in the company, valued at approximately $938,971.40. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Joseph Michael Fitzgerald sold 63,339 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $53.60, for a total transaction of $3,394,970.40. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 213,859 shares in the company, valued at $11,462,842.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 93,378 shares of company stock worth $4,993,445 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.53% of the companys stock.

Boston Scientific Stock Up 0.3 %

BSX opened at $51.03 on Monday. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $52.45 and its 200-day simple moving average is $50.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 1.29. Boston Scientific Co. has a twelve month low of $37.74 and a twelve month high of $54.74. The firm has a market cap of $74.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 85.05, a PEG ratio of 2.00 and a beta of 0.79.

Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The medical equipment provider reported $0.53 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.49 by $0.04. Boston Scientific had a net margin of 6.81% and a return on equity of 15.16%. The business had revenue of $3.60 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.50 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.44 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 10.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that Boston Scientific Co. will post 1.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

About Boston Scientific

(Free Report)

Boston Scientific Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets medical devices for use in various interventional medical specialties worldwide. It operates through MedSurg and Cardiovascular segments. The company offers devices to diagnose and treat gastrointestinal and pulmonary conditions; devices to treat various urological and pelvic conditions; implantable cardioverter and implantable cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators; pacemakers and implantable cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers; and remote patient management systems.

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WisdomTree India Earnings Fund (NYSEARCA:EPI  Get Free Report) shares saw strong trading volume on Monday . 149,712 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 57% from the previous sessions volume of 344,715 shares.The stock last traded at $35.43 and had previously closed at $35.80.

WisdomTree India Earnings Fund Stock Down 0.8 %

The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $35.10 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $33.25. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.03 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.65 and a beta of 0.72.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Driehaus Capital Management LLC raised its position in WisdomTree India Earnings Fund by 1.4% during the 2nd quarter. Driehaus Capital Management LLC now owns 1,555,221 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $54,122,000 after purchasing an additional 20,784 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its position in WisdomTree India Earnings Fund by 597.9% during the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 66,300 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,307,000 after purchasing an additional 56,800 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. raised its position in WisdomTree India Earnings Fund by 13.8% during the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 1,737,155 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $60,453,000 after purchasing an additional 210,446 shares during the last quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. raised its position in WisdomTree India Earnings Fund by 95.3% during the 2nd quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 18,666 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $650,000 after purchasing an additional 9,108 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Commonwealth Equity Services LLC bought a new position in WisdomTree India Earnings Fund during the 2nd quarter worth $246,000.

WisdomTree India Earnings Fund Company Profile

WisdomTree India Earnings Fund (The Fund) seeks to track the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the WisdomTree India Earnings Index. The Index measures the performance of profitable companies incorporated and traded in India that are eligible to be purchased by foreign investors and that meet specific criteria developed by WisdomTree Investments.

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Woodmont Investment Counsel LLC raised its stake in shares of iShares S&P 500 Value ETF (NYSEARCA:IVE  Free Report) by 6.6% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,600 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 99 shares during the quarter. Woodmont Investment Counsel LLCs holdings in iShares S&P 500 Value ETF were worth $243,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares S&P 500 Value ETF during the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares S&P 500 Value ETF in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. TimeScale Financial Inc. acquired a new position in shares of iShares S&P 500 Value ETF in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Rain Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares S&P 500 Value ETF in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, Oliver Lagore Vanvalin Investment Group grew its position in shares of iShares S&P 500 Value ETF by 133.0% in the 4th quarter. Oliver Lagore Vanvalin Investment Group now owns 219 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 125 shares during the period.

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iShares S&P 500 Value ETF Stock Performance

Shares of IVE opened at $163.25 on Monday. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $161.60 and a 200 day simple moving average of $155.19. iShares S&P 500 Value ETF has a 52-week low of $127.33 and a 52-week high of $167.62. The firm has a market capitalization of $25.81 billion, a PE ratio of 15.85 and a beta of 0.94.

iShares S&P 500 Value ETF Company Profile

iShares S&P 500 Value ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares S&P 500 Value Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P 500 Value Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of the large-capitalization value sector of the United States equity market and consists of those stocks in the S&P 500 exhibiting the strongest value characteristics.

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Germany's Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) has warned of cyber attacks targeting Iranian persons and organizations in the country since the end of 2022.

"The cyber attacks were mainly directed against dissident organizations and individuals  such as lawyers, journalists, or human rights activists  inside and outside Iran," the agency said in an advisory.

The intrusions have been attributed to a threat actor called Charming Kitten, which is also tracked under the names APT35, Mint Sandstorm, TA453, and Yellow Garuda.

While Iranian nation-state actors lag behind their Russian and Chinese counterparts in sophistication, they have demonstrated a continued advancement of tools and techniques, adding an arsenal of custom malware to facilitate information gathering and rapidly exploiting n-day security flaws to obtain initial access.

Charming Kitten, in particular, has a long, storied history of leveraging elaborate social engineering and fictitious online identities that are tailor-made to target victims. It also impersonates real journalists and NGO employees in a bid to build rapport and increase the likelihood of success of the attacks.

Once a successful contact is made, the hacking crew has been observed sending links to an online video chat that, when clicked, urge victims to enter their login information on a phishing page, effectively resulting in credential theft. The phishing site impersonates a legitimate online service provider such as Google or Microsoft.

"If an online video chat occurs, it serves to conceal the attack," BfV said. "After logging in to the victim's user account from a C2 server6, the attacker is able to download the entire user data, e.g. by means of Google Takeout."

It's worth noting that the Google Threat Analysis Group (TAG), in August 2022, detailed a malware called HYPERSCRAPE used by the threat actor to retrieve user data from Gmail, Yahoo!, and Microsoft Outlook accounts.

The attacks also mirror prior findings from Certfa Lab and Human Rights Watch (HRW), which disclosed a credential phishing campaign aimed at human rights activists, journalists, researchers, academics, diplomats, and politicians working in the Middle East around the same time.

The development comes as Sophos revealed a mobile malware campaign targeting customers of four Iranian banks, Bank Mellat, Bank Saderat, Resalat Bank, and Central Bank of Iran, with as many as 40 bogus Android apps designed to steal sensitive information.

"All the apps, which were available for download between December 2022 and May 2023, collect internet banking login credentials and credit card details, and have several other capabilities," security researcher Pankaj Kohli said in a report published late last month.

This includes "hiding their icons to maintain stealth and intercepting incoming SMS messages which some banks use as part of multi-factor authentication schemes." Also present is a feature to search the infected device for several other apps relating to banking, payment, or cryptocurrency.
A 30-year-old Nebraskan and an 8-year-old boy died Wednesday after a semi-truck driven by a 21-year-old man crossed into oncoming traffic and crashed into the family's car near the border of Clay and Adams counties, according to authorities.

Nicole Pavelka of Davenport was driving east with four children in her car on U.S. 6 at about 4:15 p.m. Wednesday when westbound traffic on the highway came to a stop, Nebraska State Patrol spokesman Cody Thomas said in a news release.

Justin Zoerb, of Hazard, was driving west on the highway in a semi-truck when he failed to slow down for the stopped westbound traffic that was waiting for a vehicle to turn from the highway onto Road A, Thomas said.

Zoerb drove into the highway's eastbound lanes and crashed into Pavelka's Buick Enclave, Thomas said.

Pavelka and the 8-year-old boy, Ryker Schlichtman of Davenport, died at the scene.

Three other children in the car  ages 11, 10 and 4  were hospitalized with serious injuries, Thomas said.

The news release described the car's occupants as family members but didn't describe how they are related. Pavelka had been engaged to Ryker's father, Thomas said.

Authorities arrested Zoerb for an active traffic warrant out of Hitchcock County, where court filings indicated the 21-year-old skipped a June court appearance for two misdemeanor charges, including failure to stop and weigh.

Zoerb was taken to the Adams County jail for the warrant. The State Patrol is still investigating the crash.

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Auto sales in Vietnam fall 30% in Jan-Jul, Mitsubishi Xpander tops sales

By Tri Duc Mon, August 14, 2023 | 4:32 pm GTM+7

Vehicles sales by members of the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers' Association (VAMA), which does not include VinFast and Hyundai, dropped 30% year-on-year to 162,014 in the first seven months of this year.

They included 119,498 passenger cars, down 34% year-on-year; 41,169 commercial vehicles, down 13%; and 1,347 special-purpose vehicles, down 63%.

The number of completely knocked down (CKD) vehicles hit 91,159, down 34% year-on-year; and that of completely-built-up (CBU) units fell 25% to 70,855.

Mitsubishi Xpander is the best-selling vehicle in Vietnam in January-July. Photo courtesy of Mitsubishi.

In July, vehicles sales reached 24,687 units, down 18% year-on-year. The figure included 19,221 passenger cars, 5,318 commercial vehicles, and 148 special-purpose vehicles. The number of CKD units was 13,575 and that of CBU was 11,112.

Outside of VAMA, VinFast, the automaker arm of Vietnams largest private conglomerate Vingroup, delivered 3,042 electric vehicles to the market in July, the firm said. VinFasts January-July sales of 14,680 units included 6,253 VF e34; 4,998 VF 8; 1,977 VF 5 Plus; and 1,452 VF 9.

Hyundai reported sales of 32,046 units in January-July, according to a report by TC Group, the manufacturer and official retailer of Hyundai vehicles in Vietnam. Its July figure was 4,035.

As a result, Hyundai was the best-selling brand in Vietnam in the first seven months of this year. Other top names were Toyota with 30,450; Ford with 20,573; Mitsubishi with 16,365; and Honda with 11,085.

Vietnamese conglomerate Thaco, known for manufacturing and selling vehicles like KIA, Mazda, Peugeot, BMW, and its own Thaco trucks and buses, recorded total sales of 50,035 in the period. It included 17,224 Mazda and 20,811 KIA units.

Regarding models, Mitsubishi Xpander, a seven-seater multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), topped the July sales chart with 2,586 units; followed by Mazda CX-5 with 1,665; and Hyundai Accent with 1,375. Two electric vehicles in the list were VinFast VF e34 with 1,181 and VinFast VF 5 Plus with 1,000.

In January-July, the best-selling models were Mitsubishi Xpander with 10,568; Hyundai Accent with 8,827; and Ford Ranger with 8,775.
Contractor named for new HCMC airport terminal

By Van Truong Mon, August 14, 2023 | 11:43 am GTM+7

The state-run Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) has announced the contractor for construction and equipment installation at a new terminal (T3) at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City.

An artists impression of T3 at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo courtesy of Airports Corporation of Vietnam.

The package, worth more than VND9 trillion ($378.5 million), will be undertaken by a consortium of six Vietnamese companies, namely Hanoi Construction Corp, No. 1 Construction Corp, Corporation 319 under the Ministry of Defense, Truong Son Construction Corp, Ricons JSC, and Luu Nguyen Construction Ltd.

The consortium will sign the package contract this month to promptly start work, ACV said.

Among the six companies, Hanoi Construction Corp, No. 1 Construction Corp and Ricons are part of a consortium called Vietur, identified by ACV as the only bidder that met all technical qualifications and therefore qualified to bid in upcoming rounds for the under-construction Long Thanh International Airports passenger terminal.

At Tan Son Nhat Airport, the T3 construction and equipment installation package will be carried out over 600 days, starting when ACV breaks ground for the package and makes the cleared site available to the contractor. T3 is set to begin serving passengers in 2025.

Construction of the third passenger terminal began on December 24, 2022, with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attending the ground-breaking ceremony. Its foundations have been completed. The entire construction is expected to take 37 months, according to ACV.

Once completed, T3 will handle domestic flights and up to 20 million passengers annually.

Tan Son Nhat has two terminals now, with T1 serving domestic flights and T2 handling international flights. T1 can serve 15 million passengers a year while the T2 capacity is 10 million per annum.
Foxconn invests fresh $100 mln in Vietnam

By Tuong Minh Mon, August 14, 2023 | 10:59 am GTM+7

Foxconn, the world's largest contract electronics maker, has injected $100 million into its Singapore unit FIT Singapore to add to a new production project in Vietnam, according to the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE).

Through FIT Singapore, or Foxconn Interconnect Technology Singapore Pte. Ltd., FIT Hon Teng, a subsidiary of Taiwan-based Foxconn, is going to put this new investment into Fu Wing Interconnect Technology (Nghe An) Co. Ltd. as part of the manufacturing giants global supply chain diversification.

Foxconn is Apples biggest contractor and its shares are traded on the TWSE. Meanwhile, FIT Hon Teng is listed in Hong Kong.

A corner of WHA Industrial Zone 1 in Nghe An province, central Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Nghe An newspaper.

The investment procedures for the giants new factory in the central province of Nghe An were completed in May, Le Tien Tri, head of the management board of the Southeast Nghe An Economic Zone, told The Investor on May 11.

The production site covers 48 hectares, and this $100 million investment will be used for phase one of the facility, he said.

Foxconn has selected WHA Industrial Zone 1 in Nghe An for the project. A May exchange filing to TWSE shows the production site is in Lot B3 which Foxconn obtained a lease for costing more than VND509.5 billion (over $21.7 million) in the same month.

In February, the tech giant signed a lease for a 50-hectare site in Quang Chau Industrial Park in Bac Giang province near Hanoi for around $62.5 million to meet operational needs and expand production capacity, according to another exchange filing to TWSE at that time.

In late June, the northern province of Quang Ninh granted investment certificates to two Foxconn projects with total registered capital of $246 million.

FECV Foxconn Quang Ninh, with an investment of $200.24 million, will manufacture and assemble electronic components, chargers, and charger controllers for electric vehicles.

FMMV Foxconn Quang Ninh, with an investment of $46 million, will produce components for communications and IT products.

Also as part of global supply chain diversification, FIT Hon Teng of Foxconn is expanding production capacity in India by investing a further $400 million, according to an announcement posted on TWSE at the weekend.

Through FIT Singapore, FIT Hon Teng will spend $400 million to invest in Chang Yi Interconnect Technology (India) Private Ltd. According to Foxconn, Chang Yi Interconnect Technology had previously acquired a parcel of land located in Hyderabad city in the Indian state of Telangana to build a factory, a research and development center, and dormitories. Construction of the factory started in mid-May.
Philippines negotiates to buy more Vietnamese rice, boost buffers

By Lan Do Mon, August 14, 2023 | 9:52 pm GTM+7

The Philippines is in talks to import more rice from Vietnam as it seeks to boost its buffer stock and lower domestic prices, a Philippine official says.

A Bloomberg report cites Domingo Panganiban, senior undersecretary of the Philippines Department of Agriculture, as saying that Vietnamese exporters have quoted prices that are as much as $40 per ton lower than private traders.

"This will hopefully pave the way for the country to get better terms for the additional 300,000 tons to 500,000 tons of rice importation for this year," Panganiban said.

This, in turn, can lower rice prices in the country as it will boost national inventory, which, even without the additional imports, is expected to last 52 to 57 days by the end of the year, he added.

Rice bags are loaded on to a ship in the Mekong Delta. The Philippines is in talks to buy more Vietnamese rice and boost buffer stocks. Photo coutersy of Loc Troi JSC.

Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had said earlier this month that the Southeast Asian nation has sufficient rice stock to last even after the El Nino weather phenomenon ends next year.

The Philippines is one of the worlds biggest rice producers, but it also buys the staple from major suppliers like Thailand and Vietnam to help fill production gaps caused by typhoons and other disasters.

According to Vietnams General Department of Customs, Vietnam exported over 4.89 million tons of rice in the first seven months of the year for revenues of $2.62 billion, up 20.1% in volume and 31.4% in value year-on-year. The average price was $535/ton, an increase of 9.4% year-on-year.

During this period, the Philippines was the top rice consumer of Vietnamese rice, accounting for 39.6% of total volume and 37.6% of value. The country spent $985 million in the seven months on purchasing 1.94 million tons of rice from Vietnam, an increase of 6.5% in value and 2.1% in volume over the same period last year at an average price of $508.3/ton, up 8.8% year-on-year.
Vietnam to levy emission fees on polluting industries

By Huong Dung Mon, August 14, 2023 | 4:22 pm GTM+7

The Ministry of Finance has proposed the collection of emissions fees from production facilities that generate large volumes of industrial emissions and dust, negatively impacting the environment.

Under a draft decree on levying environmental protection fees for emissions that the ministry has put up for public feedback, they will be levied on iron and steel, metallurgy, coke, basic inorganic chemicals, inorganic fertilizers and nitrogen compounds, petrochemical refining, thermal power, and cement production facilities.

The ministry argues that along with rapid economic development, the air quality in big cities, industrial parks and craft villages across Vietnam has increasingly worsened, harming human health, the economy and the environment.

A factory chimney spews smoke into the environment. Photo courtesy of Dan Tri newspaper.

Emissions by production facilities and traffic are a major reason for declining air and environmental quality, the ministry says, noting that Vietnam has about 5.1 million cars and an even larger number of motorbikes in circulation; dozens of complexes mining bauxite, iron and steel and producing chemicals; as also power generation projects that inflict great harm.

In addition, there are nearly 120,000 industrial production establishments, of which 138 cause serious environmental pollution, along with about 110,000 construction enterprises.

Most organizations and individuals that discharge waste causing air pollution are not fully aware of their responsibilities for environment protection, the ministry says, emphasizing the need for a decree on environmental protection fees applicable to such facilities.

After several surveys and working sessions with localities, the ministry has concluded that in order to avoid incurring other costs, the fees and collection agency should be the same as those specified in Decree 53 for industrial wastewater.

Accordingly, there will be a fixed fee applied to all emissions-generating facilities that will be used to treat other pollutants besides total dust, NOx, Sox and CO; and a variable fee additionally collected from facilities that have to monitor emissions.

The ministry has proposed a fixed fee of VND3 million ($126) a year from the establishments, which can also be paid quarterly. The variable fees will be VND500-800 (21-34 U.S. cents) per ton of emissions, based on the proposal by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE), which also collect the fees.

The MoF calculates that the new fees will increase state budget revenues by VND1.2 trillion ($50.43 million) a year, contributing to overcoming air pollution in localities where the emission generating facilities are based.
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CARBONDALE  The Southern Illinois Transgender Resource Fair went beyond the walls of The Rainbow Cafe building on Friday afternoon. Participants also filled tables at the Town Square Pavilion across the street.

Carrie Vine, one of the events organizers, said they welcomed a wide variety of resources, from job services, education, clothing, make-up, free gender-affirming haircuts, massages, gender-affirming health care, therapy, counseling, voice therapy and mental health services. The Golden Rainbows of Southern Illinois, Metro Trans Umbrella Group, Carbondale United, voter registration groups and more helped to put host an event that provided a multitude of resources to those who need them.

We have specific resources for trans people, but we opened it up for anyone who needs resources, Vine said. Anyone is welcome.

Vine said their first resource fair was March 31. This event was planned to coincide with the beginning of school. They plan to do a resource fair every six months to provide as much support as possible.

Midwest Access Coalition provides resources for people traveling for abortion care. The group provides transportation, childcare and other resources.

We just want to get out the word and tell the community about resources for abortion, Alison Dreith said.

Morgan Robertson, a recent graduate of SIU Speech Language Pathology program, represented transgender voice therapy at SIUC Clinical Center. They work on the five aspects of voice to come together for transgender people.

The clinical center evaluates and treats: vocal pitch, vocal resonance, speech naturalness, vocal stability and gendered communication habits.

More information is available at clinicalcenter.siu.edu.

Shawnee Health Services offered information about their services, which includes medical, dental, psychological, mental health and obstetrics and gynecology.

Molly Quinn said they currently have two providers who offer hormone replacement therapy. Patients have to meet with a mental health provider before therapy can begin.

Counselors are available to provide a letter for gender-affirming care, Quinn said.

Toni Wright of University of Illinois Extension and Ashley Voss of SIU School of Medicine helped people identify spices and fresh herbs. They also had food access resources and health recipes available.

Carbondale Assembly for Radical Equity or CARE offered a variety of rainbow flags, stickers, key chains and bracelets. They are also running a Queen of Hearts drawing.

Kelsey Maffett of CARE said the fair had all sorts of resources, with groups coming from St. Louis, Memphis and Champaign.

Jackson County Health Departments HIV program offered information about HIV testing, prep, prevention and health care. Philip Partridge said the health department is part of the Ryan White Agency, which means they are responsible for providing HIV services to the lower 19 counties in Illinois.

Partridge said they are working with Federally Qualified Health Centers to expand services. Organizations like Shawnee Health Services, Rural Health Inc. and SIU Family Medicine are offering PREP, testing and other services.

Metro Trans Umbrella Group from St. Louis offered information about their group. MTUG is a trans-focused organization that offers a food pantry, clothes, peer support. More information is available at www.stlmetrotrans.org.

Golden Rainbows of Southern Illinois (GRIS) offers programs and services for LGBTQ people who are aging and those aging with HIV. Billy Rogers, president of the organization, was talking to people who stopped by their table. More information about GRIS is available at goldenrainbows.org.
YORK (AP)  A South Carolina jury found a woman guilty of homicide by child abuse in the death of her baby, whose body was found in a river more than 30 years ago, according to prosecutors and records.

A weeklong trial concluded late Friday in York County with jurors issuing the verdict against 50-year-old Stacy Michelle Rabon, local prosecutors John Anthony and Leslie Robinson said in a written statement. Rabon had been arrested in the babys death in 2021. The jury was hung on a murder charge against Rabon, according to the prosecutors.

A judge could sentence Rabon up to life in prison at her sentencing Aug. 21, The Herald of Rock Hill reported. Anthony and Robinson declined further comment to the newspaper.

Rabons public defender during the trial didnt immediately respond to an email Saturday seeking comment on the verdict. Rabon, who can appeal the conviction, remains in the York County jail.

The female infant, named Baby Angel Hope by those in the local community in 1992, was found dead in the Catawba River exactly 31 years ago on Saturday, her body wrapped in a sheet inside a plastic bag. The baby had been stabbed and suffocated, and had cocaine in its system, prosecutors said during the trial.

Officers and prosecutors said DNA taken from Rabon after a drug-related conviction matched DNA from the baby.
COLUMBIA  State Sen. John Scott, a longtime South Carolina lawmaker who served for more than three decades, died Sunday after a stint in the hospital, according to Democrats across the state. He was 69.

Scott had been at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, since Friday, when he was hospitalized for an undisclosed medical issue, according to Senate officials.

Peggy and I extend our prayers and deepest condolences to the family and friends of Senator John Scott. With over 30 years of service in the General Assembly, he has had a profound impact on Richland County and all of South Carolina. He will be deeply missed. May God bless him and his family, Gov. Henry McMaster said Sunday.

The governor will soon order that flags be lowered in honor of Senator Scotts service to the state of South Carolina once funeral arrangements are made and announced.

In a statement released by Senate President Thomas Alexander, Scotts family said he passed away peaceably while surrounded by family and close friends.

Scott, a Columbia Democrat, operated a realty company and had been in the Legislature for more than 30 years, serving most recently on the Senates judiciary, medical affairs and penology committees. First elected to the state House in 1990, he won election to the Senate in 2008 and would have been up for reelection next year. He ran unopposed in the 2020 general election.

Marguerite Willis, who selected Scott as her running mate when she unsuccessfully sought the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 2018, told The Associated Press on Sunday that she was with Scotts family in Charleston when he died, and that she and Scott reflected recently on their campaign.

John and I were just talking about this a month ago, Willis said. We were proud of that, and what it said about harmony and diversity and the importance of having both sexes and two races together. It broadened our vision and our experience, and thus our impact.

Willis, who said she hadnt known Scott until they became running mates, said their political affiliation quickly evolved in a close friendship.

He was a superb supporter of women and womens issues, she said. It was sort of an arranged marriage in a weird way: people put us together, and over the last five years, we became brother and sister. He was my friend and my family.

A special election will be held to fill Scotts seat. According to statute, after the Senates presiding officer calls for the election, filing opens on the third Friday after the vacancy, with the election to be held roughly three months later.

Scotts impact reverberated Sunday throughout South Carolinas Democratic circles. Christale Spain, elected earlier this year as chair of South Carolinas Democratic Party and one of Scotts constituents, remembered him as someone who used his voice in the General Assembly to fight not only for his district but for all South Carolinians and his lifes work on issues of education, healthcare and economic development will have a lasting impact on our state.

Senate Democratic Leader Brad Hutto remembered Scotts tireless work ethic, his willingness to bridge divides, and his unyielding commitment to the principles of justice and equality.

Scott was an alumnus of SC State, having graduated from what was then SC State College with a degree in accounting in 1975.

In addition to his hard work on behalf of his constituents in Richland County, Sen. Scotts devotion to his alma mater was apparent throughout his 33 years in the state Legislature, SC State President Alexander Conyers said. He was a vital contributor to the universitys successes, as well as to those of South Carolinas other Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Conyers said the senators faith in HBCUs was never more evident than when he led the recent effort to establish the South Carolina Institutes of Innovation & Information (SCIII). This collaborative program involving seven HBCUs in South Carolina brought the Institute of Business, Economics, Communications and Transportation (BECT) to SC State.

We are seeing the fruits of Sen. Scotts labors now with numerous projects, grants and awards, which are spurring innovation at SC State by way of the BECT Institute, Conyers said. Sen. Scott will be missed tremendously, but his significant legacy will live on at SC State through generations of students whose education and careers are furthered by BECT.

Our hearts go out to Sen. Scotts family, friends and colleagues in the South Carolina Legislature, Conyers said.

A giant tree has fallen, former Democratic state Sen. Marlon Kimpson, who served alongside Scott before leaving the chamber earlier this year, said Sunday.

State Sen. Gerald Malloy, D-Darlington, remembered Scott as a numbers man who was always a solid voice particularly on financial and numerical matters in the Legislature, but was even stronger in his faith, serving as a church deacon and often called on to pray at various events.

Johns OK, Malloy told AP on Sunday. Looking back on what he did and his service, the only thing you can really say is that all is well with his soul, and job well done.

Scott became Malloys Senate seat mate after the 2015 death of state Sen. Clementa Pinckney, who was gunned down along with eight parishioners in his downtown Charleston church.

It will be a sad day to see that black drape on that seat, yet again, an emotional Malloy said of the funereal cloth used to mark the seats of lawmakers who die during their terms in office. Its a reminder as to our humanity, and how precious life is.
The Orangeburg County Fine Arts Center is one of four sites selected to feature the work of students who won a statewide arts competition.

ArtsField Jr. is exhibiting artwork in the Upstate, the Midlands, Pee Dee and the Lowcountry. The Orangeburg County Fine Arts Center will feature Lowcountry works.

We are absolutely thrilled and honored to have been chosen as one of four venues for this prestigious exhibition. Weve made exhibiting, supporting and publicizing Orangeburg County student artists a priority at the Arts Center. This is an endorsement of our efforts," said Vivian Glover, OCFAC director of community arts and development.

The Lake City ArtFields Collective is a community arts nonprofit located in Lake City, South Carolina. ArtsField Jr. serves students from 5K through 12th grade.

ArtsField Jr. offers an array of year-round art programs such as field trip opportunities, interactive hands-on experiences and a statewide art competition.

Tabitha Ott, liaison for ArtsField Jr., says the OCFAC can expect visitors from all over the state, especially the Lowcountry, given the popularity and reputation of the competition.

Im familiar with the Lusty Gallery space and the outstanding exhibitions that have been curated there, and its the perfect venue to show the works of ArtsField Jr. winners, Ott said.

The ArtsField Jr. Competition is divided into four categories. A review panel determines five winners from each group, awarding as much as $500 in prizes.

I hope this exhibition will entice students in our area to visit this exhibition and be encouraged to enter the competition for 2024, Glover said.

We have an exhibition of artwork in the Arts Centers lobby area by students from the Orangeburg County School District, so out-of-town visitors will see the works of our talented students, as well, she said.

In addition to the visual art exhibition, the OCFAC held its second annual end-of-school-year Visual and Performing Arts Expo in collaboration with arts instructors from the Orangeburg County School District.

I dont think anyone who attended this years show, which had a packed house again, will forget those performances and the caliber of talent on display. Guests were blown away," Glover said.

This years expo performance lineup included:

 The Lake Marion High School Dance Team under the direction of Charity Moore.

 The North Middle High School Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Herman Marsh.

 The Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School Chorus under the direction of Glenn Nixon

 The Carver-Edisto Middle School Players under the direction of Karyn Moss

 The Orangeburg County Youth Choir, directed by Sheneice Smith

The expo also included the Orangeburg County School District Honor Band, directed by Herman Marsh and Dr. Ophelia Darby, and Elloree Elementary School student Kaylise Lloyds spoken word performance, directed by Odette Gordon.

The grand finale was a performance on the front lawn of the arts center by the Edisto Golden Essence Percussion under the direction of Darby.

Were looking forward to our third annual expo next year. In the meantime, there is the ongoing exhibition in the Lusty Gallery, The Rahmans: Designs with Natural Elements, which continues until Aug. 25, 2023. The ArtsField Jr. Exhibition is from Aug. 28 to Oct. 20, 2023," Glover said.

The Orangeburg County Fine Arts Center is located at 649 Riverside Drive in Orangeburg. For additional information about exhibitions and other art-related events and activities, call 803-536-4074 or email staff@orangeburgarts.org.

All Arts Center exhibitions are free and open to the public. More information on ArtsField Jr. can be found at www.artfieldssc.org/artfields-jr.
(TBTCO) - Trong suot 50 nam qua (21/8/1973-21/8/2023), voi quyet tam cua lanh ao va nhan dan hai nuoc, quan he Viet Nam va Canada a va ang i vao chieu sau, gop phan vao su phat trien va thinh vuong cua ca hai quoc gia. Hai nuoc thuc ay moi quan he toan dien, hieu qua, on inh va ben vung tren ca binh dien song phuong, khu vuc va quoc te. ac biet, thang 11/2017, Viet Nam va Canada xac lap khuon kho quan he oi tac toan dien. Ke tu o en nay, Viet Nam va Canada a co cac nguyen tac co ban inh huong cho quan he song phuong. Cac phuong huong, bien phap thuc ay quan he hop tac uoc tap trung vao 7 linh vuc la: Chinh tri - ngoai giao, thuong mai - au tu, hop tac phat trien, quoc phong - an ninh, van hoa - giao duc, khoa hoc - cong nghe va giao luu nhan dan.
BEIRUT  Lebanese Forces (LF) leader Samir Geagea pointed blame Monday at Hezbollah in the Aug. 2 death of former LF official Elias Hasrouni, citing "available information," though an investigation is reportedly ongoing.

Initial reports indicated that Hasrouni may have died in an accident. However, the mayor of Ain Ibl, where Hasrouni died, as well as LF and Kataeb officials, claimed he had been kidnapped and murdered, based on alleged security camera footage.

What happened in Ain Ibl is a "premeditated crime," Geagea told Annahar in comments published Monday. "About a week passed since videos of the incident were sent to the security services, [yet] until now no information has been issued and this increases our suspicions."



"We are waiting for the security services' investigations but according to the available information, the suspicions indicate the involvement of Hezbollah," Geagea continued.

Earlier on Monday, caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi said after a Central Security Council meeting that "the investigations are ongoing" on Elias Hasrouni's death but that some information gathered so far suggests that political parties were not involved.

Geagea also commented on the deadly clash last Wednesday between Hezbollah and residents of Kahaleh after a Hezbollah truck carrying ammunition overturned as it traveled through the Aley district town. Local resident Fadi Bejjani, who had opened fire during the incident, and Hezbollah member Ahmed Qassas were killed.



Geagea added that the Kahaleh incident shows that the "overwhelming majority of the Lebanese people are now against Hezbollah's behavior."



He said arming Christians was not on the table: "Despite some remarks on the Army's performance, the army intervened and resolved the situation; accordingly, there is a legitimate military force that handles security affairs. Therefore, it is not permissible to think in any other direction."

Bassil-Hezbollah negotiations

Geagea also discussed recent negotiations between the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) and Hezbollah to find a solution for the presidential vacuum, expressing surprise at the talks despite the Ain Ibl and Kahaleh incidents. He described the negotiations as a "major fraud" and accused FPM leader Gebran Bassil of "bargaining national files for personal gains."

Bassil has been strongly advocating for the establishment of a state asset trust fund and "financial" decentralization and implied on Aug. 8 that he could "facilitate" the election of Hezbollah's favored presidential candidate in exchange for these demands.

Geagea criticized Bassil's demands on Monday saying that the LF had already proposed a similar measure as a way out of the financial crisis.

"It is surprising that Bassil demands the [trust fund] from Hezbollah as if it is only his [personal] demand."

Geagea added that "concerning the decentralization law, there is a draft submitted by former minister Ziad Baroud, which passed through the committees with the approval of all parties. It is clear that Bassil is trying to "sell us" issues that all parties agreed on."

'Major scandal'

Finally, Geagea discussed the recent Alvarez & Marsal report which covers the forensic accounting of Banque du Liban (BDL)'s accounts. The 332-page report, dated Aug. 7 and made available to ministers, examines BDL's accounts between Jan. 1, 2015 and Dec. 31, 2020, and makes some scathing findings.

"The report was shocking and constituted a major scandal," Geagea remarked. "From the first moment, it was referred to a committee of specialists in the Lebanese Forces to study and take the appropriate position."

He added that the finance ministers in charge during the 2015-2020 period covered by the report "must be prosecuted" alongside disgraced former BDL head Riad Salameh and other top officials.
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The Czech Republics artistic bad boy opens his own morbid museum.

David Cerny, the Czech Republics middle-aged enfant terrible and arguably the countrys most famous artist internationally, is at it again. Known for his provocative sculptures around Prague and abroad, Cerny recently opened a museum of his own work in a former distillery on the outskirts of the capital.

The artist has been well known at home ever since he was arrested in 1991 for painting a Soviet tank that served as a war memorial bright pink. While he has developed a reputation for attention-gathering stunts and objects over the years, Cerny made his biggest splash internationally back in 2009.

Instead of creating a sedate piece of art to hang in one of the European Unions main buildings in Brussels  highlighting the then-Czech presidency  Cerny chose to parody sensitive stereotypes of each of the EUs member states. And not only that: he concocted a massive hoax, a mystification as the Czechs call it. The supposed contributors to the Entropa installation from each EU country were mere creations, as Cerny and a couple of friends had done all the work, from the sculptures to the ludicrous artist bios.

Even with that reputation in mind, his newest project, the Musoleum, still holds the power to shock.

The Musoleum basement.

The buildings six floors display a cross-section of the artists work over the course of his career, from early drawings to his better known sculptures, and models of uncompleted pieces. Theres a bar on the ground floor and outside terraces with views of the Prague skyline.

The building is listed and it wasnt possible to knock it down. So we decided to preserve it and turn it into a cultural institution, Cerny told the Czech news site Echo24. Somehow, over time, it became the David Cerny museum. Then I realized that its not a museum, but more like a mausoleum.

The displays are meant to be viewed from top to bottom, starting on the fifth floor, accessible via a glassed-in elevator. The tranquil view of the city does not prepare visitors for the disturbing scenes awaiting them.

Behind a glass door, the tour de Cerny begins in a room that makes violence visible. Four giant automatic pistols hang from the ceiling. They point toward the center of the room, at each other. The surrounding walls are lined with illuminated x-ray sculptures and framed scribble drawings. In one corner stands Violin, an assemblage that is part of Cernys x-ray series: a transparent violin case containing two guns, a grenade, and small plastic toy babies (the latter a common theme in Cernys art, if typically giant-sized).

Violin

As you view these works, you are startled by intense and unexpected sounds. There are loud booms and crashes, along with screeches that could be screams or howls. You become fully immersed in the exhibit, whether you like it or not.

It feels like a fever dream, said Ysanne, a tourist visiting from Australia. I dont know if I would call it scary  Its shocking, but feels weirdly natural.

Heading down to the fourth floor, you are confronted with a disturbing and uncomfortable exhibition of the naked body, or bits of it. Male and female bodies alike, Cerny does not leave anything to the imagination. Some sculptures are realistic, and some are more abstract. Nonetheless, its jarring to see the most intimate parts of a person, detached and hung on the walls.

The next floor opens up a whole new world  one that just feels plain wrong. Lining the walls are plastic-wrapped blowups of those toys where the legs, arms, head, and accessories are separate plastic bits that a child unsnaps and assembles into an action figure.

However, these figures are by no means meant for children. The figures start out simple, such as a figure of a rock star. As you go through the room, the titles of the works get more appalling. One is called Dead Raped Girl. One piece depicts Adam and Eve, and Halfway through the room, you see the figure of Jesus. Religion and pain are the rooms dominant motifs.

An American tourist who declined to give her name called the Christ toy gross.

The disrespect for religion and faith makes me scared for the future of our society, she said.

Large windows on the five above-ground floors let in lots of natural light. The works on the second floor are colorful, abstract portraits of famous people made out of resin and other objects like guns.The ground floor holds Cernys early and probably most famous sculpture after his pink tank: an East German Trabant car with stout legs, standing on all fours. For relief, a full bar is nearby, and a small gift shop.

Jesus Christ

There is one floor left to explore, the basement. As the Musoleums finale, this floor is completely different from the rest. It is entirely dark, with no windows and no sounds. A black curtain at the entrance blocks the view of what is inside. This creates an intense feeling of trepidation.

As you pull the curtain aside, you see a ghastly scene. Sprawled on the ground are four sculptures of dead bodies, with limbs separated and broken apart. They appear to be suffering as they crawl towards something lost in the murk.

The air is filled with a filmy, cloudy substance that mimics a thick fog. The swirling mist makes it hard to see the figures clearly in the dim light. The room builds a sense of confusion and disarray. Although the room is quiet and calm, it is a terrifying place to be.

The Musoleum experience is built on anticipation. For example, the above-ground floors are all connected. As you explore one floor, you can look over a railing around the central well and see the art on the floor below. This keeps you constantly distracted, intrigued, and exposed.

A visit to the Musoleum leaves emotions lingering in its wake. Whether its the unsettling art or the unearthly sounds echoing through the rooms, some part of the experience will stick with you.

Seeing Cernys art is bound to make anyone wonder, What was his intention when creating these pieces? He was once quoted as saying, I just enjoy pissing people off.



Audrey Boyd is a journalism student at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She wrote this review as a participant in this summers edition of Transitions Going on Assignment in Prague course.
Yellowstone National Park and state of Montana fisheries crews devoted an entire week to poisoning unwanted, nonnative brook trout out of Soda Butte Creek back in 2015.

When rotenone, a chemical used to poison fish, coursed through the 38 stream-miles of the Lamar River tributary that summer, some 450 brook trout went belly up.

The next summer, in 2016, two surviving brook trout were detected. The northwestern Wyoming and southern Montana watershed got another dose of poison to ensure that the creek would remain a stronghold for the native species: Yellowstone cutthroat trout.

For five straight years afterward, no brook trout, a cutthroat competitor, were detected via routine monitoring and eDNA technology, which detects the whole suite of species in a waterway with great precision.

Yellowstone had won the fight against brook trout, at least in the embattled Soda Butte Creek watershed, so it seemed.

Then last fall Yellowstone Fisheries Supervisor Todd Koel got discouraging news.

In a one-mile stretch of Soda Butte Creek, electrofishing crews discovered 15 or 16 brook trout. And they were a few different sizes, suggesting different age classes. The pod of brookies materialized from out of nowhere  or they got a helping hand from a human illegally tinkering with the fishery.

Its a good chance of that, unfortunately, Koel said. Its a good chance. Thats how lake trout got to Yellowstone Lake, right?

Talking with WyoFile, Koel and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Regional Fisheries Manager Shannon Blackburn were clear: Theres no hard evidence that newly discovered brook trout in the split Montana-Wyoming stream were the work of a bucket biologist.

At least not yet.

I really wish we knew where they came from, Blackburn said. Its so hard to say, but hopefully between potential genetic analysis and some other microchemistry, we can get a better idea of the source.

Potentially, they can pinpoint the source with precision. Fisheries scientists can analyze a bone called otoliths in the brook trouts ears to tell them exactly where the unwanted salmonids came from. And there are some likely sources.

Theres a gravel road that goes right from the campground right at Cooke City, Koel said. You can go right up the road to access lakes up high.

Those lakes are in another watershed, he said, and they contain brook trout.

With little exception, Koel said, the 2015 operation to remove brook trout from Soda Butte was broadly supported

Theres just one person that I know of who, for some reason, liked brook trout to be in Upper Soda Butte Creek, he said, and hes not from the area.

Notably, the reinvaded or reintroduced brook trout in Soda Butte Creek havent yet gained much ground. Using eDNA, Koel and Blackburns crews determined theyre confined to a small isolated stretch of the stream in Yellowstone. Once again, theyre bringing out the rotenone.

Its kind of a smaller spot treatment to remove these fish, Koel said. Were not treating all of upper Soda Butte, were only treating the mainstem from the park boundary down to Ice Box Falls.

For the first time in seven years, fisheries crews will be dispensing the piscicide in those 9.6 stream miles next week. The operation is expected to span the whole week, Aug. 14 to 18, during which time Soda Butte Creek will be closed to angling and swimming.

Mostly, the cutthroat will be spared. While Koel and Blackburn were talking to reporters on Thursday, their crews were wading Soda Butte Creeks waters to electroshock the stream and salvage the natives.

Other crews are out there seeing if they can find any more brook trout.

So far, nothing, Blackburn said. Just cutthroat.
A California hiker fell to her death Friday on the west side of Teewinot Mountain in Grand Teton National Park.

Joy Cho, of Simi Valley, California, succumbed to significant injuries during the fall and was pronounced dead at the scene, the National Park Service announced.

Park rangers responded before dawn, the statement said. Cho was hiking with seven other people at the time.

Her body was short hauled from the scene and turned over to the Teton County Coroners Office, the statement said.

Short haul is a technique where an individual or gear is suspended below a helicopter on a 150-to-250-foot rope, the statement said. This method allows rescuers more direct access to an injured person.

[I]t is often used in the Teton Range, where conditions make it difficult to land a helicopter in the steep and rocky terrain, the statement said.

Chos hiking companions were flown to the Jenny Lake Search and Rescue Cache at Lupine Meadows and transported back to their vehicles at the trailhead, the statement said.

Teewinot Mountain is the sixth highest peak in the Teton Range, which reaches over 12,300 feet about sea level, according to the National Park Service. The popular climbing spot has been the site of several fatal incidents.

On Sept. 4, 2021, 42-year-old Hitoshi Onoe was found dead at the base of the Black Chimney climbing route, a release stated. In 2015, Tyler Strandber and Catherine Nix suffered a fatal fall of about 200 feet on Teewinot Mountain.

Your news on your smartphone Your story lives in Wyoming, and our new mobile app is designed to make sure you dont miss breaking news, the latest scores, the weather forecast and more. From easy navigation with the swipe of a finger to personalized content based on your preferences to customized text sizes, the Star-Tribune app is built for you and your life. Dont have the app? Download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
The Wyoming Republican Party censured House Majority Whip Rep. Cyrus Western last week over election complaints involving the Big Horn Republican, according to a member of the state central committee who was present for the vote.

The resolution, stating that Western has failed to uphold the high moral standards entrusted to him by the citizens of the county of Sheridan, and of the entire State of Wyoming, demands the representatives immediate voluntary resignation from his position as majority whip in the Wyoming House of Representatives. As the House majority whip, Western assists the majority floor leader, makes sure party members are present for votes on the floor, counts votes and communicates the majority position.

Western didnt immediately answer the Star-Tribune when asked if he would consider the resolutions demand to resign from the majority whip post, nor did he comment further on the election complaints that led to the censure. He previously told the Star-Tribune that his legal counsel had advised him not to discuss the election complaints, but that theres more to the story than whats been published...

In response to the Star-Tribunes inquiries, Western criticized Sheridan County GOP Chairman Bryan Miller, who ran and lost against the Big Horn Republican in last years primary election for House District 51. The Sheridan County GOP voted in March to censure Western, who has served as the representative of House District 51 since 2019.

Bryan Miller has run for office half a dozen times and is a sore loser that cant accept the fact that hes unelectable, Western wrote in a text message.

Voters always get the final say, he later added.

In response, Miller said in a text message to the Star-Tribune that Westerns alleged violation of election law had nothing to do with him personally and accused Western of trying his darnedest to make it personal...

Cyrus is responsible for his own actions. His failures are his own as well. Instead, he continues to lay blame for his actions and the consequences of those actions on others, Miller wrote.

He should man-up, and take responsibility for what hes done to his constituency by bringing shame on his elected position.

The elections complaints that precipitated the censure stem from a mailer sent to Sheridan and Johnson county residents before the 2022 primary election.

The mailer claimed to be paid for by the Wyoming in Name Only (WINO) political action committee, which wasnt registered with the Secretary of States Office or with the federal election commission, according to a report from the Sheridan County Sheriff.

The mailers highlighted four people  Jeff Wallack, Laurie Bratten, Kristen Jennings and Jimmy Dee Lees  and said they were wanted for trying to tear our state apart.

Dont let us dime store cowboys ruin your way of life. Even we know thats not the Wyoming way, the mailers said. VOTE NO ON US CONSERVATIVE IMPOSTERS.

Wallack, who heads the Wyoming is Right political action committee, was the only person on the mailer who was on the primary ballot as a Republican candidate for precinct committeeman. (He didnt win.) The other three have also been politically involved. Bratten was formerly a Colorado-based political advisor, according to Ballotpedia. Jennings is a Sheridan City Council member. Dee Lees has been involved with the Republican Women of Sheridan County, the Buffalo Bulletin reported.

The sheriffs office, which investigated the complaints, obtained an invoice with billing information to the WINO political action committee showing that about 7,000 mailers had been ordered for more than $5,000. The office also received a copy of a cashiers check for that amount with County Commissioner Bill Novotny listed as the name of the person purchasing the check. Western was identified as the renter of the post office box that was listed as the return address on the envelope addressed to Majority Strategies  the firm where the WINO political action committee placed its mailer order.

In January, the Sheridan County Sheriffs Office found that the Friends of Cyrus Western candidate committee paid the Future307 political action committee  which Novotny chairs  more than $5,000 for consulting services. Though the Future307 political action committee is registered with the Secretary of States Office, it hadnt reported any contributions from Friends of Cyrus Western, according to the secretary of states campaign finance website.

The Sheridan County Attorneys office didnt pursue the case further because it concluded that the concerned election laws dont apply to campaign advertising for precinct committeemen and committeewomen, and also because it wasnt the jurisdictionally appropriate agency to handle the investigation. Elections complaints were consequently forwarded to the Secretary of States Office in February. Secretary of State Chuck Gray referred the complaints to the State Attorney General in late March for further investigation, shortly after Western was censured by his county party.
Afraz and Dilly Ann Karmally have taken their shared love for rock music to fashion a literal Metal Maze.

The married couple, owners of the Inten Artist Consultants firm, have created the annual Metal Maze with the aim of redefining the Caribbean metal festival experience.
Several Government and Opposition MPs listed their lands and properties on Form B of their declaration forms to the Integrity Commission, a search by the Sunday Express has found.

There has been controversy over Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowleys non-declaration of his Inez Gate, Tobago, townhouse on Form B of his declaration filed for 2019 to the Integrity Commission.
So, I love tasting and, in fact, it is my truest form of eating. I am the kind of person who would be the first to try when something new comes out.

A new twist of an existing product, a new type of snack, a new-flavour Shandy or mixed drink, a new fruit, a new meal combination. I have even tasted baby food, which I actually like, either at home before giving to said babies or when I see a new flavour combination. The fruit ones are usually great. The actual food ones are bland, and the ones where bananas are mixed in overwhelm everything and there is only the taste of banana.
Comparing the Canadian and the American Right  updated to 2023 (Part One) By Mark Wegierski

web posted August 14, 2023 Canada today, despite its great over-all wealth, is a society of contrasts. While the problem of Quebec separatism which was so central in Canadian history since the 1960s may appear to be fading a little, there are many new challenges arising. While Canada is still, to a large extent, a more pleasant place to live than the United States (especially when one compares life in the two countries' large cities), there are many issues looming on the horizon which can prove severe challenges to a safe, civil, prosperous life  the permanence of which all too many Canadians today take for granted. There are a number of substantial differences between the Canadian and American societies today, which may indeed have a profound impact on the type of future the countries will have. In the years 2006 to 2015, Canada had a federal Conservative government, while during most of that time, Obama was President of the United States. This was a fairly unusual situation where the U.S. may have had a more left-liberal government than Canada. The comparative fiscal discipline of the Harper Conservatives was breathtaking to contemplate, when viewed against the almost unbelievable fiscal profligacy of the Obama Administration. Liberal Justin Trudeau has been Prime Minister of Canada (since 2015), whereas Donald Trump was President of the United States in 2016-2020. There appear to be very few prospects of a Trump-like figure arising in Canada. Now, Joe Biden is President of the United States, and the situation appears to be an attempt to enact a revolutionary transformation of America, that will forever keep the Republicans out of power at the federal level. It should also be remembered that holding a majority in the federal Parliament (which conjoins executive and legislative authority) is putatively more effective than, for example, just the holding of the U.S. Presidency. However, there are other differences between Canada and the United States that point to the fact that the Conservative majority in 2011 to 2015, may not have been as powerful and effective in Canada as might putatively appear to be the case. There was the instance, for example, when the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) had carried out the longest filibuster in Canadian history, to try to block back-to-work legislation in regard to the labour dispute at Canada Post (the Canadian postal corporation). The victory of Donald Trump in the 2016 Presidential election, had created an enormous amount of volatility and unpredictability in U.S. politics. However, he was defeated in 2020, in an election that was extremely close in the crucial battleground states. Nevertheless, it could be argued that one important difference between Canada and the U.S. is the absence of a more organized, coherent, political Right in Canada. While there are many similarities between the left-liberal media, academic, cultural, juridical, and governmental establishments in Canada and the U.S., Canada manifestly lacks a rambunctious right-wing. In the U.S., it could be argued that there has been a wide-ranging and extensive debate among various groupings of the broader (and far more dynamic) right-wing, including paleoconservatives, neoconservatives, right-wing Greens, libertarians, paleolibertarians, classical liberals, "social conservatives of the Left" (such as Christopher Lasch), and religious conservatives (sometimes called "theo-cons"). Nevertheless, in more recent years, the debate appears to have slackened, becoming dominated by neoconservatives and shallow Republican Party operatives. Another trend to be noted is the atrophy of "paleo" elements in most forms of libertarianism. And today's National Review  traditionally the flagship journal of all of American conservatism -- is a terribly weak shadow of the highly robust and intellectually trenchant, early National Review. There are also at least two huge factors that have contributed to a more politically conservative U.S.  the first being that, as "the one remaining superpower," the United States had cherished and effectively maintained its military; and secondly, the large presence of Christian religion in the U.S. (including both Protestant fundamentalists and tradition-minded Catholics). However, one of the effects of the Obama Administration has been to create an increasingly "woke" military, especially in its higher ranks. It should also be remembered that (for now at least) taxation is low in the U.S., relative to Canada; that U.S. gun-control legislation is minimal, relative to Canada; and that the U.S. medical system has (until recently) been largely driven by free-enterprise, relative to Canada. To be continued. Mark Wegierski is a Canadian writer and historical researcher. Home
Tucson pianist Alexander Tentser will close out Arizona Friends of Chamber Musics summer concert series with a recital celebrating his native Ukraine.

On Wednesday, Aug. 23, Tentser, a native of Kyiv who studied piano in Russia, will perform a concert of works by Ukrainian composers including Mykola Lysenko, largely regarded as the founding father of Ukrainian music. The 19th century pianist, conductor and composer wrote solo piano works, operas and choral works including his Prayer for Ukraine, which many consider to be Ukraines spiritual anthem.

The song found new life internationally after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 as choirs and orchestra performed it to show support for the beleaguered ally. The Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York performed the hymn as a somber and sobering cold opening for Saturday Night Live days after the invasion.

Tentser, who teaches at Pima Community College, will perform Lysenkos Polonaise de Concert No. 2; Barcarole from Trois chants populaires de lUkraine; and Valse brillante. The program also includes Two Preludes by Lysenkos student, Levko Revutsky, and a trio of etudes and Mazurka in E-flat minor by 20th century Ukrainian composer Viktor Kosenko.

Wednesdays concert begins at 7 p.m. at Holsclaw Hall, 1017 N. Olive Road on the University of Arizona campus. Tickets are $45, $12 for students through arizonachambermusic.org.

Arizona Friends also is accepting donations to benefit the Red Crosss efforts to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine. You can donate online at arizonachamber music.org.
SVP Tucson is in search of eight local nonprofits looking to hone their promotion skills  while also generating new avenues for fundraising and friend-raising  by joining the Fast Pitch Class of 2024.

The free five-month program offers participating nonprofits comprehensive training in the creation of marketing strategies, capacity building and public speaking. Participants also receive mentorship from community leaders and assistance with creating donor connections.

The centerpiece of the course is the Main Event, in which nonprofits will vie for more than $100,000 in on-stage grants through three-minute pitches on Tuesday, March 26, at the Fox Tucson Theatre.

The Main Event has evolved into a much-anticipated annual showcase that brings the community together to transform local nonprofits, according to Brittany Battle, director of Fast Pitch.

We have elevated our Main Event in order to truly spotlight the work of our nonprofit organizations and share their stories with a global audience of people who deeply care about creating change. This night has the power to connect people, build bridges in the community and direct resources where they are needed the most. It will also be a beautiful night out on the town in our historic Fox Theatre, said Battle.

To be considered for the program, nonprofits must be aligned with at least one of SVPs 2Gen (Two-Generation) Values dedicated to impacting multiple generations of Tucsonans. The 2 Gen strategies seek to support nonprofits on the front lines as they create social change.

SVP will host a Writing Workshop to assist prospective nonprofits with applications from 9 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 22, at the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, 5049 E Broadway Blvd., #201.

Visit http://tucne.ws/1o0f for details and more information.

Interested nonprofits must submit applications by 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 15.
A Pima County jury has rejected a womans lawsuit seeking damages for injuries she received when her dog ran out of her house and fought with a police K-9.

Samantha McClellan filed a lawsuit over injuries she suffered in 2020 during an arrest.

In the incident, deputies and a department K-9 made an arrest of an individual at McClellans apartment. The person later asked deputies to return keys to McClellan, according to a complaint filed by her attorney, Christian Kimminau.

When McClellan answered, her dog bolted out the door. When she reached to grab her dog, McClellan said she was attacked by the police K-9, Jake. The incident resulted in multiple injuries, such as bone-deep gashes to her leg and arm and extensive bruising, the complaint said.

McClellan required extensive medical care and has suffered permanent injuries, which include scaring and loss of feeling in her arm and hand. She also suffers from panic attacks and nightmares, the complaint said.

Kimminau asked for compensatory damages in an amount to be determined at trial. He also asked that McClellan be awarded all legal fees and costs.

The Sheriffs Department said McClellans dog made an unprovoked attack against Jake, which led the K-9 to defend himself and protect his handler.

They said McClellan was then bitten after she got in the middle of a dog fight.

In closing arguments Wednesday, Kimminau said McClellans version of how the incident unfolded is what actually happened, questioning the credibility of the dog fight since neither deputy there had injuries or scratches.

Shes not telling a story, shes reliving the event, Kimminau told jurors.

Andrew Petersen, the attorney for the Sheriffs Department, told jurors that McClellan made inconsistent statements about the incident. He said Jake reacted in order to protect his handler.

This is not a case about a K-9 attack, this is a case about a K-9 reacting to an attack, Petersen said.

It took jurors a few hours to side with the Sheriffs Department.
For most, Sundays are spent recuperating from the long, busy work week, running last-minute errands or enjoying time with friends and family.

But one group of Tucsonans volunteers a good chunk of their Sundays walking through the downtown area in the unforgivable summer heat distributing ice-cold water bottles, Gatorade, Eegees, snacks, first-aid supplies and other essentials to those experiencing homelessness or those in need. And all the items are free.

For those on the streets in Tucson, Sundays  like every other day  are a battle to stay cool, hydrated and fed while facing record-breaking scorching temperatures.

Gator-Aid  a mutual-aid group thats part of local grassroots organizations Community Care Tucson and Community On Wheels  is a community-centered response to one of Tucsons current public health crises: homelessness.

(Were) centering the people who are out here living on the street, listening to what they need and what they want and showing them that they deserve basic human rights and dignity and humanity, said Liz Casey, a Gator-Aid member and local social worker. Really seeing them as people, not like charity. And, we're out here, specifically in this area, to bring awareness to this and show that this is a (public-health) crisis.

Gator-Aid can be found walking along Congress Street and Fourth Avenue from noon to 4 p.m. every Sunday. But chances are, youll hear Gator-Aid before you see them.

Youll hear the rumbling of their three wagons carrying coolers filled with water bottles and Gatorade as they roll over the sidewalks, or the occasional crashing sound as one of their coolers tips over after getting stuck on the Sun Link Streetcar tracks, spilling a case of water bottles across the asphalt.

Most likely, youll hear the sound of upbeat music blaring from a Bluetooth speaker attached to one of the volunteers belt loops. Or you'll hear Gator-Aid member Xavier Martinez shouting Free water! Free Gatorade! as the group of six walks through downtown.

The shouts are met with three typical responses: a sigh of relief, a smile and a heartfelt thank-you to the volunteers.

Most people out here will sit and chat with us, Casey said. Everyone is really, really appreciative and it's really sad the amount of people who have tried to give us $1 because they can't believe that we're giving away stuff for free.

During a Sunday outing last month, Gator-Aid trekked through 109-degree heat from Fourth Avenue and Seventh Street to the Ronstadt Transit Center, distributing water, Gatorade and lemon- and mixed berry-flavored Eegees to those seeking refuge from the sun or waiting for the bus.

As they entered the center shouting, Free water! Free Gatorade! Free supplies! the centers occupants whipped their heads in the direction of the group and began forming a line to receive the items.

Gator-Aid was greeted by a landscaper waiting to catch a bus to pick up a food box at a local church, a mother looking for her missing adult daughter, a general laborer on his way to visit a friend and a mother and daughter who just finished a day of shopping and were on their way home.

Ive never seen people come out through here like this, said Sonny Valdez, a Gator-Aid recipient waiting for a bus. It's a good thing and a lot of people came in thanking (them). It's good. Lots of smiles on their faces.

Dahlia Baca and her young daughter Arianna were two of the individuals with smiles on their faces as they ate their Eegees on a bench awaiting the next bus.

It feels good, its satisfying (in this heat), Baca said, while her daughter nodded in agreement.

By 1:30 p.m., the group had finished distributing their first round of items  around 30 minutes ahead of the groups second shift when two more volunteers would join them.

After replenishing their coolers at their storage space  which is also the Historic Fourth Avenue Coalition's brick-and-mortar  the group headed back to the streets with more water, Gatorade, another party pack of Eegees, bananas, cold packs and other first-aid necessities.

As they made their way through Fourth Avenue, back to the Ronstadt Transit Center, they walked to those sidelined from the heat in shaded areas, providing them with cold water.

But some individuals recognized the group by their coolers and wagons and approached them before Gator-Aid had the chance to walk to them first. One man saw the group from across Fourth Avenue and ran across the street to receive some essentials  plus an Eegee, of course.

By the end of Gator-Aids four-hour shift, they distributed around 125 water bottles, 10 reusable bottles, 32 Gatorades, two Eegees party packs and numerous first-aid supplies.

The supplies come from donations that community members and local businesses drop off at Pop Cycle, 422 N. Fourth Ave. Some Gator-Aid members contribute items with money from their own pockets.

On average, the Sunday Gator-Aid outings help around 50 people per week, according to Martinez.

Our unhoused members have been grateful for what we're doing, Martinez said. I'm also noticing that there are folks who may be housed but are struggling in one way or another. We've had folks come up to us asking for assistance in things that they are struggling to do because they don't have the assistance they need. We've helped someone try to find shelter, while another get on to the waitlist for Section 8. We've tried to help find missing folks or help some find leads for employment. The need of our people is so expansive and I wish more of our elected officials would see the high volume of needs we see.

A refresher on the local homelessness crisis

Homelessness in Arizona, including in Tucson, has grown significantly over the last couple of years.

As of January 2022, the number of people experiencing homelessness in Arizona was 13,553  an increase of nearly 25% since 2020, according to the Arizona Department of Economic Securitys annual Homelessness in Arizona report released in 2022.

On a local level, at the beginning of 2023, 2,209 people were experiencing homelessness in Pima County  a 60% increase between 2018 and 2023, but a 1% decrease since 2022, according to a report released by the Tucson Pima Collaboration to End Homelessness.

Contributing factors to an overall increase of homelessness in Pima County recently include rising rental costs, a shortage of available affordable housing, overall reductions in shelter bed capacity compared to pre-pandemic years and systemic inequities, according to the Tucson Pima Collaboration to End Homelessnesss 2023 report.

What needs to change to make a difference in the homelessness crisis that Tucson is currently facing? A lot  including a change in city and county budgeting, more community-based care and investing in housing, schools and overdose prevention sites, says Casey, who has been a social worker for eight years.

This is a public-health crisis that we need to be doing more to address, she said. It's not like, Oh, we're gonna go out and do a good deed or whatever, or this is, like, a fun volunteer opportunity. It's a public-health crisis, where we're seeing people really suffering and people are dying. And until the city and county really really drastically change the way the budgets are set up  we know that there's been lots of developments lately and lots of housing opening and low-barrier shelters  but until there's significantly more and a drastic change, we only see this situation getting worse.

Casey believes that funding for more housing is the key to alleviating the local homelessness crisis, instead of possibly funding places like a new jail, which feeds the poverty-to-prison pipeline.

However, even with a shift in budgeting, building more affordable housing in Tucson isnt a simple task due to the citys current zoning and building code regulations that prevent the construction of affordable housing options like tiny homes and micro-shelters.

Tucson City Council Ward 6 member Steve Kozachik says that changing our codes so that they're more compatible with keeping housing affordable is 100% on our radar.

The Tucson City Council hosted a study session on Aug. 8 regarding the zoning and building code regulations for tiny homes and micro-shelters after previously discussing the matter at a session on July 18.

While (tiny homes, tiny homes on wheels, micro-shelters and manufactured housing) may be developed today in a variety of situations, the micro-shelter housing type is the most challenging to develop in Tucson. Because they are considered a shelter care use, the zoning regulations for this housing type is complex, vary greatly by location and are restrictive in most zones. Revisions to simplify zoning regulations for shelter care use could help to address the limitations on their development and facilitate this transitional housing type, according to the Aug. 8 Tucson City Councils agenda.

Currently, the City of Tucson follows a Housing First approach when addressing the local homelessness crisis.

Housing First is an evidence-based approach to ending homelessness that centers on quickly moving people experiencing homelessness into independent and permanent housing and then providing additional supports and services as needed, according to the citys website.

Additional support services provided by the Housing First policy include behavioral health services, substance abuse treatment, legal services, case management, goal setting and independent living skills, the citys website states.

My position is that that's a good policy as far as it goes. But it doesn't go far enough, Kozachik said. And I've been advocating for literally three years that we do three other things in addition to the Housing First (approach).

Kozachik is advocating for more Safe Park areas, creating a large no-barrier mens shelter, and setting up a series of small, controlled camps throughout the community where people who are unsheltered are allowed to camp instead of living in alleys, washes and under bridges.

Those are three approaches that I've been advocating for and believe the city needs to up our game (in), he said. And simply by following our Housing First model, we're providing housing for a few 100 people, whereas we have a few 1,000 who are out on the street who need these other services.

As for what Kozachiks office is doing to help alleviate the stresses of those experiencing homelessness in Tucson, he says that his office has been collecting donations for several years and does regular deliveries to Casa Alitas and local homeless shelters.

This is not new to me and it's not new to my ward office, he said. We've been doing it. So, welcome to the chorus, to this group, the Gator-Aid group. I appreciate their help.

A short-term response to a continuing crisis

Despite making an impact on around 50 people every week, Gator-Aid is a fairly recent endeavor by Community Care Tucson and Community On Wheels.

They kicked off the initiative in early June with a couple wagons and some water bottles as temperatures in Tucson began to climb  eventually reaching recording-breaking heat in July.

We just saw, especially during the afternoons and on the weekends, how many people were actually downtown and were just struggling to find shade, Casey said. So we decided since this is a central location where a lot of people come during the day, that we would just come down here with at least hydration stuff for the summer since it's getting so deadly.

Many of Gator-Aids volunteers come from a behavioral health or community outreach background. Some of the volunteers include behavioral health specialists and technicians, case workers, harm-reduction advocates, and research technicians and staff from the University of Arizona.

Casey became involved with local mutual-aid groups after seeing that her own clients werent getting the type of care and supplies that they truly needed.

I got involved in these groups that were giving life-sustaining things to people, she said. And also showing them humanity and that people care and see them and see what's going on, while also trying to advocate for significantly more services and houses.

Martinez became aware of mutual aid through public service work.

I firmly believed how vital it was that wherever you decide on occupying space, that there has to be collective community involvement for a region to thrive, Martinez said. And, we all have something to contribute for that to happen, if we want equity and justice for all. In Tucson, even prior to the pandemic, it was evident that there was an imbalance of humanitarian aid, of services, (and) of any advocacy for people living on the margins, on the day-to-day, especially for BIPOC folks, those who are low-income and who are unhoused.

At the moment, Gator-Aid isnt sure what will happen to the mutual-aid group when summer ends. The movement was more of a short-term response rather than a long-term solution.

But their work with their umbrella organizations, Community Care Tucson and Community On Wheels, will continue.

We shouldn't be out here. We shouldn't exist, Casey said. This is a response to a crisis. This is not solving a crisis, we're just trying to keep people hydrated and alive for a Sunday.  Hopefully, this crisis is going to be solved. Or (at least) improved. But in the meantime, I think things that are mobile (like this) are really huge.

For more information about Gator-Aid or to get involved, check out their Instagram page.
Kevin Adger and Angelica Carrillo, media specialists in the Pima County Sheriffs Department, are hosting the agency's new podcast called What's the Word. It will focus on topics within the department and the community, a news release said.
Joe Gauci is known as Malta Joe, after his pastizzi company, but he might never learn Maltese.

Hes old enough to be retired and its a difficult language, thanks to Maltas unique position in the Mediterranean Sea. While at its core, the language mixes Sicilian and Arabic, its vocabulary and grammar reflect the island nations generations of colonization. English has been an official language since 1934, when it replaced Italian as the language of British administrators.

Allegiance to Britain also made Malta a vulnerable target during World War II  used by Britain to attack Axis powers in Egypt, Libya and Italy; the Axis targeted the island. Nowhere during the war sustained as many bomb attacks for as long as Malta did.

After the war ended, Joes parents left for America. Like many immigrant parents, they wanted their children to acclimate to the culture.

They spoke Maltese fluently all the time, especially when they didnt want us knowing what they were saying. [But] they didnt teach us, because their parents said it would be too hard for us already being Maltese.

They regret not teaching us, and I regret not learning, Joe said.

But theyd tell Joe about their homeland, about its beauty and the horrors of war. His parents lost friends in air raids, when children would wait until the bombing stopped to go out to play, only to be hit by the loose British counter shots falling down from the sky.

He also learned about being Maltese in the kitchen.

Everything was surrounded by the next meal, he said. Were making our pasta, preparing the figs, preparing the fruit, getting the salads ready, shucking oysters or clams, deneedling the prickly pears, he said.

Sometimes his mom would send him to the deli to pick up soda or water, and sometimes shed ask for his help making pastizzi. The night before they would have guests over, they would start laminating the dough. By morning, 12 pastries would be ready.

If you didn't spend time in the kitchen with grandma, in the kitchen with mom, you don't learn these things, Joe said. Fortunately with me, many people didnt spend time with their grandmothers and dont know how to make pastizzi.

Pastizzi are a savory pastry and signature treat of Malta, where each neighborhood, each block, has its own pastizzeria. In form, they are most similar to the sfogliatella you might have tried at Roma Imports. Like a sfogliatella, its a laminated pastry, coiled into a roll and pressed into the shape of a lobster tail. A pastizz, though, can be used as a medium for a variety of fillings, not just sweet ricotta (though Joe will sell you a sweet ricotta-filled pastizz).

Each pastizz is molded by hand into its signature shape, in a process that Joe calls walking down the stairs, gently pressing each layer of lamination out into a spiral. The technique requires finesse: lamination is a delicate process and when the team works on the pastries they have to move quickly before the dough becomes too slippery. And yet, there's a rusticness to the form, with its hand-pressed layers and unique shapes.

When the internet came along, Joe searched for pastizzi and could not find them anywhere. It was part of my motivation for starting this, he said.

At Malta Joes, you can order pastizzi filled with an aromatic, vegetarian split pea curry or a traditional Maltese corned beef. His filling stands out as much as his pastry, warmly spiced with onions, cumin and turmeric. Joe is working on shipping out the dough in long rolls, so Maltese across the country can fill their pastizzi with their own favorite flavors, like rabbit or squid.

When Joe would help his mother in the kitchen, it would take them all night to make a dozen pastries. He knew, to make a business out of pastizzi, hed have to make hundreds every day. So he went back to Malta, seeking advice from the most successful pastizzierias on the island.

Its different on Malta. The competition is fierce. Theres five big companies doing it, I told you how small [the island] was. It was so hard getting anyone to teach me how to do it because they were worried Id open up a shop next door and put them out of business. Im using those techniques today. Im developing the pastizzi culture here, he said.

Joe now has a factory of his own, which he converted last year from a laundromat. While you might be able to find pastizzi in individual bakeries across the country  in Astoria, Queens, perhaps; another in Dearborn, Michigan  many metropolitan areas, like Chicago and LA, are pastizzi deserts.

The factory is only here because Joe is here: he and his now ex-wife moved to Tucson from New York City to retire and enjoy the recreation and weather.

We both had jobs  she was a marketing executive, I was a recording engineer. (But wed) come here for two weeks, pack everything into the two weeks we were here. Wed rent a motorcycle. Hiking, restauranting, cry the day we were packing to go home, cry on our plane going back to New York. We knew we were going to come and retire here, Joe said.

Thats how I fell in love with it. I like it. I love the saguaros, the desert. Its very romantic to me. The people are nice. All that, he said.

Joe makes his pastizzi accessible to others across the country by air mail.

I'm a part-time weatherman when Im shipping them out, he said. I need to know if it's bad weather in Memphis, even if I'm selling to California. This is a logistical quirk of his shipping company, which has a central processing center in Tennessee. If it rains there, the dough will spoil during the wait.

Here in Tucson, we can avoid the shipping hassle by picking up the pastizzi frozen in bulk at his factory at 3452 E. Milton Road. As far as the neighborhood goes, its like the Willy Wonka factory, he said. Its not much to look at from the outside, but inside, its magical.

But Malta Joes got its start as a food truck at the Rillito Farmers Market, 4502 N. First Ave., on Sundays, and you can still find him there, slinging pastizzi hot from the oven 8 a.m. to noon.

This is your chance to interface with Joe yourself. His warmth and frankness collide in a prism of facial expressions louder than his booming voice. Hes eager to talk about Malta: he posts three times a day on a Facebook page of fun facts about the country and will give anyone who asks a lecture about Maltese history.

The oldest known standing manmade stones on Earth are on Malta. The Monolithic Era, when man found how to use tools and technology, made temples. Stone on top of stone. These temples are older than Stonehenge, way older than the pyramids. No one knows who made them or what theyre for, but theyre on Malta, he said.

Joe has worked to embody what it means to be Maltese. He moves with the confidence and precision of an athlete when hes making pastizzi: rapidly cutting a log of dough in mechanically precise portions, turning a piece of dough like putty in the right shape in seconds, before it gets too warm from his touch.

He wears a Catholic necklace because the first Christian converts were in Malta. On the way to Rome (where hed be on trial), Saint Paul and the people on that boat were shipwrecked on Malta, he said. St. Paul preached to the people on the island and made the first Christians.

In his factory, Joe has created a pilgrimage of its own. Maltese families come from across the country to teach their children about Maltese culture and food.

A lot of (customers are) traveling between LA and Texas. They GPS me and get a whole box of something to eat on the way to Texas. To see their faces: heres my daughter, heres my son. Showing them all this Maltese stuff, he said. If they know they can get pastizzi, they make it a destination. You have pastizzi, hand it over. Heres our children. They need to know of pastizz.
STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL WORKING ON LAHAINA LAND TRANSACTION MORATORIUM

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said Wednesday that he has instructed state Attorney General Anne Lopez to work toward a moratorium on land transactions in the Lahaina area.

Green said he has heard of people he described as not even in real estate reaching out to ask about purchasing land owned by people in the disaster area.

My intention from start to finish is to make sure that no one is victimized from a land grab, he said. People are right now traumatized. Please do not approach them with an offer to buy their land. Do not approach their families saying theyll be much better off if they make a deal. Because were not going to allow it.

He said hed have more details by Friday and added that hed also like to see a long-term moratorium on land bought by people who are not on Maui.

GOVERNOR: DEATH TOLL RISES TO 110

Hawaii's governor on Wednesday added four more people to the list of those killed in a fire that decimated the town of Lahaina on Maui last week. Gov. Josh Green said 110 people are confirmed dead and that 38% of the disaster area has been searched.

It makes us heartbroken, Green said at a news conference.

He also said about 2,000 homes and businesses remained without electricity in the area and that those people would also be eligible for services if they are suffering without power.

WHAT TO KNOW

 What spurred the fires? Right now, its unclear; authorities say the cause is under investigation

 What is the status of the fires? The county says the fire in centuries-old Lahaina has been 85% contained, while another blaze known as the Upcountry fire has been around 60% contained

 How does the loss of life confirmed so far compare with other U.S. fires? For now, it is the countrys deadliest fire in more than 100 years, with officials saying more than 100 people are dead, but the governor says scores of more bodies could be found

 How are search efforts going? The police chief said Monday that crews using cadaver dogs have scoured at least 30% of the search area, with five bodies identified so far

 Why did the fire cause so much destruction so quickly? The governor says the flames on Maui were fueled by dry grass and propelled by strong winds from a passing hurricane, and raced as fast as a mile (1.6 kilometers) every minute in one area

 Did emergency notification services work? Officials failed to activate sirens and instead relied on a series of sometimes confusing social media posts; meanwhile, residents faced power and cellular outages

 An electric utility is facing criticism and a lawsuit for not shutting off the power amid high wind warnings and as dozens of poles began to topple; in what may have been one of multiple ignition sources, a video shows a cable dangling in a charred patch of grass, surrounded by flames

TWO MEXICAN CITIZENS DIED FROM FIRES

The Mexican foreign ministry said it has confirmed that two people of Mexican nationality died as a result of the wildfires.

Personnel from the Mexican Consulate in San Francisco are on Maui and are in contact with the families of the deceased to provide assistance to them, the foreign ministry said in a statement. No details were immediately available, including whether the victims were tourists or among the many foreign workers in Lahaina.

The consulate in San Francisco did not immediately respond to a request for details.

FEMA OPENS FIRST DISASTER RECOVERY CENTER

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has opened its first disaster recovery center on Maui to help victims of the Lahaina wildfires.

The agency is also sending in more dogs to help with search and recovery.

Deanne Criswell, the FEMA administrator, on Wednesday called the centers opening an important first step.

The centers are temporary places where people can get information about assistance from multiple federal agencies, not just FEMA. They also can get their questions answered and get updates on the status of their aid applications.

The number of canine search teams will be increased to more than 40 because of the difficulty of the search and recovery operation. The dogs need to rest frequently because of the terrain and the heat.

Criswell answered questions from reporters at the White House after she briefed President Joe Biden in the Oval Office. Biden spoke by telephone with Gov. Josh Green during their meeting, she said.

Criswell will accompany Biden to Maui on Monday when he travels there to survey the damage. She said Biden will bring hope.

People can apply for assistance by going to disasterassistance.gov or calling 1-800-621-FEMA.

MAUI SCHOOLS BEGIN TO REOPEN

Most public schools on Hawaiis second-largest island have begun to reopen this week, starting with staff reporting for duty, according to the states department of education. But several schools are still being assessed to make sure they are safe for students and teachers, with crews cleaning debris and testing both air and water quality.

Hawaii Department of Education superintendent Keith Hayashi visited three campuses in Lahaina on Monday, which remain closed after sustaining wind damage. Officials will determine reopening dates for those schools once they are confirmed safe.

Theres still a lot of work to do, but overall, the campuses and classrooms are in good condition structurally, which is encouraging, Hayashi said in a video update. We know the recovery effort is still in the early stages, and we continue to grieve the many lives lost.

If they are ready and able, Lahaina students may enroll in nearby schools so they have access to in-person services like meals, socialization and counseling, Hayashi said.

Schools in Central, South and Upcountry Maui and a few off-island schools have already begun enrolling displaced students. The Department says it is also offering both in-person and telehealth counseling for students, family and staff.

BIDENS TO VISIT MAUI NEXT WEEK

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden will travel to Maui next week in the aftermath of the deadliest wildfires in the U.S. in more than a century, the White House announced Wednesday.

The Bidens will meet Monday with survivors of the fires, as well as first responders and other government officials. They will see firsthand the impacts of the wildfires and the devastating loss of life and land that has occurred on the island, as well as discuss the next steps in the recovery effort, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement Wednesday.

Biden and White House officials have signaled for days that a presidential visit was in the works as long as it would not disrupt search and recovery efforts. Hawaii Gov. Josh Green has informed the White House that Bidens visit early next week should be fine.

GOVERNOR OPENS MAIN ROAD FOR LIMITED HOURS

Gov. Josh Green opened a main road so drivers can travel east to west on Maui during limited hours as of Wednesday.

We will have, of course, our National Guard responsible on the side of the road so that no one goes into the impact zone, where teams are still searching for fatalities following last weeks wildfires, Green said on ABCs Good Morning America.

What I can tell you is people are holding up, he said, adding, Were just grateful for everyones outpouring of support. And though the workload is extraordinary and our hearts are broken, we will get through it. We just are still kind of in the thick of doing recovery.

2 VICTIMS OF LAHAINA WILDFIRE IDENTIFIED AS THE DEATH TOLL RISES TO 106

Maui County released the names of two people killed in the wildfire that all but incinerated the historic town of Lahaina Tuesday evening, as the death toll rose to 106.

A mobile morgue unit arrived Tuesday to help Hawaii officials working painstakingly to identify remains, as teams intensified the search for more dead in neighborhoods reduced to ash.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services deployed a team of coroners, pathologists and technicians along with exam tables, X-ray units and other equipment to identify victims and process remains, said Jonathan Greene, the agencys deputy assistant secretary for response.

Its going to be a very, very difficult mission, Greene said. And patience will be incredibly important because of the number of victims.

The county said in a statement Lahaina residents Robert Dyckman, 74, and Buddy Jantoc, 79 were among the dead, the first people so named. A further three victims have been identified, the county wrote, and their names will be released once the county has identified their next of kin.

GOVERNOR: DEATH TOLL RISES TO AT LEAST 101

The blaze that burned through the town of Lahaina on Maui last week has killed at least 101 people, Hawaiis governor said Tuesday, as recovery efforts continue.

We are heartsick that weve had such loss," Gov. Josh Green said during a news conference Tuesday.

Green had said earlier Tuesday during an appearance on Hawaii News Now that children are among the victims of the fires.

The fire is the deadliest in the U.S. in the past century. It has surpassed the toll of the 2018 Camp Fire in Northern California, which left 85 dead.

A century earlier, the 1918 Cloquet Fire broke out in drought-stricken northern Minnesota and raced through a number of rural communities, killing hundreds and destroying thousands of homes.

LAHAINA FIRE CAUSED ABOUT $3.2 BILLION IN INSURED PROPERTY LOSSES, RISK COMPANY SAYS

The Lahaina fire caused about $3.2 billion in insured property losses, calculated Karen Clark & Company, a prominent disaster and risk modeling company. That doesnt count damage to property not insured.

The risk firm said more than 2,200 buildings were damaged or destroyed by fire with a total of more than 3,000 buildings damaged by fire or smoke or both. Because so many of the buildings were wood frame and older, the damage rates were higher than other fires, the firm said.

HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD ACTIVATES HUNDREDS TO HELP RESPOND TO FIRES

The Hawaii National Guard has activated about 258 Army National Guard and Air National Guard personnel to help respond to the fires.

Guard members will offer support to the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency and local law enforcement agencies and help with command and control efforts, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said Tuesday.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is helping with debris removal and temporary power. The Corps has deployed 27 personnel  active duty and civilians  and 41 contractor personnel.

The U.S. Coast Guard has shifted its focus to minimizing maritime environmental impacts but is still ready to help individuals in the water.

Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team Honolulu and the Coast Guard National Strike Force have established a safety zone extending one nautical mile seaward from the shoreline.

The have also deployed pollution response teams and equipment, including a 100-foot boom at the mouth of Blaina Harbor to contain any potentially hazardous contaminants and material. There are about 140 Coast Guard members aiding the response effort.

Singh said she doesnt know how many active-duty troops have responded, but said that active-duty forces will be part of the ongoing effort.
CRANBROOK, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 14, 2023 / Eagle Plains Resources (TSX-V:EPL), ("EPL") has been notified by option partner 1416753 BC Ltd. ("141"), a subsidiary of NevGold ("NevGold"), a BC corporation, that field crews have been mobilized to Eagle Plains' 100% owned Surprise and Toodoggone Lithium Projects. Under the terms of the recently approved option agreement, 141 may earn a 100% interest in the Acacia, Lost Horse, FinLith, Surprise and Toodoggone properties by completing $1,000,000 in exploration expenditures over two years and issuing 10,000,000 141 shares. A 2% NSR on certain properties has been reserved for Eagle Plains (see EPL news release Aug 2nd, 2023).

2023 fieldwork will be carried out by TerraLogic Exploration Services of Cranbrook BC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eagle Plains. The Surprise and Toodoggone projects are early stage and were acquired based on their prospectivity for hosting Li bearing pegmatites. Fieldwork on both projects will focus on locating and assessing pegmatites for lithium potential using geological mapping, mineral identification and geochemistry.

Surprise

The 4491 ha Surprise Property is located approximately 40 kilometres east northeast of Atlin, BC. The property is centred on a large Cretaceous intrusion surrounded by sedimentary rocks of the Kedahda Formation. The Surprise Lake intrusion is crosscut by numerous aplite dykes and coarse grained pegmatitic zones which are the focus of the current exploration program. Regional government ("RGS") silt sample results are highly anomalous with respect to Li, Rb, Cs, Sn, Mo and W, with lithium values up to 118 ppm Li (the highest reported RGS value in British Columbia is 130 ppm). There are two MinFile reports on the property: Weir Mountain (104N017) reports tungsten and molybdenite mineralization in quartz veins; and the Northeast or CY showings (104N074) reports mafic-rich dykes with sphalerite-galena-magnetite in quartz veins cutting alaskite.

The favourable geologic setting, namely a granitic intrusion enriched in critical elements (W, Sn, Mo), with demonstrated aplite-pegmatite dykes, coupled with very anomalous regional geochemical lithium results, suggest that the property is highly prospective for rare-metal enriched pegmatites.

Toodoggone

The 7153 ha Toodoggone property is located approximately 285 kilometres north of Smithers, BC, centred on a regionally mapped Cretaceous-age intrusion surrounded by sedimentary rocks of the Ingenika Group. The prominent Finlay-Ingenika strike-slip fault system lies approximately 4 kilometres to the west. Although the Toodoggone Region is well known for epithermal and porphyry deposits such as found at the Lawyers and Kemess mines, little reported exploration work has been completed on the property. Several historic stream silt samples collected through RGS surveys returned highly anomalous lithium results from streams fed by drainage systems on the property. The favourable geologic setting, with a granitic intrusion near a major fault system, coupled with highly anomalous RGS geochemical lithium results suggest that the property is highly prospective for lithium pegmatites.

Charles C. Downie, P.Geo., a "qualified person" for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and a director of Eagle Plains, has prepared, reviewed, and approved the scientific and technical disclosure in the news release.

About Eagle Plains Resources

Based in Cranbrook, B.C., Eagle Plains is a well-funded, prolific project generator that continues to conduct research, acquire and explore mineral projects throughout western Canada. The Company was formed in 1992 and is the ninth-oldest listed issuer on the TSX-V (and one of only three that has not seen a roll-back or restructuring of its shares). Eagle Plains has continued to deliver shareholder value over the years and through numerous spin outs has transferred over $100,000,000 in value directly to its shareholders, with Copper Canyon Resources and Taiga Gold Corp. being notable examples. Eagle Plains latest spinout, Eagle Royalties Ltd. (CSE:"ER") was listed on May 24, 2023, and holds a diverse portfolio of royalty assets throughout western Canada.

Eagle Plains' core business is acquiring grassroots critical- and precious-metal exploration properties. The Company is committed to steadily enhancing shareholder value by advancing our diverse portfolio of projects toward discovery through collaborative partnerships and development of a highly experienced technical team.

Expenditures from 2011-2022 on Eagle Plains-related projects exceed $30M, the majority of which was funded by third-party partners. This exploration work resulted in approximately 45,000m of diamond-drilling and extensive ground-based exploration work facilitating the advancement of numerous projects at various stages of development.

Throughout the exploration process, our mission is to help maintain prosperous communities by exploring for and discovering resource opportunities while building lasting relationships through honest and respectful business practices.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"C.C. (Chuck) Downie"

VP Exploration, Director

For further information on EPL, please contact Mike Labach at

1 866 HUNT ORE (486 8673)

Email: mgl@eagleplains.com or visit our website at http://www.eagleplains.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.

SOURCE: Eagle Plains Resources Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:
Sharon Bishop-Baldwin Sand Springs Leader Staff Writer Follow Sharon Bishop-Baldwin 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

EL PASO, Texas  Standing mere steps from the filthy, foul-smelling trickle of water that passes for the Rio Grande running along the southern edge of downtown El Paso  the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juarez just a stones throw away on the opposite side of the river  its easy to see both sides of the situation.

Its a fine line that Oklahoma National Guard troops walk every day in blistering heat while patrolling the nations southern border in support of Operation Lone Star, an effort aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration and the more nefarious crimes that some state and federal officials say often accompany migrants.

Perhaps few law-abiding people would disagree with efforts to reduce the amount of illegal drugs and weapons coming into the United States via foreign borders, but others insist that most migrants attempting to enter the country illegally along the Texas-Mexico border are merely searching for a better life and not planning to engage in additional criminal activity.

For the roughly 50 Oklahoma National Guard members who arrived here July 31 on the order of Gov. Kevin Stitt to offer assistance to the Texas National Guard-led mission, all of that is secondary to the focus on simply deterring illegal immigration.

Capt. Jayce Crowder is the Oklahoma detachments OIC, or officer in charge. Hes been in the Guard since 2010 and serves the residents of Tulsa as a member of the Tulsa Fire Department when hes not serving in the Guard.

For Crowder, who has taken part in a couple of state active-duty missions and was stationed in Kuwait in 2019-20, the task is clear.

Our mission is to prevent and deter illegal immigrants from coming across, he said. Were here to help the Texas National Guard do their mission.

Post-pandemic changes

The renewed focus on the nations southern border comes as a result of the expiration in May of pandemic-era health restrictions that allowed U.S. officials to turn away migrants at the border on the grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Stitt, along with most other Republican governors, has complained that President Joe Biden is doing too little to protect the border.

At a May 26 press conference announcing his decision to call up the Oklahoma troops, Stitt said it was in the best interest of Oklahoma and the nation to take decisive action to address the federal governments utter failure to secure our southern border.

Republican governors continue to step up to the plate when President Biden refuses to lead; and by deploying our brave National Guard Troops, we are sending a strong message that we remain dedicated to defending our borders and upholding law and order in our nation, he said.

The Biden administration, on the other hand, has said it is taking steps to address immigration but that Congress has put up road blocks.

With the support of the Department of Defense and multiple countries across the Western Hemisphere, the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State are implementing the administrations plan to humanely manage the border through deterrence, enforcement, and diplomacy  within the constraints of a broken immigration system that Congress has repeatedly failed to fix, including by not acting on President Bidens comprehensive immigration reform proposal, a joint statement issued by the federal agencies in May says.

Oklahomas mission

Crowder said the Oklahoma Guard troops serving here  at least 10 people on the ground 24 hours a day  are in a defensive, or military, posture, not a law enforcement stance. They have no authority to arrest anyone or even physically touch them.

Our job is to stop people from coming through our barriers, and we direct them to the points where they can go through legally, he said, nodding to two large bridges far overhead that, combined, make up the Bridge of the Americas crossing between the two countries.

Our job is to ask them to go to those points.

Although most Oklahoma Guard members are not bilingual, a number of the Texas National Guard members are, Crowder said.

Its helpful with the way were postured  Oklahoma truck, Texas truck, Oklahoma truck  so no ones very far away, he said.

And what happens if those trying to cross the border resist instructions? Thats when federal or state law enforcement agents get involved, Crowder said.

If they do end up going that route, if that has to happen, that would be Border Patrol or DPS doing that, he said, referring to the U.S. Border Patrol and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Were here to deter.

Although Oklahoma Guard members are armed, they wouldnt point their guns at migrants even to hold them, he added.

We are not going to do that, he said. Thats here for deterrence and just in case. We are not doing that at all.

Yet theres no lack of conflict or confrontation with people wanting to cross the border against their orders.

That happens daily for us, he said. Theyll cut holes in the c-wire and try to cross illegally that way. Or they will put things on top of the concertina wire and try to cross that way.

Crowder said the holes are patched with more concertina wire and that engineers with the Texas National Guard are installing sturdier fencing panels, as well.

Humanitarian concerns

Meanwhile, questions about the care and compassion afforded to migrants attempting to cross some areas of the border, many with young children, has been a focus of recent news reports.

The Houston Chronicle in July reported on emails from a Texas DPS trooper-medic to a supervisor that detailed concerns about inhumane treatment of migrants, including some who were medically distressed, along the border in Eagle Pass, Texas, about 700 miles east of El Paso.

Crowder said his troops encounter people regularly who are suffering from medical distress, particularly related to the oppressive heat.

Thursdays high temperature in El Paso was projected to be 101 with a heat index of about 114, according to a public affairs officer with the Texas National Guard, who said the climate in the area rivals the heat in southern Iraq.

But humane treatment is the rule, Crowder said, adding that when necessary, Border Patrol and DPS would get involved, and theyll get the care they need.

We have medics, so well get them the care they need. We will hand them water or whatever they need, he said. We hand people water all the time. That happens all day long down here.

This is why you join the Army, Crowder said. This is why you join the National Guard in particular, since we can do state-level missions. This is just another way to serve.

Im happy to do it, and I know a lot of the guys here are asking to come back, he said.

Another deployment possible

Stitt is expected to visit the Oklahoma detachment around the 21st of the month, and the troops will return to the Sooner State about a week later, although a second deployment next year is possible, officials have said previously.

Thats welcome news to some Texas officials.

We really appreciate the support from all of the (state Guard units), including Oklahoma right now, said Maj. Mike Perry, the public affairs officer for joint task force Operation Lone Star.

Theyre doing rotations down here just to help support whats going on on the border. We have a lot of places like El Paso where were seeing a lot of higher traffic.

Perry said the Texas Military Department and DPS have identified low-water crossings across the entire border of 1,600-plus river miles as particularly vulnerable to being breached.

Whether they have barriers or not, weve had to go in and put up this extra infrastructure to help out, said Perry, who lives halfway between McAllen and Brownsville, Texas.

Hes no stranger to the border, both personally and professionally.

I live a mile and a half from some 30-foot Trump wall, he said, adding that this is his fifth named mission on the border in nine years.

There is a process, if youre talking about migrants, of how they come and claim asylum, so what were doing out here in between these ports in these high-traffic areas is instructing, encouraging and, actually, from a standpoint, blocking them from coming across illegally and telling them to go to the ports, he said.

Our job is to get these people either to not come in or to attempt to come in in a legal fashion.

Away from home

When not patrolling the border in eight-hour shifts, the Oklahoma National Guard troops are staying at a hotel on the east side of El Paso.

Part of a national chain, the hotel has catered to troop units previously and knows how to accommodate their unique needs, feeding them in a dining room-style manner and working with the Guard members to get their laundry done.

The Guard members said its some of the best accommodations theyve experienced with the military.

That doesnt make it easy to be away from home for 30 days, though.

Thats probably the hardest part. Its hard for the families. I think thats who takes the hit, said Crowder, who, with his wife, a therapist for Bixby Public Schools, has a 2-year-old son.

Were down here doing a job, and were busy a lot, he said. But the families are the ones holding it together, so kudos to them and everything they do at home.

Senior Airman Coleise Thomas of Muskogee said she was reminded of her own children at home as she gazed off through the concertina wire at young children gathered with a growing group of adults across the Rio Grande.

It is heartbreaking to see those children, she said, but that just shows me the level of desperation and tells me how bad it must be over there.

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Photos: Oklahoma National Guard patrols border with Mexico
"Scholars, be careful with your words"  Psychological warfare in the age of social media and political discord By Dr. Irwin J. Mansdorf

web posted August 14, 2023 The Problem for Israel When a woman began screaming in a Tel Aviv restaurant on a Saturday evening in May, it set off a general panic among the patrons, most of whom assumed a terror attack had occurred. In reality, the woman's screams were her response to seeing a cockroach. Strange as it may seem, this reflects the bizarre state of affairs Israelis find themselves in. On the one hand, Israel clearly enjoys a huge military advantage over the Palestinian terrorists who threaten them. On the other hand, Israelis are delicately susceptible to the fear these random attacks generate. The fear of a terrorist attack is certainly not irrational and not dysfunctional. However, when this fear moves from taking calculated and rational steps to having exaggerated responses to the threat, Israel's enemies score a victory. Psychological instability, such as panic and insecurity in the population, undermines the country's ability to respond to threats and attacks effectively. Consequently, the psychological preparation for future conflicts must be part of any strategic military equation. If a cockroach can trigger mass panic, one can only imagine what would result from a far more credible threat that may come from Hizballah and/or Iran. Psychological Asymmetry Redux Since first being proposed as the central concept of Islamist warfare, psychological asymmetry has been a feature of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Time and again, we see Israel sustaining minor to no damage or casualties relative to the Palestinians, yet still not sensing "victory." This has been evident in each round of fighting with Hamas or the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Still, it is becoming increasingly evident even against the random but occasionally more lethal individual attacks by Palestinian terrorists targeting Israelis. In brief, the concept of psychological asymmetry holds that, despite (and perhaps because of) Israel's military advantage, any military confrontation will create an imbalance in perceived victimhood, with the Palestinian side inevitably emerging as the victim, notwithstanding their status as the initiator of the aggression. When Palestinian terrorists are killed during or shortly after an action, Palestinian leadership responds asymmetrically, blaming the real victim for responding and honoring the terrorists with grand funerals and blaming the actual victim (Israel) for retaliating. Embellishing victim status is a recurrent theme in the Palestinian media. That is one side of the asymmetry. The other side for the Palestinians is to invert Israel's ostensible military advantage and present it as a weakness. For example, the "Iron Dome" program arguably is one of Israel's greatest assets. Not only does it provide an effective defense for its citizens against Palestinian missile attacks, but it also allows Israel to limit retaliatory offensive activity, particularly ground force activity, in light of these limited losses. Curiously, Palestinians portray this as a psychological weakness and use this to promote a narrative that Israel is cowering in fear of Palestinian missile attacks. Effects on the Population Palestinian Authority and Hamas The Palestinian leadership has turned victimhood into a strategy for "victory" by using it to justify "resistance," which inevitably translates into violence. Terrorist activity is rewarded, families of terrorists are given hero status, and national tragedy is turned into an anchor for foreign policy. This all serves to sustain popular motivation and support from the populace for continued terror activity (deemed "operations" in Arabic), which in turn justifies the Palestinian political leadership to continue in their roles. This strategy appears to have worked. Despite most terrorists being ultimately captured or killed, terror activity continues unabated. Victimhood also serves the Palestinians internationally, with a willing media serving to enable the preservation of victim status as somehow justifying or at the least providing understanding of the behavior of the Palestinian leadership. In some cases, the consequences of tolerating terror are ignored and even used as a wedge against what usually would be considered acceptable military targets. For example, in one CNN report, Ben Wedeman focused on a group of handicapped Gazans who were rendered homeless after a building that housed a senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad member was destroyed. No doubt such reports, known as "lethal journalism," are welcomed by the Palestinian leadership and indirectly reinforce their strategy. Israel As noted by Boaz Ganor, the primary purpose of terror is to create fear, even though this fear "bears no relation to the actual statistical probability of one being killed or injured in a terror attack." This is another example of psychological asymmetry in that those with the most to fear (namely the Palestinians and affiliated terror groups) create situations where those with the least to fear, namely the Israelis, exhibit fear.

Israeli civilians run to shelters upon hearing a siren of a pending rocket attack from Gaza (IDF) Nevertheless, fear is not always irrational and not always out of proportion to the nature of the attack. Israel has developed "resilience centers" to deal with post-attack anxiety in addition to establishing several organizations that deal in psychological first aid in these cases. However critical it is for the population to deal with rational post-attack anxiety, a greater danger is a future attack creating a mass "psychological casualty" event, which would disrupt daily functioning and lead to demoralization. And while Israel has done well in dealing reactively to anxiety cases related to war and terror, it has yet to develop a proactive strategy that would, in effect, inoculate or protect the population against future psychological consequences. The Strategic Challenge for Israel Confronting expected psychological anxiety in war is valid and commendable. But while fear and victimhood serve the interests and goals of the Palestinian political leadership, the opposite is true for Israel. Significant psychological trauma will likely bring instability rather than sympathy for Israelis and schadenfreude rather than deterrence for its enemies. Part of how mass psychological trauma is formed and spread is through media reports, as discussed in an Israeli study by Bodas and colleagues. To that end, it would be critical for Israel not to create a "self-goal" by unintentionally mimicking and amplifying reports of Israeli panic (such as this old report from the independent online service Al-Monitor). One example would be the media, which overly focuses on anxiety-ridden citizens during and after any attack. While the angst and drama may serve to increase viewership, it likely will also have a detrimental psychological effect on many viewers. The goal of Israeli media should be timely, accurate, factual, and informative reporting, trying as much as possible to temper reports to avoid mass anxiety. Unfortunately, past events have not always been reported in a way that would reassure rather than alarm. Nowhere was that more evident than in the over-the-top multiple-channel live coverage of a terrorist on the loose following an attack on a Tel Aviv restaurant in April 2022. Discussing the coverage, the Jerusalem Post wrote, "This was about ratings and drama, " reminiscent of an episode of "'24' or Miami Heat." Social media posts, even (or especially) well-intentioned, can heighten rather than mitigate anxiety. By presenting a picture of Israelis fleeing for safety and seemingly panicked, some may mistakenly feel that points are scored on the "hasbara" side, but this comes at the price of embellishing a situation more than reality justifies. That reality is that more often than not, Israelis are well-disciplined in seeking shelter during an alarm and most often act responsibly and without panic, as seen in a video of beachgoers during a missile threat on Tel Aviv. There are other aspects to preventive resilience, especially relevant during times of contentiousness in domestic politics. Zemishlany notes, "Resiliency can be enhanced by strengthening community solidarity and confidence in the army and the national leadership of the country." While political critique is acceptable and welcome in any democracy, opposition leaders also need to be careful not to cross the line from legitimate criticism to inaccurate and politically-based criticism that wrongly questions the competence of the government leadership during a crisis. To that end, the statements by Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz during Operation Arrow and Shield backing the action were important, potentially preventing a slide into an appearance of mayhem. Summary In an age when reality is fashioned by the media, including social media, it is critical to ensure that psychological warfare aimed at sowing panic and insecurity does not take hold in the population. A prevention strategy requires responsible reporting by mainstream media and monitoring the social media of unofficial "spokespersons" so that exaggeration and hyperbole are minimized and mitigated. To the degree that political figures can inflame or calm a situation, it would be best for them as well to refrain from petty political overstatement, especially during times of conflict. Israel is likely to experience conflict in the future, some of which, as noted by Defense Minister Galant, may be unprecedented and likely difficult and trying. Its leaders and media must act responsibly to ensure the population is prepared for incidents involving more than just a wayward cockroach under one's table. The words of Avtalyon, as quoted in the Mishnah, ring true today as ever. "Scholars, be careful with your words. For (someone may) distort your words to suit their negative purposes." Irwin J. (Yitzchak) Mansdorf, PhD., is a clinical psychologist and a fellow at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs specializing in political psychology. Home
Kevin Canfield Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Kevin Canfield 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

The citys largest private foundation on Monday added its name to the growing list of Tulsa stakeholders expressing concern about Tulsa Public Schools accreditation status.

We believe that a state takeover of TPS or failure to renew the systems accreditation would be counterproductive for many reasons and damaging to the educational outcomes and experience of Tulsa students and the city in general, said Ken Levit, executive director of the George Kaiser Family Foundation. We have been communicating that view directly to those involved.

The State Board of Education is scheduled to meet on Aug. 24  a week after TPS students return to class  to consider the districts accreditation for the 2023-2024 school year.

State Superintendent Ryan Walters has said he may not go along with the state accreditation offices recommendation and is leaving all options on the table, including probation and allowing the Oklahoma State Department of Education to take the district over.

The state accreditation office has recommended that the district overall be accredited with two deficiencies.

One deficiency would be due to the late submission of a report. The other, referred to as lack of internal controls, is tied to a self-reported embezzlement case involving a now-former TPS administrators handling of $364,000 in vendor contracts, which is still under investigation by federal law enforcement officials.

In two Tulsa press conferences over the last month, Walters has cited chronically low academic outcomes at TPS and alleged fiscal mismanagement as among the reasons he is considering such actions.

Walters has claimed that inappropriate sexual material is being targeted to students at TPS as part of a liberal indoctrination and accused the school district and Superintendent Deborah Gist of having a leftist and woke agenda.

Hes also said there should be a new superintendent of Tulsa Public Schools.

Also on Monday, TPS Board of Education President Stacey Woolley said she and Vice President John Croisant met with Mayor G.T. Bynum late last week to discuss the issue.

Woolley described the meeting as not particularly productive.

Honestly, I felt like it was defending what Ryan Walters had told him, Woolley said.

Woolley said Bynum did mention that he would try to facilitate a meeting between the board leaders and Walters, but we do not have anything scheduled for that yet.

A spokeswoman for the Mayors Office said Monday that Bynum does not comment on his private discussions with education leaders but that he will continue to seek common ground between local and state education leadership.

Meanwhile, the two declared candidates to succeed Bynum next year, Tulsa County Commissioner Karen Keith and state Rep. Monroe Nichols, are speaking out about the turmoil surrounding TPS.

Im disappointed in the heightened rhetoric, Keith said. I think we should strive to help and collaborate instead of attack and divide. Our children deserve such an example.

As mayor, Ill make education a priority and champion our schools. Good schools are the seeds from which our citys future sprouts.

In a statement issued last week, Nichols said hes asked to meet with Walters but has received no response.

His behavior shows a lack of serious commitment to our students and a lack of credibility as our states top education official, Nichols said.

The citys public education system affects all aspects of city life, Nichols said, that is why as mayor I will work every day to ensure the success of our children and families  that includes taking a stand against political attacks like Ryan Walters is currently waging.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass.  When in-person school resumed after pandemic closures, Rousmery Negron and her 11-year-old son both noticed a change: School seemed less welcoming.

Parents were no longer allowed in the building without appointments, she said, and punishments were more severe. Everyone seemed less tolerant, more angry. Negron's son told her he overheard a teacher mocking his learning disabilities, calling him an ugly name.

Her son didnt want to go to school anymore. And she didnt feel he was safe there.

He would end up missing more than five months of sixth grade.

Across the country, students have been absent at record rates since schools reopened during the pandemic. More than a quarter of students missed at least 10% of the 2021-22 school year, making them chronically absent, according to the most recent data available. Before the pandemic, only 15% of students missed that much school.

All told, an estimated 6.5 million additional students became chronically absent, according to the data, which was compiled by Stanford University education professor Thomas Dee in partnership with The Associated Press. Taken together, the data from 40 states and Washington, D.C., provides the most comprehensive accounting of absenteeism nationwide. Absences were more prevalent among Latino, Black and low-income students, according to Dees analysis.

The absences come on top of time students missed during school closures and pandemic disruptions. They cost crucial classroom time as schools work to recover from massive learning setbacks.

Absent students miss out not only on instruction but also on all the other things schools provide  meals, counseling, socialization. In the end, students who are chronically absent  missing 18 or more days a year, in most places  are at higher risk of not learning to read and eventually dropping out.

The long-term consequences of disengaging from school are devastating. And the pandemic has absolutely made things worse and for more students, said Hedy Chang, executive director of Attendance Works, a nonprofit addressing chronic absenteeism.

In seven states, the rate of chronically absent kids doubled for the 2021-22 school year, from 2018-19, before the pandemic. Absences worsened in every state with available data  notably, the analysis found growth in chronic absenteeism did not correlate strongly with state COVID rates.

Kids are staying home for myriad reasons  finances, housing instability, illness, transportation issues, school staffing shortages, anxiety, depression, bullying and generally feeling unwelcome at school.

And the effects of online learning linger: School relationships have frayed, and after months at home, many parents and students don't see the point of regular attendance.

When classrooms closed in March 2020, Negron in some ways felt relieved her two sons were home in Springfield. Since the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, Negron, who grew up in Puerto Rico, had become convinced mainland American schools were dangerous.

A year after in-person instruction resumed, she said, staff placed her son in a class for students with disabilities, citing hyperactive and distracted behavior. He felt unwelcome and unsafe. Now, it seemed to Negron, there was danger inside school, too.

He needs to learn, said Negron, a single mom who works as a cook at another school. Hes very intelligent. But Im not going to waste my time, my money on uniforms, for him to go to a school where hes just going to fail.

For people who've long studied chronic absenteeism, the post-COVID era feels different. Some of the things that prevent students from getting to school are consistent  illness, economic distress  but something has changed, said Todd Langager, who helps San Diego County schools address absenteeism. He sees students who already felt unseen, or without a caring adult at school, feel further disconnected.

Alaska led in absenteeism, with 48.6% of students missing significant amounts of school. Alaska Native students rate was higher, 56.5%.

Those students face poverty and a lack of mental health services, as well as a school calendar that isnt aligned to traditional hunting and fishing activities, said Heather Powell, a teacher and Alaska Native. Many students are raised by grandparents who remember the government forcing Native children into boarding schools.

Our families arent valuing education because it isnt something thats ever valued us, Powell said.

In New York, Marisa Kosek said son James lost the relationships fostered at his school  and with them, his desire to attend class altogether. James, 12, has autism and struggled first with online learning and then with a hybrid model. During absences, he'd see his teachers in the neighborhood. They encouraged him to return, and he did.

But when he moved to middle school in another neighborhood, he didnt know anyone. He lost interest and missed more than 100 days of sixth grade. The next year, his mom pushed for him to repeat the grade  and he missed all but five days.

His mother, a high school teacher, enlisted help: relatives, therapists, New Yorks crisis unit. But James just wanted to stay home. He's anxious because he knows he's behind, and he's lost his stamina.

Being around people all day in school and trying to act normal is tiring, said Kosek. She's more hopeful now that James has been accepted to a private residential school that specializes in students with autism.

Some students had chronic absences because of medical and staffing issues. Juan Ballina, 17, has epilepsy; a trained staff member must be nearby to administer medication in case of a seizure. But post-COVID-19, many school nurses retired or sought better pay in hospitals, exacerbating a nationwide shortage.

Last year, Juan's nurse was on medical leave. His school couldnt find a substitute. He missed more than 90 days at his Chula Vista, California, high school.

I was lonely, Ballina said. I missed my friends.

Last month, school started again. So far, Juan's been there, with his nurse. But his mom, Carmen Ballina, said the effects of his absence persist: He used to read a lot more. I dont think hes motivated anymore.

Another lasting effect from the pandemic: Educators and experts say some parents and students have been conditioned to stay home at the slightest sign of sickness.

Renee Slater's daughter rarely missed school before the pandemic. But last school year, the straight-A middle schooler insisted on staying home 20 days, saying she just didn't feel well.

As they get older, you cant physically pick them up into the car  you can only take away privileges, and that doesnt always work, said Slater, who teaches in the rural California district her daughter attends. She doesnt dislike school, its just a change in mindset."

Most states have yet to release attendance data from 2022-23, the most recent school year. Based on the few that have shared figures, it seems the chronic-absence trend may have long legs. In Connecticut and Massachusetts, chronic absenteeism remained double its pre-pandemic rate.

In Negrons hometown of Springfield, 39% of students were chronically absent last school year, an improvement from 50% the year before. Rates are higher for students with disabilities.

While Negron's son was out of school, she said, she tried to stay on top of his learning. Last year, she filed a complaint asking officials to give her son compensatory services and pay for him to attend a private special education school. The judge sided with the district.

Now, shes eyeing the new year with dread. Her son doesnt want to return. Negron wishes she could homeschool her sons, but she has to work and fears they'd suffer from isolation.

If I had another option, I wouldnt send them to school, she said.

As schools rely on tutoring to rebound from learning loss, finding tutors proves difficult As schools rely on tutoring to rebound from learning loss, finding tutors proves difficult
DUCHESNE, Utah  On plateaus overlooking the Uinta Basins hills of sandstone and sagebrush, pumpjacks bob their heads as they lift viscous black and yellow oil from the earth that will eventually make everything from fuel to polyester fabric.

To move fossil fuels from the Uinta Basins massive reserve to refineries around the country, officials in Utah and oil and gas companies are chugging along with a plan to invest billions to build an 88-mile rail line through national forest and tribal land that could quadruple production.

The Uinta Basin Railway would let producers, currently limited to tanker trucks, ship an additional 350,000 barrels of crude daily on trains up to 2 miles long. Backers say it would buoy the local economy and lessen American dependence on oil imports.

We still have a huge need for fuel and were not creating more capacity in the Gulf or anywhere in the United States, said Duchesne County Commissioner Greg Miles, who co-chairs a seven-county board spearheading the project.

The rail link has the support of the local Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah & Ouray Reservation and Utah lawmakers. The state has allocated more than $28 million to help launch the proposal and clear early permitting hurdles.

Its won key approvals from the federal Surface Transportation Board and U.S. Forest Service. But much like Alaskas Willow oil project, its progression through the permitting process could complicate President Joe Bidens standing among environmentally minded voters. President Biden addressed heat and climate change on a trip last week to Utah, Arizona and New Mexico.

Theyre not following their own policies, said Deeda Seed of the Center for Biological Diversity, one of several groups that has sued over the project. The worlds on fire. The Biden administration says they want to stop the harm. So far, theyre enabling a project that makes the fire even bigger.

The year ahead will likely be critical for the railroad as it seeks additional approvals from the Forest Service, Department of Transportation and Bureau of Indian Affairs. Completion could be years away and will require fending off fiscal, environmental and safety concerns.

Since an Ohio freight trains fiery derailment in February forced thousands to evacuate from the threat of hazardous chemicals, the specter of similar catastrophes has sown fear in neighboring Colorado, where Uinta Basin trains would eventually pass to reach refining hubs near the Gulf of Mexico. Worried about oil trains traversing their narrow canyons, Eagle County has joined environmentalists in suing over the preliminary federal approvals, and the states congressional delegation has pushed the Biden administration to stop the project.

These trains would run directly alongside the headwaters of the Colorado River  a vital water supply, U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet and U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse wrote in a letter last month about the route the trains would take when the new track connects to broader rail lines. An oil spill in the Colorado River headwaters would be catastrophic.

Most of the crude produced in the Uinta Basin currently makes its way to refineries via heated tanker trucks that traverse mountains on a two-lane highway. Transportation costs force producers to mainly sell their barrels to the five Salt Lake City-area refineries for significantly less than they could get bigger markets in Gulf states like Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

The railroad would start in the northern end of the Uinta Basin and run south to connect producers in Utahs Duchesne and Uintah counties  combined population 55,000  to the broader railroad network.

Were in a high basin, were surrounded by mountains, and trucking has its risks and costs. Its a lot more labor-intensive and you cant realistically truck a large amount of oil  50,000 or 100,000 barrels a day  all the way to east Texas, Reed Page, director of gas marketing operations for Summit Energy, said at a meeting this month of the states oil and mining department. But you can do that economically by rail.

Producers also argue it will eventually allow them to develop oil shale and tar sands oil that are currently too costly to pursue. Environmentalists have decried the potential impact of both, arguing they are more energy-intensive and dirtier than traditional crude.

The proposal has already won key federal agency approvals, including from the Surface Transportation Board. The U.S. Forest Service granted a 12-mile right-of-way through the Ashley National Forest, where three of the projects five tunnels would be dug into mountainsides.

Both supporters and opponents acknowledged that the rail line is years away even if financing is assured and all permits are obtained.

Once this rail is built, it will be there for 100 or 200 years. Whether or not oil will still be the major commodity in the basin, no one has a crystal ball. But that rail will still be there and can be utilized to ship whatever is needed, said Keith Heaton, the Seven County Infrastructure Coalitions Executive Director.

The Inflation Reduction Act's rollout is bringing green jobs across the USsee the projects happening near you The Inflation Reduction Act's rollout is bringing green jobs across the USsee the projects happening near you Projects are planned in over 30 different states Solar Wind Batteries Electric vehicles Semiconductors Other projects
REVIEW

Zach Bryan's alternative country roots shined during his sold out show Friday night at the BOK Center.

The Oologah-raised musician hadn't performed in Tulsa since 2021 when he sold out two nights at Cain's Ballroom.

Two years later Bryan sold out two nights at BOK Center, the first of which included a 23song set filled with classics, fan favorites, and an unreleased track from his upcoming album.

"It feels so good to be back where we all came from," said Bryan once he got on the stage.

Bryan entered through the audience, which from above looked like a sea of cowboy hats and denim. Fans swarmed the entry that he ran through, hoping to get closer to the star.

Bryan started his show with "Open the Gate," and looked pleasantly surprised as fans sang along, occasionally overpowering his voice.

Next was "Godspeed," a track from his debut album, which is a tribute to his mother who passed away in 2016. During the track Bryan stepped away from the mic, and looked as though he was trying not to cry. Fans filled in the lyrics, as Bryan looked out to the audience in awe.

"You guys have no idea how unbelievable this is for me," Bryan said at the conclusion of the song.

Throughout the set Bryan continually thanked the audience, who stayed engaged during the entire show. Fans traveled from across the globe to see Bryan, and they weren't letting their energy go to waste.

Those in the general admission area surrounded the circular stage Bryan and his band were on. Each section had a mic close to the edge, so Bryan could walk around the stage, giving his attention equally to all sections of the arena.

The arena was packed, and it was hard to spot an empty seat within the crowd. According to the BOK Center, around 36,000 tickets were sold for the Friday and Saturday shows combined.

Bryan's stage presence fit his personality. A man of not many words, he would say one or two sentences before introducing his next song.

"I haven't played (this) in ages; I saved it for you guys," Bryan said as he introduced the track "Oklahoma City." "I saved it for you guys, so if I mess up it's on the band, not me."

Once fans heard the title the roar of the crowd grew. The track, which mentions cities across the state, was sung along to by many, but as town names were called out, people would scream when they heard their home.

The show felt like a love letter to Oklahoma as Bryan crooned about his younger days in the state. Fans sang along, holding their beers high above them as if toasting Bryan for the music he shared.

Throughout the show, Bryan looked amazed that so many fans knew his lyrics, a good thing as his voice occasionally strained during the set. Band members sang along to some tracks, while playing traditional instruments, and a fiddle, banjo, and trumpet were present for some tracks as well.

After hyping up the crowd with higher energy tracks like "Oklahoma Smokeshow" and "The Good I'll Do," Bryan was ready to slow it down.

"I hope no one is in too good of a mood tonight," said Bryan. "I'm gonna ruin it for this one."

The first notes of Bryan's most popular track, "Something in the Orange," plays, and fans immediately turn on their phone flashlights. Some got creative enough to turn the light orange by placing their finger over the bulb.

As phone lights swayed in the air, fans sang along, but not as loudly as to other tracks played like "Snow," and his latest release, "Dawns."

After playing a few more tracks from his debut album "DeAnn," and latest album "American Heartbreak," Bryan decided to give the audience something new  a sneak peek into the album he's set to release August 25th.

For once no one was singing along, and just Bryan's voice filled the arena. "You can't buy where you're from," Bryan sang, his southern accent shining through. "You can fight your feelings and sell your guns, but you'll always be the Oklahoman son."

While the track title cannot be verified, many fans are calling it "Oklahoman Son," on set lists and in the popular Zach Bryan Fan Group on Facebook.

Bryan continually thanked the crowd throughout his show, often talking about how grateful he was to be home.

Bryan began to end the twohour set with fan favorites like "Heading South" and "Burn Burn Burn," the title track of the tour.

As the last song ended fans begged for him to play "Revival," a song he's known for ending all of his shows with. Yet Bryan doesn't placate them immediately, and chants for an encore grew louder and louder.

From screams and whistles, to claps and a "USA" chant, fans made enough noise to shake the building, all begging Bryan to return to the stage.

Guitar plucks began to play over the speakers, and the dark stage was lit once again. The crowd began to scream, almost deafening the beginning of the song.

Bryan and his band returned to the stage once again, and while "Revival" is usually a track where multiple guests come to the stage, Bryan kept it simple, inviting his opener Charles Wesley Godwin to the stage. His other opener, JR Carroll is already there, as he is part of Bryan's band.

Fans jumped up and down, screaming the lyrics to the track which talks about redemption and forgiveness. By the end of the song Bryan is on his knees, furiously playing the guitar for the crowd. Despite the concert ending a little before midnight, fans were high energy. Screaming along the lyrics and talking about how good the show was as they exited the arena.

"I think music is the most beautiful thing, bringing us all here to Tulsa," Bryan said during the show. "Cheers to you guys for bearing with us all night, and thanks to BOK for having us..."
A consortium of six Vietnamese enterprises has won a VND9-trillion (US$378.8 million) package to construct and install equipment at the T3 passenger terminal of Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City.

The Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) announced the results of the bidding package, with the winner being the consortium of Hanoi Construction Corporation, Construction Corporation No. 1 JSC, 319 Corporation, Truong Son Construction Corporation, Luu Nguyen Construction Co. Ltd., and Ricons Construction Investment JSC.

The consortium met all technical requirements for the package and offered a bidding price that was over VND22 billion ($930,544) lower than the estimated price.

The plan is to execute the package within 20 months from the date the investor starts work on the project and hands over the cleared site to the consortium, including weekends and holidays.

It means that the terminal could be put into operation by 2025.

Notably, among the six enterprises of the consortium, Hanoi Construction Corporation, Construction Corporation No. 1 JSC, and Ricons Construction Investment JSC also belong to the Vietur consortium led by Turkeys IC Holdings, which meets all technical requirements for package 5.10 worth over VND35.2 trillion ($1.5 billion) to construct the passenger terminal at Long Thanh International Airport in southern Dong Nai Province, about 40km from Ho Chi Minh City.

Ricons is part of an ecosystem of construction enterprises owned by Nguyen Ba Duong, a famed businessman in Vietnams construction sector.

The firm generated a net revenue of over VND2.1 trillion ($88.8 million) in the second quarter of this year, down 24 percent year on year, and a profit of over VND52 billion ($2.2 million), surging 90 percent.

Its net revenue and profit hit some VND3.8 trillion ($160.7 million) and VND68 billion ($2.9 million) in the first half of the year, respectively.

Meanwhile, Hanoi Construction Corporation under the Ministry of Construction has conducted many infrastructure projects.

Its net revenue fell 29 percent to reach VND901 billion ($38.1 million) in the first half of the year, while its profit plunged 76 percent to VND11 billion ($465,619).

Construction Corporation No. 1 JSC specializes in executing civil and industrial construction, infrastructure, and energy projects.

In the first six months of this year, the firm reported a net revenue of VND1.8 trillion ($76.2 million), a pre-tax profit of nearly VND19 billion ($803,758), and an after-tax profit of VND5.7 billion ($241,127).

Work began on the new T3 terminal of Tan Son Nhat International Airport, which requires a total estimated investment of nearly VND11 trillion ($466.8 million), in December last year.

Of the total capital, 70 percent will be sourced from the ACVs equity and the remaining from commercial loans.

An artists impression of the T3 passenger terminal at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City which is inspired by ao dai (Vietnamese traditional costume). Photo: ACV

The T3 terminal project includes three main components: a passenger terminal, a multi-story parking lot with non-aviation services, and a viaduct system that leads to the terminal.

The passenger terminal, covering a total floor area of 112,500 square meters, was designed to have a basement and four floors.

It will accommodate 90 counters, 20 automated baggage drop counters, 42 check-in kiosks, 27 doorways leading to aircraft, 16 baggage storage facilities, and 25 security gates.

The terminal will also have eight security gates and a lounge for VIP, business-class, and priority passengers.

It will have a capacity of 20 million passengers per year once completed, according to the ACV.

Earlier, the ACV announced that only Vietur met all of the technical requirements for package 5.10 of the Long Thanh International Airport project.

The Hoa Lu consortium led by Vietnamese construction firm Coteccons and the consortium of CHEC-BCEG-Vietnam Contractors led by China Harbour Engineering failed to meet the requirements.

The ACV will assess Vieturs financial plan for the package this month.

The Hoa Lu consortium later denounced the Vietur consortium for allegedly violating bidding regulations and failing to meet requirements of the tender package.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha later asked relevant agencies to review and resolve Hoa Lus complaint.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment also required the ACV to deal with the complaint while ensuring the progress of the project.

Le Viet Hai, chairman of Hoa Binh Group, a member of the Hoa Lu consortium, has directly filed the complaint to the lawmaking National Assembly.

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Many Thai giants have amassed a fortune in stock purchase and merger and acquisition (M&A) deals in Vietnam despite the challenging Vietnamese market.

They have reported hefty earnings from running companies, listing them on stock exchanges, and pouring billions of U.S. dollars to buy stocks from Vietnamese firms.

Binh Minh Plastic JSC, whose BMP stock is listed on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange, one of Vietnams leading plastics manufacturers, became a subsidiary of Nawaplastic Industries, a member of Thailands Siam Cement Group, in early 2018.

Nawaplastic raised its ownership in Binh Minh Plastic to 55 percent from nearly 50 percent in early 2023.

BMP has seen its profit trend up over the past few quarters.

Specifically, in the second quarter of 2023, the firm made VND294 billion (US$12.4 million) in after-tax profits, double the year-ago figure, marking the quarter in which BMP has earned the highest profit since it was taken over by the Thai firm.

BMP recorded an after-tax profit of VND575 billion ($24.2 million) in the first half of the year, increasing 2.2-fold year on year and reaching 88 percent of its full-year target.

Another M&A deal benefiting a Thai investor is Bien Hoa Packaging JSCs divestment.

TCG Solutions Pte, a subsidiary of Thailand's conglomerate Siam Cement Group, owned a 94-percent stake in the Vietnamese packaging company in late 2020.

In the second quarter of 2023, Bien Hoa Packaging reported VND387 billion ($16.3 million) in net revenue, down 25 percent year on year due to dipping costs of goods sold, but its after-tax profit amounted to VND38.5 billion ($1.6 million), up 20 percent from the year-ago period.

The firm made VND68 billion ($2.9 million) in after-tax profits in the first half of the year, a 13-percent year-on-year rise.

Among the big M&A deals was Thailands ThaiBev spending $5 billion acquiring a 53.59-percent stake in Saigon Beer-Alcohol- Beverage Corporation (Sabeco) through Vietnam Beverage Co. Ltd. in 2017.

Over the past few years, the governments Decree 100 strictly banning drink-driving and the COVID-19 pandemic have affected Sabecos business operations.

The firms revenue reached VND14.62 trillion ($615.5 million) between January and June, down 11 percent year on year.

However, Sabeco is listed among the firms with strong cash flows, depositing trillions of Vietnam dong into bank accounts. The firm gained interest of VND684 billion ($28.8 million) in the first half of the year.

Besides, Thailand-invested C.P Vietnam is holding a big stake in Sao Ta Foods JSC, while Ngoc Nghia Industry - Service - Trading JSC was taken over by Indorama Netherlands, a subsidiary of Thailands leading Indorama Ventures, last year.

Siam Brothers Vietnam, which trades its SBV stock on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange, is one of a few listed foreign-invested firms in Vietnam.

Founded in 1995, SBV, invested in by Thailands Siam Brother Group, started listing on the stock exchange in 2017.

Specializing in producing ropes, twines, and nets for fishermen, Siam Brothers Vietnam has made hundreds of billions of Vietnam dong in revenue since 2016.

The firm earned over VND100 billion ($4.2 million) in before-tax profits per year in 2016 and 2017.

However, after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, its profit has trended down.

The company obtained some VND104 billion ($4.38 million) in revenue in the second quarter of 2023, but it recorded an after-tax loss of VND7.7 billion ($324,140), according to its recent financial statement.

The firm reported a consolidated revenue of VND195 billion ($8.2 million) and a loss after tax at VND18.2 billion ($766,150) in the first half of the year.

Veerapong Sawaytyanon, chairman of the firm, said that the local fishery market is facing several difficulties and the company has boosted its export to beef up sales.

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Some young Vietnamese people have opted to return to Vietnam for higher education after many years of studying overseas.

In early August, Sombatla Truc Deydeepya Lakshmi and her family members visited the Ho Chi Minh City University of Information Technology under the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City to conduct university admission procedures.

Lakshmis father is Qatari and her mother is Vietnamese.

Lakshmi has lived in several nations such as Qatar and India since she was young.

However, when she started to look for a university, she decided to go back to Vietnam for a bachelors degree.

Experiencing Vietnamese culture

Truong Quoc Dung, an employee at the student support center of the university, said that Lakshmi will major in information technology and take a 3.5-year transnational education program jointly run by the university and Britains Birmingham City University.

Lakshmi is living with her mother in Vietnam to experience her motherlands culture.

The prestigious transnational education program taught in English encourages Lakshmis family to allow her to study in Vietnam rather than other nations.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Thi Thuy Hang will return to Vietnam for the 2023-24 academic year at a university nearly 10 years after she started studying in France.

Hang left her homeland for France when she was 12 years old.

She went to university in France last year, majoring in interior design. However, Hang decided to come back to Vietnam to continue her higher education.

She will study at Hoa Sen University in Ho Chi Minh City for interior design. Vietnamese is mainly used during the university program.

Nguyen Thi Thuy Hang (R) talks to Associate Professor Dr. Vo Thi Ngoc Thuy, president of Hoa Sen University in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Supplied

Attractive international academic curricula

Over the past few years, many universities in Ho Chi Minh City have adopted enrollment methods based on international certificates, with the combination between English certifications such as IELTS and TOEFL, and school reports.

The University of Economics and Law under the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City set a target of 10 percent of enrollees for this method last year.

Vietnam saw a wave of students returning for higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In mid-July, 2020, the Ministry of Education and Training sent a dispatch to universities nationwide asking them to admit overseas Vietnamese and international students who failed to continue their higher education due to the pandemic.

Most of these students chose universities offering academic programs taught in English, or featuring majors that they studied overseas, said Associate Professor Dr. Tran Tien Khoa, president of the International University under the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City.

Now, many students who tend to return to Vietnam for higher education prefer a transnational academic program to a Vietnamese course, as a degree granted by a foreign university is more attractive to them.

Potential barriers

Language is seen as a disadvantage for those who return to Vietnam for higher education, said Truong Quoc Dung.

Though all lessons are taught in English, many extracurricular activities, teamwork programs, and clubs are carried out in Vietnamese.

It will take these students time to get acquainted with the new environment.

For example, Lakshmi can understand Vietnamese, but she cannot speak the language.

Dung said that Lakshmi will be supported via student activities to assimilate into the new climate.

Meanwhile, Thuy Hang finds it hard to get used to the social environment in Vietnam.

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JAKARTA -- Indonesia is prioritising safety ahead of the planned commercial launch of its China-funded $7.3 billion high-speed railway, its transport minister said on Friday - addressing concerns about a project already years behind schedule.

A flagship project of President Joko Widodo and part of China's Belt and Road Initiative, the 142-kilometer (88-mile) railway connecting Jakarta to the city of Bandung was originally set to be completed by 2019.

But it has been beset by problems, including delays due to land procurement issues, the COVID-19 pandemic and a $1.2 billion cost overrun.

The consortium of Indonesian and Chinese state companies building the railway, PT KCIC, earlier this week postponed a planned free trial run by about two weeks to September 1 to ensure safety.

It continues to aim for a commercial launch on October 1, but Transport Minister Budi Karya Sumadi told Reuters in an interview that these dates are not set in stone.

"The president told me not to rush it. He knows that the number one priority is safety...this is the first (high-speed train) in Indonesia and ASEAN, and it has an advanced technology so we have to be careful," Budi said, referring to the Association of South East Asian Nations.

His ministry is currently doing safety tests, the minister said, while underscoring the complexity of the project.

Last month, Chinese President Xi Jinping told President Widodo during the Indonesian leader's trip to China that both countries must ensure the project adheres to high standards as it nears completion.

"Any delay will mean delayed income (for project operator) and there will be consequences to financial ratios. But we as technical people think safety is paramount, and the president has considered all consequences," Budi said.

KCIC is already struggling to deal with the project's cost overrun, especially as one of the consortium members, Indonesia's construction firm PT Wijaya Karya, is facing its own debt troubles.

Negotiations for an additional $560 million loan from the Chinese Development Bank are underway to complete the remaining construction.

Given the rising cost, there have been concerns that ticket prices will have to be set high to ensure investment returns.

Budi said the train fare would be set at 250,000-300,000 rupiah ($16.44-$19.72) - below the 350,000 rupiah estimate without government intervention - with the leader of the consortium, Indonesian railway firm PT Kereta Api Indonesia, expected to subsidise prices.

Still, that would be twice the price travellers now pay for a trip between the two cities aboard a regular train.

"We hope with the subsidy, the economical price will be near the price that the passengers are willing to pay," Budi said.

($1 = 15,210.0000 rupiah)
The flow of a stream of sludge from a copper ore processing plant in Lao Cai Province, northern Vietnam into the environment has raised concerns over water and soil pollution.

Thousands of cubic meters of water and sludge from copper ore processing barreled through Ta Phoi Commune in Lao Cai City of Lao Cai Province on August 8.

The wastewater inundated 46 houses and five hectares of crops, and rushed toward a local stream within a couple of hours.

Tran Van Hung, chairman of the Ta Phoi Peoples Committee, said the flowing was caused by the breakage of a reservoir owned by Ta Phoi Copper Company. The firm has already deployed vehicles and personnel to repair the reservoir.

The Lao Cai Peoples Committee blamed torrential rain for the breakage, adding that the exact amount of damage incurred is being evaluated.

Pham Van Son, director of the Vietnam Environmental Incident Response Center, said that what happened was a 'serious environmental incident' and an analysis of the sludge samples needs to be done to determine the level of its toxicity.

Crops are buried in ore processing sludge in Ta Phoi Commune, Lao Cai City, Lao Cai Province, northern Vietnam. Photo: Hoang Bach / Tuoi Tre

The stream flew around 20 kilometers away from the Red River, which courses through nine provinces and cities in the northern region.

Son said that rehabilitating the affected areas of crops, ponds, and lakes presents considerable challenges.

He explained that the sludge from the company contains heavy metals and other chemicals, and once it enters the environment, there would be no way to completely clean them.

These substances would seep into the ground and may contaminate groundwater sources, and part of them may dissipate into the air.

Son added it would be impractical to remove millions of cubic meters of contaminated soil.

Ore processing sludge floods a stream in Ta Phoi Commune, Lao Cai City, Lao Cai Province, northern Vietnam. Photo: Danh Khang / Tuoi Tre

In addition, the consequences arising from the visible sludge-covered areas will pale in comparison to the effects of the waste released into rivers and streams.

This could potentially have repercussions for humans through the usage of surface water, leading to the contamination of aquatic resources, microorganisms, and water utilized for agricultural purposes, he said.

According to him, the predominant approach to treating surface water at present is centered around disinfection through the utilization of substances like alum, but this method lacks the capacity to effectively counteract or eliminate chemicals and toxins.

Therefore, it is necessary to conduct extensive and prolonged observations across multiple regions to comprehensively evaluate the scope and impact, rather than solely focusing on the vicinity of the Ta Phoi copper mining facility, said Son.

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Screenworks is calling for expressions of interest from regionally based crew who are ready to step up into more senior crew roles.

Screenworks is implementing a Set for Success initiative which will support the skills development of regional film and television crew to help them advance their careers.

We see regional practitioners as part of the solution to increasing the skills and capacity of film and television crew in Australia, said Screenworks CEO Lisa OMeara. We are calling for regional crew who are keen to train into more senior roles, we are working with a range of production companies and we have world class practitioners as mentors. The calibre of our mentors will ensure that we are providing the highest possible standard of on the job training, adding strength to the industry.

Recent industry analysis by Ausfilm and Screen Producers Australia has identified skills gaps and crew shortages across Australia, as a result film and television crew members are being pushed into more senior crew roles before they are sufficiently trained. There is a recognised need for mentoring, guidance and onset training to support crew to confidently step up into more senior roles on set. Screenworks Set for Success program will help build the skill sets required by experienced senior crew by training and upskilling regional practitioners to help address the national shortages and build industry capacity.

How it will work:

Screenworks Set for Success will support regional crew to step up into senior crew roles with the help of trained and experienced mentors.

Screenworks Set for Success has a network of highly skilled mentors across different on set departments, ensuring the training provided will be of the highest calibre. Screenworks has partnered with Creative Plus Business who will run a train the trainer program to ensure the mentors have the skills and techniques required to guide the crew who are training into more senior roles.

Screenworks are calling for expressions of interest from regionally based crew who are ready to step up into a new role on set. You must have sufficient experience in your current role. If successful Screenworks will find a production for you to work on and provide a highly experienced mentor to help set you up for success in the position. The mentor will work with you for one week in pre production and one week of shoot, and you will have access to the mentor for up to four weeks.

screenworks.com.au/learn/set-for-success
The systemic 'redlining' of free speech  violating foundational civil rights

By Mark Alexander

web posted August 14, 2023

The political consequences of the January 6, 2021 Capitol protests and riot, and the political theatrics of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's "insurrection investigation committee, had a significant and calculated impact on the 2022 midterm elections, and will be a factor in the 2024 presidential election if Donald Trump is the nominee.

Democrats in the executive and legislative branches and their bureaucratic legions used that disgraceful incident as a catalyst to shift their allied media cancel culture agenda into high gear, empowering Big Tech to use that riot as a smokescreen to unleash a surge of suppression and purges across various social media platforms.

The First Amendment states plainly: "Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech, or the press." But Demos have done just that by passing laws protecting Big Tech media platforms from liability associated with doing their political bidding  silencing their opponents.

What started as a trickle turned into a flood, first with the Facebook and Twitter cancellations of Donald Trump's accounts, which severed his ties with almost 90 million followers. Mark Zuckerberg claimed that his Facebook and Instagram applications will be blocking Trump indefinitely: "We believe the risks of allowing the President to continue to use our service during this period are simply too great." A day later, Twitter also canceled Trump. (Remember when Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey insisted, "Twitter stands for freedom of expression"?)

No word on when they will be blocking the accounts of leftists who have been serially guilty of violating the same platform policies they insist Trump violated.

The model for controlling media news coverage was the Demos' social and mass media collusion to defeat Trump in November  most notably the massive and unprecedented coordinated cover-up of Joe Biden's indisputably corrupt ChiCom dealings in the weeks ahead of the 2020 election. Only after the election, when it was safe to reveal the truth, did Leftmedia platforms begrudgingly and quietly admit that the evidence they suppressed before the election was factual.

Recall that in the two weeks before the presidential election, Facebook and Twitter blacked out user references to a New York Post story connecting Hunter and Joe Biden in a quid pro quo with corrupt Ukraine officials.

As I have previously detailed, Democrats attempted to impeach Trump for what Joe Biden actually did in a shady influence scam with Ukrainian officials. In 2018, Biden bragged on the record about how, in 2015 as VP, he coerced Ukrainian officials to fire the prosecutor who was hot on the trail of Burisma and Hunter Biden  a firing that even The New York Times acknowledged benefited Hunter Biden.

As Biden recounted, if Ukrainian officials didn't "take action against the state prosecutor" [read: fire him], "I said ... 'We're not going to give you the billion dollars. ... I'm telling you, you're not getting the billion dollars.' ... Well, son of a b**ch. He got fired." We now know that coerced firing not only took the heat off Hunter Biden, who was taking millions in a pay-to-play scheme, but his Burisma buddies were friends with the replacement prosecutor. We also know that the massive cover-up regarding Hunter Biden's laptop, which contained all the evidence, was completely contrived by a cadres of Trump/Russia collusion conspirators.

But the public knew none of this ahead of the 2020 election because of a massive effort to suppress the truth.

(For the record, on behalf of Twitter's disgraceful blackout, a month after the election CEO Jack Dorsey admitted, "Our communication around our actions on the New York Post article was not great. And blocking URL sharing via tweet or DM with zero context as to why we're blocking: unacceptable. ... Straight blocking of URLs was wrong, and we updated our policy and enforcement to fix. Our goal is to attempt to add context, and now we have capabilities to do that." Too little, too late.)

Further, regarding the claim that Trump's now rhetorical claims that the election was "stolen" were grounds for canceling social media accounts, then why was Nancy Pelosi not canceled in 2017 after posting this comment on social media? "Our election was hijacked," she asserted. "There is no question." Her post included the hashtag "ProtectOurDemocracy." Democrats have repeated that theme ad nauseam over the last four years, but with no takedowns.

I should note here that Trump's list of grievances about why he lost the election obscure the real reason he lost  the Democrats' bulk-mail balloting fraud. Counting bulk-mail ballots without authenticating who submitted those ballots, combined with the systemic suppression of conservative views, are two very powerful tools to achieve perpetual Democrat control.

So, how does all of this media manipulation add up to a violation of foundational civil rights?

The most recent Big Tech bans were the proverbial "tip of the iceberg." These leftist-controlled platforms have launched a much broader purge of conservative organizations and affiliates, and that now includes Big Tech collusion between Apple, Google, and Amazon to shut down or severely restrict the reach of conservative views and organizations.

Remember in 2016, when the mainstream media eagerly lapped up the claim by the Obama/Clinton co-conspirators and their deep state operatives that Russia had something on Trump?

The Left's shadow banning, canceling and de-platforming frenzy, their systemic suppression of free speech, is a collusion between the Demos and their Leftmedia "fact-checkers," and it constitutes the most insidious and least visible means of digital "redlining" of free speech. In this case the "redlining" selectively prohibits or restricts the expression of free speech that the platforms and its surrogates find undesirable. In reality, many of their so-called "fact-checkers" are actually fact-blockers, who help the Left propagate their own politically motivated disinformation while claiming to "check" disinformation. And they have deployed a broader censorship facade under the auspices of identifying "false and misleading" information.

In effect, they are aggressively suppressing speech that does not comport with their leftist political agenda while simultaneously promoting that agenda.

Now, social media "fact-checkers" have deployed a catch-all method for suppressing free speech, the ubiquitous claim that a quote or post is "missing context" prompting blackout, removal, and account penalties against conservative media outlets, including The Patriot Post. And we have no recourse to end the deliberate "shadow banning" of our content on social media  severely limiting our content reach to our followers on their platforms, despite the fact those followers have deliberately selected to see our content  and despite the fact their "fact-checks" fail fact-check scrutiny.

Here's what you need to know about the Demo/Leftmedia/Big Tech efforts to cancel conservative voices, in violation of our most foundational civil rights.

First, Democrats understand that conservative censorship and purges by Big Tech play right into their political favor. Regarding the prospect of any meaningful congressional regulation regarding the suppression of free speech, in June 2020, Trump issued an executive order on Section 230 in an attempt to address abuse of that provision by social media platforms. Trump's order clarified the existing rules and called for the Federal Communications Commission to engage in greater enforcement and oversight in order to end the abuse of Section 230's provision that has allowed social media companies to censor content using the dubiously defined decency rules with no recourse for those being censored. Of course, Biden dispensed with that EO (already erased from the White House website).

But Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 stipulates, "No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider."

In 1996, when we launched The Patriot Post online, there were no social media platforms, and once they appeared, it took them more than a decade to begin implementing methods that would ultimately result in the systemic suppression of free speech. The irony is that our founding objective online was to bypass the leftist legacy media's stranglehold on public opinion, and to achieve this on what was then a new and very promising free speech alternative, the Web. But today, that alternative has also been pirated by the Left in its never-ending effort to control the political and cultural narrative.

That was the same year Fox News was founded on cable networks, and a few years after Rush Limbaugh had launched into radio networks.

As noted, with the rise of leftist-controlled platforms came systemic censorship and suppression of opposing views by social media platforms in concert with Leftmedia outlets and even leftist-controlled search engines. That suppression of free speech clearly poses a direct threat to our Constitution's assurance of fundamental civil liberties and, thus, it is an enormous and perilous violation of our civil rights. Free speech abridgment has now spread far and wide, having been accelerated during the Trump years.

Democrats have orchestrated some legislative charades, colluding with the Big Tech giants to appear they are reining in that censorship, but that appearance is a deception. As I have argued previously, Democrats will use any Big Tech legislative regulation to further empower censorship of conservative views. The Big Tech platforms are assured of no meaningful Demo challenges to their Section 230 privileges and protections, and they will not be subjected to congressional anti-trust hearings and litigation.

Second, and of more grave significance, the mass and social media assault on free speech constitutes an abject civil rights violation of First Amendment assurances guaranteed to all Americans  and a model for the coming civil rights violations of the Second Amendment.

When Americans are targeted because of our constitutionally protected political and/or religious views, leading to coordinated shadow banning of free speech, or deplatforming individuals or organizations, and in some cases defunding those individuals and groups when financial institutions selectively refuse services, that constitutes a digital form of "redlining" in violation of the most fundamental of civil rights. Without a Republican gauntlet, the surge in the systemic redline suppression of cvil rights by institutions will continue unabated  and at present few Republicans sufficiently understand the enormous impact of this background suppression being used by social media giants.

If Republican legislators truly understood the threat of speech suppression by the Demos' Leftmedia and Big Tech platforms, and the significant implications for undermining free and fair elections, they would aggressively pass into law regulations that could immediately curb social media data mining as a pathway to also ensuring limits on suppression of free speech.

Clearly, seeking a legal remedy is now the only option. The Big Tech social and medial platforms will, in concert with Democrats, vigorously defend their practice of suppressing the rights of others. Whether or not the Supreme Court will take on social media redlining of free speech will depend on establishing standing for advancing civil or legal cases asserting this collective violation of our civil rights, and The Patriot Post is in the process of formulating a test case.

Let me be clear about this: When commercial social media companies or their "fact-check" cadres target individuals and groups on their platforms because the expression of certain views don't comport with that company's views or those of their "arbiters of truth," that is an open violation of that individual's or group's civil rights. The shadow banning of content is invisible to social media users who endeavor to follow other individuals or groups, and it is a far more egregious impact on suppression of civil rights than the highly visible deplatforming of high-profile individuals.

While all the congressional focus is on Big Tech high-profile bans, there is virtually no congressional focus on the invisible shadow banning  which is a much more effective means of suppression of free speech, and by a magnitude of 100 more consequential.

As you know, financial institutions once used redlining to ensure that Black citizens desiring to live in certain areas did not get loans. This coordinated systemic discrimination excluded financial and other services based on race and ethnicity rather than one's particular merits for receiving services, an abject civil rights violation.

Beyond the institutional digital discrimination of free speech, financial redlining has reemerged.

Barack Obama's leftists attempted financial institution redlining in their 2012 "Operation Chokepoint" strategy of using political pressure to "encourage" banks to withdraw any financing for gun manufacturers, a measure the Trump administration stopped. However, some financial institutions continued the practice using alternate justifications. Now, the Biden/Harris regime is undoing the Trump administration's "Fair Access to Financial Services" rule, and you can expect the institutional redlining against the Second Amendment to resume with a vengeance.

However, the institutional discrimination against individuals is expanding unabated, this time in stark violation of our fundamental rights to free speech. When commercial institutions, including social media platforms, discriminate against Americans because of our views, despite the fact we meet the same qualifications as others being served, that constitutes a brazen violation of our civil rights. The "private company" defense for discrimination did not apply in racial redlining and does not apply now.

When considering the Big Tech and Wall Street assault on freedom of speech, religion, the press, and assembly  and the coming assault on the Second Amendment, the "palladium of the rights of the Republic"  understand that this is the Left's latest discriminatory version of redlining.

So egregious is this collective assault on freedom of speech that even the American Civil Liberties Union is taking note. The ACLU's legislative counsel, Kate Ruane, protested: "It should concern everyone when companies like Facebook and Twitter wield the unchecked power to remove people from platforms that have become indispensable for the speech of billions  especially when political realities make those decisions easier."

In fact, it should concern all conservatives and Republican legislators more than anyone else, but most of those legislators are oblivious to the threat.

I would not hold your breath waiting on the ACLU to go after the First Amendment redliners for civil rights violations.

Notably, deplatforming concerns have also prompted The Patriot Post to reluctantly remove the comments page hosted on our site because if a leftist pretending to be a "Trump supporter" posts something advocating violence or insurrection, a "false flag" attack on our site, we could then suffer the consequences of that post by being deplatformed by social media.

To fully understand the impact of social media suppression of free speech, currently The Patriot Post has more than 750,000 active followers on Facebook who have selected to see content from our Facebook page, but because of shadow banning based on absurd claims about infractions, only a tiny percentage of those followers are seeing our content. We have these claimed infractions and suppression of our content fully documented.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, and their Democrat Party leftists, are the primary benefactors of the Leftmedia and Big Tech suppression of free speech  making support for that suppression a key component of their strategy to establish a permanent Demo majority. Systemic institutional redlining by media platforms is the most perilous overt corporate threat to Liberty in the history of our nation.

Thus, expect the acceleration of this unlawful redline purge to continue. They know that the Big Tech purges are the best way to advance their deceptive BIG Lie political agendas.

(Update: As Nate Jackson reports in subsequent analysis on who censors what you read and how it is presented, the Left has significantly expanded its subversive efforts to suppress free speech.)

Mark Alexander is the executive editor of the Patriot Post.
Foreign Correspondent is screening an exclusive with secret interviews from inside Irans protest movement.

Almost a year since widespread protests erupted on the streets of Iran, young dissidents who continue to defy the countrys repressive regime, have participated in secretly recorded interviews with Foreign Correspondent.

The protest movement was sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini who died in custody after being arrested by the morality police for wearing her hijab too loosely.

Inspired and led by women, who took off their hijabs in solidarity with Mahsa, the protests gripped the nation for months. The regimes response was swift and brutal: protestors were beaten, imprisoned and executed. The crowds dissipated but the mood for change did not.

For months Foreign Correspondent has been communicating via encrypted messaging apps with young Iranians who are still involved with Irans protest movement. Despite the risks they agreed to be interviewed to tell their personal stories, share their acts of defiance and reflect on the huge price they have paid in their fight for freedom. Each one of them wants the world to know what is happening inside Iran. In the words of one young protestor:

This is my direct message to friends within Iran and outside of Iran who think these protests have ended. Friends, it has just started
As Kitchen Cabinet returns to screens, a whopping 7 years after Annabel Crabb last brough dessert to the table, our trusty host / interviewer is no less enthusiastic about what the informal format elicits from her next politicians.

Pull up a chair Peter Dutton. Spill your guts Linda Burney. Pass the sauce Anika Wells.

8 more politicians are ready to be grilled while grilling dinner, but always with a friendly smile from the inquisitive Crabb in her fashionably fine outfits.

Kitchen Cabinet is never going to be a substitute for a crunchy, boot-on-throat interview by Sarah Feguson. But its a good companion piece, because it allows you to see how people behave, when theyre having a friendly conversation with a guest in their home, she tells TV Tonight.

Sometimes the things that theyll let slip during those conversations are as revealing as the things that theyll have dragged out of them by a hard news interviewer.

The reason for that is that people relax. They kind of forget theyre in an interview format and thats what Im trying to do with every fibee of my being while Im in their homes. That includes things like having 4 cameras, so that we dont have to stop and start and say, Can you say that again? I never take my notes into the interview because I dont want to remind them that this is actually an interview not just two people sitting around playing pasta.

Revelations in every episode

Also featuring this season are former Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews, Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie, Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John and Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe.

There are revelations in every episode and part of the reason for that is that the people were talking to have all had really different paths into politics. I remember when I was making Kitchen Cabinet years ago, youd always run into a bunch of people who went to university, get involved in student politics, got a job as a staffer in both both major parties its a really common way of getting into politics. Hardly anyone in this series got into politics that way, she remarks.

The most interesting thing is that a lot of people in this series have had really significant trauma or misfortune in their early lives. What I find really fascinating is seeing how that influences their behaviour, their decisions and their priorities as adults and as politicians. That to me is the sort of through line of this whole series.

Linda Burney speaks about being raised as a half-black, half-white child by elderly relatives in a country town in the 1950s. Peter Dutton speaks about his parents divorce and being a single father durng his first term and a lengthy stint in the Queensland Police Force.

He had a number of shocking experiences there, which I think has massively influenced the way he is in politics, Crabb concludes.

I think thats central to his black and white view of who is the good guy and his bad guy in politics and in the community. Thats absolutely at the heart of what makes him make these, sometimes very divisive calls, particularly around race.

I never go into these trying to make excuses for people. All Im doing ever is just finding out more information about this person who makes big decisions on all of our behalf. To me thats never a waste of time.

So was the Opposition Leader looking to soften his image with an appearance on the ABC series? You bet, but he had also flagged interest when in government.

He was always keen to come on the show, she insists. I remember him raising it with me years ago when we were making The House. But now he is the Opposition Leader so he was one of the first people I asked. This show works best when you see someone that you think you know, because youve seen them be a certain way on television. But when you see them at home, you realise there are other things about them that are surprising. In this series, the two most fascinating episodes on that count, would be Peter Dutton and Lidia Thorpe.

One thing that people wouldnt know about him is that hes incredibly shy, which is very weird. You can see it on camera. He is awkward in this circumstance, which is more personal and warm than press conferences where he seems absolutely bulletproof.

I think people would be surprised by his sense of humour. Now, I dont mean that to suggest that this show part of a campaign to humanise Peter Dutton, which he obviously has said he wants to do in the past.

Hes got a specific aim with this show which is Show a different side of myself'

Hes got a specific aim with this show which is Show a different side of myself and thats, I assume, why he answers questions on things that hes never answered before  like his early marriage, becoming a single father in his first term parliament. He had a one year old daughter when he married his second wife. I think that these things have been private his whole life, but hes sort of opened up about those speed bumps in his life, which I found interesting.

Shes a great sample of person cooking a spectacular dish that means a lot to them

Crabb believes the series also sings when viewers, and consequently the electorate, discover someone they knew little about, with episode one profiling Western Sydney Independent Dai Le.

Shes a great sample of person cooking a spectacular dish that means a lot to them, and telling their life story while theyre at it. Dai Le is also a really good demonstration of what happens when major parties take whole communities for granted, she adds.

The whole reason she is there in that seat is because both major parties kind of stuffed up their handling of the preselections around that seat.

After the 2022 election the Parliament is the most diverse weve ever had in this country. Thats why it seems a pity not to put all these interesting people on TV.

I mean, no matter how many cartwheels I do, or how nice the desserts are with if theyre the same old, same old politicians its not interesting. But this series is absolutely hands down the best weve ever made.

Kitchen Cabinet returns 8pm tonight on ABC.
SWNS

A young woman has proudly spoken of her amazing tattoo which covers her entire back and bum - but is completely invisible from the front. Alexandra Cornish, 24, opted to get a unique back tattoo - which spans her entire back, bum and the back of her thighs. A tattoo artist herself, Alexandra, from Hillarys, Perth, Australia, took inspiration from Japanese 'bodysuit' tattoos. She got the 3,000 ink done over NINE sessions in a year, taking more than 50 hours to complete in total. The tattoo centres around Princess Wakana and also features flowers, skulls and spiders on a spider web background. She loves seeing people's reactions when they see her from the front, with no visible ink - then she turns around. Alexandra, who is currently living with her partner in Singapore, said: "I never looked at myself originally with a big back piece. "But traditionally with Japanese back pieces, they're supposed to tell the story of the rest of your body and all images link to the back and I liked that. "When people say the back is quite painful, I didnt find it too bad. My waist and tailbone hurt though. "Tattoos like this are designed to be hidden under clothes - and it's good I can have it hidden. "I love having it on display though. I love the contrast of not looking tattooed from the front, but having a heavy back piece. "I do notice people staring when I'm out - but I take no offence. "I put 50 hours into it - I don't care who looks!" Alexandra had two tattoos but nothing on her back when she first reached out to tattoo artist Dan Molloy, based in Perth, Western Australia in January 2021. She already knew him from a previous tattoo he did for her and she feels he is "one of the best artists" in Australia. Initially unsure what she wanted, they came up with an idea around Princess Wakana, the beautiful daughter of Lord Otomo no Sorin, a Japanese feudal lord of the 1500s. She studied magic and had a special connection with spiders which taught her magic spells, according to Japanese art from the 1800s. Alexandra said: "I told Dan I wanted a woman that wasnt too feminine, but nothing too intense, and he suggested Wakana. "Originally I didn't like spiders and I wasn't inclined, but I have always liked magic and fantasy, so I went with it." She explained these back pieces normally only cover the back when done on men because they have broader shoulders. But due to her feminine proportions, it made more sense for the design to stretch lower, and cover her entire bum and the tops of her thighs. Alexandra's first session took place in September 2021. She had to fly to and from Dan's studio Kurikara Fudo Tattoo in Perth from where she was living in Surry Hills, Sydney at the time. The entire tattoo took nine sessions - with some as long as eight hours in one go - and the entire piece took 50 hours to complete. She said: "When people say the back is quite painful, I didnt find it too bad. "Certain parts were better than others. The shoulders, I found so easy. "But I didnt like my waist or ribs. The worst part was the very bottom, my tailbone. "People say the butt is sore but I found that and my thighs ok - I was expecting it to be worse. "The hardest thing was the bruising when travelling for the days after." By August 2022 her back was completed - delayed by travel restrictions in Sydney due to local Covid outbreaks. Since then, she has proudly showed off her unique ink and loves it. While her parents weren't originally big tattoo fans, now they see it as "art" - although not everyone agrees. Alexandra said: "A comment that irks me is 'I like it but I wouldnt get it' - I just dont really care. "It's not on their body! "The way mine is, and where it is a whole design, it looks like art. "Someone else commented that I'm beautiful but the tattoos ruined me. "Someone once asked if I'm worried that men won't be attracted to me - but then why would I be attracted to them? I'm a tattoo artist! "Ten out of ten times someone approaches me, it's about my tattoo - I get it in clubs, the gym, the shop, cafes, everywhere." She said she loves surprising people - who don't expect her to have ink on her back after seeing her from the front. She said: "Personality wise I am friendly and bubbly, I dont have a face where I look like I'll be heavily tattooed. "Its a good contrast. "I still like the look of being heavily tattooed, I love that look, as a tattooer myself. "But for me personally I am not at a point yet where I want that next step. "For now, I'm very content with the 'shock factor'".
Chief Constable Simon Byrne provides an update on the PSNI data breach. Photo: Matt Mackey/Presseye

Last week the police service revealed that the names of about 10,000 officers and staff had been mistakenly released in response to a routine Freedom of Information request.

Details released include the surname and first initial of every employee, their rank or grade, where they are based and the unit they work in.

On Monday evening, Simon Byrne said the dissident republicans are now expected to use the information to generate fear and uncertainty among police officers and staff.

PSNI chief constable Simon Byrne. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

We are obviously investigating where we think this leak went but weve said from last week there was an assumption that this would get into the wrong hands, and were now just confirming that, he said.

Mr Byrne paid tribute to all of his staff for demonstrating tremendous resolve and resilience in recent days, and said their safety and welfare remains the top priority.

He said: Weekend events have shown their determination to stick to our values and continue to serve the public with commitment and professionalism. We have been strongly supported by a range of cyber specialists from across the policing system in dealing with this unprecedented incident.

We have measures in place to reassure and advise our workforce of what this risk means for them. We will continue to liaise with the policing board and the UK Government as well as other partners as we develop our response to this matter.

On Monday morning, Sinn Feins Gerry Kelly said a copy of a document was posted overnight on a wall close to the Sinn Fein office on the Falls Road.

Mr Kelly said it included information about a substantial number of police officers and staff, although their names had been redacted.

Responding to that development, Assistant Chief Constable Chris Todd confirmed that an investigation has begun, and said: We are aware that some redacted information from the Tuesday August 8 data breach has allegedly been posted on a wall in west Belfast today, Monday August 14.

Story continues

Last Wednesday it emerged that the theft of documents, including a spreadsheet containing the names of more than 200 serving officers and staff, and a police issue laptop and radio, from a car in Newtownabbey in July, is also being investigated.

Following Mondays press conference at police headquarters, the chair of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, Liam Kelly, urged all police officers and staff to exercise maximum vigilance.

Mr Kelly said: Since this major data breach, and subsequent breach, the PSNI was operating on a working hypothesis that the information on all police officers and staff would end up in the hands of dissidents and organised criminals.

The chief constables announcement therefore comes as no great surprise. However, it makes it all the more imperative for each and every colleague to exercise maximum vigilance. We must do all we can to frustrate and prevent attacks on our colleagues and their families.

Mr Kelly added: Our men and women are resilient and resourceful. They must call on all their training and professionalism to counter this ugly consequence of a monumental data breach.

Even though we believed from the outset the data would find its way into the hands of people intent on murdering or maiming our colleagues, it is obviously a deeply worrying development.

We have to be strong and determined to do everything we can to minimise risk and that means varying the routes we take to and from work, changing routines and re-assessing our personal security both on and off duty.

We can thwart the consequences of the violent dissident threat and rhetoric, but it will require an all-out effort by each and every one of us.


Andy Murray in action Credit: Alamy

Andy Murray has been restored to Great Britains Davis Cup team as they take on Australia, France and Switzerland in Manchester next month.

Murray, who was integral to Britain ending a 79-year wait for glory in the team competition as they triumphed in 2015, was left out of the squad for the rubber against Colombia in February, but the team still managed to grab a 3-1 qualifying win in South America.

British captain Leon Murray suggested the surface was not conducive for Murray, who had at the time played just three matches on clay since 2017, and the former world No 1 has returned to the fray.

He takes his place alongside Cameron Norrie, Dan Evans and Neal Skupski for the Finals Group Stage at Manchesters AO Arena from September 12-17 as they attempt to qualify for Novembers knockout stage.

Only two of the four nations will advance from Group B for the quarter-finals in Malaga.

We cant wait to play Davis Cup in Manchester in front of a huge home crowd, Smith said.

Its been a long time since we played in the North West and Im sure we are going to feel and hear a lot of energy from the fans.

We have a great team with a lot of Davis Cup experience who will be ready to give it everything in a tough group with Australia, Switzerland and France.

At his last appearance at the 2022 Davis Cup Finals in Glasgow, Murray played one singles match and two doubles rubbers. He defeated Kazakhstans Dmitry Popko in the singles and teamed up with Joe Salisbury in the doubles, but they lost their two encounters against the United States and the Netherlands.

Murrays overall Davis Cup record is 4110 while it is 323 in singles with Stan Wawrinka (2005), Fabio Fognini (2014) and Juan Martin del Potro (2016) the only players to beat him in singles.

As for Great Britains recent Davis Cup record, last year they failed to reach the quarter-finals as they didnt get out of the group stage while in 2021 they lost in the last eight, going down 2-1 against Germany.

Story continues

They reached the semi-final in 2019, but went down 2-1 against a Rafael Nadal-inspired Spain at the Caja Magica in Madrid.

READ MORE: Andy Murray setback will not halt inevitable success says former British No 1

The article Andy Murray gets Davis Cup nod as Leon Smith confirms great team for Manchester matches appeared first on Tennis365.com.
(Reuters) -Niger's ousted president Mohamed Bazoum was toppled by a military junta on July 26. The imprisoned leader faces possible high treason charges over his exchanges with foreign heads of state and international organisations, coup leaders have said.

Below are some details about Bazoum and his rise and fall from power:

MINISTER-TURNED-PRESIDENT

Bazoum, 63, served as foreign minister and interior minister under his predecessor Mahamadou Issoufou, who stepped down after two five-year terms and handpicked Bazoum as the ruling party's presidential candidate.

Bazoum's victory in the 2021 election led to Niger's first transition from one democratically elected leader to another. It had previously experienced four coups since gaining independence from France in 1960.

SECURITY CHALLENGE

Bazoum inherited a security crisis and pledged to continue with Issoufou's policies for combating Islamist violence and tackling poverty in one of the world's least developed countries.

Niger touches two of Africa's bloodiest conflicts - one near its western border with Mali and Burkina Faso, where jihadists linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State are active, and another near its southeastern border with Nigeria, where Boko Haram operates.

Niger strengthened its alliances with Western powers under Bazoum, becoming a hub for French, U.S., German and Italian forces.

Leaders of the coup in Niger cited persistent insecurity as justification for Bazoum's overthrow, but data on attacks and casualties show that security had been improving thanks to tactics used by Bazoum's government and help from the foreign forces based there.

POWER STRUGGLE

The July 26 coup is linked to tensions between Bazoum and parts of the Nigerien military, according to the International Crisis Group.

Days before Bazoum was sworn in as president in 2021, a military unit tried to seize the presidential palace in an attempted coup.

More recently, Bazoum's move to sideline a number of senior people in both the military and public administration was a key driver of the mutiny led by the head of his powerful presidential guard, General Abdourahamane Tiani, people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Story continues

IMPRISONMENT

Since his overthrow, Bazoum has been held by the new military authorities in what his party has described as inhumane conditions, without access to running water, electricity, or fresh goods. His wife and son were also detained with him.

Regional and global powers have called for his release including West Africa's main regional bloc, the United Nations, and United States.

On August 13, the junta said it had gathered the necessary evidence to prosecute Bazoum for high treason and undermining the internal and external security of Niger.

(Reporting by Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
(Photo : Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Former cryptocurrency exchange FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried was sent to prison after a judge revoked his bail for alleged witness tampering.

Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, has been arrested and sent to prison after a federal judge revoked his bail, accusing him of trying to influence witnesses who were set to testify against him.

Bankman-Fried has been placed under house arrest at his parents' home located in Palo Alto, California, following his arrest in December last year. The case brought against him accuses him of fraud charges stemming from FTX's implosion.

Sam Bankman-Fried Jailed

During a hearing on Friday, however, Judge Lewis A. Kaplan of the Federal District Court in Manhattan said that the arrangement would have to end. The decision was made after prosecutors argued that the 31-year-old defendant tried to interfere twice with witnesses in the case, including when he gave reporters documents.

In a statement on the bench, Judge Kaplan said that Bankman-Fried had gone up to the line multiple times, prompting him to revoke the defendant's bail. After Kaplan's order was read aloud, two U.S. marshals ordered Bankman-Fried to remove his tie and navy suit jacket as they prepared to handcuff him, as per the New York Times.

The defendant's mother, Barbara Fried, was in attendance with her husband and tried to approach her son. However, a court officer cautioned her to stand back before the defendant was transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center located in Brooklyn.

Mark Cohen, one of Bankman-Fried's lawyers in the case, said in court that he plans to appeal the federal judge's decision. On the other hand, Kaplan said that he would not wait any longer for the outcome of that effort before sending the defendant to jail.

The scene inside the courtroom is the latest development of Bankman-Fried's case since his cryptocurrency company's downfall. The incident is considered one of the recent most stunning corporate crashes.

Read Also: Tennessee Hospital Accused of Violating Transgender Patient's Privacy

Alleged Witness Tampering

Former FTX executive Caroline Ellison, who is also Bankman-Fried's former girlfriend, belonged to a group of former partners who have taken a plea deal and are planning to testify against him, according to CNN.

On Friday, Kaplan agreed with prosecutors when they argued that Bankman-Fried was trying to cover his tracks after he allegedly leaked Ellison's documents to the New York Times. This was allegedly done by allowing a reporter to review the document in person. The judge added that the leak would only be done "to hurt, discredit, and frighten the subject of the material."

On the other hand, the defendant's attorneys argued that Bankman-Fried had the right to defend his reputation in the press. They also emphasized that the defense of the suspect is very complex as it involves hundreds of thousands of documents and requires him to have regular access to a computer and the internet.

Bankman-Fried pleaded not guilty to stealing billions in FTX customer funds to cover up losses at his hedge fund Alameda Research. The defendant was initially able to avoid spending time in prison after he posted a $250 million bond, said Fox Business.

Related Article: SC Ex-Priest Pleads Guilty to Sexual Misconduct, Child Exploitation

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Georgia Republican election official Gabriel Sterling said hes afraid Donald Trumps rhetoric could radicalize people to carry out violence as the former president faces a potential criminal indictment in Georgia over his efforts to overturn the election there.

Sterling appeared on ABCs This Week on Sunday as Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis reportedly prepares to present her case to a grand jury.

Trump has been targeting Willis on social media and in a new attack ad called The Fraud Squad, which also goes after President Joe Biden and other prosecutors pressing charges against the former president.

The ad accuses Willis of being politically motivated and corrupt, and claims, without evidence, that she had an affair with a gang member.

ABCs Jonathan Karl asked Sterling if he was concerned about the ad and Trumps increasingly torrid language.

Obviously at this point, you never know whats going to happen, Sterling said. My biggest concern for years now ... is somebody will be motivated by some of this kind of language at some point, and do something stupid.

Its not going to be an organized thing. Its not going to be a bunch of conspirators together, he added. Its going to be one probably mentally unstable individual whos going to be radicalized through this process.

Gabriel Sterling, a top GOP Georgia election official who has repeatedly rebuked former Pres. Trump's claims of voter fraud, tells @JonKarl that his "biggest concern" remains the potential risk of violence from incendiary attacks on election integrity. https://t.co/Il5bNmm2b9pic.twitter.com/BrDDBhCDba  This Week (@ThisWeekABC) August 13, 2023

Sterling went viral in December 2020 for calling on Trump and lawmakers to show leadership as he, his colleagues and their family members faced harassment and threats about the election, which Trump refused to concede.

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You need to step up and say this  is stop inspiring people to commit potential violence. Someones going to get hurt, someones going to get shot, someones going to get killed. Its not right, he said in an emotional address at the time.

Sterlings latest remarks come just a week after the fatal FBI shooting of a Utah man who authorities said plotted to kill President Joe Biden and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who is prosecuting Trump in the Stormy Daniels hush money case.

Craig Robertson described a plan to shoot radical fool prosecutor Bragg, whom he accused of being corrupt in a social media post.

Trump has leveled relentless attacks against prosecutors in the three criminal cases against him, and once told followers that an indictment by Bragg could result in death & destruction.

Related...
Students Sienna Taggart and Zoe Shields pictured (from left to right) with Dr. Erin Hinson, Study USA Student Support Advisor; Richard Leeman, Skills Division, Department for the Economy, Northern Ireland, and Claire Hamilton, Study USA Programme Manager. Photo: The British Council

Sienna Taggart and Zoe Shields are among 56 students from across Northern Ireland who are taking part in the prestigious Study USA programme.

Study USA enables students to study business or STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) related subjects in American colleges, across 22 states, helping to develop their career prospects when they return to Northern Ireland.

The British Council, which is the UKs international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations, manages Study USA on behalf of the Department for the Economy  and since its formation in 1994, the initiative has sent over 2000 students from Northern Ireland to all four corners of the United States.

Queens University student Sienna (20) who is from Ballygally, will spend the next year at Nebraska Wesleyan University in Nebraska, while Zoe (20), who currently studies at Ulster University is heading to Spalding University in Kentucky.

Speaking ahead of her departure, Sienna said: The Study USA programme is such an exciting opportunity to travel to the States for the first time. I applied as I wanted to be able to meet new people and be involved in a different college experience than at home.

Im so excited to meet new people from around the world, be forced out of my comfort zone, and learn new skills and attitudes that I can carry forward when I return back to university at home.

Jonathan Stewart, Director of the British Council Northern Ireland added: Were delighted to be partnering with the Department for the Economy to deliver Study USA, a prestigious scholarship programme that has gone from strength to strength since its inception in 1994.

Study USA greatly enhances the employability skills of the students taking part in the programme, with many returning to work in Northern Ireland for employers with US and global links. Students get an opportunity to connect with another country, to really get to understand that country through living there for a year, and update their CV by developing new skills in an international setting.

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"While in the US, the students will have the opportunity to enhance their academic skills but also to develop their people and intercultural skills that will prepare them for working for employers in Northern Ireland in the future. This year our students will be spread across 22 US states and we hope that they will build valuable links and develop friendships that will last a lifetime.

We know that this years students will be great ambassadors for Northern Ireland. We wish them every success for the exciting year ahead and we look forward to welcoming them back to celebrate the class of 2024 next year.

Applications for Study USA for 2024-25 will open in September 2023.

To find out more about the programme, and eligibility criteria visit: https://nireland.britishcouncil.org/opportunities/study-usa

The British Council is the UKs international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities.

The organisation works with people in over 200 countries and territories and are on the ground in more than 100 countries.

In 2021-22, the British Council reached 650 million people.
Sammy Wilson MP with the former prime minister Boris Johnson. Boris took them and the rest of us to the cleaners. In the absence of a statement showing otherwise, Sammy Wilson in effect agreed with Boris's proposal for an Irish Sea Border (Photo: Alan McMullan)

It is often said that attack is the best form of defence, and Sammy Wilson, with his comments on the business community's reaction to the Windsor Framework, proves that it is still a useful tactic! (Cowardly business groups fail to criticise the framework, August 10, see link below)

Sammy Wilson was the DUP's ' Mr Brexit' telling the people of Northern Ireland how much better off we would be outside the EU. What he didn't tell the people, despite being warned many times, was that without firing a shot, republicans would see the border moved from Newry to Sammy's own constituency in Larne. During the disastrous negotiations between London and Brussels, Sammy, and his colleagues at Westminster, kept the then governments of Theresa May and Boris Johnson in power.

In order to 'get Brexit done', on 2nd October 2019, Boris proposed to Brussels that a border would be established in the Irish Sea: that border inspection posts would be erected: goods coming from Great Britain to Northern Ireland would have to be notified to the authorities in advance and they would have to comply with EU regulations and EU law. This proposal was contained in a seven-page document entitled 'Explanatory Note'. On the same day as this was published, the DUP described this document as 'a serious and sensible way forward.'

Letters to editor (Photo: JP)

In the absence of a statement dissenting from this at the time, it means that Sammy Wilson agreed with Boris's proposal for an Irish Sea Border! To now denounce business leaders is rank hypocrisy. He takes no responsibility for leading unionists into an ambush from which we have not yet recovered.

I think that Sammy and many of his colleagues feel a sense of guilt for their mistakes in 2019 and try and bluster their way out of it by attacking everybody else. As a member of the Lords Committee that recently reported on the Windsor Framework, I am very well aware of the pitfalls and problems that lie ahead, the constitutional and economic risks that are arising. But I am tired of listening to those who complain and criticise everything and everybody except themselves, as we try and find a way out of this mess.

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Sammy and his colleagues were well warned about the risks of an ill prepared Brexit, but they charged on with no coherent plan for dealing with the UK/EU border which was bound to be somewhere. All of our current problems were foreseen and foreseeable. That they held the balance of power in London throughout this time makes their culpability even greater. Boris took them and the rest of us to the cleaners.

I believe that during this period in 2019 the DUP made the biggest mistakes of any unionists since partition. It would be helpful to see at least some acknowledgement that they may have got things wrong.

Unionism needs a radical and urgent rethink. Leo Varadkar's plan B is already well prepared I have no doubt. Current policies are not delivering for unionism.

Lord Empey, Former Ulster Unionist Party leader

Sammy Wilson: Business organisations should stop being so cowardly about the Windsor Framework and complain about it
Andy Murray has been restored to Great Britains Davis Cup team as they take on Australia, France and Switzerland in Manchester next month.

Murray, who was integral to Britain ending a 79-year wait for glory in the team competition as they triumphed in 2015, was left out of their 3-1 qualifying win on the Colombian clay in February.

British captain Leon Murray suggested the surface was not conducive for Murray, who had at the time played just three matches on clay since 2017, and the former world number one has returned to the fray.

He takes his place alongside Cameron Norrie, Dan Evans and Neal Skupski for the Finals Group Stage at Manchesters AO Arena from September 12-17 as they attempt to qualify for Novembers knockout stage.

Only two of the four nations will advance from Group B for the quarter-finals in Malaga.

We cant wait to play Davis Cup in Manchester in front of a huge home crowd, Smith said.

Its been a long time since we played in the North West and Im sure we are going to feel and hear a lot of energy from the fans.

We have a great team with a lot of Davis Cup experience who will be ready to give it everything in a tough group with Australia, Switzerland and France.
Sally Nugent called out Steve Barclay for his use of figures on BBC Breakfast

Sally Nugent called out Steve Barclay for his use of figures on BBC Breakfast

Steve Barclay was called out live on air for his flawed comparison of NHS waiting times in England and Wales in a cringey exchange on BBC Breakfast.

As the health secretary tried to prove English waiting times are better than those in Wales, host Sally Nugent told the health secretary that he was looking at two different kind of statistics.

During the Monday morning interview, Nugent asked Barclay about the ongoing NHS strikes, saying: How frustrated are you by all this?

He replied: Well, hugely, because what really matters is patients waiting for treatment and our commitment to getting waiting times down.

The cabinet minister then alleged were making big progress on the longest waits, even though NHS waiting times in England reached a record high last week, with 7.6 million people waiting to start treatment at the end of June.

Meanwhile, a four-day strike from junior doctors is still rolling on this week  just as the Resolution Foundation think tank has estimated that almost four million days of work have been lost to industrial action alone in the past year.

However, Barclay said: In England, weve virtually eliminated waits of over 18 months.

Whereas in Wales, for example, theres over 75,000 patients waiting more than 18 months.

In fact, many of your listeners will be surprised to learn theres four times as many patients waiting over a year for treatment in Wales compared to England.

Healthcare is a devolved issue, meaning Westminster does not manage it for Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, but some NHS patients in Wales do travel to England for treatment.

Barclay tried to continue talking, but Nugent cut in and said: Can I just stop you there? Can I please just stop you there for a moment?

Because the figures are collated in a different way, so thats not particularly relevant.

Long waiting times are falling every month in Wales, theyve actually more than halved in the last year.

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But Barclay persisted: No  people waiting more than 18 months is over 75,000. Theres more than 30,000 waiting more than two years.

The BBC Breakfast host said: They put more referrals in their statistics than England does, so theyre not really comparable figures are they?

Well, yes they are, he said, adding: I think people can see for themselves.

Its worth noting that Wales has actually recorded 748,395 patient pathways.

That refers to the total number of waits rather than the people waiting, because it is possible for one person to be on more than one list  meaning its slightly different compared to Englands NHS waiting lists.

Meanwhile, in England, nearly 780,000 hospital appointments have been postponed because of strike action since last December.

The Welsh government previously said: The overall growth in waiting lists in Wales has been smaller in Wales than in England over the last 12 months  it grew by 3.6% in Wales and by 12.1% in England.

Back in the BBC Breakfast interview, Barclay did add that he has requested more transparency from Wales and Scotland so data on performance across the UK can be more easily compared.

He also claimed: There are areas where it is recorded differently, such as ambulance response times, but in terms of long term waits, it is the fact that in Wales, youre four times more likely to wait for treatment over a year compared to England.

That is a stark difference, the longest wait over two years, have been virtually eliminated, as have those over 18 months.

The government has said this week that it wants to work with Wales to help more patients get faster treatment by going to hospitals in England, but its not clear if theres even capacity for that.

This week is also the start of the governments health week.

It comes after a chaotic small boats week, where migrants had to be evacuated from the new barge meant to offer them accommodation after legionella bacteria was discovered in the water supply.

Related...
Rosa and Christopher Streets met and fell in love in a retirement village. (SWNS)

A couple who met in a retirement village in their 80s have married, 18 months after meeting.

Christopher Streets, 82, and Rosa Streets, 81 met at a coffee morning after they both moved to St Monica Trust's Chocolate Quarter Retirement Village in Keynsham, Somerset.

They both made the move to the retirement village after their respective spouses died.

Read more: Survey dives into DINK lifestyle, highlighting what they spend their money on - Yahoo Life UK, 3-min read

"I saw him sitting by the window and I was sitting opposite," Rosa, a former nurse, says.

"The sun was shining on him and he had these lovely yellow socks on, which seemed to almost glow in the sunshine. Then he came and sat next to me on the couch and we started talking."

The couple quickly realised they had a lot in common, including a love of art, theatre, history, music, and spending time in the countryside.

The pair married in front of their families. (SWNS)

They also discovered that they had lived just 40 miles apart from each other in Zambia in the mid-1960s, where Christopher worked as a mining engineer and Rosa's husband was a teacher.

Rosa and Christopher quickly became an item, even after a chaotic first date that saw Rosa nearly choke on a banana leaf and the pair get soaked by torrential rain in a walk to their car.

"I hadn't been on a date for years and I thought 'trust me to blow it by choking on a banana leaf like an idiot," Rosa jokes.

Read more: Zara and Mike Tindall's relationship in pictures - Yahoo Life UK, 7-min read

Christopher later proposed to Rosa during a holiday together in Northern Italy.

"If I'd got down on one knee, I'd never have got up. It was a bit of a babbling proposal, but luckily Rosa laughed and said 'yes', so we set a date for the wedding and our holiday became our honeymoon," he says.

The pair married at the Bath Guildhall and were joined by members of both of their families, celebrating with a meal afterwards.

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"It was very emotional for both of us, having our children and grandchildren there and we also streamed the ceremony live to New Zealand for my family who live out there," Christopher says.

"It was a wonderful day and everything went just as we'd hoped."

Christopher proposed to Rosa after just 18 months of dating. (SWNS)

Christopher and Rosa have decided to go for the unconventional approach and keep their separate apartments as their possessions would "never fit in one apartment".

Read more: 'My boyfriend cheated to show me our relationship was over - and convinced me I was delusional' - Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read

"It was my naval officer son who came up with the solution. On every British warship, the captain has a day cabin and a night cabin, so we thought that was the way to do it," Christopher says.

"So at sunset you may see us migrating across the Chocolate Quarter, or late at night, if Rosa gets fed up with my snoring!"

Additional reporting by SWNS.
Mohamad Allafi with the portrait of his son Mourad (Mahmud Turkia)

A photograph of Mourad Allafi hangs in the family farmhouse in western Libya three years after he was found in a mass grave. His father wants his killers dead.

Mohamad Allafi believes the prison terms of six years to life handed down by a military court in February to 30 people convicted of murder are not enough.

And relatives of the hundreds of others who were tortured, killed and dumped in row upon row of mass graves in Tarhuna agree with him.

The families who lost relatives in the mass killings say that only the death penalty can ease the pain of those who have lost children murdered "in cold blood".

Capital punishment is still legal in Libya, but the ultimate penalty is not often applied.

Many families in Libya are still reeling from the years of violence and injustice that followed the toppling and killing in 2011 of Moamer Kadhafi.

The dictator's demise plunged the North African country into chaos.

Tarhuna, a town some 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of the capital Tripoli with a population of 40,000, stands out because of the atrocities committed there.

A feared militia called the Kaniyat, named after the six brothers who ran it, seized Tarhuna in 2015 and set about systematically silencing opponents and often their entire families.

Lions that the Al-Kani brothers kept during their reign of terror were rumoured to feed on the flesh of their victims.

Mohamad Allafi will never forget the day the Kaniyat abducted his 30-year-old son in 2019.

"I called him dozens of times that night, but in vain," he said in a trembling voice.

- Searching for bodies -

Mourad had "stayed well away from politics and militias", his father insists.

His only crime, in the Kaniyat's eyes, was holding an ID card that showed he belonged to the Na'aji tribe which opposed the militia's violent grip on the town.

For a time, the Al-Kani brothers sided with militias based in Tripoli.

But when eastern-based military strongman Khalifa Haftar launched an assault on the capital in 2019, the clan switched sides and offered him Tarhuna as a rear base.

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When Haftar's forces were routed a year later, the Al-Kanis disappeared.

Three of the brothers, including Mohamed their leader, were killed, and locals in Tarhuna believe the other three are now hiding out in Benghazi, Egypt or Jordan.

With the Al-Kanis gone from Tarhuna, residents started looking for mass graves. They chipped away at the hard ochre earth with spades, desperate to find signs of the many disappeared.

The body of Mourad Allafi was one of 350 to be discovered.

Libya's authority for the disappeared has so far identified 226 sets of remains, and is still searching for more in three main sites.

A second trial of dozens of others suspected of involvement in the Tarhuna killings is expected to conclude in the coming weeks, the justice ministry said.

But many of the townspeople are sceptical that this will bring them closure.

- Three demands -

"The military prosecutor's office tried people for the crimes in Tarhuna and delivered unjust and insufficient verdicts," said Mossab Abou Kleich of an association of victims' families, referring to February's verdict.

"They should have been sentenced to death," he said.

"No family is satisfied with just prison sentences for those proven to be directly responsible for murdering hundreds of civilians," Abou Kleich added.

He called for punishment "commensurate with the crime that was committed".

Abou Kleich said the families' three main demands are "finding the missing, pursuing and prosecuting the criminals, and reparations".

He says the government should prioritise compensating the families whose property was destroyed, which will help ease tribal tensions in Tarhuna and bring an end to this bloody chapter in the town's history.

Whatever the outcome of the court proceedings, the tragedy of Tarhuna will continue to affect people's lives.

"Since Mourad's killing, my wife and I have been sick. I have diabetes and hypertension, and my wife is bedridden from the unbearable pain," said Allafi, his younger son Abdelhakim by his side.

Four years later, Mahmoud al-Marghani still can't explain to his nieces and nephews -- aged seven, 10 and 14 -- why their father Khaled disappeared in June 2019.

The 59-year-old was abducted by three unidentified men from his home and forced into a large 4X4. He is still missing.

"He went on a trip," Marghani tells them when they ask about their father.

He cannot bring himself to tell them that one of the "criminals admitted torturing and killing him".

bur-nd/rb/fka/sg/ysm/srm/mca
Eupen's Djeidi Gassama celebrates after scoring during a soccer match between KAS Eupen and Standard de Liege, Saturday 05 November 2022 in Eupen, on day 16 of the 2022-2023 'Jupiler Pro League' first division of the Belgian championship. BELGA PHOTO BRUNO FAHY (Photo by BRUNO FAHY / BELGA MAG / Belga via AFP) (Photo by BRUNO FAHY/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)

Gassama has been linked with the Owls for a few weeks now, but after he apparently rejected a move to Hull City and interest grew from Basel in Switzerland there were concerns that a move to England may be off the cards.

That is no longer the case, though, with Mauritanian journalist, Lassana Camara, stating that the teenager is engaging with the Owls about a possible move - and The Star understands that he has now arrived ahead of his proposed move to S6.

Lassana stated on social media today, Djeidi Gassama, young hope of PSG, born in Nieleba in Mauritania will engage today with Sheffield Wednesday in England. 19-year-old Djeidi Gassama has scored five goals in his last six games for PSGs Under-19s and has 18 months left on his current contract with the Paris outfit

He went on to say that the deal will be a three-year contract with an optional year, with a bonus 1m and 20% on resale, adding that the players family and advisors are on site. The news has also been reported by various other French publications.

Wednesday have had a busy few weeks in the transfer market, and if the Gassama deal gets done then he will be their tenth signing of the summer following Devis Vasquezs recent arrival as transfer number eight.

The talented teen spent last season on loan with AS Eupen in Belgium where he got two goals and two assists in 19 league games, and featured heavily in the UEFA Youth League in the season before for PSG as he got seven goals and assists in eight games.
Syria condemns U.S. forces for bus attack in Deir al-Zour

Xinhua) 13:18, August 14, 2023

DAMASCUS, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Syria on Saturday blamed the United States for the deadly attack that was carried out by the Islamic State (IS) against a Syrian military bus and resulted in the killing of at least 33 soldiers on Friday.

In a statement released on Saturday night, the Syrian Foreign Ministry viewed the attack as a part of the ongoing American campaign against Syria's sovereignty and independence, accusing the United States of supporting the IS to destabilize Syria.

The ministry emphasized that "this aggressive action fits into the broader pattern of American escalation aimed at undermining Syria's territorial integrity and sovereignty."

The ministry further noted the alarming coincidence between the attack and the continuous American exploitation of Syria's oil and agricultural resources. This economic pressure, according to the statement, contributes to extending the American occupation and destabilizing regional security.

Syria remains resolute in its commitment to counter terrorism and eliminate its lingering effects, the statement read.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
(Photo : Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

A California judge who shot and killed his wife after a drunken dispute in their $1.4 million house confessed in a text message.



Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson has been charged with murder following the death of his wife, Sheryl Ferguson, during a heated argument.

Prosecutors allege that the judge shot his wife after a dispute while intoxicated. The case has sent shockwaves through the Southern California legal community, prompting discussions about justice, responsibility, and the use of firearms, according to Dailymail.

Shockwave in Southern California Legal Circles

The chilling incident occurred on August 3 when Jeffrey and Sheryl Ferguson were engaged in an argument at a restaurant.

According to a court filing from prosecutors, the argument escalated even after the couple returned to their Anaheim Hills home. Sheryl reportedly made a remark along the lines of "why don't you point a real gun at me?" In response, Jeffrey allegedly retrieved a pistol from his ankle holster and shot his wife in the chest.

Tragedy unfolded as their adult son dialed 911, describing his father's excessive drinking and the shooting of his mother. Jeffrey Ferguson himself made a vague call to 911, acknowledging the shooting but expressing reluctance to discuss details.

Upon the arrival of law enforcement, he smelled of alcohol and reportedly uttered, "Oh man I can't believe I did this."

Subsequent investigation revealed that Jeffrey Ferguson possessed an arsenal of weapons at his Anaheim home, including the pistol used in the shooting and over 26,000 rounds of ammunition. Authorities discovered a total of 47 weapons, although a registered rifle in his name was missing.

While these weapons were legally owned, concerns about public safety and the risk of flight led prosecutors to seek new bail conditions for the judge, asper AP News.

Read Also: 6 Colombians Nabbed in Murder of Ecuador Presidential Candidate Fernando Villavicencio

Judge's Bail and Legal Proceedings Amid Murder Charges Spark Debates

Despite the severity of the charges, Jeffrey Ferguson was released on $1 million bail. Prosecutors are now advocating for stricter conditions, including surrendering his passport, wearing an ankle monitor, and abstaining from alcohol and firearms possession.

The case has raised questions about the judicial process, as a judge is treated similarly to any other defendant when it comes to posting bail.

Ferguson's attorneys, Paul Meyer and John Barnett, issued a statement asserting that the incident was an accident, describing it as a tragedy for the entire Ferguson family.

The legal proceedings have ignited discussions about the intersection of justice, personal responsibility, and the need to address firearm ownership and usage.

Jeffrey Ferguson, who has been a judge since 2015 and handles criminal cases in Fullerton, has a history that includes a 2017 admonishment by the Commission on Judicial Performance for a Facebook post about a judicial candidate and for being Facebook friends with attorneys appearing before him in court.

The arrest and subsequent legal actions have sent ripples through the Southern California community, with officials navigating the delicate balance between justice and judicial responsibilities.

While the Orange County district attorney's office sought clarity on potential conflicts of interest, a judge in neighboring Los Angeles County will preside over the case, highlighting the complexities of handling a case involving a legal professional.

As the legal proceedings continue, the tragedy serves as a somber reminder of the impacts of domestic disputes and the potential dangers of firearm ownership.

The case also underscores the importance of addressing the broader issues surrounding alcohol consumption and responsible firearm use.

In a region densely populated with over 3 million residents, the incident raises significant questions about public safety, justice, and the responsibilities of individuals, even those in positions of authority, New York Times reported.

Related Article: NYC Mayor Eric Adams' Control Over Jail System Could be Removed; Federal Judge Explains Why



@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
University of North Georgia (UNG) President Michael Shannon will continue his Listening Tour as the fall 2023 semester begins.

He will visit each of UNG's five campuses for meetings with students, faculty, staff, community members, and alumni in the first two weeks of the 2023-24 academic year to learn more about UNG and the university's priorities.

The focused sessions for students, faculty and staff are open to UNG community members and no registration is required. Alumni and community members will be invited to additional sessions scheduled for those stakeholder groups.

Students

Aug. 22, 2:30-3:30 p.m.  Cumming Campus, Room 125

Aug. 23, 1:30-2:30 p.m.  Oconee Campus, Student Resource Center, Room 581

Aug. 24, 2:30-3:30 p.m.  Gainesville Campus, Martha T. Nesbitt Building, Room 3110-A

Aug. 29, Noon to 1 p.m.  Dahlonega Campus, Hoag Student Center Auditorium

Aug. 30, 1:30-2:30 p.m.  Blue Ridge Campus, Learning Commons, Room 101

Faculty

Aug. 22, 4-5 p.m.  Cumming Campus, Room 125

Aug. 23, 3-4 p.m.  Oconee Campus, Student Resource Center, Room 581

Aug. 24, 3:30-4:30 p.m.  Gainesville Campus, Martha T. Nesbitt Building, Room 3110-A

Aug. 29, 2-3 p.m.  Dahlonega Campus, Hoag Student Center Auditorium

Aug. 30, 10-11 a.m.  Blue Ridge Campus, Learning Commons, Room 101

Staff

Aug. 23, 9:30-10:30 a.m.  Oconee Campus, Student Resource Center, Room 581

Aug. 25, 8:30-9:30 a.m.  Cumming Campus, Room 125

Aug. 29, 10:30-11:30 a.m.  Dahlonega Campus, Hoag Student Center Auditorium

Aug. 30, 8:30-9:30 a.m.  Blue Ridge Campus, Learning Commons, Room 101

Shannon, a retired U.S. Army officer, became president of UNG on July 1, after serving as interim executive vice president for administration and finance and interim chief business officer at Georgia Tech. Prior to his interim role, Shannon served as Georgia Tech's vice president and deputy chief business officer.

A native of New Jersey, Shannon is a first-generation college graduate and was commissioned through Army ROTC. He holds a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering and a master's degree in aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. He also holds a master's degree in health physics and a Ph.D. in nuclear and radiological engineering from Georgia Tech.

If you have any questions about President Shannon's Listening Tour, please email president@ung.edu.
The University of North Georgia (UNG) hosted the Steps-to-College (S2C) program for more than 100 multilingual high school students, who are also English learners, from the Gainesville City and Banks, Hall and Forsyth county school systems. S2C provides summer enrichment that serves as credit toward graduation.

Created in 1999, S2C took place Monday through Thursday at UNG's Gainesville Campus during the month of June. The program was taught by high school teachers and provided students with half credits for classes like economics and American government.

"This gives them an opportunity to be on a college campus, so it doesn't feel alien to them," Dr. Lauren Johnson, assistant dean of the College of Education, said. "They get a sense of the attainability of a college degree."

This year, Jackson EMC, Habersham EMC, United Way, and UNG funded the program. Students are provided transportation, lunch and supplies, making the program free for students. They are allotted recreational time during their day. The program has also had field trips and visits from the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP), which provides financial, technological and supplemental educational resources.

"These students will be more comfortable applying to college and realize they have assistance to get them there," Johnson said.

Teaching assistants, many of whom were UNG students, gained first-hand experience to prepare for their professional careers.
HA NOI  Viet Nam will likely see a decline in seafood exports for this year although market prospects are better than last year's end, according to the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

In the best scenario with a recovery of the market and a stable supply of raw materials, seafood exports in the remaining five months of 2023 may reach over US$4 billion, bringing the total export value in 2023 to $9 billion.

However, this is a decline of 15-16 per cent compared to 2022.

Of which, the export value is forecasted to plunge by 28 per cent for pangasius to $1.7-1.8 billion, and 16-18 per cent for shrimp to about $3.5-3.6 billion. Exports of tuna and squid-octopus will decrease by 14-15 per cent to $870 million and $650 million, respectively.

According to Le Hang, VASEP communications director, seafood exports are expected to recover as the economic performance of major markets is forecasted to be more positive in the second half of the year, while the import demand of markets such as the US and China is tending to increase again. Those markets have lower inventory and are preparing supplies for their year-end festivities and the new year.

Enterprises and the seafood supply chains are supported in terms of capital in a timely manner as well as production and business conditions to maintain stable supply of raw materials for export contracts in the future, Hang said.

Meanwhile, Viet Nam's export seafood products have stable supply and competitive prices compared to other countries, she said.

According to VASEP, seafood exports in the first seven months of this year were estimated to reach nearly $5 billion, down 25 per cent year-on-year. Among key products, pangasius had the strongest reduction at 36 per cent in exports compared to the same period of last year, followed by shrimp and tuna (down 27 per cent).

In July, the value of seafood exports was estimated at $830 million, down 11 per cent compared to the same period in 2022.

The most obvious recovery signal was in the Chinese market with a year-on-year increase of 45 per cent in export value to $180 million in July.

Exports to other key markets in July plunged between 5 and 40 per cent over the same period of last year, including the US, South Korea and the EU.

The Japanese market was more positive thanks to value-added and processed goods, especially marine fish.

China is still expected to be the most prospective market for local seafood enterprises because trade activities are gradually returning to normal. In the second half of the year, China's economy will likely be more stable, and people's income and consumption will be improved. Therefore, Viet Nam's seafood exports to mainland China and Hong Kong will have a chance to recover, reaching a total turnover of about $1.8 billion for both.

Tran inh Luan, director of Fisheries Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said Viet Nam is very likely to achieve $9 billion from the seafood export turnover of the whole year.

The ministry still keeps the export target of $10 billion although it requires much effort to reach this goal, according to Phung uc Tien, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

According to VASEP, there are positive signals in exports both for shrimp and pangasius. The pangasius volume exported to the US has reached over 50 per cent of the plan. The pangasius inventories in this market have fallen. Therefore, the fishery industry should prepare all resources to seize this opportunity. It's the same situation for shrimp exports, Tien said.

Besides that, a credit package of VN15 trillion is being implemented to create good conditions for the businesses to promote seafood exports in the future, he said.

VASEP has also released a less optimistic scenario. When the market shows signs of recovery and demand will increase again, but Viet Nam's seafood products still struggle to compete in terms of price and supply with other countries such as Ecuador, India, Indonesia, and Thailand.

That means the industry does not have immediate and long-term solutions dealing with high production costs, a reduction in profits, and a lack of capital for the development of inventories leading to a shortage of raw materials for production in the second half of the year.

With that scenario, the value of exports is estimated to reach about $3.5 to $3.7 billion in the last five months of the year, and $8.5 to $8.7 billion for the whole year of 2023. Of which, the deepest decline in exports is still in the two industries of pangasius and shrimp.

Seafood exports may be worse if the 'yellow card' warning issued to Viet Nam by the European Union is not lifted after the working session of the commission's fourth inspection team in October 2023.  VNS
By Le Viet Dung

HA NOI  Just because many companies are shedding staff by thousands amid the economic downturn doesn't mean others should follow suit.

According to Agency for Business Registration, the economic downturn has hit so hard that over 100,000 companies either ceased operations or waited to be dissolved in the first six months of 2023.

Mass layoffs were running rampant in the real estate sector and creeping into others, including IT and e-commerce. From September 2022 to May 2023, three in every 10 Vietnamese companies had to trim ranks to cut costs, resulting in a 13 per cent drop in the labour force.

The picture was not any brighter in a recent Navigos Group report, which shows that 30 per cent of companies opted for downsizing to weather the storm, whereas 41 per cent held steady to bide for time.

But it's not all doom and gloom. Around 25 per cent went against the flow by scaling up their production amid the downturn.

The figure says a lot about how companies were changing the way they deal with dwindling revenues: optimising the workforce to avoid the pain of layoffs.

Thanh Nguyen, Executive Director of the Anphabe, said layoffs might seem like a quick and effective short-term solution, but would come at higher costs in the long term, especially in terms of employee loyalty and productivity.

Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam Beverage understands that and has used digital technologies to streamline its operation rather than taking the easy way out. Its digital efforts have helped save 4,000 working hours per year and double its revenues.

BAT Group employed time management applications and a "meeting-free days" policy to improve its efficiency and cut meeting time by 63 per cent. Less time for meeting bloat means that more time could be used for productive activities.

Schneider Electric Vietnam went so far as to use education and training to change the mindset of its employees to improve their performance. 90 per cent of its staff will reportedly undergo the mindset-changing process until 2025.

Nguyen Thi Thu Hoa, Director-General of the ADP Group, said a balanced employer-employee relationship creates a mutual win. Therefore, a well-developed employee care policy would help companies to reap optimal benefits productivity-wise.

"Only by mutual respect and working together toward a common goal can they overcome the challenges and achieve success," said Hoa.

Economist Vo Tri Thanh told Viet Nam News that layoffs will continue unabated until the end of this year but decelerate in the next thanks to the global economic recovery and the effects of favourable policies.

Export-linked manufacturing would be the sector most hard-hit by the downturn whereas services would come out of it better off, buffering its impact on the labour market.

He suggested education and training be top of mind for the companies that aim to weather the downturn without cutting headcounts on the payroll.

"Companies should launch education and training programmes to better prepare their employees for the turbulence in the labour market," said Thanh.

Navigos Group's report shows that amid the downturn 56 per cent of companies in the high-tech sector made redundancies to stay afloat. The figures for agriculture, consumer goods, construction materials, and automobile sectors were 38, 38, 34, and 52 per cent, respectively.  VNS
HA NOI  Ha Noi is promoting agricultural exports by developing a chain from production to consumption of export agricultural products, according to the Ha Noi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The department said Ha Noi now has 35 rice planting areas, 104 vegetable planting areas, 56 fruit tree planting areas, 66 aquaculture areas, and 162 livestock areas.

This is an advantage for Ha Noi to become one of the localities with the potential to export key agricultural products.

Ha Noi also has 16 coded banana and longan planting areas and four coded packaging facilities with a daily capacity of 30 - 50 tonnes of export products in each facility.

In addition, the capital city also has 1,649 products belonging to the One Commune One Product (OCOP) Programme, including 20 potential five-star products, 1,098 four-star products, and 534 three-star products. They include more than 1,000 food products.

It is one of the favourable conditions for the city's agricultural products to approach strict markets, boosting agricultural exports.

To support businesses and cooperatives in expanding export markets for vegetables and fruits, Deputy Director of Ha Noi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Ngoc Son said Ha Noi needs to continue coordinating with ministries and branches to strengthen connection and promotion activities for the official export of agricultural products.

It will strengthen training courses for agricultural, forestry and fishery production and business establishments on regulations on quality and food safety, and control of imported and exported foods to promote farming produce production and export.

Those courses focus on market information, guidance on registering codes for production areas, and quarantine regulations, as well as import control procedures of the markets of China, South Korea, and Japan.

Ha Noi also will promote information on free trade agreements, including the EVFTA and CTPP, and foreign market barriers to improve the quality of agricultural products, meeting the increasing requirements of the export markets.

Additionally, the city is promoting the development of coded quality and safe specialised farming areas associated with traceability. It also focuses on building brands for key agricultural products, ensuring export standards.

In particular, via the support for the development of cooperatives, Ha Noi has built 141 farming produce production chains, including 59 chains producing animal products, and 82 chains producing plant products.

Le Xuan Truong, deputy head of Ha Noi's Sub-Department of Cultivation and Plant Protection, said that the city needs to support cooperatives, businesses, and farm owners in applying high technology to the production and processing of key commodities for export.

To do this, it must have policies to encourage and support planting areas and packaging establishments in developing the scale of commodity production under the requirements of the importing countries. In addition, it is necessary to support farmers and cooperatives in applying e-commerce to access potential markets in the world.

Nguyen The Lam, director of Khanh Phong Agricultural Cooperative in Me Linh District, said if his cooperative participates in training courses on cross-border e-commerce and marketing, it expects to approach more customers.

Lam shared that sometimes, guava can only sell for VN10,000 per kilo, but if this kind of fruit is exported, the selling price is likely to increase, and the pressure on consumption in the harvesting season will also decrease.

Meanwhile, many cooperatives have continued investment in production to increase linkages and expand export opportunities in many forms.

For example, ong Tam Livestock and Service Cooperative in Quoc Oai District has invested in a closed animal husbandry process. Besides promoting consumption at wholesale markets and exporting directly, the cooperative also provides products for large supermarket systems, such as Coop Mart and AEON.

Especially, the AEON supermarket system is present in many countries, so Ha Noi's products appearing at this supermarket system will be an opportunity to approach many foreign consumers.

ong Phu Organic Agriculture Cooperative in Chuong My District has linked with two businesses to build a chain from production to export for rice products, thereby increasing the value of local rice and income for farmers.

Nguyen Van Minh, director of Van uc Agricultural Service Business Cooperative in Gia Lam District, said that Van uc Commune has 220ha of safe vegetables, including 26.9ha of vegetables produced under VietGAP standard.

Now, besides supplying supermarkets, wholesale markets and neighbouring provinces, the cooperative has also exported 300-500 tonnes of safe vegetables each year to Taiwan (China) and South Korea.

ai Thanh Agricultural Cooperative in Quoc Oai District is developing 160ha of planting fruit trees according to VietGAP production standards, including 115ha growing longan.

Therefore, ai Hoang late ripening longan is not only a specialty of Ha Noi market, but also consumed at supermarket systems and exported to South Korea, Malaysia, the US and Poland.

According to Ha Noi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ha Noi's agricultural, forestry and fishery export value reached US$1.75 billion in 2022. Of which, the export value of agricultural products and foods reach $871 million, up 12.2 per cent on year; and timber and wood product export value was $883 million, up 17.5 per cent.  VNS
THAI BINH  Back in April, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the inauguration ceremony of Thai Binh 2 thermal power plant  with the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam) as the main investor  at My Loc Commune, Thai Thuy District, the northern province of Thai Binh.

The ceremony was also attended by leaders and former leaders of the Party and State, leaders of ministries, leaders of Thai Binh Province and local residents of the Thai Thuy District, along with representatives from PVN partners  Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) and Vietnam National Coal & Mineral Industries Group (TKV).

PVN representatives included Chairman of Board of Directors Hoang Quoc Vuong, General Director Le Manh Hung, other senior executives of the group, the management board of Thai Binh thermal power project, general contractor PETROCONs, representatives of contractors, project management consultants and employees of Thai Binh 2 Power Project Management Board and employees operating the plant.

With a total area of 131.74 hectares, the project boasts a capacity of 1,200 MW, making it a large-scale project in the northern delta region.

The project is part of the urgent power supply sources in the National Power Development Plan VII and the Revised National Power Master Plan VII.

Once completed and operational, the Thai Binh 2 power plant will supply approximately 7.2 billion kWh to the national grid each year, with a revenue of VN18 trillion (US$757,9 million) a year, contributing over VN400 billion to the State coffers.

The plant employs over 400 local workers both directly and indirectly. It plays a part in ensuring national energy security and economic development of the northern delta region in general and Thai Binh Province in particular.

The project utilises pulverised coal combustion boiler technology with high performance, stability, and safety, meeting the emission requirements by both Vietnamese and international standards.

The project is environmentally friendly with its application of technologies to reduce NOx emissions, dust filtration, SOx removal, and modern wastewater treatment.

To date, two units have completed the commissioning procedures and have started generating electricity, supplying over 1 billion kWh to the national power grid.

The projects development was eventful, especially at times when the project came to a grinding halt as past issues led to challenges in legal and funding matters, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, overcoming all obstacles, in the land of Thai Binh  known as the "cradle" of the petroleum industry, with the determination and dedication of the project team, the close guidance of the Government, the Prime Minister, and the collective efforts of PVN, the group has worked tirelessly day and night, exerting their full strength to overcome challenges and ensure the quality of the national key project  Thai Binh 2 Thermal Power Plant.

Currently, the total installed capacity of PVN-operated power plants has exceeded 6,600 MW (including Thai Binh 2 Thermal Power Plant), accounting for about 8.5 per cent of the country's total installed capacity.

This result firmly affirms PVNs role and position as the second-largest power producer in Viet Nam.  VNS
(Photo : Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green acknowledges that global warming played a critical role in creating the conditions that led to the Maui wildfire that has so far killed at least 93 people.

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green on Sunday said that global warming played a critical role in setting up the conditions for the Maui wildfire that destroyed a historic town and has so far resulted in the deaths of at least 93 people.

The official discussed the situation and referenced what happened in the centuries-old town of Lahaina when he appeared on MSNBC's "The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart." He described the widespread blaze as a "fire hurricane" with gusting 80 mph winds and a "1,000-degree heat" that created fire cyclones that went through buildings.

Hawaii Governor on Maui Wildfire

Green said everything in the town of Lahaina was burnt to the ground, and he called the area a "war zone" that was "completely destroyed." The governor also attributed the powerful winds from Hurricane Dora, a storm that passed through far to the south of the Island last week, and very dry drought conditions on Maui to the fast-moving blaze, as per Fox News.

He noted that roughly three or four fires were burning simultaneously when the fire jumped from one place to another. Green said the blaze got seeded very quickly due to the powerful gusts of winds. Then, the fire moved with a speed of roughly one mile per minute down through the community.

The Hawaii governor said the devastation was precisely the look a fire hurricane would have during global warming. He said the threat is "very real for us and everywhere" and urged people to do whatever they can to help stop and reverse its effects.

The fire in Lahaina is considered the deadliest wildfire in the United States in the last century. Now, officials are facing the challenge of identifying the remains that have so far been recovered because the victims' bodies were burned to ash and are falling apart in their hands.

Hawaii authorities have also urged tourists to avoid traveling to Maui as many hotels on the Island have prepared to take in evacuees and first responders. The region is now facing a long recovery from the massive wildfire, according to the Associated Press.

Read Also: Biden's Climate Law Debated by Republicans, Democrats

Destruction of Lahaina

The Hawaii Tourism Authority said that roughly 46,000 residents and visitors flew out of Kahului Airport in West Maui since the destruction in Lahaina became apparent on Wednesday.

The agency said on Saturday that the collective resources and attention of the federal, state, and county government, the West Maui community, and the travel industry must be focused on helping the recovery of residents who were forced out of their homes and businesses.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Sunday said that hundreds more National Guard members were expected to travel to Maui in the coming days. Green said that the personnel would help in protecting certain areas so that people can do their work at ground zero and open up the road to make it easier for everyone to travel around, said the Washington Post.

Related Article: Hawaii Wildfire's Death Toll is Expected to Rise

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
HCM CITY  Pepper growers and exporters need to focus on improving quality and diversifying their products to sustain the countrys position as the worlds largest producer and exporter of the spice, according to the Viet Nam Pepper and Spice Association.

At a recent seminar on the EU - Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement Implementation and Opportunities and Challenges for Sustainable Development of Vietnam Pepper and Spice industry in HCM City, Le Viet Anh, chief of the association office, said the trade deal that took effect in 2020 cut tariffs on certain Vietnamese spices and herbs such as ground and crushed pepper, chilli, vanilla, and cloves to zero when exporting to the EU, but remained largely untapped.

But he said it was due to the EUs strict requirements related to quality, traceability and food safety.

Tran Nhu Trang, an expert at the Swiss Import Promotion Programme, expressed a similar view, saying only two pepper products (crushed and ground pepper) had benefited from the zero tariff, with their exports to the bloc rising by 50 per cent.

Anh said pepper exports to the EU decreased this year though cinnamon exports increased by 26.1 per cent.

Compared to Brazil, Viet Nam continued to enjoy advantages in the short term, but in the long term it needed to improve quality and exploit different market segments, he said.

Exporters needed to monitor the market closely since requirements changed frequently, he said.

So, in addition to their price competitiveness, Vietnamese enterprises also needed to meet the EUs stringent criteria to maintain their position in the market, he said.

Trang said EU customers were increasingly interested in spices that are good for health such as ginger, black pepper, cinnamon, clove, and black cumin seeds, certified organic products and value-added ones.

To achieve success in the EU market, businesses must meet technical requirements such as contamination test and heat treatment, authenticity and purity standards, sustainable sourcing, and so on.

Hoang Thi Lien, chairwoman of the Viet Nam Pepper and Spice Association, said with sustainable production and consumption becoming increasingly important in the eyes of consumers, the association had a plan to develop the sector in a sustainable manner.

It was set to enhance linkages between businesses and co-operatives to provide training to pepper farmers, call on farmers to reduce the use of pesticides and other plant protection chemicals, increase the use of bio-products, work to ensure gender equality and increase opportunities for women to take part in the pepper supply chain, she said.

The association has set targets for pepper and other spice export of US$1.8 billion by 2025 and $2.5-3 billion by 2030.  VNS
HCM CITY  The Airports Corporation of Vietnam has identified a contractor to build terminal T3 at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCM City.

The project is divided into 14 bidding packages worth a total of VN10.99 trillion (US$470.5 million).

Bidding package No.12 for the construction, which will cost more than VN9 trillion ($385 million) has been awarded to a consortium of six companies: Hanoi Construction Corporation, No.1 Construction Corporation and 319 Construction Corporation belonging to the Ministry of Defence, Truong Son Construction Corporation, Ricons Construction Investment Joint Stock Company and Luu Nguyen Construction Company Limited.

They will also be responsible for the installation of equipment in the terminal.

According to the ACV, construction will start in the third quarter of this year.

In 2020 the Government approved the construction with funding provided by the ACV.

More than 16ha of military land is required to build the new terminal. Construction is expected to take 37 months.

The new terminal will handle domestic flights, helping ease pressure on the overloaded T1 and improve service quality.

T1 can handle up to 15 million passengers a year and T2, the international terminal, 10 million.

The number of passengers travelling via Tan Son Nhat has skyrocketed in recent years to nearly double its designed capacity.

As against its designed capacity to handle 25 million passengers a year from 2020, it has been receiving almost 40 million a year since 2017.

Once completed, T3 will handle 20 million passengers.

With the COVID pandemic ending and the economy recovering rapidly, aviation and tourism have recovered, sending passenger numbers surging and causing overcrowding at major airports such as Tan Son Nhat and Noi Bai in Ha Noi.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam is currently devising a project to develop a domestic carbon market, focusing on the mandatory trading of GHG emission quotas for industries and businesses in the domestic market, while also considering international market integration.

According to Tang The Cuong, Director of the Department of Climate Change under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE), the work requires thorough preparation in terms of infrastructure, techniques, inventory capacity, and corporate reporting.

Statistics show that a total of 1,912 enterprises across the country are required to conduct greenhouse gas emissions inventories and meet specific emissions quotas. As a result, the MoNRE is set to advise the Prime Minister to improve Viet Nam's overall emissions quota for 2026-30 and annually thereafter.

Enterprises will engage in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, with foreign investors and countries actively seeking collaboration with Viet Nam to implement projects that can generate carbon credits and align with the Paris Agreement on climate change. Such projects offer a valuable source of credit for transactions.

The Government has tasked the ministry to develop a mechanism for carbon credit management, with the ministry soon setting up a national registration system. All businesses and organisations generating carbon credits in Viet Nam will be required to register their credits on the system.

Any transactions with foreign partners must be reported to the ministry, as such activities impact the national emissions reduction targets.

Viet Nam has four existing carbon credit mechanisms, including the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), Joint Credit Mechanism (JCM), Gold Standard (GS), and Verified Carbon Mechanism (GCS).  VNS
MOSCOW  A Vietnamese delegation, led by Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang, participated in the opening ceremony of the international military-technical forum (Army 2023) in Moscow on Monday.

On the occasion, Giang visited several booths of participating countries, including Viet Nam. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam Peoples Army (VPA) Nguyen Van Nghia met and worked with foreign partners.

Army is an annual exhibition and forum held by the Russian Ministry of Defence since 2015, attracting numerous countries, enterprises, and organisations to participate and showcase defence products. One of the world's largest international exhibitions of arms and military equipment, it includes the display of advanced products; live demonstrations of weapons and technical equipment, and scientific workshops on military technology and defence industry applications.

Its 2023 edition attracts the participation of delegations from nearly 60 countries; 1,500 Russian companies; and 85 foreign firms.

Viet Nam has participated in the event since 2018, with the General Department of Defence Industry and Military Industry-Telecoms Group of Viet Nam displaying 240 products this year.

Earlier on the same day, the delegation laid a wreath at the statue of President Ho Chi Minh in Moscow and visited the Vietnamese Embassy.  VNS
BAC NINH  Although Phung Van Nam was born and grew up in a poor commune, he has successfully researched and manufactured many agricultural machines that have high applicability and productivity, and are highly appreciated and widely used by farmers.

Nam, 42, was born in Minh Tan Commune, Luong Tai District, the northern province of Bac Ninh.

Due to his familys economic hardship, Nam had to drop out of school after finishing grade six to help his parents with household chores.

I have experienced many jobs, including farmer, blacksmith and mechanic. Going to many places, working many jobs, I understand the peoples hardships, and the idea of researching and inventing agricultural machinery started in me, said Nam.

Nam was concerned when he saw that the farmers, despite using machines to till the land, still had to make the beds with hoes and rakes, which resulted in low productivity.

In 2013, he bought an old cultivator machine made from Japan and improved it to suit the needs of people.

Without professional knowledge, and not knowing much about machines, he made his own ideas combined with research on the internet.

After many times of trying and assembling, many nights of staying awake, with the determination to complete the product, he succeeded with his first invention  a portable mini bed-making machine.

The handheld cultivator was improved from the old Japanese cultivator and can be adjusted to different bed sizes.

Local people are very excited about the machine.

From the initial success, he cherished manufacturing a cultivator which could make five different beds.

He succeeded with such a machine one year later.

Immediately after its launch, the product became an effective assistant for farmers.

The machine can make five different types of beds, including carrot beds with a bed surface of 45cm and height of 30cm; vegetable beds with sizes from 90-100cm; watermelon beds with sizes of 140-160 cm; melon beds with size of 130-150cm; and onion beds with size from 80-100cm.

Nam continues to manufacture a machine for sugarcane planting and crop irrigation pipes.

He also makes a tool for digging holes with a depth of 60- 90cm, diameter of 40-60cm in just one minute (if manual digging will take many hours).

These machines all meet the practical needs of farmers and are widely used for modern agriculture.

Having used Nam's bed-making machine for a long time, Nguyen Van Thai, who lives in Minh Tan Commune, said that before, with no machines, farming was very hard.

When making the beds, they must use hoes and rakes, leading to low productivity, and sometimes they cannot complete the crop in time.

Nams machine can make beds for 360sq.m in only about 20 minutes. It used to take farmers one day to do such work, said Thai.

To introduce his products, Nam set up a Youtube channel and regularly uploads videos and answers customers' questions about them.

He also directly guides customers to use products suitable for local terrain and soil types.

With many preeminent features, his products are not only trusted by people in the district, in the province, and in other provinces and cities across the country.

Now, on average, Nam's workshop provides 200 products to the market annually, creating jobs for five workers with an income of VN10-12 million (US$420-500) per person per month.

His workshop earns a profit of VN400 million ($16,700) per year.

Nam said he would improve his products to meet the increasing needs of the people.

He will actively research to create more products that support agricultural activities, and increase productivity and profits.

Deputy chairman of the Bac Ninh Farmers Association ao Duy Huu said that Nam was a good farmer and passionate about creativity.

His products were suitable for practical needs, widely applied in farmers work, meeting scientific advances in the agricultural industry, he said.

The machines contributed to local economic development, said Huu.

With innovative products that bring high economic efficiency, Nam was awarded a certificate of merit by the chairman of the Bac Ninh Province People's Committee for his outstanding achievements in the patriotic emulation campaign in the period 2015-20.

He won the first prize in a competition organised by the Bac Ninh Farmers' Association in 2020.

He was honoured as a scientist of farmers by the Central Committee of Viet Nam Farmers' Association (CCVFA) in the same year.

He was also honoured by the CCVFA as an outstanding farmer this year.  VNS
HA NOI  A communication campaign to raise awareness of lung cancer was launched on Sunday in Ha Noi.

The communication campaign Love your lungs with the theme Early detection, early treatment was launched by the Bright Future Fund, in coordination with AstraZeneca Viet Nam Co Ltd.

Love your lungs is a project of the Bright Future Fund and their partners which are different lung and oncology hospitals across the country.

The campaign targets improving the communitys awareness of early detection of lung cancer, raising the number of patients receiving early diagnosis for the disease with advanced technology, and working with hospitals to give screening to people at high risk.

During the campaign, as many as 500 people who are over 50 years old or facing high risks of lung cancer received free-of-charge examination, X-ray and consultancy.

If any problem was discovered, they will be introduced to specialised hospitals for further examination.

Also under the campaign, the Bright Future Fund kicked off the website thuongphoi.vn to supply official information related to lung cancer diagnosis and treatment. Inspirational stories about lung cancer patients are also available on the website.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Tran Van Thuan, Deputy Minister of Health, said: The campaign has great scale and meaning for the community. All of the community please work together to repel lung cancer.

Organisations should bring cancer screening and lung cancer screening in particular to their periodic health examination for a healthy and strong Viet Nam, he said.

Nitin Kapoor, chairman and general director of AstraZeneca Viet Nam Co Ltd, said that the companys cooperation in the campaign expressed its steady commitment and efforts for patients rights.

With the Love your lungs campaign, we hope that every resident will receive information and knowledge to have lucid decision and in time action for their health, he said.

Together, we push back lung cancer so that it will not be a leading cause of death in the world, he said.

Associate professor Nguyen Thi Xuyen, former deputy minister of health and chairwoman of the Bright Future Fund, said that the fund was founded in 2011 under a decision of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

During the past 12 years, the fund has supported treatment for more than 28,000 poor cancer patients across the country with a total fund of more than VN30 billion (US$1.2 million).

It has supplied medicines for cancer patients worth VN400 billion ($16.8 million).

The Global Cancer Statistics GLOBOCAN 2020 showed that in Viet Nam, lung cancer is the second most common disease, with about 23 cases per 100,000 residents, and 21.9 fatalities per 100,000 residents.

Only 30 per cent of the patients were discovered at early stage of the disease.  VNS
CAN THO  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Saturday continued his field trip to the Mekong Delta to examine dykes in Ca Mau, Kien Giang, An Giang and ong Thap provinces.

He then had a working session in Can Tho City with leaders of several ministries, sectors and localities on the erosion of river banks and coastlines as well as efforts to overcome the erosion and flooding in the Delta region.

Since the beginning of this year, climate change and natural disasters have worsened around the world and in Viet Nam, causing human and property losses, the PM said, adding that in recent days, landslides, flash floods, erosion of river banks and coastlines continued causing serious damage, particularly in some provinces in the Central Highlands, northern mountainous and Mekong Delta regions.

For the Mekong Delta, PM Chinh stressed the region needs to prevent erosion, landslides and flooding, while protecting, developing and sustainably using land, forests and natural resources, as well as promoting sustainable development.

Therefore, he said, it should raise awareness of the dangers and consequences of erosion, landslides and floods in the Mekong Delta, strengthen the leadership of local authorities and mobilise resources from people in the prevention of and fight against these phenomena.

He asked localities to help residents in disaster-hit areas to stabilise their normal life, quickly evacuate households from risk areas, and take various measures to ensure the safety of people and essential infrastructure.

In the long term, the Prime Minister asked for making the planning well, clearly identifying the causes leading to the current erosion of riverbanks, coastlines and serious degradation of mangroves to have appropriate, effective and sustainable solutions.

He also asked for continuing to mobilise State resources while adopting appropriate mechanisms and policies to encourage the involvement of society and mobilise the private sectors resources for works to prevent and combat erosion.  VNS
HA NOI  With more lenient visa regulations and extended stays for international visitors, promising prospects emerge for the impending peak tourism season of tourism in Viet Nam.

Starting from August 15, the updated laws for Vietnamese citizens' exit and entry, as well as for foreigners' entry, exit, transit, and stay in Viet Nam, will bring important changes to the rules for visas and how long visitors can stay.

One key change is that tourists with electronic visas (e-visas) will now be allowed to stay for up to 90 days, instead of the previous 30 days. This means they can enter and leave Viet Nam multiple times within those 90 days, without needing to apply for a new visa each time. Also, citizens from countries that Viet Nam allows to enter without visas will now be allowed to stay for up to 45 days, up from the previous 15 days. The rules for issuing and extending visas will follow the established guidelines.

Viet Nam's National Tourism Administration, part of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, together with experts in tourism, believe that these positive changes will greatly help the growth of Viet Nam's tourism. More visitors from other countries are expected to arrive, which could lead to exciting investment opportunities.

In the first seven months of 2023, almost 6.6 million tourists visited Viet Nam, close to the goal of 8 million for the whole year. More growth is expected during the busy year-end season.

A spokesperson from Agoda, an online travel platform, reported a substantial surge of 33 per cent in searches for information about Viet Nam's visa renewal policy among international visitors during the two weeks following the National Assembly's approval of the new regulations.

Leading this surge, visitors from France have shown remarkable enthusiasm, driving a 72 per cent increase in demand for accommodations in Viet Nam compared to two weeks ago. Likewise, tourists from the Netherlands, New Zealand, Germany, and the United States have exhibited a notable rise of 38-45 per cent in their interest towards Vietnamese tourism.

Nguyen Thanh Son, Deputy Director of Benthanh Tourist International Centre, said that the company had reached out to several partners in key markets such as Romania, the Netherlands, Germany, France, and the US to inform them about Viet Nam's new visa policy.

All partners had received this news with great enthusiasm, he said.

However, Son said tourist companies were all waiting for detailed guidelines before collaborating with their partners to devise new travel itineraries, rejuvenate our offerings, and embark on marketing initiatives to attract tourists.

Cao Tri Dung, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Viet Nam TravelMart Joint Stock Company said that the new visa policy endorsed by the National Assembly would bring about a fundamental transformation in the profile of guests and the service infrastructure within the tourism sector.

The trend would exert an influence on the service system, necessitating adjustments to align with the novel policy. The policy, in turn, would create favourable circumstances to enhance the overall competitiveness of Vietnamese tourism, as well as localities, in tapping into international visitors.

According to Nguyen Trung Khanh, Director of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration, while the more lenient visa policy is important, it alone cannot fully enhance Viet Nam's appeal to tourists, improve its competitiveness, and captivate international markets. Achieving these goals requires a coordinated approach involving a range of complementary solutions.

The industry as a whole should prioritise crafting unique and appealing tourism products, complemented by robust marketing and promotional initiatives targeted at key markets.

Employing systematic and professional strategies to harness substantial potential is essential. Ensuring effective destination management, particularly in terms of security and safety, plays a pivotal role in delivering a positive experience to travellers exploring the country.

Concurrently, collective efforts are necessary to train tourism personnel, aligning with the demands for both quantity and quality, thereby elevating service standards to cater to diverse visitor needs. Furthermore, the widespread integration of digital transformation and information technology within tourism operations must be advanced in a harmonised manner.

Careful attention should be given to all policies that contribute to enhancing the overall travel experience in Viet Nam.

Considering the current rate of growth, the tourism industry necessitates an annual infusion of 40,000 fresh employees, in addition to retraining 25,000 individuals. However, educational institutions presently only graduate 20,000 students per year.

The proportion of proficiently trained personnel within the tourism sector remains inadequate, encompassing merely 43 per cent of the total workforce, with almost half displaying a lack of competence in foreign languages.

Conversely, the skill level of tourism workers in Viet Nam lags behind that of other nations. Notably, hotels in Viet Nam exhibit significantly lower productivity than their counterparts in destinations such as Singapore, Japan, and Malaysia. This discrepancy may impede the ability of local workers to compete, especially given the considerable number of skilled tourism professionals from the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, and Singapore seeking opportunities in Viet Nam.

Addressing this issue mandates a resolute commitment to enhancing the competencies and proficiencies of Viet Nam's tourism workforce in the upcoming years.  VNS
HCM CITY  Chairman of the HCM City Peoples Committee Phan Van Mai received visiting Israeli Minister of Economy and Industry Nir Barkat on Monday, noting that Israel is a partner that his city wishes to learn from and cooperate with in the fields of innovation and technology.

The host official said HCM City hoped to be the locality that implements cooperation between the Vietnamese and Israeli Governments, especially in the two above realms.

The southern economic hub of Viet Nam was working to become an innovation centre in the region, he noted, adding that it has sufficient space and room to develop connections in technology, startup, and innovation with Israeli partners.

Mai suggested that on the basis of the Governments cooperation, an agreement on innovation partnership be built between HCM City and Israeli partners.

The two sides could also promote investment and trade ties while working together to transfer agricultural techniques and technologies, along with new solutions and technologies for climate change response, he added.

For his part, Barkat said he was impressed with the dynamic development of Viet Nam, including HCM City.

He held that the recent signing of the Viet Nam-Israel free trade agreement would open up many opportunities for mutually beneficial development cooperation, particularly in the areas Israel is strong at such as startup, innovation, and technological solutions to global issues like high technology development, agriculture, climate change, and urban governance.

HCM City in particular and Viet Nam in general should build startup and innovation support centres to attract startups, the minister went on, adding that Israel is ready to share its experience in this regard and other fields of its strength such as hi-tech farming and technological solutions.

He also expressed his hope that the city would enhance cooperation with Israeli partners, assist Israeli businesses in marketing and distributing technological products and solutions, and increase bilateral trade, especially in the goods his country has high demand for such as farm produce and consumer products.  VNS
HA NOI  The Government on Monday issued Resolution No. 128/NQ-CP amending Resolution No. 32/NQ-CP dated March 15, 2022, regarding visa exemption for citizens of certain countries.

Accordingly, citizens from Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the UK, Russia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Belarus could stay in Viet Nam for 45 days instead of 15 days since their entry, regardless of passport type or purpose of entry if they meet entry requirements in line with Viet Nam law.

The Resolution will take effect on August 15.

The Government has also issued Resolution No. 127/NQ-CP on the issuance of e-visas for citizens of countries and territories. The resolution also publishes a list of international border gates that allow foreign nationals to enter and exit using e-visas.

The Resolution, which replaces Resolution No. 79/NQ-CP dated May 25, 2020 and Resolution No.60/NQ-CP dated April 27, 2022, will come into force on August 15.  VNS
(Photo : AFP) (-/AFP via Getty Images)

The fighting in Sudan has intensified as the nation's army fights against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) over control of the nation.

Hundreds of Sudanese residents flee amid paramilitary attacks and violence erupting in the western city of Nyala and many other regions in the state of South Darfur on Sunday.

Witnesses said the latest development threatens to engulf the region in Sudan's protracted war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by rival generals.

Sudan Fighting Intensifies

The conflict in the country has resulted in daily occurrences of conflict between the two sides and has ravaged the streets of the capital of Khartoum. The situation also led to the revival of ethnically targeted attacks in West Darfur and the displacement of more than 4 million people within the nation and across its borders into Chad, Egypt, South Sudan, and other countries.

The Sudanese army and the RSF have periodically engaged against each other in Nyala, which is the second biggest city in Sudan and is considered a strategic hub for the fragile Darfur region, as per the South China Morning Post.

On Sunday, witnesses said that RSF paramilitaries attacked Nyala using dozens of military vehicles and noted that hundreds of residents fled because of intense artillery fire.

They also said that the latest fighting in the region lasted three days, with both sides using artillery to fire into residential neighborhoods. The conflict has caused damage to electricity, water, and telecom networks.

The Darfur Bar Association, a national human rights monitor, said that at least eight people were killed on Saturday. Witnesses also said that in the last few days, the fighting in the region had extended 100 kilometers to the west of Nyala, in the Kubum area, resulting in dozens of deaths.

The bar association also noted that Arab tribe members equipped with RSF vehicles attacked the area, burning down the market while raiding the police station. The situation comes as several Arab tribes have pledged their allegiance to the RSF, according to Alarabiya.

Read Also: China Calls Taiwan VP 'Troublemaker' For His US Visit

A Dangerous Conflict

In a statement, the association called on all elements not to get dragged into the conflict, aiming to take power in the country's center. On Friday, Meta, the parent company of social media platform Facebook, removed official pages that belonged to the RSF for allegedly violating its "dangerous organizations and individuals policy."

The widespread fighting in the area threatens to bring Darfur back to the bloody attacks in the early 2000s. It was a time when "Janjaweed" militias, from which the RSF formed, assisted in helping the country's army crush a rebellion led by mainly non-Arab groups.

The United Nations also warned of sexual violence committed in Sudan on a "sickening scale." Officials from the global organization said that the fighting in the region has reopened old wounds of ethnic tension.

Senior UN aid official Edem Wosornu said that the alarming accounts of sexual violence reported by people who fled to Port Sudan were only a fraction of the ones being repeated from conflict hotspots across the nation, said Reuters.

Related Article: 'Partial Success': Ukraine Announces Small But Significant Gains in Zaporizhzhia

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Mobile technology is the most democratic and inclusive technology ever, with more than 8.5 billion subscribers on the same standard, giving our industry a truly global scale. Robust digital infrastructure is a prerequisite for a digital society, but with data traffic increasing rapidly  and expected to almost quadruple by 2028  it is essential to build even more network infrastructure.

Denis Brunetti - President in Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos, Ericsson

Mobile data traffic per smartphone continues to grow strongly in Southeast Asia and Oceania and is expected to reach around 54GB per month in 2028  a compound annual growth rate of 24 per cent according to Junes Ericsson Mobility Report. Hence, rapid build-out of 5G is critical to manage costs and deliver the best customer experience.

5G leverages new spectrum assets to deliver capacity with a much lower cost-per-gigabyte, while reducing the power consumed per delivered gigabyte. Upgrading legacy 4G sites to 5G could achieve increases of up to 10 times in capacity and also reduce energy consumption by more than 30 per cent.

5G can enable 10x more carbon emission reductions through the transformation of industry than the ICT sector itself emits. Digital technologies including 5G will be fundamental to halving carbon emissions every decade until 2050 and meeting the 1.5-degree Celsius global target.

Mobile broadband networks and digitalisation will not only help transform industries but reduce climate impacts. Our industry is responsible for 1.4 per cent of global emissions, but has the potential to reduce 15 per cent of global emissions in sectors like transport and manufacturing.

Due to our installed radio base being 5G ready, the introduction of the next mobile generation gives Ericsson the opportunity to reduce the climate footprint of mobile networks. These energy efficiencies are being achieved by preparing the network with latest technology solutions, activating energy-saving software, deploying 5G optimally, and operating site infrastructure intelligently. This is beneficial for communication service providers as well as countries focused on sustainable socioeconomic development.

Ericsson is making its 5G Ericsson Radio System portfolio 10 times more efficient for the same amount of transferred data compared to 4G based on factors like improvements in radio unit design, multi-band technology, and hardware components such as Ericsson Silicon. This is a dedicated, purpose-built system on a chip design solution that makes it possible to create high performing, smaller, and lighter radios that consume less energy.

Building a high-performing and energy-efficient 5G network is part of our vision for resilient and sustainable future networks. Using our energy-optimised 5G portfolio, we are tackling one of our industrys greatest challenges  reducing network energy consumption and carbon footprint while scaling up 5G. Our goal is to realise a low-carbon future while accelerating 5G experience.

Ericsson invests $4.4 billion in research and development annually, corresponding to almost 18 per cent of its sales. Around a quarter of its workforce is also deployed in such activities.

The new performance demands on networks require new levels of spectral efficiency and flexibility. The higher spectral efficiency of 5G and the lower energy footprint of the new 5G Ericsson Radio portfolio translates into a lower cost/GB for service providers as traffic grows. Multiple-input, multiple-output technology offers communication service providers the larger bandwidth of the mid-band to deliver powerful 5G experiences nationwide.

Ericsson believes that mobile networks need to be planned, built, and operated with precision. By taking a holistic view of network evolution, expansion, and operation, we have advanced our approach to break the upward trajectory of energy consumption in mobile networks. As traffic varies daily, the use of energy-saving applications is fundamental to adjusting the capacity of mobile networks to match demand and to delivering the best user experience with the lowest energy use.

This can be achieved through a portfolio of tools and capabilities including the latest AI and machine learning, as well as automation solutions which can help to reduce perceived complexity barriers. With zero-touch problem-solving and predictive energy management, Ericsson is well-equipped to support communication service providers in keeping energy use and carbon emissions at a minimum.

Ericsson has launched almost 150 live 5G networks across 63 markets across the globe. It relies on its strong product portfolio with best in class spectral efficiency, fast deployments of networks, and strong partnership with communications service providers to optimise the network and deliver superior network performance.

We are working towards building resilient, secure, and sustainable networks in Vietnam that have the best performance and optimal total cost of ownership, whilst also providing a superior digital customer experience.

Ericssons commitment to supporting the digital transformation of Vietnam Ericsson has been contributing its technology leadership to digital transformation in Vietnam over the past 30 years. Denis Brunetti, president of Ericsson in Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos, talked to VIRs Bich Thuy about his own journey and the plans ahead for the company in Vietnam.

5G commercialisation  a must to drive the digital vision of Vietnam Vietnam wants to commercialise 5G, thus enabling the country to achieve its digital vision. Denis Brunetti, president of Ericsson in Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, talked to VIRs Minh Anh about the key factors in this journey and how the company can support these efforts.
Could you tell us a little more about the role of the TTS business that has been described by the banks CEO as its crown jewel?

Kanika Thakur - Citis Asia-Pacific head of corporate, commercial, and public sector sales for Treasury and Trade Solutions (TTS)

TTS is the critical backbone our clients use to access Citis global network and move money around the world. It supports approximately 18,000 corporates across 95 markets globally, with a wide range of solutions which help clients with end-to-end cash management and working capital needs by providing integrated payments processing, liquidity management, short-term financing, and trade finance solutions.

The TTS division generated over $12 billion in revenue in 2022 and continues to record strong revenue growth in 2023 which was up 15 per cent on-year at the end of the second quarter.

Why are Asian markets such as Vietnam particularly interesting at this time?

Asia-Pacific continues to be a key engine of global growth, coming from an increasing number of Asian companies that are going global at a record pace. The regions fundamentals are strong, and there are significant untapped, new and emerging opportunities. Asia is growing faster than the rest of the world and Vietnam is growing even faster, and the market remains very interconnected with the rest of Asia and the West.

Asia is witnessing an acceleration towards a digital economy. As countries strengthen their digital infrastructure and embrace new technologies, entrepreneurial businesses are reinventing the way they conduct sales and commercial activities with their consumers.

We see this digital acceleration taking place in Vietnam too, where non-cash payment transactions have witnessed a significant surge in recent months, particularly QR code transactions. We have also witnessed an increasing shift towards trade digitalisation and modern financial services among our corporate clients.

Why has your position evolved to become a commerce enabler in Asia versus a bank serving corporates financial needs?

We are still heavily engaged in managing and executing traditional treasury services for corporates and play the role of a transaction bank where we collect, pay, lend, intermediate, and reconcile. But our role has evolved, as business models have changed and new forms of commerce have emerged, such as e-commerce, digital commerce, social commerce and so on.

Let me illustrate this better via an example. Take, for instance, a ride-hailing app. You book a ride on the app, your card is debited, and funds are sent to the driver. The driver has to receive those funds before confirming the ride, and then you receive a booking confirmation. This entire process happens in a few seconds on the front-end, but theres a lot that goes into the back-end to deliver this seamless experience to a customer, which banks like Citi enable.

Real-time demand is changing how commerce is conducted, and thats why were not a bank thats just intermediating transactions; were a bank thats enabling commerce.

Many of the local and international banks are innovating to meet the real-time demand. What is the competitive advantage for Citi in Vietnam and beyond?

Citis global network is the key differentiator, along with the uniformity of platform, services, and our client experience. When you add the cross-border element to the services companies provide, you expect the same experience whether you are in the US, Singapore, or Vietnam.

As a banking partner, Citi needs to be able to provide a similar experience to its corporate clients across the world, while accounting for differences in platforms, regulations. This is why our strategy is to be the pre-eminent bank for clients with cross-border needs.

Asia is quite different, market to market. The regulators, payment rails, clearing systems, currencies, unique identifiers, and even QR codes are different in every country. Nevertheless, our clients must make you feel that these are all the same, and as service providers we need to support that. Theres a lot that goes into creating the simplicity and uniformity of experience. From a cross-border perspective, were now enabling commerce more than ever.

How is Citi TTS supporting trade digitalisation in Vietnam?

Trade has always been the most paper-intensive part of business. There are reams of paper to go through with any transaction, and this can lead to long processing times and delays.

There are three key elements to trade digitalisation. Firstly, it is related to how we work with our clients; for instance, if they are able to submit their documents to us electronically. Next is in our own internal processes - for example, if we can conduct sanctions and other checks using AI and digital tools and save hours spent manually checking. Finally, we need to see if third-parties and partners can accept digitalised documents for tax, customs clearance, and other processes.

In Vietnam, we introduced CitiDirect BE Digital Onboarding for corporate clients, and now, the majority of account opening is digital. We also introduced the Document Centre, a new service digitising supporting documents and streamlining relevant processes required to facilitate cross-border payments for institutional clients.

With these digital capabilities, including electronic customs declaration processing and e-tax payments, we now provide an expanded suite of digital services to our corporate clients in Vietnam.

Citi releases annual ESG report for 2022 Citi has released its 2022 environmental, social, and governance (ESG) report, highlighting the company's progress and that of its foundation towards building more sustainable, diverse, and equitable communities around the world.

FinanceAsia names Citi Best Sustainable Bank in Vietnam Citi has been recognised by FinanceAsia, the region's premier capital markets publication, for sustainability work in the country and commitment to partnering with clients.
According to Nikkei Asia, this inflow pushes the company's valuation to an impressive $350 million, a sizable leap from the $100 million tag in its 2021 Series A round.

Founded in 2019, Credgenics offers an innovative blend of loan collection and legal automation. The company boasts collaborations with top-tier financial entities, including ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank, focusing on bolstering returns on troubled debts.

Fresh off its recent achievement of operational profitability, Credgenics reported revenues of $12.1 million for the fiscal year 2022-2023. Their expanding global footprint is evidenced by offices across India, Jakarta, Singapore, and forthcoming plans in Vietnam.

The firm stated that its 2023 operations touched an expansive loan portfolio valued at $60 billion.

The firm stated on its website, Loan management software was once just focussed on underwriting, while debt recollection relied on aggressive agents, phone calls that never connected, and long legal battles. We have seen the impact improved collection strategies can makenot just for lenders, but for the economy."

Since its founding, the firm has enabled more than 100 banks, fintech outfits, and asset reconstruction companies to increase resolution rates by 20 per cent, improve collections by 25 per cent, reduce collection costs by 40 per cent, and time spent on collection by 30 per cent, and improve legal efficiencies by 60 per cent.

Credgenics handles more than $47 billion of retail loan book value and more than $6 billion of delinquent stage retail loan book value. It manages at least $40 million in retail loans and sends over $60 million worth of digital communications every month.

The fresh capital injection is earmarked for product enhancement, global outreach, and making deeper inroads into the broader financial services landscape.

KPMG tech innovator contest unveils top 6 finalists The 2023 KPMG Private Enterprise Global Tech Innovator is a prestigious global competition hosted by KPMG Private Enterprise that recognises groundbreaking companies in the technology industry from 26 countries around the world. During the semi-final stage in Vietnam and Cambodia on July 20, the top six finalists in their respective markets were unveiled.

Ascend Vietnam Ventures leads $1 million funding for Singapore's AI edtech Cerebry Singapore-based AI-education startup, Cerebry, has announced a $1 million seed funding round to boost the reach of its AI-tutoring product for students and test-prep candidates in Vietnam and other Asian markets.
The government has released its sustainable marine strategy for the next decade, what are its key points?

Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Le Minh Ngan

The strategy is formulated in accordance with the law on natural resources and environment of sea and islands, as well as the Partys major guidelines on the sustainable development of Vietnams marine economy.

Our desire by 2050 is that sea and island resources are properly exploited and effectively used to turn Vietnam into a strong maritime nation. The strategy reaffirms the governments commitment to green growth, biodiversity conservation, marine environment protection, and a society in harmony with nature.

Thus, the strategy aims to ensure the efficient and equitable exploitation and use of natural resources in Vietnams coastal areas, islands, archipelagos, seas, and airspace, based on a harmonious combination of socioeconomic interests, environmental protection, and national defence.

The strategy sets out that all hazardous waste and domestic solid waste will be collected and treated under national environmental standards. Economic and industrial zones, and coastal urban areas are planned in the direction of sustainability, ecology, smartness, and adaptation to climate change, while meeting standards and regulations on the environment.

Furthermore, it is expected to better manage and protect marine, coastal, and island ecosystems, increase the area of marine reserves, and increase the total area of marine and coastal protected areas to at least 6 per cent of the countrys natural marine area.

It will also protect breeding areas, migration routes, and habitats of aquatic animal species, biosphere reserves, and restore coastal mangrove areas to the level of the year 2000.

Another goal is to survey and map at least half of Vietnams maritime zones in terms of marine resources and ecology on a 1:500.000 scale.

What work will the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment focus on to work towards these set strategic goals?

From now until 2030, it plans to focus on six groups of work. First is to prioritise the arrangement of marine space to develop marine economic fields; as well as zoning the use of marine space to overcome conflicts and overlapping interests in exploitation and use of resources, paying special attention to peoples livelihoods and environmental protection requirements.

Second is to carry out an investigation, classification, monitoring, and assessment of pollution types, status, and sources; as well as assessment of environmental load capacity, and level of risks of marine environmental pollution for marine economic development.

Thirdly, it is necessary to protect and maintain the existing system of marine protected areas, study new marine protected areas, and step up the investigation, assessment and identification of vulnerable and endangered species of endemic marine species to come up with plans and solutions to protect and conserve them.

Fourth is to strengthen the capacity of monitoring, forecasting, and warning and have an early warning system at sea and coastal areas to protectively respond to natural disasters. We must implement solutions to restore marine and coastal ecosystems, such as mangrove restoration, to minimise damage caused by sea level rises, saltwater intrusion, and other related impacts.

Fifthly, we must implement the key initiative for basic investigation of marine resources and the environment as well as prioritising new resource discovery projects, biodiversity conservation projects, marine cultural heritage conservation projects, and periodic investigation projects for different types of marine resources.

Sixthly, it is necessary to promote research, transfer, and application of modern, environmentally friendly technologies in the exploitation and use of resources and develop tools and equipment to monitor and control marine environmental pollution and promote international cooperation in controlling transboundary pollution sources such as marine plastic waste, and oil spill response.

How will improvements in the legal system aid in marine and island environment protection?

The improvement of the legal system on environmental protection of the sea and islands is one of the groups of solutions proposed in the strategy.

Going forward, we think it is necessary to study and develop a Law on the Management and Use of Marine Areas. This will regulate activities in the right of organisations and individuals to use certain sea areas to exploit and use marine resources and create a legal corridor to apply economic tools in the management of marine resources and environment, such as fees as well as formulating policies to encourage economic and social development, combining defence and security protection on islands, as well as social policies.

Vietnam and ASEAN seek closer cooperation in maritime transport Representatives from the 10 ASEAN member countries are gathering at the 42nd meeting of the bloc's Maritime Transport Working Group (MTWG) hosted by Vietnam to discuss new innitiatives for closer cooperation.

Van Phong accentuates raising maritime economy On April 13, Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh signed Decision No.451/QD-TTg approving the adjustment of planning for Van Phong Economic Zone in the central province of Khanh Hoa.
Dat Bike CEO Son Nguyen is not letting up in its creation of new models

The Vietnamese startup has formed strategic alliances with ride-hailing giants like Gojek and food delivery services like Baemim, as well as engaged with financial partners such as HSBC to expand to new customer segments and secure investment.

Among the international markets that Dat Bike is eyeing, Indonesia stands out as their first destination for expansion. Indonesia currently boasts a sizable demand for electric motorcycles, with the government implementing supportive policies in the electric vehicle (EV) sector. Additionally, the usage habits of e-bikes in Indonesia share similarities with those in Vietnam, making it a promising market for Dat Bikes products.

CEO Son Nguyen emphasised their focus on establishing a solid domestic market before expanding to neighbouring countries.

We have been studying the demand for EVs in various Southeast Asian nations, examining foreign business policies, and seeking production and distribution partners to lay the groundwork for their international market entry plan, which is projected to materialise by 2025, he said.

Dat Bike also recognises the importance of leveraging resources effectively during this pivotal stage of development. Collaboration and partnerships with other organisations become crucial factors in the growth strategy.

Vietnam leads the electric motorcycle adoption rate in Southeast Asia, with e-bikes accounting for 10 per cent of total two-wheelers, whereas other Southeast Asian countries hover around only 1 per cent.

Vietnam also stands out due to its long exposure to low-performance electric motorcycles imported from China, which have been used by students in secondary and high schools for many years. Consequently, a significant portion of the population has become familiar with e-bikes, and their experience as students shapes them into potential customers who will likely choose EVs when they reach adulthood.

This early exposure to EVs is rare in comparison to other countries and may take 5-10 years for other markets to develop a similar segment, Nguyen said.

Therefore, as the trend towards EVs gains momentum, Dat Bike remains optimistic about the future of the e-bike industry in Vietnam. The primary challenge currently lies in producing such vehicles with comparable performance to gasoline-powered counterparts while maintaining reasonable pricing.

Having operated in the market for nearly five years, Dat Bike has demonstrated its manufacturing capabilities and prowess in producing high-performance electric motorcycles that address the challenges and compare favourably against traditional gasoline-powered counterparts.

A prime example of this is Dat Bikes latest model, the Weaver++. This e-bike boasts a range of 200km on a single charge. It has the ability to fast charge at any standard power outlet, providing 100km of range in just one hour, and a quick 20 minutes at Dat Charge stations can deliver 100km of range as well.

Priced at VND65.9 million ($2,780), the Weaver++ is regarded as an excellent value proposition for the functionality it offers.

The companys dedication to fostering environmentally friendly mobility solutions also aligns perfectly with the rising demand for eco-conscious transportation options worldwide, Son said.

As Dat Bike continues to push the boundaries of related technology and expand its horizons beyond borders, it is undoubtedly poised for a future filled with growth, he said.

E-motorbike startup Dat Bike wraps up $2.6 million funding led by Jungle Ventures Dat Bike, a Vietnamese electric motorbike startup, has raised $2.6 million in pre-Series A funding led by Jungle Ventures and featuring Wavemaker Partners, Hustle Fund, and iSeed Ventures.

Dat Bikes vision to electrify the region With sustainable development picking up pace around the world, Dat Bike believes it has an advantage to take the lead with its e-bikes. Son Nguyen, CEO of Dat Bike, talked to Minh Anh about the companys vision to realise its dream of electrifying the regional market.

Gojek inks partnership with Dat Bike in Vietnam Gojek  an on-demand, multiservice mobile platform  and Dat Bike  one of the fastest growing electric vehicle startups in Southeast Asia  announced on May 18 that they will partner to pilot the use of electric motorbikes in Gojek's transportation, logistics, and food delivery network in Vietnam.
Core5 Vietnam offers ready-built factories and warehouses for lease

Wholly owned by Kajima Corporation, Core5 Industrial Partners is a United States-based industrial real estate property company with expertise in the development of Class-A properties featuring the latest innovations.

Following success in the US, the Core5 brand expanded a year ago into Vietnam, one of Asias fastest-growing manufacturing and logistics markets, and became part of Kajima Corporations joint venture with Indochina Capital. This multi-asset real estate development venture, named Indochina Kajima, was until then mainly concentrated on hospitality projects.

The new industrial platform has been focused on the nationwide rollout of world-class factory and warehouse properties for lease throughout Vietnams key manufacturing and logistics markets.

Paul Tonkes, industrial deputy director of Indochina Kajima, said that despite the economic headwinds, the momentum for investors to opt for leasing will remain strong in the coming years, amplified by regional and global megatrends.

The still soaring demand means we need to grasp this opportunity the right way, he said. Supported by the fact that Vietnam has a healthy supply of millions of square metres of ready-built/turn-key factories with international standard helps, in addition to advanced infrastructure development, a high-quality, affordable workforce, and suitable compelling incentives and business support.

This all, underpinned by the strong fundamentals of Vietnam and the growth potential of the industrial real estate market, led to the launch of Core5, he added.

Core5 Vietnam offers its valued partners a range of solutions including ready-built factories for lease, ready-built warehouses for lease, and build-to-suit industrial properties. It offers a one-stop service, aiming to ensure a soft landing for new market entry into Vietnam for the ventures valued tenants.

Key services include development and construction consultation from project managers, facility management advice from operation professionals, and licensing support to ensure timely business setup so manufacturing activities or logistics companies can launch their businesses quickly. Core5 Vietnams current portfolio has a total land area of about 90 hectares, including seven projects in the north and one in the south of Vietnam. When construction is completed, these projects will provide the market with a leasable area of about 700,000sq.m with a total development investment cost of nearly $450 million.

The first three projects in Vietnam are located along a unique economic corridor stretching from Hanoi via Hung Yen to Haiphong and Quang Ninh, and will offer nearly 228,000 sq.m of net leasable area for factories to the market between now and May 2024.

This micro-ecosystem of like-minded occupiers is what we have named the Core5 Eco-Factory Village: a manufacturing community that combines the best of project locations, whether Quang Ninh, Haiphong, or Hung Yen, Tonkes said. This will eventually shine through in the service level of our industrial projects and should be as comprehensive as an affordable luxury hotel. It will include on-demand/pay-per-use services for our tenants, supported via partnerships to support these businesses in industrial zones, with end-to-end value-added services for operation, transportation, warehousing, and more.

Foreign-led companies are increasingly looking to work with suppliers who share their commitment to sustainability. This includes sourcing materials and products from environmentally responsible suppliers and ensuring that suppliers adhere to sustainable practices throughout their supply chain. The Core5 Eco-Factory Village will be home to these types of companies, Tonkes said.

Indochina Capital is celebrating over 20 years of reshaping landscapes, redefining luxury, and bringing immersive destinations to Vietnam, such as Four Seasons Nam Hai, Six Senses Con Dao, Hyatt Regency Danang, Indochina Plaza Hanoi, and the Wink Hotels brand.

Kajima Corporation, founded in 1840, is one of the largest Japanese overseas real estate developers. Its global footprint operates through subsidiaries in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

Indochina Kajima launches Core5 Vietnam, a best-in-class industrial brand from the US On July 6, Indochina Kajima Development Company, a joint venture between Indochina Capital and Kajima Corporation, launched Core5 Vietnam  a Vietnam-based industrial real estate investment and development platform focused on the nationwide rollout of world-class factory and warehouse properties for lease throughout Vietnams key manufacturing and logistics markets.

Industrial real estate on growth agenda of Indochina Kajima Realising the promising land of industrial real estate, developer Indochina Kajima has set foot in the segment with the ambition of becoming one of the leading world-class multi-segment property names.

Core5 to set up one-stop factory and warehouse solutions Core5 Vietnam aims to raise the bar within the country's industrial property market to welcome the new wave of foreign investment. Peter Ryder, CEO at Indochina Capital talked with VIR's Nguyen Huong about the expansion of Core5.

Core5 Vietnam breaks ground on second industrial project in Quang Ninh Core5's project is expected to deliver a total of 69,000 square metres of world-class, ready-built industrial space for lease in March 2024.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo welcomed a delegation from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on August 10 at the Presidential Palace. (Photo source: thejakartapost.com)

Jakarta  Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) expressed his desire for a seamless and swift path to make Indonesia a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), especially when the country is carrying out economic reform in many areas.

Speaking in a press conference on August 10 after the meeting between President Jokowi and an OECD delegation at the Presidential Palace, Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said that OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann appreciated President Jokowi's leadership in implementing reforms in several areas to strengthen the national economy in the context of global instability. Many of the economic and investment reforms are well suited to Indonesia's need to strengthen the economy.



Minister Sri Mulyani said that the Government of Indonesia and the OECD have been cooperating for a long time. Indonesia is the main business partner of the OECD.

The two sides have implemented some cooperation programmes such as an economic survey and assessment of the policies in Indonesia.



Indonesia conducted an assessment of policies related to State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) and tax, capital flow, government procurement, anti-corruption, and the environment.



Regarding Indonesias desire to become an OECD member, the minister said that President Jokowi expressed a hope that the process for OECD membership will run smoothly and quickly, especially when Indonesia implements reforms to make its economy in line with OECDs requirements for membership.

During the meeting, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi also added that OECD member countries strongly support Indonesia to join the OECD and a meeting to discuss Indonesia's OECD membership will be held soon.

Serious air pollution hit Jakarta Indonesia's capital Jakarta has become the world's most polluted major city on August 10 while it has ranked among the ten most polluted cities globally since May, according to data by Swiss air quality technology company IQAir.
Indonesia pushes for rubber partnership with Thailand, illustration photo/ Source: freepik.com

Jakarta - Indonesia is seeking partnership with fellow rubber producer Thailand due to plummeting prices facing the country and the European Union's rollout of an anti-deforestation law.

Thailand and Indonesia are the worlds top two rubber-producing nations who are facing similar situations, said Indonesian Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan at a press conference following a meeting with Thai House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha. Problems come one after another from the falling prices of rubber to the commodity being subject to the EU Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR).

Zulkifli said rubber prices have declined sharply. The rubber leaf fall disease also dealt a fatal blow on the production, making it difficult to propel prices to a remunerative level, the minister added.

Dropping prices might prompt rubber farmers to shift to other crops, resulting in a tight supply of natural rubber in the future, according to Zulkifli.

He called for collaboration between the members of the International Tripartite Rubber Council (ITRC), namely Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. The council, which accounts for 58% of global rubber production, pursues fair and remunerative prices for the smallholders.

The ITRC also works alongside other rubber exporters, including Vietnam and the Philippines, to increase prices, he noted.

Indonesia to implement Golden Visa policy this month Indonesia's Golden Visa policy, which will offer visa exemption for foreign companies or foreigners who make a large investment in the country, is likely to be issued in one or two weeks, said Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan on August 1.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh with investors who received investment certificates in Long An, Photo: Nhat Bac

Long An province has efficiently availed of its location adjacent to Ho Chi Minh City, bountiful natural resources across the board, and efforts to create open, transparent and competitive business environment, leaders say.

In Junes approval of the provinces development planning for the rest of this decade and with a vision towards 2050, the province aims to be home to over 50 industrial zones (IZs) covering more than 12,400 hectares by 2030.

As of now, Long An accommodates 34 IZs spanning over 9,250ha, of which 26 are eligible to hail investment, with the land for industrial production amounting to 4,280ha. The current occupancy rate at local IZs surpasses 66 per cent.

Eight others with approved policies are in the stage of investment procedure preparation, land acquisition, and infrastructure development covering 2,465ha.

These include Thu Thua, Truong Hai International, The Ky, Nam Tan Tap, Tan Tap, Loc Giang, Tandoland, and Prodezi IZs.

Six others which have submitted dossiers asking for policy approval and are being evaluated by the Ministry of Planning and Investment are the expanded Phuc Long and Thinh Phat IZs, Anh Hong 2, third-phase Xuyen A, the expanded second-phase Long Hau, and Hoang Loc IZs.

In the year to date, Long Ans IZs have enticed 50 foreign-invested and 30 domestic projects valued at a total $1.3 billion in committed capital volume.

Additionally, 41 foreign-invested and nine domestic ventures sought capital additions, with a total combined supplemental capital volume surpassing $89 million.

Compared to a similar period in 2022, the number of projects rose by one-third, committed foreign capital volume surged by just over half, and committed domestic capital volume spiked by almost two-thirds.

Long An IZs have drawn in around 885 foreign-invested and 935 domestic initiatives, valued at a combined $11.95 billion in total capital volume.

Long An IZs lead in attracting local and foreign investors in the Mekong Delta area

Efficient exposure

Over the years, Long An has paid due heed to investment promotion through diverse forms both online and offline, from there boosting the provinces exposure to the wider community of local and international investors. Such promotion has become robust in the province in recent years.

Along with this, the province has succeeded in hosting many promotion events to entice investors to the province. On July 25, Long An successfully hosted a conference on its master plan announcement and investment promotion for the rest of the year, with the attendance of the prime minister.

Simultaneously, to commemorate 50 years of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Japan in September, the province hosted an investment promotion conference last month themed Long An Integration and Development, with a view to promoting the development potential and opportunities to the wider community of Japanese financiers.

In addition, Long An has inaugurated the Korean Chamber of Commerces Long An branch and hosted a seminar promoting trade and investment with South Korean businesses; held dialogues with Japanese businesses and established a Japanese business branch in Long An; welcomed a working group from the Austrian trade office; held a working session with the Indian General Consulate; and welcomed delegations from South Koreas Gyeongsangnam-do province, Japans Okayama prefecture, and from Samsung Vietnam, among others.

Meanwhile, on-the-spot investment promotion is also set as a priority in the province to help businesses remove impediments in a timely manner.

Provincial leaders have maintained monthly dialogues with businesses and ensured close cooperation with foreign business associations and branches to timely acquire information, from there radically tackling the problems firms were facing.

Many working groups were sent to businesses in major areas for industrial development such as Duc Hoa, Ben Luc, Can Duoc, Can Giuoc, Thu Thua, and Tan An city to help firms overcome hardships.

Long An IZs conveniently link with the regions ports and logistics system

Stable and efficient operation

For its part, Long An Economic Zone Authority (LAEZA), which is in charge of overseeing investment promotion into the provinces economic zones and IZs, has regularly come up with diversified activities to boost the provinces exposure among businesses through holding seminars and workshops for investment attraction to local IZs.

LAEZA has efficiently availed of online promotion tools through websites of diverse domestic and foreign business associations and organisations; updating data and translating relevant documents in different languages to present investment environment and information about local IZs to foreign backers.

Currently, LAEZA operates the investment promotion portal into local IZs in Vietnamese, English, Korean, Chinese, and Japanese languages.

Also, the authority has frequently teamed up with IZ developers and secondary investors to host registration certificate awarding, inauguration and kick-off ceremonies to keep businesses best informed of the latest developments in the local investment climate.

Efforts are also made to provide them with updated information about local IZs and ready-to-serve factory space, as well as incentives upon request. LAEZA has required developers to accelerate construction to create more space for industrial production to entice investors to the provinces IZs.

In addition, LAEZA does its utmost to effectively play the role as a focal agency in IZ management, contributing to ensuring stable and efficient production and business practices in the province.

Administrative procedure reform is set a key task by LAEZA through the application of drastic measures to simplify procedures, helping firms to save time while facilitating business development.

Notably, in recent months and with support from the authority, many investors have had certificates handed over just one day after submitting their dossiers.

Committed to simplifying the process for individuals and businesses, LAEZA has taken consistent measures to ensure that more than half of the admin dossiers are settled entirely online.

In respect to investment promotion, Long An is committed to pushing up promotion efforts towards traditional and potential partners and markets such as South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, China, the US, and Singapore.

It is also giving priority to investors from tech-intensive countries, members of free trade agreements, and multinationals with plans to relocate headquarters or establish research and development centres, among others.

Long An cultivating strong pro-business environment As part of the Mekong Delta region, Long An province allures investors not only by virtue of its favourable position adjoining Ho Chi Minh City and constantly improved local infrastructure, but also by its commitment to support businesses and investors

Long An province and Dong Tam Group work with Japans Mitsui E&S Machinery Leaders of Long An province and Dong Tam Group from September 4 to 10 had a working session with Japan's Mitsui E&S Machinery to promote bilateral investment between Vietnam and Japan.
In the second quarter (Q2) of this year, MobileWorld JSC (MWG) saw 14 per cent drop on-year in its revenue falling to $1.24 billion, and a 98 per cent plunge in post-tax profit to $734,170.

In the first half (H1) of this year, MWG counted $2.38 billion in revenue and $1.62 million in post-tax profit.

The company has attributed that bleak situation to the weakening purchasing power for handsets and electrical products generally since Q4 of last year, and has yet to be resumed in H1 of this year, except for the demand for air-conditioners and fans due to seasonal weather.

To draw new customers, MWG had come up with a large-scale sale promotion campaign from late March with attractive price discounts to boost sales. Consequently, the companys total revenue surged 8 per cent in Q2 compared to Q1, yet the accrued profit margin in Q2 reduced.

Similarly, weak demand had also pulled down profit at Digiworld JSC. In Q2, the company posted $193.9 million in revenue and $3.5 million in post-tax profit, a 6 per cent and 39 per cent drop on-year, respectively.

The revenue in the handset segment slid 19 per cent on-year falling to $92.4 million during the period. This is also the segment with the largest contribution to the companys revenue.

The office equipment segment had a 17 per cent drop in revenue falling to $30.8 million as businesses saved on costs.

In H1, Digiworld counted $361 million in revenue and $6.83 million in post-tax profit, down 28.2 per cent in revenue and 53.4 per cent in post-tax profit.

With such outcomes, the company has only completed 43 per cent of full-year revenue and 41 per cent of full-year post-tax profit projections.

The business picture at FPT Retail (FRT), belonging to tech giant FPT Corporation, is also gloomy. According to the companys consolidated Q2 financial statement, FRT counted $302.5 million in revenue, up 15.5 per cent on-year, but incurred $9.05 million losses during the period compared to $1.97 million in profit one year ago.

FRT leaders have attributed Q2s poor profit performance to consumer budget-tightening, particularly for high-value and not essential products.

In addition, competition among retailers is fierce, with many price discount battles.

In the first half of this year, FRT reported 6.6 per cent drop in revenue and incurred $8.9 million losses compared to $9.1 million profit one year ago.

Doan Hong Viet, Digiworld chairman, said that they expected better revenue in Q3 compared to Q2 and to regain growth momentum from Q4.

Both Digiworld and MWG pin their hopes on rebound prospects of the retail market in the rest of this year, leveraging the fact that Apple will be launching its flagship iPhone this October and better revenue from laptop sales ahead of srudents going back to school.

Viet assumes that a boom in growth will come in the second half of 2024, driven by a new product cycle and economic rebound, leading to burgeoning consumer demand.

Nguyen Bach Diep, chairwoman of FPT Retail is less optimistic, saying that difficult times will drag to the end of the year.

Diep said that in the long run FRTs growth might see upbeat prospects, with the Long Chau drugstore chain set as an investment priority at present.

Apple retailers set for price competition shake-up The latest introduction of a standardised framework by Apples online store in Vietnam is likely to redefine the competitive landscape, creating a level playing field for retailers and raising the expectations of customers.

Trends and opportunities for brands and retailers Vietnam is one of the five key markets in Asia-Pacific that hold growth potential for brands and retailers, with a strong preference for domestically produced goods. Helen Sac, consultant director for Asia-Pacific at consumer insights firm WGSN, talks to VIRs Linh Le about emerging trends.

South Korean retailers extend reach South Korean companies are showing significant interest in Vietnams flourishing retail sector, seeking to seize opportunities presented by the nations robust economic growth and sizable working-age population.
(Photo : Sergey BOBOK / AFP) (SERGEY BOBOK/AFP via Getty Images)

Russia launches attack on Ukraine's Kherson region, killing a family, including a 22-day-old infant, and injuring at least 22 others.

Russia launched an attack on the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson on Sunday, resulting in the death of a family, including a 22-day-old infant, and the injury of at least 22 others.

The situation has prompted local officials in Ukraine to declare Monday a day of mourning, and President Volodymyr Zelensky promised justice to the victims. The attack came as Kyiv was able to reclaim a portion of Kherson from Russian occupation last November.

Russia Shells Ukraine's Kherson Region

However, Kremlin troops have continued to launch shell attacks on the regional capital and areas around it from across the Dnipro River. Authorities reported that the five people killed were in the village of Shyroka Balka.

Zelensky identified two more family members as a 12-year-old boy who died from injuries he obtained from the attack and his 39-year-old mother, Olesia. In a Telegram post, Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said that terrorists will never stop killing civilians and must be stopped with force because they understand nothing else, as per Reuters.

Kherson Gov. Oleksandry Prokudin said that two people, including the pastor of a church, were the fatal victims of the attack in the neighboring village of Stanislav. The interior ministry also noted that three people each from Kherson and the town of Beryslav were injured. There were also casualties reported in five other settlements across the region.

In a statement on Telegram, Prokudin said that the terrible news of the attack shook the Kherson region. He noted that the settlements that Russia targeted were Balka, Kherson, Komyshany, Shyroka Balka, Stanislav, Veletenske, and Zolota.

On the evening of the latest attack, the local Kherson government said that a new air strike and artillery shelling wounded a 31-year-old woman and a man. Officials noted that the assault also damaged at least 12 houses in Bilozerka. They said that three guided aerial bombs were used to target several houses in the village of Odradokamianka.

On Saturday, Ukrainian military officials said that Kyiv's forces were making progress against Moscow's troops located in southern Ukraine. According to Aljazeera, they were able to claim some success near a key village in the Zaporizhzhia region.

Read Also: Horrifying Russian Missiles Strike Zaporizhzhia, Terrify Children in Park

Ukraine's Counteroffensive

Ukraine's General Staff said that it achieved "partial success" around the Robotyne area in the Zaporizhzhia region. Officials consider the area a key Russian stronghold that is needed to be controlled if Kyiv wants to continue pushing its forces south toward Melitopol.

Geral Oleksandr Tarnavskyi said that they were able to liberate some territories, arguing that Ukraine's defense forces are working. Battles have occurred in the last few weeks in multiple areas along the more than 1,000-kilometer front line amid Ukraine's counteroffensive.

The attack also follows Ukrainian deputy defense minister Hanna Maliar's comments on Saturday, where she tried to quell rumors that Ukrainian troops landed on the occupied left bank of the Dnipro in the Kherson region.

Since launching the counteroffensive in June, Ukrainian forces have only made incremental gains in taking back territories, said The Guardian.

Related Article: 'Partial Success': Ukraine Announces Small But Significant Gains in Zaporizhzhia

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Japanese burger establishment, Shogun Burger, marked its global footprint with the inauguration of its premier outlet in Vietnam last month.

Japanese burger establishment, Shogun Burger - photo: shogun-burger.com

Strategically positioned within Ho Chi Minh Citys vibrant Binh Thanh district, the establishment seeks to captivate the local Japanese community and the burgeoning tourist demographic.

Beyond the introduction of its hallmark burger offerings, Nikkei Asia reported that Shogun Burger will venture into curating an assortment of bespoke creations meticulously tailored to Vietnamese palates.

This culinary endeavour will encompass an innovative melding of premium Japanese and Vietnamese beef, alongside an exclusive limited-edition banh mi burger.

Having been established in 2016, Shogun Burger currently commands a network of 11 establishments across Japan, constituting a blend of both company-owned and franchised locales. The culinary venture operates under the stewardship of Ganesha, a Toyama-based entity.

Meanwhile, Japanese restaurant operator Hachi-Ban is preparing to make a pronounced mark on Southeast Asias dining landscape, with a particular emphasis on the vibrant market of Vietnam.

Originating in Kanazawa, the companys expansion aspirations are anchored in Thailand and Vietnam. After inaugurating its inaugural Vietnamese restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City in 2019, the company temporarily slowed expansion due to the pandemic.

However, Hachi-Ban recently resurfaced with a renewed drive, launching its second restaurant in the southern Vietnamese city in April.

As reported by Nikkei Asia in late July, Hachi-Bans further openings are planned before year-end, aligning with a near-term goal of reaching 50 outlets in Vietnam.

While definitive statistical insights on the entire food and beverages (F&B) performance for the first half of 2023 remain elusive, a survey conducted by iPOS.vn of 137 outlets reveals a subdued industry outlook. Only 30 per cent of F&B businesses registered revenue growth over the six months. Concurrently, 40 per cent reported declining revenues, whilst another 30 per cent noted stagnant turnover.

In terms of operational activity, 63.5 per cent of businesses maintained their outlet count; 26.3 per cent inaugurated new branches; 5.8 per cent had to shutter at least one branch, with another 4.4 per cent opting to replace unprofitable branches with new ones.

Highlighting the markets sentiment, renowned F&B conglomerate Golden Gate - owner of chains such as Kichi Kichi, Gogi House, Manwah, and iSushi - declared record profits of over $27.1 million in 2022.

Yet, in a move reflecting the prevailing cautionary approach, the company set a 2023 revenue target of only $7.05 million.

In the aftermath of Masan Groups acquisition, Phuc Long beverage chain is confronting its inaugural revenue decline during the second quarter, with a lingering conundrum surrounding its kiosk model.

Specifically, Phuc Long Heritage JSC, the subsidiary that owns the Phuc Long beverage chain, recorded a contraction of over 14 per cent in second-quarter revenue on-year, translating to a sum exceeding VND370 billion ($15.6 million).

For the first time since coming under the purview of Masan, Phuc Long is grappling with a regression in its performance. Masans leadership has also attributed the sluggish pace of new store openings to the challenges confronting F&B retail.

Meanwhile, Auntie Annes, the American coffee and pretzel franchise, in June announced it has permanently shut all of its Vietnam-based establishments after four years.

Nguyen Ha Linh, CEO of the Thai Koh Yam restaurant chain, said, Major businesses recent struggles clearly indicate the lingering aftermath of the pandemic. Last year witnessed a spending spree, a rebound from prolonged social distancing measures. However, now as things normalise, economic downturns become evident, directly impacting consumer spending, especially from the end of 2022 onwards.

Vu Thanh Hung, CEO of iPOS.vn, anticipates that the end of 2023 will mark the nadir for F&B in Vietnam. He foresees a year-end holiday season characterised by maximal frugality from consumers.

To navigate these challenging times, Hung suggested three strategies for F&B businesses.

Firstly, companies must discern and meet the evolving market demands by introducing innovative products and restructuring menus at more competitive prices. Secondly, they should focus on minimising operational costs, maintaining just enough revenue to cover ongoing expenses, even if this means accepting slimmer profit margins or operating at a loss. Lastly, businesses should capitalise on festive occasions and special events, recognising that consumers are often more inclined to spend on dining during these times, he noted.

F&B groups snapping up new stores in bid for victory Consumer belt-tightening is not having much impact on the revenues of food and beverage businesses in Vietnam, with many maintaining stable growth rates.

ASEAN, RoK boost business ties in food, beverage The ASEAN-Korea Centre (AKC) on May 30 opened an ASEAN Trade Fair in the framework of the Seoul Food 2023 (SF2003) to showcase food and beverage products from ASEAN countries and create opportunities for ASEAN companies to connect and establish business partnerships with partners from the Republic of Korea (RoK).
In terms of servers, Viettel holds the largest market share with 60 per cent of the countrys total, followed by FPT Telecom with 19 per cent, and VNPT 11 per cent.

Nguyen Thanh Phuc - Director-general Authority of Telecommunications Ministry of Information and Communications

Globally, each country has an average of 37 data centres. In comparison with a top 15 nation like Poland, which has 126 data centres, Vietnam lags behind.

With scale and quality, the countrys system of data centres and cloud computing can meet the demands about data infrastructure, and serve the countrys socioeconomic development, thus creating a driving force for breakthrough growth momentum in the upcoming years.

By 2025, we plan to increase the number of businesses operating data centres/cloud computing to 14, the number of data centres will increase to 55, and the numbers of services and physical cores will be doubled to more than one million, and 110 million, respectively.

The growth rate of revenue in the 2020-2022 period saw impressive results. Specifically, revenue from data centres grew 18 per cent, while the threshold of cloud computing hiked 26 per cent. In the 2023-2025 span, it is projected that the revenue growth will be 30 per cent on average and higher for both data centres and cloud computing.

In the upcoming time, to promote the development of data centre/cloud computing infrastructure, the Ministry of Information and Communications has built planning for development of data centre/cloud computing infrastructure with the perspective of the data centre system planning in line with energy planning, taking advantages of regional strengths, telecommunications connection infrastructure, transportation infrastructure, and human resources.

We plan to develop at least two national data centres with a scale of 70,000 square metres, meeting Uptime Tier-3 standards or higher. We also plan to develop three national multi-target data centre clusters meeting the same standards

Multi-target data centre clusters at regional level are also planned for key economic areas. We aim to develop connection infrastructure of data centres/cloud computing at national and regional level, thus increasing the quality and better serving demands for applications with low latency.

Nowadays, one of the development requirements for data centres is to go green. It is forecast that in the next 10 years, energy consumption of data centres/cloud computing will make up half of total demand. Therefore, we need to set out relatively high standards of energy consumption. Accordingly, we set the power usage effectiveness (PUE) ratio at 1.4/PUE. This is the coefficient asymptotic to countries around the world.

For some developed countries like the Netherlands, it aims to have a PUE of less than 1.2 by 2030. China strives to have a PUE ratio less than 1.3 by 2025. Recently, Singapore has issued conditions for development of data centres that is to meet PUE less than 1.3.

With the current developments and plans by businesses to develop data centres/cloud computing, as well as the ministrys development planning, this work is an important part of Vietnams digital infrastructure to help meet the needs of the countrys digital economy development, and helping the country achieve the targets of becoming an upper middle-income country by 2030, and high-income country by 2045.

Ho Chi Minh City among top markets for data centre development With many of the largest markets in the APAC region boasting particularly high land costs, only Ho Chi Minh City ranks within the top 10 for the land price category for data centres.

Data centre appeal poised to expand Vietnams data centre sector is poised for substantial growth, although challenges surrounding regulations, construction, and mounting demand for energy efficiency need to be effectively navigated.
A cruise ship capsized after being caught in a tornado on Bangtaboon River, Ban Laem district in Phetchaburi province, Thailand on August 12 evening. (Photo source: thaipbsworld.com)

Hanoi - Thai police said on August 13 that at least one person was killed in a ship capsizing accident in the south of Thailand.

A cruise ship capsized after being caught in a tornado on Bangtaboon River, Ban Laem district in Phetchaburi province on August 12 evening.



Seven Thai tourists, including three men and four women, were on the sight-seeing boat trip of the bay area when the waterspout occurred at about 5.30pm. The accident caused all the tourists to fall into the river.



Rescuers save four women and one man, all with minor injuries. The search for the remaining two passengers was carried out until midnight on August 12.



On August 13 morning, local police said they found the body of a man. The seventh passenger is still missing.



Water traffic accidents are a matter of concern in Thailand. There have been many serious accidents at tourist attractions in the Southeast Asian nation, such as the boat capsizing off the resort island of Phuket in 2018, which killed nearly 50 tourists.

Hachi-Ban aims to expand presence in Thailand and Vietnam Renowned Japanese restaurant operator, Hachi-Ban, is primed for a surge in its ramen establishments across Thailand and Vietnam, with strategic plans to bolster its foothold in the region.
The province has been applying smart management systems in agriculture and other areas for years

In the first half of this year, Tra Vinh carved a spot among the top five localities in the Mekong Delta region in terms of digital transformation, and is deemed one of the top 10 localities taking the lead in digital workforce development.

The figures come from a report by the National Committee on Digital Transformation covering the first half of this year.

The report also praised relevant models which have left positive impacts on socioeconomic development across the province, and are set for wider application.

In Tra Cu district, the local Peoples Committee has introduced a friendly and responsible government and state agency model. In the coastal town, many models have come in place to support people in submitting administrative procedures online or in implementing online public services.

Such models have utilised the advantages of IT applications to boost work efficiency and boost livelihoods.

Tra Vinh has completed connecting local admin procedures info systems with the national population database to aid relevant management agencies in fast-tracking their activities.

The province has also come up with diverse training courses for state employees, such as the conference on digital transformation in the education sector with engagement of over 500 delegates; and the conference on digital community for the Tra Vinh Youth Union and association members with participation of around 150 delegates from Chau Thanh district, among others.

Meanwhile, Tra Vinh has harvested inspiring results in digital transformation in diverse sectors of the economy. In respect to operating e-commerce platform system, efforts have geared towards supporting 26 units to set up and update online stores on Tiki, Voso, and Sendo.

Consequently, nearly 150 businesses and co-operatives have joined e-commerce platforms with hundreds of types of products including over 100 One Commune, One Product items, 100 industrial products for rural areas, and over 100 other products awarded with diverse certificates such as VietGap or ISO.

Steps were also taken to connect provincial e-commerce sites with 14 localities nationwide, engaged by around 50 businesses with over 650 types of products.

Local businesses are also supported in connecting with the national chemical database to be updated about activities in this field, as well as in deploying a food safety information system.

Tra Vinh has also finalised a scheme for developing a provincial e-commerce mobile app, joining efforts with consulting unit to craft a project and cost estimate for submission to a competent management agency for approval, and come up with bidding procedures as regulated.

In energy, the province has made concerted efforts to develop a smart power grid, including turning remote-control 110kV power transformer stations into unmanned substations in which all technical parameters are automatically collected. Associated activities like operating, managing, and data collection for the station are supervised through a remote control camera system.

The local power sector has also invested in equipment to help remotely record and collect indexes of electronic meters anytime and anywhere, creating objectivity and transparency in recording meter indexes every month.

In agriculture, Tra Vinh has deployed a smart pesticide management system to keep track of the pest situation on paddy fields in different districts since 2020.

Steps have also been taken to pilot two stations for automatic thunderstorm and lightning alarms placed in Cau Ngang and Tra Cu districts to support resident safety, as well as smart applications for production management and tracing product origin, among others.

According to the provinces steering committee for admin process reform, Tra Vinh wants to accelerate digital transformation efforts in which the sectors and branches at all levels will consistently implement tasks for e-government development.

Tra Vinh calls for investment in six tourism areas The Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Tra Vinh is calling for investment in six tourism areas, including Long Tri Islet, Ba Om Pond, Ba Dong Beach, Hang Duong, Tan Quy Islet and Duyen Hai hot mineral springs.

Tra Vinh province stepping up robust support for production rebound efforts Tra Vinh province in Vietnams Mekong Delta is sparing no efforts to support people and firms to reboot production and business amid a safe adaption to the new normal.

APL Logistics expresses its pride after planting a hectare of mangrove trees in Tra Vinh province On August 29, APL Logistics joined together with the provincial authorities and the forestry department in a meaningful sustainability event to help both the environment and community.
The ceremony welcomed more than 1,000 first members, including students, parents and many prestigious educational institutions at home and abroad to attend.

The event marked an important milestone for Victoria School in the pursuit of UNESCO's Happy School model, opening the first school year with many promises.

As a school with a global reach, Victoria School combines the essence of Vietnamese and British education with a positive learning environment and modern student-centred educational methods.

Victoria School, an inter-level school from primary to upper secondary, is proud to be an ideal and comprehensive learning environment according to the model of Happy School powered by UNESCO, with the architectural space harmonizing with nature, adhering to green environment criteria, and integrating modern facilities.

Victoria School invests heavily in technology, while the leadership team and teachers boast solid experience in the education field. The school also adopts an advanced curriculum in line with the school's educational philosophy as well as global educational trends.

The school uses active teaching methods towards competence development to help students enjoy learning, as well as confidently explore their interests and passions. It also provides practical experience programmes at the enterprises that enable future career development for students.

The school is built in a unique modern style, in harmony with nature based on the idea of "Happy Design. "Accordingly, the entire campus and function rooms are built with environment-friendly materials, enriched with green space and natural light, aiming to get students joyfully involved in learning to build knowledge, skills, personality and confidence in their own future path.

At the ceremony, Le Thuy My Chau, deputy director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training said, "The school was established to help the education and training sector in Ho Chi Minh City have a new learning environment for children. No matter how adequate the facilities are, sufficient conditions to improve the quality of teaching and learning are important factors. To strengthen the brand of the school in the following years, it depends on the efforts of the School Board, teachers and students. I have a confidence in the schools education quality."

Le Nguyen Trung Nguyen, principal of Victoria School said, "We believe that Vietnamese children can access a world-class educational environment where they will comprehensively develop knowledge, personality and life skills, while involving joyfully in learning. We strive to provide our children with a green learning environment, the Vietnamese education programme combined with the Cambridge International School Curriculum and operate a school in accordance with UNESCO's Happy Schools model. The school is operated and managed by experienced local and international leaders, committed to providing children and parents with a quality education at reasonable fees.

Melvyn Lim, the representative of Cambridge University Examinations and Publications said, "We would like to sincerely thank giving Cambridge the opportunity to contribute Victoria School. I believe the integration of the National Curriculum and the Cambridge International Programme will not only help students develop their academic abilities but also form in them the values of resilience, perseverance, responsibility, confidence and most importantly happiness."

In addition, with its team of top local and international experts, Victoria School believes that the school's approach to education is renewed to match the post-graduation direction of students. With the internationally standardised educational environment, modern facilities and affordable tuition fee, Victoria School is the perfect choice for students and parents. Moreover, Victoria students also have the opportunity to have practical experience at leading enterprises in Vietnam, allowing them to apply what they have learned in a professional environment while getting the necessary preparations for the future.

In the exciting atmosphere of the ceremony, Yoon Anh Thu, a Year 10 student said, "As the first students of Khai Hoan-Sai Gon South (Victoria school), we are eagerly looking forward to our new journey at this beautiful school to achieve our personal goals, and become excellent students of the happy school and global citizens of the future."

Victoria School has officially come into operation, taking the first step in the journey to perform its commitment in providing the best learning environment and contributing to the development of Vietnamese education.

Based on a campus of 15,000 square metres, Victoria School is fully equipped with a wide range of classrooms and functional classrooms, science rooms, STEAM, theatre, stadium, swimming pool and a multipurpose gymnasium, ensuring the education quality for students of all levels. Website: vsss.edu.vn

Email: admissions@vsss.edu.vn

Phone: 0852 600 800

Address: 803A Nguyen Huu Tho, Phuoc Kien, Nha Be, HCMC

Understanding the philosophy of edtech As the world of education continues to undergo a rapid transformation, the intersection of technology and learning has emerged as a key area of focus for international investors. Sandeep Aneja, founder and managing partner of Singaporean education-focused fund management firm Kaizenvest, told VIRs Celine Luu about the potential of edtech in Vietnam and beyond.

EQuest raises $120 million EQuest Education Group on May 19 announced the successful raising of $120 million and a new independent board member as a move to expand operation in the country.
Victory Giant Technology to develop $400 million electronics components factory in Bac Ninh

Speaking at the meeting in early August with Nguyen Anh Tuan, Secretary of Bac Ninh Party Committee, Chen Tao, chairman of Victory Giant Technology said that it was the delegations third visit to the province for an investment survey, expressing the companys desire to invest in here.

He shared that once the factory was operational, its annual sales would reach approximately $1 billion.

According to Chen Tao, Victory Giant Technology specialises in research and development, production, and sales of high-precision printed circuit boards (PCB).

It ranks 21st in the world's top 100 PCB companies (Prismark) and fourth in the top 100 domestically funded companies in China's PCB industry.

After listening to investor opinions, Tuan has encouraged foreign businesses and investors to find long-term cooperation opportunities in this area through the Chinese company, simultaneously asking the investor to abide by Vietnamese laws and policies in the process of research, investment, and future operations and to ensure benefits for workers.

Tuan also assigned the Board of Directors of VSIP Bac Ninh Urban - Industrial Park to assist the company in learning the procedures and promoting investment in the province.

In the first seven months of this year, the province attracted 182 foreign-invested projects with the total newly registered capital of $769 million. In July only, the total newly registered capital for 43 projects was $198 million.

Compal Electronics arrives with $260 million investment in Thai Binh Renowned electronics manufacturer Compal Electronics has made a substantial investment of $260 million in Lien Ha Thai Industrial Park in the northern province of Thai Binh, delivering a boost to Vietnam's industrial growth prospects.

Amkor's $1.6 billion plant in Bac Ninh on track for October Amkor Technology's $1.6 billion semiconductor plant in the northern province of Bac Ninh, Amkor's largest facility worldwide, is scheduled for trial production by late October 2023.
Production at Foster Electric Bac Ninh Co., Ltd at VSIP Bac Ninh.(Photo: baodautu.vn)

Hanoi  Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into Vietnam have gradually recovered with many large-scale investment projects following the COVID-19 pandemic as well as political and economic uncertainties in the world.

Several days ago, the south-central province of Binh Thuan granted an investment licence to a series of gas and electricity projects using liquefied natural gas (LNG), enabling the implementation of four large-scale projects invested by Vietnamese and foreign businesses.



Accordingly, Son My electricity centre project, including Son My 1 and Son My 2 power plants, will have a total investment of 4 billion USD, while Son My LNG Terminal project will be implemented at a cost of nearly 1.34 billion USD.



Meanwhile, Secretary of the Party Committee of Bac Ninh Nguyen Anh Tuan has had a working session with Chen Tao, Chairman of Chinas Victory Giant Technology Group - a producer of electronic components and semiconductors - on the firms plan to construct a factory in the northern province.



According to Chen, his company has chosen Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) Bac Ninh as the location for its 400-million-USD factory, which is designed to produce about 1 billion USD worth of products each year.



After a project valuing more than 1.6 billion USD of Amkor Group that is scheduled to be put into operation later this year, Bac Ninh is welcoming another large-scale project in the field of semiconductors.

Other localities across the country are also working hard to call for FDI. The central province of Nghe An has recently granted an investment licence to Innovation Precision Vietnam Ltd. of China to implement a 165-million-USD project on aluminum alloys for consumer electronics manufacturing and green energy, which will become operational in November 2024.



Presenting a report in the Government's recent meeting, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung said that FDI inflows into Vietnam have gradually recovered.



He noted that in July, Vietnam received over 2.8 billion USD of FDI, a rise of nearly 9% year on year, raising the total amount in the first seven months of this year to 16.24 billion USD, up 4.5%. Of the total, 11.58 billion USD had been disbursed, a rise of 0.8% over the same period last year.



Director of the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment Do Nhat Hoang said that the situation will be even better in the time to come.



A report released by HSBC in mid-July showed that FDI has still been poured into Asia, including Vietnam. The majority of investment projects are in the fields of manufacturing, it said.



However, EuroCham's Business Climate Index (BCI) for Vietnam in the second quarter of this year pointed to challenges that European investors in Vietnam are facing, including those from infrastructure system and administrative procedures. It said that investors are also worried about the implementation of the global minimum tax rate.



It also underlined that the transition of production activities from China to Vietnam is slowing down, requiring the country to make timely response.



Minister Dung said that Vietnam will continue to complete mechanisms and policies to give non-tax support and incentives to foreign investors in the context of the global minimum tax rate application, thus creating competitive advantages to attract more large-scale projects using high technologies.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP)  A U.S. nurse who was released by kidnappers in Haiti last week says a Christian song called See a Victory became her battle cry after she and her young daughter were abducted.

Alix Dorsainvil and her child were freed Wednesday, nearly two weeks after they were snatched at gunpoint from the campus of a Christian-run school near Port-au-Prince.

El Roi Haiti, the Christian aid organization founded by Dorsainvils husband, said Thursday the pair were not harmed and are healthy. On Saturday, the group posted a message from Dorsainvil on its website.

I am completely humbled by the outpouring of support and prayer for myself and my sweet baby both during and following our time in captivity, said Dorsainvil, who is from New Hampshire. God was so very present in the fire with us and I pray that when I find the words to tell our story, that the mighty name of Jesus may be glorified and many people will come to know his love.

In her most difficult moments, Dorsainvil said she turned to See a Victory by the North Carolina-based Elevation Worship music collective.

Theres a part that says, You take what the enemy meant for evil, and you turn it for good, she said.

Gang warfare has increasingly plagued Haiti since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise. The killing worsened criminal control of Haiti and people are regularly killed, raped and held for ransom. A local nonprofit has documented 539 kidnappings since January, a significant rise over previous years.

Its not clear whether a ransom was paid in Dorsainvils case. El Roi Haiti and U.S. officials have not provided further details, and Haitis National Police did not respond to requests for comment.
The Waco City Council on Tuesday will consider funding a study of 25th Street that could help develop the historically Hispanic corridors cultural identity along with its parking and pedestrian infrastructure.

The $254,000 contract with Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc., would create an implementation plan for 25th Street from Franklin Avenue to Maple Street by March.

This is a project thats been a long time coming, and were really excited to really look at not only the traffic patterns and infrastructure needs on this commercial corridor, but also really get specific on how to imagine how this could become a more vibrant business district, Mayor Dillon Meek said.

The streets revitalization was a priority of District 4 Council Member Darius Ewing, whose district covers the about 1.5-mile stretch, when he was first appointed to council in 2020. During an interview in April, Ewing said he hoped to revive the effort for a study of the corridor, as North 25th Street acts as a welcome to North Waco.

In April 2022 Grassroots Community Development presented feedback from business owners in the area to city representatives. The data collected showed respondents were satisfied with the location of their businesses and the drivability of 25th Street, but emphasized the need for parking and pedestrian safety infrastructure.

The responses also highlighted business owners desire for change along the corridor, facade improvements for buildings and a pride in the streets strong Hispanic culture and identity. According to the Grassroots survey, business owners wish to develop a cohesive identity through cultural elements and designs along the corridor.

Recent additions to the corridor include the Poco Loco Supermeracado, a Hispanic grocery store chain that renewed an old building near Bosque Boulevard in 2021, and the former 25th Street Theatre site that now holds Fire Station No. 6 and fire department facilities resembling the old theater.

Meek said there are already many vibrant businesses in the corridor, including the 25th Street Furniture Store, and he looks forward to learning how to enhance the local economy and walkability throughout the dense corridor.

And thats everything from, you know, you have Harvest on 25th and Sloans kind of on one bookend and then you have this really rich, robust primarily Hispanic business district  a lot of really neat, vibrant, walkable businesses, an amazing furniture store, beautiful dress shop, Meek said.

He said the study would look at everything from streets and landscaping to cultural identity through neighborhood meeting sessions and public hearings. If the contract is approved Tuesday, stakeholder engagement could begin this month, with an implementation strategy formed by March.

Also on Tuesdays city council agenda:

The council will host a public hearing and consider the downtown Tax Increment Financing Zone boards recommendation to grant the city a funding increase of $17.4 million for its riverfront development. The increase in funding would primarily go toward a decorative facade for a city parking garage to accompany Baylor Universitys Paul and Alejandra Foster Pavilion.

The council will conduct a public hearing to establish a $10 street maintenance fee, which would fund street projects with cash over the next five years. The fee would increase each year and come with a sunset provision, meaning it would end in five years unless the council reauthorizes it.

A public hearing on the citys proposed tax rate of 75.5 cents per $100 valuation could be set for Sept. 5. The tax rate represents a half-cent decrease from last year.

The Waco City Council will begin with a work session at 3 p.m., and a business session will follow at 6 p.m. at the Waco Convention Center Bosque Theater, 100 Washington Ave.
STATESVILLE, N.C.  Mike Rockenfeller, a two-time Le Mans winner, has been chosen to replace suspended driver Noah Gragson in the next two NASCAR Cup Series races.

Legacy Motor Club CEO Cal Wells announced Tuesday that Rockenfeller will be in the No. 42 Chevrolet this week at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course and in the following race at Watkins Glen.

Gragson has not been released, according to Wells.

"Noah is suspended indefinitely by NASCAR so we will have to identify drivers to compete in the No. 42 in the interim," Wells said. "NASCAR will determine the timeline when Noah can return to the sport. We are working with Noah and his representation through this process."

Gragson was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR on Saturday after liking an insensitive meme with a photo of George Floyd's face. Floyd, who was Black, died in 2020 after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for 9 1/2 minutes.

NASCAR said Gragson violated the member conduct of its rule book, without providing details.

The 25-year-old Gragson, a Cup series rookie from Las Vegas, is in his first full season in the Cup series and is No. 33 in points. Gragson posted on social media that he was disappointed in himself.

The 39-year-old Rockenfeller finished 29th and 30th in two Cup races last year. The German teamed with Legacy co-owner Jimmie Johnson and former F1 driver Jenson Button on the Garage 56 project that NASCAR took to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.

Rockenfeller did most of the car development for NASCAR and Hendrick Motorsports on the Garage 56 project.

Rockenfeller joins a long list of road racing experts entered into Sunday's event at Indianapolis, including Button, Brodie Kostecki, Andy Lally, Kamui Kobayashi, and Shane van Gisbergen, winner of NASCAR's inaugural street course race in downtown Chicago in July.

Josh Berry filled in for Gragson in the FireKeepers 400 at Michigan International Speedway and he was 34th in the 37-car field.
Miss Universe dropped its Indonesia pageant chapter following several sexual harassment accusations from contestants.

Miss Universe Indonesia finalists filed police complaints, accusing organizers of making them strip for body checks.

Miss Universe Cut Ties With Indonesia Pageant

A seismic tremor has rocked the glamorous beauty pageants as Miss Universe takes a bold stand against alleged sexual harassment. Amidst disturbing allegations, the Miss Universe has cut ties with its Indonesia franchise, according to Aljazeera.

Miss Universe Indonesia contestant alleged local organizers of the pageant of disturbing sexual abuse activities, asking participants to stip themselves to their underwear.

In a recent statement, the Miss Universe Organization confirmed that it has already severed its relationship with the beauty pageant firm running the Indonesia pageant, PT Capella Swastika Karya.

Above and beyond that, the New York-based org also ended ties with the firm's National Director, Poppy Capella.

Miss Universe posted on X, formerly Twitter, "In light of what we have learned took place at Miss Universe Indonesia it has become clear that this franchise has not lived up to our brand standards and ethics."

Read Also: Bella Hadid's Invisible Suffering: American Supermodel Shares Her Battle Against Lyme Disease

Miss Universe Indonesia Pageant Sexual Harassment Allegations

Besides cutting ties with the Miss Universe Indonesia pageant, the organization is canceling its upcoming Malaysia pageant following the startling accusations. The Indonesian company also carries the license to run the Miss Universe Malaysia pageantry.

As per CNN's report, six Miss Universe Indonesia pageant contestants came forward to the police to file a complaint about the alleged sexual harassment. The contestants allege that they were subjected to strip searches. They say the local pageant organizers asked them to strip for "body checks" in search of cellulite or scars. The Miss Universe Indonesia finalists say the strip search occurred in a room wherein roughly two dozen people, including males, were in attendance.

On top of the strip search, five contestant claim that the local organizers took topless photos of them.

The attorney representing the contestants, Mellisa Anggraini, alleges that the pageant officials asked them to strip their tops so they could check for any "scars, cellulite or tattoos."

Police spokesperson Yuliansyah says the contestants filed the formal complaints on Monday. And as of this writing, an investigation into the incident is ongoing. He further disclosed, "The complaint will be used as the basis for our investigation."

According to The Guardian, Miss Universe Indonesia director Poppy Capella denied her involvement in the alleged sexual harassment incident. She states that they are "actively" probing the disturbing allegations against their organization. She adds, "We will promptly take the necessary stance and actions regarding this issue and ascertain the truth."

Related Article: Miss Universe National Costumes Call for End of Asian Hate, Violence, Racism; Myanmar Asks To Pray for Her Cou

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The C.IVa in the museums collection has an unusual history. While originally built as a two-cockpit military reconnaissance aircraft, it was converted into a passenger plane with the removal of the rear cockpit to make room for four wicker seats inside the fuselage. Then, throughout the 1920s, it was bought and sold multiple times by adventurers who planned to use it for various endurance flights.

None of these plans came to fruition until 1930 when Bob Wark and Eddie Brown adapted the Fokker to fly from Tacoma, Washington to Tokyo, Japan to win a $25,000 prize. Their primary change was replacing the wicker chairs with a 450-gallon fuel tank. Even with this addition, they planned multiple midair refuelings to cover the 5,400-mile distance.

On August 10, 1930, Wark and Brown took off from Tacoma, but encountered trouble less than 200 miles into the flight. A problem with the fuel lines forced them to land at a small airfield near Vancouver, B.C. While Wark was able to land safely, the aircraft had too much fuel to takeoff from the small field. He dumped a majority of the fuel and sent Brown by car to meet him at Ladner Field, which was only a few miles away.

Wark managed to safely take off but had more problems at Ladner Field. When trying to land, he overshot the runway, sheared the landing gear off the plane. Instead of repairing the plane there and trying to fly again, the wings were removed and the plane was then driven back to Washington State.

The plane was largely abandoned until the 1970s when Ken Cianchette, a founding trustee at the Owls Head Transportation Museum, discovered it and set about restoring it to flying condition. In 1992, with the restoration nearly complete, Cianchette donated the plane to the Museum and in 1999 made the first flight of the C.IVa in 69 years.
DES MOINES  A judge Thursday revived a claim by union Cedar Falls firefighters that they are due additional redress for their unlawful dismissal when the city fully transitioned to cross-trained public safety officers in the spring of 2020.

Judge Joseph Seidlin granted a Jan. 20 petition by International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1366 and ordered the Iowa Public Employment Relations Board to revisit a Dec. 21 decision. That decision agreed the city acted illegally in laying off the eight firefighters and merely issued a cease and desist order that it not do so again, but offered no other remedy.

The board previously had ordered the city and union come to terms on an appropriate remedy on their own but the two sides failed to do so.

The latest court order in Polk County District Court remanded the matter to PERB to fashion a new remedy recognizing that firefighters were wrongly denied pay when they were first placed on paid administrative leave March 3, 2020, and then laid off June 22, 2020.

While the union concedes that only the remedial decision is on appeal, the essence of its argument is that the board misinterpreted its own decision in fashioning its remedy, Seidlin stated.

The union appeal successfully argued the board misinterpreted its own findings in what the judge deemed a clearly erroneous, illogical and irrational interpretation of the previous decision.

Because the board concluded that the only prohibited practice was the citys placement of the firefighters on administrative leave, the board failed to even analyze several remedies sought by the union in its remedy briefing, the petition stated.

The court declined to make its own decision, saying it does not want to tie the parties or the Boards hands when addressing appropriate remedies for both the administrative leave and layoff.

In other words, it may be that some adjustments or combination of remedies would be appropriate when addressing both outcomes, as opposed to just one. The court will remand the entire remedy decision.

The three-member PERB consists of Republicans Erik Helland and Cheryl Arnold, appointed by Gov. Kim Reynolds. The other position is vacant and must be filled by someone with a different party affiliation.

The city previously had appealed a proposed June 25, 2021, order of PERB Administrative Law Judge Amber DeSmet, that the manner of the firefighters dismissal violated Iowas public employee relations statutes. The judge directed that the city and union officials work together to resolve the matter.

The appeal of DeSmets order was what sent the case to a hearing before the full board.

The administrative law judge said the city retaliated against the firefighters union because the union opposed the transition to the public safety officer model by filing grievances and challenging the PSO model on social media.

The city disputed the union allegations, arguing the switch would have occurred regardless of union opposition. Implementation of the program had been progressing for years by replacing full-time firefighters who retired or resigned with cross-trained public safety officers.

In February 2020, the City Council voted to immediately end the attrition approach and fully implement the PSO program, keeping supervisory fire positions and eliminating rank-and-file firefighters.

The administrative law judge noted police officers who were not cross trained  there were three at the time  and nonbargaining fire and police supervisors who werent cross trained were allowed to remain.

The citys disparate treatment of the bargaining unit members, the citys abrupt change from its past practice in the implementation of the PSO program, as well as the hostility toward the union from certain city council members and the director demonstrate union animus, the administrative judge wrote.

The city argued combining police and fire services saved about $1.9 million and provided better staffing. The judge found the citys economic justification for the immediate layoffs was pretextual.

DeSmet sided with the city in ruling it followed the proper procedure under the collective bargaining agreement in implementing the layoffs, and rejected union claims the city unilaterally eliminated the firefighter job classification and failed to offer to cross train the firefighters.

The city said in a statement that the decision is under review and the city will consider all options. Scott Dix, representing the union, declined comment on the pending litigation. Helland did not respond to a request for comment.

Photos: Fire at vacant warehouse in Waterloo 072323jr-fire-e10th-1 072323jr-fire-e10th-2 072323jr-fire-e10th-3 072323jr-fire-e10th-4
WATERLOO  Attorneys for a retired police officer and a former mayoral candidate are asking the court to throw out a lawsuit brought by a community leader facing sexual abuse charges.

Jamodd Amaul Sallis, 43, took Cedar Valley Backs the Blue, its chairman Lynn Moller and Margaret Klein to court over a campaign mailing that called Sallis a sexual predator.

Sallis, a local church youth leader who was appointed to a city committee to re-brand the police department, was arrested in October 2021 on allegations he had sexual contact with an underage girl.

Klein, a City Council member at that time, was running for mayor against incumbent Quentin Hart. Cedar Valley Backs the Blue was a political action group that was supporting Klein, according to court records.

Weeks after Sallis arrest, a political ad attacked Hart for Sallis pre-arrest appointment.

We dont need a mayor who appoints sexual predators to police advisory boards, an anti-Hart mass mailer read, according to Sallis suit.

CVBB also posted the material to its Facebook page, and comments linked to news articles about Sallis arrest, according to the lawsuit.

In his pro-se lawsuit, Sallis said labeling him as a sexual predator was malicious and defamatory because at the time he hadnt been convicted of sex crimes and was only awaiting trial.

Following the post, Sallis home was broken into, and he suffered psychologically and physically, the suit states.

Sallis is seeking $3.5 million in damages.

In response, Mollers attorney, Thomas Verhulst, noted that political brochures and ads are protected as free speech under the U.S. Constitution.

The United States Supreme Court has held that the First Amendment allows and maintained political discussion, which can sometimes involve vehement and caustic attacks on government and public officials, Verhulst wrote.

Kleins attorney, Alex Grasso, made a similar argument.

Mollers attorney goes on to argue that Moller isnt accused of personally making the statements about Sallis. Kleins attorney said she didnt issue the statement and she denies any control over the CVBB Facebook page.

Klein lost the November 2021 election. The following month, in December, 2021, authorities filed an additional charge against Sallis for allegedly having sexual contact with a 12-year-old girl.

In April 2023, he was charged with misdemeanor lascivious conduct with a minor for a 2019 incident with a 15-year-old girl. He was convicted of that charge during an August 2023 trial and is awaiting sentencing.

Trials in his other case are tentatively set for October.
 Top News Today

 The Russian Armed Forces foiled several attempts by the Kiev regime to carry out terrorist attacks by unmanned aerial vehicles against facilities on the territory of the Russian Federation.

 The Black Sea Fleet patrol ship Vasily Bykov, which was carrying out shipping control monitoring, detected the bulk cargo ship Sukra Okan under the flag of Palau, which was on its way to the Ukrainian port of Izmail, in the south-western part of the Black Sea.

In addition, 1 forward command post of the 9th Army Corps of the AFU has been hit.

Fighter Aviation of Russian Aerospace Forces has shot down 1 Mi-8 aircraft of Ukrainian Air Force.

The Russian Defence Ministry shows FPV drone operators and military engineers in action within the special military operation.



 Press centre chiefs of Yug, Zapad, Vostok, and Tsentr groups of forces make statements on current situation in the areas of responsibility.

#TopNews

 Russian Defence Ministry

WtR
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI -- Two group were earnestly injured Sunday erstwhile a conveyance struck nan motorcycle they were connected successful Webster Township, constabulary said.

The mates from Canada, each property 54, were riding their motorcycle eastbound connected N. Territorial Road successful Webster Township astir noon Aug. 13, erstwhile a conveyance coming from nan different guidance crossed nan halfway statement and deed them, according to nan Washtenaw County Sheriffs Office.

The driver, a 62-year-old from Rockwood, had fallen dormant astatine nan wheel, constabulary said.

Both group connected nan motorcycle suffered important injuries but are expected to survive, constabulary said.

Want much Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark nan local Ann Arbor news page aliases motion up for nan free 3@3 Ann Arbor regular newsletter.

Read much from The Ann Arbor News:

Man accused of threatening personification pinch a weapon adjacent University of Michigan campus

Man takes plea up of proceedings for sexually assaulting 6-year-old

Ford Road clang caused by man crossing median, constabulary say
(Photo : Larry W. Smith/Getty Images)

Kansas police is under fire after conducting raids on a local newspaper's office as well as the home of its owner and publisher amid an alleged identity theft case.

Kansas police are under fire after raiding a local newspaper's office and the home of its owner and publisher while seizing records and computers.

A press freedom group criticized law enforcement personnel over the incident and raised Constitutional questions. The co-owner and publisher of the paper, Eric Meyer, said that he believes the Friday raid in Marion resulted from a story published on Wednesday, which talked about a local business owner.

Kansas Police Raid Local Newspaper's Offices

However, authorities have defended the raid by arguing that it was conducted amid an investigation into what they called "identity theft" in a search warrant. Meyer also confirmed that law enforcement personnel seized computers, cell phones, and other materials during the raid at the Marion County Record.

During the raid, Meyer also noted that he was at the home of his 98-year-old mother, who lost her life less than 24 hours later. Police also took his phone, a computer router, and an old laptop that had not been used in two weeks, as per CNN.

The raid was conducted after Marion County Court Magistrate Judge Laura Viar signed a search warrant on Friday morning, which alleged that there were violations of identity theft and "unlawful acts concerning computers."

The search warrant also identified a list of items law enforcement officials were authorized to seize during their search. This included documents and records pertaining to Kari Newell, the business owner and the subject of the local newspaper's story.

Additionally, the warrant specifically targeted ownership of computers and devices or internet service accounts used to allegedly participate in Newell's identity theft. Meyer said that he was at Kari's Kitchen earlier this month, a coffee shop that Newell operates, to attend a public meeting event with U.S. Representative Jake LaTurner.

Newell had accused the newspaper of invading her privacy and illegally accessing information about her and her driving record. According to ABC News, she also suggested that the local newspaper targeted her after she decided to throw Meyer and a reporter out of a restaurant during the event.

Read Also: California Judge Texted Staff About Shooting His Wife Dead, Authorities Seize 47 Weapons

Alleged Identity Theft

Meyer noted that while he believes Newell's complaints sparked the raids, he also suggested that the newspaper's aggressive coverage of local politics and issues could have contributed to the incident. He said they were examining Chief Gideon Cody, who led the raids, and his past work with the Kansas City, Missouri, police.

In a statement, the newspaper's co-owner claimed that this kind of aggressive move is something that someone such as Russian President Vladimir Putin is known to do. Meyer noted that this is "Gestapo tactics from World War II."

The raid is only the latest development in a series of cases where local authorities have taken aggressive actions against news organizations. Some of these have been part of a dwindling cohort left in their area to hold governments to account.

During an interview, the executive director of the Kansas Press Association said that the raid in Marion is opposite to the healthy tension between the government and newspapers in the region. She warned that the raid marks a dangerous assault on press freedom in the United States, said the New York Times.

Related Article: NYC Teen Brutally Stabbed O'Shae Sibley, Pleads Not Guilty to Hate Crime

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Trump already faces 2 national indictments and 1 successful New York. He has pleaded not blameworthy successful each lawsuit and called nan Georgia investigation politically motivated.

With nerves frayed complete a imaginable Georgia indictment of Donald Trump, Reuters reported Monday that a tribunal archive listed charges against him. But nan archive quickly vanished from a region website and nan Fulton County territory attorneys agency said nary indictment has yet been returned.

The snafu occurred arsenic Trump awaits a imaginable 4th indictment complete his attempts to overturn nan 2020 predetermination results successful Georgia, arsenic portion of a nationwide effort to stay successful nan White House. Trump has pleaded not blameworthy to national charges alleging nan broader conspiracy and called nan prosecution politically motivated.

Reuters newsman Jonathan S. Landay announced connected nan X societal media level nan news agency recovered a archive connected Fulton Countys website detailing imaginable charges against Trump.

But nan archive quickly vanished from nan site. Fulton County District Attorney's agency denied to Reuters immoderate indictment had been returned.

Tamar Hallerman, a newsman for nan Atlanta Journal-Constitution, said connected X she was opinionated successful nan courthouse astatine nan clip and that prosecutors told her nary indictment had been returned.

Trump supporters posted nan archive connected societal media successful bid condemn it.

"Reports opportunity nan Grand Jury has not voted and is still proceeding from witnesses," said Taylor Budowich, nan caput ofTrump governmental action committee, said connected nan X. "The DA's agency has denied that immoderate charges person been filed. Yet, this archive appeared connected nan Superior Court docket. The Grand Jury is conscionable a formality for these Banana Republic proceedings."
Weather Alert

.Tropical Storm Hilary will continue to weaken and rapidly move into Southern California and Central Nevada today. Deep tropical moisture out ahead of Hilary will result in steady light to moderate rainfall across western Nevada and portions of eastern California. The heaviest rainfall and associated flash flooding threat will be from Sunday evening through the early Monday morning hours. ...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE MONDAY NIGHT... * WHAT...Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible. * WHERE...A portion of western Nevada, including the following area, Greater Reno-Carson City-Minden Area. * WHEN...Through late Monday night. * IMPACTS...Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas. Storm drains and ditches may become clogged with debris. Never drive through a flooded roadway. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued. &&

...Widespread rains and cooler conditions with an increased risk of flooding for parts of western NV and the eastern Sierra through late Monday... * Hurricane Hilary in the eastern Pacific is forecast to make landfall today near the northwestern portion of Baja of California. While this system will rapidly weaken by the time it arrives in Nevada, significant amounts of moisture will bring periods of heavy rainfall to the region this afternoon through Monday. The greatest threat for flooding is across the Basin & Range and the eastern Sierra. However, isolated flooding cannot be ruled out elsewhere across western Nevada and northeast California. Have multiple ways to receive alerts in case flood warnings are issued, and never drive through flooded roadways. * Abundant cloud cover and rainfall will keep afternoon high temperatures 10 to 20 degrees below normal today through Tuesday, with Monday likely being the coolest day. * Stay tuned to the National Hurricane Center by visiting www.hurricanes.gov for the latest on Hilary.
As summer draws to a close in Marin County, there's no better way to savor the last rays of sunshine than by heading to some of the finest beaches in this picturesque region.

Just north of San Francisco, Marin boasts an impressive array of sandy havens, each with their own charm and allure.

Whether you're seeking a tranquil escape to unwind for a weekend or a rejuvenating day trip with friends and family, these top-notch beaches promise unforgettable moments of sun, surf, and serenity.

Stinson Beach. (Courtesy of Marin CVB)

Stinson Beach

Stinson Beach is a scenic and entertaining seaside town situated within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). The a beloved coastal spot is a destination for locals as well as visitors thanks to its miles-long, pristine expanse of sand ideal for swimmers, surfers, fishermen, volleyballers, and picnickers. Keep an eye out for sea lions, which are not unusual to spot here. Generally, lifeguards are on duty through Labor Day.

Tip: Stinson is particularly popular on warmer days, so arrive in the morning since parking is at a premium in the afternoon. Plan your beach day!

Muir Overlook. (Courtesy of Marin CVB)

Muir Beach

Located just three miles west of Muir Woods, Muir Beach is a quiet spot for an afternoon picnic or leisurely hike. Muir is not only a beach but a lagoon and cove as well, making this an ideal weekend getaway. For great views, stroll along the 235-foot-long pedestrian bridge connecting visitors from the parking lot to the famous Coastal Trail and the Muir Beach Overlook. If you happen to be there in autumn, you may be lucky to spot some of the monarch butterflies that migrate to the California coast each year. During the winter months, you can spot whales from the beach overlook.

Limantour Beach

Limantour Beach, at the Point Reyes National Seashore, is a perfect spot for an end-of-summer celebration with the whole family. Limantour Beach has gentle surf, stunning views, and miles of sandy coastline. Like nearby Drakes Beach, Limantour is not located against the open ocean, making this beach fine for wading and swimming on calmer days. Even If you don't go into the water, Limantour is lovely for playing in the sand, picnicking, flying kites, and just relaxing. Wildlife enthusiasts will appreciate the opportunity to spot shorebirds and harbor seals in their natural habitat.

Note: Even though the beach is dog-friendly, the northern part is a nesting area for the endangered Snowy Plover and is off limits to dogs. You are welcome to keep your on-leash canine companions on the southeast end of the beach. Parking for up to 250 vehicles, rest areas, and picnic tables are a plus.





For suggestions on places to stay in Marin County, go to visitmarin.org/hotels.
(Photo : Photo by Matt Dunham - WPA Pool /Getty Images))

An expert predicted that the Wagner Group's leader would die or stage another coup against Moscow within six months.



In a tangled web of geopolitical developments, Russia's Wagner Group leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has been forecasted to face a grim fate or potentially lead another coup within six months, according to a journalist.

Christo Grozev from Bellingcat, known for its investigative prowess, predicted Prigozhin's mutiny against Moscow due to a surge in telephone activity among senior Russian military figures, as per Daily Sun.

Yevgeny Prigozhin and Russia's Wagner Group

Prigozhin's attempt to overthrow military leaders amid disputes over the Ukrainian conflict gave rise to the aborted Wagner mutiny, a pivotal event that caught international attention.

Grozev's prediction gains significance as he pointed out that Russian President Vladimir Putin refrained from denouncing Prigozhin as a traitor, suggesting a complex scenario beyond immediate punishment.

Grozev speculated that within half a year, Prigozhin would either meet his demise or orchestrate another coup. These assertions underscore the intricate nature of Russian power dynamics and their potential repercussions.

The Wagner Group's mutiny and subsequent retreat presented a complicated situation for Russia. Although Prigozhin agreed to go into exile in Belarus under a deal mediated by President Alexander Lukashenko, elements of this arrangement have begun to unravel.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has indicated that Putin's attempts to address concerns brought up by Prigozhin and Wagner following the rebellion have not been decisively resolved. Speculations about the departure of Wagner troops from Belarus and their potential activation in August have arisen, though these claims remain unverified.

The departure may be tied to a shift in financing responsibilities between Russia and Belarus, potentially straining the agreement. As these events unfold, uncertainties loom over the future actions of the Wagner Group and Putin's potential response.

Amidst these tensions, tragedy struck Ukraine's southern Kherson region, with Russian shelling claiming the lives of seven individuals, including a 23-day-old girl.

The attack occurred in the village of Shiroka Balka, highlighting the continuing strife in the region. The situation escalated as Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar sought to address rumors about Ukrainian forces' activities along the Dnieper River.

As Ukraine counters Russian forces, there have been reports of Russian retreats from key areas, indicating a shift in dynamics. Allegations of the use of US smart bombs by Ukrainian soldiers add a layer of complexity to the situation.

Read Also: FIFA: Lionesses Aim to Beat Matildas in Own Backyard

Escalating Geopolitical Tensions

Meanwhile, Russia has vowed retaliation after claiming to have intercepted Ukrainian missiles targeting a crucial bridge connecting Crimea. Amidst these claims and counterclaims, tensions escalate on multiple fronts, underscoring the volatility of the situation.

Border tensions extend beyond Ukraine, with Poland increasing troop presence along its border with Belarus as a deterrent against "destabilizing" actions by its pro-Russian neighbor.

As Warsaw seeks to protect its sovereignty, questions arise about the extent to which the situation will escalate. In the midst of these multifaceted developments, it is clear that the interconnectedness of political decisions and military actions carries implications far beyond the immediate scope.

The predictions and observations by experts like Christo Grozev serve as indicators of potential shifts in power dynamics and offer a glimpse into the intricacies of international relations.

As world leaders grapple with complex geopolitical challenges, the need for strategic foresight and collaborative approaches becomes increasingly evident, Independent reported.

Related Article: Moscow's Moonshot: Russia Launches Newest Moon Lander After Almost 50 Years

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Lithium Universe to Commence Trading on the Australian Stock Exchange

Melbourne, Aug 14, 2023 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Lithium Universe Ltd ( ASX:LU7 ) is pleased to advise that its shares will commence trading on the Australian Securities Exchange at the commencement of trading today (14 August 2023), under the ticker code "LU7".



The Company's listing follows a highly successful public offer that attracted overwhelming demand from a combination of new and existing shareholders. Demand in the Company was driven by the opportunity to invest in a quality project portfolio of hard-rock lithium and rare earth exploration opportunities in Tier 1 mining jurisdictions in Canada and Australia lead by lithium trailblazer Iggy Tan.



The Company welcomes many new sophisticated and institutional investors to the share registry and looks forward to updating all shareholders on the rapid exploration, expansion and development of the Company's project portfolio. The Company's initial focus will be to fast-track the exploration and associated development of the Apollo Lithium Project.



The Apollo Lithium Project comprises 466 claims covering an area of ~240km2 in the Eeyou Istchee Baie-James Municipality (James Bay), in north-west Quebec. The Project is situated within the La Grande Subprovince, close to the Opinaca and La Grande sub-provincial boundaries (deep-seated regional structural boundaries).



The Apollo Lithium Project is approximately 29km south-east of Patriot Battery Metals Inc.'s nearby Corvette Property with maiden resource of 109.2 Mt at 1.42% Li2O and also 28km west of Winsome Resource Ltd's Adina Property. These spodumene pegmatites are hosted by mafic metavolcanic rocks in close proximity to the pegmatitic granite Vieux Comptoir and hosted by the greenstone belts of the La Grande sub-province. The Apollo Lithium Project similarly exhibits mafic metavolcanic rocks and pegmatitic granite Vieux Comptoir.



A standout lithium team leads Lithium Universe with a successful track record of developing hard rock lithium projects across the mining lifecycle. The Company's Non-Executive Chairman Iggy Tan was one of the first Australian mining executives to identify the significant opportunity within the emerging lithium-ion battery sector when he spearheaded Galaxy Resources Limited (Galaxy). Mr Tan is looking to replicate the success with Galaxy, having built Galaxy's Mt Cattlin Spodumene Project (137,000 tpa of spodumene product) and the downstream Jiangsu Lithium Carbonate project (capacity of 17,000 tpa).



When Mr Tan started at Galaxy the company's market capitalization was less than A$10 million and after Tan left, was valued at A$2.5 billion when the Company merged with Orocobre Limited in August 2021. Mr Tan previous experience working within the lithium industry dates back to the early 1990s when he briefly managed the Greenbushes Lithium Mine and commissioned the first Lithium Carbonate plant for Gwalia Consolidated.



Non-Executive Chairman of Lithium Universe, Mr Iggy Tan said: "We are pleased to complete the re-listing process and commence trading on the ASX. The team is now focused on deploying the funds raised from the Public Offer on the highly prospective ground in Quebec. The team has spent many months completing due diligence and assessing these projects and is eager to scale up our exploration and development activities on the ground. My vision for LU7 is to establish ourselves as a prominent Lithium project builder by prioritizing swift and successful exploration and development of Lithium projects. Instead of exploring for the sake of exploration."





About Lithium Universe Ltd





Lithium Universe Ltd (ASX:LU7), headed by industry trail blazer, Iggy Tan, and the Lithium Galaxy team has a proven track record of fast-tracking lithium projects, demonstrated by the successful development of the Mt Cattlin spodumene project for Galaxy Resources Limited.

Instead of exploring for the sake of exploration, Lithium Universe's mission is to quickly obtain a resource and construct a spodumene-producing mine in Quebec, Canada. Unlike many other Lithium exploration companies, Lithium Universe possesses the essential expertise and skills to develop and construct profitable projects.
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The 'Gavin and Stacey' actor finds it 'slightly' hurt by the question why he stars in the Margot Robbie-fronted Mattel movie, saying it's the price he has to pay for not pursuing big roles.

Aug 14, 2023

AceShowbiz - Rob Brydon is hurt when people question why he is in "Barbie". The 58-year-old comic plays a brief role in the movie as Sugar Daddy Ken and he thinks people were surprised to see him in a Hollywood blockbuster because he's best known for his work on sitcom "Gavin and Stacey" and presenting panel shows such as "Would I Lie to You?".

"It does slightly sting that some people are saying, 'What's he doing in such a big Hollywood movie?' I am resigned to the fact that it's the price I pay for not taking the big acting roles in America and doing quiz shows and voiceovers here [in the UK] instead," he told The Times newspaper.

Rob is best known for playing Uncle Bryn in "Gavin and Stacey" and he explained "Barbie" lead actress and producer Margot Robbie was a big fan while director Greta Gerwig had enjoyed his multiple roles in "Human Remains".

He said, "You never know who's watching, do you? Margot loved Gavin & Stacey and a few years ago a friend of hers asked me to record a video message for her as Bryn. To be honest I'd forgotten all about it, and then I get the call for Barbie, and the response to it has been extraordinary."

"I am not here to blow my own trumpet, but there is a lesson for young actors - do your best in every role. Greta Gerwig told me she was a fan of 'Human Remains', which amazed me."

The Welsh comic doesn't want to uproot his family to pursue Hollywood success because he doesn't feel the need to make such "sacrifices." He said, "I am not prepared to make the sacrifices to make films or TV in Hollywood or Atlanta or Vancouver, wherever the tax breaks for filming are these days, because believe me there are sacrifices. There has to be something inside you that needs that level of success and fame. I don't have it."

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The 45th President of the United States is extremely confident about his chance of beating Joe Biden in the race to the Oval Office as he continues to talk big despite legal woes.

Aug 14, 2023

AceShowbiz - Donald Trump has boasted that he has a "close to 100 per cent" chance of beating Joe Biden if he faces him in the 2024 US presidential election. The former reality TV star made the remarks to The Sunday Times at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday, August 12.

The 77-year-old - who could be sentenced to a maximum of 55 years in prison if found guilty of the four criminal charges against him related to the January 6 Capitol riot and his alleged plot to stay in power - also mocked his closest rival for the Republican nomination Ron DeSantis, who he is leading in the polls by more than 40 points.

Trump also told DailyMail.com at the event about DeSantis, "He didn't have many people show up. That's not good. He's doing very poorly in the polls. Very, very poorly. And I think he's going to be leaving the race pretty soon, I think."

It comes after a US judge warned Trump not to make inflammatory statements that could intimidate witnesses ahead of his trial on criminal charges of plotting to overturn the 2020 US election.

Trump was arraigned for a record third time on 1 August and has pled not guilty to four charges against him related to the 6 January Capitol riot and his alleged plot to stay in power.

Lawyers for Trump and federal prosecutors appeared in a federal courtroom on Friday, August 11 morning to discuss what restrictions could be imposed before his trial, where he was slapped with restrictions on what he could say before the proceedings.

US District Judge Tanya Chutkan warned Trump's team, "Even arguably ambiguous statements by the parties or their counsel - if they can be reasonably interpreted to intimidate witnesses or to prejudice potential jurors - can threaten the process."

"I caution you and your client to take special care in your public statements about this case. I will take whatever measures are necessary to safeguard the integrity of these proceedings."

She added, "The defendant and defense counsel shall not disclose Sensitive Materials or their contents directly or indirectly to any person or entity other than persons employed to assist in the defense, persons who are interviewed as potential witnesses, counsel for potential witnesses, and other persons to whom the court may authorize disclosure Mr Trump, like every American, has a First Amendment right to free speech. But that right is not absolute."

Trump's trial is still months away and it has been proposed jury selection starts in December so a trial could get underway just after the new year. He has denied his involvement in the events of January 6 that saw his supporters storm the Capitol Building in Washington D.C., leaving five people dead and others injured.

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The 'Laugh Now Cry Later' rapper makes use of his Instagram Story to send a message to concertgoers who snatched merchandise items amid chaos at his concert at the United Center, Chicago.

Aug 14, 2023

AceShowbiz - Lil Durk has sent a message to fans who stole his merchandise amid chaos at his Chicago show. The "All My Life" emcee called out the merch thieves through Instagram Story on Sunday, August 13.

"Don't believe the hype we bigger [than] big thank you Chicago," the 30-year-old penned on the top of a picture from his performance. "Till next time and who all stole the merchandise tag me so I can repost y'all crazy a**."

When Durk almost wrapped up his gig at the United Center on Saturday, the Chicago Police Department received reports of an active shooter. It caused a chaotic situation in the audience, with people frantically running for safety within the venue. Some concertgoers, however, were seen snatching merchandise items before making their exit.

After police arrived at the United Center, they discovered that the reports turned out to be a false alarm. According to TMZ, no injuries or arrests were made.

Durk returned to the stage after he was checked into the hospital in July. He went to the hospital as a safety measure, but doctors told him the matter was more serious than he and his team realized, and that he needed to be admitted.

Durk had spent a week in the hospital. However, despite being discharged from the hospital, he was not allowed to be back on stage directly. "I was looking forward to touching all of my European fans, performing this week(end), attending the ESPYs and more but after performing and traveling daily I've become severely dehydrated and advised by my doctors not to travel due to exhaustion," he said in a statement to TMZ at the time.

"Once I get my full energy back, it's back to business which I'm looking forward to," Durk continued. He then added a hashtag, "#StillHealing."

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The X/Twitter owner trolls the Meta founder on his platform after the latter announces on Facebook that he wants to 'move on' from the fight because Elon didn't confirm the date.

Aug 14, 2023

AceShowbiz - Elon Musk has clowned Mark Zuckerberg online for calling off their cage fight. After the Meta founder called to "move on" from their match, the X/Twitter owner trolled Mark by calling him a "chicken."

"Zuck is a chicken," the 52-year-old on his platform on Sunday, August 13. After one user suggested that Mark was "trying to chicken out" in the fight, the SpaceX founder penned, "He can't eat at chic fil a because that would be cannibalism."

Elon's tweets arrived after Mark's announced on Facebook that he wants to "move on" from the fight. "I think we can all agree Elon isn't serious and it's time to move on. I offered a real date. Dana White offered to make this a legit competition for charity. Elon won't confirm a date, then says he needs surgery, and now asks to do a practice round in my backyard instead," the 39-year-old declared.

Elon Musk trolled Mark Zuckerberg for calling off their fight.

"If Elon ever gets serious about a real date and official event, he knows how to reach me. Otherwise, time to move on," the billionaire internet entrepreneur continued. "I'm going to focus on competing with people who take the sport seriously."

Mark must have changed his mind though. Prior to that, he said he was still up for the fight although nothing was confirmed. "I love this sport and I've been ready to fight since the day Elon challenged me. If he ever agrees on an actual date, you'll hear it from me. Until then, please assume anything he says has not been agreed on. Not holding my breath for Elon, but I'll share details on my next fight when I'm ready," he wrote on Threads alongside a photo of himself sparring outside.

As for Elon, he initially stated that "the fight will be managed by my and Zuck's foundations (not UFC)." He went on to share, "Livestream will be on this platform and Meta. Everything in camera frame will be ancient Rome, so nothing modern at all. I spoke to the PM of Italy and Minister of Culture. They have agreed on an epic location. Everything done will pay respect to the past and present of Italy. And all proceeds go to veterans. And pediatric hospitals in Italy (sic)."

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The Brazilian model is also photographed visiting her rumored boyfriend Joaquim's gym in Miami after she was picked by the jiu-jitsu instructor at the airport following her trip to Brazil.

Aug 14, 2023

AceShowbiz - Gisele Bundchen was checking on her new home as soon as she arrived in Miami. The supermodel was photographed visiting her house, which is still under construction, after she was picked up by her rumored boyfriend Joaquim Valente upon landing in the South Florida city.

The 43-year-old was spotted visiting her new home on Friday, August 11. Joined by a designer, she kept it casual in a white tank top and blue jeans as she arrived in her Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon to view the progress of the house, as seen in pictures obtained by Page Six.

The former wife of Tom Brady kept her long blonde hair loose while she shielded her eyes from the sunlight with stylish sunglasses. She was also seen carrying a blue handbag and completing her look with sandals.

Gisele reportedly quietly purchased the property ahead of her and Tom's divorce announcement. The $11.5 million mansion in Miami Beach, which is within sight of her ex-husband's home on Indian Creek Island, sits on a 18,400-square-foot waterfront plot and has views of a wide waterway. It features five bedrooms and seven bathrooms with numerous terraces.

Earlier on Friday, Gisele arrived at Miami International Airport following a vacation to her homeland in Brazil. She reportedly landed at around 4:45 A.M. and was immediately greeted by Joaquim, who was waiting on the curb for her.

The catwalk beauty received some help from an employee to chuck her bags into the back of her rumored boyfriend's pickup truck. She then hopped in the front seat before the duo sped off.

Later on Saturday, Gisele was seen visiting Joaquim's gym in Miami. In photos obtained by Daily Mail, she arrived in her vehicle while sporting a workout-ready ensemble consisting of a white tank top, blue leggings and gray trainers. Her hair was tied in a sleek ponytail as she carried a water bottle.

Gisele and Joaquim sparked dating rumors following her divorce from Tom in October 2022. In March, she addressed the dating speculation in an interview with Vanity Fair magazine. "I think, at this point, unfortunately, because I'm divorced, I'm sure that they're going to try to attach me to anything," she said, before gushing over Joaquim and his two brothers, "I'm so grateful to know all of them, because not only have they helped me and helped my kids, but they have become great friends, and Joaquim especially."

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Kim Jong Un called for a "dramatic increase" in missile production during visits to critical weapons factories.



North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has issued a directive to accelerate the production of missiles and artillery shells, aiming to bolster the country's military capabilities and prepare for potential conflict, according to state media KCNA.

Kim's orders came during his recent visits to key munitions factories that manufacture tactical missiles, missile launch platforms, armored vehicles, and artillery shells, according to AOL.

Kim Jong Un Calls for Accelerated Missile Production

Kim emphasized the need to significantly enhance missile production capacity to meet the requirements of fortified frontline military units. He underscored the importance of the munitions industry's development in achieving qualitative advancements in war preparations.

The factories were described as having a vital role in accelerating North Korea's military readiness. During his visits, Kim inspected and test-drove a new utility combat armored vehicle, while also acknowledging advancements in the modernization of production lines for large-caliber multiple rocket launcher rounds.

He stressed the urgent necessity to exponentially increase the production of these rockets to strengthen frontline artillery units. Kim Jong Un's focus on building overwhelming military power and solid readiness reflects North Korea's ongoing efforts to deter potential adversaries from considering military action.

The dictator's comments highlighted a determination to prevent the use of force by adversaries and to ensure their swift defeat if they initiate conflict. The announcement coincides with the upcoming Ulchi Freedom Guardian summer exercises conducted by South Korea and the United States, which North Korea perceives as a rehearsal for nuclear warfare.

These annual drills often heighten tensions between North Korea and its neighbors. The international community has been concerned about North Korea's potential export of weapons, particularly given its recent involvement in global geopolitical dynamics.

The United States has accused North Korea of providing arms, including artillery shells, shoulder-fired rockets, and missiles, to Russia during its conflict in Ukraine. However, both North Korea and Russia have denied engaging in any arms transactions, As per The Star.

Read Also: Wagner Leader Prigozhin To Be Killed by Vladimir Putin or Lead Second Coup, Expert Predicts

From Disaster Response to Military Buildup

In addition to addressing military matters, Kim Jong Un also visited regions affected by tropical storm Khanun, which swept over the Korean peninsula, causing flooding and damage to farmlands. The leader's involvement in disaster response efforts underscores the multi-dimensional role he plays within North Korea's governance structure.

Kim's push to bolster missile production reflects his commitment to strengthening North Korea's military capabilities and preparedness.

As the region navigates these developments, the international community remains watchful, and neighboring countries evaluate their security postures in response to North Korea's strategic moves. The US and South Korean militaries are expected to conduct the Ulchi Freedom Guardian summer exercises later this month.

However, North Korea has denounced them as a nuclear war rehearsal. The exercise has been conducted annually in August or September since 1976. According to reports, 'Ulchi' derives from the name of a famous Korean general named Eulji Mundeok, who was the Chief of Staff of the Goguryeo army.

The United States has accused North Korea of providing Russia with artillery projectiles, shoulder-fired rockets, and missiles for its war in Ukraine, WION via MSN reported.

Related Article: ECOWAS Prepares to Muster Troops to Counter Niger's Junta

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The Canadian rap star confronted a male fan on the first Los Angeles show of his 'It's All a Blur' tour after the individual tried to snatch the rapper's towel that was first caught by a female concertgoer.

Aug 14, 2023

AceShowbiz - Drake wants no drama at his concert. On the first night of the L.A. leg of his "It's All a Blur" tour, the "Certified Lover Boy" artist was filmed scolding a male fan for tussling with a woman over his sweaty towel.

The tension started after the 36-year-old emcee tossed his towel toward the audience after leaving the stage. A female fan then caught the it, but one male fan suddenly tried to snatch the relic out of her hands.

Drake saw the moment as he headed backstage. In a video circulating online, the Canadian rap star could be seen yelling at the man. He then assured the female woman that he had someone on the way to help.

"I'ma send someone up there," the four-time Grammy winner said while looking at the altercation. He also appeared to confront the man who tried to take the towel, but his team quickly guided him.

The incident came after Drake revealed that the first night of his Los Angeles show was almost canceled. "Los Angeles, if you knew the things we had to do today to get this show off, smh but for you, anything. I will see you tonight," he penned on Instagram Story.

That aside, Drake recently reacted to an alleged "For All the Dogs" poster that was placed at a bus stop in his hometown of Toronto. The image, which was shared by DJ Akademiks on Instagram, featured three dogs and the Canadian rap star's quote that read, "They say they miss the old Drake, girl don't tempt me."

Drake did not confirm whether or not it was fake. However, he replied in the comment section, "Lol who did this," suggesting that he was not the one who made it up.

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Jaylan Banks, who shares daughter Emma with the former reality star, also calls out his ex for poking fun at his 'grooming' allegation.

Aug 14, 2023

AceShowbiz - Falynn Pina's ex-fiance has clarified his comment when discussing their past relationship. Jaylan Banks, who previously accused the former reality star of "grooming" him, revealed what he was actually trying to say in a lengthy social media post.

"I would like to address a recent statement I made during my interview on the 'Relationships Matter Podcast' where I used the term 'grooming' incorrectly while discussing my past relationship with Falynn Pina," he kicked off his message shared on Instagram. "My choice of words was a mistake and I want to set the record straight."

"In that interview, I intended to describe Falynn Pina's behavior as manipulative, not as grooming," Jaylan, who shares a daughter Emma with Falynn, continued. "I recognize the gravity and sensitivity surrounding the term 'grooming,' and I want to make it clear that is not what I meant. My intention was to highlight the manipulative aspects of our relationship, which had caused distress."

Jaylan went on to address Falynn's reaction to his allegation. "Since the interview, I've noticed that Falynn has attempted to turn the situation into a joke to further her own gain. This behavior raises concerns about her character and her apparent insensitivity towards the seriousness of the matter at hand. It's unfortunate that she has chosen this path rather than addressing the real issues that were discussed during the interview," he explained.

Jaylan was seemingly referring to Falynn's recent photo on Instagram. In the snap, "The Real Housewives Of Atlanta" alum could be seen wearing a purple crop top with "The Groomer" printed on it. In the caption, she simply put out the hashtag, "#ComingSoon."

When opening up about his and Falynn's past romance, Jaylan said on the podcast, "I was groomed... She made it seem as if he was doing her wrong, and then come to find out I'm on the other side now so that's narccissist." He added, "She groomed mewould tell me he's doing this to me and I felt sad for her and being a friend. That's what narcissist do, they groom you. Make the other person look bad so when you do something you won't feel bad about it because you feel as if they were treating that person wrong."

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Oprah Winfrey declares she will make a 'major donation' and continue her support 'after all the camera crews are gone' to help Maui after the island was ravaged by wildfires.

Aug 14, 2023

AceShowbiz - Oprah Winfrey has promised a "major donation" to help rebuild Maui after the island was devastated by Hawaii's wild fires. The TV talk show titan - who has a home on Maui - has been meeting with survivors at a shelter there after blazes ripped across the landscape there leaving at least 93 people dead and totally destroying the town of the town of Lahaina and now she's promised some serious financial help to look after the residents of Maui.

"You know what this week as taught me - when you don't know what to do, you do whatever you can ... I went to visit one of the big shelters here at the War Memorial and asked people what it is they needed and then went shopping for some things some basic things like towels and sheets and shampoo and other necessities," Oprah said in a video posted on Instagram.

"And at some point I will make a major donation after all the smoke and the ashes have settled here and we figure out what the rebuilding is going to look like. This is going to be a long and difficult process but spending time at the shelter I have met so many incredible people ... "

She went on to praise the community spirit of the Maui residents and promised her continued support "after all the camera crews are gone." Oprah went on to say, "I've seen so many families who are sharing a cot, an air mattress and have nothing else left to their names but they are so grateful just to have each other."

"And there's such an incredible spirit going on in this entire community people helping other people. And I know that long after all the camera crews are gone and the rest of the world has moved on, the rebuilding will just begin. And Hawaiians are just a strong, cultural people and a family-loving people and with the help and support you're going to see a lot of phoenix stories rising from the ashes here."

It comes after Oprah visited a shelter in Wailuku with a CBS camera crew in tow, but was told filming wouldn't be allowed inside. In a statement, the County of Maui said, "Out of respect for those who have come to seek safety and shelter at emergency shelters, our policy remains that no media are given access."

"We welcome Oprah to continue to uplift our community's spirit and give her aloha to victims of the tragic disaster and appreciate her understanding of our policy of no camera crews or reporters in our emergency shelters. Mahalo."

Oprah was allowed in to visit people in the shelter but the cameras had to remain outside. She previously visited a shelter on the island where she was seen handing out essentials including shampoo and nappies to those who had lost their homes.

Others who have pledged help include Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sanchez who are "heartbroken" over the Maui wildfires and have donated $100 million as part of a Maui Fund to help fight the hellish fallout from the blazes.

Hollywood actor Jason Momoa - who was born in Honolulu - also expressed his concern about the disaster revealing his friends and loved ones have been caught up in the chaos. Sharing a link for people to donate to the Hawaii Community Foundation Maui County Strong Fund to provide relief, Jason wrote on Instagram, "We are devastated and heartbroken for our friends and 'ohana on Maui who been impacted by the recent wildfires."

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SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 14, 2023  Imagine using insects as a source of chemicals to make plastics that can biodegrade later  with the help of that very same type of bug. That concept is closer to reality than you might expect. Today, researchers will describe their progress to date, including isolation and purification of insect-derived chemicals and their conversion into functional bioplastics.

The researchers will present their results at the fall meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS). ACS Fall 2023 is a hybrid meeting being held virtually and in-person Aug. 1317, and features about 12,000 presentations on a wide range of science topics.

For 20 years, my group has been developing methods to transform natural products  such as glucose obtained from sugar cane or trees  into degradable, digestible polymers that dont persist in the environment, says Karen Wooley, Ph.D., the projects principal investigator. But those natural products are harvested from resources that are also used for food, fuel, construction and transportation.

So Wooley began searching for alternative sources that wouldnt have these competing applications. Her colleague Jeffery Tomberlin, Ph.D., suggested she could use waste products left over from farming black soldier flies, an expanding industry that he has been helping to develop.

The larvae of these flies contain many proteins and other nutritious compounds, so the immature insects are increasingly being raised for animal feed and to consume wastes. However, the adults have a short life span after their breeding days are over and are then discarded. At Tomberlins suggestion, those adult carcasses became the new starting material for Wooleys team. Were taking something thats quite literally garbage and making something useful out of it, says Cassidy Tibbetts, a graduate student working on the project in Wooleys lab at Texas A&M University.

When Tibbetts examined the dead flies, she determined that chitin is a major component. This nontoxic, biodegradable, sugar-based polymer strengthens the shell, or exoskeleton, of insects and crustaceans. Manufacturers already extract chitin from shrimp and crab shells for various applications, and Tibbetts has been applying similar techniques using ethanol rinses, acidic demineralization, basic deproteinization and bleach decolorization to extract and purify it from the insect carcasses. She says her fly-sourced chitin powder is probably purer, since it lacks the yellowish color and clumpy texture of the traditional product. She also notes that obtaining chitin from flies could avoid possible concerns over some seafood allergies. Some other researchers isolate chitin or proteins from fly larvae, but Wooley says her team is the first that she knows of to use chitin from discarded adult flies, which  unlike the larvae  arent used for feed.

While Tibbetts continues to refine her extraction techniques, Hongming Guo, another graduate student in Wooleys lab, has been converting the purified fly chitin into a similar polymer known as chitosan. He does this by stripping off chitins acetyl groups. That exposes chemically reactive amino groups that can be functionalized and then crosslinked. These steps transform chitosan into useful bioplastics such as superabsorbent hydrogels, which are 3D polymer networks that absorb water.

Guo has produced a hydrogel that can absorb 47 times its weight in water in just one minute. This product could potentially be used in cropland soil to capture floodwater and then slowly release moisture during subsequent droughts, Wooley says. Here in Texas, were constantly either in a flood or drought situation, she explains, so I've been trying to think of how we can make a superabsorbent hydrogel that could address this. And because the hydrogel is biodegradable, she says it should gradually release its molecular components as nutrients for crops.

This summer, the team is starting a project to break down chitin into its monomeric glucosamines. These small sugar molecules will then be used to make bioplastics, such as polycarbonates or polyurethanes, which are traditionally made from petrochemicals. Black soldier flies also contain many other useful compounds that the group plans to use as starting materials, including proteins, DNA, fatty acids, lipids and vitamins.

The products made from these chemical building blocks are intended to degrade or digest when theyre discarded, so they wont contribute to the current plastic pollution problem. Wooleys vision for that process would align it with the sustainable, circular economy concept: Ultimately, we'd like the insects to eat the waste plastic as their food source, and then we would harvest them again and collect their components to make new plastics, she says. So the insects would not only be the source, but they would also then consume the discarded plastics.

The researchers acknowledge support and funding from the Welch Foundation and a private donation.

A recorded media briefing on this topic will be posted Monday, Aug. 14, by 10 a.m. Eastern time at www.acs.org/acsfall2023briefings. Reporters can request access to media briefings during the embargo period by contacting newsroom@acs.org.

For health and safety information for ACS Fall 2023, please visit the FAQ webpage.
Celebrating the spirit of patriotism and national service, ABP News, the prominent Hindi news channel in India, marked a significant moment with the 'Jhanda Uncha Rahe Hamara' initiative. The occasion included a heartfelt on-ground ceremony held in New Delhi, dedicated to honouring the remarkable endeavours of the soldiers. The broadcast of the event will be aired on ABP News on August 14th at 10 PM and August 15th at 1.30 PM.

The occasion was adorned with the esteemed presence of notable dignitaries, among them Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari, PVSM AVSM VM ADC, and the renowned actor Sunny Deol. Their fervent participation infused the event with a blend of importance and elegance, emphasizing the collective spirit in commemorating the nation's courage.

In a heartfelt tribute, ABP News expressed its sincere appreciation by recognizing the families of four exceptional heroes who demonstrated unwavering dedication and bravery, ultimately sacrificing their lives in the line of duty. The names and accolades they carry stand as powerful reminders of their resolute commitment and valour:

Corporal Gursevak Singh (Posthumous), IAF (Security) - Shaurya Chakra Sergeant Khairnar Milind Kishor (Posthumous), IAF (Garud)  Shaurya Chakra Corporal Nilesh Kumar Nayan (Posthumous), IAF (Security)  Shaurya Chakra Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala (Posthumous), Member, Garud Commando Force, IAF  Ashok Chakra

This year's edition of 'Jhanda Uncha Rahe Hamara' shone a spotlight on the valiant armed forces and paramilitary personnel whose contributions over the past year have showcased exceptional courage, motivating and inspiring millions.

Initiated 9 years ago, Jhanda Uncha Rahe Hamara epitomizes ABP News' relentless pursuit to capture the profound spirit of patriotism and serve as a platform to laud unsung heroes. These individuals embody the traits of bravery, dedication, and selfless service to the nation. The show stands as a tribute to India's boundless spirit and galvanizes the fervour of Independence Day throughout the nation.

As ABP News continues to honour excellence and uplift the nation's stories, Jhanda Uncha Rahe Hamara exemplified the unity, pride, and collective spirit that underscore India's journey towards progress.
The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has suggested that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should lead an all-party delegation to hold a peace rally in Manipur to restore peace in the state torn by ethnic violence.

Replying to questions from Rajat Sharma in his show 'AAP KI ADALAT', Chowdhury said, "PM must tell the people of Manipur that they need not fear and the entire nation stands with them for restoring peace".

"We made this suggestion in writing in the House, but they did not agree. This is nothing but 'Bahumat Ka Bahubali' (arrogance of majority)", Chowdhury said.

The Congress leader was asked why the Opposition walked out even before the PM started speaking on Manipur. Chowdhury replied: "During his speech, we waited for him to speak on Manipur for two hours, but he did not. Even his ministers started dozing off during his speech. You can watch the visuals. He spoke on Manipur only for three minutes towards the end of his speech. Had we known that he would speak on Manipur, we would not have walked out."

ON NIRAV MODI, DHRITARASHTRA AND SONIA

Chaudhury, who has been suspended from the House for "repeated unruly conduct", spoke on why he compared PM Narendra Modi with fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi and Mahabharata period king Dhritarashtra. He has been suspended till the House Privilege Committee gives it ruling in this matter.

The Congress leader said: "We had been waiting impatiently for the PM to speak on Manipur since Day One. For three months, Manipur with a 27 lakh population has been in turmoil and a buffer zone has been created between the two communities. People are not able to bury or burn the bodies of their kin lying in mortuaries. I referred to the blind King Dhritarashtra, in whose presence Draupadi was disrobed. The same thing is now happening to women in Manipur today. Then what is the difference between Hastinapur and Manipur?"

Chowdhury said: "Similarly I was comparing the words 'Narendra' with 'Nirav'. 'Narendra' means king of men and 'Nirav' means silent. I was asking why Narendra is Nirav, but it was taken differently. What is wrong in it? If I am wrong, I can be hanged. I can quit political life."

In a counter-attack against the BJP members, the Congress leader cited, what he said, "the number of times Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi were abused inside the House. Sonia ji, who sits besides me in the House, was always referred to with the words 'Italy'. Is it a crime to be born in Italy? In Indian culture, a daughter who goes to her in-laws home become a part of that family. Can anybody disagree that Indira ji and Rajiv ji became martyrs for the nation? If Sonia ji had said 'yes' in 2004, she could have become Prime Minister. If Rahul ji had said 'yes', he could have become the Prime Minister, but Manmohan Singh was madeto become the PM. Soon after Rahul was disqualified from membership of Lok Sabha, he had to leave his official residence immediately. There are several hundred BJP leaders occupying bungalows in Delhi, who are not MPs. Is such a 'politics of revenge' (pratishodi rajneeti) good for the nation?"

ON MAMATA AND BENGAL POLITICS

The Congress leader, a known detractor of Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, was careful while replying to questions about her. When Rajat Sharma pointed out that he had described Mamata and her nephew as 'thieves', the Trinamool Congress as "a party of thieves" at a time when the opposition conclave was going on in Patna, Chowdhury replied: "Patna's topic was different and Bengal's topic was different. There was panchayat elections going on in Bengal...At a time when INDIA bloc has been formed on a national level, and Narendra Modi has become worried, it is impossible for me to react more on this."

To pointed questions from Rajat Sharma as to whether violence, bomb blasts, murders are still taking place in Bengal, Chowdhury said: "Yes. Nothing is alright (Kuch Bhi Theek Nahin Hai). Hum Jo Karte Hain, Locally Karte Hain (whatever we do, we do it locally). Iska Matlab Yeh Nahin Ki Sab Theek Hai (it does not mean, everything is alright)."

The Congress leader explained his stand thus: "There is a difference between pond (taalaab) and river (nadi). For me, Bengal is a pond, and India is a river. Naturally we will give to be more preference to river than to a pond. I say what I want to say. I do not speak snidely or behind the back."

To a question who was his biggest political enemy, Modi or Mamata, Chowdhury's reply was evasive: "I don't consider anybody as enemy, but they are adversaries. I accord full respect to our Prime Minister, and I also respect Mamata ji because she is our Chief Minister. But when people's issues are concerned, I will continue to raise their voice. My fight against them is not personal, but political and ideological."

When Rajat Sharma asked whether there is any possibility of his patch-up with Mamata Banerjee, Chowdhury replied: "Politics is the art of possible."
Ambuja Cements Limited and ACC Limited, the cement and building material companies of the diversified Adani Group, collaborate to commemorate India's 77th Independence Day. Under the theme of "Growing Nation," they reaffirm their commitment to India's growth and prosperity, symbolised by the metaphorical shade of a Banyan tree. The joint narrative encompasses the intertwined paths of schoolchildren, vibrant crossroads of carnivals, and the joy of newlyweds, all under our shared heritage.

Ambuja Cements, in its latest campaign "Desh Ban Raha Hai," celebrates the unyielding spirit and boundless potential of India's youth. These young individuals embody the essence of India's core values - integrity, unity, and advancement, weaving faith in freedom and individuality.

ACC's journey, spanning over eight decades, mirrors India's strength, progress and unity. Just as the tricolor soars with pride, ACC stands tall as a symbol of global quality with nationwide trust. From shaping iconic structures to infrastructure landmarks, ACC's commitment to a sustainable and prosperous India remains strong.

Both companies champion innovation and sustainability, with green cement projects, eco-friendly practices, and holistic community engagement defining their commitment to a greener and enduring legacy for generations to come. On India's 77th Independence Day, they dedicate themselves to building a brighter, self-reliant future for our nation.

Ajay Kapur, CEO, Cement Business, reflects on this remarkable journey, "On this auspicious occasion of Indias 77th Independence Day, we celebrate the indomitable spirit of our nation and its journey towards progress and growth. Our new films symbolsise the essence of nation building, intricately weaving into India's growth narrative. Committed to nation-building, Ambuja Cements and ACC embody core values - independence, unity, and dependability - as India progresses."

Together, as Ambuja Cements and ACC, they stand as a testament to the essence of optimism, perseverance, and self-sufficiency, ready to carve their mark on the world and contribute to India's resplendent future.
New Zealand government will eliminate all remaining COVID-19 rules as of Tuesday at midnight, ending some of the most stringent COVID-19 pandemic regulations ever implemented.

Health minister Ayesha Verrall announced on Monday that starting early Tuesday, patients won't need to wear face masks in medical facilities or remain in isolation for seven days after getting the virus, as reported by Reuters.

New Zealand Reopens Border

(Photo : by MARTY MELVILLE/AFP via Getty Images)

New Zealand's new Prime Minister Chris Hipkins speaks to the media outside Parliament in Wellington on January 21, 2023. - Poised to be New Zealand's next prime minister, Chris Hipkins became a household name leading the nation's closed-border crackdown on Covid-19 and is seen as a "tough and capable" politician.

Most limitations were lifted last year as vaccination rates rose and the nation's hospitals survived the winter without being overburdened.

Two months before a hotly contested election, the requirement removal was decided. While the New Zealand government's response to the pandemic was praised internationally for reducing infection and mortality rates, it drew criticism at home for the prolonged lockdowns, school closings, and closed borders.

According to Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, the official lifting of restrictions was a "significant milestone."

The Minister of Health still advises people to stay home for five days if they are ill or have tested positive, even though it is no longer required.

Read Also: New Zealand Prime Minister Update: Chris Hipkins Takes Over

New Zealand's COVID-19 Response

Hipkins added that after considering the government's approach to the virus over the course of more than three years, he now found it disappointing after having wished for the day when all limitations would be lifted during the worst of the pandemic.

He claimed that out of a population of 5 million, 3,250 New Zealanders have died from COVID-19 as a primary or secondary cause, which is around one-fifth of the mortality rate in the United States.

Verrall noted that coronavirus hospitalizations and case counts were low and had been declining since June, and that the virus had caused less trouble for the publicly funded health system this winter in the South.

"It has been a long road, however thanks to lots of hard work, New Zealand's Covid-19 approach has moved from an emergency response to sustainable long-term management," Verrall said.

The head of the opposition ACT Party, David Seymour, claimed that the government had been treating citizens like toddlers for far too long.

In March 2020, it shut down its international borders, keeping out many of its own people who couldn't find a hotel room for the required quarantine period.

Between February and the beginning of March of last year, hundreds of people protested on Wellington's parliament grounds in opposition to the strict restrictions and the vaccination requirements for various vital labor sectors.

New Zealand's experience with COVID-19 has shown that it is possible to effectively control the virus with a combination of early action, strict measures, and public compliance. The country's success is a model for other countries that are struggling to contain the virus.

Related Article: New Zealand Authorities Lift Final COVID Restrictions, Fully Reopening Border for International Travelers

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Minute Maid Pulpy Orange, the Coca-Cola Companys fruit juice brand, is excited to announce the launch of its latest television commercial "How do you pulp it?". The brand is an ultimate orange indulgence with its unmatched fusion of real orange juice and zesty orange pulp. The film showcases multiple ways of consuming pulpy orange such as Gulp it, Slurp it and Chew it while savouring the delightful abundance of pulp. The TVC highlights its intrinsic credentials of containing real orange pulp that adds texture and enhances the overall drinking experience. With every sip, consumers can enjoy the delightful sensation of the pulpy goodness, creating a unique and satisfying mouthful experience.

Conceptualised by Ogilvy, the TVC showcases multiple ways in which Minute Maid Pulpy Orange can be enjoyed, emphasizing on the sheer pleasure that comes with every gulp of the refreshingly pulpy orange juice through the catchy Chew it? Gulp it? Slurp it? How do you pulp it? For the first time ever, the brand has roped in influencers like Shraddha Kapoor and NANI, to capture the essence of the unique product while portraying the joy and satisfaction experienced by consumers.

Commenting on the campaign, Ajay Konale, Director - Marketing, Nutrition category, Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia, said, We are incredibly excited to launch the new campaign to celebrate the abundance of real orange pulp in Minute Maid Pulpy Orange, offering consumers a delightful and immersive way of savouring the refreshing beverage. Shraddha Kapoor's energetic presence and NANIs vibrant & dynamic personality perfectly complements the brand.

"I am elated to be a part of the Minute Maid Pulpy Orange campaign 'How do you pulp it?' to showcase the joy and deliciousness that comes with every sip of Minute Maid Pulpy Orange. The pulp adds a unique and refreshing twist, making it a truly immersive and mouthful experience. I invite everyone to embrace the different ways to enjoy the beverage and indulge in the pulpy goodness, said Shraddha Kapoor.

This campaign has been conceptualized by Ogilvy India as a part of OpenX from WPP. Commenting on the creative insight behind the campaign, Sukesh Nayak, Chief Creative Officer, Ogilvy India says Minute Maid Pulpy Orange gives an immersive experience that no other orange juice offers, and therefore we all experience the product in our unique way. To establish this thought weve crafted a simple, direct and catchy campaign targeted towards a younger audience. And, with Shraddha Kapoors presence the campaigns tonality is vibrant, fun and refreshing - just like our brand.

The TVC will be aired on leading television channels and will be amplified through various digital platforms and social media channels.

Furthering the celebrity endorsement Minute Maid Pulpy Orange will also invite consumers to share their own experiences and creative ways of consuming the juice by scanning QR code on the pack, and creating interesting AI based engaged with Shraddha Kapoor, showing the world how do they pulp it. The brand aims to foster a sense of community and encourage individuals to celebrate the pulp-filled goodness of their favourite orange juice.
Predicted to be worth $90-100 billion by the year 2030, Indias e-B2B market is one of the fastest growing markets in the world. Shiprocket, the 106th unicorn in India and one of the leading e-commerce enablement platforms, is targeting merchants from every corner of the country. It is leveraging large scale events for enabling e-commerce for the Indian merchants who are living beyond Tier-2 cities. Recently, it held the Shiprocket SHIVIR, an event whose objective was to empower MSMEs all across India, playing the role of their partner in growth, and supporting the Vision India@100 of GOI. This event brought together the pioneers of entrepreneurship, visionaries of Atmanirbhar Bharat, new age business owners and futuristic service providers, all under one roof.

Another IP of Shiprocket is Aarambh, which is aimed at equipping MSMEs led by women, who are having the right resources to build and scale. During the International Womens Week, women entrepreneurs get the opportunity to present their business ideas to the jury panel in an online event. The business ideas which are regarded as the top three, get an opportunity to win up to Rs 1 lakh, besides getting additional benefits from Shiprocket and other sister companies.

Shiprocket leverages Industry 4.0 technologies and AI in order to deliver an enhanced customer experience. Empowering MSMEs will fulfil the objective of India becoming a $5-trillion economy by the year 2025.

Somil Agrawal, Head of Marketing and SVP, Shiprocket, has played an instrumental role in coming up with such strategic B2B marketing plans, which are further helping in attracting around 3 lakh merchants onto the platform. In conversation with Adgully, Somil Agrawal says, By transcending traditional B2B approaches and adopting a relatable tone, companies humanise their brand and establish genuine connections with their audience. The era of treating B2B buyers as faceless entities is behind us, and the future lies in recognising the real people who hold the key to B2B purchasing decisions.

What is the event SHIVIR 2023 about? What are its objectives? How does it aim to help MSMEs, especially those led by women?

Shiprocket SHIVIR 2023 is in line with Shiprockets commitment to empowering eCommerce businesses across India, serving as their Unnati Ka Saathi. It is a growth summit dedicated to fostering education and advancing digital commerce in India. This summit will converge Indias pioneering entrepreneurs, visionary industry leaders, forward-thinking SMB and D2C business owners, and futuristic service providers in a single venue. With the theme, Nurturing the Future of eCommerce Businesses, the event aims to ignite innovation and equip digital enterprises with the essential tools and insights to explore, discover, and create a definitive roadmap for their future growth. At Shiprocket, we have curated this summit to realise the vision of expanding the horizons of digital commerce, and democratising eCommerce businesses nationwide.

How is Shiprocket helping MSMEs through technology as their Unnati Ka Saathi?

Shiprocket is committed to enabling e-commerce for Bharat by providing tech-enabled solutions at the click of a button. We work in tandem with the merchants, offering services best suited to their business growth. Heres how we leverage tech-enabled solutions:

To deliver a hassle-free logistics experience, we leverage AI and ML technologies. Our AI-led platform provides sellers with recommendations on optimizing logistics to deliver the best buyer experience while reducing costs.

For convenience, we have developed a mobile app interface for merchants to access our services. The app offers real-time shipment updates, order tracking, and customer support.

Shiprocket Fulfillment equips merchants with warehouse automation solutions, channel integration, and logistics technology, enabling smarter scalability.

ShiprocketX, another product of Shiprocket, empowers Indian MSMEs to expand globally in a simplified manner global business with its tech-led opportunities.

Our platform has proven to enhance order delivery percentage and performance while reducing costs. Sellers have experienced notable improvements, with delivery performance increasing by up to 10-15% and cost savings of up to 8-10%.

Through our tech-enabled solutions, Shiprocket is revolutionising e-commerce in Bharat, enabling seamless operations and empowering merchants to thrive in the digital landscape.

How marketing and constant support for MSMEs will strengthen the goal of India becoming a $5-trillion economy by 2025?

MSMEs are the backbone of the Indian economy, accounting for over 90% of all enterprises and 40% of the countrys GDP. By marketing their products and services effectively, MSMEs can reach new customers and increase their sales. This will help them grow and scale up, which will, in turn, boost the Indian economy.

The right marketing strategy will vary depending on the specific business and its target market. However, some general tips for effectively marketing MSMEs include:

Identify your target market: Who are you trying to reach with your marketing? Once you know your target market, you can tailor your marketing messages to appeal to them. Create a strong brand: Your brand is what will set you apart from your competitors. Make sure your brand is consistent across all your marketing channels. Use high-quality content: Your marketing content should be informative and engaging, it should answer what problem is it solving for the buyer and why your solution is better than the others - product differentiation. Use high-quality images and videos to capture attention. Track your results: It's important to track the results of your marketing campaigns so you can see what's working and what's not. This will help you optimize your campaigns for better results.

By following these tips, MSMEs can use marketing to reach new customers, increase sales, and grow their businesses. This will help them contribute to the Indian economy and help the country achieve its goal of becoming a $5 trillion economy by 2025.

How are B2B companies leveraging event marketing to engage with their target audience, build brand awareness, and drive business growth?

Event marketing is a crucial component of B2B strategies, allowing companies to engage with their target audience, boost brand awareness, and drive business growth. By crafting captivating experiences, B2B companies leave a lasting impact on attendees, forging meaningful connections.

Immersive storytelling, powered by AR, VR, or MR technologies at the events, transports participants to otherworldly realms, enabling the delivery of compelling brand narratives. This, emotionally and intellectually, engages attendees, leaving a memorable impression. Gamification taps into human desires for competition, exploration, and rewards, fostering engagement and connection with the brand. Interactive challenges, leaderboards, and incentives enhance the attendee experience.

Data-driven personalisation is also paramount. B2B marketers employ advanced analytics to gain insights into attendee behaviour, allowing for hyper-personalised content, sessions, and networking opportunities. Integrating event data with CRM systems enables predictive lead scoring, prioritising high-quality leads based on interactions, attendance, and engagement. This enhances post-event follow-up and conversion rates.

In conclusion, B2B companies leverage event marketing to engage their target audience, build brand awareness, and drive business growth. Through immersive storytelling, gamification, and data-driven personalisation, these companies create impactful events that leave a lasting impression. By understanding their audience and delivering tailored experiences, B2B marketers forge meaningful connections, nurture leads, and achieve their business objectives. Event marketing is an essential element in the B2B landscape, enabling companies to stand out and thrive.

What is Shiprockets vision for MSMEs? How does it plan to reach them? What are the initiatives undertaken by it to help MSMEs?

Shiprocket is committed to enabling e-commerce for Bharat by providing tech-enabled solutions with a simple click of a button. We work in tandem with merchants, offering services that best suit their business growth. To achieve this, we have established strategic partnerships with key entities such as India Post, eBay, and Billdesk, expanding our ecosystem and providing comprehensive solutions. However, the question remains: How will Shiprocket tap into these merchants and MSMEs? This is where event marketing comes into play. Shiprocket hosts various events to reach MSMEs at the ground level. Some of these events include:

Shiprocket Yatra is a program by Shiprocket, an e-commerce logistics platform that aims to help e-commerce businesses in Tier 2 towns of India succeed online. The program offers a variety of benefits to participants, including networking opportunities, knowledge-sharing sessions, insights on how to improve e-commerce operations, and access to Shiprockets products and services.

Aarambh is a women-only startup accelerator program by Shiprocket. The program aims to empower women-led businesses by providing them with access to resources, mentorship, and funding. Aarambh is open to women-led businesses of all sizes and stages. The program offers a 12-week curriculum that covers topics such as business planning, marketing, and sales. We have empowered 100+ womenpreneurs through Aarambh.

Shivir is an annual summit organised by Shiprocket. The summit brings together industry experts, entrepreneurs, and business leaders to discuss the latest trends in e-commerce and logistics. Shivir is a great opportunity to learn about the latest trends in e-commerce and logistics, to network with other industry professionals, and to get inspired by the stories of successful entrepreneurs.

As it is known that the MSME industry generates over 120 million jobs and contributes about 33% of the GDP, what are the challenges that MSMEs are facing in todays day and age in general, and in terms of marketing? How does Shiprocket aim to solve that?

I understand that MSMEs in todays day and age, both in general and in terms of marketing, face significant challenges. In the broader context, they confront limitations such as restricted access to finance, inadequate infrastructure, and regulatory complexities. When it comes to marketing, MSMEs encounter additional hurdles. Limited resources and budget constraints make it challenging for them to implement effective marketing strategies that drive growth.

Many MSMEs struggle to establish a strong digital presence and lack knowledge of digital marketing techniques, hindering their ability to reach a wider audience. Moreover, they face fierce competition from larger enterprises, which constantly poses a challenge to acquiring market share. Additionally, keeping up with ever-changing consumer preferences and market trends adds complexity to the MSME landscape.

Recognising these challenges, Shiprocket understands the importance of MSMEs and aims to provide solutions for merchants in India. Shiprocket offers a range of services and technologies that empower MSMEs to overcome these obstacles. With our expertise as the e-commerce enablers of Bharat, Shiprocket assists MSMEs in streamlining their shipping and delivery processes, reducing costs, and enhancing customer satisfaction at every layer of the journey. Furthermore, Shiprocket provides valuable tools to help MSMEs establish a strong digital presence and implement effective marketing strategies through products like Wigzo by Shiprocket. By offering such comprehensive solutions tailored to the specific needs of MSMEs, Shiprocket aims to enable their growth and success in the competitive Indian market.

Are lines blurring between B2C and B2B marketing? How are B2B companies using their consumer ads as a way to better connect with the real people behind B2B buying decisions?

In the ever-evolving landscape of marketing, the lines between B2C and B2B strategies are undeniably blurring. This phenomenon can be attributed to the rise of the prosumer. As these consumers hold more power and influence in the B2B buying process, it becomes imperative for B2B companies to adapt their marketing efforts to cater to their needs.

B2B companies are effectively bridging the gap by employing individualised customer journeys and utilising data analytics and AI to gain insights into B2B buyers preferences and pain points. This knowledge allows marketers to deliver personalised experiences that deeply resonate. By tailoring messaging, content, and recommendations to meet each buyers unique requirements, satisfaction, trust, and loyalty are enhanced. However, personalization alone is not sufficient. To truly connect with the prosumer, B2B marketers must embrace authenticity in advertising. By featuring authentic storytelling and relatable characters in consumer-oriented advertisements, emotional resonance is achieved with decision-makers. By transcending traditional B2B approaches and adopting a relatable tone, companies humanise their brand and establish genuine connections with their audience.

In conclusion, the era of treating B2B buyers as faceless entities is behind us, and the future lies in recognising the real people who hold the key to B2B purchasing decisions.
This Independence Day, Shoppers Stop launches Heroes First program; celebrating the True Heroes of India, by welcoming them to the Shoppers Stop First Citizen Club. Shoppers Stop, Indias largest omnichannel retail destination, is proud to gift Lifetime First Citizen Club membership to the active and ex-servicemen of the Armed Forces.

In recognition of their unwavering dedication, Shoppers Stop will present this membership, which will entitle them to a host of benefits, rewards sand personalized services, carefully tailored to elevate their shopping experiences at Shoppers Stop outlets across the nation.

In the words of Ms. Shwetal Basu, Chief of Marketing & Communication of Shoppers Stop: This initiative represents a heartfelt tribute to the brave soldiers who selflessly safeguard our nations integrity and security. First Citizen Club is one of Indias longest-running paid loyalty program. By welcoming them to the First Citizen Club, Shoppers Stop aims to acknowledge their contributions to our homeland.

Shwetal Basu launched the Heroes First program by felicitating, the retired veterans of the 1971 Indo-Pak war (38th Course  popularly known as Born to Battle). She welcomed them to the Shoppers Stop First Citizen Club, by handing over the first set of complimentary memberships under this program.

All active and ex-servicemen of the Armed Forces (including their families) can avail this complimentary membership by enrolling into this program at their closest Shoppers Stop or Home Stop store.
Federal Office of Police

Bern, 14.08.2023 - Crime is becoming increasingly global and digital: ATM thieves, cyber criminals, drug, human and arms traffickers do not stop at cantonal or national borders. That is why information exchange and cooperation between national and international law enforcement services are indispensable for fighting crime and increasing se-curity. To enhance cooperation, fedpol is bringing police authorities together for INTERPOLs 100th anniversary.

Switzerland is a particularly lucrative target for all kinds of criminals due to its small size, its prosperity and its location in the heart of Europe. Money launderers, ATM thieves, cyber criminals, human traffickers, arms dealers and drug traffickers all use Switzerland for their operations. These criminals are usually active in more than one canton, and many cases also have a foreign connection, to Europe or beyond. Switzerland can therefore only fight crime effectively through an extensive exchange of information and close cooperation with its national and international partners.

Cooperation is key

In order to strengthen international police cooperation, fedpol is bringing the Secretary General of INTERPOL, Jurgen Stock, the cantonal police services, the Italian Carabinieri, the Federal Criminal Police Office of Germany and other experts together to mark the 100th anniversary of INTERPOL.

Fighting crime yesterday, today and tomorrow

The conference participants will discuss the current crime situation and the latest crime developments. They will also explore possibilities for pulling together to fight internationally organised crime. fedpol congratulates INTERPOL on its 100th anniversary and thanks all participants for their invaluable contribution to the conference.

Address for enquiries

Federal Office of Police fedpol, T +41 58 463 13 10, media@fedpol.admin.ch

Publisher

Federal Office of Police

http://www.fedpol.admin.ch/fedpol/en/home.html




US Congressman Ro Khanna has condemned the unconscionable attack by Khalistani elements on the Indian Consulate in San Francisco and stated that there is no place for a separatist movement in India.

In an exclusive interview with ANI, Khanna said, It was unconscionable; there was no place for that. I condemned it very strongly. There can be no violence against an embassy against a consulate in America, and theres no space for a separatist movement. Punjab is part of India, and that is a settled question. We need to make sure everyone is treated equally, whether Hindu, Christian, Sikh, or Muslim, but Punjab is a part of India.

Khanna is in India, leading a high-powered delegation of US members of Congress. Earlier, in July, a group of pro-Khalistan supporters allegedly attempted to set fire to the Indian consulate in San Francisco. There was neither major damage nor any injuries, and police are continuing their investigation into the incident.

A video of the incident was verified by sources, who told ANI that the fire was suppressed quickly by the San Francisco Fire Department. Terming the attack as nothing less than a terror act, an official told ANI that no major damages or staffers were harmed. The Local San Francisco police department, special diplomatic security personnel, and state and federal authorities were notified and immediately began investigating the incident. Earlier in March this year, Khalistani supporters vandalized the consulate.

Meanwhile, during his India visit, US Congressman Khanna met with actor Amitabh Bachchan in Mumbai. First of all, the meeting with Amitabh Bhachchan was such an extraordinary moment. He spent almost an hour. My phone was buzzing with texts from around the world. I mean, hes a national icon. And that was a great honor, Khanna said after his meeting with the superstar on Saturday.

Khanna and Michael Waltz, who are co-chairs of the House India caucus, will attend Prime Minister Narendra Modis address from the Red Fort on Independence Day on Tuesday. Khanna said, Its going to be a great honour to be at the Red Fort with the Prime Minister and see Indias Independence Day celebration. As you know, my grandfather spent years in jail with Lala Lajpat Rai So to see Indias Independence as a member of Congress is a great honour.

Khanna and Waltz co-chair the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans. The caucus is a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers committed to strengthening the relationship between the United States and India. On their India visit, Congressmen Khanna and Waltz are joined by Reps. Deborah Ross (NC-D), Kat Cammack (FL-R), Shri Thanedar (MI-D), and Jasmine Crockett (TX-D) as well as fellow Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans members Reps. Rich McCormick (GA-R) and Ed Case (HI-D).
Image: PTI

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Monday said there is no confusion within the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance over his meeting with his nephew and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in Pune.

The MVA is united, and we will successfully organize the next meeting of the opposition bloc INDIA in Mumbai on August 31 and September 1, Pawar told reporters in Baramati.

This was the 82-year-old veteran politicians maiden visit to his home turf after Ajit Pawar joined the Eknath Shinde-led government on July 2.

MVA constituents Congress and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) had asked the NCP chief to clear the confusion such meetings between the uncle and nephew create in political circles.

There is no confusion among MVA partners. We are all together and will ensure the INDIA meeting in Mumbai on August 31 and September 1 is organised successfully, Pawar said.

Pawar asked the media not to create more confusion by asking the same question.

Myself, Uddhav Thackeray, and state Congress president Nana Patole have taken the responsibility of organizing the I.N.D.I.A meeting in Mumbai, Pawar said. The meeting will be held at a luxury hotel.

The NCP has no association with factions from MVA which align with the BJP at the state and national and level, Pawar said, alluding to the move by his nephew.

Pawar said he is expecting to speak to NCP leader Nawab Malik, who was on Friday granted two months interim bail by the Supreme Court in a money laundering case.

The Enforcement Directorate arrested the former minister on February 23 last year in a case registered over the Goawala compound property in Kurla, allegedly linked to gangster Dawood Ibrahim.

Malik is in judicial custody since March 2022 and was admitted at a private hospital in Kurla in May last year. He is still at the hospital.

Pawar sidestepped a question on an editorial in Mondays issue of Sena (UBT) mouthpiece Saamana expressing displeasure over the frequent meetings between him and Ajit Pawar.
New song! It's starts like this: "Boom boom bump! Boom boom bump! Boom boom bump! Boom boom bump! ABA's the thing science says it can bring kids forward from their aut-is-m. You need 20 hours a week. The cost makes us shriek. We can not provide for all who seek. Singing "We will, we will BANKRUPT YOU!" Ok, so I'm not a lyricist. But you get the point. Apologies to Freddie... Mercury (hey oh!) ABA is the exalted "science based" treatment for autism. But it's pricey! From what I am seeing, a lot of mediocre colleges are churning out BCBAs at a quick pace. Students know they can make far more as a BCBA than social worker. Below, Anne Dachel highlights just two stories of how the world is starting to go broke on autism. It's going to get much worse. It's no bed of roses.



By Anne Dachel



Two recent stories are a serious cause for alarm.

Aug 11, 2023, Fox 59, Indianapolis: Proposal could cut Indiana Medicaid reimbursement rates for autism therapy for kids

While health officials, doctors and overwhelmingly the media tell us that all the autistic kids everywhere are nothing new, statistics prove them horribly wrong.

Heres whats happening in Indiana.

Last year, Indiana Medicaid programs provided 6,200 kids with whats known as Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy, or ABA for short.

Tuesday, the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) alerted ABA providers across the state it would propose a standard reimbursement rate for care administered by an RBT of $55 per hour. However, several providers say the average market rate is closer to $100 per hour, which means the proposal could cut funding by almost half across the board.

Our entire clinic is Medicaid families who depend on these services, said Courtney Hodge, the owner of Shine Pediatric Therapy.

Hodge said since the clinic opened in October 2022, 38 of 40 families served have used Medicaid vouchers. Hodge said she fears proposed cuts to Medicaid reimbursement rates could mean decreased staffing, training and personalized care for kids.

ABA therapy, were told, costs $100 an hour. And funding would be cut by half. Medicaid pays for low income families. How would they afford the cost of ABA?

Heres the sobering reality for Indiana and, Im sure, everywhere else.

However, the FSSA [IN Family and Social Services Administration] argues that the current reimbursement rate is unsustainable. The agency said Medicaid programs spent $420M on ABA alone in 2022, and that over the last three years, ABA expenses increased by more than 50 percent each year.

Another story, this one from Fairfield, Texas, gives a chilling statistic about ABA therapy for autistic children.

On Aug 6, 2023, the Freestone County Times, in Fairfield, TX, published an op ed piece by a psychologist whos worried about losing funding for ABA therapy. She notes, Between 2010 and 2020, demand for ABA services grew over 4,000%.

WHY? Why was there such a staggering increase in demand? Were not told because the ABA provider wasnt interest in where these kids are coming from.

I think we need to get used to the word unsustainable. Were going to be hearing it a lot.



###



Vax-Unvax: Let the Science Speak (Childrens Health Defense) Hardcover  Illustrated, August 15, 2023 by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (Author), Brian Hooker (Author)

Based on over one hundred studies in the peer-reviewed literature that consider vaccinated versus unvaccinated populations. Each of these studies is analyzed and put in context of the difference in health outcomes of vaccinated versus unvaccinated infants, children, and adults. Given the massive push to vaccinate the entire global population, this book is timely and necessary for individuals to make informed choices for themselves and their families.
U.S. Steels rejection of a $7.3 billion buyout proposal from a rival this weekend - one of several offers the company says it has received - has an indirect connection to one of the companys Alabama projects.

On Sunday, the Pittsburgh-based company confirmed in a statement a $7.3 billion buyout proposal from Cleveland-Cliffs, which it said was one of multiple unsolicited proposals that ranged from the acquisition of certain production assets to consideration for the whole company.

U.S. Steel rejected the offer, according to its statement, because Cleveland-Cliffs wanted the company to accept the terms without being allowed to conduct standard due diligence.

The Associated Press quoted U.S. Steel CEO David Burritt as saying the offers are a validation of U.S. Steels strategy of transformation, including expanding its electric arc furnace steelmaking and finishing capabilities.

Fairfield is the site of one of those strategies, with the $412 million electric arc furnace that began production in 2020, which can produce as much as 1.6 million tons of steel a year.

The project was originally shut down in Dec. 2015 due to unfavorable market conditions, but was announced again in 2019.

The furnace employs a mix of mini-mill and integrated mill technology, the company says. Electric arc furnaces make steel from melted scrap metal instead of iron ore and can operate with fewer workers. They are also easier to stop and restart than traditional blast furnaces that must operate continuously to avoid damage, making them flexible to market demands.

Fairfield eventually lost out last year to Arkansas as the site for a $3 billion mini-mill project with U.S. Steel.

The company, founded in 1901, has deep roots in Alabama and was once the largest employer in Birmingham, with about 15,000 people on the payroll at its peak.

A deal with Cleveland-Cliffs would reduce the number of major American steel companies to three. According to The Wall Street Journal, U.S. Steel, Cleveland-Cliffs, Nucor and Steel Dynamics account for most of the steel produced in the U.S. However, both Cleveland-Cliffs and U.S. Steel are considered the high-cost producers.
Officials stated on Sunday that the Coast Guard was looking for four divers about 50 miles south of Cape Fear, North Carolina and that the search would go on into Monday morning.

The four men were last seen diving from a pleasure boat called Big Bill's around 63 miles east of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, at noon on Sunday, according to the Coast Guard.

The search was conducted using a large number of aircraft and surface craft, including an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and an HC-130 Hercules aircraft.

The agency claimed that after learning the men were missing, its branches got in touch with one another and started a "multi-asset search and rescue effort."

North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and New Jersey have sent rescue teams.

Current Sea Conditions

According to a statement from the Coast Guard, the current sea condition is roughly 2-3 feet with 10-knot gusts, and personnel will keep looking through the night.

(Photo: by JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images) US Coast Guard crews work on a vessel at the US Coast Guard Base Boston in Boston, Massachusetts, on June 22, 2023.

According to the Diver Alert Network, between 80 and 90 diving accident fatalities occur in the United States and Canada each year. Compared to car driving and many other sports, diving has fewer fatalities.

Most diving fatalities involve novice divers, who account for 50 percent of all diving deaths.

The missing men's names have not been made public. Officials have not specified if the men were diving for a particular object.

Read also: 13,000-Year-Old Skeleton Of Teen Girl Found At Bottom Of Underwater Cave

Diving Accidents Across the US

Two divers were found dead after their boat capsized off the coast of Florida also just recently. The divers, both men in their 50s, were reported missing on Saturday after they failed to return from a dive. Their boat was found capsized and drifting in the ocean. The cause of the accident is under investigation.

Last month, a scuba diver died after becoming entangled in underwater debris off the coast of California. The diver, a man in his 40s, was diving with a group of friends when he became entangled in a fishing net. He was unable to free himself and died from drowning.

In June, a diver died after suffering decompression sickness off the coast of New Jersey. The diver, a man in his 30s, was diving with a group of friends when he began to experience symptoms of decompression sickness. He was taken to the hospital, but he died from his injuries.

These are just a few examples of recent diving accidents in the US. It is important to be aware of the risks associated with diving and to take steps to mitigate those risks. By following the safety tips outlined above, divers can reduce their chances of being involved in an accident.

Related article: Father And Son Die Scuba Diving In Underwater Cave While Trying Out New Christmas Presents (VIDEO)

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Q: Why would anyone think people would be interested in daily updates on a huge barge load of ordinary limestone rock making its way down the Tenn-Tom Waterway from north Alabama to the coast?

A: Oysters.

If they had you at oysters, heres the deal: The Alabama Wildlife Federation (AWF), Cooper Marine and Vulcan Materials Co. have joined to ship limestone the length of the state to improve oyster habitat in Mobile Bay. The material, 6,500 tons of rock, will be used in the Cedar Point Beach Oyster Restoration Project, which affects 77 acres of water bottom in Heron Bay.

The area was once home to thriving oyster reefs and is adjacent to reefs that remain productive. The hope is that the limestone will serve as cultch, providing the hard, mud-free surfaces that free-floating oyster larvae need in order to settle down and develop into mature oysters.

Chris Blankenship, commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, said the privately-funded project complements other efforts to improve oyster survival rates and expand reef areas. Oyster harvests on Mobile Bay are a small fraction of what they were a century ago, and science shows that healthy reefs have major benefits to an ecosystem, such as filtering water and creating habitat for other animals.

In this effort, Vulcan Materials provided the limestone from its Pride Quarry in Tuscumbia and Cooper Marine provided more than $150,000 to transport it. The AWF put up $100,000 to spread it in the targeted area, matched by the Coastal Land Trust, the Jernigan Foundation, the J.L. Bedsole Foundation and PowerSouth.

This environmental restoration effort is unique because it is funded in its entirety by private dollars, said Tim Gothard, AWF executive director. We are excited to see this material arrive in Mobile Bay in the next two weeks.

Our participation in this project echoes our commitment to Alabamas natural resources and environmental upkeep, said Angus Cooper, III, president of the Cooper Group. We are proud to be a part of the partnership with Vulcan Materials Company, AWF and others in this restoration effort on the Gulf Coast.

As the material travels downriver, the AWF will provide continuous updates including daily reports on its Facebook page and other social media channels.

With continuously declining oyster populations since the 1950s, for a variety of reasons, it is imperative that we step up and make investments into the reefs oysters need to thrive so that oyster populations in Alabama waters can continue to be successful, said Blankenship. This project, which is fully funded through private dollars, will play a critical role in doing just that and is an integral piece to our comprehensive oyster restoration strategy.

Related: These researchers are scaring baby oysters with crab pee. For science.

For more information on the AWFs Oyster Restoration Fund, visit www.alabamawildlife.org.
A new country song titled Rich Men North of Richmond is taking the right-wing spotlight away from Jason Aldeans controversial Try That in a Small Town.

The song  released by Oliver Anthony, a little-known artist from Farmville, Virginia  has garnered nearly 9 million views on YouTube, as well as praise from Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.

This is the anthem of the forgotten Americans who truly support this nation and unfortunately the world with their hard-earned tax dollars and incredibly hard work, Greene wrote in a tweet Friday.

The title of the song seemingly refers to politicians in Washington, D.C., who Anthony claims want to suck Americans dry and have total control.

With lyrics that tout some of the most common right-wing talking points, its no surprise that the song is drumming up support from Republicans.

Cause your dollar aint s--t and its taxed to no end, cause the rich men north of Richmond, Anthony sings in the video.

God, if youre 5-foot-3 and youre 300 pounds, taxes ought not to pay for your bags of Fudge Rounds, Anthony continues, appearing to slam the welfare system.

In just three days, the song quite literally supplanted Aldeans Small Town, when it jumped to No. 1 on the iTunes Country chart, Billboard reports. And the comments on YouTube have been rolling in.

This is not a song. Its an anthem for 80+ million Americans who have been smeared, ignored, mocked, slandered, and robbed by their own government, wrote one listener.

Its exactly how all of us are feeling! said another. God bless the hard-working, middle-class Americans, and God bless this great country!

In another video posted to YouTube, Anthony claimed to be pretty dead center down the aisle on politics, but then elaborated on the issue of human trafficking, which has often been found at the center of many right-wing conspiracy theories.

I cant begin to conceptualize what has to happen to someone in order for them to think thats OK, he said. I think I drew the line on being quiet when I started to see that becoming normalized and Ill leave that at that.

2023 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Authorities are asking for the publics help in finding a 47-year-old man who has been missing from Washington County for nearly a month.

Benjamin Tracy Ward was last seen about 3 p.m. on July 17 in the area of Fire Tower Road and Sank Town Road. He left a residence on foot and has not been seen or heard from since then.

Ward was reported missing the following day. The Washington County Sheriffs Office has searched for him, but to no avail.

Investigators say Ward has major medical issues, which require daily medication that he did not have with him at the time of his disappearance.

Wards medical issue, if not treated with his prescribed medication, leaves Ward confused, lethargic, forgetful, and unaware of his surroundings. Ward has been known to lie down and sleep for as long as 24 hours if he does not take his prescribed medication.

He is originally from Prattville and most recently has been living in Citronelle. He has friends and family in the area.

Ward is a white male, 5-feet, 9-inches tall and weighs 145 pounds.

He was last known to be wearing black shorts, a fluorescent orange t-shirt, black shoes, and white socks.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Washington County Sheriffs Office at 251-847-2202 or Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867) or 1-833-AL1-STOP. Tips can also be submitted through Crime Stoppers P3-tips app.
UPDATE: Joe Louis Hatcher is now in custody. He surrendered on Tuesday.

EARLIER: Authorities are searching for a 51-year-old man sought in a weekend homicide in Bullock County.

Joe Louis Hatcher is wanted in the Saturday slaying of 36-year-old Jeffery Monday.

The homicide happened at 1:25 a.m. in the 100 block of Locke Avenue in Union Springs. Details surrounding the slaying have not been released.

Central Alabama Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to Hatchers location.

He is a Black male, 5-feet, 9-inches tall, and weighs 250 pounds.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP, 1-833-AL1-STOP (251-7867), or via the agencys P3-tips app.
Sylvia Buford, 73, hasnt always been able to vote.

The Birmingham resident spent her childhood in Camden, Ala., growing up alongside Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, she said. Now, Buford, the vice president of her neighborhood association, North Pratt in West Birmingham, takes her civic responsibilities seriously  and worries for the states future amid what Black voting rights activists say is a pivotal moment.

Buford braved the 96-degree weather on Monday for the community-organized, all-day rally at Kelly Ingram Park in support of Black voting rights for Alabama, just a block away from the federal courthouse where the state of Alabama was arguing for its newly redrawn congressional map.

In Alabama, Black residents make up more than one fourth of the states population, but form a majority in only one of the seven congressional districts.

This year the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Black voters and activists, who said current congressional district lines in Alabama violate the Voting Rights Act and called on the state to redraw its map with an additional district where Black residents are in the majority.

But the states new map didnt do that.

I remember when I couldnt vote, Buford said. It was real bad, but now Im hoping they do the right thing.

The rally started at 8 a.m. on Monday and spread out across the park at the corner of 4th Avenue North and 17th Street North, behind the courthouse in the historic district, up to the Carver Theatre and down to Kelly Ingram Park. Local and statewide organizations including Alabama Forward, Greater Birmingham Ministries, ACLU of Alabama and Alabama Voting Rights Coalition organized the event, and several groups had tables. Musicians performed instrumental jazz and gospel music throughout the day, and organizers handed out food truck vouchers.

Volunteers at the community-organized rally on 4th Avenue North in downtown Birmingham.

Buford said she came for a few reasons: to get some t-shirts for her nine-year-old great granddaughter, to get some exercise and to meet some new friends. But most importantly, she wanted to support the cause.

They need to change the map, she said. People, please, please vote.

Three federal judges met at Birminghams Hugo L. Black United States Courthouse on Monday to decide if the Alabama Legislatures new map fixes the issues. The hearing wrapped up shortly before 3 p.m., and the parties have until Saturday to submit more filings. If the judges disagree with the states new map, they could have their hired cartographer draw a new one.

Onoyemi Williams, a Birmingham resident who helped organize Mondays rally and serves as deputy director of Faith in Action Alabama, said she was hoping for a new congressional district for Black voters.

There has been a tradition of, Yeah, you can vote, but in district lines that does not reflect the power of the vote of the African American community by drawing lines that cut us up like a pizza and slice us up where we dont have the power of our votes to enact change in the community, she said. The future looks like that we will have representation, that well be intentional about giving us just laws and giving us funding for our communities so that we no longer have to live in desperation.

Gospel musicians perform at the community-organized rally held in Kelly Ingram Park on Aug. 14, 2023.

Vonta McGhee drove up from Montgomery to volunteer at the rally.

Voting is just not a privilege, McGhee said. Its our right, and were here to make whatever cause that we can, whatever change that we can.
Congress will correct President Bidens decision to put Space Command headquarters in Colorado rather than Alabama, House members from Alabama said Saturday.

Republican Alabama Rep. Mike Rogers told the Business Council of Alabama the courts corrected Biden on plans to cancel student loan debt. On this issue, the legislative branch is going to correct him.

The lawmakers comments were first reported Saturday by Yellowhammer News.

The president overruled a military evaluation protocol on July 31 that rated Huntsvilles Redstone Arsenal the best location among the candidates to host the command. Bidens decision to leave it in Colorado Springs, where the command was started, came after former command leader Gen. James Dickinson told the president moving it now was dangerous to readiness, the Associated Press reported.

Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Birmingham) promised an investigation by the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. He sits on the committee. Were pretty good at finding documents and we think there is a little bit more to this than what the administration is telling us, Palmer said. Ive gone to (committee chairman Rep. James Comer) and we intend to launch an investigation into how this decision was made, we think it was done illegally.

Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Mobile), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, said every dollar that they need that I can cut off will be cut off. If its my choice, theyre going to be walking.

The Alabama delegation is united on the issue including lone Democrat U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell. lawmakers said. Rogers said Sewell is in the loop on how the majority of Republicans plan to vote. We actually like each other, Rogers said of the Alabama delegation.

(Updated to report that the comments were first reported Saturday, Aug. 12, by Yellowhammer News)
An employee of an Opelika furniture store has been charged with sexually assaulting three women at the business.

Dominique Marcus Hammond, 39, of Opelika, is charged with first-degree sodomy, first-degree sexual abuse, two counts of indecent exposure, three counts of unlawful imprisonment, and one count of assault with a bodily fluid, according to Opelika police and court records.

The investigation began in June when police received a report of sexual abuse at Aarons Furniture on Gateway Drive. The victim reported being assaulted June 1 by Hammond, who was an employee of the store.

During the investigation, two more victims came forward, police said.

Hammond was arrested on Friday and remains in the Lee County Jail.

Charging documents against Hammond state he grabbed one of the victims by the neck, restrained her in the businesss office against her will, and engaged in deviate sexual intercourse, which led to the charges of sodomy and unlawful imprisonment.

The sex abuse charged states Hammond inappropriately touched a second victim with his mouth and his hands. He also is charged with indecent exposure and unlawful imprisonment in that case.

Court records indicate Hammond masturbated in front of the third victim, which led to the assault with a bodily fluid charge as well charges for indecent exposure and unlawful imprisonment.

Police did not say if the victims were store customers.

Police there may be more victims. Anyone with information is asked to call police 334- 705-5220 or the Secret Witness Hotline at 334-745-8665. Tips can be submitted through the Opelika Police Departments mobile app.
State Sen. Tim Melson is back in the United States after suffering a cardiac arrest while in South Korea.

Melsons daughter Ellie posted an update Sunday on Facebook about her fathers condition.

Happy to report that we are now back in Alabama where my dad will receive the remainder of his care. Your continued prayers are appreciated, she wrote. And to South Korea, the doctors, and rest of his care team  we may have spoken two languages, but one thing was clearly communicated: kindness. Well forever be grateful for the role you played in my dads treatment and recovery.

Melson, R-Florence, suffered the cardiac arrest July 27 while he was trying to recruit businesses and STEM teachers to Alabama.

Last week, Ellie Melson requested no visitors for the senator outside of immediate family at this point in time. His body has been through a lot & needs rest to continue towards a full recovery. Tim Melson told the Alabama Daily News last week he was looking forward to getting back to Alabama.

It was reported that State Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, who was among the legislators on the trip, administered CPR to Melson.

Melson was elected to the state Senate in 2014. He is a retired anesthesiologist and a medical researcher.

He is perhaps best known at the State House for sponsoring the bill lawmakers passed in 2021 to legal medical marijuana in Alabama.
Alabamas largest public school system is on the cusp of hiring a dozen armed sheriffs deputies who will be placed at the school systems high schools and will be charged with preventing violent crimes or potential shootings.

The Mobile County School System and the Mobile County Commission are continuing negotiations that will lead to the hiring of 12 new sheriffs deputies, paid for by the school system, and who will work full-time at the countys school system.

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Its something I thought was needed for a long time, Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch said Monday. I never understood why schools in Mobile County do not have officers in the schools, short of their resource officers who cannot carry a gun nor make an arrest.

He added, Weve been fortunate nothing tragic has happened in the schools. I do not want to just sit and wait (for something tragic to happen). I want us to be proactive and deter anyone from doing anything like that other than reacting to a tragedy.

The Mobile County School Board and the County Commission will both need to separately approve a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will spell out the terms and conditions of a three-year program that, all told, will cost the school system around $4.2 million.

The costs are for the salaries and equipment for each new sheriffs deputy that is hired and placed within the school system. For the first year, the school system will appropriate approximately $1.8 million, and $1.2 million for both the second and third years.

The county commission was set to approve their agreement on Monday, but held off while negotiations continue.

Burch is hopeful that within the next month and a half, the MOUs will be adopted by both boards, and he can begin hiring new deputies, who will then be placed at schools within the Mobile County School System.

He credited a new state law, passed during the spring legislative session, that will allow retired state police officers to serve as school resource officers or correctional officers without losing retirement benefits.

Currently, if you retire from a (Retirement Systems of Alabama or RSA) department, you can only make $37,000 a year, said Burch. That bill bumped it up to $52,000 a year. That makes it attractive for someone who draws a decent retirement and who can supplement it with a decent salary.

County officials have been hesitant to call the positions school resource officers or SROs. But the deputies would be trained through the Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission (APOST-certified) and would receive additional training through the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO), based in Hoover.

Mobile County, at the start of the 2022-2023 school year, had 12 SROs stationed at each of the districts 12 high schools. But those SROs are unarmed, a point of contention within the school system and among law enforcement officials for several years.

A trained SRO is different from security guards or police officers or sheriff deputies in that they undergo specific training for the job. NASRO offers a basic, 40-hour course that includes content on teen brain development, the effects of trauma, cyber safety, special education law, and preventing school violence.

Rena Philips, a school system spokeswoman in a statement, said, MCPSS is constantly updating our school safety procedures and looking for ways to improve. While we are still working on the details of our partnership with the Mobile County Sheriffs Office, we are looking forward to working with them and the Mobile County Commission to keep our students and faculties safe at school.

School Board President Sherry Dillihay-McDade said she believes adding an armed sheriffs deputy to each of the districts 12 high schools is outstanding, and a longtime coming.

As soon as we can come to an agreement, well push it forward, she said. We have 91 schools and we are starting off small. We hope to end big.

School Board member Johnny Hatcher, who worked with Burch and Commissioner Randall Dueitt to move the issue forward, said his goal is to secure every school within Mobile County.

Hatcher also said that Mobile Police Chief Paul Prine was involved in conversations. The City of Mobile is not a participant in the program at a time when the citys police department is facing a personnel shortage.

If we did this with the city of Mobile, it would be within Mobile city jurisdiction only, said Hatcher. If we do this with the county (commission and sheriffs office), then its countywide.

The Mobile County School System is Alabamas largest public school system with an average annual student enrollment of around 53,000.

Burch said the program in Mobile County is not specifically pattered after any other county, although Hatcher said the Baldwin County School Systems program was pointed to as an example of having armed and NASRO-certified officers at every school building. In Baldwin County, all 46 of the countys schools have a SRO assigned and placed at each building.

School systems throughout Alabama have increased security in recent years, but especially after last years tragic school massacre in Uvalde, Texas, in which 19 children and two teachers were killed by a lone gunman.

Some schools, much smaller than Mobile County, have pressed ahead with adding SROs in recent years. Demopolis City Schools in Marengo County added a fourth, full-time SRO last year. Elmore County Schools in Wetumpka had 14 on-campus police officers last year.
A three-judge federal court is hearing arguments Monday on Alabamas new congressional map and whether it fixes a likely violation of the Voting Rights Act.

The three judges ruled last year that Alabamas old map diluted Black votes in what was most likely a violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, a ruling upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Circuit Judge Stanley Marcus and District Judges Anna M. Manasco and Terry F. Moorer are holding the hearing at the Hugo L. Black U.S. Courthouse in Birmingham.

The Republican-controlled Legislature approved the new map in July.

The organizations and Black voters who sued to challenge the old map have asked the court to block the new map, which has one majority Black district out of seven for a state where one-fourth of residents are Black. They say it defied the courts instruction that fixing the likely violation would require a second majority Black district or something quite close to it.

A key point in Mondays hearing came when Judge Manasco asked Alabama Solicitor General Edmund LaCour, who is defending the new map, whether the creation of a second opportunity district for Black voters is a relevant portion of the case.

I dont think so, your honor, LaCour said.

Judge Marcus followed up, asking LaCour if the state could prevail in the case even if the new map does not create a second opportunity district.

LaCour said he believed the state could prevail because he said the Voting Rights Act does not require proportional representation.

But the plaintiffs attempted to establish that lawmakers knew they were under instructions from the court to create a second district where Black voters would have a chance to elect their candidate of choice.

Deuel Ross, an attorney for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, who represents the plaintiffs, presented portions of video depositions by the chairmen of the Legislatures reapportionment committee. They said the court had instructed the Legislature to create a second opportunity district.

LaCour and other lawyers for the state, led by Attorney General Steve Marshall, said the new map complies with the Voting Rights Act and is an improvement over the one it replaced, partly because the districts are more compact and what the state defined as communities of interest, including the Black Belt, Baldwin and Mobile counties, and the Wiregrass, are kept intact as much as possible.

The court has appointed a special master and cartographer to draw a new map if it rules for the plaintiffs and rejects the Legislatures new map. Secretary of State Wes Allen has told the court the state needs a new map in place by Oct. 1 to prepare for next years elections.

Ross, of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, was the first lawyer to speak at Mondays hearing.

Ross said the key issue is whether the new map creates a second district where Black voters would have an opportunity elect a candidate of their choice, as instructed by the court.

Ross played for the court video of depositions by the Republican co-chairmen of the Legislatures reapportionment committee -- Sen. Steve Livingston of Scottsboro and Rep. Chris Pringle of Mobile. Both said they understood the instructions of the court were to create a second district where Black voters would have an opportunity to elect a candidate of their choice.

But Ross said it is not in dispute that the Legislatures new map fails to do that.

The map increased the Black voting age population in District 2 from 30% to 40%, the second highest proportion of Black voters in any district on the new map. But Ross noted analyses that showed Black-preferred candidates would have little or no chance in the redrawn District 2.

In 16 of 17 statewide races since 2016, Democrats received fewer votes in the new District 2 than Republicans, with the outlier being Doug Jones win over Roy Moore in the 2017 special election for the U.S. Senate. In all 11 statewide races pitting Black vs. white candidates since 2014, the Black candidate received fewer votes in the new District 2, an average of 42%.

In the new District 2 Black candidates would lose every election, just as in the old District 2 Black candidates lost every election, Ross said.

Abha Khanna, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said the Legislatures new map is not a serious attempt to follow the courts instruction on creating a second opportunity district for Black voters.

Alabama has chosen instead to thumb its nose at this court, to thumb its nose at our nations highest court, and to thumb its nose at its own Black citizens, Khanna told the judges.

The court took a break for lunch and will hear one-hour closing arguments from both sides on Monday afternoon.

Eric Holder, who was U.S. Attorney General during the Obama administration, issued a statement Monday morning asking the court to block the new map.

Alabamas latest congressional map is a continuation of the states sordid history of defying court orders intended to protect the rights of Black voters, Holder said. The state has been blatant in its defiance of the United States Supreme Court. State legislators have abused the process and drawn a map that prioritizes unfair national political objectives and denies Black Alabamians their lawfully protected rights. History teaches us that the judicial branch must be the protector of the rights too long denied to Black citizens in Alabama. The court must reject the proposed map in accordance with the holding and direction from the Supreme Court.

This story was edited at 11:21 a.m. to correct the name of attorney Abha Khanna.

This story will be updated.
Guardians dedicate decade to protecting endangered crested terns

13:43, August 14, 2023 By Yin Xiaosheng, Zhu Han ( Xinhua

HANGZHOU, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese crested tern, known as the "bird of legend," is among the critically endangered tern species around the world. During this year's breeding season, a total of 45 chicks hatched on small islands in east China's Zhejiang Province.

The miracle of the births of these little creatures stems from efforts of ornithologists, relevant governing bodies, and social volunteers from all over the country. Since 2013, they have collaborated unwaveringly to help the species establish families and breed on small islands in the province.

Thanks to these efforts, the number of adult Chinese crested terns spotted in eastern Zhejiang has grown from less than 20 to nearly 150 over the past decade.

The Chinese crested tern was first recorded in Indonesia in 1861, but seemed to vanish after the 1940s. Ornithologists once believed that this species was possibly extinct.

However, more than 60 years later, this seabird was rediscovered on offshore islands along the coastal areas of eastern Chinese provinces of Fujian and Zhejiang.

Since 2013, researchers and volunteers have implemented artificial attraction and population resumption techniques on several islands in Zhejiang. Simulated birds, audio recordings of tern calls and a variety of other methods have been used to attract Chinese crested terns back to boost nesting and breeding.

Ding Peng works for a national nature reserve in Zhejiang's Xiangshan County. He was also one of the first volunteers to take part in the Chinese crested tern restoration project.

Between April and August, Chinese crested terns usually follow their close relatives, the greater crested terns, to the islands in eastern Zhejiang for breeding.

"The most important responsibility of the volunteers is to observe, record and protect their breeding process. At the same time, they need to eliminate threats to the terns from the likes of snakes, rats and birds of prey," the 33-year-old said.

In 2017, this project began recruiting island-based seabird monitoring volunteers from the general public, and it receives hundreds of applications every year from people from all walks of life, including doctors, scholars, retired civil servants, university graduates, business owners, and freelancers.

So far, nearly 30 volunteers have taken part in the project on the islands.

Life on these remote islands is very challenging. Volunteers have to rely solely on solar power, while nature reserve staff transport and provide the fresh water and food needed by the volunteers. The moist and sultry weather and the presence of plenty of mosquitoes are additional challenges. Despite these hardships, volunteers remain enthusiastic about protecting these rare seabirds.

He Jibai, 27, a volunteer from Chengdu, used to be a wildlife protector, and this past experience gave him more confidence in challenging the tough environment on the islands. He arrived there in late April and his monitoring work is scheduled to last until early September.

Before dawn, He and his colleagues need to check the monitoring equipment to make sure that the birds are safe at the breeding site at night. After that, they take shifts in conducting ongoing observations from a nearby hut. They must later compile and archive the whole day's data, and share their stories about life on the islands on the project's official social media account.

"I hope that our actions will inspire more people to protect wildlife around them. That is the value of our work," He said, adding that his fellow volunteers also share the hope that future generations will be able to witness the beauty of these seabirds.

(Intern Guo Qianchen contributed to the story.)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
(Photo : Photo by JASON REDMOND/AFP via Getty Images)

Up to 50 thieves ransacked a luxury accessories concession at a Los Angeles Nordstrom store, as captured in a horrifying video.



A group of criminals executed a brazen heist at the Westfield Topanga Shopping Center in Los Angeles, leaving authorities and local residents deeply concerned.

The theft, which took place on a Saturday afternoon, saw the perpetrators making off with an estimated $60,000 to $100,000 worth of merchandise from a Nordstrom store within the mall, as per New York Post.

Brazen Heist at Westfield Topanga Mall Sparks Concern

The audacious robbery was executed by a group of individuals wearing black masks and clothing, who were captured on video footage fleeing the scene with bags filled with stolen items, including duffel bags, purses, and other valuable goods.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) swiftly responded to the incident, assuring the public of their determination to bring the culprits to justice.

However, the incident has left a lingering sense of insecurity among the community. For those who frequent the Topanga Mall, the robbery represents more than just a financial loss-it's a violation of the feeling of safety that is integral to any thriving community.

As police rightly noted, "To criminals, it is just property taken. To those who live in the area and patronize the Topanga Mall, it is a loss of feeling safe."

This incident, while alarming, is unfortunately not an isolated event. Just earlier in the same week, a similar situation unfolded at The Americana at Brand in Glendale, where a large group of approximately 30 individuals flooded into the Yves Saint Laurent store, making away with an astonishing $300,000 worth of clothing and merchandise.

Described as "flash mob burglaries," these organized heists involve a coordinated rush into stores, overwhelming staff and clearing out merchandise before fleeing in multiple vehicles. Retailers are facing increasing challenges as incidents of organized retail theft surge.

Recent data compiled by Bloomberg reveals that retailers including Target, Walmart, Dollar General, and Home Depot reported a substantial increase in missing inventory during the past quarter, surpassing any previous records.

This discrepancy between reported inventory and actual inventory, known as shrinkage, poses a significant threat to retailers' profits and sustainability.

To combat the rising tide of organized retail theft, retailers are exploring innovative strategies. Some have opted for shorter store hours, aiming to reduce the window of opportunity for thieves to strike.

Additionally, self-servicing locking cabinets and smart shopping carts are being introduced to deter theft. These advanced security measures provide a heightened level of protection for valuable items while simultaneously making it more challenging for criminals to execute their plans.

The Los Angeles Mayor, Karen Bass, echoed the sentiment of the community by condemning the incidents and emphasizing the need for accountability. She asserted, "The people who stole from Nordstrom must be held accountable."

Bass further emphasized that it is not only about apprehending those responsible but also preventing such attacks on retailers in the future, , according to USA Today.

Read Also: UK Gender-Neutral Toilet Crackdown: How Can It Protect Privacy, Dignity in Public Places?

Enhancing Public Safety

Local law enforcement, including the LAPD and Glendale Police, are actively pursuing leads to bring the perpetrators to justice. Beyond the immediate economic impact, these incidents have broader implications for community dynamics and consumer trust.

They underscore the importance of maintaining a safe environment for residents and visitors, as well as ensuring that retail spaces remain welcoming and secure. Retailers and law enforcement agencies are collaborating to establish a comprehensive approach to prevent future instances of organized retail theft.

By enhancing security measures, improving surveillance techniques, and fostering community engagement, they aim to restore a sense of safety and trust that is crucial for both businesses and consumers alike.

These audacious thefts underscore the need for innovative security strategies and collaboration between law enforcement and retailers. By collectively addressing this issue, stakeholders can work towards minimizing losses, restoring consumer trust, and preserving the vitality of local retail ecosystems, Daily Mail reported.

Related Article: Netherlands Seizes Cocaine Haul Worth 600 Million Euros, Setting New Record

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The first court date has been set for Carlee Russell on misdemeanor charges following her staged disappearance last month.

A pretrial docket has been set for 2 p.m. on Oct. 11 at Hoovers Municipal Court.

That is when Russell, her attorney Emory Anthony and prosecutors come together to discuss what will happen moving forward in the judicial process.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshalls Office is prosecuting the case.

An actual trial date has not been set.

The court has issued an order saying no media cameras will be allowed in the courtroom, officials said Monday.

Russell, 26, is charged with false reporting to law enforcement authorities and falsely reporting an incident.

Both crimes are misdemeanors. The two charges each carry a $1,000 bond.

Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis said the investigation is ongoing but no new information has been uncovered surrounding Russells whereabouts during the 49 hours she was missing.

Read full coverage of the case here

Russell seemingly vanished Thursday, July 13, after calling 911, and a family member, to report seeing a child, about 3 or 4 years old only wearing a diaper, walking alone on the busy interstate.

The family member reported hearing a scream, and then only interstate noise through the open cell phone line.

Russells disappearance sparked a massive search and widespread concern.

Two days later, Russell showed up alone at her parents Hoover home. She was taken to UAB Hospital for evaluation.

While at UAB Hospital, Russell told Hoover police she escaped the clutches of a man and woman who abducted her.

Authorities determined Russell left her job at Woodhouse Day Spa  from which she has since been fired  after taking a robe, toilet paper and a small amount of cash.

She ordered food from Tazikis at The Colonnade. Carlee then traveled to Target on U.S. 280 where she bought some granola bars, Cheez-its, and a drink.

She remained in the parking lot there until 9:21 P.M., then drove to I-459.

Russell called 911 at 9:34 p.m. She then called her brothers girlfriend, and about 9:36 p.m. went missing.

No one else ever reported seeing a toddler there.

Russell traveled approximately 600 yards while on the phone with 911.

Police found Russells wig, cell phone and purse near her vehicle. Her Apple Watch was in her purse.

The food from Tazikis was in her car. Items from Target, as well as the items taken from the spa, were not at the scene.

In her interview after her return  the only interview she has given to police - Russell told officers she was abducted.

She told detectives that while traveling down the interstate, she saw a baby walking down the side of the road and called 911. When she got out of her vehicle to check on the child, a man came out of the trees, Derzis previously said.

That man then picked her up and she screamed. He then made her go over a fence. He then forced her into a car and the next thing she remembers is being in the trailer of an 18-wheeler. She stated that the male was with a female, however she never saw the female, only hearing her voice. She also told detectives she could hear a baby crying, he said.

She told detectives the male had orange hair with a big bald spot on the back. She was able to escape the 18-wheeler and fled on foot, only to be captured again and put into a car, Derzis said.

She said that they took her into a house and made her get undressed. She believes they took pictures of her, but she does not remember them having any physical or sexual contact with her. She stated that the next day, she woke up and was fed cheese crackers by the female, according to Derzis.

She stated the woman also played with her hair, but she could not remember anything else.

She was put back in a vehicle that she claims was able to escape from while it was west Hoover area. She told detectives that she ran through lots of woods until she came out near her residence, the chief said.

Detectives noted that Carlee had a small injury to her lip, and she complained of her head hurting. She also had a tear in her shirt. Detectives also noted that she had $107 in cash in her right sock.

Police announced the charges against her two weeks after the staged disappearance, which Russell admitted was fabricated in a statement released through her lawyer.

As we all know, actions can have consequences and thats why we are here today, Derzis said when announcing the charges.

Her decisions that night created panic and alarm for the citizens of our city,,' he said, and even across the nation as concern grew that a kidnapper was on the loose, using a small child as bait.

Numerous law enforcement agencies, both local and federal, began working tirelessly not only to bring Carlee home to her family, but locate a kidnapper that we now know never existed,' Derzis said. Many private citizens volunteered their time and energy into looking for a potential kidnapping victim that we now know was never in any danger.
Letters written by a defrocked priest who abandoned his duties to the Archdiocese of Mobile indicate he believes he and the 18-year-old female who accompanied him to Europe were told by Jesus to leave Mobile.

Alex Crow, 30, was stripped of his duties by the Archdiocese last month after he had abandoned his assignment and engaged in behavior totally unbecoming of a priest.

Crow and the female, a recent McGill-Toolen High School graduate, were located in Italy by a member of the young womans family, who said the young woman had traveled with Crow of her own accord.

The Mobile County Sheriff's Office on Monday released this letter written by defrocked Mobile priest Alex Crow.

Much of Crows theological background involved the study of demonology and exorcism, with Crow saying in a 2022 podcast a minor exorcism had been performed on him by a priest several years ago.

Crow wrote a thesis on demonology and exorcism while in seminary.

There has been rampant speculation Crow and the young woman were traveling to the Spanish town of San Sebastian de Garabandal -- where apparitions of Saint Michael the Archangel and Virgin Mary which reportedly appeared to four girls ages 11 and 12 from 1961 to 1965 -- possibly for Crow to perform an exorcism on the young woman.

The letters, released Monday by the Mobile County Sheriffs Office, make it clear Crow has no intention to return to Mobile.

One is addressed to someone named Joshua, who Crow wrote the teen had entrusted with this letter.

The other is to the 18-year-old female, whose name in redacted, in which he wrote that the two were in love and are married. It has never been publicly stated whether the two are in fact legally married.

Here they are in their entirety (spelling, punctuation, boldface, etc. have not been edited):

Dear Joshua,

Mary said that you were the one who should be entrusted with this letter. She said She loves you very much and that you are trustworthy. I agree with Her. What I am going to write is what She has told me to write. It will be hard for you to understand what I am doing, but do not worry. It will all make sense one day.

Jesus has told me that He wants me to leave, therefore I am not going to return from this trip. I do this with a heavy heart. It is hard to suddenly leave everything behind, but this is what He is demanding and I cannot deny him.

Let me be very clear: I am not leaving the priesthood. I will never forsake my sacred duties. The priesthood is the greatest gift Jesus has ever given me, and I will treasure this gift forever.

That said, it is His priesthood, and He can do with me as He pleases. I regularly tell Him: Jesus, help me do Your Will. Nothing more. Nothing less. He has heard this prayer, and He is asking everything from me. Let His Will be done.

(Name redacted by MCSO) has been told to come with me. We know how this looks, but we are doing what we are told. Do not worry about defending us. This is hard for her too, but she knows she will always be safe if she does Jesus Will.

We will always be thinking and praying for all of you, especially our families and friends. Please pray for us, too. We need it.

In Christ,

Rev. Alexander Crow

A second letter was sent to the 18-year-old on Valentines Day:

Dear ***********,

As I write this Im still experiencing eye dilation, so I apologize if this is hard to read. I can barely read what Im writing as I do this. Ha!

First things first: I love you, and I thank Jesus for you every day. You have made my life both astronomically more complicated and incredibly better at the same time. You are his gift to me.

Before we fell in love, I promised to always care for you and protect you, like a father. I still look at you and see a child, but in the best way imaginable. You are mine - no one elses, and I will always be a father to you until I die.

Now, we are in love and we are married! Ive never been in love before (and Ive never been married, obviously!), and Ive never felt any of the feelings I have for you for anyone ever in my entire life. I promise that I will love you the absolute best I can, every single day.

Im sorry I cannot give you a normal Valentines Day this year. I wanted to do nothing more than buy you flowers but for fear of scandal I couldnt. I almost stole some from the Mary statue but there were too many people around. The chocolates were given to me by Miogron (ha). She took a few before giving them to me hence the ones that are missing. I hope you like the others though!

I know you want to make out so Ill bring this to a close. When we are together, with our family in Italy (!!!), we will have so many wonderful and normal Valentines Days, but for now: Happy Valentines Day.

You are the prettiest girl who has ever lived, and I will always tell you that. You are perfect, and precious and, besides Jesus, the most wonderful thing Ive ever seen or held in my two hands.

I will always love you, ***********.

Sincerely, Your Valentine and Husband!

Alex

PS: Youre cute ;)

The letters were apparently written prior to Crows departure and before the Archdiocese stripped him of his duties.

The sheriffs office gave no indication as to why it was releasing the letters at this point, other than to say they wanted to make sure our local media had this first.
Fulton County prosecutors are expected to begin presenting their election interference case against former President Donald Trump and others to a grand jury on Monday morning. Their work could result in the second indictment in two weeks against the Republican for his attempts to cling to power following the 2020 election.

District Attorney Fani Willis is likely to pursue racketeering charges against Trump and a host of his allies related to their work to overturn the results of Georgias last presidential election.

Willis timeline came into focus on Saturday, when former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan and independent journalist George Chidi separately confirmed that they received notifications they will testify before a 23-person grand jury on Tuesday.

Gabe Sterling, a top official in the Georgia Secretary of States office who answered questions before a separate special grand jury last summer, was cagey on Sunday when asked by ABC News about whether he has been called to testify this week.

My lawyer said I couldnt talk about this too much one way or another, but if I am called, when I am called, I will go and do what I did before: I will tell the truth, answer honestly, he said.

Others have privately acknowledged to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that theyve been asked to testify.

Given the complexity of explaining racketeering cases to a jury, Willis is expected to begin presenting her case on Monday. Past RICO cases she has spearheaded have taken roughly two days to present. The grand jury that will hear the case this week was convened in June and has been meeting on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Willis case could include a handful of incidents that unfolded between Nov. 2020 and Jan. 2021, such as: phone calls Trump placed to nearly a half-dozen Georgia officials; the appointment of a slate of alternate GOP electors; and Trump attorney Rudy Giulianis falsehood-filled testimony to state legislators about the vote count at Atlantas State Farm Arena. It could also refer to the harassment of two Fulton County poll workers and the accessing of sensitive election data from voting equipment in Coffee County.

As he has been doing for months, Trump on Sunday lashed out at the Fulton DA, calling her Phoney (like in perfect phone call, get it?) Fani Willis in a post on his Truth Social site. That was in reference to the Jan. 2, 2021, phone call Trump placed to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, asking him to find the exact number of votes needed to overturn the presidential election results in Georgia.

The only Election Interference that took place in Fulton County, Georgia, was done by those that Rigged and Stole the Election, not by me, who simply complained that the Election was Rigged and Stolen, Trump said in another post. We have Massive and Conclusive Proof, if the Grand Jury would like to see it. Unfortunately, the publicity seeking D.A. isnt interested in Justice, or this evidence.

The proceedings are expected to draw national media attention to a heavily-fortified Fulton courthouse.

The sheriffs office has closed off Pryor Street SW between MLK Jr. Drive and Mitchell Street to traffic, and no public parking is allowed anywhere along the perimeter of the courthouse. Large orange barricades filled with water are also lining the building.

Local law enforcement has been preparing for this moment for months, sending representatives to Trumps arraignments in New York City and Miami to take notes.

The courthouse itself will also be emptier than usual.

Willis has directed roughly 70% of her staff to work remotely on Monday and Tuesday. She has also requested that Fulton judges not schedule trials and in-person hearings this week.

Not everyone has adhered to that request. Ural Glanville, chief judge of Fulton Superior Court whos overseeing jury selection for Willis Young Slime Life case, said hes calling 10 jurors on Monday for the trial. But he hasnt set a schedule for the rest of the week.

The next several days were just kinda taking it one day at a time, he said.

Staff writers Greg Bluestein and Shaddi Abusaid contributed to this article.

2023 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Visit at ajc.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Taylor Douglas and his friends might be in need of some good alligator recipes after hauling in a nearly 13-foot gator weighing almost 525 pounds.

Alligator hunting season in coastal Alabama began at sunset Aug. 12.

Those fortunate enough to have had their names drawn in the lottery run by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources dropped $250 for an alligator harvest permit which allows them to hunt gators between now and sunrise on Sept. 4.

A six-man crew led by Taylor Douglas hauled in this 15-foot, 9-inch gator weighing 524 pounds from Mobile Bay over the weekend.

As one of just 50 people to receive permits to hunt gators in the Coastal Management Area, Douglas and crew wasted no time hauling in their catch (theres a limit of one per permitted hunter).

Douglas and his team caught the gator in Mobile Bay south of Interstate 10, he told WKRG.

For how big he was he really did not put up much of a fight, Douglas told the TV station. It took us roughly one hour from the time he was hooked until the time he was dispatched. The biggest struggle was trying to get his body in the boat. Three Game Wardens were on a boat next to us and got to watch the entire fight.

The Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division recorded the gator at 12 feet, 9 inches long and weighing 524 pounds. Douglas team has the early lead for largest gator this season.

While Douglas gator is a nice one, its a long way from the state record gator of 15 feet, 9 inches which weighed 1,011.15 pounds taken by Mandy Stokes of Thomaston and her crew. Its not only the Alabama state record, but a world record as certified by Safari Club International.
As bystanders trained their smartphone cameras on the riverfront dock while several white boaters pummeled a Black riverboat co-captain, they couldnt have known the footage would elicit a national conversation about racial solidarity.

Yet, a week after multiple videos showing the now-infamous brawl and valiant defense of the outnumbered co-captain were shared widely on social media, its clear the event truly tapped into the psyche of Black America and created a broader cultural moment.

Andrea Boyles, a sociology professor at Tulane University, said a long history of anti-Black racism and attacks and current events likely magnified the attacks impact and response.

Especially at a time like now where we see an increase in anti-Black racism through legislation and otherwise, whether were thinking about history, the banning of Black history and curriculum and all sorts of things across the state of Florida and elsewhere, Boyles said. So this is why it is on the forefront of peoples minds. And folks are very much tuned in, Black people in particular.

Many see the Aug. 5 ordeal on the riverfront dock in Montgomery, Alabamas capital city steeped in civil rights history, as a long-awaited answer to countless calls for help that went unanswered for past Black victims of violence and mob attacks.

We witnessed a white mob doing this to him, said Michelle Browder, an artist and social justice entrepreneur in Montgomery, describing the attack by boaters on the Black riverboat co-captain.

I call it a mob because that is what it was, it was a mob mentality, she added. It then became a moment because you saw Black people coming together.

After being inundated with images and stories of lethal violence against Black people, including motorists in traffic stops, church parishioners and grocery shoppers, the video from Montgomery struck a chord because it didnt end in the worst of outcomes for Black Americans.

For Montgomery to have this moment, we needed to see a win. We needed to see our community coming together and we needed to see justice, Browder said.

Videos of the brawl showed the participants largely divided along racial lines. Several white men punched or shoved the Black riverboat co-captain after he took a separate vessel to shore and tried to move their pontoon boat. The white boaters private vessel was docked in a spot designated for the city-owned Harriott II riverboat, on which more than 200 passengers were waiting to disembark.

The videos then showed mostly Black people rushing to the co-captains defense, including a Black teenage riverboat crew member who swam to the dock. The videos also showed the ensuing brawl that included a Black man hitting a white person with a folding chair.

As of Friday, Alabama police had charged four white people with misdemeanor assault. The folding chair-wielding man turned himself in Friday and was charged with disorderly conduct.

Jim Kittrell, the captain of Harriott II, told The Daily Beast that he thought race might have been a factor in the initial attack on his co-captain, but the resulting melee was not a Black and white thing.

This was our crew upset about these idiots, Kittrell also told WACV radio station.

He later explained that several members of his crew, seen confronting the pontoon boat party after the riverboat docked, felt they had to retaliate, which was unfortunate.

I wish we could have stopped it from happening but, when you see something like that, it was difficult. It was difficult for me to sit there in the wheelhouse watching him being attacked, Kittrell told the station.

Kittrell told The Associated Press by phone that the city had asked him not to talk about the brawl.

Major Saba Coleman of the Montgomery Police Department said on Tuesday that hate crime charges were ruled out after the department consulted with the local FBI. But several observers noted the presence of a hate motivation, or lack thereof, on the part of the pontoon boat party was not why the event resonated so strongly.

All these individuals having smartphones and cameras have democratized media and information. In the past, it was a very narrow scope on what news was being reported and from what perspectives, NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson said.

The technology, Johnson added, opened up an opportunity for America as a whole to understand the impact of racism, the impact of violence and the opportunity to create a narrative thats more consistent with keeping African Americans and other communities safe.

The riverfront brawl spawned a multitude of memes, jokes, parodies, reenactments and even T-shirts. Lift every chair and swing, read one shirt in a play on " Lift Evry Voice And Sing, the late-19th century hymn sometimes referred to as the Black national anthem.

Another meme likened the co-captains toss of his hat into the air to sending the bat signal, a reference to the D.C. Comics character Batman. One image of the scene captured from bystander video was altered to imitate Marvel Comics Avengers characters assembling through magic portals on the dock to defend the Black co-captain.

Many observers on social media were quick to point out the significance of the city and location where the brawl took place. Montgomery was the first capital of the Confederacy and the riverfront is an area where enslaved people were once unloaded to be sold at auction. The area is a few blocks from the spot where Rosa Parks was arrested for disobeying bus segregation laws.

Much of (the riverfront brawl reaction) is emblematic of the history of Montgomery, said Timothy Welbeck, the director of the Center for Anti-Racism at Temple University in Philadelphia.

This is the home of the bus boycott; this is the home of intense, racialized segregation and various forms of resistance today, he said. Even if there wasnt an explicit mention of race, many people saw a white man assaulting a Black man as a proxy for some of the racist behavior that theyve seen before. It brought about a sense of solidarity and unified fate, too, in this particular moment.

Then theres the lingering trauma of seeing past Black victims of violence and mob attacks suffer without help or intervention. Here was the rare event in which bystanders not only chronicled the moment but were able to intervene and help someone they saw being victimized.

In other notable instances, such as George Floyds murder by Minneapolis police, bystanders were restrained because the perpetrators were law enforcement officers. In a video of Floyds encounter with police filmed by Black bystander Darnella Frazier, people can be heard pleading for the Black mans life as he gasped for air with a white officers knee held to his neck.

Physically intervening in Minneapolis would have invited arrests and placed the would-be rescuers at risk for harm themselves.

Historically, lynching victims were often taken from their families as the Black community had to stand by mutely. Emmett Tills family members in Mississippi were haunted by their inability to stop the white men who kidnapped and killed him.

Bowder, the Montgomery artist, said the conversation needs to continue.

Im hoping for a hopeful message out of this, she said.

Katrina Hazzard, a Rutgers University professor in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice, said she has seen that hopeful message in the comments of support that have crossed racial and ethnic lines in identifying the aggressors and the right for people to defend themselves and the crewman.

Thats just been refreshing for me to see and for me to hear across the board, she said.
Members of the faculty at Jacksonville State University have become the latest to form their own union local.

The United Campus Workers of AlabamaCommunications Workers of America Local 3965 today announced its formation..

Its the third chapter in the state for the union, which started in 2019 in Tuscaloosa at the University of Alabama, while an Auburn University chapter began meeting last fall.

Among its goals are a $15 minimum wage for campus workers, base pay raises for lecturers and academic advisors, and the elimination of graduate student fees. The members point to larger class sizes, the hiring of more adjunct faculty and lack of benefits for some campus workers as issues that have galvanized organizing efforts.

The chapter is looking for staff, student workers, and faculty to join.

Jacksonville State had no comment on the announcement.

Associate Professor Lance Ingwersen, a history and foreign languages instructor, is a member of the chapters organizing council.

It has become increasingly clear to our members that unionization is the most effective means to achieving fairness and having our voices heard at JSU, Ingwersen said. We believe that all employees should earn a living wage, have access to basic benefits, and possess safe working conditions. That is not currently happening on our campus.

Teresa Reed, another organizing council member, said she has worked at the university since the mid-1990s.

In the past several years, its become apparent that the power structure has changed, Reed said. It is now much more a top-down system than it used to be, which means that input from faculty and staffand particularly those with the least powerhas been greatly curtailed.
A federal judge asked Alabama Solicitor General Edmund LaCour whether the Legislature deliberately disregarded the court when it passed a new congressional map that did not create a second district where Black voters have an opportunity to elect a candidate of their choice.

Circuit Judge Stanley Marcus and District Judges Anna M. Manasco and Terry F. Moorer held a hearing Monday at the Hugo L. Black U.S. Courthouse in Birmingham.

The same three judges ruled last year that Alabamas 2021 map, with one majority Black district out of seven in a state where one-fourth of residents are Black, most likely violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act because it gave Black voters less of an opportunity than other Alabamians to elect a candidate of their choice.

That ruling, affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court in June, said the appropriate remedy to the likely violation was a second district where Black voters could elect a candidate of their choice, which they said for practical purposes meant a second district with a majority Black voting age population or something quite close to it.

But during Mondays hearing, LaCour, in response to a questions from the judges, said he did not think the Legislature was required to create a second majority Black district or opportunity district in drawing a new map that would comply with the Voting Rights Act. LaCour said the Legislatures job was to approve a new map that followed redistricting principles, including some that lawmakers introduced a few weeks ago as part of the legislation creating the new map.

The map approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature in July, leaves District 7 in west Alabama as the only majority Black district, with a Black voting age population of 51%, down from 55% on the previous map. The new maps next highest proportion of Black voters is in the redrawn District 2, which covers southeast Alabama and where the Black voting age population was increased from 30% to 40%.

But there was no claim Monday that the redrawn District 2 is an opportunity district for Black voters. The state has not disputed analyses of voting results over the last decade that show Black-preferred candidates have almost no chance to win in the district.

Near the end of the hearing, and after the state presented its closing argument, all three judges asked LaCour about how the Legislature viewed the courts instruction for a second opportunity district, with Moorer finally asking LaCour if there was deliberate disregard for the courts order.

LaCour said he believed the redrawn District 2 was as close to a second opportunity district as possible when following other redistricting principles.

But the plaintiffs have argued repeatedly in the case that the three-judge court, in its ruling last year affirmed by the Supreme Court, found that illustrative maps by plaintiffs in the litigation showed that it was possible to draw a map with two reasonably configured majority Black districts.

At the conclusion of Mondays hearing, the judges did not say when they would rule but gave the two sides until Saturday morning to file additional information with the court.

Rep. Napoleon Bracy, D-Mobile, said the judges questions to LaCour about not following the court instructions were the most striking part of Mondays hearing.

I felt like the judges all had a sense of frustration that they gave out orders on exactly what to do, Bracy said. And I felt like the Republican supermajority in the Legislature were totally defiant in the new map that they came up with and are going to just continue to try to draw out the process and try to keep us from having that second Black district in Alabama.

Bracy said Mondays hearing raised his expectation that the court will rule in favor of the plaintiffs and block the new map. If that happens, the court will order a special master and cartographer it has appointed to draw a new map that would be used in the 2024 election.

LaCour said the new map has to be considered in a different context than the 2021 map that the court found likely in violation of the Voting Rights Act. LaCour said thats because of the Legislatures authority to set redistricting guidelines. Lawmakers added guidelines to the legislation for the 2023 map. One new guideline was naming three communities of interest to be kept as intact at possible -- Baldwin and Mobile counties, the Wiregrass, and the Black Belt.

Judge Manasco asked if that meant the Legislature could change its guidelines repeatedly in response to findings of a likely Voting Rights Act violation.

Deuel Ross, an attorney for the plaintiffs, played portions of a video deposition from Rep. Chris Pringle, R-Mobile, co-chairman of the Legislatures reapportionment committee. Pringle said he was not involved in adding the new guidelines to the legislation and did not know who was.

I think that was very significant, Bracy said. I think that helps our case even more. And it shows that even some of the people that were involved in the process are starting to try to step back away from it and not be connected to some of the things that happened.

Pringle said he was not involved in drawing the map that won final approval and said LaCour worked with senators to create that map.

Lakeisha Chestnut of Mobile, a plaintiff in the lawsuits challenging Alabama's congressional map, outside the Hugo L. Black U.S. Courthouse in Birmingham on Monday after a hearing in the case. (Mike Cason/mcason@al.com)

Lakeisha Chestnut of Mobile, one of the Black voters who sued to challenge the map, said the judges questions made an impression on her during Mondays hearing.

One of the things I liked about the judges is that they were very on-point with their questions, Chestnut said. Especially to the state because they wanted the state to explain to them Why are we here? Why didnt you do exactly what was ordered for you to do? Now that the Supreme Court has ruled in the plaintiffs favor, this was easy for you guys. But you fumbled the ball.

One of the states arguments in favor of their map is that it keeps Baldwin and Mobile counties together as a community of interest in District 1, based on their shared interests on the Gulf Coast, Mobile Bay, and the economic and transportation projects that affect both.

The plaintiffs proposed a map that split Mobile County, connecting it with Washington and Monroe Counties in District 2 to help make that a majority Black district. Chestnut and others wore T-shirts on Monday with the image of their proposed map. Chestnut said it was not essential to keep all of Mobile and Baldwin counties in District 1, as the states newly adopted guidelines required.

I say this with all respect to my people in Baldwin County, but theres really not a whole lot of similarity between Baldwin and Mobile county, Chestnut said.
In an unprecedented raid Friday, local law enforcement seized computers, cellphones and reporting materials from the Marion County Record office, the Kansas newspapers reporters, and the publishers home.

Eric Meyer, owner and publisher of the newspaper, said police were motivated by a confidential source who leaked sensitive documents to the newspaper, and the message was clear: Mind your own business or were going to step on you.

The citys entire five-officer police force and two sheriffs deputies took everything we have, Meyer said, and it wasnt clear how the newspaper staff would take the weekly publication to press Tuesday night.

The raid followed news stories about a restaurant owner who kicked reporters out of a meeting last week with U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner, and revelations about the restaurant owners lack of a drivers license and conviction for drunken driving.

Meyer said he had never heard of police raiding a newspaper office during his 20 years at the Milwaukee Journal or 26 years teaching journalism at the University of Illinois.

Its going to have a chilling effect on us even tackling issues, Meyer said, as well as a chilling effect on people giving us information.

The search warrant, signed by Marion County District Court Magistrate Judge Laura Viar, appears to violate federal law that provides protections against searching and seizing materials from journalists. The law requires law enforcement to subpoena materials instead. Viar didnt respond to a request to comment for this story or explain why she would authorize a potentially illegal raid.

Emily Bradbury, executive director of the Kansas Press Association, said the police raid is unprecedented in Kansas.

An attack on a newspaper office through an illegal search is not just an infringement on the rights of journalists but an assault on the very foundation of democracy and the publics right to know, Bradbury said. This cannot be allowed to stand.

Meyer reported last week that Marion restaurant owner Kari Newell had kicked newspaper staff out of a public forum with LaTurner, whose staff was apologetic. Newell responded to Meyers reporting with hostile comments on her personal Facebook page.

A confidential source contacted the newspaper, Meyer said, and provided evidence that Newell had been convicted of drunken driving and continued to use her vehicle without a drivers license. The criminal record could jeopardize her efforts to obtain a liquor license for her catering business.

A reporter with the Marion Record used a state website to verify the information provided by the source. But Meyer suspected the source was relaying information from Newells husband, who had filed for divorce. Meyer decided not to publish a story about the information, and he alerted police to the situation.

We thought we were being set up, Meyer said.

Police notified Newell, who then complained at a city council meeting that the newspaper had illegally obtained and disseminated sensitive documents, which isnt true. Her public comments prompted the newspaper to set the record straight in a story published Thursday.

Sometime before 11 a.m. Friday, officers showed up simultaneously at Meyers home and the newspaper office. They presented a search warrant that alleges identity theft and unlawful use of a computer.

The search warrant identifies two pages worth of items that law enforcement officers were allowed to seize, including computer software and hardware, digital communications, cellular networks, servers and hard drives, items with passwords, utility records, and all documents and records pertaining to Newell. The warrant specifically targeted ownership of computers capable of being used to participate in the identity theft of Kari Newell.

Officers injured a reporters finger by grabbing her cellphone out of her hand, Meyer said. Officers at his home took photos of his bank account information.

He said officers told him the computers, cellphones and other devices would be sent to a lab.

I dont know when theyll get it back to us, Meyer said. They wont tell us.

The seized computers, server and backup hard drive include advertisements and legal notices that were supposed to appear in the next edition of the newspaper.

I dont know what were going to do, he said. We will publish something.

Newell, writing Friday under a changed name on her personal Facebook account, said she foolishly received a DUI in 2008 and knowingly operated a vehicle without a license out of necessity.

Journalists have become the dirty politicians of today, twisting narrative for bias agendas, full of muddied half-truths, Newell wrote. We rarely get facts that arent baited with misleading insinuations.

She said the entire debacle was brought forth in an attempt to smear my name, jeopardize my licensing through ABC (state Alcoholic Beverage Control Division), harm my business, seek retaliation, and for personal leverage in an ongoing domestic court battle.

At the law enforcement center in Marion, a staff member said only Police Chief Gideon Cody could answer questions for this story, and that Cody had gone home for the day and could not be reached by phone. The office of Attorney General Kris Kobach wasnt available to comment on the legal controversy in Marion, which is north of Wichita in central Kansas.

Melissa Underwood, communications director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, replied by email to a question about whether the KBI was involved in the case.

At the request of the Marion Police Department, on Tuesday, Aug. 8, we began an investigation into allegations of criminal wrongdoing in Marion, Kansas. The investigation is ongoing, Underwood said.

Meyer, whose father worked at the newspaper from 1948 until he retired, bought the Marion County Record in 1998, preventing a sale to a corporate newspaper chain.

As a journalism professor in Illinois, Meyer said, he had graduate students from Egypt who talked about how people would come into the newspaper office and seize everything so they couldnt publish. Those students presented a scholarly paper at a conference in Toronto about what it has done to journalism there.

Thats basically what theyre trying to do here, Meyer said. The intervention is just like that repressive government of Egypt. I didnt think it could happen in America.
A man convicted of murder was recaptured Monday morning, a week after he escaped from an Alabama prison.

Jordan Andrew Thomas, 30, was taken back into custody about 6 a.m. by the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force, the Alabama Department of Corrections Law Enforcement Services Division, the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office, and the Montgomery Police Department.

Thomas, who escaped from Staton Correctional Facility on Aug. 7, was arrested in the 7200 block of Troy Highway in Montgomery.

Thomas is serving a life sentence for the 2012 death of Dennis Johnson.

He was first convicted in Montgomery County in 2014 and sentenced to 75 years in prison, but that conviction was dismissed because of incomplete jury charges. He was retried again in 2019, court records show, and sentenced to life in prison.

Thomas now faces a new charge of first-degree escape in Elmore County. He was taken to Kilby Correctional Facility for processing.

ADOC officials have not said how Thomas escaped.
Six white former Mississippi law officers pleaded guilty on Monday to state charges for torturing two Black men in a racist assault. All six had recently admitted their guilt in a connected federal civil rights case.

Prosecutors say some of the officers nicknamed themselves the Goon Squad because of their willingness to use excessive force and cover up attacks including the assault that ended with a deputy shooting one victim in the mouth.

In January, the officers entered a house without a warrant and handcuffed and assaulted the two men with stun guns, a sex toy and other objects. The officers mocked them with racial slurs throughout a 90-minute torture session, then devised a cover-up that included planting drugs and a gun, leading to false charges that stood against the victims for months.

Their conspiracy unraveled after one of the officers told the sheriff he had lied, leading to confessions from the others. The charges against the victims werent dropped until June, after federal and state investigators got involved, according to their attorney.

The men include five former Rankin County sheriffs deputies  Brett McAlpin, Hunter Elward, Christian Dedmon, Jeffrey Middleton and Daniel Opdyke  and a former police officer from the city of Richland, Joshua Hartfield. Each appeared Monday in jump suits with the names of jails covered by tape.

Each agreed to sentences recommended by state prosecutors ranging from five to 30 years, although the judge isnt bound by that. Time served for the state convictions will run concurrently with the potentially longer federal sentences theyll receive in November.

The victims  Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker  arrived together to Mondays hearing and sat in the front row, just feet from their attackers families. They were embraced by Monica Lee, the mother of Damien Cameron, a Black man who died in Elwards custody in 2021.

I enjoyed the view of seeing the walk of shame. Head down, the disgust everybody felt for them and that they feel for themselves, Parker said after the officers were led away in shackles. I hope this is a lesson to everybody out there: Justice will be served.

The charges followed an Associated Press investigation in March that linked some of the officers to at least four violent encounters since 2019 that left two Black men dead. In addition to Jenkins lasting injuries, another Black man also accused them of shoving a gun inside his mouth. The Justice Department launched a civil rights probe in February. The fallout has continued ever since.

All six of the former officers pleaded guilty to state charges of obstruction of justice and conspiracy to hinder prosecution. Dedmon and Elward, who kicked in a door, also admitted to home invasion, and Elward pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, for shoving a gun into the mouth of one of the victims and pulling the trigger, in what authorities called a mock execution.

After details of the case became public, some residents pointed to a police culture they said gives officers carte blanche to abuse their power.

Rankin Countys majority-white suburbs have been a destination for white flight out of the capital, Jackson, which is home to one of the highest percentages of Black residents of any major U.S. city.

The officers warned Jenkins and Parker to go back to Jackson or their side of the Pearl River, the federal charging documents say.

Jenkins and Parker were targeted because a white neighbor complained that two Black men were staying at the home with a white woman, court documents show.

Parker was a childhood friend of the homeowner, Kristi Walley, who was at the hospital at the time. Shes been paralyzed since she was 15, and Parker was helping care for her.

Hes a blessing. Every time Ive needed him hes been here, Walley said in a February interview. There were times Ive been living here by myself and I didnt know what I was going to do.

Parker and Jenkins have left Mississippi and arent sure they will ever return for a long stay.

Jenkins still has difficulty speaking because of his injuries. The gunshot lacerated his tongue and broke his jaw before exiting his neck. He can only eat soft foods easily and has recurrent nightmares.

As far as justice, I knew we were going to get it, Jenkins said. But I thought it was maybe going to take longer.

Other consequences remain to be determined.

Lee claims Elward and a current deputy not linked to the Jenkins assault killed her son. A grand jury declined to indict Elward after he punched Cameron and shocked him with a stun gun, but a Rankin County judge ruled Wednesday that Lees claims of excessive force could move forward against him, and Lee said the FBI told her they are reviewing the case.

Separately, Carvis Johnson, the Black man who said another deputy pointed a gun into his mouth, filed a federal lawsuit from behind bars alleging that McAlpin beat him during an arrest and told him to stay out of Rankin County.

Jenkins and Parker, meanwhile, are seeking $400 million in damages in their federal civil rights lawsuit against Rankin County.

Court documents unsealed by federal prosecutors suggest only some members of the Goon Squad participated in the illegal raid. There are other Rankin County deputies known to the United States Attorney, the documents say.

We would certainly hope that they continue to investigate the Goon Squad and other outstanding claims that may exist against these officers, as well as other officers, said Trent Walker, an attorney for Jenkins and Parker.
Online discussion over victim-blaming has been sparked by a contentious lecture on sexual harassment at a middle school in southern China.

Many commenters have criticized both the school and what they see to be an inadequate response from administrators.

According to Chinese state media People's Daily, the school, which is located in Zhaoqing City in Guangdong Province, offered a "mental health education" lesson last year, which is comparable to a sex education class in China, as reported by CNN.

However, images of the lesson plans just started to surface last month, displaying papers that claimed that sexual harassment victims "suffer because they dress flamboyantly and behave flirtatiously" and that "girls shouldn't wear transparent or skimpy clothes and should avoid frivolous behavior."

Outrage Sparked

On social media, the images sparked outrage and skepticism, with many accusing conservative sentiments of reflecting deeply ingrained gender inequity in a patriarchal society.

Local educational authorities responded to the criticism by issuing a statement last week stating that the online images depicted a lecture given at the institution in April.

(Photo: by STR/AFP via Getty Images) Students arrive at a school as grade three students in middle school and high school return after the term opening was delayed due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, in Huaian in China's eastern Jiangsu province on March 30, 2020.

The school was also instructed to review its lectures and enhance teacher training after the county's education bureau "criticized and educated relevant personnel," according to the document.

The official statement, however, also provoked criticism from some. Many argued that the teaching materials had not been an innocent mistake but rather a representation of true, widely held opinions in the nation and that the language of the statement, "misunderstanding," was incorrect.

On its website or social media accounts, the school has not yet published any official statements.

Read also: Brutal Attack on Women in China Caught on Cam, Sparks Gender Violence Debate

Not a First

Similar controversy has been sparked by a number of cases over the years, particularly in light of China's #MeToo movement, which has persevered despite numerous losses owing to censorship and an ongoing crackdown on feminist activity.

For instance, it was reported that a guy assaulted a young woman at a Zhejiang public restroom in November. She was "skimpily dressed," according to internet reviewers, but her mother told said: "What does clothing have to do with being beaten? Would that constitute a crime?"

And in 2021, a contentious advertisement for makeup removal wipes was removed from the internet following a significant uproar. The commercial depicted a woman being chased down the street at night by a would-be assailant, who flees in panic after she removes her makeup.

China's #MeToo Movement

The #MeToo movement in China (Chinese: #WoYeShi) emerged in 2017, shortly after it originated in the United States. The movement has been met with a mixed response in China, with some people supporting it and others criticizing it.

The #MeToo movement has had a significant impact on Chinese society. It has raised awareness of the issue of sexual harassment, and it has led to some changes in the way that sexual harassment is handled in China. For example, some universities have begun to implement new policies to prevent and address sexual harassment.

Related article: China: Attackers in Brutal Restaurant Assault of 4 Women Hit with Jail Sentence, Leader Gets 24 Years

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The U.S. Navy would have a new chief today, but it wont thanks to the continued block on officer promotions put in place by a single Republican lawmaker: Sen. Tommy Tuberville.

Adm. Michael Gilday, who graduated from the Naval Academy in 1985, and will depart the Navy after 38 years of service.

This is a proud daybut I want to take a moment to mark a painful milestone, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Monday morning at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. More than 300 nominations for our outstanding general and flag officers are now being held up in the United States Senate. That includes our top uniformed leadersand our next chief of naval operations.

Because of this blanket hold, starting today, for the first time in the history of the Department of Defense, three of our military services are operating without Senate-confirmed leaders, Austin said. This is unprecedented. It is unnecessary. And it is unsafe. (The Army and Marine Corps are the other two.)

This sweeping hold is undermining Americas military readiness, said Austin. Its hindering our ability to retain our very best officers. And its upending the lives of far too many American military families. Our troops deserve better. Our military families deserve better. Our allies and partners deserve better. And our national security deserves better.

Its a horrible precedent to punish service members and hurt readiness because one doesnt like an administrations policies, former Black Hawk pilot and Army officer Brad Bowman wrote on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

Introduce a bill. Make an argument. Build consensus. Cast a vote. But dont use military members for leverage in a political fight. Thats NOT right.
Changes for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, the official name for food stamps, start next month.

The Fiscal Responsibility Act signed by President Joe Biden in June expands the age range requirements for food stamp recipients known as able-bodied adults without dependents, or ABAWD.

Starting Sept. 1, childless workers who are 50 will be required to show they are working at least 80 hours a month or participating in an education or training program to qualify for SNAP. Age requirements will be expanded up to age 52 on Oct. 1 then up to age 54 on Oct. 1, 2024.

Those requirements already exist for most adults ages 18-49 who do not have dependents. People who dont meet the work requirements are limited to only three months of benefits in a three-year period.

Homeless, veterans or youth ages 18 to 24 who aged out of foster care are exempt from ABAWD requirements. People who are unable to work due to a physical or mental limitation, are pregnant, or have someone under 18 in their household are also excused.

The requirements will be in effect through Oct. 1, 2030.

Nationally, the deal could put SNAP benefits at risk for 750,000 adults, nearly half of whom are women. An analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities predicts 13,000 of those at risk of losing benefits are in Alabama.

READ MORE: 13,000 Alabamians risk losing food stamps under new debt ceiling deal
Orange Beach is the 3rd-most picturesque small town in the U.S., according to a recent ranking compiled by North Carolina Travel Guides.

Orange Beach is the 3rd most picturesque small town in America, according to North Carolina Travel Guides.

The panel of travel experts examined 500 small towns across the U.S., noting data including search trends, popularity with photographers and popularity for photographers with the general public. The panel used the following methodology to compile the rankings of the 120 most picturesque small towns:

Search data for each small town was analyzed by looking at search data over the last 12 months for a variety of search queries related to photography, such as the name of the small town + photography, the name of the small town + photo, and the name of the small town + photo shoot.

To determine the popularity of each small town with photographers, the panel looked at the number of posts for each small town on the website Flickr, a popular photo-sharing platform for photographers.

To determine the popularity of the towns for photography with the general public, the panel looked at the number of posts on Instagram that were posted with a hashtag with the name of the small town and its state. In addition to that, we looked at other hashtag data related to each small town.

The published rankings highlighted the top 25, with the studys authors having this to say about 3rd-ranked Orange Beach:

Known for its gorgeous beaches and clear waters, Orange Beach, Alabama, is one of the most picturesque small towns in America. This town on the Gulf Coast of the state of Alabama has a lot to offer for those that love beautiful places. From going for a relaxing stroll on the towns boardwalk to seeing Orange Beach from the water while doing a cruise to getting beautiful views of the water while hanging out at the beach, the beauty of the town will surprise you. In addition to that, Orange Beach is home to fun attractions and incredible dining options, making it a wonderful place for a getaway.

Fredericksburg, Texas, and Cedarburg, Wis., were the two towns ranked ahead of Orange Beach. Communities from neighboring states to make the top 25 were Madison, Ga. (#5), Seaside, Fla. (#14) and Oxford, Miss. (#25).

Texas had the most towns on the list with 15, followed by New York with 10 and Georgia with seven.

Orange Beach wasnt the only Alabama town represented in the rankings. Fairhope also made the cut, ranking #118 out of the 120 which were selected from the initial 500.

The complete rankings, with an interactive map, can be found here.
Jessica Skeens Wynn thought she was used to feeling the impact of planes flying over her apartment during the Thunder Over Michigan show, but she felt something markedly different Sunday evening.

The airshow was cut short Sunday, Aug. 13 when an unknown malfunction caused two plane passengers to eject before the plane crashed into the parking lot of the Waverly on the Lake Apartments complex in Belleville.

Related: 2 hospitalized after plane crash halts airshow in Ypsilanti

When the plane actually hit, I could hear the whole apartment move, said Skeens Wynn, a resident of Waverly on the Lake. You can always feel it when the jets go over top for the airshow, but with this one all of my cats and the bird freaked out and ran. The impact was so heavy, it shook pretty hard.

Wayne County Airport Authority Public Relations Manager Randy Wimbley said the plane crashed into some unoccupied vehicles near the complex but that no one was injured.

A news release from the air show stated the crash involving a MiG-23 demonstration plane took place shortly after 4 p.m.

The pilot and backseater successfully ejected from the aircraft before the crash, officials from the Wayne County Airport Authority said.

Sean Barlett said he saw the crash transpire from the Hantz Hangar where he saw the plane take off traveling west before circling back around when he heard what sounded like two pop noises before the two pilots were ejected from the plane. About 5 to 10 second later Barlett said he could hear the crash.

We didnt see the actual plane crash - we saw the explosion, Barlett said. At some air shows they drop test missiles or parachutes for display purposes and exhibition purposes, but with this, it was very obvious that it was not part of the show.

Both pilots were taken to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in stable condition by the Huron Valley Ambulance after the crash. The patients were alert and awake as of 5 p.m. Sunday, said Marc Breckenridge, Huron Valley Ambulance public information officer.

The cause of the crash has not yet been disclosed by airshow officials. The FAA is investigating the crash.

The 25th anniversary airshow took place Aug. 12 and 13.
Tiffany Gomas has come forward to issue an apology over the in-flight freakout video of which went viral on social media.

In a new video obtained by TMZ, Gomas, who refers to herself as the crazy plane lady, says she let her emotions get the best of her during the July 2 incident.

First and foremost, I want to take full accountability for my actions; they were completely unacceptable, she says, looking into the camera.

The person who caused a stir by labeling a man on an American Airlines flight "Not Real" has been identified as Tiffany Gomas. #DramaAlert



She is allegedly a 38-year-old executive in marketing from Dallas, Texas. pic.twitter.com/8QlW07KDes  DramaAlert (@DramaAlert) August 7, 2023

Distressed or not, I should have been in control of my emotions and that was not the case. My use of profanity was completely unnecessary, and I want to apologize to everyone on that plane, especially those that had children onboard, she continued.

The apology comes less than a week after Gomas, a 38-year-old marketing executive from Dallas, Tex., had her identity revealed online. She gained notoriety for shouting That motherf----r back there is not real in a plane aisle as stunned passengers looked on.

While she admits some of the memes she inspired have made her laugh, the jokes have been very invasive and unkind, she said.

Gomas also acknowledged how difficult it must have been for parents to explain what was happening to their children who witnessed the event, but did not offer any form of an explanation herself.

Instead, she reasoned, we all have our bad moments, some worse than others. And mine happened to be caught on camera for the whole world to see.

Visibly holding back tears, Gomas also thanked friends and family that have supported her since the incident, adding that she hopes she can use the experience and do a little bit of good in the world.

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2023 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The new plan for Alabamas congressional districts went before a three-judge federal court in Birmingham on Monday, as the court determines whether it fixes a likely violation of the Voting Rights Act.

The new map, approved by the state legislature in July, includes some significant changes, especially in the Birmingham and Montgomery areas. Those areas are home to some of the largest Black population centers in Alabama, and are key to determining whether Alabama will have one or two majority-Black districts.

Changes in Birmingham

The Birmingham-Hoover Metro area is by far the most populous region in the state, and four of the states seven districts touch the area.

Under Alabamas current map, which the Supreme Court ruled earlier this year likely violates the Voting Rights Act, the region is primarily split between Districts 6 and 7. Thats largely a split between Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham, and Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Hoover.

District 7 is currently Alabamas only majority-Black district, and would remain that way under the new plan. District 2, in southeast Alabama and represented by Rep. Barry Moore, R-Enterprise, would become 40% Black and 45% Democratic under the new plan, making it the second-most competitive district in the state. Thats according to data from Daves Redistricting.

While there are lots of small changes all over the state, the map makes a few changes in the Birmingham area that are particularly interesting. The new map would expand Sewells district further north into Jefferson County, picking up places like Fultondale and Tarrant. Palmers new district would instead stretch further south of Birmingham, reaching all the way to Prattville and the Montgomery suburbs.

One major suburb in Homewood would shift to Palmers district, while the affluent Birmingham neighborhoods of Forest Park and Highland Park would move into Sewells district.

Meanwhile, some majority-Black, east-Birmingham neighborhoods like East Lake and Gate City move to Palmers District 6.

The map below shows Alabamas current congressional districts in different colors, with the new proposed districts overlaid in black.

[Click here to explore the map further.]

Changes in Montgomery

The Montgomery area also sees some big changes, and the biggest would be that the city would no longer be split in two between representatives.

The current map cuts the city cleanly in half, and sees the four-county metro area split between Districts 7 and 2, between Sewell and Moore.

The new map would move all of Autauga County - the fastest-growing county in the Montgomery Metro area - into Palmers District 6. But Montgomery city and all of Lowndes County, a neighboring majority Black county, would shift into Moores district.

That means Montgomery city would no longer be represented in part by Sewell, and instead would be in District 2. District 2 would be more competitive, but still predominantly white. Under the new map, District 2 would move from 62% white to 52% white, and from 30% Black up to 40% Black.

[Click here to explore the map further.]

There are many other changes in rural Alabama and otherwise, including whole counties changing districts. Lawrence, Etowah, Blount, Lowndes, Macon, Russell, Washington, Monroe and Conecuh counties all swap districts under the newest plan.

The current plan could be overturned by the court, since it doesnt have two majority-Black districts. The plaintiffs in the case have put forth nearly a dozen alternative maps that show how a two-majority-Black-district map could be possible. You can see those proposals here.

Do you have an idea for a data story about Alabama? Or questions about Alabama that data may be able to answer? Email Ramsey Archibald at rarchibald@al.com, and follow him on Twitter @RamseyArchibald. Read more Alabama data stories here.
Three federal judges are meeting in Birmingham today to hear arguments on whether Alabamas new congressional redistricting map fixes likely violations of the Voting Rights Act.

Alabama lost at the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year and the Legislature was forced to redraw the way it carves up the state into seven congressional districts.

Lawyers representing Black voters are fighting to get a second majority black district  or something quite close to it - to give Black Alabama residents fair representation in Congress. Alabama now has one majority Black district  or about 14 percent of its seven congressional districts. Black residents make up about 26 percent of the states population.

What are the arguments?

Republican lawmakers approved a new map last month in a special session called to meet the judges deadline for redrawing it. Lawyers representing Black voters say the new map doesnt fix the problems. The Legislatures map does increase the Black voting age population in District 2 in southeast Alabama from 30% to 40%, the second highest proportion of Black voters in any district. But analyses show Black-preferred candidates would have little or no chance in the redrawn District 2.

Lawyers for the state, led by Attorney General Steve Marshall, say the new map does comply with the Voting Rights Act, which they say not does not require proportional representation for minorities. They say the new map is an improvement over the one rejected by the Supreme Court, partly because the districts are more compact and what the state defined as communities of interest, including the Black Belt, Baldwin and Mobile counties, and the Wiregrass, are kept intact as much as possible.

Now, with the case back in their hands, the three federal judges inside the Hugo L. Black United States Courthouse have to decide if the new map fixes the problems.

How long will the hearing last?

Closing arguments are set for Monday afternoon with each side getting an hour.

What Alabama congressional districts could be affected?

The focus with the Legislatures new map involved re-drawing a portion of Rep. Barry Moores District 2 seat in southeast Alabama. But about 10 other maps suggested by various groups would make revisions to other current districts including to District 6 in the Birmingham area now held by Rep. Gary Palmer.

Whats next?

If the three judges - Circuit Judge Stanley Marcus and District Judges Anna M. Manasco and Terry F. Moorer  dont agree with the Alabama Legislatures new map they could order a new one drawn by a cartographer they hire. But whoever loses the case is likely headed back to the U.S. Supreme Court for an appeal. If the state loses its case, it will pin its hopes on getting one U.S. Supreme Court justice  Brett Kavanaugh - to change their mind.

Who is watching and why?:

Besides the dozen or so news reporters packed in the federal courthouse to watch the hearing, the case is being eyed nationwide by Civil Rights groups concerned about the impact rulings in the case could have on congressional re-districting in other states. Its also being watched by Democrats and Republicans and what impact it could have on shifting majorities and control of Congress.

Is there a rush to draw a new map?

Secretary of State Wes Allen has told the court they need a new map in place by Oct. 1 to prepare for next years elections.

Go deeper:

Supreme Court rules Alabama congressional map most likely violates Voting Rights Act

Johnson: Plaintiff in historic SCOTUS redistricting case shed tears for late father after ruling

Archibald: The remarkable life of Shalela Dowdy  West Pointer, beauty queen, Supreme Court plaintiff

Archibald: Alabama woman lives the power of belief
Beth Gendler has worked on tourism in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach for 21 years. In 2021, she was appointed president and CEO of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism, the tourism agency for the two beach towns.

Following the coronavirus pandemic, tourism in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach skyrocketed to new highs. In 2021, eight million people visited the Alabama Gulf Coast, according to the city of Gulf Shores website. Here, Gendler discusses how tourism revenue is keeping up with the record-breaking pace, and how the influx of tourists impacts south Baldwin County.

Questions and answers have been condensed and edited for clarity.

Were still in the peak season of tourism in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. But were past the Fourth of July, really the last holiday we have left is Labor Day. How are things going? How has tourism looked this season?

Surprisingly, well. I will tell you, I think that summer has turned out better than we really anticipated. May was a little down for us, and part of that is we didnt have a large track event that we have hosted in the pastSo that that really hit us in May. Hangout Music Festival was back, but it was maybe not as highly attended as it has been in the past. It was all really just the economy, and we looked at June and July earlier on in the year, because we have forward-looking data which showed us, Okay, weve got to really, really work on some things.
There is no Florida State Board of Regents meeting set for Tuesday, per Brett McMurphy.

The news is significant as Tuesday is the deadline to notify the ACC if a team is leaving before 2024 season, which means the Seminoles will remain in the ACC for the immediate future.

Earlier this month, several Florida State officials and trustees lamented the ACCs broadcast deal with ESPN.

Its not a matter of if we leave (the ACC), in my opinion, FSU trustee Drew Weatherford said.

RELATED: Spurrier still wants FSU in SEC, says Bowden didnt want to play Alabama, Auburn

At issue is the conferences media deal, which runs through 2036. The deal calls for equal distribution among all member institutions. The deal could bring ACC schools $30 million less than Big Ten and SEC peers. Theres a $120 million exit fee involved, plus whatever legal battle would follow between the league and the school trying to get out of a grant of rights that stretches until 2036.

RELATED: SECs Greg Sankey on interest of adding FSU

Any ACC school would need to give notice to the conference that it was leaving by Aug. 15 in order to compete elsewhere the following academic year.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on The Opening Kickoff on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.
Ousted President Mohamed Bazoum will be charged with high treason by the military junta that took control in Niger in a coup the previous month. The junta said this is because of the former president's interactions with foreign heads of state and international organizations.

After a worldwide protest over the coup leaders' decision to jail Bazoum and dissolve the elected government, neighboring West African nations organized a standby military force that may intervene to reinstate Bazoum.

Legal Action Against the Former President

Colonel Amadou Abdramane, a spokesman for the junta, issued a statement late Sunday, August 13, that was shown on state TV, saying that the government had "gathered the necessary evidence to prosecute the ousted president ... for high treason and undermining the internal and external security of Niger."

According to Reuters, Abdramane said that the junta was the target of a disinformation campaign designed to sabotage efforts to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the situation and provide cover for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to intervene forcefully.

The circumstances in which Bazoum is being held have been expressed concern by the African Union, the European Union, the United States, and the United Nations.

His political party that Bazoum's family lacks basic necessities, including clean water and nutritious food. It is also said that Bazoum told Human Rights Watch that his son required medical attention for a heart issue.

Last week, Bazoum's daughter Zazia reported the deposed leader and family are being held in horrific conditions by the military. The military has cut electricity to the presidential mansion, causing the family to lose weight as food rots in the fridge.

On Sunday, however, the junta claimed that Bazoum was still visiting his doctor frequently, with his most recent appointment being on Saturday, August 12. "After this visit, the doctor raised no concerns about the state of health of the ousted president and members of his family."

Also Read: Niger: Ousted Leader Mohamed Bazoum Reportedly Losing Weight Under Horrific Treatment

Fresh Discussions With the Junta

ECOWAS, West Africa's largest regional organization, is set to press for fresh discussions with the junta on Monday, as the junta has shown some signs of being open to finding a diplomatic resolution to the deadlock over the coup.

On Saturday, the parliament of the group said that it hoped to send a commission to speak with the junta in Niamey, but the precise timetable of this trip remains unclear.

Concern about the likely consequences of the coup has prompted a meeting of the Peace and Security Council of the 55-nation African Union on Monday to review the situation in Niger.

Also Read: Niger President's Allies Make Simpler Plea to Save Bazoum's Life

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.










English News Chinese customs authorities optimize policies to expedite customs clearance for imported fresh products

Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 14 Aout 2023



2023, China imported 125.08 billion yuan worth of agricultural products from ASEAN, up 7.5 percent. Fruit imports totaled 40.54 billion yuan, up 24.1 percent. Imports of durian and pineapple rose 65 percent and 24.1 percent respectively.

By Du Haitao People's Daily Tropical fruits from Southeast Asia, lobsters from South Africa, Dungeness crabs from North America, yellow pitayas from Ecuador... As China's consumer market recovers at an accelerated pace, more and more overseas fresh products are making their way onto Chinese dining tables.



Chinese customs authorities have introduced effective measures to ensure convenient and smooth customs clearance for imported fresh products.



A flight from Bangkok, Thailand landed on time at the runway of Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, at 9:02 a.m. one day.



Zang Dong, section chief of the aviation monitoring division at the logistics monitoring department of the airport's customs authority, stood poised at the arrival gate alongside two customs officers. They had been waiting for the airplane to arrive on time and were ready to provide customs clearance.



"Fresh products are difficult to store in high temperatures and can only be declared as soon as they arrive," said Zang.



As pre-arrival declaration forms submitted by the importing company showed, the aircraft was carrying one tonne of tropical fruits which needed swift customs clearance upon landing.



After the cargo section of the airplane slowly opened, a platform truck unloaded 1,092 kg of Thai rambutans from the aircraft. Zang and his colleagues immediately began inspecting the fruits.



They carefully checked the paper waybills, focusing on whether there was any spilled liquid and whether the packaging carried any quarantine pests or vectors. After being inspected, the shipment of Thai rambutans successfully passed customs clearance.



Statistics show that in the second quarter of this year, Beijing Capital International Airport handled 230 million yuan (about $31.92 million) worth of imports, including aquatic products, seafood and fresh fruits. This figure represented a significant increase of nearly 140-fold over the first quarter.



During the same period, imports of specialty agricultural products saw eye-catching growth. Major imported fruits were mangosteen, durian and rambutan, while main seafood items were salmon and lobster.

Many enterprises expressed that maintaining freshness is an essential priority when bringing in fresh products from abroad. These products demand efficient transportation, prompt customs clearance, and consistent cold-chain management. With fresh goods, every minute matters.



"The Customs has implemented pre-arrival declarations and paperless clearance, whereby importers can complete all necessary clearance procedures simply by uploading electronic documents online. This includes the procedures for document receiving, review, and final approval," explained Gao Hongtao, general manager of Beijing Huayi International Freight Forwarding Co., Ltd.

"This greatly streamlines declarations and quickens clearance, which is crucial for fresh imports," Gao noted.



To handle potential revisions in cargo manifest data, the customs authority of Beijing Capital International Airport offers round-the-clock services to promptly transfer imported goods from aircraft to warehouses upon landing, prioritizing cargo breakdown, waybill acceptance and other subsequent logistics operations.



It also adopts electronic quarantine permits for entering animals and plants, which enable real-time online verification of these documents.



China's consumer market shows massive potential. In 2022, China imported $2.7 trillion worth of goods, making itself the second largest import market of the world for the 14th consecutive year. This figure accounted for nearly 11 percent of total world imports.



As consumption structure continues upgrading, consumer demand in China for imported products is becoming more diverse and personalized.



In recent two years, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement has been comprehensively implemented.



Encompassing the world's largest population, highest trade volume and economic output, and greatest growth potential, the RCEP agreement has injected major impetus into regional development and opened up new possibilities for China to expand its imports of fresh goods.



"From tariff reductions to smoother customs clearance, the RCEP agreement has substantially improved the ease of doing business for traders engaged in international commerce," explained Lyu Huibin, general manager of Beijing North China Transport International Freight Forwarding Co., Ltd.



As China is expanding multilateral and bilateral economic and trade relationships globally, domestic demand for quality imports will keep rising, harboring tremendous market potential, Lyu added.



According to data from China's General Administration of Customs (GAC), in the first half of 2023, China imported 125.08 billion yuan worth of agricultural products from ASEAN, up 7.5 percent. Fruit imports totaled 40.54 billion yuan, up 24.1 percent. Imports of durian and pineapple rose 65 percent and 24.1 percent respectively.



To further smooth industrial and supply chains and improve trade facilitation, as well as help companies cut costs and increase efficiency, Beijing Customs District of the GAC recently rolled out 27 measures to optimize business environment.



Zhang Geping, director general of Beijing Customs District of the GAC, said Beijing customs will streamline clearance procedures and improve logistics efficiency for perishable agricultural goods, special items and other products requiring quick customs processing.



"We will implement more rigorous measures to ensure high-quality fresh products can swiftly pass through customs clearance," Zhang added.



Dans la meme rubrique : < > B&B boom fuels demand for managers in China China, Africa make fruitful achievements in economic, trade cooperation BRICS cooperation shines with strong appeal Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)
A poll from the U.K. Daily Mail indicates what weve been proving all along, that the far left is emulating the National Socialist German Workers' Party. The poll shows that a majority of Republicans agree with comparing the Biden regimes political persecution of a political opponent to the political persecution of a political opponent by Nazi Germany or the USSR.

As is the case with the double standard of Democrats and their propaganda organ, the nations socialist media, its perfectly acceptable for them to sling the Nazi slur along with the political F-bomb (Fascism) all they want. With all kinds of examples of them doing so, here, here, here, here, and here. And of course, youre never to compare Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler, because it belittles Hitler.

The socialists of the nations left have one set of rules for themselves and another for everyone else (because they are the controlling class). They give themselves full permission to do that all day long. While its verboten for the pro-freedom side to even point out how the far-lefts socialist national agenda stunningly resembles another National Socialist party from the early decades of the last century.

Well, were not going to play along with their one-sided rules.

So far, weve documented 24 startling and uncomfortable ways the Democrat Party Emulates the Nazi Party. Weve done a lot so far and unfortunately; two factors see the task stretching off into the distance.

The very disturbing problem we face is that the combination of current events and research reveals even more similarities making the task a never-ending process that seems to go on forever. Its to the point of having a sense of dread at the thought of researching these facts, knowing that more commonalities will crop up. But sometimes, youre given certain duties and you have to see them through.

While the fascist far left excels at slinging bovine soil enhancement, trying to maintain their 100-year-old lies, usually with subjective and thus meaningless accusations, weve taken another approach.

The key difference between the lefts exploitation of the appeal to authority fallacy is that they make vague and therefore meaningless generalizations while weve always strived to identify specific and discrete similarities. Its for this reason we endeavor to exclude these such as leftists and Nazis holding big rallies or having campaign slogans.

As the far left keeps pushing its socialist national agenda, it develops new and innovative ways of depriving the people of their individual liberties and rights while doing all it can to emulate socialists of another nations dark past. Meanwhile, doing research in the National Digital Newspaper Program, Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection, Internet archive, Newspapers.com, and New York Times to verify all these facts yields new leads to even more disturbing similarities.

This means were incentivized to exclude whatever we can. Looking back at the printouts of the previous listings and scanning through the previous articles to see if the topic has already been covered - even tangentially - is an excuse to remove it from the list. You also dismiss trivial or vague similarities because these dont have that big an impact on policy.

These items range from the previously mentioned criminalizing free speech, and weaponization of the government against political opponents (got Gestapo?) to the people who used to pretend to be liberal protecting the administrative state, declaring that We Need a Few Good Dictators. To exit taxes, eugenics, and socialist George Bernard Shaw, an advocate of depopulation schemes who called for people to justify their existence appealing to the chemists to discover a humane gas that will kill instantly and painlessly.

Even after all of this, current events and historic research have added so many that the list has been extended to 40 items. I hope that it will top out at that level. Unfortunately, this means both good news and bad news for the far left. Weve mentioned the good news for them that we exclude inconsequential items. The bad news is that with a century-long difference in technology, todays left is turning out to be far worse than the Nazis in some respects. There is nothing more terrifying at this point than the thought that history is repeating itself and will make the Nazis look tame by comparison.

All of this should make it clear that on balance, the similarities between todays socialists of the nations left and the National Socialist German Workers' (Nazi) Party are a lot stronger than the facile assertions of the folks denying this reality.

Finally, could someone please educate the leftists that the Nazis in conflict with fellow collectivists talking point as a way of denying they were leftists was first explained in this academic paper: How and Why Fascism and Nazism Became the Right. And that weve thoroughly eviscerated this worn-out talking point by explaining that the Nazis were far-right is a lie that can be traced back nearly a century to far-left infighting over ideological minutiae no one else cares about. And that weve thoroughly eviscerated this worn-out talking point here and here. All they have to do is read and comprehend to finally understand that the National Socialist German Workers' (Nazi) Party was far left.

It really should bother everyone on the left side of the political spectrum that their party is in a headlong rush to emulate some of the worst ideologies of the past century. Rather than arguing over talking points that have long since been proven wrong, you should consider whether you want to be known as Nazis without the uniform. All these items should prove to you that the far left is entirely on the wrong side of history, so why are you still supporting them?

D. Parker is an engineer, inventor, wordsmith, and student of history, the director of communications for a civil rights organization, and a long-time contributor to conservative websites. Find him on Substack.

Photo illustration by Monica Showalter with use of logos and public domain images.
According to Jack Smith, the Electoral Count Act (ECA) gave Mike Pence and the members of Congress only one job to perform on January 6, 2021: collect, count, and certify. Smith calls it the federal government function, and he claims Trump and his six co-conspirators took actions aimed at violating that bedrock function of our federal government.

That is how the Special Counsel starts the Trump indictment, and believe me, he lays it on thick. There are numerous references to the three Cs and to federal government function.

However, the Special Counsels supporting arguments seem strangely incongruous. Starting around paragraph 12 and proceeding for dozens and dozens of paragraphs, the Special Counsel supports the indictment by trying to prove there was no fraud in the various swing states. Why would he spend so much ink on fraud in the states if the ECA only involves the simple federal function of collecting, counting, and certifying?

Jack Smith does that because he knows the Trump team will claim, with considerable impact, that the so-called federal government function may have a limitation: state certifications that were impacted by fraud.

If the defense can show that Trump and company knew there was significant state election fraud or merely believed that there was fraud, it will be much harder to get a conviction.

Now, be advised that I am not an attorney: I am just an accountant who knows how to read and research. A technique I often use is to read someones views before the occurrence of controversies that could have changed those views.

One source I referenced for this article was the Congressional Research Service (CRS), which describes itself as a federal legislative branch agency located within the Library of Congress... Specifically, I read a 2016 CRS article titled, Counting Electoral Votes: An Overview of Procedures at the Joint Session, Including Objections by Members of Congress.

According to CRS:

...the grounds for an objection to the counting of an electoral vote or votes would appear from the federal statute and from historical sources to be that such vote was... not lawfully certified according to state statutory procedures.

CRS adds this important clarification:

It should be noted that the word lawfully was expressly inserted by the House in the Senate legislation (S.9, 49th Congress) before the word certified (emphasis as written). Such addition arguably provides an indication that Congress thought it might, as grounds for an objection, question and look into the lawfulness of the certification under state law (emphasis added).

Another pertinent reference is a 2004 article by Stephen A. Siegel in the Florida Law Review. In The Conscientious Congressmans Guide to the Electoral County Act of 1887, Siegel notes that the 1887 ECA made it clear that Congress cannot override the states final determination process as duly appointed under state law... because of a mere error. However, whether this standard is subject to a fraud exception is unclear, as is the scope of that exception, if it exists (emphasis added).

I suggest that the fraud exception does exist, because it has to exist. Let me prove that with this hypothetical example:

After the 2020 election, many disturbing claims were made by True the Vote (TTV), which provided the underlying research and narrative for the movie, 2000 Mules. So-called fact checkers rushed out opinions designed to disparage the claims of widespread ballot harvesting. Personally, I believe the fact checkers were biased, naive, and completely wrong; and I have written separately on that subject. Nevertheless, I will concede that the TTV narrative is far from being proven -- at this point in time.

But imagine that conclusive proof of the TTV allegations is produced six months from now, and it shows that Russian or Chinese operatives were involved. Would Americans tolerate having their election changed in that way? Would they say, there is nothing to be done about it because the ECA doesnt provide a clear and unambiguous means for dealing with fraud? I dont think so, and more importantly, I dont think Jack Smith thinks so. That is why his schizophrenic indictment gives the impression that this is a simple federal matter of collecting, counting, and certifying electoral votes. Yet, Smith devotes most of the indictment to battling various allegations of state election fraud. He wants it both ways.

I have written extensively about fraud in the 2020 election, including a recent article and two books. I wont repeat those findings here. However, for each of the six swing states I analyzed, which include all the ones highlighted in the indictment, it is very clear that evidence of possible fraud made those certifications premature. They did not necessarily reflect the true popular vote of the people.

Because this trial will probably take place in a D.C. courtroom, no one should assume that Trump and the co-defendants will be acquitted. However, there is a bright silver lining: The American people may finally get to hear why the 2020 election was improperly certified.

Joe Fried is an Ohio-based CPA who performed and reviewed hundreds of certified financial audits in his 40-year career. For more information concerning election matters, check out Debunked? and his new book called, How Elections are Stolen. More information can also be found at https://joefriedcpa.substack.com/.

Image: Public Domain
Climate is the description of the long-term pattern of weather in a particular area, according to NASA. We think of Florida or Aruba having a warmer climate, compared to Maine or Canada.

Weather is short term, whereas climate is long term.

As NASA explains:

The difference between weather and climate is a measure of time. Weather is what conditions of the atmosphere are over a short period of time, and climate is how the atmosphere "behaves" over relatively long periods of time.

What is meant by long periods of time? Given the Earths age of around 4.5 billion years, one might think these long periods of time should be in the millions of years. But instead scientists look at averages over extremely short periods of time, e.g., 30 years.

YouTube screen grab

Putting those numbers in perspective, if the Earths age was a single day, this 30-year period would represent 0.006 second. How short a time period is this?

Light, which can travel around the globe 7.5 times in one second, would only travel 112 miles in this small fraction of a second. But thats the small observation period of our climate which forms the basis of claims of man-made of climate change.

That would be like embarking on a weight loss journey and weighing yourself every minute, not seeing any change, or seeing a small gain or loss after drinking a glass of water or relieving yourself, respectively.

Planet Earth has experienced ice ages followed by warming, numerous times, all occurring before humans existed or had any significant influence on the world around them.

NOAA explains, The most recent glacial period occurred between about 120,000 and 11,500 years ago. In terms of Earths age, this is still far less than a blink of an eye, 0.0003 percent of the Earths history. Perspective is important in discussing climate change. Making dramatic pronouncements based on a few dozen years measurements is foolish and hardly scientific.

For perspective, here is an Associated Press article was published by the Washington Post on Nov. 2, 1922, a hundred years ago. This article has circulated on the internet and even far left Snopes confirmed its authenticity.

Kudos to Snopes for inadvertently throwing water on the entire radical environmental agenda with this one statement,

One of the key issues in the global warming debate is whether modern scientists have sufficient data and tools to determine that current warming trends are indicative of long-term climatic changes rather than relatively short-term weather pattern variability.

Bingo. Short term weather patterns and cycles, measured over 30 years have little if any bearing on long term climate trends. The Washington Post declared this past July as Earths Earths hottest month on record. Buried in the article was that said record was 40 years of global observations.

Scientific American piles on, warning that despite the hot summer, It will still be one of the coolest summers of the next few decades. A few decades are background noise given the Earths age.

Failed climate predictions are a staple of our state run scientific and media organizations. Their arrogance has destroyed their credibility, just as it did with the myriad COVID pronouncements which turned out to be false. Here is a list of Failed eco-pocalyptic predictions.

Speaking of failed predictions, what did that 100-year-old Washington Post article prophesize? Did those predictions come true? Are climate warriors making those same predictions today?

The article opened, The Arctic Ocean is warming up, icebergs are growing scarcer and in some places the seals are finding the water too hot.

Here is PBS 100 years later:

The Arctic is warming nearly four times faster than the rest of the world.

What if it keeps warming? Would that be unprecedented? Hardly.

Reuters noted this bit of deja vu history:

Palms grew in ice-free Arctic 50 million years ago.

What caused that warming and eventual cooling? Humans werent driving SUVs and grilling burgers yet. Maybe someday our beach holidays will be in the Arctic rather than the Caribbean.

What about the icebergs? PBS warns:

The massive ice sheets at the top and bottom of our planet are shrinking much faster than previously thought.

Yet National Geographic observes the opposite:

A Greenland glacier is growing.

Which is it?

How can there be any Arctic ice when so many so-called climate experts predicted that the Arctic would be ice-free by 2013, 2016, or today?

Would an ice-free Arctic be unusual? Hardly. According to MIT:

There have been periodic examples of a completely ice-free Arctic over the last 350,000 years.

Once again, perspective and a long-term time frame are important, rather than short term blips.

How about the seals? Are the boiling oceans too hot for them, dooming them to extinction? Not quite. We now have exploding Arctic seal populations and of course climate change is to blame for that, too.

What a convenient phrase climate change is.

Omnipresent and omnipotent. It causes hot or cold weather, wet or dry, stormy or calm. Normal climate variation, occurring over billions of years, is causing everything the left doesnt like about the world.

One could easily conclude that the climate change movement is a giant hoax. Its not that the climate isnt changing because it is, always has and always will. Numerous factors influence climate change including a fireball called the sun, a million times larger than Earth, and only 94 million miles away.

There are both short- and long-term climate cycles, many influenced by water which covers almost three quarters of the Earths surface. The Earths crust floats on an 1,800 mile thick layer of molten rock. Are humans really the cause of a changing climate, considering that humans have only been present for 0.007 percent of the Earths history?

Climate change is a manufactured consensus said climate scientist Judith Curry to the New York Post. The U.N.-created Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change did not focus on any benefits of warming. Instead, their mandate was to look for dangerous man-made climate change.

They are a Debbie-Downer looking for bad news, and looking hard enough, they can find it.

Then follow the money. Funding is directed to researchers who make alarmist claims, and they then get published by alarmist journal editors. It becomes a self-perpetuating scheme as virtually anything remotely alarming can be attributed to global warming. From acne and AIDS to airplane crashes and jellyfish strikes. From brain shrinkage and brothel shortages to cannibalism and rapes. Its all due to global warming.

It's the ultimate in hubris and narcissism for current occupants of Planet Earth to believe their activity today is that relevant. And that the only solution is confiscation of wealth and tyrannical control of human activities.

Author Michael Crichton summed it up well,

A hundred years ago we didn't have cars, airplanes, computers or vaccines. It was a whole different world, but to the Earth, a hundred years is nothing. A million years is nothing. This planet lives and breathes on a much vaster scale. We can't imagine its slow and powerful rhythms, and we haven't got the humility to try. We've been residents here for the blink of an eye. If we're gone tomorrow, the Earth will not miss us.

But while we are here, can we please be left alone to live our lives in peace?

Brian C. Joondeph, M.D., is a physician and writer. Follow me on Twitter @retinaldoctor, Substack Dr. Brians Substack, Truth Social @BrianJoondeph, and LinkedIn @Brian Joondeph.
On Friday, A.G. Merrick Garland announced a new special counsel to investigate the growing Hunter Biden problem. So far, so good. A ray of hope that DoJ will actually do its job? But then he spoils everything by saying the new man is the same as the old man. Yes, the same guy who saw his plea agreement collapse will now be the one looking at the whole thing again. It's sort of like giving the ball to the guy who couldn't throw a strike, walked the bases loaded, and then gave up a grand slam last night.

Naturally, the response was as expected. Is A.G. Garland that tone-deaf? Maybe he is reading what someone else is writing for him. One way or another, the sense of fairness takes another body blow. Expect the GOP to be very skeptical of the whole thing.

Why did he do it? I don't know, but Bill O'Reilly makes a lot of sense to me:

Attorney General Merrick Garland is scared. So is FBI Chief Christopher Wray. But most frightened of all should be President Joe Biden. I say should because, at this point, he might not understand or even remember how he enabled his son and brother to amass millions in foreign payments for doing nothing.

The attorney general should be scared. He has been saying, and under oath, that Weiss had the power to bring charges in all American jurisdictions. What's the point of giving him new powers to bring charges in all jurisdictions now? Why not go out and find a new face who could clear the table and start anew?

The whole thing stinks. It stinks a lot! And the attorney general knows that he is in trouble.

PS: Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos.

Image: US Senate
Last month, I had the privilege of spending several days in Topeka, Kansas.

I visited the statehouse to see its famed art collections. I had a delightful chance encounter with state senator Mary Ware of Wichita in the elevator on my way back home, who, though I was bedraggled and tired, was pure warm-hearted welcome even after her own long day at work. She was a Democrat, but she didn't care what my party was. She wanted to know what I thought of Kansas, as it was my first trip. I told her loved her beautiful state. She beamed and observed: "There's a lot more here than people think."

She can say that again.

Here's the news of what's going on just an hour and a half northeast of her own 25th state Senate district, according to the Associated Press:

MARION, Kan. (AP)  A small central Kansas police department is facing a torrent of criticism for raiding a local newspaper's office and the home of its owner and publisher, seizing computers and cellphones, and, in the publisher's view, stressing his 98-year-old mother enough to cause her weekend death. Several press freedom watchdogs condemned the Marion Police Department's actions as a blatant violation of the U.S. Constitution's protection for a free press. The Marion County Record's editor and publisher, Eric Meyer, worked with his staff Sunday to reconstruct stories, ads and other materials for its next edition Wednesday, even as he took time in the afternoon to provide a local funeral home with information about his mother, Joan, the paper's co-owner. A search warrant tied Friday morning raids, led by Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody, to a dispute between the newspaper and a local restaurant owner, Kari Newell. She is accusing the newspaper of invading her privacy and illegally accessing information about her and her driving record and suggested that the newspaper targeted her after she threw Meyer and a reporter out of restaurant during a political event.

The details of what seemed to be going on, based on the reports out there, suggest that the restaurant owner seemed to be in cahoots with the local police and was going through a divorce with an angry ex-husband who was accused of leaking her driving record to the Marion County Record. Those records revealed that she was driving on a suspended license after a drunk driving conviction, and the cops were doing nothing about it.

Obviously, there are two sides to this story, and the punishment meted to her may have been outrageously draconian, given the wide open spans of rural Kansas that I saw and the absence of public transportation, which probably would have been a business death sentence to a small restaurant owner. Maybe the cops understood this and looked for other kinds of crooks instead. Maybe something else was going on, though, such as her being in cahoots with the local cops in a two-tier justice system where some get punished and some do not.

The 2,000-circulation small-town paper did have the information yet didn't publish it because they had suspicions about the motive of the source and the legality of how the information had been obtained, given that the restaurant owner was involved in an acrimonious divorce.

They did run a piece from a city council meeting, though, where the restaurant owner publicly admitted she had a DUI and was driving on a suspended license. That was obviously in the public interest, and they probably derived that based on the other information they had.

Yet just having the information prompted a bona fide police raid on the entire newspaper as well as the co-owner's home, much the same way "little dictator" Daniel Ortega of Marxist banana republic Nicaragua used to have his goons raid La Prensa for negative coverage in order to shut the free press down. The publisher's 98-year-old mother, a little old lady who wrote a popular "Memories" column based on her searches of the old paper's microfilm archives, actually died of stress, according to her son, Eric, who is the working publisher.

It's obvious that Eric Meyer is an old-line newspaperman of the kind we rarely see anymore, who digs deep and reports professionally without fear or favor. This interview of him by the National Newspaper Association Foundation from two years ago tells us that. People like him inspired me to go into journalism myself. He was no obnoxious excuse for a "journalist" that we see in some of today's wokester reporters who view facts as optional and "narratives" as priorities.

Nevertheless, as the Guardian notes in its report, the paper got raided by the cops, and the publisher's elderly mother died of stress from it, all because someone leaked to them, which was hardly something they could control, and because supposedly the news was going around the small towns of the county anyway, printed or not. That's weird stuff, given that the restaurant owner did make public statements about her driving record.

What a crappy premise for a raid.

The cops said they were right to do the raid because the law lets them raid anyone suspected of a crime. The problem with that is obvious:

Seth Stern of the Freedom of the Press Foundation told the New York Times: "You can't say, 'I'm allowed to raid the newsroom because I'm investigating a crime' if the crime you're investigating is journalism."

That idiot logic from the cops is pretty obvious. It's also pretty shameless.

These kinds of raids didn't use to happen in this country. Why are they happening now?

Maybe it's because the fish stinks from the head down, and over in Washington, there have been some outrageous attacks on freedom of the press as well as Gestapo tactics from the FBI targeted at political opponents.

Might that have just set the tone about what's permissible, how the standards are lowered?

The cop chief, Gideon Cody, is a city boy from Kansas City and cut his ethical teeth as a cop in that big-blue-city environment, which Meyer now says the paper's looking into, as it should.

While Meyer saw Newell's complaints  which he said were untrue  as prompting the raids, he also believes the newspaper's aggressive coverage of local politics and issues played a role. He said the newspaper was examining Cody's past work with the Kansas City, Missouri, police as well.

To the mainstream media's credit, some of the big publications did step in and condemn this tinhorn-dictatorship behavior, which is quite unprecedented:

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (the "Reporters Committee") and the undersigned 34 news media and press freedom organizations write to condemn that raid. Newsroom searches and seizures are among the most intrusive actions law enforcement can take with respect to the free press, and the most potentially suppressive of free speech by the press and the public. "Based on public reporting, the search warrant that has been published online, and your public statements to the press, there appears to be no justification for the breadth and intrusiveness of the search  particularly when other investigative steps may have been available  and we are concerned that it may have violated federal law strictly limiting federal, state, and local law enforcement's ability to conduct newsroom searches. We urge you to immediately return the seized material to the Record, to purge any records that may already have been accessed, and to initiate a full independent and transparent review of your department's actions. "As detailed in the search warrant, on Friday your department executed a warrant at the Record's offices and at the home of its owner and publisher that authorized the seizure and forensic search of electronic media, as well as the confiscation of journalistic work product and documentary material related to a named individual. "Your department's seizure of this equipment has substantially interfered with the Record's First Amendment-protected news gathering in this instance, and the department's actions risk chilling the free flow of information in the public interest more broadly, including by dissuading sources from speaking to the Record and other Kansas news media in the future. "Further, as you acknowledge in your public statement, the federal Privacy Protection Act of 1980 (the "PPA") protects that flow of information to journalists by prohibiting law enforcement, including local agencies, from searching for or seizing journalistic work product1 or documentary materials, except in narrow, exceptional circumstances. See Pub. L. No. 96-440, 94 Stat. 1879 (1980), codified at 42 U.S.C.  2000aa, 2000aa-5 to 2000aa-7.

Publisher Eric Meyer compared it to dictatorship activity abroad:

"This is the type of stuff that, you know, that Vladimir Putin does, that Third World dictators do," Meyer said during an interview in his office. "This is Gestapo tactics from World War II."

But he and the other papers defending his paper would have done well to look a little closer to home.

The AP noted that a lot of little papers are getting raided by public officials these days:

Last year in New Hampshire, the publisher of a weekly newspaper accused the state attorney general's office of government overreach after she was arrested for allegedly publishing advertisements for local races without properly marking them as political advertising. In Las Vegas, former Democratic elected official Robert Telles is scheduled to face trial in November for allegedly fatally stabbing Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German after German wrote articles critical of Telles and his managerial conduct.

There has been collaboration between the FBI and Twitter, as well as possibly the Washington Post, in addition to recent surveillance on reporters during the Obama administration and the vast censorship-industrial complex that has arisen under the claims of "fact-checking" to demonetize dissident outlets.

It's pretty obvious that the First Amendment is under attack, and the politicized FBI as well as Democrat administrations are setting the tone. Now we are seeing this kind of Washington-style arrogance over the First Amendment dripping down into the local police departments, where they are going crude goon in ways that differ little from dictatorships.

It's also notable that this happened in Kansas, which is a bellwether state for historically significant trends and showdowns. Kansas was a flashpoint in the Civil War. It was the staging ground of John Brown and his abolitionist raids with his "Beecher's bibles." It was the stomping ground of Carrie Nation and her misguided campaign to enact Prohibition. It was the site of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, which ended segregated schools. It was the home of Ike, Amelia Earhart, and Charles Lindbergh, all trailblazers in their fields.

Kansas is where a lot of things start.

That's scary stuff, to see this supposedly distant Washington-style corruption and bids to silence papers now spreading to the heartland of Kansas.

That calls for sanctions against these perpetrators and perhaps congressional action to strengthen what the Bidenites and others on the left are getting away with as the First Amendment becomes a paper tiger.

They need to get on it...now.

Image: Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
Judge Tanya Chutkan, the D.C. federal district court's hanging-ist judge when it comes to the January 6 cases, was (quite coincidentally, I'm sure) assigned to Donald Trump's case after Jack Smith essentially indicted him for believing that the November 2020 election was rife with fraud. (That's a belief, apparently, available only to Democrats following elections.) The fact that Chutkan hates January 6 defendants doesn't mean she's anti-Trump. However, Julie Kelly has revealed a trial transcript in which Chutkan openly states her belief that Trump should be in jail.

Judges are obligated to abide by rules of conduct and, no matter the jurisdiction. A primary rule is that the judge must be and appear to be impartial. It destroys the legal system's integrity if people know that the judge trying cases has already decided the parties' innocence or guilt (or, in civil cases, their liability or lack thereof).

I know this for a fact because I spent my entire legal career in the San Francisco Bay Area. One of the reasons I'm a conservative is because of that experience. I started out as a Democrat, but after it became apparent that leftist judges were interested in neither facts nor law, but adjudicated cases using the filter of their political ideology (banks and landlords always lost, no matter the controlling facts or law), I became quite hostile to the Democrat party.

Technically, if you're a federal judge, you must abide by the Code of Conduct for United States Judges. The canons all lean toward a Judiciary that impresses the public with its even-handedness and lack of bias:

Canon 1: A Judge Should Uphold the Integrity and Independence of the Judiciary Canon 2: A Judge Should Avoid Impropriety and the Appearance of Impropriety in All Activities Canon 3: A Judge Should Perform the Duties of the Office Fairly, Impartially and Diligently Canon 4: A Judge May Engage in Extrajudicial Activities That are Consistent With the Obligations of Judicial Office Canon 5: A Judge Should Refrain From Political Activity

Judge Chutkan, an Obama appointee, seems disinterested in Canon 3, the one about performing her job "fairly, impartially and diligently." She seems especially disinterested in subdivisions (C)(1) and (2), which control judges who have a problem with impartiality:

(C) Disqualification. (1) A judge shall disqualify himself or herself in a proceeding in which the judge's impartiality might reasonably be questioned, including but not limited to instances in which: (a) the judge has a personal bias or prejudice concerning a party, or personal knowledge of disputed evidentiary facts concerning the proceeding;

Why do I question Judge Chutkan's fealty to the judicial code of conduct? Because of something Julie Kelly turned up:

Today Judge Tanya Chutkan warned Trump's lawyers that politics had no place in her courtroom or in this case.



But here is Judge Chutkan berating a J6er during a sentencing hearing in Oct. 2022.



She clearly expressed anger that Trump was still "free" and not behind bars: pic.twitter.com/BaFEItMGYz  Julie Kelly  (@julie_kelly2) August 11, 2023

So the judge presiding over a case demanding that Trump should be locked up for questioning the election and for events subsequent to the election has already stated on the record her belief that Trump should be locked up for questioning the election and events subsequent to the election. Not only should she disqualify herself, but she should also be ejected from the Judiciary entirely for having failed to disqualify.

After all, this is not just any case. It is a case of national consequence, given that the sitting president is attacking his opponent as a criminal and trying to silence him and then imprison him during the lead-up to the election.

I have tremendous disdain for all but a few judges, and those few are politically conservative and understand that they owe fealty to the Constitution and the laws of the United States. They also believe that facts are stubborn things regardless of their inclinations. And then there's Judge Chutkan, whose apparent unethical conduct is entirely in line with my expectation of America's judicial class.

Image of an executioner from Free*Svg.
Things have gotten so bad in Chicago that the most a well-meaning and sincere community group can aspire to is getting the gangbanger community to confine its shooting to the overnight 12 hours of 9 P.M. to 9 A.M. A kind of daylight curfew for drive-by shootings. The invaluable website CWBChicago reports:

A North Side community group is calling for people to refrain from shooting guns in Chicago between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. to reduce the risk to people "not involved in high risk activities." The proposal from Rogers Park-based Native Sons, known as "The People's Ordinance," was recently promoted in an email newsletter by Ald. Maria Hadden (49th).

The thinking behind the plea:

"We have to start somewhere," Tatiana Atkins, co-founder of Native Sons, said. "Our goal is to approach our city's gun violence problem strategically and not all at once. Things didn't become this way overnight, and change won't happen overnight. "Under this ordinance, we ask that people stop associating with and glorifying' shooters,' stop glorifying 'switches,' and stop wearing those ski masks everywhere which perpetuates you as some 'opp,'" Atkins told CWBChicago recently. "When those who live a certain lifestyle try to hang with 'regular' class citizens, they put everyone at risk." "Switches" are after-market devices that turn some semi-automatic handguns into automatic-firing weapons, similar to machine guns. "If people know that after a certain hour, the likelihood of them being shot by an unknown and unprovoked assailant are at a higher risk, they will be less likely to be out and about, and they may become more proactive with the supervision of their children," she continued.

Although Native Sons calls the movement an "ordinance," no such legislation has been filed in the city council. It accepts that shooters are not going to stop shooting one another and seems to ask them to murder responsibly, at a time when the civilians have been warned to huddle indoors.

The 9 A.M. time for beginning the pause in shooting is certainly a late riser's version of the end of night. Many employed people begin their commutes at 6 or 7 A.M., with 9 A.M. often seen as the time that rush hour traffic subsides.

Although laughter was my first response to this initiative, I do empathize with the desire to wash one's hands of the mission of ending gangbanging and merely confine it to the hours the fewest non-gang people are out and about. But it is an awful concession to make, a normalization of horrific violence, an acceptance of an unacceptable reality.

Hat tip: Peter von Buol.
Once upon a time, the greenie left waxed poetic and went full scold to the rest of us about saving the whales.

Today? They're doing the opposite.

Take a look at what's going on off the coast of Massachusetts, where the rare right whales in its waters are dying left and right:

For years, the government has insisted that the increase in whale deaths off the East Coast has no relationship to the wind industry's high-decibel pile driving and boat activity. But now, a new documentary, "Thrown To The Wind," based on new research, will challenge that. pic.twitter.com/Iu7mxH0BaI  Michael Shellenberger (@shellenberger) August 12, 2023

Environmental writer Michael Shellenberger has found a causal relationship between the high-decibel pile-driving and boat activity associated with installations of wind turbines for wind power, and the deaths of 60 right whales in the past year, whose habitat is in those very waters, and based on their environmental needs, cannot move someplace else.

The video is well worth watching, as it amounts to a bona fide environmental scandal, as Shellenberger says.

This is the biggest environmental scandal in the world.



The documentary film that we will soon release shows definitively that the wind industry is causing the deaths of whales and other cetaceans.



If allowed to continue, it will make the North Atlantic Right Whale extinct.  Michael Shellenberger (@shellenberger) August 13, 2023

There is corporate lying about the impact of this activity on these magnificent creatures, and as a result, they are dying in abnormal numbers and washing up on New England beaches -- many as long as fifty feet and 70 tons, which creates a huge mess to clean up. There are environmental shills calling anyone opposed to the deaths of these creatures as "climate deniers," which is quite a knee-jerk talking point, and about par in the age of smearing critics of what's claimed to be science.

And this isn't the first time wind turbines have been found to have killed wildlife. The turbines themselves are known to kill thousands of raptor birds and bats, some endangered, which are vital for keeping the environment in balance. Imagine what the rat and snake population looks like in raptor-decimated wind farm areas. That's just one part of the problem, and you can bet the results must be comparable in whale-decimated waters

There is also some astonishing irony here.

More than a century ago, the discovery of oil in Pennsylvania and then its development into the fossil fuel industry was praised and credited for saving the right whale, and other whales, whose populations had been decimated by hunting derived from the need for whale oil.

Now, with the shunning of the fossil fuel industry in favor of greenie wind farms, the right whale is once again facing the same kind of danger, not for whale oil -- but for the greenie dream, which always turns out to be dead and brown. These creatures should never be hunted down, nor should they be killed by industrial hammering. That the greenie wind farm industry is reportedly lying about the deaths and covering up its role in these deaths, goes against every greenie regulation we have on environmental impact statements. That they are getting away with solely because they are supposedly green is appalling.

Image: Twitter screen shot
While campaigning, Vivek Ramaswamy was approached by a woman who claims to be pansexual asking him about his opinions regarding the LGBTQ+ community and same-sex couples. Vivek calmly and politely explained that he believes America is falling victim to the tyranny of the minority. Although he spoke in a polite and respectful tone, what he said is a stronger answer than Republicans normally give and one that might play very well with the silent majority overwhelmed by slogans, yelling, and the other noise that characterizes todays political discourse.

Before getting to the video, its important to get the terminology correct. Being a so-called pansexual means that, in theory, this woman will have sex with anybody, whether male, female, a member of an imaginary sex (i.e., trans-whatever), or God alone knows who or what else. With that in mind, heres the video of her question and Viveks answer:

WATCH: A pan-sexual reporter tries to bait Vivek Ramaswamy at the Iowa State Fair



Instead, he delivers a masterclass on how to instantly turn the tables



Watch his masterful warning against activists grooming children, and their tyranny of the minority pic.twitter.com/ONS3YPbuaQ  Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) August 14, 2023

Vivek begins by accurately stating that so-called transgenderism is completely at odds with homosexuality. This is an important point. Homosexuality has been around since time immemorial, whether one likes it or not. Same-sex attraction is real. However, so-called transgenderism is a post-modern concept that has no basis in history or biology. Nevertheless, gay men are being told theyre really women, and lesbians are being told theyre really menand then both are being pumped full of dangerous opposite-sex hormones and given mutilating surgery to prove this lie.

Regarding same-sex couples, Vivek said he doesnt have a negative view, which is probably the case for most conservatives. I strongly disapprove of same sex-marriage because Justice Kennedy made up an imaginary constitutional right that smashes headlong into the actual First Amendment protection for religious liberty. And Vivek, to his credit, heads straight for that problem.

In America, he says, America is allowing a tyranny of the minority to force behaviors on people. In the name of protecting against a tyranny of the majoritywe have created a tyranny of the minority, and I think thats wrong. Hes absolutely correct.

Vivek continues, saying that its wrong to force religious people to preside over same-sex marriage ceremonies or to force women to compete against biological men or change clothes in a locker room with a man. Thats not freedom, he says, thats oppression. Yes!

Free adults, Vivek concludes, should be able to do as they will, up to a point, but they dont get to force their behaviors on others. Those others, especially, include children, who are different from adults.

I think a lot of frustration in the countryand if Im being really honest, that I also sharecomes from that new culture of oppression where saying those things [that is, opposing these aggressive new, leftist views] can actually get somebody punished.

Again, Vivek is correct. He adds that, as a candidate, he has an obligation to say those things, though, which is going to win points for him amongst Americas silent, frustrated, and terrified majority of normal people.

Throughout the engagement with his questioner, Vivkes tone and body language are polite and respectful. The woman, damaged but not crazy, gives him a polite thank-you and backs away.

If only all political conversations in America were so civil and substantive. Both those factors allow Americans to hear the issues rather than be overwhelmed by noise, insults, and emotion.

Image from Twitter.
The most advanced Yasen-Class Russian nuclear submarines are now receiving hypersonic missiles. Specifically, these nuclear subs are getting the Zircon model.

The latest enhancement hints that the Russian government is boosting the country's naval technology and capabilities.

Russian Nuclear Submarines Receive Hypersonic Zircon Missiles

According to CNBC's latest report, United Shipbuilding Corporation Chief Executive Officer Alexei Rakhmanov confirmed the nuclear submarine enhancement via an interview with the RIA states agency on Aug. 14.

The official said that the integration of Zircon hypersonic missiles into nuclear subs is already underway.

"Multi-purpose nuclear submarines of the Yasen-M project will... be equipped with the Zircon missile system on a regular basis," said the CEO via Reuters.

These Yasen-class submarines (aka Project 885M) are nuclear-powered cruise missile subs that were built to replace the Soviet-era nuclear attack submarine models.

This is a part of Russia's plan to modernize its army and fleet.

Meanwhile, the Zircon missile is a hypersonic sea-based rocket that can travel at several times the speed of sound. This missile's range can reach 900 km (560 miles).

Because of its advanced features, the Zircon hypersonic missiles are not easily countered by Russia's enemies.

The latest nuclear submarine enhancement was confirmed after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the country will start its Zircon missile mass supplies.

Earlier this 2023, Putin said that this is a part of Russia's effort to enhance its nuclear forces.

Read Also: Wagner Leader Prigozhin To Be Killed by Vladimir Putin or Lead Second Coup, Expert Predicts

Other Details of Russia's Nuclear Sub Enhancement

Rakhmanov explained that the latest nuclear submarine enhancement of Russia was based on the decision of the Ministry of Defense.

The USC leader said that Russia's Ministry of Defense decided to regularly arm the Yasen-class subs with the Zircon missile system.

The nuclear submarine improvement will be carried out in accordance with the Russian Defense Ministry's plan.

Rakhmanov said that this will be the case during the manufacturing and operational phases of the hypersonic missile-equipped nuclear submarines.

The combination of the Yasen-class submarines' capability to target land-based targets and the Zircon missile's fast and long-range features are considered a matter of significant apprehension for Wester military officials and analysts.

If you want to learn more about Russia's latest naval technology effort, you can click this link.

Related Article: Russia Launches Attack on Southern Ukrainian Region of Kherson, Killing Family, Including 22-Day-Old Infant, Wounding 22 Others

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
With more information emerging daily about Judge Tanya Chutkans open hostility to Donald Trump as she presides over the legally suspect case that Jack Smith filed against him, a 2021 article describing Chutkans conduct and statements about the January 6 defendants has suddenly gone viral. The woman is unprincipled and partisan to the point of delusion. She has no business presiding over Donald Trumps case or even sitting on the federal bench.

Yesterday, news emerged about Chutkans openly stated belief that Donald Trump ought to be behind bars, something that, with nothing more, means she should be taken off of Trumps case because she is incapable of the kind of integrity and impartiality required of federal judges. Shes a hanging judge and not bothering to hide it.

The inestimable Techno Fog has also revealed how Chutkan has treated Trump differentlyand way more harshlythan other defendants in her courtroom. Her blatantly unfair conduct arose in the context of the prosecutions request for a protective order that would effectively silence Trump during the primary season. The prosecution filed the motion on August 4, a Friday, at almost 10 p.m. Techno Fog picks up the story:

Image by Andrea Widburg

Typically, Judge Chutkan would allow for at least one week for Trumps team to file a response. (the Courts local rules allow 14 days to respond to motions). How do we know that? Because we went through Judge Chutkans other cases where a protective order was disputed - more on that below. Curiously, however, Judge Chutkan decided to demand an expedited briefing and hearing schedule - against the reasonable requests of Trumps attorneys, who requested just a little bit extra time. Heres the timeline: August 4, 2023: Special Counsel Smith files his motion for protective order. August 5, 2023: Trump is ordered to file his response to the motion for protective order by 5:00 on Monday, August 7, 2023. August 5, 2023: Trumps lawyers file a motion to revise the briefing schedule on the governments motion for protective order, seeking only three extra days  a deadline of August 10. This is under the timeframe discussed in the Courts local rules, which allow for 14 days to respond to motions.) August 5, 2023: Judge Chutkan denies Trumps requested extension. August 7, 2023: Trumps lawyers file their response to the governments proposed protective order. Judge Chutkan demands dates and times for a hearing on the protective order, which she orders to take place by August 11, 2023. August 8, 2023: Trump and the Special Counsel file their joint notice. Special Counsel says it is available at any time on August 9, 10, or 11. Trump requests a setting on Monday or Tuesday (August 14 or 15) where both of Trumps lawyers can be present. A very reasonable request. August 8, 2023: Judge Chutkan denies Trumps request and sets the protective order hearing for August 11, 2023 - exactly one week after the protective order was filed by Special Counsel Smith.

In other words, Chutkan went out of her way to deny Trumps counsel time in which to write a response directed to the millions of terabytes and documents at issue under the proposed order. She also specifically set the hearing on a date she knew Trumps counsel would be unavailable.

With this real-time information about Chutkans open hostility to Trump, along with her malevolent scheduling requirements, an AP article from October 2021 has suddenly reemerged to become one of the most shared articles amongst conservatives on X (formerly known as Twitter). Youll quickly see why:

A Texas man who joined the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan 6. was sentenced Monday to 45 days behind bars even though prosecutors werent seeking jail time, after the judge blasted comparisons between the riot that day and the Black Lives Matter protests over racial injustice. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan called it a false equivalence to compare the actions of people protesting, mostly peacefully, for civil rights to the mob that was trying to overthrow the government. She said doing so ignores the very real danger that the Jan. 6 riots pose to the foundation of our democracy. The judges remarks in the case against Matthew Mazzocco of San Antonio came days after another judge in Washingtons federal court suggested that the Justice Department was being too hard on the Jan. 6 defendants when compared to the people arrested during the protests after George Floyds murder.

Because Im not a lawyer in Chutkans jurisdiction or, thank God!, in her courtroom, I can say this straight out: The woman is ideologically corrupt to the point of delusion. In case youve forgotten, this was what the BLM riots looked like:

CNN reporter reports in front of a burning building in Kenosha with a chyron that reads Fiery But Mostly Peaceful Protests After Police Shooting



No, really

pic.twitter.com/VMUB3AdB3V  Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) August 27, 2020

War-like scenes tonight in downtown Portland as antifa and BLM rioters attack the federal courthouse in an attempt to storm it. They are pushed back by federal police who use tear gas, pepper balls and more. Video by @VenturaReport: pic.twitter.com/yHwNQmtjcz  Andy Ngo  (@MrAndyNgo) July 12, 2020

Rioters Launch Attack On Portland Courthouse, Police Precinct. ICE Agents Harassed While Arresting Criminals. https://t.co/I28Tfsi9UV pic.twitter.com/UaAGkMB9C4  Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) August 13, 2020

Rioters set more fires around the White House and attack Secret Service agents protecting the grounds



Why didn't Nancy invite these officers to testify in front of Congress?pic.twitter.com/6449PA4T6J  Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) July 28, 2021

Its not just BLM. This is the left attacking the Supreme Court:

Anti-Kavanaugh protesters bang on the doors of the Supreme Court of the United States where Brett Kavanaugh will soon be sworn in. pic.twitter.com/qnFtVJN2c2  Kyle Morris (@RealKyleMorris) October 6, 2018

I could go on but wont. You know what the left has been doing since the 1960s.

Chutkan is completely corruptand Im not accusing her of financial corruption, a la Joe Biden. Instead, Im accusing her of something infinitely worse, which is ideological corruption. Shes a dirty judge and should be driven from the courthouse.

If Trump is convicted in her courtroomwhich you know will happen when a corrupt judge presides over a case tried before a D.C. jurythe moral, decent half of the country will, and should, discount the verdict entirely. And thats very, very bad for a countrys health and even its ultimate survival.
Samsungs Galaxy S24 series may feature a two-way satellite communication system. Lee Jong-ho, Minister of Science and ICT (Information and Communications Technology) in South Korea, recently confirmed that the domestic smartphone industry is preparing to commercialize a satellite communication system for 5G mobile devices next year. Since Samsung is the only major smartphone company in South Korea, the Galaxy S24 lineup could debut the technology.

Rumors of Samsung working on bringing satellite connectivity to Galaxy phones have been around since last year. There were hopes that the Korean firm would offer the feature on the Galaxy S23 series. However, it didnt. The companys mobile head TM Roh later stated that its working on the technology but not yet ready to launch it to the public. Roh said Samsung doesnt want to bring a gimmicky system with limited functionality. It is building something robust.

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The Samsung executive hinted at a nearing launch of the technology. A few weeks after his comments, the company announced a satellite connectivity system that allows direct two-way communication (sending and receiving) between mobile devices via satellite. While the newly launched Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 foldables also missed out on it, the Galaxy S24 series looks likely to feature this next-gen communication technology.

I cannot say for sure, but I know that the domestic industry is considering commercializing the service next year, expecting that a standard related to satellite communication will be prepared next year, Lee said in an interview with the South Korean publication Yonhap News Agency [machine translated]. While the government official didnt name any company, he was responding to a question about when Samsung phones will get satellite connectivity.

Samsung wants to offer a complete satellite communication system on Galaxy devices

The tech industry has been pushing to add satellite connectivity to smartphones for a few years now. Last year, Huawei and Apple introduced the technology with the Mate 50 Pro and iPhone 14 series, respectively. However, the functionality is quite limited. Huawei only allows the sending and receiving of short text messages, while Apple only lets users make emergency rescue requests.

Samsung wants to offer two-way sending and receiving of messages as well as small-sized images. It has teamed up with Virginia-based satellite communication company Iridium Communications to make this happen. The two firms have been working on the tech for about three years now. It appears they are all set to debut the system early next year. The Galaxy S24 series should go official in the first quarter of 2024. You can expect to hear more about Samsungs satellite communication system ahead of that.
According to a new piece of information that surfaced, Google could actually implement hardware requirements for foldables. This would apply to future foldable smartphones, of course.

Google could draw the line and implement hardware requirements for upcoming foldables

This information comes from Mishaal Rahman, as he reveals that Google wants to get some assurances for the longevity of future foldable smartphones. Those devices would be expected to last at least 200,000 fold and unfold cycles. If you open your phone 50 times a day, that means it would take you 10 years to complete 200,000 cycles.

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Google would also have a requirement regarding the hinge. It would require that any device with a torque hinge to maintain at least 80% of its original torque after 200,000 cycles.

Last, but not least, Google could also require OEMs to offer at least two major OS updates, and three years of security updates for its foldables. A number of Android smartphone OEMs go above and beyond that, so that shouldnt be an issue.

These are actually great news for consumers. Google wants to guarantee a certain quality standard when it comes to foldables, and has the power to do so, thanks to the software it provides for smartphone OEMs.

The Motorola Razr+ didnt do all that well in a recent folding test

As some of you may recall, the Motorola Razr+ aka Razr 40 Ultra broke after 126,266 folds recently, despite the fact Motorola said it could handle 400,000 cycles. That is under the standard, for example, though it could be just a coincidence this happened. Its also worth noting that it happened after 126,266 constant fold and unfold cycles, one after the other. Thats just the thing, though, Googles requirement would be for a phone to be able to handle that.

On the other hand, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 had some torque issues during a recent folding test. It did great in that test, but it lost its ability to hold half-closed angles after 223,000 folds. Google would require a certain standard regarding that too. It would probably draw the line at 200,000 folds, the same as for general folds.

Well see what happens moving forward, as Google did not confirm any of this. Its just a rumor at the moment.
In this day and age of generative AI, companies mining for data to train their machine-learning models and reproducing copyrighted content from artists and publishers have caused a lot of concerns. Now, in an effort to address this issue, Google has proposed a new opt-out option, which would allow publishers to prevent their works from being used to train AI.

This solution comes after the Australian governments tough stance on high-risk AI applications, which involved imposing restrictions on generating deep fakes, spreading disinformation, and perpetuating discrimination. Although Google has maintained its stance on the fair use of data to train AI models, this new solution could potentially mitigate the ongoing dispute between publishers and AI companies over the utilization of copyrighted material.

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The general rule is that you need millions of data points to be able to produce useful outcomes  which means that theres going to be copying, which is prima facie a breach of a whole lot of peoples copyright, said Dr Kayleen Manwaring, a senior lecturer at UNSW Law and Justice.

Googles solution

While specific details concerning the implementation remain unclear, Googles proposal for the opt-out system closely mirrors the robots.txt protocol commonly employed by websites to block search engines from indexing specific segments of their content.

We believe everyone benefits from a vibrant content ecosystem. Key to that is web publishers having choice and control over their content and opportunities to derive value from participating in the web ecosystem, reads Googles blog post.

However, Googles approach towards data scrapping has also raised some eyebrows in the industry. This is because the company recently updated its privacy policy, which allowed it to leverage user-generated content for AI development. Nevertheless, the introduction of the opt-out mechanism represents a paradigm shift in copyright dynamics, as AI companies, including Google, would not be able to extract data from publishers or musicians without obtaining explicit consent from the rightful owner.
In recent years, OLED monitors have become an increasingly popular option for gamers who want high refresh rates without compromising picture quality. However, as OLED monitors become more mainstream, the issue of burn-in has once again affected many users. Now, according to a recent report from The Verge, LG has officially confirmed a two-year warranty for burn-in on its monitors in the United States.

This clarification came after The Verge reviewed LGs flagship 27-inch OLED gaming monitors and highlighted that the warranty did not extend to burned-in images resulting from improper usage. After a series of inquiries, Christopher De Maria, LGs head of consumer PR in the US, provided a definitive response, stating, LG now offers a two-year burn-in warranty for its OLED gaming displays. Additionally, the company also highlighted that the updated warranty applies to both current owners of the LG 27GR95QE-B monitor and future buyers.

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Some major caveats

While this new burn-in warranty offers a much-needed assurance for OLED monitor buyers, the coverage is contingent upon the monitor experiencing normal and proper use, explicitly excluding damage caused by misuse [or] abuse. This means that the warranty will cover burn-in as long as an individual uses the monitor for its intended purpose, specifically as a personal PC monitor in a residential setting, excluding commercial applications like retail signage displays. LG does not cover commercial applications due to the prolonged display of static images, which can lead to burn-in.

Normal use means the product is used for what it was created to do. In this case, that is gaming (professional and casual) as well as desktop computing such as Windows, said De Maria, LGs head of consumer PR for North America.

Still better than other manufacturers

Although LGs warranty coverage comes with conditions, it surpasses that of Acer and Asus, which do not explicitly include burn-in in their formal warranty coverage and address such cases on an individual basis. However, as the industry trends towards more widespread use of OLED monitors, manufacturers will need to enhance their warranty policies to encompass burn-in damage.
Ahead of the official launch alongside the Pixel 8 series this fall, the Pixel Watch 2 has picked up the FCC certification. The American regulatory agency has listed three model numbers for the new Google wearable: G4TSL, GC3G8, and GD2WG. Supporting documents suggest they correspond to the global Bluetooth version, the global 4G version, and the US 4G version of the watch, respectively.

The FCC documents for the Pixel Watch 2 also reveal at least four official strap options. We can see that the device has been tested with a plastic active strap, metal link strap, metal mesh strap, and metal slim strap. While the former two are probably refreshed versions of existing straps, the latter two appear to be new. Well, the metal mesh strap isnt completely new, but the original Pixel Watch doesnt have that strap option.

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For the uninitiated, Google teased a metal mesh strap for the Pixel Watch last year but it didnt arrive. It did appear on the Google Store briefly but the company later removed the listing and never reinstated it. By the looks of it, the mesh strap was supposed to arrive with the Pixel Watch 2 this year. Its unclear if it is the same band that we saw last year, though. Google could make some changes to it.

The metal slim strap, on the other hand, might be a lightweight metallic band for the Pixel Watch 2. Since the FCC listings dont include images, we have no clue about its design. We might see it in leaks soon, though. The new Google smartwatch isnt too far off now (it should debut in early October). You can expect more frequent leaks about it as the launch draws closer. We will keep you posted.

The FCC doesnt mention UWB support on the Pixel Watch 2

Rumors have it that the Pixel Watch 2 will bring a handful of notable upgrades over the first-gen model. We are expecting a much-improved processor (a jump from 10nm to 4nm process node), a marginally bigger battery, a more advanced GPU, and an aluminum body.

Its also said to boast UWB (ultra-wideband) for more precise device tracking and other short-range connectivity applications. However, the FCC documents dont mention UWB support. Its unclear whether that means Google is not yet ready to have the UWB functionality tested (feature not active at launch) or if the company will keep UWB support exclusive to a fourth Pixel Watch 2 model. We shall get to know soon.
Microsoft Teams mobile app users around the world can now look forward to a fix they need. This fix has to do with how users of this mobile app join online meetings directly from their smartphones. Over the past few years, these users have had to endure the pain of joining online meetings in a rather complicated manner.

On mobile devices, users of Microsoft Teams had to endure joining through so many processes before joining a meeting. Unlike the experience on a Windows laptop or desktop, the Teams mobile app is no fun to use during meetings. The entire process on the mobile app is cumbersome and very tiring for most users.

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However, Microsoft is working on an update that will fix the flaws users of their Teams mobile app face. Even though the update is still in its development phase, details on the benefits itll bring are already available. If you actively use the Microsoft Teams app, this article will inform you of the updates to expect and how theyd improve your experience.

Changes to come with the Microsoft Teams mobile app update aimed at fixing certain flaws

The major issue that this update aims to fix has to do with the joining of online meetings via the mobile app. In Microsofts recent 365 roadmap, the company outlines some of the changes that users of the Teams mobile app should expect. All major changes or improvements users will receive can be classified into three areas.

Each improvement will play a vital role in simplifying the meeting joining process via the Teams app. With the improvements, users of the Microsoft Teams mobile app will be able to join online meetings more freely. The update will also simplify the process of joining meetings online via the mobile app.

The first change Microsoft is bringing will help reduce the meeting joining process via the mobile app. This will improve speed while joining an online for users with smartphones and not Windows devices. To streamline this process, Microsoft will cut down on the steps necessary to join Teams meetings.

Microsoft will also give those joining the meetings without signing in to the 365 accounts preset and preview functions. This will enable them to set up their video and audio before entering the meeting room. Lastly, users with multiple accounts will now be able to switch from one account to another effortlessly.

These changes are all aimed at improving the overall user experience for Microsoft Teams mobile app users. The update to effect these changes will roll out for global users in October. Microsoft will provide this update to both Android and iOS users, enabling them to work more freely using their smartphones.
Who knew we wanted to see two billionaires slug it out in a cage match so badly? We all thought it was a joke from Elon Musk as an attack against the new Threads platform. However, it seems that this is actually happening. We got more information on the Musk vs. Zuckerberg cage match, and there might be some solid information here.

The Musk vs. Zuckerberg cage match could happen in Italy

Since Threads swooped in while X (then called Twitter) was having another falling out with the community, it seemed like a smack to the face. People were reeling from the rate limit and the fact that they couldnt view tweets while signed out. While this was happening, Meta launched Threads, its Twitter clone, and it proved to be quite popular.

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This, understandably, aggravated Musk to the point of tweeting against Mark and the platform as a whole. Elons team even threatened to take Metas team to court over the matter. However, nothing materialized from that as of yet.

With all of this drama going on, Elon challenged Mark to a cage match. This was shocking, but not shocking at the same time. It was shocking that he challenged him to a physical competition. But it wasnt shocking because this is Elon Musk were talking about. You never know what hell tweet next.

As for the match, Elon posted another post giving us some more information regarding the fight. It will be managed by Elons and Marks foundations and not the UFC. If you want to watch it, the fight will be broadcast on X and on Metas platforms.

The fight is going to take place in Rome, Italy, and the post says that everything we see will be of ancient Roman architecture. [N]othing modern at all. Elon even spoke to the Prime Minister of Italy and the Minister of Culture, and they agreed on an Epic Location. One can only speculate where.

At this time, we dont know when this fight is going to happen.
You remember Netflixs battle against password-sharing, now YouTube is at war against ad blockers. This, of course, is an attempt to press more people to pay for a premium subscription. Now, according to several Reddit users (via Android Police), YouTube will show a timer when it detects that youre using an ad blocker.

One of the main reasons why people pay for the premium subscription is to avoid having to endure ads across the platform. That might be the main reason. However, folks are able to get an ad-free experience using ad blockers on their browsers. That, as you can imagine, doesnt sit well with YouTube because it gives users a paid service for free. This is why the company is taking aim at ad blockers.

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YouTube brings a new timer when it detects that youre using an ad blocker

When youd use an ad blocker, the company would pick up that and give you a popup prompting you to get a premium subscription. That was aggravating for users, but the company looks to be pushing things to the next step.

A Reddit user reported that they saw a popup with a small timer on the top right corner. We dont know how long the timer is, but the Redditor states that its between 30 and 60 seconds. Other Redditors corroborated the story, but it seems that this feature is only hitting a limited selection of users. So, YouTube might just be testing the feature with an official release slated for a later date.

If you get the timer, then you have a limited amount of time to be able to watch your content before the platform bans your access. Its a much more straightforward move than the three-strike policy introduced back in June. This policy would ban your account if youre caught using an ad blocker three times. The ban could either be temporary or permanent.
The BBC reported Monday (August 14) its historic Maida Vale studios have been sold to a group led by Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer, who was famous for scoring music for films like The Lion King, the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Gladiator, and most recently, Top Gun: Maverick, and his long-time business partner Steve Kofsky.

Zimmer and Kofsky bought the studio alongside Working Title Films executives Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, who have produced films such as Four Weddings and a Funeral, United 93, Mr. Bean's Holiday, and the movie adaptations of the Broadway musicals Les Miserables and Cats.

The studio was valued at 10 million, but the BBC did not disclose the purchase price.

The UK's public broadcaster further noted its intention to move its music studios to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in east London by 2025.

While the BBC would no longer own the site, it said the complex would remain a "center for pioneering music-making."

Long and Venerated History

Maida Vale was built in northwest London in 1909 as Britain's largest indoor roller skating rink at that time. The BBC acquired the building in 1933 and housed the BBC Symphony Orchestra ever since.

The orchestra was reportedly going to be relocated alongside the BBC's music studios to its new location by 2025.

Maida Vale hosted countless rock and pop artists, from Led Zeppelin to Radiohead and Jay-Z to Little Mix. It also hosted John Peel's famous Radio 1 sessions and the BBC's innovative Radiophonic Workshop, famed for its realization of the Doctor Who theme tune.

Read Also: 'Musk Drug' Medical Alert: Boardmasters Festival Organizers Warn Partygoers Not To Take 'Tesla Tablets'

Zimmer's Purchase a Way of Giving Back

Before his rise to musical fame, Zimmer worked at Maida Vale 45 years ago, recalling his days there when he desired to connect to the artists whose "extraordinary music had resonated" its walls on a daily basis while struggling to excel in his craft.

"This was the place that kept a struggling musician like me from giving up," he added.

As a way of giving back to the halls that made him the musician he is, Zimmer planned to make Maida Vale a place that would inspire, teach, and technologically serve the arts and humanity, as well as give the next generation of artists an opportunity to excel like him.

Meanwhile, Working Title echoed Zimmer's sentiments, saying in a statement they are collectively determined to continue the broadcaster's legacy in the studio by attracting global talent to the UK.

"Through our redevelopment plans we will future-proof the historic site, continuing its presence in the local community with a new education facility, whilst creating a world-class studio space for the next generation of composers, producers, editors, and engineers," the statement added.

A multi-million-pound refurbishment will keep the building's original facade, refurbish the existing studios, and create a not-for-profit educational facility, the BBC said. In the years leading up to the sale, the broadcaster was criticized for selling the studios as it lowered its potential value after it was given Grade II listed status in 2020.

Chief among the critics of the sale in 2018 was Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, who called the studios an "incredibly important part" of the UK's cultural heritage just as Abbey Road Studios were during the time of The Beatles.

Related Article: BBC Apologizes For 'Inappropriate' Question Asking Morocco Women's Team Captain About Homosexuality

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(ANSA) - ROME, AUG 14 - A group of Muslim women were prevented from bathing in their clothes at a Trieste beach on Sunday.

The women had entered the women-only section of the Lido Pedicin beach, Europe's only segregated beach, with a wall separating men from women and children.

But Italian women bathers protested with one saying "they've been around the city all day in those clothes and it's not hygienic, I'm a clean person".

The Muslims asked for clarification from the beach management but were told that there was no regulation on the issue.

They are expected to try again at another beach in the northeastern city soon. (ANSA).


(ANSA) - ROME, AUG 14 - A young woman who is believed to have been stabbed to death by her former partner in the Trentino town of Silandro at the weekend had previously reported him for violence, a local councillor told ANSA on Monday.

Celine Frei Matzhol, 20, from Corces in Val Venosta, allegedly reported Omer Cim, 28, for so-called 'red code' offences under a law aimed at tackling domestic and gender-based violence in Italy in June.

"We all knew that Celine was being maltreated by her boyfriend.

He was violent, he often raised his hands (against her), and if people talked, it must be true," said Silandro Councillor Dunja Tassiello.

"I even collected some information," she added.

Cim, of Turkish origin, was stopped and arrested by police on Sunday afternoon as he was trying to cross the border into Austria, not longer after Matzhol had been found dead in his apartment.

She had reportedly been stabbed several times in different parts of her body. (ANSA).


(ANSA) - ROME, AUG 14 - Premier Giorgia Meloni said Monday she was behind the controversial introduction of a windfall tax on banks' surplus profits and that she would "do it again".

"It was an initiative I wanted. Of course I would do it again," said the premier in a wide-ranging interview to Corriere della sera, La Repubblica and La Stampa newspapers.

"(Economy Minister Giancarlo) Giorgetti was fully involved," she added.

"I have the greatest respect for the banking system and have no intention of hitting the banks. But there was an imbalance," explained Meloni.

"The banking system was quick to raise mortgage rates but left rates for savers unchanged, creating a distortion," she continued.

Last Monday the government announced a new 40% windfall tax on banks' surplus profits, triggering stock market turmoil the following day.

The government subsequently performed a partial U-turn, saying the tax would be capped at 0.1% of institutes' assets.

However, skepticism remains, with Moody's saying Thursday that the measure is "credit negative" and the Financial Times on Saturday describing the move as "disastrous" and the government's "biggest blunder so far".

Deputy Premier and interim leader of government coalition partner Forza Italia (FI), Antonio Tajani, has also criticised the move, saying it had not been discussed prior to the cabinet meeting at which it was approved.

"Things could have been done better, now we have to preserve our international credibility and reassure investors," said Tajani in an interview to Il Foglio on Saturday.

"There may certainly be an issue of method," said Meloni.

"I involved the majority to a lesser extent because, let's say, the issue wasn't to get out too far.

"This is a very particular and delicate matter on which I have taken the responsibility to intervene," the premier added.

(ANSA).


Afghan scholars studying in the UK under a Foreign Office scheme say they are living in fear of being forced back into Taliban clutches.

The current cohort of Afghan Chevening scholars says they are stuck in limbo and face the possibility of having to return to Afghanistan after their graduation in September or once their visas expire.

The Home Office initially stated that the scholarship was not a pathway to resettlement and that scholars should follow the standard Chevening policy of returning home or to a third country.

But the Home Office has now indicated that scholars can apply for another UK visa, such as the graduate route, or consider claiming asylum.

Three of the 17 Afghan students from the 2022/23 year told the PA news agency about their struggles with panic attacks and fear of persecution as a result of the Governments policy.

One said that even if they were granted a graduate visa, they would still be at risk of deportation after two years.

Afghan Chevening scholars already in the UK in 2021 and 2022 were granted indefinite leave to remain.

Three of the 17 Afghan students from the 2022/23 year told of their struggles with panic attacks and fear of persecution (PA)

The Chevening scholarship programme provides study at UK universities  mostly one-year masters degrees  for students with potential to become future leaders, decision makers and opinion formers.

The scholars agreed to speak to PA on condition of anonymity, due to concerns for their safety and the safety of their families still in Afghanistan.

One of them, who is specialising in international human rights law, said: I am having panic attacks thinking about what exactly is going to happen.

After September, I will have no accommodation, it is difficult to get a job without a visa. What should I do? Where should I go? Should I just become stateless and homeless at the same time after September?

Another student, who is studying accounting and finance, said he was made aware that the scholarship was not an offer of resettlement but was hopeful things would return to normal in Afghanistan by the time he graduated.

Photo of the Afghan Chevening scholars studying in the UK under a Foreign Office scheme (PA)

He added: There is no possibility of going back to my country  I dont want to put myself and my family in danger.

We should be treated in the same way as the previous cohorts and be granted leave to remain indefinitely.

A third scholar, who is studying management of information systems, said he was sent an email from the programme in early June, telling him to book his flight back home.

He described it as a hard moment, adding: Since then, I have not been able to concentrate on my studies.

After having repeatedly asked for clarity, the scholars said Chevening had informed them at the end of June that they may be exempt from the requirement to return to Afghanistan due to the expiration of their visas in their countries of residence at the time of accepting the scholarship.

A Government spokesperson said: We understand the situation in Afghanistan, and are therefore providing a letter of consent to current scholars whose visas in other countries have expired or will expire, allowing them to apply for another UK visa.

This will exempt them from the normal requirement to leave the UK on completion of study.

A view of signage for the Home Office in Westminster, London (Kirsty OConnor/PA)

The Home Office also made clear that if someone had come to the UK legally, and circumstances in their home country changed, such that it was no longer safe for them to return home, they could claim asylum.

After the Taliban seized power in 2021, the Government programme only offered the scholarship opportunity to Afghan nationals living outside their home country and this was the case for the three scholars, who fled to neighbouring nations after the takeover.

One of the scholars said: The third country, which the Home Office says we should consider going back to  there are peculiarities in our situation.

She added: Right now, India is not giving any type of visa for Afghans. And if I do get a temporary visa, I go there, I stay for one or two months and after that, I have to go back to Afghanistan.

A girl who is single, who has done human rights law in the UK, under the UK Government scheme, who has worked with international forces, I would be persecuted, I would be hanged in front of everybody.

All three of them also insisted that claiming asylum would be a bad option, with one noting that the average waiting time for an initial decision on an asylum case could be between one and three years, during which time they would not be able to work and would potentially be placed in a hotel.

Moreover, according to the scholars, applying for a graduate visa, as the Home Office suggested, would bring financial challenges and potentially leave them with no option but to return to Afghanistan once it expired.

One scholar said: The problem, for instance, with the graduate visa is that it has a very high fee, and I dont think many of the Chevening scholars would be able to pursue that route.

But even if I manage to borrow some money, it is only for two years. I want to be assured that after this period, I wouldnt be forced to leave.

Another added: If I get a visa and after two years, for some reason, I cannot get a sponsored job, I will definitely be deported or either I will be deported or I will have to apply for asylum or  I dont know what happens in two years.

Labours Neil Coyle (Bermondsey and Old Southwark), an MP representing one of the scholars, told PA that Chevening scholars were the best and brightest, adding: Ministers must end their debilitating quagmire and grant leave to remain in the UK, as the Home Office did for the students who completed their studies last year.
Britain should welcome international students who want to take undergraduate degrees in the UK, the head of the higher education admissions service has said.

Clare Marchant, chief executive of Ucas, said around 13% of placed applicants are overseas students and she does not expect that percentage to change hugely on A-level results day on Thursday.

Her comments come amid warnings that British students could lose out to international applicants in the competition for places at top universities this summer.

During a webinar hosted by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) think tank, Ms Marchant said: We need to be welcoming to those undergraduate international students who want to come and study here.

She added: Youre competing in a global market so actually just keeping an eye on market share versus Australia, Canada and the US.

In England, university tuition fees for undergraduate students from the UK are capped at 9,250 a year.

But universities can charge overseas students significantly higher tuition fees.

Last year, the overall entry rate for UK 18-year-olds was 37.5%.

She added: Certainly we see around 13% of placed students are international students. We know it is absolutely pivotal to diversity at institutions and on courses. And broadly that percentage we dont expect to change hugely come Thursday or the end of the cycle in October either.

When asked whether more universities are only opening courses in clearing to international students this year rather than domestic students, Ms Marchant said: It is broadly consistent with previous years.

She added: I think that the proof in the pudding in terms of competition probably will come on Thursday afternoon as some of those courses are taken out of clearing as they get filled up.

In a statement issued after the webinar, Ms Marchant said: Were aware that we are competing in a global market where students are also attracted by study in countries such as Australia, Canada and the US.

The cohort of students who are currently awaiting their A-level results did not take GCSE exams and were awarded results determined by their teachers in 2021  which was a record year for top grades.

In England, Ofqual has said this years national A-level results will be lower than last year but they are expected to be similar to those before the pandemic.

Speaking during the webinar on Monday, Ms Marchant said she had sympathy for this years cohort.

She said: These are individuals who havent gone through an external exam before so of course there is going to be a level of anxiety when it comes to Thursday.

In the week that students across England, Northern Ireland and Wales find out their results, the Ucas chief said it is very easy to over-predict grades.

Ms Marchant said: Were looking into how we can help schools and colleges just in terms of understanding how accurate they are with predicted grades.

Because just looking at those year on year and how accurate they can be is something that I think we at Ucas, but the sector at large, need to keep an eye on.

Its very easy, I think, to over-predict but we need to be giving data to schools and colleges to get as accurate as possible around that.
Ministers may need to learn lessons from the Bibby Stockholm incident, No 10 said, after asylum seekers were removed from the barge after traces of Legionella bacteria were found.

The Government is standing by the use of barges to house migrants, amid a blame game about the response to the situation following the detection of the dangerous bacteria.

Downing Street on Monday insisted that the Prime Minister retained confidence in Home Secretary Suella Braverman, as questions continue to be asked about when Home Office officials were first informed.

The Government has said that Home Office ministers were not told about the situation until the night of August 10, despite claims a local council told the contractors running the vessel about test results on August 7  the day migrants boarded the barge.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay said ministers acted as soon as they were informed of the Legionella results (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

The discovery eventually led to the removal on August 11 of all 39 people who had boarded the floating accommodation docked in Portland, Dorset.

Tory-run Dorset Council said it informed the responsible organisations, barge operators CTM and Landry & Kling, about the preliminary test results on Monday August 7  the same day it received them.

A Home Office official was then told about the discovery on August 8, the council said.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman said ministers only became aware of the issue on August 10 but said that the Home Office was still clarifying if officials may have been aware earlier.

The detection of Legionella on the Bibby Stockholm followed a series of delays in bringing it into use (Andrew Matthews/PA)

I think we will be communicating with all relevant groups to see if there are any lessons that can be learned, as you would expect in any public health situation, he said.

We remain confident that we have acted quickly once informed.

Legionella was detected in a sample analysed by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on behalf of Dorsets environmental health team.

UKHSA chief Dame Jenny Harries said the initial findings did not require a response by her agency as it could be that there were environmental factors which did not mean there was a public health risk.

Asylum seekers were removed from the facility due to the discovery of Legionella bacteria in the water supply (John Gurd/PA)

But she said the local health protection team was alerted on the night of August 9 and she was informed first thing on August 10 when the UKHSA jumped in immediately.

The migrants moved on to Bibby Stockholm on August 7, the start of the Governments small boats week policy blitz aimed at showing they were tackling the problems of migrants crossing the English Channel and the backlog in the asylum system.

It now remains unclear when the asylum seekers will return to the barge, with Downing Street refusing to give a timeline as officials await the result of further tests.

The spokesman for Mr Sunak, who has returned from his holiday in California, said that barges remain an appropriate way to find alternative accommodation to hotels.

Asked on BBC Radio 4s Today programme whether asylum seekers should have been allowed to board before the test results came back, Dame Jenny said we would always, in public health terms, want places as safe as possible.

She said the Home Office acted to remove the asylum seekers from the vessel as a precaution before a recommendation to do so.

UK Health Security chief executive Professor Dame Jenny Harries said the Home Office had removed migrants from the barge before being told to do so (Toby Melville/PA)

Dorset Council defended its handling of the situation.

A spokesman said: To be clear, it was not Dorset Councils responsibility to inform the Home Office  that responsibility sat with CTM and Landry & King, the companies contracted by the Home Office to operate the barge.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer insisted that housing migrants on barges, in hotels or disused military air bases was not a solution to the broken asylum system.

But he was unable to rule out an incoming Labour government maintaining their use in response to the situation it would inherit on taking office.

I dont want to keep barges or hotels or airfields, for that matter, he told reporters in Scotland.

Now, were going to inherit a very difficult situation and so were going to have to manage as best we can.

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover on Monday (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Meanwhile, there were further signs of activity in the English Channel on Monday following large numbers of migrants making the crossing in recent days.

More than 1,600 people were detected making the journey from France across Thursday to Saturday last week according to provisional Home Office figures, although there were no recorded crossings on Sunday.

At least six people died and dozens were rescued after a boat got into difficulty off the coast of Sangatte, northern France, on Saturday.
The European Union has told the UK it is not willing to negotiate a returns agreement for migrants arriving via unauthorised routes, according to reports.

If correct, it would mean Britain is unlikely to be able to return refugees arriving via small boats across the Channel back to France in the near future.

Rishi Sunak has pushed for a bilateral returns agreement with Paris but French President Emmanuel Macron, a close ally of the Prime Minister, has said any deal must be at an EU level.

Mr Macron, during the UK-France Summit in March, said any returns mechanism would not be an agreement between the UK and France, but an agreement between the UK and the EU.

According to reports in The Times and the Daily Mail, a leaked memo has suggested that such a pact is not being entertained by Brussels, which is dealing with its own internal rows over migration and refugee returns reforms.

The UK Government said it remains open to working towards a UK-EU returns accord, with Brexit having taken London out of the Dublin Agreement that currently allows for member states to return refugees.

Mr Sunak wants a deal to allow the UK to return foreign nationals who have been found to be in violation of immigration law.

It could potentially allow ministers to send back asylum seekers arriving from France via small boats, with Mr Sunak having made tackling the migrant crisis one of his top priorities ahead of the next election.

The Times suggested any Brussels deal would likely come with the condition that Britain share in Europes effort to resettle hundreds of thousands of migrants entering the EU through irregular means, including migrants arriving by boat to Italy or Greece.

But, citing Cabinet Office notes, the newspaper said a senior aide to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen had rejected negotiations on fresh terms following a push by Mr Sunak during talks at the Council of Europe in Iceland in May.

French President Emmanuel Macron has insisted any returns deal must be UK-EU wide (Kin Cheung/PA)

German politician Bjoern Siebert, Ms von der Leyens head of cabinet, is said to have told Sir Tim Barrow, the UKs national security adviser and a former ambassador to the EU, that the commission is not open to a UK-EU readmissions agreement.

The commission is said to dispute the recording of events. It has been contacted for comment.

The reports come after at least six people died and dozens were rescued after a boat got into difficulty off the coast of Sangatte, northern France, on Saturday.

A UK Government spokeswoman said: We remain open to working with the EU to take forward negotiations on a UK-EU returns deal, as part of our international efforts to tackle illegal migration and to crack down on these exploitative gangs.

We are in regular conversations with our European counterparts on a range of issues relating to migration and asylum.

We agreed with members of the Calais Group of Northern European nations to work towards an EU-UK cooperation agreement on migration in a joint statement at the groups December 8 2022 meeting.
EastEnders has been working on a storyline that will see Shane Richies character Alfie Moon diagnosed with prostate cancer, with the support of Prostate Cancer UK and Macmillan Cancer Support to ensure it is an authentic story.

The BBC said the storyline will follow Alfie and those around him as he discovers and comes to terms with his diagnosis.

Ahead of filming, Richie was introduced to one of Prostate Cancer UKs supporters affected by the disease, which gave him the opportunity to understand what its like to experience the disease first-hand, the charity said.

Alfie has a lot on his hands EastEnders, tonight at 7.30pm on @BBCOne and on @BBCiPlayer. pic.twitter.com/5KKIAQJFRf  BBC EastEnders (@bbceastenders) August 14, 2023

EastEnders executive producer Chris Clenshaw previously teased that there will be a tough road ahead for Alfie following the health update.

On Monday, Mr Clenshaw said: When we first embarked on this storyline we knew it was imperative that we worked alongside Prostate Cancer UK and Macmillan Cancer Support to take on and accurately portray such an emotional and pivotal storyline for Alfie, and one that many viewers may relate to.

Shane (Richie) has thoughtfully portrayed the realities of being diagnosed with prostate cancer with grace and understanding.

We hope that this storyline resonates with the audience, and that we represent it as sensitively, and as accurately, as possible.

The BBC said EastEnders is working with leading charities Prostate Cancer UK and Macmillan Cancer Support as well as experts in the field to ensure the storyline is portrayed accurately.

Amy Rylance, head of improving care at Prostate Cancer UK, said: Its been a pleasure working alongside EastEnders on their prostate cancer storyline, and we salute the BBC for approaching Prostate Cancer UK to ensure the narrative is as close to real life as possible.

Every mans experience of prostate cancer is unique, and its so important for viewers to be given accurate information about the disease.

Its been a privilege to provide insight into Alfie Moons journey with prostate cancer, ensuring an authentic story is told every step of the way.

Introducing Shane (Richie) to one of our supporters affected by prostate cancer gave him the opportunity to understand what its like to experience the disease first-hand.

Shane Richie as Alfie Moon (BBC/PA)

Meanwhile, Dany Bell, Macmillan Cancer Supports strategic adviser for treatment, medicines and genomic, said: Storylines like Alfies play a vital role in helping to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of prostate cancer and the impact a cancer diagnosis can have on individuals and their families.

We also know that men can often find it difficult to talk about cancer, to protect the people around them, or simply wanting to stay strong.

We hope that seeing a character like Alfie go through this experience will help open up these vital conversations and highlight the array of support thats out there.

Chiara De Biase, director of support and influencing, at Prostate Cancer UK, added: We thank the EastEnders research team for approaching us to ensure their prostate cancer narrative is as close to real life as possible.

Including prostate cancer in a major characters storyline on a national soap presents a huge opportunity to raise awareness of the disease, and were excited to see what impact Alfie Moons journey has on the public.

Every mans experience of prostate cancer is unique, and its so important for viewers to be given accurate information about the disease.

From introducing Richie to a supporter affected by prostate cancer, to having our Specialist Nurses and Improving Care teams consulting on aspects of the script for accuracy, continuity, and authenticity  its been a privilege to provide valuable insight into Alfies journey.

Were proud to be working with the EastEnders team on this important storyline. Stay tuned for more tomorrow.  https://t.co/xe8MdvtG5x  Prostate Cancer UK (@ProstateUK) August 14, 2023

One in eight men will get prostate cancer and 12,000 men die from the disease every year in the UK.

Its important for men to understand their risk of getting the disease, especially considering there are normally no symptoms in the early stages.

Men over 50, black men and those with a father or brother with the disease, are at increased risk, and wed encourage them to do our online risk checker to understand their risk and crucially what they can do about it if they are at higher risk.

Alfie Moon returned to Albert Square last September determined to win back the love of his life Kat Slater, but discovered she was in a relationship with Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden).

Alfie and Kats fiery relationship was at the centre of many major storylines but their union came to a sudden end in 2018 when it emerged that Alfie had secretly fathered a son with her cousin Hayley.

Moon decided to flee Walford in January 2019, making an enemy of Phil in the process.

The character first featured in EastEnders in November 2002 and has been at the heart of storylines about dementia, cot death and infidelity.
Multiple investors have reported that companies affiliated with Chinese giant Zhongzhi have failed to make payments, raising concerns about the stability of China's wealth management sector and its connections to the country's faltering real estate market.

Founded in 1995, Zhongzhi is a private firm headquartered in Beijing that has expanded into a diverse conglomerate with holdings ranging from financial institutions to mining companies. The expected value of investments is at least $140 billion.

It also has what it calls a "strategic stake" in Zhongrong International Trust, which, according to reports, failed to refund the revenues of two products last week.

Several companies in the semiconductor supply chain, including KBC Corporation and Nacity Property Service Group, reported that they were owed $8.2 million and $4.1 million, respectively.

Significant Uncertainty

There has been significant suspicion in China about the company's health and its susceptibility to a property cash constraint, which has derailed the real estate industry and slowed economic development, prompting the disclosures.

According to Financial Times, more than a fourth of China's economic activity is driven by the property industry, and this sector has seen hundreds of developer defaults. Yet trust organizations like Zhongrong have traditionally been a significant source of funding for the property sector.

It is hard to know the whole extent of the group's exposure to real estate, but payment delays may signal a wider economic and property crisis.

Last May, Zhongrong sued the defaulting property developer over an investment of $261 million, which was shown in an annual report of company bonds released by Evergrande, the most indebted property developer in the world.

Also Read: PayPal USD: What to Know About the App's New Stablecoin

Rising Anxiety

Concerns have grown because of Zhongzhi's large size, its many companies, and the fact that it does not disclose information.

People at the scene said that in early August, police were summoned to the Beijing offices of Zhongzhi after numerous retail investors attempted to resolve management concerns, Financial Times reported. Neither the investors nor the police or security guards were forthcoming with any more information about their presence.

An unnamed source claims that his family has not been paid since early July by Datang Wealth, another company run by Zhongzhi.

Apologies for late payments have been extensively shared on the Chinese internet in the form of letters purporting to be from representatives of investment enterprises related to Zhongzhi.

According to data from Tianyancha, a corporate information provider, Zhongrong International Trust, the majority of which is controlled by Zhongzhi and an allied firm, has issued a statement on its website claiming that "criminals have forged its corporate seal, official letters, and other documents."

It went on to say that bad actors were attempting to get social media users to visit malicious sites or join malicious groups.

Also Read: Yellow Corp. Turns Red: Trucking Giant Declares Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

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A major Hollywood strike by US actors and writers, which has paralysed the film and television industry, has reached its one-month mark.

Members of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (Sag-Aftra) have been on strike since July 14, after negotiations over new contracts with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) broke down.

Scores of big Hollywood names including Academy Award winners Jessica Chastain and Brendan Fraser, and fellow actors Bryan Cranston, Bob Odenkirk and Hilary Duff have been pictured on the picket lines in Los Angeles and New York over the past four weeks.

Marc Maron walks on a picket line outside Netflix studios (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

The strike has resulted in a major stalling of major Hollywood productions, events and award ceremonies, with actors forbidden from engaging in any promotional activity for work.

Sag-Aftra, which represents around 160,000 actors across the US, has raised concerns over a number of issues including pay and the use of artificial intelligence (AI).

Its members joined their colleagues from the Writers Guild of America (WGA), who walked out on May 2, and recently marked 100 days of strikes.

Sag-Aftra national executive director and chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)

Sag-Aftra chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said the strike could become the catalyst for a historic culture change in all industries as he praised members for their commitment to the cause.

We are living in a historic hour, as we fight to achieve a seminal contract, the likes of which we havent seen in over 60 years, he said in an online statement.

It was 1960 when we last went on strike alongside the WGA and achieved pension and health plans and residuals.

Our futures depend on not accepting anything less transformative in this negotiation.

The Interim Agreement is a strategic tool that enhances the union's bargaining leverage and weakens the power of studios, networks and streamers in negotiations. #SAGAFTRAstrike #SAGAFTRAstrong For more info on IAs, visit https://t.co/EE6qPXDPTr. pic.twitter.com/6Z0yehfUnP  SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra) August 11, 2023

Since the beginning of the strike, some independent productions have been granted interim agreements to allow them to resume.

Mr Crabtree-Ireland said the agreements were introduced to give journeymen performers and crew the opportunity to pay their bills and put food on the table by working on these indie projects.

He continued: Our strike can become the catalyst for a historic culture change in all industries, whereby making money and doing the right thing on behalf of workers are no longer mutually exclusive of each other but go hand in hand, redefining the meaning of success.

Brian Cox takes part in a protest by members of the British actors union Equity in Leicester Square (Ian West/PA)

Last month, Hollywood star Dwayne The Rock Johnson made a historic seven-figure donation to the Sag-Aftra Foundation Relief Fund for actors who face financial ruin during the actors strike, according to US outlet Variety.

The action has prompted responses from US political figures including US president Joe Biden and California governor Gavin Newsom, who contacted both Sag-Aftra and the AMPTP in an effort to help broker a deal.

It has also affected productions in the UK, with filming paused on upcoming films including a Formula 1 feature film starring Brad Pitt and Deadpool 3, and on the musical film Wicked.

British acting union Equity held a solidarity rally in Leicester Square, in central London, which was attended by stars including Brian Cox, Andy Serkis, Simon Pegg, Hayley Atwell, and Imelda Staunton.
Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) said Sunday that if Hunter Biden committed crimes, he should face appropriate charges and underscored his faith in the Department of Justice and its independence.

If Hunter Biden has committed crimes, he should be charged with them, Goldman said in an interview on CNNs State of the Union.

Im a Democrat saying that, Goldman continued. You dont hear any currently elected Republican saying that if Donald Trump committed crimes, he should be charged with them and held accountable. And thats a critical distinction that the public needs to understand.

Goldman would not say whether he agrees with Attorney General Merrick Garlands assessment that it was in the public interest to appoint David Weiss as special counsel overseeing the Hunter Biden investigation.

I defer to the attorney generals determination on this, Goldman said.

Goldman stressed that the fact that Weiss was appointed special counsel when he made the request shows the independent nature of the Justice Department.

This is just another reflection of the true independence of this Department of Justice. A Trump-appointed U.S. attorney is investigating the presidents son. That is pretty remarkable. And you dont hear from the other side a respect for the fact that Joe Biden has stayed out of this investigation, he said.

Garland appointed Weiss as special counsel after a plea agreement fell apart in Hunter Bidens case on charges related to gun possession and failure to pay income taxes.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio.) said Sunday that Congress should consider implementing a travel ban on Iran.

During an appearance on CBSs Face The Nation, Turner, who is the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, told moderator Margaret Brennan that he would support a broader diplomatic deal and negotiations between the U.S. and Iran that would eventually freeze progress in Irans nuclear program.

In 2018, then-President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the nuclear deal Iran reached with the P5+1 and European Union in 2015.

But the terms of the deal are absolutely important, because you know, last time we had an insufficient inspection regime, we had terms that were critical that expired, Turner told Brennan.

In this instance, they appear to be careening toward a deal that would be informal, not subject to congressional oversight, because we wouldnt know all the terms, Turner added, noting that lawmakers dont want a secret deal with Iran.

When Brennan asked if Congress should implement a travel ban to Iran, Turner replied that it should be under consideration.

I think its, its  it should be certainly considered, Turner said. I think the  I know youre going to have coming up, one of the family members of one of the detainees, and I think her message is incredibly important; people should not be going to Iran.

The Biden administration reached a tentative agreement with Iran last week that would see the release of five detained Americans and an unknown number of Iran prisoners in the U.S.

When asked about the tentative agreement, Turner said that lawmakers want the administration to work diligently to bring American home  Americans home, whether Iran or Russia or elsewhere, and our hearts certainly go out to them.

But in this instance, the administration is signaling that this is part of a broader deal concerning Irans enrichment program, and if that becomes a secret deal, then thats obviously a great concern to Congress, Turner said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Hunter Bidens lawyers said in a court filing Sunday that they believe their deal with the Justice Department to resolve a felony gun charge is still valid and binding, though its unclear if the newly appointed special counsel agrees with their interpretation.

The filing comes two days after David Weiss, the Trump-appointed US attorney investigating the presidents son, was granted special counsel status following a breakdown in plea talks to resolve tax and gun charges. By naming Weiss as a special counsel, Attorney General Merrick Garland gave him more powers than a typical US attorney and further independence from the Justice Department as he embarks on an unprecedented potential trial against the son of the sitting president, and as Republicans claim the department is politicized.

The parties had previously struck two deals amid a sprawling Justice Department investigation: A plea agreement where Biden would plead guilty to two federal tax misdemeanors, and a diversion agreement where prosecutors would drop a felony gun charge in two years if he passed drug tests and stayed out of legal trouble.

The probe had appeared to reach its conclusion when a plea deal was announced in June. But the deal dramatically unraveled in court last month under scrutiny from the federal judge overseeing the case, and the resumed negotiations collapsed last week.

Lawyers for Biden argued in the filing Sunday that Weiss decided on Friday to renege on the previously agreed-upon Plea Agreement, referring to the tax deal, after negotiations fell apart earlier in the week.

But in their view, the gun deal was fully executed when it was signed by both parties and presented to a federal judge at a court hearing last month in Delaware. A copy of the deal that was previously posted to the docket was signed by Biden, his attorney Chris Clark and federal prosecutor Leo Wise  but the line for a signature from a probation officer is blank.

The parties have a valid and binding bilateral Diversion Agreement, Hunter Bidens lawyers wrote to the judge, referring to the gun deal, and adding that their client intends to abide by the terms of the Diversion Agreement.

They also said that it was the prosecutors  not them  who crafted the two intertwining agreements that District Judge Maryellen Noreika balked at last months court hearing, which ended after she said she wasnt ready to accept the deals.

Earlier Sunday, a lawyer for Biden said a trial is not inevitable, days after the Trump-appointed US attorney investigating the presidents son was granted special counsel status following a breakdown in plea talks to resolve tax and gun charges.

We were trying to avoid one all along and so were the prosecutors who came forward to us and were the ones to say: Can there be a resolution short of a prosecution? So they wanted it and maybe they still do want it, Abbe Lowell, Bidens attorney, told CBS Face the Nation on Sunday.

Lowell defended Hunter Bidens defense attorneys, placing the blame on federal prosecutors for the deal falling through. What group of experienced defense lawyers would allow their client to plead guilty to a misdemeanor on a Monday, keeping in mind that they knew that there could be a felony charge on a Wednesday? That wouldnt happen, he said.

Lowell described President Joe Biden as nothing other than a loving father, and said the evidence to indict the president in his sons potential crimes doesnt exist.

The gun charge revolves around a firearm that Hunter Biden purchased in 2018  he lied on a federal form when he swore that he was not using, and was not addicted to, illegal drugs. The tax offenses stem from Hunter Biden repeatedly missing IRS deadlines to pay his taxes on time, though he eventually paid roughly $2 million to settle his debts, along with penalties and interest.

Political spin

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and top Republicans on Capitol Hill were swift to criticize Garlands decision to grant Weiss special counsel status and vowed to continue their own investigations.

New York Rep. Dan Goldman, a member of the Democratic Oversight Committee, told CNNs Jake Tapper on State of the Union Sunday that if Hunter Biden has committed crimes, he should be charged with them. Im a Democrat saying that.

You dont hear any currently elected Republican saying that, if Donald Trump committed crimes, he should be charged with them and held accountable. And thats a critical distinction that the public needs to understand, he added.

And this is just another reflection of the true independence of this Department of Justice. A Trump-appointed U.S. attorney is investigating the presidents son. That is pretty remarkable. And you dont hear from the other side a respect for the fact that Joe Biden has stayed out of this investigation, Goldman said.

Republican presidential candidate Will Hurd, a former Texas congressman, told Tapper in a separate interview on State of the Union that the immediate family of a president should not be allowed to be lobbyists or consultants when their father or their husband is the president of the United States.

This story has been updated with additional information.

CNNs Hannah Rabinowitz and Devan Cole contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
A teenager is missing and presumed dead and six others are injured after a boat ran aground in northwest Austin on Sunday night, authorities said.

The boat, which had 7 people on it, ran aground off Lake Austin just after 6:10 p.m. about 13 miles northwest of downtown Austin, according to tweets from the Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services.

By shortly after 7 p.m. local time, the search for the missing teen had transitioned from a rescue to recovery effort, a tweet from the agency said, adding that the event had been declared a level-5 mass casualty incident, referring to the number of victims and the scale of resources required to treat them.

The missing teenager is now being presumed dead, a spokesperson from the Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services confirmed.

Ken Campbell, assistant chief of the CE-Bar Fire Department, told NBC affiliate KXAN of Austin that the incident unfolded after a boat went over the wake of another boat, lost control and hit the bank of the lake, causing at least one person to be ejected from the vessel. It is unclear if the ejected person was the missing teen.

Austin-Travis County EMS respond to an incident on Lake Austin after a boat ran aground in Austin, Texas, on Aug. 13, 2023. (KXAN)

In addition to the missing teen, two passengers were transported to hospitals with serious injuries. Two others were transported with potentially serious injuries, and two refused transport to hospitals, according to the agency. Three of the injured patients were transported to a hospital just south of downtown, and one was taken by helicopter to another a few miles north, according to the agency.

Representatives for the hospitals could not immediately be reached Monday morning.

Several agencies  including Austin Police and "multiple fire departments"  responded to the incident, which the emergency medical services agency said occurred in a remote area that was difficult to access.

A spokesperson for Austin Emergency Medical Services said they were not planning to release more information about the victims.

In a separate incident, one adult died and five people sustained non-life threatening injuries following a collision between a boat and jet ski that occurred earlier Sunday afternoon on Lake Travis, a reservoir northwest of Lake Austin, according to information from the agency. The deceased victim was pronounced dead on the scene "after extensive resuscitative efforts."

More information on the victims in that incident was not available.
Five people have died, including a teen, following a house explosion in Pennsylvania that caused multiple injuries and several house fires, officials told NBC News.

At approximately 10:23 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 12, police said officers received a call reporting a house explosion around Rustic Ridge Drive and Brookside Drive in Plum Borough, about 20 miles outside Pittsburgh, according to a update posted on Allegheny County Government's Facebook page.

Upon arriving at the scene, authorities found people trapped under debris and reported that it appeared that one house had exploded while two others were "engulfed in fire," police said.

Emergency crews respond to an explosion in Plum, Pa., on Aug. 12, 2023. (WPXI)

According to authorities, at least three "structures" were destroyed with at least a dozen houses damaged, including windows blown out.

Police said at least three people were taken to area hospitals with two in stable condition, both of whom have since been released. The third person remained in critical condition as of Saturday night.

On Saturday, People's Gas had shut off gas service at 50 homes in the neighborhood "as a precaution," saying they could not estimate when service would be restored.

As of Saturday night, crews and investigators paused efforts, citing weather and "safety concerns," and said they plan to resume Sunday, Aug. 13.

Police noted that the scene remains active and people are advised to stay away from the area unless they live there. Residents who need a place to stay were being directed to Renton Volunteer Fire Department.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
(Reuters) - A Federal court of Australia on Monday ordered Dell Technologies' local unit to pay a A$10 million ($6.46 million) in penalties for misleading customers about the discounted prices of its computer monitors.

The legal action was brought by the country's competition regulators, where Dell Australia admitted that it has misled customers about the price of selection of monitors available to 'bundle', the regulator said in a statement.

($1 = 1.5480 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Navya Mittal in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich)
Russia's defense ministry said Sunday (August 13) one of its warships fired warning shots and boarded the cargo ship Sukru Okan, which it claimed was headed to Ukraine's Black Sea port of Izmail, weeks after it pulled out of the Black Sea Grain Initiative brokered by Turkey and the United Nations (UN).

In a statement, Russian military officials said its patrol ship Vasily Bykov fired the shots after the captain of the Sukru Okan failed to respond to a request to stop for an inspection.

The Kremlin previously warned that any ships headed to Ukraine would be treated as potentially carrying weapons, while Kyiv made similar threats to ships traveling to Russian ports, CNN reported.

However, marine traffic websites currently showed the vessel's destination was the Romanian port of Sulina, which was close to Izmail.

Ukrainian officials did not comment on whether or not the ship was headed for Ismail or any Ukrainian port, but it condemned what it called Russia's "provocative actions."

Natalia Humeniuk, the spokesperson for Ukraine's southern military command, also stressed other official sources had not confirmed the Russian statement.

Read Also: 'Partial Success': Ukraine Announces Small But Significant Gains in Zaporizhzhia

A Short Reprieve to Escape

This week, Ukraine announced that it would open up a temporary humanitarian corridor for ships to sail to and from its ports and has opened up registration for merchant vessels to use the sea route.

Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk said the temporary routes aimed to address the global food security crisis which would allow shipowners and companies to take back their merchant vessels "that are in humanitarian captivity due to the constant threats of Russians at sea."

Pletenchuk added ship owners and captains have been warned of the existing danger and said Ukrainian forces would ensure the security of the merchant ships sailing through the corridors, with the Navy "doing everything we can to ensure security."

However, it remains unclear when ships might use the route given the potential dangers there.

Related Article: Poland Arrests Two Russians for Allegedly Spreading Wagner Propaganda as Tensions Soar Near Border
By Jonathan Saul

LONDON (Reuters) - Merchant ships remained backed up in lanes around the Black Sea on Monday as ports struggled to clear backlogs amid growing unease among insurers and shipping companies a day after a Russian warship fired warning shots at a cargo vessel.

Russia said its Vasily Bykov patrol ship on Sunday fired on the Palau-flagged Sukru Okan vessel after the ship's captain failed to respond to a request to halt for an inspection. After an inspection, the vessel continued its journey towards the Ukrainian port of Izmail along the Danube river, Russia said.

Kviv on Monday condemned what it called "provocative" Russian actions and called for decisive countermeasures by the international community.

Insurance industry sources said rates for additional war risk premiums remained stable on Monday, although there was a possibility of a rise if a ship was damaged or sunk.

The cost of a Black Sea war risk premium, which is typically renewed every seven days and is in addition to annual insurance expenses, was estimated at tens of thousands of dollars per ship for the voyage.

At least 30 ships had dropped anchor around Musura Bay in the Black Sea, which leads into a channel that links up with Izmail further along the waterway, tracking data from analytics company MarineTraffic showed on Monday.

There were at least 20 ships anchored leading up to Izmail. In addition, there were at least 35 commercial ships waiting close to the Romanian port of Constanta, 15 more than last week, the MarineTraffic data showed.

Many of the vessels had reported their destination as Romanian ports. Romania on Monday said that it aimed to double the monthly transit capacity of Ukrainian grain to Constanta to 4 million tonnes in the coming months.

Sunday's incident cast a pall over plans announced by Ukraine last week for a "humanitarian corridor" in the Black Sea to release cargo ships trapped in Ukraine's ports since the outbreak of war.

There are an estimated 60 vessels still stuck inside Ukrainian ports including Odesa, one of three terminals that were part of UN backed grain initiative (BSGI) that Moscow exited.

"The security guarantees given to shipping by both sides under the BSGI are no longer in effect which means that the Ukrainian Black Sea ports are effectively blockaded and out of use for commercial vessels," Norwegian ship insurer Gard said in an advisory note last week, adding that Ukrainian sea ports in the northwestern area were no longer "safe" ports contractually.

Moscow says it will return to the grain deal only if it receives better terms for its own exports of food and fertiliser. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, co-sponsor of the grain deal alongside the U.N., says he hopes to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to rejoin it at talks this month.

The Joseph Schulte was among vessels that remained stuck in Odesa.

"We continue to do everything in our power to enable the vessel to move, despite permits and the many variables involved," a spokesperson with Schulte Group, the parent of the vessel's German based manager BSM, told Reuters on Monday. "The situation remains complex."

(Reporting by Jonathan Saul; Editing by Conor Humphries)
TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan will not be afraid nor back down in the face of authoritarian threats, the island's vice president told supporters on a U.S. visit that Beijing has condemned, while reiterating a willingness to talk to China.

William Lai, also frontrunner to be Taiwan's next president at January elections, is in the United States on what is officially a transit stop on his way to Paraguay for the inauguration of its new president. Paraguay is one of only 13 countries to maintain formal ties with the Chinese-claimed island.

Taiwan and the United States both say the stopovers, including one in San Francisco on the way back, are routine, but China has denounced them and called Lai a separatist "troublemaker".

Lai told a supporters lunch in New York on Sunday that "if Taiwan is safe, the world is safe, if the Taiwan Strait is peaceful, then the world is peaceful", according to Taiwan's presidential office.

"No matter how great the threat of authoritarianism is to Taiwan, we absolutely will not be scared nor cower, we will uphold the values of democracy and freedom," he said.

China considers Taiwan its most important diplomatic issue, and is a constant source of friction between Beijing and Washington, which is the island's most important international backer and arms supplier.

China has a particular dislike of Lai, who has previously described himself as a "practical worker for Taiwan independence", a red line for Beijing which has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control.

WILLING TO TALK

Lai, who has pledged to maintain peace and the status quo, reiterated in New York that on the basic principle of dignity and parity he was "very willing" to talk to China and seek peace and stability.

But Lai said he will protect Taiwan's sovereignty, that only Taiwan's people can decide their future and that the Republic of China - Taiwan's formal name - and the People's Republic of China are "not subordinate to each other".

Lai's speech was attended by Ingrid Larson, managing director of the American Institute in Taiwan, a U.S. government-run non-profit that carries out unofficial relations with Taiwan.

Both Taipei and Washington are aiming for the U.S. stopovers to be low-key, and have called on China not to take any provocative action in response.

Still, Taiwanese officials say China is likely to launch military drills this week near Taiwan, using Lai's U.S. stopovers as a pretext to intimidate voters ahead of a next year's election and make them "fear war".

On Monday, the Eastern Theatre Command of China's People's Liberation Army, which has responsibility for the area around Taiwan, showed pictures on its WeChat account of troops practicing storming a beach, though did not give the location, timing or specifically mention Taiwan.

It said the soldiers guided armoured vehicles "to the enemy frontline positions and launched a fierce attack".

China carried out war games around Taiwan in April after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen returned from California where she met U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy while also on a transit on her way back from Central America.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Lincoln Feast)
Taiwanese vice president William Lai visited New York and San Francisco on the weekend

China has called Taiwan's vice president William Lai a "troublemaker" for his ongoing visit to the US.

Mr Lai, a frontrunner in Taiwan's upcoming presidential election, visited the US on his way to Paraguay.

Beijing, which considers Taiwan a breakaway province, has increasingly voiced its disapproval of meetings between US and Taiwanese lawmakers.

China on Sunday accused Washington of engaging Taiwan in political activities under the guise of a stopover.

Mr Lai, a candidate of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was in New York over the weekend. He gave a speech at an informal gathering, pledging to protect Taiwan's sovereignty in the face of "authoritarianism". He is scheduled to also stop in San Francisco on his way back to Taiwan later this week.

The visit from the 63-year-old former doctor, who has previously called himself a "pragmatic worker for Taiwanese independence", comes at a low point in US-China relations. Taiwan has emerged as the biggest flashpoint between the two countries.

Taipei has said Beijing is most likely to conduct military drills near the island this week.

It's "very likely" within days of Mr Lai's return, said David Gitter, a non-resident fellow at the National Bureau of Asian Research.

He said it was a "a boundary that Beijing once rarely crossed but has done so with increased frequency since [then US House Speaker Nancy] Pelosi's trip last year".

Her visit in August 2022 saw China launch its largest ever military exercises in the waters around Taiwan. Then in April this year, Beijing again responded with drills to a meeting between Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California.

Ms Tsai's earlier visits to the US - in 2015 and 2020, both of which were months before she was elected president - also led to a show of military might on the part of Beijing.

The ostensible reason for Mr Lai's visit is that he's representing President Tsai at the swearing-in ceremony for Paraguay's newly elected president, Santiago Pena. Paraguay is one of only 13 countries that continues to maintain formal ties with Taiwan

But it's also the moment when Mr Lai steps out on to the international stage, ahead of a crucial election.

China, which views Mr Lai as a Taiwan independence advocate, probably does not want him to win the election next year. However, it's widely believed that Beijing's hard-line tactics against President Tsai ahead of the 2020 election backfired, helping her to secure re-election.

This time China has a difficult path to tread. While it wants to show its disapproval, it is keen to do so without boosting Mr Lai's image and his message. Instead, analysts say, it may turn up the volume on military intrusions around Taiwan.

But the average number of intrusions per week is already higher compared to last year. And that rate is being sustained by Beijing, which has made so-called "grey zone warfare" - the use of tactics that fall short of qualifying as armed conflict - the new normal, wearing down Taiwan's defences, exhausting its personnel and wearing out its aircraft.

Some analysts have warned that Mr Lai's remarks may further escalate tensions between Washington and Taipei.

Mr Lai said that only Taiwan's people can decide their future, and that Taiwan and China are "not subordinate to each other". He also stressed that he was "very willing" to talk to China to seek peace and stability - common rhetoric in the run-up to the election, as candidates look to gather support without angering Beijing.

Though the US severed formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1979, it has remained a close ally, selling billions of dollars worth of arms under the Taiwan Relations Act, which states that the US must provide the island with the means to defend itself.

Taiwan regards itself as distinct from mainland China, with its own laws and a democratically elected government. But Beijing, especially under Xi Jinping, has vowed to take the island, by force if necessary.
LAS VEGAS  Chinas hackers have been positioning themselves to conduct destructive cyberattacks on U.S. critical infrastructure, a top U.S. cyber official warned Saturday.

Speaking at a panel at the Def Con hacker conference in Las Vegas, Jen Easterly, the director of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency, said, I hope that people are taking seriously a pretty stark warning about the potential for China to use their very formidable capabilities in the event of a conflict in the Taiwan straits to go after our critical infrastructure.

Such attacks would reflect a significant pivot from the type of cyberactivity historically attributed to China, which for years has largely consisted of a barrage of espionage and theft of data but not destructive attacks designed to harm systems.

Chinese officials have denied reports of state-sponsored hacking and say that China is itself a frequent victim of cyberattacks, alleging that the U.S. is the champion of hacking. In May, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning referred to hacking reports as a collective disinformation campaign by the U.S. and its allies.

Easterlys comments mirrored several other alarms raised this year about Chinas potential to conduct destructive cyberattacks. In May, Microsoft warned that hackers affiliated with the Chinese government were targeting critical U.S. infrastructure.

In its most recent Annual Threat Assessment, published in February, the national intelligence directors office said that China almost certainly is capable of launching cyber attacks that could disrupt critical infrastructure services within the United States, including against oil and gas pipelines, and rail systems.

Last month, The New York Times reported that the U.S. was more actively hunting for Chinese hackers in critical infrastructure than previously had been known.

China would almost certainly would consider undertaking aggressive cyber operations against U.S. homeland critical infrastructure and military assets worldwide if it believed conflict with the U.S. was imminent, the report said.

The hackers affiliated with campaigns targeting U.S. infrastructure are particularly adept at living off the land, where they use victims' existing computer processes rather than introducing new malicious software, a practice that makes them harder to detect, Easterly said.

David Pekoske, the director of the Transportation Security Administration, which oversees the security of U.S. pipelines, ports, railways and aviation, said at the panel that critical infrastructure operators need to prepare for such cyberattacks immediately not to be caught off guard in the future.

Time is not our friend in this quest. We need to move very, very quickly. Thats why weve moved so quickly and so have our industry partners," Pekoske said. "We need to be ready now."
Former President Donald Trump seized the spotlight at the Iowa State Fair this weekend, swooping overhead in his private plane just as his chief Republican rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, was flipping pork chops and greeting potential GOP caucus-goers.

The 2024 Republican presidential race played out in close quarters as Trump and DeSantis joined the crowd of thousands.

For DeSantis, the day was filled with the traditions that have made the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines a quintessential stop on the presidential campaign trail since the Democratic Party moved the state to the first position in its nominating calendar in 1972 and Republicans made the same shift four years later. (Democrats this year are shaking up the order of states for their nominating contest.)

Trump flouted those traditions  but drew a massive crowd anyway, underscoring the support the former president retains with the GOP base even as he faces what could be his fourth indictment in the coming days. Trumps legal troubles have dominated the Republican primary for months, with the former president casting his indictments as politically motivated and frequently utilizing them in fundraising pitches.

Trump had traveled to Iowa with an entourage largely designed to troll DeSantis. It was made up of members of Congress from Florida who have endorsed Trump over their states governor: Reps. Gus Bilirakis, Byron Donalds, Matt Gaetz, Carlos Gimenez, Brian Mast, Cory Mills, Anna Paulina Luna, Greg Steube and Mike Waltz.

Flyers that seemed to jab at DeSantis record on agriculture were passed around the fairgrounds while the Florida governor grilled pork chops on Saturday. Iowa pork is delicious & provides nearly 1 in 10 working Iowans a job, but Ron DeSantis would be an utter catastrophe for Iowa, the flyer said.

It was unclear if paid staffers or volunteers with the Trump campaign were passing out the fliers. At least one person who approached CNN had a MAGA hat on and the flyer said it was paid for by Donald J. Trump for President 2024, INC.

Upon arriving at the fair, Trump greeted supporters as he moved through the crowd. The former president made his way to the famous pork chop on a stick stand while onlookers chanted USA.

Unlike DeSantis, Trump did not grill pork chops himself. He moved to a riser, where he was greeted with cheers from a crowd of supporters alongside the pro-Trump members of Congress from Florida. The former president launched into a mini-stump speech, boasting about his support from Iowa over the years.

Were going to take care of Iowa, he told the crowd. You have to stay strong; we have bad, bad people from within.

DeSantis, meanwhile, saw praise and hecklers as he walked through the fairgrounds, which he described as a sign of strength.

They know that we will beat Biden and that we will be able to turn this country around, and they do not want that, DeSantis told CNN. When asked if he could bring people who dont like him over to his side, DeSantis added that average Americans are open to a new direction.

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Photograph: Matt York/AP

The heat expert leading efforts to make Americas hottest city more bearable insists that Phoenix could eventually eradicate heat deaths  despite Julys record-breaking death toll.

As many as 300 people may have died during the hottest ever month on record as the temperature in Phoenix topped 110F (43C) for 31 consecutive days. Heat deaths in the city have more than quadrupled in the past decade, and 2023 is on track to be another record breaking year as Phoenix braces itself for the next spell of 110F plus temperatures forecast to hit by Monday. Despite this, David Hondula, director of the citys heat response and mitigation team, insists that every heat death can be prevented.

Related: A very American death: how Caleb Blair lost his life in the Phoenix heat

We can get to zero deaths with the right resources  obviously no city yet anywhere in the world has yet demonstrated what the right mix of resources looks like for zero heat-related deaths, but [were] at the forefront of pursuing them, Hondula said.

Phoenix, the capital of Arizona and Americas fifth-largest city with 1.6 million people, is accustomed to a hot desert climate, but temperatures are rising due to global heating  made worse by decades of unchecked urban development that created a sprawling heat island.

Hondula was appointed as the Phoenix heat tsar in the fall of 2021 to coordinate the citys efforts to mitigate and adapt to the extreme heat that is killing and injuring more and more people every year.

July was the hottest ever month globally; Phoenix, meanwhile, had the hottest month ever recorded in a US city. Temperatures hit 115F on 17 days, breaking the previous record of six days set in 2020, according to the National Weather Service in Phoenix.

On Friday, Arizonas governor, Katie Hobbs, declared a statewide heat emergency and signed an executive order to better coordinate government efforts and open two new cooling centres on the grounds of the state capital amid growing criticism of the rising death-toll.

So far this year, 345 suspected heat deaths are under investigation by the Maricopa county medical examiner  a 20% increase compared to the same period last year  which itself was the worst year on record. Overall, 911 calls for heat-related emergencies are up 30% so far this year, but last month paramedic call-outs doubled and hospitals reporting a surge in contact burns requiring specialist treatment.

Julys prolonged extreme heatwave would have been virtually impossible without the climate crisis, and climate scientists warn that failing to stop burning fossil fuels will make such hot  or even hotter  spells increasingly likely. According to Andrew Pershing, vice-president for science at Climate Central, the climate signal was strongest at night, as the temperature failed to drop below 90F for 16 consecutive days  including one night when the low was 97F.

The climate crisis is making the American south-west increasingly inhospitable but Hondula says that it is possible to make the city  and region  more livable.

There is no reason that the Phoenix of the future cant be more comfortable for everyone, even if the temperature increases. Im thinking about outdoors, access to shade and about peoples experiences indoors  which for many in the population accounts for a majority of their time.

Hondulas team is leading the citys urban forestry and built shade program, as well as coordinating outreach efforts with a growing bank of volunteers to get the word out about the network of cooling centers. The team has expanded to six full-time staff, and funding for the tree shade program is about to double.

But, reducing heat-related illness and deaths  and making the city more comfortable for all its residents  is way beyond the scope of a single team or agency. Keeping people safe will require more affordable housing and temporary shelters, better addiction services, and workplace protections to limit heat exposure, as well as financial aid for those struggling to afford to keep their homes cool.

Its not just that the city has never had a heat office. The city has never had a comprehensive coordinated response to heat, and I am increasingly recognizing that this needs to be nurtured and worked on. Simply having the programs that the heat office leads can only be part of the portfolio. We need to be the drivers of a change in approach and tactic across the whole organization. Its really through the big departments [health, housing, transit] with the big budgets, that well be able to accelerate impact at scale.

As heath deaths have risen over the past, so has drug use. In 2022, 54% of heat deaths involved drugs compared to 11% a decade ago.

Heat deaths are most common among people experiencing homelessness, and last year accounted for 56% of the death toll compared to 18% in 2012. Four out of five deaths occurred outdoors last year. The unsheltered population is rising, and despite an increase in shelters, thousands of people are sleeping in tents, shop doorways, parks and parking lots where the ambient temperature is much much higher than the record-breaking air temps  especially at night when winds are weak, and the extra heat absorbed by the asphalt and concrete structures during the day is re-radiated into the atmosphere.

The multifaceted nature of the challenge for the unsheltered community remains at the top of mind. Its not like theres one singular answer for all the different circumstances that folks are in  it is challenging, said Hondula.

For years, the mainstay of the citys heat relief response has been a network of city and volunteer run cooling centres  air conditioned halls, libraries and other facilities, which are popular though there is little empirical evidence on their impact.

Most operate during office hours, none are open overnight, and some exclude people with pets or luggage or those who cant keep awake  which are often signs someone is homelessness. Last month, the city deployed a cooling bus to the downtown area where many of the unsheltered people are concentrated, as part of the emergency response to the unprecedented heat  which activists have criticised as inadequate.

Hundreds of people have used the cooling bus, but the death toll continues to rise  and ultimately reducing deaths is in what the heat team will be judged on. Hondula says he is both disappointed and motivated by the deaths, and that its too soon to know which services and programs are effective  and have perhaps prevented some deaths and illness.

The Zone, Phoenixs largest homeless encampment, is seen in July amid a record heatwave. Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images

Clearly, if youre just looking out the door, there are a lot of people without regular access to shelter in a very dangerously hot environment. So the public health impact [the deaths and illness] cant be a total surprise. We are not close to the end vision of where we would be for a truly coordinated and comprehensive response program.

A frustrating part of the experience so far is that we havent really cracked the nut on evaluation  Im not in a position yet to be able to say the 1,002 volunteer hours that have gone into outreach so far this year has translated into less deaths  but we see the individual examples, we recollect the anecdotes but how to compile them all together, remains a little bit elusive, he added.

The hotter nights are particularly alarming for public health experts because heat is cumulative, and the body cannot start to properly recover until the temperature drops below 80F.

Yet 80% of 911 heat-related calls are made between 9am to 6pm. The team is undertaking case analysis to figure out under whether there are simply more heat emergencies or Phoenicians are better at identifying and calling help for heat stroke  and what role hot nights contribute to daytime emergencies.

Yes, there is the [heat response] plan but we have a lot of work to do in building out the tactical operational details so we do a better job of matching programs and services to what the need is in the community  clearly, the city, county, state and region are all not fully effective yet in meeting that need.
A long exposure photo shows meteor streaks crossing the night sky over the stone dolls in Kuklica, Republic of North Macedonia

The annual Perseid meteor shower has lit up skies across the world to the delight of those hoping to catch a glimpse of a shooting star.

The phenomenon brings up to 100 meteors an hour, as the Earth slams into the debris left behind from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle.

As the debris hits the Earth's atmosphere it burns up, resulting in the bright flashes known as shooting stars, which can be seen with the naked eye.

The natural display happens at a similar time in July and August each year, and this year peaked between Saturday night and the early hours of Sunday.

Heavy cloud over much of the UK meant many stargazers were disappointed, although some sightings were possible over Yorkshire, north-east England and parts of southern Scotland.

Looking ahead to the chances of spotting a shooting star over the coming days, BBC weather forecaster Billy Payne said many should be able to get a glimpse despite less than perfect conditions.

"Tonight, we'll see cloud and rain spreading across much of England and Wales, so viewing opportunities will be limited," he said.

"East Anglia and the south-east and the far north of England may see some breaks for a time before cloud increases later.

"Scotland and Northern Ireland will have a few clear spells overnight but even here there will be some areas of cloud around.

"Tomorrow night should offer better conditions as cloud and rain gives way to clearer skies for many.

"Rain may drag its heels across northern England though, while the far north and west are likely to see areas of cloud come and go, particularly towards coasts and hills."

A meteor was spotted in front of the Sphinx Door at the ancient city of Hattusa, in Turkey

Two meteors streaked across the night sky above Leeberg hill in Grossmugl, Austria

The meteors - which can be as small as a grain of sand or as big as a pea - hit the Earth's atmosphere at speeds of 134,000 mph (215,000 km/h). The blazing debris does not pose any danger to us on Earth.

It is considered one of the best astronomical events because it produces bright meteors and is one of the most active.

This beautiful shot catches a shooting star and the lighthouse of the island of Lastovo in Croatia

Sky watchers on the same island in Croatia brought out a telescope hoping to catch sight of a meteor

This year, Nasa's All Sky Fireball Network, which observes meteors using a network of cameras, detected the first Perseid meteor on 26 July.

A meteor streaks in the night sky during annual Perseid meteor shower at Shebenik National Park, in Fushe Stude, Albania.

It is called a "Perseid" meteor shower because the meteors appear to originate from the constellation of Perseus - named after a figure from Greek mythology.

The Milky Way can be seen behind a Perseid meteor in this photo taken in Cantabria in Spain

A meteor can be seen during the annual Perseid meteor shower in Ronda, Spain

Callum White said he spent Saturday night in the Wye Valley for the Perseid meteor shower.

"I spent three hours looking out over the River Wye and although the cloud rolled in and out throughout, I saw quite a few meteors and the camera captured even more - they have all been combined to produce this photo."

All pictures subject to copyright.

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A raid on the small-town Kansas newspaper and the home of its publisher has been widely derided by press freedom advocates (Google)

The entire five-member police department of a small town in Kansas raided the office of a local newspaper and the home of its publisher, seizing computers, cell phones and other reporting materials and effectively shutting down publication.

The weekly newspapers 98-year-old co-owner  apparently overwhelmed by the incident  collapsed and died the following day, according to the Marion County Record.

Publisher Eric Meyer said the Marion Police Departments raid on 11 August took everything we have.

The incident is likely to cast a chilling effect on the newspapers abilities to publish and for members of the public to speak with its reporters, he told the Kansas Reflector.

Based on the reporting so far, the police raid of the Marion County Record on Friday appears to have violated federal law, the First Amendment, and basic human decency, according to a statement from Seth Stern, director of advocacy for Freedom of the Press Foundation.

Everyone involved should be ashamed of themselves, he added.

The raid followed a series of stories about a restaurant owner who kicked reporters out of a meeting with Republican US Rep Jake LaTurner. A source had contacted the newspaper about the restaurant owners drunken driving record, and reporters sought to verify the information through government records. Mr Meyer ultimately decided against publishing anything.

But the restaurant owner, Kari Newell, falsely claimed during a city council meeting that the newspaper had illegally obtained sensitive documents about her, which prompted the newspaper to publish a story that set the record straight.

The newspaper was also actively investigating Gideon Cody, Marions chief of police, following allegations that he had retired from a previous job to avoid punishment over accusations of sexual misconduct.

A warrant for the raid  performed by the entire police department and sheriffs deputies  was signed by Marion County District Court Magistrate Judge Laura Viar.

The two-page warrant stated that officers were allowed to seize phones, software, items that contained passwords, and all correspondence and documents pertaining to Kari Newell.

Chief Cody also reportedly dislocated one reporters finger after snatching her phone from her hand during the raid.

Officers also reportedly photographed personal financial statements and seized personal items  including a smart speaker used by the papers 98-year-old co-owner Joan Meyer to ask for assistance.

These are Hitler tactics and something has to be done, Ms Meyer said.

The following day, the Marion County Record reported that she was stressed beyond her limits and overwhelmed by hours of shock and grief following the raid of the newspapers office and her home.

Joan Meyer, otherwise in good health for her age, collapsed Saturday afternoon and died at her home, the newspaper reported. She had not been able to eat after police showed up at the door of her home Friday with a search warrant in hand. Neither was she able to sleep Friday night.

A statement from the Marion Police Department ackowledged that the federal Privacy Protection Act protects journalists from most searches of newsrooms unless they themselves are suspects in the offense that is the subject of the search.

The victim asks that we do all the law allows to ensure justice is served, the statement said.

The Independent has requested additional comment from chief Cody and the department.

Emily Bradbury, executive director of the Kansas Press Association, said that the incident is unprecedented in the state.

An attack on a newspaper office through an illegal search is not just an infringement on the rights of journalists but an assault on the very foundation of democracy and the publics right to know, she said in a statement. This cannot be allowed to stand.

On 13 August, a group of more than 30 news organisations and publishers including The New York Times and the Associated Press joined a statement from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press urging the Marion Police Department to return seized material, purge records that were accessed, and initiate a full independent and transparent review of the indicident.

Newsroom searches and seizures are among the most intrusive actions law enforcement can take with respect to the free press, and the most potentially suppressive of free speech by the press and the public, the statement said.

The Radio Television Digital News Association also is demanding an explanation from police.

Free expression advocacy organisation PEN America said such egregious attempts to interfere with news reporting cannot go unchecked in a democracy, and that the seizure of the newspapers equipment almost certainly violates federal law & puts the papers ability to publish the news in jeopardy.

In The Records own reporting of the incident, Mr Meyer condemned what he called police Gestapo tactics used to crush dissent.

We will be seeking the maximum sanctions possible under law, he added.

The Record is expected to file a federal lawsuit.

The Press Freedom Tracker has recorded at least 55 incidents targeting journalists First Amendment-protected activities within the last year.

Earlier this year, officials in Oklahoma were caught on tape fantasizing about killing journalists. Two journalists in North Carolina were recently found guilty of trespassing for reporting on the evictions of homeless people during a law enforcement sweep in Asheville.

The latest incident in Kansas appears to be the latest example of American law enforcement officers treating the press in a manner previously associated with authoritarian regimes, Mr Stern said.

The anti-press rhetoric thats become so pervasive in this country has become more than just talk and is creating a dangerous environment for journalists trying to do their jobs, he added.

This story was first published on 12 August and has been updated with developments
A group of women tailed Ron DeSantis to several campaign events this past week, causing disruptions and distractions as the second-place Republican candidate seeks to pick up traction in the early caucus state.

The group, B****es Get Stuff Done, showed up to at least two of the Florida governors events where they deployed various tactics aimed at preventing him from speaking to Republican primary voters. A website for the group states that its members are progressive Democratic women who, apparently in addition to trolling Republicans, provide resources to Democratic candidates.

Among the activists from the group who participated in the demonstrations this week was the groups founder and CEO, Heather Ryan.

Chants of pudding fingers erupted at one DeSantis campaign event where Ms Ryan and another member of the group arrived with megaphones.

Bit of a skirmish at DeSantis first stop of the day in Iowa. Two protesters here are drowning out his remarks shouting pudding fingers and someone supporting him is trying to get them to stop. pic.twitter.com/xEtmd2M3c9  Natalie Allison (@natalie_allison) August 11, 2023

At one point at the same event, a DeSantis supporter can be seen attempting to snatch a megaphone out of Heathers hands.

The moment the DeSantis supporter (staffer?) commits assault pic.twitter.com/MDvFKpN5cG  Michael McDonald (@ElectProject) August 11, 2023

The governor addressed the women briefly as they carried on, but according to Politico the event (a discussion with military veterans) seemed hurried along as the protesters attempted to drown him out.

People like that are whats holding this country back, Mr DeSantis said at one point, according to Politico.

At an event held at the week-long phenomenon that is the Iowa State Fair, the Florida governor found himself met by the women once more. There, he was joined by Iowas Governor Kim Reynolds onstage only to be drowned out by members of the group who blew whistles over the two Republicans as they spoke. Overhead, a chartered prop plane flew a banner urging the candidate to be likable.

DES MOINES, Iowa  Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis take the stage at the Iowa State Fair and are greeted by a noisy protest. A plane flies overhead carrying a banner that says BE LIKABLE, Ron! pic.twitter.com/LvxOJSkM7T  Stephanie Murray (@stephanie_murr) August 12, 2023

Mr DeSantis has put much of his campaigns focus into the state of Iowa, where he hopes for an upset victory over Donald Trump. The former presidents campaign has been combatting that effort with mockery and derision, even though Mr Trump himself lost the Iowa caucuses in 2016 to Ted Cruz.

The Florida governor has formed a close alliance with Ms Reynolds, Iowas popular GOP executive, but in polling has continued to trail Mr Trump by significant margins even as other Republicans close in on him from lower down in the standings.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Russia launched three waves of drones and missiles against the southern Ukraine port city of Odesa, officials said Monday, though the Ukrainian air force said it intercepted all the airborne weapons fired during the nighttime attacks.

Falling debris from the interceptions of 15 Shahed drones and eight Kalibr missiles damaged a residential building, a supermarket and a dormitory of an educational facility in the city, Odesa Gov. Oleh Kiper said.

Two employees of the supermarket were hospitalized, Kiper said. Video showed a huge blaze at the store during the night and, the next day, the large buildings charred and mangled wreckage.

Meanwhile, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, rebuked critics who suggest a 2 1/2-month-old counteroffensive aimed at dislodging Russian forces from occupied areas of Ukraine should be advancing more quickly.

The Ukrainian army does not intend to engage in conspicuous large-scale battles against the Russians as the operation moves forward, Podolyak said on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter.

The goal, he said, is a piecemeal and systematic destruction of the capabilities of the enemy army: its logistics, technical potential, officers and personnel.

Also Monday, the Dutch Defense Ministry and the British Royal Air Force said they scrambled fighter jets when Russian bombers were tracked flying toward the airspace of the Netherlands and off Scotland, respectively. The pair of Russian warplanes spotted in each location were flying in international airspace.

Britains air force said two Typhoon fighters were launched from RAF Lossiemouth to monitor the Russian bombers as they flew north of the Shetland Islands off Scotland. The Russian Tu-142 Bear-F and Tu-142 Bear-J, which are used for maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare, were in airspace that is part of NATOs northern air policing area, the U.K. Defense Ministry said.

Russian aircraft entering the U.K.s zone of international airspace can pose a hazard to other planes because they often dont communicate with air traffic control or broadcast their coordinates, the military said.

The Typhoons stayed with the Russian planes until they were out of the U.K.s area of interest, according to a statement from the lead pilot, who wasnt named.

Denmark's air force said its fighter jets identified the Russian bombers flying over the Baltic Sea toward the Netherlands. The Dutch Defense Ministry said it then scrambled two of its own F-16 fighters.

This doesnt happen often, but todays incident demonstrates the importance of rapid deployment, the ministry said. The F-16s are on standby 24 hours a day and can take off within minutes and intercept an unidentified aircraft.

British and German fighter jets were sent up in mid-March to intercept a Russian aircraft flying close to Estonian airspace, officials said at the time. The day before, the U.S. had said a Russian fighter jet struck a U.S. surveillance drone over the Black Sea.

Russia insisted its warplanes didnt hit the MQ-9 Reaper drone, arguing the drone had maneuvered sharply and crashed into the water. The back-to-back incidents raised concerns about aerial standoffs near Russia and Ukraine

The Kremlin's forces have pummeled Odesa since Russia last month broke off a wartime deal to protect Ukraines crucial grain exports. The Russian attacks appear aimed at facilities that transport grain and also at wrecking cherished Ukrainian historical sites.

The landmark agreement negotiated by the U.N. and Turkey had allowed grain to resume flowing from Ukraine to countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia and to help reduce the threat of hunger.

Russia has since declared wide areas of the Black Sea unsafe for shipping. On Sunday, a Russian warship fired warning shots at a cargo ship in the southwestern Black Sea.

Russias Defense Ministry said the ship was heading north to the Ukrainian Danube River port of Izmail. Russian forces fired shots from automatic small arms to force the ship to stop, the ministry said on Telegram.

Ukraines presidential office reported Monday that at least eight civilians were killed and 23 others were wounded in Ukraine between Sunday and Monday mornings.

In other developments Monday:

 Russias Defense Ministry said the country's air defense systems shot down an unspecified number of Ukrainian drones over the Belgorod region without causing damage or casualties. The region, which borders Ukraine, is a regular target of Ukrainian cross-border shelling and drone strikes. Neither Russia nor Ukraine's latest battlefield claims could be independently verified.

 The Norwegian government said Norway-based Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace will provide a newly developed anti-drone system to Ukraine in a deal worth 740 million kroner ($71 million). Russia has made frequent use of drones, especially Iranian-made Shahed drones, to pound Ukrainian territory.

___

Mike Corder in The Hague, Netherlands; Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark; Illia Novikov in Kyiv, Ukraine; Yuras Karmanau in Berlin and Brian Melley in London contributed.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Pakistani security forces reportedly thwarted an attempt on Chinese engineers in the southern region of Balochistan, killing two terrorists and sparing the Chinese nationals' lives.

Attack on Chinese Nationals in Pakistan

Two hours of fighting between police and terrorists had resulted in a clearing operation, according to Chakar Baloch, police superintendent of the Gwadar district where the incident occurred, as reported by CNN. Two of the security guards were hurt.

The Baloch Liberation Army, a violent separatist organization, sent a statement to CNN claiming responsibility for the assault.

The Pakistani military said that during an exchange of fire with security forces, at least two terrorists were killed, and three others were wounded. According to the military, a search operation has been initiated, and the area has been blocked off.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Monday, August 14, strongly condemning the incident and calling on the Pakistani government to bring those responsible to justice and protect the Chinese people.

Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated: "China will continue to work with Pakistan to prevent and respond to the threat of terrorism, and effectively protect the safety of Chinese personnel, institutions, and projects in Pakistan."

He added, "Any attempt to undermine [the] China-Pakistan friendship and the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor [CPEC] will never succeed."

Also Read: China Mudslide Death Toll Rises to 21 as 1,000 Rescue Workers Scramble to Find Other Missing People

Connecting China and Pakistan

The CPEC is a $60 billion project that would build a network of roads, railroads, pipelines, and power plants connecting China's western Xinjiang province with Pakistan's vital Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea. It is an important part of Chinese President Xi Jinping's trademark Belt and Road Initiative to improve infrastructure throughout the world.

Balochistan, a province of Pakistan, is the country's biggest yet has the fewest inhabitants. Gwadar is also home to the CPEC's significant Gwadar port.

Pakistan's closest ally and primary provider of military and economic aid is China. Beijing is worried about the safety of Chinese citizens and businesses in Pakistan because of a spate of recent terrorist strikes in that country.

A suicide blast near the Confucius Institute at the University of Karachi killed four people in April 2022; three Chinese instructors and their driver. The Baloch Liberation Army also claimed involvement, stating that the Confucius Institute was chosen as a "symbol of Chinese economic, cultural, and political expansionism."

Meanwhile, in July of 2021, engineers from China were attacked in northern Pakistan. Local police said that after a fiery explosion, a bus full of Chinese engineers crashed into a ditch, killing more than a dozen passengers.

Also Read: Pakistan Bans Former Prime Minister Imran Khan From Politics for Five Years Following Arrest Over Selling State Gifts

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
By Kanishka Singh and Jonathan Stempel

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - UBS agreed to pay $1.435 billion to settle U.S. charges that the Swiss lender misled investors into buying troubled mortgage securities, concluding an industrywide probe into a root cause of the 2008 global financial crisis.

The U.S. Department of Justice on Monday said it has collected more than $36 billion in civil fines from 19 banks, mortgage originators and rating agencies over the packaging, sale and rating of residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) leading up to the crisis.

Many of these securities carried triple-A ratings despite being backed by subprime and other risky mortgages, and investors suffered enormous losses as borrowers went into default and underwriting flaws became apparent.

The largest settlement, $16.65 billion, was reached in 2014 with Bank of America, which had bought mortgage specialist Countrywide Financial six years earlier.

UBS' settlement resolved Justice Department claims in a 2018 lawsuit filed in Brooklyn that the bank defrauded investors by knowingly making false and misleading statements about more than $41 billion in loans backing 40 RMBS issued in 2006 and 2007.

The bank had rejected a proposal that it pay nearly $2 billion to settle, a person familiar with the matter said at the time.

Credit Suisse, which UBS bought in June, reached a similar $5.28 billion settlement in 2017.

In a press release, UBS said it previously set aside reserves to cover the $1.43 billion payout. Monday's settlement should result in the lawsuit's dismissal.

UBS' payout is "a warning to other players in the financial markets who seek to unlawfully profit through fraud that we will hold them accountable no matter how long it takes," U.S. Attorney Breon Peace in Brooklyn said in a statement.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington and Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Mark Porter and Jonathan Oatis)
Four divers who went missing Sunday south of Cape Fear, North Carolina, have been rescued by the United States Coast Guard and the US Navy, officials said.

The divers were found around 12:45 a.m. Monday after a Coast Guard C-130 from Air Station Elizabeth City saw a strobe light in the water flashing an SOS signal, US Coast Guard 5th District spokesperson Jonathan Lally told CNN.

The C-130 crew launched a life raft from the back of the plane to the divers, and the Coast Guard coordinated with a ship to pick them up until a Coast Guard boat could get there, Lally said.

The divers were rescued about 46 miles southeast of the Cape Fear River in North Carolina, USCG Mid-Atlantic said. They had no reported injuries, Lally said.

The divers were brought back to the Coast Guard Station Oak Island around 6:10 a.m. They underwent a medical screening before they were reunited with friends and family, Lally said.

The search for the missing divers went into the night before the men were found. - US Coast Guard

The four men went diving from a recreational boat about 63 miles east of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, around noon Sunday, a release from the US Coast Guard said.

Rescue crews searched for them by boat and aircraft, with an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew, a HC-130 Hercules aircraft crew and several vessels involved in the search, the Coast Guard said.

The search took place about 50 miles south of Cape Fear, according to the Coast Guard. Cape Fear is near the southeastern part of North Carolina and is about 70 miles north of Myrtle Beach.

CNNs Amanda Jackson and Holly Yan contributed to this report.

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YEREVAN, AUGUST 14, ARMENPRESS. 11 people died Monday in a car crash involving a minibus and a truck on the Yerevan-Gyumri highway, authorities reported.

A Volkswagen passenger minibus and a ZIL truck collided around 00:30, August 14, near the village of Lanjik in Shirak Province, the Rescue Service said in a press release.

11 people died and 9 others were injured in the crash. 6 injured victims, aged 27, 34, 33, 38, 23 and 39 were taken to the Gyumri Medical Center. One of the victims was later taken to the Erebuni Medical Center in Yerevan.

The 33-year-old driver of the ZIL truck is among those injured.

UPDATES:

10:38 - Law enforcement agencies suspect reckless driving, criminal investigation underway

The Ministry of Healthcare reported that 5 of the 6 hospitalized victims are in intensive care. 1 of the victims is in critical condition.

Three other passengers were treated for minor injuries at the Astghik Medical Center and were discharged.
GYUMRI, AUGUST 14, ARMENPRESS. The minibus that collided with a truck on Monday in the Shirak Province killing 11 passengers was returning from Turkey after a tourism tour, a family member of a victim told ARMENPRESS.

The minibus is owned by Hamshen Tour. The travel agencys CEO, Gevorg Petrosyan, told ARMENPRESS that the Armenian tourists were returning from a tour from eastern Turkey where they traveled to visit historic Armenian settlements in what is now commonly referred to as Western Armenia.

Due to the closed land border, bus tours from Armenia to Turkey are operated via Georgia.
YEREVAN, AUGUST 14, ARMENPRESS. The man who was found dead in Lake Sevan on August 13 by Armenian rescuers was the Ukrainian Charge d'Affaires in Armenia, according to a report.

European Pravda newspaper reported that the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has confirmed the victims identity as Charge d'Affaires of Ukraine in Armenia Oleksandr Senchenko.

Armenian authorities earlier said that the man drowned while swimming in Lake Sevan.

On August 13, the Armenian Rescue Service reported that lifeguards patrolling the 2nd public shore of Lake Sevan lost visual contact with a swimmer who was 25 meters away from the shore. The lifeguards rushed to the section of the lake and recovered the swimmer from a depth of 1,5 meters. The latter was declared dead by ambulance crew.
YEREVAN, 14 AUGUST, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 14 August, USD exchange rate up by 0.61 drams to 386.61 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 1.22 drams to 423.07 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.11 drams to 3.81 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 0.08 drams to 490.96 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 25.72 drams to 23813.01 drams. Silver price down by 0.92 drams to 282.03 drams.
A simple reason for Jats being against the Centre is the governments indifference to the agitation for Jat reservations.

The dreadful news of communal oppression in Haryana, of which the bulldozer is the most visible symbol, was the Plan B of the slaughter planned by the saffron brigade. Ironically, it was a Hindu-Muslim combine which thwarted Plan A.

Much to the BJPs chagrin, an obstacle in their path is the evolving Jat-Muslim social cohesion. This almost organic Jat-Muslim evolution has to be disrupted to make way polarisation.

Efforts are on for a cleavage between Muslims and Jats. At Mandkola, a Jat village in Palwal, Bajrang Dal members addressed a gathering to exhort Hindus to consolidate against Muslims.

This divisive effort didnt go very far. A panchayat in the neighbouring Muslim village of Kot was almost entirely focused on keeping communal harmony at all costs. And its misleading to call it a Muslim village.

A Paal in the local system is a part of a Khap, a Jat or Meo group which maintains the traditional social hierarchy. At the panchayat in Kot, the Muslim Paals -- Shiklot, Magariya, Damrote -- and Hindu Paals -- Rawat, Saushet, Sahrawat -- jointly endorsed harmony at all costs. The infection from Kot and Mandkola will spread.

What must remain a puzzle to people who, over 40 years, have grown accustomed to Hindus and Muslims at loggerheads, is that the two major communities in a state under BJP rule have established a bond of peace.

One reason for this harmony in past centuries was the Meos unabashed contemplation of themselves as converts from Hinduism: they took pride in the culture derived from their Hindu ancestry.

A progressive Meo I met retained his name which clearly revealed his ancestry: Zafar Meo Yaduvanshi. In our caste, religion-ridden system, the integrated aspects of Meo culture havent found too many admirers.

The surge of Muslim reform movements had their impact. The reformist mullah found Meo culture too Hindu. Hindu society gradually under the spell of the Arya Samaj and later political Hinduism found the reformed Meos too Muslim. Buffeted from both sides, some Meos began to change.

I remember a distinguished Meo lawyer, Ramzan Chaudhry, making a clear admission: I was embarrassed my mother did Govardhan Puja. Despite all exertions for the Islamisation of Meos and Hinduisation of Jats, how have the two come on the same side?

A simple reason for Jats being against the Centre is the governments indifference to the agitation for Jat reservations.

Second, and more important in welding Jats and Muslims, was the farmers agitation, where the Meos stood with Jats. The Jats of Palwal, Sohna and Gurgaon sentimentally remember our Sikh brothers. The generosity with which they opened langars, or feeding centres, is the stuff of legend in the Jat belt.

To run these large feeding centres for months, the Sikhs occasionally needed help from Jats. In one instance, they needed hundreds of litres of milk. The Jats, who once kept cows and buffaloes, have in many cases moved on to other means of livelihood. The Gujjars now keep dairy animals, but they are traditionally opposed to Jats. They refused to help in this instance. The shortfall in milk was made up by Meo Muslim dairy farmers, a fact the Jats will never forget.

In the recent agitation by women wrestlers, who happen to be Jats, the community again had total support from Muslims.

In other words, Jats and Muslims are arrayed against the Bajrang Dals efforts to consolidate Hindus. Brahmins, Thakurs and Gujjars are now on opposite sides.

There is a huge lesson in the Meo-Jat bonding. This is the secularism of joint struggle and common purpose, infinitely more durable than the shallow secularism of mutual tolerance. There are some vulnerabilities. The saturation coverage given to the foul allegation at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic that Muslims in the Markaz at Nizamuddin were deliberately spreading the virus had its fallout in Haryana too. Anyone who looked like a Muslim was avoided by all Hindus, and Jats were no exception.

How did the trouble begin?

Society, Andy Warhol said, has reached a stage when everybody will be famous for a few minutes. The most notorious bad guys in Rajasthan and Haryana now are Monu Manesar and Pintu Bajrangi. They are alleged to have burnt alive two Meo-Muslims in Rajasthan last May. The incident itself and the subsequent police lethargy has ignited Muslim anger in the entire Mewat belt.

The anger simmered. Then, in late July, Facebook posts announced the participation of Monu Manesar and Pintu Bajrangi in a VHP yatra from July 31 from Nalhar Mahadev temple in Meo-dominated Nuh. Facebook posts by Monu and Pintu urged people to turn up in large numbers to garland them. They taunted the Meos to receive their Jijaji, or brother-in-law, with some fanfare. Meos sent back equally vicious rejoinders.

When the procession started, the Muslim youth pelted stones but their principal targets were the elusive two -- Monu Manesar and Pintu Bajrangi. Where were they hiding? Maybe in the cars parked nearby. The cars were burnt.

In a small living room of a local Jat leader, Hindu and Muslim lawyers, social activists and panchayat leaders spoke in and out of turn, each being the others proxy.

They all seemed to say the same thing: that Jats took no part in the yatra, which was armed with swords and rods. Muslims, also armed, were in a position to surround and kill indiscriminately. The Bajrang Dals plan was to have at least 100 martyrs, their bodies to be paraded throughout the Hindi belt -- Godhra on a much bigger scale.

The Muslims showed restraint even though Muslim shops and houses were gutted. There is curfew in several districts. Mosques have been burnt. The communal clouds still hover.
The root of such violence is an underlying sentiment existing perennially in a large part of our society, and kept stoked through politics.

The word riot is defined as a violent disturbance of the peace by a crowd. Generally, the world over, the word is understood elsewhere to mean the fury of society against the State. For example, the Paris riots in 1968, which began with student protests against imperialism and capitalism. Or the Los Angeles riot of 1992, following the acquittal of the police officers who assaulted Rodney King.

In 2011, after the fatal police shooting of a man named Mark Duggan, there were riots in cities across England in which five persons were killed and 3,000 arrested. In the riots that broke out in France this year after the killing of a 17-year-old by the police, three people died, of whom two perished in fires.

This word, then, does not capture the meaning of a riot as it is understood in India, that of organised violence against citizens by other citizens.

During an episode of such violence, the State steps aside and allows, till the violence naturally cools down, the passion of the majority to reveal itself as arson, rape, loot and murder. Elements of the State often actively participate in the violence, feeling the same strong emotions as the mob it is meant to subdue. We can see evidence of this unfold before us.

Even the best governed states do not appear to have the capacity to control the damage and those who are counted as our most competent chief ministers have failed on this count. It is also true that the violence is justified in the minds of many, including those who lead the State.

In a newspaper interview published a few years ago, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh was asked: The Muzaffarnagar riots took place under the last government but of the 44 cases decided, there has been acquittal in 43 cases. Why isnt your government filing appeals?

The chief minister replied: The chargesheets in the Muzaffarnagar cases were filed by the previous government. The (riots) were the result of biased policies and failure of that government under which the whole society was differentiated on the basis of caste, belief and religion. There is nothing like that in our government. On the question of appeal, we will do that if needed. If there is no need, why should we unnecessarily intervene in the matter of the court?

The root of such violence is an underlying sentiment existing perennially in a large part of our society, and kept stoked through politics. An external trigger then sets it afire: an assassination in 1984, an act of vandalism in 1992 or an incident on a train in 2002.

The other difference between the riot abroad and the riot here is that of spontaneity. The riots referred to in the instances above were not anticipated. In India, we are aware that the deliberate raising of the temperature will have consequences.

The legislation by BJP governments at the state and Central levels on cattle transport, beef possession, inter-faith marriage, the absurd and Kafka-esque (as described by the Economist) events of the NRC in Assam, the criminalisation of divorce, what we are doing in Srinagar and so on must be seen in this light. Such work keeps the pot boiling.

A collection of columns written in Indian newspapers in recent years will read like the diary of Victor Klemperer. He was an academic, a scholar of languages, who kept a record of what was done to him and others in Germany in the 1930s. There is something happening daily on this front, no matter what else goes on in the economy, or in Manipur or at the border in Ladakh.

Action at the Kashi Vishwanath temple this month will produce similar sentiment as was produced by the events in Ayodhya earlier. The decision handed down by the Supreme Court in the latter matter has not been discussed in politics as a property dispute, which is how the court views it. It has instead been projected as vengeance and retribution against a building made five centuries ago  Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi in 1526 and died in Agra five years later aged 47  on the site of another building apparently made earlier. How much earlier was the previous structure built?

BJP MP from Baghpat Satyapal Singh, when he was still an IPS officer, wrote an article (Proving the historicity of Ram, Rediff.com, April 14, 2008) in which he determined that Lord Ram lived 8,69,108 years ago. Meaning 500,000 years before the appearance of homo sapiens! That is, of course, only if one believes in the theory of evolution, which Mr Singh, who headed education in India through his human resources development portfolio in the first Narendra Modi government, says he doesnt.

It will be interesting to see how the world views us as we now go about resolving this pressing matter in Kashi judicially and how we will anticipate and control what will come after the survey is over. It will be too much to hope that the State is mindful of the potential consequences and doing what it can to mitigate them as yet another crisis approaches.

Lastly, to go back to where we started, a riot in India is how we define what happens when the majority inflicts organised violence on a minority community. When the minority responds, and again we are seeing this in Manipur, this violence is classified differently in India and given another name.
Carlos Abrams-Rivera, the current executive vice president and president of Kraft Heinz's North American division, will become the company's next chief executive officer on January 1, 2024.

Miguel Patricio has been in his position as CEO since 2019, but Abrams-Rivera, 56, will be succeeding him, as announced by the food business.

Welcoming New Leader

Jack Pope, the lead director of the Kraft Heinz board, indicated in a statement, "The transition from Miguel to Carlos reflects the board's thoughtful succession planning and we are confident that the company will continue to accelerate growth with Carlos assuming the role of CEO."

Abrams-Rivera has been a leader in the food and drink business for quite some time and has consistently shown his ability to provide high-quality results, Pope added.

Abrams-Rivera, in a statement, called himself "humbled and honored" by the position of CEO.

In a report by Chicago Tribune, Abrams-Rivera served as executive vice president of Campbell Snacks at Campbell Soup Co. until joining Kraft Heinz in 2020. He has previously held many positions at Mondelez, headquartered in Chicago, including that of president of Mondelez Mexico. Abrams-Rivera's food industry experience began with Kraft Foods Group, where he worked as a senior brand manager.

See Also: X CEO Linda Yaccarino Claims Big Advertisers are Returning; Here are Some Other Things She Shared

Under Previous Management

Patricio, 57, will assume the role of non-executive chair of the board of directors. When he took over as CEO of Kraft Heinz in 2019, the company was still trying to recover from years of falling sales and cost-cutting measures, such as the firing of over 2,000 employees in 2015. Prior to his current position, he worked at Anheuser-Busch InBev for 20 years.

Under Patricio's leadership, the firm stated in 2020 that it would eliminate a total of $2 billion in expenses over the course of five years, with the intention of using the money saved to promote fast-growing brands like Heinz ketchup and Oscar Mayer Lunchables.

A rise in sales occurred because consumers stocked up on nonperishable items to prepare at home in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chicago and Pittsburgh serve as co-headquarters for this corporation, which has three factories and three distribution hubs throughout the state of Illinois. More than 3,300 people are employed by Kraft Heinz in the state, said the company earlier this summer. The firm has both a research and development center in Glenview, Illinois, and an office in Chicago's Aon Center.

Back in July, the corporation revealed its intention to locate a distribution facility in DeKalb by the year 2025.

According to CNBC, the decline of 15% in Kraft Heinz's stock price this year has reduced the company's market worth to $42.2 billion.

See Also: Hallmark CEO Wonya Lucas, Who Expanded Cultural Diversity in Programming, Exits

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
No change of majority in the six states where votes were cast, but Muhyiddin Yassin's Perikatan Nasional gains support. The government coalition formed after the uncertain outcome of last year's national vote is weighed down by the poor result of UMNO, now reduced to a marginal party. The premier: 'The government will move forward'.

Kuala Lumpur (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Malaysia's ruling coalition retained control of three of the six states called to the polls in regional elections on Saturday, 12 August. But official results showed a conservative opposition gaining popularity in its challenge to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

The elections in the states of Selangor, Penang, Negeri Sembilan, Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah were seen as a referendum of sorts on the government of Anwar, who leads the country with the support of a broad but diverse coalition after last November's general election failed to produce a clear majority.

On paper, the election result maintains the status quo, with both coalitions retaining the three states they controlled before the dissolution of local assemblies. But an analysis of the results in each state tells a different story, showing how Muhyiddin Yassin's Perikatan Nasional - an Islamist-inspired force in the opposition in the national parliament - has eroded the government's power in Selangor (the state surrounding the capital Kuala Lumpur) and Penang.

Weighing in the backwardness of the ruling coalition is the new bad result of UMNO, the party that has dominated Malaysia's political scene since independence in 1957 and ruled Malaysia for decades. In the Malay majority states of Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu, it has been reduced to a marginal role: of the 108 seats that UMNO and its National Front (Barisan Nasional) coalition partners contested, it won only 19.

While Anwar can therefore still count on two-thirds of the seats in the national parliament, a redefinition of the balance of power in the coalition in which UMNO has its leader Ahmad Zahid among the deputy prime ministers and several key ministries cannot be ruled out.

In response to the results, Anwar told reporters that the ruling coalition "will continue to work hard to serve the people in line with our desire to grow Malaysia".

Photo taken from Anwar Ibrahim's X profile
by Nirmala Carvalho

Act of vandalism against the parish of St Gonsalo Garcia. While the police carried out the investigation, people gathered outside the gates to pray. Archbishop Felix Machado: 'I urge everyone to maintain harmony in the neighbourhood and apregate for peace in Indian society.

Vasai (AsiaNews) - Just a few days before Independence Day - which in India is celebrated on 15 August - a vandal attack hit the Church of St Gonsalo Garcia in Vasai, in the State of Maharashtra.

In the late afternoon of Friday, 11 August, parish priest Fr Peter Almeida entered the church and found it devastated, with a work of art on the altar destroyed, the statue of Our Lady thrown to the ground and damaged, the cathedra and baptismal font displaced, and all the books scattered on the floor.

"We filed a complaint with the police station in Vasai," Fr Almeida tells AsiaNews, "which came immediately. Asking us not to touch anything, I cancelled the Friday evening Mass and sent a message to the faithful. Our people, however, gathered outside the gates, began to pray and many were crying. Everything was then restored and from Saturday we resumed the celebrations."

Archbishop Felix Machado of Vasai issued an official statement condemning the incident. "I am aware of the wound caused to the religious sentiments of the Catholic faithful of the parish and diocese of Vasai."

He continued: "I have been in contact with the Commissioner of Police and I can assure you that under their able leadership the police department is fully committed to the investigation; I urge you to maintain peace and harmony in our neighbourhood, and I also urge you to refrain from suspecting or blaming anyone in particular, or engaging in spreading rumours on social media or making unfounded statements in public. Above all, I implore you to pray for harmony and peace in society."
Today's headlines: Kakar is Pakistan's interim prime minister until elections; 30 missing in Jade mine landslide in Myanmar; New attack on an Iranian Shia shrine in Shiraz; Suspension of Radio Veritas broadcast lifted; Russia's birth rate drops to all-time low.

TAIWAN-CHINA-USA

The stopover in the United States by Taiwanese Vice President William Lai, who is vying to become the next president in January's elections, has once again raised tensions with Beijing. Lai - who is in San Francisco on his way back from a trip to Paraguay, one of only 13 countries that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan - declared that he will not back down in the face of authoritarian threats, while reiterating his willingness to dialogue with China. Beijing denounced Lai's stay in the United States, calling him a separatist 'troublemaker'.

MYANMAR

A landslide at a jade mine in northern Myanmar has left more than 30 people missing. The incident occurred in Hpakant, a remote mountain town in Kachin State, about 950 km north of Yangon. The area is the epicentre of the world's largest and most profitable jade mines.

PAKISTAN

Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) Senator Anwaarul Haq Kakar was appointed by President Arif Alvi as Pakistan's interim prime minister until the elections. Kakar was appointed through an agreement between outgoing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and outgoing opposition leader in the National Assembly Raja Riaz.

IRAN

A gunman broke into the Shia shrine of Shah Cheragh in the southern Iranian city of Shiraz and opened fire on worshippers. The assailant hit four people, killing one. The same holy place had been the target of a similar action last October that had killed 13 people.

ASIA

Card. Charles Maung Bo, president of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences, revoked an order four months ago to suspend the activities of Radio Veritas Asia (RVA) in the Philippines. The order of 28 March was related to a dispute over ownership between the Federation and the Philippine Bishops' Conference. In the revocation statement Bo appealed to 'all those associated with the work of RVA to continue their work with total commitment'.

RUSSIA

According to the statistical institute Rosstat, the birth rate in Russia has fallen to an all-time low, despite all fertility appeals, with a further 3% drop in the first six months of 2023, with 616,000 children born, about 20,000 fewer than the previous year in almost all federal subjects, especially in the regions affected by the war on the border with Ukraine.

ORTHODOX-UKRAINE

After many conflicts with the pro-Russian monastic community, the Ukrainian police have set up a vast cordon of protection around the Kiev Caves Lavra, closing access to all buildings in the lower areas of the hill, and allowing only a few churches to be opened for prayer by the faithful, entrusted to the priests of the autocephalous Pzu Orthodox Church. In the meantime, Metropolitan Pavel (Lebed), former superior of the Upz Church of the Kiev Lavra, was released on bail and is confined under house arrest in a village in Kiev province with an electronic bracelet and awaiting trial.
Aspen Journalism is a nonprofit, investigative news organization covering land use, environment, water and more. Visit aspenjournalism.org. This story was produced in partnership with Aspen Daily News, where Rick Carroll serves as managing editor. The city of Aspen supports Aspen Journalism with a community nonprofit grant.
Nayef al-Sudairi, currently Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Jordan, has also been appointed envoy to the Palestinian Authority (PA) and consul general in Jerusalem. This is more than just an appointment to fill vacant diplomatic posts. This is the first time Riyadh has placed a non-resident ambassador to the Palestinian Authority, underlining the usual Saudi foreign policy line that resolution of the Palestinian issue or problem will not be unrelated to the 'normalisation' of relations with Israel.

The Israeli state and the US aspire to Arabia's eventual accession to the Abraham Accords, which the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan have already signed.

Al-Sudairi's serving also as consul general in Jerusalem is also a gesture of great diplomatic significance. It is first and foremost a recognition of Palestinian rights over the eastern part of the thrice holy city, which remained in their possession after the partition that gave birth to the state of Israel, and which Israel occupied after the Six-Day War (1967). In the absence of an embassy, al-Sudairi's appointment would not be subject to the approval of Israel, which considers Jerusalem its eternal and indivisible capital.

The presentation of Al-Sudairi's credentials took place at the PA mission in Amman, which handed them over to Majdi al-Khaleidi, diplomatic adviser to President Mahmoud Abbas, according to Europe Jewish Press. Calling the ceremony "an important step in the strong relations between two brotherly countries [Palestine and Saudi Arabia], Khaleidi expressed the thanks of Ramallah, the PA headquarters, to Riyadh "for Saudi Arabia's firm stance in support of the Palestinian people and its continued support for their cause in international fora".

It so happens that the new Saudi diplomatic envoy to the PA is a cousin of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who decides, monitors and oversees all steps towards normalisation of relations with Israel. Generally known by his initials, MBS, the real strongman of the Saudi monarchy is said to have demanded strong guarantees from the US, especially on military and security issues, in order to conclude the intended deal with Israel.

In early August, the US newspaper The Wall Street Journal claimed to have confidential information that diplomats in Washington and Riyadh were already finalising the details of the "most far-reaching Middle East peace deal in a generation".

Spurred by the undoubtedly self-serving leak of such negotiations, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Bloomberg television that 'we are on the verge of a historic turning point, if there is political will there will be a way to achieve normalisation and formal peace between Saudi Arabia and Israel'. The head of the Israeli government described the economic consequences for investors as "enormous".

Asked point-blank in subsequent appearances what concessions he would be willing to grant the Palestinians, Netanyahu declined to give specific examples. He did, however, outline a general framework: 'I would not be willing to give anything that would endanger Israel's security, but that does not preclude room to discuss other possibilities. The Palestinians should have all the powers to govern themselves, but none to threaten Israel, which means that in any final peace agreement with the Palestinians, Israel must have superior security oversight power over the whole area. Otherwise, we will collapse and so will they".

Call for the military to defend democracy

All these moves come at a time when tensions within Israel remain high, stemming from the crisis over the government's determination to curtail the powers and independence of the Supreme Court.

It has now been eight months, thirty-two weeks of uninterrupted popular protest demonstrations. If last Friday the head of the air force warned of a weakening of the country's security in the face of the refusal of volunteer fighter pilots to report for duty, this weekend it was former general Amiram Levin who called on the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to stand up to the most radical ministers - Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir - who "are dragging us into [committing] war crimes". Levin, addressing the crowd gathered around Tel Aviv's Kaplan Avenue, concluded his plea by urging that "if the terrible moment comes to decide between the Supreme Court and a government of criminals, choose democracy. We will stand behind you fearlessly and unreservedly".

Kaplan Avenue also became the scene of the first joint demonstration by Jews and Arabs against the Netanyahu government's reform of the judiciary. It was the so-called March of the Dead, whose general slogan was "No democracy without Bagatz". Bagatz is the Hebrew acronym for the Supreme Court of Israel.

Sondos Alhoot, the most well-known promoter and activist among the organisers of the event, accused Smotrich and Ben Gvir, but also Netanyahu, of "doing their best to keep Jews and Arabs away from each other, but they won't succeed".
Officials from the UK have reported their fighter jets intercepted two Russian maritime bomber aircraft in international airspace north of Scotland Monday (August 14), within NATO's northern policing area.

According to a statement by the British Armed Forces Minister James Heappey, the Royal Air Force (RAF) deployed its Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets after they detected the Russian bombers, which they identified as a pair of Tupolev Tu-142s, as they passed through Scotland's Shetland Islands, "ready to counter any potential threat" to British territory and airspace.

A Voyager tanker was also scrambled to provide air-to-air refueling to provide the Typhoons an extended flight time.

"RAF crews at Lossiemouth maintain a constant watch over UK airspace and are always ready to take action at a moment's notice to keep our country safe," Heappey added.

Read Also: Migrants Evacuated at UK's Bibby Stockholm Immigration Barge After Reports of Legionnaires' Disease Outbreak

Officials in Westminster added its Typhoon jets are routinely scrambled in such incidents to secure and safeguard its skies, as well as that of its NATO allies after some RAF pilots recently led the alliance's air policing mission in Estonia, where more than 50 similar air intercepts were carried out.

Meanwhile, Russia said its strategic bombers had carried out routine flights over international waters in the Arctic.

The BBC reported the Typhoons and the Voyager tanker have now returned to base.

Related Article: Shots Fired: Russian Warship Fires Warning Shots, Boards Cargo Ship in Black Sea

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
SUV

As such, no wonder that everyone is flipping related ideas left and right. Some people think that the latest Santa Fe will be the next best thing since the reinvention of the Land Rover Defender as a posher. Others probably believe the Escalade IQ will usher in a new era of SUV-related pop culture. And, of course, many cannot get over the fact that Toyota's 2024 Land Cruiser is both stunningly vintage and modern at the same time.And that's valid both in the real world as well as across the imaginative realm of digital car content creators. For example, Dimas Ramadhan, the virtual automotive artist behind the Digimods DESIGN channel on YouTube, now has a big passion for pickup trucks, among other stuff.Just recently, the digital car author envisioned the all-new 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser could morph into a two-door pickup truck that could render both the overseas Hilux and local Tacoma obsolete. He also revived the failed Lincoln Blackwood project and quickly catered to the rumor that the Japanese automaker is mulling a new pickup truck based on the Corolla Cross.However, he did that in his way  and using the mighty XK70 Toyota Tundra full-size pickup truck as the base of operations! Well, that was unexpected, right? But that was not all, as he later CGI-married the Volkswagen Touareg SUV's DNA with the TNGA-F-based Tundra's body . As such, since he used the Tundra so much recently, it was logical that it also deserved the red carpet's spotlight, right?Thus, here is his unofficial vision of a new Toyota pickup truck that could efficiently act as the refresh for the model year 2025 or 2026 Tundras  more precisely, the SR5 grade. Interestingly, there's yet another digital twist, or even two. So, rather than just updating the XK70 Tundra's front and rear design, the author went for a completely new reinterpretation.The front, for example, is directly skinned after the squared-face 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser to the point that the pixel master didn't even bother deleting the 'Land Cruiser' nameplate at the front. The rear, meanwhile, borrowed the LED light bar treatment from the 2024 Lexus GX 550, making it a quirky Tundra-Land Cruiser-GX mix. Curiously, it doesn't look that bad with a Land Cruiser front, a Tundra pickup truck profile, and a GX-inspired rear!Alas, that doesn't mean Toyota will proceed like that in the near future. However, it needs to do something extraordinary for the upcoming Tundra refresh because even the mighty 437-hp i-Force Max hybrid version can't compare to the sales power of the Big Detroit Three (Ford F-Series, GM's Silverado and Sierra, plus the Ram trucks).
About a dozen Cruise robotaxis stopped working in San Francisco on Friday night, blocking traffic in the North Beach area. Cruise explained that the incident was caused by "wireless connectivity issues" that immobilized the driverless cars. The EV company is now considering creating its own cellular network for San Francisco operations.

Well, here are about ten @cruise driverless vehicles stopping traffic dead on Grant Avenue and spilling over to Columbus Avenue and Vallejo Street. I dont remember voting for this. Do you? @SFFDPIO pic.twitter.com/C9ow7lWD0m  ???????????? ????????????????????????? (@Gregster56) August 12, 2023

Cruise recently got a permit to operate 24/7 in all areas of San Francisco, despite city officials and public opposition. Critics pointed out countless incidents when Cruise autonomous vehicles interfered with emergency vehicles, blocked the city streets, or caused accidents. Ironically, the night after Cruise popped the champagne to celebrate the permit, its vehicles again caused mayhem in San Francisco. Up to ten Cruise robotaxis stopped on a small street in the North Beach area, blocking the traffic.The robotaxis stopped with the hazard lights blinking on Grant Avenue, one of the oldest streets in the Chinatown districts. It's a one-way street, so the stopped cars completely blocked it, forcing other drivers to back up. The blockage also affected Columbus Avenue and Vallejo Street. To make the matter worse, the cell connectivity that should've allowed human operators to control the vehicles was patchy, leading to a prolonged disruption.San Francisco police confirmed that the cell connectivity issues were caused by the large crowd attending the nearby Outside Lands music festival. The cell network was overwhelmed by the number of phones connected to the nearby cells, causing it to crash. Cruise apologized and promised to investigate the incident. It also said it is working on a solution to prevent a similar incident from happening again. Not only did the issue prevent operators from removing the robotaxis from the area, but it also hindered Cruise's efforts to reroute other cars to avoid it.According to San Francisco Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who spoke with San Francisco Chronicle, Cruise is considering creating its own cell phone network in San Francisco. That would be a first in the robotaxi world. Autonomous vehicles depend on network connectivity to communicate with "the mothership," receiving routing indications and sending data about traffic conditions. They are lost when the network is down, as a large chunk of the data processing is done server-side.California Public Utilities Commission voted on Thursday to allow Cruise and Waymo to expand their robotaxi services throughout San Francisco. The permit was granted despite city officials arguing that the technology is immature . They pointed to an increase in the number of incidents involving robotaxis in San Francisco. These include driverless cars blocking traffic, disrupting emergency operations and bus routes, and clashing with bicycles and pedestrians. The SF Fire Department logged 66 incidents since May 2022.The new incident on Friday night made people question the decision of state regulators a day earlier to approve the expanded use of robotaxis in the city. San Francisco Supervisor Aaron Peskin confirmed on Sunday that government agencies would ask the city attorney to file a petition requesting that the state revisit last week's decision.
Do you know whats funny about the Ford Ranchero nameplate? It was made using a 2-door station wagon platform, unlike regular trucks and other utility vehicles. The Blue Oval decided on adapting that platform to feature a cab and cargo bed, and the rest is history.

HP

Photo: Bring a Trailer

Ford would usually go about building its utility vehicles differently. Their first ever pickup trucks were made from basically roadster body styles, while later models would evolve into considerably larger, heavy-duty trucks over time. Not the Ranchero though, as this would become the first post-war U.S. vehicle to morph from a family car into a pickup.The first-generation model was unveiled in 1957, riding on identical underpinnings to what youd find beneath a short-wheelbase Custom sedan or the 2-door Ranch Wagon. Ford wanted to sell these cars to farmers (mostly), people who were otherwise dependent on vehicles with truck beds. Safe to say, everyone loved the Ranchero the second they saw it  both the public as well as the media.It tapped into a virgin market niche for vehicles with the utility of a light pickup, but the driving characteristics of a regular passenger sedan or station wagon.Things would change dramatically during the 1960s , when Ford shrunk the Ranchero, basing it on the compact Falcon model  you can thank the likes of the VW Beetle for inspiring Americas Big 3 automakers to make smaller cars. Anyway, with the 2nd generation car, the Falcon Ranchero was born, and the one were showing you here is about as wicked as they get.Its a heavily customized Pro Street vehicle, which means its natural habitat is the drag strip. In charge of performance is a 302ci V8 engine, fitted with a forged crankshaft, aluminum cylinder heads, a Holley 750-cfmcarburetor, Edelbrock intake manifold, MSD electronic ignition and tubular exhaust headers.Unfortunately, we cant tell you how much power its putting down, nor do we know how quick it is over a quarter mile, but by the looks of it, it can definitely hold its own.The visuals are pretty impressive too. Like the maroon exterior with gold pinstriping, or the matte black hood stripe and air scoop. We should also mention the rear drag wing, dual mirrors, chrome bumpers, rectangle side exhaust finishers (Flowmaster mufflers), and the custom wheels  the rear wheels are wearing 295/55 Mickey Thompson ET Street S/S drag radials.As for the interior, youll find a pair of racing seats with five-point harnesses, a roll cage, a drivers window net, B&M shifter, three-spoke steering wheel, custom gauges, a chrome fire extinguisher, Falcon-branded floor mats, and toggle switches for the fuel pump, overdrive, plus a few other things.The best part is that if youve got some cash laying around, this car is up for grabs. With just a few hours left in the proceedings, the highest bid has now surpassed $20,000. Not bad for what is without a doubt a seriously intense straight-line brawler, and a genuine American classic.
The vulnerability is documented in security bulletin CVE-2023-29468, with Ford saying that it was detected by a security researcher who reported it to the supplier in charge of shipping Wi-Fi modules.Texas Instruments explains in a security advisory that the flaw resides in the TI WiLink WL18xx MCP driver. A malicious actor could use a specially crafted frame to trigger a buffer overflow and launch a remote code execution attack.The vulnerability seems frightening for Ford customers whose cars come with SYNC 3, but the American carmaker says it's not aware of any exploits so far. Furthermore, the company explains that attackers can't run an exploit unless they are physically near an exposed vehicle. A successful attack requires the engine to be turned on and the Wi-Fi support enabled.Ford says the likelihood of an attacker exploiting the vulnerability is extremely low, mainly because it requires "significant expertise" to do it. In other words, only experienced hackers can break into SYNC 3 systems using this security flaw. Ford doesn't see this happening, mainly because the attackers must be near the vehicle when the engine is running.The carmaker conducted an investigation and determined that even if someone breaks into the SYNC 3 system with this vulnerability, they still won't produce much damage, as the vehicle infotainment system is isolated from critical controls like steering, throttling, and braking. The safety of the vehicle occupants wouldn't be affected, Ford explains.The carmaker is already working on a patch, but an ETA wasn't shared when it could become available for download. However, Ford says customers can install it manually by copying the patch on a USB flash drive.Fortunately, the carmaker has also found an easy way to remain protected until the patch goes live. Ford explains that simply disabling the Wi-Fi support in the SYNC 3 infotainment system blocks any potential exploit, as this is one of the prerequisites for a malicious actor to launch an attack. If Wi-Fi is disabled, the malicious actor can't infiltrate the SYNC system.The carmaker says the vulnerability exists in all Ford and Lincoln models that rolled off the assembly lines with the SYNC 3 installed, including the 2021 and 2022 Mustang , the 2021 and 2022 Bronco Sport, and the 2021 Expedition. Ford recommends customers check the version of their SYNC system to determine if their vehicles are vulnerable to this attack.The company will release additional guidance once the patch becomes available (likely in the coming weeks), including complete instructions on deploying it in a vulnerable vehicle.
The whole thing makes sense, as the bigger the number of users running it, the bigger number of devices and various hardware configurations where it's installed. This increases the likelihood of problems, so Google is always busy keeping Google Maps in tip-top shape in the Android world.Xiaomi phone owners are the latest to complain about Google Maps problems on their devices, as the application reportedly fails to determine their location and follow them on the map. The behavior happens only sporadically and occasionally, with users claiming that Google Maps sometimes work exactly as expected.A faulty update likely causes the broken location system, as users explain that Google Maps started malfunctioning on their devices after installing MIUI 14. This is the latest OS version released by Xiaomi and available on the company's latest-generation phones.In almost every case, a Xiaomi phone struggling with Google Maps behaves like it lost location calibration in Google Maps. Sometimes it determines the location correctly, but occasionally, it loses tracking, breaking down navigation guidance too.Users who turned to Google's forums to report the problem believe the MIUI 14 update shipped with a compatibility error, making Google Maps impossible to track the location for as long as it runs. The generic fixes, which include everything from downgrading Google Maps to an earlier release to clearing the cache and the data, dont improve. Users who downgraded to an earlier OS version (by flashing their phones) claim Google Maps works correctly on the previous builds.Several Xiaomi phone owners have already confirmed the error, but an investigation is yet to start. Neither Google nor Xiaomi confirmed they are looking into the bug.In the meantime, other navigation apps seem to work correctly, as Waze determines the user's location and then follows it on the map to offer turn-by-turn guidance. Of course, Waze becomes extremely tempting for these users, especially if they use Google Maps behind the wheel. Compared to Google Maps, Waze does not support offline navigation, as its primary goal is to find a faster route to a user-defined destination using traffic reports submitted by other users.Other advanced navigation apps available on Android that could replace Google Maps until a solution to this problem gets the go-ahead include Sygic's GPS Navigation and TomTom's software. If you want a freeware solution, OsmAnd is an advanced choice. Huawei has also improved Petal Maps significantly, so it now includes alternatives to most features bundled with Google Maps (as replacing Google's app was the main purpose of the application after Huawei's sanctions in the United States).
AMG

kW

kWh

This is the natural move as the industry is shifting towards a battery-electric future, and small hybrids are bridging the gap between punchy internal combustion lumps and EVs. Nonetheless, rather curiously, Car&Driver reported a couple of weeks ago that the V8 supremacy might return to the C 63 and E 63 models. These rides would allegedly pack the eight-pot firepower again by 2026.The outlet cited multiple sources, all of them unconfirmed, and more recently, Germany's AutoMotorUndSport stepped forward to say the opposite. When allegedly asking a Mercedes-insider if the V8 will indeed make a comeback on the C 63 and E 63, they reportedly said that "this is pure nonsense." Thus, it appears that the top-of-the-line versions of the premium compact and executive models will keep their smaller electrified assemblies.The normal thing to do here is to take both rumors with the proverbial pinch of salt until the Affalterbach marque steps forward to confirm one. And while some enthusiasts would undoubtedly wish for a brand new V8-powered C 63 and/or E 63, albeit with electric assistance, chances are it will never happen, even if the V8 would reportedly meet the EU7 emissions standards in Europe. This move would make them too expensive, so driving enthusiasts who can afford to blow a six-digit sum on a fast premium sedan might eventually opt for the likes of the BMW M3 and/or M5.Now, if you haven't heard, Mercedes-AMG's new C 63 S E Performance boasts a combined 670 hp (680 ps/500) and 752 pound-feet (1,020 Nm) of torque from its 2.0L four-pot and rear-mounted electric motor that sips electrons from a 6.1battery pack. It needs 3.4 seconds to deal with the zero to sixty-two miles an hour (0 to 100 kph) acceleration, tapping out at 174 mph or 280 kph.The upcoming E 63 is expected with a turbocharged inline-six. The engine will presumably have a 3.0-liter displacement, and the electric motor assisting it will be allegedly fed by a 4.8 kWh battery pack. The rumor mill claims it might enjoy north of 700 horses, and the peak torque could stand at 888 lb-dt (1,200 Nm). Its predecessor had 603 hp produced by its bi-turbo 4.0-liter V8, taking 3.4 seconds to hit 62 mph en route to a maximum speed of 186 mph (300 kph) with the AMG Driver's Pack box checked on the options list.
In what could be the strangest and most unlikely one-year anniversary, another luxury yacht burst into flames and sunk to the bottom of the sea in almost exactly the same spot, off the coast of the Spanish island Formentera.

Ayer: Incendio en motora Irmao playa #Formentera



Embarcaciones particulares rescatan las 17 personas a bordo.



Nuestro centro #Palma moviliza salvamar Acrux que remolca motora incendiada; pero se hunde.



Como prevenir/evitar incendio.

Que Hacer/No Hacer https://t.co/kCp7bNQyJb pic.twitter.com/IsUcmD9yxW  SALVAMENTO MARITIMO (@salvamentogob) August 13, 2023

Irmao, a popular charter yacht reportedly owned by professional poker player Diego Gomez Gonzalez, aka "The Lion," caught on fire last Saturday, August 12, and sunk several hours later after repeated attempts by the firefighters to put out the flames. The fire started at the stern of the vessel at around 5.30 o'clock in the afternoon when Irmao was anchored in Cavall d'en Borras in front of the famous restaurant El Tiburon.When first responders arrived on the scene, most of the 17 people onboard, 12 guests and five crew members, had jumped into the water as the fire spread throughout the vessel. Only one crew member required medical assistance for mild burns and is believed to have since been discarded.The Spanish coast guard deployed the rescue vessel Acrux, towing the burning Irmao farther out to sea and isolating it from other vessels . The smoke column was visible all the way from neighboring island Ibiza.At around 9 o'clock in the evening, after being consumed by fire, the yacht went under. On Sunday morning, August 13, first responders conducted a summary investigation of the wreckage site and determined there was no risk of pollution in the area.It is now the responsibility of the owner to recover the wreck , refloat it, and tow it back to land. Assuming there is anything left worth restoring, a restoration of Irmao might start.Delivered in 1995 by Spanish shipyard Astondoa, Irmao featured interior and exterior design by Nuvolari Lenard and offered accommodation for 12 guests across seven cabins and separate quarters for five crew. For a boat of its size, the 27-meter (88.5-foot) Irmao offered plenty of luxury amenities and solid performance, thanks to its planing hull and light weight, thanks to the GPR hull and superstructure.Amenities included a Jacuzzi on the aft deck, a matching tender, and a variety of water toys ranging from waterskis to paddleboards and snorkeling equipment. Power came from twin Diesel engines that took it to a top speed of 18 knots (20.7 mph/33.3 kph) and a cruising speed of 14 knots (16.2 mph/26 kph).Irmao had last been refitted in 2020 and was asking 45,000 (approximately $49,400) per week for charter, promising tourists an unforgettable experience onboard. Its last outing was certainly unforgettable, though not for the kind of reason anyone would want to pay money for.An investigation is now underway to determine the causes of the fire. As of the time of press , it's not known whether supposed owner Gonzalez was onboard when the blaze started.Precisely one year ago, the brand-new ISA Yacht project Aria SF caught on fire while anchored near Ibiza. After repeated attempts, firefighters decided to let the fire burn itself out before towing the hull to safety. Aria SFs charred remains sunk later.
A Canadian family was having dinner when a dead bird fell from the sky and hit the roof of their Tesla. Despite being designed to withstand the weight of an elephant, as Tesla brags, the bird caused it to break, filling the cabin with glass bits and dust. The weird incident left the internet scratching their heads.

Tesla boasted that its cars were the safest in the world, with the glass roof panels able to withstand the weight of an elephant. This may be true, as crash-worthiness tests have already shown it. We've seen several incidents in real life when a Tesla's glass roof could support a falling tree , keeping the occupants safe. In some cases, the doors opened as designed, allowing the people to exit the car without a problem.Still, it can easily break when a relatively small object falls on a glass roof. Anyone who had their phone display replaced after a fall knows that glass, no matter how hard, is easy to crack when hit by a hard object. The best and most notorious example is the Tesla Cybertruck's broken window during the 2019 unveiling after Tesla's chief designer Franz von Holzhausen hit it with a steel ball . That caused an uproar, even though the glass performed as designed. It didn't let the ball go through, which was its purpose, although it broke because that's what glass does when hit.Another incredible story involving Tesla glass came over the weekend from Canada. Augustine Fan and his family were having dinner in Richmond (British Columbia, Canada) on Friday night when they got notified by the Tesla app that the car's alarm was triggered. When he went out to check what was happening, he found a dead bird on the hood, and the glass roof shattered. The pictures he shared with Global News show that the sunroof was utterly destroyed by the falling bird.Immediately, Tesla critics on social media started to mock the company's claims about the sturdiness of their glass roofs . Still, there's nothing you can do in such a case. If the roof was all-metal, it would've been just as ruined as the glass roof. The difference is that the glass sunroof can be easily replaced even though not cheap. Repairing a metal roof is much more complicated. It could involve cutting the old top and welding a new one before treating the metal and repainting the whole thing.Augustine told Global News that the parking lot where the incident happened was directly under the flight path toward Vancouver Airport. His best guess was that the bird hit a plane and then fell from the sky on the roof of his car.The worst part about this incident is, besides the roof replacement costs, that the smashed roof spread a lot of fine glass particles in the cabin. Augustine spent hours vacuuming the interior of his Tesla, and he still couldn't get rid of all the glass scattered inside.
When a classic vehicle on two or four wheels is fully restored and given all the new-age bells and whistles, we call it a restomod. But when AirCorps Aviation of Bemidji, Minnesota, unveiled a fully-restored Republic P-47D Thunderbolt at the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in Wisconsin, they were showing off a restomod with wings. To think the restored plane sat in a jungle for decades only adds to the astonishment of their achievement.

As one of the most skilled teams of aeronautical craftsmen anywhere in the country, AirCorps Aviation spends most of its time restoring vintage warbirds under contract for high-paying aviation enthusiasts and custom fabricating new parts for said projects and for individual sale. The company is most notorious for a number of high-profile P-51 Mustang restorations, including a P-51C flown in combat by the former NASA Apollo engineer and staff member at the National Air and Space Museum Donald Lopez, named Lope's Hope. But mixed in with all those gorgeous Mustangs, AirCorps' comparatively chunky P-47 still managed to look graceful as it dazzled spectators over the skies of Oshkosh.As first reported by General Aviation News, AirCorps was able to fully restore this P-47 airframe that was left abandoned near an airfield in New Guinea after the end of the Second World War. Using cutting-edge AutoCAD software renderings forged from two-dimensional drawings to create new parts where none exist, AirCorps painstakingly revived a plane its pilot, Brigadier General William "Bill" Dunnham, flew with distinction eight decades ago. During his service with the 460th Fighter Squadron, 348th Fighter Group, Dunham received the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Legion of Merit, as well as the Distinguished Service Cross. Today, the finely-polished aluminum of the airplane he flew shines just the same as his medals.Just as Dunham lovingly named his airplane Bonnie, AirCorps kept this name as the plane dazzled spectators over Oshkosh in Wisconsin. Over 40 thousand individual parts were painstakingly removed, restored, and reinstalled down to every last rivet to get the airframe in the remarkable shape it is today. Everything from Bonnie's striking aluminum skin to the As of August 2023, Bonnie is the only airworthy razorback edition P-47, i.e., with a distinguishing raised fairing behind the cockpit, manufactured by Republic themselves rather than some other sub-contractor as was common during the war.With AirCorps' pilot Bernie Vasquez at the stick, Bonnie managed to put on a memorable show for the Oshkosh crowd. With a single Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp radial engine as a soundtrack, this was a flight demonstration that didn't need Highway to the Danger Zone playing in the background to sound very special indeed. If that's now the sound of freedom, we don't know what is.
Chinese airlines to resume direct flights from Australia's Brisbane to southern China

Xinhua) 13:45, August 14, 2023

SYDNEY, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- China Southern Airlines will resume direct flights from Australia's Brisbane to south China's Guangzhou in mid-November to boost tourism and personnel exchanges between the two countries.

The airlines will start to fly four non-stop services a week from Nov. 17, its fourth direct flight route between the two countries, said the airlines on Sunday.

The Queensland government expects the airlines to land 59,000 inbound seats at Brisbane International Airport in the first year of operation, and almost 278,000 inbound international seats over three years, generating nearly 441 million Australian dollars (about 286.7 million U.S. dollars) for the state's visitor economy.

In 2019 before the pandemic, China was Queensland's leading source of international visitors with 497,000 Chinese travelers contributing just over 1.61 billion Australian dollars (about 1.05 billion U.S. dollars) in overnight visitor expenditure, according to the Queensland government.

CEO for Australia-China Business Council Queensland Elizabeth Sullivan said the return of these flights is hugely important for facilitating two-way direct people-to-people links, particularly for those in the trade and investment space, and across the broader community, including in tourism and education.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
Two people on board a Soviet-era MiG-23 safely ejected from the plane before it crashed and burned in an air show in Michigan Sunday (August 13).

In a statement, the Wayne County Airport Authority said the incident happened at the Yankee Air Museum's Thunder Over Michigan air show shortly after 16:00 US Eastern Time (20:00 UTC). The jet crashed into unoccupied vehicles in a parking lot at the Waverly on the Lake Apartments, narrowly missing one apartment building, the airport authority added.

Read Also: UK Fighter Jets Intercept Russian Bombers North of Scotland

Russian Fireball on American Soil

Video footage of the incident showed two short bursts of flames coming from the aircraft as the pilot and passenger were each ejected. Both landed safely via parachutes and were taken to hospital as a precaution.

The plane then "burst into a raging fireball," which was quickly put out by emergency crews.

No other casualties were reported.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said investigations are ongoing as to how and why the Russian fighter bomber crashed.

The MiG-23 was piloted by retired US Navy pilot and Soviet-made jet collector Dan Filer, who claimed the plane he ejected out of was the "only privately owned flying MiG-23 in the world."

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 was one of the most utilized Soviet warplanes during the Cold War and was known for its advanced radar and fire control system. It could fire missiles at targets beyond visual range, according to the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

Related Article: What To Know About MiG Soviet Fighter Plane-Russia's 'Bad Guy' Aircraft

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The CEC is due to complete the registration process by August 18 and publish electoral lists within three days after that.

The vote in the elections to Yerevans Municipal Assembly (Council of Elders) is due on September 17. It will proceed according to party lists, with the four-week campaigns of the political forces and their candidates for mayor commencing on August 23.

The ruling Civil Contract party is led in the elections by current Deputy Mayor Tigran Avinian who formerly also served as deputy prime minister in the government of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian.

Former Yerevan mayor Hayk Marutian, who was removed from office by a vote of no confidence in December 2021 after falling out with the ruling party, has also announced his participation in the elections with the hitherto little-known National Progress party.

Several other political parties and groups, notably Aprelu Yerkir (Country for Living), Bright Armenia, the European Party of Armenia and others, have also applied for registration to participate in the Yerevan elections.

Two key parliamentary opposition alliances affiliated with former presidents Robert Kocharian and Serzh Sarkisian, Hayastan and Pativ Unem, have not joined the local race in the Armenian capital where about a third of the countrys voters are concentrated.

It is not clear whether either alliance will support any other political party or bloc participating in the elections, including the Mother Armenia bloc, which is led by Andranik Tevanian, a former Hayastan faction member who resigned recently to focus on the Yerevan elections.
The Rescue Service of Armenias Interior Ministry said the collision occurred on the 90th kilometer of the Yerevan-Gyumri highway just after midnight on August 14.

It said a Volkswagen van carrying passengers collided with a ZIL truck on the section near the village of Lanjik.

Six people injured in the crash were hospitalized in Gyumri, a local medical center said, adding that one patient was later transferred to a hospital in Yerevan.

Deputy director of the Gyumri Medical Center Armen Khachatrian told RFE/RLs Armenian Service that said that the five patients were in a critical condition and their lives were in danger.

The Health Ministry later said that on person hospitalized in Yerevan was also in a serious condition, while three others taken to a medical center in the Armenian capital had sustained only light injuries and were discharged from the clinic shortly after they had been examined and received treatment.

According to relatives of the victims, they were returning from Turkey where they had visited historical Armenian sites.

Investigators were reportedly working on the scene early on Monday to establish the circumstances of the traffic collision. No other information was reported immediately.

The Investigation Committee said later criminal proceedings had been instituted in connection with the case.

Meanwhile, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian expressed condolences to the families of all victims.
Armenias Interior Ministry said the body of a Ukrainian citizen was recovered from the mountain lake on August 13.

Later local media as well as Ukraines foreign ministry confirmed that the drowned man was Oleksandr Senchenko, who led Ukraines embassy in Yerevan for the past year or so.

The Armenian rescue service was quoted by local media as saying that on Sunday evening lifeguards at a public beach at Lake Sevan spotted a man at a distance of 25 meters from the shore who disappeared while swimming.

Lifeguards swam towards the area and lifted a man from the bottom that was 1.5 meters deep, taking him to the shore on a rubber motor boat. Ambulance service workers registered the mans death, a report said.

In reporting the tragic death of Senchenko, Ukraines foreign ministry described him as an experienced and highly qualified diplomat who had worked in the ministry since 2003.

The Armenian police said materials related to the drowning of the Ukrainian citizen had been sent to Sevans investigation department.

No other details related to the circumstances of Senchenkos death were reported immediately.

According to Armenias embassy in Ukraine, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan extended condolences on behalf of the entire staff of Armenias Ministry of Foreign Affairs and on his personal behalf to his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba on the tragic death of Ukraines charge daffaires Senchenko.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Turkish ministry also called on Yerevan to refrain from provocative steps, recognize the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan and support Azerbaijans efforts on the integration of the [Karabakh] Armenian population.

Official Ankara said it was closely following the discussions around the Lacin road, emphasizing that it understands the legitimate concerns of Azerbaijan on that issue.

Turkey believes that there is no reason to criticize Azerbaijan regarding the Lachin road, it said.

The Turkish statement came after Armenia officially asked the United Nations Security Council to hold an emergency meeting on the issue of humanitarian access to Nagorno-Karabakh that Yerevan and Stepanakert say has been denied for months by Azerbaijan that has imposed an illegal blockade on the region.

Earlier ethnic Armenian authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh said that the purpose of Bakus proposal to provide humanitarian aid through Agdam without restoring free movement through the Lachin corridor was an attempt to revise the Moscow-brokered 2020 ceasefire agreement under which the vital land connection between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia was placed under the control of Russian peacekeepers.

This approach that has persistently been proposed by Azerbaijan violates the rights and humiliates the dignity of the people of Artsakh [Nagorno-Karabakh  ed.] and contradicts international humanitarian law, Stepanakert said.

Yerevan, likewise, believes that the checkpoint installed by Azerbaijan at the Lachin corridor contradicts the terms of the ceasefire agreement and is, therefore, illegal. The Armenian government also denies having any territorial claims to Azerbaijan or otherwise infringing on its sovereignty. It insists, however, that the rights and security of Karabakh Armenians be discussed between Baku and Stepanakert in an internationally visible dialogue.
14 August 2023 12:30 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

In politics, there is a tactic - when legal authority cannot tell something, a public person close to the authority, an opposition, or a former government official tells it on behalf. We can assess the words of Ruben Vardanyan, in the interview with Glumoff in the radio Van in this way. Remind the Nemesis terror act, Ruben Vardanyan threatened the top governmental officials of Azerbaijan. Here raises a question: "Why Ruben Vardanyan suddenly needed to threaten Azerbaijan?" For understanding his intention, first up, we need to know the means of Armenian policy.

What is Nemesis terror act?

The Nemesis is a terror act against the Azerbaijani and Ottoman government officials conducted by a clandestine cell of an Armenian terror organization called the Revolutionary Federation in the 1920s. More precisely, when WWI broke out, an adventurous ambition emerged among the Armenians to create a country stretching from the Caspian Sea to the Black Sea by wresting out lands from the Ottoman Empire and Azerbaijan. Relating to ambition, they collaborated with the enemies of the Ottoman Empire and Azerbaijan to backstabbing. When their ambition did not come true, they started to conduct assassinations against the prominent Azerbaijani and Turkish governmental officials who had impeded Armenians to realize their ambition. The First Azerbaijani Prime Minister Fatali Khan Khoyski and the Interior Minister of Azerbaijan Behdud Khan Javanshir were among those who were assassinated by Armenians.

ASALA  the continuation of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation

Armenians, who have never ever had any state over years, resorted to terrorism to get their dreams come true. Therefore, the Revolutionary Federation was neither the first Armenian terror organization nor the last one. ASALA was another terror organization that adopted the same ambition and the same tactics. The organization was created in 1975 in Lebanon. The members of ASALA aimed to force Turkiye to accept their wishes by assassinating dozens of Turkish diplomats throughout the world.

It should be mentioned that during the first Garabagh war, the leader of ASALA came to the region and became one of the leaders of the separatists. At that time, the Armenian government organized several terror attacks to Azerbaijan such as blasting the metro stations and busses. Of course, Armenians could not get anything either from Turkiye or from Azerbaijan.

Terror legacy

However, it is well-known that every time, when Armenia enjoys a defeat in the war scene, they immediately resort to terror. We witnessed it even during the Second Garabagh War. Immediately after the liberation of any cities in Garabagh by the Azerbaijani Army, Armenia used to launch a missile attack against the civilians' populated areas in Ganja, Barda, and so on. Dozens of innocent people were killed, injured, and maimed as a result of missile attacks. Armenians thought that they would force Azerbaijan to stop the counter-offensive operation in 2020 by terrorizing them. But it backfired. All citizens of Azerbaijan demonstrated a big solidarity with the Azerbaijani Army and we kicked Armenians out of our liberated lands.

Just now, a little part of Azerbaijani lands is under the control of Armenian separatists, and demonstrating goodwill, Azerbaijan tries to return these territories through negotiations. Unfortunately, instead of taking lessons from the near past and accepting Azerbaijan's peace proposal, Armenians tried to play a victim card. They thought that big countries would believe their crocodile tears. However, being aware of the Armenian character, no country in the world did react to it, except a few Armenophil politicians. In other words, Armenia did not enjoy humiliating defeat only in the military scene, but also in diplomacy. Reaching the deadlock, Armenians look for a means to get out.

It seems, remaining true to their character, Armenians intend to resort to terror once again. However, legal authority in Yerevan cannot voice it, therefore Ruben Vardanyan says the intention instead of them.

But let neither Ruben Vardanyan nor his fixers forget that, nobody can speak with Azerbaijan in the terror language. Azerbaijan has disbanded several terror organizations over 30 years. Take the Armenian masterpiece terror organization ASALA for example. After fighting with Turkiye, Israel, and France, ASALA regretted coming to Garabagh in the 1990s. Azerbaijani Army eliminated its leader Monte Melkonyan in 1993 and the organization disbanded in 1997.

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Qabil Ashirov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @g_Ashirov

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
14 August 2023 20:00 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Massing the artillery units on the conventional border with Azerbaijan near the Lachin border checkpoint by Armenia caused another big concerns. Recalling the Armenian provocation that led to the 44-day war in 2020, many asked questions about whether the new war is about to start.

Certainly, Armenia is not as strong as it was before the war. It is well-known that Azerbaijan routed the Armenian army and it will take several years for them to regain their strength. Despite all this, Armenia's new relations with India regarding the purchase of weapons have also created a number of additional questions. However, it is still interesting, being Armenia's oddly specific partner in this region, how better can India play the role of military support for it at the same time?

Speaking to AZERNEWS, the military expert Ramil Mammadli noted that Armenia has tried to strength its military positions from the Goyche Lake to Zengilan since the end of the 44-day war. They aim to get upper hand in any possible future confrontations.

After the end of the war in November 2020, Armenia began to implement new engineering fortification works in the places where it retreated, more precisely in the positions where it stands in front of the Azerbaijani army positions. In particular, engineering fortifications were built in the conventional border region starting from Goycha Lake, to Zengilan, and this process continues today, as well. Armenia is busy strengthening its positions in the direction of Lachin and Kalbajar. New military units were built in those directions. On the part of Armenia, these military units aim to carry out combat operations of various purposes. According to the received information, it also includes increasing the number of artillery units. Of course, Armenia is trying to strengthen itself for getting more advantageous certain strategic and tactical positions at the first possible opportunity, the expert said.

As for the provocations by Armenia, Mammadli recalled previous provocations and noted that Armenia continuesly commits provocations. Taking into account previous provocations and massing artillery units on the border, he said that shooting out is expected, but not big provocations or military confrontations like the one during the 44-day war is out of question.

We saw it several times last year, and we witnessed the operational provocations of Armenians in the direction of Kalbajar on September 12 last year. Of course, if Armenia strengthens its positions in those directions, then it is expected that there will be some medium confrontations and provocations. As for the large-scale operations such as the 44-day war that took place in 2020, this does not reflect reality. Local, minor conflicts are expected, the military expert added.

He also shed some light on Armenia's strategy of arming itself, and said that it is not so alarming. He pointed out that previously Armenia purchased weapons from Russia, and due to the Ukraine-Russia war Moscow has suspended selling weapons. Therefore, Armenia buys weapons from India.

However, the expert also did not rule out that, Armenia's attempt to strengthen its militarily, which is only for increasing military pressure on Azerbaijan. However, its realization is not so convincing. That is, Armenia has not yet been able to achieve any successful results in this direction and will not be able to achieve them in the future.

Ramil Mammadli added that Armenia knows that it will not be able to fight with Azerbaijan, but it is bluffing to provoke Azerbaijan. This is also intended to portray Azerbaijan as an aggressor against European representatives.

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Qabil Ashirov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @g_Ashirov

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14 August 2023 10:00 (UTC+04:00)

The Aghdam-Khankendi railway was built in 1979 on the initiative and under the leadership of national leader Heydar Aliyev. Heydar Aliyev, who always paid special attention to the development of Garabagh, attached particular importance to the construction of railway lines in the region. Thanks to the opening of the Baku-Yevlakh-Khankendi railway, the socio-economic and cultural development of Garabagh accelerated, and its ties with Baku were strengthened. In addition to improving the material and technical supply of the population, this also significantly improved the economic performance of the region. Thus, due to lower costs for the supply of raw materials and transportation of products, the cost of products manufactured in Garabagh has significantly decreased. All this was achieved precisely as a result of the efforts of the national leader.

Azernews presents some statistical data on the significance of the communication lines passing through Aghdam in Khankendi, and their prospects for the region with reference to Azertag.

In the 80s of the last century, the annual turnover of cargo transportation on the section of the Barda-Aghdam railway line of the Yevlakh-Khankendi line was 1.5 million tons, and on the section of the Aghdam-Khankendi railway line (27 kilometers) - 1 million tons. At that time, the speed of trains was 60 km/h on the Barda-Aghdam railway line, 40 km/h on the Aghdam-Khankendi railway line.

As a result of the occupation by Armenia of 20 percent of the territory of Azerbaijan in the early 1990s, the railway sector of the republic, as well as other sectors of the economy, suffered significant damage. Along with the equipment, an important part of the railways of Azerbaijan was occupied, the activity of the Yevlakh-Khankendi railway was stopped, the Aghdam, Askaran and Khankendi stations of this line were seized, the railways were brutally destroyed by the Armenians.

Thirty years later, under the leadership of the victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, life is being revived in our liberated lands - the construction of new railway lines in these regions is being implemented.

It should be noted that by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated November 24, 2020, the design and construction of the Barda-Aghdam railway line has begun. At present, 90 percent of the design work has been completed, physical progress in the construction and installation work of the line is 70 percent. Long-length rails with a length of 56.951 km were laid, and the first stage of earthworks, construction of engineering structures, laying of elements of the superstructure of the track and turnouts were fully completed. By the end of this year, it is planned to complete the design and construction of the Barda-Aghdam railway line.

We present the following information on the technical indicators of the project and the scope of work:

- The length of the line, taking into account the side branches, is 57.857 km, including 47.1 km along the axis;

- the volume of earthworks is 1,368,816 cubic meters;

- Stations (4 units): Barda, Kocharli, Tazakand and Aghdam;

- Number of engineering structures - 130 units;

 Including 3 bridges, 1 viaduct, 7 animal crossings, 85 drainage pipes, 1 elevated crossing and 33 emergency crossings;

- In general, the project has 16 interchanges at the same level with the highway, including 9 with a barrier and 7 without a barrier;

- Number of turnouts - 34 units;

- The length of communication and signaling systems - 47.1 km;

The predicted speed of trains is 80 km/h, the annual turnover of cargo transportation is 1.5 million tons.

How to transport goods to Garabagh faster and more efficiently?

At one time, the communication lines passing through Aghdam - automobile and railway - provided the needs of the inhabitants of Khankendi, Shusha and Lachin. The shortest route from Baku to Khankendi, Shusha, Lachin ran through Aghdam. The use of the Baku-Yevlakh-Aghdam-Khankendi-Shusha-Lachin highway was more efficient. This road is able to provide faster and more efficient delivery of humanitarian cargo.

It should be noted that in the 1980s, the republican road R-28 Yevlakh-Khojaly-Lachin, which runs through the center of the city of Aghdam, was used to travel from Baku to Khankendi and Shusha. In the same years, from the 40th kilometer of the Aghdam-Barda road, a two-lane Aghdam ring road of local significance was laid with a length of 17.5 km, which ran up to the administrative territory of the Askaran region bypassing the center of the city of Aghdam, and before the occupation of Azerbaijani lands by Armenia, the entire population of Garabagh, as well as the population of the Lachin districts constantly used this road.

Recall that the distance from the city of Aghdam to the Askaran district is 6 kilometers, to the city of Khankendi - 23 kilometers, and from Khankendi to the city of Shusha - 11 kilometers. The distance from Baku to Aghdam is 360 kilometers, to Khankendi - 383 kilometers, to Shusha - 394 kilometers and to Lachin - 435 kilometers.

In accordance with the infrastructure restoration project in the territories liberated from occupation, the construction of four-lane highways of the first technical category Barda-Aghdam, 44.5 kilometers long, and Aghdam-Fuzuli, 65.7 kilometers long, is in full swing. The capacity of both highways is 17,000 vehicles per day.

Before the conflict, the Baku-Yevlakh-Aghdam-Khankendi-Shusha-Lachin highway and the Baku-Aghdam-Khankendi railway line played an important role in the development of Garabagh. Despite the fact that the railway line was out of order during the occupation, it is quite possible to get there and back by motorway. Therefore, the excuses of the Armenians are inappropriate. Today, the economic potential of Azerbaijan allows us to solve, among other things, the social issues of our Armenian residents in Garabagh. Since this region is the territory of Azerbaijan, all communications must now run through our state. At present, there are three airports in the Garabagh economic region and adjacent districts - in Ganja, Yevlakh and Fuzuli. This creates the basis for turning the region into a hub for transport and logistics projects. So, due to the proximity of airports to the city of Barda, transportation of goods along the Barda-Aghdam road and the Barda-Aghdam railway would avoid wastage of time. In this regard, the Aghdam-Khankendi road acquires great significance.

It should also be noted that the Azerbaijan allowed the use of the Aghdam-Khankendi road to meet the needs of Armenian minority in Garabagh. Our state is determined to reintegrate the ethnic Armenians living in Garabagh as equal citizens into the political, legal, economic and social framework of Azerbaijan. Therefore, Armenia must strictly comply with its obligations and not interfere in the internal affairs of states, not harm the integration of persons belonging to national minorities, and not incite separatism in the territory of neighboring states.

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14 August 2023 16:29 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

Spectacular concert has been held at the Italian city of San-Remo to mark the 100th anniversary of National Leader Heydar Aliyev.

The event, organized at the San Remo Theater by the Azerbaijani composer and pianist Kamala Alizade, who lives in Italy, and her husband, composer, musician Stefano Muscaritolo with the support of the State Committee for Work with the Diaspora of Azerbaijan, was attended by the mayor of the city of Corbetta, well-known representatives of the local community.

Among the guests were the Mayor of the city of Corbetta (Milan) Marco Ballarini and his spouse. Director of MonteCarloTimes magazine, Ilio Masprone, well-known Italian journalists Feliciana, Lucia Di Spirito, famous Italian film producer Angelo Bassi and others.

Leading Adviser at the Azerbaijan State Committee on Work with Diaspora Leyla Hamzayeva welcomed the guests of the event.

In her speech, she noted that a series of events are being held in Azerbaijan and other countries within the Year of Heydar Aliyev.

Leyla Hamzayeva outlined that the State Committee supports the projects of diaspora activists, including the first project of the composer Kamala Alizade within the Year of Heydar Aliyev. Next, the musicians were invited to the stage.

Speaking about the concert, Kamala Alizade expressed her gratitude to the Azerbaijan State Committee on Work with Diaspora for supporting the event.

"Gala concert was organized by us with the support of the Azerbaijan State Committee on Work with Diaspora. I would take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the Committee Chairman Fuad Muradov and Leading Adviser Leyla Hamzayeva for their support in the holding the concert timed to the 100th anniversary of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev in San-Remo, Italy," she told AZERNEWS.

The composer noted that the concert program was distinguished with its originality.

"Me and my husband are both composers. Our bond is often called a cultural bridge between Azerbaijan and Italy. The concert program included music pieces composed by me and my husband Stefano Muscaritolo for the orchestra. The concert opened with the first part of J. S. Bach's Piano Concerto. The performance was conducted by maestro Massimo De Pra. My compositions, including Dante in Venice Symphonic suite, Concert of the 40th parallel" (both countries are geographically connected by the 40th parallel, Flying over Shusha, Scherzo (solo performance) as well as Stefano Muscaritolo's music pieces- Luxe Fulgebit For Soprano and Orchestra and Voice From Space, performed by the soloist of Ukraine of the Kiev Opera House Tatyana Anisimova," said Kamala Alizade.

"Stefano Muscaritolo's work "This Land" dedicated to the National Leader Heydar Aliyev was premiered at the concert. The composition was written in the words of the 17th century poet Giambattista Marino. Edward Lyaschuk, who performed the composition, totally captivated the audience.

I would like to note that my grandmother, Honored Doctor of Azerbaijan, Chairman of the Council of Veterans, Honorary Member of the Red Crescent, Gizbes Asadova, personally knew Heydar Aliyev and it is a great honor for me that it was I who had the honor on the 100th anniversary of Heydaoa Aliyev to be both the organizer, performer and composer of this significant event. I am very glad that my love, respect for this legendary personality could find a response in the heart of the Italian composer, so he dedicated a very beautiful work to Heydar Aliyev," she added.

"Me and Stefano Muscaritolo performed Azerbaijani folk songs, including "Ay Lachin" "You are my beauty" and my jazz composition "From the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean" in ethno-jazz style. The concert ended with my work "O patria mia", which means "My Motherland" in Italian. The music piece was composed in the words of the great Italian poet Giacomo Leopardi. My and Tatyana Anisimova's performance, accompanied by the orchestra, left no one indifferent," she noted.

The theme of patriotism has always taken a special place in the composer's music.

"I am very proud of Azerbaijan. Since 2003 I have been actively promoting my motherland at international level. My roots come from Shusha. The theme of the motherland has always been an integral part of my creativity. For example, the pain of losing Shusha is heard in the chamber work "Paradise Lost" (2001) Vocalise on Khojaly written by me at the age of 13 immediately after the terrible events. The music piece "Flying over Shusha" became a swallow of victory. The composition was performed in the winter of 2020 at a concert in the city of Udine, Italy," the composer said.

Alizade emphasized that the audience was totally captivated by the concert.

"The audience did not let us from the stage and gave us a standing ovation. For an encore, the orchestra performed "Bridge of Sighs", my piece from Dante's Suite in Venice. Before the concert, there was a press conference for the Italian media. Many articles have been also published about us, glorifying music and love between the two countries," she said.

Kamala Alizade and Stefano Muscaritolo will further continue to fascinate music lovers with their masterpieces.

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14 August 2023 13:41 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Today Pakistan commemorates the Independence Day. On this day, 76 years ago the country got its independence under the leadership of Muhammed Ali Jinnah. Pakistani Embassy in Azerbaijan hosted an event on the occasion of the day. The journalists, the employees of the Embassy, and the Pakistani community in Azerbaijan participated in the event. At the beginning of the event, the Pakistani Ambassador to Azerbaijan Bilal Hayee hoisted the Pakistani flag under the sounds of the national anthem. Then the guests, employees, and the Ambassador delivered a speech.

In a comment to Azernews, Bilal Hayee gave brief information about the Independence Day. He noted that 76 years ago, on the 14th of August in 1947, the state of Pakistan emerged on the map of the globe as an independent sovereign state.

There was a lot of struggle and history behind the creation of Pakistan. The Muslims of the subcontinent, a British colony at that time, struggled and strode for an independent homeland under the leadership of Muhammed Ali Jinnah, who we call Quaid-e-Azam or the Great Leader. The independence journey of Pakistan has been full of challenges and also opportunities and hopes. Pakistan's nation has emerged as a resilient, strong nation that understood the challenges. Today we are 240 million strong people. Pakistani diaspora is contributing to the international economies of many countries in the world. Also, many Pakistanis live and reside in Azerbaijan. I want to thank you today the people of Azerbaijan and the leadership of Azerbaijan who always supports Pakistan. The two countries are great friends and we are very happy that today many Azerbaijani friends came to the Embassy to celebrate the independence day with Pakistanis. So, let us say long live or as we say zindabad Pakistani-Azerbaijani friendship,

The Ambassador said that people-to-people relations between the two countries are expanding. Besides, he mentioned that the flight between Azerbaijan and Pakistan resumed. Also, tourism is increased.

Also, we are happy to note that our people-to-people relations are growing and expanding. Now, we have direct flights between Pakistan and Azerbaijan since 2022. The frequency of these flights is increasing. A large number of Pakistani tourists visit Azerbaijan every week. Similarly, Azerbaijanis are exploring the opportunity to travel to Pakistan for tourism. Also, our business relations are expanding. Last year, our trade turnover tripled. We hope this trend will continue; people-to-people relations will further get strengthened and this is the foundation on which we want to build the relationship. We are very hopeful and confident that this relationship has a very bright future and it will continue to flourish in the future, the Ambassador added.

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Qabil Ashirov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @g_Ashirov

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14 August 2023 16:57 (UTC+04:00)

Armenian armed separatist groups continue to cause provocation by digging trenches in Azerbaijan's Garabagh, Azernews reports.

Armenian armed separatist groups on the territories of Azerbaijan, where the Russian peacekeeping contingent is temporarily stationed (under the trilateral statement signed by Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian leaders following the 2020 second Karabakh war) continue their provocative actions.

The video that was acquired revealed that these groups are aiming to build long-term defenses in front of the Azerbaijani army's positions.

Separatist groups have recently intensified their use of such provocative tactics.

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Migrants from sub-Saharan Africa in a makeshift boat are found by Tunisian authorities off the coast of Sfax, on 4 October 2022 (AFP)

For a brief while, Big Oil seemed to fear that the game was up. It assumed that there would be a popular and political backlash as the data leaked out.

In 1989, Shell plotted two future scenarios . In one, which it termed Sustainable World, carbon burning would peak in 2000 and then drop off, leading to a manageable 1C rise in temperatures. The other, what it called continued Global Mercantilism - or business as usual - would lead to disastrous outcomes.

There would be more violent weather - more storms, more droughts, more deluges. The mean sea level would rise at least 30cm. Agricultural patterns would be most dramatically changed, Shells 1989 report concluded .

A worldwide refugee problem would be unleashed too, as people fled hotspots where famine and drought hit first. Conflicts would abound. Civilisation could prove a fragile thing.

In response, public relations campaigns were organised to show how seriously the oil industry was taking the problem. In 1991, for example, Shell funded a half-hour video on the dangers of climate change for screening in schools and colleges.

Irrational faith in eternal growth

Averting a crisis for all mankind that the industry knew was coming may have been a moral duty, but it was not a legal one.

In fact, as explained before by Middle East Eye , the exact reverse happened. Throughout the 1990s, Big Oil successfully sabotaged meaningful climate action by pressuring western states to sign an energy treaty tying their hands on cuts to fossil-fuel use.

That was for a good reason. Under the capitalist system, the primary duty of oil corporations - like other corporations - is to maintain profitability and guarantee value for investors and stockholders. Ethics never got a look-in.

So the fossil fuel industry spent part of its vast profits pursuing a twin-track: first, muddying the waters about the climate science , then channelling attention towards largely meaningless, small-scale fixes that fell to the public to implement.

For the critical years when urgent, state-backed action was needed on a massive scale, climate denial, funded by dark money from Big Business, was given regular airtime on influential media channels like the BBC . Ordinary people were left, as they were supposed to be, confused and unsure.

Meanwhile, the burden of doing something was intentionally shifted away from governments to western publics. Small, private actions, we were told, would have big impacts.

Ordinary people were encouraged, for example, to convert, very gradually, from using wasteful, short-life lightbulbs to more efficient, long-lasting versions - lightbulbs that had been around for decades but kept out of production because they were far less profitable .

Now the cost-benefit analysis had changed for Big Business: the humble lightbulb was a weapon in the fight to placate a public and policymakers keen to do something about climate change.

Similarly, responsible citizens were advised to commute to work on a bike , even as governments exclusively prioritised road infrastructure improvements for motorists, not cyclists, and a wider culture was fostered vilifying bike riders , one that persists to this day.

It did not end there. The fossil-fuel lobby intensified its capture of the public space.

Corporate money in politics meant the political class was in no mood to take on the oil industry, whatever the scientists were saying. In any case, politicians, desperate for re-election, were not about to start questioning the precepts of capitalism in a two-party system in which both parties were expected to worship the model of endless economic growth .

The establishment media was embedded in the same network of interconnected corporations that profited from an oil-based economy. Their own short-termist goals depended on shoring up an irrational faith among the public in eternal economic growth on a finite planet.

Giant psyop

The bottom line was that no one with a public platform had any interest in warning the public that advanced societies were structured in a way that was hurtling us towards extinction. The profit-driven, over-consumption model of capitalism was never in question.

Instead, the fossil-fuel companies set themselves a deadline of the 2010s - the point at which, as their scientists had warned, climate disruptions would be hard to conceal from the public. By that time, the oil industry would need to have ready a new script that the oil industry was integral to saving the planet .

Which is exactly what it did. Recent reports show that ethical and green investment funds have poured money into fossil-fuel companies after those firms rebranded themselves. The oil giants profits have again hit record levels .

Under the so-called Green New Deals, nothing fundamentally changes. We still drive our own cars in pretty, individualised colours. We still holiday abroad. We still shop in large supermarkets with everything - including year-round exotic fruit flown in from abroad - wrapped and protected in oil-based plastics.

We are still encouraged through advertising to consume as much as possible and throw away items of new technology - from personal computers to phones - every few years through planned obsolescence.

But this individualised, competitive, wasteful way of life is being given a makeover. Cars are now hybrids or electric . Holidays are  carbon offset  somehow. Plastic on our food is described as recyclable. Advertising now explains to us how all the stuff we buy is saving the planet .

Living ever more of our lives online supposedly helps too, because it reduces our carbon footprint. It is a green revolution in which everything stays pretty much the same - including the ability of giant corporations to make massive profits .

Armed with warnings - decades in advance - from their own scientists, the oil industry had enough of a head-start to invent a self-serving narrative. It's one in which ordinary people are encouraged to consume as much as before, while being persuaded either that they are making a difference or that the damage they are causing will be reversed by imminent technologies.

The new watchword is net zero. But in truth, it is a giant psychological operation ( psyop ), as climate scientists have gradually started to appreciate.

In 2021 a group of three leading academics admitted that for years they had been duped into championing the promises of the Green New Deal.

Technological fixes, such as carbon capture, offsetting and geoengineering, were no more than fairy tales , they warned. Net zero policies were and still are driven by a need to protect business as usual, not the climate.

One, James Dyke, an expert in global systems at Exeter University, observed: Its astonishing how the continual absence of any credible carbon removal technology seems to never affect net zero policies. Whatever is thrown at it, net zero carries on without a dent in the fender I've now realised that we have all been subject to a form of gaslighting.

Unhealthy cynicism

This has turned out - whether intentionally or not - as a win-win-win for Big Business.

Much of the public is wrongly persuaded that the climate crisis is still some way off, and that the action necessary to avert it is in hand through technological advances like carbon capture. As a consequence, they have little truck with an increasingly noisy climate protest movement .

Significant sections of the protest movement itself have been hoodwinked into believing the Green New Deal offers good-faith solutions - despite the fact that it has been hijacked to disguise business as normal.

As a result, the elephant in the room - the inherent, self-destructive tendencies of capitalism - is pushed by protesters to the sidelines or out of sight completely. Protests are invariably restricted to policy failures or government U-turns.

Even the protest movements figurehead, Greta Thunberg, who last year finally came out against capitalism with the publication of The Climate Book , has found it hard not to drift back into supporting business as normal.

In recent months she has become an increasingly high-profile partisan in the Ukraine war, effectively greenwashing the Wests cynical proxy fight against Russia on behalf of its war and energy industries.

The Ukraine war, provoked all too predictably by Nato expansion to Russias borders, has offered enormous profiteering opportunities for the Wests military, weapons and oil industries.

That has served not just as a welcome distraction from the urgent need to tackle the climate crisis. The wars collateral damage - from the Nord Stream pipeline explosions to the Kakhovka dam rupture - is wreaking an enormous ecological toll. The war itself, and the refusal to consider peace talks, is fuelling the very forces most responsible for environmental destruction.

Trapped in the middle is a third camp. It has grown terminally cynical. Some deny any kind of climate emergency. Others write off the green agenda, arguing that the deadline to save the planet has been missed and any action is now futile.

Western publics are confused, embittered and divided - the ideal conditions in which inertia reigns and Big Oil can carry on as normal.

Growth paradigm

With no one in the mainstream grappling with the reality of what lies ahead, leading financial institutions have been free to pretend that capitalisms relentless growth paradigm can be squared with sustainability.

A 2017 report , for example, by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, a world trade body comprising the worlds 38 most developed states, is titled simply: Investing in Climate, Investing in Growth.

The World Bank champions continuing growth - for western corporations - under the deceptive rubric of development for the Global South.

The market cheerleaders of the British government trumpet their green credentials . Our transition to a green and sustainable future will provide new opportunities to grow and level up the UK economy, a 2023 policy paper says. Such claims are being made, as noted earlier, even as the government and opposition scramble to reverse policies that are the prerequisite for a sustainable future.

The European Commission, meanwhile, calls its Green Deal  Europe's new growth strategy , even as it fails to fund it.

The exclusive focus on climate change has served too as a kind of sinkhole, into which much wider problems of ecological degradation through human activity can be disappeared. While Big Business is busy promising fairytale tech fixes like carbon capture, attention is diverted from the things for which no fixes are being offered. They include a massive, global loss of biodiversity, shortages of fresh water, soil degradation, deforestation, air and water pollution, microplastics, ocean acidification, the over mining of rare minerals. The list goes on .

Ecologist William Rees, professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia, has referred to modern techno-industrial culture as fundamentally dysfunctional. It is systematically - even enthusiastically - consuming the biophysical basis of its own existence. He describes humanitys relationship to the planet as analogous to a  malignant parasite .

Heads in the sand

Behind the scenes, politicians and officials appear less sanguine than their public, simple-minded declarations.

Though they refuse to face up to the inherent contradictions between ecological and economic demands, they are recognising the heavy costs certain to be inflicted on each nations finances by more extreme weather events and rising oceans.

In late 2021, a US Treasury panel concluded that the climate crisis was an emerging threat to the countrys financial stability, with the potential to wipe out trillions of dollars of assets.

Nonetheless, when faced with a choice between addressing the climate emergency or pursuing growth, the economic imperative triumphs every time.

In January, at a meeting of central bank chiefs in Stockholm, the head of the US Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, urged his western colleagues to prioritise short-term goals like fighting inflation rather than address the long-term need to fight climate change. We are not, and will not be, a climate policymaker, he said.

The climate emergency, and the wider ecological crisis, will put this kind of neoliberal orthodoxy under ever greater strain. Without a meaningful response, something will have to give. Already, the twin pillars of the Wests liberal democratic order are starting to crumble: the commitment to free speech and the right to protest .

Ahead lie ever more unaffordable energy bills, empty supermarket shelves, floods and heatwaves, wasted expenditure on resource wars, and the more general symptoms of ecological collapse.

Burying our heads in the sand a little longer won't make the coming battle go away. It will just make survival even less likely.
14 August 2023 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

The ongoing verbal propaganda of Armenian politicians, in its volume, carries lies and deep belief in them, which are ingrained in the consciousness of the Armenian society. On the one hand, Armenians hope for more support and action from the forces behind them, allegedly on the so-called blockade of Khankendi, on the other hand, they refrain from covering the internal problems of the society and the location as a whole. The critical situation is not only related to the separatist regime in Garabagh but also has engulfed the puppet state of Armenia. Today in Armenia the percentage of murders with firearms has increased up to 50 percent, as well as the percentage of distrust towards the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, has increased.

The internal confrontation of political forces in so-called Artsakh with Yerevan is also noticeable. Tigran Abrahamyan, secretary of the "I have honor" parliamentary party, calls the "Pashinyan government" a historical gift to Azerbaijan, and claims that this government "will not break the collective resistance of the Armenian people. The collective propaganda lies of the Armenians were shrugged off by the victorious Azerbaijani army on the battlefield, led by Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev in the second 44-day Karabakh war. Many years will pass and out of favor until the Armenians admit defeat, which makes Armenians' blood boil, in a seduction with an act of revenge.

Against this backdrop, a group of Armenian veterans calling themselves "crusaders" are asking the government for guns, to use force on the Lachin road in case Yerevan fails to act to resolve the situation with the so-called "blockade" of Khankendi. The collective resistance of Armenians to the humanitarian aid provided by Azerbaijan, both on the Lachin road and on the Aghdam-Khankendi road, tells a different story.

Azerbaijan provides everything necessary for the citizens living on the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The accusations against Azerbaijan are verbal and have no solid evidence, and the sad case of the death of 2 children in Mardakert ("Aghdere") is tragic, and it is shameful to take advantage of the family's grief and to take the opportunity to accuse Baku of blocking the road, which allegedly caused the famine in Khankendi. There is a number of evidence to prove Armenian lies, one of which is the so-called Garabagh "activist" Artur Osipyan who said on social media that there is no "famine" in Garabagh.

"I still say that there are problems in Garabagh, the shops might be empty, but to say that it's hunger and to show little children doesn't do us any honor. We want to say to the whole world: look at our situation, how difficult it is, and show our children as victims. This lie does not go away! This lie has the opposite effect and does us no honor," he said.

But to take and in the end, say that these children died because of hunger, but listen, it is a shame. All facebook users in the world see them in Azerbaijan's Garabagh celebrating weddings, making kebabs, while they on the other hand shout out to the world about children allegedly dying of hunger? And in Garabagh, some of the restaurants are still working.

"Let's not try to fool the world and play fair. We cannot keep our secrets, but how can you imagine that we will be able to present any lie in our own way," Osipyan said.

Azerbaijan has repeatedly offered humanitarian, medical, and other forms of assistance, and Armenian minority in Garabagh has repeatedly passed to and from Yerevan in the ICRC vehicles through the Lachin State Border Checkpoint. The lies of the "leaders" are not difficult to recognize, social media and the information in them is largely accessible. The Aghdam-Khankendi road proposed by Azerbaijan was rejected by the residents of the so-called artsakh, which created the ground for manipulation and provocations. It is not difficult to notice inconsistency and internal strife in the Armenian ranks, which cannot easily admit defeat in the war. Mistakes must be learned from.

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13 August 2023 19:00 (UTC+04:00)

On August 13, at 16:20, units of the Armenian armed forces opened fire on the positions of the Azerbaijani army in the direction of the settlement of Mollabayramli in the Kalbajar region from their positions located in the direction of the settlement of Yukhari Shorja in the Basarkecher region, Azernews reports, citing the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

The units of the Azerbaijan Army took adequate response measures in this direction.

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14 August 2023 11:27 (UTC+04:00)

In accordance with the training plan for 2023, approved by the Minister of Defence, the Army, the Special Combined Arms Army, the Air Force, other branches of the armed forces and special military units, as well as special educational establishments, Azernews reports, citing the Ministry.

The celebrations were attended by members of the families of the martyrs, commanders of military units, local executive bodies and representatives of the public, veterans and parents of the soldiers.

In accordance with military customs, after the battle flag was brought to the square and the National Anthem was played, the events were declared open.

Firstly, a minute of silence honoured the memory of the National Leader of our people Heydar Aliyev, as well as those who died for the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan. Then the young soldiers solemnly took the Military Oath and promised to keep their loyalty to the Motherland.

Speakers at the solemn ceremonies called on the young soldiers to be loyal to the Motherland, the state and the Commander-in-Chief, to serve exemplary and rankly in wartime, to learn the secrets of arms and equipment in depth, to constantly improve their combat capabilities, to fulfil orders and instructions of the Commander-in-Chief's headquarters accurately and on time, advised them to be ready for battle at any moment to defend our lands.

In the end, the personnel marched in front of the tribune in a solemn march.

After the official ceremony, cultural events were held for the personnel, and parents were familiarised with the conditions in the military units.

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14 August 2023 12:50 (UTC+04:00)

Today, the efforts aimed at establishing a lasting peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia have fallen victim to Armenia's deliberate policy of tension and revanchism and face serious challenges, Azernews reports, citing The Ministry.

Despite its first failure in December 2022, Armenia is once again trying to turn the UN Security Council into an instrument of political, military, and information-oriented manipulation campaigns.

At the same time, Armenia is a country that ignores four UN Security Council resolutions adopted in 1993 and a series of Security Council presidential statements demanding the full, immediate, and unconditional withdrawal of occupying forces from Armenian territory. Azerbaijan for almost 30 years.

Armenia's appeal to the UN Security Council over baseless allegations of a "deteriorating humanitarian situation" and "continuing blockade" in the region comes at a time when Armenia is once again deliberately and purposefully obstructing efforts to find a balanced, international legal and acceptable solution through international partners.

As is well known, Armenia's extensive abuse of the Lachin road over the past three years has forced Azerbaijan to take legitimate and lawful measures to establish a border crossing point to ensure security and order on its border. Although Armenia attempted to portray these efforts as a "blockade" and appealed to the UN International Court of Justice for a decision to remove the checkpoint, the court unanimously rejected this request in its 6 July ruling.

Armenia has not accepted the fact that it is deprived of supplying and equipping the needs of the armed forces, which have not been fully withdrawn from the territory of Azerbaijan, as well as the illegal exploitation of Azerbaijan's natural resources. For this reason, Armenia has launched a propaganda campaign throughout the world and has created a number of military and other obstacles to the normal operation of the crossing point, as well as to the use of other routes, such as the Aghdam-Khankendi road for the delivery of goods to the Garabagh region of Azerbaijan.

Recently, after a series of intensive consultations and efforts of "shuttle diplomacy", an agreement was finally reached on the delivery of humanitarian supplies to the Garabagh region by various routes, as well as on the organization of a meeting between the special representative of Azerbaijan and representatives of local Armenian residents.

On the first issue, in order to meet the needs of local residents, to create conditions for the delivery of humanitarian supplies through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the concrete and all other physical obstacles erected by Armenia to prevent the use of the Aghdam-Khankendi road were to be removed. This was to be followed by the activation of the ICRC's use of the Lachin road within 24 hours. All parties, including the Russian peacekeeping contingent and the ICRC, were ready to put this agreement into practice.

On the second issue, an agreement was reached between the special representative of Azerbaijan and local representatives of Armenia to hold a meeting in Yevlakh.

However, on 5 August 2023, Armenia, through its so-called regime, violated both agreements reached at the last moment by putting forward politically motivated, illegal conditions and various pretexts.

In other words, what Armenia demanded from the international community in general, and the UN Security Council in particular, was achieved a few days ago as a result of the support of partners, including members of the Council. Council. This did not happen only because of Armenia's refusal.

However, on 5 August 2023, Armenia, through its so-called regime, violated both agreements reached at the last moment by putting forward politically motivated, illegal conditions and various pretexts. In other words, what Armenia demanded from the international community in general, and the UN Security Council in particular, was achieved a few days ago as a result of the support of partners, including members of the Council. Council. This did not happen only because of Armenia's refusal. Had Armenia and its so-called "entity" under its jurisdiction honored the agreement, the issue would have been resolved by early August, with an acceptable framework for the delivery of humanitarian supplies to the inhabitants of the Garabagh region, as well as facilitating the passage of people, goods, and vehicles.

For this reason, there should be no doubt that, despite Azerbaijan's intensive engagement with the Russian Federation, the United States, the European Union, and the ICRC to find a way out of the current situation, Armenia is deliberately obstructing these diplomatic efforts. Armenias appeal to the UN Security Council is part of this campaign, and in this respect, it seriously affects the efforts of the parties involved, including the members of the Security Council. In addition, in recent weeks, in flagrant violation of international law, as well as Armenia's obligations set out in paragraph 4 of the Tripartite Statement by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Russia, and Armenia of 10 November 2020, Armenian armed forces illegally deployed on the territory of Azerbaijan have conducted military engineering works and intensified other military construction works.

Of particular concern is the use of electronic warfare equipment illegally deployed on the sovereign territory of Azerbaijan. In recent weeks, in addition to civilian aircraft of Azerbaijan Airlines, aircraft of foreign States have been subjected to electronic jamming, which poses a serious threat to their security. In parallel with the illegal build-up of military construction works and activities in the sovereign territories of Azerbaijan, where the Russian peacekeeping contingent is temporarily deployed, in recent days there has been a large-scale collection of weapons, other military equipment, and personnel for another military adventure along the State border, which Armenia has not delimited. The above is a reminder of Armenia's practice for almost 30 years until September 2020, which included political, military, and other provocations at every stage of negotiations to simulate negotiations, evade earlier commitments at the last minute and avoid making concrete decisions. At the same time, such actions by Armenia show that Armenia has not ceased its territorial claims against Azerbaijan, and its verbal recognition of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity differs from its actions on the ground.

After the war in 2020, Azerbaijan offered Armenia a peace based on equal and mutual respect for the legitimate interests of both sides on the basis of mutual recognition and respect for each other's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and inviolability of each other's borders by the two countries. On the other hand, Azerbaijan pursues a policy of reintegrating the inhabitants of Armenian origin living in the Garabagh region as equal citizens by ensuring the rights and freedoms provided for in the Constitution of Azerbaijan and all relevant international human rights mechanisms in which Azerbaijan participates. At the same time, Azerbaijan, while demonstrating its commitment to all these areas,

At this critical juncture, a clear understanding of the existing risks and an adequate response of the international community to Armenia's provocations are more important than ever to overcome the difficulties faced by the process of normalization of inter-State relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the reintegration of local residents of Armenian origin into the political, legal and socio-economic framework of Azerbaijan.

It is important to ensure that a historic opportunity for sustainable peace in the region is not lost.

Had Armenia and its so-called "entity" under its jurisdiction honored the agreement, the issue would have been resolved by early August, with an acceptable framework for the delivery of humanitarian supplies to the inhabitants of the Garabagh region, as well as facilitating the passage of people, goods, and vehicles.

For this reason, there should be no doubt that, despite Azerbaijan's intensive engagement with the Russian Federation, the United States, the European Union, and the ICRC to find a way out of the current situation, Armenia is deliberately obstructing these diplomatic efforts.

Armenia's appeal to the UN Security Council is part of this campaign, and in this respect, it seriously affects the efforts of the parties involved, including the members of the Security Council. In addition, in recent weeks, in flagrant violation of international law, as well as Armenia's obligations set out in paragraph 4 of the Tripartite Statement by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Russia, and Armenia of 10 November 2020, Armenian armed forces illegally deployed on the territory of Azerbaijan have conducted military engineering works and intensified other military construction works.

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14 August 2023 13:37 (UTC+04:00)

70 percent of the works on the Aghdam-Khankendi railway have been completed. This is stated in a video prepared by AzTV, Azernews reports.

It is reported that the railway should be put into operation by the end of this year. Besides, the report highlighted the importance of communication lines between Aghdam and Khankendi in Azerbaijan.

It is significant to note that in the 1980s, National Leader Heydar Aliyev built a railway line between these two cities, which helped the people of Karabakh get access to cheaper goods and materials. However, in the early 1990s, the railway line was destroyed by Armenians during the occupation of Azerbaijani lands. Now, 30 years later, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev is rebuilding the railway line, and the construction is expected to be completed by the end of this year. The railway line will help the people of Garabagh get access to goods faster and more efficiently. In addition, there are three airports in the region that can help with the transportation of goods. The state of Azerbaijan is also allowing the use of the Aghdam-Khankendi road to meet the needs of Armenian residents.

You can watch the detailed video:

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14 August 2023 14:30 (UTC+04:00)

The protest, staged with fabricated claims, has been organized by the Armenian community in Los Angeles, Azernews reports.

Protesters are chanting absurd slogans like opening the Lachin road and calling for Armenians living in Garabagh to be removed from the blockade.

They have blocked the entrance to the Consulate building and have set up tents.

Note that the government of Azerbaijan has repeatedly stated that the Lachin Road is open for humanitarian purposes. The free crossing conditions of the Armenian population living in Azerbaijan's Garabah in both directions from the Lachin border checkpoint with the mediation of the International Committee of the Red Cross proves this once again.

Recently, on 9 August, hundreds of people from the Armenian community blocked the eastbound lane of the 134 motorway in Glendale, California, to express support for the Armenians of so-called Artsakh and to protest Azerbaijan's allegedly blocked Lachin Corridor. The protesters also called on Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff to provide aid to the landlocked republic.

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14 August 2023 17:42 (UTC+04:00)

Representatives of the successor of the Albanian (Caucasus) Apostol Independent Church, Azerbaijan Albaian-Udi Christian religious community visited the Khudaveng monastery complex located in Kalbajar region, State Committee on Work with Religious Institutions, Azernews reports, citing Religious Institutions.

A preacher from the Albanian-Udi community of Azerbaijan was appointed to the ancient Albanian monastery complex located in the recently liberated Kalbajar district of Azerbaijan. The Khudavang monastery, which hosted the first prayer ceremony for the Albanian-Udi community, was built in the VIII-XIII centuries during the reign of the ancient Azerbaijani state of Caucasian Albania. The temple suffered damages after sacred items were looted by both the Armenian preachers and worshippers. Azerbaijan regained control over Kalbajar on November 25 and the Azerbaijani state will properly protect the Christian temples located in the territories returned to Azerbaijan. 24 Christian religious communities hold prayers in 14 churches in Azerbaijan.

Representatives of the religious community performed religious rites and lit candles in the church belonging to a temple complex.

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14 August 2023 19:05 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Pakistan supports and helps Azerbaijan to strengthen its defense capability since we know that Azerbaijan has challenges in this region.

This was told by the Pakistani Ambassador to Azerbaijan Bilal Hayee, telling at the event dedicated to the Independence day of Pakistan, Azernews reports.

Pakistan and Azerbaijan established diplomatic relations in 1992. So, actually this year we completed 31 years of diplomatic relations. Despite it is not a very long time, but still a significant time and which we can review and reflect on the achievements of this important partnership and friendship between the two countries. Let me tell you that Pakistan and Azerbaijan have excellent diplomatic and political relations. Pakistan and Azerbaijan support each other on important issues of national interest. For example, Pakistan is great public and vocal support of Azerbaijan on the issue of Karabakh. We believe that Karabakh is Azerbaijan and Pakistan has supported Azerbaijan on this issue at all international arena. Similarly, Azerbaijan has supported and extended full support to Pakistan on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. Azerbaijan is very considered about this factor. Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed territory that requires a solution in accordance with the UN resolutions. We are grateful for that, the Ambassador told.

Bilal Hayee also noted that Azerbaijan and Pakistan have excellent defense relations. He underlined that Pakistan is keen to help Azerbaijan to strengthen its defense capacity.

We have excellent defense relations. Pakistan and Azerbaijan's defense community is deeply involved with each other. We are supporting and helping Azerbaijan to strengthen its defense capability since we know that Azerbaijan has challenges in this region. Being a big country in terms of defense, Pakistan is always with Azerbaijan on this issue, Bilal Hayee noted.

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Qabil Ashirov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @g_Ashirov

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14 August 2023 19:21 (UTC+04:00)

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of the Republic of Azerbaijan have appealed to the international community, Azernews reports.

The appeal states:

"We - non-governmental organizations operating in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of the Republic of Azerbaijan, addressing the international community, declare that the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic has been living under blockade for more than 30 years. For almost 15 years, the population of Nakhchivan has been left without gas due to the blockade, not even electricity. Energy lines coming from the main part of Azerbaijan were cut by Armenia. Communication between Nakhchivan and Baku was by railway and was cut off in 1992 after the last train from Megri was shelled.

The international community has not taken any steps to address the problems of Nakhchivan's civilians as well as the blockade, nor has it put any pressure on Armenia on this issue. Why has our right-wing voice not been heard in all these years?

Armenia is still regularly shelling the population and settlements of Nakhchivan. If it were not for the national leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev and his worthy successor, President Ilham Aliyev, Nakhchivan would have been occupied just like Garabagh".

Armenia is building a metallurgical plant in Arazdeyan, an area adjacent to Saderak, contrary to the requirements of the Espoo Convention. This is a policy of ecological terror against the people of Nakhchivan, who have been doomed to a blockade. Without the consent of the government of Azerbaijan, the construction of a heavy industrial plant in the mentioned cross-border area will lead to the pollution of the environment, the air with toxic waste, and the disruption of the ecosystem.

Armenia does not comply with the provisions of the tripartite statement signed on November 10 after the 44-day war in 2020, and does not take any measures to open the Zangezur corridor. At a time when we are waiting for successive calls and sanctions from the world community on Armenia, but the exact opposite is happening.

Why did those who made statements one after the other based on false information and slander about the alleged closure of the Lachin road, and those who baselessly condemned the Azerbaijani state, and never raised the issue of Nakhchivan being under blockade for decades? Why didn't the ambassadors of foreign countries who came to the direction of Lachin road and looked at Azerbaijan with binoculars, say anything to remove the blockade of Nakhchivan? This biased, hypocritical, approach infuriates us. If the international world wants to see a real blockade in the region, it can look at the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

In order to control its borders and prevent the provocations of Armenia, the Republic of Azerbaijan established a border checkpoint in Lachin. This border checkpoint prevents planting landminesin Karabakh and the transferring terrorist sabotage groups to the region. How to defend those who are subject to the death of peaceful people? How can it be that Armenia wants a "corridor" from the sovereign territory of another state, but refuses it, using its sovereignty as an excuse. Isn't the concept of "sovereignty" universal? If not, does the concept of "sovereignty" have a different meaning for Armenia or is it an additional privilege for it? If not, then why Zangezur corridor is not opened? Why is there no pressure on Armenia? Unfortunately, these questions are not answered.

We strongly condemn the policy of double standards implemented against Azerbaijan, which liberated its lands by its own power after 30 years of occupation, built cities and villages from scratch in the territories completely destroyed and wiped off the face of the earth by Armenia, and returned internally displaced persons to their homelands.

The hope of the people of Nakhchivan, who have been living under blockade for more than 30 years, is to establish a land connection with other regions of Azerbaijan through the Zangezur corridor, and to open communications in the region. The Zangezur corridor should be opened, the blockade should be removed. How can it be that the Azerbaijani government creates communication opportunities for the Armenian residents living in Karabakh through the Lachin road, and also offers the Aghdam-Khankendi road, but Armenia does not allow the people of Nakhchivan to move to the other part of Azerbaijan, even on humanitarian grounds. We demand that the world community forces Armenia to implement the Zangezur corridor project!

We often observe that the International Committee of the Red Cross carries out transportation through Lachin on a humanitarian basis. We also call on the International Committee of the Red Cross to ensure communication between the main part of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

Signatures:

1. Majid Seyidov, Chairman of the Organization of Azerbaijan Patriotic War Veterans and Martyrs' Families of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic

2. Mammad Mammadov, Chairman of the Council of Elders of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic

3. Asim Aliyev, Chairman of the Union of Writers of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic

4. Ulviyya Hamzayeva, Chairman of the Union of Artists of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic

5. Yashar Khalilov, Chairman of the Organization of Composers of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic

6. Yashar Valiyev, Chairman of the Red Crescent Society of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic

7. Gazanfar Abdullayev, Chairman of the Council of Trade Unions of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic

8. Firudin Suleymanov, Chairman of the Council of Veterans of War, Labor, Armed Forces and Law Enforcement Bodies of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic

9. Eyvaz Askerov, Chairman of the Public Union "Chernobyl Disabled People of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic"

10. Vugar Abbasov, Chairman of the Confederation of Entrepreneurs of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic

11. Heydar Ahmadov, Chairman of the Union of Architects of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic

12. Valeh Mahmudov, Chairman of the "Center for Intellectual Development of Youth" Public Union

13. Sanan Badalov, Chairman of "Young Patriots" Public Union

14. Mrs. Ibrahimova, Chairperson of "Estafet" Youth Public Union

15. Gulkhanim Orujova, Chairman of "Nakhchivan Young Teachers Association" Public Union

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14 August 2023 08:00 (UTC+04:00)

Telegram, which was closed Aug. 6 by the Iraqi government, will be opened for access starting Aug. 13, the Communications Ministry announced late Saturday, Azernews reports, citing YeniShafak.

The ban will be lifted on the instructions of Prime Minister Mohammad Shiya al-Sudani, it said in a statement.

"The ban was lifted after the company that owns the application responded to the requests of the security authorities to identify the parties who leaked citizens' data, the statement stressed.

Iraq is not against freedom of expression, but the commitment of companies with social media applications to respect the country's laws, security and user data is important, it added.

The Communications Ministry announced Aug. 6 the decision to ban access to Telegram had been taken "at the request of high-level authorities of the state.

The justification for the decision was "preventing the leaking of private documents belonging to the state and protecting the personal data of citizens.

The Iranian-backed Shiite militias that actively use the social media platform in Iraq reacted harshly to this step.

They had claimed that the US had given the government the order to shut down Telegram.

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Home Search ICH Question Everything! Click Here To Support Information Clearing House Please scroll down for article Sophie Scholl and the White Rose ByTanja B. Spitzer Tweet Where Is Our Sophie now, do any exist? I don't think so, we are the generations that have shut our eyes to our nations crimes. What's your opinion: Tom Feeley Sophie was born in May 1921, the fourth of six children to an upper-middle class family in the south of Germany. Robert, her father, was mayor of Forchtenberg, an idyllic town in the northeast of the modern state of Baden-Wurttemberg. When Sophie was 10, the family moved to Ulm, a mid-size southern town dating back to the Middle Ages, where her father worked as state auditor and tax consultant.



After the Nazis came to power in January 1933, Sophie, along with most of her siblings, was an excited and happy follower of the National Socialist cult of youth. The teenager believed in the ideals propagated at the time. Similar to many of their contemporaries, Sophie was particularly intrigued by the focus on nature and communal experiences. She joined the BDM, the Bund Deutscher Madel (League of German Girls) and quickly rose in their ranks. The parents, especially her father, did not like their childrens involvement in the Nazi youth groups and made no secret about it. A critic of the party from the beginning, who had raised their children firmly grounded in the Christian tradition, Robert Scholl viewed the developments in Germany and their childrens interest in Nazism with growing fear and horror. Lively discussions were a daily occurrence at the dinner table, teaching the children the value of open and honest conversationa rarity at the time.



Sophies siblings, especially her oldest brother Hans, later to become a founding member of the Weie Rose, also were members of non-Nazi groups of young people. These associations shared and propagated a love for nature, outdoor adventures, as well as the music, art and literature of German Romanticism. Originally seen as compatible with Nazi ideology by many, these alternative groups were slowly dissolved and finally banned by 1936. Hans remained active in one such group, however, and was arrested in 1937 along with several of the Scholl siblings. This arrest left a mark on Sophies conscience and began the process that eventually turned her from happy supporter of the Nazi system to active resistance fighter.



On September 1, 1939, Hitler invaded Poland and two days later, France and Britain declared war on Germany. The older Scholl brothers were sent off to fight on the front. Sophies life in Ulm changed as well. She graduated high school in the spring of 1940 and started an apprenticeship to become a kindergarten teacher. She eventually wanted to study biology and philosophy. In order to be admitted, students had to spend a period of time working for the state in the Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD; National Labor Service). Sophies hopes that becoming a teacher would allow her to substitute for the RAD were quashed and she instead had to enter the service in the spring of 1941. She hated it. The military-like regimen and mind-numbing routine caused her to find solace in her own spirituality, guided by readings of theologian Augustine of Hippo. She wrote down her thoughts, noting that her soul was hungry"she longed for an autonomous life, an end to the war, and for happiness with her boyfriend Fritz Hartnagel, who was now fighting on the Eastern front. Her doubts about the regime grew.



When she finally moved to Munich to study biology and philosophy in May 1942, her brother Hans, a medical student at the same university, and some of his friends had already begun to actively question the system. Serving on the Eastern Front, they learned about the crimes committed in Poland and Russia first hand and saw the misery with their own eyes. They knew they couldnt remain quiet. Starting in June 1942, they began printing and distributing leaflets in and around Munich, calling their fellow students and the German public to action. Other members of their circle joined in the endeavor, writing four pamphlets until the fall of the same year. As a student, Sophie had seen the flyers and applauded their content as well as their authors courage to speak truth to power. When she found out about her brothers involvement, she demanded to join the group. She did not want to stay passive anymore.



The White Rose was a small endeavor with large consequences. At its core were siblings Hans and Sophie Scholl, their fellow students Alexander Schmorell, Willi Graf, Christoph Probst, and a professor of philosophy and musicology at the University of Munich, Kurt Huber. Together they published and distributed six pamphlets, first typed on a typewriter, then multiplied via mimeograph. At first, they only distributed them via mail, sending them to professors, booksellers, authors, friends and othersgoing through phone books for addresses and hand-writing each envelope. In the end, they distributed thousands, reaching households all over Germany. Acquiring such large amounts of paper, envelopes, and stamps at a time of strict rationing without raising suspicion was problematic, but the students managed by engaging a wide-ranging network of supporters in cities and towns as far north as Hamburg, and as far south as Vienna. These networks were also activated to distribute the pamphlets, attempting to trick the Gestapo into believing the White Rose had locations all across the country.



In reading the groups leaflets today, one cannot help but think of how chillingly accurate they were in their accusations and calls to action, and the powerful insights they provide about Nazi Germany: The third pamphlet reads:



Our current state is the dictatorship of evil. We know that already, I hear you object, and we dont need you to reproach us for it yet again. But, I ask you, if you know that, then why dont you act? Why do you tolerate these rulers gradually robbing you, in public and in private, of one right after another, until one day nothing, absolutely nothing, remains but the machinery of the state, under the command of criminals and drunkards?



White Rose Pamphlet



In their attempt to gain traction for the resistance and to stop the war effort, they gave clear advice and advocated sabotage of Hitlers war machine. Their fifth pamphlet stated: And now every convinced opponent of National Socialism must ask himself how he can fight against the present state in the most effective way.We cannot provide each man with the blueprint for his acts, we can only suggest them in general terms, and he alone will find the way of achieving this end: Sabotage in armament plants and war industries, sabotage at all gatherings, rallies, public ceremonies, and organizations of the National Socialist Party. Obstruction of the smooth functioning of the war machine.Try to convince all your acquaintancesof the senselessness of continuing, of the hopelessness of this war; of our spiritual and economic enslavement at the hands of the National Socialists; of the destruction of all moral and religious values; and urge them to passive resistance!



In January 1943, the group felt empowered and hopeful. Their activism seemed to be working, rattling the authorities and sparking discussions amongst their peers. Their group was well-organized and they were about to set up even more connections to other underground resistance groups. Observing the political situation in Germany in January of 1943, Sophie and the White Rose members believed a change in the country was imminent. The German armys disastrous defeat at Stalingrad was a turning point on the Eastern Front, and voices of dissent grew louder at the University of Munich after students were publicly called out as leeches and war resisters. This encouraged them to work more boldly, distributing the flyers directly in person and writing slogans like Down with Hitler and Freedom on the walls around Munich. Their sixthand lastpamphlet reads: Even the most dull-witted German has had his eyes opened by the terrible bloodbath, which, in the name of the freedom and honour of the German nation, they have unleashed upon Europe, and unleash anew each day. The German name will remain forever tarnished unless finally the German youth stands up, pursues both revenge and atonement, smites our tormentors, and founds a new intellectual Europe. Students! The German people look to us! The responsibility is ours: just as the power of the spirit broke the Napoleonic terror in 1813, so too will it break the terror of the National Socialists in 1943.



Hans and Sophie distributed them at their university on February 18, for their fellow students to find walking between classes. At some point, in what we can assume was an attempt to make even more people see the flyers, Sophie pushed a stack off a railing unto the central hall. What is now an iconic scene in every movie and documentary about the group, was the moment that changed everything. The pamphlet drop was seen by a janitor, a staunch supporter of the Nazis, who had Hans and Sophie immediately arrested by the Gestapo. The draft for the seventh pamphlet was still in Hans bag, which led to Christoph Probsts arrest the same day.



White Rose Pamphlet In their attempt to gain traction for the resistance and to stop the war effort, they gave clear advice and advocated sabotage of Hitlers war machine. Their fifth pamphlet stated: And now every convinced opponent of National Socialism must ask himself how he can fight against the present state in the most effective way.We cannot provide each man with the blueprint for his acts, we can only suggest them in general terms, and he alone will find the way of achieving this end: Sabotage in armament plants and war industries, sabotage at all gatherings, rallies, public ceremonies, and organizations of the National Socialist Party. Obstruction of the smooth functioning of the war machine.Try to convince all your acquaintancesof the senselessness of continuing, of the hopelessness of this war; of our spiritual and economic enslavement at the hands of the National Socialists; of the destruction of all moral and religious values; and urge them to passive resistance! In January 1943, the group felt empowered and hopeful. Their activism seemed to be working, rattling the authorities and sparking discussions amongst their peers. Their group was well-organized and they were about to set up even more connections to other underground resistance groups. Observing the political situation in Germany in January of 1943, Sophie and the White Rose members believed a change in the country was imminent. The German armys disastrous defeat at Stalingrad was a turning point on the Eastern Front, and voices of dissent grew louder at the University of Munich after students were publicly called out as leeches and war resisters. This encouraged them to work more boldly, distributing the flyers directly in person and writing slogans like Down with Hitler and Freedom on the walls around Munich. Their sixthand lastpamphlet reads: Even the most dull-witted German has had his eyes opened by the terrible bloodbath, which, in the name of the freedom and honour of the German nation, they have unleashed upon Europe, and unleash anew each day. The German name will remain forever tarnished unless finally the German youth stands up, pursues both revenge and atonement, smites our tormentors, and founds a new intellectual Europe. Students! The German people look to us! The responsibility is ours: just as the power of the spirit broke the Napoleonic terror in 1813, so too will it break the terror of the National Socialists in 1943.



Hans and Sophie distributed them at their university on February 18, for their fellow students to find walking between classes. At some point, in what we can assume was an attempt to make even more people see the flyers, Sophie pushed a stack off a railing unto the central hall. What is now an iconic scene in every movie and documentary about the group, was the moment that changed everything. The pamphlet drop was seen by a janitor, a staunch supporter of the Nazis, who had Hans and Sophie immediately arrested by the Gestapo. The draft for the seventh pamphlet was still in Hans bag, which led to Christoph Probsts arrest the same day. The three endured a mock trial after long and arduous interrogations. They took all blame for the White Roses actions. This attempt to save their friends from persecution failed in the end, and Willi Graf, Alexander Schmorell, and Kurt Huber were arrested later in February and put to death shortly after. After a half-day trial led by the infamous Roland Freisler, president of the Peoples Court, Hans, Sophie, and Christoph were sentenced to death for treason. Despite this horrific prospect, Sophie did not waver. Freisler asked her as the closing question whether she hadnt indeed come to the conclusion that [her] conduct and the actions along with [her] brother and other persons in the present phase of the war should be seen as a crime against the community? Sophie answered: I am, now as before, of the opinion that I did the best that I could do for my nation. I therefore do not regret my conduct and will bear the consequences that result from my conduct. Sophie Scholl, Hans Scholl, and Christoph Probst were executed by guillotine on February 22, 1943. While their deaths were only barely mentioned in German newspapers, they received attention abroad. In April, The New York Times wrote about student opposition in Munich. In June 1943, Thomas Mann, in a BBC broadcast aimed at Germans, spoke of the White Roses actions. The text of the sixth leaflet was smuggled into the United Kingdom where they were reprinted and dropped over Germany by Allied planes in July of the same year. In post-war Germany, the White Rose was and is revered. A myriad of schools, streets, and a prestigious award are named after individual members, the group or the siblings Scholl. Sophies story looms especially large in the history of Ulm, my hometown. She personifies the importance of acting according to ones beliefs and of following your conscience, even in the face of great sacrifice. In our collective memory, her story reminds us to not be silent, and fight for what Sophie wrote on the back of her indictment a day before she was killed: Tanja B. Spitzer, a native of Germany who came to New Orleans a little over a decade ago to study at Tulane University, is an expert on transatlantic history and cultural diplomacy. Views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Registration is not necessary to post comments. We ask only that you do not use obscene or offensive language. Please be respectful of others. See also The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Click Here To Support Information Clearing House Your support has kept ICH free on the Web since 2002. Click for Spanish , German , Dutch , Danish , French , translation- Note- Translation may take a moment to load.
14 August 2023 09:00 (UTC+04:00)

Turkish security forces neutralized four PKK terrorists in eastern Turkiye, the countrys Interior Ministry announced on Saturday, Azernews reports, citing YeniShafak.

Veysi Demir, also known by his code name Agit and the three other terrorists, were neutralized in Bitlis province, the ministry said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Demir was wanted in the orange category of the Interior Ministry's color-coded list. The list is divided into five categories, with red as the most wanted, followed by blue, green, orange and gray.

As a result of the examination of the past activities of treacherous terrorists, it has been determined that they were involved in five incidents in Bitlis between 2015 and 2021, during which 11 security personnel were martyred and 19 security personnel were injured, the minister added.

Ali Yerlikaya further said that Turkiye will continue counter-terrorism operations until the last terrorist is neutralized.

Turkish authorities use the term "neutralize" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Turkiye, the PKK  listed as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the US, and the EU  has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.

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14 August 2023 16:05 (UTC+04:00)

Georgian Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri made his first appearance in the disaster zone in the mountain resort of Shovi, where a huge landslide occurred on 3 August. 24 bodies of the dead have been found and identified by this day, nine more missing people are still being searched for, Azernews reports.

The minister explained that he had been in Turkiye all these days with his seriously ill father, and then answered questions from journalists.

He confirmed the previously circulated information: at this point, rescuers have already checked 60 percent of the area in search of the dead. The search area has been significantly expanded, and 18 rescue teams have been moved to a distance of 54 kilometers from Shovi.

The Interior Minister also answered question about rescue helicopters not flying at night. Concerning whether the helicopters' have been maintained with special night vision equipment the minister said: "We have equipment for night flights, we have acquired it and we can fly, I have said this very many times. But flying at night is a very big risk. If there is no immediate threat to people's lives at that very moment - then pilots should not take risks, it is unacceptable," the minister said.

"People [waiting for evacuation] on the mountainside are safe. Everyone who is well versed in aviation understands that even when night flying aids are available, it is a very big risk to fly in that area - the valley and the mountains. The helicopter could have crashed," is how the minister explained the suspension of the rescue operation on the first night of the Shovi disaster.

A rescue helicopter did not arrive at the site of the landslide until three hours later, which continues to draw harsh criticism from the public. But the minister said it could not have happened otherwise:

"A helicopter is not a bicycle or a car, where you can get on and go straight away. A helicopter needs training to take off. Besides, the weather was very bad, we watched the clouds for almost two hours before flying into the valley. But the helicopter did arrive, and 70 people were taken from the resulting island to safety.

Police officers were also taken there, they stayed overnight with the people and delivered food and water. It was a safe place when night fell. So we decided not to risk [the pilots' lives] anymore and the rest of the people were taken out the next day."

Minister Gomelauri also provided an answer for the question of having a proper landslide warning system.

"Whatever 'devices we install, natural disasters can still happen within seconds. We are a nation that lives in the Caucasus Mountains. Then we should evict thousands of families right now, starting from Lagodekhi, Kvareli, and on to Kazbegi. A natural disaster can happen anywhere, unfortunately, we cannot avoid it.

Look at what happened in Hawaii. 100 people burned, hundreds missing. And this is happening in America, which is a much stronger country than we are. They also have cooler helicopters than us, the air force, but it happened. It's nature, what can you do, it's terrible, it's a big disaster," he said.

Reports circulating that water was stagnating in the river valley shortly before the disaster were not confirmed.

According to the report, climatic changes contributed to the landslide processes. Rising air temperatures led to intensive melting of glaciers and excessive precipitation.

The National Environment Agency states that there is no danger in the region at this stage.

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14 August 2023 18:40 (UTC+04:00)

The passengers of the minibus that crashed on the Gyumri-Yerevan highway were returning from a trip to Turkiye, Azernews reports.

The minibus belonged to the travel company "Hamshen Tour" and carried a group from Western Armenia.

As a result of the accident, 11 people died, and 5 people are in intensive care.

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14 August 2023 23:45 (UTC+04:00)

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan Jeenbek Kulubaev received Chinese Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic Du Dewen, Azernews reports, citing Kabar.

During the meeting, the sides discussed issues of cooperation in the political, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres, and an exchange of views took place on the implementation of the agreements reached following the state visit of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Zhaparov to the People's Republic of China and participation in the 1st Summit " Central Asia-China in May 2023.

In addition, issues of preparing and conducting mutual visits at the highest and high levels were discussed, including the upcoming official visit of the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic Akylbek.\ Zhaparov to the XUAR of the PRC and the official visit of the Premier of the State Council of China Li Qiang to Kyrgyzstan in October 2023.

The parties, touching upon the progress of the promotion of infrastructure projects implemented jointly with the Government of China, outlined the importance of accelerating the promotion of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway construction project, optimizing the work of the Torugart and Irkeshtam checkpoints, as well as strengthening interregional cooperation.

Taking the opportunity, Kulubaev conveyed congratulations on the appointment of Wang Yi as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of China and invited him to pay a visit to the Kyrgyz Republic at any convenient time.

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14 August 2023 22:40 (UTC+04:00)

The largest number of visitors Georgia hosted in the second quarter of 2023 came from Turkey, followed by Russia and Armenia, the latest inbound tourism statistics published by the National Statistics Office of Georgia on Monday show, Azernews reports, citing Agenda.

Georgia hosted 290,800 visitors from Turkey, or 24 percent of the total number, with 22.1 percent arriving from Russia and 12.4 percent from Armenia.

Visits by Turkish citizens amounted to 366,100, with Russian nationals making 320,800 visits, and the number standing at 214,600 for those from Armenia.

The overall number of arrivals of international travellers in Georgia equalled 1.7 million in the second quarter of 2023, of which the number of visits by international visitors made up 1.5 million.

The number of arrivals of international travellers was 57.4 percent higher compared to the same period of 2022, while the number of visits by international visitors was 58.7 percent higher.

In the reporting period, international visitors have made 1.1 million tourist visits, which was 44.8 percent higher compared to the data from the same period of previous year.

The indicated purposes of a majority of visits - 51.5 percent - were holiday, leisure and recreation, with the average number of nights spent during the visit standing at 6.3.

The majority of visits came to the capital Tbilisi - with 709,300 visits - and the Black Sea region of Adjara with 661,800.

International travellers spent 3.4 billion ($1.31bln) in the reporting period in Georgia, with the average expenditure per visit equalling 2,292 ($879.93).

Figures showed 43.3 percent of total expenditure was spent on accommodation, 21.9 percent - on shopping, 16.5 percent - on foods and drinks, 10.9 percent - on holiday, leisure, recreation, cultural and sporting activities, and 6.1 percent on transport.

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Bakersfield, CA (93308)

Today

Rain likely. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%. Localized flooding is possible..

Tonight

Rain likely. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%. Localized flooding is possible.
Bakersfield, CA (93308)

Today

Rain. Potential for flooding rains. High 76F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch..

Tonight

Showery rains will be accompanied by heavy downpours and strong gusty winds at times, especially early. Potential for flooding rains. Low 69F. Winds WNW at 20 to 30 mph, becoming SE and decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch.
Bakersfield, CA (93308)

Today

Showery rains will be accompanied by very heavy downpours and strong gusty winds at times, especially this morning. Potential for flooding rains. High 76F. NW winds at 20 to 30 mph, decreasing to 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch..

Tonight

Showery rains will be accompanied by heavy downpours and strong gusty winds at times, especially early. Potential for flooding rains. Low 69F. Winds WNW at 20 to 30 mph, becoming SE and decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch.
Home Search ICH Question Everything! Click Here To Support Information Clearing House Hunter Biden ran an influence-peddling operation in which he allegedly solicited bribes By Tony Cox Tweet August 13/14, 2023 - Information Clearing House - US Attorney General Merrick Garland, who works for President Joe Biden, desperately wants the world to know that the governments investigation of his boss son is utterly apolitical. Americas top law-enforcement official is so desperate, in fact, that he has appointed a special counsel to handle the case. Thats right. No mere employee of Garlands US Department of Justice (DOJ) is going to be leading the criminal investigation of Hunter Biden. Garland on Friday assigned a special counsel to the case because he wanted to demonstrate to Americans the DOJs commitment to both independence and accountability in particularly sensitive matters. Make no mistake: This is definitely one of those particularly sensitive matters. The presidents son has been accused of a litany of crimes  from failing to pay taxes to making an illegal gun purchase to transporting women across state lines for prostitution. It turns out hes the sort of guy who was brazen enough to take pictures of himself smoking crack and driving his Porsche at 172 miles per hour, then to leave those images and countless other incriminating files on a laptop computer that he abandoned at a Delaware repair shop. Most sensitive politically is the evidence suggesting that Hunter Biden ran an influence-peddling operation in which he allegedly solicited bribes in Ukraine and other countries by selling the family brand. The brand was then-Vice President Joe Biden and the political clout that he could wield for the familys friends. Those claims are the most serious because they connect the commander-in-chief to the alleged conspiracy. In fact, Hunter Biden allegedly patched in his father on conference calls with overseas business associates and once tried to coerce a Chinese businessman to resolve a payment dispute by claiming that Joe Biden was sitting next to him and would make the partner regret failing to comply. President Biden has angrily denied having been with his son when the shakedown message was sent. He also has repeatedly denied having any knowledge of or involvement in his sons business dealings. As evidence continues to mount to the contrary, its easy to see why Garland is concerned about public perceptions heading into the 2024 presidential election. Republicans have accused the DOJ of giving the presidents son preferential treatment and of trying to protect the Biden family as Joe Biden seeks re-election. Two-thirds of US voters polled by Rasmussen Reports agreed, saying Hunter Biden got favorable treatment from federal prosecutors because his father is the president. If all that doesnt make the investigation politically sensitive enough, the cherry on top is that a DOJ special counsel has filed dozens of felony charges against Bidens chief 2024 rival, former President Donald Trump, in two separate cases. Trump, the first ex-president in US history to be criminally indicted, has claimed that politically motivated prosecutors are trying to interfere in the election because Biden cant defeat him in a rematch of their 2020 battle. Garlands solution was to appoint a special counsel in the Biden case. However, it turns out that the prosecutor assigned to the role is the same DOJ employee who has been running the Hunter Biden investigation since 2019. David Weiss, US attorney for the district of Delaware, was elevated to special counsel status at his own request. Upon considering his request, as well as the extraordinary circumstances relating to this matter, I have concluded it is in the public interest to appoint him as special counsel, Garland said. The Pro-Biden press corps  meaning pretty much the entire US legacy media  nodded approvingly. For example, the New Republic was quick to claim that Bidens attorney general had annihilated several main Republican talking points. The move fully insulated the investigation from accusations of government interference, the outlet added. NBC News said distrustful Republicans were still critical of the appointment. As Garland pointed out, as special counsel Weiss will no longer be subject to day-to-day supervision by any Department of Justice (DOJ) official. And if the administration were to torpedo the investigation or block the filing of any charges, Garland would be required to inform Congress. The attorney general and Bidens media backers also have noted that Weiss was appointed to his job by Trump and was allowed to continue leading the Hunter Biden investigation when the new president came into office. But what really changed? Garland has repeatedly claimed that Weiss was given full authority all along to make prosecutorial decisions without any interference from higher-ups. If Garland is to be believed, Weiss merely has the same authority now, and his prosecutorial decisions will still have to conform with DOJ policies. He will have broad authority to file charges in any jurisdiction he chooses, but his boss insisted that he had that latitude before. Weiss has backed up Garlands claims that the investigation has been free of political interference. He denied allegations from IRS whistleblowers that the administration had declined to give him special-counsel status and that he had been prevented from filing indictments against the presidents son in Washington and Los Angeles, where some of the alleged crimes supposedly occurred. As Garland pointed out, as special counsel Weiss will no longer be subject to day-to-day supervision by any Department of Justice (DOJ) official. And if the administration were to torpedo the investigation or block the filing of any charges, Garland would be required to inform Congress. The attorney general and Bidens media backers also have noted that Weiss was appointed to his job by Trump and was allowed to continue leading the Hunter Biden investigation when the new president came into office. But what really changed? Garland has repeatedly claimed that Weiss was given full authority all along to make prosecutorial decisions without any interference from higher-ups. If Garland is to be believed, Weiss merely has the same authority now, and his prosecutorial decisions will still have to conform with DOJ policies. He will have broad authority to file charges in any jurisdiction he chooses, but his boss insisted that he had that latitude before. Weiss has backed up Garlands claims that the investigation has been free of political interference. He denied allegations from IRS whistleblowers that the administration had declined to give him special-counsel status and that he had been prevented from filing indictments against the presidents son in Washington and Los Angeles, where some of the alleged crimes supposedly occurred. Republican lawmakers were unimpressed by the fact Weiss was appointed as a US attorney by Trump, pointing instead to actions that suggested he was trying to protect the Bidens. The Delaware prosecutors investigation dragged on for four years, during which the DOJ declined to set the record straight when former US intelligence officials falsely claimed the laptop scandal was a Russian disinformation operation, deceiving voters just before the 2020 election. When Weiss finally did file an indictment in June, it was limited to tax and gun matters. Weiss made a deal with defense lawyers that called for the felony gun charge to be dropped if Biden adhered to the terms of a diversion agreement. The presidents son also was enabled to avoid jail time on the two misdemeanor tax charges to which he agreed to plead guilty. It was a political happy ending that would allow Hunter Biden to move on, free of any felonies on his record, and end the distraction he was creating for his fathers re-election campaign. Unfortunately for the Bidens, US District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika was taken aback by the deal, at least partly because it appeared that Weiss had given Hunter Biden immunity from prosecution for other possible crimes. The judge refused to accept the plea bargain late last month and sent the lawyers back to the drawing board to work out a revised agreement. Weiss said in a court filing on Friday that talks on a new plea deal were at an impasse, suggesting that the case was headed for trial. Its unlikely that such a trial would ever be allowed to happen, making a public spectacle of the allegations against Hunter Biden at a time when his father is asking voters for another four-year term in the White House. Even as Garland assures the public that the investigation will be guided only by the facts and the law, Weiss will have other concerns. Whether he carries the title of special counsel or US attorney for the district of Delaware, his job is to give the appearance of enforcing the law without causing any serious harm to the Bidens. In the end, we can be pretty sure that no Biden will ever see the inside of a prison cell, unless hes there for a photo op to show that hes getting tough on crime. Tony Cox, a US journalist who has written or edited for Bloomberg and several major daily newspapers. Views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Registration is not necessary to post comments. We ask only that you do not use obscene or offensive language. Please be respectful of others. See also Search Information Clearing House The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Click Here To Support Information Clearing House Your support has kept ICH free on the Web since 2002. Click for Spanish , German , Dutch , Danish , French , translation- Note- Translation may take a moment to load.
As former top N.C. political donor Greg Lindberg awaits a federal retrial on bribery and fraud charges in November, the N.C. Court of Appeals delivered him another legal blow Tuesday.In a case titled Southland v. Lindberg, a unanimous Appeals Court panel affirmed a May 2022 Wake County Superior Court ruling against Lindberg and multiple associated companies.The trial judge found Lindberg and the other defendantsin connection with insolvent insurance companies purchased in 2014. Those companies are plaintiffs in the Southland case.Appellate judges overruled the trial judge's decision not to award damages in the case. The lawsuit will head back to a trial court to address the issue of a proper remedy for the plaintiffs.wrote Judge Julee Flood.Flood wrote.Flood added.A 2018 consent order placed the plaintiff businesses under administrative supervision. A 2019 memorandum of understanding linked to restructuring of the businesses prompted the legal dispute addresses in the Southland case.Causey is also a key player in the federal case against Lindberg scheduled to start Nov. 6.Federal authorities argue that Lindberg attempted to bribe Causey withafter Causey's 2016 election. Causey worked with federal law enforcement officials to collect evidence against Lindberg and associates.Lindberg was convicted in March 2020 and was sentenced to a seven-year federal prison term. But the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals tossed out that conviction last June. Appellate judges ruled that mistakes in Judge Max Cogburn's jury instructions hadLindberg's convictions.Cogburn agreed in March to move Lindberg's retrial back to November. That decision was based largely on issues related to John Gray, Lindberg's co-defendant in the fraud and bribery case. Gray hired a new lawyer late last year. The judge agreed that the new lawyer would need additional time to review millions of pages of documents related to the case.Lindberg learned last week that a second federal trial related to a 13-count indictment has been delayed. Originally scheduled this summer, that case will now be pushed back until after the bribery and fraud retrial.In November Cogburn rejected Lindberg's attempt to end GPS monitoring while he awaits his new trial.Cogburn wrote in a Nov. 10 order.Cogburn added.the judge concluded.A court filing from Lindberg had disputed the government's argument that he's a flight risk.according to the brief.In addition to the fraud and bribery charges, Lindberg learned in August about a new federal complaint from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The SEC accuses Lindberg of raiding his own insurance companies in a
I will depend on my Democratic Socialist politicians to continue to march hard toward the Left to provide Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for all who think and do as they are told.

I will defend the Constitution of the United States of America, and support all elected leaders who pledge to protect and insure the continued sovereignty of this Representative Republic.

I am very concerned about maintaining my current life style without working. I was told that as long as I vote Democrat, I had nothing to worry about ... but now I worry.

242 total vote(s) What's your Opinion?
Complete overhaul of the Department of Justice and their enforcers - the FBI - to reflect a far more honest justice system to keep patriots remaining calm.

Disband the FBI, and request that congress investigate all unethical and non patriotic practices to partially right the wrongs of a distrusted and politically weaponized "Department of Justice."

Continue with the current system since the two tiered justice system has been so remarkably beneficial to Democratic Socialist political hegemony; chronic distrust in institutions notwithstanding.

526 total vote(s) What's your Opinion?
From procedural debuts to inaugural regional facilities, here are 10 ASC firsts from the last 60 days:

1. Lubbock, Texas-based Covenant High Plains Surgery Center became the first ASC in the region to perform a robotic sacrocolpopexy.

2. Wilmington (N.C.) Health became the first standalone, nonhospital-affiliated facility in the state to obtain robotic surgical equipment.

3. Orthopedic Associates of Port Huron performed its first knee replacement using Mako SmartRobotics.

4. Ophthalmologists at North Georgia Eye Associates became the first in the state to utilize the Ally Adaptive Cataract Treatment System.

5. The University of Rochester Medicine Orthopedics Surgery Center opened the world's first "clean cube" operating room.

6. Columbia (Mo.) Orthopedic Group performed the first-ever outpatient anterior lumbar interbody fusion in a surgery center in mid-Missouri.

7. Peter Ramsey, MD, completed the first artificial intelligence-assisted hip replacement at OrthoSC in Myrtle Beach.

8. Santa Barbara-based Cottage Health Outpatient Surgery Center became the first health system in California's Central Coast region to use Focal One's noninvasive robotic high intensity focused ultrasound treatment for accurately targeting and ablating prostate tumors.

9. Powder River Surgery Center in Gillette, Wyo., acquired the city's first robotic surgical assistant.

10. Western Wisconsin gained its first multispecialty ASC, the Valley Surgery Center.
Four Tennessee physicians were convicted of conspiracy to prescribe controlled substances and related fraud and money laundering offenses.

Evann Herrell, DO, Mark Grenkoski, MD, Keri McFarlane, MD, and Stephen Cirelli, MD, four physicians at EHC Medical, a two-location practice with locations in Harriman and Jacksboro, Tenn., provided prescriptions for high doses and dangerous combinations of Suboxone and benzodiazepines to cash-paying customers, according to an Aug. 11 news release from the Justice Department. They also engaged in a conspiracy to falsify medical records, causing millions of dollars in fraudulent submissions to Medicare, Kentucky Medicaid, and other health benefit programs for prescription drugs and urine drug testing.

The four physicians are scheduled for sentencing Dec. 4.

Earlier this year, Robert Taylor, founder of EHC Medical, pleaded guilty to drug trafficking conspiracy charges and was sentenced to 30 months in prison, according to the release. He also forfeited $13.8 million and paid an additional fine of $200,000.

Lori Bennett, a registered nurse and three other physicians  Matthew Rasberry, MD, Helen Bidwaid, MD, and Eva Misra, MD,  also pleaded guilty to related drug or money laundering charges and are awaiting sentencing, the release said.
Florence, S.C.-based McLeod Health is starting construction this fall on a $15.3 million ASC with four operating rooms and two procedural rooms in Carolina Forest, S.C., according to an Aug. 12 report from The Post and Courier.

While the ASC received a green light from the South Carolina Department of Health, four proposed hospitals are currently being held up by state certificate-of-need laws.

Grand Strand Health, McLeod Health, Tidelands Health and Conway Medical Center have all proposed a new hospital or upgrades to an existing facility in the region, but are on hold due to legal challenges.

According to the state's department of health, Horry County will need an additional 155 hospital beds by 2024 to keep pace with current growth.

South Carolina's certificate-of-need program is currently set to expire in 2027, which would free up the regulatory process for many new facilities.

In addition to the ASC, McLeod plans to add a $56 million, 48-bed hospital once regulatory challenges are mediated.
Grindr could be striking back at its unionizing employees.

The company recently gave its work-from-home (WFH) employees an ultimatum: work at the office in two weeks or lose their jobs.

Employees at the gay hookup app previously announced they launched a union two weeks ago under the Grindr United flag, per Advocate.com.

Between A Rock And A Hard Place

Grindr employees are outraged by what they recently obtained. According to a report from Vice's Motherboard, Grindr leadership gave its employees a form on Aug. 4 asking them to move within 50 miles of their newly designated office or lose their jobs.

The form also stated that workers have until Aug. 17 to confirm whether they could comply with the new company policy or not. For those unaware, Grindr's three offices are in Chicago, Los Angeles, or the San Francisco Bay Area, per Business Insider.

As a result, WFH employees must travel and relocate themselves near one of the three Grindr offices soon or lose their job - a major commitment to ask from employees. However, this new policy may have been charged by office politics.

Grindr's decision to mandate WFH employees to move near their offices comes two weeks after employees announced their effort to unionize under the Communications Workers of America, Grindr United. The union's Twitter/X.com account detailed such a timeline in an Aug. 5 post.

Read More: 5 Must-Have Tech Gear for Working While Traveling

Grindr employees formed Grindr United on July 20 due to company CEO George Arison's backing of anti-LGBTQ+ politicians. The union released a statement that around 100 eligible union members signed representation cards at Grindr.

These union members include Grindr employees responsible for cloud engineering, customer experience, design, engineering, IT, marketing, privacy, product, and quality assurance.

Despite this flurry of pro-union activity, Grindr elected not to answer the union's request to recognize its establishment voluntarily from July 20 to Aug. 3. It was only on Aug. 4 did the company address the situation with the ultimatum it sent.

"It's such a Bizarre coincidence that this happened just after we announced that we were unionizing," Grindr United stated on its Twitter/X.com account. It then said that Grindr's new policy is a "textbook" example of union busting.

Complications For Compliance

Although there are some who can comply with Grindr's new policy, many (if not most) of them could find compliance complicated to do.

Grindr United revealed that Grindr's employees are a "fully-distributed" workforce - its employees are scattered across the US, if not worldwide.

Additionally, Grindr doesn't have permanent offices in Chicago or the San Francisco Bay Area. As such, not only is it difficult to move into such places, but it is also hard to find lodgings near Grindr's Chicago and San Francisco Bay Area offices.

As a result, many Grindr employees will probably face termination before the two weeks the company gave as agrace period is up.

Grindr, meanwhile, explained that the move is to be expected, as the company has been telling employees to return to the office in April - before the unionization was announced, per Bloomberg.

Grindr employees countered the company's statement, saying that while it was already announced, Grindr said to expect the move after one or two quarters.

Related Article: Zoom Lifts Remote Working, Asks Employees to Work Onsite Twice a Week
Greenville, N.C.-based East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine signed an early assurance agreement with the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

The agreement creates a path between UNCP's undergraduate population and ECU's dental school, according to an Aug. 11 news release from East Carolina University.

Starting in the 2024 fall semester, one of the 52 seats in ECU's dental school incoming class will be reserved three years in advance for students entering UNCP.

To be eligible for the program, students applying must be a North Carolina resident from one of nine specific counties. Once students accept early assurance into the dental school, they must maintain certain academic standards and participate in various activities.

The agreement is the ECU dental school's first early assurance program with another institution, the release said.
Perry County Memorial Hospital in Tell City, Ind., will end labor and delivery services Jan. 1, according to NBC affiliate WFIE.

Hospital officials cited low demand as the reason for the service line closure. In 2022, the hospital delivered 70 babies. This year, its on pace to deliver 38.

Patients can still receive prenatal obstetric care from local physicians, though they'll be required to deliver at one of four hospitals within an hour's drive from Perry County Memorial Hospital.

The hospital's emergency department will still handle emergency deliveries, and no employees are expected to be laid off in the service line closure.
An unauthorized party has copied files from Tifton, Ga.-based Tift Regional Health System, breaching some patients' Social Security numbers.

On Aug. 16, 2022, the health system noticed suspicious activity on its systems and launched an investigation into the incident.

The investigation determined that between Aug. 11, 2022, and Aug. 17, 2022, an unauthorized party accessed or copied some files from its system.

The files contained information such as patients' Social Security numbers, patient identification numbers, driver's license numbers, medical information, treatment information, diagnosis information, health insurance information, financial account information and dates of birth.

Tift Regional Health System said its electronic health records system was not affected during the breach, according to an Aug. 7 breach notification from the health system.

The health system notified federal law enforcement about the incident, but did not mention how many patients were affected.
Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare is sending out letters to patients affected in a July data breach.

In a filing with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the health system said that 11.27 million patients were affected in the breach. After the data breach, HCA sent emails to the affected patients, according to an Aug. 14 HCA Healthcare news release.

The data, stolen from an external storage location, includes:

Patient name, city, state and ZIP code

Patient email, telephone number, date of birth and gender

Patient service date, location and next appointment date

HCA has set up a call center for patients with questions about the data breach. Additionally, HCA is offering affected patients two free years of credit monitoring and identity theft protection via IDX.
Hospital and insurer contract negotiations are often framed as an industry gauntlet, a defined period of time with an objective outcome where big talk does not translate to money. But reimbursement rates secured in new contracts are only one piece of hospitals' payer-induced headaches.

Traditionally, a health system and commercial insurer would occasionally run into a wall in the contract negotiation process. This could play out into a dispute palpable enough to consumers that it warranted headlines. These impasses generally lasted a matter of weeks with no significant disruptions before outside pressure drove the parties to compromise.

Over the past five years or so, the nature of provider-payer conflicts intensified and may be on the cusp of unprecedented severity given health systems' financial pressures. At the same time, agreed-upon reimbursement rates are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to payment health systems can expect from commercial insurers, who have many more defensive plays in their playbook.

They boil down to a classic line from a 1968 movie: deny, deny, deny.

Russ Johnson is CEO of LMH Health, a 102-year-old, independent, nonprofit health system based in Lawrence, Kan. The $350 million organization is anchored by a 174-bed hospital. As he puts it: "We're not tiny, but we're not very big."

Mr. Johnson has spent 37 years working in healthcare, holding senior leadership positions in hospitals and health systems in rural communities and large cities. It's difficult to identify many things going well when it comes to provider-payer relationships, but Mr. Johnson told Becker's that it's the payer movements beneath the reimbursement rates that are worsening and causing greater pain today.

"The part that's getting worse is the practices behind and underneath the contracts  the sophistication and implementation of pay practices, information systems, artificial intelligence and computer algorithms that are just denying claims by the thousands every month," he said.

The reimbursement rates secured in contracts are what you can see above water. Beneath, health insurers are moving faster and kicking harder. Throughout the first three months of 2023, about one-third of inpatient and outpatient claims submitted by providers to commercial payers went unpaid for more than 90 days, according to an analysis from Crowe.

"So many more claims are now surfacing with some kind of a fallout on a denial, a downcoding or a pre-authorization  you know, the proverbial dotting the i's and crossing the t's, sometimes. But what is abundantly clear is it is not fundamentally about a clinical difference," Mr. Johnson said.

Denials were once reserved for a sliver of expensive treatments and have now become common occurrence for mundane, ordinary medical care and treatments such as inhalers or familiar medications for chronic conditions a patient has managed for years. The administrative burden is something close to a requirement to prove residency every month to receive electricity or verifying eligibility to work in the U.S. every week for a paycheck  redundant, time-wasting activity for ordinary, essential things.

"For our business office to keep up with what I frankly think is mischief by the payers in terms of denials, pre-authorization, DRG downcoding and a completely unengaged experience trying to negotiate  or to have our physicians call in and do a peer-to-peer conferences about clinical necessity  it's demoralizing, frankly," Mr. Johnson said. "Dealing with denial from our payers is one of the biggest dissatisfiers our physicians face."

Authors of the 2010 Affordable Care Act worried that provisions to expand health insurance access  such as barring health insurers' refusal to cover patients with preexisting conditions  could cause them to ratchet up other tactics to make up for the change. With this in mind, the law charged HHS with monitoring health plan denial rates, but oversight has been unfulfilled, leaving denials widespread.

Data and numbers on denial rates are not easy to find, but some examination paints a picture rich with variation. An analysis of 2021 plans on Healthcare.gov conducted by KFF found nearly 17 percent of in-network claims were denied, with rates varying from 2 percent to 49 percent. The reasons for the bulk of denials are unclear. About 14 percent were attributed to an excluded service, 8 percent to lack of pre-authorization or referral and 2 percent to questions of medical necessity. A whopping 77 percent were classified as "all other reasons."

Adding to the inconsistency is the fact that health plan denial rates fluctuate year over year. In 2020, a gold-level health plan offered by Oscar Insurance in Florida denied 66 percent of payment requests; in 2021 it denied 7 percent.

There is much to learn about the ways AI will shape healthcare, and its potential to further expedite and increase denials is concerning. Cigna faces a class-action lawsuit alleging it bypassed requirements for claim review before denial by having an algorithm  dubbed "PXDX"  complete review before having physicians sign off on batches of denied claims. The lawsuit followed a ProPublica report on the practice, which said Cigna physicians denied more than 300,000 claims over two months in 2022 through the system, which equated to 1.2 seconds of review per claim on average.

AI is often touted as a potential, looming replacement to hardworking healthcare professionals, but in the day to day it exacerbates the administrative burdens that already bring them down.

"Nobody becomes a physician because they hope to feel like a cog in a factory," Michael Ivy, MD, deputy chief medical officer of Yale New Haven (Conn.) Health, told Becker's. "However, between meeting the demands of payers for referrals, denials of payment and increased documentation requirements in order to assure proper reimbursement and risk adjustment, as well as an increasing number of production metrics, it can be difficult not to feel like a cog."
Daniel Jackson was named ministry market executive for Ascension Wisconsin and senior vice president for St. Louis-based Ascension.

Matthew Hanselman, who had been serving as interim ministry market executive in recent months, will continue to serve as CFO of Ascension Wisconsin, according to an Aug. 11 health system news release.

Mr. Jackson joined Ascension Wisconsin in the spring as interim president and CEO of Ascension Columbia St. Mary's Hospital - Milwaukee Campus.

Before joining Ascension Wisconsin, Mr. Jackson was CEO of Detroit Medical Center's Sinai-Grace Hospital, which is part of Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare.

Ascension said a search is ongoing for a new president and CEO for Ascension Columbia St. Mary's Hospital - Milwaukee Campus.








A group of Allina Health physicians and practitioners have filed a petition seeking to vote on whether to join the Doctors Council, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union.

The petition was filed Aug. 11 on behalf of full-time, part-time and per diem physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants employed by Allina Health practicing primary/urgent care at its clinics, according to the National Labor Relations Board. Members of the group work at locations in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Allina Health is based in Minneapolis.

The NLRB provides various paths to forming a union. It will conduct an election if at least 30 percent of workers sign cards or a petition indicating their support for unionization, according to its website. Workers would then vote on whether to unionize. Employers may also voluntarily recognize a union based on signed union-authorization cards or other evidence.

If workers vote to unionize in an election at Allina Health, the vote would cover 560 workers, the petition states.

Physicians do not have as much time with patients or control over care quality due to administrative burdens, Matt Hoffman, MD, a lead organizer who practices at Allina Health's Vadnais Heights (Minn.) primary care clinic, said, according to the Star Tribune.

"Unionization is really the path that we have in order to have our voices heard regarding patient care," Dr. Hoffman said, according to the newspaper.

The latest physician-led organizing campaign is the second recent one at Allina Health. Earlier this year, physicians at Allina Health's Mercy Hospital campuses filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board for a union representation election. That effort also involves the Doctors Council.

Allina Health, in a statement shared with Becker's, said it "deeply value[s] the critical role our providers play in providing exceptional care to the communities we serve. We are actively engaged in listening to them and responding with changes to better support their ability to care for patients and their well-being. Allina Health remains focused on delivering on our caring mission and ongoing efforts to foster a culture of collaboration and communication with all our employees."

Unionization has gained traction among physicians in recent years, and a number of factors are driving the trend. Physicians are seeking greater investments by hospitals in working conditions, staffing and pay. Hospitals and health systems, meanwhile, emphasize their commitment to quality care and these professionals. They also express their respect for workers' rights while maintaining their preference to work directly with workers.
Zhi Alan Cheng, MD, has been charged with sexually abusing three patients at New York-Presbyterian Queens hospital and raping three other patients in his home.

Dr. Cheng, a gastroenterologist, is accused of drugging the women he allegedly raped in his apartment and filming the assaults, according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.

He is also charged with filming his alleged sexual abuse of the hospital patients, who appeared to be unconscious in videos recovered from the defendant. In addition to victims who have been identified, videos seized from Dr. Cheng allegedly show him sexually assaulting six other women, including one at New York-Presbyterian Queens.

After he was arrested on Dec, 27, Dr. Cheng was also charged multiple counts of rape, assault and sexual abuse, among other charges. The state has suspended his ability to practice medicine and he has been held without bail since his arrest.

He faces multiple 25 years to life sentences.

"As caregivers, we are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of our patients  it is a sacred trust. The crimes committed by this individual are heinous, despicable, and a fundamental betrayal of our mission and our patients trust," a NewYork-Presbyterian spokesperson said in a statement to Becker's. "We are appalled and deeply saddened by what these victims and their families have endured. In December 2022, as soon as the District Attorney made us aware of allegations of sexual abuse against this individual, he was immediately placed off duty, banned from hospital property, and terminated. We have been fully cooperating with the Queens District Attorney's office, the NYPD, and the NYS Department of Health. We have numerous stringent patient safety policies and protocols in place and our exhaustive review of this matter included an analysis of compliance with those policies, as well as the immediate implementation of additional training for all employees. At the same time, we have been examining the full breadth of our protections to identify any opportunities for further strengthening, in line with our unwavering commitment to the highest standard of patient safety and care."
A small gland in the throat known as the thymus may aid with fighting cancer and other causes of death, the Harvard Gazette reported Aug. 2.

Researchers from Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital studied data from 1,146 patients who had their thymus gland removed and compared it to those who did not and found that "the primary reason why the thymus has an impact on overall health seems to be as a way to protect against the development of cancer," they wrote.

After a five-year follow-up, those who had their thymus gland removed via thymectomy had a 9 percent death rate compared to just 5.2 percent of individuals who did not.

"The magnitude of death and cancer in patients who had undergone thymectomy was the biggest surprise for me," Kameron Kooshesh, MD, lead study author and an internal medicine resident at Massachusetts General Hospital told the Harvard Gazette. "The more we dug, the more we found: The results suggested to us that the lack of a thymus appears to perturb basic aspects of immune function."
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Dell Technologies Australia is now facing a penalty of $6.46 million for its misleading discount representations for add-on computer monitors.

Read Also: 5 Must-Have Tech Gear for Working While Traveling

Dell Found Guilty on Misleading Customers

The Australia Federal Court has found the local unit of Dell Technologies guilty of posting misleading prices and discounts on monitors on its website. According to a Reuters' report, Dell Australia sold over 5,300 add-on monitors with overstated discount from 2019 to 2021.

From August 2019 to December 2021, Dell was offering an add-on monitor upon purchasing a desktop, laptop, or notebook on its website. However, the monitors' prices were found to be sold on a higher price than the monitor's stand-alone price.

"This outcome sends a strong message to businesses that making false representations about prices or inflating discounts is a serious breach of consumer law and will attract substantial penalties," commissioner of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), Liza Carver, stated.

Dell Australia to Fix Pricing Process

Currently, Dell Australia assured that the company is fully cooperating with the ACCC. The company also stated that they will provide appropriate refunds plus interest on the affected customers.

In addition, the company also promised that they will improve their pricing and ensure that the error will not happen again.

"It is important that businesses are careful when advertising discount pricing to ensure they do not mislead consumers about the savings on offer," Carver emphasized.

Related Article: AFP Files Legal Action Against X
State officials have fined Vista del Mar Hospital in Ventura, Calif., $75,000 for care deficiencies tied to a teenage patient's death, the Ventura County Star reported Aug. 11.

The 15-year-old patient died by suicide at the behavioral health hospital in May 2022, marking his second suicide attempt in less than a week.

The California Department of Public Health investigated the hospital after the incident and found staff failed to properly monitor the teen and report signs of his depression.

A staff member who allegedly disobeyed instructions to check on the patient every five minutes was previously fired by the hospital due to poor performance and then rehired, according to a state report cited by Ventura County Star. The staff member was terminated again after the patient's death.

State officials concluded that the Vista del Mar Hospital placed the patient in immediate jeopardy and levied a $75,000 fine. In their correction plan, hospital leaders said they took numerous actions to remedy the care deficiencies, including retraining staff members and creating a checks and balances system to ensure care protocols are followed.

The hospital did not immediately respond to Ventura County Star's request for comment.

Editor's note: Becker's has reached out to Vista del Mar Hospital for comment and will update the article as more information becomes available.
Two decades after working in the kitchen at Martha's Vineyard Hospital, Valci Carvalho became the hospital's pharmacy director, The Vineyard Gazette reported Aug. 10.

At 14 years old, Mr. Carvalho immigrated with his family from Rio de Janeiro to Martha's Vineyard, Mass. He began working at the hospital's kitchen in high school two years after moving, and at 36, he was promoted to pharmacy director in May.

A high school chemistry teacher, Jim Cressel, encouraged him to explore pharmacy as a future career, according to the Gazette and The Martha's Vineyard Times. Mr. Carvalho approached then-pharmacy director Dave Caron, PharmD, and asked about shadowing the leader, which spurred a yearslong mentorship.

Mr. Carvalho worked various roles at the hospital in high school before going to Boston to attend the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. After college, he returned to the island and worked at a pharmacy before rejoining the hospital's halls as a staff pharmacist.

"I've spent some time at other pharmacies, I've had a couple of job offers off the island, but it just seemed like the right thing to do," Mr. Carvalho told the Times in May. "I felt a responsibility to return some of the many benefits I received while I was here, and contribute to the community in any sort of way."

In mid-2023, Dr. Caron became vice president of diagnostic and therapeutic services, and Mr. Carvalho stepped into his mentor's 24-year role.

"This profession is always changing," Dr. Caron told the Gazette, "and if there's something out there that needs to be addressed or evaluated, Valci brings it to the table."
Iowa City-based Steindler Orthopedic Clinic's CEO said Aug. 11 that it will stay independent after its partner hospital filed for bankruptcy.

Mercy Iowa Clinic filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Aug. 7, and the University of Iowa in Iowa City submitted an offer to purchase the assets, Steindler Orthopedics President and CEO Patrick Magallanes said in an Aug. 11 Facebook post.

Mr. Magallanes said he thought Mercy could continue as a community hospital, but now a planned asset purchase would mean Mercy "will cease to exist." The auction is expected to be scheduled in September. When the sale closes, UIHC management will operate Mercy.

Patients with Steindler have not been included in conversations about the transition, but care is not expected to be interrupted, Mr. Magallanes said. He also expressed optimism about future opportunities with the hospital.

"I can tell you that the Steindler Orthopedic group will remain independent," he said. "While we may see patients at the new UIHC hospital, we remain an independent orthopedic group. Furthermore, regardless of where we are or where we go, the Steindler Orthopedic Clinic team will focus on the 'Steindler Way' that defines our reputation and the quality of care we've been known for over the past 70 years  at the new UIHC hospital that takes over Mercy Hospital or wherever we see our patients."
IT managed services provider Nimbus has announced an investment of 250,000 in cyber security products and services  including a new security operations centre.

The Belfast-based company said the move followed a major investment in security services at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic to help firms make the shift to remote or hybrid working.

Nimbus said the investment aimed to bolster company capabilities by adding a range of threat monitoring, detection and rapid response services to counter growing cyber threats.

Such threats could include Ransomware and other attacks aimed at stealing company data or bringing companies IT systems to a halt.

Nimbus said its new security operations centre at the Belfast office would operate on a 365-day, round-the-clock basis, enabling Nimbus to provide additional specialist security services to its clients around the UK and Ireland.

Gareth McAlister, Nimbus founder and managing director, said: Cyber security is at the forefront of the minds of businesses and organisations and its business-critical that organisations secure, protect and monitor their IT systems to prevent breaches that could have significant repercussions.

We have invested significantly in infrastructure, cloud, technology and people to make sure we have a range of offerings that meets the requirements of organisations with complex and demanding IT needs.

He added: Our commitment has always been to listen to our clients needs, whilst also continuing to innovate. This investment reinforces our commitment to investing in our clients and people and as a result we have a layered approach to security solutions to fit all business requirements and budgets.

Mr McAlister founded the business more than a decade ago, signing up clients in local and international markets.

Clients are from a range of sectors including fintech, manufacturing and professional services.

Examples on its website include Bupa, FinTrU, Titanic Belfast and Boojum.

According to its most recently-filed company accounts, it had 25 employees in 2022, up from 19 in 2021.
The writer grew up in Derry in the 1990s and used her experiences as inspiration for the award-winning sitcom.

However, while she has previously said that shes proud to be an Irish woman, she finds it frustrating when her identity is dismissed as not properly Irish because she hails from Northern Ireland and not the Republic.

Lisa took to Twitter over the weekend to share an article in The Irish Post which describes the shift in tone at Listowel Writers Week after Belfast publisher Stephen Connolly took over its organisation.

The piece describes how Mr Connolly faced criticism from some people who said the festival didnt have the right kind of vibe and asked questions like could they not have got anyone Irish to do it?

In a quote tweet, Lisa expressed her own frustrations with having her Irishness brushed aside as a Derry native.

She wrote: The 'you're not properly Irish, you're from the North' brigade are in my top 3 - two bottles of Prosecco in rants. The worst. The stupidity. I cannot deal as I believe the wains say. (they probably don't).

Her followers were quick to agree with her in the replies section, with one person writing: Sometimes it isnt said as direct as that sometimes, but is said in a roundabout way, subtly and many times with a smile so that if theyre challenged, youre just an aggressive northerner who cant take a joke.

Another pointed out that former president Mary McAleese hailed from Belfast.

Remind anyone that Uachtaran na hEireann from 1997 to 2011 was a lady from the Ardoyne in Belfast and see what they say, they wrote.

While someone else shared their own experience, adding: I was recently told, in all seriousness, that I had no right to comment on the Irish constitution because I was born in the North.

And a fourth chimed in: Its so prevalent! Makes my blood boil.

Read more Derry Girls most-watched show in Northern Ireland last year

Lisa has previously opened up about feeling like her sense of identity was bound up with Derry.

I was conscious of being a Derry person before I was aware I was Irish, she told the Belfast Telegraph back in December 2021.

Events in Northern Ireland shaped us. Growing up, we saw flags on lampposts, soldiers on the streets.

We had to be forceful about what we were and what we were not  Derry, not Londonderry; Irish, not British. We had to defend who we were.

In a sense, Derry is misplaced. We are not so much Irish as a type of being Irish. We are different from our neighbours in Donegal, but we are different from Belfast also.

However, she believes there is room for everyone to live in peace in Northern Ireland, no matter their identity.

As a Derry woman, I am proud to be Irish, but there has to be space for those who are not Irish, she said.

In Northern Ireland, one half of the population is pushing something on the other half. If we could only identify the words and terms that we could all agree on.

Maybe in the next 20 years we might find the terminology we are all comfortable with. Why cant we be proud of that instead of whatever flag youre waving?
A new film starring Jamie Dornan and Gal Gadot has failed to impress critics, gaining some scathing reviews and a low rating on a top review site.

The NI actor plays field agent Parker in Heart of Stone, an action spy film released on Netflix last Friday.

He is aided by Gadot, who plays intelligence agent Rachel Stone, in his task of preventing a powerful AI tool capable of hacking into any system in the world from falling into the hands of the wrong people.

The tense mission, also starring Alia Bhatt, Matthias Schweighofer, Sophie Okonedo, Paul Ready and Jing Lusi, plays out in ski slopes and cable cars in the Italian Alps.

However the critics score on review site Rotten Tomatoes failed to reach such lofty heights  the Tomatometer is sitting at 32% based on 97 reviews.

"The conquer-the-world machinations, the unoriginal action choreography, the blandly-written characters and the unstoppable formidability of the superspy make it so hard to care about any of it, one critic wrote, who rated the film two out of 10.

Others described it as hollow and soulless while one recommended it as a great movie for your dad to fall asleep to.

"Paint-by-numbers plot and action collapses under uninspired writing, painful cliches, and overproduced spectacle, another critic observed.

Some critics praised the film's action sequences and Gadot's contribution, but it wasnt enough to lift the overall score. There were negative responses to the perceived generic plot and overused twists.

According to CNN: "Gadot makes a striking protagonist even when she's a mere mortal who can't deflect bullets.

"Yet the structure of Heart of Stone doesnt help by beginning in the middle and providing little in the way of backstory to separate Stone from any number of other cinematic spies.

Meanwhile a review by Empire said: "The real problem here is an absence of truly compelling characters, especially the lead; Gadot's role is too blandly written for her to have anything substantial to grip on to.

"Heart of Stone is a perfectly watchable and often daft bit of fun, but its mission to supersede Ethan Hunt might prove to be impossible."

Dornan, who described co-star Gadot as a rock star, previously told Netflix: [Parker] has an idealistic way of how the world should be, but not in the way an audience might originally think."

The Holywood artist continued: "I have been presented with plenty of opportunities in that space before, just truthfully haven't felt that any of them were right, or strong enough maybe.

"I've got pretty close to signing on to something at one point that was a similar genre, didn't end up happening... but I probably would have done that one, but never materialised, but just a timing thing.

"Sometimes they present themselves and it's just the last thing I feel like doing. Timing is everything.

"This came along at a time where I was obviously keen to flex that side of myself and put myself out of my comfort zone in a world that I haven't explored before in my career, with a great team of people that I thought I could really trust and have a good time with."

The new release is more popular among everyday viewers, with an audience rating of 61% based one more than 500 responses.
The Beatles pictured in June 1963 as their fame soared (PA)

The mother of George Harrison wrote she was really ashamed I was a female after she watched screaming fans at a Beatles concert.

Louise Harrison told teenager Janet Gray about the Beatlemania scenes she witnessed at a gig in Manchester in November 1963.

Janet, from Crosby, Liverpool, sent fan mail to the Harrison family home in Mackets Lane, Woolton, on a weekly basis from 1963 to 1966.

Mrs Harrison diligently answered thousands of letters from fans around the world.

Their correspondence was intimate as Mrs Harrison took a keen interest in the teenagers personal life as she shared the exploits of her son as his fame soared.

Louise Harrison, the mother of Beatle George Harrison, replied to thousands of items of fan mail (Beatles Shop/PA)

In a letter sent in November 1963, she wrote: Dear Janet, I dont know anything about your mothers letter. I did not have one yet.

I do hope my writing to you is not the cause of any trouble at home. For if so I will definitely not write any more.

Last Wednesday I went to Manchester and I was really disgusted at the way the so-called fans just screamed right through the whole of the Beatles act.

Nobody with any sense would pay and queue for a ticket just to stand on a seat and scream and not hear one sound from the stage. I was really ashamed I was a female.

Now Janet I hope you will try and remember that your mum is your best friend, even if you dont see eye to eye on some issues. Thank God I get on fine with all my 4 children and they with each other.

Anyhow I shall pray that everything will be just fine for you in the very near future. Lots of love Louise Harrison.

PS I have about 90 letters not opened yet and hundreds opened awaiting replys (sic).

In another reply in July 1964, she said: Dear Janet This will have to be short.

George was home for two days or rather nights  out all day rehearsing at Blackpool. George was not hurt Thank God in crash.

Oh Im surprised at you believing rot about Paul. What on earth makes you believed it, I dont.

You seem to be having a good time eh! I want to get away this weekend.

I must close now for shopping. Love Louise Harrison

A letter from Louise Harrison, mother of George Harrison, to Beatles fan Janet Gray (Beatles Shop/PA)

Thanks for snap its very good.

In September 1964, she wrote: Dear Janet, Ive been in Surrey 5 weeks.

George was there 5 days before I came home. He is very thin but OK.

Glad to hear you have a boyfriend. Hope you pass the GCE OK. Im so busy I could scream. 3000 letters to answer at least. So Ill say cheerio for now.

Nearly two years later in August 1966, she wrote: Dear Janet, I have just been away on holiday touring around France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany and now I am back to about 500 letters and so I am afraid this will have to be rather short.

I am hoping the boys will have a successful tour of America despite all the rumours we have heard.

Congratulations and good luck to your brother. Sorry to hear of your misfortune with the moped. You are very lucky to get such good pay.

I hope your mum enjoyed Lucerne, we were there.

Best wishes Louise Harrison.

A series of 25 letters in reply from Mrs Harrison have been put up for sale by the family of the late Ms Gray.

They will be among items listed at the Liverpool Beatles Memorabilia Auction which takes place in the city on Saturday August 26.

Further details can be found at www.beatlesauction.co.uk
An Irish Goodbye star said he found some misrepresentations upsetting.

Seamus O'Hara (second from right) pictured with colleagues from Oscar-winning short film An Irish Goodbye

A Co Antrim actor has found strength in calling himself Northern Irish after a strange hostility towards his nationality during the Oscar success of short film An Irish Goodbye.

Seamus OHara, who played Turlough in the film, which also starred James Martin and won an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film in March 2023, has recalled feeling strange about being asked to step out of embassy photos and the films exclusion from the list of Irish nominees.

Our film was a part of the Green Wave this year in Hollywood, he tweeted.

"First started feeling strange when the reporting in RoI was omitting Irish Goodbye from the list of Irish nominees.

"It got enough kick back that eventually we were being included in that list.

"However being included in this way found all manner of instances where institutions simply didnt know how to categorise us. Irish? British? Northern Irish?! Ulster?!! Northern British Irish Ulster? What are they?!

"There were embassy pictures we were asked to step out of.

It was at this stage, he continued to explain, that he started finding strength in calling myself Northern Irish."

"This doesnt diminish my Irishness, Mr OHara added.

"It establishes a particular kind of Irishness that Im proud of, and I felt no kinship to the strange hostility from some brands of Irish."

The actor said he cant really be upset about it anymore despite feeling that way at the time of the incidents.

But this is where we are, he told followers on social media.

"I manage my expectations of others  NI is extremely complex and we dont even really know how to talk about ourselves yet.

"We havent found comfortable ways of defining ourselves yet.

"But the conversation in the North is active and very very exciting.

"Artists from the North are coming together in a way that hasnt happened in a long time.

Mr OHara was reflecting after one of the best weekends of my life at the Listowel Writers Week  a literary festival in Co Kerry  which came at the end of a run of BAFTA, Oscar and IFTA wins for the critically acclaimed short film.

"Being Irish/Northern Irish in London, LA and Dublin are three different experiences, he said.

It comes after Mr OHara admitted that being described as anything other than Irish over the last year has been upsetting.

He was quote-tweeting an Irish Post article in which Belfast publisher and poetry editor Stephen Connolly hit out anti-Northern Ireland attitudes shown by locals at the Listowel Writers Week he had been hired to curate.

Mr Connolly said he had been met with comments like: Could they not have got anyone Irish to do it?, with one complaint comparing his running of the festival to unionist gerrymandering of the NI local government system in the 1960s.

Another person approached him in the foyer of the venue after one of the events and said, I have been involved with this festival before and I just want to tell you that youve ruined it.

The Belfast native has since had his curatorship of the Listowel Writers Week terminated after just one year.

Cushendun actor OHara tweeted in support of Mr Connolly and shared his own experience of the week-long festival.

"Ive had the most interesting year being described as anything other than Irish by the Irish, which as an Irishman is pretty upsetting, he said.

"I attended Listowel and it was a beautiful meeting of artists, however the youre not the right kind [of] Irish, please leave was strong.

OHara, who has also appeared in television sensation Game Of Thrones, recently hit out at politicians in Northern Ireland for showing a terrible failure of leadership and sending voters a dangerous message that democracy does not work.

Speaking to the PA news agency at the time on the wider political situation here, the actor said the current situation with a lack of Stormont is a national disgrace.

Theres a serious lack of accountability. Theres a serious lack of leadership at the moment, he said.

Acknowledging his position as an artist rather than a politician, he added: But I do understand the qualitative value in at least pretending to be leading.

"Have we not learned enough? Can we not learn from our lessons and see that the way forward, the way out of these deadlocks is to sit down at a table and talk and compromise where it can be found.

"Its difficult. Its not meant to be easy, but weve learned that thats what works. And weve also learned that thats what the general population of the country want to happen.
As strikes in Hollywood cripple the US entertainment industry, productions shot here and full of local talent will gain global exposure like never before

Liam Neeson and Ciaran Hinds in In The Land Of Saints And Sinners

The spotlight is set to shine on our film and television talent this autumn, with three major productions currently under way and a plethora of locally made projects due for release.

Filming of the second series of BBC One police drama Blue Lights began in Belfast this week, with cast members including Sian Brooke, Katherine Devlin, Martin McCann and Nathan Braniff back in the city for the follow-up to the successful series one.

The show, written by Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson, follows a group of rookie PSNI officers as they learn the ropes and discover the dangers of policing in the city.

Series one, which aired earlier this year, proved popular, with the first episode averaging over six million viewers.

Its expected series two will hit our screens in spring 2024.

Kerri Quinn and Amara Karan in Hope Street

Staying with police dramas, and filming of the third series of Hope Street has been ongoing over the summer in and around Donaghadee.

Set in the fictional town of Port Devine, the drama will have an extended run of 15 episodes this time.

Hope Street stars a host of local talent including Ciaran McMenamin, Brid Brennan, Kerri Quinn, Niamh McGrady, Rachel Tucker, Aaron McCusker, Niall Wright and Des McAleer.

Additions to the cast this season are Karen Hassan and Finnian Garbutt.

Also shooting is the second series of BBC Three and BBC iPlayer comedy horror show Wreck.

It stars Oscar Kennedy as Jamie, who takes a job on board a cruise ship to investigate the disappearance of his sister.

The cast includes Co Down actress and Doctor Who star Thaddea Graham. It is expected to air later this year.

Michael Shea and John Lynch in Blue Lights

Coming soon to BBC One and iPlayer is new Gothic thriller The Woman In The Wall, which was made on location here. It stars Bafta winner Ruth Wilson and Bafta nominee Daryl McCormack.

The fictional story is inspired by Irelands Magdalene Laundries scandal and features Wilson as a survivor of one such institution, whose baby is cruelly snatched from her after birth.

Returning for a third series is Channel 5 detective drama Dalgliesh, due to shoot later this year or early next year.

Starring Bertie Carvel as Chief Inspector Adam Dalgliesh, the locally-shot drama is based on the books by PD James.

Series two, which kicked off in April, was filmed in different locations around Belfast including Corpus Christi College, Union Street and Lady Dixon Park, as well as The Gobbins and Browns Bay.

Also on its way is new ITV drama Breathtaking from Line Of Duty creator Jed Mercurio.

Starring Joanne Froggatt as a doctor, the drama will tackle the Covid pandemic in its early days.

Co-written by Rachel Clarke and Prasanna Puwanarajah, it was filmed in Belfast and will air in three parts on ITV, with a date still to be announced.

Two upcoming movies starring former James Bond Pierce Brosnan are awaiting release dates  The Last Rifleman and Four Letters Of Love.

The Last Rifleman, written by Kevin Fitzpatrick and directed by Terry Loane, centres on a WWII serviceman in a care home, who is determined to join his regiment in France to mark the 75th anniversary commemorations of D-Day.

Based on the true story of Bernard Jordan, The Last Rifleman was shot over six weeks in 2022 in Belfast, Antrim, Helens Bay and Lisburn.

Brosnan was back in Northern Ireland earlier this year to film Polly Steels romance Four Letters Of Love alongside Helena Bonham Carter and Gabriel Byrne. The movie was shot in Belfast and Ballycastle, as well as various locations in Co Donegal.

Liam Neeson and Ciaran Hinds in In The Land Of Saints And Sinners

One of the most anticipated films of the year is the Netflix thriller In The Land Of Saints and Sinners, starring two of our best-known actors, Liam Neeson and Ciaran Hinds.

Written by Mark McNally and directed by Terry Loane, the action is set in a remote Irish village, where a newly retired assassin finds himself drawn into a lethal game of cat and mouse with a trio of vengeful terrorists.

The movie was shot in Donegal and features an all-star cast alongside Neeson and Hinds, including Desmond Eastwood (Blue Lights, Normal People), Seamus OHara (An Irish Goodbye) and Conor MacNeill, recently seen in BBC One drama The Sixth Commandment. The film also stars Jack Gleeson, Sarah Greene and Kerry Condon of the Oscar-nominated dark comedy The Banshees Of Inisherin.

In The Land Of Saints and Sinners will premiere at the 80th Venice International Film Festival next month.

Hitting the big screens this September is A Haunting In Venice, the third Hercule Poirot mystery starring Kenneth Branagh as the Belgian detective.

Described as an unsettling, supernatural thriller, this instalment is inspired by Agatha Christies Halloween Party.

Read more Adrian Dunbar joins Line of Duty colleagues to toast Vicky McClures marriage to Jonathan Owen

A Haunting In Venice was filmed in the Italian city and at Pinewood Studios near London. As well as Branagh at the helm, it stars local actors Jamie Dornan and Jude Hill, reunited with the director of Oscar-winning film Belfast, in which they both appeared.

Dornan is back on the small screen again either at the end of this year or early next in the second series of The Tourist.

Series two of the BBC One drama will see the action relocate from the Australian outback to Ireland as Dornans mysterious character Eliot heads home with Constable Helen Chambers (Danielle Macdonald) to discover more about his roots. Filming wrapped in Dublin earlier this month.

And the Co Down man also stars in Netflix film Heart Of Stone, which landed on the streaming platform this month.

Dornan plays an MI6 operative opposite Gal Gadots secret agent Rachel Stone.

And Netflix is the home of Kevin Harts upcoming heist movie, Lift.

The actor and comedian made Belfast his home while filming Lift last year, delighting fans with several appearances at comedy gigs in the city.

Lift sees a band of expert criminals recruited to prevent a terrorist attack by robbing the rich, with the heist taking place mid-flight.

The film is due to hit the platform in January.

Other upcoming locally made productions include Old Guy, starring Christophe Waltz, Lucy Liu, Cooper Hoffman and Desmond Eastwood, which filmed here in spring; Sunrise, starring Guy Pearce; and the Sky Christmas special, Joy To The World, which was filmed in Belfast earlier this year.

It stars James Nesbitt alongside Timothy Spall, whose recent performance in The Sixth Commandment was critically acclaimed.

Patrick Kielty and Seana Kerslake in Ballywalter

And Belfast woman Stacey Greggs bittersweet comedy drama Ballywalter opens in cinemas next month.

The film, shot in Co Down, stars Seana Kerslake and new The Late Late Show host Patrick Kielty in his movie debut.

Meanwhile, a number of big budget productions have been put on hold due to the ongoing strikes in Hollywood involving actors and writers, including How To Train Your Dragon and Bladerunner.

Read more Patrick Kielty announces his new film is to be shown in NI cinemas

Both productions were due to film here, with the former planned for Titanic Studios and the latter Belfast Harbour Studios.

The strikes have caused a global shutdown of the sector and it is not known when filming will begin on the two multi-million-pound productions.

Richard Williams, chief executive of Northern Ireland Screen, said that local productions were shooting, putting locations and talent here at the forefront of the film and television industry.

Audiences across the UK and farther afield are in for a treat with a host of locally made projects hitting our screens soon, he said.

Theres something for everyone  be it a period drama, a documentary, a thriller or even a Christmas movie.

Production is also under way on Hope Street, Blue Lights and Wreck, all of which are coming back with new series.

These projects not only show off Northern Irelands spectacular scenery, but they also highlight the incredibly talented people we have working here in our screen industry with local writers, directors, producers and highly skilled crew across all disciplines attached to these projects.
K-pop girl group Le Sserafim performs during a concert at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in eastern Seoul, Sunday. Courtesy of Source Music



Le Sserafim mesmerizes 5,200 fans in Jamsil



By Dong Sun-hwa



From "Fearless" (2022) to "Antifragile" (2022) to "Unforgiven" (2023), the titles of the songs by K-pop girl group Le Sserafim hint at the values that the quintet upholds: confidence, independence and self-determination. During its concert at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in eastern Seoul, Sunday, Le Sserafim again brought these themes to the fore, commanding the stage with the tunes that best deliver them.



"As we have said in our songs, we have been following our inner voices to do the things that we truly want to do," member Huh Yun-jin said in front of some 5,200 fans.



Sunday's extravaganza was part of Le Sserafim's first-ever solo tour titled, "Flame Rises," which consisted of four sections: "Embers," "Ignite," "Flame" and "Rises."



"I think that's how we have come this far. Honestly, I am quite a timid person, but after becoming a part of Le Sserafim, I learned that fear is not my enemy. It is something that we can overcome together," Huh added.





K-pop girl group Le Sserafim pose on stage during a concert at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in eastern Seoul, Sunday / Courtesy of Source Music



Opening the concert with "The World Is My Oyster" (2022) and "Fearless," the five members  Kim Chae-won, Kazuha, Sakura, Hong Eun-chae and Huh Yun-jin  performed some of their most popular songs and fan favorites, including "Impurities" (2023) and "Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard's Wife" (2023). One of the gems was their rendition of "The Great Mermaid" (2022) which featured some 20 backup dancers. Le Sserafim members sang and danced on a mock-up of a huge ocean rock against the backdrop of lapping waves, reminding the audience of mystical mermaids in a fairy tale.



The group brought a rock vibe with "No Celestial" (2022) while emitting a refreshing charm for "Blue Flame" (2022). Huh and Kim revealed their vocal bravura when they belted out "We Got So Much"  a tune to be released in the coming days.



"This track is our surprise gift for you," Kim told her fans with a radiant smile.



Huh elaborated, "As its title suggests, we tried to express our gratitude to our followers, who have been giving us so much love. I hope it touches their hearts."





K-pop girl group Le Sserafim performs during a concert at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in eastern Seoul, Sunday. Courtesy of Source Music



Given that Le Sserafim is a rookie group that arrived on the music scene last year, it only had 17 songs on its set list  a relatively small number compared to more experienced K-pop acts. Nonetheless, the spectators of the "Flame Rises" concert could still enjoy it to the fullest as they were able to closely interact with their stars and build rapport during talk sessions.



The five members also tried to engage their fans as much as possible, crafting an easy-to-follow dance for the song "Good Parts (when the quality is bad but I am)" (2022).





Some 5,200 fans attended K-pop girl group Le Sserafim's concert at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in eastern Seoul, Sunday. Courtesy of Source Music
Details emerged as bail was granted to two men and a woman

A further six potential victims have been identified in a suspected human trafficking and prostitution racket operated in the Greater Belfast area, the High Court has heard.

Detectives want to speak to them as part of an international investigation involving claims another woman was lured to Northern Ireland from Romania with the bogus promise of a job with Amazon.

Details emerged as bail was granted to two men and a woman allegedly linked to the organised crime scheme.

Petru Balogh, 26, his 35-year-old girlfriend Flortina Ciurar, both of Hugh Street in Belfast, and Ioan Mihai, 29, from Coombe Hill Park in the city, all deny charges of controlling prostitution for gain, brothel keeping and money laundering offences.

The investigation began in June last year after a woman informed police she had fled from Balogh and Ciurar.

Prosecution counsel Connel Trainor said: She indicated that she was enticed from Romania under the pretence of getting employment at an Amazon warehouse, but when she arrived she was told that she would be working as a prostitute.

Balogh allegedly paid for her flight, collected her from the airport and brought her to an address in south Belfast where she was informed that she would have to carry out sex work to repay her debt.

Along with Ciurar, he told the woman she could earn a lot of money and that they would help with adverts and setting up clients, the court heard.

She was shown the bedroom where she would do the work and said she observed boxes of condoms and wipes, Mr Trainor submitted.

Police mounted a surveillance operation and attended the property, where two other suspected prostitutes were located.

Balogh had also allegedly paid for them to travel to Northern Ireland.

Financial inquiries revealed that large sums of money had passed through a bank account said to be linked to Ciurar and controlled by her partner, according to the prosecutor.

It was claimed that they had also paid for several adverts on adult websites.

The court heard Mihai is allegedly connected by money transferred from Balogh on the same date he took out a tenancy on a second suspected brothel in the Newtownabbey area.

When police attended that address Mihai was present with two Romanian prostitutes.

He claimed, however, that he was only there as a sex buyer.

Counsel argued that a total of 45,000 believed to be the proceeds of prostitution as passed through Mihais account.

Opposing the three defendants bail applications, Mr Trainor stressed they are all Romanian nationals who police fear could either flee or interfere with the investigation.

He added: A number of other victims have been identified. Im told there are six, they currently reside in Romania and require to be spoken to.

Counsel for Ciurar, Sean OHare, suggested that she may also be a potential victim because she had no control over her bank accounts and had been involved as a sex worker.

Joel Lindsay, representing Balogh, argued that his client provided police with a full explanation and has no trappings of wealth.

He drives a car which is worth about 700 to his work (at a bakery), Mr Lindsay said.

Mihais barrister, Joe Brolly, insisted he had no contact with the woman who first alerted police.

She has never made a complaint against him and he has nothing to do with that allegation of sex trafficking, Mr Brolly said.

Granting bail to the three accused, Mr Justice Scoffield acknowledged that they now have family ties in Northern Ireland.

He ordered them to lodge cash sureties, live at approved addresses under curfew and surrender any passports.

The judge directed: They will not be allowed to leave Northern Ireland without the permission of police.
A new symptom of long Covid has been revealed by scientists at the University of Leeds.

Though most people who contract Covid recover within a few days or weeks of experiencing initial symptoms, some people can experience longer, more persistent symptoms  termed long Covid or post Covid-19 syndrome by the NHS.

Until now, the most commonly identified symptoms have included extreme tiredness, loss of smell, muscle aches and shortness of breath. Others include memory problems, chest pain, insomnia, heart palpitations, dizziness, joint pain, tinnitus and depression and anxiety.

Now, a new study has revealed a previously unidentified symptom of long Covid.

Published in The Lancet medical journal, the research detailed a new symptom of the condition after a 33-year-old man was referred to the specialists clinic.

The patient had a six-month history of what the authors describe as a rapid purple discolouration on his legs. When standing, he remarked that they would feel progressively heavier and become tingly, itchy and dusky in colour.

He added that a rash would occasionally appear on his feet, but that the mysterious symptoms would disappear when laying down.

The disorder is known as acrocyanosis or persistent and extreme blue or cyanotic discolouration. It typically occurs in the hands and feet but can also appear across the nose and ears.

This was a striking case of acrocyanosis in a patient who had not experienced it before his Covid-19 infection, co-author Dr Manoj Sivan, associate clinical professor and honorary consultant in rehabilitation medicine at the University of Leeds told Metro.

Patients experiencing this may not be aware that it can be a symptom of long Covid and dysautonomia, and may feel concerned about what they are seeing. Similarly, clinicians may not be aware of the link between acrocyanosis and long Covid.

We need to ensure that there is more awareness of dysautonomia [malfunctioning of the nervous system] in long COVID so that clinicians have the tools they need to manage patients appropriately.

The NHS currently offers a long Covid service which aims to identify the condition through blood tests, blood pressure and heart rate monitoring, chest X-rays or by measuring oxygen levels. Those with severe symptoms might be referred to a specialist service or a rehabilitation service.

The severity of a Covid case does not appear to be linked to the chances of developing long Covid, with people who initially experienced mild symptoms similarly suspectable to long-term problems.
MLA says concert degenerated into terror festTourism NI reviewing funding of festival Charity Commission facing criticism Arts Council will raise issue at earliest opportunity

Shebeen perform at closing night of Belfast Feile festival in west Belfast. Photo by Kevin Scott.

The Wolfe Tones perform at Feile in the Falls Park, west Belfast on August 13th 2023 (Photo by Kevin Scott)

The Wolfe Tones perform at Feile in the Falls Park, west Belfast on August 13th 2023 (Photo by Kevin Scott)

Wolf Tones perform at closing night of Belfast Feile festival in west Belfast. Photo by Kevin Scott.

Major funders of Feile an Phobail today voiced concern after pro-IRA chanting during a Wolfe Tones gig on the closing night.

One said funding was under review, while another said it was seeking urgent discussions with festival organisers.

Around 10,000 fans attended the festival finale in the Falls Park in west Belfast on Sunday night.

Video footage shows many fans singing along and chanting Ooh, ah, up the 'RA.

Watch: Up the 'RA chanting at Feile Wolfe Tones finale

Feile an Phobail is a registered charity, and there are now questions as to why the Charity Commission, which regulates charities, has not taken action following pro-IRA chants in previous years.

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland, which provided 116,600 of funding to Feile in 2012/22, said its board reminded Feile of their obligations before the festival opened and will address this issue again at its earliest opportunity.

And another backer, Tourism NI, said it is reviewing its funding of aspects of the Feile.

Gary Murray, who lost his teenage sister in the IRA Shankill bomb, accused festival organisers of knowingly organising a musical event engaged in the promotion and celebration of IRA terrorism.

Mr Murray, who lodged an official grievance with the Charity Commission and PSNI following last years event, questioned why the charity watchdog allowed it to happen again.

"This was not only via the Wolfe Tones, but also a band known as 'Shebeen' who expressly sang a number of songs celebrating the IRA murder of British soldiers and other innocent victims, he said.

"This, as with every year, has caused untold hurt and upset to victims of the IRA.

"The actions of the west Belfast festival are predictable, however the real issue here is that they were given the green-light for these events by the Charity Commission.

The Wolfe Tones perform at Feile in the Falls Park, west Belfast on August 13th 2023 (Photo by Kevin Scott)

The Charity Commission for NI said it assessed concerns about the Feile last August and concluded it had not contravened charity law.

But Mr Murray, the brother of Leanne Murray, who was just 13 when she was killed alongside eight other innocents in October 1993, said the regulator was warned they were in error and warned that the West Belfast festival would once again engage in this activity.

"They ignored these warnings, and the results last night are there for all to see, he added.

The father of a 12-year-old boy who was killed in the Warrington bombings branded the pro-IRA chanting as dangerous beyond belief.

Tim Parry was out shopping when two bombs hidden inside litter bins exploded on March 20 1993.

His dad Colin told BBC Radio Ulster he feels sadness that people celebrate the IRA and its legacy.

Shebeen perform at closing night of Belfast Feile festival in west Belfast. Photo by Kevin Scott.

I respect republicans who want to see the border gone, I respect unionists who want to see the border remain, he told The Nolan Show.

I am neutral on all of that, but the IRA was a brutal organisation, as indeed were unionist paramilitary groups too of course.

I guess its predominantly young people many of those people saying up the Ra were probably not born or maybe were tiny babies when the Good Friday Agreement was signed.

I just think for the good of that agreement and the survival of the agreement.. and for Northern Ireland to move beyond all of this historical nastiness  its just unthinkable that people should celebrate in that way.

The grieving father recalled how his son, an Everton Football Club supporter, was on his way to buy a pair of Neville Southall shorts when he was killed in the IRA blasts.

Johnathan Ball (3) was also killed in the atrocity which left more than 50 other people injured.

I can never understand how the two guys could calmly walk down early in the morning, plant bombs in two bins, cover them up with litter and calmly walk away knowing there would be carnage and death," Mr Parry said.

I cant begin to get inside the heads of men who would be calm enough and cold-hearted enough to do that.

Mr Parry said he is speechless when he thinks that any public body would knowingly or unknowingly fund an enterprise that celebrates the IRA.

Its sickening  its one thing to remember people who have died heroically in a cause we can all recognise and understand," he added.

But given the awful history in Northern Ireland over many, many years  and knowing how much of a powder keg it can be  to incite potential further horrific action inspired maybe by the apparent rapture of singing this song is dangerous beyond belief.

TUV leader Jim Allister slammed the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland for failing to take action over pro-IRA chants in previous years.

Once more the west Belfast festival degenerated into a terror fest with its Up the Ra finale," he said.

The fact that shamefully the Charity Commission failed to act against such glorification of terror  under the auspices of an organisation it continues to accept as a bona fide charity  guaranteed this deliberate insult to IRA victims."

A spokesperson for the Charity Commission said: One of the concerned parties requested that the commission review its decision not to take regulatory action under its internal decision review process.

"The charity was advised of this request.

The concerned party also requested that a specific question is referred to the Charity Tribunal under para. 1 of Schedule 4 to the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008.

"The concerned party has been advised that this request is currently being considered by the commission.

The spokesperson said it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this time while both requests are under consideration.

Meanwhile Tourism NI said it is reviewing its funding of aspects of the Feile.

Tourism NI offers funding to Feile An Phobail for the marketing and cultural elements of the programme, it said.

We have made it clear to the organisers of Feile of the conditions which they are expected to meet in order to receive funding from Tourism NI, the need to promote a positive view of the destination and deliver an inclusive and welcoming experience for all.

We will be reviewing the events that took place at last nights concert and the adherence to the funding terms and conditions  it is therefore not appropriate to comment at this time.

Belfast City Council said: Feile an Phobail has received funding via the councils Cultural Multi-Annual Grants scheme for four years (2020-2024) to support a programme of 250+ inclusive arts and cultural activities over a number of days each year.

While the council supports the festival on this basis, our funding does not support commercial events, such as the event by the Wolfe Tones.

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland said: The Arts Council of Northern Ireland awarded funding to Feile an Phobail from the 2023/2024 Annual Funding Programme. This award contributes to the organisations annual running costs, including an element of staff salary and marketing costs - it does not include the costs associated with programming individual artists and musicians.

Feiles flagship August festival is one of Northern Irelands largest community festivals, packed with almost 300 events, including talks, exhibitions and theatre productions. It has had a predominantly transformative and positive impact in West Belfast since its inception in 1988. In the years since, it has formed valuable links and partnerships with other festivals and arts organisations across the city.

In relation to questions raised by the Belfast Telegraph regarding one commercial event, it is the Arts Councils view that actions in breach of good relations obligations have no place in the promotion of culture. The Arts Council Board reminded Feile of their obligations before the festival opened and will address this issue again at its earliest opportunity.

The Feiles organisers have been contacted for comment.

Earlier, Feile an Phobail director Kevin Gamble said a record 120,000 people had attended events at this year's festival.

He added: "Over the last 35 years, Feile has a proven track record of delivering significant social, cultural and economic benefits to the city of Belfast, and this increases year on year.

"This year, representatives from all communities were welcomed to Feile to have their voice heard, both as spectators and participants.

"All political persuasions attended and participated in various panel discussions, as did representatives from minority ethnic communities and international visitors.

"Feile an Phobail includes all opinions and provides a platform for many different views."
PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne and Assistant Chief Constable Chris Todd during a press conference after an emergency meeting of the Northern Ireland Policing Board. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA

Chief Constable Simon Byrne must explain the timeline of events around the theft of a PSNI radio, laptop and documents containing the names of more than 200 officers and staff, a member of the Policing Board has said.
The update comes after Chief Constable Simon Byrne confirmed that the PSNI is now confident that information on police officers and staff is in the hands of dissident republicans.

NI Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has said the UK government is providing specialist support to the PSNI as it deals with the data breach crisis.

He said: "The UK Government remains committed to providing specialist support and expertise, and I know that PSNI and security partners will continue to take proportionate action to protect officers and staff and their families.

He added that he will be keeping in close contact with Chief Constable Simon Byrne and his team.

The statement comes after Chief Constable Byrne confirmed that the PSNI is now confident that information on police officers and staff mistakenly released in a major data breach is in the hands of dissident republicans.

"They will use this list to generate fear and uncertainty, as well as intimidating or targeting officers and staff," he said.

PSNI data is in hands of dissidents, says Chief Constable

He added that PSNI staff were working diligently to mitigate the threat.

Despite the threat, Mr Byrne added that officers were turning up for work as normal.

Mr Byrne also praised officers for their resilience in the face of the leak.

He said: "Id like to pay tribute to our people who have demonstrated tremendous resilience since news of this breach broke last week.

Weekend events have shown their determination to stick to our values and continue to serve the public with commitment and professionalism.

He added that the force was being supported by a variety of specialists from across the policing system in response to the leak.

We have measures in place to reassure and advise our workforce of what this risk means for them, he said.

We will continue to liaise with the Policing Board, the UK Government and partners as we develop our response to this.

The safety and welfare of our officers and staff remains my top priority.

The comments were made at a press conference held at PSNI headquarters in Belfast on Monday evening.

Responding to the comments, the Chair of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, Liam Kelly, urged all police officers and staff to exercise maximum vigilance.

Mr Kelly said: Since this major data breach, and subsequent breach, the PSNI was operating on a working hypothesis that the information on all police officers and staff would end up in the hands of dissidents and organised criminals.

The Chief Constables announcement therefore comes as no great surprise. However, it makes it all the more imperative for each and every colleague to exercise maximum vigilance. We must do all we can to frustrate and prevent attacks on our colleagues and their families.

Our men and women are resilient and resourceful. They must call on all their training and professionalism to counter this ugly consequence of a monumental data breach.

Even though we believed from the outset the data would find its way into the hands of people intent on murdering or maiming our colleagues, it is obviously a deeply worrying development, he added.

We have to be strong and determined to do everything we can to minimise risk and that means varying the routes we take to and from work, changing routines and re-assessing our personal security both on and off duty.

We can thwart the consequences of the violent dissident threat and rhetoric, but it will require an all-out effort by each and every one of us.

DUP South Antrim MLA Trevor Clarke also commented that there had been a sense of inevitability that the data in question would fall into the hands of dissident republicans and other criminal elements.

He added that the loyalty of police staff still showing up to work must be repaid by PSNI leadership.

Police officers and staff are still coming to terms with the fallout from this incident, not just professionally but in their personal lives. It is testament to their dedication and fortitude that the Chief Constable has indicated there is no evidence of an exodus from the organisation to date.

The PSNI leadership must repay that loyalty. It must restore trust. Most importantly, no stone must be left unturned in seeking answers as to why these events were allowed to happen.

The press conference comes after a sensitive document at the centre of the data breach scandal was posted on a wall facing a Sinn Fein office in west Belfast on Monday.

Constable Byrne said the incident was the first indication that the document had fallen into the hands of dissidents.

Dissident Republicans blamed for posting PSNI data leak document on west Belfast wall

The partys policing spokesperson, Gerry Kelly MLA, described the incident which happened overnight as sinister.

The PSNI is facing a deepening crisis after a vast bank of ultra-sensitive data relating to its 9,300 officers and staff was accidentally published on a website.

The data breach, released via the PSNI in a Freedom of Information (FoI) response, mistakenly published the names, ranks, locations and other personal data of every serving police officer and civilian employees.
RTE needs to work to bring finality to its ongoing scandals and the sooner the better, according to Irish minister Simon Harris.

The Higher Education Minister said: We don't need a kind of an ongoing soap opera.

"We need RTE reporting on the news, not being the news. And I think the quicker we can get back to that place the better for all of us.

Mr Harris said he did not know if there was any tension between the Irish Government and RTE, as reported at the weekend, adding: I think Kevin Bakhurst got off to a very encouraging start, in terms of a number of swift decisions that were made. I think that's been broadly welcomed.

When I certainly think needs to happen, though, is that we don't have a situation where the Dail resumes in September and go back to RTE stories again.

We need a situation where progress is made. The month of August should not be seen as a month off, in terms of making progress in relation to very serious financial and governance issues that came to fore in relation to RTE.

I know there's a new director general in there. Ive no doubt he and his team are working hard in relation to this, but I think it's certainly desirable to bring finality in terms of answers and the next steps and action plans.

Read more Date set for Patrick Kieltys Late Late Show debut

He said the Government has been clear in relation to any additional funding that may be required by RTE, adding: There will be conditions attached to that.

And certainly one of those conditions is going to be transparency and being able to assure the taxpayers in this country that RTE has moved to a much better place.

Mr Harris was asked if the return of Ryan Tubridy to the same flagship time-slot on RTE radio would send the wrong signal to the listeners on whom the station and the Irish Government rely to pay the licence fee.

It has been reported that Mr Tubridy was continued to be paid since the scandal erupted in June, albeit at a reduced rate, while the station has also paid for the replacements in his radio slot, such as Oliver Callan and Brendan Courtney.

Mr Bakhurst is continuing talks with Mr Tubridy on the broadcasters possible return.

Mr Harris said: Im not sure (about a Tubridy return), if Im being very honest. Firstly, I think it's kind of unedifying and inappropriate for Government ministers to start giving a view on who should present which radio programme.

That's not a space I wish to be in. I do not have any expertise to offer the director general. But I do think the sooner the better that finality can be brought to these issues. We don't need a kind of an ongoing soap opera.
Sinn Feins Policing Board member Gerry Kelly said he believed dissident republicans had posted part of a data breach on a wall (Liam McBurney/PA)

Dissident republicans posted redacted information from a major PSNI data breach on the wall of a library in Belfast to prove they are in possession of the sensitive material, a Sinn Fein MLA has said.

Gerry Kelly said the document which was posted overnight close to the Sinn Fein office on the Falls Road, included information about a substantial number of police officers and staff, although their names had been removed.

The latest revelation in the controversy which has rocked the PSNI comes as it has emerged that almost 3,000 police officers have inquired about potential damages following the massive data leak.

Last week the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) revealed a document had mistakenly been shared online which included the names of about 10,000 officers and staff.

Details released include the surname and first initial of every employee, their rank or grade, where they are based and the unit they work in.

Policing Board member Mr Kelly, who described the posting of the information as sinister, explained that he had been contacted by a party member this morning who had arrived at the office.

He said: He noticed that on the side of the library there was a number of documents pasted up.

There was a photograph of myself and then there was a statement saying in large writing: Gerry, we know who your mates are.

Under that there was what appeared to be, and what turned out to be, a section of the leaked documents that were put out.

It did not have the names of the police officers involved, but it had everything else.

It wasnt the whole 10,000 (names), but it was a substantial number.

Mr Kelly added: I look upon this as a threat by dissidents to me and I will not be intimidated.

More serious is that this is the dissidents, or whoever is involved, putting out that their claim that they have access to the leaked documents, they are putting out a verification on that.

I think that is their main intention.

Asked why he believes dissident republicans are responsible, Mr Kelly said: To have the names of the officers, if you were caught putting such information up then you would be under criminal charge immediately.

One of the reasons that makes me believe it is dissidents is precisely that.

They were clever enough to remove and to put up what they believe would not be illegal.

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Assistant Chief Constable Chris Todd (Liam McBurney/PA)

Last week, PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne said he was aware of claims that dissident republicans, who are opposed to the peace process in Northern Ireland, are in possession of information from the breach, but stressed that claim has not been verified.

Assistant Chief Constable Chris Todd confirmed that an investigation has begun into the posting of the redacted information in Belfast.

He said: We are aware that some redacted information from the Tuesday August 8 data breach has allegedly been posted on a wall in west Belfast today, Monday August 14.

We have commenced an investigation into this matter.

From the outset we have been planning for this potential development and that plan is now being put into place.

Mr Todd continued: We recognise the impact this may have on our officers, staff and their families and additional security and reassurance patrols have already been implemented across Northern Ireland as part of our organisational response.

The safety and welfare of our officers and staff remains our priority and we have reminded them of their personal safety and security both on and off duty.

Hundreds of officers have expressed concern for their safety in Northern Ireland, where police are under threat from terrorists  with the current level of threat assessed as severe, meaning an attack is highly likely.

The Police Federation of Northern Ireland, which represents rank and file PSNI officers, that by Monday afternoon 2,905 officers had expressed an interest in the event of legal action following the major data breach.

While no legal action has yet commenced, it is thought officers and staff whose names and places of work were revealed could be in line for compensation.

The PSNI is already facing significant budget pressures and any settlements would be expected to run into tens of millions of pounds.
Ministers took very quick action to move asylum seekers from the Bibby Stockholm barge after traces of Legionella bacteria were found, the Health Secretary said, amid a blame game about the response to the situation.

Steve Barclay said Home Office ministers were not told about the situation until the night of August 10, despite claims a local council told the contractors running the vessel about test results on August 7  the day migrants boarded the barge.

The discovery eventually led to the removal on August 11 of all 39 people who had boarded the floating accommodation docked in Portland, Dorset.

Tory-run Dorset Council said it informed the responsible organisations, barge operators CTM and Landry & Kling, about the preliminary test results on Monday August 7  the same day it received them.

A Home Office official was then told about the discovery on August 8, the council said.

Mr Barclay insisted ministers only became aware of the issue on August 10 but did not deny the possibility Home Office officials may have been aware earlier.

The detection of Legionella on the Bibby Stockholm followed a series of delays in bringing it into use (Andrew Matthews/PA)

As soon as ministers were notified on Thursday night, there were some concerns with that, they took instant action, the Health Secretary told Sky News.

He added: It may be the council notified the Home Office, that is an issue for those in the Home Office to respond to, obviously this is a Home Office lead.

My understanding from colleagues in the Home Office is it was notified to Home Office ministers on Thursday and they then took very quick action as a result.

He said he would like to see migrants moved back on board the accommodation barge to help cut the 6 million daily cost of providing hotels for asylum seekers.

It is important that we both maintain safety standards but also reflect the pressure on the taxpayer position in terms of that 6 million, he said.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay said ministers acted as soon as they were informed of the Legionella results (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

Legionella was detected in a sample analysed by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on behalf of Dorsets environmental health team.

UKHSA chief Dame Jenny Harries said the initial findings did not require a response by her agency as it could be that there were environmental factors which did not mean there was a public health risk.

But she said the local health protection team was alerted on the night of August 9 and she was informed first thing on August 10 when the UKHSA jumped in immediately.

The migrants moved on to Bibby Stockholm on August 7, the start of the Governments small boats week policy blitz aimed at showing they were tackling the problems of migrants crossing the English Channel and the backlog in the asylum system.

Asked on BBC Radio 4s Today programme whether asylum seekers should have been allowed to board before the test results came back, Dame Jenny said we would always, in public health terms, want places as safe as possible.

She said the Home Office acted to remove the asylum seekers from the vessel as a precaution before a recommendation to do so.

UK Health Security chief executive Professor Dame Jenny Harries said the Home Office had removed migrants from the barge before being told to do so (Toby Melville/PA)

Dorset Council defended its handling of the situation.

A spokesman said: To be clear, it was not Dorset Councils responsibility to inform the Home Office  that responsibility sat with CTM and Landry & King, the companies contracted by the Home Office to operate the barge.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer insisted that housing migrants on barges, in hotels or disused military air bases was not a solution to the broken asylum system.

But he was unable to rule out an incoming Labour government maintaining their use in response to the situation it would inherit on taking office.

I dont want to keep barges or hotels or airfields, for that matter, he told reporters in Scotland.

Now, were going to inherit a very difficult situation and so were going to have to manage as best we can.

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover on Monday (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Meanwhile, there were further signs of activity in the English Channel on Monday following large numbers of migrants making the crossing in recent days.

More than 1,600 people were detected making the journey from France across Thursday to Saturday last week according to provisional Home Office figures, although there were no recorded crossings on Sunday.

At least six people died and dozens were rescued after a boat got into difficulty off the coast of Sangatte, northern France, on Saturday.
Former Pakistani senator Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar was sworn in on Monday as the countrys prime minister to head a caretaker national government (Fareed Khan/AP)

Former Pakistani senator Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar was sworn in on Monday as the countrys prime minister to head a caretaker national government that will oversee parliamentary elections amid one of the worst economic crises the Islamic nation has faced, officials said.

Mr Kakar, who is comparatively new to politics and known to be close to the powerful military, has been representing his Baluchistan province in the Senate since 2018.

President Arif Alvi administered the oath of office to him in a brief ceremony in Islamabad.

Pakistani President Arif Alvi, right, administers the oath to caretaker prime minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar during a ceremony in Islamabad (Pakistan President Office/AP)

On Sunday, Mr Kakar quit as the head of his small Baluchistan Awami Party and as a senator after being named by outgoing premier Shehbaz Sharif and opposition leader Raza Riaz to oversee the vote and run the day-to-day affairs of the country until the people elect a new government.

It is normal practice in Pakistan to appoint a caretaker administration for the election period.

Under the constitution, the election should take place in the next 90 days.

Navy personnel escort provincial government officials to lay wreaths on the mausoleum of Pakistan found Muhammad Ali Jinnah during Independence Day celebrations in Karachi (Fareed Khan/AP)

The swearing-in took place as Pakistanis celebrated the countrys 76th Independence Day, but the events took place amid a deepening political turmoil, which started after the removal of former premier Imran Khan from power last year.

Pakistan gained independence when the departing British left India and split the subcontinent in 1947.

Mondays festivities began with gun salutes in the capital, Islamabad, and in each of the four provincial capitals.

In Islamabad, President Arif Alvi hoisted the national flag at a ceremony attended by officials and other dignitaries.

Pakistani President Arif Alvi hoists the national flag during Independence Day commemorations in Islamabad (Press Information Department/AP)

Security was high across the nation following multiple attacks at the weekend, including an assault in which Chinese working on a construction project escaped unharmed but two militants were killed when troops quickly returned fire in the coastal town of Gwadar in Baluchistan province.

On Sunday, a journalist, Jan Mohammad Mahar, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen as he was heading home in Sukkur, a district in southern Sindh province, police said. However, the motive behind the killing was unclear and officers said they are still investigating.

In his overnight farewell address to the nation, Mr Sharif asked his countrymen to make the right decision when they go to vote. He blamed Mr Khan for the economic crisis the country was facing when he came to power.

Mr Sharif replaced Mr Khan in April 2022 when he was ousted in a no-confidence vote in parliament.

A vendor holds balloons in the colours of the national flag and reading Happy Independence Day at a market in Peshawar (Muhammad Sajjad/AP)

Mr Khan was sentenced to three years in prison in a corruption case earlier this month and is currently being held at the high-security Attock prison in eastern Punjab province.

But he remains a popular opposition politician and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party is expected to give a tough time to his main rival Mr Sharifs ruling Pakistan Muslim League party in the elections.

Mr Khan himself would be unable to take part in the election unless his conviction is overturned as no-one with a criminal conviction can lead a party, run in elections or hold public office. He is appealed against the conviction.
Information is written in Chinese for Chinese shoppers at a duty-free store in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap



By Yi Whan-woo



The resumption of Chinese tour groups to Korea announced last Thursday is fueling optimism for the nation's worsening travel trade balance which suffered its largest half-yearly deficit in five years.



The number of outbound travelers outpaced that of inbound travelers  9.93 million to 4.43 million  in the first half.



According to Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), Monday, spending by the outbound travelers amounted to $11.5 billion against inbound travelers' $6.91 billion, resulting in a deficit of $4.65 billion for the January-June period  the largest amount for the first six months of any year since the $7.06 billion deficit recorded in 2018.



The deficit in the first half was also up 122.9 percent from a year earlier, adding to concerns that the country will extend its losing streak in yearly travel trade balance for the 23rd consecutive year since 2001.



Under the circumstances, industry sources speculated that tour groups from China could help reduce the travel deficit considering China topped international tourist arrival numbers before the pandemic.



The number of individual Chinese tourists to Korea totaled 546,000 in the first half, which accounted for 19.5 percent of the same period in 2019.



Such a recovery is lackluster when compared to the number of American tourists visiting in the same periods. That number surged 101.1 percent to 514,000.



The Chinese government then lifted a ban on group travel to Korea after more than six years, especially ahead of China's Mid-Autumn Festival, which takes place in late September and early October.



"We expect the largest-scale Chinese tourism will pick up pace," a source said, adding that the number of flights between the two countries as well as hikes in relevant airplane tickets should be expected as part of the goal.




Significant gains scored by Malaysias opposition in weekend state polls show that Malay Muslims have largely turned away from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahims federal alliance although his coalition retained control of three states, analysts said.

His government won a reprieve, but to expand its base it now needs to lift up the poorer ethnic Malay majority and ensure that minorities are not demonized, because the ethno-religious opposition relies on mongering fear about the majority losing its Islamic identity, analysts added.

In Saturdays six state assembly polls, the conservative opposition Perikatan Nasional vastly improved its performance in the states it retained  Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu. It also took a chunk of votes away from Anwars federal alliance in the states which his Pakatan Harapan alliance held on to  Selangor, Penang and Negeri Sembilan.

A significant portion of Malay voters who shifted to Perikatan Nasional and its constituent, the Islamic Party PAS, may have done so in protest of the economic conditions, while others have completely bought [into] the Malay identity politics agenda sold to them, Ibrahim Suffian, director of the Merdeka Center, a Malaysian pollster, told BenarNews.

Pakatan Harapan cannot match Perikatan on identity politics. Instead, it needs to deliver on fundamental economic recovery and some institutional reforms that will make the government more responsive to issues and improve governance, Ibrahim told BenarNews.

Institutional reform must address corrupt practices and boost efficiency, he said.

Reforms in the subsidy regime and taxation are needed to boost government revenue so it can be directed to deserving sectors, Ibrahim said.

Anwar should not try to match Perikatans identity politics or appease conservatives, according to another analyst, Syaza Shukri, of the International Islamic University of Malaysia.

He should focus on carving the unique selling point of an Islamic government that celebrates all, Syaza told BenarNews.

While the outcome of the six state elections were not expected to directly impact the federal government with its two-thirds majority, the results were seen as a test of the federal alliances strength.

The state polls were also the first major test of confidence in the unlikely alliance of Anwars multiethnic Pakatan and its former foe and Malay-centric Barisan Nasional-United Malays Nationalist Organization (UMNO) combine.

Results show polarization

In the end, Perikatan and Pakatan each retained three states, but the devil was in the details.

Up for grabs were 245 seats in total  Perikatan won 146, or 60% of the seats.

The Pakatan-led alliance won 99, down from the 169 seats the parties in the alliance won in the previous election.

These numbers account for how in previous state elections, Perikatans parties Bersatu and PAS did not contest together, and neither did Pakatan and Barisan-UMNO.

Opposition coalition Perikatan Nasional leader Muhyiddin Yassin (third from left) and other members raise their alliances flags as they await the results of six state polls, Selangor, Aug. 12, 2023. [S. Mahfuz/BenarNews]

In Penang, a Pakatan stronghold for years, Perikatan this time won 11 seats.

In Selangor, the state that encompasses the Malaysian capital region, the Perikatan-PAS alliance made major inroads in both non-urban constituencies with predominant Malay populations and in urban areas.

It won 22 of 56 Selangor seats together, compared with the one seat that PAS one in the last election.

PAS was not a part of Perikatan back then, but still the number of seats won by Perikatan was unexpected, said Tunku Mohar Mokhtar, of the International Islamic University of Malaysia.

While it was also predicted that Perikatan would increase its seats in the Malay-majority constituencies, the scale of its success, especially in denying a two-third majority to Pakatan in Selangor, is quite shocking, Tunku Mohar told BenarNews.

The results show how polarized Malaysia has become, he said.

Ethnic Malays make up close to 70% of Malaysias population, and all of them are Muslim. Ethnic Chinese comprise 22.8% of the population, and ethnic Indians 6.6%.

Green wave again

Perikatans tally got a shot in the arm from the performance of its coalition party, the hardline PAS, mirroring the results of the November general election.

PAS, which is often accused of divisive religious rhetoric and pushing Islamic fundamentalism in multi-religious Malaysia, turned in what analysts say is its best performance ever.

It won 105 of the 127 seats it contested across six states, of a total of Perikatans 146 wins.

In the November general election, PAS won 49 parliamentary seats, the largest number by any party, and holds a majority of Perikatans 74 seats. Analysts had called it the green wave, after the color of PAS flag.

In a statement on Monday, PAS Secretary-General Takiyuddin Hassan noted that the party retained the states of Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu with a two-thirds majority of votes and achieved great success in the other three states governed by the Pakatan-Barisan coalition.

By contrast, Barisan-UMNO was demolished again, showing that Anwar cannot rely on it for Malay Muslim votes. Of the 108 seats Barisan-UMNO contested it won a paltry 19.

UMNO fared poorly in the last two national elections as well, battling the perception that it is self-serving and corrupt. Its senior leader, former Prime Minister Najib Razak, was convicted of corruption and sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2020, and that conviction was upheld last year.

Once considered the flagbearer of Malay-Muslim interests, UMNO appears to be a spent force, Azmil Mohd Tayeb, associate professor at Universiti Sains Malaysia, told BenarNews



Perikatan is now the political vehicle of choice for the Malays, replacing UMNO, he said.

Hence its competitiveness not just in the Malay heartlands but also urban and semi-urban areas where the population is mixed. Perikatan Nasional is the new Barisan Nasional.

Calls to step down

Perikatan leader Muhyiddin Yassin, a former prime minister, said late Saturday that his alliances performance signified a rejection of the federal alliance and UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Anwar Ibrahim and Zahid Hamidi must take moral responsibility and resign from their posts, he said in a press conference.

Additionally, there is growing clamor within UMNO calling for Zahid to resign as party president. He faces 47 criminal charges in a case related to the alleged misappropriation of 52.25 million ringgit (U.S. $11.42 million) from his family-owned foundation.

UMNO lost 100 per cent of seats in Terengganu. Ahmad Zahid should resign, a former Terengganu Chief Minister Idris Jusoh from UMNO said in a Facebook post on Sunday.

A voter cast her ballot for state Assembly elections at a polling station in Selayang, on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, Aug. 12, 2023. [Vincent Thian/AP]

A younger UMNO leader, Muhamad Akmal Salleh, said its time for the party to embrace change courageously.

Carrying the voice of the people needs to be prioritized, not the voice of the leader, we need to dare to change, if we dont want UMNO to continue to be forgotten, he said in a statement.

A long-time watcher of Malaysian politics, Bridget Welsh, said UMNO needed to do some serious soul searching following the state poll results.

[UMNO] has to make key decisions on leadership change, internal reforms, accommodation of purged factions/individuals and its alliance relationships, Welsh, of the University of Nottingham Malaysia, told BenarNews.

Zahid will be pressured in the next few weeks to take responsibility for the state elections defeat.
Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape (R) shakes hands with USAID Administrator Samantha Power after their meeting in Port Moresby on Aug. 13, 2023.

The U.S. international aid agency has announced several million dollars of humanitarian assistance for Papua New Guinea and a solar power project as the United States tries to underline a renewed commitment to Pacific island nations.

Samantha Power, the administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, is visiting Papua New Guinea and Fiji this week for the official opening of an enlarged mission in the region where the United States is vying for influence with China.

In Port Moresby on Sunday, where USAID elevated its presence to a country representative office that oversees programs in three nations, Power said the change was a reflection of this deepened commitment to Papua New Guinea and to the broader region.

We will have more resources including funding and staff to invest here in Papua New Guinea as well as in Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, she said at a press conference with Papua New Guineas Prime Minister James Marape.

Power said she was the first USAID administrator to visit Papua New Guinea, the most populous Pacific island country with more than nine million people.

In Fiji, Power is expected to highlight what the aid agency says is a revamped regional mission that will work with nine Pacific island countries.

The U.S. government outlined plans to boost its USAID presence during a summit with Pacific island leaders in September last year that was a response to Chinas inroads in the region.

China, over several decades, has become a substantial source of trade, infrastructure and aid for developing Pacific island countries as it seeks to isolate Taiwan diplomatically and build its own set of global institutions.

Beijings relationship with the Solomon Islands has particularly blossomed after it switched its diplomatic recognition to China from Taiwan in 2019. China and the Solomon Islands signed a security pact last year, alarming the U.S. and its allies such as Australia.

However, the U.S. remains militarily dominant in the Pacific and has sought to add to its capacity for deterrence, including an agreement to help equip Australia with nuclear-powered submarines by next decade.

Papua New Guinea and the U.S. signed a defense cooperation agreement in May that will give U.S. forces access to six air and sea ports in the country, once ratified by both sides.

Power announced about US$7.4 million of assistance for Papua New Guinea and also promised to expand efforts to prevent the spread of HIV, the virus that causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, or AIDS. Power visits Fiji on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Today marks yet another monumental chapter in the flourishing USA-PNG alliance, Marape said at the press conference.

The assistance included US$1.2 million for a solar power mini grid in Central Province that in conjunction with a Singapore-based energy company would eventually give about 800 households and 30 businesses access to a reliable electricity supply.

The U.S. in 2021 allocated about US$57 million to improving the electricity supply in Papua New Guinea, where aid agencies have estimated only 13% of people are connected to the electricity grid. The proportion with some electricity supply is significantly higher when off-grid energy such as local solar power is factored in.

The funding is projected to give some 200,000 households access to electricity. It is part of a broader plan in conjunction with Japan, Australia and New Zealand, announced in 2018, to help Papua New Guinea reach its ambitious goal of connecting 70% of the population to reliable electricity by the end of this decade.

Meanwhile, a consortium of two Chinese companies is waiting to begin work on the governments flagship 180-megawatt Ramu 2 hydropower dam, according to a presentation in March for Papua New Guineas National Research Institute.

The contract for the US$940 million project was awarded in 2016. It would increase Papua New Guinea electricity generation capacity by nearly one third and provide power for mining and other industries.

The USAID assistance announced by Power also was earmarked for several other causes including hospital supplies, disaster relief in the autonomous region of Bougainville, where people have been displaced by a volcanic eruption, the combating of severe malnutrition, and disaster preparedness.
Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) troops stand along a road ahead of last years presidential elections, in Camp Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, Philippines, April 23, 2022.

The Philippine military on Monday accused members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, a former guerrilla group, of killing a soldier and a policeman during an attack in the south that left seven government troops wounded.

In Sundays incident in Ungkaya Pukan, a remote town in the island province of Basilan, officials said that 10 gunmen ambushed a security convoy guarding a Joint Peace and Security Team. The team is tasked with overseeing the decommissioning and disarming of former MILF combatants as agreed in a 2014 peace agreement with Manila.

The team members were riding in two vehicles after inspecting the area  a former MILF stronghold  when they were attacked, said Maj. Andrew Linao, a regional military spokesman.

Our troops fought back, resulting in a firefight which lasted for five minutes, Linao said.

He said the soldier died on the spot, while the policeman died later while being treated for his injuries. The seven other wounded soldiers were recuperating at a military hospital in Zamboanga City.

This act is a clear manifestation of the perpetrators disrespect to their local government officials, the military, and their fellow Basilenos, hence, we will not stop until these heartless individuals are identified and neutralized, Linao said.

BenarNews contacted local MILF authorities but did not immediately hear back.

Brig. Gen. Alvin Luzon, commander of 101st Brigade and Joint Task Force Basilan (JTFB), said the MILF leadership appears to have no control over its members, although he added that they had denied their members were involved in the ambush.

Right now, the pressure is on the MILF side to show their sincerity, Luzon told reporters.

The former separatist groups leadership said they had no control over people not identified as their members, according to Luzon.

But the MILF leadership promised to look and identify those perpetrators, Luzon said.

He said pursuit operations were continuing on Monday against the suspects.

The 12,000-strong MILF was once the countrys largest insurgent force until it dropped its bid for independence and settled for expanded autonomy under the 2014 peace deal.

The separatists then became caretakers of a Muslim region although they agreed to turn over their weapons, while some of the ex-guerrillas were absorbed into the local police force.

In November, around 100 suspected MILF members attacked a military outpost in the same village as the weekend ambush, according to the military. Officials did not immediately say if the two incidents were related.

Roel Pareno in Zamboanga City, southern Philippines, contributed to this report.
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Turkish Ambassador to Korea Murat Tamer speaks during his visit to The Korea Times in this Feb. 14 file photo. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



By Kwon Mee-yoo



Turkish Ambassador to Korea Murat Tamer expressed high hopes for enhancing ties between Korea and Turkey after Korea's Foreign Minister Park Jin's visit to Turkey at the end of July, highlighting a partnership built on mutual respect, shared history and strategic alignment.



Ambassador Tamer noted the deep and enduring bond between Korea and Turkey, especially the country's significant military and humanitarian contributions to the 1950-53 Korean War, which formed the "blood brotherhood" between the two countries.



"The blood brotherhood forged during the Korean War created an ever-lasting special bond between the two countries. Turkiye sent 21,000 troops and Turkish forces stayed in ROK until 1971. Number of Turkish martyrs, which is at around 1,000, is just following the number of casualties of the U.S. and U.K. forces," Tamer told The Korea Times via email. ROK is the acronym of the Republic of Korea, Korea's official name, and Turkiye is the country's preferred spelling.



"Turkish Armed Forces did not only shed blood for their Korean sisters and brothers but also took initiative in building orphanages and orphan schools during those difficult times. Ankara School is just one of them."



The ambassador also expressed gratitude over Korea's support after Turkey was hit by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake in February.



"The support and solidarity revealed by friendly and brotherly Korean nation in the aftermath of Feb. 6 earthquake disaster testifies that although the two countries are located in distant geographies, our hearts are always unified," he said.





Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin, left, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shake hands, prior to their talks in Istanbul, July 28. Courtesy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green says he has instructed state Attorney General Anne Lopez to work toward a moratorium on land transactions in the Lahaina area that was devastated by fire last week
This Story in History is selected from the archives by Jeannie Maschino, The Berkshire Eagle.
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The upcoming retirement of Judge John Agostini creates a vacancy on the Berkshire Superior Court bench. But who will fill it?
Henry David Thoreaus reflections on Mount Greylock can be found on the summit. As the light increased I discovered around me an ocean of mist, which by chance reached up to exactly the base of the tower, and shut out every vestige of the earth, while I was left floating on this fragment of the wreck of the world, on my carved plank in cloudland; a situation which required, no aid from the imagination to render it impressive.
From left, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and S. Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin hold a trilateral meeting in Jakarta to discuss measures against North Korea's missile provocations, July 14. Yonhap



The top diplomats of South Korea, the United States and Japan will hold discussions virtually ahead of a trilateral summit among their leaders slated for later this week, the U.S. State Department has said.



The virtual meeting among South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi will be held Monday at 7:30 p.m., the department said Sunday (Washington time).






If youve heard a sermon on Malachi, it was likely centered around one of three things. Malachi 3 is a favorite place to go for preachers desiring to preach on giving  it can provide a place for a hard-hitting rebuke to those who might be robbing God. If youre in a more Calvinistic minded church, youve maybe heard a sermon on Gods electing love. But my guess is that youve heard Malachi preached in preparation for the birth of Christ.

But really Malachi isnt the last book of the Old Testament. Its the last book of the English version of the Old Testament, but its original intent wasnt to drop the mic and then sit silent for 400 years. Malachi was positioned as the last book of the Neviim  the last of the Twelve Minor Prophets. But it is about battling indifference while we wait for Gods fulfillment of promise, in that regard it still might make a great Christmas sermon.

Where do we find the gospel in the message of the prophet Malachi?

How Do You Find the Gospel in the Old Testament?

I suppose before understanding how to find the gospel in the OT, itd be helpful for us to define the gospel. The simplest definition is one given by JI Packer: God saves sinners. If youd like to put a bit more meat on your gospel presentation, I use two different frameworks with four points each. The first is GodManChristResponse. The second is more of a story: CreationFallRedemptionGlory.

The first presentation centers upon Gods character and how humanity fails to meet Gods holy standard, as such the judgment of God is upon us. But the good news is that Jesus Christ fixes this by fulfilling what is required through his life, death and resurrection. Our only fitting response, then, is to respond to Him in repentance and faith. When this happens, we are united to Christ and his record becomes our record.

The second presentation centers upon the overarching story of the Bible. God lovingly created us to love Him and enjoy Him forever. We were made for rest, rule, and relationship. But we made shipwreck of this, and so rather than having the blessings of obedience we are under the curse of disobedience. Rather than having peace (rest), purpose (ruling), and healthy relationship we often experience the opposite. Ultimately, we are alienated from God. But thankfully God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to bear our curse and to fulfill what God intended for humanity. As such we now experience the blessings of Jesus obedience in our place. He restores the rest, rule, and relationship we were created to enjoy. Someday everything will be ultimately restored and we will live in a new heaven and a new earth.

We could write entire books focusing on these various themes of the gospel. But every gospel story follows this basic skeleton. No matter where you find yourself in the Old Testament (or the New Testament) you can find one of these various threads. Every place in Scripture is either telling you something about God, something about our rebellion, something about His rescue, or something about our future restoration. If you can spot this, then you can fill out the rest of the story.

How Do We Find the Gospel in Malachi?

Imagine that as a child, your parent promised you a trip to Disneyland. Your family talked about it every week, as the parents hyped up how wonderful it would be to attend the Magic Kingdom. You get excited, as any kid is likely to do.

What happens, though, after a year of talking about it nothing seems to be happening with the trip to Disneyland. There is no money being saved. Year after year comes and there is no trip. Eventually the child gives up hope and assumes there was never a trip to Disneyland planned. After some time, the child, now an adult, moves out and starts their own family. When your child turns five (the same age when the promise was made to you) the same promise is made to them.

This time, there is a little bit of money put towards the trip. A miniscule bit of progress towards the trip. Its just enough to cause you to have hope again. But then, your child becomes a teenager. There is talk of taking a trip right before graduation. Do you believe any trip will happen?

That situation would be a bit similar to what the Israelites were facing. It had been 100 years since they had returned from exile. God had promised a restoration of the temple, a renewed interest in Torah, an extension of the land, and a king like David to rule over them. The Golden Era hadnt lived up to its potential, and the people are frustrated and indifferent. There are about 100,000 people in the land, and the land itself has been ravaged by drought. It feels like a far cry from the Promised Land.

The Book of Malachi is woven together with six different disputes. But they have one thing in common  its what happens when indifference has taken a toll. 47 of the 55 verses in Malachi are God speaking. The other verses are the people disagreeing with Gods assessment.

God says, I love you; they ask, How?

He says, You are robbing me; they again ask, How?

The Lord says, You are making me weary; they retort, Why?

What we see from all of these disputes is that the hearts of the Israelites have not fundamentally changed. Exile itself did not bring about the new covenant which was promised in Jeremiah 31. The Israelites, much like those of the Exodus generation, are grumbling and despising Gods redemption.

Malachi, like so many other places within the Old Testament, tells us about the truth of the human condition. We are rebellious people. And even the pain of exile and the joy of being brought back from such a dark place is not enough to captivate or hearts. Malachi tells us, especially in 4:4-6, that there will have to be another to come. One who will be a new prophet  a new Moses, a new Elijah  who will fulfill all of the promises which the prophets pointed toward. Yes, that promised messenger is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Gods promises are certain. They will get to Disneyland. His Word has not been a lie. But the trip doesnt come through human effort. It will require another leader. It will require the Christ, to fulfill and accomplish all of the Law and promises which God has made.

Where Is Jesus in Scroll of Remembrance?

There are three passages from Malachi which are quoted in the New Testament. Paul picks up the dynamic of Jacob and Esau in his explanation of Gods sovereignty in Romans 9. The gospel writers pick up the promise of a future messenger in both Malachi 3:1 and 4:5. These are relatively simple to draw a line to Christ, but what do we do with a passage like Malachi 3:16-18?

Malachi is filled with disputes. God expresses His disappointment in the people and the people return the favor. But there is a little section here in Malachi 3, where some heed Gods words. As a result, a book of remembrance is put together in order to write their names within.

This group is contrasted with those who are grumbling in verses 13-15. It is a display of the difference between those who are righteous and those who are wicked. As Duguid notes,

This is the fundamental fault line that divides humanity in two, running through all other divisions of race, class, gender, and social standing. It is also the essential division that the Lord affirmed at the beginning of this book, when he said, Yet I have loved Jacob but Esau I have hated (1:23).

The key here to connecting this with the gospel is the statement in verse 17, in the day when I make up my treasured possession. When does this happen? According to 1 Peter 2:9 being Gods treasured possession comes through being united to Jesus Christ. It is here that the dividing line is drawn. Those who are righteous  those who would be written in the book of remembrance  are those who are united to Jesus Christ by grace, through faith. For it is Christ Himself who is the One who is truly righteous.

Baldwin says it well:

Ultimate judgment turns on a mans relationship to God, and that is determined by his response to Gods invitation to return (3:7).

Sources

Iain M. Duguid and Matthew P. Harmon, Zephaniah, Haggai, Malachi, ed. Richard D. Phillips, Philip Graham Ryken, and Daniel M. Doriani, Reformed Expository Commentary (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2018), 174.

Joyce G. Baldwin, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 28, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1972), 273.

Related articles

How Can We See the Gospel in Exodus?

Can We Find the Gospel Message amidst Jobs Suffering?

Where Do We Find the Gospel in the Book of Daniel?

Photo credit: SparrowStock
Ntokozo Maseko has been appointed editor of YourLuxury Africa , a multimedia platform and one of the newest players in the luxury media space.

Ntokozo Maseko has been appointed editor of Yourluxury Africa, a multimedia platform and one of the newest players in the luxury media space

Until recently, Maseko was the head of content for Africas longest-running contemporary African art fair, FNB Art Joburg.

An alumni of Mail & Guardians 200 Young South Africans list, previously she was the editor of heritage title Bona and Bloss Africa magazine.

Maseko has worked in the world of luxury brand communications, for global cosmetics brands such as Mac, G.H. Mumm, Martell, Italian Gin Malfy and local luxury gin brand Inverroche.

At YourLuxury Africa, she will head up content across the magazines monthly print edition, the website yourluxury.africa, and the platforms social media channels as well as showcasing the world of luxury through the brands events platform, the YLA Lounge.

A contemporary Africa

Maseko says her vision for YourLuxury Africa is to depict what contemporary Africa looks like in 2023 and beyond and, most importantly, to tell that story from an African perspective.

Africas luxury credentials can be traced back thousands of years, if not more, to the era of economically powerful rulers and dynasties that dominated in the trade of fine goods (which we now know as luxury products) and the export of highly refined expressions of culture in literature, textiles, sculpture etc.

Africas continued legacy of creative prowess

Jacquie Myburgh Chemaly, editorial director of YourLuxury Africa says Masekos appointment is an exciting next step for the media platform:

We are delighted to have someone with her experience and vision at the helm of our new luxury media platform.

She brings with her a wealth of knowledge and media savvy and the team looks forward to bringing to life her vision for luxury media on the continent of Africa.

Maseko says she wants her time at YourLuxury Africa to perfectly capture Africas continued legacy of creative prowess in real-time.

By featuring and celebrating the moves and shifts Africans make in all aspects of luxury, the stories we tell ensure that our influence continues to reverberate across the world.

I want the way we live and savour the best of life in these current times to be a well archived and un-erasable future testament preserved on the pages of YourLuxury Africa.

YourLuxury Africa managing director Yvonne Shaff welcomed Maseko, saying that, globally, the world of media was going through massive changes and as a new media player, Yourluxury Africa was perfectly poised to showcase a contemporary way of thinking.

With an editor of Masekos calibre at the helm, YourLuxury Africa looks forward to taking our readers and commercial partners on this journey into a new world of luxury media, says Shaff.
Time is flying, and the countdown is on! In honour of the unwavering determination and remarkable achievements of South African entrepreneurs, we are thrilled to announce the launch of the Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. This prestigious event is dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of resilient and dynamic small business owners who have triumphed over challenges and achieved excellence.

The Entrepreneur of the Year awards present an unparalleled platform to recognize the outstanding achievements of South African entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises (SMEs). We extend a warm invitation to all tenacious and innovative entrepreneurs to share their inspiring success stories and stand a chance to be rewarded for their exceptional contributions to the business landscape.

Don't miss this opportunity! Visit EOY.CO.ZA now to participate in the highly anticipated 2023 Entrepreneur of the Year competition. By entering, entrepreneurs not only get a chance to win their share of an impressive R2 million in prizes but also further fuel their entrepreneurial ambitions and contribute to the growth of businesses within South Africa.

Let your entrepreneurial spirit soar! The Entrepreneur of the Year awards encourage all aspiring business leaders to dare to be the driving force behind innovation, economic growth, and positive change in their respective business communities. Make your mark by entering the Entrepreneur of the Year competition in 2023.

About the Entrepreneur of The Year Competition:

The Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year awards recognize and celebrate the outstanding business excellence demonstrated by South African entrepreneurs and SMEs. By sharing their success stories and offering well-deserved rewards, this prestigious event fosters the growth and development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in South Africa.

Click here to enter the Entrepreneur of the Year 2023 Awards.
Time Out Market Cape Town - the food and cultural market has revealed the latest additions to its impressive lineup of local culinary talents. Set to open later this year at the V&A Waterfront, Time Out Market Cape Town will bring the best of the city together under one roof: its best food, drinks and cultural experiences.

Time Out Market Cape Town will feature 13 home-grown and local chefs and restaurateurs, three bars and one stage when it opens its doors to locals and guests from across the country and the world visiting the Mother City. Gathering around communal tables, guests will get to enjoy a curated mix of authentic, proudly South African and global cuisine  all served by award-winning, celebrated and much-loved chefs and restaurateurs calling Cape Town their home and reflecting the citys vibrant culinary scene.

The latest culinary additions announced will complement Time Out Market Cape Towns stellar roster and serve a diverse range of cuisines  all by the citys best home-grown talent:

The team behind The Worlds 50 Best nominated restaurant, Fyn, brings a Ramenhead branch to Time Out Market Cape Town

Ramen lovers will rejoice as they will get to slurp silky noodles and umami-rich broth from Ramenhead, brought to Time Out Market Cape Town by Chefs Peter Tempelhoff, Ashley Moss and Service and Beverage Director Jennifer Huge.

Image supplied

These culinary stalwarts opened their first Ramenhead location in 2022 in the heart of the city, beneath their Japanese-African restaurant Fyn. The fine-dining finesse of Fyn is brought to the ramen shop to create flavourful bowls of ramen, using authentic ingredients.

Peter Tempelhoff has over 20 years of experience in Michelin-starred restaurants, is at the helm of the team that opened FYN in 2018, which has since been on The Worlds 50 Best Restaurants Top 100 list for three consecutive years. Fyn was recently awarded the coveted Worlds 50 Best Flor de Cana Sustainable Restaurant Award, in recognition of Tempelhoffs sustainability philosophy  including foraging and celebrating South African ingredients in Japanese cuisine, and a focus on local communities.

Chefs Anwar Abdullatief and Yolani Abrahams join Time Out Market Cape Town with Barakat and a fresh take on traditional, Cape Malay cuisine

Chef Anwar Abdullatief and TV personality and Chef Yolani Abrahams, who got married in 2021, will bring Barakat  a halal fine-dining experience like no other  to Time Out Market Cape Town. The Cape Malay-inspired menu will introduce diners to the unique and indulgent flavours that originated in the Mother City, and both Anwar and Yolani also want their diners to engage, converse and enjoy a full Cape Malay experience while eating dishes like Ou mense onder die kombers (slow braised ossobuco cooked in hearty aromantic nutmeg and clove, wrapped in cabbage, with baby beetroots, creme parsnip and spiced jus); Tomato Breedie'' (Cape Malay tomato based sauce with slow cooked lamb knuckles); or Aromatic Fish (pan fried local kingklip in fragrant chili, turmeric and coriander sauce and sambal)  all served with basmati rice.

Chef Anwar has spent over a decade evolving his craft, most recently at The Happy Uncles, South Africas first halal fine dining restaurant which received rave reviews. He has built his career creating the highest quality dishes at prestigious wine estates in the Western Cape, including Jordan, Cavalli and Rupert & Rothschild. Chef Anwar has spent the past two years perfecting the concept of halal fine dining, first by introducing it to The Happy Uncles with menu items like Cape Malay curry and bobotie.

Image supplied

Chef Yolani is no stranger to the Cape Town culinary scene and a trained pastry chef as well as co-owner of Kole & Deeg eatery in Ceres. She inherited her love for baking from her mother and in 2014 completed her culinary studies; she also worked at various fine dining restaurants in the Cape Winelands, such as Cavalli and Terrior. As a well-known celebrity chef she co-hosts the popular cooking shows, Spyskaar on SABC 2 and Koopunt on VIA on DSTV all this while also being a first time mom.

Restaurateur and Chef Matt Manning will offer a curated selection of South Africas fine wine through Culture Wine Bar at Time Out Market Cape Town

Culture Wine Bar at Time Out Market Cape Town will focus on what makes each South African wine-making region unique by showcasing the styles, varietals and techniques it is famous for and its diversity, complexity and magic.

This will be a celebration of the true gems of the countrys wine industry and the winemaking legends who are breaking barriers and thinking outside the box and into the bottle. To complement the curated mix of the best food of the city at the Market, Culture Wine Bar will give guests the opportunity to choose from a sizable and regularly changing by-the-glass menu as well as an array of tasting flights  from the cool climate Pinot and Chardonnay from Elgin, to the old vine Chenin and Syrah from the Swartland, to the Methode Cap Classique from Franschhoek, and everything in between. The mission is to give locals and visitors a true reflection of why South Africa deserves a seat at the global table, alongside wine heavyweights such as Italy and France.

Image by Tegan Smith Photography

Behind Culture Wine Bar is restaurateur and chef Matt Manning who in October 2020 opened the flagship Culture Wine Bar on Bree Street, which offers a wide selection of fine wines. He will now bring a focused taste of this to Time Out Market Cape Town.

Yard will serve authentically inspired pizza from Pizza Warehouse at Time Out Market Cape Town

Yard, home of The Dogs Bollocks and Pizza Warehouse, has been on the Cape Town culinary scene and much loved since its launch in 2011  and is now set to join Time Out Market Cape Town with their famous pizzas and chicken wings.

Diners can expect a pizza menu that will include four very different and authentic styles of dough bases (hand-stretched with an artisanal flair), sauces and a range of various toppings to choose from. There will be New York Pepperoni, Juicy Chick (mozzarella, BBQ sauce, slow-roasted chicken, feta and peppadews), Williamsburg (mozzarella, spicy Italian salami, ricotta and honey) and Sweet Baby Blue (mozzarella, blue cheese, caramelised onions and rocket). Alongside Eugene Smiths mouthwatering food, the team will also be bringing their eclectic and entertaining service expression with them.

Image by Eugene Smith

These four concepts will join the curated mix of previously announced chefs and restaurateurs including Chef Bertus Basson's De Vrije Burger, Mlilo by Chef Vusi Ndlovu, The Melting Pot Seafood, Unframed Ice Cream and How Bao Now. In the lead-up to the opening, Time Out Market Cape Town will announce further additions to its lineup, an exciting beverage programme as well as how local culture will be part of this unique experience.

The reason why Time Out Market Cape Town is such a special concept is because of the hyper-local and authentic experience which we are curating for our guests. Cape Town has no shortage of delicious restaurant options  we are really spoiled for choice and this is what we will showcase at our Market, said Russ Meyer, general manager of Time Out Market Cape Town.

We have put great emphasis on curating a lineup that is unique to our beautiful region  our mission is to celebrate the best local talent from award-winning to up-and-coming, give guests a local experience that is exciting yet accessible and be a meaningful addition to this fantastic city and the V&A Waterfront.

To curate Time Out Market Cape Towns lineup, we have tested and tasted a lot of food in the city to uncover the best home-grown talents  and then we have invited the very best to join and we couldn't be more proud that such outstanding chefs and restaurateurs have accepted our invitation to join Time Out Market. They really are the best of the city and together will represent the citys fantastic food scene, making Time Out Market Cape Town a place where you can get a true taste of the city, commented Sandy Hayek, CEO of Time Out Market.
The PMR.africa Awards acknowledge organisations across all industries for their excellence. Winners are recognised for their competitiveness, effectiveness, leadership and resilience. The awards acknowledge the hard work of an institution and set a benchmark for others to aspire to.

Eduvos, one of South Africas largest private higher education institutions, is proud of its efforts to provide quality, affordable education. Eduvos's mission is to shape potential  student by student  towards Africas prosperity. It aims to prepare students for the dynamic world, where they can thrive as active participants.

As a higher education institution, we want to ensure that after graduation, our students add value to industry and society, says Eduvos CEO, Siegie Brownlee. This award acknowledges that companies and government entities that employ Eduvos graduates see the difference and the competence in our graduates. It also acknowledges that our current students experience the holistic and practical approach to learning that we offer.

"I am so proud of all our staff who work tirelessly to go the extra mile daily to offer a beneficial, future-fit learning experience to our students; and to the many companies that partner with us to provide real-world exposure and employment to our students. We are extremely grateful to PMR.africa for this acknowledgement and the award.

The award is bestowed based on the scores given to the nominated institutions by the participants. In May and June this year, PMR.africa interviewed respondents, mostly line managers and HR managers, from large companies, national, provincial and local government departments and state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in South Africa, that employ graduates and students from various providers of private higher education.

Respondents rated graduates from private higher education institutions across 12 criteria, including their application of knowledge in the workplace, innovation and academic knowledge.

Johan Hattingh, CEO of PMR.africa, says that providers of private higher education in South Africa have emerged as pivotal role players in helping to address unemployment in the country. Education is the biggest platform through which unemployment can be addressed. The results of PMR.africas survey on providers of higher education clearly indicate that Eduvos is preparing students and graduates to address the bigger challenges being faced in the workplace and society at large. A well-rounded student and graduate is required to ensure a responsible and sustainable future, and Eduvos is the leader in preparing its students accordingly.

PMR.africa will publish a special feature on providers of private higher education in South Africa in August 2023. Eduvos will be honoured at PMR.africas annual awards ceremony, the date of which is still to be announced.

About Eduvos

Eduvos is one of South Africas largest private higher education institutions with 12 campuses nationwide. They offer over 27 fully accredited qualifications, internationally recognised.

Eduvos acknowledges that the world of work is constantly changing, and innovative technologies are disrupting industries. For this reason, Eduvos is constantly updating its curriculum, academic offerings and campus spaces to meet the ever-changing demands of the world of work and to prepare students to be future-ready. The institution equips its students with the current and relevant skills and knowledge they will need to prosper in their careers.

The institution also offers qualifications aimed at working professionals who seek to upskill and reskill themselves to stay relevant in the job market. Eduvos had various modes of learning available, including options for working people who have to balance work and studies.

Eduvos has four intakes throughout the year, meaning prospective students do not have to wait until the following year to start their studies.

Prospective students can still enrol for the fourth and final intake of 2023, starting 2 October.

Alternatively, prospective students, including matriculants, can pre-enrol and reserve their seat for 2024.

About PMR.africa

PMR.africa is a division of C.J. Hattingh & Sons, a consultancy and research company based in South Africa.

PMR.africa publishes a business journal and online version. The purpose of the journal is to serve as a platform in which the results of PMR.africas surveys can be published.

It is PMR.africas objective to brand the companies and institutions identified in these surveys as entities with huge potential and to promote a company or institution as a unique entity for existing and potential business. The purpose of these initiatives is to recognise excellence across all industry sectors.

For media enquiries, contact Kara van der Berg at moc.sovude@grebdv.arak

Find Eduvos online:

Website: eduvos.com

Twitter: @edu_vos

Instagram: @eduvoseducation

YouTube: youtube.com/@EduvosEducation




The University of Cape Town's (UCT) Disability Service, Disability Studies unit and its Multilingualism Education Project (MEP) have welcomed the recent announcement that South African Sign Language (SASL) has become the country's 12th official language.

Photo by RDNE Stock project via https://www.pexels.com

The agreement was recently signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Union Buildings in Tshwane. This followed the National Assembly approval in May that Section 6 of the Constitution be amended to include SASL as an official language to promote the rights of persons who are Deaf and hard of hearing.

South Africa joins Kenya, Zimbabwe and Uganda as the fourth African country to recognise sign language as an official language. MEPs director, Professor Lolie Makhubu-Badenhorst, attended the signing ceremony in her capacity as chairperson of the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB). Professor Makhubu-Badenhorst is also deputy chairperson of the Community of Practice for the Teaching and Learning of African Languages (CoPAL). This is part of the devolved governance structure of the Universities South Africa.

MEP applauds the decision to make SASL one of the 12 official languages, said Makhubu-Badenhorst. We feel it is rather long overdue. It was indeed a historic moment in South Africa for the Deaf community and the language fraternity in the promotion of multilingualism in the country, said Makhubu-Badenhorst.

It is also a vital part of realising UCTs Vision 2030, Makhubu-Badenhorst said, which is to unleash human potential to create a fair and just society. As the current chairperson of PanSALB, we had a great influence in the officialisation of SASL, she added.

MEP is hosted in UCTs Centre for Higher Education Development (CHED) and was launched in 2005 after approval of the universitys Language Policy and Plan by Senate and Council. The policys starting point is that UCT must prepare its students to participate fully in a multilingual society, where multilingual proficiency and awareness are essential.

At UCT, we are planning to develop SASL as one of the languages for the currently reviewed UCT language policy, said Makhubu-Badenhorst. In addition, and as part of realising UCTs Vision 2030, MEP is currently developing a SASL short course which later will be developed into a credit-bearing course extended for the mainstream offering at UCT as part of Vision 2030.

Historic moment

Disability advocacy specialist Lesego Modutle, based in the Disability Service unit, part of UCTs Office for Inclusivity & Change (OIC), also welcomed the development. Its great for the institution to give recognition to such a historic event regarding a community that has done so well through the adversity of marginalisation. Its a dream come true for the Deaf community which comprises of Deaf persons, children of Deaf adults (CODA), and South African Sign Language interpreters.

SASLs official recognition means that the Deaf community will be granted more access to information and to equal education. However, government must make sufficient budget available to implement this decision in a meaningful way, said Modutle. This will ensure that the following happen:

SASL should be made an elective language in mainstream schools so that children can learn from an early age to be inclusive towards Deaf persons.



Principals, teachers and staff that work at Deaf schools must learn fluent SASL and be sensitised on how to appropriately teach Deaf children using SASL as a medium of instruction.



The curriculum at Deaf schools must be reviewed and brought on par with mainstream schools to ensure that the education of Deaf persons is equal to that of hearing persons.



All institutions, companies and organisations must be mandated to set aside a budget for SASL interpreters so that more Deaf persons are employed  with full participation in their work environments.



Important spaces such as schools, banks, hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, courtrooms, and police stations must employ full-time SASL interpreters, or at least have them on standby, so that Deaf persons have full access to these necessities.



Among the main challenges Deaf people face is access to information. There are too few people who understand SASL and too few interpreters, said Modutle. When urged to appoint SASL interpreters, the most heard response is They are too expensive.

Another challenge is access to equal education. We hope to see adequate resources distributed to Deaf schools to ensure that the principals, teachers and support staff are fluent in SASL and sensitised to appropriate teaching methods for Deaf children. Modutle added. We want to see many more Deaf matriculants and Deaf graduates, so a lot of work needs to be done in the education system.

Key to understanding the challenges Deaf people face is that SASL is not a translation of spoken language, such as English. This is because SASL is not gestures of a spoken language; it is a fully fledged language with grammatical rules and structures that one must learn to understand the language, Modutle explained. The South African Deaf community communicates in SASL  not English Sign Language, or isiXhosa Sign Language, etc.

The more people understand this, the more they can give the language the respect it deserves and embrace it fully as a communication tool, on the same level as other South African languages such as English, Afrikaans, isiZulu and Sesotho, and all the other official languages.

Introducing SASL at UCT

Disability Service SASL interpreter Michelle de Bruyn is a CODA who grew up in and is part of the Deaf community. SASL was the first language she learnt.

De Bruyn said that in anticipation of the governments announcement on 19 July, UCT had undertaken four important steps to facilitate communication with Deaf people. Other initiatives are in the pipeline.

First, is the UCT Libraries launch on 7 August of an audio/SASL tour of the libraries for students.

Jaimee Reid, senior librarian: undergraduate services, said the project will allow students to discover their library throughout the year, in their own time. The tour will be self-guided and will follow a route of nine stops in the library, showcasing different spaces and services that first-year and new students need to know.

To ensure students feel comfortable and included in the library, the tour will be offered in four languages: English, Afrikaans, isiXhosa, and SASL. The tour will also be available through UCT Libraries website where students will be able to listen/watch in their language of choice and access the transcript if they require reading in their language of choice. To access the tour, students would require a mobile device and headphones/earphones, Reid said.

We are very excited to have the library tour available in SASL, and really look forward to working with the Disability Service unit on further library projects.

Second is a faculty-wide exercise to standardise all introductory information on their websites. This will include a video recorded in SASL  SASL does not have a written equivalent  to make the information more accessible.

Third, the Disability Service has developed a pilot project with the Centre for Educational Testing and Placement to have the National Benchmark Test (NBT) information available in a SASL video. This will be available on the new NBT website from January 2024. There is already an NBT SASL information video on YouTube. And for the first time, Deaf learners writing the NBT at UCT will have access to a Disability Service SASL interpreter. This service will start on 11 August, said De Bruyn.

Fourth, as part of a longer-term plan to make campus more accessible to Deaf visitors, Visitor Reception and Information Centre staff will be trained in SASL. Refresher courses will be available every six months. Campus maps and information will also be available through a quick response (QR) machine-readable code with a pop-up video in SASL. There are plans to place these QR codes on all UCT building signs to help Deaf visitors navigate the campuses.
Amidst a startling surge in bank account closures across South Africa, the Ombudsman for Banking Services has encountered a mounting wave of dissatisfaction. This issue has gained heightened attention due to Standard Bank's recent move to close accounts affiliated with Sekunjalo-related enterprises, including Independent Media. Remarkably, none of these companies have ever been implicated in wrongdoing.

Since 2022, a staggering total of 227 complaints regarding account closures have inundated the office. What's even more alarming is the precipitous spike in cases  a staggering 134% leap, surging from 67 in 2022 to a staggering 160 cases as of the current year, 2023.

A prevailing theme in these grievances is the abruptness with which banks have terminated accounts, often without any prior notice or explanation.

Fraud, reputational harm, and risk aversion are often cited by banks as reasons for account closures. Additionally, chronic overdrawing, account dormancy, and using accounts in unintended ways contribute to such decisions.

Reana Steyn, the Ombudsman for Banking Services, notes the widespread unease among complainants who, even when provided reasons, express skepticism about their validity.

"It is important to bear in mind that our law and the Conduct Standards for banks [ ] allow for the closure of an account and termination of the business relationship without the issuance of a notice and reasons, in instances where the bank has reasons to believe that the account is being used for illegal purposes, Steyn said.

"Until our law and acceptable banking practice changes, the banks have the discretion to choose whom they want to continue doing business with. Should the banks decide to exercise their right, which is wholly within their discretion, to close an account and/or terminate the relationship with the customer, our law has clearly set the parameters within which such decision/discretion would be regarded as valid and acceptable in law."

Many, including EFF leader Julius Malema whose bank accounts were also closed without notice, are calling for banks to be more accountable for their actions.

We are being harassed by the banks and we are being harassed by Afrikaner males who are owning these banks, he said.
The one constant the internet offers us is a continual rotation of trends. Months ago, the trend was people exhibiting "main character energy". People were imagining themselves as main characters in their own life show: they were the ones who knew everyone's name in the coffee shop, they were having a whirlwind romance and they were only accepting the best.

Now, the trends have moved on, and people are NPCs.

Non-playable characters, or NPCs, are taking TikTok by storm. NPCs originate in video games. They are the background characters, the ones with repetitive movements and sayings, and no storylines. The main, playable, character can interact with them but only in limited ways. They are tools in someone elses story.

People pretending to be NPCs on TikTok are not new. Creator @loczniki, Nicki Loczek, has been acting like a video game character on her TikTok page for two years. Her videos regularly get millions of views.

NPC content rapidly gained popularity in recent months when creators like @pinkydollreal have been live streaming as NPCs. NPC creators perform scripted lines and reactions to purchased gifts from their fans that then appear on screen as emojis.

Giving diamonds, coins and other gifts to creators has a very low cost to fans. However, when creators accumulate large audiences, the profits can add up significantly, especially when the streams can go for hours. Creator @glam_with_dee tried out the trend and shared that she made $99 in a two-and-a-half-hour stream.

Pinkydoll got up to almost 35k viewers on her live tonight pic.twitter.com/JGmx1OpXAI    (@sunny_cloud_) July 31, 2023

Some people are calling the NPC trend a fetish  more often than not it is beautiful women performing actions and sounds on command for an audience. Others, however, disavow this sentiment, stating that people always claim women making money from the absurd is a fetish, when it is often far from the truth.

People watch NPCs on TikTok for a variety of reasons. Nicki Loczeks popularity came from her funny videos pretending to be a video game character in public. Many streamers also dress up in elaborate cosplay costumes, feeding into the gaming and fantasy aesthetic.

Others, myself included, watch for the absurdity. It is uncanny watching people be NPCs.

Commodifying the self



People online have been commodifying themselves since social media platforms introduced creator fund programs and brands recognised the income potential of content creators. For years, creators have been participating in brand deals for anything from health products to home decor, with some going as far as deals for free cosmetic surgery.

One of the key principles of being successful online is a consistent personal brand. Traditionally, when we think about people becoming successful online, we attribute this to authenticity.

Audiences want consistent posts, a clear authorial voice, and a person and brand where they know what theyre getting. While NPCs cannot technically be authentic as they are characters rather than people, they still fulfil these attributes on TikTok. They do what we think they will do. Their reactions are expected, if not delivered at the specific times we ask for them.

NPC live streamers have planned reactions to the gifts they receive while they stream. Bigger gifts usually have bigger reactions. Christine Tran, a PhD candidate from the University of Toronto, states: NPC streamers are just the latest genre of creators who divide their bodies into marketplaces of intimacy.

The NPC trend fits in with other forms of online commodification. Pretending to be an NPC on TikTok live is not too far removed from popular YouTubers maintaining an online persona for the purposes of creating a marketable, brand-friendly channel.

Monetisation online



TikTok is one of many social media platforms where users create and sell a personal brand for money. Tobias Raun, an assistant professor in communications, states: YouTube as a platform plays a crucial role by persistently encouraging users to compete for attention and status and rewarding them economically for promoting themselves.

TikTok pays its users far less than YouTube does. While the real numbers differ depending on video length and the creator themselves, TikTok is known to pay $0.03 per 1,000 views, compared to multiple dollars on YouTube. The most money to be made on TikTok, outside of brand deals, is through live streams.

The creator fund on TikTok is limited to creators with over 10,000 followers who have amassed a minimum of 100,000 views in the last month. It is also available in limited countries. Australia is not included.

Alternatively, any creator with over 1,000 followers can live stream and can cash out in-app gifts for real money. This system is available to far more people.

This girl doing an NPC AI livestream but as a frail Victorian child has permanently altered my brain chemistry. pic.twitter.com/JkZnpJlPU3  Caelan Conrad (@CaelanConrad) August 1, 2023

The NPC trend has shown us how the self-branding online we are more familiar with, people being so authentically themselves, can be surpassed by people playing a character. The rise in live videos on TikTok is linked to the platforms monetisation policies. If content creators want to make money from their content, they either need an incredibly large following or must find brand deals or do live streams.

I couldnt call myself an autoethnographic researcher without trying to go live myself. I did.

TikTok is a strange, strange place. I went live for 15 minutes while writing some of this article, and 320 people watched me. I talked to some of them. Someone said I typed too hard. Someone else asked me to sing Black Sabbath.

I closed my TikTok app with a new-found appreciation (and a little bit of fear) of how hard it must be to maintain a character for hours during a live stream.

Someone did say they liked the sound of my typing. If I found a way to do my marking on an ASMR live stream, you would find me on TikTok tomorrow.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article https://theconversation.com/people-are-pretending-to-be-npcs-on-tiktok-and-its-not-just-weird-its-also-lucrative-210795.
Morocco looks forward to return of Chinese tourists: local media

Xinhua) 13:52, August 14, 2023

RABAT, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Morocco welcomes China's decision to resume group tours to more overseas destinations, including Morocco, believing the move will give a fresh boost to the country's tourism industry, local media said on Sunday.

The decision is "a development that holds the potential to breathe fresh life into the flow of Chinese travelers to the North African kingdom," said Morocco's online news website Hespress on Sunday.

Nasser Bouchiba, the chair of the African-Chinese Development Cooperation Association, stressed in the Hespress report that there is a strong interest among Chinese citizens to explore Morocco, which has been encouraged by visa exemption and Morocco's growing international reputation.

The tourism industry serves as an important pillar of Morocco's economy. In the first six months of 2023, Morocco witnessed an influx of 6.5 million tourists. Forecasts from the Ministry of Tourism anticipate that this figure could rise to approximately 14.5 million by the end of 2023.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
Destroyed homes are seen in Lahaina, Hawaii, following a deadly wildfire that caused heavy damage days earlier, Aug. 13. AP-Yonhap



Korea has decided to provide Hawaii with $2 million worth of humanitarian aid to help respond to a series of wildfires that recently raked the island of Maui, Seoul's foreign ministry said Monday.



The latest wildfires have killed at least 93, making it the deadliest U.S. fire in over a century, with an estimated damage of at least $6 billion, according to the ministry.






The South African domestic airline market looks very different now than it did before the Covid-19 pandemic. Some long-established players are no longer flying, new players have entered the fray, and incumbents have expanded their routes.

The country has also lagged the overall recovery of the global aviation industry. Oliver Wyman PlaneStats data shows that, at the end of 2022, South Africas domestic airline capacity was only at 70% of the levels seen pre-pandemic, whereas globally capacity has returned to levels seen in 2019.

This is not to say there hasnt been a recovery: our analysis shows that there was a compound annual growth rate in terms of seat capacity in South Africa of 26% between 2020 and 2022.

But overall, fewer people are flying than they were in 2019. The decreasing amount of commuter and business travel will account for some of the lag in recovery. People are now happy to meet virtually, and organisations are increasingly comfortable with their staff working remotely, so many flights are now simply unnecessary.

Another contributing factor is increasing airfares. Spurred by rises in fuel costs and lower seat capacity, South African domestic flights now cost an average of 54% more than they did in 2019, according to a study by Visa and Discovery. This means there is likely an unserved demand for flight seats at lower price points.

South African carriers, especially low-cost carriers, still have room to grow in the domestic market, particularly if they can capture travellers at lower price points. However, we also see a significant opportunity to focus more attention on intra-continental travel, which could be of huge benefit to the carriers, travellers, and the GDP of African countries.

Long overdue shifts

The issue of limited intra-African flights and high costs has long been a dampener to economic growth in the region. Given the role that air travel plays in creating employment, facilitating trade, enabling tourism, and supporting sustainable development, this is an issue that urgently needs addressing.

In a world where Europe and a growing number of other regions have enjoyed low-cost flights between countries for decades, its stark that a return journey between Cape Town and Nairobi (5 hours, 45 minutes) frequently isnt that much less than you would pay for a similar journey between Cape Town to Dubai (9 hours, 25 minutes).

There are several reasons for those higher costs, including restrictive regulatory environments, high taxes, and a lack of infrastructure.

This has resulted in missed opportunities. An article from March 2022, for example, revealed that there were just two direct flights a week between Lagos, Nigeria, and Douala, Cameroon at the time. Thats despite the fact its only a 1.5-hour flight along one of Africas busiest corridors. Also, there are currently no direct flights between Lagos and Kinshasa, West Africas two biggest cities.

The PlaneStats data shows, for example, that Africa has one of the lowest airline seats per capita of any region in the world. Just 0.12, compared to Europes 1.5, while the US has more than 3.5 seats per capita. This puts into context how much room for growth exists across the continent.

Reaping the rewards of liberalised skies

Our analysis also shows that only 17 million of the 177 million seats on African flights that took off in 2022 were intra-African. By comparison, the South African domestic market alone accounted for 15 million seats in 2022. So, the potential for growth for travel across the continent is significant.

Encouragingly, there are a growing number of examples that showcase whats possible when African countries open their skies. When South Africa and Zambia reached a bilateral open-skies agreement in 2013, for example, flight prices between the two countries fell almost 40% and air traffic increased 38%, according to a report by the UKs Business Environment Reform Facility.

There are other initiatives that aim to open the entire continents skies: in late 2022, for instance, a bloc of African countries, including South Africa, agreed to take part in a pilot implementation project, designed to act as a precursor to the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM). These agreements will mean airlines are increasingly able to offer more intra-African flights at better prices than before.

South African low-cost airlines, which make up the vast majority of low-cost carriers on the continent, are particularly well-suited to focus on intra-African expansion. They have fleets of aircraft capable of handling the longer flights needed for intra-continental travel and have access to some of the leading aircraft engineers, technicians, and maintenance crews in Africa.

Growth in intra-continental routes by low-cost carriers will also put pressure on national and group-based airlines to push their prices down to remain competitive. And if these routes are successful, there will be even more incentives for African governments to put accelerated liberalisation policies in place.

A sizeable opportunity

While its hard to quantify exactly how much fully open skies could add to Africas collective GDP, we do have some ideas. A few years ago, for instance, the International Air Transport Association (Iata)'s vice president for Africa, Raphael Kuuchi stated that if just 12 key African countries opened their markets and increased connectivity, they could create an additional 155,000 jobs and add US$1.3bn to their total annual GDPs.

Extrapolate that out to 54 countries, and its clear that the potential for growth is immense.

With South African domestic flights recovering but still not at pre-Covid-19 levels, its carriers are in a good position to help drive growth here. Even as the bureaucratic gears needed for truly open skies grind on, they can use the same tactics that keep them competitive domestically to help bring down the costs of intra-African travel. This, coupled with the opening of more routes across the continent, will drive growth in the years ahead.

Implemented correctly, a sound intra-African strategy would be a win for the low-cost carriers themselves as well as for ordinary African travellers, the businesses that support them, and the GDPs of the countries they fly to.
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The Biden administration is especially agitated because Niger has been the linchpin of the U.S. military presence in West Africa. Washington has stationed more than 1,100 troops there, and maintains multiple drone bases, ostensibly to combat Islamist rebels affiliated with ISIS. The United States also has provided more than $500 million in security aid to Niger in recent years.

An essential prerequisite for securing American public support for a proxy war  much less for a direct U.S. military intervention  is to exaggerate the relevance of developments to Americas own security and other important interests. A related task is to generate a sense of urgency. That effort already has begun, with the establishment news media playing their usual role as the handmaids of government policy.

Michele Kelemen, an NPR correspondent, launched an early salvo. Her segment, titled Heres why Nigers coup matters to the U.S., faithfully echoed the Biden administrations position. Niger is vital to U.S. counterterrorism efforts in Africa. Its one of the few countries in the region that has agreed to house U.S. drone bases and hundreds of American Special Forces and logistics experts, who are involved in counterterrorism operations against Boko Haram and ISIS affiliates. But there was an even greater danger lurking in the background. The challenge now for the U.S. is to ensure that Niger continues to be a partner in counterterrorism efforts and does not turn to the Russian mercenary group, Wagner, for security assistance, as others in the region have.

Two officials of Nigers ousted government also were immediately given prominent platforms for the propaganda offensive. Not surprisingly, the Washington Post, a reliable mouthpiece for the U.S. foreign policy bureaucracy, has played a leading role. Just days after the coup, Nigers ousted president, Mohamed Bazoum, was able to publish a column in the Post. His arguments seemed tailor-made to echo the allegations of interventionist Russophobes in the U.S. government. In Africas troubled Sahel region, Niger stands as the last bastion of respect for human rights amid the authoritarian movements that have overtaken some of our neighbors.

While this coup attempt is a tragedy for Nigeriens, its success would have devastating consequences far beyond our borders. With an open invitation from the coup plotters and their regional allies, the entire central Sahel region could fall to Russian influence via the Wagner Group, whose brutal terrorism has been on full display in Ukraine. The next day, Kiari Liman-Tinguiri, Nigers ambassador to the United States, reinforced those arguments during an interview with the Washington Post. The ambassador asserted that if the recent military coup in his country was allowed to stand, the whole world will be destabilized.

Washington shows unmistakable signs of flirting with the option of a proxy war. Secretary of State Tony Blinken expressed support for Nigers neighbors in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) when they stated that the bloc might forcibly intervene to restore the elected government. ECOWAS already had imposed economic sanctions and travel restrictions on Niger, much to the approval of Paris and Washington.

There is a concerted, seemingly coordinated, campaign to emphasize Nigers alleged wider importance  including its connection to important U.S. interests. Writing in the National Interest, Francois Baird, founder of The FairPlay trade movement and co-chairman of the international consultancy firm Bairds CMC, presents a litany of potential horrors.Indeed, he manages to assemble all of Washingtons favorite bogeymen. At present, it is likely that America and France will lose their investments and counterterrorism bases in Niger. Russians will fight in return for mining and other assets. Muslim extremist insurgents will gain ground. And China will make money and increase its influence, all thanks to declining stability in Niger and West Africa.

Washington Post columnist Ishaan Tharoor warns that Niger is slipping away from the West. He adds that the ongoing crisis has invariably turned into a geopolitical conflagration. An especially worrisome sign was that especially on social media, backers of the coup have taken on a strikingly anti-Western line, casting both Bazoums government and its regional defenders as puppets of imperialist powers.

For U.S. officials, Russia is the principal designated villain  continuing to play the role it has served in Ukraine and the rest of Eastern Europe to justify a new cold war. Both Blinken and Acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland have stated that one of their main concerns is the possibility of Russias Wagner forces moving into Niger. There also was a clear desire to keep the countrys uranium mines (mostly French owned) out of the hands of Moscow or Beijing.

Washington has not hesitated to orchestrate proxy wars before  sometimes on a very large scale. It did so in Afghanistan during the 1980s, and the current effort in Ukraine is another prominent example. Indeed, the practice has had a long, dishonorable history going back to the early Cold War, when Washington used the technique to overthrow Guatemalas left-leaning government and tried to do the same with a CIA-trained exile army to oust Fidel Castro.

A similar process may be taking place in West Africa. On August 10, ECOWAS announced the activation of a standby force for possible intervention in Niger. There is little doubt that the move has Washingtons backing.

The American people need to resist efforts to initiate another U.S.-sponsored proxy war. There is nothing in West Africa to justify an entanglement with unpredictable consequences. In particular, it is profoundly unwise to use Niger or other countries in the region as pawns for an ugly power struggle between the United States and Russia.

Ted Galen Carpenter is a senior fellow at the Randolph Bourne Institute and a senior fellow at the Libertarian Institute. He also served in various senior policy positions during a 37-year career at the Cato Institute. Dr. Carpenter is the author of 13 books and more than 1,200 articles on international affairs.
By Pam Martens and Russ Martens: August 9, 2023 ~

Jamie Dimon is between a rock and a hard place. He is either going to have to convince a jury come October that he was left in the dark by the banks general counsel, his compliance and money laundering executives, and the heads of his investment bank and asset and wealth division about the fact that notorious child molester Jeffrey Epstein was a client at the bank for more than a decade  which would make Dimon sound so isolated as to be unfit to be running the bank  or Dimon is going to have to admit that he lied under oath in his federal court deposition. Neither is a comfortable proposition to be facing for a jury trial currently scheduled for October 23.

JPMorgan Chase is currently facing off against three federal lawsuits before Judge Jed Rakoff in the Southern District of New York that charge the bank with facilitating Epsteins sex trafficking operation, which included dozens of underage school girls. One lawsuit was brought by Epsteins victims; another by the Attorney General of the U.S. Virgin Islands where Epstein owned an island compound; and a third by shareholders of the bank, which name the bank, Dimon, another bank executive and specific Board Members as defendants.

It is the lawsuit brought by the Attorney General of the U.S. Virgin Islands that is currently scheduled for trial on October 23 that poses a significant amount of legal peril for Dimon. That lawsuit alleges that JPMorgan Chase not only facilitated Epsteins crimes against women and girls but actively participated in Epsteins sex trafficking venture.

According to the transcript of Dimons deposition conducted on May 26, his position is this:

I dont recall knowing anything about Jeffrey Epstein until the stories broke sometime in 2019. And I was surprised that I didnt even  had never even heard of the guy, pretty much, and how involved he was with so many people.

Dimons reference to stories breaking in 2019 is because the U.S. Department of Justice, which had cut Epstein a notorious sweetheart deal in 2007 that provided him a non prosecution agreement and allowed him to plead to two counts of procuring prostitution (instead of multiple counts of rape and sexual assaults of underage schoolgirls) finally got around to bringing federal sex trafficking charges against Epstein in 2019  after Epstein and his wealthy pals had raped and sexually assaulted hundreds of other girls.

The details of that 2007-2008 sweetheart deal had been making headlines for years  headlines that Dimon somehow missed, despite testifying in his deposition that he read multiple newspapers daily. In addition to newspaper headlines, bestselling author, James Pattersons book, Filthy Rich, covering Epsteins sexual assaults of young girls had been released in 2016 and Julie Browns blockbuster series on Epsteins crimes in the Miami Herald in 2018 had caused a viral media storm. But Dimon somehow missed it all.

Dimons general counsel from 2007 to 2015 was Stephen Cutler, the former Director of the Division of Enforcement at the Securities and Exchange Commission. Cutler stepped down as General Counsel in 2015 to become Vice Chairman at JPMorgan Chase and a senior advisor to Dimon and the banks Board of Directors. He served in that position until 2018 when he left the bank to join the law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. It is almost inconceivable that in all those years Cutler would not have brought the reputational risk that Epstein posed to the bank to the attention of Dimon or the Board.

According to emails obtained by the U.S. Virgin Islands in discovery, Cutler was aware of Epsteins history and the existence of his accounts at the bank from at least 2011. Cutler reported directly to Dimon and his office was located next door to Dimons office. The emails show that Cutler was against keeping Epstein as a client. It is only common sense that someone higher up than Cutler would have had to overrule him. That suggests some interference by Dimon or the Board of Directors to keep Epstein and his accounts at the bank.

In addition, dozens of internal emails show that a multitude of the banks compliance personnel and anti-money laundering staff were holding Rapid Response team meetings as each scandalous newspaper article about Epstein appeared.

The U.S. Virgin Islands has produced extensive evidence that the motive for keeping Epstein as a client at JPMorgan Chase, despite his ongoing sex trafficking, was the revenues his accounts were generating for the bank and the ultra wealthy clients he was referring to the bank.

In a court filing on July 26, the U.S. Virgin Islands lists the following individuals as people Epstein referred as clients to the bank: Microsoft co-founder and billionaire Bill Gates; Google co-founder and billionaire Sergey Brin; the Sultan of Dubai, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem; media and real estate billionaire Mort Zuckerman; former U.S. Treasury Secretary and former Harvard President Larry Summers, and numerous others.

Another big hurdle for Dimon before a jury is a smoking gun email raised during Dimons deposition by well-known attorney, David Boies, of law firm Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP. (Dimons deposition was conducted jointly by lawyers for the U.S. Virgin Islands and lawyers for Epsteins victims. Boies is representing the victims.)

Boies introduced an email directly referring to a planned Epstein meeting with Dimon in 2010. The exchange between Boies and Dimon went as follows:

Boies: On February 26, 2010, Lesley Groff [Epsteins assistant] writes Mr. Epstein on the subject of, Jes [Staley] and Jamie. Shall I have Lynn prepare heavy snacks for your evening appointments with [redacted], Jes Staley and Jamie Dimon? Or is this to be a nice, sit-down dinner at 9 p.m.? And Mr. Epstein replies, Snacks. 

Dimon responds:

I have never had an appointment with Jeff Epstein. Ive never met Jeff Epstein. I never knew Jeff Epstein. I never went to Jeff Epsteins house. I never had a meal with Jeff Epstein. I have no idea what theyre referring to here.

Boies points out that there is no followup email between Epstein and Groff where Epstein tells her she is misinformed and Dimon is not going to be at the meeting.

Jes Staley testified in his deposition that he had discussions with Dimon about Epstein in 2006, thus refuting Dimons narrative of what he knew and when he knew it.

There is no dispute that Epstein had accounts at JPMorgan and its successor, JPMorgan Chase, from at least 1998 to 2013. (A former FBI agent retained as an expert witness by the U.S. Virgin Islands is prepared to testify that the account relationship dates back to 1985.) According to transaction documents obtained in discovery by the U.S. Virgin Islands, JPMorgan Chase handled 9,000 transactions payable to Epstein-related individuals (which included his accomplices and recruiters of underage girls) between 2005 and 2019, and had a combined value of over $2.4 billion.
Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, the newly minted successor to Dr Anthony Fauci at the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), was recently one of Americas chief hype women for an antiviral drug that is now unanimously considered an unsafe and catastrophically failed treatment for Covid-19.

In partnership with Big Pharma drugmaker Gilead, UAB played a major role in the research and development of Remdesivir. The drug was developed over a decade ago with the hopes to treat Hepatitis C and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), but was suddenly repurposed to treat Covid-19 when coronavirus hysteria reached the United States.

Given the UAB-Gilead partnership, one would think that Dr. Marrazzo would refrain from commenting on issues through which she maintained a clear conflict of interest. Or at the very least, she had the duty to disclose her conflict of interest when speaking to the media about the UAB-developed wonder drug. She did no such thing.

Even worse, Dr. Marrazzo bashed harmless and low cost alternatives like hydroxychloroquine, while hyping the super expensive Gilead-UAB competitor drug.

The hope was maybe, if you treat early in the disease, you dont need a silver bullet such as remdesivir, she told The Washington Post in a July 2020 piece. Hospitals are on the razors edge, she added, contributing to the fear and paranoia that was enveloping the nation at the time.

In interview after interview, Dr. Marrazzo had nothing but good things to say about remdesivir, despite the incredible lack of data available to support her outandish claims about the drug.

On social media, Marrazzo lavished endless praise upon Remdesivir, declaring it the best agent against coronavirus disease, and boasting that her hospital tries to use it on every covid-hospitalized patient.

We dont have enough remdesivir to treat everybody whos in the hospital, she said in a late 2020 news conference about the state of her hospital system. Its a really challenging situation.

Her predecessor at the NIAID, Mr Fauci, infamously paraded Remdesivir as the standard of care for Covid-19 treatment, adding that it can block the virus.

Unsupported pseudoscientific claims about very expensive drugs (a full course of remdesivir costs the patient thousands of dollars) is nothing new for NIAID officials, who, under Faucis leadership, have created an agency that acts as a government marketing department for pharmaceutical companies.

Undoubtedly, Marrazzos Remdesivir maximalism had disastrous implications for patients hospitalized at UAB. The so-called silver bullet later took on a morbid nickname, run, death is near, because of the severe side effect portfolio associated with the IV drug.

The headlines speak for themselves:

Remdesivir not only failed, but actively harmed hospitalized patients, who were being injected with the antiviral agent following the recommendations of Dr. Marrazzo.

The most exhaustive studies on the Gilead-UAB drug show that there are zero clinical benefits to injecting patients with remdesivir. Many studies show that Remdesivir can severely injure vital organs such as the heart and kidneys.

Dr. Marrazzo has never publicly expressed remorse for her longtime promotion of the drug she once described as a silver bullet against Covid-19. She last promoted the unsafe drug in December, 2021, long after most hospital systems stopped treating patients with the Gilead-UAB disaster drug.
Google has partnered with the United Nations, World Health Organisation and others in a new global censorship tool that was introduced last Monday, according to LaToya Drake, head of Google News Lab.

Below are the short descriptions from GNIs About page. The titles are misleading. For example, following the Our partners hyperlink contained in the words learn more does not lead to a list or overview of its partners. It leads to Case Studies: Some stories about how news organisations around the world are growing their news coverage and digital businesses. After which Google advertises some other of its products and invites the reader to sign up for our newsletter.

We truly have entered the era of George Orwells Doublethink and Doublespeak.

Googles Global Censorship Tool

Last week, Swiss software developer Dejan Georgiev tweeted: Googles new global censorship tool was introduced today [7 August] at 9:10 am via an email press release.

The following uses the points that Geogiev highlighted about GNIs new censorship tool as a backbone to which we have added information for context. A copy of the Twitter thread above, with some additional comments, can also be read on Naked Truth News HERE.

GNI doesnt describe itself for what it is  the global internet censorship  instead Google describes it as Fact Check Tools.

Source: New global internet censorship began today, Naked Truth News, 7 August 2023

What is GNIs true purpose? Its purpose is to eliminate dissent on any topic Google chooses. The algorithms are Googles last-ditch attempt to control the internet before people worldwide can no longer access it. The goal is to have one point of view. Google calls it Data Commons, Naked Truth News wrote.

Hosted by Google, Data Commons aggregates data from a wide range of sources into a unified database. It is a collection of data and tools which, broadly speaking, comprise a knowledge graph linking data from numerous open sources, supporting schemas, an API to access data in the graph, a graph browser, and a fact-check dataset.

It links references to the same entities  such as cities, counties, organisations, etc.  across different datasets to nodes on the graph, so that users can access data about a particular entity aggregated from different sources. In other words, it allows someone to query a person or entity and all the information about that person or entity within Googles database is displayed.

The Data Commons site was launched in May 2018 with an initial dataset consisting of fact-checking data published in ClaimReview format by several fact-checkers from Poynters International Fact-Checking Network and Duke Reporters Lab.

By October 2018, Data Commons reported that the release of the sample dataset had stimulated further interest in the study of misinformation and that it had received requests from academia to update the fact check corpus regularly and allow more publishers and non-technical users to add ClaimReview markups. These requests were satisfied by the introduction of a suite of Google-based fact-check tools.

In October 2020, Data Commons became accessible in Google search: We are excited to share that Data Commons is accessible via natural language queries in Google search. At a time when data informs our understanding of so many issues  from public health and education to the evolving workforce and more  access to data has never been more important. Data Commons in Google search is a step in this direction, enabling users to explore data without the need for expertise or programming skills.

In a video published a week ago, LaToya Drake encouraged fact-checkers and journalists to explore the digital tools designed specifically for them to help verify the authenticity and accuracy of online images, videos, and reports.

Google News Initiative: Google tools for fact-checkers, 4 August 2023 (4 mins)

Far from the noble intention of assisting with the factual verification of information online, Geogiev wrote that Googles algorithms are designed to delete websites that criticise topics such as:

Covid-19 statistics

The World Bank

The FBIs crime statistics

PharmGKB

A one-world global government

Read more: Data Commons Updates, 1 June 2021

Other topics include:

Read more: Data Commons Updates, 10 October 2021

All data supports one global government under the United Nations banner. Google has the only say on what news gets read or blocked from the internet, Naked Truth News wrote.

Read more: Google News policies

GNIs Partners

Wikipedias page for Data Commons states: Google has worked with partners including the United States Census, the World Bank, and US Bureau of Labor Statistics to populate the repository, which also hosts data from Wikipedia, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Data Commons website adds: Data Commons has benefited greatly from many collaborations. In addition to help from the US Department of Commerce (notably the Census Bureau), we have received help from our many academic collaborations, including, UC San Francisco, Stanford University, UC Berkeley and Harvard.

But to understand the magnitude of GNIs network, you can view a non-exhaustive 71-page list of its more than 7,000 partners HERE. This document can be accessed, not via the hyperlink under Our partners on its About page as previously noted but buried, on GNIs 2021 Impact Report page (see image below).

Google News Initiative, 2021 Impact Report, Delivering significant value and funding to news organisations, retrieved 12 August 2023

Further reading:

Last but not least, meet the online persona of LaToya Drake, Head of Google News Lab who announced the arrival of Googles new global censorship tool, and who clearly does not want to be fact-checked by anyone from outside her network:
Since the overthrow of Nigers US-friendly government, West African nations of the ECOWAS bloc have threatened an invasion of their neighbor.

Before leading the charge for intervention, ECOWAS chair Bola Tinubu spent years laundering millions for heroin dealers in Chicago, and has since been ensnared in numerous corruption scandals.

Hours after Nigers Western-backed leader was detained by the countrys presidential guard on July 28, Nigerian President and chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Bola Tinubu leapt into action, warning that the group of nations will not tolerate any situation that incapacitates the democratically-elected government.

As the Chairperson of ECOWASI state without equivocation that Nigeria stands firmly with the elected government in Niger.

Two days later, ECOWAS imposed severe sanctions on Niger, and the bloc issued a stark ultimatum: if the newly-inaugurated junta wont reinstall the ousted president in a weeks time, the groups pro-Western African governments will  by military means, if necessary.

On Saturday, July 6  one day before the deadline  ECOWAS leaders approved a plan to invade the country, with the ominous caveat that they are not going to tell the coup plotters when and where we are going to strike.

If ECOWAS gets its way, member states Benin, Cabo Verde, Cote dIvoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Senegal and Togo will be pressured to send their soldiers to invade Niger.

These developments have thrust the typically-overlooked West African country of Niger into the Western media spotlight. But if hostilities break out, it wouldnt just be one single impoverished African state in the crosshairs.

Neighboring Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea, which are also governed by military administrations that recently seized power by force, have all warned that any attack on Niger will be viewed as an attack on them too. If their ECOWAS rivals make the first move, the nations which mainstream media have dubbed Africas coup belt have pledged to unleash their military forces as well  an announcement which should end any illusions that restoring the countrys previous president would be a painless process.

Leading the pro-Western coalition is the president of its most powerful country, Nigeria: Bola Tinubu. One of Nigerias wealthiest men, the source of the scandal-plagued presidents fortune remains unclear.

Documents reviewed by The Grayzone reveal Tinubu as a longtime US asset who was named as an accomplice in a massive drug running operation that saw him launder millions on behalf of a heroin-dealing relative.

I had a great time with other Heads of State and important dignitaries at the State Banquet hosted by President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, France, this evening. President Macron and his wife, First Lady Brigitte Macron were both gracious and warm, making the event a very pleasant pic.twitter.com/lTHTZfTIMC  Bola Ahmed Tinubu (@officialABAT) June 22, 2023

Bola Tinubus career marred by drug-trafficking, corruption allegations

For over 30 years, Bola Tinubu has been a major force in Nigerias political scene and the countrys economy, with local nicknames ranging from the Mother of the Market to the Godfather of Lagos and the Lion of Bourdillon. But his power inside Nigeria went largely unnoticed by international audiences until 2023, when he became ECOWAS chair after winning the presidency in an election closely tracked by the US government.

As president, Tinubu quickly instituted a regime of economic reforms backed by the US-controlled International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Over the course of Tinubus political career in Nigeria, the African operator has cultivated a close relationship with the US embassy. According to a slew of classified State Department cables released by WikiLeaks, American officials relied heavily on Tinubus assessments of the domestic political landscape.

The ECOWAS chairs early life is shrouded in mystery, and even his exact age is unknown. Nearly every detail of Tinubus personal history  prior to his appearance in Chicago on a student visa  is in dispute, including his legal birth name.

Records from Chicago State University show that Tinubu received a degree in Business Administration in 1979. In the following years, media reports indicate that Tinubu was employed in some capacity at a number of major US-based multinationals, including Mobil Oil Nigeria, consulting firm Deloitte, and GTE, which was the largest communication and utilities company in the US at the time.

Of the few details about the Nigerian Presidents early exploits which can be confirmed, many are derived from a 1993 court docket naming Tinubu as an accomplice in a massive midwestern drug smuggling operation.

As journalist David Hundeyin has detailed, court documents from the US District Courts Northern District of Illinois make it clear that Tinubu amassed a small fortune laundering money for a heroin-trafficking relative in Chicago, and that US government officials ultimately seized well over a million dollars from various bank accounts registered under the current Nigerian presidents name.

A 1993 report by IRS Special Agent Kevin Moss explained that there is probable cause to believe that funds in certain bank accounts controlled by Bola Tinubu represent proceeds of drug trafficking; therefore these funds are forfeitable to the United States.

In the documents, Moss describes an extremely close working relationship between the future Nigerian president and two Nigerian heroin dealers named Abiodun Olasuyi Agbele and Adegboyega Mueez Akande, the latter of whom was listed as Tinubus cousin on an application for a vehicle loan.

According to bank employees, when Bola Tinubu came to First Heritage Bank in December 1989 to open the accounts, he was introduced to them by Adegboyega Mueez Akande, who at that time maintained an account at the bank. Whats more, bank records indicate that Bola Tinubu also opened a joint checking account in his name and the name of his wife, Oluremi Tinubu, who had previously opened a joint bank account also at this bank with Audrey Akande, the wife of Adegboyega Mueez Akande, Moss explained. In several of the applications, the addresses used by Tinubu exactly matched those previously used by Akande.

According to bank records Tinubu opened an individual money market account and a NOW account at First Heritage Bank in December 1989, the special agent noted. In the application, Tinubu stated that his address was 7504 South Stewart, Chicago, Illinois  the same address used previously by Akande.

Bank records disclosed that five days after the account was opened, on January 4, 1990, $80,000 was deposited into the NOW account at First Heritage Bank by wire transfer through First Chicago from Banc One Houston, the report continues. According to the IRS, the money was sent by Akande.

But the Nigerian presidents financial dealings with the heroin traffickers went even further, according to the IRS special agent. He wrote that Citibank records documented two additional corporate accounts held in the name of Compass Finance and Investment Company, Ltd. which were controlled by Bola Tinubu.

When Bola Tinubu opened these accounts, he provided a memorandum of association and articles of association which identified Mueez Adegboyega Akande and Abiodun Olasuyi Agbele as directors of Compass Finance and Investment Company, Ltd., Moss wrote.

In the end, Tinubu somehow managed to deposit over $660,000 in his First Heritage Bank account in 1990, and more than $1.2 million the next year  all while claiming to take home just $2,400 a month from his position at Mobil Oil Nigeria.

As the investigation into the money laundering scheme began to gain traction, Tinubu left the US and returned to Nigeria. Ultimately, Moss was able to speak to Tinubu by telephone on a number of occasions, and the special agent reported that the future president initially acknowledged his personal and financial dealings with the pair of drug traffickers.

But in late January of 1992, Tinubu advised agents investigating this matter that he had no business association or financial relationship with Abele or Akande, Moss wrote. This information contradicted his prior statements on January 13, 1992, when he advised law enforcement officers that the money used to open the account at First Heritage Bank had come from Akande.

Back in Nigeria, Tinubu had already begun to transition into the political arena. By 1992, hed been elected to the Senate, and in 1999 he became the Governor of Lagos State, a position he retained until 2007. At some point in his tenure, Tinubu established a relationship with the US Embassy which would last for years to come, according to a trove of diplomatic cables released by Wikileaks.

But even his State Department allies couldnt help noticing Tinubus penchant for dishonesty. One particularly noteworthy cable pointed out that the politician was known to play fast and loose with the facts and has been caught in the past embellishing his educational achievements.

In the end, however, Tinubus usefulness seemed to outweigh his casual relationship with the truth, and the future Nigerian president went on to provide American officials with a near-continuous assessment of the political situation in his country. One typically intimate meeting with Tinubu ended with the US ambassador to Nigeria commenting: as always, we found his take on the national political scene to be insightful.

When the cables came to light in 2011, many Nigerians were shocked at the candor with which their elected officials spoke to Washingtons envoys. The willingness of our elites to divulge unsolicited information about the nation to U.S. officials betrays an infantile thirst for a paternal dictatorship, Nigerian-American professor and columnist Farooq Kperogi wrote.

Though Tinubu appeared to have escaped justice for his alleged role in a heroin trafficking conspiracy, accusations of corruption would continue to dog the ECOWAS chair throughout his political career in Nigeria. Since leaving office as governor of Lagos in 2007, Tinubu picked every subsequent winning candidate, according to German broadcaster DW, which noted earlier this year that the tycoon is believed to be one of Nigerias richest politicians but the source of his wealth is unknown.

In recent years, clues about the origins of the fortune amassed by one of Africas leading political players have begun to come to light.

In 2009, Tinubu came under investigation by the Metropolitan Police of London, who were probing allegations that the politician had pooled money with two other Nigerian governors to create a front company known as the African Development Fund Incorporation.

Investigators alleged the unusual business arrangement was actually a joint effort to illegally acquire shares of ECONET, a telecommunications firm founded by US intelligence asset and Gates Foundation trustee Strive Masiyiwa. But attempts to probe the legitimacy of the transactions in question were sidelined when the Nigerian federal government stonewalled the British investigation, which ultimately concluded without a single arrest. To this day, Nigerian authorities have yet to release the evidence requested by UK authorities.

In 2011, Tinubu was tried before the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Nigeria for illegally operating 16 foreign bank accounts. Eager to avoid the embarrassment hed previously suffered when being photographed in court, the ECOWAS chair reportedly refused to take his place at the dock in a judicial hearing.

But the unwelcome attention appears to have done little to rein in the politicians extravagant taste, and Tinubu once again found himself embroiled in a corruption scandal following an investigation into the luxurious 7,000-square foot mansion where the Nigerian president stays when receiving medical care in London.

Tinubu inside his London mansion with a Nigerian governor, Dapo Abiodun (graphic by Premium Times). " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Tinubu-inside-parlour.jpg?fit=300%2C179&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Tinubu-inside-parlour.jpg?fit=800%2C476&ssl=1" data-recalc-dims="1" />

According to Nigerian outlet Premium Times, the massive villa in Londons exclusive Westminster borough was picked up for a song by Tinubus son, who somehow managed to purchase the property at a discount of approximately $10 million from a wealthy fugitive  even though the sellers assets, including the mansion in question, had been frozen by a Nigerian court. Photos published on social media in 2017 show Tinubu posing inside the villa alongside Nigerias president at the time, Muhammadu Buhari.

The current and previous president worked closely for decades, and Tinubu has publicly claimed sole credit for Buharis presidency while campaigning. If it were not for me standing before you leading the army, saying Buhari, go ahead, were behind you, he could never have become the president, he told supporters at a rally last year.

But the suspicious confluence of money and influence didnt end with the mysterious mansion in London. During Nigerias 2019 general election, footage of armored trucks entering Tinubus residence went viral on social media, and the incident was widely seen as proof that the politician was engaged in a fraudulent vote-buying scheme. But Tinubu remained defiant, telling reporters, I keep money wherever I want.

Excuse me, is it my money or government money? he asked. If I dont represent any agency of government and I have money to spend, if I have money, if I like, I give it to the people free of charge, he insisted.

This January, the official explanation for the episode evolved again when one of his partys representatives told a Nigerian TV station that the armored trucks in question had simply missed [their] way and arrived at the wrong address. Asked why Tinubu had seemingly admitted to dispensing cash to the public, the partys organizing secretary in Lagos offered the bemused presenters an equally improbable explanation: he said that jokingly.

ECOWAS as a neocolonial weapon

While ECOWAS was officially founded via the Treaty of Lagos in 1975, its official history notes the blocs origins date back to the creation of the CFA Franc in 1945, which consolidated Frances West African empire into a single-currency union. Publicly, the move was described as a benevolent attempt to shield these colonies from the consequences of the French francs sharp devaluation in 1945, following the creation of the US-dominated Bretton Woods system. As the French finance minister said at the time:

In a show of her generosity and selflessness, metropolitan France, wishing not to impose on her faraway daughters the consequences of her own poverty, is setting different exchange rates for their currency.

In reality, the introduction of the CFA Franc meant that Paris was able to maintain highly unequal trading relationships with its African colonies, at a time when its economy was ravaged by World War II and its overseas empire was rapidly disintegrating. The currency made it cheap for member states to import from France and vice versa, but prohibitively expensive for them to export anything anywhere else.

This forced dependency in Francophone West Africa created a captive market for the French, and by extension the rest of Europe. That dynamic, which has stunted regional economic development for decades, persists to this day. The CFA Francs continued dominance ensures West African states remain under the economic and political control of France. Those African nations are powerless to enact meaningful policy changes, as they lack control over their own monetary policy.

That the currency features so prominently in the authorized history of ECOWAS is instructive, because the bloc has long-been criticized as an extension of French imperialism. It was not for nothing that in 1960, then-French President Charles de Gaulle made membership of the CFA Franc a precondition for decolonization in Africa.

Though ECOWAS is theoretically meant to maximize member states collective bargaining power by fostering interstate economic and political cooperation, such harmonization makes it easier for former imperial powers like France to exploit and enfeeble their constituent countries. The bloc imposes a strict, Western-approved legal and financial framework upon its members, and any state deviating from these rules is harshly punished.

In January 2022, ECOWAS imposed strict sanctions on Mali, prompting thousands to take to the streets in support of the military government that seized power in January the previous year. The new governments efforts to purge the country of malign foreign influence saw a complete ban on French media imposed, a decision which was slammed by the UN but cheered by average Malians.

ECOWAS applied similar measures to Burkina Faso in response to a September 2022 military coup, which saw Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba removed after just eight months in power. Though Damiba himself seized via military coup, there was little condemnation from Western officials and few suggestions that ECOWAS impose sanctions  perhaps due to the ousted leaders pro-Western orientation and status as a graduate of multiple elite US military and State Department training courses.

Since 1990, ECOWAS has waged seven separate conflicts in West Africa, in order to protect the Wests preferred despots across the region. Meanwhile, between 1960 and 2020, Paris launched 50 separate overt interventions in Africa. Figures for clandestine activities conducted during this time are unavailable, but the countrys fingerprints are plastered all over multiple rigged elections, coups, and assassinations that have sustained compliant, corrupt governments in power throughout the continent.

As President Jacques Chirac remarked in 2008, without Africa, France will slide down into the rank of a third [world] power. This perspective was reaffirmed in a 2013 French Senate report, Africa is Our Future. Indeed, the mere existence of anti-imperialist governments anywhere in the region is intolerable to Paris.

Luckily for the French elite, compromised figures like Bola Tinubu are still on hand to do their dirty work for them.
According to the Aug. 2 lawsuit filed before the New York Supreme Court in Manhattan, EcoHealth and its president, Peter Daszak, knew the virus was "capable of causing a worldwide pandemic."

Not only did EcoHealth help to create a 'genetically manipulated virus,' the lawsuit claims, it worked to cover up the origins of the outbreak.

"If we had known the source or origin of this virus and had not been misled that it was from a pangolin in a wet market, and rather we knew that it was a genetically manipulated virus, and that the scientists involved were concealing that from our clients, the outcome could have been very different," victims' attorney Patricia Finn told the NY Post.

The families of Mary Conroy, of Pennsylvania; Emma D. Holley, of Rochester, NY; Larry Carr, of Crossville, Tennessee; and Raul Osuna, of Bennington, Nebraska, are seeking unspecified damages. [The families of the deceased] are definitely in mourning, but moreover theyre enraged because the truth of what really happened appears to be coming forward, Finn added. Paul Rinker, of Pennsylvania, is also suing Midtown-based EcoHealth and Daszak over the serious injuries he suffered from his bout with the bug.

Finn is also suing EcoHealth and Daszak in Nassau and Rockland Counties on behalf of the families of other victims killed by the virus, as well as two who survived.

"This particular case is highly offensive because it appears they knew and concealed the origin of the virus," said Finn, adding "The treatment or approach taken in dealing with the virus could have been radically different than it was."

Fauci is simply lying here. Zheng-Li Shi's lab at the WIV and EcoHealth Alliance (which administered NIH subawards to Zheng-Li Shi's lab) were absolutely manipulating viruses (using NIAID funds) in order to see which mutations would make them more dangerous to humans. https://t.co/2MD0oM4sWh  Justin B. Kinney (@jbkinney) August 12, 2023

EcoHealth notably received a re-activated grant from the NIH for over $576,000 in May to study how outbreaks of deadly viruses like SARS, MERS, and now COVID-19 originate from wildlife and transfers to humans, despite failing to meet the NIH's conditions for reinstatement.

As the Epoch Times noted;

The grant, titled Understanding the Risk of Bat Coronavirus Emergence, was originally awarded in 2014 by Dr. Anthony Faucis National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Under the terms of the grant, EcoHealth Alliance, a government-funded nonprofit that purportedly engages in research to prevent pandemics, was awarded $3.8 million over five years to assess the spillover potential of bat viruses using reverse genetics, pseudovirus and receptor binding assays, and virus infection experiments in cell culture and humanized mice. Put in simple terms, NIAID was paying EcoHealth to genetically engineer and manipulate bat viruses in labs.

In May 2016, the grant was suspended after Erik Stemmy, a NIAID program officer, noticed that federal government funds may have been used for prohibited gain-of-function experiments at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) in China. At the time, the Obama administration had put in place a moratorium on gain-of-function experiments. However, for reasons that remain unclear, the suspension was lifted in July 2016. At the time, EcoHealths president, Peter Daszak, thanked NIAID in an email for lifting the gain-of-function funding pause.

As part of the conditions of the grant, EcoHealth had to file regular activity reports. However, starting in 2018, EcoHealth stopped submitting these reports. EcoHealth would later blame technical difficulties for their failure to submit. The missing reports comprised the critical 20182019 timeframe right before the outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan.

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More:

In 2014, the Obama administration temporarily suspended federal funding for gain-of-function research into manipulating bat COVID to be more transmissible to humans. Four months prior to that decision, the NIH effectively shifted this research to the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) to EcoHealth, headed by Peter Daszak.

Notably, the WIV "had openly participated in gain-of-function research in partnership with U.S. universities and institutions" for years under the leadership of Dr. Shi 'Batwoman' Zhengli, according to the Washington Post's Josh Rogin.

Yet, after Sars-CoV-2 broke out in the same town where Daszak was manipulating Bat Covid, The Lancet published a screed by Daszak (signed by over two-dozen scientists), which insisted the virus could have only come from a natural spillover event, likely from a wet market, and that the scientists "stand together to strongly condemn conspiracy theories suggesting that COVID-19 does not have a natural origin." The Lancet only later noted Daszak's conflicts of interest.

Meanwhile, as we noted late last year, a Senate Committee on Health Education, Labor and Pensions interim report from October 27, 2022 titled An Analysis of the Origins of the COVID19 Pandemic concluded that the origins of Covid were more likely based in a lab as part of a research related incident and not zoonotic.

The report was the result of a bipartisan Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee oversight effort into the origins of SARS-CoV-2. It provides a lengthy analysis that reviews publicly available, open-source information to examine the two prevailing theories of origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
The ongoing release of the Facebook Files reveals the target of the White Houses collusion with Big Tech: you. Censorship is not a targeted attack on speakers; the objective is to deny you, the citizenry, your right to access information.

Journalists including Michael Shellenberger have exposed what they dub the Censorship Industrial Complex, a tangled web of the worlds most powerful government agencies, NGOs, and private corporations that work together to stifle unapproved narratives.

The henchmen who implement this system receive little publicity. Few Americans study Albert Burleson, Woodrow Wilsons Postmaster General who intercepted mail that the White House deemed subversive. Frank Wisners name is absent from history books despite overseeing Operation Mockingbird, a CIA program to infiltrate, influence, and control American media outlets.

Likewise, todays public is generally unfamiliar with their information czars, the government officials charged with carrying out assaults on the First Amendment. Like soldiers in The Sopranos, they demand compliance with threats of retribution from their boss.

The powerful enact censorship for their own interests while claiming it is for the good of the public. They use abstract fear-mongering to evade accountability.

In the case of Julian Assange, they eviscerated his right to free press under the guise of national security; in doing so, they attacked your right to know the truth about Americas War on Terror.

In the Biden Administration, theyve used mantras of public health to strip you of your First Amendment rights in the Covid era. Thanks to the Facebook Files and Missouri v. Biden, we now have a better understanding of the individuals behind the censorship regime. Rob Flaherty exemplifies the arrogance inherent to the assault on the First Amendment.

Americas Thought Police: Rob Flaherty

After serving on the failed presidential campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Beto ORourke, Flaherty joined the Biden White House as Director of Digital Strategy in January 2021.

In that role, he repeatedly worked with Big Tech companies to suppress political opponents speech. Are you guys fucking serious? Flaherty asked Facebook after the company failed to censor critics of the Covid vaccine. I want an answer on what happened here and I want it today.

At other times, Flaherty was more direct. Please remove this account immediately, he told Twitter about a Biden family parody account. The company compiled within an hour.

Flaherty made it clear that he was concerned with political power, not veracity or disinformation. He demanded Facebook stifle often-true content that could be considered sensational. He asked company executives if they could interfere with private messages containing misinformation on WhatsApp.

Flaherty later demanded to know how Facebook would address things that are dubious, but not provably false. In February 2021, he accused the company of fomenting political violence by allowing vaccine skeptical content on its platform.

His desire to control Americans access to information meant eliminating critical media sources. He demanded Facebook reduce the spread of Tucker Carlsons report on the Johnson & Johnsons vaccines link to blood clots. Theres 40,000 shares on the video. Who is seeing it now? How many? Like Burlesons censorship of the mail, Flahertys attack on the First Amendment was not directed at the speaker  the objective was to protect political power by denying citizens the right to access information.

Im curious  NY Post churning out articles every day about people dying, he wrote to Facebook. Does that article get a reduction, labels? He suggested that Facebook change the algorithm so that people were more like to see NYT, WSJ over Daily Wire, Tomi Lahren, polarizing people. Flaherty was not subtle in his objective. Intellectually my bias is to kick people off, he told the company executive.

In April 2021, Flaherty worked to strong-arm Google into ramping up its censorship operations. He told executives that his concerns were shared at the highest (and I mean the highest) levels of the WH. Theres more work to be done, he instructed. He had the same talking points with Facebook that month, telling executives that he would have to explain to President Biden and Chief of Staff Ron Klain why there is misinfo on the internet.

In nearly every case, the social media companies caved to the pressure of the White House.

Jenin Younes, litigation counsel at the New Civil Liberties Alliance, wrote in The Wall Street Journal: These emails establish a clear pattern: Mr. Flaherty, representing the White House, expresses anger at the companies failure to censor Covid-related content to his satisfaction. The companies change their policies to address his demands. As a result, thousands of Americans were silenced for questioning government-approved Covid narratives.

Protecting the government-provided Covid narratives were Flahertys primary focus. We are gravely concerned that your service is one of the top drivers of vaccine hesitancyperiod, he wrote to a Facebook executive. We want to know that youre trying, we want to know how we can help, and we want to know that youre not playing a shell game. . . . This would all be a lot easier if you would just be straight with us.

Flahertys censorious thuggery mimics mobsters interrogation tactics. We can do this the easy way or the hard way- itd all be a lot easier if you would just be straight with us. Nice company you have here  would be a shame if something happened to it.

Key Parts of Our Covid Strategy

Of course, the La Cosa Nostra approach to free speech violates the First Amendment.

Flaherty sought to control who could have a Facebook account, determine what they could post, and influence what they see. He didnt own the company or work for Mark Zuckerberg  he used the threat of government retribution to impose censorship.

It is axiomatic under American law that the state cannot induce, encourage, or promote private companies to pursue unconstitutional aims. Under the First Amendment there is no such thing as a false idea, the Supreme Court held in Gertz v. Welch. However pernicious an opinion may seem, we depend for its correction not on the conscience of judges and juries, but on the competition of other ideas.

There is no misinformation carve-out to the First Amendment or Pandemic exception to Constitutional Law. Yet Flaherty spearheaded the Biden Administrations assault on free speech, and he now appears unremorseful for his role in the censorship apparatus.

In March 2023, Flaherty participated in an hour-long discussion at Georgetown University on his role in how governments use social media to communicate with the public.

An audience member asked Flaherty about his emails encouraging Facebook to censor private WhatsApp messages. How do you justify legally telling a private messaging app what they can and cannot send?

Flaherty declined to answer. I cant really comment on the specifics. I think the President has sort of made clear that one of the key parts of our Covid strategy is making sure the American people have access to reliable information as soon as they could get it, and, uh, you know, thats all part and parcel to that, but unfortunately I cant go too far into the litigation.

Three months later, Flaherty stepped down from his position at the White House. President Biden remarked, The way Americans get their information is changing, and since Day 1, Rob has helped us meet people where they are.

President Biden was right  Americans access to information changed. The internet promised a liberating free exchange of ideas, but bureaucrats like Flaherty worked to implement informational tyranny. In Flahertys words, this was all part and parcel to the White House strategy. On behalf of the administration, he demanded companies remove true content; he called on social media groups to remove journalists accounts; he suggested censoring citizens private messages; he institutionalized the abuse of the First Amendment.

If there were any remaining doubts about the federal governments censorship activities, this new evidence should settle every question. During the Covid years, the government effectively nationalized all the main social media portals and converted them to become propaganda vehicles for bureaucrats while demoting or completely blocking contrary views. There is simply no way this practice can survive serious juridical scrutiny.




Korea's trade chief met with Kazakhstan's top envoy to Seoul on Monday and discussed ways to enhance bilateral trade and economic cooperation, the industry ministry here said.







Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun and Kazakhstan's new ambassador to Korea, Nurgali Arystanov, held talks in Seoul on chances of signing a bilateral Trade and Investment Promotion Framework, or TIPF, and other ways to boost trade and economic relations, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.







The nations have agreed to work more closely on supply chains of key minerals and major infrastructure projects.







Bilateral trade hit an all-time high of $6.53 billion last year, government data showed. (Yonhap)






This photo, provided by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, shows the drugs seized from offenders in night clubs after detaining 70 suspects and arresting eight, March 30. Yonhap



Police caught over 10,000 drug offenders during an intensive crackdown on drug-related crimes this year, with figures showing a sharp increase in the number of teenage suspects, the police agency said Monday.



Of the 10,316 people caught during the five-month crackdown from March to July, 1,543 people were formally arrested, nearly double the number from last year, according to the National Police Agency.



Police also said 561 people, or 5.4 percent of the total, were teenagers, up 213.4 percent from the same period last year.



Of the total number of drug offenders, 3,065 were apprehended for supplying drugs, including taking part in producing, smuggling or selling drugs, up 87.2 percent from the same period a year ago.



Drug offenders caught at night clubs increased fivefold over a year as the endemic led to freer access to such areas, and the number of foreign drug offenders also increased 55.3 percent, according to the agency.



Police said they seized a total of 52.3 kilograms of methamphetamine, more than five times the amount collected in the same period last year. They also said 8.5 kg of ketamine and 6 kg of ecstasy were also confiscated.



The number of drug offenders up until July this year totaled 11,629, drawing near the total number of suspects arrested the previous year, police said. Last year, a record number of 12,387 people were arrested for drug-related crimes.



The police plan to continue the crackdown on drug-related crimes during the second half of the year. (Yonhap)


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Postal Code
This Aug. 1, 2019 file photo shows the Korean Embassy in Tokyo. Yonhap



The Korean Embassy in Tokyo said Monday it has received an email threatening to blow up the embassy building ahead of this week's anniversary celebrating Korea's liberation from Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule.



The embassy said the Japanese police have decided to step up security around the area after it notified the authorities of the bomb threat letter sent in the name of "Soma Wataru" last week.



The message, written in Korean using automatic translation, is said to have read: "I am Japanese. I warn you about the explosion in advance."



However, the sender did not specify the exact date or time of the explosion.



The embassy is looking into the possibility of the letter being a false threat, but said it has requested the Japanese police provide strengthened security for around a month.



Meanwhile, police authorities in Seoul are also investigating a spate of bomb threat emails sent from Japan in recent weeks.



On Aug. 7, some Seoul city government officials received an email threatening to detonate an explosive in downtown Seoul if Democratic Party of Korea leader Lee Jae-myung was not killed. Two days later, another email threatening to blow up the National Museum of Korea, the Japanese Embassy, the N Seoul Tower and a Japanese school was reported to the police.



On Sunday, an email saying high-powered bombs have been planted in Seoul City Hall was sent from a Japanese account to local media outlets.



Korea commemorates the 78th anniversary of Liberation Day on Aug. 15. (Yonhap)


Dissident republicans posted redacted information from a major PSNI data breach on the wall of a library in Belfast to prove they are in possession of the sensitive material, a Sinn Fein MLA has said.

Gerry Kelly said the document which was posted overnight close to the Sinn Fein office on the Falls Road, included information about a substantial number of police officers and staff, although their names had been removed.

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The latest revelation in the controversy which has rocked the PSNI comes as it has emerged that almost 3,000 police officers have inquired about potential damages following the massive data leak.

Last week the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) revealed a document had mistakenly been shared online which included the names of about 10,000 officers and staff.

Details released include the surname and first initial of every employee, their rank or grade, where they are based and the unit they work in.

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Policing Board member Mr Kelly, who described the posting of the information as sinister, explained that he had been contacted by a party member this morning who had arrived at the office.

He said: He noticed that on the side of the library there was a number of documents pasted up.

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There was a photograph of myself and then there was a statement saying in large writing: Gerry, we know who your mates are.

Under that there was what appeared to be, and what turned out to be, a section of the leaked documents that were put out.

It did not have the names of the police officers involved, but it had everything else.

It wasnt the whole 10,000 (names), but it was a substantial number.

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Mr Kelly added: I look upon this as a threat by dissidents to me and I will not be intimidated.

More serious is that this is the dissidents, or whoever is involved, putting out that their claim that they have access to the leaked documents, they are putting out a verification on that.

I think that is their main intention.

Asked why he believes dissident republicans are responsible, Mr Kelly said: To have the names of the officers, if you were caught putting such information up then you would be under criminal charge immediately.

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One of the reasons that makes me believe it is dissidents is precisely that.

They were clever enough to remove and to put up what they believe would not be illegal.

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Assistant Chief Constable Chris Todd (Liam McBurney/PA)

Last week, PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne said he was aware of claims that dissident republicans, who are opposed to the peace process in Northern Ireland, are in possession of information from the breach, but stressed that claim has not been verified.

Assistant Chief Constable Chris Todd confirmed that an investigation has begun into the posting of the redacted information in Belfast.

He said: We are aware that some redacted information from the Tuesday August 8 data breach has allegedly been posted on a wall in west Belfast today, Monday August 14.

We have commenced an investigation into this matter.

From the outset we have been planning for this potential development and that plan is now being put into place.

Mr Todd continued: We recognise the impact this may have on our officers, staff and their families and additional security and reassurance patrols have already been implemented across Northern Ireland as part of our organisational response.

The safety and welfare of our officers and staff remains our priority and we have reminded them of their personal safety and security both on and off duty.

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Hundreds of officers have expressed concern for their safety in Northern Ireland, where police are under threat from terrorists  with the current level of threat assessed as severe, meaning an attack is highly likely.

The Police Federation of Northern Ireland, which represents rank and file PSNI officers, that by Monday afternoon 2,905 officers had expressed an interest in the event of legal action following the major data breach.

While no legal action has yet commenced, it is thought officers and staff whose names and places of work were revealed could be in line for compensation.

The PSNI is already facing significant budget pressures and any settlements would be expected to run into tens of millions of pounds.
A redacted document, purporting to be from a major PSNI data leak, was posted overnight on a wall facing a Sinn Fein office in Belfast.

Gerry Kelly, the partys policing spokesperson, described the incident as sinister.

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Last week the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) revealed a document had mistakenly been shared online which included the names of about 10,000 officers and staff.

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Mr Kelly said the document, with the names of the officers removed, was posted on a wall alongside his photo and a threatening message.

He said: This is a very obvious attempt by dissident republicans to intimidate me.

Even more sinister, this is a very public indication that the dissidents do have access to the sensitive information in the data leak document. It therefore represents a very real threat to the officers and the civilian staff involved.

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I have of course reported this incident to the PSNI and I would appeal to anyone with information to bring that information forward.

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Sinn Fein represents the vast majority of people in the nationalist community, and we will certainly not be intimidated by dissident groups who have virtually no support and who offer nothing but disruption and threats in an attempt to make themselves relevant.

They should disband and end their anti-community activities.

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Assistant Chief Constable Chris Todd (Liam McBurney/PA)

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Last week, PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne said he was aware of claims that dissident republicans are in possession of information from the breach, but stressed that claim has not been verified.

Scores of officers have expressed concern for their safety in Northern Ireland, where police are under threat from terrorists  with the current level of threat assessed as severe, meaning an attack is highly likely.

Assistant Chief Constable Chris Todd said: We are aware that some redacted information from the Tuesday, August 8 data breach has allegedly been posted on a wall in west Belfast today, Monday, August 14.

We have commenced an investigation into this matter.

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From the outset we have been planning for this potential development and that plan is now being put into place.

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We recognise the impact this may have on our officers, staff and their families and additional security and reassurance patrols have already been implemented across Northern Ireland as part of our organisational response.

The safety and welfare of our officers and staff remains our priority and we have reminded them of their personal safety and security both on and off duty.
A renewed appeal is being made for information on "Sligo Man", also known as Peter Bergmann, whose body was discovered on the West Coast 14 years ago.

Locate International, a global missing persons register, launched another appeal seeking the identity of an unidentified man who was found dead on Rosses Point beach in Co Sligo on June 16th, 2009.

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The man, thought to have been in his 50s or 60s, had previously been staying at the Sligo City Hotel in Sligo town where he checked-in for three days in with the name Peter Bergmann and an address, both of which proved to be fake.

The address he provided was in Vienna, Austria, but police later confirmed it was false.

Mr Bergmann, who was 5'10" in height, with grey hair and blue eyes, had also disposed of his belongings in a purple plastic bag during his trip, avoiding CCTV whilst doing so.

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On his second day in Sligo, the man purchased eight 82 cent stamps and airmail stickers from the post office. It was never established where the letters were sent or when.

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CCTV footage of Peter Bergmann.

On the day before his body was found, Mr Bergmann had asked a taxi driver to take him to the quietest beach in Sligo for a swim, and the driver took him to Rosses Point.

A man and his son who had been training for a triathlon were walking along the beach when they found Mr Bergmanns body on the shore at 8am. He was last seen alive shortly before midnight on the beach.

In a statement Locate International said: We renew our appeal to the world for any information that may lead to identifying Sligo Man.

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This baffling case has captured the hearts and minds of those who know about it, and our renewed appeal seeks to spread more awareness and reignite interest in hopes of solving the mystery.

Extensive investigations

His body showed no signs of violence, but all labels had been carefully removed from his clothing, leaving no clues to his identity. Despite extensive investigations by gardai and international police authorities, the mans true name and origin remain unknown.

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Mr Bergmann was buried in an unmarked grave in Sligo cemetery. Six people were at the funeral on September 18th, 2009. The Garda case on him still remains open.

A post-mortem found that he was suffering with an advanced stage of prostate cancer and bone tumours, had suffered several previous heart attacks, had one kidney and had a gold tooth.

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Possessions found with the body included a leather jacket, blue pants and socks, size 44 black shoes and he was wearing purple striped speedo swimming trunks covered by underpants and a navy T-shirt.

Locate International has worked with ThingLink, an interactive media platform.

The technology has allowed them to transform images and videos into an interactive asset, allowing people to actively learn more about Sligo Man and the ongoing investigation to establish his true identity.

Forensic Imaging consultant Hew Morrison has also produced a new living depiction of the man and there is also a new YouTube video featuring exclusive CCTV footage of Sligo Man during his time in Sligo. This footage offers a glimpse into his movements and interactions during his stay in the town.

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Locate International is appealing to the public here and worldwide if the false address Ainstettersn 15, Wien 4472 may mean anything to them, did they receive a letter from Sligo in Ireland at around this time, or do they know someone who did?

Advertisement In 2009, an unidentified man was found in #Sligo, #Ireland. He called himself #PeterBergmann, but that was false. #SligoMan left no traces to his true identity. Today, we renew our global appeal for any information that could help identify him. Learn more: https://t.co/7ZNKD46iXd pic.twitter.com/Rh5xppjDQN  Locate International (@LocateCIO) August 7, 2023

Did they train for the police, military, German NVA, or intelligence services with someone who looked like him, if they worked as a dentist and gave someone a gold tooth before 2009, could this be the man and if so, what do they remember about him?

Did any member of the public treat him or anyone who matches his description for cancer in the late 2000s?

"Does anyone know anyone from Germany or Austria who ever had a connection with Sligo, Derry, or the west coast of Ireland and if anyone who suddenly disappeared, or lost contact with, who looks similar to this man, Locate International said in their statement.

The short film The Last Days of Peter Bergmann paints a picture of this haunting mystery through the CCTV footage of the man and interviews with locals who saw him during his last days, which he spent entirely alone.

The award-winning documentary, directed by Ciaran Cassidy, produced by Morgan Bushe and edited by John Murphy, tracks Bergmanns first known appearance in Ireland as the moment he boarded a bus in Derry's bus terminal to Sligo.

If anyone has information that may be of use, however insignificant they think it may be, they are asked to call 0300 102 1011 or email appeals@locate.international. Information can be submitted anonymously.
Unionists have condemned the singing of a pro-IRA chant on the final night of the Feile An Phobail festival in west Belfast.

Social media footage showed the crowd chanting Oh, ah, up the Ra as the Wolfe Tones played their annual gig on Sunday evening at Falls Park.

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The festival, which receives public funding, has been criticised in previous years when similar scenes occurred.

However, the director of Feile An Phobail said this years event had drawn record crowds and the festival includes all opinions and provides a platform for many different views.

DUP MLA Emma Little-Pengelly said the chanting at the event was the shame of Belfast.

She tweeted: A final weekend drenched in squalid, vile sectarianism.

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Divisive, hurtful, with glorifying of terrorism.

This isnt progress  it is the shame of Belfast.

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There must, must be those who support the festival who are embarrassed by this cringe sectarian ending every year?

A final weekend drenched in squalid, vile sectarianism. Divisive, hurtful, with glorifying of terrorism. This isn't progress- it is the shame of Belfast. There must, must be those who support the festival who are embarrassed by this cringe sectarian ending every year?  #Feile Advertisement  Emma Little-Pengelly BL (@little_pengelly) August 13, 2023

TUV leader Jim Allister said the festival had degenerated into a terror fest.

He added: The fact that shamefully the Charity Commission failed to act against such glorification of terror under the auspices of an organisation it continues to accept as a bona fide charity, guaranteed this deliberate insult to IRA victims.

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The fact that this festival continues to be lavishly funded from the public purse adds to the hurt and insult endured by the victims of terrorism.

A spokesperson for the Charity Commission said: In August of last year, the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland received concerns regarding the annual West Belfast Festival held by registered charity Feile An Phobail Limited.

Having assessed the concerns raised, commissioners concluded that the charity, as a result of performances at the festival, had not contravened charity law.

One of the concerned parties requested that the commission review its decision not to take regulatory action under its internal decision review process. The charity was advised of this request.

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The concerned party also requested that a specific question is referred to the Charity Tribunal under para 1 of Schedule 4 to the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008.

The concerned party has been advised that this request is currently being considered by the commission.

While both requests are under consideration, it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this time.

Feile an Phobail director Kevin Gamble said a record 120,000 people had attended events at this years festival.

He added: Over the last 35 years, Feile has a proven track record of delivering significant social, cultural and economic benefits to the city of Belfast, and this increases year-on-year.

This year, representatives from all communities were welcomed to Feile to have their voice heard, both as spectators and participants.

All political persuasions attended and participated in various panel discussions, as did representatives from minority ethnic communities and international visitors.

Feile an Phobail includes all opinions and provides a platform for many different views.
Russia launched three waves of night-time air attacks against the southern Ukraine port city of Odesa, officials said on Monday, but the Ukrainian air force said it intercepted all 15 incoming Shahed drones and eight Kalibr missiles.

Falling debris from the interceptions damaged the dormitory of an educational facility in the city, a residential building and a supermarket, Odesa Governor Oleh Kiper said.

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Two employees of the supermarket were taken to hospital, he said.



Ukrainian soldiers load flyers urging Russian soldiers to surrender into a Grad multiple launch rocket system near Bakhmut in the Donetsk region (Libkos/AP)

Meanwhile, the Dutch Defence Ministry said it scrambled two F-16s early on Monday when two Russian bombers were tracked flying towards Dutch airspace.

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This doesnt happen often, but todays incident demonstrates the importance of rapid deployment, the ministry said. The F-16s are on stand-by 24 hours a day and can take off within minutes and intercept an unidentified aircraft.

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The two planes were identified by Danish F-16s in international airspace over the Baltic Sea but did not enter Danish airspace, the Danish Air Force said.

In March, British and German fighter jets were scrambled to intercept a Russian aircraft flying close to Estonian airspace, officials said, amid mounting concerns about aerial stand-offs near Russia and Ukraine.

A day earlier, the US said a Russian fighter jet struck a US surveillance drone over the Black Sea. Russia insisted its warplanes did not hit the MQ-9 Reaper drone, arguing that the drone manoeuvred sharply and crashed into the water.

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Ukrainian soldiers on the front line near Bakhmut (Libkos/AP)

The Kremlins forces have pummelled Odesa recently, aiming at facilities that transport Ukraines crucial grain exports and also wrecking Ukrainian historical sites.

The stepped-up barrage followed Moscows decision to break off a landmark agreement that had allowed grain to flow from Ukraine to countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia and help reduce the threat of hunger.

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Following that withdrawal, Russia carried out repeated strikes on Ukrainian ports, including Odesa, and declared wide areas of the Black Sea unsafe for shipping.

On Sunday, a Russian warship fired warning shots at a cargo ship in the south-western Black Sea.

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Russias Defence Ministry said the ship was heading north to the Ukrainian Danube River port of Izmail.

Russian forces fired shots from automatic small arms to force it to stop, the ministry said on Telegram.

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Ukraines presidential office reported on Monday that at least eight civilians were killed and 23 others injured in Ukraine over the previous 24 hours.
A 13-year-old boy has survived a fall of nearly 100ft at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon during a family trip.

Authorities said it took emergency crews two hours to rescue Wyatt Kauffman after he slipped on at the Bright Angel Point trail on Tuesday.

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The teenager was airlifted to a Las Vegas hospital for treatment to nine broken vertebrae, a ruptured spleen, a collapsed lung, concussion and a broken hand and dislocated finger.

I was up on the ledge and was moving out of the way so other people could take a picture, Wyatt told Phoenix TV station KPNX. I squatted down and was holding on to a rock. I only had one hand on it.

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It wasnt that good of a grip. It was kind of pushing me back. I lost my grip and started to fall back, he added.

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Rescue crews had to abseil down the cliff and get the injured boy out of the canyon in a basket.

I just remember somewhat waking up and being in the back of an ambulance and a helicopter and getting on a plane and getting here to the hospital, said Wyatt, who lives in Casselton, North Dakota.

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Brian Kauffman was in North Dakota when he heard about his sons fall and rescue.

A National Park Service search and rescue team helped bring the teenager safely to the rim.

Were extremely grateful for the work of everyone. Two hours is an eternity in a situation like that, Brian Kauffman said.

He said Wyatt and his mother were on a trip to visit national parks when the Grand Canyon fall occurred.

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Mr Kauffman said his son was discharged from the hospital on Saturday and was being driven home. Wyatt and his mother were expected to reach Casselton on Tuesday.

Were just lucky were bringing our kid home in a car in the front seat instead of in a box, Mr Kauffman told KPNX.
Libyas judicial authorities have formally asked Lebanon to release one of the late dictator Muammar Gaddafis sons  held without charges in Lebanon since 2015 because of his deteriorating health.

The health of Hannibal Gaddafi has been deteriorating since he went on hunger strike on June 3rd, to protest over his detention without trial.

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He was taken to hospital at least twice since then and has been only drinking small amounts of water.

According to two Lebanese judicial officials, Libyas prosecutor general Al-Sediq al-Sour, sent a request earlier this month to his Lebanese counterpart, Ghassan Oueidat, regarding Hannibal Gaddafi.

Muammar Gaddafi was killed by opposition fighters during Libyas 2011 uprising turned civil war. Photo: PA archive.

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The officials spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to the media.

The note stated that Lebanons cooperation in this matter could help reveal the truth regarding the fate of a prominent Lebanese Shiite cleric, Moussa al-Sadr, who went missing in Libya in 1978.

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It questioned why Mr Gaddafi was being held and asked that he be either handed over to Libya or be allowed to return to Syria, where he had been living in exile with his Lebanese wife, Aline Skaf, and children until he was abducted and brought to Lebanon eight years ago.

The Lebanese prosecutor then referred the case to Zaher Hamadeh, the investigative judge in the missing clerics case, who is studying the Libyan request and would respond in time.

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Hannibal Gaddafi has been detained in Lebanon since 2015 after he was abducted by Lebanese militants demanding information on the whereabouts of the cleric.

Lebanese police later announced it had picked up Mr Gaddafi from the city of Baalbek in north-eastern Lebanon, where he was being held. He has since been held in a Beirut jail.

The disappearance of Mr al-Sadr in 1978 has been a long-standing sore point in Lebanon. The clerics family believes he may still be alive in a Libyan prison, though most Lebanese presume Mr al-Sadr is dead. He would be 94 years old.

He was the founder of the Amal group, Arabic for hope, and an acronym for the militias Arabic name, the Lebanese Resistance Brigades. The group later fought in Lebanons 1975-90 civil war. Lebanons powerful parliament speaker Nabih Berri heads the group.

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Most of Mr al-Sadrs followers are convinced that Muammar Gaddafi ordered Mr al-Sadr killed in a dispute over Libyan payments to Lebanese militias.

Libya has maintained that the cleric and his two travelling companions left Tripoli in 1978 on a flight to Rome and suggested he was a victim of a power struggle among Shiites.

Muammar Gaddafi was killed by opposition fighters during Libyas 2011 uprising turned civil war, ending his four-decade rule of the North African country.

Hannibal Gaddafi, who was born two years before Mr al-Sadr disappeared, fled to Algeria after his father was toppled and Tripoli fell to opposition fighters, along with his mother and several other relatives.

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He later made it to Syria where he was given political asylum and stayed there until he was abducted.

Syrian authorities at the time blasted Hannibal Gaddafis seizure by an armed gang and have been demanding he be returned to Syria.
Ex-British home secretary Dame Priti Patel has accused her old department of being evasive over how long it intends to use a former air base to house asylum seekers.

In a letter to her successor Suella Braverman, Ms Priti said there had been an alarming and staggering lack of clarity about the plans for the former RAF base at Wethersfield in Essex.

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The site has been earmarked to house 1,700 asylum seekers by the autumn as part of Government plans to reduce the money spent on hotels.

Ministers have been evasive over their plans for the future of Wethersfield. Theyve bypassed the usual planning requirements, claimed the site is temporary for emergency use only and now we see theyve been planning to use the site for five years. This is unacceptable. https://t.co/dbBrgdc2Bg pic.twitter.com/7Pd7yVPzIw Advertisement  Priti Patel MP (@pritipatel) August 14, 2023 Advertisement

Ms Patel, whose Witham constituency is near the airfield, hit out after reports the site could be in use for five years.

The first asylum seekers moved into the site in July.

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In her letter to Mrs Braverman and immigration minister Robert Jenrick, Ms Patel said she had asked a series of parliamentary questions but had received no definitive answer.

It is therefore concerning to now see that it appears that the Home Office has put in place plans to use the site for asylum accommodation for a five-year period and considers that this meets the value for money requirement, she said.

British Home Secretary Suella Braverman and immigration minister Robert Jenrick. Photo: Kirsty OConnor/PA.

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Ms Priti said the failure to provide a direct answer gives the impression that the Home Office is being evasive.

The possibility of the site being used for five years to achieve value for money emerged in a leaked memo reported by the Daily Telegraph.

Dame Priti suggested the British government was being secretive about its intentions.

She told Mrs Braverman: Clear answers now need to be provided by the Home Office and the Government must be transparent rather than evasive.

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The lack of clarity has been alarming and staggering and I trust you will resolve this urgently.
Hawaii officials have urged tourists to avoid travelling to Maui as many hotels prepare to house evacuees on an island that faces a long recovery from the wildfire that demolished a historic town and killed more than 90 people.

About 46,000 residents and visitors have flown out of Kahului Airport in West Maui since the devastation in Lahaina became clear on Wednesday, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

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In the weeks ahead, the collective resources and attention of the federal, state and county government, the West Maui community, and the travel industry must be focused on the recovery of residents who were forced to evacuate their homes and businesses, the agency said in a statement late on Saturday. Tourists are encouraged to visit Hawaiis other islands.

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Governor Josh Green said 500 hotels rooms will be made available for locals who have been displaced.

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An additional 500 hotel rooms will be set aside for workers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Some hotels will carry on with normal business to help preserve jobs and sustain the local economy, Mr Green said.

The state wants to work with AirBnB to make sure that rental homes can be made available for locals. Mr Green hopes that the company will be able to provide three to nine-month rentals for those who have lost homes.

As the death toll around Lahaina climbed to 93, authorities warned that the effort to find and identify the dead was still in its early stages. The blaze is already the deadliest US wildfire in more than a century.

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Crews with sniffer dogs have covered just 3% of the search area, Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said on Saturday.

Vehicles destroyed by wildfires in Lahaina (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle/AP)

Weve got an area that we have to contain that is at least five square miles, and it is full of our loved ones, he said, noting that the number of dead is likely to grow and none of us really know the size of it yet.

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He spoke as federal emergency workers picked through the ashen moonscape left by the fire that razed the centuries-old town of Lahaina. Teams marked the ruins of homes with a bright orange X to indicate an initial search, and HR when they found human remains.

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Lylas Kanemoto is awaiting word about the fate of her cousin, Glen Yoshino.

Im afraid he is gone because we have not heard from him, and he wouldve found a way to contact family. We are hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst, Mr Kanemoto said on Sunday. Family members will submit DNA to help identify any remains.

The family was grieving the death of four other relatives. The remains of Faaso and Malui Fonua Tone, their daughter, Salote Takafua, and her son, Tony Takafua, were found inside a charred car.

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Areas burnt by the wildfire in Lahaina (Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources/AP)

At least we have closure for them, but the loss and heartbreak is unbearable for many, Mr Kanemoto said.

During the search efforts, the barks of dogs alerting their handlers to potential remains echoed over the landscape.

It will certainly be the worst natural disaster that Hawaii ever faced, Mr Green said as he toured the devastation on historic Front Street.

We can only wait and support those who are living. Our focus now is to reunite people when we can and get them housing and get them health care, and then turn to rebuilding.

At least 2,200 buildings were damaged or destroyed in West Maui, Mr Green said, nearly all of them residential. Across the island, damage was estimated at close to $6 billion.

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At least two other fires have been burning on Maui  in south Mauis Kihei area and in the mountainous, inland communities known as Upcountry. No fatalities have been reported from those blazes.

Governor of Hawaii Josh Green (left) and Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen Jr tour the wildfire damage in Lahaina on Saturday (Rick Bowmer/AP)

The Upcountry fire affected 544 structures, most of them homes, Mr Green said.

As many as 4,500 people are in need of shelter, county officials said on Facebook, citing figures from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Pacific Disaster Centre.

The latest death toll surpassed that of the 2018 Camp Fire in northern California, which left 85 dead and destroyed the town of Paradise. A century earlier, the 1918 Cloquet Fire broke out in drought-stricken northern Minnesota and raced through rural communities, destroying thousands of homes and killing hundreds.

The cause of the wildfires is under investigation. The fires are Hawaiis deadliest natural disaster in decades, surpassing a 1960 tsunami that killed 61 people. An even deadlier tsunami in 1946, which killed more than 150 on the Big Island, prompted development of a territory-wide emergency alert system with sirens that are tested monthly.

Hawaii emergency management records do not indicate that the warning sirens sounded before fire hit the town. Officials sent alerts to mobile phones, televisions and radio stations, but widespread power and cellular outages may have limited their reach.

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Burnt boats in the waters off Lahaina, Hawaii (Rick Bowmer/AP)

Fuelled by a dry summer and strong winds from a passing hurricane, the wildfires on Maui raced through parched brush covering the island.

It outpaced anything firefighters could have done in the early hours, US Fire Administrator Lori Moore-Merrell said.

The most serious blaze swept into Lahaina on Tuesday and destroyed nearly every building in the town of 13,000, leaving grey rubble wedged between the blue ocean and lush green slopes.

Maui water officials warned Lahaina and Kula residents not to drink running water, which may be contaminated even after boiling, and to only take short, lukewarm showers in well-ventilated rooms to avoid possible chemical vapour exposure.

Mauis firefighting efforts may have been hampered by limited staff and equipment.

Bobby Lee, president of the Hawaii Firefighters Association, said there are no more than 65 county firefighters working at any given time, who are responsible for three islands  Maui, Molokai and Lanai.
Two people in the UK remain in a serious condition in hospital after a car flipped and rolled off a road and into a campsite, hitting a tent where a baby was sleeping.

Nine people were injured after the blue Ford Fiesta, carrying a number of passengers, ploughed into people and a tent at Newgale campsite on the Pembrokeshire coast in west Wales shortly after 10.30pm on Saturday.

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Police said two of the victims are believed to be in a serious condition in hospital, with passengers in the car among those injured.

Clare Harris, who runs the campsite with her husband Mike, told the PA news agency: The car was speeding down the hill, realised it needed to slow down and tried to brake.

APPEAL | We are appealing for witnesses following a serious collision, which saw a car crash off the A487 and into a campsite in Pembrokeshire last night (Sat).



At shortly after 10.30pm calls were made to emergency services reporting the collision at Newgale Campsite.  pic.twitter.com/YDpIb8ne9h Advertisement Advertisement  Heddlu Dyfed-Powys Police (@DyfedPowys) August 13, 2023

It flipped and rolled several times, and crashed into the tent.

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There was a young child, a baby, in the tent at the time, thankfully they are okay.

Its a tragic accident that the police are dealing with, thats all we can say at the moment.

One person was airlifted to the University Hospital of Wales, said the Welsh Ambulance Service which was assisted by HM Coastguard.

The car is believed to have been travelling from the village of Roch towards St Davids when it crashed off the A487.

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Dyfed Powys Police said on Sunday: The road was closed to allow investigations and reopened at around 7.45am today.

Officers are appealing for any information regarding the vehicle, a blue Ford Fiesta, and its occupants.

We are especially interested in any dashcam footage or doorbell footage which may have captured the vehicle being driven from Roch to the scene of the collision at Newgale.
Two Korean national flags are hoisted outside a building affiliated with the veterans ministry. The flag on the right displays the autographs of independence fighters, in this Aug. 13 photo provided by the ministry. Yonhap



Korea will confer state medals and awards on 100 late independence fighters to honor their sacrifices in the resistance movement against Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule over the Korean Peninsula, the veterans ministry said Monday.



The independence fighters will be awarded with decorations posthumously Tuesday when the country commemorates the 78th anniversary of Liberation Day, according to the ministry.



Those to be awarded include Frank Earl Cranston Williams, an American missionary who supported Korean Liberation Army soldiers deployed in joint operations with British troops in India in 1943 during World War II.



Williams, who was fluent in Korean, taught English to the Koreans taking part in psychological warfare against Japanese forces in India. He previously lived in Korea for over three decades before being banished by Japan's Government-General in 1940.





This undated photo shows Frank Earl Cranston Williams, left, and his colleague James Jennings while he was serving the U.S. military in Korea. Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs
Police have released photos of a man whose decomposed body was found in his Gold Coast home, with detectives believing it was there more than 12 months.

Gold Coast detectives from the homicide unit were appealing for information about Tomislav Nemes, 69, who was found dead at the Benowa house in April.

Police had been called to conduct a welfare check at the Edinburgh Road property by relatives interstate.
But the police statement also includes a concession from Patterson that she intentionally disposed of the food dehydrator that police found in a skip bin at the Koonwarra Transfer Station. In the statement, she claimed she had panicked and dumped the appliance after she says people began accusing her of intentionally poisoning the meal. Homicide squad Detective Inspector Dean Thomas has said Patterson remained a suspect because she cooked the meals. But he has also said police were still considering an accidental poisoning not at the hands of somebody else to be a possibility, alongside a potentially nefarious activity. Erin Patterson, pictured speaking to media outside her house last week, cooked the beef Wellington. Credit: Marta Pascual Juanola About 50 parishioners packed Korumburras Baptist church on Sunday morning to pray for the towns mushroom poisoning victims, after days of media attention and speculation about the deaths. In a statement on Sunday evening, the family of Ian Wilkinson said: We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Austin Hospital for their unwavering care and support during this challenging time. Patterson claimed the media reporting on the incident had been wildly inaccurate and selective, which she said had intentionally but mistakenly portrayed her as a perpetrator, rather than an innocent party.

Pattersons statement to police provides a detailed explanation of how she obtained the suspected poisonous mushrooms, how the beef Wellington dish was cooked, and what happened to the remnants of the meal, which is now considered evidence. Patterson has told police she purchased a package of dried mushrooms from an Asian grocery store in Mount Waverley at least three months before the lunch. The package of mushrooms she bought was hand-labelled, she said. For the meal, the rehydrated mushrooms were mixed with other mushrooms purchased from a supermarket and cooked into the beef Wellington dish. Contrary to media reporting and information initially provided by homicide investigators, Patterson said her two young children were never at the lunch, but instead went to the movies.

Her son and daughter later ate part of the leftover beef Wellington, but the mushrooms had been scraped off the dish before it was served. Neither child became ill. But Patterson says she fell ill with intestinal problems on July 31  two days after eating the lunch herself  and was admitted to the hospital in Leongatha before an ambulance transferred her to a hospital in Melbourne. During her hospital stay, Patterson said she was given a treatment to protect her from liver damage. Pattersons lunch guests had been taken to the local hospital on July 30 after what they thought was a bad bout of gastro worsened overnight. They, too, were eventually taken to hospital in Dandenong before being transferred to the Austin Hospital, Victorias premier toxicology hospital. The statement says that when her four guests were hospitalised, Patterson told the Department of Health where she had purchased the dried mushrooms and confirmed that samples recovered from the Asian grocery store in containers with handwritten labels were the same as the type she had purchased months before.

The department declined to comment on Pattersons version of events as the matter was part of a police investigation. In the statement, Patterson said the poisoning of her lunch guests and the intense speculation generated by the case had seriously affected her mental health and wellbeing. When The Age visited Leongatha last week, residents expressed shock and disbelief at the news of the poisonings. Most described Patterson, a stay-at-home mother, as a reserved person who kept to herself and did not become closely involved in the community.

Loading Other parents said Patterson wasnt one to get involved with school chatter and would often avoid talking to other parents when she picked up her children from school. Ive never spoken to anyone who didnt like her, she was just really reserved, said an acquaintance of Patterson, who spoke to The Age anonymously. She just didnt go out of your way to talk to anyone or socialise with anyone or interact with anyone. She was just a very private person that kept to herself. Patterson took over the editorship of the local newsletter, The Burra Flyer, from her in-laws in 2018, but stepped down two years later.

Patterson and her estranged husband, Simon, had an acrimonious relationship, and had been living in separate homes for several years before formally separating in 2021. The acquaintance said Patterson moved several times since the relationship started to deteriorate, after amassing a small portfolio of properties in town. From a modest single-storey brick home down an unsealed country road to her dream weatherboard home surrounded by grazing paddocks in Leongatha, Patterson bought and sold at least six properties in Gippsland and Melbourne since 2014. A spokeswoman for the family declined to comment.
Something I realised and became aware of as I ventured out of my suburb more frequently when I grew up was the dangerous reputation of the west of Melbourne.

Our family of four moved to Caroline Springs in 2008 from Melton. Melton hadnt been particularly kind to our family. My sister and I were the only black kids at our school and were frequently bullied.

Caroline Springs is home to a statue that none of the locals really understand the meaning of. Credit: Penny Stephens

Coupled with the painting by our neighbour of a black smiley face on our side of the fence, I was relieved when I found out we were moving.

Though Caroline Springs was in the same municipality as Melton, it is seen as the more glamorous part of the west and safe for families. We chose our new house together; a popular square design that is one of four identical-looking houses in the area.
The rental market is in a perilous state. Renters across Australia face double-digit growth in advertised rents and record-low vacancy rates. Low-income renters have been hit especially hard. More than half suffer rental stress.

The federal government has been slow to react. National cabinet this Wednesday must commit to bold action.

Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather is taking the fight on housing to the government as his party suggests a two-year rent freeze. Credit: Paul Harris

But one idea that shouldnt be on the table is the Greens proposal for a two-year rent freeze, followed by a permanent cap on rent increases of 2 per cent every two years. While it may seem attractive to renters facing steep rent rises, itll end up doing more harm than good.

Rents are rising because theres not enough housing to go around.
In what circumstances can a bottle of red hair dye be made an important piece of Queensland political history? Probably very few.

But state MPs unusual powers to try and have anything from scathing reports to a now-mouldy coconut gram archived at taxpayers expense means they can, and do, try their luck.

A coconut gram and stunt back of the envelope Gabba redevelopment business case are among the more than 120,000 documents stored in the Queensland Parliament strong room. Credit:

Thanks to rulings by the umpire-like Speakers of parliament in the 1970s, any MP in Queensland has a largely unfettered right to table documents relevant to their speeches.

Other than Speakers, the Clerk (parliaments top official), and ministers, MPs in federal parliament and at least NSW and Victoria can only do so if others vote to allow them.
Latest News Can physical advertising still generate leads for brokers? Broker shares his marketing wins

Prospa recognised as a great place to work It also got its 2023 certification as a Great Place to Work in Australia and New Zealand

An SME business loans provider has forged a strategic partnership with a world-renowned foreign exchange (FX) provider, in a move that will enable the company to deliver FX solutions to its clients.

Moneytech partnered with TorFX to enable its customers to access TorFXs uniquely dedicated service and ultra-competitive exchange rates while trading online or over the telephone, making it more efficient and affordable to transfer their funds internationally.

We are excited to announce Moneytechs partnership with TorFX, said Nick McGrath (pictured above), CEO of Moneytech. This partnership will enable Moneytechs clients to transact their FX requirements through an integrated, secure, and reliable FX platform and provider.

Elle Pallett, managing director of TorFX, said the FX provider, too, was thrilled to be partnering with a trusted company like Moneytech.

Clients can manage their international payments with full transparency and knowing their transfers are safe and secure, Pallett said. Moneytechs commitment to customer service and innovative products and platforms were all important deciding factors for us when considering who would be an ideal partner.

Moneytech was established in 2003 and has since then grown to become a leading provider of SME lending, with more $3.5 billion in lending per annum offering a range of financial products, including lines of credit, debtor finance, trade finance, equipment finance, and term loans.

In recent reports, Moneytech noted that delayed invoice payment was one of the major issues facing Australian SMEs this financial year, impacting their cashflow. The non-bank also identified the factors driving the adoption of technology in finance, including a huge demand from consumers seeking efficiency and speed, and the normalisation of working from home.

TorFX is part of an international group that processes more than $19bn in international payments annually and holds an Excellent 4.9 Trustscore on Trustpilot. Established in 2004, it operates in more than 25 global offices across 5 continents and employs more than 700 currency experts that support more than half a billion customers. It is also the only foreign exchange provider to have scooped Canstar's 5-Star Rating for Outstanding Value International Money Transfers for five consecutive years from 2018 to 2022.

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Delello named associate vice president for human resources

Christopher Delello has been named associate vice president for human resources, UB Vice President for Finance and Administration Laura Hubbard announced last week.



Delello most recently served as chief human resources officer at the University of Connecticut, where he provided overall strategic human resources vision and leadership for the university and all of its academic campuses.



Prior to joining the University of Connecticut, Delello served as director of benefits, compensation, and HRIS for Columbus McKinnon Corporation. He was also an executive consultant to Hartford Health care and served as vice president for human resources for The Yankee Candle Company.



Delello will join UB Oct. 1.



Hubbard called Delello a thoughtful and strategic executive human resources leader with experience in higher education, private corporations, and health care settings.



She added: In this important role, Delello is responsible for leading, developing and managing a strategic and comprehensive human resources program in support of the universitys mission and Top 25 ambition.



Delello will work closely with colleagues across the university, surrounding communities, and New York State to develop a vision to promote organizational excellence through the identification, recruitment, and development of diverse talent, Hubbard added.



These are key initiatives that are vital to the continued success of the University at Buffalo, she says.



The University at Buffalo is renowned for its focus on the success of its students, faculty, staff, and administrators and the communities in which they live, learn and work, Delello said. I am honored to lead Human Resources and work with you all at such an exciting time for UB. I look forward to exploring and collaborating on ways to evolve the talent acquisition and employment experience, to provide resource stewardship, and to expand UBs culture of well-being and belonging.



Delello has an MBA from the University of Connecticut and a bachelors degree in industrial and labor relations from LeMoyne College. He is a Certified Employee Benefits Specialist by The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.



As associate vice president for human resources, Delello will oversee employee benefits services; payroll; compensation and classification; employee relations; organizational development and effectiveness; wellness and work life balance; and employee assistance programs.



He succeeds Mark Coldren, who retired from UB at the end of last year.


The BMW Shorties, Malaysias most prestigious and longest-running short film competition, was grander than ever this year as BMW Group Malaysia partnered with the Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest). With the theme of Evolve, the competition garnered a staggering amount of 133 submissions. After a careful and deliberate selection by a panel of distinguished judges consisting of renowned figures in the world of filmmaking, the BMW Shorties 2023 announced its final lineup and winners on 28 July 2023.

In case you missed it, here are the top 10 finalists of The BMW Shorties 2023 which represent the best of short film-making in Malaysia, in no particular order.

All Who Leave Go There  Grand Prize Winner

Directed by Ikram Haizammuri, this years Grand Prize winner goes to a 12-minute short film which sheds light on a community of Malaysians living in rural development areas under government-aided housing projects. As the winner of Best Director as well, Haizammuri was interested in exploring the mindset of those who do not evolve with the outside world and the conflicts in perspective they face through the main character of Ady. As the winner, Haizammuri was rewarded RM80,000 to fund his creative endeavours.

Ah Ma

Change is the only constant in life. Those were the famous words spoken by Albert Einstein which stirred director Chew Boon Wai into motion. The feature follows a senior woman who finds herself in a transitional period of her life and takes audiences on an emotional journey as she makes scary but necessary decisions in her life in the face of change. Ah Ma won Best Cinematography for its arresting visuals and Pearlly Chua nabs Best Actress.

Aku, Ayah dan Muzik

Interpreting the theme of Evolve in a compelling and moving way, director Mohd Hanif Fikris second year contending at The BMW Shorties brings forth a story of a young mans journey of soul-searching as he finds his purpose in life. Meaning Me, My Father and Music in English, the short film conveys a poignant and optimistic message that while the past cannot be changed, it is never too late to take charge and create a future full of hope and promise.

Boys

In his first year at The BMW Shorties, actor-turned-director Fabian Loo embarked on his own journey of evolution behind the camera to tell the story of Boys. The short film wistfully explores the scary, confusing and wonderful transition from adolescence to adulthood through the eyes of a teenage boy struggling to find his identity in the ever-changing world around him.

Inmates

With eight years of experience in the filmmaking industry, director Palani Veloos submission to this years BMW Shorties is a compelling feat of storytelling. With the firm belief that anyone is able to evolve to a better version of themselves if they have the courage to do so, Inmates tells the hopeful story of how its protagonists have found ways to grow even when it seems impossible. For its immersive and captivating narrative, the short film won Best Sound Design and Best Editing.

Selalu Ada

The Covid pandemic has touched and transformed many of our livesand it is with this premise that director Faizal Noar reflects on his short film, Selalu Ada. Translated to Always Be There in English, Noar portrays a relatable and tangible facet of life riddled with loneliness and solitude, but also one of togetherness and change. Firdaus Karim won Best Actor for his stellar performance.

Selamat Malam, Dunia!

Having previously contended in The BMW Shorties 2019, director Putra Adib returns this year with a short film close to his heart. Based on a real-life event of a friends suicide attempt, Selamat Malam, Dunia (Goodnight, World in English) explores the concept of existentialism and conveys a profound message of conquering our fears and traumas head-on in order to evolve.

Taugeh

As the winner of the Peoples Choice Award, U Wangs directorial debut at The BMW Shorties 2023 struck a chord with many Malaysian audiences. Taugeh takes viewers back to the turbulent period of 1997, set against the backdrop of the Asian financial crisis, where gangsterism in schools was prevalent and worrisome. The short film portrays a young boys journey to young adulthood as he is forced to evolve quicker than his age due to unfortunate circumstances.

The Known Stranger

Director Bryan Sims first submission to the short film competition is one that shines a light on a much-ignored yet widespread issue: scamming. Rather than viewing it as a crime, Sims thought-provoking work delves into the world of scams as a social issue through the eyes of two individuals caught in a vicious cycle of scamming.

The Missing Trophy

The Missing Trophy is director Wong Ga Dongs love letter to the art and craft of filmmaking. His directorial debut for The BMW Shorties 2023 tells the story of an aspiring filmmaker who learns the ropes from an older and established professional. Wong drew from his real-life experiences of meeting Azla Kamaruddin, a celebrated film veteran. The short film captures the hopes and dreams of every young aspiring filmmaker in the country and is perfect for those who appreciate filmmaking or have similar passions. The feature also won Best Story.

For more reads on film and TV, head here.
Farmers Fresh Zone (Farmers FZ), an agricultural food startup, has received recognition from the United Nations for its unique module and practices, the company said on Monday.

The United Nations hosted the SDG Agri-food Accelerator programme and Farmers Fresh Zone was one of the startups to get selected by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN during the meet held in Rome recently.

"Farmer's Fresh Zone stood out for its unique module and practices which are scalable in any part of the world," a company statement here said.

"India is the second largest country in agriculture production and we, at Farmers Fresh Zone, are super proud to represent as the only one from India at a global forum...," AgriTech D2C and (farm-to-fork as a SaaS) CEO Pradeep P S said.

Under this programme, Farmers FZ would receive grants and other funds to make the necessary changes needed for each market, helping them widen their reach and making the business global, the release said.

Also Read FarmersFZ selected for UN's 'Accelerator Programme' for food startups World food prices fall for 12th month running in Mar following Ukraine war UK calls for UN reform with permanent Security Council seat for India Chapatis, khichdi made of bajra may soon be on mid-day meal menu in UP Abolish veto rights or give them to new permanent members in UNSC: India Easy Trip Planners Q1 profit down 22% to Rs 26 cr, revenue at Rs 124 cr Penguin Random House announces imprint for publishing in Indian languages Shriram Properties Q1 profit rises 59% to Rs 16.62 cr on better income Boeing front-runner to secure order for widebody jet from IndiGo: Report Finolex Cables net profit rises 39% to Rs 132.2 cr in Q1, revenue up 19%
Businessmen are among 2,176 people to get special pardons on the occasion of Korea's Liberation Day anniversary. From left are Park Chan-koo, honorary chairman of Kumho Petrochemical Group, Lee Joong-keun, founder of Booyoung Group, Rhee Jang-han, chairman of Chong Kun Dang, Lee Ho-jin, former chairman of Taekwang Group; and Kim Tae-woo, former Gangseo District office chief. Yonhap



The government granted special presidential pardons to scores of business tycoons Monday on the occasion of this week's Liberation Day anniversary, including Park Chan-koo, honorary chairman of Kumho Petrochemical Group.



A total of 2,176 people were given special pardons that will legally take effect at the beginning of Tuesday, the Liberation Day anniversary that commemorates the end of Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula, according to officials.



These are the third presidential pardons since President Yoon Suk Yeol took office in May last year.



Among the beneficiaries are scores of big-name businesspeople, including Park; Lee Joong-keun, founder of Booyoung Group; and Chong Kun Dang Chairman Rhee Jang-han.



Lee and Park were given a prison term and a suspended prison term, respectively, both on charges of breach of duty, while Rhee was sentenced to prison on charges of bullying his driver.



As part of the sentences, Lee and Park were banned from running their businesses for five years, but the special pardons will reinstate some of their rights and allow them to resume business activities.



Among those given pardons were also Shin Young-ja, a daughter of Lotte Group founder Shin Kyuk-ho and former head of Lotte's scholarship foundation; former Chairman of apparel giant Taekwang Group Lee Ho-jin; and former Chairman of Dong-A Socio Holdings Kang Jeong-seok.



Shin was given a suspended jail term in 2019 in connection with a massive corruption scandal involving retail giant Lotte while the former Taekwang chairman served a three-year prison term for embezzlement and corporate tax evasion. Kang spent 2 1/2 years in prison for embezzling corporate funds and providing kickbacks to hospitals.



"I hope these special pardons can help reinvigorate the overall economy so as to be able to overcome the economic crisis, resolve social and political conflicts and reach national harmony," Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon said in a briefing.



Former Gangseo Ward office chief Kim Tae-woo was also given a pardon and had his right to run in official elections reinstated. He was given a suspended prison term on charges of leaking official secrets and ousted from office.



Kim, formerly an investigator affiliated with the prosecution, was charged with revealing to the media official secrets he gleaned while working for a special inspection team under the chief presidential secretary for civil affairs from December 2018 to February 2019.



Former Finance Minister Kang Man-soo was another ex-government official given a special pardon after he was sentenced to a jail term in 2018 on charges of abusing his official power. He was released in 2021 on parole.



The rest of Monday's pardon beneficiaries also include those convicted of minor pandemic prevention rule violations, small- and medium-size business owners punished due to financial issues stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and those of advanced age or convicted of crimes attributable to economic difficulties, officials said. (Yonhap)


Debt-ridden Vodafone Idea has received funding assurance of up to Rs 2,000 crore from a promoter group entity, the company said in a regulatory filing on Monday.

The company has reported gross debt of Rs 2.11 lakh crore as on June 30, 2023.

"The Company has received a communication from a promoter group entity confirming that in the event of any fund requirement for meeting its impending payment obligations by the Company, it shall provide direct or indirect financial support to the extent of Rs 2,000 crore," Vodafone Idea said in the filing.

Vodafone Idea's consolidated net loss widened to Rs 7,840 crore in the first quarter ended June 30.

The company had posted a net loss of Rs 7,295.7 crore in the same period a year ago.

The consolidated revenue from operations during the reported quarter increased marginally by 2.3 per cent to Rs 10,655.5 crore from Rs 10,406.8 crore in the June 2022 quarter.

Also Read Vodafone Idea cuts ties with 25,000 retail partners to reduce costs Vodafone Idea expected to come up with revival plan within a month: Report Vodafone Idea zooms 10% amid report of Rs 14,000-crore fund raise plan Vodafone Idea likely to get extension to pay Q1 spectrum and licence fees In search of funding, Vodafone Idea dials KKR and Temasek Holdings HDFC Bank merger helped boost credit offtake to 19.7%: Care Ratings Supreme Court defers execution proceedings by Reliance Infra against DMRC Intuit executive Alex Chriss to become president and CEO of PayPal Tobacco-to-soap conglomerate ITC approves hotel business spin-off Adani Ports for minimum 50 yrs of concession period in PPP projects

VIL said it is in discussion with various network vendors for the finalisation of our 5G rollout strategy.
India is looking at Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) not only from the trade point of view but also keeping in mind the country's strategic needs, especially with regard to the smooth supply of critical minerals, a top government official said on Monday.

Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal said that India is now looking at FTAs from the point of view of what is the country's strategic needs in addition to trade.

For instance, batteries in electric vehicles require critical minerals. India is in talks with Australia for its smooth supplies.

South American nations of Peru and Chile also have huge reserves of the critical minerals.

India is looking at commencing negotiations for an FTA with Peru and Chile also has expressed interest for a trade pact.

"So, in addition to trade, now, we are looking at FTAs from the point of view of our strategic considerations. So, that is the fresh approach that we are taking in our FTAs," Barthwal told reporters here.

Also Read India, Peru to resume FTA talks to promote commerce, investment: Official 12th round of India, UK free trade agreement talks to begin from August 7 UK signs Trans-Pacific trade bloc, to get market access of 500 mn people Fire in south Peru gold mine kills at least 27 in night shift: Officials India, UK close to concluding FTA talks, working to iron out issues on IPRs CPI-based inflation surges to 7.44% in July on 11.51% retail food inflation President Murmu to launch new frigate 'INS Vindhyagiri' on Thursday Rupee slips to 10-month low on dollar strength, RBI likely capped losses Third of MPLADS amount undisbursed in 4 years of this Lok Sabha Global currency markets stabalises after yen hits lowest level since Nov

Normally in a trade agreement, two or more countries either significantly reduce or eliminate customs duties on a maximum number of goods traded between them. They Norms are also eased for facilitating trade in services and boost investments.

Securing a smooth supply of the critical minerals will help India in its energy transition.

Lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese and graphite are among the key minerals used in batteries.
India's vegetable oil imports increased by 46 per cent to 17.71 lakh tonnes in July this year on rise in palm oil shipments, industry body SEA said on Monday.

The country's vegetable oil imports stood at 12.14 lakh tonnes in the year-ago period, it said.

Similarly, during the first nine months of the 2022-23 oil year (November-October), the overall import of vegetable oils increased by 23 per cent to 122.54 lakh tonnes from 99.74 lakh tonnes in the same period last year.

Vegetable oil imports comprise both edible and non-edible oils.

According to the Solvent Extractors Association (SEA), edible oil imports rose 46 per cent to 17.55 lakh tonnes during July this year, when compared to 12.05 lakh tonnes in the year-ago period.

Non-edible oil imports too increased to 15,999 tonnes from 9,069 tonnes in the said period.

Also Read Vegetable oil imports up 21% to 8.1 MT in 6 months: Industry body SEA India's imports of sunflower oil to fall as Black Sea grain deal expires Soaring vegetable prices can tip delicate inflation balance: Economists Assam CM blames Miyas' for soaring vegetable prices; opposition slams Centre to come up with a single trade body to promote exports: Report Trade deficit widens to $20.67 bn in July compared to $20.13 bn in June Total cultivated area in Telangana up from 13 mn to 22 mn acres since 2014 India plans to seek its own rating, testing mechanism for DPIs, DPGs July WPI-based inflation comes at -1.36% as food prices skyrocket Samsung to get Rs 600 crore under PLI scheme for smartphones: Report

With sharp reduction in domestic prices of edible oils, "demand has returned which is evident from the rising import in spite of better domestic availability reflecting in July data", the SEA said.

Looking at the import of edible oils in the first three quarters, the industry body said it will not be surprised to see a "record" import of vegetable oils at 150 to 155 lakh tonnes in the current oil year ending October 2023.

India is sitting on huge stock for nearly 45 days requirements and supply chain will be comfortable during festival season, it added.

India imports palm oil mainly from Indonesia and Malaysia, and a small quantity of crude soft oil, including soyabean oil from Argentina. Sunflower oil is imported from Ukraine and Russia.
India and China on Monday held a fresh round of military talks with a focus on disengagement of troops in the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh and ease overall tensions in the region.

The 19th round of Corps Commander level dialogue took place at the Chushul-Moldo border point on the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the region, military sources said.

The Indian and Chinese troops are locked in an over three-year confrontation in certain friction points in eastern Ladakh even as the two sides completed disengagement from several areas following extensive diplomatic and military talks.

The talks began at around 9:30 am and they are continuing, the sources said.

The Indian delegation is headed by Lt Gen Rashim Bali, the Commander of the Leh-headquartered 14 Corps. The Chinese team was to be led by the commander of the South Xinjiang military district.

In the 18th round of the military dialogue that was held on April 23, the Indian side strongly pressed for resolving the lingering issues at Depsang and Demchok.

Also Read IAF airlifted over 68,000 soldiers to eastern Ladakh after Galwan clashes India, China agree to speed up Ladakh standoff resolution: Chinese ministry It remains very fragile: Jaishankar on situation at LAC in eastern Ladakh 'No commonly delineated in border areas' between India-China: RTI reply NSA Doval meets top Chinese diplomat in S Africa, discusses bilateral ties 4 dead, 9 missing as heavy rains lash U'khand, Chardham yatra suspended Telangana releases Rs 5,809 cr towards loan waiver of 900,000 farmers Govt saves Rs 2.73 trn in last 9 years by adopting DBT: FM Sitharaman Haryana notifies appointment policy for battle casualties' family members HP rain fury: Muted I-Day celebrations due to huge loss of life, property

Last month, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke on the need to stabilise bilateral relations at a dinner during the G-20 summit in Bali last year.

On July 24, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi on the sidelines of a meeting of the five-nation grouping BRICS in Johannesburg.

In its statement on the meeting, the MEA said Doval conveyed that the situation along the LAC in the western sector of the India-China boundary since 2020 had "eroded strategic trust" and the public and political basis of the relationship.

It said the NSA emphasised the importance of continuing efforts to fully resolve the situation and restore peace and tranquillity in the border areas so as to remove impediments to normalcy in bilateral ties.

India has been maintaining that its ties with China cannot be normal unless there is peace in the border areas.

The eastern Ladakh border standoff erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong lake area.

The ties between the two countries nosedived significantly following the fierce clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades.

As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process in 2021 on the north and south banks of the Pangong lake and in the Gogra area.
Himachal Pradesh has been the worst affected state in the country due to the floods and landslides with officials announcing a staggering loss of Rs 7020.28 crore due to the monsoon's devastating impact on Sunday.

The monsoon season commenced in Himachal Pradesh on June 24. According to the officials, the monsoon's toll stands at 257 lives lost due to a range of causes.

"Of the 257, 66 people lost their lives due to landslides and flash floods. 191 people lost their lives due to road accidents or other reasons. While 32 people are missing and 290 people have been injured", the officials informed.

Further, as per the official inputs, 1376 houses have been damaged in the state while 7935 houses have been partially damaged so far in the monsoon havoc.

"270 shops have been damaged amid monsoon and 2727 cow sheds have been damaged", the officials said.

According to the official data, the state so far witnessed 90 landslides and 55 flash flood incidents. While still nearly 450 roads including 2 National Highways are closed in the state. 1814 electricity supply schemes are still Hampered and 59 water supply schemes are still disrupted, the officials informed.

Also Read Hydropower in Himalayan states restart as floods recede but more rain looms IMD issues warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall in several Indian states Red alert sounded, major rivers in spate as Himachal braces for more rain Himachal rains: Death toll reaches 223, CM Sukhu monitors restoration work 20 flights cancelled, 120 delayed at Delhi airport amid heavy rains Heavy rains trigger landslides, block roads; schools shut in Himachal Getting dearer: After tomatoes, chana prices rise ahead of festival season 10,000 cops, facial recognition cameras part of I-Day security at Red Fort Congress demands wider consultations on Bills replacing criminal laws PM Modi changes social media DP to tricolour, urges people to do same

Meanwhile, in view of the incessant rains, the Himachal Pradesh government on Sunday informed that all educational institutions in the state will remain closed on August 14.

Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has taken this decision in view of the safety of the students due to heavy rains. On the orders of the Chief Minister, the Education Secretary has issued a notification to keep all government, private schools and colleges closed on August 14.

The Chief Minister also took feedback from all the District Collectors (DC) about the damage caused due to heavy rains in the districts. He also got information about the closure of the road routes.

He also learned about the damage caused by landslides and damage to houses.

The CM has instructed the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary as well as all DCs to keep a close watch on the situation created due to heavy rains. The administrative staff should be alert and maintain smooth arrangements for roads, electricity and water, he said.

Also, the Department of Education of the state issued a notification informing that all the ongoing examinations of Post Graduate classes including B.Ed exams scheduled on August 14 have been cancelled.

"This is for the information of all concerned and worthy Principals of colleges affiliated and maintained by HP University that keeping in view the incessant rains and inclement weather conditions in Himachal Pradesh, the University has decided to cancel all the ongoing examinations of Post Graduate classes including B. Ed. exams scheduled on August 14 only", the notification stated.

The landslides after heavy rains during the last few days in Himachal Pradesh's Shimla have created havoc in the city.

Houses in many areas face threat due to the landslides and the Shimla Municipal Corporation on Sunday issued a notice for vacation as a major landslide in the Himland area has caused a threat to the houses nearby.

"The landslides happened and the structure is loose and our preliminary observation is that it is not safe. Seven occupants are living here. We have issued an advisory to all seven occupants by way of notice serving to them and they have agreed and vacated. We have told them until the report for safety is not issued, this place is not safe to live, all have vacated," said Mahboob Sheiq, Architect Planner, Shimla Municipal Corporation.

A local resident said that they are feeling unsafe and are in a state of fear as India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted more rain in the region.

"It is because of the structure problem, the water discharge was not proper, it happened at around quarter to 6 AM. We have vacated the houses, the people from the administration have come and offered temporary shelters so far we will manage with our own arrangement," KC Katoch, a local resident said.

However, several roads, which were earlier blocked due to landslides and other rain-related incidents, in Himachal Pradesh's Solan district, have been re-opened for traffic, the district authorities said.

The list includes major roads along the National Highway-05, National Highway-205 and also that are near National Highway-907A.On NH-05, around 11 roads have been cleared and opened for traffic. However, on some of them, only one lane has been opened for vehicular movement. This includes Parwanoo-Datyar road; Datyar-Chakimore road; Chakimore-Jabli road; and Jabli-Dharampur road.

India Meteorological Centre in Himachal Pradesh has predicted that moderate to heavy rainfall is very likely to continue over the state.

According to the IMD statement, moderate to heavy rainfall at many places is very likely to continue over the state with very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places in the district of Chamba Kangra Hamirpur Mandi Bilaspur Solan Shimla Kullu and Sirmaur.

It further forecasted very heavy rainfall at many places and extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places in Beas, Ranjit Sagar and the Pong dam catchment area.

"Heavy rainfall at many places with very heavy rainfall at isolated places in Sutlej catchment area", IMD said in the statement.
India should be a permanent member of the UN Security Council and its G20 presidency is an appropriate recognition of its rise as a world power, influential US Congressman Ro Khanna said on Monday.

In an exclusive interview to PTI, Khanna said India can play a "helpful role" in bringing "just peace" to Ukraine considering its "historical relationship" with Russia.

The Indian-American Congressman, currently on a visit to New Delhi, also asserted that China must respect its borders with India and that Washington would strongly support New Delhi if it faces any security challenge.

Khanna and Congressman Michael Waltz, the two co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, are leading a Congressional delegation to India.

Describing India's G-20 presidency as "very consequential", Khanna said the country should be in the UN Security Council considering its rising global profile.

"India should be in the UN Security Council. Let's be very candid about it given the changes in the world's power and economy. So the fact that India is leading the G20 is an appropriate recognition of its rise as a world power," he said.

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Khanna emphasised that closer ties between India and the US in areas of defence and critical technologies will further cement the relationship.

"The India-US relationship has never been so stronger. It is building on defence cooperation, economic cooperation, technology cooperation, cooperation on climate," he noted.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US was a success. Our delegation is building on that. President (Joe) Biden comes here (India) in September. We are going to continue to make this as one of the most important relationships of the 21st century," he said.

President Biden is set to visit New Delhi next month to attend the G20 summit.

Referring to challenges facing both the US and India, the Congressman underlined the need for respecting the rights of minorities and protecting democratic values.

Asked about a recent report by the US State Department on religious freedom that criticised India for alleged attacks on minorities, Khanna said he stood by the report.

"We are both imperfect democracies. We have our challenges back at home. India has its challenges and the important thing is that we work towards minority rights, to have proper police capacity and police reforms so that everyone is treated equally, that we make sure that we celebrate all faiths and all people," he said.

"I work on that in the US and we need to work as good friends and good allies to make sure that that's happening in both the countries," he added.

The lawmaker also hailed growing India-US cooperation in the maritime security domain.

"I am very pleased to see that the Indian Navy is doing exercises with the American Navy to make sure that the Arabian Sea is safe for free shipping lines," he added.

On the Ukraine crisis, Khanna said Kyiv's sovereignty should be restored and there should be a ceasefire.

"There should be just peace in Ukraine and its sovereignty should be restored. There should be a ceasefire. I believe that the Indian government, given the historical relationship with Russia, can play a helpful role in getting to that just peace," he said.
India has started exporting potatoes to Guyana for the first time and the move will help in new markets for the country's shipments, a senior commerce ministry official said on Monday.

"Two containers of potatoes sourced directly from farmer producer organisation of Madhya Pradesh were exported to Guyana. It was a new product of export to a new market," Additional Secretary in the commerce ministry Rajesh Agrawal told reporters here.

Further, Agrawal said a mutual recognition agreement will be signed with Korea to promote trade of organic products and it is likely to be signed this year.
India's domestic air passenger traffic volume surged 25 per cent year-on-year to 1.21 crore passengers in July, according to DGCA data released on Monday.

The data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) showed that domestic carriers flew 97.05 lakh passengers in July 2022.

No-frills carrier IndiGo carried 76.75 lakh passengers, cornering a market share of 63.4 per cent during the reporting month.

Tata Group-owned Air India stood a distant second with the airline flying a total of 11.98 lakh passengers in July. It had a market share of 9.9 per cent for the month.

Vistara, which is a 51:49 joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, flew 10.20 lakh passengers on domestic routes in the previous month with a market share of 8.4 per cent, as per data.

Air India's subsidiary AirAsia India, which is now known as AIX Connect, saw 9.01 lakh passengers flying on the intra-country routes and accounted for 7.5 per cent of the total traffic during the reporting month.

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Akasa Air, which completed one year of its operations on 7th of this month once again flew more passengers than the established carrier SpiceJet at 6.24 lakh passengers in July with a market share of 5.2 per cent, according to DGCA data.

Struggling carrier SpiceJet transported 5.04 lakh passengers during July and had to contend with 4.2 per cent market share. The Gurugram-based airline, however, delivered the highest load factor at 88.9 per cent in July over June, as per data.

IndiGo also clocked the highest on-time performance for July with 86.8 per cent of its flights on an average departing or arriving on time at the four key airports-Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad, as per DGCA data.
The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has written a letter to Apurva Chandra, the new secretary in the Department of Telecommunication, to say that the 6 GHz band of spectrum should be allocated exclusively for mobile communication rather than WiFi or other uses.

COAI, which represents the three private telecom service providers, (TSPs) Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea, is making a renewed effort to oppose the proposed delicensing of the 6 GHz band. It has said that opening up the band for alternative uses would reduce the spectrum available for 5G and 6G, resulting in a government revenue loss.

Only 720 MHz of the 6GHz band, a prime mid-band spectrum, is available in India. COAI has said that the 6 GHz band is crucial for the successful deployment of 5G New Radio (the global standard for 5G wireless air interface), 5.5G (an evolution of the current 5G network), and future 6G.

"Wi-Fi services in India already have sufficient spectrum in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands (totaling 688 MHz) to meet the demand for Wi-Fi access in the 2025-2030 period," said COAI.

COAI said that if the entire 6GHz band is delicensed, the government wont be able to collect license fees from telecom companies. The governments mid-band (C band) spectrum auction in 2022 fetched a sale value of Rs 317 crore per MHz, indicating the financial implication of licensing.

The Broadband India Forum (BIF), which represents technology giant Google, Meta and Microsoft, and telecom equipment makers that include Ericsson, and Cisco, has called for the delicensing of the 6 GHz mid-band and making it available for WiFi.

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The government is studying which sector to reserve the spectrum for by setting up a committee under the Wireless Planning and Coordination wing of the Department of Telecommunications.

COAI has told the committee that mid bands like 6 GHz offer a balance between coverage and capacity, making them essential for rapid and cost-effective 5G deployment.

The BIF contends that licensing the band to telecom operators for 5G deployment would primarily limit use to outdoor scenarios. Telecom companies have said that they would need more towers and radios in urban areas without sufficient access to the 6 GHz band.
One common pattern in the technology sector, especially in consumer-facing businesses, is how these services scale up quickly in the absence of any regulatory oversight. This results in situations where it becomes difficult to undo unforeseen negative consequences of such businesses because of various factors, including heavy user dependence and difficulty in changing already-scaled business models.

Forced Aadhaar-based authentication of customers by private entities, data mining across industries in India and the unrestricted growth of the gig economy in the absence of social security measures are just a few such examples. There is also a need for an agile regulatory system that not only responds quickly to concerns arising from emerging technologies like AI and IoT, but also provides regulatory certainty to these industries, which attract significant investment and highly skilled talent.

Given the use of consumer data across industries such as healthcare, finance and education, there will be use cases with no apparent legal position in India, such as gene editing, commercial use of deep fakes (remember the Shahrukh Khan-Cadbury Diwali campaign from 2021?), facial recognition technology or the use of generative AI in educational institutes or creative industries. India would do well not to repeat what is currently happening with the online gaming industry or what happened earlier with the cryptocurrency industry two sectors that grew uncontrollably big in the shadow of regulatory uncertainty.

The Data Protection Board of India (DPBI), as proposed in the recently passed Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Bill, 2023, could play an essential role in bringing about regulatory agility and striking the right balance between regulation and innovation in a data-dependent digital economy. Unfortunately, the part of the DPBI has largely been restricted to a complaint resolution authority with very few powers.

Here are a few examples of regulatory innovations that could turn the DPBI into an effective regulator-

Advance rulings:

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There should be a legal provision to allow businesses to seek written opinions from the DPBI on whether a particular business practice or business model they intend to follow concerning personal data usage is legally permissible under Indian law. In this context, India already has a precedent in the Authority on Advanced Rulings established under the Central GST Act, which allows businesses to seek legally binding opinions on determining their tax liability for proposed transactions. A similar proposal was reportedly considered previously for the Belgian Data Protection Authority.

Suo motu powers to investigate a digital product/service and issue directions:

A great example in this context is the USAs Federal Trade Commission. Despite the lack of a national data protection law (though the USA has some sectoral laws), the FTC has investigated and issued directions/guidelines on a wide range of technology-related issues that impact consumers, including use of facial recognition technology and AI & algorithms, security measures by service providers dealing with sensitive personal data (such as health data) and data breaches. The FTC is an excellent example of what agility in a regulatory body looks like, where the regulator can take effective steps on its own by exercising broad powers; both Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) also have such powers. Unfortunately, similar powers have not been given to the DPBI.

Issuing opinions and guidance on best practices:

Data protection authorities actively issue guidance documents and advisories on how businesses can comply with applicable legal obligations. For example, the European Data Protection Board has released exhaustive guidelines explaining how companies need to implement users right to access their personal data from service providers and its limits and restrictions. Similarly, the Personal Data Protection Commission of Singapore has released guidelines explaining how a data protection impact assessment (DPIA) should be conducted. While both these obligations of providing users access to their data and conducting a

DPIA is also present in the DPDP Bill. The DPBI does not have any powers to issue guidelines or advisories.

Regulatory capacity and legal requirements:

The DPBI will need sufficient resources and skilled manpower to perform all of its functions, especially considering Indias massive user base. For example, though Irelands population is approx. 5.2 million (as per Census 2022), the Irish Data Protection Commission had 196 staff members at the end of 2022. Compare this to India, where only Delhis population is estimated to be more than 20 million. The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), which has been appointed as the appellate authority under the DPDP Bill, has a single bench of three members. It already hears cases related to telecom, broadcasting, AERA, cyber law and some Aadhaar-related matters. Unsurprisingly, it has 1,106 cases pending since January 2022, according to its website. Additionally, appointing the TDSAT as an appellate authority may not be sufficient to meet the composition-related requirements for quasi-judicial bodies as laid down in various Supreme Court judgements something that does notseem to be addressed in the DPDP Bill with respect to the DPIA.

From the governments perspective, an essential advantage of the above measures is that they will provide a sound legal foundation for implementing the DPDP Bill and for any decisions taken by the DPBI under the Bill. This can be especially helpful in Court cases on data protection-related issues and judicial review of the decisions of the DPBI.

While the DPDP Bill has already been passed in Parliament, this is just the beginning of a long journey; hopefully, these suggestions will be considered in future amendments to the DPDP Bill. India has enough regulatory experience and history to understand the limitations generally faced by regulatory and adjudicatory institutions. The rare instances where the government gets an opportunity to create a new regulatory institution through a statute should be utilised to not only address these limitations, but also create strong independent institutions with the required expertise and capacity to serve a nation of more than 1.4 billion people.

The author is a lawyer specialising in technology law and policy issues
Cho Hee-yeon, superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, speaks during a meeting with middle school teachers at the office in Seoul, Aug. 8. The meeting was held to listen to their difficulties. Yonhap



By Jun Ji-hye



The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education will launch a process to revise the student rights ordinance, which has been cited as one of the major factors infringing on teachers' rights, the education office announced Monday.



The office, led by progressive Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon, said it is working to revise the ordinance in such a way as to increase student accountability and better protect teachers' rights and their educational activities.



The move came after an elementary school teacher in her 20s ended her life inside her classroom in Seoul's Seocho District last month. The teacher's death triggered a torrent of speculation online that she suffered from constant harassment from the parents of some of her students.



The student rights ordinance was first enacted in 2010 by a progressive superintendent of education from Gyeonggi Province at the time and has since been enforced by seven regional education offices, including Seoul's.



The ordinance aims to view each student as an individual human being rather than a subject of control, banning corporal punishment and discrimination by teachers. Although it began with good intentions, it has faced criticism for only emphasizing students' wellbeing, while neglecting the rights and wellbeing of teachers.



"Respecting teachers' rights and complying with school regulations will be made mandatory in the revision," an official from the Seoul education office said.



The revision will also prohibit anyone from disrupting reasonable actions of teachers taken to teach and guide students. It will also forbid the use of physical and verbal violence against educators as well as students.



The office will collect opinions from teachers' groups and students regarding its envisioned revision before submitting it to the Seoul Metropolitan Council at the end of the year or early next year.



The office will push to enact a separate ordinance aimed at better protecting teachers from excessive and malicious complaints made by parents or in legal disputes.



This is in response to criticism that many educators across the country have been suffering from indiscriminate accusations of child abuse filed by parents or students. According to teachers' unions, most of these cases resulted from reasonable attempts to guide students, such as physically intervening to stop a fight with a classmate or telling a noisy student in class to be quiet.





A teacher sheds tears during a rally in central Seoul, Aug. 5, while listening to a statement read out by a grieving family member of the young teacher who took her own life in her classroom last month. Yonhap
The Congress on Tuesday cited a Comptroller Auditor General (CAG) of India report on the 'Bharatmala Pariyojana' highway projects to accuse the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government of corruption and said it is "taking the nation on a highway to hell".

The opposition party also asked if Modi will take responsibility for the "incompetence and corruption in the Bharatmala projects under his direct watch".

Citing the CAG report, Kharge said Modi should look within before harping on corruption by his political opponents.

"BJP's corruption and loot is (are) taking the nation on a highway to hell," Kharge said on X, formerly Twitter.

In a scathing report against the Modi government, he said, the CAG has pointed out that the 'Bharatmala Pariyojana' is being built with "innumerable deficiencies, non-compliance of outcome parameters, clear violation of tender bidding process and huge funding mismanagement".

Kharge said the CAG has exposed that the "cost of this project was originally estimated at Rs 528.8 crore but later zoomed to Rs 7,287.2 crore -- a whopping 1,278 per cent increase".

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"Dwarka Expressway was appraised and approved without any detailed project report. The planned toll rates shall hinder the recovery of capital cost of the project and result in undue financial burden on commuters," he said.

One of the stark examples of the "fraud" in this scheme is the Dwarka Expressway, he said.

Further, citing the report, the Congress leader said the lane configurations of the Dwarka Expressway were determined without analysing the development of nearby competing infrastructure and the construction was done with suboptimal specifications.

"Pradhan Mantri ji, you need to look within, before you harp about corruption against your opponents, because you are overseeing it yourself. In 2024, INDIA will make your government accountable," Kharge said.

Congress general secretary, communications, Jairam Ramesh also hit out at Modi.

"Tomorrow, the prime minister will unleash a torrent of lies from the ramparts of the Red Fort for one last time. Last week, the entire country saw his tsunami of lies in Parliament."



"But will he have the courage to question the corruption and incompetence of his own government and ministers," he asked.

Citing a series of CAG reports tabled in Parliament, Ramesh said even a "defanged" CAG has been able to "expose the sheer corruption and incompetence of the Modi government".

Highlighting the findings of the CAG reports, he said, the auditor has flagged an overall cost overrun of more than 100 per cent in the much-hyped 'Bharatmala Pariyojana'.

This project was approved and monitored by none other than the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) that is chaired by the prime minister, he said.

The sanctioned cost of the 26,316 km of highways that have been awarded was Rs 8,46,588 crore, as against the CCEA-approved length of 34,800 km at a cost of Rs 5,35,000 crore, he claimed.

This means that these projects were awarded at a cost of Rs 32.17 crore per km, more than double the cost of Rs 15.37 crore per km approved by the CCEA, he charged.

"Despite multiple cost overruns, only 13,499 km of national highways have been completed till 31 March 2023, less than 39 per cent of the CCEA-approved length.

"The CAG also raised concerns about the inflated project cost of the Dwarka Expressway, which went up 14 times from the sanctioned Rs 18 crore/km to Rs 250 crore/km," Ramesh said.

The Congress leader said the CAG has also highlighted irregularities in the Bharatmala bidding process successful bidders not fulfilling tender condition, bidders being selected on the basis of falsified documents, work awarded without approved detailed project reports or faulty DPRs and the diversion of funds to the tune of Rs 3,598.52 crore from escrow accounts.

"Will the Prime Minister take responsibility for this incompetence and corruption in the Bharatmala projects under his direct watch," Ramesh asked.

He said the CAG has uncovered violations of toll rules, with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) wrongly collecting Rs 132.05 crore from commuters in just five randomly audited toll plazas.

At the same time, the NHAI lost revenue of Rs 133.36 crore due to lack of provision for revenue sharing in concession agreements in two sections of NH projects, he said.

"If this audit were extrapolated to the whole country, the overall loss to the exchequer and the commuters would amount to lakhs of crores. Will the Prime Minister take action against the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways," the Congress MP asked.

Ramesh said the CAG has reported payouts to the dead in the "prime minister's favourite" Ayushman Bharat Scheme.

As many as 88,760 patients died during treatment and yet, 2,14,923 claims were shown as paid in respect of "fresh treatments" given to these dead "patients", he said citing another CAG report.

"Other than that, 7.5 lakh recipients were linked to a single mobile number and 4,761 registrations made against seven Aadhaar numbers. In total, there are more than 1.24 crore fake beneficiaries linked to only 1,86,855 mobile numbers. Will the Prime Minister order an investigation on who were the real beneficiaries of this massive Digital India scam in Ayushman Bharat," he asked.

The CAG, Ramesh said, has raised similar questions on irregularities in the Ayodhya Development Project and the diversion of old page pension funds under the National Social Assistance Programme for publicity of the Modi government's schemes instead.

"We demand answers from the Prime Minister, chuppi todiye, Pradhan Mantri ji (break your silence, prime minister)," he said.
A gunman opened fire Sunday night at a prominent shrine in southern Iran, killing one person and wounding eight others in an attack that followed another assault there months earlier, authorities said.

Officials offered no immediate motive for the attack in the city of Shiraz at Shah Cheragh, which draws Shiite pilgrims to its domed mosque and the tomb of a prominent member of the faith from its earliest days.

However, Iran has faced attacks in the past from the Sunni extremists of the Islamic State group, who view Shiites as heretics. Iran also faces lingering unrest and economic turmoil amid tensions with the West.

Iran's state-run IRNA news agency quoted Ismail Qezelsofla, a deputy governor for security in the country's Fars province, as offering the casualty toll.

Fars province Gov. Mohammad Hadi Imanieh told Iranian state television that a single gunman carried out the attack and later was detained by security forces. He did not offer any motive for the attack in his brief comments.

Footage after the attack showed security forces surround one entrance to the then-deserted courtyard of Shah Cheragh at sunset. Ambulances later took away the wounded as security forces and government officials reached the shrine.

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Shah Cheragh is one of Iran's top five Shiite shrines. It draws pilgrims to Shiraz, which is some 675 kilometres south of Iran's capital, Tehran.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

The attack Sunday night comes after an October 2022 attack on the same shrine killed 13 people and wounded dozens of others. The Islamic State group claimed the assault, which Iran said had been carried out by a man from Tajikistan, who later died in a hospital after succumbing to injuries he suffered while being detained by security forces.

Iran has backed Syria's embattled Bashar Assad during his country's civil war. It also fought Islamic State fighters both there and in Iraq.

The worst assault from Islamic State militants in Iran came in a June 2017 attack that killed at least 18 people and wounded more than 50 in Tehran as its gunmen stormed parliament and Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's mausoleum.

Khomeini led the 1979 Islamic Revolution that toppled the Western-backed shah to become Iran's first supreme leader until his death in 1989.
Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda will visit the US and China, towards the end of September.

Prachanda will first visit the US to participate in the 78th General Assembly of the United Nations, which is scheduled to take place towards the third week of September.

After his address to the UN General Assembly, Prachanda will leave for China, according to informed sources close to the prime minister.

Next, Prachanda will embark on a visit to Nepal's northern neighbour China as part of the Himalayan nation's delegation in the 19th Asian Games. He will meet high-ranking Chinese officials during the visit.

The prime minister will likely leave Kathmandu for New York on September 20, said PM's Press Coordinator Surya Kiran Sharma. However, the Foreign Ministry is yet to make a formal announcement of the visits.

Earlier this month, Foreign Minister N P Saud said the prime minister would pay an official visit to China towards the third or fourth week of September.

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"Preparations are almost complete for the prime minister's upcoming visit to China," Saud said while speaking at a Ministry of Foreign Affairs programme.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been busy preparing for the two visits.

Prachanda assumed office in December last year. The 68-year-old Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Centre (CPN-MC) leader visited India in June as his first foreign trip after assuming office for the third time.
Asia's largest airline by fleet size has locked in a new service from Guangzhou to Brisbane starting in November, representing the first direct flights to Queensland from mainland China since the pandemic.

It is estimated that the new China Southern Airlines route, starting with four non-stop services a week from 17 November with plans for daily flights within two years, will generate almost $441 million for the visitor economy over three years.

The new route is the 25th international service secured by the Queensland Government's $200 million Attracting Aviation Investment Fund (AAIF), with the announcement coming just after Brisbane Airport chief executive officer Gert-Jan de Graaff returned from personal negotiations with China Southern executives in Guangzhou.

"Currently more than half of Queenslands visitors from China are forced to fly via Sydney or Melbourne and the rest are coming via destinations like Singapore and Hong Kong," says de Graaff.

"Todays announcement will restore Queenslands direct connection to our most lucrative market.

"No single country has a bigger impact on Queenslands tourism industry as China. We welcome China Southern Airlines back to the BNE family, and the thousands of tourists who will follow, and the good jobs theyll support across Queensland."

The news follows the Chinese Government's announcement last week that it was lifting the pandemic suspension of its Approved Destination Status scheme, allowing travel agencies in China to book outbound group travel to Australia.

"The timing is perfect with the announcement on Thursday by the Chinese Government that it will allow travel agencies in China to book outbound group travel to Australia," adds de Graaff.

"This is good news from Surfers Paradise to the Great Barrier Reef, and all the way to the top of the brand-new Queens Wharf Sky Deck."

China was Queenslands biggest tourism earner before COVID-19, contributing $1.61 billion in overnight visitor expenditure. It has been the largest missing link in the international recovery since the pandemic cancelled direct flights in 2020.

China is also a significant source of international students for Queenslands biggest services export with 21,680 enrollments during 2022. However, the current number of passengers arriving from China is sitting at 12 per cent of 2019 levels.

"Securing China Southern from Guangzhou is a game changer, and an incredibly important step in rebuilding Queenslands international visitor economy after the pandemic," says Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe.

"China is crucial to Tourism and Events Queenslands Blueprint for growing an $11 billion international visitor economy on our runway to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The new route is also expected to be a boon for exporters, as this direct air-cargo channel supported shipments of 11,000 tonnes of food to China annually pre-pandemic. Since then, the majority of Queensland-grown produce sent to China has had to go via Melbourne or Sydney.

Queenslands top exports to China currently include chilled beef, seafood, provitamins and vitamins, beauty and make-up products and fresh produce.

"This is massive news for Queensland exporters with the volume of freight sent to China slumping since the loss of direct flights," says de Graaff.

"Now Queenslands rural producers and exporters will again have direct access to 1.4 billion customers across China and beyond."

Tourism and Events Queensland CEO Patricia O'Callaghan says this is news the tourism industry has eagerly been awaiting.

"Twice this year Ive travelled to China to meet with stakeholders and rally Team Queensland to ensure we not just re-establish this market but hopefully grow it," she says.

"We know how important this market is and will be working hard to put Queensland right at the top of the must do list.

"When Chinas borders opened earlier this year, we immediately kicked off the Queensland is Good to Go campaign to encourage travelers back and will partner with China Southern to drive demand."

This sentiment is echoed by Queensland Tourism Industry Council CEO Brett Fraser.

"It is great to be welcoming back direct flights between Guangzhou and Queenslands capital city. The return of these giants of aviation to our skies is a good sign of tourism confidence and revitalisation," Fraser says.

"Better connectivity and greater availability of direct flights makes Queensland a more appealing destination and gives us a competitive edge in a highly competitive global market."

Australia-China Business Council CEO Elizabeth Sullivan says the return of these flights is hugely important for facilitating two-way direct people-to-people links, particularly for those in the trade and investment space, and across the broader community, including in tourism and education.

"Behind all the trade and investment numbers are hundreds of Queensland companies and thousands of jobs across the state. These flights will make it so much smoother and easier for those wanting to do business or to travel to now visit Queensland and/or China," she says.

China Southern Airlines regional general manager Australia & NZ, Jason Sun, says the resumption of this route is a testament to the valuable support provided by the Queensland Government and Brisbane Airport.

"Through this collaboration, China Southern Airlines aims to further expand the Canton Route and, in turn, contribute to the influx of tourists from China as well as business and leisure travelers from other parts of the globe to Queensland," says Sun.

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), which says, "President Yoon Suk Yeol's wife Kim Keon Hee" in Korean and "The First Lady of The Republic of Korea" in English on its profile, remains protected, following one unverifiable account and has zero followers as of Monday.

The ministry "followed related procedures upon the judgment that the Twitter accounts of the president and first lady are exposed to many hacking risks and need official verification marks," a ministry official said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed, Monday, that the ministry had asked X, formerly Twitter, to apply the gray checkmark on Kim's account following a request from the presidential office.

First lady Kim Keon Hee is once again mired in a controversy due to the official verification of her social media account.





According to a report by The Korea Times' sister paper Hankook Ilbo, Sunday, the presidential office requested the ministry's cooperation in obtaining the gray checkmark for Kim's account in May.







X initially declined the request, citing Kim's civilian status. However, the ministry made multiple requests to apply the gray checkmark on Kim's account, mentioning the case of American first lady Jill Biden (

) who has over 4.3 million followers and has a gray checkmark.







X applies three color-coded visual identifications on verified account profiles. The blue checkmark is given to a user on a monthly paid subscription to X Premium and gold indicates an official organization or business account, while the gray checkmark represents a government or multilateral organization or official.







Such government individuals eligible for the gray checkmark include "heads of state, deputy heads of state, national-level cabinet members or equivalent, the main official spokesperson for the executive branch or equivalent, and individual members of all chambers of the supranational or national congress, parliament or equivalent," according to X's guidelines. French First lady Brigitte Macron runs her X account without such a verification.







The issue immediately triggered debate from the opposition parties.







"It is hard to understand why the foreign ministry needs to interfere in creating a Twitter account for not even the president, but the president's wife," Ann Gwi-ryeong, a spokesperson of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) said, Sunday.







"Before coveting the gray checkmark, Kim should look back on many allegations and controversies surrounding her, including the forgery of her academic and professional background, thesis plagiarism and stock manipulation."







In response to Ann's statement, the ruling conservative People Power Party's (PPP) Lee Min-chan refuted this, saying that the government's help regarding the first lady's external activities is rational and argued that, "Kim's activities embracing the socially vulnerable  could be considered a diplomatic activity that elevates the country's status," if they become more widely known via social media.







As a presidential candidate, Yoon spoke against providing special legal treatment for first ladies and abolished the office established in 1972 that had supported presidential spouses after stepping into his office last year.


People walk past Seodaemun Prison History Hall in western Seoul, Monday, a day before National Liberation Day which falls on Aug. 15. Newsis



By Lee Hyo-jin



As Korea commemorates the 78th National Liberation Day, Tuesday, debates have reignited over which year should be viewed as the founding year of the nation, a topic that has long been a source of ideologically driven disputes.



Liberal politicians and scholars regard 1919, when the government-in-exile was set up in Shanghai, China, as the year the country was founded. They view that the interim government undertook administrative, diplomatic and military activities to gain independence from Japan's colonial rule in 1945, and thus serves as the basis for today's Korea.



On the other hand, conservatives support the notion that the founding year is 1948, when the internationally recognized government under inaugural President Syngman Rhee was established. This stance has been upheld by the New Right, a group of right-wing conservative historians.



The controversy over the country's founding year was first triggered in 2006 by then Seoul National University economics professor Rhee Young-hoon, who wrote a column in the local daily DongA Ilbo. He claimed that Korea needs to designate a "Foundation Day," saying that the "true light" came to the Korean people on Aug. 15, 1948, with the formation of the inaugural government.



The years-long debate was brought up again after Lee Jong-chan, head of the Heritage of Korean Independence, a state-funded association of independence fighters, asserted that 1919 is the "inaugural year" of Korea.





Lee Jong-chan, head of the Heritage of Korean Independence, delivers a speech during a ceremony dubbed "Korean identity proclamation ceremony," in Seoul, Aug. 3. Newsis



"The Heritage of Korean Independence should rectify the nation's identity. 1919 is the inaugural year of the Republic of Korea," he said in his inaugural speech on June 22. "Through the spirit of independence, Korea was able to successfully transform into a donor country from a recipient nation of international aid. We should be proud of it."






One Pearl Bank

Perched atop the verdant Pearls Hill City Park, One Pearl Bank is set to be the tallest residential development in the Outram-Chinatown district in Central Singapore. One Pearl Bank is an experience of what life at the top has to offer, with heritage, nature and urban living together as one.
Published On Aug 14, 2023 04:45 PM By Rohit for MG Hector

Its Indonesian counterpart  called the Wuling Almaz  has a whole new design language for the front fascia

MG Hector/Hector Plus duo is sold as the Wuling Almaz in Indonesia.

It was revealed in a facelifted avatar at the recent Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS).

The SUVs fascia now houses a redesigned air dam with chrome embellishments.

Its cabin layout is identical to that of the 2021 MG Hector, but with an all-black theme.

Features on board include a panoramic sunroof, a vertically oriented touchscreen, and a 360-degree camera.

Offered with 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and 2-litre strong-hybrid powertrain options.

The MG Hector and MG Hector Plus duo is available in multiple markets across the globe with different nameplates, including the Wuling Almaz in Indonesia. The SUV has now been given a major overhaul in the South Asian country and was showcased at the recently held Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS).

Whats Part Of The Update?

As if the India-spec Hector isnt bold enough, its Indonesian version now gets a more radical front fascia. The Indonesian carmaker has replaced the SUVs huge grille and headlight clusters with a closed off portion (as seen on EVs) sporting the Wuling logo at the top. The rest of the front bumper gets chrome-finished triangular embellishments (last row is blue on the Hybrid version) and LED headlights. It still has a small air dam in the centre near the bottom of the front end.

The only change made to the sides of the SUV is a fresh set of alloy wheels. At the back, the Almaz features a gloss black bar with the Wuling badge connecting the new taillights. The carmaker has also redesigned the rear bumper, now sporting a chrome strip.

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A Familiar Interior

For those well acquainted with the 2021 Hector, the new Wuling Almaz interior will seem quite familiar (with an all-black theme and contrasting blue stitching for the hybrid version). The cabin layout is identical, with the big vertically stacked touchscreen taking centre stage.

Features on board include a panoramic sunroof, push-button start/stop, a digital driver display, and an Infinity sound system. Its safety tech comprises a 360-degree camera, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), electronic parking brake, and multiple airbags.

A Hybrid Setup Under The Hood

The Indonesia-spec Hector (Almaz) is provided with two engine options: a 140PS 1.5-litre turbo-petrol unit and a 2-litre strong-hybrid engine. Both are only available with an automatic gearbox: CVT for the former, and e-CVT for the latter.

Meanwhile, the India-spec MG Hector gets 1.5-litre turbo-petrol (143PS/250Nm) and 2-litre diesel (170PS/350Nm) engine options. While a 6-speed manual is offered as standard, the petrol can also be had with an optional 8-step CVT, both sending all power to the front wheels. Even if MG does bring the design update, no changes are expected for the powertrain options for the Hector SUVs.

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MG Hector Prices And Rivals

The India-spec Hector is sold in multiple seating configurations  five, six and seven  with the latter two offered under the Hector Plus name. MG retails the Hector range from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 23.58 lakh (ex-showroom pan-India). The 5-seat Hector goes up against the Tata Harrier, Jeep Compass, Mahindra XUV700 and Mahindra Scorpio N. Its 3-row version, meanwhile, takes on the Tata Safari, Mahindra XUV700 (7-seater) and Hyundai Alcazar.

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Independence Day 2023: Top Wishes and Messages to Share

On August 15, 2023, India will commemorate the 77th anniversary of its independence by marking the time when, after around 200 years of colonial British control, India regained its freedom.

Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will be hoisting the National Flag at the iconic Red Fort and will deliver the speech, followed by wishes to the countrymen. The 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' celebrations, which began with an address by PM Modi from Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on March 12, 2021, will come to an end on this year's Independence Day.

So, let us go through some of the top wishes and messages on the eve of Independence Day:

Independence Day 2023 Wishes :

Happy and joyous 77th Independence Day to you! Let's rejoice in the freedom for which our warriors struggled so valiantly.

On this auspicious day, may you be filled with the spirit of solidarity and patriotism. Kudos to our 77th Independence Day!

Let's keep in mind the sacrifices that brought us to this day as we fly the flag high. Happy Independence Day 2023!

Many congratulations on our 77th Independence Day! Let's keep working towards growth, stability, and prosperity for our country.

We hope that this Independence Day will motivate us to do our part to advance our nation.

Cheers to our 77th Independence Day! Happy Independence Day on this very important day. Jai Hind!

All fellow Indians, Happy Independence Day. Jai Hind!

We honor our history, the bravery of individuals who wear uniforms, and the freedom fighters who gave their all to preserve our independence today. Happy Independence Day!

Greetings from the bottom of my heart on this 77th Independence Day! Jai Hind!

I want to wish you a very happy Independence Day. May the tricolor continue to soar even higher till it touches the sky. May more glory come in the future. Jai Hind!

Independence Day 2023: Happy Independence Day Messages:
This image of a lioness located in a forest in Goryeong, 233 kilometers southeast of Seoul, was provided by fire authorities. Yonhap



A lioness was shot dead Monday about an hour after escaping from a private tourist animal farm in the southern county of Goryeong, officials said.



The animal broke out of its cage at the farm in Goryeong, 233 kilometers southeast of Seoul, at 7:24 a.m. About an hour later, police and officials located the animal in a forest next to the farm and shot it to death, officials said.



The county government had earlier sent an emergency text message alerting residents to the escape and sent police and fire authorities to locate the loose animal.



The farm was designated by Goryeong as a tourist animal farm in February last year. The farm obtained a license to raise only cattle, not lions, but had been supposedly raising the lioness illegally, officials said.



"Even residents in the area or the head of the village didn't know the farm was secretly raising the lioness," a county official said, adding the county is looking into the circumstance.





The photo provided by local fire authorities shows the dead lioness. Yonhap
Which Country Observes 15th August as Mourning Day?

It is very well said that a coin has two sides. The day of August 15 is a day of celebration and patriotic fervor in India. While the same day is observed as Mourning Day in Bangladesh. 15th August is a remarkable day in the history of India that is representative of the independence of the country after the stern freedom struggle. The National Mourning Day of Bangladesh is observed as it commemorates the demise of the 'Father of the nation' of Bangladesh.

India Celebrating August 15 as 'Independence Day':

Every year on August 15, Indian Independence Day is observed to celebrate the day in 1947 when India finally overthrew British colonial control after a protracted and brutal battle. Prominent individuals including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, and many others were in charge of the independence movement.

On this day, the Indian Prime Minister addresses the country while hoisting the flag atop the Red Fort in New Delhi. Dignitaries, government representatives, and the general population all attend the event. Following the raising of the flag, different patriotic events, parades, and cultural programs take place all around the nation.

India celebrates Independence Day as a national holiday with great fervor and pride. The national flag and other patriotic symbols are displayed in people's homes, workplaces, and places of education. To inform the younger generation about the importance of the day and the sacrifices made by liberation fighters, rituals, and events are frequently held in schools, colleges, and other institutions.

The day acts as a remembrance of the hardships and sacrifices undertaken by the Indian people to obtain freedom and self-government. As a nation, India should be honored for its variety and togetherness on this special day. It is a day dedicated to recognizing the country's diversity, togetherness, and rich cultural legacy.

Bangladesh Observes August 15 as 'National Mourning Day':

Every year on August 15th, Bangladesh observes National Mourning Day to remember the death of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the nation's First President. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, known as the "Father of the Nation" in Bangladesh, was the nation's first President and later Prime Minister. He was a key figure in the fight for independence from Pakistan.

In Bangladesh, August 15th is recognized as National Mourning Day. It is a day of commemoration for Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's 1975 murder of the majority of his family members, who was the founding figure of Bangladesh and its first president. This sad occurrence is also known as the "August 15th Tragedy" or the "Coup of 1975."

Tragically, a military coup on August 15, 1975, that killed Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the majority of his family members caused political unrest and instability in the nation. On National Mourning Day, a number of solemn ceremonies, events, and remembrances are held to pay tribute to his memory and the sacrifices he made for the country's independence.

The national flag is flown at half-mast on National Mourning Day, and there are special prayers, remembrances, and events held all around the nation. To pay their respects, people also go to the Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Mausoleum in Tungipara. As the country remembers its leader and the ideas he stood for, the day is characterized by a solemn and reflective mood.

National Mourning Day is not only a day of reflection and remembrance but also a time to reaffirm the commitment to upholding the principles and values that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman stood for, including democracy, justice, and human rights.
The state's medical colleges will begin offering MBBS programs in Hindi this month, according to Dhan Singh Rawat, the minister of health and education, who made the announcement on Friday.

According to him, Uttarakhand would introduce such an initiative after Madhya Pradesh as the second state in the nation. Before the end of August, Mansukh Mandaviya, the Union Health Minister, has agreed to formally commence the MBBS programs in Hindi at the medical institutions in Uttarakhand, according to Rawat.

He continued by saying that a committee of professional doctors established by the state government created the syllabus for the Hindi courses after studying the Madhya Pradesh model and finalizing it for the medical institutions in Uttarakhand.

The Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna University of Medical Education received the syllabus from an expert panel, according to the Uttarakhand minister, who also confirmed that all requirements for its introduction have been met.

He continued, "It will be a big gift for the students who have used Hindi as their educational language."

To officially inaugurate the MBBS programs in Hindi in Uttarakhand and to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for an AIIMS, Rishikesh satellite center in Udham Singh Nagar, Rawat had traveled to Delhi. He said that Mandaviya had authorized him to attend both events.
Mitsubishi has named its new compact crossover the Xforce. Rolling out for the Indonesian market first, but confirmed for the Philippines as...
China, Angola hold meeting on economic, trade cooperation

Xinhua) 14:00, August 14, 2023

Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao (L) and Angolan Minister of State for Economic Coordination Jose de Lima Massano are pictured during the Second Meeting of the Steering Commission for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Angola, in Luanda, the capital of Angola, on Aug. 13, 2023. (Photo by Julio Kikebu/Xinhua)

LUANDA, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Second Meeting of the Steering Commission for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Angola was held Sunday in Luanda, the capital of Angola.

During the meeting, co-chaired by Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao and the Minister of State for Economic Coordination of Angola Jose de Lima Massano, both countries jointly announced the conclusion of negotiations on the China-Angola Bilateral Investment Agreement and exchanged views on pragmatic cooperation in various areas, including trade, investment, infrastructure, industrial development, and human resources.

Wang said that under the strategic leadership of the leaders of both countries, the economic and trade cooperation between China and Angola has yielded fruitful results. China is prepared to collaborate in strategizing for the upcoming phase of bilateral economic and trade cooperation, enhancing the scope of trade and investment cooperation, strengthening the achievements in infrastructure partnership, and broadening engagement across sectors such as energy, mining, manufacturing, agriculture, and fisheries.

He also highlighted the goal of fostering high-quality development in bilateral economic and trade cooperation and infusing new energy into advancing the strategic partnership between China and Angola.

Massano said that China is a dependable partner for economic and trade cooperation for Angola. The Angolan side is eager to work hand in hand with China to strengthen further pragmatic cooperation in the economy and trade between Angola and China.

Angola welcomes more Chinese companies to invest and establish themselves in Angola, actively participate in Angola's economic diversification process, and continuously deepen the China-Angola strategic partnership, Massano said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)


Allies should engage NK via dialogue and diplomacy



By John Burton



When the USS Kentucky last month made the first port visit by a U.S. nuclear submarine to South Korea in 40 years, it was sailing into dangerous waters. The Korean Peninsula may now be closer to a conflict than at any other time since 1994, when U.S. President Bill Clinton was contemplating an air strike against North Korea's Yongbyon nuclear facility.



Start with North Korea's actions. Pyongyang continues to build up a formidable nuclear and missile arsenal. The centerpiece of its recent test program is the Hwasong-18, its first solid-fuel missile capable of reaching the U.S. The missile can be launched with little warning and gives North Korea a first or second-strike capability, potentially undermining the U.S. nuclear retaliation.



In addition, North Korea may soon conduct its seventh nuclear test, which is expected to focus on achieving the miniaturization of a nuclear warhead able to fit on a missile. This is seen as the last vital step in completing its nuclear arsenal.



In conducting a record number of missile tests last year, North Korea appears intent on improving their operational readiness as well developing a wide range of missiles, including those intended for tactical nuclear use on the battlefield in South Korea.



Meanwhile, North Korea appears to be enjoying its best relations with China and Russia in years. Pyongyang is one of Moscow's closest allies in the invasion of Ukraine and is said to be providing artillery shells and other weaponry to Russia. China also views North Korea as a useful ally as Sino-American relations deteriorate.



The days when Russia and China supported additional U.N. sanctions against North Korea for its nuclear program are over. They now seem willing to help Pyongyang to evade existing sanctions. This should help North Korea recover from the problems caused by its strict COVID-19 control measures. Its strict border lockdown resulted in food shortages, for example. But there are signs that North Korea is now receiving food supplies and other vital goods from China and Russia.



President Yoon Suk Yeol is matching North Korea's aggressive stance with his own hawkish policy. In the past year, he has completely dismantled the policy of reconciliation toward Pyongyang championed by his successor, Moon Jae-in. Instead of inter-Korean summits, a common feature of Moon's administration, there is now radio silence between the two capitals.



Even before Yoon came to power in May 2022, several developments had already weakened any reconciliation efforts. One was the collapse of denuclearization negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang in 2019. This was followed by North Korea's total shutdown in 2020 in reaction to the global pandemic.



Seoul's emphasis is now on military measures. It recently held the largest joint military exercises with the U.S. in years. In response to South Korea's suggestions that it might develop its own nuclear weapons, Washington agreed to set up a bilateral group to consult on the possible use of U.S. nuclear weapons in the case of war.



Yoon's North Korea policy is exemplified by his appointment of Kim Yung-ho, a hawkish academic, as head of the Ministry of Unification, which has served as a useful backchannel to Pyongyang for more than 50 years..



The absence of dialogue across the DMZ is deeply troubling, particularly when the two Koreas are engaged in a saber-rattling war of words. It is such conditions that make the possibility of even an unintentional war more likely.



It might be time for the Biden administration to intervene and conduct a more forceful North Korea policy based on diplomacy rather than engaging in an arms race. The collapse of the talks between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un in 2019 has led to distrust on both sides. Washington has stuck to its demands that denuclearization should be the basis for future talks, although that is increasingly unrealistic. Pyongyang believes that it is in a stronger position than ever due to support from Russia and China.



Washington's engagement with Pyongyang has reduced the chances of conflict in the past. Having gone to the brink of war with North Korea in 1994, the Clinton administration suddenly reversed course and started a bilateral dialogue that lasted for eight years and brought at least some stability to the Korean Peninsula.



Restarting dialogue now will be admittedly difficult, given its absence over the last four years. Although the Biden administration has said it is willing to engage in negotiations with Pyongyang "without preconditions," it is undercutting its message by building up its military capability in Northeast Asia.



Will Biden be willing to break the impasse by taking a bold step of making an unilateral concession to North Korea and, for example, scaling back U.S. military deterrence measures? The alternative is looking increasingly grim.





John Burton (johnburtonft@yahoo.com), a former Korea correspondent for the Financial Times, is a Washington, D.C.-based journalist and consultant. He is a columnist and guest editorial writer of The Korea Times.




By Deauwand Myers



After the American Civil War, all states with enslaved populations of African descent (the Confederacy) were forced to free those populations (except in Texas, where the enslaved were informed of their hard-fought freedom later than in other states). On June 19, 1865, 2,000 Union troops entered Galveston Bay, Texas. The Union Army declared that the more than 250,000 enslaved people in the state of Texas were emancipated by order of the president (President Lincoln, at the time).



In the United States, this day is celebrated as a federal holiday called "Juneteenth." Juneteenth is a combination of the words "June" and "nineteenth," the day the last group of slaves was officially freed. Long before this official holiday was observed (a holiday ushered in by President Biden), there was an alternative term for Juneteenth, one that simply means joy. They called it "Jubilee."



There is a similar national holiday in Korea on this very day, Aug. 15, a day called "Gwangbokjeol," which, loosely translated, means "the day the light returned" or "bringing back the light." I would say the day the light returned would be a joyful moment indeed. The official name for this national holiday is the National Liberation Day of Korea. Interestingly, this holiday is also celebrated in North Korea.



I will explain. From 1910 to 1945, the entire Korean Peninsula was annexed and essentially made a part of Imperial Japan. There was no "north" or "south" Korea back then, as this was before the Korean War, where, upon its conclusion, the peninsula was bifurcated into the communist North and the democratic South (although, in truth, Korea was not a real democracy until the 1990s; before that, it was ruled by a string of brutal dictators, like Park Chung-hee and Chun Doo-hwan).



Under Imperial Japan's rule, Korean citizens experienced an ever-increasing amount of brutality and cultural genocide at the hands of Imperial Japan and Korean collaborators. Japanese names, the Japanese language, Japanese customs and even styles of dress and hair were forced upon Korean citizens in an attempt, ostensibly, to make Koreans Japanese in all but name. There is actually an official term for this process if you can believe it.



"Japanization" is a concerted effort wherein Japanese culture assimilates, dominates or deeply influences other cultures deemed "lesser," invariably in an undemocratic and often violent way. If one looks this word up in a dictionary, like the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, one will find that the term "Japanize" means "to make or become Japanese in form, idiom, style or character." During the brutal expansion of Imperial Japan's empire in the early 1900s, many nations under Japan's rule experienced this process.



Imperial Japan started to industrialize the Korean Peninsula through forced labor (which is a euphemism for what it truly was, modern-day slavery). The forced labor and labor camps therein were often dangerous and deadly, and as World War II heated up and Imperial Japan joined the Axis Alliance with Nazi Germany and fascist Italy, these conditions worsened.



How Korea was annexed by Japan is a fascinating, complex and bloody affair with many chapters including the regicide. Queen Min, posthumously named Empress Myeongseong, was against closer ties to Japan, and on Oct. 5, 1895, a pro-Japan group of elite soldiers overcame royal guardsmen, entered Gyeongbok Palace, the royal palace, and assassinated her, to the shock and outrage of the world. The annexation also saw attempted coups, double agents, high treason, espionage, peasants turned generals commanding thousands of troops to fight against Imperial Japan, military police forces and the like.



But suffice it to say, unlike some other forced annexations in history, Imperial Japan's takeover of the Korean Peninsula was done by degrees over a period of years, with increasingly unequal treaties, culminating with the death knell of Korean autonomy with the treaty of 1910.



In May 1910, Japanese War Minister Terauchi Masatake was tasked with finalizing Japan's control over Korea.



By this time, Japan established hegemony over all Korean domestic politics. And on Aug. 22, 1910, Japan annexed the Korean Peninsula with the JapanKorea Treaty of 1910 signed by Ye Wanyong, then prime minister of Korea, and Masatake, who became the first Japanese governor-general of Korea. The treaty eliminated all royal power and remanded that power to the Japanese state. It formally declared Korea to be part of the Japanese empire in no uncertain terms.



I think the reason why so many black people and Korean people sing and act and write so well is because of a long history of blood and struggle for freedom against daunting odds. So just like I celebrate Juneteenth with fervor, Koreans, in Korea and abroad, really should do the same. It's your Jubilee.





Deauwand Myers (deauwand@hotmail.com) holds a master's degree in English literature and literary theory, and is an English professor outside of Seoul.




Lotte Home Shopping hosts sell health foods on its home shopping channel, April 27. Courtesy of Lotte Home Shopping





By Kim Jae-heun







Major TV home shopping channels saw their bottom lines deteriorate further in the second quarter due to rising transmission fees paid to broadcasters and sluggish sales of profitable products such as furniture and home appliances, according to company officials, Sunday.







Among others, Lotte Home Shopping suffered its largest drop in sales during the period, affected by the government's six-month ban of its broadcasting between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m. starting in February this year.







The business suspension had been imposed during the early morning hours due to a violation of the Broadcasting Act in December 2022. However, Lotte managed to avoid a deficit.







Its sales between April and June decreased year-on-year by 15.2 percent to mark 231 billion won ($173.4 million), while its operating profit plunged 92.8 percent to stand at 2 billion won.







"Our operating profit fell largely due to the worsening business environment such as a decreasing number of TV viewers and the suspension of business (in the morning time). We expect our performance in the second half to improve by resuming early morning broadcasts and strengthening product competitiveness," a Lotte Home Shopping official said.







Hyundai Home Shopping's revenue also decreased 12.5 percent year-on-year to register 264.8 billion won during the same period, due to the reduced broadcasting composition of high-margin service sales such as television rentals and furniture installation.







In addition, Hyundai's operating profit fell by 70.3 percent to 8 billion won, affected by increased costs brought mainly about by the transmission fee. The transmission fee refers to the amount that home shopping companies pay broadcasters every year in exchange for TV channel assignments. Local home shopping firms argue that the proportion of transmission fees paid to broadcasters accounts for nearly 60 percent of their expenses currently.







GS Retail's home shopping channel GS SHOP is not in a good position either.







Both its sales and operating profit in the second quarter of this year declined 12.5 percent and 15 percent, respectively, to mark 286.3 billion won and 27.3 billion won. Yet, GS SHOP managed to maintain its operating profit rate at 9.5 percent during the same period, which is the highest among the four major companies: CJ OnStyle (5.4 percent), Hyundai Home Shopping (3 percent) and Lotte Home Shopping (0.8 percent).







CJ OnStyle did better. While its competitors' operating profits fell by two digits, only CJ's fell by one digit.







CJ OnStyle's sales decreased year-on-year by 1.7 percent to 345.7 billion won, and its operating profit declined 4.2 percent to mark 18.7 billion won.


Ever since the last passenger train pulled out of the Terminal Station aka The Chattanooga Choo Choo (soon to be a secondary part of the complex which is becoming a national hotel chain) in the late 1960s prognosticators have predicted the return of the former glory days to non I-24/I-75 traffic jams that occur on a daily basis.

Although the Union Station is now the site of the Tallan Financial Center/UBS Bank and no tracks run out of the home of the Glen Miller world famous song from the movie Sun Valley Serenade in 1941 they anticipate using the existing freight lines of CSX and Northrop Southern Railroads. Based on prior historical data the railroads are not the easiest entities to work with to rearrange their travel schedules to accomodate passenger trains.

However freight railroads are required by the Rail Passenger Services Act of 1970 to allow Amtrak to use their tracks. Additional usage, safety issues and responsibility for accidents, etc. may all present additional issues that will arise.

However the Tennessee Department of Transportation on July 3, 2023 recommended in a state report to study the feasibility of establishing the proposed Nashville to Atlanta route.

The Tennessee Journal, the weekly newsletter on Tennessee government and politics, in Vol. 49, No. 26, on July 7, 2023 projects a cautious and slightly optimistic outlook on the latest effort to bring back some rolling traffic relief and chance for onboard liquid refreshments unless the Tennessee General Assembly enacts a tough R.U.I. (Riding Under Influence) law.

A potential problem expressed by a local legislator stated.  If and when federal dollars become available for new rail lines to accommodate passenger service we need to be prepared for Tennessee to be a part of the planning and implementation.

(It may be ready on a time line similar to the new Chickamauga Dam lock on the Tennessee River!)

* * *

You can reach Jerry Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com
Police told a woman on Strawberry Lane an anonymous person had called and said there was a disorder going on at this location. The woman said she and another woman got into a verbal altercation. She did say she got hit by a potted plant but she was not in fear for her life. She said the other woman was just throwing the plant, she was not throwing the plant at her. The other woman refused to talk to police, and the first woman said she was leaving the residence.

* * *

A man told police he was on N. Access Road because of the scrap that is dumped there. He was clean shaven and didnt appear to be the correct height as his license said. The man, however, provided a Social Security number that matched the ID he gave police, and the truck was registered to him as well. The officer told the man that, although it is a dump site, it doesnt give him permission to come after hours and retrieve the scrap. He would have to go through the scrap yard for that.

* * *

An officer responded to a suspicious vehicle on E. 43rd Street. The anonymous caller wanted police to make sure the vehicle was not stolen. An officer ran the VIN that was parked in an empty lot and it came back as not stolen. It didnt have a tag. The officer saw what looked to be various car parts inside of it.

* * *

A man on Akins Drive told police his security camera alerted him to a trespasser, a black male, thin, entering his property and picking up his son's mini motorcycle from the side of his residence. When the man exited the front door and confronted the man, he dropped the motorcycle at the edge of the lawn and sprinted toward the far end of the street. Two other lookouts across the street ran with him. The video didnt provide any facial footage or identification of the suspects. The man said the bike cost $700.

* * *

Police were dispatched to Churchill Road by an anonymous complainant. The complainant said there was a white vehicle at the end of this road with someone sitting in it. They were concerned because there had allegedly been break-ins in the area recently. When police arrived, a white Toyota sedan was seen but left before police could turn around on the narrow road and make contact. It appeared to be occupied by a white male with longer brown hair.

* * *

A woman on Poplar Street Court wanted her neighbor to move her vehicle back so she could access the handicap parking spot. The neighbor came out and moved her vehicle. Moments later, the woman came in about loud noises coming from her neighbors house. An officer spoke with the neighbor and she said she was just cleaning up.

* * *

Police were called to an apartment complex on Pineville Road where a white man was passed out behind the wheel of a white SUV. Police spoke with the man who was awakened. He didnt appear intoxicated, and consented to HGN, which did not indicate intoxication by a depressant. He said he had been trying to drive home to Fort Payne after visiting his brother in one of the apartments, but was tired. While speaking with him, he appeared to become increasingly alert as if he was waking. The officer recommended that he rest at his brothers apartment and drive home after he felt well rested.

* * *

An employee of Mirandas at 2025 Broad St. told police as he was getting ready to close the store two white females with face tattoos walked into the business. He noticed one of the females took several pieces of clothing from the rack and headed towards the exit. Before he could tell them to put the merchandise back, the two females passed the point of sale and exited the store. They then got into a black GMC Sierra, which was driven by a black female, and left. The employee said there was camera security footage but would have to speak to his manager the next day to view it. Police said he could call back once he gets the footage or any other information and it can be added to the report. Approximately $120 of clothing was taken.

* * *

A woman told police she was being followed by a vehicle all the way from Ooltewah to Hamilton Place Mall, to Chestnut Street and W. Main Street. The woman said she had video footage of it and of the vehicle tag. An officer watched the videos, and found no proof of her being followed.

* * *

A woman on Brainerd Road said another car hit her car and then fled. She needed a report made for insurance purposes.

* * *

The manager of Dollar General at 7345 Lee Hwy. told police a black male and black female were in her store stuffing items in a backpack. She confronted the man holding the backpack and he left it behind. There was $146 of merchandise inside it. The woman purchased a few items but the alarm sounded when she walked out. Upon review of cameras, the manager found the woman stuffing items into her purse. It is unknown what she stole or how much it was valued at. They left in a small gray sedan.

* * *

A woman on 5th Avenue told police her neighbors vehicle was partially blocking her driveway. An officer spoke with the neighbor and they moved the vehicle.

* * *

A woman on Lee Highway told police her firearm had been stolen by a certain man. She said his mother returned the firearm to her. The woman said she didnt want to press charges.

* * *

An officer saw a man sitting behind an electrical box on the side of the road at E. 43rd Street and 9th Avenue. He told police he was just hanging out behind the electrical box because he had nowhere to go. The officer verified the man had no warrants for his arrest. He left on foot.

* * *

Officers were at 2000 Amnicola Highway looking for a suspect with felony charges who was believed to be armed with a gun and had recently fled from a traffic stop on foot in the area. They were alerted to a person walking near Amnicola who potentially matched the description of the suspect they were looking for. The man identified himself and was wearing a surgical mask. Once it was removed officers were able to confirm that he was not the suspect from the traffic stop. He was very cooperative and understanding with the officers. He was offered a ride to his destination, but he declined.

* * *

A woman on 1140 E. 23rd St. told police someone threw a brick through her car window. Police saw the second row window on her car was shattered and a brick was lying in the parking lot nearby. She said she was inside of the laundry center when she heard her car alarm go off. She exited the business and saw the window broken with a black male standing nearby. She said when the man saw her, he cussed and then entered a burgundy sedan that was parked in the lot at 2340 Rossville Blvd. It went south on Rossville Boulevard. She said nothing was taken from inside of her vehicle.
The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals, in a 54-page ruling, has upheld the conviction of Janet Elaine Hinds in the traffic death of Chattanooga Police Officer Nicholas Galinger.

Ms. Hinds, the former postmaster at Soddy Daisy, had appealed her Criminal Court jury

convictions of vehicular homicide by intoxication, driving under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident, and other driving-related offenses, for which she received

an effective sentence of 11 years incarceration.

On appeal, the defendant challenged the sufficiency of the evidence supporting her convictions for vehicular homicide by intoxication and DUI, the denial of her motions to suppress evidence obtained from the searches of her home and vehicle, the admission of a life photograph of the victim and videos of the crime scene, the limitation of cross-examination and exclusion of evidence related to the defenses calculation of blood alcohol levels, the jury instructions on flight and proximate cause, and comments made by the prosecution during closing arguments.



Her attorney, Ben McGowan, also argued that her sentence was excessive and that the "cumulative effect of the errors entitles her to a new trial."

The appeals court said, "Discerning no error, we affirm."

The case was handled by Judge Don Poole.

Officer Galinger, 38, was struck and killed as he inspected an overflowing manhole cover on Hamill Road in February 2019.

Ms. Hinds had consumed 78 ounces of beer. She was found guilty of vehicular homicide by intoxication and seven other charges by a jury last September.

Click here for the full opinion.
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation announced Monday plans for a learning playscape, a new year-round outdoor recreation feature, at Harrison Bay State Park.Officials said, "The nature-based playscape will combine the fun of a play area with the opportunity to learn and appreciate the outdoors and natural environment. Research shows that children thrive on many levels when they are provided outdoor education. Harrison Bay State Parks playscape will help children connect with nature with a hands-on experience."We always look for the best ways to serve our parks visitors, and we are excited about this feature at Harrison Bay State Park, said Greer Tidwell, TDECs deputy commissioner for Conservation.The playscape will be available throughout the year, and we look forward to having families enjoy this new asset.Work is expected to begin this year on the site, including equipment, surfacing and ADA-compliant design. The project has been approved by the State Building Commission and will replace a swimming pool at the site. The pool closure was announced in December 2021. Harrison Bay State Park will continue to offer lake swimming opportunities.Tennessee State Parks officials held a public meeting at the park to discuss ideas for recreation proposals for the park, its mission, and community. Park management and staff also contributed their input.Tennessee State Parks determined that investing funds into a desired and fiscally responsible outdoor recreation feature for use year-round is the best path to maximize the parks benefit to the community and the investments made on behalf of taxpayers.Harrison Bay State Park is a 1,200-acre park with approximately 40 miles of Chickamauga Lake shoreline and was developed as a Tennessee Valley Authority recreation area in the 1930s.
Kolmar Korea's building in Seoul / Courtesy of Kolmar Korea





By Kim Jae-heun







Kolmar Korea, a major cosmetics original design manufacturer, is seeing an improved business outlook due to returning Chinese tour groups and growing business partnerships with U.S. and other foreign cosmetics firms, according to securities analysts, Monday.







The Chinese government has recently allowed its nationals to travel in groups to 78 countries around the world, including Korea. It is the first time in six years that Chinese tour groups will visit Seoul.







"Incoming tour groups from China will create momentum for the cosmetics firm's stock price to rise. We also expect Kolmar Korea to gain more orders in the United States while benefiting from the economic recovery in China and business improvement in the domestic market," Hana Securities researcher Park Eun-jung said.







"Kolmar Korea achieved the highest business performance in the second quarter of this year, thanks to the orders obtained centered on its advanced technology. At the same time, the cosmetic firm's Chinese branch showed a double-digit growth rate in its operating profit, as it turned into a surplus during the period."







Kolmar Korea's consolidated operating profit between April and June was 55.7 billion won, up 66 percent year-on-year. Its sales rose 19 percent to mark 599.7 billion won. Sales from original design manufacturing businesses both domestic and overseas soared 24 percent and 73 percent, respectively.







Hana Securities adjusted its target stock prices for the beauty and bio health care company from 60,000 won ($45.10) to 75,000 won with an expectation that Kolmar Korea will benefit from influx of Chinese visitors.







"The company showed notable performance in the second quarter of this year, thanks to handsome sales of sunblock products," a Kolmar Korea official said. "We also expect sales from local cosmetics brands to increase in the second half with tour groups coming from China."






A former childcare worker at the now-closed Chattanooga migrant facility in Highland Park, who was earlier charged with having sexual relations with a minor, has pleaded guilty to a federal charge.

Florencia Renderos Morales, 24, currently of Houston, Texas, entered a guilty plea to one count of obstruction of justice.

Sentencing has been set for Jan. 12, 2024, at 10 a.m. before Judge Charles E. Atchley, Jr., in United States District Court at Chattanooga.

Ms. Morales faces a term of up to 20 years in federal prison, $500,000 in fines, and supervised release of three years.

According to court documents, Ms. Morales was an employee of La Casa de Sydney, a housing facility for undocumented and unaccompanied minor children.

While at the facility, she engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct directed toward minor residents who were in their late teens, it was stated.

The Department of Homeland Security and the Chattanooga Police Department initiated an investigation into Ms. Moraless conduct and the conduct of others at La Casa de Sydney.

Court documents indicate that the defendant became aware that she was the object of this investigation, and she contacted other involved individuals about ways to evade detection. Ms. Morales discussed who she believed reported her conduct to authorities, and she urged one former minor resident of La Casa de Sydney to delete electronic evidence that was relevant to the investigation.

U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III said, "This prosecution is the result of a joint investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Chattanooga Police Department Special Victims Unit, with assistance from the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorneys Kyle Wilson and Jay Woods represent the United States in this action."

In the earlier case, a youth testified that she kissed him while he was 17 and she was 21. That charge was downgraded to a misdemeanor and eventually dismissed.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's kids, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, are growing up in the United States. But one expert says the kids could feel 'horribly trapped' by living in the United States.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made the difficult decision to leave the royal family back in 2020, taking their son, Prince Archie, who was not yet a year old at the time, with them. Since then, the two have welcomed a daughter, Princess Lilibet, though theyve never brought her to the United Kingdom, and she has yet to meet any of Prince Harrys family.

Harry and Meghan have very much disconnected from Harrys family since moving across the pond, but one author thinks there is a chance that it wont be helpful for Archie and Lilibet to live so far from their royal roots  and that they could wind up feeling trapped and bullied.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with Prince Archie | Dominic Lipinski/AFP/Getty Images

Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet could feel trapped living in the United States, expert says

Archie, who is now four years old, was far too young to remember meeting his royal family members. He spent about 10 months living in the United Kingdom with his parents before they whisked him away to California, where he has remained ever since. Meghan and Harry welcomed their daughter, Princess Lilibet, in 2021; she is now two years old and has yet to visit her royal relatives or meet any of her royal cousins. But one expert doesnt think the move will be good for the kids in the long term.

Royal author Tom Quinn told Express that hes worried Archie and Lilibet could feel trapped living in the United States. I can imagine Lilibet and Archie are going to get teased at school, possibly bullied, because people say, Oh, youre a prince and princess, Quinn said, suggesting that many Americans dont like the concept of inherited privilege. Youre horribly trapped.

While some children might love the idea of befriending royalty, others could speak out against the royal kids, suggesting they were handed everything they have.

Prince Archie in 2019 | Reuters/Toby Melville/Pool

The royal expert likened Archie and Lilibets possible experience to King Charles childhood

Its too early yet to say how Archie and Lilibet will fare in terms of making friends growing up; theyre only toddlers, and their classmates likely dont understand their royal importance. However, Quinn pointed out that Charles, despite having grown up in the United Kingdom, didnt have the easiest time being a royal when it came to school.

When Charles went to Gordonstoun [boarding school], at first he thought he would be treated with respect because he was the heir to the throne, Quinn said. In fact, that meant he was bullied far more than the other boys.

Nepotism has been a large conversation in the United States lately, with the term nepo baby being used to describe anyone whose parents helped make them famous. The one positive here is that Harry and Meghan are living in California, which is the land of nepo babies, so Archie and Lilibet might fit right in. Of course, its too soon to tell what the future holds for the little ones. Some rumors even suggest Harry and Meghan could return to the United Kingdom down the road.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's behavior has led the monarch to keep his distance from the couple says a former royal editor.

Throughout August 2023, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have remained in the public eye. The couple appeared in a video to announce the Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund winners. Then, Harry traveled to Singapore to participate in a Sentebale charity polo match, and Meghan was spotted at a Taylor Swift concert in California. However, despite their new visibility, the couple are still royal outsiders after pushing King Charles right to the limit, says a royal expert.

King Charles, Meghan Markle, and Prince Harry photographed in 2018 | Karwai Tang/WireImage

King Charles pushed so far by Meghan Markle and Prince Harry

Charlie Rae, former royal editor of The Sun, discussed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in an interview for Talk TV. He believes the couple speaking out against the royal family cemented their status as outsiders.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have come total outcasts, Rae said. Theyve had their HRH titles [His and Her Royal Highness] stripped from the royal family website.

Rae continued that Harry was told from the start of his Montecito exodus he could no longer HRH publicly. While the couple still has the titles, they can no longer use them to further their careers.

However, while King Charles is still a loving father  to his younger son, Rae claims the monarch can only be pressed so far. He says Harry and Meghan have pushed him right to the limit.

Theyre no longer invited to any of the upcoming royal events. However, there is no official memorial for Queen Elizabeth. Whats going to happen is Catherine [Middleton] and Prince William will issue a statement on the day. And, Charles will spend it in quiet reflection, he continued.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were excluded from a family gathering for Queen Elizabeth

Per the BBC, the royal family will not partake in an official event to mark the first anniversary of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. However, most senior royals were invited to Balmoral for the annual summer holiday, where the queen died in 2022.

King Charles, Camilla Queen Consort, Prince William, Kate Middleton, and their children are expected to remain at the family home where they will mark the day. Charles is scheduled to spend Sept. 8 quietly and privately, the outlet said.

Furthermore, Charlie Rae said the king would take a page from his mothers playbook, spending the day honoring his mothers passing. Prior, Queen Elizabeth marked the anniversaries of her father, George VIs death with no official events.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markles exclusion from this somber anniversary is reportedly in response to how they publicly handled themselves during the queens last year of life. Rae believes the couple did everything they could to upset the royal family.

Is there any way Prince Harry would be welcomed back into the royal family?

King Charles, Prince William, Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle, and Prince Harry photographed in 2018 | Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images

After leaving the royal family in early 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle discussed their displeasure with the clan for three years. Royal expert Charlie Rae believes the Duke of Sussexs behavior will continue to impact his relationship with other senior royals.

The Netflix series, the Oprah [Winfrey] interview; they [Harry and Meghan] were not supportive of the royal family, Rae said. He subsequently addressed whether or not Prince Harry would ever be welcomed back into Kensington Palace.

He addressed rumors of a split between the couple, saying that even if Meghan werent in the picture, it would still be difficult for Harry to reunite with his family. Im not so sure he would be welcomed back by some members of the royal family.

Its that adage; hes made his bed, now he has to lie in it, he continued. But, Too much has happened. However, I cant ever see it being the way it was ever again, with or without Meghan.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle live in Montecito, CA, with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The couple works for Netflix to produce content for the streamer as part of a $100M deal signed in 2020.
These are very special diamonds that are being worked with at TU Wien: Their crystal lattice is not perfectly regular, it contains numerous defects. In places where there would be two neighboring carbon atoms in a perfect diamond, there is a nitrogen atom, leaving the second place empty. Microwaves can be used to switch these defects between two different states - a higher energy state and a lower energy state. This makes them an interesting tool for various quantum technologies, such as novel quantum sensors or components for quantum computers.



Now, the researchers have succeeded in controlling these defects so precisely that they can be used to trigger a spectacular effect: All defects are brought into the high-energy state, in which they remain for some time, until one then releases all the energy with a tiny microwave pulse and all defects simultaneously change to the low-energy state - similar to a snowfield on which a tiny snowball triggers an avalanche and the entire mass of snow thunders down into the valley at the same time.

Computer visualization of the microwave resonator with superconducting chips and diamond (black). The silver wave represents the quantum avalanche - the sudden emission of an electromagnetic pulse.

Atomic spins and microwaves "The defects in the diamond have a spin - an angular momentum that points either up or down. These are the two possible states they can be in," says Wenzel Kersten, first author of the current publication, who is currently working on his dissertation in the research group of Prof. Jorg Schmiedmayer (Atomic Institute, Vienna University of Technology).



With the help of a magnetic field, one can achieve that, for example, the "spin up" state corresponds to a higher energy than "spin down." In this case, most atoms will be in the "spin down" state - they normally gravitate to the lower energy state, like a ball in a bowl that normally rolls downward.



But with some clever engineering tricks, it's possible to create what's called an "inversion" - you get the defects to all settle into the higher energy state. "You use microwave radiation for this, by which you first bring the spins into the desired state, then you change the external magnetic field so that the spins are frozen in this state, so to speak," explains Prof. Stefan Rotter (Institute for Theoretical Physics, Vienna University of Technology), who led the theoretical part of the research.



Such an "inversion" is unstable. In principle, the atoms could spontaneously change their state - similar to balancing a broomstick, which in principle can spontaneously tip over in any direction. But the research team was able to show: Extremely precise control, made possible by chip technology developed at TU Wien, can keep the spins of the atoms stable for about 20 milliseconds. "By quantum physics standards, that's a huge amount of time. That's about a hundred thousand times as long as it takes to create this high-energy state or to discharge it again. That's like having a cell phone battery that is charged in an hour and then holds its energy completely for ten years," says Jorg Schmiedmayer.
Signage marks the area for the Cherokee Nations first draw hunt in fall 2021 for youth, veteran and elder hunters.
Sebastian Seung, president of Global Research and Development at Samsung Research, speaks at Samsung Electronics' press conference during the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, January. Courtesy of Samsung Electronics



By Kim Hyun-bin



World-renowned artificial intelligence (AI) scholar Sebastian Seung urged Samsung Electronics to seize the momentum and take the lead in the AI industry.



"Generative AI is accelerating the transformation towards the popularization of AI. In the new ecosystem, Samsung must firmly establish its position as quickly as possible," Seung, the president of Global Research and Development (R&D) at Samsung Research, posted on the internal knowledge-sharing platform Mosaic, Monday. "We are at a turning point where significant opportunities and threats coexist. AI is evolving into a tool that anyone can use to enhance their productivity, similar to the personal computer revolution of the 1980s."



He termed this the "Personal AI Revolution."



"The Personal AI Revolution will be as significant as the changes brought by the internet and mobile phones," he said.



Seung, a leading figure in AI based on brain neuroscience, obtained a Ph.D. in theoretical physics from Harvard University, and after working as a Bell Labs researcher and a professor of physics at MIT, he has been a professor of computer science at Princeton University since 2014.



Samsung Electronics recruited Seung in 2018 to strengthen its AI research capabilities, entrusting him with shaping its AI strategy and providing guidance for future growth prospects.



"The new ecosystem consists of large platform companies that provide generative AI and small companies that create human-in-the-loop models using their application programming interfaces (APIs). Samsung needs to determine how to strategically dominate the device layer within this ecosystem," Seung emphasized.



The field of AI is one of the future growth drivers personally overseen by Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong. In November 2017, Samsung Electronics established Samsung Research, an integrated research organization, and set up AI centers to conduct advanced AI research. Currently, it operates AI centers in seven locations globally including Silicon Valley and New York.



Recently, under Samsung Research's Next Generation home appliance research team, a Smart Home AI Lab was established to engage in advanced research and development related to finding ways to differentiate home appliances and services based on AI.



Meanwhile, due to the proliferation of generative AI and associated security concerns, Samsung Electronics is developing its own generative AI in collaboration with Samsung SDS.



Cheun Kyung-whoon, chief technology officer (CTO) of Samsung Electronics' Device Experience (DX) Division and president of Samsung Research, explained the direction of the company's internal generative AI development during a recent internal town hall meeting including coding support, document summarization, email transmission, enhancing internal productivity and integrating AI into Samsung devices.



"Coding support and more will begin beta testing within the company from October and will be opened to employees by the end of the year or early next year," Cheun said.


This 24-year-old woman has a sister who is 3 years older than she is. Her sister is married, and although her sister has tried to get pregnant for the last 3 years, its not happening.

Her sister and her brother-in-law dream of being able to have children and begin their own family, so not being able to achieve this has been really difficult.

Now, she, on the other hand, is child-free and happy about it. She never wants to have children. She feels that she is in the best place that she has ever been, mentally as well as physically.

She recently started working out, she got a new career, and she kicked out everything toxic from her life.

Ive never been happier with myself and especially with my body, she explained. A few nights ago, my sister and her husband sat me down, asking me if I was willing to carry their baby for them. I immediately refused.

Her sister then launched into an explanation of how the process would actually work and that all she would really need to do is give birth to her baby.

Her sister pointed out that the baby will not even be hers biologically, and all she has to do is say yes to being the carrier.

She still told her sister this was not going to happen. First of all, shes terrified of being pregnant, and its not something she ever pictured as being in the cards for her.

Im finally happy with my body, and Im not letting a fetus destroy the body I have worked on for years, she added.

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If youve ever been to Texas, did you visit the Alamo?

The historic compound was founded in the 18th century and was the site of the Battle of the Alamo during the Texas Revolution, making it an important part of Texas history.

But did you know that in the early 1900s, it was almost torn down and turned into a hotel? That couldve happened if it wasnt for Clara Driscoll, a Texas preservationist who stepped in to save it.

Clara was born in Refugio County, Texas, in 1881. She had a family background loyal to her home state, as her grandfather had fought in the Battle of San Jacinto.

She was extremely well educated and attended several schools, including a school for girls in New York City and a finishing school in France.

After returning to Texas from Europe, Clara had a newfound appreciation for preserving historical buildings and monuments. At this point, the Alamo was in rough shape.

The state of Texas had purchased the Alamos chapel, but the rest of the grounds werent being cared for, although it was where the famous battle had taken place. Clara believed the Alamo was the shrine of Texas Independence, and she wanted to make sure it would be around for much longer.

Determined to save the historic landmark, Clara joined the Daughters of the Republic of Texas organization, which had a similar mission. She paid tens of thousands of dollars of her own money and helped the Daughters of the Republic of Texas hold events to raise funds to buy and protect the Alamo.

Clara and the organizations efforts were successful. In 1905, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas were named the official custodian group of the Alamo, and Clara was reimbursed for what she spent on it. For the rest of her life, Clara would advocate for the preservation of the Alamo and fought anyone or any group who tried to change it.

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The orphanage was a great mercy for Amir.

The 14-year-old Jordanian boy, whose last name is being withheld because he is a minor, was bullied in school after his father died. Then his mother, who was mentally ill and violent, was deemed unfit to parent. If not for a Christian orphanage, he wouldnt have had any place to go.

But Nisreen Hawatmeh, director of Sanadak (Your Support), the evangelical ministry that provides psychological support to Amir in the orphanage, isnt happy with how the story ended.

Orphanages are very good in Jordan, she said, but not compared to a loving family.

For Amir, however, a loving family was not available. Adoption is prohibited in Jordan.

The same is true in much of the Middle East. Islamic law forbids adoption. Children without parents or extended family are cared for by kafala, a system of child sponsorship that can include orphanages and foster care. But grafting a child into a new family is not allowed, because of how that would impact family lineage and the inheritance of biological children.

For Muslims, at least. Sharia law grants non-Muslims wide latitude to live according to their religions understandings of marriage, divorce, and inheritance, but it is often unevenly applied. In Jordan, constitutional amendments in 2014 permitted Christianswho make up only 2 percent of the populationto draft distinct legal statutes to govern Christian family life, giving them the opportunity to change the adoption rules that apply to them.

And they chose not to.

Our problem is not the government, said Haytham Ereifej, a Christian lawyer. It is within our own community.

Within the past year and a half of intense interchurch negotiations, the Council of Christian Denominations considered adding adoption processes to some drafted legislation reforming inheritance laws for Christians. The proposed reform, unanimously approved by the council, said women should receive equal inheritance.

It said nothing about adoption. Inheritance for women has been deemed more urgent. Even with unanimous support from the council, the law still faces an uphill battle. Some Christian leaders are quietly opposing the drafted change in inheritance laws, Ereifej said, worried about how families will lose a share of their wealth when a daughter marries outside of her tribe. The nine Christian lawmakers in parliament are reportedly divided. The rest of the legislators will look to them for direction and so may vote it down.

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Thats bad news for the children who might have otherwise been adopted. Between 7,000 and 14,000 children in Jordan are believed to have lost both parents. As many as 70,000 have lost one parent, according to the Ministry of Social Development.

No one knows how many might have benefitted from adoption, if that were a possibility in Jordan. Ministries like Sanadak, which was founded in 2016 with support from a consortium of evangelical churches, are committed to keeping vulnerable children with their parents whenever possible. The second choice is placing them with relatives.

For a small group of children, though, adoption would be a redemptive and life-transforming option, if it were available in Jordon.

The other group hurt by the failure to reform adoption law is Christian couples looking to adopt.

Many who struggle with infertility long to have children and seek adoption. For Christians, there is often an added theological dimension that makes adoption desirable.

When Christians seek to adopt children, they are imitating God, who adopted them, said Imad Shehadeh, president of Jordan Evangelical Theological Seminary. The adoption process is a theological and solemn declaration, bestowing full and legal rights of an heir.

People in the region say theyve heard of Christian couples who cant have children and are so desperate that they go to Syria and bribe a doctor to forge an orphans birth certificate.

In Lebanon, Christians make up roughly one-third of the population and have long enjoyed the right to adopt. Charlie Costa, a Baptist pastor and magistrate in the evangelical family court in Beirut, said he personally receives about 30 inquiries from Arab Christians every year. Many of them are from outside the country, hoping to find a way to adopt through proper channels in Lebanon.

To secure the legal right to adopt in their own nations, Costa said that Christian advocates should pursue quiet diplomacy, appealing to local Muslim allies, international human rights organizations, and Western governments. Most Middle East governments are less concerned about restricting Christian rights than about avoiding backlash.

It all depends upon the authorities to approve, he said.

Most Muslims arent concerned with how Christian handle family issues. But Christian adoption can spark intense controversyespecially in the rare case of unknown parentage. In Islam, every child is thought to be born a Muslim, and an abandoned baby should not be raised apart from the true faith.

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Egypt, which also forbids adoption, has enthusiastically endorsed the kafala system to provide foster homes for around 11,000 children currently in residential care. Some of these are in Christian orphanages, most still connected to at least one parent. Around 140 Christian families have been approved for their care. Kafala Christian Child, which is endorsed by the Coptic Orthodox Church, is raising awareness and has, thus far, facilitated the placement of two children in foster care.

The country has been rocked, however, by the national soap opera of a secret Christian adoption.

In 2018, a two-day-old boy was abandoned in the bathroom of a church. A priest found him and gave him to an infertile couple, who named the child Shenouda. The couple obtained a fake birth certificate and for the next four years raised him as their own. They were then reported to authorities by a niece who was apparently jealous and worried about her share of future inheritance.

Police initially declined to press charges, noting the boy seemed well cared for and loved. But given the law, Shenouda was removed from his home and placed in an orphanage.

There was a great popular outcry on the familys behalf, however, and the grand imam of al-Azhar, the foremost institution of scholarship in the Sunni Muslim world, identified an Islamic precedent allowing a child found at a church to be considered a Christian.

Shenouda was set to return to his adoptive parents and be processed officially under the kafala system. Then the same niece brought a claim that her cousin had conceived the child with a Muslim man and soeven though she returned to Christianitythe boy could not be considered Christian. A DNA test on Shenouda, however, disproved this, and he was reunited with the couple.

Egyptian Christians, like Jordanians, have had the opportunity to reform this system and havent taken it. A proposed draft of family law for Christians does not include anything on adoption.

It is clear adoption is allowed in Christianity, said Samira Luka, an evangelical member of the National Council for Human Rights. Our council supports this, but internally. We still have to discuss, and state our clear opinion.

Some evangelicals hope that, in the coming years, Christians will work together to reform adoption law.

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Things should be done differently, said Jack Sara, general secretary of the Middle East and North Africa Evangelical Alliance. If it is within the capacity of the Christian community to advocate for such rights, I would encourage them to do so.

Sanadak served 550 Jordanian orphans last year. Adoption would still be third best compared to staying with the birth family or with relatives. But Hawatmeh said that, as a last resort for children in orphanages like Amir, it would be a nice option to have.

Our heavenly Fathers heart is for the orphan, he said. This is why the Bible says, God sets the lonely in families (Ps. 68:6).

Jayson Casper is CTs Middle East correspondent.

Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here.
United Methodist clergy have been through the wringer in recent years, with a worldwide pandemic, a church schism, and the ongoing decline of one of the nations largest Protestant denominations.

Those stresses have likely taken a toll on their health, a new report shows.

A survey of 1,200 United Methodist clergy found that half have trouble sleeping, a third feel depressed and isolated, half are obese, and three-quarters are worried about money.

Almost all of those measures have worsened in the past decade, according to the study from Wespath, which administers benefits for pastors and employees at United Methodist institutions.

Overall, United Methodist pastors feel worse and worry more than they did a decade ago.

Even though we saw some areas of well-being improve in 2023 after very dismal results in 2021, the overall 10-year lookback tells us that clergy well-being, which was a problem a decade ago, is an even bigger problem today, said Kelly Wittich, director of health and well-being at Wespath, in announcing the surveys findings.

We see that clergy struggle with well-being compared to their secular counterparts, in no small part due to the often unrealistic demands placed on clergy from multiple directions.

The study found that 11 percent of pastors said they are in excellent health, down from 17 percent in 2013, while 1 in 10 (9%) said they are in fair health, double the number from a decade ago.

The report did not indicate whether clergy age might be a factor affecting health outcomes.

More than half said the pandemic negatively affected their emotional (54%) and social health (52%). Fewer said their spiritual (26%) or financial health (23%) got worse.

Pastors also said their sense of spiritual vitality has improved in the past two yearswith many feeling they have a vital relationship with God (78%) and feel Gods presence when doing pastoral visits (73%). Fewer feel Gods presence at church-related events (68%).

The study found pastors have significant health challenges, including 14 percent with diabetes, another 14 percent with pre-diabetes, and half with obesity (49%). All three measures have gone up in the past decade.

One in 10 said they suffer from depression, while a third said they have symptoms of depression. A third feel isolated at work or feel overtaxed by their congregation. More than half (52%) said they experience church-related stress, up from 46 percent in 2013.

Full-time pastors did say their workloads have decreased, with 27 percent saying they work more than 51 hours a week, down from 42 percent in 2013.

Half of the pastors said they are not confident they are on track for a comfortable retirement.

Fatigue was one of the biggest challenges pastors reported, with 52 percent reporting they had trouble sleeping while 69 percent said they feel tired or have low energy. By contrast, only 40 percent said they had trouble sleeping in 2013, while 59 percent felt tired or had little energy.

According to the study, older pastors had more problems with their physical health, while younger pastors had more concerns about stress and depression. Men had more diabetes and lower spirituality than women. Women reported more asthma, autoimmune conditions, and stress than men. Black clergy had more hypertension and diabetes but lower levels of stress and depression.

Rural clergy had more physical ailments, while urban pastors reported lower spiritual health.

About a third of pastors said they dealt with conflict or difficulty due to the current schism in the United Methodist Church. Since 2019, more than 6,200 congregations have disaffiliated with the denomination as a result of a long-running dispute over church teaching about sexuality.
By Gods grace: Harvest Kumulani undamaged by wildfires, working to help those who suffered losses

A church in Maui that's part of Pastor Greg Lauries Harvest Christian Fellowship network has not been damaged by the wildfires that destroyed over 2,000 structures and killed nearly 100 people.

However, members of Harvest Kumulani, a Lahaina-based congregation of about 1,000 regular attendees that recently celebrated seven years of being a Harvest campus, have suffered losses caused by the wildfires.

Josh Morris, executive director of strategy and advancement at Harvest, who was born and raised in Hawaii, told The Christian Post in comments via email that the fires have been completely devastating to several members of our Harvest Kumulani congregation, with several people who have lost their homes, and many more whose jobs are uncertain.

The wildfires have impacted all our pastoral team personally, added Morris. We have been praying for, supporting, and loving the community of Lahaina over the past few days.

Many of our teams are operating on little to no sleep and are doing everything we can to shine the light of Jesus to this hurting community.

Morris told CP that although the congregation has been impacted by the wildfires, their hope remains secure in Jesus Christ and the comfort He offers to His church.

By Gods grace, our church property of Harvest Kumulani has not been damaged by the fires, he said, directing CP to the web page Harvest set up to help send relief to the affected area.

The main way we are asking for churches on the islands and on the mainland to help is through our Harvest Maui Relief Fund, Morris said.

This fund is created by Harvest Christian Fellowship and is designed to help the Maui community, the members of Harvest Kumulani, and ensure we can continue to preach the Gospel to this community in the aftermath of the wildfires.

Last week, fires fueled by a dry season and winds from a nearby hurricane rampaged across the Hawaiian island of Maui, prompting a state of emergency and evacuations from the area.

On Monday, the confirmed death toll rose to 96 and is expected to increase. On Saturday, Maui County officials reported that there were 93 confirmed fatalities from the fires, making them worse than the 2018 fires in Northern California that claimed a reported 85 lives.

Last Thursday, President Joe Biden approved a disaster declaration request from Hawaii, making federal funding available for people impacted by the fires, while multiple aid groups have begun efforts to bring relief to the island.

The Christian humanitarian group World Help is among those sending aid, with the organization saying in a statement shared with the press that it was collaborating with local partners already operating in the area.

Maui has been absolutely devastated by these wildfires, said World Help President Noel Brewer Yeatts, as quoted in the statement. Our partners in Lahaina tell us that there is very little left standing and that it looks like a war zone. So many people have lost everything  their homes, and their livelihoods.

Its going to take years to heal and rebuild, and World Help wants to do our part so that families and communities can begin that healing process.
Karine Jean-Pierre defends Biden after criticism for 'no comment' response to fatal Maui wildfires

President Joe Biden and White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre are defending the administration's response to the wildfires in Maui after he caused outcry for responding with no comment when asked about the situation over the weekend.

On Sunday, Bloomberg White House Correspondent Justin Sink sent out a tweet indicating that Biden was asked about the death toll from wildfires in Hawaii that have left nearly 100 people dead after a couple hours on the Rehoboth Beach in Delaware. Sink noted that Biden responded with a No comment. The journalist did not provide a video of the presidents remarks on the matter.

After a couple hours on the Rehoboth beach, @potus was asked about the rising death toll in Hawaii



No comment, he said before heading home pic.twitter.com/Y0UmXirju9  Justin Sink (@justinsink) August 13, 2023

Video footage surfaced Monday, documenting a reporter asking Biden if he had any comment on the rising death toll in Maui. As Sink previously reported, Biden answered the question with No. No comment. While another reporter encouraged Biden to come talk about the Hawaii response, the president got into a vehicle and departed from the vacation destination.

RNC Research amplified the video on social media as criticism of Bidens remark extended beyond his critics. Chris Cilizza of CNN addressed the video footage by declaring, Not a great moment for Biden here.

Not a great moment for Biden here https://t.co/2LWux55roA  Chris Cillizza (@ChrisCillizza) August 14, 2023

Biden published a lengthy thread on Twitter Monday after his no comment remark had generated considerable backlash.

As residents of Hawaii mourn the loss of life and devastation taking place across their beautiful home, we mourn with them, he wrote. Like Ive said, not only are our prayers with those impacted  but every asset we have will be available to them.

As residents of Hawai'i mourn the loss of life and devastation taking place across their beautiful home, we mourn with them.



Like I've said, not only our prayers are with those impacted  but every asset we have will be available to them.



Here's the latest:  President Biden (@POTUS) August 14, 2023

The remainder of the Twitter thread outlined the Biden administrations response to the wildfires in Hawaii thus far. He began by noting that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has made temporary sheltering assistance available for residents who were displaced from their homes by the wildfires, allowing survivors to shelter in hotels or motels temporarily as they develop a long-term housing plan.

Were laser focused on getting aid to survivors, including Critical Needs Assistance: a one-time $700 payment per household offering relief during an unimaginably difficult time, he added. We have staff on the ground dedicated to helping survivors navigate the registration process.

Biden also pointed out how his administration was translating materials into the most common languages spoken in the islands and working closely with community-led organizations as part of an effort to ensure that all residents receive critical information so they can take steps to move forward in their recovery. He encouraged residents to apply for FEMA assistance at DisasterAssistance.gov or by using the FEMA app and highlighted the availability of a Family Assistance Center at the Kahului Community Center.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also defended the administrations handling of the Hawaii wildfires at a press briefing Monday, where she found herself subject to criticism for mispronouncing the names of both of the states U.S. senators and referring to one of them by the wrong gender pronoun. Specifically, Jean-Pierre mispronounced the name of Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, and communicated to reporters that he thanked the president for the immediate support of federal agencies even though Hirono is a woman.

Additionally, Jean-Pierre repeatedly mispronounced the name of Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, including by calling him Senator Shorts before eventually getting the pronunciation right. RRH Elections, which describes itself as a Republican blog for election news & analysis, commented on Jean-Pierres remarks by pointing out that Joe Biden won Hawaii by nearly 30 points in 2020 and the state has an all-Dem Congressional delegation.

Joe Biden won Hawaii by nearly 30 points in 2020 and the State has an all-Dem Congressional delegation, yet when Hawaiians are literally dying from a catastrophic natural disaster, Washington Democrats don't even know their names???? https://t.co/w1c5SJpZ0S  RRH Elections (@RRHElections) August 14, 2023

When Hawaiians are literally dying from a natural disaster, Washington Democrats dont even know their names.

An update posted on the Maui County, Hawaii, website Sunday night reveals that two of the four wildfires that broke out last week are 100% contained, stressing that the phrase fully contained does not mean the fire has been extinguished but rather fully surrounded by a perimeter, inside which it can still burn. Only one of the four fires, the Pu ukoli i / Kaanapali fire, has been completely extinguished after burning one acre in the course of a day.

The Lahaina fire, which broke out Tuesday, has been 85% contained and has burned 2,170 acres. The Upcountry/Kula fire, which also broke out Tuesday, is now 60% contained and has burned 678 acres. Maui County reported that hot spots in gulches and other hard to reach places, along with land divisions and fences, make establishment of complete control lines difficult while vowing that air support will be deployed during daylight hours to hit hot spots during daylight hours Monday.

As of Sunday night, the Maui Police Department has measured the death toll from the wildfires at 96.
Kentucky bus crisis that left children stranded for hours prompts calls for school choice

Kentucky lawmakers are calling for changes to the states education system following a transportation failure last week that left hundreds of children stranded on school buses until after 10 p.m. on the first day of school.

On Saturday, Jefferson County Public Schools informed parents and the public in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that there would be no school on Monday and Tuesday as it continues to work to ensure the reliability of its bus services. However, in a follow-up post, JCPS confirmed that all extracurricular activities would continue as usual.

According to The Associated Press, the Kentucky school district had reworked its bus system to reduce the number of routes due to a bus driver shortage. The district had consulted with a company that maps out courses and stops using computer algorithms; however, the bus drivers reportedly needed more time to practice the new routes.

In response to an inquiry from The Christian Post, JCPS directed CP to a Friday press conference Superintendent Marty Pollio held to address the transportation problems following the implementation of the AlphaRoute computer program. In response to a question about whether the district should be split up, the superintendent raised concerns about the logistics of such a plan.

Ive talked about the difference in this city demographically, socioeconomically and with how we would split up a city so that districts would not be 100% destitute by property assessments, Pollio said, in addition to raising concerns about the length of time it could take to build additional schools.

AlphaRoute did not immediately respond to The Christian Posts request for comment.

Following the busing problems, 12 members of Jefferson Countys legislative delegation issued an open letter to parents, teachers, students and taxpayers, demanding several changes. Instead of busing kids across the county, the lawmakers called for students to have the right to attend schools within their neighborhood and for the creation of a commission to assess splitting up the district.

Third, we will call for extensive changes to our school board, which has shown that it is not up to the task of managing our $2 billion school district, the letter states. Fourth, we strongly support school choice, which will empower parents to have more control over the education of their children. To that end, we support putting a school choice amendment on the 2024 ballot for the voters to decide.

The 12 lawmakers final demand is for Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear to call a special session of the General Assembly to begin the process of enacting the policies proposed in the letter.

In a Thursday video statement, Pollio issued an apology, empathizing with parents by acknowledging how unnerving it must have been when their children didnt return home at the expected time. He also apologized to the bus drivers and school personnel who were impacted by the incident, with some staff members having to work longer to ensure the students safety.

And the difficult part for me was a great day at our school, the superintendent said. I saw some incredible instruction. Kids excited, families excited, new school buildings, and to have it end with the transportation disaster that we had last night was truly unacceptable.

Pollio announced that for the next four days, the district would review all bus routes and stops in addition to providing bus drivers with paid training to learn their new routes. The superintendent also promised to improve communication between families and the schools, adding that the district plans to increase its call center within the next few days.

As WDRB reported last week, a school district in Columbus, Ohio, also failed to successfully implement the AlphaRoute software after paying $1.5 million for it. According to John Stovall, president of the bus drivers union Teamsters Local 783, the union outlined its concerns with the software to JCPC before school started.
Hyundai Motor Group China Senior Manager Joo Chel-kyu, left, signs a memorandum of understanding with Yang Xing, vice chairman of NaaS, front row right, along with other company officials to cooperate in the field of electric vehicle charging services at the NaaS headquarters in Beijing, Monday. / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group





By Kim Hyun-bin







Hyundai Motor Group signed a partnership agreement with Chinese electric vehicle (EV) charging service provider NaaS, as it seeks to sell more EVs in the world's second-largest economy, Korea's third-largest business group said Monday.







Representatives of Hyundai Motor Group China (HMGC) including Executive Vice President Lee Hyuk-jun met with NaaS CEO Wang Yang at NaaS headquarters in Beijing to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for cooperation in EV charging services.







"Through cooperation with NaaS, Hyundai Motor Group will provide Chinese EV customers with more convenient and innovative charging services," Lee said during the signing ceremony, Monday. "This collaboration will contribute to elevating Hyundai Motor Group's global electric vehicle competitiveness."







NaaS, established in 2019 as China's first specialized EV charging service information company, has accumulated information on 55,000 charging stations and 400,000 charging points across China. Notably, in March, NaaS garnered industry attention by unveiling its autonomous EV charging robot and actively engaging in the development of innovative EV charging-related services.







Through this collaboration, Hyundai Motor Group intends to develop tailored EV charging services for Chinese customers and drive various integrated services and cutting-edge technology demonstration projects to lead the EV landscape in China.







Both parties will combine Hyundai Motor Group's connected services platform with NaaS' EV charging information service to develop and establish systems including home charging stations, an EV charging point payment/management system and a real-time EV charging network information system.







The home charging station sharing system allows customers to share their home-installed EV chargers with third parties, generating revenue. Chargers registered in this system will be continuously visible on NaaS' real-time charging station search network, and vehicles in need of charging can utilize these chargers after payment. The collaboration also envisions various services utilizing charging points generated through this process.


Republican lawmakers investigating Biden admin. funding humanist group to spread atheism abroad

Republican members of Congress have expressed concern over the Biden administrations apparent funding of an international organization that seeks to advance atheism overseas.

Reps. Michael McCaul of Texas, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Chris Smith of New Jersey, chair of the Subcommittee on Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations; and Brian Mast of Florida, chair of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Accountability sent a letter earlier this month expressing concerns that the administration is funding efforts to spread atheism abroad.

The congressmens letter was addressed to Acting Assistant Secretary Erin Barclay of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, and Ambassador-at-Large Rashad Hussain of the Office of International Religious Freedom, both of the U.S. Department of State.

In the letter, the congressmen said Barclay and Hussain were not providing sufficient answers to previous queries about the State Departments apparent funding of humanist events in other nations.

They specifically referenced a 2021 Notice of Funding Opportunity program titled Promoting and Defending Religious Freedom Inclusive of Atheist, Humanist, Non-Practicing and Non-Affiliated Individuals.

One of the program outcomes listed in the NOFO includes increasing the capacity among members of atheist and heterodox individuals to form or join networks or organizations, implement advocacy campaigns, and to engage with the public on issues of tolerance and acceptance of all regardless of faith.

The letter to the State Department officials claims that this violates the Bureau and OIRFs explicit rule not to provide funds to any organization with the aim of using such funds to promote or advance specific religious ideologies or beliefs.

Nor may the [State] Department evade responsibility by claiming that a constitutional analysis is unwarranted, because humanism is not synonymous with religious belief, stated the letter.

For over half a century, the courts have considered Humanism a religion protected under the Establishment Clause, and therefore held that Humanism may not be specifically promoted using aid money from the government.

The congressmen explained that Humanists International, an organization that eventually received the grant, actively tries to spread atheist beliefs abroad, and works alongside groups that actively promote humanism in the United States.

The awarding of the DRL NOFO to HI reveals major flaws in the Departments screening process for potential constitutional violations, continued the letter. The Departments efforts to combat religious persecution abroad do not entitle the Department to promote particular religions using taxpayer funds.

For its part, the State Department has defended the decision to give the grant to Humanists International, with a spokesperson telling RealClearPolitics that the NOFO was about defending freedom of conscience abroad.

This [funding opportunity] solicited programs to promote respect for freedom of conscience and the human rights of nonbelievers and others to live without repression and in their societies on account of their beliefs or non-beliefs, stated the spokesperson.

We welcome Congressional interest in our efforts to ensure that all people around the world are free to live their lives in accordance with their conscience and beliefs and will continue to engage with the committee  having already turned over hundreds of pages of documents, hosted two briefings for the committee  and had the ambassador-at-large testify before the committee in July.
Rep. Michael McCaul warns Iran will use $6B in Biden hostage deal for terror operations'

The Biden administration's plan to release $6 billion of Irans frozen assets in South Korea in exchange for five detained Americans has drawn criticism and warnings that the funds will be used to finance terror operations.

Late last week, Iran moved four Americans to house arrest from Evin Prison, with a fifth already under house arrest, according to The Wall Street Journal.

We will continue to monitor their condition as closely as possible. Of course, we will not rest until they are all back home in the United States, White House spokeswoman Adrienne Watson was quoted as saying in a statement.

The deal includes the transfer of nearly $6 billion of Irans assets to an account in Qatars central bank, where it will be controlled for humanitarian purchases, according to The New York Times.

White House spokesman John Kirby told CBS News that Iran would only be able to use the funds for humanitarian purposes, such as food and medicine, and that there would be no sanctions relief in this hostage deal.

However, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, told Fox News host Shannon Bream on Fox News Sunday that the money would prop up their proxy war, terror operations, and their nuclear bomb aspirations.

The Iranian foreign ministry in Tehran has said the decision on how to utilize the unfrozen resources lies with the Islamic Republic of Iran, according to WSJ. Critics argue that money is fungible, and the humanitarian purposes line is a political cover to justify the money-for-hostages deal.

The prisoner swap also includes freeing Iranian criminals convicted of evading sanctions against Iran, according to The Daily Wire, which said the Americans will only be allowed to leave once the funds have been transferred to the Qatari account, and they will be flown to Qatars capital city of Doha.

The Biden administration has dispatched more aircraft and 3,000 Marines and Navy personnel to the Middle East to deter Iranian seizures of commercial ships, WSJ said in an editorial, adding that some of the funds might go to finance Shiite militias in Iraq that have targeted and killed Americans or to build drones and missiles for Russia to use against Ukraine.

The hostages deal might also be a step toward reviving some of the 2015 nuclear pact, which would ease sanctions on Iran in return for a freeze on uranium enrichment, the WSJ editors wrote, commenting that the Biden administration is eager to avoid catapulting negotiations with Iran to the top of the political agenda as the presidential election approaches.

Switzerland, Qatar and Oman have assisted in facilitating the negotiations. The Swiss ambassador to Tehran will have full access to Americans under house arrest, according to a person familiar with negotiations, WSJ said.

The hostages include Siamak Namazi, arrested in 2015 on charges of cooperating with a hostile government; Morad Tahbaz, jailed in 2018 for spying; and Emad Shargi, sentenced without trial in 2020 to 10 years for espionage. Two other hostages, including one woman, have asked for their identities to remain private.

Republican presidential candidate and former Vice President Mike Pence also criticized the agreement, saying, Iran will now use this money to produce drones for Russia and fund terrorism against us and Israel, the news outlet noted.
Christian groups raise alarm over 2 bills in Pakistan increasing punishments for blasphemy

Two bills passed by Pakistans Legislature have raised concerns among Christian and civil society groups. The Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act 2023 increases punishment for blasphemy offenses, while the National Commission for Minorities Bill 2023 fails to adequately safeguard minority rights.

The Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act 2023, passed in Pakistans Senate this month, increases the punishment for insulting the Islamic prophet Muhammads companions, wives and family members from three years to life imprisonment, and says it must not be less than 10 years, the U.K.-based group Christian Solidarity Worldwide said in a statement.

The National Assembly approved the legislation in January 2023, and civil society and minority communities in Pakistan warned that it could fuel rights abuses and target religious minorities, the group explained.

On the same day, CSW added, the National Assembly passed the National Commission for Minorities Bill 2023.

Civil society groups in Pakistan assert that the bills provisions are inconsistent with the U.N. Paris Principles and fall short of meeting the directives of the Pakistan Supreme Court judgment of June 19, 2014. The bill was also criticized for not creating a truly functional institution to safeguard minority rights.

Making the blasphemy laws more stringent could inflame the situation further, CSWs Founder President Mervyn Thomas said. The National Commission for Minorities Bill 2023 is a missed opportunity to enact legislation that safeguards the rights of religious minorities in Pakistan.

Pakistans blasphemy laws criminalize anyone who insults Islam, carrying either the death penalty or life imprisonment. These laws are often used as a weapon of revenge to settle personal scores or disputes over money, property or business.

The punishment under the blasphemy law includes a fine of 1 million rupees (roughly $3,500), Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, one of the movers of the bill, told Anadolu.

Some members of the House, including Sherry Rehman of Pakistan Peoples Party, insisted that the bill should be referred to the relevant committee for review, Pakistan Today said, adding, however, that Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani sought votes on the bill, and it was passed.

The bills statement of objectives highlights that some individuals are involved in blasphemy on the internet and social media, causing terrorism, disruption in the country, and hurt to people from all walks of life. It terms the current punishment for the offense as simple, adding that it led to people punishing the suspects on their own, leading to an increase in violence.

The ban against blasphemy, which carries no provision to punish a false accuser or a false witness, was expanded in the 1980s under military dictator General Zia-ul-Haq. According to The New York Times, the British government enacted the original laws in the late 19th century colonial era to keep people of different faiths from fighting each other.

In recent years, there have been several high-profile cases that have brought international attention to the issue.

In 2011, the governor of Pakistans Punjab province, Salman Taseer, was assassinated by his bodyguard for speaking out against the blasphemy laws.

In the same year, Asia Bibi, a Christian mother of five, was sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy, sparking international outrage, leading to her acquittal in 2018 after spending eight years on death row.

Her acquittal drew the ire of radical extremist groups, as many protested in the streets and threatened to kill the Supreme Court justices responsible for setting her free.

In 2014, Christian couple Shehzad and Shamah Masih were burned to death in a brick kiln over false accusations that they had ripped pages out of the Quran.

In 2020, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan reported that at least 69 people were killed extrajudicially in mob violence related to blasphemy allegations since 1990.
7 Christian denominations that don't allow women to serve as pastor

Earlier this summer, the Southern Baptist Convention garnered considerable attention for its disfellowshipping of two churches that allow women to serve in the office of pastor.

Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, and a smaller congregation known as Fern Creek Baptist Church of Louisville, Kentucky, were disfellowshipped following a majority vote by messengers at the SBC's Annual Meeting in June. Some 90% of messengers voted to disfellowship churches that have women in the role of pastor. That is 9 in 10 messengers.

Several other Christian denominations allow women to serve as pastors, however. As The Christian Post previouslyreported, this number even includes churches that are considered theologically conservative. Yet while some of those denominations allow women to serve as pastors, they do not allow women to serve in higher roles, such as the office of bishop.

Though the SBC has garnered the most headlines of late, the denomination is far from the only Christian denomination that prohibits women from serving as either pastors or priests, as numerous theological traditions reserve ordination for men.

Read about 10 theologically conservative denominations that allow female pastors here and here

Here are seven examples of Christian denominations in the United States that do not allow women to serve in the role of pastor or priest. They include multiple Protestant sects, as well as older churches.

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Pastor Greg Laurie lists key signs Jesus is coming back: 'We're getting close'

Harvest Christian Fellowship Church Pastor Greg Laurie recently shared with his congregation key signs Jesus is coming back and provided tips on how to prepare for the momentous occasion.

In a July 30 sermon titled Is Jesus Coming Back Again? Laurie said the New Testament mentions Christ's return over 300 times or about one of every 13 verses. He highlighted that the Bible heavily emphasizes Christ's return, with 27% to 33% of it being prophecy, and that many of the predictions have already happened.

We can look in retrospect at prophecies that were once in the future but are now in the past and realize that God predicted those things with 100 percent accuracy. Therefore, we can be safe in concluding that He will fulfill the other prophecies that are yet in our future," he said.

Laurie said there are "signs of the times" showing Christ's imminent return. He cited "the emergence of China as a superpower," "the lessening of the United States as a superpower," "the repeated threats against Israel spoken of in the Bible" and "statements from our world leaders about a potential Armageddon" due to the war in Ukraine.

I would add to this the explosion of technology, especially artificial intelligence, increasing government overreach in our lives, where the government is seeking to gain more and more control of what happens to us, he continued.

I would also add the dramatic increase of drug use decimating American cities, international financial instability, mass shootings, the disintegration of the family, the calculated attacks against the family. The Bible says, In the last days, there will be satanically energized times and things will go from bad to worse.

Christians puzzled by global events over the past 15 years, especially the last three years, should see them as indications of Jesus' imminent return, Laurie added.

Things that are happening right before our eyes, the blatant pushing and promotion of immorality on every single platform, the redefinition of what a man and a woman are, including child gender mutilation, where young children think that they're transgender and the parents actually encouraging these surgeries, the pastor said.

I would add to this the aggressive marketing of this evil on mainstream platforms, including stores and streaming services. It's just crazy. These are signs of the times.

Laurie noted that while many of the signs he listed pointing to Jesus' return are predominantly negative, there are also some positive indicators of the End Times.

He referenced Acts 2:17, which states that, in the last days, God will pour my spirit out on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams and your young men will see visions.

When I came to Christ during the Jesus Movement, I was dreaming the dreams. Now, I'm the old man seeing the visions. But it's on all flesh, the Holy Spirit being poured out. So many exciting things, Laurie said.

As an example of this outpouring, Laurie cited the Asbury University revival in Kentucky, where thousands of students engaged in prolonged prayer, attracting global attention. He also emphasized the influence of the "Jesus Revolution" film, which has led to numerous conversions and spontaneous baptisms.

He advised Christians to ask themselves two questions: What does this all mean to us?" and "How should we be impacted by this teaching from Scripture that Christ could come back at any time?

It should have an impact on us," he said. "It's a blessing to study Bible prophecy. Some people say, Well, you cant understand it and it's too hard to sort out. I beg to differ. It is not God's desire to conceal, but to reveal. And the very word 'revelation' means the 'unveiling.'"

Laurie emphasized that "there's a blessing attached to the person who studies the book of Revelation, in particular, and Bible prophecy in general."

However, Laurie warned that "people sometimes go to extremes," as such trying to set an exact date for Jesus' return. He cited Matthew 24:36: But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."

"We don't 'know the day or the hour.' I don't believe in date-setting, but I do believe we're getting close," he added. "This is something God wants us to know about. And this is something that as we study it, should impact us personally."

Laurie said it's important for Christians to be patient when waiting for the Lord's return, adding that "there's an element of excitement in this patience."

"I'm really looking forward to that moment, sort of like a kid waiting for Christmas Day to happen, so they can open up their presents. You're looking forward to this," Laurie said.

"We should not be having a relaxed attitude. We should be alert. Romans 13:11 says, 'Understanding the present time, the hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber because our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is nearly over. The day is almost here.'"

Regarding why Jesus has not returned yet, Laurie noted that he believed "Christ has not returned yet because He's waiting for more people to come into the Kingdom of God."

"The Bible says, 'God is not late.' As some men calculate this. He's not slow in keeping His promise. He's patient with you, not willing that any should perish, but He wants everyone to come to repentance,'" Laurie said.

"I think sometimes we groan. We make it all about ourselves. 'Oh, Lord, this world is so evil. I just want you to come and catch us up to Heaven to be in your presence.' But the Lord is saying, 'Yeah, I hear that. But you know what? I want more souls saved. I want more people in my Kingdom. And I want you to care about that.'"
Senior Center Shuts Down Bible Study, Missing TX Pastor Found Dead, Christian Security Firm Rescued American Family In Haiti

link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 07:47 07:47

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Top headlines for Monday, August 14, 2023

In this episode, we first examine the controversy surrounding a Missouri senior living center who is under threat of a lawsuit by a Christian legal advocacy group due to its alleged ban on residents conducting Bible studies. We then reflect on the heartbreaking story of the Late Texas Pastor Phillip Loveday, whose family is enduring an unspeakable loss following his unexpected suicide. Lastly, we discuss the incredible story of a New Hampshire nurse and her daughter's daring rescue in Haiti, facilitated by faith-based security company, Concilium Inc., in cooperation with U.S officials.

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Top headlines for Monday, August 14, 2023

In this episode, we first examine the controversy surrounding a Missouri senior living center who is under threat of a lawsuit by a Christian legal advocacy group due to its alleged ban on residents conducting Bible studies. We then reflect on the heartbreaking story of the Late Texas Pastor Phillip Loveday, whose family is enduring an unspeakable loss following his unexpected suicide. Lastly, we discuss the incredible story of a New Hampshire nurse and her daughter's daring rescue in Haiti, facilitated by faith-based security company, Concilium Inc., in cooperation with U.S officials.
The politics of Jesus

There is an interesting observation from Michael Warren Davis in the American Conservative:

For whatever it is worth, I strongly suspect that Russia will succumb to the Franco effect. By cynically allying itself with Putin, the Russian Church will (once again) discredit herself in the eyes of many Russians. Why Kirill, it profit a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world. But for the Kremlin? No patriarch in the last hundred years has been able to refuse that bargain. Alas. So, I would not be surprised to find that adherence to Orthodoxy drops off a bit over the next few years.

Davis links back to an earlier article citing Franco:

By trying to force Catholicism on the Spanish people, Francisco Franco created resentment against the Church and hastened its decline in Spain. As a rule, when the government becomes more religious, public religiosity declines. (The phenomenon is now playing out in Islamic theocracies like Turkey and Iran.) The same thing happens even if people think they want a theocracy. If their hearts remain unconverted, theyll get sick of public religion pretty quickly. Thats what happened in Renaissance Florence under Savonarola. Now, dont get me wrong. This isnt a paean to freedom of religion or any of that nonsense. God is no respecter of persons, and neither am I. No: this is about psychology. Laws are good at reinforcing a moral consensus. Thats why the theocratic monarchies of the Middle Ages survived for a thousand years. But when you try to use state power to build a religious consensus, it tends to backfire. In the modern world, such regimes have a zero percent success rate.

There is always the temptation by religionists to believe that power in their hands can enact a holy regime. The results are always at best very mixed, and usually, the experiment does not last long. Religious views that are perceived to be imposed become unpopular, and the coercion enforcing them becomes ultimately unsustainable.

The old political order in Latin America for centuries was aligned with Roman Catholicism, which commanded until recent years over 90% of Latins. Some military dictatorships of the 1960s-80s were perceived to be aligned with the Catholic Church. Now Catholicism in Latin America is on track to sink below 50% of the population. Pentecostalism is displacing Catholicism, accompanied by growing numbers of unaffiliated. Of course, parts of Latin Pentecostalism are making their own political alignments with consequences not yet fully foreseen.

Even without coercion, religions perceived to be strongly aligned with particular political forces can lose their savor, while nonaligned religions prosper.

Recently in Comment, Mark Noll credited the wildly successful evangelistic success of early American Methodism, in contrast to established churches, to its detachment from partisan politics:

As a spiritual movement, Methodists achieved remarkable success in large part because they kept their message nonpartisan in a nation riven by political-religious conflict. But when the this-worldly convictions tied to early Methodist spirituality confronted the realities of American political controversy, especially concerning slavery, the Methodist religious revolution faltered.

And:

Methodist concentration on scriptural holiness produced remarkable results, particularly in joyful personal liberation, disciplined personal piety, and supportive community fellowship. Yet the singleness of purpose that kept Methodists from instrumentalizing their religion for political purposes was shaping a society where others did not hesitate. Observers in the early 21 century where the politicization of religion has become so contentious might consider an ability to remain above the fray idyllic. Simply by not harnessing their religious energies to political bandwagons, early Methodists did maintain their religious integrity. Yet with a political tabula rasa, the Methodist movement could not offer much resistance to other influences once Asburys iron discipline passed from the scene. Because Methodists had not developed mechanisms for connecting individual piety to systemic public responsibilities, they drifted like political chameleons after Asburys determined apoliticism wore off.

The collapse of Methodist social influence in America began with its greatest political victory: Prohibition. After Prohibitions repeal, Methodism first began to lose its share of the American population, and then later in absolute numbers, all the while becoming politically less and less relevant. Presidents Roosevelt, Taft and Wilson all spoke to Methodist governing bodies during the lead-up to Prohibition, after which another president never again addressed a Methodist juridical convention. In the 1950s, Bishop Bromley Oxnam was exasperated when the Methodist bishops met with President Eisenhower, who offered only a photo op, and no interest in hearing their views. Oxnam was not discouraged from pursuing other channels of political influence for his denomination.

Perhaps this cycle of churches eschewing and embracing politics is unavoidable. Rising religions focus on gaining new members and creating new communities of devotion. Once large in numbers, they command social influence and are courted by political forces, to which they succumb. These political engagements are not always negative seductions. Religious groups, especially when large, have accompanying societal responsibilities. Their adherents naturally want guidance about their duties as citizens. The difficult balance for religious groups is to encourage good citizenship without themselves becoming partisan actors and losing their more important spiritual credibility. Effective religious communities prioritize Gods eternal kingdom. Effectively advocating for constructive faith-inspired political engagement without conflating faith with a particular political brand is always challenging.

This poll earlier this year asked respondents to place Jesus on the political ideological spectrum. Naturally, respondents aligned Him with their own politics. Hopefully, these respondents, whatever their politics, were at least shaped by the virtues and practices that Jesus taught.

Of course, Jesus as God Incarnate and Second Person of the Trinity cannot be placed on any ideological spectrum. As Creator and Savior, He cannot be reduced to our categories. We stand in His Judgement. Our politics are at best an approximation of what we think He desires in our fallen world. But we must be very slow to speak politically for Him. And we must be mindful that even a righteous political cause if pursued with intemperance while claiming His name, will discredit our cause and even His.

Originally published at Juicy Ecumenism.
The Hiding Place: A powerful story of unwavering faith

The Hiding Place is a new cinema adaptation telling the true story of how Corrie ten Boom and her family risked their lives to smuggle persecuted Jewish refugees to freedom during World War II.

Corrie was born in Haarlem, in the Netherlands, into a family of watchmakers in the late 1800s and she became the first licensed female watchmaker in the country. When the War broke out, she helped many Jews escape the Nazis until finally being caught and sent to Ravensbruck concentration camp which, remarkably, she survived. After the War, she dedicated her life to sharing the message of faith and forgiveness.

Christian Today spoke with lead star of The Hiding Place, Nan Gurley, to hear her thoughts on Corrie's life and the lessons on faith the film presents.

How did Corrie's faith aid her in supporting the Jewish people?

I think at the heart of it, Corrie believed beyond any doubt in the sovereignty of God. She understood even in this most stressful time of her life that God was in control, that He had a plan. She was putting her life on the line. At any point in the day or night she could have been killed for what she was doing and yet she decided God is on the throne. He has not moved from that place of authority, He knows what's going on and He's going to work this out.

Corrie and her family were hiding the Jews in their home at the risk of their own safety. Their bravery stemmed from their Christian faith. How has your own faith been encouraged by participating in this production?

You cannot look at this story without asking yourself the question 'if I was faced with something similar, what would I do?'. I take heart and I'm encouraged by the fact that Corrie and her father and sister were prepared for this moment for a lot of reasons. Firstly her great grandfather years earlier had started a weekly prayer meeting there in that same home for the Jews.

Anti-Semitism was rising in 1844 and he started this weekly prayer group to pray for the safety of the Jews. What he did not realise was that he was laying an intercessory ground work for his own descendents to be prepared for the hour that was coming, when Hitler took over and began annihilating Jews.

Corrie, her sister Betsie and father Casper had a tradition of hospitality in their home. By taking people into their home, they just continued doing what they had always done, but this time the stakes were a matter of life and death. I take courage from seeing how the Ten Booms were already practising a hidden faithfulness.

What attracted you to the role of Corrie Ten Boom?

It's thrilling, it's an honour to play a real person as wonderful as Corrie Ten Boom. I was attracted to this role because Corrie is a hero of mine and a hero for a lot of people. To have the privilege to tell the story of her is the honour of my life. It's a thrill to tell a story that has such eternal significance.

As a Christian yourself what lessons did you learn from studying Corrie's life?

The Ten Booms successfully carried on their mission rescuing Jews for two years, then Corrie and Betsie were sent to Ravensbruck concentration camp. Even though they had moments of doubt and fear, she and Betsie were able to triumph through this suffering.

They were successful in getting a Bible into the concentration camp and after they worked a 12 hour shift of exhausting labour, they would go back to Barracks 28 where they lived in Ravensbruck and hold Bible studies. The guards would not come into the barracks because of the flea infestation. Corrie and Betsie were grateful for the fleas because it gave them the freedom to have Bible study every night and to share the gospel with the women there.

Somehow they were able to take the experience of a concentration camp and not make it about them. They grasped the opportunity to share Christ to women who were desperate to find meaning and hope in this seemingly hopeless situation. What I take away from that is to ask God what He in His sovereignty will allow me to walk through that I can make into an opportunity to glorify him in whatever position he puts me in like Corrie and Betsie did.

That is very profound - praising and worshipping God is not always kept in the confines of a church building. People can be in a concentration camp, a place filled with deep despair, and still find it in themselves to worship, pray and read the Bible.

Corrie and Betsie were able to see a bigger picture in what they were suffering and led many women to Christ. Corrie, in one of her books, tells this interesting story and this is one of my favourite moments. She says that Betsie would be reading the scripture on her bunk with the women surrounding her all pressed in, they were cramped in a very small space. Corrie writes about how Betsie would translate scripture into German. It would then be translated into Russian and they would hear it whispered from Russian to French and then from French to Czech and Polish. So Barracks 28 was filled with the whispers of these women translating the Bible verses into their own languages. In fact Barracks 28 in Ravensbruck was talked about and known as the 'crazy place' where they hoped.

What for you is the main message of the film?

Corrie wrote about a moment when she was young speaking to her father about her fear of not being ready for moments in life where she would be called upon to do something she didn't think she would be able to do. Caspar recalls a time when she would go and visit her aunt in Amsterdam and he asked if she remembered when he gave her the ticket before they got on the train. She recalled him giving her a ticket right before she got on the train. He said it is also true that our heavenly father will give the tickets she needs to go on any journey he plans for her. He will give it to you right in the moments that you need it and she clung to that truth all her life.

That to me is the most powerful message because it applies to all of us whatever time we're living in. Corrie lived through World War II. We have been chosen to live in this hour, it's no accident. He has the ticket for each one of us for the things He asks us to do. That to me is one of the many encouraging and powerful messages of this story.

Corrie had the help of her family when she was hiding Jews from the Nazis. How important is family in the film?

Betsie and Corrie's sisterhood sustained them, especially in Ravensbruck. Nobody can help you like family, and their bond was a huge source of encouragement and strength to both of them as they lived together side by side in Barracks 28. Corrie says that her most difficult time after being captured was the four months she spent in solitary confinement separated from Betsie.

Family was extremely important, everyone had a role to play. The actual hiding place that they built was behind a false wall in Corrie's bedroom where they could hide six people at a time. It was 2 feet wide and 8 feet tall. Betsie 's role was to cook, Corrie's role was to stay on the phone all day and arrange to get illegal ration cards and arrange to move the people that were with them onto the next safe house.

In your research for the role of Corrie were there any aspects of her life that stood out to you the most?

I would say it was the lifestyle of faithfulness. Corrie was all about the gospel. Even before it was dangerous to live for the gospel she had a real servant's heart and was really community orientated. That's had a real impact on me. Seeing this everyday love of Jesus that was manifested in the family's lives was hugely informative to me on a personal level as well as the ability to interpret her character in the film and on stage.

What impact do you hope for the film to have on audiences?

We learned that it sold so well in Australia that they had to add more viewings of the film in theatres. For the global release we are hoping that it will be hugely successful and that more people will come to know the story of the ten Booms during World War II. This story needs to be told to every generation until Jesus comes back. We here in Nashville are very thrilled that we get a part to play in continuing telling this great story to the world.

The filmed stage-play is set to be released globally on August 16th. For more information, visit https://thehidingplacefilm.com
Brice Marden on painting: When I have put all I can into it and it really breathes, I stop

In memory of the New York artist, who has died aged 84, we revisit a story published in 2020, which noted how his style had evolved from monochrome Sixties homages to Bob Dylan and Nico through to experiments with gestural marks evoking an insect caught in amber

When Brice Marden (1938-2023) said the rectangle is a great human invention, it was a clarion call for painting at a time when artists were breaking free of the frame, and, in some cases, rejecting the canvas altogether. People were saying painting is dead, he explained. It was my way of saying what can be done. Born in 1938 in Bronxville, New York, Marden trained in fine art at Boston University and the Yale School of Art and Architecture (with Richard Serra, Chuck Close and Robert Mangold), before emerging as one of the art stars of New York in the early 1960s. Unlike many of his Pop peers, Marden made his name creating large, waxy, monochrome paintings. These works were partly inspired by the Abstract Expressionist painter Jasper Johns (b. 1930), whom Marden discovered in 1963 while moonlighting as a gallery attendant at the Jewish Museum. I was guarding a huge white flag painting all day long, said Marden, so I really got to know the work and he became a big influence on me. Between shifts at the museum and making paintings, Marden lived a bohemian existence, hanging out with the troubadours and beat poets of Greenwich Village. He became acquainted with Bob Dylan and Nico through his first wife Pauline, the sister of Joan Baez. In his first solo show at the Bykert Gallery in 1966, he paid homage to Dylan in a bruised purple monochrome, and to Nico in a tawny blonde work.

Open a larger version of this image Brice Marden, Complements, 2004-07. Diptych, oil on canvas. Overall: 72 x 96 in (182.9 x 243.8 cm). Each canvas: 72 x 48 in (182.9 x 121.9 cm). Sold for $30,920,000 at Christies in New York on 10 July 2020. Artwork:  Brice Marden, DACS 2023

Critics remarked on Mardens technique of revealing the painting process by incorporating splashes from his palette knife in thin horizontal bands at the base of his canvases. The artist had conceived the idea during a trip to Paris in the early 1960s, where he had witnessed workmen stuccoing war-damaged buildings and become fascinated by the drips accumulating on the pavement. There was this intense physicality to it, he recalled of the experience. Marden continued to explore minimalism throughout the 1970s, expanding his spectrum to include colours from the natural world, but in 1984 he had a sudden shift in style. On a trip to China, the artist encountered the Cold Mountain Poems of the 8th-century poet Han Shan. Keen to incorporate drawing into his paintings, he realised that Chinese calligraphy could be his way in.

The Complements diptych has been worked and reworked with a palette knife, scraping down the multiple layers until their traces are nothing but ghostly impressions

Back in New York, he started to break up the flat planes of colour with gestural marks. To begin with, these were spiky and intense, but gradually they evened out to flow freely. The effect was hypnotic, like a live wire flexing across the painting or, as Marden reflected, the lines created by an insect caught in amber. The Complements diptych, above, painted between 2004 and 2007 and exhibited at New Yorks Matthew Marks Gallery in 2007, is a vibrant example of this later style. The orange and blue rectangles are traversed by a wiry collection of snaking coils, continuously circulating until they are forced into abrupt turns by the edges of the canvas. The painting has been worked and reworked with a palette knife, scraping down the multiple layers until their traces are nothing but ghostly impressions.

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A graphic aerial image of the North Port following its redevelopment shows the port with waterside parks, cultural exhibition pavilions, clusters of business spaces and wharves that can accommodate mega-size cruise ships. Courtesy of Busan Metropolitan City



By Holly Chik



Right in front of the potential venue of the World Expo 2030, the southern Korean port city of Busan is set to start building the world's first floating city later next year on the waters off the North Port.



A community of 12,000 local and international residents will live on a flood-proof buoyant platform with "zero waste" systems after its completion expected by 2027.



"Korea has the technical capability and engineering talent to make this happen and change the course of history for all coastal cities and island nations facing climatic threats and sea level rise," Itai Madamombe, the founder and CEO of New York-based "blue tech" firm OCEANIX, told The Korea Times.



The new housing model for climate refugees may also welcome visitors and short-stay guests from the World Expo, if the country's second-largest city wins the bid against Rome and Riyadh, the capital cities of Italy and Saudi Arabia, according to the Busan city government's Expo Bid Promotion Headquarters.



"Such an experience will raise their awareness of climate change and cause them to contemplate the alternatives that humanity can adopt for a sustainable future," Cho You-jang, director general of the headquarters said.



While the Expo is a chance to showcase Korea's advanced science and technology and national power, Cho said the country also "sees this as an opportunity to make another wheel of development in the southern area of Korea."



"Once the infrastructure has been improved in the southern area, local economies will be rejuvenated. This will naturally lead to balanced regional development. And finally, Korea will have two strong axes of growth," he said.



Busan is planning to build a new international airport by 2029, relocate current port facilities including a pier and railway by 2026 and link the neighboring Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam regions with a railway network, according to Cho.



He said the ultimate purpose of hosting the international exhibition is to build up Busan as a global hub city where industries such as logistics, finance, culture and tourism would grow and attract domestic and foreign talent with new job opportunities.



Cho said the country is highly centralized with political, economic, social and cultural capabilities gravitating toward the capital area.



"Such concentration has led to housing and traffic congestion issues, while other regions have faced decreasing populations," he said. "More seriously, this collectively has hampered the competitiveness of Korea as a whole."



In 2020, slightly over half of the country's population resided in Seoul and its surrounding areas, which includes the capital city, Incheon, and Gyeonggi, according to Statistics Korea. Nationwide, 18.5 percent of the population lived in Seoul and 6.5 percent in Busan.



The government agency also projected that inter-province migration will continue to flow out of Seoul and Busan between 2020 and 2050, and Gyeonggi and Incheon will receive more population.



Physicist Yoo In-Kwon, the dean of research affairs at Pusan National University, said he strongly supports the bid for the World Expo to be held in Busan, echoing Cho's aspirations.



"Busan city and Pusan National University share the same destiny," the professor said. "Our university is now struggling against the monopoly effect in Korea."



"Everybody is going to the Seoul area. It is not only not good for Busan but also for Seoul. Their competitions become too high and survival conditions are too tough," Yoo, a native of Seoul and a graduate of Seoul National University said.



"And here it's empty, more and more so. It is our big worry."



"If Busan city could make money and make job positions here, students can stay here and not go to Seoul. Of course quality, mind and passion for research (are important), but in terms of absolute numbers, our population must be increased here."



When asked how the lack of talent and students affects research outcomes, he said: "big, huge, critical."



"Especially for big projects, the number of students is critical and essential. With a reduced number of graduate students, projects should be scaled down."



As the dean of research affairs, Yoo said he is working hard to encourage changes to transform the university to become oriented in research of human, social and natural sciences.



"Without the three essential parts, it is not a university. It (should not be) just a training area for companies," he said. "As a national university especially, we should have a backbone structure for real research institutions and projects."



He said basic research is the foundation of developing applied technologies, which the country focuses on. "Without the base, we will always have limits. We can copy something, but we cannot really create something new."



He said the country needed to first develop technologies to stimulate the economy. But now the lack of basic research and originality have left tech giants "just below the top level of technology" and falling short of leading innovators globally.



In November, member states of the Bureau International des Expositions, the international body in charge of overseeing the event, will vote to elect the host country of the 2030 World Expo.





Holly Chik is a science reporter with the South China Morning Post. She is currently based in Seoul, reporting for both The Korea Times and the South China Morning Post under an exchange program.


The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma is the largest tribe in the US, with more than 460,000 citizens living across a 7,000-square-mile reservation in Oklahoma and around the world. As a widespread community, when COVID-19 struck, Cherokee Nations IT services department knew it needed a way to connect citizens digitally with government services, emergency relief, COVID-19 aid, and other vital resources for support.

Cherokee Nation had run digital campaigns in the past, but the systems in place could not authenticate citizenship, leaving a significant amount of manual labor behind each interaction. COVID-19 expedited the need for a digital platform to handle authentication and meet the spike in demand for assistance in the wake of a global pandemic.

Cherokee Nation CIO Paula Starrs solution was the Gadugi Portal  a full-service app built on Salesforces platform that not only gives Cherokee Nation citizens quick access to government resources, but also authenticates citizenship with the click of a button. Gadugi, which means working together in Cherokee, is what the core of the portal is all about: connecting Cherokee citizens with support and resources and finding new ways to better connect them with their culture.

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Connecting citizens with vital resources

The Gadugi Portal, which started as a simple COVID assistance and contract tracing app, has since grown into a full-service application that automatically authenticates citizenship, connects users with assistance and resources, identifies scholarship opportunities, and much more.

Prior to the portals development, service applications could be submitted online but citizens were still required to drive to the tribal headquarters in Tahlequah, Okla., for authentication, leaving Starrs team with a lot of physical paperwork. The biggest bottleneck was validating citizenship against large citizen databases.

When in-person meetings and interaction ground to a halt in March 2020, Starrs team set about automating the citizen authentication process, and by June 2021 the first assistance campaign was offered through the Gadugi Portal, extending support and relief surrounding COVID-19 related hardships.
comdivision and VMware show how leading-edge cloud solutions help customers gain a competitive lead in their industries

For more than 25 years, comdivision has drawn from its deep well of infrastructure knowledge to help organizations gain business value from leading-edge technologies. And for the majority of that time, the company has done it in partnership with VMware. In fact, comdivision was the first partner to achieve all eight VMware Master Services Competencies (MSCs) globally, demonstrating an ongoing commitment to continuously expanding its knowledge and delivering excellence to every customer engagement.

Yves Sandfort, comdivisions CEO, says, When VMware started the program around master services competencies, our team was among the first to earn them, which firmly joined our brand together with VMware. Today, having earned all eight MSCs allows comdivision to showcase our capabilities in delivering cutting-edge virtualization and cloud solutions for our customers.

Many of comdivisions customers view technology as a way to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving global economyto lead in their respective industries by gaining greater operational speed and agility. In many cases, this means adopting a multi-cloud strategy.

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Very early in the assessment of every customer, we want to understand their business and what they are trying to achieve with technology, Sandfort explains. Today, in a more and more complex world, we are helping customers move from an on-prem data center to the new multi-cloud world and re-architecting their environment to get the best out of each cloud.

He adds, That is why partnering with VMware is very important for us. We have customers who thrive on being cutting-edge, and by leveraging VMware technology we enable them to fulfill their vision.

Enabling a leading manufacturer to streamline global operations

comdivision works with customers of all sizes, across multiple industries, delivering solutions that range from cloud infrastructure, management, and automation to digital workspaces, data center virtualization, software-defined networking (SD-WAN), and more. Sandfort notes, We have a very in-depth relationship with VMware, working together to build massive cloud environments and architect some of the complex solutions imaginable.

One of comdivisions long-time customers that benefited from the VMware partnership very early on is VEKA, the worlds largest manufacturer of extruded polyvinyl chloride (PVC) profile systems for windows and doors. VEKA has manufacturing facilities in 40 countries around the world and employs more than 6,000 people.

VEKA has used VMware virtualization in its data centers for more than a decade, and as its workforce became more distributed globally, the company looked for additional VMware solutions to support greater collaboration and workspace efficiency. comdivision was ready to deliver.

VEKA started as one of the early adopters of VMware infrastructure virtualization in Germany, and they were the first in Germany to deploy a virtual desktop infrastructure, Sandfort points out. It was only natural for us to help them on this next stage of their journey with a VMware SD-WAN solution.

Over the course of two years, comdivision worked in partnership with VMware to move VEKA off its traditional wide-area network (WAN) to a software-defined WAN (SD-WAN), implement a multi-cloud strategy, and deploy VMware Workspace ONE for application management across all its devices worldwide.

Sandfort reports that the customer saw benefits from the SD-WAN almost immediately. We had a case just last year in the US where all of a sudden VEKA was running out of space in one of its manufacturing plants. They were able to find new space, but with MPLS, they would have potentially waited six months to get connectivity. Whereas, with the combination of SD-WAN and satellite technologies, we could bring that new manufacturing plant up and have them connected within a matter of weeks.

Additionally, Workspace ONE has streamlined device management, enabling VEKA to reduce operational costs and deliver more consistent security, all while making it faster and simpler to onboard users. User satisfaction is up and there is more consistent security. Sandfort notes, For VEKA, security has always been at the forefront. They enabled all their mobile devices, whether cell phones, tablets, scanners, or other media devices, with Workspace One. So, they have total control over each device with multi-factor authentication and secure device management.

By moving VEKA into a multi-cloud environment, comdivision has also opened up a world of possibilities for the company to expand and adapt to compete effectively as its business continues to grow. As a partner, comdivision is optimistic about VMwares multi-cloud roadmap because it takes into consideration that there is no single cloud or technology that will solve every customers problems. With VMware, were able to help customers utilize whatever infrastructure approach is best to meet their needs, whether its on-prem, in private cloud, or with any cloud provider they choose.

Sandfort concludes, At comdivision, we believe in VMware technologies. They enable us to always be at the forefront of the industry, and to build solutions our customers need not only in the next few months but for the coming decade and beyond.

To learn more about innovative, cloud-expert companies like comdivision, visit the resources on VMware Partner Executive Edge, and check out our Cloud Smart Strategy whitepaper.
Charred remains of an apartment complex in the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina, western Maui, Hawaii, is seen in this Aug. 12 photo. AFP-Yonhap



Anger was growing Saturday over the official response to an inferno that levelled a Hawaiian town, killing at least 93 people in the deadliest wildfire in the United States for over 100 years.



More than 2,200 structures were damaged or destroyed as the fire tore through Lahaina, according to official estimates, wreaking $5.5 billion in damage and leaving thousands homeless.



Hawaiian authorities have begun a probe into the handling of the fire, with residents saying there had been no warning.



"The mountain behind us caught on fire and nobody told us jack," Vilma Reed told AFP.



"You know when we found that there was a fire? When it was across the street from us."



Reed, whose house was destroyed by the blaze, said she was depending on handouts and the kindness of strangers.



"This is my home now," the 63-year-old said, gesturing to the car she has been sleeping in with her daughter, grandson and two cats.



Lahaina, a town of more than 12,000 and former home of the Hawaiian royal family, has been reduced to ruins, its lively hotels and restaurants turned to ashes.



A banyan tree at the center of the community for 150 years has been scarred by the flames but still stands upright, its branches denuded and sooty trunk transformed into an awkward skeleton.





Hawaii stevedores and other volunteers prepare donations for the victims of the Maui wildfires at Pier 1, where they will ship them to Maui next week, in Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S., Aug. 12. Reuters-Yonhap



Deadliest in a century



The County of Maui said in a Saturday night update the number of confirmed fatalities had increased to 93, up from 89.



Governor Josh Green had warned that the official death toll was bound to grow.



"It's going to continue to rise. We want to brace people for that," he said.



The new toll makes the blaze the deadliest in the United States since 1918, when 453 people died in Minnesota and Wisconsin, according to the non-profit research group the National Fire Protection Association.



The death toll surpassed 2018's Camp Fire in California, which virtually wiped the small town of Paradise off the map and killed 86 people.



Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said only a small fraction of the disaster zone has been searched and only two victims have been identified because of how badly they were burned.



"The remains we're finding are from a fire that melted metal," he said. "We have to do rapid DNA to identify every one of these.



"When we pick up the remains... they fall apart."









Firefighters were battling at least one other blaze in Maui on Saturday night, in the inland mountainous Upcountry.



The Pulehu/Kihei fire in the south was declared 100 percent contained on Saturday night.



'Underestimated the lethality'



Hawaii congresswoman Jill Tokuda told CNN that officials had been taken by surprise by the tragedy.



"We underestimated the lethality, the quickness of fire," she said.



Green, the governor, defended the immediate response, saying the situation had been complicated by the presence of multiple fires and by the strength of the winds.



"Having seen that storm, we have doubts that much could have been done with a fiery fast-moving fire like that," he said.



Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez said her office would examine "critical decision-making and standing policies leading up to, during and after the wildfires on Maui and Hawaii islands this week."



Maui suffered numerous power outages during the crisis, preventing many residents from receiving emergency alerts on their cell phones  something Tokuda said officials should have prepared for.



No emergency sirens were sounded, and many Lahaina residents have spoken of learning about the blaze because of neighbors running down the street.



"We have got to make sure that we do better," Tokuda added.



In its emergency management plan last year, the State of Hawaii described the risk wildfires posed to people as being "low".



Maui's fires follow other extreme weather events in North America this summer, with record-breaking wildfires still burning across Canada and a major heat wave baking the US southwest.



'Europe and parts of Asia have also endured soaring temperatures, with major fires and floods wreaking havoc. Scientists say human-caused global warming is exacerbating natural hazards, making them more likely and more deadly.





Survivors and churchgoers sing during a Sunday church service held by Pastor Brown of Lahaina's Grace Baptist Church, at Maui Coffee Attic in Wailuku, Hawaii, U.S., Aug. 13. AFP-Yonhap
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Palau-flagged vessel Sukru Okan transits Bosphorus on its way to the Black Sea in Istanbul, Turkey, Aug. 13 in this screen capture from a video. Reuters-Yonhap



A Russian warship on Sunday fired warning shots at a cargo ship in the southwestern Black Sea as it made its way northwards, the first time Russia has fired on merchant shipping beyond Ukraine since exiting a landmark U.N.-brokered grain deal last month.



In July, Russia halted participation in the Black Sea grain deal that allowed Ukraine to export agricultural produce via the Black Sea. Moscow said that it deemed all ships heading to Ukrainian waters to be potentially carrying weapons.



On Sunday, Russia said in a statement that its Vasily Bykov patrol ship had fired automatic weapons on the Palau-flagged Sukru Okan vessel after the ship's captain failed to respond to a request to halt for an inspection.



Russia said the vessel was making its way toward the Ukrainian port of Izmail. Refinitiv shipping data showed the ship was currently near the coast of Bulgaria and heading toward the Romanian port of Sulina.



"To forcibly stop the vessel, warning fire was opened from automatic weapons," the Russian defence ministry said.



The Russian military boarded the vessel with the help of a Ka-29 helicopter, the ministry said.



"After the inspection group completed its work on board, the Sukru Okan continued on its way to the port of Izmail," the defence ministry said.



A Turkish defence ministry official said he had heard an incident had taken place involving a ship heading for Romania, and that Ankara was looking into it.



Reuters could not immediately reach the vessel or its owners for comment.



A senior adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the incident was a "clear violation of international law of the sea, an act of piracy and a crime against civilian vessels of a third country in the waters of other states."



The adviser, Mykhailo Podolyak, added on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, that "Ukraine will draw all the necessary conclusions and choose the best possible response."



Zelenskyy did not mention the incident in his nightly video address.



Natalia Humeniuk, spokesperson for the southern military command, stressed that the Russian statement had not been confirmed by other official sources. "I believe that attention should be drawn to this and the peculiarities of hybrid warfare should be kept in mind," she said in televised remarks.



"This statement could be a signal to all civilian vessels in the Black Sea," she said, and called for all transportation and navigation there to be conducted under international guarantees. Russia, she added, was trying to assert its right to stop a ship or deploy aircraft in the Black Sea and "face no consequences."





Ukrainian border guards install a border sign on Snake (Zmiinyi) Island in the Black Sea, Odesa region, Ukraine, Aug. 13, in this social media picture. Reuters-Yonhap
Only 4% of the largest 250 charities in the country currently report their disability pay gap, according to research by Civil Society.

Analysis of the top 250 charities by income, according to Charity Finances 100 and 250 Indexes, shows that 11 organisations reported the difference in average pay between their disabled and non-disabled employees.

For the 11 charities that provided data, the average disability pay gap was -0.26%, meaning there was no significant difference in average pay for disabled and non-disabled employees.

According to the Office of National Statistics, the disability pay gap for the UK was 12.8% in 2021, which is the latest data available. This means charity's disability pay gap falls well below the national average.

However, results varied between charities from 13.4% in favour of non-disabled staff at Unicef to 26.6% in favour of disabled staff at Scope.

Many charities said in their reports that they chose to report their disability pay gaps to promote transparency and accountability.

Highest pay gaps

While it is a requirement for all organisations with more than 250 employees to submit their gender pay gap, it is not compulsory for them to report on any others that might exist within the organisation.

However, some organisations have voluntarily reported their disability pay gaps for the year 2022.

Three charities reported a zero disability pay gap, three had a pay gap in favour of disabled staff, while the remaining five had pay gaps that disadvantaged disabled colleagues.

The charity with the highest disability pay gap in the sample was Unicef with 13.4%. This means that, on average, disabled colleagues at Unicef make 87p for every 1 their non-disabled colleagues make. This is the first year the charity reported on its disability pay gap, and told Civil Society it was an important step for transparency and accountability.

Jon Sparkes, executive director at Unicef UK said: We voluntarily collected and published our ethnicity, disability and sexual orientation pay gap because we want to focus attention on diversity and inclusion at Unicef UK; to show our commitment to act and to ensure that we are tackling issues openly and meaningfully.

Meanwhile, disability charity Scope reported the lowest disability pay gap of -26.6%, meaning non-disabled staff make 73p for every 1 their disabled colleagues earn on average. The charity has been reporting its disability pay gap since 2019.

Underrepresentation of disabled people in higher pay grades

Some charities also reported the distribution of disabled staff across their pay grades.

The Princes Trust, which at 12.2% had the second highest disability pay gap of the sample, reported the figures in its pay gap report .

Some 6% of its 1,055 staff members disclosed a disability compared to 87% who declared they did not have a disability. The remainder did not declare their disability status.

The diagram below show over 70% of disabled staff (in the Yes row) at the Princes Trust sit within its lowest pay grades (quartiles 1 and 2).

Our disability pay gap appears to be driven by under-representation of colleagues who have declared themselves as having a disability in our highest earning roles. At this stage, the reason for this underrepresentation is unclear, the report says.

The report states that the charity is looking to improve this as part of its commitments to inclusivity and understanding our pay gaps.

Meanwhile, the Nursing and Midwifery Council reported a disability pay gap of -11.8% in 2022, a decrease from the year before when it sat at -9.8%.

This means non-disabled staff earn 88p for every 1 their disabled colleagues make on average.

According to its pay gap report , 7.7% of the charitys employees are disabled, 80.5% non-disabled, and the remainder did not disclose disability data.

Some 9% of employees in both its highest and lowest pay grades reported a disability, both up from 5% in 2021.

Scope: Important employers report on their disability pay gap

Alison Kerry, head of communications at Scope, said it was important for organisations to monitor pay for their disabled staff as many dont get paid fairly, or have the same opportunities to progress their careers.

Its important employers report on their disability pay gap, as well as the number of disabled people they employ in each pay bracket, she said.

To fully get to grips with the issue, organisations need to understand how many disabled people they employ at each level of the organisation and, in the long term, work out how many disabled staff are progressing to more senior roles. Organisations stand to benefit by attracting and supporting disabled talent at all levels of their organisation.

Wed also recommend gathering and reporting on a broad range of disability workforce data, from tracking the number of disabled people they employ to the number of adjustments offered. This could include measures such as remote working and flexible hours. It will help employers make sure that their working practices are as accessible and inclusive as possible so disabled employees can thrive.

Guide Dogs: Ensures transparency and accountability

Amanda Bennett, head of diversity, equity and inclusion at Guide Dogs, told Civil Society the charity chooses to report its disability and ethnicity pay gaps to promote transparency and accountability.

Although ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting are not required by law, they are a commitment of our diversity equity and inclusion strategy, this is important to us as we believe it ensures transparency and accountability, she said.

In order to drive up our diversity, we need to understand our position and be accountable for it now and in the future, this is crucial in fulfilling our commitments to equity, diversity and inclusion.

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At the end of July, retired British politician Nigel Farage announced that he had suffered de-risking with Coutts Bank.

Coutts said that it was cutting ties with Farage and closed his bank accounts after it saw significant reputational risks and that the former Brexit Party leaders views were at odds with our position as an inclusive organisation.

Farage has since launched his own campaign website against banks anti-money laundering processes and filed a subject access request with the row gathering mainstream media coverage, including front page news with the Telegraph and Mail. NatWest, which owns Coutts, launched an investigation and is being made to explain the de-risking processes of his accounts by the Financial Conduct Authority. Farage believes he has been de-risked as a politically-exposed person.

For Muslim-led charities, the situation is nothing new and watching this furore has felt nothing short of hypocritical as our concerns have failed to reach similar mainstream attention.

Financial discrimination

For decades, charitable organisations, mosques and Muslim individuals have long experienced financial discrimination with the sudden closure of their bank accounts and freezing of funds with little to no communication as to the reasons why.

Charitable funds, donated by the public to provide essential assistance here in the UK or destined to deliver aid in war-torn and poverty-stricken countries, have been blocked. On request of explanation, many of these charities are given nothing more than that this is banking procedures.

Muslim Charities Forum (MCF) has been concerned for years as to the disproportionate effect of this unclear banking practice on Muslim-led third sector organisations. Whether it is named de-banking or de-risking, there are problematic biases and medians used in terminating or restricting banking activities.

Many Muslim-led organisations have experienced the same treatment for over 20 years, suddenly left without banking services and prevented from distributing fundraising income to those in need. The impact is long-running  opening of new accounts for charities is often a lengthy process subject to much scrutiny and taking several months, further delaying an essential response.

For donors, disillusioned by this issue and the security of their money with legitimate, registered charities; the desire to turn to less regulated charitable giving runs high. Despite this, the issue has failed to gather media, government or public attention.

Careful checks and risk management of money transfers are understandable. Many charities work and deliver vital aid in countries where political unrest and corruption run high. This is the very nature of the work in meeting the needs of desperate, hungry, innocent people caught in oppression.

But despite adhering to all legislative and legal processes and operating with complete transparency, various banks have continued to operate their de-risking processes disproportionately, jeopardising the lives of thousands who are dependent on charitable assistance.

Until now, the depth of this issue has flown below the radar of government and official bodies who have not responded to previous calls from charities to request the banking sector to operate with transparency.

Need for a clear framework

The Farage-Coutts row is still playing out and for those Muslim-led charities who have also been affected, the result will be watched with full attention. With Farages own political views at odds with much of the ethos of these groups, it is ironic that his circumstance now has so much in common with Muslims who bank in the UK.

We cant help but ask the question: why does Farages situation gather so much more leverage in the eyes of the media? Is it because his views, deemed controversial by many, are more close to home? Do Muslim-led charities and their communities not require the same level of concern?

At MCF, we have long raised awareness of this issue and continue to do so. Last year, we joined forces with Conciliation Resources and Bond to deliver an event titled Confronting the Hurdles that brought together key stakeholders to discuss issues of financial access and de-risking. Our research found that this issue is widespread and harmful, with Muslim-led groups placed under disproportionate, intense scrutiny despite total adherence to banking measures.

In June last year, NAVCA, NCVO and other collaborative partners produced a brief on the challenges of banking for the voluntary sector, citing the inaccessibility and poor customer service experienced by many involved in charitable work.

With the Coutts investigation gaining traction, now is the time for the government to insist on a clear framework for banks to adhere to that operates in the global public interest and with the same complete transparency that is requested of charitable organisations.

No longer can the well-intentioned donations of the public be held, undelivered to those who urgently need them. No longer can legal, registered charities who operate in high-risk areas to save lives, be prevented from doing so.

The government must step in and ensure that the banking sector operates fairly and is prevented from hampering further peace-building and life-saving efforts.

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Six. Fifty-five. Sixty-seven. Eighty-nine. Ninety-three. Ninety-six. Since the middle of last week, cascading headlines have updated the confirmed death toll caused by wildfires in Hawaii. On Wednesday, the fires, whipped by winds from a passing hurricane, were officially the states deadliest natural disaster since a tsunami in 1960; by Saturday, they had become the deadliest wildfires nationally in more than a hundred years. The climate crisis exacerbated the devastation, as Hawaii has grown much drier in recent years. In the days to come, the confirmed death toll is only expected to rise.

As with the 2018 fires around Paradise, California, and myriad other extreme weather events since, the recent coverage of Hawaii has contained familiar flaws. The fires have been a huge national story, but they havent penetrated to the same extent everywhere, with political media particularly culpable. Over the weekend, Politicos influential Playbook newsletter offered more in-depth coverage of a different stateIowaas Republican presidential candidates grilled meat at the State Fair ahead of caucuses that are still five months away; yesterday, several agenda-setting Sunday shows gave more airtime to the special-counsel investigation into Hunter Biden, the presidents son. (Meet the Press featured twenty-two mentions of Hunter and two of Hawaii.) And even when the fires have been the top story, coverage has not consistently situated them in the context of climate change. Evlondo Cooper, a researcher at Media Matters for America, assessed two hundred and nine segments about the fires on six major networks across two days last week. Just 4 percent of them mentioned climate change.

Coverage of the fires also pointed to dynamics that are specific to Hawaii, and which call to mind an article that Alexandria Neasonmy former CJR colleague, who used to live in the statewrote for our Climate Issue in 2020. I have come to view the American presence on the island as a pyramid of destruction, Neason wrote, with the US military at the base and capitalismnot least of the tourist varietyas the central block. At the top of the pyramid, Neason continued, is the climate crisis, seen in the form of eroding coasts, furious storms, and endangered plants and animalsthe same problems found around the world, in places that are the least responsible for disturbing their environment, places that have been taken over by outsiders. This past week, weve seen it in the form of fire, too.

In researching her piece, Neason collected a litany of articles from national publications that purported to address how the climate crisis affected Hawaii through the prism of tourism. (From the Christian Science Monitor: How climate change could ruin your Hawaii vacation.) Since last weekwhen wildfires sparked on the islands of Hawaii (also known as Big Island) and Maui, where reporting has since been concentratedthat has been by no means the only lens through which national outlets have covered the devastation; indeed, some have amplified official calls not to come to Maui, and interviewed locals who have condemned tourists behavior in recent days. (One source told the BBC: The same waters that our people just died in three days ago are the same waters the very next day these visitorstouristswere swimming in.) Still, coverage framed around tourists needs has, at the very least, formed its own subgenre. (As deadly wildfires blaze, whats the plan for hopeful Hawaii tourists right now?)

The tendency to focus on tourism has been particularly pronounced in coverage of Lahaina, a historic town on Maui that has been leveled by the fires. Kaniela Ing, an indigenous Hawaiian and national director of the Green New Deal Network, noted to Emily Atkin, who writes the climate newsletter Heated, that most breaking-news stories about the fires described Lahaina as a tourist destinationIf youre not from Maui and your readers are not from Maui, they probably only relate to it that way, he saidand yet the town was the heart of Hawaii before statehood, before we were a territory, before we were illegally annexed. In a weekend column, Lee Cataluna, a Maui-born columnist for Honolulu Civil Beat, concurred that much of the journalism that has come out of Lahaina in the days since the fire is for people outside of Lahaina. Residents, after all, are busy grieving and hunting for logistical information, if they have internet access at all. Any news story, any action, any opinion that doesnt center the real people of Lahaina is tangential, maybe even superfluous, Cataluna continued. The people of Lahaina are whats important.

Some coverage has centered Hawaiians and their immediate needs, not least that of local journalistswho, in some cases, have had to contend with losing their own homes to the flames. A challenge for national outlets will be to sustain attention on the ground as the painstaking work of rebuilding begins; various outlets have reported that locals fear being shut out of that process by developers, second-home owners, and other moneyed interests. What I am wondering, personally, is, once the recovery efforts start to unfold and the cameras are gone, whos going to be left more powerful or less powerful? Ing asked on Democracy Now! last week. Are people still going to be paying attention when the recovery work is going to last for years? And is that going to make community members stronger, or is it going to make the people who have mismanaged the land and water and created the conditions for these fires to happen even more powerful?

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In his interview with Atkin, Ing noted that the climate crisis isnt the only dynamic to have exacerbated the fires on Maui. The legacy of the islands sugar plantations has factored in, too, disturbing natural water patterns (Sugar, Neason wrote in her CJR piece, requires enormous amounts of water, and so it was diverted from Hawaiian farms and fishponds, displacing their proprietors) and accelerating the spread of nonnative, highly flammable varieties of grass. On one hand, the climate emergency caused this, Ing said. On the other, its also that history of colonial greed that made Lahaina the dry place that it is. Some national coverage of the fires has explained the role of foreign settlers and the big business of (literally) sowing seeds that helped the devastation spread. But if coverage linking the fires to the climate crisis has been spotty, coverage explicitly grappling with the colonial legacy of Hawaii has been even more so.

As Ive seen it, even otherwise insightful national-level coverage of the fires has often started from the premise, at least implicitly, that they are spoiling a pristine island paradisea narrative that itself has roots in the colonial past, as Neason observed. Ikaika Hussey, a labor organizer, told Neason that theres a Hawaii that exists in peoples imagination, one invented by guys at Disney, at the marketing departments in Waikiki, and journalists. Now, as then, we should ask ourselves the question that Hussey posed to Neason: Who is Hawaii for? And we should remember, as Neason did in response, that while climate change puts everyone at risk, the question of how to confront the crisis will be a matter of whose story is at the forefront, whose survival is deemed the most important.



Other notable stories:

ICYMI: The disarray and discontent at Forbes

Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop.
BANGKOK (AP)  Floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains in Myanmar have killed five people and displaced about 60,000 since mid-July, an official said Friday.

The director of the ministry of social welfare, relief and resettlement, Lay Shwe Zin Oo, said four children are among the dead. Some parts of southern states of Kayin and Mon remain in critical condition due to heavy rains and rising river water levels, Lay said.

The low-lying areas in some townships in the southern Bago and the central Magway regions, as well as the western state of Rakhine, have been inundated by water since Sunday.

Initially, some 60,000 people were displaced but 20,000 have since returned to their home areas. About 40,000 are still sheltering in sturdy buildings such as monasteries, pagodas and schools, she said.

She said included three children in the state of Mon and a mother and child in Rakhine drowned.

The flooding is getting worse this week. But, it is difficult to say whether the current flood situation is the worst for this year because the rainy season has not yet ended, she said over the phone.

The state-run Myanma Alinn newspaper said Friday that schools were closed in the flooded areas and some sections of the highway in Bago were under water. In relief camps in Bago, Kayin and Rakhine, authorities were providing food, drinking water, medicines and other essential assistance, the paper said.

On Monday, a landslide caused by heavy rain swept away about 61 meters (200 feet) -long section of the major mountain highway linking the Kawkareik and Myawaddy townships in eastern Kayin state, cutting off the busy trading route. There were no report of casualties.

Myawaddy is a key trading center on the border with Thailand and state-run media reported it would take a month before traffic could resume.

Myanmar experiences extreme weather virtually every year during the monsoon season. In 2008, Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 people.

A report published Friday in the state-run Myanma Alinn newspaper said there would be thundershowers for the next week across the country.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
After three major Georgia appeals court decisions have gone against employers in the last five years, some insurance defense attorneys are concerned that the states workers compensation laws have become costly to insurers and businesses, despite years of rate reductions and a pro-business atmosphere in this deep-red part of the country.

Its a trend that weve noticed at all levels of the courts, said Samantha Lewis, of Atlanta, a partner in the Parker Poe law firm, who represents school districts in workers compensation claims.

The trend began in 2018 and solidified during the COVID-19 pandemic, when courts, lawmakers and the public seemed to express new sympathy for some types of workers, said Lewis and her colleague, Elizabeth Phrampus.

Claimants lawyers were surprised by the assertions and argued that judges have simply interpreted the law as it was written.

I really dont see a trend leaning toward injured workers, said claimants attorney Todd Maziar, with the Georgia Legal Foundation, which filed an amicus brief in a recent case decided by the appellate court. These are cases with facts such that the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court simply ruled in favor of the injured worker.

The courts  with very few dissenting opinions from judges  correctly interpreted the intent of the comp laws and were not legislating from the bench, he added.

While insurance and employer groups have long argued that some states, including California, New York and Illinois, have crafted laws over the decades that could be considered too worker-friendly or burdensome to employers, Georgia, with a two-thirds-majority Republican legislature, is not one of those.

I think youd be hard-pressed to say that Georgias workers comp laws are too worker-friendly, said Tom Holder, an Atlanta claimants lawyer and former president of WILG, the Workers Injury Law and Advocacy Group.

The court decisions that Lewis and Phrampus are concerned about began with Cartersville City Schools vs. Johnson in 2018. The Georgia Court of Appeals essentially limited employers use of the idiopathic disease defense, which had allowed businesses to claim that some injuries were of unknown origin, not necessarily related to the workplace.

In that case, a school teacher had fallen in the classroom and injured her knee, then required surgery. She filed a claim, contending that the injury arose from her employment duties, namely, having to wind her way through tight rows of desks all day. The school district argued that her knee condition was the result of everyday-type activities outside the classroom.

The Court of Appeals overturned previous case law and upheld a lower court, which had struck down the state Workers Compensation Boards denial of the teachers claim.

Evidence showed claimant was actively engaged in the movements and behaviors required of her as a classroom teacher when she fell and was injured as a result of one or more of those movements, the appeals court judges wrote.

That case is what started this roller coaster, Lewis said.

Maziar countered that the idiopathic defense had, over many years, become confused by the courts and had been abused by insurers.

Then came the Frett decision in 2020, Lewis and Phrampus said. In Frett vs. State Farm, the Georgia Supreme Court overturned the Court of Appeals and longstanding case law that had held that injuries that occur during an employees scheduled break are not usually compensable.

The high court found that Frett, a claims adjuster for State Farm, slipped on a wet floor at work, causing her injury, while she was on break. The 1935 court decision that had allowed the scheduled break defense made no sense and was untethered from the analytical framework consistently employed by this court in workers compensation cases, Justice Keith Blackwell wrote in the Frett opinion.

In the most recent case cited by the defense lawyers, Lilienthal vs. JLK Inc., the state Court of Appeals in May of this year found that a list of treating physicians was not prominently displayed when it was kept in a locked storage room.

Preschool teacher Linda Lilienthal tripped over a childs blanket in the classroom, injuring her left shoulder and both knees, the court explained. The school gave her a list of doctors, but went ahead and made an appointment with a nearby clinic. The workers compensation act allows the insurer/employer to pick the six doctors, but the list must be prominetly displayed at the workplace.

An administrative law judge decided that the room where the list was displayed was accessible, and upheld the denial of Lilienthals claim. But the appeals court judges found that the ALJ had misconstrued the law.

We conclude that the ALJ erred by conflating the concept of accessibility with prominence. The fact that a panel is located in a technically accessible location does not mean that it is posted in a prominent, conspicuous, or easily seen location, the appellate judges wrote. Indeed, under the facts of this case, the panel of physicians was not easily seen by most employees working upon the premises.

Lilienthals attorneys argued that since the list was not prominently displayed, the law essentially allows an injured worker to choose her own physician. An ALJ, though, denied the teachers request to treat with her chosen doctor, who had recommended knee surgery.

In the appeal, Maziar wrote in his amicus brief that the only notice to employees, as established by a 1994 revision to the comp law, is the posted panel of physicians, not a list handed out after an injury.

Panels of physicians should be placed in areas on a business premises where they are clearly visible, he wrote. They should not be hung in the darkness of seldom-used, locked hallway rooms.

The appeals court found that the ALJ and Board of Workers Compensation were wrong, and remanded the case to the board for a do-over. JLK and Accident Fund Insurance Co. are expected to appeal to the state Supreme Court.

Lewis and Phrampus said the Lilienthal ruling went too far and raises too many questions about what may be considered a prominent posting. By splitting hairs, the decision could now open the door for more workers to pick their own doctors, potentially raising medical costs for work injuries.

Taken together, the three court decisions mark a slippery slope for employers and carriers, the defense lawyers said.

Maziar and Holder said no trend exists and Georgia jurists are not suddenly uniting with workers.

The vast majority of judges on the highest courts have been appointed by Republican governors, if party affiliation can be used as a broad-brush indicator. Eight of the 13 judges on the Court of Appeals were named by Republicans, a party that has historically aligned with employers more often than with worker rights. Two Republican-appointed judges concurred in the Lilienthal decision.

One appeals court judge, Christopher McFadden, lists his membership in the Federalist Society, an organization that advocates for a textualist interpretation of the U.S. Constitution. Some critics have said the society is seen as too conservative and too supportive of business interests. McFadden concurred in the 2018 Cartersville vs. Johnson opinion. And eight of the nine Supreme Court justices were named by a Republican governor.

Some Republican-dominated state legislatures in recent years have moved to correct laws and court decisions that have been seen as too worker-friendly or too costly for employers. In Kentucky, lawmakers in 2018 ended lifetime medical benefits for some long-term injuries. In Tennessee, some claimants lawyers have charged that statutes have drastically reduced attorney fees for workers, driving some lawyers out of the comp practice and making it difficult for injured workers to find representation.

And in West Virginia, lawmakers revamped the court system in 2020, eliminating some ALJs and creating a new appeals court. A claimants lawyer said recently that snce the new system was set up, the vast majority of decisions have gone in favor of businesses and against workers.

But in Georgia, both sides of the debate said that theyve heard no rumblings that state lawmakers may now try to restore some of the defenses chipped away by the Lilienthal, Frett and Cartersville City Schools opinions.

I havent heard any talk about that, Lewis said.

Georgia officials, like their counterparts in most states, may feel little pressure to address workers compensation costs for employers. Loss costs have dropped significantly over the last decade. In 2022, Georgia ranked 31st in the nation in average comp premiums, down from 15th in 2020, according to the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services Premium Ranking study.
LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP)  As the death toll from a wildfire that razed a historic Maui town climbed to 93, authorities warned that the effort to find and identify the dead was still in its early stages. The blaze is already the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century.

Crews with cadaver dogs have covered just 3% of the search area, Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said Saturday.

Weve got an area that we have to contain that is at least 5 square miles, and it is full of our loved ones, he said, noting that the number of dead is likely to grow and none of us really know the size of it yet.

He spoke as federal emergency workers picked through the ashen moonscape left by the fire that razed the centuries-old town of Lahaina. Teams marked the ruins of homes with a bright orange X to indicate an initial search, and HR when they found human remains.

Pelletier said identifying the dead is challenging because we pick up the remains and they fall apart. The remains have been through a fire that melted metal. Only two people have been identified so far, he said.

During the search efforts, the barks of cadaver dogs alerting their handlers to potential remains echoed over the hot, colorless landscape.

It will certainly be the worst natural disaster that Hawaii ever faced, Gov. Josh Green said as he toured the devastation on historic Front Street. We can only wait and support those who are living. Our focus now is to reunite people when we can and get them housing and get them health care, and then turn to rebuilding.

At least 2,200 buildings were damaged or destroyed in West Maui, Green said, nearly all of them residential. Across the island, damage was estimated at close to $6 billion.

The Upcountry fire affected 544 structures, most of them homes, Green said.

As many as 4,500 people are in need of shelter, county officials said on Facebook, citing figures from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Pacific Disaster Center.

Pelletier encouraged people with missing family members to go to a family assistance center to take a DNA test.

We need to identify your loved ones, Pelletier said.

Those who escaped were thankful to be alive as they mourned those who didn`t make it.

Retired fire captain Geoff Bogar and his friend of 35 years, Franklin Trejos, initially stayed behind to help others in Lahaina and save Bogar`s house. But as the flames moved closer and closer Tuesday afternoon, they knew they had to flee.

Each escaped to his own car. When Bogar`s vehicle wouldn`t start, he broke through a window to get out, then crawled on the ground until a police patrol found him and brought him to a hospital.

Trejos wasn`t as lucky. When Bogar returned the next day, he found the bones of his 68-year-old friend in the back seat of his car, lying on top of the remains of the Bogars` beloved 3-year-old golden retriever Sam, whom he had tried to protect.

Trejos, a native of Costa Rica, had lived for years with Bogar and his wife, Shannon Weber-Bogar, helping her with her seizures when her husband couldn`t. He filled their lives with love and laughter.

God took a really good man, Weber-Bogar said.

The latest death toll surpassed that of the 2018 Camp Fire in northern California, which left 85 dead and destroyed the town of Paradise. A century earlier, the 1918 Cloquet Fire broke out in drought-stricken northern Minnesota and raced through rural communities, destroying thousands of homes and killing hundreds.

The wildfires are the Hawaii`s deadliest natural disaster in decades, surpassing a 1960 tsunami that killed 61 people. An even deadlier tsunami in 1946, which killed more than 150 on the Big Island, prompted development of a territory-wide emergency alert system with sirens that are tested monthly.

Hawaii emergency management records do not indicate that the warning sirens sounded before fire hit the town. Officials sent alerts to mobile phones, televisions and radio stations, but widespread power and cellular outages may have limited their reach.

Fueled by a dry summer and strong winds from a passing hurricane, the wildfires on Maui raced through parched brush covering the island.

It outpaced anything firefighters could have done in the early hours, U.S. Fire Administrator Lori Moore-Merrell said.

The most serious blaze swept into Lahaina on Tuesday and destroyed nearly every building in the town of 13,000, leaving a grid of gray rubble wedged between the blue ocean and lush green slopes.

Maui water officials warned Lahaina and Kula residents not to drink running water, which may be contaminated even after boiling, and to only take short, lukewarm showers in well-ventilated rooms to avoid possible chemical vapor exposure.

Mauis firefighting efforts may have been hampered by limited staff and equipment.

Bobby Lee, president of the Hawaii Firefighters Association, said there are no more than 65 county firefighters working at any given time, who are responsible for three islands: Maui, Molokai and Lanai.

Lahaina resident Riley Curran said he doubted that county officials could have done more, given the speed of the flames. He fled his Front Street home after seeing the oncoming fire from the roof of a neighboring building.

Its not that people didnt try to do anything, Curran said. The fire went from zero to 100.

More than a dozen people formed an assembly line on Kaanapali Beach Saturday to unload water, toiletries, batteries and other essentials from a catamaran that sailed from another part of Maui.

David Taylor, marketing director of Kai Kanani Sailing, which owns the boat, said many of the supplies were for hotel employees who lost their homes and were living with their families at their workplaces.

The aloha still exists, he said as the group applauded when they finished unloading the boat. We all feel it really intensely and everybody wants to feel like they can do something.

Caitlin McKnight, who also volunteered at an emergency shelter at the island`s war memorial, said she tried to be strong for those who lost everything.

It was evident that those people, those families, people of the Maui ohana, they went through a traumatic event, McKnight said, using a Hawaiian word for family. You could just see it in their face.

Kelleher reported from Honolulu, and Dupuy reported from New York. Associated Press writers Rebecca Boone in Boise, Idaho; Andrew Selsky in Bend, Oregon; Bobby Caina Calvan in New York; Audrey McAvoy in Wailuku, Hawaii; Ty O`Neil in Lahaina, Hawaii; and Lisa J. Adams Wagner in Evans, Georgia contributed to this report.

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Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
AKRON, Ohio  Barberton resident Robert Greathouse earned his Associate of Technical Studies degree from the University of Akron on Monday  some 65 years after he started taking classes at the university.

Greathouse, 93, donned a cap and gown for his commencement ceremony, which was attended by his family, university officials and the universitys mascot, Zippy.

Today you become the oldest student to earn a degree in the history of the University of Akron, University of Akron President Gary Miller said at the ceremony. Mr. Greathouse began his coursework in 1958  65 years ago. You are indeed an inspiration to me, and to everyone in this room. Like many of our students, you have shown a deep resolve, not only to become educated, but to continue to learn throughout life. I congratulate you.

Greathouse attended East High School until his family moved to Hinckley. He graduated from Highland High School and served as a mechanic in the Korean War in Okinawa, Japan. After the war, he worked as a technical engineer for Goodyear Aerospace, which encouraged him to take classes at the University of Akron. He also worked for Ziegler Aerospace and Lucas Aerospace, which he retired from in 1995.

I deeply appreciate the University of Akron because here I was able to get the tools that I needed in order to get ahead and thats what the whole thing was all about, Greathouse said. I enjoyed the approximately 20 years of school that I spent here. I liked the classes, I liked the instructors and the students particularly.

Greathouse attended the University of Akron from 1958-1993  taking a few classes at a time while raising seven children. His daughter recently reached out to the university to see if he had enough credits to earn a degree, and the university determined he did, according to Cristine Boyd, the universitys senior director of external communications. Four of Greathouses children are also University of Akron alumni, according to the university.

Though Greathouses path to obtaining a degree may have been nontraditional, he called earning his degree a privilege and encouraged others who are working toward a degree to keep going, he said.

For adults interested in earning a degree or continuing one, the universitys Adult Focus department can help. The aim of the department is to help returning students of any age find a pathway for completing their degree, Boyd said. Alternatively, the universitys Sixty-Plus Program allows adults ages 60 and older to audit classes for free if space permits. No credit is awarded for audited classes, according to the universitys website.

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BRECKSVILLE, Ohio -- The city has received a $1.1 million state grant that will help pay for the resurfacing of Brecksville Road from Miller Road to the southern municipal border in 2024.

The total estimated cost of the resurfacing, which includes design, construction and construction management, is $2.7 million, said city Engineer Gerry Wise. The project will cover a distance of more than three-quarters of a mile.

The grant is coming from the Ohio Department of Transportations Urban Paving Program, which helps fund resurfacing projects on state and U.S. routes. Brecksville Road, also known as Ohio 21, is a state route.

ODOT monitors and ranks all state routes and ranks them by PCR (pavement condition rating), Wise told cleveland.com in an email. State Route 21s PCR is low enough where it is finally in a position to receiving funding through the Urban Paving Program.

The city and ODOT will eventually resurface the entire length of Brecksville Road in Brecksville. The section from Ohio 82 to the citys northern border is scheduled for 2025, and the section from Ohio 82 to Miller is scheduled for 2026, Wise said.

The project between Miller and the southern boarder will involve the removal and replacement of asphalt road surface 2 inches deep.

The city also will build sidewalks along Brecksville Road. Now, Brecksville Road between Miller and the southern border has no sidewalks, except for a section along the western side of the street south of Snowville Road.

Additionally, the city will repair curbs and some of the road base.

Wise said the city will seek bids for the project in April or May. Construction is scheduled to begin in June and end in October 2024.

The city will pay Wises firm, Donald Bohning & Associates in Valley View, $142,200 to engineer, survey and prepare bid specifications for the project.

The city also has hired Chagrin Valley Engineering in Cleveland for $4,000 to determine any environmental impacts of the resurfacing. Such an investigation is necessary because ODOTs grant consists of federal funds, and the federal government requires environmental testing.

Environmental impacts can include those to wetlands, streams and endangered species.

Being a project that is working within city right-of-way, we dont expect any (environmental) impacts, but need a firm to review the project limits and complete the necessary ODOT forms stating such, Wise said.

Read more from the Sun Star Courier.
BRUNSWICK, Ohio  The Gibbs name is well known across Northeast Ohio, but one branch has a special place in the hearts of northern Medina and southwest Cuyahoga counties.

Thats where Farnum Gibbs, an ordained pastor, went from town to town in the early communities to hold church services and establish the Disciples of Christ Church. It later became First Christian Church and was part of Brunswicks story for 184 years before closing.

His son, Farnum H., and many of his descendants settled in Brunswick and other parts of Medina County.

On Saturday (Aug. 12), the Gibbs family celebrated its 136th family reunion, holding a picnic in Granger, where Robert Hummel, a Gibbs descendant, is director of the Granger Historical Society.

On Saturday morning, 15 members of the family came to Brunswicks Heritage Farm, where many family items are preserved.

Ellen Gibbs, who lived her 90-plus years in Brunswick, was a founding member of the Brunswick Area Historical Society. Her portrait, which none of the relatives had seen before, is housed in the historic farmhouse she helped renovate.

Were scattered all over the country, said Betsy Edwards Meyers, so its great to come together to share our stories and learn about our ancestors.

The greatest surprise for the group was the new bell tower at Heritage Farm, home of the Brunswick Area Historical Society. It was officially dedicated Aug. 6, so they were among the first visitors to view it.

When the church closed, the congregation donated the church bell, cast in 1852, to the historical society, along with a donation to help build a tower for it. The pandemic years slowed that effort, but they finally made it.

The Gibbs family heard the story about how Brian Ousley and Michael Austin were able to remove the bell from the tower and of its journey to Heritage Farm.

Carl Bilski, president of the historical society, who designed the structure and built the steel underpinnings, greeted them.

At the tower, they saw the stone tribute at the very center of the structure. It was the dedication of the original bell tower in honor of Farnum and Ellen Gibbs, which was saved along with the bell.

Aunt Ellens sewing machine attracted Betsy Myers, who told Bob Coleman that she often saw the Brunswick resident (and published home economics teacher) working at the treadle machine. (Sam Boyer, special to cleveland.com)

It was wonderful, informative morning at Heritage Farm, said Paula Coleman, who helped organize the visit. It was great to have several folks from Brunswick Historical Society meet us and share our touring time.

That included Carol Foote, chief docent at the farm.

The bell has been beautifully situated and the structure thoughtfully designed, Coleman said. It is great to see how you are working to incorporate Brunswicks past at the farm.

The group had just 90 minutes before they had to head to Granger for their reunion, but look forward to coming back in the future, Coleman added.

Heritage Farm tours are available by appointment, Foote said, and the farm is open each Sunday during Sunday at the Farm, the outdoor market. More information is available at https://brunswickhistory.com/.

Read more from the Brunswick Sun.
The U.S., left, and Japanese national flags are hoisted next to a traditional Okinawan Shisa statue at the U.S. Marine's Camp Foster in Ginowan, on the southern island of Okinawa, Japan, June 18, 2016. Reuters-Yonhap



Japan and the U.S. will agree this week to jointly develop an interceptor missile to counter hypersonic warheads being developed by China, Russia and North Korea, Japan's Yomiuri newspaper said on Sunday.



The agreement on interceptors to target weapons designed to evade existing ballistic missile defenses is expected when President Joe Biden meets Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in the U.S. on Friday, the report said, without giving any source for the information.



Officials at Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs could not be reached for comment outside business hours.



Unlike typical ballistic warheads, which fly on predictable trajectories as they fall from space to their targets, hypersonic projectiles can change course, making them more difficult to target.






WESTLAKE, Ohio -- Westlake Community Services and Senior Center Director Lydia Gadd is known for creativity in programs for all who utilize the services at the citys newest building.

Most recently, Gadd and Mayor Dennis Clough invited Joe Konen to be the facilitator for an unusual, six-week conversation series: Reinventing American Democracy.

Attendees meet on Thursdays through Sept. 7.

A separate room in the building has been arranged with tables and chairs in a large square for the discussions. A total of 24 pre-registered people are attending the series.

Konen is an emeritus associate professor at The Ohio State University Extension, in the Urban Community Development and Sustainability Program. He earned his masters degree from the University of Notre Dame and a doctorate in ministry from the United Theological Seminary.

The series in Westlake utilizes a book called Our Common Purpose, Reinventing American Democracy for the 21st Century, which is a report of the American Academys Commission on the Practice of Democratic Citizenship.

(The book) comes at a pivotal moment in the history of the American experiment, information from the report notes.

At the first two sessions, one could easily see (and hear) that the attendees are astute, educated, highly informed, opinionated (but not overly so) and enjoy conversation with others about what is happening in our country today.

There have been varied points of view on questions from Konen, such as what journalists do you respect?

The conversation, as expected, was wide-ranging and mixed with a truly diverse amount of commentary from virtually everyone in the room.

In answering questions for conversation on the question, the people in the room, mostly retired, didnt hold back in expressing their very interesting opinions. Next week holds promise to be just as interesting.

Read more from the West Shore Sun.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  A Cuyahoga County grand jury has indicted a Cleveland man on 18 charges involving the torture and sexual assault of his girlfriend, whom he held captive in late July.

The panel last week handed up an indictment accusing Preston Anderson, 39, of rape, kidnapping, felonious assault, strangulation and retaliation. He was arraigned Monday in Common Pleas Court on the allegations. He is being held on a $250,000 bond.

Anderson was arrested Aug. 1. He is accused of several forms of abuse that Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael OMalley called brutal torture. From July 26 to 28, while holding his girlfriend inside their shared home in the citys Fairfax neighborhood, Anderson poured boiling canola oil over her body, face and genitals, prosecutors say.

He also heated up a knife on the stove and put it inside her rectum and forced her into multiple sex acts, according to police. In addition, he also punched, kicked and strangled her, knocked her teeth out and prevented her from eating, drinking or using the bathroom, prosecutors allege.

Her face almost looked as though it was melting, Ervin Lee, a detective with the Cleveland domestic violence unit, testified in Cleveland Municipal Court. The case was later sent to county prosecutors.

Anderson is also under indictment in common pleas court on charges of felonious assault and domestic violence for an incident that prosecutors say occurred in March and involved the same victim.

Lee said Anderson learned he was under indictment for that case while going through his girlfriends mail in late July, and the discovery prompted the attacks, according to the detective.

The charges include seven counts of felonious assault, four counts of rape, two counts of kidnapping, two counts of strangulation and one count of retaliation.
CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio - If there is a more complete singing-and-acting talent than Audra McDonald, I cant think of one. For a generation, she has poured her heart out and done so with such vocal and dramatic authority it is difficult to imagine what we did before she came along. A near-capacity crowd at Blossom Music Center on Sunday was treated to a delightful program of Broadway standards and unguarded reflections on life and living.

Backed by The Cleveland Orchestra and McDonalds own rhythm section, and led by her longtime music director Andy Einhorn, she presented a wide-ranging program as a survey of her own career and sometimes society at large.

In June 2020, McDonald co-founded Black Theater United, an organization with the mission of combating systemic racism within the theater community and nationally. Themes of racial and individual pride sometimes surfaced on Sundays program.

The Overture to Carousel led directly to McDonalds entrance song, a Jerry Herman expression of personal authenticity, I Am What I Am from La Cage aux Folles.

Cornet Man, from Jule Stynes Funny Girl, was a jazzy hoot. After telling an amusing story about competing as a soloist with her show choir in high school, she sang that song with every one of its suggestive lyrics, convinced of her qualification  at the age of 14  to do so. Trumpeter Michael Sachs let loose with plunger muted growls and stratospheric punctuations.

McDonald began, but then let the audience sing along to Lerner and Loewes I Could Have Danced All Night. Why dont more performers do this? You know the audience is just busting to have a go at it. This is how, McDonald said, you earn your Soprano Card. And Soprano Island is where you go if you regularly sing Gershwins Summertime, which she now does. And on Sunday, she did it au natural (without a microphone), because, well, she can.

Duke Ellingtons It Dont Mean a Thing, received a clever treatment by arranger Larry Hochman. After a joke beginning with Griegs Piano Concerto, and a rarely heard introspective verse, the band gave in to hard swing, letting McDonald and company show off their jazz chops. Even the audience held their own when invited to sing along.

Roses Turn from Gypsy, was one of the programs darkest moments. Ending the first half, McDonald raged with Roses anger  and perhaps her own (My children are not my biggest fans).

Rodgers and Hammersteins Youve Got to Be Carefully Taught and Sondheims Children Will Listen, sung as conjoined lullabies, made a powerful statement about learned prejudice. And two Bernstein songs, Some Other Time and Somewhere, also interwoven, represented loves sway in the face of disobliging circumstances.

McDonalds summarized the evening in words just before closing with Life is a Cabaret: love yourself, love others, live your life, and allow others to live theirs. Coming from McDonald, that seemed neither like a sermon nor a scold  just good tenets to live by.

To end the program there was a final surprise: Einhorn can sing! Here he and McDonald harmonized in a sweet duet to Happy Days Are Here Again marbled with Get Happy (credit Mel Torme with the idea). Listen for that duet next time youre on Soprano Island.

Kevin McLaughlin recently retired as librarian at the Cleveland Institute of Music. A freelance writer and editor, his weekly podcast on early jazz, At the Jazz Band Ball, may be found on a variety of podcast platforms.
PAINESVILLE, Ohio -- When the staff of the Lake County Visitors Bureau wanted to draw attention to the regions assets, they saw treasure in the Mexican restaurants throughout the county. Using a list of 22 taco-centric places, they launched the Lake County Taco Trail in Fall 2022 to attract local and visiting diners.

Were super proud of the diversity and ethnicity in the county and these places are different and unique, says Neil Stein executive director of Remarkable Lake County. Theyre friendly and welcoming. Theyre something we love to highlight.

To participate in the Taco Trail and receive prizes, travelers must sign up for a free mobile passport that will be delivered via text and email. It can be saved to a mobile phones home screen for one-tap access. Then, if the phones location services are on when visiting a restaurant on the Taco Trail, check-in will automatically be recorded via GPS. Points will accumulate toward prizes. (Secret note: You can order anything during your visit, not just tacos, and still qualify.)

Each check-in is worth 100 points. Prizes include:

250 points = Lake County Taco Trail bottle opener/keychain

450 points - Lake County Taco Trail shot glass.

1200 points - Its Tuesday Somewhere Taco Trail t-shirt and a post on social media as part of the Taco Squad.

Since November 2022, more than two dozen diners have earned t-shirts.

A lot of these places arent marketers, but their food is amazing, says Stein. Were at 1,000 people who have signed up and started participating and gone to at least one restaurant. Its been really good so far as far as participation goes.

To get the most authentic tacos and make the trail manageable, our cleveland.com team  Paris Wolfe and Yadi Rodriguez -- made Painesville ground zero for tasting. The city has a large percentage of residents of Latinx heritage and more than half-dozen Mexican-owned restaurants. We visited those with regular hours. These included

El Senor at La Mexicana

La Casita Taqueria

El Paladar de Mexico

Picante Mexican Grille

Cocina Elvis

The local population drives the density of restaurant supply and demand. Painesville Citys population is 26.8 percent Hispanic. The rest of the population is 67 percent white and 15 percent Black. These numbers are from the U.S. Census Bureau.

In contrast, half as many Clevelanders (13.1 percent) identify as Hispanic, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Nationally, 18.7% of the total population identifies as Hispanic.

The point is, Painesville has the people to inspire and demand great Mexican restaurants. We were happy to be on the demand side and experience that food culture on the North Coast.

As tasters, we are dining writer Paris Wolfe and cleveland.coms Best of Cleveland team member Yadi Rodriguez. We were objective tasters because have limited experience with real Mexican food. Wolfe has crossed the California-Mexican border once and eaten only ice cream while there. Rodriguez, who was born in Puerto Rico, has never been to Mexico. She speaks fluent Spanish and translated during visits.

Diners dont need Spanish to frequent the dining establishments, though it could help. Menus are in English and most include photos. If the staff isnt fluent in English, they know enough to take care of diners.

Most of the Mexican restaurants are small and unassuming. Two  El Senor at La Mexicana and La Casita Taqueriaare attached to grocery markets. All are deceptively simple inside as well. The food is not. Some dishes require -- even taco fillings -- long and/or laborious preparation. Think carnitas.

Interiors are often festive shades of yellow and orange, accented with decorative tile. Some have Latin music playing, while others have only the chatter of hungry customers.

Diners may order at the counter or be waited on tableside. El Senor at La Mexicana serves on paper plates, while Cafe Elvis serves on rustic Mexican pottery. Each place has its own style.

All may have the same tacos on their menus, but interpretations and sauces vary. Most locations offer a variety of proteins for about $2 to $3 per small street taco. Each spot may offer some or all of the following. During our tasting, we sampled the proteins we found most familiar.

Al Pastor = Pork with pineapple

Buche = Pork stomach

Carnitas = Pork, long-cooked then roasted

Costilla = Pork ribs

Puerco = Pork

Chorizo = Spicy sausage

Bistec = Steak

Lengua = Tongue

Tripas = Tripe or beef stomach

Cabeza = Cow/goat head meat

Pollo = Chicken

Camarones = Shrimp

Nopales = Cactus

Huevos = Eggs

Ignore Taco Bell and Chipotle. The authentic tacos we ordered didnt have the lettuce and tomato found on Americanized versions. Additions such as chopped onions, minced cilantro, and various salsas  hot, medium and mild -- are available for customization. Sour cream, avocado crema or jalapeno crema are offered by different kitchens. Fresh guacamole is always an option, sometimes for a fee. Every kitchen offers lime wedges, and some include sauteed onions on the side.

Chefs -- several went to culinary school in Mexico -- make tacos to order, warming fresh corn tortillas then adding toppings. Several can be observed in open kitchens.

The most common beverages are Mexican Coke (made with cane sugar, not high fructose corn syrup), varied flavors of Jarritos sodas, horchata (sweetened, spiced plant-based milk) and more. Some offer the popular Topo-Chico sparkling mineral water as well. For those who prefer Pepsi, several restaurants serve both Pepsi and Coke.

We limited our taco trail experience to five restaurants in downtown Painesville. We were unable to visit a sixth -- La Cocina De Mama -- because the restaurant was closed during three separate stops at scheduled hours.

At those we visited, we sampled five or more tacos  usually steak, chicken, al pastor, carnitas and chorizo. Wolfe, unsuccessfully, tried tripe at one restaurant. While shes enjoyed tripe stew in an Italian restaurant, she couldnt handle the texture or liver-like flavor of chopped, fried tripe.

Tasting Notes

16 1 / 16 La Mexicana

El Senor at La Mexicana, 174 E Washington St, Painesville, (440) 354-3896  La Mexicana is a small retailer selling Mexican groceries, fresh meat and cheese, produce and traditional, fresh Mexican bakery, El Senor is a small corner of the store with a kitchen and a few tables. During warm weather, tables are also on the sidewalk outside.

We tasted steak, chorizo, al pastor, carnitas, two versions of chicken and a nopales/potato combination. Perhaps the best part of these tacos was the melted cheese on the corn tortilla that supports the filling. These were $2 each with an extra charge for fresh guacamole. The most flavorful may have been the tiny pieces of steak, the obvious reason its a best seller.

The chicken tinga (chipotle) and chicken with poblano pepper and onion were mild, for those who fear too much seasoning. Perhaps thats the point of diced onion, cilantro and three types of salsa... diners can dress tacos to taste. Despite reassurances, we found all sauces a bit warming, even hot. The hottest could have impaired our tastebuds for the morning.

The al pastor taco needed more pineapple, a common concern of the tasters. The carnitas were spicy and delicious, while the nopales/potato was mild and comforting.

21 1 / 21 La Casita Taqueria

La Casita Taqueria, 452 Storrs St, Painesville, (440) 357-1109  La Casita Taqueria is attached to La Casita Market. While the restaurant serves a variety of dishes including tacos, a hot counter in the market serves entrees and tamales to-go on weekends. At three years old, La Casita is the largest Mexican restaurant and grocer in Painesville City.

The taco menu here includes, ironically, American tacos that come with shredded lettuce and diced tomato. We ordered both versions in chicken for comparison but felt loyal to the Mexican version.

Their handmade tortillas, which come with some tacos, are minutely thicker and more flavorful.

The al pastor taco was sweet with pork belly pineapple pieces. The Costilla or rib meat was more tender than flavorful. A combination of light and dark meat made both chicken tacos richer in flavor. The barbacoa was sweet and smoky, but the texture was compromised by too much fat, Steak here was another winner. Treated simply, the shrimp was also a winner.

13 1 / 13 El Paladar de Mexico

El Paladar de Mexico, 211 N St Clair St, Painesville, (440) 898-0098  A small storefront, El Paladars kitchen delivers some of the best food we ate during Taco Trail time. Owner and culinary school-trained chef Angel Martinez developed his recipes over time and opened the restaurant in September 2022. He sells hundreds of tacos a month, some he delivers to workers at local factories.

When we sat down, chips and salsa were served promptly.

Corn tortillas are made by hand, about 100 per day. The tacos are filled generously, and the sauces make them even better, especially the spicy jalapeno crema. Usually, beans and rice seem like an afterthought, but not here. We enjoyed these sides. Taster favorites were queso birra tacos with broth.

Vegetarian options are on the menu.

And while not experienced during working hours, a happy hour margarita ($5) is delightful. These are NOT the common premade sour mix, but tequila-spiked juices served in generous fishbowls with a Tajin rim. A small selection of top-shelf tequilas sit in the corner if you request an upgrade.

10 1 / 10 Picante Mexican Grill

Picante Mexican Grille, 50 N State St, Painesville, (440) 898-0070  Picante has a fast-food vibe. You can order at the counter or be waited on. The kitchen has a light hand with seasonings here. White meat chicken came in larger chunks and needed some moisture. Ditto the other proteins.

The best thing here were the homemade chips and salsa. They were good enough for a return visit.

14 1 / 14 Cocina Elvis

Cocina Elvis, 101 W Walnut Ave., Ste B, Painesville, (440) 289-8504  This tiny dining room is on the Western edge of Painesville City, next to Kens Drive-Thru Beverage. If you dont know that you might drive right past. Here, mom and pop are running the shop. The name is not an homage to the king of rock n roll. Its simply the owners wifes first name. The small, associated Cafe Elvis market is on the other side of the city.

When Yadi engaged the owner in Spanish, he gave off a vibe that says, We care about everyone that comes and eats here. It felt like visiting family.

Before we ordered tacos, we ordered the Horchata and Agua de Jamaica. The second beverage is sweetened hibiscus water that balances acidity and sweetness for a refreshing drink. The horchata was well-done and a bit sweeter than the Aqua de Jamaica.

These were also among the best tacos we tried and we tried a lot in two days.

If you are a big fan of tacos or authentic Mexican food, take a ride to Painesville where you will find welcoming hospitality and homemade food cooked by true masters of the cuisine.
TROY TOWNSHIP, Ohio  Five family members, including three children, were rescued Sunday from the East Branch of the Cuyahoga River in Geauga County after their boats overturned, authorities say.

All five were taken to University Hospital Geauga Medical Center in Claridon Township for treatment for hypothermia after they were pulled from the water by rescuers from multiple fire departments, according to a news release from the Troy Township Fire Department.

The Troy Fire Department was called to Eldon Russell Park on Rapids Road at about 5:30 p.m. after receiving reports that multiple people were in the water and in distress. Fire departments from Auburn, Burton, Middlefield, Newbury, Munson, Mantua-Shalersville and Parkman were called to bring in additional rescue boats.

The victims were found in the water about 1.2 miles south of Eldon Russell Park, the news release says. They had been helped to shore by kayakers on the river.

The fire department says the youngest victim, a 15-month-old boy, was taken to an ambulance by a kayaker. The other family members were taken to ambulances by fire department rescuers.

The conditions of the victims were unavailable early Monday morning.
LOS ANGELES, California  A mob of criminals stormed into a Nordstrom at a Los Angeles mall on Sunday, quickly grabbing items before fleeing the store with an estimated $60,000 to $100,000 in merchandise, police say.

The group of 30 to 50 people ran into the Nordstrom at Topanga Mall at about 4 p.m., police say. A video released by the department shows the suspects, most of them dressed in all-black, knocking over racks as they grabbed items.

To criminals, it is just property taken, the police department said in a statement on social media. To those who live in the area and patronize the Topanga Mall, it is a loss of feeling safe. The LAPD will exhaust all efforts to bring those responsible into custody and seek criminal prosecution.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass released a statement calling the incident absolutely unacceptable. A similar incident occurred less than a week ago in the Los Angeles area, Fox 11 reports, in which a mob stole an estimated $300,000 in merchandise from an Yves Saint Laurent store.

What happened today at the Nordstrom in the Topanga Mall is absolutely unacceptable, Bass said in the statement. Those who committed these acts and acts like it in neighboring areas must be held accountable. The Los Angeles Police Department will continue to work to not only find those responsible for this incident but to prevent these attacks on retailers from happening in the future.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Members of the Northern Ohio Fugitive Task Force arrested four men Monday, including two accused of aggravated murder in Cleveland.

Jordan and Jaylon Hicks, both 19, were wanted by Cleveland police on the slaying charges. They are accused of the July 2 slaying of Tireese Martin-Croom, 17. The shooting took place at St. Clair and London avenues in Clevelands South Collinwood neighborhood.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Police are investigating a slaying that took place Saturday on the citys East Side.

Authorities identified the victim as Asa Thompson, 32, of Cleveland, according to the office of the Cuyahoga County medical examiner. The shooting took place about 11:55 p.m. at 6401 Woodland Ave., a property owned by the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority, police said.
COLUMBUS, Ohio  Redistricting activists laid out their roadmap Monday on a quest to cut the cord between elected officeholders and drawing the lines that establish their office boundaries.

Their proposed amendment, which they submitted to Attorney General Dave Yosts office Monday, calls for the creation of a 15-member Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission made up of Republicans, Democrats, and independents from around the state.

The plan was put forward Monday by Citizens Not Politicians, a newly launched coalition that boasts two former Ohio Supreme Court justices within its ranks. One, the recently retired former GOP Chief Justice Maureen OConnor, previously joined with the courts three liberals to repeatedly strike down congressional and legislative district maps passed by the Republican-dominated Ohio General Assembly and seven-member Ohio Redistricting Commission, respectively.

However, maps that they found unconstitutional ended up being used anyway to elect Ohios current congressional delegation and most state lawmakers. Republicans currently control 10 of 15 Ohio congressional districts, 67 of 99 Ohio House seats, and 26 of 33 Ohio Senate seats.

OConnor, in a statement, called Ohio one of the countrys most gerrymandered states, She added: This proposal would end gerrymandering by empowering citizens, not politicians, to draw fair districts using an open and independent process.

Another former Ohio Supreme Court justice, Democrat Yvette McGee Brown, said the plan locks politicians and lobbyists out of the self-interested backroom that exists today.

What their plan would do

Under the proposed constitutional amendment, the 15-member redistricting commission would be in charge of drawing new congressional and legislative district lines in Ohio  first by September 2025, then again following a new U.S. Census. (The next Census is scheduled for 2030.) If the commission doesnt pass a map by the deadline, its members would pick a plan using ranked-choice voting.

The amendment would require the Ohio legislature to appropriate $7 million to the redistricting commission in 2025, with that amount rising during subsequent redistricting cycles based on inflation.

Commission members could not be current or former politicians, party officials, lobbyists or large political donors, according to a news release. And while the constitution currently states officials shall attempt to draw lines that dont favor or disfavor a given political party, the new rules would require as much.

Members of the commission would be selected by a panel of four retired judges  two Republicans and two Democrats  with the help of a professional search firm. The panel would, after conducting publicly broadcast interviews, whittle down the pool of applicants to 45 finalists, divided equally among Republicans, Democrats and independents.

The panel would then randomly draw the names of six of those finalists to appoint to the commission; those six would then select the remaining nine members from among the other finalists.

The proposal would set a number of eligibility requirements to serve on the redistricting commission, including that appointees must have continuously lived in Ohio for the past six years prior to their appointment, be a registered voter in good standing, and disclose certain financial information and conflicts of interest.

Appointees would also have to list their partisan political activities and, within the past six years:

Any public office that they or any immediate family members were elected or appointed to

Any candidacy for public office

If they were or are a registered lobbyist

If they were or are an officer, paid consultant or contractor for any political campaigns, political action committees, and/or political parties

If they were or are a staffer, paid consultant or contractor for an Ohio elected public official or candidate.

Once commission members are appointed, they would be required to hold at least five public hearings around the state to hear public comments before releasing a draft redistricting plan. The commission would then have to hold at least five more hearings to get public input on the draft plan, and at least two public hearings on any revised draft.

The proposed amendment would set a number of rules for the commission to follow when drawing congressional and legislative maps, including that the proportion of districts that favor one political party must correspond closely to statewide partisan preferences of Ohio voters, politically cohesive and geographically proximate racial, ethnic and language minorities must be allowed elect candidates of their choice, and that commission members cant consider where incumbent lawmakers live when drawing districts.

When members of the redistricting commissions step down, they wouldnt be allowed to be elected or appointed to public office for six years.

Ohios redistricting fight

The Citizens Not Politicians effort could become Ohios second overhaul in recent years of its decennial process of redrawing the boundary lines that form congressional and legislative districts. Voters in 2015 and 2018 approved some changes to the system that left elected officeholders to draw the district lines, but enacted procedural changes intended to limit partisan gerrymandering and force bipartisan compromise.

However, the new scheme all but foundered on its first run as the Ohio Supreme Court repeatedly deemed the congressional and legislative district maps, passed with only GOP backing, to be unlawful gerrymanders drawn for partisan advantage. Lawmakers refused to back down and forced an impasse.

A federal court ruling, in a lawsuit brought by the president of a major anti-abortion lobby group, forced Ohio to implement the unconstitutional maps for the 2022 elections. After a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in June held that legislatures redistricting maps are subject to court review, Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman said the issue now is whether to redeploy the previously rejected congressional map used in the 2022 election or start the mapmaking process over from scratch.

What happens now

To make the ballot, the organizers must clear two legal reviews overseen and controlled by statewide and legislative Republicans. Should they win approval, they must gather hundreds of thousands of signatures from at least 44 counties to make the ballot, which would then require a simple majority to win out.

Chris Davey, a spokesman for the effort, said the preliminary petition circulators collected 7,300 signatures from 31 counties since Thursday.

Its a real clear indicator of the widespread non-partisan support for the measure, he said.

Jake Zuckerman covers state politics and policy for Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer.

Jeremy Pelzer covers state politics and policy for Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer.
COLUMBUS, Ohio  Progressive activists said theyre gathering signatures to propose a state constitutional amendment on the 2024 general election ballot to end gerrymandering by taking politicians completely out of the process.

Details about the specifics of the proposal are not available. A social media account of Indivisible Central Ohio, a chapter of the decentralized progressive grass roots organization, posted Friday that its members were gathering early signatures needed to start the constitutional amendment process.

Other progressive organizations, many of whom supported previous attempts at redistricting reform and opposed State Issue 1, have joined in the effort, the post states. WOSU reports organizers were canvassing over the weekend.

Officials with the Ohio chapters of the League of Women Voters, Common Cause Ohio, and Indivisible all declined to comment. Several referred inquiries to Chris Davey, a communications consultant, who declined to comment. The attorney generals office has not yet received any filing, per a spokeswoman.

This would make Ohios second overhaul of its decennial process of redrawing the boundary lines that form congressional and legislative districts. Voters in 2015 and 2018 approved some changes to the system that left elected officeholders to draw the district lines, but enacted procedural changes intended to limit partisan gerrymandering and force bipartisan compromise.

However, the new scheme all but foundered on its first run as the Ohio Supreme Court repeatedly deemed the congressional and legislative district maps, passed with only GOP backing, to be unlawful gerrymanders drawn for partisan advantage. Lawmakers refused to back down and forced an impasse. A federal court ruling, in a lawsuit brought by the president of a major anti-abortion lobby group, forced Ohio to implement the unconstitutional maps for the 2022 elections. After a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in June held that legislatures redistricting maps are subject to court review, Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman said the issue now is whether to redeploy the previously rejected congressional map used in the 2022 election or start the mapmaking process over from scratch.

The saga around redistricting in 2021 and 2022 has prompted new calls for change.

The Ohio Supreme Courts rejection of the GOP-passed maps since 2020 came via a coalition of the courts three liberal justices plus former Republican Chief Justice Maureen OConnor. However, she stepped down from the office last year after hitting a constitutional age limit and was replaced by current Chief Sharon Kennedy, who repeatedly joined dissents against the courts majority opinion on redistricting cases. Some Republicans saw OConnors decisions as a betrayal and turned on her politically and squabbled over where her official portrait belongs in the high court building.

OConnor has since spoken about the need to remove lawmakers from the redistricting process and expressed an interest in campaigning for such a constitutional amendment. She didnt respond to an email.

Former GOP Attorney General Betty Montgomery, speaking on the heels of Issue 1s defeat, voiced a need to do the same.

The current organizers face a long road to changing the constitution. They must clear two different legal reviews controlled by statewide and legislative Republican officeholders. From there, they need to gather hundreds of thousands of signatures from 44 counties in order to place the issue on the 2024 ballot for a simple majority vote.

Had State Issue 1 passed earlier this month, this process would be even more difficult. Organizers would have needed to gather a minimum number of signatures from all 88 counties; they would lose out on a 10-day grace period to gather more if enough are deemed invalid; and theyd need a 60% vote to enshrine the amendment.

Ohios last attempt and the current effort both aim at the same problem: partisan lawmakers with a vested interest in electoral outcomes can draw lines to dilute or oversaturate voter power and create elections that in many cases are effectively determined in the primary elections.

Four states  Arizona, California, Colorado and Michigan  have passed mapmaking duties on to an independent commission, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, which advocates for reform. Another five states  Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Jersey and Washington  left the power with political commissions comprised of partisan appointees.

Jake Zuckerman covers state politics and policy for Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer.
Chinese piano maestro Liu Shikun honored with life achievement award in NYC

Xinhua) 14:22, August 14, 2023

NEW YORK, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Liu Shikun, an 84-year-old Chinese piano maestro, has been honored with the Most Outstanding Asian Artist Lifetime Achievement Award in New York City over the weekend.

Born in 1939 into a family of wealthy merchants and music enthusiasts in Tianjin, Liu started playing the piano at the age of three. He is an outstanding composer, a distinguished arts educator and also a pioneer in U.S.-China cultural exchange.

"I have received numerous awards in the past, but this award holds a profound meaning for me and has made me feel particularly honored," said Liu in his acceptance speech at a ceremony presented by the Chinese American Arts Council (CAAC).

Chinese Consul General in New York, Huang Ping, who jointly presented the award to Liu with Alan Chow, the CAAC founder and director, highlighted how Liu's artistic achievements serve as a bridge of friendship between different cultures.

Established in 1981, the Most Outstanding Asian Artist Lifetime Achievement Award is one of the most significant honors in the United States dedicated to recognizing excellence in the Asian arts community.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
Toyota has big plans when it comes to electric vehicles  and investors are underappreciating its potential in the market, according to Goldman Sachs. The Japanese automaker plans to significantly ramp up EV sales , targeting 1.5 million cars by 2026 and 3.5 million by 2030  a major increase from sales of just over 20,000 units sold in 2022. In comparison, market leader Tesla sold 1.3 million vehicles in the same year. "Toyota aims to sell 1.5 mn EVs in 2026, but we think investors have yet to fully price in this target, which would be a sharp increase from the current level," said Goldman Sachs analysts led by Kota Yuzawa in a note to clients on August 10. "We are Buy-rated on the stock, as we see Toyota as one of the few automakers globally capable of constructing a vertically integrated model for electric vehicles, including batteries and vehicle energy efficiency technology," the analysts added. The Wall Street bank suggests that Toyota's plans would raise its share of the global EV market to 8.6% in 2026 and 10.5% in 2030 from negligible levels today. "We think this strategy is grounded on Toyota's robust finances and ability to exercise control over its supply chain thanks to vertical integration," the Goldman analysts said. Stock price upside While the analysts acknowledged Toyota's long history and success in hybrid vehicles, they added that the carmaker has lagged behind rivals in pure battery EVs. They said strong EV products are "the missing piece" for Toyota, and could be the catalyst for a re-rating of its share price. Goldman Sachs expects shares of Toyota Motor to rise by 15% to 2,800 Yen ($19.4) in the next 12 months. However, the bank's price target does not take into account the car maker's earnings from its new EV sales targets. Toyota shares are also traded in the U.S. 7203.T-JP YTD line Goldman believes Toyota's strategy to lower costs for EVs will be its key advantage. The investment bank's analysts pointed to Toyota's success in cutting hybrid-EVs costs to one-sixth over 25 years, allowing for fatter margins versus internal combustion models. To hit its sales targets, Toyota plans to repurpose its existing factories making internal-combustion engine vehicles to support fully-electric cars, in addition to building new factories to make EVs. "This will not only allow it to utilize existing assets but also shorten the lead time from development to the start of production and the time to market," the Goldman analysts said. "Most notable" for Toyota is its strong commitment to "bipolar" battery structure, they added. Although the technology has existed for over two decades, Toyota would be the first automaker to use the process to mass-produce lithium-ion batteries, according to the analysts.  CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report.
Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks on the stage during a campaign rally in Windham, New Hampshire, August 8, 2023.

Former President Donald Trump could face an unprecedented fourth indictment over his alleged efforts to overturn his loss in Georgia's 2020 presidential election, and top Georgia election official Gabriel Sterling said Sunday that the criminal cases have been "giving oxygen" to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign.

Sterling, a Republican, said that Trump lost the state in 2020 and that his repeated claims of election fraud have been unsubstantiated. But because of the "tribal" nature of political parties in the U.S., Trump's supporters are inclined to believe him.

"He's making himself a victim, he's making himself a martyr, and a lot of the American people are coming behind him because they do feel like some of these things are a little bit of a stretch," Sterling told the ABC program "This Week."

Sterling warned about the potential for violence back in December 2020, before an angry mob of rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. He said Sunday that election-related violence remains his "biggest concern," as individuals could be radicalized to do something "stupid."

The Atlanta prosecutor overseeing the investigation in Georgia, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, is expected to present her case to a grand jury in the week ahead, NBC News reported. That presentation could lead to an indictment of the former president in the case on state charges.

If that happens, it would be the fourth time Trump has been charged in a criminal case since March, and the second time he has been indicted in connection with his efforts to prevent President Joe Biden from taking office.

Sterling said he testified before the special grand jury, the panel that initially investigated the case, and participated in two interviews with the DA's officers. He said if or when he is called to testify going forward, he will "tell the truth and answer honestly."
David Limp, senior vice president of devices and services at Amazon.com Inc., presents the Amazon Echo Dot smart speaker during an unveiling event at the company's Spheres headquarters in Seattle, Sept. 20, 2018.

Amazon's senior vice president of devices and services, David Limp, is planning to step down from his role after more than 13 years at the company, an Amazon spokesperson confirmed to CNBC on Monday.

Limp is responsible for overseeing the development of the company's consumer electronic devices such as the Kindle, Fire TV and Echo, as well as the Alexa voice assistant. Limp began working for Amazon in March 2010.

Limp regularly appeared at Amazon hardware events, which are typically held each fall but sometimes occur more than once a year, to announce new products. He is the latest in a string of Amazon executives that have departed since Andy Jassy took over as CEO about two years ago.

Amazon said Limp would remain in his role for the next few months and the company will announce his successor in the coming weeks. Amazon is set to unveil new products at its annual event Sept. 20, hosted at the company's Northern Virginia headquarters, known as HQ2.

The news was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

In November of last year, Limp's division was affected by Amazon's decision to lay off approximately 10,000 employees. Jassy has been in cost-cutting mode to preserve cash as the company confronts slowing sales and a gloomy global economy.

In a memo to employees at the time, Limp wrote that the company was consolidating some teams and programs in its devices and services unit after "a deep set of reviews" of the business.

"One of the consequences of these decisions is that some roles will no longer be required," Limp said. "It pains me to have to deliver this news as we know we will lose talented Amazonians from the Devices & Services org as a result."

In January, Limp said Amazon remains "fully committed" to the Alexa unit despite the job cuts in the division.

Shares of Amazon were largely unchanged in extended trading Monday.

 CNBC's Annie Palmer contributed to this report.
Former FTX Chief Executive Sam Bankman-Fried, who faces fraud charges over the collapse of the bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange, arrives at the Manhattan federal court in New York City, U.S. March 30, 2023.

Sam Bankman-Fried used stolen customer funds to make more than $100 million in political campaign contributions ahead of the 2022 U.S. midterm elections, federal prosecutors said on Monday in a new indictment filed against the FTX cryptocurrency exchange's founder.

The new indictment charges the 31-year-old former billionaire with seven counts of conspiracy and fraud over the collapse of the exchange.

He has previously pleaded not guilty to charges of stealing billions in FTX customer funds to plug losses at Alameda Research, his crypto-focused hedge fund.

Mark Botnick, a spokesman for Bankman-Fried, declined to comment.

Bankman-Fried rode a boom in cryptocurrency values to amass a net worth estimated at $26 billion, and became an influential donor to mostly Democratic candidates and causes. But the November 2022 collapse of FTX - after a flurry of customer withdrawals due to concerns about commingling of FTX and Alameda funds - decimated both his wealth and his reputation.

In the superseding indictment filed on Monday, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Manhattan said Bankman-Fried directed other FTX executives to make donations in order to evade contribution limits, as part of a push for crypto-friendly regulation.

"He leveraged this influence, in turn, to lobby Congress and regulatory agencies to support legislation and regulation he believed would make it easier for FTX to continue to accept customer deposits and grow," the indictment read.

Prosecutors had initially charged him with violating U.S. campaign finance laws, but dropped that charge in late July after the Bahamas said it had never intended to extradite Bankman-Fried to the United States on that charge. FTX was based in the Bahamas, and he was arrested there last December.

In a letter last week to U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan in Manhattan, prosecutors indicated they would soon file a new indictment that "will make clear that Mr. Bankman-Fried remains charged with conducting an illegal campaign finance scheme as part of the fraud and money laundering schemes originally charged."

Kaplan on Friday ordered Bankman-Fried jailed ahead of his Oct. 2 trial, after finding probable cause to believe he had tampered with witnesses twice. He had previously been largely confined to his parents' Palo Alto, California, home on $250 million bond since his extradition.
In an aerial view, Chevrolet Cruise autonomous vehicles sit parked in a staging area on June 08, 2023 in San Francisco, California. Autonomous vehicle companies Cruise and Waymo have been testing their vehicles throughout San Francisco and residents are not happy with the problems that the cars are bringing to the city.

On Thursday, California regulators voted to approve round-the-clock robotaxi service in San Francisco from two rival companies: Waymo and Cruise. By Friday night, a group of Cruise vehicles had stopped short in the city's North Beach neighborhood, flashing hazard lights and causing a traffic backup, according to reports.

The service expansion, approved in a 3 to 1 vote by California's Public Utilities Commission, made San Francisco the first major U.S. city to allow two robotaxi companies to compete for service "at all hours of day or night." It allows Waymo, owned by Google parent-company Alphabet , and Cruise, owned by General Motors , to expand their fleets as needed and charge for fares at any time of day.

But on Friday night at about 11 p.m., pedestrians reported spotting as many as 10 of Cruise's driverless cars stopped on and around Vallejo Street in North Beach, trapping human-driven vehicles for at least 15 minutes, according to reports. The company cited cell phone service issues related to a nearby music festival, which it said hampered its ability to route the vehicles.

Cruise did not respond to a request for comment.

The weekend traffic jam followed strong opposition to the regulators' decision from some groups, including San Francisco's police and fire departments. In a hearing last week, officials from the city's fire department, police department and municipal transportation agency prepared a report of at least 600 incidents with driverless vehicles since June 2022, including unpredictable operations near an emergency response zone, obstructing travel to an emergency, contact or near misses with personnel or equipment and more.

Before Thursday's vote, both Waymo and Cruise were limited in their ability to operate in San Francisco. In Cruise's case, if there wasn't a safety driver present in the vehicle, it could offer fared service in certain areas from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. If the rides were free, it could offer that service at any time. If the vehicle did have a safety driver, then the company could charge for fares around-the-clock.

In Waymo's case, before regulators' decision, the company could not charge fares for ride-hailing at any time if there wasn't a safety driver. But if a safety driver was present in the car, then the company could charge passengers for rides at any time.

Waymo said it had more than 100,000 signups on a waitlist for service, and in a statement Friday, Tekedra Mawakana, co-CEO of the company, said that the service expansion "marks the true beginning of our commercial operations in San Francisco."

Waymo declined to share the weekend's ride-hailing numbers with CNBC, or comment on whether the Cruise traffic jam impacts its operations plans moving forward. But Chris Ludwick, the company's product management director, told CNBC in a statement that the company is seeing "incredibly high demand" for its service.

"We've always taken an incremental approach to deploying our technology and will continue to expand our service and fleet in SF gradually, with safety and the needs of local communities in mind," Ludwick added.

In a July 25 earnings call, Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt discussed plans to "blanket a city like San Francisco" with Cruise vehicles, saying the company would need to ramp up manufacturing if it did so, and expressed potential plans to introduce several thousand robotaxis in the area.

"There's over 10,000 human ride-hail drivers in San Francisco, potentially much more than that, depending on how you count it," Vogt said on the call. "Those drivers, of course, aren't working 20 hours a day like a robotaxi could. So it does not make a very high number to generate significant revenue in a city like San Francisco. But certainly, there's capacity to absorb several thousand per city at minimum."
Dan Loeb's Third Point added new positions in key artificial intelligence beneficiaries in the second quarter, but still underperformed the broader market. The hedge fund's latest 13F filing to the SEC showed Tepper taking new stakes in major tech stocks that have rallied this year thanks to investor optimism around the future of AI. As of June 30, he had a position in Amazon worth about $535 million that made the online retailer and web services provider the third-largest position in his fund. He also added a new stake in U.S.-listed shares of Taiwan Semiconductor that amounted to a holding worth $247 million by quarter's end, or his seventh biggest holding. He also bought shares of Nvidia , adding up to a position worth about $212 million. Separately, he built on existing position in Microsoft by nearly 50%, bringing the investment to a holding worth $517.6 million, the fund's fifth largest. He also added smaller, but notable, positions in Activision Blizzard and Option Care Health . In spite of his exposure to some of the key stocks that have fueled the majority of the S & P 500's gains this year, Loeb's flagship offshore fund has lagged the broader market in 2023. Third Point was higher by just 1.1% in the second quarter, paring its loss in 2023 to 3% so far. Meanwhile, the S & P 500 was ahead 8% in the second quarter, and is higher by 16% on the year. Loeb admitted in a recent shareholder letter that his fund's underexposure to the largest mega-cap stocks  Alphabet, Apple, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia and Tesla  was responsible for the fund's underperformance. "Managers who have had less than 25% of their funds in these stocks have found it challenging to keep up with 'the market,'" Loeb wrote. "Although we had exposure to Microsoft, AMD, Amazon and Google, the positions were undersized and profits offset by losses from market/basket hedges, single name shorts and several poorly performing long equity positions." Still, Loeb said he expects many companies will benefit from the effects of generative AI, which is still in its infancy as it makes its impact felt through the economy. The hedge fund leader said he increased his exposure to companies in the "software and semiconductor value chains" that will benefit from increased adoption. "We expect enterprise applications to dramatically accelerate by the early part of 2024," he wrote.  CNBC's Yun Li contributed to this report.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday said that Disney CEO Bob Iger should drop his company's lawsuit accusing the Republican governor of political retaliation.

"They're suing the state of Florida. They're going to lose that lawsuit," DeSantis said in an interview with CNBC's "Last Call" set to air in full at 7 p.m. ET.

"So what I would say is, drop the lawsuit," the governor said when asked what he would tell Iger if he were to give him a call today.

"This is a great place to do business," DeSantis said, citing Florida's status as the top state economy in CNBC's latest national survey. The Sunshine State scored eighth overall in CNBC's ranking of America's Top States for Business in 2023.

"Your competitors all do very well here, Universal, SeaWorld. They have not had the same special privileges as you have," DeSantis said he'd tell Iger.

"So all we want to do is treat everybody the same, and let's move forward. I'm totally fine with that. But I'm not fine with giving extraordinary privileges, you know, to one special company at the exclusion of everybody else," he said.
German wholesale prices fell 2.8% in July, according to the German federal statistics office.

The figure comes after a 2.9% drop year on year in June, and a 2.6% fall in May.

The steepest annual drop in prices was in mineral oil products, which were down 20.8% from July 2022.

Wholesale waste and scrap, grain and unmanufactured tobacco prices were also lower than in the previous year, while live animal and fruit and vegetable prices rose from July 2022.

 Hannah Ward-Glenton
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell described harrowing conditions in Maui after wildfires left at least 96 people dead, the deadliest American wildfire in over a century.

"Nothing can prepare you for what I saw during my time here and nothing can prepare them for the emotional toll of the impact that this severe event has taken," Criswell told reporters at the White House Monday, speaking over video from Hawaii.

She said there are more than 300 FEMA employees on the ground, who have served 50,000 meals, 75,000 liters of water and distributed 5,000 cots and 10,000 blankets. FEMA has yet to put out initial estimates of what the cost of the wildfires will be but others have placed the cost around $5.6 billion. [LINK]

"It's really far too early to tell what the total cost is going to be," Criswell said. "As we continue to get better fidelity on the impact as we can get into the area and assess the true extent of infrastructure damage, that's when we'll have a better idea of what the total cost will be."
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in 2022. Alexei Druzhinin | AFP | Getty Images

China's relationship with Russia has deepened in recent years with both countries sharing a similar aim in challenging and dismantling what they see as the West's  or, for them, the U.S.'  dominance in global affairs. The dynamic between Beijing and Moscow is more nuanced than it appears on the surface, however, with power imbalances and conflicts of interest, particularly since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, throwing a curveball at the global economic order. Some analysts have likened the relationship to the tale of "Goldilocks" in which a middle ground is sought, with China wanting its ally Russia to not be either too strong, where it could challenge Beijing, nor too weak where it leaves China ideologically isolated against the West. While Beijing has been careful not to criticize Russia during the war and remains an ally, it has also been able to exploit its privileged relationship with Moscow, knowing Russia desperately needs a powerful friend and trading partner for its discounted commodity exports like oil and metals, the sales of which are vital to keeping Russia's economy, and the war, afloat.

Political analysts say China has no interest in seeing Russia weakened to a large degree, however, and does not want Russia to be defeated in the war as this also makes China's own standing look weaker. It could also be seen to embolden the West and cause political instability in Russia, essentially China's backyard. "China needs to strike a balance between keeping Russia as weak as possible to ensure that it doesn't pose a threat to China, while also ensuring that Russia can still be an irritant to their common rivals, Western democracies led by the United States," Etienne Soula, a research analyst at the Alliance for Securing Democracy within the German Marshall Fund of the U.S., told CNBC. "China, like many Europeans, will also want to avoid a total collapse of Russia, with the nuclear proliferation risks that might pose. In addition, and unlike Europeans, China might also want to avoid the impression that Western democracies have 'defeated' Russia," Soula added, saying this could have negative consequences for Beijing too.

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"China's narrative about its own rise to the center of global governance is contingent upon the matching idea that Western democracies, and the United States in particular, are declining irreversibly. Having those countries defeat one of the largest autocracies in the world, a nuclear-armed Security Council member, via proxy, without even having boots on the ground, would be a big setback for the story China tries to tell the world about the future," Soula said. CNBC has contacted China's foreign ministry for comment and is awaiting a reply.

Not so clear cut?

China is seen by international observers as being one of the few countries that could exert its influence on Russia in bringing about an end to the war in Ukraine. Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin met earlier this year, hailing their deepening economic and political ties and their "friendship" as leaders. China then later on sent representatives to Ukraine as it looked to push its own peace plan for the region, one that was lofty in ambition but short on substance. Analysts said at the time that Beijing was more interested in positioning itself as a peace broker on the global stage than actually bringing an end to the war. But some political analysts believe China's tacit support for Russia following its invasion of Ukraine actually shows Beijing is willing to risk its own economic and geopolitical standing, to a certain limit, showing that the power dynamic between Russia and China isn't so clear cut. They also question just how much power China has to either strengthen, or weaken, Russia's economy too.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Xie Huanchi | Xinhua News Agency | Getty Images

Yurii Poita, head of the Asia section at the Kyiv-based New Geopolitics Research Network, said he mainly agrees with the "Goldilocks" theory; that China looks to carefully balance its support for Russia while also keeping it at arm's length, but he questioned the extent to which China could strengthen Moscow in any case. "There is no way actually for China to make Russia stronger without jeopardizing Chinese interests," he told CNBC. China could supply Russia with high-tech military technology or dual-use components like semiconductors, for example, he said, but feared Western sanctions on Chinese firms: "Let's imagine how they could make Russia stronger, [such as] by delivering Russia high tech technology in terms of the military. It would definitely hurt the Chinese economy due to the severe sanctions [they would face if they did so]," he said.

China weighs risks

To some observers of the Sino-Russian relationship, Beijing has given more support to Moscow than expected since the outbreak of war, a conflict that has disrupted global trade, and energy and food security. China has already gone far enough with Russia to risk its own reputation, one analyst noted, saying this showed that Beijing was willing to risk geopolitical capital to aid its ally.

"I just don't see any evidence that China is looking to extend its power lead over Russia, to make it a junior partner" since the war began, Jude Blanchette, who holds the Freeman Chair in China Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told CNBC. "It seems to me that China has been the one willing to pay a diplomatic economic reputational price with Europe, with the United States, to continue in support of Russia." "So ...if you were looking at Russia and how China has been positioning itself vis-a-vis Russia since the outbreak of the war, I would say that it is Putin who has basically been able to extract support and concessions from China against China's other interests." Blanchette said he struggled to find the evidence that China was creating a "client state" out of Russia when the rational move for Beijing would be to distance itself from Russia "given that it is a toxic asset." "I don't see wholesale evidence that China's backing out of the room  they're careful on sanctions, they don't want Chinese firms to be caught up in secondary sanctions. But that just means that there's a ceiling for how much China will support Russia  I'm looking for the floor, and it strikes me that Beijing is willing to go to some pretty significant lengths to diplomatically, reputationally, economically back Moscow as it engages in this incredibly costly and risky war," he added.
Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, departs federal court after a plea hearing on two misdemeanor charges of willfully failing to pay income taxes in Wilmington, Delaware, July 26, 2023.

The new court filings are the latest developments in the Hunter Biden criminal case, which was thrown into disarray on July 26, when he appeared before Noreika for what was expected to be a hearing in which he would plead guilty.

District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika, in an order Monday, told U.S. Attorney for Delaware David Weiss to respond to the filing by noon ET on Tuesday.

But Hunter Biden's lawyers also said in a new Delaware federal court filing that a second agreement with prosecutors that would allow him to escape conviction for a gun-related crime is "valid and binding."

Lawyers for Hunter Biden told a judge that federal prosecutors on Friday decided to "renege" on a previously agreed deal in which the son of President Joe Biden would plea guilty to tax crimes in exchange for a recommended no-jail sentence.

Weiss on Friday was appointed special counsel for the case by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland right after Weiss' prosecutors said in a Delaware federal court filing that plea talks with Hunter Biden's lawyer had failed.

The filing also said that the president's son would likely face trial in California or Washington, D.C., and that he might be charged with more crimes.

Chris Clark, Hunter Biden's lawyer, said Friday, "We are confident when all of these maneuverings are at an end my client will have resolution and will be moving on with his life successfully."

At the July 26 hearing, Hunter Biden, who has been under investigation for five years, planned to plead guilty to two counts of failure to pay federal income taxes on annual income of more than $1.5 million in 2017 and 2018.

Weiss' office had offered to recommend he receive a sentence of probation for those convictions.

Separately, prosecutors offered him a diversion agreement that would drop a criminal charge of having a gun while being a drug user if he abided by certain conditions for a period of time.

The agreements fell apart after Noreika questioned their terms at the hearing, and whether federal case law allowed the conditions prosecutors had set.

A key sticking point for the judge was the requirement that she, not the U.S. Department of Justice, be the one to decide if Hunter Biden violates the gun agreement over a two-year period.

Hunter Biden's lawyer told her that requirement would avoid the deal becoming "more politicized" in the future, a clear reference to the chance that Donald Trump is elected president in 2024, and orders the DOJ to act against Hunter.

After Noreika said she would give prosecutors and defense lawyers more time to answer her questions, Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty to the tax crimes.

In their filing over the weekend, his lawyers wrote: "While counsel for the Defendant are still prepared to respond to the questions Your Honor posed at the July 26 hearing, in light of the United States' decision on Friday to renege on the previously agreed-upon Plea Agreement, we agree that those issues are moot at this point."
In this courtroom sketch, former U.S. president Donald Trump appears by video conferencing before Judge Juan Merchan during a hearing before his trial over charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, in Manhattan state court in New York City, May 23, 2023.

Trump had asked for Merchan to step off the case in Manhattan Supreme Court, where his trial is set to begin in late March, citing three different areas of potential conflicts of interest.

In the five-page decision, Merchan directly quoted a federal appeals court ruling that urges judges to balance a policy of promoting public confidence in the court system against the chance that people questioning a judge's impartiality were just trying to avoid "adverse consequences."

The judge wrote that he "finds that recusal would not be in the public interest."

Judge Juan Merchan said he had "carefully weighed" the legal standards for recusing himself after Trump cited the judge's purported conflicts of interest.

The New York judge set to preside over the porn star hush money trial of Donald Trump refused on Monday to step off the case, saying he is certain he can be "fair and impartial" to the former president .

The Republican presidential candidate is charged there with multiple counts of falsifying business records related to a $130,000 hush money payment Trump's then-lawyer Michael Cohen made to porn star Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet about an alleged sexual tryst with Trump.

Although Trump denies having sex with Daniels, he and his company, the Trump Organization, reimbursed Cohen for the payment and gave him extra money in connection with it as well.

Trump's lawyers argued that Merchan's daughter presented him with a conflict of interest because she is head of a digital marketing company that works with Democratic candidates.

They also cited Merchan's role in a separate criminal case involving Allen Weisselberg, the former chief financial officer of Trump's company, and the judge's contributions of $35 to Democrats in 2020, of which $15 went to the campaign of President Joe Biden, who defeated Trump that year.

On the issue of his daughter's employment, Merchan noted that in May, the New York State Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics issued an opinion that said the case does not involve either Merchan's daughter or her business, directly or indirectly.

"They are not parties or likely witnesses in the matter, and none of the parties or counsel before the judge are clients in the business," the committee's opinion said.

"We see nothing in the inquiry to suggest that the outcome of the case could have any effect on the judge's relative, the relative's business, or any of their interests."

Merchan noted that the Trump Organization had previously unsuccessfully sought to recuse him from presiding over its own criminal case on the same grounds that Trump himself used in his case: the judge's purported "inappropriate conduct in the plea negotiations of" Weisselberg.

"That the identical grounds are now raised on behalf of a different defendant, on an entirely different indictment, only serve to weaken the plausibility of the claim," Merchan wrote in his decision Monday.

Regarding the question of his political contributions, Merchan noted that the state advisory committee had written that "these modest political contributions made more than two years ago cannot reasonably create an impression or bias or favoritism in the case before the judge."

"This Court has examined its conscience and is certain in its ability to be fair and impartial," Merchan wrote. "Defendant's motion for recusal and for an explanation is Denied on all grounds," the order states.

Merchan cited a 1988 New York federal appeals court decision related to judicial recusal.

"The judge presiding over a case is in the best position to appreciate the implications of those matters alleged in a recusal motion," that ruling in the case known as In Re Drexel Burnham Lambert says.

The Manhattan District Attorney's Office, which is prosecuting Trump, opposed the recusal request on the grounds that the "Defendant presents no arguments that fairly raise any actual or perceived conflict of interest or preconceived bias."
Kraft Heinz 's North American president will become CEO of the food giant next year, the company announced Monday.

Carlos Abrams-Rivera will take the reins Jan. 1 from Miguel Patricio, who has led Kraft Heinz since 2019. Patricio took over as chief executive as Kraft Heinz struggled with slumping sales, write-downs on a handful of its iconic brands and investor scrutiny over its business model.

Under Patricio's leadership, the company has tried to revive iconic brands such as Oscar Mayer and Maxwell House for younger consumers and grow its away-from-home business, with new products such as a customizable sauce dispenser for restaurants. But demand for its products has fallen in recent months as higher prices push away budget-conscious consumers and its competitors spend more on promotions.

Kraft Heinz shares have fallen 15% this year, dragging its market value down to $42.2 billion. The S&P 500 has risen 16% during that period.

The promotion is a full-circle moment for Abrams-Rivera, who began his food industry career at Kraft, managing brands such as California Pizza Kitchen and Philadelphia Cream Cheese, according to his LinkedIn. Later, he led Mondelez's Latin American gum and candy division and Campbell Soup's snack business. He rejoined Kraft Heinz as head of its U.S. zone in February 2020, just before the Covid-19 pandemic helped rejuvenate demand for many of the company's products.

"Since joining Kraft Heinz in 2020, [Carlos] has consistently delivered strong results in the North American retail and Away From Home businesses," Patricio said in a statement. "Carlos' experience in both developed and emerging markets complements our ambition for growth."

Ahead of the CEO transition Jan. 1, Abrams-Rivera will become president of Kraft Heinz, adding new responsibilities to his current role. Patricio will stay on as chair of the board after he steps down in the new year.
A Ukrainian serviceman checks a machine gun of a tank after loading ammunition during a military training near a front line, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, March 29, 2023.

The United States said on Monday it will send Ukraine new security assistance valued at $200 million.

The aid includes air defense munitions, artillery rounds, anti-armor capabilities, and additional mine-clearing equipment, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

Two U.S. officials told Reuters last Monday that they would begin to dole out $6.2 billion of funds discovered after a Pentagon accounting error that overvalued billions of dollars of Ukraine aid.

In May, the Pentagon announced it had mistakenly assigned a higher-than-warranted value to the U.S. weaponry shipped to Kyiv when staff used "replacement value" instead of "depreciated value" to tabulate the billions' worth of ammunition, missiles and other equipment sent to Ukraine.

Ukraine needs weaponry that can be shipped from U.S. stocks in a matter of days or weeks so it can continue to repel Russia's invasion. The accounting error works to Kyiv's benefit because more equipment can be sent.

Beginning to use these discovered funds is significant because they represent the last of the previously congressionally authorized $25.5 billion worth of Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) the administration can utilize to ship weapons from U.S. stocks in the event of an emergency, the U.S. officials said.

Washington is currently working on a supplemental budget request to continue to aid Kyiv, the U.S. officials said. Monday's announcement of $200 million would be the first tranche of a $6.2 billion windfall of previously authorized Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), the officials said.

 Reuters
Sam Bankman-Fried's legal team is asking a U.S. district court judge to grant the former FTX CEO "uninterrupted access" to his daily prescribed medication while he is in jail. That includes Adderall for treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.

"For over five years Mr. Bankman-Fried has been prescribed Emsam 9mg/24 hrs transdermal patch for the treatment of depression," Bankman-Fried's attorney, Mark Cohen, wrote in a letter to Judge Lewis Kaplan on Monday. "And for the past three years, Mr. Bankman-Fried has been prescribed Adderall 10mg tablets, 3-4x/day for the treatment of ADHD."

Kaplan approved the motion later in the day.

On Friday, Kaplan sided with a request by federal prosecutors to revoke Bankman-Fried's bail over alleged witness tampering. Bankman-Fried was remanded to custody directly from a court hearing in New York and sent to Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center, or MDC, according to Bureau of Prisons records.

Unless an appeal filed by the defendant's legal team is successful, Bankman-Fried is expected to remain in custody until his criminal trial, which is due to begin Oct. 2. He faces charges for allegedly conspiring to defraud investors and customers out of billions of dollars in a scheme that led to the collapse of FTX and sent shockwaves throughout the crypto industry. He pleaded not guilty.

The latest request from Bankman-Fried's lawyers includes a letter from his psychiatrist, George Lerner, who has been treating the former FTX CEO since February 2019.

"Mr. Bankman-Fried has a history of Major Depressive Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder," Lerner wrote.

ADHD is among the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in children. Bankman-Fried told a Bahamas judge in December that he took medication to treat depression and ADHD.

Lerner added in his letter that Bankman-Fried had tried other antidepressants but said they were ineffective for his symptoms.

"Additionally, there have been times when Mr. Bankman-Fried did not have access to the Emsam patch (typically when travelling/abroad) and exhibited symptoms of depression, including lethargy, anhedonia, low motivation, and increased ruminations," Lerner wrote.

Without his medication, Lerner warned the judge, "Bankman-Fried will experience a return of his depression and ADHD symptoms and will be severely negatively impacted in his ability to assist in his own defense."

Cohen said Bankman-Fried was only able to bring a "small supply" of his daily medication when he was remanded to custody on Friday  a supply apparently only sufficient to last him a few days.

"We respectfully ask that the Court promptly enter an order directing MDC to ensure that our client has continuous access to the specific medications and dosages that are described in Dr. Lerner's letter," wrote Cohen.

For nearly a year, there's been a nationwide shortage of Adderall, the popular stimulant used to treat ADHD. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has called on drug manufacturers to up production.

Bankman-Fried was sent to jail over his decision to leak private diary entries by his ex-girlfriend, Caroline Ellison, to The New York Times. In many of her personal writings, Ellison expressed self-doubt and feelings of stress in her role as the former head of Bankman-Fried's failed crypto hedge fund, Alameda Research.

"I have been feeling pretty unhappy and overwhelmed with my job," she wrote in an entry dated February 2022. "At the end of the day I can't wait to go home and turn off my phone and have a drink and get away from it all."

Ellison, who pleaded guilty to federal charges in December 2022, has been cooperating with the government and is expected to be a star witness for the prosecution.

During his 33-minute ruling Friday, Kaplan said probable cause for witness tampering had been met by the prosecution, adding that Bankman-Fried's contribution to the Ellison story was designed to "hurt" and "discredit" a witness.

The prosecution described the effort by Bankman-Fried as a "means of indirect witness intimidation through the press."

The government has requested that Bankman-Fried be remanded to a jail in Putnam, New York, where he would have access to a laptop with internet access for defense preparation, rather than staying at MDC, which is the facility closest to the courthouse but has limited web access for prisoners.

 CNBC's Dan Mangan contributed to this report.

WATCH: Sam Bankman-Fried's bail revoked
Starboard Value's Jeffrey Smith has called artificial intelligence "an enormous opportunity," and there are hints of his enthusiasm in his latest quarterly 13F filing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The activist investor drastically increased his stake in Wix.com , making it his ninth-biggest holding at the end of June. Wix.com, whose shares have gained more than 15%, is a web development platform enabling businesses to take workflow online. Meanwhile, Smith hiked his stake in Acacia Research to a bet worth more than $250 million last quarter, pushing it to the 10th-biggest position. The patent licensing company's shares have fallen about 8% this year. Smith has come out as an artificial intelligence bull, comparing the technology advance with the internet. "There has been a few technology advancements over the last 20-plus years that have been able to do things like that," Smith said on CNBC last month. "The internet was one to start with  maybe you talk about cryptocurrency blockchain and then you might talk about AI." During the last quarter, the hedge fund manager trimmed his holding in customer relations management software company Salesforce , which in 2022, he famously took an activist stake in. Shares of Salesforce have rallied nearly 60% this year. The hedge fund manager said there's more room for Salesforce to grow and the stock can rally another 30% on the back of the AI boom. Splunk is another software name that Smith previously said could benefit from the rise of AI. Smith said Splunk is slightly behind Salesforce in terms of execution. Smith has been one of the busiest activist investors over the past two decades, best known for his proxy fights in the restaurant space. He launched the Starboard Value investment strategy at Ramius in 2002. Nine years later, he spun out his New York-based hedge fund and became the CEO. The hedge fund manager also added a relatively small stake in British life-science company Abcam PLC last quarter.
Workers replace a roller that compresses steel at the A&T Stainless steel plant in Midland, Pennsylvania, March 2, 2020.

Check out the companies making headlines in premarket trading.

U.S. Steel  Shares of the steel producer surged more than 26% premarket after it rejected a $7.3 billion buyout proposal on Sunday from rival Cleveland-Cliffs and said it's reviewing "strategic alternatives." Cleveland-Cliffs shares were flat.

Tesla  The electric vehicle stock fell 2.2% in premarket trading. The move comes after Tesla lowered the price in China on its Model Y long-range and performance models by 14,000 yuan, according to a company post on Chinese social media platform Weibo.

Okta  The identity management company's stock popped 5% before the bell. Goldman Sachs upgraded shares of Okta to a buy rating, citing a favorable risk reward and expectations for an inflection in subscription revenues.

Hawaiian Electric  The power stock slipped 2.2% before the bell after Wells Fargo pulled back its target price for shares and reiterated its underweight rating. Wells Fargo tied the price target cut to the wildfires risk.

Keysight Technologies  The tech stock dropped 2.2% following a Bank of America downgrade to underperform from neutral, citing the likelihood of worsening order trends. Keysight's earnings report for the fiscal third quarter is slated for release Thursday.

Urban Outfitters  The clothing retailer shed 2.5% following a downgrade by Citi to neutral from buy. While the Wall Street firm expects an earnings beat when Urban Outfitters reports next week, it believes the risk/reward is more balanced at current levels. The Urban Outfitters brand will be slower to turn around, ultimately limiting possible upside to earnings per share, the firm wrote.

Parsons Corporation  The technology stock climbed 2.5% in premarket trading following a rare double-upgrade in rating to buy from underperform by Bank of America. The firm said Parsons has better growth than expected.

EPR Properties  The real estate stock shed 1.3% before the bell after a downgrade to neutral from buy by Bank of America. The firm said EPR can face pressure on its multiple as a result of the Hollywood strikes given its exposure to movie theaters.

Nikola  Shares of the green truck maker dropped 15% to $1.65 after it announced a recall of 209 electric trucks following an independent investigation of a June fire. The company said this doesn't impact its hydrogen fuel cell trucks.

 CNBC's Samantha Subin, Hakyung Kim, Sarah Min, Tanaya Macheel and Michelle Fox contributed reporting
A supporter of the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) waves a Taiwanese flag during a rally outside the KMT headquarters ahead of the party's expected announcement of their 2024 presidential candidate in Taipei on May 17, 2023.

Taiwan will not be afraid nor back down in the face of authoritarian threats, the island's vice president told supporters on a U.S. visit that Beijing has condemned, while reiterating a willingness to talk to China.

William Lai, also frontrunner to be Taiwan's next president at January elections, is in the United States on what is officially a transit stop on his way to Paraguay for the inauguration of its new president. Paraguay is one of only 13 countries to maintain formal ties with the Chinese-claimed island.

Taiwan and the United States both say the stopovers, including one in San Francisco on the way back, are routine, but China has denounced them and called Lai a separatist "troublemaker."

Lai told a supporters lunch in New York on Sunday that "if Taiwan is safe, the world is safe, if the Taiwan Strait is peaceful, then the world is peaceful," according to Taiwan's presidential office.

"No matter how great the threat of authoritarianism is to Taiwan, we absolutely will not be scared nor cower, we will uphold the values of democracy and freedom," he said.
Appaloosa Management's David Tepper doubled down on several stocks tied to the artificial intelligence boom in the last quarter, a new regulatory filing revealed. The hedge fund manager hiked his stake in Nvidia drastically, making it his biggest holding at the end of June, worth $432 million. The chipmaker has been this year's biggest AI winner with shares rallying nearly 200% on the back of its blowout forecast of future demand. The rally has pushed Nvidia's market value into the rarefied world of companies above $1 trillion. Appaloosa's top holdings also included big-tech names Meta , Microsoft , Amazon and Alphabet , which have all recently highlighted their AI capabilities. Alphabet's Google unit recently announced it will bring AI features to its signature search engine. Microsoft has announced a multiyear, multibillion-dollar investment in ChatGPT maker OpenAI. Meta recently unveiled its own AI computer chips . Tepper, 65, also bought into several semiconductor companies that manufacture advanced chips. AMD , Intel , Qualcomm , Marvell, Broadcom and Taiwan Semiconductor all appeared in his portfolio last quarter. Tepper remains one of the most successful and richest hedge fund managers in the world, known for his skillful maneuvers through market crises. The billionaire investor closed his fund to new investors soon after it scored hefty returns and he rose to fame. Tepper said in 2019 that he planned to convert Appaloosa into a family office.
The hottest gig on the freelance job market isn't coding or graphic design, as you might expect  it's writing. That's at least according to new research from Freelancer.com, which found creative writing to be the most in-demand skill employers are hiring for on its platform, based on an analysis of nearly 300,000 jobs advertised on the site between April and June. Even as more companies turn to AI for content creation, the demand for human writers to edit manuscripts, write SEO-optimized blog posts and draft scripts for creative projects has increased since the beginning of the year, says Matt Barrie, CEO of Freelancer.com.

"AI can't replace creativity yet," he says. "We saw a similar trend occur in the first quarter of the year, as creative design jobs were flourishing despite interest for generative AI tripling." Other writing-related skills that have become more popular on Freelancer.com include copywriting and ghostwriting, Barrie adds.

An accessible career with six-figure prospects

While some writers find success with a bachelor's degree, it's not a requirement to build a successful freelance career. What's far more important, per Indeed, is the skills you bring to the table: Most writing gigs require fact-checking, research, editing and a basic understanding of SEO. You can create an online portfolio with samples of your writing, join a writing group and network with other writers in your area of interest to find paid opportunities. Most freelance writing jobs are remote, too, requiring writers to submit and publish their work online. In some cases, writers are able to work from anywhere, and set their own hours, as long as they meet their deadline, according to FlexJobs. The more experienced you are, the higher you can set your rate: Writers on Freelancer.com charge as much as $250 per hour. At this rate, working as a freelance writer full-time could earn you upwards of $400,000 per year.

How freelance writers are leveraging AI to make more money
Chase Coleman's Tiger Global Management took profits in many of his largest tech positions in the second quarter but placed significant bets on Nvidia as well as some new positions in a pair of pharmaceutical companies, according to securities filings. Coleman lowered his exposure in six of his top 10 holdings, including some of the largest technology stocks. He trimmed his position in No. 2 holding Microsoft by $82.5 million, or 4.4%, and slashed his stakes in Amazon.com, his seventh-largest holding, by 61%. The size of Google parent Alphabet, Coleman's eighth-largest position, fell 54%. However, he enlarged notable positions elsewhere in Tiger's portfolio. Coleman raised his stake in Nvidia by 1,300%, which was worth about $194.9 million. The key artificial intelligence beneficiary is up about 200% this year. Coleman also took new positions in a pair of pharmaceutical stocks: Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. The pharmaceutical makers are higher this year by roughly 33% and 46%, respectively, on optimism surrounding their weight-loss medications. Eli Lilly shares are also higher this year following positive trial results for its Alzheimer's drug. Uber was also a major buy in the quarter. Coleman raised his position in the stock 492%. Coleman, who was one of the so-called Tiger Cubs who worked under Julian Robertson at Tiger Management, also doubled down on his stake in alternative asset manager Apollo Global Management. He raised his position in the No. 3 holding by roughly $650 million, or 371%. Meanwhile, the allocation to Intuit, another top 10 holding, grew 136% in the quarter.
Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as he campaigns at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. August 12, 2023.

Former President Donald Trump kicked off the week of his expected fourth indictment by railing against the judge overseeing the federal case charging him with illegally conspiring to subvert the 2020 election results.

In a pair of social media posts just after midnight Monday, Trump attacked U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan as "highly partisan" and "very biased & unfair!"

"She obviously wants me behind bars," Trump wrote on Truth Social at 1:14 a.m. ET.

That post was made in reference to Chutkan's remarks from an October sentencing hearing for Christine Priola, one of the hundreds of people to face criminal charges related to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

"The people who mobbed that Capitol were there in fealty, in loyalty, to one man," Chutkan said, according to a transcript of the hearing. "It's a blind loyalty to one person who, by the way, remains free to this day."

Trump posted that quote in all caps less than an hour after midnight.

Later Monday morning, Trump vented rage at the prosecutor in Fulton County, Georgia, who is expected to bring her state-level election interference case before a grand jury this week. Trump even targeted former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, a potential witness, as "a loser" and said he should not testify before that grand jury.

Numerous legal experts have told CNBC they expect Trump to face a gag order as he continues to inveigh against the constellation of figures related to his expanding legal troubles.
Chief Judge Robert McBurney, of the Superior Court of Fulton County, sits in his courtroom, Monday, Aug. 14, 2023, in Atlanta. Brynn Anderson | AP

An Atlanta grand jury that was investigating Donald Trump and allies of the former president for trying to overturn his loss in the 2020 presidential election in the state of Georgia voted to issue 10 criminal indictments on Monday night. The names of the indicted individuals and the nature of the charges were not immediately made public in Fulton County Superior Court. But a cover sheet on the documents indicated that the grand jury did not vote against charging anyone whose name was submitted to them by prosecutors for possible indictment on Monday. Trump has said he expects to be indicted in the case. After the grand jury voted, the indictments were taken to the courtroom of Judge Robert McBurney, who reviewed them silently to confirm they were all signed. "Everything went as it should have in front of the grand jury?" McBurney asked a representative for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. "Yes, your honor," that representative answered.

Willis is expected to hold a press conference after the indictments are processed by the court clerk's office, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. That could take between one and three hours, the newspaper reported. Hillary Clinton, the Democrat who lost to Trump in the 2016 election, said on MSNBC on Monday, "It's hard to believe it. I don't feel any satisfaction. I just feel profound sadness that we have a former president indicted." "He set out to defraud the United States, and the citizens of our country," Clinton told MSNBC host Rachel Maddow. Earlier, McBurney told reporters they would need to "wait and see" if charges will be filed by the end of the day. As McBurney spoke, prosecutors were continuing to present testimony to the grand jury, in a sign the panel could be asked to charge Trump and others by the end of Monday, a day earlier than originally expected. The journalist George Chidi, who had originally been summoned to testify on Tuesday, was told to be there Monday. "Change of plans. I'm going to court today. They're moving faster than they thought," tweeted Chidi, who later was seen entering the courthouse.

Independent journalist George Chidi arrives at the Lewis R. Slaton Courthouse after being subpoenaed ahead of an expected indictment of former US President Donald Trump on August 14, 2023, in Atlanta, Georgia. Christian Monterrosa | AFP | Getty Images

But Chidi later said he had not testified, because prosecutors told him his testimony was not necessary. Another expected witness Tuesday, former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, a Republican, was also called to testify on Monday. On Monday morning, Jen Jordan, a Democratic former state senator and Georgia attorney general nominee, testified to the grand jury. Another Democrat who had been subpoenaed, former state Rep. Bee Nguyen, likewise testified. She later revealed that she had given testimony about Trump's campaign lawyer Rudy Giuliani and other attorneys who pushed false claims about ballot fraud in the state. Nguyen in a statement said, "When I took my oath of office in 2017, I swore my allegiance to our Constitution and promised to protect and defend out State and our country." "On December 10, 2020, when Rudy Giuliani and the former President's legal team appeared before the Georgia House of representatives, I upheld my oath and told the truth in the face of false testimony about our elections," she said.

Georgia Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan speaks with members of the media following a short session in the Senate chambers during the 29th day of the Georgia Legislative session,, Friday, March 13, 2020, in Atlanta. Alyssa Pointer | AP
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, right, and Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney speak in the Fulton county courthouse, Tuesday, July 11, 2023, in Atlanta.

A disputed report Monday about new criminal charges against Donald Trump added another layer of confusion to the former president's knotty legal entanglements.

Headlines from Reuters declared that Georgia had filed numerous charges against Trump, including conspiracy, false statements, forgery and racketeering.

But soon after those headlines were published, a spokeswoman for Fulton County, Georgia, told CNBC that Reuters' reporting was "inaccurate." The spokeswoman did not immediately respond to CNBC's questions about what, exactly, was inaccurate about the the story.

In a story published minutes later, Reuters reported that Georgia "appears set" to charge Trump  a marked distinction from the initial headlines, which implied the charges had been filed. The news outlet cited a two-page docket report that it said had been posted, and then deleted from, the Fulton County court's website.

In a statement later Monday afternoon from the Fulton County Clerk said the court had "learned of a fictitious document that has been circulated online," an apparent reference to the Reuters docket report.

Reuters posted a copy of that docket report.
Swiss bank UBS agreed to pay a combined $1.4 billion in civil penalties over fraud and misconduct in its offering of residential mortgage-backed securities dating back to the global financial crisis, federal prosecutors announced Monday.

The bank, in its own statement Monday, described the settlement as dealing with a "legacy matter" dating from 2006 to 2007, leading up to the financial crisis.

The settlement concludes the final case brought by the U.S. Department of Justice against several of the largest financial institutions over misleading statements made to the purchasers of those mortgage-backed securities. The cumulative recoveries in the cases now total $36 billion, according to the Justice Department.

UBS' settlement is nearly the same as the value of the residential mortgages it originated between 2005 and 2007, the year it stopped issuing residential mortgage-backed securities. UBS originated $1.5 billion in residential mortgages in those three years, the bank previously said in a 2018 statement challenging the Justice Department allegations.

"The vast majority of loans underlying the 40 RMBS listed in the complaint were originated by other financial institutions," UBS said at the time.

In the years leading up to the financial crisis, investment banks packaged, securitized and sold bundles of mortgages to institutional buyers. Those securities were rated and graded according to quality, with various "tranches" of mortgages hypothetically safeguarding against the risk of complete default.

But unbeknownst to the buyers, those mortgages were not as high quality as their ratings suggested. UBS, similar to other banks who settled with the Justice Department, were aware that the mortgages underneath the mortgage-backed securities didn't comply with underwriting standards.

UBS conducted "extensive" due diligence on the underlying loans before it created and sold the securities to its clients, prosecutors alleged, and despite knowing of the significant issues with the products, continued to sell them to financial success.

UBS had previously said that it had "fulfilled" its obligations to its clients, which the bank said were "highly sophisticated investors" and "some of the biggest financial institutions in the world.

The Justice Department has secured settlements with 18 other financial institutions over mortgage-backed security issues, including Bank of America , Citigroup , General Electric , Goldman Sachs , JPMorgan and Wells Fargo .

Credit Suisse, the defunct Swiss bank now owned by UBS, also settled with the Justice Department over misconduct related to MBS offerings.
To Steven Schwartz, the side hustle was a necessity: He wanted rare Nike Kobe 7 Easter shoes, and his parents wouldn't pay for them.

The then-13-year-old took over his family's only computer, and spent hours learning to build sneaker bots  software that snaps up limited-edition shoes faster than a human ever could. In a Facebook group dedicated to the subject, he met Cameron Zoub, a fellow middle schooler and Chicagoan. They quickly became friends and business partners, selling their bots under the name Sole Sniper.

Now in their mid-20s, Schwartz and Zoub still work together, along with a third partner named Jack Sharkey. They're the co-founders of Whop, a tech marketplace that's like "Etsy for software products," Schwartz says.

Whop isn't the first platform where people buy and sell programs, but it might be among the most successful: Since launching in March 2021, it has facilitated up to $11.8 million per month in software sales, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It.

The company takes between 3% and 4.5% plus 40 cents of most transactions, and 30% of transactions made by featured sellers, Whop's website notes. That indicates a monthly revenue of at least $354,000, or more than $4.25 million per year, according to calculations by Make It. (Whop reviewed the estimate, but declined to offer specifics.)

Last month, the company announced a $17 million Series A funding round, with investors ranging from hedge fund titan Peter Thiel to athletes and musicians like James Harden and The Chainsmokers.

"When we were growing up, people thought we were weird to be trying to do something entrepreneurial," Schwartz, 25, says. "It wasn't the status quo, especially not software businesses. We are now building a platform for the 15-year-old versions of ourselves."

But Whop wasn't an overnight success. It wasn't the founders' first attempt at taking their entrepreneurship full-time, either.
Skyline Robotics is disrupting the century-old practice of window washing with new technology that the startup hopes will redefine a risky industry.

Its window-washing robot, Ozmo, is now operational in Tel Aviv and New York, and has worked on major Manhattan buildings such as 10 Hudson Yards, 383 Madison, 825 3rd Avenue and 7 World Trade Center in partnership with the city's largest commercial window cleaner Platinum and real estate giant The Durst Organization.

The machine is suspended from the side of a high-rise. A robotic arm with a brush attached to the end cleans the window following instructions from a LiDAR camera, which uses laser technology to map 3D environments. The camera maps the building's exterior and identifies the parameters of the windows.

"What the LiDAR is actually doing as the basket is descending is sort of painting itself a picture of the facade that it's facing," President and Chief Operating Officer Ross Blum said.

Although the Ozmo is controlled by a human operator at the top of the building, Blum said the robot could be operated fully remotely.

"That person, other than regulation, doesn't actually have to be there for our sake," Blum said. "We could, in theory, remote-control Ozmo from different parts of the world."

Reverse osmosis removes contaminants from the water, hence the name Ozmo. According to Blum, this makes the cleaning process more efficient.

"We don't need a separate squeegee and a separate brush to get a perfectly clean window," he said. "It's one motion."

The current cost of the Ozmo is approximately $500,000, which has a three-to-five-year payback for building owners, according to Skyline Robotics board member and Platinum CEO James Halpin.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 14)  Rather than allocate confidential and intelligence funds to the Department of Education, the government should instead use the money to build more classrooms, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) said on Monday.

"Kung sa Bicol i-implement yan, e, hindi na sana magka-klase ang isang teacher sa parang bahay ng mga baboy, para po talagang ganon. Ang mga bintana pinagtagpi-tagping mga kahoy, walang electric fan, walang ventilation. Makakagawa ng 60 classrooms yung 150 million na confidential yet not intelligent fund," ACT Secretary General Raymond Basilio said Monday.

[Translation: If this is implemented in Bicol, then teachers wouldn't have to hold classes in classrooms that are like pigpens, where the windows are made with a patchwork of wood, with no electric fans or ventilation. The confidential yet not intelligent fund can build 60 classrooms.]

Basilio said around 6,000 students could benefit from the fund realignment, which at the same time would help teachers who have to shoulder the cost of classroom repairs.

Citing the DepEd basic education report, ACT said that 211,051 of 327,851 school buildings, or about two in three, nationwide are in need of repair.

It also highlighted that in the DepEd's proposed 2024 budget, the agency only asked for funding for the construction of three medium-rise buildings, 7,879 new classrooms, and for the repairs of 10,050 classrooms.

Education Secretary and Vice President Sara Duterte earlier defended the 150 million in intelligence funds, citing guidelines on how this could be spent, but she stopped short of giving details.

Agencies with confidential and intelligence funds simply submit reports to the Commission on Audit of how the money was spent, supposedly in line with agreed procedures, but these do not pass audit scrutiny.

READ: Duterte defends proposed 150-M confidential funds for DepEd

CNN Philippines' senior correspondent Gerg Cahiles contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 14)  The policemen involved in the shooting of Jemboy Baltazar were unable to present footage from their body cameras during the incident, said PBGen Jose Melencio Nartatez, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director, noting that the policemen will face criminal charges.

"With the investigation, as of now, wala silang mapakita na footages ng body cameras or alternative recording device," Nartatez told reporters on Monday.

[Translation: "With the investigation, as of now, they were not able to show any footage of body camera or alternative recording device.]

Nartatez added that the videos they have were CCTV footage or videos taken by residents and bystanders.

"Our action taken is the continuing investigation to seek answers on why walang body camera, walang paraffin test when they [policemen] were arrested or inquested at walang nag respond na investigator," he said.

[Translation: Our action taken is the continuing investigation to seek answers on why there were no body cameras, no paraffin test when they were arrested or underwent inquest and there was no response from the investigators.]

Baltazar was gunned down on Aug. 2 by policemen in Navotas who reportedly mistook him for a murder suspect.

According to Nartatez, six policemen are currently detained as the investigation is still ongoing. However, all those involved in the shooting incident will face criminal charges.

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said the Department of Justice is finalizing the criminal case that will be charged against the policemen.

"Ang Department of Justice or ang prosecutor ang mag de-dertmine nito bandang huli if it is really murder or not murder,"Abalos said.

[Translation: In the end, the Department of Justice or the prosecutor will determine if it is really murder or not.]

The Northern Police District earlier said that all Navotas sub-station personnel were relieved from their position due to the shooting incident.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 14)  The Commission on Election (Comelec) En Banc has denied the motion for reconsideration to reverse the cancellation of An Waray Party-list's registration for utter lack of merit.

"Respondents in this case presented no exceptional circumstance or any compelling reason to warrant the reversal or modification of the Resolution of the Second Division granting the Petition," read the resolution promulgated on Monday.

An Waray Party-list and former representative Victoria Isabel Noel filed the motion for reconsideration on June 6, arguing that there was no sufficient evidence to justify the decision of the Comelec Second Division.

The division had ruled to cancel An Waray's registration when it allowed its second nominee Noel to sit as one of its representatives in the House of Representatives in the 16th Congress, knowing "fully well" that the poll body had not issued a Certificate of Proclamation entitling her to do so.

In a separate opinion issued together with the Aug. 14 resolution, Commissioner Ernesto Ferdinand Maceda Jr. said this was an "unmistakable violation of a law relating to elections and serves as sufficient basis" for the cancellation of An Waray's registration.

In a message to reporters, Comelec chair George Garcia said it will take 30 days before the poll body issues a certificate of finality as the case is a special proceeding.

Garcia added An Waray "can still go to the Supreme Court" for a temporary restraining order or a status quo, which would block the Comelec from enforcing its decision.

Florencio Gabriel Noel, the current An Waray representative, is in danger of losing his seat since the party-list registration is the primary qualification to participate in the Party-list System of Representation Elections, which must be "continually possessed."

Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco earlier said it is the House that has the power to expel any member who fails to continually possess all the qualifications.

Furthermore, it is the lower chamber that will declare the existence of a vacancy and initiate the call to the poll body "to either hold special elections, or proclaim the next nominee in line or the next winning party-list to have a seat," he added.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 14)  Vice President Sara Duterte, who heads the Department of Education (DepEd), said schools damaged by Typhoon Egay would immediately implement blended learning if repairs are not yet completed by August 29.

Wala na pong learning disruption ang direction ng Department of Education. Lagi pong blended learning or in-person classes. Tuloy-tuloy ang pag-aaral kahit may problema sa classroom, she said on Monday when she and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited a high school in Manila to inspect Brigada Eskwela activities.

[Translation: The direction of the Department of Education is to no longer have learning disruption, its either blended learning or in-person classes. Classes will continue despite a problem in classrooms.]

Duterte said DepEds budget for repairs prioritizes those schools hit by Typhoon Egay, which ravaged parts of the Philippines last July.

Meanwhile, Marcos said renovation efforts are ongoing in some schools. He noted that they are closely working with local government units to speed up the repairs.

The government earlier said that a total of 169 schools, including more than 500 classrooms, were damaged by the weather disturbance in Cordillera Administrative Region, Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley, Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Eastern Visayas, and Bicol Region.

READ: Prompt renovation of schools damaged by Egay, habagat sought

Public schools in the country will open academic year 2023-2024 on August 29.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 14)  Senator Jinggoy Estrada said the administration of his father, former President Erap Estrada, never made any deal with the Chinese government to remove the BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal.

The BRP Sierra Madre is a World War II-era ship that was deliberately grounded at Ayungin Shoal in 1999 to serve as a military outpost over the contested waters.

"During my phone conversation today with former Senator Orly Mercado, who held the position of Defense Secretary during my father's tenure, he confirmed that there was 'no agreement or promise' whatsoever made to the Chinese government," Estrada said in a statement Monday. His father was president from June 1998 to January 2001.

In a previous interview with CNN Philippines, Chinese diplomatic sources claimed Manila promised Beijing that it would tow away the outpost.

READ: China says no point in showing proof of Ayungin Shoal deal if Marcos already rescinded it

Estrada's brother, Sen. JV Ejercito similarly denied that such a deal had ever been set.

"Any assertion of such a commitment contradicts the rationale behind the government's decision at that time to station BRP Sierra Madre at the shoal. This move was primarily undertaken to assert our country's claim and establish a presence in the area," Estrada continued.

Beijing asked Manila to tow away the "illegally grounded" ship after the Chinese Coast Guard fired a water cannon at Filipino vessels on a resupply mission to the outpost last Aug. 5.

READ: Chinese coast guard fired water cannons at PH vessels en route to Ayungin Shoal  PCG

In response, Marcos said that the ship would stay and that the supposed deal on its removal was rescinded.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines likewise said any attempt by a foreign nation to move the station would be met with resistance.

China claims Ayungin Shoal or Second Thomas Shoal, which it calls the Ren'Ai Reef, is part of its Nansha Island, or the Spratly Islands.

However, in 2016, an arbitral tribunal constituted under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea said the Ayungin Shoal was a low-tide elevation within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ), meaning China's claim over the feature had no legal basis.

The landmark ruling nullified Beijing's sweeping claim over the South China Sea.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 14)  Filipinos were among victims in the aftermath of the deadly wildfires in Maui, Hawaii that has so far claimed the lives of 93 people.

Speaking to CNN Philippines New Day on Monday, John Bernard Flores said two brush fires struck on Aug. 8. One was contained in the morning, but strong winds from a hurricane fanned the flames.

Nung meron pong bahay na mas malapit dun sa apoy... tinawag ko na po yung family ko. Sabi ko 'tara na tara na bilisan natin' tapos yun sabay sabay na po kaming umalis, he said.

[Translation: When there was fire near a house, I called my family. I said, 'Let's go, let's leave quickly,' then we all left at once.]

Flores said he was separated from his family because of heavy traffic on Lahainaluna road, and he only reconnected with them the next day.

He said he and his family are now in a safe place.

Before flying back to Hawaii from Las Vegas, Joana Marie Acosta, Flores girlfriend, said she relied on social media to get updates as communication was down in the disaster area.

Acosta said her family is still in Lahaina seeking shelter in hotels.

Speaking to CNN Philippines Balitaan, Filipino-American Bella Rose Tumapat said her family visits relatives in Maui every year.

Tumapat said she, her brother, and parents arrived from California days before the wildfires.

On Tuesday, we woke up and we didnt have power because of the hurricane winds, so couldn't get in contact with anyone. And then that afternoon and evening, we could see the fire from our balcony, and we were just praying it wasnt Lahaina where our family lives, she shared.

Tumapat said they tried going to Lahaina the following day to check on relatives, but they couldn't get through.

So we went to higher ground in Kapalua to see if we can contact anyone and thats where we heard that all of Lahaina burned down, she said.

She said she got in contact with a cousin, who told her that all houses were destroyed. They also didnt know if all family members survived.

Upon reconnecting with her relatives, Tumapat said she learned some of them jumped into the water while one of her aunts stayed in her car while her surroundings burned.

Tumapat said all family members are safe, but added some people they know remain missing.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said Sunday the government is ready to help Filipinos in the Maui wildfires. It added it did not expect requests for repatriation since the victims are are permanent residents of Hawaii.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines)  GCash lauds the successful operations of the Department of Justice (DOJ), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) against cybercriminals.

The DOJ, NBI, and PNP-ACG conducted a series of raids and arrests of alleged cybercriminals in the past months. They have successfully arrested suspected perpetrators of various crimes like love scams and task scams, as well as seized SIM Cards purportedly used for dubious purposes.

The authorities are working on the arrest of the suspects linked to the illegal operations  a big win in the shared fight against scammers, fraudsters, and other cybercriminals.

"GCash is supportive of the operations of the DOJ, NBI, and PNP-ACG in going after perpetrators. We are an active partner of our law enforcement agencies as we exchange technical knowledge and expertise on the latest cybersecurity measures" said Atty. Maria Corazon PMR Alvarez-Adriano, chief legal officer of GCash.

In addition to its partnership with law enforcement agencies, GCash is driving the passage of a bill that, among others, will criminalize the buying and selling of so-called mule accounts which are used by criminals to hide their identities when transferring illicit money.

The leading e-wallet continues to invest in best-in-class security technologies and innovations. GCash recently reached 100% rollout for its industry-first security feature, DoubleSafe, to ensure that the person accessing an account is the same as the one who registered in GCash by using face ID technology.

"With the DoubleSafe Face ID feature, even if the users inadvertently give out their MPIN or OTP, their account cannot be accessed from a new device without scanning the owner's face," said Miguel Geronilla, GCash's chief information security officer.

GCash remains steadfast in educating its customers and the general public on how they can better protect themselves from scammers. Through educational materials under the #GSafeTayo campaign, GCash encourages users to be wary of Phishing sites and links that spoof official portals of financial institutions and online shopping websites.

Customers are also advised to transact only through GCash's official channels and remember that it will NEVER send personal messages to address concerns or ask for users' MPIN, OTP, or other personal information.

Report scams and other suspicious activities in the official Help Center inside the app or at help.gcash.com.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 14)  The House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations suspended the briefing on the Philippine Charities and Sweepstakes Office's (PCSO) proposed budget for 2024 due to inconsistencies with the data it presented to lawmakers.

Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo, the vice chair of the House appropriations panel, sought clarification from the PCSO on the figures in its presentation prior to the start of the interpellation.

Quimbo was asking PCSO Accounting and Budget Department Manager Ma. Cristina Gregorio to explain the estimated net loss of 2.93 billion reflected on the agencys submitted 2024 Budget of Expenditures and Sources of Finances for the 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP).

Sinasabi po ninyo na napakaganda ng inyong performance at hindi ko ma-reconcile with a minus 2.93 billion na ineexpect niyo in 2023, Quimbo said.

We did not forecast the 2.93 billion. Hindi po. Hindi po kami nagco-confirm. Ang sinubmit po namin dito is, sorry po maam wala akong hawak na COB [corporate operating budget] namin. Pero wala po kaming net loss, the PCSO official said.

Gregorio could not immediately respond when asked to confirm the submission with a forecast loss of 2.93 billion pesos for 2023. She earned Quimbos ire when she said she will submit the figures being requested by the congresswoman.

"This is a question of accountability, Quimbo said. Beterano na po dapat kayo, four years na kayo nandyan. Kung ano sinu-submit ninyo, kabisado niyo na dapat by this time.

Lawmakers were dismayed by the PCSO's inability to respond to questions about data it presented to the Department of Budget and Management.

Albay Representative Joey Salceda also flagged the increase in personal services and completely flunky accounting.

Meanwhile, Surigao del Norte 2nd District Representative Ace Barbers pointed out the absence of other board members and the lack of coordination among PCSO's accounting unit and management.

PCSO General Manager Junie Cua earlier appealed anew to the Senate to pass a measure lowering the documentary stamp tax (DST) rate for gross retail receipts. He says this would allow PCSO to contribute more to the Universal Healthcare Act if DST is reduced from 20% to 10% this year.

The agency has given 3.5 billion for the Universal Healthcare Act from 2022 until June 30, 2023.

A government agency under the Office of the President, the PCSO conducts charity sweepstakes, races, and lotteries and engages in health and welfare-related investments, projects, and activities to provide permanent and continuing sources of funds for its programs.

The House panel suspended the hearing until 9 am on August 15, Tuesday.

CNN Philippines' digital producer Syrah Vivien Inocencio contributed to this story.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 14)  Joel Escorial, the self-confessed gunman in the killing of radio broadcaster Percival Mabasa, has asked a Las Pinas court to allow him to plead guilty to the lesser offense of homicide instead of murder.

Escorial filed the motion to plea-bargain through his lawyer from the Public Attorney's Office before the Las Pinas City Regional Trial Court Branch 254 on Monday.

"Wherefore, premises considered, in the interest of justice and for the mutual benefit of the State and the accused, it is most respectfully prayed of this Honorable Court to allow accused Joel Escorial y Salve to enter into plea bargaining to lesser offense of homicide," the motion read.

The motion is still up for approval of the court, the document read.

If granted, Escorial will face up to 20 years in prison instead of up to 40 years for the charge of murder.

In a Facebook post, the victim's brother Roy Mabasa also said the self-confessed gunman "requested that he be placed under the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) in Samar for security reason."

The slain journalist, who's also known as Percy Lapid, was gunned down inside his vehicle in Las Pinas City in October last year.

About two weeks later, the so-called middleman Jun Villamor, a national penitentiary inmate, died inside the New Bilibid Prison. An independent autopsy showed he was suffocated with a plastic bag.

TIMELINE: The Percy Lapid slay case

Escorial surrendered to authorities "out of fear for personal safety," Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos previously said.

Escorial is facing a murder charge in the Percy Lapid slay case, along with three alleged accomplices Israel Dimaculangan, Edmon Dimaculangan, and an alias "Orly/Orlando." They are tagged as "principals by direct participation".

Three Bilibid gang leaders have already pleaded guilty to being accessories to murder and were sentenced to up to eight years in prison.

Meanwhile, former BuCor chief Gerald Bantag and his deputy, Ricardo Zulueta  who were tagged as "principals by inducement"  remain at large.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 14)  The Department of the Interior and Local Government on Monday urged leaders of Makati and Taguig cities to iron out their dispute, which has spilled over to public schools. The latest irritant stems from Taguig's rejection of Makati's offer to continue providing some 30,000 students with free supplies as they settle their issues.

Last April, the Supreme Court said its resolution declaring the Bonifacio Military Reservation (BMR), including Bonifacio Global City (BGC), as part of Taguig became final and can no longer be appealed. The ruling ended three decades of the legal row between the two cities.

"What's important is yung services sa mga tao, huwag ma-gambala. Kung meron mang issue sa pagmamay-ari, reimbursement, etc., mag-uusap na lang dapat sila [mayor of Makati and Taguig]. Ganoong level sana ang gusto naming mangyari," DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos on Monday told reporters.

[Translation: What's important is the services to the people will not be interrupted. If there are issues on the ownership, reimbursement, etc. the local leaders of Makati and Taguig cities should just talk it over. This is what we want to achieve.]

Abalos said in his department, the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology; and the Bureau of Fire Protection are affected by the conflict. "We assure you the services would continue," he added.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers said teachers are currently confused as to where to get administrative instructions.

In terms of pagbaba ng mga policy ng DepEd (Department of Education), makakaapekto yan doon sa ating schools na apektado ng territorial disputes. Kaya gulong-gulo ang mga teachers, saan ba kami kukuha ng kautusan. Pupunta ba kami sa SDO (School Division Office) Makati o sa SDO ng Taguig-Pateros?  said Ruby Bernardo, President of ACT NCR Union.

[Translation: In terms of instruction dissemination of DepEd, schools within the territorial dispute will be affected. That is why teachers are confused as to where to get instructions. Will we get them from SDO Makati or SDO Taguig-Pateros?]

Bernardo also raised concern over where the students will get their school uniforms and other supplies, noting that Makati distributes these materials to students for free.

Makati has offered to continue to provide these benefits to ease the worries of the students and their parents. We have asked the COA for guidance on how best to proceed, but we are willing and ready any time, Makati City Administrator Claro Certeza said in a statement.

Certeza said Taguig officials last July rejected the offer of Makati to provide free supplies to public schools of the 10 enlisted men's barrio (EMBO).

These barangays have 14 public schools where the Makati local government earlier claimed Taguig City "forcibly took over."

Taguig on Saturday denied the allegation, saying that security personnel were deployed in the public schools to ensure the welfare of the students, teachers and staff.

CNN Philippines correspondent Gerg Cahilles and multiplatform news writer Celine Serquina contributed to this story.
A Zimbabwean family based in the United Kingdom were on Saturday attacked by armed robbers at a guest house in Glen Lorne and lost cash and goods valued at US$4 062.

Olivia Chitate, 42, and Sandra Chitate, 46, were attacked by seven unidentified men armed with iron bars, axes and wooden sticks at Cleopatra Sanctuary guest house along Pembi Close in Glen Lorne. Harare provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luckmore Chakanza, confirmed the case saying seven family members were victimised during the attack.

Police are investigating an armed robbery case where seven family members were assaulted and lost goods and cash at a lodge in Glen Lorne, said Insp Chakanza.

Circumstances were that two of the victims are based in the United Kingdom and they were currently booked at a guest house in Glen Lorne.

On Saturday, at around 0145 hours, the accused persons were reported to have forced open the sliding door to gain entry into the guest house.

They were armed with iron bars, an axe and wooden sticks.

The accused persons approached the complainants and other five relatives, who all reside in Southerton.

They demanded cash and they were given US$400 which they said was not enough and went on to ransack the whole house. He added:

The accused persons stole various clothes, an iPad, IPhone 13 Pro Max cellphone, Air pods, Samsung S20 cellphone, Samsung F13 cellphone, Huawei Nova 2 cellphone, Samsung A13 cellphone, IPhone 6 plus cellphone, 6 bags loaded with various clothes, food stuffs and personal documents.

They took car keys of a Honda CRV and black Nissan Xtrail, which were parked in the yard, and they loaded all the stolen items in the Honda CRV.

The cars were hired for use by the complainants during their stay in Zimbabwe.

The accused persons were scared away by the caretaker and ran away leaving the loaded vehicle.

They went away with bank cards, cellphones, car keys and US$400 cash and the total value stolen is US$4 062, said Insp Chakanza. H Metro
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 14) -- The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is set to privatize 45 of its casinos by the third quarter of 2025, the agency chair announced on Monday.

"Definitely, my trust is to privatize the 45 casinos of PAGCOR and I'm looking at 2025 as my timeline," PAGCOR chief Alejandro Tengco said during the national budget deliberations in the House of Representatives.

"My goal is to increase the value of what we will privatize," he added. "Tuloy-tuloy na po tayo doon, hindi na po mapipigil 'yon (This will keep going, it can't be stopped)."

Tengco made the statement after Paranaque's 1st District Rep. Edwin Olivarez questioned PACGOR's overlapping duties as regulator and operator.

Olivarez pointed out in the agency's report that overseas operators earn more than PAGCOR-operated casinos, suggesting privatization of some of the corporation's assets.

Meanwhile, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said there is no need for PAGCOR to privatize its casinos if the agency expects the assets to earn more in the coming years.

"It seems that everything will be in order in the coming years, so why are we going to sell the goose that lays the golden egg?" Rodriguez said, referring to the casinos.

"If we privatize this, then the regularity of the income will be cut short," he added.

Early in the deliberations, PAGCOR vice president Sharon Quintanilla reported that the agency posted 58.96 billion in total revenues in 2022 and estimates a total income of 75.49 billion by end 2023.

PAGCOR projects a total income of 80.28 billion in 2024.

Tengco said PAGCOR aims to privatize its assets so it could focus on regulating operators instead of also managing its casinos.

"Maliwanag po (this is clear), PAGCOR should purely be a regulator and not an operator at the same time" the agency chief said.

Tengco, however, said the agency will still look into the process.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 14)  Some parents have sided with Makati in the Makati-Taguig border issue, saying the jurisdiction of public schools should be under the city instead of Taguig, citing the school benefits that their children receive.

Parents worry that their children may not receive the same benefits such as free school uniforms, school supplies, bags, and socks, from the local government of Taguig.

"Malungkot kami kasi alam namin 'yung benefits dito since before pa. Tingin lang namin na hindi niya (Taguig) kaya i-provide 'yung napo-provide ni Makati," parent Annaliza Bermejo told CNN Philippines.

[Translation: We're sad because we know the benefits here and we don't think Tagiug will be able to match what Makati is providing.]

"Actually, hindi po [pabor] sa akin kasi syempre sayang din 'yung mga benefits ng Makati," said another parent, Ana Ria Diopenes. "Kung ano po 'yung nae-enjoy ng mga bata na benefits na makukuha sa Makati, 'yun pa rin sana."

[Translation: It's not favorable to me because we know the benefits we get from Makati. I hope the kids will still enjoy the benefits they are getting from Makati.]

The Supreme Court earlier ruled that the jurisdiction over some barangays of Makati, including 14 public schools, will be transferred to Taguig.

The Makati City government, however, claimed that the city owns the properties and put up tarpaulins in the schools with the message, "This property is owned by Makati City."

School teachers have mixed views on the school jurisdiction dispute.

"Confusing po kasi 'di po namin alam kung saan po talaga kami, Taguig or Makati?" West Rembo Elementary School teacher Melanie Tumaneng said.

[Translation: It's confusing because we don't know if we are under Taguig or Makati.]

While the school's principal said that preparations for the class opening on August 29 are going smoothly, she hoped that the conflict between Taguig and Makati will be resolved.

"Kung patuloy na magkakaroon ng dispute ang two local governments, ang maiipit dito ay ang mga learners namin, ang mga parents, and also the teachers kasi kung sa ano, magkakaroon sila ng isipin sa kung sino na nga ba ang magte-take over," West Rembo Elementary School principal Alma Cayabyab-Adona said.

[Translation: Learners, parents, and teachers will suffer if the dispute continues because they will wonder who will really take over.]

Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano noted that some residents may be uncomfortable with the transition, but she promised to work hard to deliver the best to her constituents.

"Sisikapin ng aming konseho, ng aming mga leaders, para kung ano man 'yung mga nakasanayan nila na marahil ay wala pa du'n sa ino-offer namin ay sa lalong madaling panahon ay maabot namin at ma-implement natin sa ating mga constituents," the mayor said.

[Translation: The council and our leaders will exert all effort to make sure that they get the benefits they're used to, even if these are not yet being offered now.]

Meanwhile, the city government of Makati bared that the local government of Taguig refused to accept the former's offer of free school supplies to the 14 schools.

Alang-alang sa kapakanan ng mga kabataan at mga mamamayan ng sampung apektadong barangay, hayaan nyo na kaming magbigay ng libreng gamit at supplies ng mga estudyante. Sila po sana ang unahin natin, Makati City Administrator Claro Certeza said in a statement.

[Translation: For the sake of the youth and residents of the ten affected barangays, allow us to give them free goods and supplies for students. Let us put them first.]

The Taguig City government has yet to respond on this matter.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 14)  The Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) on Monday said all Chinese contractors in Manila Bay reclamation projects have secured permits to operate following reports on possible security threat.

Before these vessels and their crew were allowed to enter or do business here in the Philippines, especially sa (in) Manila Bay, we required special permits from other government agencies, PRA Assistant General Manager Joseph Literal told CNN Philippines The Source.

The Maritime Industry Authority, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and the National Security Council are some of the agencies involved in the issuance of permits to Chinese contractors, he added.

Last Aug. 10, House Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo warned about possible security threat after crew members of Chinese vessels docked in Manila Bay were seen being transported to areas around the bay. He noted that the ships have been in the area for months and are involved in dredging and reclamation activities.

The Bureau of Immigration over the weekend started inspecting the vessels following the concerns raised about the foreign crew.

Coast Guard Manila station Commander Captain Jerome Lozada said in another interview that the PCG also inspects the safety compliance of all the vessels once these dock and every three months.

Lozada noted that his unit focuses on locally registered vessels.

He also said that authorities will closely monitor if the vessels are complying after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said that all reclamation activities in Manila Bay are under review and suspended indefinitely.

Vessel operators were already told that any disembarkation of their crew will have to be notified to the BI and the PCG, Lozada added.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 14)  The widow of the Aparri vice mayor who was killed in an ambush in Nueva Vizcaya said that her husband was threatened by the town's mayor over a corruption complaint.

Elizabeth Alameda made the statement at a Senate committee hearing on Monday.

"Sinabi niya sa harapan ng mga employees na kapag natanggal o na-suspend siya sa posisyon niya is babalikan daw po niya yung mga may gawa ng kasong yun," she said at the hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs.

[Translation: In front of employees, he said that if he is suspended from his position, he would get back at those behind the case.]

Aparri, Cagayan mayor Bryan Chan denied the accusation, saying he said no such thing.

Vice mayor Rommel Alameda was among six people killed in an ambush in the town of Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya in February.

Videos of the incident were shown during the Senate hearing. In one video, multiple gunshots are heard, while in another, the gunmen are seen checking out Alamedas vehicle before firing another shot.

Chan, the alleged mastermind, has denied any involvement.

During the hearing, committee chairman Sen. Ronald dela Rosa asked Chan if he was not bothered by the event.

"Nababagabag po. Nasa Manila po ako nun sir," he replied.

[Translation: I am bothered, but I was in Manila then.]

Rowell Alameda, the brother of the slain vice mayor, also complained about Chans heavily armed security detail. Politician's civilian bodyguards are only allowed to carry small firearms.

"May mga ipoproseso dapat kami sa munisipyo pero natatakot po kaming pumasok. Kasi pag tumitingin sila parang nang-aasar tapos naka-long firearms pa sila sa loob ng munisipyo," he said.

[Translation: We were supposed to process some things at the municipal building, but we were afraid to go inside because it's like they were taunting us and they had long firearms.]

Chan explained that in that incident, one of his bodyguards held the long firearm for only a moment, and that the weapon belonged to a cop who is also part of his security detail.

The senators said it has been a bad practice for policemen to lend their firearms to politicians bodyguards.

"What is the definition of private armed group? Two or more armed. Iyang kay mayor sobra pa sa dalawa, so private armed group na yun," said dela Rosa. "Maraming mga bodyguard ng pulitiko na mas siga pa sa pulis dahil pinabayaan niyo. Kasalanan din ng pulis iyan."

[Translation: What is the definition of private armed group? Two or more armed. The mayor had more than two, so that's a private armed group. A lot of politician's bodyguards act tougher than policemen because you allow them to. That's the police's fault as well.]

The police promised to arrest anyone carrying illegal firearms despite their so-called connections.

Senator Raffy Tulfo also said he will file a bill stripping local chief executives of the power to appoint their chief of police. This way policemen would no longer be beholden to politicians.

At the same hearing, a widow of one of those killed in the incident lamented that six months after the crime, no one has been sent to jail.

"Financial assistance cannot aid the hurt and pain that we felt, your honor," said Roselle Jane Ramos.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 15)  President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday said he wants the Filipino youth to be equipped with the proper tools to combat disinformation and misinformation in the digital world.

The president made the statement as he witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) and its partner agencies  the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission in Higher Education (CHED), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)  to launch the government's campaign against fake news: "Media and Information Literacy (MIL)."

Marcos first mentioned the project in an event last June, where he said "fake news should have no place in modern society."

In his speech on Monday, the president described the digital world as both limitless and borderless that the public must navigate properly.

Marcos said truth is the first casualty of disinformation and misinformation. He also underscored the importance of verification of sources.

"The first step that we can do for our people is to say know your source. Tingnan niyo kung saan galing. Kung ano 'yung kuwento na 'yan. Baka nag-inuman lang 'yang mga 'yan tapos kung ano-ano ang naisip, sinulat sa Internet. Naniwala naman tayo," he said.

[Translation: The first step that we can do for our people is to say know your source. Check where it came from. What is that story? Maybe those people were just drinking and then wrote whatever they thought on the Internet. Yet we believe what they said.]

Roles of govt agencies

PCO Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil said the agency will act as lead implementer of the MIL project.

DepEd's role, meanwhile, includes crafting educator's and learner's MIL manual and incorporate it in the country's basic educational curriculum.

CHED, on the other hand, will perform similar functions in addition to other tasks to promote coordination and collaboration of concerned parties with state universities and colleges.

The DSWD will also incorporate the project in its social protection programs and provide support and assistance to the conduct of training related to the project in targeted communities.

The DILG  with local government units (LGUs)  will have on-the-ground activities in carrying out the anti-disinformation project.

Private partners

The PCO said the campaign also secured private partnerships from social media companies like Google, Meta, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter).

TikTok said PCOs project resonates with its efforts to enhance Filipinos' digital literacy, as it welcomed the collaboration to foster more informed and empowered netizens.

Global Government Affairs, Asia and the Pacific of X Monrawee Ampolpittayanant, meanwhile, reaffirmed the company's commitment in providing a safe, inclusive, entertaining, and informative experience for its users while maintaining free speech.

She added that X will continue to expand their "Community Notes" features that combat misinformation and disinformation on their platforms.

Google also vowed to continue to deepen its digital responsibility efforts, which include removing harmful and misleading content across its platforms.

Similarly, Meta said it will continue to collaborate with the government, civil society organizations, experts, and our community to help empower Filipinos with the necessary skills, resources, and information to help identify and combat misinformation.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 14)  House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez stressed the importance of securing ample but affordable rice imports as prices of the staple began climbing in recent weeks due to challenges in local production.

Romualdez checked on prices of rice and vegetables in a surprise visit to Nepa-Q Mart in Cubao, Quezon City Monday with ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo.

The Speaker said talks must be held with rice exporting countries like Vietnam and Thailand to ensure that the Philippines will have adequate supply until the harvest season for local farmers later this year.

Romualdez announced last week that he has secured Vietnams commitment to supply rice to the Philippines.

"Yun talaga ang katotohanan. Di pa natin kaya yung 100% locally produced rice, although yun din ang ating goal or target. Pero habang hindi pa natin naaabot yan, hahanapin natin yung maayos na supply galing Vietnam, Thailand o India sa tamang presyo," he said.

[Translation: That's the truth. We still cannot do 100% locally produced rice, although that is the goal or target. But as we still cannot do that, we will look for supply from Vietnam, Thailand, or India at the right price.]

RELATED: Gov't expects lower rice prices as PH opens importation talks with Vietnam, India

India announced an immediate ban on rice exports last month, raising fears that prices of the staple could go up in Asia due to supply constraints.

Romualdez also appealed to traders to refrain from hoarding rice to ensure the stability of supply in the market.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 14)  The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) could invest an initial P3.6 billion to P4 billion in the Maharlika Investment Fund, the head of the state-run gaming agency said on Monday.

Before the House appropriation panel, PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco said the estimate is based on the agency's projection that it would net P72 billion in earnings this year, half of which would be remitted to the national treasury as mandated by its old charter.

"Doon po sa 50% na yun humihingi po kami ng clarification ngayon dapat po ay doon kami kukuha ng mai-invest sa Maharlika Investment Fund," Tengco said.

[Translation: With that 50%, we are asking for clarification now, that is where we should get funds to invest in the Maharlika Investment Fund.]

"So kung ang tinitingnan po natin sa taong 2024 ay P36 to 40 billion ang magiging contribution po ng PAGCOR sa national [treasury], at kung tama po ang interpretasyon namin, ay makakapag-contribute kami dapat sa Maharlika fund ng anywhere between P3.6 to P4 billion," he added.

[Translation: So if what we are looking at in the year 2024 is that PAGCOR's contribution to the national [treasury] will be P36 to 40 billion, and if our interpretation is correct, we should be able to contribute anywhere between P3.6 to P4 billion to the Maharlika fund.]

Tengco further pointed out PAGCOR has additional investable funds that can be obtained from its retained earnings.

"Amin na pong tinitingnan ngayon at humihingi kami ng klaripikasyon kung yun pong retained earnings namin na nasa bangko lamang ay pwede din naming i-invest doon, a certain percentage of that, to the Maharlika fund," the PAGCOR chief said.

[Translation: We are looking into it now and we are asking for clarification if our retained earnings, that are only in the bank, we can also invest there, a certain percentage of that, to the Maharlika fund.]

Retained earnings are excess income after dividend payouts, and are typically just reflected in the balance sheet untouched unless a company decides to reinvest them.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 14)  The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) could fetch at least P60 billion once put on the auction block, barely a third of the price tag estimated by the Finance department, the head of the state-run gaming agency said on Monday.

The Department of Finance (DOF) earlier put PAGCORs selling price within the P200 billion to P250 billion range, but PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco told a House committee hearing that the estimate factored in real estate properties initially thought to be PAGCORs.

Ang original estimate ng DOF was something like P200 to P250 billion. Hindi po mangyayari yun dahil walang property na kasama na ibinebenta ang PAGCOR. So were looking at about P60 to 80 billion, Tengco said.

[Translation: The DOF's original estimate was something like P200 to P250 billion. That will not happen because PAGCOR is not selling any property.]

He pointed out that PAGCOR has just been leasing properties that house its casino operations. The gaming-regulator-cum-operator has a few remaining idle assets, including the Nayong Pilipino complex, Tengco said.

The government had been wanting to divest PAGCOR so that it will only be a regulator. Tengco told lawmakers that governments elsewhere do not have gaming agencies that operate casinos themselves, something that investors frown upon and view as a conflict of interest.

Albay representative Joey Salceda responded to Tengcos estimate, Pag-aagawan kayo niyan [You will be fought over]. Tengco said it is the agencys minimum peg and the amount is expected to go up during the bidding process.

Based on Salcedas estimate, PAGCOR could be valued between P120 billion and P128 billion.

The planned rehabilitation of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) that would decongest the countrys main gateway could raise PAGCORs valuation, Tengco maintained.

But Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez said the privatization of PAGCOR will result in lost income for the government.

Tengco said PAGCOR's annual income could hit the P100-billion mark by 2025. In the first half of this year, it already made P36 billion and could end 2023 with P72 billion in net income, he said.

Rodriguez said he will soon file a resolution opposing the privatization of PAGCOR.

READ: PAGCOR set to privatize 45 casinos by 2025
(CNN)  An attack on Chinese engineers in Pakistans southwestern province of Balochistan was thwarted by Pakistans military, leaving two militants dead and the Chinese workers unharmed, police say.

Chakar Baloch, the police superintendent for the district of Gwadar, where the attack took place, told CNN that a clearance operation is underway after clashes between police and militants went on for two hours. Two security personnel were injured.

In a statement to CNN, the Baloch Liberation Army, a militant separatist group, claimed responsibility for the attack.

Pakistans armed forces said at least two militants were killed and three others were injured in an exchange of fire with security forces.

The military said that security forces have cordoned off the entire area and launched a search operation.

The Chinese Embassy in Pakistan said it strongly condemned the attack and urged the Pakistani authorities to punish the perpetrators and do all it could to prevent further attacks.

China will continue to work with the Pakistani side, to jointly counter the threats of terrorism and earnestly protect the safety of Chinese personnel, institutions and projects in Pakistan, the statement said.

Bordering Afghanistan and Iran, Balochistan is Pakistans largest but least populated province. It is fundamental to the countrys massive multibillion-dollar infrastructure deal with Beijing, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

China is a close partner of Pakistan and its biggest source of military and economic support. But in recent years terrorist attacks targeting Chinese nationals and their interests in Pakistan have alarmed Beijing.

In April 2022, three teachers from China and a driver were killed in a suspected suicide bombing near the University of Karachis Confucius Institute. The Baloch Liberation Army also claimed responsibility for that attack, saying that it targeted the Confucius Institute because it is a symbol of Chinese economic, cultural and political expansionism.

Meanwhile, the last major attack on Chinese engineers was in July 2021 in the north of Pakistan. More than a dozen people were killed after a bus carrying Chinese engineers fell into a ditch following a fiery explosion, according to local police.

This story was first published on CNN.com. Pakistani militants attack convoy of Chinese engineers
ZIMBABWE Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) officers have arrested a Harare man for allegedly printing fake marriage, Ordinary and Advanced Level certificates and army identification cards, among other documents.

Philip Chaposha of Mufakose has since appeared at the Harare Magistrates Courts charged with fraud and forgery.

He appeared before magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa last week and was remanded in custody to August 16 for bail application.

Allegations are that on July 13 this year, Zacc received a tip-off that Chaposha was selling fake drivers licences, Zimbabwe School Examinations Council Ordinary and Advanced level certificates, vehicle registration books and marriage certificates.

Reacting to the tip-off, Zacc used one of its investigation officers to contact Chaposha seeking a drivers licence urgently.

Chaposha allegedly told the investigation officer that he needed US$200 to provide the licence and instructed her to deposit US$50 through a money transfer agency.

He said he would also need US$150 on delivering the document. The State alleges that on August 8, Chaposha was arrested in Granitesite, Harare, while trying to access the balance.

He was apprehended while in possession of various fake documents. Chaposha then led investigators to Mbare, where he was printing the fake documents.

The investigators recovered a computer which was used to print the fake documents. Newsday
Colorado Springs native Caroline Johnson will hold book signings for her recent memoir, "Jet Girl." The book details her time spent in the U.S. Navy as a weapons systems officer in the F/A-18 Super Hornet.
Head and hand motion data gathered from virtual reality (VR) headsets could be as effective at identifying individuals as fingerprints or face scans, research studies have shown, potentially compromising user privacy when interacting in immersive virtual environments.

Two recent studies by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, showed how data gathered by VR headsets could be used to identify individuals with a high level of accuracy, and potentially reveal a host of personal attributes, including height, weight, age, and even marital status, according to a Bloomberg report Thursday.

Demand for VR headsets has grown significantly in recent years, as increasingly powerful devices become available at lower prices. Sales of VR and augmented reality (AR) headsets are forecast to hit 10 million this year, according to IDC analysts, and reach 25 million in 2026.

Despite backlash against the concept of a so-called metaverse, large tech companies such as Meta, Apple, and HTC continue to invest tens of billions of dollars into the development of VR and AR devices annually in a bid to push mainstream adoption.

Devices contain a range of cameras and sensors that can track body, eye, and facial movements. These serve as inputs for VR software applications, enabling users to interact with virtual environments. Data is processed on a device, but may also be shared to external servers, software applications such as games, and virtual meeting platforms  leading to the risk of personal data being leaked.

Data motion and unique identifiers

One study, published by the UC Berkeley authors in February, examined how motion data generated in VR devices can be used to uniquely identify an otherwise anonymous user.

The study involved data collated from more than 55,000 user accounts on Beat Saber, a popular rhythm-based VR game that has sold millions of copies since launch. Researchers analyzed public data from 2.5 million game recordings using machine-learning algorithms and were able to identify individuals from a pool of 50,000 with a 94% accuracy rate using just 100 seconds of head and hand motion data.

It's been known for decades that motion data can be used to identify individuals, but the UC Berkeley researchers claim this is the first study to show the scale of the threat to privacy. The wider adoption of VR headsets and games such as Beat Saber now offer access to a much larger dataset than earlier studies, which relied on much smaller groups of participant  the largest being 511 users, researchers said, referencing a 2020 study.

This work is the first to truly demonstrate the extent to which biomechanics may serve as a unique identifier in VR, on par with widely used biometrics such as facial or fingerprint recognition, the research paper states.

The difference is that facial and fingerprint recognition are not required to access existing internet services, the researchers note in a PDF document related to the studies, whereas motion data is a fundamental part of how AR and VR devices work and must be shared with a variety of parties to enable metaverse experiences.

Another study, published in June, involved a survey of more than 1,000 participants who answered a range of questions about 50 attributes involving personal background, demographics, behavioral patterns, and health information. The results showed that more than 40 could be consistently and reliably inferred when machine learning and deep learning algorithms were applied to motion data generated by Beat Saber players.

The purpose of the study was to demonstrate that a wide variety of personal and privacy-sensitive variables can be inferred from head and hand motion, the researchers said. The findings should serve to highlight the urgent need for privacy-preserving mechanisms in multi-user VR applications.

Although many people are accustomed to data harvesting on existing internet platforms, theres little awareness of privacy concerns in immersive virtual environments, the researchers contend  and a lack of available tools to preserve anonymity.

VR privacy a priority for tech firms

Privacy challenges are hardly new, but AR/VR devices and virtual environments present a new frontier.

As weve seen, increased digitization introduces new risks in exposing private information, said Tuong Nguyen, director analyst at Gartner. As well as creating customized experiences for users, VR headset data can also be reconstructed into a behavioral profile  another, highly detailed vector of private information, Nguyen said.

As they are worn on users faces, VR headsets are inherently intimate, said Leo Gebbie, an analyst at CCS Insight. Increasingly sophisticated devices see what a user sees thanks to external cameras and can track users movements and behaviors, thanks to their array of sensors, he said. This clearly generates questions around user data and privacy, as this is arguably a more invasive form of wearable technology than anything we have seen before.

As adoption grows, VR headsets vendors are already working to address privacy concerns. That includeslimiting how much biometric data is available to third-party applications, processing and keeping additional tracking data on device, anonymizing and aggregating any shared data, etc, said Nguyen.

The issue of user privacy will become hugely important to the VR industry, said Gebbie. Were already seeing companies gear up their efforts to get ahead of concerns here.

Gebbie cited Apples upcoming Vision Pro headset, which includes 12 cameras, five sensors and six microphones, but will keep vital user data such as eye-tracking and iris scans fully encrypted and on-device, to assuage the concerns of users.





I expect to see this become a more significant area of focus for rivals like Meta, which will also be keen to show it respects user privacy, he said.

In a recent interview, Metas product lead for Horizon Workrooms platform discussed the companys commitment to user privacy on its premium Quest Pro device.

Employee privacy in the workplace is a concern, too

In recent years, various VR headset vendors have shifted attention to enterprise use cases, where adoption rates remain low. To date, business uses have largely involved employee training and remote assistance, though vendors hope VR will eventually be used for workplace collaboration and productivity, too.

Data privacy concerns could lead to resistance from employees, said Gebbie. Employees may feel as though VR headsets are an invasion of their privacy, especially as many people now work flexibly and may resist the idea of bringing a device with multiple cameras and sensors into their home, he said.

The ability to identify individuals via motion tracking data could present a variety of problems. For instance, it could prevent the separation of work and personal profiles, the UC Berkeley researchers said.

Consider a public figure who regularly uses a VR system with their corporate credentials to hold meetings and do professional work. In the evening, they log on with a different account to play multiplayer VR games (where they might not behave in the most professional way), and later in the evening, they use a third account for adult VR experiences, the researchers said.

Most people in this situation would reasonably prefer that the service providers not be able to tie these accounts together. As it stands, the users unique motion patterns would allow any observer (or group of colluding observers) to quickly link all of these accounts to together.

Users of smartphones and cloud services have shown a remarkable willingness to swap privacy for convenience in the past. The same may hold true for VR.

Once upon a time, employees may not have wanted a smartphone from work, as this device also has cameras, microphones and makes people more contactable outside of working hours; but this has been gradually normalized as a behavior, said Gebbie. VR may follow a similar path, where there could be some initial resistance, which relaxes over time.

From a business perspective, data privacy risks are so far limited, given the muted enterprise adoption of VR to date. Enterprise VR usage is still nascent, said Nguyen. There are both privacy and security concerns, but at the moment the small scale somewhat mitigates the potential risk.

As an example, he said, rolling out six smartphones compared to a company-wide roll-out means differing levels of risk.

Theres risk in both, but the magnitude of the latter changes increases the risk substantially in a non-linear way, he said.
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Hollywood, of course, is a garbage disposal where originality goes to die, so no rock is too small to overturn when it comes to sources of new ideas. Its often books, but even the well of fictional narratives eventually dried up, putting them in a real Birthday Dad situation.

Okay, they havent yet turned to the greeting-card rack, but they have dallied in the self-help section, which is a tricky proposition because good advice doesnt make good movies. Seriously, how boring would a movie about functional people making healthy decisions be?

Thats why movies based on self-help books inevitably have to go against their own advice. Like

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4 Mean Girls Hang onto your hat because youre about to have your mind blown: Mean Girls is not only based on a book, its based on a parenting book. Tina Fey adapted the screenplay after reading Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends and the New Realities of Girl World by Rosalind Wiseman. All the 2000s girls will agree it does a great job at being a screenplay, but not so much as an adaptation, because the book is all about why girls like Regina George behave the way they do, but we never see that on-screen. The closest thing she has to a problem that might explain her desperate desire for control is a hilariously permissive mom, and people generally dont become obsessed with control because they have too much of it. Thats another thing: All the parents in the movie are either punchlines or absent entirely, despite it being based on a parenting book. We never see them attempting to help their daughters navigate the treacherous terrain of Girl World, unless you count the Scrubs janitor comically trying and failing to look stern. These are parental types that are described in the book, but maybe a single legally related adult could have stepped in at some point to avoid giving the message that girls are on their own. In a movie based on a parenting book.

3 What to Expect When Youre Expecting Speaking of parenting books, weve reached the end of the good movies section. Its all Garry Marshall-esque ensembles from here on out, starting with What to Expect When Youre Expecting. Its the CrossFit of baby books: Some people love it; some people think it ruins lives and gives off weird cult vibes. Its essentially an encyclopedia of everything that can go wrong in a pregnancy and rigorous instructions for avoiding the minute possibility that your uterus could turn inside out. The message is clear: The moment of conception is also the moment to start obsessing about everything, all the time, forever. You know, just like every child wants in a parent. Play But a movie about someone doing everything right and therefore succeeding is a movie people will walk out on, so 2012s What to Expect When Youre Expecting takes a decidedly different course. Three of the four storylines show how overplanning is nothing more than a double-dog-dare for fate, and the other one is about J. Lo adopting an Ethiopian baby, which is just a whole thing. Cameron Diaz and some guy debate endlessly about circumcision only to end up having a girl, Elizabeth Banks has a nightmare pregnancy and birth despite her maternal dedication, and her much younger stepmother-in-law breezes through the process without so much as a back pillow. More like What to Never Expect When Youre Expecting, right? Of course, the woman with the easy pregnancy ends up having shitty babies, but thats just another win for the trickster god of gestation.

2 Think Like a Man Think Like a Man functions as a two-hour infomercial for Steve Harveys dating book (well give you a second to come to terms with those words) Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man as well as further proof that 2012 was a bleak year for romantic comedy. The movie follows four women who embody archetypes described by Harvey  The Single Mom, The Girl Who Wants the Ring, The Woman Who Is Her Own Man and The 90-Day Rule Girl  as they apply Harveys advice to various types of men (The Mamas Boy, The Non-Committer, The Dreamer and The Player, respectively). Within the first 15 minutes, Kevin Hart is mocked for what is clearly a horrifically abusive relationship and Chris Brown shows up (again, in 2012  do the math), so we know were not in for great relationship advice. Play We also know its not great because it doesnt work. Harvey advises women to wait 90 days to sleep with a man, for example, but The 90-Day Rule Girl breaks her rule and it ends up having no bearing on how The Player feels about her. The Woman Who is Her Own Man, meanwhile, sleeps with The Dreamer on the first date, so this advice apparently only applies if youre pretty sure youre dealing with a manipulative sociopath who you want to marry for some reason. Speaking of which, The Girl Who Wants the Ring becomes borderline abusive herself, getting rid of everything her boyfriend loves and going behind his back, so technically, it works, but its not a recipe for a happy marriage. We see another woman entirely stand up to The Mamas Boy earlier in the movie to no effect. Its almost like there are no hard-and-fast rules for relationships, and it just kind of depends on the people involved. But that doesnt get you on the bestseller list.
Full (and Fuller) Houses Jodie Sweetin ran to People last week to air gripes about her new movie, Craft Me A Romance. Sweetin, an out-loud advocate of the LGBTQ+ community, was none-too-happy that her film was sold to the Great American Family channel, a network known for its promise to keep traditional marriage at the core.

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That traditional marriage vow comes from Sweetins sitcom sister, Candace Cameron Bure, who also happens to be the networks chief creative officer. Last year, she told the Wall Street Journal that we will likely see no romances involving same-sex couples in (Great American Family) programming. Oh, Mylanta.

Sweetin is peeved about this latest guilt by association. Sometimes, we, as actors, dont have control over which network buys the projects we are in, nor are we a part of the process in which they get sold, she told People. So I was very surprised to learn by reading about it in the press yesterday that the independent film I worked on over a year ago was sold to Great American Family.

I am disappointed, but in keeping with my mission of supporting the LGBTQ+ family, any potential or future money made from this sale will be donated to LGBTQ+ organizations.

This isnt the first time Sweetin has beefed with Cameron Bure. Sweetin publicly supported pop star JoJo Siwa after she denounced Cameron Bure as the rudest celebrity.

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Cameron Bure retaliated as big sitcom sisters do, unfollowing Sweetin on Instagram.

Uncle Jesse, aka John Stamos, was reportedly bummed about the rift. John has always wanted everything to be perfect for his TV family, a Stamos friend told Radar Online. Hes devastated its turned upside-down.

But Stamos himself had some beef with Sweetin, too, according to a Hot Ones interview he gave last month to promote his upcoming memoir, If You Would Have Told Me.

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Full House, I hated that show, he confessed. Obviously, I ended up loving it, but it was sort of pitched to me as a Bossom Buddies with kids on the corner.  We did a table read of it and I was a star coming out of General Hospital, and we sit down and we started reading and Jodie Sweetin, who plays Stephanie, reads her lines and people are dying laughing. I mean screaming, I was like, Whats happening here, and she was getting comments like home run. They couldnt even read my lines they were laughing so hard, and I'm slinking in my seat. I run out to the lobby at the Century Plaza Hotel and told get me the fuck off this show to my agent.

Stamos was also steamed at the Olsen twins for refusing to appear in the Full House reboot. They didnt want to come back, and I was angry for a minute, Stamos said on the And That's What You REALLY Missed podcast. Mary-Kate and Ashley made peace by showing up at Stamos house bearing meat gifts. "(They) brought a pork chop and sage. I dont know why, but thank you? It was a frozen pork chop, so that was really nice."

At least Stamos didnt unfollow any of the kids on Insta.
The savvy expert said you should try to spend little to nothing each month

She has become the 'queen of no-spend months' and has been sharing her tips

Elyse Lyons is a money blogger based in Nebraska who paid off $36,000 of debt

A budgeting expert has revealed how she paid off $36,000 in debt by adopting 'no- spend months.'

Elyse Lyons, 28, is a Nebraska-based money blogger who frequently shares her tips and tricks for achieving financial freedom and ridding yourself of debt once and for all.

She is known for sharing tips and tricks about a budgeting technique called 'no-spend months,' which involve her spending little to no money over that period.

Now, the savvy saver has revealed how you can use her process to 'spend intentionally, pay off debt, [and] save money.'

Elyse Lyons is a Nebraska-based money blogger who has revealed how she paid off $36,000 in debt by adopting 'no spend months'

She is known for sharing advice about 'no-spend months,' which involve her spending little to no money over that period

During no-spend months, the aim is to try your best to spend little to no money each day.

Elyse noted you should plan ahead and write down which days of the month you will have to splash out a little cash.

She also said you should celebrate the days you don't spend money by keeping a calendar handy.

Speaking to Good Morning America, she explained how she first got serious about budgeting, explaining that she found herself in tens of thousands of debt - including $29,000 of student loans - in her early 20s.

'When I was 22, I was in $34,000 worth of debt because I had student loans, car payments, and some credit cards.

'And I knew that if I wanted to enjoy my life a little bit more, I had to pay it off.

'I got really serious about it and paid off $36,500 with interest in two years,' she told the outlet.

Now, Elyse has built a business by sharing her journey with her over 32,000 Instagram followers.

On her social media, she explained that the idea behind no-spend months was to focus on building habits

Elyse noted that every month will have exceptions, so you shouldn't attempt to restrict yourself to spending $0 every day

On her social media, she explained that the idea behind no-spend months was to focus on building habits.

'The goal is not to create shame around spending, it's to see who you are at your core and what your actual spending habits are about.

'I think sometimes when we first start budgeting, we like to think that we can spend nothing in that category - and then we actually realize what our habits are,' she explained.

Elyse noted that every month will have exceptions, so you shouldn't attempt to restrict yourself to spending $0 every day.

'Extreme deprivation is not going to work for your budget for long,' she noted.

Elyse said that you should plan for these days or the things that you know you will spend money on, like occasionally ordering takeout

She added that in addition to keeping a calendar to mark which days you have and haven't spent money on, you should make a list of things you wanted but didn't buy during the month

She said that you should instead plan for these days or the things that you know you will spend money on, like occasionally ordering takeout.

Elyse said: 'I don't want this challenge to be about "success or fail" but rather what you didn't know about yourself and about your spending.'

She added that in addition to keeping a calendar to mark which days you have and haven't spent money on, you should also make a list of things you wanted but didn't buy during the month.

The money expert noted that if you keep coming back to the item, then you can justify purchasing it the next month.
A mother has sought advice on whether she should leave her 15-year-old teenage daughters home alone while she works a 'couple of night shifts'.

The woman took to UK parenting forum Mumsnet to explain she wanted to work night shifts which meant she would be away from 5pm on a Saturday night to 11am on a Sunday.

She described her girls as 'quite independent' and 'very sensible'.

And she quizzed the forum on whether it was okay to do this - adding that her daughters had 'no special needs or risk taking behaviour'.

But her post divided opinion, with one woman revealing she would 'absolutely invite a boy over' if she was in their shoes.

A woman took to UK parenting website Mumsnet for advice on whether it's safe to leave her 'sensible' teenage daughters home alone while she works a 'couple of night shifts' (Stock image)

In her original post, the mother explained: 'I have 15-year-old twins who are very sensible and quite independent.

'They travel to school on their own (separately) in different boroughs, one comes home herself about 7pm after her after-school activities. The other stays home alone until I get home from work, sometimes late.

'They have been very comfortable being home by themselves for years during the day and at nights when I get home about 11pm. I was a key worker during lock down and they were home alone all day in 2020 (age 13)'.

When she asked her children if they minded that she work nights, the twins assured her it was 'okay' - given that she would only be an hour away.

She added that the girls were accustomed to being home alone as when she worked weekend mornings, she left the house at 6am 'before they wake'.

She asked the forum: 'At what age would you think it will be okay to leave children alone overnight assuming there are no special needs and no risk taking behaviour?

'I remember babysitting other people's kids overnight when I was 15.

'I know there have been posts about what age to leave children home alone. I am asking now about how you feel now in 2023 and what you think is okay.

'Am I being unreasonable to leave 15-year-olds at home from 5pm Saturday night to 11am Sunday morning?'

The unknown woman explained it was the first time she was leaving her twin daughters, both 15, home alone - and it would only be from '5pm Saturday night to 11am Sunday morning'

Her post divided opinion, with some warning her against it.

One parent wrote: 'Personally I wouldn't. It would be seen as a safeguarding concern if the school found out'.

A second said she would invite a boy over if she was in their shoes: 'I was a very well behaved teen who did not take risks. If I then acquired a boyfriend I would absolutely have invited that boy over. Your lovely twins are safe partly because you are there.'

There was also feedback from a school expert, who wrote: 'I work in a school. I would report it to the safeguarding lead. They would undoubtedly call the parents to discuss this. If the poster thinks she can justify this then fine.'

She went on to write: 'Let's imagine her girls invite someone round. They get some alcohol. They get sick and need help.

'Most kids eventually do things their parents do not expect or approve of. I certainly did and I am sure my parents would have said the same about me. I worked hard and was seemingly a very good daughter.

'It is naive to think that your kids might not experiment. Being around to ensure they are home safe and in bed is the basic minimum.'

Her post divided opinion, with one woman revealing she would 'absolutely invite a boy over' if she was in their shoes - while others said it was a 'safeguarding' concern

Echoing this sentiment, a fourth said: 'Let's look at it this way. The school leaves your 15-year-old unsupervised on a trip overnight. Would that be a safeguarding risk? Yes of course it would. Why is it different? No your kids are not going to be taken into care but questions will be asked. If you are okay with that then go for it'.

But several others disagreed, saying 15 was a perfectly reasonable age to leave twins to sleep by themselves.

One wrote: 'I wouldn't judge at all, they sound sensible. You know them best. We have video chats these days which offer good peace of mind too.'

Another added: 'I have an incredibly sensible 15 (almost 16) year-old and I would as long as they were also comfortable with it. I think it's down to personal judgement but you know your children.'

Another pointed out that it was technically illegal.

She wrote: 'I would leave them overnight at 15 but the law says they have to be 16.'

While another said they felt it depended on the circumstances.

They wrote: 'It depends on the maturity of your child, and your neighbourhood.

'I would imagine a 15 year old is well-equipped to fend for themselves.'
A pair of travelers whose romance blossomed after they wound up sitting next to each other on an airplane are now saying 'I do.'

Sasha Ebrahimi, 25, was en route to London from her native Colorado in April of 2022, with an itinerary that included a stopover in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Her presence in the terminal at Denver International Airport hadn't been overlooked by another passenger on the flight, Daniel Gutierrez, 35, who was also London bound.

'It's funny because I had already noticed her in the airport,' he told People in a profile about the couple and their meet-cute.

Daniel Gutierrez, 35, and Sasha Ebrahimi, 25, were en route to London from their native Colorado when they were seated next to each other on a plane

The two struck up a conversation - and it quickly became clear they had undeniable chemistry

'About an hour into the flight, I said to myself, "I am going to marry this man,"' Sasha, who works in contract management at Lockheed Martin, recalled of her first interaction with Daniel

'I already thought she was beautiful the first time I saw her,' Daniel, who works as a network engineer at Vail Resorts, said of laying eyes on Sasha for the first time at Denver airport

'I already thought she was beautiful the first time I saw her,' Daniel, who works as a network engineer at Vail Resorts, added.

After she boarded the first leg of the Icelandair trip, a flight attendant asked to relocate Sasha from her initial seating assignment.

'"Oh gosh, this is not what I wanted,"' Sasha - then a graduate student at Pepperdine University who now works in contract management at Lockheed Martin - recalled initially thinking.

But as soon as she saw she would be seated next to Daniel, 'I thought, "This is going to be great."'

Daniel felt similarly. 'I was like, "Now I get to sit for the seven-hour flight with a beautiful woman,"' he described.

The two struck up a conversation almost immediately.

'About an hour into the flight, I said to myself, "I am going to marry this man,"' she told People. 'And as soon as I got off the plane, I texted my friend Claire and said, "I just met my husband."'

Of the instant connection she felt, Sasha speculated: 'I think it was his genuineness  He was very calm. I am a very chaotic person. It was easy for us to connect. And I think that was the biggest thing, like I didn't feel like I was trying too hard. The conversation just flowed naturally.'

By the time they'd returned to the United States, the two had become 'inseparable'

This past December - after less than a year of dating - Daniel proposed to Sasha beachside over a romantic dinner in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic

The lovebirds are set to tie the knot on August 12, 2023, in Broomfield, Colorado, in front of 270 friends and family members, according to People

An hour before touching down for her 10-hour layover in Reykjavik, Sasha casually asked Daniel for his number.

It was to be his first visit to Europe - while she'd studied abroad in Paris and traveled all over the continent - and she told him she wanted to text him recommendations.

'I think I said something like, "Oh, give me your number and I'll send you some places to see,"' Sasha said.

But she admitted the ask 'was also a ploy' to get his digits.

A couple days after they'd made it to the UK, Sasha was disappointed she hadn't heard from him - but then elected to send the first text herself.

The couple live together in the town of Lone Tree in their native Colorado

When he texted back, 'I had butterflies, which doesn't really happen to me.'

Not long after, the couple inadvertently ran into each other on Edinburgh's Royal Mile Street, where a moment worthy of the silver screen unfolded.

As Sasha walked out of her hotel, a massive crowd had gathered in the street. When it eventually dispersed, there was Daniel, standing on the opposite side.

'We had our first kiss in Edinburgh,' he said of the whirlwind romance that officially was underway as of that day's encounter. 'Sparks were flying.'

They eventually met up again in Amsterdam and, by the time they returned to the United States, they had become 'inseparable,' according to their wedding website.

'Sasha and Daniel gained quite the reputation as the traveled around the country together. From the Rocky Mountains to the South to the Pacific Northwest and everything in between, Sasha and Daniel continued to strengthen their bond,' the 'Our Story' narration on the site elaborated.

It wasn't long before they'd also moved in together in the town of Lone Tree in their native Colorado.

And, this past December - after less than a year of dating - Daniel proposed beachside over a romantic dinner, while the couple were vacationing in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic for the occasion of Sasha's birthday.

The lovebirds are set to tie the knot this Saturday in Broomfield, Colorado, in front of 270 friends and family members, according to People.
A man has spoken of his shock at finding out his birth certificate was a lie  and that he had in fact been adopted.

Retired telecoms worker Bernard McGrath, 70, was born in Ireland in 1953, to an unmarried woman.

He had been taken by his adoptive parents as a baby from a Catholic nursery and never told the truth.

But  after realising he was adopted age 40  he searched for his original birth certificate only to find it contained false details of his adoptive parents' names.

He later learned that it was quite common in Ireland in the fifties to have an 'illegal' birth registration where no formal adoption order took place.

In an emotional interview on the latest episode of ITV's Long Lost Family, Bernard speaks about how he was left devastated to find the document had been falsified.

Pointing at the document, he said: 'I was shell-shocked when I got this. I said the girl who gave it me that it was a false document and that the information that was on it was incorrect.

'She said "No, that's what's in the record".'

He added: 'I was hoping they would go back and find my proper birth certificate with different names on it but no it didn't happen. That was the only registration that was made for me.

'Why have I got this piece of paper that's a lie and not the real thing with the real information?

'Where are my birth parents? Who am I? Where do I come from?'

His wife Sally added: 'It took over his life for thirty years and if you look at the birth certificate it says that to alter this document is a serious offence.

'Was it not a serious offence to write it in the first place?'

Bernard and his second wife Sally spoke of the shock of knowing Bernard had been given a false birth certificate

Retired telecoms worker Bernard McGrath (pictured with his birth mother), 70, was born in Ireland in 1953, to an unmarried woman. He had been taken by his adoptive parents as a baby from the nursery at Temple Hill

Bernard's birth certificate is false - containing the names of his adoptive parents and not his birth parents

Appearing in a special episode of the programme, which will be broadcast tonight, Bernard recalls how he had an aunt who was a nun who arranged his adoption.

He said of his adoptive mother: She was brought into a room with three cots in it and she was saying which one would you like?'

It wasn't until the age of 40 that Bernard heard rumours that he was adopted and confronted his late mother, who finally told him the truth.

But upon searching for his birth certificate through official channels in the hope of finding his birth parents, he told FEMAIL he was shocked to discover it was 'fake'.

In the False Identities special episode of Long Lost Family, the team followed Bernard as he recalled his difficult search for his actual birth mother and father.

In the last five years, 151 illegal registrations  where no formal adoption order ever took place and instead the adoptive parents were named falsely and illegally on the register of births as the birth parents of the child  have been proven, including Bernards.

Bernard and Sally were shell shocked when they got hold of his original birth certificate which contained false information

Bernard revealed his story on ITV;s Long Lost Family and said he always wanted to know who he really was

On his birth certificate, it has the names of his adoptive parents - who are not in fact his birth parents

His adoptive mother (pictured with his adoptive father) - who appears as Bernard's birth mother on his original birth certificate - had an aunt who was a nun and she arranged the adoption

According to the programme, these are thought to be just the tip of the iceberg. It had been a criminal offence to enter false information into the register of birth since 1874, and yet the practice was relatively widespread during the 1950s, '60s and '70s in Ireland.

Speaking to FEMAIL about his illegal birth certificate and discovering he was adopted, Bernard says: 'I didnt know anything about it. Its the only registration that was done for me.

'Before I heard I was adopted, I hadnt a clue. I didnt know anything about it. Then I went down to my mother and said, "Ive heard I was adopted". She said, "Whered you hear that". I said, "It doesnt matter, is it true?" And she said, "Yes". So I went from there.'

'It turns your whole world upside down,' admits the retired 70-year-old. 'Youre wondering who am I and where did I come from?

'Why was I adopted, why was I not told? All those mixed emotions. It was very upsetting, because your whole life is changed.'

Appearing in a special episode of Long Lost Family on Monday night, Bernard (pictured with his paternal brothers in September 2022) recalls: She was brought into a room with three cots in it and she was saying which one would you like?'

Bernard, who now lives near Hereford in England with his second wife, Sally, grew up in the suburbs of north Dublin as an only child with his parents Dan and Margaret McGrath. They were quite remote, and his mother was a disciplinarian.

But aged 40, Bernard discovered he was adopted. His adoptive mother didnt have any information about his birth parents at all so Bernard ordered his birth certificate to find their names.

But shockingly, Bernard read his adoptive parents names on the registration as though they were his birth parents.

Bernard recalled: 'As soon as it was confirmed, I went to the registration office and asked for my birth certificate, and as soon as I got it, I said to the girl who gave it to me, I said "This is a false document.

'"I was adopted, Ive just found out. Can you go and get my proper birth certificate?".'

But a manager told Bernard that while he was adopted, that was the only certificate they had for him.

To learn his true identity, Bernard approached the Irish Adoption Authority, but was redirected to St Patricks Guild, the agency run by the Sisters of Charity  the order of nuns whod arranged his adoption.

Bernard knocked on the door and a nun came out. At first there was a refusal to give Bernard any information. But after he revealed that his aunt had been a mother superior, they relented and told him his birth mothers name: Theresa Scully.

They wouldn't give him her address but offered to pass on a letter to her. He received his first letter back from her in October 1994.

It wasn't until the age of 40 that Bernard heard rumours that he was adopted and confronted his mother, who finally told him the truth. But upon searching for his birth certificate through official channels in the hope of finding his birth parents, he tells FEMAIL he was shocked to discover it was 'fake'. Pictured, Bernard's late paternal father

It read: 'Dear Bernard, I am so very, very sorry for this long delay to your letter. You have no idea of what I felt when I looked at the pictures, especially of the ones of you as a little boy  my baby that I never seen grow up through the years

It concluded: God bless you. And remember, I think of you every day. All my love Teresa.'

Bernard and his birth mother  who had moved to Philadelphia  then started corresponding via letters and phone numbers. She never told her husband but her two daughters knew.

Eventually, Bernard travelled to America to meet with his birth mother in person, recalling: 'We met in a shopping mall. I got there first and I was just looking at everybody coming in you know. All the women of a certain age is that her? Is that her?

'And eventually she walked in, and I knew straight away and she looked at me and knew straight away, then we had a big hug.'

Bernards birth mother died in 2017, 22 years after they met. But before her passing, she told Bernard the name of his birth father.

Bernards mother believed his father Patrick Bowden was living in England.

Feeling he didnt have the means to find him, Bernard put his search on hold until some years later DNA testing seemed a possible avenue. Even then, he wasnt able to find a close relative.

Bernards breakthrough came in 2022. Following years of activism by adopted people, they were finally granted full access to their adoption files (thanks to the new Birth Information and Tracing Act).

In the False Identities special episode of Long Lost Family, the team follows Bernard (pictured with his paternal sister Mandy) as he recalls his difficult search for his actual birth mother and father

There was also help for those whose births had been registered illegally. Bernard was put in touch with a genetic genealogist, who very quickly identified his father.

The expert was able to let Bernard know that Patrick, a lorry driver, had died in 1972, but before that had married and had three daughters and three sons.

Bernard sent his sister Mandy, who grew up in Bradford in the UK, an email asking what she could tell him about her father, Patrick. She asked him why he wanted to know, to which he replied: 'I think he might be my father too.'

A surprised Mandy asked him when he was born and for a photograph, before responding: 'Yep, you're my half-brother, no doubt about it, you look just like [Patrick],' recalls Bernard.

DNA testing confirmed they were related and what's more, when Mandy learned from Bernard that his birth mothers name was Teresa Scully, she realised that his birth mother was her fathers one-time ballroom dancing partner, Terry Scully.

Mandy doesnt believe her father could have known about Bernard, revealing that when her own mother gave birth to her outside of wedlock, her father insisted on marrying her mother as soon as he discovered he had a daughter.

Bernard explains: '[Mandy's mother] became pregnant, she went back home to her parents or grandparents house and had the baby and the baby was Mandy, but she had family support.

'[My birth father] had gone to England to work and he came back to Dublin for a holiday I suppose and he was out with one of his friends [who said] "remember that girlfriend of yours, she had a baby".

'He got on the next train for where she lived, went into her parents or grandparents and said: "I'm marrying her, she has my daughter, so Im marrying her straight away" and they got married.

'So thats the type of person he was. He didnt shy away from his responsibilities... [he was a] gentleman.'

Bernard (pictured in his 40s) was born in Ireland to an unmarried mother at a time when having children outside of marriage was seen as sinful, and the Catholic Church went to great lengths to cover it up

Bernard admits that his birth mother never told him why she didn't tell his birth father about him, adding: 'We reckon that if he had have known, he would've married her, because of the type of person he was. He never knew.'

Last September, Bernard met his some of his siblings, who have welcomed him into the family with open arms.

'Before that we had been exchanging messages... They said: "No youre not a half-brother youre our brother and thats it. No doubt about it, none of this half stuff", so they accepted me straight away,' explains Bernard.

He adds: 'We get on very well now [and are] constantly messaging.' He also admits: 'Its like a big weight off your shoulder, you know who you are, you know who you came from, you know the type of people who are your siblings and its great.'

Bernard and his paternal siblings are all meeting up with one another once again at the end of this month.

Elsewhere, during tonight's episode, co-presenter Nicky Campbell also meets with one of the leading experts in Irish adoption law, Professor Conor OMahony, at University College Cork.

Professor Conor explains that an illegal birth registration occurred when a child was placed with parents other than its own parents to be raised by them as adoptive parents, but no formal adoption order took place.

Instead, the adoptive parents were named falsely and illegally on the register of births as the birth parents of the child, as if the child had been born to them.

In 20th-century Ireland, women who became pregnant out of wedlock were often forced to give birth in now infamous mother and baby and homes.

Its not known how many were pressured into giving up their babies up for adoption, but nearly 60,000 children were born in institutions like these. The practice of falsely recording the identity of illegitimate children was shrouded in secrecy.

Only now is the full scale of it coming to light. Despite the illegality of the practice, at the time the state did not act to prevent it. In Ireland, over 180 institutions dealt with placing children. Its not known exactly how many babies were illegally registered.
Meet the twins who have so far spent 160K on plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures in a bid to look like plastic dolls - and they're not done yet.

Dolly and Daisy Simpson, 26, from Stockton-on-Tees, are totally unrecognisable from their teenage selves after they began getting fillers at 18 and first went under the knife in 2020.

The blonde duo have since undergone a whole host of surgeries including matching nose and boob jobs, labiaplasty, and a BBL, as well an extensive list of cosmetic procedures including lip, chin, cheek, jaw, nose and bum filler, Botox and veneers.

The twins, who confess they were obsessed with Barbies as children, have forked out a whopping 160,000 to achieve their desired look of a pair of plastic dolls.

Dolly said: 'Before we started having our procedures and surgeries, we were quite insecure about our looks.

Dolly and Daisy Simpson, 26, from Stockton-on-Tees, are totally unrecognisable from their teenage selves after they began getting fillers at 18 and have since gone under the knife for the first time in 2020 (pictured left, Daisy, and right, Daisy and Dolly)

The blonde duo have since undergone a whole host of surgeries including matching nose and boob jobs, labiaplasty, and a BBL, as well an extensive list of cosmetic procedures

'We'd always loved the look of bright blonde girls, with amazing tans and big boobs, that looked like dolls, and ever since then we have aspired to look like that.

'However, obviously when we were really young we weren't sure how we'd achieve that because we weren't aware of surgery, but ever since we were old enough to know about these things, we couldn't wait to start the process.

'We loved playing with Barbies and Bratz dolls as kids, and then we looked up to to Playboy bunnies in the 2000s as we got older.

'I had my first plastic surgery in 2020, which was a labiaplasty in Romania.. Since then, Daisy wanted the same surgery too as we like to have matching procedures so we still look the same.

'Our next round of plastic surgery was when we had our boobs done in August 2020. I have a breast lift and implants, and Daisy just had implants.

'The following year, we both got nose jobs. Again, we asked for these to be identical, however we don't feel like they are exactly the same.

'Since then, we have also both been keeping up with our cosmetic procedures that really help up achieve the doll-style look.

'We have filler in our cheeks, jaws, lips, noses, chins, as well as Botox to keep our skin as smooth and line free as possible.

'Daisy also have filler in her bum to help make it bigger.'

The twins said as children they 'always loved the look of bright blonde girls, with amazing tans and big boobs, that looked like dolls'

Dolly confessed before they began to have procedures and surgeries, the twins were 'quite insecure about their looks' (pictured, Daisy before any surgery)

As the two women started growing older, they started looking towards Playboy bunnies for inspiration for their looks

In 2021, both of the twins had nose jobs, asking the surgeon to make the work identical (pictured, Dolly after her nose job)

Daisy wanted the same surgeries as her sister because the twins liked to have matching procedures so they look the same

Last year, Dolly went to Turkey to have veneers and to go under the knife once again for a Brazilian bum lift with liposuction, while her sister, Daisy, finally got round to having her labiaplasty

Last year, Dolly went to Turkey to have veneers and to go under the knife once again for a Brazilian bum lift with liposuction, while her sister, Daisy, finally got round to having her labiaplasty.

The pair ventured to Turkey for this bout of surgeries.

Dolly said: 'Daisy wants a BBL next to match mine, however she is more cautious about who she would go to for this.

'I had less fear about going to Turkey for it, but my sister would rather have it done in the UK.

'But she says she will show her surgeon my bum so they can do it as similar as possible.

The blonde bombshells have travelled abroad to Turkey for a number of their cosmetic and plastic surgeries

The twins said that before they started having the surgeries, they didn't feel their looks 'matched their personalities'

Dolly said her sister Daisy wants a BBL next to match her own but is 'more cautious about who she would go to for this' (pictured, Daisy)

While the twins insist they are 'so happy' with how they have managed to achieve their looks, they confess they 'are not done with surgery yet' (pictured, Dolly)

The Brazilian butt lift: How common is it? With a Brazilian butt lift, fat is taken from various parts of the body and put with the buttocks. It has grown increasingly popular in the United States, becoming the fastest-growing type of plastic surgery, according to 2015 statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. The rate of buttock lift procedures rose 252 percent from 2000 to 2015. The total went from 1,356 to 4,767 procedures over the course of that time. Injecting fat into the butt can lead to problems if done improperly, including fat embolism - which is when fat enters the bloodstream and blocks a blood vessel. The estimated death rate for BBL is 1 in 3000, according to PlasticSurgery.org. Advertisement

'I want another BBL next because I haven't quite got the results I was after from this one, however it is a long process because you have to gain weight so there is enough fat to transfer.

'I'd definitely consider having bum implants if my BBLs don't look dramatic enough.

'We also both want bigger boobs and another nose job, to hopefully make them more identical.

'We're so happy with how we have managed to achieve our looks, but we aren't finished yet.

'Before we had anything done, we just looked basic.

'We didn't feel as feminine, and it didn't feel like our looks matched our personalities or styles.

'We much prefer to look like Barbie dolls.'
An OnlyFans model has become one of the UK's youngest grandmothers at the age of just 34 - and says she still looks young enough to get asked for ID.

Rachel McIntyre, from the UK, welcomed her first grandchild at the end of July after discovering her 17-year-old daughter was pregnant last year.

She shared the happy news on social media, where users claimed that she looked far too young to be a granny and others congratulated her on what they assumed to be her newborn.

The 34-year-old fell pregnant for the first time when she was just 15, and had some reservations about being a young grandmother because she knows how hard it is being a young, full-time mother.

Rachel, who is a proud OnlyFans model, said: 'My daughter's only just turned 18, and I was very shocked when I found out she was pregnant. But once it sunk in, I started getting excited. I knew that I was obviously going to support her as well.

Rachel McIntyre, from the UK, welcomed her first grandchild (pictured together) at the end of July after discovering her 17-year-old daughter was pregnant last year

'People don't even believe I'm my daughter's mum. They look at me in complete shock when I tell them. They're like, "Wait, are you not sisters?" When I say I'm a granny too, it's even more of a shock.

'I always get asked for ID because I look so young. It's annoying, but it's a bit of a compliment too.'

While Rachel is enjoying settling into her new role as a granny after her granddaughter's birth on July 25, she admitted that it was stressful watching her young daughter in labour.

The mother-of-two, who also has another daughter, aged 10, added: 'It was quite traumatising to see your daughter go through something like that at 17.

'The labour was a bit horrific, but thankfully my granddaughter is such a good baby. She doesn't really cry. She just makes noises when she's hungry and eats and sleeps.'

She shared the happy news on social media, where users claimed that she looked far too young to be a granny and others congratulated her on what they assumed to be her newborn

The 34-year-old (pictured) fell pregnant for the first time when she was just 15, and had some reservations about being a young grandmother because she knows how hard it is being a young, full-time mother

Rachel (pictured), who is a proud OnlyFans model, said: 'My daughter's only just turned 18, and I was very shocked when I found out she was pregnant. But once it sunk in, I started getting excited. I knew that I was obviously going to support her as well'

Rachel, who can't wait to get back into the gym after a recent tummy tuck in Turkey, said the biggest upside to being a young gran is that she is young and fit enough to do a lot of things with her granddaughter.

The OnlyFans model said: 'I'm looking forward to getting into the gym to get my body looking the best it's ever been.

'The biggest upside to being such a young granny is that I've got a lot more energy. When my granddaughter is a bit older, I can take her out to places and I won't be tired like older grannies. I don't think there's any downsides to being a granny at 34.

'I've not been judged for it yet, but it will probably happen. I'm not bothered though. People will criticise anything these days. Life is all about being happy, and as long as you're happy, then you'll go far.'

Rachel, who became a mother at 16, said that despite looking more like her granddaughter's mum than her granny, she would never want to be called anything else.

She revealed: 'I want to be called granny. I would never want to be called just Rachel. She's my angel.'

Rachel (pictured), who can't wait to get back into the gym after a recent tummy tuck in Turkey, said the biggest upside to being a young gran is that she is young and fit enough to do a lot of things with her granddaughter
Critics have panned Red, White and Royal Blue as 'bland' and a 'trashy teen romance' after it's release this weekend - with many comparing the story to that of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

The Amazon film, which was released over the weekend, is based on the bestselling novel by Casey McQuiston, which sees Mexican-American character Alex Claremont-Diaz, played by Taylor Zakhar Perez, fall in love with Britain's Prince Henry, portrayed by Nicholas Galitzine.

The duo go to desperate lengths to keep their romance under wraps from the rest of the world, in an effort to avoid upending the two nations - leading to some very steamy, intimate scenes.

When it was first published in May of 2019, the book created an immediate sensation and rose to the top of the New York Times bestseller list.

However the highly anticipated film - which includes an A-lister cast, from Uma Thurman as Ellen Claremont, the president of the US, to Stephen Fry - has been widely panned by critics.

Critics have panned Red, White and Royal Blue as 'bland' and a 'trashy teen romance' after it's release this weekend

The Guardian's Benjamin Lee gave the film two stars, calling it 'overwhelming blandness' and writing: 'Red, White and Royal Blue just isnt the fun, brain-disengaged romp it could have been, any praise going toward intention rather then execution.'

Meanwhile

Here, a taste of what the critics have to say...

THE GUARDIAN

Rating:

Benjamin Lee brands the film 'well intentioned but listless', writing: '[The leads] go from hating each other to falling in lust to falling in love while forces prevent them from going public, hitting every beat one would expect yet never with more than a light tap, the romantic highs never high enough and the melodramatic lows never really that low.'

THE INDEPENDENT

Rating:

Jessie Thompson describes an 'air of liberal fantasy' in the film, writing: 'The whole plot feels heavily inspired by Prince Harrys relentless, disgruntled media tour, up to the line Prince Henry belongs to Britain and the fact that the character lost his father at a young age and the palace insisted on parading me around...

The review goes on I just wish it was as good as the hype.'

BBC

Rating:

Louis Staples writes the film is 'not trying to revolutionise queer storytelling' with it's plot.

He comments the British characters appear 'wooden', adding: 'From the start, the film's aesthetic and tone feel akin to a big-budget Hallmark movie. It has all the predictable stereotypes: British people are uptight. And Americans? They're loud and obnoxious! Groundbreaking.'

He ends his review by commenting: 'If you're looking for a film about beautiful men with perfect hair and sculpted abs, which doesn't demand too much from you, then it might be for you.

'But if you're expecting it to be in the grade of romcoms that are laugh-out-loud hilarious and actually say something interesting about relationships  or anything beyond lazy cliches  then you'll be royally disappointed.'

FINANCIAL TIMES

Rating:

Leslie Felperin writes: 'Spoiler alert: everyone gets a happy ending, more or less, even the uptight monarch (none other than Stephen Fry).

'The script evenly distributes the sassy quips between the Brits and Yanks so as to avoid any diplomatic ill will.

'Some of the lines are fairly funny, like calling someone as gay as the first 50 rows at a Lady Gaga concert, but they never dilute a sugary-sweet confection.

'Itll leave many viewers feeling as if theyd been covered in marzipan, cake and royal icing.'

EVENING STANDARD

Rating:

Meanwhile Maddy Mussen was more generous to the film, giving it four out of five stars in her review.

She writes that the sex scenes are a 'highlight', comparing it to Sally Rooney's Normal People.

She pens: 'The plot is relatively predictable, so you do just go through the motions, like with most romcoms, but its the leads chemistry that makes Red, White and Royal Blue so watchable.

'Red, White and Royal Blue is a welcome arrival in a time where were relatively lacking in romcoms, and it will mean the world to queer teenagers everywhere  though I have no doubt it will be voraciously gobbled up by straight and LGBTQ+ teens alike.'

EMPIRE

Rating:

Helen O'Hara writes: 'If you can get past the exposition-soaked and leaden opening act, the story does come to life a little as the pair struggle with their respective ambitions and positions...

'The resolution that Alex and Henry reach, after an inspired bit of third act stunt-casting, is glibly achieved, but then, overly pat endings are almost a feature and not a bug of the romcom genre.

'Theres nothing especially substantial or groundbreaking about the way things play out beyond our heroes identity, but at least there are laughs along the way (many thanks to Sarah Shahis Presidential Chief Of Staff). Perhaps thats enough.

'Everyone deserves a brainless, fluffy romcom now and again  even if this time the fluff is ermine.'

VARIETY

Peter Deburge comments the plot is 'Nickelodeon-level', adding: 'While most of the movie functions as wish-fulfillment fantasy, Lopez takes the Trojan horse approach to raise issues of HIV prevention, consent and personal privacy alongside the films most important political point: namely, that queer romances can be every bit as corny as their hetero counterparts.

'As political platforms go, thats hope and change all rolled up in one.'

NEW YORK POST

Lauren Sarner writes that it's a 'career-worst performance' for Uma Thurman, commenting: 'The second half of the movie plods on too long, and gets sappy...

'Despite all this, many of the movies jokes are amusing, the relationship is cute, and though Thurman almost sinks the ship, Perez and Galitzine are good enough to float it through choppy waters.'

THE SPECTACTOR

Deborah Ross writes the film 'doesnt have the same wit or knowingness or budget' as Bridgerton', adding: 'It is modest fun, and there is the occasional good line, but the characters appear rushed and representative rather than living, breathing human beings and, as a result, the actors can offer only limited performances.

'Overall, its like being hit round the head with one of those photo-love stories from Jackie magazine. Probably, there is more depth in the book. But thats just a guess.'

The duo go to desperate lengths to keep their romance under wraps from the rest of the world, in an effort to avoid upending the two nations - leading to some very steamy, intimate scenes

Despite the poor reviews, Prime Video may be hoping the film follows in the success of other sexy book adaptations from streaming services, like Netflix's hit series Bridgerton.

When an altercation between Alex and Price Henry makes front-page news, US and British relations take a quick tumble.

Both nations' most important people decide that the two boys must stage a truce: and make it convincing.

But what initially starts as a fake, Instagram friendship quickly develops into one where both are harbouring more intense feelings.

The only problem? They have to keep it a secret to avoid ruining a presidential campaign and unsettling both nations even further.

For the film adaptation, intimacy coordinator Robbie Taylor Hunt was given the role of ensuring that the physical intimacy between Henry and Alex was told 'in the best and safest way possible', according to Glamour.

For the movie adaptation, intimacy coordinator Robbie Taylor Hunt was enlisted to ensure that physical intimacy between Henry and Alex was told in the best and safest way possible.

Nicholas Galitzine said: 'It's a very vulnerable and trusting space. Taylor and I had to rely on each other because we really wanted to tell that story honestly and feel that we weren't hindered by any of our own boundaries that we were setting up.

Prime Video may be hoping the film (pictured) follows in the success of other sexy book adaptations from streaming services, like Netflix's hit series Bridgerton

'It becomes a sort of wonderful choreography that all serves to facilitate these two young men who fell in love with each other. Robbie was really helpful in educating me in the physical language of the character.'

The Prime Video description reads: 'Alex Claremont-Diaz (Taylor Zakhar Perez), the son of the first woman President of the United States (Uma Thurman), and Britains Prince Henry (Nicholas Galitzine) have a lot in common: stunning good looks, undeniable charisma, international popularity and a total disdain for each other.

'Separated by an ocean, their long-running feud hasnt really been an issue, until a disastrous - and very public - altercation at a royal event becomes tabloid fodder driving a potential wedge in U.S./British relations at the worst possible time.

The highly anticipated film - which reports are already dubbing the 'romance of the summer' - also includes an A-lister cast, from Uma Thurman (pictured right) as Ellen Claremont, the president of the US, to Stephen Fry. It will be available on Prime Video on August 11

'Going into damage control mode, their powerful families and respective handlers force the two rivals into a staged truce.

'But as Alex and Henrys icy relationship unexpectedly begins to thaw into a tentative friendship, the friction that existed between them sparks something deeper than they ever expected.

'Based on Casey McQuistons critically acclaimed New York Times bestseller, Red, White & Royal Blue marks the feature film writing and directing debut of Tony Award-winning playwright Matthew Lopez (The Inheritance).'
Lottie Moss was dubbed the 'new Kate Moss' at just 13 years old when she featured as a bridesmaid in her supermodel sister's wedding to now ex-husband Jamie Hince in 2011.

However the close bond they might once have shared seems to have all but vanished in recent years - with Lottie, 25, revealing Kate 'doesn't want a relationship' with her.

It comes after years of ups and downs for the sisters, who were at one point on such good terms that Kate invited her younger sibling to stay at her Cotswold home during the Covid-19 pandemic.

However since then, Lottie has claimed Kate has 'never really supported her' and said she grew up 'pretty much on her own.'

Here FEMAIL reveals the highs and lows of the relationship between the two women...

Lottie Moss was dubbed the 'new Kate Moss ' at just 13 years old when she featured as a bridesmaid in her supermodel sister's wedding to now ex-husband Jamie Hince in 2011 - but their once close relationship appears to have disappeared

It comes after years of apparent ups and downs for the sisters, who once appeared to share such a bond that Kate invited her younger sibling to stay at her Cotswold home during the Covid-19 pandemic (left, and right, together at Kate's wedding in 2011)

Lottie is the daughter of Kate's father, travel agent Peter Moss, and his second wife, Norwegian Inger Solnordal, and was raised in Haywards Heath, West Sussex.

The family business is a shop selling vintage clothes, jewellery, homeware and food.

There was an inevitability that she would become a model, having been a beautiful bridesmaid, aged 13, at Kate's wedding to musician Jamie Hince.

Looking like an angel from a Botticelli painting with a garland of wild flowers in her hair, it was no surprise when Lottie signed with Storm Management in 2014 and began a mainstream modelling career.

In her late teens, she told an interviewer: My sister and I are two different people and she is on her path and I am on my own. It kind of runs in the family. Kate was a massive part of why I started.

Kate and Lottie were spotted side-by-side at fashion shows, including a Topshop runway show in 2014.

Meanwhile her first photoshoot was published in Teen Vogue, and she had her first full editorial not long afterwards in Dazed & Confused, a magazine which was co-founded by Kate's ex-husband, Jefferson Hack.

She juggled revising for her A-level exams with a red-carpet appearance at the Cannes film festival.

In a diary for Vogue, Lottie wrote: 'Sometimes I feel like I live in two worlds. One minute I'm in a Dior suite in Cannes and then the next I'm in a classroom in Sussex.'

During lockdown in 2020, the sisters appeared so close that Kate invited Lottie to stay at her Cotswold home.

While Kate is private about her home, younger sister Lottie shared a number of pictures of the property on her Instagram page.

In 2021, Lottie began posting explicit content on the website OnlyFans, leaving Kate reportedly 'mortified'

She posted a number of snaps of her Grade-II listed home, including posing in her underwear.

In one snap, Lottie can be seen sitting in a classic sitting room, complete with deep red walls, a monochrome lamp, wooden shelving and a photograph of a young Queen Elizabeth.

When Lottie finally departed the Vogue cover star's home 'in a foul mood', she left behind two bottles of her sister's favourite bottle of wine which was interpreted as a 'f**k you' gesture, according to the publication because Kate is now sober.

A source later told Page Six that Kate reportedly had 'fallen in and out of sympathy' for her and has been left with her 'head in her hands' due to Lottie's questionable career choices.

Page Six claimed a family source told how even Kate's daughter Lila, 20, 'won't have anything to do with Lottie' due to her antics with the wrong crowd.

The insider said: 'During lockdown, Kate invited Lottie to come and live with her in the Cotswolds at her country house. Lila point-blank refused to have anything to do with Lottie on social media.'

They added: 'Kate was frustrated because Lottie kept on wanting to drink and posting sexually provocative stuff on Instagram all the time.

'It isn't easy for Kate to be around people who are drinking, and she definitely won't be around anyone who is using cocaine.

Throwback: In 2018, Lottie, pictured on the far right in a red coat, reflected on her brunette locks in a snap from the previous Christmas. Kate and Nick Moss are seen kneeling down at the front

Family: Model sisters Lottie (fourth right) and Kate Moss (far right) looked delighted as they posed for a festive snap in the Cotswolds alongside their stylish family in 2019

Together: Kate posed with Lottie, their father (third from left), brother Nick (third from right) and Lottie's mother Inger (far right) at her little sister's birthday dinner back in January 2019

Kate Moss with brother Nick, (left), their model half-sister Lottie (left), her father Pete (centre), her daughter Lila (right)

A TIMELINE OF THE MOSS SISTERS' RELATIONSHIP 9 January 1998 - Lottie Moss is born to Kate's father, travel agent Peter Moss, and his second wife, Norwegian Inger Solnordal. 2011 - Lottie is a bridesmaid at Kate's wedding to musician Jamie Hince and immediately attracts global attention . 2014 - Lottie signs with Storm Management in 2014 and began a mainstream modelling career. The sisters are snapped side-by-side at London Fashion Week. 2020 - Lottie stays at Kate's Cotswold home during Covid-19 lockdown. Sources later say Kate's daughter Lila 'won't have anything to do with Lottie' and Kate was 'frustrated because Lottie kept wanting to drink and post sexually provocative stuff on Instagram'. 2021 - Lottie launches her OnlyFans page and begins to transition to more X-rated snaps and videos. She admits it's hard to be compared to Kate, and says she 'wanted to do something of her own' so 'now takes naked pictures'. 2022 - Lottie goes to rehab for substance abuse issues. She later says Kate was supportive of her stint in rehab. However Page Six reports Kate is 'mortified' by Lottie's behaviour'. The same year, it was revealed Storm modelling agency had deleted Lottie from its website, prompting speculation that they have axed the troubled star over her wild lifestyle, cocaine addiction, and cosmetic surgery. Months later, Lottie hit out at her famous half-sister Kate, saying she has 'never really supported me' in a scathing Instagram post. Sources tell Alison Boshoff Kate was said to be hurt by Lottie's comments. 2023 - Despite Kate's comments, Lottie goes on to write a number of essays about their relationship claiming she was offered no support from her sister as she made her first tentative steps as a model in her own right. Lottie is due to appear on the latest series of Celebs Go Dating - with experts saying they hope the show will be 'an olive branch' between the sisters because they are 'not close.' Lottie says she is 'not close' to Kate in an interview, adding: 'She doesnt have to want to have a relationship with me.' Advertisement

'Lottie had been in Los Angeles, running with a fast crowd, and Lila was not into it at all. She is disdainful of Lottie.

'Another time Lottie dyed her hair pink with Lila's help, and Lila refused to be in a single picture on Instagram with her.'

And by the following year, Lottie began to transition to a more X-rated career after joining subscription site OnlyFans, where she shares racy snaps and videos.

In 2021, Lottie admitted to finding it 'hard' being compared to half-sister Kate, who was scouted by Storm founder Sarah Doukas in 1988.

She said: 'It's hard when your sister is Kate Moss and being compared to her. I had a great time modelling, but everything was handed to me, I never felt like I worked for anything.

'I wanted something of my own. So now I take naked pictures.'

Then during 2022, Lottie went to rehab for substance abuse issues and was thought to be receiving treatment at a facility in Arizona.

Speaking on the Call Her Daddy podcast, Lottie said that although she is not 'close' with Kate, her sister had been supportive of her recent stint in rehab.

Kate and Lottie were spotted side-by-side at fashion shows, including a Topshop runway show in 2014 (pictured)

Centre stage: Lottie walks the Christmas catwalk for Dolce & Gabbana at London store Harrods in November 2017 - she later said Kate offered her 'no support'

She said: 'Me and my sister have never been that close, so we never really spoke about it until I was in rehab. She was great, she said, "I love you, you're great".'

However it was then claimed by Page Six that Kate was 'mortified' by Lottie's behaviour, which saw her joke about drugs while in the rehab centre.

The same year, it was revealed Storm modelling agency has deleted Lottie from its website, prompting speculation that they have axed the troubled star over her wild lifestyle, cocaine addiction, and cosmetic surgery.

And months later, Lottie hit out at her famous half-sister Kate, saying she has 'never really supported me' in a scathing Instagram post.

The OnlyFans star shared a candid message about growing up in the 'toxic' modelling industry and the toll it took on her as a young girl.

While acknowledging she was raised in a privileged household, Lottie suggested she felt no support from sibling Kate and said she was 'pretty much on my own'.

Sharing a stunning photo of herself in a sleeveless beige top, Lottie wrote: 'This year has been a crazy one for me, I started out being in the worst place of my life and ended up in the best place I've ever been mentally.

'I know it's hard for people to understand but being In a toxic industry at a very young age really took its toll on me.

In 2020, Lottie spent a number of months at Kate's home in the Cotswolds during the Covid-19 pandemic

Sources said Kate grew 'frustrated because Lottie kept on wanting to drink and posting sexually provocative stuff on Instagram all the time'

'I understand I have come from a very privileged position being the sister of someone very famous but believe it or not that person never really supported me.

'My parents were amazing but could not relate to what I was going through and did not know the full extent of what I was going through most of the time, I was pretty much on my own so I had to navigate this by myself and do the best I could which I feel I have.'

Lottie went on to say that she didn't feel fashion modelling was for her but she remains grateful for the opportunities it gave her.

The star added that she didn't want her post to come across as a 'poor me' and said everyone, regardless of their background has their 'own traumas and experiences'.

However Kate was said to be hurt by Lottie's comments, with a source telling Alison Boshoff: 'What Lottie said on Instagram, and the timing of it, is very sad and rather shocking.

'They havent had anything to do with each other whatever for a time now because Kate needed to stay away from Lottie and her party lifestyle.

'But Kate did make efforts with Lottie and even had her to stay in the Cotswolds for months during lockdown.

Page Six claimed a family source told how even Kate's daughter Lila, 20, 'won't have anything to do with Lottie' due to her antics with the wrong crowd (pictured Kate and Lila)

Despite that, Lottie shared a similar sentiment with Glamour at the start of the year, writing: 'When I started out, I was always just Kate Moss's sister. That was really hard for me growing up, especially not being that close with my sister (we still dont really have a relationship now, which is something I never really speak about).

'But back then, I was bombarded with people constantly asking me about my sister  Id go to my friends houses and there would be pictures of her on the walls  and it really triggered a lot of abandonment issues.'

Lottie claimed she was offered no support from her sister as she made her first tentative steps as a model in her own right.

She added: 'Its hard when you have someone close to you doing the exact same job as you, whos already very prominent in the industry, but not having any advice or guidance.'

In a self-penned essay for Newsweek in March, Lottie touched on similar sentiments.

She said that while her sister provided her a useful stepping stone, she was determined to make her own money herself and used her earnings to pay for private schooling at St. Bede's School in Redhill.

In 2021, Lottie began to transition to a more X-rated career after joining subscription site OnlyFans, where she shares racy snaps and videos

'I think a common misconception is that because Kate, who is 24 years older than me, is rich and famous, so were my family. But obviously, that was her money and her fame, not ours,' Lottie writes.

Lottie continued: 'I knew that my sister Kate was famous and growing up, I idolised her, thinking she was the coolest.

'I never got much love or attention from her though, which has always upset me, especially because people have brought her up to me for as long as I can remember.'

'How do I say to people that I don't know her and that she doesn't reply to my texts? I honestly think the whole "nepo baby" concept is so weird; there are so many people in the world that have had obvious advantages in their career because of who they know or who someone in their family is, not just famous people.'

Lottie is now due to appear on the latest series of Celebs Go Dating - and the dating experts on the show suggest Kate may not want to watch the programme.

Speaking in a new interview, dating agent Anna, 41, shared her hopes for the siblings to mend their broken relationship.

Lottie has hit out at her famous half-sister Kate a number of times over the past year, saying she has 'never really supported me' in one scathing Instagram post (pictured)

She told The Mirror: 'I would be so intrigued if Kate Moss was going to watch this series, I hope she does, I think she'll find out a lot of interesting and perhaps upsetting things about her sister.'

Anna added: 'I would love it to be able to be, perhaps an olive branch between the two sisters, who I believe, it's no secret that they're not that close."

'I would love it if Kate would use this opportunity to reach out to her little sister and give her a much-needed hug but I think she needs.'

And she made similar comments this weekend, revealing that her and her famous sister dont get along like people assume.

She told The Sun: Me and my sister have never been close. There is a big age gap.

The OnlyFans star added: She doesnt have to want to have a relationship with me.

'When I was younger, I couldnt understand it. I thought: "Why is someone in my family not wanting a relationship with me? I dont get it."

The blonde went on to say that after speaking to others around her, she has come to understand that family is complicated and just because of Kates status, it doesnt make their situation any different.

She said: We just dont see eye to eye on many things. I love her. Shes my sister, but were just not close. It is what it is.

For help with substance abuse in the UK talk to FRANK on 0300 1236600
A barrister who sparked a fierce debate urging pregnant women to give babies their surname has faced off against a father-of-four on Good Morning Britain.

Dr Charlotte Proudman, 33, from London, entered a heated debate with Dr Tru Powell, alongside hosts Richard Madeley and Kate Garraway.

Her initial Tweet to expectant mothers pleading with them to 'give the baby your surname' went viral last week, garnering over 4 million views.

Today, she doubled down on this message asking fathers: 'Are you saying your surname is more important than the other?' while being of the opinion that the tradition is archaic and stems from children being seen as the 'property of their fathers'.

She advised women to ditch convention as it's 2023 and time to 'recognise the labour we go through'.

Dr Charlotte Proudman (pictured right), 33, entered a heated debate with Dr Tru Powell (pictured left) on whether mothers should give babies their own surname

She said to GMB hosts: 'Obviously it stems back to the idea that children are chattel or property of the father. That's why historically, children have taken the names of their fathers.

'But you know we're in 2023 now and it's about time we recognise the labour that we go through. Carrying a baby for nine months, going through the pain and trauma of childbirth, breastfeeding - it's a lifelong responsibility.

'When you're sitting there to register that child, think about whether your surname is more important or is as important as the father's name. And you know question why that is.

'I think I'm really encouraged to see some of the responses from many mothers. Some of whom have done exactly that and have given their names instead of the father's.

'We have our own name and we have our own identity, and I think it's important to recognise that rather than it being erased as a result of taking the father's'.

Richard added: 'Lot's of kids who's parents aren't married do take the mother's name don't they?'

Charlotte replied by introducing the topic of double-barrel names, which she deemed 'problematic' as they are often seen as a 'compromise'.

'Oh it's so good of him to allow me to add my name' she joked.

Tru is a Birmingham-based entrepreneur, the CEO of Black Business Magazine and a father-of-four. He believes some women are trying to turn baby-naming into a dictatorship

Although Tru - a Birmingham-based entrepreneur and the CEO of Black Business Magazine - grinned at the quip, he queried the absence of conversations regarding the topic, and believed that some women were trying to turn baby-naming into a dictatorship.

Visibly unimpressed, Kate suggested that mothers could argue that things have been the opposite for centuries.

Tru said: 'Absolutely and we should have a conversation about it . With me and my wife we have a conversation about it. About who has the last name for our children.

'And we both decided actually - that when she married me she would adopt my surname and then our children would have our name because it is our name.

'My wife has evolved and her name is my name. Every family is different and I don't think we can have a sweeping blanket to say "you all should take your mother's surname" and equally you shouldn't take your father's surname. You should have a conversation about it'.

Charlotte conceded that he made 'reasonable' points but asked the public to reassess history and see what can be changed.

Richard weighed in again, adding that he wouldn't mind if his own kids took his wife's maiden name.

Kate then took the debate to X, formerly known as Twitter, where opinions were nearly split down the middle.

On X formerly known as Twitter, 53 per cent of people voted against babies taking their mother's surname, while 47 per cent said babies should have their mum's surname

53 per cent of people voted against babies taking their mother's surname, while 47 per cent stood in solidarity with Charlotte.

'Just have a double-barreled surname' said one person.

Another explained: 'Taking your husbands surname and then giving it to your children means all the family have the same surname. However I quite like the Spanish system where people have two surnames  the father's paternal family name and then the mother's paternal family name'.

One person agreed with Charlotte: 'Good for Charlotte, I can't think of a single reason a man's surname should be given to a child anyway, many of my girlfriends who had babies in the 90s all kept their own surnames, brilliant to see, hope more women do the same.

Meanwhile another person said the father's opinions should be considered if he is present in the child's life: 'You should do what's right for YOU as a person or family! My son got his dad's surname because we were planning on getting married shortly after we had him. But women do need to stop this "my baby my rules" if the dad is on the scene and contributing love and effort'.
World on Fire viewers were left in floods of tears last night over the heartbreaking death of one of the main characters.

The ambitious BBC1 drama, which follows characters living through the first year of the Second World War, was met with widespread praise when it first aired in 2019.

The penultimate episode of the second series aired last night, and saw Jonah Hauer-King's character Harry and his men fighting in Africa.

However in a devastating scene, his close friend Sergeant Stan Raddings, played by The Inbetweener's star Blake Harrison, is killed when he saves Harry from an attack from an enemy soldier.

Many of those watching were left crushed by the scene, with one commenting: 'Not Stan. Damnit Harry, that was not a mission you needed to go on.'

World on Fire viewers were left in floods of tears last night over the heartbreaking deaths of one of the main characters

Another wrote: 'It's war and people die, but why Stan.'

A third added: 'He was paranoid off the dehydration, went on a mission that wasn't needed that got Stan killed...

'Now Harry's gone and shot the German and he's going to succumb to the guilt.'

A fourth wrote: 'Can't believe Stan the Sarge copped it tonight.'

Another simply shared the character's name followed by a crying emoji.

In the episode, Harry is left dehydrated and listless - and, against the advice of his fellow leaders, decides to take the men on a mission through the desert to find water.

Stan, who was also a series regular during the programme's first season, was reluctant to join him on the mission.

However they are left stunned when the group are attacked by enemy soldiers in the dead of night.

A number of the soldiers flee in horror, but Harry and Stan remain to fight the enemy.

Many of those watching the programme were left devastated by the scene, sharing crying emojis online

When they are set upon by a soldier at close range, Stan steps out of the barricade in order to punch him - but is shot and killed in the process.

Harry desperately tries to perform CPR, but is unsuccessful in saving his friend - and the platoon are left devastated.

Harry captures the enemy soldier, and forces him to dig Stan's grave, telling him: 'He was my friend. You're not fit to dig his grave.'

The two begin to fight, and Harry ends up killing him.

At the end of the episode, the group come together to say a prayer for Stan, saying: 'Lead us from illusion to the real, lead us from darkness to light.

'Lead us from death to eternal life.'

Speaking about the drama, creator Peter Bowker said: 'As always, we tell stories which have an unforced and not always comfortable contemporary resonance, stories that demonstrate both human resilience and human folly and stories of ordinary lives in extraordinary times.

After embarking on a mission to find drinking water, Harry and his soldiers are set upon by enemy soldiers

When they are set upon by a soldier at close range, Stan steps out of the barricade in order to punch him - but is shot and killed in the process

Harry is left devastated by his friends death, capturing the soldier who killed him - before shooting him in a fight

"Historical drama should not be about nostalgia and I hope this isn't how this series is regarded. It is about asking questions of the present by interrogating stories from our past.

'And at the heart of these stories, amongst multiple perspectives, the single question remains  'If you had been there, what would you have done?'"

The first series of the drama was a huge hit when it aired in 2019, and it wasn't long before a second series was announced.

Speaking about the first series, Harrison told Daily Mail that he was thrilled to be cast in a proper war drama.

He said: The young actor in me was living out a dream. Ive never had more fun on a set than when Im running away from gunfire and explosions.

However, the planned 2020 shoot was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

And previously speaking about the first series of the drama, Peter divulged: 'World On Fire tells the hidden human stories within the big historical events we think we know.

Speaking about the first series, Harrison told Daily Mail that he was thrilled to be cast in a proper war drama

'From Harry, a young English translator in Warsaw caught up in negotiations with the Nazis and trying to smuggle his Polish lover Kasia out of the country, to Lois, the girl who is waiting for him at home, a young Mancunian factory worker who will come to take all the opportunities the war can offer to live a different kind of life.

'To Nancy, a female US war correspondent who can't find peace unless her life is at risk, to the Rossler family in Berlin, worried for their soldier son and willing to do anything to protect their disabled daughter from the attentions of the ruling Nazi regime.

'These are the stories of the ordinary people who shaped our world.

'Stories of loyalty and brutality, courage and fear, hopes, stories of love and loss, hopes and dreams forged in extraordinary times.'
WHO WAS EILEEN BLAIR?

Eileen Blair was author George Orwell's first wife. The famed writer married Eileen O'Shaughnessy in 1936 and this lasted until 1945 - when she passed away aged only 39.

He married his second wife Sonia Brownell in 1949, but died weeks later.

Eileen was born in South Shields and, being an excellent student, got a scholarship to study English at Oxford, where one of her tutors was JRR Tolkien. Later, she went on to do a course in educational psychology at University College London.

Her youth saw her taking a series of different jobs - including an assistant mistress at a girl's boarding school, a secretary, freelance journalist and even reader for Dame Elizabeth Cadbury, whose husband George manufactured the infamous chocolate.

Eileen Blair, pictured, was author George Orwell's first wife. The famed writer married Eileen O'Shaughnessy in 1936 and this lasted until 1945 - when she passed away aged only 39

During the Second World War, she worked for the Ministry of Information's Censorship Department as well as the Ministry of Food.

She and Orwell met at a party through mutual friends in 1935 and the couple were wed at St Mary's Church in Wallington, Hertfordshire the following year.

The pair were both in Spain during the Spanish Civil War - but by 1937, had to flee as the political situation made them targets.

She and Orwell had one child - a boy called Richard Horatio, who they adopted at three weeks old in 1944.

HOW DID EILEEN DIE?

Eileen died while in surgery in 1945. However, not much is known about her declining health.

It is understood the operation during which she died was meant to be for the removal of her uterus.

Orwell's loneliness following the passing of his wife is well documented, and he was known to have proposed to several women afterwards - some on only first meeting.

HOW MUCH DO WE KNOW ABOUT EILEEN?

In her latest book Wifedom - which is a 'hybrid of biography and memoir', according to ABC.net.au - Anna Funder makes the point that little is known about Eileen's short life save for a biting look into her seemingly less than stellar marriage through a series of letters.

Writing for The Guardian, Anna admitted that the six pieces of correspondence to her best friend Norah Symes left her floored with the insight into Orwell's elusive wife.

Of particular curiosity was one where Eileen apologises for not writing sooner after her marriage 'because they quarrelled so continuously & really bitterly'.

'I thought I'd save time & just write one letter to everyone when the murder or separation had been accomplished,' she added.

One biography by Bernard Crick shows that in one letter to Ann Popham - a woman he had proposed to - Orwell (pictured) explained he was 'sometimes unfaithful to Eileen'

In her latest book Wifedom - which is a 'hybrid of biography and memoir', according to ABC.net.au - Anna Funder (pictured) makes the point that little is known about Eileen's short life

According to ABC.net.au, Anna embarked on a forensic investigation of Orwell's biographies and works to find Eileen - and while history looks to have buried her as a passive recipient of her husband's genius, a different picture of a smart, astute and politically active woman emerged.

'A more monumental disappearing trick happens in Homage to Catalonia,' she told The Guardian.

'One of my favourite books since my teens. You can read it again and again and barely register that Orwell was not in Spain alone  Eileen was there too, almost the whole time.'

Not only was she there, Anna says - but she was actively working at the Independent Labour Party (ILP) headquarters and running 'communication and supply for all the men at the trenches'.

DID EILEEN AND ORWELL HAVE A GOOD MARRIAGE?

The couple's union is famously reported to have been complicated and wrought by infidelity.

One review of Anna's book by the Independent even dubs Orwell a 'cruel husband'.

'After Spain, their marriage teeters on the edge of breakdown. Is it an "open relationship", or should they adopt a baby? Is Eileens bleeding to do with her body or her soul?

'While her peculiar husband chases other women in a of seedy machismo, does she any longer care if shes alive or dead?' it questions.

One biography by Bernard Crick shows that in one letter to Ann Popham - a woman he had proposed to - Orwell explained he was 'sometimes unfaithful to Eileen'.

'And I also treated her badly,' he continued. 'And I think she treated me badly, too, at times, but it was a real marriage, in the sense that we had been through awful struggles together and she understood all about my work, etc.'

According to letters discovered in 2020, Eileen wanted him to have sex with an old flame twice a year in order to 'keep him happy' in his 'long-suffering' life.

Orwell's loneliness following the passing of his wife is well documented, and he was known to have proposed to several women afterwards - some on first meeting

A batch of around 30 letters which chart conversations between Orwell and Brenda Salkeld made the shocking revelation.

The Animal Farm and 1984 author penned a note to Salkeld on the day after his first wedding and he continued to write to her until 1949, days before his second wedding.

According to the Times, one letter which was penned by Orwell four years after he married Eileen, stated that she understood his needs and wanted her husband to sleep with Salkeld.

'She wished I could sleep with you about twice a year, just to keep me happy', the letter read.

The letters between the author and Salkeld show how he would use her to thrash out his ideas.

The revelation of this set of letters came just months after letters between Orwell and Eleanor Jaques had surfaced.

Mr Blair had since said that he has purchased all letters from the descendants of the recipients and that he would be donating them to University College London, which is home to the George Orwell Archive.

He said it was clear the women had more influence on his father than it had previously been claimed and one letter revealed Orwell's humiliation at Brownell's initial rejection of him and that he only put up with it because he was 'long-suffering'.

Earlier letters to Salkeld reveal his feelings towards her and he tells her that if she should take a love, he doesn't see why 'it shouldn't be me'.

Orwell died in January 1950 and the correspondence had continued until the September before his death.

He told her he would be married again, this time to Brownell and believed she would be 'astonished', due to his 'health being as it is'.

Mr Blair added that the letters had been very personal and suggested that there had been 'physical contact from time to time'.

He added that his father liked women with a 'strong opinion' and it was this that attracted him to them.
A franchisee for Dunkin' Donuts has shared the truth about where the chain gets their beloved donuts from - and dished on why they may taste different depending on the location.

Amir Mohamed, 29, from Beverly Hills, has overseen the operation of service at a Dunkin' in California for the last eight years - and he recently became a viral TikTok sensation after he started sharing some of the brand's most-coveted secrets.

The Dunkin' employee revealed everything from why the chain has to throw out its unused donuts every evening rather than donating them to whether or not the treats are baked fresh in-store.

According to Amir, each Dunkin' has the choice between three different ways to obtain its donuts, which is why they may differ in taste and texture from store to store.

A franchisee for Dunkin' Donuts has shared the truth about where the chain gets their beloved donuts from - and dished on why they may taste different depending on the location

Amir Mohamed, 29, from Beverly Hills, has overseen the operation of service at a Dunkin' in California for eight years - and he started sharing some of the brand's most-coveted secrets

The Dunkin' employee revealed everything from why the chain has to throw out its unused donuts rather than donating them to whether or not the treats are baked fresh in-store

'You can bake them yourself in your own kitchen inside the restaurant, you can have them delivered from a central kitchen that you and other franchisee's team up to build, which is called a CML, or you could order JBOD donuts, which are like disgusting frozen donuts,' he explained in a recent video, which was viewed more than 75,000 times in a one day.

Amir added that the Dunkin' that he works at cooked the donuts fresh 'every single night' for the first 12 years of operation, but eventually, it became 'too much.'

According to Amir, each Dunkin' has the choice between three different ways to obtain its donuts, which is why they may differ in taste and texture from store to store (stock image)

'It was an absolute mad house of an operation. Cooking 100s and 100s of donuts, it was a lot,' he said.

'Eventually, we switched to CML and teamed up with a bunch of other franchisees. Like 30 of us built a central kitchen where the donuts are still baked fresh every single night and shipped out to us early in the morning before we open.

'Personally, I loved when we made them in house because I felt like the donuts were bigger, everything was filled better and tasted better. But sometimes it becomes too much, so we switched to a CML.'

When asked to share more about the JBOD donuts by a viewer, Amir explained in a follow-up video that they're shipped to the store frozen and are reheated before serving.

'They say the JBOD donuts taste the same, but I think you can tell which one is which because they're a little smaller and more dense,' he added.

As for why the chain dumps its leftovers in the trash rather than giving it away, Amir explained that the Dunkin' he works at tried donating the extra food at first, but unfortunately, it became a 'liability.'

'You can bake them yourself in your own kitchen inside the restaurant, you can have them delivered from a [nearby] kitchen, or you could order frozen donuts,' he explained

Amir said the Dunkin' that he works at cooked the donuts fresh 'every single night' for the first 12 years of operation, but eventually, it became 'too much' so they now use a central kitchen

As for why the chain dumps its leftovers in the trash rather than giving it away, Amir explained that the Dunkin' he works at tried donating the extra food at first, but it became a 'liability'

'The problem was, the food bank was storing these donuts for extensive periods of time, they were keeping them for six or seven days and they started to decompose and get moldy,' he shared.

Last December, Dunkin' was scrutinized after a video of a Dunkin' employee tossing out dozens of donuts made its way around the web

'It was just creating a huge liability and we didn't want to get people sick so we had to resort to throwing them out.

'Yes, we throw out the donuts every night. We can't keep them for the next day, they have a one-day, 24-hour shelf-life max.

'We don't even like to keep them for 24 hours. We like to sell them and minimize as much waste as possible.'

Last December, Dunkin' was scrutinized after a video of a Dunkin' employee tossing out dozens of donuts made its way around the web.

The worker, named Dane Korabik, explained in the clip that staff would be 'fired' if they ate any of the leftovers and that it usually equated to '$100' worth of food.

After he shared the video to his TikTok account, many people took to the comment section to share their thoughts, and they were left distraught over the fact that so much food was being wasted.
DPRK top leader inspects munitions factories, urges war preparations

Xinhua) 16:42, August 14, 2023

SEOUL, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), inspected some major munitions factories on Friday and Saturday, and urged the country's armed forces to step up war preparations, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Monday.

During the inspection, Kim asked the tactical missile factory to drastically boost its existing capacity, and urged the factory that produces tactical missile transporter-erector-launchers to speed up the production of modern and highly efficient launching vehicles, said the report.

Kim drove a newly-developed armored multi-purpose vehicle when inspecting the country's armored fighting vehicles factory, and during his inspection of the large-caliber controllable rocket artillery shell factory, he requested an "exponential increase" in shell production to enhance the combat capabilities of the frontline forces, it said.

Kim also demanded that the country's armed forces should possess overwhelming capabilities to respond to any war at any time, and to be on high alert, it added.

According to previous KCNA reports, the Central Military Commission of the Worker's Party of Korea recently convened an enlarged meeting, discussing ways to intensify war preparations in response to the grave situation on the Korean Peninsula. Before the meeting, Kim also inspected some crucial military-industrial facilities in the country.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
Princess Iman Pahlavi - the granddaughter of the last Shah of Iran - is engaged to her boyfriend of three years, her family has revealed.

The royal, 29, appeared full of joy in loved-up photos with her fiance Bradley Sherman, who looks to have organised an elaborately romantic beach proposal.

Shots of the tender moment show Bradley down on one knee, surrounded by torches and flower petals, as a visibly emotional Iman covers her face in surprise.

Other snaps picture them embracing by the shore, and posing with family members including her parents Yasmine Pahlavi and Reza Pahlavi - the former Crown Prince of Iran - and her sisters Noor and Farah.

'Our sweet Iman got engaged this weekend,' Yasmine wrote in a joint Instagram post with her husband.

Princess Iman Pahlavi - the granddaughter of the last Shah of Iran - is engaged to her boyfriend of three years, her family has revealed

'She and Bradley have been dating for three years.

'Weve watched their relationship blossom and are so happy that they have made a commitment to share their lives together.'

According to Town&Country Magazine, Iman is currently understood to be working at American Express whereas Bradley - is in finance - and both reside in New York City.

The couple first met in 2017 through mutual friends, EUROdayFR, reports and are understood to have moved in together during the Covid-19 pandemic. The outlet also says Bradley is originally from Chicago.

And while details of the upcoming nuptials are yet to emerge, Iman's family has a history of elaborate celebrations.

In 1959, her grandfather Mohammad Reza Shah - the last Shah of Iran - had a lavishly memorable wedding to the 21-year-old Farah Diba, while he was 40.

As a young Queen of Iran, Farah's December 1959 wedding was the object of much curiosity and received worldwide press attention.

Her gown was designed by Yves Saint Laurent, then a designer at the house of Dior, and she wore the newly commissioned Noor-ol-Ain Diamond tiara.

The couple went on to have four children: Crown Prince Reza, Princess Farahnaz, Prince Ali, and Princess Leila.

The royal, 29, appeared full of joy in loved-up photos with her fiance Bradley Sherman, who looks to have organised an elaborately romantic beach proposal

Part of Farah's appeal to the shah had been her Western education and understanding of culture.

Together, the pair claimed they would usher in a 'golden age of Iran.'

During her time as a royal, Farah took an active interest in promoting culture and the arts in Iran.

Through her patronage, numerous organisations were created and fostered to further her ambition of bringing historical and contemporary Iranian Art to prominence both inside Iran and in the Western world.

Under her guidance, the museum of modern art acquired nearly 150 works by such artists as Pablo Picasso, Monet and Andy Warhol.

Last year, Farah recalled her shock over her country's 1979 Islamic Revolution - and labelled it 'unbelievable' following her 43 years in exile.

In an interview for Town&Country, Farah, 84, who was dubbed the Jackie Kennedy of the Middle East during her heyday, opened up about the overthrowing of her late husband Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

In 1979 the Shah, whose family had already fled to Egypt, was deposed and replaced with the hardline Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini - a shift that would have long-lasting and far-reaching implications.

With his liberalising reforms and harsh treatment of his political opponents, the Shah made an enemy of traditionalists in the country, and Khomeini, who had been living in exile in France, successfully returned and announced the creation of an Islamic republic.

The women's rights movement quickly regressed. Wearing the hijab was enforced, many of the liberties they had been granted were withdrawn and the female minister of education in Iran, Farrokhroo Parsa, was executed by firing squad.

Recalling the revolution, Farah admitted: 'It was very sad, and very hard, and we couldn't understand why our people were going in this direction when Iran was doing so much and moving forward.'

She added: 'I don't think that we didn't have problems. But even today, when I think about it, these were not problems to the point that they would lead to what happened.

'Countries change, governments that change for something better are not bad - but to go from Cyrus the Great to this is unbelievable.'

But many are divided over the legacy of Farah and some consider her a modern-day Marie Antoinette who represented the worst excesses of the shah's regime before the 1979 revolution.

The most lavish parts of her legacy include an extravagant three-day party thrown in the Persepolis in October 1971 by her husband, with the couple flying in eighteen tons of food to celebrate Iran's 2,500th anniversary.

In an interview for Town&Country, Farah Pahlavi, 84, who was dubbed the Jackie Kennedy of the Middle East during her heyday, opened up about the overthrowing of her late husband Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (pictured in 1962)

After marrying Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Farah (pictured on her wedding day) became patron of the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, and set off to amass an art collection, gathering items which would now be valued at $3 billion

Following her husband's death in 1980, Farah settled in the US and now splits her time between the States and Paris

Meanwhile Farah was also patron of the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, in which she amassed an art collection, gathering modern pieces which would now be valued at $3billion.

Farah's style, charm, and support of the arts, led her to be dubbed the 'Jackie Kennedy of the Middle East.'

At the same time, the Shah was pushing the country to adopt Western-oriented secular modernisation, allowing some degree of cultural freedom.

He believed the headscarf suppressed women and banned the hijab, and granted women the right to vote and an increasing number joined the workforce.

Under the Shah, Iranians enjoyed the luxury of new colleges, universities and libraries. Secondary schools were free for all and financial support was extended to university students.

However the Shah's determination to showcase an increasingly liberal and modern front to the world and ban on religious garments frustrated traditionalists in Iran.

Under Pahlavi, there was a widespread censorship of the press. He repressed political dissent - and the crackdown on communists and Islamists led to many being imprisoned and tortured.

People lived in fear of the Shah's secret police called SAVAK, which paralysed people from speaking out against the regime; such was the notoriety of their brutality.

These factors, along with the Shah being perceived as a puppet of the USA and economic uncertainty, culminated in the monarchy being overthrown.

The 1979 Iranian revolution saw the ousting of the Shah and the induction of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini - a shift that would have long-lasting and far-reaching implications.

The Pahlavi family fled to Egypt before embarking on a 18-month search for permanent asylum through Morocco and the Bahamas.

Finally they were granted asylum in Mexico but travelled to the US to seek medical assistance for the Shah's developing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Their visit to the States worsened relations between the US and Iran and the couple were forced to flee to Egypt.

Shah's health deteriorated and he died four months later in 27 July 1980.

Farah stayed in the country for two years before flying back to the US, where she settled in Maryland.
King Charles has vetoed any major public celebration of his forthcoming landmark 75th birthday.

The new monarch has decided there have been enough big set-piece royal events of late and that his own celebrations should be 'minimal' and 'family orientated'.

In the last 12 months alone, the nation has marked Queen Elizabeth's historic Platinum Jubilee, an unprecedented period of national mourning around her death and funeral last September and His Majesty's coronation in May.

While all have been well-received and highlighted the best of Britain, they have also involved enormous co-ordination and planning as well as cost to the public purse.

'His Majesty is not given to fuss over such things as it is but he is [also] acutely conscious there have been many set-piece royal events of late and his firm thinking is that events to mark his birthday will be minimal,' a source said.

King Charles has reportedly said he wants 'minimal' fuss for his 75th birthday this year following an entire year of big royal events including his first Trooping the Colour as monarch (pictured)

Another insider remarked: 'There's been enough fly-pasts and marches.'

Instead Charles is likely to keep the focus very much on business, undertaking public engagements  perhaps with a cake or a few words of celebration  in the run-up to the big day on November 14. There could also be a private dinner, possibly at Highgrove, his country home in Gloucestershire, organised by Queen Camilla for friends and family.

When Charles turned 65 in 2013, Camilla, then Duchess of Cornwall, told the Daily Mail that her 'workaholic' husband was 'not one for chilling' even on such a big day.

She also admitted that he was 'the most difficult person in the world to buy a present for' and that he was unlikely to celebrate becoming a pensioner unless she 'hopped up and down singing Happy Birthday'.

Camilla said: 'I will tell you that he is the most difficult person in the world to buy a present for. He is a man! They are hopeless! I spend ages trying to find something that is really wonderful and then [she mimes him opening a present] 'Oh, thank you very much' [she uses a non-committal voice]. It is so annoying!

Instead of a big public event to mark his 75th year, royal insiders have said the King is likely to want to have a more private event with family - but there will likely be cake involved

'He never, ever stops working. He's exhausting. No matter what the day, he is always working.

'I am hopping up and down and saying, 'Darling do you think we could have a bit of, you know, peace and quiet, enjoy ourselves together?' But he always has to finish something.

'He is so in the zone  you are outside  but he is always there in the zone, working, working, working. he'll stick with his papers, I know he will, while I am trying to sing Happy Birthday. I might just even have to hold up a sign saying 'Happy birthday, darling'.'

But while the King's birthday celebrations may be modest, there is one further major royal highlight in the offing.

The Mail can reveal that a film charting Their Majesties' first year is set to be one of the highlights of the BBC's Christmas schedule.

Buckingham Palace has been co-operating with the corporation for the last 12 months and has given 'unprecedented' access to the couple and their household during a period of momentous and historic change.

The King and Queen have not been interviewed on camera, with one source remarking pithily: 'This is not Netflix, you know!'

The comment was a nod to the Sussexes infamous 'docu-series' last year in which which was little more than a series of thinly veiled attacks on the Royal Family and British media. However other family members have talked to the BBC.

The BBC is even hopeful of getting the Prince and Princess of Wales speaking on camera, although nothing has yet been confirmed.

The King and Queen are currently holidaying on the Balmoral estate, where they will remain until October returning for official engagements as and when necessary. They will be joined by other family members over the next few weeks.

Although they will not be seen in public much, a great deal is going on behind the scenes in readiness for the 'new term' in September.

Planning is ramping up for a number of forthcoming, but as yet unconfirmed, royal overseas trips reported to be Kenya for the King and Queen as well as their rescheduled visit to France.

The King has plans to upscale his big new passion, The Coronation Food Project, which is partnering with other charities supported by him to reduce food waste and poverty.

Hes very alive to the cost of living crisis and is actively looking at ways he can help within the constitutional constraints of his new role, says an aide.

The Queen has also renewed her determination to shine a spotlight on the scourge of domestic violence.
This optical illusion can reveal if you are stuck in the past and unable to be happy.

Content creator and psychology student Cecilia Ann has taken to TikTok to explain the use of the Rorschach test.

The Rorschach test is a psychological experiment that can reveal information about your personality based on what you see in the inkblot.

And while the credibility of the test is often debated, Cecilia has revealed a surprising way it can tell you if you are holding onto trauma.

This optical illusion can reveal whether you are stuck in the past and unable to be happy

Content creator and psychology student Cecilia Ann has taken to TikTok to explain the use of the Rorschach test

The Washington-based content creator took to the video-sharing platform to explain how the test could help you figure out if you had any mental disorders based on what you glimpsed.

If you saw something extremely complicated in the inkblot, you may be suffering from emotional trauma.

The test is a psychological test designed by psychiatrist Hermann Rorschach.

'The test involves presenting a subject with images of inkblots; the person then describes what they see in these blots. The test can purportedly assess personality, emotional functioning, or certain mental disorders,' according to Psychology Today.

Cecilia showed viewers an image of an inkblot and asked them what they saw before she dove into an explanation.

She said she was reading the book titled The Body Keeps Score by Bessel van der Kolk, who wrote about the test.

The content creator said that the author alluded to 'wartime veterans, people with PTSD and people with trauma, and how the... test can tell you a lot about those people.'

'So whereas somebody hasn't had a super-traumatic experience they might say, "I see two people dancing, I see a cat or I just see ink on paper," [the trauma researcher] noticed that a lot of the veterans would see these images and all of a sudden relive their trauma, they would have flashbacks,' she added.

If you saw something extremely complicated in the inkblot, you may be suffering from emotional trauma, Cecilia said

Cecilia explained that if you saw something complicated in the images, then you were most likely 'stuck in the past,' adding that this was common with veterans suffering from trauma.

She added: 'Whereas our imagination allows us to leave our everyday routine life - to fantasize about food or traveling... these things are taken away with trauma.'

Citing the book, the content creator explained that people who are battling with trauma can suffer from 'a failure of imagination - a loss of mental flexibility,' adding that there was a risk that there was 'no hope to envision about the future and no place to go, and no goal to reach.'

She then cited Sigmund Freud who said: 'I think this man is suffering from memories.'

The inkblot test has long divided the world, with even Cecilia claiming there is no 'standard response.'
A mom-of-one has claimed that microdosing psychedelics has helped her become a better parent.

Tracey Tee, 47, from Denver, Colorado, tried her first magic mushroom aged 44 when a friend invited her on a camping trip - and it left her with a feeling of great 'relief.'

She continued the practice and has since said that microdosing - using between one-tenth to one-twentieth of a typical dose - has made her more 'present and aware' with her 11-year-old daughter.

The entrepreneur now runs her own community-based platform called Moms on Mushrooms which aims to destigmatize the use of psychedelics.

Tracey Tee, from Denver, Colorado, tried her first magic mushroom aged 44 when a friend invited her on a camping trip - and it left her with a feeling of great 'relief'

She continued the practice and has since said that microdosing - using one-tenth to one-twentieth of a typical dose - has made her more 'present and aware' with her 11-year-old daughter

Some mothers are using small amounts of psychedelic mushrooms to help with the anxiety, depression and wellness concerns of parenting. @evapilgrim has more. pic.twitter.com/8ZxRcgblBO  Good Morning America (@GMA) August 11, 2023

Tracey, who said she is not the type to dabble in recreational drugs, sat down with Good Morning America to discuss her use of magic mushrooms.

She began: 'I get really frustrated when people say to me, "Oh, well, like, mushrooms are, you know, mommy's new little helper."

'That is not what microdosing is. Microdosing is mommy is present and aware and showing up - maybe for the first time ever.'

Speaking about her first time trying a magic mushroom, she said: 'It was the most beautiful, confirming, joyful experience I had really ever had.'

The mom said she felt 'relief' after trying the substance claiming her mood changed to be in a 'more stable' place.

She concluded: 'There is a lot of fear - and there should be a lot of fear. What I've really come to realize is the intention and why you do it.'

Tracey now runs her own community-based platform called Moms on Mushrooms which aims to destigmatize the use of psychedelics.

Microdosing is currently illegal in the United States - but Colorado and Oregon have fully decriminalized the use of magic mushrooms.

Tracey, who said she is not the type to dabble in recreational drugs, sat down with Good Morning America to discuss her use of magic mushrooms

Tracey now runs her own community-based platform called Moms on Mushrooms which aims to destigmatize the use of psychedelics

The Moms on Mushrooms website makes it mission clear with statements that read: 'We can't move forward in healing and raising our consciousness if we're smothered in fear, guilt, shame and old programming around the use of psychedelics or the act of self healing.'

On Instagram, Tracey continued: 'M.O.M. was created to support other moms like me because this healing path is just different when you're a mother.

'After I started working with this beautiful fungi, my life changed forever and I felt called to share the experience with as many women as I can, from my unique perspective.'

Tracey, who has been married for 20 years, claims that her daughter 'knows all about what I do,' adding: 'She thinks it's cool I'm "the weird mom who has a hippie job."'
A popular cleaning product has disappeared from supermarket shelves following controversy over claims about dishonest labelling.

Method cleaning products have been discontinued and are no longer available in Woolworths, Coles or Big W much to its fans' disappointment.

The discontinuation comes after SC Johnson & Son, the company that produces the brand, were accused of mislabelling Method products as 'natural' and 'non-toxic'.

SC Johnson & Son, who also produces Glade and Windex, told 7News the products are no longer being sold nationally and it does not list the brand on its Australian website.

The company agreed to pay consumers $US2.25million and remove the wording 'non-toxic' from the packaging as it was alleged some products contained ingredients that were not after a class-action lawsuit in the US.

Shoppers are sharing their disappointment after Method cleaning products have been discontinued in Australia

SC Johnson & Son, who also produces Glade and Windex, confirmed the products are no longer being sold nationally and it does not list the brand on its Australian website

Method products gained popularity among Aussie customers for its cheeky messaging on the bottom of the bottles.

Hidden on the base of the container would be phrases like 'Let's clean naked, baby' and 'Stop staring at my bottom'.

Shoppers have noticed Method's absence from major retailers and have voiced their dismay at the disappearance.

'Method Laundry liquid is no longer on the shelves at the local supermarkets. Im so sad. I dont feel I am coping with this abrupt breakup. I mean, i didnt even see it was coming,' one woman said in the Mums Who Clean Facebook page.

'I'm exactly the same with their after shower spray, I was NOT prepared,' a second replied.

Some have reported seeing some of the last Method items in The Reject Shop and IGA stores and have been stocking up before they can no longer get their hands on the products.
A frustrated mum has shocked parents after saying she feels 'hatred' and 'disgust' towards her six-year-old son because he continues to soil himself.

Candice*, from the US, said that despite being toilet trained shortly after he turned two, he began to regress at three.

She said she has tried several options to help her son including doctors, psychological therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and laxatives - but nothing has worked.

Candice said that she 'wished she never had a kid' because of the ongoing issue.

'This may seem harsh but I'm losing it,' the mum wrote. 'I'm to the point where I feel hate and disgust towards him because none of us get to have a normal life.'

A frustrated mum has shocked parents after saying she feels 'hatred' and 'disgust' towards her six-year-old son because he continues to soil himself

She added, 'I can't let him hang out with friends, can't take him anywhere with me, can't go on vacation, long car rides, or even the f***ing park because he will sh*t himself constantly.'

The mum revealed that her son doesn't seem concerned about his behaviour.

'I literally don't know how to stop this. (My son) sees nothing wrong with him and every time I ask why he has no reason or tells me some made up story about why he's doing it,' Candice said.

'I know it's made up because it changes literally every time. He says he's fine with smelling bad and not having friends because of it.

'All of his cousins make fun of him - and so do the kids at school, but he just doesn't care. Even the doctors don't have an answer for what to do,' she said.

The mum also said that she's been considering pulling her son out of school because of the problem.

Candice claimed her paediatrician told her to 'let the child get bullied into stopping' instead of offering any other advice.

She has also had him assessed for an Autistic Spectrum Disorder three times, but the tests came back negative.

'Please anyone please, please help me!' the frustrated mum cried.

The parents have tried several options to help their son, including doctors, therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and laxatives - but nothing has stuck so far

Many shared similar stories about relatives who refused to use the toilet until later in life.

'My little brother had this, and I'm sorry to say it lasted well into his teens. It was very difficult to cope with, my mother also took him to every doctor and specialist you can think of, until he was eventually diagnosed with autism,' a man wrote.

'One of my cousins was like this until about 16 or 17, and then one day it just stopped, we're still not sure why,' another wrote.

A mum shared some helpful advice about the situation.

'My eight-year-old was very similar at that age,' she wrote.

'We wound up dealing with his faecal loading with suppositories and instigated a strict poo routine where he had set times to sit for at least 15 minutes twice daily whether he opened his bowels or not.

'We discovered that the root cause was his ADHD. He literally wasn't sitting on the toilet long enough for his bowels to relax and open. It took distracting him with a tablet for him to start to be willing to sit, and then consistent rewards for success.'

*Names have been changed for privacy
Messages encouraging smokers to quit could be added to the inside of cigarette packs under proposals being considered by the government.

The inserts would set out the health and financial benefits of quitting and direct people to the support they may need, the Department of Health said.

Quitters can expect to see improvements to their breathing within a matter of days, a 50 per cent reduction in the risk of a heart attack within a year and save 2,000 a year on average.

A consultation launched today, which runs until October, is seeking views on the proposals and the design of the inserts.

Every year around 76,000 people in the UK die from smoking, which remains one of the leading preventable causes of illness and mortality according to the NHS.

Analysis of the policys impact in Canada found almost one in three smokers had read the inserts at least once in a month and those who were exposed to them multiple times were significantly more likely to try to quit. Examples of the messages used in Canada

Quitters can expect to see improvements to their breathing within a matter of days, a 50 per cent reduction in the risk of a heart attack within a year and save 2,000 a year on average

Health Secretary Steve Barclay said: By taking action to reduce smoking rates... we will reduce the pressure on the NHS and help people to live healthier lives

It is responsible for nearly 4 per cent of hospital admissions  equivalent to almost 450,000 a year  and tobacco-related harms are thought to cost taxpayers an estimated 21billion every year, including more than 2billion in costs to the NHS. Inserts are already used in other countries including Canada and Israel.

Analysis of the policys impact in Canada found almost one in three smokers had read the inserts at least once in a month and those who were exposed to them multiple times were significantly more likely to try to quit.

The government says that introducing pack inserts could lead to 30,000 more smokers quitting  delivering health benefits worth 1.6billion.

The consultation is part of the governments efforts towards its pledge to get the nation smoke-free by 2030, equating to smoking rates dropping to less than 5 per cent.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay said: By taking action to reduce smoking rates... we will reduce the pressure on the NHS and help people to live healthier lives.

The consultation launch comes as the government today publishes an initial report on its Major Conditions Strategy, which covers the six groups of conditions accounting for 60 per cent of all ill-health and early deaths in England.
The Covid Inquiry was today accused of silencing children, whose lives were 'turned upside down' by the pandemic.

More than 40 charities and experts criticised the 'unacceptable' delay in assessing how the Government's handling of the crisis affected kids. The probe, which began two months ago, has not yet got that far.

In a letter penned to the chair of the inquiry, the coalition demanded that the views of the country's young are not 'ignored'.

Dozens of studies have highlighted how the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns hindered children's development.

Youngsters from all economic backgrounds have suffered setbacks to their emotional and social development, researchers have found.

The letter, addressed to Baroness Heather Hallett, chair of the probe, also demands an explanation for 'unacceptable delays' in examining the pandemic's impact on young people

In the first week of the Inquiry, its chief lawyer Hugo Keith KC, presented the Inquiry with an extraordinarily complicated flow chart detailing the government's chain of command in helping to protect Brits from future pandemics. The diagram, created by the Inquiry to reflect structures in 2019, links together more than 100 organisations involved in preparing the country for any future infectious threats

Signatories of the letter, seen by The Daily Telegraph, include the NSPCC, Save the Children UK and the National Children's Bureau.

It urged the Inquiry, which has already spent 40million, to immediately involve children to understand the 'damage, socially, mentally and academically' that the pandemic caused.

'We are writing to express our increasing and ongoing concern about the absence of a clear and public strategy and approach for listening to children and young people, especially those who experience inequalities or discrimination,' it reportedly said.

The probe has invited the public to submit statements about their experience of the pandemic for its 'listening exercise', Every Story Matters.

However, the website where people are able to submit their evidence does not allow under-18s to contribute.

'Children are nearly a quarter of the population,' the letter said. 'This is not a nationwide listening exercise without them.'

Dan Paskins, director of UK impact at Save the Children, told The Telegraph: 'Children are being silenced by this inquiry.

'They must not be ignored. Despite repeated promises from chair, Baroness Heather Hallett, that she would urgently ensure children's memories are captured and that the issue matters to her, no measures are in place to make this happen.

'Children are not an afterthought or an inconvenience in this inquiry process. Their lives were turned upside down by government decisions and any barriers in the way of them having their say need to be removed immediately.'

Meanwhile, Sir Peter Wanless, chief executive of the NSPCC, said it was 'crucial' the Inquiry gives young people a voice to avoid them being 'defined by the pandemic'.

He added: 'Children's needs often went under the radar during the pandemic but we heard first-hand through Childline and the NSPCC Helpline about its devastating impact on many young people, particularly those subjected to abuse and neglect,' he said.

'Many of the children who suffered the most did so because they were hidden from those who could help them.

'It's crucial the Covid Inquiry finally gives young people a voice so we can fully understand the support and services required to avoid a generation of children being defined by the pandemic.'

Unprecedented stay-at-home orders, including the closure of schools, were among the key policies introduced at the start of the pandemic.

Ministers had little choice but to shelter society once the virus reached the UK, after being warned that hundreds of thousands could die without immediate action.

Vaccines  considered the only safe route out of the pandemic  were still months away from being deployed.

Giving evidence to the Covid Inquiry in June, former chief medical officer, Dame Sally Davies said the full impact of lockdowns had failed to be considered . While she acknowledged she agreed with lockdown in principal, the impact had 'damaged a generation', she claimed

Studies have shown students' academic performance suffered, while the country also entered a recession due to the economic impact of the crisis.

A major study published earlier this month found nearly half of parents said their children's social and emotional skills got worse during the pandemic.

Research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) and the University College London Institute of Education, found children appeared more worried and scared, lost confidence more easily, and were more prone to tantrums after lockdowns.

A damning report from parent campaigners last month also revealed ministers were warned in November 2020 that more children would die from suicide than from contracting Covid if they shut schools.

The joint briefing paper by the Department for Education and the Independent Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Behaviours also cited a rise in self-harm among young people during lockdown.

Recent months have already seen huge criticism of the UK government's handling of the pandemic, including the country's lack of a thorough plan for dealing with such an event.

The first module of the Inquiry concluded in July after six weeks of witness evidence, but the probe as a whole is not expected to end until 2026.

Giving evidence to the Covid Inquiry in June, former chief medical officer, Dame Sally Davies said the full impact of lockdowns had failed to be considered.

While she acknowledged she agreed with lockdown in principal, the impact had 'damaged a generation', she claimed.

Addressing the Inquiry, she said: 'It's clear that no one thought about lockdown. I still think we should have locked down, although a week earlier.

'But during that we should have thought do we need to further? The damage I now see to children and students from Covid and the educational impact tells me that education has a terrific amount of work to do...

'I know in pre-schools they haven't learned how to socialise and play properly, they haven't learned how to read at school. We must have plans for them.'

The Inquiry has taken a two-month break before it will hear evidence in the autumn on its second module, on political and government decision-making.

According to the Covid inquiry's terms of reference, it will 'listen to and consider carefully' the experiences of bereaved families and others affected by the pandemic.

A spokesman for the inquiry said: 'The inquiry is being delivered through modules. The first modules will build a picture of the pandemic  looking at how prepared the UK was for a pandemic and why certain decisions were made.

'The inquiry is structured in this way to ensure each issue is investigated with sufficient depth whilst allowing the inquiry to make progress.

'Inquiry chairman Baroness Hallett is committed to investigating the impacts on children and young people  including health, well-being and social care  and will do so as soon as possible.

'It is one of a number of topics which the inquiry must investigate that are set out in our terms of reference.'

A separate Scottish Covid Inquiry is looking at the pandemic response in devolved areas in Scotland.

Mr Drakeford has said he and the Welsh government are fully committed to the inquiry, though they maintain that there is no need for Wales to hold its own inquiry.
Sixty per cent of patients at England's busiest hospital trusts are not being treated within the NHS's time target, official figures show.

Sick Brits have the legal right to undergo routine procedures, such as hip and knee replacements, within 18 weeks of being referred.

But not a single NHS trust met the acceptable threshold of ensuring 92 per cent of patients are seen within the time-frame, a cornerstone of the health service's own rulebook.

Nationally, hospitals in England haven't met the target in seven years.

In some parts of the country, only four in 10 patients on the list have been so for 18 weeks or fewer.

MailOnline analysis of trust data found delays were worst at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, where just 42.4 per cent waited four-and-a-half months or less before starting treatment. Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (43.2 per cent) and University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (46.1 per cent) also fell way behind the target

The data, crunched into a handy search tool for MailOnline readers, was labelled a sign that the ailing health service has 'spiralled out of control'.

Covid's disruption saw waiting lists hit an all-time high during the pandemic. Never-ending strikes have only exacerbated the crisis, with tens of thousands of ops being cancelled and 7.6million now stuck in the system.

It comes as soaring numbers of patients from Wales are seeking NHS care in England to escape longer waits, separate NHS figures show.

Monthly stats from NHS England show that just 59.2 per cent of patients (4.5million) referred for treatment had been waiting fewer than 18 weeks in June.

It means 3.1million had to wait longer, including more than 380,000 who have been in the queue for at least one year.

READ MORE: Almost a THIRD of GPs are 'forced' to stop taking bookings for routine appointments because of overwhelming demand, poll finds Almost a third of GPs had to stop taking bookings for routine appointments in the past year because of overwhelming demand Advertisement

MailOnline analysis of trust data found delays were worst at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, where just 42.4 per cent of the list had been referred within the last 18 weeks.

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (43.2 per cent) and University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (46.1 per cent) also fell behind the target.

Other trusts that dipped below the 50 per cent mark included:

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (46.70 per cent)

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (47.10 per cent)

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust (48.70 per cent)

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (49.30 per cent)

Worcestershire Royal Hospital (49.60 per cent)

York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (49.70 per cent)

East & North Hertfordshire NHS Trust ( 49.80 per cent)

At the other end of the scale came Royal Berkshire Hospital (83.9 per cent) and Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (80.3 per cent).

Wes Streeting, Shadow Health Secretary, said: 'The Conservatives have run the NHS into the ground over 13 years, and patients paying the price with longer and longer waits for treatment. Millions have been waiting for months, many in pain and agony, before they get the care they need.

'Despite Rishi Sunak's pledge to cut waiting lists, an extra 600,000 patients are waiting for treatment today, compared to when he entered Downing Street.

'With Labour, the NHS will be there for patients when they need it, once again. We will train the staff the NHS needs to treat patients on time again, and reform the service to make it fit for the future.'

Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care Spokesperson Daisy Cooper told MailOnline: 'This is yet more evidence that the Government is running the NHS into the ground while patients pay the price for Conservative incompetence.

'Millions of people are being left in limbo on NHS waiting lists.

'Ministers have let the NHS spiral out of control with its failure to tackle staff shortages and its failure to repair crumbling hospitals.

'The Government needs to get a grip and fix our NHS and social care services now before more and more people needlessly suffer.'

England's backlog, for procedures like hip and knee replacements, now stands at 7.6million, official figures revealed today. It means roughly one in seven people across the country are currently stuck in the system awaiting care. More than 380,000 patients have gone a year without being treated, often in agony

More than 700,000 NHS appointments have been cancelled since strikes began seven months ago. In the latest five-day walkout by junior doctors, more than 100,000 were called off

Junior doctors took to picket lines at 7am on Friday as part of a four-day walkout, further adding to delays in treating sick Brits. Pictured: Striking medics outside University College Hospital in London on August 14

Junior doctors took to picket lines at 7am on Friday as part of a four-day walkout, further adding to delays in treating sick Brits. Pictured: Striking medics outside University College Hospital in London on August 14

MailOnline's analysis ruled out specialist NHS trusts, such as ones for cancer, children, women, and orthopaedics.

The data looks at routine operations and does not include cancer patients  who need to be seen quicker.

The swathe of latest figures, released by NHS England last week, also show that the total number of people waiting for treatment now stands at 7.57million.

It is the highest figure recorded since records began in 2007. For comparison, the toll stood at around 4.4million when Covid struck.

The average wait for patients is 14 weeks, compared to nine weeks pre-pandemic.

Covid-induced delays, a huge staffing crisis, devastating strikes and high demand for NHS care have fuelled the problem.

The NHS says staff are continuing to chip away at the list, with the number of people forced to wait more than a year falling by 2,000 in June.

In a bid to speed up progress, the health service has launched a tool that allows staff to flag available treatment slots in hospital across the country, including in the independent sector.

Since widespread NHS industrial action launched in December, nearly 800,000 hospital appointments have been rescheduled.

Junior doctors took to picket lines at 7am on Friday as part of a four-day walkout, further adding to delays in treating sick Brits.

A spokesperson for Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust said: 'Alongside the rest of the NHS, MFT has been working hard to reduce both the average and the longest waiting times for our patients. This work was ongoing throughout 22/23 and will continue in 23/24 as a priority.'

A spokesperson for Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust: 'Colleagues and teams across the whole hospital are working tirelessly to bring all of our appointments forward where possible, with patients being seen and treated in order of clinical priority.

'The Trust is constantly reviewing our waiting lists and will contact patients as soon as possible if their appointment does change.'
Minor aesthetic procedures for transgender individuals should be publicly funded, according to health officials in Canada.

An editorial by doctors from the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) suggests treatments like hair removal and facial injectables should be paid for by the country's Medicare, a publicly funded healthcare system.

'Minimally invasive procedures such as facial injectables and hair removal warrant consideration for public health care funding across Canadian jurisdictions,' wrote Dr Katie Ross and Dr Sarah Fraser, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

'Public funding for such procedures, which are currently funded in only two jurisdictions in Canada, warrants serious consideration in all provinces and territories,' the authors concluded.

Canada's Medicare is funded and administered primarily by each of the country's provinces and the programs receive assistance from the federal government.

Transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, 26, revealed the results of her facial feminization surgery after undergoing the procedure in December 2022 (pictured)

'I'm so happy, and it's still me. It's just a little bit softer of a version,' Mulvaney said of her transformation. She is pictured here a few weeks before the procedure

The doctors from the article, published in the journal CMA, noted the added benefit of minimally invasive procedures being 'relatively low risk and reversible' compared to hormonal and surgical routes.

They can also be performed by a wide range of physicians.

Unlike Canada, the US does not provide universal healthcare to all of its citizens. Instead, most people are insured by private insurance companies or a combination of private and federal or state programs.

Policies concerning healthcare coverage of gender-affirming care or more minor feminizing procedures, sometimes called facial feminization surgery (FFS), vary from policy to policy. However, if the US were to follow the guidelines suggested in the CMA article, people enrolled in America's government health insurance programs would have their FFS procedures covered and would not have to pay for it themselves.

Government-funded health insurance includes Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, Veterans Health Administration and State Children's Health Insurance Program.

Waiting lists for more invasive procedures such as chest surgeries and genital reconstruction are, on average, around four years in the US, but minimally invasive procedures could 'help compensate for delays,' the CMA article authors argue.

Currently in the US, a self-pay patient can expect to pay between $8,500 and $49,500 for FFS, depending on how much treatment is done.

For trans women, voice feminization and facial feminization surgery include operations such as forehead and brow bone reshaping, jaw and chin contouring, nose reshaping (rhinoplasty), hairline advancement, and tracheal shave  a procedure to reduce the size of the Adam's apple.

Hair removal, for example removing facial hair on a biological male wishing to transition to a woman, or hair transplantation through electrolysis or hairplasty, is another option to bring an individual closer to their desired gender.

Whether or not these procedures are medically necessary for transgender individuals remains open to debate.

Some health insurers in the US may cover minor procedures to facilitate the gender transition process as part of treatment for gender dysphoria.

The CMA doctors cited a 2021 study of transgender people who said they had higher levels of self-esteem, a more positive body image, felt more aligned with their gender and faced less discrimination after getting nonsurgical facial injectables, compared to transgender individuals who did not undergo the procedures.

A larger study in the same year also found transgender women who received hair removal to make them appear more like a woman had better mental health status than those who did not have any hair removed.

The editorial authors argue that while members of the public might say aesthetic procedures should be paid for privately, surgery to change the shape, position or proportion of the ear has been publicly funded for years for children.

Those who have had the procedure, known as an otoplasty, have reported improvements in self-esteem and a decrease in anxiety to do with how they look.

Currently, only Manitoba and Yukon in Canada offer coverage for hair removal. Yukon also covers facial feminization surgeries.
The Oscar-winning composer of scores to The Lion King and Dune has teamed up with the producers of Love Actually to buy the historic Maida Vale music studios for 10.5million.

Hans Zimmer has joined forces with Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner of Working Title to purchase the studio  which has hosted stars from the Beatles and David Bowie to Beyonce and Adele  from the BBC.

The two-time Oscar winning composer  who also wrote the music to films such as Top Gun: Maverick, Gladiator and Pirates Of The Caribbean  plans to turn the site into a school for aspiring musicians.

Paying tribute to the venues history, Zimmer, 65, said he wanted to close the circle after first working at Maida Vale 45 years ago.

Maida Vale has hosted stars from the Beatles and David Bowie to Beyonce (pictured) and Adele  from the BBC

I was just a kid, in awe, honoured to be booked to play on one of my first sessions, he said.

I still remember the strong pull, the desire to touch the walls, as if that would somehow allow me to connect to the artists whose extraordinary music had resonated against these walls on a daily basis.

Zimmer, who is working alongside his business partner Steven Kofsky as well as film producers Bevan and Fellner to refurbish the site, said he wanted to make Maida Vale a place that inspires, teaches, technologically serves the arts and humanity, and gives the next generation the same opportunities I was given: to create and to never give up.

The Grade II listed building was home to the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the BBCs Radiophonic Workshop, best known for creating the theme tune of Doctor Who.

A close neighbour to legendary Abbey Road, Maida Vale has hosted performances by rock and pop royalty as well as John Peels famous sessions and Radio 1s Live Lounge recordings.

Other standout moments in the studios history include hosting the teatime radio show by The Beatles in 1963 and Bing Crosbys last ever recording session in 1977.

The complex was originally built in 1909 as a roller skating venue before it was bought by the public service broadcaster in 1933 and turned into studios.

Historic recordings: The BBC's historic Maida Vale music studios - originally a roller skating rink, has been sold for 10.5m

During the Second World War it was a stand-by centre of the BBC radio news service, which made it a target in the blitz.

The site was completely renovated after taking a direct hit during a raid.

In 2007, the BBC said that the facility was wholly unsuitable for the 21st Century with problems including asbestos.

Stardust: Maida Vale has hosted stars including David Bowie (pictured)

Five years ago, the broadcaster said it would close the site by 2025. It was eventually put on the market last year.

Before selling to Zimmer, the BBC reportedly snubbed bids from Sir Len Blavatnik, a major investor in Warner Music Group and one of the richest people in the UK.

The building will be leased back to the BBC until the end of 2025 before Zimmer and his partners kick off refurbishment plans, which will keep the historic outside of the building but modernise the inside.

Bevan and Fellner, who made British classics such as Love Actually, Notting Hill and Bridget Joness Diary through Working Title, said: Collectively we are determined to continue the BBCs legacy at Maida Vale by attracting global talent to the UK.

Through our redevelopment plans we will future proof the historic site, continuing its presence in the local community with a new education facility, whilst creating a world class studio space for the next generation of composers, producers, editors and engineers.

Vision: Film score composer Hans Zimmer said he wanted to make Maida Vale a place that inspires, teaches, technologically serves the arts and humanity

Lorna Clarke, the director of music at the BBC, said: Maida Vale has played such an important part in the BBCs history, and its significance in popular culture is huge.

We are so pleased to secure a sale which looks to continue the bright, vibrant future of music making in this iconic building  not only providing new studio spaces but jobs and an education facility.

The BBC plans to open a studios in East Bank in Stratford in late 2025.
YouGov has insisted it is not abandoning London after its boss suggested it could be eyeing a US listing.

Co-founder and chairman Stephan Shakespeare sparked speculation it was about to jump ship by saying the US felt like a natural base for the company.

He suggested the polling firm, which he set up in 2000 with ex-Conservative Party chairman Nadhim Zahawi, was big enough to float across the Atlantic after it acquired German market research group GfK for 271million earlier this year.

American dreams: YouGov chairman Stephan Shakespeare (pictured) sparked speculation the firm was about to jump ship by saying the US felt like a natural base for the company

He told the Financial Times: The US spends the most on marketing data. They are the most savvy. It is a natural base.

Shakespeare also said that US markets were better at supporting companies than the UK was. But the company insisted a move is not on the cards.

A spokesman for YouGov said: The board routinely considers all its listing options, including a premium listing on the LSE. No decision has been made and a US listing is not being considered in the near term.

YouGovs departure from the London market would be another blow to the City.
Zhi Alan Cheng drugged, raped and sexually abused patients while he was a doctor at a New York City hospital, according to prosecutors who also allege that he filmed the assaults.

The 33-year-old was a gastroenterologist at New York Presbyterian Queens and faces 61 counts relating to the crimes against six women, including patients and women dating.

Cheng was arrested in December 2022 after a former girlfriend accused him of rape. She reportedly found video of him assaulting her - and other women - and had no memory of the incident.

She also claims that prior to the alleged rape, Cheng knocked her unconscious with a KN95 mask filled with liquid-soaked cotton balls.

Cheng pleaded not guilty at court in Queens, New York on August 7. Here's what we know about him and the case so far:

Zhi Alan Cheng is charged with 61 counts relating to the crimes against six women. He was working as a gastroenterologist when the first accusations were made

Who is Zhi Alan Cheng?

Zhi Alan Cheng, 33, went to Albany Medical College in the 2010s and later completed his residency at California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco.

He obtained his New York medical license in June 2020 and worked as a gastroenterologist at New York Presbyterian Queens hospital.

The alleged crimes are believed to date back to 2020.

He is thought to have used liquid anesthesia on his victims before attacking them, so they had no recollection of what happened.

After accusations emerged in December 2022, Cheng was fired by the hospital and suspended from practicing medicine on April 7. He lives in Astoria, Queens.

What are the charges Zhi Alan Cheng faces?

Cheng has been indicted on 61 counts, 50 from the most recent charges and 11 from an earlier arraignment.

The 50-count indictment includes ten counts of predatory sexual assault, three of rape in the first degree, seven of sexual abuse in the first degree, four of assault in the second degree, and three of criminal sexual act in the first degree.

He is also charged with 11 counts of unlawful surveillance in the second degree, eight of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree and four of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.

The earlier 11-count indictment includes two counts of rape in the first degree, criminal sexual act in the first degree, two counts of assault in the second degree, two counts of sexual abuse in the first degree and four counts of unlawful surveillance in the second degree.

How many victims are there?

The charges relate to six victims, including patients and women Cheng met through dating apps. The victims are between the ages of 19 and 47.

Videos found during a raid of Cheng's apartment show the possibility of at least five more victims, according to prosecutors, and authorities fear the number could rise as investigations continue.

Melinda Katz, the Queens district attorney, asked anyone with potential leads to come forward, saying the evidence indicated 'a sexual predator of the absolute worst kind, a serial rapist.'

Those who think they may have been a victim or have relevant information are asked to contact the Special Victims Bureau by phone (718 286-6505) or email (SpecialVictims@queensda.org).

Attorney Nicholas Liakas is representing a 19-year-old victim. He discussed the case during an interview on August 7 following Cheng's arraignment in Queens, New York

Where did the incidents take place?

Cheng's crimes are alleged to have taken place in New York (Queens, Manhattan and Westchester County), Las Vegas, San Francisco and Thailand.

The charges he is facing relate only to the allegations in New York.

His ex-girlfriend told officers that Cheng raped her at his apartment in Astoria, Queens, where many of the crimes are now believed to have taken place.

Her accusations were enough for the police to raid Cheng's apartment.

What did police discover in Zhi Alan Cheng's apartment?

Police raided Cheng's Astoria apartment in December 2022 after the accusations and discovered drugs such as fentanyl, ketamine and LSD.

Anesthetics generally used for surgeries were also found there.

A small brown bottle appears in one of the videos of the attacks and officers found a similar item containing a powerful anesthetic in Cheng's apartment.

Cops also found dozens of other recordings on devices at his home.

Cheng attended Albany Medical College in the 2010s before completing his residency at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. He obtained his New York medical license in June 2020

How is Cheng responding to the charges?

Cheng has denied any wrongdoing, and his attorney Jeffrey Einhorn stated that it was 'too early' to talk about the case.

Attorney Nicholas Liakas is representing the 19-year-old victim and has also filed a civil suit against the hospital, saying its initial investigation into her complaint 'hit a dead end.'

In a brief statement New York Presbyterian said: 'We have been fully cooperating with the Queens District Attorney's office, the NYPD, and the NYS Department of Health'.

Cheng has been held without bond at Rikers Island since his December 2022 arrest. He is on suicide watch at the request of the judge who dealt with his latest arraignment.
A cop who has admitted sharing his twisted sexual fantasies involving children and animals in online chats with strangers is still a policeman, despite facing time in jail.

James Anthony Gwynne pleaded guilty in March to sending perverted messages referencing incest and bestiality to adult and underage users of the encrypted social media app Whisper.

A New South Wales Police Force spokeswoman confirmed Gwynne, who was suspended without pay a week after his arrest in April last year, had still not been dismissed.

Police did not explain why Gwynne had not been sacked but Daily Mail Australia understands his employment status will be assessed once he is sentenced.

Gwynne contacted women he had never met to share his sick fantasies, which included impregnating his own daughters.

The 30-year-old, who does not have children, bragged about being a policeman and told one female Whisper user 'my secret is that my fantasies are illegal'.

An Australian cop who has admitted sharing his twisted sexual fantasies involving children and animals in online chats with strangers is still a policeman. James Anthony Gwynne is pictured outside Campbelltown District Court on August 1

Gwynne, who has been working as a traffic controller while he is suspended, told a judge earlier this month he had gained insight into his offending by talking to a psychologist.

'It opened me up to myself,' he said. 'My behaviour and my conduct has obviously been quite questionable.'

Gwynne had been warned about breaching the NSW Police Force social media policy in 2019 and 2021 after posting a Tinder profile of himself in full uniform.

He had once hoped to join the highway patrol element of the bikie-busting Raptor Squad but that goal was postponed after he was involved in a car accident at work.

'I took quite an interest in traffic safety and I thought I could assist the community in that aspect,' Gwynne told his sentencing hearing.

Gwynne used his position as a cop to gain the trust of the girls and women he spoke to online, telling one 17-year-old 'Daddy is a police officer'.

In April last year James Gwynne contacted a Whisper user and asked if she would want 'a cute Australian cop' to get the woman and her 12-year-old daughter pregnant

He has admitted trying to groom one 15-year-old American girl by forwarding her graphic content including a picture of his genitals taken next to his police shirt.

Most of the messages, which were sent between February and April last year when he was based at Waverley police station in Sydney's east, are too explicit to publish.

He asked one woman, 'Do you ever wish your dog could get you pregnant and have your own puppies?' then said, 'You will get no judgement from me' followed by a smiley face emoji.

Gwynne told another woman, 'I also have a fantasy about one day having daughters and taking their virginities and impregnating them. Sorry if that's way too f**ked up for you.'

When a third woman asked what it was Gwynne liked about the idea of his future wife engaging in bestiality he replied, 'Oh I just like the thought that she's so submissive she'll even bow to my wishes'.

When one teenager said she did not want to show Gwynne her face because 'I'm still a minor after all', he asked, 'What if I told you that I do a job that makes it even worse for daddy?'

Gwynne, who got married in October, wiped away tears as he gave evidence at his sentencing hearing at Campbelltown District Court before Judge Tanya Smith.

The court heard Gwynne's deviant sexual fantasies led to a diagnosis of zoophilia - a sexual interest in animals - but he denied having a sexual interest in children.

Gwynne, who is trying to stay out of prison, was asked what he feared about going into custody. 'That I might become a target to the other inmates,' he said.

'Given the nature of my offending and the fact I was a police officer may make me more of a target than the general population.'

Gwynne had not thought about the consequences of his actions at the time he engaged in the online discussions but now understood the extent of his wrongdoing.

'In the moment I was just looking for cheap sexual gratification,' he said. 'I felt in those mornings I was engaging in these chats I was just looking for a cheap way to get my rocks off.

'I was looking for a cheap w**k to put it basically.'

In April last year officers from the US Human Trafficking Investigators Task Force in Minnesota conducted a covert operation using the assumed online identity (AOI) of a 15-year-old girl

Gwynne acknowledged he had known it was wrong to engage in such conversations with a person under 16 but did not understand it was an offence to discuss his deviant sexual fantasies.

'I knew that it was morally wrong,' he said. 'I didn't know it was unlawful.'

Gwynne said revealing himself as a policeman online had mostly been 'attention seeking' but he had also used his job to make the women and girls feel safe.

Despite asking one 15-year-old to send him pictures of her crotch, Gwynne said he had never committed offences against children 'in real life'.

He now recognised the impact sharing his fantasies with children could have had, particularly as he used his status as a police officer to gain their trust.

'It opens them up to believe that police are not trustworthy people,' Gwynne told the court.

Judge Smith will sentence Gwynne in October.
Last week brought yet another campaign reset for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as a DailyMail.com poll found his support in the crucial early state of Iowa had crashed by nine percent.

But stop to ask the actual men and women who will take part in the first contest to choose the Republican nominee next year and they will tell you to ignore the headlines and that there is a long, long way to go.

'I think that Trump is in the lead now, but Trump's gonna say something dumb and make a mistake, and people are gonna turn to Ron,' said John, 38, a pastor from Des Moines, who attended the Iowa State Fair at the weekend.

Thousands of people used the fair as a chance to cast their eye over the 2024 candidates at the fair.

And the DailyMail.com poll reveals that Republicans in the state are keeping an open mind on whether DeSantis' presidential run is a success of failure even after another week of negative headlines.

J.L. Partners surveyed 600 likely Republican caucus-goers in Iowa from August 1 to 7. The results carry a margin of error of +/- four percent

Ron DeSantis has spent three days in Iowa, criss crossing the state on a bus tour before appearing at the state fair on Saturday, following yet another campaign reset

Although only 18 percent said they thought his campaign was going 'quite well' or 'very well' and 34 percent thought it was going badly, some 38 percent said it was going 'neither well nor badly.'

Among people saying they are backing the Florida for the nomination, some 41 percent say his campaign is going well, while nine percent think it is doing poorly.

It suggests that despite the neverending negative headlines, DeSantis still has a path to the nomination among the people who will actually make the decision, according to James Johnson, co-founder of J.L. Partners

'They might not be saying it's going well, but they also are not overwhelmingly saying it's going badly. They're more likely to say neither or don't know,' he said.

'So there is a there is an open mindedness that remains among the Republican electorate around DeSantis.

'They are waiting for the debate. If he performs very badly we may see voters turn away from him.

'But if he does well, or he does, okay, they're still willing to give him a chance.'

Campaign manager Generra Peck (left) was replaced last week in the latest sign of turmoil, and Florida's first lady Casey DeSantis has frequently been moved center stage whenever coverage of her husband has turned hostile

DeSantis has seen his numbers slide in Iowa, and protesters disrupted several of his appearances but most voters in the state say they are openminded about his campaign

The fair is a chance for 2024 hopefuls to flip pork chops, eat bad food and meet the voters who will decide who they want to be nominee on January 15 next year

Former President Donald Trump appeared on Saturday, drawing a huge crowd. He remains the easy frontrunner among likely caucus-goers in Iowa

Attention has been focused on Iowa for the past few days. The state fair is a big opportunity to shake hands with voters and drive home their policy promises.

Iowa holds its Republican caucus on January 15, making it the first state to choose a nominee.

It could be a make-or-break moment for a candidate like DeSantis, who shook up his leadership team yet again last week.

Out went campaign manager Generra Peck, who last year masterminded his reelection as Florida governor. In came James Uthmeier, his chief of staff from his state office.

It followed a round of staff cuts as the campaign hit a financial squeeze.

DeSantis is also now relying more heavily on an outside group. He brought David Polyansky into the campaign from the super PAC Never Back Down.

And on Thursday and Friday, he toured Iowa on a Never Back Down Bus in an effort to visit each of the state's counties. The group is well-funded and can count on the expertise of Jeff Roe, the campaigns guru credited with helping Glenn Youngkin to a surprise win in the election to be Virginia's governor in 2021.

J.L. Partners surveyed 600 likely Republican caucus-goers in Iowa from August 1 to August 7. The results carry a margin of error of +/- four percent. It shows that Trump remains favorite

Former Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen flipped pork burgers at fair

DeSantis donor Dan Eberhart, who has not shied from criticizing the campaign, said voters didn't care about the minutiae of personnel stories, particularly in Iowa where they took their first-in-the-nation responsibility seriously.

'They they want to meet the other candidates, they want to think about it,' he said.

'They're really more persuadable than the than the average national voter.

'My second point is that, you know, the media and the beltway and people on the inside care about all this stuff, but I don't know that the voter cares whether Ron DeSantis' campaign is big, small, who's been laid off, who's in charge.'

Trump arrived at the state fair on Saturday, flying into Iowa on his 757. Thousands cheered and craned their necks as it circled over the fairground.

Not for the first time, the former president was able to steal the thunder of his rivals with a grand gesture before even setting foot at the fair.

But Iowa voters are not always won over by grand gestures.

'He's just pulling the attention away that needs to be on the other people running,' said Luanne Brendlinger, 70, from Altoona, talking about his divisive politics and headline-grabbing antics.

She said she had loved Trump while he was in office but planned to caucus for DeSantis because she had been living in an RV in Florida during the pandemic and the campgrounds stayed open. (Despite the fact that she sports

And she added that he seemed to understand the way to win over Iowa voters

'I think what he's doing visiting all the counties  I think if he continues that I think it's going to work.'

Despite headlines about resets and missteps Iowa voters are divided on whether or not the DeSantis campaign is failing: Only a third say it is going badly in new poll, offering Florida governor a chance to fight back
A woman who desperately wants to become a police officer to help tackle a crime wave plaguing her community, was turned down because she's a 'loud and proud' sex worker.

Lisa Lewis, an OnlyFans model and escort, moved from New Zealand to Darwin after seeing a TV interview last May with acting Northern Territory police commissioner Michael Murphy.

Mr Murphy appealed for recruits to help deal with the Alice Springs crime explosion, saying 'Anyone who wants to come and join us, please come and put an application in online.'

Ms Lewis did so, but she has now accused the NT Police of discrimination after her application was knocked back because of her 'declared history', The Australian reported.

Her complaint to the NT Anti-Discrimination Commission could become a test case of laws banning discrimination against someone over sex work.

Lisa Lewis (pictured right), who desperately wanted to become a police officer to help tackle the Northern Territory's crime wave, has been turned down because she's a sex worker. She is pictured after having run onto the pitch at an All Blacks game in 2006

Poll Should sex workers be allowed to become police officers? Yes No Depends Should sex workers be allowed to become police officers? Yes 275 votes

No 382 votes

Depends 130 votes Now share your opinion





Ms Lewis' application had advanced to the point where police recruiters asked for her fingerprints, identification documents, driving record, medical history, details of 'declarable associates' and her criminal history.

She declared her two brushes with the law - running onto the pitch in a bikini at an All Blacks game in 2006 and a common assault charge for pushing a man who knocked her teeth out in 2012.

The NT Police guidelines say 'simple offences' such as common assault will not exclude someone from being recruited if they happened more than 10 years ago.

But Ms Lewis said she got a call from a police recruitment officer who said due to her 'unique profession' her application would be sent to the police integrity panel.

The officer asked if Ms Lewis was currently employed as a sex worker - which is not illegal in either New Zealand or the Northern Territory - and she said she was.

In a letter to the integrity panel, she said she still worked in the sex industry 'because I need money to live and survive' and that she would quit if she joined the police.

Brendan Muldoon of the Professional Standards Command wrote to Ms Lewis on July 27, rejecting her application and banning her from reapplying for five years.

Lisa Lewis (pictured), an OnlyFans model and escort, moved from New Zealand to Darwin after seeing a TV interview last May with acting NT police commissioner Michael Murphy

Ms Lewis is pictured running onto the pitch during a rugby Test between the All Blacks and Ireland in 2006

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'As a result of your declared history, the panel has determined that your application is unsuccessful,' Commander Muldoon wrote.

'Furthermore, you have been excluded from applying for a position with the Northern Territory Police Force until 27/07/2028, this being five years from the date of the determination.'

Ms Lewis asked for her application to be reconsidered, but Assistant Commissioner Bruce Porter said the process followed NT Police policies.

'All offers of employment are at the discretion of the Commission and are based on the suitability of a candidate,' he wrote.

Ms Lewis said the police seemed to have a problem with how she makes her living.

'I've always been a loud and proud sex worker,' she told The Australian journalist Sarah Elks.

'It's a legal job, I pay more tax than most New Zealanders. I've only just moved here and I don't have anything to be embarrassed about.'

She said the NT police have no right 'to discriminate under moral principles' and that sex worker are law-abiding, just like any other workers.

'I just want to ensure the NT police are held accountable for their actions  if they have a history of rejecting sex workers, maybe they should think twice about it.'

Ms Lewis has since applied for a job with the Victorian police.

She sent a message to Daily Mail Australia (DMA) saying that when she was a child she wanted to be a 'forensic scientist to examine crime scene evidence to assist in the prosecution of crime or absolve an innocent person from suspicion'.

The Northern Territory Police told DMA it 'will not be providing any information regarding the recruit application process for Ms Lewis, also noting a complaint has been referred to the Northern Territory Anti-Discrimination Commission'.
The Government has warned British citizens going to Sweden of possible terrorist attacks following Koran burnings by anti-Islam activists that have outraged Muslims.

In updated travel advice, Britain's foreign ministry said Swedish authorities had already disrupted some planned attacks and made arrests.

'You should be vigilant at this time,' it said, adding that 'terrorists are very likely to try and carry out attacks in Sweden' with places visited by foreigners potential targets.

The U.S. government has also warned of possible terrorist attacks in Sweden in its travel advice.

In a statement acknowledging Britain's changed travel advice, Sweden's National Security Advisor Henrik Landerholm reiterated the increased threats to Sweden since the burnings.

Landerholm said the storming of Sweden's embassy in Iraq on July 19, an attempted attack on its embassy in Lebanon on Aug. 9, and also the Aug. 1 shooting of an employee at a Swedish consulate in Turkey contributed to the risk assessment.

It comes just weeks after Sweden's domestic intelligence agency sounded the alarm over the increased terrorist threat amid a wave of protests against the burnings.

Yemenis participate in a protest denouncing the burning of Islam's holy book, the Koan, in Sweden and Denmark, on July 24, 2023 in Sana'a, Yemen

Demonstrators burn the Swedish flag during a protest against the insult to the Koran in Stockholm, in Tehran, Iran July 21, 2023

Kashmiri Shiite Muslims protest denouncing the burning of the Koran in Sweden

Koran burnings are permitted in Sweden under free speech rules, but Muslims see burning of their holy book as blasphemy.

The Swedish intelligence agency, known by its acronym SAPO, last month said the burning and desecration of religious books in Sweden have negatively affected the country's reputation.

The image of Sweden has changed 'from a tolerant country to a country hostile to Islam and Muslims, where attacks on Muslims are sanctioned by the state and where Muslim children can be kidnapped by social services,' SAPO said in a statement.

'It's a serious situation that we're in,' Susanna Trehorning, SAPO's deputy head of counter-terrorism, told Swedish public broadcaster SVT.

'It's a heightened threat and an attack can occur within the framework of a heightened threat.'

Like many Western countries, Sweden does not have any blasphemy laws.

The right to hold public demonstrations is strong in Sweden and protected by the constitution. Blasphemy laws were abandoned in the 1970s.

Police generally give permission for public gatherings based on whether they believe an event can be held without major disruptions or risks to public safety.

Civil Defence Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin said in July that the Koran desecrations have made Sweden a target of malicious influencing campaigns 'by states and state-like actors with the aim of damaging Swedish interests and ultimately Swedish citizens'.

He debunked claims that the Swedish government grants permission for people to burn Islam's sacred text or other religious books, something that 'is factually incorrect'.

A participant lifts a copy of the Koran, in response to the burning of a copy of Islam's holy book in Sweden, as Iraqi Shiites in costumes re-enact events of Ashura, a ten-day period during the Muslim month of Muharram to remember and mourn the seventh century killing of Prophet Mohammed's grandson Imam Hussein, in al-Kifah district in central Baghdad, on July 25, 2023

Yemenis participate in a protest denouncing the burning of Islam's holy book, the Koran, in Sweden and Denmark, on July 24, 2023 in Sana'a, Yemen

Demonstrators march in a rally denouncing the burning of the Koran, Islam's holy book, in Sweden in Yemen's Huthi-held capital Sanaa on July 24, 2023

'No state permits are issued for burning,' he told reporters at a news conference.

'The state guarantees the right to freedom of expression but does not sanction political messages. Sweden has no tradition of burning holy scriptures.

'On the contrary. Sweden is a secular country where religious freedom is a cornerstone and where there is respect for different beliefs.'

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell last month condemned the religious book desecrations in Sweden, saying the acts 'by individual provocateurs only benefit those who want to divide us and our societies'.

'Respect for diversity is a core value of the European Union. This includes respect for other religious communities,' the EU's top diplomat said.

'The desecration of the Koran, or of any other book considered holy, is offensive, disrespectful and a clear provocation.

Expressions of racism, xenophobia and related intolerance have no place in the European Union.'
The Aussie regions with the most drivers making the switch to electric vehicles have been revealed with some surprising results.

A growing number of motorists are embracing zero emission cars as the popularity of battery electric and hybrid vehicles accelerates, thanks in part to generous state government subsidies and rebates.

South-east Queensland, the ACT and parts of Sydney are leading the way in terms of EV ownership, new Australian Automobile Association data showed.

The peak motoring body revealed the top local government areas of EV uptake with Brisbane, a particularly large council area, ranked number one with more than 6,700 cars bought in the last year.

Canberra, the nation's capital, was second, followed by the Gold Coast, Sydney's northern beaches and Boroondara, in Melbourne's east, rounding out the top five.

Sydney's CBD was sixth, followed by Ku-ring-gai in the city's upper north shore, Queensland's Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay with Sydney's Hills Shire ranked tenth.

While more Aussies are making the switch to battery electric vehicles, there's still a long way go to hit emissions targets (stock image)

Sydney's inner West, Parramatta, Blacktown and Ryde made the top 20 while over in the west, Stirling in Perth's north leads the way and is ranked 16th nationally.

The number of EVs sold in the light vehicles market doubled between January 31, 2022 and the start of 2023.

EV uptake top 10 Below is a list of the top 10 local government areas in Australia that have embraced electric cars and how many have been bought within the last year: 1. Brisbane, QLD (6,749) 2. ACT (3,017) 3. Gold Coast, QLD (2,933) 4. Northern Beaches, NSW (1,387) 5. Boroondara VIC (1,243) 6. Sydney NSW (1,213) 7. Ku-ring-gai NSW (1,136) 8. Sunshine Coast QLD (1,114) 9. Moreton Bay QLD (1,083) 10. The Hills Shire NSW (1,069) Advertisement

While internal combustion engine vehicles remain the dominant fuel type, its national market share dropped to 83.15 per cent in the recent June quarter, down from 86.4 per cent the previous three months.

The ACT is home to Australia's highest penetration of EV vehicles with one per cent of registered light vehicles being battery EVs and a further three per cent hybrids.

In comparison, EV penetration was 0.41 per cent in NSW, 0.39 per cent in Victoria, and 0.37 per cent in Queensland as of January 31, 2023.

One in five light vehicles sold in the ACT in the three months to June 30 were electric, the AAA data showed.

EV sales grew by a whopping 117 per cent in Victoria in the June quarter while NSW and Queensland recorded a 21 per cent and 23 per cent rise respectively.

Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen welcomed the growing EV uptake but said Australia still had a long way to go in order of hitting key emissions-reduction targets.

'Of course, an increase in fleet EV sales now flows through to the second-hand market in a few years time, which will be a big boost for EV affordability,' the minister told The Australian Financial Review.

The federal government also hopes its recent axing of the fringe benefit tax on electric vehicles will help boost the second-hand market in coming years.

Elsewhere in the AAA EV Index, Western Australia has below-average penetration rates of both battery EV and hybrid fuel types.

As does Queensland statewide, despite Brisbane, Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast leading the way on EV uptake.

South-east Queensland, the ACT and parts of Sydney are leading the way in terms of EV ownership, new Australian Automobile Association data showed (pictured, a map of the top 10 regions embracing electric vehicles)

South-east Queensland is leading the way on EV uptake with four LGAs in the top 10. Pictured is an electric vehicle station on the Gold Coast

Battery electric and hybrid vehicles are accelerating their share of Australia's new vehicle market. Pictured is a tesla Model Y on the Gold Coast

Australia's most affordable EVs BYD DOLPHIN: $38,890 MG4 ELECTRIC: $38,990 GWM ORA: $39,990 MG ZS EV: $43,990 BYD ATTO 3: $48,011 NISSAN LEAF: $50,990 TESLA MODEL 3: $57,400 TESLA MODEL Y: $65,400 Advertisement

South Australias hybrid penetration is equal to the national average, but the EV penetration is lower.

The Northern Territory has higher hybrid registration penetration and lower EV penetration than the national rates.

In Tasmania, registrations of battery EVs were at 0.31 per cent below the 0.38 per cent national average at the end of January 2023.

But Tasmania June quarter EV sales penetration was the second highest in Australia behind ACT with 9.98 per cent, well above the 8.67 per cent national average

The vast majority of EV sales were the Tesla Models Y and 3 and the BYD Atto 3, with prices starting respectively at $65,400, $57,400 and $48,011 for the Chinese-made cars.

The BYD Dolphin is Australia's cheapest EV at $38,890 with the MG4 Electric, launched last week, not far behind on $38,990.

It was recently revealed that Tesla drivers are much more likely to live in Australia's wealthiest postcodes, along with a few surprises in the trove of data.

Well-heeled suburbs of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane dominate the top 20 list of where electric cars are registered by federal electorate, with the Gold Coast intriguingly having the most per capita.

When the Tesla list was expanded to include the top 30 areas, Perth and Canberra had a few entries but Adelaide and upmarket beach hotspots like Byron Bay and Noosa were nowhere to be seen.

State governments also offer generous EV subsidies and stamp duty exemptions.

New South Wales has since 2021 offered a $3,000 rebate for cars worth up to $68,750 for personal use, and a stamp duty exemption for new and used electric vehicles worth up to $78,000.

Eight Sydney LGAs, including the CBD were in the top 20 for electric vehicle uptake. Pictured is a Telsa Model Y
Paris Hilton was pictured on Saturday smiling on the beach in Maui with her husband and son - despite Hawaii tourism officials begging visitors to leave to free up hotel rooms for homeless residents and allow island officials to focus on wildfire recovery.

Hilton was pictured at a resort in Wailea, only 30 miles from the devastated town of Lahaina, as the death toll rose to 96, making the disaster the worst wildfire in the United States in 100 years.

A smaller fire, in south Maui's Kihei area, was still burning on Sunday, only five miles from her vacation spot.

The 42-year-old heiress arrived on the island on Tuesday with her husband Carter Reum and eight-month-old Phoenix - the same day the wildfires ravaged the historic town of Lahaina and burnt it to the ground.

On Wednesday, the Hawaii Tourism Authority asked tourists to leave.

Paris Hilton and her husband Carter Reum are pictured on Saturday enjoying the beach in Wailea, Maui

The couple, both 42, brought their seven-month-old son Phoenix with them

The family was at a resort in Wailea, which is only about a 30-mile drive to the devastation in Lahaina. Reum and Hilton, who married in 2021, shared a kiss as Paris held the newborn in her arm.

The happy couple was also spotted holding hands and smiling as they walked along a path, while families grieved just miles away over the fire's devastation.

A source close to Hilton told DailyMail.com: 'She has been absolutely helping. Maui has always held a special place in her heart. She has been gathering supplies and taking them to shelters and those who need. She already did and continues to do so.'

Hilton is a regular visitor to Hawaii, and has been photographed there multiple times for decades.

On July 23, she told People magazine that she was planning another trip - the first with her son Phoenix, who was born via surrogate in January.

'I just can't wait for Hawaii, because I can't wait to have him be with all of his cousins,' she said.

'My sister and I have been staying at [a hotel] for so many years, and just going on all the water slides and just being kids, so it'll be really a fun experience to now experience that with our own children.

'So I just can't wait for that trip, with all of the cousins together. That's just going to be so special.'

The family being spotted along the beach came as officials requested tourists stay home amid rescue and search efforts.

'Visitors who are on non-essential travel are being asked to leave Maui, and non-essential travel to Maui is strongly discouraged at this time,' the agency wrote.

'In the days and weeks ahead, our collective resources and attention must be focused on the recovery of residents and communities that were forced to evacuate their homes and businesses.'

On Friday, officials reiterated their plea, beseeching those who remained to fly home and give the islanders space.

Anyone planning on coming, they said, should postpone their travel or go to another island in Hawaii.

'For those coming to Hawaii over the next weeks or perhaps even months, depending on what we learn as the situation unfolds, a safer alternative is to plan travel to Kauai and Oahu,' they said.

Jason Momoa, who was born in Honolulu, on the island of Oahu, on Saturday urged tourists to leave.

'Maui is not the place to have your vacation right now,' he wrote on Instagram.

'Do not travel. Do not convince yourself that your presence is needed on an island that is suffering this deeply.'

The 44-year-old also shared a video in which he said that the Hawaiian community 'needs time to heal, grieve and restore'.

'That means the less visitors on the island taking up critical resources that have become extremely limited the better,' he said.

Hilton and Reum, who married in 2021, arrived on the island on Tuesday - the day the fires broke out

The heiress has been visiting Hawaii for decades, and said at the end of July she was excited about her next trip

Hilton said that she was excited about Phoenix being able to play on the island with his cousins

The little boy was born via surrogate in January: Hilton has been open about wanting to have more children, also via surrogate

Reum, a venture capitalist, also has a daughter with former actress Laura Bellizzi

Hilton and Reum are seen on Saturday strolling near the beach

Hilton's relatives were not with the couple, but she said in July she would be visiting with her sister Nicky

Hilton met Reum in their 20s but reconnected at a family friend's Thanksgiving gathering in 2019: they married two years later in a lavish Bel-Air ceremony

Hilton and Reum first met when the heiress was in her 20s, but they did not begin dating until 2019

Josh Green, the governor of Hawaii, said 500 hotel rooms will be made available for locals who have been displaced. An additional 500 hotel rooms will be set aside for workers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Some hotels will carry on with normal business to help preserve jobs and sustain the local economy, Green said.

On Friday, Green asked residents with space to open their doors and take in Maui residents who have lost their homes.

The state wants to work with Airbnb to make sure that rental homes can be made available for locals, and Green hopes that the company will be able to provide three- to nine-month rentals for those who have lost homes.

At least 2,200 buildings were damaged or destroyed in West Maui, Green said, nearly all of them residential.

Across the island, damage was estimated at close to $6 billion.

The historic town of Lahaina, which is in Maui County, has suffered black after block of complete devastation from the wildfires; an aerial view shows charred cars demolished buildings on Friday

The death toll has risen to 96, with more bodies expected to be found

Momoa's shared the video that captures the state of Maui right now

Block after block of buildings in the Maui town, which had a resident population of over 12,700 in the 2020 census, has been completely demolished, according to NBC News.

Residents of Maui have described their disgust at the sight of tourists swimming at the beach, while residents were still counting the dead.

'The same waters that our people just died in three days ago are the same waters the very next day these visitors - tourists - were swimming in,' one local told the BBC.

'That says a lot about where their heart and mind is through all of this, and where our heart and mind is now.'

She said no Hawaiian would be 'swimming, snorkeling, surfing' in such tragic circumstances.

'Nobody is having fun in tragedy and continuing their lives as if nothing happened.

'There is two Hawaiis now. The Hawaii we're living in and the Hawaii they're living in.'

As the death toll around Lahaina climbed to 96, authorities warned that the effort to find and identify the dead was still in its early stages.

The blaze is already the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century.

Burned houses and buildings are pictured on Saturday in the aftermath of the wildfire

Lahaina is seen from a boat, with the buildings burnt to the ground

An aerial photo taken on Friday shows the fires still smoldering in Lahaina

A Mercy Worldwide volunteer makes damage assessment of charred apartment complex in Lahaina on Saturday

Crews with cadaver dogs have covered just three percent of the search area, Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said on Saturday.

'We've got an area that we have to contain that is at least five square miles, and it is full of our loved ones,' he said, noting that the number of dead is likely to grow and 'none of us really know the size of it yet.'

He spoke as federal emergency workers picked through the ashen moonscape left by the fire that razed the centuries-old town of Lahaina.

Teams marked the ruins of homes with a bright orange 'X' to indicate an initial search, and 'HR' when they found human remains.

Elsewhere on Maui, at least two other fires have been burning: in south Maui's Kihei area and in the mountainous, inland communities known as Upcountry. No fatalities have been reported from those blazes.

The Upcountry fire affected 544 structures, most of them homes, Green said.

As many as 4,500 people are in need of shelter, county officials said on Facebook, citing figures from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Pacific Disaster Center.

J.P. Mayoga, a cook at the Westin Maui in Kaanapali, has seen his job switch from feeding tourists to cooking for the roughly 200 hotel employees and their family members who have been living there since Tuesday's fire devastated the Lahaina community just south of the resort.

His home and that of his father were spared.

But his wife, two young daughters, father and another local are all staying in a hotel room together, as it is safer than Lahaina, which is covered in toxic debris.

Maui water officials warned Lahaina and Kula residents not to drink running water, which may be contaminated even after boiling, and to only take short, lukewarm showers in well-ventilated rooms to avoid possible chemical vapor exposure.

'Everybody has their story, and everybody lost something. So everybody can be there for each other, and they understand what's going on in each other's lives,' he told AP of his co-workers at the hotel.

The latest death toll surpassed that of the 2018 Camp Fire in northern California, which left 85 dead and destroyed the town of Paradise.

The cause of the wildfires is under investigation.

A group of volunteers who sailed from Maalaea Bay, Maui, form an assembly line on Kaanapali Beach on Saturday

The group are seen forming a human chain to get the supplies onto land

People gather for a morning service at Keawalai Church, founded in 1832, in Makena on Sunday

The fires are Hawaii's deadliest natural disaster in decades, surpassing a 1960 tsunami that killed 61 people.

An even deadlier tsunami in 1946 killed more than 150 on the Big Island.

Fueled by a dry summer and strong winds from a passing hurricane, the flames on Maui raced through parched brush covering the island.

The most serious blaze swept into Lahaina on Tuesday and destroyed nearly every building in the town of 13,000, leaving a grid of gray rubble wedged between the blue ocean and lush green slopes.

Maui's firefighting efforts may have been hampered by limited staff and equipment.

Bobby Lee, president of the Hawaii Firefighters Association, said there are no more than 65 county firefighters working at any given time, who are responsible for three islands: Maui, Molokai and Lanai.

Lahaina resident Riley Curran said he doubted that county officials could have done more, given the speed of the flames.

He fled his Front Street home after seeing the oncoming fire from the roof of a neighboring building.

'It's not that people didn't try to do anything,' Curran said. 'The fire went from zero to 100.'
A rural Australian town desperate for medical staff is offering a whopping $180,000 extra in incentives to doctors willing to make the move.

Inverell, located along the Mcintyre River in northern NSW and close to the Queensland border, hopes to entice six doctors to move to the town for work.

Inverell Shire Council will offer two doctors $30,000 on top of their yearly salary to make the move, as the town suffers from a shortage in skilled health staff.

Doctors must commit to a three-year-stint and work a minimum of three days a week to be eligible for the incentives under the GP Support Program.

Local council met in June to discuss the program, with Inverell Shire Council's chief financial officer explaining that two placements had already been allocated.

Inverell Shire Council is offering six incentive grants of up to $30,000 for doctors willing to make the move to the rural town to help with a shortage in skilled health staff (pictured, Inverell)

'The shortage of doctors based in Inverell is well known and continues to worsen,' Inverell Shire Council said.

'Inverell, like many other communities, is faced with low (numbers of) general practitioners per population rates, difficulty in securing proceduralist GPs and visiting medical officer services, and declining registrar rates.

'These shortages are resulting in compromised access to care, GP fatigue and pressure on the primary care sector.

'These conditions exacerbate problems attracting new GPs into Inverell as a rural tenure can be viewed as less favourable to regional and metro roles.'

The GPs will be employed and paid by local medical practices but will each be able to claim up to $30,000 in accomodation and transport expenses under the program.

Under the policy, a 'maximum contribution of up to $15,000' can be used for accomodation costs including 'bond, or weekly rent or property purchase price'.

A further $15,000 is available for 'costs incurred in leasing or purchasing a motor vehicle'.

The general practice where the GP is employed must submit a monthly claim showing proof of spending before the doctor is reimbursed.

Eligible doctors must work at a medical practice within the Inverell local government area and have no restrictions on their service provisions.

They must also have appropriate insurance, a registered ABN number and provide a certificate of currency.

Eligible doctors will be able to claim up to $15,000 in accomodation costs and up to $15,000 in travel expenses. Doctors must commit to a three-year-stint and work a minimum of three days a week

Inverell Shire Council's chief financial officer explained any unclaimed grant funding up to $120,000 will be transferred and held in a restricted reserve.

Medical practices can only access one GP Support Program grant per year, with funding coming from the council's Industry Promotion and Assistance budget - which this financial year sits at $105,000.

The GP Support Program is also separate to the State's Rural Health Workforce Incentive Scheme.

Premier Chris Minns confirmed on Friday the incentives under the scheme doubled to $20,000.
Almost 40 years ago, in the autumn of 1984, the BBC broadcast the most frightening film I've ever seen.

Set in Sheffield, Threads follows two ordinary families through the nightmare of an imaginary World War III.

While they are absorbed in their own domestic dramas, the radios in the background chart the gradual build-up of tension, the outbreak of hostilities in Iran and the chilling steps towards full-scale conflict between the West and the Soviet Union.

Then comes the full horror. Early one morning, air-raid sirens go off across the city. We see shoppers and commuters running for cover, children sobbing, people screaming in panic.

As a Soviet warhead explodes over the North Sea, all Sheffield's electricity is knocked out. The sky turns a dazzling, deadly white, and on the horizon rises a giant mushroom cloud. We see a woman in the street, her face stricken with horror, a puddle of urine forming at her feet.

Almost every week since Vladimir Putin launched his botched invasion, his little army of TV propagandists have hurled lurid nuclear threats at the West

It's an utterly harrowing scene  and yet it's just the beginning. As many older readers will remember, what follows is even worse.

With fires raging across Britain's cities, law and order collapses completely. Some 30 million people are already dead; millions more will join them in the coming weeks, killed by hunger, disease and radiation poisoning.

For a year there is no sunlight. With no crops, Britain starves. The population declines to less than ten million, and civilisation regresses to the level of the Middle Ages, with the survivors engaged in a brutal struggle against darkness and hunger.

As the years pass, the English language degenerates into a broken argot. And in the haunting final scene, we realise that the future of humanity itself hangs in the balance, since all new babies are born with hideous mutations.

Threads may have been fiction, but it was fiction of an unusually well-documented kind. The producers had interviewed doctors, scientists and military analysts, as well as historians of the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the narrator often provides facts and figures to back up what we're seeing.

And we know now the Thatcher government's experts agreed with them. As declassified documents show, Whitehall war games in the 1970s and 1980s envisaged that tens of millions of people would die in a nuclear exchange  and that life in Britain would be changed for ever.

It's tempting, of course, to think all this is ancient history. After the end of the Cold War, many of us banished our nuclear nightmares to the mental equivalent of the attic, and treated films like Threads as relics of a bygone age.

But earlier this month, the Government released its latest National Risk Register, an annual survey of the greatest threats to our national security. And although I don't tend to be a worrier, I found it chilling reading.

As always, the report lists a host of potential menaces, from a new Covid-style pandemic to cyber-attacks on the banking system. But it's the possibility of a major attack with chemical, biological or nuclear weapons  given a likelihood of between 1 and 5 per cent  which really jumped out at me.

Although we usually think of nuclear paranoia as a hallmark of the Cold War, the world remains an extraordinarily dangerous place, and the threat of atomic Armageddon has never gone away.

A Russian Yars intercontinental ballistic missile system drives in Red Square during a military parade on Victory Day

In the decades since the fall of the Berlin Wall, two more countries  North Korea and Pakistan  have joined America, Russia, China, Britain, France and India in the nuclear club (in addition to Israel, although it has never officially admitted to having any such weapons).

Indeed, experts at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute estimate that these nine nuclear powers are sitting on some 12,512 warheads, enough to destroy civilisation several times over.

Until recently, most of us in Britain consoled ourselves that a major nuclear war was utterly implausible. But the war in Ukraine has changed everything.

Almost every week since Vladimir Putin launched his botched invasion, his little army of TV propagandists have hurled lurid nuclear threats at the West. Again and again, they've singled out Britain as a particular target.

In one especially demented rant a few months ago, for example, a retired Russian general urged Putin to launch his underwater Poseidon missile against our shores, triggering a 1,000-foot 'radioactive tsunami' that would mean 'Great Britain would no longer exist'.

It's easy, of course, to dismiss this as the empty posturing of a doomed regime. And, for my part, I've no time for the spineless appeasers who are so frightened of Putin's nuclear blackmail that they would happily hand him chunks of Ukrainian territory.

READ MORE: Hunter Biden's Kazakh business partner Kenes Rakishev helped supply armored vehicles to Putin Advertisement

Even so, should we be entirely complacent about these nuclear threats? After all, one of the most enthusiastic atomic warmongers is the former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy chairman of the Kremlin's national security council.

Slavishly loyal to his autocratic master, Medvedev has reinvented himself as the most belligerent hawk of all.

He has consistently advocated the use of nuclear weapons against targets from the Dutch city of The Hague  the location of the International Criminal Court, which has charged Putin with war crimes  to the entire nation of Poland, which he wants to see wiped from the map.

Just two weeks ago, Medvedev issued yet another blood-curdling threat, warning that if the Ukrainian counter-offensive manages to liberate more territory, 'then we would be forced to use a nuclear weapon'.

Again, it's tempting to dismiss this as the hollow bluster of a Kremlin courtier. As many military analysts have pointed out, it's hard to see how the Russian regime would benefit from using nuclear weapons.

Striking Kyiv with nuclear missiles would be insane, since it would almost certainly provoke overwhelming Western intervention and would make Russia a pariah for generations.

And using a so-called 'tactical' nuclear weapon on the battlefield would probably be counter-productive, too, since the Ukrainians have never concentrated their forces into a single target  and the fallout would surely affect thousands of Russian soldiers.

But does that mean it could never happen? Surely not. As history reminds us, human beings don't always behave entirely rationally. If they did, the Russians wouldn't have invaded Ukraine in the first place.

The more pundits and politicians bluster about using nuclear weapons, the more they normalise it. Imagine being an ordinary Russian, watching the Kremlin's propaganda, night after night. Might you, perhaps, come to believe that firing a missile at Kyiv or Warsaw is the only positive step forward?

As the blockbuster film Oppenheimer recently reminded us, the world has already seen two utterly devastating nuclear strikes: the American bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the summer of 1945, which killed perhaps 200,000 civilians

Or imagine being an ambitious Russian politician, pandering to a rabidly nationalist audience. Might you be tempted to keep brandishing the nuclear card  albeit rhetorically  until you get to the point when you feel you have to play it, or risk looking weak and cowardly?

And while we love to reassure ourselves that it would never happen, history suggests otherwise. As the blockbuster film Oppenheimer recently reminded us, the world has already seen two utterly devastating nuclear strikes: the American bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the summer of 1945, which killed perhaps 200,000 civilians.

The man who ordered those attacks, the U.S. President Harry Truman, was not mad, wicked or even especially warlike. Far from it: Truman was a former haberdasher and a man of the moderate centre-Left, who prided himself on his ordinariness and decency, but nevertheless thought it was the right thing to do.

The presiding genius of the U.S. nuclear project, the scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer, agreed with him.

At first, Oppenheimer thought the atom bomb was a weapon to end all wars. But as the nuclear arms race got underway, he changed his mind, and became transfixed by the fear that it might mean the end of life on Earth.

Was he wrong to worry? History suggests not.

Almost 20 years later, during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, the world came perilously close to another nuclear exchange. We know from declassified papers that Cuba's Communist leader Fidel Castro actively urged the USSR's Nikita Khrushchev to launch a nuclear strike if American forces attacked his island nation, 'however harsh and terrible' the results might be.

Even more disturbingly, we know that some of President John F. Kennedy's military advisers actively urged him to invade Cuba, despite the clear risk of nuclear war.

Again: they were not mad or wicked. They were seasoned, worldly, intelligent men, trapped by the remorseless logic of their own foreign policy.

Nuclear war never happened, of course, since the Russians backed down and removed their missiles from the Caribbean island. But it might have done. And you would have to be extraordinarily complacent to imagine that it could never do so in the future.

Given this background, it seems remarkable that we pay so little attention to the nuclear threat.

I think, for example, of my childhood in the 1970s and 1980s, when every other book in the local library seemed to be a dystopian Cold War fantasy about miserable ten-year-olds fighting for survival in the irradiated ruins of post-apocalyptic Wolverhampton. As many readers will remember, this was also the heyday of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, when hundreds of thousands of people routinely marched in protest at Britain's engagement in the nuclear arms race.

And it was also the heyday of the infamous 'Protect and Survive' public information campaign  a series of short TV films advising people how to survive a nuclear attack, which had been prepared in the mid-1970s for release in the build-up to the next world war.

At first, Oppenheimer thought the atom bomb was a weapon to end all wars

Even today the Protect and Survive films make for very bleak viewing. 'If anyone dies when you are in your fallout room,' says the narrator at one point, 'move the body to another room in the house.'

But what if the rotting corpse of Great-Aunt Audrey starts to smell? 'You should bury the body for the time being in a trench or cover it with earth,' adds the narrator calmly, 'and mark the spot of the burial.'

When the Protect and Survive campaign was leaked in the early 1980s, it set off a firestorm of anti-nuclear protest. So it's hardly surprising that the Government hasn't embarked on a similar initiative today.

And I can readily understand why the nuclear threat rarely commands the headlines. After all, we have so many other things to worry about, from existential threats like pandemics and climate change to the everyday reality of the cost-of-living crunch.

But if we think that nuclear war is impossible, I believe we are deluding ourselves. After all, people would once have said the same thing about the mass slaughter of men, women and children in industrial death camps  and not only do we know that the Holocaust happened, we know that it was carried out by intelligent, high-functioning people in one of the richest and most advanced societies on earth.

You don't need to be a historian to know that human beings have a tendency to lash out, to react irrationally, gamble foolishly, or simply make life-changing mistakes. And although I pray that the terrible moment is delayed until my children and grandchildren are long gone, I would be very surprised if it never comes at all.

'Every man, woman and child,' John F. Kennedy told the United Nations in September 1961, 'lives under a nuclear sword of Damocles, hanging by the slenderest of threads, capable of being cut at any moment by accident or miscalculation or by madness.'

Kennedy said those words almost exactly a year before the Cuban Missile Crisis. The world stepped back from the brink on that occasion, thanks not least to his own caution and good judgment.

But will we always be so lucky? And can we really be sure that one day, driven by hatred, rage or simply blind fear, one of the world's leaders won't press the button?

I'd love to pretend that the answer's yes. But I fear history  and human nature  tells a different and much bleaker story.
The co-head is reportedly planning to stay within the company in a new role

Khemlani's tenure has been plagued by employee clashes and HR complaints

CBS News' President Neerah Khemlani is leaving his job after two years

CBS News' President and co-head Neeraj Khemlani is out at the esteemed outlet after a two-year stint plagued by HR complaints and clashes with employees.

Khemlani informed employees of his departure from the role Sunday in a memo after calling confidants on Saturday, according to multiple outlets.

The departure comes just weeks after it was reported the co-head was being monitored by human resources for what was described as 'bullying, rude' behavior.

Khemlani is planning to stay within the CBS family developing content, including book adaptations, documentaries and scripted series.

DailyMail.com reached out to Paramount Global - CBS News' parent company - to confirm the report but officials could not be reached for comment.

CBS News' President and co-head Neeraj Khemlani is out at the esteemed outlet after a two-year stint plagued by HR complaints and clashes with employees

Khemlani was the CBS News president and was two years into his role

It is believed that CBS had planned to announce the co-head's exit on Monday.

Khemlani has bee on vacation with his family in Europe for the past week and was expected to return on August 14, sources told the New York Post.

In his email to staffers, obtained by the outlet, Khemlani said he was excited to move on to a new stage of his career.

'(I am) looking forward to slipping my reporter's notebook back into my pocket and heading out on a new adventure,' he wrote, in part.

Khemlani - who was only two years into his three-year contract - had his departure confirmed by CBS CEO George Cheeks in a supporting statement.

Cheeks, who was responsible for bringing in Khemlani, said that the two of them had been discussing 'his potential transition for some time.'

It's unclear at this time who will take over for the embattled boss. His co-president Wendy McMahon may be the likeliest option, though.

During his time in the role, Khemlani was in charge of the news division that monitored shows like '60 Minutes' and 'Face the Nation.'

McMahon, meanwhile, runs the TV and digital news divisions.

During his time in the role, Khemlani (far left) was in charge of the news division that monitored shows like '60 Minutes' and 'Face the Nation'

It's unclear at this time who will take over for the embattled boss. His co-president Wendy McMahon (pictured) may be the likeliest option, though

In his memo on Sunday, Khemlani did not mention the recent reports regarding his alleged workplace behavior involving women and employees of color.

'We maintained the #1 position of our iconic weekend programs, successfully developed and launched business plans to grow digital revenue that will sustain CBS News for the next generation,' he wrote in the memo.

'I'm so proud of what all of you have accomplished  the scores of journalistic wins, the superb storytelling, the creativity that enhanced every aspect of our programming  that has put this division on a stronger path forward,' he wrote.

Prior to his departure, Khemlani was under a '360 performance review' by HR.

Employees and former workers who spoke out against the CBS News head described the boss as 'rude' and 'micro-managing.'

The review resulted in mandatory counseling on how to speak to employees 'without sarcasm,' and using 'friendly body language' according to reports.

In 2022, DailyMail.com reported that 'CBS Evening News' anchor Norah O'Donnell was fearful for her job after clashes with Khemlani

In 2022, DailyMail.com reported that 'CBS Evening News' anchor Norah O'Donnell was fearful for her job after clashes with Khemlani.

O'Donnell - whose previous contract expired in spring 2022 - was worried she could be a casualty of the CBS News president's cost-cutting initiatives.

Insiders at the time shared the two were butting heads for nearly a year and he had been quietly searching for a replacement for the evening news staple.

He denied the allegations and said, in part: 'Norah's presence in Washington has elevated the CBS Evening News' coverage on all fronts... And in addition to making headlines, the program is gaining audience share.'

O'Donnell ultimately resigned with 'CBS Evening News' but took a massive pay cut - $3.8 million per year down from her previously estimated $8 million.
Ad boss Russel Howcroft has launched a furious tirade against the new Hard Solo alcoholic version of the popular lemon-flavoured soft drink.

Japanese brewery giant Asahi has launched the new alcohol-spiked variant of the classic 1968 original as an easy-to-drink boozy thirst-quencher.

But ad industry veteran Howcroft, 58, has railed against the switch in an astonishing outburst, branding Asahi 'fools for doing it.'

'I can't believe they've done this,' he raged on ABC's Gruen panel show. 'I really can't believe that they are going to move into the alcohol business.

'I can't even tell you how angry it makes me.'

Japanese brewery giant Asahi has launched the new alcohol-spiked variant of the classic 1968 Solo original as an easy-to-drink boozy thirst-quencher

The non-alcoholic version won fame in the 70s and 80s with its series of 'Solo man' TV ads which showed macho Aussie sporting blokes slamming down the soft drink.

The 'thirst-crusher' drink was unique to the Australian market and was based on a lightly sparkling version of the classic pub drink of lemon squash.

READ MORE: How an Aussie soft drink tough man is due to make a stunning come back - but he's now boozy A new alcoholic version of the classic Australian soft drink Solo has renewed hopes of a return to screens of the legendary Solo Man. Solo was launched by Taraxin in 1968, with Sydney PE teacher Michael Ace portraying the very first Solo Man in the 1970s and '80s. Advertisement

It was marketed to be less fizzy than other soft drinks to allow it to be drunk more quickly and relieve thirst faster as a result.

But the move to the 4.5 per cent proof version - equal to mid-strength beers - has sparked fury in the booze industry and from MPs as well as Howcroft.

A 10-pack of 375ml cans of Hard Solo 'Alcoholic Lemon' in Coles currently retails for $44 but was sold out within days of going on sale.

'They are fools for doing this,' Howcroft told Gruen host Wil Anderson, 49. 'And they need to stop doing it immediately. I'm serious about this.

'If you're in the alcohol business, stay in the alcohol business. And if you're in the soft drink business, you must not blur that line.'

He said that similar 'pre-mixed' 'ready to drink' beverages, as they are called in the industry, like Cruisers were different from this because they had only ever been alcoholic drinks.

He added: 'So you're sitting around a boardroom table, and saying, "We've got a brand that has been attractive to teenagers for 50 years...what we're going to do now is whack some alcohol in it"?

'It is seriously not on.'

Howcroft's fellow panellist Todd Sampson, 53 - who regularly clashes with him - admitted he shared his concerns.

'In this case, I 100 per cent agree with Russel,' he said. 'We need to protect children when it comes to alcohol, fullstop.'

Ad boss Russel Howcroft (pictured) has launched a furious tirade against the new Hard Solo alcoholic version of the popular lemon-flavoured soft drink

The non-alcoholic version won fame in the 70s and 80s with its series of 'Solo man' TV ads which showed macho Aussie sporting blokes slamming down the soft drink

A 10-pack of 375ml cans of Hard Solo 'Alcoholic Lemon' in Coles currently retails for $44

Teal independent MP Kylea Tink last week met with other crossbench MPs to discuss tighter regulations in the wake of the Hard Solo launch.

She said the product 'did not meet the pub test' and questioned why it had been approved for sale in Australia.

'This is a product that looks like a soft drink, tastes like a soft drink, has the same name as a soft drink,' she said.

Teal independent MP Kylea Tink last week met with other crossbench MPs to discuss tighter regulations in the wake of the Hard Solo launch

'[It] went through a self-regulatory process and seemingly was approved to be marketed.

'To me that there is nothing about this product that makes it an acceptable product to have on the shelf when it comes to alcoholic beverages.'

She added: ''For a company like Asahi to come out and say theres no problem with that product to me indicates theres a clear breakdown in between community expectation and corporate expectation,' she added.

'I think we need to look at whats happened - and work out where the system failed.'

The Cancer Council of WA has also filed a complaint about the drink and added: 'The appeal of Hard Solo to minors is evident given the established appeal of Solo to minors.'

Replying to the criticism, Asahi - which also owns Carlton & United Breweries - claimed 85 per cent of the drinkers of the soft version of Solo were adults and the alcoholic version was aimed at 25-50 year olds.

'CUB strongly refutes claims that Hard Solo can be confused with regular Solo and that it is being marketed to minors,' a spokesman told Daily Mail Australia.

'While it is reminiscent of the classic Solo taste, Hard Solo has a bitter finish provided by the alcohol.

'Hard Solo is sold in distinct black cans with prominent alcohol markings on the front of the can with the words 'Alcoholic Lemon along with the 18+ logo, standard drinks and alcohol percentage in large and bright font.

'It is the first-time 18+ has appeared on the front of one of our alcoholic products further demonstrating our commitment to differentiate Hard Solo from regular Solo. The Hard Solo can has a mature look and feel.'
Asked three times why he left Ms Higgins in Parliament House

Natalie Barr grilled Bruce Lehrmann three times about why he didn't say goodbye to Brittany Higgins on the night she was allegedly raped - as the former staffer says he would take a lie detector test to prove his innocence.

Mr Lehrmann appeared on Sunrise on Monday morning and told Ms Barr that he left Ms Higgins in the Parliament House defence suit in the early hours of March 23, 2019, because 'she was a staffer in her own right, with her own security clearance'.

'I had no reason to suspect she needed checking and on. She is an adult,' he said.

Ms Barr continued: 'Isn't that a bit weird, you're going back with someone in the middle of the night to do work and then you just take off?'

Mr Lehrmann said he didn't think Ms Higgins needed supervision, adding that she also needed to collect work from the building for the weekend.

'I had no reason to suspect she was blackout drunk or anything, to that extent,' he said.

The TV host pushed the point again, asking 'not even checking? Not even 'see you, bye'? Just a natural human behaviour'.

Mr Lehrmann conceded that, in hindsight, he 'probably' should have checked in on her.

'I also had missed calls from my girlfriend when I saw my phone on the desk, I thought, maybe I should get out and go home,' he said.

Ms Higgins decided to split an Uber with Mr Lehrmann after a night out with colleagues in Canberra in March 2019 - they both lived in the same direction, and had planned to go to their respective homes.

Mr Lehrmann said he needed to collect some work for the weekend from Parliament House, where they both worked for then-defence industry minister Linda Reynolds, so they made a stop at Capitol Hill.

Once inside the defence suite, Mr Lehrmann has long-maintained he went one direction and Ms Higgins went another. He claims he then ordered an Uber, went home and didn't see her again.

Ms Higgins alleges she fell asleep on Ms Reynolds couch and woke up to find him raping her. He strongly denies the allegations.

Pictured: Brittany Higgins and Bruce Lehrmann in Parliament House on the night she alleges she was raped. He denies the allegations

Brittany Higgins is pictured on the night she entered Parliament House on March 23, 2019. Mr Lehrmann said he did not check on her before he left the building that night

On Monday morning, Ms Barr also asked Mr Lehrmann if he would take a lie detector test to prove his innocence.

'There's a lot of people who will believe you, but there's a lot of people who never well, don't you? Will you take a lie detector test?' she asked.

Mr Lehrmann replied: 'Absolutely, yes.'

The TV host also said people have been asking why Ms Higgins 'would go to all this trouble and make [the sexual assault allegations] up'.

Mr Lehrmann said: 'I'm not in her mind.'

'I have a lot of sympathy for her - she's surrounded by people who don't have her best interests at heart.'

Mr Lehrmann's appearance on Sunrise comes the morning after he was interviewed for a second time on 7news Spotlight - during which he suggested he may file a defamation suit against the ACT government for $6million.

'It will have to be a multimillion-dollar claim because I have to consider I may never work again,' he told host, Liam Bartlett.

'After being smeared and slammed for the last two or three years now.

'I am innocent. If we were able to have a fair trial and a trial at all, I'm entirely confident it would have  rendered a not-guilty verdict for me.'

He wouldn't say the exact amount he would be after but, when host Liam Bartlett suggested about $6million, Mr Lehrmann responded: 'Yeah.'

Mr Lehrmann is currently in suing Channel 10, Lisa Wilkinson and the ABC in a joint defamation claim, which he said he's 'not backing down' on.

Linda Reynolds was interviewed on Spotlight on Sunday night (pictured) and said she felt devastated over Ms Higgins allegations

Ms Reynolds was also interviewed on Sunday night, and revealed her devastation when she watched the episode of The Project in February 2021 - when Ms Higgins first aired her allegations on national television.

Ms Reynolds said Ms Higgins unnecessarily made her a 'villain' of the story' in her interview with Wilkinson, and accused her of trying to cover up the alleged incident.

'I was the perfect villain,' Reynolds said.

'Although none of it - this is the irony of it - none of it was absolutely true.

'Every good story like this needs a villain, how that was set up with Ms Higgins and Lisa Wilkinson.'

In March 2019, in the days after the alleged rape, Ms Higgins did have a meeting with Ms Reynolds and her former chief of staff Fiona Brown.

The meeting had been scheduled to address a security breach, which was triggered when Ms Higgins and Mr Lehrmann entered the defence suite in the early hours of the morning - on the evening of the alleged assault.

Ms Higgins has previously said she disclosed her alleged rape to her bosses during that meeting, but Ms Reynolds maintains that wasn't the case at all - and, on Sunday night, said she wasn't aware about an alleged sexual assault until about a week later.

She also said Ms Higgins never used the word 'rape' in their conversations.

Speaking about The Project interview, Ms Reynolds the claims against her hurt'.

Mr Lehrmann was tried in the ACT Supreme Court in October last year, but the case toppled when a juror brought banned research material into the court.

The ACT Director of Public Prosecutions, Shane Drumgold, then dropped the charge in December citing concerns for Ms Higgins' mental health.
Witnesses have claimed that gunfire and clashes involving migrants broke out just hours before a small boat travelling from Dunkirk to Britain sank, killing six people and leaving two missing.

An unnamed teenage boy from Afghanistan said that he heard gunshots ring out at the Grande-Synthe camp near Dunkirk on Friday night, amid clashes that he believed were between Afghans and Kurds.

The 15-year-old told The Times that he also saw chaos in the camps after Afghans were turned away when they reached overcrowded dinghies on French beaches.

He said that he managed to get himself on a boat with about 60 other people after lying to the people smugglers and claiming that he was Kurdish, but was later transferred to a rescue boat because the seas were so treacherous.

The testimony comes after it was revealed that six people died after a small boat sank in the Channel, while a further 50 or so people had to be rescued after it launched off Sangatte, northern France in the early hours of Saturday morning.

More than 50 people had to be rescued after a boat carrying dozens of people sank off the coast of Franc

Several people were taken to hospitals in Kent to deal with the traumatic injuries they suffered

Five people were taken to hospital in Kent, with three of these people suffering from hypothermia and another being take into intensive care.

Two people are feared to be missing in the Channel.

French authorities have revealed that most of the people who died after the boat sank were from Afghanistan.

Sources claimed that French authorities did not do enough to help save the lives of the Channel-crossers, with many claiming that the first French lifeboat reached the site of the sinking 15 minutes after an RNLI boat was at the scene, despite the boat sinking around five miles from France's coast.

New Home Office figures revealed that more than 500 people crossed the Channel on Saturday alone, including ten who were brought to Dover on British lifeboats.

French authorities have been accused of not doing enough to help the migrants

Campaigners have called on the UK to open up more safe and legal passages for migrants to avoid needless deaths

Channel crossings skyrocketed last year, with the UK seeing 60% more crossings than 2021

More than 1,600 people crossed within three days, bringing the total number of people who crossed this year to nearly 16,700.

A record number of people, 45,755, crossed the Channel in 2022, which is a 60% rise from the year before.

Campaigners have said that the tragedy highlights the need for the UK to open safe passages for migrants to come to our shores.

Steve Smith, chief executive of refugee charity Care4Calais said the incident was an 'appalling and preventable tragedy.'

'This terrible loss of life demonstrates yet again the need for a system of safe passage to the UK for refugees. This would enable them to apply for asylum while in France, and then to travel safely to the UK without risking their lives in small boats.

'It would put the people smugglers out of business overnight,' he said.

Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, urged the government to focus on creating an 'orderly and humane asylum system'.

He accused the government of 'focusing on passing expensive and unworkable legislation and shutting down existing safe ways to get to the UK.'

Head of bargaining at the Public and Commercial Services union, Paul O'Connor said the Government had 'blood on its hands', branding its approach a 'moral disgrace'.

'There is a readily available policy to prevent this tragic loss of life,' he said.

'Unfortunately, our calls on the Government to adopt it have fallen on stony ground. It's clear they have no desire to prevent these dangerous crossings.'
A man has died four days after he and his friends were swept into the water off Sydney's northern beaches, sparking a massive multi-agency rescue operation.

Emergency services were called to North Curl Curl Beach on August 6 following multiple triple-0 calls that five swimmers had been swept out to sea in a rip.

A 22-year-old man was unresponsive when he was winched from the water by the Life Saver helicopter.

Paramedics and an doctor from the rescue helicopter administered CPR to the man, before he was rushed to Northern Beaches Hospital in a critical condition.

Sadly, Indian national Robin Kadyan lost his fight for life in hospital last Friday.

Robin Kadyan (pictured) died in hospital four days after he was winched from a rip

Mr Kadyn's heartbroken friends have since set up an online fundraiser which has raised almost $50,000 within two days.

Proceeds raised will go towards returning his body home to India and helping the family with funeral expenses.

'Doctors did their end of work but there was brain injuries were irreversible and he was not able to survive the incident,' the page states.

'His family need your support in this bad time to arrange his funeral back in India.

Mr Kadyan was one of five friends swept out to sea during a trip the beach last Sunday, sparking a multi-agency rescue effort involving surf lifesavers, Water Police, Northern Beaches officers and five helicopters.

'All of them tried to help each other regardless of the situation but still three of them including Robin had to be rescued by paramedics and life savers from the sea with the help of helicopter and boats,' the page adds.

'Robin was admitted to the nearest hospital in really serious condition where he fought for his life several days.'

Robin died in hospital four days after he and four friends were swept out to sea at North Curl Curl. Pictured are paramedics and police at the scene

Two men and a woman had already made their way out of the water by the time emergency services arrived.

Another man, 21, was rescued by surf lifesavers in an inflatable rescue boat.

He was treated at the scene by paramedics before rushed to Northern Beaches Hospital in a serious but stable condition. He has since been released from hospital.

Mr Kadyan's death comes weeks after another man aged in 60s drowned at nearby Curl Curl.

A third man aged in his 60s died at South Curl Curl in January.
The Republican chair of the House Intelligence Committee has accused the special counsel investigating Hunter Biden of 'prosecutorial misconduct', claiming that David Weiss deliberately allowed potential charges to expire.

Mike Turner said he had serious doubts about Weiss, a Trump-appointed U.S. attorney for Delaware, who for the past five years has been investigating Joe Biden's son.

Weiss on Friday was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland as special counsel - a move which gives him broader day-to-day independence from supervision than previously, and which is designed to remove any suggestion that Weiss was being leant on by the White House.

Yet Turner told CBS News on Sunday morning that he did not have confidence in Weiss's commitment to the case.

'The concern here with Weiss being special counsel is that he was the one that allowed the statute limitations to expire on some very critical felony charges that could have been brought against Hunter Biden,' said Turner.

Mike Turner, the chair of the House Intelligence Committee, said on Sunday that he was concerned about David Weiss's appointment as a special counsel to investigate Hunter Biden

Turner appeared on CBS News' Face The Nation on Sunday morning

Weiss on Friday was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland as special counsel to investigate Hunter Biden. Pictured is Hunter Biden with a woman

Asked by Face The Nation host Margaret Brennan why Weiss would have let Hunter Biden off the hook, Turner said an IRS whistleblower - who testified that Weiss slow-walked the case - told them so.

Turner said the IRS whistleblower told them it was 'Department of Justice interference.'

'There's some question as to whether or not it's a prosecutorial misconduct, but it certainly could be a prosecutorial malpractice,' Turner said.

'In any event, when you've been given the charge to handle claims of such explosive nature and allow the statute of limitations to expire, resulting in - you know, Hunter Biden has in his pocket $125,000 worth of taxes that were owed to the United States that, as a result of these being expired, remain in his pocket.'

Brennan questioned his claim, asking why 'a U.S. attorney appointed by President Trump working under a Republican attorney general with career prosecutors' would have 'that level of conspiracy?'

Turner replied: 'I think those are questions that he has to answer. You know, why did this occur?

'The IRS whistleblowers said that it was interference from the Department of Justice that allowed them to expire.'

He added: 'So he certainly was knowledgeable, aware that it was going to be expiring. And then something occurred where he allowed those to expire.'

The House Republicans are continuing to investigate Hunter Biden and his potentially criminal history, as well as whether his father, President Joe Biden, is connected to those alleged crimes.

David Weiss (pictured) is a Trump-appointed U.S. attorney for Delaware, who for the past five years has been investigating Joe Biden's son

Hunter Biden pictured leaving a California office building in August. In July, he pleaded not guilty to charges of failing to pay more than $100,000 in taxes owed on over $1.5 million in income in 2017 and 2018

Hunter Biden, in July, pleaded not guilty to charges of failing to pay more than $100,000 in taxes owed on over $1.5 million in income in 2017 and 2018.

He did not enter a plea in a separate case in which he is charged with unlawfully owning a firearm while using illegal drugs, which is a felony.

Top Democrats were hopeful a plea agreement between Hunter Biden and Weiss would have allowed the president to move past his son's legal troubles and relegate the issue to Republican-led congressional investigations.

But a federal judge refused to accept a proposed plea deal and Weiss said in a court filing on Friday that talks between the two sides have since broken down.

A potential trial raises the possibility of an unprecedented spectacle in U.S. history: The son of a sitting president facing criminal charges while his father campaigns for re-election, likely against Republican Donald Trump, who faces at least three upcoming criminal trials of his own.

Republicans have accused the elder Biden of profiting from his son's business ventures in Ukraine and China, though they have yet to produce any evidence of wrongdoing.

House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy said in July that the chamber might launch an impeachment inquiry in the autumn.

Half of Americans believe Hunter Biden received preferential treatment from prosecutors who tried to reach a plea deal, a Reuters/Ipsos poll in June found before the plea deal fell apart.

But most Americans said the Hunter Biden plea deal did not affect their likelihood of voting for Biden next year, the poll found.
Marketing executive Tiffany Gomas has launched a coordinated social media blitz hours after apologizing for her viral plane meltdown, which she called 'her very worst moment.'

In an apparent bid to control the narrative after her infamous 'that motherfu**er is not real' rant - the Dallas native, 38, has reposted after deleting her YouTube, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok accounts, Daillymail.com can reveal.

The successful marketing executive is using her professional prowess to give her personal brand a makeover after she broke her silence to Dailymail.com last week.

Her return to public posting follows the extremely viral video of the fit she threw on an airplane traveling from Dallas to Orlando.

The coordinated relaunch, ripe for monetization - which she has activated across her profiles - comes four days after extended bodycam footage of her being escorted through the airport by law enforcement.

'I apologize and take accountability for my actions, they were uncalled for,' she wrote on Twitter,' Gomas said of the July 2 viral video. 'My very worst moment was captured on video.'

Part of her Sunday effort included the coordinated relaunch of her social media accounts

Gomas unlocked her Instagram page more than a month after the July 2 viral incident aboard an American Airlines flight

Gomas was flying to Florida on July 4 weekend when she decided that the plane was unsafe, loudly demanding everyone on the flight evacuate.

She said in the video posted Sunday to Twitter: 'Although the memes have been amusing, the flip-side has been cruel. I'm thankful for my friends and family for supporting me through this.

'This experience has been life-altering and I hope to do good from it and promote positive mental health. Stay tuned!'

Gomas coordinated her post on Twitter with the relaunch of her Instagram page and YouTube channel. She also launched her webpage that tells people 'coming soon.'

All posts except one on her Instagram page were posted inside of the last month, or edited inside of the last week. She has also chosen to follow just 16 specific accounts so far on her Twitter profile, which include uber successful podcasters like Joe Rogan, Jordan Peterson and Lex Fridman, as well as TMZ and Barstool Sports.

In the video she posted online, first published by TMZ, she said: 'Hi everyone, it's me - Tiffany Gomas, better known as the crazy plane lady. Which is completely warranted.'

She continued: 'As you know, I have been unwilling to speak on the viral video, but I do finally feel that it's time.'

While the relaunch of the marketing exec's life came on Sunday, it's not the first time she has spoken since the incident. Last week, DailyMail.com spoke to Gomas at her Dallas home.

Gomas has spoken out about the viral incident as she addresses the problems and the humor in the incident

All posts except one on her Instagram page were posted inside of the last month, or edited inside of the last week

Gomas appeared distraught and on the verge of tears throughout the July 2 incident

'My life has been blown up. It's frightening,' she said. 'Things go viral and everything changes.'

Gomas continued: 'First and foremost, I want to take full accountability for my actions.

'They were completely unacceptable.

'Distressed or not, I should have been in control of my emotions, and that was not the case.

'My use of profanity was completely unnecessary and I want to apologize to everyone who was on that plane, especially those who had children aboard.'

She said she could not imagine 'going through that and trying to explain to your kid what in the world just happened.'

Gomas, her Goyard bag under her arm, marched to the front of the plane on July 2 and told fellow passengers she was disembarking because the aircraft was not safe.

The video showed a visibly shaken, and arguably crazed, Gomas telling passengers: 'I'm getting the f*** off and there's a reason. I'm telling you right now that motherf***er back there is not real and you can sit on this plane, and you can die with them or not. I'm not going to.'

Speaking from her $1.6million Dallas, Texas home this week, Tiffany Gomas finally broke her silence on her viral 'meltdown' on an American Airlines flight last month

Gomas also claimed that much of what has been circulating in the media or online is 'inaccurate' but declined to elaborate

Gomas had a picture of herself on Instagram at the recent Jake Paul and Nate Diaz fight in Dallas

'Distressed or not, I should have been in control of my emotions, and that was not the case,' Gomas said in a new video

'My use of profanity was completely unnecessary and I want to apologize to everyone who was on that plane, especially those who had children aboard,' Gomas (right) said

Gomas (left) posted pictures of herself with friends in happier times that is now visible on her social media accounts

Gomas coordinated her post on Twitter with the relaunch of her Instagram page and YouTube channel

Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com from her home in Dallas, a recalcitrant Gomas said: 'No one knows anyone else's story, and no one should judge. No one knows what it's like.'

Dressed in a fitted white tank and black leggings, her long hair slicked back in a bun, the owner of Uppercut Marketing, which promises its clients, 'We make you look really really good,' stood at the door of her $1.6million property and said she was consulting a lawyer.

'They're staking out my house. They're staking out my neighbors. They're going through my mail,' she said.

'So much of what's out there is inaccurate,' but when asked for specifics she declined to comment further.

Passengers on Flight 1009 from Dallas Fort Worth to Orlando that day were forced to deplane after a 'distraught' Gomas suggested the plane was not safe, forcing staff to de-board the flight and re-screen the aircraft and passengers.

Tiffany Gomas's meltdown was caught on video last month when she frantically demanded to get off a plane, claiming someone in the back of the aircraft was 'not real'

Passengers turned their head as she seemed to point to the back of the plane while speaking about a guy who 'was not real'

Gomas's meltdown was apparently sparked by an argument with a relative with whom she accused of stealing her airpods.

'The female then started claiming the aircraft was not safe and did not want the aircraft to leave due to her believing it would not make it to its destination,' the police report states.

The marketing executive, who is based in Dallas, was issued a warning for Criminal Trespass, but she was neither charged nor taken into custody

'Due to the statements the flight attendants felt the aircraft needed to be rescreened. [The airline manager] explained that the passenger was denied boarding and they wanted her escorted to the public side.'

She marched off the plane but by the time TSA officers arrived to escort her back to the public side of the airport, the visibly upset woman was trying to get back on the flight.

Dallas Fort Worth Department of Safety police officers tried to speak with a 'distraught' Gomas but she refused to cooperate.

She was eventually escorted back to the non-secure side of the airport.

Despite her earlier hysteria, she made repeated attempts to come back through TSA and into the boarding area.

Gomas, who was clutching a $1,900 Goyard tote bag in the clip, heads up her own marketing firm and lives in a $1.6million luxury four-bedroom property complete with a swimming pool

Police later found Gomas sitting on the curb outside the airport waiting for an Uber.

They issued her with a warning for Criminal Trespass, but she was neither charged nor taken into custody.

The marketing executive, who was seen clutching a $1,900 Goyard tote bag in the viral video, was deemed a 'rising star' in 2017, when she served as Vice President of Client Services at Elevate Brand Marketing.

She now heads up her own marketing firm, UpperCut Marketing, which boasts big name clients such as Xbox, Microsoft and others. Its public profiles were locked after the incident.

Gomas resides in a $1.6million luxury four-bedroom property complete with a swimming pool.

She bought the home in the affluent neighborhood in January 2022 for $572,530, before renovating the entire space.
Fisherman will be able to catch valuable bluefin tuna commercially in UK waters for the first time in decades as the government capitalises on post-Brexit freedoms.

In a boost to the fishing industry, 65 tons of the species, which returned to our waters in 2021, will be available for capture.

Some 39 tons of this will be available for a trial commercial fishery  the first in the UK for decades  with licences issued to ten fishermen.

Atlantic bluefin tuna are among the most coveted fish in the world and are worth thousands of pounds. Fisheries minister Mark Spencer said: 'We're committed to the sustainable management of Atlantic bluefin tuna and this announcement will help to deliver this while providing economic and social benefits to communities around our coast.

'I look forward to seeing the valuable research that this work will deliver, contributing hugely to developing a plan for how we use our quota in the future.'

In a boost to the fishing industry, 65 tons of the species, which returned to our waters in 2021, will be available for capture

A source at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: 'Since leaving the EU, we have seen an increase in fish quotas for the UK that will amount to around 146million by 2026  the increased quota share of 65 tons in 2023 is a reflection of this. UK fisheries have benefitted significantly.'

During the commercial trial, which will run until November, vessels will be allowed only to use low-impact rod and reel fishing gears using artificial lures rather than live bait or chumming (food thrown into the water).

Recreational anglers will also be able to fish for the bluefin tuna under the Catch and Release Tagging programme (CHART), available through 24 charter vessels from ports across the South West and southern England.

David Righton, from CHART, said: 'The programme will further develop our understanding of the occurrence and demographics of Atlantic bluefin tuna in English waters.'

The stock of bluefin tuna in UK waters has risen significantly in recent years due to rising sea temperatures and an abundance of prey.

In 2021, the International Union for Conservation of Nature watchdog changed its entry for Eastern Atlantic bluefin tuna from 'endangered' to 'least concern'.
Princess Margaret was stopped from taking an Irish holiday in 1968 over fears that a visit would revitalise the IRA, newly unearthed documents revealed.

Margaret, her husband Lord Snowdon and their two children were planning to spend Easter at Birr Castle in County Offaly, Ireland with Lord Snowdon's stepfather.

But newly declassified documents show the British embassy rejected the proposal because of the 'existence of a body of extremists who will feel obliged, even if it is merely to justify their existence, to create trouble', The Times reported.

British government officials also noted how when the late Queen's sister had visited Ireland three years prior, the IRA had 'succeeded in exploiting the opportunity for making trouble by various acts of hooliganism'.

Had the royals' holiday moved forward, it would have coincided with the 52nd anniversary of the insurrection against British rule in Dublin.

Princess Margaret was stopped from taking an Irish holiday in 1968 over fears that a visit would revitalise the IRA, newly unearthed documents revealed. She is pictured with her husband Lord Snowdon and their baby son David

Margaret, her husband Lord Snowdon and their two children were planning to spend Easter at Birr Castle in County Offaly, Ireland with Lord Snowdon's stepfather. But documents show the British embassy rejected the proposal because they feared the visit would re-energise militant republicans. Princess Margaret, Lord Snowdon and the Countess of Rosse are pictured leaving Birr Castle in 1965

When her holiday proposal was rejected, the government alleged that a repeat visit could prompt 'protest against the presence of a member of the royal family on Irish soil'.

It is understood the officials feared the visit would re-energise militant republicans who they alleged had been 'fairly quiescent' at the time.

'This has been largely due to the successful prosecution of the policy of the Irish government to let the organisation 'wither on the vine', in which we have co-operated by refraining from naval visits,' the document stated.

The correspondence reportedly demonstrated a reluctance to 'jeopardise' what The Times referred to as the 'fragile process of peace and reconciliation'.

PA Carter, a Dublin-based diplomat, had written that for the 'mass of Irishmen' a visit from the Princess and her family 'would be welcome'.

But he added: 'Nevertheless, we have to accept the existence of a body of extremists who will feel obliged, even if it is merely to justify their existence, to create trouble.

It is understood the officials feared her visit would re-energise militant republicans who they alleged had been 'fairly quiescent' at the time. Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon are pictured in November 1969

He wrote that the ambassador 'sympathises very much' with Margaret's desire to 'have a quiet family holiday in Ireland' but, on 'political considerations', had to 'reach a conclusion adverse to the visit'.

The following summer then-Home Secretary James Callaghan was contacted by the Irish nationalist MP for West Belfast who asked for help to protect Catholics in the city who were reportedly the 'target of sectarian rioting'.

British troops were sent in as part of a peacekeeping operation, but their presence led to the consolidation of the Provisional IRA. It also saw the start of the nearly 40-year Troubles conflict that claimed over 3,700 lives.

Princess Margaret died at age 71 in 2002 after battling years of health problems.
A Chatswood man has admitted to wandering the streets of Chatswood in a daze after his trip to get the morning newspaper revealed his $2.6 million Saturday Lotto win.

The Sydney resident held one of the two division one winning entries in Saturday Lotto draw 4389, drawn Saturday 12 August 2023 and took home $2,688,246.93.

'I've never experienced anything like this before, it's mind-blowing!' the winning man exclaimed when an official from The Lott called to confirm his incredible win.

'It still hasn't hit me!

'It was meant to be a normal Sunday! I ran down to get the paper yesterday morning and decided to check my entry while I was there.

The Sydney resident held one of the two division one winning entries in Saturday Lotto draw 4389, drawn Saturday 12 August 2023 and took home $2,688,246.93.

'I'm not really sure what happened next if I'm honest.

'I realised I'd won something big, so I checked the numbers again and then just wandered the streets.

'I was so shocked!'

The elated winner said the win would change his life immediately and in many ways, but confessed he wasn't sure which changes to make first.

'Obviously it's amazing but I need more time to wrap my head around this,' he laughed.

'It's going to potentially set me up for an earlier retirement, but I could also just cut back and work part-time if I wanted to.

'I'll also look into buying a unit for myself and investing for the future.

'I'm most excited about the fact that I can travel wherever and whenever I feel like now!

'I already had a trip booked overseas for the end of the year and I'm going to extend that for a few more months now.

'I'm so excited for what the future holds!'

The winning ticket was purchased at Chatswood Interchange Newsagency, Shop 31A Chatswood Interchange, 432 Victoria Road, Chatswood.

Chatswood Interchange Newsagency owner Ms Louise Geng said the team were over the moon for their winning customer and wished them all the best for the future.

'We're all so excited to have sold a division one winning entry and it's magnificent news for our customers and the entire community,' she said.

'It's been a few years between division one wins for us so we can't wait to celebrate with our customers in the weeks to come.

'We'd all like to wish our winner the best of luck for the future and hope they enjoy their prize.'

The winning numbers in Saturday Lotto draw 4389 on 12 August 2023 were 10, 5, 30, 32, 42 and 34, while the supplementary numbers were 45 and 19.

Across Australia, there were two division one winning entries in Saturday Lotto draw 4389  One each in New South Wales and Western Australia.

The Lott's division one winning tally has now reached 248 so far in 2023, including 81 won by NSW Lotteries customers.

In 2022, Saturday Lotto created 171 millionaires across Australia.

During this time, there were 330 division one winning in Saturday Lotto entries across Australia that collectively won more than $456.6 million.
Qantas has made a bold declaration of support for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament but the public pledge has gone down like a lead balloon among Aussies as support for the Yes vote continues to plummet.

The airline has unveiled three planes emblazoned with the 'Yes23' logo, along with the message 'Qantas proudly supports Voice to Parliament'.

Qantas shared a photo of the new livery to social media before showing off three freshly decked out planes at an official launch party attended by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Sydney on Monday.

But not everyone is happy, sparking a divided reaction from Aussies on social media.

Many described the move as 'virtue-signalling while others vowed to boycott the airline, six years after Qantas launched a similar campaign for the same sex marriage vote.

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said support for the Voice continues the national carrier's long-term commitment to reconciliation along with the notion of a 'fair go'.

Anthony Albanese (pictured right with Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce) welcomed the airline's support for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament when Qantas unveiled its planes emblazoned with 'Yes23' in Sydney on Monday

'It's great to see so much support from parliament in the room. Qantas got established in the 1920s thanks to the First Nations. They helped us discover landing sites. We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them,' Mr Joyce told the crowd.

'Qantas was one of the first companies to have a reconciliation action plan. Internships, trainee programs to provide high quality jobs to First Nations people, and have a program working with First Nations suppliers.

'We're here today to confirm and demonstrate that we support an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.'

'We're literally, flying the flag so every major city, every major town, will get to see this message, which is fantastic.'

The 'Yes23' livery will be carried on three aircraft: a Qantas Boeing 737, a QantasLink Dash 8 Turboprop and a Jetstar Airbus A320.

Its support for the Yes campaign sparked a divided reaction from Aussies.

'If only you embraced customer service as enthusiastically as you embrace virtue signalling,' lawyer Jim Parke tweeted.

Another man wrote: 'Please just stick to sorting out the airline and stay out of politics.'

One woman added: 'It's obviously your choice. But its also your passengers' choice not to fly with you ever again.'

AFL legend Adam Goodes (pictured with Qantas staff on Monday) made a rare public appearance to pledge his support for the Yes vote

The Qantas launch was another opportunity for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (right) to spruik the Voice. He's pictured with Indigenous leader Noel Pearson (left), Yes23 Campaign Director Dean Parkin (2nd from left) and Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce (second right)

Other Aussies vowed to boycott the airline.

'Another reason to not fly Qantas,' one woman tweeted.

There was more public backlash when the Prime Minister took to social media to praise Qantas for its public support.

'Politicians and Qantas don't own that plane, the taxpayers do,' one Aussie tweeted.

Another added: Does the plane get to vote? I thought this was for Australia people to decide.

Mr Joyce acknowledged the fact that not everyone is in favour of the Voice while urging Aussies to make their own decisions.

'We know there are a range of views on this issue, including amongst our customers and employees, and we respect that,' he said in a statement.

'I encourage people to find out more, to listen to First Nations voices, and to make their own decisions.'

It comes as Fair Australia, part of the No campaign for the Voice slammed Qantas for weighing into the debate.

'In the middle of a cost of living crisis  while theyre raking in billions in profit Qantas wants to lecture struggling Australian families on how to vote in the referendum,' Fair Australia tweeted.

'This is a corporate giant who unlawfully sacked thousands of workers during the pandemic and now faces accusations of price gouging.

'Qantas, the big banks, Labor, the Greens and the Teals should leave struggling Australians alone.

'Instead of haranguing us about the divisive Voice, maybe Qantas should focus on making sure our bags arrive on time and not broken apart.

'Whether its endorsements from celebrities or multibillion dollar corporates  the Yes campaign can't seem to get the message: mainstream Australians have had enough.'

Qantas has unveiled its newest pledge of public support for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, sparking a divided response from Aussies

Support for the Yes campaign soared at the Qantas launch in Sydney on Monday, sparking a furious response from Aussies

Indigenous AFL legend Adam Goodes made a rare public appearance to pledge his support for the Voice at Monday's launch.

'We can't have people sitting on the sidelines right now, not listening, not engaging, and then two weeks before a month before we have to vote, trying to find all that information,' the two time premiership and Brownlow Medal winner told crowd.

'We need to have those conversations now and we need to start listening to what people are thinking and saying.'

The launch was another opportunity for the Prime Minister to issue an impassioned plea to Australians to vote Yes when the referendum is held later in the year.

'The spirit of Australia says yes, and it says yes because this will assist reconciliation in a practical way,' Mr Albanese said.

'In 2023, we will give every Australian the opportunity in coming weeks - not long to go now - to do that, to show respect, to uplift our whole nation and to send a message to the world that we are a confident, mature nation prepared to come to terms with the fullness and the richness of our history.'

'It will be such a wonderful moment because the alternative is more of the same - the same that sees us achieving just four of 19 closing the gap targets being on track.'

'We can do better, we must do better, and we will do better when Australians vote for recognition'

The prime minister first hinted that Qantas would publicly pledge its support vote three months ago.

Anthony Albanese(right) first hinted of Qantas' support for the Voice back in May. He's pictured with partner Jodie Haydon and Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce at the airline's 100th birthday celebrations

AFL legend Adam Goodes (second right) called for more conversations about the proposed Voice to Parliament

In a meeting with News Corp editors in May, Mr Albanese revealed Qantas was considering publicly backing the campaign by painting Yes in large lettering on the side of some of its planes.

The latest move comes six years after Qantas publicly backed the marriage equality vote.

The Voice is a proposed advisory body which would make recommendations to the federal government and parliament on laws and policies affecting Indigenous people.

The Voice referendum is expected to be held in October.
Hospital bosses have been accused of getting the law wrong in their contentious policies on gender.

Campaigners say NHS trusts have mis-interpreted the protections afforded to transgender people, ignored special exemptions that apply in the health system, and failed to take into account women's rights or 'gender-critical' beliefs.

The main piece of legislation cited by health bosses in their guidance on transgender patients and employees is the Equality Act 2010, which bans discrimination against anyone undergoing or even proposing to change their gender.

However critics say that although 'gender reassignment' is one of the nine protected characteristics in the landmark anti-discrimination law, so is 'sex' and therefore women's rights should also be taken into account.

Another protected characteristic is 'belief'  yet none of the dozens of NHS hospital policies studied by The Daily Mail point out that people including staff and patients have the right to express gender-critical views such as saying that humans cannot change sex.

Women's Rights Network founder Heather Binning (pictured centre) said: 'The impact on female staff members should not be underestimated if colleagues of the opposite sex identify into their toilet and changing areas'

In addition, trusts appear to interpret the anti-discrimination law as meaning that transgender people must be treated as if they have changed sex.

Some have even erroneously stated that 'gender' is a protected characteristic, when in fact the law uses the term 'sex'.

The Equality Act also specifically includes the provision of healthcare as an area where single-sex services can be legally provided, which some commentators say should mean that transgender women do not have to be granted access to female-only wards.

Explanatory notes to the legislation list exemptions where 'single sex services are permitted', including where 'they are provided in a hospital or other place where users need special attention' and 'they may be used by more than one person and a woman might object to the presence of a man (or vice versa)'.

Women's Rights Network founder Heather Binning said: 'The impact on female staff members should not be underestimated if colleagues of the opposite sex identify into their toilet and changing areas.

'The single-sex exemptions in the Equality Act 2010 allow males to be excluded from female areas no matter how they identify, and regardless of whether they have a Gender Recognition Certificate.

'Once again, we have guidelines which repeatedly ignore or misstate the Equality Act in relation to single-sex exemptions, and many even get the protected characteristics wrong.'

The other law mentioned in most NHS policies is the Gender Recognition Act 2004, which allows people legally change their sex from male to female or vice versa on birth certificates and so marry in their new identity.

Campaigners say NHS trusts have misinterpreted the protections afforded to transgender people (stock photo)

Hospital trusts warn staff that a section of the legislation means it is a criminal offence to 'out' a transgender patient without their consent.

But most policies do not mention that there is a specific exemption for healthcare, which states it is not an offence to disclose protected information if it is 'made to a health professional' or 'made for medical purposes', including the provision of care and treatment.

Maya Forstater, executive director of campaign group Sex Matters, said: 'Combined with a complete lack of consideration for other people's rights, and other protected characteristics particularly sex and belief, this means that they end up with these crazy policies which assume that a person's sex should be kept confidential in a healthcare setting, and that they must be treated as the opposite sex on demand - including if they are only 'non-binary' - but want to access opposite sex facilities.'
He died just a few days after being discharged

A six-year-old boy with influenza has died after being sent home from hospital last week.

The child died on Friday, August 11, just a few days after attending Riverland General Hospital in Berri, South Australia.

It's understood that the family was informed that the six-year-old, who had been ill with the flu for a week, was deemed well enough to be discharged and sent home.

The Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network has provided all patient records to the coroner.

The child died on Friday, August 11, just a few days after attending Riverland General Hospital in Berri, South Australia (pictured)

'This is a tragic loss for the family and community, and we offer our deepest sympathies to the child's family,' a spokesperson said.

'We have conducted an initial review of the care provided and are confident appropriate diagnostic and medical care was given in line with best practice.'

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said the incident was 'heartbreaking'.

'No matter how it's happened, it's heartbreaking and there's almost always a thorough investigation into it and that's what I expect to occur in this instance,' Mr Malinauskas said.

The Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network said the hospital has 'highly skilled' staff which are qualified to provide 24/7 emergency care to the community.

'The Riverland General Hospital Emergency Department is staffed by highly trained physicians, including emergency physicians and rural generalists, who are highly skilled and qualified to care for a wide range of acute presentations, including children,' a spokesperson said.

South Australia's coroner has launched an investigation into the six-year-old boy's death.
Five people were found dead after a house explosion in western Pennsylvania that destroyed three structures and damaged at least a dozen others, authorities said Sunday.

Plum Borough Police Chief Lanny Conley said the bodies of four adults and one minor were recovered after the blast shortly before 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the borough.

'This is certainly a sad, sad day and a sad time, for not just the folks in Plum but all the folks in the community and in this region,' said Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald.

Footage of the explosion circulating online shows a home in Plum, a suburb of Pittsburgh, in what appears to be a fairly sleepy neighborhood, exploding and sending debris flying.

What caused the explosion remains under investigation, and officials have not released the names of those killed.

However, the housing development does sit on top of an abandoned mine near to shallow oil and gas wells - some which are still in active production.

Five people were found dead after a house explosion in western Pennsylvania that destroyed three structures and damaged at least a dozen others, authorities said Sunday

Of the three people taken to hospitals, two were released while one remained in critical condition, said Steve Imbarlina, deputy director of fire and emergency services for Allegheny County.

Fifty-seven firefighters were treated at the scene for minor issues.

'It's just tragic, I mean, it looks like a war zone  it looks like a bomb hit our neighborhood, and it's just unfortunate,' neighbor Rafael Kolankowski told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Emergency responders reported people trapped under debris after the blast leveled one house and left two others engulfed in flames, county spokesperson Amie Downs said.

Crews from at least 18 fire departments worked to douse the flames with the help of water tankers from Allegheny and Westmoreland counties.

The cause of the explosion is under investigation. Imbarlina warned that the investigation would be a 'slow and long process' that would include a lot of forensic testing and could last 'months if not years.'

The Allegheny County Medical Examiners Office is expected to provide additional information about the deceased victims.

'Please give us some time to deal with this situation and give the families your respect and give them some space to deal with this tragedy,' Conley said.

Michael Huwar, president of Peoples Gas, said the company's checks for gas leaks underground and in the air as well as the consistent pressure verified at regulation stations indicated that 'our system was operating as designed.'

Footage of the explosion circulating online shows a home in Plum, a suburb of Pittsburgh, in what appears to be a fairly sleepy neighborhood, exploding and sending debris flying

Two firefighters stand on the debris around the smoldering wreckage of the the three houses that exploded near Rustic Ridge Drive and Brookside Drive in Plum

Police and emergency services search the wreckage of the three houses that exploded near Rustic Ridge Drive and Brookside Drive

Steve Imbarlina, Assistant Chief of Allegheny County EMS, briefs the media

Emergency responders reported people trapped under debris after the blast leveled one house and left two others engulfed in flames, county spokesperson Amie Downs said

Gas and electric service was shut off as a precaution, and officials said Sunday a plan was in place to begin restoring service with electric power expected to be returned to all but a few residences, officials said.

Governor Josh Shapiro said he and the first lady were 'praying for the families' affected and promised them that 'as you rebuild, we will have your back.'

Emergency services were called Rustic Ridge Drive and Brookside Drive at about 10:23am on Saturday morning and discovered people trapped under debris, while two others were engulfed by flames, police said.

First responders arriving on the scene were met with a massive inferno that had created a large plume of thick, black smoke at the scene.

Several homes were flattened in the incident with aerial footage showing at least three empty lots where homes once stood and multiple properties with broken windows and exterior damage.

Allegheny and Westmoreland counties sent water tankers to the scene and 18 different fire departments coordinated to put out the flames and conduct rescue operations.

Crews from at least 18 fire departments worked to douse the flames with the help of water tankers from Allegheny and Westmoreland counties

The ruins of a home that was destroyed in the explosion

Police and emergency services control the smoldering debris

Footage of the explosion circulating online shows a home in Plum, Pittsburgh in what appears to be a fairly sleepy neighborhood, exploding and sending debris flying

Emergency services were called Rustic Ridge Drive and Brookside Drive at about 10:23am on Saturday morning and discovered people trapped under debris, while two others were engulfed by flames, police said

The house that exploded belonged to borough manager, Mike Thomas, Plum Mayor Harry Schlegel told the outlet. It remains unclear what condition Thomas is in.

His wife and daughter were taken to the hospital, and a man who lives in a neighboring home was flown to UPMC Mercy to be treated in the hospital's burn unit, the mayor said.

Neighbor Alexis Typanski said she was sleeping when she heard the thunderous blast.

'I heard this 'boom.' It was so loud that it woke me up. I thought it was thunder from the storms last night,' she said.

'My water bottle fell on me instantaneously. I was shaking. It scared me so bad.'
A mobile refrigerated morgue has been brought to the devastated town of Lahaina as Maui officials continue their search for victims of the worst U.S. wildfire in 100 years.

The death toll on Sunday rose to 96, but Hawaii officials said it was likely to rise significantly.

John Pelletier, the Maui police chief, said only three percent of Lahaina - home to more than 9,000 people - had been searched so far.

Officials with cadaver dogs were going house-to-house over the weekend scouring the charred buildings for human remains.

Buildings which had been searched were marked with an X - a custom U.S. officials adopted after Hurricane Katrina - and those containing bodies were marked 'H.R.'

Members of the FBI's Evidence Response Team are pictured Sunday setting up racks to put inside a refrigerated mobile morgue

FBI agents are seen on Sunday readying the structures to go inside the morgue

The mobile morgue will allow authorities to keep the bodies cool while they try to identify the remains

The morgue was being prepared Sunday behind a screen as Maui continues to reel from the tragedy

Those who are still missing loved ones are being asked to provide a DNA sample.

Pelletier described the blaze as 'a fire that melted metal,' saying it had been severe enough that each recovered body will have to be identified using DNA.

As the dead were beginning to be counted, questions were mounting about how the fire started, how it got so out of control, and whether the official response was sufficient.

The cause has not yet been confirmed, but on Saturday, LippSmith LLP and other law firms filed a class-action lawsuit against Hawaiian Electric, alleging that its downed power lines caused the fire, and that company officials 'inexcusably kept their power lines energized' despite fire warnings.

The company stated on Sunday it was unable to comment on pending litigation.

'Our immediate focus is on supporting emergency response efforts on Maui and restoring power for our customers and communities as quickly as possible,' said Jim Kelly, a spokesman for the company.

'At this early stage, the cause of the fire has not been determined and we will work with the state and county as they conduct their review.'

It has emerged that Hawaiian Electric did not shut off the power lines when they were warned of the hurricane-force winds that were approaching the island.

States such as California, which suffers a large number of wildfires, frequently deploy a 'public power shutoff plan,' which involves intentionally cutting off electricity to areas where big wind events could spark fires.

California began implementing the plan following the 2017 and 2018 wildfires, which up until last week, were the most destructive and deadliest in the country in the last 100 years.

The historic town of Lahaina, which is in Maui County, has suffered black after block of complete devastation from the wildfires; an aerial view shows charred cars demolished buildings on Friday

The death toll has risen to 96, with more bodies expected to be found

Burned houses and buildings are pictured on Saturday in the aftermath of the wildfire

Lahaina is seen from a boat, with the buildings burnt to the ground

An aerial photo taken on Friday shows the fires still smoldering in Lahaina

A Mercy Worldwide volunteer makes damage assessment of charred apartment complex in Lahaina on Saturday

Maui's firefighting efforts may have been hampered by limited staff and equipment.

Bobby Lee, president of the Hawaii Firefighters Association, said there are no more than 65 county firefighters working at any given time, who are responsible for three islands: Maui, Molokai and Lanai.

Lahaina resident Riley Curran said he doubted that county officials could have done more, given the speed of the flames.

He fled his Front Street home after seeing the oncoming fire from the roof of a neighboring building.

'It's not that people didn't try to do anything,' Curran said. 'The fire went from zero to 100.'

Elsewhere on Maui, at least two other fires have been burning: in south Maui's Kihei area and in the mountainous, inland communities known as Upcountry. No fatalities have been reported from those blazes.

The Upcountry fire affected 544 structures, most of them homes, Green said.

As many as 4,500 people are in need of shelter, county officials said on Facebook, citing figures from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Pacific Disaster Center.

Josh Green, the governor of Hawaii, said 500 hotel rooms will be made available for locals who have been displaced. An additional 500 hotel rooms will be set aside for workers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Some hotels will carry on with normal business to help preserve jobs and sustain the local economy, Green said.

On Friday, Green asked residents with space to open their doors and take in Maui residents who have lost their homes.

The state wants to work with Airbnb to make sure that rental homes can be made available for locals, and Green hopes that the company will be able to provide three- to nine-month rentals for those who have lost homes.

At least 2,200 buildings were damaged or destroyed in West Maui, Green said, nearly all of them residential.

Across the island, damage was estimated at close to $6 billion.

A group of volunteers who sailed from Maalaea Bay, Maui, form an assembly line on Kaanapali Beach on Saturday

The group are seen forming a human chain to get the supplies onto land

People gather for a morning service at Keawalai Church, founded in 1832, in Makena on Sunday

J.P. Mayoga, a cook at the Westin Maui in Kaanapali, has seen his job switch from feeding tourists to cooking for the roughly 200 hotel employees and their family members who have been living there since Tuesday's fire devastated the Lahaina community just south of the resort.

His home and that of his father were spared.

But his wife, two young daughters, father and another local are all staying in a hotel room together, as it is safer than Lahaina, which is covered in toxic debris.

Maui water officials warned Lahaina and Kula residents not to drink running water, which may be contaminated even after boiling, and to only take short, lukewarm showers in well-ventilated rooms to avoid possible chemical vapor exposure.

'Everybody has their story, and everybody lost something. So everybody can be there for each other, and they understand what's going on in each other's lives,' he told AP of his co-workers at the hotel.

The latest death toll surpassed that of the 2018 Camp Fire in northern California, which left 85 dead and destroyed the town of Paradise.

The fires are Hawaii's deadliest natural disaster in decades, surpassing a 1960 tsunami that killed 61 people.

An even deadlier tsunami in 1946 killed more than 150 on the Big Island.
Relatives and friends are mourning the loss of a family of four who died in their car as they desperately tried to flee the raging flames that engulfed the small seaside town of Lahaina last week.

The family of four was identified as Faaso and Malui Fonua Tone, their adult daughter Salote Takafua, and her son, Tony Takafua.

Their bodies were discovered Thursday in a burned-out car near their home.

By Sunday, the death toll from the fires had risen to 96, as officials continue to tally the damage wrought by the ferocious blaze.

Officials have said only about 3 percent of Lahaina has been searched as locals filled a church to pray for the first time since the fires devastated the town.

Faaso and Malui Fonua Tone were found dead in their car Thursday as they tried to escape the devastating blaze that destroyed virtually all of Lahaina

Also killed were Faaso and Malui's adult daughter Salote Takafua and her son Tony

The remaining family of the deceased wrote that the 'magnitude' of their grief 'is indescribable' following the tragedy

Few of the dead have been identified, but family provided details about the four found dead in a burned car. In a statement, the devastated remaining family members said: 'On behalf of our family, we bid aloha to our beloved parents, Faaso and Malui Fonua Tone, as well as our dear sister Salote Takafua and her son, Tony Takafua.'

'The magnitude of our grief is indescribable, and their memories will forever remain etched in our hearts.'

The deceased had been longtime residents of Lahaina who lived just beneath the Lahainaluna School.

On Sunday morning, Lahaina community members in mourning gathered at the Maui Coffee Attic in Wailuku to mourn and pray for the first time since the wildfires destroyed their town.

Pastor Arza Brown led the service. His usual home, the Grace Baptist Church, burned down in the wildfire. Brown conducted a well-attended service in the makeshift holy setting as a community came together to pray for the dead and for their uncertain futures.

Spotted in the rows of the packed local coffee house were young parents, old couples, and haunted survivors of the terror, who wished to speak to the crowd about what they saw and how to proceed.

Small children clung to their mothers and hung onto their fathers' necks as the service continued as many of the adults doubtlessly wondered what next steps for their families will look like.

Survivors gathered for a Sunday church service at the Maui Coffee Attic in Wailuku, Maui. The Grace Baptist Church burnt down in the wildfire

A man holding a young child prayed with the crowd Sunday morning as aid continued to pour in from surrounding communities

Pastor Arza Brown delivers a sermon Sunday morning, the weekend after his church burnt down

Heather Fricke, and her daughter Alana, one, attend a church service with survivors from Lahaina

A couple and their young children pray alongside their grieving community Sunday morning

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said Sunday that work was being ramped up to get displaced Lahaina residents into temporary housing.

'Some of the first individuals will go into hotels today, and then large numbers tomorrow and the days subsequent to that,' he said, adding that the government is now paying for 500 rooms.

Rental homes will also be used as temporary housing for the temporarily homeless.

The governor explained in a nine-minute update video posted over the weekend: 'Airbnb is going to offer us hundreds of typically short-term rentals in a longer term capacity, so we can put people into a place for months.'

Dave McCarthy describes his ordeal as a survivor from Lahaina and church goers attend a Sunday church service by Pastor Arza Brown on August 13, 2023

Survivors embrace as they mourn for their community at an improvised church service on Sunday

Pastor Brown's church, Grace Baptist Church, burnt down in the wildfire that tore through the small seaside town last week

Survivors from Lahaina and church goers attend a Sunday church service by Pastor Arza Brown at Maui Coffee Attic in Wailuku, Maui

On Saturday, Green toured the devastation on the historic Front Street of Lahaina.

He said: 'It will certainly be the worst natural disaster that Hawaii ever faced.

'We can only wait and support those who are living. Our focus now is to reunite people when we can and get them housing and get them healthcare, and then turn to rebuilding.'

At least 2,200 buildings were damaged or destroyed in West Maui, Green said, of which 86 percent were residential.

Across the island, he added, damage is estimated at close to $6billion. Green said it will take 'an incredible amount of time' to recover.

Speaking to CNN, Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono spoke of what she saw on Maui following the fires.

The Democrat said: 'The scenes of devastation will stay with me. We are in a period of mourning and loss as we search for more people who are still unaccounted for.'

People walk on Sugar Beach in Maui on Sunday, as the death toll in Lahaina rises to 96

Six active fires torched through Maui and Big Island, wiping out town of Lahaina

At least two other fires have been burning on Maui, with no fatalities reported thus far: in south Mauis Kihei area and in the mountainous, inland communities known as Upcountry.

A fourth broke out on Friday evening in Kaanapali, a coastal community north of Lahaina, but crews were able to extinguish it, authorities said.

Peg Alm spent Wednesday night sleeping in her truck after being forced from her home in Kuhei as another fire broke out.

I didnt know about Lahaina until the next day because we made to evacuate, she told DailyMail.com.

After seeing those heartbreaking pictures of the devastation on the local news, Alm signed up to help with the relief effort after answering a call put out on social media.

I was tired of waking up and crying the whole morning, she says before wiping away more tears as she recounts her memories of the historic beachside town.

This is like the soul of the island has been ripped up, says the Michigan native, who has lived on Maui for 15 years.
An Australian mother is fighting for her life after she was found unconscious in her hotel room in Bali.

Gold Coast woman Deborah Stone is currently being treated in the intensive care unit at BIMC Hospital Nusa Dua Bali after being admitted on Friday.

The 66-year-old had been living on the holiday island for the last few years focusing most of her time on charity and volunteer work.

She was due to fly home on Thursday to help her daughter Fiona Gunn with wedding plans but was found unconscious in her Legian hotel room.

The incident is an added blow to the family with Ms Gunn's father-in-law only recently returning home after spending seven weeks on life support.

The family has also been left with a bill for tens of thousands of dollars as Ms Stone continues to receive care in hospital.

Gold Coast woman Deborah Stone is currently being treated in the intensive care unit at BIMC Hospital Nusa Dua Bali

Days before Ms Stone was admitted to hospital she had been entertaining her brother Max who had flown to the holiday island to visit her.

She then fell ill and a concerned Max phoned her hotel to ask staff to check in on her.

'He was really concerned  he had hotel staff open the room and that's when they found her unconscious,' Ms Gunn told news.com.au.

'I was talking to her last Tuesday and she was being treated for a migraine, vomiting and diarrhoea.'

Ms Gunn received the devastating phone call on August 11 from her sister Nichole, 47, informing her that their mum was rushed to intensive care.

On admission, Ms Stone was severely dehydrated with a severe electrolyte imbalance.

The head doctor at the ICU informed Ms Gunn her mum had sustained a brain injury, but could not confirm if the swelling was caused by a stroke, limited blood flow or dehydration and an electrolyte imbalance.

Ms Stone has since regained consciousness and remains in a serious but stable condition.

'She is verbal and we were able to talk to her, but she is slurring and bed bound and at this stage they don't know the extent of neurological damage,' Ms Gunn said.

Ms Stone (right) with her daughters Fiona (centre), 34, and Nichole, 47 (left)

Ms Gunn's wedding plans have been put on hold, with the family focusing on taking each day as it comes.

'Our goal is to get her well enough to be able to get her back home so she is here with family and provide her with the treatment she needs,' Ms Gunn said.

Ms Gunn described the ordeal as a 'nightmare', with the news of her mum coming not long after her family welcomed home her father-in-law after he spent seven weeks on life support.

The 34-year-old has started a GoFundMe to raise funds for her mum's medical expenses.

As of Sunday, Ms Stone's medical costs are in excess of $22,000 for three days into her hospital stay.

Ms Gunn explained the family have 'scrambled' to put together enough money to cover her mum's expenses as Bali requires upfront payment for medical treatment.

She added her mum unfortunately did not have travel insurance and urged all Aussie travellers to pay the extra cost for medical cover.

It is unknown how long Ms Stone will remain in hospital and how much the ongoing care will cost.

The GoFundMe page has received 74 donations totalling $7,925, at the time of writing, and aims to raise $50,000.

'We are so incredibly overwhelmed by your generosity and don't know what we would do without the funds that have been raised to date,' Ms Gunn wrote.

'We have also received so many words of support and love, we thank you all for reaching out to us and we have passed these words onto Debbie. She was so grateful and overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity shown.'

Ms Gunn described her mum as an extremely generous person who is passionate about helping others less fortunate.

Ms Stone (pictured) was living in Bali and working with local charities to raise money for locals in need. Her daughter has started a GoFundMe page to help with the cost of medical treatment

Before the horror accident, Ms Stone was working with charities in Bali raising money for locals.

'Debbie is very generous and was fundraising and doing charitable work with locals in Bali, such as purchasing and donating food and clothing packages,' Ms Gunn wrote.

'She has always been passionate about helping others in less fortunate positions throughout her life and we know that she has made a difference to many people's lives.

'If you don't know Debbie personally, she has cooked meals for the homeless, been a foster parent and raised funds for the less fortunate.'

Ms Stone started her own GoFundMe page in December 2022 to raise money for people 'less fortunate'.

'Those of you who know me well are aware that I've been caring for people most of my life,' ms Stone wrote.

'My late husband and I had a dream, which took the sacrifice of giving up a permanent home so we could travel, identify needs and try to fill them.'
The United States Coast Guard is searching for four divers who are missing from a 'pleasure craft' about 50 miles south of Cape Fear in North Carolina.

The divers were realized as missing in communication between different Coast Guard sectors in both North and South Carolina.

Coast Guard Sector Charleston first reported the four men diving off of a craft called 'Big Bill's' about 63 miles east of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, around noon Sunday.

They found that the men had not resurfaced and the two sectors launched a search and rescue effort.

The guard is using an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew; an HC-130 Hercules aircraft crew; an HC-130 aircraft crew; a 47-foot motor lifeboat crew; the Coast Guard Cutter Sailfish, an 87-foot patrol boat; and the Coast Guard Cutter Yellowfin.

The United States Coast Guard is searching for four divers who are missing from a 'pleasure craft' about 50 miles south of Cape Fear in North Carolina

The crews range from North and South Carolina to as far as Sandy Hook in New Jersey.

The current sea state is about 2-3 feet with 10-knot winds and crews will continue searching through the night, the Coast Guard said in a statement.

The Diver Alert Network reports that about 80-90 diving accident deaths occur per year in the United States and Canada.

Diving deaths are lower than those for driving cars and many other sports.

Neophyte divers tend to be responsible for half of all diving fatalities.

The names of the missing men have not been released. Officials have not said if the men were diving for anything specific.
An Illinois man who murdered his wife after declaring on Family Feud that marrying her was a mistake was sentenced to life in prison.

Timothy Bliefnick, 40, was found guilty in May of the February 2 killing of his estranged wife Becky Bliefnick, 41, in Quincy, Illinois.

The mother-of-three was found dead in her home by her father, after her family became concerned that she had not picked up her sons from school.

She was shot 14 times, and court records show that the couple had separated and were going through a messy divorce.

On Friday, Judge Robert K. Adrian sentenced Bliefnick to life, and stressed the calculated nature of the killing.

'You researched this murder, you planned this murder, you practiced this murder, you broke into her house, and you shot her,' Adrian said on Friday.

Tim Bliefnick, 40, is seen at his sentencing on Friday for the murder of his estranged wife

Becky Bliefnick (left) was found dead in her home by her father after her family became concerned that she had not picked up her sons from school

He then counted loudly to 14 - the number of bullets Bliefnick unloaded into his estranged wife.

'I don't know how long it took you to do that. Some of those shots were fired while she was lying on the ground,' said Adrian.

'And you did all of that while your children were upstairs at your house laying snug in their beds.'

Bliefnick appeared on Family Feud in 2020, and he joked with the host Steve Harvey that somebody's 'biggest wedding mistake' would likely be getting married at all.

'Honey, I love you,' said Bliefnick, addressing his wife.

He then told Harvey what his biggest mistake was: 'Said, 'I do.''

His response evoked laughter and gasps from the crowd, and a blank stare from Harvey.

The episode was recorded in the fall of 2019 but aired in the spring of 2020.

Judge Robert K. Adrian counted to 14 in the courtroom on Friday - the number of bullets Bliefnick fired to kill his wife

Sarah Reilly, Becky Bliefnick's sister, is pictured addressing the court on Friday

Timothy Bliefnick, 40, refused to testify in his own defense after being accused of killing his estranged wife in Quincy, Illinois

Bliefnick appeared on ABC's Family Feud in 2020, and he joked with the host Steve Harvey that somebody's 'biggest wedding mistake' would likely be getting married at all

Prosecutors say he used a crowbar to break into the property through a second-story window before shooting his estranged wife in the bathroom.

Becky had also sent a chilling message to her sister Sarah Reilly before she died, warning that if anything happened to her, 'the No.1 person of interest is Tim'.

'I am putting this in writing that I'm fearful he will somehow harm me, come after me, or will try to [do] something to me that takes me away from the kids or the kids away from me,' she said.

Reilly on Friday told Bliefnick that their family was living a nightmare.

'Every video of her laugh makes me forget for a moment, makes me foolishly hope for a moment that I will wake up from this reality, a reality that is so impossible to accept,' she said, addressing her former brother-in-law from the witness stand.

'She was my only sister, my best friend. I loved her and continue to still love her with every ounce of my being. She is irreplaceable.

'I am left here living with and locking away my own suffering so I can move forward with my life for the sake of my family, for the sake of the boys, because Becky would not want our pain to give you any further satisfaction.'

Becky's mother, Bernadette Postle, told him: 'You took from your boys the person who loved them the most on this earth.

'You replaced their mother's love with emotional scars and trauma.'

Bliefnick (pictured right as his home was raided in March) was 'very cooperative' with officers, and handed over his keys to the home, which he rents, and his car

The court heard Bliefnick researched ways to commit the crime on Google before riding to Becky's home on a bicycle

Becky's family said in May, after he was convicted, that their priority was now raising her three young children

Becky's family said in May, after he was convicted, that their priority was now raising her three young children.

'We live with the hope that the worst moment of our lives cannot define who we are, as we pick up the pieces to raise Becky's boys in the way we know she would want,' they said.

'While life cannot be normal in the ways it once was, such love and support does help restore the belief that the world does, in fact, have more good than evil.

'As they go forward with the certain truth that their father murdered their mother, we ask that you keep Becky's three, incredible boys in your prayers.

'We will move forward by leaning on each otherand our faithfor healing. We will speak of Becky warmly and often, remembering the way she lived and loved, not the way she died. She will be missed forever and loved always.'

The court heard Bliefnick researched ways to commit the crime on Google, before riding to her home on a bicycle.

Investigators retrieved dozens of shell casings in the basement that the state police lab found was fired from the same gun as eight recovered from the crime scene.

The couple had separated and were going through a messy divorce when Becky was shot 14 times according to investigators

Becky had also sent a chilling message to her sister Sarah Reilly (right) before she died, warning that if anything happened to her, 'the No.1 person of interest is Tim'

The nurse (left), had previously filed a restraining order against her estranged husband (right) and his father before she was then hit with a restraining order by her husband

Before the shooting, Bliefnick had taken his wife's gun and refused to give it back, her attorney revealed.

Officers didn't find the murder weapon, though Becky's handgun remains missing and forensic experts say it was among several models which could have matched the casings.

In the weeks after her death, Bliefnick attended her wake, but not her funeral as he didn't want to be a 'distraction'.

Police described him as being 'cooperative', after swooping on his property shortly before arresting him.

His lawyers also accused Quincy Police Department of failing to 'follow up' on claims that Becky was being stalked but did not release any further information or evidence to back up their claims.

Becky's family have branded the killing as 'hateful, cowardly and cruel', and vowed to not shy away from telling the boys who killed their mother

Prosecutors say he used a crowbar to break into the property (pictured) through a second-story window before shooting his estranged wife in the bathroom

The couple had three sons together, but were living separately at the time of Becky's death, with court records showing their split was filed in February 2021.

Court records show that the couple, who married in 2009, was going through a contentious divorce and had both filed restraining orders against each other.

Quincy Police said the murder was an unusual act of domestic violence in an otherwise safe town.
The woman whose deadly mushroom lunch left three of her in-laws dead has revealed that her ex-husband accused her of killing his parents.

Erin Patterson, 48, has also admitted lying to police about when she dumped a dehydrator she used to prepare the mushrooms in her lethal beef wellington.

Erin invited her former parents-in-law Gail and Don Patterson, along with Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson and her husband Ian, for lunch at her home in Leongatha, in Victoria's Gippsland region, on July 29.

Within days, three of her four guests died. It's feared they may have eaten death cap mushrooms, which are among the most poisonous in the world.

The surviving guest, Mr Wilkinson, remains in a critical but stable condition in need of a liver transplant.

Erin has given her first detailed account of the fatal meal in a lengthy written statement to Victoria Police, which was obtained by the ABC on Monday.

She had earlier given a no comment interview to police at the start of their investigations, blaming her decision to stonewall cops on it being a 'terrifying and anxiety-provoking' experience.

Erin has now revealed that she became unwell after eating the meal and that while she was in hospital, her ex-husband Simon Patterson accused her of poisoning his parents.

She said she was 'discussing the food hydrator' she used to prepare the meal when her ex-husband asked: 'Is that what you used to poison them?'

In a panic, Erin has admitted that she then dumped the dehydrator at a nearby tip.

Food dehydrators are used to dry out mushrooms before using them in beef wellingtons.

Erin Patterson (pictured at her home) has given a detailed account to police of what happened at and after the fateful mushroom meal she hosted at her Leongatha home

Erin's former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson (pictured) died a week after attending the lunch

Ian Wilkinson and Heather Wilkinson (both pictured) became severely ill after they ate wild mushrooms. Mrs Wilkinson died earlier this month while her husband remains in a critical condition in hospital

Erin has admitted lying to police about how long ago she disposed of the food dehydrator. She initially told them she dumped it there a 'long time ago' but has now revealed she did so after her guests fell ill.

Police are examining CCTV from the landfill to determine when it was dumped.

Elsewhere in the police statement, Erin said she served the meal before inviting guests to choose their own plates.

She then took the last plate and ate a serving of the beef wellington.

The next day, her two children also ate the meal but the mushrooms were scraped off first as they do not like them.

Previously, it had been claimed that the children were present at the deadly lunch, but it has since emerged that they were actually at the movies at the time.

Erin said she was then hospitalised with bad stomach pains and diarrhoea, and was put on a saline drip and given a 'liver protective drug'.

She was transported by ambulance from Leongatha Hospital to Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne.

Erin's estranged husband Simon Patterson was also meant to attend the lunch but pulled out

Gail and Don Patterson died after eating the mushrooms

Gippsland Southern Health Service confirmed last Friday that a fifth individual, who initially came to Leongatha Hospital on July 30 with symptoms of possible food poisoning, later returned and was also subsequently transferred to Monash Medical Centre.

What was left of the meal was preserved and given to hospital toxicologists for examination after Erin was contacted by Department of Health officials as the conditions of her guests worsened in hospital.

Erin told police that the mushrooms were a mixture of button mushrooms bought from a supermarket and dried mushrooms bought from an Asian supermarket in Melbourne months earlier.

The leaked police statement is the first time Erin has spoken at length about the tragedy.

'I now very much regret not answering some questions ... given the nightmare that this process has become,' she said.

'I am now wanting to clear up the record because I have become extremely stressed and overwhelmed by the deaths of my loved ones.

'I am hoping this statement might help in some way. I believe if people understood the background more, they would not be so quick to rush to judgement.

'I am now devastated to think that these mushrooms may have contributed to the illness suffered by my loved ones. I really want to repeat that I had absolutely no reason to hurt these people whom I loved.'

KEY POINTS OF ERIN'S POLICE STATEMENT 1. Erin admitted to originally lying to police and 'panicked' by dumping the food dehydrator at a nearby tip, amid fears she would lose custody of her children. 2. She said she actually did eat the beef wellington meal herself and was hospitalised and had to be transferred to Melbourne by ambulance 3. She claims she brought the mushrooms from a supermarket and an Asian grocery store in Melbourne. She was unable to verify which Asian grocer 4. Contrary to previous reports, Ms Patterson's two children didn't attend the lunch but ate leftovers from the following night with with the mushrooms taken out. 5. Ms Patterson insists she always had a positive and amicable bond with her former in-laws, even after the marriage with their son broke down Advertisement

The fateful lunch was arranged to try to negotiate a reconciliation with her estranged husband Simon Patterson.

Ms Patterson said Simon had pulled out of the lunch 'prior to the day'.

Ms Patterson told police she used a combination of button mushrooms bought from a well-known supermarket chain, along with dried mushrooms bought from from an Asian grocery store in Melbourne several months earlier.

She was unable to provide further details about the Asian grocery store.

Ms Patterson also paid tribute to her former in-laws and insists she maintained a positive and amicable relationship with them even after her marriage with their son fell apart.

'I had been close with Simon's parents for a long period of time. Our relationship had continued in a fairly amicable way after I finished the relationship with their son Simon,' she said.

'Our relationship was affected to some degree by seeing them less after my marriage breakdown with Simon however I have never felt differently towards his parents.

'I had a deep love and respect for Simon's parents and had encouraged my children to spend time with their grandparents as I believed they were exceptional role models.'

Ms Patterson also revealed she 'reluctantly' helped care for Simon last years after he spent two weeks in hospital battling a severe stomach illness unrelated to the current incident.

In her statement, Ms Patterson said she 'reluctantly' agreed to nurse Simon Patterson for three weeks when he was discharged from hospital, before telling him that she did not want to repair the marriage.

A representative for Simon declined to comment about Ms Patterson's statement as he continues to mourn the devastating loss of both parents.

A source close to Simon, who has not been out in public since the tragedy, told Daily Mail Australia his mate had no interest in getting back together with the mother of his two children.

'They went to her house for a mediation to talk to the family. Simon was supposed to go there for lunch, but he pulled out [at] the last minute. Otherwise he would be in that death bed too,' the friend said last week.

'The people who died, Gail, Don and the Wilkinsons, were talking to them because they're heavily ingrained with the church and they wanted to make sure she was right to resume a relationship with Simon... she was basically petitioning to get back with him and the family didn't think that was a good move.

'They basically didn't think she was good enough for him in their eyes.

'This wasn't just a lunch; it was an intervention with the pastor as mediator. That's why this lunch happened.'
A private company has been slammed after one of its workers was caught out harassing a man and pushing him to donate money over the phone even after repeated refusals.

John was contacted by a woman claiming to be from the Victorian-based company, The Fundraising Centre, who claim to raise money for different charities.

The call from the firm was played out on broadcaster Ben Fordham's 2GB radio program on Monday morning.

The woman is heard constantly asking John to donate different amounts of money.

'This work is really important because just in the last year one-in-five Australians have experienced food insecurity, whereby nearly a quarter of this group represent children,' the woman is heard saying.

Questions are being raised about the private company The Fundraising Centre and their high-pressure phone tactics to obtain donations

'That's out future generation, and that's the saddest thing.'

'I'll just let you know we're looking for one-time donations and the minimum gift is $25 because this is actually enough to feed one adult for a whole week.'

John declines to donate but the woman doubles down in pressuring him to make a payment.

After John declined to donate the woman relentlessly presses telling him the company can 'hold off on the donation' until a later date that 'suits' him.

'I don't wish to support today,' John repeats.

Seemingly undeterred the woman says: 'We're at least asking all of the community if they can support with $20 today because it's amazing how $20 from everyone can add up.'

'So can we put you down for $20.

When John again says no the female caller doesn't miss a beat as she pressed him again.

'Honestly ever dollar goes such a long way. So how much are you comfortable to help with today?' she says

'Zero,' is John's reply.

In response the caller continues to lecture John about the dire circumstances many people find themselves in before asking: 'Is this a cause youd consider supporting?'

The woman's lack of interaction or even acknowledgment of John's response made Fordham question if she is flesh and blood.

'Doesnt sound like he was talking to a human being, its a human voice but it sounds like its a bit of a robot,' Fordham says.

Fordham argued elderly people might feel pressured to hand over money under such duress.

The overbearing tactics have seen The Fundraising Centre bombarded with one star reviews online with people slamming cold calling hard sell.

Sydney radio host questioned whether the worker was a real person because of her unnatural phone manner

'Aggressively beyond the pail! Cold call early evening,' said one.

'Refused to provide detail on how the private unlisted number on the 'do not call register was obtained and continued to evade the question.'

Another wrote: 'Abusive telemarketing phoning people up wanting money donated.'

'Felt really dodgy and the upselling at the end of the call trying to make my donation an ongoing one was poor form. I had to be rude to get out of the call. Have blocked the number,' added a third.

The Fundraising Centre is owned by DTS Group who claim to have worked with 'some of the biggest national charities' on their website.

The company is not a registered charity organisation under its ABN and The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission register.

A spokesperson from The Fundraising Centre told Daily Mail Australia that the company was reviewing the way it asks for donations.

'We regret that a recent call involved repeated requests for a donation and apologise for this unacceptable experience,' the spokesperson said.

'This is not how we operate and we are reviewing our processes to ensure this isnt repeated.'

'We recognise its important to treat all potential donors with respect, including when they decline to donate.'
Oprah Winfrey promised she would make a 'major donation' to the Maui rebuilding effort following the devastating wildfires that destroyed the town of Lahaina, leaving at least 96 dead.

In a front-facing video posted to Instagram, Winfrey told her followers that she had spent time at the war memorial shelter, checking in with survivors about their immediate needs.

'When you don't know what to do, you do whatever you can,' she said, noting that she had picked up basic supplies like shampoo, sheets, and towels and brought them to the shelter.

'At some point I will make a major donation after all the smoke and the ashes have settled here and we figure out what the rebuilding is going to look like,' she said.

Earlier in the day, a CBS film crew traveling with Winfrey had been denied access to the war memorial shelter, despite a BBC film crew being permitted entrance last week.

Burned houses and buildings pictured in the aftermath of the wildfires in Lahaina, Maui. The death toll from the fires rose to 96 on Sunday

Winfrey added the rebuilding process will be 'long and difficult,' but noted Hawaiians are a 'strong cultural people' and 'family loving people.'

'You're going to see a lot of Phoenix stories rising from the ashes,' she said.

She told a story about a man named Julius whom she'd met at the shelter, who told her he could hear the skin on his legs 'popping' as he ran to escape the fire last week.

He had bandages covering his wounds as he recounted how the tires of his car had melted into the earth, but ultimately told Winfrey he did not need anything because he had already been spared his life.

Earlier on Sunday, Oprah and a CBS camera crew were denied access to the war memorial shelter in Wailuku, where the famed part time Maui resident was told there was a strict no media policy inside the shelter.

In a statement, the County of Maui said: 'Out of respect for those who have come to seek safety and shelter at emergency shelters, our policy remains that no media are given access.'

'We welcome Oprah to continue to uplift our communitys spirit and give her aloha to victims of the tragic disaster and appreciate her understanding of our policy of no camera crews or reporters in our emergency shelters. Mahalo.'

About 30 minutes after the post, the county clarified that Oprah was allowed inside, but not her crew.

The denial comes days after Oprah was filmed last week inside a shelter handing out supplies to survivors of the deadly fires that claimed 96 lives.

Oprah Winfrey - a part time Maui resident - visits the war memorial where survivors of the devastating fire are being sheltered

On Sunday morning, Winfrey and a CBS camera crew were initially turned away from the shelter and told they were not allowed in because of a no media policy

Winfrey along with a BBC crew were allowed in the shelter to record last Thursday

The devastated seaside town of Lahaina, which was essentially razed by a raging wildfire last week

'Oprah was able to visit our shelter and we thank her for instructing media journalists and camera crews to remain outside,' the county wrote in an update about Oprah trying to enter the shelter.

'We welcome Oprah to continue to uplift our communitys spirit and give her aloha to victims of the tragic disaster.

'Her visit inside of the shelter today was truly heartwarming and we appreciate her understanding of our policy of having no camera crews or reporters accompanying dignitaries and celebrities in our emergency shelters,'

Late last week, Winfrey was granted access to the War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku, which is being used to shelter evacuees from the wildfires.

Despite the County's policy of granting no media access to the war memorial shelter, Winfrey was interviewed by the BBC inside the shelter, when she was there on Thursday to hand out supplies to survivors.

She told the BBC she'd visited the evacuation point earlier to ask what people needed. She then went to big box stores to pick up pillows, diapers, shampoo and more, before returning to the shelter.

It's not clear why the BBC was allowed to record Winfrey at the shelter on Thursday, but the CBS news crew with whom she arrived Sunday morning were denied access.

Winfrey owns some 1,000 acres of land on Maui. It is unclear how her property faired during the wildfires. Part of her real estate portfolio, according to the New York Times, includes hundreds of acres of land in the Kula area to the southeast of Lahaina - the seaside town devastated by the fires.

The known death toll from the fires climbed to 96 on Sunday.

Dailymail.com has reached out to the County of Maui for comment.

Winfrey's Maui estate in the early 2000s. She owns about 1,000 acres in Maui

Oprah is one of a large number of celebrities to whom the island of Maui plays part time host

Donated clothes are placed in a parking lot for collections. Many families lost everything when their wood framed homes went up in smoke

National Guard personnel direct traffic away from the wildfire-damaged areas in Lahaina on Sunday

Smoke billows from the fires near Lahaina. The wildfires were drive in part by high winds

Oprah Winfrey is one of a large number of celebrities who have homes on the island of Maui.

In addition to Oprah, the island plays part-time host to Jeff Bezos, Steven Tyler, Owen Wilson, Clint Eastwood and Mick Fleetwood.

Following the fires, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez pledged $100million to recovery efforts on Maui.

On Saturday, Governor Josh Green toured the devastation on the historic Front Street of Lahaina.

He said: 'It will certainly be the worst natural disaster that Hawaii ever faced.

'We can only wait and support those who are living. Our focus now is to reunite people when we can and get them housing and get them healthcare, and then turn to rebuilding.'

At least 2,200 buildings were damaged or destroyed in West Maui, Green said, of which 86 percent were residential.

Across the island, he added, damage is estimated at close to $6billion. Green said it will take 'an incredible amount of time' to recover.

Speaking to CNN, Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono spoke of what she saw on Maui following the fires.

The Democrat said: 'The scenes of devastation will stay with me. We are in a period of mourning and loss as we search for more people who are still unaccounted for.'

Six active fires torched through Maui and Big Island, wiping out town of Lahaina

At least two other fires have been burning on Maui, with no fatalities reported thus far: in south Mauis Kihei area and in the mountainous, inland communities known as Upcountry.

A fourth broke out on Friday evening in Kaanapali, a coastal community north of Lahaina, but crews were able to extinguish it, authorities said.

Peg Alm spent Wednesday night sleeping in her truck after being forced from her home in Kuhei as another fire broke out.

I didnt know about Lahaina until the next day because we made to evacuate, she told DailyMail.com.

After seeing those heartbreaking pictures of the devastation on the local news, Alm signed up to help with the relief effort after answering a call put out on social media.

I was tired of waking up and crying the whole morning, she says before wiping away more tears as she recounts her memories of the historic beachside town.

This is like the soul of the island has been ripped up, says the Michigan native, who has lived on Maui for 15 years.
Did you check your receipt?

An Ohio mom of a disabled daughter got quite the surprise last week when her $282 online grocery order - through Instacart - at Kroger became $2,783.25 without her knowledge.

'My heart stopped because I'm thinking panic mode,' Jill McCormick told WCPO. 'Something is happening, and I have to react very quickly, and I didn't even know where to start.'

The mom put her order in the grocery chain for typical family goods. But, her bill showed nearly ten times that amount that included six packs of Butterball turkey bacon, five bottles of Platinum dish soap and 15 bottles of Gain laundry detergent.

A stunned McCormick quickly reached out to her shopper, but they stopped responding leaving the mom holding the bag - and the bill.

Jill McCormick placed an order through Instacart at her Ohio Kroger, but quickly learned it was 10 times what she expected to pay

Her bill at the Liberty Township Kroger showed included items she never ordered including six packs of Butterball turkey bacon, five bottles of Platinum dish soap and 15 bottles of Gain laundry detergent

On Tuesday evening, McCormick put in the $282 order, and her shopper had been asking about standard substitutions. But the shopper stopped communicating.

That is when McCormick's bank notified her she had a charge in excess of $2,500. She checked her Instacart order, which showed the extra items that were ordered, ones that she never received.

McCormick said her shopper said the items were charged by mistake and would be canceled. But that didn't happen.

'After trying for an hour, trying to get in touch with someone, they were finally able to get in touch with Instacart to cancel the order because they never canceled the order as the shopper originally told me,' McCormick told the outlet.

Instacart told the news station the company had guidelines for its independent shoppers, including background checks.

Krogers also released a statement about the incident.

'We understand a customer was overcharged for an order placed on August 9, 2023. We rectified the incident as soon as it was brought to our attention with an expedited refund to the customer's original form of payment and a gift card to apologize for the inconvenience,' it read.

'After trying for an hour, trying to get in touch with someone, they were finally able to get in touch with Instacart to cancel the order because they never canceled the order as the shopper originally told me,' McCormick said

McCormick also detailed the entire ordeal in a lengthy Facebook post where she ripped Kroger and said it was difficult to get in touch with someone at the chain

McCormick said the nation's fourth-largest grocer by revenue initially offered a $20 gift cart for the hassle.

But, that wasn't enough for her and the store upped the freebie to $250. Still, McCormick wasn't happy about the outcome.

'I'm not looking for that,' she said. 'I'm looking for a fix and outcome. How about we show results so someone else, another family, is not going through this.'

McCormick also detailed the entire ordeal in a lengthy Facebook post where she ripped Kroger and said it was difficult to get in touch with someone at the chain. 'They shouldn't be allowed to get away with any of it,' she pleaded to the reader.

A police report was filed about the incident, McCormick said.
Joe Biden refused to comment on the rising death toll in Hawaii following the devastating fires as the president spent two hours on Sunday relaxing on the beach in Delaware.

The 80-year-old was seen reclining on a sun lounger on Rehoboth Beach, near his holiday home in the state. Earlier, he attended mass at St. Edmond's Catholic Church in the resort town.

As Biden left the beach, the White House correspondent for Bloomberg asked for his response to the wildfires that have killed 96 people.

'No comment,' the president replied.

Hawaii's governor and senators - all Democrats - have repeatedly thanked Biden for immediately approving an emergency declaration, which frees up federal rescue funds, and sending FEMA officials.

But those on the island have begun to complain that federal aid is yet to arrive.

Joe Biden waves on Sunday as he returns to his car after spending several hours at Rehoboth Beach in Delaware

The Bidens have spent the weekend at their summer house in Delaware: he will return to Washington, DC, on Monday

'The response from our well-funded, tax-paid government is incredibly pathetic,' said Paul Romero, who owns a gym in Kihei.

He told The New York Times: 'We can't even understand what they did, what they didn't do, what they're still not doing.'

As Biden spoke, speculation mounted a spark from the electricity supply could have caused the devastating blazes.

The cause has not yet been confirmed, but on Saturday, LippSmith LLP and other law firms filed a class-action lawsuit against Hawaiian Electric, alleging that its downed power lines caused the fire, and that company officials 'inexcusably kept their power lines energized' despite fire warnings.

The company stated on Sunday it was unable to comment on pending litigation.

'Our immediate focus is on supporting emergency response efforts on Maui and restoring power for our customers and communities as quickly as possible,' said Jim Kelly, a spokesman for the company.

'At this early stage, the cause of the fire has not been determined and we will work with the state and county as they conduct their review.'

It has emerged that Hawaiian Electric did not shut off the power lines when they were warned of the hurricane-force winds that were approaching the island.

States such as California, which suffers a large number of wildfires, frequently deploy a 'public power shutoff plan,' which involves intentionally cutting off electricity to areas where big wind events could spark fires.

California began implementing the plan following the 2017 and 2018 wildfires, which up until last week, were the most destructive and deadliest in the country in the last 100 years.

Joe and Jill Biden are seen on Sunday enjoying the beach with friends

The 80-year-old smiled as he got into his waiting motorcade, but refused to answer questions about Hawaii

The historic town of Lahaina, which is in Maui County, has suffered black after block of complete devastation from the wildfires; an aerial view shows charred cars demolished buildings on Friday

The death toll has risen to 96, with more bodies expected to be found

Burned houses and buildings are pictured on Saturday in the aftermath of the wildfire

Lahaina is seen from a boat, with the buildings burnt to the ground

An aerial photo taken on Friday shows the fires still smoldering in Lahaina

A Mercy Worldwide volunteer makes damage assessment of charred apartment complex in Lahaina on Saturday

Maui's firefighting efforts may have been hampered by limited staff and equipment.

Bobby Lee, president of the Hawaii Firefighters Association, said there are no more than 65 county firefighters working at any given time, who are responsible for three islands: Maui, Molokai and Lanai.

Lahaina resident Riley Curran said he doubted that county officials could have done more, given the speed of the flames.

He fled his Front Street home after seeing the oncoming fire from the roof of a neighboring building.

'It's not that people didn't try to do anything,' Curran said. 'The fire went from zero to 100.'

But some said they do not understand why help has not been arriving in the subsequent days.

'Where are the county officials? Nobody has internet  I just found out you can't drink the water,' said Josh Masslon, speaking to The New York Times while trying to get cellphone service.

'The communication has been nil.'

Cord Cuniberti, who was driving Spam to a drop-off site with his friend, agreed.

'Nobody knows what's going on out here,' he told the paper.

'We're just relaying stuff  coconut wireless,' he said, using an island term for word-of-mouth communication.

Elsewhere on Maui, at least two other fires have been burning: in south Maui's Kihei area and in the mountainous, inland communities known as Upcountry. No fatalities have been reported from those blazes.

The Upcountry fire affected 544 structures, most of them homes, Green said.

As many as 4,500 people are in need of shelter, county officials said on Facebook, citing figures from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Pacific Disaster Center.

Josh Green, the governor of Hawaii, said 500 hotel rooms will be made available for locals who have been displaced. An additional 500 hotel rooms will be set aside for workers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Some hotels will carry on with normal business to help preserve jobs and sustain the local economy, Green said.

On Friday, Green asked residents with space to open their doors and take in Maui residents who have lost their homes.

The state wants to work with Airbnb to make sure that rental homes can be made available for locals, and Green hopes that the company will be able to provide three- to nine-month rentals for those who have lost homes.

At least 2,200 buildings were damaged or destroyed in West Maui, Green said, nearly all of them residential.

Across the island, damage was estimated at close to $6 billion.

A group of volunteers who sailed from Maalaea Bay, Maui, form an assembly line on Kaanapali Beach on Saturday

The group are seen forming a human chain to get the supplies onto land

People gather for a morning service at Keawalai Church, founded in 1832, in Makena on Sunday

J.P. Mayoga, a cook at the Westin Maui in Kaanapali, has seen his job switch from feeding tourists to cooking for the roughly 200 hotel employees and their family members who have been living there since Tuesday's fire devastated the Lahaina community just south of the resort.

His home and that of his father were spared.

But his wife, two young daughters, father and another local are all staying in a hotel room together, as it is safer than Lahaina, which is covered in toxic debris.

Maui water officials warned Lahaina and Kula residents not to drink running water, which may be contaminated even after boiling, and to only take short, lukewarm showers in well-ventilated rooms to avoid possible chemical vapor exposure.

'Everybody has their story, and everybody lost something. So everybody can be there for each other, and they understand what's going on in each other's lives,' he told AP of his co-workers at the hotel.

The latest death toll surpassed that of the 2018 Camp Fire in northern California, which left 85 dead and destroyed the town of Paradise.

The fires are Hawaii's deadliest natural disaster in decades, surpassing a 1960 tsunami that killed 61 people.

An even deadlier tsunami in 1946 killed more than 150 on the Big Island.

The death toll is expected to rise significantly.

John Pelletier, the Maui police chief, said only three percent of Lahaina - home to more than 9,000 people - had been searched so far.

Members of the FBI's Evidence Response Team are pictured Sunday setting up racks to put inside a refrigerated mobile morgue

FBI agents are seen on Sunday readying the structures to go inside the morgue

The mobile morgue will allow authorities to keep the bodies cool while they try to identify the remains

The morgue was being prepared Sunday behind a screen as Maui continues to reel from the tragedy

Officials with cadaver dogs were going house-to-house over the weekend scouring the charred buildings for human remains.

Buildings which had been searched were marked with an X - a custom U.S. officials adopted after Hurricane Katrina - and those containing bodies were marked 'H.R.'

Those who are still missing loved ones are being asked to provide a DNA sample.

Pelletier described the blaze as 'a fire that melted metal,' saying it had been severe enough that each recovered body will have to be identified using DNA.

On Sunday, FBI agents were seen readying mobile morgues which have been brought to Lahaina.
A woman charged with the murder and torture of her baby son alongside her husband has told a court she is representing herself on the charges.

Noemi Kondacs has been in custody on remand since she was first arrested at a property in Yugar, northwest of Brisbane, in late 2022.

Bizarrely, she told a court on Monday that she had not sought further legal advice since her previous lawyer had been granted leave to withdraw.

Reinhardt Bosch, 33, and Noemi Kondacs, 22, (pictured) are accused of torturing their infant son until he died

'I'm happy to represent myself,' Ms Kondacs, 22, told magistrate Michael Quinn.

She also said she was 'unsure' if she had received a brief of evidence but said she would be 'happy not to have one' when questioned by Mr Quinn.

Ms Kondacs, originally from the German city of Stuttgart, is jointly charged with her husband Reinhardt Albert Bosch, 33, over the death of seven-month-old baby Rhuan.

Rhuan was found dead at the couple's Mount Samson Rd home in Yugar on November 3, 2022.

Police allege the baby was tortured by the pair between April 11 and November 2  both allegedly praying over his body before calling an ambulance.

It is alleged Rhuan had 'visible' injuries when police discovered the 'confronting' scene.

Pictured: Rhuan Immaneul, who died on November 2

They are both charged with murder and torture.

Mr Bosch is also charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm while armed with an offensive instrument  alleged to have occurred between the same dates.

Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday was told Ms Kondacs' previous legal representatives had been granted leave to withdraw on the last occasion.

Appearing over video link dressed in a blue prison tracksuit, Ms Kondacs clarified her last name was 'Bosch'.

'My legal name is Noemi Bosch because I'm married to Reinhardt Bosch,' she said.

Ms Kondacs said she had not sought any other legal representation or applied for legal aid, instead stating she was 'happy' to represent herself.

'Have you thought that through Ms Kondacs?' Mr Quinn asked.

Ms Kondacs replied: 'Yes I have.'

'I'm certainly not going to accept that as being the position at the moment, but we'll proceed,' Mr Quinn said.

Asked if she had received a brief of evidence on the charges, Ms Kondacs said she was 'unsure'.

'I'm happy not to have one,' she said.

Mr Quinn adjourned her matter until September 4 to link it with Mr Bosch's.

He ordered she be brought to court in person on the next occasion so she could see a duty lawyer.

'If you choose not to, then that is your right,' Mr Quinn said.

'I ask you think very long and hard about that decision.'

'I will, Your Honour,' Ms Kondacs said in response.
The lone survivor of a deadly poison mushroom lunch that claimed the lives of three people, including his wife, could hold the key to what really happened.

Pastor Ian Wilkinson was the only person to survive the poisonous beef wellington dished up on July 29 by stay-at-home mum Erin Patterson in Leongatha, Victoria.

Mr Wilkinson, his wife Heather and her sister Gail and husband Don Patterson were invited over for lunch as part of a 'mediation' gathering to discuss Ms Patterson's relationship with her estranged husband Simon, who pulled out at the last minute.

The Pattersons and Ms Wilkinson died days later.

Erin Patterson is pictured outside her home on Tuesday

Ian Wilkinson and Heather Wilkinson (both pictured) became severely ill after they ate wild mushrooms. Mrs Wilkinson died while her husband remains in a critical condition in hospital

Gail and Don Patterson died after eating the mushrooms. Erin was previously married to their son, Simon

Daily Mail Australia can reveal Mr Wilkinson only likely survived because he was rushed to a hospital known for its expertise in treating patients suffering from poisonings.

Mr Wilkinson, 68, remains in the Austin Hospital in Melbourne in a perilous condition after suffering traumatic injuries to his liver from the toxins he is feared to have consumed at the lunch.

A hospital insider told Daily Mail Australia on Monday that Mr Wilkinson had not been transported to The Alfred - recognised as the go-to hospital for Victoria's most critically ill patients - for one specific reason that likely saved his life.

'The Austin was not the natural hospital to go to. From Leongatha the closest hospital is Monash Medical Centre - that's where they normally go. They've basically gone to the hospital the farthest away they could,' the source said.

'The main intensive care unit, and you need the best, you go to The Alfred or Royal Melbourne. They haven't done that either. The state's poison centre is at the Austin, so that's why he's gone there. That says they're more interested in dealing with the mushrooms than the intensive care part of it.'

Simon Patterson was supposed to join his parents for the lunch that killed them

The above family tree shows the connections between the Pattersons and Wilkinsons embroiled in the unusual poisoning tragedy in Leongatha

Mr Wilkinson is expected to need an urgent liver transplant and likely also suffered major damage to his kidneys.

'I suspect he's going to come out of this because if they thought he was that unwell and they just needed the best intensive care, I reckon he'd be at The Alfred. He'll probably get a transplant. There's a chance he's already had one, but no-one will tell you that because it could identify the donor,' the source said.

The insider said transplant organs are not generally supplied unless they are certain the patient will wake-up.

'You don't want to waste one. You're not going to give one to someone who is odds-on not to make it,' he said.

The source said people don't just 'wake up' from a coma, with some patients slowly gaining consciousness before lapsing back into it.

'It takes a couple of days and quite often someone wakes up and then they crash and they have to quickly put them under again and it can take two or three times before their body kicks into gear,' he said.

The insider believes Mr Wilkinson is likely still heavily sedated after enduring days on life support machines that effectively kept him alive.

Erin has given her first detailed account of the fatal meal in a lengthy written statement to Victoria Police, which was obtained by the ABC on Monday.

She had earlier given a no comment interview to police at the start of their investigations, blaming her decision to stonewall cops on it being a 'terrifying and anxiety-provoking' experience.

Erin has now revealed that she became unwell after eating the meal and that while she was in hospital, her ex-husband Simon Patterson accused her of poisoning his parents.

She said she was 'discussing the food hydrator' she used to prepare the meal when her ex-husband asked: 'Is that what you used to poison them?'

In a panic, Erin has admitted that she then dumped the dehydrator at a nearby tip.

Food dehydrators are used to dry out mushrooms before using them in beef wellingtons.

Those that died were all deeply involved with Korumburra Baptist Church (pictured)

Erin has admitted lying to police about how long ago she disposed of the food dehydrator. She initially told them she dumped it there a 'long time ago' but has now revealed she did so after her guests fell ill.

Police are examining CCTV from the landfill to determine when it was dumped.

Elsewhere in the police statement, Erin said she served the meal before inviting guests to choose their own plates.

She then took the last plate and ate a serving of the beef wellington.

The next day, her two children also ate the meal but the mushrooms were scraped off first as they do not like them.

Previously, it had been claimed that the children were present at the deadly lunch, but it has since emerged that they were actually at the movies at the time.

Erin said she was then hospitalised with bad stomach pains and diarrhoea, and was put on a saline drip and given a 'liver protective drug'.

She was transported by ambulance from Leongatha Hospital to Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne.

Gippsland Southern Health Service confirmed last Friday that a fifth individual, who initially came to Leongatha Hospital on July 30 with symptoms of possible food poisoning, later returned and was also subsequently transferred to Monash Medical Centre.

What was left of the meal was preserved and given to hospital toxicologists for examination after Erin was contacted by Department of Health officials as the conditions of her guests worsened in hospital.

Erin told police that the mushrooms were a mixture of button mushrooms bought from a supermarket and dried mushrooms bought from an Asian supermarket in Melbourne months earlier.

The leaked police statement is the first time Erin has spoken at length about the tragedy.

'I now very much regret not answering some questions ... given the nightmare that this process has become,' she said.

'I am now wanting to clear up the record because I have become extremely stressed and overwhelmed by the deaths of my loved ones.

'I am hoping this statement might help in some way. I believe if people understood the background more, they would not be so quick to rush to judgement.

'I am now devastated to think that these mushrooms may have contributed to the illness suffered by my loved ones. I really want to repeat that I had absolutely no reason to hurt these people whom I loved.'
Britons are preparing for the summer weather to improve later this week with 30C (86F) temperatures expected by Friday - after another day of heavy rain today.

The Met Office said high pressure building from Wednesday will bring a southerly airflow and push the mercury up to the mid-20Cs (mid-70Fs) for much of the South.

Thursday is likely to get up to 27C (81F) before Friday and Saturday hits 29C (84F) with a chance of 30C - but rain and thunderstorms could also return this weekend.

The brighter forecast comes after a 21-hour yellow rain warning was imposed today, with up to 80mm (3.1in) to fall over northern England and Wales until 9pm.

Photographs showed miserable scenes on rain-hit beaches such as Scarborough, Bournemouth and Tynemouth Longsands today which looked almost deserted.

Forecasters said persistent and possibly thundery downpours would develop today, with 20mm (0.8in) to 40mm (1.6in) expected to fall over much of the warning area.

There was also a chance of 60mm (2.4in) to 80mm (3.1in) falling in some places within three to six hours, most likely over North West Wales and North West England.

The Met Office map for Friday reveals temperatures should hit at least 28C (82F) in the South

Damp weather at the deserted Longsands beach at Tynemouth in Tyne and Wear today

A woman holds a boy's hand as they look out over the beach from Bournemouth Pier today

A man shelters from the rain beneath an umbrella at Scarborough in North Yorkshire today

Homes and businesses could be flooded and communities could be cut off by flooded roads, the Met Office said.

Forecasters also warned of possible delays or cancellations to trains and buses, and a chance of power cuts and loss of other services to some homes and businesses.

Met Office chief meteorologist Matthew Lehnert said: 'There is a Met Office rain warning in force for northern England and northern Wales today as a low pressure system eastwards moves across the country.

'Within the warning area, many places will see 20 to 30mm of rain, with a few isolated spots possibly seeing around 60 to 80mm of rain over the course of the warning.

'It will be drier for many by Tuesday, as the low pressure moves off into the North Sea. Parts of Scotland will continue to see frequent showers, with around 30mm of rain possible over a few hours for Glasgow and Edinburgh. Elsewhere will be largely dry with cloud and sunny spells for many.'

Away from the North and West today, much of the UK will be mostly cloudy with some light showers - although there could be some sunny spells.

It is then going to be a wet night for some areas, particularly northern England, the Midlands and Wales.

Showers are set to be locally heavy at times, with the chance of thunderstorms tonight still lingering from the day.

However, once the rain subsides, temperatures are set to build in parts of the UK throughout this week  with highs increasing gradually each day.

Tomorrow, light showers are expected, becoming widespread for a time in the afternoon  and there is a chance of thunderstorms in Scotland later on.

A man walks his dogs across a deserted Longsands beach in Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear, today

People walk towards Bournemouth beach in Dorset on a wet and gloomy day today

People paddle in the sea under a dull sky at Scarborough beach in North Yorkshire today

People walk along the soggy seafront at Bournemouth beach in Dorset today

People walk beneath umbrellas during heavy rainfall in the centre of Scarborough today

One beachgoers tries to make the best of it in Bournemouth by using an umbrella today

A man walks his dog across a deserted Longsands beach in Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear, today

A lifeguard puts out flags to let swimmers know they are on duty in Bournemouth today

It will be quite cloudy to start, although sunny spells will break in  and the late afternoon will be sunnier and drier with some areas of light cloud.

Heavy cloud will start the day on Wednesday, with sunny periods expected during the afternoon, but there could also be light showers for some areas.

Met Office forecaster Greg Dewhurst said temperatures should remain between 18C (64F) and 23C (73F) today, before conditions becoming drier tomorrow.

He said: 'Temperatures overall similar to the last couple of days really. So, jumping between 18C and 23C so overall an unsettled day.

'The good news is that low pressure moves out of the way as we go into Tuesday, so it should be a drier day on Tuesday. A better chance of seeing some sunny spells particularly across eastern parts of the UK.'

He said temperatures could then start to soar in southern parts of the UK as the week progresses. 'An area of low pressure to the west of the UK and the Atlantic slowly starts to move towards us,' he said.

Miserable weather in Manchester this morning as a pedestrian shelters under an umbrella

A bus creates a splash as it is driven through Greenwich in south-east London this morning

'What that allows to happen is for the winds to turn southerly, and we start to import some higher temperatures from the near continent.

'So, staying into Friday, we're likely to see those temperatures rising, potentially getting towards the high 20Cs and then possibly by Friday and into the weekend, depending on cloud and shower distribution, we could locally see temperatures around 30C by the weekend.'

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Dan Harris added: 'A general warming trend is expected through much of this week, as the weather settles down for a time.

'Whilst some southern areas are already likely to reach the mid-20Cs by Wednesday, it's not until Thursday that the warmer weather will become more widespread, with parts of Scotland also reaching the low 20Cs. Most places will be dry with sunshine, although some early mist and low cloud could mean a slow start for some areas.

'We are likely to see the warmest weather on Friday and Saturday, with low to mid 20Cs widely and a peak of 29C most probable in the southeast; at this stage the odd 30 Celsius here on Friday cannot be ruled out.

'A frontal system arriving into the west and southwest later on Friday, which could be preceded by thunderstorms, does complicate matters somewhat; after a very muggy night in the southeast overnight into Saturday.'

The Met Office said the rain will continue to move north-east on Saturday, with relatively warm conditions also then moving into northern areas.

However, slightly cooler and largely cloudy conditions with a few showers are expected to follow in from the west, with some brighter breaks developing. It is also likely to remain warm in the far east and southeast.

Temperatures are expected to decline closer towards average on Sunday and into early next week, but forecasters said the southern half of the UK has a 'small chance' of seeing a return of hotter weather 'should a renewed pulse of warm continental air develop'.
Australia's richest person Gina Rinehart committed 'egregious fraud' and then lied about it, a trial over billions of dollars in iron ore riches has been told.

A lawyer for Mrs Rinehart's children says there is clear evidence that mining licences were unlawfully transferred to her company, Hancock Prospecting, and a subsidiary after her father Lang Hancock died in 1992.

'We don't use the word fraud lightly,' lawyer Christopher Withers SC told a complex trial over mining assets and royalties in Western Australia's northwest on Monday.

Mr Withers accused Mrs Rinehart of exploiting a joint venture agreement with Hamersley Iron to move Hope Downs and East Angeles tenements.

'We say the evidence that fraud was perpetuated by Gina on her children is overwhelming,' he said.

Australia's richest person Gina Rinehart (pictured) committed 'egregious fraud' and then lied about it, a trial over billions of dollars in iron ore riches has been told

Mr Withers said the action was contrary to Lang Hancock's intentions for Mrs Rinehart's eldest children, John Hancock and Bianca Rinehart, to benefit from the assets via a trust.

'The events after Lang died constitute an egregious fraud orchestrated by Gina and carried out by people who did whatever Gina wanted without questioning,' he said.

He said the actions were 'covered up' with a 'false narrative to her children and the public generally that (Hancock Prospecting's) and her personal success was simply a product of hard work rather than dishonesty'.

Mr Withers said the false narrative was that Lang Hancock dishonestly breached his fiduciary duty and mismanaged Hancock Prospecting, which 'Gina had to clean up'.

'The truth is Lang discovered the mining areas in the Pilbara. He was the driving force behind the decision to start a mine, which Gina was against,' he said in reference to Hope Downs mining complex that Mrs Rinehart's company and Rio Tinto operate.

Mr Withers said Mrs Rinehart's alleged fraud 'increased her own shareholding at the expense of her children' and that she lied to them about it.

He also claimed that the West Australian of the Year 2023 threatened John Hancock and his lawyers when they attempted to investigate the matter.

The claims were made in a high-stakes legal stoush in the Supreme Court in Perth in which Mrs Rinehart's company and her children are defending the claims of Wright Prospecting and DFD Rhodes.

A lawyer for Mrs Rinehart's children says mining licences were unlawfully transferred to her company, Hancock Prospecting, and a subsidiary after her father Lang Hancock died in 1992 (pictured, Mrs Rinehart's daughter Bianca Rinehart at Perth Supreme Court on Monday)

Wright Prospecting has demanded a share of some Hope Downs tenements and royalties amid a claim that it never relinquished the assets and Hancock Prospecting has breached a series of partnership agreements.

The family company of the late prospector Don Rhodes, DFD Rhodes, says it is entitled to 1.25 per cent royalty share of the Hope Downs production.

It claims a deal was struck in the 1960s with Mr Hancock and Mr Wright in which the rights to ore-rich reserves in the Pilbara were handed over.

The Hope Downs mining complex near Newman is one of Australia's largest and most successful iron ore projects, comprising four open-pit mines.

Mrs Rinehart, the executive chair of Hancock Prospecting, secured the development of the mines after signing a deal in 2005 with Rio Tinto - which has a 50 per cent stake in the project.
Both men had been attending an event featuring superstar DJ Ben Hemsley

Two teenage clubbers have tragically died in a suspected drugs tragedy after collapsing during a 13-hour rave at a Glasgow nightclub.

The two men, both aged 18, were attending popular nightspot SWG3 where DJ ace Ben Hemsley was headlining.

One of the attendees at the all-day rave was seen to collapse before being rushed to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow where he died soon after.

The second man was found unresponsive at Lanarkshire's Croy station and rushed to University Hospital Monklands in Airdrie, but he could not be revived.

Police have said that they are exploring the possibility that the two deaths could be drug related and will make further enquiries to ascertain if the substances were from the same batch.

The two men, both aged 18, were attending popular nightspot SWG3

DJ ace Ben Hemsley (pictured) was headlining the all day festival at the venue

Speaking to the Sun, a source reportedly close to the investigation said that the two deaths were 'very similar in nature.'

They continued: 'This is every parent's worst nightmare - their kids going out for a great time and not coming home.

'It's imperative to establish any further links, including if the toxic substances come from the same person.'

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'Around 11.20pm on Saturday, August 12, we were called to a report of a man taking unwell in the Constarry Road area of Croy.

'Emergency services attended and an 18-year-old was taken to University Hospital Monklands in Airdrie, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

'Next of kin are aware and enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.

'Around 2.20am on Sunday, August 13, we were made aware a man had become unwell at a premises on Eastvale Place, Glasgow.

'An 18-year-old was taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

'Next of kin have been informed and enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.'

A spokesperson for SWG3 said: 'We are devastated at the news and our deepest sympathies are with the families.

'We will continue to assist the police with their inquiries.'
A teenager died from his injuries after falling from the bonnet of a car while it was driving across a junction.

The 18-year-old man was found with 'serious injuries' on Booth Road in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, at around 5am on August 12.

He had climbed onto the bonnet of a grey Ford Ka and was driven across the junction of Dunham Road, police said.

He then fell from the front of the car, sustaining the fatal injuries, before the driver allegedly fled the scene.

Another man, also 18, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and are appealing to members of the public for information.

Police at the scene of a fatal road incident in Altrincham, Greater Manchester. An 18-year-old died after falling from the bonnet of a moving car

A cordon was established as detectives worked to ascertain the circumstances of the tragedy. An 18-year-old has since been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving

In a statement, GMP said: 'Officers are now appealing to anyone who has any information that could assist the investigation to get in touch.

'GMP is also keen to hear from anyone who may have relevant footage - including CCTV, mobile or dashcam.'

Forensic tents were set up at the junction on Saturday as scene of crime officers in white overalls worked to piece together what happened.

Locals have since expressed their sympathy for the family of the teenager who died.

Councillor Michael Welton told the Manchester Evening News: 'We're deeply saddened by this collision and our hearts go out to the victim, the family and friends.

'It's just awful, one can only imagine what it's like for the family and the person who found him.'

A detective speaks to a uniformed Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officer at the junction of Booth Road and Dunham Road. GMP has issued an appeal for information and CCTV

Anyone with information is asked to contact GMP quoting incident number 627 of August 12, or to submit information anonymously via Crimestoppers.

You can make a report by calling 0161 856 4741 quoting log 627 of 12/08/2023 or via the LiveChat function on GMP's website (www.gmp.police.uk)

Alternatively you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Greater Manchester Police has been contacted for further comment.
Thousands of New Zealanders have signed up to become Australian citizens, weeks after a new pathway to citizenship opened up.

New figures have shown more than 15,000 New Zealanders have started the process for Australian citizenship since changes came into effect at the start of July.

Under the changes, agreed to by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New Zealand counterpart Chris Hipkins earlier this year, Kiwis who had been living in Australia for at least four years on a special category visa could apply for citizenship.

Anthony Albanese right)and his NZ counterpart Chris Hipkins agreed on the new citizenship pathway.

Previously, New Zealanders in Australia on the special category visa would be able to stay in the country but would be limited in receiving government payments and would have to first apply for permanent residency before becoming citizens.

Under the changes, New Zealanders on the special category visa looking to become citizens can bypass the permanent residency step.

Since July, about half of all citizenship applications have been from New Zealanders.

Immigration Minister Andrew Giles said the changes had strengthened the bond between the two countries.

He said 15,000 "of our closest friends" had applied to become Aussies in the 40 days since the change came into effect.

"The government's commonsense change has created a pathway to citizenship for so many who have been living and working in Australia for years and contributing to our local communities," he said.

Almost 500 of the 15,000 who have started the citizenship process had already passed the citizenship test.
She is accused of child destruction and trying to force a miscarriage unlawfully

A woman accused of illegally carrying out her own abortion during the first Covid lockdown is set to appear in court tomorrow.

Bethany Cox, 22, is the fourth woman for a judge to see on similar charges in just eight months. Previously there have been only three such trials in 160 years, campaigners said.

She is accused of intending to destroy the life of a child capable of being born alive and administering drugs to procure an abortion when she was 19 years old.

Both charges carry a maximum sentence of life behind bars.

Ms Cox did not enter a plea to the charges when she appeared at Teesside magistrates court last month.

Bethany Cox, 22, from Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees, will appear at Teesside Crown Court (pictured) today accused of carrying out her own abortion during the first Covid lockdown in July 2020

She is due to appear at Teesside Crown Court tomorrow.

It was alleged Ms Cox, from Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees, carried out the abortion in the first Covid lockdown in July 2020.

Section 58 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861 means it is a criminal offence to procure her own abortion unlawfully.

The first charge reads: 'On 06/07/2020 at Stockton, with intent to destroy the life of a child capable of being born alive, by a wilful act, namely administering drugs to procure abortion, contrary to section 58 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861, caused the child to die before it had an existence independent of its mother.'

The second charge reads: 'Between 02/07/2020 and 07/07/2020 at Stockton, being a woman with child, unlawfully administered to yourself a poison or other noxious thing, with intent to procure your own miscarriage.'

Other similar cases have sparked widespread controversy and calls for a law change.

Carla Foster, 45, was jailed in June for more than two years after she admitted taking pills that claimed the life of stillborn Lily at 32 weeks, in a 'deeply concerning' case that triggered protests by women's rights campaigners.

Carla Foster, 45, (pictured) was jailed in June for more than two years after she admitted taking pills that claimed the life of stillborn Lily at 32 weeks, in a 'deeply concerning' case that triggered protests by women's rights campaigners

An emotional Ms Foster wiped tears away from her eyes as she appeared via a video link at a Court of Appeal hearing in London last month

Ms Foster (pictured after her release) was freed from jail following a ruling by the Court of Appeal

How mothers are prosecuted under 1861 law on 'administering drugs or using instruments to procure abortion' Section 58 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 is entitled 'administering drugs or using instruments to procure abortion'. The law states: 'Every woman, being with child, who, with intent to procure her own miscarriage, shall unlawfully administer to herself any poison or other noxious thing, or shall unlawfully use any instrument or other means whatsoever with the like intent, and whosoever, with intent to procure the miscarriage of any woman, whether she be or be not with child, shall unlawfully administer to her or cause to be taken by her any poison or other noxious thing, or shall unlawfully use any instrument or other means whatsoever with the like intent, shall be guilty of felony, and being convicted thereof shall be liable to be kept in penal servitude for life.' Advertisement

Yet in July she won her appeal against her the 'manifestly excessive' 28-month prison term, as a judge insisted there was 'exceptionally strong mitigation'.

Campaigners hailed the decision a watershed moment in UK legal history, which prompted called for an 'urgent' overhaul of Britain's archaic abortion laws.

Sophie Harvey and her partner Elliot Benham, both 23, are set to stand trial in November at Gloucester crown court, accused of illegally procuring drugs from India to induce a miscarriage and concealing the birth of a child.

Both pleaded not guilty. Ms Harvey was also charged with inducing her own miscarriage.

Abortion is a crime in England and Wales unless certain criteria are fulfilled, such as the procedure being carried about by a medical professional.

Jonathan Lord, a gynaecologist and co-chairman of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists abortion taskforce, told The Times: 'Four women have appeared in court charged with having an illegal abortion in eight months. Before this only three women have ever been on trial over the past 160 years.

'It is clear that prosecutors are taking a much more aggressive stand against women with unexplained pregnancy loss or who are suspected of having an illegal abortion.'

Last year, activists accused the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) of aggressively prosecuting women suspected of carrying out illegal abortions.

They sent a joint letter to director of public prosecutions Max Hill, KC in which they asked for 'urgent guidance to stop the prosecution of women who end their own pregnancies with immediate effect'.

A CPS spokesman said: 'These exceptionally rare cases are complex and traumatic. Our prosecutors have a duty to ensure that laws set by parliament are properly considered and applied when making difficult charging decisions.'
A passenger on board a Malaysia Airlines flight has been arrested after forcing the plane to land in Sydney by shouting at passengers: 'Are you slaves of Allah?'

Dramatic video shows the man, who says his name is Mohammed, calling himself a 'slave of Allah' before challenging other passengers nearby to repeat that they are also 'slaves of Allah'.

He becomes heated, pointing his finger at passengers and shouting at one: 'Say it!'

Another clip shows the man kneeling in prayer after laying out his prayer mat in the aisle of the plane.

A 'scared' passenger on the MH122 Airbus-A330 flight from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur said the man 'unzipped his backpack, put his hands in, made barely veiled threats about having something dangerous in it screaming at the top of his lungs right next to my seat'.

It is understood that members of the flight crew subsequently examined the bag and did not find anything dangerous in it.

The plane landed back in Sydney just before 4pm and was isolated at the end of a runway, while the other passengers were moved to another part of the jet.

A disruptive passenger on board a Malaysia Airlines flight has caused it to be turned back after he apparently started shouting at passengers asking if they were slaves of Allah

Another clip shows the man kneeling in prayer after laying out his prayer mat in the aisle of the plane.

A 45-year-old man was arrested by Australian Federal Police (AFP) about 7pm and other passengers were safely evacuated from the plane.

He is expected to be charged later tonight, an AFP spokesman said.

'An emergency response plan was enacted and an evacuation was initiated once it was deemed safe for passengers and crew,' they said.

A passenger on the flight tweeted that 'every one has been off the plane safely, and in a lounge. Police will interview everyone before further instructions.'

A video taken on board the plane showed the passenger being confronted by an air steward.

The Malaysia Airlines MH122 Airbus-a330 is pictured at Sydney International Airport

Video apparently from inside the plane shows an elderly man standing in the aisle face-to-face with an air steward

He says his name if Mohammed and says he is a 'slave of Allah', before challenging other passengers nearby to repeat that they are also 'slaves of Allah'

A traveller on board the flight captioned the video: 'Sydney Airport is suffering at the hands of this lunatic.

'Praying for everyone's safety and well being. Where is airport security?! It's been well over an hour since the plane has landed back!!!'

In a second video later he added: 'This lunatic is getting aggressive & poor people on board are still waiting for security to get in and take him to Allah through the right process.

'Sydney Airport is waiting for what?!'

Another passenger onboard the flight also tweeted: 'This guy should have been stopped at the gate before boarding, his actions were unsettling from start.'

He added: 'Flight got diverted back to Sydney due this random idiot who started threatening staff and passengers.

A woman on the flight posted on Twitter (pictured) that she has 'never been so scared'

The traveller on board the flight captioned the video: 'Sydney Airport is suffering at the hands of this lunatic

The MH122 Airbus 330 flight has now been diverted back to Sydney and has forced the airport to be closed down while authorities board the plane (pictured passengers posted pictures on social media after they landed while they await police to come onto the plane)

The plane left Sydney at 1.40pm but landed back at the airport at 3.47pm when the Australian Federal Police (AFP) was called to meet the plane on arrival

The Malaysia Airlines A330 can seat between 250 and 406 passengers left Sydney at 1.40pm but landed back at the airport at 3.47pm

Passengers are pictured leaving the plane after the emergency situation was brought under control

Passengers are pictured inside Sydney Airport where they will all be interviewed by the police

The captain of a separate plane that was supposed to leave Melbourne for Sydney told passengers their flight would be delayed for at least a couple of hours.

'He just announced the situation in Sydney just got worse and is a high risk security situation. Our flight has been delayed two hours,' a passenger on the flight told Daily Mail Australia.

A passenger on the Malaysia Airways flight tweeted that the 'Airport is put under restriction since we are blocking main taxi way out of Runway 16R.

'Fire trucks all around. Fool that threatened staff must be blacklisted.'

The plane left Sydney at 1.40pm but landed back at the airport at 3.47pm when the Australian Federal Police (AFP) was called to meet the plane on arrival.

'The AFP is responding to an emergency incident at Sydney International Airport,' an AFP spokesperson told media.

A Sydney Airport spokesperson said: 'As a result of this afternoon's incident, there have been 32 domestic flights cancelled (16 inbound + 16 outbound), with delays of up to 90 minutes for other domestic flights.

'Currently no international flight cancellations. Passengers are encouraged to check with their airline regarding the status of their flight.

In a statement, Malaysia Airlines said: 'In the interests of safety, the commander of the flight made the decision to return to Sydney.

'The flight, carrying 194 passengers and five crew onboard, landed safely at 3.47pm hours.

'The safety and comfort of our crew and passengers are of upmost importance to Malaysia Airlines.'

The man who caused the flight to turn around is pictured on his knees on the plane

The man who has caused a Malaysia Airlines flight to return to Sydney on Thursday is pictured

The plane - which can seat between 250 and 406 passengers - is currently sitting on the end of the runway with emergency vehicles nearby.

Passengers were told they would be bussed to the terminal once authorities were onboard but have since allegedly been moved to a separate part of the jet.

One traveller posted on Twitter: 'All passengers are being moved to the back of plane now.

'People are being moved to another zone in the plane, far away. I think security will be here soon.'
French rescuers reached a migrant boat which sank in the English Channel killing six people some 15 minutes after an RNLI vessel arrived - despite it happening only five miles from the French coast, sources have claimed.

Major questions were raised today over how France's authorities responded to the incident on Saturday which saw at least 58 people - many of them Afghans - rescued after the boat got into difficulties off the coast of Sangatte on Saturday.

The accounts of survivors suggested about 65 people had boarded the overloaded vessel before a passing ship saw it sinking and raised the alarm at around 4.20am.

Sources told The Times that the first French lifeboat was on the scene 15 minutes after the RNLI vessel arrived - which had already started rescuing survivors.

Some 22 people were rescued and dropped off in Dover, including by the RNLI crew, which was launched at about 4am, and a British chartered ship. At least 36 others were collected by French boats and taken to Calais, as well as those who died.

It follows two fatal Channel crossing incidents in November 2021, when 27 migrants died - the highest recorded number of deaths in an incident - and December 2022, when four perished, which resulted in a blame game between the UK and France.

Migrants were rescued on Saturday after a boat carrying about 65 sank off the coast of France

Rescued migrants sit on a French rescue ship on Saturday after their boat sank in the Channel

An RNLI boat brings 50 migrants ashore at Dover on Saturday morning after the major rescue

But Britain is keen to avoid damaging the 480million deal agreed with the French in March which it is claimed has helped reduce crossings compared to last year.

READ MORE Still queuing for the dinghy gangs: Just a day after six people died crossing the Channel, dozens of migrants are seen heading for the coast in their desperate quest to reach Britain Advertisement

The French are said to be intercepting just over half of attempted crossings, but the number of French police officers on patrol on their beaches has dropped a fifth this month due to a high number on annual leave, reported The Times.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay told ITV's Good Morning Britain today: 'We need to do a range of things and one of things is try to disrupt the criminal gangs upstream - not just in France, but where they're sourcing their engines, where they're sourcing their boats, as they are moving people into northern Europe.'

Presenter Richard Madeley then asked him whether the French were 'turning a blind eye', and Mr Barclay responded: 'I think it's in our interests to work cooperatively with the French, I think we'll have more success doing that than if we don't.'

Asked again, Mr Barclay said: 'No. They've stopped 40 per cent more boats this year than last year. But it's one of a number of things that we're doing, and that's why we're also committed to our Rwanda policy, it's why we're looking at bringing the cost of hotels down.

'And it's worth remembering that Labour have voted against everything that the Government is doing. And one of the reasons it's been difficult to make the progress we have is because of the amount of opposition we've had from Labour resisting the measures that we've wanted to do in Parliament.'

It comes as scores of migrants were seen heading for beaches in northern France last night, apparently undeterred by the deaths of the six men.

Paramedics in Dover assist a migrant who had been trying to cross the Channel on Saturday

Paramedics in Dover on Saturday wait to tend to assist migrants picked up in the Channel

A photo released by the French Navy on Saturday shows the search and rescue operation

A total of 509 people crossed the English Channel in ten boats on the day of the tragedy on Saturday.

Wales Secretary David TC Davis defended the Government's immigration strategy yesterday amid renewed pressure, including from Tory MPs, over its 'stop the boats' pledge following the incident.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made tackling the crossings one of five key priorities for his leadership and asked people to judge him on his management of the problem.

MPs have called for action against criminal people-smuggling gangs profiting from the journeys while campaigners have described the deaths as an 'appalling and preventable tragedy'.

Meanwhile, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said action to deter criminal gangs facilitating the journeys is 'desperately' needed.

Care4Calais said it was an 'appalling and preventable tragedy', while the Refugee Council warned 'more people will die' unless more safe routes to the UK are created.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman described the incident as a 'tragic loss of life' and said she had chaired a meeting with Border Force officials later on Saturday.

People hold a banner with the names of migrants who have died crossing the channel since 1999 during a rally in Calais yesterday following the tragedy on Saturday off Sangette

Channel crossings skyrocketed last year, with the UK seeing 60% more crossings than 2021

It comes after the Government was accused of allowing its 'small boats week' of linked announcements on immigration to descend into farce following the removal of dozens of asylum seekers from the Bibby Stockholm barge.

Senior Tory backbencher David Davis said the 'startling incompetence' of the Home Office had been laid bare after all 39 people on board the 500-capacity vessel were disembarked due to the discovery of Legionella bacteria in the water supply.

But ministers intend to push on with plans to hire more barges to house asylum seekers, as well as student halls and former office blocks, The Telegraph reported.

The people who had been on the Bibby Stockholm, which had been billed as a cheaper alternative to expensive hotels for those awaiting the outcome of their claims, are now back being housed in other accommodation.

The Home Office has said the health and welfare of asylum seekers 'remains of the utmost priority' and that the evacuation took place as a precautionary measure, with all protocol and advice followed.

A UK Government spokeswoman told MailOnline: 'These deaths are devastating and our thoughts are with the victims' families and friends at this time.

'This incident is sadly another reminder of the extreme dangers of crossing the Channel in small boats and how vital it is that we break the people smugglers' business model and stop the boats.'
Her Russian boyfriend Oeaop Nbahobny Fedor, 30, was arrested at the scene

Horrifying footage shows Daria Iuzifiak, 32, plunging to her death in Pattaya city

A Russian tourist's girlfriend dropped to her death after dangling upside down from the seventh floor window of their hotel in Thailand.

Horrifying footage shows Daria Iuzifiak, 32, dangling from the window at the Seven Seas Condo Resort in the tourist hotspot of Pattaya city, on Thailand's east coast.

CCTV cameras captured the gruesome moment a frantic Daria dropped to her death, moments before her boyfriend Oeaop Nbahobny Fedor, 30, was arrested at the scene at around 6am on Sunday.

Daria was seen falling head first, her hands flailing as she plummeted to her death. The 32-year-old was found by security guards naked from the waist down and lying face down in a pool of blood outside the hotel.

Horrifying footage shows Daria Iuzifiak, 32, dangling from the window by her legs

CCTV cameras captured the gruesome moment a frantic Daria was suddenly dropped from the seventh floor at around 6am on Sunday

Daria Iuzifiak, 32, (pictured) died after dropping to her death from a seventh floor window in Pattaya city

Her boyfriend Oeaop Nbahobny Fedor, 30, was arrested by cops at the scene in Pattaya on Sunday

Oeaop was found in an 'angry and uncooperative' state near her body as he was detained by officers.

They pinned the shirtless Russian to the ground before taking him in handcuffs to the police station in the back of a pickup truck.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Kanisorn Apisop, superintendent in the Jomtien district of the city, said: 'An initial examination on the dead woman found no signs of physical abuse on her body.

'The couple's room was messy with food containers and alcohol bottles, but there was no indication of fighting or a struggle.

'The boyfriend is in custody. He has an interpreter and we are waiting for the results of the post-mortem examination.

'The investigation is ongoing. We are investigating how the boyfriend was involved when the dead woman fell from the window.'

He added that forensics officers were taking fingerprints from the room while more CCTV footage was also being reviewed.

Daria Iuzifiak, 32, (pictured) died after dropping to her death from a seventh floor window in Pattaya city

Oeaop was found in an 'angry and uncooperative' state near her body as he was detained by officers

They pinned the shirtless Russian to the ground before taking him in handcuffs to the police station in the back of a pickup truck

Pictured: Oeaop was arrested and taken to the police station in a pickup truck in Pattaya

Meanwhile, investigators said that Oeaop had rented the room, with Daria coming to stay with him around a week ago.

They said the deceased had filed a report with Pattaya Police and consulted with Chonburi immigration officers last August 11 because she had lost her passport and was trying to go back home.

Her body was taken to a hospital for a post-mortem examination.

Police from the Jomthien district detained the Russian man on grounds of drunken and disorderly conduct and on suspicion of manslaughter.

The Russian tourist, during initial questioning by Pattaya tourist police and Chonburi immigration officials, reportedly denied attacking his girlfriend.

He underwent a drug test, but no narcotic substances were found in his bloodstream.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Kanisorn Apisop, superintendent in the Jomtien district of the city, said forensics officers were taking fingerprints from the room

Forensic officers were combing the apartment for fingerprints after Daria dropped to her death

Thailand's current military government has made efforts to clean up Pattaya after it was dubbed the 'sex capital' of the world and a modern-day Sodom and Gomorrah.

However, the city's lucrative shadow economy based on sex, crime, drink and drugs has proved difficult to tame in the once-sleepy coastal city and continued to attract undesirable visitors from around the world.

A large number of British ex-pats have also set up bars in the sun-drenched resort, which has become an attractive place for pensioners to retire.
Shocking apocalyptic aerial images have revealed the full horror inflicted by the deadly Maui 'fire hurricane' that annihilated the historic town and killed at least 96, with Hawaii's governor warning that the figure could rise 'significantly'.

The inferno - fuelled by strong winds - rapidly destroyed much of the historic resort town of Lahaina on Tuesday and Wednesday, with residents forced to flee on foot after seemingly receiving no alert from the state's emergency warning systems.

Over the weekend, crews of firefighters were still battling flare-ups, and cadaver dogs were sifting through the town's charred ruins in search of victims.

Relatives of the missing frantically searched for signs their loved ones may still be alive, while survivors grappled with the scale of the disaster and sought solace at Sunday church services.

Hundreds of people remain unaccounted for, and large swathes of Lahaina are yet to be searched. John Pelletier, the Maui police chief, said only three percent of the town - home to more than 9,000 people - had been searched so far.

Shocking apocalyptic aerial images (pictured) have revealed the full horror inflicted by the deadly Maui 'fire hurricane' that annihilated the historic town and killed at least 96, with Hawaii's governor warning that the figure could rise 'significantly'

Flattened homes are seen along the seafront in Lahaina after the blaze swept through. The death toll

The inferno - fuelled by strong winds - rapidly destroyed much of the historic resort town of Lahaina (pictured) on Tuesday and Wednesday, with residents forced to flee on foot after seemingly receiving no alert from the state's emergency warning systems

Over the weekend, crews of firefighters were still battling flare-ups in the region, and cadaver dogs were sifting through the town's charred ruins in search of victims

Hundreds of people remain unaccounted for, and large swathes of Lahaina are yet to be searched. John Pelletier, the Maui police chief, said only three percent of the town - home to more than 9,000 people - had been searched so far

Pictured: An aerial view of the destruction of Lahania town

Burned houses and buildings are pictured in the aftermath of a wildfire, is seen in Lahaina, western Maui, Hawaii on August 12

A firefighting helicopter helps fight flare-up fires in Kula, Maui island, Hawaii, U.S., August 13

'It's an impossible day,' Governor Josh Green said on Saturday. The fire will 'certainly be the worst natural disaster that Hawaii ever faced', he said.

'We can only wait and support those who are living.

'Our focus now is to reunite people when we can and get them housing and get them health care, and then turn to rebuilding.'

In a video update released earlier on Sunday, Green said more than 2,700 structures were destroyed in Lahaina and 'an estimated value of $5.6 billion has gone away.'

The death toll made the blaze Hawaii's worst natural disaster, surpassing a tsunami that killed 61 people in 1960, a year after Hawaii became a U.S. state.

It was also the largest number of deaths from a U.S. wildfire since 1918, when 453 people died in the Cloquet fire in Minnesota and Wisconsin, according to data from the National Fire Protection Association.

As of Sunday night, the Upcounty/Kula fire was 60 percent contained, while the Lahaina fire was at 85 percent containment, officials confirmed.

As the true scale of the disaster continues to sink in, anger is growing over the fact that the island's early warning systems failed to trigger as the blaze spread.

READ MORE: Biden is slammed for REFUSING to comment on rising death toll in Hawaii after spending two hours on the beach in Delaware Advertisement

Hawaii boasts what the state describes as the largest integrated outdoor all-hazard public safety warning system in the world, with about 400 sirens positioned across the island chain to alert residents of developing situations.

But Hawaii emergency management records show no indication that the warning sirens were triggered before a devastating wildfire killed at least 53 people and wiped out a historic town, officials confirmed Thursday.

Many of Lahaina's survivors said they didn't hear any sirens and only realized they were in danger when they saw flames or heard explosions nearby.

Residents were forced to escape the inferno on foot, with some saying it took as little as five minutes before they were in a position where they had no choice but to flee.

Hawaii's attorney general has said he is conduction a 'comprehensive review' into how the authorities responded to the inferno.

Speaking to the BBC, Representative Jill Tokuda of Hawaii's 2nd congressional district said 'serious questions' needed to be addressed over the lack of alerts.

'There's every justification for everyone to feel angry in this particular situation, and we all want answers,' she said. The congresswoman visited Lahaina over the weekend, describing the scenes she witnessed as 'heartbreaking'.

'We have so many memories there, so many of our families and friends lost everything, [or are] still looking for loved ones.'

Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) said there should no excuses for the sirens not sounding on the island.

'I'm not going to make any excuses for this tragedy, but the attorney general has launched a review of what happened with those sirens and some of the other actions that were taken,' Hirono told CNN on Sunday.

A satellite image shows downtown Lahaina and the historic 60-foot-tall banyan tree marking the spot where a 19th-century palace stood, as Maui island deals with the aftermath of multiple wildfires, Hawaii, August 12

A Mercy Worldwide volunteer makes damage assessment of charred apartment complex in the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina, western Maui, Hawaii on August 12

Destroyed property is seen in charred ruins, Sunday, August 13, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii, following the deadly wildfire

Many of the survivors took to Sunday church services, including Akanesi Vaa, 38, who said her family got stuck in traffic while trying to escape the flames.

Vaa, her husband and her children aged 15, 13 and 9 resorted to fleeing on foot and jumping a fence to safety.

Along the way, an elderly woman pleading for help handed her a baby to care for. The woman and her husband were also able to make it over the fence.

'I think a lot of us needed to hear today's message,' Vaa said after attending church at King's Cathedral in Kahului. 'All these ashes are going to turn into beauty. I know Lahaina will come back 10 times stronger.'

Scott Landis, pastor at Keawal'i Church, a United Church of Christ congregation in Makena, said an unusually large crowd of 100 showed, nearly double what he would have expected on a typical Sunday in August.

'They were really listening. You could tell people were here, looking for a word of hope,' Landis said.

Among them were people who have family and friends unaccounted for, and they are 'fearing the worst' he added.

Clinging to hopes of finding missing survivors, people sifted through a crowd-sourced online database listing thousands of names of individuals who had been found as well as of those who remained unaccounted for.

Family and friends mobilized on social media, sharing information about their missing loved ones, asking for help in locating them.

'Still searching for my in-laws,' Heather Baylosis wrote in a Saturday Instagram post. 'People are being found alive and severely disoriented due to what they have gone through. We are holding out hope!'

Megan Sweeting wrote on her Facebook page, 'MISSING: My Dad, Michael Misaka, has been missing since the Lahaina Fires started. If there is any information out there regarding my dad please let me know. I just need to know he is safe.'

Hundreds of people were still missing, though a precise count remained unclear.

Governor Green again vowed to investigate the response to the blaze and the emergency notification systems after some residents questioned whether more could have been done to warn them.

Some witnesses said they had little warning, describing their terror as the blaze destroyed the town around them in what seemed to be a matter of minutes. Others dove into the Pacific Ocean to escape.

Sirens stationed around the island, intended to warn of impending natural disasters, never sounded, and widespread power and cellular outages hampered other forms of alerts.

'We'll know soon whether or not they did enough to get those sirens going,' Green told MSNBC.

The Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Honolulu celebrated Mass on Sunday at a church in Kapalua - just up the road from fire-ravaged Lahaina - and urged those reeling from the wildfire not to give up hope.

'How could this be a good, loving God allowing such things to happen?' the Most Rev. Clarence 'Larry' Silva asked. 'We need to wrestle with that. The worst thing we can do is to give God the silent treatment. If we are angry with God we should tell him so. He can take it. He will still love us.'

During the Mass, Silva read a message from Pope Francis that he was praying for those who lost loved ones, homes and livelihoods - as well as for first responders

After the service, Silva declared 'God loves us in tragedies and good times' and urged those present 'to share that faith with others who may lose it or don't have it so that they can go on and they don't give up hope.'

Attendees embrace during a church service at King's Cathedral in Kahului on the island of Maui, Hawaii Sunday, August 13

Attendees embrace during a church service at King's Cathedral in Kahului on the island of Maui, Hawaii Sunday, August 13

An attendee is overcome with emotions during a church service at King's Cathedral in Kahului on the island of Maui, Hawaii Sunday, August 13

Attendees embrace during a church service at King's Cathedral in Kahului on the island of Maui, Hawaii Sunday, August 13

Parishioners attend Mass at Sacred Hearts Mission Church in Kapalua, Hawaii, August 13

One family of four - Faaso and Malui Fonua Tone, Salote Takafua, and her son, Tony Takafua - died while attempting to flee from the flames. Their remains were found Thursday in a burned car near their home.

READ MORE: Family of four died inside their car as they tried to flee the Lahiana firestorm Advertisement

'The magnitude of our grief is indescribable,' read a statement from family members.

Lylas Kanemoto, who knew the Tone family, confirmed the devastating news Sunday.

'At least we have closure for them, but the loss and heartbreak is unbearable for many. We as a community has to just embrace each other and support our families, friends, and our community to our best of our abilities,' Kanemoto told the AP by text message on Sunday.

Kanemoto is still awaiting news on her cousin, Glen Yoshino, who is missing.

'I'm afraid he is gone because we have not heard from him and he would've found a way to contact family,' Kanemoto said. 'We are hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst.'

A retired fire captain - Geoff Bogar, and his friend of 35 years - Franklin Trejos, initially stayed behind to help others in Lahaina and save Bogar's house. But as the flames moved closer and closer Tuesday afternoon, they knew they had to flee.

Each escaped to their own car. When Bogar's vehicle wouldn't start, he broke through a window to get out and crawled on the ground until a police patrol found him and brought him to a hospital.

Trejos didn't escape.

When Bogar returned the next day, he found the bones of his 68-year-old friend in the back seat of his car, lying on top of the remains of the Bogars' beloved 3-year-old golden retriever Sam, whom he had tried to protect.

Trejos, a native of Costa Rica, had lived for years with Bogar and his wife, Shannon Weber-Bogar, helping her with her seizures when her husband couldn't. He filled their lives with love and laughter.

'God took a really good man,' Weber-Bogar said.

Maui County firefighters fight flare-up fires in a canyon in Kula on Maui island, August 13

A caretaker photographs the site of a home destroyed by the Maui wildfires in Kula, Hawaii on August 13

Fueled by a dry summer and strong winds from a passing hurricane, the fire started Tuesday and took Maui by surprise, racing through parched brush covering the island and then flattening homes and anything else that lay in its path.

Lahaina's wildfire risk was well known. Maui County's hazard mitigation plan, last updated in 2020, identified Lahaina and other West Maui communities as having frequent wildfire ignitions and a large number of buildings at risk of wildfire damage.

Last week, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency spokesperson Adam Weintraub said the department's records don't show that Maui's warning sirens were triggered on Tuesday. Instead, the county used emergency alerts sent to mobile phones, televisions and radio stations, Weintraub told the Associated Press.

It's not clear if those alerts were sent before widespread power and cellular outages cut off most communication to Lahaina.

West Maui was also identified as having the island's highest population of people living in multi-unit housing, the second-highest rate of households without a vehicle, and the highest rate of non-English speakers.

'This may limit the population's ability to receive, understand and take expedient action during hazard events,' the plan noted.

Maui's firefighting efforts may also have been hampered by a small staff, Bobby Lee, the president of the Hawaii Firefighters Association, said last week. There are a maximum of 65 firefighters working at any given time in Maui County, and they are responsible for fighting fires on three islands - Maui, Molokai and Lanai - he said.

Those crews have about 13 fire engines and two ladder trucks, but they are all designed for on-road use.

The department does not have any off-road vehicles, which would allow crews to attack brush fires thoroughly before they reach roads or populated areas, he said.

That forces fire crews to wait for brush fires to reach an area where they can attack it with fire engines and other equipment, Lee said. The high winds caused by Hurricane Dora made that extremely difficult, he said.

'You're basically dealing with trying to fight a blowtorch,' Lee said. 'You've got to be careful - you don't want to get caught downwind from that, because you're going to get run over in a wind-driven fire of that magnitude.'

Maui Fire Department Chief Brad Ventura said the fire moved so quickly from brush to neighborhood that it was impossible to get communications to emergency management agencies responsible for getting warnings out.

This undated photo provided by Shannon Weber-Bogar shows Franklin Trejos with his golden retriever Sam. Trejos died in the Lahaina, Hawaii wildfires while using his body to shield Sam in the back of his car. The bodies were found Wednesday

Faaso and Malui Fonua Tone were found dead in their car Thursday as they tried to escape the devastating blaze that destroyed virtually all of Lahaina

Also killed were Faaso and Malui's adult daughter Salote Takafua and her son Tony

Mandatory evacuation orders were in place for Lahaina residents, Bissen noted, while tourists in hotels were told to shelter in place so that emergency vehicles could get into the area.

The mayor said that downed power poles added to the chaos as people attempted to flee Lahaina by cutting off two important roads of town.

Speaking at a Thursday afternoon press conference, he said that 29 poles fell with live wires still attached, cutting off the roads to Wailuku and the airport and leaving only the narrow highway toward Kahakuloa.

The cost to rebuild Lahaina was estimated at $5.5 billion, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), with more than 2,200 structures damaged or destroyed and more than 2,100 acres burned.
Brits are spending less than two days a week at the office and are never likely to return to the old ways of working, according to an expert on work habits.

A new report reveals that workers are now spending 32 per cent of their working week - 1.6 days out of five - at the office, up from 29 per cent this time last year.

However, UK workers still remain extremely shy about commuting from home compared to their counterparts in Europe, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region, where attendance sits at 55, 43 and 36 per cent respectively.

And employers are cutting back on the space they have available despite ordering staff to come in at least twice a week, with only 59 desks available for every 100 workers.

Andrew Mawson, founder of workplace consultancy AWA, which authored the study, told MailOnline: 'We dont see a return to the old model of office attendance and operation ever.'

Attendance rates at offices in the UK are lower than almost any other part of the world. Brits spending an average of 1.6 days in the office each week even as bosses plead for them to go in more often

UK employers are asking staff to go into work at least two days a week - but average attendance currently sits at around 1.6 days out of every five

Landmark offices at Canary Wharf. HSBC has announced plans to abandon its iconic Docklands workspace, while Barclays has put 500,000 sq ft of its building on the market

The research has shed new light on how our working habits have changed during and after the coronavirus pandemic, when Brits retreated from their offices and into spare rooms or to their dining tables.

Globally, workers are believed to have spent an average of 3.8 days a week in the office before the pandemic - plummeting to an average of 1.75 days across the world as of 2023.

Around 29 per cent of UK bosses have imposed in-person policies requiring staff to spend at least two days on site, but their demands are falling on deaf ears.

However, more than a third of employers are also considering cutting back on the amount of office space they use as 'hybrid' working arrangements become the norm, and some have already downsized.

Mr Mawson believes Brits have been slowly falling away from office working as advances in technology have made remote working easier.

He said: 'Weve been on a journey to a more flexible model of work for over 30 years - the pandemic simply accelerated it by five to 10 years.

'Apart from in industries where daily office attendance adds real value such as for high value creativity, regulation, or access to equipment, people will only attend offices when the experience provides tangible value.'

Attendance is highest on a Tuesday, when 40 percent of staff come in, but fewer than one in five staff make the effort on Fridays.

 Slide me  Canary Wharf in 2018 (left) and in July 2023 (right). The introduction of home-based and hybrid working during the pandemic has prompted employers to cut back on office space

Experts believe that Brits will never return to the pre-pandemic ways of working, and that hybrid policies are here to stay

Mr Mawson believes that bosses' demands for workers to come into the office are having less of an effect post-pandemic.

He added: 'Many employees are not conforming to the mandates placed on them by their organisations.

'Mandates dont work and are "grating" with workers and employers who feel patronised and mistrusted.

'Employers would be more successful in getting more commitment to office days if they embarked on a consultative process in which employees were engaged in a new grown-up conversation about how their team works facilitated by their leaders.'

The proportion of available desks for UK workers has fallen from 79 for every 100 workers a year ago to 59 - meaning on a typical day in a fully staffed office four in ten staff would have nowhere to sit.

Major employers have hit the headlines in recent months after announcing plans to cut back on the amount of office space they have.

Banking giant HSBC has announced that it will leave its iconic Canary Wharf headquarters and return to the City, while credit agency Moody's has also announced plans to downsize.

Major law firm Clifford Chance announced it was leaving Canary Wharf last year, while Barclays has put 500,000 sq ft of space at its Docklands office on the market.

Credit Suisse is also trying to let empty space at its Canary Wharf headquarters, with the top nine floors on the market.

And indications suggest that the amount of space dedicated to office working is only going to shrink further.

This time last year, 47 per cent of UK employers required staff to attend at least two days a week, but that has plummeted to just 29 per cent.

And more than a third of UK companies surveyed admit they are consolidating the space they use.

Mr Mawson added: 'With attendance numbers so low, many organisations are sitting on upwards of twice as much space as they need.

'Where possible, they have been consolidating their occupation onto fewer floors and subletting empty space wherever they can.

'However, given the oversupply of office space in the market, many are left holding onto their empty space awaiting a lease break, when they will hand the keys back to the landlord.'

But some firms are going against the trend, with even remote conference call platform Zoom - the now-established byword for video calling that exploded in popularity during the pandemic - ordering staff to return to offices twice a week.

AWA quizzed 56 UK offices, and another 63 across the world, to gather its data.
Was arrested after causing 'chaos' in the city's south

An inmate has been taken into custody after escaping from Sydney's Long Bay Correctional Centre on Monday.

Its understood the man caused 'chaos' throughout Sydney's southern suburbs for about an hour before he was apprehended by police near Beverly Park at 1.05pm.

In a statement, NSW Police said a manhunt began after they received reports of a 43-year-old inmate escaping the prison shortly after midday.

'Police have been informed that the man assaulted a woman in her home along Esperance Close, Little Bay, before carjacking a vehicle in the same street and forcing the female driver to drive him to Sydney's south,' a spokesperson said.

An inmate has broken out of Sydney's Long Bay jail (pictured), later assaulting a woman in her home and forcing another woman to drive him south to Beverly Park

Police arrested the man after they intercepted the vehicle near Beatty Avenue in Beverly Park and a short foot chase ensued

The vehicle was intercepted near Battye Ave in Beverly Park, where officers apprehended the man following a short foot chase.

The spokesperson said there were no reports of 'any person being seriously injured', with one woman taken to hospital for observation.

Esperance Close in Little Bay is located just 2.2km from Long Bay prison.

A NSW Corrective Services spokesman said the 43-year-old was a minimum-security inmate who went missing from the 'external grounds-maintenance crew'.

'The centre was immediately placed into lock down and specialist escape response officers deployed to patrol the perimeter,' he said.

'Corrective Services NSW will review the incident.'

The spokesman said inmates who escape or attempt to escape are reclassified which prevents them being held in minimum-security facilities in the future.
A swarm of bees killed a man and left four others injured during a funeral procession in India.

Victim Bondar Singh was part of a group of mourners following a funeral procession through Kherwa village in the state of Madhya Pradesh when he was fatally attacked bombarded by the honey bees.

The enraged colony of bees pursued the crowd, sparking chaos with dozens of people attempting to flee the scene.

The four other mourners left seriously injured were rushed to a nearby hospital in Barwani, where they received urgent medical attention.

The irate colony of bees pursued the crowd, leading to dozens of people attempting to flee the scene in a shocking turn of events. Pictured: Bees cluster on honeycombs at a beehive (File image)

The district's Bag police station in-charge, Kailash Chouhan, confirmed the death of Mr Singh following the incident.

According to a survivor of the attack, the mood among the mourners was solemn after the group had just performed funeral rites in the sacred Muktidham.

This attack comes after a Texas landscaping lighting technician and grandfather was killed by a swarm of bees last year.

Franco Galvan Martinez, 53, was suspended by a harness as he worked in a tree in a backyard in Austin when the horror unfolded.

A witness said two men who working with Galvan Martinez attempted to rescue him but they were also attacked by the bees.

According to the CDC, there are an average of 62 deaths in the US every year from bee, wasp and hornet stings. The agency notes that 80 percent of victims are male.
Nestle USA has issued a nationwide voluntary recall of some of its Toll House chocolate chip cookie dough 'break and bake' products after wood chips were found inside.

The company said that while no illnesses or injuries have been reported, it issued the recall 'out of an abundance of caution' after some consumers had contacted them about wood fragments in the bars.

Nestle, the largest food and beverage company in the world, said that the call back is isolated to two batches of the Toll House 'break and bake' bar products which were produced on April 24 and 25 earlier this year.

Consumers who have bought chocolate chip cookie dough bars with batch codes 311457531K and 311557534K have been advised not to eat the product and should return it for a replacement or refund.

Nestle, which sells products in 188 countries worldwide, said it was working with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and will cooperate with them fully.

Nestle USA has issued a nationwide voluntary recall of some of its Toll House chocolate chip cookie dough 'break and bake' products after wood chips were found inside

The company said that while no illnesses or injuries have been reported, it issued the recall 'out of an abundance of caution'. Pictured: Toll House chocolate chip cookie dough 'break and bake' products

A spokesman for Nestle USA said: 'We are confident that this is an isolated issue and we have taken action to address.

'The quality, safety and integrity of our products remain our number one priority.

'We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this action represents to both our consumers and retail customers.

Although wood fragments may now always cause major problems if consumed, it could lead to infections.

Sharper pieces of wood could damage internal organs of the digestive system, including the throat, tongue and intestines among others.

Last October, Nestle was forced to issue another voluntary recall for its refrigerated, ready-to-bake Nestle Toll House Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough with Fudge Filling due to the 'potential presence of white plastic pieces.'

Nestle is the largest food and beverage company in the world. Pictured above is Nestle CEO Mark Schneider

And in 2019, the Virginia-based company had to issue a recall for 26 batches of its ready-to-bake Toll House Cookie Dough products 'due to the potential presence of food-grade rubber pieces'.

Products were shipped across the US and to Puerto Rico, but it's unknown how many states were affected.

Customers who need further support should contact Nestle USA at (800) 681-1678 Monday-Friday from 9am to 6pm EST.
Former President Barack Obama's gay sex fantasy has been revealed in a newly-redacted 1982 letter to his ex girlfriend.

Obama, then 21, wrote to Alex McNear in November 1982, with whom he had been in a relationship during his time at Occidental College in Los Angeles.

He delved into the topic of homosexuality and confessed that he 'loves making love to men daily, but in the imagination,' according to the previously-redacted portion of the letter, which was obtained by the New York Post.

But who is Alex McNear? When was she in a relationship with Barack Obama? What did Obama say in his letter to McNear?

Read on below for all you need to know about Alex McNear.

Obama, then 21, wrote to Alex McNear in November 1982, with whom he had been in a relationship during his time at Occidental College in Los Angeles

Who is Alex McNear?

McNear is the daughter of Suzanne McNear, who was an editor for Playboy Magazine's fiction features throughout the 1960s and 1970s.

Alex is also a writer, and has been putting together a collection of short plays, 'each one with no more than two characters humorous plays about catastrophes.'

After working at Playboy herself, Alex then worked with Paul Theroux and the late South African novelist Nadine Gordimer.

McNear married the former Serbian boxer, Bob Bozic, in 1987, before the pair later split.

When were Alex McNear and Barack Obama in a relationship?

McNear and Obama dated briefly between 1979 and 1981, when they both attended Occidental College in Los Angeles.

However, the relationship failed to last after the former President transferred to Columbia University.

The pair attempted to maintain a long-distance relationship and communicate through letters, but eventually broke up.

Despite their separation, the two reportedly reconnected over dinner, a year after Obama transferred to Columbia University in New York in 1981.

What did Barack Obama say in his letter to Alex McNear?

In his newly-redacted letter, Obama described homosexuality as a way to detach from the present and potentially evade the recurring theatrics of earthly existence.

'In regard to homosexuality, I must say that I believe this is an attempt to remove oneself from the present, a refusal perhaps to perpetuate the endless farce of earthly life.'

Obama delved into the topic of homosexuality and confessed that he 'loves making love to men daily, but in the imagination,' according to the redacted portion of the letter

He admitted to a daily intellectual connection with men, but claims it was solely within the realms of imagination.

'You see, I make love to men daily, but in the imagination,' he wrote to McNear in the letter reported by the Post.

When their relationship had concluded, McNear chose to redact the more explicit sections of the letter.

However, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Garrow managed to locate and incorporate these passages in his biography titled 'Rising Star.'

Where is Alex McNear now?

Obama's letter to McNear is currently held by Emory University, which does not allow its photography or removal.

It has resurfaced due to the extensive interview conducted by Obama biographer David Garrow.

But Harvey Klehr, a friend of Garrow, was able to transcribe the redacted segments by hand and shared them with the author.

Klehr provided the concealed section of the letter to The New York Post for publication, hence why previously unseen sections of the letter have now become public.

Obama's letter, which is over 40 years old, has resurfaced due to the extensive interview conducted by biographer David Garrow (pictured)

Following on from her former romance with Obama, McNear is currently married to Dr Robert Stein, a child psychotherapist in Long Island, New York.

McNear said she thought Obama was 'interesting in a very particular way. He really worked his way through an idea or question, turned it over, looked at it from all sides, and then he came to a precise and elegant conclusion,' told David Maraniss, the author of Barack Obama: The Story.

'We sat and talked and ate and drank wine. Or at least I drank wine. I think he drank something stronger. It was one of those dark, old Italian restaurants that don't exist in New York anymore. It was the kind of place where they leave you alone.

'I remember thinking how happy I felt just talking to him, that I could talk to him for hours. We walked slowly back to my apartment, on 90th, and said good-bye. After that we started spending much more time together.'
A yoga teacher and her husband are being sued over their plans to demolish their 1.5million home.

Emma and Terence McGuinness also claim they have been 'shunned and ostracised' and frozen out of the local wine society by 'nimby' neighbours on their exclusive estate.

The couple are locked in a bitter court row with those living around their four-bedroom home, Birch Mead, in Oxshott, Surrey, which they plan to demolish to make way for two new houses.

Former figure skater Mrs McGuinness, 41, and her husband, 45, a catering firm boss, are desperate to create an annex alongside their new house so they can watch over her poorly father.

But the dispute has created a rift on the secluded 47-house Ridgeway enclave, Central London County Court heard, with the couple claiming to now be social pariahs on the estate, where homes can sell for more than 2million.

Mr McGuinness says they have 'lost touch' with neighbours over the plans, with his wife no longer taking part in the 'wine society,' chats at the gate or summer picnics. 'Certainly we felt ostracised,' he said 'The last two years have been extremely difficult for us.'

Emma Mc Guinness (pictured) and her husband Terence are locked in a bitter court row with neighbours living around their four-bed home, Birch Mead, in Oxshott, Surrey

They plan to demolish the current property (pictured) and build two new homes, one of which will allow Mrs McGuinness's ill father to live with them

But the dispute has created a rift on the secluded 47-house Ridgeway enclave, Central London County Court heard, with Mrs McGuinness (pictured outside court) no longer taking part in the local wine society on their estate

The couple are being sued by the owner of the private roads accessing the estate - Ridgeway (Oxshott) Management Ltd - which is seeking an injunction banning them from using their roads to carry out the build.

The company - whose directors and shareholders are made up of neighbours on the estate - say conditions of sale and access rights restrict owners to 'one plot one house' and that a two-house building project would cause too much disruption.

Mr and Mrs McGuinness, however, want the case against them thrown out and are now awaiting judgment after a trial at the London court.

Mrs McGuinness was formerly a competitive figure skater, but has now carved out a successful career as a teacher of Bikram 'hot' yoga.

Her husband has a background in acting and drama, having trained at London's Central School of Speech and Drama, where Mrs McGuinness was also a student, but is now a sales director at a catering firm.

Judge Simon Monty heard the couple already have planning permission to level their existing four-bed family home - which is valued online at around 1.5million - and substitute two new homes.

They say their plans are not about making money, but to ensure that Mrs McGuinness's frail father can live beside them so they can look after him.

But for the residents' company, barrister Miriam Seitler highlighted the potential road chaos flowing from the build, which she claimed would shatter the calm of a quiet estate.

Mrs McGuinness was formerly a competitive figure skater, but has now carved out a successful career as a teacher of Bikram 'hot' yoga

'The disruption and damage to be caused in the short term is significant: the construction period for two dwellings will be substantially longer and more intensive than for one,' she said.

'The experts agree that one house could be built in 12 months, whereas the proposed development would take 21 months.

'Our factual witnesses detail how disruptive construction work on the Ridgeway has been - and will be - to residents due to the layout and nature of the estate.

'This will be heightened in the case of Birch Mead due to its particular location on the estate.'

Giving evidence, Mr McGuinness said he and his family had 'lost touch with people' due to discord over their plans, while before they had mingled freely on the estate, where they have lived for 10 years.

However, the company's barrister pointed out that socialising had been curtailed in recent years due to Covid, also noting that Mr and Mrs McGuinness had been invited to Jubilee and Coronation street parties.

Mr McGuinness agreed they had gone to both events, explaining in relation to the Jubilee party: 'We made a point of wanting to go because I don't think this is a personal issue and we wanted to be there because we felt we should be.

'But all that day, I was watching to make sure that Emma wasn't on her own - and it wasn't what it should have been.'

The barrister said that no one had stopped the couple socialising, but Mr McGuinness replied: 'What I'm talking about is things like Emma no longer being part of the wine society and not mixing like she did - not having conversations at the gate and not having summer picnics with people.

Terence McGuinness, pictured outside court, said he had his wife had been left feeling ostracised by their 'nimby' neighbours

'That's the real relationship which has stopped and that's because of the way that this has been handled.'

He added: 'Certainly we felt ostracised. The last two years have been extremely difficult for us.'

For the couple, barrister George Woodhead highlighted construction projects carried out by other residents, with most of the 47 houses on the estate 'extended, rebuilt or improved' at some point.

'There is a strong sense of "nimbyism", 'pulling up the ladder" and hypocrisy to the position adopted by some members of the company,' he said, although he added: 'Not all members of the company are opposed to the proposed works.'

He continued: 'For them, this is less about making money and more about living in close proximity to Mrs McGuinness's father, who is unwell and wishes to be very near to his family.

'Their children are at school and engage in local activities. The family are embedded in the local community, such that moving house is undesirable.

'Their motives for the development are commendable: their focus is on family, not money.'

They had also offered compensation for any damage done, the lawyer added, while the works would only take place between 8am and 6pm on weekdays and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays.

But Ms Seitler said the couple's project goes beyond anything in the past, alleging that many on the estate felt a 'particular concern about multiple dwellings'.

If it fails to get an injunction banning use of the access roads for the project, she asked the judge to award 80,000 in compensation from Mr and Mrs McGuinness.

Following a week in court, Judge Simon Monty reserved his decision in the case, which has already racked up 'tens of thousands' in lawyers' bills.
A woman sliced off her ex-boyfriend's penis with a knife after he tried to rape her in Italy, according to reports.

The incident occurred on Saturday August 12 in Marghera, Venice, following an argument between the couple over custody of their daughter.

The pair - who are both foreign nationals living in Italy - have reportedly been separated from some time, according to la Repubblica.

They are said to have met in the woman's home in order to seek an agreement on the 'management' of their daughter.

The ensuing argument came after he allegedly tried 'making peace' by offering to have sex with her.

The incident occurred on Saturday August 12 in Marghera, Venice, following an argument between the couple over custody of their daughter (File image)

After she is said to have refused, it is claimed that he pushed her against a piece of furniture while half-naked.

The woman then responded by brandishing a knife and cutting off his penis with the blade.

Police and ambulance services both rushed to the scene, with the pair both taken to hospital.

The man was said to have had his penis successfully reattached after an reconstruction operation, which was performed by urologist surgeons.
The founder of Extinction Rebellion has slammed Sadiq Khan's ULEZ scheme for being 'intrusive' and 'regressive' for some of the lowest-paid workers in London.

Roger Hallam took aim at the 'urban middle-class neo-liberal Left' supporters of the much-hated scheme which is due to be expanded later this month.

Posting on social media site X, formerly Twitter, he said that the scheme was enraging 'those who work hard to provide our basic services' and whose job it is to drive around parts of Greater London.

Mr Hallam also highlighted that critics of the scheme 'want to sort out climate and pollution as much as anyone else', while supporters show a 'total lack of sensitivity and self awareness'.

His comments came hours before several vehicles had their tyres punctured in Bromley during an anti-ULEZ protest that had to be handled by police.

The founder of Extinction Rebellion, Roger Hallam (pictured), has slammed Sadiq Khan's ULEZ scheme for being 'intrusive' and 'regressive'

He took aim at the 'urban middle-class neo-liberal Left' policy-makers behind Sadiq Khan's much hated scheme

A man was pictured replacing a flat tyre after a pro-ULEZ protester put holes in the wheels of his van

Several vehicles had their tyres punctured in Bromley on Saturday during an anti-ULEZ protest that had to be handled by police

This map shows how the ULEZ area is set to be dramatically expanded later this month

Mr Hallam was responding to an article in the Guardian by Professor Devi Sridhar where she argued in favour of ULEZ and low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) as they can help to 'save lives'.

He said: 'Let's be totally clear here, the most lives would be saved by taxing the richest 1 per cent (like the city traders and lawyers who fund and facilitate 15 per cent of global emissions), and subjecting them to carbon rationing.

'This tax could easily fund the change over to non-polluting vehicles without people being out of pocket.

'But of course nothing is said about that in the article - and nothing will be said by @MayorofLondon about it either.'

Mr Hallam added: 'Those who suffer the regressive, intrusive policies of #ULEZ want to sort climate and pollution as much as anyone else.

'And that would become clear in 5 minutes if they were allowed a voice, and thus felt like they were being listened to.

'The urban middle-class neo-liberal Left don't understand this and that's why they are hated - for their hypocrisy, their arrogance.'

Just hours after Mr Hallam spoke out a number of cars which formed part of a convoy during an anti-ULEZ protest in Bromley were targeted - with at least 15 tyres from seven vehicles reportedly punctured.

One man was pictured taking out a flat tyre and replacing it after a pro-ULEZ protester put holes in the wheels of a van.

Mr Hallam was responding to an article in the Guardian by Professor Devi Sridhar where she argued in favour of ULEZ and low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) as they can help 'save lives'

Cars part of the convoy that were parked along a road in the Greater London town were targeted - with at least 15 tyres from seven vehicles reportedly punctured

One man can be seen holding up a sign saying 'ULEZ creates poverty' while others hold signs criticising Sadiq Khan

People in Bromley were seen holding up protest signs reading 'Khant pay, won't pay' and 'stop the toxic air lie' as they set out to put a halt to the environmental scheme

Protestors in Bromley were seen holding up signs reading 'Khant pay, won't pay' and 'stop the toxic air lie' as they set out to put a halt to the environmental scheme.

Police were seen trying to control the situation as angry protesters paraded down the town's streets.

The ULEZ expansion will come into force in a few weeks and will require Londoners to pay 12.50-a-day to drive in Greater London if their cars do not meet certain environmental standards.

Khan previously refused to 'water down' the ULEZ green tax expansion after he announced he was increasing grants for families to replace non-compliant older, larger cars with less polluting models to 2,000.

Despite his efforts to make the scheme more feasible for drivers during the cost of living crisis, Khan was criticised by Tories including health minister Maria Caulfield, who warned it would do little to help with the cost of a replacement.
Tracy Beaker author Dame Jacqueline Wilson has revealed she is against 'meddling with adult classics' as she spoke out against controversial woke rewrites of books.

The 77-year-old celebrated British novelist said that while many of the themes in classic literature can seem out of place in modern society, they should be left alone.

She cited the 'mad woman in the attic' in Jane Eyre as an example, saying someone with serious mental health issues would not be depicted in the same way now.

But Dame Jacqueline added that she was for editing some children's books because youngsters 'still haven't got the power to sort things out and have a sense of history'.

It comes after she admitted she would not have her written her 2005 book Love Lessons about a 14-year-old girl falling in love with her art teacher, who reciprocates.

Dame Jacqueline Wilson speaks about censorship on ITV's Good Morning Britain today

Richard Madeley and Kate Garraway speak to Jacqueline Wilson on Good Morning Britain

Dame Jacqueline has spoken out about censorship and cancel culture in recent days while promoting her new book 'The Best Sleepover In the World', out on Thursday.

How Roald Dahl, Enic Blyton and Agatha Christie books have been rewritten for modern audiences The editing of stories by authors such as Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl has become the subject of much debate in recent years. Classic books from much-loved but controversial writers have been rewritten to cater for the sensitivities of modern audiences. Here are some examples: Roald Dahl: The Roald Dahl Story Company and Puffin Books carried out a review of Dahl's classics which led to the removal or rewriting of content deemed offensive - including references to weight, mental health, violence, gender and race. Among the changes included removing the words 'fat' and 'ugly', with Mrs Twit in The Twits no longer 'ugly and beastly' but now just 'beastly'. And Augustus Gloop in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is now referred to as 'enormous'. Enid Blyton: Blyton, the author of beloved book series including The Famous Five, Noddy and Malory Towers, has been criticised for racism and xenophobia in her books and her novels have been the subject to 'sensitive text revisions'. Publisher Hodder edited Blyton's works to replace words like 'queer' and 'gay' and was said to have altered other phrases such as 'shut up' and 'don't be an idiot'. Agatha Christie: Some of the author's novels have been rewritten to eliminate phrases that have been deemed insensitive or inappropriate. Several of the passages in Poirot and Miss Marple mysteries are said to have been reworked or stripped altogether from new editions. Publisher HarperCollins eliminated text containing 'insults or references to ethnicity', as well as descriptions of certain characters' physiques. Advertisement

On ITV's Good Morning Britain (GMB) today, presenter Richard Madeley spoke to her about 'publishers who are altering the text of books because they think that times have changed so much that it's sort of damaging for children to read how we lived then'.

Asked for her view, Dame Jacqueline responded: 'I'm a kind of middle of the road person, I think it depends how it's done.

'There are some things I think that would make us a bit worried if we returned to our old children's favourites and read them with fresh eyes, we might be a bit surprised.

'I think with children, they often absorb texts, they still haven't got the power to sort things out and have a sense of history.

'However I'm very against meddling with adult classics. I was just thinking about Jane Eyre the other day, I mean with the 'mad woman in the attic' and the way she's depicted.

'You'd never find that sort of treatment of people with serious mental health problems. And yet, you know, I would be absolutely at the forefront of people saying no, leave it alone, it's my favourite book. So I think it depends.'

Among the well-known books censored in recent years to remove language now deemed inappropriate have been Agatha Christie's novels, titles by Roald Dahl, Enid Blyton's Famous Five and Malory Towers books and Ian Fleming's James Bond series.

Dame Jacqueline was also asked about cancel culture on GMB today, and said: 'I'm of the old school. I think why can't everybody just talk things over, discuss things? You don't have to agree with someone, but I think it's more helpful to actually get to the bottom of what's making people so angry.

'But whether I'd feel that in the midst of a baying crowd or not, I don't know. I mean, life's changed so much. It's good that people can make it clear what they feel, but I do think a little bit of discussion...'

She also backed recent calls for children to develop their 'oracy', which aims to help them become more articulate, and assemble their ideas and express them.

Dame Jacqueline's comments today came after she gave an interview to The Guardian last week in which she spoke of her concerns over her book Love Lessons.

The book sees 14-year-old Prue fall in love with an art teacher  before they kiss, and he says he loves her as well.

Dame Jacqueline Wilson with her partner Trish at The Savoy Hotel in London in July 2017

Dame Jacqueline Wilson with Danielle Harmer, who played Tracy Beaker in the BBC TV adaptation of her 1999 book, The Story of Tracy Beaker

Tracy Beaker was a huge hit for BBC children's television and spawned a number of spin-offs

Asked if she would write the book today, she said: 'No. It's so different now. Well, I did have my doubts then.'

And when the interviewer pointed out that Prue would now be seen as a victim and the teacher as a paedophile, Dame Jacqueline said: 'Yes, that's very true. And it does change things around so much.'

It comes after research by the UK's Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals released in April found that a third of librarians had been asked by members of the public to censor or remove books, particularly on themes involving empire, race and LGBTQ+ themes.

There is a similar issue in America, where writers' organisation Pen America said in the same month that book bans in US public schools rose by 28 per cent in the first half of the 2022/23 academic year. Again, race and LGBTQ+ themes were prominent in many of the banned books.

Former Children's Laureate Dame Jacqueline has sold more than 40 million books.

Last year she published The Magic Faraway Tree: A New Adventure, a re-imagining of Blyton's story about three children who discover enchanted lands at the top of an enormous tree.

Her latest book is The Best Sleepover in the World, a sequel to her 2001 bestseller Sleepovers.
She was hospitalised to treat 'significant injuries to her face' after the mauling

The mother of a five-year-old girl mauled by a Pocket Bully Dog that 'ripped her face off' said her daughter's screams will 'haunt' her.

Farrah-Leigh Nichol, five, had gone to stroke the Pocket Bully after asking permission from the owner at around 6.30pm on Saturday near a Nisa store in Teesside.

But as the schoolgirl patted the animal's head it pounced  biting a huge chunk out of her left cheek.

Her father Alex Nichol, 30, kicked the Bully away and scooped his daughter up before she was rushed to hospital where she is being treated for serious facial injuries.

Farrah-Leigh's mother Danielle Kemp, 32, and Mr Nichol are by the youngster's side as she prepares for skin graft operations.

Ms Kemp told MailOnline: 'What I saw and the screams I heard will haunt me, she really didn't deserve this.

This is the devastating injury caused to little Farrah-Leigh Nichol after she was savaged by a bully-type dog outside a corner shop

The dog, a Pocket Bully, allegedly involved in the attack on five-year-old Farrah-Leigh Nichol

Yet as the schoolgirl gently patted the animal's head it pounced  biting a huge chunk out of her left cheek

Farrah-Leigh Nichol had gone to stroke the Pocket Bully after asking permission from the owner at around 6.30pm on Saturday outside a Nisa store in Teesside (pictured)

'I was cooking tea when Alex came running in with Farrah-Leigh.

'Our heads are all over the place at the moment. My little girl has already had one operation and she has another two to come.

'She has one tomorrow morning and then another in two weeks, she's been very brave.

'The support we have had from local people has been overwhelming, we can't thank them enough.'

The family live close to the store on Norton Road, in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, and the youngster was accompanied by her father when the dog struck without warning.

The owner of the animal waited at the scene as emergency services arrived and the dog has now been seized.

Pocket Bullys are smaller variants of American Bullys, with full-grown males under 17 inches and females under 16 inches at the shoulder blades.

Farrah-Leigh Nichol, five, (pictured) was injured when she was mauled by a dog after she stroked it on Saturday

The family live close to the store on Norton Road, Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, and the youngster was accompanied by her father when the dog struck without warning

She has had one operation and is set for two more following the horrific incident outside a Nisa store on Saturday evening

Mr Nichol, who works as a tiler, said: 'We had gone to the shop together and she had paid for some bread at the till.

'We came out and I pressed the button to cross the road and she said, "Can I stroke that dog?"

'I said, ''Yes, but you will have to ask the man first.''

'She said, "Can I stroke your dog?" and he said, 'Yes, no problem.'

'She went to stroke the dog on the head. She loves dogs. She was stroking it really gently.

'The dog jumped and she jumped back and I thought, that was lucky.

'But then the next minute I saw her curled up on the floor and she said, "Dad".

'She was crying and all her face was off. Her face was gone. It was just gruesome.'

Her father, Alex Nichol, 30, said: 'We have three dogs (pictured, Farrah-Leigh with one of the family's dogs) ourselves. We have a Staffie and two XL Bullies. But I would be happy to muzzle them'

Farrah-Leigh's father Mr Nichol, 30, (pictured) said: 'If all dogs were muzzled it would just take away the risk. If it saved just one child it would be worth it'

Mr Nichol rushed over to his daughter who was still in dangerously close proximity to the animal.

He added: 'I ran across to get her but the dog was right behind her.

'I booted it. I stamped on it. I picked my daughter up and went back to the house.

'She was taken to hospital and she is stable and she has had stitches. But there's still so much to do.'

The Pocket Bully is a cross between an American Pit Bull Terrier and a Patterdale Terrier.

It lived just down the road from the home Farrah-Leigh shares with her mother and father.

In the wake of a spate of recent dog attacks on children, Mr Nichol now believes all breeds should be muzzled.

He said: 'We have three dogs ourselves. We have a Staffie and two XL Bullies. But I would be happy to muzzle them.

'If all dogs were muzzled it would just take away the risk. If it saved just one child it would be worth it.

'Always be wary of dogs you don't know.

'My daughter loved dogs, but this incident has obviously given her a full fear factor.

Her father added: 'She was crying and all her face was off. Her face was gone. It was just gruesome'

The Pocket Bully, which is a cross between an American Pit Bull Terrier and a Patterdale Terrier, has now been seized

'We're all still in shock at the moment. We can't believe this has happened.'

Family friend Kirsty Lavender, 32, said: 'She's such a brave, strong little girl, she's kind but she still needs a skin graft to reform her face.

'Her mam and dad are very worried about her of course but she's bounced back really well so far.'

The incident came after it was revealed that dog attacks left British children needing surgery more than 1,000 times last year, including nearly 400 cases where the child was under the age of four.

READ MORE: Dog owners terrified of attacks by vicious 'bully' breeds after seven deaths this year are buying pet armour and taking their pets for walks on treadmills Advertisement

The shocking figures showed that the total number of hospitalisations following dog attacks has nearly doubled from 4,699 in 2007/8 to 9,336 in 2022/23.

Dr John Tulloch, a lecturer in veterinary public health at Liverpool University, previously said that the way Brits take care of dogs needs to change.

'We know dogs are now kept in the home for more than seven or eight hours on their own and they are going to get frustrated.

'A lot of dogs don't get the exercise needs - their health needs aren't being met and so they have the potential to be more anxious and nervous.

'If you keep a dog in a horrible environment and they're not looked after they are going to have more behaviour problems and be more likely to bite.'

A neighbour who lives near where this latest attack happened said: 'The little girl asked to stroke the dog and it just went for her.

'Her dad was straight over to help and he was booting the thing to get it away from her. She did nothing to provoke it and the owner seemed happy for her to pat the dog.

'A dog that unpredictable should not have been out without a muzzle.'

Cleveland Police said Farrah-Leigh was taken to hospital for treatment and a dog had been seized.

A force spokesman said the owner of the dog remained at the scene after the attack.

'Officers attended the scene within minutes of the report being called in and provided medical assistance to the girl whilst waiting for the ambulance, ' the force spokesman added.

'The girl has suffered significant injuries to her face and is receiving treatment in hospital.

'The owner of the dog remained at the scene following the attack and co-operated with police. The dog has been seized.

'We would politely ask people not to post photos relating to the incident and to avoid speculating on social media whilst officers continue with their investigation.'

A spokesperson for North East Ambulance Service added: 'We were called at 6.25pm [on Saturday] to reports of an incident involving a dog bite in the Norton area of Stockton.

'We dispatched a paramedic crew who treated one patient with facial injuries before transporting to hospital.'

A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise money to send Farrah-Leigh to Disneyland with her family once she is well enough.

Shauna Lee Rollinson, 26, who created the page, said: 'Farrah-Leigh is in my little girl's class at school.

'She tells my daughter all the time how she'd love to go to Disneyland.

'If we can make this happen for this gorgeous girl I will cry my eyes out.

'The support so far has been outstanding.'

Anyone wishing to donate to send Farrah-Leigh to Disney World once she's well enough can do so here.
Four young Australians on a surfing holiday are among seven people missing after their charter boat failed to return to their resort on a private island in Indonesia.

Elliot Foote, Steph Weisse, Will Teagle and Jordan Short were among a group of 12 Australians travelling on two wooden longboats between Nias Island and the Pinang Surf resort on the Banyak Islands, off the west coast of the mainland.

The two vessels ran into bad weather during the 50km voyage on Sunday, which usually takes around three hours.

One of the boats was able to find refuge on Sarang Alu, an island halfway from their destination, but the boat carrying four Australians and three Indonesian crew members continued to attempt to make the crossing despite the treacherous conditions.

Grave fears are being held for Four Australians who have gone missing on a charter boat off between Nias Island and the Pinang Surf Resort, on Pinang Island (pictured: Elliot Foote and Steph Weisse)

Pictured: Missing Australians Jordan Short and Will Teagle

Mr Foote's father said the group of 12 were all friends who were celebrating his son's upcoming 30th birthday.

They were intending to travel to the island to rent exclusive bungalows and surf for 10 days.

He holds out hope the missing holidaymakers will be rescued.

'They have life jackets on board, they had food and water and there is shelter on the boat. It has a roof,' he told the Sydney Morning Herald..

'Apparently the waves weren't that problematic. It was just the visibility in the storm.

'We're all hoping they've either run out of fuel or they got lost and missed the island or more likely there may be an engine failure on the boat, which unfortunately doesn't have any GPS.'

The eight Australians who found refuge on Sarang Alu are 'beside themselves' on the island while their mates remain missing.

The families of the four missing Australians put out a statement on Monday night via the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

'Our hearts are aching at the thought that Elliot, Steph, Will and Jordan are missing at sea,' they said.

'We continue to pray and hold out hope they will be found.

'We'd like to thank the Indonesian authorities and the Australian government for their ongoing assistance while search and rescue efforts continue.'

Initial search parties were launched by the Pinang resort and local authorities at 6am on Monday, however they were unsuccessful.

The group were among a group of 12 Australians across two wooden longboats travelling between Nias Island and the Pinang Surf resort on the Banyak Islands, off the west coast of the mainland, when the vessel struck bad weather on Sunday

The group were staying at the exclusive Pinang Surf resort (pictured)

Indonesian National Search and Rescue agency Nias Island chief Octavianto said a rescue team of more than 20 police, military and volunteers are now utilising small boats to battle heavy weather in further attempts to find the Aussies.

'Last night the Pinang Resort reported that a speedboat with 10 passengers had arrived in Pinang Island (at around 10.18pm local time), while another speedboat with seven people on board had not arrived yet,' he said.

'We've deployed three shipsand they are now moving towards the location for search and rescue.

'However, the issue is that the (missing vessel) is a basic wooden boat without any tracking devices or the like.'

Poor weather and visibility has so far hindered the ability of search parties to locate the missing Aussies.

The 12 Aussies are believed to have departed from Nias Island at about 3pm on Sunday.

Pinang island is known for its seclusion, stunning scenery and world-class surf breaks (pictured, Jordan Short)

Poor weather and visibility has so far hindered the ability of search parties to locate the missing Aussies (pictured, Steph Weisse)

Pinang island is known for its seclusion, stunning scenery and world-class surf breaks.

It costs USD$150 per night to stay on the island for a 'self-sufficient' bungalow, that provides 'daily surf trips to the Bay of Plenty or Bangkaru Island, plus transfer from and back to Nias airport'.

'Our friend and surf guide will take you around to all the best spots,' the resort's website reads.

Guests on the island receive an inclusive breakfast, lunch and dinner and access to 'snorkelling, fishing, spearfishing, SUP and kayaking.

The resort's website states they are booked out between August 13 and August 23, believed to be the party of 10 Australians.

It also provides travel to the island from Nias, the website stating they will 'be picked up and whisked off to our island by speedboat'.
Australia's richest person Gina Rinehart has addressed a summit where she urged economic gains from regional areas be returned to communities and net zero ambitions abandoned for farmers.

At the same time on Monday, a court heard the mining magnate devised an 'egregious' scheme to defraud her children, of billions of dollars in iron ore riches.

During Mrs Rinehart's keynote speech at the Bush Summit event in Perth, she said a commitment from government to channel funds back to the regions could see medical facilities and infrastructure upgraded.

'Frankly, we should have the best equipped and most luxurious hospitals in Newman, Tom Price Dampier, Cape Lambert, Port Hedland and other mining towns thanks to the revenue we create in the Pilbara, and similarly, in other mining areas,' she said.

'Ditto, see 24 hour, 365 days a year airstrips so the better equipped and fastest Royal Flying Doctor planes can always arrive.

Australia's richest person Gina Rinehart has addressed a summit where she urged economic gains from regional areas be returned to communities and net zero ambitions abandoned for farmers

At the same time on Monday, a court heard the mining magnate devised an 'egregious' scheme to defraud her children (Bianca Rinehart is pictured), of billions of dollars in iron ore riches

'Us and our people in the outback would then be more safe.'

Mrs Rinehart advocated for special economic zones to be created, along with tax cuts for those working in northern Australia.

She said limits on work hours for pensioners and veterans before government payments are cut off should also be removed, in order for more jobs to be filled in regional areas.

'Just imagine the smiles when we can finally fill those jobs in the bush and see hospitals and health centre hours and effectiveness improved.

'If we could cut some of the paperwork and the regulations here, we would find a lot of Aussies who would actually like to work very much as well, they're just restricted by government.'

Mrs Rinehart said the mining industry would be able to afford the transition to net zero but other sectors, including agriculture would face a tougher time meeting requirements.

She called on the federal government to meet the costs involved or waive it altogether.

'They want to implement the net zero.

'Otherwise, most farmers and others in agriculture, you know, be it the orchardists and others, cannot afford net zero.'

Farmers would have to leave the industry and Aussies would see huge price increases for food, along with fresh food shortages, Mrs Rinehart warned.

She also reiterated support for nuclear energy to be implemented in the country.

'Let's not upset many farmers with bird killing wind generators and massive solar panel stretches and bring on clean safe nuclear energy.'

Meanwhile, a bitter legal battle over her fortune played out across town.

Bianca Rinehart is battling her mother for billions of dollars in mining royalties in the WA Supreme Court

The WA Supreme Court heard the reclusive billionaire also allegedly tried to have her father Lang Hancock's wife Rose Porteous deported, and racially abused her amid fears she would inherit shares in Hancock Prospecting.

A lawyer for Mrs Rinehart's children, Christopher Withers SC, said there was clear evidence mining licences were unlawfully transferred to the company and a subsidiary against her father's wishes after he died in 1992.

'We don't use the word fraud lightly,' he told the Supreme Court trial on Monday.

Mr Withers accused Mrs Rinehart of devising a multi-step scheme to move Hope Downs and East Angeles tenements, including the 'Roy Hill diversion', to avoid accruing capital gains tax or stamp duty liability.

'We say the evidence that fraud was perpetuated by Gina on her children is overwhelming,' he said, referring to a long-running family feud that is also in arbitration in the Federal Court.

He said Lang Hancock wanted his grandchildren to benefit from the assets via trusts, including John Hancock and Bianca Rinehart, who made an unexpected appearance at court.

Under a 1988 agreement penned by Lang Hancock, his grandchildren were to be the principal benefactors of his efforts to develop an iron ore mine at Hope Downs and 49 per cent shareholders in Hancock Prospecting.

'Lang was simply not prepared to give Gina everything she wanted, which was everything,' Mr Withers said.

Mr Withers said Mrs Rinehart 'deliberately destroyed' the arrangement after Lang Hancock died through a series of transactions that increased her shareholding at the expense of her children.

'The events after Lang died constitute an egregious fraud orchestrated by Gina and carried out by people who did whatever Gina wanted without questioning,' he said.

He said the actions were 'covered up' with a 'false narrative to her children and the public generally that (Hancock Prospecting's) and her personal success was simply a product of hard work rather than dishonesty'.

'The truth is Lang discovered the mining areas in the Pilbara. He was the driving force behind the decision to start a mine,' he said.

The court also heard about the multiple disputes Mrs Rinehart allegedly had with her father in the 1980s, including after he married his housekeeper Rose Porteous and she allegedly contacted the immigration department in a bid to have her stepmother deported to the Philippines

Mr Withers said Mrs Rinehart lied to her children about her actions and threatened John Hancock and his lawyers when they attempted to investigate the matter.

The court also heard about the multiple disputes Mrs Rinehart allegedly had with her father in the 1980s, including after he married his housekeeper Rose Porteous and she allegedly contacted the immigration department in a bid to have her stepmother deported to the Philippines.

'(Lang Hancock) removed her as a director of (Hancock Prospecting) because she was saying very unfortunate things ... for example calling (Mrs Porteous) an oriental concubine,' Mr Withers said.

'She (also) repeatedly called Rose a prostitute.'

Mrs Rinehart also allegedly had a 'major rift' with her father after she took her mother's will to the US to hold up probate amid fears her father would leave Mrs Porteous mining assets in his will.

The claims were made in a high-stakes legal stoush in Perth in which Mrs Rinehart's company and her children are defending the claims of Wright Prospecting and DFD Rhodes, with Bianca Rinehart in court on Monday listening to her barrister.

Wright Prospecting is suing for a share of some Hope Downs tenements and royalties amid a claim that it never relinquished the assets and Hancock Prospecting has breached a series of partnership agreements.

The family company of the late prospector Don Rhodes, DFD Rhodes, says it is entitled to 1.25 per cent royalty share of the Hope Downs production following 1960s deal.

Mr Withers made repeated calls for Mrs Rinehart to front the court, saying she is one of the few people still alive who could provide evidence about many of the issues raised in the trial.

The Hope Downs mining complex near Newman is one of Australia's largest and most successful iron ore projects, comprising four open-pit mines.
A 29-year-old Brit has been arrested in Spain in connection with a brutal fight at Magaluf's notorious party strip, the Punta Ballena.

The man, who has not been named, was held on suspicion of crimes including wrongdoing following the clash between two groups of youngsters.

Footage shows the youngsters swinging at each other in a frenzied fight that saw one man knocked unconscious and others kneed in the face.

It was not immediately clear which of the men filmed was the British national , described locally as the 'main alleged instigator' of the violence.

The fight ensued after a man tried to move a partygoer knocked out in another brawl, with blood seen coming from his head as he lay face-down on the pavement.

Bystanders tried to stop the man from lifting the unconscious youngster from the floor, apparently worried it might make the situation worse before medics arrived.

But another reveller wearing a grey t-shirt took matters into his own hands, punching the man in the face and causing him to drop the unconscious young person's head on the ground.

Video shows how more youngsters waded in to fight in the brawl, with the partygoers frantically attacking each other with punches and kicks to their bodies.

Footage shows the youngsters swinging at each other in a frenzied fight that saw one man knocked unconscious and others kneed in the face

A man is seen knocked out on the floor, bleeding, as a fight ensues around him

The two warring groups - two well-built men on one side and three smaller partygoers on the other - can be seen pummelling each other in front of a fast food takeaway joint.

At one point, one of the brawlers found himself outnumbered at the entrance to the takeaway and being put in a headlock by three revellers before being punched in the stomach.

But his friend, who had been filmed moments earlier unleashing a powerful right hook to the face of the man trying to lift the injured reveller from the ground, came running across and swung his right fist at one of the youngsters.

The blow knocked the youngster onto the counter of the pizza and burger takeaway and allowed the two more powerfully-built men to chase the others away as they fled the scene.

The disturbing scenes occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Video footage caught the moment partygoers brawled on the Magaluf strip

A group of youths lash out at each other near a pizza place in Magaluf

It was not immediately clear this morning if any British or Irish tourists had been involved in the orgy of violence.

Police could not be contacted to confirm whether they had made any arrests, but no-one involved is understood to have alerted local law-enforcement.

In May five police officers were injured during a mass brawl in Magaluf involving around 50 people.

Ten people ended up being arrested following the incident near a popular nightspot called Panama Jack.

One initial local report pointed to the incident being sparked by a fight between a group of North African youngsters and Spaniards - but a group of Portuguese holidaymakers were later described as the main troublemakers.
Emergency services have discovered the body of a man inside a van that was on fire in Staffordshire.

Firefighters summoned the police after being called to a vehicle fire on Paget Street, Burton-upon-Trent, on Sunday evening.

They made the grim discovery after extinguishing the white Volkswagen Caddy in the Staffordshire town.

Staffordshire Police is treating the death as 'unexplained' while it waits for a post-mortem examination to be carried out in order to establish a cause.

Images from the scene show that police have established a cordon on Paget Street while they carry out initial investigations.

A cordon has been established on Paget Street, Burton-upon-Trent, after firefighters discovered the body of a man inside a Volkswagen van. Fire officers summoned the police after extinguishing the fire on Sunday night

A blue forensics tent has been erected at the side of the white van while scene of crime officers carry out preliminary investigations. Police say they are currently treating the man's death as 'unexplained', with a post-mortem due to be carried out

A blue forensics tent has been erected at the side of the vehicle, while a sheet has been draped across the front of the vehicle to obscure the interior from public view.

A Staffordshire Police spokesperson said last night: 'We are investigating following the discovery of a man's body in the back of a van that was on fire in Burton.

'We were called to by Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service at 7.55pm this evening (Sunday 13 August) after they were called about a van fire.

'A man's body was recovered from the van once fire crews had dealt with the fire.

'The death is currently being treated as unexplained. A post mortem will be carried out in due course to establish the cause of death.

'We are keen to speak to anyone with any dashcam footage from the area or those with any information which could help.'

The West Midlands Ambulance Service said it was called out but that 'it quickly became clear' the man could not be helped.

An ambulance crew was sent to the scene shortly after the grim discovery was made. However, medics say there was nothing that could be done for the man inside the van

A spokesperson told Staffordshire Live: 'We were called to reports of a vehicle fire at the junction of Alfred Street and Dale Street in Burton just before 8pm.

'An ambulance and a paramedic officer were sent to the scene where, on arrival, crews found one male patient.

'Sadly, it quickly became clear that he could not be saved and was confirmed dead at the scene.'

Anyone with information or video footage from the area is asked to contact Staffordshire Police, quoting incident number incident 637 of August 13.
A woman has shamed Ryanair for charging her elderly parents 110 to print off their boarding passes.

The infuriated daughter said her parents, Ruth Jaffe, 79, and Peter Jaffe, 80, had mistakenly downloaded the return boarding card instead of the outgoing one on their journey from Stansted Airport to Bergerac France last week.

The couple had already checked in and had paid an extra fee to sit next to each other, which the woman explained was to accommodate her disabled father.

But instead of resolving the 'honest mistake', the budget airline charged them 110 extra, adding even more stress to their trip.

Taking to Twitter, under the username @old_school_alps, the infuriated daughter said: 'Hey @Ryanair, my parents who are in their 70s and 80s, had accidentally downloaded the return flight boarding card instead of the outgoing ones and you charged them 110 to print them at the airport. 110 for 2 pieces of paper which took 1 minute. Shame on you.'

An infuriated woman has shamed Ryanair for charging her elderly parents (pictured) 110 to print off their boarding passes

The woman was not alone in her frustration, and thousands of users took to the app to offer advice and recount their own horrifying experiences.

One person said: 'We had a similar issue and they charged us 60 to get back home... never again.'

While one person wrote: 'The cheapest airline will eventually cost you the most.'

Other users were more harsh and told the woman not to fly with budget airlines, one wrote: 'Don't fly with low cost airlines,' another agreed: 'It's the entire point of low cost airlines.'

Another said: 'They don't care. If you can afford it, book another airline if not welcome to the low cost game.'

To which the woman responded: 'No one else flies to them. Local airport and the only other one went bust.'

The duplicate receipt cost them 55 each, which Ryanair claim is in line with their fine print

The daughter took to Twitter to complain, the Tweet has since gained 8.7million views with many sympathetic to the situation

Many pointed out that the Ryanair website states it costs 20 to reissue a boarding pass, which is considerably less than the 55 her parents were both charged.

The website does, however, charge 55 for airport check-in fees, but the woman has since pointed out: 'They were checked in but had downloaded the return pass by mistake.'

It comes shortly after an Australian traveller was charged 55 for not checking in online before departure.

According to the Ryanair terms and conditions of carriage, travellers must check in up to two hours before the scheduled departure time. Boarding passes must be either printed or downloaded through the Ryanair app.

Customers travelling with Ryanair cannot check in online during the two hours before your flight's scheduled departure time.

Ryanair have since responded to the tweet, asking the woman to contact them.

A Ryanair spokesperson defended the airlines decision, they told the MailOnline: 'As per Ryanair's T&C's, which these passengers agreed to at the time of booking, these passengers failed to check-in online for their outbound flight from Stansted Airport (11 Aug) despite being advised to do so via email the day before travel (10 Aug) and therefore were correctly charged the airport check-in fee of 55 per passenger.'
British rock star Mick Fleetwood has described the 'catastrophic' effect of wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui, where he lives, saying Lahaina town 'is no more'.

The 76-year-old said the natural disaster has left 'complete devastation' in the town of Lahaina as well as destroying his restaurant Fleetwood's On Front Street.

On Sunday, the death toll from the wildfire reached 96, making it the deadliest US wildfire in more than a century.

Fleetwood, who was in LA visiting family when the fires broke out, immediately chartered a plane and flew back to Hawaii bringing with him relief supplies.

He told Sky News: 'These hills were ablaze and I wasn't there.

British rock star Mick Fleetwood has described the 'catastrophic' effect of wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui, where he lives, saying Lahaina town 'is no more'. Pictured: Fleetwood's Restaurant and Bar, owned by Fleetwood Mac drummer and co-founder Mick Fleetwood, on Front Street is after the town of Lahaina was devastated by a wildfire

The 76-year-old said the natural disaster has left 'complete devastation' in the town of Lahaina as well as destroying his restaurant Fleetwood's On Front Street (pictured on Thursday)

Pictured: A view of Mick Fleetwood's restaurant before it was destroyed in the fire

'Selfishly I haven't lost a family member, I didn't lose my house. It could have happened, but it didn't happen.

'But you immediately go 'I'm really lucky now what the hell can I do?''

Fleetwood, who was in LA visiting family when the fires broke out, immediately chartered a plane and flew back to Hawaii bringing with him relief supplies

He continued: 'Over those mountains is complete devastation....The whole town of Lahaina is no more.'

The veteran drummer, of British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac, which formed in 1967 and are known for songs such as Everywhere and Go Your Own Way, moved to Hawaii 25 years ago.

The logo for his restaurant, which Fleetwood launched more than a decade ago, is a sketch of the drummer taken from the cover of the band's 1977 album Rumours, after achieving phenomenal success.

Addressing the possibility that the town of Lahaina where his restaurant is situated could be taken over by property developers, he said: 'The thought of it becoming some sort of playground with no reference to the dignity of that town, to me, would be abhorrent.'

Fleetwood also spoke about the issue of climate change, adding: 'I think there are always lessons to be learnt and they are all about personal experience and a quiet reverence to keeping our eyes and ears open to the world that we live in.

The British musician opened Fleetwood's on Front Street in 2012, and said that his main priority is 'the safety of our dear staff and team members' in Maui

Pictured: An aerial view of the destruction of Lahania town

'And for too long not living with a continuum of regret, regret, regret.'

It comes after he posted on social media saying he was 'heartbroken' to announce his restaurant had been lost to the fires, describing the wildfires as a 'devastating moment for Maui and many are suffering unimaginable loss'.

Similarly, Fleetwood Mac star Stevie Nicks also posted on Instagram saying 'Lahaina is not gone, it is just away'.

The 75-year-old musician said: 'My house and the surrounding area was not burned. The wind took the fire in a different direction. It was all about the wind...The end result could have been very different.

'The Lahaina that we knew, the Lahaina that in many ways connect Fleetwood Mac and our music to the world, is gone. But my memories of everything that happened to me there is clear as a bell.'

She added that her niece Jessi, her husband Alec and their six-year-old son who had been holidaying on the island had 'escaped a bullet' and made it back home.

Meanwhile, US actor Dwayne Johnson also sent a message amid the wildfires in Hawaii.

In a video posted on Instagram, the 51-year-old, who voiced the character of demigod Maui in Disney film Moana, said: 'I know that by now all of you around the world have seen the complete destruction and devastation that has hit our Hawaiian islands - our island of Maui.

Pictured: A message posted to Instagram by Mick Fleetwood in the aftermath of the fires

'And I'm completely heartbroken over this and I know all of you are too.

'Everything that I've seen transpire over these past couple of days, everything that continues to transpire hour-by-hour, minute-by-minute, it's all heart-breaking.'

The actor said he had been speaking with organisations on the ground and will continue to get as much information as possible, as 'there's so many needs' to meet.

He captioned the post: 'Heartbroken but our faith and mana is strong.'
British taxpayers took a hit of more than 600,000 after a trade summit with Israel had to be cancelled at the last moment.

The painful bill for the aborted conference in London in Spring last year was revealed in the latest accounts for the Trade Department.

Some 670,000 was sunk into organising the high-level event that was due to feature then-PMs Boris Johnson and Naftali Bennett.

It was intended to 'showcase the shared talents and skills of world-leading British and Israeli companies' and 'galvanise greater collaboration in sectors such as AI, cyber security and life sciences' - with a major push for a bilateral trade deal.

However, the spending had to be written off when Mr Bennett's coalition dramatically lost its majority in April.

The painful bill for the aborted conference in London in Spring last year was revealed in the latest accounts for the Trade Department

The department's accounts blamed the cancellation on 'urgent Israel Parliamentary business'

The department's accounts blamed the cancellation on 'urgent Israel Parliamentary business'.

'Due to the last-minute nature of the cancellation, the supplier costs were unrecoverable,' the document said.

A spokesman for the department - now rebranded the Department for Business and Trade - said: 'We always prioritise value for money for the taxpayer and follow strict guidance on all government spending, but major summits require long-term planning and it's not always possible to predict every eventuality.

'Trade between the UK and Israel is thriving, and last year was worth 7.2 billion.

'While changing circumstances unfortunately prevented this specific event taking place, our investment relationship remains strong as we work towards a bold trade deal that will promote tech and innovation across both our countries.'
A couple have been accused of having sex with two dogs over the course of a year.

Crystal May Hoare, 37, and Jay Wade Veenstra, 28, are both charged with five counts of bestiality, the Daily Mercury reported.

The couple, from Sarina in Queensland, are alleged to have had sex with two dogs on October 18, 2021, and on four occasions in March, May, June and October last year.

Crystal May Hoare, 37 and Jay Wade Veenstra, 28, are both charged with five counts of bestiality

They were arrested last month and have been granted bail.

Their case was heard in Sarina Magistrates Court on Monday and will face court again later this year.

In Queensland, people found guilty of bestiality can face up to seven years in prison.
Authorities announced the closure of two major airports in Sicily after Mount Etna began spewing hot lava.

Flights have been suspended at Catania International Airport until at least 8pm and at Comiso Airport until at least 3pm today.

British Airways, Ryanair and easyJet departures to Catania have already been axed following Etna's latest eruption.

But where exactly is Mount Etna and how dangerous is it? Read on below for everything you need to know about the potency of Mount Etna.

The volcano was listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2013 and attracts thousands of visitors every year. Pictured: an aerial view of Mount Etna

Mount Etna is located on the east coast of Sicily, Italy's largest island, between the cities of Catania and Messina

Where is Mount Etna?

Mount Etna is located on the east coast of Sicily, Italy's largest island, between the cities of Catania and Messina.

Situated between the African and Eurasian tectonic plates, it erupts almost constantly, with varying degrees of severity.

At 10,905 ft (3,324m), Etna is the tallest active volcano in Europe and has erupted frequently in the past 500,000 years.

Scientists believe that Mount Etna was initially a submarine volcano that gradually grew to stand above sea level thanks to continually solidifying lava.

The closure of Catania International Airport due to eruptions from Mount Etna is nothing new, as it was forced to close for 24 hours in May 2023 after smoke and ash from Etna covered the runway.

In 2021, a huge eruption saw lava shoot some 1,000m into the sky with experts saying the activity was a level of fury 'rarely seen for decades'.

How dangerous is Mount Etna?

Europe's most active volcano can awaken from its slumber several times a year, jettisoning lava and ash high over the Mediterranean island.

Whilst tourists could perceive it as being dangerous to visit, it is actually safe to climb, as it has not erupted violently for hundreds of years.

Its first recorded eruption came in 1500 BC.

Mount Etna has erupted many times, with its most significant eruption provoking an earthquake in 1169 that killed an estimated 15,000 people.

The 700,000-year-old volcano is the second most active on Earth, after Hawaii's Mount Kilauea.

Lava flows downhill as Etna, which is a designated Unesco World Heritage Site, erupts in May 2022.

Each year, it produces more than ten million tonnes of lava and over 7million tonnes of carbon dioxide, water and sulphur dioxide.

However, there has not been a major eruption from Etna since 1922.

The blasts often create a spectacle of flaming lava, but cloud cover on the rainy day masked views of this eruption, according to Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), which closely monitors Etna with instruments installed on its slopes.

The volcano was listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2013 and attracts thousands of visitors every year.
Dozens of pubs have been 'unlawfully' ripped down or permanently converted this year in a move outraged campaigners have branded a 'national scandal'.

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has now demanded the beloved boozers that have been destroyed since January are rebuilt 'brick by brick'.

The group's comments come after the controversial destruction of Britain's 'wonkiest pub' the Crooked House in Himley, West Midlands, which was gutted by a blaze and then razed to the ground days later by a bulldozer.

CAMRA says between January and June, scores of pubs suffered a similar fate, with more than 30 having been illegally converted or demolished, flouting 2017 planning laws which are meant to prevent such things from happening without permission.

In a blunt letter to Housing Minister Rachel Maclean, CAMRA director Gary Timmins told of his fury at the 'complete destruction' of the 'iconic' Crooked House. He wrote: 'This has brought the nationwide scandal of the non-enforcement of pub protection legislation to the forefront of people's minds.'

 Slide me  The beloved Crooked House pub before and then after it was destroyed by a fire and ripped down

People inspect the rubble remains of The Crooked House pub, which was demolished two days after it was gutted by fire

The Campaign for Pubs has written to Rishi Sunak urging a change to planning law which would prevent pubs aged 50 years or older from being sold for alternative use, converted or demolished until they had been marketed as a pub for at least a year

He said 64 pubs had been converted or ripped down with planning permission since January, while a further 31 had been changed or demolished without having gained council consent to do so before hand.

Nik Antona, CAMRA's chairman, also hit out and said: 'This damaging practice must stop, and those found to have converted or demolished pubs against planning rules must be required to restore the original building brick by brick.

READ MORE: Who is Crooked House Pub owner Carly Taylor? Mystery fire and demolition controversy explained after police reveal blaze is being treated as arson Advertisement

'If local authorities won't provide adequate planning enforcement, then central government needs to step in to make sure unscrupulous developers know they will face action.'

The Crooked House was closed despite thousands of locals petitioning to save it before the pub was sold off last month.

But the popular 18th-century boozer went up in flames on August 5 in an incident Staffordshire Police are treating as arson.

Then, days later, the pub was bulldozed and completely demolished without permission - much to the horror of locals.

South Staffordshire Council said on Tuesday that it had given permission to the Crooked House's owners, Adam Taylor and his wife Carly, to rip down the first floor of the boozer on safety grounds but had not agreed to, nor deemed necessary, the site's total demolition.

The situation prompted a furious backlash, with campaigners last week demanding legal changes to protect pubs from a similar fate.

The Campaign for Pubs has written to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to express its anger at the 'predatory purchasing and asset-stripping of historic pubs' which it says must now be banned.

In a blunt letter to Housing Minister Rachel Maclean, CAMRA director Gary Timmins (pictured) told of his fury at the 'complete destruction' of the 'iconic' Crooked House.

Footage of Britain's Wonkiest Pub being razed to the ground at speed has sparked fury among locals

Adam Taylor and his wife Carly (both pictured) owned the Crooked House in Himley, Staffordshire when the major blaze broke out earlier this month

The Crooked House pub pictured after the fire before it was demolished without permission

The fire left the historic old boozer in ruins and without windows and a roof - and came just days after it was sold. Police are now treated the fire as arson

Greg Mulholland, campaign director of the Campaign for Pubs, added: 'What has happened to the historic and unique Crooked House pub is a national scandal, as well as a loss to the local community and its history and heritage.

'As well as a full investigation and appropriate action, this sad and unnecessary destruction of a world-famous pub must be the catalyst for change, to stop cynical and unscrupulous owners buying up pubs to convert and develop them and to stop the endemic asset-stripping of our historic pubs.

'We need a simple change to planning law so that no historic pub can be sold for alternative use, converted or demolished until it has been properly marketed for at least a year at the independently valued price as a pub.'

He added: 'This would stop the cynical destruction of pubs and allow licensees, local breweries, entrepreneurs and communities to buy our historic pubs and make a success of them.'

Planning laws were changed in 2017 which meant pubs in England could not be converted or demolished without permission.

Last week it was claimed the Crooked House's owners had also bought and allegedly gutted another traditional pub.

Nail technician Mrs Taylor, 34, from Lutterworth, Leicestershire, controls letting and real estate firm ATE Farms Ltd, which bought the pub from brewery Marston's. ATE Farms is registered to the same address as Himley Environmental, which runs a 37-acre quarry and landfill site next to the pub.

Her husband Adam Taylor, 44, a plant hire boss and a shareholder and former director at Himley Environmental, also owns the Sarah Mansfield Country Inn, a pub in the Warwickshire village of Willey around five miles away from their home.

Mr Taylor bought the pub in 2020 and is said to have ripped out the interior, before council planners issued a 'stop notice' to prevent any further works. It is now closed.

He subsequently submitted a planning application to convert the first floor of the pub to six letting bedrooms, while restoring the ground floor to a pub and building two houses in the rear car park.
A woman killed and dismembered her mother and threw her remains in a canal, a court has heard.

Arizo Nour, 33, appeared before the Old Bailey via video-link on Friday accused of the murder of Karima Nour, 57.

The defendant, from Feltham in West London, was remanded in custody and will next appear at the same court on December 1, when she is expected to enter a plea.

Judge Simon Mayo, KC, today lifted reporting restrictions allowing Karima Nour to be identified as the victim.

The order preventing this was made at Wimbledon Magistrates Court on August 9 as the dismembered body had not yet been able to be identified after it was found in a canal off Bulls Bridge Lane in Southall last week.

Arizo Nour, 33, appeared at the Old Bailey in London on Friday via video-link charged with the murder of Karima Nour (pictured), 57

Police at the scene near the canal off Bulls Bridge Lane where a woman's remains were found

Police at the house in Northumberland Crescent following the death of Karima Nour

Prosecutor Louise Oakley told the court on Friday: Police were called to an address in Feltham on 6 August as there were concerns raised about the deceaseds welfare as the deceased had not been heard from in 24 hours.

'Upon entering the address, large quantities of bloodstains were found throughout.

An initial search revealed the presence of a suitcase in a nearby canal and human body parts were recovered from that suitcase.

I can indicate, and I have indicated to my learned friend, a further item was recovered from the canal last night and this morning was examined, and it is believed to be part of the same body parts that have been recovered earlier.

The court heard Nour was arrested at 1:58am on 7 August and taken to the police station. Nour was charged with murder that day at 10:24pm.
Documentary makers have discovered what they claim is the clearest ever photo of a big cat prowling the British countryside.

The picture was discovered in the files of a zoology organisation and shows a large muscular black cat lying in long grass in Smallthorne, Staffordshire.

It was accompanied by a handwritten note dated March 17  but it is unclear which year it was taken.

Experts said that if the photo is genuine then it is 'probably the best photo of a British big cat that exists'.

The image is featured as one of several potential pieces of evidence supporting the existence of such cats in the British countryside as part of an award-winning documentary.

Documentary makers have discovered what they claim is the clearest ever photo of a big cat prowling the British countryside

The picture shows a large muscular black cat lying in long grass in Smallthorne, Staffordshire

The picture was unearthed by the assistant director of a centre for zoology when he was working in their archives.

He said: 'The photo is unambiguous, it is clearly a large cat of the Panthera genus, and it's so clear we can even see its whiskers.

'The photo was attached to a mysterious handwritten letter, which includes a date without the year, isn't signed with a full name, and doesn't have the sender's address.

'But it does state the photo was taken and if it's genuine, then it's the probably the best photo of a British big cat that exists.'

The documentary Panthera Britannia Declassified, which was released on Amazon Prime by Dragonfly Films, also has new DNA evidence proving the presence of at least one wild big cat near a sheep-kill in Gloucestershire in July 2022.

Producer Tim Whittard said: 'This astonishing lost photograph and amazing new scientific discovery form only a fraction of the collective evidence on display in the film.

'The documentary is predominantly data driven. We used real science and real experts, and tried to be as objective and analytical as possible.

'The research process for this show was intensive and exhaustive, and took us thousands of hours in various archives, libraries, museums, and laboratories, as well as in the field and meeting hundreds of eyewitnesses.

'The result is a mind-blowing voyage of discovery for viewers, which really takes this forward as serious zoological issue.

'The story is a sad one really  these majestic big cats could be legally owned without a license in the UK until 1976 and were very popular, being seen as fashionable status symbols at the time.

'When the laws surrounding exotic animal ownership changed a lot of people released their big cats into the countryside.

'So essentially, the animals people are seeing today are the offspring of abandoned pets for the most part.'

Panthera Britannia Declassified is available now to buy and rent on Amazon Prime. It will also be broadcast on TV in the UK later this year as part of a special week of programming on Blaze (Freeview channel 64).
At least a dozen others were injured, with fundraisers set up for three families

A 'loving' father and son were killed in an explosion in Pittsburgh that destroyed three homes - as they were visiting their neighbors.

Casey Clontz, 38, and his son Keegan, 12, lived just four houses away from the property which exploded on Saturday in Plum at 10.22am.

Authorities confirmed that five people, including a child, died in the blast, with two neighboring properties were destroyed.

Terrifying footage showed a home on Rustic Ridge Road exploding, causing other properties to go up in flames. The cause of the blast is currently unclear, but the home sat atop an abandoned mine.

A GoFundMe has been set up for the Oravitz family, who lived at the property which was destroyed in the blast, though it is unclear if any of them are among the dead.

Casey Clontz, 38, and his son Keegan, 12, lived just four houses away from the property which exploded on Saturday in Plum at 10.22am

Relatives did not say why the father and son were at the Oratvitz's property, but explained it wasn't uncommon for them to stop by as they were 'very friendly' with neighbors

Paying tribute to the father and son, the family said that Casey was a 'loving father, husband and brother', adding Kegan was a 'devoted son, friend and big brother'.

Casey leaves behind his wife Jen, and daughter Addie, 10, with the family adding: 'Their smiles and laughter filled their family's and friends' hearts with joy that can never be replaced.'

Relatives did not say why the father and son were at the Oratvitz's property, but explained it wasn't uncommon for them to stop by as they were 'very friendly' with neighbors.

Public records show that Paul Oravitz, 56, his wife Heather, 51, and their two children, Taylor and Cole, lived at the property.

Official identification of the dead is expected to take some time as it will involve the use of dental records and DNA for formal identification.

Three people were rescued from the blast, with two being released from hospital and one remaining in a critical condition.

Peoples Gas President Michael Huwar said crews immediately began checking the area for leakage including smell checks and checks underground and in the air.

Early reports show that the system was operating as designed, posing questions of what caused the explosion of the home - with some asking if the mine could be the cause.

A GoFundMe has been set up for the Oravitz family, who lived at 141, though it is unclear if any of them are among the dead

Public records show that Paul Oravitz, 56, his wife Heather, 51, and their two children, Taylor and Cole, lived at the property

Five people were found dead after a house explosion in western Pennsylvania that destroyed three structures and damaged at least a dozen others, authorities said Sunday

Footage of the explosion circulating online shows a home in Plum, a suburb of Pittsburgh, in what appears to be a fairly sleepy neighborhood, exploding and sending debris flying

Following the explosion, utilities were shut off due to safety concerns, but electricity has been restored to all but the immediate area surrounding the blast.

The Allegheny County Fire Marshal's Office is leading the investigation into the cause and origin of the fire and explosion and the process is expected to take some time.

Fifty-seven firefighters were treated at the scene for minor issues following a scramble by emergency services to get to the scene.

A fire has been burning in Renton Mine for decades, with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection pledging to spend $55million to clean up abandoned mines around the state.

It is unclear if, or when, the underground fire was extinguished, with public documents showing it was 'under construction' in October 2020.

It comes after a home in Hialeah Drive - which is just four miles from the latest blast - exploded last year and sent a family of five to the hospital.

The couple who lived at the property, as well as their three sons, all survived the blast, with the cause of the explosion not yet being released.

Matt Brown, chief of the Allegheny County Department of Emergency Services, said the investigation has been lengthy because of forensic testing of natural gas lines and appliances and follow-up interviews  which requires extensive planning and coordination.

Harrison Smith, 35, his wife Kelly, 36, and their son Levi, 3, lost their entire home in the blast

Renton Mines in Plum were opened in 1916, with an estimated 1,000 homes being built on top in Pittsburgh

Two firefighters stand on the debris around the smoldering wreckage of the the three houses that exploded near Rustic Ridge Drive and Brookside Drive in Plum

Footage of the explosion circulating online shows a home in Plum, Pittsburgh in what appears to be a fairly sleepy neighborhood, exploding and sending debris flying

In 2008, less than a half mile away, another home exploded on Mardi Gras Drive, with two others being destroyed and 11 others damaged.

Richard Leith, 64, died in the blast, and his granddaughter Gianna, who was four at the time, suffered a broken leg.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the explosion in 2008 was caused after a 2 inch gas line had been hit years before, in 2003.

Investigators determined that it eventually failed after it corroded. There was another explosion in 1996 where natural gas was determined to be the cause.

Holiday Park fire Chief James Sims said he has responded to six house explosions in Plum in his decades as a firefighter, telling the Daily Item that the latest is the 'worst I have ever seen'.

A third family has been left homeless after the blast, with neighboring properties being completely destroyed by the fire after the explosion.

Harrison Smith, 35, his wife Kelly, 36, and their son Levi, 3, lost their entire home in the blast.

Police and emergency services search the wreckage of the three houses that exploded near Rustic Ridge Drive and Brookside Drive

Steve Imbarlina, Assistant Chief of Allegheny County EMS, briefs the media

Emergency responders reported people trapped under debris after the blast leveled one house and left two others engulfed in flames, county spokesperson Amie Downs said

Crews from at least 18 fire departments worked to douse the flames with the help of water tankers from Allegheny and Westmoreland counties

Friends have since set up a GoFundMe for the couple, raising $30,800 of a $50,000 goal so far.

Borough manager Mike Thomas, 57, owned the third property which caught fire, according to Plum Mayor Harry Schlegel.

Mayor Schlegel confirmed Thomas' wife Jacqueline, 48, and their daughter were taken to the hospital after the blast.

He added that a man who lives in a neighboring home was flown to UPMC Mercy to be treated in the hospital's burn unit.

Authorities are yet to confirm the cause of the blast at 10.30am on Saturday, adding that the investigation into the blast could take years.

Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection recommends that individuals living above the mine on Rustic Ridge Road should get insurance for their properties due to the risks related to the underground structures.

It comes after a home in Hialeah Drive - which is just four miles from the latest blast - exploded last year and sent a family of five to the hospital. s and follow-up interviews  which requires extensive planning and coordination.

The couple who lived at the property, as well as their three sons, all survived the blast, with the cause of the explosion not yet being released.

Matt Brown, chief of the Allegheny County Department of Emergency Services, said the investigation has been lengthy because of forensic testing of natural gas lines and appliance

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said: 'This is a sad, sad day and a sad time, for not just the folks in Plum but all the folks in the community and in this region.'

Footage of the explosion circulating online shows a home in Plum, a suburb of Pittsburgh, in what appears to be a fairly sleepy neighborhood, exploding and sending debris flying.

The housing development does sit on top of an abandoned mine near shallow oil and gas wells - some which are still in active production.

Neighbor Rafael Kolankowski told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: 'It's just tragic, I mean, it looks like a war zone  it looks like a bomb hit our neighborhood, and it's just unfortunate.'

Other neighbors revealed that they felt they were 'lucky to be alive' as authorities warned that residents should stay away from the area until it is deemed safe.

Emergency responders reported people trapped under debris, county spokesperson Amie Downs said.

Crews from at least 18 fire departments worked to douse the flames with the help of water tankers from Allegheny and Westmoreland counties.

The ruins of a home that was destroyed in the explosion

Police and emergency services control the smoldering debris

Emergency services were called Rustic Ridge Drive and Brookside Drive at about 10:23am on Saturday morning and discovered people trapped under debris, while two others were engulfed by flames, police said

The Allegheny County Medical Examiners Office is expected to provide additional information about the deceased victims.

Michael Huwar, president of Peoples Gas, said the company's checks for gas leaks underground and in the air as well as the consistent pressure verified at regulation stations indicated that 'our system was operating as designed.'

Gas and electric service was shut off as a precaution, and officials said Sunday a plan was in place to begin restoring service with electric power expected to be returned to all but a few residences, officials said.

Governor Josh Shapiro said he and the first lady were 'praying for the families' affected and promised them that 'as you rebuild, we will have your back.'

Emergency services were called Rustic Ridge Drive and Brookside Drive at about 10:23am on Saturday morning and discovered people trapped under debris, while two others were engulfed by flames, police said.

First responders arriving on the scene were met with a massive inferno that had created a large plume of thick, black smoke at the scene.

Several homes were flattened in the incident with aerial footage showing at least three empty lots where homes once stood and multiple properties with broken windows and exterior damage.

Allegheny and Westmoreland counties sent water tankers to the scene and 18 different fire departments coordinated to put out the flames and conduct rescue operations.
Tycoon Rupert Murdoch, aged 92, has started dating a beautiful retired scientist  after meeting her through his third wife Wendi Deng.

The two are cruising the Mediterranean in the legendary superyacht Christina O which he has rented and are today on the coast of Corfu.

Murdoch suffered disappointment and drama this spring when his engagement to former police chaplain and vineyard owner Ann Lesley Smith was called off just two weeks after it was announced.

He and Ms Smith were pictured boarding a private jet with his fiancee wearing an enormous $2 million diamond ring only a few days before the proposed summer wedding was called off.

Reports suggested that her 'outspoken evangelical views' could have been a factor. It had also been revealed that Ms Smith had been in a legal dispute with her late husband's children over his inheritance.

But, undeterred, the media mogul is now in the 'early stages' of a romance with Elena Zhukova, 66.

Tycoon Rupert Murdoch, 92 years old, has started dating beautiful retired scientist Elena Zhukova, 66 - after meeting her through his third wife Wendi Deng

Murdoch is now in the 'early stages' of a romance with Elena Zhukova, 66 (centre). She is the mother of Dasha Zhukova (right), the beautiful Russian socialite who is famous for her marriage to oligarch and former Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich

She is the mother of Dasha Zhukova, the beautiful Russian socialite who is famous for her marriage to Russian oligarch and former Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich.

Dasha and Murdoch's third wife Wendi Deng are great friends in New York and it seems that this is the connection. 'They met through Wendi and Dasha', says a source.

Ms Zhukova is a twice-divorced molecular biologist and specialist in diabetes. She has lived in America for over three decades after leaving Russia in 1991 with her daughter.

Before retiring she worked at the medical research unit in UCLA. Sources say she spends a lot of time with her grandchildren by Dasha and Roman.

Dasha, 42, divorced Abramovich in 2019 and her settlement included a four-storey house in Manhattan. She is now married to Stavros Niarchos, the billionaire heir to the shipping dynasty.

Murdoch and Ms Zhukova senior are apparently cruising the Med on a family summer holiday.

Murdoch was spotted in Positano last month, lunching at the Da Adolfo restaurant. Reports suggest that his son Lachlan and wife Sarah joined him, sailing their new $150 million yacht Sarissa.

Murdoch's daughter Elisabeth and her husband Keith Tyson were also seen.

The Christina O launched in 1943 was converted from a frigate by the fabled Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis. The boat, featured in the Oscar nominated film Triangle of Sadness last year, is where Onassis wooed Jackie Kennedy and Prince Rainer and Grace Kelly had their wedding reception on board. It is said to cost $767,000 a week to rent.

Murdoch's daughters by Wendi Deng, Grace and Chloe, are apparently on board the Christina O also. It has 18 bedrooms.

Not spotted so far is Murdoch's son James. A Vanity Fair article earlier this year suggested that Lachlan thought that James had been leaking episodes from the family's life to the makers of the hit drama Succession.

Ms Zhukova is the mother of Dasha Zhukova, the beautiful Russian socialite who is famous for her marriage to Russian oligarch and former Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich (pictured together)

Eldest son Lachlan has been running the businesses with Rupert Murdoch since 2014. Younger son James, 50, resigned from the News Corp board in 2020 after disagreements about editorial policy.

The other children are Prudence, 64, from his first marriage to Patricia Booker, Elisabeth, 54, from his marriage to Anna Torv and Grace, 21 and Chloe, 19 from his third marriage to media executive Wendi Deng.

Murdoch owns The Wall Street Journal and the New York Post in the US, The Sun and The Times in the UK and the book publisher Harper Collins.

His first marriage was the flight attendant Patricia Booker, they had daughter Patience. Then came a 31 year marriage to journalist Anna Torv. They had Lachlan, James and Elizabeth.

He married media executive Wendi Deng in 1999 and they had daughters Grace and Chloe.

Former fiance Ann Lesley Smith, who also owns a vineyard, was in a dispute with the family of her late husband. They alleged 'elder financial abuse' and said that she had withheld their $1 million which each of his three daughters were owed. The matter was settled in 2010.
A restaurant in Italy has shocked customers by charging them 20 to cut a birthday cake.

The family had brought in the cake with them for a celebration in Palermo, Sicily.

But the party-goers were astonished when they found they had been charged 20 (17.26) for cutting it into pieces.

The cost was calculated as a charge of 1 (86P) per party-goer, despite the group spending 121 (103.49) on pizza, wine, beer and water.

The restaurant listed the charge as '20 X Servizio Torta', which translates as '20 X Cake Service'.

The restaurant listed the charge as '20 X Servizio Torta', which translates as '20 X Cake Service'

The family had brought in the cake with them for a celebration at the restaurant in Palermo, Sicily

Indeed, this is not the first time in recent weeks that a row in the country has occurred over extra hidden prices.

Last week, diners at another restaurant in Italy were shocked after waiters charged them 2 for an empty plate so their daughter could try the pasta.

Italians mocked the restaurant for the unusual charge and even the regional governor condemned it.

Ida Germano, the owner of the Osteria del Cavolo in Finale Ligure, told The Times the charge was valid because more plates to clean meant more work to do.

She clarified that the cost of supplying and washing extra plates so the mother could let her daughter taste the pasta would be 'more work'.

Since international travel returned to normality at the end of the global pandemic, several disgruntled holidaymakers have taken to the internet to express their shock at being presented with exorbitant bills in bars and restaurants in a number of European holiday destinations.

In another prices scandal, a couple who asked for an extra teaspoon so they could share a dessert were charged 1.50.

They were billed for the pleasure of using two teaspoons to eat the crema catalana they had at the pizzeria near Alba, in northern Piemonte.

Bar Pace at Italy's exclusive Lake Como has sparked outrage after it was revealed it charges customers an extra 2 just to cut their sandwiches in half

It came as a bar at Italy's exclusive Lake Como has sparked outrage after it was revealed it charges customers an extra 2 just to cut their sandwiches in half.

One disgruntled customer shared a photograph of a receipt online as proof of the baffling charge.

The printout from June 18 clearly shows that Bar Pace had charged them 2 (1.70) for the privilege of cutting their sandwich in two.

Listed as 'diviso da meta' it translates into English as 'divided in half'.
The parents of a three-month-old girl who was mauled to death in her pram by their dog have been spared jail.

Kyra Leanne King suffered fatal injuries to her neck and head when she was savaged by a Siberian husky sled dog called Blizzard on March 6 last year.

Her parents Vince King, 55, and Karen Alcock, 41, had been exercising 19 dogs on a field when the horror unfolded in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire.

Lincoln Crown Court heard the animal jumped out of their unsecure van and fatally mauled Kyra. The dog, which will be put down, left Kyra with multiple head and neck injuries, and her parents performed CPR in an attempt to revive her.

Handing the pair suspended sentences on Monday, Judge Sjolin Knight said the incident resulted from a 'tragic conjunction of circumstances'.

'This is a tragic case, and I have no doubt that both of you wish every day you could wind the clock back so that incident never happened,' she said.

Karen Alcock, 41, (left) pleaded guilty to the charge of being the owner and/or in charge of a dog which was out of control causing injury resulting in death while Vince King (right), 55, denied the charge - but later changed his plea to guilty

King, (pictured with some of their dogs) and Alcock had been exercising 19 dogs on a field when the horror unfolded in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire

The dog leapt from this van to then attack the defenceless three-month-old baby girl

Kyra Leanne King suffered fatal injuries to her neck and head when she was savaged by a Siberian husky sled dog called Blizzard on March 6 last year (pictured: the inside of the van which the dog escaped from)

'There was nothing to trigger [Blizzard's] attack on Kyra, but on this occasion she was dangerously out of control.

'Dog ownership is a privilege and for many a pleasure, but it comes with a heavy burden under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

'[Blizzard] did an awful thing which neither of you expected and will weigh heavily upon you for the rest of your lives.

'I don't believe that this incident was reasonably foreseeable but believe it was a momentary lapse of an otherwise good system.

'It is appropriate to suspend both sentences.'

Alcock previously admitted being the owner and/or in charge of a dog which was out of control causing injury resulting in death.

King denied the same charge but changed his plea to guilty on the first day of his trial at Lincoln Crown Court.

Today Alcock was handed an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years and was ordered to undertake 80 hours' unpaid work.

King received 10 months' imprisonment, suspended for two years, and 100 hours of unpaid work.

The court heard the couple had taken their daughter out with them to the woodland to exercise 19 Siberian huskie dogs which King (pictured) raced competitively

The dog escaped a van and went on to maul the three-month-old tot in a vicious and 'tragic' attack

The court heard the couple had taken their daughter out with them to the woodland to exercise 19 Siberian huskie dogs which King raced competitively.

Vince King

King and Alcock, of New York, Lincolnshire, first walked five of the dogs together as Kyra was pushed by her mum, before King took seven of the dogs on a sled run.

When he returned from the sled run, three of the dogs were placed in the centre of the van to drink and rest, and the side door was closed.

However, they were not shut into kennels, which the van was fitted with, and there was no guard separating the front of the cab from the rear of the vehicle

Kyra was next to the front passenger door of the van, which was open, when one of the huskies jumped into the cab and out the vehicle before savaging her.

Alcock and King attempted CPR on their daughter until paramedics arrived at around 11.13pm and despite their best efforts she could not be saved.

King and Alcock were arrested at the scene and charged following a lengthy investigation.

A destruction order was today granted at court for the dog.

Alcock arrives at Lincoln Crown Court for a hearing following the death of three-month-old Kyra Leanne King

King covers his face as he arrives at Lincoln Crown Court on Monday, August 14

Kyra died in the car park of Ostler's Plantation close to Kirkby Moor Nature Reserve at around 11.13am on March 6 last year

Detective Constable Craig Davey, of Lincolnshire Police, said: 'This has been an utterly tragic case, and today, our thoughts are with Kyra and the short life she lived, and the people who loved and lost Kyra.

'Our investigation was to understand the circumstances which meant Blizzard was able to get close enough to Kyra to inflict such horrific injuries.

'Sadly, we found that she had died from an attack which could have been prevented had safety measures been taken such as closing the dogs in kennels, or ensuring that they couldn't get out of the van.

'The dedication and determination of our officers to understand what happened at Ostler's Plantation is to be commended.

'This was an incredibly difficult case to be involved in, but we knew how important it was that we found out the truth about what had happened.

'It is a stark reminder to all about the dangers of dogs and children.

'What happened to that three-month-old baby girl is something that will haunt all of us involved in this investigation, and the wider public who have been so invested in justice for Kyra, as well as her parents.

'Today's sentencing brings justice for Kyra, but I think I could speak for everyone when I say that the sadness at such a senseless loss will remain.'
A Long Island town dubbed the 'New Hamptons' has been sued over anti-Semitism by a Jewish sect which claims officials blocked it from buying property.

Atlantic Beach, located just 22 miles from Manhattan in Nassau County, has become an up-and-coming destination for young professionals looking for a beach property.

But the town is now making headlines for the wrong reasons after a report revealed the Chabad of the Beaches sued officials a year ago over religious discrimination.

The suit claims that in December 2021 officials 'suddenly, and without explanation' decided they needed a vacant property after it was bought by the Chabad for almost $1million.

Lawyers for the sect claim the town only did so after discovering the property was bought by an Hasidic organization, allegedly violating the US Constitution's protections for religious groups.

Officials in scenic Atlantic Beach - a community set at the Southernmost tip of Long Island near Manhattan is seeking to quash a lawsuit alleging antisemitism - filed by a Jewish sect that claims the town is trying to block its purchase of a piece of property for a place of worship

The village - officially Atlantic Beach - is located near Long Beach at the southernmost part of Nassau County, just 22 miles from New York City, and boasts a notable Jewish population

With just 1,800 residents in total, the enclave has also become a desirable location for young professionals - and is markedly closer than the posh sting of communities for which it is nicknamed

Lawyers representing the group told DailyMail.com Monday a settlement was in the works - echoing an earlier statement by the town's mayor, George Pappas, that claimed the racial allegations were merely a tactic to obtain the property.

The mayor and village officials have been contacted for comment.

The suit contends town officials decided they needed the then vacant property a month after it was bought by Chabad.

At the time, the village - which has a town hall a few blocks from the site - to build their own community center and park.

Filed last summer, the suit has since slowly grinded its way though the federal court system - while the property on 2025 Park Street remains owned by the Chabad, after their suit saw an edict issued by the town to takeover the site suspended.

The site has served as a sort haven for the town's Jewish community, offering religious services, schooling, and even menorah lighting ceremonies every Hannukah that have quickly become tradition.

In the filing - which contends that the still stalled takeover reeks of religious discrimination - lawyers for Chabad of the Beaches point out the only other Jewish house of worship in the village is a synagogue - the Jewish Center of Atlantic Beach.

Meanwhile, the more than modest number of modern orthodox congregants in the town continues to grow - putting further pressure on town officials now that the case is in the news.

Speaking to the New York Post Sunday, Atlantic Beach Mayor Pappas - who presides over the community with four other town officials - said a settlement had yet to be reached. However, he said: 'We're working on a draft.'

Jeremy Dys of First Liberty Institute, the religious-freedom nonprofit representing the Long Island sect, similarly told DailyMail.com: 'There's a settlement in principle.

'We're trying to iron out the final details.'

The suit, filed in June of last year, lays out the more-than-year-long legal tiff, which stems from the sect's then- $950,000 purchase of the property in November of 2021.

Chabad of the Beaches - headed by Rabbi Eli Goodman -contends town officials in December 2021 'suddenly, and without explanation,' decided they needed the then vacant property purchased by the religious sect a month later, to build their own community center and park

Filed last summer, the suit has since slowly grinded its way though New York's Eastern District Court, while the property on 2025 Park Street is technically still owned by the Chabad

Atlantic Beach Mayor Pappas - who presides over the community with four other town officials - on Sunday said a settlement has yet to be reached, but added: 'We're working on a draft'. He claims the racial discrimination allegations are a sham, and merely a tactic to get the property

Speaking to DailyMail.com Monday, Texas based religious freedom lawyer Jeremy Dyss said a settlement was already in the works - after a Sunday report from the New York Post caused the case, filed more than a year ago, to make headlines

Previously, the storefront served as a Capital One bank, but had remained vacant for two years before Chabad snapped it up - something lawyers representing the group cite in the 31-page filing.

'In November 2021, Chabad Lubavitch of the Beaches an organization affiliated with the Hasidic Jewish movement Chabad Lubavitchpurchased 2025 Park Street in Atlantic Beach, New York to open a center for conducting Jewish worship,' it reads.

'At the time of Chabad of the Beaches' purchase, 2025 Park Street, which is located less than one block from Atlantic Beach's town hall, had been unoccupied for several years and had been available for lease or sale for nearly two years.

'During the entire period 2025 Park Street was on the market, officials from Atlantic Beach never once offered to purchase the property,' it continues, before airing the allegations of racial discrimination.

'Less than a month after Chabad of the Beaches purchaseand less than two weeks after Chabad of the Beaches held an outdoor menorah lighting at 2025 Park Street to celebrate HannukahAtlantic Beach officials suddenly, and without explanation, decided not only that they needed the property to build a community center.'

Lawyers further claimed that 'that this need was so exigent that Atlantic Beach had to seize 2025 Park Street and a neighboring property through eminent domain' - the right of a government to expropriate private property for public use with proper compensation.

It goes on to claim that other members of the community separate from the sect have since questioned the town's plans, given the fact the aforementioned town hall a few blocks away already acts as a community center.

It adds that some residents questioned 'officials true motives, noting that the only thing that had changed between when the officials showed no interest in 2025 Park Street and when they decided they had to seize it was the propertys purchase' by a Hasidic Jewish organization.

A day after the federal lawsuit was filed, US District Court Judge Joanna Seybert issued a restraining order halting the Village's eminent domain order, allowing it, for the time being, to stay with Chabad.

in September, she issued a preliminary injunction further bashing that order, on the basis the 'Defendants decision to acquire the Property by eminent domain will burden Chabads religious exercise by curtailing its outreach mission to the Jewish community.'

Mayor Pappas, meanwhile, maintains the town's maneuver had noting to do with the organization's religious affiliation.

Speaking to The Post, he said: 'It has nothing to do with [religious discrimination]. It was a tactic to get the property. We have a good relationship with the Atlantic Beach Jewish Center.'

As of Monday, the suit is still ongoing. Officials from the Village of Atlantic Beach did not immediately respond to a DailyMail.com request for comment.
The father of a marine killed in the final days of Joe Biden's chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan demanded that senior officers be held accountable for their failure to protect troops after a new book revealed how they missed chances to prevent a suicide attack on Kabul airport.

On Sunday, DailyMail.com published details drawn from the Pentagon's own investigations which describe how American commanders had intelligence of an imminent attack on the airport in August 2021.

But they were unable to act because they were relying on their sworn enemies, the Taliban, to secure the facility during a frantic evacuation.

Taylor Hoover, a 31-year-old Marine Corps staff sergeant, was among the 13 Americans and some 170 Afghans who died days later when a suicide bomber detonated his explosives.

'I think they could all be alive ... every last life,' his father Darin Taylor told DailyMail.com.

'We didn't have to lose them the way that we did. We didn't have to lose our son and the other 12 that went with him.'

Taylor Hoover, a 31-year-old Marine Corps staff sergeant, was among the 13 Americans and more than 160 Afghans who died on August 28, 2021, at Kabul airport

The Americans killed in the blast were: (left to right, starting with top row) Cpl. Daegan W. Page - Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo - Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover - Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza - Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum - Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui - Cpl. Hunter Lopez - Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz - Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss - Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez - Navy Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak - Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola - Sgt. Nicole L. Gee

The attack was the bloodiest day for U.S. forces in Afghanistan in a decade.

It came as American forces ended their 20-year war in a scramble to meet Biden's September 11 deadline.

As they left, Afghan government forces melted away and the Taliban raced through the country to seize the capital on August 15, 2021.

The details are set out in 'Kabul: The Untold Story of Biden's Fiasco and the American Warriors Who Fought to the End,' which is published by Center Street on Tuesday.

Authors Jerry Dunleavy and James Hasson reveal how intelligence channels were buzzing with warnings of an attack on the airport's Abbey Gate.

Twice commanders believed they had a chance to disrupt the ISIS-K terror group that was intent on causing bloodshed.

But the Taliban refused a request to raid a hotel that was a known staging post for the network's suicide bombers.

And at around the same time, superior officers vetoed a plan for a drone strike elsewhere because of the 'negative response' of the Taliban to an operation on their territory.

Taylor's father Darin said he was 'incredulous' at new details that suggest the attack could have been prevented and demanded that leaders be held to account for the 13 deaths

The blast was outside The Baron Hotel, at the Abbey Gate of Kabul airport. Westerners were staying in the hotel before their evacuation flights

Slides shown during a Pentagon briefing show how the US dead and wounded were close to the canal where the bomber detonated his explosives, and had clustered together to search potential evacuees. The worst hit were standing on a wall overlooking the canal

Hoover said the parents of those killed had heard some of the details but seeing the information published brought it all home.

'I'm incredulous at how they handled it ... or at the way that they didn't handle it,' he said. 'And after two years I just still don't understand it.'

He said it was extraordinary to think that after losing more than 2400 troops to the Taliban, American commanders would enter an agreement with the enemy and have to ask for their help to attack terrorist targets.

'Now I want I want full, full truth. I want full transparency,' he said. 'And I want somebody to be held accountable. And if it means that they lose their jobs then that's what has to happen.

'If nothing else, make an example out of these guys so it doesn't happen again.

'We can't leave this precious commodity, our military, to the fancies of political gamesmanship.'

The new book describes how the effort to bring home American troops from a 20-year-war collapsed into confusion, as Taliban gunmen raced through the country and seized Kabul in a matter of weeks.

'Kabul: The Untold Story of Biden's Fiasco and the American Warriors Who Fought to the End' by Jerry Dunleavy and James Hasson is published Tuesday by Center Street.

Taliban forces took control of Kabul on August 15, 2021, triggering a haphazard evacuation of foreign nationals and vulnerable Afghans. And it meant US forces had to rely on Taliban help

Major General Chris Donahue, commander of the US Army 82nd Airborne Division, pictured boarding a C-17 cargo plane at the Hamid Karzai International Airport on August 30, 2021

Tens of thousands of people descended on Hamid Karzai International Airport trying to flee the country's brutal new rulers.

With the Taliban in control of Kabul, U.S. forces made a deal with their foe of two decades, relying on their enemy to help keep the airport safe.

It ended in bloodshed. A suicide bomber with the Islamic State's local affiliate detonated his deadly payload on August 26 at the airport's Abbey Gate, where U.S. Marines were stationed to handle the crush of people.

'Our findings  tucked away in the Pentagons own documents and in the own words of military officers personally involved in the Afghanistan evacuation  provide more damning evidence about the dangerous stupidity of relying upon terrorists like the Taliban to provide security at Kabul airport,' said Jerry Dunleavy, one of the book authors and an investigator. He is helping lead the Afghanistan withdrawal investigation for the House Foreign Affairs Committee, although he wrote the book in a personal capacity.

The authors found testimony from an who officer described how there were was daily coordination with the Taliban on security, and nightly intelligence meetings between U.S. units to share latest information.

'Units at H.K.I.A (Hamid Karzai International Airport) used Chat Surfer to disseminate information on threats,' he said.

'Intelligence officers knew that ISIS-K. was staging in a hotel 2-3 kilometers west of H.K.I.A., and D2 asked the Taliban to conduct an assault on the hotel, but they never did.'

The identity of D2 is revealed in other documents as General Chris Donahue.

He was commander of the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division during the evacuation and became famous as the last American service member to leave Afghanistan when he boarded a C-17 transport plane - a moment immortalized in a green-tinged photograph taken with a night-vision lens.
At least 96 people are dead after the fires in Maui spread rapidly on Tuesday

Residents in Lahaina, the historic town destroyed by the fires, claim people have also been 'robbed at gunpoint'

Business owners say that looters have attacked their property after the wildfires

Looters have targeted homes and businesses in Maui amid a shortage of food, water and other supplies following wildfires that have killed at least 96 people.

Residents in Lahaina, the historic town destroyed by the fires, claim people have also been 'robbed at gunpoint'.

The devastating fires spread on Tuesday last week and have left much of Lahaina in ruins. Search and rescue is ongoing and a massive humanitarian effort is also underway to supply essentials and medical care to people on Maui.

Matt Robb, co-owner of The Dirty Monkey bar in Lahaina, said: 'There's some police presence. There's some small military presence, but at night people are being robbed at gunpoint.'

He said looters are 'going through houses  and then by day it's hunky dory. So where is the support? I don't think our government and our leaders, at this point, know how to handle this or what to do.'

Matt Robb, co-owner of The Dirty Monkey bar in Lahaina, said: 'There's some police presence. There's some small military presence, but at night people are being robbed at gunpoint'

Kami Irwin (left), who runs Maui Brewing Company, has partnered with Project Dynamo, a veteran-led led rescue organization, to help get supplies to people on the island

'Everything has been shut down,' Irwin said. 'We have no power. No water. We're here local on Maui trying to bring in all the supplies possible to residents that are stranded with nothing'

Robb told Insider that he believes the response is 'not being done the correct way' and added: 'I think it comes down to the lack of leadership and the lack of knowledge of how to handle this.'

Police officials say they have not received any reports of looting.

Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said: 'We have officers responding to where calls could've been. Not one victim was standing by and no report has been made. Could there have been cases like this and they've been reported properly, yes but as of now, we didn't get those calls.'

But other residents have also claimed they have witnessed thefts.

Jeremy Aganos, the owner of Coconut Caboose restaurant, whose structure was one of just a handful on Lahaina's Front Street to withstand the fires, said looters have attacked his business during the 'utter chaos' of recent days.

Kami Irwin, who runs Maui Brewing Company, has partnered with Project Dynamo, a veteran-led led rescue organization, to help get supplies to people on the island.

'Everything has been shut down,' she said. 'We have no power. No water. We're here local on Maui trying to bring in all the supplies possible to residents that are stranded with nothing.'

In this photo provided by Tiffany Kidder Winn, burned-out cars sit after a wildfire raged through Lahaina, Hawaii, on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023

Residents in Lahaina, the historic town destroyed by the fires, claim looters have struck and people have also been 'robbed at gunpoint'

Irwin said that she 'had to talk to pilots that got grounded with our medical supplies who were stuck on the Big Island because the Department of Health stopped them from transporting insulin'.

Shocking apocalyptic aerial images have revealed the full horror inflicted by the deadly Maui 'fire hurricane' that annihilated the historic town and killed at least 96, with Hawaii's governor warning that the figure could rise 'significantly'.

Residents were forced to flee on foot after seemingly receiving no alert from the state's emergency warning systems.

Over the weekend, crews of firefighters were still battling flare-ups and cadaver dogs were sifting through the town's charred ruins in search of victims.

Relatives of the missing frantically searched for signs their loved ones may still be alive, while survivors grappled with the scale of the disaster and sought solace at Sunday church services.

Hundreds of people remain unaccounted for, and large swathes of Lahaina are yet to be searched. Pelletier, the Maui police chief, said only three percent of the town - home to more than 9,000 people - had been searched so far.

Shocking apocalyptic aerial images (pictured) have revealed the full horror inflicted by the deadly Maui 'fire hurricane' that annihilated the historic town and killed at least 96, with Hawaii's governor warning that the figure could rise 'significantly'

Flattened homes are seen along the seafront in Lahaina after the blaze swept through. The death toll

The inferno - fuelled by strong winds - rapidly destroyed much of the historic resort town of Lahaina (pictured) on Tuesday and Wednesday, with residents forced to flee on foot after seemingly receiving no alert from the state's emergency warning systems

Over the weekend, crews of firefighters were still battling flare-ups in the region, and cadaver dogs were sifting through the town's charred ruins in search of victims

Hundreds of people remain unaccounted for, and large swathes of Lahaina are yet to be searched. John Pelletier, the Maui police chief, said only three percent of the town - home to more than 9,000 people - had been searched so far

Pictured: An aerial view of the destruction of Lahania town

Burned houses and buildings are pictured in the aftermath of a wildfire, is seen in Lahaina, western Maui, Hawaii on August 12

A firefighting helicopter helps fight flare-up fires in Kula, Maui island, Hawaii, U.S., August 13

'It's an impossible day,' Governor Josh Green said. The fire will 'certainly be the worst natural disaster that Hawaii ever faced', he said.

'We can only wait and support those who are living.

'Our focus now is to reunite people when we can and get them housing and get them health care, and then turn to rebuilding.'

In a video update released on Sunday, Green said more than 2,700 structures were destroyed in Lahaina and 'an estimated value of $5.6 billion has gone away.'

The death toll made the blaze Hawaii's worst natural disaster, surpassing a tsunami that killed 61 people in 1960, a year after Hawaii became a U.S. state.

It was also the largest number of deaths from a U.S. wildfire since 1918, when 453 people died in the Cloquet fire in Minnesota and Wisconsin, according to data from the National Fire Protection Association.

A view of flames as wildfires engulfed the historic town of Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S. August 9, 2023

Flames from a wildfire burn in Kihei, Hawaii Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023. Thousands of residents raced to escape homes on Maui as blazes swept across the island

As of Sunday night, the Upcounty/Kula fire was 60 percent contained, while the Lahaina fire was at 85 percent containment, officials confirmed.

As the true scale of the disaster continues to sink in, anger is growing over the fact that the island's early warning systems failed to trigger as the blaze spread.

Hawaii boasts what the state describes as the largest integrated outdoor all-hazard public safety warning system in the world, with about 400 sirens positioned across the island chain to alert residents of developing situations.

But Hawaii emergency management records show no indication that the warning sirens were triggered before a devastating wildfire killed at least 53 people and wiped out a historic town, officials confirmed Thursday.

Many of Lahaina's survivors said they didn't hear any sirens and only realized they were in danger when they saw flames or heard explosions nearby.

Residents were forced to escape the inferno on foot, with some saying it took as little as five minutes before they were in a position where they had no choice but to flee.

Hawaii's attorney general has said he is conduction a 'comprehensive review' into how the authorities responded to the inferno.

Speaking to the BBC, Representative Jill Tokuda of Hawaii's 2nd congressional district said 'serious questions' needed to be addressed over the lack of alerts.

'There's every justification for everyone to feel angry in this particular situation, and we all want answers,' she said. The congresswoman visited Lahaina over the weekend, describing the scenes she witnessed as 'heartbreaking'.

'We have so many memories there, so many of our families and friends lost everything, [or are] still looking for loved ones.'

Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) said there should no excuses for the sirens not sounding on the island.

'I'm not going to make any excuses for this tragedy, but the attorney general has launched a review of what happened with those sirens and some of the other actions that were taken,' Hirono told CNN on Sunday.

A satellite image shows downtown Lahaina and the historic 60-foot-tall banyan tree marking the spot where a 19th-century palace stood, as Maui island deals with the aftermath of multiple wildfires, Hawaii, August 12

A Mercy Worldwide volunteer makes damage assessment of charred apartment complex in the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina, western Maui, Hawaii on August 12

Destroyed property is seen in charred ruins, Sunday, August 13, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii, following the deadly wildfire

Many of the survivors took to Sunday church services, including Akanesi Vaa, 38, who said her family got stuck in traffic while trying to escape the flames.

Vaa, her husband and her children aged 15, 13 and 9 resorted to fleeing on foot and jumping a fence to safety.

Along the way, an elderly woman pleading for help handed her a baby to care for. The woman and her husband were also able to make it over the fence.

'I think a lot of us needed to hear today's message,' Vaa said after attending church at King's Cathedral in Kahului. 'All these ashes are going to turn into beauty. I know Lahaina will come back 10 times stronger.'

Scott Landis, pastor at Keawal'i Church, a United Church of Christ congregation in Makena, said an unusually large crowd of 100 showed, nearly double what he would have expected on a typical Sunday in August.

'They were really listening. You could tell people were here, looking for a word of hope,' Landis said.

Among them were people who have family and friends unaccounted for, and they are 'fearing the worst' he added.

Clinging to hopes of finding missing survivors, people sifted through a crowd-sourced online database listing thousands of names of individuals who had been found as well as of those who remained unaccounted for.

Family and friends mobilized on social media, sharing information about their missing loved ones, asking for help in locating them.

'Still searching for my in-laws,' Heather Baylosis wrote in a Saturday Instagram post. 'People are being found alive and severely disoriented due to what they have gone through. We are holding out hope!'

Megan Sweeting wrote on her Facebook page, 'MISSING: My Dad, Michael Misaka, has been missing since the Lahaina Fires started. If there is any information out there regarding my dad please let me know. I just need to know he is safe.'

Hundreds of people were still missing, though a precise count remained unclear.

Governor Green again vowed to investigate the response to the blaze and the emergency notification systems after some residents questioned whether more could have been done to warn them.

Some witnesses said they had little warning, describing their terror as the blaze destroyed the town around them in what seemed to be a matter of minutes. Others dove into the Pacific Ocean to escape.

Sirens stationed around the island, intended to warn of impending natural disasters, never sounded, and widespread power and cellular outages hampered other forms of alerts.

'We'll know soon whether or not they did enough to get those sirens going,' Green told MSNBC.

The Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Honolulu celebrated Mass on Sunday at a church in Kapalua - just up the road from fire-ravaged Lahaina - and urged those reeling from the wildfire not to give up hope.

'How could this be a good, loving God allowing such things to happen?' the Most Rev. Clarence 'Larry' Silva asked. 'We need to wrestle with that. The worst thing we can do is to give God the silent treatment. If we are angry with God we should tell him so. He can take it. He will still love us.'

During the Mass, Silva read a message from Pope Francis that he was praying for those who lost loved ones, homes and livelihoods - as well as for first responders

After the service, Silva declared 'God loves us in tragedies and good times' and urged those present 'to share that faith with others who may lose it or don't have it so that they can go on and they don't give up hope.'

Attendees embrace during a church service at King's Cathedral in Kahului on the island of Maui, Hawaii Sunday, August 13

Attendees embrace during a church service at King's Cathedral in Kahului on the island of Maui, Hawaii Sunday, August 13

An attendee is overcome with emotions during a church service at King's Cathedral in Kahului on the island of Maui, Hawaii Sunday, August 13

Attendees embrace during a church service at King's Cathedral in Kahului on the island of Maui, Hawaii Sunday, August 13

Parishioners attend Mass at Sacred Hearts Mission Church in Kapalua, Hawaii, August 13

One family of four - Faaso and Malui Fonua Tone, Salote Takafua, and her son, Tony Takafua - died while attempting to flee from the flames. Their remains were found Thursday in a burned car near their home.

READ MORE: Family of four died inside their car as they tried to flee the Lahaina firestorm Advertisement

'The magnitude of our grief is indescribable,' read a statement from family members.

Lylas Kanemoto, who knew the Tone family, confirmed the devastating news Sunday.

'At least we have closure for them, but the loss and heartbreak is unbearable for many. We as a community has to just embrace each other and support our families, friends, and our community to our best of our abilities,' Kanemoto told the AP by text message on Sunday.

Kanemoto is still awaiting news on her cousin, Glen Yoshino, who is missing.

'I'm afraid he is gone because we have not heard from him and he would've found a way to contact family,' Kanemoto said. 'We are hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst.'

A retired fire captain - Geoff Bogar, and his friend of 35 years - Franklin Trejos, initially stayed behind to help others in Lahaina and save Bogar's house. But as the flames moved closer and closer Tuesday afternoon, they knew they had to flee.

Each escaped to their own car. When Bogar's vehicle wouldn't start, he broke through a window to get out and crawled on the ground until a police patrol found him and brought him to a hospital.

Trejos didn't escape.

When Bogar returned the next day, he found the bones of his 68-year-old friend in the back seat of his car, lying on top of the remains of the Bogars' beloved 3-year-old golden retriever Sam, whom he had tried to protect.

Trejos, a native of Costa Rica, had lived for years with Bogar and his wife, Shannon Weber-Bogar, helping her with her seizures when her husband couldn't. He filled their lives with love and laughter.

'God took a really good man,' Weber-Bogar said.

Maui County firefighters fight flare-up fires in a canyon in Kula on Maui island, August 13

A caretaker photographs the site of a home destroyed by the Maui wildfires in Kula, Hawaii on August 13

Fueled by a dry summer and strong winds from a passing hurricane, the fire started Tuesday and took Maui by surprise, racing through parched brush covering the island and then flattening homes and anything else that lay in its path.

Lahaina's wildfire risk was well known. Maui County's hazard mitigation plan, last updated in 2020, identified Lahaina and other West Maui communities as having frequent wildfire ignitions and a large number of buildings at risk of wildfire damage.

Last week, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency spokesperson Adam Weintraub said the department's records don't show that Maui's warning sirens were triggered on Tuesday. Instead, the county used emergency alerts sent to mobile phones, televisions and radio stations, Weintraub told the Associated Press.

It's not clear if those alerts were sent before widespread power and cellular outages cut off most communication to Lahaina.

West Maui was also identified as having the island's highest population of people living in multi-unit housing, the second-highest rate of households without a vehicle, and the highest rate of non-English speakers.

'This may limit the population's ability to receive, understand and take expedient action during hazard events,' the plan noted.

Maui's firefighting efforts may also have been hampered by a small staff, Bobby Lee, the president of the Hawaii Firefighters Association, said last week. There are a maximum of 65 firefighters working at any given time in Maui County, and they are responsible for fighting fires on three islands - Maui, Molokai and Lanai - he said.

Those crews have about 13 fire engines and two ladder trucks, but they are all designed for on-road use.

The department does not have any off-road vehicles, which would allow crews to attack brush fires thoroughly before they reach roads or populated areas, he said.

That forces fire crews to wait for brush fires to reach an area where they can attack it with fire engines and other equipment, Lee said. The high winds caused by Hurricane Dora made that extremely difficult, he said.

'You're basically dealing with trying to fight a blowtorch,' Lee said. 'You've got to be careful - you don't want to get caught downwind from that, because you're going to get run over in a wind-driven fire of that magnitude.'

Maui Fire Department Chief Brad Ventura said the fire moved so quickly from brush to neighborhood that it was impossible to get communications to emergency management agencies responsible for getting warnings out.

This undated photo provided by Shannon Weber-Bogar shows Franklin Trejos with his golden retriever Sam. Trejos died in the Lahaina, Hawaii wildfires while using his body to shield Sam in the back of his car. The bodies were found Wednesday

Faaso and Malui Fonua Tone were found dead in their car Thursday as they tried to escape the devastating blaze that destroyed virtually all of Lahaina

Also killed were Faaso and Malui's adult daughter Salote Takafua and her son Tony

Mandatory evacuation orders were in place for Lahaina residents, Bissen noted, while tourists in hotels were told to shelter in place so that emergency vehicles could get into the area.

The mayor said that downed power poles added to the chaos as people attempted to flee Lahaina by cutting off two important roads of town.

Speaking at a Thursday afternoon press conference, he said that 29 poles fell with live wires still attached, cutting off the roads to Wailuku and the airport and leaving only the narrow highway toward Kahakuloa.

The cost to rebuild Lahaina was estimated at $5.5 billion, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), with more than 2,200 structures damaged or destroyed and more than 2,100 acres burned.
Chairman James Comer says Republicans on the Oversight Committee have 'no confidence' in Special Counsel David Weiss and insists his panel will continue its investigation into Hunter Biden.

Comer said that Attorney General Merrick Garland's appointment of Weiss on Friday is 'a joke,' and says it only further proves the politicalization and weaponization of the Department of Justice.

He told Fox News that one of the reasons a special counsel is unnecessary is because half of lawmakers and America don't have confidence in him or the source of the appointment.

Weiss was the prosecutor that allowed the statute of limitations run out on five-year investigation into Hunter and was behind the negotiations of a now-defunct 'sweetheart' plea deal with the president's 53-year-old son, said Comer.

'Well, this is a joke,' Comer told Fox News host Trey Gowdy on Sunday evening. 'All that Merrick Garland did was validate the point that many Republicans have been making  that the Department of Justice was weaponized.'

Oversight Chairman James Comer said Sunday evening that Special Counsel David Weiss' appointment to hunter Biden's case is a 'joke.' He told Fox News' Trey Gowdy: 'I have no confidence that [Attorney General] Merrick Garland would appoint anyone credible. I never dreamed he would do as bad as he did with Weiss'

'I've been very vocal and saying we didn't need a special counsel,' Comer added. 'I have no confidence that Merrick Garland would appoint anyone credible. I never dreamed he would do as bad as he did with Weiss.'

Rep. Comer (R-Ky.) insists the panel is also focusing on President Biden and his involvement in his son's shady foreign business dealings.

'We have a lot of crimes that were committed by the president's son, but we're concerned, as you know, about the president of the United States. We heard testimony just two weeks ago that he was a central figure in this,' he said, referencing closed-door testimony with Hunter's once long-time business associate Devon Archer.

Weiss on Friday was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland as special counsel - a move which gives him broader day-to-day independence from supervision than previously, and which is designed to remove any suggestion that the White House may have been improperly interfering in the investigation.

The appointment undermines claims from Republicans and IRS whistleblowers that Weiss doesn't have full authority and is being driven by the Biden administration.

They also questioned why Weiss can be trusted when he signed off on the first Hunter plea deal deemed a 'slap on the wrist,' for gun and tax crimes, before it unravelled in court just weeks ago.

IRS whistleblowers came forward and testified under oath that the DOJ improperly interfered in the investigation.

They claimed Hunter should have been charged with a felony in Washington, D.C., for tax crimes dating back to his years at the Ukrainian oil company Burisma. But Biden-appointed D.C. prosecutor Matthew Graves allegedly squashed them.

In addition, buried in the deal was a clause suggesting that Hunter would be granted blanket immunity for any potential future charges that may arise from the DOJs five-year probe - including for failing to register as a foreign agent.

As a result, the plea deal blew up and Hunter's legal troubles are far from over.

In a new filing last week, prosecutors said negotiations on a new plea agreement are at a standstill, and that the government 'now believes that the case will not resolve short of trial.'

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-Ohio) has also accused Weiss of engaging in 'prosecutorial misconduct' by deliberately allowing potential charges to expire against Hunter.

Turner told CBS News on Sunday morning that he did not have confidence in Weiss' commitment to the case.

'The concern here with Weiss being special counsel is that he was the one that allowed the statute limitations to expire on some very critical felony charges that could have been brought against Hunter Biden,' said Turner.

Attorney General Merrick Garland on Friday appointed David Weiss (pictured) as the special counsel investigating Hunter Biden's shady foreign business deals. Republicans immediately denounced the appointment as more proof the Justice Department is 'weaponized'

Meanwhile, Comer told Fox later that evening something to the same tune.

'Not only did Weiss drag his feet for five years and try to negotiate a sweetheart plea deal with the President's son, he also let the statute of limitations run out,' Comer lamented.

'That was one of the biggest complaints from the IRS whistleblowers when they testified before the Oversight Committee, was their frustration that they knew they were coming up on a hard stop as far as trying to prosecute the President's son for obvious crimes of tax evasion and violation of the Foreign Agent Registration Act,' he added.

'But Weiss intentionally let the statute of limitations run out.'
North Korea has banned women from wearing shorts in the latest crackdown on any behaviour or practices deemed to be foreign or capitalist.

Under the latest enforcement of the hermit kingdom's Rejection of Reactionary Thought and Culture Act, officials declared that any woman who wears clothing that does not reach below the knee line flouts the principles of 'socialist etiquette'.

It comes amid temperatures in excess of 30C in a country where the summers are long and humid and most citizens are already subject to horrendous living standards under dynastic leader Kim Jong Un.

A resident of North Korea's South Pyongan province told Radio Free Asia on condition of anonymity: 'The authorities are stopping women who wear shorts on the streets, saying that it is not in line with socialist tradition and lifestyle.

'A few years ago, they were cracking down on wide-legged skirt pants, saying they were Japanese fashion,' she said.

'Many women are complaining, asking why men can wear shorts and women can't. They are saying that the authorities are discriminating against us.'

In this file photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks in Pyongyang, North Korea

This picture taken during the period from August 3 to August 5, 2023 and released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on August 6, 2023 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspecting a new series of firearm

Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un

For regular North Korean citizens not among the privileged few near to Kim and his party elites, life is bleak.

Much of the country's population regularly contends with famine, has little access to basic healthcare and is constantly under threat of punishment for the slightest transgression.

A Human Rights Watch report on social freedoms in the country reads: 'The government systematically denies all basic liberties, including freedom of expression, public assembly, association, and religion.

Kim Jong Un fires top general and tells his armed forces to prepare for war while displaying a map of South Korea to his military chiefs Advertisement

'Fear of collective punishment is used to silence dissent. Authorities in North Korea routinely send perceived opponents of the government to secretive political prison camps in remote regions where they face torture by guards, starvation rations, and forced labour.

It concludes: 'The government fails to protect the rights of numerous at-risk groups, including women, children, and people with disabilities.'

Women caught flouting the newly enforced no shorts regulations are therefore liable to be slapped with all manner of disproportionate punishments.

While its southern neighbour has become one of the world's most technologically advanced nations and booming economies, North Korea has become a pariah state.

Kim Jong Un, the third member of the Kim bloodline to take power in North Korea, has dumped almost all his nation's wealth and resources into the pursuit of an obsessive mission - to cultivate the globe's most powerful 'strategic arsenal' of missiles and nuclear devices.

All the while, he has ramped up anti-Western and anti-capitalist rhetoric, with North Korean citizens raised to see South Korea and much of the rest of the world as a threat to their very existence that must be resisted at all costs.

Last week, Kim sacked his military's top general and called for more preparations for the possibility of war, a boost in weapons production, and expansion of military drills.

Kim made the comments at a meeting of the Central Military Commission which discussed plans for countermeasures to deter North Korea's enemies, which it did not name, the report from state news agency KCNA said.

The country's top general, Chief of the General Staff Pak Su Il was 'dismissed,' KCNA reported, without elaborating. He had served in his role for about seven months.

This picture taken on July 27, 2023 and released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on July 28, 2023 shows a military parade to mark a key anniversary of the Korean War at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang

This picture taken on July 27, 2023 and released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on July 28, 2023 shows North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un (R) attending a military parade

Pak was replaced by General Ri Yong Gil, who previously served as the country's defence minister, as well as the top commander of its conventional troops.

Ri also previously served as the army chief of staff. When he was replaced in 2016 his sacking and subsequent absence from official events sparked reports in South Korea that he had been executed. He reappeared a few months later, when he was named to another senior post.

Kim also set a target for the expansion of weapons production capacity, the report said, without providing details. Last week he visited weapons factories where he called for more missile engines, artillery and other weapons to be built.

Photos released by KCNA showed Kim pointing at Seoul and areas surrounding the South Korean capital on a map.

The United States has accused North Korea of providing arms to Russia for its war in Ukraine, including artillery shells, rockets and missiles. Russia and North Korea have denied those claims.

Kim also called for the military to conduct drills with the country's latest weapons and equipment to keep its forces ready for combat, the report said.

North Korea is set to stage a militia parade on Sept. 9, marking the 75th anniversary of the Day of the Foundation of the Republic. North Korea has a number of paramilitary groups it uses to bolster its military forces.

The U.S. and South Korea are scheduled to hold military drills between Aug. 21 and 24, which the North sees as a threat to its security.
Even more migrants have arrived in Dover after making the journey across the Channel, days after six people died when their dinghy sank five miles off the French coast.

Dozens reached Britain by small boat on Monday morning. A whopping 16,678 migrants have crossed the Channel in 356 boats so far this year.

Last year saw a record 45,755 people make the journey - 60 per cent higher than 2021 when 28,526 migrants reached Britain.

While the Government is yet to confirm the official figures for today, two inflatable dinghies or other small craft are understood to have been intercepted while attempting to make the treacherous crossing.

The mostly male groups were brought into the harbour in Dover, Kent, on board a Border Force catamaran shortly before midday.

Even more migrants have arrived in Dover after making the journey across the Channel, days after six people died when their dinghy sank five miles off the French coast

A group of people thought to be migrants were driven away from the Border Force compound in Dover, Kent, following a small boat incident in the Channel today

Dozens reached Britain by small boat on Monday morning. A whopping 16,678 migrants have crossed the Channel in 356 boats so far this year

Last year saw a record 45,755 people make the journey - 60 per cent higher than 2021 when 28,526 migrants reached Britain

They could be seen disembarking the vessel wearing orange life-jackets and face masks after battling poor weather conditions in the Channel - with heavy cloud, showers, and winds of up to 25mph forecast for today.

The latest arrivals are the first to reach the UK since Saturday when six migrants died off the coast of Sangatte in northern France, while attempting to make the perilous journey in the early hours of the morning.

Major questions have been raised over how France's authorities responded to the incident on Saturday which saw at least 58 people - many of them Afghans - rescued after the boat got into difficulties off the coast of Sangatte on Saturday.

While the Government is yet to confirm the official figures for today, two inflatable dinghies or other small craft are understood to have been intercepted while attempting to make the treacherous crossing

The latest arrivals are the first to reach the UK since Saturday when six migrants died off the coast of Sangatte in northern France, while attempting to make the perilous journey in the early hours of the morning

French rescuers reached a migrant boat which sank in the English Channel killing six people some 15 minutes after an RNLI vessel arrived - despite it happening only five miles from the French coast, sources have claimed.

The accounts of survivors suggested about 65 people had boarded the overloaded vessel before a passing ship saw it sinking and raised the alarm at around 4.20am.

Sources told The Times that the first French lifeboat was on the scene 15 minutes after the RNLI vessel arrived - which had already started rescuing survivors.

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent on Monday, August 14

Channel crossings increased massively last year, with the UK seeing 60 per cent more crossings than in 2021

Some 22 people were rescued and dropped off in Dover, including by the RNLI crew, which was launched at about 4am, and a British chartered ship. At least 36 others were collected by French boats and taken to Calais, as well as those who died.

It follows two fatal Channel crossing incidents in November 2021, when 27 migrants died - the highest recorded number of deaths in an incident - and December 2022, when four perished, which resulted in a blame game between the UK and France.

But Britain is keen to avoid damaging the 480million deal agreed with the French in March which it is claimed has helped reduce crossings compared to last year.

Migrants were rescued on Saturday after a boat carrying about 65 sank off the coast of France

Rescued migrants sit on a French rescue ship on Saturday after their boat sank in the Channel

An RNLI boat brings 50 migrants ashore at Dover on Saturday morning after the major rescue

READ MORE Still queuing for the dinghy gangs: Just a day after six people died crossing the Channel, dozens of migrants are seen heading for the coast in their desperate quest to reach Britain Advertisement

The French are said to be intercepting just over half of attempted crossings, but the number of French police officers on patrol on their beaches has dropped a fifth this month due to a high number on annual leave, reported The Times.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay told ITV's Good Morning Britain today: 'We need to do a range of things and one of things is try to disrupt the criminal gangs upstream - not just in France, but where they're sourcing their engines, where they're sourcing their boats, as they are moving people into northern Europe.'

Presenter Richard Madeley then asked him whether the French were 'turning a blind eye', and Mr Barclay responded: 'I think it's in our interests to work cooperatively with the French, I think we'll have more success doing that than if we don't.'

Asked again, Mr Barclay said: 'No. They've stopped 40 per cent more boats this year than last year. But it's one of a number of things that we're doing, and that's why we're also committed to our Rwanda policy, it's why we're looking at bringing the cost of hotels down.

'And it's worth remembering that Labour have voted against everything that the Government is doing. And one of the reasons it's been difficult to make the progress we have is because of the amount of opposition we've had from Labour resisting the measures that we've wanted to do in Parliament.'

It comes as scores of migrants were seen heading for beaches in northern France last night, apparently undeterred by the deaths of the six men.

Paramedics in Dover assist a migrant who had been trying to cross the Channel on Saturday

Paramedics in Dover on Saturday wait to tend to assist migrants picked up in the Channel

A photo released by the French Navy on Saturday shows the search and rescue operation

A total of 509 people crossed the English Channel in ten boats on the day of the tragedy on Saturday.

Wales Secretary David TC Davis defended the Government's immigration strategy yesterday amid renewed pressure, including from Tory MPs, over its 'stop the boats' pledge following the incident.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made tackling the crossings one of five key priorities for his leadership and asked people to judge him on his management of the problem.

MPs have called for action against criminal people-smuggling gangs profiting from the journeys while campaigners have described the deaths as an 'appalling and preventable tragedy'.

Meanwhile, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said action to deter criminal gangs facilitating the journeys is 'desperately' needed.

Care4Calais said it was an 'appalling and preventable tragedy', while the Refugee Council warned 'more people will die' unless more safe routes to the UK are created.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman described the incident as a 'tragic loss of life' and said she had chaired a meeting with Border Force officials later on Saturday.

People hold a banner with the names of migrants who have died crossing the channel since 1999 during a rally in Calais yesterday following the tragedy on Saturday off Sangette

It comes after the Government was accused of allowing its 'small boats week' of linked announcements on immigration to descend into farce following the removal of dozens of asylum seekers from the Bibby Stockholm barge.

Senior Tory backbencher David Davis said the 'startling incompetence' of the Home Office had been laid bare after all 39 people on board the 500-capacity vessel were disembarked due to the discovery of Legionella bacteria in the water supply.

But ministers intend to push on with plans to hire more barges to house asylum seekers, as well as student halls and former office blocks, The Telegraph reported.

The people who had been on the Bibby Stockholm, which had been billed as a cheaper alternative to expensive hotels for those awaiting the outcome of their claims, are now back being housed in other accommodation.

The Home Office has said the health and welfare of asylum seekers 'remains of the utmost priority' and that the evacuation took place as a precautionary measure, with all protocol and advice followed.

A UK Government spokeswoman told MailOnline: 'These deaths are devastating and our thoughts are with the victims' families and friends at this time.

'This incident is sadly another reminder of the extreme dangers of crossing the Channel in small boats and how vital it is that we break the people smugglers' business model and stop the boats.'

The French coastguard said: 'On Saturday, August 12, at the end of the night, a merchant ship reports to [The Regional Operational Monitoring and Rescue Centre] (CROSS) Gris Nez that a migrant boat seems to be at a standstill off Sangatte.

'CROSS Gris Nez requests various state and private nautical means to try to relocate it.

'In the early morning, the Cormoran Public Service Patroller (PSP) spotted a boat being shipwrecked in the research area. The following various French and British means, nautical and air, were engaged by the CROSS Gris Nez to rescue the shipwrecked:

'The PSP Cormoran collected 33 shipwrecked, including one in a serious condition that was transferred to the Calais hospital by the Dauphin public service helicopter; the PSP Pluvier collected five castaways; the British RNLI 1709 collected a dozen shipwrecked people; the British chartered ship MSC Taku CPP collected three shipwrecked people; SNS077 Notre Dame du Risban collected five castaways in a grave state.

'Unfortunately, the person transferred to the hospital in Calais and the five people collected by the Notre Dame du Risban were declared dead.

'The 37 castaways collected by French means were all transferred to the PSP Cormorant. Their disembarkation and pick-up on land are underway at the port of Calais.

'The five deceased people collected by SNS077 are also in the process of disembarking at the port of Calais.

'The dozen castaways collected by British means were deposited in Dover, Great Britain.

'The RNLI 1709 also had survivors of another operation on board. The exact count of the people collected on each of the embarkations is not easy. The human toll in the British sector is being consolidated.'
Furious guests have posted gruesome pictures of their wounds after some of the priciest hotels in Las Vegas fell victim to an invasion of bed bugs.

Seven of the biggest names on the strip have reported infestations to local health officials in the last 18 months, and experts have warned the blood-sucking critters are certain to return.

And guests at this summers World Series of Poker also reported falling victim to unwanted room mates taking advantage of an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Circus Circus which is finishing a major three-year renovation reported two infestations within six months last year according to 8 News Now.

And Caesars Palace, where rooms can top out at $40,000 a night, also fell victim to the unwanted guests, along with Planet Hollywood, Palazzo, Tropicana, MGM Grand, and Sahara.

Rooms can cost more than $40,000 a night at Caesar's Palace but its bed bugs get a free stay and an all-you-can-eat buffet courtesy of unlucky guests

One guest @wilkinz posted pictures of the aftermath an encounter with unwanted room mates at the Paris Vegas

Bed bugs have become an almost routine hazard for Las Vegas hotel guests, claim some, while Pete Rob (right) said he was only offered a change of room following the attack on him at the Horseshoe Hotel and Casino

But seasoned visitors to the Nevada resort claim the official reports are just the tip of the iceberg.

F***ing bed bugs infestation, tweeted one.

Every f***ing time that I'd be residing here in Vegas, I always ended up with red, splotchy, and itchy skin TF.

'Bed bugs @ the Horseshoe Hotel & Casino Las Vegas June 2023,' tweeted Pete Rob.

'No help or compensation from management only a room change not acceptable.'

'Had the worst stay at Paris Vegas Hotel,' added @wilkinz.

'Room was full of dust and gave me allergia on the first night. Then my room mate got bitten by bed bugs!

'Hotel did not give any compensation or anything.'

Circus Circus informed inspectors at the Southern Nevada Health District after a guest was bitten in January last year.

Circus Circus (left) and Sahara (right) suffered three reported infestations between them

The bugs took rooms at the MGM Grand and the Tropicana

Nearby rooms were also sealed off for two weeks but more bugs were found in a different room in June.

Guests at the Palazzo told health officials they were bitten in January last year, the same month that a Grand Room at MGM had to be decontaminated.

More bugs were found after one was squashed by a guest at the Sahara hotel in October that year, and the pests were found at The Tropicana in February.

Bugs were discovered at Planet Hollywood in June as players and guests assembled for the World Series of Poker.

'MGM grand had to spray and clean their poker room on July 18 this year for bed bugs,' tweeted @SMGPoker.

'And they got rid of their standard chairs. Dealers complained for months, players got all bit up just before they finally sprayed.'

In a statement, MGM International Resort said: 'We have comprehensive procedures in place to address and resolve any issue that may arise.'

The Tropicana Las Vegas told 8 News Now: 'While highly unlikely, in the event of a complaint, we immediately isolate the affected room and its surrounding areas.'

The apple-pip sized bugs have caused misery for guests at hotels across the Vegas Strip

Guests at the Paris Vegas and the Horseshoe Hotels reported attacks while this summer's World Series of Poker was taking place

Planet Hollywood suffered an infestation as recently as June this year

The apple-seed sized bugs leave tell-tale signs of dark-colored spots, feces, and carcasses, according to Bobby James of Top Line Pest Control.

'We got thousands of people coming into Vegas every day, so bed bugs catch a ride with somebody. They jump off into a hotel,' he added.

'Hotels dont come with bed bugs in them. People bring them, so when they put luggage on the bed, we dont know where they came from.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to Caesar's for comment.

How to avoid bed bug and dust mite infestations this summer: Wash your sheets every week Wash sheets separate to clothes and towel, spot cleaning and marks before washing. Use hot water and a hot dryer if there are mites Duvets, comforters and throw blankets that have less contact with your skin can be washed every month or two Pillows and doonas should be cleaned every six months and replaced every two years Getting rid of bed bugs: As their eggs are difficult to see, and have a long incubation period it can be tricky ridding your home of a bed bug infestation A combination of non-chemical and chemical treatments may be needed Advertisement

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The Down syndrome woman accusing Leon Black of raping her when she was a teenager says he sent private investigators to her home and to her parents' house after she filed her lawsuit against him.

The woman, who has not been named publicly, is suing Black over an alleged attack that she says took place in 2002 at Jeffrey Epstein's house. She filed her lawsuit anonymously, using the name Jane Doe, on July 25 this year.

Two days later, she says a woman in an SUV parked outside her home. The vehicle only left after she called police.

On August 7, Jane Doe says her parents then received a visit from two men claiming to be fraud investigators from Florida.

They visited the home with cheesecake in the hope that they would be invited inside for coffee, the legal filing claims.

This photo taken by the rape accuser shows who she believes to be a private investigator hired by Leon Black in an SUV outside her home on July 27, two days after she filed her lawsuit. She says the woman in the car only left when she called police

Leon Black denied the woman's allegations, claiming he has never met her

Once inside, they showed revealed they had photos of Jane Doe's child from when the child was much younger.

They also peppered the couple with questions about Jane Doe's medical history and childhood, and recorded the entire meeting.

The following day, the same investigators visited Jane Doe's aunt and tried to interview her too.

She called Jane Doe and then told the men to leave, according to the filing.

Jane Doe says Black raped her in Jeffrey Epstein's house in 2002 when she was 16

One of Jane Doe's friends was also contacted by the same investigators.

In the filing, Jane Doe's attorney Jeanne Christensen says the tactics are similar to those used by Black to fight another rape lawsuit.

In that case, filed by former receptionist Cheri Pierson, Christensen says Black's investigators compiled a dossier of evidence against her that he then used to submit to the court.

The information 'had absolutely nothing to do with Blacks legal defenses to the civil claims asserted against him' and was entirely about her past, Christensen said.

In a response to the filings, Black's representatives told DailyMail.com the claims are an attempt to further smear him.

'This motion is a cynical and melodramatic attempt by Wigdor [Jane Doe's lawyers' firm] to divert attention from its unethical misconduct targeting Mr. Black.

'The truth is that we have not asked the court to reveal Jane Does identity and we have no intention of doing so,' Susan Enrich, his attorney, said.

They also claim Jane Doe 'never left home at age 16' and 'has a history of making up stories and diagnoses'.

They also refute her original claim that she was trafficked by a mystery woman named 'Elizabeth'.

Black sitting between Karlie Kloss and Jared Kushner at the 2016 US Open

The woman says the investigators were from SIC Inc, a company registered in Florida. Their website is shown

'There is no Svengali Elizabeth; and that Jane Doe never met Mr. Black and there was no assault.

'Ms. Christensen knows that the Wigdor firm is about to be exposed for using Jane Doe to peddle lies about Mr. Black in its campaign to destroy him.

'Mr. Black intends to hold Wigdor fully accountable for its unlawful behavior.'

A judge granted Jane Doe's request to remain anonymous throughout the proceedings.

SIC, the private investigators in Florida, did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's inquiries.

Black and his attorneys say he never met her and that her entire allegation is a lie.

She claims in her lawsuit that he raped her in 2002 at Epstein's house on a massage table after sodomizing her with sex toys.

She was 16 at the time and claims she was trafficked to him by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving 20 years in prison for sex trafficking.

Black's connections to Epstein have become more apparent and condemning in recent months.

Between 2012 and 2017, he paid Epstein $158million for tax and estate planning advice despite owning his own financial firm.

He also gave him a $10million charity gift in the same month that one of his ex girlfriends received payments from a mysterious 'E trust'.

The money was in exchange for her silence about her romance with Black, a married billionaire with four kids.

Black also paid the US Virgin Islands' prosecutors $62million to avoid being swept up in litigation against Epstein's estate.
He claims he'd been forced to strip naked as he made his way onto the plane

Footage shows the man being berated - despite being delayed at security

Shocking footage has emerged of an airline employee berating a Muslim traveler for delaying a flight, despite him trying to explain he was forced to strip naked by security at an Israeli airport.

The man was trying to fly from Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport to Newark, New Jersey, on United's UA91 when he claims he was selected for additional screening at security.

In a video, posted to TikTok, the man is seen being escorted to his plane's gate by a woman. It is not clear who the woman works for.

As the clip begins, the pair appear to be clashing over the way the woman is speaking to him.

The airline worker appeared agitated as she walked the man to his gate

In a heated exchange, the woman tells him 300 passengers are waiting for him

His attempts to tell her that he was delayed at security go unheard

'Have some respect,' he says, before she yells back to him: 'I'm speaking to you.'

'How dare you speak to me in that manner,' he tells her.

Video shows the pair walking through duty-free together, locked in a heated exchange about him causing a delay.

'Three hundred people are waiting for you. Please stop talking and board the plane,' she says.

'Tell Israel that, why did they detain me?' he asks. 'It's not my fault,' he says.

The woman continues to speak to him in an agitated tone, prompting him to ask: 'Ma'am, why are you speaking to me in that way,' he asks.

He looks slightly more relieved to be walking onto the plane

As he finally takes his seat, he is overwhelmed and begins to break down

'Which way? I asked you to go on board because 300 passengers are waiting for you.

'Do you know they made me get naked?' he says.

'That's not me, I'm not the security,' she says.

Eventually the man is handed over to another employee who checks his ticket and he makes his way down the air-bridge and onto the plane.

As he walks on, all of the other passengers are already in their seats.

'Guys, I'm sorry, it's not my fault. They held me in security, I apologize, they held me in security. They made me get naked. I'm sorry, but it was not my fault.

'Just because I'm a Muslim, that's the truth.'

After he takes his seat, he breaks down in tears.

Another person is heard telling him: 'I'm sorry you had a hard time in security.'

The video has been viewed more than 2.4 million times and garnered more than 8,000 comments, with many echoing her sentiment.

The man was trying to leave Israel's Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv

'Im so sorry this happened to you,' one person wrote.

'Theyre so rude and disrespectful shame on them,' someone else said.

'Im so sorry for your traumatic experience. Thank you for bringing attention to this serious injustice. Its very upsetting how they treated you,' another wrote.

'This broke me. So sorry the world is this way. That woman needs to get some discipline. She needs to get a grip & get over herself,' a sympathetic viewer added.

DailyMail.com has contacted United and Ben Gurion Airport for comment.
A retired sailor whose noisy, drunken ranting and loud playing of his TV led to him being reportedly jailed three times has been punished again for flouting a community protection notice.

Retired merchant seaman Martin Solomon, 77, from Stroud, Gloucestershire, breached the order 13 times between October and May, Cheltenham Magistrates Court was told.

Solomon pleaded guilty on August 7 to failing to comply with the protection notice.

He was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay 50 costs.

The magistrates also imposed a Criminal Behaviour Order on Solomon for a year.

Retired merchant seaman Martin Solomon, 77, from Stroud, Gloucestershire, breached the order 13 times between October and May, Cheltenham Magistrates Court was told

Under the terms of the order, Solomon 'shall not cause or create loud or ongoing noises such as shouting, using offensive or threatening words or playing amplified noises (e.g. television)' at his home

Under the terms of the order, Solomon 'shall not cause or create loud or ongoing noises such as shouting, using offensive or threatening words or playing amplified noises (e.g. television)' at his home.

Three years ago, Solomon was ordered to pay 500 compensation to a neighbour who he had harassed, threatened and 'tormented' with foul language, bonfires and loud music.

Solomon's anti social behaviour first got him into trouble in 2007 when the court was told he made his neighbours' lives a misery with his noisy antics when drunk.

He was given a five year antisocial behaviour order at Gloucester Crown Court in 2009.

He was repeatedly back before the court from 2010 to 2012 for similar behaviour.
A ghostly image showing a British fighter jet 6,500ft beneath the waves has been released in a report into its humiliating aborted aircraft carrier take-off.

The 64million RAF F-35B Lightning II ditched off the HMS Queen Elizabeth in the eastern Mediterranean on November 17, 2021.

A month later, the warplane was retrieved in a secret salvage operation carried out by British, American and Italian crews, to prevent its sophisticated radar and sensors falling into the wrong hands.

A 148-page Ministry of Defense report, published 10 August, details the costly incident which happened after a protective cover got lodged in the warplane's engine intake. Thankfully, the pilot was able to eject and has since returned to flying.

The sonar picture of the plane upside on the sea floor forms part of the partly redacted report detailing the timeline and investigation into the incident.

This ghostly image shows a 64m British fighter jet at the bottom of the sea. It has been released in a report into its humiliating aborted aircraft carrier take-off in November 2021

The RAF F-35B Lightning II ditched off the HMS Queen Elizabeth in the eastern Mediterranean on November 17, 2021

The jet suffered a malfunction while accelerating up the ramp of the flight deck before the pilot ejected when the plane reached the top

The jet is seen disappearing over the edge of the aircraft carrier and the pilot's parachute floats into view in leaked footage of the crash

The report, titled 'Service Inquiry into the loss of F-35B Lightning ZM152 (BK-18) of 617 Squadron RAF', explains: 'The Ship was operating in the eastern Mediterranean, off the north coast of Egypt.

'As the aircraft left the end of the flight deck ramp, the pilot ejected and landed back on the deck. The aircraft impacted the sea and subsequently sank. The pilot suffered only minor injuries and has since returned to flying.'

The aircraft was able to be salvaged and returned to the UK.

The report details: 'After falling into the sea, BK-18 floated beside the ship for a short period before subsequently sinking.

'It was later discovered intact, inverted on the seabed, at a depth of 2,000m, with a few minor parts such as the ejection seat detached but close to the airframe.

'A salvage operation recovered the aircraft, and all the detached items, and then transported them back to the UK.'

A picture in the report shows the jet, BK-18, on November 16 2021 (a day before the incident) with an arrow pointing to the left blank intake cover just visible in the intake

The report shows a picture of the left intake blank, the cause of the crash, recovered from the crash site

The report shows BK-18 launching from the HMS Queen Elizabeth on November 14, 2021

The report concludes that the left intake blank, a red cover designed to protect the engine from foreign objects prior to flight, had not been removed and was consequently sucked into the engine causing loss of take-off power.

The F-35B reached the ski-jump take-off point, but was not producing enough thrust to take to the skies. It dipped off the end of the ramp and plunged into the sea.

The report says: 'One of the cameras showed the aircraft floating on the surface, semi-submerged up to the canopy, but with the wings, tail, lift fan and auxiliary doors above water level.

'Several witnesses saw a 'large red object' pushed up and out of the auxiliary intake on top of the aircraft. The sea boat was sent to recover the debris which was subsequently identified as BK-18's left intake blank.'

The document confirms the pilot escaped serious harm.

It reads: 'The FDO (Flight Deck Officer) was first to arrive at the pilot's location. Other than some the pilot appeared unharmed, fully conscious and in good spirits. The pilot was keen to stand up, declaring that they were fine. The FDO aided the pilot to their feet and walked with them back to the FDO's office in the aft island.'

Leaked footage of the incident was spread online, prompting an internal investigation with a sailor ending up arrested for sharing the confidential material.

The first image of the F35 that toppled into the Mediterranean Sea during a failed takeoff from HMS Queen Elizabeth emerged (pictured) in early 2022 after the warplane was retrieved in a secret salvage operation

While it did not reveal any operationally sensitive material, the video is said to have angered naval chiefs at the time, who flew the arrested sailor back to the UK.

Lockheed Martin says the F-35 'is the most lethal, survivable and connected fighter aircraft in the world, giving pilots an advantage against any adversary and enabling them to execute their mission and come home safe.'

But the stealth fighter has been involved in a series of high-profile crashes and incidents in recent years.

A month prior to the incident, a South Korean pilot was forced to make an emergency 'belly landing' in an F-35A after suffering a malfunction in the air.
Distraught animal lovers say the remains of their dead pets are inside a vets' surgery that closed after its owner was convicted of downloading animal and child porn.

Owners are angry that the surgery closed without warning before they had the chance to retrieve the ashes of their cat or dog.

Vet Robert Russell, who is listed as director of the surgery in the New Forest, Hants, was in June this year convicted of possessing 2,600 indecent images.

A court heard he had gathered 'extreme' images of sex with an animal and some of the most serious types of child porn.

Russell, 63, is now being investigated by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

Vet Robert Russell, who is listed as director of the surgery in the New Forest, Hants, was in June this year convicted of possessing 2,600 indecent images

Customers of Russell's surgery, Pet Healthcare Centre in the New Forest town of Hythe, have now complained they can longer get access to their late pets after it closed without warning.

It is thought to have closed shut before a pet cremation service could make its latest pick up.

A handwritten notice stuck to the inside of the front door said: 'Due to business issues currently beyond our control we have had to temporarily close the practice.'

Its Facebook account has been taken down and an automated message on its voicemail said 'due to unforeseen circumstances the veterinary practice is now closed'.

Julia Godwin, of Hythe, took her elderly cat Millie to the surgery after the animal's health began to fail.

Mrs Godwin said: 'She'd been with us for 16 years and was a big part of the family.

'But the vets said there was nothing they could really do for her and told us it would be kinder to put her down.

'They offered to send her off for cremation and said we could collect the ashes. That was on the Friday. On the Monday the practice suddenly closed without notice.

'We've been informed that our cat is still at the practice, along with a pet dog that had also been put to sleep.

A handwritten notice stuck to the inside of the front door said: 'Due to business issues currently beyond our control we have had to temporarily close the practice'

'We don't know if or when we will get Millie's ashes. We have tried everything to make contact.

'Someone from a pet crematorium came to collect Millie and the dog and deliver the ashes of pets that had already been cremated.

'They hadn't been told the surgery had closed and couldn't access the premises. The dog's owner must be going through what we're going through.'

Writing on social media, one person said: 'PCS [Pet Cremation Services] brought my dog's ashes to Hythe to find it closed. The driver is now taking the ashes back to Newbury and I have to wait to find out what happens next.'

In June this year, Russell appeared at Southampton Crown Court, Hants, and admitted making indecent photographs of children, possessing a prohibited image of a child, and possessing extreme pornographic images involving animals.

He was handed a two-year community order, including a requirement to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work, and made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order that will remain in force for five years.

He amassed his collection between August 2013 and November 2019.

The vet, from Lyndhurst, Hants, is a 'risk to children', it was said.

Speaking after the case Dan Rowling, of Hampshire Constabulary's internet child abuse team, said: 'This was a long, protracted case - but we have taken robust action to put Russell in front of the courts and to secure a conviction.

'He clearly poses a risk to children with the significant number of indecent images that he had created and possessed during a six-year period.'

A spokesperson for the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons said: 'We are aware of the court case and, now it has concluded, will begin our own investigation into the matter.'

MailOnline has contacted the surgery for comment.
Donald Trump's indictment in Georgia over the 2020 election could be 'imminent' and the former president is blasting the case as the grand jury hears evidence against him.

Trump took to his Truth Social platform on Monday morning to argue he didn't tamper with the election and that he would 'be happy' to talk to the grand jury that is meeting this week in Fulton County.

'Would someone tell the Fulton County grand jury that I did not tamper with the election,' he wrote.

He also blasted District Attorney Fani Wallis, saying she 'has no interest in seeing the massive amount of evidence available.' He complained she only wants to 'get Trump.' He claims he has evidence showing his innocence: 'I would be happy to show this info to the G.J.,' he wrote.

The Fulton County court posted a list of 13 possible 2020 election tampering charges against Trump on its website on Monday according to Reuters, but then hastily removed it. Meanwhile, the security gates outside of the state Capitol were ordered to be closed for an 'undetermined period of time' in anticipation of the expected indictment against the former president.

Security gates around the Georgia state Capitol were ordered closed on Monday

Donald Trump took to his Truth Social platform to blast the case in Georgia: 'Would someone tell the Fulton County grand jury that I did not tamper with the election,' he wrote

The DA's office said in a statement to Reuters that no charges had been filed against Trump, but did not dispute that the docket was published in error.

Fulton Clerk of Superior Court sent a memo out late Monday warning about a 'fictitious document that has been circulated online.'

There have been 'no documents filed today regarding such,' the memo continued, warning media that all will be notified of such filings 'in real time.'

Trump's attorneys Drew Findling and Jennifer Little released a statement blasting the DA's office.

'The Fulton County District Attorney's Office has once again shown that they have no respect for the integrity of the grand jury process. This was not a simple administrative mistake. A proposed indictment should only be in the hands of the District Attorney's Office, yet it somehow made its way to the clerk's office and was assigned a case number and a judge before the grand jury even deliberated. This is emblematic of the pervasive and glaring constitutional violations which have plagued this case from its very inception,' they said.

2024 hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy posted on Twitter that it is 'downright pathetic' that the Fulton County court publicly posted the indictment on its website 'even before the grand jury had finished convening.'

Donald Trump Jr. called the post a culmination of 'prosecutorial misconduct' going 'full Banana Republic!!!'

This week could mark the culmination of Wallis' more than 2.5-year investigation into efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn Joe Biden's victory in the state of Georgia. She could indict up to 20 people, according to reports.

And, when it happens, it will be live on TV.

Robert McBurney, the Fulton County superior court judge presiding over the grand jury proceedings, told reporters that any indictment can be filmed.

'If a grand jury presents an indictment, that's usually in the afternoon, and you can film and photograph that,' McBurney told the press at the courthouse.

The grand jury only meets on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Wallis and her team are said to be in possession of texts and emails directly connecting members Trump's legal team to the January 2021 voting system breach in Coffee County in the southeastern part of Georgia.

Investigators believe there was a 'top-down' push by Trump's team to access voting software - and messages obtained by CNN are said to show how Trump lawyers tried to seek access to the county's voting systems. It's believed Trump's team was trying and back up Trump's baseless claims of voter fraud.

The investigation also centers on Trump's call to the Georgia secretary of state asking him to 'find' enough votes to reverse his 2020 loss there.

Wallis has been working on her case long before the FBI began investigating Trump's hoarding of classified documents or before Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed a special prosecutor to probe the former president.

Just one month after Trump's infamous January 2021 phone call to suggest Georgia's secretary of state could overturn his election loss, the Fulton County district attorney announced she was looking into possible illegal 'attempts to influence' the results in what has become one of America's premier political battlegrounds. As she built her case, Willis called a parade of high-profile witnesses before a special grand jury, presiding over an investigation that was so public it seemed she would become the first prosecutor in U.S. history to indict a former president.

She instead looks poised to become the third person to levy criminal charges against Trump, leapfrogged by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith. But the indictment that Willis may bring as soon as this week could be the most sprawling case against Trump in response to his desperate efforts to remain in power after he lost to Biden. And some legal experts say it could be one of the more potent cases against Trump.

'I think people are going to be surprised at the level of preparedness and the level of sophistication of the prosecution,' said Clint Rucker, who was a prosecutor in Fulton County for more than 25 years before leaving in 2021. 'That office is not some small backwoods country hick organization that fumbles the ball and doesnt know how to do its job.'

Willis has not confirmed that an indictment will come this week, though her previous comments and security preparations around the Fulton County courthouse suggest that action could be imminent. Trump has stepped up his criticism of Willis in advance of the expected charges, calling the 52-year-old Black woman 'a young woman, a young racist in Atlanta.'

The Fulton County Courthouse surrounded by security barricades on Monday, August 14

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been investigating efforts by Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the election for 2.5 years

Security has increased around the Fulton County Courthouse

Willis has long declined to comment on Trump's insults. But with his campaign running a vicious attack ad last week, she emailed her staff to warn that it included 'derogatory and false information' about her and instructed them not to react publicly.

'You may not comment in any way on the ad or any of the negativity that may be expressed against me, your colleagues, this office in coming days, weeks or months,' she wrote. 'We have no personal feelings against those we investigate or prosecute and we should not express any. This is business, it will never be personal.'

Willis has led plenty of prominent prosecutions, but nothing that compares to indicting a former president, particularly one who fights his perceived enemies with the intensity of Trump. She is widely expected to use Georgia's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations, or RICO, law to charge not only the former president but also a collection of his allies for alleged participation in a wide-ranging conspiracy.

Some people who end up facing charges may challenge the indictment based on the fact that they were compelled to testify before the special grand jury in an investigation in which they ended up being a target. In Georgia and in the federal system, a grand jury that indicts people cannot force the testimony of a target. But the special grand jury was an investigative tool and lacked the power to indict.

Willis spent most of her career as an assistant district attorney in Fulton County and is known by both her colleagues and defense attorneys to be a tremendously talented litigator with a gift for connecting with juries. A few years after leaving that office, she returned as its leader in January 2021 after winning a bitter Democratic primary fight to oust her predecessor and former mentor.

Now a divorced mother of two grown daughters, Willis was raised mostly in Washington by her father, a defense attorney who she has said was a Black Panther. She graduated from Howard University and from Emory University School of Law four years later, choosing to stay on in Atlanta to practice law.

'She's really a tough-on-crime liberal, which is kind of a rare bird these days, but I think that's her brand,' said Georgia State University law professor Anthony Michael Kreis.

Some critics say she overuses gang and RICO laws, unnecessarily complicating cases that could otherwise be tried in less time with fewer resources, just to get the enhanced penalties those statutes carry. Devin Franklin, an attorney for the Southern Center for Human Rights who spent 12 years in the Fulton County public defenders office before leaving last year, said using those laws drives a 'narrative of violence in Atlanta thats not true, that's not necessarily reflected in the data' and has a tendency to 'sensationalize the cases.'

It is also taking too long for people to be indicted after they've been arrested, he said, leaving them languishing in terrible conditions at the county jail, which is currently under federal investigation. People are left 'in a position where they cant force a trial, they can't plead out and if they have a bond they can't pay, theyre effectively stuck in the Fulton County system with no legitimate recourse,' Franklin said. To illustrate the problem, he pointed to the death earlier this month of a 40-year-old man who was arrested on a second-degree burglary charge in October and was being held on $3,000 bond.

Of the 3,571 people in custody in Fulton County on Friday, 1,683, or 47%, had not yet been indicted. Franklin suggested that Willis office should move more quickly to indict people facing serious charges. For lower-level felony charges, he said, her office could proceed by 'accusation,' which doesnt require a formal indictment.

Police are on duty around the federal court house in Fulton County

The Atlanta Courthouse surrounded by barricades

Trump has recently called Atlanta a 'crime-ridden' city where 'people are afraid to walk outside.' While it's true that Atlanta, like most other major cities, saw a spike in violent crime in recent years, those levels have improved significantly. As of Aug. 5, homicides were down 25%, rapes had dropped by 56% and aggravated assaults had decreased by 22% compared with the same time last year, according to Atlanta police data.

Willis has said she likes the RICO statute because it allows prosecutors to paint a more complete picture of the alleged illegal activity.

Her most prominent case as an assistant district attorney was a RICO prosecution against a group of Atlanta public school educators accused in a scheme to inflate students standardized test scores. After a seven-month trial, a jury in April 2015 convicted 11 of them on the racketeering charge.

Since becoming district attorney, she has brought several RICO cases, some against well-known rappers. The first of those cases to go to trial has been tied up in jury selection since January and is expected to last six to nine months once testimony gets underway.

Gerald Griggs, president of the Georgia NAACP and an Atlanta defense attorney who represented an educator in the test cheating case, said he doesn't always agree with Willis' use of the RICO law but does think it's appropriate 'if there was a scheme to interfere in the election and numerous actors were involved.' But he thinks the investigation has dragged on far too long and that an unwieldy RICO indictment that scoops up too many people risks causing an undue strain on the overburdened court system.

'Charge the top individuals that did it,' he said. 'Maybe pass out immunity deals to everyone else to testify. Let's get the top 10, then let's move forward.'

Willis has urged patience from the beginning of her investigation and is fond of saying she doesn't try 'skinny cases,' meaning she likes to have lots of evidence. And Rucker, her former colleague, said he's not surprised the investigation has stretched on so long, saying the two of them worked every day for almost two years to prepare for the school cheating case.

While she's likely to let her hand-picked group of prosecutors handle the trial, there's no question she's calling the shots, Rucker said. With a case of this magnitude, she would have required those on her team to gather and digest an enormous amount of information and would have grilled them to make sure there were no holes, he said.

'When she says stuff like, 'We're ready to go, that's not being braggadocious,' Rucker said. 'It's her saying pretty much to anybody who's interested, 'Look, we're ready.''
Passengers on a Malaysia Airlines plane that was forced to return to Sydney after a man went on a crazed rant about Allah, have spoken out about their terrifying ordeal.

Dramatic video showed the man calling himself a 'slave of Allah' before challenging other passengers to repeat that they were also 'slaves of Allah'.

He was arrested at Sydney Airport at around 7pm on Monday and spent the night in custody.

NSW Police commissioner Karen Webb confirmed on Tuesday that charges had been laid against the passenger allegedly at the centre of the rant.

Muhammad Ali Arif, 55, a dual Pakistani-Australian citizen, will face Downing Centre Local Court later today on two counts of making a false statement and not complying with directions.

Witnesses said the drama on flight MH122 unfolded about 45 minutes after the Airbus-A330 took-off when Ali Arif allegedly reached into his bag and claimed something 'dangerous' was inside.

'I think for a lot of people it would have been quite disturbing. They would be quite traumatised by it. There were children, babies, it was quite scary,' passenger Edo Kahn. who runs charity A Sound Life, said after leaving the plane.

'He then reached into his bag and pulled out the Koran.'

The man (pictured, without the face mask) says his name if Mohammed and says he is a 'slave of Allah', before challenging other passengers nearby to repeat that they are also 'slaves of Allah'

Members of the flight crew subsequently examined the bag and did not find anything dangerous inside.

The plane landed back in Sydney just before 4pm and was isolated at the end of a runway, while the other passengers were moved to another part of the jet.

READ MORE: Malaysia Airlines flight is forced to turn back after passenger's crazed outburst Advertisement

Ali Arif was arrested by Australian Federal Police (AFP) about 7pm and other passengers were safely evacuated from the plane.

The disruption grounded all flights in and out of Sydney airport for several hours, sparking widespread travel chaos across the country which the flow-on affects expected to continue for days.

Another panicked woman on board the plane said her children were very frightened and kept asking her 'what's happening Mummy?'.

'We were waiting for that to happen  the police have done a great job  they have a protocol to follow, I understand, so it's not easy,' the mother said.

'They did the best, the bomb squad, all these people, but it could have been faster and better.'

Passenger Fiona Roux said the worst thing was the lack of information.

'But we knew the plane was turning around. We could see it on the inflight screen,' she said.

'The commotion was on and off. (It was) not alarming. When I really understood what was going on it was the landing and the abrupt stop.'

Like many of her fellow passengers, Ms Roux then turned on her phone and 'found out what was actually happening' through media reports.

'He was clearly mentally disturbed. He ranted and raved,' passenger Edo Kahn (pictured) said

Despite what happened, she intends to fly to Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, but fellow passenger Kira Burrows has given up on her planned trip.

'I don't feel like sitting on another plane, so my husband is picking me up. I'm going home,' she said.

Ms Burrows, said the main problem was 'not knowing (what was happening). The staff were incredible  they were trying to keep everyone calm.

'We were just on there way too long in my opinion,' she said.

Fiona Roux (pictured) said the worst thing was that 'We weren't able to be told what was going on'

Passenger Tom Ristevski (pictured left), who intends to try again to get to Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, said 'It was frightening'

Kira Burrows (pictured) has given up on her planned trip to Malaysia. 'I don't feel like sitting on another plane,' she said

Passengers who were on the Malaysia Airlines flight are pictured leaving Sydney Airport

Some passengers say they intend to fly to Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, but others have given up on their plans

A disruptive passenger (pictured) on board a Malaysia Airlines flight has caused it to be turned back after he apparently started shouting at passengers asking if they were slaves of Allah

The Malaysia Airlines MH122 Airbus-a330 is pictured at Sydney International Airport

The AFP said officers were only able to move once the aircraft was deemed safe.

'An emergency response plan was enacted and an evacuation was initiated once it was deemed safe for passengers and crew,' it said.

A video taken on board the plane showed the passenger who allegedly caused the disruption being confronted by an air steward before a bizarre exchange.

A traveller on board the flight captioned the video: 'Sydney Airport is suffering at the hands of this lunatic.

'Praying for everyone's safety and well being. Where is airport security?! It's been well over an hour since the plane has landed back!!!'

In a second video later he added: 'This lunatic is getting aggressive & poor people on board are still waiting for security to get in and take him to Allah through the right process.

'Sydney Airport is waiting for what?!'

Another passenger onboard the flight also tweeted: 'This guy should have been stopped at the gate before boarding, his actions were unsettling from start.'

The traveller on board the flight captioned the video: 'Sydney Airport is suffering at the hands of this lunatic

He added: 'Flight got diverted back to Sydney due this random idiot who started threatening staff and passengers.

In a statement, Malaysia Airlines said: 'In the interests of safety, the commander of the flight made the decision to return to Sydney.

'The flight, carrying 194 passengers and five crew onboard, landed safely at 3.47pm hours.

'The safety and comfort of our crew and passengers are of upmost importance to Malaysia Airlines.'
Britons have been left pondering over whether or not it is rude to remove the 'service charge' from a restaurant bill.

In the US tipping culture is commonplace, but in the UK the exchange is one steeped in murky water.

Several Brits have taken to a Reddit thread to share their thoughts on whether it is impolite to take off the service charge, and the resounding response was no.

Many justified their stance saying the UK doesn't depend on tipping culture like other countries, many cited the US as an example.

One person argued: 'No that's why we have a high minimum wage.'

Another chimed in: 'Not rude at all, we should be doing our very best to reject this Americanism. It has to be one of the worst cultural exports thats come out of there.'

'I missed it on my bill at a pub in London a few weeks ago and it still irks me.'

File photo of a man paying for a restaurant bill with his credit card. Many Brits agreed on the Reddit thread that it was not rude to remove the service charge from the bill

File image of two friends enjoying a meal. One commenter said we should reject this 'Americanism', branding it 'one of the worst cultural exports' to come out the country

Someone else quipped: 'No, they rely on you thinking it's rude or embarrassing to remove it.

'What is it for? Service? I expect to be served in a restaurant...'

One individual who claimed to be a UK waitress said she even asks for the service charge to be removed when she goes out for food.

'We dont even get the service charge as wait staff! Technically they do give us a portion but its a very small portion.'

She continued that she is unable to take the charge off of someone's bill without permission but loves when people ask.

But not everyone was in favour of taking off the charge, some believed you should handle it the the British way - pay for it and then complain on your way home.

Many chimed in to the debate saying it was rude to automatically add a service charge to begin with

One user who claimed to be UK waitress went as far as to say she 'loved' when people asked to remove the tip because wait staff only see a 'very small portion of it' according to her. Pictured: A waitress sets a table at Jamie's Italian restaurant in Canberra

While others said removing the service charge is unfair on hospitality staff who work hard and aren't well paid.

One person wrote: 'Service hospitality jobs don't pay well. Businesses are still struggling after COVID, available hours are down and Costs are higher.

'A more American approach is required because simply put, the basic wage doesn't pay the bills. '

They added: 'Basically judge accordingly, if the service is good, pay it or remove and tip the staff directly'

One commenter agreed stating that if service is good you 'shouldn't' remove the charge.
The moment that police using 'Hitler tactics' raided the Marion County Record newsroom has been caught on camera - just a day before the paper's co-owner subsequently died.

Joan Meyer, 98, collapsed and died following the intense stress and grief she felt when her home was raided by the entirety of the Marion Police Department in Kansas - headed by chief Gideon Cody.

The elderly woman, who owned the newspaper with her son Eric, 69, was subjected to the raid by five officers and two sheriff's deputies on Friday - after they green-lighted it to seize information related to a story that hadn't even been published.

Eric bashed the officers for their 'Gestapo' tactics. Police defended their actions - but the incident has sparked a nationwide debate about the First Amendment.

Footage from the newsroom raid shows officers entering with cameras on Friday.

The raid occurred after a source leaked sensitive documents to the newspaper about local restaurateur Kari Newell - who then accused the paper of getting the information illegally.

Joan Meyer, 98, collapsed and died following the intense stress and grief she felt when her home was raided by the entirety of the Marion Police Department in Kansas - headed by Gideon Cody

Footage from the newsroom raid shows officers entering with cameras on Friday

The moment that police using 'Hitler tactics' raided the Marion County Record newsroom has been caught on camera - just a day before the paper's co-owner subsequently died

Now, Eric Meyers has also revealed the newspaper had investigated claims Cody retired from his previous job to avoid punishment over alleged sexual misconduct charges, journalist Marisa Kabas reported. Cody said he was 'already vetted.'

The newspaper had received 'multiple' tips alluding to the allegations, he said.

Ms Meyer died 'mid sentence' after refusing to eat following the shock of the incident. She was also crying while the police took her Alexa smart speaker.

The police chief who led the raid, Gideon Cody, had recently left the Kansas City Police Department where he was a captain after 24 years. And Meyer's newspaper had subsequently looked into the alleged sexual misconduct charges against him, he told journalist Marisa Kabas

The police chief who led the raid, Cody, had recently left the Kansas City Police Department where he was a captain after 24 years.

And there were rumors that he had alleged sexual misconduct claims lodged against him, which Meyer's newspaper had subsequently looked into, Kabas reported.

Before Joan died, she told The Wichita Eagle about the raids: 'These are Hitler tactics, and something has to be done.'

The next day at around 1:30pm, Eric Meyer woke his mother to offer her breakfast - but she said she couldn't stomach it.

Eric said: 'Right in the middle of the sentence died.

'I am perturbed  I carefully chose that word  as all get out about them raiding our office, but what bothers me most is a 98-year-old woman spent her last day on earth feeling under attack by bullies who invaded her house.'

Eric Meyer did not give more details to the Kansas City Star about the probe into Cody, but said: 'I really don't think it would be advisable for me to say what it was we were investigating, other than to characterize the charges as serious.'

Kari Newell accused the weekly newspaper of illegally getting her personal data, prompting the search. She also allegedly was unhappy with the newspaper had reported reporting on how Newell kicked out reporters from an event at her restaurant, Kari's Restaurant (event pictured)

The journalist said that the story wasn't published because they couldn't nail it down.

Cody, in a rebuttal, said about the allegations: 'If it was true, they would've printed it. They chose not to print it for a reason. I have already been vetted.'

Meyer told The Handbasket newsletter journalist Kabas that they were in fact investigating the new police chief over alleged sexual misconduct charges.

He said: 'When he was named Chief just two months ago, we got an outpouring of calls from his former co-workers making a wide array of allegations against him saying that he was about to be demoted at his previous job and that he retired to avoid demotion and punishment over sexual misconduct charges and other things.

The search warrant for the raid

'We had half a dozen or more different anonymous sources calling in about that.

'Well, we never ran that because we never could get any of them to go on the record, and we never could get his personnel file.

'But the allegationsincluding the identities of who made the allegationswere on one of the computers that got seized.

'I may be paranoid that this has anything to do with it, but when people come and seize your computer, you tend to be a little paranoid.'

Donna Bernhardt, who worked with Meyer for three decades as a journalist at the paper, said Joan Meyer 'probably knew more about Marion than anyone else still alive in Marion.'

'A whole lot of history died with her.'

Eric Meyer - Joan Meyer's son, and the co-owner and publisher of the Marion County Record, announced the death of his mother following the traumatizing raid over the weekend

In an unprecedented raid Friday, local law enforcement seized computers, cellphones and reporting materials from the Marion County Record office

The last printed issue of the Marion County Record sits in a display in its office, Sunday, August 13, 2023

The raid occurred after a leaked documents about local restaurateur Kari Newell that could have got her liquor license revoked were handed to the newspaper.

Meyer didn't publish the story about Newell because he questioned the source - and instead he told the cops about the information.

But Kari Newell then accused the weekly newspaper of illegally getting her personal data, prompting the search.

She also allegedly was unhappy with the newspaper had reported reporting on how Newell kicked out reporters from an event at her restaurant, Kari's Restaurant.

Meyer told the Kansas City Star: 'We sent them a note saying that a source had given us a file that we thought had suspicious origins.

'We checked it out to verify that it was accurate, but were not planning to do anything with it. Their response was the typical fashion of a bully.

'Instead of asking a question or getting material, they came with an atomic flyswatter to seize our equipment and apparently tried to put us out of business.'

Announcing the woman's death, the newspaper's website read: 'She had not been able to eat after police showed up at the door of her home. Neither was she able to sleep Friday night.

'She tearfully watched during the raid as police not only carter away her computer...but also dug through her son Eric's personal bank and investment statements.'

Eric Meyer - her son, and the co-owner and publisher of the Marion County Record, said: 'Our first priority is to be able to publish next week.

'But we also want to make sure no other news organization is ever exposed to the Gestapo tactics we witnessed today.'

The woman had been 'in good health' for her age, but died over the weekend.

Police also raided the newspaper's office, Meyer's home, and the home of one of its reporters. They took vital publishing equipment, including computers and phones.

Meyer told the Daily Beast: 'All the raids appeared to be simultaneous.'

According to the search warrant for the Marion County Record Office obtained by the Reflector, officers allege the raid stems from an investigation into unlawful acts concerning a computer and identity theft.

The warrant was signed by Magistrate Judge Laura Viar.

The search warrant from the Marion County Record Office said officers were allowed to seize digital communications, computer software, and items containing passwords or access codes during the raid.

The elderly woman, who was the co-owner of the newspaper, was subjected to the raid by five officers and two sheriff's deputies on Friday - which caused her to be 'stressed beyond her limits and overwhelmed by hours of shock and grief.'

According to the search warrant for the Marion County Record Office obtained by the Reflector , officers allege the raid stems from an investigation into unlawful acts concerning a computer and identity theft

All correspondence and documents 'pertaining to Kari Newell' were ordered to be taken.

Meyer told the paper: 'Basically, all the law enforcement officers on duty in Marion County, Kansas, descended on our offices today and seized our server and computers and personal cellphones of staff members all because of a story we didn't publish.'

The newspaper said it was planning to file a federal lawsuit.

Ms. Newell told the NYTimes: 'There's a huge difference between vindictive and vindication. I firmly believe that this was a vindictive move, full of malice. And I hope in the end, I receive vindication.'

Danny Karon, an adjunct professor at Ohio State University's Moritz College of Law, told The Daily Beast: 'The raid was chilling and unprecedented, like a scene out of 1945 Nazi Germany.'

Marion Police Department Chief Gideon Cody said in a statement: 'As much as I would like to give everyone details on a criminal investigation I cannot.

'I believe when the rest of the story is available to the public, the judicial system that is being questioned will be vindicated.

'Speaking in generalities, the federal Privacy Protection Act, 42 U.S.C.  2000aa-2000aa-12, does protect journalists from most searches of newsrooms by federal and state law enforcement officials.

'It is true that in most cases, it requires police to use subpoenas, rather than search warrants, to search the premises of journalists unless they themselves are suspects in the offense that is the subject of the search.

'The Marion Kansas Police Department believes it is the fundamental duty of the police is to ensure the safety, security, and well-being of all members of the public.

'This commitment must remain steadfast and unbiased, unaffected by political or media influences, in order to uphold the principles of justice, equal protection, and the rule of law for everyone in the community.

'The victim asks that we do all the law allows to ensure justice is served.'

The Society of Professional Journalists' National President Claire Regan said: 'By all accounts, the raid was an egregious attack on freedom of the press, the First Amendment and all the liberties we hold dear as journalists in this great country.

'From the moment they learned about the raid, SPJ members have been speaking up and stepping forward to demand justice, hold the responsible accountable and support the Record staff in their recovery.'
Pictures from the frontlines have shown Ukrainian artillerymen raining fire down on Vladimir Putin's invaders, as Kyiv's troops continue their counter-offensive.

The Ukrainian military said it had pushed Russian forces out of pockets of territory along the front lines in the east and south of the country, building on the gruelling counter-offensive launched two months ago.

The gains - announced by Ukraine's deputy defence minister - came as Russia claimed its forces had progressed in the eastern Kharkiv region, undermining Kyiv's highly anticipated campaign.

However, reports have also suggested Ukraine has completed operations across a southern point on the Dnipro river, a key objective for Kyiv.

Ukraine kicked off its counter-offensive against Russian forces in June after building up assault battalions and stockpiling Western-donated weapons.

But progress has been hampered by widespread Russian-laid minefields and strong fortifications, Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said, with Kyiv saying it had only gained a clutch of land around the war-battered city of Bakhmut last week.

Pictures from the frontlines have shown Ukrainian artillerymen raining fire down on Putin's invaders, as Kyiv's troops continue their counter-offensive

Ukrainian soldiers fire with D-30 artillery at Russian positions in the direction of Klishchiivka as the Russia-Ukraine war continues in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on August 12

The Ukrainian military said it had pushed Russian forces out of pockets of territory along the front lines in the east and south of the country, building on the gruelling counter-offensive launched two months ago. Pictured: Ukrainian artillerymen fire shells at Russian positions

Nevertheless, the Ukrainian military had pushed forward around the village of Staromaiorske, around 60 miles southwest of Russian-held Donetsk, and was pressing on two fronts in the south, Maliar said. She said troops were fighting for control of the neighbouring settlement of Urozhaine.

A Moscow-installed official in an occupied part of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region said on Sunday that Kyiv was attempting to pierce Russian lines by gaining a foothold in both villages which stand in the path of Ukraine's goal of reaching the Sea of Azov.

'Hostilities are taking place in the vicinity of Urozhaine and the fight is for this particular locality,' Maliar said in a statement to an official military platform. 'There is some success on the southern and southeast axes in the vicinity of Staromaiorske.'

Maliar also said Kyiv's army had conducted 'certain tasks' on the left bank (or eastern bank) of the Dnipro river in the Kherson region.

The river was rendered the de facto front line between Ukrainian and Russian forces in the region after Kyiv recaptured the territory's main city, also called Kherson, in November.

In its latest intelligence update, the British defence ministry noted 'an uptick in small-scale combat' along the lower Dnipro river, where it said Ukrainian forces were attempting to conduct raids and set up new bridgeheads.

Crossing the portion of the Dnipro river, which was flooded when the Kakhovka Dam was destroyed in June - likely by Russian forces - is seen as a key objective toward's Ukraine's ultimate goal of pushing Russia out of its territory, including Crimea.

A Ukrainian grad truck fires missiles against the Russian positions in the direction of Bakhmut amid Russia and Ukraine war in Donetsk Oblast, August 9

A Ukrainian soldier fires a mortar towards Russian positions at the front line, near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, August 9

A girl rides her bike next to destroyed Russian APC as the Russia-Ukraine war continues, in Sviatohirsk town of Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on August 10

Ukrainian forces have made incremental gains since kicking off their long-awaited operation in June, but officials in Kyiv have acknowledged that progress has been slower than they would have liked and hampered by rigid Russian defences.

In Monday's statement, Maliar described the nature of that challenge.

'The Armed Forces are facing complete mining of the territory, cement fortifications of the key heights, (and) constant mortar and artillery shelling,' she said. 'Additionally the Russians are densely using aviation.'

Maliar added that the Ukrainian military managed to retake nearly 2 square miles during the past week around the ruined eastern city of Bakhmut, where Russian and Ukrainian forces fought the bloodiest battle of the nearly 18-month war.

She also said Russian troops were continuing their assault around the eastern towns of Kupyansk and Lyman, where she said they were regrouping.

'The Russians have intensified these offensives after success of the Ukrainian army on Bakhmut axis,' Maliar said.

Russia still controls around a fifth of Ukraine, including the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, Luhansk region in the east and swathes of the regions of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.

The occupied territory includes most of Ukraine's coast line and parts of its industrial heartland, the Donbas.

A member of an air-defence unit of the Ukrainian border guard is seen at his position at a front line, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, August 9

Ukrainian servicemen fire a BM-21 Grad multiple launch rocket system towards Russian troops near a front line, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine August 11

Ukrainian MT-LB drives on country road on August 3

The progress of Ukrainian advances have been hampered by widespread Russian-laid minefields and strong fortifications, Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar (pictured) said

Ukraine has urged its Western allies to ramp up arms deliveries, including long-range missiles and F-16 fighter jets to speed up its offensive.

That was the message Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said he took to his meeting with Germany's Finance Minister Christian Lindner, who arrived in Kyiv on Monday.

While the offensive is ongoing, Russian territory has also been targeted by almost daily drone attacks.

On Monday, the Russian army said it downed drones over the region of Belgorod bordering Ukraine, without any casualties or damage.

Ukraine's claims of advances in the east came after its air force said it had downed several waves of Russian missiles and drones targeting Odesa.

All eight Kalibr cruise missiles and 23 drones were shot down, the defence ministry said on Twitter, which has been rebranded as X.

Russia and Ukraine have stepped up attacks in the Black Sea since Moscow exited a deal last month that had granted Kyiv's grain exports safe passage during the conflict.

Since withdrawing from the agreement, Moscow has pounded ports in the Odesa region that were key for Ukrainian grain exports under the deal.

Falling debris damaged a student dormitory and a supermarket in Odesa city centre, wounding three workers, the army said.

'The blast wave damaged windows and balconies in several buildings and damaged cars parked nearby', it said, adding that firefighters were battling two blazes.

Images shared by the army showed firefighters trying to extinguish flames engulfing a multi-storey supermarket, with a large plume of smoke rising into the air.

The overnight missile and drone attacks come a day after Moscow said warning shots were fired from a Russian warship at a cargo vessel heading towards Izmail, a city on the Danube river in Odesa.

Rescuers work at a site of a shopping mall destroyed during a Russian military strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Odesa, Ukraine August 14

Ukrainian rescuers working at the scene of rocket debris falling on a hypermarket in the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa, August 14

The Russian ship spotted the Sukru Okan cargo vessel sailing under the flag of Palau and fired the shots after its captain did not respond to demands to stop.

After inspection, the cargo ship was allowed to continue its journey.

'These actions exemplified Russia's deliberate policy of endangering the freedom of navigation and safety of commercial shipping in the Black Sea,' Ukraine's foreign ministry said on Monday, accusing Moscow of breaching United Nations accords and norms of international law.

Izmail, one of the main export routes for Ukrainian agricultural products to neighbouring Romania, was attacked by Russian drones earlier in August.
Beijing slams Lai's 'stopover' in US

17:05, August 14, 2023 By ZHANG YI ( Chinadaily.com.cn

Beijing has strongly opposed the "stopover" in the United States by Lai Ching-te, Taiwan's deputy leader, calling him a "troublemaker through and through" and stating that the move "seriously violates the one-China principle, and gravely undermines China's sovereignty and territorial integrity".

The remarks came after Lai arrived in New York on Sunday on his way to Paraguay  one of only 13 states that retain official ties with Taiwan  to attend the inauguration of the country's new president.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday that China strongly condemns the US decision to arrange the so-called stopover for Lai, who clings stubbornly to the separatist position for "Taiwan independence", in a move that seriously violates the one-China principle.

The Taiwan question is at the core of the core interests of China, the bedrock of the political foundation of China-US relations, and the first red line that must not be crossed in China-US relations, the ministry said.

Urging the US to stop fudging and hollowing out the one-China principle, it said Beijing is closely following the developments of the situation and will take resolute and strong measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said in a statement on Sunday that "under the guise of so-called transit, Lai engages in activities that aim to betray Taiwan's interests and seek personal gains by selling out the island to the US".

"These actions not only harm the interests of the people on the island but also the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, making him a complete troublemaker," she said.

Zhu said "Taiwan independence" is incompatible with peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and the actions of the separatist forces run counter to the mainstream opinion on the island, which seeks peace, development, communication and cooperation with the mainland.

Ultimately, such actions will only push Taiwan into a dangerous situation of conflict and jeopardize the well-being of the Taiwan people, she said.

A group of Taiwan residents gathered at the airport where Lai set off on Saturday to protest his visit to the US. They shouted slogans accusing Lai of relying on the US to seek "independence" and colluding with the US to destroy Taiwan.

Chi Chia-lin, who heads the Reunification Alliance Party in Taiwan, joined the protest and said the US has betrayed its commitment to Beijing, and that it has been frequently arranging the so-called "transit" trips for island politicians.

"We will tell the world that we support the reunification of the two sides of the Strait, and call on Lai to face up to our voice for cross-Strait peace," he said.

Lai, 63, Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party's 2024 leadership candidate, has previously called himself a pragmatic worker for "Taiwan independence". Last month he claimed "entering the White House" was his aim, which led to the US immediately seeking a clarification from him.

Arriving at an airport in the US, Lai was greeted by Ingrid Larson, managing director of the American Institute in Taiwan's Washington office. He was scheduled to make another stopover in the US on his way back to Taiwan.

Lai's trip follows Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen's "transit" in the US in April, which prompted counter-measures including large-scale military drills by the People's Liberation Army.

Ji Ye, deputy director of Xiamen University's Graduate Institute for Taiwan Studies, said the "transit" happened against the backdrop of an increasingly strategic competition between China and the US.

He said that with Taiwan's regional election scheduled in January and the US presidential election scheduled at the end of next year, the Taiwan question is expected to become a focal point of political campaigns, adding greater uncertainty to the situation across the Taiwan Strait.

Under these circumstances, Beijing is expected to see increased pressure in the coming months to safeguard the one-China principle, and the battle against separatism and interference will likely intensify, he added.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Wu Chaolan)
A 29-year-old woman was raped several times - sometimes with a 29 inch long broomstick - and tortured by an 18-year-old man in a sickening case that has sent shockwaves through France.

The victim, who remains anonymous, was grabbed by the neck and hit repeatedly in the face and across her body by attacker Oumar N. after he broke into her home in the northwestern city of Cherbourg on August 4, prosecutors say.

The horrified woman was thrown across the room and raped 'several times' by the attacker, who also used the broomstick to sexually assault and torture her, reports Le Figaro.

The victim was left naked and in a bloodied mess on the floor of her apartment before she managed to reach her telephone and call medics who rushed her to Pasteur Hospital in Cherbourg.

The 'barbaric' attack has left the 29-year-old victim with horrific injuries, including a perforated colon, small intestine and diaphragm as well as fractured ribs.

A 29-year-old woman was raped several times - sometimes with a 29 inch long broomstick - and tortured by an 18-year-old man in a sickening case that has sent shockwaves through France (file image)

She is still in a coma and is fighting for her life ten days after medics operated on her extensive injuries for several hours.

'Investigators are shocked, they have never seen so much barbarity,' a source familiar with the matter told Le Figaro.

Within days of the 'atrocity', Oumar N. was arrested after cops matched fingerprints left on a door handle inside the victim's home to the 18-year-old and geolocated his phone to the house at the time of the attack.

While being questioned by police, sources say Oumar N showed 'no emotion and no empathy' for the victim and had initially denied the attack before being shown the fingerprint evidence.

'He has a dangerous profile, he showed absolutely no emotion and no empathy for the victim,' a source familiar with the case told Le Figaro. 'He showed coldness throughout police custody.'

Prosecutors said the sinister attacker, who was known to police for allegedly sexually assaulting his four-year-old sister, was indicted on Saturday for 'rape accompanied by torture or acts of barbarism'.

The victim told police officers that she had seen Oumar N. in Cherbourg before the attack but did not know him, Pierre-Yves Marot, the public prosecutor of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, revealed.

The attack she endured and the resulting injuries, which includes the perforation of parts of her abdomen and small intestine, has shocked medics and locals in Cherbourg.

Doctors and nurses who treated the victim when she first came to the hospital were said to be so horrified by her injuries that some broke down and burst into tears. Psychological support is now being provided to the medics, reports France Bleu.

French politicians spoke of their outrage at the attack, with some on the far-right blaming an apparent rise of 'barbarism' in France for the rape.

Jordan Bardella, president of the National Rally, tweeted: 'Courage to the 29-year-old victim, umpteenth life shattered by the barbarism that is gaining France.'

French far-right politician Eric Zemmour, who ran to be president earlier this year, wrote on Twitter: 'I dream of a France where a young woman is not in danger of ending up in a coma after being robbed, raped and horribly tortured by Oumar the repeat offender in her own home.'
A former FBI supervisory special agent working on the Hunter Biden case was not allowed to interview the first son after the agency tipped off Secret Service and the Biden transition team, according to newly released transcripts.

The agent, who worked for the FBI for more than two decades and retired from the bureau last year, sat for an interview with the Oversight Committee last month.

Top Oversight Democrat Jamie Raskin had been demanding Chairman James Comer release the FBI agent's transcript, accusing the Republican of hiding testimony that 'undercut' IRS whistleblowers Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler's claims.

Years into the Hunter Biden investigation, which began in 2018, the FBI decided to interview their target. The interview was to occur on December 8, 2020 - weeks after the presidential election. The FBI agent said he understood that Secret Service needed to be notified for safety reasons but said he intended to notify them at 8 a.m. the morning of the interview of their 'intent' to speak with Hunter.

A former FBI supervisory special agent working on the Hunter Biden case was not allowed to interview the first son after the agency tipped off Secret Service and the Biden transition team, according to newly released transcripts

But the evening before, the FBI agent learned both Secret Service and the Biden transition team had already been notified. 'This essentially tipped off a group of people very close to President Biden and Hunter Biden and gave this group an opportunity to obstruct the approach of the witness.'

'I felt it was people that did not need to know about our intent,' he said. 'I believe that the Secret Service had to be notified for our safety, for lack of confusion, for deconfliction, which we would do in so many other cases, but I didn't understand why the initial notification.'

The agent was then told to give his contact information to Secret Service and not to approach the house but to wait outside for a call saying Hunter was ready for the interview. The agent said that he had never recalled being told to wait for a target to call and say they were ready for an interview.

The call never came and the agent had other interviews to conduct, so he left.

As far as the Biden transition team being clued in, 'I don't know why that would have happened,' the agent said.

The unusual interview attempt occurred under the Trump administration, while U.S. attorney David Weiss in Delaware was overseeing the Hunter Biden case. Weiss has since been appointed special counsel over the case, giving him greater independence from the main Department of Justice.

When asked if he had 'ever known U.S. Attorney David Weiss to make prosecutorial decisions based upon political influence,' the agent said 'no.'

IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley, who was working with the FBI agent on the Hunter Biden case, told Fox News earlier this month that the agent had essentially been muzzled by the DOJ ahead of his interview.

'He was given a letter the Sunday before from DOJ basically telling him not to talk,' Shapley said.

'I know that he could have confirmed additional material facts on this investigation,' he went on.

'And he did confirm the FBI headquarters notifying the transition team and Secret Service,' added Shapley, referring to claims that the FBI notified the Secret Service and Biden transition team that they planned to interview Hunter Biden in December 2020.

Both Biden transition team and Secret Service were notified of FBI's intent to speak with Hunter

'But really that was the only thing that he was able to speak about.'

The FBI and Delaware US Attorneys Office have said they cannot share everything with Congress because there's an 'ongoing investigation' - referring to the Hunter Biden plea deal blow-up last month.

Both Shapley and Ziegler explained that the IRS after its investigation of Hunter Biden's tax affairs recommended he be charged with a felony - but the Department of Justice did not charge him with one. The pair suggested politics could have been at play.

But the FBI agent who gave testimony said he had never known anyone in the Delaware U.S. attorney's office - which handled the case - to make decisions based on politics - and said it was 'common' for FBI agents and prosecutors to disagree about investigative steps and charging decisions.
This is the moment a dogged spider monkey climbed on to a US tourist, pulled her t-shirt down and clung on despite her hilarious efforts to break free.

The video shows the persistent monkey wrapping its long arms, legs and tail around the woman's body in Cancun, Mexico.

As the animal clambers up the woman's legs using its prehensile tail and latches itself on to the tourist's shirt, panic soon sets in as she tells her friend: 'I don't know what to do y'all. I'm scared.'

She then proceeds to kneel down to the floor in an effort to disentangle from the primate who wraps its arms around her neck to cling on.

The tourist, who looks visibly anxious throughout the video, repeats 'I'm scared again' as her friend tries to wind her up by joking that the monkey is going to bite her.

The monkey then cheekily pulls the woman's shirt down, exposing her bra underneath, as she screams and shouts 'bye bye, go go go' at it.

This is the moment a dogged spider monkey climbed on to a US tourist, pulled her t-shirt down and clung on despite her hilarious efforts to break free

In the video, the woman tries multiple ways to get the spider monkey off her including kneeling down

The woman then starts to walk away while holding on to the monkey's hand in an attempt to pry it away from her, but it shows no signs of letting go of her shirt.

'Somebody take the monkey, I've got to go, dude,' she then shouts as the monkey clings on.

The American tourist then starts spinning round in a bid to get the monkey off her but she still can't break free, sending her friend into fits of laughter.

She then asks another man: 'Sir, please can you take the monkey?' adding: 'She does not want to let go.'

After about a minute of the monkey grasping onto her, she finally manages to escape before the video, which was filmed in July but has just emerged, cuts off.

Spider monkeys are large New World monkeys that live in tropical rainforests from Mexico down to the north of Bolivia. They get their name from the way their long limbs and tails resemble spider legs as they dangle and swing from branches.

Spider monkeys have a prehensile tail which is capable of grasping and so its acts as a fifth limb. They tend to live for an average of 22 years.

There are seven species of spider monkeys, all of which are under threat. The brown spider monkey is critically endangered and is one of the rarest primates in the world with only around 250 left.

Spider monkeys don't like to live alone and usually live in groups of about 30 individuals. Females usually give birth to a single baby each year or two.

This is the moment that the cheeky primate pulled down the tourist's shirt, leaving her completely stunned

Spider monkeys get their name from the way their long limbs and tails resemble spider legs as they dangle and swing from branches

This is not the first time female tourists have been targeted by cheeky animals.

In May, video emerged of a 'notorious' orangutan groping a woman's breasts at a Thai zoo.

Panisara Rikulsurakan, 26, was visiting Bangkok's Safari World in Thailand when she stopped to sit down and pose with the cheeky primate named Nhong.

In the video, Ms Rikulsurakan sits down on a bench in front of the orangutan who needs no invitation to wrap his long arms around her in an affectionate manner.

Shortly after, Nhong then flashes a smile at the crowd before bringing the woman in closer to cheekily kiss her on the cheek as she and those watching on break out into fits of laughter.

The orangutan then briefly removes his arms from Ms Rikulsurakan before placing them back on her - this time straight onto her breasts.

Nhong has learned the habit of touching women's breasts and kissing them with encouragement from the handlers and other visitors, but this has been condemned by animal rights groups such as PETA.
Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon has sparked fury from college students after allegedly calling fossil fuel divestment 'stupid'.

In an explosive letter penned by three seniors at his alma mater - upstate New York's Hamilton College - the 61-year-old multi-millionaire is also accused of expressing 'extremely racist and sexist undertones' towards the trio.

Their interaction came at a March 3 event called Senior Networking with Trustees at the private liberal arts college.

In the letter published later this year, the unnamed authors describe themselves as 'students involved in climate justice and sustainability efforts on campus' who took the 'rare opportunity' to quiz Solomon about their college's green credentials.

They said Solomon, who graduated in 1984 and is chair of the trustees, 'claimed he does more in a week to help climate change than we will ever do in our entire lives', pointing to his 'capital accumulation' and 'position of power'.

Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, 61, has sparked fury from college students at Hamilton College, upstate New York, after allegedly calling fossil fuel divestment 'stupid'

Multi-millionaire Solomon has been accused of expressing 'extremely racist and sexist undertones' towards a group of 'non-male' majority non-white students at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York (pictured)

He even 'laughed and told us hed be dead in 30 years, so climate change would be our problem anyway', according to the students.

During their fiery exchange, Solomon also allegedly assumed the group of around six students - described in the letter as 'all non-male' and majority 'people of color' - were benefiting from financial aid and 'should show immense gratitude' for this.

Goldman Sachs spokesman Tony Fratto has hit back against the claims, saying Solomon has 'enormous respect' for the students at Hamilton College and 'would not say things to offend them'.

The students said they began by asking New York-born Solomon about Hamilton College's assertion that 'less than 2 percent' of its endowment comes from donors with direct links to fossil fuels.

'We assumed Solomon would likely shut us down, but he seemed excited about the question, and actually brought up the term divestment himself,' they said.

'However, he very quickly gave the impression that he felt this was a good time to impart his insights to us.

'The conversation quickly devolved into nearly 30 minutes of talking about climate change and the Colleges role in climate adaptation and mitigation.

'Throughout the discussion, Solomons attitude and behavior toward us and our questions carried extremely racist and sexist undertones.

'His blatant ignorance and disrespect is one we feel obligated to share with the campus community.'

The students said Solomon, who graduated Hamilton College in 1984 and is chair of the trustees, 'claimed he does more in a week to help climate change than we will ever do in our entire lives', pointing to his 'capital accumulation' and 'position of power'

During their fiery exchange, Solomon also allegedly assumed the group of around six students - described in the letter as 'all non-male' and majority 'people of color' - were benefiting from financial aid and 'should show immense gratitude' for this

Solomon said he was unaware of the college's 2 percent investment claim, and 'indicated he thought fossil fuel divestment was a stupid movement', the students said.

'He called us hypocritical for advocating for divestment when we still use electricity and drive cars  and said that if we traveled to countries like China, India, and Cambodia we would see how the world really works, and then see if we want to live like that,' the letter reads.

'He often contradicted himself, saying with similarly charged undertones, the West is the center of technology and innovation, and it is our responsibility to pull the East into a climate transition, yet also saying it is not the Colleges job to participate in this transition.'

The students said Solomon, who has recently been accused of bullying Goldman staff, continued his tirade of 'willful ignorance' with 'seemingly no intention to actually learn or genuinely engage with us beyond belittling us'.

They said his 'most clearly racially-charged sentiment' came as they were explaining their belief that by 'financially fueling the climate crisis through our endowment', Hamilton College was compromising their 'mission' of pursuing 'climate justice'.

'He pointed at each one of us, claiming that all of us must be on financial aid,' the letter states.

'He implied that we should show immense gratitude because we are in debt to the colleges endowment and that we should not complain about its investment portfolio.'

The students said Solomon, who has recently been accused of bullying Goldman staff, continued his tirade of 'willful ignorance' with 'seemingly no intention to actually learn or genuinely engage with us beyond belittling us'

Hamilton College (pictured) in Clinton, New York, teaches around 2,000 students

The students said Solomon quickly back-pedaled in response to their shocked expressions over this last comment - telling them that 'something like 80% of Hamilton students are on some kind of financial aid'.

'It is important to note that the group of six or so people talking to him were all non-male, and at least half were people of color,' they said.

'We believe that he never would have assumed we were all on financial aid if we were the group of white male students in suits talking to him twenty minutes prior.'

'Solomon spoke to us in a patronizing and disrespectful manner,' they added.

'Despite knowing nothing about us and our roles in our communities and history of activist work, Solomon claimed he does more in a week to help climate change than we will ever do in our entire lives.

'When we asked him to elaborate, he attributed his capital accumulation and position of power.'

The students said they felt 'ashamed, embarrassed and scared' that Solomon would continue to be the 'face and voice of Hamilton College' through his position as board chair, which runs until 2024.

Calling for his tenure to be cut short early, they said: 'Solomons opinions are not just words  his sentiments hold real weight and power.

'His words do so much damage to the members of our campus community advocating for and most affected by climate change.'

Around 2,000 undergraduates attend Hamilton College, in Clinton, New York.

In their letter, the unnamed pupils describe themselves as 'students involved in climate justice and sustainability efforts on campus' who seized the 'rare face-to-face opportunity' to quiz Solomon about the college's green credentials

The college is known for its 'woke', super-liberal reputation, previously making headlines for student campaigns like 'The Movement' - a group which demanded radical changes at the college in 2017, according to the Daily Beast.

These changes included 'the immediate institution of free tuition for all Indigenous peoples' and an 'immediate increase in undocumented students' complete with scholarship programs.

Meanwhile, Solomon has faced plenty of heat in his role leading one of America's most prestigious banking firms.

Goldman Sachs bankers have accused him of communicating only by 'yelling' at staff while 'stomping' around the office and being a 'bully', according to NY Mag.

In a statement to Business Insider, Goldman Sachs spokesman Tony Fratto disputed the accusations made by the Hamilton College students.

'David Solomon has enormous respect for the students at Hamilton College,' he said.

'He did not and would not say things to offend them. We strongly dispute the claims that he did.'

DailyMail.com has contacted Hamilton College for comment.
British fighter jets today intercepted two Russian bombers north of Scotland and within NATO's northern air policing area.

The RAF Typhoon fighter jets scrambled from RAF Lossiemouth in Moray to monitor the flight path of the Russian Tu-142 Bear-F and Tu-142 Bear-J aircraft.

Such Russian aircraft are packed with an array of communications and reconnaissance equipment that makes them adept at monitoring submarine activity.

It is the latest instance of Russian military aircraft flying close to NATO airspace in a period of heightened tension between Moscow and the West.

The RAF's top pilots have intercepted Russian warplanes more than 50 times in just four months during a four-month mission to protect NATO's eastern flank.

British fighter jets today intercepted two Russian bombers north of Scotland and within NATO 's northern air policing area. Pictured: An RAF Typhoon (left) is seen tracking a Russian Tupolev Tu-142 maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft this morning

Russian Tupolev Tu-142 maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft is seen in a photo taken from an RAF fighter jet this morning

RAF Typhoon (shown today top left) tracks a Russian Tu-142. It's the latest incidence of Russian military aircraft flying close to British airspace, with the RAF's top fighter pilots having intercepted Russian warplanes more than 50 times in just four months

Royal Air Force Lossiemouth-based Typhoon fighters were scrambled to intercept a pair of Russian military bombers this morning. One of the bombers (A Tupolev Tu-142) is seen in a picture taken by one of the RAF fighters

'RAF crews at Lossiemouth maintain a constant watch over UK air space and are always ready to take action at a moment's notice to keep our country safe,' Armed forces minister James Heappey said.

READ MORE: Hero British aid workers killed in Ukraine were probably executed and tortured by Russia or Wagner troops, relatives say as they reveal chilling autopsy details Advertisement

'Pilots launched in their Typhoon jets to intercept two Russian long-range bombers this morning, monitoring them as they passed north of the Shetland Islands, ready to counter any potential threat to UK territory.'

The lead RAF Typhoon pilot added: 'It's really satisfying to know we've been able to make a successful intercept, maintaining the integrity of UK and NATO airspace.

'When the alarm for a scramble happened in the early hours of the morning, the adrenaline kicked in. Working in tandem with ground control operators, and with air-to-air refuelling from an RAF Voyager, we were able to stay on task until the mission was complete, and the target aircraft departed the UK's area of interest.'

A Voyager tanker was also scrambled and remained airborne for the duration of the mission to offer air-to-air refuelling, according to the Ministry of Defence.

The presence of the Voyager meant the Typhoons could remain in the air for the extended period necessary to complete their mission.

Meanwhile, Russia announced on Monday that it had dispatched a MiG-29 fighter jet to 'prevent a violation' of its own border by a Norwegian military patrol aircraft over the Barents Sea.

'As the Russian fighter approached, the foreign military plane made a U-turn away from the borders of the Russian Federation,' the Russian defence ministry said.

'There was no violation of the border,' the statement added, identifying the Norwegian aircraft as a P-8A Poseidon patrol plane.

The defence ministry said its flight was carried out in accordance with international rules, 'without crossing air routes or making dangerous rapprochement.'

NATO member Norway shares a land border with Russia as well as a maritime border in the Barents Sea, and acts as a large obstacle to Russian incursions in the north.

Incidents involving Russian and Western aircraft have multiplied over the recent months against the backdrop of Russia's large-scale military intervention in Ukraine.

Separately, the Russian defence ministry said some of its strategic bombers carried out scheduled flights over neutral waters of the Baltic and northern seas, including the Barents Sea.

Over four months, Typhoon pilots based at a military HQ in Estonia flew more than 500 hours as the spearhead of the alliance's mission to deter Kremlin jets from muscling into NATO airspace.

Royal Air Force personnel returned to the UK following the taxing four-month operation to protect the skies over the Baltic from Putin's forces earlier this month.

During the most hectic period of the deployment, British pilots from No IX (Bomber) and No 1 (Fighter) squadrons, based at RAF Lossiemouth , were scrambled 21 times in just 21 days to intercept Putin's warplanes.

The deployment, codenamed 'Op Azotize', began with RAF pilots flying missions alongside the German Air Force, which is when the first ever joint air intercept between NATO allies took place.

British and German Typhoons shadowed a Russian air-to-air refuelling aircraft and transport aircraft flying between St Petersburg and Kaliningrad.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: 'Hundreds of RAF pilots and personnel have spent months away from their families, working round-the-clock alongside our allies to keep Europe's skies safe.

'The UK's successful leadership of NATO's air policing mission in Estonia, resulting in the interception of dozens of Russian aircraft by the RAF, sends a strong message to Putin that we stand united with our allies against any threat to our borders.'

The fighter jet squadron was always held at a moment's notice - ready to scramble and take on any possible threat in the skies.

Their job intercept the Russian jets as fast as possible so they can be identified, and information relayed to ground controllers to ensure there is no serious encroachment.

After taking full leadership of the air policing operation, RAF Typhoons regularly flew QRA missions  intercepting 21 Kremlin fighters, long-range bombers, and reconnaissance aircraft in just three weeks.

Defence Minister Baroness Goldie paid tribute to the 'commitment and dedication' of the 140 Expeditionary Air Wing in protecting NATO airspace.

'The day to day, personal sacrifices made not only by the individuals but also their families in the name of duty are nothing short of commendable,' she added.

While deployed in Estonia, the RAF took place in the largest NATO Air Deployment exercise since the Cold War.

In a potent show of force to Putin, the alliance had more than 250 aircraft and 10,000 personnel from 25 NATO and partner nations involved in the aerial war games.

Last month, MailOnline exclusively revealed what life on the frontline was like for British pilots defending NATO's borders.

In one clip, a Typhoon shadows a TU-214 - the 'Flying Kremlin' - as it flew from Moscow along the Baltic coast.

Another piece of footage showed the moment vapour trails from a Russian jet - known as a 'Zombie' - were draped across the sky as the British Typhoon closes in at over 400mph.

During the most hectic period of the deployment, RAF Typhoons were scrambled 21 times in 21 days (pictured is one of the British jets, left, during today's operation)

Flying from Amari Airbase, about 30 miles from the Estonian capital Tallin, the pilots of 1 Fighter Squadron followed in the footsteps of those who fought in the Battle of Britain in the summer of 1940.

Just as the Spitfire and Hurricane pilots did over 80 years ago, the modern-day aces still 'scramble' to engage their foes.

That means getting airborne as fast as possible in a jet that can hit a speed of Mach 2  1,550mph.

Pilots on quick reaction alert duty might be sleeping or relaxing in a crew room watching TV when an alarm sounds.

'As soon as we hear the siren sound, and it is so loud everyone in the building hears the siren we just run as fast we can to the hangar where the Typhoon is waiting, said RAF Flight Lieutenant Ben, whose full name we are withholding for security reasons.

'I often sleep in my flying suit and put the rest of the kit on as I get out to the plane. I run up the steps and strap in while I start getting messages about the flight, such as speed and the direction to take.'

Six Typhoon single seat fighter jets form the QRA force.

Britain's Air and Space Commander, Air Marshal Harv Smyth, said the RAF team had excelled' in its mission to protect NATO airspace.
She was hospitalised to treat 'significant injuries to her face' after the mauling

The Pocket Bully dog that 'ripped off' part of a five-year-old girl's face when she tried to stroke it has been pictured.

Farrah-Leigh Nichol, five, had gone to stroke the Pocket Bully after asking permission from the owner at around 6.30pm on Saturday near a Nisa store in Teesside.

But as the schoolgirl patted the animal's head it pounced  biting a huge chunk out of her left cheek.

Her father Alex Nichol, 30, kicked the Bully away and scooped his daughter up before she was rushed to hospital, where she is being treated for serious facial injuries.

Farrah-Leigh's mother Danielle Kemp, 32, and Mr Nichol are by the youngster's side as she prepares for skin graft operations.

Ms Kemp told MailOnline: 'What I saw and the screams I heard will haunt me, she really didn't deserve this.

This is the Pocket Bully dog that 'ripped off' part of a five-year-old girl's face when she tried to stroke it

This is the devastating injury caused to little Farrah-Leigh Nichol after she was savaged by a bully-type dog outside a corner shop

The Pocket Bully is a cross between an American Pit Bull Terrier and a Patterdale Terrier

Yet as the schoolgirl gently patted the animal's head it pounced  biting a huge chunk out of her left cheek

Farrah-Leigh Nichol had gone to stroke the Pocket Bully after asking permission from the owner at around 6.30pm on Saturday outside a Nisa store in Teesside (pictured)

'I was cooking tea when Alex came running in with Farrah-Leigh.

'Our heads are all over the place at the moment. My little girl has already had one operation and she has another two to come.

'She has one tomorrow morning and then another in two weeks, she's been very brave.

'The support we have had from local people has been overwhelming, we can't thank them enough.'

The family live close to the store on Norton Road, in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, and the youngster was accompanied by her father when the dog struck without warning.

The owner of the animal waited at the scene as emergency services arrived and the dog has now been seized.

Pocket Bullys are smaller variants of American Bullys, with full-grown males under 17 inches and females under 16 inches at the shoulder blades.

Farrah-Leigh Nichol, five, (pictured) was injured when she was mauled by a dog after she stroked it on Saturday

The dog, a Pocket Bully, allegedly involved in the attack on five-year-old Farrah-Leigh Nichol

The family live close to the store on Norton Road, Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, and the youngster was accompanied by her father when the dog struck without warning

She has had one operation and is set for two more following the horrific incident outside a Nisa store on Saturday evening

Mr Nichol, who works as a tiler, said: 'We had gone to the shop together and she had paid for some bread at the till.

'We came out and I pressed the button to cross the road and she said, "Can I stroke that dog?"

'I said, ''Yes, but you will have to ask the man first.''

'She said, "Can I stroke your dog?" and he said, 'Yes, no problem.'

'She went to stroke the dog on the head. She loves dogs. She was stroking it really gently.

'The dog jumped and she jumped back and I thought, that was lucky.

'But then the next minute I saw her curled up on the floor and she said, "Dad".

'She was crying and all her face was off. Her face was gone. It was just gruesome.'

Her father, Alex Nichol, 30, said: 'We have three dogs (pictured, Farrah-Leigh with one of the family's dogs) ourselves. We have a Staffie and two XL Bullies. But I would be happy to muzzle them'

Farrah-Leigh's father Mr Nichol, 30, (pictured) said: 'If all dogs were muzzled it would just take away the risk. If it saved just one child it would be worth it'

Mr Nichol rushed over to his daughter who was still in dangerously close proximity to the animal.

He added: 'I ran across to get her but the dog was right behind her.

'I booted it. I stamped on it. I picked my daughter up and went back to the house.

'She was taken to hospital and she is stable and she has had stitches. But there's still so much to do.'

The Pocket Bully is a cross between an American Pit Bull Terrier and a Patterdale Terrier.

It lived just down the road from the home Farrah-Leigh shares with her mother and father.

In the wake of a spate of recent dog attacks on children, Mr Nichol now believes all breeds should be muzzled.

He said: 'We have three dogs ourselves. We have a Staffie and two XL Bullies. But I would be happy to muzzle them.

'If all dogs were muzzled it would just take away the risk. If it saved just one child it would be worth it.

'Always be wary of dogs you don't know.

'My daughter loved dogs, but this incident has obviously given her a full fear factor.

Her father added: 'She was crying and all her face was off. Her face was gone. It was just gruesome'

'We're all still in shock at the moment. We can't believe this has happened.'

Family friend Kirsty Lavender, 32, said: 'She's such a brave, strong little girl, she's kind but she still needs a skin graft to reform her face.

'Her mam and dad are very worried about her of course but she's bounced back really well so far.'

The incident came after it was revealed that dog attacks left British children needing surgery more than 1,000 times last year, including nearly 400 cases where the child was under the age of four.

READ MORE: Dog owners terrified of attacks by vicious 'bully' breeds after seven deaths this year are buying pet armour and taking their pets for walks on treadmills Advertisement

The shocking figures showed that the total number of hospitalisations following dog attacks has nearly doubled from 4,699 in 2007/8 to 9,336 in 2022/23.

Dr John Tulloch, a lecturer in veterinary public health at Liverpool University, previously said that the way Brits take care of dogs needs to change.

'We know dogs are now kept in the home for more than seven or eight hours on their own and they are going to get frustrated.

'A lot of dogs don't get the exercise needs - their health needs aren't being met and so they have the potential to be more anxious and nervous.

'If you keep a dog in a horrible environment and they're not looked after they are going to have more behaviour problems and be more likely to bite.'

A neighbour who lives near where this latest attack happened said: 'The little girl asked to stroke the dog and it just went for her.

'Her dad was straight over to help and he was booting the thing to get it away from her. She did nothing to provoke it and the owner seemed happy for her to pat the dog.

'A dog that unpredictable should not have been out without a muzzle.'

Cleveland Police said Farrah-Leigh was taken to hospital for treatment and a dog had been seized.

A force spokesman said the owner of the dog remained at the scene after the attack.

'Officers attended the scene within minutes of the report being called in and provided medical assistance to the girl whilst waiting for the ambulance, ' the force spokesman added.

'The girl has suffered significant injuries to her face and is receiving treatment in hospital.

'The owner of the dog remained at the scene following the attack and co-operated with police. The dog has been seized.

'We would politely ask people not to post photos relating to the incident and to avoid speculating on social media whilst officers continue with their investigation.'

A spokesperson for North East Ambulance Service added: 'We were called at 6.25pm [on Saturday] to reports of an incident involving a dog bite in the Norton area of Stockton.

'We dispatched a paramedic crew who treated one patient with facial injuries before transporting to hospital.'

A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise money to send Farrah-Leigh to Disneyland with her family once she is well enough.

Shauna Lee Rollinson, 26, who created the page, said: 'Farrah-Leigh is in my little girl's class at school.

'She tells my daughter all the time how she'd love to go to Disneyland.

'If we can make this happen for this gorgeous girl I will cry my eyes out.

'The support so far has been outstanding.'

Anyone wishing to donate to send Farrah-Leigh to Disney World once she's well enough can do so here.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s campaign quickly walked back the longshot 2024 Democratic candidate's comments saying that he would support a federal abortion ban.

The candidate, his campaign claims, 'misunderstood' the question being posed at a noisy Iowa State Fair exhibit hall over the weekend by a reporter.

'Once a child is viable outside the womb, I think then the state has an interest in protecting the child,' Kennedy told NBC News, adding: 'I'm for medical freedom. Individuals are able to make their own choices.'

Video of the exchange shows the reporter asking Kennedy: 'So three months, you would sign a federal cap on that?'

'Yes, I would,' the anti-vaxxer Democrat replied.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said at the Iowa State Fair that he would support a federal abortion ban at three months into a pregnancy  but walked-back saying he 'misunderstood' the question

RFK Jr.'s campaign released a statement saying the longshot 2024 candidate didn't quite hear the question right in the 'noisy exhibit hall at the Iowa State Fair'

But the same day his campaign released a statement clarifying his comments.

'Today, Mr. Kennedy misunderstood a question posed to him by an NBC reporter in a crowded, noisy exhibit hall at the Iowa State Fair,' it reads. 'Mr. Kennedy's position on abortion is that it is always the woman's right to choose. He does not support legislation banning abortion.'

The question posed comes as Republican candidates voice their ever-growing support for a federal ban on abortion. Some say that the decision should be left to the states.

Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation that prohibits abortion around six-weeks into a pregnancy, which is usually when a fetal heartbeat can be detected. He has said on the 2024 campaign trail that the federal government should have some sort of role in the abortion debate, but also thinks states should have the right to determine how far their laws go.

RFK Jr. is joined by a dozen other candidates that made 20-minute remarks at the Iowa Fair Political Soapbox, hosted every election cycle by the Des Moines Register.

He also walked around the fair over the weekend, like his fellow 2024 hopefuls, in an attempt to woo fairgoers who want to see a more 'human' side to the candidates.

Kennedy and Marianne Williamson are the only two Democrats so far challenging President Joe Biden's reelection bid.

As one of the more radical and eclectic candidates, RFK appears to have earned the endorsement of actor Woody Harrelson.

On Friday, Kennedy's wife Cheryl Hines (right) posted a picture with actor Woody Harrelson (left), with Harrelson sporting a 'Kennedy' hat, suggesting he supported the prominent anti-vaxxer's presidential campaign

Kennedy is married to Curb Your Enthusiasm actress Cheryl Hines. On Friday she posted a picture with Harrelson with him sporting a Kennedy 2024 hat.

Asked by DailyMail.com at the Fair on Saturday if he had gained another famous supporter the candidate answered, 'I hope so.'

'You know, he's very hard to get on a cell phone,' Kennedy said of Harrelson. 'Because he doesn't use cell phones.'

RFK Jr. has garnered support from founder and former CEO of Twitter Jack Dorsey, actor Rob Schneider and actress Alicia Silverstone.

Following the clarification of his abortion statement, the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America group released a statement noting the flip-flop from the Democratic candidate and said it shows the 'intolerance' by the left on the issue.

'Today's Democratic Party tolerates no debate on abortion, strictly enforcing a platform of abortion on demand right up to birth and paid for by taxpayers,' SBA President Marjorie Dannenfelser stated. 'Kennedy is no staunch pro-life advocate. He merely expressed the consensus of Americans  and a majority of rank-and-file Democrats  that unborn babies should be protected at least when they feel pain by 15 weeks. Yet most Democrat leaders refuse to name any protections they support for babies or their mothers.'

RFK Jr. has signaled in the past support for limitations on abortion, including during a June town hall.
Remarkably, the only injuries he sustained were from running to the wreckage

The deadly twister destroyed his trailer and threw him 1300ft from his home

Matt Sutter miraculously survived being hurtled by a tornado in Missouri in 2006

Matt Sutter was just 19 years old when he was swept 1300ft into the air by a tornado - and miraculously survived.

The Twister ripped across Missouri in 2006, along with a cluster of thunderstorms which destroyed 550 homes, according to the National Weather Service.

Matt was swept up by it and dropped a quarter of a mile away from his home in Fordland, Missouri but remarkably lived to tell the tale.

The survivor barely remembers his wild ride, largely due to being immediately knocked unconscious by a flying lamp.

At just 19-years-old Matt Sutter survived a terrifying tornado in Fordland Missouri, he was swept 1300ft from his home and woke up in just his boxers

He was in a trailer with his grandmother and uncle when the whirlwind hit, and said he was 'sucked out'.

While the entire home was destroyed, both his relatives survived the wreckage.

Only two people were killed by the severe weather, but 30 others were injured and hundreds of homes were ruined.

Recounting the journey, he said: 'Well, it felt like - I don't know. It was just really crazy how it all was.

'I can remember my part of the trailer that I was in, flipping over and everything.

'I remember getting hit in the head, and then after that I woke up in the middle of a field 1,307 feet away.'

Matt woke up at around 11:10pm, just ten minutes after the devastating tornado hit.

He awoke understandably confused, wearing just his boxer shorts, he added: 'I didn't know what happened.

Matt Sutter (pictured) survived the severe weather along with his grandmother and uncle, though their trailer was destroyed

'And I stood up, and then the lightning hit off in the distance, and it lit up everything.'

READ MORE: Terrifying moment tornado smashes through the streets of Milan as crazy weather sweeps Europe Advertisement

He noticed that where his grandmother's trailer used to be had disappeared, he said: 'I knew something bad happened.'

He added: 'So I got up, took off, ran to the next-door neighbour's house, jumping barbed-wire fences and running as fast as I can on a dirt road.'

Shockingly, the only injuries Matt gained occurred after he was hurtled to the ground,' he said.

'The only injuries I had was abrasions to my feet from running on the gravel and a laceration on top of my head that - which caused me to get five staples.'

Following his near-death experience, Matt said he's looking at life differently and has turned to God.

He said: 'I believe in god and I'm starting to go to church and whatnot. And I'm just grateful to be alive after this.'

Years later, Matt still holds the Guinness World Record for the 'Farthest distance survived in a tornado'.
A village shopkeeper was stunned to get a 7,000 bill for just one week's electricity and slammed the 'cowboy' utility firm responsible.

Sian McDowell, 42, was told her discount store Allsortz in St Clears, west Wales, had used 16,000 kilowatts over seven nights, the equivalent of boiling a kettle 6,400 times or putting 3,500 loads through the tumble dryer.

The mother-of-four was handed the bill by BES Utilities - whose fraudster boss Andy Pilley was jailed for 13 years in July on unrelated charges.

The company later admitted Mrs McDowell's bill had been issued in error, but not before she was hounded by demands for money for the huge sum.

Mrs McDowell said: 'I was in disbelief when I opened the bill. In the two years we'd been with BES we'd paid 9,000 for our electricity, so there was clearly a problem.

Sian McDowell, 42, (pictured) was handed the bill by BES Utilities - whose fraudster boss Andy Pilley was jailed for 13 years in July on unrelated charges

The village shopkeeper was stunned to get a 7,000 bill for just one week's electricity and slammed the 'cowboy' utility firm responsible

The mother-of-four was handed the bill by BES Utilities - whose fraudster boss Andy Pilley (pictured) was jailed for 13 years in July on unrelated charges

'It's awful how they think they can just do something like this. They're cowboys.

'Luckily I had cancelled the direct debit so they didn't take the money automatically.

'They left nine messages over five days on the answer phone telling us to make a payment or the bill would go up and sent threatening emails.

'It was horrible.'

BES boss Andy Pilley - the former chairman of Fleetwood Town FC - was jailed for systematically duping businesses in a multi-million pound fraud last month.

His firm was subjected to a huge Trading Standards probe.

Mrs McDowell's husband Mathew, 37, who runs a sister shop in nearby Whitland, said: 'It was terrible when I saw that 7,000 bill. That could make small businesses go bust.

The company later admitted Mrs McDowell's bill had been issued in error, but not before she was hounded by demands for money for the huge sum. Pictured: Mrs McDowell outside her store, Allsortz, in west Wales

Sian McDowell, 42, was told her discount store Allsortz in St Clears, west Wales, had used 16,000 kilowatts over seven nights, the equivalent to boiling a kettle 6,400 times or putting 3,500 loads through the tumble dryer

Mrs McDowell's husband Mathew, 37, who runs a sister shop in nearby Whitland, said: 'It was terrible when I saw that 7,000 bill. That could make small businesses go bust

The matter was resolved when Mathew appealed to Ofgem for help. The energy regulator contacted BES Utilities on Mr McDowell's behalf and a revised bill of 125 was sent

'They kept ringing and ringing and ringing saying we owed it. Horrible.'

The matter was resolved when Mathew appealed to Ofgem for help. The energy regulator contacted BES Utilities on Mr McDowell's behalf and a revised bill of 125 was sent.

BES Utilities claimed the rogue bill was sent because Mr McDowell submitted a manual meter reading which interfered with the shop's smart meter reading.

A BES spokesperson said: 'We regret there was a billing discrepancy caused by manual customer provided meter readings, which caused a larger than expected invoice.

'We are pleased to confirm the issue was rectified swiftly, Mr McDowell's complaint has been resolved and the correct, accurate bill amount, was deducted from his bank account.'

However, Mr McDowell disagrees. He said: 'I 100 per cent did not give any meter reading to anyone.'

Mrs McDowell also raised concern with the way BES recruited her when she moved into her shop in January 2021.

She explained: 'When we moved in someone from BES Utilities arrived and said we were going to be cut off unless I signed right away, so I did.

'Obviously, I regret that now.'
A mystery hate campaign against Airbnb has been launched in a Welsh village.

Community worker Eric Baylis found a sticker reading 'Death to Airbnb' with a noose around the company's logo in the village of Llanberis.

Others are reported to have found more stickers reading 'Airbnb Kills Communities' and 'F*** Airbnb' at the popular tourist hotspot in the Snowdonia mountains of North Wales.

Mr Baylis, 72, admitted the village's popularity with holidaymakers has changed it over the decades - but said he is against the mysterious campaign.

'While I don't agree with the number of Airbnbs we have in the village, I can't abide by this kind of language,' he said.

Community worker Eric Baylis found a sticker reading 'Death to Airbnb' with a noose around the company's logo in the holiday home hate campaign

Other people found more stickers reading 'Airbnb Kills Communities' and 'F*** Airbnb' in the popular tourist village of Llanberis in the Snowdonia mountains of North Wales. Pictured: A view of Llanberis

'We already have enough hotels and B&Bs here to cater for the amount of visitors we get. We don't need more Airbnbs.'

He highlighted the nearby village of Abersoch - dubbed Cheshire-on-Sea for the number of holiday homes which leaves local people pushed out.

He said: 'You see how second homes and Airbnbs have affected places like Abersoch. The way things are going here, Llanberis will be the next Abersoch.'

The number of holiday lets in Abersoch has become such an issue that the council is consulting on a change to planning rules which would require owners of main residences, second homes and holiday lets to obtain planning consent before they can switch to either a second home or holiday let.

Pictured here is a view over Llanberis. Rental analysts AirDNA say rentals all contribute to the local economy

Mr Baylis said: 'We already have enough hotels and B&Bs here to cater for the amount of visitors we get. We don't need more Airbnbs.' Pictured: A view from Llanberis

Between 2018 and 2021, the number of walkers and climbers on Snowdon - now known as Yr Wyddfa - increased from 500,000 to 700,000, creating added demand for local short-term lettings.

While rising house prices and people moving to the area have been cited as pressures on the property market, many believe holiday lets and short term lets are the main problem.

'Unfortunately, Airbnbs have moved away their initial idea, which was to rent spare rooms,' said Mr Baylis. 'Now whole houses are being bought to rent, pushing up prices and depriving local young people of the chance to stay in the community where they grew up.'

Rental analysts AirDNA say rentals all contribute to the local economy.

'Many properties were likely already second homes,' said a spokesperson.

'They're now empty less frequently, as the owners are renting them out while they're not around.

'Nonetheless, holiday lets have brought in more than 1.5million this year so far, and over 2.5m last year, just on accommodation. Of course, guests also spend in local restaurants, shops, and attractions, so the true economic impact is much higher.'
Two men were taken to hospital after being stabbed in a homophobic attack outside a gay pub  as police launch a manhunt for the suspect.

The pair, one aged in their 20s and the other in their 30s, were targeted near the Two Brewers in Clapham, south London, at around 10.15pm on Sunday.

They were treated in hospital and discharged.

Metropolitan Police officers are searching for the suspect in the attack, which they are treating as homophobic.

Detective Inspector Gary Castle said: 'We are acutely aware of the shock this attack will cause members of the LGBT+ community and want to reassure people that an urgent investigation is ongoing to locate the person responsible.

'We recently announced the reinstatement of LGBT+ community liaison officers for each of our 12 basic command units in London to support and advise on investigations where homophobia is a motive, and to ensure the community has a dedicated point of contact to address any concerns they may have.'

The pair, one aged in their 20s and the other in their 30s, were targeted near the Two Brewers in Clapham High Street, south London, at around 10.15pm on Sunday

A spokesman for the Two Brewers pub, a gay bar and nightclub, said security has been boosted in the wake of the stabbing.

They said: 'We are fully supporting the police in their investigation regarding this unprovoked attack and our thoughts are with the victims and their families.

'We would like to reassure the LGBTQIA+ community that the safety and security of our guests remains our number one priority, our CCTV has been handed over to the police and enhanced security measures have now been put in place.'

Drag performer Mary Mac, who was at the venue on Sunday, said on Twitter: 'It's shocking and disgusting that in 2023 this is becoming frighteningly more frequent.

'The team at The Two Brewers were incredible in dealing with this and keeping us inside the venue safe, glad the victims have been discharged and hope they are with loved ones now to help.'

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan called the attack 'abhorrent'

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan urged witnesses to come forward.

Writing on Twitter, now known as X, he said: 'This is abhorrent. There is no place for hate in London.

'It's a huge relief the victims are out of hospital - my thoughts remain with them and their loved ones.

'If you have any information, please do not stay silent.'

In a tweet the Labour MP for Vauxhall, Florence Eshalomi, called the attack 'very worrying'.

Anyone with information can call police on 101 or tweet @MetCC and quote CAD 7198/13Aug, or to remain anonymous contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or online.
The Princess of Wales appears to take the view that what's good for the goose is good for the gander.

After Prince William was seen dancing at the London nightclub Koko with his old mucker Guy Pelly in June, Catherine is said to have gone raving herself.

The Princess, 41, is understood to have made her first ever visit to a music festival at the weekend, albeit a very upper-class one.

She was dining with her Norfolk neighbours, the Marquess and Marchioness of Cholmondeley, David and Rose, at their Palladian stately home, Houghton Hall. At the time, the Houghton Festival was taking place on their 1,000-acre estate.

'After dinner, one of the guests suggested that Catherine go to the festival,' a source told the Daily Mail.

The Princess of Wales was dining with her friend, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley (seen here on her right) when the idea of her going to a music festival was mentioned. The friends are pictured together here at Houghton Hall in 2016

Catherine is pictured chatting with Rose Hanbury at the charity event on her Norfolk Estate in 2016

Houghton Festival, pictured here in 2019, which takes place on the 1,000-acre grounds of Houghton Hall

Houghton Festival is an arts and music festival in the Norfolk countryside. The festival is pictured above

More than 200 artists performed at the festival this year. Pictured above are attendees enjoying a live performance at a previous Houghton Festival

'Catherine was nervous about the idea, but, after much discussion with her protection officers, she went with lots of security. William wasn't there.'

Billed as Britain's only 24-hour music festival, it is the brainchild of DJ Craig Richards, who launched the event in 2017. More than 200 artists performed across 13 stages from last Thursday to Sunday with music playing somewhere on the Houghton Estate site at all times. More than 12,000 revellers were expected to attend.

Although Catherine is not known to have previously attended a festival, she does like to dance. While still plain Kate Middleton, she was pictured attending a roller-disco with friends including the jockey Sam Waley-Cohen in 2008.

A Kensington Palace spokesman declined to comment, so it's not clear why William didn't join his wife. It was the Glorious Twelfth on Saturday so the heir to the throne, a keen shot, could have been on a grouse-shooting trip with friends.

Catherine's lively night out is just the latest example of the warm friendship between the future king and queen and the Cholmondeleys, nicknamed the 'Turnip Toffs', who live just a few miles from their Norfolk retreat, Anmer Hall.

Last September, the Marquess was replaced as Lord Great Chamberlain after the death of Queen Elizabeth.

Prince William pictured dancing with friends at Camden club Koko in June. The Princess of Wales is now said to have gone raving herself

A DJ is seen providing live entertainment to Houghton Festival attendees

However, King Charles made sure that the Marquess, aka filmmaker David Rocksavage, did not lose his intimate connection with the monarchy.

In March, I reported that the King handed the Marquess a new position that would see him and his wife, the bohemian former model Rose Hanbury, returning to the heart of the royal court.

The King appointed the Marquess, 63, as his Lord-in-Waiting, a prestigious position that would see him attend important state and royal occasions, as well as being called upon to represent His Majesty at various events.

Rose married Rocksavage in 2009. He is 23 years her senior and friends had almost given up hope that he would ever marry.

Rose soon produced an heir and spare, twins Alexander and Oliver. Like Catherine, she has since given birth to a third child, Iris.

The Princess of Wales dancing with Prince William during a trip to Belize in 2022

While Catherine and William stay at ten-bedroom Anmer, previously rented out to a kitchen timber boss, the Marquess and Marchioness live in splendour at nearby Houghton Hall, one of the country's finest Palladian houses.

In his previous role as Lord Great Chamberlain, the Marquess had to walk backwards in front of the monarch at the State Opening of Parliament.

Cholmondeley left the position because of the tradition that it changes to another aristocratic family on the death of the monarch.

He was succeeded by the 7th Lord Carrington, whose late father served as Foreign Secretary under Margaret Thatcher.
Green also said on Sunday that around 1,300 people were still missing after the fires

Hawaii Governor Josh Green has warned hundreds more Lahaina wildfire victims will be found as just 3 percent of the search area has been scoured - and says around 1,300 people are still missing.

Green said he expects search teams will find '10 to 20' bodies per day during an operation that will last around 10 days.

The death toll currently stands at 96, but officials in Maui said on Saturday that teams had been able to cover just 3 percent of the search area. The governor added on Sunday that around 1,300 people were still missing.

Many of the remains are so badly burned that families have been invited to provide DNA swabs which could help identify the victims. Authorities have created the Maui County Family Assistance Center to help collect samples.

'There are more fatalities that will come,' Green told CBS on Sunday. 'The fire was so hot that what we find is the tragic finding that you would imagine... It's hard to recognize anybody. But they're able to determine if someone did perish.'

Hawaii Governor Josh Green said search teams 'will find 10 to 20 people per day probably until they finish' the finish the searches, which take around 10 days

Governor of Hawaii Josh Green, left, and Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen, Jr., speak during a tour of wildfire damage on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023, in Lahaina

Governor of Hawaii Josh Green, right, and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell look at a destroyed building along Front Street during a tour of wildfire damage on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023, in Lahaina

Green, a doctor who has been treating survivors, said he'd been into Lahaina twice and 'there's nothing to see except full devastation'.

'The buildings are almost nonexistent. It was so hot that even metal contorted so that you can't believe what the building was.

'But that's what you see, and obviously there will not be any survivors in the area left. They've either escaped and escaped that night and now as we put up some temporary cell capacity, people are calling each other. So the number of missing went from in the 2,000s to 1,300.

'Look, our hearts will break, beyond repair perhaps, if that means that many more dead. None of us think that, but we are prepared for many tragic stories.

'They will find 10 to 20 people per day probably until they finish. And it's probably going to take ten days. It's impossible to guess really.'

Authorities have not published an official missing persons list but a Maui resident, Ellie Erickson, has created an online spreadsheet which currently lists about 1,200 names as 'not located'.

About 4,000 more names on the spreadsheet are listed as 'found'.

Penny Wakida, a Lahaina resident, said her husband of 46 years, Clyde, died after remaining at the home they built together 35 years ago in a desperate bid to save it. She was contacted by officials to say they found human remains on the property, the Honlulu Star Advertiser reported.

Twenty cadaver dogs and dozens of searchers are currently making their way through blocks reduced to ash. A member of the search and rescue team walks with her cadaver dog near Front Street on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023, in Lahaina

The historic town of Lahaina has been devastated. The historic Banyan Tree is burned and scarred but still standing

Destroyed buildings surround the area in the aftermath of the fire in Lahaina on Front Street Thursday in handout photos provided by Hawaii Gov. Green

Penny's daughter, Lexa Hanohano, and Clyde's sisters, Avis Wakida and Teri Young, are among people who have provided DNA samples to help with the identification of remains.

'He didn't want to evacuate,' said Penny. 'He refused to come with me. He thought he could save the house. We know he's dead.'

Twenty cadaver dogs and dozens of searchers are currently making their way through blocks in Lahaina which have been reduced to ash.

'Right now, they're going street by street, block by block between cars, and soon they'll start to enter buildings,' Jeff Hickman, director of public affairs for the Hawaii Department of Defense, told NBC on Monday.

The blaze that swept into centuries-old Lahaina nearly a week ago destroyed nearly every building in the town of 13,000, leaving a grid of gray rubble wedged between the blue ocean and lush green slopes.

Flames from a wildfire burn in Kihei, Hawaii Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023

The hall of historic Waiola Church in Lahaina and nearby Lahaina Hongwanji Mission are engulfed in flames along Wainee Street on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023

That fire has been 85 percent contained, according to the county. Another blaze known as the Upcountry fire has been 60 percent contained, officials said.

Green said he was frustrated following reports the Maui's emergency warning system, including sirens and mobile phone alerts, allegedly did not give residents enough notice that fires were rapidly engulfing Lahaina.

'We're heartbroken that people couldn't get out or didn't get alerted. We're doing a review already. My attorney general, I asked her to do it. Not to find fault in anyone but to say why this worked and this didn't work,' he said.

'It is definitely a natural disaster because the winds were moving -- any fire between 60 and 80 miles per hour. That's a mile a minute.'

He said the speed and ferocity of the fires meant 'moving people out' had been the best hope of preventing deaths.
Brazen robbery comes just days after a Nordstrom in the area was ransacked by a mob who got away with up to $100,000 in merchandise

The incident happened at the Nike Community Store on Whittier Blvd. Saturday

Video shows a group of robbers hitting up a Los Angeles Nike store and tossing thousands of dollars in merchandise into trash bags

A Los Angeles Nike store was hit by a pack of thieves who stuffed merchandise into trash bags and took off just days after an area Nordstrom was targeted similarly.

Video posted Sunday on the Citizen App shows the shocking robbery at the crowded Nike Community Store on Whittier Blvd. in East Los Angeles.

The robbery took place Saturday evening and involved two women and one man who were seen grabbing shoe boxes before exiting the store.

The incident is just the latest in a string of similar events where a group of thieves ransacks a store, overwhelming employees and getting away with thousands.

Around the same time on Saturday, a mob struck the Topanga Westfield Nordstrom, smashing and grabbing some $100,000 from cases near the store's entrance.

The Nordstrom robbery was the second occurrence of its kind within a week.

A Los Angeles Nike store was hit by a pack of thieves who stuffed merchandise into trash bags and took off just days after an area Nordstrom was targeted similarly

According to officials with the Los Angeles Police Department, the robbery happened just after 5.30pm in the 4500 block of Whittier Blvd.

In the video, a male suspect is seen dropping his bag filled with shoe boxes and scrambling to clean it up as his conspirators continue.

Other guests are seen walking around the store unbothered as the man cleans up the disassembled shoes and then continues out of the store.

Two women are seen in similar situations, walking with trash bags full of clothing and shoes and leading the man out of the store.

In the latest incident, the group got away with roughly $1,000 in merchandise.

It's unclear if the group fled on foot or if they had a getaway car waiting outside the store.

As of Monday morning, police said all three suspects are still at large.

These types of robberies appear to be on the rise and becoming all too common, especially in the Los Angeles area.

In another recent incident, a group of about 20 to 50 suspects struck a Nordstrom northwest of La La Land and swarmed the location.

According to officials with the Los Angeles Police Department, the robbery happened just after 5.30pm in the 4500 block of Whittier Blvd

Footage taken inside the store shows men in dark hoodies and face masks ransacking the department store at Westfield Topanga Mall, even resorting to attacking security guards with bear spray.

Videos have rapidly circulated on social media, depicting the mob shattering display cases and grabbing high-end designer accessories, some still affixed with electronic security tags.

One of the thieves was even seen pulling a large metal display shelf behind him as he fled, with a luxury leather bag still affixed to it by a security tag.

The group sprinted to the door in an attempt to make swift exit from the store, securing as much merchandise as they can carry.

The thieves took off with thousands of dollars worth of luxury handbags and designer clothing, an LAPD spokesman told NBC News.

The group swarmed the store at around 4pm on Saturday, scooping up armfuls of items, some inadvertently dropping amid the chaos, as they maneuvered around shattered glass and overturned mannequins.

A shocking video has captured a scene of mob-style mayhem, showing a smash-and-grab robbery involving up to fifty looters at a Los Angeles mall

The footage shows men in dark hoodies and face masks ransacking the Nordstrom store at Westfield Topanga Mall, even resorting to attacking security guards with bear spray

The men appeared to be targeting the luxury Italian fashion brand Bottega Veneta, known for its signature woven leather handbags.

Investigators believe the group stole up to $100,000 in merchandise.

The criminals used bear spray to attack at least two security guard at the store. The extent of their injuries are unclear.

Bear spray, deployed from pressurized canisters, contains capsaicin and other ingredients that can inflame the eyes and upper respiratory system.

Mall goers were not evacuated and it is unclear if anyone was injured. There have been no arrests reported at this time. Police are searching for 30 to 50 suspects.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass responded to the incident in a statement issued Saturday evening: 'What happened today at the Nordstrom in the Topanga Mall is absolutely unacceptable,' she wrote.

In the statement, Bass assured the public that the police will find those responsible.
Paris Hilton has been slammed for carrying on with her family vacation in Maui just 30 miles from where a wildfire killed 96 people last week.

Hilton was spotted at an exclusive resort in Wailea, a popular tourist destination that sits south of Lahaina, the worst-hit town.

While sources close to the heiress say she has 'absolutely' been helping with the crisis by dropping off supplies at shelters, others say she has no business being on the island.

Her trip coincides with a warning from Hawaiian actor Jason Momoa to stay off the island while the rescue and recovery effort is ongoing.

Hilton was spotted at an exclusive resort in Wailea, a popular tourist destination that sits south of Lahaina, the worst-hit town, with her husband and baby

Fury: Hilton was criticized as being 'tone deaf' for choosing to go ahead with the vacation

Hilton has shared links to fundraising pages but is yet to comment on her own vacation on the island

Tourists are being strongly discouraged from visiting Maui but local officials say they should continue to visit other islands and resorts that rely on tourism economically.

After photos of her emerged this weekend, Hilton posted two fundraising links to her Instagram page.

She is yet to comment on the tragedy or respond to the criticism directly.

One local woman also fumed at the presence at the tourists on Maui in an interview with BBC.

'The same waters that our people just died in three days ago are the same waters the very next day these visitors - tourists - were swimming in,' the woman, who did not give her name, said.

A source close to Hilton told DailyMail.com previously: 'She has been absolutely helping. Maui has always held a special place in her heart.

'She has been gathering supplies and taking them to shelters and those who need.

'She already did and continues to do so.'

One local woman complained to the BBC: 'The same waters that our people just died in three days ago are the same waters the very next day these visitors - tourists - were swimming in'

A 'tourist keep out' sign is displayed in a neighborhood, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii, following a deadly wildfire that caused heavy damage days earlier

Jason Momoa is begging fans not to travel to Maui through his charity Instagram account

Hilton isn't the only star to have been slammed for her response to the disaster.

Oprah, who owns 2,000 acres of land on Maui, was criticized for staying silent in the immediate aftermath of the fire, then appearing at a shelter where she handed out pillows to those seeking refuge.

Yesterday, she was turned away from a shelter after showing up with a CBS camera crew.

In an Instagram video, she said she would be making a 'major donation' once all the 'smoke and ashes' had cleared.

Jeff Bezos and his fiancee Lauren Sanchez have pledged $100million to a fund to help ease the crisis.

Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac owns a home and a restaurant on the island. The restaurant was destroyed in the fire.

He has chartered a plane to bring supplies to the island.

Oprah, in an interview over the weekend, said: 'In a week or two all the cameras will be gone and the rest of the world will move on with their lives and we're all still going to be here trying to figure out what is the best way to rebuild.

'I will be here for the long haul doing what I can. I felt as helpless as so many of you who are watching this, and don't know what to do so I've just been doing whatever I could.

Oprah, a part-time resident who owns nearly 1,000 acres, at a shelter earlier this week

'Today I brought back personal hygiene products and the other day was towels and sheets and pillows and the day before that it was water.

'I think being able to talk to people one on one and hear their stories and being there and listening and letting people know that they matter is really significant but in the long run the rebuilding process, I've been talking to a lot of people about what that's going to look like.

'My biggest concern is who is in charge and how does that money get directly to the people.

'My biggest concern is how do you get the resources to the people who actually need it.'
Hunter Biden's attorney Abbe Lowell slammed the Department of Justice for the 'decision on the fly' to renege on a plea deal that blew up spectacularly in court last month as the president's son is likely to head to trial for tax and gun crimes following the appointment of a special counsel.

According to a court filing late Sunday, Hunter's legal team slammed DOJ prosecutors for reneging on the 'previously agreed-upon plea agreement.'

Hunter appeared in federal court on July 26 prepared to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges and walk away with just a slap on the wrist and no prison time. However, the deal blew apart after the judge uncovered a clause suggesting that Hunter would be granted blanket immunity for any potential future charges that may arise from the DOJs five-year probe.

Lowell slammed prosecutors for changing their decision 'on the fly standing up in court' and also pledged that the DOJ will find 'no new evidence' against the president's son.

DOJ lawyers are not planning to enter into a new plea deal with the president's son anytime soon following Attorney General Merrick Garland's promoting of Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss - the main Hunter prosecutor - to special counsel status on Friday.

Attorney General Merrick Garland promoted Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss - the main Hunter prosecutor - to special counsel status on Friday

The Sunday filing by Hunter's attorneys also included more details about the original plea deal negotiations, including that the DOJ had 'largely dictated' the deal language.

Hunter appeared in federal court prepared to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges and walk away with just a slap on the wrist and no prison time, which Republicans slammed as a 'sweetheart deal' that Biden's DOJ put together to protect the president's son.

However, after Judge Maryellen Noreika questioned the 'diversion agreement' of Hunter's plea deal - a clause that gave him blanket immunity for a wide range of other potential charges, including illegal foreign lobbying - the deal blew up spectacularly.

Now, Hunter is likely to face a jury trial over the crimes since a new plea is looking more unlikely.

Lowell told CBS' Margaret Brennan on Sunday that 'One, they wrote something and weren't clear what they meant. Two, they knew what they meant and misstated it to counsel. Or third, they change their view as they were standing in court in Delaware.'

He added about newly appointed Special Counsel Weiss: 'Im confident that if this prosecutor has done what has been done for the last five years, then the only conclusion can be what the conclusion was on July 26th. Theres no new evidence to be found.'

Lowell also stated that despite Weiss' recent 'title change,' hes the 'same person hes been for the last five years.'

Garland's decision to promote Weiss to special counsel comes after recent whistleblower allegations that Hunter received 'special treatment' during the criminal probe.

IRS agents Joe Ziegler and Gary Shapley testified under oath to House Republicans that their investigation 'supported felony and misdemeanor tax charges,' which were ultimately not brought against the president's son Hunter due to political pressures.

Weiss tried to bring felony charges against him in Washington, D.C., they said, but was blocked by the district's top federal prosecutor Matthew Graves, a Biden appointee.

The 'special treatment' for Hunter became a pattern that kept happening over and over, said the whistleblowers who were told they would get in 'hot water' if they tried to speak with President Joe Biden's adult children and grandchildren over the course of their investigation.

The collapse of Hunter Biden's original plea deal also presents more problems for his father, Joe Biden. The president will now face more headlines and questions involving his drug-addict son's case as he hits the 2024 campaign trail.

The unraveling of the agreement between prosecutors and the defense team means Hunter could now face more charges. It also means that Hunter is likely to face additional prosecutions down the road.

Those may include any crimes related to his business deals with Ukraine, Romania and China that raked in millions of dollars.

And Republicans say Joe was at the center of them.

During the plea hearing, Hunter admitted that he obtained over $600,000 from a Chinese company, and was in business with one of their associates.

Attorney Abbe Lowell is representing Hunter Biden in court

'My partner was associated with a Chinese energy company called CEFC,' Hunter told the federal judge.

When asked the name of his partner, Hunter responded: 'I don't know how to spell his name, Yi Jianming is the chairman of that company.'

That directly contradicted a statement President Biden made on the campaign trail in 2020 that his son has never 'made money' from China.

The White House has maintained that the president has never been 'in business' with his son.
Horrifying footage shows the moment two Lollapalooza-goers were shocked by the third rail of a Chicago train - after entering the unauthorized area to take a series of photos.

Disturbing video circulating on social media shows the pair - as well as another member of their group - sitting on tracks and attempting to take a selfie, before a male member of the party leans back and is zapped with 600 volts.

He is then seen hauling a girl next to him on top of himself as he goes rigid with pain, shocking her in the process. The incident at 7.30pm left both victims, an unnamed man and woman, hospitalized on August 5, with the former in critical condition.

Neither have been identified, but first responders who rushed to the scene, at Chicago Transit Authority's Ridgeland Green Line station to rescue the pair said they are both in their 20s.

The two, who officials said had been making their way to the festival in Grant Park, were ultimately pulled off the rail by another member of the group, who managed to avoid being seriously electrocuted, but appeared to brave at least one shock while trying to rescue his companions.

Scroll down for video:

Horrifying footage shows the moment two Lollapalooza-goers were shocked by the third rail of a Chicago train - after entering the unauthorized area to take a series of photos.

In the now circulating footage, the duo are seen going limp after sitting on the dangerous, current-providing rail, through which a constant stream of voltage is funneled perpetually.

He is seen fighting through what appear to be a series of shocks himself as he struggles to heave his companions' dead weight - eventually doing with the help of several other straphangers, apparent horrified by what they have seen.

The footage is incredibly graphic, and shows how the travelers had gone onto the tracks to take pictures, with the girl - who was also hospitalized but was said to be 'improving' on August 6 - at a point appearing to take a selfie.

Seconds later, the man to her right is seen succumbing to the sudden surge of electricity, violently shaking before latching onto the girl.

At this point, the pair are seen growing stiff - a common consequence of receiving such a charge, given the number usually associated with a fatal dose is around 50 volts.

As the two fall back and continue to write on the rail, the other member of the group eventually realizes what's happening, and for roughly half a minute struggles to move his friends away from the electrified rail.

The task, however, proves Herculean given the weight of their inert bodies, spurring others to jump down and eventually move the pair.

The incident all happened within the span of a minute, at approximately 7:24pm, causing the male to go into cardiac arrest, officials from the Oak Park Fire Department who were deployed to the scene later said.

In the now circulating footage, the duo are seen going limp after sitting on the dangerous, current-providing rail, through which a constant stream of voltage is funneled perpetually. The footage is graphic, and shows how the travelers had gone onto the tracks to take pictures, with the girl - who was also hospitalized but was said to be 'improving' - appearing to take a selfie

It shows the trio sitting on tracks and attempting to take a selfie, before the male on the right suddenly leans back after being zapped. He is seen succumbing to the sudden surge of electricity, violently shaking, before latching onto the girl

As the two fall back and continue to write on the rail, the other member of the group eventually realizes what's happening, and for roughly half a minute struggles to move his friends away from the electrified rail

He was carted off unconscious to Loyola University Medical Center in critical condition, where he remained the next day.

The girl, meanwhile, sustained less serious injuries, officials said, and was still conscious when first responders arrived.

She was also rushed to Loyola, where the next day officials said her condition looked to be 'improving.'

At the time, town officials aired the belief that contrary to what witnesses said at the time, she may not have been shocked while trying to assist her friend.

The footage seen circulating this week seems to substantiate this, and shows how she was stricken after her companion latched onto her after being shocked.

'The scene was turned back over to the CTA [Chicago Transit Authority] Saturday night and trains were running again within about an hour of the OPFD response,' fire officials further added at the time.

In an update Monday, officials from the Village of Oak Park - a suburb in Cook County adjacent to Chicago - confirmed to DailyMail.com that they are aware of the footage's existence, and that it is indeed circulating on social media.

The male victim was carted off unconscious to Loyola University Medical Center in critical condition, where he remained the next day. An update on his condition has yet to be provided

The girl, meanwhile, sustained less serious injuries, officials said, and was still conscious when first responders arrived

She was also rushed to Loyola, where the next day officials said her condition looked to be 'improving'

On Monday, Oak Park Fire Department officials said they could not provide an update on the conditions of the two victims

In that offering, Oak Park Fire Department officials added that they could not provide an update on the conditions of the two people who had been hospitalized, and instead pointed to a statement offered Sunday, August 6.

'I cannot provide any update on their conditions at this time,' the spokesperson said after being asked about the current state of those stricken.

'The last update we received, which was early last week, is precisely as you indicated.

'The male victim was listed in critical condition and the female was improving. The Village is aware of a social media post reportedly containing video of the incident.

'We do not have any additional comment at this time.'

The harrowing footage harks back to an earlier incident in the Windy City that saw another Chicago commuter electrocuted, but saved by another straphanger who also leaped into action to rescue him while he was unconscious.

The incident happened this past summer, on the Chicago Transit Authority's sister train, the Red Line.

The harrowing footage harks back to an earlier incident in the Windy City this past summer that saw another Chicago commuter electrocuted, but saved by another straphanger who also leaped into action to rescue him while he was unconscious, on CAT's sister Red Line

In that case, the heart-pounding instance was also captured on camera, and showed 20-year-old Anthony Perry dropping down to rescue the rigor mortis-afflicted individual after he was administered 600 volts.

'The guy didnt have no control over his body,' Perry told CBS News Chicago at the time, after selflessly jumping below to save the mans life, risking getting shocked through the victim's stricken body in the process.

'I did hear somebody say as I got on the track, "Dont touch him!' he remembered, before being rewarded a car from the city for his heroics.

'I couldve kept walking, but I was like, you know what? Im not going to keep walking because God wouldnt want me to do that so I took action immediately.'

In that case, the man who was electrified also sustained serious injuries, but eventually recovered.

As for the recent incident, DailyMail.com has asked local fire officials to provide any updates. As of Monday afternoon, the duo's identity has yet to be released.
Six former Mississippi law enforcement officers have pleaded guilty to charges accusing them of torturing and abusing two black men during a raid.

Members of the self-called 'Goon Squad' each carried a coin with the name emblazoned on one side and the other with Rankin County Sheriff's Office's badge.

Lieutenant Jeffrey Middleton appeared to be the ringleader of the group, with his coin embossed with 'Lt Middleton's Goon Squad'.

Five other deputies for the Sheriff's Office, and one from the Richland Police Department, have been charged with conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice.

Christian Dedmon, Hunter Elward, Brett McAlpin, Middleton and Daniel Opdyke, and ex-police officer Joshua Hartfield, were all charged in relation to the assault of Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker in January.

Elward was charged with home invasion and aggravated assault for shoving a gun in the mouth of Jenkins and pulling the trigger - in what prosecutors called a 'mock execution'.

They are accused of assaulting them with sex toys, firearms, stun guns, milk, eggs, alcohol and chocolate syrup on January 24.

The officers were all charged in relation to the assault of Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker. (Top L-R) Brett McAlpin, Jeffrey Middleton, Christian Dedmon. (Bottom L-R) Hunter Elward, Daniel Opdyke, Joshua Hartfield

Jenkins (L) and Parker (R) filed a federal lawsuit in June and are seeking $400million in damages

Jenkins (left) and Parker (right) pictured outside the court room after six officers pled guilty in court for torturing them

The cops are potentially facing a maximum combined sentence of 641 years and two life sentences in prison for state and federal charges, as well as a combined $12.25 million in fines.

Dedmon was charged with home invasion after kicking in a door, with McAlpin, Middleton, Opdyke and Hartfield each facing an additional charge of first-degree obstruction of justice.

Middleton admitted in court that he was convicted of vehicular manslaughter in 2007 for hitting/killing a man.

The victims stared down their attackers after arriving together in court, sitting in the front row just feet away from their attackers' families.

Prosecutors say that some of the officers nicknamed themselves the 'Goon Squad' because of their willingness to use excessive force and cover it up.

They were targeted after a white neighbor complained that two black men were staying at the home with a white woman.

Parker was a childhood friend of the homeowner, Kristi Walley, who has been paralyzed since she was 15 - and he was helping to care for her.

All of the officers have pleaded guilty to the state charges on Monday, and previously pleaded in a connected federal civil rights case.

In January, the officers entered a property in Mississippi without a warrant, and handcuffed Jenkins and Parker before assaulting them.

Michael Corey Jenkins stared down his attackers after arriving together in court, sitting in the front row just feet away from their attackers' families

Members of the Rankin County 'Goon Squad' of law enforcement officers carried a coin to show that they were part of the sick group. Pictured: Lt Middleton's coin

They are accused of assaulting them with sex toys, firearms, stun guns, milk, eggs, alcohol and chocolate syrup. Pictured: Michael Corey Jenkins

Court documents say officers warned Jenkins (right) and Parker (left) to 'go back to Jackson or 'their side' of the Pearl River'

Former Rankin County sheriff's deputy Jeffrey Middleton appears at the Rankin County Chancery Court in Brandon

The victims stared down their attackers after arriving together in court, sitting in the front row just feet away from their attackers families

Prosecutors claim that the law enforcement officers then plotted a coverup, planting drugs and a gun, which initially led to false charges. Pictured: Dedmon (L) and McAlpin (R)

The brutal attack included beating included the use of a stun gun as well as sex toys and other objects.

McAlpin was informed of the alleged break-in by the two men, and asked Demon to investigate. He then sent a message to officers in the 'Goon Squad' saying: 'Are y'all available for a mission?'

He added that they might have to 'work easy' - meaning he was advising to knock on the door rather than kick it down because of security cameras on the property.

Patrol deputy Daniel Opdyke texted back a gif of a baby crying, with officers kicking in the back doors of the house which were not surrounded by cameras.

Dedmon asked the men where their drugs were, and when the victims denied having any narcotics, he shot a bullet into the wall, demanding that they confess.

Officials say that they mocked them with racial slurs, including 'n*****' and 'monkey', following a 90-minute torture session.

Opdyke found a dildo in one of the bedrooms, which he gave to Dedmon, who used it to slap the men before threatening to rape Jenkins with it.

They threw food items at them as they lay on the floor, and forced them to strip naked and shower to get rid of any evidence.

Both men were beaten with objects around the home  a piece of wood, a kitchen utensil, a metal sword  and tased repeatedly.

Lieutenant Jeffrey Middleton appeared to be the leader of the 'Goon Squad', with his coin embossed with 'Lt Middleton's Goon Squad'

Court documents show that the sickening episode only ended after Elward shot Jenkins (pictured) in the mouth

The sick cops repeatedly used their stun guns on the pair in a twisted competition to see which department's weapons were more powerful. Pictured: Hunter Elward

The six officers were charged with a combined 13 felonies in connection with 'the torture and physical abuse' of the two men that night, the Justice Department said in a news release

US Attorney General Merrick Garland said they 'egregiously violated the civil rights of citizens who they were supposed to protect'. Pictured: Former Rankin County sheriff's deputy Daniel Opdyke

The sick cops repeatedly used their stun guns on the pair in a twisted competition to see which department's weapons were more powerful.

McAlpin and Middleton stole two rubber bar mats from the home and were about to take a Class A military uniform, when they heard shots ring out, according to the federal criminal information.

Court documents show that the sickening episode only ended after Elward shot Jenkins in the mouth.

Elward removed a bullet from the chamber of his service pistol before firing into Jenkins mouth, before shooting a bullet through his tongue and jaw.

Prosecutors claim that the law enforcement officers then plotted a coverup, planting drugs and a gun.

Middleton planted a gun he kept in his car in the home, while Dedmon took meth from a previous drug bust and said it belonged to Jenkins.

The officers disposed of any shell casings they could find and threw the mens clothes into the woods behind the house.

A hard drive from the homes surveillance system and later thrown into a creek in Florence, with McAlpin and Middleton, the two highest ranking officers, threatening to kill the other deputies if they said anything.

Jenkins was charged with disorderly conduct, assaulting an officer and drug possession, while Parker was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and disorderly conduct. All charges were later dismissed.

Elward signed an affidavit, claiming Jenkins had shot at him and the other officers filed false police reports and lied to investigators from the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation to back up the claims.

Deputies for the Rankin County Sheriff's Office, and one from the Richland Police Department, have been charged with conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice

Jeffrey Middleton (L) and Daniel Opdyke (R) are two of the officers facing at least five years in jail - not including federal court decisions

Former Richland Police officer Joshua Hartfield pleaded guilty to the charges on August 14 along with his five other accused law enforcement officers

Christian Dedmon (L) and Brett McAlpin (R) are part of the group who handcuffed and assaulted the two black men in January

But their lies unraveled after one deputy admitted lying to the sheriff, who launched a probe into the incident.

All of the officers confessed to the conspiracy following an investigation, with state prosecutors advising that they are handed between five to 15 years in prison.

Time served for the state charges will run concurrently with federal sentences they are scheduled to receive in November.

Court documents say officers warned Jenkins and Parker to 'go back to Jackson or 'their side' of the Pearl River.'

Attorneys for Opdyke said the former officer 'has admitted to his wrongdoing', adding: 'He takes responsibility for his part in the horrific harms perpetrated on Mr. Jenkins and Mr. Parker, the victims, and is prepared to face the consequences of his misconduct.'

Both men filed a federal lawsuit in June, claiming that the officers illegally entered their home and handcuffed, kicked, waterboarded and tased them and attempted to sexually assault them. They are seeking $400million in damages.

The six officers were charged with a combined 13 felonies in connection with 'the torture and physical abuse' of the two men that night, the Justice Department said in a news release.

Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey announced in June deputies had been fired, with Richland Police Department said in July that Hartfield  who was off-duty at the time of the alleged assault  had resigned.

U.S. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, says the Justice Department is still investigating the January raid that led to the shooting of Michael Corey Jenkins by Mississippi sheriff's deputies

A deputy placed the barrel of a gun in Jenkins' mouth, it fired and the bullet exited behind one of his ears

Michael Jenkins, second from right, stands with his mother, Mary Jenkins, center, and their attorneys in February following his release from the hospital after being shot by sheriff's

Jenkins, pictured, and Parker have also filed a federal civil rights lawsuit and are seeking $400 million in damages

Kristi Walley, whose home the men were in, said in February of Parker: 'He's a blessing.

'Every time I've needed him he's been here. There were times I've been living here by myself and I didn't know what I was going to do.'

Jenkins still has difficulty speaking because of his injuries, with the gunshot lacerating his tongue and breaking his jaw before exiting behind his ear.

Both men have fled Mississippi but returned on Monday for the court hearing, with Jenkins saying after the hearing: 'As far as justice, I knew we were going to get it. But I thought it was maybe going to take longer.'

Parker added: 'With a little fight, with a lot of fight, you can come out with the truth. And the truth always prevails over any lie or story you make up.'

This wasn't the only instance of the groups cynically attempting to get away with the shocking episode.

Documents revealed that the twisted cops agreed to enter the Braxton property without a warrant as long as they could avoid being spotted by security cameras.

On top of this, they planned to use excessive force on the two men as long as they avoided injuring their heads so there would be 'no bad mugshots'.

Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey, who said he first learned about what happened after he read unsealed court documents, condemned his former employees, saying:

'This is the most horrible incident of police brutality I've learned of over my whole career, and I'm ashamed it happened at this department.'

US Attorney General Merrick Garland said they 'egregiously violated the civil rights of citizens who they were supposed to protect.'

Meanwhile, US Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi Darren LaMarca said: 'They became the criminals they swore to protect us from. Now, they'll be treated as the criminals as they are.'
CNN has made sweeping changes to its line-up in an effort to boost its ratings - following the departure of its CEO Chris Licht.

Veteran journalists Chris Wallace and Christiane Amanpour will be the new faces during weekend shows in the reshuffle at the network.

Abby Phillip will take the 10pm weekday slot, while Laura Coates will take the hour later, at 11pm. Kaitlan Collins will continue to anchor her 9pm show.

Collins was previously sat with Poppy Harlow and Don Lemon on the morning show, before Lemon was sacked from the company in April.

CNN This Morning is now run by chief White House correspondent Phil Mattingly and Harlow. Kasie Hunt anchors 'Early Start.'

Abby Phillip (right) will take the 10pm weekday slot, while Laura Coates (left) will take the hour later, at 11pm. Kaitlan Collins will continue to anchor her 9pm show

Veteran journalists Chris Wallace and Christiane Amanpour will be the new faces during weekend shows in the reshuffle at the network

Pamela Brown, chief investigative correspondent is set to anchor a new day show out of the nations capital, while Manu Raju takes over 'Inside Politics' on Sunday.

Chris Wallace will host a panel show on the weekends, on top of his weekly program.

And Alisyn Camerota is set to take on long-form reporting for the Sunday show 'The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper.'

CNN's leadership team, including Amy Entelis, David Leavy, Virginia Moseley and Eric Sherling said: 'By expanding the range and depth of our programming lineup across multiple dayparts, we are strengthening our reporting excellence throughout the schedule, elevating our ability to tell great stories across platforms, and doubling down on CNNs position as the most trusted name in news.'

This comes just two months after a desperate and 'devastated' Chris Licht tried to cling on to his position as CEO of CNN before he was ousted.

Licht's departure from the network was announced by David Zaslav, the CEO of CNN's parent company Warner Bros. Discovery.

He had been brought on last May to overhaul the network, cleanse it of its left-wing bias and boost ratings.

In just 13 months, he orchestrated a series of anchor mishaps and masterminded disastrous town hall with Donald Trump which boosted viewer numbers momentarily but made a laughing stock of the network.

Chris Licht's departure from the network was announced by David Zaslav, the CEO of CNN's parent company Warner Bros. Discovery

CNN sources told DailyMail.com at the time that Licht was devastated.

'He knew that he was now on the chopping block,' one said.

Brian Stelter, CNN's former media correspondent who was fired by Licht, said the remarks shocked executives who knew he was on his way out.

'Over the weekend, Chris Licht still claimed there was a path forward for him at CNN. Some people politely tried to tell him that there was no coming back. No recovering. He did not, or could not, believe it.

'Licht went to Iowa for Sunday's town hall and declared on Monday that he would 'fight like hell' to regain the staff's trust.

'Some high-level CNNers thought it was strange since they already knew his days were numbered. And they were right. What a sad story,' he said.

Licht was brought on to overhaul the network in May last year, following the departure of long-serving boss Jeff Zucker and after the firing of Chris Cuomo, its most successful anchor.

His mission was to cleanse the network of its inherent left-wing bias and boost ratings.

Instead, he insulated himself in a corporate office on the 22nd floor - five floors above the newsroom - and seemed constantly unavailable to staff who were disgusted with his efforts to bring the network back to the political center.

Ratings plummeted to their lowest ever, aside from the disastrous Trump town hall with Kaitlan Collins which was a campaign victory for Trump but an assault on CNN.
Bishop Robert (Bob) L. Jackson is the Senior Pastor of Acts Full Gospel Church of God in Christ in Oakland

My 72-year-old wife is talking about getting herself a gun.

That's how bad it's gotten in Oakland, California.

Eleven-year-old girls are being pimped in the streets. Houses are being invaded. Elderly women are being carjacked in broad daylight.

Unless you lived here yourself, you wouldn't believe it.

9-1-1 calls go unanswered. When they're picked up, callers are often put on hold for half an hour or longer. By that time, they may already be dead.

There are drag races through the streets, gunfights and innocent children are getting caught in the crossfire.

Criminals are getting away with murder because there's hardly any police to stop them, and our so-called leaders don't seem to care.

I've had enough.

My community is begging for help, but no one is listening.

That's why I and the president of the Oakland NAACP decided to speak out on behalf of the black, white, Asian and Hispanic people of Oakland, who deserve to be heard.

But after the NAACP's Cynthia Adams and I demanded our leaders declare a state of emergency over the crime crisis, the Oakland District Attorney's office attacked us.

Alameda County D.A. Pamela Price claimed we were spreading a 'false narrative.'

Well, the devil is a liar.

Bishop Robert (Bob) L. Jackson is the Senior Pastor of Acts Full Gospel Church of God in Christ in Oakland.

Houses are being invaded. Elderly women are being carjacked in broad daylight. (Above) Surveillance video caught a home invasion attempt that ended with shots fired at an East Oakland home

Criminals are getting away with murder because there's hardly any police to stop them, and our so-called leaders don't seem to care. I've had enough.

She's the one who's denying reality.

I've lived in this city for nearly my entire life.

My mother cleaned houses. My father, a Navy veteran, was an elevator repairman. He was too proud to take welfare, despite his medical discharge, so he worked. My mom kept scrubbing floors.

That didn't make much money for a family of seven kids. So, I knew poverty and learned early on what it took to survive in the ghetto.

Police once chased me. I carried a gun, joined a motorcycle gang, did drugs and abused alcohol.

Only by the grace of God did I find Jesus and escape that life. And now, I'm sick to my stomach that so many young men and women are being plunged into that dark, sinful life that nearly swallowed me whole.

In December, I turn 78-years-old.

For four decades, I've been the pastor of Acts Full Gospel Church in Oakland. And it's through the church that I've worked to keep young people out of prison and, if they're already being incarcerated, to stop them from returning.

No one can question my commitment to my people.

Like everyone else, I was horrified by the murder of George Floyd. The viciousness of that police officer, who kneeled on Floyd's neck, his hands in his pockets, was clear for everyone to see.

I wanted law enforcement to be punished. So, I joined the calls of the mostly white radical activists, who flooded our city council meetings to condemn the cops.

The more they shouted and hollered the more the politicians listened to them  whether it was good for the people of Oakland or not.

Only after the activists went back to their rich, safe neighborhoods and crime exploded in mine, did I see the 'Defund Movement' for what it was  a knee-jerk reaction.

But it was too late. $18 million had been stripped from our already cash-strapped police department.

My 72-year-old wife is talking about getting herself a gun. That's how bad it's gotten in Oakland, California. (Above) Bishop Jackson and his wife Barbara

After the NAACP's Cynthia Adams and I demanded our leaders declare a state of emergency over the crime crisis, the Oakland District Attorney's office attacked us. Alameda County D.A. Pamela Price (above) claimed we were spreading a 'false narrative

Since our letter went out, I have not heard from California Governor Gavin Newsom or President Joe Biden. Though, I have started to see California Highway Patrol officers driving through our streets.

Today, we're down hundreds of officers and there's hardly anyone who wants to wear the badge anymore.

That's what happens when you demonize public servants.

Taxpaying residents are being told to barricade their doors, because there's no one to protect them when the thugs bust in.

Now, I have a new name for the 'Defund' activists: anti-police anarchists.

They haven't only unleashed chaos in Oakland, they want to disrupt America. Their anti-police insanity has turned our cities into shooting galleries. It is destroying the country that we all love.

So, why don't the people in power give a darn?

Since our letter went out, I have not heard from California Governor Gavin Newsom or President Joe Biden. Though, I have started to see California Highway Patrol officers driving through our streets.

It's a step in the right direction, but there's a long way to go.

Americans should not live in fear in their own neighborhoods, and I won't stop speaking the truth until safety is restored.
Rapper Tory Lanez is being held in solitary confinement for fear of attacks by other inmates at LAs notorious County Jail as he begins his ten-year sentence for shooting former lover Megan Thee Stallion.

Wardens are checking on the hip-hop star every 30 minutes in the administrative segregation unit that has previously housed OJ Simpson and That 70s Show rapist Danny Masterson.

Lanez, 31, real name Daystar Peterson, pleaded with judge David Herriford to give me some sort of alternative that is not prison as he was sentenced last week for the 2020 gun attack after a pool party at Kylie Jenner's house.

But the rapper now finds himself alone in a cell for 22 hours a day in the violent and overcrowded jail.

At least 12 people have died in Los Angeles County jails since June 1 including Joseph Hutchinson was found stabbed to death in Men's Central Jail on August 4.

Tory Lanez is beginning his ten-year sentence in Los Angeles notorious Men's Central Jail

The overcrowded facility has been slated for closure for 20 years amidst a culture of violence among prisoners and staff

Nearly half the inmates have diagnosed mental health problems and and at least 12 have died since the start of June

Earlier this summer, a video was smuggled out of the facility showing dozens of horrific attacks in the facility seemingly recorded on the jails CCTV system, the LA Times reported.

The Canadian performer shot Megan five times, hitting her twice in the feet, following an alcohol-fueled argument in his SUV as they drove in the Hollywood Hills.

Megan  real name Megan Pete  asked the driver to stop the car and she got out  which was when she said Lanez yelled 'Dance b***h' and fired a gun five times at her, injuring her feet so seriously that she needed surgery.

She testified in court that Lanez offered her and her assistant Kelsey Harris a million dollars to keep quiet about the shooting and asked them not to report him because he was already 'on probation.'

The City's DA office pressed for the maximum sentence possible claiming the rapper showed a complete lack of regard for human life'.

Now he is on suicide watch, allowed to shower every other day, and only allowed into the jailhouse grounds for three hours a week.

Nearly half the current 12,700 prisoners in the facility are suffering from diagnosed mental health problems, according to campaign group Vera.

The jail has been under court oversight since 1978 because of the poor conditions with plans for a replacement facility on the table for the last 20 years.

Video compiled secretly by inmates shows routine brutality with jailhouse staff slow to intervene, including one mass assault that lasted more than ten minutes.

He will be held in 'administrative segregation,' according to TMZ - the same unit OJ Simpson and Suge Knight and Danny Masterson have spent time in

Megan Thee Stallion had three bullet fragments surgically removed from her foot. She's pictured in court in December for Lanez's trial

Rapper Tory Lanez was sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting and wounding hip hop star Megan Thee Stallion. He is pictured outside court in December 2022

Megan took to Instagram with a photo of her foot injury following the shooting by Lanez (pictured right in a 2017 mugshot)

The jail population fell during the Covid pandemic and has fallen since because of reforms to bail requirements by LA District Attorney George Gascon.

But it is back on the rise and is now 1,500 over capacity.

'Our jails are killing peopledisproportionately Black and Latino men who are held pretrialbecause the county has crammed the facilities beyond capacity,' said Michelle Parris, program director of Vera California.

'Jail has become the countys default response to poverty, houselessness, and other unmet needs.'

Inspectors from the United Nations Human Rights Council visited in May, prompting protests by health care workers who say that staffing shortages have left them unable to provide care to patients in these dangerously overcrowded facilities.

'We know that people who are here deserve humane conditions,' Katrina Thompson, a registered nurse, told CBS News.

'They deserve health care and they deserve to be safe when they are here.'

At his sentencing on August 8, Lanez begged Judge Herriford to 'give me some sort of alternative that is not prison.

'I can be a much better man in my community,' he insisted.

Im not standing before you as a celebrity. I stand here as a genuine person who wants a chance. My child needs me - I want to better myself. I want a chance to show the world that the man you see here today is not the real me.

Im not expecting preferential treatment. But, your honor Im genuinely asking you with my heart to put me to the test, to give me an opportunity.'

Defense attorney Matthew Barhoma blasted prosecutors for the disparity of seeking a 13-year sentence, which, he added, is quite a deviation from the LA DAs own sentencing policy.

This disparity is being sought out, just because hes Tory Lanez. The fact that hes Tory Lanez is not a reason to seek enhancements of sentence. The prosecutor is reaching.

He argued that his client had not been involved in any prior violent acts and that the DAs request for the sentence to be enhanced from 10 to 13 years should be dismissed because the shooting was related to Lanez mental illness over his childhood trauma, and his alcohol abuse.

But the Alex Bott from the DA's office countered: This case has nothing to do with mental illness and said that Lanez shot Megan because she insulted his musical prowess during their drunken argument. This violent shooting was over his bruised ego.

The prosecution was seeking enhanced sentencing, said Bott, because the shooting involved great bodily injury to Megan.

He fired the gun five times, striking the victim two times - he could have killed her.

Botts co-prosecutor, DDA Kathy Ta added that they were seeking the enhanced sentence because of Lanez threat to life and callousness, his lack of accountabilityhis brazen disregard for the court and the victims safety and his conduct toward the victim afterward.

Asked by the judge why prosecutors were asking for 13 years jail rather than 10, Ta said that anything less would endanger public safety.

Megan Thee Stallion performs onstage at LA Pride in the Park held at Los Angeles State Historic Park on June 9, 2023 (left) Lanez in a court sketch (right)

Defense attorney Ed Welbourn recalled clinical psychologist Dr. Stephanie Herring to the stand to talk about Lanez alcohol abuse and she said that Tory had told her he would drink up to a fifth of Petron tequila per nightto numb out.

Is there a nexus between his all alcoholism and the shooting? asked Welbourn. Absolutely, responded Dr. Herring.

But DDA Bott hit back saying: 'There is not a single document showing hes ever had treatmentfor alcoholism. We have no verification of this.

This is just a strategy. Once again, (Lanez) is doing anything and everything to avoid being held accountable.

Lanez defense team spent several hours calling witnesses who sang his client's praises and recounting his many acts of kindness and charity.

And after he showed several videos Tuesday showing Lanez philanthropic activities, DDA Bott scoffed: I felt like I was here for a Man of the Year' award.

It doesnt take much to give to charity when you are a man of great wealth.

We are here today because of a heinous act of violence on a defenseless woman. then he put her through hell for two years.

These are the actions of not a good, courageous person but a misogynist and a coward.

He asks the court for mercy. But where was the mercy for Megan?

On the last day of Lanez's 10-day trial on December 23 last year, the jury of seven women and five men unanimously convicted the rapper of three felonies.

He was found guilty of assault with a semi-automatic firearm, shooting a firearm in a grossly negligent manner and carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle.

The assault carried a penalty of up to nine years in jail, the conviction for negligently shooting a gun up to three years and the concealed gun count three years.

Because the jury also found that Lanez caused 'great bodily injury'  Megan had three bullet fragments surgically removed from her feet  the assault and negligent shooting felonies carried enhanced penalties.

The musician had previously pleaded not guilty to all three charges.

In her emotional testimony during trial, Megan, 28, told the jury that she and Lanez  with whom she'd been having a sexual relationship  had been to a pool party July 12, 2020 at the home of Kylie Jenner and were in his SUV in the Hollywood Hills with Kelsey Harris when an alcohol-fueled argument erupted.

Megan  real name Megan Pete  asked the driver to stop the car and she got out  which was when she said Lanez yelled 'Dance b***h' and fired a gun five times at her, injuring her feet so seriously that she needed surgery.

Megan also said that Lanez later apologized to her, saying he was drunk at the time of the shooting.

Lanez, during the course of the last eight months, had attempted to be granted a re-trial. His requests were denied by a judge.
Italy's Mount Etna has brought planes leaving the Sicilian city of Catania to a standstill after it was captured spewing hot lava and ash overnight.

The airport, which sits on the east of the Mediterranean island just 30 miles south of the volcano, said that flights to and from the hub would be suspended until at least 8 pm local time tonight.

The volcano was seen blowing smoke rings out of its crater as early as last Thursday.

The eruption, which is the first seen from Mount Etna since 1992, saw lava flow until just before dawn, though ash is still coming out of one of its craters.

Several British flights to the island have either been cancelled or diverted to nearby airports.

The eruption saw lava flow until just before dawn, though ash is still coming out of one of its craters

The volcano was seen blowing smoke rings out of its crater as early as last Thursday

Catania's mayor has banned its citizens from using motorcycles or bicycles due to the heavy presence of ash

The mayor is also enforcing a city-wide 19 mph speed limit for cars and other road vehicles

Ryanair was forced to divert seven of its flights to Trapini Airport, on the far west of the island.

The budget airline told its passengers: 'Due to the eruption of Mount Etna, we would like to advise all passengers traveling to and from Catania on 14 August of possible delays, diversion or cancellations to flights.

'Affected passengers will be notified as soon as possible..

'Ryanair understands the disruptions to passengers resulting from delays, diversions, or cancellations; the situation is unfortunately outside of our control, and we thank you for your patience.'

Meanwhile, two easyJet flights from Gatwick were immediately affected, with one arriving seven hours behind schedule and at Comisio Airport, 93 miles away from the intended destination, while another was cancelled entirely.

Two more, flying out of Luton on Monday, are set to be diverted to Comiso as well.

Travelers were left to deal with chaos as flights to and from across the world were cancelled or diverted following the eruption

Several British airlines, including Ryanair, easyJet and British Airways, were forced divert or cancel flights

An easyJet spokesperson told the Independent: 'Due to the eruption of Mount Etna and the subsequent ash cloud close to its runway, Catania airport is currently closed.

'Like all airlines operating into Catania, easyJet is currently unable to operate many of its scheduled flights to and from the airport today. We have rerouted some of our flights to operate into Comiso airport today.

'Unfortunately it is not clear when normal operations will resume.'

British Airways was forced to cancel a 7:10 am departure from Gatwick, with a spokesperson for the airline saying: 'Due to the closure of Catania airport, we've had to cancel our flight due to operate today.

The volcano was seen blowing smoke rings out of its crater as early as last Thursday

1992 was the last time Mount Etna, on the west of Sicily, erupted

'We continue to monitor the situation and have been in contact with customers to apologise and offer options including rebooking with us or another airline, or a full refund.'

The city's mayor, Enrico Trantino, also banned the use of motorcycles and bicycles, and has set a city-wide speed limit of just 19 mph for the next 48 hours, as the city's streets are covered in ash that could vehicles to skid and crash.

Catania Airport's closure comes just days after it reopened following a major fire at a terminal building last month, which led to weeks of disruption for passengers.
The 10-year-old girl who was found dead at her house has been named and pictured as an international manhunt continues for the three people who fled the UK.

Sara Sharif was tragically found at the 550,000 home in the quiet village of Horsell, near Woking, in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Police quickly launched a murder inquiry and revealed the three people who they want to speak to who left the UK.

Emotional tributes have now poured in for the 'lovely' Sara as flowers and notes have been left outside her family home in Surrey.

One note at her property read: 'Sweet girl. I'm so sorry that your sparkle was put out too soon. Rest in peace X,' The Sun reported.

Surrey Police has revealed that enquires are ongoing to locate the three identified people, who were known to the victim.

Detectives confirmed that no other people were present at the address when they attended in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Formal identification is yet to take place but police revealed that locally the child has been named.

Sara Sharif was tragically found at the 550,000 home in the quiet village of Horsell, near Woking, in the early hours of Thursday morning

Police officers in the village of Horsell, near Woking, where the ten-year-old girl's body was found

READ MORE: International manhunt launched for three wanted over murder of 10-year-old girl Advertisement

No arrests have been made at this time. A post-mortem examination is due to take place tomorrow afternoon.

Officers remain at the address whilst the investigation continues and further updates will be provided in due course.

There was a heavy police presence at the semi-detached property on Hammond Road on Friday as people laid flowers on the pavement.

Neighbours said that a Pakistani family with six 'very young' children moved into the house in April.

One mother, who wished not to be named, said she was 'traumatised' by the news, adding that her children were 'terrified'.

She said: 'It's just a shock. My 16-year-old daughter was very upset thinking about that little girl.'

Several neighbours said that they were in a state of shock after hearing the news. In a statement on Thursday evening, Surrey Police said officers were called to the address at around 2.50am that morning following 'concern' for the girl's safety.

The investigation is being led by Surrey Police and Sussex Police's major crime team.

The child's loved ones have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers, Surrey Police said.

Locals have been paying their respects to the ten-year-old girl following the tragedy on Thursday

A cordon was set up by officers as police began a murder investigation into the circumstances of the girl's death

Neighbour Amjad Ali, 47, told MailOnline he 'couldn't believe' that 'something like this happened outside my house.'

He added that the family moved in about five months ago and that everyone in the area is 'shocked' by the girl's death.

Mr Ali said: 'My son looked out the window as I had taken my wife on holiday and were still up and he said the road was full of police.

'Then an officer knocked on the door and asked if we knew anything about the family, but we don't really know them.

'They are a Pakistani family that moved in about five months ago. I don't know where from, but the husband works as a taxi driver, and they have three or four kids.

'I only know them to say "Hello" and that's about it. The kids sometimes play together but we don't really mix that much.

'This is a very nice area and everyone is shocked. I didn't know a little girl was involved until I saw it on the news.'

On Saturday, the identity of Sara's father, Malik Urfan Sharif, who works as a taxi driver in Woking, was revealed.

The 31-year-old moved into the three-bedroom 550,000 council house in the quiet village of Horsell, near Woking, in April with his wife Beenish and children.

Associates of Sharif told MailOnline they had been left shocked by the news with one saying: 'I just can't believe it. He is such a friendly guy who adores his kids. He's been living in the UK for years and is originally from Pakistan. He works as a taxi driver with a hackney plate outside Woking station.'

Another neighbour confirmed the identity when shown his social media profile and added: 'He was a big fan of Imran Khan and had a picture of him in his car.'

Locals have described their trauma and paid their respects after the tragic death of the young girl

Police officers stand outside a property on Hammond Road in Woking, Surrey, after a 10-year-old girl was found dead

A detective wearing blue gloves and face mask carries items in a plastic bag down the road

It comes after neighbours last night claimed that two cars had disappeared from the driveway of the house the same night Sara died.

Locals living in Hammond Road in the village of Horsell say the vehicles were at the property hours before the child was found dead.

Both cars were gone by the time emergency services swarmed the residential road at 2.50am amid reports of concern for a child's welfare, The Mirror reports.

On Facebook, Sara's father has been vociferous about the cost of taxi licenses and three years ago commented on how he had paid 1,145 for an annual permit in a posting on fees.

It is not known if Sharif is one of the three people who Surrey police say they are looking for and who fled the country the day before the girl's body was found.

On his social media, he has uploaded videos of him in the garden of the family home in Woking and the furniture in the footage matches that seen after police had left a back gate open. There are also several clips of former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan.

Sharif attended the local mosque but was described as being 'not very religious', by friends.

He was described as a 'hardworking family man' and a 'good friend' by former Tory councilor Rashid Mohammed to The Times.

Sharif is reported to have moved to Britain from Pakistan about 20 years ago, with one fellow cabbie telling the publication the family was 'always friendly and laughing'.
A teacher jailed for having sex with a pupil has been moved from her job as a security guard on a building site after distracting the workers, MailOnline has learned.

Kandice Barber had been working as part of a scheme to ease her back into the community after temporary release from prison.

She was jailed for six years and two months in 2021 having been being convicted of grooming a 15-year-old and having sex with him in a field.

The trial judge blasted the mum of three as 'beyond despicable' for seducing the boy with topless photos and explicit messages.

School teacher Kandice Barber was jailed in March 2021 after being found guilty of having sex with a pupil. Pictured: working in July as a security guardian a building site in West London

Barber, who worked at a school in Princess Risborough, Bucks, flirted with the teen sending messages during a school assembly.

The blonde teacher had bombarded the then 15-year-old pupil with messages, including one where she asked him 'do you like boobs or bum?' - and sent him a photo of herself on a bed surrounded by sex toys.

She was found out after a topless picture she had sent her victim was circulated around so much it ended up being passed to the headteacher of their school.

Since May she had been employed as a gate guard at a building site in Hounslow, West London.

Wearing an orange hard hat and high viz jacket it was her job to check on drivers delivering goods to the construction site.

She would also check security passes for pedestrians entering the site where 74 new homes are being built for the local council by Wates Construction.

But after she was photographed at work - and builders became aware of her sordid past  she has not been seen at the site close to Heathrow Airport.

One builder said: 'No one knew anything about her until she was photographed. Lots of people were talking about her, but we've not seen her since.'

She had been released on licence after serving just over two years of her sentence as part of a scheme run by the Ministry of Justice.

As part of the Release of Temporary Licence (ROTL) she would be paid for the work.

Officials would have carried out a risk assessment before being placed at the building site.

As a security guard Barber would have had limited contact with other workers simply opening and closing a metal gate on to the site.

Prior to being moved she is said to have loved working on the site.

One builder said: 'She's attractive looking, so she's already proving a hit with the lads, who have no idea about her background.

'It's no secret she's a massive flirt and lots of the staff there have already noticed her.'

Wates Construction are one of several companies that partner with the Ministry of Justice to help inmates integrate back into the community.

She is likely to be released from prison early next year after serving half her sentence.

Kandice Barber bombarded the then 15-year-old pupil with messages, including one where she asked him 'do you like boobs or bum?'

A source told MailOnline Barber was told not to come back to the Hounslow site after other workers found out about her past.

She did not move to another Wates site with her participation in the Ministry of Justice scheme for early release undecided.

Her ex-husband has revealed that she blamed him for the break-up of their five-year marriage after he stood by her during her trial in 2020.

Danny Barker said he had supported his wife after she protested her innocence  but has not seen her for a year.

They stopped talking after he revealed he had been talking to another woman online and Kandice told him he had 'broken her heart'. She filed for divorce.

Barker, 40, old has a new partner who is expecting his baby in the autumn.

Wates Construction has been contacted for comment.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell's 'devoted husband' has died aged 55, city officials have announced.

Jason Cantrell was an attorney and the son of former New Orleans Criminal District Court Magistrate Judge Harry Cantrell. The date and cause of his death have not been given.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 24 years and their daughter, RayAnn, who shared heart-warming family photographs on Instagram as she paid tribute to him Monday afternoon.

She posted images of her father embracing her as a toddler, and a more recent family picture with the mayor in.

News of his passing comes amid swirling rumors that his Democrat wife was having an affair behind his back - something she has denied.

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell's 'devoted husband' has died, city officials have announced. His date of death and the cause have not been given

The couple's daughter, RayAnn, shared heart-warming family photographs on Instagram as she paid tribute to him Monday afternoon

The Cantrells tied the knot in September 1999 - they would have been married 24 years next month

Insights into her personal life were revealed earlier this year through a police probe into officer Jeffrey Vappie.

The cop was found spending time with the married mother-of-one at her grace and favor apartment in the exclusive French Quarter.

Vappie's wife has since sued for divorce, alleging an affair dating back to 2021 - though Cantrell claims their relationship was 'strictly professional'.

The City of Orleans announced her husband's death on Monday morning via communications director Gregory Joseph.

'It is with great sadness and heartache that we announce the passing of First Gentleman Jason Cantrell,' Joseph said.

'He was a devoted husband and father, as well as a dedicated public servant who valiantly served the residents of this city not only alongside Mayor Cantrell but also as an experienced family, civil and criminal attorney.

'First Gentleman Cantrell will forever be missed and cherished by his beloved family, the legal community and the entire City of New Orleans. May he rest in God's eternal peace.

'Our love and prayers remain with Mayor Cantrell, their daughter RayAnn and the entire Cantrell family.

'We ask that you please respect their privacy during this challenging time.'

The City of Orleans announced her husband's death on Monday morning via communications director Gregory Joseph. Pictured: Jason and LaToya Cantrell

Jason Cantrell 'was a devoted husband and father, as well as a dedicated public servant who valiantly served the residents of this city not only alongside Mayor Cantrell but also as an experienced family, civil and criminal attorney', New Orleans City said in a statement

Cantrell speaks during the CROWN Awards ceremony in the Grand Ballroom of the Westin Hotel on July 3, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana

According to Fox New Orleans, Vappie (pictured) spent 112 hours at Cantrell's apartment over a 27 day stretch, and was even seen watering her plants

Vappie and Cantrell are spotted walking together outside her stunning apartment in the French Quarter

The Cantrell family has lost a father, a son, and spouse and I encourage all New Orleanians to lift the Mayor and her family up in prayer during this tragic and difficult time.  Helena Moreno (@HelenaMorenoLA) August 14, 2023

In May 2018, California-born Cantrell was elected the first female mayor of New Orleans, Louisiana, in its 300-year history, and Jason served by her side as a public servant.

They would have been married 24 years next month, according to the mayor's social media post marking their 20th anniversary on September 4, 2019.

Vice President of the New Orleans City Council Helena Moreno said officials are 'saddened and shocked' by the news of Jason's death.

'We are all saddened and shocked by the loss of Jason Cantrell,' she said.

'I, along with my entire staff, offer our deepest sympathies and condolences to Mayor Cantrell and her entire family on the passing of her husband.

'The Cantrell family has lost a father, a son, and spouse and I encourage all New Orleanians to lift the Mayor and her family up in prayer during this tragic and difficult time.'
British fighter jets today intercepted two Russian bombers in international airspace, just north of Scotland and within NATO's northern air policing area.

The 'Bear Bombers', packed with communications and reconnaissance equipment, were seen flying north of the Shetland Isles, prompting RAF Typhoons to scramble from RAF Lossiemouth.

The Air Force made a 'successful intercept', monitoring the flight path of the Russian Tu-142 Bear-F and Tu-142 Bear-J aircraft as they passed overhead 'to counter any potential threat to UK territory'.

But what are the Russian bombers, and what were they doing near Scotland?

Here is everything you need to know about the Russian 'Bear Bombers'.

British fighter jets today intercepted two Russian bombers north of Scotland and within NATO 's northern air policing area. Pictured: An RAF Typhoon (left) is seen tracking a Russian Tupolev Tu-142 maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft this morning

Image issued today by the Ministry of Defence shows a Russian Tu-142. Royal Air Force pilots from RAF Lossiemouth launched Typhoon fighters to intercept two Russian bombers today

What are the Russian Tu-142 bombers?

The Russian Tu-142 bombers are Soviet-era reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) planes in military use since 1972 and still used by the Russian Navy today.

Filled with communication and reconnaissance equipment, they are adept at picking out submarines and then picking them off with bombs and cannons.

Over the years, operators have developed a number of variants including the Bear-F and the Bear-J seen flying north of Shetland today.

The variants measure around 174ft 2in (53.08m) long with a wingspan of 164ft 1in (50m) and can fly at up to 575mph (925kmh).

The Tu-142 Bear-F is a dedicated anti-submarine aircraft, developed in the early 1970s around the recon and target-destination aircraft, the Tu-95RC.

The plane's tail turret features a pair of AM-23 cannons - guns about an inch wide.

The Bear-F also carries anti-submarine torpedoes, anti-ship torpedoes, depth bombs and up to eight anti-ship missiles.

This makes it a versatile maritime strategic bomber capable of inflicting damage on a range of possible targets.

The Tu-142 Bear-J is the western reporting name for the Tu-142MR Orel - the Eagle.

It is based on the Bear F airframe but has unique systems, with changes to its ventral fairing, nose radome and tail antenna.

This variant serves as a command post and communications platform for talking to submarines under the water.

It was also designed specifically as a doomsday plane, made to relay between naval headquarters and a fleet of ballistic submarines in the event of a nuclear war.

The Bear-J was originally ordered in response to the US Navy's own Cold War-era bid to produce a plane that could reliably communicate back and forth in case of Armageddon.

The R that distinguishes it is short for retranslyater - meaning 'communications relay aircraft'.

But on top of relaying information, the plane comes equipped with two Gryazev/ Shipunov GSh-23 twin-barrel cannons mounted on its tail - a 23mm gun able to fire at some 3,000-3,400 rpm.

It also holds jammers and flares for disrupting the enemy.

The first two aircraft were tested in 1986 and remain in use by Russian forces.

An RAF Typhoon, left, monitors a Russian Tupolev Tu-142 maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft

Handout photo issued by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of an RAF Typhoon monitoring a Russian Tupolev Tu-142 maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft

Why were they flying north of Scotland?

According to early warning and threatcasting group T-Intelligence, the recent Russian 'intrusion' into the UK's flight information region (FIR) is 'relatively routine' and likely related to ongoing Russian Northern Fleet exercises or operations.

Vlad Sutea, Founder and Lead Analyst at T-Intelligence, told MailOnline: 'A typical mission that Bear F and J would engage in is submarine hunting, which can involve searching for NATO submarines and communicating with submerged Russian submarines.

'Their presence in the British FIR underscores the continued relevance of the GIUK Gap - the space between Greenland, Iceland and the UK - to the Russian military.

'The Russian interest in the GIUK Gap is twofold: maintain the corridor open for access into the North Atlantic; and detect, monitor, and deny NATO movements, specifically submarines, approaching the Russian "bastion" in the Barents Sea.

'This continued observation also includes testing NATO reaction time, tactics, weapons, and patterns by tempting interceptions.

'During these forays, Russian aircraft regularly pass through NATO flight information regions (FIRs) without broadcasting their position or communicating with civil authorities.

'This poses a danger to civilian air traffic, and requires local authorities, in this case the Royal Air Force, to scramble and escort the unidentified aircraft out of the FIR.

'In at least one situation, the British air traffic control (ATC) had to divert commercial flights to mitigate collision risk with the noncompliant Russian aerial formation.'

Over the years, similar incidents have taken place in British and Norwegian airspace.

In March 2020, two Tu-142s were spotted approaching UK airspace, again prompting a response from RAF Lossiemouth to scramble Typhoons.

The bombers were heading towards the north-west coast of Scotland, but this time avoided entering into UK airspace, the RAF said.

They described it as a 'routine response' - one of more than 135 incidents of the RAF scrambling jets to intercept Russian aircraft near the UK between 2005 and 2020.

T-Intelligence noted at the time: 'The GIUK gap is very important for Russia to move its nuclear-capable submarines and ASW aircraft in and out of the North Atlantic in case of war.

'To better understand the enemy order of battle and tactics in the region, the Russian[s] are deliberately testing the RAF and NATO's overall QRA reaction (time and tactics) while also monitoring maritime movements.'

In others cases, Tu-142s have been involved in joint training exercises with Britain.

On 2 February 2022, only 22 days before the start of the war in Ukraine, British and Norwegian fighters shadowed a Tu-142 as it searched for a submarine in the Northeast Atlantic.

The aim was to search and track vessels far under the water, TASS reported.

The UK government has not hinted at why the planes were seen in Scottish airspace earlier today.

They did note that: 'Russian military aircraft entering the UK Flight Information Region, the UK's controlled zone of international airspace, can pose a hazard to other aircraft.

'To better understand the enemy order of battle and tactics in the region, the Russians are deliberately testing the RAF and NATO's overall QRA reaction (time and tactics) while also monitoring maritime movements.'

'These Russian aircraft often do not talk to air traffic control or 'squawk', broadcasting a code ensuring they are visible to other air users and air traffic controllers on the ground.'

Speaking to UK Defence Journal, Andy Netherwood explained: 'Russian long range aviation often transits the London and Scottish FIRs without filing a flight plan, talking to ATC or 'squawking' (operating their transponders).

'This makes them effectively invisible to civilian ATC and is very dangerous as airliners are also flying through this airspace.'

For this reason, RAF jets were scrambled to monitor the planes as they passed through the zone, feeding valuable information back to Air Traffic Control.

In this March 2020 handout image a Norwegian F-35 fighter jet (top) intercepts a Russian Tupolev TU-142 (Bear-J) near Norwegian air space along the Norwegian / Russian border

Picture shows the moment RAF Typhoon jets intercepted a Russian Tu-142 operating near UK airspace on 30 April 2023

The lead RAF Typhoon pilot said after the encounter: 'It's really satisfying to know we've been able to make a successful intercept, maintaining the integrity of UK and NATO airspace.

'When the alarm for a scramble happened in the early hours of the morning, the adrenaline kicked in.

'Working in tandem with ground control operators, and with air-to-air refuelling from an RAF Voyager, we were able to stay on task until the mission was complete, and the target aircraft departed the UK's area of interest.'
San Diego has one of the highest population of homeless individuals in the U.S.

In one incident, an unhoused man came into the bakery with a crowbar

Phattie's Bake Shop in San Diego has announced they will lock their doors during business hours after a series of incidents involving homeless residents

A San Diego bakery is locking its doors during business hours after a string of incidents involving homeless individuals entering the shop and wreaking havoc.

The owners of Phattie's Bake Shop say they have had run-ins with people damaging property, stealing food, and even one incident where a man entered with a crowbar.

An Instagram post on Friday showed a photo of a man with the weapon along with a caption explaining that a doorbell service would be used going forward.

The post has received hundreds of likes and dozens of comments from supporters who empathized with the owner's decision to lock down for safety reasons.

San Diego has more than 2,000 individuals living on the streets. In 2019, the county had the fourth-highest population of unhoused individuals in the United States.

The owners of Phattie's Bake Shop say they have had run-ins with people damaging property, stealing food, and even one incident where a man entered with a crowbar (pictured)

The bakery's owners say they have decided to lock their doors during business hours

San Diego has more than 2,000 individuals living on the streets. In 2019, the county had the fourth-highest population of unhoused individuals in the United States

In their post, the owners of the vegan bakery - located in San Diego's Ocean Beach neighborhood - wrote that the doors would be in 'lock down until further notice.'

The owners shared that their goal is to keep the bakery safe for their customers and their employees and that the new system is their way of attempting to achieve that goal.

'Over the past few weeks we have dealt with people who are unhoused coming in and grabbing product and leaving, destroying property, coming in and screaming, and the latest was bringing a crowbar into Phatties,' they wrote.

In addition to announcing the doorbell procedure, the shop owners said they are 'going to be more cautious' as they work through the difficulties.

In a separate Instagram post, the shop invited guests to simply press the doorbell on the side of the entrance in order to gain access.

It seems as though the community is standing behind the bakery, which won the award for best donut in San Diego by San Diego Reader's Choice Awards in 2022.

The comments on the vegan and gluten-free bakery's posts have been littered with support from their nearly 5,000 followers on Instagram.

'This is unacceptable and Im sorry you had to experience this. Its hard enough to have a public business,' one person wrote in a comment on the original post.

'Im so sorry and Im so glad you are taking measures to protect yourselves and your business!' shared another individual.

'To others! Share this and speak up. We need stricter laws and we should be able to protect ourselves and our businesses,' wrote another person.

It seems as though the community is standing behind the bakery, which won the award for best donut in San Diego by San Diego Reader's Choice Awards in 2022

The comments of the vegan and gluten-free bakery's posts have been littered with support from their nearly 5,000 followers on Instagram

'What is wrong with people,' asked one commenter under Phattie's post on Instagram

Talking with DailyMail.com, shop owner Susan Madueno said that since posting the photos on Instagram, neighbors have lifted up the bakery.

'The community has really come out and supported us,' Madueno said.

Additionally, she said that the San Diego Police Department has been in contact and is working with the owners to help ensure a safe environment.

As for the man who entered the shop with a crowbar, Madueno said it is unclear if the man has been apprehended.

Situations like this have increasingly common for San Diego residents who face one of the worst epidemics of homelessness in the United States.

In December, DailyMail.com shared footage of a shocking attack on an innocent dog walker who was taking a stroll down one of the neighborhood's busiest streets.

Resident and anesthetist nurse, Woody Boethel, 50, was punched and kicked by at least four men who asked him for money as he was walking his dog.

Video of the attack was shared with local media by the owner of Hodad's, the restaurant where the dog walker was jumped in front of.

Boethel had been walking along Newport Avenue when the four individuals asked him for money, which he said 'no' to.

The group then turned violent, even kicking the dog as they went to kick Boethel who said he was unable to work after sustaining a hand injury in the attack.

The dog even attempts to stop the group of men, barking and biting at them repeatedly. At one point, Boethel is dragged back by the neck, ramming into a car.

In December, DailyMail.com shared footage of a shocking attack on an innocent dog walker who was taking a stroll down one of the Ocean Beach's busiest streets

San Diego - a county of about 3.3 million people - has roughly 10,000 homeless individuals, according to recent data.

Some 5,100 San Diegans are completely unsheltered while the other 5,000 are in shelters and transitional housing, KPBS reported in June.

Earlier this year, the San Diego City Council voted to ban homeless encampments and leaders have spent the time since searching for solutions.

In July, the city opened its first of two 'safe-sleeping' areas which would provide individuals with safe and clean housing options.

City leaders said at the time the newly established base can hold as many as 136 tents with the capacity to hold approximately 150 people.

Another site is set to open in the fall and will have space for up to 400 tents.

In addition to giving the homeless a safe place to sleep, the spot will offer free meals, access to restrooms, and mobile showers.
A black Alabama man who is accused of arming himself with a folding chair and using it to attack a white group during a brutal boat brawl has posted bail.

Reggie Ray, 42, is facing disorderly conduct charges over his alleged involvement in the August 5 fracas at Montgomery's Riverfront Park in Alabama. He handed himself into police on Friday but has since been released from jail.

'Mr. Reggie Ray is out,' his lawyer, civil rights attorney Lee Merritt, said in an update.

'He is in good spirits. He got a speeding ticket on the way home but was relieved to discover the community showed up for him and others in such a strong way.'

A now-viral video captured the moment black staff from a cruise and white pleasure craft owners clashed over a pontoon boat that was blocking the dock where a riverboat was trying to moor.

Reggie Ray, 42, has been charged with disorderly conduct following the viral brawl

He is believed to be seen smashing another man over the head with a chair as he tries to escape

Officials had announced they had been looking to speak with Ray, who is believed to be the black man seen hitting people with a folding chair.

More than $300,000 has been raised for his defense through a fundraising page.

Merritt says he is acting as part of the legal team for a number of people who were arrested on charges relating to the incident at the dock and they have all since been let go.

'As of early this morning, each of our clients who faced arrest as a result of their alleged involvement in the incident at the Montgomery Riverfront have been released from jail,' Merritt said.

'The criminal charges involved amount to no more than misdemeanors if outright dismissal is not warranted.'

He said teams are working to ensure the group is being supported and included a link to a GoFundMe page.

Fellow alleged boat brawlers Zachery Shipman and his girlfriend Mary Todd were pictured for the first time after being released from jail on Saturday.

The two handed themselves into police after the footage circulated online.

Shipman is one of four men facing assault charges, and his girlfriend Mary Todd was charged with assaulting a black riverboat crew co-captain.

The two were released and have been seen for the first time since leaving a gas station at around 9am Saturday morning in exclusive DailyMail.com pictures.

When approached with questions, Shipman said 'I can't talk at all' - while Todd quickly got into the car without saying a word.

Todd and Shipman are charged with assault along with 48-year-old Richard Roberts - who is accused of punching 16-year-old Daniel Warren by the boy's mother - in the incident, with cops saying the investigation is still ongoing.

The boy's mother, Crystal Warren, says she heard one of the attackers say 'f**k that n*****' before launching into a brawl with the black deckhand at the center of the shocking incident.

The same man is later seen smashing a woman the head with a chair as she sits on the floor

The shocking brawl was caught on video from several angles and posted across social media

The fight started after Damien Pickett, the black deckhand, moved boats parked in the spot on the dock reserved specifically for the river cruise

Police chief Darryl Albert said on Tuesday that 13 people were detained at the scene

The incident was also captured in footage from inside the riverboat

Zachary Shipman (far left) was among four white members of the brawl to be arrested and charged for the fight - before Ray became the fifth to be charged on Friday

She told police that she saw the entire interaction and has revealed she heard one of the white aggressors threatening to go and get a gun, according to legal documents obtained by TMZ.

Police have also charged Allen Todd, 23.

In the video, men are seen gouging eyes and hurling punches to each others' heads, and several people are seen using folding chairs as weapons - including one man who leaves a woman stricken on the floor after battering her with the seat.

Multiple angles of the wild brawl have emerged after it was widely circulated on social media last month.

It appeared to begin when the riverboat's deckhand, Damien Pickett, 31, squared off with a member of the white boat party after he asked them to move.

Pickett flung his hat in the air in anticipation of a brawl, before the scene quickly escalated as the pair exchanged blows.

Alongside the couple, police charged Richard Roberts, left, and Allen Todd, right, for assault

Jim Kittrell, the captain of the Harriott II, claimed the attack at Montgomery's Riverfront Park was racially motivated

At that point, another white man in red shorts tackles Pickett to the floor, before several others join the fray.

While some tried to flee and others jumped into the skirmish, a teenager dived into the water to swim across the river and join the fight.

Mary Todd, is believed to be the woman seen in the viral video kicking Damien Pickett after he was downed in the altercation.

Pickett had told police that Mary punched him in their throat while holding a beer in her hand and 'would not let [him] pass', according to AL.com.

It is not clear if Allen Todd and Mary Todd are related.
Colonialism is to blame for imposing the male-female divide on society, NHS staff are being told in official hospital policies.

Health trust documents obtained by the Daily Mail also state that adults who take hormone therapy are going through puberty, and that men who identify as women can be lesbians.

The contentious claims have added to calls for an urgent review of all NHS guidance on gender issues.

An investigation by the Mail has already revealed that people who only occasionally present as women are allowed into female-only wards, midwives are being warned they can harm trans parents by describing them as mothers, and 999 operators have been told to ask for emergency callers pronouns rather than risk misgendering them.

Tory MP Miriam Cates, who is a former science teacher, said: It is a travesty that so many NHS trusts are now engaged in divisive political activism and are promoting extremist political views about gender theory  views that have no basis in reality and are a threat to the safety of women.

The contentious claims have added to calls for an urgent review of all NHS guidance on gender issues

Tory MP Miriam Cates said: It is a travesty that so many NHS trusts are now engaged in divisive political activism and are promoting extremist political views about gender theory'

It is indefensible for our National Health Service to deny the reality of biological sex, and it undermines public trust in the whole medical establishment,' she added

It is indefensible for our National Health Service to deny the reality of biological sex, and it undermines public trust in the whole medical establishment.

Those within the NHS who are pushing this destructive agenda are failing in their duty of care and must be held to account.

Lottie Moore, head of Biology Matters at the Policy Exchange think-tank, said: The NHS should not be rewriting biology textbooks and presenting them as fact.

These claims are not scientific and should not be presented to patients as such.

Gender identity beliefs are simply beliefs, and the NHS must understand this.

Analysis by this newspaper of dozens of NHS hospital trust policies found that in addition to advice on how to handle staff transitioning and care for transgender patients, they commonly state controversial gender theories as fact.

Many avoid saying that humans are born male or female, and instead assert that doctors simply assign a sex to babies.

Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust describes sex as assigned by medical practitioners at birth based on observed physical characteristics.

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust says: When we are born a medical professional attributes our sex based on outward appearance. But that does not always mean our gender aligns with it.

It adds: Being transgender is not a choice.

Guidance published internally by both Sheffield and University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust states: Globally, many cultures recognise more than two genders.

As with sexuality, in the West binary categories dominate (male/female, gay/straight).

In modern-era Western history, these have been imposed on a human experience which is not binary through colonial incursion, when the values of one culture were imposed on another culture.

No evidence is provided for this assertion.

Analysis by this newspaper of dozens of NHS hospital trust policies found that in addition to advice on how to handle staff transitioning and care for transgender patients, they commonly state controversial gender theories as fact

Many hospitals avoid saying that humans are born male or female, and instead assert that doctors simply assign a sex to babies

South East Coast Ambulance Service guidance states: The concept of a normal gender expression associated with a binary man/woman divide is, in itself, questionable

Several trusts state that transgender women  who are biologically male  can be lesbians, a claim many gay women regard as offensive

South East Coast Ambulance Service guidance states: The concept of a normal gender expression associated with a binary man/woman divide is, in itself, questionable.

Its section on terminology also includes a disputed claim about the definition of cisgender, a term often seen as a slur used by trans rights activists to denote biological females.

The ambulance trust states: Those who are cisgender have little or no discordance between their gender identity and their gender role or sex anatomy. These factors are well aligned in a cisgendered person.

Trans people who have completed transition to the point that they are comfortable, may then be regarded as cisgender.

Meanwhile, Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust claims in its guide to supporting adult employees who are transitioning: Trans staff who have recently started hormone therapy will be experiencing puberty.

Several trusts state that transgender women  who are biologically male  can be lesbians, a claim many gay women regard as offensive.

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust says gender identity is unrelated to sexual orientation, adding: An individual may change from a man to a woman and may also be a lesbian.

North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust says: It is important to understand that trans people come from all walks of life, religious and cultural backgrounds and therefore have multiple identities. For example, a trans woman may also be lesbian, disabled and a Christian.
An asylum seeker taken off the Bibby Stockholm barge has said that it was like 'a prison' and accused the government of treating migrants like 'less than animals'.

The unnamed man also said that he was unable to sleep while onboard due to a 'fear of water'.

Thirty nine men were evacuated from the barge as a precautionary measure on Friday following the discovery of Legionella bacteria.

The man, who was moved on to the barge on Wednesday, told Sky News that he was worried he would become ill and felt that migrants were being 'endangered'.

He said that the migrants both drank and bathed in the water onboard.

An asylum seeker who was living aboard the Bibby Stockholm barge has blamed the government for endangering migrants and treating them like 'less than animals'

A van from Offshore Water Management Ltd on the pier next to the immigration barge

He explained that he was afraid of water, which makes him palpitate because he can't swim.

Describing the conditions on the Bibby Stockholm, the migrant said there was too much security onboard and that residents had no freedom.

Along with all the men taken off the barge, he is now being housed in a hotel.

None of the asylum seekers had shown any symptoms of Legionella, the Home Office said.

The outbreak is the subject of conflicting accounts from the government and Dorset Council, who claim that a Home Office staff member was told about the disease was on the barge last Tuesday.

The government denies that the conversation took place, and insists it took action quickly after learning that there were traces of bacteria onboard via a written notification on Wednesday evening.
A 33-year-old with paranoid schizophrenia launched a 'ferocious' fatal attack on a fellow psychiatric patient in the hospital where they were being treated, a judge has said.

Ahsan Zia, 33, was suffering from delusions and hallucinations involving the late Queen and that there was a plot to rape and kill him, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

He launched a 28-second attack on Michael Matthews, 55, in his victim's room on the acute Fellside Wing of Newcastle's Hadrian Clinic in April last year.

Zia denied murder but admitted manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility and was given an indefinite hospital order.

Nick Dry, prosecuting, said Zia punched, kicked and stamped on Mr Matthews in his room, attacking his head, neck and body while his victim was on the floor.

Michael Matthews, a nature-lover who had two brothers and a sister, died after family members travelled from the Dorset area to be by his bedside

Witnesses later told police Zia said 'I did it' when he walked out of the room.

Mr Matthews, a nature-lover who had two brothers and a sister, died four days later in hospital after family members travelled from the Dorset area to be by his bedside.

Mr Dry said Zia had used cannabis the day before the attack, but there was no evidence that this had any influence on his behaviour when he lashed out.

Zia had also stopped taking his anti-psychotic medication recently, but this was with the knowledge of his clinicians and he had referred himself back to hospital when he realised he was unwell.

Consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Pablo Vandenabeele, via videolink, told the court Zia suffered from a treatment-resistant form of paranoid schizophrenia.

Toby Hedworth KC, defending, said Zia, who has a university degree, has 'times of insight' and was profoundly concerned about the distress he has caused Mr Matthews' family.

'He is someone who just wants to be well again. He wants to take advantage of whatever treatment is available,' Mr Hedworth said.

In a victim statement, Mr Matthews' mother Edith Rodgers said her son had told her he was to stay in the clinic for four weeks, but could leave if he wanted, and 'he was all right with that'.

And his brother Martin Matthews said he will never be able to tell his brother how proud he was of him, and how much he was loved - 'due to the actions of one person'.

The 55-year-old was killed by Ahsan Zia, 33, in April last year

He said: 'We, as a family, will never know the real reason behind the brutal attack on Michael. But we will have to live with the aftermath of these terrible events for the rest of our lives.'

Judge Paul Sloan KC, said CCTV from the clinic showed Zia was in his victim's room for only 28 seconds.

'In that short space of time you launched an attack upon Mr Matthews. It was a ferocious, violent attack.'

Zia will be treated at the maximum security Rampton Hospital, the judge said.

Mr Matthews' family has been helped by the Hundred Families charity which supports loved ones of those killed by mental health patients.

Outside court, director Julian Hendy said: 'This is a deeply troubling case. This was an extremely ferocious and violent attack on a highly vulnerable man who was being treated in a hospital - the one place he should have been kept safe.'
A British millionaire accused of 'squirrelling away' at least 27million has won a court battle over money with his estranged American wife despite the judge having branded him an 'inveterate liar'.

Andrew Baker, 74, a former company boss who is English and lives in Somerset, has been ordered to pay 1.6million to his estranged wife Susan.

Mrs Baker, 75, argued that she should get a 9.3million lump sum following the breakdown of her marriage, saying that was the amount she calculated she was due under a 'separation agreement' made with Mr Baker.

She also argued that Mr Baker, who had been chairman and chief executive Life Science Research Inc, had 'squirrelled away' at least $35million (USD) - about 27million.

But Mr Justice Mostyn, who considered arguments at a recent family hearing in London, has ruled against her and and concluded that the squirrelling allegation had not been proved.

Andrew Baker, 74, has been ordered to pay 1.6million to his estranged wife Susan. Mrs Baker had accused him of 'squirrelling away' at least 27million, but the judge ruled against her and and concluded that the squirrelling allegation had not been proved

But Mr Justice Mostyn heard that the net value of Mr Baker's 'visible assets' was about 5.6million - and the net value of Mrs Baker's assets about 5.8million.

He has decided, in a written judgment published online, that the lump sum Mr Baker should pay is 1.6million.

Mr Justice Mostyn said the 'effect' of his decision would be to reduce Mr Baker's 'deemed net worth' to about 3.9million and increase Mrs Baker's net worth to 7.4million.

He heard that the couple had married in 1986 and separated a decade ago.

The judge, who is based in the Family Division of the High Court in London, said Mrs Baker had been 'by far the better witness'.

Mr Justice Mostyn said Mr Baker was an 'exceptionally poor witness' and described him as 'rude', 'argumentative' and 'truculent'.

'It is clear to me that the husband's personality is a toxic mixture of arrogance and dishonesty,' said the judge.

'He is an inveterate liar.'

The judge said Mr Baker was in 'poor health physically and mentally'.

He said he had made allowance for the fact that Mr Baker's mental difficulties had probably 'aggravated these traits'.

Mr Justice Mostyn said Mr Baker had 'lied' to Mrs Baker during negotiations over the 'separation agreement', had 'lied' to Coutts bank for the 'purposes of obtaining credit', and had 'lied systematically to this court during these proceedings'.

But he said he was not satisfied 'on the balance of probability' that a squirrelling allegation has been proved.

He said he was 'not satisfied', on an 'assessment of the evidence', that Mr Baker had 'hidden funds'.

The judge said it would be 'wrong to draw inferences' that he had 'any such funds' based 'simply on his dishonesty'.

Mr Justice Mostyn said: 'The wife's case stands and falls on the primary issue of fact, namely whether the husband has squirrelled away at least $35million (USD).

'If he has not, then the issue is simply what award should justly be made to the wife from the husband's visible assets having regard to the terms of the separation agreement.'
Where's the president?

It's been nearly a week since the apocalyptic Maui wildfires, leaving the historic town of Lahaina our own version of Pompeii  leveled to dust and ashes, the ground still so scorching that cadaver dogs work in short bursts to keep their paws from burning. The death toll stands at 96 and climbing; over 1,300 people remain missing. Cell phones are ringing inside body bags. Burnt out cars line roadways, tires melted into asphalt. Recovered human remains are unidentifiable and falling apart.

Yet President Joe Biden  whose so-called brand is empathy amid tragedy  just had to have his beach weekend in Delaware.

'No comment', he said when asked about Maui on Sunday.

NO COMMENT?!?

It was the same a few hours earlier, Biden dismissing reporters while bike riding near his beach home.

'We're looking at it,' he said.

What's to look at? Nothing, quite literally, is left.

It's the summer of 'Oppenheimer', and comparisons have aptly been made to Hiroshima. This is a crisis that demands a primetime presidential address, the immediate deployment of Navy ships to provide shelter, food and medical care, and a presidential visit to the disaster site.

Yet President Joe Biden  whose so-called brand is empathy amid tragedy  just had to have his beach weekend in Delaware. 'No comment', he said when asked about Maui on Sunday.

It's been nearly a week since the apocalyptic Maui wildfires, leaving the historic town of Lahaina our own version of Pompeii  leveled to dust and ashes, the ground still so scorching that cadaver dogs work in short bursts to keep their paws from burning.

Instead, Biden's off to fancy Lake Tahoe on Friday, taking yet another vacation.

What a disgrace. What a dereliction of duty.

One could generously assume that Biden, age 80 and increasingly frail, is storing his energy for the 2024 campaign.

If that's true  and argument enough for Biden to step aside  there's still an obvious solution here: Why not send Barack Obama, Hawaii's favorite and most famous son, whose own Winter White House was based in Hawaii?

Speaking of: Where is Barack Obama? Why hasn't he made a visit?

Obama, it seems, would rather not have his summer disrupted either. Instead, he's done the least he could do: releasing a video promoting a Red Cross telethon and tweeting thoughts and prayers from one of his multi-million dollar homes on Martha's Vineyard or Chicago or D.C. or whatever super-yacht he may be on, calling the images out of Hawaii 'tough to see.'

Talk about an understatement.

Here's Obama in his 2020 presidential memoir, 'A Promised Land', on being a US Senator during Hurricane Katrina in 2005:

'I stayed up half the night watching the news coverage, stunned . . . There were floating corpses, elderly patients trapped in hospitals, gunfire and looting, refugees huddled and losing hope. To see such suffering was bad enough; to see the slow government response, the vulnerability of so many poor and working-class people, made me ashamed.'

Guess what's happening in Maui now? Looting, gunpoint robberies and invasions of existing homes.

Is Joe Biden ashamed?

'Where is the support?' local bar owner Matt Robb asked Insider. 'I don't think our government or our leaders, at this point, know how to handle it or what to do.'

Rest assured, Matt, they do  but it seems they don't care unless an election is involved. Recall Barack Obama, the one who was eyeing a presidential run in 2005, was on site in New Orleans within days, meeting with survivors and hearing their stories and taking note of what they needed, immediately and in the future.

'I was reminded,' he wrote, 'that no matter how my circumstances had changed, theirs had not . . . Forgotten people and forgotten voices remained everywhere, neglected by a government that often appeared blind or indifferent to their needs.'

To which a weary nation says: Same as it ever was. How does Joe Biden appear now if not 'blind and indifferent'?

Why not send Barack Obama, Hawaii's favorite and most famous son, whose own Winter White House was based in Hawaii? Speaking of: Where is Barack Obama? Why hasn't he made a visit? (Above) Obama in Hawaii in December 2020

It was the same a few hours earlier, Biden dismissing reporters while bike riding near his beach home. 'We're looking at it,' he said. What's to look at? Nothing, quite literally, is left.

It's the summer of 'Oppenheimer', and comparisons have aptly been made to Hiroshima. (Above) Aerial view of the wildfire aftermath in Lahaina on Maui, Hawaii on August 11, 2023

The mainstream media all but called then-president George W. Bush a racist for his delayed response to Katrina  and when Bush finally caved, he only flew over New Orleans rather than touch down.

That decision, Bush wrote in his memoir, tarnished his legacy, rightly so.

'Huge mistake,' he later admitted. The infamous photo of Bush looking down from Air Force One left the impression, he said, that he was 'detached and uncaring, no question about it . . . It was my fault.'

No such worries, it seems, for President Biden. Nor Hawaii's own Obama.

One could argue that it's customary for former presidents to keep a low profile, to disengage from politics and policy, to leave D.C. once they leave office. But that's not Obama, who's maintained a residence in Washington, who has about 75 percent of his top 100 former staffers working for President Biden, who remains Biden's biggest campaign asset and has reportedly promised he will do everything he can to get Biden reelected.

So why hasn't it occurred to Biden, or any of the so-called top minds in his administration  you know, the ones who, we're constantly reassured, make it okay for this cognitively-impaired mess to stay in office  to dispatch Barack Obama, and maybe Michelle, who's more popular than her husband?

Probably because no one's calling them on it. The administration's current argument, swallowed whole by much of the media, is that neither the president nor Kamala Harris  herself another kind of natural disaster  want to be 'a distraction'.

Know who's a distraction? Oprah Winfrey, handing out pillows while grudgingly giving up the camera crew she brought to document what a humanitarian she is. Or Paris Hilton, whose fraud of a redemption tour has ended since posting happy-family vacation photos just 30 miles from the devastation.

Burnt out cars line roadways, tires melted into asphalt. Recovered human remains are unidentifiable and falling apart. (Above) Lahaina on Maui, Hawaii on August 11, 2023

The administration's current argument, swallowed whole by much of the media, is that neither the president nor Kamala Harris  herself another kind of natural disaster  want to be 'a distraction'.

Barack Obama, lest we forget, is building his dream mansion in Oahu, having paid $8.7 million just for the land and exploiting at least three environmental loopholes to realize his vision. (Above) Obama is seen for the first time at the site of his controversial Hawaiian home in 2022

Survivors want leadership. They want to see their president, or his named emissary, on the ground with them, viewing the wreckage, smelling the acridity, hearing what they need and how quickly they need it. They want assurances from those at the very top that the nation is with them, that they are top priority and no one will be left behind. Forgotten.

You know, like the people of East Palestine, Ohio, who suffered a major toxic chemical spill after a train derailment last February. At least back then Biden acknowledged he should be there, saying he would visit 'at some point'  which, of course, never happened.

Nor did Kamala Harris show her face. Instead, the infuriatingly ineffectual Pete Buttigieg, Secretary of Transportation, arrived seventeen days later, sludging through the muck in fancy boots.

At least he admitted that he should have been on site sooner.

'I could get technical readouts, information about the response,' Buttigeig told CNN in March. 'But I think it was important to hear and see how the community was responding, what they were worried about [in] just a different way that you can sense on paper. It just feels different.'

That said: When's the last time you heard Biden, Harris or Buttigieg mention the people of East Palestine?

Imagine that disaster, like Lahaina's, leveling New York or L.A. It would be all hands on deck at the White House.

The people of Lahaina, like the people of East Palestine, are largely working-class. They are people without resources or leverage, who can, as Obama wrote of Katrina's survivors, easily be overlooked.

What will become of Lahaina? FEMA estimates it will take $6 billion to rebuild, even as it seeks $12 billion from Congress to avoid a shortfall.

That seems a pressing question for the Biden administration, does it not?

As do questions from longtime residents, barely holding on as wealthy visitors have snapped up vacation homes, sending real estate prices beyond their reach.

What will become of Lahaina? FEMA estimates it will take $6 billion to rebuild, even as it seeks $12 billion from Congress to avoid a shortfall.

That said: When's the last time you heard Biden, Harris or Buttigieg mention the people of East Palestine?

'I'm more concerned [about] big land developers coming in and seeing this charred land as an opportunity to rebuild,' 25-year-old survivor Richy Palalay told ABC News.

The people of Lahaina, having lost everything, are facing yet another loss: future housing, Palalay said, 'that we can't afford to live in  that's what we're afraid of.'

Their plight speaks to everything the Democratic party is supposed to represent: protections for the poor and working class, compassion, and especially post-Trump, core competencies. Treating climate change, which contributed to this disaster, as the emergency it is. Addressing outdated communications systems and infrastructure, to investigate human error  such as, why wasn't a single one of Maui's 80 warning sirens activated? Why didn't the US learn from similar fires in Rhodes, Greece this past July, an emergency that saw up to 30,000 people evacuated in one day and suffered only one casualty, a firefighter?

Biden's lack of urgency here  just as outlets like The New York Times have finally begun questioning his age and capabilities  is going to cost him. One would think Barack Obama, whose presidency gave us Donald Trump and whose legacy is still being written, might get himself to Maui posthaste, if for no other reason than to help Biden in 2024.

Or at least out of self-interest. Barack Obama, lest we forget, is building his dream mansion in Oahu, having paid $8.7 million just for the land and exploiting at least three environmental loopholes to realize his vision.

A little native Hawaiian goodwill, you'd think, would go a long way.

And Joe Biden, who marinates in tragedy, needs to show  now more than ever  that he gets it.
Dissident republicans were today accused of bragging that they have the name of every police officer in Northern Ireland after a list was posted on a wall.

A redacted version of the leaked document, which has plunged the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) into crisis, was left outside a library in west Belfast in an apparent public statement by dissidents that they have the material described as dynamite for terrorists and criminals.

It comes less than a week after blundering PSNI officials mistakenly released a list identifying all 10,800 officers and staff, including more than 660 officers working in intelligence, counter-terrorism and surveillance as well as those working for MI5.

The document names officers working in the most sensitive roles, including those investigating dissident republican groups, close protection officers guarding politicians, judges and other VIPs from terrorists and others working in secret areas of the force. Almost 3,000 police officers have inquired about potential damages fearing their lives are at risk following the massive data leak.

Today Gerry Kelly, a Sinn Fein Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, said a version of the document had been posted overnight close to the Sinn Fein office on the Falls Road, which included information about a substantial number of police officers and staff although their names had been removed.

Officers in Northern Ireland's force fear for their safety after the names of 10,000 staff were leaked in a data breach. Pictured: Members of the PSNI

Film crews capture the remains of one of pages of the leaked police data posted on a wall overnight

In an apparent intimidation bid, the document was accompanied by a photograph of Mr Kelly with the message: Gerry, we know who your mates are. Mr Kelly is a member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board which met last week to quiz Chief Constable Simon Byrne about the blunder.

He said: There was a photograph of myself and then there was a statement saying in large writing: Gerry, we know who your mates are.

Under that there was what appeared to be, and what turned out to be, a section of the leaked documents that were put out.

It did not have the names of the police officers involved but it had everything else.

It wasnt the whole 10,000 [names] but it was a substantial number. I look upon this as a threat by dissidents to me and I will not be intimidated.

More serious is that this is the dissidents, or whoever is involved, putting out that their claim that they have access to the leaked documents, they are putting out a verification on that. I think that is their main intention.

Mr Kelly was once a prominent IRA member jailed for the Old Bailey bombing in 1973 which killed one person and injured 200.

He later broke out of the Maze Prison shooting a prison officer who survived an attempt to foil the escape.

But Mr Kelly went on to renounce violence and played a key role in the Northern Ireland peace negotiations which led to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

Assistant Chief Constable Chris Todd confirmed today that an investigation had begun into the posting of the list, which one former officer has likened to dynamite for terrorists and criminals.

Details released include the surname and first initial of every PSNI employee, their rank or grade, where they are based and the unit they work in.

Badge on the headquarters of the PSNI which has been plunged into crisis by the massive leak of staff details

Last week PSNI said it was aware of claims that dissident republicans had the information but stressed this had not been verified.

Mr Todd said: We are aware that some redacted information from the Tuesday August 8 data breach has allegedly been posted on a wall in west Belfast today.

We have commenced an investigation. We recognise the impact this may have on our officers, staff and their families and additional security and reassurance patrols have already been implemented across Northern Ireland.

The safety and welfare of our officers and staff remains our priority and we have reminded them of their personal safety and security both on and off duty.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is staring down an inevitable truth: he is getting old, and his colleagues are taking notice.

The 81-year-old Kentucky Republican has 'alarmed' colleagues with the difficulties he faces while aging in the spotlight - but he's intent on seeing through a final mission.

Before going anywhere McConnell has taken it upon himself to wrestle the heart of the GOP back to the Reagan era philosophies of old - to project 'peace through strength,' and to tamp down defectors who would rather risk Ukraine losing its war with Russia than sending any further U.S. dollars to the cause.

The GOP leader recently gave an interview to Politico where reporter Jonathan Martin said he 'repeatedly steered our conversation toward Trump' and made clear his campaign to bring Republicans back to an assertive defense of Ukraine was 'his way of battling what Trump has done to the party.'

'I think, and this got me attacked by Tucker Carlson back when he was still on his show, I think the most important thing going on internationally right now is the Ukraine war,' McConnell said.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is staring down an inevitable truth: he is getting old, and his colleagues are taking notice

McConnell is waging a determined defense of both Ukraine and the NATO alliance Ukraine seeks to be a part of - traveling to Ukraine to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky, organizing lunches at the Capitol with Eastern European diplomats and using every news conference and floor speech he can to remind Americans what is at stake

It's why McConnell organized a dinner to persuade Finland's president to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance, and why he led the eastward push of NATO almost up to Russia's borders in the late 1900s.

McConnell blamed Trump's messaging - threatening to pull out of NATO if other nations didn't cough up more for defense, his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his comments on the 2024 campaign trail - had pushed the more newly elected Senate Republicans into the isolationist mindset of many of their House colleagues.

Of the 11 senators who opposed a Ukraine aid bill last year, seven had been elected in 2018 or later.

'That's a reflection of the challenges at the base created by the former president's reluctance to endorse this important mission,' McConnell said.

McConnell is waging a determined defense of both Ukraine and the NATO alliance Ukraine seeks to be a part of - traveling to Ukraine to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky, organizing lunches at the Capitol with Eastern European diplomats and using every news conference and floor speech he can to remind Americans what is at stake.

It's no doubt a major part of what the GOP leader wants to leave as his legacy, but he'll have to raise against the inescapable decline of age that has begun to take hold.

Privately, colleagues have grown 'more alarmed' and suggested he get hearing aids.

'He was sitting there as the conversation went on around him,' said one colleague, describing a recent Senate GOP lunch with McConnell.

The consequences of aging were on display last month when the Senate leader froze up during a news conference, only to be lead away from the podium by physician Senator John Barrasso, R-Wyo.

But the GOP leader is unswayed in his mission.

'I still believe in the Republican party of Ronald Reagan,' McConnell said.

'There are those who are trying to redefine what a Republican is  I'm not in that group,' he continued. 'And so this is, I think, an important point for the future of the party, and given my place in my career at this point, this is the most important thing going on that I might be able to have some impact on.'

Meanwhile, President Biden last week requested an additional $20+ billion for Ukraine, an ask that is sure to set up a collision course between the Senate and the isolationist-minded Republicans.

The total $40 billion request includes $13 billion in emergency defense aid and wildfire pay and an additional $8 billion for humanitarian support of Ukraine, as well as $12 billion for disaster relief after a season of heat and storms, as well as $4 billion for the border and to combat fentanyl to attract Republicans to the deal.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy welcomes Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) before a meeting, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Kyiv

But House Speaker Kevin McCarthy struck a debt limit deal with Biden - $886 billion would go to defense, no more. When Senate Republicans began grumbling about a supplemental defense bill, McCarthy insisted he wouldn't let it happen.

'We just worked on an agreement,' McCarthy told reporters previously, referring to the debt ceiling deal. 'Working [on] a supplemental right now is only blowing up the agreement. That's all about spending more money. So, no, I do not support a supplemental.'

Last month 89 Republican House members supported an amendment from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., to strip $300 million in Ukraine funding from the yearly defense spending bill.
White House briefing room troublemaker Simon Ateba is suing Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre after new rules meant he was unable to keep his hard pass  the credential that allows journalists 24/7 access to media areas of the president's official residence.

Ateba's antics  interrupting speakers on the podium, shouting over other journalists and sometimes bringing briefings to a premature end  has irritated not just officials but other reporters too.

The Cameroon-born writer received repeated warnings about his behavior yet became a cause celebre on Fox News after he accused the White House of censorship and Jean-Pierre of racism.

In a suit filed on Thursday, he accused the White House of changing the rules to specifically keep him out of the briefing room.

'Defendants violated Mr. Ateba's First Amendment rights by changing the criteria for hard pass credentials to intentionally prevent Mr. Ateba from obtaining hard pass access,' the lawsuit reads.

Simon Ateba writes for 'Africa News Today.' Under new rules he lost his 'hard pass,' a media credential allowing 24-hour access to the White House

All White House reporters had to apply this year to renew their hard passes.

Ateba, who writes for his own website 'Africa News Today,' was among those who lost theirs.

On Tuesday, one of the top stories on his website carried the headline: 'Underdog Reporter Simon Ateba Fights For Press Freedom In Landmark Case Against The White House.'

'My job is to ask questions, to ask tough questions,' Ateba told Newsmax on Friday.

'The public has a right to know and the journalist has a right, a duty to tell.'

Despite his website's obscurity, Ateba has repeatedly insisted that Jean-Pierre call on him during briefings. When she did not, he resorted to shouting.

In March, he interrupted a humorous session with the cast of 'Ted Lasso' to demand that she took his question.

He was met by a chorus of 'decorum, please,' from irritated reporters, many of whom also struggle to catch the eye of Jean-Pierre as often as they would like.

Even before that he had been scolded by the White House Correspondents Association.

Ateba's lawsuit names Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre as a defendant

His case was filed in Washington D.C. district court on Thursday, setting out a case based on the First Amendment

'There is no right of any reporter to be called on by any official,' then-president Steven Portnoy wrote in an email to Ateba obtained by Mediate. 'Preventing your colleagues from asking their questions is no way to seek relief.'

The association did not renew his membership this year. It reportedly cited a lack of evidence that he is employed by a news organization that covers the White House.

Yet Ateba insists he is being singled out for unfair treatment.

'Just like other White House correspondents, Mr. Ateba regularly interacts with, and requests information from, the White House press office for his coverage,' his lawsuit states.

'But in the five years since joining the White House press corps, Mr. Ateba has been treated with contempt by the current Press Secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, and her staff, receiving only a handful of responses to questions and almost no opportunity to meaningfully communicate with the White House.'

Ateba's battles with White House officials have made him a favorite of rightwing media

The new rules require reporters to show proof of employment by a Washington-based outlet and to have a credential issued by a press gallery in the House, Senate or Supreme Court.

His lawsuit says Supreme Court credentials are hard to obtain.

'The Congressional Press Galleries are only slightly better,' it continues.

'Executive committees self-selected by the journalists who make up the Congressional press corps govern each of the four press galleries.

'And these executive committees only issue press credentials to journalists they themselves deem to be 'of repute. As a result, the entrenched, mainstream media have the power to pick and choose which reporters may access Congress and the White House.'

Along with Ateba, 400 or so reporters also lost their hard passes under the new procedure.

They can still report from the briefing room, but must sign up a day in advance for access rather than just using their pass to enter.
The group of unindicted 'co-conspirators' in former President Donald Trump's alleged plot to overturn the 2020 presidential election are already turning on each other to avoid jail time.

Rolling Stone was out with a report Sunday charting the finger pointing between ex-Trump lawyers Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell, Kenneth Chesebro and John Eastman, four of the six unnamed co-conspirators in the August 1 indictment.

Special Counsel Jack Smith indicted the former president on charges related to 2020 election interference and the January 6 Capitol attack - but none of his accomplices have yet to face charges as the probe drags on.

That's given them time to scheme.

'It is the "please don't put me in jail, put that other guy in jail" strategy that was sure to come up at some point or another,' one attorney working in Trump's legal orbit told Rolling Stone.

The group of unindicted 'co-conspirators' in former President Donald Trump's alleged plot to overturn the 2020 presidential election are already turning on each other to avoid jail time

Rudy Giuliani (left) and his lawyer have been trying to characterize one of Trump's other post-election lawyers, Sidney Powell (right) as a 'crackpot,' as the unindicted co-conspirators begin turning on each other

The magazine's reporting indicated that Powell seems to be the most vulnernable of being thrown under the bus.

Giuliani and his lawyer are labeling Powell a 'crackpot' - a term former Vice President Mike Pence used for all of Trump's post-election lawyers, including Giuliani.

Robert Costello, Giuliani's lawyer, is working to separate the former New York City mayor from the election scheme, telling CNN, 'you can't attach Rudy Giuliani to Sidney Powell's crackpot idea.'

In addition, Giuliani's falling out with Powell, Rolling Stone said, was being probed by the special counsel's team.

The magazine reported that representatives of the special counsel's office 'appear unusally well-briefed on the existing fissures' between Trump's team of post-election lawyers.

And recent witnesses have divulged some details about the rift between Giuliani and Powell.

Trump lawyer Kenneth Chesebro's attorney pushed that his fake electors scheme may not have been implemented as he 'intended'

Witnesses have also discussed with investigators some of Giuliani's 'private antics,' Rolling Stone said.

Coming after Powell, potentially, is Bernie Kerik, who voluntarily gave an interview to investigators earlier this month.

Kerik is the former New York Police Commissioner who advised Giuliani after Trump's 2020 election loss.

'Sidney Powell's conduct stands in stark contrast to that of Rudy Giuliani and President Trump, who were looking to only make claims that could be backed up by evidence,' Tim Parlatore, Kerik's lawyer told Rolling Stone

Parlatore is also a former Trump attorney.

'Having Sidney Powell in the same courtroom would also significantly undermine [Jack Smith's] case against the president, because the president and his lawyers could easily point at Sidney and say: Over there is the evidence of making knowingly false claims, not here. And President Trump rejected Ms. Powell's efforts,' Parlatore also told the magazine.

At the same time, Chesebro, who concocted the fake electors scheme, is also trying to spread the blame for it being partially implemented.

His lawyer pushed that the fake electors scheme may not have been implemented as he intended.

Whether the campaign relied upon that advice as Mr. Chesebro intended ... will have to remain a question to be resolved in court,' lawyer Scott Grubman told Rolling Stone, '

'We hope that the Fulton D.C. and the special counsel fully recognize these issues before deciding who, if anyone, to charge,' Grubman said.

Meanwhile Trump's legal team is expected to distance the now ex-president from his lawyers' post-election moves by using the 'advice of counsel' defense.

One source familiar with recent witness questioning suggested it was clear prosecutors were trying to get the co-conspirators to turn on one another.

'If I were the feds and I wanted to build cases against the [so far indicted] "co-conspirators" to apply maximum pressure to them, to see what they'd ... have to say about the [former] president, this is exactly how I'd do it,' the source told Rolling Stone, adding it was 'highly probable that several others will be charged.'

'Jack Smith is not slowing down,' the source said.
Maui residents have criticized the federal response to devastating wildfires which have ruined parts of the Hawaiian island and claim that locals have been left to coordinate parts of the recovery themselves.

Deliveries of supplies like medication have been held up by bureaucracy, while authorities have also failed to communicate with residents who have been displaced by the fire, it is claimed.

Criticism of the response comes after authorities also failed to provide proper warnings to locals about the advancing wildfires last week. Residents have said emergency sirens did not sound and that cell phone alerts came too late.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green has ordered the state's attorney general to conduct a review of the fire response.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has around 416 people on the ground, including dozens who are working in shelters to help displaced people whose homes were destroyed.

A group of volunteers who sailed from Maalaea Bay, Maui, form an assembly line on Kaanapali Beach on Saturday Aug. 12, 2023, to unload donations from a boat. Maui residents have come together to donate water, food and other essential supplies amid criticism of the government response

Locals say they have been left to coordinate supplies for displaced residents

FEMA workers interact with displaced Lahaina inhabitants who found shelter at the War Memorial Stadium following the wild fire that destroyed the city, in Kahului, Hawaii, USA, 12 August 2023

The fires broke out on Tuesday last week and spready rapidly, largely destroying the historic town of Lahaina, where thousands of buildings were burned down. The death toll stood at 96 on Monday afternoon and was expected to at least double as searches continue, while FEMA estimates the cost of the damage exceeds $5 billion.

'FEMA has a permanent logistics distribution center in Hawaii and immediately after the incident occurred, started moving commodities such as food and water, protective masks, shelter equipment into Maui to support the state of Hawaii,' said Jeremy Greenberg, the director of the FEMA's Office of Response and Recovery.

'I know that this is just the first step in a difficult recovery process.

'There'll be a long term recovery aspect to this certainly but that's why FEMA and the entire federal government are working with the state to prioritize getting everyone who's impacted by this the assistance they need.'

But locals on Maui claim it has taken too long to restore communications that were cut out by the fire, and say officials have also failed to tell people how to access key services.

Maui locals say they have been left to coordinate some of the recovery effort themselves. Pictured: Volunteers load supplies onto a boat for West Maui at the Kihei boat landing

Shelly Polson, 69, (centre) receives supplies at a pop up volunteer distribution center in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii. 12 August, 2023. Shelly Polson's house burnt down in the wildfire, killing many of her animals and destroying all of her belongings

USA - Malama E Ke Ola and other health care personnel from around Maui work to organize their medical facility on the lawn of the War Memorial Gym

Josh Masslon, a Maui resident, said: 'Where are the county officials? Nobody has internet  I just found out you can't drink the water.

'The communication has been nil.'

Charities, churches and other local groups have stepped in to fill the gap left by federal agencies, some locals said. Support has ranged from providing shelter and supplies to passing out cooked meals.

Cord Cuniberti, a volunteer helping with the recovery, said the island was relying on 'coconut wireless', a slang term in Hawaii for word-of-mouth.

He told the Honolulu Star Advertiser: 'Nobody knows what's going on out here.'

Paul Romero, a gym owner in Maui, told the outlet: 'It's an incredible dichotomy.

'There is an outpouring of local support, boots on the ground, depleting our personal resources to support our ohana in just the most basic ways.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green said search teams 'will find 10 to 20 people per day probably until they finish' the finish the searches, which take around 10 days. He has ordered the state's attorney general to conduct a review of the fire response

The historic town of Lahaina in Maui was ruined by the wildfires and thousands of people have been left homeless

'The response from our well-funded, tax-paid government is incredibly pathetic. We can't even understand what they did, what they didn't do, what they're still not doing.'

Jacquelyn Ingram, of the Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii, which has also been offering help, told the Guardian it was a 'slow response', adding: 'I think people will continue to be upset.'

Kai Lenny, a professional surfer, said citizens were leading the recovery efforts because 'no one else is helping'.

He told the Washington Post that his attempts to bring 100 pounds of insulin to Maui were blocked by state officials who said he didn't have proper authorization.

'It's ironic that the people that we put into government to actually help us are making it more difficult for us to even just help ourselves,' he said.

On Saturday, officials said they had only scoured 3 percent of the search area in Lahaina. Gov. Green said the death toll is likely to rise by '10 to 20' per day as the searches continue for around 10 more days.

Governor Josh Green walks and surveys the damage on Front Street. Destroyed buildings surround the area in the aftermath of the fire in Lahaina on Thursday in handout photos provided by the governor's office

Search and Rescue Soldiers and Airmen attached to Hawaii National Guards CERF-P unit assisted Maui County and State officials in the search and recovery efforts of Lahaina, August 10, 2023

The Hawaii Department of Defense said teams are 'going street by street, block by block between cars, and soon they'll start to enter buildings.'

The Hawaii National Guard has over 110 personnel assisting county and federal officials search and rescue operation.

A press conference will be held by the governor at 3.30pm local time (9.30pm ET) on Monday.

Green said on Sunday he was frustrated following reports the Maui's emergency warning system, including sirens and mobile phone alerts, allegedly did not give residents enough notice that fires were rapidly engulfing Lahaina.

'We're heartbroken that people couldn't get out or didn't get alerted. We're doing a review already. My attorney general, I asked her to do it. Not to find fault in anyone but to say why this worked and this didn't work,' he said.

'It is definitely a natural disaster because the winds were moving -- any fire between 60 and 80 miles per hour. That's a mile a minute.'
The Smithsonian museum has apologized for 'unethical' historic collections including brains harvested by a white supremacist former curator in the 1900s - as furious families demand the return of their relatives' remains.

Ales Hrdlicka, the DC institution's first curator of human anthropology, led the museum's drive to collect 255 brains in the early 1900s as he attempted to present evidence of a now-debunked theory about anatomical differences between races.

According to the Washington Post who unveiled the dark story behind the collection, the majority were removed upon death from non-white and indigenous people without the consent of the individuals or their families.

One of the brains belonged to Mary Sara, an indigenous Scandinavian woman of the Sami people, who died of tuberculosis in a Seattle sanitarium in 1933 at the age of 18.

Her doctor contacted the Smithsonian by telegram in May of that year to offer her brain for Hrdlicka's collection, and it is still preserved within the walls of the institution 90 years on.

Ales Hrdlicka, the DC institution's first curator of human anthropology, led the museum's drive to collect 255 brains in the early 1900s as he attempted to present evidence of a now-debunked theory about anatomical differences between races

Martha Sara, the first cousin of Mary Sara, and her husband Fred Jack are photographed at home in Wasilla, Alaska, Saturday, May 27, 2023. Mary Sara was an 18 year old Sami woman from Alaska, who died in Seattle in 1933 of tuberculosis

This year, the Smithsonian (pictured) announced the creation of a task force aimed at addressing what will happen to the human remains in conversation with relatives and apologized for previous practices

Using Smithsonian documents, the Post tracked down Sara's relatives - who had no idea her brain had been taken and said they would demand its return.

Her cousin, retired nurse Martha Sara Jack, 77, described the practice as 'a violation of anybody's trust or humanity'.

'Its inhumane,' Jack, who lives in Wasilla, Alaska, said. 'Its not science anymore. Its like barbarism or ghoulish harvesting.'

'It's kind of like an open wound, her husband, Fred Jack, added.

'We want to have peace and we'll have no peace because we know this exists, until it's corrected.'

The Smithsonian's board approved giving Sara's brain to the family, the Post said - though officials refused their request to pay for a burial and headstone.

The brains, mostly collected in the 1940s, have long been off-limit to public viewing, with officials only allowing descendants or members of related communities to see them, according to the Post.

This year, the Smithsonian announced the creation of a task force aimed at addressing what will happen to the human remains in conversation with relatives, and apologized for previous practices.

'At the Smithsonian, we recognize certain collection practices of our past were unethical,' said Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch III.

'What was once standard in the museum field is no longer acceptable.

Ales Hrdlicka, left, of the Smithsonian Institute, and Robert Andrews Millikan of the California Institution of Technology of Pasadena, California, at the general meeting of the American Philosophical society in Philadelphia

Documents collected by Ales Hrdlicka are photographed at the Smithsonian Museum Support Center in Silver Hill, Maryland

'We acknowledge and apologize for the pain our historical practices have caused people, their families and their communities.

'I look forward to the conversations this initiative will generate in helping us perform our cutting-edge research in a manner that is ripe with scholarship and conforms to the highest ethical standard.'

The museum added that since 1989, it has 'successfully repatriated over 5,000 individuals' under the National Museum of the American Indian Act, and the new task force will 'develop a policy that addresses all human remains' held by the institution.

Including Hrdlicka's collection, the Natural History Museum has at least 268 brains, per the Post, and only four have been repatriated.

This is largely because the Smithsonian requires relatives to issue a formal request for their return - but many are unaware that they were taken in the first place.

Czech-American anthropologist Hrdlicka became the first curator of human anthropology at the Smithsonian in 1903.

Around the same time, he was emerging as the chief proponent for the theory that man had not lived in the Americas for longer than 3,000 years - therefore contesting tens of thousands of years of indigenous history.

He was also seen as an authoritative scholar on race, leading the plight to prove that race determined physical characteristics and intelligence.

Hrdlicka was also a member of the American Eugenics Society, an organization which aimed to 'improve' the gene pool based on racist theories which would be widely condemned after the Nazis used them to justify the Holocaust.

The Smithsonian Museum Support Center (pictured) in Maryland which houses the brains collected by the institution

A framed photo of Mary Sara is seen at her first cousin's home in Wasilla, Alaska

He often touted his white supremacist beliefs, including in a speech where he said black people were 'the real problem before American people', according to the Post.

'There are differences of importance between the brains of the negro and European, to the general disadvantage of the former,' he wrote in a 1926 letter to a University of Vermont professor.

'Brains of individual negroes may come up to or near the standard of some individual whites; but such primitive brains as found in some negroes  would be hard to duplicate in normal whites.'

Hrdlicka described his group of human brains at the Smithsonian as the 'racial brain collection' - and it is unclear whether he took the brains illegally.
This is the moment 'gunshots' were fired at a Derbyshire sports contest today (top) - as three people were wounded during and a man was attacked with a sword in a terrifying brawl which was said to be sparked by rival gangs. Armed police (inset; police cars bottom) rushed to the horror incident happened at the Derby Kabaddi grounds on Elvaston Lane in Alvaston at around 4pm on Sunday afternoon, with a reportedly large police presence earlier this evening. An eyewitness described a man being shot and then attacked repeatedly with a sword. Other witnesses claimed two gangs caused the violence and said it ruined their tournament. Broadcast footage of the tournament from the Panjab Broadcasting Channel shows the moment that live commentary cuts out as terrified spectators behind wire fences start running from the threat. A group appear to be marching in unison and one man can be seen swinging around his head what appears to be a large knife or bat.
The young girl was about 10 or 11 weeks pregnant when she found out

She was sexually assaulted by a stranger who saw her playing outside her home

Teenage victim was forced to give birth after being raped in the fall of 2022

A 13-year-old rape victim has been forced to give birth after being sexually assaulted due to Mississippi's abortion ban.

The teen delivered a healthy baby boy just days ago after being sexually assaulted by a stranger who saw her playing in the front yard outside her home in the fall of 2022, according to TIME.

Following the brutal attack the girl became depressed and withdrawn, losing enthusiasm for the the activities that usually made her happy.

Her mother could tell something was wrong and eventually asked her daughter if she thought she might be pregnant. The mom said she had not yet told the child how babies are made, believing she was still too young.

A teen rape victim was forced to give birth after being sexually assaulted in the fall of 2022

Abortion rights supports hold signs outside the Jackson Women's Health Organization clinic in Jackson, Miss.

It was a daunting prospect. A ruling in June 2022 in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization stripped women of their constitutional right to abortion.

'She just said, "It hurts," the mom says. 'She was crying in her room. I asked her what was wrong, and she said she didnt want to tell me.'

On January 11 this year, the young girl became so ill her mom took her to the Northwest Regional Medical Center in Clarksdale.

When her blood results came back, it was revealed she was around 10 or 11 weeks pregnant. The police were called as a precaution.

Had the discovery been seven months earlier, an abortion could have been possible.

Now Mississippi law states says abortion will be legal only if the pregnant womans life is in danger or if a pregnancy is caused by a rape reported to law enforcement. It does not have an exception for pregnancies caused by incest.

Dr. Erica Balthrop, the ob-gyn on call that day, remembers meeting the teen for the first time just moments after the family were told the news.

'It was surreal for her,' Balthrop recalls. 'She just had no clue.'

An anti-abortion protestor moves a sign from outside at the Jackson Women's Health Organization also known as the The Pink House

A couple of weeks later at a follow-up appointment, her mum asked if it would be possible to go through with an early termination. They were told they would need to travel to the nearest abortion provider, in Chicago.

The financial demands were too much for the mother, and there was no other choice but for the seventh-grader to have her child.

'I wish she had just told me when it happened. We could have gotten Plan B or something,' the mum says, talking about the emergency contraceptive.

'That would have been that.'

For the few months, the family did what they could to hide the pregnancy from others. The teenager wore baggy clothes and her mum kept her away from 'nosy people'.

But cases continue to fall through the cracks, even when a police report is filed alleging rape.

The girl's mother filed a complaint with the Clarksdale Police Department but an investigation progressed, despite suspicions on who the alleged offender may be.

Now that the baby, nicknamed Peanut, is born, the new mom is getting ready to go back to school with her three closest friends none the wiser.

'Its going to be a little private matter here,' the mum says.
An unruly man who went on an unhinged rant on a Malaysia Airlines flight forcing the plane to turn back has become the latest scandal in the carrier's troubled history.

Dramatic video showed Muhammad Ali Arif calling himself a 'slave of Allah' before challenging other passengers to repeat that they were also 'slaves of Allah' on flight MH122 on Monday evening.

Witnesses said the drama unfolded about 45 minutes after the Airbus-A330 took-off when he reached into his bag and claimed something 'dangerous' was inside.

Members of the flight crew subsequently examined the bag and did not find anything dangerous inside.

The plane landed back in Sydney just before 4pm before Arif was arrested by police three hours later, held in custody overnight, and charged on Tuesday.

Malaysia Airlines has been plagued by controversy in the past with the airline receiving bomb threats, a staff member being accused of sexual assault, and a number of planes crashing killing hundreds of passengers.

Dramatic video showed a man, who said his name was Mohammed, calling himself a 'slave of Allah' as he harassed other passengers on board a Malaysia Airlines flight

Six years ago, Sri Lankan man Manodh Marks threatened to blow up a Malaysian Airlines flight after it took off from Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport.

Malaysia Airlines flight 128, which had 222 people onboard, was heading from Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur on May 31, 2017.

Marks, 25, who was on ice, boarded the Airbus and ran towards the cockpit during the take-off period while claiming that he had a bomb.

He held devices with flashing blue lights in each hand as he tried to enter the cockpit and threatened to 'blow the f***ing plane up'.

The captain had to make a mayday call to air traffic control and turn the plane around after a crew member gave the hijacking code of 'romeo romeo'.

The devices were later revealed to be a portable speaker and battery pack.

Marks was overpowered by passengers and restrained with cable ties until the flight landed back at Melbourne Airport.

He was then arrested by heavily-armed police who stormed the plane.

The man, 45, was arrested by Australian Federal Police as passengers were safely evacuated from the plane in Sydney

Marks, who was the first person in Australia to be jailed for attempting to take control of an aircraft, will be deported to Colombo upon his release.

In 2016, Laura Bushney sued Malaysia Airlines for more than $200,000 after she claimed she was sexually assaulted by a steward.

Ms Bushney was travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Paris on August 4, 2014, when she was allegedly assaulted by Chief Steward Mohd Rosli Bin Ab Karim.

She claimed that Mr Rosli sat down next to her on the pretext of comforting her because she was scared of flying before allegedly putting his hand into her pants.

Mr Rosli was sacked from Malaysia Airlines as a result. He spent years behind bars in Paris and then almost a year in home detention.

French law firm Lasek said Mr Rosli was found not guilty during his court hearing, according to The Australian.

Ms Bushney tried to appeal the decision but it was eventually withdrawn.

It comes six years after Sri Lankan man Manodh Marks threatened to blow up a Malaysian Airlines flight after it took off from Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport

Armed police stormed the plane after Marks made the threats. He was arrested shortly after they boarded

The most notable and tragic incidents that put Malaysia Airlines in the spotlight was the fate of flights MH370 and MH17 in 2014.

Flight MH17, which had 298 passengers on board including 38 Australians, was heading from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur on July 17.

The plane was shot down by a BUK missile fired by from territory controlled by Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, killing everyone on the flight.

Two former Russian intelligence officers - Igor Girkin and Sergey Dubinsky - as well as Ukrainian Leonid Kharchenko, who was working for Russia, were found guilty of shooting down the plane with a Russian-made missile in a Dutch court.

Foreign Affairs minister Penny Wong announced back in June that Australia had enforced financial sanctions and travel bans on the three men responsible.

Flight MH370 was heading from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing when it suddenly vanished on March 8, 2014.

Some 26 countries were involved in the four-year $200million international search effort, which covered more than 120,000sqm. It was the most expensive search effort in aviation history.

Girkin and three others were found guilty of shooting down Flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014, killing all 298 on board. Pictured: People walk amongst the debris of the crash site

On March 8, 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 took off into the night's sky from Kuala Lumpur, never to be seen or heard from again (pictured, the missing aircraft taking off in France in 2011)

The wreckage was never located. However, several pieces of debris believed to be from the flight washed ashore on beaches in the Western Indian Ocean in 2015 and 2016.

It's believed the plane likely crashed in the Indian Ocean, west of Australia.

There were 239 people on board the flight including six Australians.

The man at the centre of the rant on Monday was arrested by Australian Federal Police (AFP) as passengers were safely evacuated from the plane.

The disruption grounded all flights in and out of Sydney airport for several hours, sparking widespread travel chaos across the country which the flow-on affects expected to continue for days.

NSW Police commissioner Karen Webb confirmed on Tuesday that charges had been laid against the passenger at the centre of the rant.
BBC bosses took over four weeks to respond to a whistleblower with a new complaint amid their investigation into Huw Edwards last month, it has been reported.

The former employee contacted the BBC on July 13 after Edwards, 61, was named publicly as the star being investigated following allegations of sexual misconduct, according to The Sun.

Passed on to the BBC's Corporate Investigation Team, the whistleblower allegedly followed up two days later - and again on July 31 after receiving no reply.

In their communications, they are said to have informed the BBC they had information to help the investigation and information about another employee.

The BBC only replied to the former employee on August 10, a day after The Sun took the story to the broadcaster's press office, according to The Sun.

Speaking on the matter, the complainant said yesterday: 'It is shocking they did not respond to me for so long, and I had to contact them three times.'

Huw Edwards (pictured in January 2020) was investigated last month following allegations of sexual misconduct

The allegation brought by the whistleblower was for alleged improper conduct.

Exact details were not disclosed.

A BBC spokesperson told MailOnline: 'We welcome anyone coming forward with information to contribute to our existing fact-finding investigation.

'While we wouldn't comment on the detail of our on-going process, the BBC has reached out to this individual.

'We take all contacts to the BBC very seriously.

'Our work is progressing and we have set out our approach on these matters in correspondence with the DCMS select committee who have published this on their website.

'Separately we are reviewing our non-editorial complaints process with Deloitte, and this work continues.'

For two decades, Huw Edwards was the face of the BBC flagship News At Ten.

He led the BBC's coverage of many important events in recent history including the 2012 London Olympics, the inauguration of Barack Obama and the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

In May this year, a family member of an alleged victim made a complaint about Edwards' behaviour, with details referred to the Corporate Investigations Team.

On May 19, the team emailed the complainant and received no response.

Two months later, The Sun informed the BBC's press office about allegations made against Edwards, prompting the broadcaster to launch an 'incident management group' of top execs and approach Edwards, before going to the police on July 7.

A BBC spokesperson told MailOnline: 'While we wouldn't comment on the detail of our on-going process, the BBC has reached out to this individual.'

The Sun's original story purported to reveal a 'failure to investigate claims' that a BBC star - then unnamed publicly - had paid thousands to a teenager for explicit images.

By July 9, Edwards was suspended from his role.

Only a day later, the alleged victim rubbished the allegations through a lawyer.

Three new claims emerged on July 11 in relation to Edwards' behaviour, before he was finally revealed as the presenter in question by his wife on July 12.
Ron DeSantis is over his feud with Disney and has drastically slowed-down his attacks on what he has dubbed the 'corporate kingdom' as his campaign chugs forward.

The Florida Governor urged Walt Disney Co. CEO Bob Iger to drop the lawsuit against his administration claiming he engaged in political retaliation in the war that was sparked when former CEO Bob Chapek spoke out against his education policies.

Speaking with CNBC in an interview set to air in full Monday evening on Last Call, DeSantis said that he and his allies have 'basically moved on' from the fight with Disney.

'I would just say, go back to what you did well,' DeSantis said as the final word on the matter. 'I think it's going to be the right business decision, and all that.'

2024 hopeful Ron DeSantis says he has 'moved on' from his war with Disney and urged CEO Bob Iger to drop the lawsuit against him

Gov. Ron DeSantis and his wife Casey walked around the Iowa State Fair on Saturday with their three children with just five months until the first-in-the-nation caucuses

'They're suing the state of Florida. They're going to lose that lawsuit,' he added, claiming that if Iger called him today he would give him the advice to 'drop the lawsuit.'

He also said he would tell the CEO: 'This is a great place to do business. Your competitors all do very well here, Universal, SeaWorld. They have not had the same special privileges as you have.'

The Sunshine State has the best economy in the country currently, according to recent polling  and it ranks eighth overall in CNBC's ranking of America's Top States of Business in 2023.

'All we want to do is treat everybody the same, and let's move forward,' DeSantis said, ready to bury the hatchet. 'I'm totally fine with that. But I'm not fine with giving extraordinary privileges, you know, to one special company at the exclusion of everybody else.'

The lawsuit against DeSantis launched after he stripped the former Reedy Creek Improvement District, now known as the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, from the special privileges it had been awarded decades prior.

After Disney began what DeSantis felt was improperly weighing in on government matters  like his Parental Bill of Rights dubbed by critics as the 'Don't Say Gay' law  he started more fiercely targeting Central Florida's largest employer and specifically their special tax district.

The area has become a key battleground in the governor's long-running feud with Disney.

Disney CEO Bob Iger sued the state of Florida after DeSantis' administration stripped Reedy Creek of its autonomy and took control with a new board that voted to nullify contracts that would allow the district to thwart the state's power

He first stripped down the board by signing a bill in February that gave him control to hand-pick a brand new board. He then vowed to remove all special exemptions the area received from paying taxes to the state.

After the new board was in place, Disney created long-term development deals that the panel claims was an attempt to foil their power grab. The board voted to nullify the contracts, which prompted Disney to sue in federal court.

A 45-year-old Republican caucus-goer at the Iowa State Fair on Thursday told DailyMail.com that he is 'tired' of DeSantis' whole 'war with Disney,' and said it distracts from the real issues. He said that former President Donald Trump will win the nomination because of his focus on Disney and other 'woke' issues.
Brussels has ruled out a deal which would allow Channel migrants to be sent back to France, leaked documents show.

Official records indicate the refusal came from one of European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen's most trusted aides.

German politician Bjoern Siebert told senior British officials the bloc will refuse to consider signing a post-Brexit 'returns agreement', the Mail can disclose today.

Mr Siebert, who is Mrs von der Leyen's head of cabinet, delivered the defiant rejection at a face-to-face meeting with the Cabinet Office's National Security Adviser Sir Tim Barrow earlier this year, the papers show.

It means Britain will remain unable to return small boat migrants to France for the foreseeable future.

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak speaks during the Conservative Party Spring Conference

The Daily Mail has seen an internal British government memo which describes the outcome of the meeting between Sir Tim and Mr Siebert. It says of the EU official: 'He stressed that the Commission is not open to a UK-EU readmissions agreement.'

Both sides did agree to co-operate on other immigration measures, however, including moves to combat trafficking gangs, according to the memo, which was sent to a number of government departments. Last night Brussels disputed the version of events set out in the leaked memo. 'Mr Siebert never said what it is claimed,' a Commission spokesman said.

French ministers insist the European Union's border arrangements can only be decided by Brussels  something Britain regards as a moot point. If Channel migrants cannot be removed to France, the Home Office's options are limited to sending them to their home nation  which in many cases leads to human rights challenges  or to a safe third country such as Rwanda.

However, the Government's asylum deal with Rwanda remains in legal limbo after it was declared unlawful on human rights grounds by the Court of Appeal in June.

Rishi Sunak has repeatedly spoken of his desire to secure closer co-operation with Europe on the Channel crisis.

Its refusal to consider a returns agreement intensified pressure from within the Conservative party for Britain to leave the European Human Rights Convention.

MPs on the Right of the party insist the ECHR is the main block on returning migrants to their home nations or to Rwanda.

Last night Conservative backbencher Danny Kruger said: 'We have now tried legal efforts, technical fixes, and international diplomacy in an attempt to stop the boats within the confines of European human rights law.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen arrives for an EU Summit

'If the EU won't consider a returns agreement, we will have no choice but to take back full control of our legal sovereignty.'

Mr Sunak, who has vowed to 'stop the boats' as one of his five key pledges to voters, said in June that closer European co-operation on border security 'must be top of the agenda'.

When Britain was in the EU some migrants were returned under the Dublin Agreement, which allowed them to be sent back to safe countries they passed through on their way here. The PM is thought to have been aiming for an improved version of that deal.

But a government source said: 'The EU can't even agree a migration deal between themselves so it's no surprise they aren't willing to discuss a readmissions agreement with us.

'Even under the Dublin Agreement we took more people than we sent the other way.'

The involvement of UK National Security Adviser and top diplomat Sir Tim Barrow in the talks demonstrates how Downing Street is throwing every effort at cracking the small boats crisis.

A government spokesman said: 'We remain open to working with the EU to take forward negotiations on a UK-EU returns deal.'

It is understood that UK ministers still hope a returns deal can be agreed. They believe it would be a key factor in deterring crossings.
One shared photos just hours before disappearing

Four missing Australians in Indonesia were part of a group of 12 friends on a 30th birthday surfing trip with one sharing photos just hours before disappearing.

Steph Weisse, Jordan Short, Elliot Foote and Will Teagle went missing on Sunday while travelling across rough seas to the remote Banyak Islands, in Indonesia, in a wooden longboat.

Their boat, carrying the four Aussies as well as a three-man Indonesian crew, had launched from Nias Island alongside another boat carrying their eight friends.

They were headed to the small island of Pinang in the Banyaks, a 50km voyage that usually takes three hours, but ran into a storm.

One boat decided to wait out the weather on Sarang Alu, an island halfway from their destination, but the missing boat decided to go ahead.

Elliot Foote (pictured with girlfriend Steph Weisse) went missing on Sunday during a trip for his 30th birthday in Indonesia

Jordan Short (left) and Will Teagle (right) were also onboard the missing wooden longboat which was last seen at about 6pm on Sunday

Elliot Foote's father, Peter, said the group were planning to spend 10 days on Pinang surfing to celebrate his son's upcoming 30th birthday.

The group are all friends of Mr Foote from exclusive all-boys private school Scots College, Bronte where he lived in Sydney's east, and Mullumbimby near Byron Bay where he recently moved with his girlfriend, Ms Weisse.

Ms Weisse is from Mullumbimby and works in a gardening nursery while Mr Teagle is a landscaper from Bronte.

Mr Foote, a carpenter, shared a series of photos from the ill-fated holiday just hours before he boarded the missing boat.

The post shows the group surfing and hiking in Bukit Lawang, north Sumatra.

'Soho gulah Sorake so good being back in Indo after so many years. Sharing waves with mates and the Queen,' Mr Foote wrote - 'Queen' is his nickname for Ms Weisse.

'Starting the trip off with hiking in the North Sumatran jungle and seeing orangutans was an amazing experience and something that I look forward to doing again for a longer time and going deeper.

'Bukit Lawang is a beautiful spot with such kind people.'

Peter Foote is holding onto hope Mr Foote and his friends will be found soon.

Elliot Foot shared a series of photos (one above) of the group of 12 friends' holiday just hours before boarding the missing longboat

The friends were travelling in two wooden longboats from Nias Island to a resort on Pinang Island but were separated during a storm (pictured, the boat the four missing Aussies and three Indonesians were travelling in)

Pictured is a map showing the intended route of the two longboats before they were separated

'They have life jackets on board, they had food and water and there is shelter on the boat. It has a roof,' he told the Sydney Morning Herald.

'Apparently the waves weren't that problematic. It was just the visibility in the storm.

'We're all hoping they've either run out of fuel or they got lost and missed the island or more likely there may be an engine failure on the boat, which unfortunately doesn't have any GPS.'

Local authorities said the missing boat departed Nias Island at about 3pm on Sunday and was last seen at about 6pm.

The boat carrying the remaining eight Australians arrived on Pinang Island at 10.18pm.

Poor conditions have so far hindered the search and rescue mission for the Aussies and Indonesians, which include the boat owner and two mechanics.

Parties organised by the Pinang resort and Indonesian National Search and Rescue agency launched at about 6am on Monday.

Nias Island chief Octavianto said more than 20 police, military and volunteers are searching the sea.

The group was made of Mr Foote's (left) friends from Scots College, Bronte and Mullumbimby - a town near Byron Bay where he'd recently moved with his girlfriend, Ms Weisse (right)

The group of 12 friends were on a surfing holiday to celebrate Mr Foote's upcoming 30th birthday (pictured, missing Aussie Jordan Short)

'Our team has arrived at Sarang Alu Island today to search the area. It is the last spot before both boats separated,' he told reporters on Monday.

'The waves are three to four metres high. It is raining heavily and it's dark. We can only use smaller boats with good aerodynamics due to the weather. We are searching within 40 nautical miles of Sarang Alu Island.

'However, the issue is that the (missing vessel) is a basic wooden boat without any tracking devices or the like.

'They really went there on their own.'

Octavianto added the tourists did not report their trip to the local port authority.

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade chartered a private plane to join the search on Monday night.

Authorities said the eight friends who arrived on Pinang Island are 'beside themselves'.

The families of the four missing Aussies shared a statement through DFAT on Monday night.

'Our hearts are aching at the thought that Elliot, Steph, Will and Jordan are missing at sea,' they said.

'We continue to pray and hold out hope they will be found.

'We'd like to thank the Indonesian authorities and the Australian government for their ongoing assistance while search and rescue efforts continue.'

The Pinang resort (above) features a 'self-sufficient' bungalow where guests can enjoy a 'castaway lifestyle'

The Pinang resort is marketed as a secluded spots where guests can enjoy a 'castaway lifestyle'.

A 'self-sufficient' bungalow on the island costs about $230AUD per night and includes breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as access to snorkelling, fishing and kayaking.

Guests are also provided 'daily surf trips to the Bay of Plenty or Bangkaru Island' and transfer to Nias island via 'speedboat'.
The first woman took over as chief of the US Navy in 'acting capacity,' even though Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin nominated someone else for the role.

Chief of Naval Ops. Adm. Mike Gilday retired and handed the torch to Navy Admiral Lisa Franchetti, who will serve in an acting capacity until officially confirmed by the Senate after her nomination by President Joe Biden.

If confirmed, Franchetti would make history as the first woman to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Biden chose Adm. Lisa Franchetti to lead the Navy, an unprecedented choice that goes against the recommendation of his Pentagon chief, who suggested Adm. Samuel Paparo - the current commander of the Navys Pacific Fleet.

Franchetti is one of over 300 military officers whose nominations are on hold in the Senate following challenges from Alabama Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville.

The first woman took over as chief of the US Navy in 'acting capacity,' following a ceremony at the US Naval Academy in Maryland

Chief of Naval Ops. Adm. Mike Gilday retired and handed the torch to Navy Admiral Lisa Franchetti, who will serve in acting capacity until officially confirmed by the Senate

Her stall in Congress comes after an eight-month blockade on military promotions put in place by Tuberville, who is fighting against a new Pentagon policy regarding reproductive services.

Franchetti, who has served as vice chief since September 2022, indicated if confirmed, she would move forward Gilday's push to modernize the Navy.

'Your vision and transformational leadership these past four years has laid the foundation on which we are building our Navy's readiness for today while designing the fleet of tomorrow,' Franchetti said speaking at the Naval Academy in Maryland.

'We look to the horizon and prepare for the challenges that lie ahead, I will act with a sense of urgency to ensure our sailors have everything they need to maintain our warfighting edge,' she added.

When the confirmation would occur is unclear.

'The character of war is changing. But our Navy team is adapting at speed. If we continue to act with urgency and purpose along with our allies and partners, we will meet any challenge,' Gilday said in his speech during the ceremony.

'I am proud that she will be my CNO,' he added.

'She is a fleet sailor, an operator, a warfighter. She has already made the Navy better as our vice chief of Naval operations, the Navy is in good hands with her at the helm.'

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the conformation on hold marks a 'painful milestone' in his speech at the ceremony.

'This is unprecedented. It is unnecessary. And it is unsafe,' he said.

When the confirmation would occur is unclear at this time

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday stand at attention during a relinquishment of office ceremony at the United States Naval Academy on Monday

If confirmed, Franchetti would make history as the first woman to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Biden chose Adm. Lisa Franchetti to lead the Navy, an unprecedented choice that goes against the recommendation of his Pentagon chief who suggested Adm. Samuel Paparo, the current commander of the Navys Pacific Fleet

'This sweeping hold is undermining America's military readiness. It's hindering our ability to retain our very best officers. And it's upending the lives of far too many American military families.'

President Joe Biden nominated Admiral Franchetti to serve as chief of naval operations one month ago.

The unprecedented choice would make her the first woman to be a Pentagon service chief and the first female member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Biden's decision contradicts that of his Pentagon chief.

In June, Austin recommended the Navy's highest-ranking officer go to a man over a woman - who was widely believed to be the front-runner.

Admiral Samuel Paparo serves as the commander of the Pacific Fleet and was reportedly tapped by Austin for Chief of Naval Operations over Franchetti.

Franchetti serves as vice chief of naval operations and was considered the top pick for the role since she was the Navy's No. 2 officer.

Franchetti is one of over 300 military officers whose nominations are on hold in the Senate following a hold from Alabama Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Speros Koumparakis, commanding officer, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, speaks to Franchetti in December 2022

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recommended the Navy's highest-ranking job go to Adm. Samuel Paparo, instead of Franchetti, a woman who was the front-runner

It is unclear why Austin chose Paparo over Franchetti, but Navy spokesman Rear Admiral Ryan Perry called it 'a presidential decision.'

'The United States Navy has several highly qualified senior leaders, and it would be inappropriate to speculate which leader the president will nominate to serve as the next chief of naval operations,' Perry said.

Franchetti, has broad command and executive experience and 'was considered by insiders to be the top choice for the job,' according to the Associated Press in July.

In a statement, Biden emphasized the historical significance of her selection and said 'throughout her career, Admiral Franchetti has demonstrated extensive expertise in both the operational and policy arenas.'
On the beach in northern France, the mass of footprints were all heading one way  into the Channel, and straight to England.

French police had seen three boatloads of migrants waiting for the bus towards the coast the previous night  they had done nothing to stop them.

As was evidenced in the tracks they left behind, at some point in the night one of the groups had emerged from hiding in the dunes and made their way to the beach.

The outline of a dinghy in the sand, two discarded boxes of 'Doublequick Air Pumps', a canister of engine oil, half empty water bottles, even a dropped new mobile phone, told a graphic story.

In the darkness, the migrants had pumped up a dinghy, carried it to the waves 200 yards away, and set sail for Dover.

On the beach in northern France, the mass of footprints were all heading one way  into the Channel, and straight to England

Local police on the beach at the seaside town of Gravelines in Northern France, popular with people traffickers due to the large beach and sand dunes

Hot meals for the migrants served by volunteers in a field close to Grand-Synthe, Dunkirk, Northern France

There were many footprints left by the passengers carrying their own boat to the sea. None was pointing back to the dunes. Only after we had traced the tracks at Gravelines beach did three armed officers from the French Police Nationale turn up on foot.

'Yes, it will have been migrants,' their female sergeant told us. 'No, we do not know where they are now.'

And while on previous visits the Mail has witnessed police mob-handed guarding key beaches on the many miles of coastline nearest to England, these three were the only officers we saw yesterday. That, and tyre-marks of a four-wheel drive that similarly missed the boat. Too little, too late.

Saturday's tragedy, with at least six Afghans drowned in the Channel, seemed to have done nothing to spur increased French vigilance, despite the 480million funding the authorities receive from Britain's Home Office.

In the sprawling encampment area near Dunkirk by a disused railway line, where up to 1,000 migrants wait to take their chance on the waves, the deaths have had similarly little impact. Instead, the breakout of sunny weather and calm seas, after weeks of poor weather, has brought hope.

But there is also fear among those surviving here, with an increasingly tense atmosphere, and claims of gunshots fired in the hours before Saturday's tragedy, as Afghans bargained for their places on crowded Kurdish-run dinghies.

Yet every day more migrants arrive, many since the weekend. Drownings, let alone vague talk of flights to Rwanda or being sent to live on a barge in England, are of little concern.

Muhamed, 28, from Afghanistan, only arrived on this springboard to the promised land yesterday. The death of six countrymen just two days earlier was like something from previous generation.

'Yes, we have heard about them,' he said. 'Yes, they say they were from Afghanistan. But that's life.'

Muhamed is paying 1,500 euros to get to England. 'Maybe tomorrow,' he smiled.

He and a friend were queuing in a field for free spaghetti in a chicken and vegetable sauce, with a piece of baguette, fruit salad and coffee on the side. A mixed group of French pensioners and boy and girl scouts had turned up in vans, and set up a couple of trestle tables to serve the free meals from insulated containers.

The outline of a dinghy in the sand, two discarded boxes of 'Doublequick Air Pumps', a canister of engine oil, half empty water bottles, even a dropped new mobile phone, told a graphic story

Foot prints of migrants heading towards the sea on the beach at Gravelines, signs of a boat already left for England

Detritus left behind by migrants bound for England on the beach at Gravelines, Northern France

Within moments, 250 migrants from Asia and Africa, mainly men aged 20-40 but including several dozen women, some fully veiled, and maybe a dozen children, had arrived to eat.

Clutching polystyrene food boxes, they sat in national groups  Afghans, Indians, Eritreans, Syrians and Iraqi Kurds. A group of South Sudanese sat well apart. Group spokesman David, 25, said: 'I've been here 20 days.'

A relatively long wait, determined by his group's hopes to fill spare places on boats, at a bargain 500 euros.

'I haven't got that,' he said, smiling ruefully. 'I have nothing.'

Ravi, 31, from India, has already paid out 1,500 euros for an aborted trip last Tuesday, he said, and needed more for another try.

'The motor broke down after two hours,' he said. 'I had to call the Calais police to bring us back, 55 people from Vietnam, Albania, India  you do not ask the people smugglers for your money back. That would bring problems.'

Iraqi Kurd Farhad, 33, has known the straggled encampments and makeshift migrant shops under gazebos here, between Loon-Plage and Grande-Synthe, for years. The only changes have been for the worse. 'Police were looking for people smugglers after 27 drowned in the Channel two years ago,' he said. 'People are scared to say anything to outsiders, because they will be beaten, or worse.'

A water bottle is seen lying in the sand surrounded by footprints where migrants have left for England

Footprints pointing towards the sea suggest a recent travelling across the Channel from France to England

Natacha Bouchart, mayor of Calais, has constituents angered by the camps outside towns in the region, and believes only designating the region a 'border zone' and massively increased security can stem the crossings.

That and changes in British law to stop migrants working. Migrants should be 'automatically removed' from the north coast she said, and kept away to 'free them from the malevolent influence of smugglers'.

Couple that with a 'modification of British employment law', and the crisis would end, she added. Ikram Nasseri, 21, from Afghanistan, was unconcerned by the authorities' plans. He has been in France for years but was hoping to leave for England last night.

'We don't like it here,' he said. 'The French are racist, and if you work without the correct papers, they treat you like nothing. I have family in Birmingham, I can work there.'
In a world where making excuses for criminality is the norm  lack of money, poor education, unemployment  it's refreshing to hear someone who believes in the old-fashioned idea of personal responsibility.

In today's Mail, the head of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners calls for a concerted effort to prevent a repeat of last week's disgraceful Oxford Street looting spree, orchestrated on social media.

Donna Jones says sites such as TikTok must do more to identify and take down posts which incite criminal behaviour, and that police monitoring must also be better.

But the key to long-term prevention, she believes, lies with parents. 'They need to get a grip of what their children are doing,' she says. 'It's not for the police to instil a sense of right and wrong.'

Looking at the faces of the young people in the Oxford Street flash mob, it was clear many of them thought it was all a great laugh to engage in mass thievery.

In today's Mail, the head of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners calls for a concerted effort to prevent a repeat of last week's disgraceful Oxford Street looting spree (Pictured: A man is detained by police on Oxford Street)

But such reckless stunts have consequences; injuries to innocent people, destruction of property, and indeed a criminal record for some of those involved, which could blight their future prospects.

Ms Jones is right. The young need a code of ethics to live by, and that must include respect for other people and their property.

The police can't teach it and social media don't seem interested in anything except increasing traffic and making money. Teachers can help, but the primary responsibility for moral guidance falls, as it always has, on parents.

Third-class treatment

The revelation that our top universities are set to offer more places through clearing to foreign applicants than domestic ones is just the latest slap in the face for British students.

Face-to-face tuition, having been non-existent during the Covid lockdown, is still limited. Thousands of students are unable to graduate because of a marking boycott by lecturers, as part of their long-running pay dispute.

There has been a sharp rise in students dropping out mid-course, having found the work too difficult or becoming disillusioned with their university experience.

(Stock Photo) The revelation that our top universities are set to offer more places through clearing to foreign applicants than domestic ones is just the latest slap in the face for British students

And while Russell Group vice-chancellors receive an average salary of 400,000 (the highest was 714,000 in 2021/22) plus lavish perks, the average student debt on graduation has climbed to 45,000.

Universities pompously claim to be international businesses as much as seats of learning. What other business would treat so many of its customers so shabbily?

Toll of the tourist tax

The number of flight bookings to London from the US has risen by 17 per cent since 2019, yet the amount of money American tourists spend here has fallen. Conversely, in the smarter shopping streets of France and Spain, US spending almost trebled.

This pattern was replicated by rich tourists from the Gulf States. Their total spending in France and Italy doubled over the same period, while in the UK it fell 17 per cent.

The root cause is not hard to divine. In almost every European country, tourists can buy goods free of purchase taxes. Here they must pay 20 per cent VAT.

At a time when British retail centres from Oxford Street to Edinburgh's Royal Mile desperately need a post-Covid boost, they are being hit with a perverse and unnecessary tax.

The Treasury claims it will raise up to 2 billion a year. But that's assuming the tourists keep shopping here, which they clearly aren't. Why would they if they can buy comparable goods 20 per cent cheaper across the Channel?

It is a mystery that Chancellor Jeremy Hunt can't comprehend the obvious fact that this tourist tax is self-defeating. When will he finally join up the dots?
A trendy market town has declared a 'housing crisis' after rental rates have soared - pricing locals out.

Frome Town Council in Somerset says the average price of rent in the town has risen to 1,499 a month - fifty per cent of the average local salary.

Councillor Polly Lamb, who proposed the emergency declaration, says locals are being driven out by Frome being named as one of Britain's nicest towns.

She blames an influx of visitors and second homeowners from London buying in Frome, which is known for its vibrant local market.

Councillor Lamb told the BBC: 'Rents have skyrocketed and that is pushing out local people who have been here all their lives.'

Frome has declared an emergency to draw attention to the shortage of housing for locals amid an influx of tourists and second homeowners

Sophie Mullins, who owns a local zero-waste refill shop, says rents are 'crazy expensive' and she was only able to find somewhere to live through friends

Shop assistant Lianna Denwood says she had to move back home because she couldn't afford to rent while saving to buy a house

Today locals described the problems of rental prices hikes.

Sophie Mullins, 36, owner of a zero-waste refills shop, said: 'I sold my house so that I could open my own independent business in Frome, therefore I was looking to rent.

'I managed to find a property and I was in there for about two years.

'We ended up getting very difficult neighbours and I was pregnant, so we were looking to move.

'We were looking for a rental for about four months with no luck. We had dogs too, so it was extremely difficult to find a landlord that would take them as well.

'We only managed to find a property because our friends had neighbours who were moving out and passed our contact details directly onto the landlord.

'That was the only way we could find somewhere that wasn't crazy expensive or had already gone by the time we'd rung up to book a viewing.

Property developer Connor Raudsepp has bought a dilapidated flat and intends to invest thousands in it before renting it out

'There was one instance where my partner went to view a property and we were deliberating over it, he rang up to speak to the estate agent about it - and they told him that someone moving to the area from London had bid more, offering 300 more per month and were willing to pay a year up front. There was just no way we could afford that.'

Lianna Denwood, 23, shop assistant, told of how she and her partner have moved back to their parents' homes because they could not afford rent while saving to buy a house.

She said: 'I moved out of Bristol after finishing uni and went to work in London.

'When I finished that job I came home, but there was no point in going and renting somewhere as I wouldn't be able to set myself up and get into the housing market so I decided to move home.

'My partner, who was also working in London, decided to move home too because his rent skyrocketed by a grand there.

'We're both living in our separate households and we wanted to move out as soon as possible, but renting isn't a possibility because if we want to buy in the future, our deposit money, our savings, everything, would be going on the rent.

'When you're not earning enough, or earning a lot but only enough to cover your living expenses, you're never going to get to a point where you can own your own property.'

An anonymous local resident, aged 41, said: 'You can't find anywhere that is affordable.

'Anywhere with an extra bedroom, which is what we need, is just completely out of our price range. We are currently renting a two bed and we need a three bed.

'The speed of which properties get let, when occasionally there are homes we think we could push ourselves to afford, we go to book a viewing and it's already gone.

'The speed in which they get snapped up is ridiculous.

'There's a handful of properties available in a price range we may be able to stretch to.

'Everything else is up and above [what we can afford], we work hard to pay for what we get at the moment.

'We're just going to have to wait it out in our tiny house and hope things change.'

Frome has recently been named one of Britain's nicest towns - an award that locals believe has brought in Londoners seeking quiet hideaways

People from Frome have been driven to moving home or even living in vans as a result of being pushed out of the rental market

Local property developer Connor Raudsepp, 26, recently purchased a rundown one-bedroom flat in Frome with a business partner - and hopes to put it on the rental market once complete.

He said: 'We're not going to skip over that there's profit in property development, the main reason I'm in it is for profit.

'However, this place has been empty and is going to serve a purpose in the future - putting a roof over somebody's head.

'There are a lot of properties that are empty that could be turned into homes, which would increase supply on the market and ease rental costs.

'We're probably going to be all in for about 120,000 and it'll be rented out at market value.

'I think that's fair, it's the only thing you can do - because of rising rates and stuff you can't do it for any cheaper because you're not going to make any money and all of this effort would be pointless.

'We're not taking this money and then running off to the Bahamas, it's going to be invested in another development somewhere else - another place being brought back to the market.'

Ironically though, rent rises are driving many of the artisan small businesses and cafes that define the town out of business.

One local business owner, Sarah Wingrove, 29, told the BBC that despite being born in Frome, she still lives with her parents due to the cost of homes.

She said: 'Even though I work a full-time job and freelance as a model, the mortgage people say I don't earn enough for a house in Frome.'

Local artist and renter Summer Auty, 24, told the BBC that she has had to live in her van due to the cost of rent.

She said: 'I can't afford anything in Frome, so I'm living in my van.

'It's ridiculous. We need a complete redistribution of wealth, it's awful all the big homes lying empty, all the land we cannot use.'

Rented rooms in the town are now known to go for as much as 500 a month, while a small one-person flat can cost over 1,000 a month.
Wildfires have been devastating communities across the world.

The ferocious inferno on the island of Maui has claimed 96 lives so far, while over 1,100 firefighters had to tackle a blaze in Odemira, Portugal.

This comes shortly after thousands of Britons had to escape the Greek island of Rhodes as a wildfire engulfed the island.

At a glance, wildfires seem to be happening more frequently, but is this really the case?

What is causing the wildfires? What exactly are they? And why are places like Greece, Portugal and Maui experiencing their wrath?

Read on below for answers to your questions...

Firefighter tries to extinguish a wildfire burning at the industrial zone of the city of Volos, in central Greece on July 26

United States Coast Guard crews responding from the ocean to the Lahaina wildfires in Maui, Hawaii on August 9

Personnel of the Protection and Relief Intervention Group (GIPS) specialised in combating forest fires, arrived to battle a wildfire in Reguengo. Over 1,100 firefighters were battling fires in the area of Odemira in Portugal

What are wildfires?

A wildfire is an uncontrolled blaze which burns in a range of terrains, such as forestry, shrubland and grassland. They often occur in rural locations.

These infernos have been known to engulf ecosystems, forests and grasslands for hundreds of millions of years, according to National Geographic.

They can also burn beyond the surface. Coined as groundfires, these types of fires happen when the soil is filled with organic matter, for example plant roots, which ignites the flames.

Ground fires can fester for a lengthy time until conditions line-up, permitting them to come to the surface.

However, surface fires will feed on dry or dead plants and is speed up by dehydrated grass.

Wildfires do not only engulf nature, they also adversely affect the environment because of the huge quantities of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases they release into the air.

Wildfire smoke is filled with dangerous air pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide, PM2.5, aromatic hydrocarbons, lead or ozone.

The PM2.5 pollutant which is released from wildfire smoke can be particularly dangerous.

It can cause and worsen diseases in the skin, gut, kidney, eyes, nose, liver, heart, lungs, brain and nervous system. It has also been linked to premature deaths in the general population, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Wildfires can maintain the health of ecosystems, by eradicating insects and diseases that are harmful to the plants.

They also make way for new herbs, shrubs and grass to grow, meaning new areas for animals and birds to live and eat.

The infernos can also clean the forest floor, clearing away debris and adding nutrients into the ground.

The space made by the blaze can also mean more room for the sunlight, meaning trees and smaller plants can better thrive.

Some plants even need wildfires to survive. A key example is tree cones, because they need to be warmed up before they release their seeds.

Chaparral plants, such as chamize, scrub oak and manzanita require fire before they can sprout their seeds.

Some organisms will require a wildfire every handful of years, while certain species need a handful over a century to ensure their species continues.

A man watching the fire in the municipality of Odemira, 07 August 2023. Wildfires release pollutants which are can cause premature death in the general population according to WHO

The blaze in Maui began early on Tuesday August 8, threatening homes, businesses and more than 35,000 people on the island of Maui, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency said. 96 have been killed by the blaze so far

Is climate change causing the wildfires?

Wildfires have been occurring for hundreds of millions of years as a natural occurrence, according to National Geographic.

They can be set alight with a strike of lightning or a man-made spark, and topography can sometimes determine how quickly they spread, as fire will move slowly down hills but quickly up them.

However it is the environment that facilitates the conditions for a wildfire to thrive, and with climate change bringing about more droughts as well as creating drier and warmer conditions, areas are becoming more susceptible to wildfires.

As of recent weeks, extreme fires have been popping up around the globe as we continue to experience severe weather conditions.

READ MORE: Is it safe to travel to Portugal amid wildfires and what are your rights as a holidaymaker? Advertisement

Around 1,100 firefighters were tackling the infernos plaguing the area of Odemira, Portugal, while Hawaii declared a state of emergency because of fires in Maui, which have so far claimed the lives of 96 people.

It was only a few weeks prior that thousands of Brits had to flee the blaze on the Greek island of Rhodes.

And climate change plays a role. In the pre-industrial climate, the wildfires which engulfed Rhodes would have been at least 50 times less likely to occur, according to The Conversation.

Soil and plants dry out due to increasing temperature robbing them of moisture. this lack of water leads to dry vegetation, making some areas more flammable.

However, it is important to acknowledge that although climate change provides a habitat which allows wildfires to thrive and burn at rapid rates, this factor alone cannot spark a fire - a spark or lightning is still required.

In Greece 23% of wildfires were said to be caused by arson, while many began as a result of blazes ignited in shrubland to get rid of unwanted vegetation or on farms to get rid of unwanted crop or to stimulate the growth of new plants.

It is unclear how the wildfires in Portugal began . However Hawaii Governer, Josh Green and wildfire experts believe weather conditions alongside the ignition added to the severity of the inferno on three islands of Maui, Hawaii and Oahu.

Maui had also experienced an 'abnormally dry' level of drought in August according to the US Drought Monitor.

Mr Green told CNN: 'It is a product, in my estimation, of certainly global warming combined with drought, combined with a super storm, where we had a hurricane offshore several hundred miles, still generating large wind.'

A wildfire burning at the Trapeza village, in Achaia Peloponnese on 23 July. The number of wildfires will increase by 50% between now and 2100 according to UNEP and GRID-Ardenal

Locals and tourists alike were forced to flee as the fires spread, with 19,000 people in total being evacuated from Rhodes. If nations manage to halt warming at 1.5C, as stipulated in Paris Agreement, a 40% greater area of the Mediterranean is still expected to burn

Will climate change cause more wildfires?

Wildfires are set to become more commonplace and ferocious over the coming years.

If global warming passes the 2C marker, then extreme fire weather will occur at a faster pace.

Even if nations manage to halt warming at 1.5C, as stipulated in Paris Agreement, a 40% greater area of the Mediterranean is expected to burn.

A report by UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and Grid-Ardenal predicted the number of wildfires will increase by 50% between now and 2100.

A change in the use of land, as well as the climate crisis are causing an increasing trend in wildfires in areas where it was previously not an issue, such as the Arctic.

According to the UNEP paper titled Spreading like Wildfire: The Rising Threat of Extraordinary Landscape Fires, wildfires will increase by 14% by 2030, 30% by 2050 and then a whopping 50% increase by 2100.

As a result UNEP and Grid Ardenal have urged governments to radically shift their expenditure and to invest more into the prevention of wildfires.

They have also stated that standards for the health safety of firefighters should be higher across the globe.
It first launched back in 2014 as a digital assistant on the Windows Phone.

But if you're a fan of Microsoft's smart assistant, Cortana, we have some bad news for you.

Microsoft has announced that it has officially ditched its standalone Cortana app for Windows 11.

The tech giant explained the change in a blog post this week, highlighting that it 'understands this may affect the way you work.'

Here's what you need to know about the change and what it means for you.

Microsoft has announced that it has officially ditched its standalone Cortana app for Windows 11

READ MORE: Windows 11 is DITCHING an almost 20-year-old feature  and users are NOT happy about it Print Screen is a button on PC keyboards that takes a screenshot and automatically copies it so users can paste it anywhere Advertisement

Cortana first launched on the Windows Phone back in 2014, before being added as a smart assistant in Windows 10, one year later.

It was integrated within the Windows 10 toolbar, where users could use the smart assistant to set reminders, open applications and more.

With the launch of Windows 11 two years ago, Microsoft removed Cortana from the taskbar, and instead featured it as a standalone app.

However, the standalone app has now been ditched entirely.

'We're making some changes to Windows and Microsoft 365 that will impact Cortana users,' Microsoft explained.

'Cortana in Windows as a standalone app is deprecated. Support for Cortana in Teams mobile, Microsoft Teams display, and Microsoft Teams Rooms will end in the fall of 2023. Cortana in Outlook mobile will continue to be available.'

In its blog post, Microsoft highlighted several other tools that users might find useful amid the removal of Cortana.

This includes Voice access, the new AI-powered Bing, Microsoft 365 Copilot, and Windows Copilot.

'We are excited to keep innovating and using AI to help you work smarter and faster,' it added.

'We hope you enjoy the new ways to use AI to save time and focus on what matters most to you.'

Cortana first launched on the Windows Phone back in 2014, before being added as a smart assistant in Windows 10, one year later

Several users have taken to X (formerly Twitter) to discuss the news this week.

'If they connected her with OpenAI it may actually work but instead they killed another product as usual,' one user wrote.

'I can't believe it. Both people who used it will be devastated,' another joked.

And one added: 'Rip she joined clippy and ai tay.'

The news comes shortly after Microsoft ditched a classic feature of PC keyboards that dates back around two decades.

Print Screen is a button on PC keyboards that takes a screenshot and automatically copies it so users can paste it into another application, such as Paint.

Now, an upcoming update for Windows 11, called KB5025310, will change this so the Print Screen button opens up Microsoft's Snipping Tool instead.
Researchers at the National University of Defense Technology in China claim to have overcome the biggest challenge in making laser weapons - overheating.

High-energy laser systems are used to disable unmanned aerial vehicles, such as war drones, but weapons fill with excessive heat during each use, forcing operators to shut the technology down to cool.

But the Chines scientists reportedly developed a cooling system that blows gas through the weapon to push out heat and optimize the flow of the laser for precision shooting.

While laser weapons were once thought to be confined to sci-fi movies, governments worldwide have been working on perfecting technology for decades.

The US has long been working to develop what the Chinese scientists claimed to achieve, which would allow them to put lasers on drones and missiles.

Chinese military scientists claim they have developed a cooling system for lasers. The technology pumps gas into the system and removes excessive heat, allowing the weapon to fire indefinitely (stock)

'This is a huge breakthrough in improving the performance of high-energy laser systems,' the team, led by laser weapon scientist Yuan Shengfu, told South China Morning Post.

'High-quality beams can be produced not only in the first second but also maintained indefinitely.'

Lasers work by stimulating emissions, according to Beijing Times.

This involves excited atoms or molecules in a crystal or gas gain medium to a higher energy state.

When the atoms or molecules fall back to the ground, they release photos that are magnified through optical feedback, which results in a high-power laser beam.

The weapon's mirrors and lenses keep the beam on a targeted path through the air, eventually heating the gas, disrupting the flow, and making the beam scattered.

Yuans team fixed these issues by developing the internal beam path conditioner, which uses gas to eliminate waste heat and maintain a pristine gaseous environment within the weapon.

The US military has long been working to fit lasers on drones and missiles but has yet to overcome the cooling problem China claimed to fix. The US Navy (pictured) can only use massive systems on top of large ships

The new cooling system features several parts, including a gas flow control system, air source, heat exchanger and injection and suction system.

The air source first pumps dry air through the laser system, and the heat exchanger cools the components to the desired temperature.

In addition to removing excess heat, the gas flow reduces turbulence and vibration within the laser for more precision.

And it is also designed to keep the focus mirrors of the weapon clean.

'Since the invention of the first ruby laser in 1960, people have been enthusiastic about transitioning from kinetic energy to laser energy for the rapid projection of energy at the speed of light, dreaming of laser beams to become 'death rays' that can instantly kill targets,' Yuan and his colleagues said.

'Unfortunately, 60 years have passed, and while various types of lasers have been developed, the application of high-energy laser systems has not been successful.'

The US military has been the leader when it comes to breakthroughs in laser weapons, with some notable examples of high-energy lasers, including the Navy Advanced Chemical Laser (NACL), Middle Infrared Advanced Chemical Laser (MIRACL), Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL).

However, the massive and heavy weapons make them only useful for large military vehicles like boats and tanks.

This limits their range and mobility, but Chinese research could change how the nation conducts war - leaving the US behind.
The biggest fall was in Alicante, where the price is down 75 per cent

Our survey of the top holiday destinations has revealed a huge fall in the price of car hire this summer

At last theres some good news for travellers  our survey of the top holiday destinations has revealed a huge fall in the price of car hire this summer.

On average, renting a vehicle will cost you around a third of what you would have paid this time last year.

These are the lowest car-hire prices, in real terms, for many years  maybe even the cheapest this century. Nows the chance for thousands of holidaymakers to grab a bargain that could transform their holiday.

Here we have compiled examples of the lowest prices on comparison websites, as well as a table showing the average costs for providers across holidayextras.com to get you the best deal on European car hire.

CONSIDER REBOOKING

The above table shows the cost for a week's car hire across European destinations this September

Car rental bills have plunged so fast that some travellers have found they can save hundreds by cancelling bookings made months ago and rebooking at the new prices. If you signed up for holiday car hire six months in advance, its worth checking your cancellation policy. If theres no charge you may be able to make big savings by rebooking the rental now.

TIPS & TRICKS DO... Shop around for the best prices.

Use brokers such as holidayextras.com and zestcarrental.com  itll be cheaper than going direct.

Book four months ahead. It is the optimum time for deals.

Check the car on collection for marks and take pictures as proof.

Return the car on time to avoid fees.

Refuel before returning the vehicle or face higher charges. DONT... Just turn up at the airport and book  youll get the worst rates.

Ignore cancellation policies  get one that lets you cancel for free up to 48 hours before departure.

Be late to pick up your car  inform rental companies about flight delays.

Drive over international borders without permission.

Leave litter in the vehicle as there could be a cleaning fee.

Pretend that accidental damage didnt happen, or else charges could be higher. Advertisement

WHATS GOING ON?

The reason for this great U-turn dates back to the pandemic. Hire companies panicked and sold most of their cars to cut costs. When travel bans were lifted they tried to buy replacements, but struggled due to a worldwide shortage of electronic components. Last year there simply werent enough new cars to go round.

This year holiday car fleets are finally back to normal and its a rare chance for hard-pressed holidaymakers to push back against the cost-of-living crisis. For example, a days car hire in Alicante, Spain through Record Go, via holidayextras.com, is now cheaper than a round of drinks at a seafront bar  just 12.72. And a days hire in Malta is as cheap as a couple of souvenir T-shirts  17 (VIP Cars via travelsupermarket.com).

BUT WATCH OUT

It's great news for anyone heading to those destinations, but renters still need to take care. Huge price differences remain between different hire companies, vehicle classes and extras, dates, pick-up locations  and countries.

Car hire in some places is simply miles more expensive than in others. Renting a car in Switzerland will cost you more than three times what it does in Spain. Canadian hire is double what it is in Portugal. And even basic budget car hire in the U.S. can cost 300 a week.

GREAT SAVINGS

Nevertheless, leading travel broker holidayextras.com, which points out that brokers offer peace of mind as they weed out unscrupulous rogue operators, says this years prices are the cheapest, in real terms, that it can remember.

Its average weekly car-hire prices for the top European destinations this August are nearly a third of what they were last year. That means youll pay 144 a week on average, compared with 386 in 2022.

BEST DEAL OF ALL

The biggest fall was in Alicante, where the price is down 75 per cent, from 292 to 72 per week (the lowest price available on holidayextras.com this summer). In Tenerife, where savings are smallest, the prices have still halved, from 250 to 126. Book now and the average price for a weeks hire in Europes hotspots is 126 in September and 101 in December.
Married At First Sight bride turned porn star Hayley Vernon suffered an unexpected tooth extraction moments before arriving at an escorting client's home over the weekend.

The OnlyFans creator, 36, shared her harrowing experience shortly after it happened on Saturday night.

Posting to Instagram Stories while driving, the brunette explained that she was chewing gum when one of her back teeth was pulled out along with a porcelain veneer.

Hayley took the unfortunate incident in good humour, however, noting that she was lucky the missing tooth wasn't visible.

The former finance worker is believed to have received $30,000 worth of porcelain veneers for free shortly after filming her season of Married At First Sight in November 2019 as part of a sponsored deal.

Married At First Sight bride turned porn star Hayley Vernon suffered an unexpected tooth extraction moments before arriving at an escorting client's home over the weekend

It comes after Hayley broke her silence on fellow MAFS star and porn collaborator Seb Guilhaus, following his drug arrest last month.

Seb was arrested by Serious and Organised Crime Branch detectives at his property in Croydon, Adelaide, where officers allegedly seized almost a 1kg of methamphetamine, with a street value worth at least $90,000.

He appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court the same day, charged with one count of trafficking in a commercial quantity of methamphetamine.

Posting to Instagram Stories while driving, the brunette explained that she was chewing gum when one of her back teeth was pulled out along with a porcelain veneer

The former finance worker is believed to have received $30,000 worth of porcelain veneers for free shortly after filming her season of Married At First Sight in November 2019 as part of a sponsored deal

Hayley subsequently defended Seb via an Instagram post, revealing she was with him just two hours before before the police raid on his Adelaide home.

Hayley said she had no idea her 'great friend' had been arrested until her inbox was 'slammed' with messages saying he'd been arrested.

'FFs he was drinking non-alcoholic mocktails at Japanese with me two hours before his arrest,' she said, with a crying emoji, in a post to her 72,000 followers on Instagram.

It comes after Hayley broke her silence on fellow MAFS star and porn collaborator Seb Guilhaus (left), following his drug arrest last month. The pair are pictured in a porn video together

Seb (pictured) was arrested by Serious and Organised Crime Branch detectives at his property in Croydon, Adelaide, where officers allegedly seized almost a 1kg of methamphetamine, with a street value worth at least $90,000

'My heart hurts for him. What I will say tho (sic) is over the past few months Seb and I had become great friends.'

'I knew Seb was struggling with his mental health, gravitating to me to help and guide him - I just wish I had known what was (allegedly) going on so I could [have] helped him.'
Made in Chelsea fans were left fuming by Reza Amiri-Garrouss and his X-rated lies during Sunday's sun-soaked Corscia special.

The hunk, 35, was confronted by pal Bella Sharpe, 26, after he told other members of the swanky gang he would bed her during the luxurious French getaway.

Rez interrupted the brunette beauty's chat with Sam Prince before being grilled over his behaviour with viewers branding him a 'vile slime ball'.

Joining the group he asked: 'Hi gang! how is everything?'.

Only for Bella to snap: 'Yeah not great,'

Awkward: Made in Chelsea fans were left fuming by Reza Amiri-Garrouss (pictured) and his X-rated lies during Sunday's sun-soaked Corscia special

Fuming: The hunk, 35, was confronted by pal Bella Sharpe, 26 (pictured) after he told other members of the swanky gang he would bed her during the luxurious French getaway

Still oblivious to the situation Reza replied: 'Oh golly, that's not a good start'.

Bella then went on: 'Yeah, not great, Rez. Not great. [I've] heard some things.

He then dramatically stopped the conversation to take a swig of champers as the others glared at him in disbelief.

She continued: 'You've been telling people that you were gonna sleep with me the first day that I got here'.

Clearly hot under the collar he said in disbelief: 'Woah hosey! I don't think I said that'.

However pal Sam was quick to confirm he did leaving the wannabe lothario nowhere to hide.

Taking to Twitter one viewer said: 'Rez is the most cringe worthy, cretinous slime ball ever to appear on this show.... and I remember when Spencer [Matthews] was in it'.

While a second wrote: 'Rez makes me so uncomfortable and he's unbelievably cringe 'wheeh hosey' what's that even mean?'.

Fail: Clearly hot under the collar he said in disbelief: 'Woah hosey! I don't think I said that'

Oops: Pal Sam (R) was quick to confirm he did leaving the wannabe lothario nowhere to hide

Unimpressed: Taking to Twitter one viewer said: 'Rez is the most cringe worthy, cretinous slime ball ever to appear on this show.... and I remember when Spencer [Matthews] was in it'

A third commented: 'Rez's attitude towards Bella is VILE, can it little guy'.

While someone else asked: 'Why is Rez still on Made in Chelsea?'.

Another fan quipped: 'I find Rez utterly repulsive and hilarious at the same time'.

With sixth said: 'Rez is like the creepy older brother in his 30s who doesn't have friends his own age so he hangs out with his younger brother and his mates all in their 20s'.

It comes after MailOnline revealed Made In Chelsea stars Inga Valentiner and Sam Prince had split.

The couple called time on their two-year relationship in dramatic scenes captured for the show's new series filmed in Corsica.

End of an era: It comes after MailOnline revealed Made In Chelsea stars Inga Valentiner and Sam Prince had split

Split: The couple called time on their two-year relationship in dramatic scenes captured for the show's new series filmed in Corsica

Moving on: Despite breaking down in tears after losing his 'dream girl', within days of their romance ending, Sam, 26, moved on by kissing co-star Yazmin Zweeger, 24 (pictured)

Despite breaking down in tears after losing his 'dream girl', within days of their romance ending, Sam, 26, moved on by kissing co-star Yazmin Zweeger, 24.

Now Inga, 30, admits she is 'nervous' ahead of the 'heartbreaking' scenes airing when Made In Chelsea returns to E4 on Sunday and reliving the pain of her breakup for a second time.

She told MailOnline: 'It was a savage breakup. It was really heartbreaking. I was really sad, and it was very dramatic.

'I am nervous about it all coming out and having to go back to that headspace.

'You go through a breakup... you go through all those things and then you move on but when it comes out everyone is talking about it again and you have to relive it.

'It is bizarre to watch these quite sad events in your life happen again... it is weird to watch you break up with someone and watch the sadness.'

While Sam's romantic connection with Yasmine began after his split from Inga, the exes were still living together in the same villa.

And there's speculation as to how far Sam and Yasmine pursued their spark, with fellow cast member Olivia Bentley alleging, 'It was more than a kiss... trust me.'

Since returning to London, Sam has moved out of the rented flat he shared with Inga but continues to pay the monthly costs on the property.

Made In Chelsea: Corsica continues Monday at 9pm on E4
In the days leading up to her tragic passing, music sensation Sinead OConnor was rumoured to be deep in discussions for an upcoming biopic inspired by her life.

According to insiders, the iconic artist had been considering a star-studded cast for the pivotal role, which included Hollywoods Demi Moore.

Irish actress Saoirse Ronan was also in the running to play an earlier stage in Sineads life as well as Niamh Algar.

The film would have been based on her June 2021 autobiography Rememberings.

A source told The Sun: Sinead was keen to explore making her memoir into her film and she had a raft of ideas about how it would look on screen.

Magic movie: In the days leading up to her tragic passing , music sensation Sinead OConnor was rumoured to be deep in discussions for an upcoming biopic inspired by her life

She had a huge amount of respect for Demi and thought Niamh was a real rising star after she saw her in her TV series The Virtues.

Sinead, too, thought Saoirse was fierce and loved her from her film Brooklyn in 2015 when she played an Irish migrant.

The source explained that when exploring initial concepts for the film, Sinead liked the idea of a triptych approach and envisioned a film that would spotlight three distinct actresses.

They added that this creative direction playfully alluded to the Catholic Church's symbolic trinity of father, son, and the Holy Ghost and added a touch of satire into the narrative.

According to the publication Sineads management company had been planning an album and tour, as well as the biopic film.

More than 3,000 people gathered in her hometown to mourn the star with many sobbing while singing 'Nothing Compares to U' in a moving final farewell following her sudden death in London last month.

Sinead's eulogy said she 'suffered more than her share of hardship and adversity'.

Imam Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri added: 'Gifted with a voice that moved a generation of young people, she could reduce listeners to tears by her otherworldly resonance.

Cool cast: According to insiders, Sinead envisioned a film that would spotlight three distinct actresses, one of which she hoped to be Hollywood's Demi Moore

Firm favourite: Irish actress Saoirse Ronan was supposedly also in the running with insiders saying Sinead found her fierce and loved her in the film Brooklyn in 2015

Top three: It is thought Niamh Algar who has starred in The Virtue and Raised by Wolves was also on Sinead's radar

'Sinead's voice carried with it an undertone of hope, of finding one's way home.

'The Irish people have long found solace in song from the sufferings of this lower abode, and Sinead was no exception, and in sharing that solace, she brought joy to countless people the world over.'

Sinead - who suffered years of mental health battles - shot to stardom in 1990 following her cover of the then-unreleased Prince track of Nothing Compares 2 U.

On Friday Jedward's John played a touching tribute to the fellow Irish star with an emotional cover of the song.
Stephen Amell is back in Los Angeles after joining the SAG-AFTRA strike picket line in New York on Friday.

His show of solidarity for the American actors' union came on the heels of the backlash he received for saying he didn't support the act of striking.

But since then Amell appears to have changed his tune on the issue, realizing that the strike is for a larger purpose.

Moments after touching down in California on Saturday, the Toronto, Canada native elaborated on these past two weeks, where he denied doing a 180 in terms of the strike, telling a TMZ photographer at LAX Airport that he just misspoke at first.

'I think when I spoke the first time I didn't choose my words as carefully as I should, the Arrow star, 42, maintained. 'I always said I support my union. Not supporting the strike was a wrong choice of words, plain and simple. I put my foot in my mouth and I'm trying to take ownership of it.'

Elaborating: Stephen Amell, 42, explained his apparent change of heart on the SAG-AFTRA strike when he returned to Los Angeles on Saturday one day after joining the picket line in New York City

After taking a moment to let the '180' comment to sink in, Amell would again address the accusation and deny he did any kind of flip-flop.

'I hesitate to say that I did a 180,' he added. 'It's just more that I should have spoken more clearly and decisively.'

Amell now says he's been educated on the process of the strike after speaking to SAG leadership, who explained it wasn't done lightly.

When asked if he felt any backlash from SAG leadership during the meeting, the actor maintained he didn't get a sense that 'they were ever particularly mad' at him.

'I appreciate they took the time to talk with me basically on the day that this all went down,' he said. It was nice to talk with them. They really educated me on the objectives of the strike and the importance of the strike.

He went on to share how he feels everyone involved just wants to be 'treated fairly.'

'I guess what I should have understood before is that no one comes to these decisions lightly. They don't. Striking is challenging and difficult,' he explained.

When confronted by the photographer about how he's able to endure a strike financially, better than most due to his success, Amell agreed that he's able to withstand the pitfalls of a long work shutdown.

When referencing his time on the picket line in New York the previous day, The Flash star revealed that he felt the need to join up with others he had worked with in the past for many years.

'It felt like a good time to join the picket line,' he said, before disclosing that he would return. 'I'll be on it again.'

Taking ownership: Amell received backlash over the last couple of weeks for saying he didn't support the act of striking

Clarifying his stance: Moments after touching down in California, the Toronto, Canada native denied doing a 180 in terms of the strike, telling a TMZ photographer at LAX Airport that he just misspoke at first

Confession: 'I think when I spoke the first time I didn't choose my words as carefully as I should, the actor maintained. 'I always said I support my union. Not supporting the strike was a wrong choice of words, plain and simple. I put my foot in my mouth and I'm trying to take ownership of it'

'I have been very fortunate to have worked very consistently since I became a SAG member in 2012,' the Heels star shared. 'I should use my position within my union to be a force within my union and not a force for myself.'

Arnell then sounded like a man who has realized that he may have put his own self interests ahead of his fellow union members, initially.

'I speak from the heart. I think its one of the things that's made me a reasonable actor. But I think its very important, and maybe I didn't realize this before, but when I speak people listen,' he confessed. 'And again I should choose my words more carefully.'

Arnell went on to offer his full confidence in the SAG-AFTRA team negotiating term for an eventual new contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).

Misspoke: Amell, who starred on Arrow for eight seasons (2012-2020) went on to share, 'I hesitate to say that I did a 180. It's just more that I should have spoken more clearly and decisively'

More educated: The Canadian actor, who now stars in the series Heels, says he's been educated on the process of the strike after speaking to SAG leadership, who explained it wasn't done lightly

'I am confident our union has good leadership and that they will do a good job in the negotiations,' he said, before offering up any help he could give. 'If I can be part of any positive force to help broker a resolution. I don't care if handing put pickets on the picket line. I don't care if that's being part of the negotiations.'

As for the repercussions of the comments he made about striking, Amell confessed it hasn't been the easiest two weeks for me personally.'

'It's been hard on everybody, so I shouldn't just be thinking about myself,' he admitted, adding, 'The response has been a lot of people reaching out in support, not for what I said, but for me because they're friends of mine. And then there's been people who have my phone number that decided not to pick up the phone but to comment anyway. That's disappointing but I have no ill will or animosity.'

Trying to stay positive about his situation and the strike, Amell hopes his experience over the last couple of weeks can 'further the discussion in some sort of way.'

Showing support! Amell was seen sporting a 'SAG-AFTRA Strong' shirt when he joined a picket line with other strikers in New York City on Friday

Solidarity: 'I have been very fortunate to have worked very consistently since I became a SAG member in 2012,' the leading man shared. 'I should use my position within my union to be a force within my union and not a force for myself'

Members of SAG-AFTRA went on strike on July 14 over an ongoing labor dispute with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).

The union cited several issues in negotiations, including 'economic fairness, residuals, regulating the use of artificial intelligence and alleviating the burdens of the industry-wide shift to self-taping.'

The work stoppage coincides with the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike, which began May 2, in a series of broader Hollywood labor disputes with the AMPTP.

Both the 2023 SAG-AFTRA and WGA labor disputes have contributed to the biggest interruption to the American television and film industries since the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

The SAG-AFTRA labor union represents approximately 160,000 media professionals and entertainers.
Princess Mary's nephew Count Nikolai of Denmark is having a ball in Sydney as he starts a new life Down Under after being stripped of his royal HRH title by his grandmother.

On Thursday, Nikolai, 23, looked every inch the lively undergraduate as he enjoyed drinks at UTS university bar in Ultimo with his girlfriend Benedikte Thoustrup.

The Copenhagen native rocked a smart casual look for the outing - wearing a black jumper and jeans, and he accessorised with a chain necklace.

The Danish royal's jet black hair was freshly styled and he looked to be having the time of his life as he laughed and joked with local students over drinks.

He also gazed into the eyes of his beautiful girlfriend and stayed close to the brunette beauty at the popular student drinking hole.

Princess Mary's nephew Count Nikolai of Denmark looked every inch the lively undergraduate as he enjoyed drinks at UTS university bar in Ultimo with his girlfriend Benedikte Thoustrup on Thursday

The Copenhagen native rocked a smart casual look for the outing - wearing a black jumper and jeans, and he accessorised with a chain necklace

Nikolai looked like he is adapting well to life Down Under as he partied the night away with his new Australian friends.

The count has travelled Down Under to study on exchange at University of Technology Sydney for a semester.

The pair live together in Copenhagen, but have moved to Sydney to study from August 1 to November 30.

He also gazed into the eyes of his beautiful girlfriend and stayed close to the brunette beauty at the popular student drinking hole

The Danish royal's jet black hair was freshly styled and he looked to be having the time of his life as he laughed and joked with local students over drinks

Nikolai, whose father is Prince Joachim of Denmark - the younger brother of Princess Mary's husband Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark - is seventh in line to the Danish throne. Pictured: Princess Mary in 2022

Nikolai, whose father is Prince Joachim of Denmark - the younger brother of Princess Mary's husband Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark - is seventh in line to the Danish throne.

In March, Count Nikolai of Denmark launched a new Instagram account to promote his modelling career after being stripped of his 'HRH' status by his grandmother, Queen Margrethe.

It was a tumultuous year for the Danish Royal Family after the monarch controversially took the title from Prince Joachim's eldest son, as well as also taking the prince and princess titles from his younger children Athena, 11, Prince Felix, 20, and Prince Henrik, 13.

Nikolai looked like he is adapting well to life Down Under as he partied the night away with his stunning girlfriend and new Australian friends

The Count has travelled Down Under to study on exchange at University of Technology Sydney for a semester

The pair live together in Copenhagen, but have moved to Sydney to study from August 1 to November 30

They are now Counts and Countess and referred to as Their Excellencies - and in January this year the Danish Royal Family updated their website to show the new status.

The Queen insisted the move will be 'good for them in their future' and allow the children - who have maintained their positions in the line of succession - to 'shape their own lives without being limited by the special considerations and duties' that a formal affiliation with the Danish Royal Family involves.

Following his grandmother's move to strip him and his siblings of their titles 'for their own good', Count Nikolai said that he was sad, shocked and confused.

'My whole family and I are of course very sad. We are, as my parents have also stated, in shock at this decision and at how quickly it has actually gone,' he told Danish newspaper Extrabladet.

In March, Count Nikolai of Denmark launched a new Instagram account to promote his modelling career after being stripped of his 'HRH' status by his grandmother, Queen Margrethe

It was a tumultuous year for the Danish Royal Family after the monarch controversially took the title from Prince Joachim's children

They are now Counts and Countess and referred to as Their Excellencies - and in January this year the Danish Royal Family updated their website to show the new status
Kingston Rossdale made his stage debut with a special guest performance at Blake Shelton's bar Ole Red in Tishomingo, Oklahoma.

The 17-year-old son of rockers Gwen Stefani, 53, and Gavin Rossdale, 57, was introduced on Friday by his stepfather Blake, 47, before he took the stage.

'I'm very excited, actually honored, to be the first one to introduce this guy to the stage for the very first time ever,' Blake said in fan video circulating on social media.

'This guy's an artist, he's the real deal and you guys are going to be able to say that you were there at his very first ever public performance,' Blake added.

'His music is rock so I bet we got some rock fans out here. He's only 17 years old, everybody. Here he is, Mr. Kingston Rossdale, everybody!,' Blake bellowed as he introduced the teenager.

Live debut: Kingston Rossdale, shown in February 2022 in Los Angeles, made his stage debut with a special guest performance at Blake Shelton's bar Ole Red in Tishomingo, Oklahoma

Kingston wore a loose gray Carhartt T-shirt, blue jeans and sneakers while singing along with a keyboardist and guitarist.

'Love you guys, thank you for being here!,' Kingston said after performing to a cheering audience.

'Thank you, it means everything to me, really. I hope you guys had a great night, enjoy yourselves!,' he added.

Blake then joined Kingston on the stage and they hugged each other.

The country star earlier performed a free acoustic show and also performed with his wife Gwen on Friday at the bar.

Blake and Gwen own Ten Point Ranch in the same town as Ole Red and they got married at the ranch on July 3, 2021.

Gwen also has sons Zuma, 14, and Apollo, nine, with ex-husband Gavin Rossdale, 47.

Blake teased Kingston's performance last Wednesday on social media.

Social media: Video of Kingston's performance was posted on social media

Big hug: Kingston and Blake hugged after the teenager's performance

Killed it: The country star was honored to introduce Kingston and supported his performance

Musical family: Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani, shown in April in Austin, Texas, also performed on Friday at Ole Red in Oklahoma

Former couple: Gavin Rossdale and Gwen, shown in May 2011 in France, split in 2015

Supportive family: Zuma, Gwen, Blake, Apollo and Kingston are shown in May in Hollywood at Blake's ceremony for his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

He posted on X, former Twitter, that he was going to 'turn the stage over to a debut artist that will be doing their VERY FIRST public performance! See you at the @OleRed Tishomingo Doghouse!!!! You never know who else may show up.'

Gwen and Gavin split in 2015 after 13 years of marriage.

Gavin also is the father of English fashion model Daisy Lowe, 34, who welcomed daughter Ivy in April. A paternity test in 2004 revealed that Daisy's godfather Gavin also was her biological father.

Gwen will be returning for the upcoming 24th season of The Voice on NBC.

Blake after serving as a judge since the show's premiere in 2011 left after last season.
Neil Jones hugged ex-wife Katya's close pal Aimee Fuller as they departed the dance studio on Sunday.

Neil and Katya were married for six years before calling it quits in August 2019, following her kiss with her 2018 BBC dance partner Seann Walsh, but have maintained an amicable friendship since separating.

Neil cut a casual figure in an all black ensemble as he held his arms out wide to hug snowboarder Aimee, who looked incredible in a blue crop top and matching skirt.

Meanwhile Katya, who put on a leggy display in a pair of black shorts, a matching T-shirt and yellow trainers as she watched the pair embrace.

Katya's close friendship with snowboarding beauty Aimee prompted widespread speculation that they are in a relationship earlier this year  although the pair have always remained tight-lipped about the gossip.

Pals: Neil Jones hugged ex-wife Katya's close pal Aimee Fuller as they departed the dance studio on Sunday

Old flames: Neil and Katya were married for six years before calling it quits in August 201

In March the Strictly professional has revealed even her own mother asked if she and the athlete were together.

Katya, who last year told The Mail on Sunday she hasn't been on a date with a man since she split from fellow ballroom dancer Neil in 2019, said: 'We don't get approached by men because people think we're a couple, even my mum.'

Aimee, a double Winter Olympian, added: 'And my brother. I don't even know what it is that drives people to think that?'

The women first met in 2021 through Katya's ex-husband, and immediately hit it off. They have just returned from a three-week trip to Australia and have also been seen on red carpets and regularly pose up as they lark around on Instagram.

Neil is currently expecting a little girl with pregnant Love Island fiance Chyna Mills.

Neil and Chyna took their relationship public in August last year when they enjoyed a romantic trip to Paris.

The reality star first caught Neil's eye when she appeared on ITV2's Love Island last summer.

The pair have since stepped out together at a number of red carpet events and share a number of loved-up posts to Instagram.

Out and about: Neil cut a casual figure in an all black ensemble as he held his arms out wide to hug snowboarder Aimee

Ex: Neil and Katya were married for six years before calling it quits in August 2019, following her kiss with her 2018 Strictly partner Seann Walsh (pictured in 2018)

It comes two years after Neil's previous relationship with South American dancer Luisa Eusse came to an end.

Neil was previously married to his Strictly professional co-star Katya Jones, for six years before calling it quits in August 2019, following her kiss with her 2018 Strictly partner Seann Walsh.

The pair split in August 2019 and announced the sad news in a joint statement that read: 'Hi everyone. As our fans and loyal supporters, you are really important to us and so we wanted to let you know some news.

'After 11 years we have made the mutual decision to separate. We will always love each other, just in a different way as friends.

'This will never change what a great team we make and we are really proud of everything we have achieved together.

'Our shared love of dance means we will keep working and dancing together as well as exploring individual projects. No matter what we do we will always support and respect each other.

'We wish one another every happiness and we will remain the best of friends. We are really looking forward to getting back to the ballroom and can't wait to keep on dancing. Lots of love from us both xx.'
Crazy Rich Agents: Selling Dream Homes

Rating:

Levison Wood: Walking With Lions

Rating:

The French phrase deja vu literally means already seen. Psychologist Carl Jung famously described it: he was staring out of a train window when he saw a man on a hillside . . . and felt as though he could remember exactly the same moment.

Neuroscientists believe deja vu occurs when the two hemispheres of the brain are out of sync, or when the subconscious mind reacts faster than our conscious thoughts.

But theres another, simpler explanation. We experience deja vu when were watching TV because there are no new ideas any more. Everything is recycled.

Whatever appears on one channel is bound to pop up, in a slightly different form, on another channel within weeks. When the Beeb ran a three-part series on Elon Musk, for example, it was inevitable that Channel 4 was going to cover exactly the same subject matter, with many of the same interviewees, a couple of months later.

Crazy Rich Agents: Selling Dream Homes (BBC2) wasnt just a painfully similar replay of Britains Most Expensive Houses on Ch4 three weeks ago  it even featured one of the same properties

We got the same parade of arrogant, clueless sales agents who hope that swagger and hair gel is all it takes to be successful

I thought hotels maxed out at five stars, but perhaps Kam uses the Spinal Tap system, where amplifiers go up to 11

Last week, ITVX showcased an investigation into the crimes of sex offender and former comedian Bill Cosby. Why they bothered is anyones guess, since the BBC did just that back in March.

The sense of deja vu was practically paranormal for viewers tuning in to Crazy Rich Agents: Selling Dream Homes (BBC2). This wasnt just a painfully similar replay of Britains Most Expensive Houses on Ch4 three weeks ago  it even featured one of the same properties, with the same developer playing the same mind games with real estate brokers.

Culross House off Park Lane is on the market at 30 million, with developer Kam Babaee still assuring anybody who will listen that it is the only new-build for sale in Mayfair, with a seven-star hotel finish.

I thought hotels maxed out at five stars, but perhaps Kam uses the Spinal Tap system, where amplifiers go up to 11.

Whatever appears on one channel is bound to pop up, in a slightly different form, on another channel within weeks

Last week, ITVX showcased an investigation into the crimes of sex offender and former comedian Bill Cosby

Otherwise, we got the same parade of arrogant, clueless sales agents who hope that swagger and hair gel is all it takes to be successful. One of them, Aly, announced that hed already visualised a multi-million-pound commission in his dreams.

Id love to know how he pays for his weekly shop in the supermarket  does he visualise a wallet full of cash at the till?

Bulgarian saleswoman Vanesa, 24, was trying an equally brazen tactic to drum up interest in a villa with an infinity pool on the French Riviera. Wearing a blue bikini and not much else, she sashayed around Monacos marina, inviting people on yachts to come to a house viewing.

Unsurprisingly, she found no buyers, though plenty came to pose and drink free champagne. Perhaps theyd been visualising an invitation to a party from a girl with bubbly for brains.

Explorer Levison Wood set out into the Namibian desert visualising encounters with endangered big cats, on Walking With Lions (Ch4).

Explorer Levison Wood set out into the Namibian desert visualising encounters with endangered big cats, on Walking With Lions (Ch4)

What he got was a herd of springboks (miles away), one giraffe, some grumpy elephants and, finally, a trio of lions who hung around for less than five minutes

The lions were wearing GPS collars. It does seem possible that, by hiring a local guide and trekking across the arid landscape for days in blazing heat, Levison was making a bit of a meal of things

When he found the lions, though, he couldnt work his video camera. Half the shots were out-of-focus blurs and zooms

What he got was a herd of springboks (miles away), one giraffe, some grumpy elephants and, finally, a trio of lions who hung around for less than five minutes.

The lions were wearing GPS collars. It does seem possible that, by hiring a local guide and trekking across the arid landscape for days in blazing heat, Levison was making a bit of a meal of things: theres probably a phone app for finding the animals.

He did see prehistoric rock paintings, and had his hair greased and braided by a woman of the Himba tribe. When he found the lions, though, he couldnt work his video camera. Half the shots were out-of-focus blurs and zooms.

Then, a lioness strayed too close, and he made a dash for the car we didnt know he had. So much for walking.
Kanye West's new 'wife' Bianca Censori has more in common with his ex Kim Kardashian than just her bombshell looks.

The Australian architect, 28, also comes from a family of glamorous women and has two stunning sisters and a very glamorous mother - just like Kim, her sisters Khloe and Kourtney and mother Kris.

While Kim's family tree is common knowledge thanks to the global success of reality series Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Bianca's family has only recently been thrust into the spotlight.

Throwback photos posted to social media show Bianca posing and partying alongside her pretty siblings Alyssia and Angelina who - like the Kardashian sisters - appear to like the finer things in life.

Like Khloe and Kourtney, Alyssia and Angelina aren't shy to post eye-catching photos of themselves wearing heavy makeup and stylish outfits on social media.

Kanye West's new wife Bianca Censori, 28, (second, left) comes from a family just like his ex-Kim Kardashian. Pictured left is Bianca's mother Alexandra, second right is Bianca's sister Alyssia and far right is Bianca's other sister Angelina

One photo of Angelina shows the brunette posing on a Gold Coast balcony dressed in a cleavage-baring denim corset top and black leggings.

In another, she is seen flaunting her svelte physique in a sheer white unitard with racy cut-outs and a plunging neckline, paired with unusual black boots.

Speaking to the Herald Sun earlier this year Angelina, asked for 'privacy' but admitted the family was happy with the news of Bianca's marriage.

While Kim's family tree is common knowledge thanks to the global success of reality series Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Bianca's family has only recently been thrust into the spotlight. Pictured L-R: Kris Jenner, Khloe, Kourtney and Kim Kardashian

Throwback photos posted to social media show Bianca posing and partying alongside her pretty siblings Alyssia and Angelina who - like the Kardashian sisters - appear to like the finer things in life

'It's very exciting news for both my sister and the family but we choose to have some privacy for the time being,' she said.

Alyssia meanwhile said she was 'super happy for them both'.

Like the Los Angeles-based Kardashian clan, the Censori sisters grew up in an affluent neighbourhood.

They were raised in Ivanhoe, one of Melbourne's affluent and established areas, and later moved to a $2.8M Alphington home where their mother Alexandra still lives.

Bianca (left) is pictured partying with Alyssia in this throwback photo

Pictured are Kim and Khloe

Alexandra was previously spotted out and about in June on a shopping trip in Melbourne.

After arriving in her Mercedes Benz, the Melbourne mum spent her day running errands as she carried a $5,300 black Prada bag.

In another twist, Kim's mother Kris also drives a Mercedes Benz G63 AMG worth AUD $221,024 and owns a plethora of Prada handbags among her wide collection of designer accessories.

One photo of Angelina shows the brunette posing on a Gold Coast balcony dressed in a cleavage-baring denim corset top and black leggings

In another, she is seen flaunting her svelte physique in a sheer white unitard with racy cut-outs and a plunging neckline, paired with unusual black boots

Bianca, who has worked for Yeezy since November 2020, 'wed' Kanye (left) two months after his divorce from Kim was finalised in November

The pair reportedly celebrated their union at a private ceremony and both have been seen wearing wedding rings

Bianca, who has worked for Yeezy since November 2020, 'wed' Kanye two months after his divorce from Kim was finalised in November.

The pair reportedly celebrated their union at a private ceremony and both have been seen wearing wedding rings.

The informal nuptials have apparently not been followed by the filing of a marriage certificate.

Just as he did with his ex-wife Kim, Kanye appears to have a major influence on his current 'wife' when it comes to her outfits and fashion choices.
He's in Australia to celebrate his best friend Chris Hemsworth's 40th birthday.

And Matt Damon grabbed some take-away food with his family on Sunday after the celebrations.

The Oscar winner, 52, was spotted in Byron Bay over the weekend picking up a food order from the seaside town's popular Top Shop cafe.

However it was the Hollywood star's wife Luciana, 47, opting for summery boho glamour, who stole the limelight from her A-list husband.

The Argentine beauty stunned in a matching patterned midriff top and long skirt.

Matt Damon (pictured right) grabbed lunch in Byron Bay over the weekend. However it was the Hollywood star's wife Luciana, 47, (left) opting for summery boho glamour, who stole the limelight from her A-list husband

Letting her already bronzed skin shine in the light, Luciana also wore grecian-style leather sandals and statement sunglasses.

Completing the look, she wore her lustrous dark hair out and loose.

Meanwhile Matt donned a black t-shirt showing off his muscular chest and arms and matching black pants, cutting a sleek yet casual figure in the northern NSW sun.

Their daughters were more casually dressed, one of them wearing track suit pants and classic Aussie Ugg boots, while the other was in a tank top and loose pants.

The family is in Byron Bay visiting Matt's good friend Chris Hemsworth, who celebrated his 40th birthday this past weekend.

Matt is a frequent visitor to Australian shores and spent six months living in the country with his family in 2021, where he filmed a role in the latest Thor instalment.

'I'm so excited that my family and I will be able to call Australia home for the next few months,' Matt said ahead of the shoot.

'Australian film crews are world renowned for their professionalism and are a joy to work with so the 14 days of quarantine will be well worth it.'

He added: 'Australia definitely is the lucky country.'

The US actor's trips have only fuelled rumours he is looking to relocate Down Under with his family on a full-time basis.

Matt donned a black t-shirt showing off his muscular chest and arms and matching black pants, cutting a sleek yet casual figure in the northern NSW sun

A source told Woman's Day: 'Matt loves Australia... Chris enjoys the quiet life away from Hollywood and that just makes it even more appealing.'

It's not the first time reports have surfaced about Matt's rumoured plans to move to Byron Bay.

'Matt's telling friends and colleagues in Hollywood that he's moving the family to Australia for a year,' a 'top' source told the publication.

'Matt's saying the move will not impact his work  as he will travel to wherever his projects are shooting. He's also telling friends he wants to have a safe place to raise his kids.'

But despite whispers of a move Down Under, Matt has denied he is leaving the US.

'Matt has visited Australia several times recently, but he has not bought a house there nor is he moving there,' his representative said at the time.

Matt and Luciana share three daughters - Isabella, Gia and Stella.

The Good Will Hunting star is also the stepfather to Luciana's daughter from her previous marriage, Alexia.
Sam Frost recently announced she has postponed her wedding to fiance Jordie Hansen so they could focus on raising their newborn son Ted.

And on Saturday, the former Home and Away star, 34, could not wipe the smile off her face as she enjoyed a day on a Sunshine Coast beach with her family.

The Melbourne native strolled along the sand in black all-in-one with a denim shirt knotted at the waist.

She accessorised with a pair of comfortable sandals and stylish sunglasses.

The brunette beauty wore her hair tied in a bun and looked every inch the doting mother as she carried her five-month-old son Ted in her arms.

Sam Frost and her fiance Jordie Hansen hit the beach with their baby son Ted on the Sunshine Coast on Sunday

Sam recently announced she has postponed her wedding to fiance Jordie Hansen so they could focus on raising their newborn son Ted

Sam was accompanied by her shirtless fiance Jordie, 28, who flexed his muscular frame and bulging biceps as he happily strolled along the shore with his family.

Later in the day, the lovebirds set up a tent on the beach so they could relax under the shade.

Back in July, Sam revealed her wedding to fiance Jordie Hansen had been called off for the time being.

The Melbourne native strolled along the sand in black all-in-one with a denim shirt knotted at the waist

She accessorised with a pair of comfortable sandals and stylish sunglasses

The brunette beauty wore her hair tied in a bun and looked every inch the doting mother as she carried her five-month-old son Ted in her arms

Sam was accompanied by her shirtless fiance Jordie, 28, who flexed his muscular frame and bulging biceps as he happily strolled along the shore with his family

The couple, who welcomed Ted in March, revealed on The Morning Show they have other priorities to focus on.

'To be honest, I'm the one putting the brakes on it' the 34-year-old Sam told the show's hosts.

'It is just so expensive! It's hard to justify spending so much money because we want to buy a house, and now we've got a baby.'

Later in the day, the lovebirds set up a tent on the beach so they could relax under the shade

Back in July, Sam revealed her wedding to fiance Jordie Hansen had been called off for the time being

The couple, who welcomed their first child, son Ted, in March, revealed on The Morning Show they have other priorities to focus on

She went on to explain that the pair will marry eventually, but they are in no rush a the moment.

'We will eventually, but I think that the moment. Our focus at the moment is little Teddy,' she said.

The actress and Jordie welcomed their son Ted on March 7 this year.

Sam and her Australian Survivor star partner got engaged in July last year after dating for five months, and announced in September they were expecting a child.

She said the pair will marry eventually, but they are in no rush a the moment

The actress and Jordie welcomed their son Ted on March 7 this year
Beyonce flaunted her curves in a sparkly nude illusion jumpsuit while bringing her Renaissance world tour to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Saturday.

The 41-year-old superstar looked phenomenal as she took the stage in her sexy bodystocking with silver sequin embellishments, which clung to her every curve.

At one point during her performance, the Halo hitmaker put on a pair of jewel-encrusted sunglasses and a dramatic flat-brimmed hat over her waist-length blonde hair.

Following the show, the mother-of-three shared a slideshow of snaps and a video of herself in the daring look with her 315 million Instagram followers.

The 32-time Grammy winner's fans flocked to the comment section to praise her stunning ensemble, which many described as 'perfection.'

Shining bright: Beyonce flaunted her curves in a sparkly nude illusion jumpsuit while bringing her Renaissance world tour to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Saturday

Glamorous: The 41-year-old superstar looked phenomenal as she took the stage in her sexy bodystocking with silver sequin embellishments, which clung to her every curve

'I dont even feel worthy to share the internet with this picture,' one fan wrote under the photo, while another said the post left them 'out of gasps.'

Her friend, Vanessa Bryant, commented three red heart emojis and three fire emojis.

Beyonce has brought along her family on tour  her husband and their three kids: Blue Ivy, 11, and fraternal twins Rumi and Sir, 6.

She and her husband Jay-Z (born Shawn Carter) rapper met in 1998, and they've amassed a combined 56 Grammy Awards and $3B net worth.

After a brief break, Beyonce continued her tour in the Canada and the US, starting off with shows in Ontario at Rogers Centre and then in Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Field.

The last concert of the American leg of her tour is scheduled for October in Kansas City

In February, Billboard projected that the Oscar-nominated songwriter's ninth concert tour will gross approximately $300M.

Forbes recently reported that Queen Bey may earn more than $2.1 billion from her tour.

Stunning: At one point during her performance, the Halo hitmaker put on a pair of jewel-encrusted sunglasses and a dramatic flat-brimmed hat over her waist-length blonde hair

Turning heads: Following the show, the mother-of-three shared a slideshow of snaps and a video of herself in the daring look with her 315 million Instagram followers

Wow: The 32-time Grammy winner's fans flocked to the comment section to praise her stunning ensemble, which many described as 'perfection'

The site reported that the estimate was 'based on the most optimistic assumptions of the number of fans buying tickets at their concerts and high average ticket prices of about $700.'

Brett House, an economist at Columbia Business School, told the New York Times that Beyonce's tour and the Eras tour 'are the latest instance of the 'revenge spending trend that took hold after the pandemic.'

After the pandemic, consumers have shifted 'spending away from goods and toward experiences.'

Both Beyonce and Swift have been credited with boosting the local economies of their tour stops by millions of dollars.
Whitney Port was spotted making a stop at Sweet Flower, Southern California's largest independent cannabis retailer, on Saturday in Studio City.

After revealing that she is prioritizing her health following concern over her dramatic weight loss from loved ones, the 38-year-old reality star stepped out for some retail therapy in a black bandeau top, matching sweatpants and a jean jacket around her waist.

She completed her casual ensemble with a large pendant necklace, stud earrings, a sleek shoulder bag and sandals.

While leaving the dispensary with a large shopping bag, her brown tresses could be seen clipped back with a stylish, beige claw clip.

Her latest sighting comes after Port revealed that she will be addressing her eating habits with a 'nutritionist/eating disorder specialist.'

Retail therapy: Whitney Port was spotted making a stop at Sweet Flower, Southern California's largest independent cannabis retailer, on Saturday in Studio City

Earlier this week on an episode of her With Whit podcast, she revealed that she plans to seek out the advice of a professional to address her unhealthy eating habits.

While she said she has yet to 'admit' she actually suffers from an eating disorder, Port still decided to go forward with meeting the specialist over her eating habits.

'That has been something that I have been proactively thinking about and planning,' she said of her weight.

'Went on a walk with my best friend this morning, she sent me a contact of an awesome nutritionist/eating disorder specialist,' Port explained.

'I have yet to admit myself that I have an eating disorder, like I said on my Instagram post, I feel like it's just more out of laziness and pickiness and just go hungry and don't care. And I think that is a type of disordered eating.

'That's not OK, that's not healthy. I'm obviously not giving my body the nutrients it needs. So I'm going to talk to someone and figure it out and figure out what I like and make sure that I'm making that a priority.

'And also make sure that I'm moving my body. I was working out, I was moving my body, I was going to Pvolve, I was doing hot yoga, I was doing my Melissa Wood at home, or going to F45, like I was getting my a** out.'

Port, who was hosting Pvolve founder Rachel Katzman on the podcast, said the episode inspired her to get back into her workout routine.

Casual: After revealing that she is prioritizing her health following concern over her dramatic weight loss from loved ones, the 38-year-old reality star stepped out for some retail therapy in a black bandeau top, matching sweatpants and a jean jacket around her waist

'And then going out of town obviously puts a little bit of kink in the plan, so I'm excited for this episode because it actually got me motivated to get my a** back into gear.'

Whitney's drastic weight loss came to light last month in July. Social media users had initially sparked concern over the star's slim figure after she uploaded a post of herself posing in a bikini.

Port soon addressed the comments on her Instagram stories, and admitted that after her husband Tim Rosenman's concern and 'stepping on a scale,' she realized that she needed to prioritize her health.

Over a snap of herself with her son, she typed out in a lengthy statement, 'I also want to address my weight real quick. I've gotten a lot of comments about looking too thin. At first, it didn't bother me.'

Port added, 'But Timmy brought it to my attention, as a good husband should, and said it's not just something strangers are spewing. He has been worried about me.'

Getting help: Her latest sighting comes after Port revealed that she will be addressing her eating habits with a 'nutritionist/eating disorder specialist'

While she said she has yet to 'admit' she actually suffers from an eating disorder, Port still decided to go forward with meeting the specialist over her eating habits

'I had to think about it and try to figure out what has been happening because it's not something I'm consciously thinking about! I eat to live, not the other way around. But after stepping on the scale, it hit me.'

Port later expressed that she doesn't 'want to set an unhealthy example so I promised Timmy and I'll promise you that my health will be a priority.'

Earlier this month, she also opened up about the subject on her With Whit podcast where she promised to 'eat thoughtfully and build muscle.'

'When I think about what I look like, I think about just being attractive and I think that I need to define what attractive means to me and then if those things are actually healthy,' she explained.

The star added, 'So the moral of the story is that there's a lot of self-reflection going on and I am aware of it, and that's the first step.'

Port later revealed, 'I want to put the right things in my body, and I also want to work out in a way that will build muscle. So, I'm on it, guys.'

She then admitted to her listeners, 'I'm clearly not eating enough and that how I look right now does not look healthy. It's not how I want to look.'
Married At First Sight star Dean Wells stunned his followers on Monday when he announced his engagement to Beauty and The Geek's Aimee Woolley after just one year of dating.

But what was more surprising was the outrageous engagement shoot Dean, 45, and Aimee, 24, took part in.

The photos showed Dean getting down on one knee in front of two camels in the sand dunes at Birubi Beach in Port Stephens.

Wells sported a linen shirt and shorts for the big proposal, but was outshone by his wife's eye-popping ensemble.

Aimee left little to the imagination as she went braless in a very sheer white dress that exposed her nipples.

Married At First Sight star Dean Wells stunned his followers on Monday when he announced his engagement to Beauty and The Geek's Aimee Woolley after just one year of dating

But what was more surprising was the outrageous engagement shoot Dean, 45, and Aimee, 24, shared to announce their happy news

The happy couple posed hugging and mounting their desert-dwelling steads before showing off Aimee's elegant engagement ring.

The controversial groom said he's finally ready to tie the knot again after his disastrous stint on reality television.

'MAFS is different for everyone but for me it was a total stitch up and left me with a bitter taste about marriage. I was a bit scarred from the experience but when I met Aimee she renewed my faith in real, honest, true love,' Dean told Yahoo! Lifestyle.

'She is the sweetest, funniest, craziest and most genuine person I have ever met. We dived in head first and moved in together after just a few weeks and the next natural step was to propose.'

Wells sported a linen shirt and shorts for the big proposal, but was outshone by his wife's eye-popping ensemble. Aimee left little to the imagination as she went braless in a very sheer white dress that exposed her nipples

Tasmanian-born Aimee admitted that she was always attracted to 'bad boys', and so Dean was the perfect man for her.

The couple also explained that the camel-themed engagement photos were a cheeky nod to one of their most treasured memories: going camel riding together around the Manly Corso in Sydney.

Dean and Aimee first sparked rumours they were dating in August last year when they were seen cuddling and kissing in a restaurant.

The happy couple shared a close up of Aimee's elegant engagement ring

The couple were shown hugging and mounting camels to commemorate their engagement

The newly engaged pair explained that the camel-themed photos were a cheeky nod to one of their most treasured memories: going camel riding together around the Manly Corso in Sydney

The lovebirds went official in September after they both walked the red carpet at Maxim Magazine's 11th birthday party in Sydney's Pott's Point.

Aimee uploaded a picture of the couple cuddling at the event to Instagram, writing: 'Could this be my new geek?'

Dancing With The Stars contestant Dean promptly commented on the post: 'Haha I'm def not a geek babe.'

The lovebirds went official in September after they both walked the red carpet at Maxim Magazine's 11th birthday party in Sydney's Pott's Point

Aimee was a contestant on Beauty And The Geek in 2022, teaming up with 'geek' and martial arts expert Jayden, 24.

Dean meanwhile shot to fame on Married At First Sight's fifth season after cheating on his 'wife' Tracey Jewel with Davina Rankin.

He has since made headlines for his controversial and outspoken views.

Back in February, he shared a Photoshopped flyer to Instagram advertising a performance by Sydney drag queen Charisma Belle at Manly Library for children as young as three.

Dean edited the original flyer to include an unrelated image taken from Charisma's Instagram feed showing the performer spreading her legs in a vulgar fashion with a taco in her crotch.

He accompanied this with a caption condemning the event and labelled drag performances 'inherently sexual' - sparking outrage among critics.

In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, Dean doubled on his belief drag performances are inappropriate for young children and should not be paid for by the government.
Vanderpump Rules star Tom Schwartz is sparking comparisons to Ryan Gosling's character in Barbie, after unveiling a striking head of icy blond hair.

Following his platinum makeover, which has made him a dead ringer for Mattel's famous doll, Ken, fans of the reality star, 40, flocked to social media to react to his new look.

Under a photo of the co-owner of Tom Tom Restaurant & Bar with a fan, named Amanda, which was reposted to the account Queens of Bravo, numerous social media users remarked on his newfound resemblance to Barbie's boyfriend.

'Hes gonna beach and then go back to his mojo dojo casa house,' one mused, while others took to the comment section the lyrics of I'm Just Ken, by performed by Gosling in Greta Gerwig's fantasy comedy film.

Another more Barbie fan commented: 'Its giving big Ken-ough energy.'

Nearly unrecognizable: Vanderpump Rules star Tom Schwartz is sparking comparisons to Ryan Gosling's character in Barbie, after unveiling a striking head of icy blonde hair

Do blondes have more fun? Following his platinum makeover , which has made him a dead ringer for Mattel's famous doll, Ken, fans of the reality star, 40, flocked to social media to react to his new look (Gosling seen above as Ken in Greta Gerwig's Barbie movie)

Others roasted the TV personality for lightening his locks as they quipped he looked like he was going through a 'crisis' or 'the brink of a mental breakdown' for making the bold decision to 'bleach' his 'hair at home.'

'The male version of break up bangs,' another Instagram user wrote.

Upon speaking with her interaction with Schwartz, Amanda wrote on her Instagram Story that he 'was so nice and just a genuine person to talk to!'

Like Schwartz, Gosling was ridiculed for his platinum blond hair, which many dubbed online as 'horrendous.'

Many also questioned how stylists managed to make the normally stunning looking man look 'not hot.'

In response to the backlash, Gosling's wife, Eva Mendes, defended the look, last month, while appearing on The Talk.

'People do know he's not playing a real person, right? He's playing a fake person,' she pointed out.

She went on to recall how seeing the promotional image for this first time and how it immediately awakened her teenaged self.

'Hes gonna beach and then go back to his mojo dojo casa house,' one mused, while others took to the comment section the lyrics of I'm Just Ken, by performed by Gosling in Greta Gerwig's fantasy comedy film

Jokes: Another more Barbie fan commented: 'Its giving big Ken-ough energy'

Cruel: Others roasted the TV personality for lightening his locks as they quipped he looked like he was going through a 'crisis' or 'the brink of a mental breakdown' for making the bold decision to 'bleach' his 'hair at home'

'The male version of break up bangs,' another Instagram user wrote

Pre-makeover: Schwartz is known for his brown hair as seen above earlier this year

'Well first of all, I saw the photo and the 14-year-old in me was like, "Ahhh." But you know, it's a funny photo and he's trying to be funny. So it worked on all levels,' she explained.

The Hitch actress revealed that she was so taken by her longtime beau's transformation into the beloved Mattel doll that she asked if she could keep a piece of his costume.

'When I saw it, he sent it to me from work and I said, "Can I please have that underwear? Please. I never ask for anything."'

Luckily for Mendes, Gosling was more than happy to handover his Ken doll drawers.

'So, anyways, I do have it. I'm wearing it right now,' Eva joked, before reiterating that 'there was something about the image that sparked my little teenage [self].'

Gosling stars opposite Margot Robbie's Barbie in the Greta Gerwig- directed comedy, which commenced filming in June and is slated for a 2023 release.

Other stars set to appear in the film include: America Ferrera, Simu Liu, Kate McKinnon and Will Ferrell among others.

Mendes has publicly voiced her support for Gosling's Ken before in a post shared to her Instagram.

Coming to his defense: Like Schwartz, Gosling was ridiculed for his platinum blond hair, which many dubbed online as 'horrendous'

Sweet: In response to the backlash, Gosling's wife, Eva Mendes, defended the look, last month, while appearing on The Talk

She included the promo snap of Gosling, which she called 'So F. funny' and 'So F. good' in the caption.

'So F. excited for you to see this... #Thatsmyken'

Mendes and Gosling rarely post about each other on social media as they mostly keep their romance private and under wraps.

The couple began dating in September 2011 after working together on the film The Place Beyond The Pines but were friends for a 'long time' before their romance.

At the time, a source told Us Weekly that there has 'always been this strong chemistry between them.. this was just a matter of time.'

Longtime partners: The couple began dating in September 2011 after working together on the film The Place Beyond The Pines but were friends for a 'long time' before their romance; Eva and Ryan pictured in 2012

In early September 2011, the duo were spotted packing on the PDA during a date night to Disneyland in Anaheim.

By the following September, the couple made their red carpet debut at the Toronto International Film Festival premiere of The Place Beyond The Pines.

In September 2014, Eva and Ryan welcomed their first child together, Esmeralda Amada, now seven.

They welcomed their second child, daughter Amada Lee, now six, in April 2016.
Farmer Wants A Wife star Sophie Holcombe has returned to Brisbane and is spending time with her dog in the wake of her split from Brenton Kuch.

The star took to Instagram on Sunday sharing a photo of herself out for a run with her beloved pooch, Reg.

Sophie looked bright and positive in black activewear as she focused on her health and fitness post break up.

'No rest days for Reg,' she wrote, smiling at the camera.

Another photo showed her hugging the pooch in her backyard.

FWAW star Sophie Holcombe has updated fans on life after her shock split from Brenton Kuch. Pictured

The star took to Instagram on Sunday sharing a photo of herself out for a run with her beloved pooch, Reg

'Actual bestie,' she wrote.

Brenton has been keeping off social media after the split.

The couple shocked fans earlier this month when they announced they had split, hinting it was a bitter break up.

The brunette beauty found love with Brenton earlier this year during filming for the popular Seven show, and relocated to his farm in Darriman shortly after.

'I have an update to share,' she wrote in her post.

'With a heavy heart, I want to let everyone know Brenton and I have gone our separate ways.

'Reg (her dog Reginald) and I loved our life in Darriman and have been missing the farm a lot.'

The brunette beauty found love with Victorian cattle farmer Brenton earlier this year

Sophie alluded to an acrimonious split by calling the breakup 'disappointing' and said she is now revaluating 'her values'.

'It's a disappointing ending, but I've learned a lot about myself and my values,' she added.

'I wish Brenton all the best and want to thank everyone for their support, especially my family and friends.'
Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler's daughter, Mia Tyler, revealed that both she and her six-year-old son, Axton, safely fled wildfire-ravaged Maui on her Instagram stories on Sunday.

The Rush Hour 3 star, 44, and her little boy were able to get a flight out of the island in Hawaii - where the death toll has tragically risen to 93.

The actress has also warned that the damage is 'way worse' than the footage shown in the media.

After uploading images of the devastation to Front Street in Lahaina, Mia wrote, 'I dont know where to start.'

'Halfway through our vacation on Maui, we got news that a horrible fire had started an hour north of us. I dont need to tell you what happened next. All I can say is, it was way worse than what you saw on the news and online.'

Escaped: Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler's daughter Mia Tyler, 44, revealed that both she and her six-year-old son, Axton, safely fled wildfire-ravaged Maui on her Instagram stories on Sunday; Steven and Mia seen in 2015

Lucky: The Rush Hour 3 star, 44, and her little boy were able to get a flight out of the island in Hawaii - where the death toll has tragically risen to 93

She continued, 'Many people and animals have lost their lives. Homes destroyed. Sacred buildings burnt to ashes. Thousands of locals and tourists displaced. And the horrors those people had to see and experience.'

Mia - whose mother is Cyrinda Foxe  went on, 'Trying to keep my family and friends safe was all I could do. We were in a sacred paradise and could do nothing.'

The model warned people against travelling to Maui to help, instead encouraging donations for the relief efforts.

She wrote, 'PLEASE DO NOT TRAVEL TO MAUI, as the hotels are helping to home the people of Maui. The island needs to heal and does not need tourists taking up valuable resources right now.

'The only thing we can do is donate to these wonderful people that need us the most right now. Please help. Any penny helps.' She concluded with, 'I pray this land heals and comes back stronger like it always does.'

The tragic disaster - which began earlier this week on Tuesday - has become the worst wildfire in the United States in 100 years.

Just 30 miles from the 'city of tombstones,' Paris Hilton was seen with her husband Carter Reum and baby son at a resort in Wailea over the weekend on Saturday.

On Wednesday, the Hawaii Tourism Authority asked tourists to leave.

Bond: The actress has also warned that the damage is 'way worse' than the footage shown in the media; she is pictured with dad Steven in New York back in January 2014

Cute: Steven is seen with his grandchild Axton years ago

'Visitors who are on non-essential travel are being asked to leave Maui, and non-essential travel to Maui is strongly discouraged at this time,' the agency wrote.

'In the days and weeks ahead, our collective resources and attention must be focused on the recovery of residents and communities that were forced to evacuate their homes and businesses.'

On Friday, officials reiterated their plea, beseeching those who remained to fly home and give the islanders space.

Anyone planning on coming, they said, should postpone their travel or go to another island in Hawaii.

'For those coming to Hawaii over the next weeks or perhaps even months, depending on what we learn as the situation unfolds, a safer alternative is to plan travel to Kauai and Oahu,' they said.

Jason Momoa, who was born in Honolulu, on the island of Oahu, on Saturday urged tourists to leave.

'Maui is not the place to have your vacation right now,' he wrote on Instagram.

'Do not travel. Do not convince yourself that your presence is needed on an island that is suffering this deeply.'

Mia wrote: 'Many people and animals have lost their lives. Homes destroyed. Sacred buildings burnt to ashes. Thousands of locals and tourists displaced. And the horrors those people had to see and experience'

Just the two of us: Mia and Steven seen in New York back in February 2003

The 44-year-old also shared a video in which he said that the Hawaiian community 'needs time to heal, grieve and restore'.

'That means the less visitors on the island taking up critical resources that have become extremely limited the better,' he said.

Josh Green, the governor of Hawaii, said 500 hotel rooms will be made available for locals who have been displaced. An additional 500 hotel rooms will be set aside for workers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Some hotels will carry on with normal business to help preserve jobs and sustain the local economy, Green said.

On Friday, Green asked residents with space to open their doors and take in Maui residents who have lost their homes.

The state wants to work with Airbnb to make sure that rental homes can be made available for locals, and Green hopes that the company will be able to provide three- to nine-month rentals for those who have lost homes.

At least 2,200 buildings were damaged or destroyed in West Maui, Green said, nearly all of them residential.

Across the island, damage was estimated at close to $6 billion.

The historic town of Lahaina, which is in Maui County, has suffered black after block of complete devastation from the wildfires; an aerial view shows charred cars demolished buildings on Friday

The death toll has risen to 93, with more bodies expected to be found

Momoa's shared the video that captures the state of Maui right now

Block after block of buildings in the Maui town, which had a resident population of over 12,700 in the 2020 census, has been completely demolished, according to NBC News.

Residents of Maui have described their disgust at the sight of tourists swimming at the beach, while residents were still counting the dead.

'The same waters that our people just died in three days ago are the same waters the very next day these visitors - tourists - were swimming in,' one local told the BBC.

'That says a lot about where their heart and mind is through all of this, and where our heart and mind is now.'

She said no Hawaiian would be 'swimming, snorkeling, surfing' in such tragic circumstances.

'Nobody is having fun in tragedy and continuing their lives as if nothing happened.

'There is two Hawaiis now. The Hawaii we're living in and the Hawaii they're living in.'

As the death toll around Lahaina climbed to 93, authorities warned that the effort to find and identify the dead was still in its early stages.

The blaze is already the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century.

Burned houses and buildings are pictured on Saturday in the aftermath of the wildfire

Lahaina is seen from a boat, with the buildings burnt to the ground

An aerial photo taken on Friday shows the fires still smoldering in Lahaina

A Mercy Worldwide volunteer makes damage assessment of charred apartment complex in Lahaina on Saturday

Crews with cadaver dogs have covered just three percent of the search area, Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said on Saturday.

'We've got an area that we have to contain that is at least five square miles, and it is full of our loved ones,' he said, noting that the number of dead is likely to grow and 'none of us really know the size of it yet.'

He spoke as federal emergency workers picked through the ashen moonscape left by the fire that razed the centuries-old town of Lahaina.

Teams marked the ruins of homes with a bright orange 'X' to indicate an initial search, and 'HR' when they found human remains.

Elsewhere on Maui, at least two other fires have been burning: in south Maui's Kihei area and in the mountainous, inland communities known as Upcountry. No fatalities have been reported from those blazes.

The Upcountry fire affected 544 structures, most of them homes, Green said.

As many as 4,500 people are in need of shelter, county officials said on Facebook, citing figures from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Pacific Disaster Center.

J.P. Mayoga, a cook at the Westin Maui in Kaanapali, has seen his job switch from feeding tourists to cooking for the roughly 200 hotel employees and their family members who have been living there since Tuesday's fire devastated the Lahaina community just south of the resort.

His home and that of his father were spared.

But his wife, two young daughters, father and another local are all staying in a hotel room together, as it is safer than Lahaina, which is covered in toxic debris.

Maui water officials warned Lahaina and Kula residents not to drink running water, which may be contaminated even after boiling, and to only take short, lukewarm showers in well-ventilated rooms to avoid possible chemical vapor exposure.

'Everybody has their story, and everybody lost something. So everybody can be there for each other, and they understand what's going on in each other's lives,' he told AP of his co-workers at the hotel.

The latest death toll surpassed that of the 2018 Camp Fire in northern California, which left 85 dead and destroyed the town of Paradise.

The cause of the wildfires is under investigation.

A group of volunteers who sailed from Maalaea Bay, Maui, form an assembly line on Kaanapali Beach on Saturday

The group are seen forming a human chain to get the supplies onto land

People gather for a morning service at Keawalai Church, founded in 1832, in Makena on Sunday

The fires are Hawaii's deadliest natural disaster in decades, surpassing a 1960 tsunami that killed 61 people.

An even deadlier tsunami in 1946 killed more than 150 on the Big Island.

Fueled by a dry summer and strong winds from a passing hurricane, the flames on Maui raced through parched brush covering the island.

The most serious blaze swept into Lahaina on Tuesday and destroyed nearly every building in the town of 13,000, leaving a grid of gray rubble wedged between the blue ocean and lush green slopes.

Maui's firefighting efforts may have been hampered by limited staff and equipment.

Bobby Lee, president of the Hawaii Firefighters Association, said there are no more than 65 county firefighters working at any given time, who are responsible for three islands: Maui, Molokai and Lanai.

Lahaina resident Riley Curran said he doubted that county officials could have done more, given the speed of the flames.

He fled his Front Street home after seeing the oncoming fire from the roof of a neighboring building.

'It's not that people didn't try to do anything,' Curran said. 'The fire went from zero to 100.'
Craig Revel Horwood has transformed part of his 1.8million home to look just like the Elstree studio where Strictly Come Dancing is held.

The dance judge, 58, is currently renovating the Northamptonshire property he bought in 2021 with his partner Jonathan Myring, who he plans to wed next summer.

Giving the home a slice of Strictly history, the couple have installed a sweeping staircase just like the one Craig and his co-stars descend to enter the ballroom.

The staircase sits in the entrance hall of the 19th century pad, connecting to the landing which leads to the master bed and three guest rooms.

The architect's papers sent to the local council read: 'A new helical staircse now sits in the centre of the entrance centre of the entrance hall, connecting to the existing landing which connects the master bedroom to the three bedrooms on the west wing.'

Renovations: Craig Revel Horwood has transformed part of his 1.8million home to look just like the Elstree studio where Strictly Come Dancing is held

Seeing paso-double! Giving the home a slice of Strictly history, the couple have installed a sweeping staircase just like the one Craig and his co-stars descend to enter the ballroom

Craig moved to the home, in King's Cliffe near Peterborough, after selling his Hampshire home, which went on the market for 3,295,000.

At the time, MailOnline Property spoke exclusively to Craig about his love for the house, why despite that he is selling up, and his property plans for the future.

About the interior design of his home in Middlecot near Andover, he said: 'It is not going to suit everyone, but there are a lot of sparkles and I love it here.

'It is more like a London house in the middle of Hampshire. It was built in 2008 and I have lived here for seven years.'

On moving out of the capital, Craig said: 'I had no idea what it was going to be like moving to the countryside, in fact I was quite afraid of the dark having been used to city street lights permeating the dark.

'But now I wouldn't give it up for the world and only go back to London for work. I'm really pleased I made the decision seven years ago to move here.'

However, his engagement to Jonathan Myring meant that the couple wanted to move closer to his partner's family.

Craig said: 'We want to move north, a similar distance from London, to be near Jonathan's family. That is the only reason we are moving.'

Moving on! Craig moved to the home, in King's Cliffe near Peterborough, after selling his Hampshire home, which went on the market for 3,295,000 (pictured)

It has been a busy summer for Craig, who cancelled his lavish yacht summer holiday to take on some of his late friend Paul O'Grady's tour dates in Annie the musical.

He split the famous role of Miss Hannigan with Paul before his sudden death at the age of 67 in March.

Following the sad news of Paul's passing from a sudden cardiac arrhythmia, the BBC star postponed his Mediterranean getaway with fiance Jonathan Myring, 36.

Craig said: 'We had planned to go on a one-week holiday on a private yacht but I relinquished that.

'There is pressure to do a fabulous job like he did. We dedicated every show in Liverpool to Paul  all of which ended in rapturous applause.

'It was very special to perform there. I was very honoured'.
A look back at when The Curse struck... starting all the way back with series 1

Series 1: Natasha Kaplinsky and Brendan Cole

Strictly hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons during season one. Viewers were transfixed by the apparent close bond between newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky and her hunky partner Brendan Cole.

Did they/didn't they? Natasha and her hunky partner Cole sparked affair rumours

Although the pair went on to win the show, their success was blighted by affair rumours.

BBC presenter Natasha soon split from long-term partner Mike Barnard while Brendan dumped his fiancee and fellow dancer Camilla Dallerup.

Writing in her book Strictly Inspirational, Camilla said their split was like a 'mini death'.

'You go through the arc of grief, anger, bitterness,' she said. 'My best friend and dancing professionally with Brendan had both gone.'

However, Natasha has always denied any wrongdoing, saying: 'There was chemistry, of course, and I certainly fell in love with dancing, but I did not fall in love with Brendan.'

Series 5: Matt Di Angelo and Flavia Cacace

Of all the Strictly romances there's been over the years, this remains one of the most interesting.

Clandestine: Before long gossip was raging about how Flavia and Matt, then 19, were secretly in love

Flavia Cacace was in a long-term relationship with her dance partner Vincent Simone when she was partnered with Matt Di Angelo in 2007. He was eight years her junior.

Before long gossip was raging about how Flavia and Matt, then 19, were secretly in love. Shortly after the show finished she called time on her romance with Vincent and went public with Matt.

Looking back at their partnership, Matt told Daily Mail: It was a pretty crazy time. It was front page news.

'The funny thing was the story did not start off as true, but the more you read it, the more you started to believe it and actually act on it.'

Their romance ended in 2010, and a few weeks later Flavia admitted she was dating her latest dance partner, actor Jimi Mistry, who she went on to marry.

Series 7: Joe Calzaghe and Kristina Rihanoff

Not to be: Kristina is said to have also wanted children while Joe already has two sons from a previous relationship

Over: Unfortunately for Kara and Artem their relationship didn't go the distance

Scandal: Kristina was recently forced to defend her romance with Ben

Former boxer Joe Calzaghe split with his girlfriend of five years Jo-Emma Larvin just a week into the show in 2009.

The sportsman began a relationship with Russian dancer Kristina Rihanoff soon afterwards.

The pair enjoyed a four-year romance but parted ways after Joe reportedly asked Kristina not to accept a role dancing in a stage production.

Speaking to Hello! Kristina said: 'He was sick and tired of waiting around for me, and said that if I truly loved him, I wouldnt have taken the job in the West End.'

Kristina is said to have also wanted children while Joe already has two sons from a previous relationship.

Series 8: Kara Tointon and Artem Chigvintsev

Unfortunately for Kara Tointon and Artem Chigvintsev their relationship didn't manage to go the distance.

After winning the show in 2010 the pair hooked up, love quickly blossomed and they moved into a London home together.

However, its believed Russian Artems visa issues saw him having to spend time apart from Kara for months on end and they eventually decided to call it a day.

Actress Kara welcomed her baby son, Frey with fiance Marius Jensen in 2018, while Artem has struck up a romance with retired WWE wrestler, Nikki Bella since moving to the US to compete on Dancing With the Stars in 2014.

Series 11: Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff

Kristina Rihanoff was recently forced to defend her romance with Strictly partner Ben Cohen insisting that their relationship only began once his 11 year marriage to wife Abby had come to an end.

'He left his wife a year ago,' she told Daily Mirror. 'Recently we started dating but we're allowed to see each other as two single people.'

Kristina  who has also dated Vincent Simone and ex partner Joe Calzaghe  said there have been other couples, yet she is the only one to be 'attacked'.

She said: 'Ben's said it many times and I'll say it again - I wasn't involved in the breaking up of his marriage.'

Meanwhile Abby described the split and resultant divorce as 'the most traumatic thing to ever happen to me'.

Ben, 37, met Abby in 1995 at the age of 17, and the couple married in 2003 before welcoming their daughters in 2008.

Series 11: Rachel Riley and Pasha Kovalev

'It doesn't exist!' Rachel brushed aside the fact that The Curse exists, after she left her husband and got together with Pasha

On the same series, Countdown's math whiz Rachel Riley's relationship with her pro partner Pasha Kovalev ultimately ended her marriage to her husband of just one year.

She wed Jamie Gilbert in 2012, taking part on 2013's season of the dancing show. By the end of 2013, they had split and she was with Pasha - which she claims began after the show came to an end.

'On Strictly, you form a close bond with your partner, but there was nothing romantic when Pasha and I were dancing. It was just dancing,' she told the Mail the following January, insisting there's no such thing as The Curse.

'[Strictly] serves as a magnifying glass that shows up pre-existing fault lines,' she said, explaining the situation. She is still with Pasha today.

Series 11: Susanna Reid

Epiphany: Shortly after the show ended, Susanna split from her long-term partner Dominic Cotton

Divorcee: Actress Sunetra also announced her marriage split after starring on Strictly

Susanna Reid was another victim of series 11. She was billed as the most popular breakfast TV host and in a 15-year relationship when she reached the Strictly Come Dancing final that year.

However shortly after the show ended, the TV host split from her long-term partner Dominic Cotton.

However, mother-of-three Susanna, who was paired with professional Kevin Clifton, said the programme was not to blame for her love problems.

Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna told Daily Mirror: 'I think people think Strictly was bound up in what happened. It wasnt. Obviously things have been challenging in my personal life but we are getting things sorted.'

Series 12: Sunetra Sarker

Actress Sunetra Sarker also announced her marriage split after starring on Strictly.

She parted ways with her husband Nick Corfield after ten years of marriage just before the programme hit the screens.

The couple first met in 1989 while on holiday in Jersey and have a 13-year-old son together.

However, she said the romance had ended long before her reality show stint: 'The truth is three years ago me and my husband amicably split up and it obviously had nothing to do with Strictly.'

The Casualty actress, who plays Dr Zoe Hanna in the BBC medical drama, is now said to be dating business partner Scott Carey. Together, the pair set up the food firm Keep Me Fresh.

Series 12: Caroline Flack

Caroline Flack broke up with her boyfriend of a year and a half, Jack Street, after making her way into the Strictly Come Dancing semi-final.

The price of success: Caroline Flack broke up with her boyfriend of a year and a half, Jack Street, after making her way into the Strictly Come Dancing semi-final

According to The Sun, she was 'distraught' backstage at the BBC show, but managed to put on a brave face to wow with her Tango and top the leader board.

A source close to her told the newspaper: 'It came to a natural end and was mutual.'

Some contestants have ended relationships to engage in a romance with their dance partner on the show, but the source noted that in Caroline's case, this wasn't the reason.

'No one else is involved,' they stated.

Caroline had been seeing music manager Jack for around 18 months and she previously said that he was fine with her working on the talent show despite its reputation.

'Jack's been completely fine about the whole curse thing,' she said, quoted in The Mirror. 'He hasn't once been worried'.

Series 13: Helen George

Over and out: Helen announced her split from husband of three years Oliver Boot, after she was revealed as a contestant (pictured with pro Aljaz Skorjanec)

It did not take long before the dreaded curse of Strictly struck again.

Actress Helen George announced her split from husband of three years, fellow actor Oliver Boot, after she was revealed as a contestant on the show.

'I can confirm that Helen separated from her husband some time ago,' a spokesperson for the star said. She has not been linked to any fellow Strictly contestants or professional dancers.

A Royal Academy Of Music graduate, Helen is best known for starring as Nurse Beatrix 'Trixie' Franklin in the hit BBC period drama Call The Midwife.

George has also performed as a back-up singer for Sir Elton John and starred in a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and David Zippel called The Woman In White.

She met her former partner on set of BBC drama Hotel Babylon, and the couple married in December 2012.

Series 13: Georgia May Foote

The actress was in a relationship with her Coronation Street co-star Sean Ward when she took part in the 2015 series of the show.

Break-up: Shortly after Georgina finished runner-up in the final, she announced her split from Sean

But cracks began to show as it was reported that Sean was enraged with jealousy over her decision to take part, and even allegedly accompanied her to rehearsals at the beginning of her Strictly journey.

Shortly after she finished runner-up in the final, she and Sean announced their split - with Georgia seen kissing her dance partner Giovanni Pernice during a romantic trip to Disneyland soon after.

However, shortly before rehearsals for the 2016 series began, Georgia and Giovanni called time on their romance after just a year.

Giovanni has since moved on with 2018 contestant and former Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts, while Georgia is dating rapper Kris Evans.

Series 14: Louise and Jamie Redknapp

Divorced: Louise Redknapp appeared on the series in 2016, after which she and Jamie were said to be facing marital issues

Footballer Jamie Redknapp is said to have been offered a place on the Strictly line-up recently, but understandably has refused after the series was blamed for the demise of his marriage to wife Louise.

Louise appeared on the series in 2016, after which she and Jamie were said to be facing marital issues. By the end of 2017, they were divorced.

It was highly-speculated that Louise realised, during the show, that she wanted to get back to work having sacrificed her career for her marriage - with co-star Daisy Lowe said to have helped her 'rediscover her youth'.

A TV source said: 'Strictly used to be show that no celebrity ever turned down. But the Curse has changed all that. There is now a genuine concern that appearing on the show can negatively impact relationships. Jamie only has negative feelings about Strictly now. Theres absolutely no way he would appear.'

Louise was also rumoured to have struck up a romantic bond with her pro partner Kevin Clifton, but this has never been confirmed.

Series 14: Kevin and Karen Clifton

Split: The Cliftons - a married pair of pro dancers - split romantically in 2018

Despite the rumours surrounding thrice-married Kevin while he partnered with Louise, nothing seemed to transpire between the two. He was, of course, married at the time too - to fellow pro Karen Clifton.

However, since then, the pair have split up.

Kevin proposed to her, on her birthday, on stage during a performance of Burn the Floor and they wed in July 2015. But in March 2018, they confirmed that they were no longer together romantically.

They have since continued to work together as a pro dance partnership, however, insisting there is no bad blood.

Series 16: Stacey Dooley, Sam Tucknott and Kevin Clifton

We're done: Stacey's boyfriend of five years Sam Tucknott, 30, revealed Stacey had left him in an interview with the Mail On Sunday

Stacey's boyfriend of five years Sam Tucknott, 30, revealed Stacey had left him in an interview with the Mail On Sunday in April. He called her dance partner, three-times married Kevin Clifton, 36, a slippery snake

Sam confronted Kevin in furious video chat where he branded him a 'proper rat'. He told MoS in an exclusive interview he feels betrayed by the new couple's romance.

It has been alleged that Stacey and Kevin's relationship was an 'open secret' on the Strictly tour News has cast shadow over latest series of show, resurrecting the so-called 'Strictly curse' that has seen 14 couples split.

The TV presenter, 32, broke her silence on Twitter soon after, insisting there 'are two sides to every story'

All over: In August 2019, just ahead of series 17, Neil and Katya announced their split after 11 years of marriage

Series 16/17: Katya and Neil Jones

2018 saw The Curse strike early on in the season, with drama escalating just three weeks into the live shows.

In a new twist, a love square formed when Katya Jones, who is married to fellow show professional Neil, was snapped all over her celeb partner, comedian Seann Walsh, on the street outside a pub in London. This took part on Sean's girlfriend's - actress and writer Rebecca Humphries - birthday, no less.

Dumped: Neil and Katya's break-up comes 10 months after her kiss with Seann (pictured with ex-girlfriend Rebecca Humphries)

The pair brushed it off as a 'one-off mistake', despite them kissing and laughing brazenly in public. Since then, Rebecca 'dumped' Seann via a Twitter statement.

Seann and Katya did not pull out of the show, with their dalliance a gigantic elephant in the room as they still performed on the series, with Neil on set too.

However, In August 2019, just ahead of series 17, Neil and Katya announced their split after 11 years of marriage. The break-up coming just 10 months after her kiss with Seann.

Series 18: Nadiya Bychkova, Matija Skarabot and Kai Widdrington

In January 2022, Nadiya revealed she had split from her fiance Matija Skarabot, with whom she shares her five-old daughter.

New couple: Fellow professional dancers Nadiya and Kai struck up a romance after she split from her fiance Matija

The news broke shortly after she had partnered with married BBC Breakfast host Dan Walker and there were rumours of a romance, which they were quick to dispel.

The professional dancer later revealed that she had in fact secretly split from her fiance before series 18 had even began and during that time she struck up a dancer with fellow pro Kai - who had been romantically linked to his partner that series - AJ Odudu.

While Nadiya did not disclose exactly when she and Kai started dating she said in her first interview about their romance that she found him to be 'Hes kind and compassionate and makes me laugh. I feel very relaxed with him.

Series 18: Max George, Stacey Giggs and Maisie Smith

Dancing through life: Max and Maisie struck up a romance after appearing on series 18 of the hit show together

When Max appeared on series 18 of Strictly he was happily loved-up with Stacey, whom he had been dating for four years, with the singer taking on the role of stepfather to her two children.

Yet months after appearing on the show he began a relationship with fellow series 18 star Maisie Smith, who had been linked to singer HRVY during her initial time on the show.

Yet Max and Maisie are said to have grown close on the Strictly live tour, which took place a couple of months after they appeared on the show together.

Stacey then accused her ex of cheating on her with Maisie and reportedly felt 'betrayed' by her former beau.

Series 19: Adam Peaty and Eirianedd Munro

Sad: Adam Peaty has split from his girlfriend Eirianedd Munro after three years together and apologised for 'letting down' his partner and their son

In an Instagram statement in August 2022, Olympic swimmer Adam took to Instagram to confirm that he and his girlfriend Eirianedd Munro had split after three years together.

He said that the couple had decided to go 'their separate ways' but that their son George, who is two next month, remained their 'priority'.

Announcing the news via social media, Adam wrote: 'Eiri and George, I'm sorry for letting you down. My only interest is for the well-being of our family at this difficult time.'

The split comes Adam raised eyebrows with his chemistry with pro partner Katya Jones on the dance floor last year, with eagle-eyed fans claiming they thought that they nearly kissed at the end of one steamy routine.

After the incident, Eirianedd admitted she had been 'really emotional' after her sportsman beau's 'near kiss' with Katya.

Eirianedd, told fans she took a 'short break' from social media after Adam and Katya got very close at the end of their racy Argentine Tango last autumn.

Series 19: Rose Ayling-Ellis and Sam Arnold

Strictly winner Rose Ayling-Ellis has wished dance partner Giovanni Pernice a happy birthday after splitting from her long-term boyfriend Sam Arnold.

The EastEnders actress, 27, was with her partner for seven years, with him cheering her on as she lifted the glitterball trophy last year.

Sad: Strictly winner Rose Ayling-Ellis has reportedly split from her long-term boyfriend Sam Arnold (pictured together)

But the couple have reportedly called it quits as Rose continues to throw herself into work after being inundated with offers after winning Strictly.

It comes after it was recently reported that Rose's friends have expressed doubt over the couple's future due to their busy work schedules and have said they are worried that the infamous Strictly curse may strike again.

Rose - who has kept her relationship fairly private over the years - holidayed in Barcelona by herself earlier this year.
An emotional Shirley Ballas fought back tears as she talked about completing her terrifying Skyathalon in memory of her late brother David.

David from Wallasey, Merseyside, died by suicide aged 44 in 2003 after a dark battle with depression.

Over the past week, Strictly head judge Shirley, 62, faced her fears as she took on a 13,000ft skydive, a 700ft wing walk and a zip-line over Penrhyn Quarry for suicide prevention charity, Calm.

Appearing on BBC Breakfast on Monday, Shirley cried as she revealed how she felt David was at her side 'cheering me on' as she took on the challenge.

'I have to say this morning I feel extremely emotional because it's come to the end of the week and I found the week actually quite tough on many levels,' she said.

Brave: An emotional Shirley Ballas fought back tears as she talked about completing her terrifying Skyathalon in memory of her late brother David

Amazing: Over the past week, Shirley faced her fears as she took on a 13,000ft skydive, a 700ft wing walk and a zip-line over Penrhyn Quarry for suicide prevention charity, Calm

Heartbreaking: David from Wallasey, Merseyside, died by suicide aged 44 in 2003 after a dark battle with depression

'Not only from the challenges but also I underestimated how it was going to take a toll on my mum who is 86 and her mental health. We relived everything about my brother.

'We tend to put things in boxes and people think when you've lost a loved one and its twenty years ago but it never goes away. It was difficult on that front and then jumping out of an airplane. I can't even believe that I've done that you know.

'I'm terrified of heights. The first one, the zipline I just tried to stay focused. I didn't want to appear weak,' Shirley said.

Shirley kept a photo of David close by her heart as she overcame her fears in a powerful tribute to him.

The BBC favourite has raised 34,049 of her 35,000 target at the time of publication.

She cried as she said: 'I had my brother right there by my heart. Being amongst the clouds it was very difficult.

'I felt like he was with me when I was on the zipline. I think If I had CALM twenty years ago I think he would have been cheering me on because that's the sort of brother he was.

'He would say "you could do this, I know he'd be extremely proud for sure.'

Shirley cried as she was surprised when her mother Audrey came into the studios.

Audrey told the Strictly head judge she is 'very proud' but admitted it was 'very nerve wracking' watching Shirley take on the challenge.

Family: Appearing on BBC Breakfast on Monday, Shirley cried as she revealed how she felt David was at her side 'cheering me on' as she took on the challenge

Emotional: Shirley cried as she was surprised when her mother Audrey came into the studios.

Fundraiser: The BBC favourite has raised 34,049 of her 35,000 target at the time of publication

Her big brother: Shirley kept a photo of David close by her heart as she overcame her fears in a powerful tribute to him

Touched: The Strictly head judge became emotional when her mum made a surprise appearance on BBC Breakfast

Viewers watching at home were touched by Shirley sharing her story.

One wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: 'In tears over your interview with #ShirleyBallas and her mum.'

'Shirley you are my hero', another said.

Since her brother's death, Shirley has become an ardent campaigner for mental health awareness, even setting up charity The Ballas Foundation with her son Mark.

Shirley felt 'overwhelming grief' when her brother David took his own life in 2003.

Her son Mark, a professional ballroom dancer who starred on Dancing With The Stars in the US, previously spoke about the incident on his website.

In a blog post, he wrote: 'For me, it's about raising awareness of depression. It's not like a mood swing.

Tragic: Shirley felt 'overwhelming grief' when her brother David took his own life in 2003 (pictured last year)

Keep dancing! Shirley had her dancing shoes on as she left the BBC Breakfast studios in Manchester

'People struggle with it every day. Nothing matters. My uncle's daughter was everything to him, but it didn't matter because he was sick.

'You have to make people aware of it so they can recognize it and help people get better.'

The post continued: 'The family was not only left with overwhelming grief, but guilt. You keep thinking maybe you could have done something.'

Shirley's skydive completed the last of her three jaw-dropping Skyathlon challenges which saw her fly 120mph across the worlds fastest zip line, while she also completed an incredible 700ft wing walk in aid of CALM.

The charitys helpline staff receive 25% more calls during the summer months and speak to someone who is struggling every 59 seconds.

Every day 18 people in the UK tragically take their own lives. CALM exists to change this - by offering life-saving support, creating culture changing campaigns, and bringing people together across the country to reject living miserably.

Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) stands united against suicide with everyone in the UK.

The campaign is led through vital, life-saving support, impactful conversations and collective action. If youre struggling, talk to CALM on 0800 58 58 58 (UK) or through our webchat.

Trained support workers are available from 5 pm to midnight every day to provide practical support and advice, whatever youre going through. To find out more about CALM , our services or for support or advice visit www.thecalmzone.net.
Rochelle Humes and Josie Gibson were left squealing in disbelief after watching a very flexible performer put on a show at Edinburgh Fringe whilst live on This Morning on Monday.

Rochelle, 34, and Josie, 38, watched on in disbelief as the man, dressed in colourful trousers, performed a variety of stunts and moves.

He could be seen bending over and distorting his body in a variety of shapes that would seem otherwise impossible to imagine.

Indeed Rochelle and Josie were left very taken aback by the show, with Josie repeating throughout: 'Unbelievable!'.

They also made a variety of high-pitched squealing noises as their jaws dropped in shock.

Shocked! Rochelle Humes and Josie Gibson were left squealing in disbelief after watching a very flexible performer put on a show at Edinburgh Fringe whilst live on This Morning on Monday

Impressive: Rochelle, 34, and Josie, 38, watched on in disbelief as the man, dressed in colourful trousers, performed a variety of stunts and moves

It comes after it was revealed that Holly Willoughby 'is poised for a bumper new pay deal with ITV' when she returns to a rejigged This Morning on September 4.

The presenter, 42, is currently on her annual summer break, with Josie and Craig Doyle currently taking care of hosting duties during her absence.

But it's understood she's in line for a 300,000 pay-rise, with her yearly salary - an estimated 700,000 - boosted to 1million when she returns to a rotating stable of presenters.

As exclusively revealed by MailOnline, Welsh presenter Steve Jones is also expected to join the team over the summer as ITV endeavour to move on from the abrupt departure of Holly's long-term co-host Phillip Schofield.

A source told The Sun On Sunday: 'Holly is at the heart of the shows future and success and ITV execs want her to steer a steady ship out of a rocky year. Itll be a strong start with Alison, kicking off as a dream team.

'Hollys pay deal is up for negotiation in a few months so they are putting together a lucrative package that will reflect her added responsibility without Phil, and they are prepared to go up to 1million a year.'

It is believed that Holly will line-up alongside Alison Hammond for her first two shows in September, with hosts including Jones also expected to feature at a later date.

ITV are understood to have spent 250,000 on revamping the beleaguered show, with one new segment giving fashion expert Gok Wan the opportunity to travel the UK for doorstep makeovers.

Impossible: He could be seen bending over and distorting his body in a variety of shapes that would seem otherwise impossible to imagine

Amused: Indeed Rochelle and Josie were left very taken aback by the show, with Josie repeating throughout: 'Unbelievable!'

The source added: 'They are giving the show a massive push with really positive, fun stories, nothing dark or depressing.

'Producers will splash the cash on showbiz guests, and exclusive human interest stories. Viewers can expect lots of glitz and glamour. But Holly will definitely be the jewel in their crown.'

Jones will host the programme on Wednesday alongside Josie Gibson, and ITV bosses are 'thrilled' with the new addition to the show following Schofield's departure in May.

Sources at the channel say that if viewers like him then he will 'almost certainly' become part of the This Morning's rotations of hosts who will present with Holly Willoughby along with Ms Gibson, Alison Hammond, Dermot O'Leary and Craig Doyle.

One told MailOnline: 'The hope is that those watching at home will love Steve, he's a very experienced broadcaster but also very cheeky.

'There is no permanent replacement for Phil, Holly will be presenting with Alison, Josie, Dermot and Craig, and now probably Steve.'

'Hopefully he will be part of the new dawn for This Morning after the Schofield scandal, and will help to give it a fresh new look.'

Lucrative: It comes after it was revealed that Holly Willoughby 'is poised for a bumper new pay deal with ITV' when she returns to a rejigged This Morning on September 4
Nicole Scherzinger took to Instagram on Monday to share a slew of stunning snaps from her recent holiday to Greece.

The Pussycat Dolls star, 45, looked incredible in a series of shots showing her posing poolside in a scanty cut-out swimsuit from ALT Swim, with sexy and goofy poses combined.

While the post was playful and lighthearted, the comments took a turn for the worse when fans raged at the star for posting in the midst of the Hawaiian wildfires.

Nicole, who hails from Honolulu, faced comments branding her 'insensitive' while others defended the star as the shots were throwbacks.

Her post comes after the Hawaiian wildfires death toll hit 80, after the horrific inferno tore through the town of Lahaina, which is in Maui County.

Sizzling: Nicole Scherzinger took to Instagram on Monday to share a slew of stunning snaps from her recent holiday to Greece

Wow! The Pussycat Dolls star, 45, looked incredible in a series of shots showing her posing poolside in a scanty cut-out swimsuit from ALT Swim, with sexy and goofy poses combined

Oh dear: Nicole, who hails from Honolulu, faced comments branding her 'insensitive' while others defended the star as the shots were throwbacks

Ahem: While the post was playful and lighthearted, the comments took a turn for the worse when fans raged at the star for posting in the midst of the Hawaiian wildfires

The fires were fuelled by atmospheric elements - dry conditions, low humidity and the 60mph gusts of winds caused by Hurricane Dora - a category 4 hurricane.

The winds were so strong it knocked out power lines and damaged homes, CBS News reported. The outlet reported that the US Coast Guard rescued 17 people who jumped into the harbour in Lahaina as the fires overtook the town.

'There were no fire trucks at that point, I think the fire department was overwhelmed,' a business owner in Lahaina told CBS News.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green said it appears like a 'bomb' went off after around 1,700 buildings were destroyed in the blaze.

Under Nicole's picture, outraged fans wrote: 'I don't want to seem somehow. It doesn't change anything but I just think it's a bit insensitive bearing in mind what's happening in your country...

'Maui on fire but you out here half naked in your glamorous life.. ok... Just poor taste with what is happening in Maui!! Look at Oprah and The Rock! Its not about anyone in a bikini lovin life right now...

Defending the star, other fans penned: 'Hey yall The photos she posts here were a while ago. She is no longer in Greece. Please don't blame her, she wouldn't worry about her country or her family. Thank you...

'These photos were taken a few weeks ago. Just because she isn't posting on social media's about what's going on doesn't mean she doesn't.'

Shocked: The fires were fuelled by atmospheric elements - dry conditions, low humidity and the 60mph gusts of winds caused by Hurricane Dora - a category 4 hurricane

A host of celebrities with affiliations with the area have spoken out about the disaster in heartbreaking statements, prayers and pleas.

Dwayne Johnson urged natives and workers in wildfire-stricken Maui to 'stay strong' on Sunday in an Instagram clip addressing the deadly blaze that has killed at least 93 people and decimated a town.

The 51-year-old star addressed the situation on Instagram to his 388million followers posted on Sunday, saying he was 'completely heartbroken' over the events, while pointing his fans to the Hawaii Community Foundation for relief effort donations.

Dwayne, who spent a part of his upbringing in Hawaii, said in the clip: 'Hi everybody: I know that by now all of you around the world have seen the complete destruction and devastation that has hit our Hawaiian islands - our island of Maui.

'And I'm completely heartbroken over this and I know all of you are too.'

The Black Adam actor said he has been keeping up with developments on the islands, where residents have been evacuated both into nearby hotels and off the islands in the wake of the wildfire.

The latest: Dwayne Johnson urged natives and workers in wildfire-stricken Maui to 'stay strong' on Sunday in an Instagram clip addressing the deadly blaze that has killed at least 93 people and decimated a town
Made In Chelsea's Spencer Matthews and wife Vogue Williams have announced they're taking their smash-hit podcast on tour.

The Spencer and Vogue podcast launched in August 2020 and now the couple are gearing up to take the podcast on its first-ever live tour across the UK next February and May.

The news comes after he was hospitalised for two days of his family holiday after overdosing on cold sore tablets.

But Spencer appeared in good spirits on Monday as he returned to his fitness routine before making the podcast announcement.

Speaking about the exciting news, Spencer said: 'The things that Vogue is looking to put in the show are absolutely ghastly and the thought of sharing them with an audience has me on edge to say the least.I can't imagine you won't find it funny.'

Exciting: Made In Chelsea's Spencer Matthews and wife Vogue Williams have announced they're taking their smash-hit podcast on tour

On the mend: The news comes after he was hospitalised for two days of his family holiday after overdosing on cold sore tablets

Vogue added: 'I'm so happy we get to take our podcast on tour. We have dug deep and I have managed to find some unexpected things about Spenno that I can't wait to share with you!

'He on the other hand would rather they stay in the vault We want everyone to have a great night out and as much fun as possible at our show.'

The new tour, Spencer and Vogue LIVE! kicks off in Ipswich on Wednesday February 14 and includes a night at the world-famous London Palladium.

It comes after Spencer was hospitalised for two days of his family holiday after overdosing on cold sore tablets.

The Irish media personality, 37, told how disaster struck while they were in Spain recently as the former Made in Chelsea star, 35, became unwell.

The family, including Spencer, Vogue and her auntie were all also taken down with a sickness bug while away as the trip descended further into chaos.

Speaking on her podcast My Therapist Ghosted Me with co-host Joanne McNally she said: 'Spenny was hospitalised for two days because he is a little b***h and he can't handle it.'

'Well I will tell you what, he overdosed on coldsore tablets. I am not joking, I am not joking, I'm not. He overdosed on cold sore tablets and his liver function, because he did it for a full week, taking ten of these things and he said 'oh they're fine'.

'And he did it to me when I thought I felt a tingle and he said 'darling take six of these and you'll be fine' and you're only meant to take two.'

Tour: The Spencer and Vogue podcast launched in August 2020 and now the couple are gearing up to take the podcast on its first-ever live tour across the UK next February and May

Speaking about the exciting podcast news, Spencer said: 'The things that Vogue is looking to put in the show are absolutely ghastly and the thought of sharing them with an audience has me on edge to say the least'

However, she did add that she wasn't sure that an 'overdose' was the reason and it was likely the sickness bug that had infected the family as Spencer in particular had struggled with it.

The parents were enjoying time away with their children - Theodore, four, Gigi, three, and baby Otto, 15 months.

The couple recently made a racy confession on their podcast, with Spencer revealing exactly how much sex they have together.

The couple admitted they'd had sex every single night for the past few weeks.

Despite being busy working parents to their three young children, Spencer insisted they made time for each other in the bedroom.

Vogue told the couple's Spencer & Vogue podcast listeners about a statistic she recently read: 'Couples are having sex less than ever before - 30% less than our parents.'

Spencer was quick to interrupt, exclaiming: 'Not in our house! Okay, I'm going to put something out there and it's going to upset a lot of parents.'

You and I have sex all the time, ok, so listen to this - we have sex quite a lot, don't we? We're on a real hot streak,' he confessed.

'The last three or four weeks - there's probably only about two nights where we haven't had sex,' Spencer added.

Getaway: The parents were enjoying time away with their children - Theodore, four, Gigi, three, and baby Otto, 15 months

Terrible: The family, including Spencer, Vogue and her auntie were all also taken down with a sickness bug while away as the trip descended further into chaos

Vogue did caveat the confession though, explaining that they were going through a 'hot streak'.

'We're on a hot streak - it doesn't mean we're always going to be on a hot streak. I now regret the sex chat,' she laughed, joking that her husband was headed for 'a cold streak' if he carried on spilling about their sex life.

The couple announced their engagement in February 2018 after Spencer proposed on stage during a West End production of The Lion King.

The couple tied the knot in a private ceremony at Glen Affric, Spencer's family's 10,000 acre in the Scottish Highlands in 2018.
Parents need to overhaul their negative attitudes towards maths in a bid to curb the UK's 'numeracy problem,' Rachel Riley has said.

The Countdown star thinks people need to stop proudly saying, 'I can't do maths' as it is contributing to children feeling 'intimidated' by the subject at school.

Rachel, 37, who has a master's degree in mathematics from Oxford University, said young girls are particularly susceptible to 'outside influences' so need more encouragement.

'We do have a problem in the UK with numeracy - 50 per cent of adults are at the level you'd expect of an 11-year-old,' she said on the Spinning Plates podcast.

'Again, it's lower for women.'

Parents need to overhaul their negative attitudes towards maths in a bid to curb the UK's 'numeracy problem,' Rachel Riley has said

She said: 'And we're passing on negative feelings and fear of it to kids and I think we need to change the way we speak about it, change the attitude and not be scared of it and not feel intimidated and just give it a go.

'Even if you're going in and trying to help your kids, over the pandemic more people were having to do more maths to a higher level than they did before, as they were helping their kids for obvious reasons.

'You can go back and learn it together and if you're asking questions, great, it's a learning opportunity.'

Rachel added: 'I think it's really important to be positive about it in the same way you wouldn't proudly say, "I can't read," don't say, "I can't do maths," it's just, "I can't do it yet."

The mathematician, who was just 22 when she took over from Carol Vorderman on the long-running Channel 4 show in 2009, wants to give maths a makeover in the same way science has had one thanks to Professor Brian Cox.

'I think there are a lot of people that have done great things for popular science - the Brian Cox effect of buying lots of telescopes,' she said.

Rachel, who is mother to daughters Maven, three, and one-year-old Noa, said while science is no longer considered 'nerdy and geeky,' people still don't 'understand' what mathematicians do.

The Countdown star thinks people need to stop proudly saying, 'I can't do maths' as it is contributing to children feeling 'intimidated' by the subject at school

Family: Rachel is mother to daughters Maven, three, and one-year-old Noa and is married to former Strictly professional Pasha Kovalev

'The world has changed so much, you know that if you go into science, technology, engineering, maths, you're going to get a job and potentially the job you're going to get if you're a student doesn't even exist yet but you're going to be employable,' she said.

'I think the more we can encourage kids, and I like to encourage girls especially as there's still this gender difference, perception and numbers going into study.

'Statistically, girls are more susceptible to outside influences.'

She added: 'So, if you tell a girl, "You're not good at maths," especially at a young age, or anyone really, they implant that and they start to believe it and perpetuate it.'

Rachel, who is married to former Strictly Come Dancing partner Pasha Kovalev, is a supporter of National Numeracy, a charity promoting growth mindset about maths and not feeling defeated by numeracy.
Snow White star Rachel Zegler has been branded a 'fake feminist' after several videos of her trashing the original cartoon version of the hit movie resurfaced online - sparking outrage from Disney lovers.

Not only has the 22-year-old admitted that she 'hated' the original 1937 movie, she also described the film's Prince as a 'stalker' and branded the storyline 'weird'.

Rachel also promised that her version of Snow White is 'not going to be saved by the prince' and said 'she's not going to be dreaming about true love'.

Several videos of Rachel speaking negatively about the original movie in various interviews last year have resurfaced online, which has led to many people slamming her and some even accused the brunette of 'gaslighting' her fans.

In one video that was posted on TikTok last week and has since been viewed over 9.4 million times, user Angie, who goes by the handle @cosywithangie, criticized Rachel for failing to acknowledge that women have the right to pursue whatever they want.

Not impressed: Snow White star Rachel Zegler has been branded a 'fake feminist' following her comments about the upcoming Disney remake

Transformation: The 22-year-old actress will play the Disney Princess in the upcoming live action remake

Dynamic duo: Rachel stars alongside Gal Gadot who will take on the role of the Evil Queen

Angie captioned the post: 'Just because a woman values something different, does not make her any less valuable. Some women want a career and not marriage.

'Some women want a marriage or family and not a job. Some women want BOTH. All are to be heard, and seen, and valued.

'Write stories about ALL women and depict them ALL as valuable and worthy, instead of trying to mold them into one specific image of what you deem worthy. Thank you. #snowwhite #snowwhiteliveaction #snowwhitecontroversy #disney,' she added.

The TikTok post began with a clip of Rachel speaking to Variety back in September 2022, where she clarified what she meant when she said she was bringing a modern edge to the Disney Princess character.

'I just mean that it's no longer 1937. She's not going to be saved by the prince and she's not going to be dreaming about true love,' Rachel said.

'She's dreaming about becoming the leader she knows she can be and the leader that her late father told her that she could be if she was fearless, fair, brave, and true.'

The video then cut to Angie as she shared and thoughts and argued: 'I could literally write a PhD thesis on the pseudo feminism that is criticizing Disney Princesses.

'Criticizing Disney Princesses is not feminist. Not every woman is a leader, not every woman wants to be a leader, not every woman wants or craves power, and that's okay.'

She continued: 'It is not anti-feminist to want to fall in love, to want to get married, to want to stay at home, to want to be a homemaker. None of these things make you less valuable as a person or a woman.'

Backlash: TikTok user Angie criticized Rachel for failing to acknowledge that women have the right to pursue whatever they want

Fans divided: Rachel has been branded 'smug' and 'condescending' for her comments

@cosywithangie Just because a woman values something different, does not make her any less valuable. Some women want a career and not marriage. Some women want a marriage or family and not a job. Some women want BOTH. All are to be heard, and seen, and valued. Write stories about ALL women and depict them ALL as valuable and worthy, instead of trying to mold them into one specific image of what you deem worthy. Thank you. #snowwhite #snowwhiteliveaction #snowwhitecontroversy #disney  original sound - Angie | Self Care

Many other people quickly followed in Angie's footsteps and uploaded their own TikTok videos where they questioned comments made by Rachel.

Speaking again at the Disney D23 Expo in California in September 2022, Rachel said: 'The original cartoon came out in 1937, and very evidently so. There's a big focus on her love story with a guy who literally stalks her. Weird! Weird! So we didn't do that this time.

'We have a different approach to what I'm sure a lot of people will assume is a love story just because we cast a guy in the movie," Rachel continued, referring to Andrew Burnap.

'All of Andrew's scenes could get cut, who knows? It's Hollywood, baby!' she joked, before admitting in a separate interview that she was 'terrified' when she went on a Snow White ride at Disney World.

'I was scared of the original version. I think I watched it once and never picked it up again. I'm being so serious," she said in the interview alongside Gal Gadot, who plays the Evil Queen.

'I watched it once, and then I went on the ride in Disney World, which was called Snow White's Scary Adventures. 'Doesn't sound like something a little kid would like. I was terrified of it, never revisited Snow White again,' she added.

TikTok user @nuttybutter96 shared snippets of the interview and questioned why Zegler was being 'so smug' and captioned her post: 'If you hate the original this much, why would you want to make the remake. Pls make it make sense...'

'I don't think I have ever seen such a condescending, smug Disney Princess ever in my life,' they admitted in the clip.

Caught out: Rachel was accused of 'contradicting herself' when she appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in March 2023

Being honest: Rachel said she 'hated' the original Snow White film from 1937

Hitting out: One critic took to Twitter and referred to Rachel as a 'fake feminist'

More backlash: Another person described the actress as being 'anti-feminist' for her comments

Her say: Rachel seemingly responded to the backlash when she tweeted a reminder to 'be kind'

'It's just every single interview I have seen her do for this movie is just so, so smug and condescending. Is she supposed to be uplifting us as women? Because it sounds f**king terrible and I don't wanna be included in that part of womanhood.'

Another TikTok post shared footage of Rachel on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon back in March where she told him that she said: 'I get stopped for photos every time I'm in line for the Snow White ride and it is the w...'

In a rather awkward moment, Jimmy replied: 'Wait, how often are you in line for the Snow White ride?' to which Rachel quickly fired back: 'I'm a narcissist!'

The TikTok user accused Rachel of 'contradicting herself' because of her 2022 comments about being 'terrified' of the ride, and captioned their post: 'Gurl is gaslighting rn.'

The comments on Twitter weren't much better as one person fumed: 'sorry can rachel zegler and the rest of fake feminists stfu?'

Another person posted: 'rachel zegler is honestly deserving of a few lashings bc every interview she confidently thinks she's being pro feminist but is talking herself into a 180 of just being anti feminist.'

And a third tweeted: 'rachel zegler is not a feminist, a woman who thinks women are less strong or capable of standing up for themselves because they yearn for love or want to be loved is *not* a feminist in my eyes.'

Rachel seemingly responded to the backlash and tweeted on Friday, August 11: 'i hope the world becomes kinder,' before adding a few hours later: 'i love you very much. forever and ever. remember to be kind. treat each other with patience and empathy. remember that you are loved unconditionally, no matter your mistakes, no matter your misunderstandings. you deserve it. you deserve love. you deserve to live without fear.'

Not happy: The brunette angered people with comments she made on the SAG-AFTRA picket line

Her thoughts: Referring to the Disney film, Rachel said she deserves 'to be paid every hour that it is streamed online'

Zegler heads out to eat with fellow actor D. J. Cotrona in New York City as she continues to face blowback for the comments

Zegler look casual in overalls and a black sports bra as she was spotted out in New York City

When one fan replied and asked: 'are u also just like. extremely exhausted all the time,' Rachel responded and said: 'i am so exhausted. i think it's over for me tbh.'

Earlier this month, Rachel sparked more fury online when she was filmed on the picket amid the ongoing SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes.

Dressed in a black SAG-AFTRA T-shirt and speaking to camera, she referenced the upcoming Disney remake and said: 'If I'm going to stand there 18 hours in the dress of an iconic Disney princess, I deserve to be paid every hour that it is streamed online.

The snippet of the West Side Story actress was shared by the Twitter account End Wokeness, who went on to call her 'the most insufferable woman' they have 'ever seen'.

Rachel's comments were made in regard to residual checks TV and film actors are fighting for from streaming platforms - currently at the center of the strikes.
Lauren Goodger turned heads as she hit the gym in Essex on Sunday amid reports she is planning a television comeback.

The former TOWIE star, 36, has ramped up her fitness regime in recent weeks.

And Lauren showed off her hourglass curves as she left her gym after a sweaty workout in skintight lycra shorts and a tight top.

The television personality swapped her trainers for sliders and carried her essentials in a Louis Vuitton handbag.

Despite the workout, Lauren cut a glamorous figure with her bronzed tan and sleek straight hair.

Working up a sweat: Lauren Goodger turned heads as she hit the gym in Essex on Sunday amid reports she is planning a television comeback

Hitting the gym: The former TOWIE star, 36, has ramped up her fitness regime in recent weeks

Pining: Earlier in the day, Lauren shared a throwback lingerie snap of herself and cited it as her motivation. She wrote: 'I need to get her back'

Earlier in the day, Lauren shared a throwback lingerie snap of herself and cited it as her motivation.

She wrote: 'I need to get her back.'

The television personality is reportedly eyeing up a TV comeback, 13 years after she shot to fame on The Only Way Is Essex.

'Both shows have big audiences and cult followings. It would mark a big TV comeback for Lauren,' a source told New! Magazine.

'She feels she is in a good place and is ready to take on different challenges after a difficult year, Lauren isn't the same person people saw on TOWIE - she's now a mum and has changed a lot.

'It's really obvious to producers that she's in a completely different stage of her life and she's looking forward to showing a new Lauren. A woman who had different priorities than she did in her twenties.'

MailOnline has contacted Lauren's representatives for comment.

Fan favourite: The television personality is reportedly eyeing up a TV comeback, 13 years after she shot to fame on The Only Way Is Essex

Designer: The television personality swapped her trainers for sliders and carried her essentials in a Louis Vuitton handbag

Glam: Despite the workout, Lauren cut a glamorous figure with her bronzed tan and sleek straight hair

Fitness first:Lauren looked great in her beige tank top as she left the gym

Me time: She enjoyed some time off from her parenting duties

Putting herself first: Lauren is focusing on herself and her daughter Larose, two, after a difficult year

Lauren is focusing on herself and her daughter Larose, two, after a difficult year.

Last month, the reality star's ex Charles Drury denied assaulting her. He is accused of carrying out the attack the day after they buried their second daughter Lorena last year.

Lorena died shortly after her birth in July last year after her umbilical cord knotted twice around her neck.

Charles is charged with inflicting actual bodily harm on Lauren on August 4, 2022, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard.

The 26-year-old is also charged with engaging in 'controlling or coercive behaviour' against the 36-year-old between August 1, 2020 and August 5, 2022.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges during a brief preliminary hearing at the court in the east London borough of Redbridge on Tuesday.

Ex: Last month, the reality star's ex Charles Drury denied assaulting her (Charles is pictured outside court)

Struggle: The reality star shares daughter Larose, two, with ex-boyfriend Charles (pictured in November last year)

While 'personally connected' to her, the indictment claims he 'engaged in behaviour towards Lauren Goodger that was controlling or coercive which had a serious effect' on her.

It alleges he 'caused Lauren Goodger to fear, on at least two occasions, that violence will be used against' her, 'at a time when he knew or ought to have known that the behaviour' would have a 'serious effect' on her.

The second charge states that he 'assaulted Lauren Goodger thereby occasioning her actual bodily harm' on August 4 2022. It was the day after the couple buried their daughter Lorena.

In court, Charles spoke to confirm his name and enter his pleas.

Judge Oscar Del Fabbro adjourned the case ahead of a further pre-trial hearing at the same court on February 12 2024, followed by a trial, listed for five days, starting on March 18 2024.

He released Drury on unconditional bail.
Netflix viewers have revealed they have found their next must-watch comedy which is being compared to Ricky Gervais' The Office.

Fisk, starring Kitty Flanagan, describes itself as 'not another glamorous legal show' and viewers have admitted they are already hooked.

The comedy's first season, which first aired in 2021, was launched on Netflix on August 1 and has enjoyed a renaissance as a result.

One especially impressed user of the streaming giant wrote: 'Watching 'Fisk', an Australian comedy that has me literally busting out laughing.

'Creator/Writer/Star #kittyflanagan has created a masterpiece on par with Ricky Gervais's The Office.'

'Hysterical': Netflix viewers think they have found the next successor to The Office - Australian comedy Fisk - written, directed, and led by Kitty Flanagan - which landed on the streaming giant at the start of August

Quite the comparison: Fisk evokes Ricky Gervais' The Office with its fast-paced style and workplace setting - as well as comedy value

The ABC comedy likely draws comparison to The Office because of its workplace setting and relatable interactions.

It is a fast-paced sitcom about high-end contracts lawyer Helen Tudor-Fisk (Flanagan) forced to take a job at a low-grade suburban law firm after a failed marriage and professional downfall.

Many others also commented on Twitter about how they 'loved' the 'hysterical' series as they recommended it to others.

Another viewer said: 'Fisk was honestly really funny. If you love the office, you'll like this show. It was a delicious treat.'

Another asked: 'Anyone else watching #Fisk on Netflix? Quirky, hilarious Aussie comedy!'

But these are all late comers to an already successful domestic debut for the show, which has already had a second season - although this is not yet on Netflix.

Fisk series 2 aired in 2022, and Flanagan won Most Popular Actress at July's 2023's Logie Awards on the back of it.

While the second season is not on Netflix, Australian viewers can catch up on ABC's iView site, and UK viewers are able to watch too, on ITVX, as of August 10.
Addison Rae was wearing very little this weekend.

The 22-year-old TikTok star was seen in a blue denim bikini top that made the most of her figure.

The He's All That actress added very short Daisy Duke shorts that matched.

Her prop was a red cherry that she positioned in her mouth just so as if she was going to take a bite out of it.

The Louisiana native shared two different photos from the same set up.

This comes after the close pal of Kourtney Kardashian was seen on vacation in Hawaii where she modeled swimwear for her followers.

Sun goddess: Addison Rae was enjoying some down time this week. The 22-year-old TikTok star was seen in a blue bikini that made the most of her figure

In July she was seen with Kourtney Kardashian in a series of cheeky photos.

In the poolside snaps, The Kardashians reality star, 44, showed off her blossoming baby bump in a hot pink string bikini, and the TikTok personality modeled a matching set.

The Poosh founder  who is currently expecting her first child with her husband, Travis Barker  captioned her post simply with an array of pink emojis.

In one photo, the entrepreneur had her hands in her raven black, chin-length bob and held her hair back while pouting sultrily at the camera.

At her side, the actress feigned a dramatic expression of shock as she gently touched the expecting mother's baby bump.

In a similar photo, Kourtney turned to the side to show off a better angle of growing bump and curvy figure.

While facing forward, Addison posed with her hands on her hips and her face in a relaxed expression.

Fruit snack: Her prop was a red cherry that she positioned in her mouth just so as if she was going to take a bite out of it

Feeding time: The He's All That star was seen in the same image four times

Another image part of the carousel showed Kourtney and Addison at a different angle underneath the lavish pool shade in front of a flat screen television and bar.

Once again, the reality TV personality turned to her side and cradled her baby bump with both of her hands.

She threw her hair back with her mouth slightly ajar in the typical model expression.

In the same photo, Addison leaned towards the camera and scrunched up her face while pointing to her lips with her finger.

More visible in the photo, the social media sensation was seen wearing a white oversized scrunchie made up of doily lace on her wrist.

Later, the dynamic duo appeared to have moved to the pool to take a solo picture  in which Kourtney was seen laying to the side and lounging atop towels on a daybed.

Matching bikinis: Last week she was seen with Kourtney Kardashian in a series of cheeky photos. In the poolside snaps, The Kardashians reality star, 44, showed off her blossoming baby bump in a hot pink string bikini, and the TikTok personality, 22, modeled a matching set

Unlike the other snaps as part of the photo series, she shielded her face from the sun with a Prada denim wide-brimmed hat as well as a pair of rectangular shades.

Both of the socialites left their hair down for their relaxing day by the pool.

To showcase their radiant skin after a day of sunbathing, Kourtney and Addison appeared to be sporting makeup-free looks.

Previously, the eldest sister of the Kardashian-Jenner clan started becoming close friends with Addison after they met through Kourtney's son, Mason Disick, 13, in 2020.

Because Kourtney's eldest child  whom she shares with her ex-boyfriend, Scott Disick  was particularly interested in TikTok at the time and was a fan of Addison, they met up to make a video together.

Since then, Kourtney and Addison became close friends despite their age gap  which became a questionable concern on past episodes of the family's hit Hulu series.

The gal pals were inseparable for the majority of 2020 and 2021 to the point that Kourtney even made a cameo in Addison's film debut, He's All That, and they even modeled for Kim Kardashian's clothing line SKIMS together.

Since Kourtney started her romance with the Blink-182 drummer and has been busy keeping up with her family, however, the two have been spotted together less in the past two years.

Long-awaited reunion: The last time Kourtney and Addison were publicly spotted hanging out was in a photo shared by the official social media page of Poosh in March. The duo flaunted their friendship in a series of stunning photos posing for Kourtney's beauty and wellness brand

The last time Kourtney and Addison were publicly spotted hanging out was in a photo shared by the official social media page of Poosh in March.

The duo flaunted their friendship in a series of stunning photos posing for Kourtney's beauty and wellness brand.

The caption of the cute snaps referenced the hit Max anthology series, The White Lotus: 'Looking for the Mia to your Lucia?'

With their cute friendship snaps, they also encouraged other people to get out there and make new friends: 'Poosh the link in our bio for tips on making friends as an adult.'
Vogue Williams has claimed her husband Spencer Matthews was 'thrilled' about his hospitalisation for a coldsore tablet overdose.

The Irish model and presenter, 37, spoke to her co-host Joanne McNally on their My Therapist Ghosted Me podcast about how disaster struck while they were in Spain recently as the former Made in Chelsea star, 35, became unwell.

She divulged that while he was in dire straits with concerns over his liver function, he was also relieved as the family, including their kids Theodore, four, Gigi, three, and baby Otto, 15 months, and Vogue's aunt Gina, all fell ill elsewhere.

Speaking about the illness, she said: 'I think he was kind of slightly thrilled because he was in hospital and Gina had just been to the doctors and she was fine. I'm not so sure he had it but I got it when we got home.'

First recalling the story, Vogue explained: 'Spenny was hospitalised for two days because he is a little b***h and he can't handle it.'

Love: Not ideal: Vogue Williams has claimed her husband Spencer Matthews was 'thrilled' about his hospitalisation for a coldsore tablet overdosE

Changes: The Irish model and presenter, 37, spoke to her co-host Joanne McNally on their My Therapist Ghosted Me podcast about how disaster struck while they were in Spain recently as the former Made in Chelsea star, 35, became unwell (Spencer pictured on Monday)

Oh no: She divulged that while he was in dire straits with concerns over his liver function, he was also relieved as the family, including their kids Theodore, four, Gigi, three, and baby Otto, 15 months, and Vogue's aunt Gina, all fell ill elsewhere

'Well I will tell you what, he overdosed on coldsore tablets. I am not joking, I am not joking, I'm not. He overdosed on cold sore tablets and his liver function, because he did it for a full week, taking ten of these things and he said 'oh they're fine'.

'And he did it to me when I thought I felt a tingle and he said 'darling take six of these and you'll be fine' and you're only meant to take two.'

She insisted she wasn't sure that an 'overdose' was the reason and it was likely the sickness bug that had infected the family.

Speaking about how a holiday with young children is far from relaxing, Vogue said: 'I have to go in the pool with Theodore every day then the others wont get in the pram so have to walk everywhere.'

When Joanna suggested leaving the kids at home, she said: 'You and Spencer are the same person. He suggested [bringing them away separately]...

'You know when we were on with your friends from the East African Experience. He's like are we bringing the kids? I'm like well the kids are obsessed with animals it's kind of for them and he said well I'll be no company.

Joanne then hilariously joked about Spencer, who is teetotal after a battle with substance abuse, saying: 'In fairness the man has no vices anymore let him get his kicks where he can you know even off coldsore tablets.'

Joking: Speaking on her podcast My Therapist Ghosted Me with co-host Joanne McNally she said: 'Spenny was hospitalised for two days because he is a little b***h and he can't handle it'

Oh dear: The couple recently made a racy confession on their podcast, with Spencer revealing exactly how much sex they have together

Following his hospitalisation, Spencer stepped out looking healthy on Monday as he headed through London having recovered from his illness.

The couple recently made a racy confession on their podcast, with Spencer revealing exactly how much sex they have together.

The couple admitted they'd had sex every single night for the past few weeks.

Despite being busy working parents to their three young children, Spencer insisted they made time for each other in the bedroom.

Vogue told the couple's Spencer & Vogue podcast listeners about a statistic she recently read: 'Couples are having sex less than ever before - 30% less than our parents.'

Spencer was quick to interrupt, exclaiming: 'Not in our house! Okay, I'm going to put something out there and it's going to upset a lot of parents.'

Getaway: The parents were enjoying time away with their children - Theodore, four, Gigi, three, and baby Otto, 15 months

Terrible: The family, including Spencer, Vogue and her auntie were all also taken down with a sickness bug while away as the trip descended further into chaos

You and I have sex all the time, ok, so listen to this - we have sex quite a lot, don't we? We're on a real hot streak,' he confessed.

'The last three or four weeks - there's probably only about two nights where we haven't had sex,' Spencer added.

Vogue did caveat the confession though, explaining that they were going through a 'hot streak'.

'We're on a hot streak - it doesn't mean we're always going to be on a hot streak. I now regret the sex chat,' she laughed, joking that her husband was headed for 'a cold streak' if he carried on spilling about their sex life.

The couple announced their engagement in February 2018 after Spencer proposed on stage during a West End production of The Lion King.

The couple tied the knot in a private ceremony at Glen Affric, Spencer's family's 10,000 acre in the Scottish Highlands in 2018.
Lottie Moss has revealed the heartbreaking words from her best friend that drove her to rehab in the midst of her substance abuse battles.

The OnlyFans star, 25, has spoken candidly in the past about her battle with vices, admitting she has a 'very bad' cocaine addition and used alcohol to mask her depression, and she has now divulged what drove her to sobriety.

Speaking to The Sun's Fabulous magazine, she said: 'I look back at that person and feel so sorry for her. It got to the point where my best friend said: "This is breaking my heart. You need help." I went to rehab, and it was what I needed.'

Lottie checked into a treatment facility in Arizona in February last year, and after she left the centre she admitted her rehab treatment was the 'best thing ever' for her mental health in the wake of her devastating battle.

Speaking of her cocaine addiction, she poignantly confessed she had been surrounding herself with people who 'only wanted her there because she was drinking and a fun time'.

Pained: Lottie Moss has revealed the heartbreaking words from her best friend that drove her to rehab in the midst of her substance abuse battles

Tragic: The OnlyFans star, 25, has spoken candidly in the past about her battle with vices, admitting she has a 'very bad' cocaine addition and used alcohol to mask her depression, and she has now divulged what drove her to sobriety (pictured in March)

'Nothing more to it': Lottie checked into a treatment facility in Arizona in February last year, and after she left the centre she admitted her rehab treatment was the 'best thing ever' for her mental health in the wake of her devastating battle

The stunner, who is Kate Moss' half-sister, also explained how she had been concealing her battle with depression for months before her mum Inger and best friend encouraged her to seek professional help at the centre too.

Lottie acknowledged her issues in 2020 with an Instagram post, in which she detailed her struggle of 'years' with 'anxiety and other things.'

She wrote: 'Right now is the first time I have ever put myself first and actually worked on myself to make sure I get the best out of my life and am actually feeling like the best and truest version of myself! And I love her!'

She told Jamie Laing last year: 'I didn't realise I had depression for a very long time. I just thought everyone felt this way... and I thought you just kind of get through it...

'I couldn't get out of bed in the morning. I quit modelling; I was doing some OnlyFans but not really. I didn't recognise myself...

'I always wanted to be the fun one, and then I got to the point that my mum and best friend came to me and said: 'You need to get rehab because you are so depressed.

''I had never ever spoken about my true feelings for things. You have to tell people about how you feel, whether it's your therapist, your parents or your friends.

'Talking about things you have gone through is so important because if you don't, you can't heal from it, you can't ever get over it, it just rots in your brain. And then you start to blame yourself for things. It's a poison.'

Open and honest: Lottie acknowledged her issues in 2020 with an Instagram post, in which she detailed her struggle of 'years' with 'anxiety and other things'

Elsewhere in her interview with The Sun, Lottie laughed off claims she slept with married former Made in Chelsea Star Spencer Matthews at Jamie's wedding.

She admitted she 'partied' with Spencer, 35, but has denied hooking up with him after videos alleging it were viewed on social media platform TikTok more than 111million times.

Lottie, 25, hit back at claims that was a 'homewrecker', saying that while Spencer is a 'great guy' all they did was party with each other: 'There was nothing more to it'.

Rumours were also abound on WhatsApp in May that Lottie and Spencer had had an affair behind the back of his wife, model Vogue Williams, 37.

It was spread that they got together at Jamie's wedding to Sophie Habboo in Marbella, Spain, where Spencer performed duties as master of ceremonies.

Spencer has said before that he gave up drinking to save his marriage - and he attended his friend's wedding alone as his other half had work scheduled in Dublin.

Refuting the rumours, Lottie told Fabulous that 'it's not true' and 'it didn't happen', adding that everyone who attended Jamie's wedding knows they did not hook up.

Lottie said she was hanging out with Made In Chelsea star Liv Bentley on the night in question and said rumours were even started that she slept with Spencer.
Priyanka Chopra found watching her husband return to the stage a bit emotional.

The actress was spotted wiping a tear away as Nick Jonas and his brothers Kevin and Joe began their show at Yankee Stadium Saturday.

'Pri getting emotional during the first song of the show a proud wifey,' wrote one dedicated fan who captured the moment on video.

The Citadel actress, 41, dazzled as she flaunted her taut tummy in a black and white checked bra top and high waist black skirt as she sat in the VIP section with sister-in law Sophie Turner 27.

Priyanka wore strappy high heel sandals and covered up in a patent leather bolero jacket.

Emotional: Priyanka Chopra, 41, was spotted wiping away tears as she and sister-in-law Sophie Turner, 27, watched the Jonas Brothers take the stage the first night of their Five Albums One Night World Tour at Yankee Stadium Saturday

Her dark hair was styled in long, loose layers.

The Matrix Resurrections star's makeup looked natural with a strong red lip.

The opening night of the Jonas Brothers Five Albums, One Night World Tour was a family affair.

Nick shared a sweet snap as he held daughter Malti Marie, 19 months, as she played with drumsticks during a soundcheck.

The little one looked adorable in a blue and white checked top, white shorts and cute little high top sneakers. Her dad had placed some sound blocking headphones over her ears.

Nick looked relaxed in a printed tropical shirt and gray slacks.

'From sound check to the stage with my girls. Yankees night one was beyond words. Cant wait for night two tonight,' he wrote Sunday on Instagram.

Priyanka gushed over Nick's performance. 'You are a magnet @nickjonas,' the Love Again star wrote.

The tour: Jonas Brothers will be crisscrossing North America through December 9 and will travel to New Zealand and Australia in late February 2024, before touring through Europe

Dazzling: The Citadel actress, 41, dazzled as she flaunted her taut tummy in a black and white checked bra top and high waist black skirt. Priyanka wore strappy high heel sandals and covered up in a patent leather bolero jacket

Family affair: Nick shared a sweet snap as he held daughter Malti Marie, 19 months, as she played with drumsticks. 'From sound check to the stage with my girls. Yankees night one was beyond words. Cant wait for night two tonight,' he wrote Sunday on Instagram

'MM and I are so lucky to have you Congratulations on the start of an incredible tour. Youre all in for a huge ride! Lets gooooo!'

'Great job JB team the Band, the crew,' she claimed adding, 'The show was seamless and awe inspiring. Round 2 tonight!'

The second night's show had its own surprise.

Jimmy Fallon made a surprise appearance and lead the crowd in a sing-along version of The Killers song Mr. Brightside.

Surprise guest: Jimmy Fallon was a surprise guest for Sunday night's show. He lead the crowd in a sing-along version of The Killers song Mr. Brightside

'Huge thanks to @jonasbrothers for giving me the surprise guest spot on The Tour tour,' the late night host wrote with the video posted on his Instagram Stories.

'And thank you to @yankeestadium for turning it into the worlds biggest karaoke party. This is one of those nights I will never forget.'

The brothers and the SNL alum also posted a video skit from back stage lip-syncing alien noises.

'Well at least I brought the (alien emoji)!' Jimmy wrote next to the post on social media.

'Thank you for bringing the (alien emoji),' the brother replied.

Jonas Brothers will be crisscrossing North America through December 9 and will travel to New Zealand and Australia in late February 2024, before touring through Europe.
Gavin and Stacey's Larry Lamb and Alison Steadman have revealed James Corden has been in touch since moving back to the UK.

Earlier this year, James stepped down from The Late Late Show after eight years at the helm to spend more time with his family.

And Larry, 75, and Alison, 76, who played Mick and Pam on the hit BBC sitcom and are now fronting their own documentary, gave an update on how the comedian, 44, was finding relocating.

The duo appeared on Heart Radio's Breakfast show on Monday, where they spoke about how the cast keep in touch.

After Alison revealed James sent a message on the group chat, host Jason King said: 'Because he's back now, and he seems like he's really happy and settled again.'

WhatsApp chat: Gavin and Stacey stars Larry Lamb and Alison Steadman have revealed James Corden has got back in touch since moving back to the UK

Back in the UK: Earlier this year, James stepped down from The Late Late Show after eight years at the helm to spend more time with his family

Alison replied: 'As far as I know he is, we've not been in contact one to one, but yeah he's back, back home.'

The actress also added Melanie Walters, who played Gwen West on the show, got in touch recently because she bumped into Baby Neil.

Alison said: 'She bumped into by accident, bumped into baby Neil who is nowhe's 14 or 15, but he's been on The Voice for the young people, and I think he got to the semi final.'

Oscar Hartland, now 14, from Machen, Caerphilly, played the part of Smithy (James Corden) and Nessa's (Ruth Jones) son in the much-loved series.

He even returned to play Neil in the 2019 Christmas special aged 10 but has since turned his attentions to music.

Now the frontman of band Redwood City, the actor, who is currently a contestant on The Voice Kids, admitted he wants to spend his salary on his music career.

Alison and Larry, meanwhile, are starring in the three-part series of Alison & Larry: Billericay to Barry.

They meet up with a few familiar faces, including Russell Tovey, 41, who plays Gavin and Smithy's friend Budgie in the sitcom, Rob Wilfort, who played Stacey's brother Jason, as well as Melanie Walters, who took on the role of Stacey's mum, Gwen.

The duo starred as the parents in the classic sitcom from 2007 to 2010 and were a firm favourite among fans.

Popular: The 2019 Christmas special was watched by 17.1 million viewers  making it the UK's most-watched scripted TV programme of the 2010s

Gavin and Staceys Mick and Pam: The duo appeared on Heart Radio's Breakfast show on Monday, where they spoke about how the cast keep in touch

Baby Neil! The actress also added Melanie Walters, who played Gwen West on the show, got in touch recently because she bumped into Baby Neil - who is now all grown up

Child star: Oscar Hartland, now 14, from Machen, Caerphilly, played the part of Smithy (James Corden) and Nessa's (Ruth Jones) son in the much-loved series

The hit BBC show was set across the Barry in South Wales and Billericay in the county of Essex, but the duo recently revealed they never actually visited their characters' hometown.

Larry told the Radio Times magazine: ''Gavin and Stacey was all filmed in Wales, nobody offered us the opportunity to go to Essex.

'They said, "Billericay's where you're from", so we just got on with it, we just do what we're told.'

The pair visited the town for the first time while filming their show and planted a tree in honour of their trip.

He said: 'When we got there on this trip we received a lovely welcome. The town councillors turned out and the mayor was there.'

Alison added: 'We planted a tree! It survives, hopefully.'

One to watch: Alison & Larry: Billericay to Barry premieres on Gold on Monday 14th August 2023

The three part travel show will see them on a 200 mile drive between the two towns, with plenty of stops along the way.

Gavin and Stacey - which was written by co-stars James Corden and Ruth Jones - originally ran for three series between 2007 and 2010, before the cast reunited for a one off Christmas special in 2019.

Last month, Joanna Page - who played Stacey opposite Mathew Horne's Gavin - revealed she would be part of the upcoming travel show.

She told The Sun newspaper's TVBiz column: 'Alison and Larry have just done a show where they're going from 'Barry to Billericay' and I've done the voiceover and I found it really difficult to voice because I was watching them and I kept missing my cue.

'And I was going 'Look at them, they're like my mum and dad!' I couldn't take it seriously because I was smiling and laughing.'

Listen to Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden weekdays from 06:30  10:00 and on Global Player.

Alison & Larry: Billericay to Barry premieres on Gold on Monday 14th August 2023.
She is known for her avid love of health and fitness.

And Davina McCall was showing off the incredible works of her hard-worked labour on Monday as she sizzled in a sexy new Instagram post.

The TV legend, 58, showcased her taut abs and lean legs as she got snap happy with her pal Sarah Hiscox, who wore a complementary leopard print one-piece.

Propping one leg up on her opposing knee, the stunner looked incredible as she was coiffed and flawless for the bikini-clad snap.

She completed the glamour of the look with a pair of oversized sunglasses.

Hot stuff: Davina McCall was showing off the incredible works of her hard-worked labour on Monday as she sizzled in a sexy new Instagram post

Wow! She is known for her avid love of health and fitness

Incredible: Davina has been known to show off her figure on social media

As well as her legendary TV work, Davina has become synonymous with health and fitness thanks to her work in the field of menopause.

Davina's dedication to health and fitness has been a cause for celebration of late after she and her co-author Dr Naomi Potter have claimed book of the year at the British Book Awards for their exploration into the menopause.

Menopausing, a self-help guide which shares real-life stories, science and advice about perimenopause and menopause, was chosen from the 12 individual category winners who were announced during the ceremony earlier this year.

Davina has been outspoken about the lack of medical knowledge on the subject in recent years and has opened up about her own menopause journey and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in a number of Channel 4 documentaries.

The work was praised by a panel of judges that included Channel 4 News anchor Krishnan Guru-Murthy, broadcaster and author Anita Rani , radio host Vick Hope , comedian Ellie Taylor and Waterstones Children's Laureate Joseph Coelho.

Reflecting on Menopausing, Krishnan said: 'This book helped get a nationwide conversation going about menopause and captured the zeitgeist. It was cleverly marketed and nurtured by the publishing team through considerable obstacles.

'The pairing of Davina McCall with Dr Naomi Potter was clever enough to produce an authoritative and useful yet entertaining book about an important and ignored subject.'

The book also won in the non-fiction lifestyle and illustrated book of the year category, seeing off tough competition from the likes of Jamie Oliver for One and The Climate Book by Greta Thunberg.

Beauty: As well as her legendary TV work, Davina has become synonymous with health and fitness thanks to her work in the field of menopause

Good for them! Davina's dedication to health and fitness has been a cause for celebration of late after she and her co-author Dr Naomi Potter have claimed book of the year at the British Book Awards for their exploration into the menopause

For overall book of the year, it triumphed over renowned names including Richard E Grant, who won in the non-fiction audiobook of the year category for A Pocketful of Happiness, and former Love Island star Dr Alex George, who took home the prize for best children's non-fiction for A Better Day.

It also beat titles which developed strong followings on social media such as Verity by Colleen Hoover, which won best pageturner, and Babel by R F Kuang, which won best fiction.

Bestselling novelist Bonnie Garmus, 66, who wrote her debut novel aged 64, was named author of the year for her comical fiction tale Lessons in Chemistry.

Alice Oseman, creator of the bestselling Heartstopper graphic novels which inspired the hit Netflix series, was awarded illustrator of the year.

Philip Jones, chair of the British Book Awards judges and The Bookseller's editor, said: 'Readers were the real winners this year, with titles ranging from Menopausing to Tyger to I'm a Fan demonstrating the remarkable virtuosity of the book business, especially for its role in amplifying and creating conversations around mental health, misogyny, sexuality and gender, the menopause and more.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson has admitted James Bond would not be his personal favourite for his next movie role despite rumours swirling he's in line for the 007 films.

A number of big stars have been named as possibilities for the next 007 flick since Daniel Craig's left the movie franchise after 2021's No Time to Die.

And despite having a reported secret meeting with Bond producer Barbara Broccoli, Aaron, 33, says he's favouring the title role in Marvels Kraven the Hunter which has been delayed from October 6 until an August 2024 release.

He told Esquire: 'I have to go by the beat of my own drum. Its my own path, what feels intuitive to me.

'Ive never made a decision based on other peoples perspectives, or their judgments, or their expectations. You lose your f**king mind if you do that. Your sense of worth and soul is gone.

Preferences: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 33, has admitted James Bond would not be his personal favourite for his next movie role despite rumours swirling he's in line for the 007 films

Reports: Despite having a reported secret meeting with Bond producer Barbara Broccoli, Aaron, 33, says he's favouring the title role in Marvels Kraven the Hunter

'You need to understand what is integral to you and what feels right, and youve got to stay on track with whats present in front of you. Kraven is whats in front of me.'

On the thought of considering James Bond as a future role, he added: 'I just focus on the things I can have in my hands right now. Whats in front of me right now.'

Damson Idris became the latest name to be tipped as the next James Bond last month.

The Mail on Sunday understands a flurry of bets have been put on the 31-year-old actor who starred in American crime drama Snowfall in recent days by punters who believe he may replace Daniel Craig as the iconic super spy.

A source said: 'This is the first time Damson's name has been linked with Bond. It's come out of nowhere.'

According to bookmakers William Hill, Damson is now second-favourite to bag the role of Bond behind Aaron Taylor-Johnson.

Damson has appeared in small roles in series including Black Mirror and Swarm. He is currently starring as Franklin Saint in the drama series Snowfall on the FX channel.

Aaron has been linked to the 007 role since reports claimed that he did a screen test for the role.

Looking forward: On the thought of considering James Bond as a future role, he added: 'I just focus on the things I can have in my hands right now. Whats in front of me right now'

Big movie role: Damson Idris, 31, became the latest name to be tipped as the next James Bond last month (pictured in 2022)

In the running? The bookies predictions for the next James Bond include Happy Valley's James Norton (left) and Bridgerton's Rege-Jean Page (right)

Big names: Henry Cavill (left), who has played Superman, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson (right) who starred in Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging are both tipped to be the next 007

Other actors who have been tipped to play Bond include James Norton, Richard Madden and Tom Hardy.

Barbara Broccoli has said she will 'take her time' before announcing the new Bond and that she believes, after the huge success of Craig in his five Bond films, 'we need to take the character in a new direction.'

The bookies predictions for the next James Bond also include Happy Valley's James Norton and Bridgerton's Rege-Jean Page.

The next Bond film had been expected to go into pre-production next year although may be delayed because of the actors and writers strikes in Hollywood.
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Michael Rapaport has spilled juicy secrets from Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston's 2000 wedding - 24 years after starring on Friends.

The actor, 53, who played Phoebe Buffay's police officer beau Gary in season five of the iconic show, opened up about attending the Hollywood superstars' $1million nuptials in Malibu during a chat on Sunday's Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen.

Revealing a very quirky detail about the wedding, saying: 'I was at Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston's wedding, they had a wall of caviar, I still have some saved over!'

'Well, we dropped it now and I'm still eating the caviar from there  I was shoving it down. Billy Preston performed. A lot of bucks there.'

Pitt and Aniston wed at a lavish estate owned by television executive Marcy Carsey with 200 guests attending the clifftop ceremony on July 29, 2000.

Candid: Michael Rapaport has spilled juicy secrets from Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston's 2000 wedding - 24 years after starring on Friends

Happier times: The actor opened up about attending the Hollywood superstars' $1million nuptials in Malibu during a chat on Sunday's Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen (pictured 2004)

Aniston's Friends co-stars including Matthew Perry, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow and Courtney Cox attended alongside stars including Cameron Diaz and Pitt's Fight Club co-star Edward Norton with date Salma Hayek,

Aniston wore a floor-length white satin silk gown designed by Lawrence Steele, teamed with suede heels by Manolo Blahnik.

The bridesmaids wore pale green silk chiffon dresses with pale taffeta mules.

Meanwhile Pitt wore a black tux designed by Hedi Slimane and his groomsman wore Prada tuxedos.

The ceremony was said to have cost a whopping $1million with $75,000 on flowers, $20,000 on heartshaped fireworks and $100,000 for security.

The ceremony incorporated 50,000 flowers, four bands, a 40-member gospel choir and fireworks display.

Guests dined on shrimp, gourmet pizza and caviar, and drank Dom Perignon champagne. while photos were taken of the newlyweds.

The wedding breakfast saw lobster, crab, peppercorn beef, risotto and pasta served.

Wow: Pitt and Aniston wed at a lavish estate owned by television executive Marcy Carsey with 200 guests attending the clifftop ceremony on July 29, 2000

Back then: The actor played Phoebe Buffay's police officer beau Gary in season five of the iconic show in 1999

Ex: They split five years later soon after he filmed Mr and Mrs Smith with Angelina Jolie. The pair would go on to spark up a relationship and parent six children together (pictured 2012)

In Brad's vows he vowed to 'split the difference on the thermostat' while Aniston said she'd always make his 'favourite banana milkshake.'

Brad and Jen wrote their own vows. Brad promised to 'split the difference on the thermostat' while Aniston said she'd always make his 'favourite banana milkshake.'

They split five years later soon after he filmed Mr and Mrs Smith with Angelina Jolie.

The pair would go on to spark up a relationship and parent six children together, three of which they adopted.

They wed in 2014 and split in 2019.
SKIMS CEO Kim Kardashian repped her own shapewear brand while attending five-time Grammy winner Drake's concert after-party at H.Wood Group's new private members-only club The Bird Streets Club in West Hollywood on Sunday night.

The 42-year-old mother-of-four displayed her sculpted 5ft2in figure in the $52 SKIMS 'Soft Smoothing' T-shirt and $64 SKIMS 'Soft Smoothing' leggings in a grey shade called 'pacific.'

Kim - who relies on stylist Danielle Levi - accessorized her evening attire with pink Chrome Hearts snakeskin knee-high boots and a pink Chanel faux-fur box bag.

Hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimons gave Kardashian's natural shoulder-length raven locks a big boost with curly waist-length hair extensions.

Make-up artist Ash K. Holm fully contoured the Calabasas socialite's complexion - bringing out her nautural bushy brows, long lashes, and pink pout.

Marketing master: SKIMS CEO Kim Kardashian repped her own shapewear brand while attending five-time Grammy winner Drake's concert after-party at H.Wood Group's new private members-only club The Bird Streets Club in West Hollywood on Sunday night

Kim - who passed the 'baby bar' exam in 2021 - ambitiously aims to pass the California State Bar this year without attending college or law school.

It's hard to believe Kardashian - who shares four children with ex-husband #3 Kanye 'Ye' West - has been single for a full year now after ending her nine-month romance with SNL alum Pete Davidson.

The Kardashians producer-star was joined at The Bird Streets Club by two glamorous gal pals and her sister Khloe Kardashian's philandering babydaddy, Los Angeles Lakers power forward Tristan Thompson.

Kim's entourage were shuttled around by a black sprinter van.

Earlier that evening, Kardashian was seated beside her half-sister Kendall Jenner and her boyfriend - three-time Grammy winner Bad Bunny - at the Kia Forum in Inglewood for the 36-year-old Canadian crooner's 56-date It's All a Blur Tour.

The Kardashian-Jenner clan 'had unlimited access at the show, bouncing between assigned seats, the floor section, and another standing VIP area' - according to TMZ.

At one point, the half-Armenian beauty could be seen mouthing 'I didn't come this far, just to come this far' from Drake's song Search & Rescue, which she previously said on The Kardashians about her divorce from the 46-year-old canceled rapper-designer.

Earlier on Sunday, Kim - who boasts 483.6M social media followers - posted the phrase: 'When you don't sacrifice for what you want, what you want becomes the sacrifice.'

Her own best advertisement: The 42-year-old mother-of-four displayed her sculpted 5ft2in figure in the $52 SKIMS 'Soft Smoothing' T-shirt and $64 SKIMS 'Soft Smoothing' leggings in a grey shade called 'pacific'

Style after Kanye: Kim - who relies on stylist Danielle Levi - accessorized her evening attire with pink Chrome Hearts snakeskin knee-high boots and a pink Chanel faux-fur box bag

Mermaid: Hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimons gave Kardashian's natural shoulder-length raven locks a big boost with curly waist-length hair extensions

Diamond chokers: Make-up artist Ash K. Holm fully contoured the Calabasas socialite's complexion - bringing out her nautural bushy brows, long lashes, and pink pout

Can she do it? Kim - who passed the 'baby bar' exam in 2021 - ambitiously aims to pass the California State Bar this year without attending college or law school

Must be a record for her! It's hard to believe Kardashian - who shares four children with ex-husband #3 Kanye 'Ye' West - has been single for a full year now after ending her nine-month romance with SNL alum Pete Davidson

Squad: The Kardashians producer-star was joined at The Bird Streets Club by two glamorous gal pals and her sister Khloe Kardashian's philandering babydaddy, LA Lakers power forward Tristan Thompson (R)

Hop in! Kim's entourage were shuttled around by a black sprinter van

'They had unlimited access': Earlier that evening, Kardashian was seated beside her half-sister Kendall Jenner (L) and her boyfriend - three-time Grammy winner Bad Bunny (2-L) - at the Kia Forum in Inglewood for the 36-year-old Canadian crooner's 56-date It's All a Blur Tour

Earlier on Sunday, the half-Armenian beauty - who boasts 483.6M social media followers - posted the phrase: 'When you don't sacrifice for what you want, what you want becomes the sacrifice'

'Specifically written with her in mind': Kim will next play Siobhan Walsh in the 12th season of FX's American Horror Story: Delicate, which was scheduled to premiere September 19 on FX but it's unclear if the WGA/SAG-AFTRA strikes affected that

Renewed through season six! Kardashian also executive produces and stars in the 10-episode fourth season of her KUWTK spin-off, which premieres September 28 on Hulu

Kardashian will next play Siobhan Walsh - a role 'specifically written with her in mind' - in the 12th season of FX's American Horror Story: Delicate, which was scheduled to premiere September 19 on FX but it's unclear if the WGA/SAG-AFTRA strikes affected that.

Showrunner Halley Feiffer penned every episode of the upcoming series - which will also feature Cara Delevingne, Emma Roberts, Matt Czuchry, Annabelle Dexter-Jones, Michaela Jae Rodriguez, Odessa A'zion, and Zachary Quinto.

Season 12 is loosely based on Danielle Valentine's novel Delicate Condition - heavily inspired by Rosemary's Baby - which only hit shelves on August 1.

The aspiring attorney also executive produces and stars in the 10-episode fourth season of her Keeping Up with the Kardashians spin-off, which premieres September 28 on Hulu.

On May 7, The Kardashians triumphantly won the best docu-reality series trophy at the 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards.
Emmerdale viewers were left stunned during Monday's episode when Bob Hope suffered a cardiac arrest after learning of his partner Wendy Posner and Dr Liam Cavanagh's affair.

Soap fans prised bosses of the serial for airing important scenes which saw the villagers quickly and correctly use the local defibrillator.

Bob (Tony Audenshaw) has been left reeling after discovering nurse Wendy (Susan Cookson) had been having an affair with the local GP Liam (Jonny McPherson).

In dramatic scenes this week, Bob was seen punching Liam on the nose in a fit of rage, prompting the medic to square up to him in return. However, Bob fell to the ground as he tripped over a stack of boxes.

Still in an absolute fury, Bob turned suddenly very ill as he went to get up, clutching at his chest before breaking out into a sweat and dropping back to the ground.

Dramatic: Emmerdale viewers were left stunned during Monday's episode when Bob Hope suffered a cardiac arrest after learning of his partner Wendy Posner's affair

Important scenes: Soap fans prised bosses of the serial for airing important scenes which saw the villagers quickly and correctly use the local defibrillator

Dr Liam checked his pulse and breathing before calling for an ambulance and requesting the code for the village defibrillator.

Bob was shocked a number of times with the equipment after which he visibly started to breathe again.

He was rushed to hospital where he was fitted with a stent, with a distraught Wendy telling their pals he would need time to recuperate.

Taking to Twitter, viewers praised soap bosses for addressing the use of a defibrillator, while others predicted what could happen next for Bob once he recovers.

One person wrote: 'What an episode! Poor Bob. But I have to say, the scene where he collapsed was very well written, especially with the defibrillator and Jacobs help. Even if one person learned something from that, it could really save a life one day @emmerdale great job.'

While someone else shared: 'Bob assaulted the very person who is now saving his life.'

Another viewer wrote: 'Liam has just saved Bob & he will get no thanks for it!'

Someone else posted: '#Bob will feel like he cant be mad at #Liam now! Im glad #Liam saved him though!'

Infidelities: Bob (Tony Audenshaw) was reeling after discovering nurse Wendy (Susan Cookson, second from left) had had an affair with the local GP Liam (Jonny McPherson, left)

Heartbreak: Bob was rushed to hospital where he was fitted with a stent, with a distraught Wendy telling their pals he would need time to recuperate

Views: Taking to Twitter, viewers praised soap bosses for addressing the use of a defibrillator, while others predicted what could happen next for Bob

'He may be a pain in the neck but poor Bob,' sympathised another soap fan, while another viewer joked: 'Has Bob died? Lovely.'

And one other person tweeted: 'Oh Bob, what are u like? Hurry up & get out of the hospital so u can break up or make-up with Wendy.'

It comes after Emmerdale fans let rip at Wendy Posner on Friday night as she ordered partner Bob to tell Bernice Blackstock to move out of the B&B.

The nurse had earlier confided in Victoria Sugden that she was struggling to get her relationship with Bob back on track following her affair with Dr Liam Cavanagh - and swiftly blamed Bernice for her problems.

Storming over to the B&B, Wendy confronted Bernice (Samantha Giles) and suggested that she moves out and when Bob approached them, she issued him with an ultimatum - either Bernice leaves or she does.

Seemingly forgetting about her own infidelity, Wendy fumed that they had 'zero chance' of sorting their relationship with Bob's business partner 'drooling over you every five minutes, ranting: 'I want her out today or I leave, so you choose!'

Watching the scenes unfold, furious Emmerdale viewers slammed Wendy's audacity at demanding Bernice leave despite her being the one who was unfaithful to Bob - with fans asking: 'Who does she think she is.'

Making demands: Emmerdale fans let rip at Wendy on Friday night as she ordered partner Bob to tell Bernice Blackstock to move out of the B&B

Wow: Storming over to the B&B, Wendy confronted Bernice and suggested that she moves out and when Bob approached them, she issued him with an ultimatum - either Bernice leaves or she does

How dare she? A jealous Wendy made big demands in Friday's episode, despite her sordid affair with the village doctor

Avid watchers also pointed out that Wendy barely had a leg to stand on seeing as Bernice actually owned half of the B&B, so would unlikely want to leave her own home.

Taking to Twitter, one person wrote: 'Wendy, heres an idea: why dont YOU be the one to move out of the village and never come back.'

While another tweeted: 'Hilarious how Windy thinks she's justified in kicking Bernice out of the B&B that she half owns - who does she think she is? Fiz from Corrie?'

'Bloody cheek that weepy Wendy want Bernice to move out. Its Bernices business, weepy is only there because she goes out with Bob, or rather did. Sock her one Bernice' fumed a third.

Chat: The 'nurse', played Susan Cookson had earlier confided in Victoria Sugden that she was struggling to get her relationship with Bob back on track following her affair with Dr Liam Cavanagh

Confrontation: Seemingly forgetting about her own infidelity, Wendy fumed that they had 'zero chance' of sorting their relationship with Bob's business partner 'drooling over you every five minutes'

Shocking ultimatum: Wendy exclaimed: 'I want her out today or I leave, so you choose!' but to Bob's surprise

'Wow who does Wendy think she is' asked a fourth astounded watcher.

'Am i wrong in thinking that Bernice is part owner of the b&b? How dare whiny wendy even suggest to kick her out - its time SHE left' said a fifth.

With another agreeing: 'Throw Wendy out. She had the affair. Stop being a wet blanket and throw her out Bob!'

Emmerdale airs weekdays at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
Jackie 'O' Henderson is battling some very unfortunate symptoms after falling ill with a mystery illness this week.

The radio host, 48, complained about her health condition to Dr Sam Hay, also known as Dr KIIS, on Tuesday's radio show, detailing symptoms such as a blocked nose and a loss of smell and taste.

Jackie's co-host Kyle Sandilands, 52, had earlier joked to Dr Hay that Jackie was suffering common symptoms of menopause.

However, Dr Hay pointed out that Jackie's other symptoms didn't match up with the diagnosis of menopause.

'It's not necessarily [relevant]. We don't lose our sense of smell when it comes to the menopausal stuff,' he explained.

Jackie 'O' Henderson, 48, (pictured) revealed on Tuesday that she is battling some very unfortunate symptoms after falling ill with a mystery illness

Jackie went on to reveal she'd been dealing with itchy and runny eyes.

'She might have hayfever, or she might have a sinus infection that's irritating those nose nerves,' he speculated.

Kyle joked that Jackie had given herself a sinus infection by snorting illicit drugs during her visit to the trendy Clovelly Hotel in Sydney over the weekend.

The radio host complained about her health condition to Dr Sam Hay, also known as Dr KIIS, on Tuesday's radio show, detailing symptoms such as a blocked nose and a loss of smell and taste

Jackie's co-host Kyle Sandilands , 52, had earlier joked to Dr Hay that Jackie was suffering common symptoms of menopause

What are the symptoms of a sinus infection? Sinusitis, the medical term for a sinus infection, is swelling of the sinuses, usually caused by an infection. It's common and usually clears up on its own within two to three weeks. Symptoms include: pain, swelling and tenderness around your cheeks, eyes or forehead

a blocked nose

a reduced sense of smell

green or yellow mucus from your nose

a headache

a high temperature

toothache

bad breath Mild cases often go away by themselves but medication can be prescribed for more serious cases. Advertisement

Aghast, Jackie confirmed she wasn't doing drugs at the venue, adding: 'I am not doing that! Oh my god, I was there with my daughter as well... that makes no difference because I don't do that.'

Dr Hay also suggested Jackie could have caught Hand, Foot and Mouth disease - a viral inflection that usually affects children but can be spread to adults.

Kyle eagerly volunteered to check Jackie's feet for symptoms such as flakey skin and a rash.

'[Jackie has] pretty nice feet. I've always looked at them, but never look at them that close... they've got the white toenails and everything,' he enthused before confirming that she wasn't displaying symptoms of the disease.
The 'deceased locks' were put in place due to 'human and computer programming issues', according to the IRS, and left filers without refunds

Nearly 100,000 taxpayers had their accounts frozen by the IRS because the department mistakenly thought they were dead, according to a new report

More than 90,000 taxpayers have had their IRS accounts locked because the government agency incorrectly thought they were dead, a new watchdog report states.

The blunder - which the IRS blamed on 'human and computer programming issues' -has left legitimate and living citizens unable to file tax returns and receive rebates. They were also then lumped with the burden of rectifying the issue.

The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) issued a report last week claiming that prior to January 2022 it identified 77,868 accounts with potentially erroneous locks and a further 20,222 over the next ten months.

The IRS has since confirmed those affected can notify the service and file new returns once their accounts are unlocked.

The IRS locked the accounts of more than 90,000 taxpayers because it incorrectly thought they were dead. Pictured is the outside the Internal Revenue Service building in Washington

Danny Werfel, commissioner of the IRS, speaks during a Senate Finance Committee hearing in Washington in April. His agency acknowledged taxpayer accounts 'were locked in error due to both human and computer programming issues'

The IRS usually locks accounts when a person dies to prevent the filing of fraudulent returns or identity theft. To identify who has died, the agency relies mainly on updates from the Social Security Administration (SSA).

In the event that an account is locked, any attempt to file a tax return using that person's Taxpayer Identification Number (or Social Security Number) will be rejected. The IRS will the issue what is known as CP01H notice rejecting the filing.

TIGTA's investigation was first triggered when a taxpayer notified it that they had not received their proper tax relief during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Beginning in 2023, the IRS started trying to match its records with information from the SSA. According to TIGTA, about seventy percent of accounts were found to have been improperly issued the CP01H notice.

'Early in the last decade, bad actors lured by the increasing availability of refundable tax credits disbursed through the tax system, and using the stolen identities of individual victims, exponentially increased the rate of identity theft-related refund fraud,' wrote Kenneth Corbin, the commissioner of the IRS' wage and investment division in response to the recent report.

Corbin noted that in 2012 a new program was introduced to minimize the payment of refunds on fraudulent claims.

He recognized that 'errors can occur' and said the department had taken a number of steps to fix the erroneous deceased locks. According to TIGTA, the IRS agreed to six recommendations to prevent similar incidents from arising in the future.

TIGTA's investigation was first triggered when a taxpayer notified it that they had not received their proper tax relief during the Covid-19 pandemic. Pictured is a US Treasury check

A CP01H notice (pictured for tax year 2014) is a letter issued by the IRS when the agency receives a tax return that contains a Social Security number (SSN) for a locked account

One of the key recommendations made by TIGTA was that the IRS update its CP01H notice to give taxpayers the opportunity to appeal and resolve mistaken deceased locks.

The IRS responded that the notice already provides language for taxpayers to contact the IRS if assistance is needed.

Last week a separate report from TIGDA found that the IRS lost track of millions of sensitive tax information records putting taxpayers at risk of tax refund identity theft.

It said it found seven empty boxes at an IRS facility in Ogden, Utah, which should have contained as many as 168 microfilm cartridges, holding up to 2,000 photographic images of records.

The IRS uses microfilm cartridges to store backup records of business and individual tax information, and required to do so under law.
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Eligible residents in Massachusetts, Montana and New Mexico, among other states, are set to receive lump sums

While the majority of pandemic aid has ended, some states are still giving out payments

Millions of Americans are set to receive stimulus checks worth up to $1,000 - depending on their home state.

Government payments were commonplace during the Covid-19 pandemic, when millions of jobs were disrupted and households struggled to keep up with their budgets.

While the majority of pandemic-era aid has ended, some states are still giving out payments - mostly in the form of tax and property rebates.

New Mexico and Montana, for example, are able to issue rebates because they had surplus state budgets after taking in billions in pandemic relief from the federal government. Earlier this year, New Mexico started moves to return more than $673 million to residents' pockets, according to the Associated Press.

Here are the states where Americans may still receive a check - and how much for.

While the majority of aid has ended, some states are still giving out payments - mostly in the form of tax and property rebates

Idaho

Idaho plans to send out approximately $500 million in 800,000 rebates by the end of this year, state officials announced in October 2022.

The 2022 Special Session rebate automatically goes to people who were full-year Idaho residents for 2020 and 2021 and who filed income tax returns for those years.

Individuals will receive $300, while families are set to receive $600 - or 10 percent of a taxpayer's 2020 income taxes - whichever is greater.

Those who have not yet received the payment can track its progress on the official government site.

Illinois

The state announced last year that around six million residents would receive income and property tax rebates.

While the deadline was in October last year to submit details in order to qualify for the rebate, state tax officials warned it would likely take months for everyone to receive their checks.

The income tax rebate for individuals is $50, and up to $100 for couples who file jointly and up to $300 for families with dependents.

The property tax rebate is $300 maximum.

Massachusetts

The Bay State began paying tax refunds in November last year to 3 million eligible filers who wee entitled to a 14 percent rebate of their 2021 state income.

Any residents who have not yet filed their 2021 return have until September 15 to file their return and receive their share.

Minnesota

Eligible Minnesotans will receive a one-off direct rebate payments for the 2021 tax year after a recent update to state law.

The legislation, which was signed in May this year, provides payments of $520 for married couples filing a joint return with an income of $150,000 or less, or $260 for individuals with an income of $75,000 or less.

Residents can update their address or bank information on the official state portal if the details have changed since they filed their 2021 return.

Eligible Minnesotans will receive a one-off direct rebate payments for the 2021 tax year

Montana

Montana homeowners will receive up to $1,350 in property tax rebates in the next two years, Governor Greg Gianforte said last month.

'Property taxes are too high, which is why we prioritized and secured immediate property tax relief for Montanans this legislative session,' Governor Gianforte said.

'Now, it's time to build on reforms to reduce the burden of property taxes over the long term.'

In order to benefit, a person must have lived in or owned a Montana residence for at least seven months last year and paid property taxes on that residence.

Residents can apply starting on August 15, and all claims must be filed by October 1.

New Mexico

Late last month state officials began giving out 'economic relief' payouts of $500 or $1,000 - totaling $15 million - to more than 26,000 residents.

Low-income qualifying Americans should have received payments by direct deposit or mailed check, and an email notice was sent to applicants not receiving a payment.

'We know many families are struggling, so its critical to provide some much-needed relief when prices have risen for food, energy and other necessities,' said Taxation and Revenue Secretary Stephanie Schardin Clarke.

The state also sent out income tax rebates at the end of June of $500 or $1,000 to almost 1 million residents who filed a tax return in 2021, according to CBS.

Any state resident who has not yet filed a 2021 tax return has until May 31, 2024 to do so in order to receive a payout.

Washington

A Working Families Tax Credit is now available to low-income residents in the Evergreen State.

Depending on the number of dependents in the household the payment will vary between $50 and $1,200.

To be eligible, you must be a parent who has lived in Washington State for at least half the year in 2022 and filed a federal tax return for 2022.

Apply via the Department of Revenue Washington State through December 31, 2023.
Dunkin' Donuts is set to release booze-fueled versions of its iced teas and coffees in the coming weeks, officials have confirmed.

The beloved chain said Monday that its range of ready-to-drink 'spiked' cans will be available in eight different flavors across liquor stores.

Although the beverages feature Dunkin's branding and recipes, they will not be sold in its takeout locations.

The spiked coffees will come in the flavors: original, caramel, mocha and vanilla. They will feature 30 milligrams of caffeine and contain less than six percent alcohol by volume.

Meanwhile the hard tea options will be available in the flavors: slightly sweet, half and half, strawberry dragonfruit and mango pineapple.

The spikes coffees will come in the flavors: original, caramel, mocha and vanilla

They will feature 30 milligrams of caffeine and contain less than six percent alcohol by volume

It marks the second time the brand has ventured into the alcohol business. In the last few years it has created several beer with the New England-based company Harpoon Brewery.

The collaboration included the launch of a doughnut-infused beer, a coffee roll cream ale and a cold brew coffee porter,

Brain Gilbert, vice president of retail business development at Dunkin' told CNN: 'We knew we had the opportunity to create something special when we saw the positive response to our previous seasonal collaborations for Dunkin-inspired beers.'

He added that there was a 'growing appetite for adult beverages.'

Although the beverages feature Dunkin's branding and recipes, they will not be sold in its takeout locations

President Scott Murphy also told the outlet that the latest range meant 'you can start and end your day with Dunkin'

Initially the drinks will be launched in 12 states including Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas.

It has not been confirmed how much they will cost. While the iced tea will be available from late August, the iced coffee will not hit shelves until early September.

The venture reinforces the growing appetite for hard, ready-to-drink beverages. Over the last 12 months, the category amassed $10 billion in sales.

It marked a seven percent increase on the year prior, according to figures from NIQ.
Design Your Degree program of Jammu University has message for those who want better standards of higher education

During 2012-2014 Delhi University (DU) had made many landmark experiments, in the true spirit of autonomy of universities - to experiment with innovative ideas. One of those ideas was Four Year Degree Program (FYUP) where students could decide on their own courses including skill courses while studying. This could lead to self-employment during and after completion of the degree program. The man behind this idea was Professor Dinesh Singh, the then Vice Chancellor of Delhi University and the implementer was Professor Umesh Rai the then Director South Campus, DU. Somehow this very innovative scheme was withdrawn in 2015.

Now Rai is the Vice-Chancellor of Jammu University (JU). Jammu University has launched a similar experiment by the name Design Your Degree(DYD), in line with the recommendations of theNational Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020), which has recommended four year degree program as well and made it mandatory to do skill courses to qualify for the multiple entry, multiple exit provision of the NEP 2020. Till the Eighteenth Century every individual contributed to the economy by doing some productive work. It was only after the invasions, in the last one thousand years, and the destruction of the Bhartiya education system that Bharat became a poor country. Since the Macaulays policy of education, of 1835, the educated became job seekers and not self-employed entrepreneurs.

The NEP 2020 for the first time reverses the trend and the DYD is a landmark initiative in that sense. The NEP 2020 is a vision (Darshan) of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He is the man behind this idea, the idea which will once again help Bharat regain the position of ViswaGuru. Globally undergraduate programs are of four year duration and in fact the Radhakrishnan Commission, had mentioned that even the United States has a four year degree program but our nation is not ready for it right now.

Finally the NEP 2020 also approved a four year degree program and universities are now in the process of implementing the four year degree program. Jammu University (JU) will be considered a frontrunner as it has gone a step further by giving the choice of selection of courses to the students. The essence of the recommendation of Design Your Degree (DYD) is to create job givers rather than job seekers. The JU, DYD is based on the philosophy that students must be allowed to choose courses of study on their own volition so that they can give their best into it, and finally make it their life-long passion and profession.

Students would be allowed to choose academic courses along with skill courses from across disciplines and departments. Teachers and students from different departments, disciplines and streams would work in collaboration to foster the creative ideas of each individual learner. The major criticism of our institutions has been that they work in silos and the findings of research in one department is not even shared with the department across the wall. Through DYD teachers and students will form groups of individuals with common interests and come up with very novel and innovative ideas.

As the program visualises the courses would not be only classroom based but students can work at any location with members of the society or even industry, with a view to find solutions to their problems. The university teachers instead of being just classroom teachers would do hand holding and become mentors. Once the DYD gets going true interdisciplinary practice would emerge. Students would be admitted under the DYD from 2023 academic year. Admission would be through a process keeping Senior Secondary Board result (10%), Entrance test (60%), Group activity (20%) and Personal Interview (10%) into consideration. The admission criteria clearly shows domain knowledge is not being tested for admission but attitude and aptitude for exploration is being tested for admission. During the program the group of students along with the mentor teacher will spend a semester on ground and work and find solutions to real life problems.

Some of the courses that the university has planned for Semesters I to IV are Discovering the Self, Exploring the Surroundings, Marvels of the World, Expressing Creativity, Life Skills, Art and Science of Communication, Understanding the World through Data, Decoding the World through Data, Digital Humanities etc. From the courses it would be apparent the program will give opportunity to learners to explore and innovate unlike the content based courses presently prescribed in the universities.

The motto of the program is: Teach to Transform; Educate to Empower; and Learn to Lead. Autonomy to universities should not be seen as an undue favour. Institutions can experiment and innovate leading to new and great ideas only if they are provided autonomy.

(The writer is Professor of Education and a Trustee of the India Policy Foundation. Views expressed are personal)
There may be differences in ideology and thoughts of Nationalist Congress Party founder Sharad Pawar and his nephew and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar but familial relations remain strong, MLA Rohit Pawar said on Monday against the backdrop of their meeting in Pune a couple of days ago.

Ajit Pawar and eight MLAs had joined the Eknath Shinde government on July 2, leading to a vertical split in the NCP founded by Sharad Pawar, who has reiterated on several occasions that he will not align with the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Speaking at a press conference here, Rohit Pawar described Sharad Pawar as the "Sahyadri of Maharashtra" who will never bow before "Delhi", an apparent reference to the Centre and the BJP.

"We can meet because we don't have any quarrel in our family. But when ideology, thoughts come to the fore, there will be conflict. Ajit Pawar has taken a separate decision but there is no difference in the Pawar family. Since we are relatives, we will meet," the Karjat-Jamkhed MLA said.

"There will be difference between the two Pawars on ideology and thoughts. Sharad Pawar has made it clear he will not go with the BJP. However, the BJP will try to put pressure but we are not concerned," the MLA asserted.

The "confusion" in the minds of people, apparently due to the meeting on Saturday, will be clear when Sharad Pawar speaks at a rally in Beed on August 17, Rohit Pawar, who is aligned with the party patriarch, added.

The NCP president and the deputy CM are believed to have met at the residence of a businessman in Pune on Saturday.

Visuals aired by regional news channels showed Sharad Pawar arriving at the residence of the businessman in Koregaon Park area at around 1 pm. He left by around 5 pm. After nearly two hours, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was seen leaving the premises in a car at 6:45 pm while apparently trying to avoid cameras.
(): Authorities in Ethiopia are carrying out mass arrests of hundreds, even thousands, of people in the capital after deadly unrest in the countrys Amhara region, lawyers and witnesses said.Ethiopias Cabinet declared a state of emergency earlier this month in Amhara after local militia fighters known as Fano seized control of several major towns, which the military has since retaken by force.

The Fano, who fought alongside Ethiopian military forces in a two-year conflict in the neighbouring Tigray region, have resisted being disbanded after a peace deal last November.

Ethiopias parliament is to vote Monday on giving formal approval to extraordinary measures which allow authorities to arrest suspects without a warrant, conduct searches and impose curfews. Under the previous state of emergency imposed during the Tigray conflict, tens of thousands of ethnic Tigrayans were rounded up across the country.This time, there has been widespread arrest of civilians who are of ethnic Amhara origin, the state-appointed Ethiopian Human Rights Commission said Monday, calling on the federal authorities to cease the detentions.

Activists say ethnic Amharas are being targeted in the mass arrests.

Two lawyers said the emergency measures also appear to be in effect in the capital, Addis Ababa, where suspects are being held at police stations, schools and other makeshift detention centers after being swept off the streets.

The lawyers, like others, spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution.

One lawyer said he visited seven schools and police stations last week where hundreds of people were held. The other lawyer, citing police sources, said 3,000 people had been arrested in Addis Ababa.

A third lawyer said he encountered several young people last week at police stations and courts in Addis Ababa who had been arrested and accused of having links to the Fano militia.

One man, an ethnic Amhara, said he was picked up off the street last week by plainclothes police officers who overheard him discussing the recent unrest on the phone.

He said he was held at a school with hundreds of others before being taken to a police station. He was released on Thursday without any charge.

Another man said his brother was arrested in Addis Ababa a day before the state of emergency was declared and is being detained at a school with several hundred others. Most of the detainees there are young boys, said the man, who has visited his brother twice.

The federal government said only 23 people have been arrested under the state of emergency in Addis Ababa. Those include Christian Tadele, an outspoken opposition lawmaker who should have immunity from arrest under Ethiopias Constitution as a member of parliament.

(N)o suspect has been arrested apart from these 23 individuals and the information circulating that there are mass arrests is wrong, the federal governments communication service said a statement Friday.

On Saturday, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission urged that the state of emergency be limited to one month and to the specific place where the special danger is said to have occurred, rather than applying it throughout the entire country.

The commission on Monday said it had confirmed heavy fighting in and around cities and towns across the Amhara region, which involved the use of heavy artillery resulting in the deaths and injuries of civilians, as well as damage to property.

It said prisons and police stations in the region were broken into and that Amhara regional officials were the target of attacks, with some killed, resulting in the temporary collapse of local state structure in many areas.
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un again toured major munitions factories and ordered a drastic increase in production of missiles and other weapons, state media said Monday, as the South Korean and US militaries announced they will begin major drills next week to hone their joint capability against the Norths evolving nuclear threats.

Kims push to produce more weapons also comes as US officials believe Russias defense minister recently talked with North Korea about selling more weapons to Russia for its war with Ukraine.

The Korean Central News Agency said Kim visited factories producing tactical missiles, mobile launch platforms, armoured vehicles and artillery shells on Friday and Saturday. He visited a spate of other munitions factories in early August. During a stop at the missile factory, Kim set a goal to drastically boost production capacity so the facility can mass produce missiles to meet the needs of front-line military units, KCNA said.The qualitative level of war preparations depends on the development of the munitions industry and the factory bears a very important responsibility in speeding up the war preparations of the (North) Korean Peoples Army, Kim said, according to the report.

Visiting other factories, Kim called for building more modern missile launch trucks and said there is an urgent need to boost production of large-caliber multiple rocket launcher shells at an exponential rate, the report said. Kim also drove a new utility combat armored vehicle, KCNA said.

Kim has been focusing on enlarging his nuclear and missile arsenals since his high-stakes diplomacy with then-President Donald Trump collapsed in 2019.

Since the start of 2022, Kims military has conducted more than 100 missile tests, many of them in the name of warning the US and South Korea over their expansion of joint military training exercises.

Many experts say Kim eventually aims to use his modernized weapons arsenals to wrest US concessions, such as sanctions relief, whenever diplomacy resumes with Washington.

North Korea could perform more weapons tests soon as the US and South Korea are set to start their summer military exercises next Monday.

North Korea calls the US-South Korean training a practice for an invasion. The allies say they have no intentions of attacking North Korea.

KCNA quoted Kim as saying North Korea must have an overwhelming military force and get fully prepared for coping with any war with the power to surely annihilate its enemies.

The US-South Korean drills, called Ulchi Freedom Shield, is a computer-simulated command post exercise. During this years exercise that is scheduled to run through until August 31, the allies said theyll also conduct large-scale field training events, which will reportedly be the largest of their kind in recent years.

South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson, Lee Sung Joon, told reporters that this years UFS drills are aimed at further strengthening the allies response capabilities by performing exercises based on scenarios that reflect North Koreas advancing nuclear and missile capabilities and other regional security situations. Col. Isaac L. Taylor, a spokesperson for the US military, told the same news conference that the drills are designed to be a tough and realistic exercise.

Earlier this month, the White House said US intelligence officials had determined that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu spoke to North Korean officials during a visit to Pyongyang last month about increasing the sale of munitions to Moscow for its war in Ukraine.

North Korea has denied American claims that it shipped artillery shells and ammunition to Russia. But the North has publicly supported Russia over the war and hinted at sending workers to help rebuild Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine.

Kim has been trying to beef up ties with China and Russia in the face of US-led pressure campaigns over its nuclear program and pandemic-related economic difficulties.

KCNA said Monday that 200-some hectares (494 acres) of farmland in North Koreas eastern region were flooded because of Tropical Storm Khanun.

Kim visited typhoon-hit areas, called for immediate steps to protect crops there and criticized local officials for failing to prevent the farmlands flooding, the report said.

North Korea is prone to weather-related disasters such as flooding and droughts. Observers say North Koreas food shortage has worsened due to several reasons including draconian pandemic restrictions, unsuccessful attempts to supply grain via state-run facilities and dwindling personal incomes.
AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant growth in short interest in the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 11,440,000 shares, a growth of 20.3% from the July 15th total of 9,510,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 5,830,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.0 days. Approximately 0.7% of the shares of the company are sold short.

AbbVie Trading Up 0.5 %

ABBV traded up $0.74 on Friday, reaching $152.18. 3,454,834 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,567,379. AbbVie has a one year low of $130.96 and a one year high of $168.11. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $140.03 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $147.54. The company has a market cap of $268.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.57. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.33.

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AbbVie Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 15th. Investors of record on Friday, July 14th will be issued a dividend of $1.48 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 13th. This represents a $5.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.89%. AbbVies payout ratio is 121.81%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

Institutional Investors Weigh In On AbbVie

In other AbbVie news, CEO Richard A. Gonzalez sold 18,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $149.15, for a total value of $2,759,275.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 625,294 shares in the company, valued at $93,262,600.10. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . Insiders own 0.26% of the companys stock.

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp increased its position in AbbVie by 0.8% during the 2nd quarter. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp now owns 159,407 shares of the companys stock valued at $21,477,000 after purchasing an additional 1,271 shares during the period. German American Bancorp Inc. increased its position in AbbVie by 1.2% during the 2nd quarter. German American Bancorp Inc. now owns 21,637 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,915,000 after purchasing an additional 259 shares during the period. Shepherd Financial Partners LLC increased its position in AbbVie by 6.4% during the 2nd quarter. Shepherd Financial Partners LLC now owns 22,680 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,056,000 after purchasing an additional 1,372 shares during the period. Robertson Stephens Wealth Management LLC increased its position in AbbVie by 28.2% during the 2nd quarter. Robertson Stephens Wealth Management LLC now owns 21,415 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,885,000 after purchasing an additional 4,717 shares during the period. Finally, Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board increased its position in AbbVie by 16,399.6% during the 2nd quarter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board now owns 3,109,190 shares of the companys stock valued at $418,901,000 after purchasing an additional 3,090,346 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 68.27% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Piper Sandler increased their price objective on shares of AbbVie from $163.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, July 28th. William Blair assumed coverage on shares of AbbVie in a research note on Tuesday, July 25th. They issued a market perform rating for the company. Credit Suisse Group cut their target price on shares of AbbVie from $170.00 to $160.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 12th. HSBC assumed coverage on shares of AbbVie in a research note on Friday, July 14th. They set a buy rating and a $167.00 target price for the company. Finally, Guggenheim cut their target price on shares of AbbVie from $172.00 to $171.00 in a research note on Friday, April 28th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $165.07.

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AbbVie Company Profile

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AbbVie Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells pharmaceuticals worldwide. The company offers Humira, a therapy administered as an injection for autoimmune, intestinal Behcet's diseases, and pyoderma gangrenosum; Skyrizi to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, psoriatic disease, and Crohn's disease; Rinvoq, a JAK inhibitor to treat rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, atopic dermatitis, axial spondyloarthropathy, and ulcerative colitis; Imbruvica for the treatment of adult patients with blood cancers; and Venclexta/Venclyxto to treat hematological malignancies.

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StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Almaden Minerals (NYSE:AAU  Free Report) in a research report sent to investors on Thursday. The firm issued a sell rating on the stock.

Almaden Minerals Price Performance

Shares of Almaden Minerals stock opened at $0.13 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 23.80, a quick ratio of 23.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $0.14 and its 200-day simple moving average is $0.16. Almaden Minerals has a twelve month low of $0.11 and a twelve month high of $0.28.

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Institutional Trading of Almaden Minerals

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Jane Street Group LLC bought a new position in Almaden Minerals during the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Susquehanna International Group LLP lifted its holdings in Almaden Minerals by 564.4% during the 4th quarter. Susquehanna International Group LLP now owns 233,188 shares of the companys stock valued at $57,000 after purchasing an additional 198,088 shares during the last quarter. HRT Financial LP bought a new position in Almaden Minerals during the 4th quarter valued at about $64,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC bought a new position in Almaden Minerals during the 4th quarter valued at about $119,000. Finally, Millennium Management LLC lifted its holdings in Almaden Minerals by 587.9% during the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 485,878 shares of the companys stock valued at $119,000 after purchasing an additional 415,244 shares during the last quarter.

About Almaden Minerals

Almaden Minerals Ltd., an exploration stage company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, evaluation, and development of mineral properties in Mexico. The company's principal asset includes a 100% interest in the Ixtaca gold-silver project located in Puebla State, Mexico. Almaden Minerals Ltd.

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Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:AIT  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 470,700 shares, a growth of 20.2% from the July 15th total of 391,500 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 167,400 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.8 days. Currently, 1.2% of the companys shares are sold short.

Applied Industrial Technologies Price Performance

NYSE AIT traded up $1.08 on Friday, hitting $152.60. The company had a trading volume of 286,148 shares, compared to its average volume of 164,055. The company has a market capitalization of $5.90 billion, a PE ratio of 17.26 and a beta of 1.21. The companys fifty day moving average price is $141.82 and its 200-day moving average price is $138.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 3.05 and a quick ratio of 2.04. Applied Industrial Technologies has a 12-month low of $96.43 and a 12-month high of $156.53.

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Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE:AIT  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 10th. The industrial products company reported $2.35 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.17 by $0.18. The company had revenue of $1.16 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.12 billion. Applied Industrial Technologies had a net margin of 7.86% and a return on equity of 25.62%. The firms revenue was up 9.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.02 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Applied Industrial Technologies will post 9.2 earnings per share for the current year.

Applied Industrial Technologies Dividend Announcement

Insider Activity

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, August 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.35 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 14th. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.92%. Applied Industrial Technologiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 15.84%.

In related news, CEO Neil A. Schrimsher sold 1,655 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.01, for a total value of $215,166.55. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 316,563 shares of the companys stock, valued at $41,156,355.63. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 2.20% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Applied Industrial Technologies

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. boosted its stake in Applied Industrial Technologies by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 16,387 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $2,065,000 after purchasing an additional 132 shares during the last quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in Applied Industrial Technologies by 72.5% during the 4th quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 21,891 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $2,759,000 after purchasing an additional 9,203 shares during the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC boosted its stake in Applied Industrial Technologies by 141.3% during the 4th quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 16,965 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $2,138,000 after purchasing an additional 9,935 shares during the last quarter. O Neil Global Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies during the 1st quarter valued at about $521,000. Finally, Ellevest Inc. boosted its position in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 52.1% during the 1st quarter. Ellevest Inc. now owns 922 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $131,000 after acquiring an additional 316 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.64% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

AIT has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. KeyCorp boosted their price objective on shares of Applied Industrial Technologies from $162.00 to $182.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday. StockNews.com began coverage on Applied Industrial Technologies in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating for the company. Finally, Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on shares of Applied Industrial Technologies from $161.00 to $185.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday.

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About Applied Industrial Technologies

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Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc distributes industrial motion, power, control, and automation technology solutions in North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. It operates through two segments, Service Center Based Distribution, and Fluid Power & Flow Control. The company distributes bearings, power transmission products, engineered fluid power components and systems, specialty flow control solutions, advanced automation products, industrial rubber products, linear motion components, automation solutions, tools, safety products, oilfield supplies, and other industrial and maintenance supplies; and motors, belting, drives, couplings, pumps, hydraulic and pneumatic components, filtration supplies, valves, fittings, process instrumentation, actuators, and hoses, filtration supplies, as well as other related supplies for general operational needs of customers' machinery and equipment.

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Central Japan Railway (OTCMKTS:CJPRY  Get Free Report) saw a large decrease in short interest during the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 24,600 shares, a decrease of 59.8% from the July 15th total of 61,200 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 79,800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.3 days.

Central Japan Railway Price Performance

Shares of CJPRY traded down $0.02 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $12.55. 41,634 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 42,190. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $12.49 and a two-hundred day moving average of $12.12. Central Japan Railway has a twelve month low of $10.85 and a twelve month high of $13.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.25, a quick ratio of 3.67 and a current ratio of 3.72.

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Central Japan Railway (OTCMKTS:CJPRY  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 28th. The company reported $0.34 EPS for the quarter. Central Japan Railway had a net margin of 17.60% and a return on equity of 7.06%. The company had revenue of $2.88 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.90 billion. On average, research analysts predict that Central Japan Railway will post 1.11 EPS for the current year.

Central Japan Railway Company Profile

Central Japan Railway Company engages in the railway and related businesses in Japan. The company operates through Transportation, Merchandise and Other, Real Estate, and Other segments. It primarily operates Tokaido Shinkansen, a transportation artery that links metropolitan areas of Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka, as well as a network of 12 conventional lines centered on the Nagoya and Shizuoka areas.

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CLP Holdings Limited (OTCMKTS:CLPHY  Get Free Report) was the target of a large decline in short interest in the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 125,900 shares, a decline of 51.7% from the July 15th total of 260,400 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 107,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.2 days.

CLP Stock Up 0.2 %

CLP stock traded up $0.02 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $8.05. The stock had a trading volume of 24,961 shares, compared to its average volume of 50,215. CLP has a 12 month low of $6.48 and a 12 month high of $9.16. The firms 50-day moving average price is $7.79 and its 200 day moving average price is $7.52. The company has a current ratio of 0.78, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41.

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CLP Cuts Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 22nd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 5th will be issued a dividend of $0.0727 per share. This represents a $0.29 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.61%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 1st.

CLP Company Profile

CLP Holdings Limited, an investment holding company, engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity in Hong Kong, Mainland China, India, Southeast Asia, Taiwan, and Australia. The company generates electricity through coal, gas, nuclear, and renewable resources, such as wind, hydro, and solar.

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Crescent Point Energy Corp. (NYSE:CPG  Get Free Report) (TSE:CPG) saw a large decrease in short interest in July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 8,710,000 shares, a decrease of 24.1% from the July 15th total of 11,470,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 3,390,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.6 days. Currently, 1.6% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Crescent Point Energy

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Baird Financial Group Inc. grew its holdings in Crescent Point Energy by 0.8% during the 2nd quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 173,063 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $1,165,000 after acquiring an additional 1,365 shares during the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC boosted its stake in shares of Crescent Point Energy by 12.2% in the 2nd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 12,582 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $85,000 after purchasing an additional 1,366 shares during the last quarter. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Crescent Point Energy by 0.8% in the 1st quarter. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC now owns 257,739 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $1,820,000 after purchasing an additional 1,974 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Crescent Point Energy by 6.3% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 33,939 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $228,000 after purchasing an additional 2,015 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP boosted its stake in shares of Crescent Point Energy by 15.9% in the 1st quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 15,100 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $109,000 after purchasing an additional 2,073 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 36.00% of the companys stock.

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Crescent Point Energy Price Performance

NYSE:CPG traded up $0.12 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $8.49. 2,204,646 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,528,705. Crescent Point Energy has a 12 month low of $5.51 and a 12 month high of $8.61. The company has a fifty day moving average of $7.26 and a 200 day moving average of $7.08. The company has a quick ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 0.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. The stock has a market cap of $4.55 billion, a PE ratio of 15.44 and a beta of 2.25.

Crescent Point Energy Increases Dividend

Crescent Point Energy ( NYSE:CPG Get Free Report ) (TSE:CPG) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, May 12th. The oil and gas producer reported $0.30 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.27 by $0.03. Crescent Point Energy had a net margin of 10.69% and a return on equity of 12.85%. The firm had revenue of $696.60 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $671.62 million. On average, research analysts anticipate that Crescent Point Energy will post 1.26 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, October 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.075 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 14th. This represents a $0.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.53%. This is a positive change from Crescent Point Energys previous quarterly dividend of $0.07. Crescent Point Energys dividend payout ratio is currently 52.73%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently weighed in on CPG. Canaccord Genuity Group began coverage on shares of Crescent Point Energy in a report on Friday, July 21st. They issued a buy rating on the stock. StockNews.com raised shares of Crescent Point Energy from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, August 4th.

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Crescent Point Energy Company Profile

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Crescent Point Energy Corp. engages in the exploration, development, and production of oil and gas properties. Its focus areas include: Viewfield Bakken, Flat Lake Torquay, and Shaunavon. The company was founded on April 20, 1994 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

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Davide Campari-Milano (OTCMKTS:DVDCF  Get Free Report) was the target of a large increase in short interest in the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 5,836,300 shares, an increase of 20.5% from the July 15th total of 4,845,100 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 8,200 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 711.7 days.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on DVDCF shares. Citigroup lowered shares of Davide Campari-Milano from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, July 12th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price target on shares of Davide Campari-Milano to 13.80 ($15.16) in a report on Friday, July 7th. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on shares of Davide Campari-Milano to 13.00 ($14.29) in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group raised their price target on shares of Davide Campari-Milano to 13.00 ($14.29) in a report on Wednesday, July 5th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Davide Campari-Milano has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $11.75.

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Davide Campari-Milano Stock Performance

Davide Campari-Milano Company Profile

Shares of DVDCF stock traded down $0.09 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $13.30. 224,639 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 8,313. Davide Campari-Milano has a fifty-two week low of $8.55 and a fifty-two week high of $14.45. The company has a quick ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 2.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $13.61 and its 200 day simple moving average is $12.62.

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Davide Campari-Milano N.V., together with its subsidiaries, markets and distributes alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in the Americas, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific. It offers a range of spirits categories, including aperitif, vodka, liqueurs, bitters, whisky, tequila, rum, gin, and cognac, as well as champagne and non-alcoholic aperitif under various brands, such as Aperol, Campari, SKYY, Wild Turkey, Grand Marnier, Appleton Estate, Wray & Nephew Overproof, and other brands.

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DaVita Inc. (NYSE:DVA  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decrease in short interest during the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 2,110,000 shares, a decrease of 24.6% from the July 15th total of 2,800,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 693,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 3.0 days. Approximately 2.3% of the shares of the stock are short sold.

DaVita Trading Down 0.1 %

NYSE:DVA traded down $0.08 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $108.35. The company had a trading volume of 472,268 shares, compared to its average volume of 679,983. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 7.13, a quick ratio of 1.20 and a current ratio of 1.25. DaVita has a fifty-two week low of $65.28 and a fifty-two week high of $116.97. The firm has a market cap of $9.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.54, a P/E/G ratio of 1.19 and a beta of 0.94. The businesss fifty day moving average is $101.77 and its two-hundred day moving average is $91.05.

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DaVita (NYSE:DVA  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 3rd. The company reported $2.08 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.66 by $0.42. DaVita had a net margin of 3.98% and a return on equity of 60.67%. The business had revenue of $3 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.95 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.30 EPS. DaVitas quarterly revenue was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts expect that DaVita will post 7.21 earnings per share for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On DaVita

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Raymond James & Associates grew its position in shares of DaVita by 4.0% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 22,651 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,562,000 after purchasing an additional 865 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of DaVita by 37.4% in the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 6,555 shares of the companys stock valued at $741,000 after buying an additional 1,785 shares during the period. US Bancorp DE increased its position in shares of DaVita by 63.6% during the first quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 2,998 shares of the companys stock worth $338,000 after acquiring an additional 1,166 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of DaVita by 7.3% during the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 3,551 shares of the companys stock worth $402,000 after acquiring an additional 242 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund raised its stake in shares of DaVita by 847.8% in the 1st quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund now owns 1,090 shares of the companys stock valued at $123,000 after purchasing an additional 975 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.78% of the companys stock.

A number of analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price target on shares of DaVita from $85.00 to $113.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 9th. UBS Group upgraded DaVita from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $100.00 to $142.00 in a research report on Monday, August 7th. Bank of America raised their price target on DaVita from $86.00 to $96.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 9th. StockNews.com started coverage on DaVita in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating for the company. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein upped their target price on shares of DaVita from $88.00 to $100.00 in a research report on Monday, May 15th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $105.29.

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About DaVita

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DaVita, Inc engages in the provision of medical care services. It operates through the following two segments: US Dialysis and Related Lab Services, and Other-Ancillary Services and Strategic Initiatives. The US Dialysis and Related Lab Services segment offers kidney dialysis services in the United States for patients suffering from chronic kidney failure.

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First Trust Energy Income and Growth Fund (NYSEAMERICAN:FEN  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest during the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 18,100 shares, a growth of 79.2% from the July 15th total of 10,100 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 57,100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.3 days.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On First Trust Energy Income and Growth Fund

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Royal Bank of Canada grew its stake in First Trust Energy Income and Growth Fund by 182.7% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 215,269 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,492,000 after buying an additional 139,109 shares during the last quarter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC grew its position in shares of First Trust Energy Income and Growth Fund by 149.9% in the first quarter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC now owns 195,137 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,533,000 after purchasing an additional 117,055 shares during the last quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of First Trust Energy Income and Growth Fund by 32.5% during the second quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 439,166 shares of the companys stock worth $6,118,000 after purchasing an additional 107,742 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley lifted its holdings in First Trust Energy Income and Growth Fund by 18.4% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 497,098 shares of the companys stock worth $7,054,000 after purchasing an additional 77,270 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Susquehanna International Group LLP acquired a new stake in First Trust Energy Income and Growth Fund during the 4th quarter worth approximately $736,000.

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First Trust Energy Income and Growth Fund Trading Up 1.1 %

NYSEAMERICAN:FEN traded up $0.16 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $14.17. The stock had a trading volume of 22,337 shares, compared to its average volume of 64,309. First Trust Energy Income and Growth Fund has a twelve month low of $12.03 and a twelve month high of $16.24.

First Trust Energy Income and Growth Fund Dividend Announcement

About First Trust Energy Income and Growth Fund

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 31st. Investors of record on Monday, July 24th were paid a $0.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, July 21st. This represents a $1.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 8.47%.

(Get Free Report)

First Trust Energy Income and Growth Fund is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by First Trust Advisors L.P. It is co-managed by Energy Income Partners, LLC. The fund invests in the public equity markets of the United States. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating in the energy sector, including companies in the business of transporting, processing, storing, distributing, or marketing natural gas, natural gas liquids (including propane), crude oil, refined petroleum products, coal or electricity, or exploring, developing, managing or producing such commodities or products, or in supplying energy-related products and services.

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Invesco Senior Income Trust (NYSE:VVR  Get Free Report) was the target of a large drop in short interest during the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 365,100 shares, a drop of 29.2% from the July 15th total of 515,500 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 600,400 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.6 days.

Invesco Senior Income Trust Price Performance

Shares of Invesco Senior Income Trust stock traded up $0.01 on Friday, reaching $3.92. The company had a trading volume of 444,418 shares, compared to its average volume of 726,942. The firms 50-day moving average price is $3.81 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $3.80. Invesco Senior Income Trust has a 1 year low of $3.55 and a 1 year high of $4.14.

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Invesco Senior Income Trust Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, August 15th will be issued a $0.039 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 14th. This represents a $0.47 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 11.94%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Invesco Senior Income Trust

About Invesco Senior Income Trust

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in VVR. Penserra Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Invesco Senior Income Trust in the first quarter worth about $8,813,000. Morgan Stanley lifted its stake in shares of Invesco Senior Income Trust by 14.4% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 12,657,261 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $48,477,000 after acquiring an additional 1,597,466 shares during the last quarter. Oaktree Capital Management LP boosted its holdings in Invesco Senior Income Trust by 12.1% during the 4th quarter. Oaktree Capital Management LP now owns 7,400,000 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $28,342,000 after acquiring an additional 797,404 shares during the period. Wells Fargo & Company MN grew its position in Invesco Senior Income Trust by 41.3% in the 4th quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 2,299,940 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $8,809,000 after acquiring an additional 671,856 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. bought a new position in Invesco Senior Income Trust in the 1st quarter valued at $2,844,000.

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Invesco Senior Income Trust is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Invesco Ltd. It is co-managed by Invesco Advisers, Inc, Invesco Asset Management Deutschland GmbH, Invesco Asset Management Limited, Invesco Asset Management (Japan) Limited, Invesco Australia Limited, Invesco Hong Kong Limited, Invesco Senior Secured Management, Inc, and Invesco Canada Ltd.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of MAG Silver (NYSEAMERICAN:MAG  Free Report) to a sell rating in a research note issued to investors on Thursday.

MAG has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Scotiabank assumed coverage on shares of MAG Silver in a research note on Thursday, June 29th. They issued a sector perform rating on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price target on shares of MAG Silver from $26.00 to $22.75 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 13th. Finally, HC Wainwright upped their price target on shares of MAG Silver from $16.00 to $20.50 in a research note on Thursday, July 27th.

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MAG Silver Stock Performance

Shares of MAG stock opened at $11.56 on Thursday. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $13.51. The company has a market cap of $1.19 billion, a PE ratio of 57.80 and a beta of 1.08. MAG Silver has a 52-week low of $10.48 and a 52-week high of $17.02.

MAG Silver (NYSEAMERICAN:MAG  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Monday, August 7th. The company reported $0.19 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.17 by $0.02. As a group, research analysts anticipate that MAG Silver will post 0.7 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Natixis acquired a new position in shares of MAG Silver during the 4th quarter worth approximately $34,000. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of MAG Silver by 89.6% during the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 3,385 shares of the companys stock worth $54,000 after acquiring an additional 1,600 shares during the period. Deutsche Bank AG bought a new stake in shares of MAG Silver during the 4th quarter worth approximately $55,000. Chilton Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of MAG Silver during the 1st quarter worth approximately $78,000. Finally, Spartan Fund Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of MAG Silver during the 1st quarter worth approximately $127,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 35.57% of the companys stock.

About MAG Silver

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MAG Silver Corp. engages in the exploration and development of precious metal mining properties. The company explores for silver, gold, lead, copper, and zinc deposits. It primarily holds 44% interest in the Juanicipio project located in the Fresnillo District, Zacatecas State, Mexico. MAG Silver Corp.

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Schneider National, Inc. (NYSE:SNDR  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant drop in short interest in the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 1,610,000 shares, a drop of 28.8% from the July 15th total of 2,260,000 shares. Approximately 2.8% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 547,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.9 days.

Schneider National Price Performance

Schneider National stock traded up $0.26 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $30.89. The companys stock had a trading volume of 373,083 shares, compared to its average volume of 507,540. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.43 and a beta of 1.07. Schneider National has a twelve month low of $20.26 and a twelve month high of $31.74. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $28.69 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $27.62. The company has a quick ratio of 2.04, a current ratio of 2.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05.

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Schneider National (NYSE:SNDR  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The company reported $0.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.44 by $0.01. Schneider National had a return on equity of 14.64% and a net margin of 6.84%. The business had revenue of $1.35 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.43 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.72 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was down 22.9% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast that Schneider National will post 1.84 earnings per share for the current year.

Schneider National Announces Dividend

Institutional Trading of Schneider National

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 8th will be issued a dividend of $0.09 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 7th. This represents a $0.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.17%. Schneider Nationals payout ratio is presently 15.65%.

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. MetLife Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Schneider National during the first quarter valued at $26,000. Belpointe Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in Schneider National during the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. Quarry LP grew its stake in Schneider National by 252.2% during the 1st quarter. Quarry LP now owns 1,627 shares of the companys stock valued at $44,000 after acquiring an additional 1,165 shares in the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Schneider National by 39.8% in the 1st quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 2,226 shares of the companys stock valued at $56,000 after purchasing an additional 634 shares during the period. Finally, Ronald Blue Trust Inc. lifted its position in shares of Schneider National by 20.1% in the first quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 3,092 shares of the companys stock worth $72,000 after purchasing an additional 518 shares in the last quarter. 59.06% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts recently weighed in on SNDR shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Schneider National from an underweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $29.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Thursday, May 11th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on Schneider National from $29.00 to $33.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, August 4th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on Schneider National from $33.00 to $35.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday. Credit Suisse Group lifted their target price on Schneider National from $31.00 to $35.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, Morgan Stanley reissued an overweight rating and issued a $36.00 price target on shares of Schneider National in a research note on Friday, August 4th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $32.71.

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Schneider National Company Profile

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Schneider National, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of surface transportation and logistics solutions in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The company operates through three segments: Truckload, Intermodal, and Logistics. The Truckload segment offers over the road freight transportation services primarily through dry van, bulk, temperature-controlled, and flat-bed equipment across either network or dedicated configurations.

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Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest in the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 5,010,000 shares, an increase of 19.3% from the July 15th total of 4,200,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 1,660,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 3.0 days.

Analyst Ratings Changes

ALK has been the topic of a number of research reports. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of Alaska Air Group from $71.00 to $75.00 in a research note on Monday, April 24th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Alaska Air Group in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on Alaska Air Group from $91.00 to $70.00 in a research note on Monday, May 8th. Susquehanna dropped their target price on Alaska Air Group from $65.00 to $58.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 26th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price target on Alaska Air Group from $63.00 to $61.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, July 25th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $65.03.

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Alaska Air Group Stock Down 1.3 %

Shares of ALK traded down $0.63 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $46.08. The company had a trading volume of 1,062,125 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,211,455. The stock has a market cap of $5.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.46, a PEG ratio of 0.31 and a beta of 1.54. The companys 50 day moving average price is $50.49 and its 200 day moving average price is $47.00. The company has a quick ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. Alaska Air Group has a 52 week low of $37.19 and a 52 week high of $57.18.

Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 25th. The transportation company reported $3.00 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.71 by $0.29. Alaska Air Group had a return on equity of 19.66% and a net margin of 1.55%. The firm had revenue of $2.84 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.77 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.19 earnings per share. Alaska Air Groups revenue for the quarter was up 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts predict that Alaska Air Group will post 6.6 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Alaska Air Group

In other news, CEO Benito Minicucci sold 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $48.73, for a total value of $243,650.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 114,506 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,579,877.38. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.68% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Alaska Air Group

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Covestor Ltd lifted its holdings in Alaska Air Group by 416.4% in the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 568 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 458 shares during the last quarter. Private Trust Co. NA raised its position in shares of Alaska Air Group by 279.0% during the 2nd quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 595 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 438 shares during the period. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Alaska Air Group by 1,873.5% in the 4th quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 671 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 637 shares during the last quarter. WealthPLAN Partners LLC acquired a new position in Alaska Air Group during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Finally, Ten Capital Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in Alaska Air Group by 174.4% during the 4th quarter. Ten Capital Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 741 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 471 shares during the last quarter. 79.04% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Alaska Air Group

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Alaska Air Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operated airlines. The company operates through three segments: Mainline, Regional, and Horizon. The company offers scheduled air transportation services on Boeing and Airbus jet aircraft for passengers and cargo throughout the United States, and in parts of Mexico, Costa Rica, and Belize; and for passengers across a shorter distance network within the United States and Canada.

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Sanlam Limited (OTCMKTS:SLLDY  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decline in short interest in the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 34,100 shares, a decline of 43.0% from the July 15th total of 59,800 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 31,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.1 days.

Sanlam Price Performance

SLLDY stock traded down C$0.07 during midday trading on Friday, hitting C$7.03. The stock had a trading volume of 11,137 shares, compared to its average volume of 49,058. Sanlam has a 1-year low of C$5.02 and a 1-year high of C$7.72. The business has a fifty day moving average price of C$6.79 and a two-hundred day moving average price of C$6.37.

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About Sanlam

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Sanlam Limited provides various financial solutions to individual, business, and institutional clients in South Africa, rest of Africa, and internationally. The company operates through Sanlam Life and Savings, Sanlam Emerging Markets, Sanlam Investment Group, and Santam segments. It offers life, disability, severe illness, income protection, funeral, credit life, health, short-term, medical, and group risk benefits, business debt, key person, and commercial insurance products; financial planning and retirement, and solutions; investment products; wealth, and professionals and graduates insurance services; and personal and home loans, and credit cards.

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Smiths Group plc (OTCMKTS:SMGZY  Get Free Report) was the target of a large growth in short interest in the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 13,100 shares, a growth of 19.1% from the July 15th total of 11,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 7,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.7 days.

Smiths Group Trading Down 0.7 %

Shares of SMGZY stock traded down $0.14 during trading on Friday, reaching $20.87. The companys stock had a trading volume of 3,332 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,004. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $21.06 and its 200 day moving average price is $20.97. Smiths Group has a 1-year low of $15.88 and a 1-year high of $21.99.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on SMGZY shares. Royal Bank of Canada raised shares of Smiths Group from an underperform rating to a sector perform rating in a research note on Thursday, July 6th. Bank of America raised shares of Smiths Group from an underperform rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 16th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on shares of Smiths Group from GBX 1,860 ($23.77) to GBX 1,920 ($24.54) in a report on Monday, July 17th.

Smiths Group Company Profile

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Smiths Group plc operates as a technology company serving the medical technology, security and defense, general industrial, energy, and space and aerospace markets worldwide. It operates through John Crane, Smiths Detection, Flex-Tek, and Smiths Interconnect divisions. The John Crane division offers mechanical seals, seal support systems, hydrodynamic bearings, packing materials, power transmission couplings, and specialized filtration systems.

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Shares of Pernod Ricard SA (OTCMKTS:PDRDY  Get Free Report) have received a consensus rating of Hold from the six analysts that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1 year price target among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $219.33.

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on PDRDY. Morgan Stanley downgraded Pernod Ricard from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, July 20th. HSBC downgraded Pernod Ricard from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, July 10th.

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Pernod Ricard Stock Performance

Pernod Ricard Cuts Dividend

PDRDY opened at $47.12 on Wednesday. Pernod Ricard has a 52 week low of $34.68 and a 52 week high of $47.39. The stocks fifty day moving average is $47.12 and its two-hundred day moving average is $47.12.

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 4th. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 3rd were given a $0.4499 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 30th.

About Pernod Ricard

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Pernod Ricard SA engages in the manufacture of wines, spirits, and non-alcoholic beverages. The firm offers products under the brands Absolut Vodka, Chivas Regal, Ballantines, Beefeater, Jameson, Kahlua, Malibu, Ricard, Havana Club, Martell, Cognac, The Glenlivet, G.H. Mumm, Perrier-Jouet, Royal Salute, Brancott Estate, Graffigna, Campo Viejo, Jacobs Creek, Kenwood, Pastis 51, 100 Pipers, ArArAt, Becherovka, Blenders Pride, Clan Campbell, Imperial, Seagrams Imperial Blue, Olmeca, Passport Scotch, Amaro Ramazzotti, Ruavieja, Royal Stag, Seagrams Gin, Something Special, Suze, Wisers, and Wyborowa.

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Corebridge Financial (NYSE:CRBG  Get Free Report) is one of 44 public companies in the Life insurance industry, but how does it compare to its peers? We will compare Corebridge Financial to related businesses based on the strength of its institutional ownership, dividends, valuation, earnings, analyst recommendations, profitability and risk.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for Corebridge Financial and its peers, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Corebridge Financial 0 4 9 0 2.69 Corebridge Financial Competitors 337 2051 1919 70 2.39

Corebridge Financial currently has a consensus target price of $23.75, indicating a potential upside of 29.64%. As a group, Life insurance companies have a potential upside of 197.47%. Given Corebridge Financials peers higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Corebridge Financial has less favorable growth aspects than its peers.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

Dividends

22.6% of Corebridge Financial shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 50.5% of shares of all Life insurance companies are owned by institutional investors. 0.1% of Corebridge Financial shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 13.1% of shares of all Life insurance companies are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Corebridge Financial pays an annual dividend of $0.92 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.0%. Corebridge Financial pays out 28.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Life insurance companies pay a dividend yield of 1.7% and pay out 31.7% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Corebridge Financial is clearly a better dividend stock than its peers, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Corebridge Financial and its peers revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Corebridge Financial $18.02 billion $8.15 billion 5.65 Corebridge Financial Competitors $20.99 billion $1.22 billion 18.54

Corebridge Financials peers have higher revenue, but lower earnings than Corebridge Financial. Corebridge Financial is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

Profitability

This table compares Corebridge Financial and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Corebridge Financial 9.99% 21.70% 0.62% Corebridge Financial Competitors -726.74% -38.43% -8.18%

Summary

Corebridge Financial beats its peers on 8 of the 14 factors compared.

About Corebridge Financial

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Corebridge Financial, Inc. provides retirement solutions and insurance products in the United States. It operates through Individual Retirement, Group Retirement, Life Insurance, and Institutional Markets segments. The Individual Retirement segment provides fixed annuities, fixed index annuities, variable annuities and retail mutual funds. The Group Retirement segment offers record-keeping services, plan administration and compliance services, and financial planning and advisory solutions to employer-defined contribution plans and their participants, as well as proprietary and non-proprietary annuities, advisory services, and brokerage products. The Life Insurance segment offers term life and universal life insurance in the United States, as well as issues individual life, whole life, and group life insurance in the United Kingdom; and distributes medical insurance in Ireland. The Institutional Markets segment provides stable value wraps, structured settlement and pension risk transfer annuities, corporate and bank owned life insurance, private placement variable universal life and annuities products, and guaranteed investment contracts. The company was formerly known as SAFG Retirement Services, Inc. The company was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas. Corebridge Financial, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of American International Group, Inc.

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Eagle Point Credit Company Inc. (NYSE:ECC  Get Free Report) declared a monthly dividend on Monday, August 14th, Wall Street Journal reports. Investors of record on Monday, November 13th will be given a dividend of 0.14 per share by the investment management company on Thursday, November 30th. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 16.03%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 10th.

Eagle Point Credit has decreased its dividend by an average of 11.2% annually over the last three years and has raised its dividend every year for the last 2 years. Eagle Point Credit has a payout ratio of 116.7% indicating that the company cannot currently cover its dividend with earnings alone and is relying on its balance sheet to cover its dividend payments. Research analysts expect Eagle Point Credit to earn $1.45 per share next year, which means the company may not be able to cover its $1.68 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 115.9%.

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Eagle Point Credit Trading Up 1.2 %

Eagle Point Credit stock traded up $0.12 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $10.48. The stock had a trading volume of 593,579 shares, compared to its average volume of 420,188. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $10.33 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $10.76. The stock has a market capitalization of $576.92 million, a PE ratio of -6.56 and a beta of 0.86. Eagle Point Credit has a 12 month low of $9.96 and a 12 month high of $12.09.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Eagle Point Credit ( NYSE:ECC Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 23rd. The investment management company reported $0.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.41 by ($0.09). The company had revenue of $31.92 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $35.05 million. Sell-side analysts expect that Eagle Point Credit will post 1.5 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Separately, B. Riley cut their target price on Eagle Point Credit from $13.00 to $12.00 in a research note on Tuesday, June 6th.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Eagle Point Credit

Insider Buying and Selling at Eagle Point Credit

In related news, CEO Thomas P. Majewski bought 3,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 30th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $20.80 per share, with a total value of $62,400.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer now owns 3,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $62,400. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.31% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Eagle Point Credit

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC raised its position in shares of Eagle Point Credit by 492.3% during the third quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 2,843 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 2,363 shares during the period. Money Concepts Capital Corp acquired a new stake in Eagle Point Credit in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $50,000. UBS Group AG raised its position in Eagle Point Credit by 20.8% in the 2nd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 9,066 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $106,000 after buying an additional 1,559 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE raised its position in Eagle Point Credit by 21.2% in the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 9,933 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $131,000 after buying an additional 1,740 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC acquired a new stake in Eagle Point Credit in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $135,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 25.35% of the companys stock.

About Eagle Point Credit

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Eagle Point Credit Company Inc is a closed ended fund launched and managed by Eagle Point Credit Management LLC. It invests in fixed income markets of the United States. The fund invests equity and junior debt tranches of collateralized loan obligations consisting primarily of below investment grade U.S.

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Shares of John Hancock Multifactor Large Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:JHML  Get Free Report) saw strong trading volume on Monday . 110,783 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 131% from the previous sessions volume of 47,914 shares.The stock last traded at $55.49 and had previously closed at $55.29.

John Hancock Multifactor Large Cap ETF Stock Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $779.35 million, a P/E ratio of 17.58 and a beta of 1.01. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $54.99 and its 200-day simple moving average is $52.74.

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John Hancock Multifactor Large Cap ETF Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, June 28th were paid a $0.3519 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, June 27th.

Institutional Trading of John Hancock Multifactor Large Cap ETF

About John Hancock Multifactor Large Cap ETF

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its stake in John Hancock Multifactor Large Cap ETF by 46.6% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 64,866 shares of the companys stock worth $3,679,000 after purchasing an additional 20,617 shares in the last quarter. FCA Corp TX lifted its holdings in shares of John Hancock Multifactor Large Cap ETF by 1.9% in the 1st quarter. FCA Corp TX now owns 26,081 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,479,000 after buying an additional 480 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of John Hancock Multifactor Large Cap ETF in the 1st quarter valued at about $222,000. Royal Bank of Canada lifted its holdings in shares of John Hancock Multifactor Large Cap ETF by 1.4% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 24,330 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,379,000 after buying an additional 332 shares during the period. Finally, FMR LLC lifted its holdings in shares of John Hancock Multifactor Large Cap ETF by 34.8% in the 2nd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 1,341 shares of the companys stock valued at $64,000 after buying an additional 346 shares during the period.

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The John Hancock Multifactor Large Cap ETF (JHML) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the John Hancock Dimensional Large Cap index. The fund tracks an index of largest 800 US firms, weighted by multiple factors relative to their sector peers. JHML was launched on Sep 28, 2015 and is managed by John Hancock.

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Ormat Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:ORA  Get Free Report) declared a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, August 2nd, Wall Street Journal reports. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, August 16th will be given a dividend of 0.12 per share by the energy company on Wednesday, August 30th. This represents a $0.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.62%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, August 15th.

Ormat Technologies has raised its dividend payment by an average of 2.9% annually over the last three years. Ormat Technologies has a dividend payout ratio of 18.2% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities research analysts expect Ormat Technologies to earn $2.61 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.48 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 18.4%.

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Ormat Technologies Trading Down 0.2 %

Shares of Ormat Technologies stock opened at $77.01 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.69, a current ratio of 1.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. The firm has a market cap of $4.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 49.68, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.60 and a beta of 0.44. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $82.19 and a 200-day simple moving average of $84.89. Ormat Technologies has a fifty-two week low of $75.56 and a fifty-two week high of $101.81.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ormat Technologies

Ormat Technologies ( NYSE:ORA Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 2nd. The energy company reported $0.40 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.38 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $194.80 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $196.74 million. Ormat Technologies had a return on equity of 5.17% and a net margin of 11.74%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 15.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.22 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Ormat Technologies will post 2.07 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of ORA. BlackRock Inc. raised its position in Ormat Technologies by 8.2% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 8,528,140 shares of the energy companys stock worth $722,930,000 after purchasing an additional 643,171 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its position in Ormat Technologies by 7.6% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,947,280 shares of the energy companys stock worth $165,071,000 after purchasing an additional 137,486 shares during the last quarter. Amundi raised its position in Ormat Technologies by 29.9% during the 4th quarter. Amundi now owns 1,566,912 shares of the energy companys stock worth $136,253,000 after purchasing an additional 361,083 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in Ormat Technologies by 12.2% during the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,005,830 shares of the energy companys stock worth $85,264,000 after purchasing an additional 109,404 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its position in Ormat Technologies by 9.6% during the 2nd quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 743,485 shares of the energy companys stock worth $58,252,000 after purchasing an additional 65,240 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.23% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Roth Capital raised Ormat Technologies from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a report on Monday, August 7th. Roth Mkm raised Ormat Technologies from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $92.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Monday, August 7th. Bank of America boosted their price objective on Ormat Technologies from $85.00 to $87.00 in a research note on Wednesday, June 14th. TheStreet downgraded Ormat Technologies from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on Ormat Technologies in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a sell rating for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Ormat Technologies presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $92.29.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on ORA

About Ormat Technologies

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Ormat Technologies, Inc engages in the geothermal and recovered energy power business in the United States, Indonesia, Kenya, Turkey, Chile, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Ethiopia, New Zealand, Honduras, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Electricity, Product, and Energy Storage. The Electricity segment develops, builds, owns, and operates geothermal, solar photovoltaic, and recovered energy-based power plants; and sells electricity.

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LifeSpeak (OTC:LSPKF  Free Report) had its price objective decreased by Royal Bank of Canada from C$0.60 to C$0.50 in a research note issued to investors on Thursday morning, FlyOnTheWall reports.

Separately, Desjardins lowered LifeSpeak from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday.

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LifeSpeak Stock Up 31.1 %

About LifeSpeak

LifeSpeak stock opened at C$0.49 on Thursday. LifeSpeak has a one year low of C$0.37 and a one year high of C$0.50. The business has a fifty day moving average price of C$0.51 and a 200-day moving average price of C$0.57.

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LifeSpeak Inc provides software-as-a-service platform for digital mental, physical, and wellbeing resources for mid and enterprise-sized organizations in Canada and the United States. The company offers digital educational resources, such as easily consumable videos, podcasts, and articles for depression, stress management, and financial health; on-demand workout library, and automated and live sessions in various areas, including general fitness, mindfulness, cardio, strength, yoga, pre-natal, Pilates, and others under the Wellbeats and LIFT session brands; caregiver support services under the Torchlight brand name; and on-demand substance use support services under the ALAViDA brand.

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The Indira fellowship programme is an intiative in the memory of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

New Delhi: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Monday urged women to join 'Indira fellowship' programme launched by the Indian Youth Congress for women keen on politics.

Taking to 'X', (formerly known as 'Twitter'), Rahul Gandhi wrote, "India will be truly successful only when women occupy equal space in our society. Indira Fellowship seeks to empower women and transform politics. They must take their rightful place in politics and shape Indias destiny - Aadhi Aabadi, Poora Haq! Join http://indirafellowship.in"

The Indira fellowship programme is an intiative in the memory of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi which aims to empower women in the political arena, as per an official statement.

"Gender equality requires women to have a seat at the decision-making table and this fellowship aims to break down the barriers that hinder women's entry into politics. Selected participants will receive mentorship from seasoned political leaders, training modules on policy-making, grassroots campaigning, and leadership development", said the official statement.

As per the statement, the programme will be launched in September, 2023. It will be a nine-month programme.

In addition, the Congress party wrote on 'X', "#IndiraFellowship is a vision for the women of today to be the change-makers of tomorrow. If you believe you have the potential to be a leader, Register Now! https://indirafellowship.in".

It is worth mentioning that the Congress party is putting efforts to reach out to women voters.

During the Karnataka assembly elections earlier this year, Congress promised money transfer into the bank accounts of women.

After its decisive win in Karnataka, the eyes are on the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections which is scheduled to be held later this year.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, during her address in Jabalpur, promised that Rs 1,500 would be provided to women if the party is voted to power.

Additionally, Vadra also promised to provide gas cylinders at Rs 500.
President Droupadi Murmu addresses the nation on the eve of the 77th Independence Day, on Monday, Aug. 14, 2023. (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: President Droupadi Murmu emphasised the unity and equality of all Indians in her address on the eve of the 77th Independence Day. She said, "What we celebrate on Independence Day is the fact that we are part of a great democracy. Each of us has many identities  apart from caste, creed, language and region, we are also identified with our families and professions  but there is one identity that is above all. That is our identity as citizens of India."

She reiterated that each citizen enjoys equal opportunities, rights, and duties, regardless of their diverse backgrounds. She acknowledged that Indias history is marked by democratic principles, though colonial rule eradicated them. The President highlighted the significance of India's Constitution as a guiding document, embodying the ideals of the freedom struggle.

President Murmu paid tribute to freedom fighters, known and unknown, who paved the way for India's resurgence on the global stage. She also celebrated women freedom fighters and recognised the remarkable advancements made by women in various fields.

"Today, women are contributing extensively in every field of development and service to the country and are enhancing the nations pride. Today our women have made their special place in many such fields in which their participation was unimaginable a few decades ago," Murmu said.

The President noted that the economic empowerment of women is being given special focus in the country as it strengthens the position of women in the family and society. She urged to give priority to the women empowerment. "I would like our sisters and daughters to overcome challenges with courage and move ahead in life. Development of women was among the ideals of our freedom struggle," Murmu said.

Discussing the country's economic landscape, she praised India's resilience during challenging times and its contribution to global economic growth. "Looking at the present, we see that India has not only regained its rightful place on the world stage, but it has also enhanced its standing in the international order. During my visits and interactions with the members of the Indian diaspora, I have observed a new confidence in the India story," the President said.

She further noted that there are many global issues that concern all humanity and are not limited by geographical boundaries. "I am confident that with Indias proven leadership in dealing with global issues, member-nations will be able to advance effective action on these fronts. What is notable in Indias presidency of G20 is the way this diplomatic activity has been taken to the grassroots. There has been a first-of-its-kind campaign to encourage peoples participation. It is delightful to see, for example, students enthusiastically participating in diverse contests organised in schools and colleges touching upon the themes of G20. All the citizens are enthusiastic about events related to G20.," the President said.

She noted the government's twofold approach of fostering entrepreneurship and expanding welfare initiatives, which have improved the lives of many.

Highlighting the transformative potential of education, President Murmu cited the National Education Policy (NEP) of 2020 as a catalyst for change. She lauded the achievements of the youth in areas ranging from startups to sports.

She also touched upon India's achievements in space exploration, research, and other fields, including Chandrayaan-3, the Anusandhan National Research Foundation, and Mission LiFE.

Murmu expressed the nation's commitment to becoming an inclusive and developed nation by 2047, urging all citizens to contribute to the country's advancement. She concluded by emphasising the collective duty to strive for excellence, ensuring that India continually reaches greater heights of accomplishment.
TPCC president A. Revanth Reddy said Chandrashekar had joined the BJP believing that the party was anti-K. Chandrashekar Rao only to realise that it had only made empty promises.. (Image: By Arrangement)

Hyderabad: Former minister A. Chandrasekhar wrote a letter critical of the BJP and left the party on Sunday. He is believed to be headed to the Congress.

In an immediate reaction, TPCC president A. Revanth Reddy said Chandrashekar had joined the BJP believing that the party was anti-K. Chandrashekar Rao only to realise that it had only made empty promises.

Stating that the entry of Chandrasekhar would be the coming together of anti-KCR forces vexed with his corruption, Reddy said he had in principle accepted the TPCC invitation.

"We will hold a meeting with Mallikarjun Kharge as the chief guest on August 18 to facilitate his entry", he said.

Earlier in his parting letter to the BJP, Chandrasekhar accused the party of being hand in glove with the BRS and failing to check mistakes of the state government.

"We had hoped Telangana youth would get jobs and farmers would get water to irrigate their fields. But all such hopes have remained a pipe dream," Chandrasekhar wrote.

Speaking with activists from Kollapur and Maheshwaram, who joined the party at his residence, Revanth Reddy said, "Rao neglected Mahabubnagar district though the people stood by him. Lands of people from Kollapur are being taken over for any project that comes up. The people had stood by the Congress in 2108 but the MLA betrayed them. I call on all people to stand by the Congress party and give us all the 14 Assembly seats."
BJP president G. Kishan Reddy accused the state government of misusing its power and selling land to benefit BRS politically in the upcoming polls.(Representational Image: DC)

HYDERABAD: Union minister and state BJP president G. Kishan Reddy accused the state government of misusing its power and selling land to benefit BRS politically in the upcoming polls. Even assigned land given to Dalits and tribals by earlier governments is being forcibly taken over, he alleged.

The government does not have land for its own programmes like double-bedroom houses but strategically located land parcels were being sold to raise money. The government had raised `7,000 crore but was eyeing more land auctions. "It is giving land to big businessmen. K.T. Rama Rao had opposed the similar sale of land by the YSR government during the Telangana agitation," he pointed out.

Kishan Reddy said the government was denying land to projects taken up by the Centre, including building a road to the Cherlapally railway station. The government gave only half an acre for the tribal museum though the Centre wanted 20 acres, and there was no reply to a request of 25 acres for Science City.

Instead, the BRS government had allotted 11 acres for the ruling party and the Congress 10 acres. "We will cancel these allocations once we come to power. The land deal makes it clear the BRS and the Congress are hand in glove," the BJP leader said.

Earlier the BJP leader participated in a rally as part of the Azaadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. He called on the people to unfurl the National Flag at their houses and asked for saplings should be planted in every Mandal across the state, he added.
Vestor Capital LLC increased its position in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF (NYSEARCA:SPHQ  Free Report) by 280.9% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 19,000 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 14,012 shares during the quarter. Vestor Capital LLCs holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF were worth $986,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of SPHQ. JPMorgan Chase & Co. acquired a new position in Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF in the first quarter valued at about $150,000. Raymond James & Associates lifted its position in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF by 5.3% during the first quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 44,610 shares of the companys stock worth $2,226,000 after purchasing an additional 2,226 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its position in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF by 12.7% during the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 5,421 shares of the companys stock worth $271,000 after purchasing an additional 610 shares in the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. lifted its position in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF by 23.7% during the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 3,463 shares of the companys stock worth $173,000 after purchasing an additional 663 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can lifted its position in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF by 44.5% during the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 8,505 shares of the companys stock worth $432,000 after purchasing an additional 2,618 shares in the last quarter.

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Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF Stock Performance

SPHQ stock opened at $51.17 on Monday. The companys 50 day moving average price is $50.50 and its 200 day moving average price is $48.08. Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF has a fifty-two week low of $39.18 and a fifty-two week high of $52.48. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.07 and a beta of 0.94.

Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF Company Profile

The Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF (SPHQ) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the S&P 500 Quality index. The fund tracks an index of US large-cap stocks selected by return on equity, changes in net operating assets and financial leverage. Stocks are weighted by these quality factors, scaled by market cap.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SPHQ? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF (NYSEARCA:SPHQ  Free Report).

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NewEdge Wealth LLC decreased its stake in shares of Boston Scientific Co. (NYSE:BSX  Free Report) by 69.7% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,387 shares of the medical equipment providers stock after selling 10,092 shares during the quarter. NewEdge Wealth LLCs holdings in Boston Scientific were worth $219,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in BSX. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC increased its holdings in Boston Scientific by 8.5% during the first quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC now owns 6,657 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $340,000 after buying an additional 524 shares during the last quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. increased its stake in shares of Boston Scientific by 3.0% during the 1st quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 139,354 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $6,972,000 after purchasing an additional 4,049 shares during the last quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund lifted its stake in Boston Scientific by 14.3% in the 4th quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund now owns 145,406 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $6,728,000 after purchasing an additional 18,216 shares during the last quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. lifted its stake in Boston Scientific by 3.2% in the 4th quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 136,437 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $6,313,000 after purchasing an additional 4,188 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dubuque Bank & Trust Co. grew its holdings in Boston Scientific by 4.3% during the first quarter. Dubuque Bank & Trust Co. now owns 5,112 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $256,000 after purchasing an additional 209 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.20% of the companys stock.

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Boston Scientific Price Performance

Shares of NYSE BSX opened at $51.03 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $74.72 billion, a PE ratio of 85.05, a P/E/G ratio of 2.00 and a beta of 0.79. Boston Scientific Co. has a fifty-two week low of $37.74 and a fifty-two week high of $54.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a current ratio of 1.29 and a quick ratio of 0.80. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $52.45 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $50.65.

Insider Buying and Selling

Boston Scientific ( NYSE:BSX Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The medical equipment provider reported $0.53 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.49 by $0.04. Boston Scientific had a return on equity of 15.16% and a net margin of 6.81%. The business had revenue of $3.60 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.50 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.44 earnings per share. Boston Scientifics revenue for the quarter was up 10.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts predict that Boston Scientific Co. will post 1.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

In other Boston Scientific news, EVP Wendy Carruthers sold 11,671 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $53.24, for a total transaction of $621,364.04. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 72,847 shares in the company, valued at $3,878,374.28. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, EVP Arthur C. Butcher sold 6,697 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $53.80, for a total value of $360,298.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 17,453 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $938,971.40. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Wendy Carruthers sold 11,671 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $53.24, for a total transaction of $621,364.04. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 72,847 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,878,374.28. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 93,378 shares of company stock worth $4,993,445. Corporate insiders own 0.71% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

BSX has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Boston Scientific in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price target on Boston Scientific from $45.00 to $55.00 in a report on Thursday, April 27th. CL King began coverage on shares of Boston Scientific in a report on Friday, June 30th. They issued a buy rating and a $64.00 price objective on the stock. Canaccord Genuity Group raised their target price on shares of Boston Scientific from $58.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, July 28th. Finally, Oppenheimer lifted their target price on shares of Boston Scientific from $58.00 to $59.00 in a report on Friday, July 28th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $58.35.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Boston Scientific

Boston Scientific Company Profile

(Free Report)

Boston Scientific Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets medical devices for use in various interventional medical specialties worldwide. It operates through MedSurg and Cardiovascular segments. The company offers devices to diagnose and treat gastrointestinal and pulmonary conditions; devices to treat various urological and pelvic conditions; implantable cardioverter and implantable cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators; pacemakers and implantable cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers; and remote patient management systems.

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General Capital (GEN:NZ) subsidiary General Finance update

General Capital Limited advises that its subsidiary General Finance Limited, a licensed Non-bank Deposit Taker, has uploaded its quarterly unaudited report for the quarter ended 30 June 2023 to the Disclose Register.

Mr. Brent King, Managing Director, explained that this report is required as General Finance Limited holds a Non-bank Deposit Taker licence and the reporting is a requirement of the Financial

Markets Conduct Act 2013.

The information can be found at www.disclose-register.companiesoffice.govt.nz.

ENDS

This announcement was authorized by Brent King, Managing Director

For further information contact:

Brent King Managing Director

General Capital Limited

+64 21 632 660

Brent.King@gencap.co.nz

14 August 2023

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Rakon 2023 Annual Meeting Speeches and Presentation


On Sunday, September 24th, the Foyle Hospice are encouraging men of all ages to take part in this iconic fundraiser which has been running for 20 years.

Participants will be glad to know this years walk will feature a flat 5k course which includes the Craigavon Bridge and the Peace Bridge so walkers and runners of all ages will enjoy taking part.

The walk will start at Sainsburys at 11.30am and it will end at the same location.

When you sign up for the Male Walk/Run you will receive a specially designed event t-shirt to keep as a souvenir of taking part in an iconic event for a worthy cause!

Foyle Hospices Noel McMonagle said: With the help and support of our community we can continue to provide specialist palliative care services and counselling to our patients and their families.

We want men of all ages to join us this year - and the course is fantastic and we want everyone to see the power of positive actions.

The Male Walk is a very special event and we are excited to be back again with our new course which is only 5km this year, so lads, come out and help make a difference!

All proceeds from the Male Walk help towards the running costs of the Hospice and the specialist palliative services that we offer our community; every registration will make a difference to someone in our community.

Foyle Hospices Dr Paul McIvor said: As Medical Director I see the ever-increasing need for specialist palliative care on a daily basis and the passion and commitment of all Foyle Hospice Staff in delivering it.

We are privileged to journey with and care for those in our community who have life-limiting illnesses helping them to live as full a life as possible to the end-these are our mums and dads, brothers and sisters, children and friends.

We can only do this through the ongoing support of the special community here in the North West.

Thats why Im asking men in our community to join me in the Male Walk /Run in September.

The female version always gets a tremendous turn-out and we men need to step-up and show that we can do it too.

Its a fun day out and a great way to spend time with your friends, dads, brothers and sons.

Thank you and hope to see as many there as possible.

If you are interested in taking part in our Male Walk/Run this year, please register online at www.foylehospice.com/ or call into the Foyle Hospice fundraising centre on Culmore Road or the Foyle Hospice Shop at Waterloo Place, Derry.
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Whatsapp is expected to launch a new feature which will help in increasing the security by passkey. However, WhatsApp users have various options to safeguard their accounts, such as traditional passwords and two-factor authentication and now this could be another feature, if you like your Whatsapp packed and protected. This addition will join the ranks of apps and websites that have already embraced passkey functionality. While Meta hasn't made an official announcement yet, a hidden passkey setup menu was discovered in the latest WhatsApp for Android beta version by WABetaInfo.

The passkey feature is still in development, without a current activation method. Nevertheless, this discovery strongly suggests that WhatsApp might soon offer users the choice of using a passkey instead of a conventional password.

Also read: WhatsApp a stranger without saving their contact is now easier than ever

In essence, a passkey is part of an industry-wide initiative aimed at enhancing security during authentication. Rather than relying on standard passwords, users can verify their identity through facial recognition or biometrics, eliminating the need to create and input a regular passcode. This technology has originated from the FIDO Alliance and can be found in Google, Apple and Microsoft.

Apple has rolled out a new feature that uses passkey and it automatically assigns it to Apple ID accounts for users on iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and macOS Sonoma. This innovation permits users to authenticate themselves on Apple-related websites using their passkey as a credential, bypassing the requirement for a password.

Apple users have been able to generate and store passkeys using Safari and iCloud Keychain since iOS 16. Now, with iOS 17, this capability extends to third-party apps. Recent announcements by TikTok and the well-known password manager 1Password also highlight their support for passkeys.

Also read: WhatsApp lands on Wear OS 3 smartwatches: Heres all you need to know

Although, more information such as the launch date of this new Whatsapp passkey feature has not been announced yet. So stay tuned for the official news.

Also read: Googles new passkey explained: Your password-less futures here
Becoming an entrepreneur: insights from industry experts

On July 28th, Friday, at the Company Venture in New York City, the North America Taiwanese Engineering & Science Association (NATEA) NY team hosted a thought-provoking startup talk event, centered around the theme of "Becoming an Entrepreneur". The entrepreneurial journey is often a daring leap from the familiar world of corporate jobs to the uncertain territory of startups. Throughout the talk, industry experts generously shared their invaluable experiences, challenges, and expert advice for those aspiring to make this transformation. Covering a wide array of topics, from finding the right co-founder to understanding the industry and securing venture capital funding, the event provided a treasure trove of insights for budding entrepreneurs.

Finding the Courage to Transition

The event began with Ted Shih, founder & CEO of Teletrx, taking the stage. Having established his third successful startup, Ted emphasized the importance of finding the courage to take the leap into entrepreneurship. He discussed how his background in high-speed IC design, coupled with his passion for innovation, fueled his determination to create Teletrx. Ted's story demonstrates that a strong sense of purpose and expertise in a specific domain can be powerful drivers for aspiring entrepreneurs. Furthermore, he shared the significance of authenticity as a founder, proving to potential investors that you are genuinely committed to your startup.

Unconventional Pathways to Entrepreneurship

Felicia Lin, Producer & Host of Talking Taiwan, shared her unique journey to becoming an entrepreneur. Her eclectic career, spanning finance, banking, human resources, education, and more, demonstrated that the path to entrepreneurship doesn't always follow a linear trajectory. Felicia's transition from social media and content marketing strategist to podcasting highlighted the importance of embracing diverse experiences and passions. She stressed that the fusion of various skill sets can lead to exciting entrepreneurial ventures. Additionally, Felicia shared the significance of finding a partner who can co-work with you, making decisions together, and sharing the burden of the entrepreneurial rollercoaster. This way, both individual can grow together and navigate the challenges hand in hand, ensuring a stronger foundation.

Bootstrap and Independence

During the startup talk event, Lee Lin, the founder & CEO of RentHop, shared his remarkable real estate startup story, placing a strong emphasis on bootstrapping as a founder rather than chasing external funding. With an impressive 15 years of existence achieved solely through bootstrapping, RentHop has maintained itself within the seed round, showcasing the power of financial prudence and sustainable growth. Lee's approach highlights the value of independence and strategic decision-making, offering aspiring entrepreneurs valuable insights into building resilient businesses that endure the test of time.

The Role of Accelerators and Networking

Moderated by Alice Kuo, a Business Innovation Consultant at Alice Lab, the event delved into the role of accelerators in startup growth. She emphasized that accelerators offer not just financial support but also valuable mentorship, networking opportunities, and exposure to potential investors. Alice, with her extensive knowledge of both the Taiwan and U.S. startup ecosystems, highlighted the importance of building a robust network and seeking guidance from experienced mentors.

Addressing Challenges and Focusing on Core Business

Throughout the event, several challenges faced by entrepreneurs were discussed. From writing a business plan to fundraising, recruiting, and accepting venture capital funding, the speakers shed light on how to overcome these hurdles. Emphasizing the significance of understanding the industry and finding market fit, they stressed the need to stay focused on the core business and remain adaptable in a dynamic market environment.

The Importance of Trust and Transparency

Another key aspect covered was the importance of trust and transparency within a co-founding team. Creating a strong foundation of trust and open communication is vital for a startup's success. Speakers shared personal anecdotes and experiences that showcased how a harmonious and supportive co-founding team can drive the company forward.

The Value of Mentors and Building a Network

The event concluded with a discussion on the value of mentors and the role they play in an entrepreneur's journey. Having mentors who can provide guidance, share insights, and offer support can significantly enhance an entrepreneur's decision-making process. The speakers encouraged attendees to actively seek out mentorship opportunities and build a diverse network of contacts within the industry.

In conclusion, the "Becoming an Entrepreneur" startup talk event organized by NATEA (North America Taiwanese Engineering and Science Association) NY team surpassed all expectations, leaving an indelible mark on the entrepreneurial landscape. Gathering like-minded Taiwanese working professionals in New York, the event proved to be a catalyst for dynamic interactions, with Q&A session that surpassed 30 minutes, fostering engaging conversations that continued into the post-event dinner. The speakers openly shared their invaluable insights, emphasizing the significance of bootstrapping, strategic decision-making, and sustainable growth. The high attendance rate, with 90% of Taiwanese working professionals in NYC participating, showcased the event's resonance and relevance within the community. This fruitful gathering of entrepreneurial minds served as a testament to the power of knowledge-sharing and networking in empowering aspiring entrepreneurs on their journey to success.

About NATEA

The North America Taiwanese Engineering & Science Association (NATEA) is a vibrant non-profit organization dedicated to promoting technological and scientific exchange and cooperation between North America and Taiwan. Through various events and activities, NATEA fosters a strong community of professionals, entrepreneurs, and innovators, contributing to the growth and development of science and technology across borders.

Follow NATEA Instagram (@NATEA_Silicon_Valley) and subscribe Newsletter for upcoming events.

Follow Alice's Medium (https://medium.com/reflection-on-resilience) for more US startup community insights
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Rising Chinese mmWave radar industry spurs intense market competition

With the progress in intelligence and stricter vehicle safety regulations, carmakers are facing a surging demand for sensors. In Level 2 self-driving and beyond, the market for automotive mmWave (millimeter-wave) radar is witnessing intense competition. Recently, Chinese contenders have entered the mmWave market, focusing on advancing the 77GHz mmWave radar. However, they are also grappling with price competition, resulting in a reshaping of the market landscape.

Currently, automotive mmWave radars are commonly deployed within three frequency ranges: 24GHz, 77GHz to 79GHz. The 24GHz mmWave radar often serves short-range detection systems, while the 77GHz mmWave radar is used for long-range detection applications such as Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB). Dominating the mmWave radar market are global giants like Bosch, Continental, Hella, Fujitsu, Denso, and other Tier 1 companies, who possess a significant share of the 77GHz mmWave radar technology.

As the 77GHz mmWave radar increasingly becomes the preferred choice for mainstream car manufacturers, Chinese enterprises investing in mmWave technology are actively entering the 77GHz sector. Chinese firms mainly focus on 24GHz, with only a few having the capacity for mass production of 77GHz radar systems. Key players include WHST, Chuhang Tech, Muniu Tech, Autoroad, and HASCO under the SAIC Group. Each of these companies asserts its achievement in attaining mass production capability.

At the beginning of 2023, rumors of Tesla's intention to incorporate 4D mmWave radar technology shine a spotlight on a select group of Chinese companies capable of large-scale production of this advanced radar technology.

Founded in 2013, WHST garnered investment from the leading Chinese security and surveillance firm, Hikvision. Its primary focus lies within the front-end market. In recent years, WHST embarked on the development of 4D imaging technology for mmWave radar, collaborating with China's Changan Automobile. During 2022, they successfully secured projects involving 4D imaging front-end radars with LiAuto, Hongqi, Geely, and Changan. By February 2023, WHST's 4D imaging radar model, named STA77-6, was integrated into the LiAuto L7 vehicle.

HASCO, as an affiliated entity of the SAIC Group, has seamlessly integrated its self-developed mmWave radar technology into various SAIC brands. In parallel, HASCO has secured orders from non-SAIC car manufacturers like NIO, Great Wall, Geely, Jidu, and Chery. HASCO has meticulously established a comprehensive range of long, medium, and short-range mmWave radars, encompassing functionalities such as in-cabin vital sign monitoring, electric door radar, corner radar, and front radar. Furthermore, recent structural optimization efforts have been completed within the domain of 4D imaging mmWave radar products. Currently, these optimized solutions are undergoing testing on specific commercial and passenger vehicles.

Chuhang Tech recently announced the successful European CE certification of two of its 77GHz corner radar products, which have been integrated into various vehicle models for Chinese clients. Overseas sales have also commenced. Strategically, the company is accelerating its overseas market expansion and has entered the supply chain of a renowned European car manufacturer. Collaborative efforts are in progress to develop the next-generation customized radar platform, slated for mass production in 2026. However, Chu Yongyan, founder and CEO of Chuhang Tech, previously highlighted at a forum that achieving mass production poses a significant challenge for manufacturers. The complexities involve the need for a comprehensive system, adherence to automotive regulations, and ensuring safety in the development of automotive radars. As a result, significant changes are expected in the Chinese mmWave radar market and industry in the coming years.

Taiwanese mmWave radar module manufacturers have also noted the development of the Chinese mmWave radar market, observing that Chinese companies are rapidly advancing within the automotive component sector, with a particularly strong competitive edge in terms of product pricing. Several years ago, these manufacturers had intentions to enter the Chinese market. However, due to intense price competition, they were compelled to withdraw entirely.
In the annals of Indias history, certain figures shine with an unwavering brilliance that transcends time. Their contributions leave an indelible mark on the nations identity, shaping its trajectory in ways both visible and unseen. One such luminary is the revered defence analyst and spy master, B. Raman. As we commemorate his birth anniversary on August 14th, we reflect on his lifes work and the profound impact he had on Indias security landscape.





B. Ramans journey, marked by dedication, intellect, and foresight, led him to become a formidable force in the realm of national security. Born on August 14, 1936, his early years were indicative of the incandescent mind that would later influence policies and perspectives. His innate curiosity and thirst for knowledge propelled him forward, setting the stage for a career that would define him as a visionary.





File Photo of B. Raman

One of the most remarkable aspects of B. Ramans legacy was his prolific writing. His words flowed like a river of insight, carving a path through the complexities of national security, espionage, and international relations. His daily write-ups, an invaluable resource, served as a beacon of awareness in an era when information was often obscured or selectively disclosed. With unwavering dedication, he unraveled intricate webs of geopolitical intrigue, enabling citizens and policymakers alike to grasp the nuances that shaped the nations security landscape.





But B. Raman was not merely a commentator; he was an active participant in safeguarding Indias interests. His years of service in the intelligence community earned him the title of seasoned spy master. A title richly deserved, as he navigated the clandestine world with a blend of intellect and shrewdness, always putting the nations welfare at the forefront. His dedication to protecting India from external threats was resolute, and his commitment to his duty was unwavering.





In an era where information is abundant yet often unreliable, B. Ramans assessments stood as pillars of accuracy and depth. His analyses were marked by a rare clarity, cutting through the fog of ambiguity to present a realistic perspective. His writings acted as a countermeasure to misinformation, offering an informed narrative that citizens could rely on. In this way, he not only educated but also empowered individuals to engage thoughtfully in discussions about national security.





As we remember B. Raman on his birth anniversary, it is vital to recognize the lasting impact he has had on Indias security infrastructure. His insights have contributed to shaping policies, guiding decisions, and fostering a culture of vigilance. The principles he espoused continue to resonate, reminding us that national security is a collective endeavor requiring informed engagement from all quarters.





B. Ramans legacy extends beyond his time on this earth. His writings remain a treasure trove of wisdom, accessible to those who seek to understand the intricate tapestry of global politics and security concerns. His example serves as an inspiration to future generations of analysts, diplomats, and citizens who aspire to contribute meaningfully to their nations well-being.





As we pay tribute to this remarkable man on his birth anniversary, let us remember B. Raman not only for his analytical acumen but also for his unwavering dedication to Indias security. Let his life be a reminder that individuals, armed with knowledge and integrity, can truly shape the destiny of a nation. Just as he illuminated the path for us, may we endeavor to carry forward his legacy, working tirelessly to ensure Indias sovereignty and security in an ever-evolving world.





Here, we present an excerpt from his book, The Kaoboys of R&AW: Down Memory Lane.





***





Kaos tenure as the Senior Adviser saw the beginning of an activist policy by India in Sri Lanka. Indira Gandhis close interest in Sri Lanka and concerns about it went back to 1971, when, to her annoyance, the then Sri Lankan Government allowed planes of the Pakistan Air Force to re-fuel at the Katunayake airport while on their way to and from East Pakistan after she had banned their flights through the Indian air space. Her strong expression of unhappiness over the Sri Lankan action led to a discontinuance of the re-fuelling.









Despite her cordial relations with Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Indira Gandhi did not close her eyes to the threats that could be posed to Indias security by Sri Lankas close relations with China. However, her unhappiness over Sirimavo Bandaranaikes flirting with the Chinese did not inhibit Indira Gandhi from promptly responding in April, 1971, to an SOS from the Sri Lankan leader for Indian assistance when the then ultra-Marxist Janata Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) launched simultaneous attacks in many places and came very near to capturing power. On the instructions of Indira Gandhi, Kao, who was then heading the R&AW, rushed to Colombo an IPS officer of the Maharashtra cadre serving in the R&AW, who had acquired an expertise in counter-insurgency. He had also been trained by the British security services, which had successfully put down the communist insurgency in Malaysia. This officer stayed in Colombo for some time and closely advised her and her officers on how to deal with the JVP insurgency. He returned to Delhi after the initial JVP threat had been overcome by the Sri Lankan security forces. Collection of intelligence about the JVP, its contacts with China and North Korea and its likely contacts with Marxist elements in India became an important task for the R&AW.





More than the Pakistani, the Chinese and the Marxist threats to India through Sri Lanka, what caused a major concern to Indira Gandhi was the possibility of American threats. After she returned to power in 1980, reports started coming in of increasing American activities in Sri Lanka and the hobnobbing of the United National Party (UNP) Government with the US. Indira Gandhi as well as Kao were concerned over the implications of an American interest in the hiring of a large number of petrol storage tanks in Trincomallee, which had been constructed by the allied forces during the Second World War. After the war, these tanks had remained unutilized. After the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971, the US Navy started showing interest in expanding its presence and activities in the Indian Ocean regionmainly to monitor and counter the activities of the Soviet Navy and also to keep an eye on the movements of a large number of Soviet fishing trawlers in the Indian Ocean. The CIA suspected that they were being used by the TECHINT division of the KGB, the Soviet intelligence agency, for intercepting the communications of the US naval ships in the Indian Ocean region.





Apart from developing Diego Garcia as a US naval base, the US started showing an interest in acquiring a presence in Trincomallee. After the war of 1971, Kao ordered an exercise to examine the various possibilities of strengthening the R&AWs capability for the collection of maritime intelligence about the US Naval activities in the Indian Ocean region. One of the decisions taken was to enter into a triangular co-operation agreement with the French and Iranian intelligence agencies, to which a reference has already been made in a previous chapter. Another was to acquire a fishing trawler to be manned by officers of the R&AW and the Indian Navy and use it for the collection of TECHINT with equipment and technical advice to be obtained from the TECHINT Division of the KGB. The first project did not produce satisfactory results. The second for a fishing trawler was a non-starter due to mental reservations in the Navy and the Finance Ministry. After Morarji Desai came to power in 1977, the project report was given a quite burial. It was not revived again since there was not much enthusiasm for it in the R&AW itself. The IPS officers, who constituted the majority in the organization, tended to be over-cautious and to avoid ideas beyond their comprehension.





Some months after Indira Gandhi returned to power in 1980, reports started coming in that a Singapore-based company was negotiating with the Sri Lankan authorities for taking the petrol storage tanks on hire. Enquiries made by the R&AW indicated that the Singapore company was acting as a front for the US intelligence community- for either the CIA or the NSA (the National Security Agency). The R&AW, which had a long-established liaison relationship with the intelligence division of the Sri Lankan Police and the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence, immediately took up the matter with them. They denied the report.





The MEA took it up with its counterpart in Colombo with negative results. The negotiations with the Singapore-based company slowed down, but were not called off. In the meanwhile, another report was received that the Voice of America (VOA), which is funded by the US State Department, was negotiating with the Sri Lankan authorities for permission to considerably expand its presence and broadcasting capabilities in Sri Lanka. The ostensible reason given by the VOA was that it wanted to expand its broadcasts to Asia. The R&AWs TECHINT officers suspected that the real purpose was to enable the CIA use the VOA set-up to monitor the communications of the Indian naval establishments in South India and of the Indian and Soviet naval ships in the Indian Ocean region. This matter too was taken up with the Sri Lankan authorities, but with similar negative results.





Though the Sri Lankan authorities ultimately abandoned the petrol storage tanks proposal and considerably scaled down the expansion of the VOA, Indira Gandhi was upset over the frequent instances of their insensitivity to Indias security concerns. In the meanwhile, the relations between the majority Sinhalese and the minority Sri Lankan Tamil communities kept deteriorating. This resulted in widespread anti-Tamil riots in Colombo in 1983 and the start of the movement for an independent Tamil state to be called Tamil Eelam under the leadership of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The riots and the Tamil Eelam movement had their echo in Tamil Nadu. Indira Gandhi always had a soft corner for South India in general and for Tamil Nadu in particular. They had stood by her in the best of times and in the worst of times. Reports of the sufferings of the Sri Lankan Tamils at the hands of the Sinhalese moved her to go to their help. The R&AW was asked to start an activist policy in Sri Lanka to assist the Sri Lankan Tamils. Indira Gandhis unhappiness over the insensitivity of the Sri Lankan authorities to Indias security concerns and her desire to help the suffering Sri Lankan Tamils both influenced her decision to embark on an activist policy. This activist project of the R&AW, which started during the tenure of Kao as Senior Adviser, under the over-all supervision of Saxena, continued after his exit, despite some embarrassment caused by a media leakage of some aspects of the project.





There was considerable nervousness in the Pakistani Armed Forces over the return of Indira Gandhi to power and her action in recalling Kao from retirement and appointing him as Senior Adviser. Zia-ul-Haq, the military dictator who had overthrown Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and seized power in 1977, and other Armed Forces officers had not forgotten what happened to Pakistan and its Army in December 1971, when Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister and Kao headed the R&AW. Zia was very happy with the Morarji Desai Government, which refrained from any fraternization with the opponents and critics of the military regime in Pakistan.





Moreover, Morarji Desai, A.B.Vajpayee and Charan Singh hardly knew any Pakistani political leader. The Pakistani political leaders did not think much of them. Those, who had escaped from Pakistan and gone into exile in Afghanistan, the UK and other countries of West Europe, were greatly excited by her return to power and by the appointment of Kao as her Senior Adviser. The Pakistani political class in Sindh, Balochistan and the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) admired her and began hoping that she would help them in their movement against the military regime for the restoration of democracy in Pakistan. They started visiting Indiamany secretly, some like the late Khan Adul Wali Khan, the son of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, the Frontier Gandhi, openly. They came either to meet her or Kao or Saxena. The R&AW made discreet arrangements for these visits and for their meetings with Indira Gandhi and others. Many of the Pakistani leaders had a wide circle of friends in the Congress (I) party, originating from the days of the partys freedom struggle against the British before 1947. They renewed their contacts and old friendships during their visits.









Since its inception in 1968, the R&AW had a close liaison relationship with the Khad, the Afghan intelligence agency, which was an important source of information for the Indian intelligence on Pakistan. This relationship was further strengthened after Indira Gandhi and Kao returned to office and Saxena took over as the head of the R&AW. The foundation was laid for a trilateral co-operation involving the R&AW, the Khad and the KGB. Many of the training camps for the Khalistani terrorists run by the ISI were located in the tribal areas of the NWFP. The arms and ammunition for them came from the Pakistan Army stocks kept in the NWFP. The R&AW, therefore, greatly valued the co-operation of the Khad for monitoring the Khalistani activities in that area.





The R&AW was also greatly interested in details regarding the covert operations of the CIA in Afghanistanhow the CIA and the ISI were training the Afghan Mujahideen, what kind of arms and ammunition and explosives were being given to them etc. Under the leadership of William Casey, the CIA started following in Afghanistan a policy of using the methods practised by the Hezbollah, the terrorist organization of the Lebanon, for making the Soviet and Afghan troops bleed. To avoid Congressional allegations of their resorting to terrorism in their proxy war against the Soviet troops, the CIA avoided directly training the Afghan Mujahideen and the Arab terrorists, including Osama bin Laden, who had flocked to Afghanistan via Peshawar.





Instead, they helped the ISI in creating a covert action division headed by Brigadier Mohammed Yousef to train the Afghan Mujahideen and the Arab volunteers in the techniques of the Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations. Brig. Yousef and his officers were secretly taken to the US and imparted the necessary training. Experts of the U.S. Special Forces trained the ISI officers in the fabrication of high-tech explosive devices such as the ammonium nitrate-fuel oil (ANFO) vehicular bombs and in sabotage techniques. The CIA supplied to the ISI large quantities of explosive material of different kinds, detonators and timers. The ISI officers trained by the CIA and the US Special Forces, in turn, trained the Afghan Mujahideen and the Arab volunteers.





The ISI, while carrying out the instructions of the CIA, secretly transferred some of these techniques and materials to the Khalistani terrorists in the camps run by it for them. The Khalistanis started using these techniques and materials against the Indian security forces and civilians, when they stepped up their acts of terrorism after Operation Blue Star. Thus, while the CIA-ISI collaboration was supposedly directed against the Soviet and Afghan troops in Afghanistan, India too started feeling their effect on its internal security. The R&AWs co-operation with the Khad and the KGB had two purposes- to get information regarding the ISI-imparted techniques and the ISI-supplied materials being used by the Afghan Mujahideen and the Arab volunteers and to get details of the equipment captured by the Soviet and Afghan troops from them.





While keeping a wary eye on the activities of the CIA and the ISI in Afghanistan, Kao, Suntook and Saxena did not allow concerns over this come in the way of the R&AWs liaison relationship with the CIA. In fact, the R&AW sought the assistance of the CIA for training some of its officers as well as some from the IB in counter-terrorism techniques such as dealing with hijackings, hostage negotiations etc. The CIA happily obliged. Thus, one had one more bizarre example of how international intelligence co-operation works. The CIA trained the officers of the ISI in the use of terrorism against an adversary. At the same time, it trained the officers of the R&AW and the IB in some of the techniques of countering that terrorism.





Even while actively co-operating with the CIA against the Soviet presence in Afghanistan, the military dictatorship in Pakistan pressed on with its efforts to acquire a military nuclear capability, without facing any serious opposition from the US. Its dependence on Pakistan for its operations in Afghanistan made the Reagan Administration close its eyes to Pakistans feverish quest for acquiring a military nuclear capability. Pakistan not only continued with its clandestine procurement activities in the West, but it also entered into a secret collaboration project with China on this subject. The Science and Technology (S&T) Division of the R&AW, headed by Dr.K.Santanam, did outstanding work in closely monitoring Pakistans clandestine activities in this regard.





Shortly after the formation of the R&AW in September 1968, Kao, with the approval of Indira Gandhi, had set up a secret liaison relationship with Mossad, Israels external intelligence agency. This relationship used to be handled through R&AW officers posted in West Europe. Senior officers of the two services, including the chiefs, periodically used to exchange visits. The main purpose of this liaison relationship was to benefit from Israels knowledge of West Asia and North Africa and to learn from its counter-terrorism techniques. The secrecy of Indias contacts with Israel and of the liaison relationship between the R&AW and the Mossad was successfully maintained till 1977. Some aspects of it leaked out during the Prime Ministership of Morarji Desai. The media had come to know of a clandestine visit by Gen.Moshe Dayan, the legendary military hero of Israel, to Kathmandu. It did not take them long to establish that the main purpose of the visit was for a clandestine meeting with representatives of the Government of India.
Tanaiste Micheal Martin has said Ireland will co-operate fully with a UK inquiry into the Omagh bombing, which he described as one of the most brutal atrocities ever witnessed on this island.

In a statement marking the 25th anniversary of the bombing, Mr Martin said: We will never forget the 29 people who lost their lives, those who were injured, and the families whose suffering continues today.

My thoughts are first and foremost with all those impacted by this attack, carried out with disregard for democracy, and for people.

I have been honoured to meet with, and listen to, the families of the Omagh bomb victims over many years, most recently in June. Their search for the full truth of what happened has not been an easy or swift process.

The Omagh bomb atrocity showed the appalling impact of violence on communities. The campaign of violence in Northern Ireland was never justified. We must keep working relentlessly on peace, dialogue and rebuilding trust.

Earlier this year, Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris announced that an independent statutory inquiry will be carried out into the atrocity.

Draft terms of reference have been shared with the Irish government but Mr Martin said it is his understanding the chair of the inquiry, Lord Turnbull, intends to seek the views of those most affected by the bombing before they are published.

Mr Martin, who is also Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence, added: Officials stand ready to engage with members of the UKs inquiry team as soon as they are appointed.

When we have further clarity on the nature of the UK inquiry, I will then consider, along with the Minister for Justice (Helen McEntee) and my Cabinet colleagues, the next steps in this jurisdiction.

As has been done in relation to a number of historical inquiries, this State will co-operate fully.

Justice for the victims and the families impacted by this atrocity will be at the heart of any action that the Government takes.
The picturesque landscapes and vibrant cultures of Africa have long drawn European tourists, and among the diverse destinations, The Gambia has emerged as a unique magnet for retired British women seeking unconventional experiences. The rise of Gambian bumsters  unemployed Gambian men who offer companionship and services to older European women  has garnered attention, both for its financial implications and its complex dynamics.

For many European women, particularly British retirees, The Gambia has transformed into an unexpected haven for seeking companionship and intimacy. These relationships, while often fleeting, offer a respite from the ordinary and an opportunity for adventure.





For many young Gambians, offering companionship and services to older European tourists becomes a matter of survival.

The term Gambian bumsters or Gambian bums has become synonymous with these men who provide a range of services, often including emotional and romantic connections, to ageing European women. Its reported that some women are willing to spend substantial sums, sometimes amounting to thousands of pounds, on these interactions. Some even make multiple trips to The Gambia, drawn by the allure of the connections they forge.





However, these relationships are not without their complexities and challenges. Instances of deception and betrayal have come to light, highlighting the potential pitfalls of such interactions. A notable case involves a great-grandmother, Margaret Sarr, 71, who reportedly spent her life savings of 200,000 on her Gambian toyboy husband, only to find out he had cheated on her after relocating to the UK.





For many young Gambians, offering companionship and services to older European tourists becomes a matter of survival. In a country where the average monthly salary hovers around 200 and some hotel staff earn as little as 50, the prospect of increasing their income to 500 or more per week through such arrangements holds significant appeal.





One of the Gambian bumsters explained, Age is just a number for us. If you go with a rich white lady, you feel proud and people treat you with respect. If a white woman likes me, I only ask for a little money to help us to eat and I will love her for as long as she loves me.





This phenomenon raises important ethical questions and casts a unique light on the dynamics of power, wealth, and exploitation. While some argue that these interactions are consensual and mutually beneficial, others view them through the lens of neocolonialism, underscoring the complexities of post-colonial relationships between Western tourists and locals in developing nations.





The emergence of The Gambia as a destination for unconventional tourism reflects a confluence of personal desires, economic realities, and cultural dynamics. As the story unfolds, it prompts discussions about the ethics of such relationships and the broader implications for both the individuals involved and the societies they inhabit.
A MAN was granted strict bail amid concerns for an unidentified male whose head was allegedly stamped on repeatedly after intervening in an "extremely violent" attack on two women in Dundalk.

Lokman Benharkou, 29, who resides in asylum accommodation at the Carnbeg Hotel, Armagh Road, Dundalk, Co. Louth, was charged with assault causing harm to two women at Park Street at about 1.30 am on Friday.

The Algerian national was granted bail with strict conditions when he appeared before Judge Susan Fay at a weekend sitting of Dublin District Court.

She heard gardai remain concerned about the unidentified man who suffered serious facial injuries during an incident captured on CCTV.

Garda Michael Doherty said there were "serious concerns" for the male who left the scene r before gardai and paramedics arrived, and no one in the takeaway knew him.

The court heard that the male "yet to be identified had sustained very serious injuries as the suspect had stamped on his head a number of times, knocking him unconscious and causing serious facial injuries."

Mr Benharkou's reply to charges of attacking the two women was, "I'm sorry, I apologise for what I have done".

Garda Doherty objected to bail due to the seriousness of the incident, which he described as unprovoked and "extremely violent in nature". It was alleged a man went into a takeaway, got into a verbal altercation, and attacked three people before leaving in the direction of Earl Street, Dundalk.

Gardai observed the accused at Earl Street, and he told them, "I was just defending myself; I done nothing wrong".

The two women told the garda that the man had entered the takeaway agitated and started to shout abuse at them.

It was alleged that he punched one of the women in the face, and she "immediately fell to the ground"; her female partner "jumped in front of the male to prevent further assaulting her partner. At that point, it was claimed he punched her in the back of the head, also knocking her down to the ground.

The court heard another male "intervened "and was punched, fell to the ground, and the accused allegedly began to "stamp" on his head three or four times, "knocking him unconscious".

According to the garda's evidence, the accused left the takeaway but returned soon after and assaulted the male again on the ground, "punching him to the head and face several times".

One of the women suffered a cut to her lower lip, had a sore and swollen jaw and received medical attention. However, the gardai were trying to ascertain the identity of the injured male.

The garda also voiced flight risk concerns and told the court that the accused lived in a direct provision centre, having come to Ireland 11 months ago; before that, he spent 11 years in the UK.

Cross-examined by defence counsel Kevin McCrave, he agreed the accused had the presumption of innocence and no prior convictions or other cases pending. He accepted that gardai had yet to speak to the injured male.

The court heard the accused had applied for refugee status, and the defence submitted that the accused would surrender his travel documentation and obey other conditions.

Pleading for bail, Mr McCrave submitted there had been hearsay evidence about the yet-to-be-interviewed and unidentified male, and while it was quite concerning, the reality was unknown.

The accused also had two charges for theft of 5 and a phone from a man in Dundalk on August 6.

Judge Fay granted bail to Mr Benharkou and added a list of conditions to his 100 bond. She warned the accused, who is yet to indicate a plea, he must notify gardai of any address change, sign on daily at the local garda station, obey a 10 pm  7 am curfew, be contactable by phone 24 hours a day, remain sober and have no contact with witnesses.

She also ordered him to surrender his passport, not apply for a duplicate, and stay out of parts of Dundalk.

Mr Benharkou was granted legal aid and ordered to appear at Dundalk District Court on September 6 next.
Louth based Senator Erin McGreehan has this week welcomed news that more than 17,300 children in County Louth will benefit from free schoolbooks, workbooks and copy books from September, under an initiative introduced by Minister Norma Foley TD.

Minister Foley announced details in March of the new scheme, which provides free schoolbooks in primary schools and special schools.

Senator McGreehan said that the free book scheme has been made possible through the provision of over 1.6 million worth of funding.

Senator McGreehan commented: This is a landmark moment for Irish education, and one which will provide significant benefit for families around the country.

Back-to-school time can be a challenging time for parents and families, and I welcome Minister Foleys commitment to easing the burden.

We in Fianna Fail believe in the power of education, and we believe in making education truly accessible for all.

Senator McGreehan added, this is yet another positive step forward, which I wholeheartedly welcome.

Nationwide, more than 558,000 pupils enrolled in over 3,230 primary schools, including over 130 special schools, will benefit from the scheme.

Senator McGreehan said that the scheme will significantly ease the financial burden facing families during back to-school time.

Over 50 million has been made available to support this scheme, including an administrative grant for schools rolling out the scheme.

This scheme is aimed at ensuring that parents and guardians will not be asked to buy or rent any school books, workbooks or copy books as of autumn 2023.
An inflatable pink flamingo toy sparked a multi-agency sea rescue over the weekend, after it was reported that a boat was drifting off-shore.

The Coast Guard Operations Centre confirmed they were notified of an inflatable boat drifting off shore at Portmarnock on Sunday.

A multi agency operation went into action with shore crews consisting of Coast Guard personnel from Howth, Fingal Life Guards from surrounding beaches and local An Garda Siochana searching the Coast line.

Howth RNLI inshore lifeboat searched the water assisted by vessels in the area. Coast Guard Rescue 116 searched from the air.

The object was located and turned out to be a pink flamingo inflatable toy with nobody on board. A follow up search was carried out and confirmed no missing persons were reported.

"We would remind people not to bring inflatable toys to the seaside, as seen today they can drift very quickly away from the beach with an off shore wind," the Coast Guard commented on social media.

This evening, we were tasked to an inflatable drifting offshore with a possible child onboard.



A multi-agency rescue operation with RNLI, Coast Guard, and Lifeguards discovered the object was a pink flamingo pool toy. Follow up searches determined nobody was missing. pic.twitter.com/5YcPsu3Kg9  Irish Coast Guard - Howth Harbour Station (@HowthCoastGuard) August 13, 2023



However, they added that anyone who notices something of concern should never hesitate to contact the Irish Coast Guard at 999 or 112.
Despite years of opposition by Western intelligence and police agencies, China continues its efforts to develop favorable attitudes towards China in Western universities. Most of this effort is concentrated in large English speaking nations like the United States and Britain. Western officials have long realized this. Western universities and faculty were always a prime target because these institutions and their key staff are not seen as a target for Chinese influence operations. China understands that the staff of universities in the West are recognized by locals as a source of expert opinion on many matters. These faculty members can also be influenced by gifts of cash. These are not called gifts or, more accurately, bribes. Rather the money is considered a grant to support further academic studies on one subject or another. China arranges large grants. Government and popular opposition to these programs has not eliminated them, just forced China to change how it implements the program. While Western intelligence agencies remain alert and aware of this program, few others in government or academia seem to be concerned.

After several years of indifference by university administrators towards requests to monitor and block Chinese influence efforts, governments are becoming more energetic and aggressive about.

This was a return to methods last employed three years ago. For example, in 2020 an American and two Chinese were indicted for secretly providing China with U.S. technology. The American was Charles Lieber, head of the Harvard Chemistry and Chemical Biology department. He was accused of secretly establishing a working relationship with a Chinese university at Wuhan. Lieber established research efforts at Harvard, recruiting top scientists to work on projects of interest to China and secretly passing research results to China. He also received millions of dollars from China to further this research. During the FBI investigation Lieber repeatedly lied about these activities, which did not prevent the FBI from eventually gathering all they needed to arrest Lieber and indict him. It is rare for China to convince a senior American academic, like Harvard department head Charles Lieber, to get involved in illegal research projects. Why Lieber got involved in such blatantly illegal activities was not disclosed and details probably wont emerge until his trial.

Also indicted for Harvard related espionage was a Chinese citizen, Zheng Zaosong, who was studying at Harvard on a student visa and was accused of trying to smuggle 21 vials of biological material and research data back to China. The third defendant was Yanqing Yeh, a Chinese student at nearby Boston University. She was also an active duty lieutenant in the Chinese Army who was supervised by a colonel at a Chinese military academy that was working on new technology for the Chinese military. This school was on an American list of Chinese educational institutions that were banned from working with anyone in the United States. Yeh was also caught trying to smuggle research data back to China. Yeh had lied about her military status when she applied for a student visa, asserting that she had been discharged from the army and left out her connections with the banned (in the U.S.) Chinese military academy she was working for as an army officer. She was also accused of being an unregistered foreign agent. Among the items uncovered by the FBI was that Yeh had been assigned to investigate one American academic at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School who was researching computer security. Given how active China has been using hackers to steal valuable data from the United States, that particular assignment was ominous. Yeah had presented herself as a student but further investigation showed she was a very active Chinese spy.

It is unclear if Lieber, Yeh or Zheng were working together and it is likely they were not. A standard foreign espionage procedure is to have such individuals handled separately by their handlers back in China. These three indictments are the result of the United States imposing more restrictions on Chinese officials who come to the U.S. and have contact, for whatever reason, with American academics, researchers and local (city, state and country) government officials. These Chinese will have to notify the U.S. government of such contacts. Based on recent FBI investigations and prosecutions, this will make it more difficult to operate their massive espionage program that seeks details of how American patents are implemented as well as trade secrets (items that are not patented but are essential for operating a business or factory).

It was already illegal for American academics and researchers to secretly work for Chinese government or commercial firms. These restrictions wont trigger similar measures for Americans in China because China has long assigned police and intel specialists to closely observe who visiting Americans visit. This surveillance often involves MSS (secret police) agents advising Chinese to refuse such meetings or only do it with an MSS agent present, usually pretending to be an employee of the firm.

Meanwhile, China has been making the most of their access. One recent FBI investigation documented the use of the Chinese Confucius Institute's cultural centers at American universities and how these programs were actually part of a widespread intelligence operation that employed visa fraud for Chinese visiting scholars who were actually MSS operatives. This program recruited Chinese-born businessmen, academics and others, often naturalized American citizens, to participate in IP (Intellectual property) theft. Further encouragement was that some of these operatives could sometimes profit from it personally. Not all these recruits knew they were participating in espionage but the Chinese could effectively pressure their citizens to cooperate. Worse, the FBI discovered that many of the Chinese in the U.S. on J-1 visas (for visiting scholars) spent most of their time on espionage and a bare minimum on actual research.

As successful as this espionage effort was, most of the Chinese-Americans approached by recruiters were not interested and politely declined. More importantly, many of them quietly reported their encounters to the FBI or to friends they knew could do it for them. The Chinese knew these alerts to the FBI posed a risk but considered it an acceptable risk given the amount of intellectual property that was being stolen and put to work back in China.

Back then, the United States has been prosecuting and convicting a growing number of Chinese-born men (and a few women) conspiring to commit or actually carrying out economic espionage in the United States. Some of these suspects are naturalized American citizens but a growing number are Chinese citizens here on legitimate visas. As more suspects were identified patterns began to appear which revealed the inner workings of known Chinese intellectual property espionage efforts.

It was known that China had a state-sponsored program to make it easy for foreign-educated Chinese to return home and apply what they had learned in the West to start their own companies. China offered billions of dollars in venture capital for this program. This made it easier for Chinese moving back to China from the West to establish their own companies using what they learned in the West. This program helped create thousands of new firms. Many of these firms were using stolen trade secrets and patents that were being laundered. That is, changed sufficiently to make it difficult for the owners of the stolen intellectual property to easily prove theft.

The FBI and CIA again noted several interesting patterns. While many of the returning Chinese students were operating legally, a large number of those new Chinese firms were operating illegally by depending on stolen intellectual property. There were other patterns as well. A lot of the stolen tech seemed to involve Chinese and Americans associated with various Chinese efforts that helped returning Chinese profit from what they had learned in the West. These programs involved establishing hundreds of Confucius Institutes associated with Western universities, including a hundred in the United States. That, plus the aggressive recruiting of Chinese and non-Chinese academics willing to help China mobilize the largest IP theft in history.

Participating in this program has become riskier. The growing number of convictions are for conspiring to steal or actually stealing trade secrets. Many of the technologies involved are dual-use; for commercial and military applications. Many of these investigations begin when American companies provided the FBI with documentation showing how the Chinese obtained and applied the trade secrets. What the American firms usually lack is information about who was getting the information, often including detailed manufacturing techniques, to the Chinese. The U.S. is not the only victim here. Many other Western nations are experiencing the same losses. Even Chinese neighbor and ally Russia has suffered heavy losses due to this Chinese economic espionage.

There have been a lot more court cases about this because Chinese firms have become bolder in how they exploit stolen software, trade secrets and other technology. In the past, the Chinese were careful in the use of stolen tech when exporting their own military equipment copied from Russian designs. The Chinese had started doing this during the Cold War, which sometimes got fairly hot (there were some deadly border skirmishes in the 1970s) because China and Russia developed some territorial and ideological disputes that did not settle down until the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991.

The Russians are still angry about the continued Chinese theft of their tech and growing Russian threats over this caused the Chinese to sign agreements in the last decade that declared Chinese firms would stop stealing and reselling Russian tech. In practice, this only slowed the Chinese down, but it placated the Russians for a while. Currently, the Americans are starting to sound like the Russians in the 1990s, but the Americans have more legal and economic clout to deploy and this situation is liable to get ugly before (if ever) it gets better.

By 2012 most American officials had come to openly admit that a whole lot of American military and commercial technical data has been stolen via Chinese Internet (and more conventional) espionage efforts. Details of exactly all the evidence of this is unclear, but apparently, it was pretty convincing for many American politicians and senior officials who had previously been skeptical. The Chinese efforts have resulted in most major American weapons systems having tech details obtained by the Chinese, in addition to a lot of non-defense or dual-use technology. Its not just the United States that is being hit but most nations with anything worth stealing. Many of these nations are noticing that China is the source of most of this espionage and few are content to remain silent any longer.

Its no secret that Chinese intelligence collecting efforts since the late 1990s have been spectacularly successful. As the rest of the world comes to realize the extent of this success, there is a growing desire for retaliation. What form that payback takes remains to be seen. Collecting information, both military and commercial, often means breaking laws and striking (or hacking) back at the suspected attackers will involve even more felonies. China has broken a lot of laws. Technically, China has committed acts of war because of the degree to which it penetrated military networks and carried away copies of highly secret material. The U.S. and many other victims have been warning China there will be consequences. As the extent of Chinese espionage becomes known and understood, the call for consequences becomes louder.

China tries hard to conceal its espionage efforts. Not just denying anything and everything connected to its hacking and conventional spying but also taking precautions. But as their success continued year after year, some of the Chinese hackers became cocky and sloppy. At the same time, the victims became more adept at detecting Chinese efforts and tracing them back to specific Chinese government organizations or non-government hackers inside China.

Undeterred, China has sought to keep its espionage effort going and has even expanded operations. For example, starting in 2008 China opened National Intelligence Colleges in many major universities. In effect, each of these is an "Espionage Department" where, each year, several hundred carefully selected applicants are accepted in each school, to be trained as spies and intelligence operatives. China has found that espionage is an enormously profitable way to obtain military and commercial secrets and now China trains and rewards those who have a talent for such things and make a career of it. The Internet-based operations, however, are only one part of Chinas espionage efforts.

While Chinese Cyber War operations in this area get a lot of publicity, the more conventional spying brings in a lot of stuff that is not reachable on the Internet. One indicator of this effort is the fact that American counter-intelligence efforts are snagging more Chinese spies. This is partly due to increased spying efforts by China, which puts more of their people out there to get caught, as well as more success by the FBI and CIA. All this espionage, in all its forms, has played a large part in turning China into one of the mightiest industrial and military powers on the planet. China is having a hard time hiding the source of the new technologies they are incorporating into their weapons and commercial products. Many of the victims initially had a hard time accepting the fact that the oh-so-eager (to export) Chinese were robbing their best customers of intellectual property on a grand scale. Now Western firms are a lot more wary about dealing with the Chinese.

China has been getting away with something the Soviet Union never accomplished, stealing Western technology and then using it to move ahead of the West. The Soviets lacked the many essential supporting industries found in the West. These firms were largely founded and run by entrepreneurs, which was illegal in the Soviet Union.) Because of that, the Russians were never able to acquire all the many pieces needed to match Western technical accomplishments. Soviet copies of American computers, for example, were crude, less reliable, and less powerful. It was the same situation with their jet fighters, tanks, and warships.

China got around this by making it seemingly profitable for Western firms to set up factories in China, where Chinese managers and workers were taught how to make things right. At the same time, China allows thousands of their best students to go to the United States to study. While many of these students will stay in America, where there are better jobs and more opportunities, a growing number are coming back to China and bringing American business and technical skills with them. Finally, China energetically uses the "thousand grains of sand" approach to espionage. This involves China trying to get all Chinese going overseas, and those of Chinese ancestry living outside the motherland, to spy for China, if only a tiny bit.

This approach to espionage is nothing new. Other nations have used similar systems for centuries. What is unusual is the scale of the Chinese effort, and that makes a difference. Supporting it all is a Chinese intelligence bureaucracy back home that is huge, with nearly 100,000 people working just to keep track of the many Chinese overseas and what they could, or should, be trying to grab for the motherland. This is where many of the graduates of the National Intelligence College program will work.

It begins when Chinese intelligence officials examine who is going overseas and for what purpose. Chinese citizens cannot leave the country legally without state security organizations being notified. The intel people are not being asked to give permission. They are being alerted in case they want to have a talk with students, tourists, or business people before leaving the country. Interviews are often held when these people come back as well.

Those who might be coming in contact with useful information are asked to remember what they saw or bring back souvenirs (legal or otherwise). Over 100,000 Chinese students go off to foreign universities each year. Even more, go abroad as tourists or on business. Most of these people were not asked to actually act as spies but simply to share, with Chinese government officials (who are not always identified as intelligence personnel), whatever information they obtained. The more ambitious of these people are getting caught and prosecuted. But the majority are quite casual and individually bring back relatively little and are almost impossible to catch, much less prosecute.

Like the Russians, the Chinese are also employing the traditional methods, using people with diplomatic immunity to recruit spies and offering cash, or whatever, to get people to sell them information. This is still effective and when combined with the "thousand grains of sand" method brings in a lot of secrets.

Not getting caught is becoming more important because that can lead to increasingly dangerous diplomatic and legal problems. When the Chinese steal some technology and produce something that the Western victims can prove was stolen (via patents and prior use of the technology), legal action can make it impossible, or very difficult, to sell anything using the stolen tech outside of China. For that reason, the Chinese long preferred stealing military technology and tried to avoid using stolen commercial tech in a way that made it easy to determine the source of stolen data. This meant keeping stolen commercial tech inside China. And in some cases, like manufacturing technology, there's an advantage to not selling it outside of China. Because China is still a communist dictatorship, the courts do as they are told, and they are rarely told to honor foreign patent claims when stolen tech is discovered in China by its foreign owners.

But increasingly, Chinese firms are boldly using their stolen technology, daring foreign firms to try and use Chinese courts to get justice. Instead, the foreign firms are trying to muster support from their governments for lawsuits outside China. Naturally, the Chinese government will howl and insist that its all a plot to oppress China. This has worked for a long time, but many of the victims are now telling China that this conflict is being taken to a new, and more dangerous, level.
MBABANE  Cabinet ministers, who were nominated in the 2023 General Elections, dispute that they have advantage over their competitors.

This is according to views that were shared by outgoing politicians. In certain sectors of society, some held the view that Cabinet ministers, who are still in office and also in the running for another term in Parliament, had an advantage over their competitors. Some individuals, before the dissolution of the 11th Parliament by King Mswati III on July 11, 2023, felt that Cabinet ministers had an upper hand as they would be busy with their portfolios, which they could also abuse for campaigning. Last Wednesday, His Majesty the King revealed that the last day for Cabinet ministers to be in office would be September 25, 2023. After the announcement, it was noted that they would be in office even during the campaigning period, which is slated for August 27 to September 27, 2023.

Elections

The secondary elections on the other hand would be held on September 29, 2023. Seven Cabinet ministers were nominated in their respective chiefdoms for the position of Member of Parliament (MP). The nominated Cabinet ministers are Minister of Labour and Social Security Phila Buthelezi, Minister of Public Service Mabulala Maseko, Minister of Economic Planning and Development Dr Tambo Gina, Minister of Tinkhundla Administration and Development David Cruiser Ngcamphalala, Minister of Education and Training Lady Mabuza, Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs Moses Vilakati, as well as Minister of Agriculture, who is also the Acting Minister of Natural Resources and Energy, Jabulani Mabuza.

On the contrary, politicians who were also nominated for MP positions said they felt that the seven ministers were actually not a threat to their competitors.

Some said they had hoped that Cabinet would be dissolved just after the primary elections, as it was the case in previous election years. One of the outgoing politicians, who felt that there was not much to dwell on was Sithobelweni Inkhundla MP Bhekitje Dlamini. He was nominated for the MP position. He explained that Eswatini politics were different from other countries. He said after the Kings command, even if one would share a different view, it would not matter. All I can say is that the Kings word is final. Any view after that should be reserved, he said.

Anticipated

Gege Inkhundla outgoing MP Musa Kunene said he anticipated that Cabinet would be dissolved on August 25, 2023. He, however, noted that there were a number of national events that the public would attend, therefore, it made sense to have Cabinet ministers in office until then. The country is expected to hold a double celebration this year, marking 55 years of independence and the 55th Birthday of His Majesty King Mswati III. The outgoing chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Musa Kunene said from where he was, the seven Cabinet ministers, who were also nominated, were at a disadvantage where the campaigning period was concerned. They would be expected to continue their ministerial duties, while some of their competitors would be busy canvassing for votes, he said.

He said he felt that even being in office could disadvantage them further, more especially those who were in controversial ministries like the Ministries of Education and Training, Labour and Social Security, which is currently receiving scholarship applications, and Public Service. The latter ministry is under the microscope as civil servants are busy negotiating the cost-of- living adjustment (CoLA). Some Cabinet ministers felt that the complaints about them being in office were baseless. Some of them highlighted that emaSwati were getting clued up on politics. They mentioned that there was no amount of campaigning that some people could do in order to win votes between the primary and secondary elections.

Vote

People know who they want, in fact they are just waiting to cast their vote and close that chapter, said the Minister of Public Service, Mabulala Maseko, is outgoing Maphalaleni Inkhundla MP. The minister, who was also nominated for the MP position, said the public were very clever and educated. Maseko said since the last elections, and the years after that, members of the public were busy looking at suitable candidates. Therefore, he said people shouldnt think that the electorate would be clouded by sudden acts of kindness. He said being a minister was not disruptive to him or gave him an upper hand as other candidates.

Meanwhile, Minister of Labour and Social Security Phila Buthelezi stated that being in office did not mean that they would use government resources to campaign. He said when it came to the official campaigning period, they would be treated like all other candidates and follow the method stipulated by the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC). We would be part of EBCs form of campaigning. We would not be treated differently or do things differently because we are ministers, he said. Minister of Tinkhundla Administration and Development David Cruiser Ngcamphalala also wondered how being in office would put them at an advantage over their competitors. He said people knew what they wanted and had their preferred candidates.
THE morning sky was a wide open blue when Fiona Loughran arrived to the Dock Beach in Kinsale.

She is renowned for her devotion to nutrition, yoga, womens circles, massage, and pilates, and glided along with flowing attire, carrying a basket of ceremonial items.

Fiona strikes me as a leader and a woman that has forged her own path. She hails from Bishopstown and spent her youth outdoors.

A natural environment is where she finds solace, and if its possible, where most of her work takes place.

Whats interesting about Fiona and what separates her from other yoga/wellness folk, is how multifaceted she is; from nutrition to fitness, pilates, massage, yoga, and womens circles, to gatherings and events of different forms.

I wanted to know how this person came into being.

From a young age, as young as ten or so, my mother took me to meditate with the Brahmin nuns in Bishopstown, so I was introduced to this from an early age, she says,

We sat on mats at the beach and as we chatted she casually lit a stick of incense and pierced the surface of the sand with it. She unpacked a variety of items from her basket and assembled an altar before her,

An altar can consist of anything thats meaningful to you, and its for alter-ing your state of being, refocusing into yourself," Fiona explains.

When I finished school at 17, I did a year course in Holistic Therapy, and the holistic approach has always stayed with me, as you can tell with the many layers of my work.

I was professionally modelling during my teens, and to be modelling lingerie at 15 and 16 - such a young age - is a strange thing. To have all those people looking at you, with cameras and lights pointed at you, theres a mental detachment that comes along with it, so a lot of what I was doing after that was to actually return to the body.

Wellbeing specialist Fiona Loughran arriving at Dock Beach in Kinsale with her toolkit. Picture: Richard Gordon

Fiona used yoga as a means to return to the body,

Yoga is a breath-centric practice, developing a conscious relationship with your spine both on and off the mat, she explains.

Everything I do is an invitation. If you want to come along and just lay in the foetal position, you can. I just want people to reconnect with themselves because were so externalised, everything is outward, I like to bring people back inside.

In her mid-to-late twenties, or her Saturn return as she calls it, Fiona decided to leave an unfulfilling life and took a leap of faith by moving to Majorca.

I only had a small bag with me, not knowing what was going to happen and if I would return or not.

One day I was sitting in a cafe and I just thought Id love a music festival so I asked a man beside me if he knew of one and he walked off and returned to me with a flyer for one.

This moment, she explained, caused a domino-like series of events in her life that introduced her to new people, took her on superyacht adventures around the Caribbean, and also enabled her to work in a studio in Majorca continuing her practice.

I developed a beautiful relationship with a dear friend where we shared practices with each other in his studio, says Fiona.

We looked after each others bodies, so I would massage him and he would perform acupuncture on me, which mainly consisted of me crying! she laughed.

Fiona is down-to-earth and not afraid to laugh and inject humour into her practice.

The beach was covered in seaweed, which was unusual,

What do mermaids smoke? she asked with a wide grin. Seaweed!

After her adventures in Majorca, the Caribbean, Thailand and Bali, Fiona felt like it was time to stop moving and returned to Cork, settling in Kinsale.

At first I was like ice - cold - aaahhh! I thought I would have the comforts and friendships of home, but they werent really there, so I set out to form a community and to find those bonds.

I have a close circle of friends and we go on our own retreats where we look after each other. We dont include too much structure, we let things flow.

A womens circle held by Fiona Loughran at Roberts Cove.

Interestingly, Fiona has started a mens circle called Wild Beings Being Seen, which happens in the forest.

The ceremony takes about three hours and it is beautiful, allowing men to be vulnerable around the feminine, because its me and my friend that host it, I think it is really special.

The thing I want to do, and what is across all my work, is to remind people how amazing they really are!

Fionas core message is positive and her passion radiates. Its difficult to see where works stops and life begins with her, as they are both at one with her; she lives and breathes it.

Fiona can be found from 7am teaching yoga at the Dock Beach, Kinsale, on Wednesday mornings during the summer. She hosts and participates in a variety of different events, all of which can be found on her Instagram account - @healthyfiona.
Lord Mayor Cllr Kieran McCarthy has welcomed the start of the Road Safety Improvement Scheme on the intersection of Ballinlough Road and Bellair Estate.

The proposals include the construction of two table top raised areas at the junctions of Bellair Estate and Ballinlough Road, and Wallaces Avenue with Ballinlough Road, respectively, and a zebra crossing from Our Lady of Lourdes School to the former Bean Brownie shop side. The works are due to finish by the start of the school term in August.

In the early discussions on design a controlled crossing was ruled out due to peoples driveways adjacent to the junction. It is also proposed to reconstruct and improve footpaths in the vicinity of both junctions, and modify and improve public lighting, road markings and road signage.

Lord Mayor Cllr McCarthy noted:

The corner of Old Lady of Lourdes National School is a blind corner and has many people crossing this dangerous stretch of road every day.

"Public safety has been a regular issue that local people have raised with me, which I have raised regularly at Council level.

"Over many years, I have received much correspondence and phone calls from people highlighting stories of near misses and outlining fears for themselves and in many cases, children living in the local area.

It was people power, which drove the funding to be put in place and the works to start as soon as possible. The funding came as part of a central government package of funding to Cork City Council as part of a Low Cost Safety Scheme for local road networks, concluded the Lord Mayor.
MANZINI  Eswatini Air had to rent an airplane for over a month when launching its new routes for an undisclosed amount.

The routes are King Mswati III International Airport to Cape Town and Durban, South Africa (SA). Also, the route to Harare, Zimbabwe was introduced by the airliner. According to Monach Air Group, chartering an Embraer ERJ 145 private jet costs between US$6 000 (E113 302.02) and US$9 000 (E169 953.03) per hour. Also, America-based Paramount Business Jets lists regional chartering of the same plane to be about US$8 700 (E164 287.93) per hour. The rates were converted into the local currency as per yesterday exchange rate of US$1 being equivalent to E18.88. Eswatini Air revived Eswatinis national airline, after it had been dormant for almost three decades. In reviving the national airliner, government approved that the Royal Eswatini National Airways Corporation (RENAC) - a Category A public enterprise, procure two aircraft, which are operated under its business unit, Eswatini Air.

Regional

The two aircraft bought by RENAC were not new as they were previously owned by Air France  Hop, which is a full service regional airline for France. The two aircraft bought by Eswatini were the Embraer ERJ-145 and each has a carrying capacity of 50 passengers. The aircraft were bought for a combined price of US$3.1 million, which is about E47.43 million.

The national airliner had its maiden flight to O.R. Tambo International Airport from King Mswati III International Airport on March 26, 2023. This route was serviced by the airliner seven days a week, upon inception. Initially, there were two flights (morning and evening) on this route, which on May 5, 2023, had an additional afternoon trip for four days per week.

Thereon, the airliner, in a phased-in approach, introduced its routes to Cape Town and Durban, SA. Also, the route to Harare, Zimbabwe was introduced by the airliner. The Durban route operates seven days a week, in the morning and evening, while the Cape Town trip has three trips per week. The trip to Harare had the number of trips as that to Cape Town.

It has been gathered that during the introduction of the Cape Town, Durban, SA and Harare, Zimbabwe routes, that the Eswatini Air had to rent an airplane for over a month. According to sources, the aircraft had to be rented as it would have been impossible to service all the four routes with one aircraft, as the other had been experiencing challenges. The sources said the second aircraft had been away for almost two months now. They claimed that this had resulted in Eswatini Air having to limit its trips on the Cape Town, Durban and Harare routes.

According to sources, there were suggestions that for Eswatini Air to continue delivering the required services, the aircraft that has not been operating in the months should be sold. In fact, sources claimed that the national airliner at instances had to rent other airplanes when the Embraer ERJ-145 currently servicing all the routes needed to be attended to.

RENAC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Qiniso Dhlamini confirmed that Eswatini Air had rented an airplane for a month. Dhlamini said the aircraft, which was rented during the month of May, had to assist the national airliner introduce the new routes. He explained that the aircraft had a scheduled major service known as a c-check, which is conducted every two years.

Dhlamini said that both planes were bought at 30 000 hours, which were half their life and they still had had over 10 years. As such, he dismissed the notion that the airplane currently having a major service should be sold. He explained that an Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft had a lifespan of over 60 000 hours, which also did not mean that upon reaching those hours it should be sold but instead, it became expensive to keep it just as it is the same case with vehicles.

Market

One of our planes was being attended to and we had to rent an airplane to introduce our new routes. This is because we had already sold tickets and had to establish the market in the routes, Dhlamini said. He explained that this was necessary for Eswatini Air as it had to establish credibility in the market following a long period of absence of an Eswatini airliner.

The CEO further said the airplane which had been rented had been returned to the supplier. He also acknowledged that Eswatini Air was at instances forced to rent an airplane for a day or two when the Embraer ERJ-145 currently servicing all the routes needed to be attended to. This, he said, was normal in the aviation industry as an airline may urgently need to be attended to in order to ensure smooth travelling for clients.

On the other hand, Dhlamini said Eswatini Air had availed cheaper tickets for travellers. He said they were expected to be more viability and sustainability-driven than a profit-driven airline, because they were considered a service, yet they were exposed to all the pressures of sustaining service in a high-cost operating environment.
FINE Gael councillor for Cork City North East Joe Kavanagh said the recent visit of An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to Glanmire presented residents, local sporting and community groups with the opportunity to present their case for better facilities in the area.

As part of his visit to the area, the Taoiseach met with representatives from sports, community, and voluntary organisations. Following these meetings, he then met members of the public at Sarsfields GAA Pavillion.

Cllr Kavanagh said it was a very successful visit. He would have met a lot of groups, community groups and sporting organisations. It was a very successful visit. Glanmire is probably the fastest growing area in Cork city at the moment and that has been acknowledged by the planners. It is important the facilities are good to cater for the growing demand, he said.

Cllr Kavanagh said the Taoiseach was made aware of many issues in the greater Glanmire hinterland.

We have a situation in Upper Glanmire where there is no bus service.

"I have been highlighting this since 2019. It is pinpointed for huge growth right into Ballyvolane and we dont have a transport infrastructure into the city from there. This issue was raised with the Taoiseach by concerned community associations.

The sporting organisations had their own issues, said Cllr Kavanagh. Due to the continued growth in the population locally, you had a situation where Riverstown FC have hundreds of members and they might have one or two pitches and that is simply not enough. There is land that was supposed to be used by the FAI for a Centre of Excellence and this never materialised.

This land is just outside the city boundary. The organisations were calling on Cork City Council to engage with Cork County Council and with the help of Leo, his colleagues, and the department to try and expand the area to incorporate that parcel of land which is available and zoned. He took all the issues on board, he added.
Gardai in Cork are continuing to investigate after three incidents that occured over the weekend left several people in the hospital.

Gardai and emergency services attended the scene of a road traffic collision on the N71 in Letterlickey, Co Cork on Saturday morning.

The collision between a car and a motorcycle occurred at approximately 10.30am.

The motorcyclist, a male in his 50s, was transferred by air ambulance to Cork University Hospital for treatment of serious, but not life-threatening, injuries.

The passenger of the motorcycle, a female in her 60s, was also conveyed to CUH for treatment of minor injuries.

There were no other injuries reported.

The road, which was closed for a period to facilitate a technical examination, has since reopened. The vehicles have been removed from the scene for further examination.

Investigations are ongoing, a garda spokesperson confirmed.

In a separate incident, gardai and emergency services were alerted to a road traffic collision on Church Street, Shandon, Cork on Saturday afternoon.

The collision between a van and a pedestrian occurred at approximately 12.30pm.

The pedestrian, a female in her 50s, was conveyed to CUH for treatment of minor injuries.

Investigations are ongoing.

'Carrigaline in Shock'

In another incident, gardai in Carrigaline are investigating a serious road traffic collision on the Cork Road into Carrigaline at the Ballinrea roundabout that occurred last Saturday morning, August 12 at approximately 9.20am.

A male child cyclist was seriously injured in a collision with a car. He was transferred from the scene to Cork University Hospital and has since been transferred to CHI at Temple Street where he remained in critical condition on Sunday.

The road was closed, and the scene was examined by the Garda Forensic Collision Investigators. It has since reopened.

Fianna Fail councillor Seamus McGrath said there is a deep shock in the locality.

It was a horrific and tragic accident. The local community is deeply shocked and saddened to hear the news about the incident," he said.
CORK City Council will soon begin an assessment of a large number of the citys historic buildings.

The project will see the assessment of over 800 buildings across Cork city in an effort to improve any historic structures in need of repair.

Lord Mayor of Cork Kieran McCarthy, has welcomed the move to improve the conditions of the old buildings, revealing that it is something he had been working towards for a number of years.

The councillor and historian explained that he had previously put forward a motion to have crumbling buildings on South and North Main Street assessed.

Cork City Council is set to collaborate with the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage on the initiative.

The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage is a State initiative under the administration of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and aims to identify, record, and evaluate the architectural heritage of Ireland, uniformly and consistently as an aid in the protection and conservation of the built heritage.

It is hoped that, by cataloguing the buildings in need of repair, the project will help to provide resources to properly care for these structures.

Mr McCarthy has said that the data gathering mission will be a good thing for Cork and the first of its kind regarding the state of its historical buildings.

The council didnt have a document on where we were at on those buildings, and then we were always getting queries from people on things like, Why arent we allowing people live above a shop? he explained.

So, it was about joining up those dots and getting that data.

Mr McCarthy said that improving the condition of such buildings will greatly benefit the reduction of carbon emissions and meeting climate change goals in Cork.

The first phase of the project is due to begin in early September. This will involve an overall assessment of each building, detailing whether or not the building is vacant, and if applicable, how long the building has been idle.

The fieldwork will also carry out an overall risk assessment and will rate the structure as being in good condition, derelict or in ruin.

According to Cork City Council there are 1,200 known buildings of historic, architectural or other significance in Cork city and this stock take will assess almost 800 of them.
Three men charged following a 4.2m cocaine seizure in Cork were further remanded in custody on Monday.

Gentjan Dodaj, of Paradise Road, Athlone, Co. Westmeath, appeared before Cork District Court via videolink. He was further remanded in custody in Cork Prison until August 21 for a bail application and for direction on his case by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

His brother, Donatel Dodaj, 22, of the same address, and Daniel Afedoaei of Sli an Aifrinn in Athlone were remanded in custody in Cork Prison until August 28 for DPP directions.

The three men are accused of possession of cocaine and possession of cocaine for sale or supply on August 5 in Richmond, Dunkettle, Co. Cork.

It is alleged that 60kg of the drug was seized following a major Garda and Revenue Commissioners/Customs and Excise operation.

Brothers Gentjan, 39, and Donatel Dodaj are Albanian nationals. The court previously heard that Donatel had arrived in the State in recent weeks and was staying with his brother. Daniel Afedoaei, 22, is a Romanian national.

The three men had previously been granted legal aid. The men appeared via videolink in front of Judge Alec Gabbett in Cork District Court on Monday.
SPINAL Injuries Ireland (SII) are calling on Cork businesses and public representatives to take part in the A Day In My Wheels initiative to highlight awareness and help create inclusive accessibility in the workplace and beyond on October 4.

A Day in My Wheels invites businesses in the Cork area to learn and spend time with wheelchair users who have sustained Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). The aim of the campaign is not only to help the general public obtain a better understanding of living with this life-altering injury but offers employers and companies assistance and guidance to put the appropriate supports in place.

This is the most ambitious campaign yet for SII and they aim to raise 100,000 to support the 2,300 people living with SCI.

Speaking at the launch of the 2023 campaign Mayor of Cork, Cllr Frank OFlynn, said: It is important to learn directly from the people who are living with Spinal Cord Injuries about how we can make the workplace and the world in general more accessible.

"It is vital that we all play our part when it comes to making the world a more accessible and comfortable place for everyone and I would invite as many businesses as possible to take part.

Fiona Bolger, CEO for Spinal Injuries Ireland (SII) explained that: On average, three people sustain a Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) every week in Ireland. The impact can be devastating, and we want to be able to continue to provide support to our service users as they adjust to their life post-injury.

SII is inviting business leaders and public representatives (with up to four of their team members) to sign up now and join SII ambassadors and the Disability Federation of Ireland on October 4 at Cork County Hall for breakfast, talks and workshops.

Following this, participants will have the opportunity to buddy up with a service user and spend the afternoon using a wheelchair. The aim of the day is to provide a unique insight into the reality and accessibility issues.

Companies or individuals are invited to contribute 5,000 to participate with funds will directly support the 2,300+ individual affected.
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

In the first half of 2023, households in the UK installed a record number of solar panels and heat pumps, according to MCS, the official standards body of the renewable technologies industry.

Installations for the two green energy sources were up 62 percent from the previous year, with an average of more than 17,000 households installing solar panels every month, reported Energy Live News and The Guardian.

Battery technology installations have grown each month, with more than 1,000 batteries installed in UK businesses and homes so far this year.

In the spring, it was looking like we would have something like 215,000 MCS certified solar installations this year. But that was clearly an underestimate  I would bet on around 250,000 now, said Gareth Simkins of Solar Energy UK, as The Independent reported. Installing solar on your roof is one of the best home improvements you can make and more and more people realise the financial and environmental benefits.

The UK government has a solar capacity target of 70 gigawatts (GW) by 2025. It also wants to install 600,000 heat pumps by 2028.

In the first half of this year, 17,920 heat pumps were installed, thanks to the availability of grants.

One of the biggest obstacles to increasing heat pump installations, according to MCS, is the number of skilled, qualified installers. It said that to meet the goal of 600,000 installations, 50,000 workers would be needed.

MCS said more than 850 new contractors have gotten their certification in 2023, which has already surpassed last years total.

As the cost of energy continues to grow, we are seeing more people turn to renewable technology to generate their own energy and heat at home, said MCS Chief Executive Ian Rippin, as reported by The Guardian. We need to continue to push this expansion to meet our shared national ambitions to reach net zero by 2050. More consumers have the confidence to invest in small-scale renewables now than ever, but we have to make that transition even easier.

Small-scale renewables installations in the UK currently have four GW of capacity, which is nearly twice that of the largest gas power plant in Europe, located near Pembroke, Wales.

It is essential that the lowest-carbon heat becomes the lowest-cost heat, so that homeowners and landlords can justify the transition away from polluting fossil fuels, said Bean Beanland, the director of external affairs at the Heat Pump Federation, as The Guardian reported. If this is coupled to a genuine affordability and future funding package, then households will be able to contribute to climate change mitigation with confidence and at a cost that is fair to all.




Cebu, Philippines bans swine and pork products from neighbouring Bohol province



Cebu province in the Philippines has enacted a 60-day ban on the entry of live swine, sows, and pork-related goods originating from neighbouring Bohol province, after African swine fever (ASF) cases were detected there, ABS-CBN reported.

Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia's executive order cites the necessity for this ban due to the verified instances of ASF discovered in the municipality of Pilar, Bohol.

The ban extends its reach to encompass piglets, boars, livestock transport trucks, and reefer vans originating from Bohol. Its primary goal is to safeguard Cebu's thriving swine industry from the possible threat posed by ASF.

To ensure the strict enforcement of this new executive order, Governor Garcia has directed multiple government entities to take charge. The Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, Cebu Port Authority, Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority, and local mayors within the jurisdiction of the Province of Cebu have all been tasked with monitoring the implementation of the ban.

Meanwhile, the local government of Bohol has asserted that they have effectively managed to contain the infection. According to provincial veterinarian Stella Lapiz, extensive testing was conducted even beyond the radius of the affected hogs, all of which yielded negative results.

Lapiz said that only nine households with swine farms experienced culling of swine, a measure supported by the local government. She also highlighted the imposition of checkpoints and the reduction in the number of vulnerable animals as precautionary actions taken.

Bohol's swine industry holds a substantial value of PHP 6 billion (~US$106 million; PHP 10 = US$0.18), and the province had maintained an ASF-free status since 2019.

- ABS-CBN




Singapore recalls Ukrainian eggs over salmonella contamination



The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has initiated a recall of eggs that were imported from a farm in Ukraine due to the detection of salmonella, Channel News Asia reported.

The presence of salmonella in these eggs has prompted the SFA to take action. The affected eggs can be identified by the imprint "CEUA001" on their shells. This specific farm code is applicable to all batches of eggs affected by the recall.

The Ukrainian farm responsible for the affected eggs, LCC Yasensvit, has been suspended from exporting eggs to Singapore. The suspension will only be lifted after the farm addresses and resolves the issue of salmonella enteritidis contamination, according to the agency.

Salmonella enteritidis, a bacterium that can lead to foodborne illnesses, can be eradicated through proper cooking. The SFA advises that eggs are safe to consume when thoroughly cooked. The agency has directed importers to take precautionary measures by either withholding or recalling the impacted eggs.

Salmonella infection may result in symptoms such as diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever, nausea, and vomiting. While most cases resolve within a week, the bacterium can lead to severe infections in vulnerable individuals, including the elderly, young children, and those with weakened immune systems.

As a preventive measure, consumers who have purchased the affected eggs are advised to ensure thorough cooking before consumption. Those who have already consumed the eggs and are experiencing health issues should seek medical attention.

Major Singapore supermarket chain FairPrice has promptly removed the affected eggs from its shelves and is offering customers a full refund if they return the eggs to FairPrice stores by August 15.

- Channel News Asia




Iran witnesses 37% surge in domestic wheat purchases amid promising yields



Iran's domestic wheat purchases have surged by 37% during the harvest period between April and early August compared to the same period last year, according to an official statement from the country's Ministry of Agriculture, Tasim News reported.

Mohajer, Deputy Ministry of Agriculture for Arable Farming, revealed that the government has procured over 9 million metric tonnes (mt) of wheat from domestic farmers since April. This figure marks a remarkable increase of more than 104% when compared to the period of April to August 2021. The growth in dry-land farming activity has significantly contributed to the positive outlook for wheat yields in Iran this year.

Saeid Raad, chief executive officer of the Government Trading Corporation (GTC), a Ministry of Agriculture subsidiary responsible for staple grain supply, highlighted the substantial surge in wheat purchases in specific provinces. Wheat procurements in certain regions have nearly doubled this year in comparison to the previous year, with Khuzestan and Fars provinces emerging as the leading wheat suppliers. Khuzestan has delivered 1.72 million mt, while Fars has contributed nearly 1 million mt of wheat to GTC silos.

Raad said that the total value of wheat purchased from Iranian farmers since April has exceeded IRR 1,340 trillion (~US$268 million; IRR 10,000 = US$0.24). Notably, around 70% of the payments to wheat farmers have already been settled.

The reported domestic wheat purchase figure exceeds earlier government forecasts announced for this year by 1 million mt. This impressive performance is attributed to the government's guaranteed purchase programme, which offers a favourable price of 150,000 rials ($0.3) per kg for wheat.

Experts anticipate that Iran's total wheat output for this year could reach 14.5 million mt, indicating a growth from the 13.2 million mt reported in 2022.

- Tasim News




Livestock Philippines organisers award ADM for feed mill performance

ADM Philippines was recently conferred the "Excellent Performance Recognition in Commercial Feed Mill for Swine" award by Livestock Philippines 2023 organizers at the World Trade Center Metro Manila in the Philippines.

ADM has been one of the leading animal feed manufacturers in the Philippines. It has been conducting business in the country for over 20 years, assisting and supporting the country's livestock and poultry producers.

ADM Philippines' feed mills are situated in strategic locations. These feed mills are equipped with state-of-the-art machinery and technology, which allow the company to produce high-quality feed products that are safe, nutritious and affordable.

The company's feed mill for swine was certified by the Department of Agriculture's (DA) Bureau of Animal Industry, which gives ADM's customers assurance that the company's feed products have met the high standards of quality and safety set by DA.

"Being recognised for ADM's achievements and efforts in helping the country achieve vital food security is a testament to our Philippine farmers, who continuously grow their businesses in pig farming through the technology we provide in our animal feed," said Lorenzo Mapua, managing director of ADM's animal nutrition business in the Philippines.

- The Manila Times
MBABANE  The money is ready!

In his quest to participate in the 2023 General Elections, outgoing Senator Mkhululi Dlamini has raised the amount E200 000 security for costs required by the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC). The EBC wants Dlamini to avail the money, in terms Section 19(3) of the Elections Act of 2013, before his appeal against its decision to remove his name from the voters roll is heard by the High Court. In a brief interview after being sought for comment yesterday, Dlamini said because he was desirous to see justice being done and seeing his matter being finalised, he managed to raise the required amount. He said his only wish was to see his matter concluded. I managed to raise the money and as we speak, I am ready to go and deposit it where I will be directed by the court, said Dlamini.

Provisional

Security for costs refers to a provisional measure that a party may seek from a court to order its counterpart to post security payment so as to secure that partys right to recover its costs (i.e. legal costs and expenses incurred during the arbitral proceeding). In the EBCs application, the Chairperson of the commission, Prince Mhlabuhlangene, said the Act empowered the EBC to make an application for security for costs to the judge handling an objection appeal at the High Court, before the appeal could be considered. He said the EBC estimated its costs of litigation of the whole matter at an amount of E200 000. These costs were projected to cater for, among other costs, legal fees and costs for the re-nominations exercise. The Act further provides that if the party, who is required in law to furnish the security for costs fails to do so, the appeal shall be deemed to have been withdrawn, said the chairperson. The application will be heard on August 18, 2023. In his appeal, Dlamini raised four grounds of appeal against the EBCs decision to remove his name from the voters roll.

He filed the notice after the High Court granted him leave to appeal the decision of the EBC to remove his name from the voters roll of Othandweni Primary School Polling Station under Siphofaneni Constituency. His first ground of appeal is that the EBC allegedly removed his name from the voters roll without a valid objection being lodged in terms of Section 18 (2) of the Voters Registration Act No.4 of 2013. He said by so doing, the EBC misdirected itself. The second ground of appeal is that the EBC allegedly based its decision on a purported objection it received on July 22, 2023 when in actual fact the voters roll verification was closed on July 12, 2023. The effect was that the names that appeared on the voters roll on July 22, 2023 were final and thereby the commission misdirected itself, submitted Dlamini.

His other ground of appeal is that the EBC allegedly took a decision to remove his name without hearing his side and thereby committed an error in law. The last ground of appeal, according to Dlamini, is that the EBC allegedly misdirected itself by not including his name on the list of nominees for Member of Parliament (MP) under Othandweni Primary School Polling Station. His prayer to be granted leave to appeal the decision of the EBC was granted by Judge Justice Mavuso.

Application

His application for leave to appeal was in terms of Section 18(5) of the Voters Registration Act No.4 of 2013. In a letter the commission wrote to Dlamini, it informed him that it received an objection to the inclusion of his name in the voters register under the Siphofaneni Inkhundla, in terms of Section 18 of the Voters Registration Act No.4 of 2013. The objection, according to the EBC, was on the basis that Dlamini was not a resident of the area at which he was registered. It was further brought to his attention that, in line with Section 18(3) of the Act, the commission was empowered to review registration objections from voters. In his application in court, which he filed under a certificate of urgency, Dlamini wanted the High Court to direct EBC to transmit to the registrar of the High Court its decision taken on July 22, 2022 in terms of Section 19 (1) of the Voters Registration Act No.4 of 2013. The current year is a year for holding national (general) elections and a prerequisite to participating in the general elections is that one must register under the polling station and inkhundla wherein he or she wishes to participate, he narrated.




Thailand seeks to get pork into Singapore

Thailand's Department of Livestock Development is working with the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) to promote the export of safe pork.

Efforts will be focused on ensuring quality through quality assurance systems and certified disease-free pig farms. These efforts aim to build confidence in Thai pork imports, while also addressing the price challenges in the market.

Dr. Sorawit Thaneto, Director-General of the Department of Livestock Development, and his team met with the management team of SFA, the main food safety and security agency of Singapore, as well as the management team of Animal and Veterinary Services (AVS). The meeting focused on exchanging ideas to promote animal product exports and fostering good relations between the two countries' agencies.

Dr. Thaneto stated that the progress in overseeing the animal health control system and the pig production industry, from farms to consumers. This progess includes:

 Disease control and surveillance operations in pigs;

 Certification of disease-free pig farms in Thailand for three diseases: foot and mouth disease (FMD), classical swine fever (CSF) and African swine ever (ASF);

 Implementation of good practices in Thai animal product slaughterhouses and processing plants, following the standards of the Department of Livestock Development and international standards.

"The proposed standards will generate confidence and trust in the quality control and standards of the Department of Livestock Development, ensuring the entire production chain of Thai animal products," Dr. Thaneto said. "The department, along with the association of pig producers and processors, is working to open the market for exporting chilled pork to Singapore."

Officials from SFA had visited Thailand to observe the process of pork production, from farms to slaughterhouses and processing plants. This visit aimed to establish confidence in Thai animal products for export to Singapore, ensuring safety and high quality, and contributing to the city state's food security.

According to Dr. Thaneto, the exchange of knowledge and opinions regarding animal health supervision between both sides will play a significant role in promoting negotiations for exporting pork to Singapore in the future.

Currently (January-July 2023), Thailand has been able to export approximately 54,000 tonnes of animal products to Singapore.



- InfoQuest
MBABANE - Unionised lecturers and support staff of Limkokwing University of Creative Technology (LUCT) have run to court to stop Christian prayers during their meetings.

They want the management of the institution not to impose the Christian faith on them. Through their union, the National Workers Union of Swaziland Higher Institutions (NAWUSHI), the unionised lecturers want the High Court to interdict the management of LUCT, or anyone acting on its behest, from directing them to pray during their weekly stand-up meetings. It was further their plea to the court that it should declare the conduct of the respondent (LUCT) of imposing the Christian religion and practices on them to be unlawful. In motivating their application, the applicants (union) argued that such practice was in violation of their constitutional right to freedom of religion.

Wondered

They wondered why the management of the university allegedly imposed its prayers on people who were unequivocally opposed to it. They argued further that they made it clear that the prayers were unsolicited and unappreciated due to differences in religion. One finds no other conclusion than to conclude that this is a blatant abuse of power and sheer disrespect to the workers constitutional right to freedom of religion and conscience, submitted the union on behalf of the support staff and lecturers. Section 23 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Swaziland (Eswatini), under the protection of freedom of conscience or religion, provides that: Except with the free consent of that person, a person shall not be hindered in the enjoyment of the freedom of conscience, and for the purposes of this section freedom of conscience includes freedom of thought and of religion, freedom to change religion or belief, and freedom of worship either alone or in community with others. Respondents in the matter are LUCT and its Head of Academics, Stella Hlezephi.

Giving background of what gave rise to their application, the Secretary General (SG) of the union, Stanley Simelane, narrated to the court that in June 2022, a member of the union, Fundiswa Magagula, lodged a grievance against the Director of the institution, Tfobile Gumede, after she was purportedly discriminated against on the basis that she was a sangoma. This, according to Simelane, happened during an official Board of exams meeting. He went on to submit that, subsequently, a grievance was lodged and the outcome was that Magagula was discriminated against and that religious practices at the institution should be halted pending finalisation of a policy on religion.

According to the secretary general, the union alleged that the hearing was convened on July 7, 2022, wherein the unions branch Secretary, Nsidiso Tsabedze, was observing on its (union) behalf. He alleged that to date, the written outcome of the grievance had not been availed to the aggrieved employee, who had since left the institution as her contract was not renewed.

Simelane averred that the union wrote several correspondences to the institution, requesting for the findings and minutes of the hearing, but they were allegedly sent from pillar to post, and at times, completely ignored. The union has made it clear that the opening of meetings with Christian prayer offends our non-Christian members and the latest communique in this regard was sent to the office of the human resource manager on July 26, 2023, a response to which has not come through to date, he submitted. He alleged that, subsequent to the letter of July 26, 2023, respondent at a stand-up meeting on August 2, 2023, opened the meeting with a prayer.

Subscribed

Simelane stated that one of the members of the union, Yusof Shabangu, who subscribed to the Muslim faith, raised his hand in objection but was allegedly ignored and the head of academics proceeded with the prayer to mark the start of the meeting. The head of academics, according to Simelane, was allegedly well-cognisant of why Shabangu had raised his hand.

She alleged that the head of academics demonstrated by her remarks at the meeting, where she stated that she was a child of God and could not be stopped from praying. What boggles the mind and one struggles to phantom is why do those in authority impose their prayers on persons, who are unequivocally opposed as it has been stated that those prayers are unsolicited, he argued. These are allegations whose veracity is still to be tested in court. The respondents are yet to file their answering papers.

Simelane brought it to the attention of the court that the applicant was a legal persona and was the sole representative of its members in terms of the recognition agreement. He further submitted that the applicant had a current existing right to represent its members, whose constitutional right to freedom of religion was allegedly being violated by the management of the institution. I submit that the applicant has a prima facie right in that, it represents the unionised members who have expressed their dissent and displeasure at being subjected to the Christian faith and practices when they are not Christains and have communicated same unequivocally to the respondents, he stated.

Simelane also told the court that the union had a prima facie right to seek an order interdicting an alleged violation of its members constitutional right to freedom of religion. He highlighted that the foreseeable prejudice was that, non-Christian members would continue to be subjected to the prayers during the weekly compulsory meetings, much against their religion and faith. This is a matter of conscience and bothers on ones overall wellness. The damage visited on them is irreparable and there is no suitable remedy in due course, he argued. The secretary general said the matter was urgent because the management of the learning institution had allegedly continued to impose the Christian faith on the unions members.

Meetings

He said this was despite several communications informing them (management) of the impact of its actions on the non-Christian workers and on the basis of the fact that the stand-up meetings were weekly and mandatory. He argued that, as such affected members would be subjected to a faith and practices to which they were, in conscience opposed. Simelane said this would be in violation of their constitutional right to freedom of religion and a remedy in due course could not undo the harm already suffered. The conduct of the respondent is unlawful and wilful violation of the constitutional rights of the employees. It is this conduct that has to be nipped in the bud, he contended. Some of the affected employees disposed to a confirmatory affidavit in support of the application. One of the deponents is Shabangu (Yusof). He told the court that he was the branch executive vice chairperson of the union. I confirm that I am a Muslim by faith and that I am opposed to being subjected to Christian practice and that I am one of the affected persons who sought to have the matter addressed between the management and the union of Limkokwing University, submitted Shabangu.

Confirmed

He also confirmed to have raised his hand in protest during one of their meetings for purposes of registering his objection when Shongwe (second respondent) mentioned that she was opening the meeting with prayer. Also to depose to confirmatory affidavit was Magagula (Fundiswa) , who claimed she was discriminated against by the director of the institution.

The matter has since been referred to the registrar of the High Court for allocation before another judge. This comes after Judge Ticheme Dlamini recused himself, citing that he was related to one of the members of the institutions, who was his biological sister. The applicants are represented by Nhlanhla Ginindza of N.E Ginindza Attorneys, while appearing for the respondents is Banene Gamedze of Musa Sibandze Attorneys.
Xiaomi's third foldable phone adds a zoom camera but keeps the slim frame The Mix Fold 3 will only be available in China, though.

Summer season is also foldable phone season, it seems. Following on the heels of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and the impressively slim Honor Magic V2 (along with smaller models from Samsung and Motorola), it's now Xiaomi's turn to unveil its annual refresh. The aptly named Mix Fold 3 offers several expected improvements in terms of folded thickness (5.26mm), unfolded thickness (10.86mm) and weight (255 grams). Honor still has nothing to worry about when it comes to thinness and lightness, but Xiaomi's latest contender has gained a 5x periscopic zoom camera and, at last, a selfie camera, all of which would seem to address some of the last-gen model's more obvious pain points.

Another notable addition is 50W wireless charging alongside the original 67W wired option. Depending on which charging method you use, the company says it takes 55 minutes or 40 minutes, respectively, to fully charge the slightly denser 4,800mAh battery. (If you're comparison shopping, Honor forfeited wireless charging on the Magic V2 to meet its aggressive thickness target.) The Mix Fold 3's wireless charging should pair well with Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 "Leading Version" processor, with its primary core capable of up to 3.36GHz of clock speed  handy for video editing on the larger screen.

Xiaomi

Thanks to its beefed-up camera setup, the Mix Fold 3 packs a total of four Leica-enhanced on the rear: a 50-megapixel f/1.77 main camera (Sony IMX800, 23mm equivalent) with optical stabilization, a 12-megapixel f/2.2 ultra-wide camera (15mm equivalent), a 10-megapixel telephoto camera (75mm equivalent) and the handy new 10-megapixel f/2.92 periscope camera (115mm equivalent).

Like before, you can always toggle the external screen to leverage any of these rear-facing cameras for better selfies, but for general video conferencing, you now have the option to toggle between the 20-megapixel front cameras on both the 6.56-inch external screen (2,520 x 1,080, 120Hz) and 8.025-inch flexible screen (2,160 x 1,916, 120Hz).

Xiaomi

The screen sizes here are practically identical to the last-gen model, except both are now upgraded with Samsung's E6 OLED display technology for improved efficiency and outdoor visibility; you get up to 2,600 nits of peak brightness on the external panel.

Meanwhile, with Xiaomi's improved hinge, the company can finally disclose a durability figure of 500,000 folds (certified by TUV Rheinland). As a bonus, the Mix Fold 3 finally supports hover mode from 45 degrees to 135 degrees, meaning you can prop up the rear cameras to attempt more artistic angles or timelapse shots  just make sure you don't accidentally scratch the external screen.

Xiaomi is taking pre-orders for the Mix Fold 3, with prices ranging from 8,999 yuan or about $1,240 (12GB LPDDR5X with 256GB UFS 4.0 storage) to 10,999 yuan or around $1,515 (16GB RAM and 1TB storage). You'll be able to choose between a 5-layer composite material body (black only) and a more classic glass finish (black or gold). Like last year, all versions include a familiar-looking kickstand back cover in the box, but now with a bonus protection frame for the upper part of your foldable. However, Engadget understands that Xiaomi will once again be limiting its latest device to the Chinese market, which is probably a relief for the likes of Samsung and potentially Honor in the rest of the world.

All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices are correct at the time of publishing.
Monday, August 14, 2023

On July 26, 2023, the democratically elected president of Niger, Mohammed Bazoum, was deposed in a coup by the countrys military. West African leaders roundly condemned the coup and quickly imposed economic and diplomatic sanctions on Niger. They called for the immediate release of Bazoum, who has been detained by the military since the takeover.

A few days after the coup, leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) issued an ultimatum to the junta leaders to restore constitutional order within one week. ECOWAS chiefs threatened to use military force to reinstate the deposed president if their demands were not met. With the passage of the deadline and no hope yet of a resolution, West Africans are holding their collective breath waiting to see what happens next.

The events in Niger are also being watched closely from afar due to their geopolitical implications. Bazoum is said to have been a close ally of the West, in particular France and the U.S. Both countries have had military presence in Niger for the past several years to support their counter-terrorism missions in Africas Sahel region. As has been the case historically, Russia competes with the West for influence in the region. At present, that influence is exerted mostly via the presence of the Wagner Group, the Russian private military force. Wagner currently provides security services to military governments in Mali and Burkina Faso, where the rulers similarly came to power through recent coups.

Senior government officials from the U.S. and other Western countries have echoed the calls of West African leaders for the restoration of constitutional order in Niger. Not only do those appeals continue to fall on deaf ears, it has since emerged that there are tens of thousands of ordinary Nigeriens who actually support the coup leaders.

One might be tempted to dismiss those sympathizers as poorly educated and misguided, but the show of support shouldnt come as a surprise to any close observer of African politics. Also, significant numbers of West Africans are against the proposed military intervention in Niger. They see no sense in having their national soldiers fight on the orders of politicians who, in their eyes, are in many ways worse than the junta leaders.

Somehow, the conduct of regular elections has become broadly seen as enough to consider a country democratic. The reality is that in much of Africa, these elections are increasingly being viewed as a waste of time. Invariably, the people who assume power through elections quickly turn corrupt and unaccountable. They loot public resources with impunity. Whatever institutions exist to check the political elite tend to be hopelessly corrupt themselves. This has led to widespread frustration in many countries, and there have been recent instances where some citizens have openly called for the overthrow of their elected governments.

There is an alarming erosion of faith in democracy as a suitable form of government on the continent. Increasing numbers of people are calling for democracy to be ditched and replaced with some other model that they think would be more effective and accountable. It is unclear exactly what these people have in mind, but it sounds from listening to some African commentators that they would prefer some form of autocratic rule.

I lived for a period in the Soviet Union and therefore know what life under a non-democratic government looks and feels like. Familiarity breeds contempt, so African frustration with the so-called democracy that has not delivered for them is quite understandable. And it is sometimes natural to hold romantic views about the unfamiliar. But anyone who finds autocracy attractive should take a look at todays Russia and realize how dangerous it is for any nation to put its fate in the hands of one manor a small group of men.

One of the most important things we all cherish as humans is the freedom to determine our own destinies. That, in my view, makes democracy the natural form of governance in any human society. It is a system that gives the governed a say in who governs them, what they can expect from their governors, and how to hold them to account. However, the champions of democracy have failed miserably in one respect. They have completely and consistently been silent about what it takes to build a real democracy.

In her 1979 seminal essay in Commentary Magazine, Jeane Kirkpatrick, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, wrote: In Britain, the road from the Magna Carta to the Act of Settlement, to the great Reform Bills of 1832, 1867, and 1885, took seven centuries to traverse. American history gives no better grounds for believing that democracy comes easily, quickly, or for the asking.

A lot of the frustration we see everywhere nowadays, and the disdain people show towards democracy, are due to the fact that its proponents have simply gone around the world giving people the impression that it is a form of government that can be had simply by asking. As Kirkpatrick notes, building a durable democracy is a long, arduous, and methodical process that requires patience and takes enormous sacrifice.

The late Daniel Patrick Moynihan, the eminent social scientist and former U.S. Senator from New York, said that the central conservative truth is that culture, not politics, determines a societys success. In their excellent book, Why Nations Fail, Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson placed a large emphasis on strong institutions as the bedrock of well-functioning societies. The main weaknessa major oneof the book, in my view, is their downplaying of the importance of culture. Every single one of the dysfunctional countries in Africa has institutionslegislature, judiciary, civil servicebut they exist in name only. It is culture that makes institutions work. A society can have any number of institutions and laws on its books, but if it has a culture of general disrespect for rules and laws, widespread apathy and rampant indiscipline, it will inevitably malfunction.

The recent developments in Niger present a useful opportunity for democracys proponents to pause and take a serious look at where they have gone wrong. For any democratic system to endure, it must be homegrown, not imposed by outsiders. And the people in societies that aspire to live under representative forms of government must learn the hard truths that Kirkpatrick enumerated in her essay. Failing to do that will only deepen the disaffection with democracy, and elections will continue to feel like a mere spinning of wheels.
Eleven of the 16 youth plaintiffs in the Held v. Montana case pose for a photo after Day 5 of the trial on Friday, June 16, 2023. Top row (left to right): Lander Busse, Badge Busse, Grace, Rikki Held, Olivia. Bottom row (left to right): Kian, Mica, Claire, Eva, Taleah, Sariel. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan)

The state of Montanas failure to consider greenhouse gas emissions from energy and mining projects violates the state constitution because it does not protect Montanans right to a clean and healthful environment and the states natural resources from unreasonable depletion, a judge ruled Monday in a victory for the 16 youth plaintiffs who sued the state.

Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Kathy Seeley sided with the young plaintiffs in her decision in the Held v. Montana trial, striking down as unconstitutional the so-called limitation to the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA), which was amended by the legislature this year, as well as another portion of law surrounding greenhouse gas emissions that was changed this past session.

Seeley permanently enjoined the 2023 version of the MEPA limitation, passed via House Bill 971 more than halfway through the session, as well as a portion of Senate Bill 557, saying both were unconstitutional and the latter removes the only preventative, equitable relief available to the public and MEPA litigants.

Plaintiffs have a fundamental right to a clean and healthful environment, which includes climate as part of the environmental life support system, Seeley wrote in her decision.

The Held vs. Montana case was the first case challenging state and national climate and energy policies to make it to trial in the U.S., and is now the first in which the plaintiffs, 16 Montana youth now ages 5 to 22, were victorious.

Julia Olson, the chief legal counsel and executive director for Our Childrens Trust, the group behind the lawsuit, called Seeleys decision a sweeping win for Montana, the youth plaintiffs, and the climate, and said more court victories would be coming.

Today, for the first time in U.S. history, a court ruled on the merits of a case that the government violated the constitutional rights of children through laws and actions that promote fossil fuels, ignore climate change laws, and disproportionately imperil young people, Olson said.

The Honorable Judge Kathy Seeley declared Montanas fossil fuel-promoting laws unconstitutional and enjoined their implementation. As fires rage in the West, fueled by fossil fuel pollution, todays ruling in Montana is a game-changer that marks a turning point in this generations effort to save the planet from the devastating effects of human-caused climate change.

Seeley wrote in her 103-page order that the MEPA limitation, which prohibits the state from considering greenhouse gas emissions and climate impacts when deciding whether to approve permits for energy and mining projects, violated Montanans rights under the 1972 state constitution.

The constitution says that they have a right to a clean and healthful environment and that each Montanan shall maintain and improve a clean and healthful environment in Montana for present and future generations.

Seeley also wrote that the state constitution commands the legislature to provide for the administration and enforcement to meet the states obligation to maintain and improve the environment and provide remedies to prevent its unreasonable depletion and degradation.

Montanas climate, environment, and natural resources are unconstitutionally degraded and depleted due to the current atmospheric concentration of GHGs and climate change, Seeley wrote.

She said that MEPA makes clear the state should use all practicable means to fulfill those constitutional responsibilities, and that the laws limitation, in place since 2011 and tweaked by lawmakers this session in response to a Yellowstone County judges order regarding emissions at a plant in Laurel, is failing to meet those constitutional duties.

Seeley wrote, rather, that the MEPA limitation conflicts with the very purpose of MEPA in trying to meet those obligations.

By prohibiting consideration of climate change, (green house gas) emissions, and how additional GHG emissions will contribute to climate change or be consistent with the Montana Constitution, the MEPA Limitation violates Plaintiffs right to a clean and healthful environment and is facially unconstitutional, Seeley wrote in her order.

Further, she said, the state did not put forward any evidence there was a compelling governmental interest in having the limitation in place, and Seeley noted there was undisputed testimony that the state could evaluate greenhouse gas emissions and their impacts, as well as consider switching more energy sources to renewable energy.

She also found a section of law created by the legislature this year through Senate Bill 557 to be unconstitutional. That new portion of law said that a challenge to an agencys permitting decision if it did not involve a greenhouse gas emissions evaluation could not vacate, void or delay a permit unless Congress added carbon dioxide as a regulated pollutant under the federal Clean Air Act.

Both that clause of Senate Bill 557 and House Bill 971 were created by the Republican supermajority in direct response to Judge Michael Moses ruling that a NorthWestern Energy power generating station in Laurel could not proceed because the Department of Environmental Quality had failed to consider emissions impacts from the plant. He later vacated the order after the legislatures moves as the state appealed the ruling to the Montana Supreme Court.

Seeley wrote the new law is unconstitutional because it eliminates MEPA litigants remedies that prevent irreversible degradation of the environment, and it fails to further a compelling state interest.

The Attorney Generals Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday morning. A spokesperson for the Governors Office said the office was reviewing the decision and evaluating next steps.

The state has indicated previously it would appeal the decision if it did not win the case. Last week, an attorney with Our Childrens Trust told the Daily Montanan it intended to seek attorneys fees and costs should Seeley side with the plaintiffs.

This is a developing news story and will be updated.

The post Judge sides with youth in Montana climate change trial, finds two laws unconstitutional appeared first on Daily Montanan.
John Sherman, a 60th Engineer Squadron firefighter, is hit by fire-retardant foam after it was unintentionally released in an aircraft hangar at Travis Air Force Base in California on Sept. 24, 2013. Firefighters with the 60th Air Mobility Wing helped control the foams dispersion using powerful fans and covering drains. (Ken Wright of the United States Air Force)

Gary Flook served in the Air Force for 37 years, as a firefighter at the now-closed Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois and the former Grissom Air Force Base in Indiana, where he regularly trained with aqueous film forming foam, or AFFF  a frothy white fire retardant that is highly effective but now known to be toxic.

Flook volunteered at his local fire department, where he also used the foam, unaware of the health risks it posed. In 2000, at age 45, he received devastating news: He had testicular cancer, which would require an orchiectomy followed by chemotherapy.

Hundreds of lawsuits, including one by Flook, have been filed against companies that make firefighting products and the chemicals used in them.

And multiple studies show that firefighters, both military and civilian, have been diagnosed with testicular cancer at higher rates than people in most other occupations, often pointing to the presence of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in the foam.

But the link between PFAS and testicular cancer among service members was never directly proven  until now.

A new federal study for the first time shows a direct association between PFOS, a PFAS chemical, found in the blood of thousands of military personnel and testicular cancer.

Using banked blood drawn from Air Force servicemen, researchers at the National Cancer Institute and Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences found strong evidence that airmen who were firefighters had elevated levels of PFAS in their bloodstreams and weaker evidence for those who lived on installations with high levels of PFAS in the drinking water. And the airmen with testicular cancer had higher serum levels of PFOS than those who had not been diagnosed with cancer, said study co-author Mark Purdue, a senior investigator at NCI.

To my knowledge, Purdue said, this is the first study to measure PFAS levels in the U.S. military population and to investigate associations with a cancer endpoint in this population, so that brings new evidence to the table.

In a commentary in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, Kyle Steenland, a professor at Emory Universitys Rollins School of Public Health, said the research provides a valuable contribution to the literature, which he described as rather sparse in demonstrating a link between PFAS and testicular cancer.

More studies are needed, he said, as is always the case for environmental chemicals.

Not Just Soap and Water

Old stocks of AFFF that contained PFOS were replaced in the past few decades by foam that contains newer-generation PFAS, which now also are known to be toxic. By congressional order, the Department of Defense must stop using all PFAS-containing foams by October 2024, though it can keep buying them until this October. Thats decades after the military first documented the chemicals potential health concerns.

A DoD study in 1974 found that PFAS was fatal to fish. By 1983, an Air Force technical report showed its deadly effects on mice.

But given its effectiveness in fighting extremely hot fires, like aircraft crashes and shipboard blazes, the Defense Department still uses it in operations. Rarely, if ever, had the military warned of its dangers, according to Kevin Ferrara, a retired Air Force firefighter, as well as several military firefighters who contacted KFF Health News.

We were told that it was just soap and water, completely harmless, Ferrara said. We were completely slathered in the foam  hands, mouth, eyes. It looked just like if you were going to fill up your sink with dish soap.

Photos released by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service in 2013 show personnel working in the foam without protective gear. The description calls the small sea of fire retardant foam at Travis Air Force Base in California non-hazardous and similar to soap.

No people or aircraft were harmed in the incident, it reads.

There are thousands of PFAS chemicals, invented in the 1940s to ward off stains and prevent sticking in industrial and household goods. Along with foam used for decades by firefighters and the military, the chemicals are in makeup, nonstick cookware, water-repellent clothing, rugs, food wrappers, and a myriad of other consumer goods.

Known as forever chemicals, they do not break down in the environment and do accumulate in the human body. Researchers estimate that nearly all Americans have PFAS in their blood, exposed primarily by groundwater, drinking water, soil, and foods. A recent U.S. Geological Survey study estimated that at least 45% of U.S. tap water has at least one type of forever chemical from both private wells and public water supplies.

Health and environmental concerns associated with the chemicals have spurred a cascade of lawsuits, plus state and federal legislation that targets the manufacturers and sellers of PFAS-laden products. Gary Flook is suing 3M and associated companies that manufactured PFAS and the firefighting foam, including DuPont and Kidde-Fenwal.

Congress has prodded the Department of Defense to clean up military sites and take related health concerns more seriously, funding site inspections for PFAS and mandating blood testing for military firefighters. Advocates argue those actions are not enough.

How long has (DoD) spent on this issue without any real results except for putting some filters on drinking water? said Jared Hayes, a senior policy analyst at the Environmental Working Group. When it comes to cleaning up the problem, we are in the same place we were years ago.

On a Mission to Get Screening

The Department of Veterans Affairs does not recommend blood testing for PFAS, stating on its website that blood tests cannot be linked to current or future health conditions or guide medical treatment decisions.

But that could change soon. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Michigan, co-chair of the congressional PFAS Task Force, in June introduced the Veterans Exposed to Toxic PFAS Act, which would require the VA to treat conditions linked to exposure and provide disability benefits for those affected, including for testicular cancer.

The last thing (veterans) and their families need to go through is to fight with VA to get access to benefits we promised them when they put that uniform on, Kildee said.

Evidence is strong that exposure to PFAS is associated with health effects such as decreased response to vaccines, kidney cancer, and low birth weight, according to an expansive, federally funded report published last year by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The nonprofit institution recommended blood testing for communities with high exposure to PFAS, followed by health screenings for those above certain levels.

It also said that, based on limited evidence, there is moderate confidence of an association between exposure and thyroid dysfunction, preeclampsia in pregnant women, and breast and testicular cancers.

The new study of Air Force servicemen published July 17 goes further, linking PFAS exposure directly to testicular germ cell tumors, which make up roughly 95% of testicular cancer cases.

Testicular cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among young adult men. It is also the type of cancer diagnosed at the highest rate among active military personnel, most of whom are male, ages 18 to 40, and in peak physical condition.

That age distribution and knowing AFFF was a source of PFAS contamination drove Purdue and USUHS researcher Jennifer Rusiecki to investigate a possible connection.

Using samples from the Department of Defense Serum Repository, a biobank of more than 62 million blood serum specimens from service members, the researchers examined samples from 530 troops who later developed testicular cancer and those of 530 members of a control group. The blood had been collected between 1988 and 2017.

A second sampling collected four years after the first samples were taken showed the higher PFOS concentrations positively associated with testicular cancer.

Ferrara does not have testicular cancer, though he does have other health concerns he attributes to PFAS, and he worries for himself and his fellow firefighters. He recalled working at Air Combat Command headquarters at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia in the early 2010s and seeing emails mentioning two types of PFAS chemicals: PFOS and perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA.

But employees on the base remained largely unfamiliar with the jumble of acronyms, Ferrara said.

Even as the evidence grew that the chemicals in AFFF were toxic, we were still led to believe that its perfectly safe, Ferrara said. They kept putting out vague and cryptic messages, citing environmental concerns.

When Ferrara was working a desk job at Air Combat Command and no longer fighting fires, his exposure likely continued: Joint Base Langley-Eustis is among the top five most PFAS-contaminated military sites, according to the EWG, with groundwater at the former Langley Air Force Base registering 2.2 million parts per trillion for PFOS and PFOA.

According to the EPA, just 40 parts per trillion would warrant further attention, such as testing and amelioration.

The Defense Department did not provide comment on the new study.

Air Force officials told KFF Health News that the service has swapped products and no longer allows uncontrolled discharges of firefighting foam for maintenance, testing or training.

The Department of the Air Force has replaced Aqueous Film Forming Foam, which contained PFAS, with a foam that meets Environmental Protection Agency recommendations at all installations, the Air Force said in a statement provided to KFF Health News.

Both older-generation forever chemicals are no longer made in the U.S. 3M, the main manufacturer of PFOS, agreed to start phasing it out in 2000. In June, the industrial giant announced it would pay at least $10.3 billion to settle a class-action suit.

Alarmed over what it perceived as the Defense Departments unwillingness to address PFAS contamination or stop using AFFF, Congress in 2019 ordered DoD to offer annual testing for all active-duty military firefighters and banned the use of PFAS foam by 2024.

According to data provided by DoD, among more than 9,000 firefighters who requested the tests in fiscal year 2021, 96% had at least one of two types of PFAS in their blood serum, with PFOS being the most commonly detected at an average level of 3.1 nanograms per milliliter.

Readings between 2 and 20 ng/mL carry concern for adverse effects, according to the national academies. In that range, it recommends people limit additional exposure and screen for high cholesterol, breast cancer, and, if pregnant, high blood pressure.

According to DoD, 707 active and former defense sites are contaminated with PFAS or have had suspected PFAS discharges. The department is in the early stages of a decades-long testing and cleaning process.

More than 3,300 lawsuits have been filed over AFFF and PFAS contamination; beyond 3Ms massive settlement, DuPont and other manufacturers reached a $1.185 billion agreement with water utility companies in June.

Attorneys general from 22 states have urged the court to reject the 3M settlement, saying in a filing July 26 it would not adequately cover the damage caused.

For now, many firefighters, like Ferrara, live with anxiety that their blood PFAS levels may lead to cancer. Flook declined to speak to KFF Health News because he is part of the 3M class-action lawsuit. The cancer wreaked havoc on his marriage, robbing him and his wife, Linda, of affection, assistance, and conjugal fellowship, according to the lawsuit.

Congress is again trying to push the Pentagon. This year, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire, reintroduced the PFAS Exposure Assessment and Documentation Act, which would require DoD to test all service members  not just firefighters  stationed at installations with known or suspected contamination as part of their annual health checkups as well as family members and veterans.

The tests, which arent covered by the military health program or most insurers, typically cost from $400 to $600.

In June, Kildee said veterans have been stymied in getting assistance with exposure-related illnesses that include PFAS.

For too long, the federal government has been too slow to act to deal with the threat posed by PFAS exposure, Kildee said. This situation is completely unacceptable.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFFan independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.

The post Pioneering study links testicular cancer among military personnel to forever chemicals appeared first on Daily Montanan.
While some folks think bats are creepy and should be shooed away, they are essential to the environment and benefit people, especially those in agriculture. Its estimated that Ohios bats save $1 billion a year in crop loss because of all the insects they eat.

The tricolored bat, the smallest species found in the state, weighs about six grams  the weight of two pennies  while the hoary bat, the biggest in Ohio, can weigh almost six times as much. A bat can eat up to its entire body weight in insects in a single night. Their menu includes night-flying beetles, deer flies and mosquitos.

Thats thousands of insects per night, said Eileen Wyza, PhD, the wildlife biologist in charge of terrestrial species of greatest conservation need for the Ohio Division of Wildlife.

Bats find insects in the dark by echolocation. They send out high-pitched vocalizations that we cant hear but they can and which bounce off the thing theyre after. The closer they get, the more frequent the vocalizations, creating an almost 3-D image of their prey.

Not picky

The dozen or so species of bats seen in Ohio are strictly nocturnal, active from just after sunset to just before sunrise, Wyza said. And while bats in other parts of the world eat nectar, fruit, fish, rodents  and in the case of vampire bats, blood  Ohios species eat insects exclusively. And theyre not picky.

None of our bats are specialists, she said. Theyll eat pretty much any kind of insect.

Bats that stay here year-round have not only adapted to the states insect menu but also to Ohio winters. They employ delayed fertilization, mating in the fall when theyre full of fat and have the energy, Wyza said.

They hold onto the sperm during hibernation, then fertilize their eggs in spring  after theyve had a chance to eat some insects and regain some fat stores.

Bats have their babies in May and nurse them for a few weeks. The pups start to fly at about five weeks. By the way, bats are the only mammals that can truly fly, Wyza said. Flying squirrels only glide.

Grounded

The Division of Wildlife often gets calls from late July into August when people may find a baby bat on the ground. Thats because theyre not very good at flying yet. But more importantly, they dont have the strength to take off from the ground.

Bats hang upside down to sleep during the day, the claws of their feet clinging to tree bark or other rough surfaces. Thats why bat houses have the opening at the bottom, not on the side as bird houses do. When theyre ready to fly, they drop down and then zoom up, like a plane doing aerobatics.

If you find a bat pup on the ground, you can try picking it up  with gloves on  and placing it on a tree trunk, the side of a barn or some other rough surface; anywhere that it can get a flying start.

But if the pup is dehydrated, it might not be able to cling to a vertical surface. In that case, call one of the wildlife rehabilitators listed on the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website, Wyza said.

Endangered

Theres a reason that bats fall under the terrestrial species of greatest conservation need in her title. Some, like the Indiana bat, were already on endangered species lists because of their sensitivity to insecticides, loss of forest habitat, etc. But others among Ohios bat species have experienced a 95% decline in population since white-nose syndrome appeared here a decade ago.

White-nose syndrome is caused by a fungus that probably came from Europe. It loves the cold and spreads in caves, abandoned mines and other places where bats hibernate during the winter. In later stages, the fungus appears on bats muzzles and wings but also causes internal changes, including irritation that makes them wake up prematurely and use up their fat reserves before food is available.

In the past few years, one or two of these endangered bats have been found in surveys, so their population declines have been deemed stabilized.

But that doesnt mean theyre rebounding, Wyza said. We may find a couple of individuals, but we dont know if that means they can find a summer roosting area, find a mate and have little ones.

Her agency is trying to help bats by locating trees where they are roosting in summer, then protecting other trees for several miles around it from clearing or development  permanently. Thats doable on public land, like parks. On private land, we just try to talk to the owners and see if we can convince them to help, she said.

Homeowners are also encouraged to put up bat houses, grow native plants that attract moths and other insects on the bats menu and create long ponds that give bats enough room to swoop down and get a drink as they fly by.

Why would anyone want to attract bats to their home?

People who do this report fewer mosquitos, deer flies and other pests around the house, plus less damage to food crops, Wyza said. Bats are beneficial because theyre great at insect control.
COLUMBUS, Ohio  Ohioans who have dedicated their lives to the conservation and preservation of Ohios natural resources received top honors July 26 from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Family, friends, and fairgoers watched as Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, ODNR Director Mary Mertz, and other ODNR officials inducted seven people into the Ohio Natural Resources Hall of Fame and awarded seven others with ODNRs Cardinal Award.

The Ohio Natural Resources Hall of Fame was created in 1966 to celebrate individuals who have made significant contributions to protecting Ohios natural resources. With the most recent inductions, the number of people presented with this honor is 193.

The Cardinal Award, created in 1971, honors individuals and organizations that demonstrate exceptional awareness and concern for ideals reflected in the departments mission statement: To ensure a balance tween the wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Cardinal Award recipients have included outdoor writers, educators, farmers, biologists, naturalists, businesses, sporting organizations and volunteers across the state of Ohio.

HALL OF FAME

Denis Case. Case was employed by ODNR as Chief of the Division of Research from 1973 to 1975. In 1975, he recommended to the Director of ODNR that his division and position be eliminated and that each division should conduct their own research. From 1975 to his retirement in 1996, he was a wildlife biologist with ODNRs Division of Wildlife, responsible for developing and prioritizing terrestrial endangered species and biodiversity programs. Case was the driving force behind Ohios first bald eagle recovery program as well as recovery of the river otter, peregrine falcon and a host of other endangered species. Since his retirement, he and his wife Rita have worked with the Appalachian Ohio Alliance to protect land parcels, and since 2006 theyve volunteered their time radiotracking timber rattlesnakes.

DArcy Patrick Egan. Egan began his journalism career as an editor and sportswriter in Coshocton, Medina County, and Cleveland in the 1960s and 1970s. Later, Egan was the full-time outdoors editor for the Cleveland Plain Dealer for 40 years and full-time editor of The Beacon (Port Clinton) for the last five years of his career leading up to his retirement in 2023. He focused on Lake Erie and northern Ohio woods and waters in his coverage. Egan spearheaded a successful movement to ban gill nets in Ohio waters, fighting invasive species such as Asian carp and promoting sound research to advance Ohio fisheries, especially Lake Erie walleye and the highly successful steelhead trout program. He extensively wrote about hunter safety, safe boating practices and, as a licensed Lake Erie fishing guide, introduced anglers to safe and ethical fishing. In 2008, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources presented Egan with the Cardinal Award.

Tom Kashmer. Kashmer, who died in June, was a dedicated conservationist with more than 40 years of service in Ohio. He started banding birds in 1983 and founded the Green Creek Wildlife Society in 1984. His educational and research organization focused on bird education and conservation, something he also promoted as an Ohio History and World Geography teacher at Gibsonburg High School for 28 years. Under Kashmers direction, Green Creek Wildlife Society members installed more than 1,000 bluebird boxes, leading to the banding of more than 16,000 eastern bluebirds and 26,000 tree swallows. He was also involved in small stream research, colonial wader banding and graduate research programs on rails and shorebirds. After retirement from teaching and up until his passing, he led numerous bird, eagle, and kayak tours as a research coordinator for the Sandusky County Park District.

Paul E. Knoop, Jr. Knoops career spanned 35 years as education director at Aullwood Audubon Center and Farm. In 1995, Aullwood opened the Paul Knoop Prairie adjacent to the farm near Dayton International Airport. After retirement, Knoop and his wife Cathy moved to Hocking County and continue to be involved in nature education. They both teach natural history field classes for Ashland University and lead wildflower hikes at the Land Conservancy Arc of Appalachia. Knoop co-wrote The Birds of Hocking County, Ohio, published in 2016. Knoop has earned many honors, including the George B. Fell Award, given by the Natural Areas Association. He is a founding member and the inaugural secretary of the Appalachia Ohio Alliance. Founded in 2001, the Alliance preserves and restores natural ecosystems, facilitates the protection of historical landmarks, and supports educational and outreach activities in Ohios Appalachia region.

Dr. Larry B. Mixon, Sr. Mixon, who died in March, discovered a love for Ohios natural resources at a young age. Mixon grew to be an avid outdoorsman, enjoying rabbit and wild turkey hunting, bow hunting for deer, and fishing. In 2003, recognizing Mixons passion for the outdoors and his commitment to serving the public, Gov. Bob Taft appointed him to the Ohio Wildlife Council, an eight-member board that approves proposed rules and regulations by the ODNR Division of Wildlife. Mixon was very involved in Wildlife Council proposals and presentations, taking all of the information into consideration and providing positive feedback to the Division of Wildlife on rule proposals. Mixon served in positions of increasing responsibility and authority in the U.S. Army. He held positions as interviewing officer, executive officer and company commander. Later, he held many roles as an administrator for Columbus Public Schools, serving as superintendent from 1993 to 1997.

Eric Partee. Partee led the Little Miami Conservancy for 40 years as executive director and played a big role in saving a national treasure right here in Ohio. He oversaw the protection of 2,000 acres of land along the river and its tributaries, hundreds of river sweeps involving thousands of volunteers to clean up hundreds of tons of river debris, implementation of water quality programs to monitor the overall health of the river and the planting of over 50,000 native trees and over 100 acres of prairies to preserve the water and floodplain habitat. Post-retirement, Partee continues to be a valuable advisor for the welfare of the river and helps monitor wildlife and water quality.

Carolyn Watkins. Watkins has been an exceptional advocate for environmental and conservation-focused education for more than 30 years. As chief of the Office of Environmental Education at the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency since 1998, Watkins has played a pivotal role in securing millions of dollars in grants for conservation efforts and has personally taught various curricula to thousands of students and educators. Along with her contribution to Project WET, Project WILD and many other nature-based learning programs, shes worked alongside ODNR as a facilitator for Project Learning Tree, the Division of Forestrys environmental education standard. Watkins is also the recipient of the Division of Forestrys John Hug Award for outstanding leadership in environmental education, the Environmental Education Councils Lifetime Achievement Award for environmental education in Ohio, and many other awards.

CARDINAL AWARD

Dave Apsley. Apsley founded A DAY IN THE WOODS, a program designed to educate and promote good stewardship and active management for all forestland in Ohio. Twice a month from May through November, he can be found teaching private woodland owners everything from identifying trees to understanding local wildlife. A DAY IN THE WOODS celebrated its 100th educational event at Vinton Furnace State Forest in June. Currently a natural resources specialist at Ohio State University Extension, Apsley has been an advocate and educator for forest management in Ohio for over 20 years. Apsley also serves as the Outreach Coordinator for the Collaborative Oak Management Initiative and helped develop Call Before You Cut Ohio, a public program that connects landowners with resources and professionals to manage their woodlands.

Kristen Beck. Beck has been rehabilitating our native wildlife since the early 1980s. In 2013, she established North Cantons Clover Field Wildlife Center. Beck operates this center herself and does not have any staff to assist her. She has been instrumental in conservation efforts around the state by rehabilitating species of concern such as the gray fox and four different species of bats. In 2022, her donation-based rehab center admitted almost 900 injured, orphaned or ill animals. Beck has been an outstanding member of the Ohio Wildlife Rehabilitator Association board for 13 years and a critical component in educating thousands of Ohioans about wildlife and mitigating human-wildlife conflicts to help protect our natural resources.

Burr Oak Alive! More than a decade ago, Burr Oak Lodge & Conference Center was slated to be demolished and Burr Oak Alive! was founded by locals determined to save it. They rallied enough support to encourage ODNR leadership to shift gears and route the funds intended for demolition to renovation, instead. The friends group for Burr Oak is an invaluable asset to the visitor experience at the park, proven by the incredible work theyve continued to do ever since the lodge was saved. Just a couple of weeks ago, Burr Oak Alive! and ODNR cut the ribbon on the Lodge to Lake Trail, a concrete trail behind the lodge. From assisting with naturalist programs, sponsoring events such as the Halloween Spooktacular and Boat Flotilla, organizing tree plantings, and manning aide and water stations during long trail hikes and runs, this organization does it all.

Lola Lewis. Lewis was part of ODNRs Division of Forestrys Regional Urban Foresters team for 28 years, representing 13 counties in east central Ohio. Her job focused on helping elected officials, staff, and volunteers better understand the importance of trees in their communities. Lewis hosted annual urban forestry conferences, pruning workshops and led tree commission meetings. She also took the lead when the emerald ash borer was first found in Ohio. Lewis was a member of the Ohio Urban Forest Strike Team, designed to work with FEMA and assist communities after a storm event. After retirement, Lewis now advises the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporations TreeCorp program, helping plant and maintain healthy trees in the city of Youngstown. She was recently recognized as a True Professional Arborist by the International Society of Arboriculture.

Brenda Metcalf. Metcalf has served as the executive director of the Environmental Education Council of Ohio for the past 20 years. She developed quality relationships with the Ohio EPA through their Partnership Grant that supports the Environmental Careers Program. Her partnerships with the Ohio Department of Education helped foster the Ohio Environmental Literacy Plan in 2012  one of the first in the country. Metcalf also fostered a long-term positive relationship with ODNR through her constant support of Project WILD, Project Learning Tree and other initiatives. She has a long partnership with the Ohio Division of Wildlife through a grant to support high school research on wildlife and their habitats, support of the Ohio Student Wildlife Research Symposium, through the EECO regional director networks that regularly host Project WILD workshops, and the promotion of our resources and materials through her outreach efforts into classrooms and conference displays.

Preservation Parks of Delaware County. Preservation Parks of Delaware County has pursued a program of vigorously acquiring lands to expand park space in Ohios fastest-growing county, and they are committed to the protection of natural habitats, conservation of natural resources, restoration of native landscapes, watershed protection and helping residents connect with the landscape and its natural history. The park system hosts daily seasonal programming for all ages, maintaining 11 local parks and a section of the 326-mile Ohio to Erie Trail. For several years, the Ohio Geological Survey has collaborated with Preservation Parks in the expansion of Shale Hollow Park, ensuring that its significant geological features are preserved and explained to the public. With Preservation Parks cooperation, Geological Survey has produced field guides and other educational materials that help in ODNRs mission.

State Sen. Tim Schaffer. Schaffer, a three-term Ohio senator currently serving Fairfield, Licking and parts of Perry County, has a notable track record of involvement in issues related to natural resources, conservation and agriculture. He serves as chairman of the Senates standing committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources. During this recently passed Biennial Operating Budget, Schaffer was a champion for securing critical funding for the Department of Natural Resources. With his leadership, he was able to successfully restored $37 million to the departments operating budget. He also played a crucial role during the work to repair the Buckeye Lake Dam. While serving in the Ohio House, Schaffer acted as a key liaison to address the needs of his constituents while also relaying the facts of the project to the people of his district.
The United Nations has announced the successful completion of the ship-to-ship transfer of more than 1 million barrels of oil by a team from SMIT, a unit of Dutch dredging and heavylift company Boskalis, from the decaying FSO Safer tanker off Yemen, thus averting 'a monumental environmental and humanitarian catastrophe.'

The FSO Safer was built as a supertanker in 1976 and converted a decade later into what is in effect a floating oil container. It was abandoned off the Red Sea port of Hudaydah in Yemen in 2015 after war broke out.

Prior to the conflict, it was used to store and export oil from fields around Marib, but the fighting brought production, as well as maintenance of the vessel, to a halt.

With more than one million barrels of oil on board, it was feared the deteriorating FSO Safer, which industry experts dubbed it a 'floating time bomb.' could explode or break apart, causing a major spill.

The safe removal of more than a million barrels of oil from the decaying FSO Safer tanker off Yemen, helped avert a worst case scenario oil spill that would have devastated coastal communities and created a crisis in vital Red Sea shipping lanes.

Leading up to the transfer of the oil, the salvage team executed several preparatory activities. After the Boskalis multipurpose support vessel Ndeavor arrived at the site of the FSO Safer in late May, the salvage team conducted a thorough inspection of the vessel and its cargo. In addition, various measures were taken to ensure a safe working environment. Preparations were then made to transfer the oil to the Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) purchased by the UN, said the statement from Boskalis. The VLCC was moored alongside the FSO Safer on July 23 with the support from two Smit Lamnalco tugs, and oil screens were installed on the bow and stern between the two tankers as a precautionary measure. Following this mooring operation, oil transfer pipes were connected between the FSO Safer and the VLCC on July 25 and hydraulic pumps were installed to transfer the oil to the VLCC.

The UN led a $120 million fundraising effort to secure the decaying ship and buy another tanker to take the recovered oil. It took 18 days to complete the transfer in a stretch of water where naval mines were known to be located.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia had been among the first countries to extend financial grants through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) as part of its efforts with the international community in solving the crisis.

On completion of the safe transfer of oil, the Saudi ministry lauded the efforts of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), that had been implementing the operation, as well as other donor countries who raised funds.

The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, David Gressly, who has led UN system-wide efforts on the Safer since September 2021, said today marks a great milestone.

"A remarkable global coalition came together under the UN umbrella to prevent the worst-case scenario of a catastrophic oil spill in the Red Sea," said Gressly.

"We need to finish the work the UN started. The installation of a CALM buoy to which the replacement vessel will be safely tethered is the next crucial step," he added.

The SMIT team has been on-site since late May preparing the Safer for the oil transfer operation, which officially kicked off on July 25. The preparations included inspections, safety measures, and the installation of oil screens and transfer pipes.

The transfer was supported by two Smit Lamnalco tugs and hydraulic pumps were installed to facilitate the transfer. Oil was transferred to the replacement vessel Yemen, formerly the Nautica, which the UN secured from Euronav earlier this year.

The UN had warned that a major spill would devastate fishing communities on Yemens Red Sea coast and cost estimated at $20 billion to cleanup.

Disruptions to shipping through the Bab al-Mandab strait to the Suez Canal could cost billions more in global trade losses every day.

"I welcome the news that the transfer of oil from the FSO Safer has been safely concluded today," remarked UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. "The UN-led operation has prevented what could have been an environmental and humanitarian catastrophe on a colossal scale," he added.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the international community had "defused a floating time bomb and prevented a potentially enormous environmental and health disaster".

Boskalis CEO Peter Berdowski said: "With our salvage activities, we have once again averted a potential environmental disaster of unprecedented proportions."

"Thanks in part to the efforts of the Dutch Ministry of Ministry of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation and over two years of preparations by Boskalis, we were able to successfully execute this complex operation on behalf of the UN," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
A man who stole more than 55,000 worth of agricultural equipment from farms across Kent has been jailed for over two years.

Jamie Broadmore, 37, stole from farms in Allhallows, Shorne, Sandling, Gravesend, Southfleet and West Malling over an eight month period.

He used recovery trucks to steal the vehicles before he sold the items on, according to Kent Police.

His crime spree started on 14 July 2022 after he stole a Ritchie Cattle Handling System worth 20,000 from a farm in Allhallows.

In the same month he stole a Spearhead Topper worth 19,000 from a farm in Gravesend and on 12 August he stole a Pottinger Hay Tedder, four 200 litre barrels of Adblue and 10 orange ratchet straps, totalling 16,000, from another farm in Gravesend.

Officers from Kent Police's Rural Task Force began investigating the thefts and used ANPR technology to identify a recovery truck, which was seen on the M25 loaded with the stolen Spearhead Topper.

Further checks also revealed the same truck had been used to transport the other stolen items.

(Photo: Kent Police)

The truck was traced to a site in Gloucestershire and when the truck returned to Kent each time it was loaded with straw bales.

Officers visited the site and although no stolen equipment was found, there were several large bales of straw.

Broadmore continued to visit farms and businesses where he stole further items. On 8 March 2023 he targeted a farm in Southfleet where he stole 20 cattle hurdles and a post knocker  worth around 10,000.

Officers from the Kent Crime Squad carried out further investigation and Broadmore was linked to the burglaries and thefts.

Officers also found photos on a mobile phone belonging to him, which showed images of stolen farm equipment and his phone was also traced as being in the location as to where the burglaries and thefts happened.

Statements were also taken from people who had purchased the equipment in good faith, after the 37-year-old claimed his uncle had died and he was selling it on behalf of the family farm.

Broadmore was subsequently arrested by officers and he was later charged with six burglaries, three thefts, two frauds, acquiring criminal property and failing to provide a sample for a drug test.

He admitted five burglaries, two thefts and two frauds, and was jailed for two years and four months at Canterbury Crown Court.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Paul Marsh, of the Kent Crime Squad, said Broadmore was "brazen in his criminality".

He said: "He went to great lengths to conceal his actions and even fooled victims by telling them a false story in order to gain their trust and to encourage them to buy the stolen items.

These items were integral to these farms and businesses and his theft of the equipment caused them significant disruption."
Northern Irish farmers located in zone two of the Soil Nutrient Health Scheme have been reminded that the deadline to apply - 31 August - is fast approaching.

The objective of the scheme is to test all, or the vast majority, of the 700,000 fields used for farming in Northern Ireland, in order to help farmers manage their nutrient applications.

If farmers in zone two do not register, they will fall short of the eligibility criteria which must be met to receive future agriculture support payments.

These include the Farm Sustainability Payment, Beef Sustainability Scheme and Farming With Nature Scheme.

The three new payments will be significant income streams for farmers going forward, replacing the majority of support currently offered by the BPS.

This year, zone two of the scheme invites registrations from farm businesses across Fermanagh, the west of County Armagh and South Tyrone.

To date over 6,000 farmers in zone one have received soil analysis results for their farms, including pH, phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg) and sulphur (S), together with crop specific lime and fertilizer recommendations.

Katrina Godfrey, DAERA permanent secretary, has encouraged farmers to register: We have seen good interest in the scheme so far, however the deadline will not be extended beyond 31 August.

"I urge all farm businesses within zone 2 to register at their earliest opportunity and not miss out on participation in this important scheme which aims to improve sustainability and efficiency in the farming sector.

"It is also important for farmers to note that participation in the Soil Nutrient Health Scheme will be a condition for future Farm Sustainability Payments, which will replace the Basic Payment Scheme.

The scheme, delivered by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), is being rolled out in stages using a zonal approach over the next four years and farmers from other zones will be contacted to apply at a later date.

It will see NI setting a high standard as the first region to establish an extensive baseline of all farms on soil nutrients, below and above ground carbon stocks, helping to improve water quality and the progression towards climate change targets.

Farmers in zone two can register to the scheme by logging on to DAERA's online services website.
A nutrient management plan has allowed one Welsh livestock farm to maintain a grass crop and arable produce while reducing its reliance on synthetic fertiliser.

Harri Parri and his family farm 293 hectares across three holdings on the Llyn Peninsula, where they run a suckler herd of beef cattle Stabilisers, a flock of New Zealand Lleyn and Lleyn x Suffolk ewes and 32,000 field chickens.

In 2021, the business was awarded funding from the Welsh government's Farming Connect Advisory Service to partially pay for a Nutrient Management Plan.

The funding was used to inform appropriate nutrient breakdown decisions for fields.

Since then, targeting those breakdowns and better managing backyard manure and chicken manure has allowed the farm to halve the amount of fertiliser it buys.

Harri said his business had reduced input costs while continuing to maintain yields in his off-shore crops.

"We have an abundance of potash and phosphate derived from the poultry," he said, "through soil testing and nutrient management plans, we are better able to use it which means we don't need to buy potash and chemical phosphate, just nitrogen or urea.

Forty hectares of barley, oats and forage beet are grown in a rotation of four or five years to reduce the risk to the business against high feed prices.

The majority of arable crops are grown with very little nitrogen in bags.

Running a mixed farming enterprise builds resilience in the soil, allowing yields of more than 3t/acre to be captured from barley without the input purchased.

Most of Harri's fields have a P and K index of 2 or 3 and pH across farm averages of 6.1.

Soil testing leads the business on the nutrient needs of fields, to inform decisions about where manure needs to be targeted.

For the past six years, Harri has used pellet-style lime rather than conventional lime to raise soil pH levels after attending a Farming Connect open day where this method was discussed.

He said open days like these were useful to gain knowledge of new ideas or reinforce existing practices.

"I get an insight into these events and in the Farming Connect beef and sheep and poultry discussion groups that I am a member of," Harri said.

"As a beef and sheep group, we were keen to introduce a business element and we had the flexibility to do this and expand our range of speakers."

The discussion groups meet four or five times a year, and have been facilitated by the Local Development Officer.

When the family set up the free range egg business they had limited knowledge of poultry, so being part of a discussion group has been helpful.

Harri and his staff have taken advantage of training courses funded by Farming Connect, from poultry training required by British Lion Code to the safety of a telescopic pickup truck for rough terrain (telehandler) and a quad bike all funded up to 80%.

As a farmer, Harri said he saw the development of the business by phasing out new ideas as the way forward.

"If you're constantly developing, instead of revolutionising and changing everything overnight, the system moves with you, it all slots into place," he said.

"We always question what we're doing to make sure we're doing everything as well as we can.''
Aaron Taylor-Johnson insists he is not focusing on rumours he could be the next James Bond.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson insists he is not focusing on rumours he could be the next James Bond

The Kick-A** actor, 33, is among a list of stars being tipped to step into Daniel Craigs shoes after he quit the 007 movie franchise following 2021s No Time to Die, but he said he would lose his f****** mind if he didnt simply pay attention to the job he currently has.

Aaron, who is next set to play the title role in Marvels Kraven the Hunter film, told Esquire magazine: 'I have to go by the beat of my own drum. Its my own path, what feels intuitive to me.

Ive never made a decision based on other peoples perspectives, or their judgments, or their expectations. You lose your f****** mind if you do that. Your sense of worth and soul is gone.

You need to understand what is integral to you and what feels right, and youve got to stay on track with whats present in front of you. Kraven is whats in front of me.

Aaron added when asked what he thought taking on the Bond role: I just focus on the things I can have in my hands right now.

Whats in front of me right now.

Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan, 52, recently sparked speculation some of his favourite actors could be the next 007 after he told the Happy Sad Confused podcast it would be an amazing privilege to direct a James Bond film  but only if he could choose the star who is playing Bond.

Some of the filmmakers favourite stars  including Oppenheimer lead man Cillian Murphy, 47, and The Dark Knight Rises star Tom Hardy, 45, have been named as bookies top picks to step into the 007 part  along with the latest Batman star Robert Pattinson, 37, who featured in Christophers mind-bending time travel film Tenet.

Christopher was approached to make the next 007 film following the release of Skyfall, but the follow-up Spectre ended up being directed by 57-year-old American Beauty filmmaker Sam Mendes.

Two years after the 2015 film, Christopher revealed he could maybe one day get involved in the franchise.
Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler's daughter Mia Tyler and her six-year-old son Axton safely fled wildfire-ravaged Maui.

Mia Tyler says the devastation is far worse than is being depicted in the news

The 'Rush Hour 3' star and her little boy were able to get a flight out of the island in Hawaii where at least 93 people have lost their lives.

And Mia, 44, has warned that the damage is "way worse" than the footage shown in the media.

Sharing images of the devastation to Front Street in Lahaina, Mia wrote on her Instagram Story: "I dont know where to start. Halfway through our vacation on Maui, we got news that a horrible fire had started an hour north of us. I dont need to tell you what happened next. All I can say is, it was way worse than what you saw on the news and online."

She continued: "Many people and animals have lost their lives. Homes destroyed. Sacred buildings burnt to ashes. Thousands of locals and tourists displaced. And the horrors those people had to see and experience."

Mia - whose mother is Cyrinda Foxe  went on: "Trying to keep my family and friends safe was all I could do. We were in a sacred paradise and could do nothing."

The model warned people against travelling to Maui to help, instead encouraging donations for the relief efforts.

She wrote: "PLEASE DO NOT TRAVEL TO MAUI, as the hotels are helping to home the people of Maui. The island needs to heal and does not need tourists taking up valuable resources right now.

"The only thing we can do is donate to these wonderful people that need us the most right now. Please help. Any penny helps."

She signed off: "I pray this land heals and comes back stronger like it always does."

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sanchez are heartbroken over the Maui wildfires and have donated $100 million as part of a Maui Fund to help fight the hellish fallout from the blazes raging on the island.

The death toll from the Maui wildfires hit 93 on Sunday (13.08.23), making it the deadliest outbreak of the blazes in modern US history.

Britney Spears sons Sean Preston, 17, and Jayden, 16, who moved to Hawaii at the start of August, are said to have been left traumatised by seeing their new neighbours hit by the infernos, even though their home has not been hit.

Mark Vincent Kaplan, the attorney for the boys dad Kevin Federline, 45, said they are not personally affected but added that Theres people in the area that are dying and having their homes destroyed, so its very traumatic [for the boys].

He added: Obviously, right now, everyone is very sad about whats going on there with the fires and the casualties from the fires, but other than the trauma from that, theyre very happy to be there.

Meanwhile, Oprah Winfrey visited a shelter at the War Memorial Complex in Wailuku and spoke with survivors.

However, the CBS News camera crew she had brought with her was refused entry.

The County of Maui's Facebook post read: "We welcome Oprah to continue to uplift our community's spirit and give her aloha to victims of the tragic disaster.

"Her visit inside of the shelter today was truly heartwarming."
Momentum is building for the 24th World Petroleum Congress in Calgary where global policy and energy leaders will gather to discuss innovative solutions for potential paths to a net zero future.

The Congress is taking place from September 17 to 21, 2023, with strong support and participation from industry and government sponsors, strategic and technical speakers, and delegates.

As the Congress nears, the full Technical Programme has been released, and thought leaders from around the globe continue will be announced as participants in the Strategic Programme.

Diverse cross section

The World Petroleum Council (WPC) brings together a diverse cross section of domestic and global energy and government leaders, which represents a key differentiator for the Congress, says Dr Pierce Riemer, Director General of the WPC.

With an outstanding group of speakers in both the Strategic and Technical programmes, we look forward to innovative and thought-provoking dialogues in support of the theme: Energy Transition: The Path to Net Zero.

The 24th World Petroleum Congress will offer the most robust networking to date and throughout the week delegates will enjoy multiple opportunities to engage with energy peers seeking conversations, collaborations and connections to address the challenges of transitioning to a low carbon future.

The congress organizing committee (OCAN) has recognised the sponsors and partners supporting the 24th Congress, which includes domestic and international energy producers, supporting companies and government partners.

Net zero future

The participation is indicative of the industrys commitment to addressing the worlds collective energy challenges and identifying solutions to a net zero future.

Current Congress sponsors include Accenture, Qatar Energy, Cenovus Energy, Pathways Alliance, Repsol, Suncor Energy, BP, the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, Chevron, Deloitte, Enbridge, ExxonMobil, Imperial, Petrobras, S&P Global, Bennett Jones, Petroleum Economist, PwC, Upstream, AMGAS, ConocoPhillips Canada, geoLOGIC, Hatch, MEG Energy, Shell Canada, Fluor, Stikeman Elliott and Tenaris.

We are delighted with the level of engagement and support provided by our sponsors, says Denis Painchaud, President & CEO, OCAN. In addition to industry support, the critical funding and in-kind contributions from government partners including PrairiesCan, the Province of Alberta and the City of Calgary, will help promote Canadas commitment to building a sustainable industry.

With delegates from over 75 participating nations already registered we look forward to the diverse conversations that the Congress will bring, he said.

15,000 visitors

Some 15,000 visitors are expected to attend the congress which will provide groundbreaking insights, game-changing collaborations, and innovative growth opportunities where they can network with 500+ top industry speakers, mingle with 250+ exhibitors, and network with delegates from 100+ countries.

The technical programme features over 200 expert speakers representing more than 100 organisations and 30 countries, including leading energy companies such as Saudi Aramco, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, and PetroChina.

Under the theme of Energy Transition: The Path to Net Zero, the programme is divided into four blocks which focus on how changes to the production, distribution, and consumption energy models will impact a specific area of the industry:

Block 1: Exploration and Production

Block 2: Refining, Petrochemicals, and Products

Block 3: Gas and Transportation

Block 4: Leadership

B2B Networking Programme

The B2B networking experiences offered at the 24th World Petroleum Congress are designed to provide extensive networking opportunities, build connections, advance deal-making, further investment opportunities, and seed transactions that will support your business on the path to net zero.

The B2B Programme experiences include Themed Speed Networking, Innovation Challenges, Knowledge Connect to discuss decarbonisation themes and CleanTech Pitches.-- TradeArabia News Service
Oprah Winfrey has pledged a "major donation" to help rebuild Maui after the island was devastated by Hawaii's wild fires.

Oprah Winfrey has promised to hand over a substantial donation to help everyone affected by the wildfires in Hawaii

The TV talk show titan - who owns a home on Maui - has been visiting survivors at a shelter there after blazes ripped across the landscape there leaving at least 93 people dead and totally destroying the town of the town of Lahaina and now she's promised some serious financial help to look after the residents of Maui.

In a video posted on Instagram, Oprah said: "You know what this week as taught me - when you don't know what to do, you do whatever you can ... I went to visit one of the big shelters here at the War Memorial and asked people what it is they needed and then went shopping for some things some basic things like towels and sheets and shampoo and other necessities. And at some point I will make a major donation after all the smoke and the ashes have settled here and we figure out what the rebuilding is going to look like. This is going to be a long and difficult process but spending time at the shelter I have met so many incredible people ... "

She went on to praise the community spirit of the Maui residents and promised her continued support "after all the camera crews are gone".

Oprah went on to say: "I've seen so many families who are sharing a cot, an air mattress and have nothing else left to their names but they are so grateful just to have each other. And there's such an incredible spirit going on in this entire community people helping other people. And I know that long after all the camera crews are gone and the rest of the world has moved on, the rebuilding will just begin. And Hawaiians are just a strong, cultural people and a family-loving people and with the help and support you're going to see a lot of phoenix stories rising from the ashes here."

It comes after Oprah visited a shelter in Wailuku with a CBS camera crew in tow, but was told filming wouldn't be allowed inside.

In a statement, the County of Maui said: "Out of respect for those who have come to seek safety and shelter at emergency shelters, our policy remains that no media are given access.'

"We welcome Oprah to continue to uplift our communitys spirit and give her aloha to victims of the tragic disaster and appreciate her understanding of our policy of no camera crews or reporters in our emergency shelters. Mahalo."

Oprah was allowed in to visit people in the shelter but the cameras had to remain outside. She previously visited a shelter on the island where she was seen handing out essentials including shampoo and nappies to those who had lost their homes.

Others who have pledged help include Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sanchez who are are heartbroken over the Maui wildfires and have donated $100 million as part of a Maui Fund to help fight the hellish fallout from the blazes.

Hollywood actor Jason Momoa - who was born in Honolulu - also expressed his concern about the disaster revealing his friends and loved ones have been caught up in the chaos.

Sharing a link for people to donate to the Hawaii Community Foundation Maui County Strong Fund to provide relief, Jason wrote on Instagram: "We are devastated and heartbroken for our friends and 'ohana on Maui who been impacted by the recent wildfires."
Catherine, Princess of Wales reportedly secretly partied without her family at a music festival at the weekend.

Catherine, Princess of Wales reportedly secretly partied at a music festival without her family at the weekend

The mum-of-three, 41, is said to have danced at the Houghton Hall event after dining with her Norfolk neighbours, the Marquess and Marchioness of Cholmondeley, David and Rose, at their stately home in Houghton Hall, Norfolk, which hosts the festival on its 1,000 acres.

A source told the Daily Mail: After dinner, one of the guests suggested that Catherine go to the festival.

'Catherine was nervous about the idea, but, after much discussion with her protection officers, she went with lots of security. William wasnt there.

The upmarket Houghton Hall festival is billed as Britain's only 24-hour music festival and was created by DJ Craig Richards, who launched the event in 2017. More than 200 artists performed across 13 stages from Thursday (10.08.23) to Sunday (13.08.23), with music playing somewhere on the Houghton Estate site at all times.

More than 12,000 revellers were estimated to have attended.

Catherine is not known to have previously attended a festival, but is famed for her love of dancing.

While still known as Kate Middleton, she was pictured attending a roller-disco with friends including the jockey Sam Waley-Cohen in 2008.

The Mail said a Kensington Palace spokesman declined to comment on her apparent festival visit.

It added Prince William, who has children Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five, with Catherine, may have been on a grouse-shooting trip with friends.

The Mail said: Catherines lively night out is just the latest example of the warm friendship between the future king and queen and the Cholmondeleys, nicknamed the Turnip Toffs, who live just a few miles from their Norfolk retreat, Anmer Hall.
Julian Sands had the "wrong tools for the job at hand" when he embarked on his fatal climb at Mount Baldy.

Julian Sands' remains were found by hikers

The 65-year-old actor's remains were discovered in June, six months after he went missing in January, and the group of hikers who found his bones and belongings were shocked to see how seemingly unprepared he was for the snowy conditions.

One hiker told how they discovered his boots then trekking poles and bones, before coming across a "pile of dark winter clothes", with nothing in a bright colour that would have been easier for rescuers to spot.

One of the group told the Los Angeles Times newspaper: He was dressed like a ninja."

Strapped to one of the boots was a set of microspikes, which are useful in snowy trails that are not too steep, whereas crampons - long heavy spikes - would have been better suited to the steep, icy terrain where the 'Room with a View' actor was trekking.

Hiker Bill Dwyer, one of the group who found Julian's remains, said: I was a little shocked to see the microspikes. They were just the wrong tools for the job at hand.

The group found no signs of a helmet or an ice axe and while they discovered the actor's cellphone on a rock beneath a tree, most of the area has no reception and found no evidence that Julian had other ways to find help.

After finding the remains, Bill used his Garmin InReach, a $400 pocket-sized satellite-messaging device to send an SOS with their exact location, and authorities responded within eight minutes.

The group are concerned Julian's chances of survival would have improved substantially with the right kit, especially if he just got lost or had been injured in a fall.

The group's organiser, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: Can you imagine the despair, the isolation?

"Hearing the helicopters, knowing people are looking for you, but having no way to signal to them. I still have nightmares about that.

Weeks after Julian's remains were discovered, the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department, announced the cause of his death was undetermined "due to the condition of the body and this is common when dealing with cases of this type."
Bangladesh's cotton consumption for 2023-24 is forecast to increase by 800,000 bales to 8 million, driven by burgeoning apparel exports, according to the latest USDA Cotton World Markets and Trade report. The country is close to surpassing China as the worlds largest cotton apparel exporter, with stronger demand prospects expected to drive cotton consumption even higher.

Practically all cotton yarn, which accounts for the nations cotton consumption, is sold domestically to Bangladesh's robust fabric and apparel sectors. Apparel exports have been vital for Bangladesh's economic growth and stabilising its domestic currency by obtaining US dollars through foreign sales.

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) reported that apparel accounted for over 80 per cent of the country's total exports in the fiscal 2023 (FY23) (June 2022July 2023), amounting to roughly $47 billion. This value is more than double the figure from a decade ago and surpasses the previous year's record, reflecting global importers' increasing preference for Bangladesh's cotton products.

Bangladesh's cotton consumption is forecast to reach 8 million bales in 2023-24, driven by growing apparel exports. The country is nearing surpassing China as the world's largest cotton apparel exporter. Apparel exports were $47 billion in FY23, with a goal of $50 billion in FY24. Global cotton consumption is forecast to grow 5.8 per cent.

Exports of knit apparel have been essential to this growth, with the value nearly tripling over the past decade. Local textile mills meet 85 per cent of the demand for knit fabrics and about 40 per cent for woven fabric, mainly imported from China. Knitted cotton shirts and sweaters have been the significant products contributing to the recent record values, as per USDAs report.

Apparel exports to the world's largest importing markets, such as the United States and the European Union, were notably high in 2022. The United States Fashion Industry Association's (USFIA) annual Fashion Industry Benchmarking Study highlighted factors that support even stronger future apparel export prospects.

According to the study, US fashion companies are reallocating sourcing orders to markets, including Bangladesh, in response to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, China Section 301 tariffs on Chinese apparel exports, and efforts to minimise logistical and political risks. Bangladesh, India, and Vietnam were identified as the three suppliers that retailers plan to increase sourcing from over the next two years. Moreover, the USFIA study showed that Bangladesh is the most competitive apparel supplier from a cost structure point of view, scoring higher than any other country.

The Export Promotion Bureau of Bangladesh is targeting more than $50 billion of apparel exports in FY24. Meanwhile, spinning mills' operating rates in 2023-24 are expected to rise, reflecting the textile supply chain's replenishment of depleted stocks of yarn, fabric, and apparel.

On a global scale, the 2023-24 outlook for cotton shows production down more than 2.7 million bales to 114.1 million bales, primarily due to lower US and Uzbekistan crops. Consumption is up for the second consecutive month at 116.9 million, mostly led by China. Global trade is forecast up 400,000 bales to 43.9 million, while global ending stocks are down 2.9 million to 91.6 million bales. The US season-average farm price for 2023-24 is forecast up 3 cents to 79 cents per pound, the report added.

For the 2022-23 outlook, production is slightly higher at 118.3 million bales with larger crops in Brazil and Argentina. Consumption is projected up more than 700,000 bales to 110.5 million, led by higher use in China, Turkiye, and Bangladesh. Global ending stocks remain unchanged at 94 million bales, 8.5 million higher compared to the previous year.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP)
The Textile, Apparel, Footwear & Travel Goods Association in Cambodia (TAFTAC) recently said exports in the sector had slipped by 18 per cent year on year (YoY) in the first half this year due to global economic downturn. However, the situation will remain stable without notable positive trends, due to the economic situation in the United States and Europe, it predicted.

Cambodia has 1,077 factories employing 764,358 workers as of August 11, of which 802 are garment units, 140 produce footwear and 134 manufacture travel goods, according to TAFTAC president Kong Sang.

The Textile, Apparel, Footwear & Travel Goods Association in Cambodia has said the sector's exports had slipped by 18 per cent year on year in the first half this year. However, the situation will remain stable without notable positive trends, it predicted. Cambodia has 1,077 factories as of August 11802 in garment, 140 in footwear and 134 in travel goods.

Sang released the figures at the 2023 Business Forum organised by the Cambodia Oknha Association (COA), according to Cambodian media reports.

The sectors exports last year reached $12.5 billion, equal to nearly 60 per cent of the countrys total export value, and accounting for 10 per cent of the Cambodian economy.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Grab the current issue of Femina to learn more about our Honourable President Droupadi Murmu.

Droupadi Murmu, India's first tribal President, features on the cover of Femina's August 2023 issue, the 'Freedom' special. The President's story is one of bravery, determination, overcoming obstacles, and breaking ground, with numerous firsts to her credit. Originating from the town of Uparbeda in Odisha, India's 15th President was the first girl from her village to attend college in Bhubaneswar, the first woman from her village to enter politics, and the first woman to hold the position of Governor of Jharkhand. President Murmu's emphasis on education and her many years of service as a teacher demonstrate her dedication to the betterment of the youth and the nation. She now holds the highest office in our country.In her inaugural address to the nation, President Murmu stated, "I want to tell the youth of our country that you are not only building your own future but also laying the foundation of the India of the future."On the eve of the 74th Republic Day, the Honourable President urged women to pursue their dreams, saying, "I am amazed by the confidence of young women. I have no doubt in my mind that they are the ones who will do most to shape tomorrows India. What miracles cannot be achieved if this half of the population is encouraged to contribute to nation-building to the best of their ability."Deepak Lamba, CEO, Worldwide Media, said, "Femina is truly privileged to feature the Honourable President Droupadi Murmu on its cover and showcase her journey to the highest echelons of our nation. President Murmu's extraordinary life serves as a powerful testament to the indomitable spirit of perseverance and boundless compassion. Radiating grace and wisdom, our esteemed President's presence on the cover embodies the profound impact she has had on the citizens of India ."Ambika Muttoo, Editor-in-Chief of Femina, said, "We are filled with pride to feature our esteemed President on the cover of Femina. She epitomises selflessness and serves as a beacon of motivation for promoting equality. She is a genuine source of inspiration for Indias young women and the youth of our nation, igniting within them the spirit to relentlessly work towards realising their dreams,"
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jerry x Mimi AAAAAAAAA (@jerryxmimi)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jerry x Mimi AAAAAAAAA (@jerryxmimi)

The Jonas Brothers, Nick, Kevin, and Joe Jonas, are currently on tour in the United States, beginning at Yankee Stadium in New York. Their wives- Priyanka Chopra, Sophie Turner, and Danielle Jonas also attended the concert. Many interesting videos from the recent concert are making their way around the internet, including a viral clip that captured a touching moment where Priyanka is seen getting emotional during Nick's performance.The video, which was shared by a fan, shows Priyanka getting teary-eyed after the Jonas Brothers' opening song. In the video, she can be seen wiping her tears. Priyanka looked stunning in a stylish black and white ensemble as she attended the concert.Another concert video shows her arriving at the event to loud cheers from adoring fans. Priyanka won many hearts with this video, as she is seen gently urging her security personnel to clear the way when her security asked her fans to do so. Take it easy.In January of last year, Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas, who married in 2018, welcomed their first child, a baby girl named Malti Marie Chopra Jonas, through surrogacy.On the professional front, Priyanka recently starred in Citadel. She will also be seen in Heads of State alongside Idris Elba and John Cena.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Saira Banu Khan (@sairabanu)

Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan are renowned personalities who are almost synonymous with the industry due to their exceptional talent, unique aura, and distinct personalities. Interestingly, these two legends also shared a great camaraderie with each other, as revealed by Saira Banu who recently posted some pictures of Dilip Kumar with Amitabh Bachchan on social media.Starting the long note, she revealed that Dilip got to know about Big B through his friend Om Prakash, she wrote, "Sahib got to hear of Amitabh Bachchan from his friend, actor Om Prakash Ji- 'Oh! Yousuf Jaan, I am so amazed to find a young man, an actor for the first time in my career who has the same intense, piercing look in his eyes as YOU!'"She further wrote, "There began a mutual admiration between Sahib and Amit Ji. Amit Ji said that Sahib is an exceptionally good human being. He always plays the father figure for anybody seeking his guidance. One day, late at night, the writer-duo Salim-Javed egged Amit Ji to visit Sahib's house without a prior appointment. Amit Ji was reluctant, as it had never been his habit to take such liberties, especially with elders. They said it was alright, drove over to Sahib's bungalow and learnt from the watchman that Sahib had retired for the day and was in his bedroom. Amit Ji told Salim-Javed that they should leave, but they asked the watchman to inform Sahib that his friends were over to see him."Recalling the incident, she added, "The very next moment, the lights were switched on in the living room and his personal valet ushered them inside. Sahib came downstairs from his bedroom, all smiles. He was hospitable even at that unearthly hour, regaled them with old anecdotes until 4:00 in the morning and the trio reluctantly took leave of Sahib. Such was his care and warmth.""Amit Ji once said, The history of Indian Cinema shall be before Dilip Sahib and after Dilip Sahib, because of his impeccable presence. When you measure a journey, you never change the milestone. Dilip Sahib is that milestone in our film industry, she wrote."Sahib has lauded Amitabhs work personally and publicly. At the premiere of BLACK, he waited outside the theatre until Amit Ji emerged, and then walked upto him, held his hands warmly and looked into his eyes for what seemed an eternity. Amitabh says, I did not speak a word, but his eyes spoke the most eloquent words that anyone ever spoke to me, she further stated.Concluding her long note, she said, "Later, whenever Sahib got hospitalised at Lilavati Hospital, it was so kind of Amit Ji that after his shooting, he would pay a surprise visit to Sahib in the evening. Sahib definitely felt better in his company and got home soon. This was always a memorable happening."Meanwhile, Amitabh Bachchan and Dilip Kumar starred together in the 1982 film Shakti.
Berlin, the capital city of Germany, received 5.7 million travellers in the first six months of this year and they spent around 13.8 million overnight stays in the city's hotels.

In comparison to the first half of 2022, the number of overnight stays saw an increase of 23.9 per cent, while the number of guests went up by 30.2 per cent, says the latest figures from the Berlin-Brandenburg State Office for Statistics.

Franziska Giffey, Senator for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises, said: With millions of guests from other German states, from Europe and abroad, tourism is a veritable economic factor for our city. Many other industries benefit when our hotels and restaurants are well visited. The current figures show that we are on the right track. The restart after the pandemic has proved to be a success.

"Berlin's economy holds much promise for the whole of Germany. We are now building on this development with our tourism concept and the resilience programme, which will soon be launched to further support Berlin businesses in positioning themselves for the future in a manner that is immune to crises, Giffey said.

Burkhard Kieker, CEO of visitBerlin, said: "Berlin tourism has continued to hold steady in the first half of the year 2023. In view of the current global situation, this positive development is not a foregone conclusion, but the culmination of a joint effort by the entire Visitor Economy as well as the city's politicians."

Stephan Erfurt, Chairman of the Board of the C/O Berlin Foundation, said: "As an exhibition house for photography and visual media, C/O Berlin is all about bringing together relevant discourses of our time and our contemporary visual culture. With our unique location in Charlottenburg and the network of different partners around us, we have created a unique hub for photography that caters to both Berliners and guests from all over the world."

UK tops list of international guests

The number of overnight stays by international guests grew to 38.8 per cent in the first half of the year 2023, compared to 36 per cent in H1 2022. The strongest foreign markets on the list included the United Kingdom, the USA and the Netherlands.

The Berlin highlights in autumn: "48 h ICC" on Open Monument Day

Numerous highlights already inspire to plan the next trip to Berlin. For example, on the weekend of the Open Monument Day on September 9 and 10 September; the International Congress Center Berlin, world-famous for its high-tech architecture and once the largest conference centre in Europe, will be open to all Berliners and guests of the city almost 10 years after its closure. The motto: "48 h ICC", a diverse programme is planned for visitors and representatives of the event industry.

A few days later, the first of two exhibitions dedicated to the Norwegian artist Edvard Munch will begin: The Berlinische Galerie will present "Edvard Munch. Magic of the North" from September 15 to 22 January, highlighting Munch's time in Berlin, where he lived on and off between 1892 and 1907. The Barberini Museum in Potsdam will take a closer look at Munch's landscapes and his interaction with nature with "Edvard Munch: Trembling Earth" from November 18 to April 1. In cooperation with both museums, visitBerlin offers a discounted combined ticket for both the exhibitions.

From October 6 to 15, the Festival of Lights will once again transform numerous buildings, landmarks, monuments and streets into a riot of colours - spectacularly staged by international light artists. - TradeArabia News Service
Independence Day is not a mere holiday, it is a day to honour the country. These celebrities talk about their favourite Independence Day movies and freedom fighters.

Nikhil Nanda

Independence Day is not just a day to celebrate; it is something that this generation sometimes doesn't understand what our forefathers have done for us and that we are enjoying today. Independence Day is like a birthday to me. We have the freedom to live on Independence Day. Purab and Paschim is a movie I have seen a lot of times and have always been inspired by in many other ways. It also has a song, Preet Jahan Ki Reet Sata. This song was famous 40 years ago as well. Vir Savarkar is the most underrated freedom fighter. There are many myths circulated about him. Second is Subash Chandra Bose, and I strongly believe that India got freedom because of him.

Farnaz Shetty

I cannot imagine living where we don't have freedom. Independence Day is the most important thing in an individual's life. If I think about my life before independence, it feels like a child who is caged. So, it's like there's no life if there's no independence. I am grateful to all the freedom fighters who gave their lives for us and the army that fights for us every day on the borders. So, it definitely plays a vital role in all our lives. When I was a child, it was just a day to celebrate, but now that I have grown up, it plays a very significant role in all our lives. Bhagat Singh is someone whom I admire the most. I have not read much about it, but I feel that giving up your life for someone else's freedom is hard. So, I think Bhagat Singh leaves something behind that stays with us.

Aditya Deshmukh

The significance is that we are living in a free, democratic nation. We have the liberty to do everything that we want to do, and I mean that in a good way. Our ancestors shed a lot of blood so that we could live freely. I am very blessed to have been born in a free nation. We should be grateful to all our ancestors, the universe, and the Almighty for giving us birth to a free nation. There are so many, but I really love the legends of Bhagat Singh, Rang De Basanti, Shaheed, and Vir Savarkar. My favourites out of all of them are Bhagat Singh and Vir Savarkar.

Aradhana Sharma

To me, Independence Day holds immense significance, as I value the nation's history and the spirit of freedom. It's a day to honour the sacrifices of those who paved the way for our country's independence and to celebrate the shared identity that binds its citizens together. One patriotic film would be Rang de Basanti. I respect Mahatma Gandhi ji, and I am truly grateful for his sacrifice and his efforts for our country's independence. But I am more of a Bhagat Singh follower. I feel his admiration was rooted in his courage, patriotism, and commitment to justice. Bhagat Singh's fearlessness in challenging colonial oppression, his intellect, and his firm belief in equality have left a lasting impact on those who value these principles.

Monika Khanna

Independence Day is not just a single day of celebration. True freedom will be achieved when every individual receives equal rights. When everyone, regardless of their gender, is empowered and treated with respect. This includes women's empowerment. However, I still believe that some people today are insincere. They claim to be open-minded and progressive, but their actions don't align with their claims. So, the time will come when everyone will truly understand their rights and responsibilities. This will apply in all aspects: politically, mentally, and constitutionally. In this way, true knowledge of freedom will reach everyone.

Sumit Khetan

Independence Day is a reminder of a nation's journey from oppression to liberation and a testament to the resilience and sacrifice that paved the path to freedom. As we raise our flags on this day, we honour the struggles of countless freedom fighters who fought valiantly for a sovereign India. Cinematic narratives like 'Lagaan' and 'Rang De Basanti' are more than just movies; they are reflections of the spirit that flows through the veins of a nation, showcasing the unwavering courage and unity that define a people. And among the pantheon of freedom fighters, Subhas Chandra Bose's legacy burns bright. His resolute patriotism and unyielding dedication serve as a beacon, guiding us to remember that the pursuit of liberty requires audacity and unwavering determination.

Khushdeep Bansal

The importance of Independence Day, according to me, is related to our freedom. Independence means doing things on our own, being self-reliant, and having our own systems in place. When our systems are running independently and we are not under the control of foreign powers, it's a time when our cultural heritage, our spiritual thinking, and our self-governance are thriving. I believe that on Independence Day, we remember and celebrate the vision that leaders like Arvind Ghosh, Mahatma Gandhi, and Sardar Patel had for building a strong and self-sufficient nation under a native economic system. So, based on our Indian laws, our spiritual thoughts, and our knowledge heritage, we can create a powerful India. I wish everyone on every Independence Day that we recognise our ancient heritage and embrace that ideology, and only then will we not just have a free India but also manifest the concept of India as a global leader. I like all those movies in which patriotism is portrayed, similar to a film like Mission Majnu, where Indian heroes protect the country from external attacks even while staying outside India. The movie Mission Mangal also tells the story of a deported patriot. So, I enjoy movies with such themes. My heartfelt wishes on this Independence Day.

Monika Bhadoriya

It is 76th Independence Day. It is very important day for each and everyone one of us. Our freedom fighters have fought for us so that we can live freely today and we have a democratic country. We all remember them and thank them not only today but every day. My favourite movie is Ajay Devgan's movie. Both my grandparents were freedom fighters and they have told me so many stories how those times would be, so I can just feel that how traumatic those times were for us. She I.E. Sushila Devi Bhadoriya passed away last year and she's my favourite freedom fighter.
Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri and Pallavi Joshi have commenced 'The Vaccine War' tour to the USA!

Indian filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri's latest directorial venture, 'The Vaccine War', produced by the visionary Pallavi Joshi, sheds light on an intriguing subject that resonates with every individual - India's remarkable journey towards crafting its own vaccine during the difficult covid times. Beyond the familiar narrative, the film delves into the lesser-known challenges that emerged on this path, showcasing the relentless determination of every Indian scientist and Indian who contributed to this monumental feat.

The movie captures the nation's collective spirit as it confronted these challenges head-on, showcasing the triumphant moment when India emerged victorious in the battle against COVID-19 through the development of its vaccine. Now, the creators of this cinematic masterpiece are poised to share this remarkable story of courage and innovation with the world.

As a testament to India's triumph, Agnihotri and Joshi have embarked on a momentous journey themselves. Spotted at the airport today, the dynamic duo is en route to the United States, where they are set to embark on a month-long tour. When the star filmmaker asked by paparazzi about the tour, he said "We just wrapped the film and now we are off the USA where the film is going to be screened at 11 cities before it released".

With their compelling film as the driving force, Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri and Pallavi Joshi are poised to share India's incredible achievement and the unwavering spirit of its people with a global audience, cementing their status as true ambassadors of progress and resilience. Currently, filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Angnihotri and Producer Pallavi Joshi was commenced a one month tour for spreading the awareness of everything that behind making the Vaccine in India and the victory our country saw despite adversity and challenges.

Directed by Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri 'The Vaccine War' will feature Anupam Kher, Nana Patekar, Sapthami Gowda, and Pallavi Joshi as lead characters. Produced by Pallavi Joshi at I Am Buddha, The makers are yet to reveal the release date.
GENEVA, Switzerland, July 31, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Etrion Corporation ("Etrion" or the "Company", and, together with its subsidiaries, the "Group") released today its condensed consolidated interim financial statements and related management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A") for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023.



Q2-23 HIGHLIGHTS

Etrion closed the second quarter of 2023 with an unrestricted cash balance of US$12.2 million and a positive working capital of US$10.0 million.

The Company sold all the solar assets in 2021 and is not developing any new project in 2023. The Company continues to explore options to deploy the remaining capital into a new venture. However, if no attractive options are found, the Company will complete its windup activities and proceed with the dissolution of the Company within approximately 36 months, although it is possible that the dissolution may be accelerated or extended beyond that time. Any cash remaining at the completion of the windup activities and settlement of all liabilities of the Company will be distributed to shareholders.



Management Comments

Marco A. Northland, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, commented, "The Company going forward will maintain very limited resources; however, we will continue to explore potential opportunities for future deployment of the Company's remaining cash or eventually proceed with a windup of the Company as previously disclosed."

FINANCIAL SUMMARY

Three months ended Six months ended US$ thousands (unless otherwise stated) Q2-23 Q2-22 Q2-23 Q2-22 Financial performance from continuing operations EBITDA (413 ) (813 ) (729 ) (1,628 ) Net loss (9,795 ) (4,192 ) (11,069 ) (9,029 ) Financial position Jun 2023 Dec 2022 Unrestricted cash 12,236 14,198 Working capital 10,046 13,540 Total assets 12,486 14,536

About Etrion

Etrion's largest shareholder is the Lundin family, which owns approximately 36% of the Company's shares directly and through various trusts.

For additional information, please visit the Company's website at www.etrion.com or contact:

Marco Northland - Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer

mnorthland@etrion.com

The information was submitted for publication at 11:05 p.m. CET on July 31, 2023.

Non-IFRS Measures:

This press release includes non-IFRS measures not defined under IFRS, specifically earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") and Adjusted operating cash flow. Non-IFRS measures have no standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS and therefore such measures may not be comparable with those used by other companies. EBITDA is a useful metric to quantify the Company's ability to generate cash before extraordinary and non-cash accounting transactions recognized in the financial statements. In addition, EBITDA is useful to analyze and compare profitability between companies and industries because it eliminates the effects of financing and accounting policy decisions. The most comparable IFRS measure to EBITDA is net income (loss). Refer to Etrion's MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2022, for a reconciliation of EBITDA and adjusted operating cash flow reported during the period.

Forward-Looking Information:

This press release contains certain "forward-looking information". All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements relating to amount of funds that will be required to satisfy potential warranty claims under the sale agreements, other corporate level liabilities and anticipated expenses to cover continuing operations and windup costs, the possibility of acquiring or commencing an alternative business and the possibility that the Company may proceed to wind up its activities and dissolve following the completion of the sale of its solar assets) constitute forward-looking information. This forward-looking information reflects the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company as well as certain assumptions including, without limitation, assumptions as to the amount of funds that will be required to satisfy future obligations and costs associated with the dissolution of the Company. Forward-looking information is subject to a number of significant risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking information, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on the Company. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to, the risk that the Company may have insufficient funds to satisfy its future obligations, including without limitation warranty claims under the agreements pursuant to which its projects were sold; the risk that the Company may not be successful in identifying and pursuing an alternative business; and uncertainties with respect to the timing of the any alternative business venture or the windup and the dissolution of the Company.

Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking information are reasonable, forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such information due to the inherent uncertainty therein.




New funding brings total potential in securitized financing raised since 2020 to USD$490M

NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- d.light, the global provider of transformational household products and affordable finance for low-income households, today announced a $30 million securitization facility has been successfully secured from the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank Group (TDB Group), with the capability to purchase up to $125 million of receivable assets.

d.light will use the capital to increase its existing securitized financing facility in Tanzania and scale up its low-cost Pay-Go personal finance service in the country so that more low-income people and households can purchase the company's affordable, solar-powered household products.

d.light has now raised $490 million in total securitized financing since 2020. The financing facility in Tanzania will be anchored by TDB.

d.light CEO Nick Imudia said, "This new financing from TDB gives us the extra funding to reach more low-income families and households in Tanzania via our Pay-Go business, in a way that is affordable for our customers and sustainable for our business."

"d.light and our lending partners are long-time pioneers in developing securitized finance as an innovative, scalable financing model for raising equity for off-grid solar that is guaranteed against current and future customer sales. We've successfully used the securitization model for several years in Kenya and now we and our partners are expanding it to Tanzania."

Michael Awori, CEO of TDB, said, "Access to energy is critical to the sustainable development of the continent, especially for the most vulnerable off-grid communities. As one of the leading renewable energy financiers in the region, we are delighted to extend this second facility to d.light, this time in Tanzania. Globally, in 2022 alone the company reached over 1,677,216 people through PAY-GO model, created close to 2,000 jobs, and averted 1,329,371 tons of CO2 and black carbon emissions with solar replacing kerosene lamps. This is the kind of impactful track record TDB is keen to support."

d.light's Imudia continued, "As a scalable method of financing, securitization is an important fiscal tool to help African countries achieve the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals for energy access. Expect further expansion of this facility by d.light into other major sub-Saharan African markets during 2023."

Tanzania is the fifth most populous country in Africa and its population of 63.6 million people is spread out over a wide geographical area. According to the World Bank, only 40 percent of the population have electricity access: the majority currently don't have grid connectivity and a reliable power supply. Tanzania was one of d.light's first markets and it has been selling its products there since 2008, a year after the company was founded. It has an office in Arusha City, Tanzania, that employs over 50 full-time employees.

d.light's finance facility in Tanzania works by leveraging the payments of d.light's existing and future customers there for solar products purchased using its Pay-Go service. This is then used to raise funding to upscale the company's activities and grow market share in the country.

"d.light's distribution and after-sales service network serves some of the most remote and hardest to reach areas of Tanzania," Imudia explained. "We will continue to grow our distribution footprint to enable more communities to benefit from our range of safe, reliable, and affordable solar-powered products."

In April, d.light achieved the milestone of transforming the lives of more than 150 million people worldwide with its range of reliable, affordable solar-powered household products.

d.light and its lending partner African Frontier Capital (AFC) are using the incoming capital as the basis for a new financing vehicle, Brighter Life Tanzania 1 Limited (BLT1).

Eric De Moudt, AFC's founder and CEO, commented, "We are very happy to announce the launch of our latest social impact securitization, BLT1, which further expands our industry leading off-balance sheet securitization structures into new jurisdictions for d.light and brings the total volume of local currency receivables being financed to almost USD500M.

"These social impact securitizations are helping d.light to bring financial inclusion and access to reliable and clean energy to millions of people while simultaneously helping to ensure a just and equitable energy transition that benefits everyone."

About d.light

Founded in 2007 at Stanford in California, d.light is a global leader in making transformative products available and affordable to low-income families. d.light has sold nearly 30 million products, including solar lanterns, solar home systems, TVs, radios, and smartphones, impacting the lives of over 150 million people. Our vision is to transform the lives of one billion people with sustainable products by 2030. For further information, visit: https://www.dlight.com

Follow us at twitter.com/dlightdesign and https://www.facebook.com/dlightdesigninc.

About TDB

Established in 1985, the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (TDB) is a regional development finance institution, with investment grade ratings and assets of USD 8.4bn. TDB serves 25 member states in its region, with the mandate to finance and foster trade, regional economic integration and sustainable development, through trade finance, project and infrastructure finance and asset management.

TDB is part of TDB Group, which also comprises the Trade and Development Fund (TDF), Eastern and Southern African Trade Advisers Limited (ESATAL), TDB Captive Insurance Company (TCI), and the TDB Academy.

About AFC

African Frontier Capital (Mauritius) LLC and its subsidiary companies are a dedicated impact investment group focused on bringing financial inclusion to people living at the bottom of the pyramid in a socially and environmentally sustainable way. For more information visit www.africanfrontiercapital.com or you can reach out to us on info@africanfrontiercapital.com.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2184321/Nick_Imudia.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/dlight-closes-usd125m-funding-through-a-securitization-facility-to-meet-growing-demand-for-off-grid-solar-products-in-tanzania-301898955.html
SHENZHEN, China, Aug. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- vivo, the global leading technology company for smart phone technology, has unveiled the new V29, its latest flagship-level studio portrait addition to its captivating V series. Equipped with the innovative Aura Light and Smart Color Temperature Adjustment feature, new aesthetic design and powerful performance, V29 is the smartphone for users looking to capture and celebrate every moment of their exciting lives. V29 revolutionizes the smartphone experience with a comprehensive range of advanced features and groundbreaking innovations meticulously crafted to elevate user experience and seamlessly address everyday challenges faced by consumers.

"vivo is constantly striving to develop leading technology such as the studio-level portrait in its smartphones to improve portrait photography and overall user experience. The new V29, with upgraded Aura Light Portrait feature and fascinating chic design, empower users to express themselves in daily social life as well as to discover and celebrate every special moment," said Daniel Goetz, Product Manager at vivo. "Looking to the future, our commitment remains firm - to relentlessly push boundaries in smartphone innovation, ensuring our users continue to enjoy superior experiences."

Step into the Spotlight with Studio-Level Portraits

The innovative Aura Light with new Smart Color Temperature Adjustment boasts an upgraded design in the form of a larger light ring size (15.6 mm in diameter). This empowers the rear camera with more impressive low-light and night photography capabilities, adding a flattering radiance to photo subjects anywhere, anytime. In addition, upgraded features of the front camera, such as the 50 MP AF Group Selfie and Super Group Video, ensure that every smile is perfectly immortalized within the frame.

Your Go-to Lighting Designer

With the Aura Light feature, V29 continues to push boundaries in the pursuit of excellence, while prioritizing the needs of users at the same time. Recognizing the vital role of light in capturing stunning images, the rear camera of V29 is equipped with the largest Aura Light in vivo's history. The oversized Aura Light has a remarkable capacity to create a three-dimensional lighting effect, and ensures even light from every angle, eliminating facial shadows and dark areas. With a light-emitting area nine times larger than a standard flash, the Aura Light provides gentle and non-dazzling light akin to that of a professional studio. This exquisite lighting delicately accentuates the skin tone while artfully concealing imperfections, unveiling one's natural beauty. Additionally, the 36% of increase in brightness as compared to its predecessor allows vivo V29 to capture shots with vivid clarity, bringing them to life with more focus and power.

V29 goes beyond enhancing visual appeal with its all-encompassing Aura Light. It also introduces the integration of Smart Color Temperature Adjustment, which enables the device to adapt to diverse environments with varying color temperatures. From dynamic nightclubs to vibrant neon-lit streets or cozy bars, V29 effortlessly adapts its color temperature to intelligently align with the environment, providing users with the expertise of a personal light designer. With just a single tap on V29, subjects in dimly lit environments are gently illuminated, allowing their unique characteristics to shine through. The result is bright, clear portraits with a captivating atmosphere that enriches every shot.

Capture Every Smile with Splendor

Experience the next level of group selfies with the enhanced 50 MP HD Camera of V29. With an expanded field of view and precise autofocus capabilities, it liberates photos from the constraints of traditional selfies, capturing more smiles effortlessly and without distortions. From group photos to videos, V29 allows users to unleash their creativity and create enchanting memories that radiate with brilliance and authenticity.

Unlock the Beauty of the Night

When it comes to exceptional night image quality, V29 is powered by an advanced 50 MP OIS Ultra-Sensing Camera. Elevating the photography experience, it extends exposure, enhances light intake, and ensures the capture of remarkably stable images. Superior image quality and truly satisfactory results can be expected, even in low-light conditions. With V29, users can relish the privilege of studio-level photography integrated seamlessly into a smartphone, all without the weight of a hefty price tag.

Additionally, V29 has the Supermoon Mode which helps stargazers capture the brilliance of night sky. To enhance the sky watching experience, the Astro Mode is a delightful addition that allows users to capture the beautiful Milky Way.

But that's not all. For videography enthusiasts, V29 raises the bar with its advanced technology. The Ultra Stable Video feature, supported by both OIS and EIS, ensures steadier and clearer shots of various scenes. By conducting up to 1,000 stabilization computations and 10,000 stabilization movements per second, it effectively mitigates undesirable motion blur to capture images with clarity and precision. No more worries about low light, camera noise, or shaky footage. Get ready to create captivating vlogs with cinematic magic and brilliance.

One-Stop Vlog-Maker for Everyday Shots

V29 is expertly crafted to empower users in their quest for vlogging excellence and social media content creation. The Vlog Movie Creator offers a one-stop video creation experience with various built-in templates and a professional editing assistant, eliminating the need for separate editing apps.

Redefine Sophistication with Timeless Style

The colors[1] of V29 are soft and delicate. The Peak Blue is inspired by the concept of the mighty grandeur atop mountains, and its color theme is a metaphor for the spirit of climbing to the top and constantly pursuing a life with better quality. It features the Innovative 3D Magnetic Particle technique, thanks to which 15 million micron-sized magnetic particles of varying sizes and orientations result in distinct refraction paths, to create vastly different cascading gradations of light and shadow effects. The phone is adorned with delicate shimmers carefully aligned in the form of a majestic mountain range with two layers overlapping each other. As you tilt the phone, a remarkable transformation unfolds. The mountain-like silhouette shifts and sways, as if responding to the rhythm of your touch, infusing the experience with an interactive element that enchants the senses.

The color purple is often associated with fashion, royalty, imagination and passion. Inspired from the Milky Way and twinkling stars, the Starry Purple edition transcends the ordinary. The Innovative 3D Magnetic Particle technique allows the creation of a glittering purple galaxy like no other, while the play of light on the back panel ensures that it is always shimmering like the night sky with the Milky Way and twinkling stars. Hence, the back cover looks translucent yet three-dimensional, all at the same time. Moreover, with purple emerging as one of the most captivating colors of the year, the Starry Purple aligns seamlessly with prevailing fashion trends, making it a stylish addition to every fashionista's wardrobe.

Another luxurious and elegant color is Velvet Red. As a symbol of luxury, the Velvet Red is reminiscent of aristocratic silk which is only reserved for those who pursue the best quality. Furthermore, V29 Velvet Red is made by unique Color Changing Fluorite AG Glass and nano-scale photoetching technique. With its color-changing effect under UV light, V29 Velvet Red delivers a soft touch and unique premium quality under the transition of light and shadow.??

The Noble Black is also associated with excellence and elegance. Thanks to the nano-scale photoetching technique, it provides durability and stain resistance with etched shimmers.

The Clearest Display in the History of V Series

V29 series features a 120 Hz 1.5K AMOLED display and a 6.78? 3D curved screen, delivering stunning visuals to users. With an impressive resolution of 1.5K and a super-high pixel density of 452 PPI, every detail comes to life with astonishing precision. Users will be immersed in a captivating visual experience as V29 showcases 1.07 billion colors and a DCI-P3 cinema-grade color gamut. In addition, V29 prioritizes eye health and has received triple SGS professional-grade eye protection certifications, underscoring our commitment to visual well-being.

Delivering Unparalleled Performance

V29 is designed to provide a smooth and powerful user experience. It features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G mobile platform, ensuring excellent performance and seamless 5G connectivity. With its Memory Booster (12 GB RAM + 8 GB Extended RAM[2]), the device offers ample storage and strong support for the operating system. V29 also includes an Ultra Large VC Bionic Cooling System, which enables the device to unleash optimal performance in various scenarios, delivering an immersive experience - whether during intense gaming sessions or captivating cinematic experiences. Additionally, the updated 80W FlashCharge[3] and 4600 mAh (TYP) Battery allow for fast and safe charging, allowing the phone to be charged from 1% to 50% in just 18 minutes[4] and guaranteeing reliable and long-lasting use.

Besides, V29 sets a high standard for remarkable durability with its IP68[5] rating, ensuring exceptional protection against dust and water[6]. V29 provides water resistance and dust resistance under normal use. In over 60 controlled laboratory reliability tests, V29 demonstrates exceptional performance, allowing it to accompany users through rain or shine, ensuring a long-lasting, worry-free user experience.

Overall, with its impressive specifications and features, V29 provides a convincing and rational choice for users seeking a high-performance smartphone.

Pricing and Availability

Starting today, the highly anticipated V29 will be available in more than 39 markets, including India, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Turkey, Mexico and the selected European markets. The availability, pricing, and specifications of each model may vary depending on local market conditions and consumer preferences.

About vivo

vivo is a technology company that creates great products based on a design-driven value, with smart devices and intelligent services as its core. The company aims to build a bridge between humans and the digital world. Through unique creativity, vivo provides users with an increasingly convenient mobile and digital life. Following the company's core values, which include Benfen*, user-orientation, design-driven value, continuous learning and team spirit, vivo has implemented a sustainable development strategy with the vision of developing into a healthier, more sustainable world-class corporation.

While bringing together and developing the best local talents to deliver excellence, vivo is supported by a network of R&D centers in Shenzhen, Dongguan, Nanjing, Beijing, Hangzhou, Shanghai and Xi'an, focusing on the development of state-of-the-art consumer technologies, including 5G, artificial intelligence, industrial design, imaging system and other up-and-coming technologies. vivo has also set up an intelligent manufacturing network (including those authorized by vivo), with an annual production capacity of nearly 200 million smartphones. As of now, vivo has branched out its sales network across more than 60 countries and regions, and is loved by more than 400 million users worldwide.

*"Benfen" is a term describing the attitude on doing the right things and doing things right - which is the ideal description of vivo's mission to create value for society.

Stay informed of latest vivo news at https://www.vivo.com/en/about-vivo/news

[1] The availability of product colors may vary by region.

[2] 8 GB extended RAM is realized by software.

[3] V29 series is equipped with a vivo standard charger, and supports up to 80W FlashCharge. The actual charging power is dynamically adjusted as the scene changes, and subject to actual use.

[4] Charging data is based on vivo laboratory environmental tests. Actual charging speed is subject to actual usage and may vary depending on environmental and other factors.

[5] IP rating may differ by region.

[6] V29 is not a professional waterproof mobile phone, but it is splash-, water- and dust-resistant under normal use. The resistance to splash, water and dust is not permanent and may be reduced due to daily wear and tear. Do not charge the mobile phone when it is wet. Damage due to liquid ingress is not covered by the warranty.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2184207/1_vivo_V29_Global_Launch_Peak_Blue.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2184208/2_vivo_V29_Global_Launch_Aura_Light_Portrait.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/studio-portrait-in-your-pocket-vivo-launches-v29-with-unique-aura-light-chic-design-and-enhanced-performance-301899317.html
August 14, 2023 - PGS ASA (the Company) has decided to initiate a share buy-back program to cover settlement of Performance based Restricted Stock Units ("PRSU's") granted under the Company's 2020 Long Term Incentive Plan for employees.



The buy-back program will be conducted in accordance with the authorization to purchase treasury shares provided to the Board of Directors by the Company's Annual General Meeting held on April 26, 2023.

The program will commence on August 14, 2023 and continue until August 18, 2023. The shares purchased under this program will be used in connection with the Company's Long Term Incentive Plan for employees.

The share buy-back program will be for a maximum of 1,600,000 PGS shares and will comprise purchase of own shares for an aggregate amount of up to NOK 13,000,000. The number of shares purchased per day shall not exceed 25% of the average daily trading volume for the 20 days preceding the day of the purchase. The Company has engaged DNB Markets AS to carry out the share buy-back program on its behalf. The shares will be bought back in accordance with the requirements in Commission Delegate Regulation (EU) No 2016/1052 of March 8, 2016 and Regulation (EU) No 697/2014. DNB Markets AS guarantees a maximum price of volume weighted average price ("VWAP") and the parties share any profit if actual price achieved is below VWAP.This information is published in accordance with the requirements in article 5 of the EU Market Abuse Regulation and subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.




This acquisition strengthens Saksoft's positioning as a digital transformation solution provider

CHENNAI, India, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Saksoft Limited announced that its wholly owned subsidiaries, have completed the acquisition of Solveda Group headquartered in New York with centres in London, Gurgaon and Noida. (https://www.solveda.com/ ).

Speaking on this acquisition, Aditya Krishna, Chairman & Managing Director, Saksoft, said, "We are pleased to welcome Solveda's leadership, employees and clients to Saksoft. This acquisition reinforces our continued focus on our Inch-wide Mile-Deep strategy of competing in market niches where we have competitive advantage. Solveda's deep expertise in E-commerce applications will help us open and leverage another market niche which is attracting significant technology spend across the globe."

Nick Rosser, CEO - Solveda LLC, said, "With increased client exposure and access to new geographies, our partnership with Saksoft will help fuel the next stage of our evolution into a global full-service eCommerce solution provider. We are delighted to be able to do this whilst preserving Solveda's independent culture and our shared commitment to excellence will drive even more meaningful results for our clients."

Deepak Agarwal, CEO -Solveda India, said, "We are excited to join forces with the Saksoft Group as we see synergy in our experience and expertise. Our strong business relationship, project execution experience in the global eCommerce market combined with Saksoft's larger portfolio of solutions can provide scale for our business growth."

About Solveda

Solveda is a software design and development company with niche expertise in cutting edge E- commerce applications catering to B2B and B2C customers. Solveda offers complete project delivery of E-commerce applications by utilizing pre-built artefacts and accelerators thus reducing time to market and costs for customers. With a worldwide workforce of 200 people Solveda has enterprise customers globally, serving customers in the US, APAC and EMEA regions.

About Saksoft Group

Saksoft Group (www.saksoft.com) specialises in Enterprise Applications, Augmented Analytics, Intelligent Automation and Enterprise Cloud. The group is headquartered in Chennai, India and has 16 offices across USA, Europe, and Asia employing over 2000 employees.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1747041/Saksoft_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/saksoft-acquires-solveda-301899577.html
BEIJING, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from chinadaily.com.cn:

A Russia-Zibo Economic and Trade Discussion Conference was held in the international business hub - located in Zibo, Shandong province - on Aug 5.

The aim was to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Zibo and the Republic of Buryatia, Russia.

The conference witnessed the signing of a strategic cooperation framework agreement between the export support center of Buryatia and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Zibo Committee.

The Russian delegation to the conference - made up of representatives from international trade and energy companies in Buryatia - held in-depth talks with key figures from Zibo's business community.

The conference covered a wide range of topics - including timber, big international transport logistics, coal, pharmaceuticals, food and tourism.

Forty-five companies from Zibo's light industry, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, heavy machinery and other key sectors participated.

According to Zibo Customs, Russia is the second-largest trading partner of the city. Last year, the total value of the import and export trade between Zibo and Russia surged 65.8 percent year-on-year to 15.85 billion yuan ($2.22 billion). Exports totaled to 2.54 billion yuan, while imports came to 13.31 billion yuan.

Zibo maintains close relations with Russia. On June 9, an online economic and trade cooperation exchange was held between China and Russia - with over 200 companies from the city engaged in procurement discussions with more than 40 Russian companies and buyers.

What's more, the Zibo Committee of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade organized for a delegation to go to Russia on June 18-22 for a series of economic and trade exchange activities, resulting in a raft of preliminary trade agreements.

On July 18, a Buryatia delegation visited the Zibo committee - engaging in talks on commerce in such areas as new materials.

The Zibo international business hub - set up by the city's international trade promotions committee and launched in March - has held more than 100 international fairs and activities and has attracted enterprises and merchants from over 50 countries and regions.

Several Zibo businesses and residents also sought cooperation opportunities and bought goods at the international business hub. It is widely said to have become a new window for Zibo to open to the international market.

Zibo, approved as a Shandong Peninsula economy opening zone city by China's State Council, holds local legislative power and covers 5,938 square kilometers.

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 14, 2023 / Q Battery Metals Corp. ("Q Battery Metals" or the "Company) (CSE:QMET)(OTC:BTKRF)(FRA:0NB) is pleased to announce an expanded sampling exploration program on the La Corne South project, located north of Val d'Or, Quebec. During the previous exploration program, the geologic team mapped and sampled several narrow pegmatitic bodies within bedrock and several larger float blocks of pegmatitic material (see news release dated July 3, 2023). Samples were collected from these exposures and were submitted to the ALS laboratory for multi-element analysis including lithium.

The Q Battery Metals team have been targeting areas where prior sampling returned elevated lithium values from work programs completed in 2021. The 2023 reconnaissance work is guided by Dr. Mathieu Piche', a director and OGQ Geoscientist for Q Battery Metals. The geologic team will continue mapping and sampling pegmatite outcrops in the primary area of interest. The team also plans to prospect zones targeted for pegmatites from the previously completed high-detail magnetics survey. From the work conducted so far, interpretations indicate a cluster of pegmatite veins and dykes associated with topographic ridges within the targeted area of the property.

The intention of 2023 exploration on the La Corne South project is to identify lithium-bearing pegmatites that can be diamond drilled this coming fall and winter.

The La Corne South Property is located over the southern portion of the La Corne Batholith. At least 14 lithium projects are associated with the margins of the La Corne Batholith within 20 kilometres of the QMET claims. Sections of the batholith are pegmatitic which host the lithium. Within 10 kms, the North American Lithium project is a historic lithium mine that now lists proven and probable mineral reserves estimated at 29.2 million tonnes (Mt), grading 0.96% Li2O, with contained Li2O of 280,300t. As well, the potential for VMS deposition containing Cu-Zn-Ag is evident on the La Corne South claims.

Q Battery Metals exploration programs undertaken in Quebec are supervised by Dr. Mathieu Piche, OGQ, with office located north of Val d'Or. He is also a Q Battery Metals company director. The company has 100% interest in mineral claims within Quebec and British Columbia, with exploration targeting critical and precious metals.

Perry Grunenberg, P.Geo, a "Qualified Person" as that term is defined under NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release.

Cautionary Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements based on assumptions as of that date. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to exploration and development; the ability of the Company to obtain additional financing; the Company's limited operating history; the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations; fluctuations in the prices of commodities; operating hazards and risks; competition and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in the Company's Prospectus dated September 8, 2017 available on www.sedar.com. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions, and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions, and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Richard Penn

CEO

(778) 384-8923

SOURCE: Q Battery Metals Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/773929/Q-Battery-Metals-Expands-Targeted-Sampling-of-Pegmatite-At-La-Corne-South-Lithium-Project-Quebec
TAIPEI, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SINBON Electronics, an electronic interconnect design and integration service provider, was recently awarded the HR Asia's "Best Companies to Work for in Asia Award" for 2023 in Taiwan. This prestigious recognition acknowledges SINBON's efforts in creating a well-being environment for its employees while also striving to provide a platform for career development to its talented people.

HR Asia's "Best Companies to Work for in Asia Award" is one of the most authoritative and significant awards in the field of human resources management in the Asia-Pacific region. This year's theme, "Diversity thrives, inclusion prevails," incorporates values such as diversity, equality, and inclusiveness, emphasizing the importance of respecting and accepting individual differences among employees. It also highlights the value brought by individual uniqueness while promoting workplace equality through an inclusive environment.

SINBON actively integrates these values into its corporate culture, believing that top talents come from diverse regions and backgrounds. We will offer customized training programs for employees from different countries. It also emphasizes on promoting local executives in overseas locations. Furthermore, SINBON prioritizes the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, adopting principles of openness, inclusivity, diversity, respect, and equality. This approach ensures fair and smooth career advancement pathways, gradually realizing the vision of diversity and inclusivity.

San Li, Assistant Manager of the Human Resources Department, saying with gratitude, "We are grateful for the recognition by HR Asia's judging panel. We will continue to 'Stay humble, and continue to be responsible." Thereby, SINBON remains committed to providing a fair, safe, and well-equipped work environment, respecting workplace rights, and implementing information security measures to foster a fully protected human rights environment.

The SINBON's 2022 Sustainability report is now available at our official website: https://www.sinbon.com/csr/report

About SINBON

Established in 1989 in Taiwan, SINBON is a world-leading provider of integrated design and production services of bespoke interconnect solutions. SINBON has widely established operations in Taiwan, China, Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, Hungary, and the United States. For more information, please visit www.sinbon.com, or reach out to us at inquiry@sinbon.com.

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New Delhi, Aug 14 (UNI) National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Monday issued notices to West Bengal government and Registrar of Jadavpur University in Kolkata over reported death of a student due to ragging.



Accordingly, the Commission has issued a notice to Chief Secretary, Government of West Bengal calling for a report in the matter within four weeks. It should include the reasons for the prima facie failure of the institution to take adequate steps to prevent ragging in accordance with the UGC regulation, and the steps taken or proposed to punish the perpetrators of the ragging including its abettors and sympathizers, NHRC said in a statement.
SHANGHAI, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As a niche industry in the past, Alpaca products have thrived in Chinese market thanks to the China International Import Expo (CIIE).

In 2021, Pacific Alpacas, an alpaca fiber provider from New Zealand, suffered a sales slump at home due to COVID-19 lockdowns and was eager to explore new markets.

Considering China's large population and expanding middle-income group, the enterprise's manager Hu Tao set his sights on its market.

After months of preparation, the company attended the fourth CIIE in November 2021, with a 9-square-meter booth.

To Hu's surprise, the booth received a throng of buyers, distributors and suppliers. The 100 alpaca wool quilts he brought sold out within three days.

This unexpected result boosted Hu's confidence in the Chinese market.

In June 2022, Pacific Alpacas transported 3.3 metric tons of alpaca fiber to China, marking the largest export of alpaca fiber in New Zealand's history.

Five months later, the company participated in the 2022 CIIE and sealed strategic agreements with several Chinese partners including China Southern Airlines' e-commerce branch and a cross-border e-commerce industrial park in Sanya, Hainan province.

Hu said the CIIE can help enterprises tap into Chinese markets quickly. Pacific Alpacas is not the only alpaca product supplier that benefited from the CIIE.

At the fifth CIIE in November 2022, the Peruvian alpaca product brand BBFAT showcased 120 exhibits and made contracts with 23 partners.

Xu Ling, head of brand operations in BBFAT, said that when it entered Chinese markets in 2021, they exhibited only 30 products at the CIIE.

"Thanks to the event, we have gained lots of fans in China," Xu said.

Currently, BBFAT is operating five stores in China which are racking up sales of about 400,000 yuan ($55,600) every month, according to Xu.

As export orders surge, a growing number of Peruvian craftsmen have escaped poverty, Xu added.

Diana Pita, commercial counsellor of Peru's Consulate General in Shanghai, said that CIIE has become a perfect platform for foreign companies to learn about China's commercial culture and consumption trends.

BBFAT has developed alpaca wool-made plush panda toys for Chinese markets, while Pacific Alpacas has created a variety of alpaca coats.

In addition, Wild Wild World, an alpaca theme park built by Pacific Alpacas and an alpaca farm from Inner Mongolia autonomous region, began operations in Shanghai's Chongming Island in April.

Covering an area of 12.53 hectares, the park is the largest one of its kind in East China.

Now Pacific Alpacas is preparing for the sixth CIIE, which is scheduled for November.

"In contrast from the previous sessions, we have applied for a special booth this year," Hu said, adding that they will create an array of alpaca-themed artworks for the event in collaboration with artists from New Zealand.

BBFAT also plans to bring more than 200 exhibits to the sixth CIIE, according to Xu.

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Media contact:

Ms. Cui Yan

0086-21-968888

ciie2022@ciie.org

http://www.ciie.org/zbh/en/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ciieonline

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ciieonline

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 14, 2023 / Kingfisher Metals Corp. (TSX-V:KFR)(FSE:970)(OTCQB:KGFMF) ("Kingfisher" or the "Company") is pleased to announce diamond drilling has begun at the HWY 37 Project for the planned ~2500 m drill program. The project is located in Northwest British Columbia within the Golden Triangle.

Highlights

Drill test of the Cliff porphyry target follows-up on untested significant stockwork on surface adjacent to a single historical drill hole that bottomed in 0.11 % Cu over 81 m (Hole BC06-01) in flanking alteration.

Sampling by Kingfisher in 2023 returned 1.70% Cu from the Cliff porphyry stockwork body.

First-ever test of Mary Root Zone target, a large alteration expression cored by a coincident chargeability-resistivity geophysical anomaly on trend with Cliff porphyry.

Drilling south along trend from the Mary deposit targets open mineralization adjacent to hole BCK-MZ-19-01 with 0.48 g/t Au and 0.14% Cu over 291.5 m.

Dustin Perry, CEO states "We are beginning an exciting drill program at the relatively underexplored HWY 37 Project within the prolific Golden Triangle. This program is focused on new copper-rich porphyry discoveries with drilling at the untested Cliff stockwork body and the Mary Root Zone which are part of a large 6x6 km alteration zone that includes the Mary deposit. Drilling will also focus on expanding the footprint of the Mary deposit."

The ~2500 m diamond drill program at the HWY 37 Project is currently underway with initial drilling at the Cliff porphyry target. The drill contractor is Konaleen Drilling, a Tahltan based company.

Cliff Porphyry Drill Target

The Cliff porphyry is part of a ~4 km-long Cu-Au-Ag-Mo soil anomaly on trend with the Mary deposit and is the first drill target of the program. Two creek gullies in the core of the soil anomaly (Figure. 1) provide narrow exposures of copper-bearing stockwork. Mapping delineated a >200 m trace in the western gully and >100 m trace in the eastern creek. The stockwork body is host to 5-30% by volume veins of magnetic K-feldspar-biotite-magnetite-quartz-chalcopyrite-pyrite-galena. Kingfisher sampled the stockwork on surface (Sample C0144155, Figure 1) returning 1.70% Cu, 0.04 g/t Au, 26.93 g/t Ag, 58.4 ppm Mo. Historical rocks in the stockwork grade up to 0.7% Cu.

Figure 1: Cliff Porphyry Drill Target

Only one historical drillhole at Cliff porphyry (Hole BC06-01) collared east of the stockwork body (Figures 1&2). The hole bottomed in 0.11% Cu over 80.62 m, where quartz-sulfide veins increase to 2-5% by volume. The stockwork body mapped on surface hosts a higher volume of veins (5-30%) and was not tested by hole BC06-01.

This stockwork body lies above a large, untested magnetic anomaly (Figure 2). Hole BC06-01 bottomed in 0.11% Cu over 80.62 m but did not intersect the intense zone of stockwork outlined in Figure 1. The bottom of BC06-01 is ~170 m from a large magnetic anomaly.

Figure 2: Cliff Magnetic Anomaly

Mary Root Zone Geophysical Target

Between the Mary and Cliff porphyry centres is an untested large alteration expression cored by a coincident chargeability-resistivity geophysical anomaly (Figure 3). Gold grade at Mary is coincident with a resistivity high, draped around a subvertical chargeability anomaly. Highest relative copper grade is hosted along the upper boundary and within the core of the chargeability anomaly. The Mary Root Zone target similarly hosts a subvertical chargeability anomaly enclosed by a resistivity anomaly with continuity to the Mary deposit.

A conceptual root zone is inferred to have high relative copper compared Mary due to the deeper level. The geophysical anomaly indicates that the root zone target is larger in vertical and lateral scale than Mary.

Figure 3: Mary Root Zone Target

Mary Deposit Step-out

The upper levels of the Mary deposit are marked by open-ended low angle metal patterns in Au and Cu. Deeper drill delineation below the Mary deposit is limited to one hole along the northeastern flanks of the deposit. The projection of the low angle metal patterns remains untested to the west, south and east. The at-depth extent of the system below the low angle metal pattern is tested by just one hole (BC12-47) that drilled ~130 m to the north of the top three intercepts, all located in the southern drilled extent.

One step-out hole is planned to test the southern continuation of the Cu-Au intercepts. Delineating the full lateral extent of the upper metal patterns is key to future targeting of the at-depth projection of metal patterns. The planned hole follows-up on a drillhole from 2019, which intersected 0.5 g/t Au, 0.1% Cu over 291.5 m from 15.5 m (BCK-MZ-19-01).

Options Issuance

Kingfisher also announces the grant of 3,650,000 stock options that are exercisable for a period of five years at a price of $0.12 per share to its directors, officers, various staff members, and an investor relations consultant (Adelaide Capital Markets Inc.).

Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QAQC)

Rock samples were shipped to MSALABS, located in Langley, British Columbia for preparation and analysis. MSALABS is an ISO17025 and ISO9001 accredited laboratory and is independent of Kingfisher and its Qualified Person. Samples were prepped using the PRP-915 and analyzed for 48 major and trace elements with ICP-MS after a four-acid digestion (method code IMS-230). A 30 g split from assay sample was analyzed for Au using a lead collection fire assay fusion that was digested and analyzed using AA (method code FAS-111). Overlimit (>10,000 ppm) copper was determined using a 0.2 gram sample, four-acid digestion and ICP-AES finish (method core ICF-230).

Qualified Person

Dustin Perry, P.Geo., Kingfisher's CEO, is the Company's Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, and has prepared the technical information presented in this release.

About Kingfisher Metals Corp.

Kingfisher Metals Corp. (https://kingfishermetals.com/) is a Canadian based exploration company focused on underexplored district-scale projects in British Columbia, including the Golden Triangle region. Kingfisher has three 100% owned district-scale projects and an option to earn 100% of the HWY 37 Project, that offer potential exposure to gold, copper, silver, and zinc. The Company currently has 130,586,151 shares outstanding.

For further information, please contact:

Dustin Perry, P.Geo.

CEO and Director

Phone: +1 778 606 2507

E-Mail: info@kingfishermetals.com

Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization hosted on the Company's property. This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements or information in this news release relate to, among other things: formulation of plans for drill testing; and the success related to any future exploration or development programs.

These forward-looking statements and information reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic and regulatory uncertainties and contingencies. These assumptions include; success of the Company's projects; prices for gold remaining as estimated; currency exchange rates remaining as estimated; availability of funds for the Company's projects; capital, decommissioning and reclamation estimates; prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services (including transportation); no labour- related disruptions; no unplanned delays or interruptions in scheduled construction and production; all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals are received in a timely manner; and the ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive.

The Company cautions the reader that forward-looking statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic; fluctuations in gold prices; fluctuations in prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services (including transportation); fluctuations in currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar); operational risks and hazards inherent with the business of mineral exploration; inadequate insurance, or inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks and hazards; our ability to obtain all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in a timely manner; changes in laws, regulations and government practices, including environmental, export and import laws and regulations; legal restrictions relating to mineral exploration; increased competition in the mining industry for equipment and qualified personnel; the availability of additional capital; title matters and the additional risks identified in our filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR in Canada (available at www.sedar.com). 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, described, or intended. Investors are cautioned against undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances.

SOURCE: Kingfisher Metals Corp.

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JACKSONVILLE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / August 14, 2023 / LFTD Partners Inc. ("LFTD Partners" or the "Company") (OTCQB:LIFD), the corporate parent of Lifted Made, maker of the award-winning Urb and Silly Shruum brands of hemp and psychoactive products, today reported its second quarter 2023 financial results.

Income Statement Highlights - Q2 2023 Compared to Q2 2022:

Revenue decreased 25% to $12,522,542, down from $16,776,502

Net income decreased 48% to $1,659,461, down from $3,219,460

Basic earnings per share ("EPS") decreased 52% to $0.11 per share, down from $0.23

Diluted EPS decreased 50% to $0.10 per share, down from $0.20

Basic weighted average shares outstanding for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 were 14,512,648 and 14,099,007, respectively

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 were 16,689,846 and 15,906,205, respectively

Balance Sheet Highlights - June 30, 2023 Compared to December 31, 2022:

Cash on hand decreased 42% to $2,049,268, down from $3,530,623

Inventory increased 74% to $10,469,279, up from $6,023,967

Current assets increased 21% to $16,708,299, up from $13,853,949

Current ratio increased to 2.39, from 2.23

Working capital increased 27% to $9,722,409, up from $7,643,816

No debt as of June 30, 2023

Nicholas S. Warrender, Vice Chairman and COO of LFTD Partners and Founder and CEO of Lifted Made, said, "In Q2 the team was laser focused on optimizing our automation initiatives and tightening down our supply chain. With new deals getting to market and a pipeline full of innovation, Lifted is positioned in a big way to take full advantage of these opportunities."

Gerard M. Jacobs, Chairman and CEO of LFTD Partners, said, "In a cannabis industry that is generally awash in debt and losses, LFTD Partners remains debt-free and was nicely profitable in Q2 2023."

Earnings Conference Call and Webcast Information

LFTD Partners plans to hold a second quarter 2023 earnings conference call and webcast today, Monday, August 14, 2023 at 8:30 AM ET.

Participant phone numbers:

Toll Free: 888-506-0062

International: 973-528-0011

Participant Access Code: 921590

Webcast event link:

https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2916/48937

The participant phone numbers and webcast event link are shown on the Investor Relations section of LFTD Partners' website at https://www.lftdpartners.com/investors.

The webcast replay will also be available on the Investor Relations section of LFTD Partners' website.

Although attendees will have the opportunity to submit questions during the earnings conference call, attendees are encouraged to submit questions prior to the call by emailing them to: jakejacobs@lftdpartners.com.

About LFTD Partners Inc.

Publicly-traded LFTD Partners Inc., Jacksonville, FL (OTCQB:LIFD) is the parent corporation of Lifted Made, Kenosha, WI and Aztec, NM (www.urb.shop), which manufactures and sells hemp-derived and psychoactive products under its award-winning Urb and Silly Shruum brands. LFTD Partners Inc. also owns 4.99% of CBD-infused beverage and products maker Ablis (www.AblisBev.com), and of craft distillers Bendistillery Inc. d/b/a Crater Lake Spirits (www.CraterLakeSpirits.com) and Bend Spirits, Inc. (www.Bendistillery.com) all located in Bend, OR. Please read LIFD's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission which fully describe our business and the Risk Factors associated therewith. Stay updated with our company news and product launches by subscribing to our newsletters at www.LFTDPartners.com and at www.urb.shop.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this document are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such information includes the operations, financing, growth, performance, products, plans and expectations of LFTD Partners Inc. and Lifted Made. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause or contribute to these companies' actual operations, financing, growth, performance, products, plans or results of these companies differing materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of certain other factors, including the risk factors set forth in LFTD Partners Inc.'s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell common stock or any other securities of LFTD Partners Inc.

CONTACTS:

Gerard M. "Gerry" Jacobs

Chairman and CEO of LFTD Partners Inc.

(847) 915-2446

GerardMJacobs@LFTDPartners.com

www.LFTDPartners.com

Nicholas S. "Nick" Warrender, founder and CEO of Lifted Made, and Vice Chairman and COO of LFTD Partners Inc.

(224) 577-8148

CEO@urb.shop

www.urb.shop

William C. "Jake" Jacobs, CPA, President and CFO of LFTD Partners Inc. and President of Lifted Made

(847) 400-7660

JakeJacobs@LFTDPartners.com

www.LFTDPartners.com

SOURCE: LFTD Partners Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/773938/LFTD-Partners-Inc-Reports-011-Basic-EPS-in-Q2-2023
Scientific Paper Presented at Research Symposium

JACKSON CENTER, PA / ACCESSWIRE / August 14, 2023 / Halberd Corporation's (OTC PINK:HALB) Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) mitigation research on Halberd's patent-pending nasal spray continues at Mississippi State University (MSU). MSU students, Jourdan, L.K., Broadaway, S. Cassen, et. al. authored and presented a paper on this project at the recent Mississippi State University Shackouls Honors College Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium, on August 2, titled "MODEL FOR THERAPEUTIC DEVELOPMENT IN TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY."

The research, headed by Dr. Russell Carr of the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine (MSU CVM), is designed to quantify and correlate bio-markers of TBI in animal models and to measure Halberd's nasal spray mitigation of the negative effects of TBI. The operative scientific assumption is that the maximum efficacy occurs when administered within hours of the traumatic injury event.

Halberd's nasal spray employs a proprietary blend of three active ingredients designed to timely address and block the excess production of certain identified inflammatory cytokines and neurotransmitters triggered by head trauma. Excess quantities of these elements are associated with irreversible brain injury.

Dr. Mitchell Felder, the principal inventor and Halberd's Chief Scientist, emphasizes the necessity of early administration of the nasal spray, perhaps within 10 minutes of head trauma for maximum efficacy. This mandates something simple and easy to administer, thus, a simple nasal spray applicator design.

According to the CDC, "In 2019, for example, CDC estimated that 'the economic cost of [head trauma] injury was $4.2 trillion, including $327 billion in medical care, $69 billion in work loss, and $3.8 trillion in value of statistical life and quality of life losses"1. The potential market for a product that proactively treats and prevents TBI through the timely suppression of specific excess neurotransmitters and inflammatory cytokines associated with brain trauma is enormous. Currently, no other product on the market addresses this need, let alone in the requisite timely manner. If the MSU test results are positive, this will be a significant step towards realizing Halberd's first therapeutic product, with enormous economic and humanitarian potential, particularly for the military and those in contact sports.

To get the latest news on Halberd's exciting developments, subscribe by submitting this.

(https://halberdcorporation.com/contact-us/)

For more information please contact:

William A. Hartman

w.hartman@halberdcorporation.com

support@halberdcorporation.com

www.halberdcorporation.com

Twitter:@HalberdC

About Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM).

Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine (MSU CVM) was founded in 1974 The CVM has a total of six locations and serves all 82 counties in Mississippi as well as the entire Southeastern United States. The College's main campus is in Starkville and includes the Wise Center, which houses its main teaching hospital, the Animal Health Center. The MSU CVM Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences faculty and staff represent the basic scientific disciplines required for education of veterinarians. MSU CVM is committed to an ethical approach to treating animals with a genuine passion and drive.

About Halberd Corporation.

Halberd Corporation (OTC PINK:HALB), is a publicly traded company on the OTC Market, and is in full compliance with OTC Market reporting requirements. Since its restructuring in April of 2020, Halberd has obtained exclusive worldwide rights to three issued patents and has filed 22 related provisional, PCT, or utility patent applications to enhance its value to its stockholders and to attract the interests of potential development partners.

Safe Harbor Notice

Certain statements contained herein are "forward-looking statements" (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). The Company cautions our readers that statements, and assumptions made in this news release constitute forward-looking statements and makes no guarantee of future performance. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at the time the statements are made. These statements may address issues that involve significant risks, uncertainties and associated estimates made by management. Actual results could differ materially from current projections or implied results. Halberd Corporation undertakes no obligation to revise these statements following the date of this news release.

(C) 2023, Halberd Corporation.

1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK580076/#_pz54-2

SOURCE: Halberd Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/773933/Halberd-Mississippi-State-University-MSU-Testing-of-TBI-Nasal-Spray-Progresses
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - August 14, 2023) - Hemostemix Inc. (TSXV: HEM) (OTCQB: HMTXF) (FSE: 2VF0) is pleased to announce that on August 10, 2023 it received a final cost award from the International Center for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), International Abritration Tribunal, in the Matter of Arbitration between Elmar Burchardt vs Hemostemix Inc. The award stipulates Dr. Burchardt is to pay Hemostemix Inc. CAD $315,684 of its costs. Certified, for the purposes of Article I of the New York Convention of 1958 on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, the Final Award was made in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

The Company is continuing its non-brokered private placement of up to 10 Million Units priced at $0.12 each. Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company ("Common Share") and one half of one common share purchase warrant ("Warrant"), with each full Warrant entitling the holder to acquire one Common Share at a price of $0.25 per Common Share for a period of 24 months from the closing of the Offering, subject to the accelerated expiry provision described in its previous news releases. The Offering is subject to all necessary regulatory approvals including acceptance from the Exchange.

ABOUT HEMOSTEMIX

Hemostemix is an autologous stem cell therapy company, founded in 2003. A winner of the World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer Award, the Company has developed, patented, and is scaling a patient's blood-based stem cell therapeutics platform that includes angiogenic cell precursors, neuronal cell precursor and cardiomyocyte cell precursors. For more information, please visit www.hemostemix.com.

For further information, please contact: Thomas Smeenk, President, CEO & Co-Founder

EM: tsmeenk@hemostemix.com PH: 905-580-4170

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined under the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information: This news release may contain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking information. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information in relation to: financing of the Company and its lead product ACP-01, the Phase II Clinical Trial of ischemic cardiomyopathy and related results, the retrospective study of ischemic and dilated cardiomyopathy, and the commercialization of ACP-01 via the sale of compassionate treatments approved by regulators. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. This forward-looking information reflects Hemostemix's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to Hemostemix and on assumptions Hemostemix believes are reasonable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to: the underlying value of Hemostemix and its Common Shares; the successful resolution of the litigation that Hemostemix is pursuing or defending (the "Litigation"); the results of ACP-01 research, trials, studies and analyses, including the analysis being equivalent to or better than previous research, trials or studies; the receipt of all required regulatory approvals for research, trials or studies; the level of activity, market acceptance and market trends in the healthcare sector; the economy generally; consumer interest in Hemostemix's services and products; competition and Hemostemix's competitive advantages; and Hemostemix obtaining satisfactory financing to fund Hemostemix's operations including any research, trials or studies, and any Litigation. Forward-looking information is Subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Hemostemix to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: the ability of Hemostemix to complete clinical trials, complete a satisfactory analyses and file the results of such analyses to gain regulatory approval of a phase II or phase III clinical trial of ACP-01; potential litigation Hemostemis mayface; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; general capital market conditions and market prices for securities; delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals; the actual results of future operations including the actual results of future research, trials or studies; competition; changes in legislation affecting Hemostemix; the timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; long-term capital requirements and future developments in Hemostemix's markets and the markets in which it expects to compete; lack of qualified, skilled labour or loss of key individuals; and risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic including various recommendations, orders and measures of governmental authorities to try to limit the pandemic, including travel restrictions, border closures, non-essential business closures service disruptions, quarantines, self-isolations, shelters-in-place and social distancing, disruptions to markets, disruptions to economic activity and financings, disruptions to supply chains and sales channels, and a deterioration of general economic conditions including a possible national or global recession or depression;the potential impact that the COVID-19 pandemic may have on Hemostemix which may include a decreased demand for the services that Hemostemix offers; and a deterioration of financial markets that could limit Hemostemix's ability to obtain external financing. A description of additional risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking information can be found in Hemostemix's disclosure documents on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. Although Hemostemix has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of Hemostemix as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, it is Subject to change after such date. However, Hemostemix expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/177084
Non-profit drug developer partners with leading manufacturer of medicine in Pakistan

NEW YORK, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Non-profit drug developer TB Alliance has granted Remington Pharmaceutical Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. a non-royalty bearing license to market the anti-tuberculosis (TB) medicine pretomanid as part of the all-oral, six-month BPaL and BPaLM regimens for treatment of drug-resistant TB (comprised of bedaquiline, pretomanid, and linezolid, with or without moxifloxacin). Pakistan ranks third among countries designated by the World Health Organization as having a high burden of drug-resistant TB. Remington has agreed to develop, manufacture, and commercialize pretomanid in Pakistan and the collaboration may extend to other countries in the future.

"TB Alliance is proud to partner with a leading healthcare solutions company in Pakistan to help ensure this treatment is available and accessible to those who need it throughout the country," said Mel Spigelman, President and CEO of TB Alliance. "This exciting update ensures an affordable and sustainable market for state-of-the-art therapies for drug-resistant TB in Pakistan."

"Pakistan is dedicated to eliminating TB and drug-resistant TB as public health threats. We applaud Remington Pharmaceuticals and TB Alliance for partnering to bring this medication to those affected with TB, and our government will work diligently to make sure that patients throughout the country can access the BPaL and BPaLM regimens," said Dr. Abdul Baseer Khan Achakzai, Director General of Health, Ministry of National Health Services, Pakistan.

"Remington is proud and thrilled to collaborate with TB Alliance to provide solutions that could change the lives of drug-resistant TB patients in Pakistan. Being the first national pharmaceutical company to attain WHO Prequalification from Pakistan, we strive to make quality TB products accessible to all. We are committed to the fight against tuberculosis and this partnership will support our global efforts to eliminate this disease efficiently. Our established distribution pathways will help doctors reach patients throughout the country," said Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khokhar, Chairman of Remington Pharmaceuticals.

The partnership with Remington is part of TB Alliance's global commercialization strategy for pretomanid as part of the BPaL/BPaLM regimens. This agreement is meant to complement four previously announced partnerships with manufacturers who were strategically recruited to ensure adequate quantities of quality assured product globally, and to enable market competition to ensure pretomanid is affordable for all countries.

About TB Alliance

TB Alliance is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to finding faster-acting and affordable drug regimens to fight TB. Through innovative science and with partners around the globe, we aim to ensure equitable access to faster, better TB cures that will advance global health and prosperity. TB Alliance operates with support from Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership, Germany's Federal Ministry of Education and Research through KfW, Global Health Innovative Technology Fund, Indonesia Health Fund, Innovative Medicines Initiative, Irish Aid, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, United Kingdom Department for International Development, and the United States Agency for International Development. For more information, please visit: www.tballiance.org.

About Remington Pharmaceuticals

Remington Pharmaceuticals, a leading branded generic pharmaceutical company with 45 years of history, is focused on improving the quality of human life. Operating with manufacturing facilities in Pakistan and its international office in Dubai, the company is committed to continuous innovation in developing medicinal and nutritional products.

Among the medical professionals and other stakeholders, Remington Pharmaceuticals is best known for its quality healthcare solutions, passion for innovation through research and development, and dedicated people. Remington is the first national pharmaceutical company to obtain WHO Prequalification approval for an anti-TB product and is the only partner of Medicine Patent Pool for treatments of infectious diseases.

Remington Pharmaceuticals has a state-of-the-art cGMP-compliant manufacturing facility with large capacities for manufacturing tablets, capsules, sterile drops, sterile ointments, syrups, powder, and external preparations.

For more information about the company, please visit its official website: https://www.remingtonpharma.com/.

Contact: communications@tballiance.org

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/tb-alliance-announces-partnership-with-remington-pharmaceuticals-to-commercialize-new-therapy-for-drug-resistant-forms-of-tb-in-pakistan-301899783.html
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / August 14, 2023 / Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK) has made a $20,000 donation to the American Red Cross to support relief efforts after a series of deadly wildfires erupted across Hawaii's main island and Maui, damaging structures, forcing mass evacuations, prompting emergency rescues, and uprooting lives. Additionally, the company will match employee donations.

"The complete devastation of these wildfires, exacerbating the existing housing shortage, has long-term consequences for people who call this area home," said Patricia Contreras, vice president, Community Impact. "We are proud to support the American Red Cross and their frontline efforts to help so many who are in need now and throughout the long recovery and rebuilding process."

Winds associated with Hurricane Dora fanned the islands, exacerbating fire dangers. Firefighters struggled to reach some areas due to downed trees and power lines, and high winds grounded air rescue and fire control efforts. Hospitals are overwhelmed with injuries from burns and smoke inhalation.

The American Red Cross immediately opened shelters for thousands of people seeking refuge from the fires, providing evacuees with a safe place to stay, food to eat, and emotional support, and teams are preparing to help with damage assessment and distribute relief supplies. A state of emergency has been declared, and the Hawaii National Guard was activated to support first responders in the impacted communities.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Rockwell Automation on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Rockwell Automation

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SOURCE: Rockwell Automation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/773979/Rockwell-Automation-Donates-To-Aid-in-Hawaiis-Recovery
HIGHLIGHTS:

Hertz has entered into an assignment agreement pursuant to which it has acquired the option to acquire the prospective Patriota Lithium Project in the mining friendly state of Minas Gerais in Brazil.

These tenements are strategically situated proximal to the highly prolific 'Eastern Brazilian Pegmatite Province" (the " EBPP ") and within the Aracuai Pegmatite District (the " APD "). The EBPP is the largest lithium pegmatite province of South America and one of the most important pegmatite provinces around the world.

") and within the Aracuai Pegmatite District (the " "). The EBPP is the largest lithium pegmatite province of South America and one of the most important pegmatite provinces around the world. The Patriota Lithium Project is a 2,964 hectare (contiguous 29 square kilometers) mineral claim block in Brazil's Minas Gerais State, a mining-friendly jurisdiction located approximately 45 kms from Sigma Lithium Corp.'s Grota do Cirilo property, the largest lithium hard rock deposit in the Americas.

The Patriota Lithium Project is located near other lithium exploration and production projects operated by Sigma Lithium Corp., Lithium Ionic, Latin Resources Limited and the Companhia Brasileira de Litio Ltda.'s Cachoeira lithium mine. Although the Company believes the spatial association with these important advancing lithium deposits and mines supports the potential of the Patriota Lithium Project, is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization on the property.

The location boasts advantageous infrastructure, comprising well-developed highways, access to hydroelectric power from the grid, water availability, and convenient proximity to commercial ports and residential townships.

The option represents Hertz's first Brazilian project which is complementary to the Company's Lucky Mica Lithium Project in Arizona which continues to move through the permitting and progress to trenching phase

Hertz plans to commence rapid exploration in the coming weeks and months.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 14, 2023) - Hertz Lithium Inc. (CSE: HZ) (OTCQB: HZLIF) (FSE: QE2) ("Hertz" and/or the "Company") is pleased to announce the acquisition of the option (the "Option") to acquire a 100% interest in the Patriota Lithium Project. The Company acquired the Option pursuant to the terms and conditions of an option assignment agreement (the "Assignment Agreement") entered into among the Company, Brascan Resources Inc. ("Brascan"), BHBC Exploracao Mineral LTDA ("BHBC"), and RTB Geologia e Mineracao LTDA ("RTB", and together with BHBC, the "Optionors"). Pursuant to the Assignment Agreement, the Company has acquired Brascan's rights, including the Option, granted pursuant to an option agreement (the "Option Agreement") entered into among Brascan, BHBC, and RTB.

Through the acquisition of the Option, Hertz gains access to a strategically located and highly prospective lithium project situated in the mining friendly state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. A key advantage lies in the projects strategic location within the APD and proximal to the renowned EBPP, one of the most important pegmatite provinces around the world and a globally recognized hub for hard-rock lithium spodumene deposits. Notably, this region accounts for 100% of all government presently recognized lithium reserves in Brazil, making it highly valued for its abundant spodumene pegmatites.

Over the past two years, Brazil's importance in the lithium exploration space has expanded significantly with the tremendous success of Sigma Lithium Corp., followed by Latin Resources Limited, and the up and coming Lithium Ionic Corp..

Figure 1: Eastern Brazilian Pegmatite Province Lithium District



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Figure 2: Map of Patriota Lithium Project



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Details of the lithium resources reported in Figures 1 and 2 are provided in the various company websites listed below. No qualified person from Hertz Lithium has to verified the reported resource estimates, and the estimates are not necessarily indicative of the mineralization on the property on the Patriota Project. Hertz is only reporting these resource estimates as to support the regional potential for significant lithium mineralization.

Source: www.cblitio.com.br/mineracao/

Source: Lithium Ionic Corporate Presentation: https://lithiumionic.com/investors/presentations/

Source: https://www.latinresources.com.au/salinas-lithium-project-brazil/

Source: Sigma Lithium Corp www.sigmalithiumresources.com/grota-do-cirilo/

Geological Detail

The Patriota Lithium Project under Option for Hertz Lithium shows strong high-level prospectively criteria within the Aracuai Pegmatite District (APD) and proximal to prolific EBPP. The tenements are strategically located within the Salinas Formation metasedimentary rocks that were deposited prior to the Aracuaie orogeny. The Salinas Formation hosts the most prolific lithium pegmatites in the region. Pegmatite swarms intruded the region during the collisional Neoproterozoic to post-collisional Paleoproterozoic Aracuaie orogeny. L-C-T pegmatites (Lithium - Cesium - Tantalum) include the pegmatitic granites surrounding the richest lithium pegmatites in the SIGMA/CBL/Lithium Ionic region, as well as the nearest mapped (exposed) granite to the Patriota Lithium Project (16 kilometres to the north). The regional granite rocks are classified into five supersuites (G1, G2, G3, G4, and G5). Groups G3, G4 and G5 formed during the post-collisional episode associated with the Gondwana Supercontinent's Trans-Amazonian event (CPRM 2016a, 2016b). Notably, the potential pegmatite corridor associated with lithium mineralized pegmatites with the G4 supersuite.

Hertz believes the association with proximal G4 suite granites supports the potential for a favourable association with regional pegmatite swarms within the tenement areas. It is worth noting that both Sigma Lithium's Grota do Cirilo spodumene mine and Latin Resources Colina Project are surrounded by the same G4 supersuite granites as those mapped most closely to the tenements that Hertz holds the Option to acquire. These compelling geological associations point to lithium potential within these exploration areas.

Hertz acknowledges that the tenements under Option have not undergone any exploration activities to date, and as a result, the existence of pegmatites and/or lithium mineralisation remains uncertain. Nonetheless, a comprehensive desktop review of the regional and local geology, along with the presence of significant spodumene mining and development activities in close proximity, offers supplementary evidence supporting the potential of the tenements.

Transaction Structure and Consideration

As consideration for the acquisition of the Option and pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Assignment Agreement, the Company has agreed to pay an aggregate of $148,000 in cash, as follows:

reimburse Brascan $3,300 in claim maintenance within two days following the execution of the Assignment Agreement;

pay Brascan $15,000 within two days following the execution of the Assignment Agreement;

pay Brascan $105,000 in exchange for Brascan issuing 3,000,000 common shares to the Optionors, within five business days following confirmation that the shares have been issued; and

pay Brascan $25,000 on or before 45 days following the execution of the Assignment Agreement.

In order to exercise the Option in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Option Agreement, the Company must:

pay BHBC $50,000 by September 20, 2023;

pay BHBC $3,300 by September 20, 2023 to cover mineral right taxes;

incur $100,000 in exploration expenditures on the Patriota Lithium Project by September 20, 2023;

pay BHBC $3,300 to cover mineral right taxes up to June 30, 2024;

pay BHBC $50,000 by October 1, 2024;

incur $100,000 in exploration expenditures on the Patriota Lithium Project by September 30, 2024; and

pay $50,000 by September 30, 2025.

The Optionors will retain a 2% NSR with the Company having the option to repurchase 1% of the NSR for a cash payment of $500,000 for a period of two years after the commencement of commercial production.

Additionally, upon the confirmation of the existence of spodumene from surface sample assays results on the Patriota Lithium Project grading minimum 1% lithium, the Company will be required to pay Brascan $100,000 in cash.

Mr. Kal Malhi, Chairman and Director of Hertz, commented, "We are laser focused to build Hertz Lithium into a multi-faceted lithium mineral exploration company with our Lucky Mica Lithium Project in Arizona and now the Patriota Lithium Project in Brazil and our Penn State Lithium Extraction Patent Licence. We continue to seek additional high-quality projects across the world and build our lithium development portfolio into a strong offering for investors seeking an opportunity to invest into the generational investment opportunity that the lithium sector offers."

About Hertz Lithium Inc.

The Company is a British Columbia based mineral exploration company primarily engaged in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties. The Company's lithium exploration projects include, the Lucky Mica Project, is located along the Arizona Pegmatite Belt in the Maricopa County of Arizona, USA and the Patriota Lithium Project, located along the Eastern Brazilian Pegmatite Province, in Brazil. The Company is also working with Penn State University's College of Earth and Mineral Science department to develop a novel patent-pending hard rock lithium extraction technology.

Qualified person

Harrison Cookenboo Ph.D., P. Geo. and a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed the scientific and technical information in this news release and has approved the disclosure herein.

For further information, please contact Hertz Lithium or view the Company's filings at www.sedarplus.ca.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Kal Malhi

Chief Executive Officer and Director

Phone: 604-805-4602

Email: kal@bullruncapital.ca

https://hertzlithium.com

REFERENCES:

CPRM 2016A: MAPA GEOLOGICO E DE RECURSOS MINERAIS DE LITIO:

CPRM 2016B: PROJETO AVALIACAO DO POTENCIAL DO LITIO NO BRASIL.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not in any way passed upon the merits of the matters referenced herein and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information

This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this new release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/177055
DERRY, Northern Ireland, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Learning Pool, the leading global provider of corporate learning solutions that deliver extraordinary outcomes, has released its inaugural environmental, social and governance impact report for Fiscal Year 2023.

Following Learning Pool's certification as a B-Corp company in March 2023, the learning technologies company has published its inaugural Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Impact Report outlining its FY23 performance on ESG objectives. The report highlights the company's ongoing ESG commitment informed by three key themes:

Commitment to our employees

Commitment to our communities

Commitment to transparency and accountability.

"The release of our FY 2023 ESG Report reflects our commitment to building a more sustainable future while delivering long-term value for our employees, customers, and third-party partners," said Harper Wells, CCO of Learning Pool. "It underscores that our success does not just lie in our financial profits, but also in our ability to do the right thing by our stakeholders and in the communities where we live and work."

Highlights from Learning Pool's FY 2023 ESG Report:

Environmental

Partnering with One Tree Planted to donate 10,000 trees to the One Million Tree initiative

to donate 10,000 trees to the One Million Tree initiative Conducting a carbon footprint assessment to identify target areas for improvement

Moving all UK office electricity usage to 100% renewable energy sources

Social

Creating free-for-everyone modules on topics such as mental health awareness, suicide prevention, and stress management

on topics such as mental health awareness, suicide prevention, and stress management Conducting a pay equity analysis to ensure fair compensation

Offering dedicated annual volunteering days to every employee

Appointing executive sponsor to LP's DEI Group

Governance

Developing and deploying our inaugural Code of Business Conduct

Restructuring Data Security and Privacy function to provide better oversight of the evolving risk landscape

Prioritizing senior leadership composition, moving to a 50% gender balance

Read Learning Pool's FY 2023 ESG Report here .

About Learning Pool

Learning Pool creates learning experiences that deliver extraordinary outcomes for workplaces investing in the performance and skills of their people. Supporting thousands of businesses investing in learning experiences for their global learners, Learning Pool's innovative AI learning platforms and skills solutions, combine integrated technology and adaptive content to produce actionable insight on every learner's performance.

Its world-class customer experience makes sure clients can harness its unique ability to produce a highly skilled workforce, new competitive advantages, and an organization prepared for whatever the future might bring.

Wherever you find ambitious workplaces investing in their people, you'll find Learning Pool.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/learning-pool-publishes-its-inaugural-environmental-social-and-governance-impact-report-following-b-corp-accreditation-301899801.html
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / August 14, 2023 / TriplePundit

Originally published on TriplePundit

The world needs to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by almost half this decade to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius as recommended by climate scientists, the United Nation warns. As companies wrestle with how best to meet their net-zero targets, technology presents an important and powerful tool to determine which approaches will make the greatest impact.

"Technology plays a key role in untangling some of those challenges and helping organizations achieve net-zero," says Salma Bakr, product lead at the sustainability software company FigBytes.

Several mitigation options costing less than $100 per ton of carbon dioxide equivalent could reduce global emissions by at least half by 2030 compared to 2019, according to the sixth assessment report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Examples include using more renewable power generated from sources like solar and wind, transitioning to more fuel-efficient vehicles, and using more energy-efficient technologies.

That's good news for the more than 90 percent of business leaders who say they prioritize long-term decarbonization. "Companies play a crucial role in tackling climate change and benefit from decarbonization by reducing risks like extreme weather events and policy changes," Bakr says. "In the long run, and as more low-carbon solutions are adopted and become more affordable, decarbonizing a business saves operational costs and enhances efficiency, for example, where you pay lower bills for your energy and waste."

Why technology is key to unlocking solutions for climate action

In the context of decarbonizing businesses, technology comes under two categories, Bakr explains: digital technologies that enable a net-zero future, and physical technologies for climate mitigation or adaptation.

These technologies complement each other in support of net-zero targets. For example, digital technologies enable efficient and scalable processing of climate data, allowing for more informed problem detection and decision-making. They also allow companies to evaluate multiple decarbonization solutions virtually and chart the best path forward, Bakr says. Together, digital technologies have the potential to reduce emissions by up to 20 percent by 2050 if scaled and adopted in high-emitting sectors like energy, materials and mobility, according to the World Economic Forum.

Physical technologies, on the other hand, enable climate mitigation and adaptation. The IPCC's sixth assessment report shows that several of these technologies have high potential for GHG reduction at scale. For climate mitigation, this includes solar and wind power, energy-efficient appliances and lighting, and fuel-efficient vehicles. For climate adaptation, a key example is building resilient power systems which provide a diverse and stable energy supply.

How digital technologies can accelerate progress to net-zero

Digital technologies enhance decarbonization efforts in multiple ways, Bakr says. Even more good news: Organizations of all sizes across every industry already use many of these digital tools to ease their progress toward strategic goals - making it fairly seamless to digitize their approach to climate action as well.

For example, most businesses use foundational technologies to support daily tasks of measurement, reporting, and basic analytics for data-driven insights. Examples include enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, customer relationship management (CRM) systems, and supply chain tracking systems.

"This means organizations don't have to start from scratch," Bakr says. "For example, they can add sustainability solutions 'on top' of their existing systems."

Organizations can also use decision-making technologies as part of the daily course of doing business, where machine learning can be leveraged, for example, to imitate how humans learn and ingest new data, which can improve decision-making accuracy, Bakr says. Such technologies also allow organizations to use historical data to forecast future events, or provide actionable recommendations to inform actions around decarbonization.

Another group of digital technologies increasingly embraced on the decarbonization journey are sensing and control technologies. These range from automation, robotics and drones to enhanced connectivity through the Internet of Things. By deploying these technologies, companies can more easily collect data from physical systems and more accurately control things like office temperature, humidity and lighting based on occupancy.

Yet another category are enabling technologies that support organizations to operate more efficiently. Examples include cloud computing and mobile communication, which allow organizations to scale their resources on-demand.

Technology advances ease climate accounting

"Tracking progress is crucial," in pursuit of climate goals, "as net-zero is all about beating the clock and making progress," Bakr says. "That's why climate action needs climate accounting first, including a comprehensive emissions inventory. And the main challenge in establishing an emissions inventory is a data problem: data collection, consolidation, validation, verification and so on."

This is where technology is an asset, she explains. A climate accounting solution collects, validates and verifies activity data, and conducts basic emissions modeling, reporting and analytics. Making that solution cloud-hosted "helps scale data collection, cross-collaboration across teams and geographies, and stakeholder engagement, where you can collect data from anywhere in the world and scale your computations as needed," Bakr says.

Climate accounting systems can be integrated with decision-making technologies such as machine learning to augment the intelligence of an organization's analytics, for example, to ensure the right emission factors are applied to calculate emissions data, she adds.

Companies and organizations that have set science-based targets should also keep watch on the "Progress Framework" under development by the Science Based Targets initiative, Bakr advises. It aims to advance the measurement, reporting and verification of science-based targets, providing clear and standardized expectations and guidance on how to measure, report and verify climate action progress against those targets.

This framework will support transparency and integrity by holding companies and financial institutions accountable for their climate targets. Development is expected to be completed at the 2023 U.N. Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP28) in Dubai in December.

Overcoming the challenge of future scenario planning

After the initial steps of streamlining a baseline emissions inventory and setting net-zero targets, an important but often challenging part of the decarbonization journey is the ability to forecast future emissions scenarios and understand associated risks and opportunities. "Many organizations find challenges in defining and analyzing net-zero scenarios," Bakr says. "It's a tricky and complicated process."

But organizations can overcome that challenge by better understanding what is involved in a future climate scenario, she advises. "Scenarios should challenge business-as-usual assumptions about the future, but also illustrate a credible story comprising possible and consistent future events. Scenarios should also be relevant, meaning they explore future insights relating to the various implications of climate-related risks and opportunities. They should also be distinctive by exploring different permutations and combinations of key factors impacting future developments to generate multiple decarbonization alternatives for the organization to select from."

Again, an organization can turn to technology to do this. "A solid climate accounting solution, coupled with decision-making capabilities, can help an organization forecast and visualize the future emissions associated with various scenarios based on the various data inputs considered," Bakr says.

At the same time, technology isn't a panacea, and it also has its own footprint to consider. "As we consider various technologies in the transition to net-zero, we need to also understand that those digital and physical technologies do produce emissions in one way or another," she adds. "We need to take a systemic approach to tackling emissions reduction and stay on top of the latest research and development efforts."

Inaction is not a possibility

Taking action is the only option, Bakr points out. "The journey to net-zero is bumpy but inevitable," she says. Organizations can set themselves up for success with a solid climate action strategy that aligns net-zero targets with the latest climate science, and leverages technology to speed up the transition.

"This will make the net-zero journey as efficient, effective and consistent as possible," she says. Crucially, the goal should be to invest in net-zero innovation that extends beyond any single organization's value chain: "Focus on bold reductions, first and foremost. And if your progress strays, make sure you realign by identifying more reduction potentials."

This article series is sponsored by FigBytes and produced by the TriplePundit editorial team.

Image credit: Anders J/Unsplash





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SOURCE: TriplePundit

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/773991/Simplifying-the-Path-to-Net-Zero-With-Technology
An aerial view of the Mississippi State Capitol at dusk. (Canva)

BILOXI, Mississippi  A candidates concession speech usually reveals a lot about how a person will handle an election loss. They can use their words to graciously accept the will of voters or work to assure their supporters that despite the loss, there are better days ahead.

But when the Associated Press at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday declared that firebrand state Sen. Chris McDaniel had lost his bid for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor, there was no one at McDaniels election night party to hear such a speech.

The uber-conservative state senators supporters had gone home, TV journalists had returned to their broadcast stations and the rock band who entertained guests earlier in the evening had broken its equipment down.

McDaniel, aided by more than $1 million in dark money spending by out-of-state groups, spent weeks attacking incumbent Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann for not being conservative enough for Mississippi Republican voters. By the time McDaniels election party had cleared Tuesday night, it was apparent that those very voters decisively disagreed.

It was an anticlimactic end for McDaniels fiery statewide campaign, but the effect of the evening was much more significant to Mississippi politics: For the first time since 2008, Mississippis far-right conservative movement had no clear leader. And to make matters worse for the group, Republican voters had soundly rejected its coordinated effort to grow in 2023.

For more than a decade, McDaniel worked hard to pull his fellow Republican elected officials farther to the right. In this endeavor, he was successful. He built and leveraged a sizable base of conservative voters who followed his lead and lived in the minds of establishment Republican elected officials. McDaniel might not have won a statewide election, but those GOP leaders long feared the effects of his political organization and ideology.

But on Tuesday night, after his third statewide loss in a row, McDaniel conceded his race against Hosemann and conceded much more. Appearing visibly tired and speaking with a clear tone of dejection, he suggested to reporters he would step away from public life and that it was time for a fresh face to carry his far-right wing of the Republican Party forward.

I think its on life support, McDaniel told Mississippi Today of the movement hes led. It doesnt have to be me that brings it back. Anybody can that delivers the message well.

But the movement suffered a much bigger blow Tuesday night than just McDaniel. Numerous representatives of far-right conservatives in Mississippi circulated an endorsement list on social media that included 11 candidates for statewide, regional commission, or legislative seats.

These candidates were all challenging Republicans who the faction deemed not conservative enough. As one leader wrote of the endorsements in an email the night before Election Day, This election is Mississippis fight for conservative government. If the liberal Hosemann side of the Republican party wins tomorrow, I believe Mississippi will return to a Democrat controlled government within a few years.

The warnings and coordination fell flat, to say the least. All but one of those endorsed candidates, listed below in bold, lost their primaries  and most by substantial vote margins.

Chris McDaniel lost to incumbent Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann by 9 percentage points.

lost to incumbent Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann by 9 percentage points. Incumbent Southern District Public Service Commissioner Dane Maxwell lost to Nelson Carr by 8 points.

lost to Nelson Carr by 8 points. Lauren Smith lost to incumbent state Sen. Chad McMahan for the Senate District 6 seat by 14 points.

lost to incumbent state Sen. Chad McMahan for the Senate District 6 seat by 14 points. Ricky Caldwell lost to incumbent state Sen. Nicole Boyd for the Senate District 9 seat by 52 points.

lost to incumbent state Sen. Nicole Boyd for the Senate District 9 seat by 52 points. Alan Sibley lost to incumbent state Sen. Bart Williams for the Senate District 15 seat by 18 points.

lost to incumbent state Sen. Bart Williams for the Senate District 15 seat by 18 points. Walter Hopper lost to incumbent state Sen. Kevin Blackwell for the Senate District 19 seat by 18 points.

lost to incumbent state Sen. Kevin Blackwell for the Senate District 19 seat by 18 points. Don Hartness lost to state Rep. Robin Robinson for the Senate District 42 seat, previously held by McDaniel, by 12 points.

lost to state Rep. Robin Robinson for the Senate District 42 seat, previously held by McDaniel, by 12 points. Jamey Goodkind lost to Kimberly Remak for the House District 7 seat by 5 points (provisional votes are still being counted as of Friday afternoon, and its possible Goodkind will face Remak in an Aug. 29 runoff).

lost to Kimberly Remak for the House District 7 seat by 5 points (provisional votes are still being counted as of Friday afternoon, and its possible Goodkind will face Remak in an Aug. 29 runoff). John Williams lost to W.I. Harris for the House District 28 seat by 34 points.

lost to W.I. Harris for the House District 28 seat by 34 points. Phil Harding lost to two candidates, Zachary Grady and Felix Gines, for the House District 115 seat after earning just 258 votes.

The only candidate on the endorsement list who won his primary was former state Rep. Chris Brown, who handily beat political newcomer Tanner Newman for the Northern District Public Service Commission seat.

Steven Utroska, the Mississippi director for the State Freedom Caucus Network which helped distribute the endorsement list, attended McDaniels party in Biloxi on Tuesday. While McDaniel was never a member of the Freedom Caucus, an organization of House members who support conservative policies, the Jones County senator is broadly respected by the members of the organization.

Utroska, in an interview with Mississippi Today in Biloxi, struck a somber tone when discussing the election results.

It certainly seems like theres a conservative vacuum, and were losing strong conservatives, he said.

With McDaniels loss and the loss of his fellow far-right hopefuls, the future of the faction is unclear. Mississippi, of course, has no shortage of Republican officials, given the state GOP will continue to make up a supermajority of the legislative seats in both chambers of the state Capitol. But the faction McDaniel has led for the last decade now has no clear leader.

Election night results show that Republican state Sen. Kathy Chism of New Albany will be the only ultra-conservative and McDaniel ally to return to the state Senate in January. Several House Freedom Caucus members appear to have survived the primary election carnage, but there is no clear leader of the far-right conservative movement.

But the handful of ultraconservative members returning to the Capitol will have even less influence than they wielded in recent years.

Rep. Jason White is expected to become speaker of the House in January, and most Capitol observers predict he will continue the role of his predecessor, Philip Gunn, in appointing primarily mainstream conservatives to lead powerful committees and largely shutting out the right-wing crowd.

And if Hosemann defeats his Democratic opponent in the November election, the lieutenant governor will almost certainly wield his power to relegate the few members of the far-right faction to the back benches of the 52-member chamber, leaving them with little influence over policy.

Over the next four years in state government, the Freedom Caucus and like-minded lawmakers will have to start from scratch to chart out a new path for their faction and determine what their organization will look like in a new state government.

I think in the next few months well be reaching out to new members who have been elected to get to know them and their beliefs, Utroska said. And after that, well just have to see where it goes.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

The post Republican voters deliver fatal blow to Mississippis far-right conservative movement appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Michelle Martin's background in business communications, financial institutions, and investor education not only reflects her expertise and proficiency but also her genuine commitment to educating investors, especially millennials and young Gen Z. Michelle will play a key role in unraveling emerging business models and trends, upholding investors' trust in Global One Media as a reliable source of factual information in a highly connected world.

SINGAPORE / ACCESSWIRE / August 14, 2023 / Global One Media, a leading investor-focused digital marketing agency is proud to welcome Michelle Martin, an award-winning lead news anchor and financial journalist from Singapore, to host their popular 'Stocks to Watch' interview series.

Global One Media Welcomes Award-Winning Broadcaster as Host for Its 'Stocks to Watch' Series

Global One Media, a leading investor-focused digital marketing agency is proud to welcome Michelle Martin, an award-winning lead news anchor and financial journalist from Singapore, to host their popular 'Stocks to Watch' interview series.

Michelle Martin's illustrious career spans over 20 years of distinguished service, collaborating in various capacities with government agencies, educational institutions, news networks, and multinational corporations in Singapore. Michelle has worked for Singapore's top media houses, including the national public broadcaster Mediacorp and SPH Media. She has also worked with iconic institutions such as the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). Her varied portfolio also spans work with private sector organizations like HSBC, Cannon and the Property Guru Group.

"Investor education is a passion, and I'm excited to continue to broaden access and inclusivity to capital markets by helming Global One's exclusive interviews with publicly listed companies," Michelle stated. She currently shares her financial wisdom every weekday from 9 am to 12 pm SST on Singapore's MONEY FM 89.3, hosting her hit business radio show, Your Money with Michelle Martin. Michelle's formidable background in business communications, financial institutions, and investor education not only reflects her expertise and proficiency but also her genuine commitment to educating investors, especially millennials and young Gen Z.

Global One Media's 'Stocks to Watch' series is a trusted platform where both stockholders and stakeholders can share knowledge and discuss trends. The platform enables young investors to understand capital market movements and make informed decisions. The show already features stalwarts such as Emmy-winner Ashleigh Barry. As one of Global One Media's celebrated hosts for the series, Michelle will anchor video interviews and podcasts, and hold in-depth conversations with executives from pioneering small and mid-cap companies. Michelle will play a key role in unraveling emerging business models and trends, upholding investors' trust in Global One Media as a reliable source of factual information in a highly connected world.

Global One Media's Stocks to Watch series is available on YouTube and TikTok and also through Amazon Music, Apple Music, Audible, Google Podcast, Podomatic, and Spotify. The Stocks to Watch series recently garnered the #1 spot in the podcast category for 'Investing'.

"Michelle is a 20-year veteran of the talk-radio industry and daily host on personal finance issues in Singapore and Asia. As Global One Media continues to expand its footprint in the Asia-Pacific region, our clients and viewers can now gain from Michelle's deep knowledge and seasoned expertise in the finance and media industries," commented Bastien Boulay, Managing Partner at Global One Media.

Michelle Martin made her debut on the Stocks to Watch series with her interviews with Tokens.com, Plurilock, Tarku Resources, NevGold, Alta Copper, P2Gold and Marksmen Energy. Find the rest of the series' exciting content here.

About Global One Media

Global One Media is an innovative investor-focused digital marketing agency solving the needs of publicly traded companies. We deliver creative and effective solutions for digital market awareness and brand positioning across all industries, specializing in investor engagement and growth marketing for listed and pre-IPO companies. Using our 'Stocks To Watch' global network and community-driven channels, we help public companies dominate their sector amid the digital and social media landscape, tell their story in an engaging manner, and reach millions of investors around the world.

Key services offered include: Strategic Advisory | Social Media Management | Content Creation | Video & Podcast Interviews | Influencer Marketing | Design | Email Marketing | Website Development | Investor Webinars & Virtual Events

For more information about Global One Media, please visit www.globalonemedia.com.

For all press, media inquiries or a full suite of high-resolution photos, please contact Global One Media at info@globalonemedia.com.

Contact Information

Dito Ramadhan

Digital Marketing Manager

dito@globalonemedia.com

+1 (514) 695-0351

SOURCE: Global One Media

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/774028/Global-One-Media-Welcomes-Award-Winning-Broadcaster-and-TEDx-Speaker-as-Host-for-Its-Stocks-to-Watch-Series
UBS (NYSE:UBS) (SWX:UBSN) has reached an agreement with the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) to settle a legacy matter from 2006-2007, related to the issuance, underwriting and sale of residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS). Under the terms of the settlement, UBS will pay USD 1.435bn to resolve all civil claims by the DOJ in connection with UBS's legacy RMBS business in the US. The settlement has been fully provisioned in prior periods.

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.
GREENVILLE, SC / ACCESSWIRE / August 14, 2023 / Cameron Ashley Building Products (Cameron Ashley) is pleased to announce the opening of its newest location in Little Rock, Arkansas. The new distribution center will stock roofing, insulation, drywall, siding, as well as all the associated accessories for fast delivery to customers' jobsites and locations. "Little Rock is the fourth new location for Cameron Ashley this year, and we are excited to grow our service area to better serve our existing customers while pursuing new opportunities," said President and CEO Donny DeMarie.

Cameron Ashley Little Rock

New Cameron Ashley location in Little Rock, Arkansas

"We are excited to expand our footprint and strengthen our partnerships in the central Arkansas region," said District Manager Jason Walker. "Our new location will give us greater service capabilities and faster delivery. Also, the large size of this facility will allow us to have a robust inventory in all core categories - ready for next-day delivery in central Arkansas. Tragically the Arkansas market, like so many markets, has been hit hard by storms and natural disasters. We will be stocking a full line of roofing and roofing accessories to help ease some of the local supply chain issues."

"This location will put Cameron Ashley in the heart of Arkansas and allow us to partner with our customers in the local communities," said Distribution Center Manager Josh Jerles. "Little Rock, combined with our existing Springdale and Memphis locations, allows us to provide our fast same day/next day delivery to the entire northern part of the state. I am thrilled to be part of the team and to assist our customers to Play to Win!"

The Little Rock Distribution Center is located at 6801 Scott Hamiton Drive Little Rock, AR 72209 and can be reached at (501) 500-8798.

About Cameron Ashley Building Products, Inc.

Cameron Ashley is a wholesale distributor of roofing, insulation, drywall, siding, and other specialty building products. They deliver an industry-leading portfolio of marquee brands to customers in the lumber and building materials industry. Cameron Ashley operates a physical network of more than 50 distribution centers stocking large quantities of building materials locally throughout the United States. They feature a variety of customer-focused delivery options under the same-day or next-day fast delivery banner. Their relationship-based approach rewards customers with their PLUS Points loyalty program, free merchandising, as well as purchasing and show incentives.

Customers can order 24/7 online through either our customer portal or mobile phone app. Online they will find a complete set of digital tools and resources, including product availability, pricing, previous and pending orders, invoices, along with secure payment options, product specifications, warranty information, and more!

To shop online or learn more, please visit cameronashleybp.com.

Contact Information

Camille Hammond

Marketing Communications Manager

camillehammond@cameronashleybp.com

864-281-3435

Related Images

Cameron Ashley Little Rock

New Cameron Ashley location in Little Rock, Arkansas Josh Jerles

Josh Jerles, Little Rock Distribution Center Manager

SOURCE: Cameron Ashley Building Products

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/774081/Cameron-Ashley-Building-Products-Opens-New-Location-in-Little-Rock
Appoints Two Independent Directors to the Board and Reaffirms Commitment to Strong Corporate Governance

JACKSONVILLE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / August 14, 2023 / Accesswire / GEE Group Inc. (NYSE American:JOB) together with its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as the "Company", "GEE Group", "GEE", "us", "our", or "we"), a provider of professional staffing services and human resource solutions, today announced that the Company has entered into a cooperation agreement (the "Agreement") with Red Oak Partners, LLC (collectively with its affiliates, "Red Oak Partners").

Under the terms of the Cooperation Agreement, the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board" or "GEE Directors") will increase the size of Board from seven to nine directors and appoint two new independent directors, David Sandberg and J. Randall Waterfield ("Randy"), to serve as Class I and Class II directors, respectively, filling the newly created vacancies on the Board. In addition, the Board will nominate Mr. Sandberg for election to the Board at the Company's 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the "2023 Annual Meeting") and will nominate Mr. Waterfield for election to the Board at the Company's 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

The Cooperation Agreement is the latest step that the Company has taken to demonstrate its commitment to maintaining strong corporate governance. The Nominating Committee of the Board has elected Thomas Vetrano as Lead Independent Director ("LID") of the Board, and the Company has agreed to maintain the LID position during the term of the Cooperation Agreement. Additionally, per terms of the Cooperation Agreement, the Board will engage an investment bank or consulting firm to assist in evaluating strategic opportunities to maximize shareholder value.

"We are pleased to have reached this amicable agreement with Red Oak Partners," said Derek E. Dewan, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of GEE Group Inc. "David and Randy have significant public company experience as directors and are welcome additions to our Board as we work towards a common goal of increasing the Company's profitability, accelerating its long-term growth and maximizing shareholder value. The Company looks forward to leveraging their expertise as we continue to position the Company for value creation."

"Red Oak Partners appreciates the engagement we have had with the GEE Group Board, management team and shareholders over the last several months," said David Sandberg, Managing Member of Red Oak Partners, LLC. "I am excited to join the Board at such an important time." The Board's addition of two independent directors, including a representative of its largest shareholder, and its commitment to maintaining strong corporate governance are pivotal steps forward in maximizing value for all shareholders.

J. Randall Waterfield said, "I am very enthusiastic about the prospects of GEE Group and working with the Board and management team and look forward to working with them under a unified goal to optimize shareholder value."

In connection with the appointment of these two new directors, Red Oak Partners has withdrawn its nomination notice and proposals in connection with the 2023 Annual Meeting and has agreed to certain standstill and voting commitments. Copies of the Cooperation Agreement with Red Oak Partners and the Waterfield Letter Agreement will be included as exhibits to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, which will be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").

About GEE Group

GEE Group Inc. is a provider of specialized staffing solutions and is the successor to employment offices doing business since 1893. The Company operates in two industry segments, providing professional staffing services and solutions in the information technology, engineering, finance and accounting specialties and commercial staffing services through the names of Access Data Consulting, Agile Resources, Ashley Ellis, General Employment, Omni-One, Paladin Consulting and Triad. Also, in the healthcare sector, GEE Group, through its Scribe Solutions brand, staffs medical scribes who assist physicians in emergency departments of hospitals and in medical practices by providing required documentation for patient care in connection with electronic medical records (EMR). Additionally, the Company provides contract and direct hire professional staffing services through the following SNI brands: Accounting Now, SNI Technology, Legal Now, SNI Financial, Staffing Now, SNI Energy, and SNI Certes.

About Red Oak Partners

Red Oak Partners, LLC ("Red Oak Partners") is an investment firm with a private equity-like investment style focused on small and micro capitalization companies in North American private and public equity markets. Red Oak Partners employs a long-term approach and focuses on generating superior, risk-adjusted absolute returns while focusing on capital preservation with non-correlation through market cycles. Red Oak Partners was established in 2003 and is based in Boca Raton, Florida. Learn more at www.redoakpartners.com

Forward-looking Statements Safe Harbor

In addition to historical information, this press release contains statements relating to possible future events and/or the Company's future results (including results of business operations, certain projections, future financial condition, pro forma financial information, and business trends and prospects) that are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, (the "Exchange Act"), and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are subject to the "safe harbor" created by those sections. The statements made in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events. These forward-looking statements include without limitation information relating to our intended share repurchases, the amount and timing of share repurchases, the possibility that the share repurchase program may be discontinued or suspended, anticipated cash flow generation and expected shareholder benefits. Such forward-looking statements often contain, or are prefaced by, words such as "will", "may," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "predicts," "pro forma", "estimates," "aims," "believes," "hopes," "potential," "intends," "suggests," "appears," "seeks," or variations of such words or similar words and expressions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, are based on certain assumptions, and are subject to various known risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, and cannot be predicted or quantified and, consequently, as a result of a number of factors, the Company's actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The international pandemic, the "Novel Coronavirus" ("COVID"-19), has been detrimental to and may continue to negatively impact and disrupt the Company's business operations. The health outbreak has caused a significant negative effect on the global economy, employment in general including the lack of demand for the Company's services which is exacerbated by government and client directed "quarantines", "remote working", "shut-downs" and "social distancing". There is no assurance that conditions will not persist or worsen and further negatively impact GEE Group. Certain other factors that might cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, without limitation: (i) the loss, default or bankruptcy of one or more customers; (ii) changes in general, regional, national or international economic conditions; (iii) an act of war or terrorism, industrial accidents, or cyber security breach that disrupts business; (iv) changes in the law and regulations; (v) the effect of liabilities and other claims asserted against the Company including the failure to repay indebtedness or comply with lender covenants including the lack of liquidity to support business operations and the inability to refinance debt, failure to obtain necessary financing or the inability to access the capital markets and/or obtain alternative sources of capital; (vi) changes in the size and nature of the Company's competition; (vii) the loss of one or more key executives; (viii) increased credit risk from customers; (ix) the Company's failure to grow internally or by acquisition or the failure to successfully integrate acquisitions; (x) the Company's failure to improve operating margins and realize cost efficiencies and economies of scale; (xi) the Company's failure to attract, hire and retain quality recruiters, account managers and salesmen; (xii) the Company's failure to recruit qualified candidates to place at customers for contract or full-time hire; (xiii) the adverse impact of geopolitical events, government mandates, natural disasters or health crises, force majeure occurrences, global pandemics such as the deadly "coronavirus" (COVID-19) or other harmful viral or non-viral rapidly spreading diseases and such other factors as set forth under the heading "Forward-Looking Statements" in the Company's annual reports on Form 10-K, its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and in the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the Company's filings with the SEC. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov. The Company is under no obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) and does not intend to publicly update, revise, or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact:

GEE Group Inc.

Kim Thorpe

630.954.0400

invest@genp.com

SOURCE: GEE Group Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/774066/GEE-Group-Inc-Announces-Cooperation-Agreement-with-Red-Oak-Partners
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - August 14, 2023) - Saturn Oil & Gas Inc. (TSX: SOIL) (FSE: SMKA) (OTCQX: OILSF) ("Saturn" or the "Company") is pleased to report its financial and operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023.

"The three months ended June 30, 2023 represent the first full quarter of positive contribution from the recently completed acquisition of Ridgeback which has driven record quarterly production and cash flow,(1)" commented John Jeffrey, Chief Executive Officer of Saturn. "Saturn is focused on delivering robust free funds flow(1), while sustaining high netback production with a very active drilling program for the second half of 2023. Saturn's drilling program is now underway in both Alberta and Saskatchewan, developing light oil production in some of the most economic plays in North America."

Second Quarter 2023 Highlights:

Record quarterly average production of 25,988 boe/d, compared to 7,324 boe/d in the second quarter of 2022;

Record quarterly petroleum and natural gas sales of $176.0 million, up from $82.2 million in the second quarter of 2022 and $131.4 million in the first quarter of 2023;

Operating netback, net of derivatives (1) of $41.87 per boe while the benchmark WTI oil price averaged US$73.75 during the period, compared to $29.91 per boe in the second quarter of 2022 when WTI averaged US$108.41;

Record quarterly adjusted EBITDA (1) of $92.9 million, compared to $18.0 million in the second quarter of 2022;

Record quarterly adjusted funds flow (1) of $67.0 million ($0.48 per basic share); compared to $14.5 million ($0.45 per basic share) in the comparable 2022 period;

Invested $13.8 million of development capital expenditures, drilling 7 (net 3.4) wells; including 2 in Southeast Saskatchewan and 5 in West Central Saskatchewan, with a 100% success rate;

Record quarterly free funds flow (1) of $53.1 million ($0.38 per basic share) compared to $8.5 million ($0.26 per basic share) in the comparable 2022 period; and

Net debt(1) of $510.2 million realizing a net debt to annualized quarterly adjusted funds flow(1) ratio of 1.9x.

Three months

ended Three months

ended Six months

ended Six months

ended (CAD $000s, except per share amounts) June 30, 2023 June 30, 2022 June 30, 2023 June 30, 2022 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Petroleum and natural gas sales 176,034 82,230 307,441 150,671 Adjusted EBITDA(1) 92,853 17,950 162,720 34,229 Adjusted funds flow (1) 66,954 14,463 121,415 27,934 per share - Basic 0.48 0.45 1.07 0.94 - Diluted 0.47 0.44 1.05 0.92 Free funds flow (1) 53,109 8,493 83,287 11,497 per share - Basic 0.38 0.26 0.74 0.39 - Diluted 0.37 0.26 0.72 0.38 Net income (loss) 51,273 21,855 270,323 (75,763 ) per share - Basic 0.37 0.68 2.39 (2.56 ) - Diluted 0.36 0.66 2.33 (2.56 ) Acquisitions, net of cash acquired 1,439 (90 ) 466,662 7,493 Capital expenditures(1) 13,845 5,970 38,128 16,437 Net debt(1), end of period 510,185 58,198 510,185 58,198

(1) See Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures

Three months

ended Three months

ended Six months

ended Six months

ended (CAD $000s, except per share amounts) June 30, 2023 June 30, 2022 June 30, 2023 June 30, 2022 OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS Average production volumes Crude oil (bbls/d) 19,425 6,722 17,066 6,771 NGLs (bbls/d) 2,137 287 1,567 310 Natural gas (mcf/d) 26,553 1,887 19,648 1,975 Total boe/d 25,988 7,324 21,908 7,410 % Oil and NGLs 83% 96% 85% 96% Average realized prices Crude oil ($/bbl) 92.39 131.28 92.97 120.22 NGLs ($/bbl) 39.58 72.15 43.78 64.95 Natural gas ($/mcf) 2.62 6.47 2.93 5.46 Processing expenses ($/boe) (0.56 ) (1.61 ) (0.65 ) (1.69 ) Petroleum and natural gas sales ($/boe) 74.43 123.39 77.53 112.33 Operating netback ($/boe) Petroleum and natural gas sales 74.43 123.39 77.53 112.33 Royalties (6.96 ) (19.12 ) (7.92 ) (17.85 ) Net operating expenses (1) (22.31 ) (27.08 ) (21.81 ) (27.21 ) Transportation expenses (1.42 ) (0.97 ) (1.26 ) (0.76 ) Operating netback (1) 43.74 76.22 46.54 66.51 Realized loss on derivatives (1.87 ) (46.31 ) (2.95 ) (38.38 ) Operating netback, net of derivatives (1) 41.87 29.91 43.59 28.13 Common shares outstanding 138,634 32,361 138,634 32,361 Weighted average, basic 138,634 32,361 112,957 29,623 Weighted average, diluted 141,742 32,992 116,089 30,397

Message to Shareholders

Saturn has made great progress on the integration of Ridgeback Resources Inc. ("Ridgeback") and has emerged as a substantial energy producer in Western Canada. As a reflection of the increased scale of the Company's operations, Saturn graduated to the Toronto Stock Exchange in June 2023. The Company is currently exploiting its deep inventory of light oil development projects in both Alberta and Saskatchewan, with one rig drilling full time in each province. The Company's Alberta production was temporarily impacted by wildfires and corresponding third-party infrastructure downtime, resulting in the curtailment of approximately 2,300 boe/d (56% Oil and NGLs) of production during the quarter. Currently 100% of the curtailed production is back online and there has been no material damage from the wildfires to Saturn's infrastructure or facilities. The Company is diligently reducing its debt load with principal repayments of $51.5 million being made in the quarter.

Oxbow Update

The Company's assets located in Southeast Saskatchewan (the "Oxbow Asset") produced 11,388(2) boe/d for the three months ended June 30, 2023, a 62% increase from Q2 2022, and was not impacted by wildfires. The Company drilled and completed seven gross horizontal wells (net 3.4) in the second quarter of 2023 with a 100% success rate. Two operated wells were drilled targeting light oil in the Spearfish formation of the Midale area. This is Saturn's first development program of the Spearfish formations in what is expected to include the drilling of up to a total of six Spearfish wells. The drilling of the Spearfish wells is supported with extensive seismic coverage and Saturn has an existing pipeline network and facilities in this area to tie in new production quickly.

Viking Update

The Company's assets located in West Central Saskatchewan (the "Viking Asset") produced 4,860 boe/d(2) for the three months ended June 30, 2023 a 1,488% increase from Q2 2022, and was not impacted by wildfires. The Company did not drill any new wells in the Viking area in Q2 2023. The production levels of the eight gross wells (8.0 net) drilled in the first quarter of 2023 continue to perform well above the type curves of our expected reserve production profile and industry averages for Viking wells. Development drilling for light oil at the Viking Asset is expected to recommence in Q1 2024.

Alberta Update

Saturn's assets located in Central Alberta (the "Cardium Asset") produced 7,358 boe/d(2) for the three months ended June 30, 2023. The Company's assets in the Kaybob and Deer Mountain areas (the "North Alberta Assets") produced 2,382(2) boe/d for the three months ended June 30,2023. Between the Cardium Asset and the North Alberta Assets the Company estimates that the wildfires in Alberta curtailed approximately 2,300 boe/d (56% Oil and NGLs) in the quarter.

Saturn is currently drilling its second Extended Reach Horizontal well ("ERH Well") in the Lochend area of Alberta and is presently completing the first of what is expected to be a three well program. Lateral lengths of the Lochend ERH Wells are targeting between 1.5 and 3 miles. The new Lochend Cardium wells are in close proximity to Saturn's extensive infrastructure in this area, including a working interest in a natural gas processing plant, enabling the new production to be put onstream with short cycle times and high netbacks.

Outlook

Saturn's H2 2023 drilling program is now well under way with one drilling rig expected to run to the end of 2023 in both Alberta and Saskatchewan. The Company is budgeting up to 25 wells in the Oxbow Area for the second half of 2023. The Oxbow development is expected to include the drilling of light oil Bakken formations, utilizing industry leading hydraulic stimulation completions technology and certain locations to be drilled as open hole multi-lateral ("OHML") wells. OHML is a newly developed drilling technique that is producing strong industry success in Bakken formations in Southeast Saskatchewan in 2023. OHML is showing the potential to increase estimated ultimate recoveries of light oil and enhancing development economics. The Bakken formation is a well-delineated resource play in which Saturn has over 350 identified locations in close proximity to Company infrastructure and an operated gas processing facility, including over 263 gross (200 net) booked unconventional Bakken wells and 100 gross (91 net) un-booked OHML targets.

In addition to the Lochend drilling program now underway, Saturn expects to drill up to two additional ERH wells targeting Cardium light oil in the West Pembina, and up to four ERH wells targeting Montney light oil in the Kaybob area of the North Alberta Asset in 2023.

Investor Webcast

Saturn will host a webcast at 10:00 AM MT (12:00 PM Noon ET) on August 15, 2022, to discuss the second quarter financial report and provide investors an update. Participants can access the live webcast via: https://saturnoil.com/invest/q2-2023-results-webcast, or through the Company's website www.saturnoil.com. A recorded archive of the webcast will be available afterwards on the Company's website.

About Saturn Oil & Gas Inc.

Saturn Oil & Gas Inc. is a growing Canadian energy company focused on generating positive shareholder returns through the continued responsible development of high-quality, light oil weighted assets, supported by an acquisition strategy that targets highly accretive, complementary opportunities. Saturn has assembled an attractive portfolio of free-cash flowing, low-decline operated assets in Southeastern Saskatchewan, West Central Saskatchewan and Central/Northern Alberta that provide a deep inventory of long-term economic drilling opportunities across multiple zones. With an unwavering commitment to building an ESG-focused culture, Saturn's goal is to increase reserves, production and cash flows at an attractive return on invested capital. Saturn's shares are listed for trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange under ticker 'SOIL', on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under symbol 'SMKA' and on the OTCQX under the ticker 'OILSF'.

For additional information, please contact:

John Jeffrey, MBA - Chief Executive Officer

or

Kevin Smith, MBA - VP Corporate Development

Tel: +1 (587) 392-7900

www.saturnoil.com

info@saturnoil.com

Reader Advisory

Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures

Throughout this news release and in other materials disclosed by the Company, Saturn employs certain measures to analyze financial performance, financial position and cash flow. These non-GAAP and other financial measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures provided by other issuers. Non-GAAP and other financial measures should not be considered to be more meaningful than GAAP measures which are determined in accordance with IFRS. The disclosure under the section "Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures" including non-GAAP financial measures and ratios, capital management measures and supplementary financial measures in the Company's Condensed consolidated interim financial statements and MD&A are incorporated by reference into this news release.

This press release may use the terms "Adjusted EBITDA", "Adjusted Funds Flow", and "Net Debt" which are capital management financial measures. See the disclosure under "Capital Management" in our Condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2023, for an explanation and composition of these measures and how these measures provide useful information to an investor, and the additional purposes, if any, for which management uses these measures.

This press release may use the terms "capital expenditures", "free funds flow", "operating netback", "operating netback, net of derivatives", and "net operating expenses", which are non-GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures are not standardized financial measures under IFRS and might not be comparable to similar financial measures disclosed by other issuers. See the disclosure under the section "Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios" in our MD&A for the six months ended June 30, 2023, for an explanation and composition of these measures and how these measures provide useful information to an investor, and the additional purposes, if any, for which management uses these measures.

Capital expenditures

Saturn uses capital expenditures to monitor its capital investments relative to those budgeted by the Company on an annual basis. Saturn's capital budget excludes acquisition and disposition activities as well as the accounting impact of any accrual changes or payments under certain lease arrangements. The most directly comparable GAAP measure for capital expenditures is cash flow used in investing activities. The following table reconciles capital expenditures and capital expenditures, net acquisitions and dispositions ("A&D") to the nearest GAAP measure, cashflow used in investing activities.

Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, ($000s) 2023 2022 2023 2022 Cash flow used in investing activities 23,818 21,957 520,498 36,489 Change in non-cash working capital (8,534 ) (16,077 ) (15,708 ) (12,559 ) Capital expenditures, net A&D 15,284 5,880 504,790 23,930 Acquisitions, net of cash acquired (1,439 ) 90 (466,662 ) (7,493 ) Capital expenditures 13,845 5,970 38,128 16,437

Free funds flow

The Company considers free funds flow to be a key capital management measure as it is used to determine the efficiency and liquidity of Saturn's business, measuring its funds available after capital investment available for debt repayment, pursue acquisitions and gauge optionality to pay dividends and/or return capital to shareholders through share repurchases. Saturn calculates Free funds flow as Adjusted funds flow in the period less expenditures on property, plant and equipment and exploration and evaluation assets, together "capital expenditures". By removing the impact of current period capital expenditures from adjusted funds flow, management monitors its free funds flow to inform its capital allocation decisions.

The following table reconciles adjusted EBITDA, adjusted funds flow and free funds flow to cash flow from operating activities:

Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, ($000s) 2023 2022 2023 2022 Cash flow from operating activities 94,232 20,399 138,143 30,741 Change in non-cash working capital (29,823 ) (5,980 ) (23,280 ) (3,236 ) Decommissioning expenditures 1,636 44 1,895 429 Transaction costs 909 - 4,657 - Net interest 25,899 3,487 41,305 6,295 Adjusted EBITDA 92,853 17,950 162,720 34,229 Net interest (25,899 ) (3,487 ) (41,305 ) (6,295 ) Adjusted funds flow 66,954 14,463 121,415 27,934 Capital expenditures(1) (13,845 ) (5,970 ) (38,128 ) (16,437 ) Free funds flow 53,109 8,493 83,287 11,497

(1) Calculated as expenditures on Property, plant and equipment and exploration and evaluation assets on the condensed consolidated interim statements of cash flows.

Supplemental Information Regarding Product Types

References to gas or natural gas and NGLs in this press release refer to conventional natural gas and natural gas liquids product types, respectively, as defined in National Instrument 51-101, Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities ("NI 51-101"), except where specifically noted otherwise.

The following table is intended to provide the product type composition for each of the production figures provided herein, where not already disclosed within tables above for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, and June 2023 stand alone average production:

Three months ended June 30 June 2023 Average 2023 2022 Oxbow Asset Crude oil (bbls/d) 9,614 9,794 6,416 NGLs (bbls/d) 910 866 287 Natural gas (mcf/d) 3,770 4,366 1,887 Total boe/d 11,151 11,388 7,018 Viking Asset Crude oil (bbls/d) 4,701 4,764 306 NGLs (bbls/d) 50 20 - Natural gas (mcf/d) 715 454 - Total boe/d 4,870 4,860 306 Cardium Asset Crude oil (bbls/d) 4,002 3,436 - NGLs (bbls/d) 1,095 976 - Natural gas (mcf/d) 21,958 17,677 - Total boe/d 8,756 7,358 - North Alberta Asset Crude oil (bbls/d) 1,782 1,431 - NGLs (bbls/d) 308 275 - Natural gas (mcf/d) 4,464 4,056 - Total boe/d 2,834 2,382 - Total Company Crude oil (bbls/d) 20,099 19,425 6,722 NGLs (bbls/d) 2,363 2,137 287 Natural gas (mcf/d) 30,907 26,553 1,887 Total boe/d 27,611 25,988 7,324

Gross petroleum and natural gas sales

Gross petroleum and natural gas sales is calculated by adding oil, natural gas and NGLs revenue, before deducting certain gas processing expenses in arriving at Petroleum and natural gas revenue as required under IFRS-15. These processing expenses associated with the processing of natural gas and NGLs revenue are a result of the Company transferring custody of the product at the terminal inlet, and therefore receiving net prices. This metric is used by management to quantify and analyze the realized price received before required processing deductions, against benchmark prices. The calculation of the Company's gross petroleum and natural gas sales is shown within the petroleum and natural gas sales section within this MD&A.

Net operating expenses

Net operating expense is calculated by deducting processing income primarily generated by processing third party production at processing facilities where the Company has an ownership interest, from operating expenses presented on the Statement of income (loss). Where the Company has excess capacity at one of its facilities, it will process third-party volumes to reduce the cost of ownership in the facility. The Company's primary business activities are not that of a midstream entity whose activities are focused on earning processing and other infrastructure-based revenues, and as such third-party processing revenue is netted against operating expenses in the MD&A. This metric is used by management to evaluate the Company's net operating expenses on a unit of production basis. Net operating expense per boe is a non-GAAP financial ratio and is calculated as net operating expense divided by total barrels of oil equivalent produced over a specific period of time. The calculation of the Company's net operating expenses is shown within the net operating expenses section within this MD&A.

Operating netback and Operating netback, net of derivatives

The Company's operating netback is determined by deducting royalties, net operating expenses and transportation expenses from petroleum and natural gas sales. The Company's operating netback, net of derivatives is calculated by adding or deducting realized financial derivative commodity contract gains or losses from the operating netback. The Company's operating netback and operating netback, net of derivatives are used in operational and capital allocation decisions. Presenting operating netback and operating netback, net of derivatives on a per boe basis is a non-GAAP financial ratio and allows management to better analyze performance against prior periods on a per unit of production basis. The calculation of the Company's operating netbacks and operating netback, net of derivatives are summarized as follows.

Three months ended June 30,

Six months ended June 30, ($000s) 2023 2022 2023 2022 Petroleum and natural gas sales 176,034 82,230 307,441 150,671 Royalties (16,449 ) (12,741 ) (31,395 ) (23,938 ) Net operating expenses (52,760 ) (18,045 ) (86,477 ) (36,496 ) Transportation expenses (3,369 ) (646 ) (4,978 ) (1,013 ) Operating netback 103,456 50,798 184,591 89,224 Realized loss on financial derivatives (4,425 ) (30,859 ) (11,700 ) (51,482 ) Operating netback, net of derivatives 99,031 19,939 172,891 37,742 ($ per boe amounts) Petroleum and natural gas sales 74.43 123.39 77.53 112.33 Royalties (6.96 ) (19.12 ) (7.92 ) (17.85 ) Net operating expenses (22.31 ) (27.08 ) (21.81 ) (27.21 ) Transportation expenses (1.42 ) (0.97 ) (1.26 ) (0.76 ) Operating netback 43.74 76.22 46.54 66.51 Realized loss on financial derivatives (1.87 ) (46.31 ) (2.95 ) (38.38 ) Operating netback, net of derivatives 41.87 29.91 43.59 28.13

Boe Presentation

Boe means barrel of oil equivalent. All boe conversions in this news release are derived by converting gas to oil at the ratio of six thousand cubic feet ("Mcf") of natural gas to one barrel ("Bbl") of oil. Boe may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A Boe conversion rate of 1 Bbl: 6 Mcf is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. Given that the value ratio of oil compared to natural gas based on currently prevailing prices is significantly different than the energy equivalency ratio of 1 Bbl: 6 Mcf, utilizing a conversion ratio of 1 Bbl: 6 Mcf may be misleading as an indication of value.

Forward-Looking Information and Statements.

Certain information included in this press release constitutes forward-looking information under applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "plan", "intend", "estimate", "propose", "project", "scheduled", "will" or similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook. Forward-looking information in this press release may include, but is not limited to, the Company's drilling and development plans, cycle times, expectations regarding netbacks, the business plan, cost model and strategy of the Company.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by Saturn, including expectations and assumptions concerning: the timing of and success of future drilling, development and completion activities, the performance of existing wells, the performance of new wells, the availability and performance of facilities and pipelines, the ability to allocate capital to pay down debt and grow or maintain production, the geological characteristics of Saturn's properties, the application of regulatory and licensing requirements, the availability of capital, labour and services, the creditworthiness of industry partners and the ability to source and complete asset acquisitions.

Although Saturn believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because Saturn can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, risks associated with the oil and gas industry in general (e.g., operational risks in development, exploration and production; the uncertainty of reserve estimates; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to production, costs and expenses, and health, safety and environmental risks), constraints in the availability of services, commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations, actions of OPEC and OPEC+ members, changes in legislation impacting the oil and gas industry, adverse weather or break-up conditions and uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures. These and other risks are set out in more detail in Saturn's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Forward-looking information is based on a number of factors and assumptions which have been used to develop such information but which may prove to be incorrect. Although Saturn believes that the expectations reflected in its forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information because Saturn can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. In addition to other factors and assumptions which may be identified in this press release, assumptions have been made regarding and are implicit in, among other things, our capital expenditure and drilling programs, drilling inventory and booked locations, production and revenue guidance, ESG initiatives, debt repayment plans and future growth plans. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which have been used.

The forward-looking information contained in this press release is made as of the date hereof and Saturn undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

All dollar figures included herein are presented in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise noted.

(1) See reader advisory: non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures

(2) See reader advisory: Supplemental Information Regarding Product Types

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/177230
Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands--(Newsfile Corp. - August 14, 2023) - Talon Metals Corp. (TSX: TLO) ("Talon" or the "Company") reported a net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2023 of $0.6 million or nil per share (basic and diluted), which was primarily the result of administration expenses. This compares to a net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2022 of $0.1 million or nil per share (basic and diluted), which was primarily the result of administration expenses and stock option compensation offset by foreign currency gains.

The Company's net loss for the six month period ended June 30, 2023 was $1.2 million or $nil per share (basic and diluted). This compares to a net loss of $1.3 million or $nil per share (basic and diluted) for the same period in the prior year.

Capitalized exploration costs and deferred expenditures on the Tamarack Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Project for the three months ended June 30, 2023 amounted to $10.7 million. This compares to $11.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022. The total capitalized exploration cost to the Tamarack Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Project to June 30, 2023 amounts to $178.9 million.

Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, together with Management's Discussion and Analysis have been filed on SEDAR and are available at www.sedar.com.

All amounts are presented in Canadian dollars.

ABOUT TALON

Talon is a TSX-listed base metals company in a joint venture with Rio Tinto on the high-grade Tamarack Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Project located in central Minnesota. Talon's shares are also traded in the US over the OTC market under the symbol TLOFF. The Tamarack Nickel Project comprises a large land position (18km of strike length) with additional high-grade intercepts outside the current resource area. Talon has an earn-in right to acquire up to 60% of the Tamarack Nickel Project, and currently owns 51%. Talon is focused on (i) expanding and infilling its current high-grade nickel mineralization resource prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 to shape a mine plan for submission to Minnesota regulators, and (ii) following up on additional high-grade nickel mineralization in the Tamarack Intrusive Complex. Talon has an agreement with Tesla Inc. to supply it with 75,000 metric tonnes (165 million lbs) of nickel in concentrate (and certain by-products, including cobalt and iron) from the Tamarack Nickel Project over an estimated six-year period once commercial production is achieved. Talon has a neutrality and workforce development agreement in place with the United Steelworkers union. Talon's Battery Mineral Processing Facility in Mercer County was selected by the US Department of Energy for US$114m funding grant from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Talon has well-qualified experienced exploration, mine development, external affairs, and mine permitting teams.

For additional information on Talon, please visit the Company's website at www.talonmetals.com or contact:

Sean Werger

President

Talon Metals Corp.

Tel: (416) 361-9636 x102

Email: werger@talonmetals.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/177239
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 14, 2023) - Karus Gold Corp. (the "Corporation" or "Karus") announces it has signed a binding Letter of Intent to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding common shares (the "Theia Common Shares") of Theia Gold Corp. ("Theia"), a private British Columbia incorporated company, by way of a business combination transaction that will result in the reverse takeover of Karus by Theia (the "Proposed Transaction").

James Hynes, Karus Director commented, "The Proposed Transaction with Theia brings management, technical expertise and a strong existing investor group. The Proposed Transaction is expected to unlock value by bringing in new capital and listing Karus shares on a public stock exchange. Karus shareholders will also get exposure to a new exploration project and the growth aspirations of Theia."

About Theia

Theia is a private Canadian company specializing in the acquisition, financing, exploration and development of mineral properties using modern exploration technology. Theia's strategy is to grow shareholder and stakeholder value by exploration and M&A. Theia has an impressive technical team complemented by supportive, long-term shareholders with an aligned strategic vision to management.

Theia Investors Group

Theia shareholders include prominent members of the financial and mining sector who have been supportive, long-term shareholders including Peter Marrone (former founder and Executive Chairman of Yamana Gold Inc.), who is a founding investor of Theia.

Theia Technical Team

Theia has attracted and retains a core of technical expertise, including Mr. Steven R. McMullan, P.Geo. (co-recipient of the PDAC Thayer Lindsley International Mineral Discovery award for the Kamoa Copper Deposit DRC on behalf of Ivanhoe Mines) as Chief Technical Advisor; and Mr. Alex Gostevskikh (MSc Geology, MBA, MMSA), an independent consultant specializing in mineral exploration and development of orogenic gold style mineralization.

Theia's Mineral Creek Project

The main property of Theia is the Mineral Creek gold exploration project ("Mineral Creek Property"), located approximately 10 km East of Port Alberni, British Columbia and approximately 35 km West of Nanaimo, British Columbia. The Mineral Creek Property comprises 13,054 ha of contiguous claims. The exploration model is for an orogenic type quartz-carbonate vein gold occurrence hosted in volcanic rocks, with reported historical high grade gold drill intercepts. Theia has compiled technical information on the property and anticipates drill testing to confirm historical shallow mineralization, and to target mineralization deeper than previously drilled.

The Proposed Transaction

Pursuant to the Proposed Transaction, all outstanding Theia Common Shares will be exchanged for common shares of Karus ("Karus Common Shares") which, upon completion of the Proposed Transaction, will result in the present holders of Theia Common Shares ("Theia Shareholders") holding 21,141,883 Karus Common Shares, or approximately 69.93% of the outstanding Karus Common Shares on a non-diluted basis, and the existing holders of Karus Common Shares ("Karus Shareholders") holding 9,091,010 Karus Common Shares, or approximately 30.07% of the outstanding Karus Common Shares on a non-diluted basis. It is anticipated that the Proposed Transaction will be completed as a three-cornered amalgamation under the laws of British Columbia.

Upon completion of the Proposed Transaction, Karus (the "Resulting Issuer") will continue to carry on the business of exploration and development of Karus' South Cariboo Property and the Mineral Creek Property under Theia's existing name or such other name as may be approved by the board of directors of the Resulting Issuer and the TSX Venture Exchange, Canadian Securities Exchange, or such other recognized Canadian stock exchange acceptable to Karus and Theia on which the Karus Common Shares are listed (the "Exchange").

Consolidation

Prior to the closing of the Proposed Transaction, Karus will complete a consolidation of Karus Common Shares on the basis of one (1) post-consolidation Karus Common Share for every ten (10) pre-consolidation Karus Common Shares (the "Consolidation").

Conditions

Completion of the Proposed Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, receipt of all required approvals, including Exchange approval of the listing, Theia Shareholder approval and, if applicable, Karus Shareholder approval, satisfactory diligence by both Karus and Theia, preparation and delivery of a technical report covering the Mineral Creek Property, a waiver of rights of a shareholder to receive anti-dilution shares, title opinions and certain other conditions. There can be no assurance that the Proposed Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement that will be prepared in connection with the Proposed Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Proposed Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of Karus should be considered highly speculative. No stock exchange has passed upon the merits of the Proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

None of the securities to be issued pursuant to the Proposed Transaction have been or will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws, and any securities issued pursuant to the Proposed Transaction are anticipated to be issued in reliance upon available exemptions from such registration requirements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities.

Principals and Insiders of the Resulting Issuer

Effective on Closing, Karus' existing board of directors and officers will resign, and replacement directors and officers named by Theia will be appointed. Details of such replacement directors and officers will come in due course.

ON BEHALF OF KARUS GOLD CORP.

"James Hynes"

James Hynes

Director

For more information, please contact Karus Investor Relations:

(888) 455-7620

info@karusgold.com

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding the anticipated timing and closing of the Proposed Transaction, the receipt and approval of the Theia Shareholders, Karus Shareholders and the Exchange, completion of the Consolidation, anticipated benefits to Karus Shareholders as a result of the Proposed Transaction and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Resulting Issuer, are forward-looking statements. Although the Corporation believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Corporation cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Corporation are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, the state of the financial markets for the Corporation's equity securities, the state of the commodity markets generally, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, variations in the market price of any mineral products the Corporation may produce or plan to produce, the inability of the Corporation to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required, including Exchange acceptance, for its planned activities, the inability of the Corporation to produce minerals from its properties successfully or profitably, to continue its projected growth, to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Corporation's latest interim Management Discussion and Analysis and filed with certain securities commissions in Canada. All of the Corporation's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedarplus.ca and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical report filed with respect to the Corporation's mineral properties.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/177243
Not for distribution to United States news wire services or for dissemination in the United States

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 14, 2023 / Lucky Minerals Inc. (TSXV:LKY), (OTC PINK:LKMNF), (FRA:LKY) ("Lucky" or the "Company") announces that effective July 31, 2023 it has terminated the consulting agreement (the "Agreement") with Intuitive Pty Ltd. ("Intuitive") for strategic investor relations and marketing/networking initiatives services. The Agreement was previously announced in the Company's April 12, 2023 News Release.

The Company wishes to thank Mr. Peter Nesveda, Managing Director of Intuitive for his contributions and assistance to the Company and also wishes him all the best going forward. The Agreement initially announced April 12, 2023 is subject to receipt of TSX Venture Exchange approval.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Francois Perron"

Chief Executive Officer

About Lucky

Lucky is an exploration and development company targeting large-scale mineral systems in proven districts with the potential to host world class deposits. Lucky owns a 100% interest in the Fortuna Property.

The Company's Fortuna Project is comprised of twelve contiguous, 550 km2 (55,000 Hectares, or 136,000 Acres) exploration concessions. Fortuna is located in a highly prospective, yet underexplored, gold belt in southern Ecuador.

Further information on Lucky can be found on the Company's website at www.luckyminerals.com and at www.sedar.com, or by contacting Francois Perron, President and CEO, by email at investors@luckyminerals.com or by telephone at (866) 924 6484.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Adjacent Properties and Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the future operations of the Company and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the future plans and objectives of the Company are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: uncertainties related to exploration and development; the ability to raise sufficient capital to fund exploration and development; changes in economic conditions or financial markets; increases in input costs; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological or operational difficulties or inability to obtain permits encountered in connection with exploration activities; and labor relations matters. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect the Company's forward-looking information. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations also include risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators.

The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will not update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements unless required by Canadian securities law.

SOURCE: Lucky Minerals Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/774177/Lucky-Terminates-Investor-Relations-Agreement
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 14, 2023 / GLG Life Tech Corporation (TSX:GLG) ("GLG" or the "Company"), a global leader in the agricultural and commercial development of high-quality zero-calorie natural sweeteners, announces financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023. The complete set of financial statements and management discussion and analysis are available on SEDAR and on the Company's website at www.glglifetech.com.

FINANCIAL SUMMARY

The Company reported revenues of $2.0 million in the second quarter of 2023, compared to $2.8 million in revenue for the second quarter of 2022. The Company's gross profit margin was unchanged at 32% for the second quarters of both 2022 and 2023.

The Company reported revenues of $3.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023, compared to $5.5 million for the same period last year. The Company's gross profit margin decreased by two percentage points to 29% for the period, compared to 31% for the same period last year.

The Company continues its efforts to closely manage its SG&A expenses, lowering these expenses in both the three and six month periods in 2023, compared to the respective prior periods in 2022.

For the three months ended June 30, 2023, the Company had a net loss attributable to the Company's shareholders of $2.7 million, a decrease of $2.8 million or 51% over the comparable period in 2022 ($5.5 million). The Company reported a net loss per share of $0.07 for the second quarter of 2023, compared to a net loss per share of $0.14 for the second quarter of 2022.

For the six months ended June 30, 2023, the Company had a net loss attributable to the Company's shareholders of $9.1 million, a decrease of $0.6 million or 6% over the comparable period in 2022 ($9.7 million). The Company reported a net loss per share of $0.24 for the first six months of 2023, compared to a net loss per share of $0.25 for the same period in 2022.

CORPORATE DEVELOPMENTS

2023 AGM Voting Results

The Company held its Annual and Special General Meeting on June 16, 2023. The shareholders voted in all nominated directors, with favorable votes for each exceeding 99%. Dr. Luke Zhang continues as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer and Brian Palmieri continues as Vice Chairman of the Board.

Company Outlook

In recent quarters, one of the most critical items that management has focused on and continues to focus on is the development and implementation of plans to stem the losses that the Company has suffered in recent years and to ameliorate the Company's financial position. As a result of those sustained losses, the Company lacks the cash necessary to fully fund the business operations and its strategic product initiatives. The Company continues to manage its cash flows carefully to mitigate risk of insolvency. As a result of these efforts, management has been successful in improving the Company's cash flows. Nevertheless, without an infusion of cash in the months ahead, the Company may not be able to realize its strategic plans and could eventually cease to be a going concern.

To address that cash need, management has negotiated CAD $1 million revolving loan facilities with a third party for working capital purposes. In 2020, management also realized the sale of one of its two idle assets; the sale of the "Runhao" facility resulted in significant debt reduction and better positions the Company to be able to access additional lines of working capital. Management also continues to explore options for the sale or repurposing of its idle "Runyang" primary processing facility in Jiangsu province to further address its cash needs and/or balance sheet.

Another factor that continues to contribute to the Company's financial situation is the competitive price pressure in the stevia market over the last two years that has reduced mainstream "Reb A" products (such as Reb A 80 and Reb A 97) to the lowest price levels in years, although pricing has begun to rise (reflecting the increased cost of raw materials in the most recent harvest). Monk fruit prices have also become highly competitive in the marketplace. To maintain margins at sustainable levels, the Company has focused on improving its production efficiencies, continues to strive for a mix of products that is weighted more heavily on higher margin, specialty products, and has focused more on higher margin direct sales.

The Company's focus on maintaining positive cash flow led the Company to take decisive steps in 2021 and 2022 to reduce its SG&A costs as well as its production costs. Both its North American operations and Chinese operations have significantly reduced SG&A costs. For the last several years, the Company's production capacity has been far greater than its projected order levels as it had sought rapid increases in orders for Reb A products. The Company's aim continues to be to "right-size" its Chinese operations - i.e., to optimize its staffing and production planning to meet the Company's projected production requirements while retaining the ability to accommodate growth in future order volumes - and management made significant progress in this area and continues striving to optimize staffing and production plans. As a result, this has enabled the Company to sell its goods at more competitive and/or more profitable prices although the competitive price pressures remain strong.

The Company continues to explore options to significantly improve its balance sheet and cash flows, whether through restructuring of debt or other opportunities for infusions of cash to address the debt load. Having closed the idle asset sale in 2020 and having successfully implemented right-sizing efforts to manage costs, having entered into the joint venture, and continuing to optimize production efficiencies, costs, and planning, management is proceeding down the best available path to increased financial stability and improved profitability.

SELECTED FINANCIALS

As noted above, the complete set of financial statements and management discussion and analysis for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, are available on SEDAR and on the Company's website at www.glglifetech.com.

Results from Operations

The following results from operations have been derived from and should be read in conjunction with the Company's annual consolidated financial statements for 2022 and the condensed interim consolidated financial statements for the six-month period ended June 30, 2023.

3 Months Ended June 30 % Change 6 Months Ended June 30 % Change In thousands Canadian $, except per share amounts 2023 2022 2023 2022 Revenue $ 2,004 $ 2,771 (28) % $ 3,561 $ 5,514 (35) % Cost of Sales $ (1,355) $ (1,887) 28 % $ (2,518) $ (3,830) 34 % % of Revenue (68) % (68) % 0 % (71) % (69) % (1) % Gross Profit $ 650 $ 884 (26) % $ 1,043 $ 1,685 (38) % % of Revenue 32 % 32 % 1 % 29 % 31 % (1) % Expenses $ (1,020) $ (1,031) (1) % $ (2,052) $ (2,115) (3) % % of Revenue (51) % (37) % (14) % (58) % (38) % (20) % Loss from Operations $ (370) $ (147) (152) % $ (1,009) $ (430) (135) % % of Revenue (18) % (5) % (13) % (28) % (8) % (21) % Other Expenses $ (2,350) $ (5,335) 56 % $ (8,160) $ (9,336) 13 % % of Revenue (117) % (193) % 75 % (229) % (169) % (60) % Net Loss before Income Taxes $ (2,720) $ (5,482) 50 % $ (9,169) $ (9,766) 6 % % of Revenue (136) % (198) % 62 % (257) % (177) % (80) % Net Loss $ (2,720) $ (5,482) 50 % $ (9,169) $ (9,766) 6 % % of Revenue (136) % (198) % 62 % (257) % (177) % (80) % Net Loss Attributable to Non-Controlling Interest (NCI) $ (37) $ (32) (16) % $ (78) $ (64) (22) % Net Loss Attributable to GLG $ (2,683) $ (5,450) 51 % $ (9,091) $ (9,702) 6 % % of Revenue (134) % (197) % 63 % (255) % (176) % (79) % Net Loss per share (LPS, Basic & Diluted) $ (0.07) $ (0.14) 51 % $ (0.24) $ (0.25) 5 % Other Comprehensive Income $ 7,551 $ 1,758 330 % $ 7,529 $ 2,739 175 % % of Revenue 377 % 63 % 313 % 211 % 50 % 162 % Comprehensive Net Income (Loss) $ 4,831 $ (3,724) 230 % $ (1,640) $ (7,027) 77 % Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to NCI $ 51 $ (11) 564 % $ 6 $ (32) 119 % Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to GLG $ 4,780 $ (3,713) 229 % $ (1,646) $ (6,995) 76 % % of Revenue 239 % (134) % 373 % (46) % (127) % 81 %

Revenue

Revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2023, was $2.0 million compared to $2.8 million in revenue for the same period last year. Sales decreased by 28% or $0.8 million for the period ending June 30, 2023, compared to the prior period. The decrease in sales is primarily attributable to decreases in stevia sales both domestically in China and internationally, and to a lesser degree a decrease in monk fruit sales. International sales continue to predominate, making up over 99% of the Company's revenues in the second quarter of 2023 (91% in second quarter of 2022).

Revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2023, was $3.6 million compared to $5.5 million in revenue for the same period last year. Sales decreased by 35% or $2.0 million for the six months ending June 30, 2023, compared to the prior period. The sales decrease of $2.0 million was driven primarily by a decrease in international stevia and monk fruit sales, with an additional decrease in domestic (China) stevia sales contributing to the overall decrease. The decrease in stevia sales was driven in part by a temporary slow-down in orders in the first quarter from one of the Company's largest customers and the reduction in monk fruit sales and other stevia revenues was driven by increasingly competitive market pricing for these products. International sales made up over 99% of the Company's revenues in the first six months of 2023 (90% in the first six months of 2022).

Cost of Sales

For the quarter ended June 30, 2023, the cost of sales was $1.4 million compared to $1.9 million in cost of sales for the same period last year ($0.5 million or 28% decrease). Cost of sales as a percentage of revenues was 68% for the second quarters in both 2022 and 2023.

For the six months ended June 30, 2023, the cost of sales was $2.5 million compared to $3.8 million for the same period last year ($1.3 million or 34% decrease). Cost of sales as a percentage of revenues was 71% for the first six months of 2023, compared to 69% in the comparable period in 2022, an increase of 2 percentage points. The increase in cost of sales as a percentage of revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2023, compared to the prior comparable period, is primarily attributable to an increase in idle capacity charges.

Capacity charges charged to the cost of sales ordinarily would flow to inventory and are a significant component of the cost of sales. Only two of GLG's manufacturing facilities were operating during the first six months of 2023, and capacity charges of $0.4 million were charged to cost of sales (representing 16% of cost of sales) compared to $0.4 million charged to cost of sales in the same period of 2022 (representing 9% of cost of sales).

Gross Profit (Loss)

Gross profit for the three months ended June 30, 2023, was $0.6 million, compared to a gross profit of $0.9 million for the comparable period in 2022. The gross profit margin was 32% in the second quarters of both 2022 and 2023.

Gross profit for the six months ended June 30, 2023, was $1.0 million, compared to a gross profit of $1.7 million for the comparable period in 2022. The gross profit margin was 29% in the first six months of 2023 compared to 31% for the same period in 2022, a decrease of 2 percentage points. This 2 percentage point decrease in gross profit margin for the first six months of 2023, relative to the comparable period in 2022, is primarily attributable to an increase in idle capacity charges.

Selling, General and Administration Expenses

Selling, General and Administration ("SG&A") expenses include sales, marketing, general and administration costs ("G&A"), stock-based compensation, and depreciation and amortization expenses on G&A fixed assets. A breakdown of SG&A expenses into these components is presented below:

3 Months Ended June 30 % Change 6 Months Ended June 30 % Change In thousands Canadian $ 2023 2022 2023 2022 G&A Expenses $ 827 $ 863 (4) % $ 1,656 $ 1,676 (1) % Depreciation Expenses $ 193 $ 168 15 % $ 396 $ 439 (10) % Total $ 1,020 $ 1,031 (1) % $ 2,052 $ 2,115 (3) %

G&A expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2023, were $0.8 million, a decrease of $nil compared to $0.9 million in the same period in 2022. G&A-related depreciation and amortization expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2023, were $0.2 million compared with $0.2 million for the same quarter of 2022.

G&A expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2023, were $1.7 million, a decrease of $nil compared to $1.7 million in the same period in 2022. G&A-related depreciation and amortization expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2023, were $0.4 million compared with $0.4 million for the same period in 2022.

Net Loss Attributable to the Company

3 Months Ended June 30 % Change 6 Months Ended June 30 % Change In thousands Canadian $ 2023 2022 2023 2022 Net Loss $ (2,720) $ (5,482) 50 % $ (9,169) $ (9,766) 6 % Net Loss Attributable to NCI $ (37) $ (32) (16) % $ (78) $ (64) (22) % % of Revenue (2) % (1) % (1) % (2) % (1) % (1) % Net Loss Attributable to GLG $ (2,683) $ (5,450) 51 % $ (9,091) $ (9,702) 6 % % of Revenue (134) % (197) % 63 % (255) % (176) % (79) %

For the three months ended June 30, 2023, the Company had a net loss attributable to the Company of $2.7 million, a decrease in net loss of $2.8 million over the comparable period in 2022 (net loss of $5.5 million). The $2.8 million decrease in net loss attributable to the Company was driven by (1) a decrease in other expenses ($3.0 million), which was offset by (2) an increase in loss from operations ($0.2 million).

For the six months ended June 30, 2023, the Company had a net loss attributable to the Company of $9.1 million, a decrease in net loss of $0.6 million over the comparable period in 2022 (net loss of $9.7 million). The $0.6 million decrease in net loss attributable to the Company was driven by (1) a decrease in other expenses ($1.2 million), which was offset by (2) an increase in loss from operations ($0.6 million).

Quarterly Basic and Diluted Loss per Share

The basic and diluted net loss per share from operations was $0.07 for the three months ended June 30, 2023, compared with a basic and diluted net loss per share of $0.14 for the comparable period in 2022.

The basic and diluted net loss per share from operations was $0.24 for the six months ended June 30, 2023, compared with a basic and diluted net loss per share of $0.25 for the comparable period in 2022.

Additional Information

Additional information relating to the Company, including our Annual Information Form, is available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). Additional information relating to the Company is also available on our website (www.glglifetech.com).

For further information, please contact:

Simon Springett, Investor Relations

Phone: +1 (604) 669-2602 ext. 101

Fax: +1 (604) 662-8858

Email: ir@glglifetech.com

About GLG Life Tech Corporation

GLG Life Tech Corporation is a global leader in the supply of high-purity zero calorie natural sweeteners including stevia and monk fruit extracts used in food and beverages. GLG's vertically integrated operations, which incorporate our Fairness to Farmers program and emphasize sustainability throughout, cover each step in the stevia and monk fruit supply chains including non-GMO seed and seedling breeding, natural propagation, growth and harvest, proprietary extraction and refining, marketing and distribution of the finished products. Additionally, to further meet the varied needs of the food and beverage industry, GLG, through its Naturals+ product line, supplies a host of complementary ingredients reliably sourced through its supplier network in China. For further information, please visit www.glglifetech.com.

Forward-looking statements: This press release may contain certain information that may constitute "forward-looking statements" and "forward looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or words and phrases that state or indicate that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved.

While the Company has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations about future events, the statements are not guarantees of the Company's future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include amongst others the effects of general economic conditions, consumer demand for our products and new orders from our customers and distributors, changing foreign exchange rates and actions by government authorities, uncertainties associated with legal proceedings and negotiations, industry supply levels, competitive pricing pressures and misjudgments in the course of preparing forward-looking statements. Specific reference is made to the risks set forth under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form for the financial year ended December 31, 2022. In light of these factors, the forward-looking events discussed in this press release might not occur.

Further, although the Company has attempted to identify factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

As there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: GLG Life Tech Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/774112/GLG-Life-Tech-Corporation-Reports-2023-Second-Quarter-Financial-Results
chargeMOD (BPM Power Private Limited), a Calicut, India-based EV startup, raised a 2.5 Cr in pre-seed funding.

The round was led by Phoenix angels, a new Kerala based angel network formed by Shiraj Jacob , Joe Ranji and Harikrishnan V focusing on investing in Kerala startups.

The company intends to use the funds to focus on accelerating its product growth.

chargeMOD has developed EV charging points for home and commercial use and their mobile app enables users to find charging stations nearby. Their product focuses on providing solutions for EV owners on the go.

The company has executed projects in partnership with Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Murugappa Group, Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL), and many others.

The business has grown to manage over 2,000 chargers in their system and hold over 90% of the market share in Keralas EV charging ecosystem.

FinSMEs

14/08/2023
by Rafael Newman

Ive been visiting Ontario this month. Which is a wildly non-specific thing to say, since the province of Ontario, though only the second largest of Canadas constituent divisions, boasts a surface area greater than those of Germany and Ukraine combined. But while I would normally designate as my destination the city in Ontario in which I mean to stay during my annual visit to my home and native landas for instance Toronto, the provincial capital, where I went to high school and university; or Kingston, once Canadas Scottish-Gothic capital, where my brother has settled with his familythe particular reason for this years sojourn, which began with a brief visit to relatives in Montreal, was my nieces wedding, on August 12, celebrated at her fiances family home in Frankford, with guests put up in the towns surrounding that hamlet on the River Trent, in Hastings County, the second largest of Ontarios 22 upper-tier administrative divisions. Which all feels to me quite uncannily foreign, not to say unutterably vague. Hence simply: Ive been visiting Ontario this month.

Ontario at large, small-town Ontario, Ontario beyond the six, Toronto without its vast suburbs, so-called for its prestigious area code, feels foreign to me because it first came to my attention, when I was around eight years old, as a vast, unknowable hinterland, the beginning of Canada proper, somewhere to the west of the province of Quebec, whence my entire immediate family halesmore to the point, to the west of the city of Montreal, where I was born, and which seemed to me, in my early years, the only real place in the country: Montreal, with its distinctive rows of duplexes, its outdoor staircases, its smoked meat sandwiches, its bagels, its maple-sugar holidays and its antiquated French dialect. Ontario, generally, had no culture, no flavor, no flair; it was too Anglo, too American, too goyish.

But this very same Ontario is also uncannyknown and yet unknownbecause it was renowned (not to say notorious) during my youth as the site of certain signal family events, or episodes: for instance, the accidental death of Great-Uncle Hymie, my Aunt Mildreds husband, while attempting to reverse down the on-ramp of the 401 outside Cornwall, Ont., just west of the Quebec provincial line, and his sons tearful gratitude to my grandfather for that latters company on the trip to identify his fathers remains; or the time spent in Brockville, 100 km farther along the St Lawrence in what had once been Upper Canada, by my grandmother Eva Kornpointner, nee Strassner, of Switzerland, when she first arrived in Canada in the 1930s, a very young woman, to take up a position as au pair for a well-to-do Canadian family, before she met Franz, the Bavarian immigrant who was to become my grandfather.

The young couple settled, naturally, in Montreal, at the time Canadas premiere city and commercial capital. Toronto, a century-and-a-half younger and with far less European elan than its downstream counterpart, was, in a sense, barely on the map. In the intervening decades, the capital of Ontario has surpassed Montreal as Canadas largest city and developed its own plausibly cosmopolitan reputation; and it is the place I am most likely to name as my hometown these days. But I still have only the vaguest idea of the enormous province around (and mostly north of) it, composed of small towns, mines, and farmland; and so, to prepare myself for venturing into familiar but unknown territory, I decided I would turn to a canonical source.

In Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town (1912), a collection of twelve interconnected short stories, Stephen Leacock evokes a vision of provincial Ontario life that is at once familiar and estranged: just the right mixture to suit my purpose. Leacocks own biography nicely sums up the main strands in Canadian colonial life. Born in a village in the south of England, at the age of six he emigrated with his family to rural Ontario, studied at Upper Canada College and University College in Toronto, went on to graduate studies with Thorstein Veblen at the University of Chicago, and spent his academic career as chair of the Department of Economic and Political Science at McGill University in Montreal. This combinationEuropean immigration, rural and urban experience in the colonies, Canadian and American education, and a connection to what was to become the center of French culture in Canadais not only emblematic of the eastern Canadian colonial experience generally; it also mirrors my own experience. For I may not have attended the same Toronto high school Leacock had, almost a century earlierI went to the less elitist, though equally excellent, Jarvis Collegiate Institute, or JCIbut I did go on to be a member of University College at the University of Toronto, and to do graduate studies in the United States; and I am also the product of European immigration with a vital connection to francophone Canada.

Thats the familiar part; what estranges me from Leacock is his biographical Britishnessthe fact of his birth in Swanmore, Hants, in the UK, one of the few regions of the Old World, it seems, from which I cannot claim ancestryas well as his British imperialist politics, his lifelong adherence to Canadas version of the Tory party, and his chauvinism regarding non-British immigration to his adopted homeland, as well as a tiresome superiority complex towards the indigenous peoples of Canada. And of course, as celebrated in his Sunshine Sketches, Leacock also had an important connection to that same rural Ontario in which I have been traveling, and in which I feel strangely (not) at home.

Leacocks family had initially settled on a farm outside Toronto, and the fictional Mariposa of his stories is based on the town of Orillia, in Torontos cottage country, the area north of the city in which small lakes provide idyllic settings for country homes. Now, my family had a summer cottage as well, on a lake, built by my grandfather Franz; but our Lac Noir was located outside of Montreal, and thus within the orbit of the cosmopolitan French and assorted non-British European culture of that city, a Catholic and Jewish id to Ontarios Protestant superego.

As it happens, at JCI in 1980 we had been given one of Leacocks stories to read, in Mr Barkers Grade 13 English class. The Marine Excursion of the Knights of Pythias, a mock tragic account of a mishap on the imaginary Lake Wissanotti, was my first exposure to Mariposa, Leacocks version of his contemporary Prousts Combray, and the ancestor of Garrison Keillors Lake Wobegon, a place of wistful nostalgia for a simpler time. Mariposa is not a real town, Leacock writes in the preface to his book. On the contrary, it is about seventy or eighty of them. You may find them all the way from Lake Superior to the sea, with the same square streets and the same maple trees and the same churches and hotels. Leacocks Mariposa is a distillation of small-town Ontario, its quintessence and its sublation, as well as an ironic admission of failure in the face of trying to do anything so ridiculously easy as writing about a real place and real people. Mariposa is a celebration of a land of hope and sunshine where little towns spread their square streets and their trim maple trees beside placid lakes almost within the echo of the primeval forest If it fails in its portrayal of the scenes and the country that it depicts the fault lies rather with an art that is deficient than in an affection that is wanting. In his effort to represent truth by way of fiction, and thus to exalt the landscape of his own past, Leacock is aware that his composite portrait always runs the risk of falling short of the singularity of its subject.

But Mariposa is also kin to Seldwyla, Gottfried Kellers stand-in for 19th-century Zurich, as well as to Chelm, the setting for pre-Shoah Jewish jokes: sites of small-minded bigotry and legendary foolishness. In Leacocks case, the sting is taken out of the satire by his eccentric use of second-person narration, as if he were recounting anecdotes to a friend at the bar. (The contemporary comedy series Letterkenny, about a similarly fictional Ontario small town, uses the same conceit, with characters breaking the fourth wall to address viewers directly in a brief prologue to each episode, before re-emerging as figures in a scurrilous sketch of small-town life.) Leacocks townsfolk, who appear and reappear in a variety of constellations and with varying degrees of foregrounding throughout the collection, are figures emblematic of provincial life among colonial settlers at the turn of the 20th century: would-be speculators and scofflaw entrepreneurs; amateur archeologists and local historians; political operatives and frank opportunists; blowhards, bluffers, diehards and turncoats. (The clockwork alternation of Liberal and Conservative federal governments, whose election regularly reveals that everyone in town has secretly been a Grit or a Tory all along, or vice versa, depending on the outcome, continues in Canada to this day.)

There is Mr. Smith, the chancer from up north turned hotelier, flouting Ontarios puritanical restrictions on alcohol consumption with an eye to cementing his influence over the local pharisees; there is the barber, Jefferson Thorpe, whose windfall on the stock market, due more to simple mulishness than to acumen, makes him (briefly) a financial wizard in the eyes of his neighbors; there is Rural Dean Drone, incumbent of the Church of England Church and amateur Hellenist, who defends himself against Dr. Gallaghers deadening displays of Indian relics with off-puttingly incomprehensible recitations of Theocritus; and there are Peter Pupkin and Zena Pepperleigh, scions of two differently prestigious families, whose Fore-ordained Attachment runs the course of three consecutive sketches, and whose cross-caste romance (Zena is merely the local judges daughter, while Peter, although currently working as a lowly bank teller, is from real wealth in the city) reveals the system of distinctions at work even among the very top echelons of this society.

Peter Pupkin also plays a central role in the collections uncanniest story, in which I perceive a certain essential truth of Canadian colonial history, and of my own experience of it. When he is awakened one night, in his lodgings above the bank, by what he believes is a robbery in progress, but is in fact merely Gillis the night watchman making his rounds, Pupkin creeps down into the bank vault to intervenewith the result that both he and Gillis, each armed with a pistol and each believing the other to be the burglar, suffer superficial gunshot wounds. The Mariposa Bank Mystery goes unsolved, but Pupkin is exalted into the class of Napoleon Bonaparte and John Maynard and the Charge of the Light Brigade, awarded a raise, and given Zenas hand in marriage.

These fairy-tale trappings are enhanced in the sketchs close, in Leacocks characteristic second person: So Pupkin and Zena were in due course of time married, and went to live in one of the enchanted houses on the hillside in the newer part of the town, where you may find them to this day. The legendary quality of the romance suggests that there is something archetypal about the episode; and indeed, what I believe takes place in the vault of the Mariposa Bank is an ironized replay of a pivotal encounter between the two main groups of European settlers in Canada.

In September 1759, during the Seven Years War (AKA the French and Indian War), the French and British forces met in battle on the Plains of Abraham, outside Quebec City in what had been until that point New France. The conflict was decided by the British, who would go on to add New France, as Lower Canada, to their existing possessions up the Saint Lawrence in Upper Canada.

The Battle of the Plains of Abraham is, however, also renowned for the special pathos of the fact that its two enemy commanders, the Generals Wolfe, of the British, and Montcalm, of the French, both died of the wounds they had received during the brief engagement. And the combat has been notorious among separatist Quebecois as the moment at which their claim to mastery of that corner of the New World was challenged, and rebuked: the grounds of a sacred defeat, a wound cherished and relished, the site of a ressentiment-filled hope for a national rebirth akin to the Serbs attachment to Kosovo Field, where the Serbian Prince Lazar met the Ottoman Sultan Murad in 1389. (There too, both enemy commanders fell in battle, although the outcome was far less decisive than on the Plains of Abraham.)

Memory of the French defeat at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, as of the two-and-a-half centuries of French colonial history that preceded it, and the two centuries of subaltern existence that followed it, acquired especial significance in the nineteen-seventies, when the francophone majority population in the province of Quebec, under the stewardship of the Parti Quebecois, wrested political power from the anglophone minority and attempted, in a series of ultimately unsuccessful referenda, to secede from Canada. In 1978, Quebecs provincial motto, the anodyne La belle province (The beautiful province) was replaced with the more rhetorically charged Je me souviens (I remember), inscribed in topiary into the slopes around Quebec City, near the site of the battle, and prominent in the changing of the guard ceremony there. What preserves the nation of Quebec, formerly known as New France, in its belief in its own uniqueness in North America is thus a memory of usurpation, of having its sovereignty contested, and subordinated to another.

It is this memory that is lampooned, in Leacocks account of a romance sealed in the vault of a bank, where two claimants to the space confront one another, each believing the other to be the interloper. Because of course, in what was to become Canada in the early modern period, neither the French nor the British had an ancient, autochthonous claim to the land, which both European forces were in the process of taking from its indigenous inhabitants. There was thus no more natural or historical reason for the French to occupy New France, than for the British to seize it and rename it Lower Canada.

In The Prague Cemetery, Umberto Eco evolves a perverse theory of the emotions and assigns it to his antisemitic protagonist:

You always want someone to hate in order to feel justified in your own misery. Hatred is the true primordial passion. It is love thats abnormal. That is why Christ was killed: he spoke against nature. You dont love someone for your whole lifethat impossible hope is the source of adultery, matricide, betrayal of friends  But you can hate someone for your whole lifeprovided hes always there to keep your hatred alive. Hatred warms the heart.

In remarks at a public lecture, Eco sums up this transvaluation of all values in an ironic formulation: love is possessive and solipsistic, but hatred is generous and unifying, because while two people in love exclude the rest of the world, hatred has the power to bind an entire people together in their animus towards another people.

Leacocks staging of the union of Peter Pupkin and Zena Pepperleigh, with its roots in an act of mutual violence between pretenders to mastery of a subterranean store of value, prefigures this reversal, and serves as an uncanny allegory of the history of Canada: a place where a contest between equally unjustified colonizers of a valuable space, which actually belongs to another, repressed people, provides the ground for individual acts of attachment. Now, moving from Quebec to Ontario on my holiday visit this past week, I have recapitulated a historical journey: my own, when my family left Montreal for parts west in the early nineteen-seventies, and the greater colonial episode that grounded it, when mastery of the entire space moved from the French to the British, and gave rise to the mutual animus that has united the two settler peoples ever since, at the expense of the indigenous peoples their occupations have variously disadvantaged. And why did I make this return journey, across a terrain of conflict between two peoples, subtended by the subjugation of a third, all of whom now live together in tension? Why, to help celebrate a wedding!
CodeScene, a Malmo, Sweden-based Software as a Service (SaaS) company which specializes in Software Engineering Intelligence (SEI), raised 7.5M in funding.

The round was led by Neqst, with continued support from Luminar Ventures and Inventure.

The company intends to use the funds to to further enhance its technology, expand its customer base, and solidify its position as a leader in the Software Engineering Intelligence space, growing its presence in current top five markets USA, Germany, United Kingdom, Netherlands and India.

Led by CEO Hamdija Jusufagic, CodeScene CodeScene provides a SaaS platform that utilizes advanced patented algorithms and artificial intelligence to provide developers with actionable insights into their codebases. Its analyses are automatically adapted to each customer and the recommendations personalized by how their software organization works. The company collaborates with universities and scientists and through its patented algorithms and peer reviewed research its Code Health score offers a source code metric with a proven business impact.

CodeScene has users in over 75 countries.

This investment will help us increase

FinSMEs

14/08/2023
Jabbr, a Copenhagen, Denmark-based provider of computer-vision AI system designed for combat sports, raised USD750K in funding.

Backers included PreSeed Ventures, Accelerace, and angels.

The company intends to use the funds to expand operations and its development efforts.

Founded by Allan Svejstrup and Elias Obeid, Jabbr has developed technology to improve the UX of combat sports. The company has developed a computer vision AI system called DeepStrike, which can analyze the performance of athletes in fights and sparring sessions and instantly generate analytical statistics on 50 different parameters to help determine points of strengths and weaknesses in a fighters game. It also automatically generates individual highlight videos and can even convert the output of static cameras into something resembling a professional TV production.

The company expects to launch their public MVP during early September this year.

FinSMEs

14/08/2023
TYLin, a San Francisco, CA-based infrastructure consulting firm, acquired Architectural Engineers Collaborative (AEC), a structural engineering firm based in Austin, TX.

The amount of the deal was not disclosed.

With the acquisition, TYLin will expand capabilities for clients in Southern Region. As part of TYLin Group, AEC will be within the combined organizations Buildings Sector in the Americas. AEC Founding Principal Charles Naeve, PE, and his team will report directly to Nat Oppenheimer, PE, LEED AP, Leader of the TYLin Group Buildings Sector and Silman, a TYLin Company. AEC will maintain its current project types and operation, doing business as Architectural Engineers Collaborative, a TYLin Company.

Architectural Engineers Collaborative (AEC) was established in 1998 by experienced structural engineers with a mission to practice architectural engineering. Specialties include Architectural Structures, Engineering Innovation, Building Information Modeling (BIM), and Sustainability/Green Buildings/LEED. AEC projects include a wide range of building structures for commercial, hospitality, government, education, and technology clients. The firm also provides structural engineering for transportation facilities, with a portfolio that includes airport terminals, transit stations, and pedestrian bridges.

The firm has 35 employees operating in offices in Austin and San Antonio.

Led by CEO Matthew G. Cummings, TYLin is an infrastructure consulting firm committed to providing constructible designs for the global infrastructure market. With 3,200+ employees working in 65 offices throughout the Americas, Asia, and Europe, it offers support on projects of varying size and complexity. TYLin is a member of Dar Group, an architecture, engineering, project management, and energy consultancy groups.

FinSMEs

14/08/2023
Wadaie, a Saudi Arabia-based fintech company that provides a platform to connect depositors with banks, raised an undisclosed amount in Pre-Seed funding.

The round was led by RZM Investments, along with Bunat Ventures and other Saudi angel investors.

The company intends to use the funds to expand its base of savings and investment products, enhance trust in them, and facilitate easier access.

Founded in 2022 by Abdullah Alandas, Rayan Altuwayjiri, and Abdulrahman Alhawas, Wadaie offers a platform designed to connect depositors with all banks in Saudi Arabia, which aims to provide an enhanced experience for depositors, enabling them to earn returns on Shariah-compliant time deposits without needing to open new accounts at other banks.

FinSMEs

14/08/2023
Himachal Pradesh is witnessing heavy rains. Landslides erupted in the last 24 hours, closing many highways, including the main Shimla-Chandigarh Road, which was blocked to buses and lorries. On Sunday, a flood-like condition persisted in the Balh Valley in Himachal Pradeshs Mandi district due to heavy rain. According to authorities, many visitors are trapped due to the extreme situation.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) projected widespread light to moderate rainfall in numerous districts of the state, including Shimla. The local weather office has also issued a yellow alert for today (14 August).

Since the start of the monsoon in Himachal Pradesh on 24 June to 12 August, the hill state has sustained damages of Rs 7,020.28 crore, with 257 people killed in rain-related events and traffic accidents. We take a closer look.

Himachal Pradesh faces devastating monsoon

Himachal Pradesh has been the worst affected state in the country due to the floods and landslides with officials announcing a staggering loss of Rs 7020.28 crore due to the monsoons devastating impact on Sunday.

The monsoon season commenced in Himachal Pradesh on 24 June. According to the officials, the monsoons death count stands at 257 lives lost due to a range of causes.

Of the 257, 66 people lost their lives due to landslides and flash floods. 191 people lost their lives due to road accidents or other reasons. While 32 people are missing and 290 people have been injured, the officials informed.

Further, as per the official inputs, 1,376 houses have been damaged in the state while 7935 houses have been partially damaged so far in the monsoon havoc.

270 shops have been damaged amid monsoon and 2,727 cow sheds have been damaged, the officials said.

According to the official data, the state so far witnessed 90 landslides and 55 flash flood incidents. While still nearly 450 roads including two National Highways are closed in the state. 1814 electricity supply schemes are still Hampered and 59 water supply schemes are still disrupted, the officials informed.

Educational institutions shut amid heavy rains

Meanwhile, in view of the incessant rains, the Himachal Pradesh government on Sunday informed that all educational institutions in the state will remain closed on 14 August.

Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has taken this decision in view of the safety of the students due to heavy rains. On the orders of the chief minister, the education secretary has issued a notification to keep all government, private schools and colleges closed on 14 August.

Also Read: Seven killed in cloudburst in Himachals Solan, two houses washed away

The Chief Minister also took feedback from all the District Collectors (DC) about the damage caused due to heavy rains in the districts. He also got information about the closure of the road routes.

He also learned about the damage caused by landslides and damage to houses.

The CM has instructed the chief secretary, home secretary as well as all DCs to keep a close watch on the situation created due to heavy rains. The administrative staff should be alert and maintain smooth arrangements for roads, electricity and water, he said.

Also, the Department of Education of the state issued a notification informing that all the ongoing examinations of Post Graduate classes including B.Ed. exams scheduled on 14 August have been cancelled.

This is for the information of all concerned and worthy Principals of colleges affiliated and maintained by HP University that keeping in view the incessant rains and inclement weather conditions in Himachal Pradesh, the University has decided to cancel all the ongoing examinations of Post Graduate classes including B.Ed. exams scheduled on 14 August only, the notification stated.

Landslides threaten homes in Himachal Pradesh

Houses in many areas face threat due to the landslides and the Shimla Municipal Corporation on Sunday issued a notice for vacation as a major landslide in the Himland area has caused a threat to the houses nearby.

The landslides happened and the structure is loose and our preliminary observation is that it is not safe. Seven occupants are living here. We have issued an advisory to all seven occupants by way of notice serving to them and they have agreed and vacated. We have told them until the report for safety is not issued, this place is not safe to live, all have vacated, said Mahboob Sheiq, Architect Planner, Shimla Municipal Corporation.

A local resident said that they are feeling unsafe and are in a state of fear as India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted more rain in the region.

It is because of the structure problem, the water discharge was not proper, it happened at around quarter to 6 AM. We have vacated the houses, the people from the administration have come and offered temporary shelters so far we will manage with our own arrangement, KC Katoch, a local resident said.

However, several roads, which were earlier blocked due to landslides and other rain-related incidents, in Himachal Pradeshs Solan district, have been re-opened for traffic, the district authorities said.

Also Read: Why landslides are so frequent in the monsoon

The list includes major roads along the National Highway-05, National Highway-205 and also that are near National Highway-907A. On NH-05, around 11 roads have been cleared and opened for traffic. However, on some of them, only one lane has been opened for vehicular movement. This includes Parwanoo-Datyar road; Datyar-Chakimore road; Chakimore-Jabli road; and Jabli-Dharampur road.

Heavy rainfall alert

India Meteorological Centre in Himachal Pradesh has predicted that moderate to heavy rainfall is very likely to continue over the state.

According to the IMD statement, moderate to heavy rainfall at many places is very likely to continue over the state with very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places in the district of Chamba Kangra Hamirpur Mandi Bilaspur Solan Shimla Kullu and Sirmaur.

It further forecasted very heavy rainfall at many places and extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places in Beas, Ranjit Sagar and the Pong dam catchment area.

Heavy rainfall at many places with very heavy rainfall at isolated places in Sutlej catchment area, IMD said in the statement.

With inputs from ANI
Pakistan has a new prime minister, albeit a caretaker prime minister in Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar. A former senator and ex-Balochistan Awami Party member  he resigned earlier in the morning  Kakar was sworn in as the eighth interim prime minister of Pakistan at the Aiwan-i-Sadr in Islamabad.

Kakar, clad in a grey suit, was administered the oath by President Arif Alvi in a ceremony, which coincided with Pakistans Independence Day. The oath-taking ceremony was attended by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Asim Munir, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen Nadeem Raza and former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Kakar was named as interim prime minister on Saturday, following meetings between Sharif and former opposition leader Raja Riaz and several days of speculation about the probable choice for the post. In a statement issued on Sunday, Sharif had expressed confidence that Kakar would ensure fair elections. He said the trust reposed by all parties in Kakars name proves their proper choice as the upcoming caretaker PM is an educated person and a patriot.

Who is Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar?

As he takes control of Pakistans administration, lets take a closer look at who he is. Kakar (71) hails from the Qilla Saifullah area of Balochistan and is an ethnic Pashtun. He speaks fluent English, Persian, Balochi, Brahvi, and Urdu, as well as his native Pashto. According to the channel Geo News, Kakar studied in the city of Quetta and later went to London for his higher education, returning to Pakistan in 2005.

Interestingly, Kakar began his political career with the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) but left it after the end of the Nawaz government as a result of a military coup by the late General Pervez Musharraf in 1999.

Kakar was elected to the Senate in 2018 and has been a very active politician. He also served as the spokesperson of the Balochistan provincial government before his election to the upper house. Kakar also played a pivotal role in co-founding the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), a new political entity.

Multiple reports have stated that the 71-year-old is known for his close relationship with the military establishment.

In the Senate, Kakar has had multiple roles; he was the chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, he was a member of the Business Advisory Committee, Finance and Revenue, Foreign Affairs and Science and Technology.

Why was Kakar been named as interim PM?

Kakar being appointed as the caretaker PM comes after the dissolution of the National Assembly on 9 August. In Pakistan, once a governments term ends, a caretaker must be established to oversee the next general elections.

Kakars name for interim PM came as a surprise to many, as he is considered a relative unknown. A member of the outgoing ruling coalition told The Dawn that Kakars name came from somewhere else and it had to be accepted by all stakeholders. The politician was apparently referring to the powerful military establishment.

On his appointment, the party of former prime minister Imran Khan, who is currently in jail and barred from contesting elections for five years following his conviction for corruption in the Toshakhana case, expressed hope that Kakar would ensure free, fair and credible elections.

If there are questions over the credibility of elections, there will be no political stability, which is critical for economic certainty, former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who is currently leading Khans party, said in a TV interview.

What are the major challenges awaiting Kakar?

Simply put, the biggest challenge for Kakar as caretaker PM would be to hold elections on time.

The caretaker government, as per Pakistans constitution, must hold elections within 90 days. However, after the outgoing government approved a new census in its final days, new electoral boundaries must be drawn up by the Election Commission. This exercise in a country of 241 million people may take at least six months or more. Moreover, it may also involve litigation by candidates over the new formations of the constituencies, which could further push back the poll dates.

Economic stabilisation is another challenge; Pakistans economy is in the doldrums and was on the verge of a debt default before the International Monetary Fund bailed the nation out.

The ongoing political turmoil with the Imran Khan party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), is another matter that political pundits have flagged.

With inputs from agencies
Vivek Ramaswamy has emerged as one of Donald Trumps most outspoken advocates, which has some other Republicans scratching their heads, considering Ramaswamy and Trump are opponents in the 2024 primary contest.

However, Ramaswamys 2024 plan is unique among Republicans in that he is attempting to defeat Trump by supporting him, and he is faring better than expected.

Vivek Ramaswamy navigates Trump factor

Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy was more than 40 minutes into a town hall in rural Iowa when a woman in the crowd posed a pointed question. Or perhaps it was a suggestion.

I know you want to be president, she said. But would you consider being Trumps vice president?

The query drew light laughter from attendees and a lengthy response from Ramaswamy. (The short answer: No.)

It also highlighted the central challenge facing the wealthy entrepreneur, who has risen from little-known newcomer to as high as third in some Republican primary polls since joining the race nearly six months ago. While voters are increasingly interested in Ramaswamy, its former President Donald Trump who continues to be many conservatives favourite.

With the first Republican primary debate in just over a week and the leadoff Iowa caucus five months away, he is delicately working to convince more voters that he could be their nominee and  as much as he says he respects Trump  would be a better 2024 candidate and president.

The debate will be important, but I think also just continuing on the trajectory weve been on, Ramaswamy said after the town hall held in a cavernous welding company workshed in Vail, Iowa. He returns to Iowa on Saturday for the Iowa State Fair, a rite of passage for presidential candidates.

Ramaswamy described the months leading up to the first debate as just the pre-season.

So, were entering the regular season of this and Im coming in with a running start, he said. Thats the way I look at it.

Puts TRUTH at the forefront

Ramaswamy says his strategy heading into the debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is speak the truth, pointing to a banner emblazoned with the word TRUTH that serves as his backdrop and has become a campaign theme. The word  in all capital letters and a font and that resembles Trump campaign signage  is emblazoned on placards, T-shirts and stickers.

Ramaswamy says he and others cannot trust the government because the government doesnt tell the truth. It was what motivated him, he says, to travel to the courthouse where Trump was to appear on charges earlier this month to announce he is suing the Justice Department and seeking all records the department has with information about why Trump was indicted.

Also Read: Who is Vivek Ramaswamy, the 37-year-old Indian-origin CEO running for US president in 2024?

Though such a lawsuit is unlikely to be successful before any GOP primary votes are cast, it was a move that struck a balance between defending Trump and drawing positive attention to his own candidacy, at least among the Republican primary electorate.

Thats what this campaign is already all about, speaking the hard truths, the truth that you might speak at the dinner table, but you dont feel free to speak in public, Ramaswamy told the Iowa audience. If he is elected, he said, people will speak those truths again, such as God is real and reverse racism is racism.

Pitches Trump-like policies with optimism

Having just turned 38, Ramaswamy is the youngest person to be a major Republican presidential candidate. Born in Ohio to immigrant parents from India, he earned a biology degree from Harvard University and then finished Yale Law School.

He made his fortune after starting a biotech company, last year founded an asset management firm and is the author of several books, including Woke, Inc. His books helped Ramaswamy gain exposure in conservative circles, including on Fox News, as a critic of ESG, or looking not just at profit in investments, but also at environmental, social and governance issues, such as a companys policies on climate. He bemoans that the United States has become a place full of victims, and says the country has lost its purpose and its focus on faith, patriotism, hard work and family.

Also Read: Will we see a desi in the White House? The 3 Indian-Americans vying for 2024

On the stump, Ramaswamy is able to wax on issues ranging from digital currency to his stance on Israel, the US Constitution and the civil service rules regarding mass layoffs of federal employees  rules he says he understands better than any other candidate. He is proud of not needing a teleprompter, and his mix of policy specifics and smooth delivery has won over some voters.

Hes a great orator, he has a keen intellect and a lot of knowledge, said Margarite Goodenow, a retiree from Council Bluffs who said she is so far supporting Ramaswamy over Trump. She described the former president as too toxic  a position she held before he was indicted in multiple criminal cases  though Goodenow said she will support Trump if he is the nominee.

Ramaswamy says he can use his deep knowledge to accomplish what Trump couldnt and his other rivals wouldnt be able to  laying off 75 per cent of the federal bureaucracy in his first term, including 50 per cent in year one.

Some 20,000 members of the FBI would be let go as he dismantles the agency, he said. The remaining 15,000 frontline agents would go to work for what he says are more effective agencies, such as the US Marshals Service, to focus on crimes such as child sex trafficking. He also said that by 31 March, 2025, he would station the military along the US-Mexico border  positioned every half-mile  to protect against illegal immigration and drugs like fentanyl entering the country.

Those proposals all brought cheers during his recent Iowa stops.

Kelly and Amy Pieper were among the nearly 200 people  hailing from more than eight counties, according to organisers  who turned out for the Ramaswamy town hall in the northwest Iowa community of Vail, which has a population of fewer than 400. They liked that Ramaswamy would carry forward many of Trumps policies, but presents himself as more eloquent and optimistic.

He gives you a sense of hope, not all doom and gloom, Kelly Pieper said.

Its like hes got Trump ideals but is a more eloquent version. Not this crazy uncle talking, his wife, Amy Pieper, added. Thats what we need.

Not everyone is convinced he can pull it off, however, even if Iowa has been known to provide some surprises.

The question over surpassing Trump and DeSantis

For Republicans, Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum lodged an unexpected 2012 victory, though he later lost the GOP primary to Mitt Romney. On the Democratic side, it was then-Senator Barack Obama whose 2008 defeat of Hillary Clinton threw that nomination battle into question. And in 2020, Pete Buttigieg, whose highest office was mayor of South Bend, Indiana, finished atop the field alongside Senator Bernie Sanders. Joe Biden later won the nomination and defeated Trump.

That has set up the rare presidential race with a former office holder seeking reelection, making Trump a formidable opponent whose rallies attract thousands more people. Trumps closest challenger to be Republicans nominee so far is Florida governor Ron DeSantis, who has consistently polled a distant second, with Ramaswamy trailing.

Voters at the Ramaswamy events consistently said they were deciding between the two alternatives to Trump. But like the woman who intimated that Ramaswamy could be Trumps running mate, Andrew Grove has his doubts about whether the first-time candidate can pull it off.

His message is on spot. I just dont know if he has the support to take him over the top, over Trump and DeSantis, said Grove, 53. He added that DeSantis is a proven leader while Ramaswamy has not held public office.

Ramaswamy maintains that he is the only candidate in the GOP field who can deliver the landslide victory that the country needs in 2024  something akin to Ronald Reagans wipeout of his 1984 rival  rather than the kind of tight race the nation saw in 2020. He says he is attracting support from young people and new donors that older candidates are not. Of his roughly 70,000 individual donors, he says, 40 per cent of those making small-dollar contributions are giving to a Republican for the first time.

As for Trump, Ramaswamy responded to the question of being his running mate by speaking warmly of the former president. Ramaswamy was a hardcore supporter of the president in 2020, he said, adding that they talk from time to time, had dinner together a few years ago and that if he becomes president, Trump probably would be his most useful adviser and mentor.

But he says the America First movement belongs not just to Trump but to we the people. And he believes he can be more effective at accomplishing things Trump could not, saying a certain segment of the electorate automatically opposes Trump  through no fault of his own, he said.

Im not having that effect on people, Ramaswamy said.

He noted another key difference as he made his case to top the ticket.

Hes not the same person he was eight years ago, Ramaswamy said of Trump.

I hope certainly and pray that my best days are ahead of me. And I think we might just want a US president whose best days arent behind him.

With inputs from AP
As India celebrated its hard-won Independence from the British at the stroke of midnight on 14 August 1947, Mahatma Gandhi was not in New Delhi to join the festivities. In fact, Bapu, the most renowned face of Indias freedom struggle, did not observe the celebrations at all.

When Jawaharlal Nehru delivered his oft-quoted Tryst with destiny speech to the Indian Constituent Assembly in Parliament, Gandhi was away from this grand ceremony in Calcutta (now Kolkata) trying to douse the flames of communal fire stoked by Partition.

What did Mahatma Gandhi do when India rang its Independence from British rule on 15 August 1947? With India completing 76 years of Independence, lets return to the day in history when the free country was born.

Mahatma Gandhi in Calcutta

Gandhi, also revered as Father of the Nation, arrived in Calcutta on 9 August 1947. From there, he was to travel to Noakhali (now in Bangladesh), where he had vowed to shield the minority Hindu community when Partition happened and East Bengal became East Pakistan (current Bangladesh), according to Mahatmas great-grandson Tushar Gandhis piece for The Hindu.

A delegation of local Muslims met Gandhi and urged him to stay in Calcutta to protect Muslims. Bapu said he will stay and delay his travel on the condition that they guarantee the safety of the minority community in Noakhali. But if there is violence in Noakhali, he said he would undertake an unconditional fast unto death, as per The Hindu report.

Mahatma met Muslim League leader Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, the former premier of Bengal, who requested him to stay back citing concern for the safety of Muslims. In return, Suhrawardy promised Bapu to ensure the safety of the Hindus in Noakhali.

Hyderi Mansion (now converted into a museum and called Gandhi Bhawan) in Beliaghata was chosen as the place for the two leaders to stay as Gandhi wanted to reside in a predominantly Muslim neighbourhood, noted The Telegraph.

However, Bapus decision infuriated some young Hindus who protested his move. According to The Hindu, Gandhi told them, I am going to put myself under your protection. You are welcome to play the opposite role if you so choose. I have nearly reached the end of my lifes journey. I have not much farther to go. But let me tell you that if you again go mad, I will not be a living witness to it. I have given the same ultimatum to the Muslims of Noakhali, too; I have earned the right. Before there is another outbreak of Muslim madness in Noakhali, they will find me dead.

On the eve of 14 August, addressing a prayer meeting, Gandhi urged people to observe a 24-hour fast and pray for Indias well-being.

As per The Hindu, Hyderi Mansion came under attack after the prayers as some pelted stones from outside, shattering window glass panes. Bapu spoke to the mob and pacified them. He then called Suhrawardy who accepted responsibility for communal riots in Noakhali that took place between October-November 1946.

Suhrawardy, Bengals interim chief minister at the time, was accused of allowing violence against the Hindu minority in Noakhali to support the Muslim Leagues demand for Partition, reported The Wire.

Suhrawardys regret and acceptance of his role had a cleansing effect on the crowd, Tushar wrote for The Hindu article citing his great-grandfather.

As India gained freedom from British rule at midnight on 14-15 August, Gandhi was fast asleep after spinning his khadi yarn, as per the article.

Acharya Kripalani, Gandhis associate and former president of the Indian National Congress, was also in Calcutta and not in Delhi to usher in Independence, as per ThePrint.

ALSO READ: I-Day 2023: A look back at the gritty women who fought during the freedom struggle

Independence Day 1947

Gandhi spent Independence Day praying, holding a fast and spinning khadi.

According to The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, in a letter to his friend Agatha Harrison in London, Bapu said that my way of celebrating great events, such as todays, is to thank God for it and, therefore, to pray.

When the new Governor of West Bengal, C Rajagopalachari, congratulated Gandhi on the miracle he had wrought, apparently by stopping violence in the city, Gandhi replied that he could not be satisfied until Hindus and Muslims felt safe in one anothers company and returned to their own homes to live as before. Without that change of heart, there was likelihood of future deterioration in spite of the present enthusiasm, reported The Telegraph.

ALSO READ: How Indias freedom struggle influenced political movements across the world

Gandhi also had a message for ministers of the West Bengal government who visited him on 15 August and sought his blessings. He said, Today, you have worn on your heads a crown of thorns. The seat of power is a nasty thing. You have to remain ever wakeful on that seat. You have to be more truthful, more non-violent, more humble and more forbearing. You had been put to test during the British regime. But in a way it was no test at all. But now there will be no end to your being tested. Do not fall a prey to the lure of wealth. May God help you! You are there to serve the villages and the poor, The Telegraph reported citing Manu Gandhis book The Miracle of Calcutta.

With inputs from agencies
Will the 19th round of talks be the one that helps India and China find a resolution for the standoff at the Line of Actual Control? At least, thats what both sides are hoping for as they go in for discussions today, after the previous round of talks were held in April.

Notably, the 19th round of talks come just a week before Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinas Xi Jinping come face to face at the BRICS summit in South Africa, and the latters planned visit to India for the G20 Leaders Summit on 9 and 10 September.

What is the focus on the talks today? Who is leading the talks and where are they being held? Will the deliberations bear any fruit?

The who and where of the talks

The Indian and Chinese delegations will meet at Chushul today in an ongoing effort to resolve the standoff in eastern Ladakh. The Indian delegation will be led by 14 Corps Commander Lt Gen Rashim Bali. Officials from Ministry of External Affairs and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) are also expected to be part of the talks, reported news agency ANI.

On the other hand, the Chinese team is expected to be led by the commander of the South Xinjiang Military District.

The talks today (14 August) come after both sides had met at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the LAC in late April. However, it ended in a stalemate; the two sides didnt even agree on a joint press release, unlike the 16th and the 17th rounds of negotiations on 18 July 2022 and 20 December last year.

The MEA in a statement later had said, The two sides had a frank and in-depth discussion on the resolution of the relevant issues along the LAC in the Western Sector so as to restore peace and tranquility in the border areas, which will enable progress in bilateral relations.

Agenda of the talks

The Indian side, it has been learnt, will once again press for troop disengagement at the strategically located Depsang Plains as well as Demchok in eastern Ladakh during the 19th round of talks.

Since the talks began after the Galwan incident  the deadliest clash between India and China in 45 years  there has been disengagement from five friction points  at Galwan after the violent clash in June 2020, the north and south banks of Pangong Tso in February 2021, at Patrolling Point (PP) 17 in the Gogra-Hot Springs area in August 2021, and PP15 in September 2022.

Also read: The significance of disengagement at Hot Springs, Gogra Post in India-China conflict

However, the Depsang Plains and Demchok continue to be a sticking point between the two nations. For the unaware, the Depsang Plains is a 972 square kilometre area at over 16,400 feet that comes under Indias Sub Sector North (SSN). The SSN is sandwiched between the Siachen Glacier on one side and Chinese-controlled Aksai Chin on the other.

Depsang, which is flat in nature, provides for perfect movement of tanks, and hence both sides covet it. Moreover, the Depsang Plains are actually more of a defensive feature in nature.

One defence expert also explained that any threat to Depsang can mean the Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie (DS-DBO) road can also be threatened. The 255-km long road connects Leh to the Karakoram Pass. If the enemy cuts off the DBO, it makes Indias control over Karakoram pass untenable, the source told The Print.

India has long been demanding that Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) stop deliberately blocking Indian patrols in Depsang. Prior to April 2020, Indian patrols used the patrolling route, however, the PLA has now been craftily using a clause in the existing border agreements to block Indian patrols. The PLA stations a set of vehicles which block the designated patrolling route.

In the April round of talks, the Chinese, according to insiders, had demanded the creation of a 15-20km buffer zone inside India-claimed lines on the strategic Depsang Plains as a precondition for disengagement, refusing Indias offer of a 3-4 km demilitarised strip. A defence ministry official said India had rejected Chinas unjust demand and that negotiations were on to resolve the standoff.

Demchok is another friction point between the two countries. In Demchok while there are varying claims in the Charding La area, China has set up tents on this side of Charding nala.

Increased activity at LAC

Since the 2020 clash in Galwan, both sides have been ramping up activity and troops at the LAC. As per a PTI news report, Over 68,000 Army soldiers, around 90 tanks and other weapon systems were airlifted by the Indian Air Force to eastern Ladakh from across the country for rapid deployment along the LAC after the deadly clashes in the Galwan Valley.

Moreover, the Army has also enhanced its combat capabilities in the region. It has deployed a significant number of easily transportable M-777 ultra-light howitzers in mountainous regions along the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh. It has powered its units in Arunachal Pradesh with a sizeable number of US-manufactured all-terrain vehicles, 7.62MM Negev Light Machine Guns from Israel and various other lethal weapons.

The Indian side has also been giving a major push to infrastructure development along the nearly 3,500 km long LAC following the eastern Ladakh faceoff.

China too has been for the past three years consolidating its military positions in the region. It has not only deployed more forces and weaponry, but has also ramped up its infrastructure, building roads, bunkers and even setting up villages along the LAC.

Furthermore, the Chinese air bases such as Hotan, Kashgar, Gargunsa, Shigatse, Hoping, Lingzhi and Lhasa-Gonggar have also been upgraded with new and extended runways, and more features.

The Times of India has also reported that China is now also building seven to eight new airfields and heliports facing India.

China has also been flexing its muscles along the Sikkim-Arunachal Pradesh frontier, which led to a clash between the troops on 9 December last year at Yangtse in the Tawang sector. Beijing has also renamed 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh, a move that has been rejected by New Delhi.

Significance of the talks

The 19th round of talks in Chushul come just as Prime Minister Modi is to travel to Johannesburg for the BRICS summit where Chinas Xi Jinping is also expected. Interestingly, in 2017, when Indian and Chinese troops were in a border standoff at Doklam, the two sides had broken the two-and-half-month-old deadlock days before Modi and Xi were scheduled to meet for the BRICS summit in Xiamen (China).

Moreover, both sides would want a resolution to this issue, as it is now in its third year.

Security expert Lt Gen Sanjay Kulkarni (retired) was quoted as telling ANI that peace and tranquillity along the LAC is necessary if China wants good relations with India. I sincerely hope that the 19th round of talks are success, because only then can the bilateral relations between the two countries can improve.

With inputs from agencies
President Droupadi Murmu in her speech on the eve of Independence Day hailed the contribution of women freedom fighters.

On the eve of Independence Day, I join my fellow citizens in paying grateful tribute to the known and unknown freedom fighters whose sacrifices have made it possible for India to regain its rightful place in the comity of nations, Murmu said.

Great women freedom fighters like Matangini Hazra and Kanaklata Barua laid down their lives for Bharat-Mata, Murmu added.

But who was Barua, one of the youngest martyrs of the Quit India movement?

Lets take a closer look:

Early years

Kanaklata Barua was born on 22 December 1924 in Assams Barangabari village.

According to The Print, her parents were Krishna Kanta Barua and Korneswari Barua.

Baruas mother passed away at age five, as per the Feminism India website.

Her father remarried, but would pass away less than a decade later.

Now an orphan and in the third standard, Barua dropped out of school to take care of her siblings.

These developments came in the backdrop of the freedom struggle finding more and more backing in Assam  particularly among women.

Many of these women joined Shanti Bahini and the Mrityu Bahini.

While the members of the former worked peacefully, members of the latter group readied themselves to face death.

Barua initially wanted to join Netaji Subhas Chandra Boses Azad Hind Fauj.

However, her status as a minor excluded her from joining.

Barua then joined the Mrityu Bahini group.

Though the Mrityu Bahini had a similar policy of not allowing minors, Barua managed to persuade them to allow her to join and was even put in charge of the cadre.

She had joined the Mrityu Bahini just two days before the incident, Sheila Bora, retired professor of Dibrugarh University who has authored a monograph on Barua, told The Indian Express in 2020.

The squad strictly admitted members aged 18 and above but Kanaklata was an exception. She wanted to lead the procession and after much persuasion she was allowed to.

Quit India movement

On 20 September, 1942, Barua, aged just 17, led a group of 5,000 freedom fighters on a march towards Gohpur Police station.

Their aim? To hoist the Tricolour in support of the Quit India Movement.

Barua, being halted by the station-in-charge, told him she would do her duty and he should do his, as per The Print.

British forces at the station then opened indiscriminate fire on the group.

Barua, who was at the forefront of the procession, was shot dead at point-blank range.

She died with the Tricolour still in her hands.

Barua, despite being riddled with bullets, did not let go of the flag as she fell to the ground.

She did not want it to touch the ground. Another woman volunteer behind her  Mukunda Kakoty  came and held the flag, and she, too, was shot, Bora added.

Avinibesh Sharma of the website Vintage Assam told The Indian Express Barua captured the imagination of the public.

 It was also a time where you saw a lot of women coming to the fore, leading processions, patriotic fervour was at its peak  and Kanaklata was a product of this time, Sharma added.

According to The Print, the Indian Coast Guard in 2020 commissioned the ICGS Kanaklata Barua  a fast patrol vessel (FPV)  to honour the teenager who gave her life for the Quit India movement.

A previous FPV named after Barua was decommissioned in 2017 after two decades of service.

With inputs from agencies
China and Taiwan share strained ties and the stopover by Vice President William Lai Ching-te in New York is only angering Beijing further. Chinas foreign ministry on Sunday condemned the transit of Taiwans vice president and presidential candidate William Lai through the United States, calling him a troublemaker through and through.

Lai, who is also the front-runner to become Taiwans president in elections in January, arrived in New York on Saturday en route to Paraguay where he will attend the inauguration of Paraguayan president Santiago Pena on 15 August. Paraguay is Taiwans only diplomatic ally in South America.

Before returning to Taiwan, Lai will again pause in San Francisco on Wednesday.

Lais Big Apple visit

Vice President Lai Ching-te of Taiwan made his way to New York on Saturday where he met with members of the Taiwanese American community. In his address, Lai said Taiwan would not be afraid nor back down in the face of authoritarian threats and reiterated a willingness to talk to China.

Lai told a supporters lunch in New York on Sunday that if Taiwan is safe, the world is safe, if the Taiwan Strait is peaceful, then the world is peaceful, according to Taiwans presidential office.

No matter how great the threat of authoritarianism is to Taiwan, we absolutely will not be scared nor cower, we will uphold the values of democracy and freedom, he added.

He also visited the New York Mets home stadium during his layover.

For the unknown, Lai (63), a former doctor, has pressed for Taiwans aspirations for fully exercising sovereignty, and he has previously called himself a pragmatic worker for Taiwanese independence.

As per a New York Times report, his visit to the US and then Paraguay is also seeking to assure Taiwanese voters, and probably Washington, that he can be a steady pair of hands. In a brief statement at the airport before leaving, Lai said he would use his visit to Paraguay  one of only 13 states that retains formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan  to promote his island democracys global role.

Lai wants to reassure the United States and its allies, Lu Yeh-chung, a professor of diplomacy at National Chengchi University in Taipei told the New York Times. He wants everyone to know that he is not a troublemaker.

Interestingly, the Taiwanese leaders visit t Paraguay comes amid reports that China has paid outlets in Paraguay to spread negative reports about the visit, according to a release from Taiwans Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemning the action.

China sees red

However, Lais visit to New York has enraged Beijing, who views Taiwan as part of its territory. In fact, China has been pushing for unification with Taiwan and has stated that they will use any means necessary to realise their goals.

Just as Lai was taking off for his visit, China issued not one, but three condemnations. On Sunday, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman was quoted as saying, We firmly oppose any visit by Taiwan independence separatists to the US under whatever pretext, and we firmly oppose the US government having any form of official contact with the Taiwan region.

The spokesperson further stated, Lai Ching-te clings stubbornly to the separatist position for Taiwan independence. He is a troublemaker through and through.

We urge the US to stop all forms of official interaction with Taiwan, stop conniving at and supporting Taiwan independence separatist forces and their separatist activities and stop fudging and hollowing out the one-China principle, the ministrys statement concluded.

Later, the Chinese consulate in New York also criticised Lais visit and accused the US of using tricks to obscure and hollow out the one-China principle. The outrageous acts of flattering the US and betraying Taiwan and Taiwan compatriots will never succeed. Taiwan independence separatists will only find themselves disdained by all the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation and condemned by history, the consulate said.

In addition to condemning the visit, China has also deployed ships and planes near the island. On Monday, the Eastern Theatre Command of Chinas Peoples Liberation Army, which has responsibility for the area around Taiwan, showed pictures on its WeChat account of troops practicing storming a beach, though did not give the location, timing or specifically mention Taiwan. It said the soldiers guided armoured vehicles to the enemy frontline positions and launched a fierce attack.

Earlier too in April, when Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen visited the US and met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California, Beijing had carried out war games around the island.

Also read: China sends warships, aircraft near Taiwan after president meets with US House Speaker: Could tensions rise further?

In fact, in the past year, China has been increasingly edging closer to Taiwans territorial seas and skies, probing the islands vigilance and trying to wear down its military planes and ships.

An analysis of the movement of planes and ships have shown a rise following diplomatic visits.

Last year, China made more than 1,700 flights into Taiwans air defence identification zone, nearly double the number in 2021, according to Ben Lewis, a military analyst who maintains a data set on the flights using daily reports from Taiwans ministry of defence. In this year itself, Taiwan has recorded a 54 per cent spike in flights.

Hsiao-Huang Shu, from Taiwans Institute for National Defense and Security Research, believes its inevitable. The PLA is accustomed to using large-scale military operations during significant political events to convey political messages and express dissatisfaction with events such as visits by international friends, international expressions of support for Taiwan, and major US arms sales to Taiwan, he was quoted as telling ABC News.

Washington speaks

Though the United States severed formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1979, it has remained a close ally, selling billions of dollars worth of arms under the Taiwan Relations Act, which states that the US must provide the island with the means to defend itself.

Also read: How US and Taiwan are strengthening military ties amid rising China tensions

While it hasnt made an official statement on Lais visit, a senior administration official had earlier said: Beijing should not use as a pretext any transit by Vice President Lai for brazen coercion or other provocative activities (and) should not be a pretext for interference in Taiwans election either.

Daniel Russel, a former senior Asia hand in the Obama administration, also said that there was nothing new in Lais visit to the US. Every serious (Taiwan presidential) candidate in the past has come to the United States for kind of an informal base touch  there is nothing new, radical or different about this, he was quoted as telling The Politico.

With inputs from agencies
In a notable development, an IVF doctor at the prestigious AIIMS medical center in Delhi has been exonerated after facing allegations of improperly utilizing a patients eggs for fertilization procedures without obtaining proper consent.

The incident occurred six years ago, casting a shadow over the renowned institution. The medical fraternity was stunned when it was revealed that the doctor had implanted these eggs into two other women.

Subsequently, the Delhi Medical Council (DMC) had taken action against the doctor, temporarily suspending their medical license for a duration of one month, starting from August 10, 2022.

The repercussions of this incident resonated through the corridors of the medical community, sparking discussions about ethics and patient rights.

However, the tables turned on July 18 this year, when the National Medical Commission (NMC) reversed the DMCs verdict.

Following a thorough inquiry, the committee acknowledged the doctors laudable contributions to the field of reproductive medicine and recognized the intention to assist underprivileged women. While admitting the transgression of guidelines, the doctor was cautioned and permitted to resume their medical practice.

The origins of this case trace back to August 30, 2017, when the DMC received an anonymous complaint. The grievance alleged that Dr. Neeta Singh, an esteemed Gynecology Department Professor at AIIMS, had employed a staggering 14 eggs from a female patient seeking IVF treatment, utilizing them in the IVF procedures of two other women.

The crux of the issue lay in the fact that neither the egg donor nor the other doctor overseeing her care had granted their consent for this procedure.

This act, a violation of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines, raised questions about medical ethics and patient autonomy.

In response, the Disciplinary Committee of DMC promptly initiated proceedings, summoning statements from Dr. Neeta Singh and three other medical professionals, including the then Head of Department and the Embryologist of the IVF Unit.

Dr. Neeta Singh subsequently offered her response, defending her actions. She contended that the eggs utilization for the benefit of other patients had been communicated to the attending medical team treating the egg donor. Dr. Singh maintained that comprehensive records of this arrangement were diligently recorded in the institutional registers.

After due deliberation involving all stakeholders, the DMC committee acknowledged the breach of regulations while recognizing the doctors genuine intentions.

However, on September 19 of the previous year, the DMC handed down a decision, asserting that a mere admonishment was inadequate given the gravity of the situation. Consequently, the doctors medical license was suspended for a duration of one month.

Unperturbed by the disciplinary action, Dr. Neeta Singh appealed to the NMC on October 3, labelling the entire affair as politically motivated and an attempt to tarnish her professional reputation. In a turn of events in July of the present year, the NMC overturned the DMCs decision, concluding the case with a cautionary note to the doctor.
Chardham Yatra has been suspended for two days due to heavy rains in Uttarakhand.

In a notice, Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) said, Char Dham Yatra has been suspended temporarily on 14 and 15 August, 2023, after the weather department has issued red alert for several districts in the state.

The yatra has been suspended to avoid any untoward incidents and for the safety of pilgrims, the USDMA said.

Uttarakhand has been lashed by incessant rainfall. The state has been witnessing extremely heavy rain and thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and very intense to extremely intense spell is very likely to occur at isolated places in Dehradun, Pauri, Tehri, Nainital, Champawat and Udham Singh Nagar.

Water level of river Ganga rises

The water level of river Ganga in Uttarakhand's Rishikesh has also increased due to heavy rainfall in the region.

#WATCH | Rise in water level of river Ganga in Rishikesh due to heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand pic.twitter.com/ghdSjc6FVs  ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) August 14, 2023

Rivers including Ganga, Mandakini and Alaknanda are flowing above the danger mark in Rudraprayag, Devprayag and Shrinagar.

Also, landslides triggered by heavy rain have blocked several roads and national highways, leaving several tourists stranded.

Earlier on Monday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami took stock of the situation over the phone from the District Magistrates as heavy rains lash parts of the state.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami is taking stock of the situation over the phone from the District Magistrates as heavy rains lash parts of the state. Very heavy to extremely heavy rain/thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and very intense to extremely intense spell is very pic.twitter.com/pzK0kA573y  ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) August 14, 2023

Meanwhile, rescue operations in the areas affected in the state due to heavy rains since Sunday is being led by Manikant Mishra, Commandant SDRF.

The Uttarakhand SDRF rescued six people including a pregnant woman from a house that was submerged due to the overflowing Song river in the Raiwala area of the Dehradun district.

The pregnant woman was shifted to a local hospital.

With inputs from agencies
As the sun rises on the 15th of August, a colorful spectacle takes over the skies of India. The soaring kites of various shapes and hues mark the celebration of the nations hard-fought independence.

Kite flying has evolved into a cherished tradition, symbolizing not just the freedom attained in 1947, but also the unity and diversity that define India.

Kite flying holds a special place in the hearts of Indians, especially on the occasion of Independence Day.

The activity has deep historical roots, harking back to the pre-independence era when it was used as a form of protest against the British Raj.

In the modern context, it represents the nations triumphant struggle for freedom and the unity that binds its diverse populace.

On this day, people of all ages gather on rooftops, open fields, and public spaces across the country to fly kites with great enthusiasm.

The vibrant kites dotting the skies create a mesmerizing visual spectacle, reflecting the spirit of Indias diversity. The act of flying a kite symbolizes the soaring aspirations of the people and their unshakable determination to overcome any obstacle.

Moreover, kite flying fosters a sense of camaraderie and togetherness. Friends and families come together to compete in friendly kite-flying battles, showcasing the essence of unity in diversity.

The sky, adorned with kites of various shapes, sizes, and colours, resembles a canvas painted with the rich tapestry of Indian culture.

Kite flying is not just a recreational activity; its a way to pay homage to the struggles of the past and acknowledge the progress made.

Its a reminder that the countrys freedom was hard-won and should never be taken for granted.

In the grand mosaic of Indian celebrations, kite flying on the 15th of August holds a special place.

Beyond its visual splendor, it encapsulates the essence of freedom, unity, and diversity that define the nation. As kites take flight, they carry with them the hopes and dreams of a nation that continues to strive for progress and prosperity, united by the legacy of its struggle for independence.
A day after Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said that the BJP and the JJP are parties of demons and those who vote for and support the BJP are evil in nature, the BJP on Monday called out the arrogance of the Congress and said that the party which abuses the position of Prime Minister and democratic institutions is now abusing the voters of the country.

Congress has crossed all its limits. Randeep Surjewala, who calls Afzal Guru as Afzal guru ji and his party members calls Osama as Osama ji, has started abusing Indian voters now. Congress party says on foreign land that democracy has died and Bharat Mata has been murdered. Now, Randeep Surjewala has said that voters who vote have the nature of demons, said BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala.

#WATCH | BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala says, Congress has crossed all its limits. Randeep Surjewala, who calls Afzal Guru as Afzal guru ji and his party members calls Osama as Osama ji, has started abusing Indian voters now. Congress party says on foreign land that https://t.co/INpUOR3U5s pic.twitter.com/swQTNesfN1  ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2023

He said that the Congress leader has called at least 23 crore people of the country who vote for the BJP demons.

Citizens are a form of god in democracy, but Congress is calling them demons. This shows that Congress is living in which arrogance, they abuse the position of PM, OBC, democratic institutions, and now they have abused the citizens, he added.

Addressing a gathering in Haryanas Kaithal on Sunday as part of the partys Jan Akrosh Pradarshan programme, Surjewala said that the BJP and the JJP are parties of demons and those who vote for and support the BJP are also evil in nature.

Today, on this land of the Mahabharata, I curse them (BJP-JJP), he said.

Reacting to Surjewalas statement, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said that only a person born into a family of raakshas (demons) tendency can think of using such indecent language.

#WATCH | Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar reacts on Congress MP Randeep Surjewalas statement; says, Only a person born into a family of raakshas (demons) tendency can think of using such indecent language. I think this is unparliamentary language. We will definitely take https://t.co/INpUOR3U5s pic.twitter.com/4NApF7hyc0  ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2023

I think this is unparliamentary language. We will definitely take cognisance of this, said the Chief Minister.

Surjewala also attacked the BJP-JJP dispensation over alleged discrepancies in the data collected for the Haryana governments flagship scheme of issuing property identity cards.

It has adversely affected the lives of people living in 88 cities of the state, he said.

Surjewala also took on the Manohar Lal Khattar government over unemployment and the terms and conditions of the Common Eligibility Test (CET).

The event was also attended by Choudhary. Selja, the partys Chhattisgarh in-charge, did not attend the programme as she was taking part in an event in the Congress-governed state.

Surjewala also raised farmers issues and the losses suffered by them due to the recent floods.

Selja, Choudhary and he himself will raise the farmers voice, he said.

Surjewala then switched gears and launched a veiled dig at Hooda.

Congress mein aise log bhi hai jo kewal pad maang rahe hai  Hum pad maangne ki ladai nahi lad rahe, hum aapke dukh aur takleef ko harane ki ladai lad rahe hai (In the Congress, there are people who only seek posts. We are not fighting a battle for posts, we are fighting so that people get succour), he said.

This is the difference between them and us, he said.

Surjewala, Selja and Choudhary have been in recent weeks been holding programmes in different parts of the state ahead of the Lok Sabha polls next year and the assembly elections due later in 2024.

Hooda, the Leader of Opposition in the Haryana Assembly, and these leaders have not been seen in each others events in recent months.

With inputs from agencies
A priest in Rajasthans Nagaur district was allegedly tortured and murdered by miscreant. Police said the seers body was found with hands and legs tied with ropes and mouth gaged in his ashram.

Reports mentioned police saying that as per preliminary investigation, the priest, identified as 72-year-old Maharaj Mohandas, was tortured by two men who later killed him.

The villagers on Monday morning visited his ashram located in Rasal village under Kuchaman police station and found him lying dead on the floor. They informed the police after which the forensics team and dog squad was called.

There were signs of struggle on the priests body, reports said.

Kuchaman City SHO Suresh Kumar said the priest, who had been living in the Rasal village for the last 15 years, was living alone. After talking to villagers on Sunday evftening, he had gone to sleep in his room and on Monday, the locals found him lying dead.

The senior police officer further said his body was found with his hands, legs and mouth tied, raising suspicion of murder.

We have registered a case of murder and investigation is being carried out, Kumar added.

The police said the post-mortem is being conducted after which the body will be handed over to the family members who live in the same village.

BJP slams Ashok Gehlot

The BJP slammed Congress leader Ashok Gehlot-led government and said Rajasthan, under his governance, has become a complete lawless state.

I condemn the killing of Hindu priest. There appears to be lawlessness prevailing in Rajasthan. There is a chaotic situation in the state. Fear of law has disappeared from Rajasthan. Criminals have become fearless, this is why one after the other heinous crimes are being committed. This is the reason why, rape, murder, robbery and other criminal activities keep surfacing from the state, Union Minister Prahlad Joshi said.

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who was elected to Parliament from the state, also attacked Ashok Gehlot and said his government is ignoring security of people.

Heartbroken by the heinous killing of Sant Mohandas in his ashram in Kuchaman. In the jungle raj of Congress, sages and saints have become a constant target of criminals. It is seen that the state government is ignoring their security. Justice will be served to the priest only when his killers are caught, Shekhawat said.

With inputs from agencies
Independence Day is set to be celebrated in the country with pomp and show. Preparations for the occasion, which falls on 15 August, start well ahead of its time. All over the country, especially in Delhi, major government buildings are illuminated with lights. To promote this day, publications and broadcast networks organise special contests, programs, and articles. Additionally, the President delivers an address to the nation on the eve of Independence Day.

On the morning of 15 August, the Prime Minister of India hoists the national flag. Along with this, the event is commemorated by remembering the sacrifices made by the people, soldiers and freedom fighters alike in setting the nation free from colonial rule. The moment ignites patriotism and bravery in citizens.

Check out some wishes, quotes and messages to forward to your friends and family as India celebrates its Independence Day.

Independence Day Wishes

 Happy Independence Day! On this day, lets remember our brave heroes and freedom fighters who fought heroically for our freedom.

 Feeling immensely proud of our country today. As a nation, we set the right example for building bridges and breaking down barriers. Happy Independence Day!

 Together, we can fight enemies whilst strengthening bonds. On this day, lets come together as one nation, united in our love for our country. Happy Independence Day!

 Happy Independence Day! Today, lets celebrate the power of freedom and let our dreams soar high.

 Happy Independence Day! May this day of freedom fill your hearts with happiness and thankfulness.

Independence Day Quotes

 Freedom is never dear at any price. It is the breath of life. What would a man not pay for living?  Mahatma Gandhi.

 Dushman ki goliyon ka hum samna karenge, Azad hee rahein hain, Azad hee rahenge  Chandra Shekhar Azad

 Khoon se khelenge Holi gar Vatan mushkil main hai  Ashfaqullah Khan

 So long as you do not achieve social liberty, whatever freedom is provided by the law is of now avail to you- BR Ambedkar

 Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it  Bal Gangadhar Tilak

Independence Day Messages

Today, we celebrate the past while honoring the present, and we gradually march towards a promising future.

 Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high, where knowledge is free Keeping this excerpt from Rabindranath Tagores poem in our minds, may the spirit of freedom inspire us to stand up for whats right forever.

 Freedom of mind is the real freedom, said Dr. BR Ambedkar, the Father of the Indian Constitution. Keeping his words in mind today, lets celebrate diversity, knowing it makes us stronger and unique.

Mahatma Gandhi, said Karo ya maro, or Do or Die. These words should inspire us today to act, not just say. It is testament to the fact that in the realm of freedom, ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things, if they keep their eyes on the target.

-Today and forever, may the flame of liberty always burn brightly, leading us to a better future for everyone.
A day after he was seen waving the national flag at his J&Ks Sopore residence ahead of Independence Day in a viral video, Rayees Mattoo, the brother of Hizbul terrorist Javed Mattoo, on Monday said that he waved the Tiranga from his heart and there was no pressure from anyone.

Saare jahaan se achha Hindustan hamara, hum bulbule hain iske ye gulistan hamara. There is development. For the first time I am sitting at my shop on 14 August, it used to be shut for 2-3 days. The previous political parties were playing games, said Mattoo.

#WATCH | Rayees Mattoo says, I waved the Tiranga from my heart. There was no pressure from anyoneSaare jahaan se achha Hindustan hamara, hum bulbule hain iske ye gulistan hamara. There is development. For the first time I am sitting at my shop on 14th August, it used to be https://t.co/rWOfMLbTOg pic.twitter.com/hF1yx0P4vI  ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2023

Talking about his brother, he said that he became a terrorist in 2009 and there is no news about him since then.

If he is alive, I urge him to come backThe situation has changed, Pakistan cant do anythingHum Hindustani theyy, hain aur rahenge, added Mattoo.

Ahead of Independence Day, Mattoo was seen hoisting the national flag at his residence in Jammu and Kashmirs Sopore after Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to take part in the Har Ghar Tiranga movement between 13 to 15 August.

A video showed Mattoo waving the Tricolour from the window of his house.

Javid Mattoo, also known as Faisal/Saqib/Musaib, is an active terrorist associated with the Hizbul Mujhaideen terror outfit. He was among the top 10 targets in the Valley on the list of security agencies.

Meanwhile, the family of other Hizbul terrorist Mudassir Hussain also hoisted the national flag at home in Jammu and Kashmirs Kishtwar district on Sunday.

My son has taken the wrong path, Hussains father Tariq said in the remote Dachhan area of the hilly district, adding: We request the government to find him.

We hoisted the national flag on our home and want every household to hoist the tricolour, he said.

Hussains mother said she wanted him to return and surrender before the security forces.

We tried our best to know his whereabouts but failed. The Army should find him for us as we want him to return, she added.

One of the most wanted terrorists in the Union territory, Hussain carries a reward of Rs 20 lakh on his head, according to police.

With inputs from agencies
Independence Day 2023: Already a regional giant, India is progressing towards becoming a major global power with significant influence on world events. Projecting this image and attaining many of its goals depend heavily on our foreign policy.

Two factors  domestic and international  influence the foreign policy of India or any other nation. The goals and guiding principles of Indias foreign policy have been significantly influenced by the countrys history, culture, geography, and economics.

The Cold War rivalry between NATO and the Warsaw Pact, the establishment of the UN, the arms race, particularly the nuclear arms race, anti-colonialism and anti-imperialism, etc., are all examples of the international element.

Many experts have cited the 3 Ss as the best way to summarise the goals of Indian foreign policy: Space for Strategic Autonomy, Stability  Both Within and in the Neighbourhood, and Strength  Economic, Military, and Soft Power to Protect and Advance Indian Interests.

It is debatable to what degree Indian foreign policy has succeeded in reaching these goals. But it is evident that foreign policy is essential to ensuring that India meets its national objectives now and in the future.

Lets look at the various periods in the evolution of our foreign policy and the underlying factors that have shaped it.

Indias first prime minister after gaining independence was Jawaharlal Nehru. He was not only the Prime Minister, but also the Foreign Minister. He had a long-lasting impact on Indian foreign policy as a persistent idealist with a socialist and Gandhian philosophy.

The ideas themselves were influenced by both the national movement and the times predominate progressive ideals. The foundation of the nations foreign policy at the time was non-alignment. Through the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM), India rose to the top of the list of third-world countries.

Staying out of the Cold War block struggle between the USSR and US government was the key priority. Merit, not impartiality, was to be the criterion for making decisions. The five tenets of Panchsheel served as the guiding ideals of this period.

India supported efforts to decolonize the nation and condemned apartheid vehemently. We also underlined the importance of disarmament and peacekeeping. Our involvement in the Korean War served as a glaring example of this. Moreover, we supported the Partial Test Ban Treaty.

Afro-Asian solidarity at the Bandung Conference, inclusive and equitable development, and multilateralism through the UN, Commonwealth, and other institutions were also highlighted. India is respected by its neighbours and even by developed western nations because of its idealistic viewpoint.

Among the rising nations that had just gained their independence, India was seen as the clear frontrunner. Idealism had its limits, though. The USA saw non-alignment as immoral.

The US and the UK intervened when India brought the Kashmir conflict before the UN, further complicating matters.

The Sino-Indian War of 1962, in which China, a nation India had supported fervently since 1949, essentially turned its back on us and attacked, was perhaps the cruellest blow.

After the Sino-Indian War and the death of Nehru, India got a new prime minister in Lal Bahadur Shastri, who came up with tough and effective leadership when Pakistan imposed the 1965 war on India.

In addition to this, the US had imposed food sanctions on India for opposing the US attack on Vietnam.

The Indian leadership also realized during this period that the world operates on realism, not idealism.

Indira Gandhi became the prime minister after Shastris mysterious death during the Tashkent summit. The difficulties India faced during this period also presented a number of internal opportunities. The Sino-Indian War led to the urgently required modernization of the Indian military.

The US sanctions gave the Green Revolution the push it needed to grow enough food. The Indo-Pak War of 1965 also aided Indias future by encouraging strategic thought. For many years, the turbulent years formed the basis for the shift in Indian foreign policy.

By 1971, Indira Gandhi had cemented her position as the undisputed leader of Indian politics. Her rule was characterised by centralization, authoritarianism, and courage in the face of hardship.

For the first time, Indian foreign policy recognised the importance of power. India kind of went back to its Kautilyan roots.

The 1971 Indo-Pak War, which resulted in the creation of Bangladesh, served as a powerful example of Indias military might and diplomatic abilities. By agreeing to a friendship pact with the USSR, we were able to withstand pressure from the USA.

After carrying out its initial nuclear test in 1974, India abandoned the Non-Proliferation Treaty due to its unfairness.

During this time, non-alignment slowly deteriorated as India became closer to the Soviet Union. Additionally, socialist policies were strengthened, including nationalising banks and implementing harsher licencing standards. The economy was ignored throughout, and in 1991 it bit us in the rear end.

Early in the 1990s, Indias performance was not great. A foreign exchange crisis had been caused by the economys bad management. Mutinies occurred at that period in the North East, Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir, respectively. Our biggest friend on the international stage, the Soviet Union, quickly disintegrated, leaving us friendless.

The crisis also brought forth certain logical adjustments in the economy and foreign policy. It was decided to implement a new economic strategy that prioritised globalisation, privatisation, and liberalisation.

We reached out to the US and highlighted the importance of forging tighter connections. The strong success of the Indian economy, which masked internal political weakness, set in motion the next crucial phase of Foreign Policy.

In order to herald in a new age of foreign policy, India carried out its second nuclear test in Pokhran (1998). The first test and the reaction to it were cautious, but the second test clearly demonstrated that India had developed into a nuclear-armed state.

Although the US initially reacted negatively to the sanctions, it soon became apparent that democratic India, with its populace and quickly growing economy, could eventually be an ally. The Talbott-Jaswant Singh talks were triggered by this, and they significantly improved relations between the US and India.

At this point, the Indian economy was growing at a rate of about 8% per year. The middle class expanded, and the IT revolution was witnessed. Indias soft power grew as a result of its solid economy and reputation as a democracy. The strong US linkages were strengthened by the Look East Policy and improved ties with China.

The Civil Nuclear Agreement, which was concluded by the US and India in 2008, was a huge win for India. The USs prosperous Indian diaspora played a role in the two countries closer relations.

Despite accusations that Indias foreign policy placed an excessive amount of emphasis on the now-outdated Non-Alignment concept, strategic autonomy has remained a key factor in directing the countrys foreign policy.

Following the 2014 general elections, Narendra Modi, who is regarded as Indias most powerful Prime Minister since Indira Gandhi, gained notoriety. With this change in leadership came a shift in foreign policy that was in line with Indias impact on the world order.

The present foreign policy of India is based on Enlightened National Interest, which is effectively National Interest Plus.

It is based on Aristotles idea of Enlightened Self Interest, which states that individuals who act in ways that enhance the interests of others (or the interests of the organisation or groups to which they belong) do so at the expense of their own interests in the long run.

Enlightened national interest prioritises a shared future vision for everyone over narrow national interest. It follows the Vasudaiva Kudumbakam philosophy, which is common in India.

It modifies the Gujral Doctrine of the 1990s by emphasising soft power and neighbourhood first. The cautious approach employed during Non-Alignment has been replaced with a bold multi-alignment with important countries while yet preserving our strategic autonomy.

At initially, there was a greater willingness to communicate with Pakistan, but the nations attitude towards supporting terrorism has led to a standstill.
Independence Day or Swatantrata Diwas is observed annually on 15 August and is a national holiday in India. In 1947, on the same day, the country gained freedom from British colonisation after nearly 200 years. The day is observed with deep pride as it commemorates the heroic sacrifices made by several thousand freedom fighters and civilians alike.

Independence Day celebrates the sacrifices made by the nations freedom fighters in the struggle against colonialism. People remember the struggles that came with their freedom and vow to protect their countrys hard-won independence.

Independence Day: History

At the Battle of Plassey in 1757, the British defeated the last Nawab of Bengal. A century later, in 1857, the First War of Independence, referred to as the Revolt of 1857, resulted in a major but unsuccessful uprising against British rule. Indias first political party, the Indian National Congress was founded in 1885. Indian activists joined the chorus for self-rule after World War I ended in 1918.

Eleven years later, the Indian Parliament demanded Purna Swaraj or Independence at a meeting in Lahore in 1929. It was followed by the Civil Disobedience Movement and other mass protests against colonial rule. But, it was a tough fight before the British gave in to the demand for Indias freedom.

Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel and Subhas Chandra Bose were among the prominent freedom fighters who fiercely opposed British rule. Gandhi advocated non-violent and non-cooperation strategies to tackle colonial oppression. In 1947, the British agreed to leave India. The decision came with a tragic consequence- the Partition. India gained freedom on 15 August 1947.

Independence Day: Significance

The day celebrates the unfailing spirit of brotherhood and patriotism while marking peoples unflinching efforts for the cause of independence. It was due to their efforts that the British Empire retreated ultimately.

Independence Day: Celebration

The celebrations of Independence Day start in advance. Major government buildings are illuminated with lights. The Indian tricolor flies high over homes and other institutions. The Indian public service broadcaster Doordarshan broadcasts films based on Indian freedom fighters lives on television. Additionally, the President delivers an address to the nation on the eve of Independence Day.

On the occasion, the Prime Minister of India raises the Indian flag and delivers a speech at the Red Fort in Old Delhi. Schools and organisations across the country mark the day with flag-hoisting ceremonies and cultural programs. Being a national holiday, many people spend the day with family and friends. After listening to the PMs speech in the morning, they enjoy the day with a picnic in the park. They also attend patriotic movies released theatrically or have lunch or dinner at home or in a restaurant.
In an increasingly interconnected world, international cooperation has become paramount for addressing complex global challenges. India, with its rich history and diverse culture, has played a pivotal role in shaping and nurturing various major global groups and alliances. These collaborations span across economic, political, and security domains, reflecting Indias commitment to fostering international partnerships for mutual growth and development.

BRICS  Building Economic Powerhouses

The BRICS alliance comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Established in 2006, its objective is to promote economic growth, sustainable development, and global stability. Representing over 40 per cent of the worlds population, these emerging economies work together to drive economic growth, improve living standards, and reform international financial institutions. With its vibrant economy and large consumer base, Indias active participation enhances BRICS collective bargaining power and amplifies its role on the global stage.

G20  Steering Global Economic Governance

The Group of Twenty (G20) consists of 19 major economies and the European Union, with India being a crucial member. Founded in 1999, G20 meetings bring together leaders and policymakers to discuss and coordinate international economic policies. Its primary goal is to stabilise the global economy, promote sustainable development, and address pressing issues like financial regulation and climate change. Indias involvement ensures that its concerns and perspectives are considered in shaping global economic policies.

SCO  Enhancing Regional Security

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance comprising eight member states, including India. Formed in 2001, it aims to combat terrorism, separatism, and extremism while fostering regional stability and cooperation. As an SCO member, India collaborates with its neighbors to address common security challenges and promote stability in Central Asia and beyond.

Quad  Forging Indo-Pacific Security and Prosperity

The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, commonly known as the Quad, is an informal strategic forum comprising the United States, Japan, India, and Australia. Established in 2007, the Quad seeks to promote a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region by fostering security cooperation, economic development, and democratic values. Indias participation in the Quad highlights its growing strategic role in the Indo-Pacific and its commitment to upholding a rules-based international order.

ASEAN  Strengthening East Asian Ties

Indias Act East policy aligns with its membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regional forum. Founded in 1967, ASEAN seeks to enhance political and economic cooperation among its ten member states, promoting regional stability, economic growth, and cultural exchange. Indias participation in ASEAN reflects its commitment to deepening engagement with East Asia and fostering strategic partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region.

SAARC  Strengthening South Asian Cooperation

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is an organisation comprising Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Founded in 1985, SAARC aims to promote regional cooperation in various fields, including trade, development, and cultural exchange. Indias involvement in SAARC emphasizes its commitment to fostering stability and development in South Asia.

IOR-ARC  Fostering Indian Ocean Cooperation

The Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) includes 22 member states that border the Indian Ocean. Established in 1997, the organization aims to promote sustainable economic growth, trade, and maritime security in the Indian Ocean region. Indias membership underscores its strategic interest in the Indian Ocean and its commitment to safeguarding maritime interests in the face of evolving geopolitical dynamics.

BIMSTEC  Bridging South and Southeast Asia

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) brings together Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Founded in 1997, BIMSTEC aims to enhance regional cooperation in sectors such as trade, investment, energy, technology, and counterterrorism. Indias active involvement in BIMSTEC underscores its efforts to strengthen ties with its immediate neighbors and promote regional connectivity.

RIC  Facilitating Multilateral Dialogue

The RIC group comprises Russia, India, and China, representing three major Asian powers. Initiated in the late 1990s, RIC discussions revolve around international and regional issues, promoting trilateral cooperation on a wide range of subjects such as security, trade, and global governance. Indias participation in the RIC underscores its pursuit of constructive dialogue and cooperation with fellow Asian giants.

G4  Advocating for UN Security Council Reform

The Group of Four (G4) consists of India, Brazil, Germany, and Japan. Formed in 2004, the G4 advocates for reforming the United Nations Security Council to reflect contemporary geopolitical realities. These nations aspire to secure permanent seats on the Security Council to ensure more inclusive decision-making. Indias active role in the G4 demonstrates its commitment to making global institutions more representative and effective.

IBSA  Promoting South-South Cooperation

The India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Dialogue Forum seeks to enhance cooperation among these three diverse nations. Founded in 2003, IBSA focuses on issues related to trade, development, climate change, and global governance. This alliance reflects Indias aspiration to collaborate with countries from the Global South to address common challenges and promote shared development.

AIIB  Investing in Infrastructure Development

India is a founding member of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), established in 2016. The AIIB aims to finance infrastructure projects in Asia and beyond, fostering regional connectivity and sustainable development. Indias involvement aligns with its efforts to address infrastructure gaps and promote economic growth in the region.

Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC)

The MGC is a sub-regional cooperation initiative involving India and five Mekong River Basin countries  Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Established in 2000, MGC aims to enhance cultural, economic, and people-to-people linkages between the member countries.

Commonwealth of Nations

India is a member of the Commonwealth, a voluntary association of 54 countries, most of which are former territories of the British Empire. The Commonwealth promotes democracy, development, and cultural exchange among its members.

Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS)

IONS is a forum of Indian Ocean littoral states that aims to increase maritime security cooperation among its members. India, being a key player in the Indian Ocean region, plays an active role in this symposium.

SCOs Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS)

In addition to being a member of SCO, as mentioned earlier, India is also involved in the SCOs Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) to enhance cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts.

Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF)

India is a member of the GCTF, a platform for countries to discuss and coordinate efforts in countering terrorism and extremism globally.

Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM)

India participates in ASEM, an intergovernmental forum that brings together Asian and European countries to foster dialogue and cooperation on various political, economic, and cultural issues.

International Solar Alliance (ISA)

India co-founded the ISA, which aims to promote solar energy adoption and sustainable development among countries located between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.

Group of 77 (G77)

India is a member of the G77, a coalition of developing nations at the United Nations that advocates for their common interests and sustainable development.

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA)

India is part of the CPA, which connects parliamentarians from Commonwealth countries to share ideas, best practices, and promote democratic governance.

IAEA  Ensuring Nuclear Security

India is a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), an international organization that promotes safe and peaceful uses of nuclear energy while ensuring nuclear non-proliferation and security.

UN Peacekeeping Missions

India is one of the largest contributors to United Nations peacekeeping missions, reflecting its commitment to global peace and security. Indian troops and personnel have been deployed in various conflict zones around the world under the UN banner.

Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)

India is a member of the MTCR, an informal non-proliferation and arms control partnership that aims to prevent the proliferation of missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles capable of carrying weapons of mass destruction.

Wassenaar Arrangement

India is a member of the Wassenaar Arrangement, a multilateral export control regime that promotes transparency and responsibility in the transfer of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies.

Hague Conference on Private International Law

India is a member of this intergovernmental organization that works to harmonize and facilitate private international law across different legal systems.

Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT)

India participates in the GICNT, a partnership of countries working together to enhance nuclear security and prevent nuclear terrorism.

World Trade Organization (WTO)

India is a member of the WTO, a global organisation that deals with the rules of trade between nations, promoting open and fair trade practices.

International Labour Organization (ILO)

India is a member of the ILO, a UN agency that focuses on promoting decent work and improving labor conditions globally.

Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

India is a signatory to the Ramsar Convention, an international treaty aimed at conserving and promoting the sustainable use of wetlands.

These alliances, partnerships, and forums highlight Indias multi-faceted engagement in various regions and domains, contributing to global diplomacy, economic growth, and international cooperation. In navigating a rapidly changing global landscape, Indias proactive engagement in these diverse groups and alliances showcases its commitment to advancing its national interests while contributing to global stability, development, and cooperation. As an influential participant in these forums, India continues to play a significant role in shaping the future of international relations.
Independence Day or Swatantrata Diwas is observed annually on 15 August. The year 2023 marks 77 years of Indias independence. The country commemorates it as the day of its freedom as in 1947, the subcontinent threw off the shackles of British rule. The day salutes the soldiers, people and freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives in their struggle for independence. The day marks their undaunting patriotism and dedication towards freedom from the British. But ever wondered why India celebrates Independence Day on 15 August every year? Here is everything you need to know.

Poorna Swaraj

The Indian National Congress echoed the call for Poorna Swaraj or total independence from British colonial rule in 1929. This led them to choose 26 January as Independence Day. While the Congress Party celebrated the event from 1930 onwards, it was not until 26 January 1950, which is marked as Republic Day, that the country formally became a sovereign country and no longer functioned as a British Dominion.

It was Lord Mountbatten, the last viceroy of India, who provided the British parliament with the mandate to transfer power by 30 June, 1948. According to C. Rajagopalachari, the former Minister of Home Affairs of the Indian government, there would have been no power left to transfer. Mountbatten therefore changed the date to August 1947.

The reason behind the move explained that by extending the date further, the Viceroy ensured there was no bloodshed or riot in the country. Independence from the British also led to Partition and communal clashes, with several millions displaced and ultimately losing lives. In Mountbattens words, wherever colonial rule has ended, there has been bloodshed. That is the price you pay.

Indian Independence Bill

The Indian Independence Bill was introduced in the British House of Commons based on Lord Mountbattens inputs on 4 July, 1947. It was passed within a fortnight. The two most crucial aspects of the bill were- it provided for the end of British rule in India, on 15 August, 1947 and it established the Dominions of India and Pakistan, to secede from the British Commonwealth.

Shedding light on choosing the date of 15 August, Lord Mountbatten claimed in the book Freedom at Midnight, that The date I chose came out of the blue. I chose it to answer a question. I was determined to show I was the master of the whole event. When they asked when we had set a date, I knew it had to be soon. I hadnt worked it out exactly then  I thought it had to be about August or September and I then headed out to the 15th August. Why? Because it was the second anniversary of Japans surrender.
Indias struggle for independence was a watershed moment in history, marked by a diverse array of factors that contributed to the eventual overthrow of British colonial rule.

The historiography of this pivotal period is a tapestry woven from the threads of various interpretations, highlighting the complex interplay of political, socio-economic, cultural, and ideological forces that fueled the quest for Indias sovereignty.

Delving into the historiography of the causes behind Indias independence uncovers a rich landscape of perspectives that continue to shape our understanding of this transformative era.

Colonial Exploitation and Economic Factors:

One strand of historiography emphasizes the economic dimensions of Indias struggle. Scholars argue that British colonial rule extracted immense wealth from India, often at the cost of local industries and livelihoods. This economic exploitation, coupled with policies that favored British interests, led to widespread poverty and discontent among Indians. This perspective paints a picture of a nation burdened by economic disparity and resilience, fostering a groundswell of discontent that culminated in the desire for independence.

Nationalism and Identity:

Nationalism, as a potent force in Indias struggle for independence, has attracted significant historiographical attention. Scholars highlight how leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Subhas Chandra Bose, among others, united diverse linguistic, cultural, and religious groups under a shared Indian identity. These figures tapped into Indias historical and cultural heritage, crafting a narrative that resonated deeply with the masses and forged a sense of unity among Indians, enabling them to collectively fight against colonial rule.

Nonviolent Resistance and Civil Disobedience:

Mahatma Gandhis philosophy of nonviolent resistance occupies a central place in the historiography of Indias independence movement. This strand highlights how Gandhis principles of satyagraha and civil disobedience transformed the nature of the struggle, allowing ordinary Indians to participate actively and peacefully in the pursuit of freedom. The power of mass mobilization and the moral authority of nonviolence are underscored as pivotal factors that compelled the British to reassess their colonial rule.

World Wars and International Pressure:

The global context of the two World Wars played a significant role in Indias quest for independence. During World War I and II, Indians made substantial contributions to the British war efforts, which raised questions about their subjugation despite their sacrifices. The historiography in this vein highlights how Indias involvement in these wars, coupled with international calls for decolonization and self-determination, heightened the pressure on the British to address Indias demand for independence.

World Wars and International Pressure:

The global context of the two World Wars played a significant role in Indias quest for independence. During World War I and II, Indians made substantial contributions to the British war efforts, which raised questions about their subjugation despite their sacrifices. The historiography in this vein highlights how Indias involvement in these wars, coupled with international calls for decolonization and self-determination, heightened the pressure on the British to address Indias demand for independence.

Changing Political Landscape:

Historians have analyzed the shifting political landscape in India as another factor that influenced the trajectory of the independence movement. The emergence of political parties, such as the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League, added a dimension of organized political participation. These parties engaged in negotiations, protests, and constitutional discussions, which reflected the evolving dynamics between Indians and the colonial rulers.
Singapore is open to the possibility of importing electricity from countries in the region, including India, the Energy Market Authority (EMA) told The Straits Times on Sunday.

The EMAs response comes in the wake of inquiries made to the authority regarding reports detailing discussions between India and Singapore regarding a potential interconnection of their respective power grids.

According to media reports, the EMA has received proposals aiming to import a substantial capacity of up to four gigawatts of electricity into Singapore.

According to the information shared, the EMA has initiated a call for bids, with the submission window extending until December 29. This initiative intends to identify suitable entities that can be appointed to oversee import the of electricity.

Historically, India and Singapore have accelerated interest in establishing a connection between their power grids. This initiative has been envisioned to be facilitated through the installation of an undersea cable via the Andaman & Nicobar region. This strategic move would potentially enable Singapore to tap into Indias renewable energy resources, thereby contributing to its own energy diversification goals.

Power market instability has been a problem in Singapore due to wild price swings and alternative sources of electricity are needed to ensure a reliable and affordable supply of electricity. Singapore aims to fortify its energy security framework by embracing electricity from other nations.

In the past, Singapore had said it would explore a variety of options, including regional power grids, for expanding renewable energy in the country because of land scarcity and intermittent solar power, according to reports.

Due to their geographical separation from the mainland, the Andaman & Nicobar Islands confront distinct challenges concerning power supply.

A report suggests that nearly 91 per cent of the total generation capacity across the union territorys different islands is attributed to diesel generation, while the remaining portion is constituted by hydroelectricity and solar power sources.

India has also talked with Saudi Arabia and the UAE about connecting their power grids to trade renewable energy. In addition to Oman, where India could make a stop before connecting the UAE and Saudi Arabia, this proposal has been in the works for some time, according to Economic Times.
A 37-year-old entrepreneur hailing from Lucknow allegedly strangled his wife in front of their two children within the confines of his SUV.

The tragic incident unfolded on the Purvanchal Expressway in Sultanpur on Sunday morning.

The motives behind this shocking event seem to stem from the husbands deep-rooted feelings of inadequacy, triggered by his wifes considerable following on Instagram, as per the authorities.

The Instagram account of the deceased, currently set to private, awaits scrutiny from law enforcement. It has been revealed that the victim had blocked her husband from accessing her account, a move that further exacerbated his sense of insecurity.

The accused nurtured suspicions that, in his absence, some of her social media admirers might seek her out, injecting strain into their marital bond, the police have stated.

Adding more insight into the case, Praveen Kumar Yadav, the Station House Officer (SHO) of Kurebhar, shared, The alleged perpetrator operated a travel agency, while his wife was a homemaker. The couple was raising a 12-year-old daughter and a five-year-old son.

The locked and private Instagram account of the victim remains pending investigation by the authorities.

Her act of blocking her spouse on the platform seems to have escalated his insecurity. The accuseds apprehensions of potential visits from admirers on her social media, during his absence, appear to have contributed to the deteriorating state of their relationship, according to law enforcement sources.

Delving deeper into the narrative, SHO Praveen Kumar Yadav stated, The accused has provided a chronology of events. The couple ostensibly set out for Rae Bareli on that ill-fated Sunday morning. However, they deviated from their course and veered onto the Purvanchal Expressway. At approximately 5 am, the accused brought the vehicle to a halt near an intersection in Sultanpur. A heated altercation ensued between the couple.

In an unfortunate surge of anger, the husband allegedly strangled his wife. Deeply traumatized children were left in tears. The accused subsequently locked himself within his SUV.

It came light after a patrolling team from UPEIDA came across the suspiciously parked vehicle. Without delay, they notified the higher authorities and the nearest police station.

Responding swiftly to the alert, law enforcement personnel reached the scene of the tragedy. It was the couples daughter who ultimately narrated the whole incident to police.

Subsequently, the accused was taken into custody.
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar may replace Eknath Shinde as the chief minister, said Maharashtra opposition leader Vijay Wadettiwar on Monday.

Addressing the media in Gadchiroli city, Wadettiwar also claimed preparations are on to admit Shinde to a hospital and later replace him on health grounds.

He said NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar, who heads the group of rebel NCP MLAs, met in Pune recently amid speculation about Shindes likely replacement and in view of talks among MLAs loyal to Ajit that he could be made the chief minister.

The buzz about the health of Shinde, who was at his native village in Satara, grew louder after his supporter and MLA Sanjay Shirsat recently claimed the CM has fallen sick as he works for 24 hours.

Information is coming out about ongoing preparations to admit Eknath Shinde in a hospital and replace him with a new chief minister, Wadettiwar said.

The Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly also claimed the Chief Ministers Office (CMO) has stated that Shinde is not keeping well.

I fear that he (Shinde) may be admitted to a hospital for two months and may be replaced on medical grounds. People of Maharashtra are asking whether preparations are on to admit Shinde in a hospital on medical grounds, the senior Congress leader said.

Notably, Shiv Senas (UBT) mouthpiece Saamana also referred to MLA Shirsats claim about Shindes sickness.

Shinde works for 24 hours, but it does not reflect anywhere in the state. If he has lost his sleep from the fear of losing his post anytime, it cannot be termed that he is working round-the-clock, the Saamana said in its editorial on Monday.

If Shirsats claims are true, Shinde should be admitted to an ICU and kept away from meeting (Deputy CMs) Devendra Fadnavis or Ajit Pawar. Shinde should be admitted to a good hospital in Mumbai or Thane, the editorial said sarcastically.

Interestingly, senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan last month claimed that Ajit Pawar, who is part of the Shiv Sena-BJP government, will be appointed as the chief minister around August 10.

This claim was dismissed by senior BJP leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Fadnavis had said Ajit Pawar was well aware of the fact that he wont become the chief minister and the same was conveyed to him during the meetings held before July 2, when he joined the state government with eight MLAs of NCP.

With inputs from PTI.
Mobile internet service has been restored in Nuh district of Haryana, two weeks after it was suspended following communal clashes that claimed six lives, police said on Monday.

According to the police, the service was restored Sunday midnight.

Following the violence on 31 July, mobile internet service was completely stopped by the government till 8 August. The suspension was subsequently extended till 13 August.

Six people, including two home guards and a cleric, died in the clashes that erupted in Nuh after a procession of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) was attacked by mobs on July 31 and spread to adjoining areas, including Gurugram.

Following sustained efforts by the Nuh district administration to restore normalcy, markets are now open in the violence-affected areas and people are visiting them.

Ten days after the violence, orders were given by the district magistrate to open all educational institutions. Schools are now functioning as usual.

Students are busy preparing for Independence Day celebrations. Police parade units are also preparing for the programme to be held at the district level.

People have got a lot of relief after the services of Haryana State Transport buses were restored and they are not facing any kind of problem in visiting other destinations. Now the situation is quite normal, Deputy Commissioner Dhirendra Khadgata said.

On Sunday, a mahapanchayat organised by Hindu outfits at Pondri village in neighbouring Palwal district decided to resume on 28 August the VHPs Braj Mandal Yatra in Nuh that was disrupted after communal violence.

The mahapanchayat also made several demands, which included an NIA probe into the attack on the VHP yatra in Nuh on 31 July and declaring Nuh a cow slaughter-free district.
Indias journey towards independence was a long and arduous struggle marked by the unwavering determination and unity of its people. However, the fight for freedom was not without its share of opposition. While Mahatma Gandhi and other leaders led the nation in its quest for independence through nonviolent means, there were several entities that opposed Indias bid for self-governance.

British Colonial Authorities

The most direct and significant opponent to Indias quest for independence was the British colonial administration itself. The British Empire had established its dominion over India, exploiting its resources and people for economic gains.

The British rulers were reluctant to relinquish their control and privileges, leading to staunch resistance against the demands for self-rule.

Conservative Indian Elites

While many Indians supported the struggle for independence, there existed a section of conservative elites who were apprehensive about the potential upheavals that might accompany self-governance.

These elites often held positions of power within the colonial administration and saw their interests aligned with British rule. Their opposition to complete independence was rooted in the fear of losing their privileged status and influence.

Princely States

India was a conglomeration of princely states, each ruled by a local monarch. Many of these princely states were resistant to the idea of a united independent India. Some rulers believed that their autonomy and privileges would be compromised in a sovereign nation.

This created a complex dynamic within the freedom movement, as negotiations were required to integrate these states into the newly formed Indian state post-independence.

Religious Divides

Religious divisions were exploited by opponents of Indian independence to sow discord and weaken the unity of the freedom movement. The most notable example of this was the All India Muslim League, which demanded a separate nation for Muslims  Pakistan.

This demand led to the partition of India and the creation of Pakistan in 1947, marking a tragic moment in the history of the subcontinent.

Conservative Social and Religious Groups

Certain conservative social and religious groups viewed the Indian independence movement as a threat to their established hierarchies and traditions. They feared that a self-governing India might lead to a loss of their influence and status in society. These groups occasionally opposed the movement or tried to distance themselves from it.
As India commemorates its 77th Independence Day on 15 August 2023, the day marks 76 years of freedom from the British Raj. While on one hand it basked in the glory of independence in 1947, a brutal partition rocked the nation cleaving its territory on religious lines into two. The blood-marked event, that led to the formation of a secular India and a Muslim-dominated Pakistan, witnessed millions sacrificing their lives as thousand others migrated from one country to the other.

India observes 14 August as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day to honour those who were displaced or lost their lives due to mindless hate and violence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the event on this date in 2021. In a tweet, the PM wrote that the day would be marked in memory of our peoples struggles and sacrifices.

Check out the tweet:

Partitions pains can never be forgotten. Millions of our sisters and brothers were displaced and many lost their lives due to mindless hate and violence. In memory of the struggles and sacrifices of our people, 14th August will be observed as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 14, 2021

In addition, the prime minister reminded citizens of the need to remove the poison of social divisions, disharmony and further strengthen the spirit of oneness, social harmony and human empowerment on Partition Horrors Remembrance Day.

May the #PartitionHorrorsRemembranceDay keep reminding us of the need to remove the poison of social divisions, disharmony and further strengthen the spirit of oneness, social harmony and human empowerment.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 14, 2021

History

The partition of India was rooted in the demand for a separate country for Muslims, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the Muslim League. It took British judge Cyril Radcliffe just 40 days to draw over 6,000 km of revised boundaries on either side of the Indian subcontinent. This unprecedented event resulted in millions losing their lives or migrating by foot or on blood-filled trains. Indias partition is associated with the grave violence surrounding communal riots, loss of property, and extreme upheaval in the weeks and months following the nations independence on 15 August 1947.

Based on the governments documents, about 6 million non-Muslims moved out from West Pakistan and 6.5 million Muslims moved out from the Indian part of Punjab, Delhi and other regions, into West Pakistan.

Significance

The Partition is acknowledged as one of the most violent and abrupt displacements in the recent history of the world. The motive behind Partition Horrors Remembrance Day is to recall and reflect on the dreadful tragedy. It is also to learn lessons so as to never repeat such event in the future.
Kanpurs AWPL Company has proudly introduced the Prabal revolver, a groundbreaking addition to the realm of firearms.

Scheduled for its debut on August 18th, this cutting-edge weapon promises to redefine the landscape of arms technology. The remarkable Prabal .32 bore revolver outperforms its counterparts by more than doubling the firepower within a 50-meter range.

Setting it apart from the rest, the Prabal revolver boasts a distinct feature: a side swing cylinder meticulously integrated into its design.

This innovative feature sets it in a league of its own among Indias revolver offerings.

The company asserts that the Prabal revolver boasts the most impressive firing range among domestically-produced revolvers, a substantial leap beyond the current markets 20-meter limitation.

Weighing in at an astonishingly light 700 grams, the Prabal revolver is remarkably easy to handle, and its trigger mechanism is designed for effortless operation.

This user-friendly design renders it an ideal choice not only for trained professionals but also for women seeking personal security.

The companys director, AK Maurya was quoted in the media reports saying, Reservations for the feature-rich Prabal, akin to the esteemed Webley model, will commence from the 18th of August. This marks the nations inaugural revolver featuring a side swing cylinder, a groundbreaking departure from the need to manually load bullets into the conventional folded cylinder.

Notably, the AWPL Company has secured a substantial arms order worth 600 crores from a European nation. Beyond the Prabal, the company is poised to unveil the Sarang Cannon, a Drone, and a Carbine.

Coinciding with the Amrit Mahotsav of Independence, an arms exhibition has been organized at the Kanpur Small Arms Factory Ground.

Among the showcased armaments are the Dhanush Cannon, Sarang Cannon, Prabal Revolver, Prahar Revolver, Beltfed Machine Gun, Light Machine Gun, Carbine, Howitzer Barrel, Super Rapidgun Mounted, Pinak Rocket Launcher, and IFG Cannon.

Additionally, the exhibition displays an array of 81 and 120 mm mortar shells.

AWPLs Executive Director, Rajeev Sharma, elaborated, The factory has ingeniously transformed existing cannons to create the Sarang Cannon, offering high firepower at a cost-effective price point. Previously featuring a 139mm caliber barrel, the cannons potency has now been considerably enhanced through the adoption of a 155mm, 45-caliber barrel.

Shedding light on the ongoing progress, Sharma mentioned that the Ordnance Factory has received a sizable order for 300 cannons from the military, with 20 cannons already delivered and operational after successful testing.

AK Maurya divulged that an advanced version of the Dhanush cannon is in the pipeline and will be assimilated into the armys arsenal, bolstering the nations defensive capabilities. This upgraded Dhanush model extends its reach to a striking 45 km.

This novel Dhanush cannon, characterized by a 52-caliber design, has undergone development and testing.

Previously limited to a range of 38 km, this upgraded iteration represents a significant advancement. Additionally, an enhanced Tank Mounted Gun version is in the works, aligning with the Indian Armys open tender for 300 of these armaments.
China offers public goods to partners with no strings attached, observers say The recently built OOCL Piraeus, one of the largest container vessels in the world, received a water salute on July 10 as it arrived at the Port of Piraeus in Greece, a major hub among the economies involved in the 10-year-old Belt and Road Initiative. The port, run by Chinese shipping giant COSCO Shipping, hosted a visit by President Xi Jinping in 2019 and is among the over 3,000 cooperative programs within the BRI framework. Chinese Ambassador to Greece Xiao Junzheng said the European nation is a major portal for the rest of the world to access the continent, and "well-developed land-sea transportation architecture plays a key part" in tapping into the geographical advantages of the country. "This year marks the 10th anniversary of President Xi proposing the Belt and Road Initiative, and China is ready to take this opportunity and step up exchanges and collaboration with Greece with regard to transportation and shipping, based on the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits," he said. Over the past 10 years, the BRI has directly boosted the construction of a number of ports, freeways and other transportation infrastructure across the globe, spurred investment totaling nearly $1 trillion, and attracted over 150 countries and 30 international organizations to sign over 200 cooperative documents. However, some political figures and media organizations have kept attacking the BRI, hyping the so-called "debt trap" or "security threats". But many senior officials, scholars and media observers have stood up and spoken out as witnesses to the concrete benefits brought by BRI projects to partner countries and regions, saying that China's role in funding, constructing or managing these projects is not based on selfish interests and it attaches no strings to their domestic affairs. Siddharth Chatterjee, UN development system resident coordinator in China, said, "The BRI is a vast endeavor that has altered the way nations communicate and collaborate, and it is a good reflection of China's leadership and commitment to implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development." "Through its scope and ambition, the BRI has sought to promote economic growth, regional integration and cultural interchange around the world during the last decade. This is something I've witnessed directly, having spent half of my UN career in Africa," he said at a recent symposium. Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom Zheng Zeguang said, "None of the BRI partner countries has fallen into a debt crisis due to their participation in Belt and Road cooperation." "China has fully implemented the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative, ranking first among all G20 members in terms of the deferral amount," Zheng said in a speech in June. Wang Wen, executive dean of Renmin University of China's Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, said that BRI financial cooperation related to the port projects is part of China's efforts in providing international public goods, and Beijing has no intention of seeking financial hegemony like some Western developed countries. "China does not pursue geopolitical advantages, and it does not interfere in the domestic affairs of partner countries, nor has it shifted a financial crisis to others or shaped an international financial order based on inequality," he said. "In contrast, what China has offered to BRI partners are convenient financial services, innovative platforms for funding and investing, multipronged financial products, inclusive cooperative projects, winwin outcomes and lasting competence in risk management," he added. Noticeable progress Gwadar Port, a flagship project for the BRI and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, has achieved noticeable progress in its construction over the past decade. The Pakistan Observer newspaper said in an editorial on Aug 5 that all projects under the umbrella of the BRI and CPEC are "contributing their share" to the socioeconomic development of Pakistan, and "it would have been a daunting task" for Pakistan to develop Gwadar Port without all-around Chinese cooperation and assistance. The port now has three multipurpose berths capable of handling 50,000-ton vessels, and projects such as the East Bay Expressway and the Vocational and Technical Training Institution are already operational. Yang Yundong, the Chinese consul-general in Karachi, noted that Gwadar New International Airport, a desalination plant and the China-Pakistan Friendship Hospital are successively scheduled for completion. "This shining 'pearl' of the CPEC is accelerating its momentum toward becoming a strategic hubfor logistics and an industrial base," Yang wrote in an article published on Monday. In the Caribbean country of Trinidad and Tobago, the Phoenix Park Industrial Estate  the first BRI flagship project in the region  has been completed and will soon be put into operation. "With more and more ambitious investors coming from China and other countries, we believe that the PPIE will be a new engine for the economic prosperity of this beautiful country," Amery Browne, minister for foreign and CARICOM affairs of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, said at a celebration event on Tuesday. Observers said that in the near future, the world will continue to have a great demand for infrastructure and the BRI will continue to help boost the infrastructure of countries involved in the initiative. Wang Yiwei, a professor at the School of International Studies and director of the Institute of International Affairs at Renmin University of China, said the BRI "illustrates the vast possibilities for global cooperation in infrastructure facilities, and will exert profound influence in tackling the shortfall in global infrastructure and regional interconnectivity". "The enormous achievements yielded by the BRI over the past decade reflect China's role as an opportunity, not a risk. The world needs better interconnectivity, not 'decoupling'," he added. Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan, executive director of the Center for South Asia & International Studies in Islamabad, noted that the BRI has further increased trade between Southeast Asia and China, and Malaysia is looking forward to serving as a hub for greater exchanges in the region. "Hopefully, BRI projects in Malaysia would help bridge the digital divide, boost productivity, support capacity building and foster economic development, thereby encouraging entrepreneurship and job creation," he wrote recently.
The Quami Insaaf Morcha (KIM), a pro-Khalistan outfit, has announced that on 15 August its supporters will march towards Chandigarh demanding the release of Sikh prisoners who have already served their prison terms.

According to an News 9 report, the Chandigarh and Mohali police have beefed up security after the Khalistan groups announcement, particularly at Sector 52-53 light point, where protesters had earlier blocked a portion of the road.

A 31-member Jatha headed by the Sant Samaajs representatives also marched to the Chandigarh border and offered their support to the morcha and encouraged people to take part in the demonstration outside Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Manns house in Chandigarh on 15 August, added the report.

Earlier this year, in February, clashes broke out between protesters seeking the release of Sikh prisoners and police personnel. As many as 33 police personnel were injured and dozens of police vehicles were damaged in the incident that took place near the Chandigarh-Mohali border.

The members of the group have been staging a protest for several months, seeking the release of Sikh prisoners, including Balwant Singh Rajoana, a convict in former Punjab chief minister Beant Singhs assassination, and Devinderpal Singh Bhullar, a 1993 Delhi bomb blast convict.

With inputs from agencies
Badrinath National Highway in Pipalkoti area in Uttarakhands Chamoli district has been blocked due to debris triggered by a landslide, following intermittent rainfall. Several vehicles have also been buried under the debris.

Chamoli District Magistrate, Himanshu Khurana told ANI that Due to heavy debris falling from the mountain in Pipalkoti, many vehicles were buried under the debris and the roads have been closed.

Uttarakhand | Due to continuous heavy rainfall in Chamoli district, many vehicles have been buried under the debris coming from the mountain in Mayapur on the Badrinath highway. DM Chamoli Himanshu Khurana tells ANI, Vehicles have been buried under the debris but no casualties pic.twitter.com/7RGWv0ks0P  ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) August 14, 2023

The district magistrate said that at present there are vehicles buried under the debris and information has been received about one person buried under the debris in Pipalkoti.

#UPDATE | Uttarakhand | Chamoli DM Himanshu Khurana tells ANI that information has been received about one person buried under the debris/missing in Pipalkoti. (File photo) pic.twitter.com/P38Aa8QG06  ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) August 14, 2023

A college building also collapsed due to heavy rainfall in Dehradun.

#WATCH | A college building collapsed due to incessant rainfall in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. (Source: Dehradun Police) https://t.co/i4dpSQs2MH pic.twitter.com/1XhTLTafCi  ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) August 14, 2023

Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly Speaker Ritu Khanduri Bhushan took stock of disaster-affected areas in Kotdwar in the State on Sunday.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had yesterday issued a red alert and predicted heavy rainfall with lightning in six districts of the state for the next twenty-four hours.

It also forecast very heavy to extremely heavy rain/ thunderstorm accompanied with lightning and very intense to extremely intense spell is likely to occur at isolated places in Dehradun, Pauri, Tehri, Nainital, Champawat and Udham Singh Nagar.

According to official estimates, 52 people had died due to rain-related incidents in this monsoon session while another 37 people sustained injuries. Heavy rains in Uttarakhand have triggered landslides and flash floods in several places.

On the instructions of the chief minister, SDRF and NDRF personnel were deployed in places badly affected by rain-related incidents.

With inputs from agencies
Seven people were killed following a cloudburst at Jadon village in Himachal Pradeshs Solan, officials said on Monday.

Incessant showers in Himachal Pradesh over the past 24 hours have triggered landslides, blocking several roads, including the Shimla-Chandigarh road which was closed for buses and trucks.

Taking to X, formerly knows as Twitter, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said, Devastated to hear about the loss of 7 precious lives in the tragic cloud burst incident at Village Jadon, Dhawla Sub-Tehsil in Solan District. My heartfelt condolences go out to the grieving families. We share in your pain and sorrow during this difficult time.

We have directed the authorities to ensure all possible assistance and support to the affected families during this trying period, he added.

Siddhartha Acharya, Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Kandaghat, said two houses and one cowshed were also washed away in the cloudburst.

He said five people have been rescued and three are still missing, adding, a rescue operation is underway.

Meanwhile, in view of the incessant rains, the the Himachal Pradesh University has cancelled all the ongoing examinations of Post Graduate classes scheduled on 14 August.

Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has taken this decision in view of the safety of the students due to heavy rains.

On the orders of the Chief Minister, the Education Secretary has issued a notification to keep all government, private schools and colleges closed on 14 August.

The CM has instructed the chief secretary, home secretary as well as all DCs to keep a close watch on the situation created due to heavy rains. The administrative staff should be alert and maintain smooth arrangements for roads, electricity and water, he said.

Earlier on 10 August, five family members who went missing after the cloudburst in Sirmaur were found buried under debris.

DEOC Sirmour informed that an incident of cloud burst occurred at village Malagi Dadiyat, Aauli, Tehsil Paonta Sahib, District Sirmaur due to this incident, five family members of Kuldeep Kamar are missing, State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) said in a bulletin.

With inputs from agencies
For the first time, a 21-year-old Sikh Marine has graduated from the elite US Marine Corps recruit training without having to shave his head or beard or give up the articles of faith that are considered sacred in Sikhism.

Private First Class Jaskirat Singh on Friday made history on completing his training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego after a federal judge ordered the military service in April to accommodate the recruits religious practices, The Washington Times reported.

The order came nearly a year after three Sikhs and Jewish and Muslim recruits sued the Marines seeking religious accommodations.

The Army and Air Force accommodate Sikh recruits, attorney Giselle Klapper with the Sikh Coalition said, while the Navy offers more limited accommodations. The Marines were the most restrictive of the services.

He is likely the first enlisted Marine to graduate from recruit training while wearing articles of faith intrinsic to the Sikh tradition, specifically a beard and turban, Military.com quoted the Sikh Coalition which, along with other advocates, has helped him and more than 50 Sikh Americans secure military accommodations for religious wear.

Last year, a federal court of appeals granted a preliminary injunction allowing Singh to begin training without having to have his head and beard shaved, which is customary for recruits when they first arrive at boot camp.

The injunction also allowed Singh to wear religious articles such as turbans and patkas.

Making it through Recruit Training is an achievement I am deeply proud to share with all of my brothers and sisters in my battalion, Singh was quoted as saying by the Messenger news website.

The fact that I did it with my Sikh articles of faith, which posed no barrier to my achievement, is deeply meaningful to me personally, he said.

Singh said his fellow recruits supported him and his religious beliefs, and that he had chosen the Marine Corps because of the services values of honour, courage and commitment overlapping with Sikh values.

The court order covered only Singh, but Klapper said the group hopes the Marine Corps will extend the accommodation to all Sikh recruits.

Another attorney who worked on the case, Amandeep S. Sidhu, a partner at a law firm, said he also looks for change by the Marines, one of the nations oldest and elite military services.
AIMIM chief and MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday alleged that stones were pelted at his official residence in Delhi.

#WATCH | AIMIM President and Member of Parliament, Asaduddin Owaisi has alleged that stones were pelted at his official residence in Delhi pic.twitter.com/bvDw2X30ru  ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2023

On one side bulldozer is being run on the houses of Muslims and on the other hand, stones are pelted at the house of an MP. I am a four-time MP, and every few days stones are thrown at my house. Its effect on the country will not be good, said Owaisi.

#WATCH | On one side bulldozer is being run on the houses of Muslims and on the other hand, stones are pelted at the house of an MP. I am a four-time MP, and every few days stones are thrown at my house. Its effect on the country will not be good. If a similar incident had pic.twitter.com/Lz5Jk7fJOF  ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2023

He said if a similar incident had happened with a big leader of the BJP, then the reaction would have different.

Meanwhile, police said two glasses on the door of AIMIM chiefs Delhi residence were found broken.

A senior police officer said that no stone or any other such thing was found in the vicinity of the broken glasses.

Police are checking the area and an investigation is underway, the officer said.

Owaisi had in February alleged that his residence in the national capital was attacked by unidentified miscreants and had claimed that to be the fourth such incident since 2014.

Earlier, questioning the bulldozer action in Nuh where communal clashes erupted on 31 July, Owaisi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should condemn such targeted action against one community.

PM Modi should condemn the demolition in Nuh, Haryana. Is there no law or court in the country? This is a violation of the SC order in the Jahangirpuri case where it said that due process of law should be followed, said the AIMIM chief.

#WATCH | PM Modi should condemn the demolition in Nuh, Haryana. Is there no law or court in the country? This is a violation of the SC order in the Jahangirpuri case where it said that due process of law should be followed. In his Independence Day speech, I hope the PM will pic.twitter.com/ZM8Pk6Yx9M  ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2023

In his Independence Day speech, I hope the PM will condemn the targeted violence against one community in this country. Bulldozers are being used in UP, Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh.., he added.

With inputs from agencies
President Droupadi Murmu has featured on the cover of Femina magazine, embodying a journey defined by resolute courage, relentless determination, triumph over challenges, and a bold defiance of norms.

Hailing from Uparbeda, Odisha, the 15th President of India stands as a trailblazer, breaking barriers with a series of groundbreaking accomplishments.

She is not only the first young woman from her village to pursue higher education in Bhubaneshwar but also the pioneering figure from her community to step into the realm of politics. Moreover, she holds the distinction of being the inaugural woman to assume the esteemed role of Governor in Jharkhand.

Her extraordinary life showcases an unwavering determination and limitless compassion. Her presence gracing our cover embodies the significant impact she has had on the people of India, said Deepak Lamba, CEO of Worldwide Media.

She is the embodiment of selflessness and stands as a symbol of encouragement for promoting equality. A true wellspring of inspiration for Indias young women and our nations youth, she ignites their relentless pursuit of achieving their dreams, Ambika Muttoo, Editor-in-Chief of FEMINA, affirmed.

During her speech after she took oath in July 2022, Murmu said, I started my journey from a small town in Odisha where acquiring even elementary education was like a dream. Despite the hurdles, my resolve was strong, and I became the first daughter of the village to go to college. Having been born in a far-flung region in the tribal community, I have had the opportunity to go from Ward Councillor to President. This is the greatness of a democracy such as India. Being in this position is not only my personal achievement, it is the achievement of every economically disadvantaged girl in the country. This is testimony to the fact that the economically disadvantaged can not only dare to dream in our country, but also have opportunities to realise them.

Early Struggles and Determination

Murmus educational journey began in a small town where obtaining even basic education was a challenge. Undeterred by obstacles, she became the first daughter from her village to attend college.

Hailing from a tribal community, her ascent from a Ward Councillor to the President of India exemplifies the opportunities democracy offers. Her achievement isnt just personal; its a victory for every underprivileged girl in the nation.

Defying Stereotypes and Overcoming Challenges

From a young age, Murmu challenged gender stereotypes. When denied the position of class monitor due to her gender, she stood up against the injustice and ultimately secured the role. Her determination for education led her to walk barefoot to school, overcoming flooded paths and rainstorms. Despite familial responsibilities, she pursued her studies, while also shouldering household chores.

Educational Pursuits and Early Career

Droupadis thirst for knowledge was relentless. She attended college with a monthly allowance of Rs 10, living frugally to pursue education. After graduation, she became a Junior Assistant at the Odisha Irrigation Department. Marriage didnt deter her ambitions; she later became a teacher and even refused remuneration for her services. Her commitment to education remained unwavering.

Championing Education as Governor

Droupadis dedication to education extended to her role as the Governor of Jharkhand. She confronted challenges within the states education system, striving to streamline operations, upgrade infrastructure, and introduce job-oriented courses. Her focus on improving primary and pre-primary education led her to personally visit Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas to ensure girls safety and well-being.

A President of Empowerment

As Indias 15th President, Droupadi Murmu continues to inspire the youth to contribute to nation-building. Her leadership revolves around simple living and a dedication to meditation and self-improvement. She encourages womens empowerment and tribals recognition, advocating for the Santhali languages inclusion and preserving indigenous culture.

Overcoming Personal Tragedy

Murmus journey hasnt been without heart-wrenching loss. Despite facing the untimely deaths of family members, including her sons and husband, she found strength through her association with the Brahma Kumaris and her resolve to live well for her surviving daughter.

A Vision for India

Murmus presidency signifies her commitment to the nations progress. Her call to the youth to contribute echoes her own journey, and her emphasis on empowering women and preserving indigenous cultures reflects her deeply rooted beliefs.

Murmus life is a remarkable story of resilience, determination, and compassion. Her journey from a remote village to the highest office in the land serves as an embodiment of the opportunities Indias democracy offers. As she continues her presidency, her legacy remains an inspiration for generations to come.
Ahead of Independence Day, the family of Javid Mattoo, a Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist, raised the Indian National flag at their residence in Sopore, Jammu and Kashmir.

In the viral video Rayees Mattoo, Javids brother, can be seen proudly waving the Tricolour from the window.

Javid Mattoo, who goes by aliases such as Faisal, Saqib, and Musaib, is an active terrorist associated with the Hizbul Mujahideen and is listed among the top 10 targets in the region by security agencies.

After the video went viral, Rayees Mattoo told ANI, I expressed my heartfelt gesture while waving the Tiranga. No external pressure influenced me Our beloved land is superior to all others, and we are its proud inhabitants. Positive changes have taken place, exemplified by my ability to operate my shop on the 14th of August, which was previously closed for several days. Past political maneuvers were manipulative My brother turned to this path in 2009, and since then, weve lost contact with him If hes still alive, I earnestly implore him to return The situation has transformed, rendering Pakistan powerless We are, and always will be, devoted Indians.

#WATCH | Rayees Mattoo says, I waved the Tiranga from my heart. There was no pressure from anyoneSaare jahaan se achha Hindustan hamara, hum bulbule hain iske ye gulistan hamara. There is development. For the first time I am sitting at my shop on 14th August, it used to be https://t.co/rWOfMLbTOg pic.twitter.com/hF1yx0P4vI  ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2023

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi encouraged citizens to participate in the Har Ghar Tiranga initiative from 13 to 15 August.

A grand Tiranga rally was also taken out in Srinagar on Sunday, with the participation of Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.

Without naming anyone directly, Manoj Sinha remarked, They, who used to say that there wouldnt be anyone left in Jammu and Kashmir to raise the tiranga, would have understood that every youth of Jammu and Kashmir loves the national flag as much as people from any other part of the country.

With inputs from agencies
Decolonisation is not just a political process, but an essential exercise in reclaiming identity, history and dignity. Especially when it comes to the laws that govern a nation, continuing with colonial-era statutes is like wearing the chains of subjugation as jewellery. The Indian Penal Code of 1860, the Indian Evidence Act of 1872, and the Criminal Procedure Code of 1898 are relics of an era where India was seen and treated as the Jewel in the Crown of the British Empire, not as a self-sustaining civilisation with a rich history of governance and jurisprudence. As post-colonial scholar Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak aptly puts it, The colonizer writes history, the colonized is the history.

Using laws drafted by colonial masters not only binds India to a past where it wasnt free but also hampers its journey towards true self-realisation. Emotionally, it feels like a bird trying to soar the skies with weights tied to its wings. For India to truly realise its potential, it must decolonise every aspect of its existence, especially its legal framework.

The fingerprints of Thomas Babington Macaulay are indelibly imprinted on the entire criminal justice system of India. While one must grudgingly acknowledge the comprehensiveness with which Macaulay managed to codify the laws, the underlying purpose behind this undertaking cannot be ignored. The essence of this colossal legal exercise is steeped in colonial ambition and domination. It was not merely an attempt to bring order but a calculated strategy to subjugate an entire people, entwining them in a legal framework designed by those who saw themselves as rulers rather than allies. The legacy of this system continues to bind India, a painful reminder of a past that sought to suppress rather than elevate.

On 10th July 1833, the grand arbiter of civilisation, Macaulay, proclaimed in the House of Commons a statement dripping with the benevolence of colonial paternalism. I believe that no country ever stood so much in need of a code of laws as India; and I believe also that there never was a country in which the want might so easily be supplied, he said, as though India, with its millennia of history, philosophy, and legal tradition, was but a blank slate awaiting the enlightened scribbles of the British quill. He continued with the heartwarming promise that India might expand under our system until they might actually demand European institutions, expressing his visionary goal of educating the subjects into a capacity for better government. The gallant Lord Macaulay, thus, graciously allowed for the possibility that Indians might one day rise above their slavery and superstition and aspire to the grandeur of European citizenry. How very magnanimous of him to ponder such a future for the Indians. His words, a testament to the self-congratulatory spirit of empire, are indeed a title to glory that only the colonial mindset could craft.

Thereafter, in 1834 itself, the first Indian Law Commission was formed under the chairmanship of Macaulay. Its role was to look at the existing Courts, police systems, and the laws in India at the time. The Commission recommended several legal actions to the Government. One key recommendation was the Indian Penal Code, which became law in 1860. Despite being a product of the colonial era, this Code is still in use in the country, with only a few changes made over the years. The ongoing presence of these laws, originally crafted to serve the interests of the British rulers, can be seen as a negative aspect of Indias legal heritage. It is a reminder of a time when laws were not always made with the best interests of the Indian people in mind.

Its persistence is a lingering shadow of a past that sought not to elevate India, but to shape it in the image of those who sought to rule rather than respect.

Furthermore, the whole idea behind introduction of IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act was that Indias legal system was primitive. In David Skuys paper, Macaulay and the Indian Penal Code of 1862: The Myth of the Inherent Superiority and Modernity of the English Legal System Compared to Indias Legal System in the Nineteenth Century, he explores the comparative development of criminal law in India and England during the 19th century. Skuy asserts that the Indian legal reforms were mirroring those happening in England, with Indias legal changes reflecting the Peel Acts, the creation of criminal codes, and other legal shifts in England. Skuy argues that Macaulays initiation of writing a penal code for India was a result of Englands criminal law reform, and not due to the Indian legal systems condition. Furthermore, he challenges the notion that Englands legal system was inherently superior or more modern than Indias. He calls for an understanding of Indias indigenous legal systems to allow for an objective comparison, suspecting that Indias criminal justice system was not necessarily more primitive than Englands. Skuys study illustrates that English law, and its development cannot be taken at face value, especially when comparing it with Indian law in the same period.

Additionally, when the criminal justice system was reformed in India, it was not applied consistently across the board. The wisdom of the British colonial mindset was rightly captured by none other than the Chief Justice of the Calcutta Supreme Court, Charles Jackson. A fervent advocate for the peculiar circumstances that allowed a small dominant and civilized class to benevolently bestow upon the large native uncivilized population a judicial system superior to anything they ever had. However, heaven forbid that these same British subjects should be subject to such laws themselves! Jacksons candid assessment: the natives were better off, while Europeans would only suffer from being subjected to inferior laws. The solution, he magnanimously proclaimed, was not to reduce the British subject to the level of the Native but to raise the Native to the position of the British subject. Indeed, the benevolence in wanting to raise the natives while keeping them at arms length from the laws that governed the British is truly touching. One can only wonder at the grace it took to see the system as an uplifting gift, rather than the clear tool of differentiation and control it was designed to be.

For generations, the people of India have lived under laws that were never truly ours. They were laws given to us by people who didnt understand us, who looked down on us, and who thought they were doing us a favor. The Indian Penal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code, and the Indian Evidence Act were like old clothes that never fit, handed down by those who once ruled over us.

But now, a new day is dawning. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, 2023; the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita Bill, 2023; and the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023 are more than just new laws. They are our laws. They are a sign that India is ready to stand tall and walk on its own path. Its about saying goodbye to the past and embracing a future that belongs to us.

So, heres to a new beginning. And to Thomas Babington Macaulay, who once thought he could teach us how to be civilised, we say thank you for the lessons, but well take it from here. Weve got our own wisdom, our own strength, and our own way of doing things. Its time for India to be India, and we wouldnt have it any other way.

The author is Additional Private Secretary (Policy & Research), Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister. He tweets @adityasinha004. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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Dr Sabyasachi Das claims that manipulation of elections can take place at one of three stages of elections. First, at the time of voter registration, in the form of targeted deletion of names of voters who are unlikely to vote for the incumbent party.  Second, at the time of voting, when polling officers can strategically discriminate against registered voters, who are likely to vote against BJP. Finally, manipulation can take place at the time of counting of votes. To me, it is only the last of these that is a serious structural flaw, which will cast doubts on the credibility of the Election Commission (EC). Turnout manipulation, thus, cannot be blamed on the EC.

For the other two, there may be other, perfectly good causes. When Das claims that voter lists excluded Muslims, which was one way to manipulate elections, he does not consider fake identities or plain errors. In the 2019 elections many voters, Hindus and Muslims, found their names no longer on the lists. Some discovered this in time to have the omission rectified, but others had to forfeit their votes. Similarly, if the ruling party is able to round up its supporters at the last minute, bringing them to the booths to vote as its fabled panna pramukhs (or page heads) are supposed to do, surely that is neither election fraud nor manipulation. Das admits, It would be inappropriate to treat the data revision as aggregation fraud. Moreover, in all cases, barring one, the revision is not larger than the win margin (20). Meaning, the results are negative.

In the more serious allegations of politically pliant counting observers and irregularities in polling stations outcomes, once again, the results are hardly so significant as to suggest fraud: only 0.13% booths are fraudulent The estimates are low but move in the direction that is indicative of fraud (24). Really? What else do you have except nudge-nudge wink-wink if only 1.3 seats in a 1,000 or at most 3 in our present Lok Sabha of 543 might, but cannot be proven, to be won deceitfully? Of course, the EC should look into it and check this tendency, if it does exist.

The fundamental flaw in Dass methodology, however, is deeper. It is the binary between mechanisms of manipulation and precise control during elections. When he does not find evidence of the latter, he goes looking for the former. I find this utterly unconvincing, if not essentially unsound. We all know that there is no such thing as precise control in election outcomes. Just because the variable of effective campaigning is for the purposes of analysis temporarily frozen, it does not automatically imply manipulation or fraud, that too discrimination against Muslims.

Not only for its flawed methodology and negative conclusions would I have not, on my own, have paid attention to this paper. I would have waited for it to be peer-reviewed and published in a respectable journal. I am not sure I see the utility of researchers posting it online to invite public controversy, rather than private, meaningful criticism, in order to make it better. The needle of suspicion points elsewhere. Instead, than waiting for the paper to be published, which might take several months, Das found it more expedient to put it out into the public domain now.

Why? Could one infer that that is because it rides, as its title suggests, on the back of the drumming up of the international democratic backsliding in India, as I showed in the earlier parts of my analysis? Or the open war between the government and the opposition in the run up to the general elections of 2024, which the latters no-confidence motion, already suggests has begun? Whatever the reasons, I do not believe the timing or the posting of this pre-publication paper can be construed as entirely innocent.

Let us cut to the chase  if not cut the clutter. In my review of the literature on the global buzz or chatter on Indias democratic backsliding, for we cannot dignify it with the Foucauldian sobriquet of discourse, I found only one recent academic paper worth citing in refutation, Rahul Vermas The Exaggerated Death of Indian Democracy, published in volume 34 (July 2023) of the Journal of Democracy.

Verma observes that Democracy watchers and scholars alike point to a serious deterioration in civil liberties, intolerance of religious minorities, and the weakening of institutional autonomy as the primary sources of democratic decline in India. Not surprisingly, they also highlight the actions and inactions of Modis government as the key drivers behind Indias democratic backsliding. In response, Verma says claims of Indian democracys death are highly exaggerated. Systemic features of a dominant-party system that is also marked by deep partisan polarisation are being conflated with democratic backsliding.

Verma, incidentally, works at Centre for Policy Research, under the governments scanner for alleged violations of FCRA violations. In other words, the governments defence has come from an unlikely quarter, if one were to go by the reductive abuse that both individual academics and the institutions they serve undergo in todays charged atmosphere, when they speak for or against the ruling dispensation. I mention this because not only did Das come under attack for his paper, but so did his academic home institution, the privately funded Ashoka University.

The aforementioned BJP MP, Dubey, in fact, shifted his focus from Das paper to Ashoka, effectively calling for the closure for anti-national activities. Given Ashoka Universitys track record of producing both scholarship and rhetoric critical of the Modi government, its hasty disassociation, albeit not quite tantamount to throwing him under the bus, does show how hard it is trying, in its post-Pratap Bhanu Mehta phase, from ridding itself of the anti-Modi tag. Unfortunately, the university has served as the host of a whole slew of such Left-Liberal academics other than Mehta.

Even the Trivedi Centre for Political Data at Ashoka University, which supplied Das with some of the privately owned and controlled large data sets that he cites, is known for academics and work critical of the present government. One glance at his references and those he thanks show the company he keeps. I do not say this pejoratively: there is no denying that academics is a collective endeavour, with complex networks and systems of mutual recognition and patronage in place, the very success of Ashoka itself a part of such a global ecosystem.

Vermas paper, incidentally, does not mention Das at all. Das has had some statistical refuters on social media, particularly one from a handle called @Saiarav. Saiarav, in a series of tweets, has pointed to serious errors, even fudging, in Dass paper. I also found a more detailed article by Yajnavalkya which is supposedly his pseudonym. This rebuttal, The Ashoka Paper  a case of democratic backsliding or academic backsliding? is far more mathematically and statistically informed than my critique. But its conclusions are similar, perhaps more hard-hitting than my own response: I specifically make the charge that the authors extraordinary claim that there is evidence of large-scale voter deletion is not only backed by very flimsy statistical evidence, [but] there is a possibility that he has deliberately suppressed part of the statistical output which would strongly negate that claim.

Therefore, as I mentioned earlier, we must resign ourselves to the rather fatuous, if not vacuous, but overdetermined political response to papers such as Dass that we are condemned to as our default mode in India. It is the prevailing anti-intellectualism and lack of critical thinking that poses a greater danger to Indian democracy than promoted, if not prestigious, papers from academics such as Das in Indias prominent private universities such as Ashoka. That is why, especially on the eve of our 77th Independence Day, I feel like telling all India-haters and India-baitersback off!

(Concluded)

The writer is an author, columnist, and professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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Balochistan Awami Party Senator Anwaar ul Haq Kakar has been chosen as the interim Prime Minister of Pakistan. The announcement came after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and outgoing Opposition Leader in the National Assembly (NA) Raja Riaz reached a consensus over Kakars name for the coveted post in a meeting today.

According to a press release issued by the PMO, PM Shehbaz and Riaz sent an advice regarding Kakars appointment as the caretaker Prime Minister to President Arif Alvi, who gave his assent to Article 224A of Pakistans Constitution.

Senator Raja Riaz was quoted as saying, We had earlier decided that the caretaker PM should be someone from a smaller province and a non-controversial personality. Our aim was to remove the sense of deprivation in small provinces. We have finally reached a consensus that Anwaar ul Haq Kakar will be the caretaker PM.

Who is Anwaar ul Haq Kakar?

It is reported that Anwaar ul Haq Kakar took the oath of caretaker PM today. Who is Anwaar ul Haq Kakar?

Kakar was elected as an Independent senator from Balochistan in 2018, for a six-year term that will end in March 2024.Simultaneously, he worked as chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, and as a member of the Business Advisory Committee, Finance and Revenue, Foreign Affairs and Science and Technology.

Kakar also undertook the role of parliamentary leader for the Balochistan Awami Party  formed in 2018 within the Senate. Kakar navigated this leadership position for a considerable five-year duration. Nonetheless, a mere five months ago, the party resolved to opt for new leadership, leading to his replacement.

The probable candidates

The process for the appointment of the caretaker PM started soon after the premature dissolution of the National Assembly on 9 August. The first meeting between PM Shehbaz Sharif and Leader of the Opposition Raja Riaz was held on 10 August wherein reportedly both the leaders exchanged a list of probable candidates.

The second round of consultations was held during a dinner hosted by PM Shehbaz Sharif for leaders of the outgoing ruling alliance on 11 August after which he had expressed confidence that the name of the head of the interim set-up would be finalised by 12 August.

Apparently, Nawaz Sharif was insisting, through PM Shehbaz Sharif, on former finance minister Ishaq Dar to be picked as caretaker Premier, and if not Dar, then former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. However, Riaz, a PTI dissident, was proposing the name of Senate chairman Sadiq Sanjrani. During consultations between the ruling allies on the issue of caretaker Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah had also stated that an apolitical person or a technocrat could be made the interim Prime Minister. The minister also hinted that the names of former finance minister Hafeez Shaikh and a former Supreme Court judge had been shortlisted.

Apparently, the name of former Chief Justice of Pakistan Tassaduq Hussain Jilani had been circulating amongst those being considered as caretaker Prime Minister. The other probables included Fawad Hassan Fawad, former Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister; Abdullah Hussain Haroon, former Permanent Representative to the United Nations; Pir of Pagaro VII, Sibghatullah Shah Rashdi; and former Punjab Governor Makhdoom Ahmed Mehmood of PPP.

On 11 August, Dr Arif Alvi, the President, had written to PM Shehbaz Sharif to finalise a name along with Senator Riaz Ahmed by 12 August. However, Shehbaz Sharif had stated that the Constitution gave him time to complete consultations to their satisfaction.

He added that per the Constitution, he still had eight days to serve as Prime Minister, as the procedure for appointment of the caretaker Prime Minister as prescribed in the Constitution stipulates that even if talks between the Leader of the House and Opposition fail, the matter will be handed over to a bipartisan Parliamentary Body to resolve in another three days. Failing that, the matter will be taken up by the Election Commission of Pakistan to resolve.

While the Constitution mandates that the fresh elections are to take place within 90 days of dissolving the National Assembly, there is likely to be a delay due to the ongoing.

The President

The five-year term of President Arif Alvi is also set to end next month; however, as per Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, according to the Constitution, the President would retain his seat until the new one was elected. A founding member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), he was elected as President of Pakistan on 4 September 2018.

However, in case President Alvi resigns, the Senate chairman would take his place. And if the Senate chairman was also unavailable, the National Assembly Speaker would take this slot.

With former Prime Minister Imran Khan in jail and virtually out of the race in the next elections there is very little President Alvi can do in order to influence matters on his behalf. It is therefore likely that he will continue more so as there will be no electoral college in the country to elect a new president in his place. According to the Constitution, a new president will be voted by the electoral college comprising the Senate, the National Assembly and all the provincial assemblies.

Conclusion

Anwaar ul Haq Kakars appointment as caretaker PM is merely a constitutional necessity. He will hardly assert himself independent of the Army and his decisions will be dictated by Rawalpindi rather than Islamabad. The more things change in Pakistan, the more it remains the same.

The author is a retired Major General of the Indian Army. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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Referring to a private conversation he had with Jawaharlal Nehru, in Noakhali around the end of 1946, Dr Rammanohar Lohia, recalled how Nehru spoke of the water, slime bush and tree that he found everywhere in East Bengal. He said that was not the India he or I knew and wanted with some vehemence to cut East Bengal away from the mainland of India. That was an extraordinary observation The observation surprised Lohia, who found it natural to identify oneself with the eastern part of Bengal, for myself, he wrote with exuberance, I have found the gay laughter of East Bengal women unparalleled in all the world.

If one puts together bits and pieces of information, conversations, political statements and counterpoints, it becomes evident that Nehru never identified himself with the trials and travails of the people of East Bengal and in a sense with Bengal as a whole. It was this approach of his, combined with his obsession of trying to chisel an image of himself as the teacher of the world along with his other quirks, that made him resist a complete exchange of population on the eastern front.

While Punjab saw a complete exchange of population, for Bengal Nehru resisted that proposition despite repeated entreaties by Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee. A few years before this, in his Pakistan or the Partition of India, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar too, had advocated logically the need for an exchange of population. Dr Mookerjees pleas fell on deaf ears and Nehru refused to accede to it. Nehru replied that such an exchange of population would be economically, socially, spiritually detrimental to the Hindus of East Bengal. When Dr Mookerjee countered as to why this logic was not applied to the Punjab sector and asked Nehru to place his arguments in cold-storage for a while, he was only met with a stony non-compliant silence. It may also be useful here to recall that the Communist Party of India, for years Nehrus loyal ally, had raised its voice against the partition of Bengal, because it wanted Bengal, in its entirety, to go to Pakistan. Such is the mindset of the predecessors of the present legatees of the communist movement in India.

There is and has yet not been any plausible or convincing reason on why Nehru stubbornly refused to work out this exchange of population except that he felt disconnected with the tribulations of the Hindus of East Bengal and was more concerned with burnishing his international image as a secularist. Therefore, unlike Punjab where the partition drew to a close, writers and observers have spoken of the partition on Indias eastern flank as a prolonged partition with its pogroms which occurred periodically and over decades, ejecting refugees in waves and bringing in its wake, a continuous cycle of disruption, dislocation, uprooting and death.

Even in trying to prevent this or in trying to mitigate the suffering and the violence Nehru proved ineffective and inept. When a series of attacks convulsed the minorities in East Bengal in February 1950, the first in a series of major attacks that would continue over the decades, Acharya Kripalani complained in disgust over Pandit Nehrus inaction. Can be safe if he asked, at critical times because of difficulties involved in possible solutions, it refuses to act? Does not non-action amount often to disastrous action? Is it not better to strive and suffer and persist than merely vegetate and fade awayRuling a nation is a no holiday affair

The AICC tribes of historians whose standards have drastically depleted since the days of Pattabhi Sitaramayya have often spoken of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjees call to initiate action against Pakistan for failing to protect her minorities in the early days and years after partition, as an ultra-radical stand which had no one to second it. Interestingly not only Dr Mookerjee, but one even saw the likes of Jayaprakash Narayan call for action against the East Pakistan dispensation. When he saw the excruciating effects of the unfinished or prolonged partition, JP argued, If all peaceful methods fail and Pakistan could not guarantee justice and security for the minorities, the only alternative left is to send our own forces into East Bengal to protect our minorities there.

The historic resignation letter of Pakistans first Law Minister and Dalit leader, Jogendra Nath Mandal, throws more light on partition, especially the eastern front and its treatment meted out to the minority Hindus. Mandal himself had to resign and flee to India. It is a letter that assumes increasing relevance, especially when one remembers the horrors of partition and the horrors and extreme tribulations that the victims of a prolonged partition had to face because of Congresss intransigence and Nehrus shortsightedness. Pakistan was no place for Dalits, Mandals repeated pleadings with Liaqat Ali Khan and Kwaja Nazimuddin, then chief minister of East Bengal, to include two scheduled caste ministers in the East Bengal cabinet was stoutly ignored. My outspokenness, vigilance and sincere efforts to safeguard the interests of minorities of Pakistan, in general, and of the scheduled caste in particular, were considered a matter of annoyance to the East Bengal Govt. and few league leaders Mandal lamented in his letter of resignation to Liaqat Ali.

The enormity of the population shift post partition and its continued movement emerges from the pages of Mandals letter. What is today the condition in East Bengal? About fifty lakhs of Hindus have left since the partition of the country. Apart from the East Bengal riots of last February, the reasons for such a large-scale exodus of Hindus are many. The boycott by the Muslims of Hindu lawyers, medical practitioners, shop-keepers, traders and merchants has compelled Hindus to migrate to West Bengal in search of their means of livelihood. Wholesale requisition of Hindu houses even without following due process of law in many and non-payment of any rent whatsoever to the owners have compelled them to seek for Indian shelterAnsars against whom I received complaints all over are a standing menace to the safety and security of Hindus. Interference in matters of education and methods adopted by the Education Authority for Islamisation frightened the teaching staff of Secondary Schools and Colleges out of their old familiar moorings. They have left East Bengal. As a result most of the educational institutions have been closedOwing to the migration of Medical Practitioners there is hardly any means of proper treatment of patients. Almost all the priests who used to worship the household deities at Hindu houses have left. Important places of worship have been abandonedArtisans who made images of gods and goddesses have also leftI shall not be unjustified in stating that Hindus of Pakistan have to all intent and purposes been rendered Stateless in their own houses

As we observe Partition Horror Remembrance Day in response to a deeply thought-provoking and moving appeal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi  the first time ever in the history of independent India that such a call was given  in which he said, Partitions pains can never be forgotten. Millions of our sisters and brothers were displaced and many lost their lives due to mindless hate and violence. In memory of the struggles and sacrifices of our people, 14th August will be observed as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, it is an appropriate occasion to reflect on the peculiarities and intricacies of partition on the eastern front, on its prolonged and debilitating effects and on its continuation.

While the saga of partition on the western front has seen ample research, documentation and displays, with a Partition Museum in Amritsar, much of the saga of the eastern partition and its various dimensions still remain to be narrated, documented and re-stated. Kolkata still waits for the Partition Museum and West Bengal still awaits its partition-holocaust memorial.

By calling for the observance of Partition Horror Remembrance Day, PM Modi has opened up a wholly new dimension, with scope for deep research and reflection. It was long awaited and has made us alive to a past that can never be suppressed, ignored or forgotten.

The writer is chairman and trustee: Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation, and member of BJPs National Executive Committee. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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The 2020s is going to be a monumental decade for India for a number of reasons, all thanks to Indias rapidly growing tech space. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology or MEiTY have, therefore, named it, Indias Techade.

India is projected to become the third-largest economy in the world pegged at $5 trillionovertaking Germany and Japan, and most of this is going to come from Indias rapidly growing tech sector.

With many foreign tech companies setting up shop in India, and with policies and incentives to facilitate manufacturing, Indias Techade is progressing dynamically and at a fast pace.

Heres what the next 10 years or so will look like.

India becoming a major manufacturing hub and technology exporter

India is already in the process of becoming a major manufacturing destination for tech companies from all over the world. Samsung has been manufacturing a major chunk of their budget smartphone in India for years, and now has started making their premium flagship devices in the country as well. Similarly, Apple is just getting started with its manufacturing plans in the country.

Then, there is the entire India Semicon business. India will emerge not only as a major chip-manufacturing nation but also as a major chip-designing one. Semicon India 2023 made one thing very clear  that semiconductors made in India will not only be a major proponent for tech in India but also in the rest of the world. Micron and TSMC are already investing heavily in setting up fab units in India, and Foxconn is looking to set up its own fabrication unit as well. Similarly, AMD is looking to set up its largest R&D facility in India.

Moreover, Indian players like Vedanta and Tata are also aggressively looking for partners and solutions to set up their fabrication and possibly design units.

Because of this India-made semiconductors will not only power basic devices such as EVs and smartphones but also the high-tech and more powerful AI and ML data centres.

What this means, is that from being an importer of tech, India is set to become a major exporter of tech.

Private Players join ISRO in becoming a challenge for SpaceX and NASA

In the last decade or so, ISRO has really come into its stride. The fact that we have one of the cheapest and most successful launch programmes is going to be a huge factor for the next 10 years. ISRO is already making pretty good money thanks to the lauch services it provides to players based in other countries. As per a 2022 report, ISRO made well over $200 million in foreign exchange all through its launch services.

Cheap and affordable launch services mean India is in a great position to take advantage of space tourism when it becomes a thing. Not just that, as the world seeks to establish colonies on the Moon and Mars, cheap logistics are going to a huge demand. In such a scenario, ISROs launch technology will be highly sought after.

And it is not just ISRO in India that is going to be ruling the skies and space, even private players are going to get in on the action. There are several private firms and aerospace startups that are working on making their own satellites. There are some that are working on their own launch vehicles and rockets.

By the end of Indias Techade, we shouldnt be surprised if India has a combination that is just as potent and powerful as that of NASA and SpaceX.

Indias dependence on crude oil goes down significantly as electrification increases

The government aims to achieve a 30 per cent adoption rate of electric vehicles (EVs) for private cars, 70 per cent for commercial vehicles, and 80 per cent for two and three-wheelers by the year 2030. Even if we reach about 70 per cent of our targets, our dependence on imported crude oil will go down significantly.

As the country moves towards more electrification, the infrastructure to generate, distribute and store electricity is also set to improve exponentially. However, what is more important is that Indian manufacturers will be required to acquire tech to make better batteries.

India is already planning to export power to Singapore, UAE and a few other allies in Asia. With improved infrastructure and logistics, power, like data, is set to become dirt cheap.

India becomes completely self-reliant in crucial tech infrastructure

Not many people are aware of this, but India developed its own 5G technology. Similarly, we developed NaVIC, our own GPS system that is being used not just by the military but by civilians as well.

There are many other such vital technologies for which we had to rely on others. We imported much of the 2G and 4G infrastructure. This decade however, in a bid for true self-reliance, we will be developing our own technology. For example, we are already making great progress in the development of 6G technology in India.

Similarly, we are creating our own chips for IoT, which will be used in all sorts of fields, from connected cars, to smart warehouses and shipping.

Right To Technology

All of this new tech will be pretty useless if it is not accessible to the lowest strata of our society. Fortunately, all of these technological evolutions should culminate in a situation where even the most disadvantaged section of our economy has access to a basic level of technology.

If manufacturers are making in India and developing their tech in India, Indias socio-economic conditions are bound to influence how they are designed, and how they are made.

As a result, technology, some of the more crucial ones at least, will become much more easily accessible. For example, just like we have affordable 4G and 5G internet right now, we will have just an affordable and easy way to access IoT infrastructures, AI, and cloud computing.
A Shiite Muslim shrine in the southern city of Shiraz, Iran, was targeted in an attack on Sunday, resulting in at least one fatality, a local official told state TV.

Iranian state media earlier reported that at least four people had been killed in the attack.

It happened around 19:00 local time (15:30 GMT)  an armed terrorist entered the Shrine area and started shooting  he was arrested, said Mohammad Hadi Imaniyeh, the governor of Fars province.

One person was killed in the attack.

At least seven people were wounded, including two workers at the shrine and two pilgrims, and shops in the area had been closed. State TV said the shrine area had been cordoned off by security forces, reported Reuters.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack on the Shah Cheragh shrine, which state news agency IRNA said had been carried out by terrorists. Islamic State last October said it had launched an attack on the shrine in which 15 people were killed.

Islamic state has claimed previous attacks in Iran, including the deadly twin bombings in 2017 that targeted Irans parliament and the tomb of the Islamic Republics founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Videos on Iranian state media showed panicked worshippers running to find their relatives and bloodied clothes left in the aftermath of the attack.

With inputs from agencies
The nomination of Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, a little-known Senator from Balochistan to head the caretaker government of Pakistan as Prime Minister until the forthcoming parliamentary elections, has left many political figures in the nation surprised.

Kakar, 52, assumes responsibility for a nation grappling with prolonged political and economic instability with the period has also been marked by the imprisonment and electoral disqualification of Imran Khan, who has been a significant and popular figure in Pakistani politics.

What is more concerning is that Kakars appointment to this important role was recommended by the influential military establishment which has further triggered speculation about the implications it holds for Pakistans trajectory in the days to come.

Pakistani media has quoted several former legislators and political leaders expressing surprise at Kakars choice. Kakars name came from somewhere else, and it had to be accepted by all stakeholders, a politician who was not identified, said.

Pakistan Peoples Party leader Syed Khursheed Shah said no one was aware that Kakar would be the interim PM. He said the PPP had proposed three names that were better options. We should hope for the best, irrespective of the fact where the name came from, he added.

The premier and opposition parties began rounds of meetings to pick a caretaker prime minister following the dissolution of the National Assembly on August 9.

Under Provision of Article 224 (1A) of the Constitution, the president appoints the caretaker prime minister in consultation with the prime minister and leader of the opposition in the outgoing National Assembly, the lower house of Parliament.

Kakar was elected to the Senate in 2018 and has been a very active politician. He has also served as the spokesperson of the Balochistan provincial government prior to his election to the upper house.

Born in 1971 in the Muslim Bagh area of Qila Saifullah district of Balochistan. He holds a Masters degree in Political Science, Sociology and is an alumnus of the University of Balochistan.

The appointment of an interim government is a constitutional requirement and the outgoing prime minister is bound to choose his successor in consultation with the leader of the opposition within three days of the end of the National Assembly.

If the two leaders fail to reach a consensus, they send two names each to a bipartisan parliamentary panel which creates consensus on a single candidate within the next three days. However, in case of failure, the panel sends all names to the election commission which within two days appoints the caretaker premier.

The national assembly was dissolved on August 9 and Saturday was the last day for the prime minister and the leader of the opposition to agree upon a caretaker premier.

The general elections are expected to be held within 90 days but the election commission may take more time if it organises delimitation on the basis of a new census. Kakar will soon take an oath and choose his cabinet for the interim period to run the country.

With inputs from agencies.
A controversial lesson on sexual harassment, which was conducted at a middle school situated in the southern region of China, has stirred an online discussion regarding victim-blaming.

The school, located in Zhaoqing City in Guangdong province, held a mental health education class last year where it showed photos with messages saying that those who suffer sexual harassment do so because they dress flamboyantly and behave flirtatiously.

But photos of the teaching material only began circulating this month, drawing attention to statements that perpetuate victim-blaming in the context of sexual harassment.

Girls shouldnt wear transparent or skimpy clothes and should avoid frivolous behaviour, the material presented at the mental health education class said.

It may be noted that in China, mental health education classes are equivalent of sex education classes.

The photos prompted anger and disbelief on social media, with many blaming conservative attitudes they said reflected deep-rooted gender inequality in a patriarchal society.

Chinese state-run media outlet Peoples Daily said that the Chinese social media users as well as the general populace were angered by the classes and also by the response given by the authorities when questioned regarding the material.

The class was held in 2022 but the photos appeared on Chinas heavily censored internet this month.

Chinese netizens said that those teaching the course are problematic while some pointed out that there are still prevalent conservative attitudes which reflect deep-rooted gender inequality.

The emergence of these images has ignited a wave of emotions, encompassing sentiments of anger and disbelief, as they spread across various social media platforms.

Critics have been swift to underscore the entrenched gender inequality that prevails in a society marked by patriarchal norms. They attribute the perpetuation of such attitudes to prevailing conservative perspectives within specific segments of the population.

Over the years, several incidents of a similar nature have surfaced, generating controversies.

These situations have garnered particular attention in the context of Chinas persistent #MeToo movement. Despite facing consistent challenges stemming from censorship and ongoing curbs on feminist activism, the #MeToo movement in China continues to endure.
A tragic incident has unfolded in Kansas, as Joan Meyer, the co-owner of a local newspaper, has passed away after what the publication termed an invasive police raid.

The Marion County Record, a small Kansas newspaper, reported that the 98-year-old Meyer collapsed and died in her home after enduring the distressing sight of law enforcement officers entering her home with a search warrant.

The incident occurred just a day after officers removed her computer and internet router, along with photographing her sons bank statements and leaving her residence in disarray.

Joan Meyers health was reportedly considered robust for her age. Her newspaper firmly asserted that the polices decision to conduct raids on their offices, as well as the homes of reporters and publishers, not only violated the law but also played a role in her untimely passing.

Over 30 major US media outlets, including Reuters, the Associated Press, the New York Times, and the Washington Post, collectively expressed their strong condemnation of the search operation through an open letter to the police. The letter questioned the justifiability of the extensive and intrusive search carried out by local law enforcement.

The turmoil began when a confidential source leaked information to the Marion County Record regarding a local restaurant owner, Kari Newell, who had reportedly been convicted of drunk driving but continued to use her car without a valid license.

Despite not publishing this information due to suspicions surrounding the sources motives, the newspaper found itself entangled in a situation where Newell accused it of illegally obtaining and disseminating sensitive documents.

The controversy escalated during a local city council meeting when Newell insinuated that the leak aimed to damage her business. However, this allegation was later proven false. Newell also had reporters from the Marion County Record removed from an open forum organized by US congressman Jake LaTurner at a coffee shop she operated, despite his teams invitation to the media.

In response to Newells claims, the Meyer familys newspaper published an article to clarify the situation.

This move was followed by the police raids, which were authorized by a search warrant signed by Judge Laura Viar, alleging identity theft and unlawful use of a computer.

The police raids resulted in the confiscation of computers, cellphones, and reporting materials from the newspapers offices and the homes of its staff.

This action not only disrupted the newspapers operations but also raised concerns about press freedoms and journalist protections.

According to Emily Bradbury, the director of the Kansas Press Association, the raids amounted to an assault on democracy and the publics right to information.

John Galer, the chairperson of the National Newspaper Association, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that such actions were unimaginable in a nation that upholds press freedoms as enshrined in the First Amendment of the US Constitution.

Amid the controversy, the Marion police acknowledged the federal law protecting journalists from searches, while asserting that this protection didnt apply if journalists were considered suspects in the subject of the search.

Kari Newell maintained her stance that the leak aimed to harm her business, while also denying being the sole reason behind the newspaper raid.

As debates continue over the legality and ethics of the police raids, the Marion County Record faces challenges in maintaining its regular publication schedule.

This incident has triggered a broader discussion about press freedoms, law enforcement practices, and the rights of journalists in the modern media landscape. The Marion County Record, established in 1869 and run by the Meyer family for over six decades, has become a focal point in this ongoing debate.
An airline flight from Australia to Malaysia returned on Monday to Sydney, after a passenger reportedly threatened to blow the plane up.

Dozens of domestic flights were cancelled and delayed at Australias busiest airport due to the emergency. The passenger was arrested hours later in what police described as an emergency incident.

Malaysia Airlines flight MH122 left Sydney Airport with 199 passengers and 12 crew aboard on an eight-hour flight to Kuala Lumpur and returned more than three hours later because of a disruptive passenger, the airline said.

In the interest of safety, the commander of the flight made a decision to return to Sydney, Malaysias national carrier said in a statement.

Nine News reported that a passenger holding a backpack on the Airbus A330 had threatened to blow the plane up. Crew checked the backpack and found no explosives, it said.

Australian Federal Police described the situation as an emergency incident.

A 45-year-old man was arrested without incident and the rest of the passengers were released from the plane about three hours after it landed, a police statement said.

The man, who was not identified, was expected to be charged later Monday, police said. They did not specify an offense.

The airline said passengers would be transferred to the next available flights.

Malaysia Airlines wishes to thank the authorities for their immediate response and to passengers for remaining calm and cooperative during the ordeal, the airline said.

Sydney Airport said some flights continued to land and take off while emergency agencies responded to the situation. No international flights were cancelled.

With inputs from AP.
Nigers military regime vowed late Sunday to prosecute ousted president Mohamed Bazoum for high treason and slammed West African leaders for imposing sanctions on the country.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) imposed sanctions on Niger in response to the coup and has not ruled out using force against the army officers who toppled the democratically elected Bazoum on July 26.

The West African bloc has approved the deployment of a standby force to restore constitutional order in Niger as soon as possible but remains committed to finding a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

Nigers military leaders said they would prosecute Bazoum for high treason and undermining the internal and external security of Niger, according to a statement read out by Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane on national television.

Bazoum, 63, and his family have been held at the presidents official Niamey residence since the coup, with international concern mounting over his conditions in detention.

A member of his entourage said he saw his doctor on Saturday.

After this visit, the doctor raised no problems regarding the state of health of the deposed president and members of his family, the military said.

They also said sanctions imposed on Niger had made it difficult for people to access medicines, food and electricity, and were illegal, inhumane and humiliating.

Open to diplomacy

The comments came just hours after religious mediators met with coup leader General Abdourahamane Tiani, who indicated his regime was open to a diplomatic breakthrough.

Tiani said their doors were open to explore diplomacy and peace in resolving the matter, said Sheikh Bala Lau, a day after his Nigerian Muslim delegation held talks in the capital Niamey.

Tiani claimed the coup was well intended and that the plotters struck to stave off an imminent threat that would have affected Nigeria as well as Niger, according to Laus statement.

But Tiani said it was painful that ECOWAS had issued an ultimatum to restore Bazoum without hearing their side of the matter, the statement added.

The Muslim leaders visited Niamey with the blessing of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who is also head of ECOWAS.

Tinubu has adopted a firm stance against the coup, the sixth to hit an ECOWAS member state since 2020.

The bloc has severed financial transactions and electricity supplies and closed borders with landlocked Niger, blocking much-needed imports to one of the worlds poorest countries.

On July 30, it issued a seven-day ultimatum to restore Bazoum or face the potential use of force, but the deadline expired without the new rulers backing down.

The bloc scrapped a Saturday crisis meeting on the coup due to be held in Ghanas capital Accra for technical reasons.

Demonstrations in favour of the new military rulers have become a common sight in Niamey.

Thousands of people attended concerts on Sunday at the Seyni Kountche Stadium in support of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), the generals who have taken power.The crowd, mainly made up of young people, brandished the flags of Niger as well as those of Burkina Faso, Mali and Russia.

The prospect of a military intervention to reinstate Bazoum has divided ECOWAS members and drawn warnings from foreign powers including Russia and Algeria.

Nigers neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso, also ruled by military governments who seized power in coups, have said an intervention would be tantamount to a declaration of war on them.
Two individuals suspected of espionage and other related charges have been arrested by the Polish authorities, as announced by Mariusz Kaminski, the Interior Minister of Poland, on Monday.

As per reports, concerns have emerged in Poland regarding potential provocations from the Wagner Group, an organization currently situated in the neighboring country of Belarus.

The detained men were found to be disseminating materials associated with the Russian mercenary group Wagner within Polands two major cities, according to Minister Kaminski.

He conveyed this information via the messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter, stating, The Internal Security Agency has successfully identified and detained two Russian nationals who were distributing propaganda materials for the Wagner Group in Krakow and Warsaw.

Kaminski elaborated that the detained individuals face charges of espionage, among other allegations, and have subsequently been taken into custody.

Local Polish media had previously reported the appearance of stickers featuring the Wagner logo and accompanied by the message, We are here  join us, written in English. These stickers also featured QR codes which linked to a Russian website dedicated to the Wagner mercenary group.

The ABW (Internal Security Agency) disclosed that the detained Russians were found with over 3,000 propaganda leaflets promoting the Wagner group. The agency stated that this material had been supplied to them in Moscow. Additionally, the agency revealed that the suspects were set to receive compensation of up to 500,000 rubles ($5,000) for their activities.

Residents of Krakow and Warsaw brought the stickers to the attention of the police, as reported by the Polish daily newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza.

While it remains uncertain whether the arrests are directly linked to the distribution of the stickers, Poland has made a commitment to augment its troop presence at the border shared with Belarus to a level of 10,000 personnel. This step comes in response to the presence of members from Russias Wagner mercenary group near the border in recent times. Lithuania has also strengthened its border security in light of this development.

The Wagner fighters entered Belarus, which is allied with Russia, as part of an agreement that concluded their armed rebellion in late June. This agreement also granted their leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, immunity from criminal charges.

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki of Poland has expressed his belief that the arrival of the Wagner group is an attempt to disrupt stability on NATOs eastern flank.

Lithuania and Poland are prepared for potential provocations from Russia and its ally Belarus, which has carried out military exercises in the Grodno region of Belarus. This region is in proximity to the Suwalki Gap, a thin stretch of land spanning 96 kilometers along the Polish-Lithuanian border. This gap serves as a crucial link between the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia with the rest of the NATO alliance, effectively separating Belarus from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad situated on the Baltic Sea.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced on Sunday his plans for an October referendum, wherein citizens will voice their stance on an influx of illegal immigrants as part of the European Union (EU) migrant relocation proposition.

Morawiecki presented the query through a video on social media, asking, Are you in favour of admitting numerous illegal immigrants from the Middle East and Africa under the EUs enforced relocation scheme?

The video snippet included images of violent incidents, including burning vehicles, in Western Europe.

 Dla nas zawsze decydujacy jest gos zwykych Polakow. Trzecie pytanie bedzie brzmiao #PolacyDecyduja pic.twitter.com/AUN9K7hlg4  Prawo i Sprawiedliwosc (@pisorgpl) August 13, 2023

The leader of the ruling Law and Justice party, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, also featured in the video, stating, Do you want a similar scenario in Poland? Do you wish to relinquish control over your nation?

The forthcoming referendum, slated for October alongside parliamentary elections, follows EU interior ministers proposal that member nations collectively shoulder the responsibility of accommodating unauthorized migrant arrivals. Poland and Hungary raised objections to this proposal.

The prevailing asylum system in Europe has faced criticism due to over a million individuals, primarily from Syria, entering the bloc. This influx has strained processing and housing facilities in countries like Greece and Italy, leading to a significant political quandary.

Poland has previously granted refuge to around a million Ukrainian evacuees who fled their nation due to the Moscow-led military offensive. Unlike these Ukrainian refugees, who are largely white and Christian, Polish critics of excessive immigration argue that migrants might jeopardize the nations cultural fabric.

Until a couple of years ago, Poland was not typically regarded as a gateway or target for undocumented migrants. However, the situation changed as asylum seekers began crossing into the EU territory from Belarus. In response, Warsaw erected a 186km-long border wall and significantly bolstered its military presence in the region with approximately 2,000 soldiers and 5,000 border guards.
A viral video originating from Dubai has captured the profound disappointment and frustration of numerous Pakistani individuals.

Their ire stems from the fact that the Burj Khalifa refrained from illuminating with the Pakistani flags vibrant hues precisely at the stroke of midnight on their Independence Day.

In the video footage, a considerable assembly of Pakistani citizens can be observed gathered in proximity to the Burj Khalifa, expectantly anticipating the iconic edifice to radiate the colours emblematic of their national identity.

Contrary to their eager hopes, a surprising turn of events unveiled itself as the worlds loftiest structure remained devoid of any projected display, even minutes after the clock had ticked past the stroke of midnight.

This unexpected turn of events instigated a wave of frustration among the assembled crowd, who subsequently erupted into fervent chants of Pakistan Zindabad, underscoring their resolute allegiance to their homeland.

Amidst the clamour, a woman purportedly capturing the entire unfolding scenario through her mobile camera can be distinctly heard remarking, The time is now 12:01 am, and the authorities in Dubai have conveyed that the Burj Khalifa will not illuminate with Pakistans national flag. Regrettably, this is where our nation stands.

She continues, Despite the spirited rallying of Pakistani nationals present here, the Burj Khalifa remains untouched by the hues of the Pakistani flag. A disheartening occurrence indeed; it appears that a rather cruel jest has been played upon the entirety of the Pakistani populace.

As the footage continues, the people featured in the video are discernibly crestfallen, dispersing from the locale.

Their anticipation was centred on witnessing the Burj Khalifa bedecked in the colours synonymous with the Pakistani flag, an emblematic gesture intended to kindle their patriotic fervour.

Yet, events took an unexpected and deflating trajectory.
Taiwan will not be afraid nor back down in the face of authoritarian threats, the islands vice president told supporters on a US visit that Beijing has condemned, while reiterating a willingness to talk to China.

William Lai, also frontrunner to be Taiwans next president at January elections, is in the United States on what is officially a transit stop on his way to Paraguay for the inauguration of its new president. Paraguay is one of only 13 countries to maintain formal ties with the Chinese-claimed island.

Taiwan and the United States both say the stopovers, including one in San Francisco on the way back, are routine, but China has denounced them and called Lai a separatist troublemaker.

Lai told a supporters lunch in New York on Sunday that if Taiwan is safe, the world is safe, if the Taiwan Strait is peaceful, then the world is peaceful, according to Taiwans presidential office.

No matter how great the threat of authoritarianism is to Taiwan, we absolutely will not be scared nor cower, we will uphold the values of democracy and freedom, he said.

China considers Taiwan its most important diplomatic issue, and is a constant source of friction between Beijing and Washington, which is the islands most important international backer and arms supplier.

China has a particular dislike of Lai, who has previously described himself as a practical worker for Taiwan independence, a red line for Beijing which has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control.

Willing to talk

Lai, who has pledged to maintain peace and the status quo, reiterated in New York that on the basic principle of dignity and parity he was very willing to talk to China and seek peace and stability.

But Lai said he will protect Taiwans sovereignty, that only Taiwans people can decide their future and that the Republic of China  Taiwans formal name  and the Peoples Republic of China are not subordinate to each other.

Lais speech was attended by Ingrid Larson, managing director of the American Institute in Taiwan, a U.S. government-run non-profit that carries out unofficial relations with Taiwan.

Both Taipei and Washington are aiming for the US stopovers to be low-key, and have called on China not to take any provocative action in response.

Still, Taiwanese officials say China is likely to launch military drills this week near Taiwan, using Lais U.S. stopovers as a pretext to intimidate voters ahead of a next years election and make them fear war.

On Monday, the Eastern Theatre Command of Chinas Peoples Liberation Army, which has responsibility for the area around Taiwan, showed pictures on its WeChat account of troops practicing storming a beach, though did not give the location, timing or specifically mention Taiwan.

It said the soldiers guided armoured vehicles to the enemy frontline positions and launched a fierce attack.

China carried out war games around Taiwan in April after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen returned from California where she met U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy while also on a transit on her way back from Central America.
Donald Trumps bid for the 2024 election is seen by one of his rivals for the Republican presidential nomination as a move to evade potential legal consequences, amidst ongoing legal challenges faced by the former president.

Will Hurd, a former Republican representative from Texas offered a sharp rebuke of Trumps conduct in an interview with CNN. Meanwhile, Chris Christie raised doubts about whether the individual facing indictment in four separate cases could prevail against the Democratic incumbent, Joe Biden.

This critique of Trump, who holds a comfortable lead in Republican polls, coincides with the refusal of several primary candidates  including the former president himself  to commit to supporting the eventual GOP nominee.

On Sunday, Hurd addressed a CNN report linking Trumps legal team to a breach of the voting system in Georgia in January 2021. According to CNN, prosecutors had uncovered correspondences detailing efforts by Trumps team to attain unauthorized access to voting systems in Coffee County.

Hurd remarked during CNNs State of the Union, In my view, this incident illustrates that this is not merely about the first amendment, referring to the constitutional protection of political speech. This centers on a presidents endeavour to overturn an election and fabricate a conspiracy.

While referring to the constitutional protection for political speech, Hurd told CNNs State of the Union I think this is an example of how this is not about the first amendment. This is about a president trying to overturn an election and creating a conspiracy.

It is one more example of why Donald Trump is running for president: because hes trying to stay out of jail. Because as more of this information comes out and as the American people recognise the extent of his baggage, theyre getting sick and tired of it, he said.

Chris Christie, the former governor of New Jersey and a contender for the GOP nomination, brought attention to the legal challenges faced by Donald Trump during an interview on ABCs This Week show. Trump has faced indictment three times already, with an impending fourth indictment on state election-related charges anticipated in Georgia.

During the interview, Christie highlighted the possibility of Trump being indicted in Atlanta and stated, Let me remind the viewers out there: if hes indicted in Atlanta this week, as were anticipating that he will be, we will have the frontrunner for the Republican nomination for president out on bail in four different jurisdictions: New York, Miami, Washington, and Atlanta. These jurisdictions encompass the locations where various federal and state authorities have lodged charges against Trump.

Christie continued by posing crucial questions for Republican voters, asking if an individual under indictment in multiple cases and implicated in certain conduct can effectively compete against Joe Biden or any other Democratic candidate in the November 2024 election.

He also expressed his concern about the normalization of such circumstances, emphasizing that it is neither normal nor acceptable.

The scrutiny of Trumps situation coincides with several Republican primary candidates declining to sign a pledge committing to support the ultimate GOP nominee.

Republican National Committee chairperson Ronna McDaniel has commented on this refusal, stating that endorsing the pledge is a prerequisite for participating in the first GOP primary debate scheduled for the following week.
Xiaomi just announced the MIX Fold 3, the companys latest flagship foldable phone, at an event in China, as it had promised.

The phone has an 8.03-inch 2 Samsung Eco Plus OLED 120Hz LTPO foldable screen. The outer screen is a 6.56-inch FHD+ Samsung E6 AMOLED panel with 120Hz refresh rate, both with up to 2600 nits peak brightness, Dolby Vision and HDR10+. There is Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection for the outer screen.

The Fold 3 uses proprietary hinge technology that uses 3-element connecting rod structure, 14 micro-hinges, 198 rotating shaft components and 1800MPa ultra-high strength steel Ultra-durable carbon ceramic steel. This offers 45  135 Hover mode, and the company says that it has been tested for 500,000 folds, it has certification from TUV Rheinland. It is just 5.26mm when unfolded.

It has a 50MP main camera with Sony IMX800, sensor, OIS, 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera, 10MP 3.2X portrait telephoto, OIS and a 10MP 5X periscope telephoto camera with OIS. It has Leica Summicron lens, the second generation of Leica Color Science, and 20MP front and rear selfie cameras.

The phone is powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Leading Version of the SoC clocked up to 3.36GHz, has up to 16GB of RAM and has VC vapor chamber cooling, and a total area of 10,943mm. The phone packs a 4800mAh battery with support for 67W wired charging that can charge up to 100% in 40 minutes and 50W wireless charging support.

Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 specifications

Internal  8.03-inch (2160 x 1916 pixels) 2K+ Eco OLED Plus Samsung E6 material 4:3.55 display, 120Hz refresh rate, up to 2600 nits peak brightness, HDR10 +, Dolby Vision, UTG glass protection

External  6.56 -inch (2520 x 1080 pixels) Full HD+ E6 AMOLED 21:9 display, 120Hz refresh rate, up to 1300 nits peak brightness, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection

Up to 3.36GHz Octa Core Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Leading Version 4nm Mobile Platform with Adreno 730 GPU

12GB LPPDDR5X RAM with 256GB UFS 4.0 storage, 16GB LPPDDR5X RAM with 512GB /1TB UFS 4.0 storage

Dual SIM (nano + nano)

MIUI Fold 14 based on Android 13

50MP rear camera with Sony IMX800 sensor, f/1.77 aperture, OIS, LED flash, 13MP OV13B10 120 ultra-wide angle lens with f/2.2 aperture, 10MP Samsung S5K3K1 3.2x telephoto camera with f/2.0 aperture, 10MP Samsung S5K3K1 5x periscope telephoto camera, f/2.92 aperture, OIS, 30cm super-macro shooting , Leica optics 8K video recording

20MP OV20B inner and outer front-facing camera

Side-mounted fingerprint sensor, Infrared sensor

USB Type-C audio, Hi-Res audio, Dual 1115 speakers, Dolby Atmos

Dimensions: 161.273.5(folded), 143.28(unfolded)10.96mm(folded) (Black/Gold) / 10.86mm (Fiber Version), 5.26mm(unfolded) ; Weight: 259g (Black/Gold) / 255g (Fiber Version)

5G SA/NSA, Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 6E 802.11 ax, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS (L1 + L5), NavIC, USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1, NFC

4800mAh (Typical) battery with 67W fast charging, 50W wireless charging

Pricing and availability

The Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 comes in Black and Gold, as well as an aerospace grade Xiaomi composite fiber version in black that integrates high-strength aramid and ceramic fibers.

It is priced at 8,999 yuan (USD 1239 / Rs. 1,03,620 approx.) for 12GB+256GB, 9,999 yuan (USD 1376 / Rs. 1,15,135 approx.) for 16GB+512GB and the top-end 16GB+1TB model costs 10,999 yuan (USD 1514 / Rs. 1,25,990 approx.). It is available to order and will go on sale in China starting from August 16th.

Source
Peacekeepers serving with the UN Mission in Mali on a long-distance patrol between Gao and Ansongo (file photo).

Mali's junta demanded in June that the MINUSMA force withdraw from the West African country after a decade-long deployment. The mission was created to quell separatist and Islamist insurgencies in northern Mali.

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali on Sunday said it had brought forward its withdrawal from a base in the north of the country due to deteriorating security conditions.

Over the past few days, the rebel alliance led by ethnic Tuaregs has accused Malian forces and Russian Wagner troops of violating a cease-fire by attacking its forces stationed near Ber.

The Malian army has not responded to the allegations, but on Saturday said six soldiers died and 24 fighters from "armed terrorist groups" were killed in a skirmish in the area a day earlier.

What did the UN mission say?

MINUSMA, as the UN mission is known, said in a statement it had "expedited its withdrawal from Ber due to the deteriorating security and the high risks that brings for our Blue Helmets."

"It urges all concerned parties to refrain from any actions that could further complicate the operation," it said, without naming those involved.

A senior local security official told AFP news agency that MINUSMA troops had left Ber, adding that the withdrawal had taken place "without incident."

Three injured in strike on UN convoy

However, MIMUSMA later said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that its convoy was attacked twice while leaving Ber and three blue helmet soldiers were evacuated for medical treatment.

"Attacks against peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law," MIMUSMA warned.

Rebel spokesperson Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane told Reuters by phone that fighting between Tuareg-led rebels and Malian troops around Ber was ongoing as of Sunday morning.

The latest clashes in the north follow the Malian junta's unexpected demand two months ago for MINUSMA to end its decade-long mission.

Tuareg peace deal at risk

There are concerns the departure of UN troops could put further strain on a 2015 peace deal with Tuareg rebels and weaken efforts to curb an Islamist insurgency.

The MIMUSMA mission in the West African nation began in 2013 after Tuareg separatist and jihadist rebellions broke out in northern Mali the previous year.

The mission deployed 11,600 troops and 1,500 police officers in the country, mostly from African nations with a small representation from Europe, Asia and the United States.

The presence of MINUSMA peacekeepers had helped to placate the Tuareg-led rebels, who halted their separatist uprising with a 2015 peace deal.

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The Islamist insurgency has since spread into neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger, killing thousands of people and displacing millions in one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

Mali's junta welcomed Russia's Wagner

The violence has also fuelled political instability helping the Malian junta seize power in coups in 2020 and 2021.

The junta has since fallen out with former colonial power France and turned to Russia for political and military support.

Russia's Wagner mercenary group now has about 1,000 fighters in Mali.

Under their joint operations, Malian troops and its foreign security partners -- believed to be Wagner mercenaries -- have committed "grave human rights abuses" including violence against women to spread terror, UN sanctions monitors said in a recent report.

The Tuareg-led alliance also criticizes the military for having approved a new constitution in June, which it says compromises the peace agreement.

mm/lo (AFP, Reuters)
Niger's coup leaders are willing to negotiate with the West African bloc ECOWAS, according to Nigerian mediators who met General Abdourahmane Tchiani.

Niger's junta is ready to consider a diplomatic solution to its stand-off with West African bloc ECOWAS, mediators said Sunday.

A group of senior Nigerian Islamic scholars said Coup leader General Abdourahmane Tchiani, "said their doors were open to explore diplomacy and peace in resolving the matter."

They met the Junta leader in the capital Niamey.

Tchiani stressed the historic ties between Niger and Nigeria, saying the countries "were not only neighbours but brothers and sisters who should resolve issues amicably."

Tchiani defends coup

The discussion by the Nigerian scholars, led by Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau, including ECOWAS' call for reinstating Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum, who was ousted in the July 26 coup.

Tchiani "claimed the coup was well intended" and that the plotters "struck to stave off an imminent threat that would have affected" Nigeria as well as Niger, according to Lau's statement.

But Tchiani said it was "painful" that ECOWAS had issued an ultimatum to restore Bazoum without hearing "their side of the matter."

First delegation from ECOWAS

Niger's new military rulers have so far refused to receive any official ECOWAS delegations. One delegation had to leave after a short stay at the airport, another was banned from entering the country.

The visit of clerics comes as ECOWAS currently led by Nigeria explores its options to restore civilian rule in Niger, including a military intervention. The bloc had imposed sanctions and threatened to use military force if the putchists don't reinstate President Bazoum.

Any military intervention by the bloc could further strain regional ties as juntas in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea have voiced support for Niger's new military rulers.

Fear of Russian influence

Niger, a country of some 26 million people with one of the poorest populations in the world, had been one of the last democratic partners of the US and European nations in the Sahel region on the southern edge of the Sahara.

US, French, German and Italian troops are stationed in Niger, in a region where local affiliates of al Qaeda and Islamic State have killed thousands and displaced millions.

Meanwhile, Western powers fear Russia's clout could increase if the junta in Niger follows Mali and Burkina Faso, which ejected the troops of former colonial power France after coups in those countries.

(AFP, dpa, Reuters)
Dire predictions about escalating hunger in Sudan have tragically come true, as conflict-induced food scarcity has plunged 20.3 million people into severe acute hunger, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said on Friday.

Of that figure, 6.3 million people - 13 per cent of Sudan's population - are experiencing emergency levels of hunger - classified as Phase 4 of the Integrated Food Security Classification - just one step from famine, with the conflict continuing to disrupt access to humanitarian aid and forcing millions to flee their homes.

"The operating environment in Sudan is without a doubt the most challenging that I have experienced in my career," said Eddie Rowe, WFP Country Director for Sudan, recalling his more than 30 years with the UN agency.

"Since mid-April, the conflict has continued to spread, and its dynamics have become increasingly more complex. Gaining access to people in need of life-saving food assistance has also become more challenging and increasingly urgent."

Bureaucratic barriers, looting of humanitarian facilities, and insecurity hamper aid delivery. At least 18 relief workers have been killed, with many others injured or detained. The situation is further compounded by funding shortages, fuel scarcity and inadequate infrastructure.

Breakthrough - first food aid delivery to West Darfur

Despite the immense difficulties, WFP had a major breakthrough last week, successfully delivering food assistance to West Darfur State, which has been heavily affected by the conflict.

A convoy of five trucks transporting 125 tons of food commodities travelled from eastern Chad to West Darfur, where WFP delivered one month's worth of food assistance to around 15,400 people, Mr. Rowe said.

"It is our hope that this route from Chad will become a regular humanitarian corridor to reach these families in West Darfur, especially in Geneina - the capital of West Darfur - where lives have been torn apart by the violence," he added.

Most vulnerable 'barely surviving'

Mr. Rowe went on to note that the situation is "catastrophic" in West and Central Darfur.

"Our teams passed through towns and villages that are abandoned following a mass exodus of people. Health facilities, banks and other critical infrastructure are destroyed," he said, adding that those who remain are mostly women and their children who are acutely vulnerable and have not fled because they are too scared.

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Their husbands have been killed, injured, or have gone missing.

"These families are barely surviving. Most are only eating just one meal a day, sharing what food they have with neighbours and selling what they own simply to afford food," the WFP official said.

Humanitarians doing 'everything possible'

Since the outbreak of conflict between Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces in April, WFP has delivered emergency food and nutrition assistance to 1.6 million people across Sudan, including those trapped in Khartoum State.

"The situation [in Khartoum] is volatile, and we have to seize often brief windows of calm to get our trucks into these areas and to safely deliver the food assistance into the hands of people who need it," Mr. Rowe said.

The WFP official highlighted that UN and humanitarian workers "are doing everything possible" to deliver support in Darfur and across Sudan, and called on all parties to the conflict to facilitate humanitarian access and enable the safe delivery of assistance.
Burkinabe soldiers practice at a U.S.-led counterterrorism exercise among Sahel militaries in 2020. Burkina Fasos coup underscores a need for stronger policies to prevent military seizures of power.

analysis

Slightly more than two years after Niger's first peaceful handover of power from one civilian president to another, the military seized power in July 2023. The coup - the fourth in Nigerien history - follows on the heels of recent military interventions in Africa. Mali (August 2020 and May 2021), Chad (April 2021), Guinea (September 2021), Sudan (October 2021) and Burkina Faso (January and September 2022).

Since the end of the Cold War in 1991, the number of military coups has declined sharply. However, francophone west Africa now accounts for approximately two-thirds of all military coups that have occurred since then.

As a political scientist analysing African politics, I have studied military coups and their outcomes for the last decade and a half. In a recent article, Justin Hoyle, a doctoral candidate in political science at the University of Florida, and I demonstrate that since 1989, military coups across the world have resulted in two outcomes.

First is the withdrawal of the junta from executive power. This means the junta doesn't participate or interfere in post-coup elections. While it is necessary for the transition to democracy, it isn't sufficient in itself. This scenario played out in the Nigerien coup of 2010 and the Thailand coup of 2006.

Second is electoral rigging by the junta in favour of its own candidate. This scenario establishes a regime in which coup leaders entrench themselves in executive power.

Examining how military coups unfold is crucial to understanding a country's path back to democracy. It also provides insights into the effect of coups on the quality of democracy.

The research

We studied five countries and 12 post-coup transitions: Egypt (coups in 2011 and 2013), Mauritania (coups in 2005 and 2008), Niger (1996, 1999 and 2010), Fiji (2000 and 2006) and Thailand (1991, 2006 and 2014).

Overall, we examined slightly more than a third of all military coups between 1989 and 2017.

Out of a total of 32 post-coup environments, we found that in half of all cases, juntas withdrew from executive power in the coup's aftermath.

However, even with the military's withdrawal from power, the transition period to civilian rule was highly volatile. Particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, counter-coup attempts by a rival faction within the armed forces intending to remain in power occurred rather frequently. This was the case most recently in Burkina Faso in 2015.

Although many coups result in the withdrawal of juntas from executive power, many of the cases from our study were near-misses - the country could've ended up under military authoritarian rule.

We examined four key variables and their influence on coup outcomes. These are:

the internal coherence of the armed forces

the ability of civil society organisations and political parties to mobilise against the junta

the deployment of donor leverage

trade dependency on regional and western partners.

Of these, we argue that the two that matter the most are: the internal cohesion of the military and the vibrancy of civil society groups.

The findings

In our analysis, we found that the single most important variable that accounts for different coup outcomes is the internal coherence of the military.

When there's internal coherence, militaries generally feel inclined to withdraw from executive power. This is because holding on to power challenges their internal cohesion.

Internal cohesion is based on the factors that triggered the coup. If a coup occurs in response to threats to the country's territorial integrity, to the preservation of public order, or to the military's material or reputational benefits, the junta will have the backing of the military at large. This is because the benefits of seeking power outweigh the risks of not being in power.

If a coup occurs for reasons outside these, the junta either won't seek power or will face resistance from within the military and withdraw. We found this confirmed in all the coups that we analysed.

Another relevant yet less significant variable is the positioning of civil society toward the junta.

Where civil society groups manage to rally the population to demand a return to democratic civilian rule, juntas depart from power. The most prominent example of this was in Egypt after the 2011 coup.

Interestingly, we didn't find that aid dependency or membership in an international organisation with anti-coup rules exerted any discernible influence on juntas. This means that domestic variables - and in particular the drivers of the coup - influence political aftermaths.

What it all means

For the current transitions in parts of Africa, these findings are troubling.

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In Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso and Chad, militaries overthrew their governments because of threats to their countries' territorial integrity or to the military's material benefits. The juntas in these countries can rely on the backing of the military at large. This decreases the likelihood of a return to civilian rule.

The implications of our findings for Niger and Guinea are less straightforward, however. Here, coups were staged by a sub-section of the military, even though such a move wasn't in line with the interests of the armed forces at large. Our research findings suggest a more volatile dynamic for these two post-coup states.

At this stage, no one can predict how the motives of Niger's presidential guard will shape future action. Much will depend on coup leader Abdourahmane Tchiani's ability to convince the military that a coup was the right thing to do politically.

Generally, military coups bode ill for democratic processes. In instances where juntas withdraw from power, democracies don't emerge. When juntas rig post-coup elections, they become entrenched in power in the medium to long-term. This has devastating consequences for the political and civil rights of their populations.

Sebastian Elischer, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Florida
"All senators received two million naira. And I am making this comment with a heavy heart because he (Akpabio) is the cause of this controversy.

The Senate Chief Whip, Ali Ndume, says there is no "big deal" in Nigerian senators being paid N2 million each as recess allowance.

Mr Ndume, in an interview with BBC Hausa Service on Saturday, also said sharing a total of N218 million among the 109 senators to enjoy their vacation is nothing special.

After the screening and confirmation of the ministerial nominees last Monday, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, told senators that money had been credited to their bank accounts to enjoy their vacation, which began on 7 August.

Mr Akpabio's statement was greeted with public criticisms among Nigerians though some of the senators later admitted that each of them received N2 million as allowance for seven weeks' holiday allowance, which will end on 26 September.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the allowance was illegal as it is not provided for in the remuneration package approved by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), the body authorised by law to prepare salaries and allowances for public servants.

Drastic action against Akpabio

Mr Ndume, who represents Borno North, blamed the senate president for disclosing details of the holiday allowance to the public, saying it was like an allowance an employee is paid while going on leave.

"It's common knowledge that if any employee is going on leave, he or she is entitled to a leave grant. That was the money we received, and it is nothing unusual or special.

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"All senators received two million naira. And I am making this comment with a heavy heart because he (Akpabio) is the cause of this controversy.

"He created an impression as if we were given some special or huge amounts of money. What's the big deal if I receive two million naira allowance in my capacity as a senator," he said.

The chief whip said that other senators are planning to take drastic action against the senate president for exposing details of the vacation allowance.

"He made a very wrong statement, and I warned him immediately that his comments were unbecoming of an elder.

"In fact, we are even planning to take drastic action against him if he continues making unguarded statements and acting as if we are kids," Mr Ndume said.
Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, yesterday, insisted that he is still on medical vacation and not yet back in the country.

Akeredolu, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, disowned a video circulating on social media showing his arrival from his medical vacation.Olatunde said that the governor is still in Germany, focussing on his full recovery.The statement reads:

Quote

Our attention has been drawn to a recent video circulating on social media, suggesting the return of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State from his medical vacation.



While we acknowledge the eagerness of the people of the state, as well as supporters and well-wishers from both within and outside the country to have the Governor back, we want to clarify that Governor Akeredolu is currently in Germany, focused on his full recovery.



Governor Akeredolu extends his deep appreciation to the citizens of Ondo State for their unwavering prayers and support.

Their genuine concern and compassion have been instrumental in aiding his recovery journey.



Its important to note that Governor Akeredolu will return to the state very soon to continue executing his administrations Redeemed agenda and providing impactful governance.



The video in question, which is circulating, was captured during the Governors campaign tour in preparation for the last Presidential and National Assembly elections.



Governor Akeredolu is eagerly looking forward to reuniting with the people of the sunshine state.

He is deeply moved by the outpouring of love and support, and he cant wait to continue working towards a brighter future for Ondo State.
felicilin at 14-08-2023 03:52 PM (6 days ago) (f)

Bashir Ahmad, an aide to the immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari has reacted to the huge loss experienced by Northern traders following the closure of the borders with Niger Republic.

Bashir Ahmad, an aide to the immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari has reacted to the huge loss experienced by Northern traders following the closure of the borders with Niger Republic.

Gistmania reported that some Northern traders had lamented the loss of about N13bn weekly due to the closure of borders in the region over the ongoing crisis in Niger Republic.



Recall that President Bola Tinubu, on August 4, 2023, ordered the closure of all borders with Niger Republic following the sanction imposed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).



Following the presidents order, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has closed the borders of Jibiya in Katsina state, Illelah in Sokoto and Maigatari in Jigawa.



Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, the Chairman of Arewa Economic Forum, Ibrahim Dandakata, said the closer of the borders is becoming unbearable for traders to get their goods to the country.



Dandakata stated that the consequences of the border closure have been huge, saying that Northern traders lose N13bn weekly.



Reacting in a Twitter post on Monday, Ahmad expressed sympathy with the traders over the loss of about N13bn weekly due to the closure of the Nigerian borders over the political crisis in Niger.



He stated that the loss of revenue is one of the many reasons why conflict, no matter how it may be portrayed, will never be a solution to the Niger crisis.



Ahmad wrote: Sympathizing with the traders that lamented the loss of about N13bn weekly due to the closure of the Nigerian borders over the political crisis in Niger Republic. Thats one of the many reasons why conflict, no matter how it may be portrayed, will never be a solution.



Ibrahim Yahaya Dandakata, chairman of the Arewa Economic Forum, said the economic consequences of the closure are becoming unbearable for the traders while urging the federal government to consider opening the maje-illo border in Kebbi state.



See Post Below;

Sympathizing with the traders that lamented the loss of about N13bn weekly due to the closure of the Nigerian borders over the political crisis in Niger Republic. Thats one of the many reasons why conflict, no matter how it may be portrayed, will never be a solution.



Ibrahim  Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) August 14, 2023 Gistmania reported that some Northern traders had lamented the loss of about N13bn weekly due to the closure of borders in the region over the ongoing crisis in Niger Republic.Recall that President Bola Tinubu, on August 4, 2023, ordered the closure of all borders with Niger Republic following the sanction imposed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).Following the presidents order, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has closed the borders of Jibiya in Katsina state, Illelah in Sokoto and Maigatari in Jigawa.Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, the Chairman of Arewa Economic Forum, Ibrahim Dandakata, said the closer of the borders is becoming unbearable for traders to get their goods to the country.Dandakata stated that the consequences of the border closure have been huge, saying that Northern traders lose N13bn weekly.Reacting in a Twitter post on Monday, Ahmad expressed sympathy with the traders over the loss of about N13bn weekly due to the closure of the Nigerian borders over the political crisis in Niger.He stated that the loss of revenue is one of the many reasons why conflict, no matter how it may be portrayed, will never be a solution to the Niger crisis.Ahmad wrote:See Post Below;

Post Reply Posted: at 14-08-2023 03:52 PM (6 days ago) | Addicted Hero
Microsoft discontinues Cortana App for Windows 11 News -Rohit Agrawal

Microsoft has officially shuttered its digital voice-enabled assistant Cortana app for Windows 11, marking the culmination of a three-year process that saw the discontinuation of Cortana apps for iOS and Android after it lagged behind its competitors like Google Assistant, Apple's Siri, and Amazon's Alexa app.

The tech giant has further announced to cease support for Cortana in Teams mobile, Microsoft Teams Display, and Microsoft Teams Rooms by the fall of 2023. However, Cortana within Outlook mobile will remain accessible. However, support will end for other platforms by fall 2023.

Cortana Users Impacted

If you launch Cortana on Windows 11, you'll now be met with a notice about the app being deprecated. Microsoft said in a statement, 'We're making some changes to Windows and Microsoft 365 that will impact Cortana users. Cortana in Windows as a standalone app is deprecated.' However, in the absence of Cortona, you can use your voice to implement many features on Windows.

This is a new feature in Windows 11 that lets you control your PC and write text using your voice. You can use voice commands to open and switch between apps, browse the web, and read and write emails. Voice access works offline and uses speech recognition to understand your speech.

The new AI-powered Bing lets you ask questions and get answers from sources on the web. You can type or speak your questions, and Bing Chat will give you an answer citing multiple trusted sources.

Microsoft 365 Copilot

This is a new feature that uses AI to turn your words into a productivity tool. Copilot uses your Microsoft 365 data such as your calendar, emails, chats, documents, and meetings to help you create, edit, share content, and more.

Available in preview for Windows 11 in June, Windows Copilot provides centralized AI assistance. Together with Bing Chat and first- and third-party plugins, you can do multitasking.

Source Source 2

FAQ's What has Microsoft discontinued? Microsoft has discontinued its Cortana app for Windows 11.

Is the Cortana app still available for Windows 11? No, the Cortana app is no longer available for Windows 11.

Why did Microsoft discontinue the Cortana app? Microsoft decided to discontinue the Cortana app for Windows 11.

Can I still use Cortana on Windows 11 without the app? Cortana can still be accessed through other integrated features in Windows 11.

Are there any alternative voice-enabled assistants available for Windows 11? There may be alternative voice-enabled assistants available, but not from Microsoft's official offerings.

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Fatima Atiku, a registered Nurse works under the REACH program in Tudun Murtala community in Nasarawa Local Government Area of Kano State.

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In 2020, Nigeria accounted for over a quarter (28.5%) of global maternal deaths, totalling about 82,000. These avoidable deaths are especially concentrated in hard-to-reach rural communities and peri-urban areas, where access to healthcare is limited.

Niger State, like other northern Nigerian states, grapples with preventable maternal and child deaths. Shockingly, approximately 1 in 95 women still succumb to death during pregnancy or childbirth in the state. The "Why Are Women Dying While Giving Birth in Nigeria" report indicates that an inadequate distribution of healthcare professionals across the state contributes to the high mortality rate. Many healthcare workers opt for the state capital over rural areas.

Two hundred seventy-four of the over 1000 PHCs in Niger state are focal facilities designed to provide 24-hour service, most benefiting from the Basic Health Care Provision Fund BHCPF and NiCare - the Niger State Health Contributory Agency. These improvements, however, are yet to address service delivery disparities. The adoption of revised national guidelines for Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPCDSR) across states prompts the need for discussions on how Niger State intends to leverage these guidelines. This effort seeks to enhance accountability for maternal, newborn, and child health, particularly at the community level.

Nigeria Health Watch launched the Community Health Watch project to enhance accountability in primary healthcare delivery. This initiative involves monitoring and documenting healthcare availability in rural and urban areas. Starting as a pilot in Niger state in August 2021, it expanded to Kano state in April 2022. From August 2021 to April 2023, 57 reports were published, mainly from Niger State. The project compiles community-captured content like articles, images, and videos, sharing them through Nigeria Health Watch's platforms to amplify authentic experiences of accessing healthcare services.

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The upcoming 2023 Nigeria Health Watch Primary Health Care Policy Dialogue, themed 'Strengthening Community Accountability Mechanisms for Quality Primary Healthcare - Spotlight on Niger State,' is scheduled to take place in Suleja, Niger State. The event will bring together governmental actors from the State Ministry of Health, State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SPHCDA), State Health Insurance Scheme representatives, BHCPF coordinators, healthcare providers, relevant groups, and associations to explore potential remedies, identify prospects for advancement, and formulate actionable policy recommendations.

The policy dialogue is scheduled to take place on Monday, 14 August 2023.

Participants unable to attend the event in person are encouraged to join online by registering here to attend.

About Nigeria Health Watch

Nigeria Health Watch is a not-for-profit health communication and advocacy organisation that seeks to advocate for the health of Nigerians, engage and support the government and other partners in formulating and implementing positive and effective health policies, and hold duty-bearers accountable for delivering affordable and quality healthcare to Nigerians. The unique capacity of Nigeria Health Watch lies in its communications expertise which enables the organisation to provide solutions for evidence-based communications and advocacy in the health sector.
Director of National Intelligence Avril D. Haines Releases the 2023 National Intelligence Strategy for the Intelligence Community

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ODNI News Release No. 22-23

August 10, 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Director of National Intelligence Avril D. Haines today released the 2023 National Intelligence Strategy (NIS), which provides strategic direction for the Intelligence Community (IC) over the next four years.

"The National Intelligence Strategy articulates what the Intelligence Community will need to cultivate to be effective in the future: an information and technological edge, a broad array of partnerships, and a talented and diverse workforce as we pursue our vision of an IC that embodies America's values," said Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines. "It also highlights the expanding role of the IC in supporting the resilience of our national critical infrastructure and that of our allies and partners."

The six goals outlined in this NIS reflect key elements of the current strategic environment: the centrality of strategic competition between the United States and the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Russian Federation; the growing importance of emerging technologies, supply chains, and economic statecraft to national security; the increasing influence of sub-national and non-state actors; and the challenges stemming from the convergence of shared global challenges, such as climate change and health security.

The NIS is a foundational document for the IC and reflects the input of leaders from each of the 18 intelligence elements, as it directs the operations, investments, and priorities of the collective.

Additional IC leaders shared the following statements on the strategy's announcement.

Director Bill Burns, Central Intelligence Agency:

"Today's world is increasingly complicated and contested, and one in which humanity faces both peril and promise. We are in a transformative era marked by strategic competition, rapid technological change, and increasingly worrisome transnational threats. To meet this moment, we in the Intelligence Community must be agile and innovative. "The National Intelligence Strategy lays out how we must approach the transforming world in order to provide needed and timely insights by emphasizing the importance of investing in partnerships, technological innovation, diverse talent, and expertise to address issues from competition with China to climate change and global food insecurity."

General Paul Nakasone, Director, National Security Agency:

"Our efforts to better understand the PRC's intents and actions require the combined efforts of the IC, our allies, and partners. Together, we are developing capacity, capability, and resiliency to meet the pacing challenges of our nation and partners. The 2023 National Intelligence Strategy is geared toward making this process a robust reality. "The NIS recognizes a growing competition between democracies and autocracies. Competition spurs innovation, fresh thinking, and, when necessary, action. The NIS identifies six priority goals that will protect not only our nation but also our partners in the years ahead."

Director Chris Wray, Federal Bureau of Investigation:

"The FBI and our Intelligence Community partners are constantly working to anticipate new threats to our national security and how to counter those challenges. The new National Intelligence Strategy is a vital guide for all members of the IC. "We face an ever-growing list of challenges and threats to the Homeland, including China's determined efforts to reshape the international order and threaten democratic ideals, cyberattacks and supply chain disruptions by hostile foreign nations and cyber criminals, and narcotics trafficking. As the strategy recognizes, partnerships, innovation, and building and retaining a talented and diverse workforce are the key to successfully answering the threats we face now and in the future."

United as a Community, the 18 intelligence elements will work together to ensure the IC is sufficiently agile, integrated, innovative, and resilient to inform national security and foreign policy decisions, resulting in a Nation that is secure and prosperous.

###

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New US Intelligence Strategy Calls for More Partners, More Sharing

By Jeff Seldin August 10, 2023

U.S. intelligence agencies are looking to vastly expand the roster of countries, companies and even nonstate actors with whom they partner in order to get a and share a information on threats to the United States and its allies.

The change is part of a "rethink" ordered in the nation's new National Intelligence Strategy, unveiled Thursday, which aims to better prepare the U.S. for a range of threats that are no longer limited to traditional nation-state competitors such as China and Russia or terrorist groups such as al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.

"The United States faces an increasingly complex and interconnected threat environment," according to Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, who cited a range of challenges from global powers such as China and Russia to climate change and pandemics like COVID-19.

"Subnational and nonstate actors a from multinational corporations to transnational social movements a are increasingly able to create influence, compete for information, and secure or deny political and security outcomes, which provides opportunities for new partnerships as well as new challenges to U.S. interests," she wrote in the 2023 strategy.

Global challenges, disruptive advances

"In addition, shared global challenges, including climate change, human and health security, as well as emerging and disruptive technological advances, are converging in ways that produce significant consequences that are often difficult to predict," Haines said.

The seeds for the new strategy, and the emphasis on finding new partners like those in the private sector, have been in the works for months.

Since before Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the U.S. has been selectively declassifying intelligence to better share information with allies and partners.

The effort, credited with building support for Ukraine while catching Russia off guard, is already becoming part of a formal U.S. game plan for countering threats.\

Haines publicly called for more outreach to the private sector and technology companies as recently as April, during an appearance at the Washington-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

"In many scenarios, they see things before we do," she said at the time.

The U.S. intelligence community's annual threat assessment, issued in February, likewise warned of "an evolving array of nonstate actors," global emergencies such as climate change, and emerging technologies that "have the potential to disrupt traditional business and society with both positive and negative outcomes, while creating unprecedented vulnerabilities and attack surfaces."

The new strategy seeks to counter those trends by strengthening existing intelligence partnerships, including the "Five Eyes" arrangement with Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and by forging new ones.

Specifically, the strategy envisions U.S. intelligence agencies exchanging information with private companies and what it describes as "nonstate and subnational actors."

That includes relationships with nongovernmental organizations, think tanks and other entities that could help provide the U.S. intelligence with local or on-the-ground expertise.

It is also likely to include the type of intensified cooperation and information sharing that has been part of so-called U.S. "hunt forward" cyber operations in countries such as Latvia and Albania, or even more outreach along the lines of what has been done with state and local governments in the U.S. to help secure elections.

'Essential' partnerships

Some former intelligence officials call such outreach a necessity.

"It is a simple fact of how elections and communications infrastructure work that tech companies in the private sector are best positioned to be aware of many such threats first, and so close partnership with them is essential," said Paul Pillar, a former senior CIA officer who now teaches at Georgetown University.

"There will always be delicate negotiations about exact sharing arrangements to give due respect to values such as personal privacy," Pillar told VOA. "But government and the private sector already have gotten into that a lot."

The new U.S. intelligence strategy also emphasizes better understanding of new technologies and supply chains to make sure countries such as China "are not able to undermine our competitiveness and national security."

The strategy is meant to guide all 18 U.S. intelligence agencies, including the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

It replaces the previous strategy issued in 2019, which focused on "speaking truth."

"We need to reassure the policymakers and the American people that we can be trusted a despite the stresses that are persistent in the current environment," said then-Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats.

Some key U.S. lawmakers are welcoming the updated intelligence strategy.

"The National Intelligence Strategy appropriately organizes the Intelligence Community around seminal challenges: a rising China, Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine, and the opportunities and complexities presented by emerging technologies like AI [artificial intelligence]," Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner said in a statement shared with VOA.

"An expert workforce, robust partnerships and resilient capabilities will be central to this effort," Warner noted.

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August 11, 2023

Release

DOD Announces Inaugural Innovation Challenge on Talent Management

From 11 August through 30 September 2023, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness is hosting the inaugural Talent Management: From the Ground Up Innovation Challenge to capture the diversity of thought, experience, background, and capability offered by our total force and bring forth new ideas on improving talent management across the Department of Defense (DoD).

The Talent Management Innovation Challenge encourages DoD military and civilian employees at all levels to submit promising talent management ideas with potential to make an impact across the Department in recruiting, retaining, and promoting a diverse force. It is an opportunity for Service members and civilians to have their voices heard, showcase their ingenuity, and share passion projects or solutions to better enhance the workplace.

"To remain the best fighting force in the world and effectively compete in today's job marketplace, we must innovate the way we recruit, retain, and develop top talent," said Gilbert Cisneros, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. "We are working hard to solve today's talent management challenges, and this challenge reinforces the need to tap into the full range of strengths and capabilities of all our employees. By harnessing the tremendous talent and experiences of our military Service members and civilian colleagues, we can bring forth new, innovative, and effective ideas tailored to our personnel."

Participants are encouraged to submit ideas in one of three categories: Recruiting and Accessions, Promotion and Retention, or Wild Card. All ideas will be assessed for broad applicability across the Department and for potential positive impact. Finalists will pitch their idea to a panel of DoD senior leaders for consideration of adoption across the Department.

The DoD 2040 Task Force will help kick off the inaugural Talent Management Innovation Challenge, and the Chief Talent Management Officer (CTMO) and Talent Management Executive Council will oversee future challenges.

"We are always looking for new insights and ideas to evolve and transform the way we do things across the Department. This first ever Talent Management Innovation Challenge will bring forth innovative solutions from those on the ground to help solve the issues of today," says Mr. Brynt Parmeter, DoD CTMO. "I encourage both our military and civilian colleagues to bring forth their ideas and help us build a more inclusive and talented workforce in the months and years ahead."

The Talent Management Innovation Challenge is open to all active, guard, and reserve Service members and DoD civilian employees. To submit an idea, participants must first create a Platform One account by following the instructions at https://www.innovatedaf.com/, then access the Air Force's Guardian and Airmen Innovation Network (GAIN) platform at https://gain.il4.afwerx.dso.mil/dod/dodtm2023/.

For questions contact: osd.pentagon.ousd-p-r.mbx.dodtm2023@mail.mil.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3490776/

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III Marine Expeditionary Force maintains readiness after Typhoon Khanun

US Marine Corps News

11 Aug 2023 | Sgt. Savannah Mesimer III Marine Expeditionary Force

OKINAWA, JAPAN -- U.S. Marines across installations on Okinawa weathered Typhoon Khanun, a storm equivalent to a category four hurricane, in August 2023. After the storm, vehicle and property were damaged, and communication abilities limited both on and off-base. For many Marines, this was their introduction to island living.

June 1st signifies the beginning of typhoon season for Okinawa. Approximately 30 typhoons form each year in the southwestern portion of the Pacific Ocean, and Okinawa is hit by an average of seven to eight annually. Typhoon Khanun left more than 220,000 residents without power, and caused minor landslides, flash flooding, and heavy debris.

Lance Cpl. Adam Trump, a combat photographer with 3rd Marine Division, arrived on Okinawa just under two months ago and spoke about his experience of Typhoon Khanun.

"Throughout the duration of the storm, my command took proper precautions and had us secured in the barracks, we were able to telework for the entirety of the storm," said Trump, a native of Thomas, Oklahoma. "I experienced a few power outages in my room, and some flooding, but we just continued to clean it. This is our home, I take great pride in it, and I want it to be the best home possible."

Lance Cpl. Sheikhmoha Rahman, a telecommunications maintenance Marine with Communications Company, 3rd Marine Division, also looked to his peers and found support during the storm.

"It is my first typhoon I've ever been in," said Rahman, a Buckhannon, West Virginia native. "It was crazy, my first-time seeing winds that high and my windows hiss so it was an experience."

For some Marines, this was not their first experience of a typhoon while stationed abroad. Lance Cpl. Cory Calkins, a motor vehicle operator with Headquarters Company, 3rd Marine Division, and native of Auburn, New York, mentioned that this was his second typhoon experience.

"I've experienced one other typhoon last year, but Typhoon Khanun was more severe and caused more damage than that one," said Calkins. "One thing I learned with this storm is that it's important to stock up on supplies because you may not have the food or water you need. Stay ready so you don't have to get ready. At the end of the day, you're always going to have the people you work with there to help you out. Everyone is willing to do what they need to get through the storm. I feel closer to these guys than my family because I work with them day in and day out."

Lance Cpl. Cutter Lust, a satellite transmissions system operator with Communications Company, 3rd Marine Division, aided in post-storm recovery efforts and said living in Okinawa wasn't too different from being home during a time of crisis.

"I come from a small town, everyone has each other's backs and Camp Courtney is like that," said Lust. "A small, tight-knitted community and we were there for each other. If I needed anything I just messaged the group chat, and my chain of command was happy to help me."

For U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. William McCadden, a camp operations security officer with Marine Corps Installations Pacific, his childhood experience with inclement weather set the example for what to expect in recovery operations.

"I've been on island for about nine months now, and while we've had a close pass with a typhoon in the past, this was the first one I've actually experienced," said McCadden, a Colorado Springs, Colorado native. "When I was younger, my father was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia during Hurricane Katrina and we experienced issues with flooding on base. The entire base did well with community-coordinated efforts and taking care of each other; the efforts are the same here."

McCadden spent the Typhoon as part of the emergency operations center and helped coordinate damage assessment and the security guard forces. He mentioned that both MCIPAC and III MEF are prepared for natural disaster situations.

The severity of the typhoon showed the importance of preparing supplies in advance, having emergency supplies, and having emergency action plans prior to experiencing disaster situations. Especially when living in a host nation away from friends and family.

"During inclement weather, families do get concerned for our safety, but the Marine Corps has a rigid structure of regulations and a strong system in place here at MCIPAC to ensure our personnel are safe," he said. "We have several conditions in which we escalate to make sure everything is handled ahead of time - we can complete the mission with no friction."

McCadden offered one final piece of advice to whoever may fill in as a leader during typhoon recovery operations.

"The best piece of advice I can give is to communicate and solidify relationships with units across the island, MCIPAC, III MEF, and Marine Corps Community Services facilities because that is one of the number one aspects of typhoon readiness, preparedness, and recovery," he said. "That is how we keep our units here in the fight."

Valuable emergency resources include AtHoc notifications and the Government of Japan's "SafetyTips" application. Please visit https://www.iiimef.marines.mil/Emergency-Communication/ for more helpful links and information related to emergency weather conditions.

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Environmentalists praise suspension of Chinese reclamation projects in Manila Bay

The Marcos administration has suspended the projects, pending an environmental review.

By BenarNews staff 2023.08.11 -- Green groups in the Philippines are welcoming the government's decision this week to suspend nearly two dozen Chinese-backed reclamation projects in Manila Bay until it completes a review on the environmental impact.

The temporary halt will allow regulators to review each project approved under former President Rodrigo Duterte, the Marcos administration said after the American embassy had expressed concern last week over the role of a -blacklisted Chinese company in the projects and their potential environmental impact.

Maria Antonio Yulo-Loyzaga, the environment secretary, announced the projects' suspension Thursday, saying that "all are under review" for a "cumulative impact assessment" on the environment. She did not give a specific timeline for the reviews, but said her office would determine compliance including whether the projects had environmental clearance certificates.

"We welcome this [cumulative impact assessment], as it is a long-overdue step in the complete appraisal of the impacts of reclamation across the critical bay ecosystem," said the People's Network for the Integrity of Coastal Habitats and Ecosystems (People's NICHE), which along with another organization representing some 20 local environmental advocacy groups, applauded the action.

"We also hope it serves as a precedent for similar approaches in other parts of the country where reclamation projects are also concentrated, such as in Metro Cebu," People's NICHE said in a letter to the environment department, referring to a highly urbanized city in the central Philippines.

The suspension comes amid increasing tensions between the Philippines and China over a territorial dispute in the South China Sea, although the government of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has tried to balance friendly ties with both China and Beijing's geopolitical rival, the United States.

A China Coast Guard ship last weekend fired water cannon at a Philippine Coast Guard ship escorting a civilian convoy that was delivering supplies to a Filipino marine outpost in Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal). Since then, the two sides have exchanged angry messages, and the Philippines said it was close to launching joint patrols with the U.S. in contested waters as well as deploying its own maritime militia there.

On Aug. 2, the U.S. Embassy had noted the reclamation projects' link to the state-run China Communications Construction Co. Ltd. (CCCC), saying the U.S. Department of Commerce had added the firm to its Entity List for helping the Chinese military construct and militarize artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea. The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control had also included CCCC on its sanctions list.

People's NICHE warned that some big-ticket projects could be cleared on technicalities during the review. It said one airport project that encroaches on Manila Bay farther north has been identified as a "land development project."

"We believe that all infrastructure projects in the Manila Bay area should be included in the impact assessment because doing otherwise will only give us an impoverished understanding of the scale and scope of their environmental impacts," it said.

The group also called on the government to include social scientists on its review team because of concerns that projects would displace large communities.

Yulo-Loyzaga said a scientific team would be organized within the month to carry out the study. While announcing that the 22 projects approved during the Duterte administration (2016-22) had been suspended, she did not provide a specific list.

"We have to take our time, really, beginning with those that are ongoing, because they are, in fact, already impacting the areas. And then, we will graduate to those that are in fact, still not yet begun," the secretary said.

Endangered clams

On Friday, the Tanggol Kalikasan (Protect the Environment) group said it supported growing calls by legislators and other nationalist groups to ban CCCC from operating in the Philippines.

"[C]hinese companies are involved in major projects in the Philippines such as the Manila Bay Reclamation Project that have adverse impacts on the environment and biodiversity," Tanggol Kalikasan said.

The presence of Chinese maritime militia boats in contested waters had led to the destruction of vital coral reefs, the group alleged.

"Poaching of endangered giant clams has also become prevalent," the group said.

On Friday, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, a Marcos ally, said taxpayers were unwittingly funding China's illegal activities in the South China Sea because of the "continued patronage of Chinese contractors."

He called on the Marcos government to cut ties with the Chinese contractors.

"The public works department has projects with companies that are state-owned by China, which has not stopped bullying our fishermen," Zubiri said in a local radio interview.

"Then let's retaliate and blacklist these companies. Why should Filipino taxpayers pay these state-owned firms, whose income would go back to China, which will then use it to pay for their navy and coast guard who will harass us," he said. "That is not right."

He said the government should look at awarding big-ticket projects to "friendlier" countries such as Japan or South Korea.

"Let's just give them to our neighbors who love us, who are our friends, those who are helping us," he said, as he hit out at China for being "two-faced" by publicly declaring its friendship yet doing things to undermine the Philippines.

Basilio Sepe, Jojo Rinoza and Noel Celis in Manila contributed to this report by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news organization.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content August not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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The Azadi Briefing: Taliban, Pakistan Continue To Wrangle Over Militants

By Abubakar Siddique August 11, 2023

The Key Issue

Erstwhile allies Pakistan and Afghanistan's hard-line Islamist rulers continue to spar over the Taliban's alleged support to militants fighting Islamabad.

"It is the responsibility of the security and intelligence agencies of Pakistan to carry out their duties properly and not to blame Afghanistan," chief Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on August 9

His statement was an apparent response to an August 7 speech by General Asim Munir. The head of Pakistan's powerful military said Islamabad was concerned "over sanctuaries available to banned outfits and the liberty of action they enjoy on Afghan soil," vowing that his country will dismantle terrorist organizations.

"The involvement of Afghan nationals in terrorist incidents in Pakistan is detrimental to regional peace," Munir said.

On August 6, Taliban Defense Minister Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob called on his fighters to obey a recent decree by their supreme leader, Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, which forbids them from engaging in jihad outside Afghanistan.

"If mujahedin (Taliban forces) continue to fight despite orders from the emir to stop, then it is not jihad but rather hostility," Yaqoob said.

The decreeis part of the Taliban's response to Islamabad's accusations that Afghan fighters are involved in attacks on Pakistani forces by the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other jihadist groups who shelter inside Afghanistan.

Why It's Important: The public bickering indicates that Islamabad now sees Taliban-ruled Afghanistan as a major security threat after abandoning efforts to end the TTP's insurgency through peace talks brokered by the Afghan Taliban.

Since the Taliban returned to power, partially enabled by Pakistani support for its two-decade-long insurgency, the TTP dramatically escalated its attacks on Pakistani forces.

Islamabad's efforts to end the violence by offering concessions to the group in talks mediated by the Taliban backfired as the TTP violence turned into an expanding insurgency. The group is trying to regain control of large swathes of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province bordering Afghanistan.

But under Munir's leadership, the Pakistani military is pressuring the Afghan Taliban to rein in the TTP because of its close organizational and ideological alliance with its Afghan hosts.

What's Next: There are no signs that the TTP is stepping back from its violent campaign against Pakistan.

With elections looming, Pakistan will be governed by an interim caretaker government in the near future.

The continuation or increase in Pakistani Taliban violence will prompt Munir to exert more pressure on the Afghan Taliban in this sensitive period, further tearing apart the two former allies.

What To Keep An Eye On

Humanitarian aid groups operating in Afghanistan warn about the dangerous consequences of severe funding shortfalls as they grapple with one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

The UN estimates that nearly 30 million Afghans out of a population of 40 million need humanitarian assistance as they struggle with the consequences of a collapsing economy.

Afghanistan is still reeling from the loss of development and financial aid after donors stopped funding one of the world's most aid-dependent countries following the Taliban's return to power two years ago.

"We need some $110 million immediately to store food for the winter for nearly 3 million people," said Wahidullah Amani, a spokesman for the World Food Program in Afghanistan.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC), a U.S. NGO, expressed concern over diminishing funds to respond to Afghanistan's humanitarian crisis.

The IRC says that only 23 percent of the $4.6 billion humanitarian appeal has been funded this year. By the same time last year, 40 percent of the previous plan was funded.

Why It's Important: This is a vital issue, as the Taliban's cash-strapped, unrecognized government is unlikely to fund humanitarian operations or pull an economic miracle.

Western donors are unlikely to shower aid on Afghanistan in a world struggling with multiple humanitarian crises because of the Taliban's harsh policies and extensive human rights abuses.

This will expose more of the most vulnerable Afghans to extreme hardship in the near future.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-pakistan- taliban-breakdown/32543895.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Afghan Media Groups Decry Taliban Arrests Of Journalists

By RFE/RL's Radio Azadi August 11, 2023

Afghan media groups on August 11 criticized the Taliban's detaining at least five journalists in different parts of the country this month.

Haseeb Hassas, a correspondent for Salam Watandar radio in the northern province of Kunduz, was arrested on August 10.

On the same day, Taliban security forces arrested Faqir Mohammad Faqirzai and Jan Agha Saleh in Jalalabad, the capital of the eastern Nangarhar Province. Both worked for Kalid Radio, an independent station.

"Such unprincipled arrests can be considered as pressure on journalists," said NAI, an Afghan media advocacy group, in a statement on August 11.

"If such arrests continue, they will create an atmosphere of fear for journalists and make freedom of expression and access to information in Afghanistan a serious challenge."

In the southeastern province of Paktia, Habib Sarab, a local correspondent for Ariana News, a private TV station, was also arrested on August 10. Wahdatullah Abdali, a local reporter in the neighboring province of Ghazni, was arrested last week.

"Arresting journalists will weaken freedom of expression and demoralize Afghan journalists," Afghanistan's Independent Journalists Association, another media group, said in a statement on August 11.

In an August 11 statement, the Association joined NAI in calling on the Taliban government to bring the cases against journalists before the Media Regulatory Commission, which the Taliban Ministry of Information and Culture has said is the only forum for dealing with complaints about journalists and media organizations.

The latest moves against Afghan journalists comes after the closure of three media organizations in Nangarhar Province last month.

On July 31, The Taliban forces raided Hamisha Bahar Radio and Television, Radio Nan, and Radio Jawanan in Nangarhar. Taliban fighters stormed the studios of Hamisha Bahar Radio and Television after the media outlet provided journalism training for young Afghans, including girls, according to an employee who spoke to RFE/RL's Radio Azadi on condition of anonymity.

The once flourishing Afghan media has faced a rapid decline since the Taliban returned to power two years ago. Hundreds of media outlets have closed after losing funding and because of draconian Taliban restrictions.

The hard-line Islamist group has driven hundreds of Afghan journalists into exile.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-journalists- arrests-media-freedom-taliban/32544123.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Tajik Minister Says Two Former Top Police Officers Involved In Banker's Disappearance

By RFE/RL's Tajik Service August 11, 2023

DUSHANBE -- Tajik Interior Minister Ramazon Rahimzoda has said that two former top police officials were involved in the disappearance in June of Shuhrat Ismatulloev, the deputy chairman of one of the Centra Asian country's leading banks.

Rahimzoda told reporters on August 1 that "two top officials of the Interior Ministry" were involved in the high-profile case. He did not disclose the names of the two former police officers.

CCTV cameras showed that Ismatulloev, the 49-year-old deputy head of Oriyonbank, was apparently forced into a car in Dushanbe by several unidentified people on the evening of June 23.

Officials in Tajikistan said they believed the alleged kidnappers had been tracking Ismatulloev since at least the beginning of June.

The Tajik Prosecutor-General's Office has said that the abductors tortured Ismatulloev to death after kidnapping him and ditched his body in a river. But no body was found, despite the police saying that they continued to search for it.

The prosecutors also said that 15 people are suspected of having been involved in Ismatulloev's disappearance, of whom 13 had been detained.

Sources close to law enforcement told RFE/RL that the alleged abductors' leader was Dilshod Saidmurodov, who used to work at the Interior Ministry directorate dealing with organized crime.

One of the alleged members of the group was identified as Rustam Ashurov, who died in a hospital in Moldova last month after he was wounded by Moldovan police after shooting dead two security officers on June 30 at Chisinau International Airport.

Moldovan authorities said at the time that Ashurov had previously worked at the Tajik Interior Ministry for seven years, but was fired for unspecified criminal activities.

Several sources told RFE/RL that Ismatulloev, who is believed to have had links to the family of President Emomali Rahmon, officially served as Oryonbank's deputy chairman but he was the de facto head of the financial institution.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/tajikistan-oriyonbank- abduction-police-involvement/32544098.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Press release on the current situation in Niger

11 August 2023 17:44

1581-11-08-2023

We continue to closely monitor the developments in the Republic of Niger, where President Mohamed Bazoum was removed from office on July 26 and the military announced their takeover of power.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is taking steps to restore constitutional order in Niger through political and diplomatic dialogue with the new Niger authorities. Russia supports ECOWAS's mediating efforts aimed at finding ways out of the current crisis.

At the same time, according to incoming information, ECOWAS decided at an extraordinary summit in Abuja on August 10 to activate its standby force for a possible armed intervention in Niger to liberate Mohamed Bazoum. The Niger military have declared their readiness to fight back against any foreign interference.

In addition, they reported on establishing a transitional government, which includes representatives of civil society.

We believe that a military solution to the crisis in Niger could lead to a protracted confrontation in that African country and to a sharp destabilisation of the situation in the Sahara-Sahel region as a whole.

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The construction firm engaged by the Federal Government to fix the damaged Kaljanga Bridge on the ever-busy Bauchi-Gombe highway, Anaco Nigeria Limited, has pledged to reactivate the bridge within three days.

LEADERSHIP reports that heavy downpour on Sunday morning had caused flooding on a portion of the Bauchi-Gombe road and washed away the bridge at Kaljanga village in Bauchi State, thereby cutting off the North-East zone from other parts of the country.

The development has left many travellers stranded on both sides of the highway as some of them had to make a detour to alternate and longer routes to access their destinations.

However, the construction firm said it will fix the damaged portion of the road within three days.

The project site engineer, Mr Abdul'aziz Haidar, gave the assurance during an assessment visit to the site of the collapsed bridge by the Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, at Kaljanga in Bara district of Kirfi local government area of Bauchi State.

Responding, Governor Mohammed lamented the untold hardship the incident will cause to the local economy and the people, calling on the Federal Government to expedite action by rehabilitating the road, which he said was abandoned by the last administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

"We need this corridor so much, we had a dream that the new government will do this for us. As you said with the engineering solution to rebuild the road. I'm happy that you said you will do it within three days. Can I give you another four days to make it a week?

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"This is going to affect our food security, it is going to affect our commerce, and it will deepen poverty, and that is why we are worried. We are calling on the federal government that has rekindled some hope in us, that this thing can be done quickly within the new initiative that they have on infrastructure.

"We are still calling on the federal government to look at this corridor because it is the major gateway that is connects the North-East with the North-West, North-Central, and indeed the whole country, because nobody goes to Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba Yobe, Borno except he passes this place.

"My worries are this road has been like this for many years, and between Bauchi and Gombe, this was the best road we had in the North-East, but it has been neglected by the last administration. We had made a lot of pleas, but it had not been listened to. The whole road is dead, it has been like this for many years," Governor Mohammed lamented.

While calling on motorists and other road users to exercise patience, the Bauchi State governor pledged to come to their aid by working with relevant authorities to mitigate the effects the damage has caused.
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Joint Statement on the C5+1 Special Session on Afghanistan

US Department of State

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

August 11, 2023

The text of the following statement was released by the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, the Republic of Uzbekistan, and the United States on the occasion of the C5+1 Special Session on Afghanistan in Astana, Kazakhstan on July 27.

Begin Text

On July 27, the Special Representatives and Special Envoys for Afghanistan of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, the Republic of Uzbekistan, and the United States met in Astana, Kazakhstan under the auspices of the C5+1 regional diplomatic platform.

The Special Representatives and Special Envoys exchanged views on the current situation in Afghanistan and its implications for the region. They emphasized opportunities for U.S. and Central Asia cooperation in support of the Afghan people and in furtherance of security and resilience in the wider region.

In light of shared C5+1 objectives, the participants:

Discussed the continuing need for all countries in the region and the broader international community to support an inclusive, united, sovereign, stable, and self-reliant Afghanistan that is free of terrorism, respects the rights of its population, including women and girls, and is at peace with itself and its neighbors;

Underlined the importance of preventing the territory of Afghanistan from being used as a base for hosting, financing, or exporting terrorism and violent extremism to other countries, and reaffirmed the need for strengthening cooperation on countering trafficking in persons, arms, and illegal drugs;

Acknowledged that the seriousness of the humanitarian and economic conditions in Afghanistan requires a strong and coordinated response from the international community that addresses all dimensions of the situation; and emphasized that this response requires, among other things, full access for humanitarian actors to all Afghans in need, in line with the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, as well as full respect for International Humanitarian Law;

Reiterated that the goal of a stable, economically viable and peaceful Afghanistan is only attainable if all Afghans, including women and girls, and persons belonging to ethnic and religious minorities, can fully, equally, and meaningfully participate inand contribute tothe country's future; and highlighted the need for an inclusive process of dialogue on the country's political future that focuses on, among other things, the establishment of accountable and representative governing bodies;

Reiterated support for freedom of movement, including for women, within Afghanistan, as well as to and from the country; and emphasized that Afghans with valid travel documents and visas should be free to travel and move in an unrestricted manner;

Reaffirmed the importance of projects that promote regional connectivity and transit trade through the construction of energy infrastructure and extension of transportation networks connecting Central Asia to South Asia via Afghanistan;

Welcomed significant decreases in opium poppy cultivation in 2023, but expressed concern regarding continued opiate exports and synthetic drug production in Afghanistan, as every country in the region and beyond has a shared interest in an Afghanistan free of drugs;

Determined to continue support for institutions of higher education in Central Asia that serve male and female students from across Central Asia and Afghanistan as a means of increasing regional connectivity and cross-cultural understanding;

Expressed support for the work of the international community in Afghanistan and welcomed the efforts of the UN Secretary General to convene international stakeholders to discuss shared interests and concerns; emphasized the importance of the continued UN political presence in Afghanistan and its goals of, among other things, promoting effective, responsible and inclusive governance and supporting meaningful reconciliation processes; strengthening respect and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all men and women; supporting essential services; and contributing to the creation of social and economic conditions that can lead to Afghanistan's self-reliance.

End Text

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Situation in Niger: UK statement, 11 August 2023

Statement supporting diplomatic efforts advocated by the Second Extraordinary Summit on the Political Situation in Niger

11 August 2023

The United Kingdom supports the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in calling for the restoration of constitutional order and democracy in Niger. We welcome the determination of ECOWAS to pursue all means to bring about a peaceful resolution. We stand in support of democracy in Niger.

We stand with ECOWAS in condemnation of the illegal detention of President Mohamed Bazoum, his family, and members of the government, as well as the unacceptable conditions under which they are being held, and call for their immediate release.

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Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York

11 August 2023

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

** FSO Safer

Good afternoon, happy Friday. I'm going to read this statement into the record  you all saw it about an hour ago  on the removal of oil from the FSO Safer.

The Secretary-General welcomes the news that the ship-to-ship transfer of oil from the FSO Safer to the Yemen replacement vessel has been safely concluded today, avoiding what could have been a monumental environmental and humanitarian catastrophe.

The Secretary-General reaffirms the UN's commitment to successfully complete this project, including through the delivery of a specialized buoy to which the replacement vessel will be safely and securely tethered. He expresses his gratitude to the Yemeni authorities whose support has been critical to its success. Additional funding will be needed to finish the project and remove any remaining environmental threat to the Red Sea.

The Secretary-General thanks the many countries, corporate and philanthropic donors as well as ordinary citizens who contributed funding for the project.

The Secretary-General urges donors to contribute funds at this crucial time to conclude this operation.

And as you can see, after I'm finished, we will be joined once again by Achim Steiner, who is the Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), and David Gressly, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen.

They are joining us virtually  Mr. Steiner is joining from Europe and Mr. Gressly from Aden to speak to you about the removal of oil from FSO Safer.

** Yemen

This morning, you will have seen that we issued a statement in which the Secretary-General was delighted to learn of the release of Akm Sufiul Anam, Mazen Bawazir, Bakeel Al-Mahdi, Mohammed Al-Mulaiki and Khaled Mokhtar Sheikh, the five personnel of the UN's Department of Safety and Security (DSS) who had been kidnapped in Yemen on 11 February 2022. Finally, their ordeal and the anxiety of their families and friends have come to an end.

The Secretary-General reiterates that kidnapping is an inhumane and unjustifiable crime and calls for the perpetrators to be held accountable.

He also expresses his solidarity with other people still held against their will in Yemen.

For his part, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, David Gressly, who you will be able to talk to in just a few minutes, said that he saw that the four Yemeni colleagues were in good health when he flew with them to Aden from Mukalla today. He thanked the Government of Yemen and all others that helped to secure their release.

** Ecuador

And in another statement that we issued last night, the Secretary-General strongly condemned the assassination of presidential candidate of Ecuador Fernando Villavicencio. Attacks of this nature represent a grave threat to democracy, and those responsible must be brought to justice.

The United Nations stands ready to continue to support the Ecuadorian authorities with a view to addressing the violence in keeping with international human rights norms and standards.

** Ukraine

In Ukraine, the UN is very concerned about the pattern of attacks in populated areas that result in civilian harm.

In the Kherson region, an aid distribution point of the NGO (non-governmental organization) ADRA was hit this morning. None of the staff was injured, but the strike damaged their vehicles and forced them to suspend lifesaving support to people in the area.

In Zaporizhzhia, an attack damaged a hotel yesterday where a civilian was reportedly killed and others injured. It is a hotel frequently used by UN staff and by other humanitarian organizations.

We recall that indiscriminate attacks are strictly prohibited and constant care must be taken to spare civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Needs in Ukraine are once again increasing and will soon outpace our capacity to respond if more funding is not received. This year's Humanitarian Response Plan, which calls for $3.9 billion, is only 30 per cent funded.

** Sudan

Turning to Sudan, we have an update on our efforts to get humanitarian assistance into Khartoum State, which remains extremely challenging due to the conflict.

This morning, trucks carrying some 460 tons of supplies from the World Food Programme (WFP) reached Jabal Awlia in greater Khartoum, one of the areas hardest hit by the fighting.

The convoy was facilitated by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which engaged with the parties to the conflict to ensure that the trucks could safely reach their destination.

Since late May, WFP has assisted more than 150,000 people in the greater Khartoum area.

The agency continues to scale up assistance to people who are fleeing Sudan's capital to neighbouring states such as Aj Jazirah, Northern and River Nile. And to recall, last week WFP delivered food assistance in West Darfur State for around 15,400 people.

Once again, we appeal to all parties to provide safe and unconditional humanitarian access to all parts of Sudan, including other hard-to-reach areas such as South Kordofan, and to all parts of Darfur, in particular North Darfur.

** Niger

Further to what the Secretary-General has said about his concerns about President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger, Volker Turk, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, today said that he is extremely concerned about the rapidly deteriorating conditions in which President Bazoum, his wife and his son have been arbitrarily detained.

He said that he has received credible reports that the conditions of detention could amount to inhuman and degrading treatment, in violation of international human rights law. And he added that those responsible for the detention of the President must ensure the full respect and protection of his human rights and of all others being held.

** Democratic Republic of the Congo

Our peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, MONUSCO, reports that on 9 August, peacekeepers intervened during an attack by CODECO elements on Jissa village, close to Djugu, in Ituri Province. The assailants, who earlier burned homes and made civilians flee, fled upon the arrival of the peacekeepers.

Peacekeepers deployed again to the area on Thursday morning and continued to patrol, in response to alerts from the community of sightings of the same group.

This is the second attack in the area this past week. As you will recall, on Monday, CODECO raided another village in Largu. Djugu territory, and peacekeepers rapidly responded and saved lives, in addition to protecting some 1,000 civilians, who had fled to a nearby UN base for safety.

** International Days

Today is World Steelpan Day. The steelpan is a musical instrument originating in Trinidad and Tobago. It correlates to cultural, social and economic development.

And tomorrow we mark International Youth Day with the theme "Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World". In his message, the Secretary-General says that humanity depends on the boundless energy, ideas and contributions of youth everywhere. He calls to support and stand with young people in shaping a just and sustainable world, for the people and our planet.

** Financial Contribution

And we end the day with thanks to our friends in Victoria, capital city of the beautiful Seychelles. They've paid their regular budget dues in full for 2023.

This payment takes us to 128 fully paid-up Member States.

** Questions and Answers

Deputy Spokesman : And that is it from me. Are there any questions before we turn to our guests? Yes, Edie?

Question : I'll save my questions on the tanker and, since David Gressly is there, also about the release of the five UN staffers for them. Is there any update on cross-border deliveries through Bab al-Hawa?

Deputy Spokesman : Why, yes, there is. In fact, it was handed to me just seconds before you spoke. The UN and our humanitarian partners continue to deliver urgently needed aid through the Bab al-Salam and Al-Ra'ee border crossings. Today, 13 trucks carrying humanitarian shelter items, medicines, medical equipment and other assistance from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the World Health Organization (WHO) crossed into Syria via Bab al-Salam.

Question : Nothing through Bab al-Hawa yet?

Deputy Spokesman : Nothing to report so far.

Yes, Celhia?

Question : Farhan, I'd like to know why it took so long for those people from the UN to be free. Did we do anything before?

Deputy Spokesman : Well, certainly I wish it had happened earlier, and you'll hear shortly from Mr. Gressly. But, certainly, it took a lot of effort and we certainly appreciate the supporting roles that have been played by several Member States in these discussions, including Iraq [sic] Oh, sorry. Sorry. Wrong situation. Including the support of Oman and other Member States in these efforts. And, sorry, I have several different situations in front of me. But we thank the role that Oman helped to play, but it did take a lot of patience and a lot of negotiation. We're very sorry to the families of those concerned that it's taken such a long time, but we're very grateful that all of our people are safe and sound.

Yes. Yes, please?

Question : Thank you, Farhan. Next week, the Security Council will be meeting to talk about the humanitarian situation in the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea). And, as you know, many people are concerned with the absence of UN and international aid workers in that country. Have you seen any move or signs from its Government to accept the return of those workers?

Deputy Spokesman : We remain in touch with the relevant authorities. We are always prepared to provide assistance once we have the ability to do so.

Question : But so far, there's nothing?

Deputy Spokesman : There's no change to report.

Question : Thank you.

Deputy Spokesman : Margaret Besheer, you have a question? Maggie, are you there?

Question : Farhan?

Deputy Spokesman : Okay. Got you. Yeah.

Question : Oh, okay. Thanks. On the hotel in the Ukraine, that was damaged, that you said UN staff and other NGOs used. Did you reach out to First of all, who shelled it? Was it the Ukrainians or the Russians? And have you reached out to them? And is there any sort of deconfliction mechanism employed in this sort of situation, like, for when you tell them coordinates and such?

Deputy Spokesman : Well, we inform all relevant people of where our personnel are. So that is part of the point. But, in general, even if we were not there, the entire point is all civilian infrastructure needs to be spared, and it's imperative that international humanitarian law is [respected].

Yes, in the back.

Question : Sorry. And do you know who did it? Sorry. Do you know from which side the shelling came?

Deputy Spokesman : We don't have the forensic capability to determine exactly who is responsible for this.

Yes, in the back.

Question : Okay. On the release of the five UNDSS personnel, again. I just wanted to ask, the statement doesn't mention who was responsible of the kidnapping. Do we know?

Deputy Spokesman : Well, you'll hear also from Mr. Gressly after this. But I believe the responsible party was Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. And with that, that's as good as segue as any to get to our guests. So we're very pleased to have with us today Achim Steiner, the Administrator of UNDP, and David Gressly, the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen.

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Yemen: UN concludes removal of one million barrels of oil from decaying tanker

11 August 2023 - A UN-led operation to remove over one million barrels of crude oil from a rusting supertanker off Yemen safely concluded on Friday, preventing the immediate threat of a massive spill in the Red Sea.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the news of the successful transfer of oil aboard the FSO Safer to a replacement vessel, thus "avoiding what could have been a monumental environmental and humanitarian catastrophe."

The FSO Safer was built as a supertanker in 1976 and converted a decade later into what is in effect a floating oil container.

Risk to the region

The tanker was abandoned off the Red Sea port of Hudaydah after civil war broke out in 2015. Prior to the conflict, it was used to store and export oil from fields around Ma'rib, but the fighting brought production, as well as maintenance of the vessel, to a halt.

The UN had repeatedly warned of the danger the decrepit tanker posed to Yemen and the wider region as it was at risk of leaking, breaking apart or exploding, which would have resulted in catastrophic environmental and humanitarian consequences.

Any potential oil spill would have forced the closure of all ports in the area alone, cutting off food, fuel and other life-saving supplies to a country where more than 21 million people - 80 per cent of the population - rely on aid.

'A proud moment'

Following two years of fundraising, including through a crowdfunding campaign, a UN salvage team began pumping oil from the FSO Safer onto a replacement vessel on 25 July - part of a two-track plan.

This followed preparations on-site by leading marine salvage company SMIT, a subsidiary of Boskalis, which began in May. The UN Development Programme (UNDP), which contracted SMIT, is implementing the operation.

"Today is a proud moment for the many people across the UN System as well as our donors and partners who have worked tirelessly over the past months and years to avert a disaster in a country already vulnerable following protracted conflict," said Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator.

"There is still work to be done, but today we can say with confidence that the immediate threat of a spill has been averted," he added.

Two-track process

As much of the 1.14 million barrels of oil trapped on the FSO Safer has been extracted as possible. However, less than two per cent of the original oil remains mixed in with sediment that will be removed during the final cleaning.

The second phase of the operation involves installing a mooring system so that the replacement vessel, the Yemen, can remain in place. The FSO Safer will eventually be towed to a shipyard and scrapped.

The Secretary-General reaffirmed the UN's commitment to fully complete the operation, which has an overall cost of over $140 million, with some $20 million still needed.

"He expresses his gratitude to the Yemeni authorities whose support has been critical to its success. Additional funding will be needed to finish the project and remove any remaining environmental threat to the Red Sea," UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq said in a statement.

Finish the job

Mr. Guterres also thanked the many countries, corporate and philanthropic donors, as well as ordinary citizens, who contributed funding for the project. He urged donors to step up support towards its full conclusion.

The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, David Gressly, who has led UN system-wide efforts on the Safer since September 2021, echoed his message.

"Today is a great milestone," he said. "A remarkable global coalition came together under the UN umbrella to prevent the worst-case scenario of a catastrophic oil spill in the Red Sea. We need to finish the work the UN started."

Hopes for peace

Speaking later on Friday to UN News, Mr. Gressly reported that the oil on board the FSO Safer was in good condition, meaning that it could be sold - a process that will require negotiation between Yemen's warring sides.

He said the UN has offered to be a "go-between", including potentially setting up a trust fund or an escrow account, but no decisions have yet been reached.

"In fact, one of the reasons we opted for this particular solution was because of the complexity either of both getting the parties to agree to the sale of the oil, but also to not have to confront the legal ownership issues because the oil is actually owned by multiple parties," he said.

"So, rather than taking months or even years to resolve that problem, during which time the Safer could have sunk, we opted to get the oil off first by the time required to find a solution to the sale of the oil."

Mr. Gressly also reported that ordinary Yemenis are "very happy" that the oil transfer operation has concluded, regardless of where they stand on the political spectrum.

"They all know that this is a real threat to the Yemeni people, so, there's relief that it's finally done," he said.

"I think, secondly, there's hope that the sale of the oil, if it were to take place, could be of benefit to the people of Yemen as well. And then thirdly, of course, it creates a bit of momentum and anticipation for acceleration of the peace process itself. It creates more hope for that as well."

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UN welcomes release of five staff abducted last year in Yemen

11 August 2023 - The United Nations on Friday welcomed the release of five of its security personnel in Yemen who had been held in captivity for more than a year.

The men - four national staff and a Bangladeshi citizen - were abducted in the southern governorate of Abyan on 11 February 2022 after returning from a field mission.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was delighted to learn of their release, noting that available information suggests they all are in good health.

Mr. Guterres was "profoundly relieved that their ordeal and the anxiety of their families and friends have finally come to an end," his deputy spokesperson, Farhan Haq, said in a statement.

"The Secretary-General reiterates that kidnapping is an inhumane and unjustifiable crime, and calls for the perpetrators to be held accountable," it said. "He also expresses his solidarity with other people still held against their will in Yemen."

In good spirits

The UN Resident Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, David Gressly, also welcomed the development.

"I was extremely pleased to see for myself that the four Yemeni colleagues were in good health when I flew with them to Aden from Mukalla today," he said.

Mr. Gressly reported that they all are in good spirits and in contact with their families. He thanked the Government of Yemen and others that helped to secure the staff members' release and ensure their health during their lengthy captivity.

"While the entire UN family in Yemen is relieved that our colleagues are free, we also recall other UN staff are still held against their will in Yemen. We stand in solidarity with them," he added.

The UN in Yemen

Yemen continues to face a protracted political, humanitarian and developmental crisis after more than eight years of fighting between pro-Government forces, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, and Houthi rebels.

More than 21 million people - roughly two-thirds of the population - need support and protection, and the UN and partners are delivering essential humanitarian aid and development assistance.

Humanitarians are seeking $4.3 billion to reach 17. 3 million people this year, but the appeal is just over 30 per cent funded.

Meanwhile, a UN-led operation to transfer more than a million barrels of crude oil from a decaying supertanker moored off Yemen's Red Sea coast, which began just over two weeks ago, concluded on Friday.

The floating, storage and offloading (FSO) vessel Safer has been permanently anchored for more than 30 years. Prior to the escalation of the conflict in 2015, it was used to store and export oil from fields around Ma'rib.

The fighting brought production to a halt and the FSO Safer deteriorated significantly in the absence of any servicing or maintenance, sparking fears of a major environmental disaster.

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USS Mobile Bay Decommissions, Honors 36 Years of Service

US Navy

11 August 2023

From by Julie Ann Ripley, Commander, Naval Surface Forces Pacific

SAN DIEGO -- USS Mobile Bay (CG 53) honored more than three decades of naval service during a decommissioning ceremony at Naval Base San Diego, Aug. 10.

Vice Adm. Roy Kitchener, commander, Naval Surface Forces served as the ceremony's guest speaker and wished the current crew fair winds and following seas as they bid farewell to their ship.

"The Sailors of USS Mobile Bay demonstrated time and time again the resolve and readiness the Surface Force provides around the clock in support of our nation's interests," said Kitchener. "Everywhere this ship and crew deployed, Mobile Bay Sailors served their nation well, and lived up to the valor enshrined in the Battle of Mobile Bay."

Commanded by Capt. Brandon J. Burkett, Mobile Bay maintained a crew of 30 officers and 300 enlisted members.

"It's been an honor to be Mobile Bay's last commanding officer," said Burkett. "It has been a distinct privilege to work alongside some of the finest Sailors our Navy and our nation have to offer. Their persistence through adversity is commendable and truly represents the spirit of Mobile Bay's motto, 'Full speed ahead.' They truly embody what it means to be a 'MOBster.' It is now my solemn responsibility as the ships final captain to order hauling down the colors and disembarking the crew. Though to many of us 'MOBsters' past and present, the feeling is deeper than that. Those who've gone to sea know that a ship is more than a machine that floats. When you are away from home for months on end your ship becomes your home and your protection. We take care of her and she takes care of us. Simply put, she becomes family. It has been an honor to serve with my crew on this exemplary warship."

Mobile Bay was built by Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi and commissioned Feb. 21, 1987, Alabama State Docks in Mobile, Alabama.

The ship's operational history includes the 1989 evacuation of U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon; launching 22 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAMs) in support of Operation Desert Storm and evacuation of thousands of people displaced by the volcanic eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in the vicinity of Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines during Operation Fiery Vigil in 1991; U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (CGLED) seizure of 10.5 metric tons of cocaine approximately 800 miles southwest of Acapulco, Mexico, and launching Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAMs) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.

The ship's sponsor, Kathryn Jane Maury helped organize the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia in the 1960s after her Navy pilot husband was shot down and captured in 1965. She was married to U.S. Sen. Jeremiah Denton, a Vietnam War veteran who was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism while a prisoner of war. USS Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129), a Flight III Arleigh-Burke class destroyer is named for him. Mrs. Denton passed away on Nov. 22, 2007, at the age of 81.

The ship was the first named after and in honor of the Battle of Mobile Bay in August 1864. During the famous American Civil War naval battle between Union forces under the command of Adm. David Farragut and Confederate forces under Adm. Franklin Buchanan.

The ship's motto, "Full speed ahead," is based on Adm. Farragut's famous command issued during the battle and typifies the Admiral's key to success in war, straight thinking and determined action. Mobile Bay proudly carried on the tradition of patriotism and courage displayed by the ships and Sailors in the historic battle which concluded when Farragut's Union ships converged upon the Confederate ironclad CSS Tennessee firing broadsides and ramming it at full speed with their prows. After two hours, Tennessee was dead in the water, it's steering gone and stack shot away, filling the gun deck with suffocating heat and flames. Only then did the wounded Buchanan give the order to surrender. Tennessee's colors came down, concluding one of the most important battles in the Civil War.

Mobile Bay will be inactivated and towed to the Navy's Inactive Ship's facility in Bremerton, Washington where they will be in a Logistic Support Asset (LSA) status.

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Whidbey Island SAR Conducts Second Mission at Mount St. Helens

US Navy

11 August 2023

From NASWI PAO

NAVAL AIR STATION WHIDBEY ISLAND, Wash. -- A Search and Rescue (SAR) team from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island assisted in the rescue of an ill hiker in vicinity of Mount St. Helens on Aug. 7, 2023.

In the afternoon, the SAR team received a request for assistance for a man needing medical attention while trekking around Castle Lake near Mount St. Helens at an approximate altitude of 2'800 ft.

During the 125 nautical mile transit, the Helicopter Inland Rescue Aircrewman maintained communications with the on-ground rescue team for updated information and obtained coordinates for the location of a waiting ambulance.

SAR reached the ailing man's location around 4:40 p.m. and hoisted him aboard the aircraft by 5 p.m. for the transit to the waiting ambulance. After completing the rescue mission, SAR made it back to base just before 7:30 that evening.

Naval Air Station Whidbey Island SAR has conducted 24 missions this calendar year, which includes 1 MEDEVAC, 4 searches and 19 rescues.

The Navy SAR unit operates three MH-60S helicopters from NAS Whidbey Island as search and rescue/medical evacuation (SAR/MEDEVAC) platforms for the EA-18G aircraft as well as other squadrons and personnel assigned to the installation. Pursuant to the National SAR Plan of the United States, the unit may also be used for civil SAR/MEDEVAC needs to the fullest extent practicable on a non-interference basis with primary military duties according to applicable national directives, plans, guidelines and agreements; specifically, the unit may launch in response to tasking by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (based on a Washington State Memorandum of Understanding) for inland missions, and/or tasking by the United States Coast Guard for all other aeronautical and maritime regions, when other assets are unavailable.

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Acute Hunger in Conflict-Ridden Sudan Reaches Record Levels

By Lisa Schlein August 11, 2023

U.N. agencies warn that hunger in conflict-ridden Sudan has reached record levels, with more than 20.3 million people across the country, over 42% of the population, facing acute hunger, including 6.3 million who are "one step away from famine."

According to the latest United Nations food assessment in Sudan, the number of people projected to be food insecure between July and September has nearly doubled from the last analysis, conducted in May 2022.

That makes "Sudan one of the most food insecure countries on the planet," Adam Yao, deputy representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization to Sudan, said Friday.

Speaking to reporters from his post in Port Sudan, Yao cited Khartoum, South and West Kordofan, and parts of Darfur as the hardest-hit areas, "with more than half their populations facing acute hunger."

He said, "Families are facing unimaginable suffering, and I have seen the impacts of this conflict with my very eyes.  I have met with many of the affected communities. They are destitute. They need help."

But delivering lifesaving food aid to those in desperate need is extremely challenging because of the ongoing fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and paramilitary Rapid Response Forces.

In what is seen as a breakthrough, however, the World Food Program, or WFP, for the first time since the war started nearly four months ago, was able to deliver food aid to West Darfur state this week. A five-truck convoy transported 125 tons of food  enough to feed around 15,400 people for one month.

Eddie Rowe, the WFP's country director for Sudan, said his agency hoped the truck route from eastern Chad to West Darfur would become a regular corridor to reach families who have little to eat.

"The situation in the Darfurs, and particularly in West and Central Darfur, is catastrophic," Rowe said. "Our teams passed through towns and villages that are abandoned following a mass exodus of people. Health facilities, banks and other critical infrastructure are destroyed."

He said women and children who remained behind because "they were too scared to flee" are extremely vulnerable to the escalating violence as "their husbands have been killed, injured or have gone missing."

"These families are barely surviving," Rowe said. "Most are only eating just one meal a day, sharing whatever food they have with neighbors and selling whatever property they have simply to survive."

People who do not get enough to eat pay a heavy price in rising malnutrition rates and hunger- and disease-related deaths. Earlier this week, the U.N. refugee agency said more than 300 deaths were reported in Sudan between mid-May and mid-July due to measles and malnutrition. Most of the deaths were children under 5.

Despite the many hardships and security risks, humanitarian agencies are doing their best to provide aid where needed. Since the rival generals went to war April 15, the WFP reports it has delivered emergency food and nutrition assistance to 1.6 million people across Sudan.

"The situation is volatile," said Rowe, "and we have to seize often-brief windows of calm to get our trucks into these areas and to safely deliver the food assistance into the hands of people who need it."

Yao said the Food and Agriculture Organization, or FAO, was committed to delivering urgent livelihood assistance and was "supporting small farmers across the country, whose production was essential for feeding Sudanese people."

He noted that the "FAO has nearly completed its ambitious goal of distributing emergency crop seed to an estimated 1 million farmers across 15 states."

WFP and FAO are urgently calling on the warring parties to facilitate humanitarian access to the millions of people whose lives have been torn apart by the violence and are struggling to survive as food becomes ever scarcer.

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Cameroon Government, Aid Groups Begin Emergency Food Distribution in Vulnerable Towns and Villages

By Moki Edwin Kindzeka August 11, 2023

Aid groups and the government of Cameroon say they distributed rice, millet and beans to at least 30,000 people this week along the central African state's northern border with Chad and Nigeria.

Refugee populations and host communities are among the recipients.

The government and relief agencies now aim to reach a total of 4 million people over the next six weeks.

Distribution is complicated by torn-up roads and ongoing clashes between government troops and separatist groups in Cameroon's Northwest and Southwest regions.

Aid agencies have also reported sporadic Boko Haram attacks but the government has said it will protect all aid workers.

Ayissi Nouma is coordinator of the Emergency Food Project at the Cameroon Red Cross, one of the agencies distributing food aid.

Nouma said undernourishment, famine and movement of people out of their communities in search of food in Cameroon's northern border with Chad and Nigeria are the direct consequences of severe floods and attacks by elephants and migratory birds on plantations. Nouma said Boko Haram terrorism and clashes between herders and fishers that displaced more than a 100,000 people, including farmers to Chad, are among the causes of current food shortages.

Nouma spoke on Cameroon state broadcaster CRTV on Friday.

The separatist crisis in the west and Boko Haram attacks in the north have disrupted food production and left millions of Cameroonians facing hunger in recent years.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine made the situation worse. Before Russia's Black Sea blockade, Cameroon imported 60% of its wheat from Ukraine. The cutoff led to a nearly 50% increase in the price of bread.

More recently, floods that swept through towns also rendered several hundred homeless and hungry, the government said. Those affected include the economic hub, Douala, and Buea and Limbe, both English-speaking western towns.

Gabriel Mbairobe, Cameroon's agriculture minister, said climate shocks added to the present food shortage Cameroon is witnessing.

"Agropastoral production has been disrupted due to climate hazards, high rainfall in the northern part of the country, sudden cessation of rains in the southern part which did not allow crops to complete their cycle," Mbairobe said.

Crop pests as well as the destruction of fields by elephants and sociopolitical and intercommunity conflicts are affecting 27,000 producers, he added.

Mbairobe said Cameroon's government and its partners are ready to provide emergency food and nutritional supplies to people threatened by hunger and disease.

He said besides distributing food aid, Cameroon is providing hybrid seeds and fertilizers to farmers who agree to return to their farms.

The government said it has also distributed drought-tolerant crops to several thousand farmers on Cameroon's northern border with Chad and Nigeria.

Meanwhile Cameroon's livestock ministry reports that several hundred heifers, which quickly adapt to harsh climatic conditions and produce more milk than the local breed of cattle, have been distributed to herders in the area.

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Recently, it was reported that in the first half of this year, Anhui Province's trade through the China-Laos Railway reached a total value of 170 million yuan, with exports accounting for 80 million yuan and imports accounting for 90 million yuan. In June, the trade volume through the China-Laos Railway reached 60 million yuan, showing a month-on-month growth of 111.8%. The China-Laos Railway is a landmark project in the high-quality construction of the Belt and Road Initiative. Since the opening of the railway, China's economic and trade cooperation with ASEAN countries has deepened continuously. The China-Laos Railway has become a new trade channel connecting China with Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, and other countries. According to customs statistics, in the first half of this year, the variety of goods traded through the China-Laos Railway in Anhui Province has been continuously enriched, covering more than 20 types of products. The exports of agricultural products, textile yarns, steel, electromechanical products, and food, totaling 80 million yuan, accounting for 98.8% of the total export value through the China-Laos Railway in Anhui Province. Private enterprises accounted for 140 million yuan of the total trade volume, accounting for 82.1% of the total trade volume through the China-Laos Railway in Anhui Province in the first half of this year. The trade volume with Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar through the China-Laos Railway reached 90 million yuan, 60 million yuan, and 20 million yuan respectively, accounting for 99.4% of the total trade volume through the China-Laos Railway in Anhui Province. The responsible person from the Hefei Customs stated that they will continue to support the construction of railway hub stations and help improve the quality and efficiency of foreign trade through the China-Laos Railway. They will also focus on the development of cross-border e-commerce pilot zones within the province, support the use of railway services to expand markets in countries along the railway line, and promote local enterprises and products to "go global" faster.

Source: Anhui Daily Reported by He Ke Translated by Zheng Chen
Mr Tinubu also assured of the commitment of his administration towards improving the welfare of personnel in its renewed drive to address security and related concerns across the country.

President Bola Tinubu on Saturday, said his administration would make adequate provision for the enhancement of the operational capabilities of security and law enforcement agencies.

Mr Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, gave the assurance at the Passing Out Parade of the 5th Regular Course of the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, Kano.

Director of Information, Office of the Vice President, Olusola Abiola, made this known in a statement on Saturday.

The Nigerian leader also assured of the commitment of his administration towards improving the welfare of personnel in its renewed drive to address security and related concerns across the country.

"This administration is committed to implementing effective measures to combat security challenges in Nigeria and our synergy is the surest ticket to that destiny. We are implementing a comprehensive approach that focuses on key areas.

"First, we are investing in our law enforcement agencies to enhance their capabilities and effectiveness. We are offering extra resources, training, and equipment to bolster our Police Force and Security Agencies.

"Simultaneously, we are enhancing our intelligence systems and information sharing at both the national and international levels."

Mr Tinubu said the government acknowledges that addressing security challenges necessitates cooperative endeavours with other countries.

"Hence, we are establishing alliances to adeptly tackle transnational threats. Furthermore, we are executing all-encompassing social programmes and economic development projects aimed at fostering inclusiveness, social unity, and economic prospects for everyone," the president added.

While commending the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies for their efforts, the president said "Our moral duty now is to support the Nigeria Police Force and other security organisations in intensifying their bids to improve public safety.

"We must do the best within our capacity to ensure there is an improvement in the security of lives, properties, and investments of our people and foreign investors."

Mr Tinubu urged members of the Force to always hold fast to the core virtues of our Police Force; integrity, honesty, and compassion.

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"We must treat all citizens fairly and uphold their human rights, regardless of background. Our actions must exemplify the highest ethical standards as we safeguard the rule of law. Together, we embody the principles that define a trusted and responsible Police Force."

He expressed confidence in the ability of the graduands to fit into the agenda of the present administration.

He noted that "with the quality of training that you have received over the five years in the Academy, I believe you are adequately prepared to serve this country.

"May you all embark on this journey with courage and determination, knowing that the nation needs your patriotic services. Stay vigilant, stay united, and stay focused on the ideals that make our Police Force an example of honour and integrity."

Earlier, the Commandant of the Academy, Sadiq Abubakar, an assistant inspector general of police, thanked the federal government for its unwavering support of the institution.

He noted that the successful graduation of the 169 cadets was a testament to the present administration's commitment to infrastructure and manpower development in the Force.

The high point of the event was the presentation of a sword and prizes to the best-graduating cadets, the symbolic piping and commissioning of the cadets by the president who was the Special Guest of Honour.

Dignitaries present at the event include Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State; Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, some members of the National Assembly; Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Solomon Arase; Acting Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, among others.

(NAN)
Ecuador Arrests 6 in Presidential Candidate Assassination

By VOA News August 11, 2023

Ecuador has arrested six Colombian nationals in connection with the assassination Wednesday of Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio.

Another suspect, also Colombian, died from wounds sustained in a shootout with police.

Villavicencio, known for speaking out against drug cartels, had reported that he had received death threats.

"The national police now have the first arrests of the alleged material authors of this abominable event and will employ all of their operative and investigative capacity to discover the motive of this crime and its intellectual authors," Interior Minister Juan Zapata said.

Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso said the killing would not stop Ecuador from holding the presidential vote Aug. 20.

Lasso has asked for FBI help in the investigation of the shooting of Villavicencio. An FBI delegation is expected to arrive in the country soon.

Some information for this report came from Reuters and The Associated Press.

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Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Meeting with Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico Alicia Barcena Ibarra

August 10, 2023

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan hosted Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alicia Barcena Ibarra and Mexican officials at the White House to discuss a range of issues of mutual priority and concern.

During the meeting, they committed to continue addressing the root causes of migration and increase enforcement along our shared border. National Security Advisor Sullivan outlined recent U.S. efforts to expand access to safe, orderly, legal migration pathways. They also discussed the Government of Mexico's plan to establish an international multipurpose space in southern Mexico to provide refugee and labor pathways for vulnerable people in Mexico.

Both officials committed to accelerate cooperation to prevent arms trafficking and reduce the flow of illicit synthetic drugs to better protect our communities from harm.

National Security Advisor Sullivan and Secretary of Foreign Affairs Barcena discussed the situation in Venezuela, and National Security Advisor Sullivan reaffirmed U.S. willingness to alleviate sanctions in response to concrete steps toward free and fair elections. They also discussed Haiti, including Kenya's consideration of leading a multinational force to Haiti in response to the Haitian government's request for security assistance.

The two also discussed our agenda to promote inclusive prosperity in North America and spread this economic dynamism throughout the Americas via the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity. They discussed working together within the G20 to mobilize additional concessional financing from the World Bank.

###

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Nigerian Delegation Meets With Niger's Junta as Military Intervention Looms

By VOA News August 12, 2023

A delegation of religious leaders from Nigeria arrived Saturday in Niger and met with members of the military junta who took control of the country last month.

Coup leader General Abdourahamane Tchiani and junta-appointed Prime Minister Ali Maham Lamine Zeine both met with the delegation of Muslim religious leaders led by Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau, leader of the Izala Salafist movement in Nigeria, according to Nigerien media.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu gave his approval to the mediation delegation. Tinubu currently serves as the president of the Economic Community of Western African States (ECOWAS), which has threatened to intervene militarily if the leaders of the military coup in Niger do not reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum, 63, who was deposed by members of his guard on July 26.

The clerical delegation hopes to ease tensions between Nigeria and the junta leaders, a source close to the delegation told AFP.

"The clerics are in Niamey to explain to the junta leaders that Nigeria is not fighting Niger and that the decisions taken on Niger are not Nigeria's but those of ECOWAS as a regional bloc," the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said.

ECOWAS has approved the deployment of a "standby force to restore constitutional order" in Niger, but still hopes to find a peaceful resolution to the situation. The ECOWAS parliament met Saturday to discuss further action, but no decision was made.

A crisis meeting set for Saturday was called off for technical reasons, the chiefs of staff of ECOWAS said. The meeting was to discuss the best options for deploying the standby force.

"The military option seriously envisaged by ECOWAS is not a war against Niger and its people but a police operation against hostage takers and their accomplices," Hassoumi Massaoudou, foreign minister in the ousted civilian government, said Saturday.

Coup leaders defiant

So far, the coup leaders remain defiant and refuse to restore constitutional order in Niger.

The threat of a military intervention has proved divisive among the 15-member ECOWAS bloc, but it remains determined to restore Bazoum to his elected position while other African nations fear sparking a conflict with an unpredictable outcome.

Niger, an impoverished country of about 25 million people, was seen as one of the last hopes for Western nations to partner with in quelling a jihadi insurgency linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group that's ravaged the region.

France and the United States together have more than 2,500 military personnel in Niger and with other European partners had poured hundreds of millions of dollars into propping up its military.

The junta responsible for spearheading the coup, led by Tchiani, has maintained it could be more effective at protecting the nation from jihadi violence and has exploited anti-French sentiment among the population to shore up its support.

Nigeriens in the capital of Niamey said on Friday that ECOWAS has been out of touch with the political realities in Niger and that it shouldn't interfere.

"It is our business, not theirs. They don't even know the reason why the coup happened in Niger," said Achirou Harouna Albassi, a resident. Bazoum was not abiding by the will of the people, he said.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. appreciated "the determination of ECOWAS to explore all options for the peaceful resolution of the crisis" and would hold the junta accountable for the safety and security of Bazoum. However, he did not specify whether the U.S. supported the deployment of troops.

Western powers fear Russian influence increasing if Niger follows neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso, both of which expelled troops of former colonial power France after coups in those countries.

Mali has since teamed up with mercenaries from the Russian-led Wagner Group and kicked out a United Nations peacekeeping force there, something security analysts say could lead to further conflict.

In Niamey, thousands demonstrated Friday outside a French military base.

"Long live Russia," one protester's sign read. "Down with France ... Down with ECOWAS." Another said: "Wagner will protect our children from terrorism."

Doctor visits Bazoum

Meanwhile, Niger's military junta remains in power, appears closed to dialogue, and refuses to release the constitutionally elected president.

Bazoum, who had complained recently of the treatment he, his wife and son were receiving and the conditions they were held in, was seen by a doctor Saturday.

Bazoum "had a visit by his doctor today," a member of the doctor's team told AFP, adding the physician had also brought food for Bazoum, his wife, and son.

"He's fine, given the situation," the source added.

Representatives of the junta told U.S. Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland during her visit to the country this week that they would kill Bazoum if ECOWAS intervened militarily, a Western military official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

"The threat to kill Bazoum is grim," said Alexander Thurston, assistant professor of political science at the University of Cincinnati. There have been unwritten rules until now about how overthrown presidents will be treated and violence against Bazoum would evoke some of the worst coups of the past, he said.

Human Rights Watch said Friday that it had spoken to Bazoum, who said that his 20-year-old son was sick with a serious heart condition and has been refused access to a doctor. The president said he hasn't had electricity for nearly 10 days and isn't allowed to see family, friends or bring food supplies into the house.

Blinken said he was "dismayed" by the military's refusal to release Bazoum's family as a "demonstration of goodwill."

Some information in this report came from Reuters, The Associated Press, and Agence France-Presse.

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Islam Does Not Ban Girls' Education. So Why Does The Taliban?

By Abubakar Siddique August 13, 2023

The education of girls and women is universally accepted in more than 200 countries and territories, including nearly 50 Muslim-majority nations.

But Afghanistan's hard-line Islamist Taliban rulers have banned teenage girls from attending school after the sixth grade since they returned to power two years ago. The ban was extended in December to women in universities.

Countless protests by Afghans inside the country, pressure from the international community, and lobbying by Muslim scholars and clerics have failed to convince the fundamentalist Taliban leaders to reopen schools.

Experts are divided over whether the ban is rooted in how the Taliban's interpretation of Islam is shaped by conservative Pashtun tribal customs and cultural practices or if it is prompted by how senior Taliban ideologues interpret Islamic teachings.

Most Taliban leaders are ethnic Pashtun, Sunni Muslim clerics. Many were educated in Deobandi madrasahs in neighboring Pakistan. Deobandism emerged as a puritanical Islamic revivalist movement in 19-century British Colonial India. Based on the Sunni Hanafi school of jurisprudence, it is a prominent strain among Islamists in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Tribal Influences

Sami Yousafzai, a veteran Afghan journalist and commentator, argues that the Taliban restrictions against women are linked to social customs and cultural practices in eastern and southern Afghanistan.

Most Taliban leaders come from various Pashtun rural tribal communities in these regions bordering Pakistan.

"They believe that a woman's place is either inside a house or in a grave," Yousafzai said of the basic Taliban belief influenced by the status of women in the families of clerics and religious leaders in these Pashtun regions.

"Women living in the households of the current Taliban policymakers were never educated and never left their homes," said Yousafzai, who has tracked the Islamist group since it emerged as a ragtag militia in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar in late 1994. "These women never performed any government or nongovernmental jobs."

Yousafzai says the Taliban backs policies shaped by this worldview by leaning on Islamic teachings supporting such ideas. He says Taliban leaders rely on sayings attributed to the Prophet Muhammad that discourage women from leaving their homes.

"Their primary belief is that pubescent girls should not leave home under any circumstance," he said. "This is why they view women leaving home for education or work as engaging in moral corruption."

In Afghanistan, a Muslim nation of some 40 million people, activists and rights advocate accuse the Taliban of implementing "gender apartheid" by denying women education, work, freedom of movement, and deciding how they can appear in public.

Most Muslims agree that Islam allows women to get an education. Yet the Taliban publicly says that it will allow girls access to education only after ensuring complete gender segregation and other unspecified conditions.

Almost all Afghan secondary schools were gender segregated and universities imposed a strict separation between men and women after the Taliban takeover.

Yousafzai says in conservative and traditional Muslim societies around the world, some clerics also favor restrictions on women's education, work, and their role in public life. But the governments in those countries usually oppose or limit such ideas.

In recent years, Saudi Arabia -- one of the most conservative Sunni Muslim nations -- has allowed women to drive and granted them freedom of movement without a male guardian. These steps are part of a reform and modernity drive by Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman.

The Taliban ban on education has invited universal condemnation from Muslims globally.

"The Taliban's ban on women's education is not rooted in [the Islamic] Shari'a law but rather reflects cultural biases that contradict the teachings of Islam," said Salam al-Marayati, president of the Muslim Public Affairs Council in the United States.

He said that contrary to Taliban practices, "Islam emphasizes the importance of seeking knowledge and encourages all individuals, regardless of gender, to acquire an education."

Historical Conflict

But Islamic scholars and those who have attempted to convince the Taliban about reopening girls schools offer a different explanation.

John Mohammad Butt, an Islamic scholar and former BBC broadcaster who is the only Westerner to graduate from India's Darul Uloom Deoband, argues that the Taliban's policy on girls' education is not tribal but shaped by the century-old conflict over modern education.

"The problem is that girls' education in Afghanistan -- indeed, contemporary education in general -- has generally been introduced in Afghanistan in line with a secular agenda," he said.

In the 1920s, a coalition of conservative clerics and tribal and community leaders deposed reformist King Amanullah Khan. He wanted to modernize Afghanistan along Turkish leader Kamal Ataturk's secular lines and championed modern education and rights for women.

This opposition to modernity and secularism continued, and conservative clerics opposed women's education and work. It became a key part of the Islamist opposition to the pro-Soviet Afghan communist governments after the April 1978 military coup that ended the Afghan monarchy. The mujahedin accused the communists of spreading immorality by promoting women's education and empowerment.

"This has led to particular wariness on the part of conservative circles in Afghanistan with regard to girls' education," Butt said.

'Deep Ideological Conviction'

Obaidullah Baheer, a political science lecturer at the American University of Afghanistan, became part of an effort to rescind the ban by talking to the Taliban last year.

But he says the effort failed because "the ban is a matter of deep ideological conviction" for the current supreme leader of the Taliban, Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada.

Baheer says that the most prominent Taliban leaders have studied in Pakistani madrasahs and were thus disconnected from village and tribal life.

"They have been indoctrinated by the Deobandi school of thought so that they now enforce the strictest version of Islam on the Afghan population," he said.

He argues that the ban on girls' schools is a deliberate policy championed by Akhundzada, who he says has endorsed Taliban Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani's Arabic language book The Islamic Emirate And Its System. In this book, Haqqani supports a fringe Islamic opinion of preferring the choice of one of the Prophet Muhammad's wives, Sawdah Bint Zam'ah, who chose to stay at home until her death.

Baheer says Haqqani ignores his other wives and other female companions that played an active role in many sectors of society and how they served as students and teachers for men.

"This fringe opinion is not held by all Taliban leaders but is one that the current absolute sovereign, the Taliban emir, seems to be convinced of," he said.

Butt says that even Haqqani has acknowledged the principle that if there is something that women need to act upon, then that is also something that women need to learn about.

"I hope the Taliban authorities will come to realize in the not-too-distant future that education for women will make Afghan women into better Muslims," he says. "It will enable them to make a stronger contribution to the well-being of their country."

Two years after grappling with the issue, Western diplomats appear to be encouraging Afghan conservative and clerical circles to find ways to end the ban.

Tom West, the U.S. special representative for Afghanistan, recently tweeted that Afghan women must be educated and contribute to the economy to help their country stand on its own two feet.

"If change to policies is made, it will be because Afghans have asked for it, not a result of foreign requests," he wrote.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/taliban-girls-education- islam-takeover-anniversary/32546094.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Niger's Junta Open to Diplomacy, Says Delegation There

By VOA News August 13, 2023

Niger's junta leaders are open to negotiation to avert conflict with West Africa's regional bloc ECOWAS, a group of senior Nigerian Islamic scholars said Sunday after meeting with the military insurgents in Niamey.

ECOWAS, the Economic Community of West African States, is mulling how to restore civilian rule in Niger, and how to reinstate the constitutionally elected president, Mohamed Bazoum.

Bazoum was ousted after a military takeover in Niger last month. This marks the seventh coup in West and Central Africa in three years.

Pursuing a peaceful resolution, ECOWAS chairman and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu approved the clerical diplomatic mission in Niger.

The Islamic scholars met for several hours with junta leader General Abdourahamane Tchiani, who has, reportedly, stated that Niger and Nigeria "were not only neighbors but brothers and sisters who should resolve issues amicably."

Although ECOWAS has threatened military intervention in Niger, it appears reluctant to deploy troops there, fearing that such a move could plunge Niger into a civil war.

Any military intervention by the bloc could further strain regional ties as juntas in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea have expressed support for Niger's military rule.

Tchiani sent a delegation Saturday to the Guinean capital, Conakry, to thank leaders there for their support  a sign of the junta's drive to affirm alliances as it stands up to regional and other powers.

"We are pan-African. When our people have problems, we are always present, and we will always be there," Guinea's interim president, Mamady Doumbouya, said at the meeting, according to a video shared late Saturday night by the presidency.

Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, a research group headquartered in Germany, said said Niger's junta seems to be cementing its rule. "It looks as though the putschists have won and will stay," he noted.

Laessing said ECOWAS might opt for negotiations pressing the junta to agree to a short transition period.

Europe and the United States will have little choice but to recognize the junta to continue the security cooperation in the region, Laessing added.

The U.S. and France have more than 2,500 military personnel in the region and together with other countries have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in military assistance and training Niger's forces.

The July 26 coup is seen as a major blow to many Western nations. Niger is a top Uranium producer and, until now, a Western ally in the fight against a growing jihadi insurgency linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group in the sub-Saharan Sahel region.

Boko Haram rebels have intensified their attacks in the area. At least 40,000 people have been killed and 2 million displaced in the 14-year jihadi conflict which has spread to Niger, Chad and Cameroon.

Tchiani has maintained the junta could be more effective at protecting the nation from jihadi violence and has exploited anti-French sentiment among the population to shore up its support.

Nigeriens in the capital, Niamey, said Friday ECOWAS has been out of touch with the political realities in Niger and that it shouldn't interfere.

"It is our business, not theirs. They don't even know the reason why the coup happened in Niger," said Achirou Harouna Albassi, a resident. Bazoum was not abiding by the will of the people, he said.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said his country appreciated "the determination of ECOWAS to explore all options for the peaceful resolution of the crisis" and would hold the junta accountable for the safety and security of Bazoum. He did not, however, specify whether the U.S. supported the deployment of troops.

Western powers fear Russian influence increasing if Niger follows neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso, both of which expelled troops of former colonial power France after coups in those countries.

Mali has since teamed up with mercenaries from the Russian-led Wagner Group and kicked out a United Nations peacekeeping force there, something security analysts say could lead to further conflict.

In Niamey, thousands demonstrated Friday outside a French military base.

"Long live Russia," one protester's sign read. "Down with France ... Down with ECOWAS." Another said: "Wagner will protect our children from terrorism."

Bazoum family detained

Bazoum and his family are being held in the basement of their home. The president said he hasn't had electricity for nearly 10 days and isn't allowed to see family, friends or bring food supplies into the house. Bazoum was seen by a doctor Saturday.

Bazoum "had a visit by his doctor today," a member of the physician's team told AFP Saturday, adding the physician had also brought food for Bazoum, his wife, and son.

"He's fine, given the situation," the source added.

Representatives of the junta told U.S. Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland during her visit to the country recently that they would kill Bazoum if ECOWAS intervened militarily, a Western military official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

"The threat to kill Bazoum is grim," said Alexander Thurston, assistant professor of political science at the University of Cincinnati. There have been unwritten rules until now about how overthrown presidents will be treated and violence against Bazoum would evoke some of the worst coups of the past, he said.

Blinken said he was "dismayed" by the military's refusal to release Bazoum's family as a "demonstration of goodwill."

Some information in this report came from Reuters, The Associated Press, and Agence France-Presse.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 13 August 2023 - Day 536

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that the Wagner Group is likely moving towards a down-sizing and reconfiguration process, largely to save on staff salary expenses at a time of financial pressure.

Since the abortive mutiny of June 2023, the Russian state has acted against some other business interests of Wagner owner Yevgeny Prigozhin. There is a realistic possibility that the Kremlin no longer funds the group.

If the Russian state no longer pays Wagner, the second most plausible paymasters are the Belarusian authorities.

However, the sizable force would be a significant and potentially unwelcome drain on modest Belarusian resources.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that During the day of August 13, the Russian occupiers launched 2x missile, 24x air strikes and around 40x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian terrorist attacks have killed and wounded civilians, including children. Residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure were damaged.

The likelihood of missile and air strikes across Ukraine remains high.

During the day of August 13, there were 24x combat engagements.

Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes.

Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: the Russian adversary fired mortars and artillery at more than 15x settlements, including Halahanivka, Hrem'yach, Novovasylivka (Chernihiv oblast), Volfyne, Tur'ya (Sumy oblast), and Ohirtseve, Okip, Budarky (Kharkiv oblast).

Kup'yans'k axis: the Russian occupiers conducted unsuccessful offensives in the area northeast of of Andriivka (Luhansk oblast). Kam'yanka, Petropavlivka, Kyslivka, and Berestove (Kharkiv oblast) came under artillery and mortar fire of the Russian adversary.

Lyman axis: Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), and Vesele (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements, including Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Serebryanka, Zvanivka (Donetsk oblast), were shelled with artillery.

Bakhmut axis: Russian forces made attempts to regain the lost position in the areas south of Andriivka and west of Yahidne (Donetsk oblast), to no success. Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast). More than 15x settlements, including Min'kivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, Bila Hora, Pryvillya (Donetsk oblast), suffered from Russian artillery shelling.

Avdiivka axis: under heavy fire from Russian aircraft and artillery, the Ukrainian defenders continue to hold back Russian troops' advance in the vicinity of Avdiivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Avdiivka. Russian forces fired artillery at Oleksandropil', Stepove, Keramik, Novokalynove, Avdiivka (Donetsk oblast).

Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back the Russian offensive in the vicinity of the city of Mar'inka (Donetsk oblast).

Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Krasnohorivka (Donetsk oblast). The invaders fired artillery at more than 10x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Mar'inka, Novomykhailivka, Kostyantynivka (Donetsk oblast).

Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces made unsuccessful attempts to regain the lost position in the area west of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast). The adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of Blahodatne and Staromaiors'ke. The invaders fired artillery at more than 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Vuhledar, Bohoyavlenka, Zolota Nyva, Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast).

Zaporizhzhia axis: Russian forces made attempts to regain the lost position in the area east of Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast), to no success. The Russian invaders launched air strikes in the vicinities of Chervone and P'yatykhatky (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Russian forces fired artillery at more than 15x settlements, including Ol'hivs'ke, Malynivka, Hulyaipole, Mali Shcherbaky, Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast).

Kherson axis: Russian forces launched air strike in the vicinity of Zelenyi Hai (Kherson oblast). Russian artillery shelled more than 15x settlements, including Zolota Balka, Veletens'ke, Stanislav, Komyshany, Novotyahynka, Antonivka (Kherson oblast), the city of Kherson and Ivanivka (Mykolaiv oblast).

At the same time, the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to conduct the offensive operation on Melitopol' and Berdyans'k axes, consolidate their positions and conduct counter-battery fire.

During the day of August 13, Ukrainian Air Force launched 10x air strikes on the concentrations of troops, weapons, and military equipment and 4x air strikes on anti-aircraft missile systems of the Russian adversary.

During the day of August 13, the Ukrainian missile and artillery troops hit 2x artillery assets at their firing positions, 1x anti-aircraft missile system, 1x electronic warfare station, and 1x asset of Russian air defense.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, as a result of actions by units of the Zapad Group of Forces, Army Aviation and artillery, six unsuccessful attacks and counterattacks by units of 14th, 44th mechanised and 95th airborne assault brigades of the AFU have been successfully repelled close to Novosyolovskoye (Lugansk People's Republic), as well as Sinkovka and Mankovka tract (Kharkov region).

The enemy losses were up to 60 Ukrainian servicemen, four armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, and one U.S.-manufactured AN/TPQ-36 counter-battery radar station.

In Donetsk direction, as a result of active and well-coordinated actions by units of the Yug Group of Forces, with continuous support of artillery, six attacks by assault groups of 110th mechanised, 5th assault, 81st airmobile and 79th airborne assault brigades of the AFU have been successfully repelled near Belogorovka, Vesyoloye, Krasnogorovka and west of Kleshcheevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 300 Ukrainian servicemen killed and wounded, three armoured fighting vehicles, and two motor vehicles.

In Krasny Liman direction, as a result of professional actions by units of the Tsentr Group of Forces, Army Aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems, an attack by an assault group of the AFU 68th Jaeger Brigade has been successfully repelled south-east of Novoyegorovka (Lugansk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 45 Ukrainian servicemen, three armoured fighting vehicles, four pickup trucks, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one D-30 howitzer.

In South Donetsk direction, as a result of actions by units the Vostok Group of Forces, Operational-Tactical Aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems, enemy units have been hit close to Staromayorskoye and Urozhaynoye (Donetsk People's Republic.)

The enemy losses were up to 80 Ukrainian servicemen, one tank, four armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, as well as D-20 and D-30 howitzers.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian grouping of troops, supported by artillery, repelled an enemy attack south-west of Uspenovka (Zaporozhye region).

In addition, Russian troops have launched a comprehensive fire attack on AFU manpower and hardware concentration areas close to Yablonevoye and Malaya Tokmachka (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy losses were up to 40 Ukrainian servicemen, five tanks, five infantry fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, one UK-manufactured FH-70 howitzer, two Msta-B howitzers, and one D-20 gun.

In Kherson direction, the enemy losses were up to 20 Ukrainian servicemen, four motor vehicles, and one U.S.-manufactured M777 artillery system.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have neutralised manpower and military hardware in 137 areas.

In addition, one forward command post of the 9th Army Corps of the AFU has been hit near Orekhov (Zaporozhye region).

One control point for unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as AFU manpower and military hardware have been eliminated close to Pervomaiskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

Fighter Aviation of Russian Aerospace Forces has shot down one Mi-8 aircraft of Ukrainian Air Force near Brusovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Air defence facilities have shot down 8 projectiles launched by HIMARS MLRS.

In addition, 25 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been hit close to Kremennaya, Rubezhnoye, Zolotaryovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Trudovskoye, Gorlovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Chapaevka and Ocherevatoye (Zaporozhye region).

In total, 458 airplanes, 246 helicopters, 5,708 unmanned aerial vehicles, 429 air defence missile systems, 11,274 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,144 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 5,862 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 12,207 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation.





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Administrator of 'Bulletproof' Webhosting Domain Charged in Connection with Facilitation of NetWalker Ransomware

Friday, August 11, 2023

For Immediate Release

Office of Public Affairs

U.S. Authorities Announce Court-Authorized Seizure of LolekHosted.net

An indictment was unsealed yesterday in Tampa, Florida, charging a Polish national with computer fraud conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, and international money laundering in connection with the provision of "bulletproof" webhosting services that facilitated the operation of ransomware attacks and the subsequent laundering of the illicit proceeds.

According to court documents, Artur Karol Grabowski, 36, operated a webhosting company named LolekHosted. Through LolekHosted, Grabowski provided "bulletproof" webhosting services, which is secure webhosting designed to facilitate malicious and criminal activities, including ransomware, brute-force attacks, and phishing. Grabowski allegedly facilitated the criminal activities of LolekHosted clients by allowing clients to register accounts using false information, not maintaining Internet Protocol (IP) address logs of client servers, frequently changing the IP addresses of client servers, ignoring abuse complaints made by third parties against clients, and notifying clients of legal inquiries received from law enforcement. Grabowski registered the domain "LolekHosted.net" in 2014, and advertised that its services were "bulletproof," provided "100% privacy hosting," and allowed clients to host "everything except child porn."

The NetWalker ransomware was one of the ransomware variants facilitated by LolekHosted. The NetWalker ransomware was deployed on approximately 400 victim company networks, including municipalities, hospitals, law enforcement and emergency services, school districts, colleges, and universities, which resulted in the payment of more than 5,000 bitcoin in ransoms (currently valued at approximately $146 million). LolekHosted clients used its services to execute approximately 50 NetWalker ransomware attacks on victims located all over the world, including in the Middle District of Florida. Specifically, clients used the servers of LolekHosted as intermediaries when gaining unauthorized access to victim networks, and to store hacking tools and data stolen from victims.

On Aug. 8, U.S. authorities seized LolekHosted.net, the domain name LolekHosted used for nearly a decade. Visitors to LolekHosted.net will now find a seizure banner that notifies them that the domain name has been seized by federal authorities. The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida issued the seizure warrant.

If convicted on all counts, Grabowski faces a maximum penalty of 45 years in prison. The indictment also notifies Grabowski that the United States is seeking an order of forfeiture in the amount of $21.5 million, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct. Grabowski remains a fugitive.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department's Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida made the announcement.

The FBI Tampa Field Office is investigating the case, with assistance from the IRS Criminal Investigation Cyber Crimes Unit.

Trial Attorney Sonia V. Jimenez of the Criminal Division's Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carlton C. Gammons and Suzanne Nebesky for the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case.

Substantial assistance was provided by the Justice Department's Office of International Affairs and the FBI's Legal AttachA Office in Warsaw, Poland. Polish authorities also provided substantial assistance.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Topic: Cybercrime

Components: Criminal Division

Criminal - Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section

Criminal - Office of International Affairs

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

USAO - Florida, Middle

Press Release Number: 23-874

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Press release on the launch of the Luna 25 automatic station

11 August 2023 16:35

1580-11-08-2023

On August 11, the Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket with a Fregat booster lifted off from the Vostochny Cosmodrome and launched the Luna 25 automatic station into Earth orbit.

Russia's first lunar station in the contemporary history of the country will land near the lunar south pole, an area with a rough landscape, and carry out lengthy research. This mission is expected to kick off the exploration of the Earth's natural satellite in Russia.

In keeping with Russian law, our country has fulfilled its international obligations, according to the established procedure, and advised the UN Secretary-General of the nuclear sources of energy on board the Luna 25.



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"The report's call on the military to interfere in our democracy is highly unpatriotic, wicked, and an attempt to distract the Armed Forces of Nigeria from performing it's constitutional responsibilities."

The Nigerian military has described as "highly unpatriotic, wicked", the call by some Nigerians for a coup in the country.

In a statement by its spokesperson, Tukur Gusau, a brigadier general, the military also restated its commitment to democracy.

Read the full statement below.

The Defence Heaquartes frown at a report being circulated online about welfare issues in the Armed Forces of Nigeria. The report's call on the military to interfere in our democracy is highly unpatriotic, wicked, and an attempt to distract the Armed Forces of Nigeria from performing it's constitutional responsibilities.

While the leadership of the AFN gives priority to welfare of its personnel however, we detest any attempt by any individual or group to instigate the law abiding Armed Forces of Nigeria to embark on any unconstitutional change of government in our country. We wish to state unequivocally that the military is happy and better under democracy and Will not get involved in any act to sabotage the hard-earned democracy in our country.

The AFN under the leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff, General CG Musa is determined to ensure complete subordination of the Armed Forces to constitutional authority under His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and will not be distracted from its roles that are well defined in the 1999 constitution (as amended).
Foreign diplomats in China treated to tour of Xinjiang and 'happy' Uyghurs

Beijing promotes alternative vision of Uyghur life amid international condemnation of rights abuses.

By Gulchehra Hoja for RFA Uyghur 2023.08.11 -- A Chinese government-sponsored visit to Xinjiang by 25 Beijing-based ambassadors and other diplomats from developing countries has come under fire by human rights activists for pushing an official narrative that the mostly Muslim Uyghurs in the far-western region are thriving, despite the reality of severe repression.

The delegation, which included diplomats from Dominica, Myanmar, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Nicaragua and Mexico, visited the western autonomous region from July 31 to Aug. 3.

Xinhua news agency and CGTN, China's state-run international TV broadcaster, covered the diplomats as they visited Xinjiang's capital Urumqi, the cities of Aksu and Kashgar, and other significant locales to observe the region's "economic and social progress" and affirm that "the local population in Xinjiang is living a happy life."

And the Chinese government's efforts appear to have paid off.

"During our time in Xinjiang, we had open conversations with the local people and observed that they lead content and happy lives," Martin Charles, the ambassador to China from the small Caribbean island nation of Dominica, told Xinhua.

"We didn't come across any instances of forced labor, and there were no indications of human rights violations," he said.

China is relying on government-organized visits for foreign officials and influential people from various professions to promote an alternative vision of Uyghur life in Xinjiang amid growing condemnation by Western nations over its maltreatment of Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities.

The U.S. government and several Western parliaments have declared that the ongoing human rights abuses, including arbitrary detentions, torture, forced sterilizations of Uyghur women, and forced labor, amount to genocide and crimes against humanity.

China has also denounced a report issued nearly a year ago by the U.N. high commissioner for human rights that documented cases of severe rights abuses in Xinjiang. The report said that the abuses could constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity.

Though the groups invited to tour the region are diverse, they have one thing in common: They all support China's "Xinjiang policy."

'Telling the story of Xinjiang well'

In early February, another visiting delegation of Beijing-based ambassadors and diplomats from African countries, including Senegal, Benin, Mali, Rwanda, Madagascar, Malawi, Uganda, Lesotho and Chad, visited Xinjiang and expressed support for China's policies there.

All the countries maintain strong economic ties with China because many have benefited from Chinese-built and financed infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road Initiative. They also support China within the United Nations.

Members of the delegation of diplomats who visited in July also expressed their rejection of a previous proposal by the U.N.'s top human rights body to hold debate on alleged rights abuses against Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang. The proposal by mostly Western nations, including the United States, was voted down in October 2022.

Six days before the diplomats visited Xinjiang, the Chinese government organized a seminar in Urumqi to convey its narrative of the region. During discussions about "telling the story of Xinjiang well," participants emphasized reaching overseas audiences by transmitting the narrative in languages other than Mandarin Chinese.

In late December 2018, a delegation of diplomats from Kazakhstan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, and 12 other countries, all stationed in Beijing, visited Xinjiang on an agenda organized by the Chinese government, which presented "re-education" camps as voluntary vocational training centers.

The Chinese government has also sponsored foreign journalists on trips to Xinjiang.

Chinese officials arranged for a group of journalists from 10 foreign media outlets to tour major cities in Xinjiang in April 2021 to defend its policies in the region and dispel reports of human rights abuses.

In August 2019, Chinese Communist Party officials hosted another group of foreign journalists, most of whom worked for state broadcasters from countries along the Silk Road economic belt, putting them up in fancy hotels while they toured Xinjiang and lecturing them on China's measures to stop terrorism and separatism in the region.

The officials took the journalists to some mosques still left standing though authorities had closed, demolished, or turned into museums many others in Xinjiang, to a "re-education" camp they said was a vocational training center, and to shows where young Uyghurs danced and sang.

rights activists weigh in

Henryk Szadziewski, director of research at the Uyghur Human Rights Project, said the arranged visits are "a consistent tactic employed by the Chinese government to conceal their wrongdoings" during which they use others to amplify their messages.

"Whether it is a western vlogger doing a travel blog or diplomats from countries that are friendly, or that rely on China in terms of its economy, or [face] threats or pressure, they put out this message that Xinjiang is now safe and prosperous as a region," he said.

While China invites people from nations sympathetic to its perspective to visit Xinjiang, it has rejected requests by the U.S. and human rights groups that independent investigators be able to visit the region.

Sophie Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch, said all visits to Xinjiang by foreign diplomats were designed by China to cover up rights abuses.

"If everything is fine, why not let in independent international investigators, particularly given the mountain of evidence of some of the most serious crimes under international law?" she asked.

"So, it's not clear why some people got to go and others don't unless Beijing has something to hide," she said.

Sayragul Sauytbay, an ethnic Kazakh who testified about the abuse she witnessed while detained in a "re-education" camp in Xinjiang, cautioned visiting diplomats against ignoring China's rights abuses in the region and becoming accomplices to them.

"They know and can see China is lying, but they are turning a blind eye," she said. "These are the countries that rely on China, but for them, this is a rare opportunity. They are going there to help spread propaganda and cover up the crimes China has committed."

Translated by RFA Uyghur. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Matt Reed.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content August not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Hong Kong says its courts should defer to government in 'national security' cases

The department of justice says a judge made an error in refusing an injunction banning 'Glory to Hong Kong.'

By Chen Zifei for RFA Mandarin 2023.08.11 -- The Hong Kong government has said that a judge in the city made "an error" in denying an injunction on disseminating a banned protest anthem, and that courts should defer to the executive in matters of "national security."

The city's Department of Justice said on Monday it will appeal a court decision not to grant an injunction banning all reference to Glory to Hong Kong, an anthem of the 2019 protest movement, online and offline, after its application was rejected by the Court of First Instance.

Judge Anthony Chan had ruled that an injunction, which the government wanted to include online platforms visible from Hong Kong, would be unnecessary, as the use of the song is already covered by existing criminal laws, including the 2020 national security law banning public criticism of the government.

The government had wanted the court to grant the ban on broadcasting or distributing the song, which it says advocates "independence" for the city, and which has been mistakenly played at international sporting events instead of the Chinese anthem, "March of the Volunteers."

In a move that undercuts the judicial independence promised to the city by China, it is now appealing on the basis that Chan's ruling was "in error," and that judges should "defer" to the executive when making their decisions.

"The learned Judge erred in failing to take into account the overriding principle that national security is of the highest importance, which must be followed when discharging the Judiciary's constitutional duty to effectively prevent, suppress and impose punishment for any act or activity endangering national security," the appeal document said. "This is a constitutional duty imposed by a national law."

"The learned Judge erred in failing ... to give any or sufficient deference to the executive's assessment on the necessity, effectiveness and utility of the Injunction," the document said, citing the court's "lack of institutional capacity and expertise to make such evaluative judgment."

"Where it is the assessment of the executive authorities that a proposed measure is necessary or may be effective or have utility, the Court should accord due weight and deference to such assessment," it said.

Hong Kong was promised a "high degree of autonomy" under the terms of its 1997 return to Chinese rule, within the "one country, two systems" framework agreed between British and Chinese officials and enshrined in its mini-constitution, the Basic Law.

1984 pact broken

The 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration treaty also promised that the city's way of life - including an independent judiciary - would remain unchanged for 50 years, although Chinese officials have since said they are no longer bound by it.

Chinese officials have been speaking for years against the separation of powers -- a mechanism found in liberal democracies to ensure that lawmakers and judicial systems remain free of executive control.

After Beijing imposed the national security law on the city in 2020, Hong Kong officials started to follow suit.

"Our executive, legislative, and judicial arms of government aren't separate as they would be ... in a constitutional political system," then chief executive Carrie Lam said in September 2020. "Any power we enjoy here in Hong Kong is granted to us by the central leadership [in Beijing]."

The appeal document also reveals one of the key reasons that the government wanted the injunction in the first place -- to get it removed from online platforms, where it is often referred to as the "Hong Kong National Anthem."

"The Song remains freely available in the internet and remains prevalent ... many of the people disseminate the Song used pseudo-names," it said.

"Major [internet platforms] are only willing to remove ... content from their platforms with the production of a valid court order demonstrating that ... [the] misrepresentation of the Song as the national anthem of Hong Kong ... is unlawful," it said.

So far, Hong Kong has largely escaped the wide-ranging and constant government censorship seen behind China's Great Firewall, despite an ongoing crackdown on public dissent and criticism of the government under a draconian national security law.

Downloads of "Glory to Hong Kong" spiked on international streaming platforms - before it was removed from some music services soon after the government announced it would seek the injunction in June.

"The learned Judge was wrong in finding that the 'chilling effects' cannot be dismissed when the Injunction is aimed at acts and activities which are unlawful and endanger national security," the appeal document said.

More like the mainland

Current affairs commentator Sang Pu said the use of such arguments in the appeal shows that the government is looking for ways to further subordinate the judiciary to the executive, drawing a parallel with the way things already work in mainland China.

"The whole point of the 'Glory to Hong Kong' case isn't to get the song taken down," Sang Pu said. "It's about the courts and the judiciary."

"[The appeal argument] is tantamount to saying that the courts must comply with whatever the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government asks of them," he said. "It's about gradually forcing the Hong Kong judiciary ... to obey orders from the government."

Legal scholar Kevin Yam said the judge was "brave" to make the ruling he did in the first place.

"The [judge] totally understood the importance of the national security law in the original ruling," Yam said.

"But now the Hong Kong government has now taken the idea that there should be a bit more weight given to what the executive wants ... and conflated it with the very different idea that the executive should totally override the judiciary," Yam said.

"This is a distortion of some very basic principles," he said.

Judicial independence was named as one of seven "taboos" in an internal party ideological directive issued in 2013, shortly after ruling Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping took power.

Other banned topics include press freedom, civil society, citizens' rights, the historical mistakes of the Chinese Communist Party and talking about the financial and political elite.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content August not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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China slams US tech restrictions

But is so far holding back on any immediate retaliatory moves such as restricting key technology exports.

By Chris Taylor for RFA 2023.08.11 -- Beijing has accused the U.S. of trying to block its development, claiming that the Biden administration is pursuing "technology hegemony." It also urged Washington to "immediately revoke its erroneous decision."

"China strongly opposes and expresses firm dissatisfaction with the U.S.'s insistence on implementing investment restrictions against China," said China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a written statement Thursday.

The ministry accused the U.S. of trying to deprive China of "its development rights" in a move that constituted "naked economic coercion and technological bullying.

"This action by the U.S. seriously violates the principles of market economy and fair competition, disrupts the international economic and trade order, disturbs the stability of global industrial and supply chains, and severely damages the interests of businesses in China, the U.S. and around the world. Its essence is anti-globalization and decoupling from China."

The strong reaction came a day after U.S. President Joe Biden issued an executive order that regulates American investments in China's microchip, quantum computing and artificial intelligence industries.

Biden administration officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the order will limit China's access to technologies "critical to the next generation of military innovation."

"China opposes the U.S.'s overuse of national security to politicize and weaponize trade, scientific and technological issues and deliberately making obstacles to normal economic and trade exchanges and technological cooperation," Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for China's embassy in Washington, told RFA.

"The U.S. side has repeatedly expressed its non-intention to 'decouple' with China, but what it actually did is repeatedly 'decoupling and severing supply chains' from China," he said.

In Beijing last month, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the U.S. doesn't want "decoupling" but is pursuing "de-risking."

Beijing is likely to see such words as little more than semantics, but it is in an unfamiliar place economically.

It's a particularly sensitive time, with official data on Wednesday showing that China's consumer prices fell year-on-year in July for the first time in two years, amid wide concern about deflationary pressure on what was previously seen as a "miracle economy."

"I don't think the U.S. Treasury or the [Biden] administration planned it this way, but this is spectacularly bad timing for China," said Eswar Prasad, a professor in international trade at Cornell University, in an interview with CNBC.

"Confidence is falling, growth is stalling, China seems to be sliding into a downward spiral with deflation, low growth and lack of confidence all feeding on each other," Prasad added.

'Bad folks'

At a reelection fundraiser in Utah on Thursday, Biden said, "We have China to deal with," calling it "a ticking time bomb in many cases," the Associated Press reported.

"They've got some problems," Biden said. "And that's not good because when bad folks have problems, they do bad things."

Biden is known for his unexpected pokes at Beijing, with some commentators referring to them as "gaffes."

In June, just two days after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrapped a visit to Beijing, Biden elicited a flurry of angry responses from China by calling Xi Xinping a dictator. Biden declined to walk the remark back.

At the fundraiser on Thursday, Biden said that China was in "trouble" due to turgid growth and the "highest unemployment rate going." He also blasted Xi's signature Belt and Road Initiative as the "debt and noose," because of the high levels of lending to developing economies associated with the global investment program.

Investing in China

Beijing had previously heralded this year as "The Year of Investing in China," but foreign investors have failed to materialize as the administration shows every sign of being determined to make it harder to do business in China, not easier.

Following the implementation of a new counter-espionage law last month, the U.S. State Department advised Americans to reconsider travel to China due to "arbitrary enforcement of local law," "exit bans" and "wrongful detentions."

Meanwhile, a long anticipated bounce-back in consumer demand after the end of COVID-19 lockdowns has so far been a damp squib, as China faces what is frequently referred to as the "specter of deflation" with households and businesses paying down debts rather than exuberantly borrowing and spending.

It's likely that China's economic squeeze is making it reluctant to react to the U.S. technology restrictions materially.

According to the latest Chinese rules, which took effect on August 1, exporters of gallium and germanium, rare metals used in computer chips and solar cells, need to obtain government licenses.

China has so far made no further retaliatory moves.

Edited by Mike Firn and Taejun Kang.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content August not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Q&A: Why Iranian Drones Are Appealing to Belarus, Bolivia

By Michael Lipin August 12, 2023

Iran is getting a boost to its status as an international arms supplier.

Tehran hosted defense ministers from Bolivia and Belarus in July and early August to discuss military cooperation with its fellow anti-American allies.

Bolivia later said it is interested in obtaining Iranian drone technology, while U.S. research group the Institute for the Study of War said the visit likely indicates Belarus wants to do the same.

The U.S. and Ukraine say Iranian drones have been a key weapon for Russia in the war it has waged against Ukraine since last year, something both Moscow and Tehran have denied.

James Rogers, a war historian who advises the United Nations and NATO on drone warfare and serves as executive director of Cornell University's Tech Policy Institute, discussed Iran's efforts to expand the market for its drones in this week's edition of VOA's Flashpoint Iran podcast.

The following transcript of Rogers' August 6 interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

VOA: What can you say about the strength of international demand for Iran's military drone industry?

James Rogers, Cornell Tech Policy Institute: The demand for Iranian drones is growing at a record rate. And this is something that is happening globally. It's not just an Iranian phenomenon. Any nation that has pivoted its industry toward the production of drones is seeing a massive increase in demand for those systems. Turkey is another example. China also produces a large array of drone systems.

As I said to the United Nations Security Council in August 2022, we are starting to worry about the current and future state of international security. By our latest calculations, my colleagues and I think around 113 nation states have access to military drone technologies or have a military drone program. And that is just the nation states. We believe at the very least that 65 violent nonstate actor groups have access to these systems as well. So this is the proliferation of violent airpower globally.

VOA: What is making Iranian drones particularly appealing to countries like Bolivia and maybe even Belarus?

Rogers: It is a question that is steeped in history and goes back to the 1980s. So Iran, after the shah is deposed [in the 1979 Islamic revolution], is left with these big-ticket, high-tech items of piloted aircraft and tanks. But with the withdrawal of Western technical support for these systems [after the revolution], they are pretty much useless. And any pilot who could fly away, did.

Iran is left in a very difficult situation. It quickly gets embroiled in the Iran-Iraq War and it needs to have the capacity to fight that war. So from the early 1980s, Iran turns towards these cheaper, easier to manufacture, easy to use systems that will give them a rudimentary, albeit powerful, air power capability. And this is where the drones are born. So Iran is not new to this game. They have been developing drones for decades.

Skipping ahead to the current day, we can see that Iranian drones are having a massive impact in Russia's offensive war against Ukraine. This war has acted as a shop window for Iran, showing just how powerful its Shahed 136 and Shahed 131 loitering munitions can be, in terms of fulfilling Russian military aims. This is exactly why other countries want to buy Iranian drones, because they believe the drones are effective systems and want to get a slice of that pie.

VOA: Russia's ally, Belarus, apparently is interested in having Iranian drones produced on its territory, according to a report by the Institute for the Study of War this month. Belarus did not immediately confirm that report. What do you think is the reality?

Rogers: There are two points to make. First, there is a relationship between Belarus and Iran in which Iranian drones are being launched, we believe, from Belarus into Ukraine. That likely means there are Iranian personnel either inside Belarus training Russian operatives or stationed further back inside Russia. Either way, we can see that there already is a direct link between these Iranian military systems and Belarus.

Second, one problem Russia has had is making sure that there are secure supply lines of Iranian drones. Russia needs hundreds, if not thousands, of them. Securing those supplies has become incredibly difficult because the U.S. has put very stringent and heavily enforced trade embargoes on Russia and Iran. So how do you get around this?

One of the options is to build a Shahed 136 loitering munition factory in Belarus. Then you can make the drones exactly where you are firing from, and you are reducing the distance from the tail of your logistics to the teeth of your firepower. That is exactly what Russia is going to want to do to make gains in the war against Ukraine.

VOA: Looking elsewhere, Bolivia has said publicly that it is interested in Iranian drones. How likely is it that Bolivia will acquire them?

Rogers: It is certainly a possibility. We have seen attempts by Bolivia and Venezuela to strengthen their connections with Iran as allies against what they see as the imperialism of the United States and the West. So sharing expertise and even military equipment is plausible. In Venezuela, they were talking about building Iranian drone factories there 12 years ago. Some reports say these have become quite successful drone factories.

For me, it is a worrying prospect. We have seen the proliferation of drones across Europe. We are increasingly seeing that proliferation across Africa. We saw that Iran supplied drone systems to Ethiopia [in 2021] when the West and the United States would not get involved in their civil war against Tigray rebels. So, what we are seeing now is the even further spread of drone systems to South America.

VOA: Bolivia says it wants these drones to monitor its border regions. How concerning would its acquisition of Iranian drones be for the security of the region and the U.S.?

Rogers: For the United States, it will be a worrying prospect. Iranian operatives, training and technology will follow these military systems into Bolivia if it purchases them. Iranians would be involved in training Bolivian officials or officers in piloting these drone systems.

But it all depends on what type of Iranian drone they purchase. Bolivia's Defense Minister Edmundo Novillo Aguilar has said that these drones would be used to monitor its border regions and provide real time footage for its armed forces. If that is the case, there is less to worry about.

If these are armed systems or loitering munitions that have an extended range of up to 2,500 kilometers, that brings a number of targets theoretically into range. Argentina is more worried about this. It shares a border with Bolivia and has demanded more information and transparency about what drone systems the Bolivians want to buy. Argentina wants to know what capability would be bordering it. Because of this, Argentina is looking to acquire Israeli systems. [Editor's note: Argentina signed a contract to buy Israeli company Uvision's Hero-120 and Hero-30 loitering munitions in December.] So, you can see ideological divides playing out through the different acquisitions of military technologies across South America.

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Indian authorities collect biometric data of Myanmar citizen refugees

Refugees and rights organizations are concerned the data could be used against the refugees.

By RFA Burmese 2023.08.11 -- Authorities in the Indian border state of Manipur have begun collecting biometric data from thousands of Myanmar citizens who have fled conflict between armed ethnic groups and the military junta in their home country, but the refugees fear that the collected data could be shared with the junta, several refugees told Radio Free Asia.

Since fighting broke out on July 22 in the town of Khampat on the Myanmar side of the border, more than a thousand local residents have fled to Manipur. They have not been able to return since.

They are among about 50,000 Myanmar citizens who have fled to India since the junta ousted Myanmar's democratically elected government in a coup in 2021. The Indian government has been collecting biometric data since the end of July.

The refugees, aid workers and human rights activists are concerned that India will arrest Myanmar citizens using the collected biometric information and hand them over to the military junta or that they could be swept up into internal conflicts in India.

Refugees from Myanmar are required to record their fingerprints, eyes, face, and voice, a Myanmar refugee, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told RFA's Burmese Service.

"They register by scanning the eyes and all 10 fingerprints. The data has been collected as if we are migrants from another country," the refugee said. "The first place the biometric data was collected was in the detention center."

The refugee said that all of the refugees in the center will be registered within the next three to four days.

"All of us outside the center will have to register ourselves as migrants in police stations as migrants, and we will have to provide our biometric data to do so."

Another refugee said many feel unsafe because they are worried that the biometric data could be used against them. Additionally, they fear that the government is increasing security measures because the refugees could be swept up in a local ethnic conflict.

"In the conflict between the Meitei and Kuki, two local Indian ethnic groups, a the Kuki tribe is protecting the Myanmar refugees. So in return the refugees seem to support the Kuki," the second refugee said. "Indian authorities might have concerns that the refugees might be involved or complicit in the conflict which could lead to our mistreatment at the local level as well."

According to a statement of the Manipur state government on July 29, the biometric data collection process started in the foreigner detention center near the Sajiwa prison in East Imphal District.

Indian media outlets reported that the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs, Manipur and Mizoram state officials discussed the issue of registering Myanmar refugees in April 2023 and decided to start the process in Manipur state. Current directives from the ministry authorize biometric data collection in Manipur starting on July 29 and ending on Sept. 30.

Concerns

The biometric data could enable the selective arrest of any refugee who is wanted by Myanmar's junta, Salai Dohka, an official for an India-based organization called India for Myanmar, told RFA.

"Myanmar political activists who [the junta] regard as criminals a who are sheltering in India could be sent back to Myanmar in some form of criminal exchange," said Dohka. "We are also worried that Myanmar refugees in India could be accused of committing drug and other unlawful crimes and could be used as scapegoats in ethnic disputes caused by political conflicts in India."

Salai Tel Ra, the program manager of Chin Human Rights Organization, told RFA that the collection of biometric data should not be done and that there is a rising concern about how this information will be used.

"This information is related to the rights of each citizen and their survival and security," said Ra. "They should not force the refugees to give up their biometric data. It would be another story if the stakeholders voluntarily consent to it. In fact, [the refugees' data] is none of the Indian government's business."

RFA attempted to contact both the Indian Embassy in Yangon and the Indian Foreign Ministry in New Delhi for comment on the situation, but neither has responded. Officials of the East Imphal District in Manipur state were also not responsive to questions.

The Myanmar Embassy in New Delhi did not reply to emails asking if they would protect the refugees.

The junta's spokesperson in the Sagaing region did not respond to telephone calls.

Translated by Myo Min Aung. Edited by Eugene Whong.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content August not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Junta airstrike kills 4 civilians in Myanmar's Sagaing region

An eight-month-old child was among the victims of the monastery bombing.

By RFA Burmese 2023.08.11 -- Four civilians, including an eight-month-old child, were killed and at least 10 injured when a junta jet bombed a township in Myanmar's Sagaing region on Friday morning, residents told RFA.

The jet bombed a monastery in Sagaing township's Ta Laing village, where displaced people were sheltering, according to a local who didn't want to be named for fear of reprisals.

"At around four in the morning, the jet hovered and dropped a bomb as a junta column entered Ta Laing village, hitting the monastery gate and causing casualties," said the local.

"Junta troops raided the village in the early morning and civilians were also arrested but there was no fighting."

The local said around 80 troops entered the village after the airstrike and detained around 20 villagers, who were still being held as of Friday afternoon local time.

A local People's Defense Force member, who requested anonymity, told RFA that troops fired rocket-propelled grenades at the monastery when they withdrew on Friday afternoon.

"On the way out of Ta Laing village, the junta troops opened fire with two shots with shoulder-fired weapons toward the monastery," he said, adding that a battle with his anti-junta militia was almost certain to happen.

Locals said more than 6,000 civilians from villages in Sagaing township fled their homes ahead of the junta raid.

Calls to the junta's spokesperson for Sagaing region, Saw Naing, went unanswered.

Junta leader Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing said on July 31 that the junta is staking out territory and declaring martial law in parts of the country in order to restore peace and stability.

The junta has extended the state of emergency for another six months, further pushing back plans to hold national elections to replace the military regime that has run Myanmar since a February 2021 coup..

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn and Taejun Kang.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content August not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Militant Attack In Pakistan's Balochistan Targets Chinese Engineers

By RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal August 13, 2023

Unidentified militants on August 13 attacked a convoy of Chinese engineers in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan Province.

Officials told RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal that three security officers were injured in an exchange of fire, while two militants were killed and three injured.

Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti, a senator and former Balochistan interior minister, wrote on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that no Chinese nationals were killed in the attack.

The Pakistani military issued a statement confirming the attack, saying "terrorists used small arms and hand grenades during the activity."

Chinese officials condemned the attack and also said no Chinese nationals were hurt in the attack.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) issued a statement claiming responsibility for the attack.

"Today, the BLA Majeed Brigade targeted a convoy of Chinese engineers in the Gwadar District," the statement said.

In a second statement, the BLA claimed the two suicide bombers had killed four Chinese engineers and nine Pakistani security troops. That information could not be verified.

The BLA has targeted Chinese nationals several times in the past and has warned Beijing not to conclude development deals in Balochistan with the Pakistan government.

In April 2022, a female suicide bomber killed three Chinese teachers in Karachi. In 2021, an explosion struck a bus carrying Chinese workers, killing nine of them, plus four other passengers. In 2020, the BLA claimed responsibility for an attack on the Pakistan Stock Exchange that it said was aimed at "Chinese exploitative plans" in Balochistan.

China is carrying out numerous projects in Pakistan under the umbrella of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The CPEC is a cornerstone of China's wide-reaching Belt and Road Initiative and focuses on linking China's Xinjiang Province with the Gwadar Port.

The $60 billion initiative encompasses a wide range of development and infrastructure projects.

Thousands of Pakistani security forces have been deployed to counter threats to the projects.

Chinese Deputy Premier He Lifeng visited Islamabad in July to mark the 10th anniversary of the CPEC project.

Separately on August 13, Pakistani authorities said security forces had killed four suspected gunmen belonging to the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan group (TTP) in the Bajaur tribal district near the Afghan border. One member of the security forces was killed in the raid, authorities said.

The Bajur District was a stronghold of the TTP -- also known as the Pakistani Taliban and a close ally of Afghanistan's Taliban government -- before the Pakistani Army drove many of the militants out of the area.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-balochistan- militants-attack-chinese-engineers/32546082.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Insurgents Ambush Chinese Engineers' Convoy in Pakistan

By Ayaz Gul August 13, 2023

Authorities in southwestern Pakistan said Sunday that insurgents attacked a convoy carrying Chinese engineers to the China-run Arabian Sea Gwadar port, but the foreigners were not harmed.

The ambush began with assailants detonating a roadside bomb before opening fire on several "bulletproof" vehicles reportedly transporting 23 Chinese citizens from the airport to the deep-water strategic Pakistani port.

Local Pakistani police and military officials said the ensuing gun battles with security forces escorting the convoy killed two "terrorists" while several security forces were injured.

"The incident caused no casualties on the Chinese side, and the relevant personnel have been properly placed in safety," said the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad.

A statement from the embassy urged Pakistani authorities to thoroughly investigate the "terrorist act" and "severely punish" those behind it. The statement called on the host government to take "practical and effective" steps to counter such incidents in the future.

"China will continue to work with the Pakistani side, to jointly counter the threats of terrorism and earnestly protect the safety of Chinese personnel, institutions, and projects in Pakistan," the embassy stated.

There was no immediate comment from the Pakistani government, but the Pakistan military issued this statement while sharing details of its forces' retaliation to the attack, "security forces of Pakistan remain determined to thwart efforts of the enemies of peace and prosperity in the country."

The separatist Baluchistan Liberation Army, or BLA, claimed credit for plotting Sunday's ambush in Gwadar, saying it killed several Chinese workers and Pakistani security forces escorting the convoy. The outlawed group often releases inflated claims.

The BLA has previously targeted Chinese personnel working on infrastructure development projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, or CPEC. The multibillion-dollar flagship program is the biggest extension of Beijing's global Belt and Road infrastructure initiative.

The Gwadar port in southwestern Baluchistan province is the centerpiece of CPEC, linking the two countries and giving China the shortest possible trade access to international markets.

Beijing is also building an international airport in Gwadar. Pakistani officials say it is expected to be inaugurated next month.

Pakistan, the United States, and Britain have designated the BLA as a global terrorist organization.

Like other Baluch insurgent outfits, BLA has vehemently opposed CPEC and other Chinese investments in Baluchistan, publicly threatening to attack Chinese workers associated with them.

Insurgent attacks have killed more than a dozen Chinese citizens recently, prompting Beijing to press Islamabad to ensure security measures for CPEC projects and its nationals in Pakistan.

China has lately directed its diplomats and workers to strictly limit their movements and avoid visiting certain Pakistani cities for security reasons.

China's investment under CPEC has built roads and power plants and made the Gwadar port operational over the past decade when the bilateral project was initiated.

Last month, Chinese Vice Prime Minister He Lifeng visited Islamabad to participate in a government-sponsored ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the CPEC collaboration.

Officials in both China and Pakistan say CPEC has created nearly 200,000 direct local jobs, built more than 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) of highways and roads, and added 8,000 megawatts of electricity to the national grid, ending years of blackouts caused by power outages in Pakistan.

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In His First Public Statement After Latest Conviction, Navalny Slams 'Those Who Lost Russia's Historic Chance'

By RFE/RL's Russian Service August 11, 2023

In his first public statement after his latest trial that ended with a conviction and a 19-year sentence on extremism charges last week, Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny lashed out at Russia's post-Soviet ruling class, saying, "I fiercely, madly hate all those who sold, drank away, wasted the historic chance our country had at the beginning of the 1990s."

In a statement titled My Fears And Hatred, which was posted on his website on August 11, Navalny said he feels hatred toward Russia's first president, the late Boris Yeltsin, and other officials who failed to implement proper democratic reforms in the country after the collapse of the Soviet Union and brought Vladimir Putin to power.

"I hate swindlers, whom we for some reason called reformers. Now, it is crystal clear that they did nothing but scheming and thought solely about their own wealth. Are there other countries where so many ministers of 'reformist governments' became millionaires and billionaires? I hate the authors of the most stupid, authoritarian constitution, which was cheaply sold to us idiots as a democratic one, handing the president powers of an absolute monarch from the outset," Navalny's statement said.

Navalny also criticized the "so-called independent media" and "democratic society" for "supporting the rigged [presidential] election of 1996."

"I hate everyone from the leadership of Russia, who after the 1991 coup and the 1993 shelling of the parliament building had full-fledged powers but didn't even try to carry out democratic reforms," Navalny wrote.

Navalny said that Russian society in its entirety has to learn to reject corruption.

"Only then will we be able to properly use another chance -- which we surely will have again," he said.

On August 4, judges of the Moscow City Court convicted Navalny on extremism charges and sentenced him to 19 years in prison, ruling that his previously handed prison sentences will be served concurrently in Russia's harshest prison regime.

Navalny, his allies, rights groups, and Western governments say all charges are politically motivated.





Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-navalny-conviction- historic-chance-yeltsin/32544267.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Press release on the decisions adopted by Russia, the UK and the United States regarding the de-targeting of strategic nuclear missiles

11 August 2023 16:31

1579-11-08-2023

The public debate on the relevance of measures taken since the early 1990s by Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States to de-target their strategic nuclear forces has been picking up lately against the backdrop of a deteriorating international security environment. There have been calls to terminate the corresponding arrangements involving Russia and engage the nuclear deterrence mechanism by targeting the United States and the United Kingdom with Russian missiles.

In this context, the Foreign Ministry would like to remind everyone of the background, as well as the core of the matter.

On January 14, 1994, Russia and the United States adopted the so-called Moscow Declaration, which provided for no longer targeting each other with strategic nuclear missiles. On February 15, 1994, President of the Russian Federation Boris Yeltsin and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom John Major signed a joint statement to the same effect.

These were political agreements which do not create any legal obligations for the parties. Since they are not international treaties under the terms of the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, international law does not govern the way they are terminated or "denounced".

As for the question of engaging the nuclear deterrence mechanism, under the document titled Basic Principles of State Policy of the Russian Federation on Nuclear Deterrence, as approved by Executive Order of the President of Russia No. 355 of June 2, 2020, Russia is continuously involved in nuclear deterrence efforts with respect to specific countries and military coalitions (blocs, alliances), which view the Russian Federation as a potential adversary and possess nuclear weapons and/or other weapons of mass destruction, or considerable conventional military capabilities. Ensuring the combat readiness of the nuclear deterrent at all times is one of the basic principles of nuclear deterrence. Our opponents know all these provisions well.

Guaranteeing that a potential adversary can be deterred from aggression against the Russian Federation and/or its allies is one of the top state priorities. At the same time, the national leadership is firmly committed to the principle that nuclear war is unacceptable. We believe that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought. This is what President of Russia Vladimir Putin said in his August 1, 2022 address to the participants and guests of the Tenth Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The leaders of the five nuclear states reaffirmed this message in their January 3, 2022 joint statement. This statement also reiterated the validity of the previous statements on de-targeting. The Russian Federation set forth its principled approaches to these matters in a statement dated November 2, 2022, saying that a nuclear war would be unacceptable.

Russia takes all the necessary measures to guarantee its national security, territorial integrity and sovereignty, and will continue to do so moving forward.

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The new running mate explains the values she hopes to bring to the governorship ticket.

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo on Saturday unveiled Chinyere Ekomaru as his running mate for the 11 November governorship election in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the unveiling took place at an APC stakeholders' meeting in Owerri.

The governor also presented his scorecard under his 3R Government of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Recovery from 15 January 2020 to date.

In a speech, he said his administration had laid the foundation for growth in all sectors of the economy and would consolidate on them to deliver an industrial, prosperous and safe Imo in the coming years.

"We have so much to campaign with. Our works speak for us.

"So, today, we are here to reinforce our genuine claim to re-election.

"I have picked a female deputy governorship candidate in the person of Chinyere Ihuoma Ekomaru.

"I believe she will add value to this ticket.

"I expect Imo women to appreciate this gesture as my genuine appreciation of their innate strength and capacity to contribute to the growth of our state," he said.

Mr Uzodimma said that the process of choosing Ms Ekomaru was "all-inclusive" and appealed "to all to accept and make peace with the decision".

He commended his outgoing Deputy, Placid Njoku, saying, "I enjoyed a good working relationship with him.

"Let me use this opportunity to make it clear that I don't have any problem with my deputy.

"He is a very loyal and committed partner in progress.

"My confidence in him has not waned in any way.

"I want to assure you that he is still very relevant in our political family and his political career is not by any means over.

"The truth is that as representatives of the people, we need to be sensitive to the ecumenical nature of the environment," he said.

The governor said he could rightly and proudly claim that he kept the social contract he entered into with the Imo people when he assumed office in January 2020.

According to him, the security situation in the state has improved as the wanton and unprovoked killing of citizens by mercenary criminals had abated while the indiscriminate attacks on security agencies have been checked.

He further said that the state had regained its pride of place as the hub of hospitality.

The governor cited the hosting of high-profile events and conferences, including those by the Nigerian Army and Nigeria Guild of Editors in the state to buttress his point.

He also said that his administration had put in place a fully automated system in the civil service, eliminated corruption and abolished the menace of ghost workers.

Other achievements in the state civil service, he said, included the renovation of the entire secretariat blocks, provision of relevant equipment, regular payment of salaries, payment of 13th-month salary and other welfare packages.

"Our roads, which were mere death traps when I assumed office, are now motorable.

"At the last count, this administration has done more than 100 good quality roads across the entire state.

"These include the dual carriageway of Owerri - Okigwe Road and Owerri - Orlu Road, while the construction of five kilometres of roads in the 27 LGAs is at various stages of completion.

"The reconstruction of Owerri -Mbaise - Obowo - Umuahia and Orlu - Mgbidi - Akokwa- Uga Road is also ongoing," he further said.

"In education, we recovered the KO Mbadiwe University.

"We also established the Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at Umuagwo to ensure that our children are availed more admission spaces while creating employment and boosting the economy of the state.

"We are also effectively funding a polytechnic and a college of education and our primary and secondary schools are enjoying equal attention," he said.

Mr Uzodimma also said that similar efforts were being replicated in the health sector, where his administration recovered the Imo State University Teaching Hospital (IMSUTH), Orlu from decay.

He said that his government ensured that medical students graduated from the institution after eight years of stagnation.

"IMSUTH remains a truly tertiary health institution with the requisite experts and consultants.

"Through our collaboration with the Federal Government, the Federal Medical Center, Owerri has been converted to Federal University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Owerri," he said.

He further disclosed that three new well-equipped general hospitals would be commissioned soon.

The governor said he had ensured the recovery of Adapalm Nigeria Limited and was in the process of doing the same at Imo Shoe Industry, the Rubber Company, Avutu Poultry and Nsu Ceramic Industry, among others.

"Through a friendly tax regime and creation of new business opportunities, we have also created the enabling environment for investors to establish industries and create employment opportunities in the state," he said.

The governor also said that the ongoing dredging of the Oguta-Orashi-Degema River to the Atlantic Ocean project would help to rejuvenate the state economy and that of the entire South-East, when completed.

Earlier, the state APC Chairman, Macdonald Ebere, acknowledged the good work done by Mr Uzodimma's administration and expressed the need for continuity.

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Mr Ebere said, "We are not unmindful that the increasing strength, popularity and visibility of our party in the state as reflected in the just-concluded election, the litany of defections from major political parties are attributable to your pacesetting infrastructure development and economic re-engineering of our state."

He said that the party was firmly positioned to take advantage of the achievements of the "shared prosperity administration" to secure once again the mandate of the people by 11 November.

"We are very optimistic that our people will once again speak through their votes, to revalidate their implicit vote of confidence in our party and the shared prosperity administration of our governor," he said.

In an acceptance speech, Mrs Ekomaru, accompanied by her husband, thanked the governor for choosing her as his running mate and promised not to betray the confidence he reposed in her.

She said that she had been in politics for more than 40 years and assured the governor that her choice meant winning supporters from the Anglican Communion, academia and social groups, where she belongs.

She further expressed confidence that the party would win more votes from the judiciary, where her husband belonged, the health sector, where her child belonged and the numerous women's social groups, where she also belonged.

(NAN)
United States Sanctions Russian Financial Elites and a Russian Business Association

US Department of State

Press Statement

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

August 11, 2023

Today, the United States is imposing sanctions on four prominent members of Russia's financial elite who have served on the supervisory board of the Alfa Group Consortium, one of the largest financial and investment conglomerates in Russia.

We are also imposing sanctions on the Russian Association of Employers the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP), a Russian business organization involved in the technology sector of the Russian Federation economy. The organization has promoted import substitution and convened meetings to promote responses to sanctions.

The United States will continue to take all appropriate action to hold accountable those who enable and profit from Russia's war against Ukraine.

The Department of the Treasury is taking these actions pursuant toA Executive Order 14024.A Petr Olegovich Aven, Mikhail Maratovich Fridman, German Borisovich Khan, and Alexey Viktorovich Kuzmichev are being designated for operating or having operated in the financial services sector of the Russian Federation economy.A RSPP is being designated for operating or having operated in the technology sector of the Russian Federation economy.A Fridman is also being designated for having acted or purported to act for or on the behalf of, directly or indirectly, the RSPP.A Khan is also being designated for operating or having operated in the construction sector of the Russian Federation economy.A For more information about these designations, see Treasury'sA press release.

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Treasury Imposes Sanctions on Russian Elites and a Russian Business Association

U.S. Department of the Treasury

August 11, 2023

WASHINGTON -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued a new round of sanctions targeting prominent members of Russia's financial elite, as well as a Russian business association. The four individuals targeted today include Petr Olegovich Aven, Mikhail Maratovich Fridman, German Borisovich Khan, and Alexey Viktorovich Kuzmichev, all of whom have served on the supervisory board of the Alfa Group Consortium ("Alfa Group"), one of the largest financial and investment conglomerates in Russia. These individuals were previously sanctioned by Australia, Canada, the European Union, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.A A

"Wealthy Russian elites should disabuse themselves of the notion that they can operate business as usual while the Kremlin wages war against the Ukrainian people," said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo. "Our international coalition will continue to hold accountable those enabling the unjustified and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine."A

TARGETING A RUSSIAN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION INVOLVED IN RUSSIA'S RESPONSES TO SANCTIONSA

The Russian Association of Employers the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) is a Russia-based organization involved in the technology sector of the Russian Federation economy. RSPP has a variety of coordinating councils, including ones that promote import substitution, technology independence, and technology development. It has also been involved in activities related to Russia's responses to sanctions imposed on Putin's regime since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The RSPP was designated pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14024 for operating or having operated in the technology sector of the Russian Federation economy.

TARGETING RUSSIAN ELITES

Petr Olegovich Aven (Aven) serves as the chairman of the board of a Russia-based insurance company and is a member of the supervisory board of the Alfa Group.A

Aven was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the financial services sector of the Russian Federation economy.

Mikhail Maratovich Fridman (Fridman) is the founder of the Alfa Group, was the former chairman of the supervisory board of the Alfa Group, and remains involved in the conglomerate.A Additionally, Fridman chairs an RSPP committee.A

Fridman was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the financial services sector of the Russian Federation economy. Fridman was also designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the RSPP.

German Borisovich KhanA (Khan) is a member of the supervisory board of the Alfa Group.A Additionally, Khan is the chairman of the board of a Russian company that is engaged in construction activities, and is a participant/founder of a separate company also engaged in construction activities.A A

Khan was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the financial services sector of the Russian Federation economy. Khan was also designated pursuant to E.O.A 14024 for operating or having operated in the construction sector of the Russian Federation economy.A

Alexey Viktorovich Kuzmichev (Kuzmichev) is a member of the supervisory board of the Alfa Group and leads a Russia-based investment company.A

Kuzmichev was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the financial services sector of the Russian Federation economy.

SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS

As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of the persons above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. All transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or blocked persons are prohibited unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt. These prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any blocked person and the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.

Consistent with today's action, private sector partners are encouraged to review theA Global Advisory on Russian Sanctions Evasion, an advisory issued jointly by the members of the multilateral Russian Elites, Proxies, and Oligarchs (REPO) Task Force. International partners and the private sector are encouraged to leverage this advisory to contribute to effective sanctions implementation and compliance.

The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC's ability to designate and add persons to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List), but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, please refer to OFAC'saFrequently Asked Question 897.aFor detailed information on the process to submit a request for removal from an OFAC sanctions list, please click here.A

For identifying information on the individuals and entity sanctioned or property identified today, click here.

###

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A Russian Factory Is Using Underage Workers To Assemble Iranian 'Suicide' Drones Destined For Ukraine

By RFE/RL's Idel.Realities August 12, 2023

A polytechnic school in Russia's Tatarstan, a region some 900 kilometers east of Moscow, is using manufacturing facilities that are part of a nearby special economic zone to assemble Iranian attack drones and are increasingly turning to underage students as laborers, many of whom often work in exploitative conditions.

The revelations at Alabuga Polytechnic University raise troubling implications about the lengths that Russian authorities are going to in order to boost the war effort and how the advanced Iranian weaponry -- which is increasingly used to bombard Ukrainian cities and has only recently begun to be manufactured inside Russia -- could contribute to escalating tensions and rising civilian casualties.

The use of underage students as drone factory workers and the details of the manufacturing facilities were first reported by Russian independent media outlets Protokol and Razvorot, which published a series of investigations in July.

Since then, RFE/RL's Idel.Realities has spoken with students who describe grueling working conditions and interviewed dozens of parents whose children have been enrolled at Alabuga Polytechnic University -- some as young at 15 -- who say that their children were forced to work exceedingly long hours, often without proper breaks or meals, and under hostile conditions that have deeply affected their mental health.

"My son enrolled and 2 1/2 months later he called for me to take him away," Zhanna, who asked to be identified only by her first name to protect against reprisals for speaking about the operation, told RFE/RL. "He said to me on the phone, 'Come and get me or I'll die,' so I picked him up immediately."

Zhanna, who asked that her underage son's name also not be used, says that she sent him from Nizhniy Novgorod to study at Alabuga Polytechnic University in 2022 because of its reputation as a leading technical institution inside Russia.

The school offered students -- often between the ages of 15-18 -- an opportunity to get vocational training as part of a dual program that combines a classroom education with practical work experience. Students were also promised an opportunity to work and earn a locally competitive salary of up to 70,000 rubles ($700) a month as part of the work experience program that could further their career growth.

But, instead, those enrolled were encouraged and in some cases pressured into working at the drone facility, where the salaries of the mostly underage laborers are contingent on meeting tough production quotas.

"This is a textbook definition of what constitutes exploitation," Sergei Podsytnik, an investigative journalist at Protokol who worked on the series of reports, told RFE/RL. "[Students] assemble drones, with the work taking priority over their studies."

The pressure to fulfill these quotas has allegedly led to strenuous back-to-back days -- with some shifts lasting up to 15 hours -- with little time for sleep or adequate sustenance. Overtime work is often unpaid, further highlighting potential labor violations. Exhausted students also reported not always meeting their quotas, which led to them not earning the salary initially promised by the school. Many students came from disadvantaged backgrounds and relied on their earnings to cover costs for tuition, room, and board and would send the remainder home.

Other parents, such as Marina, said she decided to take her daughter out of the program when she discovered that she was working in apparent unsafe conditions and that staff from the school had instructed students not to tell their parents about the drone assembly work.

"This was the last straw for me," Marina, who also asked for her identity to be concealed, told RFE/RL. "This is a dangerous production process that involves dangerous chemicals. They also forbid the kids from telling everything to their parents."

RFE/RL sent multiple requests for comment to various staff and administrators at Alabuga Polytechnic University but received no replies.

'Making Iranian Drones In Russia

The complicated and concerning dynamic at Alabuga Polytechnic University stems from growing military cooperation between Iran and Russia that has accelerated since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Iran has said it provided drones to Russia before the start of the war, but not since. However, U.S. intelligence officials have warned for months of continued deliveries and deepening cooperation between Moscow and Tehran, saying the two sides were exploring how to set up a manufacturing plant for Iranian drones inside Russia.

According to The Wall Street Journal, an Iranian delegation visited Yelabuga in Tatarstan on January 5, touring a potential site for such a factory at the Alabuga special economic zone close to Alabuga Polytechnic University. U.S. officials released satellite images in April of the plant being built.

Russia already possesses an array of unarmed aerial vehicles, or UAVs, which are used mainly for surveillance and artillery spotting, but has turned increasingly to Tehran for attack drones.

After being forced to abandon Ukrainian territory that its troops captured in the early stretches of the war, Moscow shifted to a strategy of relentless air assaults on Ukrainian cities. These attacks often rely on a combination of cruise missiles and self-detonating drones packed with explosives to knock out electricity and running water for the civilian population in Ukraine.

So far, Iran has provided Russia mostly with so-called "suicide" drones, known as the Shahed-136, that contain a modest amount of explosives that can detonate when the drones crash into targets, military experts say.

In acquiring its own domestic assembly line, Russia could dramatically increase its stockpile of the relatively inexpensive but highly destructive weapons systems.

The arrangement also offers substantial economic and political benefits for Iran, which has sought to portray itself as neutral in the Ukraine war. The appearance of Iranian-made drones over Ukrainian cities, however, has triggered threats of new economic sanctions from the West. The United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom have also all issued rules in recent months designed to cut off the flow of drone components to Russia and Iran.

The Washington Post reported in November 2022, citing unnamed U.S. intelligence officials, that the agreement to deliver Iranian drone schematics and materials for manufacture in Russia resulted from Iranian leaders believing that the arrangement would allow Tehran to avert new sanctions.

'Foreign Recruitment And Patriotic Education

Alabuga Polytechnic University is formally not a college. All of its students are officially enrolled at nearby Yelabuga Polytechnic College, with the Alabuga institution existing on paper as a specialized program for students looking to break into high-tech industries.

Currently, about 1,000 students are studying at Alabuga Polytechnic University, with several hundred of them -- most of whom are between the ages of 15 and 17 -- involved in assembling the Iranian drones.

In addition to the work on the drones, there are other signs that point to blurred lines in Russia between the education system and the country's military amid the war in Ukraine.

According to current and former Alabuga Polytechnic University students, team-building and organized extracurricular activities through the school often take on a "patriotic" character that may be designed to expose students to official government narratives of international events or echo talking points from state television.

Organized paintball games have become a mainstay for students, especially first-year arrivals, in which they are encouraged to compete against one another and then play together against more experienced outside players. Teachers and administration officials regularly refer to paintball as being part of a "patriotic" education needed to complement the technical aspect of their studies.

In one instance, a group of new students competed in paintball as Soviet soldiers against outside players who were dressed as troops from Nazi Germany in a capture-the-flag competition meant to simulate the World War II battle of Stalingrad. According to one student, the Nazi flag contained the compass symbol used by the NATO military alliance instead of the swastika used by Nazi Germany.

Other instances of political teachings from staff are more direct. In a recording obtained by RFE/RL from June 16, a senior administrator can be heard telling the teenagers that NATO launched a hybrid war against Russia back in 2011 and that it has slowly become more overt. The man then goes on to tell students that their hard work and exceeding long days at the drone factory are part of a nationwide struggle against the West and that their patriotism will be rewarded.

Several students and parents identified the man in the recording as Timur Shagivaleev, the director-general of the special economic zone where Alabuga Polytechnic University and the drone factory operate.

Shagivaleev did not respond to RFE/RL's request for comment.

The man in the recording then goes on to tell students not to take holidays and to continue working "even if it's mom's birthday," before ending his speech with, "Long live our great country."

Multiple current and former students told RFE/RL that students who work in the drone factory are often praised by staff, while those who have refused or asked to be reassigned due to the high workload are often publicly shamed. In some instances -- according to recordings heard by RFE/RL -- staff even encourage students to bully others who are not deemed "patriotic" enough.

According to Protokol and Razvorot's investigations, Alabuga Polytechnic University has also turned toward recruiting foreign students to enroll. The majority of them come from African countries, but also from Central Asia and Azerbaijan, where they are promised "world class" salaries as part of the dual-track world experience program.

However, these foreign students are then given low-skill and menial tasks around the campus and the special economic zone, such as janitorial work, and are also paid lower salaries than initially promised.

Written by Reid Standish based on reporting by RFE/RL's Idel.Realities



Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-iran-suicide- drones-assembled-underage-students-ukraine/32545386.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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China announces military exercises ahead of Lai's visit to Paraguay

ROC Central News Agency

08/11/2023 09:17 PM

Taipei, Aug. 11 (CNA) China announced on Friday, just one day before Vice President Lai Ching-te (ea) is scheduled to embark on a trip to Paraguay, that it will hold three days of military exercises in the East China Sea.

China's Zhejiang Maritime Safety Administration on Friday morning issued a no-sail order for a maritime zone in the East China Sea that will be in effect from noon on Aug. 12 to 4 p.m. on Aug. 14, during which time military exercises are scheduled to be held in the zone.

Coordinates given by the Chinese maritime agency show that the zone is about 500 kilometers away from Taiwan proper.

The announcement came just one day before Lai is scheduled to embark on his Aug. 12-18 trip to Paraguay, Taiwan's sole South American diplomatic ally, sparking media speculation that the planned drills were in response to Lai's trip, which will include two stopovers in the U.S.

Later in the day, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) issued a statement in response to news reports about the planned Chinese military drills, calling on people to "stay calm and be mindful of disinformation," without confirming or denying the reports.

The military's intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems allow it to closely monitor the situation around the Taiwan Strait, including "routine military exercises" by the People's Liberation Army (PLA), the MND said in the statement.

The armed forces will continue monitoring the situation and take appropriate measures, the MND said.

In addition to sending planes and ships to the Taiwan Strait and surrounding airspace and waters, the PLA has used cognitive warfare through mixing disinformation with genuine information in an attempt to undermine the judgment of the Taiwanese people, it said.

People should remain calm and refer to information released by the MND and public and private fact-checking institutions, in order to enhance society's resilience against disinformation and misinformation, and to help uphold national security, it said.

(By Sean Lin)

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Taiwan deputy leader's trip tests US-China thaw

Lai Ching-te, a frontrunner in January's Taiwanese presidential election, arrives in New York on Saturday.

By Alex Willemyns and Chris Taylor for RFA 2023.08.11 -- The two-month-old thawing of ties between Beijing and Washington faces its first major test this weekend, with Taiwanese Vice President Lai Ching-te becoming the self-governing island's latest leader to "transit" through the United States amid protests from China.

Lai arrives in New York on Saturday en route to Paraguay to attend the inauguration of President-elect Santiago PeAa Palacios, before flying home next week - this time after overnighting in San Francisco.

The so-called U.S. "transits" by the front-runner in January's presidential election in Taiwan come at a sensitive time in relations between Washington and Beijing, which claims Taiwan as its own territory and opposes direct ties between it and the United States.

At the Aspen Security Forum last month, China's ambassador in Washington, Xie Feng, even described Lai as being "like a gray rhino charging at us," a euphemism that suggested the vice-president could create a loud disturbance in the warming U.S.-China relationship.

As a result, Lai's visit will take place with little fanfare.

"I think the Biden administration wants to keep this visit low-profile," said Kharis Templeman, a research fellow and Taiwan expert at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, "and Lai's team understands that and won't do anything to push the limits this time around."

While such a trip was nothing out of the ordinary, Templeman noted, Beijing was already "pathologically suspicious of Lai," who has in the past been associated with Taiwanese independence, and will likely react angrily "to indicate the depth of their opposition to Lai's visit."

"They may also want to make it clear to Taiwan voters that cross-Strait relations will only get worse if they vote for Lai," he added.

Cooling ties

Lai's trip mirrors transits through the United States earlier this year by his boss, President Tsai Ing-wen, which were at the time similarly slammed by Beijing as flagrant violations of the "One China principle," by which it claims the self-governing island as "inalienable" territory.

However, Tsai's trip came during a more perilous time in U.S.-China relations, with ties heavily strained by the spy balloon incident, U.S. microchip policies and aggressive maneuvers by Chinese fighter jets and warships near Taiwan and the South China Sea.

Since that friction started to ebb in mid-June, though, three members of President Joe Biden's cabinet have made trips to Beijing, with a fourth - Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo - expected to follow.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has also been invited to make a trip to Washington, with State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller saying this week that it is "our full expectation that he will travel to the United States" to meet Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

That may be muddied by the U.S. trips by Lai, though, who could soon lead the self-governing island Beijing says is a renegade province.

While Tsai's trip in April en route to similar engagements in Taiwan's few remaining Latin American allies was more high-profile - it included the president receiving a leadership award in New York from the conservative Hudson Institute - China has seemed no less peeved by this trip by the man it calls "the deputy leader of the Taiwan region."

Besides the Chinese ambassador's comments likening Lai's trip to a stampeding rhino, China's foreign ministry has separately called on the United States to "refuse" Lai's visit, and reiterated its anger at "U.S. connivance and support for 'Taiwan independence' separatists."

"The Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests and a red line that cannot be crossed," a spokesperson for the ministry said.

"China urges the U.S. to abide by the 'One China' principle."

No meet, no foul

Lai is no stranger to controversy, having called himself a "pragmatic worker for Taiwanese independence." In 2017, he also declared: "I am without a doubt a politician who supports Taiwanese independence" who "will never change this stance no matter what office I hold."

But he has since largely hewed to his party's line that since Taiwan is "already" independent of Beijing and operating as its own sovereign nation, it does not need to make any "further" declarations.

Lai himself is also clearly hoping for a lower-profile trip this time than Tsai's earlier this year, with Wang Juntao, a leader of the pro-Taiwan Chinese Democratic Party in New York City, saying there are no plans to organize rallies to welcome him as they did Tsai earlier this year.

Wang said he understood Taipei's diplomatic "dilemma."

"They want to use the 'transit' to showcase the U.S. support for Taiwan's democracy, but also don't want to create any potential trouble for the U.S.," Wang said, adding that "the U.S. doesn't want to provoke too much conflict. It's difficult to strike the right balance."

As is usual for such unofficial "transits" by Taiwan's leaders, U.S. officials also say there are no plans for White House officials to meet with Lai during his trips through the United States, and note his itinerary - like Tsai's in April - carefully avoids Washington.

U.S. executive branch leaders have over the years left such meetings to lawmakers, as with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's meeting with Tsai in April or his predecessor Nancy Pelosi's trip to Taiwan last August, which triggered the nearly year of tense ties with Beijing.

U.S.-Taiwan relationship

In the background, though, some in Congress have been pressing for even closer official ties with Taiwan. A group of House members last month wrote a public letter to Vice President Kamala Harris calling on her to meet with Lai during his trip, as his formal U.S. counterpart.

Lawmakers in 2018 also passed a law - the Taiwan Travel Act - that expressly allows Taiwanese leaders and officials to visit the United States and authorizes White House officials, as well as officials at the departments of defense and state, to openly meet with them.

More recently, a bipartisan group of senators has pushed to end the practice of "double taxation" for people who work in both Taiwan and the United States by allowing them to choose where they will be taxed, a measure that would treat the island even more like its own country.

Others still want to outright recognize Taiwan as independent.

Rep. Tom Tiffany, a Republican from Wisconsin who was one of the House members who wrote to Harris, told Radio Free Asia that since Chinese President Xi Jinping had made "very clear" he planned to one day annex Taiwan, current U.S. policy was akin to "appeasement."

He said that's why he introduced a bill to recognize Taiwan as a country. The legislation, he said, was considered fringe only a few years ago, with only one other co-sponsor, but has since gained steam amid growing tensions with China and now has 44 co-sponsors.

"History is littered with people who have chosen appeasement with those who are belligerent. It simply does not work," he said. "Taiwan has never been part of China. The Taiwanese want to be an independent nation, and they should be allowed to be."

A threat to the thaw

Still, many in Washington still see that kind of stance as unnecessarily belligerent in itself, fearing that changing the U.S. stance could provoke an invasion Beijing could otherwise indefinitely delay as unwise.

"We want Xi Jinping to wake up every day and say 'Hey, you know, it's too costly. The risk is too high. Today's not the day we're going to invade,'" said Bonnie Glaser, the managing director of the Indo-Pacific program at the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

"Xi Jinping has not made a political decision to invade Taiwan," she added. "He has a huge amount of problems on his plate already."

But for Lai, the ever-present threat of an invasion makes paying a visit to the United States a no-brainer, especially if that annoys Beijing, said Wu'er Kaixi, a former Tiananmen Square protest leader and general secretary of the Taiwan Parliamentary Human Rights Commission.

"If China is going to play any role in the upcoming presidential elections, it would be the question of whether Taiwan is prepared to defend itself, or whether it's better off doing a deal with Beijing," Wu'er Kaixi told RFA, adding it seemed clear where the votes were.

"Taiwanese watched what happened in Hong Kong," he said, "and most of them refuse doing a deal with Beijing."

Jane Tang contributed reporting.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content August not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Analysts: US, Taipei Aim to Keep Taiwan VP Transit Stops Low-Key

By William Yang August 11, 2023

Taiwan's vice president and presidential front-runner, William Lai, departs Saturday on a seven-day trip to Paraguay. Along the way, he will make transit stops in New York and San Francisco, something China has strongly protested.

While the United States and Taiwan have characterized Lai's stops as "routine" for Taiwanese officials, China says it firmly opposes such "sneaky visits," especially by someone like Lai, a politician Beijing has branded a Taiwan "independence separatist."

Analysts say Taipei and Washington will try to ensure Lai's stopovers do not further exacerbate U.S.-China tensions, but the visit comes as challenges to relations between the world's two biggest economies continue to mount.

"Taiwan and the U.S. will try to make this trip meaningful for Lai but not in a way that pokes the bear," Lev Nachman, a political scientist at National Chengchi University in Taiwan, told VOA.

Taiwanese presidential candidates have visited the U.S. during election campaigns in the past but experts say Lai's role as Taiwan's sitting vice president will make Washington handle his transit more carefully because it does not want to be perceived as endorsing Lai.

"The U.S. can neither treat Lai too well nor too badly, so letting him transit through New York and San Francisco is a compromise in my opinion," Chen Fang-yu, a political scientist at Soochow University in Taiwan, told VOA.

Chen added that at a time when Washington hopes to have more military and diplomatic engagement with China, with Washington inviting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to visit Washington next month, it will try to make Lai's stopovers "less formal" to avoid triggering any overreaction from Beijing.

"Diplomatically, the U.S. would like to avoid too many surprises," he said.

So far, Taiwanese authorities have not revealed details of Lai's itinerary, but sources with knowledge of the arrangement told VOA that he may hold events with the Taiwanese American community. On his way to attend the inaugural ceremony for Paraguayan President-elect Santiago Pena, Lai will stop in New York on Saturday and make another stop in San Francisco on Wednesday before returning to Taiwan.

Lai made similar transit stops in the U.S. in January 2022 as part of his trip to Honduras. During those stopovers, he conducted online meetings with former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Tammy Duckworth and met with members of the Taiwanese community. This time, it is unclear whether he will have such high-level discussions.

Beijing's response

With about five months to go before Taiwan holds its hotly contested presidential election, Lai's transit stops come at a sensitive time for Taipei, Beijing, and Washington.

Lai has been consistently leading in most opinion polls but his track record of characterizing Taiwan as a sovereign state has increased the Chinese government's distrust in him.

China views Taiwan as an inseparable part of its territory and has long opposed high-level engagement between officials from Taiwan and other countries. In recent years, Beijing has increased the frequency of deploying fighter jets and naval vessels into Taiwan's air defense identification zone or crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait, which serves as an unofficial demarcation between Taipei and Beijing.

Over the past year, China staged two large-scale military exercises around Taiwan in response to visits, once after Pelosi's visited to Taipei last August and again in April when Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen met with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California.

Following Tsai's stopover in California and meeting with McCarthy and other U.S. lawmakers, Beijing staged a multiday, blockade-style military exercise around Taiwan.

This time, experts think Beijing will launch a military response to Lai's stopovers in the U.S., but the scale will depend on how "official-looking" his trip is. "This includes who he meets with, what he says, and how public those meetings are," Amanda Hsiao, senior China analyst at the International Crisis Group, told VOA.

As Taiwan gears up for the presidential election, Hsiao said she thinks Beijing will try to moderate its response to Lai's transit stops, as any reaction deemed too provocative could help increase Lai's chance of winning the election. However, she added that Beijing also worries about sending the wrong signal if its responses are deemed too weak.

"They may respond with a small-scale military exercise, and it can simply be an increase in what they already do on an almost daily basis," she said.

China has deployed 79 military aircraft and 23 naval vessels to areas near Taiwan since Sunday, according to Taiwan's National Defense Ministry. Among them, 25 military craft have crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait or intruded Taiwan's southwestern and southeastern air defense identification zone.

Making a good impression

For Lai, the trip is an opportunity to make a good impression and his positions both on relations with China and the U.S. clear.

Before departing for the trip, in an interview with Taiwanese broadcaster SETN, Lai emphasized that Taiwan is not a part of China, expressed his willingness to "be friends" with China, and highlighted the importance of Taiwan's relationship with the U.S.

"Pushing away our best partner, the U.S., would be unwise," he said.

Analysts say Lai has largely inherited the "four commitments" put forward by Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen in 2021, which focus on defending Taiwan's democratic system, safeguarding Taiwan's sovereignty, pushing back against pressure from China, and letting Taiwan's people determine the island's future.

"Tsai's approach has earned international recognition so it's a safe approach for Lai and the Democratic Progressive Party," Chen from Soochow University told VOA.

Nachman from National Chengchi University said he thinks Lai should continue to try to make a good impression on the U.S. government.

"He needs to prove that he can be 'Tsai Ing-wen 2.0' and this trip is one of the big tests," he told VOA.

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VP Lai leaves on Paraguay trip, to transit U.S. cities

ROC Central News Agency

08/12/2023 08:29 PM

Taipei, Aug. 12 (CNA) Vice President Lai Ching-te (ea) said Saturday evening he looks forward to meeting with top envoys from like-minded countries while setting out on a seven-day trip that will include two days in Paraguay and stops in New York and San Francisco in the United States.

Lai, who is also the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's 2024 presidential candidate, made the comments at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport prior to his departure.

During those encounters, Lai added, he will seek to bring attention to Taiwan's adherence to democracy, freedom and human rights and efforts to contribute to the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region.

At the same time, his visit to Paraguay will demonstrate the importance to the Republic of China (Taiwan's official name) of relations with the South American ally, he said.

Lai added that during his two-day stay in Paraguay, he will also seek opportunities to expand bilateral cooperation in education, public health and other areas prioritized by incoming Paraguayan President Santiago PeAa, and meet with Taiwanese expatriates based in South America.

The vice president and his delegation will first arrive in New York on Saturday evening (NY time) for a stopover before they head to Paraguay on Sunday night, according to the latest itinerary provided by the Presidential Office.

Lai will touch down in San Francisco on the afternoon of Aug. 16 (SF time) on the return leg from South America and depart from the city in the early hours of Aug. 17 without staying overnight.

In addition to making stops in the U.S., Lai will land in Paraguay on the morning of Aug. 14 (AsunciAn time) and hold talks with outgoing President Mario Abdo BenAtez and BenAtez's successor, PeAa, respectively, on the same day.

On Aug. 15, Lai will attend PeAa's inauguration, where he is expected to encounter top government officials or envoys from other countries. He will also hold a press conference with the press corp later in the evening before departing for San Francisco in the early hours of Aug. 16.

China, which has denounced Lai's planned transit on American soil, said Friday it would hold three days of military exercises in the East China Sea starting Saturday.

In response to the announcement, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense said later the same day it would closely monitor the situation around the Taiwan Strait and take appropriate measures.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of State did not respond to CNA's request for a comment on China's military drills.

Instead, a State Department spokesperson said Lai's transit on American soil is "consistent with longstanding practices, the unofficial nature of our relations with Taiwan, and our one China policy."

Similarly, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken earlier said that allowing Taiwanese leaders to transit the U.S. has been a "routine" practice and there is no reason for Beijing to use the issue as "a pretext for provocative action."

(By Chiang Chin-yeh and Teng Pei-ju)

Enditem/AW

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Taiwan Vice President Arrives in US on Trip China Opposed

By William Yang August 12, 2023

Taiwan's Vice President William Lai arrived in New York on Saturday night, a transit stop on a seven-day trip to Paraguay. He will pass through San Francisco on his return to Taiwan.

China has condemned the stopovers and there are concerns it will respond to the visits by launching military exercises in protest.

Before departing, Lai spoke to reporters but barely mentioned the United States.

Earlier he posted a short message on X, formerly known as Twitter:

"Departing soon for #Asuncion to attend [president-elect Santiago Pena's] inauguration & convey to him & the people of #Paraguay the best wishes of [Taiwan]." He also said: "[E]xcited to meet with #US friends in transit."

Responding to his post, Laura Rosenberger, the chair of the American Institute in Taiwan a Washington's de facto embassy, which manages relations with Taipei a wrote that the AIT was "looking forward to welcoming VP @chingtelai during his transit en route to Paraguay!"

The United States and Taiwan have characterized Lai's stops as "routine" for Taiwanese officials. China says it firmly opposes such "sneaky visits," especially by someone like Lai, a politician Beijing has branded a Taiwan "independence separatist."

Lai is the front-runner in Taiwan's presidential elections slated for January, and because of that, this trip is unlike any other he has made.

Analysts say Taipei and Washington will try to ensure Lai's stopovers do not further exacerbate U.S.-China tensions, but the visit comes as challenges to relations between the world's two biggest economies continue to mount.

"Taiwan and the U.S. will try to make this trip meaningful for Lai but not in a way that pokes the bear," Lev Nachman, a political scientist at National Chengchi University in Taiwan, told VOA.

Taiwanese presidential candidates have visited the United States during election campaigns in the past, but experts say Lai's role as Taiwan's sitting vice president will make Washington handle his transit more carefully because it does not want to be perceived as endorsing Lai.

"The U.S. can neither treat Lai too well nor too badly, so letting him transit through New York and San Francisco is a compromise in my opinion," Chen Fang-yu, a political scientist at Soochow University in Taiwan, told VOA.

Chen said that at a time when Washington hopes to have more military and diplomatic engagement with China, with Washington inviting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to visit Washington next month, it will try to make Lai's stopovers "less formal" to avoid triggering any overreaction from Beijing.

"Diplomatically, the U.S. would like to avoid too many surprises," he said.

So far, Taiwanese authorities have not revealed details of Lai's itinerary, but sources with knowledge of the arrangement told VOA that he may hold events with the Taiwanese American community. On his way to attend the inaugural ceremony for Pena, Lai will stop in New York Saturday and make another stop in San Francisco Wednesday before returning to Taiwan.

Lai made similar transit stops in the U.S. in January 2022 as part of his trip to Honduras. During those stopovers, he conducted online meetings with former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Tammy Duckworth. He also met with members of the Taiwanese community. This time, it is unclear whether he will have such high-level discussions.

Beijing's response

With about five months to go before Taiwan holds its hotly contested presidential election, Lai's transit stops come at a sensitive time for Taipei, Beijing and Washington.

Lai has consistently led in most opinion polls, but his track record of characterizing Taiwan as a sovereign state has increased the Chinese government's distrust of him.

China views Taiwan as an inseparable part of its territory and has long opposed high-level engagement between officials from Taiwan and other countries. In recent years, Beijing has increased the frequency of deploying fighter jets and naval vessels into Taiwan's air defense identification zone or crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait, which serves as an unofficial demarcation between Taiwan and China.

Over the past year, China staged two large-scale military exercises around Taiwan in response to visits, once after Pelosi's visit to Taipei in August 2022 and again in April when Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen met with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California.

Following Tsai's stopover in California and meeting with McCarthy and other U.S. lawmakers, Beijing staged a multiday, blockade-style military exercise around Taiwan.

This time, experts think Beijing will launch a military response to Lai's stopovers in the U.S., but the scale will depend on how "official-looking" his trip is. "This includes who he meets with, what he says, and how public those meetings are," Amanda Hsiao, senior China analyst at the International Crisis Group, told VOA.

As Taiwan gears up for the presidential election, Hsiao said, Beijing will try to moderate its response to Lai's transit stops, as any reaction deemed too provocative could help increase Lai's chance of winning the election. However, she added that Beijing also worries about sending the wrong signal if its responses are deemed too weak.

"They may respond with a small-scale military exercise, and it can simply be an increase in what they already do on an almost daily basis," she said.

China has deployed 79 military aircraft and 23 naval vessels to areas near Taiwan since Sunday, according to Taiwan's National Defense Ministry. Among them, 25 military craft have crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait or intruded on Taiwan's southwestern and southeastern air defense identification zones.

Making a good impression

For Lai, the trip is an opportunity to make a good impression and his positions on relations with China and the U.S. clear.

Before departing for the trip, in an interview with Taiwanese broadcaster SETN, Lai emphasized that Taiwan is not a part of China, expressed his willingness to "be friends" with China and highlighted the importance of Taiwan's relationship with the United States.

"Pushing away our best partner, the U.S., would be unwise," he said.

Analysts say Lai has largely inherited the "four commitments" put forward by Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen in 2021, which focus on defending Taiwan's democratic system, safeguarding Taiwan's sovereignty, pushing back against pressure from China and letting Taiwan's people determine the island's future.

"Tsai's approach has earned international recognition, so it's a safe approach for Lai and the Democratic Progressive Party," Chen from Soochow University told VOA.

Nachman from National Chengchi University said he thinks Lai should continue to try to make a good impression on the U.S. government.

"He needs to prove that he can be 'Tsai Ing-wen 2.0,' and this trip is one of the big tests," he told VOA.

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Vice President Lai arrives in New York City (update)

ROC Central News Agency

08/13/2023 12:20 PM

New York, Aug. 12 (CNA) Vice President Lai Ching-te () arrived in New York City Saturday evening (local time) for a stopover en route to Taiwan's South American diplomatic ally Paraguay.

While still on the tarmac at John F. Kennedy International Airport, Lai was greeted by Ingrid Larson, the managing director of American Institute in Taiwan's Washington Office as well as Taiwan's top envoy to the United States Hsiao Bi-khim ().

After arriving by motorcade at the Lotte New York Palace on Madison Avenue around 10 p.m., Lai briefly greeted and shook hands with supporters waving Republic of China (Taiwan) flags before making his way into the hotel.

With Taiwan's presidential election just five months away, the visit by Lai, who is the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's candidate in the presidential race, has garnered attention.

Before Lai's arrival, the street across from the hotel, where Chinese protesters had gathered during President Tsai Ing-wen's () transit in the city in March this year, were filled with Taiwanese compatriots and members of the Chinese expatriate community who support Taiwan.

During their over two-hour wait, the supporters used amplifiers to chant slogans such as "Taiwan, go for it," "Fight for freedom," and "Keep Taiwan Free."

Among those present were Taiwanese compatriots from Washington D.C., Boston, and Pittsburgh, including Lai Chia-te (), who told CNA that democracy and freedom are Taiwan's most cherished values, emphasizing the importance of preserving Taiwan's freedom and the people's hopes for the future.

According to an invitation letter sent to the overseas Taiwanese community by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York, the vice president is scheduled to attend a luncheon held at The Glasshouse, a private event space in New York, to meet with members of the community on Sunday (local time).

While in New York, Lai will also participate in discussions with Taiwanese founders of startups based in the city, according to Taiwan's Presidential Office.

The focus of the meeting will be to delve into the entrepreneurs' viewpoints on industrial development within their respective sectors and to explore opportunities for collaboration between their businesses and Taiwan, the office said.

Lai and his delegation are expected to fly to Paraguay on a chartered flight around 10 p.m. the same day to attend the Aug. 15 inauguration of Paraguayan President-elect Santiago Pena.

During his journey back to Taiwan, Lai is scheduled to have another layover in the U.S., this time in San Francisco, on Aug. 16 (SF time), according to Taiwan's Presidential Office.

(By Ozzy Yin and Chung Yu-chen)

Enditem/cs

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China Condemns US Stopover by Taiwan VP, Warns of 'Strong' Response

By William Yang August 13, 2023

China's foreign ministry was quick to voice its opposition to a transit stop in the United States by Taiwan's Vice President William Lai as he travels to Paraguay, warning Sunday that it could take "resolute and strong measures" in response to the visit.

In its Sunday statement, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said: "China deplores and strongly condemns the US decision to arrange the so-called stopover," adding that Beijing firmly opposes "the US government having any form of official contact with the Taiwan region."

Lai, the statement added, "clings stubbornly to the separatist position for 'Taiwan independence,'" and that he is a "troublemaker through and through."

Lai, a Harvard-educated doctor turned politician is the front-runner in Taiwan's upcoming presidential elections. He has previously described himself as a "practical worker for Taiwan independence," but on the campaign trail he has stressed that he is not seeking to change the current situation. He has also expressed willingness to be friends with China.

Before departing, Lai spoke to reporters but barely mentioned the United States. Arriving at his hotel in New York, he was greeted by dozens of supporters, who waved U.S. and Taiwan flags, as well as the green and white banner of his ruling Democratic Progressive Party. As the crowd shouted, "Go Taiwan!" "Go Vice President!" others waved flags that read "Keep Taiwan Free." One supporter held a sign that said: "Against War on Taiwan."

On his social media feed on X, formerly Twitter, Lai wrote that he was happy to arrive in the Big Apple, and that he was "looking forward to seeing friends & attending transit programs in #New York."

Analysts say that during Lai's stopovers, Taipei and Washington will try to ensure that they do not further exacerbate U.S.-China tensions, but the visit comes as challenges to relations between the world's two biggest economies continue to mount.

"Taiwan and the U.S. will try to make this trip meaningful for Lai but not in a way that pokes the bear," Lev Nachman, a political scientist at National Chengchi University in Taiwan, told VOA.

Taiwanese presidential candidates have visited the U.S. during election campaigns in the past but experts say Lai's role as Taiwan's sitting vice president will make Washington handle his transit more carefully because it does not want to be perceived as endorsing Lai.

"The U.S. can neither treat Lai too well nor too badly, so letting him transit through New York and San Francisco is a compromise in my opinion," Chen Fang-yu, a political scientist at Soochow University in Taiwan, told VOA.

Chen added that at a time when Washington hopes to have more military and diplomatic engagement with China, with Washington inviting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to visit Washington next month, it will try to make Lai's stopovers "less formal" to avoid triggering any overreaction from Beijing.

"Diplomatically, the U.S. would like to avoid too many surprises," he said.

Lai will be in New York for just about a day before heading on to Paraguay on Sunday. Taiwanese authorities have revealed few details of Lai's itinerary, but sources with knowledge of the arrangement told VOA that he may hold events with the Taiwanese-American community.

After his arrival on Sunday, Laura Rosenberger, the chair of the American Institute in Taiwan - a U.S. government-run nonprofit that manages unofficial relations with Taiwan - confirmed on X that she would be meeting with Lai when he transits back through San Francisco Wednesday before returning to Taiwan.

Lai made similar transit stops in the U.S. in January 2022 as part of his trip to Honduras. During those stopovers, he conducted online meetings with former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Tammy Duckworth and met with members of the Taiwanese community. This time, it is unclear whether he will have such high-level discussions and how Beijing may respond to any of his activities.

Beijing's response

China views Taiwan as an inseparable part of its territory and has long opposed high-level engagement between officials from Taiwan and other countries. Over the past year, China staged two large-scale military exercises around Taiwan in response to visits, once after Pelosi's visited to Taipei last August and again in April when Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen met with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California.

Following Tsai's stopover in California and meeting with McCarthy and other U.S. lawmakers, Beijing staged a multiday, blockade-style military exercise around Taiwan.

This time, experts think Beijing will launch a military response to Lai's stopovers in the U.S., but the scale will depend on how "official-looking" his trip is. "This includes who he meets with, what he says, and how public those meetings are," Amanda Hsiao, senior China analyst at the International Crisis Group, told VOA.

As Taiwan gears up for the presidential election, Hsiao said she thinks Beijing will try to moderate its response to Lai's transit stops, as any reaction deemed too provocative could help increase Lai's chance of winning the election. However, she added that Beijing also worries about sending the wrong signal if its responses are deemed too weak.

"They may respond with a small-scale military exercise, and it can simply be an increase in what they already do on an almost daily basis," she said.

China has deployed 79 military aircraft and 23 naval vessels to areas near Taiwan since Sunday, according to Taiwan's National Defense Ministry. Among them, 25 military craft have crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait or intruded Taiwan's southwestern and southeastern air defense identification zone.

Making a good impression

For Lai, the trip is an opportunity to make a good impression and his positions both on relations with China and the U.S. clear.

Before departing for the trip, in an interview with Taiwanese broadcaster SETN, Lai emphasized that Taiwan is not a part of China, expressed his willingness to "be friends" with China, and highlighted the importance of Taiwan's relationship with the U.S.

"Pushing away our best partner, the U.S., would be unwise," he said.

Analysts say Lai has largely inherited the "four commitments" put forward by Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen in 2021, which focus on defending Taiwan's democratic system, safeguarding Taiwan's sovereignty, pushing back against pressure from China, and letting Taiwan's people determine the island's future.

"Tsai's approach has earned international recognition so it's a safe approach for Lai and the Democratic Progressive Party," Chen from Soochow University told VOA.

Nachman from National Chengchi University said he thinks Lai should continue to try to make a good impression on the U.S. government.

"He needs to prove that he can be 'Tsai Ing-wen 2.0' and this trip is one of the big tests," he told VOA.

Mandarin service reporter Yi-hua Lee and video journalist Ning Lu contributed to this report.

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A youth leader told PREMIUM TIMES that only one person was killed in the attack.

Some gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have killed one person and abducted many travellers along Ugwogo-Neke Odenigbo Road in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State.

The victim, Cyril Mbah, was said to be going home with his daughter in their vehicle when they ran into the kidnappers who suddenly opened fire on them.

The incident occurred at about 7:30 p.m. on Friday, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.

The hoodlums subsequently flagged down another vehicle and abducted a yet-to-be-ascertained number of travellers.

"Chief Cyril Mbah from Neke Odenigbo-Nike was gunned down by suspected kidnappers along the Ugwogo/Isi-Uzo road, near Neke Odenigbo junction," a witness, Kingsley Odoh, told reporters in Enugu on Saturday.

"Unfortunately, he (Mbah) couldn't survive the gunshots but nothing happened to his daughter.

"The kidnappers went further, fired and flattened the tyres of another vehicle approaching the scene and successfully whisked away the driver and other people on board. Till now, no one is certain where they are," Mr Odoh added.

A youth leader in Ugwogo-Nike, who asked not to be named, told PREMIUM TIMES that only Mr Mbah was killed by the kidnappers, contrary to speculations that two were killed in the attack.

The youth leader said the victim died at Ugwogo-Nike Roundabout while he was being taken to a hospital by a vigilante operative, identified as Okenna Okoh, who had gone to rescue them.

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"He (Mbah) was kept on a motorcycle and he was shouting, 'I am dying' (because he was uncomfortable) before Okenna used the vehicle which the kidnappers had flattened its tyres to carry the man and his daughter to the hospital," he said.

When contacted on Sunday morning, the police spokesperson in Enugu State, Daniel Ndukwe, confirmed the killing of the victim to PREMIUM TIMES.

"The manhunt operation is underway to apprehend the armed assailants," Mr Ndukwe, a deputy superintendent of police, said

He, however, said the police in the state were not aware of the abduction of travellers during the attack.

Increased kidnap attacks

This is not the first kidnapping incident around Ugwogo-Nike community in recent times.

Several people, including university students and government officials, have been kidnapped, lately, along Ugwogo-Opi-Ekwegbe Road in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of the state.

The latest attack occurred about three years after many people, including a Catholic reverend sister, were kidnapped along Ugwogo-Neke Odenigbo Road while returning from the burial of a former State House of Assembly member, Chijioke Ugwueze.

The deceased lawmaker, who hailed from Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, died in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Neke Odenigbo shares a boundary with communities in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of the state.
Russian-Occupied Nuclear Plant In Ukraine Reconnected To Main Power Line, Averting Possible Blackout

By RFE/RL August 11, 2023

Ukraine's Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant has been reconnected to its main external power line, state-owned power generating company Enerhoatom said on August 11, averting what officials said was a possible blackout.

The announcement on the Telegram app comes a day after Enerhoatom had reported Europe's biggest nuclear power plant had switched to a reserve line after it had lost connection to its last remaining external power line overnight on August 10.

The plant with its six reactors has been controlled by the invading Russian military since the early days of Moscow's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

It has become one of the focal points of the conflict, with both sides blaming each other for shelling around the site. The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been trying to set up a safety mechanism to prevent accidents.

None of the plant's six reactors produce electricity.

On August 10, Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko appealed for help from the IAEA.

"This is the only external power line left. And such a situation is one step away from the blackout of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant -- that is, the final loss of external power supply," Halushchenko said.

Enerhoatom warned earlier on August 10 that the Russian-occupied nuclear plant was on the verge of a blackout because power was cut from the main high-voltage line.

An IAEA news release on August 10 said the main power line had been disconnected twice during the day and "remains disconnected."

The statement said there had been no total loss of off-site power to the site and there no need to use the emergency diesel generators.

But IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi warned in the statement that the "repeated power line cuts underline the continuing precarious nuclear safety and security situation at the plant."

Separately, the station's Russian-installed administration said on August 10 that the No. 4 reactor had been moved from a "hot" to a "cold" shutdown because of signs of a steam leak.

One of the six reactors needs to be in "hot shutdown" to produce steam for the plant's own needs.

Grossi confirmed this, adding the shutdown will be used to determine the cause of the water leak and to conduct maintenance to repair the affected steam generator.

There was no radiological release to the environment as a result of the leak, he added.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-nuclear-zaporizhzhya- reconnected-power/32544117.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Explosions Over Kyiv, Air Strikes Elsewhere Keep Alert Level High Across Ukraine

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service August 11, 2023

Explosions over Kyiv on August 11 prompted Mayor Vitali Klitschko to urge residents to stay in air raid shelters as Russian air strikes in the west, south, and east of Ukraine killed and injured more civilians.

The Ukrainian military reported that Russia launched hypersonic missiles at the Kyiv region, including the Kh-47 Kinzhal. Klitschko said fragments of a downed missile had fallen on the territory of a children's hospital in the city, but that there were no injuries or damage.

In the western Ukrainian region of Ivano-Frankivsk on August 11, an 8-year-old child was reported killed in a Russian missile strike.

"There are wounded (people) including a child who was brought to hospital in critical condition. Medics did everything possible, but unfortunately the child's life could not be saved," regional Governor Svitlana Onyshchuk wrote on the Telegram app.

A reported Russian drone strike on August 11 hit a humanitarian-aid-distribution center in Beryslav, a town in the southern Kherson region, Ukrainian officials said, but no injuries were reported.

A Russian air strike was also reported to have hit a home in a village in the eastern Kharkiv region, killing a 60-year-old woman, and injuring a 60-year-old man, Kharkiv regional Governor Oleh Synyehubov said on August 11.

In the Sumy region in northeastern Ukraine, 51 explosions were recorded on August 11 as the Russian military shelled several communities near the Russia-Ukraine border, the regional military administration said. No injuries were reported, but two housing estates were damaged, according to the administration. Russian troops regularly shell the border communities of the Sumy region.

On the front line there were 25 combat clashes during the day, the General Staff of the Ukrainian military said in its evening report. In addition, Russian forces carried out 24 air strikes and about 37 attacks from rocket salvo systems on Ukrainian troop positions and populated areas, the General Staff said.

"Unfortunately, there are dead and wounded among the civilian population, including children," the General Staff added. "

Residential buildings and other civil infrastructure were destroyed," it said, warning that the probability of more missile and air strikes across all of Ukraine remained high.

In both of its briefings on August 11, the General Staff said Russian troops had "conducted unsuccessful offensive actions" in the area of Kupyansk and Bakhmut. It also said Ukrainian forces were continuing counteroffensive operations in Melitopol and Berdyansk in the south.

The Russian Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said a drone was destroyed as it flew toward an unspecified target in Moscow.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed that and added that debris had fallen northwest of the city center. He said the drone had caused no serious damage or casualties.

Earlier, reports said that Moscow's Vnukovo airport and the airport at Kaluga, some 150 kilometers southwest of the capital, had been closed temporarily due to what officials said was a suspected drone flight. They both later reopened.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov was quoted by TASS on August 11 as saying that Russian assault groups improved their tactical position and repulsed four Ukrainian Army attacks and counterattacks in the Kupyansk area over the past day.

RFE/RL cannot confirm claims from either side in the areas of the heaviest fighting.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba appealed again for long-range missiles from the United States and NATO countries in Europe.

"Long-range missiles have proved crucial. This is why Taurus and ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile Systems) are essential for Ukraine's success, and we ask partners to provide them as soon as possible. Both will be used solely inside our borders. The longer the missile range, the shorter the war," Kuleba said.

Ukraine has previously requested ATACMS from the United States and other Western partners. Washington thus far has refrained from providing the weapons over concerns that Kyiv would use them to target military objects inside Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's office said on August 11 that Kyiv began the first round of negotiations at the working level with London on a bilateral agreement on security guarantees, .

The talks were opened under the terms of a joint declaration signed in July by the Group of Seven (G7) leading industrialized nations that provides for unilateral bilateral agreements between Kyiv and the G7 countries to strengthen Ukraine's defense and intelligence capabilities.

"Great Britain became the second country after the United States with which Ukraine started such negotiations, and continued the positive dynamics of the implementation of the security agreements reached by our country with key international partners," a statement from the president's office said.

Zelenskiy has welcomed the security guarantees provided by G7 countries, calling them a step on the way to NATO membership for Ukraine.

The Kremlin said on July 12 that the West's plans to provide security guarantees to Ukraine were "extremely wrong and potentially very dangerous." Moscow claims that these guarantees will encroach on Russia's security.

With reporting by Current Time, AP, TASS, and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-zaporizhzhya-shelling- russia-un/32543613.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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British Commandos train hundreds of Ukrainian Marines in UK programme

Ukrainian marines were trained by Royal Marines and Army Commandos to conduct small boat amphibious operations, including beach raids.

11 August 2023

Nearly 1,000 Ukrainian marines are returning home after being trained by Royal Marines and Army Commandos, during a six-month UK programme supported by international partners.

The training, announced by the Prime Minister during President Zelenskyy's visit to the UK in February, has seen British Commandos training Ukraine's forces in small boat amphibious operations - conducting beach raids using inflatable boats.

It is the first programme of amphibious training delivered by the UK to Ukraine, culminating with the Ukrainian marines planning and conducting raids by both day and night.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:

The UK has led the way in training the Armed Force of Ukraine, providing world-leading training in frontline combat skills to more than 20,000 of Ukraine's Army recruits through Operation Interflex.

This programme of training, delivered by elite British commandos, will support Ukraine to build its own distinct marine force and expand its capability to operate in a maritime environment.

Approximately 900 Ukrainian marines have completed the course, which included training to use Next Generation Light Anti-Tank Weapons (NLAW) and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, use of mortars and drones for reconnaissance, and explosive demolition of obstacles such as Dragon's Teeth anti-vehicle fortifications.

Equipment used in the training is the same as some of the military support the UK has provided to Ukraine, with more than 10,000 anti-tank weapons including thousands of NLAW systems already provided.

Trainees came from a variety of backgrounds, with many being civilian volunteers with no prior military experience, while others have transferred from other sections within the Armed Forces of Ukraine - some having already been engaged in combat on the frontline.

Instructors from 42 Commando and 47 Commando Raiding group delivered the training, alongside Army Commandos from 24 Commando Engineers and Royal Artillery Gunners from 29 Commando. Instructors from the Netherlands Marine Corps were also part of the training programme.

One of the recently trained Ukrainian marines said:

The training I have received from the UK Royal Marines has been far more intense than I expected. I have learned so much and never expected to be doing the things I have done. All the way through, our British instructors have been beside us, showing us how to move and how to work together in a small team - this will make a difference when we return home to Ukraine.

Each training cohort underwent a rigorous five-week programme, developing individual skills including fieldcraft, battlefield first aid, close quarters combat, and fitness, and unit planning in realistic scenarios. The training will further support Ukraine's capability to develop its own marine force and develop an international training concept for marines.

More than 20,000 recruits from the Armed Forces of Ukraine have already received training in the UK since the start of 2022, learning essential frontline skills including trench and urban warfare, leadership, and medical training.

At the start of 2023, the UK committed to train a further 20,000 Ukrainian recruits - approximately double the amount trained last year - under one of the largest training programmes of its kind in the world.

Beyond teaching combat skills to recruits, the UK has provided a broad package of in other skills including medical training to provide pastoral care, spiritual support and moral guidance.

Including both the Op Interflex and the programme for marines, the UK's training for the Armed Forces of Ukraine is supported by Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and Sweden.

The UK remains fully committed to supporting Ukraine, with a further A2.3bn already earmarked for further military support through 2023, with additional munitions and equipment to be delivered in the coming months. Further UK government assistance continues in the form of humanitarian support and economic aid.

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Ukraine has started negotiations with the United Kingdom on a bilateral agreement on security commitments

President of Ukraine

11 August 2023 - 20:00

Today, Ukraine has started initial working-level negotiations with the United Kingdom on a bilateral agreement on security commitments as envisaged by the Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine, which is the basis for the development of relevant bilateral agreements.

The United Kingdom became the second country after the United States of America with which Ukraine started relevant negotiations and continued the positive dynamics of implementation of security commitments reached by our country with key international partners.

The Ukrainian delegation was headed by Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak.

"The United Kingdom has consistently demonstrated its leadership and example in making and implementing the boldest decisions to support Ukraine. The Ukrainian people highly appreciate the assistance already provided and we are confident in further strengthening our strategic partnership both before and after the Victory", emphasized Andriy Yermak.

These bilateral commitments for Ukraine are an element of strengthening our common security in the entire Euro-Atlantic region.

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We are doing everything to ensure that Ukraine remains a guarantor of food security and has access to global markets - address by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

President of Ukraine

11 August 2023 - 17:10

I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!

A report on this day.

In the morning, we had a conference call. Military, intelligence, government officials. The conversation was accompanied by the sounds of air defense in Kyiv region.

There were reports by commanders and ministers.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported on the situation in the regions, the liquidation of the consequences of Russian strikes, and the work of the State Emergency Service. I am grateful to all Ukrainian rescuers!

The Ministry of Strategic Industries reported on the production of munitions and equipment in Ukraine. We are increasing the volume. Constantly increasing.

The Security Service of Ukraine is doing a good job against collaborators. Thank you, guys!

In the afternoon, I held a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council on "military commissars". There will be another meeting on the military medical commissions.

We are constantly working with our partners at all levels. Today, Head of the Office Yermak, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kuleba, and the Office's specialized deputies, Andriy Sybiha and Ihor Zhovkva, worked with the ambassadors of partner countries on the Peace Formula, on getting countries to join.

And I spoke with the President of Zambia. Bilateral relations, the Peace Formula. Another country in the Global South supports our initiatives. This is very important.

We had a separate meeting with Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate Budanov, Commander-in-Chief Zaluzhny, Navy Commander Neizhpapa, Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Malyuk, and the Ministry of Infrastructure to discuss alternatives to exporting grain through the transit corridor. We are doing everything possible to ensure that Ukraine remains a guarantor of food security and that our people have access to global markets.

And, of course, the frontline. Every direction, every key effort. Daily attention. Daily support. Daily reinforcement.

I am grateful to everyone who is fighting for Ukraine! To all those who are now in trenches, on combat missions, at combat posts!

I thank everyone who works for the state!

Glory to Ukraine!

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President of Ukraine and President of Zambia discussed the implementation of the Peace Formula and prolongation of the "grain corridor"

President of Ukraine

11 August 2023 - 15:33

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone call with President of Zambia Hakainde Hichilema.

The Head of State thanked his colleague for visiting Kyiv and Bucha in June this year together with other African leaders.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy invited Zambia to participate in the implementation of the Peace Formula, in particular, to join the next meeting at the level of diplomatic advisors, as well as the preparation of the Global Peace Summit.

"The Peace Formula is now more relevant than ever. This is the only way to a just peace and stability in the world that can be taken as a basis. And we are actively working with partners to prepare the Global Peace Summit," the President of Ukraine noted.

The leaders of Ukraine and Zambia also discussed the need to prolong the Black Sea Grain Initiative and agreed that it is inadmissible to use food as a weapon.

"Together, we must put an end to Russian attempts to use food as a weapon, as well as to Russian blackmail of the world with hunger and high food prices," Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized.

In addition, the heads of state touched upon the issue of holding the Ukraine - Africa Summit and discussed cooperation in the context of other upcoming international events.

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President of Ukraine and President of Zambia discussed the implementation of the Peace Formula and prolongation of the "grain corridor"

President of Ukraine

11 August 2023 - 14:15

I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!

I have just held a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council. A special one. The key issue was the results of the inspection of the "military commissars". Reports were delivered by the State Bureau of Investigation, the Security Service of Ukraine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Prosecutor General, the National Agency on Corruption Prevention, and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau. Comprehensively.

In total, there are already 112 criminal proceedings against officials of the territorial recruitment centers. 33 suspects.

Regional, city and district "military commissars". Employees of the military medical commissions. Other officials. Abuses in different regions: Donetsk, Poltava, Vinnytsia, Odesa, Kyiv, Lviv. Some took cash, some took cryptocurrency - that's the only difference. The cynicism is the same everywhere.

Illicit enrichment, legalization of illegally obtained funds, illegal benefit, illegal transportation of persons liable for military service across the border.

Our decisions are the following.

We are dismissing all regional "military commissars". This system should be run by people who know exactly what war is and why cynicism and bribery in times of war constitute treason. Instead, warriors who have gone through the frontline or who cannot be in the trenches because they have lost their health, lost their limbs, but have retained their dignity and have no cynicism are the ones who can be entrusted with this system of recruitment. This decision is to be implemented by Commander-in-Chief Zaluzhny. The new heads of territorial recruitment centers will be vetted by the Security Service of Ukraine before their appointment.

Every "military commissar" against whom there is a criminal investigation will be held to account. Absolutely fair. In full.

If the dismissed "military commissars" and other officials wearing shoulder marks against whom no evidence of crimes or violations has been found want to keep their shoulder marks and prove their dignity, they should go to the war front.

However, I emphasize that the army is not and will never be a substitute for criminal punishment. Officials who confused their shoulder marks with profits will definitely stand trial.

The issue of the military medical commissions. Now this system is not working decently. The way they treat warriors, the way they treat their duties... It's just immoral.

In two weeks, the National Security and Defense Council will hold a meeting on this issue. Inspections are underway, proposals are being prepared.

Decisions will also be made.

Glory to Ukraine!

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President held the NSDC meeting on the results of the inspection of the territorial recruitment centers

President of Ukraine

11 August 2023 - 13:22

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy chaired a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.

The attendees heard information on the results of the inspection of the territorial recruitment and social support centers from Director of the State Bureau of Investigation Oleksiy Sukhachov, Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasyl Malyuk, Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko, Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin, Head of the National Agency on Corruption Prevention Oleksandr Novikov, and Director of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau Semen Kryvonos.

During the inspection of the territorial recruitment centers, law enforcement agencies exposed cases of corruption, in particular during the general mobilization, which pose a threat to Ukraine's national security and undermine confidence in state institutions.

In this regard, the National Security and Defense Council recommended Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhny to appoint officers directly involved in combat operations to the positions of heads of regional territorial recruitment centers on the recommendations of the commanders of operational-tactical and operational-strategic groups of troops, after they have been vetted by the Security Service of Ukraine.

The Prosecutor General's Office, together with the NACP and the SBI, were recommended to take additional measures to counteract corruption offenses committed by officials of the territorial recruitment centers.

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US 'Committed' to F-16 Training for Ukrainian Pilots, White House Says

By VOA News August 11, 2023

The White House says it is committed to training Ukrainian pilots on F-16s in the U.S. once such training programs in Europe have reached capacity.

White House spokesman John Kirby said at a press briefing Friday that it is important to speed up the process of pilot training on the military aircrafts as well as caring for maintenance and other logistics.

"It's going to be a while before jets can show up in Ukraine and for them to be integrated into the air fleet," he said. "And it's not just a function of the transfer of actual airframes, but the appropriate training for pilots as well as setting up all the maintenance, logistics and sustainment efforts."

Kirby noted that Western countries a Denmark and the Netherlands in particular a work together on developing a training program for Ukrainian pilots, and that English language training for Ukrainian specialists is critical.

"All the tech manuals are in English and all the controls inside the aircraft are in English," said Kirby. "A pilot is going to have to have at least some basic proficiency in the language.

"All that we can say is that there's a multi-step process, and we're committed to helping our allies move that process along as quickly as it possibly can."

Corruption



Ukraine's Defense Ministry on Friday said it was not involved in a purchase of low-quality uniforms worth $950,000 after the director of a textile company was arrested for selling unfit gear for Ukraine's Territorial Defense.

The textile company won three state contracts in 2022 to supply uniforms, which, according to laboratory tests, proved unseasonable for winter combat the Ministry of Interior said.

The director of the company faces up to 12 years in prison and is banned from holding certain positions for three years. Law enforcement is currently collecting information on others involved in the scheme.

According to the Defense Ministry's statement, the contracts were concluded between the factory and a military unit without the ministry's involvement.

"Departments of the Defense Ministry were NOT INVOLVED in the procurement process of identifying the need, finding a contractor, concluding a contract, and monitoring the implementation of technical conditions," the press statement said, emphasizing that the ministry has "zero tolerance for corruption."

According to an investigative report by Ukrainian outlet Dzerkalo Tyzhnia on Thursday, the Defense Ministry purchased $33 million worth of "winter" clothes for the military from a Turkish company in 2022.

The associated contracts were reportedly tampered with during shipment to inflate the price, and the clothes turned out to be unusable for winter weather conditions.

Earlier Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Telegram that he was firing directors of the country's regional military recruitment centers amid concerns of corruption a ranging from illegal enrichment to the transportation of draft-eligible men across the border in the middle of a wartime ban.

Zelenskyy said the new appointments would be offered to war veterans.

"This system should be run by people who know exactly what war is and why cynicism and bribery during war is treason," he said.

So far, Ukrainian security services have cracked down on graft, charging senior officials with 112 criminal cases of bribery and engaging in corrupt practices. An additional 33 suspects are about to be charged.

Kyiv is battling corruption while fighting Russia's full-scale invasion and hopes to join the European Union.

Russian airstrikes

Russia's latest airstrikes targeting civilian infrastructure in western Ukraine and killing one child constitute "war crimes and must not go unpunished," France's foreign ministry said in a statement late on Friday.

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it would reinforce its military support to Ukraine, notably in strengthening air defense capacities, in close cooperation with its partners.

"France's support to Ukrainian and international jurisdictions to fight against the impunity of crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine remains total," the statement read.

Earlier Friday, Russian airstrikes killed an 8-year-old boy in western Ukraine, while Ukrainian drones targeted Moscow for a third consecutive day.

Several explosions were heard across Kyiv early Friday. Mayor Vitali Klitschko had urged residents to go to air raid shelters and Ukrainian officials had issued a nationwide air raid alert.

Ukraine shot down a missile Friday near a children's hospital in the city. Debris from the missile fell near the Kyiv hospital, but there were no reported injuries.

US aid

The Biden administration has asked Congress to provide more than $13 billion in emergency defense funding to Ukraine and an additional $8 billion for humanitarian support through the end of the year.

The White House supplemental spending request for Ukraine may prove to be too much for Republicans, who are facing great pressure from the party's presidential frontrunner, Donald Trump, who has a tepid attitude toward the war, while a recent CNN poll indicated declining support for the effort among some voters.

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a new round of sanctions Friday, targeting prominent members of Russia's financial elite, along with a Russian business association.

"Wealthy Russian elites should disabuse themselves of the notion that they can operate business as usual while the Kremlin wages war against the Ukrainian people," said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo. "Our international coalition will continue to hold accountable those enabling the unjustified and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine."

As a result of the latest batch of sanctions, Adeyemo said, "all property, and interests in property, of the persons named in the fresh sanctions who are in the United States, or in the possession or control of U.S. persons, are blocked."

Some information in this report came from Reuters, The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse.

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At Least Two Killed In Russian Strikes In Ukraine As Crimean Peninsula, Bridge Reportedly Targeted

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service August 12, 2023

At least two people were killed in Russian military strikes in Ukraine on August 12 as Moscow said Ukraine had sent drones to attack Crimea and fired missiles at the bridge connecting the peninsula to Russia.

Russian troops carried out six missile and 36 air strikes on Ukrainian positions and settlements during the day on August 12, the General Staff of the Ukrainian military said. There also were 32 attacks from rocket salvo systems and 33 combat clashes at the front, according to the General Staff's evening report.

A police officer was killed and 12 people injured, including four police officers, in Russian air strikes on Orihiv, a town in the southern region of Zaporizhzhya, local officials said.

Three Iranian-made Shahed drones were shot down over Zaporizhzhya overnight, the Ukrainian military said.

Elsewhere, a 73-year-old woman died in an August 12 Russian military strike on a southern district of Kupyansk, Kharkiv regional Governor Oleh Synyehubov said.

The General Staff's summary said Russian forces conducted "unsuccessful offensive actions" near Kupyansk and other towns and cities in the Kharkiv region.

The report also reported unsuccessful attempts by Russian troops to advance near the Bakhmut area of the Donetsk region and said Ukrainian defense forces continue to hold back a Russian offensive near Avdiyivka and Maryinka.

Ukrainian forces continue their own offensive operations in the Melitopol and Berdyansk areas, the General Staff said, citing "partial success" in a central area of the Zaporizhzhya region.

In the city of Donetsk, Russia-installed Mayor Aleksei Kulemzin said a man was killed in the Petrovsky district as a result of shelling by Ukrainian armed forces. Kulemzin said on Telegram that the man, born in 1986, was killed when a Ukrainian shell hit the kitchen of a house.

The claims could not be independently verified by RFE/RL.

Local officials reported explosions early on August 12 in the central Ukrainian city of Kryviy Rih, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's hometown, but said that there were no known casualties.

Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry said on August 12 that Ukraine had tried unsuccessfully to strike the Crimean Bridge with S-200 rockets. Moscow condemned the attacks.

Russian-installed Crimean leader Sergei Aksyonov said that two rockets had been downed by anti-aircraft defenses near the bridge, which has come under repeated attack by Ukraine since last year.

Video circulating on social media appeared to show smoke rising from the bridge. Traffic on the bridge has been stopped.

"The Ukrainian missile was detected in a timely manner and was intercepted in the air by Russian air-defense systems. No damage or casualties were reported," the Defense Ministry said.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova vowed to avenge the attacks.

"There can be no justification for such barbaric actions and they will not go unanswered," Zakharova said on Telegram.

The Ukrainian side did not comment, but Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) published a video purportedly showing the operations of seaborne drones over the last three months.

"We continue to destroy the Moscow invaders on the ground, in the air, and on the water! Glory to Ukraine!" the HUR said on Telegram. The video ends with the phrase, "This is our sea."

Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed its forces had destroyed what it described as 20 Ukrainian drones launched onto the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia seized control of in 2014.

The reported overnight attacks followed three consecutive days of drone attacks on the Russian capital, Moscow.

Drone attacks on Russian-controlled territories in Ukraine and deep inside Russia have increased since a drone was destroyed over the Kremlin in early May.

On August 11, Zelenskiy announced the dismissal of all the heads of regional conscription centers, part of his crackdown on corruption since the outbreak of Russia's war in Ukraine more than 17 months ago.

The step was taken after Ukrainian security services presented details of 112 criminal cases against draft board officials suspected of taking bribes and engaging in corrupt practices.

Zelenskiy said in a Telegram post that the jobs should instead go to war veterans, including those with injuries.

Elsewhere, authorities in Ukraine's Black Sea port city of Odesa have announced they are opening six beaches for swimming for the first time since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Swimming will be banned during air raid alerts, local officials added on August 12.

Odesa has been targeted by Russian missiles and drones. The surrounding sea has also been mined by Russia.

With reporting from Reuters and AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-strikes-kharkiv- crimes-drones-attack/32545053.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Mr El-Rufai told President Tinubu at a meeting on Tuesday that he was no longer interested in becoming a minister.

The governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, has denied media reports that he visited President Bola Tinubu to discuss the ministerial nominee suggested by his predecessor, Nasir El-Rufai.

In a statement by the governor's chief press secretary, Mohammed Shehu, on Saturday, Mr Sani called on the media to desist from spreading false and unverified information as that could mislead readers and cause unnecessary tension in the polity.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported that Mr El-Rufai, who had been nominated to serve as a minister, told President Tinubu at a meeting on Tuesday that he was no longer interested in becoming a minister but would continue to contribute his quota to the development of Nigeria as a private citizen.

Another insider also told PREMIUM TIMES that the former governor suggested a new ministerial nominee, Jafaru Sani, as his replacement.

Uba meets Tinubu

Mr Uba's meeting with Mr Tinubu occurred after that of Mr El-Rufai thus leading to speculations they discussed Mr El-Rufai's replacement as minister.

After meeting with Mr Tinubu, the governor told journalists that he did not discuss the issue of Mr El-Rufai's replacement with the president.

"The only thing that is true in the story is that I met with the President. Every other thing is false and a conjecture to create friction between me and Malam Nasir El-Rufai. At no time did we discuss the issue of replacement," he said.

The governor urged the media to be cautious and avoid becoming tools for mischief-makers who specialize in spreading falsehoods and divisive narratives.

"In these days of click baits and fake news, it is imperative for traditional and new media platforms to maintain their integrity by sharing balanced and verified stories that will be useful in moving the nation forward," the governor said.
It is important that every week Russia sees new international activity in support of Ukraine - address of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

President of Ukraine

12 August 2023 - 21:21

Dear Ukrainians, I wish you good health!

We have another result in our work with partners for security guarantees - Greece joined the G7 declaration regarding guarantees for Ukraine. This is already the 14th country.

Along with Greece, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and Sweden have joined. I thank each state!

And our team will continue working - for the sake of new participants, for the sake of every state and for every leader interested in peace and security being able to show their leadership in one or another format of security cooperation.

Peace has no alternative. Every country that works with us within the framework of security guarantees for Ukraine, within the framework of the Peace Formula, sends exactly this signal to the aggressor state. There will be peace. Aggression loses.

It is very important that every week Russia sees new international activity in support of Ukraine and normal life.

Today, I want to give special thanks to several countries that this week took new steps for greater security, greater protection of our people.

First of all, Germany. Two additional Patriot launchers, it is very important. Thank you! Thank you, Germany, thank you, people, thank you, Olaf!

Every significant strengthening of our air defense means thousands of saved lives and a real approach to a full-fledged air shield for Ukraine. Every city, every village must be protected. This will become the basis of a pan-European air shield. When Russian terror loses in Ukraine, all of Europe will win.

This week, our border guards received mobile medical complexes from the Netherlands. In general, the Netherlands is among the leaders in defense cooperation with Ukraine, in political cooperation. They really protect life. And the humanitarian dimension is also meaningful. I thank the people of the Netherlands for that! Thank you all! Mark, thank you!

Azerbaijan is ready to provide a newA humanitarian support package, including demining equipment. This is also one of the key directions of our work with partners - demining.

Ukraine also needs equipment from partners, and it is very crucial to create a production base in Ukraine so that we can clear our land of Russian mines. And this task should be completed not in decades, but in years.

In total, as of now, 174,000 square kilometers of our country are potentially dangerous due to mines and unexploded ammunition. Every day, our specialists detect hundreds of explosive objects. And the more we have demining machines, the more special drones we have for demining, the more actively we would be able to restore security. Thankful to every country that helps us!

And today I would like to thank all our specialists engaged in demining. They really work on the ground. Fields, the territory of settlements, power lines, infrastructure facilities are demined. Last day, 133 pyrotechnic units worked across the country. Most of them are in Kherson, Kharkiv, and Donetsk regions. I thank you - each who cleanses the Ukrainian land from the traces of Russian terror!

I would especially like to mention a few specialists.

This is Anton Volos, a deminer of the pyrotechnic works department, Bohdan Olshevsky, a driver-mechanic-deminer. They both work in the emergency and rescue squad of the Emergency Service of Luhansk region. Thanks, guys!

Serhiy Siroshtan, head of the pyrotechnic works group, the Main Department of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Kherson region. Thank you, Serhiy!

Police officers: lieutenant colonel Valentyn Melnyk, lieutenant colonel Ihor Pidlisny, colonel Yaroslav Kostiv. They took turns leading groups of the explosive engineering service - 10-15 groups - in Kharkiv region. From September 22 until now - in the territory liberated from the occupiers. Very active. Thank you! And very effective.

Thank you to everyone who works for the security of Ukraine and Ukrainians! Thank you to everyone who fights for our country - Bakhmut, Avdiyivka, Shakhtarsk direction, Kupiansk, southern directions. Glory to you, warriors! Glory to all who destroy the occupier! Glory to all who support Ukraine, support Ukrainians! Thank you!

Glory to Ukraine!

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Andriy Yermak had a telephone conversation with Jake Sullivan

President of Ukraine

12 August 2023 - 12:34

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak had a telephone conversation with National Security Advisor to the President of the United States Jake Sullivan.

As part of the continuous dialogue with the allies, Yermak briefed the interlocutor on the current situation at the frontline, particularly in the most contested areas. The parties discussed Ukraine's priorities regarding the defense.

The head of the Presidential Office thanked for the participation of the US side in the meeting of national security advisors and political directors regarding Ukraine's Peace Formula, which took place on August 5-6 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The interlocutors also touched on the issue of preparations for the G19 summit in India in September.

Andriy Yermak and Jake Sullivan also discussed ongoing efforts to impose strong sanctions against the Russian Federation.

The head of the Presidential Office thanked the United States, President Joseph Biden, Congress and the entire American people for the help and support of Ukraine in the struggle for its freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

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Andriy Yermak holds fifth meeting on implementation of Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Peace Formula with representatives of foreign diplomatic missions

President of Ukraine

12 August 2023 - 09:00

On the instructions of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak held the fifth meeting with representatives of foreign diplomatic institutions accredited in Ukraine within the framework of implementing the Peace Formula.

The meeting with the ambassadors took place in the Club of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and concerned the points of the Formula - Energy Security and Preventing Escalation and Repetition of Aggression.

Ambassadors and representatives of the diplomatic missions of Japan, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Croatia, the Republic of South Africa, the United Kingdom, Estonia, Ethiopia, Jordan, the Netherlands, Portugal, Lithuania, Egypt, Brazil, Canada, the Republic of Korea, India, Belgium, Spain, Austria, Finland, Azerbaijan, Norway, Switzerland, Germany, Bulgaria, Denmark, Greece, the EU, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, North Macedonia, Romania, the United States, TArkiye, Hungary, France, Montenegro, Sweden, and United Nations Resident Coordinator for Ukraine Denise Brown, special representative of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iceland AzArlindur Kjartansson, the Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarch in Ukraine, Bishop Mykhailo Komansky (Anishchenko) and chargA d'affaires of the Apostolic Nuncio in Ukraine Joseph Maramreddy attended the event in person or via video links.

Congratulating the participants of the meeting, Yermak separately thanked those who joined this format of communication for the first time, namely the representatives of 16 countries: Austria, Belgium, Algeria, Portugal, Ecuador, Croatia, Switzerland, Guatemala, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Hungary, Azerbaijan, Montenegro, New Zealand and Ethiopia.

In general, according to the head of the Office of the President, representatives of 58 countries took part in the meeting, while 43 countries were represented at the previous event in the Verkhovna Rada.

"This shows we are actively moving towards an appropriate solution to ensure peace in the world," he said.

Yermak briefed foreign diplomats on the results of the second meeting at the level of national security advisors and political directors of foreign policy departments of countries and international organizations, which took place on August 5 in the city of Jeddah (Saudi Arabia).

The head of the President's Office talked about the philosophy of the Ukrainian Peace Formula, presented in Jeddah, noting the constant growth in striving to establish a stable and long-lasting peace in Ukraine, evidenced by the triple number of participants compared to the previous consultations in Copenhagen.

"The world community understands that the biggest conflict since the Second World War, currently ongoing in Ukraine, adversely affects all countries and that Russian aggression is a threat to the entire continent," Yermak said.

The head of the Office of the President said that the participants of the meeting in Jeddah affirmed their commitment to the principles of the UN Charter, international law and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. He said the Peace Formula of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was built on such principles.

"We are working on a joint plan. Each country can take the lead in implementing either some separate or all ten points of the Formula. As far as I know, most of your countries have already determined their priorities and their role in implementing these points," Yermak said.

He also presented the authorized responsible representatives of Ukraine for each of the points of the Peace Formula, who would provide as much support to the process of their implementation.

As the head of the President's Office said, at the meeting in Jeddah, it was also agreed on the need to prepare the agenda for the Global Peace Summit, expected to be held by the end of this year.

"Today, we touched on an extremely important point of the Formula - energy security. Russia systematically uses energy as a weapon. The Kremlin began to put pressure on Europe by increasing energy prices six times since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, but Ukraine did everything to break its dependence on Russian energy, broke Russia's plans. However, the Russian Federation continues its attacks on the Ukrainian energy structure. The aggressor plans to create a humanitarian catastrophe, depriving millions of Ukrainians of access to basic resources during the winter," he said.

Yermak said that Russia, receiving imported components bypassing sanctions, is increasing the production of long-range weapons to continue destroying Ukrainian infrastructure. In particular, he recalled the recent attack by an aggressor on an oil depot in Rivne region. In this context, the head of the President's Office noted the importance of preparing the Ukrainian energy industry for the winter period and protecting it from heavy Russian attacks.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal told foreign diplomats in detail about the measures Ukraine is taking to prepare for the winter period. According to him, to ensure energy security, it is planned to create a multi-level protection of energy facilities by reinforcing them and decentralizing the energy system. European and global companies can take advantage of reliable Ukrainian underground gas storage facilities, capable of storing over 30 billion cubic meters of gas, which will make it possible to calmly pass the winter period and ensure Europe's energy security in the long term. Also, constant international monitoring of the safety of energy infrastructure facilities and the creation of an international coalition for protecting energy facilities with the help of strengthening air defense should be important factors of energy security in winter. In addition, the participation of partners in the energy restoration of Ukraine is foreseen.

"We are implementing projects that no one in the world has done before, because no energy system in the world has experienced such large-scale attacks. In the future, Ukraine will be ready to share this experience so that, if necessary, other countries understand how to act in such scenarios. By the way, it is what we consider to be a very crucial element of the Peace Formula for Ukraine - a unique exchange of experience that will protect each of us and every our country," Shmyhal said.

Minister of Energy of Ukraine Herman Halushchenko, Board Chairman of NPC Ukrenergo Volodymyr Kudrytsky, CEO of JSC Naftogaz of Ukraine Oleksiy Chernyshov informed those present about the current situation in the energy system of our country.

The head of the President's Office also told the audience in detail about implementing another important point of the Peace Formula, concerning security guarantees. He said that 13 states have already joined the Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine agreed by the G7 countries at the NATO Summit in Vilnius.

"The declaration is a framework document. The next step is to conclude a system of bilateral and multilateral security agreements. These should be clear and long-term commitments that will ensure Ukraine's ability to defend itself today and prevent Russian aggression in the future, ensure the stability of peace not only in Ukraine, but throughout the world," he said.

According to Yermak, last week, Ukraine started negotiations on concluding a bilateral document on security guarantees with the United States and today - with the United Kingdom.

The head of the President's Office invited other countries to support the Joint Declaration and security guarantees for Ukraine.

Deputy Head of the Office of the President Ihor Zhovkva said that providing security guarantees to Ukraine before NATO membership would prevent a repeat of aggression from Russia. According to him, it is an important point not only for our country, but also for others, because the countries of Europe, Asia, and Africa also feel the consequences of Russian aggression.

He said that security guarantees include not only the provision of weapons, long-range artillery, air defense systems and F-16 fighters to Ukraine, but also the exchange of intelligence information, training of the Ukrainian military, countering cyberattacks, development of Ukrainian industry, strengthening of economic resilience and recovery, and bringing to justice all Russian war criminals. All this can be stipulated in bilateral agreements within the framework of the Joint Declaration.

"Twenty countries have already agreed to the Joint Declaration, we are waiting for the participation of other states to achieve a stable and just peace," Zhovkva said.

According to him, all countries supported the Joint Declaration or will join it in the future automatically become members of the working group on security guarantees. Coordinators of the working group can be representatives of the United States and the United Kingdom, which first started negotiations on the bilateral agreement.

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Russia Vows Retaliation for Ukraine's Unsuccessful Attack on Bridge

By VOA News August 12, 2023

Russia's Foreign Ministry said Saturday it thwarted Ukraine's rocket strike on the Crimean Bridge, calling it a "terrorist attack" and vowing retaliation.

Ukrainian forces targeted the Crimean Bridge and several other unspecified targets Saturday on the Crimean Peninsula with S-200 rockets and drones, but there were no casualties or damage, according to Russia's Defense Ministry.

The 19-kilometer-long (11.8 mile) bridge that connects Russian-annexed Crimea to Russia has come under repeated attack from Ukrainian forces since Moscow launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.

Meanwhile, the British Defense Ministry said Saturday that Russian troops fighting in Ukraine are about to get a break from the fighting. In its daily intelligence update, the ministry said that early in July the commander of the 58th Combined Arms Army was fired, probably partially because he said elements of his forces "needed to be relieved."

The ministry said Russia is "likely" redeploying airborne forces' units from the Kherson region to the heavily contested Orikhiv sector in Zaporizhzhia oblast. The report said the 58th Combined Arms Army has been engaged in combat since June.

In addition, the Defense Ministry report said the arrival of the airborne forces' units will also allow the 70th and 71st Motor Rifle Regiments, which have been under heavy fire, to take a break from the front line. However, this move, according to the report, "will likely leave Russia's defenses near the east bank of the Dnipro River weaker, where they're increasingly harassed by Ukrainian amphibious raids."

Belarus provocations

Poland said Saturday that it has increased the number of troops on its border with Belarus as a deterrent amid "destabilizing" efforts by its pro-Russian neighbor.

Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak visited some of the troops recently deployed close to the Belarus border.

He said this week that up to 10,000 Polish Army and Territorial Defense troops will be stationed on the border with Belarus. Some will be in active training and patrolling, others on standby.

Two Belarus military helicopters briefly entered Poland's airspace last week, a move considered by Warsaw to be a provocation.

Polish Defense Minister Blaszczak said that such actions by Belarus "pose a threat to our security" and for that reason Poland is building up its "deterrence potential."

According to analysts, Poland has become the personification of the "collective enemy of Russia" due to its support for Ukraine and because western military equipment sent to Ukraine goes through Poland.

Belarusian independent analyst Valery Karbalevich told The Associated Press that "Moscow very much doesn't like that it is Poland that insists on new sanctions, advocates for Kyiv and actively supports Ukraine's accession to the EU and NATO."

Poland is also concerned about the presence in Belarus of Wagner Group mercenaries and about sending migrants to the border in an act of "hybrid warfare" aimed at creating instability in the West.

Russian airstrikes

An elderly woman and a police officer were killed early Saturday by Russian shelling on a settlement in Kharkiv region in eastern Ukraine and Zaporizhzhia in the south. Twelve others were injured, Ukrainian officials said.

On Friday, Russia's airstrikes also targeted civilian infrastructure in western Ukraine killing an 8-year-old child. In a statement late Friday, France condemned the attacks as "war crimes and must not go unpunished," France's foreign ministry said in a statement late on Friday.

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it would reinforce its military support to Ukraine, notably in strengthening air defense capacities, in close cooperation with its partners.

"France's support to Ukrainian and international jurisdictions to fight against the impunity of crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine remains total," the statement read.

U.S.-Ukraine

The White House says it is committed to training Ukrainian pilots on F-16s in the United States once such training programs in Europe have reached capacity.

White House spokesman John Kirby said at a press briefing Friday it is important to speed up the process of pilot training on the military aircraft as well as caring for maintenance and other logistics.

"It's going to be a while before jets can show up in Ukraine and for them to be integrated into the air fleet," he said. "And it's not just a function of the transfer of actual airframes, but a the appropriate training for pilots as well as setting up all the maintenance, logistics and sustainment efforts."

Kirby noted that English language training for Ukrainian specialists is also critical.

"All the tech manuals are in English and all the controls inside the aircraft are in English," said Kirby. "And so, a pilot is going to have to have at least some basic proficiency in the language."

The Biden administration has asked Congress to provide more than $13 billion in emergency defense funding to Ukraine and an additional $8 billion for humanitarian support through the end of the year.

The White House supplemental spending request for Ukraine may prove to be too much for Republicans, who are facing great pressure from the party's presidential front-runner, Donald Trump, who has a tepid attitude toward the war, while a recent CNN poll indicated declining support for the effort among some voters.

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a new round of sanctions Friday, targeting prominent members of Russia's financial elite, along with a Russian business association.

"Wealthy Russian elites should disabuse themselves of the notion that they can operate business as usual while the Kremlin wages war against the Ukrainian people," said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo. "Our international coalition will continue to hold accountable those enabling the unjustified and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine."

Some information in this report came from Reuters, The Associated Press, and Agence France-Presse.

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Ukrainian Civilian Deaths Mount In Kherson Shelling; Kyiv Reports Gains In South

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service August 13, 2023

At least seven civilians, including four members of one family, were killed by Russian shelling in southern Ukraine as fighting continued in both the south and east of the country, Kyiv said on August 13, amid reports of Ukrainian battlefield gains in the ongoing southern counteroffensive.

A couple, their infant daughter, and 12-year-old son were killed in an attack in the Shyroka Balka municipality in the Kherson region, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said in a post on Telegram.

He added that a total of seven civilians had been killed and 20 injured in the Kherson region during shelling that damaged residential buildings in several settlements,

"The terrorists will never willingly stop killing civilians. Terrorists must be stopped. [By] force. They do not understand anything else," he said.

Kherson Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said the pastor of a church and a fellow villager in Stanislav were among the dead as a result of the Russian strikes.

Shelling was also reported in civilian areas around the city of Nikopol, in the southern Zaporizhzhya region. No casualties were reported after "almost a dozen shells" struck Nikopol and the town of Chervonogrygorivsk, according to local officials.

The Ukrainian General Staff said its troops had achieved "partial success" around Robotyne in the Zaporizhzhya region, with some social media postings indicating Ukrainian troops had entered the small settlement that stands in the way of Kyiv's southern push toward Melitopol.

Earlier, the Ukrainian General Staff reported 39 clashes in the preceding 24 hours with fighting in the eastern part of the Kharkiv region, the western part of the Donetsk region, and in the area around Robotyne.

Vadim Rogov, a Russia-installed occupation official in the occupied part of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya region, said Ukrainian forces had pierced Russian lines and "gained a foothold" in the settlement of Urozhayne, in the southwestern part of the Donetsk region.

Rogov said Ukrainian forces were trying to take control of the nearby town of Staromlynivka.

Russian news agencies reported on August 13 that traffic had been temporarily halted on the bridge connecting Russia with occupied Crimea over the Kerch Strait.

No reason was given for the suspension of traffic, which later resumed, according to Russian officials.

The bridge has been damaged several times in recent months by suspected Ukrainian missile and drone attacks.

In July, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the bridge is being "used to supply ammunition for war, and this is done every day" and that it must be neutralized.

Meanwhile, Russia's Defense Ministry reported "thwarting" Ukrainian efforts to "carry out terrorist attacks on objects in Russia." The ministry said three Ukrainian drones had been shot down over the Belgorod region and a fourth in the Kursk region. No casualties or damages were reported.

The governor of the Belgorod region of Russia near the Ukrainian border said late on August 13 that several apartments had been damaged due to an attack by Ukrainian drones.

Kyiv rarely comments on claims of attacks inside of Russia. There was no immediate word of possible casualties.

Moscow also reported firing a warning shot near a cargo ship in the Black Sea. The Palau-flagged vessel reportedly stopped and was searched before being allowed to head to the Ukrainian Danube River port of Ismail.

RFE/RL is not able to independently verify combat reports from areas of heavy fighting.

In an update on August 13, Britain's Defense Ministry reported that Russia's Wagner mercenary group is "likely moving toward a downsizingaat a time of financial pressure."

The ministry said it is likely the Kremlin has largely stopped funding the notorious group in the wake of an attempted armed mutiny in June.

With reporting by Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-civilians-dead- russian-shelling-war/32546016.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Zelenskiy Appeals To Ukraine's Partners To Send Demining Equipment

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service August 13, 2023

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on August 12 said Ukraine needs more demining equipment and the ability to manufacture such equipment itself.

Zelenskiy commented on an aid package announced earlier this week by Azerbaijan that included a demining machine.

"Ukraine also needs equipment from partners, and it is very important to create a production base in Ukraine so that we can clear our land of Russian mines," Zelenskiy said.

Zelenskiy cited data on the prevalence of mines in Ukraine, saying Ukrainian specialists "detect hundreds of explosive objects every day." Mines and unexploded ammunition currently are spread across 174,000 square kilometers of Ukraine or about 20 percent of the country, he said.

"And the more we have demining machines, the more special drones we have for demining, the more actively we will be able to restore security," Zelenskiy said.

The Ukrainian Economy Ministry on August 7 announced that Ukrainian manufacturers had declared their readiness to produce equipment for demining.

Zelenskiy said earlier on X, formerly known as Twitter, that several European countries had joined a Group of Seven (G7) declaration in support of security guarantees.

The countries are Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and Sweden, he said.

"This, together with Peace Formula, is a signal [that] peace will come; aggression will fail," he said.

The G7 leading industrial nations last month announced an international framework that paves the way for long-term security assurances for Ukraine to boost its defenses against Russia and deter Moscow from future aggression.

The joint declaration, which the G7 said other nations could join, said the framework encompasses elements including modern advanced military equipment, training, intelligence-sharing, and cyberdefense.

In return, Ukraine would pledge improved governance measures, including through judicial and economic reforms and enhanced transparency.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-demining-mines- equipment-danger-russia/32545930.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Russian terrorists must feel only one thing: they will be destroyed - address by the President of Ukraine

President of Ukraine

13 August 2023 - 22:19

Fellow Ukrainians!

Today, Russian invaders brutally attacked Kherson region. There are dead and wounded.

At 4 am, the village of Veletenske was shelled. A house caught fire. A guy was wounded: he has severe burns, he is now in an intensive care unit.

9 am - the occupiers attacked the village of Shyroka Balka. They used artillery. Five people were killed.

Among them was a baby girl, 22 days old. Her brother, who was only 12 years old, was taken to the hospital. Unfortunately, they could not save him. He died from severe wounds. The children's mother - her name was Olesia, she was only 39 years old - died. My condolences!

Around the same time, the village of Stanislav was shelled. Two people were wounded, two were killed. The men were 71 years old and 57 years old.

In total, from the beginning of this day until 6 pm, there have already been 17 reports of shelling from Kherson region alone. Other regions include Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, Donbas, Kharkiv, the border areas with Russia in the northeast.

Everywhere our warriors retaliate against the occupiers' terror. There is not a single day when Russian evil does not get our completely fair retaliation.

Every occupier destroyed, every piece of Russian equipment burned, fire instead of their headquarters and warehouses, the very eloquent smoke on Kerch bridge and more - all this proves that we will not leave any of Russia's crimes unanswered. And each of our warriors who gives Ukraine results on the frontline - along the entire frontline from Kharkiv to Kherson - each of our warriors has the opportunity to bring justice to Ukraine.

Everyone who helps our warriors. Now there are only two personal lines of behavior: either you fight for Ukraine, or you help fight and save lives.

Today, there is much to thank the 95th separate airborne assault brigade for: their resilience and results in the battles in the Kupyansk sector. Well done, warriors! Powerful.

The 1st battalion of the 67th separate mechanized brigade, also in the Kupyansk sector, acted heroically and courageously. Thank you!

The paratroopers of our glorious "Seventy-ninth" in the Maryinka sector - thank you, warriors!

Melitopol and Berdyansk direction - I thank every warrior who gives Ukraine the necessary results!

Bakhmut direction - well done, guys!

Every time we have something to thank our warriors for, Ukraine becomes closer to justice, closer to victory. And Russian murderers on our land become closer to destruction.

This is the only way we can create the conditions for the whole of Ukraine to become free and safe again.

Russian terrorists must feel only one thing: they will be destroyed.

And one more thing. Behind every report of shelling and injuries of our people, there are stories of heroism of our Ukrainian doctors and nurses working in the frontline areas.

I am grateful to all our medical workers who, despite everything, save lives!

Today, I would like to recognize those who have shown themselves the most in helping our people in Kherson region.

Doctors: Vasyl Chystiakov, Natalia Kyniv, Artur Rakhimov, Ivan Ososkalo. This is a team from the Kherson Regional Clinical Hospital.

Nurses: Iryna Tytarenko, Olena Bondar, Larysa Shmyhol.

Medics from the ambulance teams who helped the wounded in the villages of Stanislav, Komyshany and Shyroka Balka: Natalia Pupenko, Ilona Shylo, Victoria Hanzha, Maryna Shramkova, Svitlana Stoliarova.

Kherson's ambulance: emergency medicine doctor Pavlo Dziuba and feldsher Vitalii Biriukov, both sent to Kherson region from Sumy for reinforcement.

Feldshers: Natalia Adriyanova and Vitalii Rudakov.

Kherson city hospital: surgeons Serhiy Bondaruk, Serhiy Tonkontsov and Viktor Yakovenko.

I thank you, each and every one of you, and all your colleagues, for every life saved!

The Ukrainian people are extremely brave and courageous. We know that freedom is priceless, and we know how to defend it. We know how to protect life. And we have to remember that every day must bring results in the defense of Ukraine. Not a single day should be wasted! At the front, in the areas near the front, everywhere in the rear, and, very importantly, by every diplomatic mission of Ukraine.

Weapons for our warriors, support for our state, and legal responsibility for Russian terrorists. Ukraine will definitely prevail!

But this will be our common result. Of all those who are fighting and working for Ukraine.

Glory to Ukraine!

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Russian Shelling Kills 7, Including Days-old Baby in Ukraine

By VOA News August 13, 2023

Russian shelling killed at least seven people, including a 23-day-old baby girl, and injured at least 22 others in Ukraine's southern Kherson region on Sunday.

"Her brother, who was only 12 years old, was taken to the hospital. Unfortunately, they could not save him. He died from severe wounds. The children's mother, her name was Olesia, she was only 39 years old, died. My condolences," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address.

Twenty-two other people were wounded by Russian missiles that have targeted the area since Russian troops withdrew from there a year ago.

Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko reported on Telegram that after the Russian shelling, fires broke out in homes, residential buildings and garages.

"Brave rescuers of the State Emergency Service extinguished all the fires, despite repeated shelling by the occupiers," the minister said.

Zelenskyy said from early Sunday through the evening there had been 17 reports of shelling in the Kherson region alone, and he vowed retaliation.

Ammunition depots

Ukraine's armed forces reported Sunday they destroyed two ammunition depots in Oleshky, an occupied town in Kherson Oblast.

Oleshky is located across the Dnipro River from the city of Kherson. Russian troops continue to occupy the eastern bank of the river in Kherson Oblast, regularly shelling Ukrainian cities and villages on the western bank.

The Russian defense ministry said Sunday that a Russian warship fired warning shots on a Palau-flagged cargo vessel headed to the Ukrainian port of Izmail.

The ministry said the shots were fired because the captain of the Sukru Okan had ignored demands from the warship to stop. After firing the shots, Russian military troops descended from a helicopter onto the cargo ship.

After Russian forces inspected the Sukru Okan, the vessel was allowed to proceed to Izmail, the defense ministry said. Izmail is the main export route for Ukrainian agricultural products.

Russia withdrew from a Black Sea grain agreement in July.

Russia's Defense Ministry said in a post on its Telegram channel that it shot down a Ukrainian drone Sunday evening over Russia's southwestern Belgorod region. This was the second drone attack Russia said it foiled Sunday. No fatalities or damages were reported.

Road traffic on the bridge linking Russia to the Crimean Peninsula has resumed after a brief interruption Sunday, an official Telegram channel said.

It did not say what caused the road closure.

On Saturday, Russia's foreign ministry said it thwarted Ukraine's rocket strike on the Crimean bridge, calling it a "terrorist attack" and vowing retaliation.

Ukrainian forces targeted the Crimean bridge, and several other unspecified targets Saturday on the Crimean Peninsula with S-200 rockets and drones, but there were no casualties or damage, according to Russia's defense ministry.

The 19-kilometer-long (11.2-mile) bridge that connects Crimea, which Moscow forcibly annexed, to Russia has come under repeated attack from Ukrainian forces since Moscow launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.

Ukraine counteroffensive

Ukrainian forces are trying to penetrate Russian troops entrenched in the western parts of the Donetsk region.

Vladimir Rogov, a Russian-installed official in parts of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia area, reported intense fighting south of Velyka Novosilka as Ukrainian troops try to pierce through Russian lines to push toward Mariupol and inch closer to the coast on the Sea of Azov.

"The enemy managed to enter and gain a foothold in the northern part of Urozhaine after two weeks of the heaviest and bloodiest battles for this settlement," Rogov said, referring to the same part of the front line.

Ukraine has succeeded in recapturing several villages in the south and around the destroyed city of Bakhmut in the east, but they have not made additional gains against well-dug-in Russian troops.

Some information in this report came from Reuters, The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse

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Russia Fires Warning Shot on Cargo Vessel

By VOA News August 13, 2023

The Russian defense ministry said Sunday that a Russian warship fired warning shots on a Palau-flagged cargo vessel headed to the Ukrainian port of Izmail.

The ministry said the shots were fired because the captain of the Sukru Okan had ignored demands from the warship to stop. After firing the shots, Russian military descended from a helicopter onto the cargo ship.

After Russian forces inspected the Sukru Okan, the vessel was allowed to proceed to Izmail, the defense ministry said. Izmail is main export route for Ukrainian agricultural products.

Russia withdrew from a Black Sea grain agreement in July.

Meanwhile in the Kherson region Sunday, Russian shelling killed at least five people, including a days-old baby, Ukrainian Interior Minister Igor Klymenko announced on messaging app Telegram.

"A husband, wife and their 23-day-old daughter were killed by enemy artillery fire," Klymenko posted. He said the couple's 12-year-old son had been hospitalized in critical condition.

Meanwhile, two men were killed in the village of Stanislav and another was injured, Klymenko said.

Russian troops withdrew from Kherson last year, but they continue to target the area.

Russia shot down a Ukrainian drone Sunday over Russia's southwestern Belgorod region, according to Tass, the Russian state news agency. No fatalities or damages were reported.

Also Sunday, the British defense ministry said there was "a realistic possibility" that Russia was no longer funding the Wagner Group, owned by Yevgeny Prigozhin, who openly called for a rebellion in June against Russia's leadership.

The ministry said the Wagner Group may be looking to Belarus for funding, but Wagner's "sizable force would be a significant and potentially unwelcome drain on modest Belarusian resources."

On Saturday, Russia's foreign ministry said it thwarted Ukraine's rocket strike on the Crimean Bridge, calling it a "terrorist attack" and vowing retaliation.

Ukrainian forces targeted the Crimean Bridge and several other unspecified targets Saturday on the Crimean Peninsula with S-200 rockets and drones, but there were no casualties or damage, according to Russia's defense ministry.

The 19-kilometer-long bridge that connects Russian-annexed Crimea to Russia has come under repeated attack from Ukrainian forces since Moscow launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

Meanwhile, the British defense ministry said Saturday that Russian troops fighting in Ukraine are about to get a break from the fighting. In its daily intelligence update, the ministry said that early in July the commander of the 58th Combined Arms Army was fired, probably partially because he said elements of his forces "needed to be relieved."

The ministry said Russia is "likely" redeploying airborne forces' units from the Kherson region to the heavily contested Orikhiv sector in Zaporizhzhia oblast. The report said the 58th Combined Arms Army has been engaged in combat since June.

In addition, the defense ministry report said the arrival of the airborne forces' units will also allow the 70th and 71st Motor Rifle Regiments, which have been under heavy fire, to take a break from the front line. However, this move, according to the report, "will likely leave Russia's defenses near the east bank of the Dnipro River weaker, where they're increasingly harassed by Ukrainian amphibious raids."

Belarus provocations

Poland said Saturday that it has increased the number of troops on its border with Belarus as a deterrent amid "destabilizing" efforts by its pro-Russian neighbor.

Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak visited some of the troops recently deployed close to the Belarusian border.

He said this week that up to 10,000 Polish Army and Territorial Defense troops will be stationed on the border with Belarus. Some will be in active training and patrolling, others on standby.

Two Belarusian military helicopters briefly entered Poland's airspace last week, a move considered by Warsaw to be a provocation.

Polish Defense Minister Blaszczak said that such actions by Belarus "pose a threat to our security" and for that reason Poland is building up its "deterrence potential."

According to analysts, Poland has become the personification of the "collective enemy of Russia" due to its support for Ukraine and because Western military equipment sent to Ukraine goes through Poland.

Belarusian independent analyst Valery Karbalevich told The Associated Press that "Moscow very much doesn't like that it is Poland that insists on new sanctions, advocates for Kyiv and actively supports Ukraine's accession to the EU and NATO."

Poland is also concerned about the presence in Belarus of Wagner mercenaries and about sending migrants to the border in an act of "hybrid warfare" aimed at creating instability in the West.

Russian airstrikes

An elderly woman and a police officer were killed early Saturday by Russian shelling on a settlement in Kharkiv region in eastern Ukraine and Zaporizhzhia in the south. Twelve others were injured, Ukrainian officials said.

On Friday, Russia's airstrikes also targeted civilian infrastructure in western Ukraine, killing an eight-year-old child. In a statement late Friday, France condemned the attacks as "war crimes and must not go unpunished," France's foreign ministry said in a statement late on Friday.

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it would reinforce its military support to Ukraine, notably in strengthening air defense capacities, in close cooperation with its partners.

"France's support to Ukrainian and international jurisdictions to fight against the impunity of crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine remains total," the statement read.

US-Ukraine

The White House says it is committed to training Ukrainian pilots on F-16s in the United States once such training programs in Europe have reached capacity.

White House spokesman John Kirby said at a press briefing Friday it is important to speed up the process of pilot training on the military aircraft as well as caring for maintenance and other logistics.

"It's going to be a while before jets can show up in Ukraine and for them to be integrated into the air fleet," he said. "And it's not just a function of the transfer of actual airframes, but, as you mentioned, the appropriate training for pilots as well as setting up all the maintenance, logistics and sustainment efforts."

Kirby noted that that English language training for Ukrainian specialists is also critical.

"All the tech manuals are in English and all the controls inside the aircraft are in English," said Kirby. "And so, a pilot is going to have to have at least some basic proficiency in the language.

The Biden administration has asked Congress to provide more than $13 billion in emergency defense funding to Ukraine and an additional $8 billion for humanitarian support through the end of the year.

The White House supplemental spending request for Ukraine may prove to be too much for Republicans, who are facing great pressure from the party's presidential frontrunner, Donald Trump, who has a tepid attitude toward the war, while a recent CNN poll indicated declining support for the effort among some voters.

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a new round of sanctions Friday, targeting prominent members of Russia's financial elite, along with a Russian business association.

"Wealthy Russian elites should disabuse themselves of the notion that they can operate business as usual while the Kremlin wages war against the Ukrainian people," said the deputy secretary of the treasury, Wally Adeyemo. "Our international coalition will continue to hold accountable those enabling the unjustified and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine."

Some information in this report came from Reuters, The Associated Press, and Agence France-Presse.

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Sydney, Aug. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sydney, New South Wales -

Oxford Bathrooms, a bathroom specialist company in Thornleigh, NSW, Australia, is offering free consultation for bathroom renovations in Sydney and neighbouring areas. They have a fully certified and licensed team of highly experienced tradespeople who can make sure a top quality finish is provided for the bathrooms they provide. They can offer a 10-year warranty on their workmanship.

A spokesperson for Oxford Bathrooms says, When you contact us for bathroom renovation packages, our experts will visit your home to assess your bathrooms plumbing, drainage, electrical, heating, and ventilation requirements. After the inspection, they will suggest different ways to improve the functionality of your bathroom. Based on the suggestions, we will provide you a free quote. To make sure that the bathroom renovation will add value to your home, the quote we provide includes high-quality fixtures and fittings.

Homeowners who are planning a bathroom renovation may have to obtain development consent if changes are to be made on the drainage, plumbing, or electrics. All of the planned structural changes will need approval, while a direct replacement of old and worn out fixture will no need approval.

Homeowners and property owners can go to the website of Oxford Bathrooms and fill out an online form to request for a quote. Once a client has booked a free bathroom consultation, one of their experienced bathroom designers will visit the home. Using their many years of experience, they will quickly evaluate the drainage, electrical, plumbing, heating and ventilation needs of the clients bathroom. After the visit, they will invite the client to the showroom to discuss the bathroom design and the quote they provide.

The spokesperson says, Your quote will include high quality fixtures and fittings to ensure your new bathroom investment will look beautiful and add value to your home. Call us today to get a quote that is free of charge and bring you one step closer towards your bathroom renovation.

Those who want to choose the specific decor and fixtures for their bathroom renovation project are invited to check out their Bathroom Showrooms at Brookvale and Thornleigh. Their experienced and friendly team of design consultants will guide the client through the bathroom design process. Each showroom has a special tile table that demonstrates how the floor tiles will coordinate with the wall tiles and cabinetry. They also have complete bathroom displays to help the client visualize how their new bathroom will look.

After all of the bathroom fittings and fixtures have been chosen, its time to start constructing the new bathroom. Each client will have their own Bathroom Construction Manager to manage every aspect of the renovation project. The manager will be supervising every tradesperson in the bathroom renovation team. Every member of the team is licensed and experienced and confident of completing a first-class job. After completing work each day, they will also make sure that every dirt and debris in the construction area are cleaned.

Meanwhile, the highly positive reviews Oxford Bathrooms has been receiving attest to the high quality of the workmanship they provide. In a recent review, Brian M. gave them a five star rating and said, We are thrilled with the workmanship and professionalism of the Oxford Bathroom Team, and we couldn't be more pleased with the outcome. The design service was invaluable, and understood our requirements from the start. The job was completed on time and up to our expectations. The end result was perfect, and it is a pleasure to use our bathroom. I would recommend Oxford Bathroom to anyone doing a new bathroom or renovation without any hesitation.

Launched in 1999, Oxford Bathrooms was established by two brothers who are licensed builders and plumbers. Currently, they are still involved with all aspects of the business, including managing the skilled and experienced tradespeople in their team. The company offers the services of a team of bathroom specialists that build attractive and functional bathrooms while providing the best possible customer service. Clients can choose from their ever-growing range of quality, contemporary, and innovative bathroom designs that have allowed them to gain recognition as one of the best in the industry and winning them several industry awards.

Those who are looking for bathroom renovations Sydney residents can rely on can visit the Oxford Bathrooms website or contact them on the phone or through email. They are open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, from Monday to Saturday. They are open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, from Monday to Saturday.

###

For more information about Oxford Bathrooms, contact the company here:



Oxford Bathrooms

Sales

02 9484 7500

sales@oxfordbathrooms.com.au

295  299 Pennant Hills Rd, Thornleigh NSW 2120
Nigeria's Ambassador to Niger, Mohamed Usman, stated this in a statement signed by a staff of the embassy.

Nigerien protesters tried to attack the Nigerian embassy in Niamey but were repelled by the Nigerien military, an official has said.

The attempted attack happened on Sunday, 30 July, four days after presidential guards toppled the democratically elected government of President Mohamed Bazoum who has since remained in detention with his family.

Nigeria's Ambassador to Niger, Mohamed Usman, stated this in a Friday statement signed by a staff of the embassy Liti Auwalu, following a video shared on social media of a building being set ablaze which many claimed is the Nigerian embassy.

"At the moment, the Embassy is well guarded by the Nigerien Military and other Security Authorities," the statement said, reiterating that the videos are fake and should be disregarded.

Nigeria has continued to operate its embassy in Niger despite the coup there and the strong response of ECOWAS.

Presidential guards led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani on Wednesday, 26 July, arrested Mr Bazoum, dissolved the government and assumed leadership of the country.

In response, ECOWAS imposed sanctions on Niger in a bid to have them reinstate Mr Bazoum. It also gave a seven days ultimatum to the putschists which they ignored.

The bloc held another meeting last Thursday where it ordered the activation and deployment of its standby force to restore constitutional order in Niger.
Selbyville, Delaware, Aug. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --



Tourniquet Systems Market size will cross USD 940 million by 2032. A favorable regulatory framework and extending government support toward the medical device sector will pave the way for industry expansion. Many governments across developing and developed economies are making significant investments in the medical device industry to strengthen their healthcare infrastructure.

Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/5780

High availability of advanced tourniquet instruments to favor product uptake

The tourniquet systems market share form tourniquet Instruments will grow at a notable CAGR from 2023 to 2032, driven by rapid advancements in tourniquet technology. Modern tourniquets are often designed for ease of use, portability, and effectiveness in controlling bleeding. They may incorporate features such as quick-release mechanisms, self-locking mechanisms, or intuitive application methods, making them more user-friendly and accessible.

Rapid uptick in upper-limb surgeries to support product adoption

The tourniquet systems market value from the upper limb segment will register substantial gains through 2032. A noticeable surge in upper-limb surgeries will increase the demand for tourniquet systems. In an upper limp surgery, these systems provide a clean yet bloodless surgical field, to improve the visualization of anatomical structures and prevent iatrogenic failure. They occlude the blood flow to the limbs and reduce the perioperative blood loss.

ASCs to emerge as a prominent end-user

The tourniquet systems market size from the ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) segment will witness appreciable progression through 2032. ASCs are generally more cost-effective than hospital-based settings for outpatient surgeries. They have lower facility fees and overhead costs, which can result in reduced expenses for both patients and insurers. The streamlined operations of ASCs allow for efficient use of resources, potentially leading to more affordable healthcare services.

Asia Pacific to dominate the regional landscape

Asia Pacific tourniquet systems market share will exhibit a decent growth rate from 2023 to 2032. Increasing number of surgical procedures, especially in the orthopedic and vascular segments, has fueled the demand for tourniquet systems in the region. Moreover, the regional development can also be ascribed to expanding healthcare infrastructure. According to IBEF, the Indian medical device sector will reach over USD 50 billion by 2025. The regional government is investing heavily in medical device infrastructure.

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Tourniquet Systems Market Players

Hammarplast Medical AB, Rudolf Riester GmbH, Stryker Corporation, Ulrich Medical, OHK Medical Devices, Sam Medical, and Teleflex Incorporated, among others

Tourniquet Systems Industry News:

In January 2021, Stryker Corporation, an American multinational medical technology corporation, completed the acquisition of OrthoSensor, Inc., a prominent name in the musculoskeletal care and sensor technology space for total joint replacement.

Partial Table of Contents (ToC) of the report:

Chapter 3 Tourniquet Systems Industry Insights

3.1 Industry ecosystem analysis

3.2 Industry impact forces

3.2.1 Growth drivers

3.2.1.1 Increasing number of trauma and accident cases

3.2.1.2 Rising number of joint replacement surgeries

3.2.1.3 Increasing prevelance of degenrative bone disorders and musculoskeletal diseases among adult population

3.2.1.4 Technological advancements in tourniquet systems

3.2.2 Industry pitfalls & challenges

3.2.2.1 Dearth of skilled professionals

3.2.2.2 Transmission of infectious diseases associated with increasing use of reusable cuffs

3.3 Growth potential analysis

3.3.1 By component

3.3.2 By application

3.3.3 By end-use

3.4 COVID- 19 impact analysis

3.5 Regulatory landscape

3.5.1 U.S.

3.5.2 Europe

3.6 Reimbursement scenario

3.7 Key market trends

3.8 Technology landscape

3.9 Future market trends

3.10 Value chain analysis

3.11 Gap Analysis

3.12 Porter's analysis

3.13 PESTEL analysis

Chapter 4 Competitive Landscape, 2022

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Company matrix analysis, 2022

4.3 Global company market share analysis, 2022

4.4 Vendor matrix analysis

4.5 Competitive positioning matrix

4.6 Strategy dashboard, 2022

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About Global Market Insights

Global Market Insights Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider, offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy, and biotechnology.
Westford, USA, Aug. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to SkyQuest, consumers are actively seeking healthier and more sustainable alternatives to animal-derived products such as butter and lard with a surge in health concerns and a growing awareness of sustainability. This shift in consumer preferences has resulted in a substantial increase in the demand for North America vegetable oils market .

Browse in-depth TOC on "North America Vegetable Oils Market

Pages - 223

Tables - 133

Figures  77

The commercial availability of vegetable isolating oils presents an exciting opportunity to replace mineral-based oils in transformer applications. Vegetable oil offers several advantages that make it an ideal substitute for mineral oil in the North America vegetable oils market. Vegetable oil is cost-effective, making it an economically viable option for transformer manufacturers and operators.

Get a sample copy of this report:

https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/north-america-vegetable-oils-market

Prominent Players in North America Vegetable Oils Market

Archer Daniels Midland Company

Cargill, Incorporated

Bunge Limited

Louis Dreyfus Company B.V.

CHS Inc.

Richardson International Limited

Ag Processing Inc

Ventura Foods, LLC

The J.M. Smucker Company

The Hershey Company

The Kraft Heinz Company

Conagra Brands, Inc.

The Clorox Company

Unilever PLC

The Procter & Gamble Company

The Coca-Cola Company

PepsiCo, Inc.

General Mills, Inc.

Kellogg Company

Nestle S.A.

Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC):

https://www.skyquestt.com/report/north-america-vegetable-oils-market

Vegetable Phase Segment is Expected to Dominate the Market Due to Rising Widespread Utilization of Vegetable Oils

Vegetable phase sector is expected to maintain its dominance in the North America vegetable oils market. This is largely driven by the widespread utilization of vegetable oils derived from sunflower, rapeseed, soybean, palm, cottonseed, and coconut in various food applications. In addition, the market for vegetable-sourced oils has witnessed significant growth owing to their desirable qualities, including low fat, low cholesterol, and low-calorie content.

The markets in the United States currently dominate the North America vegetable oils market, holding the highest market share. It is projected to reach 17.5 million metric tons in 2021, accounting for 8.28% of the market. This robust growth can be attributed to several factors, including the increasing adoption of biofuels and the export of processed food products.

Liquid Oils Segment is Expected to Grow the Market Due to Influencing their Physical Characteristics

Liquid oils are expected to exhibit the highest growth rate in the North America vegetable oils market. The liquid form of fats and oils is projected to dominate the market, primarily owing to several factors influencing their physical characteristics. These factors include the degree of unsaturation, the carbon chain length, and the isomeric forms of fatty acids, molecular configuration, and processing variables.

Regional markets in Mexico are anticipated to experience moderate growth in the North America vegetable oils market. Mexico's increasing population and oil imports from neighboring countries such as Canada and the United States present lucrative opportunities for market expansion. In addition, the effective involvement of local players in adopting and innovating the packaging, branding, and labelling of vegetable oil products will further contribute to market growth.

A comprehensive analysis of the major players in the North America vegetable oils market has been recently conducted in a report. The report encompasses various aspects, including collaborations, mergers, innovative business policies, and strategies, providing valuable insights into key trends and breakthroughs in the market. Furthermore, the report scrutinizes the market share of the top segments and presents a detailed geographic analysis. Lastly, the report highlights the major players in the industry and their endeavours to develop innovative solutions to cater to the growing demand.

Speak to Analyst for your custom requirements:

https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/north-america-vegetable-oils-market

Key Developments in North America Vegetable Oils Market

Cargill laid out plans to construct a new USD two hundred million palm oil refinery in Indonesia to boost its efforts to broaden a sustainable palm delivery chain and offer established deforestation-unfastened products to customers in 2022.

Recently, ADM planned to build its first-ever devoted soybean crushing and refinery in the US to satisfy the short-growing call for food, feed, and industrial and biofuel customers, consisting of manufacturers of renewable diesel.

Key Questions Answered in North America Vegetable Oils Market Report

What specific growth drivers are projected to impact the market during the forecast period?

List the top companies in the market and explain how they have achieved their positions of influence.

In what ways do regional trends and patterns differ within the market, and how these differences shape the market's future growth?

Related Reports in SkyQuests Library:

Global Natural Food Preservatives Market

Global Microalgae Market

Global Grape Seed Oil Market

Global Astaxanthin Market

Global Wood Preservatives Market

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Investor News

14 August 2023



NKT awarded the contract for export power cables for the Baltic Power Offshore Wind Park

NKT has signed the order for the power cable system for the Polish offshore wind project Baltic Power. The project is important for the transition to renewable energy in Poland and the national ambitions of up to 11 GW offshore wind installed by 2040.



As announced on 6 June 2023, NKT was finalizing the contract with Baltic Power Sp. z.o.o. Now, NKT has signed the order for offshore export power cables for the Baltic Power Offshore Wind Park which will be the first offshore wind farm in Poland located 23 km off the coast. With 76 wind turbines, it provides a capacity of up to 1.2 GW and will thereby be an important contributor to the Polish ambitions to install up to 11 GW of offshore wind in the Baltic Sea by 2040.



- We are proud to support the development of offshore wind in the Baltic Sea with the order for Baltic Power. The project is an important step in the Polish transition to renewable energy, and we are pleased to leverage our experience to support the development of the offshore wind sector in Poland, says Lukas Sidler, Executive Vice President and Head of HV Solutions in Cologne, where NKT will manufacture the offshore power cables.



NKT will execute the power cable project for Baltic Power in a consortium with two partners.



The order award does not change the 2023 financial outlook for NKT.

Facts:



Contract value : More than EUR 120m ( more than EUR 110m in std. metal prices)

: More than EUR 120m ( more than EUR 110m in std. metal prices) Customer: Baltic Power Sp. z.o.o., a joint venture between PKN ORLEN (Poland) and Northland Power (Canada)

Baltic Power Sp. z.o.o., a joint venture between PKN ORLEN (Poland) and Northland Power (Canada) NKT scope: Design and production of offshore export power cables including accessories

Design and production of offshore export power cables including accessories Cable specifications : 230 kV high-voltage AC XLPE power cable system in four circuits of approx. 32 km comprising a total length of approx. 130 km.

: 230 kV high-voltage AC XLPE power cable system in four circuits of approx. 32 km comprising a total length of approx. 130 km. Schedule: Commissioning of the full project is expected by 2026





Contact

Investor Relations: Michael Nass Nielsen, Head of Investor Relations, Tel.: +45 2494 1654

Press: Pelle Fischer, External Communication Lead, Tel.: +45 2223 5870

Attachment
Monday 14 August 2023

The Francis Crick Institute and LifeArc partner with five African research institutions to support scientists

The Francis Crick institute and self-funded charitable medical research organisation, LifeArc, are partnering to invest 7.5m to support African scientists to address unmet medical needs in their communities

The Crick Africa Network launched in 2017 to help tackle infectious disease. The partnership between the Crick and five African institutions, aims to support African scientists to build their research careers

Career Accelerator Fellowships will enable African researchers to address unmet medical needs and bridge the gap between basic discovery science and the development of new diagnostics, vaccines and treatments





The Crick Africa Network (CAN) is set to extend for a further five years, supporting more young African scientists to build their careers in research, thanks to a 7.5 million investment from the self-funded charitable medical research organisation, LifeArc.

CAN, supported by LifeArc, will offer Career Accelerator Fellowships for post-doctoral biomedical researchers to develop their research into translational scientific programmes and to become independent scientists, building their careers on the African continent.

Jean Langhorne, Director of the Crick African Network, said: Low- and middle-income countries face the biggest threats from infectious disease, climate change and related health impacts. However, their scientists, who are best placed to pose and answer the right research questions, often lack the resources and connections. We are committed to redressing this imbalance and creating equitable partnerships with scientists in Africa.

Weve already seen incredible success from our previous fellows who are establishing themselves as science leaders, growing scientific and training capacity in Africa, and contributing to global biomedical research. Were delighted to develop CAN further and partner with LifeArc who will bring their expertise and financial support to the network.

CAN Fellows will receive four years of funding hosted at one of five African partner institutions: WACCBIP, University of Ghana; Stellenbosch University, South Africa; University of Cape Town, South Africa; MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM; MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit.

They will also have the opportunity to utilise the world-class research and laboratory facilities and platforms at the Crick as well as at LifeArcs state-of-the-art facilities in Stevenage and Edinburgh. They will be offered mentorship and support in grant writing, publications, research ethics, as well as translational science and commercialisation delivered by LifeArcs Academic Engagement team.

In another addition to the programme, CAN will now support Technology Development Fellows  one-year training posts for African-based scientists in the management and development of science and technology platforms which provide critical technical research support.

LifeArc are focused on translational science  bridging the gap between academic research and clinical development. They provide funding, research and expert advice, all with a commitment to having a positive impact on patient lives. Having LifeArc as part of CAN will bring a unique translational focus to the programme, ensuring that research addresses unmet medical need and bridges the gap between basic discovery science and the development of new diagnostics, vaccines and treatments.

Dr Mike Strange, Head of Global Health at LifeArc says: LifeArc is committed to investing over 100 million in global health, with a focus on infectious diseases, over the coming years. We are delighted that one of our first announcements as part of this, is our support of the Crick Africa Network. Our aim is to focus our efforts where the need of patients is greatest and where we can make a unique contribution. Pursuing collaborative partnerships, like this, that drive innovation and help create a more equitable and sustainable global health research ecosystem is core to what we are trying to achieve. We look forward to working with the fellows as they build their careers.

CAN Successes

Since it was first established in 2017, 18 CAN Fellows have progressed through the unique programme, building their own careers and furthering their research in infectious diseases.

Achievements from the first cohort include:

82 academic publications published

Over 11.6 million secured in grant funding

97 students supervised, building training capacity for the next generation of African scientists





Peter Quashie, a Former CAN Fellow, is now the deputy director of research at WACCBIP, University of Ghana. He said: "The leadership training that I benefited from early on in my CAN Fellowship was instrumental in helping me plan my career, supervise students and staff, and apply for grants.

By allowing flexibility to pursue COVID-19 research when other research had stalled, CAN allowed me to shine and become known as a scientist repute, beyond HIV. As a result, I drove a lot of centre-level COVID-19 projects and helped obtain over $3 million in funding to WACCBIP."

-ENDS-

For further information from LifeArc, contact:

Consilium Strategic Communications

Tracy Cheung, David Daley, Lindsey Neville

LifeArc@consilium-comms.com

Tel: +44 (0) 20 3709 5700

For further information from The Francis Crick Institute, contact: press@crick.ac.uk or +44 (0)20 3796 5252

Notes to Editors

The Francis Crick Institute is a biomedical discovery institute dedicated to understanding the fundamental biology underlying health and disease. Its work is helping to understand why disease develops and to translate discoveries into new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, infections, and neurodegenerative diseases.

An independent organisation, its founding partners are the Medical Research Council (MRC), Cancer Research UK, Wellcome, UCL (University College London), Imperial College London and Kings College London.

The Crick was formed in 2015, and in 2016 it moved into a brand-new state-of-the-art building in central London which brings together 1500 scientists and support staff working collaboratively across disciplines, making it the biggest biomedical research facility under a single roof in Europe.

http://crick.ac.uk/

About LifeArc

LifeArc is a self-funded, not-for-profit medical research organisation. We take science ideas out of the lab and help turn them into medical breakthroughs that can be life-changing for patients. We have been doing this for more than 25 years and our work has contributed towards five licensed medicines, including cancer drug pembrolizumab (Keytruda), lecanemab for Alzheimers (Leqembi), and a diagnostic for antibiotic resistance.

Our teams are experts in drug and diagnostics discovery, technology transfer, and intellectual property. Our work is in translational science  bridging the gap between academic research and clinical development, providing funding, research and expert knowledge, all with a clear and unwavering commitment to having a positive impact on patient lives. LifeArc is committed to investing 1.3 billion by 2030 in areas of high unmet medical need. LifeArc is a company limited by guarantee (registered in England and Wales under no. 2698321) and a charity (registered in England and Wales under no. 1015243 and in Scotland under no. SC037861).

Find out more about our work on www.lifearc.org or follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter.
TORONTO, Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bunker Hill Mining Corp. (Bunker Hill or the Company) (CSE: BNKR, OTCQB: BHLL) announces that David Wiens, the Companys Chief Financial Officer, will be stepping down from his role to pursue another career opportunity. Concurrently, the Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Gerbrand Van Heerden as Bunker Hills new Chief Financial Officer, effective 14 October 2023. Mr. Wiens will continue to support the Company as CFO over the short term in order to ensure a smooth transition.



An experienced Mining Company CFO, Gerbrand Van Heerden is a CPA registered with the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia and a CA(SA) registered in South Africa and holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honors) Degree in Accounting from the University of Johannesburg. With over 20 years of mining industry experience, he has served as CFO of BMC Minerals (Pvt), Trevali Mining, and of Glencores Rosh Pinah Zinc Operations in Namibia. In addition to these key executive roles, he has also been Vice President Business Initiatives and Development at Trevali and served as financial controller and General Manager Commercial Services at Metorex, the South African base-metals producer and developer. A Canadian citizen and resident in British Columbia, he started his professional career as a Tax and Assurance Manager with Deloitte.

Sam Ash, CEO, stated: I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Gerbrand as our new CFO, who is well known to our Board and the North American Capital Markets. He brings considerable CFO and capital allocation experience to the Bunker Hill Team at a critical time for both the restart project and for the Company as we develop and execute on our evolving growth strategy.

I would also like to thank David for his significant contributions as CFO during a foundational period for the Company. His many achievements include the delivery of project financing for the mine restart, enabling the up-listing to the TSX-V, and the helping to build the early version of our companys financial systems and processes from scratch. We wish him well in his future endeavors.

ABOUT BUNKER HILL MINING CORP.

Under new Idaho-based leadership, Bunker Hill intends to sustainably restart and develop the Bunker Hill Mine as the first step in consolidating and then optimizing a number of mining assets into a high-value portfolio of operations delivering critical metals into the market and centered initially in North America. Information about the Company is available on its website, www.bunkerhillmining.com, or within the SEDAR+ and EDGAR databases.

Cautionary Statements

Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are within the meaning of that term in Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as well as within the meaning of the phrase forward-looking information in the Canadian Securities Administrators National Instrument 51-102  Continuous Disclosure Obligations (collectively, forward-looking statements). Forward-looking statements are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Companys 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, plan or variations of such words and phrases. Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company, the Company provides no assurances that actual results will meet managements expectations. Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Companys objectives, goals or future plans, including: the restart and development of the Bunker Hill Mine and the achievement of future short-term, medium-term and long-term operational strategies; the Company satisfying the conditions for and receiving final listing approval from the TSX-V and the anticipated effects thereof, including potentially enabling further institutional investment in the Company; the anticipated timing for the trading of the Common Shares on the TSX-V; and plans to consider a U.S. exchange listing consistent with anticipated U.S. institutional investor interest.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those risks and uncertainties identified in public filings made by Bunker Hill with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) and with applicable Canadian Securities regulatory authorities, and the following: the Company not receiving final TSX-V listing approval; a determination by the Company whether to pursue a listing of the Common Shares on a U.S. national securities exchange; the Companys inability to raise additional capital for project activities, including through equity financings, concentrate offtake financings or otherwise; the ability to predict and counteract the effects of COVID-19 on the business of the Company, including but not limited to the effects of COVID-19 on the price of commodities; capital market conditions; restrictions on labor and its effects on international travel and supply chains; failure to identify mineral resources; failure to convert estimated mineral resources to reserves; the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results; the Companys ability to restart and develop the Bunker Hill Mine and the risks of not basing a production decision on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability, resulting in increased uncertainty due to multiple technical and economic risks of failure which are associated with this production decision including, among others, areas that are analyzed in more detail in a feasibility study, such as applying economic analysis to resources and reserves, more detailed metallurgy and a number of specialized studies in areas such as mining and recovery methods, market analysis, and environmental and community impacts and, as a result, there may be an increased uncertainty of achieving any particular level of recovery of minerals or the cost of such recovery, including increased risks associated with developing a commercially mineable deposit, with no guarantee that production will begin as anticipated or at all or that anticipated production costs will be achieved; failure to commence production would have a material adverse impact on the Company's ability to generate revenue and cash flow to fund operations; failure to achieve the anticipated production costs would have a material adverse impact on the Company's cash flow and future profitability; delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals; political risks; changes in equity markets; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future; the inability of the Company to budget and manage its liquidity in light of the failure to obtain additional financing, including the ability of the Company to complete the payments pursuant to the terms of the agreement to acquire the Bunker Hill Mine complex; inflation; changes in exchange rates; fluctuations in commodity prices; delays in the development of projects; and capital, operating and reclamation costs varying significantly from estimates and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such statements or information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all, including as to whether or when the Company will achieve its project finance initiatives, or as to the actual size or terms of those financing initiatives. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

Readers are cautioned that the foregoing risks and uncertainties are not exhaustive. Additional information on these and other risk factors that could affect the Companys operations or financial results are included in the Companys annual information form or annual report and may be accessed through the SEDAR+ website (www.sedarplus.ca) or through EDGAR on the SEC website (www.sec.gov), respectively.
Dublin, Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Swimsuit Market (2023-2028) by Type, Fabric Type, Distribution Channel, End User, and Geography, Competitive Analysis, Impact of Economic Slowdown & Impending Recession with Ansoff Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Global Swimsuit Market is estimated to be USD 19.67 Bn in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 31.52 Bn by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 9.89%.

Competitive Quadrant



The report includes a Competitive Quadrant, a proprietary tool to analyze and evaluate the position of companies based on their Industry Position score and Market Performance score. The tool uses various factors for categorizing the players into four categories. Some of these factors considered for analysis are financial performance over the last 3 years, growth strategies, innovation score, new product launches, investments, growth in market share, etc.



Ansoff Analysis



The report presents a detailed Ansoff matrix analysis for the Global Swimsuit Market. Ansoff Matrix, also known as Product/Market Expansion Grid, is a strategic tool used to design strategies for growth of the company. The matrix can be used to evaluate approaches in four strategies viz. Market Development, Market Penetration, Product Development and Diversification. The matrix is also used for risk analysis to understand the risk involved with each approach.



The analyst analyses the Global Swimsuit Market using the Ansoff Matrix to provide the best approaches a company can take to improve its market position.



Based on the SWOT analysis conducted on the industry and industry players, the analyst has devised suitable strategies for market growth.



Why buy this report?

The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the Global Swimsuit Market. The report includes in-depth qualitative analysis, verifiable data from authentic sources, and projections about market size. The projections are calculated using proven research methodologies.

The report has been compiled through extensive primary and secondary research. The primary research is done through interviews, surveys, and observation of renowned personnel in the industry.

The report includes an in-depth Market analysis using Porter's 5 forces model, PESTLE Analysis, and the Ansoff Matrix. In addition, the impact of COVID-19 and the impact of economic slowdown & impending recession on the Market are also featured in the report.

The report also includes the regulatory scenario in the industry, which will help you make a well-informed decision. The report discusses major regulatory bodies and major rules and regulations imposed on this sector across various geographies.

The report also contains a competitive analysis using Positioning Quadrants, the analyst's competitive positioning tool.

Report Highlights:

A complete analysis of the market, including the parent industry

Important market dynamics and trends

Market segmentation

Historical, current, and projected size of the market based on value and volume

Market shares and strategies of key players

Recommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the market

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 213 Forecast Period 2023 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $19.67 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $31.52 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 9.8% Regions Covered Global

Market Dynamics

Drivers:

Increasing production innovation in swimwear.

Growing interest in swimming as a fitness and recreational activity.

Growing demand for luxury swimwear by women.

Restraints:

Recent shortage of raw materials.

Opportunities:

Incorporation of neoprene fiber to develop fabrics.

Introduction of multifunctional cover-up swimwear and beachwear.

Challenges:

Volatility in raw material prices.

Rising R&D investment.

Companies Mentioned

Adidas Ag

ALIX NYC

Arena Swimwear

Beachbunny Swimwear

Chanel Group

Dick's Sporting Goods

Dolfin Swimwear

Fendi S.r.l.

Gap, Inc.

Gecktoe Grip Co., Ltd

Gottex Swimwear

H&M

Jockey International, Inc

LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton

Marks and Spencer

Nike, Inc.

Pentland Group PLC

Perry Ellis International, Inc.

Puma SE

TYR Swimsuits

Zara

Market Segmentation



The Global Swimsuit Market is segmented based on Type, Fabric Type, Distribution Channel, End User, and Geography.

By Type, the market is classified into Women's Swimwear, Men's Swimwear, and Goggles and Swim Caps.

By Fabric Type, the market is classified into Nylon, Polyester, Spandex, and Others.

By Distribution Channel, the market is classified into Online Stores and Offline Stores.

By End User, the market is classified into Men, Women, Boys, and Girls.

By Geography, the market is classified into Americas, Europe, Middle East & Africa, and Asia-Pacific.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/q078kj

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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HIGHLIGHTS

Novo's partner De Grey Mining Ltd (ASX:DEG) is planning ~ 39,000 m of aircore, reverse circulation and diamond drilling, commencing in September on the Egina joint venture area 1 , focussing initially at Becher.

, focussing initially at Becher. Novo will carry out ~ 2,000 m of reverse circulation drilling at Nunyerry North to test structurally controlled high-priority gold targets and extensive gold in soil anomalies, beginning in September.

Reconnaissance exploration of emerging Pilbara targets continues, with first pass drilling planned at the Bamboo-Strattons and Balla Balla projects.

At Belltopper in Victoria, 2,000 m of diamond drilling will test high priority targets developed from 3D modelling of integrated datasets and is scheduled for late H2, 2023.

Argonaut PCF has been appointed as financial adviser to assist with a strategic review of the Nullagine Gold Project.2

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Novo Resources Corp. (Novo or the Company) (TSX: NVO, NVO.WT & NVO.WT.A) (OTCQX: NSRPF) is pleased to provide an update on exploration programs scheduled for the remainder of 2023 across its extensive tenement portfolio in the Pilbara, Western Australia and Belltopper in Victoria.



Following Novos recent application to dual list on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) and proposed IPO raising of A$4m by way of an issue of Chess Depositary Interests (CDIs) pursuant to a prospectus lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission on 2 August 2023 (with the ability to accept over-subscriptions for an additional A$3.5m), Novo is pleased to provide further details of its planned exploration programs3. Novos exploration plans remain subject to the successful completion of the proposed IPO capital raising and ASX dual listing.

At the Egina earn-in and joint venture area, ~ 39,000 m of aircore ("AC") and follow-up reverse circulation ("RC") and diamond drilling is expected to be conducted by De Grey (ASX:DEG) (De Grey). All exploration programs across this area are managed by De Grey under the terms of the earn-in arrangement.

Novo has a busy second half of exploration planned across other key targets, including approximately 6,000 m of drilling at Nunyerry North, Balla Balla, and Bamboo-Strattons in the Pilbara (Figure 1), and 2,000 m at Belltopper in Victoria.





Figure 1: Novos Pilbara tenure, showing priority prospects and joint venture interests.

EGINA GOLD CAMP

The Egina Gold Camp is a contiguous tenement package, targeted on a series of structurally complex, gold-fertile corridors, hosted by rocks of the Mallina Basin in the north and mafic / ultramafic sequences further south. These corridors trend towards De Greys Pilbara Gold Project to the north and northeast.

This tenure has been one of the main focus areas for Novos exploration programs over the last eighteen months, culminating in the Egina JV with De Grey, and delineation of the Nunyerry North orogenic gold prospect (Figure 2).

Egina JV

Novo recently completed a notable earn-in and joint venture agreement with major ASX-listed Western Australian gold developer De Grey for the Companys Becher Gold Project and the adjacent tenements within the Egina Gold Camp, with the resultant joint venture to be known as the Egina JV1. De Grey has been granted the right to earn a 50% interest in the Egina JV by spending up to A$25 million on exploration over four years.

The combined Egina JV and De Grey tenure3 (Figure 3) forms a strategically significant land position in the Mallina Basin covering approximately 2,500 sq km. De Grey assumed management control of the Novo area (under the earn-in arrangements) from 1 July 2023 and has generated a detailed and targeted work program for 2023, to commence imminently at the Egina JV.





Figure 2 Egina Gold Camp tenure showing priority prospects and joint venture interests.4





Figure 3 Map showing the aggregate Novo and De Grey tenure in the Mallina Basin at the northern part of the Egina Gold Camp (orange tenement outline) and De Greys targets5. The Company has no interest in the De Grey areas (outlined in blue) shown in this Figure.

Exploration at the Egina JV in the remainder of 2023 will follow up on the results from Novos highly successful drilling campaigns at Becher and explore new target areas. These programs include:

Progressing heritage and access agreements with various Native Title groups and conducting heritage surveys as required.

Further testwork on AC samples, including follow up re-split assays and resampling based on the results of Novos drilling, retrieval of chip trays for photography, and Terraspec TM alteration testwork.

alteration testwork. AC drilling at Becher, expected to commence in September 2023, initially following up previous drilling completed by Novo, with targeted RC / diamond drilling testing more advanced prospects.

Further AC and RC drilling as targets warrant and as new exploration areas are developed.

Ground gravity surveys over the Mallina Basin to expand upon detailed gravity surveys completed by Novo.



Nunyerry North Gold Prospect (Novo 70% / Creasy Group 30%)

Nunyerry North is a high priority exploration target with significant prospectivity, located in the southern part of the Egina Gold Camp. Heritage approvals have been finalised for Novos ~ 2,000 m of RC drilling scheduled to proceed in H2 2023.

Nunyerry North is characterised by a soil anomaly extending over 1.4 km strike with a central coherent > 100 ppb Au anomaly extending over 640 m strike, and a second 1.3 km long soil anomaly at > 30 ppb gold defined south of the main target6. Eighteen soil samples assayed > 1 g/t Au, and rock chip sampling by Novo included peak values of 30.3 g/t Au, 21.1 g/t Au and 19.0 g/t Au (Figure 4). Numerous gold nuggets have been detected during surface sampling.





Figure 4: Contoured gold results from soil sampling at Nunyerry North and high-grade gold results from rock chip sampling6

Mapping and rock chip sampling in the area have identified sheeted quartz vein-related gold mineralisation within a basement sequence of ultramafic komatiites and mafic rocks, juxtaposed by regional shears and offset faults. The shears dip north at 75 degrees, and offset faults are interpreted to dip to the west at 75 degrees. The initial drilling plan covers an area of 600 m strike over the main soil anomaly and peak rock chip results, where mapped vein densities are optimal.

Belltopper Gold Project, Victoria (Novo 100%)7

The Belltopper Gold Project in Victoria7 is located in the Bendigo Tectonic Zone, where over 60 Moz Au were produced historically. Belltopper displays many of the characteristics of the epizonal orogenic gold deposit class that includes Agnico Eagles Fosterville Mine, located 50km to the north (Figure 5).

Novo exploration in 2023 has focussed on integrating all regional to target-scale data sets to develop a 3D geological and mineralisation model (Figure 6 and Figure 7). Multiple high-grade gold targets and styles are recognised within a corridor of alteration that hosts a network of gold reefs and the mineralised Missing Link Intrusion.

A ~ 2,000 m diamond drilling program in H2 2023 is planned to test the high priority targets, which includes a high order Induced Polarisation (IP) chargeability anomaly north of the Missing Link Intrusion (Figure 8).





Figure 5: Location of the Belltopper Project, Bendigo Tectonic Zone, Victoria





Figure 6: Geological mapping, production reefs, and arsenic soil geochemistry which is coincident with the extensive alteration footprint. Section A-A below shown as black line





Figure 7: Cross sectional interpretation at Belltopper Hill showing tight anticlinal structures and a network of gold bearing reefs and key domain structures





Figure 8: Belltopper IP chargeability sections and historical workings, part of Novos 3D geological and mineralisation targeting model

Appointment of Advisor for Nullagine Gold Project Strategic Review

The Company is pleased to announce that it has appointed Argonaut PCF to act as financial adviser and undertake a strategic review of the Nullagine Gold Project2.

QP STATEMENT

Mrs. Karen (Kas) De Luca (MAIG), is the qualified person, as defined under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, responsible for, and having reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release other than information concerning De Greys Pilbara Gold Project. Mrs De Luca is Novos General Manger Exploration.

ABOUT NOVO

Novo explores and develops its prospective land package covering approximately 10,500 square kilometres in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, along with the 22 square kilometre Belltopper project in the Bendigo Tectonic Zone of Victoria, Australia. In addition to the Companys primary focus, Novo seeks to leverage its internal geological expertise to deliver value-accretive opportunities to its stakeholders.

CONTACT

Investors:

Mike Spreadborough

+61 419 329 987

mike.spreadborough@novoresources.com North American Queries:

Leo Karabelas

+1 416 543 3120

leo@novoresources.com Media:

Cameron Gilenko

+61 466 984 953

cgilenko@citadelmagnus.com



On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

Novo Resources Corp.

 Michael Spreadborough 

Michael Spreadborough

Executive Co-Chairman and Acting CEO



FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information (within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation) including, without limitation, that exploration programs will be advanced as described in this news release. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include, without limitation, customary risks of the resource industry and the risk factors identified in Novos annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2022, which is available under Novos profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date those statements are made. Except as required by applicable law, Novo assumes no obligation to update or to publicly announce the results of any change to any forward-looking statement contained or incorporated by reference herein to reflect actual results, future events or developments, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting the forward-looking statements. If Novo updates any forward-looking statement(s), no inference should be drawn that the Company will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

FOOTNOTES

1 Works carried out under the De Grey earn-in arrangement. Refer to the Companys news releases dated June 21, 2023 and June 28, 2023.

2 Refer to the Companys news release dated July 18, 2023.

3 Refer to the Companys news release dated August 2, 2023. Refer to the Companys prospectus which is available at www.novoresources.com and on the Companys SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. The IPO capital raising is conditional on the Company raising its minimum subscription (A$4.0 million, before costs) and ASX approving the Companys application for admission to the ASX. There is no guarantee that the Company will list on ASX or be granted approval to do so.

4 De Grey has reported that, at the Pilbara Gold Project, its (i) Mount Berghaus deposit is comprised of Indicated Mineral Resources of 1 Mt @ 1.7 g/t Au for 53 koz Au and Inferred Mineral Resources of 3.4 Mt @ 1.2 g/t Au for 128 koz Au, (ii) Wingina Well deposit is comprised of Measured Mineral Resources of 3.1 Mt @ 1.7 g/t Au for 173 koz Au, Indicated Mineral Resources of 1 Mt @ 1.4 g/t Au for 43 koz Au, and Inferred Mineral Resources of 1.4 Mt @ 1.6 g/t Au for 72 koz Au, (iii) Toweranna open pit deposit is comprised of Indicated Mineral Resources of 8.3 Mt @ 1.6 g/t Au for 418 koz Au and Inferred Mineral Resources of 2.5 Mt @ 1.5 g/t Au for 120 koz Au, (iv) Toweranna underground deposit is comprised of Indicated Mineral Resources of 0.1 Mt @ 3.0 g/t Au for 11 koz Au and Inferred Mineral Resources of 0.5 Mt @ 2.9 g/t Au for 49 koz Au, (v) Mallina deposit is comprised of Indicated Mineral Resources of 1.6 Mt @ 1.2 g/t Au for 64 koz Au and Inferred Mineral Resources of 5.1 Mt @ 1.5 g/t Au for 243 koz Au, (vi) Withnell open pit deposit is comprised of Measured Mineral Resources of 1.3 Mt @ 1.5 g/t Au for 62 koz Au, Indicated Mineral Resources of 3 Mt @ 1.8 g/t Au for 178 koz Au, and Inferred Mineral Resources of 0.7 Mt @ 2.0 g/t Au for 43 koz Au, (vii) Withnell underground deposit is comprised of Indicated Mineral Resources of 0.1 Mt @ 4.3 g/t Au for 16 koz Au and Inferred Mineral Resources of 2.4 Mt @ 3.9 g/t Au for 301 koz Au, and (viii) Hemi deposit is comprised of Indicated Mineral Resources of 165.7 Mt @ 1.3 g/t Au for 6,876 koz Au and Inferred Mineral Resources of 70.2 Mt @ 1.2 g/t Au for 2,632 koz Au, as those categories are defined in the JORC Code (as defined in NI 43-101). Refer to De Greys public disclosure record for further details. No assurance can be given that a similar or any mineral resource estimate will be determined at Novos Becher Project.

5 Refer to De Greys public disclosure record.

6 Refer to the Companys news release dated September 6, 2022.

7 Refer to the Companys news release dated April 24, 2023.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9ea80f9e-0f06-4e7b-a60e-924d6a178ae8

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Boston, Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gordon Brothers, the global advisory and investment firm, has acquired the global consumer electronics brand Telefunken.

Based in Frankfurt, Germany, Telefunken has become one of the leading names in the electronics sector with a diverse portfolio of products ranging from video, e-mobility, domestic appliances and audio.

Gordon Brothers will invest in the brand to drive further growth of the already successful enterprise within its existing product categories and bring Telefunken products to a younger consumer segment. The firm will focus on partnering with Telefunkens current licensees and expanding the licensee portfolio internationally by leveraging Gordon Brothers relationships so the brand can continue to reach consumers globally.

The acquisition expands Gordon Brothers current portfolio of home and lifestyle brands to include consumer electronics, a vertical in which the global brands business has deep experience and expertise.

The firm previously revitalized Polaroid and helped the iconic consumer electronics brand find new life after acquiring it out of bankruptcy, transforming Polaroid into a licensing platform and once again making it relevant to consumers.

We are honored to continue the incredible legacy Telefunken started in 1903 and grow the brand with current and new partners, said Frank Morton, Chief Investment Officer of Gordon Brothers. Telefunken has opportunities for expansion and is well positioned to benefit from global industry growth within the consumer electronics, appliance and e-bikes markets.

Telefunkens asset-light model is a natural fit for our portfolio of brands, said Tobias Nanda, Head of Brands at Gordon Brothers. Our expertise in the consumer electronics sector will help build upon Telefunkens 120-year history.

Telefunken is poised for growth and enhanced global outreach, said Hemjo Klein, the former Chairman and founder of Telefunkens holding company. Having developed and established a working partnership with Gordon Brothers over the last several years, I am more than confident they will uphold the brands legacy and steer Telefunken through the next chapter of growth.

Gordon Brothers has been actively investing in, repositioning and growing some of the worlds most iconic brands since 2003. As owners of several brands, including Laura Ashley and Nicole Miller, the firm prioritizes expanding licensees and franchisees to bolster their e-commerce presence and develop more strategic wholesale and retail relationships.

About Gordon Brothers

Since 1903, Gordon Brothers (www.gordonbrothers.com) has helped lenders, management teams, advisors and investors move forward through change. The firm brings a powerful combination of expertise and capital to clients, developing customized solutions on an integrated or standalone basis across four services areas: valuations, dispositions, financing and investment. Whether to fuel growth or facilitate strategic consolidation, Gordon Brothers partners with companies in the retail, commercial and industrial sectors to provide maximum liquidity, put assets to their highest and best use and mitigate liabilities. The firm conducts more than $100 billion worth of dispositions and appraisals annually and provides both short- and long-term capital to clients undergoing transformation. Gordon Brothers lends against and invests in brands, real estate, inventory, receivables, machinery, equipment and other assets, both together and individually, to provide clients liquidity solutions beyond its market-leading disposition and appraisal services. The firm is headquartered in Boston, with over 30 offices across five continents.

About Telefunken

Telefunken was founded in Berlin in 1903. With a pioneering spirit Telefunken established over 20,000 patents in a broad array of global industries and has been known as the Innovation Company with innovations including the first radio broadcast, first voice recorder, inventor of electronic TV camera and PAL-colour TV. The company became a leader in electronic communication and a global player in consumer electronics within audio, video, TV and information technology, industrial applications with data transfer, mobile communication, security and solar technology supporting the NASA space program with the first space solar panels. Based in Frankfurt, Telefunken has licensees throughout Asia, Europe, North America and South America.

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Destin, Florida, Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Answering the demand for spontaneous trips to the beach to rest and recharge, Newman-Dailey Resort Properties is providing beach lovers with one of the best summer travel deals for South Walton and Destin vacation rentals. Many travelers are seeking affordable, drivable vacation destinations that require little planning. Since Northwest Florida is easily accessible by car from many US cities, Destin vacation rentals are a popular choice for a quick beach trip. For the best rates and added discounts, Newman-Dailey is offering the Extra Happy summer travel deal, which includes an additional 15% off stays in participating Destin vacation rentals between August 14-30, 2023.

Our guests have been asking us for suggestions to make their beach vacation more affordable, and we consistently share that the secret to affordability is to plan your stay during non-peak weeks when demand is less, said Newman-Dailey Founder and CEO Jeanne Dailey. Our team wants to help families get back to the beach and those who are flexible and plan to visit in late August will see significant savings.

Whether its a quick trip to the beach with a significant other, a solo trip, a siblings reunion, a girls getaway or family time, visiting Destins soft white sand beaches offers an opportunity to rest, relax and reconnect along some of the most beautiful beaches in the nation. For those who prefer activity and events, there are fun events happening most days of the week. On Wednesdays, Sinfonia Gulf Coast will present four free al fresco summer concerts of Peter and the Wolf Op. 67 performed by the Fountain Five Wind Quintet at the Seaside Amphitheater. On Thursdays, ladies night at McGuires Irish Pub is popular with girls getaways while the free beach bonfires at Royal Palm Grill on Fridays are fun for the whole family. Visitors to the area also enjoy stopping at Farmers Markets on Saturdays in beach communities along the coast.

In addition to the beautiful beaches and entertaining events, guests who book a Newman-Dailey vacation rental will enjoy access to exclusive special partner offers at area restaurants and activities as well as a virtual gift card, good toward one free activity each day of their stay. As an added bonus, most Newman-Dailey vacation rentals also include complimentary seasonal beach service with two chairs and an umbrella set up on the beach each day of the stay.

From one-bedroom Gulf-front condominiums to large vacation homes, Newman-Daileys collection of vacation rental homes and condominiums can accommodate any size group. For added savings, the EXTRA HAPPY late summer travel deal is available to past guests and anyone who signs up for the Insider Club to enjoy 15% off* stays between August 14-30, 2023 (*some restrictions apply). For more information, visit DestinVacation.com or call 1-800-225-7652.

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About Newman-Dailey Resort Properties, Inc.

Newman-Dailey Resort Properties is a premier vacation rental, real estate sales and association management company located in Miramar Beach, Fla. Founded 1985, Newman-Dailey consistently receives the "Certificate of Excellence" for positive reviews on TripAdvisor and has been voted Best Vacation Rental Company and Best Property Management Company by readers of Emerald Coast Magazine. For more information, call 850.837.1071, or visit DestinSales.com or DestinVacation.com.

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EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Time is running out to apply to participate in the Mark Cuban Foundation Artificial Intelligence (AI) Bootcamp hosted by Notified in El Segundo. Applications for the no-cost bootcamp are closing soon!



The AI bootcamp is targeted toward underserved high school students (9th-12th grade) and offers participants a chance to learn the fundamentals of AI. Notified has been selected as one of the 28+ host companies across the U.S. for fall 2023.

If accepted, participants will engage in a four-week bootcamp held on consecutive Saturdays from October 14th to November 4th. It is imperative that students commit to attending all four sessions. The bootcamp sessions will take place from 11am-3pm PT.

No prior experience in computer science, programming, or robotics is required. The applications for both students and parents can be submitted through markcubanai.org/notifiedcapr.

During the bootcamp, students will explore the world of artificial intelligence, including ethical implications and real- life applications, such as, TikTok recommendations, smart home assistants, facial recognition, and self-driving cars. Participants will also discover the features of Large Language Models like ChatGPT, which can answer questions, create original stories, and even generate computer code.

To provide a beneficial learning environment, trained volunteer corporate mentors , who are knowledgeable in AI, machine learning, and data science , will lead the students through the curriculum. Throughout the bootcamp, students will have the opportunity to work with open source tools and develop their own AI applications related to Computer Vision, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, and Generative AI.

The Mark Cuban Foundation provides the bootcamps curriculum materials, trains corporate volunteer mentors, and recruits and scores applications for local student selected to attend camp. In addition, the Mark Cuban Foundation and Notified work together to provide food, information on transportation options, and access to laptops for students at no-cost to use during the bootcamp. This bootcamp is facilitated with support from Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp Program's media partner, Notified, a globally trusted technology partner for investor relations, public relations and marketing professionals.

It was a lot of fun, I learned things I didn't even know were possible with A.I. and their real-world applications showed me just how much it will change our world." - Brandon B., 10th Grade, 2022 AI Bootcamp Participant

Founded by Mark Cuban in 2019, the AI bootcamp initiative has hosted no-cost AI bootcamps for students across several U.S. cities, including Dallas, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Atlantic City to name a few. The Mark Cuban Foundation has impacted 900+ students to date and has a goal to increase that number year over year.

Students interested in applying to the Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp should do so before Friday, September 8th, 2023 at markcubanai.org/notifiedcapr. To see our 2023 camp locations and to learn more about the Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamps, please visit markcubanai.org/faq.

Contact: Carli Lidiak, Mark Cuban Foundation

Phone: 309-840-0348

Email: carli.lidiak@markcubanai.org
The speaker urged security agencies to bring the perpetrators to book.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has condemned the killing of two people at the Kofar Gayan area of Zaria, Kaduna State, during an attack by suspected terrorists late Saturday.

According to a statement signed by the speaker's media aide, Musa Krishi, he said the suspected terrorists invaded the area, shot sporadically, killing the individuals, while they kidnapped others.

The killings, coming just over 24 hours after the death of several people during the collapse of parts of the Zaria Central Mosque, were unfortunate and abhorrent, the statement said.

"Expressing disgust at the killings of the two innocent people, Speaker Abbas noted with concern the recurring attacks in parts of Zaria and environs in the past few years.

"The lives of Nigerians, wherever they are, should be protected, hence the need for the security agencies to up their game in the protection of Nigerians and their property.

Mr Abbas, who represents Zaria Federal Constituency, called for a thorough investigation into the attack and the killings to unravel those behind it.

Mr Tajudeen noted that Zaria people are peace-loving and have been living peacefully over the years, saying the activities of the bandits should not be allowed to disrupt the tranquillity of the ancient city.

"The attack that led to the killings of our two innocent brothers at Kofar Gayan was most calamitous, horrendous, tragic, heinous and disgusting.

Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Governance Legal Affairs By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.

"It was most unfortunate that when innocent people were going about their normal and legitimate activities, others were planning evil to disturb the peace enjoyed by everyone.

"The action of those behind this dastardly act stands condemned, and I call on the security agencies to swing into action immediately to fish out the perpetrators. This evil act must not be allowed to go unchecked.

"My heart goes out to the families of those that lost their loved ones. I pray that Allah (SWT) will grant the departed Jannatul Firdaus and give the families the fortitude to bear the painful and irreparable loss," Mr said.

He also commiserated with the Kaduna State Government, the Emir of Zazzau, His Royal Highness, Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, and the people of Zaria over the unfortunate incident, the statement said.

Kaduna is one of Nigeria's states terrorised by terrorists, commonly called bandits. Killings and kidnapping for ransom are common across the state - including Zaria, the largest local government area of the state.

The terrorists target peasants in vulnerable communities in the state, and many have fallen prey to the kidnappers. Some have been killed in captivity, while others were freed after ransom payment.

The insecurity has remained unabated despite the Nigerian government's efforts to check criminality.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Time is running out to apply to participate in the Mark Cuban Foundation Artificial Intelligence (AI) Bootcamp hosted by The ODP Corporation at the Alan B. Levan | NSU Broward Center of Innovation in Fort Lauderdale. Applications for the no-cost bootcamp are closing soon!



The AI bootcamp is targeted toward underserved high school students (9th-12th grade) and offers participants a chance to learn the fundamentals of AI. The ODP Corporation has been selected as one of the 28+ host companies across the U.S. for fall 2023.

If accepted, participants will engage in a four-week bootcamp held on consecutive Saturdays from October 14th to November 4th. It is imperative that students commit to attending all four sessions. The bootcamp sessions will take place from 2pm-6pm ET.

No prior experience in computer science, programming, or robotics is required. The applications for both students and parents can be submitted through markcubanai.org/odppr.

During the bootcamp students will explore the world of artificial intelligence, including ethical implications and real- life applications, such as, TikTok recommendations, smart home assistants, facial recognition, and self-driving cars. Participants will also discover the features of Large Language Models like ChatGPT, which can answer questions, create original stories, and even generate computer code.

To provide a beneficial learning environment, trained volunteer corporate mentors , who are knowledgeable in AI, machine learning, and data science , will lead the students through the curriculum. Throughout the bootcamp, students will have the opportunity to work with open source tools and develop their own AI applications related to Computer Vision, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, and Generative AI.

The Mark Cuban Foundation provides the bootcamps curriculum materials, trains corporate volunteer mentors, and recruits and scores applications for local students selected to attend camp. In addition, the Mark Cuban Foundation and The ODP Corporation work together to provide food, information on transportation options, and access to laptops for students at no cost to use during the bootcamp. This bootcamp is facilitated with support from Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp Program's media partner, Notified, a globally trusted technology partner for investor relations, public relations and marketing professionals.

"It was a lot of fun, I learned things I didn't even know were possible with A.I. and their real-world applications showed me just how much it will change our world." - Brandon B., 10th Grade, 2022 AI Bootcamp Participant

Founded by Mark Cuban in 2019, the AI bootcamp initiative has hosted no-cost AI bootcamps for students across several U.S. cities, including Dallas, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Atlantic City, to name a few. The Mark Cuban Foundation has impacted 900+ students to date and has a goal to increase that number year over year.

Students interested in applying to the Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp should do so before Friday, September 8th, 2023 at markcubanai.org/odppr. To see our 2023 camp locations and to learn more about the Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamps, please visit markcubanai.org/faq.

Contact: Carli Lidiak, Mark Cuban Foundation

Phone: 309-840-0348

Email: carli.lidiak@markcubanai.org
DALLAS, Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Starting salaries for physicians have rebounded from the COVID-19 pandemic, underscoring continued robust demand for doctors and a limited supply, according to an annual report from AMN Healthcares Physician Solutions division (formerly known as Merritt Hawkins).



The 2023 Review of Physician and Advanced Practitioner Recruiting Incentives indicates that average starting salaries are up 19% year-over-year for psychiatrists, up 16% for dermatologists, up 12.5% for anesthesiologists and up 12% for orthopedic surgeons, with various other types of physicians also seeing starting salary increases.

Orthopedic surgeons are offered the highest average starting salary at $633,000, according to the report, followed by urologists at $540,000, interventional cardiologists at $517,000 and gastroenterologists at $506,000. Pediatricians are offered the lowest average starting salary of physicians tracked in the report at $233,000.

Rising physician starting salaries are a clear sign that demand for physicians is surging, said Leah Grant, President of AMN Healthcare Physician Solutions. Virtually every hospital in the United States, and many other entities, are seeking physicians.

New Competitors Vying for Physicians

According to Grant, a growing number of organizations are seeking to recruit physicians from a limited supply of candidates. These organizations include retail clinics, urgent care centers, telehealth platforms, insurance companies and private equity firms, all of which are vying with hospitals and medical groups for doctors.

Healthcare is evolving as new market entrants seek to change how and where care is delivered, said Grant. More types of organizations are recruiting physicians, causing salaries to trend up. 

Need for Medical Specialists Rising

The report indicates that demand for medical specialists such as gastroenterologists, orthopedic surgeons, oncologists, pulmonologists, neurologists, and psychiatrists is rising, while demand for primary care physicians such as family physicians and internists has cooled over the last several years. The majority of AMN Healthcares search engagements over the prior 12 months (64%) were for medical specialists, while only 17% were for primary care physicians. The remaining 19% were for advanced practice professionals such as nurse practitioners (NPs), physician assistants (PAs), and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs).

Two factors account for this shift, Grant said. One is an aging population that needs more specialists to care for ailing internal organs, musculoskeletal conditions, and neurological problems. The other is the growing number of NPs and PAs providing primary care, which has softened demand for primary care physicians. For the third consecutive year, AMN Healthcare conducted more search engagements for NPs than for any other type of advanced practice professional or physician, according to Grant.

Demand for Ob/Gyns Strong, Supply Limited

AMN Healthcare received more requests to recruit obstetricians/gynecologists in the last year than any other type of physician, with the exception of family medicine physicians and radiologists, according to the report. Average starting salary offers to Ob/Gyns increased by 10.5% year-over-year, underscoring strong demand for the specialty.

AMN Healthcares 2023 Review of Physician and Advanced Practitioner Recruiting Incentives is based on a representative sample of the 2,676 search engagements the company conducted from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023, and includes data on starting salaries and other incentives offered by the companys clients to physicians and advanced practice professionals nationwide. A copy of the report can be accessed at https://www.amnhealthcare.com/amn-insights/physician/surveys/2023-physician-and-ap-recruiting-incentives/

About AMN Healthcare

AMN Healthcare is the leader and innovator in total talent solutions for healthcare organizations across the nation. The Company provides access to the most comprehensive network of quality healthcare professionals through its innovative recruitment strategies and breadth of career opportunities. With insights and expertise, AMN Healthcare helps providers optimize their workforce to successfully reduce complexity, increase efficiency and improve patient outcomes. AMN total talent solutions include managed services programs, clinical and interim healthcare leaders, temporary staffing, executive search solutions, vendor management systems, recruitment process outsourcing, predictive modeling, language interpretation services, revenue cycle solutions, and other services. Clients include acute-care hospitals, community health centers and clinics, physician practice groups, retail and urgent care centers, home health facilities, schools and many other healthcare settings. AMN Healthcare is committed to fostering and maintaining a diverse team that reflects the communities we serve. Our commitment to the inclusion of many different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives enables our innovation and leadership in the healthcare services industry. For more information about AMN Healthcare, visit www.amnhealthcare.com.

Media Contact

Phillip Miller

Senior Principal, Thought Leadership

AMN Healthcare/Merritt Hawkins

(469) 524-1420

AMN-PR@amnhealthcare.com
Almere, The Netherlands

August 14, 2023, 5:45 p.m. CET





ASM International N.V. (Euronext Amsterdam: ASM) reports that no transactions were executed under ASMs current share buyback program in the week August 7  11, 2023.

For further details including individual transaction information please visit: www.asm.com/investors/dividends-share-buybacks .

About ASM International

ASM International N.V., headquartered in Almere, the Netherlands, and its subsidiaries design and manufacture equipment and process solutions to produce semiconductor devices for wafer processing, and have facilities in the United States, Europe, and Asia. ASM International's common stock trades on the Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange (symbol: ASM). For more information, visit ASM's website at www.asm.com.

This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

Contact

Investor and media relations

Victor Bareno

T: +31 88 100 8500

E: investor.relations@asm.com
Independence, Ohio, Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Redwood Living Inc. has placed in the top 10 nationally for online reputation management in the annual Division ORA Power Rankings for the third time.

The Online Reputation Assessment (ORA) score is the multifamily industry standard to measure and benchmark a propertys online reputation. The ORA statistical model aggregates and analyzes online ratings and reviews of more than 139,000 properties across multiple review sites and ILSs to generate a single score on a 0-100 scale that is easy to monitor, rank, and improve. This score provides a method to compare a companys individual properties and portfolios nationally, regionally, and against the competition.

Pioneered by J Turner Research, the division rankings recognize companies that have worked hard to provide a genuinely delightful resident experience. These companies have consistently demonstrated their commitment by listening to residents and working together as a team to exceed their expectations. The top 25 companies success is reflected in their high ORA scores, which sets them apart from other companies in their respective divisions.

Redwood earned an ORA score of 82.93, ranking the company fourth in Division III, which includes companies that manage 10,000-19,999 units. The national average ORA score is 63.26.

This recognition belongs to all the Redwood Ambassadors who play critical roles in ensuring a remarkable resident experience, and we applaud them for their efforts, said Mike VanGelder, executive vice president of property operations at Redwood. As Redwoods portfolio grows, we continue to identify ways to maintain and improve upon this standard of excellence and truly appreciate all those that help us stay true to this commitment.

Redwood has developed 16,000+ apartment homes and manages 130+ neighborhoods throughout the Midwest and Carolinas.

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About Redwood Living, Inc.

Redwood Living, Inc. (Redwood) is an innovative development and property management company with neighborhoods in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, North Carolina, South Carolina and Kentucky. In early 2024, Redwood will welcome its first neighborhood in Nebraska. The success of Redwood's approach to construction, development and property management continues to be validated in new and existing markets. Redwood is a company that believes in its mission, product and amazing people. It creates a simplified, relaxed lifestyle for residents, and offers a rewarding atmosphere for its employees. For more information, visit www.byredwood.com.

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Columbia Falls, Maine, Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Wreaths Across America (WAA) announces new, back-to-school curriculum as part of its year-round TEACH program. The free, downloadable, standards-based lesson plans include resources for all grade levels.

The K-12 curriculum includes new lesson plans for Constitution Day and lessons focused on the Navajo Code Talkers and Patriot Day. The free, downloadable plans ensure stories of service, sacrifice and valor are passed down to future generations while building good character and self-worth through service to others. Lesson plans and other educational resources are standards-based and created for teachers, parents and anyone educating young people.

Throughout the year, the WAA TEACH program provides educational opportunities for people nationwide to engage with veterans in their communities. Schools, school-related clubs, and other organizations can fundraise through the Group Sponsorship Program. In 2022 generous supporters made it possible for WAA to launch a K-12 curriculum aligned with the National Council on Social Studies and state Common Core standards. WAA is also conducting its 2023 Youth Service Project, where young people are encouraged to execute a community service project. The service projects must be completed by Veterans Day, November 11, 2023.

Teaching the next generation the value of freedom is an important component of our mission, as is fostering good character, said Cindy Tatum, WAA TEACH Curriculum Developer and Gold Star Mother. Whether they are a teacher with many years of experience or a first-year teacher, we appreciate the educators who work to inspire future generations of Americans to be the best version of themselves they can be. We hope this curriculum helps teachers plan their year and engage our most precious resource  our children!

To learn more about the TEACH program and access free, downloadable lesson plans, please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/teach.

To subscribe to Teaching Times, the quarterly TEACH program newsletter, please visit https://learn.wreathsacrossamerica.org/teach-newsletter.

About Wreaths Across America

Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. The organizations mission  Remember, Honor, Teach  is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at Arlington, as well as thousands of veterans cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond.



For more information or to sponsor a wreath, please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.

Please visit our Media Resources Page to download background, photos, logos, or other items to help you file your story.

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Cleveland, Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Michael Cantor, CIO at Park Place Technologies, is advising that emerging concerns are raising question about the long-term viability of relying solely on cloud services, including data and compute.

In recent years, the public cloud has experienced an unprecedented surge in adoption, becoming the de-facto compute solution for businesses across industries, Cantor said in an article for TechRadarPro. The potential for lower costs, increased flexibility, and seamless scalability propelled a rapid movement to cloud-based computing with both born-in-the-cloud digital natives and heritage brands alike migrating their workloads to leverage its transformative capabilities. This was accelerated further as the world grappled with the global pandemic, when the cloud emerged as a lifeline for remote work, digital collaboration, and business continuity.

However, Cantor added, the cloud may not be the answer to every problem and has some of its own issues that need resolution in any company that is utilizing the cloud.

Cantor cited research revealing that cutting cloud costs has overtaken security as the main concern for businesses embracing the technology. He said many organizations have adopted the cloud without creating a cloud competency in their infrastructure group for managing costs, and the resulting increase in expenses through lack of management is driving this interest in cutting costs.

The initial pull of lower costs and increased flexibility has been overshadowed by unexpected price components, such as the cost to extract data from the platform, he said. The increasing complexity of cloud infrastructure and the difficulty of predicting usage patterns have made it challenging for businesses to manage their cloud costs effectively.

In response to these issues, many businesses are opting to repatriate some data sets to better control long-term costs and lower the need for expense. However, while repatriation can help companies save money, it can be a complex process that requires significant investment in infrastructure and expertise.

Is it time to repatriate your data?

Cantor lists several benefits of repatriation.

One frequently cited benefit is the concept that by bringing data back in-house, companies can ensure better control over data, reduce the risk of data breaches, and meet compliance requirements more easily. This has to be evaluated on a case by case basis  these benefits may indeed accrue from having the infrastructure on-premise, or the movement of the data to a different form of management may not be the root cause. Security management in the cloud is not the same as on-premise, so a lack of required skillset in the security team may be the actual root issue.

Another potential of data repatriation right now is cost, which businesses have found can quickly spiral out of control and is increasingly difficult to budget and plan effectively. A big reason for this is that cloud providers often charge extra fees for services such as data egress, the cost associated with moving data out of the cloud storage platforms where the data is normally held. Firms have seen egress charges rise as they look to do more with their data, such as mining archives for business intelligence purposes, or to train AI engines. But data egress is one of the costs of cloud computing that companies without a dedicated cloud team may not factor in to projects and can quickly mount up. In the most extreme cases, egress charge bill shock can make a cloud project so expensive that its no longer viable, and significantly impact a company's bottom line.

Another factor driving data repatriation is data security and compliance. Many businesses operating in more regulated industries, such as finance, healthcare and telecoms, deal with sensitive data that must be stored and managed in a highly secure and compliant manner. While cloud providers offer robust security and compliance capabilities, some businesses may feel more comfortable managing their data in-house, where they have more control.

Finally, enhanced performance. Although the cloud provides theoretically limitless scalability, it still loses some speed due to internet connectivity and virtualisation overhead. For certain use cases or for higher scales of data, workloads, or concurrency requirements, faster performance is essential. Some real-time analytics workloads, like machine learning-based AI, can be sensitive to latency. Analytics applications can leverage caching and other network optimisation methods to reduce latency. However, one of the easiest and most pragmatic fixes is to shorten the communication path. This means that unless the data was born on the cloud, bring the analytics back in-house.

Addressing the challenges head on

While Cantor said its true there are many benefits to repatriation, the reality is that its not without its challenges, which means it may not be a possibility for some smaller to medium businesses.

It can be a complex and time-consuming process, requiring businesses to assess their data needs, migrate their data, and ensure that, once back on premises, it is properly secured and managed, including backup and disaster recovery, Cantor said. Another challenge of data repatriation is the potential impact on business agility. Cloud infrastructure is highly flexible and scalable, allowing businesses to quickly spin up new resources and adjust capacity as needed. By bringing their data back on-premises, businesses may lose some of this flexibility, which could impact their ability to respond quickly to changing business needs.

Ultimately, Cantor concludes, As with any major infrastructure decision, repatriation is not one that businesses should take lightly. They need to carefully evaluate their options, weigh the costs and benefits, and develop a clear strategy that aligns with their business objectives and regulatory requirements. This may involve working with cloud providers to identify the best workloads to bring back in-house, assessing their data management and security capabilities, and implementing the right tools and processes to manage their data effectively.

About Michael Cantor and Park Place Technologies

As Chief Information Officer, Michael leads the delivery of technology initiatives to improve Park Places internal and customer-facing capabilities while ensuring the globalization and security of Park Places systems as the company continues to expand.

Michael comes to Park Place with over 25 years of experience in the IT industry. Most recently Michael served as CIO for Cardinal Health at Home, where he was responsible for all segment-specific IT initiatives and the creation of a new digital front-end for the B2C portion of the business. Prior to Cardinal Health, Michael was the CIO at Matrix Medical Network, based in Scottsdale, Arizona. At Matrix, Michael drove the digital transformation of the business through the growth of Matrixs IT capability and implementation of key IT projects that enabled the company to grow revenue at a 3x rate over three years.

Michael is a Georgia State University alumnus with a BBA in Computer Information Systems.

Park Place Technologies is a global data center and networking optimization firm. We help more than 21,000 clients optimize data center budgets, productivity, performance, and sustainability so they can think bigger  and act faster. From procurement to decommissioning, our comprehensive portfolio of services and products helps IT teams optimize IT lifecycle management. This frees time and spend so they can focus on transforming their businesses for the future.

Park Places industry-leading and award-winning services portfolio includes Park Place Hardware Maintenance, Park Place Professional Services, ParkView Managed Services, Entuity Software  and Curvature Hardware sales. For more information, visit www.parkplacetechnologies.com. Park Place is a portfolio company of Charlesbank Capital Partners and GTCR.

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Time is running out to apply to participate in the Mark Cuban Foundation Artificial Intelligence (AI) Bootcamp hosted by Booz Allen Hamilton in Washington, D.C. Applications for the no-cost bootcamp are closing soon!



The AI bootcamp is targeted toward underserved high school students (9th-12th grade) and offers participants a chance to learn the fundamentals of AI. Booz Allen has been selected as one of the 28+ host companies across the U.S. for fall 2023.

If accepted, participants will engage in a four-week bootcamp held on consecutive Saturdays from October 14th to November 4th. It is imperative that students commit to attending all four sessions. The bootcamp sessions will take place from 2pm-6pm ET.

No prior experience in computer science, programming, or robotics is required. The applications for both students and parents can be submitted through markcubanai.org/bahpr.

During the bootcamp, students will explore the world of artificial intelligence, including ethical implications and real- life applications, such as, TikTok recommendations, smart home assistants, facial recognition, and self-driving cars. Participants will also discover the features of Large Language Models like ChatGPT, which can answer questions, create original stories, and even generate computer code.

To provide a beneficial learning environment, trained volunteer corporate mentors , who are knowledgeable in AI, machine learning, and data science , will lead the students through the curriculum. Throughout the bootcamp, students will have the opportunity to work with open source tools and develop their own AI applications related to Computer Vision, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, and Generative AI.

The Mark Cuban Foundation provides the bootcamps curriculum materials, trains corporate volunteer mentors, and recruits and scores applications for local student selected to attend camp. In addition, the Mark Cuban Foundation and Booz Allen work together to provide food, information on transportation options, and access to laptops for students at no-cost to use during the bootcamp. This bootcamp is facilitated with support from Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp Program's media partner, Notified, a globally trusted technology partner for investor relations, public relations and marketing professionals.

It was a lot of fun, I learned things I didn't even know were possible with A.I. and their real-world applications showed me just how much it will change our world." - Brandon B., 10th Grade, 2022 AI Bootcamp Participant

Founded by Mark Cuban in 2019, the AI bootcamp initiative has hosted no-cost AI bootcamps for students across several U.S. cities, including Dallas, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Atlantic City to name a few. The Mark Cuban Foundation has impacted 900+ students to date and has a goal to increase that number year over year.

Students interested in applying to the Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp should do so before Friday, September 8th, 2023 at markcubanai.org/bahpr. To see our 2023 camp locations and to learn more about the Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamps, please visit markcubanai.org/faq.

Contact: Carli Lidiak, Mark Cuban Foundation

Phone: 309-840-0348

Email: carli.lidiak@markcubanai.org
Belleville, Illinois, Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Healthcare decisions for Medicare-age workers will be in the limelight with an informative webinar, Understanding the Healthcare Perspectives of Medicare-Age Workers, at 9 a.m. PT (noon ET) Thursday, Aug. 24, according to Allsup, a nationwide provider of disability representation, health insurance benefits and return to work services.

The event is part of the Disability Management Employer Coalitions (DMEC) webinar series, 2023 Tools & Tactics. Allsup Healthcare Insurance Services experts Bethany Cissell and Rob Sokol will present the results of a recent national survey that delves into the healthcare perspectives of Medicare-eligible workers, with an emphasis on cost-saving drivers and potential pitfalls that could complicate employees' healthcare decision-making.

Our aim is to explain the complexities of Medicare for both employers and employees, said Sokol, director of business development at Allsup Healthcare Insurance Services. By sharing practical plan analyses and consultations, we hope to cultivate a more informed healthcare recipient, which ultimately leads to superior coverage and reduced costs for all parties.

The webinar is designed to assist employers in understanding and addressing the healthcare concerns of Medicare-eligible workers, particularly the Baby Boomer generation.

We strive to provide a comprehensive understanding of Medicare plan choices, enrollment rules, and potential penalties, as well as strategizing for when a worker turns 65, said Cissell, account executive with Allsup Healthcare Insurance Services.

The key learning objectives for the webinar include:

Gaining a deeper understanding of the healthcare perspectives of Medicare-eligible workers.

Exploring Medicare plan options, enrollment regulations and potential penalties.

Learning what both employees and employers need to know to prepare for a worker's 65th birthday.

Understanding the mutual benefits of Medicare for employees and employers.

Sokol and Cissell, both steeped in knowledge and expertise in Medicare, healthcare services and employer regulatory compliance, will provide unique insights that contribute to a broader understanding of Medicare and the ensuing benefits for employers and employees alike.

Registration is now open. The event is free for DMEC members. Join us for this invaluable session to better grasp the complexities of healthcare decision-making for Medicare-eligible workers.

For more information about healthcare benefits coordination for your employee population, including incorporating Medicare plan selection into your benefits programs and cost-savings opportunities, email allsuphealthcare@allsup.com or call 1-866-521-7655.

Find more at AllsupLLC.com under Health Insurance Benefits Coordination Services.

ABOUT ALLSUP

Allsup and its subsidiaries provide nationwide Social Security disability, veterans disability appeal, return to work, and healthcare benefits services for individuals, their employers and insurance carriers. Allsup professionals deliver specialized services supporting people with disabilities and seniors so they may lead lives that are as financially secure and as healthy as possible. Founded in 1984, the company is based in Belleville, Illinois, near St. Louis. Learn more at Allsup.com and @Allsup or download a free PDF of Applying for Social Security Disability Insurance: Getting It Right The First Time.

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Time is running out to apply to participate in the Mark Cuban Foundation Artificial Intelligence (AI) Bootcamp hosted by Protective Life Corporation in Birmingham. Applications for the no-cost bootcamp are closing Sept. 8!



The AI bootcamp is targeted toward underserved high school students (9th-12th grade) and offers participants a chance to learn the fundamentals of AI. Protective has, once again, been selected as one of the 28+ host companies across the U.S. for fall 2023.

If accepted, participants will engage in a four-week bootcamp held on consecutive Saturdays from Oct. 14 to Nov. 4. It is imperative that students commit to attending all four sessions, which will take place from 1pm-5pm CT.

No prior experience in computer science, programming, or robotics is required. The applications for both students and parents can be submitted through markcubanai.org/protectivepr.

During the bootcamp, students will explore the world of artificial intelligence, including ethical implications and real- life applications, such as, TikTok recommendations, smart home assistants, facial recognition, and self-driving cars. Participants will also discover the features of Large Language Models like ChatGPT, which can answer questions, create original stories, and even generate computer code.

To provide a beneficial learning environment, trained volunteer corporate mentors , who are knowledgeable in AI, machine learning, and data science , will lead the students through the curriculum. Throughout the bootcamp, students will have the opportunity to work with open source tools and develop their own AI applications related to Computer Vision, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, and Generative AI.

The Mark Cuban Foundation provides the bootcamps curriculum materials, trains corporate volunteer mentors, and recruits and scores applications for local students selected to attend camp. In addition, the Mark Cuban Foundation and Protective work together to provide food, information on transportation options, and access to laptops for students at no-cost to use during the bootcamp. This bootcamp is facilitated with support from Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp Program's media partner, Notified, a globally trusted technology partner for investor relations, public relations and marketing professionals.

It was a lot of fun, I learned things I didn't even know were possible with A.I. and their real-world applications showed me just how much it will change our world." - Brandon B., 10th Grade, 2022 AI Bootcamp Participant

Founded by Mark Cuban in 2019, the AI bootcamp initiative hosts no-cost AI bootcamps for students across several U.S. cities, including Birmingham, Dallas, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Atlantic City to name a few. The Mark Cuban Foundation has impacted 900+ students to date and has a goal to increase that number year over year.

Students interested in applying to the Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp should do so before Friday, September 8th, 2023 at markcubanai.org/protectivepr. To see our 2023 camp locations and to learn more about the Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamps, please visit markcubanai.org/faq.

Contact: Carli Lidiak, Mark Cuban Foundation

Phone: 309-840-0348

Email: carli.lidiak@markcubanai.org
Greenville, South Carolina, Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ARCpoint Inc. (TSXV: ARC) (the Company or ARCpoint) a leading US-based franchise system providing drug testing, alcohol screening, DNA and direct to consumer (DTC) clinical lab testing services announces that it will host a conference call on Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at 9:30 pm Eastern time to review the Companys financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023, and provide an operational update.



The dial-in number for the conference call is as follows:

Canada / USA Toll Free 1-800-319-4610

International Toll 1-604-638-5340

Callers should dial in 5  10 min prior to the scheduled start time and ask to join the ARCpoint call:

ARCpoints President and CEO, John Constantine commented The second quarter was a period of great change for our Company as we transitioned from developing our technology platforms and processes to focus on deploying these new tools to drive more business through our franchisee locations. This included significant cost and headcount reductions, especially in the senior management and executive levels and realignment of team member responsibilities.

As announced March 8, 2023, effective April 1, 2023, the Company enacted a headcount reduction representing approximately 30 per cent of the company's salary costs. The majority of these cuts took place at the upper management and executive levels and involved $485 thousand in one time severance costs that were accrued in Q1, 2023, but paid in Q2, 2023. As part of the cost-cutting process, the company also undertook significant operational cost-saving measures representing approximately 20 per cent of the then current operating costs. Concurrently, the Company also incurred additional software expenditures to refine the new technology platforms in preparation for full roll out.

Mr. Constantine concluded As difficult as the cuts and changes were, in the second quarter we added new leadership for our franchise group in Bob Mann and launched our MyARCpointLabs technology platform. With these new tools, combined with Bobs expertise in implementing growth strategies, we believe that we have taken huge steps forward to help increase our revenue per store as well as dramatically expand our distribution network.

On May 15, 2023 the Company announced that it had appointed Bob Mann as President of Arcpoint Franchise Group LLC (AFG), a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of the company that operates Arcpoint's franchise business. The Company commented that it believed Mr. Manns 15 years in the US diagnostics services space and track record of successfully developing and implementing programs and processes to drive revenue in the health care diagnostics industry would be critical given his responsibility for driving both top-line growth at all franchisee locations and growing the company's distribution network from the then current 134 locations.

On July 10, 2023, the Company announced that it had fully launched its new consumer e-commerce platform MyARCpointLabs, (MAPL) which was developed to make it easier for the Companys franchisees to attract and better serve individual healthcare consumers and to make it easier for consumers to purchase the Companys products and services. On August 10, 2023, the Company further updated that 90 of the Companys 135 locations had completed MyARCpointLabs onboarding and training processes, and that 36 of those locations had begun using and integrating the platform into their daily business. The Company also noted that in addition, 105 affiliate businesses had signed up through 21 different franchise locations to use the MyARCpointLabs platform on a SaaS basis, giving the Company 240 physical locations where consumers could potentially purchase its tests and services.

Business Updates

Average Unit Volume (AUV)

As at June 30, 2023 AUV stood at $265K on a trailing three months and annualized basis. The Company defines AUV as the average revenue of reporting physical franchise locations open more than 24 months, which is the length of time the Company believes it takes for a new franchisee location to reach normalized operations after start up. For the purposes of calculating AUV, as at June 30, 2023, the Company had 134 total physical locations, with 89 locations open greater than 24 months. 4 locations open greater than 24 months were excluded from the calculation because of delays in their data reporting. Accordingly, for the second quarter, the Company based its AUV calculation on 85 locations. The Company has another 45 locations that have been open less than 24 months, which are excluded from the AUV calculation. As of June 30, 2023, when considering the total 134 locations, the average revenue per location was $185K. The Company earns a 7% royalty and 2% brand fund contribution on its franchisees revenues. AUV is a non-IFRS measure that is used to evaluate the performance of its business.

Physical Locations

In the second quarter of 2023, the Company sold 6 new franchisee agreements, awarded 2 transfers of ownership and opened 2 new locations. As of the current date, the Company now has a total of 135 locations open and operating and 19 more locations in various stages of preparing to open. During the second quarter 2 locations closed. The Company has the ability to use its technology platforms to continue operating virtually in the geographies related to the closed locations.

Vertical Treatment Centers (VTC)

The Companys opiate addiction therapy business, VTC, which currently operates only in the state of South Carolina, has recently transitioned its business model given industry changes. The most significant changes for VTC are the closing of stand-alone VTC locations, with clients being served at specific ARCpoint franchisee locations. By moving from VTC-only locations to utilizing existing ARCpoint franchisee locations to treat clients, the VTC business unit is able to reduce costs. Of note, Blue Cross Blue Shield, which provides insurance reimbursement for opiate addiction therapy in South Carolina, has recently increased reimbursement rates that the insurer pays opiate addiction therapy practices like VTC. Currently, VTC does not comprise a materially financial portion of ARCpoints overall business, but the Company is investigating ways it could grow the business in South Carolina and other US states.

As at June 30, 2023, the Company had total cash on hand of approximately US$3.3 million, comprised of US$2.6 million in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and US$733 thousand in Brand Fund restricted cash. Use of Brand Fund restricted cash is at the Companys discretion and is used to increase sales and the brand presence of the Companys entities and franchisees.

Summary of 2023 Q2 Financial Results

All results below are reported under International Financial Reporting Standards and in US dollars.

Total revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2023 was $1.5 million compared to $2.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and $1.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023. During Q2 2022, high complexity PCR testing and low complexity rapid tests volumes were significantly higher due to the COVID pandemic.

Net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2023 was $2.4 million compared to a net loss of $1.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and negative $2.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022. The increase in loss for Q2 2023 versus Q2 2022 was due to lower revenues and higher operating costs, including software development and sales and marketing costs for the period.

Operating cash flow for the three months ended June 30, 2023 was negative $1.9 million compared to negative $400 thousand for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and negative $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023. During the quarter, the Company paid $485 thousand in one-time severance costs due to headcount reductions enacted on April 1, 2023.

EBITDA for the three months ended June 30, 2023 was negative $2.0 million compared to negative $1.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and negative $1.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023.

Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended June 30, 2023 was negative $1.8 million compared to negative $0.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and negative $ 1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023. For the current period ended, the difference between EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA is primarily due to an adjustment related to the timing difference between Brand fund revenues and expenditures.





DEFINITION AND RECONCILIATION OF NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES

The Company reports certain non-IFRS measures that are used to evaluate the performance of its businesses and the performance of their respective segments. Securities regulators require such measures to be clearly defined and reconciled with their most comparable IFRS measures.

As non-IFRS measures generally do not have a standardized meaning, they may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Rather, these are provided as additional information to complement those IFRS measures by providing further understanding of the results of the operations of the Company from managements perspective. Accordingly, these measures should not be considered in isolation, nor as a substitute for analysis of the Companys financial information reported under IFRS. Non-IFRS measures used to analyze the performance of the Companys businesses include EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Average Unit Volume.

The Company believes that these non-IFRS financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding the Companys performances and may be useful to investors because they allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in its financial and operational decision-making. These financial measures are intended to provide investors with supplemental measures of the Companys operating performances and thus highlight trends in the Companys core businesses that may not otherwise be apparent when solely relying on the IFRS measures. These non-IFRS measures are calculated as follows:

EBITDA is comprised as income (loss) less interest, income tax and depreciation and amortization. Management believes that EBITDA is a useful indicator for investors, and is used by management, in evaluating the operating performance of the Company. See Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation appended to this press release for a quantitative reconciliation of EBITDA to the most directly comparable financial measure.

Adjusted EBITDA is comprised as income (loss) less interest, income tax, depreciation, amortization, share-based compensation, Brand Fund revenue and expense timing difference, change in fair value of warrant liability, foreign exchange gain (loss) and other income / expenses not attributable to the operations of the Company. Management believes that EBITDA is a useful indicator for investors, and is used by management, in evaluating the operating performance of the Company. See Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation appended to this press release for a quantitative reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable financial measure.

Average Unit Volume is defined as the average revenue of a reporting physical franchise location open more than 24 months, which is the length of time the Company believe it takes for a new franchisee location to reach normalized operations after start up. AUV cannot be distinguished from totals, subtotals and items disclosed in the primary financial statements of the Company.

A reconciliation of how the Company calculates EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA is provide in the table appended to this press release.

For more information, please see the interim Financial Statements (the Financial Statements) and the interim Management Discussion & Analysis of the Company (MD&A) for the three-month period ended June 30, 2023 under the Companys profile at www.sedar.com.

About ARCpoint Inc.

ARCpoint is a leading US-based franchise system that leverages technology along with brick-and-mortar locations to give businesses and individual consumers access to convenient, cost-effective healthcare information and solutions with transparent, up-front pricing, so that they can be proactive and preventative with their health and well-being. ARCpoint is based in Greenville, South Carolina, USA. ARCpoint Franchise Group LLC, formed under the laws of the state of South Carolina in February 2005, is the franchisor of ARCpoint Labs and supports over 130 independently owned locations. ARCpoint sells franchises to individuals throughout the United States and provides support in the form of marketing, technology and training to new franchisees. ARCpoint Corporate Labs LLC develops corporate-owned labs committed to providing accurate, cost-effective solutions for customers, businesses and physicians. AFG Services LLC serves as the innovation center of the ARCpoint group of companies as it builds a proprietary technology platform and a physician network to equip all ARCpoint labs with best-in-class tools and solutions to better serve their customers. The platform also digitalizes and streamlines administrative functions such as materials purchasing, compliance, billing and physician services for ARCpoint franchise labs and other clients.

For more information, please contact:

ARCpoint Inc.

Jason Tong, Chief Financial Officer

Phone: (604) 889-7827

E-mail: invest@arcpointlabs.com

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION:

Forward-Looking Information  this news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws which are based on ARCpoints current internal expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs and views of future events. Forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as expect, likely, may, will, should, intend, anticipate, potential, proposed, estimate and other similar words, including negative and grammatical variations thereof, or statements that certain events or conditions may, would or will happen, or by discussions of strategy.

The forward-looking information in this news release is based upon the expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and views of future events which management believes to be reasonable in the circumstances. Forward-looking information includes estimates, plans, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, targets, guidance or other statements that are not statements of fact. Froward-looking information necessarily involve known and unknown risks, including, without limitation, risks associated with general economic conditions; adverse industry events; loss of markets; future legislative and regulatory developments; inability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favourable terms; the ability of the Company to implement its business strategies, the COVID-19 pandemic; competition and other risks.

Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all such factors. When considering the forward-looking information contained herein, readers should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements in the Companys disclosure documents filed with the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The risk factors and other factors noted in the disclosure documents could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those described in any forward-looking information.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this Press release.

ARCpoint Inc.

Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation

(Expressed in United States Dollars)

(a) Finance expense comprised of interest on bank loans, notes payable and lease liabilities (see Financial Statements).

(b) Share-based compensation expense comprised of non-cash compensation (see Financial Statements).

(c) One-time legal and professional fees refer to expenses and other transactional costs incurred for financings and restructuring completed in 2022 and one-time legal fees in 2023 (see Financial Statements).

(d) The Group operates a Brand Fund established to collect and administer funds contributed for use in advertising and promotional programs designed to increase sales and enhance the reputation of the Group and its franchisees. The Group reports contributions and expenditures on a gross basis on the Groups statement of profit and loss. Brand Fund contributions are recognized as revenue when invoiced, as the Group has full discretion on how and when the Brand Fund revenues are spent. Brand Fund revenue received may not equal advertising expenditures for the period due to timing of promotions and this difference is recognized to earnings. This adjustment is made to normalize for the timing difference of the Brand Fund revenues and Brand Fund expenditures.
Mr Tchiani claimed the coup was well intended, stating that they struck to starve off an imminent threat.

Niger's coup leader, Abdourahmane Tchiani, has offered explanations for refusing to meet an ECOWAS delegation led by former Nigerian military leader, Abdulsalami Abubakar.

According to a statement signed by an Islamic scholar, Bala Lau, who led a team of Nigerian Islamic scholars to meet with the coup leader in Niamey, Mr Tchiani said they (the coup leaders) were angry that ECOWAS did not hear them out before issuing them an ultimatum.

He however apologised for his action noting that the junta's doors are open to explore diplomacy and peace in resolving the matter.

The statement did not, however, state if Mr Tchiani also apologised for his decision to meet delegations from the AU, UN and the US.

Mr Tchiani claimed the coup was well intended, stating that they struck to starve off an imminent threat that would have affected not only Niger but also Nigeria. The statement did not, however, quote him as saying what the imminent threat was.

The coup leader added that Niger and Nigeria were not only neighbours but brothers and sisters who should resolve issues amicably.

At their meeting, the Nigerian team and the coup leader agreed to further explore using dialogue to resolve the political crisis in Niger.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the Islamic scholars last week met with Nigeria's President and ECOWAS chair, Bola Tinubu, to discuss the use of dialogue in resolving the conflict. They also requested to be allowed to intervene, a request the Nigerian leader agreed to.

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According to the Sunday statement, Mr Lau told the coup leader that the visit to Niger was to engage in constructive dialogue to encourage him and other military leaders behind the coup to toe the path of peace instead of war to resolve the crisis.

Speaking with journalists in Niamey after the meeting, another member of the intervention team and Chief Missioner of Ansarudeen Society of Nigeria, Abdulrahman Ahmad, said contrary to reports in some sections of the media, the team was well received by Mr Tchiani and both parties had fruitful discussions.

"We will now go back home and report to President Tinubu what we have discussed and press it on him that war is not an option in resolving the matter.

"We believe that war is an ill wind that will not blow any good and that peaceful resolution should prevail."

The team comprised scholars from various Islamic organisations in the country including Kabiru Gombe, the secretary of Jamatul izalatul bida waikamatul sunnah; Yakubu Katsina, director of Daawah of JIBWIS; Dahiru Bauchi, represented by Ibrahim Bauchi and Khalid Aliya, the secretary-general of Jammatul Nasril Islam.

Nigerians and indeed the rest of the world will wait to see the impact of the cleric's visit on the situation in Niger particularly the resolution by ECOWAS that it would use force to dislodge the putschists unless they hand over power back to detained President Mohamed Bazoum.
VANCOUVER, Aug. 14, 2023 - Integra Resources Corp. ("Integra" or the "Company") (TSXV: ITR; NYSE American: ITRG) is pleased to announce the filing of an independent Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") technical report for the Wildcat Project ("Wildcat") and Mountain View Project ("Mountain View") (together, "Wildcat & Mountain View") located in western Nevada.



The PEA demonstrates the potential for a low-cost, high-margin, heap leach gold-silver operation with a phased development and production strategy and robust economics. The average annual production of Wildcat & Mountain View and the DeLamar Project on a combined basis is expected to exceed 200kozs of gold equivalent ("AuEq"), demonstrating one of the largest heap leach production profiles among precious metal developers in the Great Basin.



Wildcat & Mountain View PEA Highlights:

After-tax NPV(5%) of US$309.6 million ("M") (C$408.6M 1 ) and 36.9% after-tax IRR using base case metal prices of US$1,700/oz gold ("Au") and US$21.50/oz silver ("Ag")

) and 36.9% after-tax IRR using base case metal prices of US$1,700/oz gold ("Au") and US$21.50/oz silver ("Ag") After-tax NPV(5%) of US$442.1M (C$583.6M 1 ) and 49.7% after-tax IRR using spot metal prices on June 27, 2023 (announcement date) of US$1,920/oz Au and US$22.00/oz Ag

) and 49.7% after-tax IRR using spot metal prices on June 27, 2023 (announcement date) of US$1,920/oz Au and US$22.00/oz Ag Wildcat & Mountain View generate combined annual production of ~94koz AuEq from year 1-5 with average annual production of 80koz AuEq over the 13 year Life-of-Mine ("LOM")

LOM payable metals from Wildcat & Mountain View of 1,043koz AuEq

LOM site level cash costs of US$882/oz AuEq on a co-product basis; LOM site level all-in sustaining cash costs ("AISC") of US$973/oz AuEq on a co-product basis

Year -1 initial capex of US$115M to begin operations at Wildcat

Average Au Recovery of 71.4% at Wildcat and 77.1% at Mountain View

Low combined LOM strip ratio of 1.21 (Wildcat standalone strip ratio of 0.28)

LOM total net free cash flow generated of US$485M with average net annual free cash flow of US$46M from year 1-13 Updated mineral resource estimate at Wildcat & Mountain View demonstrates growth of +23% and +49% respectively compared to the previous mineral resource estimates dated November 2020: 2021-2022 drilling at Wildcat & Mountain View allowed the Company to convert the majority of the previous resource estimate from the Inferred ("Inf.") category to the Indicated ("M&I") category Wildcat Project: 746koz Au and 6,438koz Ag (829koz AuEq) in M&I (59,872,806 tonnes at 0.39 g/t Au and 3.34 g/t Ag) and 210koz Au and 1,980koz Ag (235koz AuEq) in Inf. (22,455,848 tonnes at 0.29 g/t Au and 2.74 g/t Ag) Mountain View Project: 578koz Au and 3,402koz Ag (622koz AuEq) in M&I (28,750,517 tonnes at 0.63 g/t Au and 3.68 g/t Ag) and 60koz Au and 244koz Ag (63koz AuEq) in Inf. (4,155,502 tonnes at 0.45 g/t Au and 1.83 g/t Ag)

The PEA results complement the 2022 Pre-feasibility Study for the DeLamar Project in southwestern Idaho, which demonstrated a base case after-tax NPV(5%) of US$314M and a 33% after-tax IRR2

(1) CAD:USD FX rate of 1.32

(2) See NI 43-101 technical report titled: "Technical Report and Preliminary Feasibility Study for the DeLamar and Florida Mountain Gold - Silver project, Owyhee County, Idaho, USA", dated March 22, 2022 with an effective date of January 24, 2022 available under Integra Resources' SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com and EDGAR profile at www.sec.gov; Gold price assumption: US$1,700/oz Au; Silver price assumption is US$21.50/oz Ag

Integra's President, CEO & Director, Jason Kosec commented: "The successful Wildcat & Mountain View PEA demonstrates two high-margin, low-cost, heap leachable gold and silver deposits with a strong combined production profile, low pre-production capex and robust economics. When combined with the DeLamar Project, Integra demonstrates the path to becoming +200koz AuEq per annum producer in the prolific Great Basin. For the remainder of the year, the team is focused on delivering two more significant milestones at DeLamar, including the updated mineral resource estimate in Q3 and the submission of the Mine Plan of Operations in Q4."

The Wildcat & Mountain View PEA technical report (the "Report") has been prepared for Integra by Micon International Limited of Toronto, Canada and included contributions from Forte Dynamics, NewFields Mining Design and Technical Services and Convergent Mining. The Report has been prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The Report titled "NI 43-101 Technical Report Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Wildcat and Mountain View Projects, Pershing and Washoe Counties, Nevada, USA" is available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) under Integra's profile and on the Company's website.

Integra's news release dated June 28, 2023 summarized certain key results, assumptions and estimates contained in the Wildcat & Mountain View PEA. The Company is pleased to report that there are no material differences between the key results, assumptions and estimates contained in the Report and Integra's news release dated June 28, 2023.

The PEA is preliminary in nature and includes inferred mineral resources that are too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. There is no certainty that PEA results will be realized. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

Qualified Persons

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Raphael Dutaut, Ph.D (P.Geo), Integra's Vice President, Exploration and Tim Arnold (PE, SME), Integra's Chief Operating Officer. Both individuals are "Qualified Persons" ("QP") as defined in NI 43- 101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has also been verified and approved by the following "Qualified Persons" within the meaning of NI 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects: Richard Gowans, P.Eng, Micon International Limited (metallurgy and mineral processing, environmental, permitting and social considerations), Andrew Hanson, P.E., NewFields Mining Design and Technical Services (heap leach infrastructure), Chris Jacobs, CEng, MIMMM, Micon International Limited (economic analysis), William Lewis, P.Geo, Micon International Limited (mineral resource estimation), Deepak Malhotra, Director of Metallurgy, Forte Dynamics (infrastructure), and Ralston Pedersen, P.E., Convergent Mining, LLC (mining).

About Integra Resources

Integra is one of the largest precious metals exploration and development companies in the Great Basin of the Western USA. Integra is currently focused on advancing its three-flagship oxide heap leach projects: the past producing DeLamar Project located in southwestern Idaho and the Wildcat Project and Mountain View Project located in western Nevada. The Company also holds a portfolio of highly prospective early-stage exploration projects in Idaho, Nevada, and Arizona. Integra's long-term vision is to become a leading USA-focused mid-tier gold and silver producer.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS



Jason Kosec

President, CEO and Director

CONTACT INFORMATION



Corporate Inquiries: ir@integraresources.com

Company website: www.integraresources.com

Office phone: 1 (604) 416-0576

Forward Looking and Other Cautionary Statements

Certain information set forth in this news release contains "forward?looking statements" and "forward?looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and applicable United States securities laws (referred to herein together as "forward?looking statements"). Except for statements of historical fact, certain information contained herein constitutes forward?looking statements which includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: the future financial or operating performance of the Company and Wildcat & Mountain View; results from work performed to date; the estimation of mineral resources; the realization of mineral resource estimates; the development, operational and economic results of the PEA for the Wildcat and Mountain View deposits, including cash flows, revenue potential, staged development, capital expenditures, development costs and timing thereof, extraction rates, life of mine projections and cost estimates; timing of completion of a technical report summarizing the results of the PEA; magnitude or quality of mineral deposits; anticipated advancement of the mine plans for Wildcat & Mountain View; exploration expenditures, costs and timing of the development of new deposits; costs and timing of future exploration; the completion and timing of future development studies; estimates of metallurgical recovery rates; anticipated advancement of Wildcat & Mountain View and future exploration prospects; requirements for additional capital; the future price of metals; government regulation of mining operations; environmental risks; the timing and possible outcome of pending regulatory matters; the realization of the expected economics of Wildcat & Mountain View; future growth potential of Wildcat & Mountain View; and future development plans. Forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of words such as "may", "will", "could", "would", "anticipate", 'believe", expect", "intend", "potential", "estimate", "budget", "scheduled", "plans", "planned", "forecasts", "goals" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of factors and assumptions made by management and considered reasonable at the time such statements are made. Assumptions and factors include: the Company's ability to complete its planned exploration programs; the absence of adverse conditions at Wildcat & Mountain View; no unforeseen operational delays; no material delays in obtaining necessary permits; the price of gold remaining at levels that render Wildcat & Mountain View economic; the Company's ability to continue raising necessary capital to finance operations; and the ability to realize on the mineral resource and reserve estimates. Forward?looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or result expressed or implied by such forward?looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: general business, economic and competitive uncertainties; the actual results of current and future exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; meeting various expected cost estimates; benefits of certain technology usage; changes in project parameters and/or economic assessments as plans continue to be refined; future prices of metals; possible variations of mineral grade or recovery rates; the risk that actual costs may exceed estimated costs; geological, mining and exploration technical problems; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); title to properties. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers are advised to study and consider risk factors disclosed in Integra's annual report on Form 20-F dated March 17, 2023 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, and Millennial Precious Metals' management's discussion and analysis dated April 28, 2023 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.

There can be no assurance that forward?looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward?looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained herein are presented for the purposes of assisting investors in understanding the Company's plans, objectives and goals and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward?looking statements. This news release also contains or references certain market, industry and peer group data which is based upon information from independent industry publications, market research, analyst reports and surveys and other publicly available sources. Although the Company believes these sources to be generally reliable, such information is subject to interpretation and cannot be verified with complete certainty due to limits on the availability and reliability of raw data, the voluntary nature of the data gathering process and other inherent limitations and uncertainties. The Company has not independently verified any of the data from third party sources referred to in this news release and accordingly, the accuracy and completeness of such data is not guaranteed.

Cautionary Note for U.S. Investors Concerning Mineral Resources and Reserves

National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects is a rule of the Canadian Securities Administrators which establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. Technical disclosure contained in this news release has been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Classification System. These standards differ from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and resource information contained in this press release may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by domestic United States companies subject to the SEC's reporting and disclosure requirements.

All references to "$" in this news release are to U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated.

Cautionary Note Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Alternative performance measures in this news release such as "cash cost", "AISC" "free cash flow" are furnished to provide additional information. These non-GAAP performance measures are included in this news release because these statistics are used as key performance measures that management uses to monitor and assess performance of Wildcat & Mountain View, and to plan and assess the overall effectiveness and efficiency of mining operations. These performance measures do not have a standard meaning within International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and, therefore, amounts presented may not be comparable to similar data presented by other mining companies. These performance measures should not be considered in isolation as a substitute for measures of performance in accordance with IFRS.

Cash Costs

Cash costs include site operating costs (mining, processing, site G&A), refinery costs and royalties, but excludes head office G&A and exploration expenses. While there is no standardized meaning of the measure across the industry, the Company believes that this measure is useful to external users in assessing operating performance.

All-In Sustaining Cost

Site level AISC includes cash costs and sustaining and expansion capital, but excludes head office G&A and exploration expenses. The Company believes that this measure is useful to external users in assessing operating performance and the Company's ability to generate free cash flow from potential operations.

All-In Cost

Site level AIC includes AISC level costs and also includes initial capital and equipment finance costs associated with initial capital. The Company believes that this measure is useful to external users in assessing the Company's overall ability to generate free cash flow from potential operations.

Free Cash Flow

Free cash flows are revenues net of operating costs, royalties, capital expenditures and cash taxes. The Company believes that this measure is useful to the external users in assessing the Company's ability to generate cash flows from the Project.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Stewart, August 14, 2023 - Decade Resources Ltd. (TSXV: DEC) ("Decade" or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with REDPLUG Inc. ("REDPLUG") pursuant to which REDPLUG has agreed to purchase, on a bought deal private placement basis, 6,250,000 flow through units at a price of $0.24 per unit, for aggregate gross proceeds of $1,500,000 (the "Brokered Financing").

Decade will also complete a non-brokered private placement for 2,000,000 flow through units, at a price of $0.24 per unit, for gross proceeds of $480,000, and for 1,350,000 non-flow-through units at a price of $0.20 per unit, for gross proceeds of $270,000. (the "Non-Brokered Financing").

The Company expects to raise total gross proceeds of $2,250,000 from the Brokered Financing and the Non-Brokered Financing (together, the "Offering").

The share included in the non-flow-through unit is a common share.

The share included in the flow-through unit is a "flow-through share" as defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada).

Both the non-flow-through unit and the flow-through unit include one transferable warrant exercisable for the purchase of one additional common share, at a price of $0.32 per share, for 2 years.

The $300,000 financing announced on August 10, 2023, has been cancelled. Decade directors, Edward Kruchkowski and Randolph Kasum, will purchase 1,250,000 flow-through units of the Non-Brokered Financing for gross proceeds of $300,000.

Ed Kruchkowski, President of the Company, comments: "With these funds, Decade's 2023 exploration campaign will be greatly expanded, and fully funded. Our intention is to continue drilling aggressively at our 100% owned Nobody Knows property, where recent diamond drilling has intersected thick intervals of copper sulphides in felsic volcanic rocks. The discovery holes show similarities to many of the world's major sediment-hosted copper systems. Assay results are pending."

Proceeds from the sale of non-flow-through units will be used for general corporate purposes.

Proceeds from the sale of flow-through units will be utilized for incurring flow through expenses that qualify as "Canadian exploration expenses" and "flow through critical mineral mining expenditures" as defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada). Flow-through proceeds will primarily be spent on the Nobody Knows Copper property, with a smaller portion to be spent on the Red Cliff property.

Both financings are expected to close concurrently, on or about August 28, 2023.

The Offering is subject to approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV").

All securities issued in the Offering will be subject to the statutory hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance, in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

Directors' subscriptions in the Non-Brokered Financing will be considered to be related party transactions, as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101. However, the transactions will be exempt from formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements as neither the fair market value of any shares issued to, or the consideration paid by such persons, will exceed 25 per cent of the company's market capitalization.

Decade has engaged REDPLUG Inc. as its financial advisor in connection with the Financings. REDPLUG is a registered exempt market dealer specializing in private placements in the junior resource sector. REDPLUG's accredited investor clients are building positions in well-managed, insider-owned, resource companies including: prospect generators, advanced explorers, resource developers, and near-term producers.

Upon closing of the Brokered Financing and the Non-Brokered Financing, REDPLUG will receive a cash fee expressed as a percentage of the gross proceeds received, as well as a number of non-transferable broker-warrants exercisable at $0.24 for 2 years (B-Warrants), expressed as a percentage of the number of units sold. REDPLUG will receive a fee of 8% cash and 8% B-Warrants on the Brokered Financing, and 2% cash and 2% B-Warrants on the Non-Brokered Financing, except on subscriptions to directors, upon which no fee will be paid.

Decade may pay a fee to other registered dealers on the Non-Brokered Financing.

Decade announces that it has granted 1,000,000 incentive stock options to directors and consultants of the Company. The options are exercisable at $0.22 and will expire in five years.

This news release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from U.S. registration requirements.

Decade Resources Ltd. is a Canadian based mineral exploration company actively seeking opportunities in the resource sector. Decade holds numerous properties at various stages of development and exploration, from basic grass roots to advanced ones. Its properties and projects are all located in the "Golden Triangle" area of northern British Columbia. For a complete listing of the Company assets and developments, visit the Company website at www.decaderesources.ca. For investor information, please call 250-636-2264 or Gary Assaly at 604-377-7969.

Ed Kruchkowski, P. Geo., a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101 is responsible for the contents of this release. Ed Kruchkowski is not independent of Decade as he is the president of the Company.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF Decade Resources Ltd.

"Ed Kruchkowski"

Ed Kruchkowski, President

"Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release." "This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements."

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/177062
Ottawa, August 14, 2023 - Stria Lithium Inc. (TSXV:SRA) ("Stria Lithium", the "Company") The Pontax Central Project Joint venture (Cygnus Metals 51%/Stria 49%) now has a maiden resource estimate produced by Cygnus metals. This JORC estimate establishes Pontax Central as a serious player in the Canadian Lithium James Bay region. Cygnus Metals being an ASX issuer, they adhered to Australian JORC Code 2012 guidelines, meaning that such mineral resource estimate is not necessarily current in regard of the Canadian National Instrument 43-101 code. Cygnus published a Maiden inferred Resource Estimate (MRE) of 10.1Mt at 1.04% Li2O based on the central area of the known mineralisation.

Below are highlights from Cygnus Metals press release dated August 14, 2023

Substantial maiden resource establishes Pontax as a significant James Bay lithium project with scope for ongoing growth

Diamond drilling scheduled to resume this quarter and will be focused on resource growth through step out drilling and discovery drilling across the wider belt

The mineralisation is reported as open in all directions

Spodumene mineralisation has been confirmed by surface mapping up to 9km from the Pontax Central resource, highlighting the huge upside potential at Pontax

The Resource has been defined in just 12 months since acquisition at an exceptionally low discovery cost of A$0.55 per tonne of Resource, based on only 11,328m of drilling

Cygnus is only the fourth ASX-listed company in the Quebec region with a lithium resource after Allkem (ASX:AKE), Sayona (ASX:SYA) and Patriot Battery Metals (ASX:PMT)

First pass metallurgical test work delivered excellent recoveries, generating a 6% spodumene concentrate using conventional processing techniques

Pontax Central is located in central James Bay close to a major paved road and Hydro Quebec power infrastructure and only 30km south of Allkem's James Bay Deposit (40.3Mt @ 1.40% LiO), which is progressing towards development.

CYGNUS/ STRIA

Joint venture

Pontax Central

10.1Mt@1.04%Li2O

Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 1: Pontax is located in central James Bay, close to major infrastructure and power, and surrounded by significant developing lithium projects including Allkem's (AKE) 40.3Mt James Bay deposit located just 30km to the north of Pontax.1

"We are extremely impressed with the speed and efficiency in which Cygnus Metals established this JORC maiden resource estimate. With only 11328 metres of drilling and a cost of $0.49 CDN per tonne of resource we can conclude that this strategy is extremely beneficial to investors in creating real value in the ground per dollar of investment." Dean Hanisch CEO of Stria Lithium.

Please see link to Cygnus Metals' full press release dated August 14th,2023

https://www.cygnusmetals.com/investors

About Stria Lithium

Stria Lithium (TSXV.SRA, OTCQB.SRCAF, FRANKFURT.S35A.F) is an emerging resource exploration company developing Canadian lithium reserves in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay Territory of Quebec, Canada, to meet legislated demand for electric vehicles and their rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.

Lithium is a rare metal and an indispensable component of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, one of the safest and most efficient energy storage technologies available today, used in everything from cell phones and power tools to electric cars and industrial-scale energy storage for renewable power sources such as wind and solar generation.

Stria's Central Pontax Lithium Project covers 36 square kilometres, including 8 kilometres of strike along the prospective Chambois Greenstone Belt. The region, known as the Canadian "Lithium Triangle," is one of only a few known sources of lithium available for hard rock mining in North America.

Stria has entered into a JV agreement with Cygnus Metals (ASX:CY5) on its Pontax Central project. Cygnus Metals is committed to fully funding and managing the current two-stage exploration and drilling program to a maximum of $10 million at Stria's Pontax property, and will also pay Stria up to $6 million in cash. In return, Cygnus may acquire up to a 70% interest in the property. Cygnus has fulfilled its stage 1 requirements within the agreement and has now earned its 51% interest in the property as per above share issuance.

Stria's other significant project, Pontax II is due southeast to Pontax Central. These 128 individual claims totalling 6811 hectares (68 square kilometres) are on strike with stria's existing Pontax Central project along the prospective Chambois Greenstone belt hosting spodumene bearing pegmatites. Stria Lithium previously reported highly anomalous tantalum oxide grain counts in till samples up to 797 grains, the highest count ever recorded by the laboratory. The Pontax II grain counts stand at the 97.6 centile of the regional population with an average of 156 grains per sample as a comparative basis, a regional survey in the same area conducted by the Ministe?re de l'E?nergie et des Ressources Naturelles du Que?bec, processed a total of 5950 tantalum oxide grains yielding an average count of 36 grains per samples. The conclusion being the grain counts are suggestive of the proximity of lithium bearing pegmatites. Chip sampling and mapping is underway summer 2023 (currently) in preparation for a follow up winter drill program.

Pontax II claims are in highly active prospective zones, situated to the west southwest of Stria/Cygnus lithium discovery and situated to the west of the Patriot Battery Metals (PMET.V) Pontax project, and south of Brunswick Exploration (BRW.V).

Stria's Pontax properties are both situated close to an industrial powerline and a major paved highway, about 310 km north of the North American rail network that leads to the industrial heartland.

As momentum builds for the green energy revolution and the shift to electric vehicles, governments in Canada and the U.S. are aggressively supporting the North American lithium industry, presenting the industry and its investors with a rare, if not unprecedented, opportunity for growth and prosperity well into the next decade and beyond.

Stria is committed to exceeding the industry's environmental, social and governance standards. A critical part of that commitment is forging meaningful, enduring and mutually beneficial relationships with the James Bay Cree Nation (Eeyouch), and engaging openly and respectfully as neighbours and collaborators in this exciting project that has the potential to create lasting jobs and prosperity for Eeyou Istchee and its people.

For more information about Stria Lithium and the Pontax Lithium project, please visit https://strialithium.com

Follow us on:

Twitter@StriaLithium

Instagram@strialithium

Facebookhttp://www.facebook.com/strialithium

LinkedInhttp://www.linkedin.com/company/stria-lithium/

For more information on Stria Lithium Inc., please contact:

Dean Hanisch

CEO Stria Lithium

dhanisch@strialithium.com

+1(613) 612-6060

Investors Relations, Stria Lithium Inc.

ir@strialithium.com

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 accuracy or adequacy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. We cannot guarantee future results, performance or achievements. Consequently, there is no representation that the actual results achieved will be the same, in whole or in part, as those set out in the forward-looking information.

Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Please refer to the risk factors disclosed under our profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive.

The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. We undertake no duty to update any of the forward-looking information to conform such information to actual results or to changes in our expectations except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Competent Persons Statements - Australia

The information in this announcement that relates to Exploration Results is based on and fairly represents information and supporting documentation compiled by Mr Duncan Grieve, a Competent Person who is a member of The Australasian Institute of Geoscientists. Mr Grieve is the Chief Geologist and a full-time employee of Cygnus Metals and holds shares in the Company. Mr Grieve has sufficient experience relevant to the style of mineralisation under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves" ("JORC Code"). Mr Grieve consents to the inclusion in this announcement of the matters based on this information in the form and context in which it appears.

The information in this announcement that relates to Mineral Resources at the Pontax Lithium Project is based on and fairly represents information and supporting documentation compiled by Mr Brian Wolfe. Mr Wolfe is a Competent Person who is an independent consultant specialising in Mineral Resource estimation, evaluation and exploration. Mr Wolfe is a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists and is an employee of International Resource Solutions Pty Ltd, a company engaged by Cygnus. Mr Wolfe does not hold securities in Cygnus. Mr Wolfe has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code. Mr Wolfe consents to the inclusion in this announcement of all technical statements based on his information in the form and context in which they appear.

End Note

1. For the information in this announcement that relates to Mineral Resources, refer to the following: James Bay (40.3Mt @ 1.40% Li2O), refer to Allkem Ltd's ASX release dated 21 December 2021; Whabouchi (55.7Mt @ 1.40% Li2O), refer to Nemaska Lithium Inc.'s NI 43-101 dated 31 May 2019; Rose (34.2Mt @ 0.90% Li2O), refer for Critical Elements Lithium Corp.'s TSX-V announcement dated 13 June 2022; Abitibi Lithium Hub (119.1Mt @ 1.1% Li2O) operated by Sayona Mining Limited/Piedmont Lithium Inc., refer to Sayona Mining Ltd.'s ASX release dated 1 March 2022; Moblan (70.9Mt @ 1.15% Li2O) operated by Sayona Mining Ltd./SOQUEM Inc, refer to Sayona Mining Ltd.'s ASX release dated 17 April 2023; and Corvette (109.2Mt @ 1.42% Li2O), refer to Patriot Battery Metals Ltd's ASX release dated July 31, 2023.

2. Please refer to Cygnus Metal's ASX announcement dated July 29, 2022.


Kelowna, August 14, 2023 - F3 Uranium Corp. (TSXV: FUU) (OTCQB: FUUFF) ("F3 Uranium" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Red Cloud Securities Inc., as lead underwriter and sole bookrunner, on behalf of a syndicate of underwriters (collectively, the "Underwriters"), pursuant to which the Underwriters have agreed to purchase for resale 30,927,835 flow-through units of the Company (each, a "FT Unit") at a price of C$0.485 per FT Unit (the "Offering Price") on a "bought deal" basis in a private placement for gross proceeds of C$15,000,000 (the "Underwritten Offering").

Each FT Unit will consist of one common share of the Company (each, a "Common Share") to be issued as a "flow-through share" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (each, a "FT Share") and one half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each whole Warrant shall entitle the holder to purchase one Common Share at a price of C$0.485 at any time on or before that date which is 24 months after the Closing Date (as herein defined). The FT Shares will be issued as charitable flow-through common shares of the Company.

The Company will grant to the Underwriters an option, exercisable up to 48 hours prior to the Closing Date (as defined below), to purchase for resale up to an additional 4,639,175 FT Units at the Offering Price for additional gross proceeds of up to C$2,250,000 (the "Over-Allotment Option", and together with the Underwritten Offering, the "Offering").

The FT Units to be sold under the Offering will be offered by way of the "accredited investor" and minimum amount investment" exemptions under National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions in all of the provinces of Canada. The Common Shares issuable from the sale of the FT Units will be subject to a restricted period in Canada ending on the date that is four months plus one day following the closing of the Offering as defined in Subsection 2.5(2) of Multilateral Instrument 45-102 - Resale of Securities.

The Offering is expected to close on September 12, 2023 (the "Closing Date"). The Company will pay to the Underwriters a cash commission of 5.5% of the gross proceeds raised in respect of the Offering (the "Underwriters' Commission"). In addition, the Company will issue to the Underwriters warrants of the Company (each warrant, a "Broker Warrant"), exercisable for a period of 24 months following the Closing Date, to acquire in aggregate that number of Common Shares which is equal to 5.5% of the number of FT Units sold under the Offering at an exercise price equal to C$0.485 per Common Share.

The proceeds of the Offering will be used by the Company to fund exploration of the Company's projects in the Athabasca Basin.

About F3 Uranium Corp.

F3 Uranium is a uranium project generator and exploration company, focusing on projects in the Athabasca Basin, home to some of the world's largest high grade uranium discovery. F3 Uranium currently has 18 projects in the Athabasca Basin. Several of F3's projects are near large uranium discoveries including Triple R, Arrow and Hurricane.

The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this press release, and do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

F3 Uranium Corp.

750-1620 Dickson Avenue

Kelowna, BC V1Y9Y2

Contact Information

Investor Relations

Telephone: 778 484 8030

Email: ir@fission3corp.com

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Dev Randhawa"

Dev Randhawa, CEO

Cautionary Statement: F3 Uranium Corp.

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities laws, which is based upon the Company's current internal expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs. The forward-looking information included in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release. Such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the Company's expectations with respect to the Offering; the use of proceeds of the Offering; completion of the Offering and the date of such completion. Forward-looking statements or forward-looking information relate to future events and future performance and include statements regarding the expectations and beliefs of management based on information currently available to the Company. Such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information often, but not always, can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "potential", "is expected", "anticipated", "is targeted", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negatives thereof or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved.

Forward-looking statements or forward-looking information are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties relating to: general business and economic conditions; regulatory approval for the Offering; completion of the Offering; changes in commodity prices; the supply and demand for, deliveries of, and the level and volatility of the price of uranium and other metals; changes in project parameters as exploration plans continue to be refined; costs of exploration including labour and equipment costs; risks and uncertainties related to the ability to obtain or maintain necessary licenses, permits or surface rights; changes in credit market conditions and conditions in financial markets generally; the ability to procure equipment and operating supplies in sufficient quantities and on a timely basis; the availability of qualified employees and contractors; the impact of value of the Canadian dollar and U.S. dollar, foreign exchange rates on costs and financial results; market competition; exploration results not being consistent with the Company's expectations; changes in taxation rates or policies; technical difficulties in connection with mining activities; changes in environmental regulation; environmental compliance issues; other risks of the mining industry; and risks related to the effects of COVID-19. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that could cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. For more information on the Company and the risks and challenges of its business, investors should review the Company's annual filings that are available at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and F3 Uranium Corp. disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities legislation.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/177232
Kassala / El Gedaref  The public prosecutor in Kassala in eastern Sudan has cancelled the arrest warrants against former leaders of the defunct Omar Al Bashir regime. In neighbouring El Gedaref, the prosecution dismissed charges against the state governor and other officials accused of covering up activities of Islamist hardliners in the state capital. The army is allegedly recruiting new soldiers along tribal lines. According to a recent report, the influence of prominent leaders of the Al Bashir regime is growing in Sudan.

Lawyer Ramzi Yahya told Radio Dabanga from El Gedaref on Tuesday that the public prosecutor informed him and his team on Wednesday about the decision issued on August 6 to write off the charges against the state governor and others "for the lack of capacity and failure to obtain the necessary permission".

The Democratic Lawyers Alliance considers the decision "a serious violation of the law", and is in the process of appealing the decision, Yahya said. "We are also preparing for filing official complaints against affiliates of the former regime and several officials in El Gedaref."

The prosecution had set Wednesday to hear witnesses. "Though we were informed by the prosecutor that the official complaints had been written off, we did listen to the statements of whistleblower Jaafar Khidir," the lawyer added.

"The official complaints submitted in El Gedaref concern political activities in a hall in the city in June, organised by Ahmed Haroun and other leaders of the defunct Al Bashir regime, with the knowledge of the state governor and other officials," he explained.

El Gedaref activists told Radio Dabanga said that the emergency order banning gatherings issued by the state governor on Tuesday "falls within the framework of restricting activities against members of the defunct regime". The decision was issued "after we organised three protests against the activities that included calls on our youth to join the army".

Arrest warrants

In Kassala, the public prosecution canceled arrest warrants against Ali Osman Taha, Ahmed Haroun, and three other former Islamist leaders of the Al Bashir regime (1989-2019) who have sought refuge in the state since their escape from Kober Prison in Khartoum North in end April.

The prosecutor justified the decision by referring to "the lack of legal justifications for opening a criminal case, as requested by the People's Committee Against War".

Political groups had welcomed the arrest warrants "issued pursuant to requests submitted by a group of civil society organisations, political forces, and lawyers". The warrants were "based on the charges under which these leaders of the former regime were imprisoned for more than two years," lawyer Rehab El Mubarak told Radio Dabanga in early August.

Osama Saeed, head of the Beja Congress, however, already doubted if Kassala state's security committee would keep the fugitives in police custody.

"Or is the prosecution playing a role in a poorly directed play?" he tweeted earlier this week.

The United Popular Front for Liberation and Justice led by El Amin Daoud condemned "the actions of the leaders of the dissolved National Congress Party (NCP) of Al Bashir following the outbreak of the war on April 15".

In a statement on Tuesday, the front denounced "the exploitation of the current war to infiltrate the country's political life".

'Tribal lines'

On Tuesday, the El Rashaida in eastern Sudan announced the enrollment of 1,000 of its young tribesmen in military training camps of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF).

The acting governor of Kassala, Khojali Hamed, welcomed "their impartial stand with the armed forces and crucial national issues".

The forces of the Eastern Sudan Movements Coalition, led by Sheiba Dirar, organised a parade in Port Sudan on Tuesday. In his address to his combatants, Dirar launched an attack "on the ministers and officials of the rebel movements that signed the Juba Peace Agreement because they do not stand with the armed forces".

In July, Radio Dabanga reported that the Sudanese army opened new military training camps in River Nile state and Kassala in which volunteers receive basic military training. Journalist Fatima El Ghazali expressed her concerns about recruitment efforts happening along tribal lines.

Al Bashir affiliates

A report by Mohammed Amin issued by Middle East Eye (MEE) on Monday stated that "The influence of prominent figures linked to the administration of former autocrat Omar al-Bashir and movements connected to it has been growing in Sudan, as the country's civilian actors take different positions in the war."

Both the SAF and the RSF have been courting "different civilian groups, while those same political movements are also looking to exert control over the warring parties.

"Sudanese politicians connected to the Muslim Brotherhood, the transnational political Islamic movement, and senior figures from Al Bashir's National Congress Party (NCP) have lined up behind the Sudanese army," Amin explained. "Leaders of the pro-democracy Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) coalition, meanwhile, have been accused of standing with the RSF, which since October 2022 has self-consciously positioned itself as a champion of democracy in its public messaging. [..]

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"Each side is fighting a messaging war, seeking to establish its version of events as the truth. The alleged presence of figures from the Sudanese Islamic movement within the army's ranks has been a key feature of RSF propaganda" while the army has been tied to the deep state of Al Bashir.

Amin further pointed to the stances of the mainstream Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC-Central Council) that in August 2019 agreed with the military junta (SAF and RSF) on a new, civilian-led government.

"The FFC has established a "civic front" to campaign for the ending of the war, but sources in the resistance committees said there were signs the FFC is backing the RSF, as the mainstream civilian coalition is not clearly condemning the paramilitary's violations - or at least drawing an equivalence between both sides," a resistance committee leader told MEE.

"What they [the FFC leaders] are doing is supporting the RSF through the political deal, so this will legitimise the RSF and the counter-revolution powers," he explained.

"This is not a new attitude from the Sudanese political parties. There have been many uprisings in Sudanese history and political parties end up allying with the armed forces to cut off the revolution."
Economic renaissance needed between Africa, Caribbean  Republic Bank MD

Daily Graphic Business News Aug - 14 - 2023 , 04:04

The Managing Director of Republic Bank (Ghana) PLC, Benjamin Dzoboku, has advocated an economic renaissance that creates opportunities for more partnerships between Africans and the Caribbean.

He made the call when speaking on the topic, Accelerating Opportunities to Achieve our Full Potential as part of a panel discussion at the just-ended 21st Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Symposium organised by the Emancipation Support Committee of Trinidad and Tobago as part of the Emancipation Day Celebrations.

In proposing some solutions to the current issues that are hindering the Trans-Atlantic Trade Relations between the two regions to help achieve their full potential, he mentioned for instance, the need to improve market information across both regions.

He also said it was important to provide direct air and shipping transportation, access to free entry of goods and services as well as the need for governments to deal with double taxation and the high tariffs on imports and exports of goods and services.

Mr Dzoboku also proposed to investors to leverage the financial conduit created by Republic Financial Holdings Limited (RFHL) through Republic Bank (Ghana) PLC and explore the opportunities.

At Republic Bank, we firmly believe that partnerships between Trinidad and Tobago and Ghanaian businesses can create a win-win situation.

Looking at Africas population of 1.46 billion and land size of 30.4 million square kilometres, as well as being the same people, just separated by an ocean, trade between the two regions should be over billions and not the current $378m being recorded.

As trailblazers, we are committed to advocating this economic renaissance, Mr Dzoboku added.

Background

In recent times, there have been calls from both countries to go beyond the cultural and historical similarities to build deeper trade relationships between the two countries.

Republic Financial Holdings Limited (RFHL) with its over 186 years in banking in 2015 took a major step to make a major Diaspora Investment in Ghana and eventually became the majority Shareholder in the then Ghanaian Bank, HFC Bank now Republic Bank (Ghana) PLC due to Ghanas stable emerging market environment.

Since then, Republic Bank Ghana, which has proven to be successful, organised four Trade Missions from the Caribbean to Ghana to establish and strengthen trade ties between the two countries but has faced many challenges which the Managing Director seized the opportunity to address at the symposium.

The symposium was opened by Khafra Kambon, Doctor of Humane Letters (h.c.), and the Director of Regional and Pan African Affairs of the Emancipation Support Committee of Trinidad and Tobago.

Other speakers included the Minister for Trade and Industry, Trinidad and Tobago, Paula Gopee-Scoon, who gave the welcome remarks, and Stacy Adams, Vice-President, Investor Services, InvestTT.

Nana Otuo Siribuo II, Juabenhene, represented the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II as the special guest of honour.
GREL commits to national development - Picks GRAs taxpayer award

Dotsey Koblah Aklorbortu Business News Aug - 14 - 2023 , 03:53

The Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL) has expressed its commitment to meeting its statutory obligations to ensure speedy national development by paying taxes to the state.

At the awards ceremony by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to recognise and appreciate GREL and two others with a certificate for being the best in tax payment and compliance at its Taxpayer Service Centre in Takoradi, the company said it remains dedicated to its good corporate citizenship principles.



Socially responsible

The Financial Controller of the company, Mr Joseph Appiah, said the company believes in being a socially responsible business that must meet economic, legal, ethical and philanthropic expectations at any given time.

As a company, we focus on the economic, legal, ethical and philanthropic aspects to ensure that we meet our tax obligations to the state and help build the country, he said.

The company, he said, was encouraged by the recognition, even though it had received these awards on a few occasions.

However, the continuous recognition is a plus to its commitment to nation-building.



Recent destruction

He described the recent destruction of parts of its investment as unfortunate, as it saw the cutting down of more than 30,000 rubber trees, which came as a huge loss to the company, the state and all other stakeholders.

Mr Appiah said aside from the recent destruction, it is important to let Ghanaians know that illegal mining activities remain another challenge affecting its plantation or investment in the rubber growing regions.

As we can process more and the need to increase production to feed the plants, it is instructive to say that the company has galamsey pits dotted in the middle of its plantation, he said.



Govt interest

He said investment in the country has a lot to offer, as the state owns 26.75 per cent interest in its operations, of which aside from the statuaries, the company pays dividends to the state and that GREL is grateful to the tax office for the recognition.

He said the company would always produce and process high-quality granulated and crumb rubber for international markets towards sustainable growth.

Our mission is to develop, support and empower rubber out-growers or the smallholder farmers most cost-effectively, he said.

For his part, the Takoradi Area Director of GRA, Mr Joseph Boateng, expressed the importance of revenue mobilisation and that the certificate awarded to the company and others would go a long way to enhance their corporate image, for their loyalty and consistency over the years.

He said some key areas that are considered in tax obligation included the filing of returns and other documents and payment, which is very difficult for some but has been made easier.

He said GRA will continue to work with all taxpayers and that the recognition was not limited to only GREL Takoradi, but also to two other selected taxpayers who will be at the grand event slated for the last quarter of this year.

Mr Boateng urged all income-earning individuals, including the self-employed, to file their returns by the end of each month, as well as file their annual return of income at the end of the year and submit them at the GRA offices throughout the country.



Background

The Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL) started as a small private plantation established by R. T. Briscoe in 1957 at Dixcove, with a plantation size of 923 hectares.

The plantation was nationalised into an Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC) in 1960 and later into State Farms Corporation in 1962.

At that time, the rubber plantation had expanded to Abura and Subri.

The Ghana Government, in 1967, established a joint venture company with Firestone Tyre Company of the USA to take over the rubber plantation.

This joint venture company was Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL).

GREL became wholly state-owned in 1980 when Firestone sold its shares in GREL to the Ghana Government.

However, the Ghana Government entered into a financing agreement with the then Caisse Francaise de Development (CFD), now Agence Francaise de Development, to rehabilitate and manage the companys rubber plantation and to build a new rubber processing plant at Apimenim.

After the rehabilitation in 1996, the French management company, Societe Internationale de Plantations d'Heveas (SIPH) became the major shareholder of the company, with Ghana currently holding 26.75 per cent
Making Christ-like Disciples in our cultures

Jude Hama Entertainment Aug - 13 - 2023 , 07:29

Rev. Billie Hanks, Jr, and Rev. Randy Craig, in their book, "Becoming A Disciple-maker: Develop Spiritual Growth Skills and Help Others to Do the Same", write:

"This courses mission: is to help churches train a group of disciple-makers to personally befriend and equip each new believer and member with the needed ministry skills to enjoy a lifetime of spiritual growth and evangelistic multiplication." They add, "This course's relational format is designed to implement one-on-one, life-to-life disciple-making in today's churches." They continue, "disciple-making refers to a healthy biblical relationship in which a more mature Christian spends quality time with a younger believer, showing him or her how to walk by faith, develop godly character and gain proficiency in ministry skills." The Disciple-making model they practice with emphasis on one-on-one discipline (in an individualistic culture) is different from the model of the Apostles in the Early Church.

The model for Disciple-making in the Early Church had as its emphasis the Small Group Life. The first-century, the Early Church's example of disciple-making was so natural, transferable, and achievable that any congregation can experience it. John Wesley's model for making disciples: the Class Meeting, followed the Early Church's example and had its emphasis on the Small Group Life. Rev. Michael D. Henderson writes:

"John Wesley's model, the class meeting, most properly expressed several of the key principles of the Early Church, New Testament Christianity: personal growth within the context of an intimate fellowship; accountability for spiritual stewardship; "bearing one anothers burdens"; and "speaking the truth in love."

People grow best spiritually in Small Groups! John Wesley was able "to recapture the spirit of 'koinonia', the supportive fellowship of New Testament Christianity." The Wesley model harmonises well with the communal culture in Africa. People will more likely grow best spiritually in Africa in the context of supportive communal relationships.

Therefore, in the John Wesley Model and in models that are likely to be effective in the African culture, people are encouraged "to join others in a Small Group Life into a journey of spiritual formation into Christ-likenessto grow in every way more and more like Christ; in every area of their lives, and into every area of human life and work."

Indeed, non-Western or Majority World churches with communal life culture will more likely embrace more emphasis on the Small Group Life Model for effective Disciple-making. Some church communities in the Western culture still use the Small Group Life emphasis for Disciple-making with significant good results. An example is Pastor Rick Warren's church, Saddleback Valley Community Church.

Evangelism and Discipleship efforts should pay careful attention to the people being reached and also the culture in which they live. Rev. John Stott says, God disclosed Himself to humanity in terms of a particular culture. And we have a solemn responsibility to present it in terms meaningful to our own culture. Indeed, there is only one gospel, and in its essence, it never changes.

Dr Vissert Hooft writes, evangelism and discipleship is in the first place the transmission of Gods question to man. And that question is and remains whether we are willing to accept Jesus Christ as the one and only Lord of Life. We must try to relate Gods question to the day-to-day existence and situation in which people live and show that, as they answer Gods question, they find at the same time the answer to their deepest concerns.

There have been several approaches and efforts to carry out effective disciple-making in Churches and Fellowships, in Communities and Nations. Many curriculums of different Disciple-making models have been produced in teaching Christian Doctrine to Church members.

In fact, in the time of John Wesley's Class Meeting Movement, leading to evangelical revival and awakening in the Church in England, more than a million different types and forms of catechisms were developed and printed for use in the Church in Britain.

What is most important is achieving our goal in Disciple-making and Discipleship, hopefully, in the biblical way. Our ultimate goal in Disciple-making and Discipleship is:

Change (Transformation; metamorphosis)

Character (Exemplary lifestyle of godliness with integrity1 Timothy 4:12; Daniel 6:110)

Charity (The fruit of the Holy Spirit, living a life of lovedeep love for God and genuine love for neighbour)

So, whatever model, or set of discipling materials, or curriculum (Disciple-making and Discipleship content) out there that you adopt and use, please make sure that:

People are experiencing new birth in Christ and are being transformed into Christlikeness. People are being changed and are truly ripening more and more the fruit of the Holy Spirit and developing more the character of Christ. People are continually in-filled with the Holy Spirit and they demonstrate living spirit-filled behaviour, conduct or lifestyles, and do Christian service in the power of the Holy Spirit. People are truly joining Christ in His mission and have the capacity to raise others as true or authentic Christ-like Disciples and Disciple-makers.

Disciple-making of all people groups in all cultures is the mandate God has given to the Church. And this is a possible mission. "After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. (Revelation 7:9 NLT)

(The author is a consultant in authentic Christian Spirituality and Discipleship and former CEO of Scripture Union)
John Dumelo given the nod to represent NDC in Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency

Gifty Owusu-Amoah Showbiz News Aug - 14 - 2023 , 11:32

Popular Ghanaian actor and now politician, John Dumelo has been given the nod by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to represent the party as its parliamentary candidate in next years general elections.

The latest news comes after two of his contenders including his close friend, Fred Nuamah dropped out of the race last week after a harmonious agreement.

Announcing the good news on his Facebook page yesterday, August 13, the actor who has featured in a number of movies such as Northern Affair, Private Storm and Chelsea expressed his appreciation to everyone for the continuous support to make his parliamentary race a possibility.

Yesterday, I was declared the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency NDC parliamentary candidate for the 2024 general elections. Thanks to everyone who made this possible. I really appreciate it. Together lets win this seat. This is our time. #idey4u #givechangechance, he posted.

Actor John Dumelo and wife, Gifty

The leadership of the NDC in the constituency also called on its supporters to rally behind Dumelo in win the seat from the governing New Patriotic Party(NPP)s Lydia Alhassan.

This is the second time the award winning actor will be representing the NDC party as their parliamentary candidate after losing in the 2020 elections.

He polled 37,778 votes against the incumbents 39,851 in the Ayawaso West-Wuogon constituency that is thought to be the stronghold of the NPP.

Related articles: "Fred Nuamah stabbed me in the back but he will lose NDC primary to me" - John Dumelo (VIDEO)

John Dumelo returns to Ayawaso West Wuogon Parliamentary Seat race

Fred Nuamah withdraws from NDC Parliamentary Primary, throws support behind John Dumelo
No need for factions in Kumawood Azigi

Graphic Showbiz Showbiz News Aug - 14 - 2023 , 10:30

Kumawood actor, Azigi is calling on Kumawood directors and producers not to cause factions among players since it will impact negatively on the industry.

According to him, it is necessary to cast talented actors for roles they can play and not because they are a director or producers favourite.

The problem is with the directors and the producers; some of them have favourites they always want to work with. Sometimes, you see a script and it is obvious who can best play a particular role, but they have their own people and will only use them. The director may have about 20 actors that he always falls on and then the producer also comes in with about five of his favourites.

It is the directors who have brought about these factions. There are times a producer might want you in his production but the director will be an impediment because you are not in his camp. There is also some bias displayed by some actors. When they are called by directors, they want their close friends to also be part of the production even when they cant play the role and this is not too good for the growth of the industry, he stated.

Azigi pointed out that the Ghanaian movie industry has come a long way so industry players should work hard to favourably compete on the global stage.

We are always comparing ourselves to Nigerians that they are far ahead while we are marking time but we have to understand that they have proper structures working to support their cause.

Can we say same here? Here is a situation that movie directors and producers select people for roles just because they are friends and not because they are good? How do we progress with such a mindset? he stated.
Ambiguous diagram for BECE Integrated Science Examination

Dominic Kushiator Opinion Aug - 14 - 2023 , 15:33

Dear West African Examinations Council (WAEC),

I write to express my concern about the ambiguous diagram that was used in the BECE Integrated Science 2023 examination, under section A question 1(b), specimen A to be specific, per the snapshot below.

I believe that this diagram was too unclear and could have confused many of the students who were taking the exam.

I would like to request a clearer and more comprehensible diagram in future examinations, aimed at enhancing the understanding of all students.

First and foremost, I would like to express my appreciation for the diligent efforts put forth by the Examinations Council in designing the examination.

Upon reviewing the questions, I noticed that specimen A under question 1 (b) could have been presented in a more discernible manner for students to identify.

While it somewhat resembles a mattock, its ambiguous representation may lead to confusion among the candidates.

Considering the examination conditions and the fact that the test-takers are young students, diagrams must be unambiguous and easily interpretable.

In this digital era, there are numerous computer tools and applications available online that can generate clear and accurate diagrams at minimal cost.

Leveraging these tools could significantly enhance the clarity of the examination materials and alleviate any potential confusion that may arise due to vague illustrations.

It is important to emphasise that the primary purpose of an examination is to assess a student's knowledge, understanding, skills and abilities based on the curriculum taught during the study period.

The intention should never be to bewilder or perplex students.

Clear and well-structured examination materials are essential to ensure fairness and precision in the assessment process, thereby contributing to the overall effectiveness of the examination.

With the advancements in technology, I would like to propose that the WAEC considers utilising computer-generated diagrams instead of relying solely on hand-drawn representations that could be open to misinterpretation.

This suggestion is not meant to criticise the current efforts of WAEC but rather to highlight a concern that warrants attention in today's digital age.

I believe that addressing this concern will further enhance the credibility and accuracy of your examination.

Thank you for considering my suggestion.

Dominic Kushiator.
Cyberspace facilitating human trafficking

Davis Ansah Opoku Opinion Aug - 14 - 2023 , 10:58

Almost 25 million people worldwide are trapped in human trafficking, a form of modern slavery.

Human Trafficking is also the second-largest criminal enterprise in the world.

According to the United Nations Palermo Protocol, trafficking in persons is defined as "the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, using the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or a position of vulnerability or the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for exploitation."

It includes, "the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs."

Much has been said of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) in Ghana.

The sustained attention on this matter has resulted in the implementation of several measures by successive governments to prosecute traffickers, protect victims of trafficking and prevent trafficking.

In 2009, the Human Trafficking Act, 2009 (Act 784) amended Section 1(1) of the Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694) to bring the definition of human trafficking under the Act in line with the international standard set by the Palermo Protocol.

The Human Trafficking Prohibition (Protection and Reintegration of Trafficked Persons) Regulations, 2015, L.I. 2219 complement the Act to form the legislative framework for combating Human Trafficking.

These laws are read together with the Children's Act of 1998 (Act 560), the Criminal Offences Act of 1960 (Act 29) and the Criminal Procedure Act of 1960 (Act 30).

Measures

Beyond legislation, other measures deployed to combat Human Trafficking include the establishment of the 13-member Human Trafficking Secretariat to sensitise the public and to reduce the incidence of TIP, the establishment of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of the Ghana Police Service and the Anti-Human Smuggling and Trafficking in Persons Unit (AHSTIP) of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), the development of a National Plan of Action to eliminate Human Trafficking in Ghana; the institution of standard operating procedures (SOP) to help identify victims and refer them to services, as well as the building and running of shelters for rescued victims.

Additionally, Ghana has co-operated with other countries to check the prevalence of TIP.

These include a bilateral agreement with La Cote d'Ivoire to fight against cross-border child trafficking, the worst forms of child labour, and the five-year US-Ghana Child Protection Compact Partnership signed in 2015.

Report

However, in the recent 2023 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report by the US Department of State, the Government of Ghana did not fully meet the minimum standards for eliminating trafficking, despite significant efforts.

We remain in Tier 2; (i.e., countries whose governments do not fully meet the TVPA's minimum standards but are making significant efforts to meet those standards.)

Heartbreaking

It is heartbreaking to note that while the government is striving relentlessly to tackle the known patterns of Human Trafficking, traffickers are taking advantage of technological advancements and new media to forge new ways to facilitate human trafficking, particularly sex trafficking.

This has transformed the global human trafficking business into one UNICEF conservatively estimates turn an annual profit of about USD 32 billion; other estimates peg this figure as over USD 150 billion.

Human trafficking, specifically sex trafficking, happens on this scale because an entire infrastructure supports and facilitates it.

Young, vulnerable and impressionable girls are recruited through social media sites such as Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram, with traffickers masquerading as love interests.

Others are lured by the extravagant lifestyles of social media influencers whom traffickers sponsor.

According to a 2018 report by the All-Parliamentary Group on Prostitution and the Global Sex Trade of the British Parliament, other women are lured online with promises of employment in other countries only to be coerced into brothels when they arrive.

Preliminary evidence shows that sex trafficking employing the Internet is already operational here in Ghana.

A 2018 study by the Eban Centre for Human Trafficking Studies found that traffickers used social media to recruit victims into sex trafficking in Ghana.

Additionally, the arrest of Anderson Ofosu Hene, alias Mario G, the administrator of Empress Leak, a pornography website where minors are targeted to procure sexually explicit content from them, after which the victims will be made to perform sexual acts or extorted in exchange for the removal of their images and videos from the site, exemplifies the state of sex trafficking in the country.

The foregoing indicates that the time is ripe to amend our Human Trafficking Act to catch up with the misdeeds of these evil people.

It is imperative to update our Human Trafficking legislative framework to include criminal liability for people who recruit, transport, transfer, harbour, sell or buy other people using the aid of cyberspace.

Civil and criminal sanctions must similarly apply to others who knowingly profit from hosting content from traffickers.

Funding

There is also the issue of funding.

Significant gaps remain in the funding available to the Human Trafficking Secretariat at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.

In that respect, I humbly request the Ministry of Finance to regularly release the GH1m allocation to the fund this year and make substantial appropriations in future budgets.

We need to, as a state, continue to increase efforts to investigate and prosecute trafficking crimes.

There is a need to amend the 2015 implementing regulations for the 2005 human trafficking law to remove the option of a fine in place of imprisonment in cases where the trafficker is a parent or guardian of a child victim.

We also must proactively screen for trafficking indicators among vulnerable populations  including Ghanaian women travelling abroad for domestic work, returning migrants, and domestic and foreign workers.

These steps are necessary for the increased prosecution of traffickers, protecting potential victims of trafficking and preventing the further evolution of human trafficking.

My commitment to seeing the end of Human Trafficking led me to start the Parliamentary Round-table discussion on Human Trafficking.

Last year, the event invited a group of decision-makers in Ghana, including legislators, executives, subject matter experts and survivor leaders, to focus on addressing Ghanas effort at stopping Human Trafficking.

Hopefully, this year, my office, in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender and social protection and other partners, will hold a round-table meeting to discuss the gaps in fully complying with the minimum standards to reach tier one.

The writer is MP, Mpreaso
Khartoum  A member of Sudan's Sovereignty Council (MSC), Lt Gen Shamseldin Kabbashi, has overruled a decision by the acting Minister of Energy to increase fuel prices in the war-torn country, asserting that proper approval procedures were not followed.

In a press statement on Friday, Gen Kabbashi explained that the decision to raise petrol and diesel process across Sudan "was made without the knowledge of the Ministry of Finance and was not presented to the Cabinet meeting".

The MSC stressed that reversing the decision also takes into consideration "the critical conditions suffered by the people of Sudan".

The Ministry of Energy and Oil announced on August 6 that it would raise the prices of petrol and diesel. The ministry said in the press statement last week that it had decided to increase the litre price of petrol from SDG585 to SDG630, and diesel from SDG582 to SDG590. This would have been the first of its kind since the war began.
God is law 4 ''LGBTQ, ancient and modern''

Ahumah Ocansey Opinion Aug - 14 - 2023 , 10:48

Humans are constant in their behaviour.

Since creation, nothing has changed the Adamic nature from its predilection for the sublime and the gross; for the lofty and the mundane; for the holy and the profane.

Man is a contrariety of impulses.

Humanity has exercised its freedom of choice in behaviours that encompass the gamut of feelings and idiosyncrasies as diverse as humanity itself.

From the Bible, we know that Adam (man) was first created, then Eve (woman) came out of him, for her to be a helper and companion to Adam, and, by their union (love), procreate and fill the earth (Gen 2:20-23).

The Quran puts it this way:

O humanity! Be mindful of your Lord Who created you from a single soul, and from it created its mate, and through both He spread countless men and women.

And be mindful of Allah-in whose Name you appeal to one anotherand honour family ties.

Surely Allah is ever Watchful over you (Surah Al-Nisa 4:1).

Proceeding from the creation of man and woman, and the evolution of societies, God established sexual laws for the governance of humanity.

A thorough set of laws is found in the 18th chapter of Leviticus.

The command goes forth:

4 You must obey my laws and be careful to follow my decrees.

I am the Lord your God.

5 Keep my decrees and laws, for the man who obeys them will live by them.

I am the Lord.

22 Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.

23 Do not have sexual relations with an animal and defile yourself with it.

A woman must not present herself to an animal to have sexual relations with it; that is a perversion.

The laws on sex provide the jurisprudential standards against which to judge LGBTQ.

The global engagement with the so-called rights of people to be Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, Transgender or Queer (LGBTQ), might appear current and unheard of for most people, whereas, in fact, this bizarre choice of lifestyle has been with humanity since the creation of the world.

It is ancient.

Bible, Quran

In both the Bible and the Quran, the recorded episode of the men of Sodom, desiring to have sexual relations with angels, who visited Lot, and who appeared as normal men to them, illustrates how native to humanity are sexual impulses that could be perverse and abnormal.

Gen 19:5-8, we read:

5 They called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight?

Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them."

6 Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him 7 and said, "No, my friends.

Don't do this wicked thing.

8 Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man.

Let me bring them out to you, and you can do what you like with them.

But don't do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof." (NIV)

Much is said in the Quran about Sodom and Gomorrah.

An Islamic scholar, Al-Nuwayri (12721332), reported in his Nihaya that Muhammad is "alleged to have said what he feared most for his community were the practices of the people of Lot (homosexuals).

Prophet Mohammed is quoted in these words:

May Allah curse the one who does the action of the people of Lot, may Allah curse the one who does the action of the people of Lot (Musnad Ahmad: 1878).

Perversities

We know the outcome of the sexual perversities of Sodom and Gomorrah: the towns were destroyed by God (Gen 19:24).

From the word Sodom we have the verb to sodomize: meaning, to have anal sex with man or animal.

Remarkably, early Islamic adherents were tolerant of homosexuality, and it was a normal, social behaviour that did not attract the sanctions it does today.

In the Middle East, rulers kept male harems of youth for their use (paederasty).

There is the story of the Christian martyr, Pelagius of Cordoba, in Spain, who was executed by Andalusian ruler, Abd al-Rahman III, because the boy refused his advances.

In ancient China, historians record that homosexuality was common among dynasties that ruled from 2070 BC to 1912.

One such dominant dynasty was the Han dynasty: 202 to 220.

Chinese historian, Han Fei, described how emperor Ai of Han shared a bed with his male lover, Dong Xian, a minor court official.

He slept on his sleeve and, not wanting to disturb the sleep of his lover, the Emperor cut off the sleeve.

It is said that Chinese euphemism for homosexuality is cut sleeve.

In Rome, before the introduction of Christianity in 390 AD, homosexuality was freely indulged in.

Emperor Hadrian (117138 AD), is famed for having a male lover, Antinous, a Greek youth he met during one of his travels.

Antinous, 19, drowned while sailing with the emperor on the River Nile.

Opinion

The opinion has been expressed in recent times by a prominent Italian history professor, a Roman Catholic, Roberto De Mattei, that the Roman Empire fell due to its being a contagion of homosexuality and effeminacy .

In his opinion, the conquest of Carthage (Tunisia) exposed Roman soldiers to a city that was reputed for its homosexuality.

Their behaviour affected Roman life, and that created a cesspool of immorality that, in turn, weakened the Roman empire, making way for its conquest by what he called barbarians in 410 AD.

Predictably, there has been a backlash of severe criticisms of his speech.

Today, as we speak, the dynamics of LGBTQ have changed profoundly.

In the US, where most states were anti-LGBTQ, it took the phenomenal decision of 5 to 4 on June 26, 2015, by the US Supreme Court, in Obergefell v.

Hodges, to sanction same-sex marriage as permissible and legitimate, thereby overthrowing the conservative ideals of Christian morality.

In justification of same-sex marriage, Justice Anthony Kennedy, who delivered this historic decision, stated in part:

It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage.

Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves.

Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilizations oldest institutions.

They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law.

The Constitution grants them that right.

Predictably, the dissenting judgment of Chief Justice Roberts captured the moral abhorrence of same-sex marriages:

The court invalidates the marriage laws of more than half the states and orders the transformation of a social institution that has formed the basis of human society for millennia, for the Kalahari Bushmen and the Han Chinese, the Carthaginians and the Aztecs, he wrote.

Just who do we think we are?

Many

Today, many nations have followed the US, and have given legislative blessings to same-sex marriage.

Some of the nations are UK, Canada, France, Mexico, Chile, Brazil.

Going beyond these, school syllabi have been changed to reflect the so-called rights of LGBTQs, and a new, pervasive sexual freedom is raging over Europe.

What is portentous about LGBTQ is the spiritual dimensions of such daring confrontation with Gods laws and ordinances for humanity.

(Ref Romans 1:27-32 and 1 Corinthians 6:9).

What must be Ghanas stance?

In our 1992 Constitution, we declared at the outset:

In the name of the Almighty God we the People of GhanaDo hereby adopt, enact and give to ourselves this Constitution.

The God of Ghana says sexual sins defile a nation, and such nations shall be destroyed (Gen 18:24-28).

Between the voice of man (the world), and the voice of God, whom should we listen to?

Ghana is committed to God, and we must remain faithful to Him in fearless defence of the integrity of marriage between man and woman; the integrity of social cohesion and sanity; and, above all, the integrity of a nation.

The writer is a lawyer.
Navigating extent of free speech in high-profile legal case

Amoako Emmanuella Ofosua Kwatia Opinion Aug - 14 - 2023 , 11:12

The Constitution makes provision for the enjoyment of the right to freedom of speech and expression as provided for in article 21 (1) (a).

Although this right is being described as a fundamental human right, its exercise carries with it duties and is subject to restrictions as prescribed by law in the interest of national security, territorial integrity or public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of morals, for the protection of the reputation or rights of others, for the prevention of disclosure of information received in confidence and for maintaining the authority and impartiality of the Judiciary.

Therefore, free speech is not absolute.

Public opinions are extremely politically inclined, so people are willing to be partially informed to make pronouncements.

In the Republic v Nkansah, Justice Hayford Benjamin defines contempt as a conduct that tends to bring the authority and administration of the court into disrespect or disregard and or to interfere with or prejudice parties, litigants or their witnesses.

The conduct is not limited to actions but also to the criticisms of judges, which may undermine public confidence in the judicial system.

Hence, if a comment has the potential to influence the outcome of a case, undermines the integrity of the legal process, disrespects the administration of justice, interferes with court proceedings or prejudices parties, such a comment amounts to contempt of court (contempt ex facie curiae) and the commentator, if found guilty, shall face contempt proceedings.

Constructive

Judges are opened to criticism but such criticism must be constructively made.

Constructive criticism is made when we carefully evaluate all the facts and evidence to the case and compare them to court decisions.

Reckless public opinion without consideration of facts and evidence and mounting unnecessary pressure on the courts may induce judges to make biased judgment just to fulfil public expectations or wishes.

We must note that in law, justice emanates from the law, facts and evidence.

This is why we must allow the legal process to operate and not frustrate the duties of judges by making prejudicial comments.

Trending

Now, the trending high-profile legal case is James Gyakye Quaysons case. Gyakye Quayson is facing some charges: deceit of public office, forgery of passport or travel certificate, knowingly making a false statutory declaration, perjury and false declaration for office; related to his eligibility as a member of parliament.

It is worth noting that the result of the recently organised by-election does not necessarily reflect the outcome of his trial.

The court has to examine the facts and evidence to ensure that justice is served regardless of public opinion.

While it is understandable that people have strong feelings about this case, it is important to remember that the legal system is designed to be impartial and to make decisions based on facts, evidence and the law.

Everyone has the right to express their opinions but we have to remember that there are consequences to our actions and words.

We can still express our views but we should do so in a way that is respectful and mindful of the legal process.

The writer is a First year LLB student,

University of Professional Studies, Accra.
Weaver bird, farmers pain

Vincent Amenuveve Opinion Aug - 14 - 2023 , 10:20

Scaring weaver birds on rice farm has become an additional burden for farmers, mostly in the culviation of grains and cereals.

This is because the weaver mostly feasts on seeds, grains, insects and other small invertibrates.

Their large beak enables them to crack open the thick shells on which they feed and because of their habit of raiding farmlands and fields, some weavers are considered to be nuisance agricultural pests.

The bird's scientific name is Ploceidae.

It is derived from the ancient Greek word plokeus, meaning weaver.

The family also includes birds such as bishops, widow birds and queleas.

Weavers are small songbirds, rarely measuring between five and 10 inches from their rounded head to square tail.

Weaver bird

The plumage (feathers) is perhaps the most interesting and diverse  bright red, yellow, black, grey, brown and white, arranged in different patterns.

The male weavers are particularly notable for their ability to grow bright yellow feathers in the breeding season.



Dawn to dusk

From dawn to dusk, farmers, both men and women, on the Ashaiman and Aveyime Irrigation schemes hold in their hands locally made catapults with hard dry rounded moulded clays by their side pacing up and down, gazing intently at their respective rice fields to spot any marauding weaver.

Indeed, the farmers do not want their investments to go to waste because the birds start attacking the paddy rice.

At the sight of the yellow-breasted birds, a farmer picks one of the rounded clay and puts it in the leather pad of the catapult and shoots at any of the birds that attempt to feed on the rice.

With the left hand holding the catapult, the farmer raises the object and straightens the left arm, while the right arm is simultaneously drawn back, as he or she pulls back the leather pad containing the hardened clay and releases the pad aiming at the birds, it scares the pests in the process.

The farmers are heard shouting at the top of their voices and saying (hey! Or Eii!) while performing that act.

The birds, then fly off only to return when there is nobody around to scare them.



Using scarers

A visibly worried farmer and Chairman of the Water Users Association Left Bank of the Ashaiman scheme, Stephen Fiati, narrated the ordeal farmers go through to the Daily Graphic.

He stated that engaging the services of a human scarer costs between GH20 and GH30 daily per scarer, which he observed was quite expensive.

That means it will cost a farmer between GH600 and GH900 in a month to engage just one human scarer and you need more than one human scarer," Mr Fiati explained.

He said because of the cost involved, farmers usually engaged in scaring themselves, which he described as a difficult task.

Mr Fiati further said using scarecrows, drones and nets were equally expensive unless farmers formed groups and contribute to such services, stressing that the drones would be a better option.

Similarly, Alfred Agbeko Akorli, another farmer on the Ashaiman scheme, who had lost his voice due to continuous shouting to scare the hungry birds away, expressed concern about the situation, saying it made him very tired.

On the Aveyime scheme, 60-year-old Enyonam Ankutse and Ernest Yakah are equally not finding things easy with the birds.

As soon as the birds wake up, these two farmers also wake up and go to their respective rice fields until the evening when the birds go to roost.

Ms Ankutse explained that using nets to ward off the birds was quite expensive, whether you rent them or buy them.

She observed that using the nets also attracted children, particularly when the birds settle on the nets.

The children get excited to catch the birds on the nets thereby destroying rice plants.

Some farmers said renting the nets could cost GH3,000 per hectare and that those who fixed the nets and removed them when the farming season was over also charged for the jobs they undertook thus increasing the cost of production for the farmers.



Bird scarers

For one thing, different types of bird scarers can be introduced to support farmers.

They include scarecrows, radio-controlled aircraft, predators, dogs, humans, electronic repellers and drones.

Some farmers on the two schemes seem to prefer the usage of drones to other forms of bird scarers.

Indeed, drones can emit some noise to keep the birds from undoing all the farmers' hard work.



Way forward

It will, therefore, be worthwhile for the private sector to partner with the government to provide drone services for the farmers.

Already, the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA), under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, has started partnering with the Jospong Group of Companies to provide some services to farmers.

GIDA can leverage on partnerships to help provide drone services to scare the birds.

With a farming population of 208 at the Ashaiman and Aveyime schemes, one way out is for the farmers to form groups and pool resources to enable them to rent drones to scare the hungry birds.



About Ashaiman, Aveyime

The Ashaiman Scheme, a gravity scheme, was constructed in the year 1968 and has a dam built on River Dzorwulu.

The scheme has a potential area of 200 hectares (ha) out of which 155ha (56ha on the left and 99ha on the right) have been developed.

The Aveyime Irrigation Scheme on the other hand is located in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region.

GIDA started managing the scheme from 1972 till date although the fields were developed in 1960 under different managements.

The scheme crops twice a year and the most common variety of rice grown are the Jasmine 85 and EX-Baika.

The potential irrigable land is 723 ha but only 54 ha is under cultivation.
When the Surpriser gets Surprised? Fear Woman! - Brig Gen Dan Frimpong (Rtd)

Brig Gen Dan Frimpong (Rtd) Opinion Aug - 13 - 2023 , 19:45

My fifth book The Military, My Life: 43 years, 5 months, 25 days was launched on Thursday, 10 August 2023 at Burma Hall, Burma Camp. The day marked the 83rd birthday of Maj Gen Edwin Sam (Rtd), a former CDS who was the Chairman for the launch in 2010 of my first book Leadership and the Challenges of Command.

When I asked the coordinator to alert the Armed Forces Band to surprise the General during proceedings with a Happy Birthday song, little did I know that the coordinator, like Brutus in Julius Caesar, was part of a grand conspiracy with my Manager and my friend Naana to inflict a major surprise on me!

When the MC, ace broadcaster Kwami Sefa Kayi announced that, there was a surprise for the author by Mrs Frimpong, I was stunned, because no such discussion had taken place earlier. Below is a reproduction of the surprise!

SURPRISE

QUOTE

APPRECIATION OF BRIG GEN DAN FRIMPONG BY WIFE EVELYN

What shall I render to my God for all His Mercys store? Ill take the gift He hath bestowed and humbly ask for more.

I, together with my husband appreciate your presence at this function and I say God bless you all for coming.

Today, I would like to use this opportunity to celebrate my dear husband, Brig. Gen. Daniel Kwadjo Frimpong RTD, whom I met here in Burma Camp some 48 years ago. I thank God for making it possible for you to attain the Biblical threescore and ten years seven months ago, on the 2nd of February 2023. This book launch was to coincide with this birthday, but unfortunately, things did not turn out as planned.

Dan, as I affectionately call you, I have always told you, I dont believe in writing and reading glowing tributes when a person is dead, lying still in a casket and cannot hear me. I thank God for allowing me to spend forty-three and a half years (and counting) out of your seventy years with you.

We met casually in 1975 and we both never thought that brief meeting was going to be the beginning of a life-long partnership. We got married five years later, in 1980 and have lived together since then. It has been a very challenging as well as an enjoyable journey. It has been winding, muddy, rough and tough but with God in our marital vessel, there have been happy, pleasant and memorable experiences which I shall forever cherish. We have cried and prayed together in difficult times, laughed and teased each other in good times.

God blessed us with two handsome and intelligent boys, Nana Osei and Nana Boateng; and a beautiful and equally smart daughter, Aku Sika. Exactly 15 years ago, on the 28th of June 2008, God in His own wisdom took away the eldest, Nana Osei Frimpong. That was the most devastating period in our marriage. God Himself wiped away our tears, consoled, comforted and strengthened us, making it possible for us to move on with our lives.

You were almost released from the Ghana Armed Forces in 1983, but miraculously God took you out of it. At the tail end of your career, in October 2012, you were involved in three road traffic accidents within 10 days. After these accidents you fell ill suddenly and it took the grace and mercy of God for you to recover fully.

You are a God-fearing, disciplined and principled Officer and Gentleman. You exhibit honesty, integrity and hard work and you are a great repository of knowledge. God gifted you with the talent of writing which you have developed extensively. You have authored four books, and you write articles weekly for the print and online media. I always marvel at your ability to identify new and engaging topics every week. You speak your mind freely to the discomfort of many. You are an embodiment of selflessness, generosity and forgiveness. You have taught me to forgive and let go of hurts. You always seek my advice on anything that you plan to do.

In the year 2000, you convinced me to go back to school to do a Masters Programme. I applied to the Ghana Education Service, my employers, for Study Leave which was granted but without pay. I felt it was going to be tough on us but you insisted and paid every pesewa for me to do the course. You even allowed me to go and live on Legon campus to make studying easier for me.

I taught for over thirty years and when I retired 8 years ago, my pension pay was and still is nothing to write home about. When I showed my pension payslip to you, all you said was: My Dear, your pension pay and mine put together is more than enough to make us comfortable; and you have kept your word, making sure I am always catered for.

Over the FORTY-THREE YEARS, SEVEN MONTHS AND SIX DAYS of our marriage, you made it possible for me to travel widely. To mention a few, I have been to Canada, the USA, France, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Nigeria. These travels have enriched my life with memorable experiences. Thank you for providing all that made the children and me comfortable.

My Darling husband, Brig. Gen. Daniel Frimpong (RTD), I will continue this journey with you, pledging my love, support and service to you till death do us part.

To quote Numbers 6:24 -26, Brig. Gen. Daniel Kwadjo Frimpong (RTD): May the Lord continue to bless and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you, and be gracious to you, the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. That inner Peace that nobody except the Lord gives. I LOVE YOU DAN.

Thank you!

UNQUOTE

Discussion

I started my response by quoting Shakespeares Julius Caesar who said

Of all the wonders that I have heard, it seems to me most strange, that men should fear; Seeing death, a necessary end which will come when it will come!

For the surprise/ambush inflicted on me by Manager, and her accomplice Naana who beautifully sang a solo of Mississippi Choirs your grace and Mercy before I spoke, I told the audience I was simply replacing Shakespeares quote of fear of death with, Fear Woman! I could not believe Manager, and Naana could collaborate in such a conspiracy against me!

Mangers intervention has been described variously as a spice, flavor masterstroke, highlight, icing on the cake etc. Nana Gyan Apenteng, former Chairman, National Media Commission summarized it saying The Recce General has been out-recced and out-manoeuvred! A senior retired General has told me, for outwitting me, Mrs Frimpongs title as Manager must be upgraded. Suggestions are welcome for a new job title!!

Her coup was premised on an article I wrote in September 2022 titled Give me my flowers when I can still smell them. In it, I advocated the recognition and appreciation by Ghana of outstanding Ghanaians when alive and not flamboyant tributes when they die. I quoted the rapper Kanye West who said if you admire somebody, go ahead and tell them!

After an excellent review of the book by former DG, GBC Major Don-Chebe (Rtd), the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Issah Yakubu, who stood in for the CDS as chairman and Guest-of-Honour, proceedings were brought to a close. Leadership, LEAD! Fellow Ghanaians, WAKE UP!

The writer is a former CEO, African Peace Support Trainers Association, Nairobi, Kenya and Council Chairman, Family Health University College, Accra
Why financial illiteracy cant be overlooked among farmers

Godfred Nelson Opinion Aug - 14 - 2023 , 11:04

Food security is a matter of concern for governments and global organisations like the UN and the FAO, to the extent that locally, in Ghana, we have also seen intentional policies by successive governments to make food more accessible and at lower costs.

Issues of food production, transport and pricing are plainly offshoots of rural-urban dynamics.

A great majority of food consumed in the cities is definitely grown in the rural hinterlands, where farming lands are available in vast acreages.

Travelling to the cocoa growing regions of Ghana, from the Western North to the Western South, Ashanti to Bono, Bono East and Ahafo , Eastern Region, Central and Oti regions, between January 2021 and June 2023, it was instructive to note that most cocoa farmers also double up as food crop framers.

They practise mixed cropping by growing plantain, cocoyam and cassava, among other crops, alongside their main preoccupations of cocoa.

In the period of three years, I have met and interacted with over 3,000 farmers for relevant socioeconomic information, and my observation seems to cut across all the farming areas I have been to, as well as various tribal groupings.

What I found among the Ashantis, I saw among the Bonos, the same among the Dagatis and not different from what I saw among the Akyems, Kwahus, Ewes, Krobos, etc.

Financial literacy

Most farmers I encountered knew very little about their personal finances and a good majority of them dont have bank accounts, and surprisingly, they dont even operate a mobile money account.

Though this was not my mandate, it kept me wondering why it was the case, leading me to investigate the impacts of financial illiteracy among those who feed the nation.

Admittedly, most farmers are not privileged to have had any formal education and as such dont possess any know-how with regard to the issue at stake.

However, this does not rule out the impact their lack of understanding in matters pertaining to their finances has on them and their productivity at large.

If farmers are equipped with the right financial skills they need, I am sure it will contribute to a boost in production; savings and microfinance training, how to open and operate bank accounts, how to operate their mobile money accounts, how to keep their own mobile money pin codes safely, how to apply for bank loans, are all key areas farmers need basic knowledge of.

Task

Stakeholders must rise to the task, insurance policy institutions must look in the direction of farmers.

Information must be designed and made available in the rural areas, where these farmers live, and the very interior areas, where food is produced should not be left out in poverty reduction strategies.

Ignorance of how they can set themselves up to access loans to boost their production or how to save the little income they make must not be allowed to derail the countrys attempts to meet sustainable development goals of poverty reduction.

Farmers must not only be equipped with tools, inputs, equipment and machinery without relevantly positioning them with the basic knowledge and literacy skills they need to manage their income and financial commitments.

Financially knowledgeable

A financially knowledgeable farmer can better negotiate dealings that have to do with investments in their farm projects, can access financial resources and can better run their families, even domestically.

I would not be able to say how many times I have heard of farmers who have had to resort to putting up their farms for sale to be able to meet emergency family needs, sometimes for embarrassingly paltry amounts of money.

These stories abound and it is the order of the day in these farming communities.

Finally, overreliance on seasonal crop production cycles further exacerbates their plight.

When it is crop season, they become well-to-do and it is the other way round when the lean season sets in.

Coupled with good financial literacy programmes, farmers can also be trained in many vocations on the side to help them earn a living for their households.

Poverty among farmers in the end will translate into a fall in productivity much more than we can expect and it is time to act.

The writer is a Farmer financial literacy Advocate.
ECOWAS condemns Niger coup leaders for charging ousted President with high treason

International News Aug - 14 - 2023 , 17:32

The West African regional bloc, ECOWAS has condemned the decision by the military authorities in Niger to press charges of high treason against the ousted President, Mohammed Bazoum.

ECOWAS in a press release dated Monday, August 14, 2023, said the action of the military authorities in Niger "represents yet another form of provocation and contradicts the reported willingness of the military authorities in the Republic of Niger to restore constitutional order through peaceful means."

President Bazoum, who is currently under detention, was overthrown by the presidential guards recently led by the leader of the unit, General Abdourahmane Tchiani.

ECOWAS has since the military take-over mounted pressure on the coup leaders to reinstate President Bazoum.

Attached below is a copy of the ECOWAS Press Release

ECOWAS has learnt with stupefaction attempts to bring charges of high treason against H.E. Mohammed Bazoum, President of the Republic of Niger.

ECOWAS condemns this move as it represents yet another form of provocation and contradicts the reported willingness of the military authorities in the Republic of Niger to restore constitutional order through peaceful means.

President Bazoum remains the democratically-elected President of the Republic of Niger recognised by ECOWAS and the international community. ECOWAS condemns his illegal detention and calls for his immediate release and reinstatement
World Breastfeeding Week 2023

Dr Frank Owusu-Sekyere Life Aug - 12 - 2023 , 21:05

World Breastfeeding Week, celebrated in the first week of August, is here again and every discussion should be on breastfeeding.

The theme for this year is Lets make breastfeeding and work, work! As expected, the Paediatric Society of Ghana has spotlighted the support that mothers need to be able to breastfeed and work at the same time.

In this respect, a seminar was organised on August 2, 2023, virtually on the slogan Enabling breastfeeding: Making a difference for the working mother.

Topics discussed included, The Mother, work and Breastfeeding which was expertly handled by Dr Sally Manu; The Role of Fathers in Breastfeeding by Dr Frank Owusu-Sekyere and Breastfeeding and the Law which was eruditely handled by Dr Mrs Gyikua Plange-Rhule.

The need to look at the law and breastfeeding is occasioned by inconsistencies between the exclusive breastfeeding policy and the maternity leave, which is three months in Ghana while we encourage exclusive breastfeeding for six months. Mothers, therefore, need immense support to navigate this slippery terrain; hence, the need for support from fathers and all around them.

Why should we promote breastfeeding? A few facts are presented below.

Human breast milk provides the primary source of nutrition for newborns before they can eat and digest other food. During the first few days after delivery, the breast produces colostrum, a thin yellowish fluid rich in protein and antibodies that provide passive immunity to the baby because the baby's immune system is immature.

Colostrum also helps the babys digestive system to grow and function properly. Unfortunately, colostrum has been erroneously tagged as dirty milk which must never be given to the child.

This assertion is absolutely false and every effort should be channelled into correcting this misconception.

The breastmilk changes and increases in quantity about 48 to 72 hours after birth. It may take longer depending on when breastfeeding is started and how often breastfeeding is done.

The change in milk occurs a little earlier if one has breastfed before.

Besides the colostrum, there are foremilk and hindmilk. When first starting to breastfeed, the first milk the baby receives is called foremilk. It is thin and watery with a light blue tinge.

Foremilk is largely water needed to satisfy the babys thirst. The hind milk is released after several minutes of nursing. It is similar in texture to cream and has the highest concentration of fat.

The hind milk has a relaxing effect on the baby. It helps the baby to feel satisfied and contributes to weight gain by the baby.

Protein in breast milk is mostly whey, which is easier to digest by the baby than casein, the main protein in cow's milk from which most formula milk is made. The protein of breast milk has high amounts of amino acid called taurine, which has an important role in the development of the brain and the eyes of the baby. The same cannot be said of formula.

Fats in breast milk are practically self-digesting because breast milk also contains lipase, an enzyme responsible for the digestion of fat.

Fat is the main source of calories for babies - and babies need lots of calories to grow well! Also, fat in human milk has large amounts of certain essential fatty acids, such as omega-3 fatty acids, which are important for brain growth and development.

Vitamins and minerals in human milk are bioavailable - meaning they get absorbed well. Breast milk contains substances that enhance the absorption of minerals and vitamins.

As much as companies that produce formula try to enhance their milk, it always comes second to breast milk.

Breast milk has been shown to affect an infant's gene expression. Breast milk and formula have different effects on at least 146 genes. Most of the genes enhanced by breast milk promote quick development of the intestine and immune system. For example, some of the genes positively affected by breastmilk protect against "leaky gut".

In each feeding, the mother delivers millions of living white blood cells to the baby to help fight off all kinds of diseases. This is not found in the formula! Also, when a mother is exposed to a germ, she makes antibodies to that germ and gives these antibodies to the infant via breast milk.

Breast milk also contains factors that prevent microorganisms from attaching to cells to cause infection, as well as a long list of other antiviral, antibacterial and antiparasitic factors.

Even more amazing is the fact that, if a baby contracts an illness that the mum has not been exposed to previously, the baby transfers this organism through saliva to the breast, where antibodies are manufactured on-site and then sent back to the baby via the milk to help the baby fight it off.

Breast milk has lots of digestive enzymes, and also many hormones. These all contribute to the baby's well-being. Every year, scientists find more valuable substances in breast milk.

Science is only beginning to unravel what there is in human milk that helps a baby's growth and development.

Breastfeeding prevents obesity in babies and greatly reduces the risk of being overweight in adulthood. In contrast, formula is so energy-dense that it causes obesity both in babies and even in adults.

Formula-fed babies have worse jaw alignment and are more likely to need orthodontic work as they grow older. This is probably because the sucking action during breastfeeding improves the development of facial muscles and the shape of the palate.

Formula-fed babies have poorer vision, and get more ear infections than breast-fed infants. They suffer more and more severe upper respiratory infections, wheezing, pneumonia and influenza. They experience more diarrhoea, gastrointestinal infections and constipation compared to their breastfed counterparts. Formula-fed babies have an increased risk of heart disease, juvenile diabetes, multiple sclerosis, asthma and allergy.

Breastfeeding may also play a role in preventing digestive diseases, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, as well as childhood cancers.

If you give your baby this unique food, his or her body will function more healthily in all aspects. Therefore, let us all endeavour to spread the good news about breastfeeding, support mothers to continue breastfeeding and call on governments to look at the maternity laws to help increase the rate and duration of breastfeeding.

With a concerted effort to demonise breastfeeding, describing it as "disgusting" and "unacceptable" by people to the extent that some hotels and other hospitality firms have banned breastfeeding on their premises, there is the need to shout louder and extol the virtues of breastmilk if we are to reverse these misconceptions.

Please take a minute to check on the various videos from the Paediatric Society of Ghana on breastfeeding. Together we can make the planet healthier.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

A member of the Paediatric Society of Ghana
Kumasi Tech University: 648 students to defer for registering late

Getrude Ankah Nyavi Education Aug - 14 - 2023 , 15:13

The management of the Kumasi Technical University (KsTU) has explained that 648 students have been asked to defer their courses for failing to pay their fees to meet the registration deadline.

In a press statement reacting to some media reports that suggested that about 2000 students have been dismissed for failing to pay their fees, the university explained that the total was 648 students and that they could not write their second-semester examination because they could not meet the registration deadline.

They have however been asked to defer their programmes.

The university said no student has been sacked, but those who did not register for the second semester of 2022/2023 Academic Year have been asked to defer their programmes.

The press statement dated August 12, 2023 explained that the university extended the deadline for students to register on three occasions, but a significant number of students still failed to do so.

The deadline for students to register was originally May 29, 2023, but it was extended to June 5, July 9, and July 28. The Students Representative Council (SRC) then asked for another extension.

Despite the Executives of the SRC setting a deadline of 3rd August 2023, the University added a human face and formally ended course registration for students on 7th August 2023, when even the End-of-Second-Semester Examination had begun. After these many concessions, there are still 648 students who have not registered, as opposed to the 2,000 that some media houses had stated.

It must be noted that contrary to what was falsely claimed, the Universitys Academic Board took this decision, and not the Chancellor, the Honorable Dr. Kwame Addo Kufuor.

Meanwhile, the students are appealing to the academic board of the University to allow them to write the exams, although the University has granted them a deferment opportunity.

One of the affected students, Adofo Silas Denkyira said We know we have erred but, they should temper justice with mercy. The economic situation would not allow us to meet the deadline. We want to write the exams now.

I paid the fees late and I wasnt able to do the registration. The day we were writing the exams, they said it was a deadline, but we didnt see any notice. After paying the fees, we were asked to pay the penalty which was GH100, we were told to go to IT for registration, we were told they had closed registration when we reached there. We reported to the registrar and he told us that there was nothing he can do about it. They later said they will have a meeting and get back to us, they later told us that we have to defer. one of the affected students explained.

The President of the Students Representative Council (SRC), Kwadwo Mensah said the student leadership is still discussing with the academic board to find common ground.

Management put out notices but students could not register because they complained of economic hardship. We understand the issue and the SRC is not redundant, he said.

Attached below is a copy of the statement:
Rethinking credible educational assessment: Focus on artificial intelligence

Kennedy Ashiagbor Education Aug - 14 - 2023 , 07:59

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been transforming education in recent years.

This increasing significance of AI has garnered the interest of numerous scholars actively exploring diverse methods to incorporate various AI tools within the classroom environment.

With the increasing availability of data and the growing sophistication of machine learning algorithms, AI has the potential to revolutionise the way we learn, teach and assess student progress.

Several benefits of using AI in education have been advanced for administrators, teachers and learners, such as playing a crucial role in motivating students, raising their engagement levels, learning interest, learners interaction, anxiety reduction, prediction of students future outcomes and academic performance.

Application of AI tools

Personalised learning such as tools and systems based on AI have the potential to customise learning experiences, boost the productivity of teachers and heighten student engagement.

AI can help automate the grading process by saving time for teachers and providing students with immediate feedback on their assignments.

It can help transcribe, translate lectures and other educational materials, making them accessible to a wider range of students.

Learning management systems (LMS) are platforms that allow educators to create, deliver and manage learning materials, assignments, assessments and evaluations for students.

Computer-based testing platforms allow educators to administer online assessments, including multiple-choice and essay questions.

Formative assessment tools enable educators to monitor students learning in real-time, provide feedback and adjust instruction based on their performance.

Interactive whiteboards enable educators to present and annotate digital content, engage students in interactive activities and collaborate with students in real-time.

Video conferencing tools allow educators to facilitate virtual classroom sessions, provide remote instruction and connect with students in remote locations.

Data visualisation tools enable educators to analyse and present data in visual formats, such as graphs and charts, to gain insights into student performance and learning outcomes.

Social media platforms enable educators to connect with students, share learning resources and promote student engagement in learning activities.

Classroom response systems allow educators to pose questions and receive real-time student feedback using electronic devices.

Challenges

The lack of stakeholder participation in developing AI tools for education can be a significant challenge in AI adoption.

One of the primary challenges associated with AI in educational assessment is the lack of transparency in decision-making.

AI algorithms can be biased, leading to inaccurate and unfair assessments.

This is because AI systems are only as good as the data on which they are trained.

The use of AI in educational assessment can lead to a lack of human interaction in the assessment process, which can be detrimental to students learning experiences.

AI-powered tools are typically designed to focus on specific assessment areas, such as lower-order cognitive abilities (such as knowledge and comprehension, usually measured with objective test items).

The use of AI in educational assessment raises ethical concerns, such as issues around data privacy and ownership, as well as concerns around using technology to replace human educators.

Another challenge with using AI-powered tools in educational assessment is that educators may have a limited understanding of how the technology works.

Educators must be trained to understand how to use the technology and effectively interpret the results.

Integrating AI-powered assessment tools with existing systems can be a challenge.

The development and implementation of AI-powered assessment tools can be costly.

Adopting AI-powered assessment tools may face resistance from educators, students and parents.

Also, AI-powered assessment tools may affect student motivation and engagement in learning.

This kind of assessment tools are often designed to provide standardised tests that can be used to compare students performance.

Furthermore, AI-powered assessment tools require a stable and reliable technology infrastructure.

More so, they generate large amounts of data that must be stored, managed and analysed.

Again, these assessment tools can provide quick feedback on students performance but may not offer the personalised feedback and support students need to improve their learning.

Strategies

Developing transparent and ethical artificial intelligence algorithms is very necessary.

Using personalised and adaptive assessment approaches that can account for individual differences in students learning styles and needs is required.

To use AI-powered tools effectively, educators need proper training and support.

Educators should collaborate with students to gather feedback on their experiences with the technology.

In order to ensure that AI-powered tools are accessible for all students, educators should consider the needs of students with disabilities and provide accommodations as needed.

It is critical to incorporate human inputs and oversight because AI tools are not infallible.

Regular evaluation and update of technology are needed to keep up with latest advancements in the field.

Ensuring student data security and privacy to prevent abuse of information.

Furthermore, educating students and parents on using artificial intelligence to ensure comfortable usage of AI-powered tools in educational assessment

Recommendation

Educators, policymakers and stakeholders must work together to develop strategies that maximise the benefits of AI in educational assessment while mitigating the associated risks.

AI in educational assessment can ultimately transform education, improve learning outcomes and equip students with the skills needed to succeed in the 21st Century.

The Writer is a PhD candidate at the University of Ghana.
4 Farmers drown at Tolon - After canoe capsizes

Mohammed Fugu Aug - 14 - 2023 , 09:17

The entire Galinkpegu community in the Tolon District in the Northern Region has been thrown into a state of mourning after four farmers drowned in the Golinga irrigation dam when their canoe capsized last Saturday.

They were said to have been returning from their farm when the incident occurred around 3:p.m.

The bodies, identified as Alhassan Zakaria; 40, Yakubu Danaa; 45, Alhassan Musah; 45, and Issahaku Musah, have since been retrieved and handed over to their families for burial in line with Islamic customs.

The Daily Graphic gathered that they were seven onboard the canoe when the accident occurred but three managed to swim ashore, leaving the four who unfortunately drowned.

Confirmation

The Tolon District Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Abdallah Salifu, who confirmed the incident, said that a search party, including some local folks and personnel of NADMO, searched for about 24 hours and was able to retrieve all the bodies yesterday afternoon.

Mr Salifu took the opportunity to advise canoe operators not to overload while cautioning those engaged in fishing at the dam to be careful with their fishing operations for their own safety.

Shock

The Assemblyman for the Golinga Electoral Area, Nantogmah Zakaria, in an interview, said the entire community had been thrown into a state of shock as that was the first time such a disaster had hit the area.

We cant understand or explain what might have caused this tragedy.

These seven men in our community went to a farm on a canoe and upon their return, the canoe capsized and three of them managed their way out, while four got drowned.

We were able to retrieve three bodies yesterday and with the help of the NADMO rescue team, together with the local team this morning, we were able to retrieve the lifeless body of the fourth victim, he said.

He further told the Daily Graphic that after the police had inspected the retrieved bodies, they were handed over to their families and had since been buried according to Islamic custom.

Writers email:mohammed.fugu@graphic.com.gh
BEIJING, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- China has set attaining high-quality development as its primary task in building a modern socialist country in all respects. President Xi Jinping once defined high-quality development as "a shift from pursuing growth to pursuing better growth," illustrating the evolution of the country's economic development from rapid expansion to a focus on quality. In addition to engaging in meetings and enacting policies, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has pushed forward high-quality development through his inspection tours. Since the start of the year, he has taken several inspection trips across the country, and made stops at tech companies, research institutes, industrial parks and nature reserves -- locations that indicate focal points crucial for achieving high-quality development. SCI-TECH INNOVATION According to Xi, the key to Chinese modernization is the modernization of science and technology. Xi has frequented prominent players in the field of sci-tech innovation on his inspection trips. In April, Xi visited GAC Aion New Energy Automobile Co., Ltd., a new energy vehicle producer in south China's Guangdong Province. The province is regarded as China's high-tech hub and hosts tech giants such as Huawei and Tencent. Xi emphasized that core technologies in key fields should be based on independent research and development, and also demanded further support for small and medium-sized enterprises in their innovation endeavors. During his inspection tour of north China's Hebei Province in May, Xi encouraged sci-tech researchers at an electronics technology research institute to achieve continuous progress in making cutting-edge technology breakthroughs. During a visit to the Purple Mountain Laboratories' comprehensive 6G lab in east China's Jiangsu Province in July, Xi called for pursuing innovation in a down-to-earth manner to bolster China's self-reliance and strength in high-level sci-tech advancements. MODERN INDUSTRIAL SYSTEM China boasts the world's largest and most comprehensive industrial system. It is the leading global producer of over 220 types of industrial products, encompassing all the industrial categories on the United Nations' industrial classification list. A modern industrial system is the material and technological foundation of a modern country, Xi once stressed. The modernization of the industrial system has been another focus for Xi during his inspection trips. On multiple occasions, Xi has inspected local initiatives aiming to promote the green transformation of the energy industry and the development of advanced manufacturing. While inspecting the energy-rich Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in June, Xi said the pursuit of green development is a prerequisite, and it is of utmost importance that Inner Mongolia promotes the transformation and upgrading of traditional energy industries, boosts green energy, and develops itself into a key national energy base. In southwest China's Sichuan Province in July, Xi urged the construction of a new energy system for the complementary development of various energy resources such as water, wind, solar power, hydrogen and natural gas. In the provinces of Guangdong and Jiangsu, Xi called for industrial foundations to be advanced, industrial chains to be modernized, and the growth of strategic emerging industries to be fostered. Xi also stressed that Chinese modernization should not follow the path that leads to the real economy being sidelined, and urged accelerated efforts to develop a modern industrial system supported by the real economy. ECOLOGICAL CONSERVATION At a national conference on ecological and environmental protection last month, Xi underscored the significance of supporting high-quality development with a high-quality ecological environment. He stressed the need to accelerate the advancement of modernization featuring harmony between humanity and nature. Xi is deeply concerned about the ecological conservation and protection of cultural relics in the Yellow River Basin. During his visits to the provinces of Shanxi and Shaanxi in May, Xi said that all provinces and regions within the Yellow River Basin must take the protection of the Yellow River Basin's ecology as the baseline in planning development and promoting high-quality development, and must refrain from doing things that are not conducive to the ecological protection of the Yellow River Basin. While inspecting the country's largest mangrove nature reserve in Guangdong, Xi referred to mangrove forests as national treasures and said they should be protected with as much care as people take to protect their own eyes. In Inner Mongolia, Xi visited an afforestation project site and called for continuous efforts to prevent and control desertification, which he described as a long-term historic mission. Presently, China has the world's largest planted forest area, with its forest coverage rate more than doubling from 12 percent in the early 1980s to 24.02 percent last year. "We should continue to pursue green development, make unremitting efforts across generations to build a beautiful China, and contribute to the preservation of our global village," Xi has said.
Khartoum  Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leader Lt Gen Mohamed 'Hemedti' Dagalo states that they will establish an agency called the Sudan Agency for Relief and Humanitarian Operations (SARHO), to "enhance and coordinate relief and humanitarian operations".

Earlier today in a social media post from the RSF commander's official account, he states his proposed agency will operate within territories controlled by his forces such as "Khartoum, Darfur, Kordofan, and areas of displacement".

The RSF's SARHO will facilitate licenses for humanitarian organisations aiming to operate within their areas of control. According to the statement, SARHO aims to expedite processes and eliminate unnecessary hindrances that "contravene" with humanitarian work.

Hemedti also adds that the agency will be responsible for granting media permits, aiding war casualties and POWs, collaborating on mine clearance, promoting coexistence, peace, and tolerance, upholding human rights and social protection, engaging essential service professionals, supporting producers' rehabilitation, and partnering for shared goals.

It has been suggested that SARHO could function as the RSF's counterpart to Sudan's official Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC). HAC's impartiality has frequently been called into question by activists for obfuscating and streamlining corruption.

Earlier this year, Sudan's National Commission for Human Rights expressed deep concern over the measures that HAC had been engaging in which "impedes the freedom of civil society work".

Empowerment Removal Committee (ERC) member Orwa El Sadig previously told Radio Dabanga that HAC rehabilitated organisations and "represents hidden facades" of the dissolved National Congress Party of dictator Omar Al Bashir and the Islamic Movement.

The ERC member adds that many of these NGOs "consisted of banners, stamps, and bank accounts without having a board of trustees or executive offices".

According to the RSF leader, the implementation of this agency will happen promptly and will be enforced by "individuals and departments affiliated with the RSF".

Read the full statement here: Decision on the Establishment of the Sudan Agency for Relief and Humanitarian Operations (SARHO)
Adapt to changing needs of readers - Lecturer charges publishers

Emmanuel Bonney & Dickson Worlanyo Dotse Aug - 14 - 2023 , 12:00

A Senoir Lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has called on the publishing industry to adapt to the changing needs of readers and users of their content.

Dr Lucy A. Ry-Kottoh of the Department of Publishing Studies of KNUST said this would enable the industry to remain relevant.

She said there was the need to find out what our customers want, how they want it, when they want it and to package it to meet their demands.

Addressing a symposium on 50 Years of Indigenous Publishing, the Efua T. Sutherland Legacy, in Accra last Friday, Dr Ry-Kottoh said it was important that publishers balanced the business and civil responsibility of publishing so that the countrys social values and histories could be preserved since publishing was not just about business.

The event was organised  as part of the Ghana International Book Fair  by Afram Publications Ghana Limited, an indigenous book publishing firm in the country, which was co-founded by Efua T. Sutherland.

Dr Ry-Kottoh said there was also the need to upgrade skills through training, investment in technology and collaborative publishing to produce good quality publications, and that it was not enough for publishers to sit in small corners with little resources to create content or publish a book.

We must explore other ways, like collaborative publishing where two or more publishers could come together, pool their resources and produce good and quality publications, she said.

She underscored the need for publishers and other institutions to mentor young authors who had stories to tell, and researchers who created or produced new knowledge to showcase Ghana and Africa.

Little drops of water make a mighty ocean.

We can catch many people and then we can groom them to become who they are supposed to be.

So, lets mentor young authors who have stories to tell, and young researchers who create content so that new knowledge would abound, she said.

Dr Ry-Kottoh indicated that stakeholders must create a healthy industry and partner academia, explaining that the nexus between industry and academia was research.

As academia educates and trains for industry, it is fair to expect industry to support academia since they are the main beneficiaries of our output, she said.

Challenges

She said authorship and publishing were confronted with the challenge of having to monitor the sale of books and that apart from sales reports from publishers or booksellers, authors had no other way to monitor the sale of print books.

Another challenge, she said, was about executing publishing contracts, and that a gentlemans agreement is still common among publishers, authors and other publishing services providers.

Only a few publishers have written agreement with their service providers. This has propensity for conflict.

She also mentioned low skill and competence levels, the lack of access to credit, the lack of capital for small publishers,and the small size of the book market as further challenges confronting the industry.

Two other speakers at the event  poet and literary scholar, Professor Kofi Anyidoho, and the Director of the Women and Gender Studies Programme at the University of California, Davis, Professor Amina Mama  hailed the outstanding contributions of Efua T. Sutherland to the development of literary works and indigenous publishing.

They described her as a teacher, eminent writer and cultural activist who spent time to mentor younger persons, including women.

Cultural resistance

Prof. Mama described Efua Sutherland and Afram Publications as symbols of cultural resistance, adding that it could not have been easy to set up the first indigenous publishing house during those times.

Colonialism denied that Africa had literature and culture, so shes coming from that era, and thats why shes remarkable, the feminist activist, researcher and scholar said.

Prof. Mama said it was paramount that Africa solidified and consolidated its identity, histories and heritages before exposing itself to the outside world, otherwise it would have fallen for the myths of black inferiority and African nothingness.

Im not saying that we should stick only with the indigenous. It should be the foundation so that knowing where we come from becomes the starting point that enables us to be strong, creative and to resist the suppression, the negation and the value of our own ancestry and our own ideas in the present, she stressed.

Prof. Anyidoho said a whole generation of young people who dreamt of becoming creators, creative writers and cultural activists benefited from the celebrated writers role as a principal instigator through her generosity, creativity and mentorship.

He recounted his journey with Efua Sutherland from a teacher trainee to becoming one of her two research assistants at the University of Ghana, and later inspiring him to write for children.

He appealed to the government through the Ministry of Education to reinstate the Creative Writers Programme to unearth a new generation of creatives and scholars who could reignite passion in writing, reading and cultural activism.

The Board Chairperson of Afram Publications, Prof. Esi Sutherland-Addy, said Efua T. Sutherland believed that writing was a very important part of the countrys development.
Diasporan gifts Abomayaw community borehole

Ezekiel E. Sottie Aug - 14 - 2023 , 09:26

The people of Abomayaw near Npakadan in the Asuogyaman District in the Eastern Region, have been provided with a borehole to end the age-old acute water situation in the community.

The GH48,000 water project solely financed by a citizen of the United States of America, Tamicka James, was executed in collaboration with an NGO, Team CSR Ghana, and the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA).

The project is an outcome of the Beyond the Return initiative of the GTA.

Humanitarian service

Addressing the inauguration characterised by drumming and dancing by the community last Thursday, Ms James said the facility was a humanitarian service she rendered to the people to solve their acute water situation.

She said having enjoyed her short holiday in Ghana in December last year, she decided to return to celebrate her 50th birthday, which was marked with the project.

I got in touch with the Chief Executive of Team CSR Ghana and he recommended Abomayaw community as a community that needed a water facility among other needs, Ms James added.

I decided to take the water project by drilling the borehole for the community because my late sister used to say that water is life and that had been ringing in my mind, hence the borehole, she explained.

A community member fetching water after the inauguration

The US benefactor added that she also came along with 50 close friends to witness her birthday celebration in Ghana and for her friends to empathise with some of the challenges in some of the Ghanaian communities for possible assistance.

In response to other pressing needs such as places of convenience, CHPS compound and school infrastructure, Ms James said she and her friends were going back to the USA to share the challenges, adding we shall definitely come back and assist them with the other needs.

The Chief Executive of CSR Ghana, Jonathan Akuamoah, for his part, said his organisation had been able to collaborate with other organisations, mostly donors from the USA, to provide 100 boreholes for 100 communities across the country, which had improved the lives 150,000 people.

The Asuogyaman District alone has benefited from 26 out of the 100 boreholes.

Positive impact

A representative of the GTA, Ivy Prosper, entreated Ghanaians to acknowledge the remarkable progress made by Team CSR in their pursuit to make a positive impact for the marginalised communities in Ghana.

She said the GTAs Beyond the Return initiative had seven pillars, namely Experience Ghana, Celebrate Ghana, Invest in Ghana, Diaspora Pathways to Ghana, Brand Ghana, Promote Pan-African Heritage and Innovation and Give Back to Ghana.

She emphasised that one of the pillars, Give Back to Ghana, had encouraged support initiatives that had contributed in many ways to the betterment of Ghanaians.

The Assemblyman for the Npakadan Electoral Area, Oscar Lewu, on behalf of the community, thanked the benefactor and the collaborators for the provision of the borehole, stressing, however, the need for places of convenience, a CHPS compound and school infrastructure for the community.
ECOWAS must employ diplomacy to manage Niger crisis  Dr Belley

Alberto Mario Noretti Aug - 14 - 2023 , 06:17

A lecturer of Governance Studies at the Evangelical Presbyterian University College (EPUC) in Ho, Dr Harrison Kofi Belley, has called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to use proactive preventive diplomacy to address the prevailing political situation in Niger.

In an interview with Graphic Online in Ho on Sunday (Aug 13), he said that the proposed military intervention by ECOWAS was likely to fuel the crisis in that country.

Dr Belley cited the growing support the military junta in Niger was enjoying from the masses and said neutral and sustained results-oriented strategic conflict management measures were required to deal with the state of affairs in Niger, and not military intervention.

The lecturer also called for the strengthening of the capacity of African states to settle electoral disputes at national, regional and continental levels through the enactment of laws and setting up of mechanisms for independent adjudication of such disputes to ensure political stability.

Tenure extensions

Dr Belley further called for a halt to tenure extensions by political leaders, and said the protocol of the Community Court of Justice of ECOWAS should be modified to allow for judicial intervention in all electoral matters.

ECOWAS must muster the political will to hold member states accountable to their treaty obligations, in addition to combating corruption in public life to build confidence in state institutions and create the conditions for instability, he added.

The lecturer further highlighted the need for ECOWAS to find ways of building and strengthening constitutional democratic norms and economies to eradicate poverty among the populace to ensure stability.

Deadline

Meanwhile, the deadline for the military junta that overthrew Niger's government has passed, leaving neighbouring countries and Western allies of Niger in an uncertain situation.

The country's military was asked by ECOWAS member states to stand down and reinstate ousted president Mohamed Bazoum by last Sunday.
Enhancing public procurement system: Suppliers not on electronic system risk contract loss

Daily Graphic Aug - 14 - 2023 , 06:11

Suppliers, consultants, contractors and all other procurement entities which have not enrolled onto the Ghana Electronic Procurement System (GHANEPS) will soon not be able to do business with the government.

This means that they would not be able to have their challenges resolved as quickly as they would want to, neither would they be assured of payment after delivering those services.

The GHANEPS is an integrated system that provides one stop shop solution for procurement entities, improves transparency, efficiency, effectiveness, seamless system and helps to monitor all contracts awarded to entities for tax benefits to the government.

The Deputy CEO of the Public Procurement Authority, Ghana (PPA), Kwame Prempeh, who gave the hint said with the introduction of GHANEPS, procurement process had become paperless and there would be no need for the traditional printouts of tender documents, hence the need for all who want to do business with the government to sign on .

He was speaking at an evening lecture on the Overview of the Ghana Electronic Procurement System (GHANEPS) for members of the Ghana Institution of Engineers (GhIE) held at Thursday.

GhIE Lecture

The lecture took place at the Engineers Centre, Roman Ridge, Accra.

It is a periodic event held by the professional body to help its members to be abreast of issues concerning their industry and also related to their businesses and operations.

Moderated by Joyce Asante, an Electrical/Electronic Engineer, the lecture was attended by a host of members of the Institution of Engineering as well as some past and present leaders of the GhIE.

These included a past President of GhIE, Leslie Alex Aryeh, , Executive Director of GhIE, David Kwatia Nyante, some Council members of GhIE, Engineers.

GHANEPS roll out

The Deputy CEO of PPA explained that since GHANEPS was rolled out in 2019, over 660 procurement entities had been trained and enrolled on the system.

He also indicated that they PPA had a roll-out plan to train and enrol 15 entities onto GHANEPS per month and the roll out carried out on regional basis.

Through that exercise, all PPEs in a region are taken through the process within a period of approximately three months.

He further explained that multiple roll-outs were conducted for regions where the number of entities were in excess of 50.

So far, Greater Accra has seen the most roll-outs.

Mr Prempeh added that with the linking of the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) with the GHANEPS platform, procurement entities stood a better chance of having monies due them paid on time by the government after delivery of the goods and services.

This, he emphasised, would also help to limit the amount of contracts given without approval, which created a lot of arrears for the government.

Efficiency

The President of the GhIE, Kwabena Bempong, said the introduction of the GHANEPS in the procurement processes, would to a large extent, curb the human element, and thereby also minimise the situation where people try to block the system or take advantage of the system.

When it comes to procurement in general, the underlining word is fairness, value for money and to ensure that there is transparency.

When these things are missing, then the integrity of the procurement process becomes questionable.

So, with the introduction of the GHANEPS, the procurement process will be enhanced and reduce the situation where people do due to the human interference, try to abuse the system and service providers, Mr Bempong said.
Exclusive breastfeeding way to go

Rebecca Quaicoe Duho Aug - 14 - 2023 , 11:55

Data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) says breast milk antibodies help protect a baby from illness and that it has health benefits for both babies and mothers as it provides a baby with ideal nutrition and supports growth and development and can also help protect baby and mom against certain illnesses and diseases.

Breastfed babies are said to have a lower risk of asthma, obesity, type one diabetes and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Breastfed babies are also less likely to have ear infections and stomach bugs.

Also breast milk shares antibodies from the mother with her baby and these antibodies help babies develop a strong immune system and protect them from illnesses

As a benefit to mothers, breastfeeding can reduce the mothers risk of breast and ovarian cancer, type II diabetes and high blood pressure.

Breastfeeding also helps to reduce families out of pocket expenditures to treat diarrhoea and pneumonia.

Globally, it is estimated that improving breastfeeding practices could save more than 820,000 lives annually87 per cent of them infants under six months of age.

In Ghana, it is estimated that 52 per cent of babies are exclusively breastfed for six months.

August 1 to 7 every year is recognised as World Breastfeeding Week.

The week is used in celebrating the successes achieved in breastfeeding as well as serves as an avenue to educate and also create awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding to mothers and their babies.

This years week celebration in Ghana was on the theme: Enabling Breastfeeding: Making a Difference for Working Parents and it emphasises the importance of creating a supportive environment that allows working parents to continue breastfeeding without affecting their work.

FDA/GHS

In a joint statement by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to mark the week, they reaffirmed their commitment to promoting and supporting breastfeeding.

It said breastfeeding was a fundamental right of every child and was vital to child survival and development.

It, however, said despite the irrefutable benefits of breastfeeding, many working parents still faced difficulties in keeping up with exclusive breastfeeding for the recommended six months and continue to breastfeed for up to two years or longer.

It pinpointed long working hours, limited maternity leave, inadequate breastfeeding leave and the stigma surrounding breastfeeding in the workplace as some of the barriers preventing parents from providing optimal nutrition for their infants.

The two entities therefore called on all stakeholders, including governments, employers, civil society and community organisations, to work together to overcome those barriers and create a favourable environment to support breastfeeding for working parents.

It recommended among others for laws and workplace policies as national legislation that protects the breastfeeding rights of working parents, including full leave, flexible work arrangements and breastfeeding leave.

UNICEF/WHO

Also a joint statement by the UNICEF Executive Director, Catherine Russell and WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, to mark the week, said in the last 10 years, many countries have made significant progress to increase exclusive breastfeeding rates.

Yet even greater progress is possible when breastfeeding is protected and supported, particularly in the workplace.

The statement which was on the international theme, Lets make breastfeeding at work, work emphasised the need for greater breastfeeding support across all workplaces to sustain and improve progress on breastfeeding rates globally.

It said in the last decade, the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding has increased by a remarkable 10 percentage points, to 48 per cent globally saying to reach the global 2030 target of 70 per cent, the barriers women and families faced to achieving their breastfeeding goals must be addressed.
FAO donates books to 3 institutions

Yaa Kuffour Senyah Aug - 14 - 2023 , 07:20

The United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has donated over 8,000 books, reading and research materials to three learning institutions in the country.

Described as knowledge materials, they are to help increase access to learning resources in higher learning institutions.

The beneficiary institutions are the University of Ghana School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Development Studies (UDS) and the Ghana Library Authority (GLA).

The donation was part of efforts of the organisation to make available resources and information related to agriculture for the use of students and researchers.

The academic resources cover a wide spectrum of topics, including agriculture, biodiversity, African agricultural statistics, food processing, forests and forestry, gender in agriculture, climate change, among others.

Knowledge sharing

Presenting the items to the institutions at a short ceremony in Accra last Friday, the Deputy Regional Representative for Africa, FAO, Yurdi Yasmi, said as the biggest donation in the country, the publications served as a testament of FAO's commitment to fostering learning, knowledge sharing and collaboration across Africa.

Knowledge sharing is a beacon that guides us towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals thus the steering potential of the African youth through the data and analytics gleaned from these publications will help fuel our journey towards a more equitable, sustainable and prosperous world, he explained.

Mr Yasmi stated that beyond the publications that were being handed over, the FAO was also offering an online publications repository that was freely accessible to all through our website, as he encouraged all to explore and make use of the resources.

He, however, advised that the beneficiary institutions should understand the basis of knowledge sharing to cultivate a culture of collaboration, innovation and dedication to harness the power of education and information to usher in an era of transformative change.

So, let us remember that these publications are not merely ink on paper; they are seeds of wisdom that, when nurtured, have the potential to blossom into greatness hence let us embrace the opportunities that lie ahead, armed with knowledge, fueled by passion, and united in our pursuit of a better tomorrow, Mr Yasmin added.

Beneficiaries

The Dean of the School of Agricultural Sciences, UG, Professor Irene Susana Egyir, expressed appreciation to the organisation for the benevolent act.

She stated that the learning materials were precious because as academia, all they discovered were in books and when they discovered things on the field they put them in books hence it was a knowledge sharing cycle.

Prof. Egyir added that the donation of the physical books was laudable as in the era of digitisation there was a tendency to forget as compared to the diagram books.

We believe that with the circular economy motive, there is a wide range of information that the FAO has put in these materials that would build the capacity of students, staff and the faculty as a whole.

Receiving the books on behalf of the UDS, the head of the UDS, Accra Office, Michael Ansa, commended the organisation for reaching out to the needs of students as he explained that reading was the most important way of education

He stated that the publications which contained varied real-life experiences and best practices across the globe would further empower the students to become game changers wherever they found themselves.

The Deputy Director of GLA, Edward Addo-Yodo, who received the books on behalf of the authority, said it was a good gesture that would positively impact the vision of connecting citizens to good literary resources.
Gbewaa College of Education graduates first batch of degree teachers

Gilbert Mawuli Agbey Aug - 14 - 2023 , 07:04

The Gbewaa College of Education in the Pusiga District in the Upper East Region has held the congregation to graduate its first batch of students who pursued the four-year Bachelor of Education (B.ED) programme.

A total of 399 students were awarded (B.ED) degree after successfully completing the new four-year degree in basic education programme which was introduced in all the 46 colleges of education.

One person obtained first class, 107 were awarded second class honours (Upper Division), 147 had second class (Lower Division), 58 had third class while six students had pass.

It was the last time graduates of the college were awarded certificates by the University of Cape Coast (UCC) which mentored the institution over the years.

Henceforth, the college would be under the tutelage of the University of Ghana, Legon.

Teacher licensing crucial

In a speech read on his behalf at the seventh congregation of the college last Saturday, (August 12) the Director of Research of the National Teaching Council (NTC), Bernard Kuug, said teacher registration and licensing was crucial in maintaining a professional and competent teaching workforce.

He noted that this had become necessary, especially when the enabling Act in section 79 forbids anyone to teach or employ someone to teach without a license, Mr Kuug said in the speech read on his behalf by the Registrar, NTC, Dr Christian Addai-Poku.

He, therefore, urged the NTC to see it as a call to duty in ensuring that only qualified and competent teachers entered and remained in the profession, stressing the significance of the Teachers Licensure.

He explained that teacher licensing would ensure that only qualified teachers were recruited into the teaching service, which in turn would ensure that learners received quality instruction to improve the education sector.

Transition

The Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, said colleges of education had undergone sustainable transformation, transitioning from traditional institutions to esteemed degree-granting establishments.

He indicated that the move aligned with the governments objective of expanding access to higher education as outlined in the Education Strategic Plan (ESP 2018-2030) with the goal of increasing the countrys Gross Tertiary Enrolment Ration (GTER) from 20 per cent to 40 per cent by 2030.

He added that due to the governments dedicated efforts, Ghanas GTER had shown steady improvement currently standing at 20 per cent compared to the previous years 18.84 per cent, stressing this progress puts us on the right track to achieve our target of 40 per cent by 2030.

He noted that colleges of education would receive adequate funding and investment in research and innovative technologies to enhance teaching practices with support from the Ghana Education Trust Fund.

The Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu, entreated the graduates to be guided by the training acquired in order to excel in their teaching profession.

Gratitude

The Principal of the college, Dr Halidu Musah, expressed gratitude to the UCC through the Institute of Education for the many years of guidance throughout the institutions existence.

He equally thanked the government for the physical, technical and financial support enjoyed by the college over the years as well as the many projects dotted on the campus and development of staff competencies to meet the exigencies of tertiary education.

He appealed for the resolution of issues regarding the payment of feeding grant to the school as food suppliers were unwilling to supply food items to them due to huge debts owed them.
Ghana at risk of HIV by persons who inject drugs  Prof. Torpey

Beatrice Laryea Aug - 14 - 2023 , 08:45

Ghana is at risk of HIV and blood borne infections by persons who inject drugs, the Dean of the School of Public Health at the University of Ghana, Prof. Kwasi Torpey, has said.

HIV prevalence among persons who used and injected drugs was 2.5 per cent, according to the outcome of a research conducted in four regions in the country by a team in 2022.

We found HIV prevalence of 2.5 per cent among persons who used and injected drugs. Unfortunately, prevalence was 12.7 per cent among women who injected drugs and 17.7 per cent among women who injected drugs and were also sex workers.

These results point to a simple fact that the country is at the cusp of an outbreak of HIV and blood borne infections among persons who inject drugs, he said.

In an inaugural lecture organised in his honour by the University of Ghana, Prof. Torpey recommended the development of a harm reduction programme for persons who use or inject drugs.

He was speaking on the topic: Ending HIV/AIDS in Africa: Reflections from the clinic, field and classroom.

The event was attended by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo; the Director-General of Ghana Health Service, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye; the Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Elsie Addo-Awadzi, and a former Vice-Chancellor of the UG, Prof. Clifford Nii Boi Tagoe.

There were also representatives from the World Health Organisation, USAID, the Society for AIDS in Africa, the Ghana AIDS Commission and the Ministry of Health, among others.

Situation

On HIV in Africa, Prof. Torpey, who has over 26 years experience as a physician, scientist, researcher and trainer, said there were about 39 million people living with HIV on the continent, with 20.8 million of them living in East and Southern Africa, while 4.8 million were in West and Central Africa.

UNAIDS updates in 2023 estimates that a life is lost every minute due to HIV. This is equivalent to 650,000 HIV related deaths.

In addition, there are 4,000 new infections daily. Every week, 4,000 adolescent girls and young women get infected. About 84,000 children died of HIV last year.

As an HIV physician, I can confidently say without equivocation that ending AIDS in Africa will be a pipe dream if we do not make deliberate and intentioned efforts to improve access of all populations to health services, a public health imperative, he said.

On mother to child transmission (MTCT), Prof. Torpey said that HIV in children was a blot on the conscience of humanity.

This is because we have the knowledge and the strategies to eliminate paediatric HIV.

Vertical or Mother to child transmission of HIV can take place during pregnancy, labour and delivery and during the breastfeeding period, he said

Ghana has introduced HIV+ babys tool for auditing purposes. If appropriately implemented, this will enable us to understand why our babies are getting infected; whether their mothers attended antenatal clinic and did not receive ARVs or received ARVs but did not adhere to the drugs or seroconverted from HIV negative to positive during the pregnancy and breastfeeding period, he said.

Tackling HIV

Prof. Torpey further said that programmes to tackle HIV could only succeed with a good leadership and governance system, financing and adequate human resource, among other initiatives.

Ghana must take urgent steps to increase its domestic contribution to HIV not only to provide services to the people, but also demonstrate its commitment to national response.

The availability of the long-acting agents will require us as a country to start making changes in the health and community systems to respond to these new advances, the Dean of the School of Public Health, University of Ghana, added.

Ending AIDS in Africa is feasible, but we must aggressively cut down the new infections through combination prevention strategies, identifying and improving access to treatment for all populations, removing structural barriers which limit access to treatment and the strengthening of community health systems to respond to the evolving needs of the epidemic, he said.
GNAT demands Free SHS dialogue

Emmanuel Bonney Aug - 14 - 2023 , 12:54

The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has called for an urgent national stakeholder dialogue to relook at the Free Senior High School (SHS) programme in relation to the country's current economic situation.

The dialogue, the teachers umbrella body said, should be aimed at smoothening the rough edges of the programme, leading to a review for a seamless implementation.

's Speaking on behalf of GNAT, the General Secretary, Thomas Musah, told Graphic Online's Emmanuel Bonney that key issues that could dominate the discussion at the dialogue included the admission framework and processes, parameters for students qualification, infrastructure and ancillaries, sources of funding, involvement of parents, corporate entities, parent-teacher associations, alumni, traditional authorities and old students associations.

Logistics

The rest, he said, were the supply or availability of logistics such as textbooks, stationery, equipment and the training and retraining of teachers for the schools.

As a critical stakeholder in the education enterprise, GNAT hereby calls for a drastic review and overhaul of the Free SHS Policy to ensure its smooth and successful implementation for the good of Ghana, our motherland.

All concerned and interested bodies, agencies, academics, alumni associations, teacher unions, organised labour and parents, among others, should be brought on board for this very crucial and important dialogue to ensure a very broad participation and voice in this national assignment.

Expertise elsewhere on the African continent and the world at large could also be sought, the GNAT General Secretary said.

Background

The Free SHS programme was introduced in September, 2017 by the NPP government in fulfilment of a campaign promise.

In the run-up to the 2012 and the 2016 general elections, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), led by the then candidate Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, made free SHS the flagship of his manifesto.

Recent challenges under the programme, especially with regard to food items, have prompted a section of society to call for its review to let parents contribute.

Laudable initiative

Mr Musah noted that the Free SHS initiative was a laudable venture and, therefore, all efforts must be put in to ensure its sustenance, adding that as a patriotic corporate body, GNAT was prepared to participate in any dialogue or forum to help achieve its objective.

That, he said, was by improving it to help steer the country and its people, especially the youth, out of poverty, ignorance, joblessness, ethnic and religious strife.

This is an onerous task that must be done! God bless Ghana, and continue to make it a land of peace and bliss.

The GNAT General Secretary said although the intention of the Free SHS Policy is good, the reality is that the government lacks the resources to make it reasonably practicable.

Again, it is putting more burden on taxpayers and preventing resources from other alternative uses in the economy, he added.

Mr Musah said from the inception of the policy, many Ghanaians, academics and critical stakeholders in the education sector wondered whether the government had the economic muscle to carry it through and make secondary education wholly free.

Cost-sharing

Many even proposed a system of cost-sharing between government and stakeholders but the government would have none of it and decided to go solo, and the results are some of the challenges we are experiencing now.

Added to these is the economic distress which has hit the country in recent times, culminating in government launching a comprehensive restructuring which involves both domestic and external debts, and running to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a three-billion dollar bailout to re-establish its debt sustainability, he said.

Consequently, government had to suspend the funding of many of its policies, programmes and projects, the Free SHS initiative not exempted.

In essence, government is now pursuing measures meant to support its fiscal consolidation process to the detriment of all its projects, he noted.

Since the introduction of formal education into the country by the European merchants which was later popularised by some missionaries, Mr Musah said parents had had to pay for the education of their children and that the schools were built, equipped and maintained by those who owned them.

From 1882, he said, the then government began to give the religious bodies who then owned majority of the schools money in the form of grants-in-aid.

This laid the basis of a partnership between them and the government.

This was a characteristic feature of our educational system till 1951, when individual entities could not open schools without the approval of either the government or the local Councils.

Before 1951, majority of the schools were owned by the religious bodies while the government owned only a few of the schools.

Before 1951, out of about 490,000 children of school age, only about 90,000 were in primary school, he said.

Kwame Nkrumahs era

He said in 1951, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the Leader of Government business, initiated a policy referred to as the Accelerated Development Plan under which many primary schools were built, equipped and maintained by Local Councils.

Tuition was abolished but parents were made to buy textbooks and other learning materials for their children.

That policy, he said, led to the employment of many untrained teachers.

As a makeshift measure, an emergency pupil teachers centre was opened in Saltpond to provide a six-week teacher training for selected middle school leavers to become teachers in primary schools.

By 1951, the popular demand was for primary school education.

When the country became independent in March 1957, out of the population of five million people, 500,000 children of school age were in the primary school.

Under the Accelerated Development Plan, government assumed paramount responsibility for the education of the country.

It is instructive, however, to note that the Plan did not touch the content and structure of the then existing education.

The Education Act of 1961 made tuition free in primary, middle and secondary schools.

Government assumed responsibility for paying teachers.

Individual entities were permitted to open schools; however, the Minister of Education could close down schools which were considered not suitable.

Admission of pupils and students should have no consideration for religious beliefs, he said.

Education for children of school age, Mr Musah said, was compulsory and parents who failed to send their children of age six to school were to be sanctioned.

Parents were to buy textbooks and other learning materials for their children and that salaries, terms and conditions of service and discipline of teachers were to be prescribed under regulations made under the Act.

Again, he said, among other things, government in 1963 adopted a policy of free supply of textbooks for primary and middle schools.

The policy was poorly implemented and had to be abolished soon after it was introduced.

Also, a policy known as continuation school was introduced in 1963 under which pupils in Forms 3 and 4 in middle schools were introduced to trades as a precursor of the junior secondary school programme introduced in 1974 under the Acheampong regime.
Let's pay more attention to women's health - Josephine Oppong-Yeboah

Zadok Kwame Gyesi Aug - 14 - 2023 , 11:17

Ace broadcaster and women's health advocate, Josephine Oppong-Yeboah, has urged the government to pay more attention to women's health in Ghana.

She said womens health remains a global public health concern, as the health and wealth of any society largely depend on the health and wealth of its women.

She observed that due to gender inequalities and other social factors, many women in the country are unable to access healthcare, a situation she noted, has led many to their early graves or deteriorated their health.

In an interview, Ms. Oppong-Yeboah, noted that the health of women is fundamental to socioeconomic development, pointing out that prioritising the health of women will to large extent help to better the lifespan of the general population.

She recalled that womens health was emphasized by the fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995, and added that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) also pay special attention to womens health.

For Ms. Oppong-Yeboah, who is also a gender advocate, gender inequality in accessing care have further been heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has worsened the existing inequalities and exposed the most vulnerable to the pandemics increasing effects, including increased sexual and gender-based violence.

She expressed the concern that women and girls health have traditionally been viewed as primarily concerned with reproductive health, adding that while services for women and girls are provided, gender equality is not a priority in the delivery of public health care.

She was of the view that many available services and delivery methods do not adequately support women's access to health care, explaining that many health interventions do not take into account the realities of womens and girls mobility, time, and material resources.
Sudan  Claims of military deaths on both sides, as well as an ever-increasing toll of civilian casualties, either caught in crossfire and shelling, or murdered during robberies, characterise the ongoing hostilities between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and the ensuing collateral mayhem across the country. A lack of security on the ground makes it difficult to independently verify claims and counterclaims, and exact numbers hard to confirm, however the numbers paint a grim picture.

On Friday, the SAF intensified its attacks on the stronghold of the RSF in Khartoum, and shelled a number of areas in Omdurman and Bahri. A source told Radio Dabanga from Omdurman that the army attacked the RSF-controlled neighbourhood of El Masalma in Omdurman as well as the East Soba area. Reports say that the RSF responded with artillery fire.

A group or RSF fighters reportedly stormed the village of Nuba, just south of the border between El Gezira and Khartoum states. Civilian doctor Abdelrahman Ahmed was killed outright. Osama Abdeljalil was shot twice in the abdomen and died of his wounds later. A source told Radio Dabanga that "the RSF is present in the area", adding that there are cases of RSF militiamen robbing civilians.

The SAF claim to have killed 26 RSF combatants in the area of Farajallah, between Bara and El Obeid in North Kordofan.

The army said in a statement, that "the special task forces of the Fifth Infantry Division - Haggana - in the city of El Obeid attacked the rebel militia in the Farajallah area, killing 26 RSF fighters, and destroying two combat vehicles. The SAF claim to have wounded "a large number" of RSF, "without losses in the ranks of our armed forces".

Darfur

Renewed fighting on Thursday evening between the SAF and the RSF in Nyala, led to the death of at least five people, and many injuries of varying degrees.

The Darfur Bar Association and its partners said that on Friday, the city of Nyala witnessed the fall of many missiles as a result of mutual shelling between the army and the RSF, which killed five people including two children.

Arms cache seized

The intelligence section of the SAF 11th Infantry Division in Khashm El Girba in Kassala, claims that the division has seized 86 sniper rifles and 20 Kalashnikov assault rifles, allegedly bound for the RSF in Khartoum. The arms cache was being transported in two vehicles en route "from a neighbouring country", the intelligence section says.

The statement add that a clash between the SAF and four suspected smugglers lasted for several hours, however the suspects managed to escape after a violent confrontation.
MTN Ghana on course with $1 billion network investment

Alberto Mario Noretti Aug - 14 - 2023 , 07:09

Telecommunications giant, MTN Ghana, is on course with the investment of $1 billion to expand and improve its network by 2025.

This is part of its broader plans to maintain leadership in the industry.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company, Selorm Adadevoh, disclosed this at the 2023 Media and Stakeholder Forum, organised by MTN Ghana in Ho last week.

The event was attended by stakeholders in the regional capital, including media practitioners and representatives of some security agencies.

It was aimed at bringing together the media and other relevant stakeholders to share ideas and foster collaboration between the company and the media.

Mr Adadevoh said MTN Ghanas ambition was to build the longest and most valuable platforms to drive the industry leading connectivity operations and create an accelerated portfolio transformation.

He thus stressed that the group would not be deterred in any way from that plan by the current economic challenges facing the country because the future for the scheme was very bright.

Our strategy is anchored in building the largest and most valuable platform business with a clear focus on Africa, he added.

Significant revenue contributor

The CEO maintained that MTN Ghana remained a significant contributor to the countrys revenue mobilisation, and said in 2022, it contributed GH4 billion of which GH3.7 billion was from direct and indirect taxes.

He said MTN Ghana contributed GH749.8million and GH1.3 billion in the form of Valued Added Tax, levies and duties; and GH539 million of withholding taxes.

Further, MTN Ghana paid GH400 million as Communications Service Tax in addition to GH301.7million to other government agencies last year, Mr Adadevoh revealed.

Meanwhile, MTN Ghanas CEO said the company paid GH176million as National Fiscal Stabilisation Levy, GH69million with regard to Pay-as-You- Earn, and GH413.9 million in the area of E-levy last year.

MTN Ghanas stance, Mr Adadevoh said, was to lead in the delivery of a bold, new digital world to its customers, and make their lives a whole lot brighter.

Everyone deserves the benefit of a modern connectivity, he added.
Stanbic Bank supports Military Academy group

Diana Mensah Aug - 14 - 2023 , 06:58

Stanbic Bank Ghana has supported the 30th anniversary celebrations of the 1991 year group of the Ghana Military Academy (GMA) Regular Career Courses (RCC) with GH95,000.

The cash is towards the procurement of a portable ventilator for the Medical Emergency Unit of the 37 Military Hospital.

At a brief ceremony to present the cheque to the officers, the Head of Brand and Marketing at Stanbic Bank, Mawuko Afadzinu, said the donation was in line with the banks unwavering commitment to support better health outcomes for the people of Ghana by financing healthcare providers, health infrastructure and equipment, and investing in health-focused CSI programmes.

He said;Stanbic is a bank that deeply cares about the health of people in communities we operate.

Our decision to support this project came naturally to us because we saw an opportunity to come together once again to touch a very important need area (health), although these are not the best of times for banks.

We chose to fund the cost of the mechanical ventilator because we know it will help the emergency unit deliver quality care and ultimately save lives, Mr Afadzinu said.

The Base Commander, AFB, Accra, Air Commodore Eric Agyen-Frempong, received the cheque on behalf of the group and expressed appreciation to Stanbic Bank for the support.

As part of our 30th anniversary celebrations, we decided to give back to the 37 Military Hospital and, accordingly, rolled out a one-year fundraising project to solicit funds to fix old machines in the Medical Emergency Unit and buy new equipment as well.

We are very grateful to Stanbic Bank for positively responding to our call and contributing to the success of this project, Air Commodore Agyen-Frempong said.

Stanbics CSR in health

Stanbic Bank Ghana has over the years embarked on numerous corporate social initiatives to drive national growth and ensure a better world for all.

In 2020, Stanbic Bank donated COVID-19 items to three healthcare institutions to help in their fight against the pandemic.

The institutions were the Ghana Health Service (GHS), the Cardiothoracic Unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and the 37 Military Hospital.
Walewale-Nalerigu highway temporarily opened to traffic

Mohammed Fugu Aug - 14 - 2023 , 10:28

The damaged portion of the Walewale -Nalerigu highway in the North East Region has been temporarily fixed and opened to traffic.

Following the collapse of a bridge at between the Gbani and Tinguri communities along the stretch last Wednesday, engineers from the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) and contractors worked tirelessly to make the road passable and opened to traffic last Saturday.

This is to serve as a stop-gap measure as efforts were underway to permanently fix the broken bridge in the coming days.

Devastation

Last Wednesday, parts of the West Mamprusi and East Mamprusi municipalities were submerged in water following a downpour.

Walewale, the West Mamprusi Municipal capital, has been cut off from Nalerigu, the regional capital, as a bridge and a dam at Tinguri were swept away by the floods.

This has rendered the main road linking the two towns inaccessible.

The situation has rendered some residents homeless and destroyed swaths of farmlands.

Following the incident, the Ministry of Roads and Highways has been assessing the extent of damage to road infrastructure in the region.

In the meantime, temporary bridges and pathways are to be constructed, as a matter of urgency, on sections of roads in the Mamprugu area, which have been washed away by floods.

Progress of work

The North East Regional Minister, Yidana Zakaria, and the Chief Director of the Ministry of Roads and Highways, Dr Abass Awolu, visited the area to assess the progress of work.

Mr Zakaria said the reconstruction of the bridge was expected to begin shortly after the erection of the bailey bridge, which would take away vehicular and human activities from the main bridge until it was fixed.

Aside from bridges, he said engineers from the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) were also on site assessing Gbani and various dams for maintenance to forestall any reoccurrence.
Write books to expand military knowledge - CDS urges soldiers at book launch

Joshua Bediako Koomson Aug - 14 - 2023 , 10:12

Personnel in the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) have been encouraged to write books to help expand the frontiers of military knowledge.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Vice Admiral Seth Amoama, said a lot of misrepresentations had been churned out on military and security matters, which many of the officers could help set the records straight by publishing historical truths and factually verifiable information for the benefit of the uninformed.

I see a lot of stalwarts whose personal profiles will not only make interesting reading but also teach life-changing lessons to posterity while immortalising your memory in the annals of literary works, the CDS said in a speech read on his behalf by the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Issah Yakubu, at a book launch in Accra last Thursday.



The book

The book, titled The Military My Life, was written by Brigadier General Daniel Kwadwo Frimpong (retd). It essentially chronicles the trials and tribulations he went through in his 43-year military career.

It invariably provides information about some of the major historical events of the 1970s and 1980s and also gives a personal experience of the dramatic, and often tragic events between the 1979 and 1982 period, when attempted coups, coups and counter-coups were the order of the day.

The twists and turns in the fast-changing events of the period are vividly described and the roll call of memorable military officers, some of whom paid the ultimate sacrifice of death, are distinctly described in the book.



Habit of reading

The pen is mightier than the gun and the faintest ink is sharper than the sharpest brain, penning down our memoirs like what General Dan Frimpong has done and contributing to public discourses on topical national and global issues, create a long-lasting impact on generations yet unborn, a value that no amount of money can buy, Vice Admiral Amoama stated.

He also urged the officers of the force to motivate writers by patronising the published books.

The Chief of Defence Staff said that with the advent of electronic libraries which could be carried in small devices such as cell phones and tablets, reading materials had become easily accessible and cost-effective and, therefore, encouraged them to adopt the habit of reading frequently.



Prolific writer

Vice Admiral Amoama commended the author, whom he described as a prolific writer, having won several awards including the Distinguished Service Award from the Advisory Board of the Ghana Association of Writers in 2019.

I've had a personal relationship with our award-winning author and the General and I can attest to the fact that he is not only a prolific writer but his productivity and efficiency cuts across every facet of his life, the CDS said.

He said the motivation for his craving to read Brig. Gen. Frimpongs book when it was first introduced was to find out what made him so efficient in whatever he did.

Upon reading the book, Vice Admiral Amoama said, it did not take long to discover that the author did not just pass through the military but allowed the military to shape him.



Author

For his part, Brig. Gen. Frimpong recounted his formative years as a student at Burma Camp, as well as other military barracks schools and later joining the army at 17 after Mfantsipim School and spending the next 43 years soldiering.

He also appealed to the young officers to document their experiences in the military to help prevent others from rewriting history wrongly.

So long as we dont write, we will always have to reinvent the wheel.

I will crave your indulgence that please write and in that way, we will keep history intact, Brig. Gen. Frimpong said.

He said the military was a profession underpinned by integrity and, therefore, urged the officers to remain dedicated to their duties and continue to uphold integrity in their service to the nation.
Ya-Na cuts sod for construction of Yendi Municipal Assembly building

Dawuni Emma Aug - 14 - 2023 , 06:25

The Overlord of Dagbon, Ya-Na Abukari II, has cut the sod for the construction of a three-storey office building for the Yendi Municipal Assembly in the Northern Region.

He was supported by the Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Shani Alhassan Saibu.

The GH7 million project, which is expected to be completed within 18 months, is being funded by the District Assemblies Common Fund.

In a speech read on his behalf, the Ya-Na urged the contractor not only to complete work on schedule, but must also ensure that it was done to specification.

He called on the people to cooperate and offer the necessary support to the contractor to execute the project on time.

Advice

The Ya-Na said development could not take place in an atmosphere of insecurity and, therefore, advised the people to always cherish peace over violence.

It is only when there is peace and tranquility that we can attract investors here to create jobs and opportunities for our people to improve upon their quality of life.

I must commend the chiefs and people of Dagbon and, for that matter, the entire Northern Region for the prevailing peaceful atmosphere in the region over the years.

Let us uphold this enviable achievement and recognise the fact that our main enemies are poverty, disease and ignorance.

An artists impression of the building.

These are the enemies we must fight and not among ourselves, he added.

The Ya-Na assured the government and investors of his willingness to provide lands for projects and initiatives that would accelerate the growth of the area.

Commendation

The regional minister expressed appreciation to the Overlord of Dagbon for championing the development of the area.

He said the construction of the new assembly block complex was a cherished dream of the people since it would not only give a face lift to the municipality, but also facilitate the work of the assembly.

The minister described the 40-year old assembly block as not fit for purpose and, therefore, needed to be replaced.

He urged members of the assembly to continue to cooperate with the government to deliver more projects for the area to help improve the lives of the people.

Appreciation

The Yendi Municipal Chief Executive, Alhaji Hammed Yussuf, expressed appreciation to the government for the project.

He said at the moment, the assembly shared the same block with the municipal directorate of education, leading to congestion and inconveniences.

Alhaji Yussuf said the assembly intended to bequeath the existing block to the Ghana Education Service (GES) to allow them space to perform their duties effectively.

He further expressed his gratitude to the Ya-Na, the regional minister, and the Member of Parliament for Yendi, Alhaji Farouk Aliu Mahama, for their immense support in securing the project.

For his part, the MP said the ground breaking project fitted well into a grand vision of building a new Yendi city, one that renewed the hope of the people for a better life.

He said the construction of the new assembly block demonstrated his commitment to provide efficient and effective services to the constituents.
BoG does not report directly to Parliament - Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu to Minority

Graphic.com.gh Politics Aug - 14 - 2023 , 18:20

The Majority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu says the Bank of Ghana (BoG) is not obligated to report directly to Parliament.

Reacting to the call by the Minority in Parliament for the BoG to account to Parliament in relation to the 60 billion losses declared, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu criticized the Minority's approach and urged against turning every matter into a political battle.

The Minority, led by Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, had raised concerns over the amount of money printed by the central bank in 2021 and 2022 to fund government operations.

They have argued that this action is a direct violation of the Bank of Ghana Act and called for the Governor of the BoG to appear before Parliament to provide explanations.

"The Bank of Ghana Governor does not directly report to Parliament. We should not make everything about NPP and NDC. Ato Forson should have known better because he has held the position of deputy minister of finance before and knows the operations of the Bank of Ghana," Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said in a radio interview with Accra based Oman FM on Monday.

He said except for reporting on foreign exchange receipts, the Bank of Ghana is not legally required to submit daily activity reports to Parliament.

The BoG has consistently adhered to the provision of reporting foreign exchange receipts as mandated by law, he said.

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu who is the Member of Parliament for Suame in Kumasi and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs questioned the understanding of Dr. Ato Forson, a former Deputy Finance Minister, regarding the BoG's reporting structure.

He indicated that the intricacies of the central bank's operations should be well-known to someone who had served in a finance-related capacity asserting that issues of this nature should not be politicized.
Suggestion to rename UG after J.B. Danquah unnecessary - Clement Apaak

Getrude Ankah Nyavi Politics Aug - 14 - 2023 , 15:23

Dr. Clement Apaak, Member of Parliament for Builsa South and a deputy ranking member on Parliaments Education Committee says a suggestion to rename the University of Ghana after J.B. Danquah was unnecessary and a potential divisive move.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the university's 75th anniversary thanksgiving last Friday suggested that the university could possibly be renamed after J.B. Danquah as a tribute to his unwavering determination and pivotal role in galvanizing the Ghanaian populace to establish the university.

Related: VIDEO: What President Akufo-Addo said about J.B. Danquah and renaming the University of Ghana

President Akufo-Addo said but for the polarised political environment in Ghana, naming the school after the man he said was the founder would not have been out of place.

President Akufo-Addo was speaking on Friday, August 11, 2023 as the special guest of honour at the 75th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service of the UG.

He highlighted J.B. Danquahs pivotal role in Ghanas by rallying Ghanaians to establish a university.

Indeed, in many other jurisdictions where there is less heat in their politics and more attachment to the fact of historical record, it would not have been out of place to have this university named after him (JB Danquah). Who knows, one day it may weli happen, President Akufo-Addo said.

He said it will be wholly appropriate and not far-fetched to describe Joseph Boakye Danquah as the founder of this institution (UG), a fact that on the 75th anniversary of its existence it should be vividly recalled by all who are being and are the beneficiaries of his work.

Clement Apaak's response

But reacting in a radio interview with Accra based Citi FM, Dr Clement Apaak said during his tenure in office, President Akufo-Addo has consistently aimed at giving his forefathers a prominent place in Ghanaian history.

Remember that J.B. Danquah belongs to the presidents family and this is not the first time that we have picked up signals that if the president has his way, UG will be named after J.B. Danquah.

I believe that ought not to be the case. There is a general tendency that we are witnessing where President Akufo-Addo has tried to eulogise his ancestry and to give his forebears a prominent place in Ghanas history, he stated.
President Akufo-Addo should address nation on plans to restore solvency to Bank of Ghana - Ato Forson

Getrude Ankah Nyavi Politics Aug - 14 - 2023 , 13:57

The Minority Leader in Parliament, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to address the nation on measures being instituted by the government or "actions that the government plans to implement in order to restore solvency to the Bank of Ghana."

In a Facebook post on Monday, August 14, 2023, Dr Ato Forson wrote, Given the unprecedented collapse of our central bank, it is imperative for the President of Ghana to urgently address the nation. During this address, the President should outline the decisive actions that the government plans to implement in order to restore solvency to the Bank of Ghana,

He said in situations where the financials or liquidity position of a regulated institution was in poor shape, the BoG would issue directives, including the prohibition of dividend payments even if the institution generated profits.

Granting of new loans will be put on hold; Appointment of new directors will be restricted; Capital expenditure will be temporarily suspended and staff recruitment will be paused, and other similar measures will be taken, he added.

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has raised concerns over the fiscal performance and management of the central bank.

The party at a press conference last week accused the Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Dr. Ernest Addison, of overseeing the mismanagement of the Bank of Ghana.

The NDC has demanded a resignation of the Governor and his deputies in 21 days

Read also: NDC demands resignation of Bank of Ghana Governor in 21 days over losses

Attached below is what Dr Forson wrote on Facebook:
Deputy Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Phathekile Holomisa, Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Ronald Lamola, and National Commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale at Kutama prison on Tuesday August 8, 2023.

Torture and assault by prison wardens are among the allegations made by prisoners

Prisoners at the Kutama Sinthumule Correctional Centre just outside Louis Trichardt, Limpopo, are being transferred to other prisons.

This comes after a massive fire, in which one inmate died and two others were injured. The facility was also severely damaged by the fire.

The fire was allegedly started by rioting prisoners on Monday after complaints that their grievances over conditions and ill-treatment at the facility fell on deaf ears.

More than 3,000 inmates at the Kutama Sinthumule Correctional Centre just outside Louis Trichardt, Limpopo are being transferred to other prisons after a massive fire, which killed one person, damaged the facility this week.

Two inmates who were injured during the incident are being treated in hospital.

The fire was allegedly started by rioting prisoners on Monday after their complaints that their grievances about the conditions and ill-treatment at the facility fell on deaf ears. The prison is managed by South African Custodial Management through a public-private partnership.

According to prisoner rights organisation Exclusive Mediators, inmates have been trying to raise issues with what they say is unlawful treatment and poor conditions at the facility. Other complaints include being assaulted and tortured by staff, insufficient food, having to beg for access to health facilities, and being denied transfers, among other issues.

GroundUp was given five case numbers opened at the Makhado police station by and on behalf of inmates. Lieutenant Colonel Mamphaswa Seabi confirmed the cases had been opened against prison wardens. "Some cases are still in court while other cases have been withdrawn or closed," he said.

Seabi said in one of the cases the docket had gone missing from the police station. "The Police in Makhado have opened Common Assault case 125/03/2023, after a prisoner was assaulted by a warden." He said it was alleged that at 6.25pm on 9 December 2021 the complainant was fighting with other inmates in the cells when the warden came in and took him to another cell, where he was beaten and accused of starting the fight. Seabi said the warden had been charged with common assault, but the case was withdrawn.

Exclusive Mediators say it has been escalating the inmates' complaints to the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) to no avail.

On 27 July the prisoners submitted a memorandum listing their complaints. DCS confirmed they received the memo and are expected to respond by 14 August. The department sent a team to investigate the allegations on 4 August. The riot started a few days later, apparently after a meeting with management and prisoners who had sent their grievances to DCS.

"This is a private prison and one would think that they are being properly rehabilitated as per the Act 111 of 1998, that clearly stipulates that the inmates must be in a safe and secure environment. This is so that when they are convicted and sentenced, they can be reintegrated back into society once they have served their time," said Glynnis Marriday, manager at Exclusive Mediators.

"Inmates must not be tortured in a 'Dry Room' or be brutally assaulted by the managers of the centre... Inmates have opened cases with SAPS but this is also not followed through with the Investigating Officer. [It's] almost as if the Police Station gives a blind eye to these cases," said Marriday.

She said inmates walked around with crutches and urine-bags after being brutally assaulted and yet nothing was done about these incidents. "The cry and pleading of the inmates are for the department to take over from the private company and comply with its mandate in Act 111 of 1998," she said.

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Following the extensive fire and death of an inmate who had been serving a 33-year sentence, a delegation from the Department of Correctional Services, including Justice Minister Ronald Lamola, visited the centre.

Lamola condemned the inmates' behaviour. "While it is understandable for offenders to raise their concerns, such behaviour is not tolerated within correctional services," he said. Lamola said a headcount was taken on Tuesday to confirm no inmates had escaped.

He said a case had also been opened against the alleged instigators of the riot.

The Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS) told GroundUp that while they had not directly received complaints from inmates, they were concerned about the allegations made by prisoners. "We take all allegations seriously and will continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure the rights and well-being of the inmates are upheld," said JICS spokesperson Emerantia Cupido.
The governors veto of Bill 7-37 has incited the criticism of numerous senators, including claims by the author, Sen. Chris Duenas, that the veto promoted non-transparency, unchecked executive powers, and limited public participation under the current administration.

In the backdrop of nearly three years under a state of public health emergency, the imperative for a robust system of checks and balances has become paramount. I hold optimism that one of the six members opposing Bill 7-37 will collaborate to reinforce our legislative authority and override the governors veto in a pivotal juncture, said Duenas.

Sen. Duenas also stressed that the inability to override Bill 7-37 might render the island susceptible to unchecked governance for this administration and future administrations to come, according to a news release from his office.

The erosion of our rights, the restrictions on our freedoms, and the obliteration of our religious liberties entail distressing consequences that we cannot overlook, added Duenas. Moreover, the unchecked billions of dollars in expenditures due to the lack of proper procurement and following open government law further adds to the era that perpetuates the message of, Basically, you have no say!

Sen. Telo T. Taitague also noted that the bill would have prohibited the suspension of constitutional rights and repealed criminal penalties for violations of executive orders.

No matter which way those in authority tried to spin the message, our constitutional right to assemble and protest to publicly express frustration with government control came under attack during the COVID-19 pandemic, stated Taitague. My Republican colleagues and I have been fighting to protect this fundamental right since then. This veto comes as no surprise. The administration wont change their story but we wont give up our fight to protect our collective right to disagree with government oppression.

Sen. Dwayne T.D. San Nicolas also provided his feedback as he noted that it was unfortunate the bill was vetoed.

This bill reaffirms our democracy, our freedom and our rights as Americans. Its a good bill, a measure that says we should not trample on the rights of our citizens, said Democrat Sen. Dwayne T.D. San Nicolas. I understand the governors stance and her willingness to do whatever is necessary to keep us safe. However, there was inequity in her decisions that allowed certain businesses to open while punishing other establishments.

San Nicolas also noted that there was a lack of reasoning behind the governors orders during the pandemic.

During the global COVID-19 pandemic, we saw endless declarations and executive orders that had no rhyme, explanation or reason. The rights of our people, the business community, and so forth were trampled upon, added San Nicolas. She invoked emergency powers, shut down everything, ordered everyone to stay home except essential personnel, people were forced to get vaccinated or they couldnt go to work, roadblocks were set up, etc. If they didnt comply, they could face criminal penalties.

The senator then assured that his vote on any bill isnt based on party affiliation but is based on his affiliation with the people.

During the vote on similar legislation introduced in the last legislature, it was voted down based on party lines. The legislature attempted to put an end to the madness with Bill 11, but it failed because the Democrats voted it down, noted San Nicolas. We are living in a different time. Post-COVID, weve learned several lessons. The biggest for me being there has to be better checks and balances within the different branches of government.

San Nicolas then stated that the measure before the legislature doesnt strip away the governors powers, but instead gives more power to the people and the communities to petition lawmakers to end public health emergencies when they believe enough is enough or if theres enough evidence to support it being terminated.

You can always plead your case as to why it should remain in effect. The record shows that the Guam Medical Association supports the legislation as does the attorney general, concluded the senator. This to me, means our subject matter experts, our islands physicians, many of whom were part of the governors physicians advisory group, want to see this bill enacted. Our AG also does not see anything wrong with this bill. I also support the bill because its the right thing to do.
The University of Guam Community welcomes new students at an orientation at the Calvo Field House on July 27. UOG is extending the period to register for the Fanuchanan semester through Aug. 29, 2023.
Dmitry Glukhovsky, the esteemed author of "Metro 2033" and its subsequent novels, which inspired the acclaimed game series, has come under scrutiny from Russian authorities. Due to his critical remarks regarding the invasion of Ukraine, Glukhovsky was sentenced to eight years of imprisonment.

Russian officials have charged him with disseminating "disinformation" about their military actions. Although Glukhovsky currently lives overseas, the trial and sentencing occurred in his absence, prompting discussions about the integrity of the legal proceedings.

In 2022, Glukhovsky labeled the conflict as inhumane and challenged Putin's rationale for the Ukraine invasion, alleging the Russian President was leveraging the situation to consolidate his authority. This judgement is a consequence of recent Russian legislation that criminalizes the distribution of "misleading information" pertinent to the Ukraine conflict, a law instituted after the onset of military hostilities in the country. As of now, Glukhovsky hasn't been witnessed re-entering Russia.

Separately, Glukhovsky announced a forthcoming novel within the Metro universe in 2019. Additionally, game development news is anticipated: Studio 4A confirmed a successor to Metro: Exodus in 2020. Although the next installment is believed to be in an advanced phase of development, with playable content from beginning to end, specific details remain undisclosed. Despite speculations about a potential 2024 launch, the studio has opted to retain critical information regarding this project confidential.






Municipality spent just 58% of its budget says Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs minister

Delivering a keynote address at Rhodes University, COGTA Minister Thembi Nkadimang said she had seen Makhanda's crumbling infrastructure first hand.

While the City was failing to provide water to its residents, the minister noted that it had only spent 58% of its budget in the 2022/23 financial year.

More than R21-million earmarked for infrastructure had been taken back by National Treasury because the municipality had failed to spend it.

Characterised by years of dysfunction and mismanagement, the Makana Local Municipality was lambasted by Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Thembi Nkadimang on Tuesday.

Speaking at Rhodes University in Makhanda, Nkadimeng said she had taken a drive around the historic Eastern Cape city and saw first hand the degenerating infrastructure. The city, which hosts the annual National Arts Festival and is home to Rhodes University, has not been able to maintain water supply for more than four years.

Nkadimeng noted that the municipality had only spent 58% of its R695-million budget over the past 2022/23 financial year.

The 2021/22 Auditor-General's report notes Makana had at that point received disclaimed audit opinions for four years running.

"When you assess our councillors and you ask them about their Local Economic Development (LED) units and strategy, they show you one or two people sitting behind an old building which is not even well taken care of and there is no LED strategy," said Nkadimeng.

She said municipal councillors' powers need to be reduced in order to achieve good governance, and there needed to be a clear line between political and administrative roles.

"At local government, one of the challenges we have is that these two lines are very blurred. In fact, I am arguing that in the review of local government we have to reduce the power of councillors if we want to do something about how we manage the affairs of the public ... You can't be a player and a referee at the same time.

"In council, a person today is a councillor, tomorrow an acting mayor reporting to himself on what he did today. The system has never been designed properly."

She said sometimes municipalities did hire competent people with the right skills, but when they then defied politicians' improper instructions, they got suspended.

"To make decisions is not an issue, but to make a wrong decision knowing that it is wrong, I have a problem with that. Council in some instances openly and deliberately do this. They hire qualified people who will tell them this needs to be done this way and the councillor will say we must do it the other way. When you don't do it, quickly tomorrow they call a special council, you are charged with insubordination, suspended for 90 days. They come with a further charge on the 90th day. You go to Labour Court and win. And they defy a court order. You can't sit with so much power today."

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Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor Professor Sizwe Mabizela said politicians need to reach a level of maturity in order to serve the electorate with distinction. "There is just too much ego, pride and opportunism, so I really don't have much hope," said Mabizela.

A meeting of the Makana Municipality Infrastructure Development Portfolio Committee on 9 February this year revealed that more than R21-million earmarked for infrastructure was taken back by national government because the municipality failed to spend it. The municipality applied to the National Treasury for the money to be rolled over so that it could be spent this financial year, but this was rejected.

Questions sent to municipal spokesperson Anele Mjekula and municipal manager Pumelelo Kate received no response.




Haiti - History : Message from Lesly Conde on the occasion of the 232nd anniversary of the Bois Caiman Congress





This Monday, August 14, 2023, as part of the celebration of the 232nd anniversary of the Bois Caiman Congress, Lesly Conde, Former Consul General of Haiti in Chicago delivered a message of reflection that we invite you to read and share.



Message from Lesly Conde :

"Dear compatriots and friends everywhere,



I am very proud to find myself, once again this year, in your company for the commemoration of one of the most grandiose and significant events in our history and that of humanity. This important congress of slaves in revolt was not presented by our history books as an important turning point in the struggle of a whole race of men and women for the conquest of this precious right which is freedom. It is therefore not a simple ceremony, even if by their nature, the rituals practiced for the occasion defied the norms rigidly established by the colonists. This gathering represented, after all, a first declaration of independence. slavery was already defeated in the minds of our brave ancestors. The slogan 'live free or die' was born from this historic congress. A nation, the first black nation of the New World, was to be born on January 1st, 1804.



Indeed, on the night of August 14 to 15, 1791, when slavery reigned in all its brutality, an event occurred in the rich colony of Saint Domingue, an event that marked the beginning of the end of a world order based on the cruel exploitation of humans by humans. Three centuries of physical and psychological abuse had failed to destroy the humanity of these black men and women who shared the language of human dignity, the love of freedom. This gigantic historical event that some historians still call 'Bois Caiman Ceremony' deserves to be seen as the first steps of an important revolution that the world still persists in ignoring.



True historians today refuse to speak of the Bois Caiman Ceremony'. For them, this brave Congress was neither a vulgar meeting of sorcerers nor a macabre evening of black magic, as the historians of a certain era and of a certain tendency like to describe, as well as the racists insensitive to the current problems of Haiti. For them, we are a cursed nation because our ancestors defeated slavery through a pact with Satan.



One of the main organizers of the congress was Boukman. This English name confirms to us that he was a slave from the island of Jamaica. Probably initiated into Islam from his native Africa. He was often seen with his Quran, which explains the name Book Man. He was the imam, and the gathering took place in the woods of his home (BWA Kay imam). No wonder our early historians completely emasculated our heroes, and trivialized their exploits. This is the kind of thing that happens when a nation's critics write its history.



This world which proclaims itself to be in love with freedom and justice, should celebrate each year with us this courageous gathering which was a declaration of love for universal freedom, that of every human being.



Today, it is hard to believe that a nation born of such bravery deserves to be so ruthlessly humiliated in its 218th year of existence. Above all, we will not say that our ancestors who were brave enough, proud enough and determined enough to organize the important 'Bois Kay Imam Congress', were not ready for freedom. Our country is still at the heart of a struggle for justice and democracy in a totally hostile or indifferent world. We cling to our right to survive with dignity and on our own terms. Such is the spirit of the 'Bois Kay Imam Congress'.



Today, we salute the historic 'Bois Kay Imam Congress', as the first authentic universal declaration of human rights."



Reflective messages from Lesly Conde 2023 :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39882-haiti-social-message-from-lesly-conde-for-the-feast-of-our-lady-of-perpetual-help.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39859-haiti-social-message-from-lesly-conde-for-haitian-father-s-day-2023.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39639-haiti-social-message-of-reflection-from-lesly-conde-on-the-occasion-of-mother-s-day-2023.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39562-haiti-220th-flag-day-message-of-reflection-from-lesly-conde.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39348-haiti-national-day-of-the-haitian-diaspora-message-of-reflection-from-lesly-conde.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39261-haiti-easter-2023-message-of-reflection-by-lesly-conde.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39222-haiti-holy-week-2023message-of-reflection-from-lesly-conde.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-39124-icihaiti-social-international-day-against-racism-message-from-lesly-conde.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-39116-icihaiti-international-francophonie-day-message-from-lesly-conde.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39016-haiti-social-message-of-reflection-by-lesly-conde.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-38747-haiti-black-history-month-message-of-reflection-from-lesly-conde.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-38592-haiti-earthquake-2010-message-of-reflection-from-lesly-conde.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-38507-haiti-history-message-of-reflection-from-lesly-conde.html



All Lesly Conde's reflection messages in 2022 :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-38451-haiti-christmas-end-of-year-message-from-lesly-conde.html



All Messages from Lesly Conde in 2021 :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35584-haiti-social-wishes-from-lesly-conde-on-the-occasion-of-the-new-year.html



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Economy : Project Chanje metye, chanje lavi, hope for thousands of vulnerable young people





Pierre Ricot Odney, the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor officially launched the Government's project "Chanje metye, chanje lavi" last week.



The Government, via the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (MAST), is committed to combating juvenile delinquency and the depravity of young people.



According to the Coordinator of the Steering Committee of the project, Guy Aurel Andre, the MAST wants to help young people to fight against unemployment and also to enable them to fight poverty effectively within the framework of the multi-sector program for appeasement and social reintegration. vulnerable groups.



Thanks to this initiative, thousands of young people have the opportunity to have a job in optimal conditions. At the end of this training, young people will have acquired technical skills capable of guaranteeing their integration into the labor market. Through this program, the Government intends to make these beneficiaries the builders of their own future.



According to the Project Coordinator, these young people will benefit from technical training and manuals in the following disciplines : modern cosmetology, installation of photovoltaic energy, driver of heavy machinery, building electricity, tiling, plumbing, window and kitchen techniques. After the complete training, these young people will receive professional kits in order to get a good start in their new professional life.



For his part, the Minister promised to support the beneficiaries throughout the duration of the project, launched in the West department, adding that this program aims to provide short-term vocational training to young people in vulnerable situations in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods.



For Minister Odnet, "this multi-sectoral program is carried out in accordance with the national policy for social protection and promotion, adopted by the Haitian State in 2020. This national policy is articulated around four main axes: childhood; work; protection for old age and health for people in vulnerable situations and adaptive social protection to shocks."



HL/ HaitiLibre


















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Korean Movie | 2020

 Documentary

Directed by  Brigitte Bouillot ( )  Kim Oan ()

79min | Release date in South Korea: 2022/09/28

"The Man Who Paints Water Drops" is a co-production between South Korea and France

Synopsis

Letter and Repetition: Echo of the Water Drop Painter, Kim Tschang-yeull's Work



-Water

Water is a recurring element in this movie and appears repeatedly in various forms, including rain, sea, glass of water, and puddles. Such a humorous way of healing is not only literal reflection and refraction of Kim's fundamental main theme, but also the way he exists in the world. Such an object is to immerse the audience in the obsession and microscopic detail associated with the writer's daily life.



-Repetition

This work focuses on the radical character of Kim Tschang-yeull's minimal and repetitive atmosphere through scenes, sounds, and repetition of words. One of the ways we use for this purpose is the repetitive phosphorus accumulation method. For example, a woman bends and gets up and bows again 10 or 15 times. You can experience this tremendous accumulation of gestures in your daily life.



-Separation

In his work, as in his life, Kim Tschang-yeull has a special relationship with the world of separation and patience, which he observes, expresses and sometimes tries to imitate. Therefore, the work expresses the world around him with patience through the separation of the streets of Seoul and Paris, the nature around his home, the kind of news he hears on the radio, and the kind of desire he has.
Published on 2018/04/17 | Source

"Welcome to Waikiki" ended on a happy note.

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Han Yoon-ah (Jung In-sun) drew the line with her ex-boyfriend. However, he didn't give up and said, "I am Sol-yi's father. I want to do many things for her and beg for forgiveness". However, Yoon-ah refused.

On the other hand Lee Joon-ki (Lee Yi-kyung) was surprised to hear Kang Seo-jin (Go Won-hee) wanted to break up. He had to choose between his acting life and his girlfriend, but he couldn't give anything up.

However, he missed her more and more and made up his mind to hold a press conference in front of her. With the help of Bong Doo-sik (Son Seung-won) and Min soo-ah (Lee Joo-woo), Lee Joon-ki planned on denying the rumors about him and Cindy, but she beat him to the punch and announced that they were getting married.

Meanwhile, Han Yoon-ah finally cleared everything with her ex-boyfriend and Kang Dong-goo proposed to her. However, she denied him and said, "Don't worry about me and go on your work trip. I will be here when you come back".

Two months later, the 6 characters came back together again. "Welcome to Waikiki" ended with Kang Dong-goo being chased by security for filming a movie without a permit.
Now almost forgotten, John Gilbert Winant was widely admired during his lifetime, especially for his exemplary service as governor of New Hampshire. Comparisons of his character to that of Lincoln were frequent and sincere. In 1936 he was prominently mentioned as a candidate for president. During World War II, he served with distinction as ambassador to Britain and returned home to Concord in 1946 with a glowing toast from his wartime friend and admirer Winston Churchill still ringing in his memory. At 58, he seemed to have many years of public service before him. But that was not to be.

Raised in Concord and educated at nearby St. Paul's School, Winant attended Princeton, but did not graduate. Instead he returned to teach history at St. Paul's, where the rector recognized in him "a great and rare gift of influencing boys along the very highest paths." His political career began with his election to the state legislature in 1916. After serving in the American Air Service during World War I, he became assistant rector at St. Paul's. But public life again beckoned, and Winant went on to serve three terms as governor of New Hampshire--from 1925 to 1927 (when he was the youngest governor in the nation) and from 1931 to 1935.

Winant was a lifelong Republican whose humanitarian principles transcended party lines. Influenced by the writings of Charles Dickens and John Ruskin and inspired by the examples of Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt, he was as governor a forceful advocate of progressive reform initiatives, including a 48-hour work week for women and children, a minimum wage, and the abolition of capital punishment. In 1935, Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed him the first chairman of the Social Security Board. When Social Security became a major issue during the 1936 presidential campaign, Winant resigned so that he could better defend the new program, alongside Roosevelt, from criticisms by the Republican party. His decision to resign in order to support a program in which he believed unreservedly--even though it meant repudiating his own political party--offers a model of principled action virtually unknown in contemporary politics. He found another outlet for his idealism in 1939, when Roosevelt chose him as director of the International Labor Organization in Geneva. As an impartial international civil servant, Winant worked for social and economic reform even as the world collapsed in war.

In February 1941, Roosevelt appointed him ambassador to Great Britain. During the Battle of Britain, Winant walked the streets of London, ablaze from the aerial bombardments, offering assistance to the injured amid the rubble of their homes and stores. His shy sincerity and quiet fearlessness endeared him to the British people and helped buoy that beleaguered nation.

Winant was rare among public figures in being a very private person. And the temper of the private man created and influenced the actions of the public man. To read his speeches is to sense the same greatness of soul, magnanimity of purpose, and simplicity of language that appear in Lincoln's addresses. In June 1942, he told striking coal miners in Durham, England, "This is the people's democracy. We must keep it wide and vigorous, alive to need, of whatever kind, and ready to meet it, whether it be danger from without or well-being from within, always remembering that it is the things of the spirit that in the end prevail--that...daring to live dangerously we are learning to live generously...." His speech was a resounding success: by joining the life-or-death struggle to preserve democracy with the concrete social purpose of improving the economic circumstances of working people, Winant had deepened the war's meaning for the common man. The miners went back to their crucial work.

Throughout the war, Winant drove himself relentlessly, day and night. He was already utterly exhausted when Roosevelt's death in April 1945 robbed him of his close friend and mentor. He now reported to a president who neither knew him well nor appreciated the extent of his wartime efforts. Then, three months later, a landslide victory by the Labor Party swept Churchill out of office. Everywhere Winant turned, he saw the drama in which he had participated so significantly drawing to a close. In March 1946, President Truman appointed a new ambassador to London.

Back in New Hampshire, Winant's frustrations grew. After three decades of public life, he had to accommodate himself to the quieter pace of a private citizen. He was in debt, under pressure to complete a series of books on his experiences, estranged from his socially ambitious wife, and troubled by a darkening personal depression. On November 3, 1947, the very day that his only book, Letter from Grosvenor Square, was published, he committed suicide at his home in Concord. His publisher had rushed a copy of the book to him, but he never saw it.

Reportedly Winant had been despondent for some time. His public achievements and his great capacities for service gave no protection against the melancholia and hopelessness that ultimately overwhelmed him. And yet, by drawing upon an elevated spirit and an unswerving idealism, this quiet man from a small state contributed greatly to the nation's coral reef of character.
The meant-to-be newly renovated Ngqamakhwe police station has been stripped by vandals after construction work stopped

A R16-million tender to renovate Ngqamakhwe Police Station in the Eastern Cape was awarded in 2012.

11 years later only 40% of the work was completed.

The building was left to be stripped by vandals and is in ruins.

Residents say it is now a criminal hangout and drug den.

A dispute between the contractor and the national Department of Public Works is the reason for the fiasco.

Almost R13-million has been spent on the Ngqamakhwe police station in Ngqamakhwe town, in the Amatole District of the Eastern Cape. But there is almost nothing to show for it.

The building has been stripped by vandals. Roof sheets have been removed, the windows are smashed, and the doors have been stolen. This is despite the abandoned building being just metres from an active police station. And residents say criminals and drug users currently hangout in the derelict buildings.

When we visited the site, we were warned to be careful. We saw a group of about six youngsters smoking what appeared to be nyope. One was burning plastic off wiring, possibly to prepare the material for sale to a scrap yard. When the young men saw us taking photos, some left, others hid.

In 2011, the Ngqamakhwe police moved into prefab structure, in preparation for a R16-million tender to renovate the old station, awarded to Somana Construction in 2012.

Former ward councillor Zinzile Gade said the work was meant to take just 18 months. "The contractor was there for a few months, then we heard that there was a dispute ... We waited, thinking that the contractor would return back to the site, but that never happened ... 'Till now we are still waiting," said Gade.

He said the dispute between Somona and public works' consultant and engineers was around the job's specifications.

National Department of Public Work and Infrastructure spokesperson Thami Mchunu confirmed that to date R12,852,950 has been spent on the project. He said construction was halted due to litigation.

Meanwhile, the current police station has no land line and police rely on their cellphones. The toilets have to be flushed with water fetched from a tank. At night, the station is dark as the outside light is not working.

Ward 18 Councillor Lunga Dyantyi (ANC) said, "Crime here is increasing every day."

He said the police station was understaffed and didn't have enough vehicles.

Andile Somana, of Somana Construction, said the matter is returning to court for a second time. He said six months into the contract there were various contractual issues, which he is unable to share with GroundUp at this stage.

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He said the department halted the project after a few months in order to resolve the issues. He estimated work was then about 30-40% complete.

Somana then went to court and the matter was referred for arbitration, which was concluded in April 2017 in Somana's favour, Somana says.

But the department never complied and he has now returned to court to compel the department to adhere to the arbitration award, and to hold the officials in contempt of court, he said.

According to him, in terms of the arbitration, the department was meant to finalise the project with Somana Construction and pay all outstanding amounts for the work done.

Somana says the department still owes them several million, but the amounts need to be adjudicated.

Mchunu would not give details of the litigation. He also revealed that another site is being considered and SAPS was deliberating on this.

Eastern Cape police spokesperson Priscilla Naidu said plans to build a new police station are already under way, and a site identified.

"Engagements are at an advanced stage between the SAPS and the Department of Public Works to finalise the project plans. The provincial commissioner has prioritised this matter in order to ensure that the communities of Ngqamakhwe and surrounding areas have access to services," said Naidu.

She denied that the station had too few vehicles.

She said the current ablution facilities were being repaired and electrical repairs are pending. A mobile generator and rechargeable lights are currently in use.
(HedgeCo.Net) The Securities and Exchange Commission has charged Colombian conglomerate Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores S.A., aka Grupo Aval S.A., and its bank subsidiary, Corporacion Financiera Colombiana S.A. (Corficolombiana), with violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Grupo Aval, whose shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, agreed to pay $40 million to settle the SEC charges.

According to the SECs order, Corficolombiana and a joint venture partner won a contract from the Colombian government for a 328-mile highway infrastructure project in Colombia. The SEC alleges that Corficolombiana, through its former president and with the joint venture partner, bribed government officials in Colombia to win an extension to the contract. At least $28 million in illicit payments were paid with the knowledge, approval, and assistance of Corficolombianas former president. According to the SECs order, Corficolombiana caused Grupo Avals violations and provided Grupo Aval with an improper financial benefit totaling approximately $32 million.

Lax control environments are fertile ground for mischief, as illustrated here where bribes were funded through payments made for invoices lacking supporting documentation and contracts for vaguely described services typically handled internally rather than by third parties, said Charles Cain, the SECs FCPA Unit Chief. This case once again highlights the importance of issuers having sufficient internal accounting controls over third-party payments.

Grupo Aval and Corficolombiana consented to a cease-and-desist order finding that they violated the accounting provisions and, in the case of Corficolombiana, the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA. In determining to accept the offer, the SEC considered Grupo Avals cooperation and remediation.

Corficolombiana also agreed to enter into a deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice and to pay more than $20 million to settle criminal charges
The annual Arts Night event will mark the beginning of the Helsinki Festival on Thursday, August 17. The evening will feature a live broadcast of the Helsinki City Orchestra's concert from the Music Centre to various parks in the city, while Kansalaistori Square will host imaginative disaster movie endings conceived by local residents. The Helsinki Festival will run until September 3.

During Arts Night, the Helsinki Festival will literally echo throughout the city as the Helsinki City Orchestra, led by Jukka-Pekka Saraste, presents a Helsinki-themed concert live from the Music Centre. Thanks to Elisa's 5G network connections, the concert will be streamed to city parks, including Kaivopuisto, Lapinlahti, and Sinebrychoff Park. These "Parks in Tune" concerts will offer a picnic-style atmosphere, with events at Kaivopuisto, Lapinlahti, and Sinebrychoff Park taking place on Arts Night and during the festival's opening weekend, August 1719. On August 18, The Tallis Scholars will perform in the parks, followed by a concert by Jonna Tervomaa celebrating 40 years of her singing career at Huvila Park on August 19.

"Interest in unique experiences is on the rise, and tickets to the most popular events are hard to come by. Digitalization enables multi-channel event execution and reaching a wider audience, and the open-air park concerts during the Helsinki Festival are a great example of this. Elisa's 5G Stand Alone technology ensures that the concert's sound is transmitted to the parks through its dedicated data bandwidth," stated Petteri Svensson, Director of Corporate Customers and Services at Elisa.

Meanwhile, at Kansalaistori Square, Arts Night attendees will have the opportunity to experience disaster movie endings as part of an interactive film project by Tellervo Kalleinen and Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen. Celebrating their 20th year as artists, the duo collected script ideas for fictional disaster movie endings set at Kansalaistori Square through an open call to the public. Selected scenarios were filmed during the summer with the participation of around a hundred volunteer actors. These scenarios will now be presented with a live musical accompaniment by the cult band Cleaning Women. The project is a collaboration with Helsingin Sanomat. The evening at Kansalaistori Square will conclude with an open-air screening of the movie "Airplane!" (1980).

"Many of the world's catastrophes are human-made, but humans are also part of the solution. We were delighted by the enthusiasm of the residents in ideating the final moments of disaster movie scenes and acting in the selected scenarios. It felt good to address real fears and problems together with others, through imagination and collective play. The nighttime shootings at Kansalaistori were a great experience, and we are excitedly anticipating the culmination of the project on Arts Night," Tellervo Kalleinen and Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen shared.

The Celebration and Free Events Across the City

The festive atmosphere of Arts Night will extend throughout Helsinki with hundreds of other free events. These will include open rehearsals by theaters, dance performances, circus acts, literary discussions, museum open houses, and live music spanning various genres. The extensive lineup of Arts Night will feature acts like Etno-Espa, Stoan Elojuhlat, and other programs by Helsinki's cultural centers. Notable offerings will include opera in courtyard settings, piano music at Toolonlahti, and Tatu Ronkko's percussion improvisation at Huvilanranta. Outdoor film screenings will take place at Kansalaistori Square and other venues such as the City Museum courtyard, Kino Engel, Tiivistamo, Teurastamo, and the Dance House. The Arts Night program is a collaborative effort with the city's residents, and events can be submitted until August 15. The continuously updated program can be explored online.

Festival Program Launches at Music Centre, Huvila, and Tanssin talo

Helsinki Festival will envelop the city in a cultural extravaganza until September 3. The main venues for the festival will be the Music Centre, Tanssin talo (Dance House), and Huvila and Huvilanranta. The classical music concerts will include performances by the Helsinki City Orchestra, Icelandic pianist Vikingur Olafsson, the Aurora Orchestra playing Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring" from memory, and the O/Modernt Orchestra that creatively blends contemporary and old music. The festival will also see the world premiere of Kaija Saariaho's final work, the HUSH trumpet concerto, which will be broadcast live on Yle channels.

Huvila's stage will host stars like Ethiopian jazz icon Mulatu Astatke, Beth Orton in her first-ever concert in Finland, Johnny Marr from The Smiths, John Cale of The Velvet Underground, and the current rock sensation Nothing But Thieves. Domestic top artists such as Jonna Tervomaa, Katri Helena, Tuomari Nurmio, Arppa, Sanni, and Egotrippi will also grace the Huvila stage. On the opening night of August 17, a group of the most exciting R&B and hip-hop artists, including Yeboyah, F, Hassan Maikal, Pesso, Yrjana, and Figaro, will take the spotlight.

At Tanssin talo, the festival will present Pina Bausch's "The Rite of Spring," premiered in 1975, performed by a group of over 30 dancers from 14 African countries, as well as the "common ground(s)" duet by Germaine Acogny and Malou Airaud. The performing arts program will also feature "ONSTAGE  The Concert" by Tiia Kasurinen, delving into the world of pop stars and club gigs, and the documentary theater piece "Two Phone Calls" addressing political power dynamics. The Dance house will also showcase Ajamana, a performance inspired by the techno scene, by Juhani Nuorvala, Tololab, and Awake Percussion.

The festival's diverse offerings will also include partner festivals such as Alakulttuuripaiva, Art goes Kapakka, Helsinki Opera Summer, Outsider Art Festival, Runokuu (Poetry Month), SAMPO Festival, Teatteri Sirkus Suosalo, and Viapori Jazz. The Helsinki Festival promises a rich and vibrant cultural experience for residents and visitors alike.

The Helsinki Festival will be celebrated from August 17 to September 3, 2023. The entire program can be explored at the website. Tickets for the events are available for purchase on Ticketmaster or lippu.fi. The full program for Arts Night can be found here. The main partners of the festival are Helsingin Sanomat and Elisa, with sponsorship from Accenture, and service partners including Akun tehdas, Helsinki Bryggeri, Heku, Marski by Scandic, and Renault.

HT
The service is operated in Europe by Ridetech International, which is based in the Netherlands.

THE FINNISH Data Protection Authority has ordered Yandex and Ridetech International to suspend the transfer of personal data collected by Yango, the ride-hailing service of Yandex, from Finland to Russia.

The Office of the Data Protection Ombudsman on Tuesday said the order was issued on grounds of a legislative amendment that will enter into force in Russia in September, granting the Federal Security Service (FSB) the right to access personal data processed in taxi operations both in and outside Russia.

The order is provisionally set to be in effect from 1 September to 30 November.

Yango is available in the Nordics in Finland and Norway. While Russian company has stated that the personal information it collects is processed in the Netherlands, it has provided information that such information is also transferred to Russia.

The data may include location information and destination of the ride, according to the Data Protection Ombudsman.

Yango is able to collect a surprising amount of data on its users that range from the point of departure and destination of the journey to the time of use, the cost and payment details, and any other information entered by the user, data protection expert Petteri Jarvinen stated to YLE on Thursday.

The information often also contains the customers name. You can deduce surprisingly much based on the data especially in the case of someone who uses Yango rides a lot and moves between the same places, he said.

Although such information can be abused in many ways, Finns with no ties to Russia have no need to be particularly concerned, estimated Jarvinen. They should, though, monitor the situation due to the uncertainty associated with where the information ends up.

Russia is a Wild West for data protection, and without state permits and laws the data can leak and can be openly bought from various registers in the black market in Russia. It appears that even authorities are selling data to generate more revenue, he stated.

Russian authorities are ultimately interested only in a limited group of people, such as people with dual citizenship and people who have fled Russia to Finland to avoid conscription.

Ordinary citizens dont have to be concerned, but people with dual citizenship may be of interest to Russian authorities and can be blackmailed with mobility data if they contain something sensitive. If someone has fled a military call-up in Russia, they may be tracked in Finland. For them, the risk is on another level, gauged Jarvinen.

He urged people to remove the ride-hailing app from their smartphones and those who continue to use it to make payments in cash rather than card.

There isnt more an ordinary citizen can do, he said.

Jarvinen also criticised Finnish data protection authorities for their slow response to the situation, describing the ban on data transfer as the least the ombudsman could do. It is odd, he added, that the service remains available in Finland, given that it was banned by the likes of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania when Russia invaded Ukraine.

The urgent and sudden decision feels like they hadnt followed whats going on globally and didnt approach Russia with the necessary degree of seriousness, he said.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
Early birds line up for Dunkin' Donuts' free-coffee promotion

Store manager Mary Grace, with scissors, Mayor Barbara Volk and Interfaith Assistance Ministry executive director Elizabeth Willson Moss cheer the ribbon cutting for the new Dunkin' Donuts on Spartanburg Highway.

Hendersonvilles newest Dunkin Donuts shop attracted a crowd of 150 people before sunup Friday hoping to get a years worth of free coffee in the stores grand opening promotion. The first 50 received the coupon books for the free cups of joe.

The grand opening ceremony at 8 a.m. featured a ribbon cutting, remarks by Mayor Barbara Volk and a thank you from Elizabeth Willson Moss, executive director of Interfaith Assistance Ministry. The food pantry and crisis intervention agency received a $3,000 donation from the franchise as a good will agency on opening day.

The shop is operated by 22-year-old manager Mary Grace, who was working at Walmart before she made the move to coffee and donuts.

Its a great company, she said. They decided to give somebody like me, whos very, very young, an opportunity to run this.

Already, cars were lined up at the drive-thru and customers were trickling in. Grace said the product sells itself. Why?

We have fantastic coffee, she said. We have all varieties. We have hot, cold, cold brew, espresso. We have an amazing variety of donuts as well and the food is great too. In addition to donuts and coffee and other beverages, the shop has breakfast sandwiches on a bagel, croissant or English muffin, Wakeup Wraps, hashbrowns and Snackin Bacon.

Sarah Shute, a trainer for the 14 Dunkin shops in Western North Carolina, described the company as family friendly.

Any of our workers that are in school get a $100 gift card and their families, she said. Any families that have kids that are in school get $100 gift cards. I think thus far weve given out 23 gift cards, and we do that at every one of our stores.

Franchisee Scott Shealy was eager to open a southside Dunkin Donuts when the company acquired old Enmark gas station space . How good a market is Hendersonville?

Upward Road is our No. 1 store, Shute said. That little store.
Nairobi  President William Ruto arrived back in the country Saturday evening after a two-day State Visit in Mozambique.

He was received at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, Chief of Defence Forces Gen Francis Ogolla, service commanders and other top government officials.

Ruto, accompanied by First Lady Rachel and top officials from the Foreign Office, departed from Maputo at 13.44 ending a visit that saw him commit to eight bilateral agreements.

During talks with his host Felipe Nyusi, Ruto called for the opening of African borders to enhance trade, saying both Kenya and Mozambique will utilize the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) framework to spur economic growth.

The two leaders endorsed the reciprocal recognition of driving licences, a move that will allow citizens of both countries to use their licences both in Kenya and Mozambique.

Ruto rallied Africans to make delibarate decisions to increase trade among its nations.

Speaking at the Joaquim Chissano International Conference Centre, Maputo, during the Mozambique-Kenya business investment forum, President Ruto said African countries should eliminate barriers to trade in order for investors to exploit opportunities in the continent.

Intra-continental trade

Dr Ruto rooted for the promotion of intra-continental trade to facilitate efforts by investors to harness the continent's potentiality.

"I want to persuade the business people here to look beyond our two countries and explore opportunities in the continent," he said.

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Ruto said there is the desire and aspiration that the continent should create a common market free from obstacles if 'we have to prosper'.

The Head of State reiterated the need to empower Pan- African Parliament to make Africa Union (AU) accountable in its operations.

"We must have a strong body that can be the continent's stand bearer on issues affecting the region," he said.

President Nyusi said there were opportunities for investments in the field of agro-processing, production of flowers and infrastructural development among other sectors.

"We have improved our business environment for investments to thrive," said President Nyusi.

President Ruto assured Kenyans in diaspora that the Government will continue to carry out reforms aimed at improving service delivery.

He promised to digitize all government services to support the endevour.

Ruto urged the diaspora to embrace the culture of saving terming it as "[the] only sure way for us to succeed."
Undersea Cables Snap, Disrupting Internet Traffic in South Africa

Two critical undersea cables that connect South Africa to the internet - the West Africa Cable System (WACS) and the South Atlantic Telecommunications Cable number three (SAT-3) - snapped on August 6th due to a rockfall in the Congo Canyon, reports News24. This disruption has led to internet outages, causing certain websites to load slowly or not function at all. Openserve and Vodacom, two major internet service providers in South Africa, are working to mitigate the impact of cable breaks by using alternative cables and routes. The cables are expected to be repaired by the second week of September, weather permitting.

Anti-Poaching Manager Killed by Hippo in Kruger National Park

Kobus de Wet, the manager of South African National Parks' Environmental Crime Investigations unit, was killed by a hippo while camping at Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga during an anti-poaching campaign, reports IOL. He played a significant role in apprehending and convicting poachers. SANParks spokesperson Ike Phaahla said De Wet was "very instrumental in the arrest and conviction of many poachers who are now behind bars. We pass our heartfelt condolences to his family during difficult time." De Wet had "contributed a lot" to the arrest of Simon Ernesto Valoi, also known as "Navara", a notorious Mozambican rhino poaching kingpin. Valoi was nabbed in July last year in a combined sting operation between Mozambican authorities and the Wildlife Justice Commission, added Phaahla.

eVisa System Being Abused, says Home Affairs Minister

Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said 67 Pakistani nationals were denied entry into South Africa at the OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday after they failed to answer questions about how long their visas entitled them to be in the country, reports News24. The minister said the Pakistani nationals were among 268 passengers on a flight from Dubai. They were interviewed by immigration officers, and they were asked about where they were going and where they were going to stay, given that they were coming for the first time. They provided conflicting evidence, like giving names of non-existent hotels and names of alleged relatives, some of whom did not even exist. Motsoaledi said the department had noticed that the newly acquired eVisa system, meant to facilitate easier entry into the country by tourists, was being abused by some nationals. He said the department would be "more vigilant than ever before" to prevent such abuse.

More South African news
For many family businesses across the nation, their story begins in the quaint corners of a small town, ingrained in the very fabric of the community. These MSMEs have long been the backbone of entrepreneurship, carrying the torch of tradition from one generation to the next. Yet, every now and then, a successor emerges, breathing new life into these businesses, unleashing their true potential, and propelling them to dazzling heights. Such is the extraordinary tale of Dreamline, a humble workshop rooted in Jaipur founded by Gopal Jadawta and his son Rahul Jadawta. From its modest origins of weaving outdoor furniture, Dreamline has embarked on a transformative journey, guided by two visionary leaders who dared to carve a path to brilliance in the digital realm, while also look to become Indias No. 1 offline furniture brand with the name of Out living.

Dreamline's humble beginnings trace back to 2014, when it first emerged as a small workshop specializing in outdoor furniture. Initially, the company solely focused on offline sales until 2019 when they made a strategic decision to expand their reach through digital channels. With the launch of their website, dreamlineoutdoorfurniture.com, the transition from offline to online commenced, forever changing the trajectory of their business.

The pivotal turning point for Dreamline occurred in 2020, when the world was hit by the pandemic. As customers increasingly sought online shopping options, Dreamline was quick to seize the opportunity. By establishing an e-commerce store, the company experienced exponential growth, with their monthly sales surpassing a staggering 1 crore. This success firmly positioned Dreamline as a leading player in the outdoor furniture category, securing a dominant market share in the online platforms.

Dreamline's commitment to excellence is reflected in the wide range of products they offer. From exquisite Sun Beds and loungers to stylish Bar Sets and Park Benches, each piece is meticulously crafted in their two state-of-the-art manufacturing units in Jaipur. Dreamline's unwavering dedication to manufacturing everything in-house, from wicker to casting, guarantees the utmost quality and assurance for every customer.

Dreamline's success story is a testament to the power of adaptation and innovation.

With their headquarters and two factories situated in Jaipur, Dreamline is now the biggest national brand in the online outdoor furniture sales. The company's visionary plan includes establishing an all-India franchise network, with the brand name Out living that will serve the purpose of their offline outdoor furniture venture, allowing them to further expand their reach and solidify their position as a household name across the country. Additionally, Dreamline is constructing their third factory, a highly ambitious manufacturing plant, set to become India's largest outdoor furniture manufacturing factory, covering an impressive area spanning 100,000 square feet.

Dreamline's remarkable growth trajectory is evident from their financial achievements. Last year, their total sales reached a staggering 20 crore, and this year they are projected to surpass 25 crore. The company's monthly sales in 2023 alone surpassed what they had previously generated in an entire year, showcasing their meteoric rise and unwavering customer appeal.

Dreamline's success story is a testament to the power of adaptation and innovation. By embracing the online marketplace and catering to the evolving needs of their customers, Dreamline has transformed itself into an industry leader. With their steadfast commitment to quality, unparalleled product range, prestigious hotel clients including Taj, Radisson hotel group, The Lalit, Royal Orchid, Marriott, The Park, Oberoi, Zone, and Westin, and ambitious future plans, Dreamline is poised to revolutionize the outdoor furniture landscape in India.

As Dreamline continues to shape the future of outdoor furniture, one thing is certain: their journey from an offline workshop to an online sensation is nothing short of extraordinary. Watch out for Dreamline as they redefine the boundaries of excellence in outdoor furniture, while coming up with Indias largest furniture manufacturing facility in their quest to become the countrys biggest brand in the offline furniture sales.

Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same.
analysis

Data show that Russia is an insignificant trade partner of South Africa. In terms of economic partnerships, it is a clapped-out Lada vehicle, a lemon with not much juice to be squeezed from it.

As the BRICS 22-24 August summit looms in Johannesburg -- in the shadow of Pretoria's difficult diplomatic dance over Moscow -- it is important to note just how unimportant Russia is to South Africa's economy.

South Africa exports mostly citrus to Russia, giving it a shot of vitamin C. Russia exports mostly fertiliser to South Africa -- and briquettes for our braais.

As a percentage of South Africa's trading relationship with other BRICS members, trade with Russia barely registers. At a BRICS Business Breakfast last month, some useful data underscored the point that Russia is basically a brick compared with the Great Wall of Chinese trade flows to South Africa.

"SA's trade with Russia is relatively low, representing only 1.7% of the country's total trade (exports + imports) with the BRIC economies in 2022," the presentation said.

"Relatively low" is an understatement. The other BRICS members -- China, Brazil and India -- account for 98.3% of South Africa's trade within the grouping. China has the tiger's share at 67.6%.

Whatever was loaded on the Lady R Russian cargo ship might have made a material difference to South Africa's 2022 trade data with Russia, even if it was only lemons and...
Sam Bankman-Fried used stolen customer funds to make more than $100 million in campaign contributions ahead of the 2022 U.S. midterm elections, federal prosecutors said on Monday in a new indictment filed against the founder of the FTX cryptocurrency exchange. Indicted FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried exits United States Court in New York City, New York, U.S.(REUTERS)

The new indictment charges the 31-year-old former billionaire with seven counts of conspiracy and fraud over the collapse of the exchange. He has previously pleaded not guilty.

Mark Botnick, a spokesman for Bankman-Fried, declined to comment.

Bankman-Fried rode a boom in cryptocurrency values to compile a net worth estimated at $26 billion, and became an influential donor to mostly Democratic candidates and causes.

The U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan had initially charged him with violating U.S. campaign finance laws, but dropped that charge in late July after the Bahamas said it had never intended to extradite Bankman-Fried to the United States on that charge. FTX was based in the Bahamas and he was arrested there in December 2022.

In a letter last week to U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan in Manhattan, prosecutors indicated they would soon file a new indictment that will make clear that Mr. Bankman-Fried remains charged with conducting an illegal campaign finance scheme as part of the fraud and money laundering schemes originally charged.

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BENGALURU: The National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, a key project of the BJP-led central government, will be withdrawn from the states higher education institutions from the next academic year, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced on Monday. NEP implemented by the previous BJP state government will be abolished for the next academic year in Karnataka (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Speaking during a meeting held at the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) office, Siddaramaiah said the NEP, implemented by the previous BJP government in the state, will be entirely abolished starting from the next academic year.

The policy will remain in effect for the current academic year.

Siddaramaiah said careful preparations need to be made before abolishing the NEP. He clarified that because time constraints, NEP will continue this academic year so as not to disrupt students ongoing academic activities.

The NEP has to be abolished after making some necessary preparations. There was no time for preparations this year. By the time the election results came in and the government was formed, the academic year had already started. This year NEP will be continued as it should not cause problems to students in the middle of an academic year, Siddaramaiah stated.

The chief minister expressed strong opposition to the NEP, indicating that it has met resistance from various stakeholders, including students, parents, lecturers, and teachers. He criticised the previous BJP government for introducing NEP in the state without implementing it nationwide, claiming that the policy sacrificed students interests.

Also Read: NEP will play a pivotal role in propelling India

Karnataka was the pioneer in implementing NEP in higher education institutions, introduced by the previous state BJP government in 2021. However, as part of their pre-election promises, the Congress party had vowed to revoke NEP upon coming into power. The Congress also derisively referred to the policy as the Nagpur Education Policy, alluding to the headquarters of the RSS.

Vice-chancellors of public universities had raised concerns about the practical challenges of implementing certain provisions of the policy. Issues were also raised regarding the availability of qualified faculty for teaching multidisciplinary courses and open elective subjects under NEP.

On Monday, deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar said that the government intends to craft a new education policy, which aligns with its vision.

Shivakumar emphasised the necessity for a thorough and comprehensive discussion regarding the NEPs implications.

Chief minister Siddaramaiah has accused NEP of fostering divisive ideologies among students. Shivakumar asserted that NEP encroaches upon the states prerogatives, highlighting the governments contention that it violates the states rights in the domain of education.

Commenting on the development, former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had stated that it had taken nearly three years to implement the NEP in Karnataka.

The committee headed by UR Rao was set up and consent from all states was obtained. After this, before implementation, a task force was formed and then it was implemented in higher and primary education, he said, countering criticism against the NEP.
SAGAR: Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP unit president VD Sharma on Monday paid their last respects to party colleague Ramdayal Ahirwar, 90, who died in Maharajpur, Chhatarpur district on Sunday. Shivraj Singh Chouhan late on Sunday announced that Ramdayal Ahirwar will be cremated with state honours (X/OfficeofSSC)

I remember when I had come in 2008, he had made many demands for the development of Maharajpur, which we had accepted. He was a minister, he showed his administrative efficiency by being the minister of state for home and water resources. He was our companion who was simple, gentle and who served everyone, the chief minister told reporters in Chhatarpur, 300km from state capital Bhopal.

Ahirwar, a six-time MLA, joined the Jan Sangh in 1962 and was a prominent Dalit face of the BJP in the Bundelkhand region.

Chouhan late on Sunday announced that Ahirwar will be cremated with state honours after sharp criticism by his family that senior party leaders didnt help the veteran leader in the last moments nor extended the basic courtesies.

We requested the district hospital to provide an ambulance to take the body to Maharajpur, which is a hometown but they refused to do so. We spent 2,200 to reach Maharajpur. My father died at 10 am on Sunday and by evening no BJP leader inquired about his death and didnt even offer condolences on his death, his son Laxmichand Ahirwar said on Sunday before Chouhan made the announcement.

MPs BJP unit chief VD Sharma, who accompanied Chouhan to Chhatarpur, said Ahirwar played an important role in strengthening the roots of the party in the region. BJP is saddened by his demise. His departure is an irreparable loss not only for the region but for the entire state, he said.
Five operatives of Pakistan-based terrorist Harvinder Singh alias Rinda and Canada-based gangster-turned-terrorist Goldy Brar were arrested in a special operation by the Punjab Police and a central security agency on Monday, a day before Independence Day. Police have recovered two foreign-made pistols along with a magazine and 10 live cartridges from the five operatives backed by Pakistan-based terrorist Harvinder Singh alias Rinda and Canada-based gangster-turned-terrorist Goldy Brar who were arrested in a special operation by the Punjab Police and a central security agency on Monday. (HT Photo)

Police have also recovered two foreign-made pistols along with a magazine and 10 live cartridges from them.

This is the second terror module busted by Punjab Police in the period of two days. On Sunday, a terror module linked to Canada-based-gangster-turned-terrorist Lakhbir Singh alias Landa was busted by Tarn Taran police with the arrest of three operatives.

About the Rinda-linked module, director general of police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said in a tweet that Punjab Police have thwarted the nefarious designs of anti-national elements to disturb the peace and harmony of the state. The DGP said the arrested accused were planning to unleash target killings in Punjab.

Preliminary investigation revealed that apart from weapons consignments from across the border, the accused had been receiving financial assistance from the United States (US), the DGP said in the tweet.

A case under the relevant Sections of the Arms Act and under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) has been registered against the accused at SSOCs Amritsar police station.

The SSOC has yet to disclose the names of the arrested operatives.

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Former legislator and spokesman of Apni Party Javeed Baig on Sunday blamed the Phari community leadership for sabotaging the Phari Reservation Bill which failed to pass in Parliament monsoon session. The bill, pertaining to Scheduled Tribe status for Phari community in Jammu and Kashmir was presented in Lok Sabha at the beginning of the monsoon session. (HT File)

The bill, pertaining to Scheduled Tribe status for Phari community in Jammu and Kashmir was presented in Lok Sabha at the beginning of the monsoon session , however, it wasnt taken up that had caused worries among the Phari community, which is around 10 to 14% population in J&K.

The community were hopeful that bill will pass as BJP had promised ST status to the community and home minister Amit Shah held two big rallies in Baramulla and Poonch last year, where in thousands from the community participated. Even before the start of Parliament session, the community leaders were given assurance about the passing of the bill.

This happened as the leadership of Phari community didnt want to give credit to the BJP, said Baig, who belongs to the Phari community and plans to contest upcoming assembly polls from Baramulla, which has miniscule population of the Pharis.

This bill reached Parliament because of Prime Minister and home minister. The BJP took a big risk by allowing the bill to reach the Parliament and annoyed a big community who didnt want ST status for the Pharis. When BJP leadership helped our community, our leadership should have shown more maturity. Credit should have been given to those who took this bill to Parliament. In the programmes held in Uri and Anantnag, they (Phari leaders) discouraged BJP leadership. These reports reached Delhi, he said.

Baig said that there are many big leaders of the community who did not play politics over this issue now they should come forward.

They should come and meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister and motivate them to give our community the ST status. BJP always wanted to help us but our immaturity ruined the day, he said.

Gujjars in J&K, who have ST status, have been opposing the ST status to Phari community.
Both Bhakra and Pong Dams are brimming after heavy rain in their catchment areas in Himachal Pradesh. Both dams are managed by Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). Bhakra Dam over Sutlej, which has a catchment in Himachal Pradesh, also witnessed a heavy inflow. The dam has reached its top filing capacity of 1680 feet. The floodgates of the dam were opened on Sunday, but the rise in the water levels in both dams are posing a threat downstream in Punjab.

The officials said Pong received an all-time high inflow of 7.3 lakh cusecs which led to a 10 feet rise in water levels in its reservoir. At one point, the water in the Pong Dam touched 1,400 feet, beyond its maximum filling capacity of 1,390 feet.

The inflows at Pong have come down, and the floodgates have been opened. The dam became operational in 1977, and since then, it has never seen this quantity of inflow ever, the official, who didnt wish to be named, said.

At present, 90,000 cusecs of water is being released from Pong floodgates, forcing the Punjab government to warn residents of five districts against going near the Beas riverbanks. The advisory has been issued for the people of Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala and Tarn Taran districts.

Similarly, Bhakra Dam over Sutlej, which has a catchment in Himachal Pradesh, also witnessed a heavy inflow. The dam has reached its top filing capacity of 1680 feet. The floodgates of the dam were opened on Sunday, but the rise in the water levels in both dams are posing a threat downstream in Punjab.

We have surpassed the top filing levels in Bhakra Dam even though the spillways (floodgates) are open, said an officer of BBMB, who requested anonymity, adding that a close watch is being kept on the situation and in case the need arises the flow from the spillways could be increased.

He informed that 20,000 cusecs of water is being released from the Bhakra Dam reservoir. As per the manual, Bhakra maintains a level of 1670 feet by August 15, however, due to heavy Monsoon rains, the level have surpassed the limits set by the BBMB.

Its worrying that there is over a month more to go for the filling of the dam till September 20, and it is raining heavily in the catchment area, said an officer of the BBMB.

He adds that no rainfall in Punjab is the only solace. In case there is rainfall in the state, the scenario will be critical, said the officer adding that the Sutlej and Beas can hold up to 2 lakh cusecs of water, but in case the BBMB is forced to release more water, it would flood the plains endangering freshly sown paddy in over 2 lakh acres.

People in 5 dists warned not to go near Beas riverbank

Chandigarh The Punjab government on Monday warned residents of five districts against going near the Beas riverbanks as surplus water from the Pong dam is going to be released.

Due to incessant rainfall in the catchment area of the Beas, Pong Dam has started releasing water from its reservoir.

Water resources minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said that riverbanks have been sufficiently strengthened to carry high discharge. The field staff of the department has been asked to keep the vigil 24 hours a day, he added.

Chief secretary Anurag Verma held a meeting with all deputy commissioners via video conferencing to discuss the situation arising from the excess water inflow into the dams.

He said that the safety of peoples life and property is the highest priority.

The safety of people living along the rivers banks is paramount, Verma said, asking officials to make preparation to deal with any situation and set up relief camps if necessary.

Verma asked the officials to maintain a constant vigil in the sensitive areas and immediately contact the Water Resources Department.

The maximum level of the Pong Dam is 1,390 feet, as decided by all the partner states, while the current level is at 1395.91 feet. Verma said the Dam was designed to hold water up to 1421 feet.

The release shall be done in a controlled manner and will be increased gradually, hence the people of the Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala and Tarn Taran districts are advised not to go near the river, he said.

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Various intellectuals, writers, veteran journalists, artists, activists and politicians on Monday took part in the discussion during the 28th India-Pakistan Friendship Festival on the current status of India-Pakistan ties. Joining the issue, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait demanded the reopening of the Attari-Wagah border for trade between the two countries citing that the move would open the door of prosperity, especially for the crisis-ridden farmer community in the region. Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait during the 28th India-Pakistan Friendship Festival in Amritsar. (HT Photo)

Addressing the seminar held during the festival organised at Khalsa College here, by India-Pakistan Friendship Forum, Folklore Research Academy, Pakistan India Peoples Forum for Peace and Democracy, South Asia Free Media Association and Punjab Jagriti Manch-Jalandhar, Tikait said, People of both the countries want to meet each other, but the governments do not let them do so. When nobody is talking about normalization of the bilateral ties, the activists who have organised this event, are doing so, which is daring.

Expressing his views, senior journalist and political editor of Hindustan Times Vinod Sharma said, Sentiments of love and peace between both the countries are strong among the people on both sides but the governments dont fully accept it. Until or unless the general public of both sides does not take to the roads, governments will not opt to have normal ties. Today, there is no rail link, road link or air link between both the countries. People-to-people contact is not possible in such a situation. Efforts made by civil society in past must be carried forward.

Paying tribute to the victims of communal violence that took place during the 1947 partition, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali said, If borders are open, the entire region will become prosperous.

The seminar was also addressed by JNU Professor Monica Dutt, senior journalist Satnam Singh Manak, Ramesh Yadav, Khalsa College Principal Mehal Singh, Left-wing leader Mangat Ram Pasla, former MP AR Shahin, senior journalist Balwinder Jammu, Punjabi University Patiala Professor Kuldeep Singh.

Folklore Research Academys magazine Panj Pani was also released on the occasion. In the evening, a play on the Jallianwala Bagh massacre was organised at Punjab Natshala outside Khalsa College.

The peaceniks are also scheduled to gather at the Wagah border for a candlelight vigil to promote peace, love and brotherhood between both countries and remember the victims of the partition violence. Peaceniks from Pakistan will gather on the other side of the border for the vigil.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Surjit Singh Surjit Singh is a correspondent. He covers politics and agriculture, besides religious affairs and Indo-Pak border in Amritsar and Tarn Taran. ...view detail
Around 1,700 of the 4,705 IREO Group customers did not receive possession of flats or plots despite making payments to the group companies, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has said in a supplementary prosecution complaint pertaining to alleged siphoning of investors and home buyers funds. The ED probe found that 1,700 buyers did not get their flats, plots despite paying IREO. (HT File)

The ED said of these, 1,175 did not get possession of their flats or plots even after a lapse of more than five years.

The supplementary prosecution complaint filed before a Panchkula court said of the 4,705 customers who had made booking for plots, flats, villas in different IREO group projects, 640 customers had made payments of more than 1,376 crore (till March 2017) against their bookings. These 640 customers were not handed over the possession even after a delay of over four to five years, said the complaint.

The federal agency said 30 first information reports (FIRs) had been registered against IREO Group, its vice-chairperson, Lalit Goyal and others by Haryana, Punjab and Delhi police for cheating and diverting investor money.

Scrutiny and analysis of documents and records during search operations on IREO group establishments had led to the discovery of these facts, the ED said.

More than 1,700 crore transferred

out of country flouting FDI policy

The complaint said IREO Private Limited, Gurugram, and its other group companies had received 8,300 crore (US $1.83 billion) by way of foreign direct investment (FDI) and equity shares/fully convertible debentures (FCDs) from a company named IREO Fund, Mauritius.

Multiple numbers of companies have been identified in the name of land-owning companies used for layering and diverting funds of the IREO Group, the agency said.

The supplementary prosecution complaint said that IREO Group transferred approximately 1,777 crore outside India during 2011 to 2021 under the cover of buy-back of shares, redemption/purchase of shares/FCDs on the instructions of Lalit Goyal, in contravention of the FDI policy.

Four ways of siphoning funds

The ED said siphoning of home buyers money was done in four ways. Funds accumulated through customer receipts were siphoned to offshore parent companies of IREO without completion of the projects.

They were paid to directors, auditors, legal consultants, key managerial persons and associated companies in the form of management fee, special allowances, loans, incentives, bonus, extra fee for their active participation and involvement in siphoning the money to overseas parent companies of IREO Fund, by paying them to Lalit Goyal and his family in the form of rent for a guest house for a property personally used by the latter and through M3M Group of companies, the agency said.

The complaint said the structural model of IREO Group of companies in India comprised two types of functional companies  22 operating and 138 land-owning companies. The IREO Group remitted funds to its overseas related companies situated in Mauritius and other countries by way of buy-back, purchase, redemption of equity, fully and compulsory convertible debentures etc.

The decision regarding the outflow of remittances was taken by their corporate planning team after necessary discussion and approval of Lalit Goyal/Anurag Bhargava after which directions were given to the accounting team to process the payments, the ED said.

The complaint said IREO along with other group companies diverted funds to operating companies. which in turn infused them in land owning companies for the purchase of the land and against transfer of development rights. The funds related to complete and incomplete projects were allegedly sent out of India in the form of buy-back, redemption, purchase of equity, etc. Due to such buy-back and transfer of customer receipts to overseas companies, the Indian operating companies became short of funds and few of them like IREO Five River and Puma Realtors became insolvent.

Offshore investments, apartment in Burj Khalifa

During investigations, analysis of digital records seized during search operations, the ED said, it was found that Lalit Goyal was holding investments in shares having estimated net value of US $27,01,316 (as on April 30, 2019) in foreign entities  ACP Lens Limited, Trentriver Associates Limited and ACP Libra Limited.

The complaint said Goyal has been holding shares in a Bermuda headquartered company Global Dynamic Opportunities Fund Limited which had a market value of US $5,58,682 in 2017. It said that Goyal owned, controlled and managed overseas assets such as an apartment in Burj Khalifa, Dubai despite having denied having overseas assets during questioning.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Hitender Rao Hitender Rao is Senior Associate Editor covering the state of Haryana. A journalist with over two decades of experience, he writes on politics, economy, migration and legal affairs with a focus on investigative journalism. ...view detail
A 30-year-old lineman was on Monday killed after a truck driver allegedly ran over him following a heated argument between the two, police said. The victim identified as Gaurav Kumar worked as a contractual electrical lineman. (iStock)

The victim has been identified as Gaurav Kumar. He worked as a contractual electrical lineman.

Truck driver, Mahesh Kumar, and his assistant, Ashwani, fled the scene after the incident.

A group of individuals staged a protest outside the Jeevan Nagar police post, seeking justice for the victim.

ASI Dalbir Singh of Focal Point said that the argument initially involved a heated exchange between the truck driver and the lineman. It is believed that bystanders intervened to defuse the tension, but the dispute took a tragic turn later when the driver allegedly drove his truck over the lineman.

The police have registered a case of murder.
In a joint operation with Central agencies, Punjab Police busted yet another terror module linked to Pakistan-based terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and being operated by US-based gangster Harpreet, alias Happy, with the arrest of its five operatives after recovering two foreign-made 9mm pistols along with ammunition from their possession. With the arrest of five operatives of terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) the police recovered two foreign-made 9mm pistols along with ammunition from their possession. (HT photo)

According to the police, Happy is in touch with Pak-based wanted terrorist and BKI leader Harwinder, alias Rinda, and Canada-based gangster-turned-terrorist Goldy Brar.

The development came on the eve of Independence Day and a day after Punjab Police busted a terror module linked to Canada-based gangster-turned-terrorist Lakhbir Singh, alias Landa, with the arrest of its three operatives after recovering three pistols along with ammunition from Tarn Taran.

Those arrested in Rinda-linked module have been identified as Gurinder Singh of Lakhuwal in Amritsar, Gurpinder Singh, alias Lahoria, of Ajnala, Lovepreet Singh of Ajnala, Narinder Singh of Sundal Riali in Gurdaspur and Sukhmanpreet Singh, alias Jeevan, of Ajnala.

A senior official said they have identified one more member of the module as Kamaljot Singh, alias Kamal, who is absconding.

Director general of police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said following inputs that on the directions of Rinda and Brar, Happy was planning to target prominent political and socio-religious leaders in the state through his newly-formed gang of criminal-minded people to disturb the peace and harmony. The counter intelligence (CI) wing of Amritsar in coordination with Central agencies carried out a special operation.

On the basis of reliable inputs that the operatives of gangster Happy, who is in possession of weapons, are expected to hold a meeting in Amritsar, a special team immediately rushed to the area and cordoned it off in a planned manner resulting in the arrest of five operatives of this module after recovering weapons from their possession, said Amritsar state special operation cell (SSOC) AIG Sukhminder Singh Mann, while adding that the arrested accused persons were hatching a conspiracy to carry out target assassinations in the state.

Sharing preliminary investigation details, the AIG said the arrested persons had recently received a drone-delivered weapon consignment through the India-Pak border, arranged by Happy with the help of Rinda.

The accused persons have also been receiving financial aid sent by Happy through various channels, he said, while adding that it has also come to light that they have conducted recce of Punjab-based targets defined by gangster Happy. Further investigations are being carried out to unearth the entire terror network and to trace the channels via which Happy arranged weapons consignment as well as financial aid for his associates, he added.

A case has been registered under Sections 13, 17, 18 and 20 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Sections 115 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 25 of the Arms Act.
analysis

Jacob Zuma was saved from more prison time by an anomalous constitutional provision with historical roots in the powers of the British monarch. A closer look at the provision shows why this is not as outrageous or legally problematic as some critics suggest.

In terms of Section 84(2)(j) of the South African Constitution, the president - acting as the head of state - is "responsible for pardoning or reprieving offenders and remitting any fines, penalties or forfeitures". President Cyril Ramaphosa relied on this provision (mirrored in Section 82 of the Correctional Services Act) to order a 12-month reduction of the sentences of all prisoners not serving time for certain categories of serious or violent crime. He granted low-risk offenders an additional 12-month remission of their sentences.

For low-risk offenders like Mr Zuma, who had less than 24 months of their sentence remaining, the remission in effect "extinguished" the remaining part of their sentence. As a result, Mr Zuma no longer had any prison sentence to serve, and was therefore a free man. Even if he had wanted to, there was nothing the Commissioner of Correctional Services could have done to ensure that he served out the required part of his original sentence. (His decision to fast-track the processing of Mr Zuma's remission is legally a different matter.)

Informed critics of this turn of events would argue that it is not a coincidence that President Ramaphosa's decision to remit the sentences of certain categories...
Two Punjab Police officials, including sub-inspector Harjit Singh and senior constable Satnam Singh, have been awarded police medal for gallantry, while additional director general of police (ADGP) counter-intelligence Amit Prasad has been awarded the Presidents Medal for Distinguished Service. Additional director general of police (ADGP) counter-intelligence Amit Prasad has been awarded the Presidents Medal for Distinguished Service

SI Harjit from Patiala received injuries to his arm when he tried to stop a group of Nihangs who had attacked the police party. Constable Satnam Singh belongs to Batala and was part of a police team from the district which had gone to Amritsar to nab criminals. The criminals opened fire at the police party. Satnam sustained a bullet injury but led from the front to nab the criminals.

ADGP Prasad is known as an expert in the anti-terrorist strategies of the Punjab Police. A 1995-batch IPS officer, Prasad has been the brain behind busting a number of terror modules during his stint in Counter-Intelligence in the past many years. A low-profile and shy in nature, the officer has been instrumental in catching a few of the big names of the crime world in Punjab in recent times.

In total 17 Punjab Police personnel have been named for Presidents medals on the eve of the 77th Independence Day. There are 14 personnel who have been conferred with Police Medal for Meritorious Service (PMMS).

AIG CID Zonal Amritsar Kuljeet Singh, inspector Manmohan Singh, inspector Ravinder Kumar, inspector Vijay Kumar, inspector Rajwant Singh, inspector Kailash Chand and inspector Paramjit Singh are among 14 officers/officials, who have been selected for the Police Medal for Meritorious Service. The remaining officials include SI Mohinder Pal, SI Ram Singh, SI Makhan Singh, ASI Darshan Kumar, ASI Varinder Singh, ASI Jagdeep Singh and ASI Anil Kumar.

Punjab director general of police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav congratulated the awardees and expressed gratitude to the Central and state government for recognizing the services of these officers.
Three car-borne men kidnapped a three-year-old boy after robbing cash and mobile phone from his father near Dera Sahib village, falling under the Khadoor Sahib sub-division. Tarn Taran police have posted the kidnapped boys picture on social media and asked members of the public to reach out to police control room (87250211100) or Chohla Sahib station house officer (8447276769) in case they have any information (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The incident took place around 7 pm on Sunday when the boy and his father, who hail from Rashiana village, were heading to Sarhali village on a motorcycle to pay obeisance at Sewakpuri gurdwara.

According to family members, there were three men in a Maruti Alto carone of them wearing turbanand carrying sharp-edged weapons.

When my husband and my son reached near Dera Sahib village, the car-borne miscreants robbed my husbands mobile and some cash from him. Before leaving the spot, the accused also took my son, said the boys mother.

She said they dont have any enmity with anyone and havent received any ransom call from anyone.

The comes at a time when the Punjab Police are claiming to have beefed up security in wake of Independence Day.

Tarn Taran police have posted the kidnapped boys picture on social media and asked members of the public to reach out to police control room (87250211100) or Chohla Sahib station house officer (8447276769) in case they have any information. The informers name will be kept secret, the polices message read.

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The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) told the Delhi high court on Monday that a 150-year-old mosque, situated at the Sunehri Bagh Road roundabout in New Delhi, is required to be removed for safe and smooth flow of traffic. The high court was hearing a plea by the Delhi Waqf Board filed in July 2023, seeking to restrain NDMC from demolition or razing portions of the 150-year-old monument. (HT Archive)

The court was hearing a plea by the Delhi Waqf Board filed in July 2023, seeking to restrain NDMC from demolition or razing portions of the 150-year-old monument. The court first heard the matter on July 7, and ordered that status quo be maintained.

The mosque stands near the Udyog Bhawan Metro station, at the roundabout where Maulana Azad Road, Motilal Nehru Marg and Kamraj Road meet.

Also Read: Independence Day 2023: Delhi police issues traffic advisory - Check details

The council said the area falls in the high security zone, is close to central government offices, Parliament, the Central Vista project, and the offices of high-ranking members of the defence forces.

Due to the movement of senior officials, defence forces and foreign dignitaries, the traffic congestion on this roundabout and the adjoining area has become a matter of serious concern, the council said.

It also told the court that the matter is pending for consideration before the religious committee under the chairmanship of Delhi governments home secretary.

On Monday, justice Prateek Jalan asked NDMC to place on record its counter-affidavit filed in response to the petition by the Delhi Waqf Board against the anticipated demolition of the mosque, and posted the matter for hearing on October 6.

It also extended the interim order directing the authorities to maintain status quo, and asked them to place before the court the report of the religious committee, once it is made available.

In its response to the Waqf Boards petition, NDMC said that it has acted on the letter by the Delhi Traffic Police, and a joint inspection was carried out twice.

It said that after the inspection, the officials unanimously concluded that the religious structure is required to be removed or relocated, adding that the land is required to be utilised for redesigning the roundabout and for safe and smooth flow of traffic.

Advocate Wajeeh Shafiq, representing the Delhi Waqf Board, said that the existence of the mosque was not the cause of traffic in the area and that the board received the intimation of inspection late.

By the time the said staff reached the spot, the purported joint inspection was over. However, from the imam of the mosque it is learnt that the respondents have inspected the mosque and instead of adopting other measures, the respondents are going to demolish the mosque under reference in the week commencing from July 3, 2023, the petition said.

NDMC claimed that the June 26 inspection letter was duly served to the petitioner, and it was also delivered at the mosque well within the time.

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The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre and accused it of corruption, after an audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) flagged alleged cost escalations in the construction of the Dwarka Expressway. Delhi chief minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, said the Centre had broken records of corruption. (HT Photo)

Delhi chief minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, said the Centre had broken records of corruption.

The Modi government has broken all records of corruption in 75 years, he said in a tweet in Hindi.

Delhi minister Atishi, meanwhile, demanded that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe the cost escalations. ...are you building a golden road in the name of a highway...In whose pocket did 6,000 crore go? Will the CBI-ED investigate this? she posted on X.

AAPs suspended Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh also said that, since 2014, BJP has been welcoming all those with cases of corruption against them in the party, and turning them into Raja Harishchandra.

Referring to the alleged irregularities in the expressway construction, Singh said, As per the latest CAG report, it has found that BJP has committed the biggest scam in the last nine years. This scam will shock everyone.

To be sure, the CAG audit report found that the Dwarka Expressway  being built to decongest NH-48 between Delhi and Gurugram  is being built at nearly 14 times the cost approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in 2017.

Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said that the Delhi chief minister was frustrated due to corruption charges against his government, and was trying to confuse the people of Delhi over the CAG report on Dwarka Expressway.
A woman teacher was left with a fractured nose and injuries to other parts of her body after she fell from an auto-rickshaw while allegedly trying to save her mobile phone from motorcycle-borne snatchers in south Delhis Saket on Friday. The alleged crime happened while she was returning home from her school around 3.15pm.

The victim, Yovika Chowdhary, lives in south Delhis Neb Sarai and works as a school teacher in Saket. The alleged crime happened while she was returning home from her school around 3.15pm.

In her complaint to the police, Chowdhary said that she had hopped on to an auto-rickshaw outside PVR in Saket and was passing through Khokha Market in Saket when two men riding a Honda Spledour motorcycle approached her from behind and tried to snatch her iPhone 13 from her hand.

Chowdhary said that she was holding her phone tightly to prevent it from snatching, and as the snatchers lunged at it, she fell out of the auto-rickshaw. The fall and the subsequent tumble left her with injuries to her nose and other body parts. The snatchers, meanwhile, took the phone from the hands of the fallen woman and sped away.

The victim was rushed to a hospital where she was treated for her injuries.

She told the police that the snatchers appeared like men in their early 20s and were not wearing helmets.

The police have registered a case of theft, assault during a theft, and criminal act done by several persons with a common intention.

Chandan Chowdhary, deputy commissioner of police (south), wasnt immediately available for a comment on the alleged crime.
With incessant rains in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the water released into the Yamuna from the Hathnikund barrage increased significantly on Monday morning, raising fears of possible flooding downstream, especially in the national Capital. Officials said that there was no cause for concern. However, the irrigation and flood control department will be on alert, as water released from the barrage takes up to 48 hours to impact the rivers level in the Capital. (Sanchit Khanna/HT Photo)

For now, however, water levels remained under control in Delhi and officials said the irrigation and flood control department will monitor the situation. Water released from the barrage takes up to 48 hours to impact the Capital.

On Monday morning, the water discharge from the barrage crossed 50,000 cusecs for the first time since July 26. A flood alert is issued only when this goes beyond 100,000 cusecs, according to officials.

In July, the worst of the flooding in Delhi was afterover 200,000 cusecs of water was released from the barrage for over several hours.

At 9pm, the river was flowing at 203.37m at the Old Delhi Railway Bridge, well below the danger level of 205.33m.

Since the water flow has increased significantly from just 7,600 cusecs at 1am to over 75,688 cusecs at 9am, some impact will be seen in water levels over the next two to three days but situation is likely to remain under control if the rainfall in hills subsides, an official in the irrigation and water department said, asking not to be named.

Another official from the department said a forecast by the Central Water Commission suggests that the water level may touch the warning mark of 204.5 metres on Wednesday.

A Delhi government spokesperson said that the water discharge will not pose a problem for the city.

Officials said that the jammed gates at the ITO barrage were now open, after a month-long effort by personnel of the Indian Army and the Navy.

An I&FC official said the final gate was opened at on Saturday evening. On July 13, the Delhi government had flagged that five of the 32 regulator gates at the ITO barrage, which is managed by the Haryana government, were jammed, leading to waterlogging at the busy ITO section.

The assistance of the Navy team was requested by the government on the July 14, in response to the increasing water levels of the Yamuna River... the last remaining Gate 28,29 were opened on August 12, the official added.

Meanwhile, the government spokesperson said, The departments are on alert... We expect the government of Haryana to keep Delhi posted in case they release high volumes of water into the Yamuna. We also expect the Haryana government to distribute water into the canal flowing towards UP also. The city is preparing to host world leaders from G20 nations in the second week of September, making the threat of floods a particularly important area for the administration to pay attention to.
The Delhi Metro train services will start a bit early on Tuesday to facilitate the movement of commuters for the Independence Day celebrations in the national capital. The metro train services will start at 5am from all terminal stations with a frequency of 30 minutes before resuming regular services at 6am. However, parking facilities will not be available at stations till 2pm tomorrow owing to security reasons. In view of the Independence Day celebrations, Delhi metro trains will start at 5am on Tuesday. (HT Archive)

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in a tweet on Saturday said, To facilitate passengers to attend the Independence Day ceremony on 15th August 2023 (Tuesday), Delhi Metro train services on all Lines will start from 5am from all terminal stations.

The trains will run with a frequency of 30 minutes on all the Lines till 6am. After 6am, trains will run as per the normal timetable, it added.

Informing about the parking restrictions in place keeping in view the security measures for Independence Day, the metro authority said, Parking facilities will NOT BE AVAILABLE at stations from 6am on 14/08/2023 till 2pm on 15/08/2023 in view of security measures adopted on the occasion. However, train services will continue per normal schedule.

1,800 special guests invited to Red Fort

This year, around 1,800 people from different vocations, with their spouses, have been invited from across the country as special guests for the Independence Day event at Delhi's Red Fort. The initiative has been taken in line with the governments vision of Jan Bhagidari, or public participation.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the nation in celebrating the 77th Independence Day from the iconic Red Fort in the national capital.

Traffic advisory by Delhi Police for Independence Day

Delhi traffic police on Sunday issued an advisory informing about the closure of roads, diversions, and restricted movement for specific vehicles on August 15.

According to the police, all roads including - Netaji Subhash Marg from Delhi Gate to Chatta Rail, Lothian Road from GPO Delhi to Chatta Rail, S.P. Mukherjee Marg from H.C. Sen Mark to Yamuna Bazar Chowk, Nishad Raj Marg from Ring Road to Netaji Subhash Marg, Esplanade Road and its Link Road to Netaji Subhash Marg, Ring Road from Rajghat to ISBT, and Outer Ring Road from ISBT to IP Flyover - will be close for general traffic from 4 am to 11 am. Only labeled vehicles will be allowed on these roads.
NEW DELHI: A school teacher on her way home ended up with multiple injuries after she fell out of an auto-rickshaw during an attempt to snatch her mobile phone on Friday, police said. Yuvika Chowdhary, who teaches English to primary students, has been hospitalised with a broken nose and injuries to other parts of her body. Yuvika said two men on a motorcycle approached the vehicle from behind and tried to snatch her iPhone 13 from her hand. (Sourced)

Police said the incident took place on August 11 at 3.15pm when the primary school teacher was on her way home to Neb Sarai from Saket.

In her complaint, Yuvika said she hired an auto-rickshaw from outside PVR Saket and was passing Khokha Market in Saket when two men on a motorcycle approached the vehicle from behind and tried to snatch her iPhone 13 from her hand.

Chowdhary said that she was holding the phone tightly to prevent it from snatching, and as the snatchers lunged at it, she fell out of the auto-rickshaw. The fall led to injuries to her nose, forehead and other body parts. The snatchers did not let go of the phone either and finally succeeded in taking it from her.

She was taken to a hospital where she was treated for her injuries.

She told the police that the snatchers appeared to be in their early 20s and were not wearing helmets.

The police have registered a case of theft, assault during a theft, and criminal act done by several persons with a common intention.

Chandan Chowdhary, deputy commissioner of police (south), wasnt available for a comment.
In a significant development, the University of Lucknow (LU) has announced that it will no longer host the 2024 edition of the Indian Science Congress (ISC) owing to a legal dispute between the government and the organiser. The annual conference was earlier scheduled to take place in January. LU to no longer play host to ISC conference

The difficult decision has been taken due to a combination of recent events and the ongoing legal disputes that have made the successful execution of the conference untenable, said LU vice-chancellor Prof Alok Kumar Rai said on Monday.

The LU was entrusted with the responsibility to host the prestigious annual conference by the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) in March this year.

In May, members of the organizing committee from the University of Lucknow presented an intricate plan for the organization of the conference at a meeting of the Executive Committee of ISCA held at the associations headquarters in Kolkata. The comprehensive presentation received appreciation from all committee members present, showcasing the meticulous planning and dedication of the organizing team, an official said.

In May, the Department of Science & Technology (DST) of the Centre, convened a meeting with the general president of the ISCA and the LU-V-C to discuss the terms and conditions for the ISC conference.

On June 5, the DST issued a formal letter to the university stipulating that all decisions related to the technical sessions of the conference would be overseen by a high-level committee constituted by the department DST, the university said. The letter also outlined specific terms and conditions governing the organisation of the ISC conference at the University of Lucknow, they added.

Responding to the DST letter, the ISCA general secretary wrote to the LU in July asserting that all decisions regarding the conduct of the conference shall remain under the purview of the ISCA.

The University of Lucknow, in turn, communicated that its compliance with the DSTs conditions was essential as the DST is a crucial funding agency that supports the universitys research infrastructure and projects, given its status as a state university, an official said.

The legal dispute that subsequently unfolded between the ISCA and the DST led to a court case filed by the former. The ISCA filed a writ petition against DSTs intervention in its bylaws and related matters.

Given the complexity of the situation and the ongoing legal conflict between ISCA and DST, the University of Lucknow has regrettably opted to withdraw from its role as the organiser of the ISC conference. The decision has been made with careful consideration of the prevailing circumstances, said the vice-chancellor.

The varsity had hosted its first ISC conference, which was inaugurated by the then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, in 2002.
The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday named OBC leader Dara Singh Chauhan as its candidate from Ghosi assembly seat, from where he had won on a Samajwadi Party symbol in 2022 UP polls, just over a year ago. BJP names Dara Singh Chauhan as its candidate from Ghosi (file photo)

After quitting as SP lawmaker, Chauhan who was a cabinet minister in the first Yogi government (2017-2022), rejoined the BJP which has now named him as its candidate on the seat.

Chauhan will be up against former Ghosi MLA and Samajwadi Party candidate Sudhakar Singh.

This is the first by-poll in UP ever since Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) rejoined the NDA. The SBSP, which boasts of support from Rajbhars, the key OBC group with a strategic presence in Ghosi, has already begun campaigning for Chauhan in Ghosi.

The SP candidate will, in all likelihood, have the backing of the Congress and the RLD and the BSP is unlikely to contest the by-poll, though a formal announcement is still awaited.

The RLD and Congress, most of the time, had been supporting the SP in bypolls since 2018 and now three parties are part of the opposition alliance.

The expansion cum rejig of the Yogi 2.0 is expected either immediately after Independence Day or after September 8 when the results of the by-polls are known. Both Dara Singh as well as SBSP chief Om Prakash Rajbhar are widely expected to be sworn in as cabinet ministers in the Yogi government that has 52 ministers at the moment and can have accommodate 8 more.

Its a no-contest. With SBSPs backing, Dara Singh ji would win by a record margin, said SBSP leader Arun Rajbhar.

We will win by a big margin. The SP will know where it stands, said UP BJP spokesman Harish Srivastava.

While Dara Singh had won the Ghosi seat in 2022, his rival Sudhakar Singh had won the same seat in the 2012 assembly polls as an SP candidate but lost it to BJPs Phagu Chauhan in 2017. When Phagu Chauhan was sent as Governor of Bihar, Sudhakar had contested the bypolls as SP candidate and lost to BJPs Vijay Rajbhar.

SP national secretary Rajendra Chaudhary said, We will win the elections as public support is with us and against the BJP.

The notification for the by-polls was issued by the Election Commission on August 10, the last date for nomination filing is August 17, voting will be held on December 5 and results will be declared on December 8.

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Nairobi  President William Ruto has said the Government is keen on increasing the country's savings.

The Head of State said the move would wean the country off foreign borrowing, which had crippled the economy.

He noted that the country had only saved Sh350 billion in the last 60 years in the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).

He, however, pointed out that the Government has reversed the trend and is on course to doubling NSSF savings within four years.

"In a short while, we will not need to borrow from elsewhere to grow our economy."

He made the remarks on Sunday during a church service at the Faith Evangelistic Ministry in Karen, Nairobi County.

First Lady Rachel Ruto, Environment Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya, Governors Anne Waiguru and Susan Kihika were present.

President Ruto said the Government's interventions aimed at reducing the cost of living were bearing fruits.

He said the subsidised fertiliser programme has helped the country to boost food production.

"Our projection this year is that we are going to increase our maize production from 44 million bags to 61 million bags," he said.

The President said the Government is keen on increasing the acreage of land under agriculture through irrigation.

He added that the country will no longer spend Sh500 billion every year to import food.

"We should not be importing food; we should be producing more and even export the surplus," he said.

He said the Government has put in place deliberate measures to tame unemployment.

"The housing project is more about jobs than houses," he said. - Presidential Communication Service
As a part of the Independence Day celebrations at Red Fort, around 1,800 people from different vocations, with their spouses, have been invited from across the country as Special Guests to witness the Prime Minister's speech. One such guest is a Khadi weaver hailing from the Prime Minister's constituency Varanasi. Screenshot of a video posted by ministry of defence spox Bharat Bhushan Babu. (Twitter)

Wahab Ansari who weaves cloth with Khadi thread will come to Delhi and listen to the Prime Minister's speech on the occasion of Independence Day 2023.

"Wahab Ansari of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, who weaves cloth with Khadi thread, is a special guest who will come to Delhi and listen to the Prime Minister's speech on the occasion of Independence Day 2023 from the historic ramparts of the Red Fort," A Bharat Bhushan Babu Principal Spokesperson, Ministry of Defence took to X (former Twitter) and informed.

Expressing his delight Wahab Ansari said "I have been working in Kalavari Ashram for the past 26 years. I am thankful to PM Modi that he invited me to the Independence Day celebration."

The initiative of inviting these special guests has been taken in line with the Governments vision of Jan Bhagidari.

According to the government, 75 couples from each State/Union Territory, in their traditional attire, have also been invited to witness the ceremony at Red Fort.

Special Guests invited to attend the celebrations at Red Fort also include over 400 Sarpanches of more than 660 vibrant villages; 250 from Farmer Producer Organisations scheme; 50 participants each of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana.

50 Shram Yogis (construction workers) of the Central Vista Project, including the New Parliament Building; 50 each Khadi workers, those involved in the construction of border roads, making of Amrit Sarovar and Har Ghar Jal Yojana as well as 50 each primary school teachers, nurses and fishermen are also invited.

Some of these Special Guests are scheduled to visit the National War Memorial and call on Raksha Rajya Mantri Ajay Bhatt as part of their stay in Delhi.

This years Independence Day will culminate the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, which was launched by the Prime Minister from Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on March 12, 2021, and will, once again, usher the country into Amrit Kaal with renewed vigour to realise Prime Minister Narendra Modis dream of making India a developed country by 2047.

A number of new initiatives have also been taken to celebrate the 77th Independence Day.
In a bid to retain Ghosi assembly seat in Uttar Pradeshs Mau district, the Samajwadi Party (SP) has declared former MLA Sudhakar Singh as its candidate from there where bypoll will be held on September 5. The seat fell vacant after the resignation of SP MLA Dara Singh Chauhan who joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) last month. It is quite likely that Chauhan will be the BJP candidate from the seat. The Ghosi seat fell vacant after the resignation of SP MLA Dara Singh Chauhan who joined the BJP in July. (For Representation)

While the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) has made it clear that it will support the SP candidate, the Congress too is likely to do the same but it has yet to take a formal decision in this regard. The RLD and the Congress had been most of the time supporting the SP in bypolls since 2018 and now three parties are part of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance or INDIA coalition of the Opposition against the BJP for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Since the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) often does not contest bypolls and thus it is likely to be a straight fight between the SP and the BJP on the seat. And it will also be an OBC vs OBC contest. The battle would be interesting to watch as the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP), the 2022 UP assembly ally of the SP, having influence on the seat will support the BJP candidate.

Like Dara Singh Chauhan, the SBSP has also quit the SP alliance and joined the BJP-led NDA alliance. Ghosi has a sizeable Rajbhar population--the vote bank of the SBSP. Dara Singh Chauhan was a minister in the previous Yogi Adityanath government and shortly before the 2022 U.P. assembly polls had quit his ministership and joined the SP. Akhilesh gave him the ticket from the Ghosi seat and he won.

Sudhakar Singh had won the Ghosi seat in the 2012 assembly polls as an SP candidate but lost it to BJPs Phagu Chauhan in 2017. When the incumbent Meghalaya governor Phagu Chauhan was earlier made the governor of Bihar in 2019, Sudhakar contested the bypoll as an SP candidate and lost to BJPs Vijay Rajbhar. When the SP gave the seat to Dara Singh Chauhan, Sudhakar Singh following the SP chief Akhilesh Yadavs decision sidestepped and did not contest.

SP national secretary Rajendra Chaudhary said, We will win the elections as public support is with us and against the BJP. RLD spokesperson Anil Dubey said: We will support the SP candidate. UP Congress president Brijlal Khabri said: We will decide after consultation with the party high command.

Taking a dig at the INDIA and the SP, BJP leader Navin Srivastava said: This is the first bypoll since the Opposition decided to team up against the BJP alliance. The SP will quickly realise where it stands. SBSP leader Arun Rajbhar said: The SP candidate is staring at a certain defeat. The SBSP will actively campaign for the BJP candidate. In 2022, the SP won this seat with the support of the SBSP. This time they will know the reality.

The notification for the Ghosi assembly bypoll was issued by the Election Commission on August 10. The last date for nomination filing is August 17. Voting will be held on September 5 and results will be declared on September 8.

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Four more patients were declared dead at the civic-run Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj hospital on Monday, including a one-month-old infant admitted to the Neonatal ICU. Meanwhile, a nine-member panel headed by the director of health services was formed to probe the 18 deaths on Sunday with an August 25 deadline. Thane, India - August, 14, 2023: After 18 patients died in a single day yesterday in Thane CSM hospital Kalwa hospital, police presence and rush of patients are seen on Tuesday, the second day , in Thane, in Mumbai, India, on,Monday, August, 14, 2023. ( Praful Gangurde / HT Photo )

The four deaths were those of the babywhich had been admitted to the NICU three days earlier for a swelling on its bodya patient admitted to the general ward and one to the ICU. Another patient who arrived at the hospital was dead before admission, sources said. The hospital administration was tightlipped about Mondays four deaths, which took the total number of patients declared dead at the hospital to 27.

Also Read: Dengue hospitalisations on the rise in Pune city

The deaths, however, have not impacted the flow of patients to the hospital. On Monday, hundreds queued up at the OPD and medicine distribution centres where medicines are sold cheaply to poor patients.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde finally reached the Kalwa hospital on Monday night, 36 hours after 18 deaths were reported. After speaking to patients and taking stock of the situation from top officials, Shinde said that action would be taken if any negligence was found but it was also important that the hospital staff was not demoralised.

Defending the hospital, Shinde said that despite the high death count, patients continued to stream in, and 91 more had been admitted and 22 surgeries performed since the incident. The hospital manages a daily OPD of around 2200 patients, he said. Its workload has increased due to redevelopment of the Thane civil hospital. Shinde said he had asked the civil hospital to increase its capacity by 100 beds and given orders that ambulances should ferry patients free of cost to the civil hospital whenever required.

The CM said that public representatives had made allegations of mismanagement and tried to portray the hospital in poor light and dismissed them as unfortunate politics. This hospital provides injections as expensive as 40,000 and 1 lakh free to patients, he said.

Paralysis or pneumonia?

Meanwhile, MNS Thane unit leader Avinash Jadhav staged a protest at the Thane municipal corporations headquarters and demanded that TMC chief Abhijit Bangar tender a public apology to Thane citizens for alleged mismanagement. He also revealed an alleged case of negligence by the Kalwa hospital doctors.

Yesterday, we met a patient named Shakuntala, he said. The doctors told us she had paralysis and was unable to speak. We shifted her to a private hospital in Thane, where the doctors said that she did not have paralysis but third-stage pneumonia. The Kalwa hospital doctors did not even do a basic blood test to determine this.

Jadhav added that Shakuntalas condition had improved. Providing additional beds or more medicines is not enough, he said. The hospital needs good doctors. The hospital administration did not respond to the allegations.

No stretcher at casualty

Diva resident Arohi Gaikwad arrived at the hospitals casualty department with her husband Anil, who had suffered a head injury three days earlier. With her baby in her arms, she looked for a stretcher to wheel him to the casualty section but there were none available. While her family members went in to look for a stretcher, Gaikwad told HT that they had been waiting for 10 minutes. My husband is unable to walk, she said. Shouldnt there be someone at the casualty for emergency help?

Gaikwad said that Anil was at a construction site when a stone fell from a height and hit the back of his head. Though the wound was not very serious or large, he collapsed, said Gaikwad. Since then, he does not open his eyes, does not recognise me or our baby, and has been babbling incoherently. There is no government hospital in Diva, and we had to bring him to Kalwa, since local doctors advised an MRI before further treatment.

Meanwhile, Thane civil surgeon Dr Kailash Pawar and his team put up banners at the gates of the Kalwa hospital, informing patients that beds were available at the Thane Civil Hospital premises, which had relocated next to the Thane Mental Hospital in May this year. NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad had on Sunday angrily questioned Kalwa hospital dean Dr Rakesh Barot and Medical Superintendent Dr Aniruddha Malgaonkar about why the hospital did not shift patients to other hospitals where beds were available if it was facing an overload of patients.

The Thane Civil Hospital has been functioning, albeit in makeshift structures, after its original British-era buildings were demolished to build a 900-bed superspecialty hospital. We could not move all 336 beds to the new location at one go, said Dr Pawar. So we kept some patients at the original location and moved all of them only when the infrastructure was fully ready.

The hospital currently has 103 beds and two ICUs with 14 to 15 beds each for male and female patients. On Monday, two patients who did not get ICU beds at Kalwa hospital were accommodated in the civil hospital.

A day after the 18 deaths were reported, the government formally issued a GR, instituting a probe by a nine-member committee headed by Dr Swapnil Lale, director of state health services. The panel has been asked to probe the chronology of the incident and the reasons for the deaths, to fix responsibility on concerned officials, and suggest steps to ensure such incidents do not recur.
A 34-year-old man was arrested from Latur for allegedly calling up the cyber department of Mumbai police and claiming that serial blasts would take place in Dadar in the metropolis on Independence Day, a police official said on Monday. On the basis of his mobile phone location and other technical details, he was held from Latur, said the police. (Photo by Bhushan Koyande/HT Photo/ Representational)

He had called up on Saturday and then switched off his mobile phone, the official said.

"On the basis of his mobile phone location and other technical details, he was held from Latur. He is jobless and seems to be mentally unwell. He has been charged with criminal intimidation and other offences and has been remanded in police custody till August 17," the official said.
Mumbai: In order to weed out bogus students availing government benefits such as mid-day meals among other schemes, the state government recently conducted an Aadhaar authentication process of the students enrolled in private, government and aided schools. After the verification process the state suspects that thousands of students may turn out to be fake. After Aadhaar authentication, state suspect thousands of students may be fake

A student can avail several government benefits, including scholarships with an Aadhaar card. The authentication of 93% of the students has been completed in the state while the remaining has to be completed by September end.

The authentication process of around 4% of the students has failed due to various reasons. We have asked the management of the respective schools and officials from the department to re-check the details of the students whose authentication has failed. Though the failure in a few cases is expected to be due to technical issues such as mismatch of names, errors in the details, there are possibilities of fake students enrolled by a few schools, said Ranjit Singh Deol, principal secretary, school education department.

With an aim to streamline the data of 22.5 million students, the state government undertook the drive to authenticate the Aadhar information of the students enrolled in private, government and aided schools.

The department is of the opinion that some of these students do not exist. Fake students were found to be enrolled in aided schools for the government funding in a drive a few years ago. A large number of the failed authentication is expected to be of the bogus students. The main object of the authentication is to weed out such students. This means the number of such students may be in thousands rather than lakhs, an official from the department said.

Apart from it, the department undertook the drive for the comprehensive data of the students for the implementation of the schemes and drive, finalisation of the pupil-teacher ratio, and effective implementation of the direct benefit transfer to the students.

The state government has been taking help from UIDAI (unique identification authority of India) for authentication. The authentication has not been done through SMS in routine practice, but the authentication of the students is being done by UIDAI. The OTP authentication is not possible for students for various reasons, including the non-availability of mobile numbers, the officer said.

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A 70-year-old woman died and her husband was injured after their mouths were taped and hands tied allegedly by three robbers inside their flat at Tardeo in south Mumbai on Sunday before the accused decamped with gold and other valuables, police said. A case under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections, including 302 (murder), 394 (voluntarily causing hurt) and others was registered, and investigation into the incident is underway. (File)

The incident took place in Yusuf Manzil building, an official said. The victims - Surekha Agarwal and her 75-year-old husband Madan Mohan Agarwal - were the only residents of the flat, he said.

"When the couple was stepping out of their flat for a morning walk around 6 am, the three robbers stormed in. They taped the victims' mouths and tied their hands and legs. After that, they decamped with gold ornaments, watches and cash," the official of Tardeo police station said.

After the accused left the place, the woman's husband somehow reached the door of the flat and pressed the alarm button. Later, someone from the housing society rushed to their help, he said.

However, the woman was found unconscious. She was rushed to a hospital, where she was declared dead, the police official added.

A case under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections, including 302 (murder), 394 (voluntarily causing hurt) and others was registered, and investigation into the incident is underway, he said.

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A special court for handling cases registered against MPs and MLAs on Monday allowed Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Nawab Malik to be immediately released on cash bail. Later in the evening, he moved out of CritiCare Hospital in Kurla where he was admitted for kidney-related and other ailments. Mumbai, India - Aug 14, 2023 : NCP leader Nawab Malik leaves from the Hospital after being granted a Bail at Kurla, in Mumbai, India, Monday, Aug 14, 2023. (Photo by Vijay Bate/HT Photo) (Hindustan Times)

NCP working president Supriya Sule, who reached the hospital in the afternoon, had to wait for more than four hours as Malik could come out only after 8 pm.

I had been to welcome Anil Deshmkh when he was released on bail; today Nawab bhai is coming out on bail. It is unfortunate that he had to face injustice and ordeal. It is a big relief for the family and the NCP as well. It was a tough time for all of us. I have closely seen the torment faced by the families of Nawab bhai and Deshmukh, Sule told reporters.

To a question if Malik was joining Sharad Pawars NCP or Ajit Pawar faction, Sule said, I dont know (where he is headed). I have not come here as a party leader or for politics. Nawab bhai is my elder brother and that is the reason I am here. He has not been keeping well for a long time and hence was admitted to the hospital.

Malik was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on February 23, 2022, in connection with a money laundering case. The EDs case is based on the FIR registered by the National Investigation Agency on February 11 last year against gangster Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar and some of his close aides.

During his judicial custody, Maliks health deteriorated, and he was allowed to be shifted to CritiCare Hosptial on May 17 last year. Thereafter he continued to be in the hospital.

On August 11 this year, the Supreme Court granted him interim bail for two months on medical grounds. Let him be released on interim bail on medical grounds for two months from today on such terms the trial court may consider fit and proper, a bench of justice Aniruddha Bose and justice Bela Trivedi said.

Accordingly, Maliks lawyers on Monday approached the special MPs/MLAs court, urging it to set the conditions for his release. The court allowed Malik to be released on a personal bond of 50,000 and one or two sureties in the same amount. He has been asked to deposit his passport and also his medical reports with ED officials. Malik has also been restrained from speaking to the media about the case and from interacting with any witnesses or persons related to the case.

The ED has accused Malik of indirectly funding D-gangs activities by usurping a prime piece of land in Kurla, which is worth around 300 crore, with the help of Dawoods deceased sister, Haseena Parkar. In its chargesheet, the agency claimed that the former minister had paid only 20 lakh to acquire the property, Goawala Compound, in September 2005, and paid the money to people other than the owner of the three-acre plot, Munira Plumber.

The agency claimed that Malik and Parkar connived to usurp the property using a fabricated power of attorney after the death of the owner, Munira Plumbers father Fazalabbas Goawala, following which nobody was looking after the said property.

The chargesheet stated that Malik, an alleged local muscleman, first illegally occupied a store in the compound and got the tenancy registered in the name of his brother, Aslam Malik. Parkars driver-cum-bodyguard Salim Patel had allegedly met Plumber, posing as a social worker, and convinced her to execute a power of attorney in his favour so that he could help her clear the encroachments on the property as well as settle the disputes with tenants.

According to the ED, Patel, on Parkars instructions, prepared a supplementary power of attorney, which was used to transfer the property to Solidus Investments (a firm owned by Maliks family). Solidus was a tenant at Goawala compound.
LUCKNOW The Ayush department has unveiled its plans to establish naturopathy centres, with the inaugural centre set to be established in Varanasi. This initiative is a part of broader efforts to offer state residents a choice within the realm of traditional medical systems. (HT Photo)

Individuals seeking therapeutic treatments will have access to comprehensive naturopathy services all under one roof. As a government initiative, these therapies will be made affordable and accessible to everyone, stated Dayashankar Mishra, the Ayush minister of Uttar Pradesh.

Naturopathy adopts a holistic approach to well-being, supporting individuals in achieving a healthier lifestyle. The range of therapies, including mud baths, aromatherapy, and chromotherapy, is tailored to the specific illnesses and mental well-being of each individual.

Responding to inquiries regarding the choice of Varanasi as the first centres location, the minister explained, We possess available land in the Pandeypur area, which is why we have chosen this site for our inaugural centre. We have plans to establish centres in other districts as well.

This initiative is a part of broader efforts to offer state residents a choice within the realm of traditional medical systems.

We are enhancing the capacity of our pharmacies in Lucknow and Pilibhit to ensure the majority of medications provided to patients are produced under stringent quality standards. People have placed their trust in Ayush, leading to a consistent increase in the number of patients in our outpatient department, remarked the Ayush minister.

He further elaborated, Within the state, 800 hospitals will serve as wellness centres, while each district will feature an integrated 50-bed hospital. The Ayush department has also formulated plans to establish integrated 50-bed hospitals in various districts, aiming to provide comprehensive treatment options, encompassing Ayurveda, Homeopathy, and Unani, all under a single roof for the convenience of patients.

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The Enforcement Directorate ( ED) on Monday filed a petition in the Chhattisgarh high court seeking its direction to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to register an offence in the alleged liquor scam in the state. ED earlier claimed that a syndicate comprising high-level state government officials, private persons and political executives of the state government was involved in a liquor scam of more than  2,000 crore in the last four years in Chhattisgarh. (File Photo)

The petition is yet to be listed for hearing in the court.

ED counsel Saurabh Pandey, who filed the petition in the court, said that the hearing of the petition will take place in a week and various pieces of evidence have been provided to court stating the state government is helping the accused.

Notably, the Supreme Court asked ED on July 18 to stay their hand in all manner in the alleged liquor scam- linked money-laundering probe.

ED earlier claimed that a syndicate comprising high-level state government officials, private persons and political executives of the state government was involved in a liquor scam of more than 2,000 crore in the last four years in Chhattisgarh.

Pandey said that four important points are mentioned in the writ petition on which ED is demanding a CBI probe.

Firstly, no action has been taken by the state government against the accused even when the information of the crime was shared by ED to the state government under Section 66 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Special facilities have been given to the accused in jail violating the jail manuals. Unnecessary privileges have been given to the accused as they stay in hospitals of their choice although they have no serious illness. And lastly, the state police are doing recce of the ED teams and evidence has been submitted to the court, Pandey said.

 We have lost faith in the state machinery as it is helping the accused hence, we asked for a CBI probe, he added.

Faizal Rizvi, the lawyer of three accused in the alleged liquor scam, said that ED is harassing his clients.

 The matter is sub judice in SC even after that they are approaching the high court. ED is harassing my clients . We will submit our answers to HC when asked, said Rizvi.

It is worth mentioning that the Chhattisgarh government in 2019 withdrew the general consent accorded to the CBI to probe cases in the state.

On July 31, restricted by the SC from taking any action in the scam, ED filed a complaint with the Uttar Pradesh police, asking it to investigate irregularities by a Noida- based company for supplying duplicate holograms to the liquor syndicate in Chhattisgarh, which were allegedly used to dupe consumers.

Three Chhattisgarh government officials, including two Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, Anwar Debhar, the brother of Raipur mayor Aijaz Debhar and businessman Vidhu Gupta, were named in the complaint.

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Ahead of the resumption of the Naga peace talks, the Isak-Muivah-led National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) has asserted that there is no ambiguity about flag and constitution being constituent parts of sovereignty and Nagas are a sovereign people who have been living in their own land from time immemorial. The issue of a separate Naga flag and constitution are said to be the two main components that are stalling the talks and inking of a final pact to settle the decades-old Naga political issue. NSCN-IM leader Thuingaleng Muivah. (File Photo)

The flag and constitution are naturally inseparable from the sovereignty of a people. It is universally an accepted truth that flag and constitution are constituent parts of sovereignty. There is no ambiguity about it. The Indian leaders understand it too. They must take the stand to speak the truth, NSCN-IM general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah said on Monday while addressing an event commemorating the declaration of Naga independence by Naga leaders a day ahead of the Indian independence in 1947.

We Nagas are proud of our past dynamic leaders who took the right decision in declaring the Naga National Independence on the 14th August, 1947 on the eve of the British departure from the British India. It was a historic step that gives new meaning to the Naga National identity, Muivah said.

History is the living witness. I pay homage to all those martyrs. At every stage of the movement, the Naga people have no dearth of revolutionary patriots who can lead the nation in the right direction against all odds, the NSCN-IM leader said.

After 18 years of political talks, the Government of India and the NSCN-IM, signed the Framework Agreement on August 3, 2015. The agreement, according to Muivah, was signed on the foundation of recognition of the unique history and sovereignty of the Nagas, and shared sovereignty and coexistence of the two entities.

This is a mutually agreed official document. This Framework Agreement is our legacy. We must defend what we have achieved with our own sweat and blood, he said.

On the issue of integration of all Naga areas, he said the Centre has officially acknowledged that it is the legitimate right of the Nagas and would be finalised accordingly. Nagas are spread across four states in India- Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, and in parts of Myanmar as well.
The South African electorate is approaching its seventh democratic national election in 2024, one which is being touted as a watershed moment. This election is expected to be tightly contested as the IEC grapples with legislative changes, including three ballot papers, a first for SA.

The country's next general election is likely to take place within 12 months. Preparations for the provincial and national elections by the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) are underway, with some legislative changes giving the commission a headache.

For the first time in South Africa's (SA) history, independent candidates will be allowed to contest individually. This was made possible by the Electoral Amendment Act that became a law in June 2023, and is already being challenged in court.

What makes independent candidates eligible?

To be eligible to contest the elections, independent candidates need to garner thousands of signatures and to pay a deposit to the commission. For instance, to contest a regional election, the IEC has proposed that independents pay a deposit of R20,000 per province they intend to contest. Political parties will have to pay a proposed fee of R300,000 that covers all nine provinces.

An independent person may be nominated to contest in one or more regions, but may only be elected to one seat of the National Assembly (NA).

The NA is made up of 400 seats that are occupied by different political parties. Following the 2024 elections, the seats will be broken into half and...
A suspected rhino poacher, who was arrested near India-Bhutan border in Assams Chirang district on Sunday night, has been killed in an encounter, police said. The arrested poachers confessed that they were involved in killing of two rhinos at the Manas National Park. (Representative file image)

According to police, the special task force (STF) in Assam shot the poacher, identified as Nareswar Basumatary as he was attempting to flee from custody.

Acting on a tip off, the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, Assam and a team of Chirang forest department launched an operation near India-Bhutan border on Sunday night.

Three suspected poachers and smugglers were caught along with rhino claw, skin, hand-made pistol and bullets in their possession.

Also Read:Not a case of poaching, says official on female rhino found dead in Assam

They were later handed over to the STF.

One of the poachers told police officials that he will take them to others involved in poaching.

He took the officials to Jalukani on the Bhutan border in Chirang district where he allegedly attacked the STF officials.

After reaching a forest area, he suddenly pushed the officials and tried to flee. We warned him but he didnt stop and tried to snatch a gun from an official, a senior official said.

The man sustained multiple bullet injuries and he was taken to Barpeta Medical College for treatment where he succumbed, police said.

His body has been sent for postmortem and investigations are underway.

We are investigating the two arrested persons and we are interrogating them. More details will come in the investigation, a senior official said.

The arrested poachers confessed that they were involved in killing of two rhinos at the Manas National Park this year, police said.

According to police, the arrested persons revealed that a seven-member gang of rhino poachers camped inside the Manas National Park in April and killed a rhino and other animals.

They stayed for six days inside the park and killed a rhino. They have sold the rhino horn, an official informed media persons.

The forest officials said that they also recovered elephant tusks from the same poaching group operating in Manas Tiger Reserve.

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The Bihar water resources department sounded an alert for floods along swollen Kosi and Gandak rivers, following sudden and heavy discharge of water from Birpur and Valmikinagar barrages on Monday morning. The sudden surge in discharge was attributed to local rains in Nepal in the downstream of Barah Kshetra. (Representative Image)

Birpur barrage in Supal on Kosi witnessed release of around 4.62 lakh cusec water at 2am, which was the highest since the flood level of 1989, said engineer in chief, floods, Shailendra, adding that there was no immediate threat of flooding due to heavy discharge as water was within course of the river. The sudden surge in discharge was attributed to local rains in Nepal in the downstream of Barah Kshetra and now its falling. The discharge has come down to 2.90 lakh cusec at 2pm at Birpur, said the engineer in chief.

The Valmikinagar barrage on Gandak river in West Champaran saw release of around 3.3 lakh cusec around 8am. In 2022, the embankment on Gandak was washed away in Gopalganj and water had overtopped certain points in West Champaran, when there was a sudden discharge of 4.45 lakh cusec in the river from barrage. The situation is not that alarming this time around Gandak river, said Shailendra, adding that all safety embankments of the department were safe and rivers were flowing within their beds as of now.

The engineer said that north Bihar rivers might have jumped the red marks at a few stretches, but there was no immediate threat of flooding as Ganga was still in a position to absorb huge quantum of water. Currently, Ganga is flowing over the danger level only at Kahalgaon, where its maintaining the falling trend, said Shailendra.

Flood bulletin of the department said that Bagmati river has jumped the danger mark at Dheng (by 1cm), Sonakhan, Sitamarhi, (60cm), Dubbadhar, Sheohar, (32cm), Kansar, Sitamarhi, (16cm), Kataunjha and Benibad in Muzaffarpur by 135cm and 112cm. This has led to submergence of villages within the embankments and low-lying unprotected areas. Lal Bakeya was also flowing above the DL at Gowabari in East Champaran by 25cm. Kosi was flowing above the red mark at Baltara in Khagaria and Kursela in Katihar by around 35-55cm.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Subhash Pathak Subhash Pathak is special correspondent of Hindustan Times with over 15 years of experience in journalism, covering issues related to governance, legislature, police, Maoism, urban and road infrastructure of Bihar and Jharkhand. ...view detail
Bihars Munger police unearthed seven illegal mini gun factories and seized finished and unfinished arms besides cartridges and equipment used to manufacture illegal arms on Sunday late evening. However, no arrest could be made, officials said. Police said they could not arrest anyone as the illegal arms manufacturers managed to escape. (Representative Image)

In the last six months from January to June, the Bihar Police unearthed 23 mini gun factories being run illegally in different districts and seized 2,340 illegal weapons including 46 regular firearms and more than 17,000 live cartridges were recovered.

Additional superintendent of police Parichay Kumar said, Acting on a tip off, police conducted raids at several sites of Bardah and unearthed as many as seven illegal mini gun factories. He added that the manufacturers managed to escape. But we are trying to identify the manufacturers of illegal arms, he said. The police seized equipment and unfinished arms besides seven live cartridges.

Also Read | Flood alert in North Bihar after huge water discharge from Nepal

Kumar said, Police have intensified raids to arrest the people behind the manufacturing of the illegal arms, adding The diara area is very difficult terrain and hence police find it difficult to nab them. He, however, reiterated the commitment of the police and said, The raids against these people will be intensified.

Recently ADG headquarters of Bihar Jitendra Singh Gangwar while briefing media personnel in Patna said, 61 minigun factories were unearthed in 2021, 32 in 2022 while 23 mini gun factories have been unearthed from January to June in 2023.

4288 illegal weapons and more than 28,000 cartridges were seized in 2022 whereas in 2023, more than 2340 illegal firearms and more than 17,000 cartridges were recovered in 2023 till June.

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Bihar chief Minister Nitish Kunar Tuesday said that the proposed site at Shobhan in Darbhanga was ideal for the proposed All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) and if the Centre wants to build it, it would be possible only there. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar in Patna on Monday. (Santosh Kumar/HT)

Else, they can do whatever they want. Earlier, we had offered development of the Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) as AIIMS and they initially agreed, but later said they would like to do it separately, the CM told reporters after the inauguration of JP Gangapath Phase-2 in Patna.

He said the government has also planned to develop DMCH on the lines of Patna Medical College Hospital (PMCH), which will be the biggest one with 5,000 beds. DMCH will have 2,500 beds.

Both PMCH and DMCH have rich legacy. We will develop DMCH also, but for AIIMS, there are some problems there due to accessibility. The site that we proposed at Shoban is linked to four-lane road and after land filling, it will be perfect for AIIMS. Had they given their nod, things would have advanced by now. But we dont know why they are objecting to it and what has come to their mind, Kumar said.

We will give land free and also ensure land filling and road connectivity. But they dont like what we say. They say it is low lying, but it will not remain so. It will be lifted, he said.

On Prime Minister Narendra Modis remark that the Darbhanga AIIMS has been built, the CM said it would have been wonderful had it been so. We would have extended congratulation for it, he said.

Kumars statement comes a day after a BJP delegation presented a memorandum to Bihar Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, accusing the Bihar government of delaying Darbhanga AIIMS due to political reasons.

The Centre had approved 1264 crore for 750-bed Darbhanga AIIMS in 2015-16 Budget, and in June 2022, it had appointed Dr Madhabananda Kar as director, who was in February this year shifted to Jodhpur AIIMS after there was no headway in Darbhanga.

The Centre has rejected the Shobhan site, terming it not feasible due to low-lying area. This has led to political slugfest between the Centre and the state.

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A man in possession of bones of wild animals was arrested by the joint team of Naurangiya police and special task force (STF) from a village located near Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) in Bihars West Champaran district late Sunday evening. A forest official said they are keeping a tab on the activities in the forest area. (Representative file image)

Acting on a tip off, the man identified as Jitendra Sahani, was arrested from Gobarahiya village.

Naurangiya police stations station house officer (SHO) Rajesh Kunar Jha told media persons that the arrested individual has been handed over to the forest department.

We have handed over the man arrested to the forest department with the bones, the SHO said.

Also Read:Indias tiger project is at a fork in the road

Reacting on the developments, Nesamani K, conservator and field director of VTR said, These bones look quite old and the wild animal to which these bones belong could not be ascertained immediately. However, bones are being sent to the Wildlife Institute of India (WWI) at Dehradun to ascertain the animal of which these skeletons are.

A forest official said they are keeping a tab on the activities in the forest area.

We believe tigers, leopards and bears are obviously most vulnerable to poaching. However, taking nothing to the chance. A number of home guard jawans, five rangers to keep a tab on activities in the forest area, besides 17 wireless stations have also been set up to raise alarm, if required, the forest official said.
Pune According to SPPU, the NCC units have been operating throughout the universitys connected colleges for many years. However, an NCC unit was established at the university last year. (HT PHOTO)

The National Cadet Corps (NCC) unit has officially started at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), and for the first time, the unit will give the Dahina Salute (Right Salute) to the universitys Vice-Chancellor (V-C) in a programme commemorating Independence Day. For over a month and a half, the students have been preparing for the Independence Day parade.

According to SPPU, the NCC units have been operating throughout the universitys connected colleges for many years. However, an NCC unit was established at the university last year.

This unit has 34 students from the Universitys Department of Skills, Department of Education, Department of Technology, Interdisciplinary School Science, and other departments.

This unit carried out its first march in front of the then-V-C on Republic Day earlier this year. Prof Suresh Gosavi, the newly appointed Vice Chancellor of the University, will now receive the Dahina Salute on August 15. This distinction is only bestowed upon the most distinguished individuals.

Through NCC, these NCC units are run in various colleges and universities with the objective of inculcating discipline, leadership, and a sense of sovereign service among the students.

Students are given the training required to join the army while pursuing a college education through NCC. We will greet the V-C and request him to hoist the national flag, said Suraj Shinde, head of the NCC unit at SPPU.
Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren on Monday skipped the ED summon for questioning in connection with an ongoing money laundering case related to fraudulent sale of land parcels in the state capital and has also sought its withdrawal questioning its legality, people aware of the development said. Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren on Monday skipped the ED summon for questioning in connection with a money laundering case (PTI)

A staff member of the chief ministers office turned up at the zonal office of the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in Ranchi during the second half of the day on Monday and submitted a sealed envelope with the federal agency. I have no idea about what was in the envelope. I was just told to deliver it, he told reporters outside the ED office.

Soren, meanwhile, visited the Doordarshan office to record the CMs customary Independence Day message.

While both the ruling dispensation and the federal agency remained tight-lipped over the content of the communication from the chief minister, sources said Soren has questioned the summon and asked the agency to withdraw it.

The chief minister has, however, told the agency that he was otherwise open to providing all possible cooperation related to the investigation of the case, a source said.

The chief minister has also reportedly questioned the choice of date, August 14, for scheduling the questioning despite the common knowledge about the involvement of the office of the chief minister in Independence Day celebrations a day later.

On August 8, the ED had summoned Soren for questioning on August 14 in connection with a money laundering case at its zonal office in Ranchi and record his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

The federal agency has been probing two major cases of money laundering in the state. The first case is related to illegal mining in the state. The CM was questioned in connection with mining case on November 17 last year.

The second case is related to alleged land scam in the state capital. Thirteen people, including IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan and two businessmen, Amit Agrawal of Kolkata and Bishnu Agrawal, who owns shopping malls in Ranchi, have already been arrested in connection with the alleged land scam.

ED has made these arrests on allegations of fraudulent sale-purchase of land parcels at prime locations in the state capital, including two in possession of Indian defence establishment.

JMM general secretary and spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya, while refusing to comment on possible reasons behind the CM skipping the summon, described the ED action as politically motivated.

He was summoned on the day Dumri assembly bypoll was announced and a day before the World Indigenous Day when the state government was to organise Adivasi Festival. He was summoned for August 14, a day before Independence Day. The entire world knows that CMS have several administrative obligations, like recording of message with Doordarshan and review meetings for Independence Day. Are these not enough proof to show all this is being done to harass our leader? Bhattacharya said.

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UP BTech Round 1 Allotment Result 2023 Updates: Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU) is not going to release Uttar Pradesh BTech counselling round 1 seat allotment result today, as the registration deadline for round 1 has been extended. UP BTech Round 1 Seat Allotment Result 2023 Live Updates(HT Photo)

Last Date of Registration for All Programmes is Extended upto 20-08-2023 23:59 HRS. Last Date of Document Verification for All Programmes is Extended upto 22-08-2023. Detailed Schedule will be released soon, reads a message on the official website.

This counselling is being conducted for Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2023 qualified candidates. For BTech Agriculture and Biotechnology courses, results of CUET UG 2023 are considered.

Follow this live blog for all the latest updates on UP BTech counselling.
Andhra Pradesh State Level Police Recruitment Board (APSLPRB) has released admit cards for the Physical Measurement Test (PMT)/ Physical Efficiency Test (PET) admit card today, August 14. Candidates who have qualified for stage II can download the admit card from the official website at slprb.ap.gov.in. AP Police SI PMT/PET admit card releasing today at slprb.ap.gov.in(Arvind Yadav/HT PHOTO)

Direct link here

The PMT and PET examination will be conducted on August 25 at 4 locations in Visakhapatnam, Eluru, Guntur, and Kurnool.

The preliminary written examination was conducted on February 19. A total of 57,923 candidates have qualified for the written examination of which 56,116 have submitted applications for the stage II examination.

AP Police SI PMT/PET admit card: Know how to download

Visit the official website at slprb.ap.gov.in

On the homepage, click on the admit card link

Key on your login details

Download the admit card and take the print for future reference.

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Gadar like Ramayana, Gadar 2 like Mahabharata

Director Anil Sharma explained why it took almost two decades to greenlight a sequel to Gadar 2. He said that a solid reason was needed for Sunny's character Tara Singh to visit Pakistan again. What was Gadar? The first Gadar was Ramayana. Rama ji goes to Lanka to bring back Sita. I thought this is Ramayana, this won't flop because it resides in the people's hearts. The story of the second was Mahabharata: what if when Abhimanyu is stuck in the Chakravyuh, Arjun himself comes to rescue him? No one could've failed that story because it resides in the people's hearts as well.

There's nothing called the masses

Sunny said that Gadar 2 is resonating with everyone alike. They say it's working for the masses. Who are the masses? There's only one public and it remains the same for every film. Don't lower the film by calling it a film for the masses, Sunny said at the success meet.

Gadar 2 is celebratory, not cerebral

Shariq responded to the criticism of Gadar 2 that it's a 90s-style film. We're stuck between Bandra and Andheri. All of us are set on making films for our kind of people. As a studio, we're going to Cannes with Kennedy (Anurag Kashyap's film), going to Rotterdam with Joram (Devashish Makhija's film), but it's also important to make films like Gadar 2. We got very cerebral, not celebratory. Yes, of course, there should be cerebral cinema, but not all of them. When you're watching cerebral film, wear the cerebral hat. But when you're watching the celebratory film, don't wear the cerebral hat. We're committed to making such a rooted film every year, that appeals to the Bikaner audience," said Shariq. He added that Zee Studios is also releasing another old-school entertainer with Sunny Deol next year, titled Baap.

Sunny on the handpump scene

The scene involving Sunny Deol and his weapon of choice from Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, a handpump, is again being celebrated as the best scene of Gadar 2. But Sunny revealed at the success meet that he wasn't initially sure of the same. I'm a little hesitant of repeating what I've already done. But Anil and others insisted that the way they would shoot that scene would be very new. I'm glad it's working for everyone, Sunny said.

Script of Apne 2 ready

Sunny also confirmed that he's working on the sequel of yet another blockbuster starring him. The script of Apne 2 is ready. We'll soon be working on it. It's also the story of a family, like the first one. Just that my heroines were hesitant to play moms on screen. I think they'll be willing now (laughs), said Sunny. It seems like he referred to Shilpa Shetty and Katrina Kaif, who starred in Anil Sharma's 2007 family drama Apne, which also starred Sunny, his father Dharmendra, brother Bobby Deol, and Kirron Kher.

Sunny reveals his fitness secret

When Sunny was asked the secret behind his fitness, Sunny attributed to his family's genes. Didn't you see my father's latest film? He had quite a nice romantic scene there, Sunny said cheekily, referring to his 87-year-old father Dharmendra's kissing scene with Shabana Azmi in Karan Johar's romantic comedy Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.

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Nairobi  Reconstituted by-partisan talks spearheaded by House Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah and former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka are set to resume on Monday following the appointment of technical teams by both sides.

Ichung'wah named Kenya Kwanza's 4-member technical team comprising of Muthoni Thiankolu, Linda Musumba, Nick Biketi and Duncan Ojwang on Friday as a followup to an inaugural meeting held at Nairobi's Bomas of Kenya on Wednesday.

Ichung'wah said the technical team will play a key role in backing the government delegation.

"This team will play a pivotal role in supporting our delegation throughout the ongoing dialogue engagement. Their expertise will be of high value in shaping the conversation," he said.

"Kenya Kwanza remains firmly committed to open and productive dialogue and reaffirms that we will engage in the talks with utmost good faith and firm commitment to our Constitution and the Laws of Kenya," he added.

Kalonzo listed beleaguered Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni, Adams Oloo, roots party leader George Wajackoyah and ex-governor Mwangi Wa Iria as members of his technical team.

"The four will work with the Azimio delegation to provide insights, skills, guidance and expertise necessary for a speedy realization of the objectives of the dialogue,' Azimio said in a statement on Tuesday.

"We want all Kenyans to understand that engaging in honest dialogue does not amount to surrender or cowardice."

The technical teams will help draft the agenda for the 10-member dialogue committee between the government and the opposition.

The committee held its inaugural meeting after a push-and-pull over the framework and venue for talks that threatened to collapse the proposed dialogue.

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Successful inaugural meeting

Kalonzo described the first sitting at the Bomas as successful saying the main agenda will begin on Monday.

"Speakers of both Houses will provide Hansard reporters because documents will be generated and they will be presented on the floors of the Senate and National Assembly," Kalonzo said.

"We are yet to agree on the agenda items. When we meet again, we will agree on how to frame the agenda," he explained.

Ichung'wah expressed similar optimism.

"We will begin once we frame the agenda items. We do not have the luxury of failing," he said.

The opposition committed to the fresh round of talks saying it believes the country deserves peace and not paralysis after weeks of violent demonstrations.

Azimio had listed five key issues for discussion.

They include the cost of living, audit of the 2022 presidential election results, restructuring and reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and related matters, measures to prevent interference with political parties.

Kenya Kwanza listed a five-point agenda excluding the cost of living, a matter said the government was competent enough to address.

The issues are the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), implementation of 2/3 gender rule, entrenchment of Constituency Development Fund (CDF), establishment and the entrenchment of the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, and embedment of the Office of Prime Cabinet Secretary.
Netflix used to be the go-to streaming service for action movies, but many of the classics have been removed in recent years. However, there are still plenty of great action movies left on Netflix, including The Old Guard, The Raid: Redemption, RRR, and Terminator 2: Judgment Day. These movies are perfect for fans of high-octane action, suspense, and adventure. So if you're looking for a good action movie to watch on Netflix, be sure to check out one of these titles. Clockwise from upper left: Extraction 2 (Netflix), The Woman King (Sony), Fast Five (Universal), Terminator 2: Judgment Day (TriStar Pictures), RRR (Sarigama Cinemas)

Army of the Dead

Army of the Dead | Official Trailer | Netflix

This zombie heist movie from Zack Snyder is a lot of fun, with great action sequences and a likable cast.

Black Hawk Down

Black Hawk Down (2001) Official Trailer 1 - Ewan McGregor Movie

This Ridley Scott movie tells the true story of a U.S. military operation in Somalia that went horribly wrong. It's a gripping and suspenseful film with some of the best battle scenes ever put on film.

The Expendables

The Expendables (2010) - Official Trailer

This action-packed ensemble film stars Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, and other action movie legends. It's a lot of mindless fun, with plenty of explosions and gunfire.

Extraction

Extraction | Official Trailer | Screenplay by JOE RUSSO Directed by SAM HARGRAVE | Netflix

This Chris Hemsworth movie follows a black ops mercenary on a mission to rescue the kidnapped son of a drug lord. It's a fast-paced and brutal action film with some great fight scenes.

Fast Five

Fast Five - Theatrical Trailer

This fifth installment in the Fast & Furious franchise is a major step up in quality from the previous films. It's a thrilling heist movie with plenty of action and humor.

Hanna

Hanna - Official Trailer

This action thriller stars Saoirse Ronan as a teenage assassin raised in isolation. It's a stylish and suspenseful film with some great action sequences.

The Night Comes For Us

Screenshot: The Night Comes For Us

A violent Indonesian action movie about an undercover cop who must fight his way out of a gangland.

The Old Guard

Photo: Aimee Spinks/Netflix

An action-fantasy movie about a group of immortal warriors who must protect the world from a dangerous threat.

The Raid Redemption

The Raid: Redemption Official Movie Trailer [HD]

A brutal Indonesian martial arts movie about a police raid on a gangland stronghold.

RRR

A Telugu-language action epic about two Indian freedom fighters who team up to fight against the British Raj.

Terminator 2 Judgment Day

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers

A classic action movie about a cyborg assassin sent back in time to kill a young boy who will one day save humanity.

What Happened To Monday

Noomi Rapace

A sci-fi action movie about seven identical sisters who must fight to survive in a world where only one child is allowed per family.

The Woman King

A historical action movie about an all-female warrior tribe who must defend their kingdom from a powerful enemy.

These movies are all highly rated and offer something for everyone. If you're looking for a good action movie to watch on Netflix, I recommend checking out one of these titles.

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Actor Ankita Lokhande has shared her first post after the death of her father Shashikant Lokhande. As per reports, he died at the age of 68 around 11.45 am on Saturday morning. His funeral took place in Mumbai on Sunday. (Also Read | Ankita Lokhande carries her father's bier along with husband Vicky Jain during funeral; fans pray for her) Ankita Lokhande spoke about her father Shashikant Lokhande.

Ankita to hold prayer meet for late father

Taking to Instagram Stories on Sunday night, Ankita shared details about the prayer meet for her father. She shared a photo of a card with her father's picture on it. It read, "Prayer meet. You will be missed forever, Shashikant Lokhande. August 14, 2023, from 4 pm to 6 pm." The meet will be held in Malad West, Mumbai.

Ankita shared details about the prayer meet for her father.

Ankita and her family paid last respects to her father

On Sunday afternoon, Ankita, her mother and her husband Vicky Jain paid their last respects to her father. Arti Singh, Shraddha Arya, Omkar Kapoor, Rajesh Khattar, and Kushal Tandon, among others also paid last respects to Ankita's father and extended condolences to the family. Ankita was also seen giving a shoulder to her father's bier on Sunday.

Several media reports suggested that he had been unwell for quite some time. Ankita and Vicky are yet to comment on the same. He was cremated at the Oshiwara crematorium ground.

Ankita's Father's Day post for her dad

Earlier on Fathers Day, Ankita penned a long heartfelt note and wished Shashikant a Happy Fathers Day. She shared an adorable video with her father. Ankita captioned her post, Happy Fathers Day to my first hero my daddy. I cant express my true feelings what I feel for you but I love you bahut sara (a lot) I have seen you struggling for many things when I was a child but you made sure that your children dont.. you always gave me my wings to fly and made me do whatever I wanted to become... Im what Im its all your support and strength..."

I remember when I started my journey in Mumbai and sometimes when I had no rent to pay. you made it happen no matter what was going on in your life because you believed in my dreams.. I am and I will be always grateful and blessed to have you paa .. I have seen you struggling with your health but your strong will what I saw that time was something else and your smiling face during that period kept all of us going. Im very very proud to be your daughter.. love you paa forever and ever and ever. Happy Fathers Day paa, the caption further read.

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The final voting for Bigg Boss OTT season 2 is underway, and ahead of the grand finale, there has been massive buzz around the finalists, prize money, where to watch Bigg Boss OTT 2's final episode, and much more. An per an ABP Live report, the prize money for the winner of Bigg Boss OTT 2 is a significant amount. Also read: Fukra Insaan Abhishek Malhan hospitalised before Bigg Boss OTT 2 finale, sister confirms Bigg Boss OTT season 2 is finally coming to an end. Here's what the winner will get this year. It is not just lakhs of rupees.

What does Bigg Boss OTT 2 winner get?

Bigg Boss OTT 2 grand finale featuring host-actor Salman Khan will take place on August 14. Elvish Yadav, Abhishek Malhan, Manisha Rani, Bebika Dhurve and Pooja Bhatt are the top 5 finalists. Before Salman declares the Bigg Boss OTT 2 winner, find out what all he or she could win.

As per the ABP Live report, the winner will get a cash prize of 25 lakh. It said that even though the exact prize amount has not yet been announced, one of the episodes featured a conversation between Manisha Rani and Abhishek Malhan, where they a reference to the amount. Apart from the cash prize and the Bigg Boss OTT trophy, the winner will reportedly also get free food for life.

Who will win Bigg Boss OTT 2?

According to the live voting count and trend reported by PKBnews on Sunday, YouTubers Elvish Yadav and Abhishek Malhan are giving each other tough competition as both are leading in terms of voting. As per the report, as of August 13, Elvish  a wild card entrant on the reality show  was leading the voting with 48 percent of the votes going in his favour.

Elvish Yadav reportedly got 800,99,975 votes, compared to Abhishek Malhan's 600,98,365 votes. Social media personality Manisha Rani received 13,23,830 votes, while Bebika got 77,201 votes. Actor-filmmaker Pooja Bhatt received the least number of votes  32,500.

About Bigg Boss OTT 2

Salman Khan has been hosting the second season of Bigg Boss OTT, which streams on JioCinema. The show premiered on June 17. Apart from the finalists, the other contestants on the show were Jiya Shankar, Akanksha Puri, Cyrus Broacha, Jad Hadid, Aaliya Siddiqui, Avinash Sachdev, Aashika Bhatia, Puneet Superstar, Falaq Naaz, and Palak Purswani.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT Entertainment Desk Dedicated professionals who write about cinema and television in all their vibrancy. Expect views, reviews and news. ...view detail
Bigg Boss contestant Elvish Yadav is leading among the top finalists of the show as per early trends. While the fate of this season is yet to be decided by the viewers, currently Elvish Yadav is trending significantly on the internet. In fact, as per Google search trends, Elvish has crossed host Salman Khan with higher numbers. Also read: Bigg Boss OTT 2 winner: Elvish Yadav leads as per early voting trends Elvish Yadav is among the top trends on the internet.

Elvish Yadav trends on Google

Elvish Yadav entered the Bigg Boss house as a wildcard entry. He has been trending more than Salman Khan on the most popular search engine throughout the day, starting from as early as 6:30 am. The trends, in favour of Elvish, increased even more as the final show was about to begin.

Elvish Yadav trends on Google,

Elvish has been trending on Twitter, hours before Salman kickstarted the grand finale. Fans have been trending Elvish as historic wildcard Elvish.

Elvish with highest vote: Report

Previously, a report of PKBnews claimed that Elvish was leading the voting with 48 per cent of the votes going in his favour. Following him was Abhishek Malhan aka Fukra Insan, with a total of 32 percent votes. Meanwhile, Manisha Rani and Bebika Dhurve stood in the third and fourth places. Pooja Bhatt who was with the lowest voting, has been eliminated minutes ago in the show hosted by Salman Khan.

Pooja Bhatt evicted

Talking about Pooja, Salman Khan, said, "This season will be remembered as Pooja Bhatt's season. You've managed to touch everyone's hearts with your wisdom and presence. You entered the house with under 1 million followers and after a long hiatus, but still, you managed to make your presence felt. You had made my work easier in the house."

Meanwhile, fans can vote one last time for their favourite contestants via live voting. The live voting will be between the top two housemates who will be declared during the show. The winner of Bigg Boss OTT 2 is likely to be announced by the house Salman Khan around midnight.

All the contestants of this year's Bigg Boss OTT 2 have reached the final showdown. However, Superstar Puneet was not seen among them. Besides them, parents of all finalists have also reached to witness the grand finale, which is being hosted in Mumbai. Among them is Elvish Yadav's parents.

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Host Salman Khan talked about cleaning bathrooms in the boarding school during the finale of Bigg Boss OTT 2. Asserting that no work is trivial, he briefly recalled cleaning toilets in jail as well. Salman revealed the above while talking to Pooja Bhatt. Also read: Check all Bigg Boss OTT 2 finale live updates Salman Khan is the host of Bigg Boss OTT 2.

Salman on cleaning toilets

Pooja Bhatt was evicted from the Bigg Boss house. Moments before the announcement was made, Salman talked about Pooja's obsession with cleaning toilets. While Salman said he has never seen the toilet of the house as clean as Pooja maintained it throughout, he also recalled previously cleaning the Bigg Boss toilets.

During this time, Salman also talked about cleaning the toilets in boarding schools. He said, "Koi bhi kaam bada ya chota nahi hota (No work is trivial). He also did the same cleaning when he was lodged in jail. The actor was sentenced to five years in imprisonment after a court in Jodhpur gave a verdict in connection with the infamous blackbuck hunting case.

Salman Khan on Bigg Boss OTT 2

Meanwhile, during the show, Salman Khan also said that Bigg Boss OTT has become the number one Indian reality show on the OTT platform. The show was earlier extended for two weeks. Salman also added that whoever gets to host the next season of the OTT version of the show, will have difficulty matching up to his stature in the show. Salman who has been hosting Bigg Boss for a long time now, hosted the OTT version of the show for the first time.

Elvish Yadav and Abhishek Malhan are the top two finalists of this season. Live voting has ended for now as Elvish and Abhishek walked out of the house and joined Salman on stage. While Pooja Bhatt was the first eliminated finalist of the show, it was followed by Bebika Dhurve and Manisha Rani's eviction from the show.

Throughout the day Elvish Yadav remained on the highest trends on the internet. While he was trending on Twitter, he was also among the top search trends on Google. In fact, Elvish has crossed host Salman with higher numbers.

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If you enjoy watching crime shows or trying to solve mysteries, Netflix has a great list for you. They have both fiction and real crime shows. Wondering where to start? Check out our top recommendations! Top 10 crime shows to watch on Netflix.

Unsolved Mysteries

This reboot of an eighties classic is a must-watch. The series explores many different unsolved cases, and the examination of new evidence and interviews shed new light on each crime committed.

Fear City New York vs The Mafia

This investigative series looks at the harrowing and shocking realities behind five families who ruled New York in the 1970s and 80s until federal agents stepped in to bring them down.

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The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann

This documentary delves into the immediate aftermath of the case, exploring the movements of the Portuguese police and more.

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The Business of Drugs

A former CIA analyst investigates the economics and intricacies of six illicit substances to understand the impact they have on the globe in terms of crime, health, and power.

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The Sinner

This crime thriller stars Bill Pullman as police detective Harry Ambrose, who investigates a new story each season. The third season is currently available on Netflix.

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Sherlock

This British crime drama, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, is a must-watch for fans of the detective genre. All four seasons are available on Netflix.

The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez

This true crime series tells the story of eight-year-old Gabriel Fernandez, who was brutally murdered by his mother and her partner in 2013. The series examines how the social services failed to act despite the warning signs that he was in a dangerous situation.

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Gabriel Fernandez was brutally killed by his parents

Unbelievable

This drama series is based on the true story of Marie Adler, who was accused of lying about being sexually assaulted. The series stars Toni Collette and Merritt Wever.

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Safe

This gripping series stars Michael C. Hall as a widowed surgeon desperate to find his daughter after she goes missing. As time goes on, dark and previously unknown secrets begin unearthing.

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Who killed Malcom X?

This documentary series explores the mystery surrounding the assassination of Civil Rights Activist Malcom X in 1965.

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I hope you enjoy these crime shows!
The accused who cheated a 73-year-old man in Kerala using sophisticated AI-based deepfake technology on a WhatsApp call in July has been identified as Kaushal Shah, a native of Usmanpura in Gujarats Ahmedabad, officers said. Shah was a B.Com graduate at the time of leaving home in 2018 and it is not clear if he has done courses in artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies since then. (File photo)

Our efforts are aimed at nabbing him as soon as possible using scientific clues as well as the coordination of police teams from Gujarat, Goa and Maharashtra, three states where he regularly travels to, said Dinesh Koroth, inspector, Kozhikode city cybercrime police station where the case was registered.

We found that Shah (41) hails from a family with good financial background and is the son of a retired assistant public prosecutor. He is addicted to gambling for past 18-20 years and often borrowed money from his family members and friends to gamble. When complaints against him about borrowing money and not returning them rose, his family objected and severed its links with him. He left home in 2018 and has not been seen since by his immediate family, the officer added.

Shah was a B.Com graduate when he left his home in 2018, but it is not clear that he has studied artificial intelligence or other advanced technologies.

Through the investigation, it was found that an amount of 40,000 defrauded from a retired central government official in Kozhikode on July 9, was transferred to a Jio Payments Bank account under the name of Shah in Usmanpura, and transferred the same day to an RBL bank account of a gaming company in Goa. The SIM card, used for the call, was registered in the name of a farmer in Lindi, a village in Gujarats Mahesana district, whose identification details are suspected to have been sold to cyber fraudsters and used by people like Shah, Koroth said.

Our investigation so far shows that Kaushal Shah has acted alone in this crime. He changes phone numbers frequently and has several bank accounts in his name. He is suspected to be a loner and does not have accomplices, said Koroth.

It is clear that Shah did extensive background research on his victims and their immediate contacts, as is evident from the Kozhikode case, he added.

While the RBL bank account, in which the defrauded money was transferred, was immediately frozen when the case came to light, efforts to retrieve the money and return it to the victim are underway, the police said.

Ajit Rajyan, assistant commissioner of police (ACP), cyber crime in Ahmedabad, said, Kaushal Shah is accused of using chatbot to scam people. We are working on getting more information about him and are coordinating with Kerala police. There arent any cases against him here and it seems he used to defraud people outside Gujarat.

On July 9, PS Radhakrishnan, a native of Kozhikode who retired from a central government firm, had received messages followed by a call on WhatsApp from a man claiming to be his former colleague from Andhra Pradesh.

After sharing family photographs and inquiring about his daughter, the man asked for 40,000 for his sister-in-laws emergency surgery in Mumbai.

When Radhakrishnan raised doubts about online scams, the man video-called him on WhatsApp for a few seconds where his face and voice resembled his former colleague. Police say that the accused had used deepfake technology to create the likeness of Radhakrishnans friend and cheat him. Such a case had never been reported before in Kerala.

A case under sections 420 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and sections 66(c) and 66(D) of the IT Act, 2000 has been registered.

(With inputs from Maulik Pathak in Ahmedabad)

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Vishnu Varma Vishnu Varma is Assistant Editor and reports from Kerala for the Hindustan Times. He has 10 years of experience writing for print and digital platforms and has worked at The New York Times, NDTV and The Indian Express in the past. He specialises in longform reportage at the intersections of politics, crime, social commentary and environment. ...view detail

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Vishnu Varma Vishnu Varma is Assistant Editor and reports from Kerala for the Hindustan Times. He has 10 years of experience writing for print and digital platforms and has worked at The New York Times, NDTV and The Indian Express in the past. He specialises in longform reportage at the intersections of politics, crime, social commentary and environment. ...view detail
The inauguration was scheduled for July 20, announced by none other than Lila Ram Gurjar, the ruling BJPs sitting legislator from Kaithal, Haryana. The demand is at least four years old; in 2019, the Akhil Bhartiya Veer Gurjar Sabha asked the name of Dhand Chowk in the town be changed to reflect Gurjar Pratihar Raja Mihir Bhoj, to mark the birth anniversary of the 9th century ruler. PREMIUM The inauguration of a statue of Gurjar Pratihar Raja Mihir Bhoj in Karnal was fraught with tension. (HT Photo)

A time was fixed for 10 am on July 20, with Haryana education minister Kanwar Pal Gurjar to unveil the statue  but by the day before the proposed inauguration, it became clear that the event would be fraught with tension. On July 19, hundreds of Rajput youth began arriving in droves, angered by the words Gurjar Pratihar written before the name of Samrat Mihir Bhoj. The Rajputs have long claimed the legendary king was a Rajput. There was a lathi charge, and the protesters alleged that they suffered injuries, a charge that the police have denied.

The following day, Gurjars began pouring into Kaithal, 174 km away from Delhi to attend the function. They came from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. The police presence was heavy, the education minister backed out, and organisers decided to advance the schedule to 8 am. In the ministers absence, Lila Ram Gurjar unveiled the statue himself to a loud roar around him. He opened his speech with a popular song among the community, the chorus of which goes, Jo Gurjar ne chedega, wo marya jayega (he who provokes a Gurjar will be killed). There is enough evidence that Mihir Bhoj ji belonged to the Gurjar community, and nobody can change history, he said.

By that evening, the Rajput community was up in arms. Within hours, 35 BJP office bearers from Kaithal offered to resign in protest. Soon, 88 members, office bearers and volunteers of the BJP in neighbouring Karnal too did the same. In villages with a Rajput population, members of the community banned the entry of the BJP. Haryana chief minister ML Khattar was forced to react, and said, People should not indulge on such issues, as great personalities do not belong to a particular community or caste, but to everyone. They should not be diminished.

But it isnt just Haryana. Over the last three years, this battle between Rajputs and Gurjars for Raja Mihir Bhojs legacy has only grown, including in the politically crucial states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

In September 2021, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated a similar statue of Mihir Bhoj amidst tight security in Dadri, on the outskirts of Delhi, with tension ratcheted up between the two communities. In Saharanpur earlier this year, there were prohibitory orders in Nakur town after the Gurjars defied government orders to take out a Gurjar Pratihar Samrat Mihir Bhoj Gaurav Yatra, and the Rajputs protested. In Bihar, RJD MLA and former minister Sudhakar Singh, son of the state president Jagdanand Singh has started a website to remind people of Bhojs Rajput heritage. With less than a year to go for Lok Sabha elections, and both communities influential, it is a battle that may well have political ramifications.

The claims

What is uncontested is that Mihir Bhoj ruled from 836 to 885 CE and was king of a dynasty that was called Gurjar Pratihara, succeeding his father Ramabhadra. At its peak, Bhojs empire stretched from the Narmada in the south, Sutlej in the northwest up to Bengal in the East, with its capital at Kannauj in modern-day Uttar Pradesh.

Acharya Virender Vikram, a Gurjar leader and historian said that the fact that Gurjar Pratihar was a popular term in documentation of Mihir Bhoj is claim enough of his ancestry. Our claims are strong as there was no mention of the Rajputs before the 13th century while Mihir Bhoj ruled in the ninth century. How can they make a claim on a king who ruled 400 years before the origins of the Rajput clan? Vikram said.

Virender Chauhan, a Rajput community leader and also the state spokesperson of the Haryana BJP said, A Mahapurush does not belong to a particular caste or community, but can anyone really claim to be a descendant of such a great personality? However it is also true that every great personality is born in a caste or clan, and that is Rajput.

Chauhan pointed to the family of Arunoday Singh (a Rajput) that lives in present day Nagod in Madhya Pradesh that claim to be descendants of Mihir Bhoj. The legacy cannot be claimed by a streetfight, and there is a need to adhere to historical documents. The matter is also under the consideration of the Gwalior high court.

In December 2015, the Gwalior municipal council passed a resolution to install a statue of Samrat Mihir Bhoj. The structure was readied and the words Gurjar were prefixed on the plinth. In a pre-ordination of events that would be repeated several times over in the next decade, the Rajputs were enraged, and the two communities faced off. The statue was eventually erected in the Kampu area of the city in September 2019, even as tensions intermittently continued.

Two years later, in 2021, Rahul Sahu, a Gwalior local filed a Public Interest Litigation in the Gwalior bench of the Madhya Pradesh high court, asking for the matter to be resolved once and for all because it was creating a law and order situation. Hearing the petition on September 24, 2021, the MP high court asked the district collector of Gwalior to form an eight member committee; with two police personnel, two administration officials, one representative of the Gurjar and Rajput committees and two historians. The court also ordered that till the report was submitted, likely on the next date of hearing in October 2023, the nameplate that is at the centre of the dispute be kept duly covered.

In July 2023, the debate took another turn, when Arunodaya Singh Parihar of Nagod, who claims to be 44th in a line that he traces back to Mihir Bhoj filed a writ petition before the Madhya Pradesh HC, arguing that the local administration and Gurjar organisations were ignoring the familys contention. Since then, at least 25 different people have filed intervention petitions, and the PIL is set to be heard in October as well.

Singh told HT, How can they claim that Samrat Mihir Bhoj was Gurjar? I am his scion and I have all the proof in this regard. It has always been open and shut. No person has two surnames and Gurjar was just a title. His name was Mihir Bhoj Pratihar, which is also known as Parihar. We are Kshatriyas (Rajputs) and there has never been any doubt.

On August 10, following the orders of the Punjab and Haryana high court, the district administration covered the word Gurjar on the statue until the matter is pending with the court.

The political battle

Historians that have looked at Bhojs past said his legacy was the subject of deeper research, but that, as always, it was reductive to apply a modern-day understanding of caste to a complicated history. Professor SK Chahal, chairman of Kurukshetra Universitys department of history and dean of the faculty of social sciences said that Bhoj occupied the throne in 836 Common Era (CE) and ruled until his death in 885 CE, conquering several regions in Gujarat and Malwa from the Rashtrakutas and territories in Gorakhpur from the Pals of Bengal. These three powers were locked in a tripartite struggle during the 9th century, especially for the city of Kannauj that was considered the political seat of India, Chahal said.

Chahal added that the issues that arise from present day caste configurations cannot be superimposed on history. Current caste politics uses history for political purposes and views it from that prism. At the time when Raja Bhoj ruled, caste identities had not developed clearly. In fact, the deeper we go into history, the more caste identities seem to blur. Politicians should leave subjects like these to historians and not appropriate historical figures for their interests. That is how incorrect interpretations perforate and harm our society.

But as much as historians would like to keep politics away, it is clear that Mihir Bhoj is now central to a political battle, particularly with the Lok Sabha elections less than a year away. In Haryana for instance, one of the epicentres of this caste tension, both communities have a 3.5% share of the states population. The Gurjars, categorised as OBC in Haryana, can influence the outcome in seats in Kaithal, Samalkha, Tigaon, Jagadhri, Naraingarh, Badkhal, Kalka and Sohana areas. The Rajputs, who are categorised as a general caste, are more scattered around the states north and south. The controversy, if not resolved, may cause a social divide and have an impact on elections next year. Broadly, the inclination of the Rajputs has been towards the ruling BJP, but this (issue) may cost them and the party is under pressure from their Rajput representatives, said political science professor Ramji Lal.

In Bihar, former agriculture minister and RJD MLA Sudhakar Singh, the son of the RJD president Jagdanand Singh, a Rajput who launched a Raja Mihir Bhoj website last year, said, This is all vote bank politics. The issue is being fanned for political benefit; I launched the website so people know about Samrat Mihir Bhoj.

DM Diwakar, former director of the AN Sinha Institute of Social Sciences said, My sense is that, in Bihar, this is being fanned by the BJP to divert attention from the restart of the caste survey. Its findings may impact caste polity in the Hindi heartland, and the claims of Gurjars on Raja Mihir Bhoj have become louder because they help the BJP to mobilise backward classes ahead of the polls.

(With inputs from Shruti Tomar and Anirban Guha Roy)
Bengaluru: In a turn of events, the BBMP Contractors Association announced on Monday that they are retracting their earlier allegations of the ruling Congress government seeking a commission to clear pending bills spanning three years. The retraction follows a meeting with Karnataka governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot last week, during which the association expressed concerns about the delay in Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) settling dues to contractors and alleged a 10-15% commission for bill clearance. The allegations of commission were works of some middlemen who misguided contractors into making these claims said the association president

KT Manjunath, president of the association, clarified to the media that the allegations of the commission were propagated by middlemen who misguided some contractors into making these claims. We havent raised any commission-related issue. Our plea was solely to expedite the settlement of pending dues, he said.

The outstanding payments to contractors were withheld after the state government initiated the establishment of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) earlier this month. The SITs mandate is to investigate works undertaken within BBMP limits over the past few years.

Manjunath emphasised that the zonal chief engineers have thoroughly examined all projects executed in the BBMP area. He contends that based on the outcomes of these investigations, the due payments should be released without further delay. He added that the association also intends to meet with chief minister Siddaramaiah and deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar  also the Bengaluru development minister  in an effort to emphasize the urgency of the situation.

In response to the BJPs move to meet governor Thaawarchand Gehlot and demand a Lokayukta investigation into allegations of corruption, Shivakumar on Monday said that the opposition party should pursue whatever actions they deemed necessary.

Former deputy chief minister Dr CN Ashwath Narayan had announced that the BJP leadership would meet with the governor to address allegations of corruption against Shivakumar and advocate for the case to be handed over to the Lokayukta for a thorough inquiry. Narayan had also called for Shivakumars removal from the cabinet.

During a media interaction at his residence in Bengaluru, Shivakumar responded: Ashwath Narayan should be referred to as Navrangi (chameleon) Narayan. His efforts are commendable for safeguarding wrongdoers. He promised to cleanse Ramnagar, but what did he achieve? The district rid itself of the BJP while he was the district-in-charge minister. This reference points to BJPs poor electoral performance in Ramnagar.

Shivakumar continued: Ashwath Narayan remains anxious. I havent scrutinized his actions within Bengaluru city yet. I wont address this now; Ill provide comprehensive details when the time is right.

The deputy CM added, Ill address the situation after Independence Day. I havent awarded contracts to anyone. Some individuals approached me to settle bills for work executed during the BJPs tenure. If work was done, bills need to be cleared. Why didnt the BJP handle this during their term? Ill reveal documents in two days that will astonish you. It saddens me how contractors are being misused and disgraced, and Im privy to it all.

Meanwhile, BJPs Ashwath Narayan alleged that DKS tax and YST had been instituted for every project. These references pertain to the alleged 15% commission labelled as DKS tax against Shivakumar and allegations of kickbacks in transfers against CM Siddaramaiahs son, Dr.Yathindra, termed as YST.

Narayan contended that these indications are explicit signs of corruption, vowing to bring the matter to the publics attention. Despite promising corruption-free governance, the government is now embroiled in corruption allegations. Numerous accusations plague the government. We urge the Governor to direct a Lokayukta investigation into the claims of DKS tax, he said,

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The Congress party on Monday demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi break his silence on the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India reports flagging discrepancies in the database of a centrally sponsored health scheme and the high cost of Dwarka Expressway. On the eve of the 77th Independence Day, Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said the prime minister will unleash his torrent of lies tomorrow from the ramparts of the Red Fort. Congress senior leader Jairam Ramesh.(ANI)

But will he have the courage to question his own government and his ministers on their corruption and incompetence? Ramesh asked, alleging that the CAG report has exposed the sheer corruption and incompetence of the Modi government.

The Congress MP listed the red flags of the report, including the inflated project cost of the Dwarka Expressway, which went up 14 times from the sanctioned 18 crore/km to 250 crore/km.

A performance audit by the CAG also found several discrepancies in Indias public health assurance scheme Ayushman Bharat  Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) that led to crores of rupees in expenditure on ineligible beneficiaries, mainly due to inadequate validation controls. The faults in the database of AB-PMJAY include invalid names, unrealistic dates of birth, duplicate health IDs and unrealistic family sizes, the governments auditor said in a report tabled in Parliament.

CAG has raised similar questions on irregularities in the Ayodhya Development Project and the diversion of old page pension funds under National Social Assistance Programme for publicity of the Modi government's schemes instead, Ramesh said.

We demand answers from the Prime Minister, Chuppi Todiye, Pradhan Mantri-ji! (Break your silence, Mr Prime Minister).

Earlier today, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the Modi government of corruption in infrastructure projects and said it is "taking the nation on a highway to hell". Citing the CAG report on the 'Bharatmala Pariyojana' highway projects, Kharge said Prime Minister Modi should look within before harping on corruption by his political opponents.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also targeted the ruling BJP, with Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal alleging that the PM Modi-led government has broken "all records of corruption".

"The Modi government has broken all the records of corruption in the past 75 years," Kejriwal charged in a post on X, earlier known as Twitter, sharing a screenshot of a media report on the CAG report.

Rajya Sabha MP and AAP national spokesperson Sanjay Singh also targeted Modi over the media report and said his government is the "most corrupt" since independence.

"The Narendra Modi government constructed the road (Dwarka Expressway) at the cost of 250 crore per kilometer while it was to be constructed at the rate of 18 crore per kilometer," he said, citing the CAG report.

Under the 'Bharatmala Pariyojana', a total of 75,000 kilometers of roads were to be constructed at the rate of 15 crore per kilometer, Singh said.

"But the Narendra Modi government increased the cost to 25 crore per kilometer," he claimed.

"This government has committed a scam worth 7.5 lakh crore in the Bharatmala project," Singh charged and asked the prime minister to stop talking about his government's commitment to end corruption in the country.

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Nandi  Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has said the government will press on with reforms in the education sector, saying they are intended to improve standards in the sector.

Speaking on Sunday at the 41st graduation at the University of Eastern African Baraton in Nandi County, Gachagua said the reforms recommended by the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms will help to re-engineer the sector.

"The report has set on course a raft of reforms that will re-engineer the Education System to meet emerging socio-economic development demands of the country," he said.

The DP said President William Ruto formed the taskforce to seek inclusive and evidence-based reforms in the Education Sector in a bid to refocus and retool graduates from job seeking to job creation.

While supporting the proposed new funding model for university students, the DP said it was important to refocus the financial support for those in dire need of assistance to benefit.

"We are changing the university education funding model to make it better. Students who are in need of funding [must] get full assistance. We are refocusing the funding of education to make it better," he said.

The DP said the Kenya Kwanza Administration will continue to set aside funds to raise the quality of education in learning institutions.

Skill-focused education

The Government, he said, had allocated Sh628 billion to the sector in the administration's first budget (2023/24), which is an increment of more than Sh84 billion from the previous year.

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"We are implementing and igniting a system that is skill-focused for development. We are no longer going to graduate people to learn on the job -we want finished products to support the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda," he said.

The Deputy President said Church-based institutions, like Baraton, had contributed to the nation's development promising to strengthen the partnership with them.

"As a government we appreciate the church's contribution in education and health. They have done a tremendous job in the betterment of the lives of the people," he said.

The Deputy President also shared nuggets of wisdom as a graduate who had worked his way up from the bottom.

"As you leave this institution stay focused and be go-getters. Nobody should stand between you and your dream. All dreams are valid. Never let anyone discourage you from achieving dreams," Gachagua told them.

Further, he challenged the graduands to explore opportunities such as the paid-up internships by the government to integrate academic skills with job market demands.

The University Vice-Chancellor, Prof Philip Maiyo, praised the DP for speaking the truth adding he was an inspiration to the youth.

"This virtue [speaking the truth] has endeared you to the Kenyans. Your success story speaks volumes and is deserving of emulation by our young people.

Our young people are proud of you. The elderly admire your leadership," Prof Maiyo said. - DPPs
Bengaluru: Senior BJP legislator Basanagouda Patil Yatnal on Monday said that the Congress-led government in Karnataka under chief minister Siddaramaiah will collapse since 25 legislators from the ruling party are prepared to resign. Senior BJP legislator Basanagouda Patil Yatnal on Monday said that the Congress-led government in Karnataka under chief minister Siddaramaiah will collapse

Addressing a gathering, Yatnal, the MLA from Vijayapura City, said: Congress which says it has got 135 seats is unable to sleep; if 30 people go out, the government will fall. 25 people are ready. Some Ministers are behaving as though they have got all powers and are removing or transferring officials,.

The BJP legislator noted a shift in the behaviour of ministers from Vijayapura, who initially appeared confident but have now become more cautious due to the possibility of a significant number of legislators aligning against the government.

Yatnal, a former Union minister said that government will be out before Lok Sabha (polls). Thats the reason both ministers from Vijayapura, who were behaving as though they were flying high after coming to power, have now toned down.... they have realised that 35-40 people are ready. If 30-35 people are ready the government will go, he added.

He cited instances of senior Congress MLAs expressing dissatisfaction with the states perceived corruption and discontent within the party ranks about ministerial functioning. Yatnal criticised the alleged financial hardships faced by MLAs, attributing it to campaign expenses and corruption.

Responding to a statement made by BJP leader Basangouda Patil Yatnal that the Congress-led State government will fall very soon, rural development and panchayat raj minister Priyank Kharge said that the BJP is a sinking ship in the State and it will not survive for more than six months. Take my word, the BJP in the State is going to write its obituary very soon, Kharge said.

Kharge asked whether only BJP leaders have political skills and strategies. The Congress has been in politics for 140 years and we too know the bedrocks and strategies of politics, he added.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Arun Dev Arun Dev is an Assistant Editor with the Karnataka bureau of Hindustan Times. A journalist for over 10 years, he has written extensively on crime and politics. ...view detail
Randeep Singh Surjewala, Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP, has courted a controversy after he purportedly used derogatory words to describe the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) and its supporters, calling them Rakshas (monsters), news agency ANI reported. Several BJP leaders reacted strongly to Surjewala's comments. Congress MP Randeep Surjewala.(PTI file)

Addressing the Congress Jan Akrosh rally in Kaithal, Haryana, on Sunday, Surjewala said, Don't give job, at least give a chance to sit in the job. People of the BJP and the JJP are rakshas (monsters) and those who vote for the BJP and support them are rakshas too. Today, I curse from this land of Mahabharata.

A video clip of the speech has gone viral on social media, with many BJP leaders sharing them.

HT could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.

Meanwhile, reacting to the Congres leader's comment, BJP the national spokesperson Sambit Patra tweeed, The Congress party, which failed to launch the prince again and again, has now started abusing the public and Janardhan. Listen to Congress leader Randeep Surjewala, who has become a victim of blindness in protest against Prime Minister Modi and BJP, saying - 'The people of the country who vote and support BJP are monsters." Patra also shared the video clip.

On one hand, there is Modi ji, the prime minister of 140 crore countrymen, for whom the public is the form of Janardan, and on the other hand, there is the Congress party, for whom the public is the form of a demon, Patra tweeted.

The people of the country understand this difference very well and the people of the country themselves will work to lock the mega shopping mall of their hatred, he added.

Another BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia also tweeted and said, The Congress party, which failed to launch Rahul Gandhi, is now venting its anger on the public. Randeep Surjewala said - 'The people of the country who voted for BJP are 'monsters', Khangrace should understand that it is the right of a citizen to vote or support any party. You are anti-national for your language and thinking'."

While the Congress or Surjewala is yet to make an official statement over the comment, another BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said first Bharat Mata ki Hatya and now abusing Bharat ki Janta.

Randeep Surjewala & his party refer to Afzal Guru, Osama & Hafiz Saeed with 'Ji' & Sahab but here he is abusing voters - 22.9cr voters. Says those who vote BJP are Rakshas pravriti vale (   ) First abuse ECI,EVMs & now No Confidence in Janta ? Janta will teach them a lesson ! For us Janta is JANARDHAN or like God, he tweeted.

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The Patiala House Court on Sunday denied bail to the lady, accused of stealing laptops and iPads from the Delhi High Court complex and took note of the seriousness and gravity of the offence. Delhi Police while opposing the bail plea stated that the accused has been non-co-operative throughout the investigation. (File)

The Duty Metropolitan Magistrate Parad Dalal while denying bail said, having considered the seriousness of the allegations, this court deems it appropriate to commit the accused to judicial custody since the apprehension of the Investigation officer is true that once released on bail, the accused may abscond and even threatened the witness or indulge in similar offence vide same modus operandi.

This court is also not convinced by the averments of the accused herself that the woman seen in the footage is not her, said the Court.

The incident occurred on July 10 when the bag containing the laptop and iPad of a law intern was stolen from the 1st floor of the main building of the High Court. The CCTV footage clearly shows the accused lifting the bag and then taking an auto from Gate No. 7 of the High Court, stating the Lawyers appeared for the complainant.

Prabhav Ralli and Stuti Gupta, Advocates representing the complainant, submitted that the accused lady was a habitual offender and was involved in various incidents of theft having taken place in the Delhi High Court.

It was further submitted that such incidents were creating fear amongst practising lawyers who carry bags and laptops on a daily basis.

Delhi Police while opposing the bail plea stated that the accused has been non-co-operative throughout the investigation. After her identity was established, she was served notice to join the investigation, yet she failed and when the police officials reached her house, she refused to join the investigation and even resisted the police officers in the investigation. Investigation Officer further stated that the accused refused to share her details and as much as failed to provide any identity proof of herself.

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Congress charges at Modi govt over CAG report, AAP alleges  7.5 lakh crore scam The Congress party on Monday demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi break his silence on the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India reports flagging discrepancies in the database of a centrally sponsored health scheme and the high cost of Dwarka Expressway. Read More Congress senior leader Jairam Ramesh(ANI)

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT News Desk Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered. ...view detail
Devastating landslides and rampaging rivers triggered by heavy overnight rain on Monday killed at least 52 people in Himachal Pradesh and left at least 13 people dead or missing in Uttarakhand, while officials said that dozens more may have been killed in the two Himalayan states. Buildings washed away in Mandi in Himachal Pradesh after torrential rains. (REUTERS)

The torrential downpour washed away vehicles and subsumed buildings into flood waters, while key road and rail links were destroyed  as tragedy struck not just remote areas but the main cities of the two states and popular tourist destinations. Among the places to be hit was a temple in Shimla, where 11 bodies were found and 20 more presumed to be buried under the debris. And Rishikesh, which received a peak amount of rain for any location in India on Monday at 420mm, that triggered mudslides that swamped trucks, buses and vehicles, and trapped people in their homes.

Over 50 people have lost their lives in the state in last 24 hours. Over 20 people are still trapped, the death toll can also increase. Search and rescue operation is underway. We have taken the decision not to organise any cultural program on the occasion of Independence Day, said Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

In Uttarakhand, at least 13 people were confirmed or feared dead across the state and the government suspended the Char Dham Yatra for two days after highways to Badrinath, Kedarnath and Gangotri were snapped by landslides at several places.

This is the second time during this years monsoons that Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are reeling under floods and extreme rainfall. In July, floods, landslides and mudslides devastated Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand after two weather systems combined to unleash devastating volumes of rain.

Among the worst of the devastation in Himachal was Shimla, the state capital, and Solan, the states third-largest city by population. At least eight people were killed in landslides in Solan or villages in the division.

Much of the rescue operations on Monday were centered around Shimla, where a landslide buried a temple under a mound of mud at the Summerhill locality, from where nine bodies had been recovered while 20 more people were believed to still be trapped.

Devotees had gathered in a large number to offer prayers at the temple on the occasion of it being the last Monday of Shravan  a month considered auspicious for some Hindus, when the tragedy struck at 7.30am.

The remainder of the deaths took place across the state, where the ground beneath a section of the historic Kalka-Shimla railway track was washed away, leaving the rails suspended mid-air.

Major highways were blocked, including Kalka-Shimla, Kiratpur-Manali, and Pathankot-Mandi, Dharamshala-Shimla routes.

Mandi district accounted for the second-highest number of deaths where 24 people were known to have been killed due to the landslides.

The Beas and its tributaries are in a spate and an alert has been issued in the downstream areas of Mandi, Hamirpur and Kangra. People living in the downstream of Pong Dam have been asked to move away to safer places, said Kangra deputy commissioner Nipun Jindal.

Palampur got 220mm rainfall, Guler 191mm, Jogindernagar 178mm, Nagrota Surian 175.8mm, Kataula 172.3mm, Sundernagar 168.4mm, Baldwara 146.9mm, Mandi 139.6mm, Jubberhatti 131.6, and Barthin 126.2mm.

According to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) nearly 800 roads were blocked for traffic across the state, the maximum 345 in Mandi district alone.

Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami held a meeting with senior officials to review the rain situation in the state and it was decided to suspend the Chard Dham Yatra for two days. Rudraprayag district disaster management officer Nandan Singh Rajwar said a landslide hit a camp at Lincholi near Kedarnath, killing one person identified as 26-year-old Kalu Bahadur from Nepal.

Triggering the latest spell of rain is a similar, albeit milder, weather phenomenon which was seen in July. The trough of the monsoon, a high altitude band of wind and moisture that interact in such a way that the heavy moisture content turns into clouds, and clouds to rains, is close to the Himalayan foothills.

It is supplemented by a feeble western disturbance, a rain-bearing system that originates in the Mediterranean Sea which too brings moisture-laden winds. The trough has been near the Himalayas for months now, which has meant that since August 1, Uttarakhand recorded 232.5mm against normal of 191.40mm (21% excess) and Himachal Pradesh recorded 147.40mm against normal of 140.20mm (5% excess).

The mayhem that played out in the last 24 hours was a stark reminder of the effects of climate crisis hitting home. Also highlighted is the wanton destruction of the precious Himalayan ecosystem. Experts said forest and plant cover often play a very significant role in slowing down the impact of continuous rainfall on soil.

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Mischievous: Supreme Court flags viral social media post falsely quoting CJI Chandrachud The Supreme Court on Monday flagged a viral social media post that falsely quoted Chief Justice of India (CJI) Chandrachud, calling it fake and mischievous. Reportedly, a fake post used the CJI's picture with a quote that urged the people of the country to come out in protests against the ruling government. The post's caption said Indian democracy Supreme Court Zindabad. Read more Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud.(PTI)

Why hill states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand are witnessing intense rainfall

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Web story: 5 tricolour dishes you must try on Independence Day Read more

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NEW DELHI: Two glass panels on a door of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisis residence in central Delhis high-security area of Ashoka road were found broken on Sunday evening, the Delhi Police said on Monday. A senior Delhi police officer said that no stone or any other such thing was found in the vicinity of the broken glasses. (PTI)

Police said a caretaker at the residence noticed the broken glass at 5pm on Sunday and filed a police complaint. Owaisi, a four-time Lok Sabha MP from Hyderabad, was not at his Delhi house.

A senior police officer said no stones or any other object that could have broken the glass, were found at the site.

We did not find any stones that may have broken the glass. Further probe is underway, a New Delhi district police officer said.

This is the second time this year that Owaisis official residence in Delhi has been allegedly vandalised. On February 19 this year, miscreants threw stones and damaged his nameplate at the entrance. In a tweet back then, Owaisi said that it was the fourth such attack on his residence since 2014.
NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said the government was making all efforts to modernise the armed forces and providing them with the best training to protect the country and deal with future challenges, while asserting that if anyone dares to look at us with ill intention or hostility, our forces will give a befitting reply. Defence minister Rajnath Singhs address highlighted the role of soldiers in maintaining the countrys sovereignty and independence (HT FILE PHOTO/Vipin Kumar)

The ministers comments came during a radio message to soldiers on the eve of the 77th Independence Day, and on a day the Indian and Chinese armies held the 19th round of talks in the Ladakh sector to ease tensions along the contested Line of Actual Control where the two sides have been locked in a military standoff for more than three years.

Also Read: IAF airlifted 68k troops, equipment to Ladakh after Galwan skirmish

The armed forces can give their best only when they are provided with the best equipment and training. These steps boost the morale of the soldiers, help them overcome challenges and emerge victorious, Singh said. The government is leaving no stone unturned to provide the military with world-class equipment and training so that the country can overcome future challenges, he said.

In his customary address, the minister highlighted the role of soldiers in maintaining the countrys sovereignty and independence.

India has always been a peace-loving nation, but that does not mean that it would spare those who cast an evil eye on the country. We not only seek peace but also express our commitment to peace through our actions. But at the same time, we are also very clear that if anyone dares to look at us with ill intention or hostility, our forces will give a befitting reply.

He said the government had fulfilled the long-pending demand of the armed forces for One Rank, One Pension scheme as soon as it came to power in 2014. The scheme has been revised this year and an amount of 8,413 crore has been paid to more than 17 lakh pensioners.

Several measures have also been taken to make the armed forces an equitable and a better working place for women. The Indian Army has inducted women officers into the Artillery Regiment for the first time this year. The commissioning of women officers in the Artillery Regiment is a great testimony to the steps being taken by our government towards gender equality in the army.

The minister expressed gratitude to the soldiers on the nations behalf.

On this occasion of 77th Independence Day, whether you are standing on the snowy peaks of Kargil where there is lack of oxygen to breathe, whether you are in a submarine in the deep sea, whether you are standing in the hot desert of Thar, or whether you are standing in the middle of evergreen forests in the north-east of India, wherever you are, I want to say that you all reside in the hearts of 140 crore Indians.

...
Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian on Sunday criticised Governor R N Ravi's statement over the state's anti-NEET bill, saying he has nothing do with it anymore since it has been sent for Presidential assent. If the President is satisfied and gives assent to the bill, only that information of the approval will be shared with the Governor, Subramanian said. (File)

Subramanian was responding to Ravi's statement made on Saturday that he would never give clearance to the Tamil Nadu Assembly adopted bill against the National Entrance-cum-Eligibility Test (NEET).

He recalled that the state Assembly had re-adopted the bill, seeking exemption for Tamil Nadu from the NEET's ambit after Ravi returned it earlier.

"Left with no other option (this time), the Governor had sent the bill to the President. His job is over with that. He has got nothing to do with NEET (bill). There is no need for his consent as well," the minister said in a statement.

If the President is satisfied and gives assent to the bill, only that information of the approval will be shared with the Governor, Subramanian said.

In such a situation, his remarks against the anti-NEET bill amounted to "fishing in troubled waters," he said.

A governor should ideally support the welfare initiatives of the state government and the DMK regime's stand against the NEET was reflective of the public sentiment. DMK president and Chief Minister M K Stalin had made an electoral assurance in 2021 to do away with the central qualifying test, if voted to power in the elections then, he said.

In his interaction with top NEET scorers in UG-2023, held as part of the 'Dare to Think Series' on Saturday, Ravi had said achievements without NEET were not enough for the future. The qualifying test is here to stay, he had asserted. "Look, I will be the last man to give clearance; never, ever. I do not want my children to feel intellectually disabled. I want our children to compete and be the best. They have proved it," he added.
At least nine people were killed and 20-25 others are feared buried under debris after a Shiv Mandir in Shimla collapsed following a cloudburst as rain wreaked havoc in Himachal Pradesh on Monday. Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said as of now, nine bodies have been retrieved. Several houses were reportedly buried under the mud and slush brought down by the landslide in the Fagli area.

Several houses were reportedly buried under the mud and slush brought down by the landslide in the Fagli area.

Distressing news has emerged from Shimla, where the Shiv Mandir at Summer Hill collapsed as a result of the heavy rainfall. As of now, nine bodies have been retrieved. The local administration is diligently working to clear the debris in order to rescue individuals who may still be trapped. Om Shanti, he tweeted.

Meanwhile, seven members of a family were killed in a cloudburst in Himachal Pradesh's Solan district.

Two houses in Solan were washed away following the cloudburst on Sunday night. While six people were rescued, seven others were killed in Jadon village, a police official said.

Those dead have been identified as Harnam (38), Kamal Kishore (35), Hemlata (34), Rahul (14), Neha (12), Golu (8) and Raksha (12), Superintendent of Police, Solan, Gaurav Singh said.

Deputy Commissioner of Shimla Aditya Negi told news agency PTI that 15 to 20 people were feared buried in the two landslides and rescue operations are going on in full swing.

The chief minister, who later inspected the situation on the spot of landslide in the Summer Hill area, also urged the people to avoid areas prone to sliding and to stay away from water bodies.

"20-25 people are trapped under debris here (Summer Hill, Shimla). 21 people dead in the last 24 hours in the state. I appeal to people to stay indoors, to not venture near rivers and landslide-prone areas. Restoration works will begin as soon as rain stops," he said.

Again tragedy has befallen Himachal Pradesh, with continuous rainfall over the past 48 hours. Reports of cloudbursts and landslides have emerged from various parts of the state resulting in loss of precious lives and property, Sukhu tweeted.

According to the state emergency operation centre, 752 roads were closed in the state because of the calamity. All schools and colleges in the state have been ordered to be shut on Monday.

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Nyeri  Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has cautioned Azimio politicians against instigating violence to gain an upper hand in talks saying the security apparatus will remain vigilant against such acts.

Kindiki who spoke during a church service on Sunday at Nyeri's New Life Church said security agencies will not allow destruction of property as witnessed during recent opposition protests that degenerated into riots in some part of the country.

"I want to assure Kenyans that never again in this country will we allow violence to be on the equation of dialogue," he said.

"We, as ministry, want to say that we welcome dialogue but let no body threaten the security of this nation. We will deal with them firmly and ruthlessly to protect Kenyans' properties," he said.

Kindiki said politicians must learnt to respect election outcomes and desist from unleashing terror to advance selfish interests.

"I want to say that this county is governed by law and that never again will we will allow such," he said in a veiled reference to Azimio leader Raila Odinga.

Kindiki defended the police against accusations of the use of brutal force against unarmed protesters saying police officers operate within the confines of the law.

He said security agencies will not tolerate conduct that borders on a direct attack to Kenya's sovereignty.

The CS cautioned the public against throwing stones at the police during protests and vandalizing public infrastructure including police vans.

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Bomas talks

Kindiki's comments came even as a reconstituted dialogue committee between the ruling Kenya Kwanza Coalition and Odinga's Azimio prepared to resume talks on Monday.

The committee spearheaded by House Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah and former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka is set to convene at Nairobi's Bomas of Kenya after both sides appointed technical teams.

Ichung'wah named Kenya Kwanza's 4-member technical team comprising of Muthoni Thiankolu, Linda Musumba, Nick Biketi and Duncan Ojwang on Friday as a followup to an inaugural meeting held at Nairobi's Bomas of Kenya on Wednesday.

Ichung'wah said the technical team will play a key role in backing the government delegation.

"This team will play a pivotal role in supporting our delegation throughout the ongoing dialogue engagement. Their expertise will be of high value in shaping the conversation," he said.

Kalonzo listed beleaguered Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni, Adams Oloo, roots party leader George Wajackoyah and ex-governor Mwangi Wa Iria as members of his technical team.

"The four will work with the Azimio delegation to provide insights, skills, guidance and expertise necessary for a speedy realization of the objectives of the dialogue," Azimio said in a statement on Tuesday.

The technical teams will help draft the agenda for the 10-member dialogue committee between the government and the opposition.
Heavy rainfall continues to wreak havoc in the Himalayan region, with around 51 reported deaths in rain-related incidents in Himachal Pradesh. Fourteen bodies have been so far recovered from the sites of two landslides in Shimla and officials fear there could be more people trapped under the debris. Rescuers remove mud and debris as they search for people feared trapped after a landslide near a temple on the outskirts of Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.(AP)

Speaking about the situation in Himachal Pradesh, chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said, Over 50 people have lost their lives in the state in the last 24 hours. Over 20 people are still trapped, and the death toll can also increase."

The Himachal Pradesh CM also visited the disaster-hit regions in the state on Monday to take stock of the situation.

READ | Himachal rain: 9 killed after Shiv Mandir in Shimla collapses; 20-25 feared buried

Taking to X, he wrote, Chaired a meeting to take stock of the situation arising out of heavy rains in Shimla today. In view of this horrific tragedy, cultural programs will not be organized in the Independence Day programs this time. Local police and SDRF personnel will not participate in the parade, they will be involved in rescue operations only. The first priority of the government is to remove the problems faced by the people due to heavy rains and the parade is also being scaled down. Maximum number of jawans will be deployed in relief and rescue operations and the work of providing relief to the people will continue on a war footing.

The weather office predicted extremely heavy rains in nine out of the twelve districts of Himachal, barring Kullu, Kinnaur and Lahaul, and Spiti on Monday and issued a yellow alert for the state on Tuesday.

READ | Why hill states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand are witnessing intense rainfall

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand's Rishikesh recorded the highest amount of rainfall across the country on Monday. Three people were killed and 10 were reported missing in rain-related incidents in the state. Roads leading to the revered Badrinath, Kedarnath, and Gangotri shrines were damaged due to landslides. As a consequence, the pilgrimage to these shrines, known as the Chardham Yatra, had to be halted for a period of two days. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami conducted an aerial survey of flood-affected areas in the state on Monday.

READ | Rains trigger floods, landslides; kill over 2 dozen in Uttarakhand, Himachal

"Several places have been damaged in the last 48 hours, due to incessant rainfall in the region. Roads have washed away, bridges have been damaged. Kedarnath Yatra has been stopped for the next 2 days. The water level in Ganga River is also rising, keeping this in mind, search and rescue teams are kept on standby," he said.

The Triveni Ghat also submerged due to the increased water level in Ganga."SDRF team took immediate action on the information of some people being trapped in the submerged houses due to waterlogging in Seema Dental displaced area, Ambagh in Rishikesh, immediately reached the spot and rescued 20 people trapped there with the help of rafts and brought them to a safe place," the State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF) of Uttarakhand police shared in a tweet. A large part of the Thano-Bhogpur road was washed away by the strong current of the river.

(With agencies' inputs)

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President Droupadi Murmu on Monday lauded the Chadrayaan-3 moon mission - India's third lunar mission - while addressing the nation on the eve of 77th Independence Day, saying it is a stepping stone for India's future space programs. Lauding the space sector, the President said, The aspirations of the new India have infinite dimensions. (CHECK LIVE UPDATES) President Droupadi Murmu addresses the nation on the eve of the 77th Independence Day, on Monday.(PTI)

The Indian Space Research Organisation keeps scaling new heights and setting higher benchmarks of excellence. This year, ISRO launched Chandrayaan-3, and its lander named Vikram and its rover named Pragyan are slated to land on the moon in the next few days. It will be a proud moment for all of us and I look forward to it, President Murmu said in a virtual address.

She added, For their work in space and also on earth, our scientists and technologists are bringing laurels to the country.

Earlier in the day, Chandrayaan-3 got even closer to the Moon as it performed another important maneuver between 11:30 am and 12:30 pm. Orbit circularisation phase commences. Precise maneuvre performed today has achieved a near-circular orbit of 150 km x 177 km. The next operation is planned for August 16, 2023, around 0830 Hrs. IST, the ISRO wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

According to ISRO, once all the necessary maneuvers are completed, a precise landing spot near the Moon's south pole will be chosen. Post this, a propulsion module will detach from the lander while it's in orbit and the lander will descend from orbit and make an attempt to land softly on the Moon.

The Chandrayaan-3 is expected to land on the Moon on August 23 after traveling for 40 days.
President Droupadi Murmu on Monday approved the conferment of 76 Gallantry awards to armed forces and central armed police forces (CAPF) personnel ahead of the 77th Independence Day. This list comprises four posthumous Kirti Chakra awardees, eleven Shaurya Chakra recipients (including five posthumous), two recipients of the Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry), fifty-two Sena Medals (Gallantry), three Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry), and four Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry). Indian Armed Forces(File Photo / HT)

The President also approved 30 Mention-in-Despatches to the Army, including to Army dog Madhu (Posthumous), and one to Air Force personnel for their significant contributions in different military operations. The operations include Operation Rakshak, Operation Snow Leopard, Operation Casualty Evacuation, Operation Mount Chomo, Operation Pangsau Pass, Operation Meghdoot, Operation Orchid, Operation Kalisham Valley, Rescue Operation and Operation Evacuation.

Kirti Chakra was awarded posthumously to Late Shri Dilip Kumar Das, Late Shri Raj Kumar Yadava, Late Shri Bablu Rabha and Late Shri Shambhu Roy. Meanwhile, the Shaurya Chakra was awarded to Major Vijay Verma from the Rajuput Regiment, Major Vikas Bhambhu from Sena Medal, Major Mustafa Bohara from 252 Army aviation squadron, Major Sachin Negi from the Grenadiers, Major Rajendra Prasad Jat from the Dogra Regiment, Major Ravinder Singh Rawat from the Armoured Corps, Hav Vivek Singh Tomar and Naik Bhim Singh from The Rajputana Rifles, Rifleman Kulbhushan Manta from The Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, Late Shri Saifullah Qadri from J&K Police and Shri Gamit Mukesh Kumar, Constable from 61 CRPF.

The President further approved one President's Tatrakshak Medal (PTM) and five Tatrakshak Medals (TM) to the Indian Coast Guard personnel for their act of conspicuous gallantry, exceptional devotion to duty and distinguished/meritorious service on the occasion of Independence Day 2023.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT News Desk Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered. ...view detail
The Indian Army and the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) on Monday held the 19th round of military talks in eastern Ladakh to ease tensions along the contested Line of Actual Control (LAC), where the two sides have been locked in a standoff for more than three years, people familiar with the matter said. An army truck moves towards LAC amid India-China border dispute in eastern Ladakh. (PTI FILE PHOTO)

The talks, held at the Chushul-Moldo meeting point, began at 9.30am and concluded at 5.30pm, the people cited above said. The outcome of the military dialogue was not known when this report was filed on Monday night. A statement is expected in a day or two, as had happened after previous rounds of talks.

The latest round of corps commander-level talks took place almost four months after the 18th round of military dialogue was held on April 23. Those talks did not yield any significant breakthrough, with the sides agreeing to stay in close contact, maintain a dialogue through military and diplomatic channels, and work out a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest.

Also Read: Defence ministry team to check feasibility of constructing airport near China border in Himachal

Despite four rounds of disengagement from the Galwan Valley, Pangong Tso, Gogra (PP-17A) and Hot Springs (PP-15), the Indian and Chinese armies still have tens of thousands of troops and advanced weaponry deployed in the Ladakh theatre.

The last round of disengagement from PP-15 took place in September 2022, with the breakthrough coming after the 16th round of military talks in July 2022 to cool tensions in the sensitive sector. Problems at Depsang in Daulet Beg Oldi sector and Charding Nullah Junction (CNJ) in Demchok sector are still on the negotiating table.

The 19th round of talks took place in the run-up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending the Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (Brics) Summit in South Africas Johannesburg on August 22-24. The possibility of a meeting between Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the summit has not been ruled out, people aware of the matter said. Also, the Chinese leader is expected to be in New Delhi for the G20 summit in September, though no confirmation has been forthcoming yet.

In July, India said Modi and Xi discussed the need to stabilise bilateral ties at a brief encounter on the margins of last years G20 Summit in Indonesia, a shift from an earlier characterisation of the interaction as merely an exchange of courtesies.

India and China have been locked in a military standoff in eastern Ladakh since April-May 2020. Bilateral ties plummeted to a six-decade low after brutal clashes in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 killed 20 Indian soldiers. According to Indias assessment, PLAs casualties were twice as many as the Indian Armys though Beijing officially claimed that only four Chinese soldiers were killed.

New Delhi has consistently said India-China relations cannot be normalised without restoring peace and tranquillity on the border.
NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force airlifted tens of thousands of troops and a large amount of military equipment, including infantry combat vehicles, tanks, artillery guns, surface-to-air guided weapons and radars, to forward areas in eastern Ladakh to strengthen the countrys military posture to counter the Chinese after the Galwan Valley skirmish in June 2020, people aware of the matter said on Sunday. FILE PHOTO: India's Border Security Force (BSF) soldiers stand guard at a checkpoint along a highway leading to Ladakh, at Gagangeer in Kashmir's Ganderbal district June 17, 2020. REUTERS/Danish Ismail/File Photo (REUTERS)

India and China have been locked in a military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh since April-May 2020, and bilateral ties plummeted to a six-decade low after the Galwan Valley clash killed 20 Indian soldiers. The two sides are likely to hold the 19th round of military talks on Monday to ease tensions along the LAC.

According to Indias assessment, PLAs casualties were twice as many as the Indian Armys though Beijing officially claimed that only four Chinese soldiers were killed.

The IAF airlifted 68,000 troops, 330 infantry combat vehicles, 90 tanks and several artillery guns to forward locations in eastern Ladakh. Things could have escalated after the Galwan episode. It was important to strengthen the deterrent military posture by maintaining credible forces and sustaining them, said one of the officials cited above, who asked not to be named.

The Western Air Command, which is the IAFs largest operational command, executed these tasks.

The air forces airlift effort translated into the transportation of 9,000 tonnes of load to forward areas during the last three years, he said.

Strengthening the air defence network with the deployment of surface-to-air guided weapons and radars to forward locations was also a top focus area, said another official, who also asked not to be named. The airlift of surface-to-air guided weapons capable of striking targets at short range and up to 100 km, and radars was 1.5 times more than the normal tasking, he said. Helicopters were used extensively for the deployment of radars to monitor Chinese activity across the LAC, he added.

Sharpening its offensive posture, the IAF deployed its Rafales, Sukhoi-30s and MiG-29s for combat air patrols and kept them on operational readiness platform duties to get fighter jets airborne in 5 to 7 minutes to respond to any developing situation, the people cited above said. The air force also projected its capability to carry out day-and-night, all-weather combat missions in the Ladakh sector, with front-line fighter jets, attack helicopters and multi-mission choppers getting airborne for demanding night-time missions from forward airbases.

Remotely piloted aircraft systems have also been used extensively during the last three years for electronic surveillance and intelligence gathering, said the first official.

The Indian forces are prepared for any eventuality in the Ladakh sector even as talks are on to defuse border tensions.

The Indian Army and the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) are likely to hold the 19th round of military talks on the border tensions on Monday. The latest round of Corps Commander-level talks will take place almost four months after the last military dialogue was held on April 23.

Despite four rounds of disengagement from Galwan Valley, Pangong Tso, Gogra (PP-17A) and Hot Springs (PP-15), the Indian and Chinese armies still have tens of thousands of troops each and advanced weaponry deployed in the Ladakh theatre.

The Indian and Chinese armies have held multiple rounds of talks on the border issue, but problems at Depsang in Daulet Beg Oldi sector and Charding Nullah Junction (CNJ) in Demchok sector are still on the negotiating table.

The 19th round of military talks will take place in the run-up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending the BRICS Summit in South Africas Johannesburg on August 22-24. The possibility of a meeting between Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the summit has not been ruled out, people aware of the matter said. Also, the Chinese leader is expected to be in New Delhi for the G20 summit in September. New Delhi has consistently said India-China relations cannot be normalised without restoring peace and tranquillity on the border.

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Influential community outfit Nair Service Society (NSS), which represents the Hindu Nair community in Kerala, will continue to maintain its equal distance approach towards all three political fronts namely CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the upcoming by-election in Puthuppally, a senior official said on Monday. The comments come a day after CPI(M) candidate in Puthuppally, Jaick C Thomas, paid a visit to the NSS headquarters in Perunna (HT Photo)

The reaffirmation of its political stance comes after the outfit launched an offensive campaign against The Kerala Assembly speaker, AN Shamseer, and his party Communist Party of India (Marxist) over his controversial comments about Hindu myths and Lord Ganesh. The NSS had sought the speakers public apology over his comments and organised prayer protests at several places in the state. A case was even registered against the NSS state vice-president for unlawful assembly through the protest.

General secretary, NSS, Sukumaran Nair, said,The NSS will continue its stance of samadooram or equidistance from all political parties in the Puthuppally bypoll too. In the last Assembly election, when I had said that people wanted a change, it was my personal opinion. The NSS has never released any circular asking its members to support a political party. We will continue that.

Candidates of all parties meet us and ask our blessings before elections. But we dont publicise that, he told the local media.

The comments come a day after CPI(M) candidate in Puthuppally, Jaick C Thomas, paid a visit to the NSS headquarters in Perunna. Thomas later praised the NSS as an institution holding aloft secular values.

Meanwhile, CPI (M) state secretary, MV Govindan, said, Often when they [NSS] say equal distance, its not usually equal distance. But if they have said it, its good. The CPI (M) has no strife with the NSS.

Thomas will contest against Chandy Oommen (Congress leader Oommen Chandys son) of the Congress and Ligin Lal from the BJP in the Puthuppally by-election, which is scheduled to be held on September 5. The bypoll was necessitated after the demise of veteran Congress leader Oommen Chandy on July 18. The votes counting will be conducted on September 8.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Vishnu Varma Vishnu Varma is Assistant Editor and reports from Kerala for the Hindustan Times. He has 10 years of experience writing for print and digital platforms and has worked at The New York Times, NDTV and The Indian Express in the past. He specialises in longform reportage at the intersections of politics, crime, social commentary and environment. ...view detail
Kolkata: Investigation into the death of a first-year student of Jadavpur University has revealed that the letter, found in the victims diary and purportedly signed by him, was written by a senior student to divert the probe, officers of Kolkata police said on Monday. During the investigation, the police found that a senior student was trying to divert the probe. (Represenational Image)

The first-year undergraduate student of Bengali honours, a resident of Nadia district, allegedly jumped off the second-floor balcony of the main hostel building around 11.45 pm on August 9 and died while undergoing treatment at a hospital hours later.

Investigators have learnt that hours after the incident, a section of hostellers held a meeting to allegedly decide on the narrative they would give to everyone, including media and police.

Also Read| Two varsity students held over Jadavpur death: Cops

The meeting was held after midnight in the hostel when the victim was battling for his life in the hospital. While some students rushed the victim to the hospital, a section of the hostel inmates held a meeting in the hostel, a university professor said, requesting anonymity.

During the investigation, the police recovered a diary from Room Number 68 of the hostel, where the boy lived. It carried a letter purportedly signed by the victim and addressed to the dean of students, accusing a senior student Rudra Chatterjee referred as Rudra Da in the letter  of ragging.

Also Read: Police probe sexual harassment angle in Jadavpur students death

During the probe, however, the police found out that the letter was written by one of the two second-year students arrested in the case to divert the probe, a senior officer from the detective department of Kolkata police said.

It was written by Dipsekhar Dutta, a second-year student of economics, who is now is police custody. He was present in the room when the victim was being ragged, along with a few other senior and former students, the officer said, requesting anonymity.

The letter was dated August 10 while the victim jumped off the hostel balcony on the night of August 9 and died in the early hours of August 10 in a hospital. The victims father has told the police that the handwriting in the letter was not of his son.

It seems the letter was written to divert the police probe, the officer said. Some of the statements given by a section of the hostellers during questioning, seems to be tutored. Investigation is going on.

Police have registered a case under section 302 (murder) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) based on a complaint lodged by the victims parents. So far, three people, including a former student Sourav Choudhury, who completed his MSc in Mathematics in 2022 but continued to stay in the hostel illegally, have been arrested. The other two accused have been identified as Dipsekhar Dutta, a student of economics and resident of Bankura district, and Manotosh Ghosh, a second-year sociology student and hails from Hooghly district. All three have been remanded in police custody till August 22.

A senior police officer said that mobile phones of the accused have been seized and sent for forensic analysis to check whether they had captured any video of the ragging incident and later deleted it.

Officers said they are also investigating if there was a sexual harassment angle in the incident. Police have taken cognisance of the social media posts of the first-year student, including photographs, which suggest there was an element of sexual harassment in the ragging of the deceased.

A senior officer said that police were not allowed to enter the hostel campus on the night of August 9. On Saturday, police lodged a case under sections 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions) and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) of IPC.

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Bengaluru Bengaluru: Karnataka high court on Monday stayed the First Information Report (FIR) registered against popular Kannada actor turned politician, under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act (PTI)

Karnataka high court on Monday stayed the First Information Report (FIR) registered against popular Kannada actor turned politician Upendra, under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act over his derogatory comments targeting a Dalit community.

Two FIRs were registered against the actor at two police stations in Bengaluru on Sunday, following a public outcry over his controversial statements made in a Facebook and Instagram live on Saturday.

During his interaction on social media to celebrate the sixth anniversary of his political party Prajaakeeya, Upendra made remarks that were offensive towards the Holeya community (Scheduled Caste). Innocent people dont speak carelessly. There are people who comment for no reason. Theres a holgeri in every village, he stated. Holgeri refers to the part of the village where the Holeya community lives.

On Sunday, Madhusudhan KN, assistant director of the Social Welfare Department filed a complaint with the Chennammana Kere Achukattu police which booked Upendra under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Another complaint was registered against Upendra on Sunday after Byrappa Harish Kumar, state president of the Karnataka Ranadhira Pade filed a complaint following which the Halasuru Gat police filed an FIR under several sections of the IPC and under sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Following his statement, protests erupted in several areas, including Ramanagara where pro-Dalit organisations burnt tyres and posters of the actor, demanding action. Students also burned an effigy of the actor at the Bangalore University.

After the uproar, the actor took to social media and sought an apology for his remark. Upendra also deleted the live video from the social media platforms. Today, in the live broadcast on Facebook and Instagram, I used a proverb wrongly. Seeing that it has hurt the sentiments of many, I immediately deleted that live video from my social networks. Please accept my apology, he wrote.

As the pubic continued to condemn him, the actor later wrote: The one who is speaking against me today was not even born then. Fifty years ago, I have seen cruel poverty, people dying by suicide by setting themselves on fire, hunger, humiliation and oppression. Would one who has grown up experiencing all this speak ill against a particular section? Am I crazy? What will I gain from it? Dont you have the courage to offer forgiveness? Why so much hate?

After the two FIRs were registered, the police on Monday reached the actors residence in Kathriguppe and issued summons for him to appear before them for investigation. The actor was reportedly not at his residence when the police visited his residence.

Social welfare minister and Congress senior Dalit leader Dr HC Mahadevappa said Upendras statement was not just an insult to the community, but also to the Constitution. Upendra is a famous actor, producer and a person who wants to be in public life through a certain political party. But even after 75 years of independence, if you see that they are using caste names, this is a disservice not only to the community but also to the Constitution, Mahadevappa tweeted on Monday.

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The Karnataka high court on Monday stayed a First Information Report (FIR) registered against Kannada actor turned politician Upendra under the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act over his allegedly derogatory comments against SC Holeya community on Facebook and Instagram on Saturday. He was booked on Sunday following an outcry. Kannada actor turned politician Upendra. (Twitter)

Innocent people do not speak carelessly. There are people who comment for no reason. There is a holgeri in every village, he said during an interaction on social media to celebrate the sixth anniversary of his political party Prajaakeeya. Holgeri refers to the part of a village where the Holeya community lives.

The comments triggered protests including in Ramanagara, where Dalit organisations burnt tyres and posters of the actor demanding action. Students also burned his effigy at Bangalore University.

Upendra apologised for his remarks and deleted the video in which he made the comments. Today, in the live broadcast on Facebook and Instagram, I used a proverb wrongly. Seeing that it has hurt the sentiments of many, I immediately deleted that live video from my social networks. Please accept my apology, he wrote.

He said the ones speaking against him today were not even born 50 years ago when he saw cruel poverty, people dying by suicide by setting themselves on fire, hunger, humiliation, and oppression. Would one who has grown up experiencing all this speak ill against a particular section? Am I crazy? What will I gain from it? Do not you have the courage to offer forgiveness? Why so much hate?

Police on Monday issued a notice to Upendra to appear before them for an investigation.

Karnataka minister and Dalit leader HC Mahadevappa said Upendras statement was not just an insult to the community, but also to the Constitution. Upendra is a famous actor, producer and a person who wants to be in public life through a certain political party. But even after 75 years of independence, if you see that they are using caste names, this is a disservice not only to the community but also to the Constitution, Mahadevappa tweeted.
Bengaluru: The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 will be withdrawn from Karnatakas higher education institutions from the next academic year, chief minister Siddaramaiah announced on Monday. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah with deputy CM DK Shivakumar and party leader at the General Body Meeting of Karnataka Congress, at KPCC office in Bengaluru on Monday. (ANi)

He, however, clarified that NEP, implemented by the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government, will continue for the current academic year to avoid inconvenience to students in the middle of the session.

NEP has to be abolished after making some necessary preparations. There was no time for preparations this year. By the time the election results came in and the government was formed, the academic year had already started. This year NEP will be continued as it should not cause problems to students in the middle of an academic year, Siddaramaiah said.

Also Read: Bengaluru gears up for Independence day; stage set for CM Siddaramaiah's first I-day speech in second tenure

Speaking during a meeting at the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) office in Bengaluru, the chief minister further said that NEP has been opposed by various stakeholders, including students, parents and lecturers and teachers. He also accused the previous BJP regime of sacrificing the interest of students by implementing NEP in Karnataka even before other states implemented it.

NEP is simultaneously opposed by students, parents, lecturers and teachers. The BJP has sacrificed the interest of the students of the country by implementing NEP for the first time in the state without implementing it in the country, he said.

Also Read: Review current parameters for declaring drought and amend it: Karnataka CM to Centre

Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar said the state government intends to craft a new education policy that aligns with its vision. He also asserted that NEP encroaches upon the states prerogatives, highlighting the governments contention that it violates the states rights in the domain of education.

Karnataka became the first to adopt NEP in higher education, in August 2021. However, in the run-up to the assembly elections in May, the Congress had promised to scrap the NEP in its poll manifesto. During the recent budget session of the state legislature, Siddaramaiah had said that it will be replaced by a state education policy (SEP).

When the policy was adopted by the BJP government in the southern state, the Congress, which was in opposition, had criticised the move, labelling the NEP as the Nagpur Education Policy, a direct reference to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)  the Nagpur-headquartered ideological fountainhead of the BJP.

The NEP was launched by the Union government on July 29, 2020 with an aim to transform the countrys education system  aligning it with needs of the future while keeping it rooted in Indianness. The NEP replaced an education policy that was in place since 1986, and recommended a major overhaul in Indias education system at all levels from school to higher education.

There was no immediate reaction from the BJP on the announcement of scrapping of the NEP from next academic year.

Earlier, senior BJP leader and former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai had said that the NEP was implemented after consultations from all states. A committee headed by UR Rao was set up and consent from all states was obtained. Before implementation, a task force was formed and then it was implemented in higher and primary education, he had said.

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Laikipia  Laikipia residents have been cautioned against eating uninspected meat to prevent zoonotic diseases, following an increase in cases of poaching.

Laikipia County Commissioner Joseph Kanyiri warned that residents could be dining game meat unknowingly, hence exposing them to zoonotic diseases like anthrax and rabies.

"It's illegal to sell game meat since this is putting the lives of residents in danger. There is a high possibility of wild animal diseases spreading to human beings. They are difficult to treat," cautioned Kanyiri.

He singled out Kona mbaya, Kariguini, Makutano, Mukima, Mlangoni, Ilipolei, Mukinyei and a stertch along the Nyeri-Nyahururu route among areas that have witnessing increased game meat trade.

"Poachers are selling game meat cheaply as compared to inspected meat in some butcheries. You should be cautious when buying. Our officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigation are investigating," said Kanyiri.

The administrator revealed that four suspected poachers who had been supplying zebra, dik-dik and antelope meat to butchers have since been arrested and are waiting to be arraigned in court for poaching.

"They chase antelope using motorbikes and kill them using arrows, before quickly putting them in bags to go and slaughter at hidden places," revealed the CC.

Kanyiri noted the poachers use the same motorbikes to escape after committing the crimes which he termed as destructive of Kenyan's heritage.

The CC warned that it was illegal for butchers to sell game meat to residents warning whoever will be found flouting the law will be punished. - Kna
Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin on Monday assured that the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) will be scrapped, urging students to not take away their lives under any circumstances. Stalin's statement comes amid the rising cases of suicides in the state pertaining to failure in the examination. Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin. (HT File)

Asking the students to avoid suicidal thoughts Stalin said, Have confidence, do not have suicidal thoughts. Do not think of taking away your life under any circumstances. Definitely, we can remove NEET which proves to be an obstacle to your goals. The Tamil Nadu government is working vigorously towards that.

A NEET aspirant died by suicide in Chennai on Sunday after failing to clear the exam twice. A day later his father also died by suicide.

READ | Governor RN Ravi has nothing to do with NEET bill: Tamil Nadu Health Minister

"I was shocked after knowing that Jegadeeswaran from Chrompet, who was a NEET aspirant, committed suicide. When I was thinking about how to console the student's parents, the next day, his father Selvasekar also died by suicide. I do not know how to console the Jegadeeswaran family, friends and relatives Condolences to the death of S Jegadeeswaran and his father Selvasekar," Stalin said.

In reference to the Assembly resolutions requesting NEET exemption for Tamil Nadu, Stalin highlighted that the initial resolution was rejected by the Governor, while the second resolution was forwarded to the President for assent. "It appears that Governor Ravi wants the bill to be shelved. NEET exam has become expensive and can be afforded only by the rich," the Chief Minister said.

He asserted that individuals unable to bear the substantial financial burden of education were unsuccessful in the test. Stalin remarked that a scenario has emerged where only those with the means to clear NEET can pursue medical studies, effectively limiting medical education to the affluent.

(With inputs from agencies)
The Odisha government has directed all district collectors to ensure that diversion of forest land for infrastructure projects, particularly state development projects, should follow provisions of the new law, days after Parliament passed the Forest Conservation Amendment Act, 2023, in the monsoon session. Odisha government directs all district collectors to ensure that diversion of forest land for infrastructure projects. follow provisions of the new law. (HT Archives)

The concept of deemed forest is now removed, stated the letter sent to district collectors on August 11. HT has seen a copy.

All forest land diverted for non-forest purposes by any authority before December 12, 1996, will not attract the provisions of the new law, it added. Any survey or exploration will also not be treated as a non- forestry activity.

You are, therefore, requested to see that forest diversion proposals pertaining to your districts, especially for the government developmental projects, are formulated and submitted as per provisions of the amended act immediately, the letter sent by additional chief secretary Satyabrata Sahu said.

Also Read: Why Naga Peoples Front has opposed the Forest Conservation (Amendment) Act 2023

The draft legislation received the assent of President Droupadi Murmu on August 4, the law ministry said on Saturday. The law will come into effect once the central government notifies it in the gazette. The Rajya Sabha passed it on August 2 after it was cleared by the Lok Sabha on July 26.

One of the contentious provisions of the new law is that it exempts unrecorded deemed forests from the Act.

Forest governance in India was majorly influenced by a Supreme Court judgement in 1996 in TN Godavarman vs Union of India, in which the court interpreted the meaning of forest as its dictionary definition, expanding the purview of the forest conservation law. The December 1996 judgement said forests will not only include forest as understood in the dictionary sense, but also any area recorded as forest in official records, irrespective of ownership. This brought hope to recognize ecologically rich land that were not recorded as forests in government records but still needed to be protected because they were significant natural features.

Also Read: 90,001.5 ha of forest land approved for diversion in five years: Govt tells RS

The Centre, however, said this created confusion on what would encompass forests and the amendment narrows down the definition, leaving vast tracts of unclassified forests vulnerable to destruction.

Some experts said Odisha governments directions on deemed forests deviate from the observations in the report of the Joint Committee of the Parliament that reviewed the bill. Deemed forests identified by the expert committees of the state have been taken on record and hence provisions of the act will apply to all such lands, the MoEFCC had said responding to concerns about exempting deemed forests in the report of the Joint Committee of the Parliament.

Deemed forests constitute a large part of forests in Odisha on which adivasi communities depend critically for livelihood. The community protected forests in tribal districts of the state and bio-cultural habitats of vulnerable tribal groups such as the Dongria Kondhs in Niyamgiri also have deemed forest areas. These communities have claimed community forest rights and habitat rights on such forests, said Tushar Dash, an independent researcher.

Therefore, removal of the deemed forest areas from the Act could adversely affect the statutory rights of the communities and can open up rich forest and bio-cultural habitats for extraction, Dash said. Importantly, Odisha also has 46% of its geographical area notified as fifth schedule area under the Constitution, where Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act applies.

In Nagaland, village councils have opposed provisions of the new law. Four village councils of Sendenyu Rengma Naga tribe unanimously condemned the Act, stating that it challenges the essence of traditional customary and indigenous ownership rights of the people over their land and forest as per Article 371(a) of the Constitution.

In 2001, as a response to a rapid decline of fauna and flora species in the region, the indigenous leaders and members of Sendenyu village(s) resolved to start community biodiversity conservation by unanimously passing The Sendenyu Village Wildlife Conservation Act 2001, their statement said.

As per the current amendment and provision of the Act, the whole of Nagaland and its forest falls under the 100- km of the international boundary giving the Central government arbitrary power for diversion. Hence, it makes an appeal to all the fellow Naga tribes village councils across the State to take this issue as a matter of great urgency and imminent crisis such that the Act could be rejected by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, and the rights bestowed by our ancestors do not go in vain in the name of so-called national importance and security, the statement added.

The forest bill is now a law. It has been passed by both houses of Parliament. At one glance, people will appreciate the bill because it is for sustainable development. But there are many hidden agendas in that bill. It completely undermines the powers of the state government. Earlier, they would need states permission for forest related matters. Now they dont, Nagaland lawmaker Kuzholuzo Nienu, also known as Azo Nienu, leader of the Nagaland Peoples Front had said last week.

This is in direct conflict with Article 371 A, a special provision that grants a degree of autonomy to Nagaland, he said. We have demanded that a suitable law be passed to counter the Forest Amendment Act and its impact be discussed during the next assembly session on September 11.

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President Droupadi Murmu on Monday hailed India's GDP growth despite challenges and said a large number of people have come out of poverty in the last decade. Addressing the nation on the eve of 77th Independence Day, President Murmu lauded India's space agency ISRO for scaling new heights and setting higher benchmarks of excellence. President Droupadi Murmu addresses the nation on the eve of 77th Independence Day.

Talking about India's advancement in the space programme, she said the aspirations of 'new India' have infinite dimensions and that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) keeps scaling new heights and setting higher benchmarks of excellence.

"This year, ISRO launched Chandrayaan-3, and its lander named 'Vikram' and its rover named 'Pragyan' are slated to land on the moon in the next few days. It will be a proud moment for all of us, and I look forward to it," she said.

"But the mission to the moon is only a stepping stone for our future space programmes. We have to go far ahead," the president said.

She also appealed to the tribal community to enrich their traditions while embracing modernity.

There are specific programmes to improve the conditions of tribals and encourage them to join the journey of progress. I appeal to our tribal brothers and sisters to enrich their traditions while embracing modernity.

Murmu said India has converted challenges into opportunities and has recorded high GDP growth. "Farmers have contributed significantly to our economic growth, and the nation feels indebted to them," she said.

"Inflation at the global level remains a cause for worry. But in India, the government and the Reserve Bank have managed to contain it. The government has succeeded in protecting the common people from high inflation while also providing a more extensive security cover to the poor. The world looks up to India for global economic growth," she said.

Highlighting the significance of the G20 Summit in India, President Murmu said the grouping represents two-thirds of the world population, adding that India has a unique opportunity to help shape global discourse in the right direction.

She said India has not only regained its rightful place on the world stage, but it has also enhanced its standing in the international order.

"During my visits and interactions with members of the Indian diaspora, I have observed a new confidence in the India story. India is playing a crucial role in promoting developmental and humanitarian goals around the world," she said.

"With the G20 presidency, India can nudge decision-making in trade and finance towards equitable progress. Beyond trade and finance, matters of human development too are on the agenda," Murmu said.

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A Pakistani intruder was shot dead along the international border in Punjabs Pathankot district, a Border Security Force (BSF) official said on Monday. BSF troops fired upon the miscreant in self-defence. (File photo)

This development comes a day before the country is gearing to celebrate Independence Day.

A BSF official said that at around 3am, BSF personnel spotted suspicious movement at the international border near Simbal Sakol village in Pathankot district.

Our troops challenged the intruder, but he did not stop and continued moving ahead towards border fencing. Sensing imminent threat and to stop further misadventure, BSF troops fired upon the miscreant in self-defence neutralising him on the spot, an officer aware of the matter said.

Also Read: Infiltration bid foiled in Jammus Arnia area, Pakistan intruder shot dead

Meanwhile, a team of senior officers from the BSF headquarters in the national Capital reached Punjab to monitor security arrangements at the international border in the state.

The forces director general, Nitin Agarwal held a meeting with officials of the Punjab frontier.

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Ahead of India's 77th Independence Day, Pakistani national Seema Haider, who illegally sneaked into India via Nepal in May with her children to stay with her Indian husband Sachin Meena, hoisted the Tricolour on Sunday. Seema, who hails from Pakistan's Sindh province, and Sachin reportedly joined the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' celebrations at her residence in Uttar Pradesh's Great Noida along with her lawyer AP Singh on Sunday. Seema Haider and Sachin Meena join the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' celebrations at their residence in Uttar Pradesh's Great Noida

Seema's celebrations come on a day Indian woman Anju, who went to Pakistan to meet her Facebook friend Nasrullah, was seen celebrating Pakistan's Independence Day. Pakistan marks its independence day on August 14, a day ahead of India's Independence Day. In a video shared on social media, Anju can be seen cutting a cake along with Nasrullah at an event.

HT could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.

Anju, 34, travelled legally to a remote village in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to meet her Facebook friend.

The woman was born in Kailor village in Uttar Pradesh and lived in Alwar district of Rajasthan. She and Pakistani national Nasrulla, 29, became friends on Facebook in 2019.

Anju has travelled to Upper Dir district in the tribal Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on a valid Pakistani visa to meet Nasrulla. A local police official said they came to know about Anju's presence in Pakistan through media reports.

According to an official document of the Ministry of Interior sent to Pakistans High Commission in New Delhi, the chancery was informed that it had been decided to grant a 30-day visa to Anju, valid for Upper Dir only. Nasrulla, a science graduate, is the youngest among five brothers. He has given an affidavit to local authorities, stating there is no love angle to their friendship, and Anju will return to India on August 20.

Seema celebrated Har Ghar Tiranga even as a leader of Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) issued a warning to her over her Bollywood debut.

Taking to X (formerly known as Twitter) Ameya Khopkar, wrote in Marathi, We are firm on our stand that a Pakistani citizen should not have any place in the Indian film industry. Seema Haider is a Pakistani woman currently in India. There were also reports that she was an ISI agent. Some of the upstarts in our industry are making the same Seema Haider as an actress for fame. Why are producers not ashamed?

Fresh media reports claimed that Seema has clarified that she has turned down the movie offer.

Seema Haider-Sachin Meena love story

Seema Haider (30) and her Indian husband Sachin Meena (22) fell in love with each other while the duo was playing a game of PUBG. Seema who was already married to Ghulam Haider then decided to cross the border to India illegally in order to be with Sachin.

Seema met Sachin for the first time in Nepal during the month of March. Subsequently, they underwent a marriage ceremony adhering to Hindu customs, following Seema's conversion to Hinduism. The couple later crossed over to India from Nepal on May 13, accompanied by Seema's children.

However, Seema was apprehended by the UP police on July 4 for crossing the border illegally. Despite being granted bail shortly after the arrest, the couple remained under scrutiny by investigative agencies.

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On the eve of the 77th Independence Day, President Droupadi Murmu approved 76 gallantry awards for paramilitary and armed forces personnel including Kirti Chakras for four Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel killed in action during an anti-naxal operation in Chhattisgarh two years ago, the defence ministry said in a statement on Monday. The four CRPF personnel posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra put their lives on the line, and not only helped save their colleagues but also neutralised the Naxals. (File)

The four CRPF personnel posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra, Indias second-highest peacetime gallantry medal, are inspector Dilip Kumar Das, head constable Raj Kumar Yadava, constable Bablu Rabha and constable Sambhu Roy.

The CRPF personnel were part of a counter attack against Naxals on April 3, 2021, in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, where Naxals had opened heavy fire and simultaneously carried out a series of IED (improvised explosive device) blasts to inflict maximum casualties on the security personnel, officials aware of the matter said.

According to CRPF, the personnel put their lives on the line, and not only helped save their colleagues but also neutralised the Naxals. The four were the first to fortify the defences for their colleagues, and their brave actions forced the Naxals to mount a retreat from their vantage point.

Twenty-two CRPF men were killed and 31 injured in the April 2021 naxal attack.

Also Read | On Independence Day eve, President Murmu calls on tribal community to embrace modernity

The list of gallantry awardees also includes 11 Shaurya Chakras (including five posthumous), two Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry), 52 Sena Medals (Gallantry), three Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry) and four Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry), the statement said.

The Shaurya Chakra awardees include nine soldiers, a constable from the Jammu and Kashmir Police and a constable from the CRPF. The Shaurya Chakra in Indias third-highest peacetime gallantry medal.

The Shaurya Chakra awardees are Major Vijay Verma, Major Vikas Bhambhu (Posthumous), Major Mustafa Bohara (Posthumous), Major Sachin Negi, Major Rajendra Prasad, Major Ravinder Singh Rawat, Havildar Vivek Singh Tomar (Posthumous), Naik Bhim Singh, Rifleman Kulbushan Manta (Posthumous), JKP Constable Saifullah Qadri (Posthumous) and CRPF Constable Gamit Mukesh Kumar.

The President has also approved 30 Mention-in-Despatches to the army, including one for army dog Madhu (Posthumous), for their significant contributions in different military operations.
President Droupadi Murmu on Monday approved one President's Tatrakshak Medal (PTM) and five Tatrakshak Medals (TM) to the Indian Coast Guard personnel on the eve of Independence Day. According to a statement by the ministry of defense, the awards were given to recongnise their act of conspicuous gallantry, exceptional devotion to duty and distinguished or meritorious service. Indian Coast Guards (ICG) with fishermen who were rescued near Mandapam, in Ramanathapuram district, Monday, May 29. (PTI/ PIB)

List of Indian Coast Guard personnel with their respective awards:

President's Tatrakshak Medal (Distinguished Service)

(i) IG Manoj Vasant Baadkar, TM

Tatrakshak Medal (Gallantry)

(i) Comdt (JG) Anurag Shukla

(ii) Sultan Singh, P/Nvk(P)

Tatrakshak Medal (Meritorious Service)

(i) DIG Manoj Bhatia

(ii) DIG KR Deepak Kumar

(iii) Deobrat Kumar Mishra, P/Adh(RP)

President's nod to 76 Gallantry awards

President Murmu also approved 76 Gallantry awards to Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces personnel on Monday. The awards include four Kirti Chakra (posthumous), 11 Shaurya Chakras, including five posthumous, two Bar to Sena Medals, 52 Sena Medals, three Nao Sena Medal and four Vayu Sena Medals.

Apart from these, President Murmu gave her assent to 30 Mention-in-Despatches to the Army, including to Army dog Madhu (Posthumous), and one to Air Force personnel for their significant contributions in different military operations.

According to the defense ministry, the operations include Operation Rakshak, Operation Snow Leopard, Operation Casualty Evacuation, Operation Mount Chomo, Operation Pangsau Pass, Operation Meghdoot, Operation Orchid, Operation Kalisham Valley, Rescue Operation and Operation Evacuation.

President's address to the nation

In her address to the nation on the eve of 77th Independence Day, President Murmu on Monday hailed India's GDP growth despite challenges and said a large number of people have come out of poverty in the last decade. Murmu also lauded India's space agency ISRO for scaling new heights and setting higher benchmarks of excellence.

"This year, ISRO launched Chandrayaan-3, and its lander named 'Vikram' and its rover named 'Pragyan' are slated to land on the moon in the next few days. It will be a proud moment for all of us, and I look forward to it," she said.
Actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha on Monday pitched West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee as the prime ministerial face for the 2024 Assembly elections, calling her a firebrand leader. According to Sinha, at a time when there is a woman President, having a woman PM would be very good for the country. Shatrughan Sinha

A firebrand leader like Mamata Banerjee, who has a mass base, would fit the bill, Sinha, who is a member of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) told news agency PTI.

He added, Who would be the Prime Minister is a decision that would be taken at an appropriate time. My point is to underscore that we, in INDIA (Opposition bloc alliance), have no dearth of talent.

Taking a dig at the ruling BJP, Sinha said the BJP should worry for itself.

The PM keeps saying he is a 'fakir' (mendicant) who may pick up his 'jhola' (humble belongings) and leave. If he indeed does so, how will the BJP ensure that the show goes on? he questioned sarcastically.

We have youth icon Rahul Gandhi, in whom the nation sees its future. We have the modern day Chanakya - Sharad Pawar. And of course, we have firebrand mass leader Mamata Banerjee. In contrast, the BJP-led NDA has none except Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sinha added during an interview with PTI.

Shatrughan Sinha hits out at PM Modi

Sinha hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for criticising the opposition of nepotism and corruption, and said, As a former NDA insider, I wager that the BJP and its allies are second to none when it comes to nepotism. And their stand on corruption got exposed when they allied with those accused of corruption in Maharashtra by the PM.

Notably, Sinha is a member of the TMC and represents Asansol constituency in the Lok Sabha. He quit the BJP four years ago and remained with the Congress for a brief period before joining the TMC.

(With PTI inputs)
The Supreme Court on Monday flagged a viral social media post that falsely quoted Chief Justice of India (CJI) Chandrachud, calling it fake and mischievous. CJI Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud(PTI File)

Reportedly, a fake post used the CJI's picture with a quote that urged the people of the country to come out in protests against the ruling government. The post's caption said Indian democracy Supreme Court Zindabad.

The quote citing the CJI read: We are trying our best to save the Constitution of India, the democracy of India. But your cooperation is also very important for this, all the people should unite and come out on the streets and ask the government for their rights, this dictatorial government will scare people, and threaten, but you don't have to be afraid, keep courage and ask the government to account, I am with you.

Viral social media post that falsely quoted CJI Chandrachud

To this, the Public Relations Office (PRO) of the top court in a statement said, It has come to the notice of the Supreme Court of India that a social media post (invoking the public to protest against authorities) using a file photograph and falsely quoting the Chief Justice India is being circulated.

The post is fake, ill-intended, and mischievous. No such post has been issued by the Chief Justice of India nor has he authorised any such post. Appropriate action is being taken in this regard with the law enforcement authorities, it added.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday sought the Centres stand on imposing a cap on iron ore mining in Odisha and directed the state government to consider attaching assets of miners who illegally extracted ore and failed to deposit compensation for the damage caused to the environment. The Supreme Court directed the Odisha government to consider attaching assets of miners who illegally extracted ore but didnt pay the compensation due to the state (/HT FILE PHOTO)

The top court order was passed while monitoring the implementation of its August 2017 order directing Odisha to take recover the full price of the unlawfully extracted ore from miners who didnt stick to the permitted limits.

The Union of India should consider the position (of iron ore reserves in the state) and explain to the court whether a cap on mining be necessitated in Odisha, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud said. The bench also asked the Centre to examine putting curbs, similar to the ones imposed by the court in the past, to deal with illegal iron ore mining in Karnataka and Goa. The case will come up again after eight weeks.

The PIL petitioner Common Cause, which approached the top court to highlight the problem of illegal mining in the state, also submitted a note to the bench also comprising justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.

On July 1, the Odisha government told the court that the total iron ore reserves pertaining to the geologically explored area of the state were at 9220.728 million tonnes.

There are 58 working iron ore mining leases with a tentative reserve of 4748.52 million tonnes. The total ore that can be mined in these leases annually is 227.13 million tons.

Lawyer Prashant Bhushan, appearing for Common Cause, said: This means that at the same rate of mining, the total reserves in the said mining leases will last only for around 20 years. This, in the petitioners opinion, is a cause of serious concern.

The Odisha government represented by senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi rebutted this apprehension and informed the court that the state was showing an increasing trend of iron ore reserve from year to year despite the current mining operation and production of iron ore in the existing mines.

Bhushan said that the concern of depleting ore reserves was real in view of the states failure to implement a five-year-old order passed by the top court to recover compensation and damages from miners who engage in illegal mining.

In its affidavit, the state said it had been able to recover only 343.07 crore from the 26 defaulting mining leaseholders as against an outstanding amount of 2,965 crore.

The bench told Odisha to take expeditious steps to recover the remaining amount and permitted them to take all necessary steps, including attaching assets of defaulting entities. The order further permitted the state to set such terms and conditions in tenders to ensure no bids are entertained from mining companies or group companies against whom compensation dues are outstanding.

Amicus curiae and senior advocate ADN Rao requested the court to consider having the matter referred to the court-appointed central empowered committee (CEC) to suggest a cap on mining.

In the case of Karnataka mining, the CEC in 2013 recommended a cap of 25 million metric tonnes (MMT) from all the mining leases in Bellary and a ceiling of 5 MMT from all mining leases in Chitradurga and Tumkur districts in view of the devastating effects of mining caused to environment and forests. This cap was later raised from time to time at the Centres request.

In Goa too, the top court in 2014 approved the recommendations of an expert committee that noted the adverse impact on the environment and suggested a cap of 20 to 27.5 million tonnes per annum for extracting iron ore in the state.

In the case of Odisha, the CEC submitted a report in January 2018 that pegged the total compensation to be paid by illegal miners towards violation of environmental clearance at 17,417.99 crore and further compensation for violation of forest clearance at 1,756.39 crore making a total of 19,174.38 crores from 131 mining lease holders.
Nairobi  The University Fund has availed scholarships and loans for 130,485 students in public universities while 9,662 students placed in private universities will receive loans out of the 140,107 placed in varsities.

In the new funding model for the new cohort of students joining universities and technical and vocational education and training (Tvet) institutions the government has availed Sh 19.6Billion for the funding institution.

University Fund Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Geoffrey Monari pointed out that in the current financial year the budget estimation exceeds the number of students placed under the centralized system by the Kenya Universities and College Placement Board (KUCCPS).

"There is no student who will miss funding. You can see the number of students we estimated is higher than those who were placed. All students will be funded regardless of their status," said Monari.

Currently, funding to universities on the differentiated unit cost (DUC) model which allocates funds to institutions based on the number of undergraduate students registered on the regular programme will receive a budget of Sh 34.1 billion.

2022 KCSE candidates seeking to apply for university scholarships and loans have already commenced the applications with the will now be required to follow new guidelines set by the Ministry of Education the deadline set for August 27th.

The funding model only applies to KCSE 2022 candidates who will have to make their applications on the Higher Education Financing (HEF) portal; www.hef.co.ke.

"We shall not close until the 140,107 students get in, but we cannot force everyone to apply because I could have been placed and I am able I pay, it does not mean that the applications will be 100%," he stated.

"Even from past records we have seen that some students opt not to apply but the position is we would want to accommodate every student because the funds are available," Monari said.

KUCCPS CEO Mercy Wahome stated that degree program cost influenced the university application by students.

"The current status for applications is 6,155 and we are seeing an average of about 2000 and it's growing every day. The new funding model will address the gap of underfunding in universities. The cost actually affected the behaviour of students in the way they applied for these courses," Wahome said.

Students will be awarded scholarships, loans and bursaries based after a Means Testing Instrument (MTI) methodology that intends to determine their level of need.

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The new funding model will disburse funds on the ratio encompassing 61 per cent of Government scholarships, 36 per cent of Government loans and 7 per cent of households.

"The public is not aware of the funding component paid by the Ministry of Education on behalf of the Government while the new status is that the actual programme cost will be disclosed to the student upon receiving an admission letter from the respective university. Students are also allowed to apply centrally for Government loans, scholarships and bursaries," Monari said.

One must have a valid email address, a valid phone number registered to the applicant's name, KCPE and KCSE index numbers and year of examination, College/University admission letter and a copy of the sponsorship letter for those sponsored in secondary school.

Others are the applicant's parent/guardian's registered numbers, the applicant's ID number, death certificate if parents are deceased, a passport photo and a birth certificate.

Also, those who will be seeking loans will be needed to have the ID numbers and telephone numbers for two guarantors.

On the platform, one will first register/log in, fill out their profile and upload their documents, tick the box to apply for a scholarship or a loan and submit the application.

The applicant will then wait for the award within 30 days and then wait for an SMS payment notification.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday held a high-level meeting with officials at his residence in Dehradun regarding the situation arising out of the disaster caused by heavy rains in several districts of states. Uttarakhand rains" An aerial view of rain-affected areas of Kotdwar during the survey conducted by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.(ANI)

The Chief Minister directed officials to ensure the safety of citizen and the availability of all possible facilities for them.

Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Kumar appealed to all the people to not go to hilly regions due to the alert of heavy rainfall.

"The weather department issued a red alert. Since August 12, there was heavy rainfall, especially in the Garhwal area. At all the places the roads are closed and the police and SDRF team are on alert," the DGP said.

"In the Chamoli and Uttarkashi Mori area, there was a cloudburst. In Rishikesh, there's huge waterlogging. We appeal to all the people to not go to hilly regions," he added.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had yesterday issued a red alert and predicted heavy rainfall with lightning in six districts of the state for the next twenty-four hours.

It also forecast very heavy to extremely heavy rain/ thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and very intense to extremely intense spell is likely to occur at isolated places in Dehradun, Pauri, Tehri, Nainital, Champawat and Udham Singh Nagar.

According to official estimates, 52 people died due to rain-related incidents in this monsoon session while another 37 people sustained injuries. Heavy rains in Uttarakhand have triggered landslides and flash floods in several places.

On the instructions of the chief minister, SDRF and NDRF personnel were deployed in places badly affected by rain-related incidents.

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The northward movement of the monsoon trough, and its interaction with a weak western disturbance are responsible for the heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand that resulted in the deaths of several people in landslides, building collapses, and damage to roads and other infrastructure on Monday. Damage due to rain and land slide in Mandi on Monday (HT)

The first is usual during lulls or weak phases in the monsoon. HT reported on August 7 that monsoon has entered a weak phase and that there would be subdued rainfall over the plains because the monsoon trough was moving northward from its normal position passing mostly over the Indo-Gangetic plains up to Bay of Bengal. The monsoon trough is an elongated low-pressure area which extends from a so-called heat low (a low pressure over the seas) over Pakistan to the head of the Bay of Bengal region (parts of Odisha, West Bengal, and Bangladesh). This is one of semi-permanent features of monsoon circulation according to the India Meteorological Department.

Also Read| Himachal rain: 9 killed after Shiv Mandir in Shimla collapses; 20-25 feared buried

There has been heavy rain over the Himalayan states and the northeastern states since August 7 which is leading to loosening of soil, heavy erosion, and flash floods over Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, experts said. Between August 1 and August 14, Uttarakhand recorded 232.5mm against normal of 191.40mm (21% excess) and Himachal Pradesh recorded 147.40mm against normal of 140.20mm (5% excess). Uttarakhands Dehradun recorded exceptionally heavy rain between Sunday and Monday (42 cm) and Rishikesh (42 cm). Several parts of Himachal Pradesh recorded very heavy and extremely heavy rain  Kangra 27 cm, Sujanpur Tira 25 cm, Dharmsala 25 cm, Palampur 22 cm, Guler 19 cm, Jogindarnagar 18 cm.

Also Read: Heavy rain likely to continue in Himachal, Uttarakhand; decrease tomorrow: IMD

The monsoon trough is north of its normal position. Its over the Himalayan foothills. This region has been receiving heavy rain for a week now, so its also accumulated impact. Yesterday (Sunday), a feeble western disturbance also interacted with the monsoon trough, and it is continuing to interact today (Monday) also. The monsoon trough will gradually shift southward now temporarily which will lead to reduction of rainfall over the hills and increase in rainfall over east-central India, said M Mohapatra, director general, IMD. He predicted that the rain over both states will reduce from Tuesday.

During the monsoon breaks monsoon trough shifts north close to foothills which produces heavy rains over the hills and northeast India. Nepal also gets good rain. This was expected in general, said M Rajeevan, former secretary, ministry of earth sciences.

In hilly regions, the slope, asperity, rock strength, forest cover or the lack of it are very important in determining landslides. We have prepared landslide vulnerability map for the Himalayan region. In a deep slope for example, if there is a lot of loose weathered material it will come down with rainfall in the form of landslides. Continuous rainfall is obviously a trigger but there are other triggers also like tectonic activity and anthropogenic causes such as drawdown of groundwater which can create a vacuum under the surface, heavy construction activity and mining, said Kalachand Sain, director of the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology.

Forest and plant cover often play a very significant role in slowing down the impact of continuous rainfall on soil, he added.

On Monday, HT reported that from 5% excess rain at the end of July, a weak monsoon spell in August has led to a 2% rain deficiency across the country as of August 13.

This is the second time during this monsoon that Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are seeing floods and extreme rainfall. In July, floods, landslides and mudslides devastated Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand after an interaction of a western disturbance and monsoon. Experts said at the time that the damage was the natural outcome of three factors: the climate crisis; a young mountain range that is still geologically active; and mindless infrastructure projects.

The Himalayas are a very young mountain range and there are a lot of subsurface and surface activities going on here. There is erosion going on due to heavy rainfall events and snowfall; there is exhumation of rocks; there is plate tectonics. It is geo-dynamically extremely active due to these ongoing processes, Sain had said in July.
Days of torrential downpours in the hill state of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have wreaked havoc by triggering floods and landslides in the Himalayan region. The incessant rainfall has washed away vehicles, demolished buildings and destroyed bridges in these states. Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday said at least 16 people lost their lives in the past 24 hours, including nine in a Hindu temple collapse in Shimla. Cloudbursts are a common occurrence in Himalayan regions, but experts say they are alarmed by the increase in extreme weather-related events in the area.

Distressing news has emerged from Shimla, where the Shiv Mandir at Summer Hill collapsed as a result of the heavy rainfall, the chief minister said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

As of now, nine bodies have been retrieved. The local administration is diligently working to clear the debris in order to rescue individuals who may still be trapped.

Meanwhile, all schools and colleges in Himachal Pradesh have been shut and more than 700 roads have been closed due to flooding.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast suggests more moderate to heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand during the next 24 hours.

Why Himachal and Uttarakhand are witnessing intense rainfall

Disasters caused by cloudbursts are common in the Himalayan region during the June-September monsoon season but experts have sounded alarm on the increase in extreme weather-related events. Cloudbursts occur when more than 10 centimetres of rainfall occurs within 10 square kilometres within an hour.

According to an IMD official, the monsoon trough centred over Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh has led to an increase in rain activity across the two states. The trough is expected to remain around the Himalayan foothills for the next few days while there is a monsoon break in the rest of the country.

In July, record monsoon showers killed more than 100 people over two weeks in parts of northern India, including Himachal Pradesh, which was the worst hit. The rainfall in the hill states also led to an extreme rise in water level in Yamuna, flooding parts of the national capital.

(With inputs from agencies)

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As our nation commemorates its 76th Independence Day on August 15 (tomorrow), it's the time to remember the unwavering commitment and sacrifices of all those valiant souls who were ready to pay any cost to see our country free. The long and arduous freedom struggle needed constant motivation for people to put in all their efforts to set India free from the clutches of British. Slogans during those times united, inspired and instilled a sense of patriotism in people to fight for their independence. Year after year, there are certain memorable slogans by freedom fighters that fill us with pride and a feeling of patriotism for our country. Be it young Bhagat Singh inspiring people to carry on the revolution by mouthing - Inquilab Zindabad or Mahatma Gandhi motivating people to 'do or die' till we gained independence, these slogans made a profound impact on people's psyche. (Also read: Independence Day 2023: Theme, history, significance, celebrations and all you need to know about I-Day) Slogans during those times united, inspired and instilled a sense of patriotism in people to fight for their independence. (Freepik)

Here's the compilation of some of the memorable slogans by freedom fighters that inspired people at large to fight for their azaadi.

1. Tum mujhe khoon do, main tumhe azaadi doonga

- Subhash Chandra Bose

One of the prominent leaders of our freedom struggle, Subhash Chandra Bose was fondly called Netaji by his supporters and rightly so as Bose had leadership skills par excellence. Ready to go to any extent for the freedom of the country, Subhash Chandra Bose founded Indian National Army. Coining the slogan of 'tum mujhe khoon do, main tumhe azaadi doonga', he urged youth to be ready to sacrifice their lives and he would help them gain freedom.

2. Inqalab Zindabad

- Shaheed Bhagat Singh

The iconic freedom fighter Bhagat Singh who gave up his life for his country at the young age of 23 popularised the slogan penned by Urdu poet and freedom fighter Maulana Hasrat Mohanib. Inqalab Zindabad translates to 'long live the revolution'.

3. Karo ya maro

 Mahatma Gandhi

Translated to Do or Die, this slogan was the last call for the British to leave the country and was delivered during a speech in Mumbai in 1942 by Mahatma Gandhi. This marked the beginning of Quit India Movement or Bharat Chhodo Aandolan.

4. Satyameva Jayate

- Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya

Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya introduced this slogan while giving presidential address in 1918 in the Indian National Congress convention to inspire masses. It translated to - 'truth alone triumphs'.

5. Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamare dil me hai....

 Ramprasad Bismil

Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamare dil me hai, dekhna hai zor kitna baazu-e-qaatil mein hai. These lines from the patriotic poem by Ramprasad Bismil took the form of slogan as the fight against British intensified. The poem inspired people to make great sacrifices to earn their precious freedom.
India is gearing up to celebrate its 77th Independence Day on August 15. In 2023, India will mark 76 years of freedom from British colonial rule - a significant milestone for the country. Independence Day is celebrated with pomp across the nation and Indians around the globe. It is a reminder of the struggles that won us our liberation from the British Raj after nearly two centuries, the sacrifices made by the leaders, the freedom fighters who laid their lives to win Independence, and more. As we near the date, here's all you need to know about this year's theme, history, significance, and celebrations Know the theme, history, significance, and celebrations of Independence Day 2023. (Photo by Naveed Ahmed on Unsplash)

Independence Day 2023 Theme:

This year, the theme for Independence Day is "Nation First, Always First". All Independence Day programmes and events will be based on this theme.

Independence Day 2023 History and Significance:

Led by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the Independence movement began with World War I. On July 4, 1947, the Indian Independence Bill was introduced in the British House of Commons and was passed within a fortnight. On August 15, 1947, India marked its Independence as the 200-year-old British rule came to an end. Many leaders played a prominent role in the Indian freedom struggle, including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Bhagat Singh, Chandra Shekhar Azad, Subhas Chandra Bose, and many more.

Independence Day is a reminder of the many sacrifices and struggles made by the Indian freedom fighters to help the country achieve its freedom from the British Raj and why we should honour this Independence. The day also invokes feelings of patriotism for the nation and the willingness to serve the country and lead it to prosperity. It also creates a sense of unity and duty among citizens.

Independence Day 2023 Celebrations:

Independence Day is marked as a national holiday in India. Every year, the Prime Minister hoists the National Flag at Delhi's Red Fort and addresses the nation, followed by a military parade. On August 15, 1947, the first prime minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, raised the Indian national flag above the Lahori Gate of Red Fort in Delhi. Every Prime Minister has followed that tradition ever since.

People celebrate Independence Day by organising cultural activities in school, colleges and their workplaces, adorning these places in tricolour-ornaments and decorations, wearing tricolour-themed clothes, watching patriotic movies, listening to songs related to India's history and freedom struggle, and more.
Navroz- translated to 'a new day' - is the time to welcome the new year for Parsi community. Also known as Nowruz or Persian New Year, the first day of Zoroastrian calendar Farvardin is observed all over the world on March 21 around the time of vernal equinox as the triumph of spring over darkness. Rooted in Zoroastrianism, the festival is celebrated in many countries which have Persian cultural influence like India, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, and parts of Central Asia. On this day, Parsis in India clean their homes, decorate it, wear new clothes, pray to God for happiness and prosperity and invite friends over for a good time and hearty meal. (Also read: Parsi New Year: 4 delicious traditional recipes for a memorable feast) Nowruz for India falls in July or August and this year Parsi New Year will be observed on August 16 (Wednesday).(Instagram/FoodFood)

Date of Navroz in India

The Parsi community in India celebrates Navroz nearly 200 days after the rest of the world as it follows the Shahenshahi calendar. Nowruz for India falls in July or August and this year Parsi New Year will be observed on August 16 (Wednesday).

History of Navroz

Navroz is believed to be 3000 years old festival and emerged from one of world's oldest religions Zoroastrianism. Zoroastrians believe it is the time of spiritual renewal and physical rejuvenation. People express gratitude and seek blessings for happiness, prosperity and good luck. Parsi New Year is also related to the life of Jamshid, a Persian king of mythology. In India, it is believed that souls of the dead return to earth to see their loved ones.

Significance and celebration of Navroz

Ten days before the festival, Parsis pray and remember family members and ancestors who are not around anymore. It is believed that the souls of the dead visit their family and loved ones during this time to bless them. On the day of Navroz, after taking bath, house is cleaned and decorated with beautiful rangolis, post which family members remember the departed ones and seek their blessings. Many people visit temples on this day to offer prayers. Navroz in India is mainly celebrated in the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra. Some of the popular Parsi dishes are Farcha, Jardaloo chicken, Patra Ni Machhi, Ravo among others.

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Within 10 days of his being appointed as Chief of Army Staff on March 31, 2010, Gen Vijay Kumar Singh called on then Home Minister P Chidambaram as part of protocol and courtesy. Chidambaram asked the then newly appointed Chief, who has been a Minister in the Narendra Modi government since 2014, about prospects of army deployment in Naxalite-infested areas of Central India. Ever the blunt talker, Gen Singh replied in negative as he said the Naxalite problem was a manifestation of a socio-economic problem in that part of the country. Chidambaram asked him again as to why was the Army then deployed in Jammu and Kashmir. The Army Chief said because it was not a socio-economic issue and was part of the proxy war waged by Pakistan. Home Minister Amit Shah with BSF commanders on the Indo-Pak border in Kutch on August 12.

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue of Indian Air Force (IAF) being used to quell Mizo insurgency in 1966 and Army attack on Akal Takht in 1984 to take out Khalistan extremists as ordered by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the debate on whether the Indian Armed Forces should be used for internal security situations has been reignited. The IAFs fighters were also used during the Naga insurgency in 1960.

After talking to serving diplomats, army and intelligence officers as well as ministers in the Modi government, HT found that the majority favored strengthening of the central paramilitary forces (like Peoples Armed Police of China) to deal with internal security situations rather than deploying the Indian Army. While Army officers say that deployment of armed forces depends on the situation, top intelligence officers believe that troops should only be deployed for a short duration or they develop vested interests if deployed over decades like North-East or Jammu and Kashmir.

However, national security planners feel that Army or armed forces should only be used against external enemies as the troops have different rules of engagement and heavy area and field weaponry with a strong possibility of collateral damage as compared to the para-military forces. The chances of armed forces using excessive force are always there as their primary task is to vanquish the enemy and not to subdue it and bring on the negotiating table..the use of tanks in Operation Bluestar in June 1984 is too much even though the Khalistan extremists were fully supported by Pakistan, said a senior diplomat.

Retired top army commanders who were involved in Bluestar believe that the Army had to use force as there was a time constraint on the operation and threat of public insurrection. In case of Mizoram, the IAF was used to carve out a route to evacuate Assam Rifles personnel who had been surrounded by Mizo insurgents or their posts had been over-run. The civilian casualties were collateral damage. Same was the case when IAF was used against Naga insurgents in 1960.

Army was deployed in Jammu and Kashmir as Pakistan was waging a full-fledged proxy war against India with the intention of conquering the then state through ISI sponsored jihadists aka as freedom fighters in Pakistani parlance. With the JK Police under threat of being compromised and the Pakistani terrorists using rocket launchers, anti-aircraft guns and rocket propelled grenades, the Centre had little option but to use Army or Rashtriya Rifles to counter the terrorists who had public support under duress or threat before 2019.

Post abrogation of Article 370, the situation has changed for the better in Jammu and Kashmir and Naxalite presence has been decimated to mere three districts of Chhattisgarh, the Modi government should streamline the Indian Army and empower para-military forces for use in internal security duties. The Indian Army, RR, BSF, ITBP and Assam Rifles should be freed from internal security duties and used only to guard the borders or CT duties on the LoC and the Indo-Myanmar border, India-Bangladesh or to defend the Siliguri corridor from Chinese belligerence.

PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah must empower the CRPF as the prime force for internal security duties apart from the state or UT police. In this context, the CRPF should have capable leaders who have experience in mob violence and intense law and order situations, not armchair strategists or paper tigers. The CRPF should also be empowered with state of art weaponry including area weapons so that they can counter the worst case scenario in whichever part of the country. The suggestion that the Indian Army should be used to sort out on-going Kuki-Meitei tribal conflict in Manipur is disastrous.

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Bigg Boss OTT season 2 grand finale is set to be aired at 9 pm today on the JioCinema app. The grand finale featuring host-actor Salman Khan is creating a lot of chatter as people are eagerly waiting to see who will win this season of the reality show. Though there are five finalists, it is mainly fans of Elvish Yadav and Abhishek Malhan who have taken to Twitter to engage in a virtual war. Besides the two, Manisha Rani, Bebika Dhurve and Pooja Bhatt are also competing as finalists. Bigg Boss OTT 2 grand finale participants Elvish Yadav and Abhishek Malhan. (Instagram)

Heres what Elvish Yadav and Abhishek Malhan are tweeting:

Here are some more reactions:

Iss Bar Ek Sangharsh Jeetega!!! HISTORIC WILDCARD ELVISH, posted a Twitter user. It's #AbhishekMalhan vs all. Still he is standing strong. One man Army, no doubt, shared another. Delhi NCR ki jaan Elvish Yadav, joined a third. Kudos to the incredible journey of #AbhishekMalhan in BBOTT From memorable moments to inspiring conversations, you've truly left a mark! Your authenticity and charisma kept us hooked till the end. Cheers to a remarkable run! wrote a fourth. A few also commented that they are simply excited to see the finale of the popular reality show.

About the show Bigg Boss OTT 2:

This is the second season of Bigg Boss OTT and it is being hosted by Salman Khan. The show premiered on June 17 and is going to end with the announcement of the winner today. As per reports, the winner will get a cash prize of 25 lakh and a trophy.
Tales of the Loch Ness monster have intrigued several people around the world. But does the monster really exist? A team of enthusiasts is determined to find the truth about Nessie and looking for others to join them. The Loch Ness Centre in Scotland is calling volunteers as it is gearing up to launch a massive search in the freshwater loch. This famous photo shows a shadowy shape that some people say is a the Loch Ness monster in Scotland, later debunked as a hoax. (AP)

As per reports, this is going to be the largest search for the monster since the 1970s and involve the use of modern technology devices like drones that produce thermal images. The group plans to use the equipment to search the waters of the loch in a way that has never been done before.

What will the volunteers do?

The people who join the search voluntarily will be asked to keep an eye for any movement in the water. Its our hope to inspire a new generation of Loch Ness enthusiasts," said Alan McKenna, of Loch Ness Exploration, a research team that is going to be a part of the expedition. By joining this large-scale surface watch, youll have a real opportunity to personally contribute towards this fascinating mystery that has captivated so many people from around the world, he added.

Why is the search being conducted?

"We are guardians of this unique story, and as well as investing in creating an unforgettable experience for visitors, we are committed to helping continue the search and unveil the mysteries that lie underneath the waters of the famous Loch," Paul Nixon, general manager of the Loch Ness Centre, told CBS News. "The weekend gives an opportunity to search the waters in a way that has never been done before, and we can't wait to see what we find," Nixon added. The search is scheduled to be conducted in late August this year.

What are your thoughts on the Loch Ness monster? If you get a chance, would you like to be a part of this expedition?

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Mumbai Police took to Instagram to share a melodious tribute to the unsung heroes of our country ahead of Independence Day. They shared a video of their in-house band Khaki Studio playing a wonderful rendition of the famous song Sandese Aate Hai. Alongside, they also posted a heartening caption. The image show Mumbai Police's band performing Sandese Aate Hai. (Instagram/@mumbaipolice)

A Khaki Studio Salute! The Mumbai Police Band- Khaki Studio presents a melodious tribute Sandese Aate Hain to the unsung heroes on the eve of #IndependenceDay, reads the post shared along with the video. The clip opens to show the band setting up their instruments. The rest of the video captures their performance along with snippets from the film Border. For the unversed, the song Sandese Aate Hai by Sonu Nigam and Roopkumar Rathod is a part of the 1997 war film Border. The film is set during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.

Take a look at this video shared by Mumbai Police ahead of Independence Day:

The video was posted about six hours ago. Since being shared, the clip has accumulated close to 40,000 views and counting. Additionally, the share has gathered nearly 3,700 likes. People posted varied comments while reacting to the video.

What did people say about this video of Mumbai Police?

Very good effort, team khaki Mumbai Police, praised an Instagram user. Salute to our heroes, expressed another. Thank you for protecting us, joined a third. Superb, wrote a fourth. Many reacted to the video with heart emoticons.
Kampala  The Minister of Works, Transport, and Communication, Gen. Katumba Wamala, warned the public to be cautious while using Lake Victoria, especially at night during the three months of June, July and August.

He said that the lake is especially dangerous during this time due to the high winds and rains that are common in the region.

Gen. Wamala urged the public to always wear life jackets when using the lake and to only use boats that are in good condition. He also said that the government is working to improve safety on Lake Victoria by constructing more rescue centres and bringing in experts to inspect the lake and identify areas where rocks are located.

The minister's warning cames after a number of accidents on Lake Victoria in recent months. In July, a boat carrying more than 100 people capsized in the lake, killing at least 30 people. In June, another boat capsized, killing at least 10 people.

Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa, and it is a popular destination for recreation and fishing. However, the lake can be dangerous, especially during the rainy season. The minister urged the public to be aware of the dangers and to take steps to protect themselves.
A mans joyous post about a sweet moment between him and his stepson is melting peoples hearts. He took to Reddit to share how his stepson called him dad for the first time - and that too in front of his friends. He also explained how he felt when the kid called him dad.(Representational Image: Pexels/Nathan Cowley)

My stepson called me dad in front of his friends, reads the title of the post. In the next few lines, he explained more about the heartwarming incident. I have been with my wife for 4 years. She has a 12 year old son from a previous relationship. He has never hated me, but it's clear he misses his dad. He's mainly just called me by my name. I don't necessarily like it but I would never force him to call me dad. Today he wanted to go with his friends to an amusement park and he asked me to come with them which already made me happy so of course I said yes. But when his friends got in the car, there was one of them who I've never met before, and he introduced me as his dad, the Reddit user wrote.

He also explained how he felt when he heard the kid calling him dad. I started smiling when he said that and I think he noticed, because he looked at me and rolled his eyes while laughing. Right now they're trying to win a big prize at the park and I'm still smiling. I know this isn't something huge or anything, but this is genuinely one of the happiest days I've had in a while, he added.

Take a look at this sweet post about a man and his stepson:

The post was shared some five days ago. Since being posted, it has accumulated close to 21,000 views, and the numbers are only increasing. Additionally, the share has collected several comments from people. A few also shared similar stories of their own.

How did Reddit users react to this mans post about his stepson?

Congratulations, that was lovely to read, posted a Reddit user. Rock on stepdad! You're doing it right, and it's starting to show! expressed another. Awww. That is so wonderful! Congrats! I totally get it. I had a meltdown when my stepdaughter gave me a t-shirt for Mothers Day that said Perfect Mom on it. Lol, shared a third.

I know this isn't something huge or anything. It absolutely is! Don't diminish how big of a deal it is! Especially because it isn't essentially cool to say in front of his friends, so he wasn't trying to show off or anything. Baby steps towards learning how he really feels about you! commented a fourth. That's awesome. Hope the rest of the day went even better, added a fifth. To which the man replied, It's going great. Right now I'm waiting in line with him to go on a ride that his friends were too scared to go on. A sixth wrote, Thank you for sharing this wholesome moment. Being chosen as 'dad' has to be so special. Got me teared up from happiness.

Also Read| Son protects mom from muggers trying to snatch her purse
At least 26 members of the Nigerian security forces were killed and eight wounded in an ambush by gunmen in central Nigeria late Sunday, two military sources told AFP. An air force spokesman said a helicopter rescuing the wounded crashed on Monday morning in the area.(AFP/Representative)

An air force spokesman said a helicopter rescuing the wounded crashed on Monday morning in the area where the army is fighting criminal groups, without specifying whether the crew and passengers had survived.

The two military officers asked not to be identified because they were not authorised to speak on the incident while military authorities were not available for comment.

"We lost 23 soldiers, including three officers, and three Civilians JTF (vigilantes) in the encounter while eight soldiers were injured," said the first source following "a serious fight" along the Zungeru-Tegina highway.

A second officer gave the same toll and said the bandits also suffered "heavy casualties". He also said that communication had been lost with an air force helicopter despatched to evacuate the casualties, with 11 of the dead and seven of the injured aboard.

A Nigerian air force spokesman confirmed its Mi-171 helicopter on a "casualty evacuation mission" crashed on Monday after take-off from Zungeru.

"The aircraft had departed Zungeru Primary School enroute for Kaduna but was later discovered to have crashed near Chukuba Village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State," spokesman Edward Gabkwet said in a statement.

He said efforts were under way to rescue those aboard and that preliminary investigations had been opened into the cause of the crash.

Barely a week goes by in Africa's most populous nation without attacks or kidnappings by criminals known as "bandits" in the northwest and centre.

The gangs, who have been notorious for mass school abductions, maintain camps in a vast forest straddling the states of Niger, Kaduna, Zamfara and Katsina.

Northwest and central Nigeria have for years been terrorised by bandits who raid remote villages where they kill and abduct residents for ransom as well as burning homes after looting them.

Impunity as well as insufficient security and wider government presence has allowed the violence to fester, experts say.

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Dhaka [Bangladesh], August 14 (ANI): Bangladesh has recorded 11 more deaths due to dengue and reported 2905 additional cases in the past 24 hours till 8 am Sunday, The Dhaka Tribune reported. The overall death toll due to dengue in Bangladesh now stands at 398. Bangladesh Dengue: Patients suffering from dengue receive treatment at Mugda Medical College and Hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh.(AP)

Since January 1, the total number of dengue cases in Bangladesh has reached 85,411. The rise in dengue cases comes despite the health authorities last week speculation that the number of dengue patients will drop to a tolerable limit by late August. However, the rise in dengue cases so far demonstrates a harrowing picture of the outbreak.

Seven of the 11 deaths in Bangladesh were recorded in Dhaka, according to The Dhaka Tribune report. Of the new patients, 1,042 were hospitalised in Dhaka and the rest in other parts of Bangladesh, The Dhaka Tribune reported citing the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

A total of 9,733 dengue patients, including 4,335 in Dhaka, are undergoing treatment at hospitals across the country. So far, 75,280 people have recovered from dengue, according to DGHS, The Dhaka Tribune reported.

In the first 13 days of July, Bangladesh recorded 9404 cases of dengue and 46 deaths due to mosquito-borne disease. However, Bangladesh recorded 147 fatalities and 33,579 patients of dengue during the same period in August. Experts have warned that the outbreak could continue till November, with the peak expected this month.

According to DGHS data, Dhaka still remains the hotspot for dengue. Of the fatalities recorded so far in 2023, 301 deaths occurred in Dhaka alone. Bangladesh's capital accounts for almost half of the dengue cases. However, Bangladesh's Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque called the dengue situation in Dhaka "stable."

Zahid Maleque said, "Even though dengue cases are on the rise across the country, the situation in Dhaka is stable now," The Dhaka Tribune reported.

On August 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that a significant surge in dengue fever cases has gripped Bangladesh, according to the statement released by United Nations.

The WHO called for efforts to control the mosquito vector population and minimize individual exposure like using mosquito repellents and wearing long-sleeved clothes.

The WHO said, "The higher incidence of dengue is taking place in the context of an unusual episodic amount of rainfall, combined with high temperatures and high humidity, which have resulted in an increased mosquito population throughout Bangladesh."

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Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna has said that China needs to respect Indias borders and that he will work towards New Delhi getting critical US technologies like some other key allies including Israel, Japan and South Korea. Ro Khanna at the US Capitol in Washington, DC. (Reuters)

Ro Khanna, co-chair of the Congressional India Caucus who is leading a bipartisan Congressional delegation here, hoped that India can play a role in effecting peace between Russia and Ukraine.

It's very important that we keep India's sovereignty.They (China) need to respect India's border and this is why I went to the Western Naval Command. We are working very closely with the American Navy to make sure the Arabian Sea remains free for navigation and that the Indian Ocean remains free, and we will continue to strengthen that relationship, Khanna told ANI in an interview.

Answering a query about discussions on democratic and human rights during his India visit, the Congressman stated that both India and US are democracies and recognising minority rights and pluralism helps become better democracies.

I believe that both America and India are important democracies that they have to move towards becoming even better democracies. And that means recognizing pluralism, recognizing minority rights, making sure that every person is treated with equality, Khanna said.

These are conversations as good friends as allies that we need to continue to have with respect. I will say I have had these conversations in India and they've been welcomed.and the government has been welcoming me having these conversations, he added.

Strongly condemning the attack on the India consulate in San Francisco by Khalistani separatists, Khanna said that there can be no violence against an embassy.

There was no place for that and I condemned it very strongly. There can be no violence against an embassy, against a consulate in America and there is no space for a separatist movement, he said.

Punjab is a part of India, that is a settled question. We need to make sure everyone is treated equally, whether Hindu, Christian, Sikh or Muslim. Punjab is a part of India, he added.

Asked about Indias G20 Presidency and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Ro Khanna said that India has a great opportunity for leadership and can play a role in establishing peace.

He said there needs to be a ceasefire as it is affecting commodity prices globally.

We need to have Ukraine's sovereignty restored, but there also needs to be peace. There needs to be a ceasefire, otherwise, this is affecting wheat prices. It's affecting oil prices, not to mention the loss of human life...so hopefully India can play a role in getting peace, the Congressman said.

Khanna hailed the recent visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US and termed it a big success.

He said bilateral ties have never been stronger.

The PM's visit was a big success. The announcement of the jet engine deal with GE, Air India buying almost 200 aircraft from Boeing is very important for the American economy and as the chair of the India-US Caucus, I am going to make sure that India has access to the critical technology like Israel, Japan, South Korea, like our key allies, he said.
Tiffany Gomas, the woman who captured headlines for her viral airplane meltdown, has finally spoken up about the incident that left many baffled and amused. The 38-year-old marketing executive from Texas has taken responsibility for her actions and extended her apologies to the passengers, especially families with children, on the American Airlines flight from Dallas to Orlando. Tiffany Gomas apologizes for airplane meltdown, seeks redemption by promoting positive mental health and denouncing cyberbullying. (TikTok)

The meltdown that captivated the internet

In the video that took social media by storm, Gomas can be seen passionately asking the flight crew to let her off the plane before takeoff. With her emotions running high, she said, "Im telling you, Im getting the f--- off and theres a reason why Im getting the f--- off and everyone can either believe it or they cannot believe it."

Gomas went on to raise concerns about a mysterious person on the plane, stating, "that motherf---er back there is not real." Her dramatic outburst led to confusion among passengers as they tried to decipher her fears and motives.

Genuine remorse and apology

In a recent video posted to the X platform (formerly Twitter), Gomas addressed the controversy head-on. Holding herself accountable, she admitted that her actions were "completely unacceptable." She expressed regret for losing control of her emotions and acknowledged that her use of profanity was unnecessary, particularly in front of children.

Gomas, who seemed emotional during the video, recognized that her unfortunate moment had been caught on camera and shared multiple times across the internet. She also revealed her mixed emotions about the situation, enjoying some of the memes created but also acknowledging the invasive and unkind aspects of the internet's response.

Despite the ordeal, Gomas expressed her intent to use this experience for the greater good. She announced her goal of promoting positive mental health and standing up against cyberbullying. With her voice breaking, Gomas apologized to the public and hoped for acceptance, emphasizing her desire to move on with her life. While Gomas' behavior may have been "completely unacceptable," her willingness to take responsibility and apologize offers a path for redemption.
A fire at a gas station in the southern Russian region of Dagestan killed 12 people including two children, Russian officials said early on Tuesday. A view shows firefighting vehicles at the accident scene following an explosion at a gas station in the city of Makhachkala, Russia, August 14, 2023.(via REUTERS)

The fire started at an auto repair shop on the roadside of a highway in Dagestani capital Makhachkala on Monday night and caused blasts spreading to a nearby gas station, officials said.

Footage posted online showed a one-storey building ablaze, Reuters TV reported.

"It's like a war here," a witness said.

The number of injuries rose to over 60 people, Dagestani Governor Sergei Melikov said in a video statement early on Tuesday. Thirteen of the wounded are children, Interfax said citing the Dagestani health ministry.

It took fire fighters more than three and a half hours to put out the fire that spread into an area of 600 square meters (715 square yards), TASS reported, citing a statement from the Russian emergency service.

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Prince Harry has been going through a difficult phase after distancing himself from his family and stepping down from his royal duties. Princess Diana's 38-year-old son is solo-traveling across Asia amidst rumours of his marriage with Meghan Markle being on the edge. (File) Britain's Prince Harry (L) and Dutchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton (R) applaud as they view the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium. REUTERS

Now, reports claim that even though his relationship with his brother has been strained after the revelations made in his book, Kate Middleton's ties with him 'have remained intact'. According to UK's Closer Weekly, as a 'kind gesture', she has been phoning Harry at night in an effort to mend the strained relationship.

Also Read: Prince Harry has zero communication with King Charles III, Prince William

The outlet claims that Kate has reached out to offer support during 'what has been a really difficult time for him.' She has been in touch with Harry to 'keep his chin up and not worry too much about these temporary setbacks.' She wants Harry to know that there are people who still care about him.

Harry and Meghan have been consistently criticized, with every move being scrutinized by the media, including a split from Spotify after signing an estimated $20 million deal in 2020. Prince Harry frequently visits the UK to attend his trial against UK tabloids. He was in London in June to testify against the publisher of Daily Mirror as part of his ongoing claim that its journalists hacked his phone years ago.

Also Read: What Prince Harry, Meghan can't agree on? Parenting their children

Closer Weekly quotes sources claiming, "Kate's calls mean an awful lot to Harry. She continues to show support, especially during desperate times like this when the chips are down."

It is further reported that she feels very sorry for him right now, and seeing him go through all these setbacks is very difficult to witness. It tugs at her heartstrings, especially as his court trial is taking place so close to their home.

The told Closer Weekly , 'Kate wants to keep those lines of communication open and pave the way for long-term peace with the whole family  William included  down the line."

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un admonished "irresponsible" officials for failing to prevent damage from tropical storm Khanun that swept through the country last week, state media reported. The storm battered Japan before moving across North Korea bringing heavy rains in the country. As Kim Jong Un visited flooded farmlands in Anbyon County in the east of the country, he said that the region suffered more damage than other areas "entirely due to extremely chronic and irresponsible work attitude" of local officials, Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks in Pyongyang, North Korea.(AP)

"The officials of the region were insensitive to the state measures and took no measure and, as a result, the region suffered much damage than other regions," the report quoted Kim Jong Un as saying.

North Korea carried out "a dynamic campaign to cope with disastrous abnormal climate" and called for measures to minimise damage, it was reported. This comes after Kim Jong Un made another inspection tour of major munitions factories and ordered a drastic increase in production of missiles and other weapons just days before South Korea and the US begin annual military drills.

The KCNA said that the North Korean leader visited factories producing tactical missiles, mobile launch platforms, armored vehicles and artillery shells. At the missile factory, Kim Jong Un set a goal to drastically boost production capacity so the facility can mass produce missiles, KCNA said.

The qualitative level of war preparations depends on the development of the munitions industry and the factory bears a very important responsibility in speeding up the war preparations of the (North) Korean Peoples Army, Kim Jong Un said as per the report.

North Korea must have an overwhelming military force and get fully prepared for coping with any war with the power to surely annihilate its enemies, he added.

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The aftermath of the wildfires in the Maui county of Hawaii, is as horrifying as the disaster itself. According to the New York Post, 96 people have been reported to have died in the tragedy but only two of them have been identified. The condition of some of the dead bodies is horrible to the extent that "they fall apart". As per unofficial count, 1302 persons are still missing and the number of dead persons is expected to increase further. Aftermath of the Maui Wildfires(REUTERS)

Hawaii Governor Josh Green informed media about the ongoing recovery process in Maui, at a press conference on Sunday.

There will be active recovery in the days and weeks of the bones and remains of those we lost, said Green.

Its going to take many years to rebuild Lahaina. It does appear like a bomb went off, explained Green.

Meanwhile, Maui Police Chief John Pelletier has urged relatives of missing people to provide DNA samples of their loved ones, to help them in identifying the dead bodies.

We need you to do the DNA test. We need to identify your loved ones, said Pelletier.

Pelletier highlighted the condition of the dead bodies' remains, some of which are so fragile that they break in the hands of emergency worker crews and get scattered across the ground.

So we have 200 people running through the scene yesterday, and some of you, thats what youre stepping on. I dont know how else youd like me to describe it, explained Pelletier.

ALSO READ| Dwayne Johnson 'heartbroken' by Maui wildfires

ALSO READ| Scientists detect microplastics in human heart for first time: Report

Governor Green informed that at least 2200 buildings were damaged or destroyed in west Maui, with the total damage estimated at nearly $6 billion.

Reportedly, the resort city of Lahaina bore the brunt of the damage as nearly all its infrastructure got destroyed.

The wildfires which led to the damage, were aided by strong winds caused by Hurricane Dora. Celebrities like Jeff Bezos, Oprah Winfrey have extended helping hand amid the rescue, rehabilitation and rebuilding process.

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On August 13, Saturday, Oprah Winfrey visited the shelters housing Maui wildfire survivors. A CBS camera crew accompanying the celebrity was prohibited from entering the shelters following a no-media policy, said officials. I will be here for the longhaul, doing what I can.- Oprah

Due to the strict ongoing policy made by the county officials, the famous television host was not captured by her team as she helped raise the spirits of residents of Maui sheltered at the War Memorial Complex.

In an appreciation post made by the county of Maui wrote on Facebook, Oprah was able to visit our shelter and we thank her for instructing media journalists and camera crews to remain outside.

We welcome Oprah to continue to uplift our communitys spirit and give her aloha to victims of the tragic disaster."

The county officials made the statement when the local Star Advertiser News reported that Oprah, 69, and a CBS crew following her were denied entrance as no media was allowed to enter the shelter.

While the media is of thought that Oprah's actions come from her generous heart and caring nature, many locals can't help thinking it may be intentional.

The media mogul who is a part-time resident of the city and owns about 2,000 acres of land there, made two trips to the shelter within a day. First, she came and analysed the situation, made her strategy and then later distributed the supplies.

I came earlier just to see what people needed then went shopping because often, you know, you make donations of clothes or whatever and it's not really what people need, she told the reporters from BCC.

Oprah, who has been a part-time resident of the island for the last 15 years, said she asked residents what they needed before coming back with items like pillows, shampoo, diapers, sheets from Walmart and Costco.

So I actually went to Walmart and Costco and got pillows, shampoo, diapers, sheets, pillowcases, she added.

The show host has promised to make a major donation to the city as well. At some point, I will make a major donation, after all of the smoke and ashes have settled here, and we figure out what the rebuilding is going to look like, she said.

Oprah has already visited the shelter thrice and says will continue to do so even when the rest of the world moves on from the catastrophe and it's effects.

I will be here for the longhaul, doing what I can.

In a week or two, all the cameras will be gone and the rest of the world is going to move on with their lives and were all still going to be here trying to figure out what is the best way to rebuild, added Oprah in an interview with Hawaii News Now.
Ramotswa  Ramotswa District youth have been urged to align their proposed business ideas to the national development plans (NDP's).

Giving a motivational talk during the Ramotswa constituency Youth Development Fund (YDF) orientation Saturday, Minister of Entrepreneurship Mr Karabo Gare urged young people to explore business plans that were in sync with NDP's mandate of optimizing job creation.

He said the fundamental objective during the implementation of the current development plan would be to achieve diversified private sector led growth.

Mr Gare implored young people to propose ideas in line with several projects lined up under the two-year transitional development plan.

He encouraged youth to understand and explore many opportunities available for funding and take advantage.

Minister Gare said he was recently in talks with local financiers and urged them to consider NDP projects aligned ideas before supporting any business.

He said the construction industry was a viable source of job creation as government was undertaking some internal roads projects.

Mr Gare said government was aiming to help grow local businesses in terms of citizen inclusion, mindset change and value chain development.

Area MP Mr Lefoko Moagi told budding entrepreneurs that agriculture and its value chains were a low hanging fruit.

He asked them to be passionate and realistic about their intentions to avoid failure in their plans.

Mr Moagi said consistency was key in realising their potential.

Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture District Coordinator, Ms Minkie Bokole said since its inception YDF had funded 235 projects at a cost of over P22 million.

She said since commencement the district had funded 63 small stock businesses at a cost of over P6 million and some faced operational challenges.

She said the current orientation workshops reached out to an impressive number of participants.

BOPA
The Miss Universe Organization terminated its relationship with its Indonesia franchise following sexual harassment allegations. The Malaysia edition of Miss Universe will be canceled too (Representational)(AFP)

In light of what we have learned took place at Miss Universe Indonesia, it has become clear that this franchise has not lived up to our brand standards, the organizer of the pageant wrote Saturday on X, formerly known as Twitter. The Malaysia edition, also hosted by Indonesias PT Capella Swastika Karya, will be canceled too.

Capella Swastikas national director Poppy Capella denied involvement in any body checks in a statement on Instagram. She added that she objects to any form of violence or sexual harassment.

Reuters reported Wednesday that six contestants of the Indonesia pageant filed complaints with the police, accusing organizers of sexual harassment and claimed they were subjected to topless body checks.

Miss Universe said its evaluating its franchise agreement and policies to prevent this type of conduct from occurring.

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A man was arrested for killing and burying his spouse, a US national, in a graveyard in Pakistans Lahore, reported ARY News reported on Sunday. The police said they learned that US national was subjected to brutal torture by Kazim Khan, eventually leading to her death. (File)

According to the police, the man, identified as Kazim Khan, allegedly murdered his wife Diana Christo, the report stated.

Further, according to ARY News, the man was arrested while he was burying his wifes mortal remains in a local graveyard in the factory area.

The police said they learned that US national was subjected to brutal torture by Kazim Khan, eventually leading to her death.

The murder weapon was recovered from the accuseds possession by the investigating team and the victim's body was shifted to a mortuary for post-mortem examination, ARY News reported.

An investigation was launched after the registration of a case in connection with the incident, ARY News reported.

Further, according to the report, a Pakistan-origin US woman, Wajiha Swati, was killed by her husband, Rizwan Habib, in December 2021.

Details of Swatis murder were disclosed after the investigation. The whereabouts of the woman were unknown for more than two months after she reached Pakistan.

During interrogation, the husband confessed to killing her.

Swati had gone missing on October 16 and calls to her cell phone number went unanswered. Her family members claimed she had divorced Habib but the latter denied the claim, ARY News reported.

It later emerged that there was a property dispute between Habib and Swati.
A Malaysian Airlines flight had to be diverted when a man, Mohammed, 45 created an unruly scene. In the alleged flight footage, which has gone viral, he can be seen berating the flight passengers and cabin crew, claiming he was a slave of Allah". Flight MH122, which was bound for Kuala Lumpur had to return to Sydney, Australia.

Standing in the aisle, while holding a backpack against his chest the man points to the passengers around him saying, My name is Mohammed, slave of Allah.

Due to the inconvenience caused, flight MH122, which was bound for Kuala Lumpur had to return to Sydney, Australia. The aircraft left Sydney Airport at 1:06 p.m. but was forced to return to the Sydney airport by 3:47 p.m.

In a statement, Malaysian Airlines addressed the return of the flight back to its base, In the interests of safety, the commander of the flight made the decision to return to Sydney.

"The flight, carrying 194 passengers and five crew onboard, landed safely at 3.47pm hours. The safety and comfort of our crew and passengers are of upmost importance to Malaysia Airlines, they added.

Post landing back in Sydney, the passengers were escorted to safety while the cabin crew dealt with the man.

He was arrested by the police and is expected to be charged, said the Australian Federal Police.

"A passenger on an international flight from Sydney to Malaysia has been arrested by the AFP. There is no impending threat to the community, said their spokesperson.
India's G20 presidency has been "incredibly important" as it offered effective leadership in addressing various global challenges including that of food security, British Security Minister Tom Tugendhat said. India will host the G20 summit next month in New Delhi. (AFP)

"It's quite clear to me that this is the right presidency at the right time," Tugendhat said.

Under its G-20 presidency, India has been flagging concerns of the Global South including in areas of food, fuel and fertiliser besides focusing on ensuring inclusive global growth, speedy implementation of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and green development among others.

The British Security Minister was in India on a three-day visit primarily to attend the G20 anti-corruption ministerial meeting in Kolkata last week.

In an interview to PTI, Tugendhat, delving into India-UK bilateral ties, said there is no debate in his country about New Delhi being an "essential ally" of London.

In his remarks, the minister especially complimented India's global initiative to encourage the consumption and production of millet and elaborated on how it can contribute to dealing with the problem of food insecurity.

At the same time, the minister criticised Russia for violating its grain deal with Kyiv that would prevent crucial grain exports from Ukraine reaching the world markets.

"We're talking about different ways of seeing food security in many countries around the world. Now that's increasingly important," Tugendhat said.

"We've seen, sadly, Russia's violation of the grain deal with Ukraine and that will have callous implications that the Kremlin is taking on poorer countries around the world," he said.

"It's a brutal decision by (President Vladimir) Putin and it is completely wrong. So having India chairing the presidency, having the presidency of the G20 right now is incredibly important," the minister noted.

Tugendhat said India is providing leadership to the G-20 at a time when the world is facing a plethora of challenges.

"We are very focused on what we need to do as partners, which is to make sure that we're offering the leadership to our own people, but also the support to many others around the world," he said.

"And that's exactly what the Indian presidency of the G20 is doing. So I must say I'm very, very grateful to your government for all that it is doing," he said.

Asked about India facing the uphill task of building consensus on the text to refer to the Ukraine crisis in the leaders' declaration to be adopted at the upcoming Summit of the grouping, the British minister chose not to comment.

India is finding it difficult to build consensus on the issue in view of sharp differences between the West and Russia-China combine.

Both Russia and China had agreed to the two paragraphs on the Ukraine conflict in the Bali declaration, but they backtracked from it this year creating difficulties for India.

The G-20 operates under the principle of consensus.

Almost all key meetings held under India's G20 presidency, including those of finance and foreign ministers, could not come out with consensus documents due to opposition from Russia and China to any text referring to the Ukraine conflict.

However, Indian negotiators are confident of finding consensus on the text relating to Ukraine for the leaders' declaration.

Asked what kind of security cooperation India and the UK are looking at in the backdrop of the global geopolitical upheaval, Tugendhat did not give a direct reply but said both the countries see the world "very similarly".

On the ambitious India-UK trade deal, the minister said he was confident that both sides will be able to conclude it.

"I'm very hopeful. And I can tell you that officials are working on it right now. Look, we've got to get a deal that works for the Indian people, works for the British people," he said.

Tugendhat said the UK is trying to get the best deal for its people and the Indian government is doing exactly the same for the Indian citizens.

"And what we need to do is make sure that we get a deal that works for all of us. But I'm confident that we can come to an agreement that does that," he said.

Declining to give a timeline for the deal, he said: "I am confident that we can come to an agreement."

In April last year, the two sides had set a Diwali deadline for concluding the free trade agreement but the deal could not be finalised in view of differences over certain issues as well as political developments in the UK.

The India-UK relationship was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the India-UK virtual summit held between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his then British counterpart Boris Johnson in May 2021.

At the summit, the two sides adopted a 10-year roadmap to expand ties in the key areas of trade and economy, defence and security, climate change and people-to-people connections among others.
Kate Middleton will "never forgive" Meghan Markle for her "ultimate betrayal" of the royal family, OK! reported citing a source who claimed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's interview with Oprah Winfrey was the "final straw". Kate Middleton-Meghan Markle: Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle are seen. (File)

Kate has drawn a hard line in the sand  she's not changing her mind about them. They never apologised for their lies. But it's harder for William because Harry is his brother. It's a horrible situation all around, the report claimed.

Prince Harry and his wife moved to the United States in 2020 where they now live with their two children - Archie and Lilibet. Following the Oprah bombshell chat, the couple continued their media endeavours releasing a six-part docuseries on Netflix detailing their relationship, marriage and decision to step down from the royal family. In January, Prince Harry released his tell-all memoir Spare taking aim at the royal family as the Duke of Sussex was particularly critical of King Charles' wife Camilla and Prince William.

In the book, Prince Harry accused William for physically attacking him. The report claimed that Kate Middleton is hesitant to forgive the couple even though Prince William hopes to rebuild a relationship with his brother.

William wants to extend an olive branch to Harry. It's a shocking about-face, but he feels it's long overdue. But Kate feels that Harry and especially Meghan have done enough damage to the royal family, and will do even more damage if they're let back in," the report claimed.

When William told Kate he wants to bury the hatchet with Harry, she was incensed, and she and William got into a big fight. She'll never forgive Meghan for what she did," it added.

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New Zealand's government will lift all remaining COVID-19 requirements from midnight Tuesday, bringing an end to some of the toughest COVID-19 pandemic rules in the world more than three years after they were put in place. New Zealand's Prime Minister Chris Hipkins announces an end to all Covid-19 restrictions.(AP)

Minister of Health Ayesha Verrall said in a statement on Monday that from Tuesday people will no longer have to wear a face mask in health care facilities or isolate for seven days after contracting the virus.

While our case numbers will continue to fluctuate, we have not seen the dramatic peaks that characterised COVID-19 rates last year. This, paired with the populations immunity levels, means Cabinet and I am advised were positioned to safely remove the remaining COVID-19 requirements, Verrall said.

Most of the restrictions were removed last year as vaccination rates reached high levels and the countrys hospitals successfully navigated a winter without being overwhelmed.

The decision to remove the requirements comes just two months out from a closely contested election.

While the New Zealand governments handling of the pandemic was globally recognised for keeping infection and death rates at low levels, domestically it faced criticism for the extended lockdowns, school closures and closed borders.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said the formal end of restrictions was a significant milestone.

I believe that New Zealanders can be enormously proud of what we achieved together. We stayed home, we made sacrifices, we got vaccinated and there is absolutely no question that we saved lives, he told his weekly press conference.

While no longer mandatory, the Minister of Health still recommends that people stay home for five days if youre unwell or have tested positive.
Taiwan will not be afraid nor back down in the face of authoritarian threats, the island's vice president told supporters on a U.S. visit that Beijing has condemned, while reiterating a willingness to talk to China. Taiwanese Vice President William Lai speaks before leaving for Paraguay at Taoyuan International Airport in Taoyuan, Taiwan.(AP)

William Lai, also frontrunner to be Taiwan's next president at January elections, is in the United States on what is officially a transit stop on his way to Paraguay for the inauguration of its new president. Paraguay is one of only 13 countries to maintain formal ties with the Chinese-claimed island.

Taiwan and the United States both say the stopovers, including one in San Francisco on the way back, are routine, but China has denounced them and called Lai a separatist "troublemaker".

Lai told a supporters lunch in New York on Sunday that "if Taiwan is safe, the world is safe, if the Taiwan Strait is peaceful, then the world is peaceful", according to Taiwan's presidential office.

"No matter how great the threat of authoritarianism is to Taiwan, we absolutely will not be scared nor cower, we will uphold the values of democracy and freedom," he said.

China considers Taiwan its most important diplomatic issue, and is a constant source of friction between Beijing and Washington, which is the island's most important international backer and arms supplier.

China has a particular dislike of Lai, who has previously described himself as a "practical worker for Taiwan independence", a red line for Beijing which has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control.

Lai, who has pledged to maintain peace and the status quo, reiterated in New York that on the basic principle of dignity and parity he was "very willing" to talk to China and seek peace and stability.

But Lai said he will protect Taiwan's sovereignty, that only Taiwan's people can decide their future and that the Republic of China - Taiwan's formal name - and the People's Republic of China are "not subordinate to each other".

Lai's speech was attended by Ingrid Larson, managing director of the American Institute in Taiwan, a U.S. government-run non-profit that carries out unofficial relations with Taiwan.

Both Taipei and Washington are aiming for the U.S. stopovers to be low-key, and have called on China not to take any provocative action in response.

Still, Taiwanese officials say China is likely to launch military drills this week near Taiwan, using Lai's U.S. stopovers as a pretext to intimidate voters ahead of a next year's election and make them "fear war".

On Monday, the Eastern Theatre Command of China's People's Liberation Army, which has responsibility for the area around Taiwan, showed pictures on its WeChat account of troops practicing storming a beach, though did not give the location, timing or specifically mention Taiwan.

It said the soldiers guided armoured vehicles "to the enemy frontline positions and launched a fierce attack".

China carried out war games around Taiwan in April after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen returned from California where she met U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy while also on a transit on her way back from Central America.

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U.S. Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy on Monday made her third visit to Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been behind bars in Russia since March on charges of espionage. Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested while on a reporting trip and accused of espionage.(REUTERS)

Tracy last visited Gershkovich in early July.

Ambassador Tracy said that Evan appears in good health and remains strong, despite his very challenging circumstances. Embassy officials will continue to provide all appropriate support to Evan and his family. And we expect Russian authorities to provide continued consular access, said State Department spokesman Vedant Patel.

Once again, we call on the Russian Federation to immediately release Evan Gershkovich, as well as fellow, wrongfully detained, US citizen, Paul Whelan, he said. Whelan was arrested in 2018 and in 2020 was sentenced to 16 years in prison for espionage.

A 31-year-old U.S. citizen, Gershkovich was arrested in the city of Yekaterinburg while on a reporting trip to Russia.

He and his employer denied the allegations, and the U.S. government declared him to be wrongfully detained. His arrest rattled journalists in Russia, where authorities have not provided any evidence to support the espionage charges.

Gershkovich is being held at Moscows Lefortovo prison, notorious for its harsh conditions.

He is the first American reporter to face espionage charges in Russia since September 1986, when Nicholas Daniloff, a Moscow correspondent for U.S. News and World Report, was arrested by the KGB. Daniloff was released 20 days later in a swap for an employee of the Soviet Unions U.N. mission who was arrested by the FBI, also on spying charges.
US President Joe Biden has drawn the ire of people for his 'nocomment' response on Sunday on being asked about the rising death count due to the wildfires which wreaked havoc in the Maui county of Hawaii recently. The wildfire disaster has already claimed 96 lives and has been reported to be the deadliest wildfire in the nation in more than a century. US President Joe Biden(AFP)

Biden was in Delaware where he spent the weekend at his home in Rehoboth beach.

After a couple hours on the Rehoboth beach, @potus was asked about the rising death toll in Hawaii, posted Bloomberg reporter Justin Sink on X(formerly Twitter).

No comment, he said before heading home, added the White House correspondent.

The death toll in the horrible wildfire incident is expected to rise as more bodies are being found during the rescue and recovery. Out of the 96 deaths recorded, only two of the bodies have been identified. Reportedly, the conditions of the remains of the dead bodies is so horrible that they break in the hands of emergency worker crews and get scattered across the ground.

ALSO READ| Michigan cops apologise after arresting 12-year-old black boy, here's why

Biden's response on Sunday was heavily criticised by people.

One of the most beautiful places on earth has been reduced to cinders. In Delaware: @JoeBiden cant be bothered to care. Putting America First means getting this joker out of the White House, Republican politician Kari Lake wrote on X.

"Did they ask him what flavor ice cream he would be enjoying later that evening?," wrote another user.

"While Maui burns, Biden vacations. Hawaii gets the East Palestine treatment," tweeted a third person.

"Of the people, by the people, and for the people......unless you're not his people," wrote a fourth user.

Earlier, President Biden had declared the wildfires in Hawaii as a "major disaster". It meant the federal government would provide funding to assist with rescue and recovery.

Notably, Lahaina town of Maui county was completely destroyed in the tragic incident. The wildfires which led to the damage, were aided by strong winds caused by Hurricane Dora.

In these times of turmoil, billionaire Jeff Bezos and his fiancee Lauren Sanchez have announced $100 million Maui Fund to help in the rehabilitation and rebuilding of Maui county in Hawaii.
Law-abiding Liberians may have to wait much longer for the dutiful second press release of UP Flagbearer, Joseph Boakai as his moneyman and campaign financier, Stanton Witherspoon changes his plea to guilty.

Mr. Witherspoon is expected to change his not guilty plea he entered earlier to guilty as he is being scheduled for hearing on August 24, this month. That would amount to confessing to putting thousands of American lives at risk through his grand medical fraudulent scheme.

Obviously, many of Boakai's slavish supporters are in denial about his declining health and mental acuity, which has seen the octogenarian repeatedly display the lack of sound leadership judgments.

"How else can a reasonable mind discern Oldman Boakai's recognition of a US federal criminal indictee as the de facto Unity Party Campaign Spokesman? Are there no lines desperate Boakai will not cross in his unhealthy search for the Liberian presidency," Isaac Jackson, a former deputy minister during the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's regime quipped.

Lord Randolph Churchill's quip against 77-year-old Gladstone appears justified to describe the aging former VP as an "old man in a hurry." William Ewart Gladstone was rightly criticised for attempting to gamble British democracy to gratify his ambition. Here, we see desperate old man Boakai, long past his prime, decapitating morality and abandoning principles of good leadership to "dance with the devil" - make that dancing with several devils - only to gratify his naked quest for power.

According to Jackson, it matters little to Boakai whether Witherspoon has put thousands of Americans' lives at risk as long as he [Witherspoon] supports his campaign. Yes, sadly and morally, it matters little to Boakai whether Witherspoon uses his criminally acquired wealth to promote his selfish endeavors in pursuit of fame, and the country settling his medical bills in the offing.

"When I last appeared on OK FM, about two weeks ago, I asked a rhetorical question: - Whether Boakai, as a highly experienced political figure, is convinced beyond reasonable doubts, that Witherspoon did not commit the crimes for which he was accused by the United States Government? The trouble here is that the Oldman who joyfully carries the title of an ambassador is noticeably less concerned about the sensitivities of the American Government and civilized societies at large, or any risks his relationships could engender against strengthening US/Liberia relations. Furthermore, by grappling onto Witherspoon, Boakai and his UP have no moral standing to chastise Weah and his minions for fielding US accused and sanctioned individuals. In fact, it's an open secret that the notorious killer and US sanctioned war lord, Prince Y. Johnson, named Boakai's running mate and hawks over Boakai as the man behind Boakai's throne! Should Boakai win the October Polls, at high risk, will certainly be US/Liberia relations! The US notice is clear: The US will not do business with anyone who does business with sanctioned individuals. Boakai doesn't care. He's shielding not just sanctioned persons but US criminal indictee who admitted to risking US citizens' lives, especially those of Boakai's age," Jackson wrote.

"How is Liberia supposed to get better under Boakai? He has no vision in which he can project himself. Like Mo Ibrahim said, old leaders like Boakai are only setting to "lead us to the grave". What future can the personification of Liberia's past lead us to?

Imagine Boakai failing woefully to demonstrate a sense of moral compunction about the crimes Witherspoon committed against the US Government and its people! For all that is now well known about Oldman Boakai and his reproachable policy choices, who in this world would sincerely believe that the United States would ever regard him as a serious and trustworthy leader of Liberia, in the unlikely event, he was to be elected as president?" He quipped.

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"Boakai is a relic who is divorced from the reality of today's world," the former deputy information minister continued.

"Boakai is simply not endowed with what it takes to govern our country effectively. He cannot lead our country into any future of success. Boakai can only take us backward to his era of grievances, divisions, and "squandered opportunities", to borrow his words.

Liberia is at a critical juncture. The last thing our country needs is an older version of the current disastrous president who has no leadership abilities.

Boakai is long past it. He has nothing new to offer the country. So, when I hear noisy junior comrades gloating about Boakai's leadership potential, I just laugh, realizing that childish exuberance often ends in painful frustration, eventually." Jackson concluded.
A dramatic CCTV capture of a house going up in flames was captured from Plum Borough, situated about 20 miles to the east of Pittsburgh, in Pennsylvania. Investigators remain at the scene of a home explosion which occurred the day before on Rustic Ridge Drive in Plum, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. Debris still lies in neighboring yards. (Lucy Schaly/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP)(AP)

The explosion occurred shortly before 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, resulting in the loss of four adults and one adolescent. The somber news was conveyed by Plum Borough Police Chief Lanny Conley, who expressed the collective grief felt not only within Plum but throughout the entire community and region.

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald expressed his condolences, acknowledging the impact of the incident on the broader community. This is certainly a sad, sad day and a sad time, for not just the folks in Plum but all the folks in the community and in this region, he said.

Amidst the tragic outcome, a glimmer of hope emerged as three individuals were rescued and taken to hospitals. While two of them were released after receiving medical attention, one individual remained in critical condition. A total of 57 firefighters also received care for minor issues at the scene.

Emergency responders reported a challenging scenario, with people trapped under debris due to the powerful blast. The explosion reduced one house to rubble and ignited fires in two neighboring structures. A coordinated effort from 18 fire departments, assisted by water tankers from Allegheny and Westmoreland counties, was vital in battling the flames and containing the situation.

Authorities are diligently investigating the cause of the explosion. The county fire marshal's office, along with both borough and county law enforcement, are leading the inquiry. Steve Imbarlina, deputy director of fire and emergency services for Allegheny County, cautioned that the investigation would be a painstaking process involving extensive forensic analysis, potentially stretching over several months or even years.

Addressing concerns about gas leaks, Michael Huwar, president of Peoples Gas, affirmed that the company's thorough inspections did not indicate any issues with their system. Despite this, gas and electric services were temporarily halted as a precaution. Officials outlined a plan to gradually restore services, with electric power expected to be reinstated for all but a few residences.

In this time of profound sorrow, Governor Josh Shapiro conveyed his sympathy and support to the affected families. He assured them that as they embark on the journey of rebuilding, the community and government will stand by their side, offering assistance and solace throughout the process.

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Kampala  The Government of Uganda deposited the instrument of ratification of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 190 (C-190) on Violence and Harassment in the world of work.

Uganda, deposited the instrument on Monday, with Gilbert Houngbo, the Director-General of ILO, at the ILO headquarters in Geneva.

Uganda was represented by Ambassador Marcel Tibaleka, the country's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva.

The Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190), is an international labour standard adopted by ILO in June 2019. It addresses the issues of violence and harassment in the world of work, aiming to promote a safe and healthy working environment for all, encompassing both the public and private sectors.

The landmark ratification signifies Uganda's steadfast commitment to fostering a safe and inclusive work environment for all, free from violence and harassment.

Speaking at the ratification ceremony, Ambassador Tibaleka, emphasised that the ratification of Convention 190 reinforces Uganda's dedication to building a just and fair society, fostering a safe and respectful working environment, and upholding the principles of human rights and dignity in the world of work.

Tibaleka further sought the ILO's support in effectively implementing the provisions of the convention.
Hilton signed agreement with Mashareq Investment for the development of Conrad Riyadh Laysen Valley.

Hilton (NYSE: HLT) has announced the signing of an agreement with Mashareq Investment to open Conrad Riyadh Laysen Valley at the beginning of 2025. The Conrad Hotels & Resorts property will be the second for the brand in Saudi Arabia, joining Conrad Makkah.

Conrad Riyadh Laysen Valley will mark the brand's entry into the heart of Riyadh, bringing bold design and world-class guest experiences to the Saudi capital. The 170-key hotel will feature an indoor pool, fitness centre, boutique spa, seven meeting rooms spanning over 500 square metres, and multiple dining outlets, providing guests with ample opportunity to explore its recreational and culinary facilities.

Conrad Riyadh Laysen Valley will be located in one of Riyadh's most prominent high-end, mixed-use real estate projects, Laysen Valley. Located opposite to the city's Diplomatic Quarter (DQ) and near the Kingdom's royal court and corporate business hubs, the hotel will serve as a convenient meeting point for both residents and international business travellers.

Spanning five continents with more than 40 properties, Conrad Hotels & Resorts creates a seamless connection between bold design, impactful experiences and curated contemporary art to inspire the conscientious luxury traveller. True to its founding vision, each Conrad hotel is renowned for its purposeful service, as well as a distinctive ability to authentically connect globally-minded travellers with local cultures.

With plans to more than quadruple its presence in Saudi Arabia over the next few years, Hilton is leveraging key real estate developments, including business and leisure travel destinations, to underpin the expansion of its domestic portfolio.

Hilton currently operates 16 hotels in Saudi Arabia with plans to open over 50 new hotels across 10 of its brands, making the country the company's largest pipeline market in the EMEA region. Projects include the introduction of new brands such as LXR Hotels & Resorts, Canopy by Hilton, Embassy Suites by Hilton, and Hampton by Hilton. The company plans to grow its portfolio to more than 75 properties in Saudi Arabia over the coming years.

Hotel website
One of Edinburgh's most storied addresses, the former Royal Overseas League building will open as 100 Princes Street 1st November 2023. Heralding the start of a new era in the cultural heart of the city, this new hotel will sit just a stone's throw from Scotland's National Gallery and the destination's most historic attractions.

From the team behind Xigera Safari Lodge in Botswana and Ashford Castle in Ireland, 100 Princes Street will offer a new perspective on the Scottish capital, taking inspiration from the rich storytelling of the great explorers who once dwelled the halls and made this historic building their 'home away from home'.

Its "anything, anytime" ethos and cosy townhouse atmosphere will give guests the sense of a private home, rather than a traditional hotel - and the residents-only Explorers' Club will offer guests a quintessentially Scottish experience with extraordinary service, heritage design, and signature local dishes.

Designed by Toni Tollman, Philippe Bonino, and Brian Brennan, 100 Princes Street has been carefully curated with furnishings and artwork from local artisans, including custom-made tartan by Araminta Campbell, and a central staircase with a hand-painted mural by Croxford and Saunders, honouring the adventures of great Scottish explorers of the past. Other highlights will include a wine wall with over 200 fine wines and an impeccable selection of Scottish whiskeys. The greatest standout of all, however, is the exceptional service that 100 Princes Street will provide for its guests, with a 2:1 staff-to-guest ratio that showcases the best of Edinburgh's talent.

Hotel website
Espire Hospitality Group, one of India's leading hospitality companies announced the opening of its second property under their upscale brand 'Country Inn Premier' in Uttarakhand, 'Country Inn Premier - The Prominence, Dehradun'. Nestled in the foothills of majestic Himalayas, this upscale hotel offers a perfect blend of contemporary aesthetics and enriching experiences, coupled with the brand's signature heartfelt hospitality.

Strategically located on the Dehradun - Mussoorie road, overlooking the serene Malsi Forest and the awe-inspiring Himalayan range, 'Country Inn Premier - The Prominence, Dehradun' enjoys excellent connectivity to major Indian cities including Delhi NCR, Punjab, Lucknow, Mumbai, Gujarat and Bangalore.

The hotel features 42 well-appointed modern rooms and suites, thoughtfully categorized into Classic Rooms, Club Premier Rooms, and Premier Suites. Guests opting for Club Premier rooms and Suites can enjoy exclusive Club Premier privileges, including early check-in and late check-out, ironing facility, complimentary minibar once during their stay, discount on food and beverages, and much more.

Hotel website
Brand stalwart Mohamed Wakeb is now director of operations at Fairmont Bab Al Bahr. His most senior role to date, Wakeb has spent a combined 18 years with the brand and has just been promoted from director of sales and marketing.

In his new role, he will be responsible for ensuring that every aspect of the guest experience aligns with Fairmont's standards. From operations to service delivery, Wakeb will oversee the entire operational framework of Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, working closely with department heads and staff.

His career began in San Francisco, California. He then made his way to the UAE in 1999, joining the pre-opening team of Jumeirah Emirates Towers in Dubai as a senior sales manager.

He later joined the pre-opening team of Fairmont Dubai in 2001 as the associate director of sales. In recognition of his outstanding performance, he was promoted to director of business deelopment in 2004.

Wakeb's journey with FRHI was progressed in 2011 to hold the first cluster Director role in UAE till 2016 and was involved in the pre-openings of Fairmont the Palm as well as Ajman and Fujairah.
Langham Hospitality Group has seen a flurry of senior appointments recently. Bob van den Oord's promotion to CEO, effective September 1st, and Lo Young's new role as Senior Vice President of Operations in China, overseeing the hotel collection in China, are notable shifts. Now, the Hong Kong-based hotel giant has announced the appointment of Stefan Soennichsen as the General Manager for Langham, London.

Stefan's leadership of this esteemed London establishment is anticipated given his extensive familiarity with the city. Between 2005 and 2015, Stefan acquainted himself deeply with London's hotel industry. He initially managed the Savoy, followed by the helm at One Aldwych, and subsequently at St Martins Lane. His responsibilities expanded further with Morgans Hotel Group, overseeing multiple properties.

However, Stefan's impressive credentials aren't limited to London. Prior to his tenure there, he honed his managerial acumen in Singapore with Elite Concepts, and in Dubai at both the InterContinental and the Fairmont. Reflecting on his journey, Stefan shared with Destination of the World News in 2019, "This industry has taught me to be my own champion." The Middle East's allure was so compelling that after a European stint, he returned.

By 2015, Stefan was back in Dubai, serving as the Vice-President of Damac Hotels & Resort. A year later, he transitioned to Abu Dhabi, taking on a role with Edition, Marriott International's innovative brand envisioned by Ian Schrager. After an impactful tenure of nearly five years, he ascended to oversee multiple properties for the group.

It's this impeccable career trajectory that made Stefan the ideal choice for Langham Hospitality Group's London jewel. More than just a seasoned manager, Stefan believes in fostering excellence through compassion. He shared his management philosophy in 2019, stating, "By treating your staff well, they, in turn, will serve your guests exceptionally. A valued individual offers more than expected... The team is paramount."

Stefan also holds progressive views about contemporary hospitality. He asserts that today's luxury hotel guests crave distinct and slightly avant-garde experiences. It'll be intriguing to see how he integrates this perspective at the Langham, London.
Mandarin Oriental, Canouan, the all-suite, all-villa luxury resort in St. Vincent and The Grenadines, today announces the appointment of Hemal Jain to General Manager. Bringing more than 18 years of hospitality and executive leadership experience to the five-star Caribbean destination, Jain will oversee day-to-day hotel operations, leading the team in delivering operational excellence and innovative guest programs.

A native of India with multinational experience, Jain joins Mandarin Oriental, Canouan from Alila Villas Uluwatu and Alila Manggis, Virtuoso-affiliated properties in Bali, Indonesia, where he served as General Manager. Prior to his tenure in Bali, Jain held General Manager, Director of Sales & Marketing and Front Office Manager positions at Alila Bangalore Hotel and Residence in India and a series of operational leadership roles with Park Hyatt Hadahaa, Maldives and Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa. Prior to joining Hyatt Hotels Corporation (Alila Hotels & Resorts and Park Hyatt), he held Front Office positions with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts (Mumbai and Doha) and Oberoi Hotels and Resorts in The Himalayas (Wildflower Hall) and Agra, India (Trident Agra). Throughout his tenure in the industry, Jain has been recognized for his integrity, leadership and revenue achievements, which were reflected in multiple industry awards he was honored with. He was named as one of The Hotelier Awards' top five finalists in the "General Manager of the Year - Asia 2018" category and, most recently, was named one of the Best "Hotel General Managers in Indonesia," by Travel + Leisure Asia Pacific 2023.

Jain holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel and Hospitality Administration from the Institute of Hotel Management Lucknow (affiliated with the National Council for Hotel Management & Catering Technology, Pusa, New Delhi and Government of India). He is fluent in three languages (English, Hindu and Bengali) and has resided in five different countries.
The recovery in business travel has stalled this year amid record price rises for premium flights and growing pressure on big companies to cut their carbon emissions. Europes three major airline groups reported a drop in the rate of recovery in corporate travel in their most recent earnings, while bookings at US airlines have flatlined over the past year. According to data from the Global Business Travel Association and CWT, a business travel and meetings company, the average premium-class air fare has risen from $3,666 in 2019 to $4,395 this year. Recent price rises are the highest on record, they said. Robin Hayes, chief executive of JetBlue, said in the US airlines results call this month that the industry was now operating in a world where business travel may not be coming back.

Read the full article at ft.com
Booking a hotel is one of the most important choices travelers make when planning a trip. With millions of choices available, the range of hotel options can seem overwhelming. And as people look to book, they are often only seeing properties that land near the top of the search sort. The good news is that when it comes to hotel advertising, we offer two solutions to help properties gain a visibility boost with travelers: TravelAds Sponsored Listings and Accelerator.

Lets look at how traveler behavior influences booking decisions and how these two solutions  independently and combined  can help you generate more bookings as part of your hotel sales and marketing strategy.

Get the TravelAds guide

Understanding traveler behavior around hotel bookings

When travelers are looking for a place to stay on their vacation, a lot of factors feed into their decision. We conducted research with more than 5,000 participants in seven countries that analyzed more than 70,000 digital online behaviors to better understand how people are inspired to travel, research, and book trips. What we found is that:

Online travel agencies (OTAs) like Expedia Group are the preferred booking platform: 59% of hotel guests booked their stay on an OTA.

Travelers typically spend over two months (68 days) looking and planning before booking a hotel.

Advertising influenced 69% of hotel bookers early in their travel path to purchase.

The time between when a hotel is booked and the start of a trip is 69 days.

Hotel travelers rely on social media in the early stages of their trip planning. Social media use breaks down as follows: Instagram: 65% YouTube: 41% TikTok: 36% Instagram: 65% Facebook: 48% YouTube: 41% TikTok: 36%



These insights are invaluable as youre planning how much your hotel should spend on advertising, when to target travelers on their trip planning journey, and how you can increase revenue and bookings.

Visibility boosters: How TravelAds and Accelerator help you convert travelers

When it comes to hotel advertising, there isnt a single strategy that works for every property. In the same way, there isnt a single property thats right for every traveler, which is why its essential to ensure your hotel is in front of the right traveler, and at the right time. This is the reason weve purposefully built two different cost-effective solutions to help deliver the results youre looking for:TravelAds and Accelerator.

In a crowded market its important to capture travelers attention and convert them into bookers. This means its imperative your property stands out on the search results page. Lets examine how these two visibility booster tools can help you meet your goals.

TravelAds and Accelerator: Powerful hotel visibility boosters  Source: Expedia Group Media Solutions

Combining TravelAds and Accelerator

TravelAds and Accelerator can help you increase your hotel revenue as a singular solution or, when used together, can deliver even more powerful results. Properties that run these visibility boosters concurrently see:

Nearly 25% higher gross booking value and nearly 30% higher net room nights than properties that only run TravelAds.

and than properties that only run TravelAds. 50% higher gross booking value and nearly 40% higher net room nights than properties only running Accelerator.*

During high-need windows and seasonal opportunities these solutions offer you the flexibility to continuously monitor and optimize your campaign and start, pause or relaunch your hotel ads as needed.

By using Accelerator, you boost your organic listings position in sort. Then, with TravelAds, you double your visibility in a prominent sort position that includes custom ad copy and images.

The joint advertising effort of TravelAds and Accelerator ensures your property gains maximum visibility for travelers searching for places to stay at your destination.

Maximize your hotel advertising campaigns performance

Now that weve looked at the benefits that TravelAds and Accelerator offer hotel marketers and advertisers, lets dive a bit deeper into how you can optimize each solution to maximize the value each of these solutions delivers.

How TravelAds work

Once youve aligned internally with your stakeholders and set your hotel advertising budget, TravelAds is a powerful hotel advertising solution to help you increase room bookings across our 200+ websites.

TravelAds is easy to use and helps you connect with travelers who are actively searching and looking to book. With TravelAds you can:

Set targeting capabilities : Surface your ads to the people you want to reach by setting who sees your ads.

: Surface your ads to the people you want to reach by setting who sees your ads. Gain visibility in search results : Get premium placement in search sort.

: Get premium placement in search sort. Control your budget : Youre in the drivers seat. Set a custom daily budget and maximum cost-per-click allowance and only pay when a traveler engages with your listing.

: Youre in the drivers seat. Set a custom daily budget and maximum cost-per-click allowance and only pay when a traveler engages with your listing. Customize images and ad copy : Tell your story your way. Enhance your ad and showcase features that differentiate your property to stand out from the crowd.

: Tell your story your way. Enhance your ad and showcase features that differentiate your property to stand out from the crowd. Get data insights: Robust real-time reporting lets you monitor your campaign, including clicks, views, conversions, and bid strength evaluations to help you continually optimize your campaign.

How Accelerator works

Youre in control with Accelerator. Based on your goals, its up to you to determine when you want to use this visibility booster for your property. Since each property has its own unique needs, you can be exacting when you use Accelerator, like when you need to fill rooms during a specific time frame, or you can run Accelerator for a longer period of time to cover an entire season, for example.

TravelAds and Accelerator: Powerful hotel visibility boosters  Source: Expedia Group Media Solutions

Once you input when you want your ads to run, you can adjust your campaign at any time. Here are some tips on how to get the most out of Accelerator:

Define parameters: Target specific time periods to run your ads or select to set Accelerator as an ongoing stream of always-on ads.

Target specific time periods to run your ads or select to set Accelerator as an ongoing stream of always-on ads. Forecast your revenue: Before you get started with Accelerator you canpreview the potential incremental increases in your compensation rate for your propertys position.

Before you get started with Accelerator you canpreview the potential incremental increases in your compensation rate for your propertys position. Adjust and optimize: Track net room nights, gross booking value, and page views and search impressions.

Track net room nights, gross booking value, and page views and search impressions. Compensation: Well automatically reconcile bookings at the selected compensation level and use existing systems for payment.

Converting travelers with our hotel advertising solutions

For more than 20 years weve been helping hotels engage and convert travelers who are looking for the ideal place to stay while theyre traveling. With this experience under our belt, we understand that every property has unique needs and business goals in the same way that travelers have their own needs.

By working together, we can meet your business objectives and give travelers what it is theyre looking for. Let us help you get started today.

* Expedia Group, TravelAds and Accelerator incremental data, 2022

About Expedia Group Media Solutions

Expedia Group Media Solutions is a global travel advertising platform that connects marketers with hundreds of millions of travelers across the Expedia Group brands. With our exclusive access to more than 70 petabytes of Expedia Group traveler search and booking data, we offer advertisers actionable insights, sophisticated targeting, and full-funnel results reporting. Our suite of solutions includes display, sponsored listings, audience extension, co-op campaigns, and custom creative campaigns  all designed to deliver on the objectives of our advertising partners and add value for travel shoppers on our branded sites globally. With a consultative approach and more than 20 years of travel and media experience, we help our advertising partners inspire, engage, and convert travelers for meaningful results. For more information, visit www.advertising.expedia.com.

 2022 Expedia, Inc., an Expedia Group company. All rights reserved. Trademarks and logos are the property of their respective owners. CST: 2029030-50

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The Boutique Lifestyle Leadership Association (BLLA) held its 11th annual Boutique Hotel Investment Conference on June 7 and 8 in the heart of New York City at Florence Gould Hall. The conference brought together passionate participants to collaborate on shaping the future of the independent boutique hotel landscape. Distinguished leaders from around the world gathered to explore various topics that independent hospitality businesses face today as well as contemplate the growing interest from investors. From F&B as a Recipe for Success to discussing The largest sales transaction since the Pandemic with The Pomeranc Brothers, and A Casual Conversation on Funding, Innovation & Startups, the wide range of themes encapsulated the spirit of hospitality. Over two days, the event fostered an open and candid dialogue among prominent industry representatives, igniting the spark for transformative progress within the boutique sector.

Ariela Kiradjian, Partner & COO of BLLA and Co-Founder of StayBoutique, set the tone with her opening speech, emphasizing the Associations commitment to advancing the boutique sector of the hospitality industry into the future. [BLLA] liberates what it means to be a hotelier and advances the boutique sector of the hospitality industry into the future. We are here to gather and refuel our industry as we navigate the next phase of contemporary travel.

Source: BLLA

Technology

Technology emerged as a significant topic at this years conference. In a Casual Conversation on Funding, Innovation & Startups, the founder of MEWS, Richard Valtr, and the Managing Director of Thayer Ventures, Chris Hemmeter, explored the distinctive edge that boutique operations possess. As travel markets continuously adapt to shifting cultural trends and international policies, modern travelers preferences have evolved, and the hospitality industry responds with innovative experiences. Hemmeter, shedding light on his investment strategies, emphasized the advantages that independent hotels have over large chains when integrating technology into their operations. Small-scale hotel properties have the ability to test, develop, experiment, and learn, he explained. Competing large chains often lack the same capacity for agility, flexibility, and creativity when implementing new technology and automation into hotel operating systems.

Source: BLLA

COVID-19 Pandemic and Adaptability

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the crucial importance of swift adaptability. It underscored the necessity for businesses to reevaluate and adjust their operational strategies. Reflecting on the lessons learned from the pandemic, investors are now recognizing the imperative of prioritizing flexibility when crafting their business models.

The pandemics severity caught suppliers off guard; however, Hemmeter elaborated on how the rebound of leisure travel, coupled with emerging trends in business travel, has unveiled a newfound willingness among suppliers and operators to explore and implement new technologies at every phase of the travel experience. Hemmeter noted a heightened customer comfort level with automation, signaling exciting opportunities ahead.

The types of things that get me really excited, for example, are a summary of reports; were calling it texting the GM. Valtr conveyed his enthusiasm for AIs potential, envisioning an AI-driven system that would deliver daily analyst reports to property managers, providing immediate daily insights and benchmarks.

Hemmeter, building on this theme, painted an exciting vision of generative AI builders intersecting with visual media within a metaverse framework, fostering a vast array of applications across various industries. Whats super exciting for us is that as these platforms begin to intersect, you can imagine generative AI builders using images and video operating in a metaverse space. You have an almost unlimited number of use cases. [For example,] if you were training someone on the front of the house, they could literally be behind a set of goggles and experience something you couldnt even invent and learn to go through all those things. The potential applications across industries as these [programs] begin to intersect are very exciting.

Source: BLLA

Panel Discussion: A Candid Talk on Technology

The panel conversation A Candid Talk on Technology echoed optimistic sentiments and highlighted emerging technology in hotel operations. Representatives from Pace Revenue, Roomza, Corporate Spending Innovations, Techtonic Hospitality, and DIRECTV discussed consumer engagement, the benefits and drawbacks of modern technology, as well as the influence on the contemporary phase of the boutique lifestyle.

Jason Pinto, COO of Pace Revenue, urged the audience to embrace technologys potential as a catalyst for positive change. I really advise everyone in the audience to think about technology as an enabler. It helps us get better at the job were doing, which is to delight guests. It will take away the busy work and drive better performance. Ultimately, I think it will link back to the objectives that youre trying to achieve, he explained.

Source: BLLA

Sustainability

The conference spotlighted the investment advantages of small-scale operational adaptability beyond the realm of technology. Independent brands flexibility in restructuring positions them for success in the face of global change. Climate changes transformative impact on business profitability and survival loomed large.

Insights from the CitizenM sustainability report highlight the urgency of action to address climate-related risks and opportunities, crucial for maintaining stakeholders trust.

Climate change is one of the biggest threats our world is facing. As our planet heats up, we expect to see severe weather events more frequently, which could result in damage and financial loss. The effects are potentially devastating to peoples lives and the economy. There is an urgency to take action to limit these events. Transparency regarding climate-related risks and opportunities will be critical to maintaining the trust of stakeholders and will enable investors to better understand the implications of climate change on businesses.  from the CitizenM sustainability report

Amidst the struggle of larger corporations to adeptly navigate rapid shifts, independent hotels stand in a unique position to adopt sustainable practices. Such practices not only align with an organizations ethical objectives but also yield substantial economic dividends.

In a conversation between Marissa Ballan, Vice President, Global Investment Management at citizenM Hotels, and Benedetta Cassinelli, CEO & Co-Founder of Considerate Group, titled Investing with an Environmental Conscience, the two discussed strategies they see at the forefront of creating a positive impact within the industry and the profitability of investing in sustainability for boutique hotels.

Cassinelli illuminated the multifaceted nature of stakeholders in the hospitality sector, emphasizing the divergent interests of brands, operators, lenders, and equity owners in terms of value creation and returns on investment. With sustainability, what is really important is that you align the interests of all these different stakeholders and make them understand why ESG is important to each of them; what the values and benefits that investing in sustainability will bring them, she said.

Ballan highlighted CitizenMs distinctive advantage as both a brand and operator and real estate developer. So we understand our portfolio can really implement change more quickly than many other players in the space, she explained, underscoring the unique position independent brands have when making decisions. Real estate in general is responsible for 30-40% of global emissions. As owners of real estate, [investing in sustainability] really is just the right thing to do.

Moreover, these investments transcend ethical considerations, offering both short-term and long-term value creation while mitigating risks for hotel owners. Overall, if you reduce your energy consumption, youre going to reduce your energy cost long-term, affirmed Ballan. As global real-estate regulations grow more stringent, both leaders highlighted investment in sustainable design as an essential measure for risk mitigation and safeguarding future investments.

In the short term, Cassinelli explained how implementing data monitoring systems, such as waste streams and resource consumption monitoring, can yield immediate value for a property. Capital return on these often low-cost investments is realized within a matter of months or even weeks.

I see sustainability very much aligned with profitability. Ultimately, sustainability entails the implementation of sound business practices. When executed effectively, it enhances operational margins and boosts profitability, emphasized Cassinelli.

Even legendary boutique hotel owners recognize the value of investing in sustainability. In The Visionaries: A Casual Conversation with Raul Leal, CEO of SH Hotels & Resorts, and Andrew Zobler, Founder & CEO of Sydell Group, Leal discussed 1 Hotels commitment to restructuring hotel operations toward achieving net-zero status, alongside implementing a drawdown and emissions plan.

The 2023 Hotel Investment Conference underscored the significance of boutique hotels in shaping the future of the hospitality industry. As the realm of travel continues to evolve, the boutique sector stands at the forefront, presenting unmatched opportunities for innovation, personalized services, and sustainable practices that resonate with the modern traveler. With steadfast commitment and an unwavering spirit, boutique hotels persist in shaping the future of the hospitality industry, establishing novel standards of excellence, and igniting entrepreneurial inspiration worldwide.

About the Boutique Lifestyle Leaders Association (BLLA)

The official organization for the world's boutique lifestyle leaders promoting connection, education, and advocacy. As a pioneer in forecasting the boutique movement, the BLLA's network has grown beyond its hotel foundation to welcome more passionate entrepreneurs, businesses, and purveyors that amplify the boutique lifestyle. The BLLA Corporate Manifesto video. Experience the intention behind BLLA Events in this video. BLLA is a catalyst for trends and the future of the boutique lifestyle. BLLA.org

Boutique Lifestyle Leaders Association (BLLA)

BLLA

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As the world's leading luxury hospitality company, Four Seasons commitment to a perfect night's sleep runs deep. Launching today, the brand's "Dreams Belong Everywhere" retail campaign places a spotlight on the renowned Four Seasons Signature Sleep collection, loved by guests around the world, and accessorized by a curated selection of best-selling products that have been designed to the highest standards for distinguished living. Enter the dreamy world of Four Seasons and shop the collection online at Four Seasons at Home.

"Our signature sleep experience is based on a 60-year legacy of innovation in partnership with sleep experts and feedback from the world's most discerning travellers," says Julie Bourgeois, Senior Vice President, Retail, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. "Our Dreams Belong Everywhere campaign marries our core competency in sleep products and the sense of belonging guests feel at our inspiring hotel destinations. Australian model and actress, Gemma Ward, joins us as our campaign face, perfectly representing the warmth and sincerity that defines Four Seasons."

A Signature Sleep Experience

The pinnacle of the Signature Sleep Experience is the legendary Four Seasons mattress. Years of development have achieved the ideal balance of comfort with three firmness options to choose from. Supportive pillows, sumptuous duvets, and smooth, sateen linens have also been crafted to complete the collection, extending the iconic Four Seasons sleep experience into the home.

The Sleep Set includes a Four Seasons mattress in either Signature, Firm or Plush  for a perfectly customized sleep experience  along with a corresponding sheet set, duvet cover set, duvet insert and pillow.

Sumptuous Bedding, Plush Pillows and Premium Duvets

Choose from a superior blend of down and feathers or non-allergenic plush Pillows to feel perfectly supported and inspire sweet dreams.

Custom-designed to provide both warmth and protection, Four Seasons Duvets are available in a range of premium down and synthetic options for year-round comfort.

A new Slumber Set brings elevated comfort to any home with Four Seasons best-selling sleep essentials, all in one bundle. Complete with hypoallergenic Down & Feather Pillows and the All Seasons Duvet, the Slumber Set ensures maximum comfort and sleep support.

Luxurious Linens

Wrap up for a night of blissful sleep with a 100% Long Staple Supima cotton Sheet Set finished in a sateen construction. With a focus on thread quality, not just thread count, these high-quality, extra-long threads ensure durability, softness, strength and pilling resistance. Available in a range of alluring colors, the Sheet Set includes one deep-pocketed fitted sheet, one modern hemmed flat sheet and two French closure pillow cases.

Expertly crafted from the finest 100% Long Staple Supima cotton, the Duvet Cover Set exudes the effortless comfort and style that is the hallmark of Four Seasons. The range of colors allows perfect pairing with any bedroom setting. The set features one duvet cover, two bordered pillow shams and two Euro Shams.

New to the linens collection, the Linen Set delivers both comfort and style in one inclusive bundle, woven from 100% Long Staple Supima cotton and available in a range of tranquil colors. The Linen Set includes a Sheet Set of one deep-pocketed Fitted Sheet, one modern hemmed Flat Sheet, and two French closure Pillow Cases, and a Duvet Cover Set that includes one Duvet Cover, two bordered Pillow Shams and two Euro Shams.

Plush Towel Sets for the Home or Poolside

The ultra-plush six-piece Bath Towel Set is crafted from 100% Combed Low Twist cotton terry and finished with a patterned dobby border. Available in a range of colors, the set includes two bath towels, two hand towels and two wash cloths.

Make every day a spa day with the elegant six-piece Spa Towel Set. Crafted from 100% Combed Low Twist cotton and available in a range of colors, the set features two bath towels, two hand towels and two wash cloths for the ultimate at-home spa experience.

The Pool Towel Set provides the perfect absorbency and comfort to enhance any pool experience. Loomed with the finest Super Combed Cotton, the set is available in a lush white color.

Wrapped in Love with Four Seasons Robes

The classic 100% velour jacquard cotton Bath Robe features a streamlined and tailored fit, double belt-loop and plush waffle weave interior for added comfort and style.

Bring the Four Seasons spa experience home with the Spa Robe, the epitome of luxury with a soft microsuede exterior, plush microfiber terry lining, and refined tonal piping.

The 100% microfiber Children's Robe features a traditional kimono style with a built-in hood and soft lining for added comfort.

With its contemporary hooded design and ultra-soft bamboo cotton interior, the Hooded Robe is perfect for all-day lounging or cozy nights with its mid-length design. Available in a choice of neutral colorways.

Shop Four Seasons at Home Collection here.
Excerpt from Washington Post

Its been a sizzling summer of travel, but this will likely be the peak of the post-pandemic boom. As longer nights start to draw in, the urge to splurge on pricey trips is bound to fade.

As it returned to profitability for the first time since the pandemic, TUI AG said bookings for this summer were up 6% from 2022. Yet although customers continue to spend more on their vacations, this is a slowdown from the 13% increase reported at the second quarter.

The worlds biggest package-tour operator said this reflected three weeks of uncertainty amid a heatwave in parts of Europe and wildfires that raged in Rhodes last month. But there are signs elsewhere that our wanderlust is starting to wane.

In the US, Alaska Air Group Inc., JetBlue Airways Corp., Frontier Group Holdings Inc. and Spirit Airlines Inc.  all carriers that primarily cater to North American markets  have warned that weaker demand in their home territory will weigh on fares and results this fall. The airlines all blamed a rapid shift in preference among Americans for international travel in the first full summer without substantive Covid restrictions since the beginning of the pandemic. The strong dollar is also helping boost the appeal of a holiday in Europe.

But there are growing concerns that this pullback isnt just about geographies, and that consumers are reining in spending amid high prices.

Airbnb Inc. said customers booked 115.1 million nights and experiences in the three months ending June 30. That was 11% ahead of the same period a year earlier, but the slowest pace of growth since the pandemic shutdowns. Destination Analysts, which has been polling American travelers for the past three years, found that while leisure trips remain a high priority, budgets are coming under pressure.

At Omni Hotels & Resorts, revenue per available room at a comparable set of hotels in the current quarter is trending to be flat relative to a year earlier, or maybe down a little bit, President Kurt Alexander said. The companys portfolio of properties is primarily in the US, and rates are dropping at some of its leisure-oriented resorts as international travel markets siphon off demand.

Click here to read complete article at Washington Post.
Mercure Pangkalan Bun Kalimantan, Indonesia

Accor has opened three new properties in Asia during the month of July: the mid-scale Mercure Pangkalan Bun and premium Movenpick Hotel Surabaya City in Indonesia, and the midscale Novotel Rayong Star Convention Center in Thailand. They bring Accors total new properties in Asia to 15 so far in 2023.

Novotel Rayong Star Convention Centre Rayong, Thailand

Novotel is a renowned midscale brand, and the 234-key city hotel located in Rayong brings the brand's signature experiences to life with naturally intuitive design and spacious modular rooms, nutritious food, and a wide range of rewarding experiences for business guests and families alike. The hotel's pillarless conference and event venue can accommodate up to 1,200 guests and has a dynamic layout suitable for a range of meetings, from corporate to social events. Guests are invited to celebrate the hotel's opening with a special rate starting from THB2,200++ per night for members of ALL  Accor Live Limitless, including a food and beverage credit of THB 500 per night, available until 30th September 2023.

Rayong has long served as a unique weekend getaway destination for residents of Thailand, located a convenient two-and-a-half-hour drive from Bangkok and Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Novotel Rayong Star Convention Centre connects guests to the industrial zone, markets, restaurants, beaches and tourist attractions, such as the 80-year-old Yom Jin Da Road Market, uniquely curvy Seang Chan Beach, the Floating Pagoda, Khao Laem Ya-Mu Ko Samet National Park, and fruit farms.

Mercure Pangkalan Bun Kalimantan, Indonesia

Accor's first property in Indonesia's Central Kalimantan Province, Mercure Pangkalan Bun, brings a true reflection of the city's cultural essence. Pangkalan Bun, the capital of West Kotawaringin Regency, serves as a gateway to the renowned 4,150-square-kilometre Tanjung Puting National Park, recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. This park is the most important conservation area for orangutans worldwide.

Embracing the area's connection to nature, Mercure Pangkalan Bun features 150 stylish and contemporary rooms, ranging from Premium Superior Rooms to the Presidential Suite, with interior design incorporating natural elements such as woven rattan and wood. All of the distinctive culinary offerings at Mercure Pangkalan Bun  Kelakai, the all-day dining restaurant; The Malining lobby lounge; and the Palapas Bar  incorporate locally sourced ingredients and showcase a vibrant and contemporary ambiance.

The hotel also features the elegant Batuah Ballroom, the largest pillarless ballroom in the city, equipped with cutting-edge technology to set the stage for unforgettable weddings, corporate meetings, and social events for up to 650 delegates. To celebrate the opening, members of Accor's lifestyle loyalty program, ALL - Accor Live Limitless, can take advantage of a special opening rate of IDR 905.080 net per night, including breakfast for two guests, until 31st August 2023.

Movenpick Hotel Surabaya City Surabaya, Indonesia

Movenpick Hotel Surabaya City is set to become a popular destination for business and leisure visitors looking to enjoy Indonesia's second-largest city and the thriving East Java province. The property is relaunching and opening its doors under the Movenpick Hotels & Resorts brand, focusing on providing warm and heartfelt service and healthy living. The hotel features 243 spacious and stylish rooms and suites, and guests can unwind in the elevated outdoor infinity swimming pool, fully-equipped fitness centre, and soothing spa.

The hotel's six function spaces feature integrated screens and audio-visual technology, with the largest accommodating up to 750 delegates. Patita Restaurant is an elegant all-day dining concept that will showcase creative new flavours and nourishing bites, while the lively Lobby Lounge offers refreshments throughout the day.

Movenpick Hotel Surabaya City is now the second Movenpick-branded property in Indonesia, following Movenpick Resort & Spa Jimbaran Bali. The opening of this property is part of a significant expansion strategy for this legendary Swiss brand in Indonesia, which is world-renowned for its innovative culinary offerings, heartfelt service and mindful sustainability. Ideally positioned on Jalan Ahmad Yani, within Surabaya's most dynamic commercial district, Movenpick Hotel Surabaya City is surrounded by shopping malls, offices, exhibition centres, educational establishments, medical facilities and more and is conveniently located only a 30-minute drive from Juanda International Airport.

Travellers can now book the hotel's exclusive reopening offer, with rates starting from IDR 1.310.248 net/room per night for two people, including breakfast

"We're delighted to be introducing Accor's renowned brands into new destinations, offering our loyal guests a greater array of accommodation options for their travels" said Garth Simmons, Chief Executive Officer, Premium, Midscale and Economy Division for Accor in Asia. "Our Novotel, Mercure and Movenpick brands are loved by guests around the globe. At Novotel, guests can enhance life balance with a sense of well-being and enjoyment, while a visit to Mercure promises an array of genuinely local experiences. Movenpick invites guests to balance indulgences like the daily chocolate hour with what's good for them  and good for the world. As we continue to expand across Asia, Accor is committed to creating positive economic, social, and environmental impact for our guests, owners, talent, local communities and the planet."
Hemal Jain - General Manager - Mandarin Oriental, Canouan

Hotel management veteran brings over 18 years of global experience to St. Vincent and The Grenadines premier ultra-luxury destination

Mandarin Oriental, Canouan, the all-suite, all-villa luxury resort in St. Vincent and The Grenadines, today announces the appointment of Hemal Jain to General Manager. Bringing more than 18 years of hospitality and executive leadership experience to the five-star Caribbean destination, Jain will oversee day-to-day hotel operations, leading the team in delivering operational excellence and innovative guest programs.

A native of India with multinational experience, Jain joins Mandarin Oriental, Canouan from Alila Villas Uluwatu and Alila Manggis, Virtuoso-affiliated properties in Bali, Indonesia, where he served as General Manager. Prior to his tenure in Bali, Jain held General Manager, Director of Sales & Marketing and Front Office Manager positions at Alila Bangalore Hotel and Residence in India and a series of operational leadership roles with Park Hyatt Hadahaa, Maldives and Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa. Prior to joining Hyatt Hotels Corporation (Alila Hotels & Resorts and Park Hyatt), he held Front Office positions with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts (Mumbai and Doha) and Oberoi Hotels and Resorts in The Himalayas (Wildflower Hall) and Agra, India (Trident Agra). Throughout his tenure in the industry, Jain has been recognized for his integrity, leadership and revenue achievements, which were reflected in multiple industry awards he was honored with. He was named as one of The Hotelier Awards top five finalists in the General Manager of the Year - Asia 2018 category and, most recently, was named one of the Best Hotel General Managers in Indonesia, by Travel + Leisure Asia Pacific 2023.

We are very excited to welcome Hemal Jain to St. Vincent & The Grenadines, adds Christoph Mares, Chief Operating Officer at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. Hemal has been part of the luxury hospitality industry for many years and is known for delivering impactful results for each hotel and resort in which hes worked. His wealth of industry knowledge, his dedication to service and his leadership approach all contributed to Hemals selection for this position. We are looking forward to seeing his vision for the resort come to life.

It is an honor to join the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group and work alongside some of the most respected and trustworthy professionals in luxury hospitality, says Hemal Jain. I am eager to contribute to the continued success of this exceptional Caribbean gem and share our local culture and conservation experiences, including our beautiful turtle sanctuary, with the world. Luxury travelers, today, are focused on regenerative travel and are looking for meaning, purpose, and community engagement. Im excited to help bring these pillars to life on-property.

Jain holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel and Hospitality Administration from the Institute of Hotel Management Lucknow (affiliated with the National Council for Hotel Management & Catering Technology, Pusa, New Delhi and Government of India). He is fluent in three languages (English, Hindu and Bengali) and has resided in five different countries.

About Mandarin Oriental, Canouan

Located in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Mandarin Oriental, Canouan promises impeccable attention to detail. The resort is home to a collection of atmospheric restaurants offering a variety of culinary delights accompanied by stunning ocean views. Offering spacious suites and chic villas, Mandarin Oriental, Canouan is an all-ocean view luxury hideaway perfect for families and friends. For Hotel Fact Sheet, click HERE.

Discover more at https://www.mandarinoriental.com/en/canouan/caribbean.

Press Contact:

Sydney Engel

Mandarin Oriental, Canouan

Sydney@sydneyepublicity.com

732-513-8800
It's Possible to Do More with Less During a Labor Shortage: Here's How

As travel continues to recover, some airlines, hotels, restaurants, and event venues worldwide are struggling to keep up with demand due to labor shortages. And while labor shortages are nothing new, the pandemic brought about some fresh challenges, including the phenomenon of revenge travel, or the concept of consumers making up for lost time by booking more and longer travel experiences. The overall impact that this increase in consumer demand has had on labor within the hospitality industry has been enormous.

The State of Labor Shortages

Labor shortages are impacting businesses productivity, efficiency, and profitability across various sectors of the economy, but within the hospitality industry, hotels struggle to recruit and retain workers. According to a June 2023 survey by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), over 80% of hotels are experiencing staffing shortages and 26% of those characterize them as severe. In Canada, two out of three accommodation businesses report that labor shortages are significantly impeding their business, according to the Hotel Association of Canada.

In Europe, there is a similar situation, where an aging workforce coupled with challenges attracting new, younger workers contribute to the issue. Labor shortages are impacting hospitality workforces in France and the U.K. too, where a lack of qualified workers has all contributed to significant labor shortages in this sector.

Impact on the Industry

The hospitality industry has faced difficulties in meeting customer demand and satisfying rising consumer expectations as a result of these ongoing labor shortages. With fewer workers, many businesses have had to reduce hours, limit capacity, or close specific business areas, leading to decreased sales. Hotels have needed to add temporary staff to handle daily operations such as cleaning rooms or checking in guests.

When businesses dont have enough workers, the workload often falls on those who are available, leading to burnout, fatigue, and overall lower productivity. Workers are often stretched thin as they cover multiple roles, leading to potential errors, decreased efficiency, missed revenue opportunities, and a decline in the overall reputation of the business.

Finally, as pent-up demand for travel and leisure has grown, customers have become increasingly impatient and unforgiving when their needs are not met. A guests negative experience as a result of rising expectations can be difficult for a business to overcome.

Transforming Challenges into Opportunities

With so many complex challenges echoing throughout the industry, innovative solutions must be found by hoteliers in order to overcome labor shortages. Only by adapting to new realities can businesses not just survive but thrive in this evolving world.

Hoteliers must resort to innovative solutions that address labor shortages without overextending their resources. The key lies in leveraging existing infrastructures to optimize operational efficiency, rather than expanding into new avenues or overburdening their workforce.

The first step towards such transformation is to reimagine our traditional understanding of business operations and how technology can support them. Hoteliers must embrace the thinking outside the box philosophy, seeking solutions that may not be readily apparent or traditional. This could mean reevaluating internal processes, experimenting with new operational structures, or seeking ways to increase efficiency.

Innovation & Automation: Critical to Growth

A key area hoteliers can look at when considering how to grow revenue is the use of automation and technology to increase guest satisfaction and loyalty, drive repeat business, and improve efficiency and productivity.

Service optimization solutions are designed to streamline and prioritize work so that teams feel more engaged and guests, whose evolving demands drive an ever-increasing focus on hotel service optimization, enjoy the most exceptional stays possible.

The efficiencies provided by service optimization software  automated hotel operations, reduced labor costs, and faster service speed  allow hotels to ensure an elevated level of service to guests through improved management of room inspections, housekeeping, scheduled maintenance, and more. The combination of a more empowered hotel staff and heightened levels of guest satisfaction can provide a hotel with the competitive advantage it needs to thrive in a world where human connection and collaboration remain at the heart of the hospitality industry.

By employing comprehensive marketing or operationally focused automation tools, hotels can address customer requests or escalations quickly, resulting in elevated guest satisfaction and return bookings. A central reservation system (CRS) can not only bring in more business through a hotels own website, but by ensuring more customized outreach and personalized offers before, during, and after a guests stay, it can help drive revenue and provide higher overall guest satisfaction.

Utilizing housekeeping technology can also help hotels automate operations and enable them to make more effective housekeeping-related decisions based on data and guest preferences. Ultimately this added efficiency assists workers in performing their jobs, leading to improved staff productivity and an enhanced guest experience.

Todays sales and catering software and meeting distribution technology can also assist hoteliers who are focused on developing a group business strategy, by allowing them to gain insights into group reservations, performance, and revenue opportunities and more effectively manage group expectations.

A Path Forward

Todays labor shortages combined with shifting guest expectations and changing market dynamics create a complex working environment for hoteliers. As the hospitality industry continues to evolve, finding new and innovative solutions to deal with these shortages will be crucial for hotels if they are to succeed in the long term.

Hoteliers can adapt to these changing dynamics in a variety of ways. By considering automating processes or utilizing technology to streamline operations, they can boost productivity, efficiency, and profitability. By making the sector more attractive to potential employees, they will be able to attract staff. And by ensuring that communication between departments is optimized, they can help retain existing employees, thereby delivering on the ultimate goal: enhancing the guest experience.

Download the complimentary Technology Investment Handbook to learn more about how purchasing technology solutions can help your property not just survive but flourish, today and into the future!

Alison Guillot is the External Communications Manager at Amadeus. Connect with Alison on LinkedIn.
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Spotify shares Hip-Hop stats, top markets, and local to global growth

Hip-hop accounts for nearly 25% of all streams on Spotify, led by artists like Drake, Nicki Minaj, 21 Savage, Ice Spice, and Metro Boomin, the DSP shared as part of its ongoing celebration of the genres 50th anniversary.

From Local to Global

One phenomenon driving hip-hop creativity and growth is the importance of regional scenes in the US and globally, each birthing unique sounds that, over time, influence the genre globally.

Its interesting that hip-hop has become regional, but also region-less at the same time, said Carl Chery, Creative Director, Head of Urban Music, Spotify. Trap is no longer exclusive to Atlanta. Weve heard Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and J. Cole on trap beats. Drill is no longer exclusive to London, Chicago, and New York; its a global sound. Its always fascinating to see how fast sounds travel now.

Top Hip-Hop Markets

In 2023 to date, the Top 10 markets for hip-hop streams on Spotify are . . .

USA Mexico Brazil Germany France UK Spain India Canada Italy

More Spotify hip-hop stats

Hip-hop is one of the most-listened-to genres on Spotify, and more than 400 million global users have streamed hip-hop music in 2023 so far.

global users have streamed hip-hop music in 2023 so far. RapCaviar is the second most-followed playlist on Spotify.

More than 53 million user-generated and Spotify-curated playlists on Spotify mention hip-hop or rap in the playlists title.

More than 2 billion playlists contain at least one hip-hop song.

Almost half of Spotifys Top 50 most-streamed artists globally have been hip-hop or rap artists for the past three years.

More from Spotify here.

Bruce Houghton is the Founder and Editor of Hypebot, a Senior Advisor at Bandsintown, President of the Skyline Artists Agency, and a Berklee College Of Music professor.

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MDAR Deputy Commissioner Winton Pitcoff and Mass Farmers Markets Executive Director Edith Murnane speak with a vendor at Pittsfield Farmers Market. PreviousNext

Deputy MDAR Commissioner Visits Pittsfield Farmers Market



Deputy Commissioner Winton Pitcoff reads a proclamation naming Aug. 6-12 as Farmers Market Week in the state. National Farmers Market has been celebrated for 24 years.

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Representatives from the state Department of Agricultural Resources made a stop at the Pittsfield Farmers Market as part of Massachusetts Farmers Market Week, recognizing the role agriculture plays in community building and expanding food access.



"Today is actually the last day of National Farmers Market Week and tomorrow starts another farmer's market week in Massachusetts because every week is farmer's market week in Massachusetts. We have over 260 farmer's markets during the growing season and about 50 in the winter even so it's never a bad time to find local produce anywhere in Massachusetts," MDAR Deputy Commissioner Winton Pitcoff said.



"We are a national leader in that regard. Other states look to us because we lead the country in direct-to-consumer sales and what that means is that every dollar you're spending here today with farmers is going right back into that farm and that means that everything you spend is an investment in Massachusetts because those farmers go back and create jobs, they are buying local goods and services, and contributing significantly to the local economy."



He pointed out that farmers are also a big contributor to the state's fight against climate change, as they steward the land, take care of natural resources and take care of natural resources.



Roots Rising's teen-led market was founded over 10 years ago. Recently, the organization received a $20,000 Safer Communities Grant allocation for its youth crews to help empower youth through meaningful, paid work.



"Our mission is to empower youth and build community through food and farming and the Pittsfield farmer's market is one of our core programs. This is our 11th season. We are a year-round market. We are the first teen-run market in the region. We are very proud of our market and we are delighted to have you all here," Executive Director Jessica Vecchia said.



"Our market was founded with a belief that everyone has the right to fresh healthy food and we strive to make the market accessible and inclusive for all, from our earliest decision to locate the market here in downtown Pittsfield to our most recent initiative, our BIPOC Vendor Fund, our market is rooted in social justice."



Since its inception, the market has facilitated more than a half-million dollars in fresh food put on the table for those in need. This is done through several food justice programs including the Market Match that doubles Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the special supplemental nutrition program for Women Infants & Children (WIC), and senior benefits.



"While the food might be subsidized for our shoppers, our farmers receive 100 percent of those sales," Vecchia explained. "In this way, our market helps build a just and thriving community."



Pitcoff said that the food system only works when this kind of food is accessible to everybody.



Mass Farmers Markets Executive Director Edith Murnane said it was a lovely market. The nonprofit organization is in the midst of celebrating its 45th anniversary.



"At the heart of the work that Mass Farmers Markets does is really about supporting the market managers. It's about supporting the organizations that build these environments," she said.



She thanked Roots Rising for all of the hard work that goes into creating the market, seconding Vecchia's statement that these events "don't just happen."



"They require an enormous amount of work before the season starts, after the season closes, during the season," Murnane added. "And it's work that often no one sees and no one recognizes."



Berkshire Grown Executive Director Margaret Moulton said the Pittsfield Farmers Market holds a special place in her heart. The organization runs a winter farmers' market in Great Barrington and North Adams.
First there was the elbow to my ribs, then the whispered: Look! Mum! I was on the train with my 11-year-old daughter Pearl; she had noticed the little girl across the carriage from us was reading the same, actual book as me!. The book: Holly Jacksons YA (Young Adult) phenomenon, A Good Girls Guide to Murder. The New York Times No 1 bestseller is a crime novel, the plot of which gives a shy schoolgirl permission to ask the adults in her community some tough questions. When we got home, we learnt that the forthcoming BBC series based on the book had just been cast, and would star Emma Myers (who played werewolf Enid in Wednesday, the most popular English language series of all time on Netflix). Could you maybe interview Holly Jackson so you can get me a signed copy of her new book? wheedled Pearl. Its called Five Survive, I already put it in your Amazon basket...

Like most mothers of screen addicts, I would walk over hot coals to get my kids reading during the summer holidays. So a few days later, Ive wangled a Zoom call with a sleep-deprived and hungry (yet still lively) Jackson, who is fresh from a long night shoot with the BBC. The 30-year-old novelist is, she tells me, still buzzing that her first novel is being turned into primetime telly.

The book came from such humble beginnings, she says. I didnt get one of those splashy big book deals thats plastered all over Publishers Weekly. In fact, when I joined a debut authors group I found out Id received the lowest advance  four figures  of any of them. She shakes her head. A Good Girls Guide... was a slow burner with sales and  unlike Pippa, the novels teenage detective  Jackson says shell never solve the mystery of why it took off in the way it did. And when my publishers began to suggest the book might top the NYT bestseller list I began catastrophising like a teenager, terrified of disappointing them. Then there was a lot of screaming and jumping around when I got the call. This was all just before Covid.
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Netflix viewers watching Heart of Stone were left blindsided by the costume of choice for one character.

The new spy thriller, which was released on Friday (11 August), stars Gal Gadot as an international agent who must protect an artificial intelligence system from falling into enemy hands.

Her attempts lead her to Senegal, where she falls into danger and is chased by a team of locals who have been bribed by the films villain, Parker (Jamie Dornan).

Its here that many viewers noticed one of the locals chasing Gadots character was wearing something they didnt expect to see: a Middlesborough FC shirt from the 2009/10 season.

How the hell did this happen? one perplexed fan asked, adding: Sat watching the new @GalGadot film and a bloody Boro fan is trying to kill her!!!

Another called it a wild inclusion, stating: Did not expect to see an old @Boro shirt in #HeartOfStone.

One viewer said they had to rewind it to double-check it was actually a Middlesborough shirt.

Just watched Heart of Stone on @NetflixUK, and a random mercenary is just casually wearing an old @Boro top, they wrote.

A vintage Middlesborough FC shirt in Netflix film Heart of Stone (Netflix)

Find more reactions to the unexpected moment below.

Heart of Stone was called drab and forgettable in The Independents review by film critic Clarisse Loughrey.

The film comes days after it was reported that as third Wonder Woman film would not be moving ahead  despite Gadots claims otherwise.

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In December 2022, just days after Gadot expressed excitement about returning as the superhero character, it was announced that DC would not be moving forward with the franchise.

The news landed after James Gunn and Peter Safran stepped in as chiefs of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), with The Hollywood Reporter claiming that a treatment for the film did not fit in with the studios plans.

Gadot, who at first said she felt empowered by the decision, then claimed in an interview with ComicBook.com: What I heard from James and from Peter is that were gonna develop a Wonder Woman 3 together.

Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman (Warner Bros)

She went on to state in a more recent interview with Flaunt magazine while promoting Heart of Stone ahead of the SAG-AFTRA Hollywood strikes: I was invited to a meeting with James Gunn and Peter Safran, and what they told me, and Im quoting: Youre in the best hands. Were going to develop Wonder Woman 3 with you. [We] love you as Wonder Woman  youve got nothing to worry about. So time will tell.

However, Variety is reporting that there are no active plans to develop a new Wonder Woman film, and that there was never any definitive discussion with Gadot about returning as the character.

This has prompted widespread confusion, with many fans questioning whether either Gadot or Gunn and Safran had been dishonest about the future of the project.
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Jason Momoa has issued a stern message to holidaymakers hoping to still travel to Maui amid the fatal wildfires.

Two days after sharing his heartbreak about the wildfires that have devastated the Hawaiian island, Momoa shared a post stating: Maui is not the place to have your vacation right now. DO NOT TRAVEL TO MAUI.

He continued: Do not convince yourself that your presence is needed on an island that is suffering this deeply.

Mahalo to everyone who has donated and shown aloha to the community in this time of need.

At least 67 people have died and thousands more have been evacuated as wildfires rage in the historic town of Lahaina.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green told CNN on Thursday (10 August) that more than 1,700 buildings and billions of dollars in property had been destroyed in the disaster, with Lahaina resident Mason Jarvi calling it the worst disaster Ive ever seen.

All of Lahaina is burnt to a crisp, Jarvi said, adding: Its like an apocalypse.

Aquaman actor Momoa, who is from Hawaii, wrote on Instagram: We are devastated and heartbroken for our friends and ohana on Maui who been impacted by the recent wildfires.

He then shared a video of the devastation via a video made by non-profit organisation Aina Momon, as well as several posts listing resource aids and donation links to help residents.

Aina Momon wrote: On Tuesday, August 8, 2023, a terrible combination of drought conditions and hurricane weather led to widespread wildfires across the Island of Maui.

Jason Momoa orders holidaymakers tor avoid Maui (Instagram)

Families were forced to evacuate on short notice, many escaping with only the clothes on their backs. Information on injuries and fatalities is still coming in.

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Lahaina town is gone. Many other places on Maui were also affected. We continue to send pule (prayers) to this incredible community. Aina Momona is standing up this fundraiser to support our Maui community.

All the funds raised will be given to the Hawaii Community Foundation Maui County Strong Fund to support disaster relief on Maui.

Another celebrity to have commented on the wildfires is drummer Mick Fleetwood, whose Lahaina restaurant Fleetwoods on Front St, has been destroyed.

MAUl and The Lahaina community have been my home for several decades, the Fleetwood Mac star wrote on Instagram. This is a devastating moment for MAUl and many are suffering unimaginable loss.

Destroyed homes and buildings on the waterfront in Maui (AFP via Getty Images)

We are still in life preservation mode. Search and rescue is still a primary concern, Adam Weintraub, a spokesperson for Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, said Thursday, the AP reported.

The wildfires started on Tuesday (8 August), with experts say was fanned by by winds from a faraway hurricane. Multiple neighbourhoods and treasured wildlife, including a 150-year-old banyan tree, have been affected.

You can find live updates about the wildfires here.
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Dwayne Johnson has shared his heartbreak about the wildfires that have ravaged Hawaii in the last week.

The actor and former WWE star has a strong connection to the US state and Pacific Island nation, after spending some of his teen years living in Honolulu.

Since Tuesday (8 August), Maui and Hawaiis Big Island have been struck by wildfires that have displaced tens of thousands of residents and have killed 92.

On Sunday (13 August), Johnson shared a video on Instagram in which he expressed his sadness at the devastation suffered on the islands.

Im completely heartbroken over this, and I know all of you are too, the Black Adam star said to the camera. Everything that I've seen transpire over these past couple of days, hour by hour, minute by minute, it's all heartbreaking.

Thank you guys, all around the world, for all of your love and your support and your light, your prayers, he continued. Thank you for sending them to the islands of Hawaii, the people of Hawaii.

After directing his followers to resources to donate, Johnson stated that hed been in touch with organisations at the site of crisis, and that hed continue to get as much information as possible.

In his caption to the post, the Red Notice actor stated the Hawaiian peoples faith and mana  the belief in an impersonal supernatural power which can be transmitted or inherited  remained strong.

The Rock / Dwayne Johnson (Instagram)

He also took the opportunity to highlight the efforts of emergency and care services offering necessary support to those affected.

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First responders, health care teams, hotels, local businesses, boots-on-the-ground organisations and all our local heroes, stay strong  we love you and appreciate you, he wrote.

All our local families, our ohana, our aiga [family or kin], stay strong thru this devastating time. Resilience resolve is our DNA. Our ancestors are in our blood. This is who we are. This is what we do. I love you. Stay strong. More to come.

He also shared some images of firefighters, police officers and volunteers working to quell the fires and keep people safe.

Elsewhere, part-time Maui resident Oprah Winfrey was thanked by the shelter at the War Memorial Complex in Wailuku for adhering to their privacy policy and leaving a news camera crew outside during her visit on Sunday morning (13 August).

The media mogul and former talk show host has been providing items such as pillows, blankets and shampoo since her initial visit on Thursday (10 August).

Meanwhile, Hawaiian actor Jason Momoa has issued a strong warning to those still attempting to Maui for vacation.

You can keep up with all updates here.
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A lioness has been shot dead in South Korea after it escaped from a farm, triggering a mass search and the evacuation of a neighbouring campsite.

More than 100 police officers searched for the animal - named Sasoonee  and dozens of campers were forced to vacate a nearby camping area, moving to a nearby mountain, after she was reported missing at approximately 7.30 on Sunday morning.

Authorities believe that she escaped through the back door of a farm that had been left open (Gyeongbuk Fire Station Service Headquarters via AP)

Authorities believe that she escaped through the back door of a farm that had been left open, Yonhap news agency reported, adding that the farm in question offers tours to the public to see its animals.

According to one fire official, the lioness was discovered in the bushes after an hour and shot dead.

However, the official could not comment on whether the lioness posed a threat or on whether authorities had attempted to use a tranquiliser dart to catch the lioness alive.

Following the animals escape, a safety alert was issued with an emergency hotline number provided to the public to report any sightings.

A string of animals have escaped from captivity in South Korea in recent months, with a zebra fleeing a zoo in the capital, Seoul, in March. Elsewhere, one of two chimpanzees that escaped a zoo in the southeastern city of Daegu died after being shot with a tranquiliser dart last week.

Meanwhile, five lions briefly escaped their enclosure at the Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia in 2022, with authorities rushing guests to safety. The event prompted an investigation into the significant safety breach.

The lions returned to the zoo after a code one alert  the most severe one on the zoos emergency warning list  was issued to local residents.

Likewise, in 2018, two lions, two tigers and a jaguar escaped in western Germany after a storm destroyed the fences of their enclosure, later recaptured after being located by a drone.
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At least 29 people have been killed, while dozens are feared trapped or missing due to landslides triggered by torrential rains in the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh.

A Hindu temple in Shimla collapsed killing at least nine people and another seven were found dead following a cloudburst in Solan district.

Television footage and videos on social media showed houses flattened by landslide, buses and cars hanging on the edge of precipices after roads gave way, and hundreds of people at rescue sites as emergency workers struggled to clear the debris.

"Again, tragedy has befallen Himachal Pradesh, with continuous rainfall over the past 48 hours," the state's chief minister, Sukhvinder Singh, said in a post on the messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

"Reports of cloudbursts and landslides have emerged from various parts of the state resulting in loss of precious lives and property," the chief minister added while urging people to stay inside their houses and away from rivers and landslide-prone areas.

Schools and other educational institutes were ordered to close on Monday and people in danger were being moved to safety in shelters, state officials said.

Parts of the state had received as much as 273mm of rain in 24 hours, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

The state is predicted to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall reaching extremely heavy levels on Monday, according to the IMD forecast.

It had issued a red alert over the weekend for intense downpours in neighboring Uttarakhand state, where 60 people have died in monsoon rains this season. A defence college building has collapsed in Uttarakhands Dehradun region.

"This is the first time we're seeing multiple cloudburst incidents and widespread damage in the state," said state disaster management official Praveen Bhardwaj. A mother and her child were killed in the Mandi district when their house collapsed, he added.

Cloudbursts are a common occurrence in Himalayan regions, however, there have been concerns with the increase in frequency due to extreme weather-related events in the area.

They occur when more than 10 centimeters of rainfall occurs within 10 square kilometers within an hour. They have the potential to cause intense flooding and landslides and can affect thousands of people in India's mountainous regions.

In the Mandi district, rescue operations were ongoing after flash floods swept away seven people, the chief minister said.

More than 750 inundated roads, including national highways, were closed in the state due to multiple landslides and flash floods, authorities said.

Locals took to social media to raise alarm over the situation while sharing details of the devastation across the state with a population of 7.1 million.

Since the cloudburst occurred this morning, the sight of dead body vans, incessant grief in the hearts and eyes of people Ive known since decades and innocent beings standing in hope for their loved ones to come out safely from under the debris is heartbreaking, wrote Akriti Mattu.

The situation in Himachal is getting worse. There is no electricity or power in many areas, said journalist Srishti Jaswal.

In July, record monsoon showers killed more than 100 people over two weeks in parts of northern India, including Himachal Pradesh, which was one of the worst-hit states.

Last year, flash floods killed nearly 200 people and washed away houses in Uttarakhand.
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The White House defended President Joe Bidens federal response to the devastating wildfires in Hawaii on Monday, saying the president is deeply concerned and sending federal aid.

Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre spent the first half of Mondays press briefing focusing on Mr Bidens federal action to assist officials and residents in Maui.

Youve heard from [Mr Biden] already on Thursday, certainly youll hear from him continuously this week, Ms Jean-Pierre said. Look, this is something that the President is clearly deeply concerned about.

Ms Jean-Pierres statement was in defence of Mr Biden, who has faced criticism for what some believe to be an emotionally indifferent approach to addressing the fires.

Despite declaring the fires to be a major disaster last week, neither Mr Biden nor Vice President Kamala Harris have plans to visit Hawaii. The logistics of a presidential visit could complicate emergency response efforts on the ground.

Ms Jean-Pierre was joined by Deanne Criswell, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to answer questions about the federal governments efforts in Maui.

Ms Criswell insisted that the Biden administration has coordinated federal agencies with local and state officials to assist in search and recovery efforts.

At least 96 people have died as a result of the outrageous wildfires which swept across parts of Maui and other parts of Hawaii last week.

That number is expected to go up, according to Hawaii governor Josh Green, as cadaver dogs and teams search burned buildings for victims or survivors.

So far, the cadaver dogs have only searched three per cent of the search area. They are expected to continue that search this week.

Hundreds of other Hawaiians are still missing and thousands of people are displaced as many homes and buildings were destroyed.

A resident looks around a charred apartment complex in the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina, western Maui, Hawaii (AFP via Getty Images)

Over the weekend, Mr Biden spent time relaxing at his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. When the President was confronted by reporters about visiting Hawaii, he responded vaguely.

Some Republicans slammed Mr Biden for not taking physical action to visit Hawaii or appearing to be concerned about the conditions in Maui.

Mike Flynn, who served as US national security adviser under Donald Trump, claimed Mr Bidens predecessor would have faced a media firestorm for doing the same thing.

Conspiracy theorist and MAGA Republican Kari Lake also joined in the criticism, tweeting: In Maui: 93 (& counting) Americans are dead. 1,000 are missing. One of the most beautiful places on earth has been reduced to cinders. In Delaware: @JoeBiden cant be bothered to care. Putting America First means getting this joker out of the White House.

Ms Harris told reporters last week she had no plans to visit Hawaii so as not to take away resources from where they are needed, like increased security measures.

Joe Biden waves as he rides his bicycle through Cape Henlopen State Park in Rehoboth Beach on 13 August (AFP via Getty Images)

Despite the online rhetoric, Mr Green has praised Mr Biden for issuing the major disaster declaration with haste.

We were honored to have the President jump to it so fast, Mr Green said on MSNBC on Sunday.

He added: In 6 hours, he approved the presidential declaration. It was incredible. Within 6 hours. And so, that opened up, like you said, FEMA and amazing support for recovery.

During Mondays press briefing, a reporter asked Ms Jean-Pierre if the Presidents outward image should reflect his concern for Hawaii.

Ms Jean-Pierre responded by directing people to the comments that Mr Green and other Hawaii officials have given.

The president is certainly deeply concerned about the people in Maui, Ms Jean-Pierre reiterated. To the point of mobilising a whole of government approach.
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The blazes that have devastated Maui and the Big Island in Hawaii already constitute the states worst natural disaster since 1960  as at least 111 people are confirmed dead, thousands of residents and tourists have been forced to evacuate and the picturesque and historic beach resort of Lahaina has been destroyed.

Whats more, the tragedy also already represents Americas second-deadliest wildfire outbreak of the last 100 years, with only the Camp Fire that struck California in 2018 surpassing the current Hawaiian death toll, which is still rising and could yet surpass it.

That brush fire five years ago killed 88 people and did $20.2bn-worth of damage.

This time round, it is too early to begin to calculate the cost of the destruction wrought across the Pacific island chain, as firefighters are still battling to bring the conflagration under control in areas like Wahiawa, but the latest crisis could ultimately beat that unwanted record too.

What makes the horror currently unfolding all the more disturbing is that wildfires were regarded as uncommon in Hawaii until relatively recently, with those that did break out usually attributed to eruptions from one of the archipelagos six active volcanoes or to lightning strikes.

On the other islands with less volcanic activity, fires did occur, but very, very rarely, Professor David Beilman of the University of Hawaii told USA Today this week.

This Maui situation is an Anthropocene phenomenon, he said, referring to the epoch defined by humanitys influence over the planet.

The tropical paradise, situated 2,000 miles west of the US mainland, has only really begun to experience the consequences of that influence in recent decades.

The last time Hawaii suffered a major burst of wildfires was in August 2018, when 70mph gusts of wind driven by Hurricane Lane shepherded flames towards Lahaina, the same town ravaged this month.

In that incident, 2,000 acres of land, 30 vehicles and 21 structures were ruined, according to local newspaper The Honolulu Star-Advertiser, with the fire racing across fields once dedicated to growing sugar cane but unharvested since 1999.

An aerial view of the destruction wrought in Maui (EPA)

One local man told the paper at the time that he had seen tornadoes of fire whirling up to the sky.

Ive never seen something so devastating, he added, aghast at the recollection.

Another resident recounted his own terror: There was smoke everywhere and the fire was all around. We just literally got in the car and got out as quickly as we could.

Before the 2018 wildfires, Hawaii was more commonly impacted by tsunamis hitting the islands.

In fact, the worst natural disaster in its history was the tsunami that struck on 1 April 1946.

Caused by an 8.4-magnitude earthquake off Alaska, the tsunami killed 165 people, wiping out the Hilo Bay waterfront on the Big Island and prompting the establishment of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in the state soon after.

More tsunamis followed in November 1952, August 1960 and March 1964.

The 35-foot wave of 1960 was particularly rough, crashing down again on Hilo Bay, killing 61, damaging more than 500 homes and businesses and doing $75m of damage.

Burned out cars in Lahaina (AP)

Now, fires are becoming both more frequent and more extreme.

The Hawaii Wildfire Management Organisation (HWMO) now estimates that 0.5 per cent (or 20,000 acres) of the states land mass burns every year, which is at least equal to or greater than the proportion of every other state in the union

The HWMO reports that 98 per cent of those fires are instigated by humans, which compares unfavourably with the US Forest Services 85 per cent estimate for the nation as a whole.

While the carelessness of man is one factor behind the exacerbation, global warming is the other.

Climate change has increasingly been blamed for the erratic weather patterns the world has seen in recent years and this summer has provided further alarming illustrations of its adverse impact: western Canada and southern Europe have been devastated by spontaneous fires this year while the UK, by contrast, has been subjected to an uncannily rainy July and August.

In the case of the current Hawaii fires, 60mph winds from Hurricane Dora, lying hundreds of miles southwest of Honolulu, and a low pressure system sitting off western Japan are thought to have conspired to fan the flames and send them raging across Maui.

Another important factor in the states growing vulnerability of late has been its abundance of unmanaged dry vegetation providing the ideal fuel, much of which is accounted for by invasive species like Guinea grass that are non-native to Hawaii but have colonised areas of former farmland and forest.

Brush fire rages in Kihei (AP)

These savannas now cover about a million acres across the main Hawaiian Islands, mostly the legacy of land clearing for plantation agriculture and ranching in the late 1800s/early 1900s, Professor Clay Trauernicht, also of the University of Hawaii, explained on X, formerly Twitter.

The transformation to savanna makes the landscape way more sensitive to bad fire weather  hot, dry, windy conditions. It also means we get huge buildups of fuels during rainy periods.

Agriculture declines also mean less help for firefighters  less maintenance of roads, irrigation and water storage and even fewer people with knowledge of the land.

Professor Trauernicht warned that this benign neglect has placed too great a burden on emergency responders to tackle the inevitable consequences, emphasising that prudent investment in fuel reduction projects, agricultural land use, restoration and reforestation could do a great deal to avert further tragedy.
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A heartbreaking moment unfolded live on air when a Hawaiian broadcaster revealed that he has lost four family members to the devastating Maui wildfires  with at least one other relative still unaccounted for.

Jonathan Masaki Shiroma is a Maui native who now works as a broadcaster for Hawaiian News Now.

He told Live Now Fox that it was a gut punch to learn that his loved ones were among the 96 so far killed as they tried to flee the deadly blazes that have ravaged the Hawaiian island over the last week.

Its like a gut punch, you hear the words of devastation and then you realise that the home town as a child [where you were] playing in the cane fields and near what was the Pioneer Mill and then hearing that family members lost their lives as they tried to leave the field plains that just engulfed so quickly, and then one still remains missing, he said.

It just becomes so personal.

As a newscaster, Mr Shiroma said that he has been trying to maintain composure while reporting on the tragedy, but that its something that has hit close to home.

As you know, when youre a newscaster you have to maintain that composure but when youre saying things on air of your very hometown and seeing people that you know, its just heartbreaking, he said.

Today the prayers continue for everyone on Maui and in Lahaina specifically as the news does not get better, the unfolding of just how much has been lost continues.

Despite the horrors that Maui residents are facing, he said that local communities will band together in this time of need.

One thing that does remain, growing up on Maui we have a saying Maui no ka oi  Maui is the best. I believe that the spirit of Maui and the spirit of the people of Maui will prevail, will join together to help each other out, he said.

I know that our people will bond together to make it through this extremely difficult time.

Hawaiian broadcaster reveals he has lost four family members to wildfires (Fox Live Now)

The death toll from the Hawaiian wildfires has now risen to 96, after officials confirmed that another three victims had been found among the ruins on Monday.

The blaze which burned the historic town of Lahaina to the ground is already the deadliest wildfire in US modern history, soaring past the death toll of 85 people killed in the 2018 Camp Fire in northern California.

The death toll is expected to climb even further as hundreds of residents still remain missing, with the search for survivors painstakingly slow.

As of Saturday, crews with cadaver dogs had managed to cover just three per cent of the search area.

Of the victims so far found, officials have been faced with a new, grim challenge of struggling to identify them  as the remains are burned to such an extreme.

Maui County police chief John Pelletier described the state of the remains in chilling detail.

We pick up remains and they fall apart, he said on Saturday.

The remains were finding is through a fire that melted metal. We have to do rapid DNA to identify everyone.

By then, only two victims had been formally identified with officials urging survivors with missing family members to come forward to provide DNA samples to help with the identification process.

Some residents have started to return to Lahaina where the fire burned around 2,170 acres and destroyed historic buildings and homes.

Homes and cars destroyed by the Hawaii wildfires (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

As Hawaiian locals desperately search for their loved ones and piece together whats left of their homes, some have claimed that looters are now targeting Lahaina at night, robbing residents and stealing their last worldly possessions.

Matt Robb, co-owner of a Lahaina bar called The Dirty Monkey, told Business Insider that residents are desperate for local leaders to take control of the emergency response amid a spate of people being robbed at gunpoint.

Theres some police presence. Theres some small military presence, but at night people are being robbed at gunpoint, Matt Robb, co-owner of local bar The Dirty Monkey, told Business Insider.

Meanwhile, celebrities and tourists are coming under fire as some are still flocking to the island.

Paris Hilton has been slammed for holidaying in Maui over the weekend while Oprah Winfreys camera crew was refused entry at an emergency shelter as she came to hand out supplies.
 Close Wildfire roars through Hawaiis historic Lahaina

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At least 114 people have lost their lives in the devastating Maui wildfires as first responders continue searching for 1,000 missing in the fire-ravaged town.

The search to find and identify victims remains painstakingly slow  only 10 victims so far killed in the fires have been identified. Hawaii governor Josh Green estimates that 3,000 buildings and homes burned to the ground or were damaged and that losses are nearly $6bn.

The head of the Maui Emergency Management Agency resigned on Thursday after officials came under increased scrutiny over the response to the devastating wildfires.

Herman Andaya submitted his resignation just one day after he defended his decision of not using outdoor alert sirens before the fires overwhelmed the historic community of Lahaina. Mr Andaya cited unspecified health reasons.

Residents are also reporting that investors and realtors are trying to capitalise on the wildfires to purchase land from locals.

Were not going to allow it, Mr Green said.
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Rishi Sunak has been warned that any attempt to dilute net zero commitments on climate change could cost them crucial seats in the blue wall south of England.

The PM appeared to shift his tone on green policies after his party unexpectedly clung on to its Uxbridge seat by over the backlash against the London mayors Ulez expansion.

Mr Sunak gave the green light to 100 new oil and gas licences, with some Tory backbenchers urging him to go further and ditch or delay bans on new oil boilers by 2026 and new petrol and diesel vehicles from 2030.

But the Conservative Environment Network, a group representing around 150 Tories, has told the PM to ignore the siren voices of the sceptics pushing to scrap net zero measures deemed too costly.

Sam Hall, director of the CEN, which has the support of 400 councillors along with 150 MPS and peers, told The Times: Few votes can be won by rolling back on green targets, but many could be lost.

Siobhan Baillie, Tory MP for Stroud in the blue wall heartlands, told the newspaper: Ambitious green policies that cut bills and create jobs are an electoral asset, not a liability.

And Chris Skidmore, the former Tory minister who led the governments net zero review, said Mr Sunak should want the UK to lead and succeed in climate or be condemned to following, to missing out, on these opportunities and costing the UK and local communities jobs and economic growth.

Selaine Saxby, MP for North Devon, urged Mr Sunak to stick with the promise. Asked if there was votes to be lost by rowing back on the green agenda, she told Times Radio: Certainly.

She said: Out here I am definitely a greeny-blue Conservative and always have been. And I do think Camerons mission in 2015 that you vote blue and get green is very much the platform that I stood on, and I think its very much what my constituents would expect me to deliver.

Rishi Sunak in Uxbridge after the Tories unexpected win (PA)

Mr Sunak is under growing pressure from two warring Tory camps: the Conservative Environment Network, whose members are pushing for stronger action on climate change, and the Net Zero Scrutiny Group, which is lobbying for environmental policies to be watered down.

Net zero sceptics want the PM to build on the success of the anti-Ulez by-election result in Uxbridge by scrapping Boris Johnsons policy to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles from 2030.

He also faces a rebellion on the de facto ban on oil boilers from 2026, which mostly affects those living in off-grid homes in the countryside. Former environment secretary George Eustice described the policy as Ulez for rural communities.

The Conservative Rural Forum, a network of grassroots activists, has warned Mr Sunak against the more extreme measures involved in reaching the target of net zero emissions by 2050.

Chairwoman Lizzie Hacking said: Everyone does want net zero, but perhaps some of the asks of other groups are slightly more extreme than what the majority of the public wants.

Energy secretary Grant Shapps said last week that the climate crisis poses a threat to Britains security and energy supply. We cant have global security without net zero, Mr Shapps told Politico.

But ex-business secretary Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg told The Independent that Mr Shapps was fundamentally wrong. He said: The rush to net zero at the expense of the economy is a threat to global security.
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A woman who is terrified of lines and holes suffered in silence for more than 30 years before speaking about her phobia, afraid people would think that she was a freak.

Samantha Harradine has since discovered a whole community of people left nauseous by objects such as honeycomb and mushrooms  including her own daughter.

The 53-year-old is repulsed by a variety of objects  from honeycomb and bell peppers to Beanie Babies and Doja Cats red crystal dress at the Paris Fashion Week, all of which make her stomach turn.

The mother-of-three, from Salisbury in Wiltshire, cannot stand the sight of repeated lines or holes because she suffers from trypophobia, an irrational fear of certain clustered patterns.

It took years for Samantha to even tell her husband, Steve, 55, and their daughters  Ellise, 33, Jherelle, 30, and Maddison, 28  about her condition as she was afraid people would think she was crazy.

But after posting about her phobia online, Samantha discovered there were plenty of people like her, including friends and her own daughter, who had also kept quiet about her fear.

I suffered in silence for the longest time, not knowing that there were other people out there, Samantha, who runs her own training company, Tribegeeks Academy, told PA Real Life.

Its not like life or death, but it is a big thing in your life when it makes you feel so repulsive.

I always thought, Im just a freak.

Then of course you realise that it is normal and there are other people out there, so you are not losing your mind.

The term trypophobia was coined on an internet forum in 2005 to describe an intense and disproportionate fear towards repetitive patterns  but little is known about what causes it, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Its the weirdest thing, because any small cluster of lines or holes, all tightly packed together in a regular or irregular formation  even just talking about it, makes my skin crawl, said Samantha, who grew up in Stratford, east London.

The hairs on my arms stand on end and I start feeling queasy.

It gives me a physical reaction in my stomach, like it turns and makes me feel sick.

Its quite repulsive.

(PA Real Life)

Honeycomb, mushrooms and peppers are some of the biggest culprits when it comes to triggering Samanthas phobia, which she says her husband Steve still does not understand.

I cant even look at that because its all so clustery  its really weird, she said.

Big mushrooms with the lines, I cant deal with them.

Peppers, with all the little seeds, I dont even want to go there but would rather buy them frozen or chopped if I have to.

It can also manifest from photos, such as when Samantha came across a picture of Doja Cat wearing 30,000 red painted crystals at the Paris fashion week.

The crystals were all over her and when I saw that, I was just so repulsed, she said.

How could you do that to yourself and to have them all over your skin as well.

Even some childrens toys were off limits as they had too many lines or holes for Samanthas liking.

There was a certain type of Beanie Baby, Punkies, that had long strands of hair, she said.

They were disgusting because they were just all lines, so I couldnt let the girls have them.

Samantha believes her phobia started when she was a little girl and spotted a strange scab on her arm which she feared would spread over her body.

I had something on my skin which looked almost like snake skin.

I remember looking at it and being absolutely repulsed by the way it was on my skin.

Thats the only thing I can think of which actually started it, because it was actually on me, it made me feel really ill having it there and my fear was that it was going to go all over my skin.

It didnt  whatever it was, went away.

She decided it was best not to tell anyone in case they thought she was a weirdo.

I didnt tell anybody because I thought I was crazy, Samantha said.

You just think youre a weirdo, whats wrong with me.

But her fear became increasingly worse as she got older and Samantha began to worry she might be the only person to be afraid of closely-packed lines and holes.

I had it since the 70s but I had never heard anybody speak about this at all, she said.

(PA Real Life)

Then around 12 years ago, she mentioned her phobia in a Facebook group and discovered there were others.

I genuinely thought I was the only one in the world, she said.

This lady messaged me and said Oh my word, Ive got the same thing.

Its like having a tribe of people just like you.

When you realise that they are out there, you dont feel so alone.

Samantha believes genetics could also have a role to play given that her middle daughter shares her deep-rooted fear of patterned lines and holes.

Shes exactly the same and two of my cousins have it too, she added.

One theory, according to Samantha, is that it is a defensive mechanism from thousands of years ago, as these patterns are associated with dangerous or venomous animals.

Now, I always tell people to go online and not only talk about your business, but also those things that make you, you, she said.

But nature or nurture, we really dont know.

Its very strange.

Follow Samantha on Instagram at www.instagram.com/the_tribegeeks/ to find out more about her business.
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Aaron Taylor-Johnson has candidly revealed that he always knew he was going to be a young father.

The Kraven the Hunter star, 33, who shares four children with wife Sam Taylor-Johnson, 56, opened up about parenthood and his relationship with the director during an interview with Esquire.

According to Aaron, although he and Sam met on the set of Nowhere Boy, which she was directing, in 2008, and have since worked on multiple other projects together, their relationship isnt rooted in creative partnership.

I dont think thats accurate. Yeah, we worked - I met Sam as actor and director. I think were really great at collaborating. But thats not why I fell in love with her, he said.

Aaron, who was 18 when he met Sam, then 41, proposed a year later. They welcomed their first daughter, Wylda Rae, now 13, in July 2010 and their second daughter, Romy Hero, now 11,in January 2012. In June 2012, the pair, who also co-parent Sams daughters Angelica and Jessie, who she shares with ex-husband Jay Jopling, tied the knot.

According to Aaron, he knew even before he met his future wife, and then especially once hed met Sam, that he was going to have a big family.

I was going to have a big family. I knew I was going to be a young father. I knew I was going to have many kids, he told Esquire of his thinking by the time he was 10 or 11.

However, according to the Avengers: Age of Ultron star, whose three youngest children live at home, it is still surprising to come to terms with being the father to teenagers.

Teenagers, man, he said. Ive got teenagers.

The actor declined to discuss his family further, with Aaron telling the outlet that he was trying to be as as honest as possible and that hed probably talked to the interviewer more about my kids and Sam than I have with anybody.

Ive got really nothing to hide, and Im secure in what we have. But Im not going to unlock things that are actually precious to me, he said, of why he prefers to keep the details of his relationship private.

(Getty Images)

This is not the first time that Aaron has opened up about his relationship with Sam, and why it works despite their 23-year age gap.

I dont really analyse our relationship. I just know that it works. I just feel secure and loved and safe. We have this very deep connection. Were just in sync, he told Mr Porter in 2017.

In 2019, Aaron described his wife as his soulmate, with the actor telling The Telegraph that hed known instantly that Sam was the one he was meant to be with.

I knew instantly with Sam that Id found my soulmate, he said. I knew instantly that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with this person. I remember it very well, and a year to the day [after] I met her I proposed. I knew I wanted a family with her, I knew I wanted kids, and a month later she was pregnant with our first child.

The actor also condemned the scrutiny the couples age gap received while speaking to New York Magazines Vulture in 2017. The attention was intrusive, he told the outlet of the early days of their relationship. But having to deal with that early in my career probably got me to a place where I can more quickly just go: Oh, f*** it instead of wanting to rip someones head off for asking questions I dont like.

The British director has also opened up about the pairs relationship, with Sam telling The Sunday Times in 2017 that she and Aaron spend every minute of the day together.
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Barack Obama once wrote that he made love to men every day in the imagination in a love letter to his ex-girlfriend that has surfaced more than 40 years later.

The former US president wrote of his androgynous mind in a letter to his then-girlfriend, Alex McNear, which has since resurfaced in the New York Post. In the correspondence, Obama wrote: In regard to homosexuality, I must say that I believe this is an attempt to remove oneself from the present, a refusal perhaps to perpetuate the endless farce of earthly life. You see, I make love to men daily, but in the imagination.

My mind is androgynous to a great extent and I hope to make it more so until I can think in terms of people, not women as opposed to men, he added. But, in returning to the body, I see that I have been made a man, and physically in life, I choose to accept that contingency.

The letter was written in November 1982, when a 21-year-old Obama and McNear were students at Occidental College in Los Angeles. She later redacted excerpts of the letter, which is currently held by Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

Contents of the letter gained renewed attention earlier this month when biographer David Garrow claimed that the 44th US president repeatedly fantasizes about making love to men. Garrow, a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, was the author of the 2017 biography, Rising Star: The Making of Barack Obama.

In an interview with Tablet published on 2 August, Garrow explained how he obtained letters from three of Obamas former girlfriends as he was writing about the politicians early career. The biographer suggested that McNear wanted to have her role known when she offered the 40-year-old letter to Garrow. When Alex showed me the letters from Barack, she redacted one paragraph in one of them and just said: Its about homosexuality, Garrow told the magazine.

After McNear sold the letters to Emory University, Garrow asked college professor Harvey Klehr to transcribe the love letters by hand. I emailed Harvey, said: Go to the Emory archives. Hes spent his whole life at Emory, but they wont let him take pictures, Garrow explained. So Harvey has to sit there with a pencil and copy out the graf where Barack writes to Alex about how he repeatedly fantasizes about making love to men.

The former president co-operated in the writing of the book, as he was interviewed by Garrow for eight hours over the course of three days. He has not yet commented publicly about the contents of the resurfaced letter.

When Rising Star was published in 2017, the biography also revealed that Obama had proposed to another woman before he met his current wife, Michelle Obama. Speaking to Garrow, Obamas ex-girlfriend Sheila Miyoshi Jager told the author: In the winter of 86, when we visited my parents, he asked me to marry him.

Obama and Jager began dating after they were introduced by mutual friends. The former Illinois senator proposed in 1986, when he was 25 and Jager was 23. While she rejected his proposal, the ex-couple stayed together until Obamas political aspirations caused a strain on their relationship.

He became so very ambitious very suddenly, Jager told Garrow. I remember very clearly when this transformation happened, and I remember very specifically that by 1987, about a year into our relationship, he already had his sights on becoming president.

In the book, Garrow also wrote that Obama allegedly attempted to end his relationship with Jager - who is of Japanese and Dutch ancestry - because of race. The author claimed that Obama believed marrying his then-girlfriend would hurt his credibility as an African American politician, writing that he had a calling to be president and a heightened awareness that to pursue it he had to fully identify as African American.

According to Garrow, Obama and Jager continued to see each other during his first year of law school - around the same time that he met Michelle Obama (nee Robinson) while working at a Chicago law firm.

The soon-to-be president and first lady were married on 3 October 1992. They welcomed their first child, Malia Ann Obama, in July 1998 and their second daughter, Natasha Sasha Obama, in July 2001.

The Independent has contacted representatives for Barack Obama for comment.
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Rupert Murdoch is in a new relationship with a former scientist after calling off his short-lived engagement earlier this year, a report claims.

The 92-year-old media tycoon made headlines earlier this year after his engagement with Ann Lesley Smith ended a mere two weeks after it was announced.

According to a new report in the Daily Mail, the News Corp founder is in the early stages of a new romance with Elena Zhukova.

Before retiring, Zhukova, 66, was a molecular biologist and worked at the medical research unit at UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles).

She is the mother of Dasha Zhukova, an art collector and socialite who was married to ex-Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich from 2008 to 2017.

A source told the newspaper that Murdoch and Zhukova met through Wendi and Dasha  Wendi Deng being Murdochs third wife from 1999 to 2013, and the mother of his youngest children, Grace and Chloe.

The couple are said to be currently cruising the Mediterranean on a summer holiday.

The Independent has contacted representatives of Rupert Murdoch for comment.

Rupert Murdoch (PA)

Murdochs previous relationship with Ann Lesley Smith saw him propose to her on St Patricks Day (17 March) in New York City.

Speaking about popping the question to Smith, Murdoch told the New York Post: I was very nervous. I dreaded falling in love  but I knew this would be my last. It better be. Im happy.

Smith also shared her anticipation for their marriage with the publication. For us both its a gift from God, she noted.

We met last September. Im a widow [for] 14 years. Like Rupert, my husband was a businessman. Worked for local papers, developed radio and TV stations and helped promote Univision. So I speak Ruperts language. We share the same beliefs.

In perspective, its not my first rodeo. Getting near 70 means being in the last half. I waited for the right time. Friends are happy for me.

Rupert Murdoch and Ann Lesley Smith (Getty/Ann Lesley Live/Facebook)

Murdoch and the former radio personality were expected to have a summer wedding, in what would have been his fifth marriage.

However, reports emerged two weeks later announcing the abrupt end of their engagement, with one source citing Murdochs alleged discomfort with Smiths Christian evangelical views as a cause.

Prior to this, Murdoch was married to former supermodel and actor Jerry Hall from 2016 to 2022. Hall was said to have been devastated after Murdoch abruptly called an end to their relationship, reportedly via email.

His other wives include Wendi Deng Murdoch, Anna Murdoch Mann, and Patricia Booker.
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Thousands of Hawaii citizens have been displaced following wildfires that devastated the historic town of Lahaina in Maui.

Multiple neighbourhoods were burned as the fires were fueled by heavy winds blowing from Hurricane Dora, resulting in many being told to evacuate, with some Hawaii residents taking refuge in the ocean to avoid the flames. Many have lost their lives and thousands have been evacuated as a result of the wildfires.

Hawaiis governor Josh Green has estimated that billions of dollars will be needed to fully recover, as the US Civil Air Patrol and the Maui Fire Department reported that approximately 271 structures were damaged or destroyed by the fires.

Here is a list of resources to help those impacted by the natural disaster.

The Hawaii Salvation Army began providing meals for the approximately 50 individuals who had taken shelter in Maui Countys/American Red Cross Pukalani shelter, an effort that is now spreading across the entire island. They are asking for monetary donations and meal donations from either restaurants or certified kitchens to continue giving out food and shelter.

During emergencies, the best way the public can help is to provide monetary donations which allows the delivery of the exact relief supplies a community needs, Victor Leonardi, divisional director of emergency services and safety for The Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division, said in a news release. Plus, The Salvation Army uses one hundred per cent of all donations designated disaster relief in support of disaster operations. Donations can be made on the Hawaii Salvation Armys website.

There are also multiple fundraisers taking place across the state, including the Aina Momona fundraiser through the Hawaii Community Foundation, the Kakoo Maui fund through The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, Alakaina Foundation Family, and Kakoo Haleakala, and the Hawaii Community Foundation Maui Strong Fund.

The grocery store Foodland is also accepting monetary donations at checkout to support The American Red Crosss efforts. Other places accepting monetary donations include Aloha United Way, Maui Food Bank, and Maui Mutual Aid, which is focusing on supporting Maui families, elderly, people with disabilities and those without insurance.

If you are a Hawaii resident, the Hawaii Restaurant Association is putting together donations and gathering volunteers to help evacuees on Oahu. The Maui Police Department is also asking for specific donations of non-perishable food, bottled water, hygiene items, and blankets to be collected at Mauis War Memorial Complex.

Ice cream shop Cream B and Hoomana Barbell are asking for donations of food, drinks, snacks, bedding, pillows, and personal hygiene products that can be picked up at 1826 Kaohu St.

The Maui Humane Society has said its animals are safe, however, the organisation has said it needs to allocate more space to displaced pets and is asking for more people to sign up to be fosters in the meantime.

In addition, the organisation is asking for donations of pet supplies to give to families who are keeping their animals. Monetary donations will also be accepted to help the shelter deal with the increase in care they need to provide. There is also a page on their website to report any lost or found pets.

To find all of the latest updates about the Hawaii wildfires, follow our liveblog here.
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The woman who exited an American Airlines flight after a tirade about a passenger who she claimed was not real has spoken about the viral incident for the first time.

In the viral video, which circulated after the 2 July incident, the woman could be seen screaming at fellow passengers about her reasons for exiting the plane while standing in the aisle of the aircraft.

Im telling you, Im getting the f*** off, and theres a reason why Im getting the f*** off, she could be heard yelling as she walked up the plane aisle. And everyone can either believe it or they can not believe it. I dont give two f***s.

But I am telling you right now, that motherf***er back there is not real.

On Tuesday 7 August, the woman was identified as Tiffany Gomas, a 38-year-old marketing executive who lives in Dallas, Texas, by The New York Post, which reviewed police documents of the incident.

According to the outlet, the incident, which took place aboard a flight from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, to Orlando, Florida, and which forced the plane to return to the gate, was reportedly sparked over Gomas missing AirPods.

Gomas has now broken her silence over the tirade, with the 38-year-old speaking to the Daily Mail from her $1.6m home in the Lakewood neighbourhood of Dallas.

According to Gomas, who Insider reports was listed as the owner of Uppercut Marketing, LLC, an advertising firm, on a since-deleted LinkedIn, her life has been blown up since videos of her profanity-filled plane rant went viral last month.

My life has been blown up. Its frightening. Things go viral and everything changes, Gomas told the outlet, adding: No one knows anyone elses story, and no one should judge. No one knows what its like.

Gomas also alleged that she has been the subject of intense scrutiny since the incident, with the 38-year-old claiming: Theyre staking out my house. Theyre staking out my neighbours. Theyre going through my mail. She did not specify who she meant.

The marketing executive also claimed that so much of whats out there is inaccurate, but declined to elaborate further, according to the Daily Mail.

As she was exiting the plane, Gomas told passengers: And you can sit on this plane and you can f***ing die with them or not. Im not going to.

The comments prompted concern from flight attendants, who felt the aircraft needed to be rescreened, according to police documents reviewed by The New York Post.

The female then started claiming the aircraft was not safe and did not want the aircraft to leave due to her believing it would not make it to its destination, the 2 July complaint states.

The other passengers aboard the flight were then forced to exit the plane so they could be screened through security again, The New York Post reported, adding: TSA personnel arrived at the scene to conduct a full rescreening of the aircraft after Gomas comments.

The complaint also reportedly states that Gomas was distraught by the time officers arrived at the gate and was attempting to board the plane again. She then reportedly refused to speak to Dallas-Fort Worth Department of Public Safety police.

Gomas was allegedly given a verbal criminal trespass notice by the airline manager and told that she was denied boarding and needed to depart the secure area, according to the documents reviewed by the outlet.

(TikTok / @knuckelslawncare)

However, Gomas continued to try to come back through TSA screening and into the boarding area multiple times, the documents state, noting that she was eventually found sitting on the curb outside the terminal, where she was waiting for an Uber.

According to The New York Post, she was given a ticket for criminal trespass notice, which she allegedly refused to sign, and did not show police her ID. The complaint also states that Gomas was never formally arrested or taken into custody.

In a statement to The Independent at the time, a spokesperson for American Airlines confirmed the incident had taken place aboard a flight from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, to Orlando, Florida, and that the incident involving the disruptive customer had forced the plane to return to the gate.

The flight was met at the gate by local law enforcement and the customer was removed from the flight. Safety and security are our top priorities, and we thank our customers for their understanding and our team members for their professionalism in managing a difficult situation, the airline said.

Following the viral tirade, which has been widely circulated on social media, Gomas Instagram was made private and her LinkedIn profile was taken down.

The Independent has contacted Gomas and the Dallas-Fort Worth Department of Public Safety office for comment.
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Students in Louisville's public school district will return to class starting Friday as part of a staggered reopening that stretches into next week, as administrators reboot a new bus schedule after the system melted down on the first day of school, the superintendent announced Monday.

Schools will reopen on Friday for elementary and middle school students, while high school students will return next Monday, Superintendent Marty Pollio said.

The revised schedule means students in Jefferson County Public Schools will miss more than a week of school since the disastrous opening day last Wednesday, when some students didnt get picked up in the morning or came home hours late  with some arriving after dark. The fiasco resulted in hungry and tired children, angry parents and exasperated politicians.

Kentuckys largest district, with 96,000 students, had retooled its bus system through a Massachusetts-based consulting company that uses computer algorithms to map out courses and stops. It was a response to a chronic bus driver shortage. The redesigned plan reduced the number of routes.

Pollio said last week that the district should have anticipated that the new plan didnt leave enough time for buses to get from stop to stop, and to transport its 65,000 riders.

Some state lawmakers are now calling for evaluations of the school district map to decide whether it should be split up.

Many other districts across the country are also experiencing bus driver shortages.
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The NHS is risking an A&E and ambulance crisis because health leaders are too busy with strikes to prepare for winter, it was warned today.

Saffron Cordery, the deputy chief executive of NHS providers, which represents healthcare trusts, predicted the NHS would face an incredibly difficult few months this winter as she called for an urgent resolution to the industrial action.

Frontline services should be gearing up for the traditionally difficult winter season, she said, when cold weather brings a rise in cases of illnesses like flu and vomiting bugs.

But the NHS risks very long waits in ambulances and A&E departments  potentially as bad as last year  unless health leaders are given a chance to prepare, she said.

With a very tired workforce, beset by the challenges of industrial action, I think its going to be incredibly difficult this winter, she told The Independent.

Because what frontline NHS services need to be doing right now is preparing for winter. What theyre doing instead is preparing for strikes.

Ms Cordery said senior managers in NHS Trusts are being forced to spend probably at least a third, if not more, of the time that people should be spent doing their day jobs dealing with strikes and their aftermath, including cancelling and rebooking operations and reviewing how to keep patients safe.

The new day job, the new business as usual, is preparing for strikes and managing strikes. And then sweeping up after the strikes, she warned.

Asked what the consequences of trusts not getting a chance to prepare for winter are, she said: The consequences of that are that we have very long waiting times in A&E and we have very poor handover times between ambulances and A&E departments.

Junior doctors hold rally outside Downing Street at the start of their latest strike (PA)

Asked if those could be of the kind we saw last winter, she said: Potentially. We dont have the same set of conditions in place but the results are usually the same. Pressures manifest themselves in the same way.

During a catastrophic three months last winter, the problems in the NHS dominated the headlines alongside pictures of queues of ambulances stuck for hours outside hospitals unable to discharge patients.

More than 500 excess deaths a week were estimated to be linked to long waiting times in January, with a record number of patients spending more than 12 hours in A&E, as revealed by The Independent.

Almost 6,000 patients were estimated to have suffered severe harm in December 2022, according to the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, as ambulances were stuck for hours outside hospitals unable to hand over patients.

Senior health bosses have warned the ongoing doctor strikes over pay have cost the NHS about 1bn in missed appointments and cover payments.

Ms Cordery called for the strikes to be resolved as soon as possible and ideally before winter.

The NHS faces new two-day strike action from consultant doctors on 24 August, just two weeks after a five-day junior doctor strike, which ends tomorrow morning.

Dr Vivek Trivedi, co-chair of the British Medical Association (BMA) junior doctors committee, said it was now three months since the government was last willing to talk to junior doctors about their pay.

Instead of acting responsibly and coming to the table, the government has wasted time by first saying nothing and then having the prime minister declare an end to talks without first having stepped into the room with doctors, said the BMA union leader.

He added: [Mr Sunak] then adds insult to injury by blaming those same doctors for rising waiting lists. Sooner or later the government will accept that they need to work with doctors rather than against them. We are here to talk when they do.

Last month Dr Adrian Boyle, the president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, told The Independent that thousands more patients could die needlessly this winter amid failure by NHS leaders to adequately plan for winter.

He said: Our experience last year during winter was so difficult that we are anxious that we do not have the same problems.

We remain concerned that the NHS is not sufficiently prepared for the coming winter; there needs to be an increase in the number of staffed beds and a reform of the way acute hospitals and social care work together so that people who have completed their medical care can be discharged safely.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: Patients are bearing the brunt of the impact of continuous strikes across the NHS, and further action by the BMA will cause more appointments and procedures to be postponed as well as vital planning ahead of winter.

He added that ministers were working closely with the NHS and social care to prepare for next winter.
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Long-term use of heartburn medicines used to tackle acid reflux could be linked to an increased risk of dementia, according to a new study.

Acid reflux is a condition that occurs when stomach acid flows into the oesophagus either following a meal or when lying down and can lead to symptoms like heartburn and ulcers.

If the condition frequently affects a person, they may also develop gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which could lead to cancer in the food pipe.

A class of drugs called proton pump inhibitors are generally prescribed to reduce stomach acid by targeting enzymes in the stomach lining that produces that acid.

While these drugs have been shown to be a useful tool to help control acid reflux, their long-term use is linked in previous research to a higher risk of stroke, bone fractures and even chronic kidney disease.

The new study, recently published in the journal Neurology, assessed whether regularly taking these drugs is linked to a higher risk of dementia.

Researchers from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health in the US assessed over 5,712 people, aged 45 and older, who did not have dementia at the start of the study.

They assessed if participants took acid reflux drugs by reviewing their medications during study visits as well as during yearly phone calls.

While we did not find a link with short-term use, we did find a higher risk of dementia associated with long-term use of these drugs, study author Kamakshi Lakshminarayan said in a statement.

The analysis found that of the over 5,700 participants, 1,490 people, or 26 per cent, had taken the drugs.

Based on whether the participants had taken the drugs and for how long, researchers then divided them into four groups  people who did not take the drugs, those who took the drugs for up to 2.8 years, those who took them for 2.8-4.4 years and those who took them for more than 4.4 years.

Scientists then followed the participants for an average period of about 5.5 years, during which 585 people, or about 10 per cent of them, developed dementia.

About 415 of the 4,222 people who did not take the drugs developed dementia, compared to 58 people among the 497 people who took the drugs for more than 4.4 years.

Adjusting for other factors like age, sex and race, and health parameters like high blood pressure and diabetes, researchers found that people who had been taking acid reflux drugs for more than 4.4 years had a 33 per cent higher risk of developing dementia than those who never took the drugs.

However, scientists did not find a higher risk of dementia among people who took the drugs for fewer than 4.4 years.

Importantly, they said the findings do not establish that these drugs directly cause dementia, but only that there is a correlation.

While there are various ways to treat acid reflux, such as taking antacids, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding late meals and certain foods, different approaches may not work for everyone, Dr Lakshminarayan said.

It is important that people taking these medications speak with their doctor before making any changes, to discuss the best treatment for them, and because stopping these drugs abruptly may result in worse symptoms, she said.
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As if it were an old dear friend who had passed away, the remnants of the Crooked House attracted bunches of flowers and sympathy messages from well-wishers devastated by the buildings demise.

More than 100 people gathered on Tuesday at the rubble of Britains wonkiest pub to mourn its destruction.

Built as a farmhouse in 1765, the Crooked House near Dudley, West Midlands, had a quirk that was probably unique and commanded much affection  its leaning walls created optical illusions such as pennies and marbles appearing to move uphill along the bar.

Local people left flowers and cards at Crooked House remains (Matthew Cooper/PA)

So when brewer Marstons closed the pub this year and sold it to a Warwickshire property company for an alternative use, it was no wonder local residents campaigned for its preservation.

Historic England received a request for the pub near Himley to be given listed status protection, and thousands of locals signed a petition to retain the building as a pub, which had been listed for sale for 675,000.

But before a decision could be made, late on Saturday 5 August  less than two weeks after the sale  the building became a national cause celebre when it was gutted by fire and reduced to a shell despite the efforts of up to 30 firefighters.

Staffordshire Police and fire chiefs launched an investigation into the blaze  and the fact that mounds of earth had blocked emergency crews access to the pub.

The building was a shell after the fire (PA)

People went to look at the destruction (PA)

Fans of the house were devastated  but worse was to come.

Two days later, a mechanical digger moved in to reduce the remaining structure to rubble.

The fire and the buildings rapid destruction ignited widespread speculation. And now, the new owners are facing a series of questions, many from detectives who say they are treating the fire as arson, and who have used a specialist sniffer dog to investigate the grounds.

More questions will come from South Staffordshire Council, which is investigating whether the demolition was illegal.

Before it was destroyed, the pub was well known for being on the wonk (SWNS)

The council had agreed to part of the upper level being removed (PA)

The council had not agreed to the whole structure being razed.

Shortly before the digger arrived, officers visited the site and, according to council leader Roger Lees, agreed on a set of works with the landowners representative to ensure the safety of the building and the site.

The agreed course of action included the removal of three elements of the first-floor front elevation only. This was only to avoid the weak parts of the structure from falling.

At no point did the council agree the demolition of the whole structure nor was this deemed necessary, Mr Lees added.

Aerial view of the shell (PA)

The pub had been shored up on one side (PA)

He said the demolition of a building should be carried out in accordance with Schedule 2 Part 11 Class B of The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015.

Mr Lees said: The steps required by the legislation were not carried out in this case. We have referred these matters to our legal team with a view to taking enforcement action.

Over recent months, he added, the council had been speaking to relevant national bodies about how to preserve the important heritage asset.

The building was a popular wedding venue (PA)

Police themselves are facing questions, too. Dudley North MP Marco Longhi has demanded to know why police did not intervene in the demolition given that officers had been investigating the blaze two days earlier, suggesting the police force had failed to protect the burnt-out shell, which might have needed a forensic examination.

But Staffordshire Police acknowledged the depth of anger over what happened, saying: This fire has shocked and upset so many given the  albeit not listed  cultural importance and heritage of the building. This is not lost on us and a robust investigation using all available information and forensic opportunities is being carried out.

Speculation has been further fuelled by the boss of the company that hired out the excavator reportedly saying they delivered the digger a week-a-half ago  before the fire.

Lyndon Thomas told Construction News he could not be held responsible for what paying customers did with the machinery and that had he known, he would have acted differently.

The land where the pub sat is in a remote area, and a wooded public right of way, popular with walkers and families, runs across it.

Until about 40 years ago, there was a bluebell wood behind the site, but the land was dug up for clay, together with a quarry to one side.

Because of the tilt, verticals were not aligned inside (SWNS)

Even walls were not at right angles to the floor (SWNS)

Now, its thought the other side is being dug by Himley Environmental, described as a landfill site operator specialising in hazardous waste disposal, which runs the quarry and landfill site next door.

The director of ATE Farms, which bought the pub from Marstons, is businesswoman Carly Taylor, 34. Her husband, Adam, 44, is a shareholder and former director of Himley Environmental, and the two companies are registered to the same address in Warwickshire.

Himley Environmental has not been answering its telephone this week, and its understood that Mr Taylor declined to comment when approached by journalists at his home in Leicestershire.

Himley Environmental is close to the site (Google Maps )

Earlier this year, ATE Farms applied for permission to transform an old quarry site in Leicestershire into a holiday camp.

Councillor Phil Atkins, whose Dudley ward backs onto the site, said what had happened to the truly unique building had been a disaster and he would like to see the pub return in some form, possibly as part of a museum or visitor attraction.

Recommended New Crooked House investigation as burned out pub demolished without council approval

And West Midlands mayor Andy Street called for the inn to be rebuilt brick by brick  but not everyone agrees.

Yvonne Nock, chairwoman of Himley parish council, told The Independent: My sister tried to paint it but said she couldnt because it wasnt straight. I cant see it could possibly be rebuilt. It was a one-off and cant be replaced.

She said it would be very sad if the pub site were dug up alongside the quarry.

The Independent has been unable to contact Ms Taylor, but asked Staffordshire Police to respond to Mr Longhis criticism. The force had not responded by the time of publication.
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A 74-year-old millionaire accused of squirrelling away at least 27 million has won a family court fight over money with his estranged American millionaire wife despite being described by a judge as an inveterate liar.

Susan Baker, 75, argued that she should get a 9.3 million lump sum following the breakdown of her marriage to Andrew Baker, a former company boss who is English and lives in Somerset.

She said that was the amount she calculated she was due under a separation agreement made with Mr Baker.

But Mr Justice Mostyn has ruled that she should get 1.6 million.

Mr Justice Mostyn heard that the net value of Mr Bakers visible assets was about 5.6 million  and the net value of Mrs Bakers assets about 5.8 million.

It is clear to me that the husbands personality is a toxic mixture of arrogance and dishonesty. He is an inveterate liar Mr Justice Mostyn

Mrs Baker argued that Mr Baker, who had been chairman and chief executive Life Science Research Inc, had squirrelled away at least 35 million US dollars  about 27 million.

The judge, who considered arguments at a recent family hearing in London, has ruled against her and and concluded that the squirrelling allegation had not been proved.

He has decided, in a written judgment published online, that the lump sum Mr Baker should pay is 1.6 million.

Mr Justice Mostyn said the effect of his decision would be to reduce Mr Bakers deemed net worth to about 3.9 million and increase Mrs Bakers net worth to 7.4 million.

He heard that the couple had married in 1986 and separated a decade ago.

The judge, who is based in the Family Division of the High Court in London, said Mrs Baker had been by far the better witness.

Mr Justice Mostyn said Mr Baker was an exceptionally poor witness and described him as rude, argumentative and truculent.

It is clear to me that the husbands personality is a toxic mixture of arrogance and dishonesty, said the judge.

He is an inveterate liar.

The judge said Mr Baker was in poor health physically and mentally.

He said he had made allowance for the fact that Mr Bakers mental difficulties had probably aggravated these traits.

Mr Justice Mostyn said Mr Baker had lied to Mrs Baker during negotiations over the separation agreement, had lied to Coutts bank for the purposes of obtaining credit, and had lied systematically to this court during these proceedings.

But he said he was not satisfied on the balance of probability that a squirrelling allegation has been proved.

He said he was not satisfied, on an assessment of the evidence, that Mr Baker had hidden funds.

The judge said it would be wrong to draw inferences that he had any such funds based simply on his dishonesty.

Mr Justice Mostyn said: The wifes case stands and falls on the primary issue of fact, namely whether the husband has squirrelled away at least 35 million dollars.

If he has not, then the issue is simply what award should justly be made to the wife from the husbands visible assets having regard to the terms of the separation agreement.
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The UK is facing a dramatic rise in bed bug infestations - and the cost-of-living crisis is to blame.

Pest control company Rentokil has reportedly highlighted a 65 per cent increase year-on-year in infestations across the country, as experts suggested this could be due to more people buying secondhand furniture from resale websites such as eBay and Facebook marketplace.

Professor James Logan, from the London School of Tropical Medicine, told The Telegraph that the rise could also be linked to travel and tourism returning to pre-pandemic levels, adding that its very likely that there will be bed bugs on the move much more again and travelling in peoples suitcases.

These bloodsucking bugs will usually hide in bed frames, mattresses, clothing, or under loose wallpaper, during the day, and bite people at night.

In case of a severe infestation, the bugs will also crawl into electronic devices kept close to the bed, such as televisions or plug sockets, since they prefer warm hiding places.

The most common type of bed bug in the UK, the cimex lectularius, can survive on household pets and rodents. These parasitic insects can also be spread by birds, and have been shown to travel over 100 feet in a night, but usually live within eight feet of where people sleep.

Their bites appear as red, swollen, and itchy spots on the skin, and can sometimes cause a severe allergic reaction, according to the National Health Services guidance.

Bed bug bites will usually subside on their own within a week, but putting something cool on the affected areas (usually exposed skin like the face, neck, or arms), can help with the itching and swelling.

According to the US Center for Disease Control, bed bugs can hide in peoples luggage or overnight bags as most travellers dont realise theyre transporting the critters.

Once a mating pair ends up in someones bed, they can reportedly breed thousands of eggs within a matter of weeks.

Dealing with these infestations can be quite expensive for hotels and other accommodation providers, professor Logan told the newspaper, noting it costs hundreds of pounds just to get someone to come out and have a look during an infestation and it can be very costly because the treatments might not work the first time.

An earlier study found that bed bugs were becoming resistant to commonly used pesticides, making it more difficult to get rid off them.

Signs of an infestation include blood spots on sheets or bedding from bites or from squashing a bug.

If you think your home has bed bugs, the NHS advises contacting your local council or a pest controller. Ensuring your home is clutter-free and regularly cleaned can help minimise the risk of an infestation.

The health service also recommends thoroughly checking any secondhand furniture or luggage for bugs before bringing them inside the house.
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Three people remain in hospital after a car crashed into a campsite and hit a tent where a baby was sleeping.

Nine people were injured in the crash which took place at Newgale Campsite in Pembrokeshire, Wales, on Saturday.

The baby escaped serious injury as it was in a cot, according to the campsite owner.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the incident happened shortly after 10.30pm and passengers in the car were among those injured.

A blue Ford Fiesta left the road at Newgale and went over a ditch before rolling into a tent and over a group of people.

The campsite is set alongside a road and was filled with tents at the time of the crash.

Clare Harris, who runs the campsite with her husband Mike, said: The car was speeding down the hill, realised it needed to slow down and tried to brake.

It flipped and rolled several times, and crashed into the tent.

There was a young child, a baby, in the tent at the time, thankfully they are okay.

Campsite owner Mike Harris described the aftermath following the car crash (BBC)

Its a tragic accident that the police are dealing with, thats all we can say at the moment.

Mike said it was a miracle that the baby survived the crash.

The owner told the BBC how the car had to be lifted to free those injured beneath it and that the incident could have been a lot worse.

He said he was very impressed with how quickly emergency services responded, sending around 15 vehicles to the scene.

Firefighters and two surgeons were also staying at the campsite and were able to take charge and make the best of the situation, he added.

One person was airlifted to the University Hospital of Wales and a further four were taken by road, said the Welsh Ambulance Service which was assisted by HM Coastguard.

The Ford Fiesta left the road at Newgale and went over a ditch before rolling into a tent and over a group of people (BBC)

The service sent six emergency ambulances, one duty operations manager, a high acuity response unit, and a search and rescue helicopter.

The car is believed to have been travelling from the village of Roch towards St Davids when it crashed off the A487.

Dyfed Powys Police said the road was closed to allow investigations and reopened at around 7.45am on Sunday.

A spokesperson added: Dyfed-Powys Police is continuing to investigate the incident which occurred in Newgale on Saturday evening, August 12, 2023.

Three people currently remain in hospital. No arrests have been made at this time.

The force said there has been a considerable amount of interest in the incident and asked the public to regrain from speculation.

The investigation team continues to engage with witnesses to establish the full circumstances of what happened, it added.
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A town in Somerset has officially declared a housing crisis as renting costs surge across the UK.

Frome, a picturesque town near the Mendip Hills boasts winding streets full of independent shops, a bustling local market and lush countryside.

It has been named one of the best places to live in Britain by The Times, but the historic, small-town charm comes at a steep price.

The average rent in Frome is now 1,499 a month, the kind of eye-watering prices you might expect in the capital not a parish with a population of less than 30,000 people.

Have you been affected by soaring rent prices? Email maryam.zakir-hussain@independent.co.uk to share your story

Frome is the third town in the country to announce a housing crisis after South Hams in Devon and Leicester.

Rents have skyrocketed and that is pushing out local people who have been here all their lives, councillor Polly Lamb told the BBC.

Ms Lamb said there are 600 families on the official council list who are waiting to be housed. Only 50 have found a place to live so far this year.

The problem is exacerbated by commercial developers building large, expensive family homes - but the area urgently needs social housing, she said.

Frome locals are struggling to find homes to rent in the bustling town (Getty Images)

Local artist Summer Auty told the BBC she cant afford anything in Frome so she lives in her van.

The 24-year-old said she found single rooms available for 500 a month or over a thousand for just a small flat.

In July, property website Rightmove said the average rent being asked outside London has risen to 1,231 per month, while the asking rent for new tenants in London is at a record 2,567.

The figures, for the second quarter of this year, are the highest in Rightmoves 12-year history of covering the issue.

It added that the average property available to rent is finding a tenant in 17 days, the quickest time period it has recorded since November 2022.
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A refugee who fled Afghanistan has accused the government of having policies of hostility and deterrence after six died when a boat carrying migrants sank off the coast of France.

Gulwali Passarlay, 28  now an acclaimed author living in Kettering, said the Home Office has blood on its hands.

At least six people died and dozens more  many of them Afghans  were rescued after a boat got into difficulty off the coast of Sangatte on Saturday.

Around 65 originally boarded the overcrowded vessel before it sank, according to survivors.

Mr Passarlay told the PA news agency: Its shocking and Im not surprised, this is going to happen if we continue with the policies of hostility and deterrence and the lack of safe routes and humanitarian corridors.

I feel disheartened; this was preventable, this was avoidable.

It happened because of the UKs policies and laws as well as of course Europe and France is to blame also because of the way people have been treated and evacuated.

If the British government had a better system in place, a humane welcome or a way people could come through safe passage on trains, planes, cars and buses this wouldnt have happened.

If they had a similar process to the one they have for the Ukrainians or people from Hong Kong, if they had asylum visas or humanitarian visas this wouldnt have happened.

Aged 13, Mr Passarlay had to cross the Mediterranean in a 20-person boat with 120 people crammed into it and a 50-hour journey without food or drink before finally getting into a lorry in Calais.

He said 150,000 people in Afghanistan are being deliberately kept in limbo following the Taliban takeover of the country in 2021.

Asked what he would say to Britons who object to migrants crossing English Channel, Mr Passarlay added: Ive travelled across Britain, Ive done talks in towns and cities and people are compassionate, the vast majority of people want to support refugees.

But the ones you hear from are the ones on social media, they are sitting behind a screen and want to blame someone, and obviously the refugees are easy people to blame.

A UK Government spokesperson said: These deaths are devastating and our thoughts are with the victims families and friends at this time.

This incident is sadly another reminder of the extreme dangers of crossing the Channel in small boats and how vital it is that we break the people smugglers business model and stop the boats.

It comes as an Afghan pilot threatened with deportation to Rwanda remains in limbo five months after he first pleaded with Rishi Sunak to be granted safe haven in the UK.

The airman, who flew more than 30 combat missions alongside coalition forces before the fall of Kabul two years ago, took the dangerous journey across the Channel last November.

The Independent has been campaigning for months to secure safe haven for the airman after he was threatened with deportation, with dozens of military chiefs and politicians backing our calls.
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Rishi Sunak is under mounting pressure to bring forward promised protections against terror attacks in venues and public places.

The mother of Manchester Arena victim Martyn Hett, Figen Murray, has been campaigning for a law in his name for four years, with the backing of victims of terrorism, former senior counter-terror officers and ex-home secretaries.

The government committed to the law in its 2019 election manifesto and announced the bill in last years Queens Speech, but it remains in draft form amid debates about its scope.

In a letter to the prime minister, seen by The Independent, Ms Murray said the law was not progressing as speedily as the threat from terrorism demands.

The 22 people killed in the Manchester Arena terror attack (PA)

As counter-terrorism leaders said to you in December 2022, the risks of not acting exposes your government to the invidious consequences of another successful attack against a premises that could have been protected, the letter warned.

This legislative approach helps you fulfil your primary duty of protecting the citizens of the UK, something that you have our enduring support for.

Former home secretary Priti Patel is among the laws supporters, and joined six other previous holders of the office including Sajid Javid, Jack Straw and David Blunkett calling for it to be implemented swiftly in November.

Ms Patel said the government should be grateful for the tireless commitment from Ms Murray and other campaigners.

The public sentiment is clear that the majority want tougher measures to protect the public from harm, she told The Independent.

It is the most important duty of any government to ensure the safety of its citizens and I know how hard it is when there are individuals who are willing to attack unknown civilians for a twisted cause.

That's why the Protect Duty must continue to be championed and delivered by the government.

Figen Murray was made an OBE for her campaigning work (PA) (PA Wire)

Alluding to the looming general election and a raft of promised laws yet to be considered by parliament, Ms Murray said the bills backers recognised that it was an important year for your government.

The letter, which was also signed by Brendan Cox, the widow of murdered MP Jo Cox, and former senior counter-terror police officer Nick Aldworth, defended the Draft Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill after a critical round of parliamentary scrutiny.

Last month, MPs on the Home Affairs Committee found the draft law could force venues such as village halls, restaurants and small businesses to close and said there was no evidence that the proposed measures will have any effect on reducing terrorist threats.

Ms Murray said campaigners believed that the approach was right, and that to heed calls to restrict minimum security requirements to large venues only would be an invitation for terrorists to continue attacking and plotting to attack smaller locations where our citizens live and socialise.

She urged Mr Sunak to fulfil your commitment, weeks after home secretary Suella Braverman warned that terror attacks were becoming increasingly unpredictable and harder to detect in the UK.

In direct response to the Manchester Arena bombing, we will ensure public venues are better prepared and protected against terrorist attacks, Ms Braverman vowed in a speech last month.

In honour of Martyn Hett, who was tragically killed in the attack, we will pass Martyns Law.

Manchester Arena bombing public inquiry finds 'missed opportunities' to prevent attack

It has been backed by the chair of the Manchester Arena public inquiry, who called for the government to ensure a high standard of protective security for large venues and for rigorous and robust enforcement.

Doing nothing is not an option, Sir John Saunders said after finding numerous opportunities to prevent the attack or reduce the death toll were missed.

The draft bill would apply different standards to venues depending on their size, with a standard duty for public places with a capacity of between 100 and 800 people, and an enhanced duty for larger premises.

The Home Affairs Committee found that the proposals would place a significant and disproportionate burden on smaller venues, while failing to ensure adequate safety measures at all public events at risk of terror attacks.

It called for the government to first impose the duty on large venues only, and review the impact before extending it.

A Home Office spokesperson said: The government is committed to improving security at public venues and to introducing Martyns Law as soon as parliamentary time allows.

The Martyns Law campaign have tirelessly campaigned for this legislation and their continued input and support is helping the government to deliver a strong bill.

The government welcomes a range of views to ensure consultation and pre-legislative scrutiny on proposals for draft legislation. We are carefully reviewing all recommendations to ensure the implementation of Martyns law is properly understood and effective.
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Former home secretary Priti Patel has accused the government of being secretive about its intentions to house asylum seekers on a former military base.

Ministers claim that accommodating 1,700 migrants at RAF Wethersfield in Essex will be cheaper than hotels, but a leaked Home Office memo showed that value for money will not be achieved unless the site is used for five years.

Suella Braverman declared an emergency earlier this year to bypass normal planning permission for the development, but the process only allows 12-month use and is the subject of a looming legal challenge in the High Court.

Her predecessor Ms Patel, who is the MP for the nearby constituency of Witham, has opposed the use of Wethersfield for asylum accommodation and maintained it is unsuitable.

In a letter to Ms Braverman and immigration minister Robert Jenrick on Monday, she said the leaked memo showed they planned to use the site for longer than previously disclosed, and that local representatives had been given no clarity on timescales.

The lack of a direct response to my questions relating to the length of time the Home Office plans to use the site for asylum accommodation gives the impression that the Home Office is being evasive, she wrote.

Clear answers now need to be provided by the Home Office and the government must be transparent rather than evasive. The lack of clarity has been alarming and staggering and I trust you will resolve this urgently.

Ms Patel said official government statements had said only that the site would be temporary and under constant review, adding: This suggests that the government is being secretive about its intentions, but the local community and partners need to know what the governments plans are.

In planning terms, the temporary Class Q use is for twelve months only but it seems that the government are intending on using the site for longer than that.

Ms Patel demanded urgent answers to questions on how long Wethersfield would be used for, financial modelling for the site and the average costs of housing asylum seekers there.

The use of Wethersfield as asylum accommodation is subject to legal action and strong local opposition (AFP via Getty Images)

The internal Home Office memo, published byThe Telegraph, said a senior civil servant was satisfied with value for money for Wethersfield, the Scampton military base in Lincolnshire and a former prison in Sussex, subject to certain conditions.

Wethersfield and HMP Northeye, in Bexhill, would have to be used across the five years planned for the sites, the memo said, and Scampton would have to be used for three years.

It added: This [analysis] assume we are in hotels for that period. If we are not, and/or if our costs are higher than we have estimated, there could be issues on value for money.

The memo also said that the Bibby Stockholm barge in Dorset would need to hold 1,000 people to provide value for money. But the vessels capacity is 500 and it was evacuated on Friday following the discovery of dangerous legionnella bacteria in the water system.

The Home Office moved the first asylum seekers into Wethersfield on 12 July - as a hearing over the base began at the High Court - and cases of tuberculosis and scabies have since been reported.

Local councils and residents have launched a legal challenge against the use of the former RAF base, as well as RAF Scampton and HMP Northeye, alleging that the government has acted unlawfully.

The High Court heard that Ms Bravermans attempted planning bypass covered an emergency development for 12 months, but Home Office documents indicated that Wethersfield could be used for much longer.

Asylum seekers were moved into Wethersfield last month despite an ongoing legal challenge (PA) (PA Wire)

Alex Goodman KC said Wethersfield could be occupied for up to five years or as long as it remains expedient to do so, amid rocketing Channel crossings, a record asylum backlog and the suspension of unlawful plans to deport small boat migrants to Rwanda.

He argued that a series of statutory assessments, including on the environmental impact of housing 1,700 asylum seekers at Wethersfield, were wrongly based on an assumption it would only be used for a year.

The councils are also arguing that the current use of hotels for asylum seekers is not an emergency that qualifies for emergency planning permission, despite lawyers representing Ms Braverman claiming a shortage of accommodation created a risk of homelessness.

Last month, a parliamentary committee was told that the Home Office was holding 5,000 empty hotel beds for asylum seekers as a buffer for expected high crossings.

The case could make or break the governments alternative accommodation policy, which is core to Rishi Sunaks vow to move migrants out of hotels.

A Home Office spokesperson said: Delivering accommodation on surplus military sites will provide cheaper and more orderly, suitable accommodation for those arriving in small boats whilst helping to reduce the use of hotels.

These accommodation sites will house asylum seekers in basic, safe and secure accommodation as they await a decision on their claim.

We understand the concerns of local communities and will work closely with councils and key partners to manage the impact of using these sites, including liaising with local police to make sure appropriate arrangements are in place.
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A five-year-old girl has suffered significant facial injuries after being attacked by a dog outside a convenience store.

The incident happened near to the Nisa shop in Norton Road, Norton, Stockton-on-Tees, at 6.30pm on Saturday.

The girl was taken to hospital for treatment to her injuries while the dog has been seized, according to Cleveland Police.

A force spokesman said: Police were called to a report of a five-year-old girl who had been attacked by a dog outside of Nisa on Norton Road yesterday at around 6:30pm.

Officers attended the scene within minutes of the report being called in and provided medical assistance to the girl whilst waiting for the ambulance.

The girl has suffered significant injuries to her face and is receiving treatment in hospital.

The owner of the dog remained at the scene following the attack and co-operated with police. The dog has been seized.

We would politely ask people to not post photos relating to the incident and to avoid speculating on social media whilst officers continue with their investigation.
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Royal Air Force jets intercepted Russian bombers just north of Scotland, the government has said.

Typhoon fighters were scrambled to intercept two Russian long-range maritime patrol bombers that were travelling north of the Shetland Islands in Scotland in the early hours of Monday.

The jets, which were launched from RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, monitored the Russian Tu-142 Bear-F and Tu-142 Bear-J aircraft  used for reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare  as they passed north of the UK.

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A Voyager tanker was also scrambled and remained airborne for the duration of the mission to offer air-to-air refuelling, according to the Ministry of Defence.

Armed forces minister James Heappey said: RAF crews at Lossiemouth maintain a constant watch over UK airspace and are always ready to take action at a moments notice to keep our country safe.

Pilots launched in their Typhoon jets to intercept two Russian long-range bombers this morning, monitoring them as they passed north of the Shetland Islands, ready to counter any potential threat to UK territory.

The lead RAF Typhoon pilot in Mondays intercept, whose name was not given by the MoD, said the adrenaline kicked in when the alarm call came in the early hours of the morning.

Russian military aircraft entering the UK Flight Information Region, the UKs controlled zone of international air space, can pose a hazard to other aircraft, the MoD added.

An official from the ministry said such Russian aircraft often do not talk to air traffic control and refuse to squawk, which refers to a broadcast code used by pilots to ensure they are visible to other air users and air traffic controllers on the ground.

At no point did the Russian aircraft enter UK airspace, and the Typhoons have now returned to their base.

These incidents are known as quick reaction alerts and involve Typhoon jets shadowing rogue aircraft if they approach UK airspace.

In November 2021, Typhoons were launched to intercept a pair of Russian Tu-160 bombers as they were operating within Natos air policing area.

The lead RAF Typhoon pilot in Mondays intercept, whose name was not given by the MoD, said the adrenaline kicked in when the alarm call came in the early hours of the morning (MoD/Crown Copyright/PA)

British pilots also recently led Natos air policing mission in Estonia, where more than 50 similar air intercepts were carried out, the government added.

The latest operation came as the Danish air force intercepted two Russian bombers that were identified over Denmark and flying towards the area that the Netherlands monitors for the Nato military alliance, the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) said on Monday.

It added that Dutch F-16s were called into action on Monday morning but the Russian bombers were intercepted before they could enter Dutch Nato airspace and have now turned back.

A spokesperson for the RNLAF said that planes are intercepted if they do not have a unique identifying code, did not provide a flight plan, and if there is no two-way conversation.

They also said that its not rare for Russian planes to violate a European countrys airspace or approach it.

Earlier on Monday, Russia said its strategic bombers had carried out routine flights over international waters in the Arctic.

Additional reporting by agencies
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The Met Office has predicted temperatures could rise above 30C in some parts of the country by the weekend, as thundery downpours give way to sunny spells and warmer weather.

The national forecaster issued a new weather warning for parts of England and Wales, predicting heavy and persistent rain that could cause disruption to transport and infrastructure.

The yellow alert was issued on Sunday night and will remain in place for 21 hours  until 9pm on Monday.

According to the latest forecast, wet conditions will continue through the night, especially in north England, the Midlands and Wales.

Showers are set to be locally heavy at times, with the chance of thunderstorms still lingering from the day.

However, conditions are likely to improve through the week, with sunny spells, fewer showers, and hot sunshine predicted.

The Met Office has said that temperatures are expected to rise through the week, with mercury likely hitting 32C by the weekend in the southeast  around 6C hotter than Los Angeles on the same day.

The good news is that low pressure moves out of the way as we go into Tuesday, so it should be a drier day, forecaster Greg Dewhurst said. A better chance of seeing some sunny spells, particularly across eastern parts of the UK.

Mr Dewhurst explained that another area of low pressure to the west of the UK and the Atlantic will start to move toward us, causing temperatures to rise in the south of England by the weekend.

What that allows to happen is for the winds to turn southerly, and we start to import some higher temperatures from the near continent, he added.

After thunderstorms and showers on Monday, conditions are likely to improve through the week, with sunny spells, fewer showers and hot sunshine predicted (Met Office )

Last week, another forecaster Dan Stroud said that temperatures will reach the low thirties later this week, most likely on Friday, in and around London, East Anglia and other parts of the south and east.

By the time we get into Friday and maybe into Saturday we stand a chance of breaking into the thirties, he added.

According to the Met Offices long-term forecast, this sunny, hot weather will likely last until 26 August.

The UK has seen a considerably wetter summer this year, as compared with the record-breaking heatwave that swept the country in 2022. Last month was the sixth wettest July on record in the UK and the wettest ever July in Northern Ireland.

The Met Offices first named storm of the year, Storm Antoni, hit the country earlier this month, as strong winds lashed the UK and nearly half a months worth of rain fell in some places.
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The Met Office has issued a new weather warning for swathes of England and Wales, as forecasters warned of a heavy, persistent and perhaps thundery washout.

The yellow alert comes into force at midnight on Sunday and warns that the heavy rain poses a risk of disruption to transport and infrastructure, with the potential for flooding to damage buildings.

Most areas should expect 20-40mm of rain, but some parts could see up to 80mm  close to the UK average for the entire month of August, which sits at 93mm, according to the Met Office.

The warning is in force for 21 hours on Monday (Met Office)

Forecasters warned of the small chance that some communities could be temporarily cut off by flooded roads and that homes and businesses could suffer power cuts and the loss of other services.

Spray and flooding are likely to lead to some difficult driving conditions and road closures, with the risk of delays and cancellations to train and bus services, the Met Office said.

Neither Englands Environment Agency nor Natural Resources Wales had so far issued any flood warnings or alerts, as of midday on Sunday.

Temperatures should also remain between 18C and 23C in what will be overall an unsettled day, said Met Office forecaster Greg Dewhurst.

But the warning for rain is in force until 9pm on Monday, and spans from the Scottish border to Manchester, York, Leeds and Scarborough, while also covering much of Wales, excluding Cardiff and other parts of the countrys southeast.

A surfer next to Brightons Palace Pier as Storm Antoni hit the UK last week (AFP/Getty)

However, after a considerably damper July than the record-breaking heat experienced last year, and the arrival of the UKs first named storm of the year in August, along with 78mph winds, some rather more favourable summer weather does lie on the horizon.

Conditions in England and Wales are expected to improve through next week  with increasingly pleasant sunny spells and fewer showers, according to the Met Office.

The mercury could hit about 32C by Friday in the southeast, meteorologists predict  at least 6C higher than the temperature forecast for the same day in Los Angeles.

We are looking at the possibility of reaching the low thirties later in the week, most likely on Friday, probably in and around London, running into East Anglia and other parts of the south and east, Met Office forecaster Dan Stroud said on Saturday.

Weve got high pressure building from the middle of the week and that will tap into some tropical continental air, which will draw up some very warm, locally hot air that will allow temperatures to climb steadily, Mr Stroud said.

By the time we get into Friday and maybe into Saturday we stand a chance of breaking into the thirties.

The spell of sunny, very warm to hot weather is likely to continue till 26 August, according to the Met Offices longer-term forecast.

Additional reporting by PA
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Ministers may need to learn lessons from the Bibby Stockholm incident, No 10 said, after asylum seekers were removed from the barge after traces of Legionella bacteria were found.

The Government is standing by the use of barges to house migrants, amid a blame game about the response to the situation following the detection of the dangerous bacteria.

Downing Street on Monday insisted that the Prime Minister retained confidence in Home Secretary Suella Braverman, as questions continue to be asked about when Home Office officials were first informed.

The Government has said that Home Office ministers were not told about the situation until the night of August 10, despite claims a local council told the contractors running the vessel about test results on August 7  the day migrants boarded the barge.

The discovery eventually led to the removal on August 11 of all 39 people who had boarded the floating accommodation docked in Portland, Dorset.

Tory-run Dorset Council said it informed the responsible organisations, barge operators CTM and Landry & Kling, about the preliminary test results on Monday August 7  the same day it received them.

A Home Office official was then told about the discovery on August 8, the council said.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman said ministers only became aware of the issue on August 10 but said that the Home Office was still clarifying if officials may have been aware earlier.

I think we will be communicating with all relevant groups to see if there are any lessons that can be learned, as you would expect in any public health situation, he said.

We remain confident that we have acted quickly once informed.

Legionella was detected in a sample analysed by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on behalf of Dorsets environmental health team.

UKHSA chief Dame Jenny Harries said the initial findings did not require a response by her agency as it could be that there were environmental factors which did not mean there was a public health risk.

But she said the local health protection team was alerted on the night of August 9 and she was informed first thing on August 10 when the UKHSA jumped in immediately.

The migrants moved on to Bibby Stockholm on August 7, the start of the Governments small boats week policy blitz aimed at showing they were tackling the problems of migrants crossing the English Channel and the backlog in the asylum system.

It now remains unclear when the asylum seekers will return to the barge, with Downing Street refusing to give a timeline as officials await the result of further tests.

The spokesman for Mr Sunak, who has returned from his holiday in California, said that barges remain an appropriate way to find alternative accommodation to hotels.

Asked on BBC Radio 4s Today programme whether asylum seekers should have been allowed to board before the test results came back, Dame Jenny said we would always, in public health terms, want places as safe as possible.

She said the Home Office acted to remove the asylum seekers from the vessel as a precaution before a recommendation to do so.

Dorset Council defended its handling of the situation.

A spokesman said: To be clear, it was not Dorset Councils responsibility to inform the Home Office  that responsibility sat with CTM and Landry & King, the companies contracted by the Home Office to operate the barge.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer insisted that housing migrants on barges, in hotels or disused military air bases was not a solution to the broken asylum system.

But he was unable to rule out an incoming Labour government maintaining their use in response to the situation it would inherit on taking office.

I dont want to keep barges or hotels or airfields, for that matter, he told reporters in Scotland.

Now, were going to inherit a very difficult situation and so were going to have to manage as best we can.

Meanwhile, there were further signs of activity in the English Channel on Monday following large numbers of migrants making the crossing in recent days.

More than 1,600 people were detected making the journey from France across Thursday to Saturday last week according to provisional Home Office figures, although there were no recorded crossings on Sunday.

At least six people died and dozens were rescued after a boat got into difficulty off the coast of Sangatte, northern France, on Saturday.
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Sir Keir Starmer has offered his strongest criticism yet of Sadiq Khans ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) for London  arguing that it was disproportionately hitting hard-up Britons during the cost of living crisis.

Making clear he was now against charging schemes on motorists, the Labour leader said on Monday that Britains cities should look at other ways to tackle air pollution.

As well as clashing with Labours London mayor, Sir Keir risked the wrath of a leading Labour donor Dale Vince  who said he was disappointed at the leaders change of heart on the issue.

Despite having initially supported the 12.50 per day charge, Sir Keir urged Mr Khan to reflect on Ulez expansion to outer London following last months Uxbridge by-election result  blaming it for an unexpected Tory victory.

Asked by broadcasters whether Labours policy on clean air zones had changed since by-election, Sir Keir said: Let me tell you what I want to change: I want clean air. I dont think anybody in this country should be breathing dirty air.

What I dont want is schemes that disproportionately impact on people in the middle of the cost-of-living crisis, so we need to look at options for achieving what we all need to achieve, which is clean air.

In his strongest remarks yet, urging other cities to think again, Sir Keir said: There are other ways of achieving this, so my driving principle is clean air, absolutely yes, but a proportionate way of getting there and looking at what the options are for other cities, other places doing it in different ways.

But Mr Khan has insisted that he will stand by his policy on Monday, even if it costs him votes at the mayoral election. He told Times Radio on Monday that Ulez was popular in London even if many did not like it.

Im going to carry on listening to the concerns of Londoners, but we cant kick the can down the road when it comes to addressing a public health emergency or tackling the climate emergency, he said.

Keir Starmer and London mayor Sadiq Khan at odds over Ulez (PA)

Mr Vince, the Ecotricity founder who has given Labour 1.5m in donations, told TalkTV that he was disappointed by Labours U-turn. The climate campaigner also claimed that both parties had rushed to judge the outcome of the Uxbridge by-election being based on Ulez.

But Sir Keir Starmer has made clear that he wants to reverse Labours commitment to introduce clean air zones across UK  with a statement of support for the zones said to have been scored out from the partys policy programme.

Clean air zones featured among Labours transport pledges in an 86-page draft policy handbook which was debated last month at the partys National Policy Forum (NPF).

But after The Telegraph reported that the paragraph was scrapped during the forum, with a Labour source confirming to the newspaper that the policy had been officially dropped.

Aside from London, clean air zones already exist in a number of Labour-run cities including Birmingham, Newcastle, Bristol and Bradford.

Rishi Sunak has sought to portray himself as on the side of motorists and create a dividing line ahead of the next general election. The PM has ordered a review into low traffic neighbourhoods and other plans aimed at curbing pollution in city and town centres.

Londons Ulez will be expanded to cover the entirety of Greater London from 29 August, after Mr Khans office won a legal battle against several home county councils.

Conservative Steve Tuckwell won the seat with a narrow majority of 495, far slimmer than Mr Johnsons 2019 general election victory of 7,210.
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PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne has said he is confident that information on police officers and staff mistakenly released in a major data breach is in the hands of dissident republicans.

At a press conference in Belfast Mr Byrne said he believed dissidents would use the information to intimidate and target police.

Last week the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) revealed a document had mistakenly been shared online which included the names of about 10,000 officers and staff.

Details released included the surname and first initial of every employee, their rank or grade, where they are based and the unit they work in.

It is, therefore, a planning assumption that they will use this list to generate fear and uncertainty as well as intimidating or targeting officers and staff PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne

Mr Byrne said: I would like to confirm the picture in relation to last weeks breach continues to evolve at pace.

We are now confident that the workforce dataset is in the hands of dissident republicans.

It is, therefore, a planning assumption that they will use this list to generate fear and uncertainty as well as intimidating or targeting officers and staff.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris, has said he is in close contact with Mr Byrne and his senior team over the matter.

In a statement on Monday, Mr Heaton-Harris said: The UK Government remains committed to providing specialist support and expertise, and I know that PSNI and security partners will continue to take proportionate action to protect officers and staff and their families.

Mr Byrne said the PSNI will continue to adapt our posture and our tactics as the information changes.

Mr Byrne said the PSNI is working around the clock to assess the risk to staff.

We have measures in place to reassure and advise our workforce of what this risk means for them. We will continue to liaise with the policing board and the UK Government as well as other partners as we develop our response to this matter.

He said the PSNI had been given a green light by the UK government to take new measures to protect staff, and that he was confident it would be standing by if that included additional finances.

Mr Byrne said measures had been put in place to advise all members of the workforce, but the PSNI had not caught up with 45 members at the start of Monday.

He said the data did not contain information on retired colleagues.

The update follows the posting of redacted information, purportedly from the breach, on the wall of a library in Belfast.

Mr Byrne said: Clearly, that was the first indication that started to vindicate our planning assumption that this list had falling into the wrong hands.

Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly said the document, which was posted overnight close to the Sinn Fein office in the Falls Road, included information about a substantial number of police officers and staff, although their names had been removed.

The latest revelation in the controversy which has rocked the PSNI comes as it has emerged that almost 3,000 police officers have inquired about potential damages following the massive data leak.

Policing Board member Mr Kelly, who described the posting of the information as sinister, said he saw the posting of the information as a threat by dissidents.

I look upon this as a threat by dissidents to me and I will not be intimidated Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly

There was a photograph of myself and then there was a statement saying in large writing: Gerry, we know who your mates are.

Under that there was what appeared to be, and what turned out to be, a section of the leaked documents that were put out.

Mr Kelly added: I look upon this as a threat by dissidents to me and I will not be intimidated.

More serious is that this is the dissidents, or whoever is involved, putting out that their claim that they have access to the leaked documents, they are putting out a verification on that.

I think that is their main intention.

Assistant Chief Constable Chris Todd confirmed that an investigation has begun into the posting of the redacted information in Belfast.

Hundreds of officers have expressed concern for their safety in Northern Ireland, where police are under threat from terrorists  with the current level of threat assessed as severe, meaning an attack is highly likely.

The Police Federation of Northern Ireland, which represents rank and file PSNI officers, that by Monday afternoon 2,905 officers had expressed an interest in the event of legal action following the major data breach.

PFNI chairman Liam Kelly said the confirmation the data was in the hands of dissident republicans was a deeply worrying development.

He said: We have to be strong and determined to do everything we can to minimise risk and that means varying the routes we take to and from work, changing routines and re-assessing our personal security both on and off duty.

While no legal action has yet commenced, it is thought officers and staff whose names and places of work were revealed could be in line for compensation.

The PSNI is already facing significant budget pressures and any settlements would be expected to run into tens of millions of pounds.

Shadow Northern Ireland secretary Peter Kyle said support for PSNI staff must be the priority in this extremely challenging moment.

He added: There are many questions that need to be answered about how this terrible situation has come about, but the first and most important response that is required is to ensure the safety and security of PSNI officers and staff who are affected.
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Nigers military has said it will prosecute ousted president Mohamed Bazoum and his accomplices for high treason and for undermining the internal and external security of the country.

Since the coup on 26 July, Mr Bazoum, aged 63, has been confined to the official presidential residence in national capital Niamey along with his family.

In a statement read out on national television late on Sunday, a spokesman for Nigers military laid out the charges against Mr Bazoum and also attacked the West African leaders for imposing sanctions on the country.

The Nigerien government has to date, gathered the necessary evidence to prosecute the deposed president and his local and foreign accomplices before the competent national and international authorities for high treason and undermining internal and external security of Niger, read a statement from the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) of Niger, the military council that toppled the government in July.

In response to the coup and the overthrowing of democratically elected president Bazoum, the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) enforced sanctions on Niger and has not ruled out using force against the army officers responsible for toppling the democratically-elected president.

The West African bloc has approved the deployment of a standby force to restore constitutional order in Niger as soon as possible, but remains committed to finding a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

Earlier last week, coup leaders had shut down the countrys airspace, citing fear of military intervention from the West African regional bloc after it rejected their deadline for release and reinstatement of Mr Bazoum.

Colonel Major Amadou Abdramane, the spokesman for Nigers military, in his statement on Sunday, dismissed concerns over Mr Bazoums health and said the ousted leader had seen a doctor the previous day.

After this visit, the doctor raised no problems regarding the state of health of the deposed president and members of his family, he said.

Colonel Abdramane also attacked Ecowas sanctions on Niger, claiming that the illegal, inhumane and humiliating measures have posed challenges for individuals to access essential items such as medicines, food, and electricity.
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A homicide investigation has been launched after a mother called the police to report discovering a woman wrapped in plastic in her sons bedroom.

The Los Angeles Police Department received a call on Sunday just after 1am about a possible homicide at a home in the 2200 block of Wall Street, a department spokesperson told the Los Angeles Times.

According to KTLA 5, the mother told officers that she walked into her sons room after sensing a gas smell. When she went inside, she discovered what appeared to be a body.

Authorities told the publication that they found a woman wrapped in plastic in the home, and called the paramedics.

The woman, identified as 30-year-old Hannah Rachel Collins, was pronounced dead at the scene, ABC7 reported.

The son is still at large as of Thursday afternoon, police told The Independent.

It was not immediately clear how long the body had been in the room.

Hannah Collins reportedly last talked to her family days after her 30th birthday (Hannah Collins / Facebook)

A spokesperson for the LAPD confirmed the suspect was the 26-year-old son of the woman who called the police. He is not under arrest, but investigators are looking for him, the spokesperson said.

A family member of the victim told the New York Post that Collins had only moved to Los Angeles from Mississippi in June. The relative reported that Collins called to check in with her family like clockwork weekly, adding that Collins last talked to her family on 7 Augustjust days after celebrating her 30th birthday.

Hannah Collins recently moved from Mississippi to LA (Lisa Collins / Facebook)

Her Facebook profile showed that she worked at a Smoothie King and is from Richland, Mississippi and that she got engaged in 2015.
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The entire five-member police department of a small town in Kansas raided the office of a local newspaper and the home of its publisher, seizing computers, cell phones and other reporting materials and effectively shutting down publication.

The weekly newspapers 98-year-old co-owner  apparently overwhelmed by the incident  collapsed and died the following day, according to the Marion County Record.

Publisher Eric Meyer said the Marion Police Departments raid on 11 August took everything we have.

The incident is likely to cast a chilling effect on the newspapers abilities to publish and for members of the public to speak with its reporters, he told the Kansas Reflector.

Based on the reporting so far, the police raid of the Marion County Record on Friday appears to have violated federal law, the First Amendment, and basic human decency, according to a statement from Seth Stern, director of advocacy for Freedom of the Press Foundation.

Everyone involved should be ashamed of themselves, he added.

The raid followed a series of stories about a restaurant owner who kicked reporters out of a meeting with Republican US Rep Jake LaTurner. A source had contacted the newspaper about the restaurant owners drunken driving record, and reporters sought to verify the information through government records. Mr Meyer ultimately decided against publishing anything.

But the restaurant owner, Kari Newell, falsely claimed during a city council meeting that the newspaper had illegally obtained sensitive documents about her, which prompted the newspaper to publish a story that set the record straight.

The newspaper was also actively investigating Gideon Cody, Marions chief of police, following allegations that he had retired from a previous job to avoid punishment over accusations of sexual misconduct.

A warrant for the raid  performed by the entire police department and sheriffs deputies  was signed by Marion County District Court Magistrate Judge Laura Viar.

The two-page warrant stated that officers were allowed to seize phones, software, items that contained passwords, and all correspondence and documents pertaining to Kari Newell.

Chief Cody also reportedly dislocated one reporters finger after snatching her phone from her hand during the raid.

Officers also reportedly photographed personal financial statements and seized personal items  including a smart speaker used by the papers 98-year-old co-owner Joan Meyer to ask for assistance.

These are Hitler tactics and something has to be done, Ms Meyer said.

The following day, the Marion County Record reported that she was stressed beyond her limits and overwhelmed by hours of shock and grief following the raid of the newspapers office and her home.

Joan Meyer, otherwise in good health for her age, collapsed Saturday afternoon and died at her home, the newspaper reported. She had not been able to eat after police showed up at the door of her home Friday with a search warrant in hand. Neither was she able to sleep Friday night.

A statement from the Marion Police Department ackowledged that the federal Privacy Protection Act protects journalists from most searches of newsrooms unless they themselves are suspects in the offense that is the subject of the search.

The victim asks that we do all the law allows to ensure justice is served, the statement said.

The Independent has requested additional comment from chief Cody and the department.

Emily Bradbury, executive director of the Kansas Press Association, said that the incident is unprecedented in the state.

An attack on a newspaper office through an illegal search is not just an infringement on the rights of journalists but an assault on the very foundation of democracy and the publics right to know, she said in a statement. This cannot be allowed to stand.

On 13 August, a group of more than 30 news organisations and publishers including The New York Times and the Associated Press joined a statement from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press urging the Marion Police Department to return seized material, purge records that were accessed, and initiate a full independent and transparent review of the indicident.

Newsroom searches and seizures are among the most intrusive actions law enforcement can take with respect to the free press, and the most potentially suppressive of free speech by the press and the public, the statement said.

The Radio Television Digital News Association also is demanding an explanation from police.

Free expression advocacy organisation PEN America said such egregious attempts to interfere with news reporting cannot go unchecked in a democracy, and that the seizure of the newspapers equipment almost certainly violates federal law & puts the papers ability to publish the news in jeopardy.

In The Records own reporting of the incident, Mr Meyer condemned what he called police Gestapo tactics used to crush dissent.

We will be seeking the maximum sanctions possible under law, he added.

The Record is expected to file a federal lawsuit.

The Press Freedom Tracker has recorded at least 55 incidents targeting journalists First Amendment-protected activities within the last year.

Earlier this year, officials in Oklahoma were caught on tape fantasizing about killing journalists. Two journalists in North Carolina were recently found guilty of trespassing for reporting on the evictions of homeless people during a law enforcement sweep in Asheville.

The latest incident in Kansas appears to be the latest example of American law enforcement officers treating the press in a manner previously associated with authoritarian regimes, Mr Stern said.

The anti-press rhetoric thats become so pervasive in this country has become more than just talk and is creating a dangerous environment for journalists trying to do their jobs, he added.

This story was first published on 12 August and has been updated with developments
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Local residents in Hawaiis Maui are claiming they are being looted and robbed at gunpoint after catastrophic fires ravaged parts of the island.

The wildfires in Maui have become the deadliest in modern US history and have so far led to the deaths of 96 people, apart from widespread devastation of property.

And now locals have said they are growing increasingly desperate for effective local leadership to step up and take control of the emergency response amid accusations of an increase in crime.

They are annoyed that the leadership has been lax and not really stepping up, leaving residents to rise to the occasion and take reigns into their own hands.

As rescue teams traverse the island, delivering essential supplies such as water, food and first aid, reports said locals are now taking matters in their own hands to address the situation.

Theres some police presence. Theres some small military presence, but at night people are being robbed at gunpoint, Matt Robb, co-owner of a Lahaina bar called The Dirty Monkey was quoted as saying by Business Insider.

I mean, theyre going through houses  and then by day its hunky dory. So where is the support? I dont think our government and our leaders, at this point, know how to handle this or what to do.

People also told KITV4 that residents of West Maui were frequently falling victim to theft, with essential supplies such as food and clothing being targeted. They attributed this to insufficient resources reaching Lahaina.

Jeremy Aganos, the owner of Coconut Caboose, a restaurant and food truck business in Lahaina, said he lost his home and barely made it out alive. He said looters attacked his business and that it was utter chaos for everyone to try and find the basic essentials like water, food and shelter.

Another resident, Barrett Procell, said that he and his wife were now homeless and only wearing donated clothes. Mr Procell, however, added that looters right now were not the enemies. They are in survival mode.

When your children and are here starving after almost burning to death and the police wont let people drive in to give you necessities, you may turn to desperate measures. It is unfortunate people are turning to looting right now, but its about helping them and not villainising them, Mr Procell said.

The Maui Police said that no official reports of looting have been filed.

Amid calls for more support, a tense situation unfolded recently on 11 August after police officers blocked access to a key motorway leading to Lahaina, spurring a clash between the police and nearly 100 residents, according to a report by the Honolulu Star Register newspaper.

Police action reportedly prevented individuals from returning to their homes to retrieve salvageable belongings, resulting in a near-riot scenario.

Residents have complained of feeling abandoned by local leadership.

Its just been really interesting to see how, when you have a full truck of a pallet of water or feminine products or whatever, and youre trying to help people  that youre being turned away, Mr Robb said.

And I think theres a better way to organise that to be done, I just dont think its been done the correct way. I think it comes down to the lack of leadership and the lack of knowledge of how to handle this.

I think its the mayors fault, co-owner of the Dirty Monkey Alen Aivazian told Insider.

If he wouldve asked, they had Marines, Coast Guards sitting there waiting, ready to go, and he didnt send them over. Why wouldnt the feds send them over? The mayor didnt ask and the governor didnt push. I mean, what the hell are they doing over there? Theyre just hanging out at the beach.

Residents said they are foregoing sleep and establishing neighbourhood patrols to ensure mutual safety and secure vital supplies like clean drinking water and medications.

Another Maui resident, Kami Irwin, said, I had to deal with a situation that wasnt even part of who I am or what I do.

I had to talk to pilots that got grounded with our medical supplies who were stuck on the Big Island because the Department of Health stopped them from transporting insulin. And we have people all over the island that need insulin.

We literally have no idea because we are not hearing answers from anybody, she said.

We are still left without knowing what to do. And we just got word that they stopped all air and ground transportation to drop more supplies to the west side of Lahaina today.

After visiting ground zero of the destruction in Lahaina, Hawaii governor Josh Green said it is clear there is very little left there.
 Close Woman's body found off of popular trail believed to be missing Maryland woman

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More than a week after mother-of-five Rachel Morin was found dead on a popular trail in Maryland, authorities have yet to make any arrests in the investigation into her death.

Morin, 37, was last seen heading to the Ma & Pa Trail at around 6pm on 5 August. Her boyfriend reported her missing that night after she failed to return home and her body was found the following day.

On Thursday, Harford County Sheriffs Office said investigators had been made aware of potential witnesses who may have seen Morin on the Ma & Pa Trail in Bel Air on Saturday. The witnesses  either three men, two women and two dogs or two men, three women and two dogs  were urged to come forward.

Officials said that these individuals had been identified and were contacted by investigators.

A spokesperson for the sheriffs office told The Independent on Tuesday that the department had increased patrol on the Ma & Pa Trail area to reassure the community in the aftermath of Morins tragic death, but noted that there is no perceived threat at this time.
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A US Army soldier who is accused of murdering his new wife had posted a plea on Facebook for help in the search a day before her body was found stuffed in a storm drain.

Zarrius Hildabrand, 21, was taken into custody on Friday after a days-long search for Alaska National Guard combat medic Saria Hildabrand, 21, the Anchorage Police Department said. He is charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence.

Mr Hildabrand reported his wife missing on 7 August. She was last seen on Sunday morning, leaving the Campbell Park apartment complex in Anchorage where she lived with her husband, to walk to work. But she never returned home.

As a search was launched for Saria, her husband joined the effort and shared his wifes missing poster to his Facebook page, pleading with the public for help.

Updated information on my missing wife PLEASE SHARE AND REPOST!!!!!! Mr Hildabrand wrote on the post on Wednesday.

Sarias body was found the very next day in a 4-by-5-foot storm drain near the couples apartment.

She had a gunshot wound to her left temple, Anchorage Daily News said, citing the police incident report.

The couple met at basic training last summer and were married in December 2022, according to her family.

Zarrius Hildabrand shared his wifes missing poster to his Facebook page, pleading with the public for help finding her (Zarrius Hildabrand/Facebook)

Mr Hildabrand is a cannon crewmember assigned to the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 11th Airborne Division at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

Saria joined the Alaska Army National Guard in April of 2023 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment as a combat medic. She moved from Utah to Alaska to be with him.

Her devastated mother, Meredith Barney, accused Mr Hildabrand of lying to the family, telling the Anchorage Daily News on Friday, He walked around for hours with me searching for my daughter knowing that she was dead.

He lied to me multiple times and tried to play it off like he was a concerned husband.

Mr Hildabrand reportedly told investigators that he didnt really worry about his wife until around 10pm on Sunday, when she didnt return from her second job at a local restaurant.

He also told police that his wife walked to work that day because they were both hungover from the night before and neither felt like driving. She had also left her phone at home, he reported, which her family said was unusual for her to do.

In charging documents obtained by Law&Crime, Mr Hildabrand and Saria were out with friends on the night of 5 August, celebrating Zarrius 21st birthday.

They returned home around 2am and it was later reported that a neighbor heard a gunshot around 2.45am from a nearby apartment. Its not confirmed what apartment the shot came from.

Saria Barney Hildabrand was found dead in Anchorage after a days-long search. Her 21-year-old husband has been arrested and charged with murder (Saria Barney Hildabrand/Facebook)

Sarias co-workers later told police they received text messages from her phone at 10.45am on Sunday stating she was calling out of work. This conflicted with Mr Hildabrands statement that she had left her phone at home when she went to work. He reportedly denied sending the texts himself.

When police interviewed Mr Hildabrand at the couples apartment on Tuesday, they spotted two guns on the table, according to KTUU. It was reported that one of the guns was fully loaded and the gun was missing a single bullet.

According to the criminal complaint, police noticed the bed was covered with only a mattress pad and new unopened sheets were nearby. When they asked Mr Hildabrand about it, he declined to lift the bed claiming there were embarrassing items like stuff used for sex underneath.

Police later learned that on 6 August, Mr Hildabrand had purchased a set of new sheets, a mattress cover, hydrogen peroxide, an empty spray bottle, and a jar of marinara sauce, according to the complaint. Its not clear what the sauce was used for.

A search warrant was executed for the apartment and police found the mattress saturated by human blood, the complaint said.

There was so much blood on the mattress that the blood soaked through onto the carpet and into the wood frame.

The complaint also detailed evidence of blood all over the bathtub, most likely after cleanup attempts were made.

Mr Hildabrand was dressed in an orange jail jumpsuit when he appeared in court on Friday. He was appointed a public defender and is being held on a $500,000 bond.

A GoFundMe page was originally set up to help raise money for Sarias search. Its now being used to help cover funeral costs (GoFundMe)

Sarias distraught family spoke to the media after the hearing and her mother said she had not had previous concern about her daughters husband.

I didnt, not anything that wasnt abnormal for like newlywed people trying to figure out living together, Barney said.

But she added that she suspected something was not right when Mr Hildabrand reportedly called her from Sarias phone which he claimed she had left at home.

A GoFundMe page was originally set up to help raise money for the search. Its now being used to help cover funeral costs and return Sarias remains to Utah.

As of Monday morning, the fundraiser surpassed its $20,000 goal with a total of $20,452.

Shes just like the most amazing, precious child ever, her mom tearfully added on Friday. Shes just always been looking for the future, happy, and really loved. She loved everybody. Everyone loved her.
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A Texas man is accused of kidnapping his wifes lover before beating him to death, wrapping his body in plastic and hiding him in a storage container.

Police say that the violence unfolded after Narciso Cruz Banos found out that his wife Francisca Salazar Carrizales was in a relationship with 32-year-old Francisco Antonio Serrano Romero.

Investigators say that the victim was found with his arms bound by a belt and that he had been struck and killed with a blunt object.

The Harris County Sheriffs Office says that deputies found the body in a detached structure at a property in the city of Tomball after the victims wife reported him missing.

She raised the alarm after speaking to her husband who sounded injured and told her he was going to stay the night at the house of his boss.

Officials say that when she called Mr Banos, he told of the alleged affair and said he had pistol-whipped the victim.

Deputies located a detached structure on the property and found what appeared to be a human body, wrapped in plastic, secured with tape, inside the structure, authorities stated.

Mr Banos, who has lived in the Houston area for 30 years, was booked on Sunday on charges of murder, aggravated kidnapping, and tampering with evidence, namely a human corpse.

Francisca Carrizales was also charged with tampering with a human corpse and was booked into the Harris County Jail. Neither Mr Banos nor Ms Carrizales, who have two children together, is a US citizen.

A $600,000 bond was set for Mr Banos and a $500,000 bond was set for his wife. He was placed under house arrest and the couple may not have any contact with each other.
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The body of a Saratoga teenager who vanished without trace more than a month ago has been found near the wreck of a car that plunged into a ravine in northern California, her mother says.

Katie Schneider, 17, was last seen on 5 July when she left her home in Saratoga, west of San Jose, in her white Honda Accord, sparking a desperate search.

Ms Schneiders car was found last week about 20 miles west of her home in Castle Rock State Park, and human remains were found nearby on 12 August, according to the Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office.

Ms Schneiders mother Nola Schneider said in an Instagram post the family had been informed by authorities that the remains belonged to her daughter.

Its with heavy hearts that we must announce the devastating news that our beloved Katie Schneider has passed away in a car accident, Ms Scheider wrote.

At this time, the circumstances surrounding the heartbreaking incident are still under investigation.

Human remains found in search for missing California teenager Katie Schneider (Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office)

In a separate statement on a dedicated Facebook page, Ms Schneiders family described her as a bright light that brought emotional vibrancy to our everyday lives.

She radiated authenticity, thoughtfulness, a great sense of humor, and an unyielding determination. She taught us all how to live our biggest life without reservation.

The family asked for privacy as they grieve her loss.

The family thanked the efforts of law enforcement, federal agencies, private investigators and friends who had helped to locate her.

They also thanked the Finding Kids non-profit and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Kids.

Family confirmed that human remains found near a crashed vehicle belonged to missing teen Katie Schneider (Facebook / Finding Katie Schneider)

Search and rescue crews had been combing areas of an isolated stretch of Highway 35 near the Castle Rock State Park for weeks for any sign of Ms Schneider.

Deputies from Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties were all involved in the search with some crews using ropes to access the rugged terrain.

In an Instagram post to mark the one month anniversary of her disappearance, Nola Schneider wrote that the family was closely following the advice of law enforcement.

We continue to work closely with law enforcement and have delayed going public in part because we wished to honor their efforts to find Katie, wrote Nola Schneider.

At the same time, because Katie is a shy, introverted child, we have tried to protect her privacy, and to do whatever we can to find her.

According to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, there are 3,343 active missing person cases in California.
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A teenager is missing and several people have been seriously injured after a boat accident on Lake Austin in Texas, in what the authorities have declared a mass casualty incident.

Seven people were involved in the crash, including the missing teenager. Two people were taken to hospital with possibly serious injuries and another two refused medical transport, KXAN reported.

Several ambulances, police patrols, and fire department units responded to the scene in northwest Austin on Sunday night. One of those taken to hospital was airlifted to receive care, according to ABC News.

The assistant chief of the CE-Bar Fire Department, Ken Campbell, told the press that the crash took place after the boat crossed over the wake created by another vessel, prompting the operator to lose control. They were going downstream when hitting the wake, with one person being ejected after they lost control of the boat before it struck the right bank.

Mr Campbell was unable to say if life jackets were used, adding that Lake Austin is narrow and becomes crowded quickly with cross currents and cross wakes.

If youre just ploughing down the lake as fast as you can go, youre going to have an accident  even if youre going slow you can have an accident because theres a lot of traffic and a lot of things to avoid, he told the media, according to KXAN.

Two people who werent taken to hospital were described as having suffered potentially serious injuries.

The authorities declared the incident a Level-5 mass casualty incident. It happened in a remote area of the lake, and jet skis were needed to recover the injured.

Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services said emergency personnel are now in recovery mode, according to ABC.
 Close Related video: Trump polls far ahead of Republican rivals, despite legal troubles

Donald Trump is cementing his lead in the Republican presidential primary. His closest rival, Ron DeSantis, is slipping behind  according to a new CBS poll out Sunday  while other GOP rivals are gaining on the Florida governor.

Meanwhile, in the Democratic primary, support is dropping for the anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist Robert F Kennedy Jr. A poll by Quinnipiac University released on Wednesday revealed that Mr Kennedy is supported by 13 per cent of Democrats, a drop of 3.5 per cent compared to June.

The recent poll was conducted between 10 and 14 August and included 1,632 likely voters. It showed a slight increase in support for Marianne Williamson, the self-help author who also ran for president in 2020.

Her support increased from eight per cent in June to nine per cent in August.

Support for President Joe Biden increased from 70 to 72 per cent.
Chris Christie was on ABC this weekend bashing Donald Trump as the former New Jersey governor charts a path to the GOP nomination which he believes necessitates a direct showdown with the ex-president.

Mr Christie, who previously served as a federal prosecutor, told ABCs Jonathan Karl on Sunday that his opponent needs to choose his words carefully going forward to escape further criminal liability.

"Trump needs to be smart and careful about this, if that's at all possible. Which is [to say] that he is a criminal defendant," he said.

It was advice that is unlikely to be followed. Mr Trump has pursued an aggressive campaign of indignation and charges of political weaponisation against prosecutors in New York and Washington DC who have charged him with more than 70 criminal counts in three matters: His alleged hush payments to Stormy Daniels, his efforts to change the results of the 2020 election, and his allegedly illegal retention of classified materials from the White House.

Mr Trump has even personally targeted the Department of Justices special counsel, Jack Smith, and warned that anyone who participated in the investigations against him will face his wrath. The agency has, as a result, sought to chill his speech on social media and elsewhere regarding the open criminal case against him.

Mr Christie holds a unique position as a 2024 contender and rival to ex-President Trump: He was known to have been in the running to serve as Mr Trumps attorney general in the wake of the 2016 election. He also helped Mr Trump prepare for debates against Joe Biden in 2020.

Now, he battles his former ally for the GOP nomination, arguing that Mr Trumps actions in the wake of his defeat are roundly disqualifying.

This guy has been a one-man crime wave, Mr Christie previously said of Mr Trumps numerous indictments during an April interview with Pod Save America.

Look, hes earned every one of them. If you look at it, every one of these is self-inflicted. And thats why, you know, do I think that prosecutors exercise prosecutorial judgment in discretion in some respects that are questionable? Yeah  and they always have. But what I say to people all the time is whether you agree or disagree with the prosecutors, look at the underlying conduct.

Mr Trump has denied wrongdoing in all the criminal cases against him.

Despite this, his legal team is said to be expecting further criminal charges in the coming days, filed this time by prosecutors in Georgia investigating the Trump campaigns efforts to pressure local officials into throwing out the states lawful 2020 election results for months after the election took place.
Part of Donald Trumps indictment in Georgia was televised after a judge decided in the medias favour.

The Fulton County superior court judge presiding over the grand jury in the case, Robert McBurney, told reporters that if a grand jury presents an indictment, thats usually in the afternoon, and you can film and photograph that, The Messenger reported.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis presented her case to the jury on Monday, which voted to indict Mr Trump for his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results in the state.

There are 13 felony charges against Trump, including RICO, conspiracy to commit forgery, filing false documents, Solicitation of Violation of Oath by Public Officer and more.

In addition, 18 Trump associates have also been indicted, including former White House chief of staff mark Meadows and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani.

When Mr Trump was indicted on the federal level, cameras werent allowed in court.

Ms Willis has been investigating Mr Trumps attempts to overturn the 2020 election results in the state and was expected to seek an indictment from a grand jury this week. It would be Mr Trumps fourth indictment within the span of five months.

There was plenty of confusion regarding possible charges against Mr Trump in the Georgia election interference case.

Reuters reported on Monday that a document outlining the charges against Mr Trump had been posted and then removed from the Fulton County website.

Mr Trump then used the document to ask for donations from his supporters, arguing that he was being denied due process.

The Office of the Fulton County Clerk of Superior and Magistrate Courts then issued a statement on Monday afternoon saying that a fictitious document had been shared online.

While there have been no documents filed today regarding such, all members of the media should be reminded that documents that do not bear an official case number, filing date, and the name of The Clerk of Courts, in concert, are not considered official filings and should not be treated as such, the court said.

They added that Media members can expect to be notified of any/all filings in real-time and will be provided access to filings via equitable communication.
 Close Donald Trump indictment - latest news

Donald Trump should be prevented from running for federal office again under the 14th amendments provision barring those who support insurrections against the government from service, a new group of experts is arguing.

Harvard professor Lawrence Luttig pushed that idea on Sunday, speaking on CNNs State of the Union.

All officials, federal and state, who have a responsibility to put on the ballot candidates for the presidency of the United States are obligated under the Constitution to determine whether Donald Trump qualifies to be put on the ballot, he said.

Mr Trump and 18 of his allies were indicted last week for allegedly running a criminal enterprise to try to thwart the 2020 presidential election. He cancelled his proposed press conference at which he claimed he was going to unveil a report that would exonerate him in the criminal case. As of now, theres no concerted effort to file legal challenges against his ability to appear on the ballot, though that will likely change as the nation inches closer to primary season.

The former president is also the defendant in four ongoing criminal proceedings, including his most recent charging on criminal counts related to what Georgia prosecutors argue was a criminal scheme to solicit state official to support changing the states 2020 election results at the presidential level.
Donald Trump has already been indicted three times this year, twice at the federal level.

In April, he was arraigned in New York and pleaded not guilty to state charges after receiving an indictment from Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg accusing him of manipulating his business records to conceal hush money payments allegedly made to porn actress Stormy Daniels in 2016 to stop her discussing an extramarital affair they are said to have had in 2006 in time to derail his presidential run.

Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith then handed him a federal indictment in May over his alleged mishandling of classified government documents following the conclusion of his one-term presidency and then another in August over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election result, accusing him of conspiracy to defraud the United States, tampering with a witness and conspiracy against the rights of citizens.

In both cases, Mr Trump again pleaded not guilty to all charges.

But thats not all. He could be about to face a fourth indictment, this time from Fani Willis, district attorney of Fulton County, Georgia, over his attempts to influence the 2020 vote count in that crucial swing state, which turned blue for Joe Biden and prompted Mr Trump to pressure local secretary of state Brad Raffensperger into helping him find the 11,780 ballots he needed to win, a conversation that was recorded and described as worse than Watergate by veteran Washington Post journalist Carl Bernstein.

While Ms Willis hasnt confirmed that an indictment will be handed down this week, her earlier statements and security measures surrounding the Fulton County courthouse indicate that movement is imminent in the case.

No former or sitting president of the United States has ever been formally charged with a crime before, so for Mr Trump to have received multiple indictments is already history-making, another ignominious claim to fame for the first American commander-in-chief ever to have been impeached twice.

The prospect of Mr Trump winning the presidency again in November 2024 and then attempting to use his presidential pardoning powers to excuse himself is a fascinating prospect that could yet become a reality.

As president between 2017 and 2021, Mr Trump cheerily used his executive clemency powers to hand out pardons to no fewer than 237 people, from Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio to right-wing content creator Dinesh DSouza by way of cronies like Steve Bannon, Roger Stone, Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort and George Papadopoulos.

Whether he had the authority to pardon himself was a key question at the time he left office in the aftermath of the deadly Capitol riot of 6 January 2021, which, ultimately, never had to be answered because he did not attempt to do so.

The broad consensus among legal experts back then was that there was no stipulation in place to actually prohibit such an act but, given that there was no precedent for it either, it would likely be subjected to a lawsuit calling into question its legal validity.

While Mr Trump is now a private citizen and therefore has no such powers, he does find himself in the extraordinary position of being thrice-indicted while simultaneously leading the pack for the Republican Partys nomination to be its candidate for president in 2024, leaving such rivals as Ron DeSantis, Mike Pence, Nikki Haley, Tim Scott and Chris Christie eating his dust in the polls.

There is nothing in the US Constitution to stop someone from running a presidential campaign while under indictment or even having been convicted of a crime, although its 14th Amendment does prevent anyone from running who has taken an oath of office and thereafter engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the country, which could ultimately cause problems for Mr Trump should he be convicted over Mr Smiths charges pertaining to the Capitol riot.

Unless that comes to pass, however, he is free to run for the White House once more. But what would happen if he were to actually win and attempt to use his reinstated pardoning powers for his own benefit is where matters get really knotty.

Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith (AFP/Getty)

Firstly, presidential pardons are only applicable to federal crimes.

While that means he could potentially absolve himself in the classified documents and 2020 election cases brought by Mr Smith, he could not do the same in the indictment brought by Mr Bragg, which is a state affair.

Second, the Constitution bans presidents from pardoning themselves from impeachments, meaning any conduct Mr Trump is found guilty of committing in connection with impeachment would not be eligible for a pardon.

Third, any pardon would almost certainly result in a Supreme Court case and the court might not be inclined to side with Mr Trump, despite the current conservative majority on its benches.

A Justice Department memo from 1974 stated: Under the fundamental rule that no one may be a judge in his own case, the president cannot pardon himself. While that memo is not law, it could be used to argue for precedent should the situation go to court.

Therefore, if a scenario were to arise in which Mr Trump won the 2024 election but was convicted on charges in the state case (a trial is scheduled for March) or in the federal case relating to the Capitol riot, over which he was impeached, he would not be allowed to pardon himself, likely resulting in a massive and costly legal fight to spare him jail time.

If he found himself unable to avoid that outcome, the situation would almost certainly lead to a third impeachment or his removal from office via the 25th Amendment, which allows the Cabinet to remove a president who is unable to perform their duties.

There are many duties and trappings of the presidency an incarcerated person would simply not be able to carry out from a prison cell, like the viewing of classified materials, to name just one.

We are still very much in hypothetical territory at this point, with any potential conviction for Mr Trump still a long way off and little more than a distant possibility.

But the conversations he has started with his latest bid for the presidency have already pushed parts of theoretical US constitutional law far further than many experts ever believed they might live to see.
Donald Trump has been accused of witness tampering in the Georgia election case where an indictment against the former president is expected this week.

I am reading reports that failed former Lt Governor of Georgia, Jeff Duncan, will be testifying before the Fulton County Grand Jury. He shouldnt, Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social on Monday, before doubling down on his baseless claims about election fraud. I barely know him but he was, right from the beginning of this Witch Hunt, a nasty disaster for those looking into the Election Fraud that took place in Georgia.

Mr Trump was referring to Geoff Duncan, who served as the second in command to Governor Brian Kemp when Mr Trump was attempting to overturn the 2020 election results in the state.

He refused having a Special Session to find out what went on, became very unpopular with Republicans (I refused to endorse him!), and fought the TRUTH all the way. A loser, he went to FNCNN! Mr Trump added, seemingly in reference to the news networks Fox News and CNN.

Mr Duncan appeared on CNN on Monday saying, Im going to refrain from any comment with the exception of saying, which was just pointed out, he did misspell my name.

On Monday, the court website for Fulton County, Georgia posted a document seeming to outline several charges against Mr Trump before it was taken down, according to Reuters.

The document was removed without explanation, the news agency stated.

A spokesperson for the District Attorneys office told Reuters that the news agencys report that those charges were filed is inaccurate. Beyond that we cannot comment.

Later on Monday, the Office of the Fulton County Clerk of Superior and Magistrate Courts issued a statement saying that a fictitious document has been shared online after Donald Trump claimed that charges had been filed against him ahead of a grand jury vote.

While there have been no documents filed today regarding such, all members of the media should be reminded that documents that do not bear an official case number, filing date, and the name of The Clerk of Courts, in concert, are not considered official filings and should not be treated as such, the court said.

They added that Media members can expect to be notified of any/all filings in real-time and will be provided access to filings via equitable communication.

District Attorney Fani Willis has been investigating Mr Trumps attempts to overturn the 2020 election results in the state and was expected to seek an indictment from a grand jury this week. It would be Mr Trumps fourth indictment within the span of five months.

Former US Attorney Barb McQuade wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that Mr Trump was witness tampering in real time, with his statement on Truth Social.

MSNBC host Katie Phang added: This is going to go so very badly for Trump

Marcus Flowers, a Georgia Democrat, wrote: Hes trying it! I dont think its going to work well in Atlanta. It aint a small town!

Democratic political commentator Bakari Sellers said people get their bonds denied and revoked for this type of behaviour.

Mr Trump also went on several additional rants against the Georgia grand jury and Ms Willis on Monday as an indictment appeared to be imminent.

In one outburst on Monday morning, Mr Trump wrote: WOULD SOMEONE PLEASE TELL THE FULTON COUNTY GRAND JURY THAT I DID NOT TAMPER WITH THE ELECTION.

THE PEOPLE THAT TAMPERED WITH IT WERE THE ONES THAT RIGGED IT, AND SADLY, PHONEY FANI WILLIS, WHO HAS SHOCKINGLY ALLOWED ATLANTA TO BECOME ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS CITIES ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, HAS NO INTEREST IN SEEING THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE AVAILABLE, OR FINDING OUT WHO THESE PEOPLE THAT COMMITTED THIS CRIME ARE.

SHE ONLY WANTS TO GET TRUMP. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SHOW THIS INFO TO THE G.J.

Story updated to include statement from Fulton County Clerk of Superior and Magistrate Courts
Donald Trump may be Truth-ing his way into further legal jeopardy.

The ex-president, now facing three criminal investigations that have already resulted in charges and a fourth expected to do so imminently, has responded to every development in the prosecutions of his various alleged offences in an identical manner: By attacking the legal authorities and prosecutors following his footsteps.

Now, that tactic may be causing more harm than it is helping his chances of winning the 2024 Republican primary. On Friday, Mr Trumps attorneys were warned by a judge in Washington DC overseeing his trial for attempting to overturn the 2020 election that inflammatory statements about the case could speed the trial along and result in her issuing protective orders chilling what he can and cant say about the trial without facing further consequences.

I caution you and your client to take special care in your public statements about this case, Judge Tanya Chutkan said on Friday. I will take whatever measures are necessary to safeguard the integrity of these proceedings.

She continued: Even arguably ambiguous statements from parties or their counsel, if they can be reasonably interpreted to intimidate witnesses or to prejudice potential jurors, can threaten the process...The more a party makes inflammatory statements about this case which could taint the jury pool  the greater the urgency will be that we proceed to trial quickly.

That admonishment did little to dissuade the former president, who almost immediately took to Truth Social to denounce not only the prosecution but Judge Chutkan herself.

"She obviously wants me behind bars. VERY BIASED & UNFAIR," he wrote of Ms Chutkan.

Some experienced DC litigators posited on Twitterthat the latest Truth Social posting by Mr Trump was exactly the kind of speech that could land him in further trouble with Judge Chutkan.

It would not surprise me if Judge Chutkan called a hearing, with Trumps presence, given his new remarks, wrote Neal Katyal, a lawyer with history arguing before the Supreme Court.

Former congressman and current Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough also weighed in.
There was plenty of confusion regarding possible charges against former President Donald Trump in the Georgia election interference case.

Reuters reported on Monday that a document outlining the charges against Mr Trump had been posted and then removed from the Fulton County website.

Mr Trump then used the document to ask for donations from his supporters, arguing that he was being denied due process.

The Office of the Fulton County Clerk of Superior and Magistrate Courts then issued a statement on Monday afternoon saying that a fictitious document had been shared online.

The office said they had learned of a fictitious document that has been circulated online and reported by various media outlets related to The Fulton County Special Purpose Grand Jury.

While there have been no documents filed today regarding such, all members of the media should be reminded that documents that do not bear an official case number, filing date, and the name of The Clerk of Courts, in concert, are not considered official filings and should not be treated as such, the court said.

They added that Media members can expect to be notified of any/all filings in real-time and will be provided access to filings via equitable communication.

As the official custodian of various county records, the Clerk of Courts understands the sensitivity of all court filings, especially those that are at the forefront of the national spotlight and remains committed to operating with an extreme level of efficiency, accuracy, and transparency, the court said.

A spokesperson for the District Attorneys office told Reuters earlier that the news agencys report that those charges were filed is inaccurate. Beyond that we cannot comment.

Mr Trump ranted and raved about what he claimed was accidentally filed charges against him in an email to supporters asking for money amidst his ever-mounting legal woes.

In an email to supporters, Mr Trump appeared to have an opposite version of events to the court, saying: As reported by Reuters, the Fulton County District Attorney just accidentally filed CHARGES against me in the Georgia Witch Hunt  and then DELETED them from the court website!

These charges were filed BEFORE the Grand Jury officially voted, he claimed despite the statement from the court. But dont worry  even though they deleted the evidence, we still have a RECORD!

The Grand Jury testimony has not even FINISHED  but its clear the District Attorney has already decided how this case will end. They are trying to rob me of my right to due process, Mr Trump added.

This is an absolute DISGRACE. These rabid left-wing prosecutors dont care about uncovering the truth. They dont care about administering justice or upholding the rule of law, the former president said.

They want me BEHIND BARS for the rest of my life as an innocent man and will do anything in their power to get their way. I still cannot believe that this is happening in the United States of America, Mr Trump wrote to supporters.

Our country is being run into the ground by the most incompetent and corrupt people in history. We MUST Save America  and 2024 truly is our final chance, he claimed.

America needs YOU more than ever before, the president said in the email before asking for donations. Please make a contribution to show that you will NEVER SURRENDER our country to tyranny as the Deep State thugs try to JAIL me for life.

Trump Attorneys Drew Findling and Jennifer Little said in a statement that the Fulton County District Attorneys Office has once again shown that they have no respect for the integrity of the grand jury process.

This was not a simple administrative mistake. A proposed indictment should only be in the hands of the District Attorneys Office, yet it somehow made its way to the clerks office and was assigned a case number and a judge before the grand jury even deliberated.

This is emblematic of the pervasive and glaring constitutional violations which have plagued this case from its very inception.
Donald Trump is expected to receive his fourth criminal indictment any day now when Fani Willis, district attorney of Fulton County, Georgia, formally charges him over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election result in the Peach State.

The first US president ever to be impeached twice also became the first to be charged with a crime in April when Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg charged him in New York City over accusations he falsified business records in order to conceal a hush money payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016 in order to prevent her discussing their extramarital affair a decade earlier, which might have derailed his bid for the White House had she been at liberty to speak out.

Since then, Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith has indicted him twice more: once in June over his alleged mishandling of classified documents belonging to the US government post-presidency  boxes of which were found stacked in a guest bathroom and ballroom at his Mar-a-Lago mansion in Florida during an FBI raid  and again in August over his alleged efforts to steal the election and the resulting attack on the US Capitol by his supporters on 6 January 2021.

In all three cases, Mr Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges and he is expected to do the same should he face a fresh set of accusations from Ms Willis.

As with Mr Bragg and Mr Smith, the former president has braced for this latest disgrace by attempting to smear and discredit the prosecutor, baselessly telling his supporters at a rally in Windham, New Hampshire, earlier this month that Ms Willis is a young racist who previously had an affair with one of her clients, a rapper named YSL Mondo targeted in a racketeering probe, even making the claim the basis of an attack ad running in Atlanta and other cities.

Ms Willis has, wisely, instructed her staff to ignore these derogatory and false claims, for which there appears to be no basis beyond a Rolling Stone magazine account of that case, which contains no trace of any such allegation.

You may not comment in any way on the ad or any of the negativity that may be expressed against me, your colleagues, this office in coming days, weeks or months, she wrote in a memo.

We have no personal feelings against those we investigate or prosecute and we should not express any. This is business, it will never be personal.

Mr Trumps attorneys have also attempted to have Ms Willis disqualified from participating in investigations against their client and have the evidence her office has compiled disregarded, only for their lawsuit to be cheerily tossed out by a judge in late July.

Mr Trumps alleged election-meddling in Georgia began in the aftermath of the swing state turning blue for Joe Biden on 3 November 2020, when the Democrat scored a narrow victory for the incumbent president by picking up 2,473,633 ballots or 49.47 per cent of the vote to Mr Trumps 2,461,854 or 49.24 per cent.

Nationally, Mr Biden won the popular vote by 81,283,501 to 74,223,975 (or 51.3 per cent to 46.8 per cent) and the Electoral College vote by 306 to 232, a comprehensive trouncing by any fair-minded assessment.

Mr Trump, however, was enraged by the defeat and immediately cried foul, insisting the contest had been stolen by a vast, nationwide conspiracy to defraud him, dispatching Rudy Giuliani and other yes-men lawyers from his inner circle to contest the outcome, losing case after case  and no little personal dignity  in one state after another as the Trump camp entirely failed to prove its fanciful narrative.

Mr Smiths second indictment covers that familiar story and charges the Republican with conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, conspiracy against rights and the obstruction of, and attempt to obstruct, an official proceeding.

Ms Williss indictment, when it emerges, is expected to prosecute Mr Trumps efforts to interfere in Georgia specifically, notably his notorious phone call of 2 January 2021 with its secretary of state Brad Raffensperger, in which he asked the latter to help him find the 11,780 votes he needed to overcome Mr Bidens win.

As was the case in his first impeachment, when he was caught on tape attempting to blackmail Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, Mr Trumps call with Mr Raffensperger was recorded. When it was published by The Washington Post, legendary journalist Carl Bernstein pronounced it worse than Watergate.

Just one month after the episode came to light, Ms Willis announced she was looking into possible illegal attempts to influence the result in her backyard.

Roughly one year into the investigation, the DA took the unusual step of asking for a special grand jury to use its subpoena power to compel testimony from witnesses who otherwise would not be willing to talk to prosecutors.

That jury was seated in May 2022 and concluded its work after hearing from roughly 75 witnesses before dissolving in January this year.

Those compelled to appear and give evidence included former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, US senator Lindsey Graham and former senator Kelly Loeffler, plus five members of the Trump legal team, including Mr Giuliani, Jenna Ellis and John Eastman, architect of the fake elector scheme, among several others.

A partially released report into the jurys findings revealed that its members unanimously agreed that no widespread fraud took place in Georgias election following its interviews with election officials, analysis and poll workers.

Donald Trump attends the Iowa State Fair over the weekend (AP)

A new grand jury in Fulton County was sworn in on 11 July under superior court judge Robert McBurney, who oversaw the previous special grand jury, to hear the arguments for prosecution and consider whether or not there is sufficient probable cause to merit an indictment.

Famously particular, patient and methodical, Ms Willis finally told local TV station WXIA late last month: The work is accomplished. Weve been working for two and half years. Were ready to go.

It is widely expected that she will now use Georgias Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations (RICO) laws to charge not only Mr Trump but also a number of his allies for alleged participation in a wide-ranging conspiracy, perhaps throwing in charges related to influencing witnesses and computer trespass too for good measure.

Georgias racketeering statute requires prosecutors to show the existence of an enterprise with a pattern predicated on at least two other qualifying crimes.

Evidence in the case is unlikely to be revealed until an indictment is unsealed, but a charge involving influencing witnesses could look at the former presidents call with Mr Raffensperger.

For the computer trespass charge, in which prosecutors would need to show that defendants used a computer or network without permission to interfere with a program or data, prosecutors could turn to the breach of voting machines in Coffee County, which occurred when a group of staffers working under the one-time Trump-connected attorney Sidney Powell allegedly copied data from the machines at the countys election office.

That information from Dominion Voting Systems devices was then uploaded to a password-protected website in a spurious, failed effort to prove that the election had indeed been rigged against Mr Trump.

Some critics have accused Ms Willis of over-using Georgias RICO laws in the past and unnecessarily complicating cases that could otherwise be tried in less time with fewer resources, just to get the enhanced penalties those statutes carry.

Gerald Griggs, president of the Georgia NAACP and an Atlanta defence attorney, told the Associated Press he does not always agree with her application of RICO but does believe it is appropriate if there was a scheme to interfere in the election and numerous actors were involved.

For now, precisely what she has up her sleeve remains to be seen but Clint Rucker, a fellow former Fulton County prosecutor, says he expects people to be surprised by the level of preparedness and the level of sophistication of the prosecution.

That office is not some small backwoods country hick organisation that fumbles the ball and doesnt know how to do its job, he said.
Former president Donald Trump criticised Special Counsel Jack Smith for obtaining a search warrant for his old Twitter account early Monday morning.

Mr Trump blasted Mr Smiths office, which is leading investigations into the former presidents handling of classified documents and his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

How dare lowlife prosecutor, Deranged Jack Smith, break into my former Twitter account without informing me and, indeed, trying to completely hide this atrocity from me, he posted on Truth Social. What could he possibly find out that is not already known. Just like the early morning raid of Mar-a-Lago!

Unsealed records showed that Mr Smiths office obtained a search warrant for Mr Trumps account. Twitter, now known as X, was prohibited from informing Mr Trump. A federal court agreed with Mr Smiths office that there were reasonable grounds to believe that disclosing the warrant seriously jeopardize the ongoing investigation by giving the former president an opportunity to destroy evidence, change patterns of behavior, [or] notify confederates.

But X was fined $350,000 for failing to meet the deadline to produce the records in a timely manner.

The three-times-indicted, twice-impeached former president said the Department of Justice should investigate President Joe Biden.

Why isnt the DOJ raiding Crooked Joe Biden, the most CORRUPT (and Incompetent!) President in the history of the United States?

A federal grand jury indicted the former president earlier this year after a four-hour presentation from Mr Smiths office for Mr Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Mr Trump pleaded not guilty to four charges.

Mr Trump also railed against Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is presiding over the case in Washington DC, whom he said obviously wants me behind bars.

VERY BIASED & UNFAIR! he said on his networking platform.

Mr Trump also criticised Fani Willis, the district attorney for Fulton County, Georgia, as she prepares to potentially indict the former president for his efforts to overturn the election results in the state.

I UNDERSTAND THROUGH ILLEGAL LEAKS TO THE FAKE NEWS MEDIA THAT PHONEY FANI WILLIS, THE D.A. OF FULTON COUNTY, GEORGIA, WANTS DESPERATELY TO INDICT ME ON THE RIDICULOUS GROUNDS OF TAMPERING WITH THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, he said. NO, I DIDNT TAMPER WITH THE ELECTION! THOSE WHO RIGGED & STOLE THE ELECTION WERE THE ONES DOING THE TAMPERING, & THEY ARE THE SLIME THAT SHOULD BE PROSECUTED. I MADE A PERFECT PHONE CALL OF PROTEST. WHY WASNT THIS FAKE CASE BROUGHT 2.5 YEARS AGO? ELECTION INTERFERENCE!

-Alex Woodward contributed to this report
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A woman who cooked a beef Wellington dish which included mushrooms that killed three of her former in-laws and left another in critical condition has claimed the deaths were accidental.

Tragedy struck in Australia last month when Erin Patterson invited her former parents-in-law Gail and Tom Patterson for a meal, along with Gails sister Heather Wilkinson and her husband, Ian. Within days of the meal, Gail and Tom, both 70, and Heather, 66, were all dead and Ian, 68, was left fighting for life.

Now Ms Patterson, who does not face any charges, has given a detailed account of the sequence of events to the authorities, according to local media reports.

Erin Patterson claims the deaths were a tragic accident (News International)

In her statement, Ms Patterson claimed that she didnt know the mushrooms were poisonous when she prepared the meal in Leongatha, South Gippsland last month. Ms Pattersons former partner, Simon, had been invited to the meal but was unable to attend.

I am now devastated to think that these mushrooms may have contributed to the illness suffered by my loved ones, the 48-year-old said. I really want to repeat that I had absolutely no reason to hurt these people whom I loved.

I am now wanting to clear up the record because I have become extremely stressed and overwhelmed by the deaths of my loved ones, she continued. I am hoping this statement might help in some way. I believe if people understood the background more, they would not be so quick to rush to judgment.

Victoria Police said the four casualties fell ill and were admitted to the hospital on 30 July after sharing the meal the day before.

Speaking about the bizarre case last week, homicide squad detective inspector Dean Thomas said the deaths were unexplained.

Reverend Ian Wilkinson remains critically ill in hospital following the death of wife Heather (both pictured) in the suspected mushroom poisoning (The Salvation Army Australia Museum/Facebook)

Inspector Thomas said two children were present at the scene but they did not receive any injuries or symptoms as police believe they may have consumed a different meal to the others.

Ms Patterson, who did not fall ill either, finally broke her silence on Monday as she broke down in front of her home over the loss of some of the best people Ive ever met.

The loss to the community and to the families and my own children who have lost their grandmother I just cant fathom what has happened, she said. Im so sorry that they have lost their lives. I just cant believe it.

Ms Patterson said she had no reason to hurt any of her former family members (News International)

The mushrooms in question were a combination of button mushrooms purchased from a supermarket and dried mushrooms sourced from an unspecified Asian grocery store in Melbourne.

ABC News reported that while Ms Patterson has informed health authorities about the origins of the mushrooms, she was unable to provide the exact name or location of the specific store.
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Russia is in the process of equipping its new nuclear submarines with hypersonic Zircon missiles, the head of Russias largest shipbuilder has said.

Multi-purpose nuclear submarines of the Yasen-M project will... be equipped with the Zircon missile system on a regular basis, Alexei Rakhmanov, chief executive officer of the United Shipbuilding Corporation, told RIA.

Work in this direction is already underway.

Yasen-class submarines, also known as Project 885M, are nuclear-powered cruise missile submarines built to replace Soviet-era nuclear attack submarines as part of a programme to modernise the Russian navys fleet.

Sea-based Zircon hypersonic missiles have a range of 560 miles and can travel at several times the speed of sound, making them extremely difficult to defend against them.

What are hypersonic missiles?

Hypersonic missiles, like the Zircons or the Kinzhal (Dagger) rockets the Russian Air Force has allegedly already deployed in its war in Ukraine, are thought to represent the next generation of arms.

The Kinzhals can travel at exceptionally high velocities  up to ten times the speed of sound, which is around 8,000mph. By comparison, a subsonic cruise missile like the US Air Forces Tomahawk rocket moves at a relatively sluggish 550mph.

Kinzhals are typically carried by MiG-31K fighter jets (AP)

Kinzhals are typically carried by MiG-31K fighter jets and can hit targets as far away as 1,250 miles, their speed, mid-flight manoeuvrability and ability to fly at low altitudes making them difficult to track using radar on the ground and therefore near-impossible to stop.

Perhaps most alarmingly, the Kinzhal can carry a nuclear warhead as well as a conventional explosive, a strategy it has been feared Russia could resort to as its war becomes ever-more desperate and drawn-out than expected due to the heroic resistance put up by the locals, well armed by their international allies.

Which countries have them?

Australia, the UK and US, together known as the Aukus nations, previously announced a plan to expand their military pact to collaborate on the development of hypersonic missiles and anti-hypersonic weapons.

In April 2022, the then-prime ministers of Australia and Britain, Scott Morrison and Boris Johnson, joined Joe Biden in issuing a joint statement saying their countries would commence new trilateral cooperation on hypersonics and counter-hypersonics, and electronic warfare capabilities, as well as to expand information sharing and to deepen co-operation on defence innovation.

These initiatives will add to our existing efforts to deepen cooperation on cyber capabilities, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and additional undersea capabilities.

A US Tomahawk is fired from a navy vessel (AP)

The Aukus deal was initially signed to concentrate on nuclear submarine development with a wary eye on potential Chinese aggression in the Pacific, but focus has now shifted towards the threat posed by Vladimir Putin.

Russias defence ministry has already said its forces have fired hypersonic ballistic missiles in the conflict, claiming to have destroyed a fuel depot in the Black Sea city of Mykolaiv and an underground ammunition store in western Ivano-Frankivsk.

How effective are they?

Military analyst Pavel Felgenhauer has argued that the use of such weapons will make little difference on the ground and that their true value is giving a certain psychological and propaganda effect.

In other words, inspiring terror.

Mr Putin has boasted of Russias investment in such invincible weaponry, justifying doing so as a response to what he considers to be Nato military expansion on his countrys doorstep in Eastern Europe.

The US and China are said to be working on their own versions, as are the navies of Britain and France, who are understood to have been collaborating on one known as Perseus since 2011, although it is not expected to enter service for another seven years or so.

Whats happening in the US?

Andrew Hunter, assistant secretary of the US Air Forces acquisition team, told politicians in March this year that his team would not go ahead with purchasing the hypersonic AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon after the prototyping phase ended.

There were problems with the weapons during testing.

Mr Hunter, in written testimony, told the House Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee the service planned to finish the ARRW programmes last two all-up round test flights to collect data that might help with future hypersonic programmes.
 Close Ukraine war: Footage appears to show moment drone attack hits building in central Moscow

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The Netherlands and Denmark will supply dozens of F-16s to Ukraine as they pledged unwavering support in a landmark announcement yesterday.

While Volodymyr Zelensky said his country would receive 42 jets in total, the two donor countries did not specify numbers in a joint statement confirming the deliveries.

Denmarks prime minister Mette Frederiksen said 19 jets will hopefully be sent to Kyiv, of which six will arrive around the new year, eight more next year and the remaining five will be sent in 2025 as he asked Ukraine to please take this donation as a token of Denmarks unwavering support for your countrys fight for freedom.

Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte said the Netherlands has 42 of the jets, but said some will be needed for training purposes.

Ukraine has been asking its allies for advanced fighter jets since the very beginning of Russias invasion, but its Western allies have been reluctant to provide military donations that could be used to strike deep inside Moscows territory.

The US, which must approve any delivery of the American-made jets to third countries, committed to clearing the transfers from Denmark and the Netherlands last week.
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A scientist claims to have discovered a gravitational anomaly that calls into question our fundamental understanding of the universe.

Astronomer Kyu-Hyun Chae from the university of Sejong University in South Korea made the discovery while studying binary star systems, which refer to two stars that orbit each other.

His observations appear to go against the standard gravitational models established by Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein, and instead offer evidence that an alternative theory first proposed in the 1980s may explain the anomaly.

Analysis of data collected by the European Space Agencys Gaia space telescope revealed accelerations of stars in binaries that did not fit the standard gravitational models.

At accelerations of lower than 0.1 nanometres per second squared, the orbit of the two stars deviated from Newtons universal law of gravitation and Einsteins general relativity.

Instead, Professor Chae theorised that a model known as Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) could explain why these previous theoretical frameworks were unable to explain the stars movements.

The deviation represents a direct evidence for the breakdown of standard gravity at weak acceleration, Professor Chae wrote in a paper, titled Breakdown of the Newton-Einstein standard gravity at low acceleration in internal dynamics of wide binary stars, that was published in The Astrophysics Journal..

His research calls into question the existence of dark matter and other peculiar space phenomena that are typically used to justify irregularities with Newton-Einstein standards.

The data reveal an unambiguous and extremely strong signature of the breakdown of the standard Newton-Einstein gravity at weak acceleration, the study concluded.

What is even more surprising is that the trend and magnitude of the gravitational anomaly agree with what the AQUAL [MOND] theory predicts.

Professor Chae predicts that his results will be confirmed and refined with larger data sets in the future, which could lead to a new revolution in physics.

Chaes finding is a result of a very involved analysis of cutting-edge data, which, as far as I can judge, he has performed very meticulously and carefully, said theoretical physicist Mordehai Milgrom at the Weizmann Institute in Israel, who first proposed the MOND model 40 years ago.

But for such a far-reaching finding  and it is indeed very far-reaching  we require confirmation by independent analyses, preferably with better future data.

If this anomaly is confirmed as a breakdown of Newtonian dynamics, and especially if it indeed agrees with the most straightforward predictions of MOND, it will have enormous implications for astrophysics, cosmology, and for fundamental physics at large.

Pavel Kroupa, professor at Charles University in Prague, added: The implications for all of astrophysics are immense.
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The last parts of the old Twitter branding are seemingly being removed from Elon Musks X site.

In recent weeks, Mr Musk has announced that he would be rebranding the company he bought last year as X, as part of a plan to turn the product into an everything app. Mr Musk has had an interest in the letter for much of his career, and has used it across his other companies.

That rebrand appeared to have been launched rapidly and initially faltered. When Mr Musk attempted to install an X on top of the companys San Francisco offices, for instance, local authorities objected and it was later removed.

Mr Musk now appears to be making progress with that plan, however, removing the Twitter branding from many of the central parts of the website.

The logo that appears in the corner of the site had already been swapped from the Twitter bird into the X glyph that Mr Musk chose in an online contest, for instance.

And in recent days, the company has swapped the tweet button that a user presses to make a new post for the more traditional post option.

Now, Twitter appears to changing the URL of posts from Twitter.com into X.com. For now, that appears to be only happening in limited instances  sharing a post from the Twitter app for iOS generates the new addresses, but doing so on the web still shows the old one  but it is likely that the company will switch to the new branding across sites eventually.

Users can also open up any profile by typing it as X.com rather than the old branding, though it does for now redirect to the Twitter version of that profile.

Still, much of Twitters documentation has not been changed at all. The help sites on Twitters pages still include entirely Twitter branding: the How to Tweet article, for instance, has been changed to include some references to X but uses the word tweet, and Twitter liberally.
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Tens of thousands of travellers due to fly to or from Sicilys busiest airport, Catania, have seen their flights diverted or cancelled due to the eruption of Etna.

An ash plume from the 3,357m volcano, which is the most active in Europe, spread across eastern part of the island.

Catania airport was due to handle 235 flights on Monday according to aviation data experts Cirium. But it closed after the arrival of a flight from Casablanca at 2.38am local time on Monday.

The airport is about 50km south of Etna.

The 6.30am easyJet flight from London Gatwick to Catania is set to depart at 2pm and will fly to Comiso airport, which is 150km from Etna in southeast Sicily. The estimated arrival time is 6.05pm  over seven hours behind schedule.

A second easyJet flight from Gatwick has been cancelled, along with the departures from Bristol and Edinburgh.

Both Luton departures on easyJet on Monday are being diverted to Comiso.

A spokesperson for easyJet said Due to the eruption of Mount Etna and the subsequent ash cloud close to its runway, Catania airport is currently closed.

Like all airlines operating into Catania, easyJet is currently unable to operate many of its scheduled flights to and from the airport today. We have rerouted some of our flights to operate into Comiso airport today.

Unfortunately it is not clear when normal operations will resume.

British Airways had a 7.10am departure from Gatwick to Catania, which has now been cancelled. A BA spokesperson said: Due to the closure of Catania airport, weve had to cancel our flight due to operate today.

We continue to monitor the situation and have been in contact with customers to apologise and offer options including rebooking with us or another airline, or a full refund.

Seven Ryanair flights due to land at Catania on Monday morning have been diverted to Trapani airport at the far west of Sicily.

The carrier told travellers: Due to the eruption of Mount Etna, we would like to advise all passengers traveling to and from Catania on 14 August of possible delays, diversion or cancellations to flights.

Affected passengers will be notified as soon as possible..

Ryanair understands the disruptions to passengers resulting from delays, diversions, or cancellations; the situation is unfortunately outside of our control, and we thank you for your patience. 

Dozens of other flights have been cancelled, including at least 10 ITA flights between Rome and Catania. Some have been diverted to Comiso.

The morning wave of departures from Catania was due to begin at 6am, with all 10 flights in the first hour cancelled.

Later flights are scheduled from Catania to Bristol, Edinburgh, Gatwick (two departures) and Luton on easyJet, as well as BA and Wizz Air flights to Gatwick. In total, over 1,000 passengers are due to fly back from the Italian island on Monday.

Catania airport was temporarily closed between mid-July and early August because of fire damage.

Under European air passengers rights rules, travellers whose flights are heavily delayed or cancelled are entitled to hotels and meals as appropriate  and to be taken to their destination as soon as possible.

The easyJet spokesperson said: We are providing customers affected by the cancellations with their options to transfer to for free or receive a refund. We are also providing hotel accommodation and meals for those who require it..

In 2010 the eruption of an Icelandic volcano brought aviation in northern Europe to a halt for almost a week.
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A Florida-bound flight dropped over 15,000 feet within three minutes, leaving passengers terrified.

The American Airlines flight 5916 departed from Charlotte, North Carolina, when the crew reportedly raised a possible pressurisation issue, a spokesperson from the Federal Aviation Administration told FOX 35 News.

The flight dropped almost 20,000 feet within 11 minutes, according to the data shared by FlightAware. The aircraft 18,600 feet in less than six minutes after 43 minutes into the journey.

University of Florida professor Harrison Hove, who was on the flight, shared photos on social media that include released oxygen masks.

"Ive flown a lot. This was scary," Mr Hove wrote on X, previously known as Twitter. "The photos cannot capture the burning smell, loud bang or ear pops. Good to be on the ground," he added.

He added that "something failed midflight and depressurised the cabin".

(Twitter/HarrisonHove)

"The burning smell can apparently be attributed to using the oxygen canisters. The wing flaps came out to immediately lower our altitude so there would be more oxygen. It was terrifying but turned out ok."

He praised the crew and pilots, saying they kept the passengers informed and calm.

The plane landed at the Gainesville Regional Airport shortly before 5pm (local time).

In a statement, an American Airlines spokesperson said: American Eagle flight 5916, operated by Piedmont Airlines, from Charlotte (CLT) to Gainesville, Florida (GNV) landed safely in GNV on Thursday, August 10.

While inflight, the crew received an indication of a possible pressurization issue and immediately and safely descended to a lower altitude. We apologise to our customers for any inconvenience and thank our team for their professionalism.
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Unite has announced strikes by ground handlers and passenger assistance workers at Gatwick Airport later this month in a row over pay.

The union claims the industrial action will cause severe disruption  however, The Independents travel correspondent, Simon Calder, calls any predictions of chaos overstated.

The strikes will involve more than 230 workers. Unite members working for ground handling company Red Handling will walk out for four days from 18 August, and a further four days from 25 August, which includes the August bank holiday weekend.

Members of the union employed by Wilson James, which operates Gatwicks passenger assistance contract, will walk out for three days from 18 August , and a further three days from 22 August.

Unite recently called off a series of strikes by its members at the airport after reaching agreements on pay disputes.

The union claims Red Handling and Wilson James have failed to make offers that meet the workers expectations.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: Red Handling and Wilson James need to wake up and smell the coffee.

Other employers at the airport are prepared to pay the going rate and there is no excuse why they shouldnt do the same. There is no way our members will accept a real-terms pay cut and poverty pay.

Unites complete focus on the jobs, pay and conditions of its members will mean that our members at Gatwick will receive the unions unflinching support.

Red Handling is responsible for ground handling for Norse Atlantic, Norwegian, Delta, TAP Air Portugal and Saudi at Gatwick.

Unite believes 216 flights could be disrupted during the first four-day strike, which it claims will affect around 45,000 passengers.

A Gatwick spokesperson said: We are aware of the recent ballot results and encourage staff at Wilson James, Red Handling and their union to reach a resolution.

We will support Wilson James, who hold the contract for providing assistance to passengers, in their contingency planning. We will also support the airlines affected  who hold the contracts with Red Handling  with their contingency plans to ensure that as many flights as possible operate as scheduled.

Simon Calder, travel Correspondent for the The Independent, said: Predictions of chaos at Gatwick are, once again, overstated. What the Unite union seems to be doing is moving through the handling companies one by one, announcing industrial action to get the immediate attention of the employers. This has proved effective so far this summer, with improved offers secured from the main ground handlers.

I am pretty confident that the special assistance staff at Wilson James, who look after passengers with reduced mobility will reach a settlement. Likewise, if I had a booking with one of the airlines looked after by Red Handling, I would not be fretting unduly about possible cancellation or delay.

I look forward to the announcement from Unite that the union has, once again. prevailed. But I urge caution: the constant dire warnings of delays and cancellations have a corrosive effect on travellers.

Unites prediction this time is of severe disruption throughout Gatwick airport . I dont share that assessment, but I imagine some prospective passengers will be taking their business elsewhere, to the detriment of the union members.
The Princess of Wales has reached out to the Duke of Sussex to offer her support, a royal source has claimed.

Speaking to Closer, an insider said Kate has been in touch with Harry to tell him to keep his chin up and not worry too much about these temporary setbacks.

It comes after a judge ruled that parts of Prince Harrys legal battle against The Suns publisher will continue to a High Court trial.

The trial is fixed for next January.
A Cambodia high school has been forced to close after thousands of explosives were discovered on site.

According to reports, some 2,000 unexploded devices dating back to the civil war era were found by the Cambodian Mine Action Centre staff on the grounds of Queen Kosomak High School.

Students have been told to stay away until the clean-up is complete, which is expected to take two days.

Cambodia's eight-year civil war ended in 1975, however, it continue to suffer from the aftermath.

According to The Halo Trust, landmines scattered across the country have killed 64,000 people since 1979.
This drone footage shows the shocking aftermath of a house explosion in western Pennsylvania which killed one person, with several others still unaccounted for.

Allegheny County officials said three people were taken to hospital after the blast that happened shortly before 10:30am on Saturday 12 August in the borough of Plum.

County spokesperson Amie Downs said emergency responders reported people trapped under debris after one house apparently exploded and two others were engulfed in flames. Crews from at least 18 fire departments were working to douse the flames with the help of water tankers from Allegheny and Westmoreland counties.

The cause of the explosion is under investigation.
A 22-day-old baby girl died in a strike on Kherson region in Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky said in an address on Sunday, 13 August.

The Ukrainian president said that in the village of Shyroka Balka a mother and her two children - the baby girl and a boy aged 12 - were all killed.

Mr Zelensky added that there were 17 reports of shelling from the Kherson region Sunday as well as in Mykolaiv Oblast, Zaporizhzhia, Donbas and Kharkiv Oblast.

According to the countrys Internal Affairs Ministry a total of seven people were killed on Sunday in Kherson.
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On Monday, a grand jury in Fulton County handed down yet another indictment against Donald Trump. The former president has now been indicted twice on the federal level thanks to Jack Smiths investigation, in New York County thanks to Alvin Braggs investigation into allegedly falsifying business records related to his hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, and now on the local level for his scheme to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia.

All of this will certainly make Mr Trump less appealing to independent voters, suburbanites and other demographics Republicans will need to win the general election.

But Mr Trumps legal troubles could not be further from the minds of voters in Iowa during the state fair this weekend when the embattled former president visited the Hawkeye State. In fact, as I noticed after his first federal indictment in North Carolina, it likely makes Republican voters rally around him even more and he would need a full show of support if he is to solidify his control of the GOP come next year.

Few states have vexed former president Donald Trump more than Iowa. In 2016, he narrowly lost the state to Sen Ted Cruz (R-TX), who pulled off a stunner against the then-political neophyte thanks to aggressive campaigning.

Mr Trump would win the state in 2016 and again in 2020 during the general elections, turning Iowa from a battleground state that had voted for a Democrat in all but one presidential election from 1992 to 2012 to a solidly Republican state.

Since then, though, hes picked a fight with his the states Gov Kim Reynolds, a former ally, for her supposed closeness with his chief rival, Florida Gov Ron DeSantis. A New York Times/Siena College poll showed that Mr Trumps lead in the Hawkeye State is large, but not as big as it is nationally or in other states like New Hampshire and South Carolina, both of which Mr Trump won in 2016.

But Mr Trump cemented his dominance this weekend when he visited the Iowa State Fair. Members of Congress from Floridas Republican delegation such as Reps Byron Donalds, Anna Paulina Luna, Cory Mills Greg Steube and Matt Gaetz flanked him, a reminder that they had chosen to back Mr Trump over Mr DeSantis.

Furthermore, any sign that Mr Trump might be contrite about the actions that have led to his indictments was almost non-existent. Indeed, when Mr Gaetz, his most vociferous defender in the House, took to the stump, he said we know that only through force can we make any change in a corrupt town like Washington DC.

Similarly, when asked about whether he would comply with a protective order issued by Judge Tanya Chutkan for his case regarding his attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, Mr Trump said simply, Well have to take a look at the order.

The former president also faces a potential fourth indictment for his attempts to overturn the election results in Georgia. But those charges will likely do nothing to deter his supporters, given that he has convinced his fans that any legal action against him amounts to persecuction of them. Indeed, when he was asked whether he attempted to overturn the 2020 election, he said, You know the answer to that.

Mr Trumps hold over the GOP also manifested in attendees tormenting the other candidates. Not surprisingly, former vice president Mike Pence and Mr DeSantis were the biggest targets. Of course, Mr Pence is the source of many Trump supporters ire because of his refusal to overturn the election results on January 6, which led to threats on his life.

And supporters attacked Mr Pence in one of the central parts of his persona: his faith, as one heckler said he was far from a Christian, which has to sting for a man who has long said he is a Christian, a conservative and a Republican in that order.

Conversely, during Mr DeSantiss jaunt, a plane flew by with a banner saying Be Likable, Ron! a reference to a phrase Mr Gaetz had uttered to Mr DeSantis during the latters 2018 gubernatorial campaign.

Mr DeSantis has struggled to shake the image of him being awkward, imperson and even rude, and Mr Trump has consistently bashed him. He attempted to have a show of force this weekend, touting his endorsement from conservative talk kingmaker Steve Deace, who propelled Mr Cruz during his 2016 victory in the state.

But even though Iowa might be slightly more competitive than other states, the fact remains that Republican voters still see the former president as the leader of the GOP. And that makes victory inifinitely more distant for any of his would-be challengers for the crown.
Ask Allison: My mother used to comment on how much I eat, and now it has switched to the grandkids. How do I put an end to it?
The Government faces growing pressure to roll out paid fertility leave for workers as it prepares to launch its first free IVF scheme next month.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has announced full funding for one round of IVF or ICSI treatment from September.

A Department of Children spokesperson did not give a direct response when asked if new laws to entitle workers to statutory leave are being considered.

She said the department is examining the needs of working parents regarding reproductive health.

She noted that a pregnant employee is entitled to paid time off work to attend antenatal medical appointments and classes under Maternity Protection Acts.

Family leave provisions are kept under review to ensure that they are appropriate to the needs of working parents, the spokesperson added.

Some employers, including legal firm Arthur Cox, already offer 10 days fully paid leave a year for employees undergoing fertility treatment, or whose partners are undergoing treatment.

Due to the lack of a statutory entitlement to fertility leave, the Labour Party drafted a bill that includes a provision for up to 10 days leave for those seeking IVF treatment. It is at committee stage in the Seanad. Labour Senator Marie Sherlock, who has undergone IVF treatment in the past, said it is far from a one-day procedure.

It involves a series of tests and procedures and there are stages to the treatment. It all has to be monitored correctly and there needs to be appropriate timing for procedures, she said.

You cant put it on a calendar and say I want to do it on this date.

Some workplaces have flexibility, but for many others including those working in the health profession, or retail and customer-facing roles, they have very set working hours and face enormous challenges in terms of undergoing treatment.

On This Day In History - August 14th

Ms Sherlock said many workers resort to taking annual leave during treatment.

It is fantastic that finally a publicly subvented IVF treatment is being introduced, although we are concerned about some of the detail, she said. We are trying to progress our bill of two years ago with the Government.

There was a huge amount of positivity in terms of recognising the need for leave within the workplace and there will be pressure for movement on this in the autumn.

The funding was brought in very much from a health perspective. However, health is not the only issue here if people are to be given a fighting chance of getting through the treatment.

Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) social policy spokesperson Laura Bambrick said it is important that employment legislation and workers rights keep pace with changes in and outside the workplace.

In this regard, it was very welcome to hear Minister (Roderic) OGorman (last) week announce work has commenced on menstrual and menopause good practice policies, following stop the stigma awareness-raising campaigns by women in Ictu-affiliated unions, Ms Bambrick said.

A simple amendment to the Maternity Protection (Time Off for Antenatal and Postnatal Care) Regulations, which have been in operation since 1995, could be all that is required to cover paid time off for workers IVF appointments.
A cruel tragedy befell us, and robbed us of 10 beautiful souls, Fr John Joe Duffy recalled on Monday as he spoke about the deadly accident in Creeslough last October in which 10 people died in a massive explosion at the local shop and petrol station.

Speaking in the basilica in Knock about ministering in the aftermath of the tragedy, Fr Duffy said the deadly explosion had left a number of people injured, families bereaved, others in extreme grief, a community devastated by loss, and a lot of people traumatised.

The Donegal priest, who was catapulted into the media spotlight as a spokesman for the grieving community, said the scale of the tragedy was shocking in such a small village. Our hearts will never forget those that were taken from us.

We were in a tsunami of suffering and tragedy and it was extremely difficult for the whole community," he said.

But then a tidal wave of support came to the people of Creeslough from people all over the country and beyond who sat down and wrote letters and cards to the bereaved families, to Creesloughs schools and to the parish, and who had masses offered and prayers said.

It lifted us up. We felt we were being helped by people everywhere in their hearts and in their prayers. If Creeslough [teaches] us anything it is how important prayer is and it is how important a presence is  it is important for us to reach out beyond ourselves.

Fr John Joe Duffy in Creeslough, Co Donegal lighting 10 candles for the victims of the October 7 explosion. Photo by Mark Condren

He also thanked the many people came to express solidarity with the community and put their arms around us and helped us.

"I want to mention our president, Michael D. Higgins, who showed us a very fatherly care. The support and comfort that was received from him by the families was something that was very much appreciated, he said.

He also paid tribute to the media for its handling of the tragedy.

Fr Duffy is the first speaker at this years novena in Knock which draws thousands of visitors to the Co Mayo shrine every August to hear speakers give testimonies about their faith.

Today's News in 90 seconds - August 14th

Other speakers scheduled to speak this week include Geraldine Mullan, who lost her husband John and their children Tomas and Amelia in a car accident in August 2020, as well as Elma Walsh who started the Live Life foundation to spread her son Donals message of hope.

Fr Duffy highlighted how people of different faiths and none in Creeslough had come together at St Michaels church to try and cope with the tragedy.

He kept the church open and left the lighting and heating on so that people could come in to be together and try and find solace.

Candles were lit in remembrance of those killed, those injured and to symbolise Gods presence in the midst in this tsunami of suffering.

And we have survived. We continue to survive. And we are becoming stronger with the help of your prayers and your support and with the help of our faith, our togetherness and people caring for one another, he added.

Fr John Joe Duffy (L) and Bishop of Raphoe Alan McGuckian SJ at the scene of an explosion at the Applegreen petrol station in Creeslough, Co. Donegal. Picture by Joe Dunne 10/10/22

He underlined that it is not the tragedies people encounter in life that shapes them, it is how they overcome these challenges with the help of others and with faith, which asks people to reach out in care and compassion to others.

Of his own personal recollections of October 7 last year, Fr Duffy explained that he was travelling from a funeral in south Donegal when he received a phone call about the explosion in his parish.

He arrived an hour later and could not believe the scale of the tragedy unfolding before my eyes.

The initial scene was one of tremendous shock, horror, disbelief. Those first minutes are forever with me, he said.

As he prayed over the bodies of those who were removed from the building, the silence was deafening. Yet I was surrounded by lots and lots of people, but you couldnt hear a bird singing.

He prayed for the safety of those who went straight into the building, without assessing risk to their own lives - the hands of Jesus Christ at work in a building that was continuing to collapse - searching through the rubble, trying to find those who were missing.

He wondered how he would be able to assist those who had lost loved ones and didnt yet know that their loved ones were even in the building, or those who didnt know if their loved ones were alive or dead.

His public call for prayers was an attempt to gently prepare people for the extent of the loss of life and he relied on God as he sought to get the correct message out through media that we were a community going through our darkest days and hours, and that we needed space to grieve.
Chief Constable Simon Byrne has confirmed that the PSNI is now confident that information on police officers and staff mistakenly released in a major data breach is in the hands of dissident republicans.

"They will use the list to generate fear and uncertainty and intimidate or targeting officers and staff," he said.

He added that PSNI staff were working diligently to mitigate the threat.

Despite the threat, Mr Byrne added that officers were turning up for work as normal.

The comments were made at a press conference held at PSNI headquarters in Belfast on Monday evening.

Responding to the comments, the Chair of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, Liam Kelly, urged all police officers and staff to exercise maximum vigilance.

Dissidents blamed for posting PSNI data leak document on wall

Mr Kelly said: Since this major data breach, and subsequent breach, the PSNI was operating on a working hypothesis that the information on all police officers and staff would end up in the hands of dissidents and organised criminals.

The Chief Constables announcement therefore comes as no great surprise. However, it makes it all the more imperative for each and every colleague to exercise maximum vigilance. We must do all we can to frustrate and prevent attacks on our colleagues and their families.

Our men and women are resilient and resourceful. They must call on all their training and professionalism to counter this ugly consequence of a monumental data breach.

Even though we believed from the outset the data would find its way into the hands of people intent on murdering or maiming our colleagues, it is obviously a deeply worrying development, he added.

We have to be strong and determined to do everything we can to minimise risk and that means varying the routes we take to and from work, changing routines and re-assessing our personal security both on and off duty.

We can thwart the consequences of the violent dissident threat and rhetoric, but it will require an all-out effort by each and every one of us.

It comes after a sensitive document at the centre of a major PSNI data breach scandal was posted on a wall facing a Sinn Fein office in west Belfast on Monday.

Constable Byrne said the incident was the first indication that the document had fallen into the hands of dissidents.

The partys policing spokesperson, Gerry Kelly MLA, described the incident which happened overnight as sinister.

The PSNI is facing a deepening crisis after a vast bank of ultra-sensitive data relating to its 9,300 officers and staff was accidentally published on a website.

The data breach, released via the PSNI in a Freedom of Information (FoI) response, mistakenly published the names, ranks, locations and other personal data of every serving police officer and civilian employees.
Mount Etna lights up the night sky at the weekend. Photo: Marco Restivo/Reuters

Mount Etna lights up the night sky at the weekend. Photo: Marco Restivo/Reuters

Tens of thousands of travellers due to fly into Sicilys busiest airport have had their flights diverted or cancelled today due to the spectacular eruption of nearby Mount Etna.

The airport at Catania in Sicily, a top Italian tourist destination, has halted all flights after the eruption began yesterday.

The eruption of lava from the volcanos southeast crater  clearly visible on Sunday evening to Catania residents  produced a cloud of black volcanic ash that fell on the city, disrupting both air and vehicle traffic today.

Italy's Mount Etna erupts illuminating the night sky

Because of an eruption at Etna all departures and arrivals are cancelled until 1pm, the airport said. However, Italian national news agency ANSA reported that the airport operator had confirmed the extension of the closure until 8pm.

City officials have also banned bike and motorcycle traffic and reduced vehicle speeds to below 30kmh due to the ash, which local residents are asked to collect and leave in small containers near their homes for removal.

Read more Irish holidaymakers travelling to Canaries warned of Saharan dust clouds and 40C heatwave

The mayor of Linguaglossa, a small town on Etnas flank, also issued an ordinance prohibiting excursions to the summit from the volcanos north side.

Stranded tourists requested airlines provide information to clear up confusion about when flights will resume and how to reach their final destinations. Many planes, including seven Ryanair flights, were rerouted through Trapani, Comiso and Palermo.

At 3,324 metres (nearly 11,000 feet), Etna is the tallest active volcano in Europe and has erupted frequently in the past 500,000 years.

An eruption earlier this year closed the airport on May 21.

The latest incident did not occur without warning. Observers at Italys National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology took photos of Etna making large vapour rings from the new open vent in the summit crater last week and noted increased seismic activity.

Last year, around 10 million passengers transited through the airport, which services the eastern part of Sicily. Authorities said travellers should contact their airlines and monitor the airport website.
In France, where eating in the workplace is prohibited, the typical employee does not consume sad desk salads at their work station. Photo: Getty

It has been nearly two years since the corporate world reopened. Employers are still struggling to get people back into the office. Just ask Jamie Dimon, CEO of Americas biggest bank, JPMorgan Chase, which has been pressing for in-office-work, yet 30pc of his workers remain hybrid and he continues to face pushback.
Comharchumann Forbartha Mhuscrai has pointed to signs like this on the N25 indicating to motorists where the Waterford Gaeltacht is as an example that could be followed on the N22 bypass.
Leah Moran will be performing at Electric Picnic as part of Three's City Stages Collective

Up and coming artists from Dublin are packing their tents and getting their wellies ready for the biggest gig of their lives at Electric Picnic.
National Park and Wildlife Conservation Rangers, left, Clare Heardman, Damien Clarke, Trisha Beecher, Padruig 'Brac' O'Sullivan and Allen Mee, (Golden Eagle Trust) in Killarney National Park, tagging and documenting details of the White Tailed Eagle chicks before they spread their wings further into Irish skies. Photo by Valerie O'Sullivan.

Twenty-four white-tailed eagle chicks were released around the country in August  including some in Killarney National Park  as part of an ongoing National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) programme to reintroduce this once extinct species.
DkIT graduate Lane Galvin is one of the 32 Rose of Tralee hopefuls

Lane Galvin, who is doing a Masters Degree at Dundalk Institute of Technology as well as working as a midwife in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, is among the 2023 Rose of Tralee hopefuls.
Campaigners from Save Leitrim were joined by climate activists from across the country on Sunday as they pulled up hundreds of Sitka spruce saplings from Coillte peatland and demanded, Trees for climate, not for profit.
News

A special celebration marking 30 years of the MS North West Therapy Centre in Sligo

Sligo based MS North West Therapy Centre celebrated its 30th anniversary on Thursday, as an appeal was made to the community to continue to support it through fundraising
The annual Spanish Armada Festival returns this September for the 14th consecutive year and will take place in Grange, Streedagh, Cliffoney and Sligo town. Therell be lots of events taking place covering arts, history, culture, music and the spoken word.
Eleanor Shannon and her daughter, Grainne listen to Niamh Kavanagh and the Mobile Music Machine perform at Asgard Lodge Nursing Home in Arklow, Co Wicklow as part of Nursing Homes Week. Pic credit; Julien Behal Photography

Residents from nursing homes across Co Wexford are set to perform their favourite musical numbers for the nation later this month. Taking place during Nursing Homes Week the Music Speaks broadcast will take place on Monday, August 21 and will encompass performances from over 100 nursing home residents from over 30 nursing homes.
A refugee accused of stabbing a fellow asylum seeker following a row at a direct provision centre in County Wicklow has been held on 2,000 bail.
Award-winning Wicklow actor Jack Reynor made an appearance at this years Fleadh Cheoil, enjoying a blend of established music legends and rising stars as the festival returned to its roots in Mullingar, where it began back in 1951.
Kevin Moore, who suffered a stroke in 2020, recently walked a mile as part of a fundraiser. Photo: Frank McGrath

Three years ago, Kevin Moores family were mentally preparing for his funeral, after the IT worker was given just a 1pc chance of survival following a catastrophic stroke.
Lyubov Tolchina (63) examines the damaged house of her son Vitaly (40), who was killed the day before by Russian shelling in Donetsk. Photo: Reuters

A Russian warship fired warning shots at a dry cargo ship in the Black Sea yesterday, after the Russian defence ministry said it intercepted the Palau-flagged ship Sukru Okan heading toward Ukraine.

Issuing a statement, Russia said its Vasily Bykov patrol ship open fired with an automatic weapon at the vessel after its captain did not respond to their request to halt for an inspection.

To forcibly stop the vessel, warning fire was opened from automatic weapons, the Russian defence ministry said.

A Ka-29 helicopter carrying Russian soldiers was then scrambled to inspect the ship. While Russia claims the ship was heading toward Ukraines port of Izmail, Refinitiv shipping data showed the ship was heading north toward the coast of Bulgaria, reported Reuters.

After the inspection group completed its work on board, the Sukru Okan continued on its way to the port of Izmail, the Russian defence ministry said.

Shipping databases list the Sukru Okan as a Palau-flagged vessel with a tonnage of 2,155 whose home port is Istanbul.

The Black Sea handled about 95pc of Ukrainian grain exports before Russias invasion, according to Joseph Glauber, senior research fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute.

Last month, Russia ended a UN-brokered grain deal that ensured Ukraine could get its agricultural produce to market via the Black Sea. Moscow warned it would deem all ships heading to Ukrainian waters to be potentially carrying weapons.

Ukraine, a major supplier of corn, wheat, barley and vegetable oil to the world, shipped 32.9 million tonnes of grain under the nearly year-long deal designed to ease a global food crisis.

It has been able to export an additional two million to 2.5 million tonnes monthly via the Danube River, road and rail through Europe.

Those are now the only routes to ship Ukrainian grain, Mr Glauber earlier told the Associated Press.

Ukraines response  including sea-drone attacks on a Russian oil tanker and a warship at its Novorossiysk naval base, next door to a major grain and oil port  has added to these new dangers for transport in the Black Sea.

Seven people  including a 23-day-old baby girl  were killed by Russian shelling in Ukraines southern Kherson region yesterday, the countrys internal affairs ministry said. Artillery shelling in the village of Shiroka Balka killed a family  a husband, wife, 12-year-old boy and 23-day-old girl  and another resident.

Two men were killed in the neighbouring village of Stanislav, where a woman was also wounded.

The attack on Kherson province followed Ukrainian deputy defence minister Hanna Maliars comments on Saturday attempting to quell rumours that Ukrainian forces had landed on the occupied east bank of the Dnieper in the Kherson region.

Again, the expert hype around the left bank in the Kherson region began. There are no reasons for excitement, she said.

Kherson regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin said yesterday that three people had been wounded in Russian attacks on the province on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Ukrainian military officials said on Saturday evening that Kyivs forces had made progress in the south, claiming some success near a key village in the southern Zaporizhzhia region and capturing other unspecified territories.

Ukraines General Staff said they had partial success around the tactically important Robotyne area in the Zaporizhzhia region, a key Russian stronghold that Ukraine needs to retake in order to continue pushing south toward Melitopol. There are liberated territories. The defence forces are working, General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, commander of Ukraines southern forces, said of the southern front.

Battles in recent weeks have taken place on multiple points along the 1,000km front line as Ukraine wages a counter-offensive with Western-supplied weapons and Western-trained troops against Russian forces who invaded nearly 18 months ago.

Ukrainian troops have made only incremental gains since launching the counter-offensive in early June.

In Russia, local officials reported yesterday that air defence systems shot down three drones over the Belgorod region and one over the neighbouring Kursk region, both of which border Ukraine.

Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian border regions are a fairly regular occurrence. Drone attacks deeper inside Russian territory have been on the rise since a drone was destroyed over the Kremlin in early May. In recent weeks, attacks have increased both on Moscow and on Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014  a move that most of the world considered illegal.

Yesterday afternoon, local officials in the Belgorod province reported an explosion in an apartment building in the regional capital, also called Belgorod.

Regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said that the facade of the apartment building had been damaged, but there were no casualties.

( Independent News Service)
Christian Zurita, nominated by the Movimiento Construye to replace Fernando Villavicencio as presidential candidate, and vice-president candidate Andrea Gonzalez, right, after a press conference in Quito, Ecuador, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. Villavicencio was fatally shot at a political rally on Aug. 9 in Quito. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

Mr Villavicencios Build party, or Construye in Spanish, told reporters at a press conference in the capital it would now opt for Christian Zurita to replace the slain 59-year-old in the August 20 vote.

On Saturday, the party said its stand-in candidate would be Andrea Gonzalez, an environmental activist who was originally Villavicencios vice presidential candidate. Party leaders said she will still run for that post.

An ex-lawmaker and investigative journalist with a track record of exposing corruption, Mr Villavicencio was shot dead last week after leaving a campaign event just as he stepped into a car amid a small group of people that included his own government-provided bodyguards.

Mr Zurita is also a journalist who in the past collaborated with Mr Villavicencio.

His candidacy must still be approved by the national electoral council.

Were going to try to emulate his abilities and were going to try to emulate his name, Mr Zurita said at a press conference, referring to Mr Villavicencio, while wearing a bullet-proof vest.

He added he will not negotiate with any mafia.

Six Colombian nationals have been charged with the murder. Police accuse them of ties to criminal groups.

Ecuador has seen a rising tide of violence in recent years, including a sharp increase in murders in the South American nation of some 18 million.

While ballots for the early election called by outgoing President Guillermo Lasso had already been printed prior to Mr Villavicencios assassination, votes for him will automatically transfer to the partys replacement.

Mr Villavicencio had been polling around the middle of the pack in a field of eight candidates.
Supporters of Nigers ruling junta marched towards the French military base shouting down with France, carrying signs and waving Russian flags

Niger's self-declared military leadership is ready to reopen talks with the West African regional bloc, one week after it defied a deadline to reinstate the nation's democratically elected president.

"We're open to a dialog that can lead to the lifting of sanctions," the junta's appointed prime minister, Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, said on Sunday.

"These measures are inhumane, exceptional and unacceptable," Zeine told state TV Tele Sahel following a visit by a mediation mission of religious leaders from Nigeria.

The Economic Community of West African States last month closed air and land borders with Niger, froze the nation's assets at the regional central bank and banned commercial flights as part of measures to compel the junta to cede power.

Nigeria, Niger's southern neighbor, ratcheted up pressure on the junta by cutting its electricity supply to the country.

The regional bloc activated a standby military force on Thursday, adding pressure on the junta.

The bloc will continue to pursue a diplomatic solution to the crisis, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who currently chairs Ecowas, said Thursday following a meeting of West African heads of state in the capital, Abuja.

Niger's junta refused to see an earlier Ecowas mediation mission.

Coup leaders told US Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland, who visited Niger last week, that they would kill deposed President Mohamed Bazoum if there was any regional military intervention to restore his rule, the Associated Press reported, citing two unidentified Western officials.

The junta declined Nuland's request to see Bazoum (63).

The coup in Niger a the sixth in the region in three years has brought condemnation from Western nations including France and the US, which together have thousands of troops stationed in the country.

The country has been a key international ally in the global fight against jihadists in the region.

If successful, the coup would create a belt of military-run countries from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, most of which are friendlier to Russia than the West.
A heavily damaged apartment after what officials say was a Russian overnight shelling in Kherson, Ukraine

Russian shelling killed seven people, including a 22-day-old infant, and wounded at least 22 in Ukraine's southern region of Kherson on Sunday, prompting local officials to declare Monday a day of mourning and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to promise justice.

Kyiv reclaimed part of Kherson from Russian occupation last November but Kremlin troops have continued shelling the regional capital and areas around it from across the Dnipro River.

Five people were killed in the village of Shyroka Balka, including a 22-day-old girl, her 12-year-old brother who died from serious injuries in hospital, and their 39-year-old mother, Olesia, Zelenskiy said.

"The terrorists will never willingly stop killing civilians," Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko wrote in a Telegram post. "The terrorists must be stopped. With force. They don't understand anything else."

Two people, including the pastor of a church, were killed in the neighbouring village of Stanislav, according to Governor Oleksandr Prokudin.

Three people each in Kherson city and the town of Beryslav were wounded, according to the interior ministry, and casualties were also reported in five other settlements across the region.

"Today the Kherson region shuddered from terrible news. Kherson, Veletenske, Zolota Balka, Stanislav, Komyshany, Shyroka Balka..." Prokudin wrote on Telegram, listing the settlements hit in Sunday's attacks.

Later in the evening, the local Kherson government said a new air strike and artillery shelling had injured a 31-year-old woman and a man and damaged at least 12 houses in the town of Bilozerka. In a Telegram post, it said three guided aerial bombs had damaged several houses in the village of Odradokamianka.

Zelenskiy said that by 6 pm there had been 17 reports of shelling in Kherson region alone on Sunday, as well as incidents in the regions of Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, Donbas, Kharkiv, and in border areas in northeast Ukraine.

"There is no day when Russian evil does not receive our entirely just response," he said in his nightly video address.

He named past Russian targets, including occupiers, equipment, depots, and the Kerch Bridge linking occupied Crimea with Russia that his domestic intelligence agency recently acknowledged sabotaging last October, as "evidence that we will not leave any of Russia's crimes unanswered."

Ukraine's military launched a counteroffensive in June to reclaim Russian-occupied territory across the southeast but has not made any significant attempts to cross the Dnipro to reach the other side of the Kherson region.
Dylan Almond, six, and dad Darren, 39, skating in Market Deeping for charity

A six-year-old from Lincolnshire has said he feels good roller-skating 100 miles (161km) throughout August with his dad to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

Dylan Almond has already skated 44 miles around Market Deeping, South Keveston, with his 39-year-old father Darren.

Dylans mother Laura, 39, said her cousin being diagnosed with cancer in December last year inspired her son to become one of the youngest participants of Cancer Research UKs Wheel 100 Challenge  which asks those taking part to travel 100 miles by wheel across this month.

Dylan Almond and his father Darren skating in Market Deeping (Laura Almond/ PA)

Speaking to the PA news agency, Darren said: Because Dylan plays ice hockey and loves skating, we thought this would be a good way for him to raise money while skating  doing something he loves.

The six-year-old said he feels good aiming to skate 6.2 miles (10km) every day to achieve his tremendous goal.

Youd think it was like work, but we go out every day and were actually enjoying it, Darren added.

Were raising money but were also enjoying getting out together, seeing the fans, getting a bit of sunshine and a bit of exercise.

Dylan is an avid ice hockey player (Laura Almond/ PA)

Since taking on the challenge, Dylan said he wanted to thank everyone supporting him in Market Deeping.

Weve had so much sponsorship now from local people in the town, theyre all able to watch him out and about wearing his Cancer Research t-shirt, Laura said.

People are stopping him, waving at him and handing us sponsorship money in the street.

Laura added she has received messages from people on Facebook thanking Dylan for his fundraising efforts.

She said: Whats been nice Ive had about 15 direct messages from local people just saying this has happened to me, this is my experience, and they appreciate what Dylan is doing.

And it just made me realise that so many people are affected by cancer just in your local community.

Darren added: Everyones got behind it because everyones affected by cancer, then you got this little kid that is doing something quite incredible skating 100 miles.

Dylan with his dad, sister Francesca and brother Alfie (Laura Almond/ PA)

Darren was also quite concerned that Dylan would not be motivated to skate every day.

He said: I mean, I was quite concerned about it, but the moment we get out there and get skating he actually really enjoys it.

He hasnt complained once while Ive been out with him.

He fell over a couple of days ago which was a bit upsetting for him, but he soon brushed it off and skated another four kilometres.

The father added that Dylan did not roller-skate much before taking up the challenge.

He said: He started ice skating when he was four, then did ice skating lessons and joined an academy last year.

Dylans ice hockey academy, the Peterborough Phantoms, will join him skating for one day in August to encourage him and help him along.

His older sister Francesca, eight, and two-year-old brother Alfie have been keen to join their sibling on his journey too.

Sister, Francesca, sometimes tags along with Dylan on her bike (Laura Almond/ PA)

Laura said: His older sister has been out on her bike alongside him, and sometimes rides in front to warn him where stones are on the road, so he doesnt trip up.

Alfie sees Dylan going out and he wants to do the same.

To view the six-year-olds fundraising page, go to: fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/dylans-giving-page-516
Image Credit: Screengrab from video of flashfood in Himachal tweeted by Chief Minister

Simla/IBNS: More than 50 people have died in the last two days in incidents linked to incessant rainfall in the hill state of Himachal Pradesh .

In the third major rain-related tragedy in less than 24 hours, flash floods have swept away seven people while nine people were killed in a landslide at a Shiv Temple in Shimla city on Monday.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu shared a video clip from the Sambal village in Mandi district, saying that active rescue, search, and relief operations are currently in progress to address "this dreadful situation".

"Disturbing visuals have emerged from Sambhal, Pandoh - District Mandi, where, as reported, seven individuals have been swept away by flash floods today. Active rescue, search, and relief operations are currently in progress to address this dreadful situation," he tweeted.

Disturbing visuals have emerged from Sambhal, Pandoh - District Mandi, where, as reported, seven individuals have been swept away by flash floods today.



Active rescue, search, and relief operations are currently in progress to address this dreadful situation. pic.twitter.com/OLgZGgXNlF  Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu (@SukhuSukhvinder) August 14, 2023

Earlier, 16 people were killed in two separate incidents related to heavy rains.

Seven people died after a cloudburst incident in the Solan district last night, while nine others were killed in a landslide at a Shiv Temple in the Summer Hill area of Shimla city.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are engaged in relief and rescue operations in rain-hit Himachal Pradesh and termed the loss of lives due to the deluge as "extremely distressing".

According to the state emergency operation centre, 752 roads were closed in the state because of the calamity.

The heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh, and neighbouring Uttarakhand, are due to a fresh spell of Western Disturbance, the Indian Meteorological Department said today.

"The location of the Monsoon trough lies along the foothills of the Himalayas, and hence the South-westerly Arabian Sea monsoonal winds are hitting the Himalayan foothills," the weather department said.
Shahjahanpur: A 28-year-old youth was shot at by unidentified persons in Kotwali area of Shahjahanpur district here in Uttar Pradesh, a senior police officer said here on Monday.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Ashok Kumar Meena said that Shoaib was shot by unidentified miscreants in Babujai locality late on Sunday night.

"Shoaib, who sustained bullet injury in his head, was taken to the medical college from where he was referred to Bareilly in a serious condition," he said.

He said that information was being collected from the family members of Shoaib about the incident.

"Four teams have been constituted to identify and arrest the miscreants," he said.

(WithUNI inputs)
Kolkata: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has sought a report from Jadavpur University (JU) over the mysterious death of a first-year undergraduate student.

It is also expected to send a team of officials to probe the death of Swapnadip Kundu.

The city police had already arrested three suspects, including the prime accused Sourab Chowdhry, and also summoned six others related to the crime, which rocked the educational circle across the country.

Eighteen-year-old Kundu, a college student from Bugulia in Nadia district fatally fell from the hostel's second floor on Wednesday night, his 3rd day in the campus, and succumbed to his multiple wounds the following morning at the KPC Hospital.

He was almost clothless when he fell on the ground floor of the hostel campus.

Kolkata Police on Sunday arrested Deepshekhar Dutta, a 2nd year economics student and Manotosh Ghosh, also a second-year sociology student, for their alleged role in the death of Bengali honours Swapnadip Kundu.

The trio was now under police custody following a local court order.

Chowdhury used to stay in the hostel and one of the members of the mess committee, which virtually dictates allotment of the hostel facility for the first-year students.

An UGC team from the anti-ragging cell is expected to arrive on Wednesday and JU to make an on-the-spot investigation into the mysterious death of Kundu.

The team will also meet the JU authority and talk to the students to know about the incident that lead to premature death of the teenager.

The UGC has reportedly received several complaints regarding the alleged mismanagement of the institution, including ragging, which is banned by a Supreme court order.

Netizens and scores of former students of JU on social media exposing the ' mismanagement' of the ' unspeakable ragging' of the seniors on the new entrants.
Image Credit: Wikimeda commons

New Delhi/IBNS/UNI: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Monday issued notices to the West Bengal government and Registrar of Jadavpur University in Kolkata over the death of a first-year student allegedly due to ragging.

The Commission has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary of the Bengal government calling for a report on the matter within four weeks.

"It should include the reasons for the prima facie failure of the institution to take adequate steps to prevent ragging in accordance with the UGC regulation, and the steps taken or proposed to punish the perpetrators of the ragging including its abettors and sympathizers," NHRC said in a statement.

The report must also contain the measures being initiated by the state government for spreading awareness about the menace of ragging amongst the student community and teaching associations throughout the state, the statement said.

NHRC took suo motu cognizance of a media report that a first-year student of Jadavpur University became a victim of alleged ragging, and died on August 10, 2023, after falling from the second-floor balcony of the varsity's hostel. Reportedly, the fellow students of the victim had tried to bring the matter to the notice of the Dean but unfortunately, their efforts went in vain, it said.

"The Commission observed that the media report indicates negligence, lack of supervision, and inherent failure of the college administration due to which a young student, reportedly undergoing the trauma of ragging, lost his life. Therefore, the contents of the media report, if true, amount to a violation of the human rights of the student," it said.

A further notice has been issued to the Registrar of Jadavpur University to submit a detailed report regarding the steps taken for effective implementation of the recommendations of the Raghavan Committee report, affirmed by the Supreme Court of India, to solve the problem of ragging in the University, it said.

The student had moved to the hostel barely three days before his death at the start of the academic session

He had called up his mother multiple times two days before he died expressing fear for his life and that he wanted to return home, media reports said.
Chennai/IBNS/UNI: Pointing out that 16 medical aspirants have committed suicide in Tamil Nadu due to NEET, Chief Minister MK Stalin Monday urged President Droupadi Murmu to accord assent to the Tamil Nadu Admission to Under Graduate Medical Degree Courses Bill, 2021, seeking to exempt the state from the purview of NEET providing admissions to UG medical courses based on marks secured in the board exams.

In a demi-official letter to the President, copies of which were released to the media here, Stalin said the NEET Exemption Bill passed by the state government is the outcome of Legislative consensus, stemming from the collective will of the people of Tamil Nadu.

"Each day of delay in its implementation costs not only valuable medical seats to deserving students but invaluable human lives to our society," he said and solicited her immediate intervention in the matter.

Stating that the State government has given all the clarifications sought by the Centre, Stalin said that the Bill has not been provided as assent till now and the students have been forced to undergo the NEET-based admission process which is causing immense anxiety and stress in the minds of the students and parents.

As a result, there have been various sad incidents of students (or their parents) committing suicides, depressed by their failure to get admission through NEET, he noted.

Even recently, a student from Chrompet in Chennai and his father committed suicide due to the stress of the students failure in NEET, Stalin pointed out.

"With this, the toll of students who have committed suicide due to NEET has increased to 16 in our state," he said.

"These tragedies could have been definitely avoided if our bill for exemption from NEET had been given assent and the medical admissions done on the basis of +2 marks," Stalin said.
The Khalistan movement, which raged in Punjab during the 1980s and early 1990s, is frequently associated with its political aspirations and the violence that came to characterize it. While history often focuses on these, there remains an untold story  the silent suffering of women caught in the crossfire.

A recently resurfaced news clipping from 1991 lays bare the anguish endured by women during this tumultuous period.

The article, which made waves across Punjabi newspapers, carries an emotional appeal from a young Sikh woman named Ranjit Kaur.

Her letter is a testament to the agonies many Punjabi families, especially women, underwent at the hands of the very groups that claimed to fight for their rights.

Ranjits story is heart-wrenching. At the age of 18, she bore witness to the tragic murders of her father and two brothers, victims of the very movement that promised them liberation. The prime perpetrator? Her own uncle, a high-ranking figure within the Khalistani militant framework.

At present, my revered uncle (Bhai Dilsher Singh Shera), responsible for extinguishing the lives of four family members, has conveyed the following threats: a) The abduction of our womenfolk. b) The seizure of our ancestral land. c) The obliteration of our family and its lineage.

Excerpt from the translation of Ranjit Kaurs appeal:

Her tale reveals the murky side of such movements, where personal vendettas were sometimes obscured under the larger umbrella of militancy. The murder of Ranjits father, a respected Sarpanch, and her two brothers, one as recent as 1991, have left scars that time might never heal.

But it wasnt just the loss of family members that was distressing. The repercussions extended to a realm more sinister. Threats of abduction of the women in the family, confiscation of ancestral land, and the potential extermination of their lineage became chilling reminders of their precarious existence.

For Ranjit, a once-promising national-level volleyball player, the trauma compounded. The dreamy aspirations she held for her future were crushed beneath the weight of the tragic losses her family endured. The once vibrant young sportswoman now found herself grappling with the responsibility of her widowed sisters-in-law and orphaned nieces and nephews.

Her narrative exposes the grim reality of countless women during that era. Stripped of male family members, their protectors in the socio-cultural context of the times, they grappled with threats, socioeconomic challenges, and the daunting task of rebuilding their broken homes.

Ranjit Kaurs appeal serves as a poignant reminder that the casualties of any political or violent upheaval are often those who have no stake in the conflict.

Women, children, and families find themselves ensnared in a web of chaos and violence, left with scars that linger for generations.

As we remember the Khalistan movement, its crucial to remember stories like Ranjits  a testament to the resilience of women who endured, rebuilt, and continued, even in the face of unfathomable adversity.

(Image and Text credit: Khalsavox.com)
Photo Courtesy: UNI

Kiev: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Kiev is responsible for the latest attempted attack on the Crimean Bridge.

On Saturday, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Ukraine tried to attack the bridge with an S-200 missile modified to hit ground-based targets, but it was shot down and no damage was reported.

Traffic across the Crimean Bridge was temporarily suspended.

Zelenskyy said in a video address on Telegram on Sunday that Ukrainian troops regularly respond to Russias actions as part of the special operation, and said that the "smoke on the Crimean Bridge" is an example of one such "response."

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Saturday that Russia strongly condemns Ukraine's attempted attack on the Crimean Bridge, a civilian object, and will not leave it unanswered.

The Ukrainian military is trying to compensate for its failures on the battlefield by targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, the spokeswoman said.

The Crimean Bridge has been targeted by Ukraine on a number of occasions.

One of the most recent attacks took place on July 17 and involved sea drones that killed a couple who were driving across the bridge when it was bombed.

Their teenage daughter was injured.
Photo Courtesy: Pixabay

Kabul: An Afghanistani commission has found almost 30 per cent of booksellers have stopped their business due to a lack of good market in the Taliban-ruled country.

Abdul Wodod Mukhtarzada, a member of the commission to assess the Problems of Booksellers, told TOLOnews that the booksellers are also complaining about high taxes which are difficult to pay as their business has dropped.

We used to sell more than 500 books and we had 200 librarians here but I can say now that their number has dropped significantly, he said.

A bookseller even blamed the absence of female students in universities as a cause behind the decline of book sells in the country.

There are issues because of the lack of female students' presence in the universities. This issue also affects the book business, Sharifullah, a bookseller, told Tolo News.

Mansour Qazizada, a bookseller, told the news portal: "You know that the market is down and the people lack the capacity to purchase books. Also there are many types of taxes and the Kabul municipality sends their representatives."

Taliban government's reaction:

The Taliban-run Ministry of Information and Culture said that efforts are underway to pardon the taxes of the libraries as a move to support the book markets in the country.

We are trying to waive taxes on books and thus we can implement a tradition of book reading. We have held various exhibitions, Mahajar Farahi, deputy minister of Information and Culture for publications, told Tolo News.
Image Credit: Representative image/credit: Pixabay

Ottawa/IBNS: The release of Spectrum Outlook 2023 to 2027, outlining the Canada governments plans to use spectrum to deliver affordable and high-quality telecom services has been announced by Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, a news release has said.

When put to good use, spectrum can drive innovation, improve rural connectivity, promote competition and even support efforts to address climate changepublic resource ensureto strengthen the telecom services Canadians depend on, Champagne has said.

Spectrum Outlook reportedly supports faster deployment of 5G, improves rural connectivity, promotes the use of wireless technologies to help address climate change, and advances reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.

Canada governments spectrum release plans for the coming years has also been laid out by the Spectrum Outlook ensuring that enough spectrum is available for the services Canadians depend on.

Since the release of Spectrum Outlook 2018 to 2022, the government has built on a number of spectrum accomplishments and will also reportedly continue to advance its use it or lose it approach to spectrum so that it is used promptly for the benefit of all Canadians.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)
India is celebrating its 77th Independence Day (Swatantrata Diwas) on Tuesday, 15 August. We got our freedom from the centuries old shackles of Britishers after the sacrifice of countless brave lives and non-stop efforts of our heroes.

The day also coincides with the Partition of the country. On 15 August 1947, the first Prime Minister of independent India Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, hoisted the national flag at the Lahori Gate of Red Fort in New Delhi.

Happy Independence Day 2023: Wishes, Quotes, Messages, Images, Status For Students To Share On 15 August | Stock Image

As India celebrates its 77th Independence Day on August 15, 2023, lets remember all those brave soldiers, leaders who gave up everything for the sake of our motherland.

Happy Independence Day 2023: Wishes, Messages, Images, Posters, Status and Independence Day Quotes

Here are some 77th Independence Day wishes, greetings, messages, WhatsApp status, posters, images and Independence Day Quotes that you can send your students and peers and remind them what would our lives be without independence and that we all are responsible for protecting the independence, integrity and sovereignty of our great nation.

Happy Independence Day 2023: Wishes, Quotes, Messages, Images, Status For Students To Share On 15 August | Stock Image

Happy Independence Day 2023 Wishes for Students

1. Happy Independence Day to all the students! May you always be inspired by the freedom fighters who fought for our independence, and may you always strive to make our country a better place.

2. On this Independence Day, let us all pledge to make India a better place for all. Jai Hind!

3. Let us all work together to build a strong and prosperous India. Happy Independence Day!

4. May the flame of patriotism always burn bright in our hearts. Happy Independence Day!

5. Wishing you a joyous Independence Day, dear students! May you continue to shine brightly and contribute to the growth of our nation.

6. Happy Independence Day! May your journey of learning be as free and limitless as the spirit of our nation.

7. Let's remember the heroes who made our independence possible and strive to make our country proud. Happy Independence Day, students!

8. May your education empower you to be the change-makers our nation needs. Happy Independence Day 2023!

9. Celebrate the spirit of freedom and knowledge. Happy Independence Day!

10. May your academic journey be a testament to the strength and potential of our nation. Happy Independence Day, dear students!

Independence Day 2023 Messages for Students

11. As you learn, grow, and chase your dreams, may you contribute to the progress and development of our great nation. Happy Independence Day 2023!

12. Celebrate the freedom to learn, dream, and succeed. Happy Independence Day to all the brilliant students out there!

13. May your education be the foundation of a stronger, brighter India. Happy Independence Day!

14. On this Independence Day, let us remember the sacrifices made by our freedom fighters, and let us pledge to uphold the values of liberty, equality, and fraternity.

15. May the light of knowledge and enlightenment always shine in your hearts. Happy Independence Day to all the students!

16. Let us celebrate this Independence Day by learning more about our country's history and culture. Jai Hind!

Happy Independence Day 2023: Wishes, Quotes, Messages, Images, Status For Students To Share On 15 August | Freepik

17. Let's honour the sacrifices of our freedom fighters by striving for excellence in education and character. Happy Independence Day, students!

18. Wishing you a future filled with achievements that make our country proud. Happy Independence Day!

19. Embrace your responsibilities as future leaders and make our country proud. Happy Independence Day, students!

20. As you embark on your academic journey, remember that education is the key to a brighter future for yourself and our nation. Happy Independence Day!

21. On this Independence Day, let's renew our commitment to building a prosperous and united India. Wishing you Happy 77th Independence Day!

22. As you pursue your education with determination, may you contribute to the progress and unity of our diverse nation. Happy 77th Independence Day!

23. May the tricolor always fly high in the sky, and may the spirit of freedom always fill our hearts. Happy Independence Day 2023!

Happy Independence Day 2023: Wishes, Quotes, Messages, Images, Status For Students To Share On 15 August | Freepik

24. May the spirit of patriotism and love for our country always guide you in your studies and in your life. Happy Independence Day!

25. Students are the future of our country. On this Independence Day, let us all commit to providing quality education to every child in India.

26. As we celebrate India's freedom, may your minds be liberated with knowledge and your hearts filled with patriotism. Happy Independence Day!

27. May the tricolor flag always remind you of the sacrifices made for our freedom. Happy Independence Day, students!

28. Wishing you a future filled with success, prosperity, and unwavering love for our country. Happy 77th Independence Day!

Independence Day 2023: Related Queries

Wish you a very Happy Independence Day 2023!

For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events.
India is all set to celebrate its 77th Independence Day (Swatantrata Diwas) on Tuesday, August 15, 2023. On this day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation from Delhi's iconic Red Fort.

Independence Day 2023: When And Where To Watch PM Narendra Modi's August 15 Speech From Red Fort | Stock Image

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the country in celebrating the 77th Independence Day from the iconic Red Fort in Delhi on Tuesday. As part of the celebrations, A total of 50 nurses along with their family members from across the country have been invited as Special Guests to listen to Prime Minister Narendra Modis Independence Day address from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Tuesday.

ALSO READ: Independence Day 2023 Speech: Long And Short Speech On Independence Day In English For Students



ALSO READ: 77th Independence Day 2023: From Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo To Maa Tujhe Salaam, 15 Best Patriotic Songs You Must Listen To This 15 August



77th Independence Day 2023: Special Guests

According to the government, they will be part of 1800 special guests from various walks of life, ranging from Sarpanches of Vibrant Villages, teachers, farmers, and fishermen, who have been invited to participate in the Independence Day Celebrations at the iconic monument on August 15, 2023.

The initiative to invite people from all walks of life, across India, and be a part of the celebrations has been taken by the Government in line with its vision of Jan Bhagidari.

Independence Day 2023: When And Where To Watch PM Narendra Modi's August 15 Speech From Red Fort | Reuters

These Special Guests invited to attend the celebrations at Red Fort include over 400 Sarpanches of more than 660 vibrant villages; 250 from Farmer Producer Organisations scheme; 50 participants each of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana.

This years Independence Day will culminate the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, which were launched by the Prime Minister from Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on March 12, 2021, and will, once again, usher the country into Amrit Kaal with renewed vigour to realise Narendra Modis dream of making India a developed country by 2047.

ALSO READ: 77th Independence Day: How Well Do You Know India? Answer These 77 Questions & Find Out



Independence Day 2023: When And Where To Watch PM Narendra Modi's August 15 Speech From Red Fort | Agency

These special guests include over 400 sarpanches of more than 660 villages; 250 from Farmer Producer Organisations' scheme; 50 participants each of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana; 50 Shram Yogis (construction workers) of the Central Vista Project, including the new Parliament building; 50 each Khadi workers, those involved in construction of border roads, making of Amrit Sarovar and Har Ghar Jal Yojana as well as 50 each primary school teachers, nurses and fishermen.

Where To Watch The Independence Day 2023 Seepch LIVE

PM Modi is likely to address the nation at 7:30 AM after he unfurls the Indian national flag at the Red Fort in New Delhi.

Where To Watch Independence Day PM Modis Speech on Social Media?

To watch the Independence Day 2023 celebrations online, viewers can visit the Indiatimes YouTube Channel, which will be live-streaming the celebrations beginning at 6:30 AM.

The Government of India also broadcasts the Independence Day celebrations live on its official social media platforms.

ALSO READ: Happy Independence Day 2023: Best Wishes, Messages, Quotes, Posters And Independence Day WhatsApp Status To Share With Friends & Family On 15 August



Where To Watch Independence Day PM Modis Speech on TV?

The flag hoisting ceremony for the 77th Independence Day will be followed by singing the national anthem and a 21-cannon salute to pay respect to freedom fighters. There will also be a march past by soldiers and armed forces. If you are wishing to watch the activities of Independence Day 2023, you can watch it live on Doordarshan.

TV channel Doordarshan will live telecast the 77th Independence Day Parade on the DD National. The broadcasting will begin at 6.30 AM on 15 August.

Independence Day 2023: Check the Full Schedule Of Events At Red Fort

- PM Modi will be greeted by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other dignitaries at Red Fort.

- The Defence Secretary will introduce the General Officer Commanding (GoC), Delhi Area, Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth to the Prime Minister.

- The GoC Delhi Area will then conduct Shri Narendra Modi to the Saluting Base where a combined Inter-Services and Delhi Police Guard will present general salute to the Prime Minister.

- Thereafter, the Prime Minister will inspect the Guard of Honour.

- The Guard of Honour contingent for the Prime Minister will consist of one officer & 25 personnel each from the Army, Air Force &Delhi Police and one officer & 24 personnel from the Navy.

- After inspecting the Guard of Honour, the Prime Minister will proceed to the ramparts of the Red Fort where he will be greeted by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatt, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar and Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari. The GoC, Delhi area will conduct the Prime Minister to the dais on the ramparts to unfurl the National Flag.

- After being unfurled, the Tricolour will receive a Rashtriya Salute. The Army band, consisting of one JCO and 20 Other Ranks, will play the National Anthem during the unfurling of the National Flag and presenting of the Rashtriya Salute. The Band will be conducted by Naib Subedar Jatinder Singh.

- As soon as the National Flag is unfurled by the Prime Minister, flower petals will be showered at the venue by two Advanced Light Helicopters Mark-III Dhruv of the Indian Air Force in the Line Astern Formation. The captains of the helicopter will be Wing Commander Amber Agarwal and Squadron Leader Himanshu Sharma.

- After the showering of flower petals, the Prime Minister will address the Nation.

Independence Day 2023: Related Queries

Wish you a very Happy Independence Day 2023!

For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events.
A teenager in China sold a property he got from his family for 1 million yuan (about $139,000) at half its value to buy a motorcycle, according to a report in the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

However, the teenager's family took legal action, and the sale was canceled. This incident was reported from Henan province in central China.

The case became popular after it was pushed in family court.

The court examined the papers for the deal between the teenager nicknamed Xiaohua and two property dealers. The court decided that the agreement was not fair.

Because his parents wouldn't buy him a motorcycle, the teenager chose to sell his grandfather's inherited property.

Without telling his parents, he asked property agents for help.

Bike/Unsplash

The 18-year-old agreed to sell it for $72,000. According to SCMP, the property agent sold it to another agent for a higher price, making a profit.



When Xiaohua's mother found out, she asked the property agents to undo the deal. But they said no, so his parents went to court.

Xiaohua's actions surprised the court, but his mother argued that the trade wasn't fair.

Next, the judge looked at the sale paperwork and listened to what the teenager and agents had said. The judge decided that the teenager didn't know how much the property was worth and that the agent had tricked him into selling it for much less.

"Xiaowu (the name of the property dealer) took advantage of Xiaohua," the judge said, per the SCMP report.

The court canceled the agreement and gave the property back to Xiaohua.

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In contemporary television, where storytelling is a powerful mirror reflecting the diverse facets of society, Zoya Akhtar's "Made In Heaven" has emerged as a captivating and thought-provoking masterpiece.

In its second season, the series has garnered abundant praise for its commitment to delving into pertinent and often unexplored social issues.

Amazon Prime Video

One episode from Season 2 of Made in Heaven has caught the interest of many people, including BR Ambedkar's grandson and Dalit activist Prakash Ambedkar.



They praised the fifth Neeraj Ghaywan-directed episode in which Radhika Apte plays Pallavi, a Dalit bride.

Amazon Prime Video

In one picture, Radhika Apte, as Pallavi, talks about politics. The second picture shows a famous scene from the Buddhist wedding with Buddha and BR Ambedkar portraits.



This is everything! Thank you so much, sir!  https://t.co/1fhE3LkJrF  Neeraj Ghaywan (@ghaywan) August 14, 2023

Sharing his take on the episode, Prakash wrote: "I absolutely loved the assertion, defiance, and resistance of the Dalit woman character  Pallavi. For those Vanchits and Bahujans who have watched the episode, assert your identity, and only then do you gain political prominence. As Pallavi puts it, Everything is about the politics. Jai Bhim!"

The director of that Made in Heaven Season 2 episode, Neeraj, retweeted Prakash's tweet and wrote: "This is everything! Thank you so much, sir! (two blue heart emojis)."

Neeraj's commitment to portraying Dalit characters is evident through his earlier works, such as the acclaimed 2015 film "Masaan," featuring Vicky Kaushal, Shweta Tripathi, and Richa Chadha.

This theme was explored in his short film for Netflix India's 2021 anthology "Ajeeb Daastaans," starring Konkona Sensharma and Aditi Rao Hydari.

The internet has been abuzz with admiration for the poignant Buddhist wedding depicted in Neeraj's episode.

The fight for the Buddhist wedding scene in MIH2 was so liberating and felt so personal. It's high time to show Dalit representation in mainstream media.#MadeInHeavenS2 pic.twitter.com/rehigpSho6  . (@LouvreLassan) August 11, 2023

In the fifth episode of Made in Heaven Season 2, titled "The Heart Skipped a Beat," Pallavi Menke, an Ivy League lawyer and author, enters into an inter-caste marriage.

Pallavi, who vocally embraces her caste identity and advocates for equality, proposes the idea of a Dalit-Buddhist wedding for herself and her fiance.

Screenshot

Brought to life by the creative minds of Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti, Made in Heaven Season 2 is now available for streaming on Prime Video India.

Neeraj's contributions to this series and his dedication to representing underrepresented narratives continue to captivate audiences and spark meaningful conversations.

For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram.


Prince Joseph Eniola Ojajuni, is an Ondo State Labour Party governorship aspirant. In this interview with MAYOWA SAMUEL, he speaks about his political journey and why he believes the government of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has been a failure.

Excerpts:

Youve declared your ambition to be the next Ondo State governor. How has the journey been so far, since you made that declaration? Since I declared my intention to be the next governor of Ondo State, it hasnt been easy for us as individuals because of the challenges Nigerians are facing, economic challenges, insecurity, joblessness in Ondo State. Weve been talking to people around the party to solicit for support among members of the party, for the primary, were waiting for INECs directive on that. As soon as INEC releases guidelines, well put more effort. People have accepted us, in fact, weve taken over the major areas. I just came back from Ondo two weeks ago, I was in almost 14 local governments, talking to students, market women, elders and leaders on why they must come out and support the Labour Party in Ondo, because in the last going to eight years, the present administration in Ondo cant point to a particular project people are benefiting from. People are hoping for change, a better future for the State. Its been nice, and people are ready. How tedious has it been for you and what are the challenges youve faced so far? How has your interaction with the electorate been so far? The challenges havent been that easy because of the tension across the country. The people arent feeling the impact of government. Were trying to encourage and let people know that what Nigerians are going through today is as a result of the governments monetary policy. Theres no freedom for them to vote for the right candidates. Like I told them, the last election in Ondo, thousands of people were voting for APC because they were sharing money. Theres no single industry promised by Akeredolu thats been built in Ondo State. So, weve been trying to convince the people, particularly party delegates and letting them know that sometimes, they need to make the sacrifice for us to have the best among the best. If they continue to collect money from aspirants who become candidates, who later become governors at the end of the day, well all pay for it. You cant your cake and have it. In that regard, it hasnt been easy. Weve let them know that although we dont have money to share during the primary, but my integrity and what Ive done so far is going to speak for me. I believe that when we get to that bridge, were going to cross it.

The monetary policy has brought us to where we are today, its just unfortunate that people refused to learn their lessons in the last election, despite what Nigerians have gone through in the hands of Buhari in the last eight years. Not only Buhari, other governors across the South West are not doing fine, even across Nigeria. The music now is let the people breathe. Lets see how young, fresh Nigerians can do it better because were sick and tired of all these old politicians who have ruled Nigeria in the last twenty years without a single achievement. Thats why I keep telling them to go and learn from the ministry of ideas because these people fail to have ideas to develop their state. It hasnt been that easy for us in that regard but I so much believe that when we get to that bridge, were going to cross it and let people know that we have the best ideas and policies to put the state on the path of prosperity.

Governor Akeredolu will soon be elapsing his tenure. Whats your assessment of his tenure so far? Akeredolu is a failure, APC is a failure in Ondo State. The people of Ondo State should just come out and throw APC out of government. Akeredolu claimed he has built health centers, but the hospital you built but youre not able to treat yourself there? That means youre telling us theyve been playing on the intelligence of Nigerians. I as a governor for instance, I fell sick, and I discovered that I cant treat myself in the state, with the facilities Ive claimed to have built, it shows Im a sick man. The government of Akeredolu is a very sick and failed government. Look at what the deputy governor is doing. Hes not been able to add anything as acting governor in the last sixty days that the man had left for Germany for treatment. Yes, were born to be sick, nobody is mocking him but unfortunately theyve failed to build a standard healthcare facility for them to be treated. So, if I become governor of Ondo State, I will treat myself there, Ill use made in Nigeria vehicles, my children will attend Nigerian school, because I went to Nigerian schools all my life. Things will be back to when the people had the mandate of leadership.

The people of Ondo State should get ready to throw them out because they have nothing to offer Nigerians. Most of the APC aspirants are the same sets of circulated old ideas, people who are not knowledgeable of our government, the only thing they are knowledgeable about is to steal public funds. Thank God that this government of Asiwaju, (if the court dont remove him, because we believe that our mandate in Labour Party will be recovered), with BOT among the ministerial nominees from Ondo State, shows that the youths are ready to take over Ondo, a young man of 41 years making the ministerial list, for that, I cherish the present administration for doing that. No infrastructure, no health faculty, nothing is working in the State. I came back from Ondo last week, nothing is working there. Ondo State remains the same way Akeredolu met it. He hasnt been on duty for a while now. Are you among those who think he should resign and formally hand over to his deputy or you think he he should still hold on and return to office whenever his health improves? If I was in Akeredolus shoes, the best thing Id have done is to resign. Ill go and treat myself. Akeredolu is not the owner of Ondo State. He has turned the government house to a family enterprise, his families are the ones dominating the entire government house today because these people are selfish leaders who dont care about the people. Have you ever seen even an ordinary councillor or local government chairman resign in this country, even if they are dying? These people are criminal minded leaders who dont care about the people. The best thing he shouldve done was to resign and go treat himself. Theyve seen that Nigerians are not ready to hold their leaders accountable but we can assure the people of Ondo State that when we take over the mandate in Ondo State, well make sure that well account for every money spent from Ondo State resources.

Its over a years now since the the Owo church massacre. Many of the victims till now are still complaining of neglect since the incident last year. Most of the perpetuators still havent been brought to book. Were you satisfied with Governor Akeredolus handling of the aftermath of that tragedy? I told you Akeredolus government is a failure. In every area of Ondo State, his government is a failure. I wouldnt want to comment much on that, his government has failed Ondo people. Despite the fact that the incident happened in his own local government, hes not been able to These people dont care about the masses, they dont care about Nigerians and the people will reject his party at the 2024 governorship election in Ondo State. You contested for a seat in the 2015 Lagos State Assembly election (Kosofe Constituency II). What informed your decision to move to Ondo State to contest for elective position? My parents grew up in Lagos. I was born and brought up in Lagos. I had the constitutional right to contest in Lagos, so I contested for Lagos Assembly in 2015. Then, I came back home in 2016 to contest for governor under the same AD. I also contested for presidency under AD after which I stepped down for Sowore. Then, we had about almost forty aspirants. We failed to have a consensus candidate amongst us. Then, I believed that we couldnt win the election because there were no resources. I believed that the man that had the best ideas amongst us, who had what it takes was Sowore, so I stepped down for him. In 2020, I contested under ADC, I wasnt given the ticket before I went to NNPP, and I was given the ticket. The election was interesting but at the end of the day, NNPP you know, as a politician, you just have to go to a place that your vision can be able to speak, where people believe your ideas, vision and what youve done, as well as for me to do well, achieve my dreams and goals for the people. Since I came to Labour, Ive found my destination, particularly the atmosphere of Peter Obi, the whole of his leadership, I so much share in it. So, I believe that this time, the vision will speak. Many have wondered and advised Sowore to go for governorship, bit in your case, you decided to go for governorship. Despite once running for presidency, why did you decide to leave the national and go to state to contest? Rochas Okorocha contested to be president of this country more than two times, now hes a former governor. At the end of the day, he believed that to achieve that dream, he had to go back to the state. Im from Ondo State but I contested in Lagos because Ive been in Lagos for many years but I realised that for me to achieve my dream, I had to go back to my state because there are a lots of things lacking in my state, so, me starting from there, I could be able to achieve my goal, just like Rochas Okorocha. He contested for presidency before, more than three times. When he wasnt accepted, he had to go for governorship. From governor, he was senator. So, I believe well get to that place. Ahead of that 2019 presidential election, you were reported to have stepped down for the then presidential candidate of Peoples Trust, Olawepo Gbenga Hashim, in December 2018. Two months later, it was also reported that you stepped down for Sowore of the African Action Congress. What led to you stepping down for two presidential candidates of two separate political parties in the same election? Actually, what happened was that I truly stepped down for Olawepo Hashim because he was one of the leaders I respected so much. In that journey, as a politician, like I said, were all pursuing our dreams to achieve our goals but unfortunately, Olawepo wasnt carrying us along. After I officially stepped down for him, our agreement wasnt fulfilled to us. Not that we stepped down because of money but we stepped down for a man who we should have joined his campaign team but I was not part of the campaign team, he didnt pick my calls again, all things went wrong. Instead we went to Omoyele Sowore, so we withdrew support from Hashim and we supported Sowore. Thats what happened, we discovered that maybe he was trying to step down for PDP then, his campaign want going as planned, we had no option than to move on.

Youve ran for governorship under the AD, ADC and NNPP. Why the switch to Labour Party? Just like Tinubu, who was in AD before he formed AC to ACN which became APC. Were pursuing our dreams to achieve our goals. I was in NNPP believing that Ive gotten the right party, not knowing that NNPP wasnt ready then, I saw that our relationship wasnt going well, so after the election, I just had to move on. I was in the party for over a year, until the general election. The Labour Party had once won Ondo State through Segun Mimiko. But are you riding on the popularity of Peter Obi, to defeat political heavyweights like the ruling party APC and the main opposition the PDP? I wasnt in the party for over a year after I left NNPP. Theres been lots of consultations within my teams to look at the party we should go. Not that we want to take advantage of Peter Obi coming to Labour Party but its part of it. To have a strong opposition party that can challenge the status quo. The ship of PDP in Ondo, has hanged in the sea. The house of PDP in Ondo is not in order. APC too, looking at the number of people coming out from APC to contest for governor, is it the likes of Olusola Oke, who has been contesting for how many years. The man is 70 years, theyre still the same players, old cargoes running around in circles. Nigeria needs to test new things, test new set of young Nigerians.

Look at the 10th National Assembly, 40 percent of them are competent young people who can deliver, who want to represent Nigeria well. Unfortunately, those old, ex-governors find the National Assembly as a retirement home. Well make sure things work in Ondo State. Labour Party is a party to beat in Ondo because the youths, the people are working and are ready. Before the emergence of Peter Obi, we had done a lot of grassroot work. A lot of people joined the Labour Party before and after Peter Obi joined but after the election, we put our house in order. By the time INEC gives directive, a lot of things will happen. Were very sure of getting the ticket of Labour Party in Ondo, theres nothing stopping us. Presently, the Labour Party has two factions. The Apapa faction and the Abure faction. Which faction does your loyalty lies? I dont believe in any faction, I dont know if theres faction in Labour Party. I believe that before the primary, the Labour Party will resolve their issues. There are lots of consultations going on among the leaders on how theyre going to sort all those issues. Theres no party that doesnt have its own crisis. Like I said, PDP is facing their own in Ondo State, their ship is hanging in the sea, likewise APC. In a democratic system, therell always be a way out and I believe that before the end of this year, our leaders will settle every differences among them before we come back to see how we can sit down and pilot the affairs of the party. You led the 147 Yoruba Formidable Youths Coalition to drum support for Peter Obi. How would you describe Obis performance in the South West in the presidential election? It was incredible. Before the election, Labour Party in the South West had gone to sleep, there were lots of issues among them. Things werent going on well, everybody was looking for their personal interest. Along the line, there were serious contestation among us, we lost concentration. It took me almost three months before we could arrive under those groups, it wasnt an easy ask to bring about the 147 groups together to support Obi because people thought that money was involved but we didnt give anybody a dime. We used and spent our own money, we spent everything. Nothing was given to anybody but we appreciate that fact that we played, not politics of money but politics of integrity and well never regret supporting Obi because we believe so much that Obi won the election, unfortunately they announced the wrong person, allocation was made to the wrong person. We believe in the court, Obi so much believes in the judiciary, he has used that to win before when his mandate was stolen and given to another person in Anambra but he got it back. We so much believe in the judiciary that at the end of the day, justice will be served in this regard. As a person, I have no regret for doing what I did for Peter Obi as a Nigerian. With the controversy that trailed the presidential election which is now being litigated at the presidential election petition tribunal, whats your level of confidence in INEC and Professor Mahmood Yakubu to prosecute the Ondo governorship election next year fairly? Lets see how it goes. Ondo election is next year, by then, I believe therell to be reforms in the system, the BIVAS has come to stay, BIVAS really saved a lot of irregularities. In states like Kano, Jigawa, you wouldve heard them having about 6 to 10 million votes coming from those areas. These people are so powerful, theyre mafians, they have the money to do just about anything. In my local government in Ondo, I experienced what those people did, coming to the polling unit with POS but the people have realised now, thats why by next month, were starting house to house campaign in Ondo State Operation why you must stop collecting money. Well educate the youths, going to schools, markets, other places to educate people why they must not collect money from anybody. Some courts in various states have ruled that INEC has the rights to decide the mode of transmission they would like to adopt. That means they can decide not to transmit the result electronically from the polling unit, just like it was done in the presidential election, which caused mistrust in the process. If for the Ondo governorship election, INEC still decides not to transmit the results electronically, will that dampen your level of confidence in the election process? Ive not seen any court that has said that, but we must follow the Electoral Act that said INEC must do things the proper way. I believe the people are ready to come out and vote for the right candidate. I believe that money will not have its way like it did in previous elections. I believe that INEC will do the right thing and people will come out to vote for Labour Party in Ondo State. Not that were just going out, but were going to market ourselves to the people, present our plans to the people and well be accepted by the people also. Were putting machinery across the state, our target is to have at least, 60 percent of votes from each local governments in the state, which were working day and night to achieve these dreams. So whatever method INEC wants to use, let them go to the noon and bring it, were ready for them. Following the recent coup in Niger Republic, ECOWAS, headed by President Tinubu ordered soldiers to be on standby, ready to invade the country. Whats your take on this order? Are you in support of this move? 80 percent of these ECOWAS leaders are corrupt people and these are the people that their countries havent been in place when it comes to democratic system. They know Tinubu has matters in court, yet they made him ECOWAS president, because he has spent billions of naira to attain that position. Tinubu hasnt conquered Boko Haram or the economic situation in the country, but you want to go and fight Niger of how many population. Theyre just leaders who dont know what theyre doing in their respective countries. When you push people to the wall, the people will resist, thats what happened in Niger, and youre trying to go to Niger, when Nigerians are still hungry.

Today, I was told that the PMS will soon be selling at N750. Let them standby, I believe the UN and the AU should be able to tell them to use diplomatic ways to settle this issue, not to cause issue for Nigerians. Tinubu who hasnt given my local government light for the past twenty years. God will save Nigeria from all those corrupt leaders. ECOWAS leaders are not serious, let them use diplomacy to settle the matter, not war, thats just my take. Burkina Faso and Mali are there. If truly they represent the people, if the president of Niger treated the people well, I see no reason why the military will take over the mantle of leadership? Africans, we have enslave ourselves under corruption. 89 percent of those ECOWAS leaders are corrupt, let them go back to their countries and solve issues before going to other peoples countries. I think the ECOWAS under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with due respect, should use diplomatic means to settle the issue.
A man arrested for alleged armed robbery in Ogun State has named one Inspector Ola as his supplier of arms and ammunition.

The 33-year-old suspect, Akeem Owonikoko, was arrested by officers of the Ogun State Police Command along the Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode-Benin expressway on Sunday.

Ogun State Police Command spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, told newsmen in a statement that the suspect was arrested after a 24-hour operation led by the Ijebu-Ode Area Commander, ACP Omosanyi Adeniyi.

According to Odutola, the suspect, during interrogation, confessed and fingered the Inspector of Police, whom he simply identified as Ola, as the person who procured the guns they used to operate.

READ ALSO: Increase In Fuel Price Pushed Me Into Armed Robbery  Lagos Bolt Driver Who Robs His Passengers

She explained that Owonikoko was travelling in a Toyota Camry inward Ijebu-Ode from Ososa, but he diverted into a close as soon as he sighted the police.

The suspect, who disguised himself in a Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) uniform and was the mastermind of several nefarious crimes, attempted to outsmart the policemen, but he was arrested, Odutola said in a statement.

A search of the vehicle he earlier abandoned led to the discovery of a black cellophane bag containing 32 expended cartridges, 78 live cartridges, and a locally fabricated shotgun.

According to Odutola, A search warrant was also executed on his residence, where another magnum pump-action rifle, one double-barrel shotgun, one locally fabricated double-barrel pistol, a stunt pistol chocker, an unregistered silver-coloured Toyota Camry, and a green-coloured Toyota Sienna bus marked KNN 58 TD Ogun were recovered.

She added further that liquid chemicals, a black beret with the insignia of the Aiye Confraternity, cannabis, other hard drugs, an ATM card, one power bank, two cell phones, two Apple wristwatches, and poisonous charms were also recovered from his residence.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Abiodun Alamutu, has ordered his men to go after the remaining suspects.

Alamutu also ordered the suspect and exhibits recovered to be transferred to the State CIID for profiling and forensic examination.
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has urged the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) to collaborate and place more importance on diplomatic solution above every other crisis resolution option available.

He stated this while reacting to the raging standoff between ECOWAS and Niger Republic over the July 26, 2023, military coup in that neighboring country.

Obi in a statement via X on Sunday, said The recent developments in neighboring Niger Republic have become the subject of international attention and a matter of dire and urgent national interest and security.

Inevitably, Niger is a hot button issue for ECOWAS, as well as various international interlocutors.

However, regardless of the positions taken by various parties that have direct or tangential interests in the West African country, Obi advised that primacy must be given to dialogue and diplomacy towards a resolution with minimal disruptive impact on Nigeria and the West African sub-region, and must take into consideration the realpolitik of the West African subregion.

READ ALSO: Niger Rep.: Its Distressing Tinubu Has No Interest In Wellbeing Of Nigerians  PDP

Whereas ECOWAS authorities have indicated that they remain open to various conflict resolution options, it is imperative that diplomacy should remain the overarching imperative in resolving the present crisis.

I like to join the many well-meaning Nigerians who have advocated that any intervention in the crisis should be pre-eminently through diplomatic dialogue among all strategic interests in the crisis, he added.

The former Anambra State Governor furthered that It is imperative that the people of Niger are allowed, via their national institutions, the opportunity to revert quickly to a representative democratic government. And that all national, regional, and international assistance should be extended to the people of Niger to return their country to normalcy.

While ECOWAS must seek to discourage the spread of military dictatorships in West Africa, the recourse to armed deterrence must be restrained by multilateral diplomatic mechanisms.

What the situation in Niger urgently calls for is a concerted multilateral coalition of Nigeria, ECOWAS, the African Union (AU), and the United Nations (UN) towards a programmed return to a democratic constitutional order. In this process, Nigerias leadership role must not be in any doubt.

He also applauded the respective mediatory efforts by the former Head of state, Gen. Abudusalami Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Muhammadu Saad Abubakar, and the 14th Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.
Two persons have been confirmed dead while one sustained injuries in a fatal motor accident, in Akwa Ibom State.

The accident reportedly occurred on Sunday, at about 12pm along Eket-Oron road in the state.

The Sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in the state, Mr. Matthew Olonisaye, confirmed the incident in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr Paul James.

Olonisaye said two vehicles were involved, a Mitsubishi Bus (L300) with registration number JJJ24XB and a Hyundai Accent with registration number JJJ773FQ.

According to him, the deceased have been deposited in a mortuary while one who sustained injury has been rushed to the medical facility for treatment.

The sector commander blamed the cause of the incident on overspeeding, adding that it should have been avoided.

READ ALSO: 4,387 Persons Died From Road Accidents In Six Months  FRSC

A Fatal Crash occurred on Sunday 13th August 2023 along Eket-Oron road at about 1200hrs, involving a Mitsubishi Bus (L300) with registration number JJJ24XB and a Hyundai Accent with registration number JJJ773FQ. Two out of the Three Male Adults involved were confirmed dead while One sustained injury.

FRSC operatives who arrived at the crash scene, having received a report of the incident, mobilised and moved the injured to a nearby hospital for prompt medical attention while the deceased were deposited at the morgue.

It was gathered, upon enquiry, that the causal factors to the Crash were Speeding and Route Violation according to eyewitnesses. After the immediate evacuation of the victims to the hospital, the road was cleared of obstructions to enable free-flow of traffic.

He warned road users against such actions that could undermine the safety of the road users as any life lost can not be recovered and reiterated the need for safety consciousness among drivers and advised them against excessive speeding, distracted driving, nighttime travel, drunk driving, lack of adherence to traffic Signs among others.

While commiserating with the families of the deceased, the Sector commander, wished the injured quick recovery and enjoined all road users to strictly adhere to all rules guiding road usage to avoid loss of lives and properties on our roads.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has told the Federal Government that it will not disband its militant arm, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).

The secessionist group agitating for the Biafra Republic stated this in a press release made available to newsmen on Monday via its spokesperson, Emma Powerful.

The groups reaction stems from claims by Nigerian security agencies, that IPOB had camps in the forest and that security forces recently destroyed the camp of IPOB and ESN in forests located in parts of Anambra and other Southeastern states.

But IPOB insisted that it had no camps in forests in the states mentioned, insisting that it was all government propaganda to link any alleged criminal hideouts to IPOB.

While maintaining that such propaganda would be resisted, Powerful added that the existence of ESN has saved the South East from being annexed by rampaging Fulani herdsmen, who have overtaken Benue and Plateau States.

ESN exists to keep the East safe from the ravages of killer herdsmen now plaguing the entire middle belt and people like them.

Since the launch of ESN by our Supreme Leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the main objective of ensuring the safety of farmlands in the East has been accomplished. Fulani terrorists masquerading as herdsmen have had no locus to operate in our farmlands and territory.

The mischievous mischaracterisation of the activities of ESN that saved the entire south-east and south-south from the murderous onslaught of killer herdsmen now ravaging Benue State and Plateau axis should not be trivialised by attributing any alleged criminal hideout to ESN.

ESN Operatives have no criminal camps. We know there is a concerted effort by those seeking the weakening of ESN in order to launch a murderous invasion of the East under the guise of a farmer/herder clash.

Had it not been for ESN, Fulani terrorists masquerading as herdsmen would have taken Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo and Abia States.

ESN has come to stay with Biafrans and nothing will change the objectives of the outfit, Powerful stated.

READ ALSO: Hardship: I Barely Make N500 Profit Daily, Were Living At Mercy Of Others  Kaduna Women Lament

Meanwhile, in another development, Simon Ekpa, the self-proclaimed leader of IPOB, has issued a stern warning to oil-producing companies operating in the South-East region, advising them not to disregard the Monday sit-at-home directive.

Ekpa emphasized that companies should not be misled by circulating reports suggesting the cancellation of the sit-at-home order, hence, those resuming operations would face severe repercussions.

He asserted that the sole authority recognized by the Biafran people to make such a determination lies with the Biafran government in exile.

The Finland-based agitator clarified that the sit-at-home directive will persist until their stipulated demands are satisfied.

Information Nigeria understands that the demands include the release of Nnamdi Kanu and other prerequisites for the autonomy of Biafran territories.

Good afternoon, good morning Biafrans all over the world.

This particular message goes to the oil-producing companies in the world operating within Biafran countries from Shell down to the lowest.

Our attention has been drawn to the fact that the expelled criminals in the Biafran movement are circulating to oil companies that there is nothing like sit-at-home.

I want to put it as a warning, every oil company in the Biafran territory, the only government that is operational, functional and that is legit and to which the Biafran people are loyal to is the Biafran government in exile to which I am the prime minister.

We have not called off any sit-at-home. We have not canceled the sit-at-home. We have not gotten our freedom. Nnamdi Kanu has not been released. The demand in the letter we wrote to you people has not been met.

So if anybody comes to you to tell you that the sit at home has been canceled and you start operation, I swear with the spirit of those that died in the 60s that from that day you will not be able to produce or exploit any oil in the Biafran.

We are going to face all of you from A-Z because of the money you are projecting into the economy of Nigeria that they are using to buy arms and jets to come to bombard us. So, we are going to stop them by stopping you.

We have not gotten to you but we are coming. So, what Im trying to say here is that the Biafran government has not canceled the sit-in at home. The sit-at-home continues until the demands in our letter are met.

Tomorrow (today) being Monday, the oil producing companies, you must make sure you shut down the production until the 18th of this month. And every Monday sit at home.

If you open, you are going to have the Biafran people to contend with. We own the land, not you. You are exploiting oil from our land. We own it. You dont own the oil and you dont own the land. You may have the contract and agreement with the Nigerian government and that is still under review, he wrote via X on Sunday.
Senior Pastor of the Citadel Global Community Church, Tunde Bakare, has asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to go after organisations and individuals who plundered trillions of naira for petrol subsidy.

Tinubu had in a national broadcast, said trillions of naira meant for petrol subsidy have over the years been funnelled into the deep pockets and lavish bank accounts of a select group of individuals.

But, Bakare in his state of the nation broadcast on Sunday, urged Tinubu to ensure that indicted private organisations and individuals are made to face the full wrath of justice for siphoning public funds.

The cleric said economic reforms planned to better the lives of the masses may amount to futility if there is no economic justice.

I expect that President Tinubu has been well briefed on investigations that were conducted over the years as well as individuals and agencies and cooperate entities indicted. I sincerely hope that the president is poised to take the needed action, because whether he likes it or not, the honeymoon is over and Nigerians are asking questions

Nigerians are not asking whether these alarming cases of corruption occurred during his administration or not. Nigerians are not exonerating him and blaming the past presidents who failed to do justice on these issues.

Nigerians are asking why the poor have to suffer for the criminal activities of individuals and companies that are well known. We must realise as a nation that no economy can thrive on criminal impunity. There can be no successful economic reforms without economic justice.

READ ALSO: Im Eager To Reunite With My People  Gov. Akeredolu

By imposing hardship on Nigeria without going after those individual, cooperations who have plundered Nigeria over the years, the president has picked the wrong fight.

Mr President, if you are truly on the side of the poor; if you are serious about the welfare of the people; if you truly want the poor to breathe as you once said, then kill corruption and not Nigerians, Bakare said.

On Godwin Emefiele, the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) who is currently under the custody of the Department of Security Services (DSS), Bakare said Tinubu should desist from making him a scapegoat.

The cleric said the erstwhile CBN governor could not have embarked on some monetary policies without the authorisation of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Considering the reported claims by the DSS that Emefieles actions were in line with orders from above, the handling of his case has sent a signal to the world that the current presidents disposition to the war against corruption is primarily motivated by clampdown of perceived political adversaries, while various other enemies of Nigeria remain untouched.

Godwin Emefiele may have made the wrong judgment calls in the management of Nigerias monetary policies, but he should not be made a scapegoat, there is every possibility that the erstwhile central bank governor did not act without presidential authorisation. If he is found liable of any crime, he should be prosecuted, the cleric added.
Some yet to be identified armed hoodlums have set ablaze the palace of the traditional ruler of the Ndianiche Arondizuogu community in the Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State, Eze Kanu Ikenolu.

It was gathered that vehicles and properties were also looted when the hoodlums stormed the home of the monarch in the early hours of Sunday and threw explosives into the mansion.

INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that the monarch narrowly escaped death as the hoodlums did not meet him at home when they arrived at his palace.

According to The Nation, a villager who pleaded anonymity for security reasons said that properties worth millions were destroyed by the hoodlums.

READ MORE: Imo Police Arrest Two For Alleged Rape Of 11-Year-Old Girl

The villager said, The palace of HRH Eze Ikenolu, the Eze of Ndia iche Arondizuogu has been invaded by the Unknown Gunmen and the people are in the bushes now.

Until now no response from the police about the palace of HRH Eze Kanu in Ndianiche Arondizuogu, where cars, houses, and properties worth millions of naira were destroyed. Or is Arondizuogu no longer part of Imo State?

Confirming the horrible incident, the spokesperson of Imo State Police, Henry Okoye said that frantic investigating efforts are on top gear to arrest the arsonists and bring them to justice
Suspected political hoodlums have vandalised the newly commissioned campaign office of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) at Anyigba in Dekina local government of Kogi state.

It was gathered that the partys secretariat was vandalised and some materials burnt down around 10:15 am on Sunday with no report of death.

Sam Abenemi, SDP Deputy Governorship Candidate, confirmed the incident to newsmen on Sunday in Lokoja, describing the act as wicked, shocking and uncalled for.

Abenemi said he was shocked and worried over the dimension electioneering campaign for Nov. 11 governorship election in the state was assuming.

All what campaign is in my understanding is canvassing for votes, but the dimensions the race is taking to is scaring and very unfortunate.

READ MORE: DSS Grilled Kogi APC Governorship Candidate, Ododo Over Frivolous And Unfounded Allegation  Fanwo

Just this morning around 10:15 am, some hoodlums, whom we suspected were sponsored, stormed our party office in Lokoja, vandalised it and set some materials ablaze.

This act is evil, shocking and uncalled for. This is not how politics is played in a democratic country like ours,  he said.

Abenemi said, This evil and wicked act is aimed at scaring us from taking part in the governorship election, but we wont be deterred.

He urged the people of Kogi to ensure they participate fully during the forthcoming gubernatorial election, to decide who they want to govern, and not for anyone to force an unpopular person on them.

However, he appealed to security operatives to investigate the heinous act and ensure the perpetrators were brought to book.

SP Williams Ovye-Aya, the Kogi Police Commands Spokesman, who confirmed the incident, said that no arrest had been made.

We got the report about the vandalism of the campaign secretariat of SDP and we are investigating the incident to bring the hoodlums to book.

As it is now, theres no arrest, Ovye-Aya said.
The Nigeria Police in Imo State, have arrested two suspected rapists, Abalake Chika and Uchenna Jude over the defilement of a minor, 11-year-old Onyemetu Anurika.

INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that Chika, 42 is a native of Umuokochi, Umuezeawula, in Ihiagwa, Owerri West LGA of Imo State and Uchenna Jude, 25 years, is from Umuakuntu, in Ngor-Okpala LGA of Imo.

It was gathered that the two men were alleged to have had canal knowledge of the minor in her fathers house any time the father went out for work.

According to the police spokesman, Henry Okoye, a medical examination of the victim shows that the minors vulva was injured.

READ MORE: Imo: IPOB, ESN Behind Attack On Isiala Mbano Police Station  CP

He, however, stated that further investigations are ongoing and the alleged suspects will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID)

He said, Sustained follow up to a case of defilement reported at Ihiagwa Police Divisional Headquarters, Owerri on 10/08/2023, by the father of the victim, an 11-year-old Onyemetu Anurika of Umuakuntu, Umuoduagu, in Ngor-Okpala LGA of Imo State, resulted to the arrest of two young men namely; 1. Abalake Chika m, 42 years, native of Umuokochi, Umuezeawula, in Ihiagwa, Owerri West LGA of Imo State and 2. Uchenna Jude, m, 25 years of Umuakuntu, in Ngor-Okpala LGA of Imo State, by the detectives of the Division.

The duo suspects who were alleged of severally having unlawful carnal knowledge of the minor in her fathers house any time he went to work are cooling their heels at the Divisions custody where a preliminary investigation is ongoing. Subsequently, they will be transferred to SCIID Owerri for the continuation of a discreet investigation.

Meanwhile, medical reports revealed that the victim has a severe injury in her vulva as a result of defilement and the minor has opened up to her father and the Police narrating how the duo suspects defiled her repeatedly.
The Ogun State Police has launched an investigation after an employee at a factory in Logbara village, Owode Egba where animal feed is being produced had his hand chopped off on August 11.

A statement by the Police Spokesperson, SP Omolala Odutola, disclosed that the administrative manager of the factory, Ibidun Abiodun, reported the incident at Owode Egba Division.

She said the victim, identified as Jeremiah Sulaiman, an employee of the company who is in charge of handling and cleaning the industrial machine, got his forearm chopped off while performing his duties on the fateful day.

READ ALSO: How I Watched Someone Fry To Death At Dangote Factory  Bella Shmurda Recounts (Video)

Odutola said the victim was rushed to Babcock University Teaching Hospital Ilishan by the Production manager and his immediate supervisor, where he has been stabilised and responding to treatment. She said preliminary investigation has begun into the unfortunate incident to unravel how the victims forearm was chopped off.

She said that the state Commissioner of Police has been briefed and he has ordered that the executives and members of the victims family meet in his office as part of the investigation procedures.

Hazards are inevitable in work places, but employees must take steps to ensure their personal safety especially in the instant case involving automated machines. This will not be first time such incidents are reported, but members of the public can rest assured that the Commissioner of Police CP ALAMUTU ABIODUN MUSTAPHA psc is on top of this investigation, she said.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Sunday, opined that only a government with no priority for its citizens security would go to war.

Information Nigeria reports that the Partys reaction stemmed from the decision of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Economic Community of West African States to deploy standby military troops for the restoration of the constitutional order in Niger Republic.

Recall that in July, Amadou Abdramane, a colonel-major, head of Nigers presidential guard announced the removal of President Mohamed Bazoum from office in a coup.

Debo Ologunagba, National publicity Secretary of the PDP, in reaction, alleged that Tinubu is desperate to plunge Nigeria into war by dragging the countrys military into conflict with Niger Republic.

READ ALSO: Dont Kill Us  Pastor Bakare Questions Tinubus Capacity To Lead Nigeria, Laments APC-led Economic Situation

His words, The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) strongly condemns the desperation by @officialABAT and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to plunge Nigeria into a state of war by dragging our military into a needless conflict with Niger Republic.

While the PDP frowns at unconstitutional change of government in any part of the world, our party holds that the situation in Niger Republic does not warrant any external peace-keeping effort and does not constitute any threat whatsoever to our national interest to justify committing our already overstretched military to harms way in a needless war.

The insistence of the APC government to go to war in Niger Republic is already heightening tension in Nigeria.

The PDP holds that nothing else can explain why the APC administration is eager to go to war in Niger Republic while it has practically turned a blind eye to the insecurity situation in our country, even with the mindless killing of over 500 innocent Nigerians in Plateau, Benue, Niger, Kaduna and other states of the federation since May 2023.

Also distressing is that the APC is ready to deploy billions of naira to prosecute a needless war despite our ailing national economy, crippled production sector, energy crisis, massive unemployment, frightening fall in the value of the naira and excruciating hardship in the country occasioned by its ill-informed, hasty and ill-implemented policies.

Such can only come from an anti-people administration that has no iota of interest in the security and wellbeing of the nation and its citizens.
Some former members of the National Assembly under the aegis of The Initiatives, have backed Senate President Godswill Akpabio amid the criticism trailing his comment on senators recess allowance.

Recall that Akpabio was heavily criticised after telling his colleagues on live television that money had been sent to them to enjoy their holiday.

Nigerians faulted the comment as insensitive since its a period citizens are struggling with the rising cost of living.

READ ALSO: Niger Rep.: Its Distressing Tinubu Has No Interest In Wellbeing Of Nigerians  PDP

Eseme Eyiboh, the Dean, Faculty Board of The Initiatives, said the senators deserved the holiday bonus, having worked for two months without pay.

While briefing newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, Eyiboh said, Whatever is given to them, whether as salaries, allowances or whatever it is, they deserve it.

The worker deserves his wages. If you allow a senator to go on holiday in a time like this, some senatorial districts have as much as 18 local government areas. If a senator goes to his senatorial district now without salary, dont you know what will happen to him?
Two ritualists who disguised as labourers have allegedly hacked a 45-year-old pastor, Dada Itopa to death at Ebira camp Ipele in Owo local government area of Ondo State.

It was gathered that the ritualists also attacked the 30-year-old Pastors wife, Bose Dada with cutlass at the same scene but she was later rescued.

Spokesperson of the State Police Command, Mrs. Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, who confirmed the incident, said one of the ritualists, Mohammed Musa had been arrested in connection with the attack while his co-suspect, Omatai is still on the run.

According to the PPRO, the suspects followed the deceased Pastor to Ipele farm as labourer but in the process, one of the suspects Omatai requested for a cutlass from Pastor Dada under the pretence that he wanted to use it to work on the farm but used same to hack him to death.

READ ALSO: Suspected Ritualist Admits Buying Human Legs For N20,000 In Ogun

The arrested suspect, Musa confessed that they carried out the attack because they needed to deliver a human head to an herbalist who requested for it in Ipele town for ritual.

The police spokesperson said effort is on going to arrest the herbalist who ordered for the human head and arrest the second suspect.

On the 7th of August, 2023 at about 0800hrs, one Dada Itopa M aged 45years a pastor and his wife Dada Bose went to their farmland at Ebira camp Ipele in company of two labourers, Mohammed Musa M aged 30years and Omatai m who is now at large to help them clear weeds on their farmland and a sum of Eleven Thousand Naira (#11,000:00k) was agreed upon for workmanship, the statement read.

In the process, Omatai requested for a cutlass from Dada Itopa under the pretence that he wanted to use it to work on the farm but hacked Dada to death. The victims wife tried crying for help to prevent him from escaping was also matched on the head by Mohammed Musa, a friend to Omatai her head and she sustained serious injury. The victim is currently at the Hospital.

In the course of investigation, Mohammed Musa confessed that they carried out the attack because they needed to deliver a human head to an herbalist who requested for it in Ipele.

Effort is on going to arrest the herbalist who ordered for the human head, the PPRO added.
The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has described the petitions challenging President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election as hopeless.

Recall that President Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, emerged victorious with Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) coming second, while Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) was third.

However, both Atiku and Obi have taken to court to dispute the results by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

READ MORE: Fashola Denies Writing Judgement For Presidential Election Tribunal

Basiru, who made this known in an interview on Channels Televisions Sunday Politics, crystal clear in his dismissal of the cases.

Asked to respond to speculation that the APC is gearing up for a rerun election, Basiru said he was not supposed to make comments on a matter that is subjudice.

But since you have asked me, he added, from my knowledge of electoral law in Nigeria and having read the petitions and also being part of the proceedings, I would say that all the petitions against President Bola Ahmed Tinubus election are hopeless and nobody needs to even waste time in dismissing same.

They are hopeless petitions, terribly hopeless.
Google has introduced Project IDX, a browser-based development environment that combines templates and generative AI assistance to make it easier to build and deploy full-stack and multiplatform applications with popular languages and frameworks. Would-be users of the preview service must start by joining a waitlist.

Built on Google Cloud and powered by the Codey foundational AI model, Project IDX starts with a web-based workspace that will feel familiar to developers, Google said. Google with Project IDX is exploring how innovations in AI including Codey and the PaLM 2 large language model can help developers write higher quality code and build applications faster.

Codey provides smart code completion, an assistive chatbot, and contextual code actions such as add comments and explain this code. AI capabilities for the project are in an early phase, Google said. Code OSS, Microsofts GitHub repository for developing the companys Visual Studio Code editor, also is used by Project IDX.

Introduced August 8, Project IDX is intended to address the difficulty of developing full-stack, multiplatform apps, Google said, in which developers must navigate an endless sea of complexity, duct-taping together a tech stack thatll help you bootstrap, compile, test, deploy, and monitor your apps.

Each Project IDX workspace has the full capabilities of a Linux-based VM, paired with universal access provided by the cloud. New projects can be created from templates for popular frameworks including Angular, Flutter, Next.js, React, Svelte, and Vue, while existing projects can be imported from GitHub. Backing for Python, Go, and other languages will arrive soon, joining support for JavaScript and Dart, Google said.

A fully configured Android emulator and an embedded iOS simulator are also due to arrive shortly, joining a built-in web preview already available. Firebase Hosting also enables shareable previews of web apps before deployment to production. Future plans call for more collaboration capabilities, deeper framework integrations, and more personalized and contextual AI assistance.
Police mark evidence after a 14 year old was shot in the area of Jackies Gardens Townhomes on the 1800 block of N. 20th St. in Philadelphia, Pa., on Sunday, August 13, 2023. Read more

A 14-year-old boy was reported to have been shot in North Philadelphia shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday.

Philadelphia police said the boy was taken to Temple University Hospital by car and was in critical condition after having been shot in his chest and back on the 1800 block of North 20th Street.

No weapon has been recovered and no suspect has been identified, police said.

According to the Office of the City Controller, 120 people under 18 had been shot in Philadelphia as of Thursday.
Cheyney University has settled two lawsuits with former administrators of its honors academy who alleged misspending of funds.

Thomas Sprague, the lawyer for Tara Kent, former provost, said his client regarded the settlement as vindication and was very satisfied with the outcome. Meanwhile, a lawyer for Nicole Rayfield, former director of Cheyneys Keystone Honors Academy, would only confirm the matter had been resolved.

In a statement, Cheyney University said: The university maintains no admission of liability. It does not hold any obligation beyond the settlements per the agreements reached with all parties involved, in an effort to move the university forward.

 READ MORE: Cheyney faces allegations of misspending in lawsuits by former top administrators

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Neither the lawyers for Kent and Rayfield, nor Cheyney, released the terms of the settlement.

Cheyneys honors academy awards full tuition and room and board scholarships to state students with promising academic records. Kent alleged in a whistle-blower lawsuit filed in 2019 that Cheyney, a historically Black university in Chester and Delaware Counties, under the direction of president Aaron A. Walton, raided funds that were earmarked for the honors academy and redirected them for other purposes as the university struggled financially.

She alleged that the funds were used to support students who did not meet the academys criteria and to pay for unrelated marketing and recruitment.

Kent also said in her suit that Walton in at least one instance  awarded/approved the award of a substantial, six-figure vendor contract without requiring any competing bids. When she raised objections out of concern the move could jeopardize Cheyneys funding and accreditation, he fired her, according to the suit.

 READ MORE: Can Cheyney University survive?

In a separate lawsuit also filed in 2019, Rayfield, former honors academy director, said she was wrongfully fired in part for complaining about misuse of scholarship funds. Cheyney improperly gave scholarships with the purpose of inflating enrollment so the university could keep accreditation, the suit alleged.

Walton, a former Highmark executive who was hired in May 2017 to help turn around the institution, Cheyney, and the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, of which Cheyney is a part, had declined to comment at that time.

In a court filing to Kents lawsuit, however, the state denied many of the allegations. On the procurement allegation, the system said Walton believed the website upgrade by Landesberg Design in 2017 was permissible as a sole source contract and did not require bidding. But later it was determined that procedure was not applicable to the project, which was remedied by [the system], said the filing.

Cheyney had issues with financial aid management before Waltons arrival. In 2016, an audit found that Cheyney had improperly diverted more than $3 million in scholarship money, research grants, and other restricted funds and used it to plug a hole in its budget, an Inquirer investigation found.

 READ MORE: Lapses in oversight could cost Cheyney $29 million

The school was alsocalled out for failing to properly manage millions in financial aid funds between 2011 and 2014, which brought scrutiny from the U.S. Department of Justice. Cheyney is currently on a payment plan to satisfy its debt to the federal education department.

The school remains on heightened cash monitoring, which means it no longer receives advance payments for student financial aid but must request reimbursement.

 READ MORE: A boost for Cheyney University: The school will keep its accreditation

But the university has since had its accreditation reaffirmed and has balanced its budget for the last four years, according to school officials.

Who is Tara Kent?

Kent spent her first decade at Cheyney as its dean, then became assistant vice president, associate provost, and provost in August 2017, overseeing the academy the entire time.

She currently works at Thomas Edison State University in New Jersey, serving as an associate dean and director of undergraduate studies.

Sprague,her attorney,said the case was due to go to trial July 17 but was settled before that. As part of the settlement, Kent received a formal letter from the executive vice president of the Pennsylvania state system, acknowledging her excellent work throughout her tenure, Sprague said.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band have announced a summer U.S. stadium tour that will bring them to Citizens Bank Park in South Philadelphia on August 16 and 18. Read more

POSTPONED: Hours ahead of his first of two shows at Citizens Bank Park, Bruce Springsteen announced his two Philadelphia shows are postponed citing personal illness. Read more here.

Who sang the hit song Born in the U.S.A.?

Its the early 2000s in Calcutta, India, and I am representing my school in an inter-school quiz competition. Bruce Springsteen, I hit the buzzer and blurt out. I had seen that cassette in my fathers collection pile. Red, white, and blue. And a very pretty gemstone-encrusted belt.

Beyond this contest (which my school won), I grew up with some Bruce playing in the periphery of my teenage soundtrack. I didnt quite reach the plough-through-every-album phase until I watched Gurinder Chadhas Blinded by the Light in 2019. To see the protagonist Javed Khan (Viveik Kalra), the son of Pakistani immigrants in Luton in Thatcherite England, singing and dancing along to Born to Run was a watershed moment in my education in Bruce Springsteen.

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By the time the film ended, Springsteen stopped being white people music to me.

Ive been told (mostly by my colleagues at this paper) that every Bruce show is both a sociocultural experience and a cultural education. And dare I say, I am ready.

I am seeing my first Springsteen concert on Aug. 16 at Citizens Bank Park and of course, I reached out to fans of the Boss in and around Philadelphia, on and off social media to find out what to expect.

In case, you too are joining this pilgrimage late like me, dont fret. I am told the Church of E Street is ever-welcoming.

Here are my top tip finds.

Watch the Netflix special and read the memoir

At least 10 people suggested watching Springsteen on Broadway on Netflix before my first Springsteen concert. It did help me appreciate Springsteens relationship with Clarence Clemons more. The Boss vulnerability opened up the human behind the celebrity.

Springsteens 2016 autobiography, Born to Run, is on my reading list, and is said to complement the show perfectly.

Do a deep dive on Spotify

A veteran fan and a friend who is cutting her family vacation short to watch the concert this week asked me to bone up on some of the b-sides for the Philly shows.

At CBP, she added, he tends to do some deep cuts.

Wear a red bandana and a cut-off jean jacket

Yeah, I am not doing that. Primarily because I dont have a bandana personality. I will, however, wear a T-shirt that says I Heard Bruce Might Show Up. Its loose and comfortable.

No need to dress up for [the concert] unless it makes you feel more excited, said Sonali Chakravarti, professor of government at Wesleyan University and a fan who went to her first Springsteen concert in 1999 at the First Union Center in Philadelphia.

Wear comfortable shoes

If I have to take away one thing from my colleague Dan DeLucas encyclopedic writings on Springsteen, its the fact that if its a Bruce show in Philly, itll be long. And since I will be standing through most of it, I will not be wearing cute shoes. New Balances seem to be the crowd favorite, but I will stick to my Hokas.

Bring your earplugs

I know. Youre going to hear Springsteen so why would you wear earplugs? Even if you dont want to use them (I believe you will) in the long run, youll be happy you brought them with you, said Roxborough resident Art Reilly, who helped produce around 75 of the Boss early Philly-area shows.

Be prepared to see a lot of people  from the back

Its a bit crude, but be prepared to look at a lot of peoples behinds, said Reilly. As soon as he gets up on stage, every single person in that stadium will stand up. And because everybodys standing up, theyll start standing up on their chairs. And if you continue to sit, thats all youre gonna see.

Since that is definitely not what I intend to see, I will take Reillys advice and carry a little periscope or a pair of binoculars.

You must sing along

Singing at Bruce concerts, I am told, is not just encouraged but recommended. Everyone apparently sings Hungry Heart, so I have been memorizing those lyrics.

The woah oh oh ohs are important, I am told. Sing them mostly when its in your heart, BUT see what people do on the first chorus and just repeat that on the second is the advice I am going with.

Stay hydrated

This is a no-brainer, but its nice to be reminded. I fainted during my first Springsteen concert is not a sentence Id ever want to write. I am told you are allowed to carry one sealed bottle of water, and the concession stands will be selling water too.

Do what you can to avoid bathroom breaks

This is kind of contradictory to the last advice, but weve all walked this line before. If you do have to go, its good to have a bathroom song.

So this is controversial, my fan-friend said. I hate the song Meeting Across the River. Its a terrible song so thats my bathroom song. That or whenever Patti sings.

My friend remains unnamed for a reason.

Seek out long-time fans

Appropriate conversation topics to have with strangers include: What was your first show? How many times have you seen him? Who is your favorite member besides Bruce? What was your best show?

Mind your pit manners

Bring a sign only if youre in the pit. Otherwise you will be annoying, one fan told me. Also, if youre in the pit, do not eat or drink  you cant go to the bathroom or youll lose your spot.

(This is my favorite) Remember, the promise of his music is bigger than the crowds reflect

Chakravarti is often one of the few women of color in the crowds of a Springsteen show. When I see my experience in some of his songs, I dont know if the other fans recognize that type of connection, she said. But, there is always an intense experience of community fervor and respect for the Boss.

Ive never really been able to strike up a good conversation with a random person there, she says. Yet, I still [always] leave feeling full of generosity.

An earlier version of this story was published before being fully edited. It has been updated.
Thomas Jefferson University, which owns Jefferson Health, had a $231 million operating loss in the year ended June 30, excluding gains from the sales of businesses. Read more

Thomas Jefferson Universitys operating loss deepened to $231 million in the 12 months that ended June 30, compared with a loss of $158 million the year before, the Philadelphia not-for-profit owner of Jefferson Health reported Monday.

Those figures are adjusted to exclude proceeds from the sales of businesses. Including $153 million in proceeds from the sale of three businesses, the organizations loss was $79 million in fiscal 2023, an improvement over the previous years loss of $126 million.

Like other health systems, Jefferson is contending with significantly higher costs for labor, drugs, and other supplies, as fewer people have to spend time in hospitals.

Jefferson has the added challenge of trying to eliminate inefficiencies in a system that exploded in size between 2015 and 2021, from a three-hospital system to one with 18 hospitals, including specialty hospitals in joint ventures. Jefferson at the end of June closed one of the acquired acute-care hospitals, Einstein Medical Center Elkins Park, to allow neighboring MossRehab to expand.

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Last month, Jefferson laid off about 1% of its workforce and eliminated an unspecified number of vacant positions. One of the reasons we are at an inflection point now is that we have never rationalized the size of our workforce through four significant mergers, Jefferson CEO Joseph G. Cacchione wrote in an internal message to employees.

The health systems Jefferson acquired were Abington Health, Aria Health, Kennedy Health System, and Einstein Healthcare Network. The organization also acquired Health Partners Plans, a Medicaid and Medicare insurer now called Jefferson Health Plans, as well as Philadelphia University and Magee Rehabilitation Hospital.

The businesses Jefferson sold since July 1, 2022, were a laboratory business ($108 million), 51% of its interest in Delaware Valley Accountable Care Organization ($25 million), and a noncontrolling interest in mammography business ($19.7 million).

When Moodys Investors Service in March downgraded Jeffersons credit rating, the credit-ratings agency said it expected Jefferson to sell businesses to raise money. Jeffersons financial reserves, measured by the number of days it could continue paying expenses, amounted to 151.5 days, down from more than 200 before the pandemic.

Jeffersons revenue totaled $9.7 billion in the 2023 fiscal year, up from $7.9 billion the year before. Einstein and Health Partners, which were acquired in the fall of 2021, account for most of the $1.8 billion increase.

Inpatient admissions in fiscal 2023 climbed 5.5%, to 152,849, largely thanks to the Einstein acquisition, Jefferson said. The same dynamic was true for outpatient visits. Jefferson posted a notable 7.9% decline inpatient surgeries.

Like other health systems, Jefferson is seeing government COVID-19 aid dwindle. Jeffersons COVID support fell to $48.6 million in fiscal 2023 from $159.3 million the year before.
A new survey found people are interested in weight loss drugs, even if they are expensive. Read more

Many Americans really want to lose weight  and a new poll shows nearly half of adults would be interested in taking a prescription drug to help them do so.

At the same time, enthusiasm dims sharply if the treatment comes as an injection, if it is not covered by insurance, or if the weight is likely to return after discontinuing treatment, a new nationwide KFF poll found.

Those findings display the enthusiasm for a new generation of pricey weight-loss drugs hitting the market and illustrate possible stumbling blocks, as users potentially must deal with weekly self-injections, lack of insurance coverage, and the need to continue the medications indefinitely.

For example, interest dropped to 14% when respondents were asked if they would still consider taking prescription medications if they knew they could regain weight after stopping the drugs.

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 READ MORE: Drugs that melt away pounds still present more questions than answers, but Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro could be key tools in reducing the obesity epidemic

One way to interpret that finding is people want to lose a few pounds but dont want to be on a drug for the rest of their life, said Ashley Kirzinger, KFFs director of survey methodology. The monthly poll reached out to 1,327 U.S. adults.

The United States represents a large market for drugmakers who want to sell weight-loss prescriptions: An estimated 42% of the population is classified as obese, according to a controversial metric known as BMI, or body mass index. In the KFF poll, 61% said they were currently trying to lose weight, although only 4% were taking a prescription medication to do so.

That gap between the 4% taking any kind of prescription weight-loss treatment and the number of Americans deemed overweight or obese is the sweet spot drugmakers are targeting for the new drugs, which include several diabetes treatments repurposed as weight-loss drugs.

The drugs have attracted much attention, both in mainstream publications and broadcasts and on social media, where they are often touted by celebrities and other influencers. Demand jumped and supplies have become limited. About 7 in 10 adults had heard at least a little about the new drugs, according to the survey.

The newer treatments include Wegovy, a slightly higher dose of Novo Nordisks diabetes drug Ozempic, and Mounjaro, an Eli Lilly diabetes treatment for which the company is currently seeking FDA approval as a weight-loss drug.

Weight loss with these injectable drugs surpasses those of earlier generations of weight-loss medications. But they are also costlier than previous drugs. The monthly costs of the drugs set by the drugmakers can range from $900 to more than $1,300.

At, say, a wholesale price tag of $1,350, the tab per person could top $323,000 over 20 years.

The drugs appear to work by mimicking a hormone that helps decrease appetite.

 READ MORE: FDA warns consumers not to use off-brand versions of Ozempic, Wegovy

Still, like all drugs, they come with side effects, which can include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and constipation. More serious side effects include the risk of a type of thyroid cancer, inflammation of the pancreas, or low blood sugar. Health officials in Europe are investigating reports that the drugs may result in other side effects like suicidal thoughts.

The KFF survey found that 80% of adults thought insurers should cover the new weight-loss drugs for those diagnosed as overweight or obese. Just over half wanted it covered for anyone who wanted to take it. Half would still support insurance coverage even if doing so could increase everyones monthly premiums. Still, 16% of those surveyed said they would be interested in a weight-loss prescription even if their insurance did not cover it.

In practice, coverage for the new treatments varies, and private insurers often peg coverage to patients BMI, a ratio of height to weight. Medicare specifically bars coverage for drugs for anorexia, weight loss, or weight gain, although it pays for bariatric surgery.

Unfortunately, a lot of insurers have not caught up to the idea of recognizing obesity as a disease, said Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity medicine specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

Employers and insurers must consider the potential costs of covering the drugs for enrollees  perhaps for them to use indefinitely  against the potential savings associated with losing weight, such as a lower chance of diabetes or joint problems.

Stanford said the drugs are not a miracle cure and do not work for everyone. But for those who benefit, it can be significantly life-altering in a positive way, she said.

Its not surprising, she added, that the drugs may need to be taken long term, as the idea that there is a quick fix doesnt reflect the complexity of obesity as a disease.

While the drugs currently on the market are injectables, some drugmakers are developing oral weight-loss drugs, although it is unclear whether the prices will be the same or less than the injectable products.

Still, many experts predict that a lot of money will be spent on weight-loss products in the coming years. In a recent report, Morgan Stanley analysts called obesity the new hypertension and predicted industry revenue from U.S. sales of obesity drugs could rise from a current $1.6 billion annually to $31.5 billion by 2030.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces journalism about health issues.
Jacqueline Maguire, special agent in charge of the FBI's Philadelphia office, listens to questions from the local media after announcing the arrest of a 17-year-old in connection with a terrorism probe at a news conference at the Philadelphia District Attorneys Office in Center City on Monday. Read more

A 17-year-old from West Philadelphia has been charged with buying and testing bomb-making materials in support of a foreign terrorist group, state and federal authorities announced Monday.

The teen, whom prosecutors declined to name because he is a juvenile, was arrested Friday at his home in the Wynnefield section of the city, said Jacqueline Maguire, special agent in charge of the FBIs Philadelphia office.

Investigators say hed purchased materials including chemicals, wiring, and tactical equipment associated with improvised explosive devices and conducted generalized research on potential targets. The teen had also been taking steps to travel overseas for the purpose of joining or supporting terrorist activity, Maguire said, though she declined to offer specifics.

The teen faces state felony charges including possessing weapons of mass destruction, conspiracy, arson, and causing or risking a catastrophe  the most serious of which carry prison terms of up to 20 years. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said his office was required by law to charge the teen in juvenile court, but that prosecutors would seek to move his case into the adult system.

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It was not immediately clear Monday whether the teen had retained a lawyer. And Krasner said he aimed to keep the teen behind bars until the case is resolved.

The young man who is under arrest was an aspiring terrorist, Krasner said. He was not merely thinking but was doing things that are deeply disturbing and presented a grave danger to everyone  himself, his family, the block where he lives, and frankly, people everywhere in Philadelphia and potentially people around the country or even overseas.

Although Krasner and the FBI announced the case at a news conference Monday, they kept many of the details of their investigation and the suspect at its center under wraps, citing his age and the ongoing nature of the probe.

However, sources familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the arrest occurred on the 5900 block of Woodbine Avenue at the home of Qawi Abdul-Rahman, a Philadelphia defense attorney who unsuccessfully ran in this years Democratic primary for Common Pleas Court judge.

Abdul-Rahman did not return requests for comment Monday.

Maguire, meanwhile, said the teenager first came to the FBIs attention through contacts hed made over social media with members of a Syrian group known as Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad, or KTJ.

The U.S. State Department designated KTJ as a foreign terror organization last year. The group, which has claimed affiliation with ISIS, has taken credit for deadly terrorist strikes, including a 2017 attack on a subway in St. Petersburg, Russia, that killed 14 people and injured scores more, as well as a suicide bombing on a Chinese embassy in Kyrgyzstan in 2016.

Prosecutors said they found that the teens Instagram account had communicated with a KTJ account in March and April 2023. And his WhatsApp account displayed a banner associated with two terrorist groups: first, the Chechnya-based Riyad-us-Saliheen Martyrs Brigade, and later an image connected to ISIS.

But the investigation into the teen entered a new phase over the past several weeks after he began amassing equipment including tactical gear, wiring, chemicals, and devices often used as detonators, Maguire said.

FBI agents surveilled him as he bought materials to make homemade bombs on Aug. 7, and on Aug. 8, U.S. Customs and Border Protection provided records revealing 14 international shipments of military and tactical gear to his house, prosecutors said in a statement. They added that hed also taken steps toward assembling them into explosives and testing them in recent weeks.

These purchases quickly escalated this case into a threat and a priority for our office, Maguire said. This was now a situation where we believe public safety was at risk.

As agents descended on his home Friday, they found what Maguire described as a significant number of firearms but no completed bombs in the house. She declined to elaborate on whom those guns belonged to or where they were stored.

This investigation is very much ongoing, she said.

The teenagers arrest came nearly a month after federal prosecutors charged a sophomore student at Pennsylvania State Universitys Abington campus with lying to the FBI about his contacts with ISIS sympathizers and efforts to assist an averted terror attack in Chicago last year.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorneys Office said the case against that defendant  Kamal Fataliev, 19, of Philadelphia  is not connected to the charges filed against the teenager charged Monday.

She declined to comment about the decision by federal prosecutors to defer the case announced Monday to Krasners office.

While juveniles are rarely charged in the federal courts  which unlike state courts do not have a dedicated system for handling cases involving youths  exceptions are occasionally made.

In 2011, federal prosecutors in Philadelphia charged a then-17-year-old Mohammad Hassan Khalid, of Baltimore, with supporting an international terror cell that counted among its members Colleen LaRose, the Montgomery County woman known online by the moniker Jihad Jane.

At the time, Khalid was the youngest person ever charged with U.S. terrorism offenses. A federal judge certified him to face charges as an adult. He ultimately pleaded guilty, cooperated for years with FBI probes of al-Qaeda-connected terror groups, and was sentenced to five years in federal prison.
The glass pavilion over the entrance to a Philadelphia Parking Authority underground parking lot. Read more

A Philadelphia Parking Authority employee was shot with a BB gun in Center City on Monday, officials said.

The employee, a female parking enforcement officer, was struck with BB pellets in the face and back on the 100 block of North 11th Street around 11 a.m., according to police.

Police said the assailant was seen in a green, four-door Honda with heavily tinted windows. No arrest was made.

It was unclear what prompted the assailant to shoot the enforcement officer, who was on duty.

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A spokesperson for PPA said the shooting appeared to be a drive by, and that the employee was not in the process of issuing a ticket when she was attacked. The incident is still under investigation.

The assault is the latest attack on the citys parking enforcement officers who, according to a 2022 Inquirer report, have faced increasing threats of verbal and physical violence while on the job.

That report found threats against enforcement officers had nearly tripled between 2019 and 2021, with those trends continuing into last year. Threats involving guns had also risen during the pandemic, the report found.

The job is tough, Carla Evans, a PPA enforcement officer, told The Inquirer last year. Its not for the weak.

In a large number of those incidents, tempers flared over ticket disputes, though enforcement officers said that merely their uniformed presence in neighborhoods was enough to garner threats.
The scene on the 100 block of East Willard Street in Kensington, where a Philadelphia police officer fatally shot a man on Monday. Read more

 READ MORE: UPDATE: Man killed by Philadelphia police never got out of his car, didnt lunge with a knife, police say in new narrative

A Philadelphia police officer shot and killed a 27-year-old man on Monday afternoon in Kensington, police said.

Shortly before 12:30 p.m., 24th District officers observed a car driving erratically in the area of B Street and Erie Avenue, said Cpl. Jasmine Reilly, a Philadelphia Police Department spokesperson. When officers tried to pull the driver over, he took off in the Toyota, heading south on Lee Street and then turning left heading the wrong way on East Willard Street, she said.

The man  identified by family as Eddie Irizarry  eventually pulled the car over, on the 100 block of East Willard Street, she said.

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As officers approached the car, Reilly said, Irizarry stepped out with a knife. She said officers gave multiple commands for him to drop the weapon, but he did not. Instead, she said, he lunged at the officers. One of the officers then shot Irizarry several times.

Video posted on Instagram of the moments immediately after the shooting appeared to show the officers pulling Irizarry out of the drivers side of the Toyota. The police carried him to their cruiser, then rushed him to Temple University Hospital, where he died shortly after, at 12:48 p.m.

Reilly declined to comment on the video of Irizarry being pulled from the car.

She said both officers were equipped with Tasers but did not deploy them. At least one of the officers body-worn cameras was turned on, Reilly said.

Irizarrys family rushed to East Willard Street on Monday afternoon, eager to speak with police about what happened before returning to Temple University Hospital. They were distraught but focused on trying to understand how the shooting unfolded.

Zoraida Garcia said her nephew was shot five times. She said hed been known to carry a pocket knife, but she doesnt understand how or why he would try to use it on police.

Irizarry struggled with mental health issues, including schizophrenia, she said. He had moved to Philadelphia from Puerto Rico about seven years ago, she said, but did not speak English well.

We dont have all the details, but there was video, Garcia said. My brother just wants justice for his son.

The victims father and namesake, Eddie Irizarry, said he respects police, but they need training.

Why would you shoot when there is no gun? he asked. Police need to follow the rules, they need to respect people.

Police have not yet identified the officers involved. They will be on desk duty pending an investigation by the police departments Officer Involved Shooting Unit and the District Attorneys Office, Reilly said.

Irizarry is the third person to be fatally shot by a Philadelphia police officer this year. In May, officers shot and killed 32-year-old Curtis Smith in North Philadelphia after they said he pointed a gun at them following a brief chase.

One month later, in June, officers killed Dimitri Klimov, 36, after police said he holed up in the crawlspace of a Kensington rowhouse and was armed with a gun.

Earlier this month, FBI agents fatally shot Tahiem Weeks-Cook, 22, in the Nicetown-Tioga neighborhood. And earlier this year, a Pennsylvania State Trooper shot and killed 18-year-old Anthony Allegrini Jr. on I-95.
Eleanor Vadala center is flanked by her niece, Linda, and nephew, Earl, at her 2019 induction into the U.S. Ballooning Hall of Fame. Read more

Eleanor Vadala, 99, of Bala Cynwyd, pioneering materials engineer at the now-defunct Naval Air Development Center, former astronomer at the Franklin Institute, hall of fame balloonist, chemist, lecturer, and teacher, died Wednesday, July 19, of congestive heart failure at her home.

Curious, energetic, and fearless as a child, Ms. Vadala developed an early interest in science, astronomy, and flight. She worked as a quality control inspector at an aircraft parts manufacturer for two years during World War II and was immersed in science, astronomy, and ballooning as a full-time lecturer and instructor at the Franklin Institute from 1947 to 1951.

She became a materials engineer at the Naval Air Development Center in South Philadelphia and later Warminster in 1951, and did trailblazing research and development on aramid, polyester, and other lightweight materials to be used in balloons and other aircraft until her retirement in 1989. She was an expert on the Navys new computerized testing equipment and a member of a U.S. watch team that monitored Sputnik 1 and 2, the first artificial Earth satellites that were launched by the Soviet Union in 1957.

She took her first balloon flight in 1954, became the third woman to earn a balloon pilots certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration in 1963, and was inducted into the U.S. Ballooning Hall of Fame in 2019. She was the first secretary of the Balloon Federation of America and was on board for 66 gas and hot air flights in the United States, Europe, and elsewhere between 1954 and 1973.

We came down very slowly, Ms. Vadala said of her memorable 75-mile first flight from near Wings Field in Blue Bell to Netcong, N.J. It was almost like the balloon caressed the ground.  I was so entranced by the sheer beauty of it. We were wafting in like a snowflake.

Ms. Vadala served as treasurer, secretary, and president of the Rittenhouse Astronomy Society, and helped astronomer Edwin Bailey and others develop the Franklin Institutes popular Fels Planetarium. She married Bailey in 1984 and established an astronomy scholarship in his name at Villanova University after he died.

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She was part-owner of her own hot air balloon, trained aspiring pilots and ground crews, and lectured about ballooning and astronomy at schools, festivals, and elsewhere. Her lifelong love of learning led her to constantly try and then excel at many new things, said her grandniece, Sarah.

Her ballooning exploits were covered often by The Inquirer and other publications, and she even made her own telescopes. Her niece-in-law, Helen, said: She attained whatever she reached for and never looked back.

Eleanor Theresa Vadala was born Sept. 8, 1923, in National Park, Gloucester County. Her family moved to Southwest Philadelphia when she was young, and she graduated from John Bartram High School in 1941.

She was close to her older brother, Earl, and if he climbed a tree or did something adventurous, she did it, too. She earned a bachelors degree in nutrition from Juniata College in 1947 and took chemistry classes at Temple University afterward.

She was a deacon at Narberth Presbyterian Church, read constantly, and liked to work on puzzles. She traveled the world with family and friends, and they still talk about the memorable trips to Canada she arranged to watch eclipses of the sun and moon.

She worked part time at the Franklin Institute and Philadelphia Zoo, and as a guide at Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. She was on the board of the Geographical Society of Philadelphia and active with the Sigma Delta Epsilon scholastic honor society.

She taught English to immigrants, and her signature lasagna, prime rib, and cheesecake made her popular around the family dinner table. She was a great source of inspiration to be inquisitive and to learn, said her nephew Earl.

Her niece, Linda, called her an optimistic person who views every day as an adventure and believes it should be lived to the fullest.

At her induction into the ballooning hall of fame, Ms. Vadala said: As one balloonist to another  enjoy the fact that you can fly. Youre free. Youre riding the wind. Thats a wonderful thing.  I wish each and every balloonist here fair skies, gentle winds, and always a safe and happy landing.

In addition to her niece, nephew, niece-in-law, and grandniece, Ms. Vadala is survived by other relatives. Her brother died earlier.

Services were held Thursday, July 27.

Donations in her name may be made to the Franklin Institute, Development Department, 222 N. 20th St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19103.
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the Finishing Trades Institute to announce that the administration is updating the Davis-Bacon Act to increase prevailing wages for construction workers on federally funded projects, in Philadelphia, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023. Read more

For the second time in the past three months, the president has deployed Vice President Kamala Harris for an electoral pit stop in Pennsylvania  arguably the most important swing state for the 2024 election.

Deploying Harris is an interesting choice. The veep is unpopular, with a recent NBC News poll showing Harris favorability hitting record lows.

Harris supporters quickly dismiss any criticism of their Chucks and pearls veep as sexist and racist. To be sure, Harris does endure the heinous slings and arrows of racism and sexism. CBS News reported that in the first five months of 2022, there were 4,200 tweets aimed at Harris that used the N-word. That is outrageous and indefensible.

But Harris defenders arent pointing to that. Instead, they levy vague claims of racism and sexism while failing to address the systemic problem. Harris apologists like former White House chief of staff Ron Klain state that racism and sexism are partly to blame for her low approval ratings  without further context or explanation.

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Even before she was elected, a progressive commentator pointed to critiques like, Shes extraordinarily nasty. Shes a cop. Shes too conservative  or shes too liberal. She changes her mind constantly, as examples of deep-rooted sexism.

As if no male politician was ever accused of being nasty or a flip-flopper.

She is a politician for our time in a way her old, white male boss is not, writes Vogues Molly Jong-Fast. By all rights, she should be enjoying some bump from her unprecedented ability to crash through one of the most impermeable glass ceilings.

I disagree. By all rights, the voters who put her in office should be the ones enjoying a bump in their wages and ability to carve out a living. But thats not whats happened since Harris took office.

A majority of workers saw negative wage growth in 2022, meaning the growth of their wages did not keep up with the growth of prices. Prices are still rising faster than what the Fed targeted. Most Americans feel their president is not fit to lead.

Could it be that Harris, as Joe Bidens VP, is seen by Americans as holding part of the blame  regardless of her race and gender?

Arguably, this criticism of Harris symbolizes equality: Mockery on the public stage is a rite of passage in American politics, especially for her Republican predecessors.

Vice President Dan Quayle was the medias whipping boy during the George H.W. Bush administration, relentlessly mocked for his intelligence. Quayles address to the United Negro College Fund is legendary in its cringe-worthiness ([W]hat a waste it is to lose ones mind or not to have a mind is being very wasteful.). As is his inability to spell potato.

Like Quayle (and her boss), Harris comes across as an out-of-touch gaffe factory. Social media is full of compilation videos of Harris embarrassing performances. From her do not come plea at the border to every word soup she cooks up in front of cameras, Harris regularly inserts her foot in her mouth.

Harris also has grappled with a cold-hearted public persona, shaped by her legacy as Californias attorney general. Calling herself the top cop and progressive prosecutor, Harris even shamefully jailed the parents of truant students. And she is accused of warehousing nonviolent offenders in Californias prisons, disproportionally harming Black Americans.

Worse, Harris is seen as being willfully silent as the current administration is considering reinstating the detention of migrant families, which human rights critics call out as de facto family separation  something Harris called a crime against humanity in 2018.

Harris certainly wouldnt be the first veep of the modern era to be considered hard-hearted. Dick Cheney was considered pure evil by some  a villainous archetype once compared with Darth Vader.

The vice presidents job is ripe for ridicule and shaming. Youre under the same glare as the president with no power to do anything but defend what POTUS says and does.

Its got to be miserable  just ask Mike Pence. He is one of the few modern vice presidents who showed courage in bucking the directive of the commander in chief when he certified the 2020 election.

Kamala Harris broke through a glass ceiling only to find that she receives the same public scolding as her predecessors. If equality with white, male Republicans was the goal, shes got it.

And if Democrats want to win next November, perhaps they could give some deference to Americans  including many in their own party  who, being neither racist nor sexist, have ample evidence to believe Biden and Harris just arent good at their jobs.
David Oh, Philadelphia's Republican nominee for mayor, greets supporters at his primary election night party in May. Read more

Philadelphias last competitive general election for mayor was 20 years ago, with the other races typically featuring low voter turnout and blowout victories for Democrats.

David Oh, the Republican nominee for mayor this year, wants to change that. His party is paying attention.

For two decades, establishment Republicans have held onto to their money and instead spent it on other races around the state.

But on Tuesday, they are throwing Oh a campaign fundraiser at The Union League, that South Broad Street bastion of old money and conservative politics.

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That indicates that wealthy and powerful Republicans from around the state are paying attention to this years mayoral race, as Oh faces Democratic nominee Cherelle Parker.

 READ MORE: Heres what Cherelle Parker has been up to since winning the Democratic nomination for mayor

Parker is heavily favored to win, given the citys overwhelmingly Democratic electorate. But Oh, who formed a broad coalition of support as a City Council member, said hes encouraged that influential Republicans believe in him enough to help.

Its reasonable to say these folks dont just jump in on a whim, Oh said.

The fundraisers hosts include some of the top names in the state GOP. They hope that a good showing for Oh will influence the outcomes of other races on the ballot  including City Council, in which Republicans are trying to fend off the progressive Working Families Party.

How David Oh does in his race will greatly affect our races for City Council and city commissioner and also statewide appellate court races, said Andy Reilly, a Republican National Committee member from Delaware County, with cautious optimism.

Oh thinks he can win in November

Oh, who resigned from City Council in February to run for mayor, said such fundraising events tend to come after Labor Day. If they happen at all.

The fact that theyre popping up in August, it means someone has talked them into starting an engagement process, he said.

It takes a measure of moxie to think you can be the first Republican mayor in Philadelphia in seven decades.

Oh knows the odds; Democrats outnumber Republicans 7-1 in the city.

He also knows how necessary it is to draw attention to his campaign.

I think the problem in our city is that people are not interested in this race in the media because they think its over, he said.

Host committee members for Tuesdays event put up at least $1,000, while cohost tickets are $500 and sponsor tickets are $250.

Hosts include the partys current state chair, Lawrence Tabas, a Philadelphia lawyer who typically keeps a low profile; Reilly and fellow RNC member Christine Toretti; Bob Asher, a former RNC member; local party chair Vince Fenerty; and former state party chair Rob Gleason.

Gleason, the driving force behind the fundraiser, is from Western Pennsylvania but has long pushed for a reinvigorated GOP in Philadelphia. He said hes impressed by Oh.

Unified Republican support for a mayoral candidate has been absent since Sam Katz came close to a win against John Street in 1999 and 2003.

I think he is the best candidate that weve had for mayor since Sam Katz, Gleason said. Thats a long time ago. Gleason said he wants a really good showing for mayor ahead of next years presidential election, because Republican growth in the city will boost the partys chances statewide in 2024.

You will not be president of the United States unless you win Pennsylvania, Democrat or Republican, Gleason said.

What makes Ohs candidacy different

One factor in Ohs favor: Hes the first long-term Republican to be the partys mayoral nominee since Al Taubenberger in 2007. And Taubenberger ran an extremely collegial campaign that year, using it as a platform to build name recognition for a Council race four years later.

The Republicans fielded former Democrats Karen Brown in 2011, Melissa Murray Bailey in 2015, and Billy Ciancaglini in 2019. Those novices were all soundly defeated.

Another important factor for Oh  anything good for him trickles down as support for Republicans like Drew Murray and Jim Hasher, who are running for Council at-large seats. The party has incentive to boost the top of the ticket, if only for that.

I think David is a good candidate, Reilly said. Whether it materializes into a real race for the mayors office, that remains to be seen.

Oh has often been at odds with the Republican City Committee leadership and ward leaders. His name was cut from many sample ballots in the May primary after he backed a Council candidate who had clashed with the party.

Fenerty, the local chair, said Oh had turned around his relationship with the partys ward leader, who cheered him at their summer picnic fundraiser earlier this month.

He gave a very aggressive speech, probably the best speech he has ever given in his life, on all the points of why he is qualified to be mayor of Philadelphia, Fenerty said.

Past GOP money disadvantages

Rousing speeches and receptive audiences make for good politics. But an underdog needs resources, too.

Bailey, who ran as a Republican against Jim Kenney for an open mayors seat in 2015, told Republican ward leaders that year she needed to raise at least $3 million to be competitive. She brought in less than $30,000 and won just 13% of the vote.

Taubenberger faced Michael Nutter for an open mayors seat in 2007 with a similar financial disadvantage. He raised $76,000 in the four months before that years election, compared to Nutters $2.9 million, and lost that race by a 4-1 ratio.

Parker, also a former City Council member, emerged from Mays nine-candidate primary with just shy of $64,000 in the bank as of June 5. She didnt have the most money in the primary, but she built the political coalition that could win.

Those backers wont have her go wanting, even if they see her election as mayor as a foregone conclusion.

Oh, a lawyer and former assistant district attorney, had envisioned a general election against a different Council colleague, Democrat Helen Gym, an ardent progressive who might have sent moderate Democrats looking his way. Gym finished third in Mays primary.

Oh ran unopposed in his primary and had just under $300,000 in the bank in early June. Hes betting on votes and maybe campaign contributions, too, from outside his party.

Unlike other Republicans in the city, who tend to look for pockets of support in South Philly and Northeast Philly, Oh won three terms on Council with a spread of support that covered more of the city.

I am the most known Republican in the city, he said. Im a Republican who gets crossover support from Democrats and independents.
Ensuring no Queenslander is left behind in the transition to more sustainable transport is crucial, and that means investing in charging infrastructure, said RACQ head of public policy Dr Michael Kan. The Queensland government co-funding program is set to see 46 charging sites across more than 30 mostly regional locations up and running by the end of 2024.
I think, absolutely, there is an opportunity and we think that can happen - but what I think we need to do is actually demonstrate the management approach to mitigating issues in the workplace, he said. A lot of these organizations havent done that before and it takes a little time for an insurer to say, We hear what youre saying but show me the evidence.
A possibility of more storms than normal as we go into the peak of the hurricane season also increases the possibility that one of those storms will make it up to our neck of the woods in Eastern Canada, Chris Fogarty, who heads the Canadian Hurricane Centre, told the Canadian Press.
Details of Alis violations

Ali submitted a licence application in February 2020, but failed to disclose that he was the subject of an investigation by the Mutual Fund Dealers Association (MFDA). Similarly, he did not disclose that his relationship with London Life had been terminated in 2018.
Thats something that other markets have caps on or do it in a different light than what we view it in. We provide coverage for facilities that do have memory care units without any exclusions or caps.
This fire was very fast, moving in horizontal nature, low to the ground and outpaced anything the firefighters could have done in the early hours, said US Fire Administrator Lori Moore-Merrell. The heroic actions of the firefighters in response to this wildfire in Maui needs to be commended. FEMA is on the ground and will continue to support Hawaii throughout the response and recovery process, ensuring resilience is part of that plan.
The investigation found that an unknown individual accessed certain portions of HUB's network and copied files without the firm's authorization between December 2022 and January 2023, Hub said. As a result, the firm reviewed the accessed data to determine its contents and to whom it relates. On July 27, 2023, the firm completed the review and began the notification process.
The injunction is the latest in the White Rock Insurance (SAC) Ltd., v. Vesttoo LTD et al case, through which White Rock is claiming against Vesttoo after the insurtech was accused of LOCs (letters of credit) fraud. White Rock had facilitated reinsurance transactions that were collaterized using the LOCs provided by Vesttoo.
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The city of New Haven lost more than $6 million in multiple cyberattacks on its public school district earlier this summer and has so far managed to recoup about half of the money, officials announced last week.

The thefts, which occurred in June and involved hackers impersonating the city`s chief operating officer and private vendors in emails, came to light after a Connecticut school bus company raised questions about why it hadn`t yet been paid.

The individual or the individuals that did this are criminal. They are unbelievably unethical to not only steal money from the public, but steal money from New Haven public school children, said Mayor Justin Elicker, a Democrat, during a news conference.

Elicker said the FBI asked New Haven officials not to initially speak publicly about the hacking in order to protect its investigation. So far, $3.6 million has been recouped and the FBI has frozen additional funds, he said. Elicker could not provide a specific amount because the probe is continuing. No arrests have been made.

Elicker said the cyber thieves gained access to the COO`s public school email address in May, monitored online conversations with vendors and eventually inserted themselves into the conversations by impersonating the COO and the vendors. The thieves then made requests for electronic transfers to fraudulent accounts. A total of six payments were made, including four meant for the school bus company totaling more than $5.9 million.

The other two payments were meant for a law firm. Elicker said a seventh payment meant for a cleaning company was stopped by the city`s budget office. The FBI refers to the type of ruse used in the cyber attack as a business email compromise.

Elicker said the city has since stopped all electronic payments except for payroll and is working with several companies to strengthen its systems. One employee in the city`s law office has been placed on paid leave pending the results of the investigation.

We do not believe any city employee was involved in the hacking itself, he said. However, we want to ensure that all employees followed proper financial and cyber security procedures.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Cyber K-12 Education Connecticut
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The family of a Long Island, New York, man who died after being beaten by police with flashlights and fists during a 2008 traffic stop was awarded $35 million in damages by a federal jury last Thursday.

Frederick K. Brewington, attorney for the family of Kenny Lazo, said justice has been served, Newsday reported. Lazo`s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Suffolk County Police Department, Suffolk County and five police officers in 2009.

It was absolutely appalling how the Suffolk County police physically abused and humiliated Mr. Lazo, then tried to cover it up, Brewington said, No family should have to go through what Mr. Lazos family had to.

Jurors awarded Lazo`s family $13.5 million in compensatory damages and $21.5 million in punitive damages.

Lazo was 24 when he was pulled over by police on a ramp to the Southern State Parkway in Bay Shore. Marc Lindemann, an attorney representing the police, said Lazo, who was suspected to have made a drug sale and committed various traffic violations, was belligerent. He said Lazo struck an officer in the head with his elbow and reached for an officer`s gun, calling the chain of events life- threatening for the police.

They used force that was reasonable, appropriate and justified in this situation, he said.

Brewington accused the officers of fabricating a reason to pull over Lazo and using their authority to beat and humiliate him, including stripping off his clothes and shoes and beating him when he attempted to flee. Lazo, who was initially taken to a nearby police precinct instead of a hospital, had 36 injuries throughout his body, Brewington said.

Lindemann said Lazo had superficial injuries that did not require hospitalization.

Lazo was later found unresponsive on the floor of a holding cell and taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy determined he died from cardiac arrest following exertion associated with prolonged physical altercation with multiple blunt impacts. Obesity was also determined to be a factor in his death.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics New York Law Enforcement
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The Archdiocese of Philadelphia will pay $3.5 million to settle a civil case alleging a now-deceased priest sexually assaulted a teenage boy nearly two decades ago, and church officials knew of similar reports about the priest dating back to the 1970s, attorneys for the victim announced last week.

The plaintiff was a 14-year-old student in religious classes at St. Katherine of Siena Parish in Wayne when the sexual assault occurred in 2006, his attorneys said. They said Monsignor John Close assaulted the boy after hearing his confession. The plaintiff, now 30, reported the episode in 2018. Many survivors of child sexual abuse do not report the abuse until years later.

Close died in 2018. Attorneys for the plaintiff say the archdiocese knew Close was a danger to children in the 1970s, after a priest reported teenage boys were sleeping overnight in Closes room. Close was reassigned. Other alleged victims have come forward, attorneys said.

We deeply regret the pain suffered by any survivor of child sexual abuse and have a sincere desire to help victims on their path to healing, Kenneth A. Gavin, spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, said in a statement.

The church hierarchy denies knowing about the plaintiffs allegation prior to Closes death, and reported it to law enforcement after it was brought forward by the attorneys, an archdiocese spokesperson said in a statement.

Close was ordained in 1969 and was placed in a variety of parishes and schools until he was put on administrative leave, with priestly faculties restricted, in 2011. He retired in 2012.

Attorneys for the plaintiff assert in court filing that a 2011 grand jury`s report  which examined whether the diocese had changed its internal practices of moving priests accused of sexual abuse and not reporting the allegations to law enforcement  prompted church officials to reevaluate earlier reports about Close, resulting in his publicly-disclosed administrative leave that year. The archdiocese did not immediately say why Close was placed on leave at that time.

The lawsuit was settled ahead of trial.

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests called on the archdiocese to locate and assist any other potential victims of Close. The group urged other victims to come forward and make reports and seek support.

By taking these steps, we can help create a safer environment for children, aid in the recovery of survivors, ensure the prosecution of criminals, deter cover- ups, and ultimately uncover the truth, said Mike McDonnell, the network`s interim executive director.

In 2018, a grand jury found that hundreds of Roman Catholic priests in Pennsylvania molested more than 1,000 children and possibly many more  since the 1940s, and senior church officials systematically covered up the abuse.

Child Sexual Assault Lawsuit Bill Fails to Advance in Pennsylvania

The report put the number of abusive clergy at more than 300. In nearly all of the cases, the statute of limitations had run out, meaning criminal charges could not be filed. More than 100 of the priests are dead, and many others are retired or have been dismissed from the priesthood or put on leave.

Seven of the states eight dioceses launched victim compensation funds following the grand jury report. The funds were open to claims for a limited time. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has paid $78.5 million to 438 claimants, as of a 2022 report.

Lawmakers in Pennsylvania sought a two-year window for child sexual abuse survivors to file otherwise outdated lawsuits over their claims, but a partisan fight in the Legislature kept the proposal bottled up with no resolution in sight.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Pennsylvania
Ukraine, which is seeking to form safe shipping routes in the Black Sea, has started registering ships willing to use the corridor it announced earlier this week, a local news agency said on Saturday [Aug. 12].

Ukraine on Thursday announced a humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea to release cargo ships that have been trapped in its ports since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.

The corridor is a new test of Russias de facto blockade since Moscow abandoned a deal last month to let Kyiv export grain.

Registration is now open and the coordinator is already working, Interfax Ukraine quoted Ukrainian Navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk as saying.

Russian Warship Fires Warning Shots at Cargo Ship in Black Sea

Ukraine Announces Humanitarian Corridor for Ships Stuck in Black Sea Ports

He gave no more details while an industry source told Reuters on Friday that no ships had yet passed through the corridor.

Of course, everything will take place under the supervision of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. We are doing everything we can to ensure security, Pletenchuk said.

Russia has not indicated whether it would respect the shipping corridor, and shipping and insurance sources have expressed concerns about safety.

At least initially, the route would apply to vessels such as container ships that have been stuck in Ukrainian ports since the war began, and were not covered by the deal that opened the ports for grain shipments last year.

(Reporting by Pavel Polityuk; editing by Helen Popper)

Topics Ukraine
Ellerbrock-Norris is a holistic risk management firm headquartered in Nebraska, recently unveiled a brand refresh complete with the new tagline of Protect Your Purpose.

The company partners with businesses to help them identify and solve for risks, from insurance to safety programs, employee benefits, financial planning, exit planning and beyond.

Over the past 15 years, we transitioned from what was primarily an insurance agency to a holistic risk management firm, said Andy Bassett, CEO of Ellerbrock-Norris. Risk is much more than insurance. You need to consider the business and the people in it, their lives at home and their future retirement. We needed our brand to be reflective of that and tell a singular story.

Ellerbrock-Norris has been independently owned and operated since 1906, when it was founded in Hastings, Nebraska. Today, the company has four offices  Omaha, Hastings, Kearney and Lincoln.

We serve some amazing businesses, most of which are blue collar and independently owned, said Cameron Carlow, Chief Marketing Officer at Ellerbrock-Norris. For an owner, that business is a huge part of their life. It drives them, it provides for them, and its usually a large portion of their retirement plan. We wanted to be clear that we are here to help them protect their livelihood  their business, their life outside of the business, and their future retirement.

In addition to the new messaging, all employees at the company received a Yeti tumbler with the new tagline, along with any clothing item of their choosing from the companys internal store. All 60 employees will also receive free lunch for the month of September to celebrate the brand refresh and help as kids are headed back to school.

Whenever we make any decision in the company, its with our people in mind, first and foremost, Bassett said. We want every person on our team to be a brand ambassador. Our goal is for them to want to take pride in where they work because they genuinely love being on this team.

Source: Ellerbrock-Norris
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The National Association of Insurance Commissioners is gearing up to challenge credit graders by overruling ratings on certain assets bought by insurance companies.

The NAIC, a consortium of state regulators that sets standards for the insurance industry, is considering overruling the ratings provided by companies such as Moodys Investors Service and S&P Global Ratings with their own valuation of an asset, according to an April summary. The proposal will be discussed before the NAICs Valuation of Securities Task Force, a group consisting of state representatives, on Monday.

If enacted, the new process, which is likely to stick to more conservative risk evaluations, has the potential to alter the ratings of hundreds of assets insurance companies buy, according to the NAIC. The in-house credit analysis would apply to so-called outlier assets, or those with ratings discrepancies of at least three notches from different credit rating providers. In some cases, the differences can be five notches or more, according to the organization.

This allows insurers the flexibility to go beyond traditional rated securities, while ensuring that the state regulatory system has confidence in the credit quality of those investments, the NAIC said in a letter.

The outlier assets proposal has garnered some blowback from major stakeholders in the industry, including the Structured Finance Association, the American Council of Life Insurers and the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, who cite the lack of transparency behind the process and the liquidity issues it raises as concerns.

Republicans in Congress have also voiced concerns about the plan.

Moodys and S&P didnt respond to requests for comment. Fitch Ratings said it has a good relationship with investors and the NAIC and expects its ratings will continue to prove useful.

Securitized Market

The process is more likely to affect private transactions, where some insurance companies are particularly active using securitization technology to be efficient with their regulatory capital, David Goodson, head of securitized credit at Voya Investment Management said in an interview.

The impact on broadly syndicated securitization should be minimal, according to the NAIC. However, the organization still maintains a heavy influence in how insurance companies invest in the securitization market.

The NAIC has been very active in securitized, Goodson said. They have undertaken several initiatives that will affect the securitization market for years to come, including the collateralized loan obligation market, residuals across asset classes and changes to the Filing Exemption process.

The outlier assets proposal is likely to be adopted this year or early next year, but the actual implementation would likely not take place until 2026, according to the watchdog.

Aside from the current proposal, the group decided to defer to their own risk assessments of residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities following the Great Financial Crisis. The watchdog is also working to create a new proposal to revamp asset capital requirements for CLOS bought by insurance companies.

The NAICs move to use its own ratings for insurance companies is not coming out of the blue. Following the GFC, the group made the decision to defer to their own risk assessments of residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities. In 2022, they once again suggested turning to their own credit analysis for structured equity funds.

Photo: Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg

Copyright 2023 Bloomberg.
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Many workers across the U.S. are turning to ChatGPT to help with basic tasks, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found, despite fears that have led employers such as Microsoft and Google to curb its use.

Companies worldwide are considering how to best make use of ChatGPT, a chatbot program that uses generative AI to hold conversations with users and answer myriad prompts. Security firms and companies have raised concerns, however, that it could result in intellectual property and strategy leaks.

Anecdotal examples of people using ChatGPT to help with their day-to-day work include drafting emails, summarizing documents and doing preliminary research.

Some 28% of respondents to the online poll on artificial intelligence (AI) between July 11 and 17 said they regularly use ChatGPT at work, while only 22% said their employers explicitly allowed such external tools.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll of 2,625 adults across the United States had a credibility interval, a measure of precision, of about 2 percentage points.

Some 10% of those polled said their bosses explicitly banned external AI tools, while about 25% did not know if their company permitted use of the technology.

ChatGPT became the fastest-growing app in history after its launch in November. It has created both excitement and alarm, bringing its developer OpenAI into conflict with regulators, particularly in Europe, where the companys mass data-collecting has drawn criticism from privacy watchdogs.

Human reviewers from other companies may read any of the generated chats, and researchers found that similar artificial intelligence AI could reproduce data it absorbed during training, creating a potential risk for proprietary information.

People do not understand how the data is used when they use generative AI services, said Ben King, VP of customer trust at corporate security firm Okta.

For businesses this is critical, because users dont have a contract with many AIs  because they are a free service  so corporates wont have run the risk through their usual assessment process, King said.

OpenAI declined to comment when asked about the implications of individual employees using ChatGPT, but highlighted a recent company blog post assuring corporate partners that their data would not be used to train the chatbot further, unless they gave explicit permission.

When people use Googles Bard it collects data such as text, location, and other usage information. The company allows users to delete past activity from their accounts and request that content fed into the AI be removed. Alphabet-owned Google declined to comment when asked for further detail.

Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

HARMLESS TASKS

A U.S.-based employee of Tinder said workers at the dating app used ChatGPT for harmless tasks like writing emails even though the company does not officially allow it.

Its regular emails. Very non-consequential, like making funny calendar invites for team events, farewell emails when someone is leaving  We also use it for general research, said the employee, who declined to be named because they were not authorized to speak with reporters.

The employee said Tinder has a no ChatGPT rule but that employees still use it in a generic way that doesnt reveal anything about us being at Tinder.

Reuters was not able independently confirm how employees at Tinder were using ChatGPT. Tinder said it provided regular guidance to employees on best security and data practices.

In May, Samsung Electronics banned staff globally from using ChatGPT and similar AI tools after discovering an employee had uploaded sensitive code to the platform.

We are reviewing measures to create a secure environment for generative AI usage that enhances employees productivity and efficiency, Samsung said in a statement on Aug. 3.

However, until these measures are ready, we are temporarily restricting the use of generative AI through company devices.

Reuters reported in June that Alphabet had cautioned employees about how they use chatbots including Googles Bard, at the same time as it markets the program globally.

Google said although Bard can make undesired code suggestions, it helps programmers. It also said it aimed to be transparent about the limitations of its technology.

BLANKET BANS

Some companies told Reuters they are embracing ChatGPT and similar platforms, while keeping security in mind.

Weve started testing and learning about how AI can enhance operational effectiveness, said a Coca-Cola spokesperson in Atlanta, Georgia, adding that data stays within its firewall.

Internally, we recently launched our enterprise version of Coca-Cola ChatGPT for productivity, the spokesperson said, adding that Coca-Cola plans to use AI to improve the effectiveness and productivity of its teams.

Tate & Lyle Chief Financial Officer Dawn Allen, meanwhile, told Reuters that the global ingredients maker was trialing ChatGPT, having found a way to use it in a safe way.

Weve got different teams deciding how they want to use it through a series of experiments. Should we use it in investor relations? Should we use it in knowledge management? How can we use it to carry out tasks more efficiently?

Some employees say they cannot access the platform on their company computers at all.

Its completely banned on the office network, like it doesnt work, said a Procter & Gamble PG.N employee, who wished to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to speak to the press.

P&G declined to comment. Reuters was not able independently to confirm whether employees at P&G were unable to use ChatGPT.

Paul Lewis, chief information security officer at cyber security firm Nominet, said firms were right to be wary.

Everybody gets the benefit of that increased capability, but the information isnt completely secure and it can be engineered out, he said, citing malicious prompts that can be used to get AI chatbots to disclose information.

A blanket ban isnt warranted yet, but we need to tread carefully, Lewis said.

Topics USA Commercial Lines Business Insurance
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A U.S. judge on Friday dismissed as frivolous a conservative activist investors lawsuit against Starbucks board for the coffee chains diversity, equity and inclusion policies.

The National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR) sued in August 2022 over Starbucks setting hiring goals for Black and other people of color, awarding contracts to diverse suppliers and advertisers, and tying executive pay to diversity.

The nonprofit, which holds around $6,000 in Starbucks stock, said those policies require the company to make race-based decisions that violate federal and state civil rights laws.

Chief U.S. District Judge Stanley Bastian in Spokane, Washington, rejected the allegations at a hearing in the case on Friday, saying the lawsuit centered on public policy questions that are for lawmakers and corporations, not courts, to decide.

If the plaintiff doesnt want to be invested in woke corporate America, perhaps it should seek other investment opportunities rather than wasting this courts time, he said.

Starbucks said it was pleased with the decision and said it remains committed to creating a culture of warmth and belonging.

Starbucks attorney Gregory Watts argued at the hearing that NCPPR has condemned the evils perpetrated by woke corporate America, and that the group has made demands of many other corporations, including JPMorgan Chase and American Airlines Group Inc.

The use of such language shows what is motivating plaintiffs, and it is not the business interests of Starbucks, he said.

The lawsuit is similar to those recently by conservative activist groups opposing corporate diversity and inclusion efforts in the wake of a June Supreme Court ruling.

Companies Caught in Diversity Crossfire Are Frozen by Uncertainty Related: Kelloggs Woke Workplace Diversity Programs Are Illegal, Group Claims

The ruling declared unlawful the race-conscious student admissions policies used by Harvard University and the University of North Carolina.

On Friday, Daniel Morenoff of The American Civil Rights Project, who represents NCPPR, argued that Starbucks policies seeking to increase racial diversity among its suppliers, vendors, and employees were discriminatory and that NCPPRs cause was in the corporate interest.

Bastian rejected that argument, saying the groups complaint did not represent the interests of Starbucks shareholders and failed to follow required legal procedure.

NCPPR may not refile its complaint, and Starbucks may seek legal fees, he said.

NCPPR spokesperson Scott Shepard called the judges comments surprising and disappointing.

We will continue to pursue relief from illegal discrimination on behalf of shareholders and employees, he said.

The case is National Center for Public Policy Research v. Schultz et al., No. 22-00267, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington.
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A US cybersecurity advisory panel will investigate malicious targeting of cloud computing environments, including Microsoft Corp.s role in a recent breach of government officials email accounts by suspected Chinese hackers, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed on Friday.

The review by the Cyber Safety Review Board, which was created by the Biden administration to investigate major cybersecurity events, will focus on approaches cloud service providers, the government and industry should employ to strengthen identity management and authentication in the cloud, according to a DHS statement.

Homeland Security officials began considering whether the email breach would be an appropriate subject for board review immediately upon learning of the incident in July, according to the statement.

Organizations of all kinds are increasingly reliant on cloud computing to deliver services to the American people, which makes it imperative that we understand the vulnerabilities of that technology, said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. Cloud security is the backbone of some of our most critical systems, from our e-commerce platforms to our communication tools to our critical infrastructure.

Bloomberg News, citing two people familiar with the matter, previously reported the board would review cloud security and Microsofts role in the email breach. Shares of Microsoft were down about 1% on Friday morning in New York.

The boards decision to focus on cloud computing follows a request last month by Senator Ron Wyden to investigate Microsofts role in the breach. In a July 27 letter, Wyden asked Attorney General Merrick Garland, Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Jen Easterly to investigate Microsoft and hold the company responsible for its negligent cybersecurity practices.

Microsoft didnt respond to requests for comment.

Wyden, in a statement, said he applauded the decision. The government will only be able to protect federal systems against cyberattacks by getting to the bottom of what went wrong, he said.

Microsoft, the worlds largest software maker, is facing increasing scrutiny from computer security experts and government agencies over its ability to protect customers from breaches. Amit Yoran, the chief executive officer of the cybersecurity company Tenable Holdings Inc., criticized Microsoft, saying on LinkedIn that the companys lack of transparency applies to breaches, irresponsible security practices and to vulnerabilities, all of which expose their customers to risks they are deliberately kept in the dark about.

Easterlys agency, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security and known as CISA, manages the board and is responsible for convening it after significant cybersecurity events, according to a 2022 statement when the board was established. Following the conclusion of an investigation, the board issues a report detailing what went wrong and makes recommendations for future changes.

In an interview, Easterly suggested that Microsoft should recapture the ethos of what Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates called trustworthy computing in 2002, when he instructed employees to focus on security over adding new features.

I absolutely positively think they have to focus on ensuring their products are both secure by default and secure by design, and we are going to continue to work with them to urge them to do that, Easterly said of Microsoft.

The hack of US officials email, which included the accounts of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and State Department officials, took place in the weeks before Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to China to meet President Xi Jinping. The hackers got into the networks by taking a Microsoft consumer signing key, which allowed them to obtain access to officials emails.

Government emails were stolen because Microsoft committed another error, Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon, said in his letter. Microsoft should not have had a single skeleton key that, when inevitably stolen, could be used to forge access to different customers private communications.

Wyden has also pushed for US officials to investigate the so-called SolarWinds attack, saying in his letter that Microsoft never took responsibility for its role. In that attack, which was disclosed in 2020, Russian state-sponsored hackers compromised computer networks in the federal government and private sector.

SolarWinds was planned as the first investigation carried out by the board, according to the executive order that created it. But that probe never happened. Instead, the board investigated the Log4j software vulnerability and later, the Lapsus$ hacking group, which breached major US companies. The boards report on Lapsus$ was released on August 10.

Wyden said he has been rebuffed in getting CISA and the Department of Homeland Security to direct the board to study the SolarWinds breach.

Had the board studied the 2020 SolarWinds hack, as President Biden originally directed, its findings might have been able to shore up federal cybersecurity in time to stop hackers from exploiting a similar vulnerability in the most recent incident, Wyden said, in his statement released on Friday.

Photo: Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

Copyright 2023 Bloomberg.

Topics Cyber
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Nikola said on Friday it was recalling all the battery-powered electric trucks that it has delivered till date and is suspending sales after an investigation into recent fires found a coolant leak inside a battery pack as the cause.

There are a total of 209 battery-powered electric trucks in the marketplace between dealers and customers and the company is recalling those vehicles and is in the process of contacting all parties, a spokesperson for Nikola told Reuters.

The preliminary findings of the probe by a third-party investigator were corroborated on Thursday by a minor thermal incident on one pack on a parked engineering-validation truck, the company said, adding that no one was injured.

Foul play or other external factors were unlikely to have caused the incident, Nikola said in a statement, adding efforts were underway to provide a remedy.

The company had said it suspected foul play when it started an investigation in June after trucks at its Phoenix, Arizona, headquarters caught fire. One damaged truck, kept at the Phoenix site for monitoring, re-ignited last month.

Internal investigations from Nikolas safety and engineering teams indicate a single supplier component within the battery pack as the likely source of the coolant leak that caused the vehicles to catch fire, the company said.

Struggling with supply chain bottlenecks and weaker demand, Nikola decided to make battery electric trucks only to order and focus on hydrogen fuel cell trucks.

Nikola on Aug. 4 appointed Chairman Stephen Girsky, a former General Motors executive, as its chief executive, its fourth in four years.

The company flagged substantial doubts about its ability to continue as a going concern for the next 12 months, reiterating its warning for the third time since February, as it awaits critical additional capital.

On Friday, Nikola asked customers and dealers of its Tre battery electric trucks to take certain immediate safety measures, including considering parking them outside.
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The death toll from fast-moving wildfires in Maui rose to 93, making them the deadliest in the US in more than 100 years, as concerns grew about the effectiveness of the islands emergency alarm system.

The number of fatalities is expected to climb further as authorities continue search and rescue efforts, Hawaii Governor Josh Green said at a news briefing Saturday. Just 3% of the area has been searched, officials said, adding they are bringing in 12 more cadaver dogs to help with the effort. On Sunday, officials said its still unclear when residents may return to the area.

This is the largest natural disaster weve ever experienced, Green said. Its also going to be a natural disaster that takes an incredible amount of time to recover from.

The death toll makes the wildfire the deadliest since 1918, when 453 people were killed in Minnesota and Wisconsin by the Cloquet & Moose Lake Fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Losses are estimated to be approaching $6 billion, after roughly 2,200 structures were destroyed in West Maui across the 2,170 acres burned by the blaze.

Hawaii lawmakers are responding to rising worry over what prevented alarm systems from alerting people in Lahaina.

Sadly, tragically, in this situation, those sirens, likely did not go off, US Representative Jill Tokuda, a Hawaii Democrat, said Sunday on CBSs Face the Nation. The warning signals that were on cell phones, we had no cell coverage or electricity in some of these areas.

US Senator Mazie Hirono said the focus remains on the need for rescues and locating bodies. Were going to need to provide a lot of support, the Hawaii Democrat said.

Efforts to identify the dead were complicated by the ferocity of the blaze, which melted metal and razed Lahaina, once the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom.

One of three power transmission lines has been restored, providing 3,700 customers with power, Green said. Two Wifi trucks were providing services amid downed communication lines, according to the countys website.

Local authorities are starting work on long-term recovery efforts, including housing Maui residents who have been displaced. A temporary housing task force has secured 1,000 hotel rooms, half of which will be used to house residents and the remainder provided to aid workers.

Four days on, it remains unclear what sparked the deadly blaze, which had been fanned by hurricane-force winds, and whether more could have been done to warn residents. Green said the state attorney general is conducting a comprehensive review of events and decisions in the run-up to and during the blaze, though he cautioned it would take a long time before any official determination was reached.

The largest force at play that night were 80 mile-per-hour winds. That created an incredibly intense and dangerous circumstance, Green said. Having seen that storm, we have doubts that much could have been done with a fast-moving fire like that.

Photo: Destroyed buildings and homes are pictured in the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina, western Maui, Hawaii on August 11, 2023. Photographer: Paula Ramon/AFP/Gety Images

Copyright 2023 Bloomberg.

Topics USA Hawaii
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Vanderbilt University Medical Center is facing a federal civil rights investigation after turning the medical records of transgender patients over to Tennessees attorney general, hospital officials have confirmed.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services` investigation comes just weeks after two patients sued VUMC for releasing their records to Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti late last year.

We have been contacted by and are working with the Office of Civil Rights, spokesperson John Howser said in a statement late Thursday. We have no further comment since this is an ongoing investigation.

VUMC has come under fire for waiting months before telling patients in June that their medical information was shared late last year, acting only after the existence of the requests emerged as evidence in another court case. The news sparked alarm for many families living in the ruby red state where GOP lawmakers have sought to ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth and limit LGBTQ rights.

The patients suing over the release of their information say VUMC should have removed personally identifying information before turning over the records because the hospital was aware of Tennessee authorities` hostile attitude toward the rights of transgender people.

Many of the patients who had their private medical information shared with Skrmetti`s office are state workers, or their adult children or spouses; others are on TennCare, the states Medicaid plan; and some were not even patients at VUMC`s clinic that provides transgender care.

The more we learn about the breadth of the deeply personal information that VUMC disclosed, the more horrified we are, said attorney Tricia Herzfeld, who is representing the patients. Our clients are encouraged that the federal government is looking into what happened here.

HHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the civil rights investigation.

Meanwhile, Skrmetti has maintained he only requested the VUMC patient records because he`s involved in a run of the mill investigation over possible medical billing fraud and that he is not targeting patients or their families.

Yet Skrmetti has continued to attract skepticism from Democratic lawmakers and civil rights advocates after he joined a group of Republican attorneys general in opposing a proposed federal rule that would limit how law enforcement and state officials collect the medical records of those who flee their home state to receive abortion services or transgender health care.

Skrmetti is also defending the state`s gender-affirming care ban for transgender youth and has repeatedly praised a federal appeals court decision to allow the law to temporarily go into effect.

Skrmetti`s office says they had not heard anything about the civil rights investigation.

Turning a disagreement about the law into a federal investigation would be plainly retaliatory and would reflect a dangerous politicization of federal law enforcement, said spokesperson Amy Wilhite.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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After three major Georgia appeals court decisions have gone against employers in the last five years, some insurance defense attorneys are concerned that the states workers compensation laws have become costly to insurers and businesses, despite years of rate reductions and a pro-business atmosphere in this deep-red part of the country.

Its a trend that weve noticed at all levels of the courts, said Samantha Lewis, of Atlanta, a partner in the Parker Poe law firm, who represents school districts in workers compensation claims.

The trend began in 2018 and solidified during the COVID-19 pandemic, when courts, lawmakers and the public seemed to express new sympathy for some types of workers, said Lewis and her colleague, Elizabeth Phrampus.

Claimants lawyers were surprised by the assertions and argued that judges have simply interpreted the law as it was written.

I really dont see a trend leaning toward injured workers, said claimants attorney Todd Maziar, with the Georgia Legal Foundation, which filed an amicus brief in a recent case decided by the appellate court. These are cases with facts such that the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court simply ruled in favor of the injured worker.

The courts  with very few dissenting opinions from judges  correctly interpreted the intent of the comp laws and were not legislating from the bench, he added.

While insurance and employer groups have long argued that some states, including California, New York and Illinois, have crafted laws over the decades that could be considered too worker-friendly or burdensome to employers, Georgia, with a two-thirds-majority Republican legislature, is not one of those.

I think youd be hard-pressed to say that Georgias workers comp laws are too worker-friendly, said Tom Holder, an Atlanta claimants lawyer and former president of WILG, the Workers Injury Law and Advocacy Group.

The court decisions that Lewis and Phrampus are concerned about began with Cartersville City Schools vs. Johnson in 2018. The Georgia Court of Appeals essentially limited employers use of the idiopathic disease defense, which had allowed businesses to claim that some injuries were of unknown origin, not necessarily related to the workplace.

In that case, a school teacher had fallen in the classroom and injured her knee, then required surgery. She filed a claim, contending that the injury arose from her employment duties, namely, having to wind her way through tight rows of desks all day. The school district argued that her knee condition was the result of everyday-type activities outside the classroom.

The Court of Appeals overturned previous case law and upheld a lower court, which had struck down the state Workers Compensation Boards denial of the teachers claim.

Evidence showed claimant was actively engaged in the movements and behaviors required of her as a classroom teacher when she fell and was injured as a result of one or more of those movements, the appeals court judges wrote.

That case is what started this roller coaster, Lewis said.

Maziar countered that the idiopathic defense had, over many years, become confused by the courts and had been abused by insurers.

Then came the Frett decision in 2020, Lewis and Phrampus said. In Frett vs. State Farm, the Georgia Supreme Court overturned the Court of Appeals and longstanding case law that had held that injuries that occur during an employees scheduled break are not usually compensable.

The high court found that Frett, a claims adjuster for State Farm, slipped on a wet floor at work, causing her injury, while she was on break. The 1935 court decision that had allowed the scheduled break defense made no sense and was untethered from the analytical framework consistently employed by this court in workers compensation cases, Justice Keith Blackwell wrote in the Frett opinion.

In the most recent case cited by the defense lawyers, Lilienthal vs. JLK Inc., the state Court of Appeals in May of this year found that a list of treating physicians was not prominently displayed when it was kept in a locked storage room.

Preschool teacher Linda Lilienthal tripped over a childs blanket in the classroom, injuring her left shoulder and both knees, the court explained. The school gave her a list of doctors, but went ahead and made an appointment with a nearby clinic. The workers compensation act allows the insurer/employer to pick the six doctors, but the list must be prominetly displayed at the workplace.

An administrative law judge decided that the room where the list was displayed was accessible, and upheld the denial of Lilienthals claim. But the appeals court judges found that the ALJ had misconstrued the law.

We conclude that the ALJ erred by conflating the concept of accessibility with prominence. The fact that a panel is located in a technically accessible location does not mean that it is posted in a prominent, conspicuous, or easily seen location, the appellate judges wrote. Indeed, under the facts of this case, the panel of physicians was not easily seen by most employees working upon the premises.

Lilienthals attorneys argued that since the list was not prominently displayed, the law essentially allows an injured worker to choose her own physician. An ALJ, though, denied the teachers request to treat with her chosen doctor, who had recommended knee surgery.

In the appeal, Maziar wrote in his amicus brief that the only notice to employees, as established by a 1994 revision to the comp law, is the posted panel of physicians, not a list handed out after an injury.

Panels of physicians should be placed in areas on a business premises where they are clearly visible, he wrote. They should not be hung in the darkness of seldom-used, locked hallway rooms.

The appeals court found that the ALJ and Board of Workers Compensation were wrong, and remanded the case to the board for a do-over. JLK and Accident Fund Insurance Co. are expected to appeal to the state Supreme Court.

Lewis and Phrampus said the Lilienthal ruling went too far and raises too many questions about what may be considered a prominent posting. By splitting hairs, the decision could now open the door for more workers to pick their own doctors, potentially raising medical costs for work injuries.

Taken together, the three court decisions mark a slippery slope for employers and carriers, the defense lawyers said.

Maziar and Holder said no trend exists and Georgia jurists are not suddenly uniting with workers.

The vast majority of judges on the highest courts have been appointed by Republican governors, if party affiliation can be used as a broad-brush indicator. Eight of the 13 judges on the Court of Appeals were named by Republicans, a party that has historically aligned with employers more often than with worker rights. Two Republican-appointed judges concurred in the Lilienthal decision.

One appeals court judge, Christopher McFadden, lists his membership in the Federalist Society, an organization that advocates for a textualist interpretation of the U.S. Constitution. Some critics have said the society is seen as too conservative and too supportive of business interests. McFadden concurred in the 2018 Cartersville vs. Johnson opinion. And eight of the nine Supreme Court justices were named by a Republican governor.

Some Republican-dominated state legislatures in recent years have moved to correct laws and court decisions that have been seen as too worker-friendly or too costly for employers. In Kentucky, lawmakers in 2018 ended lifetime medical benefits for some long-term injuries. In Tennessee, some claimants lawyers have charged that statutes have drastically reduced attorney fees for workers, driving some lawyers out of the comp practice and making it difficult for injured workers to find representation.

And in West Virginia, lawmakers revamped the court system in 2020, eliminating some ALJs and creating a new appeals court. A claimants lawyer said recently that snce the new system was set up, the vast majority of decisions have gone in favor of businesses and against workers.

But in Georgia, both sides of the debate said that theyve heard no rumblings that state lawmakers may now try to restore some of the defenses chipped away by the Lilienthal, Frett and Cartersville City Schools opinions.

I havent heard any talk about that, Lewis said.

Georgia officials, like their counterparts in most states, may feel little pressure to address workers compensation costs for employers. Loss costs have dropped significantly over the last decade. In 2022, Georgia ranked 31st in the nation in average comp premiums, down from 15th in 2020, according to the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services Premium Ranking study.

Topics Georgia Numbers
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A federal appeals court on Friday granted a motion to dismiss a challenge to construction permits for a controversial natural gas pipeline in Virginia and West Virginia after Congress mandated that the project move forward.

The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, sided with lawyers from Mountain Valley Pipeline in dismissing challenges to the project by environmental groups over concerns about the pipelines impact on endangered species, erosion and stream sedimentation.

The U.S. Supreme Court last month allowed construction to resume. Work had been blocked by the 4th Circuit, even after Congress ordered the projects approval as part of the bipartisan bill to increase the debt ceiling. President Joe Biden signed the bill into law in June.

Lawyers for the company building the 300-mile (500-kilometer) pipeline argued before the appeals court two weeks ago that Congress was within its rights to strip the 4th Circuit from jurisdiction over the case. They also said that any debate over the laws constitutionality should be heard not by the 4th Circuit but by an appellate court in Washington, because the law passed by Congress spells out that precise scenario.

Armed with this new legislation enacted specifically in their favor, Respondents __ the federal agencies and the Mountain Valley Pipeline __ moved in this Court for the dismissal of the petitions, appeals judge James Wynn wrote. Upon consideration of the matters before us, we must grant Respondents motions to dismiss.

Environmental groups have opposed the the $6.6 billion project, designed to meet growing energy demands in the South and Mid-Atlantic by transporting gas from the Marcellus and Utica fields in Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Mountain Valley Pipeline is a dangerous, destructive project that repeatedly failed in attempts to obtain federal authorizations that could withstand legal scrutiny until it convinced its friends in Congress to intervene, said Jessica Sims, the Virginia field coordinator for Appalachian Voices, an environmental organization. We will not give up our efforts to protect the communities suffering the consequences of this unnecessary project.

Photo: Cahas Mountain looms over the path of the Mountian Valley Pipeline as it crosses the Blue Ridge Parkway at Adney Gap in this 2018 shot. (Heather Rousseau/The Roanoke Times via AP)

Topics Virginia
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A former Tennessee state senator who was active in tort reform, judicial appointments and health insurance changes, was sentenced to 21 months in prison after he unsuccessfully tried to take back his guilty plea on federal campaign finance charges and initially described the case as a political witch hunt.

Former Republican Sen. Brian Kelsey received his sentence in U.S. District Court in Nashville in the case centering on his attempts to funnel campaign money from his legislative seat toward supporting his failed 2016 congressional bid. He won`t have to begin his prison time until October.

I do think there`s a need to sentence you that sends a message for general deterrence, U.S. Judge Waverly Crenshaw said Friday.

Crenshaw handed down the punishment after the former Memphis-area lawmaker argued in March that he should be allowed to go back on his November 2022 guilty plea because he entered it with an unsure heart and a confused mind due to events in his personal life  his father had terminal pancreatic cancer, then died in February, and he and his wife were caring for their twin sons born in September. Crenshaw denied the change of plea in May.

Before that, Kelsey had pleaded not guilty  often saying he was being targeted by Democrats. But he changed his mind shortly after his co-defendant, Nashville social club owner Joshua Smith, pleaded guilty to one count under a deal that required him to cooperate fully and truthfully with federal authorities.

Late last month, federal prosecutors accused Kelsey of intentionally delaying his sentencing after he switched up his legal defense team.

Dozens of Kelsey`s friends and family packed the Nashville courtroom, where many silently cried and comforted each other as Crenshaw explained why he was sentencing Kelsey to 21 months in prison.

Im truly sorry for the actions that led me here today, Kelsey told the court. I knew I was taking a risk and yet I did it anyway and in doing so, I broke the law.

Prosecutors had initially requested 41 months of prison time and spent the majority of their Friday argument depicting Kelsey as a sophisticated mastermind behind a complicated campaign scheme designed to flout federal finance regulations.

However, Kelsey`s attorneys countered that the former lawmaker simply crossed a very small line and that the government was seeking a harsher punishment because he hadn`t shown enough remorse for his actions.

Yet Crenshaw noted that out of the four character witnesses who provided testimony that day, only one  former Democratic state Rep. John DeBerry  mentioned that Kelsey was regretful of his actions.

Life is about living with consequences, DeBerry said, who detailed working with Kelsey closely during their time working in the Tennessee Statehouse. When we lose ourselves, you forget you got to do it the right way every time.

In October 2021, a federal grand jury indicted Kelsey and Smith, who owns the The Standard club in Nashville, on several counts each. The indictment alleged that Kelsey, Smith and others violated campaign finance laws by illegally concealing the transfer of $91,000 from Kelseys state Senate campaign committee and $25,000 from a nonprofit that advocated legal justice issues  to a national political organization, the American Conservative Union, to fund advertisements urging support of Kelseys congressional campaign.

Prosecutors allege that Kelsey and others caused the organization to make illegal and excessive campaign contributions to Kelsey by coordinating on advertisements, and that they caused the nonprofit to file false reports to the Federal Election Commission.

Two co-conspirators were also involved, including former Tennessee Rep. Jeremy Durham, a Republican, who was expelled in 2016 on multiple sexual misconduct allegations. Durham cooperated with federal officials in Kelsey`s case and has not faced any charges.

Kelsey`s attorney had argued that since Durham wasn`t facing prison time, then neither should their client. Crenshaw disagreed by repeatedly pointing out that Durham and others agreed to work with federal officials early on.

Kelsey, a 45-year-old attorney from Germantown, was first elected to the General Assembly in 2004 as a state representative. He was later elected to the state Senate in 2009. He was known for leading tort reform efforts in 2011, for a state constitutional amendment barring mandatory union membership for employees in the state, an amendment making appellate judges appointed rather than elected, and for sponsoring a bill to allow Tennesseans to buy health insurance in other states, according to news reports.

Due to his conviction, Kelsey is now banned from running for state office in Tennessee and has been stripped of his law license. He also been ordered to surrender any guns from his possession.

Photo: Former Republican state Sen. Brian Kelsey, left, arrives at federal court in 2022 (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Fraud Tennessee
Woodruff Sawyer, based in San Francisco, Calif., named two new vice presidents.

Owen Igbinosun joined the firm as vice president, management liability, focused on private equity and real estate in the upper middle markets.

Before joining Woodruff Sawyer, Igbinosun spent over 12 years in risk management for HUB International, Assured Partners, Lockton and Stericycle.

Aparna Niroola joined the firm as vice president, employee benefits, focused on clients in middle and large markets.

Before joining Woodruff Sawyer, Niroola spent more than 20 years in employee benefits and health care consulting. In addition to working at brokerage firms Aon and Willis Towers Watson, she advised on both the provider and payer side for Kaiser Permanente and Optum.

Topics California
AccuWeather increased its estimate of the total damage and economic loss from the devastating wildfires burning in Hawaii to $14 to $16 billion.

The update follows AccuWeathers preliminary estimate last week of total damage and economic loss of $8-10 billion.

The death toll from fast-moving wildfires in Maui rose to 93, making them the deadliest in the US in more than 100 years, according to a Bloomberg report on Insurance Journal.

AccuWeathers preliminary forecast for total damage and economic loss from the wildfires in Hawaii was issued on Thursday, before any other sources issued any quantitative information describing economic impact, AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said in a statement. AccuWeather experts have continually monitored reports from Hawaii from a variety of sources, and unfortunately, upon surveying the latest damage reports from Hawaii, especially in Maui, to homes, businesses, boats, the extensive loss of life, evacuations, widespread power outages and other factors, we increased our estimate.

The cause of the blazes has yet to be determined, however shares of Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. plunged by a record on concern that its power lines may be linked to the deadly Maui wildfires. Hawaiian Electric, which operates the utility that serves Maui, has come under criticism for not turning off power despite weather forecasters warnings that dry, gusty winds could create critical fire conditions, Bloomberg is reporting.

Catastrophe modeler Karen Clark & Company late last week issued an estimate that some 3,500 structures fall within the fire perimeter.

KCC estimates the insured loss will be the second largest in Hawaiis historysecond only to a repeat of Hurricane Iniki based on todays property values, a KCC release states.

The latest AccuWeather los estimate would equate to about 15% of the state of Hawaiis gross domestic product and would exceed the GDP of Maui.

Much of Mauis economy is based on tourism, an industry that will take months if not longer to recover. Communications and power infrastructure have also been severely affected by the disaster, leaving thousands without means to contact emergency services, according to the AccuWeather update.

Related:

Topics Catastrophe Trends Natural Disasters Profit Loss Wildfire Hawaii
August 14, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Slovenia is Europe's most 'crypto-obsessed' country, new research has revealed.

The study by cryptocurrency experts CryptoGambling.tv analysed search volumes for popular cryptocurrency terms in each European country and measured this against the population to see which countries had the most crypto searches per 100,000 people.

It found that Slovenia is currently Europe's most crypto-obsessed country. Based on searches from the past 12 months, there have been roughly 100,000 crypto-related searches each month. When this number is accounted for the population, there are an average of 4,789 crypto-related searches per 100,000 people, the highest of any European country.

Luxembourg comes in second place on the list. The Western Europe country sees around 17,000 crypto-related searches each month on average, which is a lot for a population of 645,397, meaning there are approximately 2,634 cryptocurrency searches per 100,000 people.

Coming in third place is the Netherlands, which sees around 2,608 cryptocurrency searches for every 100,000 people. This is due to an average of 452,000 monthly crypto searches for a population of 17,332,850. The Netherlands is one of the least crypto-friendly countries despite this interest, as it's one of the few countries in the world to tax unrealized gains.

Finland takes fourth on the list, with around 135,000 crypto-related searches every month over the past year. When this is accounted for a population of 5,520,314, there are 2,446 crypto searches per 100,000 people.

Rounding out the top five is Turkey, which is the biggest country to feature in the top ten, with a population of 83,429,615. Due to this, there are a whopping 1,900,000 crypto-related searches each month, equal to around 2,277 crypto searches per 100,000 people.

Commenting on the findings, a spokesperson from CryptoGambling.tv said, "While it may be surprising to see countries who have been coming down on cryptocurrency in the top ten, said legislation has likely caught coverage and sparked an interest in what crypto is as a whole. Cryptocurrency remains a new thing for many people, yet many have yet to learn about it. Therefore, any publicity, whether it be by legislation or general news, is bound to garner interest as seen by Google searches in this study."

Methodology:

Ahrefs was used to gather Google search data for the terms below:

Binance

Bitcoin

Crypto

Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrencies

Dogecoin

Ethereum

Litecoin

Solana

Tether

USD Coin

Tron Coin

Polygon Coin

Journo Research

More Info:

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Source: Cosmos Chiu

August 14, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) The miner's priority now is advancing its Utah project given the production ramp-up at its Mexico plant is nearly done, noted a CIBC report.

MAG Silver Corp. (MAG:TSX; MAG:NYSE American) announced its Q2/23 results, reported CIBC analyst Cosmos Chiu in an Aug. 8 research note.

CIBC maintained its Neutral rating and CA$21 per share target price on the Canadian producer, trading now at about CA$15.47 per share. These prices imply an attractive potential return for investors of 30%.

Q2/23 By the Numbers

Chiu presented the key figures from MAG's Q2/23.

Production, all from MAG's joint venture project Juanicipio in Mexico, was 4,877,460 ounces (oz) of silver, 9,537 oz gold, 3,066 tons of lead, and 4,582 tons of zinc.

Overall, this was lower than its pre-reported figures, of 5,275,000 oz silver, 10,639 oz gold, 3,402 tons of lead, and 5,418 tons of zinc, because of provisional pricing adjustments and "payability factors," Chiu wrote.

The average head grade was 498 grams per ton (498 g/t), higher than the 363 g/t average in Q1/23.

At Juanicipio, 377,018 tons of material were processed in Q2/23 versus 222,023 tons in Q1/23.

Quarterly earnings were a beat, driven by lower tax expenses. Earnings per share was US$0.19, whereas consensus and CIBC's forecasts were US$0.17 and US$0.16, respectively.

The Canadian silver company had US$52.6 million and no long-term debt at the quarter's end.

Progress at Juanicipio

During the quarter, ramp-up at the Juanicipio mill progressed to 85% of its nameplate capacity. It is expected to reach the full 4,000 tons per day in Q3/23.

Focus Shifts to Deer Trail

Given Juanicipio is nearly running at full capacity, and thus almost completely derisked, "investor attention now turns to MAG's next steps in growing the company to support its valuation," Chiu pointed out.

These efforts include exploration work at the Deer Trail project in Utah, from which MAG recently reported phase two drill results. They indicate Deer Trail has key features of a major carbonate replacement deposit/skarn system, according to MAG's management. Findings included these outstanding intercepts:

23.55 meters (23.55m) of 61 g/t silver with lead and zinc

33m of 0.6 g/t gold, including 1.5m of 6.1 g/t gold

4.25m of 29 g/t silver, 2.2 g/t gold and 2.1% copper

The third phase of drilling Deer Trail is underway.

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Vancouver, British Columbia - August 14, 2023 (Newsfile Corp.) (Investorideas.com Newswire) KAPA GOLD INC. (TSXV: KAPA) ("KapaGold" or the "Company") is pleased to provide the following update on the geology and mineral deposit analysis on its polymetallic Blackhawk property, Lucerne Valley, California.

Multiple High-Grade samples collected (as reported in May 8, 2023 News Release): Gold 75.1, 66.9 & 39.7 g/t, Silver 3,680 & 2,360 g/t, Copper >10 & 9.35%, Zinc 24.2% and lead 12.7 & >10% along a 3.5km contact zone at the Blackhawk Property.

In July 2023, KapaGold completed a follow up geological mapping-mineral deposit analysis program that was focused on the Parton Quarry area located near the eastern end of the Blackhawk property, Lucerne Valley, California. This program utilized results from two exploration programs: 1) a March 2023 drone magnetic survey over the entire Blackhawk property and in particular the magnetic expression of the intrusive complex, herein termed Parton Intrusive Complex, that outcrops peripheral to and beneath the limestone-marble that formed the past-producing Parton Limestone Quarry, and 2) the October 2022 mapping program that identified narrow silicified faults with elevated precious and base metal abundances: Gold 0.98 - 2.3 g/t, Silver 65.3 - >100 g/t, Copper 0.79%, and Lead 0.84%. These fault zones are located near the highest point in the south eastern area of the Parton Quarry which has not been disturbed during previous mining and subsequent mine rehabilitation. The weakly mineralized structures were interpreted as distal hydrothermal leakage zones related to a precious-base metal skarn mineral deposit type.

Figure 1 - Location of prospects and past producers, Blackhawk property. Yellow pins show location of assay samples having elevated to high-grade precious and base metal concentrations.

The July 2023 mapping program identified multiple, 1-2 meter wide, silicified vein complexes with secondary copper minerals. These vein complexes are topographically below the above weakly mineralized silicified fault zones and record a deeper level/proximal, more robust hydrothermal alteration related to skarn processes. These silicified vein networks are hosted in extensively hydrothermally altered and brecciated marble that is peripheral to the garnet+pyroxene contact skarn. Additional samples have been submitted for assay.

The garnet+pyroxene contact skarn located in the southeastern portion of the Parton Quarry is identical to weakly mineralized garnet+pyroxene contact skarn float found to the north of the Parton Quarry in 2022 (yellow pin 306 in Figure 1). In addition, anomalous mineralization was identified along the western contact of the Parton Intrusive Complex, Gold 1.92 g/t, Silver 53.8 g/t, Copper 0.38%, Lead 12% and Zinc 5% (yellow pin 141 in Figure 1).

Sampling by KapaGold has indicated that the margin of the Parton Intrusive complex with the carbonate sequence is highly prospective for skarn-related precious and base metal mineralization. In particular, skarn domain along the eastern margin of the Parton Intrusive Complex, a distance of approximately 0.9 km, is considered the highest priority contact and will be the focus of future evaluation to define drill targets.

There are six high-grade, precious and base metal prospects (Figures 2-6) as well as the gold+silver past-producing Santa Fe and Lookout deposits (Figure 1) distributed along approximately a 2.0 km strike length westward from the identified precious and base metal-bearing skarn domain related to the Parton Intrusive Complex.

Collectively, these prospects and past producers display two significant attributes: 1) high-grade polymetallic signature Gold, Silver, Copper, Zinc and Lead, and 2) dykes and sills intimitatly associated with some of the prospects. These two features are interpreted as chimney-manto type mineralization related to underlying, not exposed, intrusions, intrusions that are equated with the Parton Intrusive Complex and its related high grade polymetallic skarn mineralization.

Figure 2 - Boat Prospect: Upper Boat zone is defined by a laterally extensive gossan with secondary copper minerals; Lower Boat Zone present at the base of the scree slope is comprised of angular high-grade gold and silver-bearing cobbles.

Figure 3 - Timber Prospect: High-grade precious and base metal composite fault.

Figure 4 - Miles Canyon Prospect: High-grade polymetallic composite vein network in a fault.

Figure 5 - Hilltop Prospect: High-grade precious and base metal composite fault zone.

The Au-Ag-Pb-Zn-Cu skarn mineralization in the Parton Quarry area and other prospects along the trend of the Blackhawk property is similar to skarn-manto deposits in the southwest United States-Canada-Mexico: including the Goundhog mine, New Mexico, Magno, D, Cassiar district, BC, Silver Hart and Tintina Silver, Yukon Territory, Lucky Lake, NWT, Canada, Naica District and San Martin, Mexico (the former are listed in reference to deposit type and not as a comparison to grade and tonnage).

Figure 6 - Gulley Prospect: High-grade shallowly dipping polymetalic zone exposed in the wall of a creek.

Samples are taken from in-situ exposed mineralization by KapaGold's geological team. Samples were chiseled from outcrops except for the samples from the Boat Prospect and were assayed by ALS Laboratories in Reno, Nevada. In most cases multiple samples were taken. The Boat samples, shown in the Boat Prospect, were grab samples of float found at various elevations on the scree slope. Results show range of assays results received.

Road Clearance Permitting

An onsite meeting was held on July 3, 2023 with a member of the United States Forest Services Agency to identify sections of the access road that is required for clearing. Also present were members of KapaGold's operation team and the contractor who will be undertaking the road clearance.

A separate meeting was held with BLM officials from both the San Bernadino office and the Barstow office discussing the clearing of the access roads.

KapaGold awaits the final deliberations from all three offices.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Allan Miller, PhD., P.Geo., Consultant and Senior Geologist of Kapa Gold Inc, a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About KapaGold

KapaGold, led by experienced capital markets and geologic team, is focused on exploring its 100% owned historic Blackhawk Gold Mine and surrounding underexplored properties for economic mineralization. KapaGold has recently optioned the historic Mastodon Project and is compiling historical data in advance of recommendations for exploration programs.

To learn more, visit kapagold.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

KAPA GOLD INC.

"David K. Paxton"

CEO and Director

For More Information Contact:

Konstantine Tsakumis

kon@kapagold.com

604-961-9442

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements made, and information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. These statements and information are based on facts currently available to the Company and there is no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking statements and information may be identified by such terms as "anticipates", "believes", "targets", "estimates", "plans", "expects", "may", "will", "could" or "would". Forward-looking statements and information contained herein are based on certain factors and assumptions. While the Company considers its assumptions to be reasonable as of the date hereof, forward-looking statements and information are not guaranteeing of future performance and readers should not place undue importance on such statements as actual events and results may differ materially from those described herein. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements or information except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

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Irish fintech firm Glantus has been sold to Finnish company Basware in a deal that could be worth as much as 38m, the companys chief executive Maurice Healy told the Irish Examiner.

The board of Glantus voted unanimously to accept the offer. Should the deal receive all necessary approvals, the sale is expected to be completed towards the end of this year.

Mr Healy said the offer from Basware represents the biggest opportunity" in Glantus history.

Glantus was founded in 2014 and has been listed on the London Stock Exchange since 2021. It is headquartered in Dublin but has offices in San Jose in the US, London, and Katowice in Poland.

It provides accounts payable and analysis software to companies.

According to its latest trading update, the company generated 4.56m in revenue between January and April. Its earnings for this period, before various deductions, was 1.3m.

In May, revenues stood at 1.1m.

Following a successful acquisition and delisting, all parties intend to work together to develop Glantus in the private domain.

Basware chief executive Jason Kurtz said Glantus was an exceptional fit with its investment strategy in terms of size, focus and business model.

Our proposed acquisition of Glantus will further expand our product suite and we believe add value to customers in an accelerated time, he said.

Basware provides invoice processing and accounts payable platforms. It employs 1,300 people.
Cork business representatives have urged Government to further invest in port infrastructure in an effort to make the city more attractive to renewable energy firms.

In its pre-budget submission, Cork Chamber suggested the Government create a new fund to help both Cork and Dublin meet EU climate targets and attract future projects.

Cork Chamber president Ronan Murray said such a fund would go towards the development of infrastructure, public transport, energy and housing and further propel our city forward and to increase its attractiveness from an FDI and talent perspective.

The only port on the island that is currently fully equipped to be a construction base for wind farms is in Belfast, a report published earlier this year by industry representative group Wind Energy Ireland showed.

Ports across Irelands east and west coasts are against the clock to be ready for projects that were successful in securing contracts through EirGrids first auction for the generation of electricity from offshore wind farms.

However, developing these ports is costly. In May, Shannon Foynes Port Company chief executive Pat Keating said the estimated cost for new port infrastructure was about 500m.

Meanwhile, in its submission, Cork Chamber also called for the extension of the Croi Conaithe cities scheme to the rental market which would contribute to the viability of rental apartments.

"Housing still remains a top concern for our members, said Cork Chamber CEO Conor Healy.
Wheat markets shrugged off a further escalation of tensions in the Black Sea, after Russia said it fired on a cargo vessel over the weekend to stop the ship for checks, and key prices declined 1.6%.

Ukraine said the vessel stopped  the Sukru Okan  was Turkish. Sources said the ship was empty and had unloaded a corn cargo the previous day in Greece. It was heading to the Ukrainian port of Izmail to load more grain and is currently docked in Romania.

Traders are closely monitoring the region for any sign of a change in exports from two of the worlds largest grain suppliers. The incident marks the first time that Russia has targeted a grain ship since last months collapse of a deal allowing safe passage for Ukrainian exports. The Black Sea has recently become more risky, underscored by Russian threats to ships sailing to Ukraine, and Ukraines strike on an oil tanker near Russia.

Despite all the attacks seen in the last fortnight, grains continue to flow from both sides, Rabobank analyst Carlos Mera said. Spot prices have been depressed by strong availability due to large Russian exports, he said.

The Sukru Okan, a dry-freight carrier, was bound for Izmail when a Russian naval patrol ship opened fire after the cargo vessels operators didnt respond to a request for inspection, Russias defence ministry said. It was then allowed to resume its trip, according to the ministry. Russia warned last month that ships headed to Ukrainian ports would be considered as potentially carrying military cargo, heightening overall risks in the region. The Sukru Okan is listed on shipping database Equasis as owned and managed by OG Shipping in Mersin, Turkey.

These actions exemplified Russias deliberate policy of endangering the freedom of navigation and safety of commercial shipping in the Black Sea, Ukraines Foreign Ministry said. Ukraines sea ports have been blocked since Russia exited the export deal. That has made its Danube River ports, like Izmail, increasingly important to send its crops abroad.

Katerina Kononenko, an operations manager at Avalon Shipping in Romania  which works with vessels in the Sulina channel and on the Danube  said traffic was normal on Monday. Wheat futures remain around 19% lower this year amid bumper harvests.

On Friday, the US department of agriculture raised its estimate for Russian wheat exports to 48m metric tons for the 2023 to 2024 season. That means almost a quarter of the worlds wheat trade will now come from Russia.
Too thin, too fat, too curvy, too muscular, too old. Its exhausting. Its embarrassing.

Retailer Marks and Spencer was forced to step in to defend Vogue Williams after she was trolled for being "too thin" while promoting their swimwear range. The Irish mum-of-three was modelling some of her favourite items from the retailers summer collection when she was targeted online for "not being representative" of M&Ss regular customers.

In an Instagram reel posted earlier this week in collaboration with the company, the 37-year-old showed off a black scalloped swimsuit while on holiday with her family. Vogues M&S haul for her Spanish getaway included a royal blue string bikini and a casual throw shirt she told viewers that shed brought in three different colours. Her young children, Gigi, Theodore, and Otto were also featured wearing outfits from the M&S childrens range.

But very quickly the My Therapist Ghosted Me podcaster was attacked for promoting what some considered "an unhealthy body type".

"You are beautiful but much too thin," wrote one commenter. "Skin and bone," wrote another, prompting Vogue to address their criticism directly. "Everyones body is different," she replied on Instagram. "You shouldnt judge mine the way you think it should be." She included a heart emoji beneath her words.

Over on the M&S Instagram page, the thin-shaming continued, with one follower accusing the retailer of "using painfully skinny" models. Vogues fans rushed to her defence, arguing that the influencer is known for her dedication to fitness and that health looks different on everyone.

"Body-shaming, no matter the size, is simply disgusting," someone pointed out. Following the backlash, M&S deleted many of the most vitriolic comments and posted its own response: "A kind reminder to our followers that we use our platform in a positive way. Were proud to represent and celebrate people of all shapes and sizes. We wont tolerate any unkind or negative comments and anything unacceptable will be deleted. Lets all continue to uplift one another. Love M&S x"

So, here we are again, (sigh). Women going out of their way to criticise other womens looks. Too thin, too fat, too curvy, too muscular, too old Its exhausting. Its embarrassing. Is our sense of self-worth still down to how attractive we are to other people?

We all know that life in the public eye is unforgiving. But it doesnt mean people are fair game. For years, we binged on magazines where celebrities were annihilated for having cellulite, bingo wings, prominent cheekbones, big breasts, small bottoms, thinning hair, fake-hair, perfectly-lovely hair but I really thought as a society we were beyond this.

For years, we binged on magazines where celebrities were annihilated for having cellulite, bingo wings, prominent cheekbones, big breasts, small bottoms, thinning hair, fake-hair, perfectly-lovely hair but I really thought as a society we were beyond this.

It is easy to overlook the fact that even though women are disproportionately the victims of online harassment by men, its actually women who are actively taking part in harassing other women on the internet. UK Think Tank, Demos examined 10,000 tweets over 21 days from over 6,000 unique users to find that half of misogynistic tweets came from women.

There are a couple of theories on why some women troll other women. One is that we live in a culture that suppresses any sign of aggression in women from a young age so we learn to express it differently. That means we are conditioned to use more passive-aggressive methods, such as social exclusion or verbal abuse rather than knocking someones block off, for example. And what better place for doing that then the internet, especially when anonymity is an option.

But why someone shames another, especially over how their body looks, is a complicated psychology. Some put it down to insecurity; when a person feels self-conscious about their own body, they are more likely to talk badly about someone else to make themselves feel better. Societal norms inevitably play a part; joking about how someone looks is a learned bias that we grew up with. But then theres the most dangerous type; those with the best of intentions; friends, family and social media followers who think they are being helpful by pointing out perceived areas for improvement in another person. The "please-eat-a-burger" brigade.

This insult masquerading as concern is particularly damaging for those on the receiving end. Someone telling you that they are "worried for how you look" is frustrating, because not only are we all so much more than our body shape, but strangers deciding, on our behalf, what is beautiful or ugly or too big or small or healthy enough, is a very loose science. I dont know if youve noticed, but the mainstream definition of whats acceptable changes pretty darn frequently. Plus, what really matters, or what should matter, is how we react to the things that are important to us, fearlessly and with confidence.

But despite everyones best efforts, body image remains an extremely delicate issue that affects youth mental health in particular.

Over the past decade, Irish research has consistently identified body image as a key source of concern for young people.

The My World Survey 2, a National Study of Youth Mental Health in Ireland, captured the view of more than 1,900 young people from across Ireland. It reported a significant relationship between time spent online (more than three hours) and higher levels of depression and lower levels of body esteem.

The report revealed that body-esteem and body satisfaction decreased consistently over the course of adolescence, with first year students reporting the highest body-esteem in secondary school and sixth year students reporting the lowest. In adolescents, both male and female, 26% reported being dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with their bodies. In other words, we really owe it to our young people to do better ourselves.

Whats curious about the brutality that fuels body shaming online, is that in real life, we would never ever dare say these things. So next time someone feels compelled to point out a bony clavicle, grey hair, ripple of cellulite, or to burger-shame from behind a keyboard, imagine rocking up to me IRL. Imagine pinching a roll of my lovely fat and telling me to my face that Im gross, or how my hair offends you.

Then Id suggest maybe resisting your urges, and instead lets talk about more interesting things than the flesh and skin that binds who we are inside both our beautiful minds.
Dissident republicans posted redacted information from a major PSNI data breach on the wall of a library in Belfast to prove they are in possession of the sensitive material, a Sinn Fein MLA has said.

Gerry Kelly said the document which was posted overnight close to the Sinn Fein office on the Falls Road, included information about a substantial number of police officers and staff, although their names had been removed.

The latest revelation in the controversy which has rocked the PSNI comes as it has emerged that almost 3,000 police officers have inquired about potential damages following the massive data leak.

Last week the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) revealed a document had mistakenly been shared online which included the names of about 10,000 officers and staff.

Details released include the surname and first initial of every employee, their rank or grade, where they are based and the unit they work in.

I look upon this as a threat by dissidents to me and I will not be intimidated

Policing Board member Mr Kelly, who described the posting of the information as sinister, explained that he had been contacted by a party member this morning who had arrived at the office.

He said: He noticed that on the side of the library there was a number of documents pasted up.

There was a photograph of myself and then there was a statement saying in large writing: Gerry, we know who your mates are.

Under that there was what appeared to be, and what turned out to be, a section of the leaked documents that were put out.

It did not have the names of the police officers involved, but it had everything else.

It wasnt the whole 10,000 (names), but it was a substantial number.

Mr Kelly added: I look upon this as a threat by dissidents to me and I will not be intimidated.

More serious is that this is the dissidents, or whoever is involved, putting out that their claim that they have access to the leaked documents, they are putting out a verification on that.

I think that is their main intention.

Asked why he believes dissident republicans are responsible, Mr Kelly said: To have the names of the officers, if you were caught putting such information up then you would be under criminal charge immediately.

One of the reasons that makes me believe it is dissidents is precisely that.

They were clever enough to remove and to put up what they believe would not be illegal.

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Assistant Chief Constable Chris Todd (Liam McBurney/PA)

Last week, PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne said he was aware of claims that dissident republicans are in possession of information from the breach, but stressed that claim has not been verified.

Scores of officers have expressed concern for their safety in Northern Ireland, where police are under threat from terrorists  with the current level of threat assessed as severe, meaning an attack is highly likely.

Assistant Chief Constable Chris Todd said: We are aware that some redacted information from the Tuesday August 8 data breach has allegedly been posted on a wall in west Belfast today, Monday, August 14.

We have commenced an investigation into this matter.

From the outset we have been planning for this potential development and that plan is now being put into place.

We recognise the impact this may have on our officers, staff and their families and additional security and reassurance patrols have already been implemented across Northern Ireland as part of our organisational response.

The safety and welfare of our officers and staff remains our priority and we have reminded them of their personal safety and security both on and off duty.

The Police Federation of Northern Ireland, which represents rank and file PSNI officers, that by Monday afternoon 2,905 officers had expressed an interest in the event of legal action following the major data breach.

While no legal action has yet commenced, it is thought officers and staff whose names and places of work were revealed could be in line for compensation.

The PSNI is already facing significant budget pressures and any settlements would be expected to run into tens of millions of pounds.
Irish families continue to fly to Ukraine to avail of surrogacy despite repeated pleas from the Government not to do so.

It is understood a small number of families  about 20  are engaged in the process at some point, with some having embryos stored in the war-torn country and at least one couple being in Ukraine.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs said any travel to Ukraine was advised against due to the ongoing war with Russia. The department said part of the reason people were asked not to travel is due to limits on the ability of the Irish State to provide consular assistance to those in Ukraine.

"The Department of Foreign Affairs strongly advises against all travel to Ukraine, for any purpose. The department is aware of and concerned about a number of citizens who continue to enter Ukraine for the purpose of engaging in surrogacy arrangements.

The situation across Ukraine remains extremely dangerous and the department strongly advises against entering into surrogacy arrangements in Ukraine. The capacity of the department to provide consular assistance to citizens in Ukraine is extremely limited."

Ireland's embassy in Kyiv only opened nine months before the Russian invasion and sources said providing assistance throughout the war had been "very tricky".

Fine Gael senator Mary Seery Kearney said she had been in contact with a number of families who have been engaged in the surrogacy process in Ukraine. She said her first advice was not to travel to the country.

"I always put across that message  do not travel to Ukraine. Some people have embryos over there and want to travel and my advice is always that there are other countries which do international surrogacy and the embryos can be shipped there, there are processes to do that."

Ms Seery Kearney said she was keen to empathise with those who do feel the need to travel in their bid to have a child.

"My advice always comes without judgement because, on a human level, it is a very, very tough situation."

Ukraine has signalled it may end the practice of foreign surrogacy. President Voldomyr Zelenskyy's government has drafted a piece of legislation that would outlaw the use of international surrogacy through Ukraine.

That move was followed by Georgia, which in June moved to do the same. Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili said the country was calling a halt to the practices due to a risk that such children might be destined for same-sex parents abroad".

A bill on the rights of those who undergo foreign surrogacy is currently at committee stage in the Oireachtas. In December, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly announced the Government would legislate for those families and that amendments would be introduced at committee stage of the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill in January 2023.

In a recent update, Mr Donnelly said the formal drafting process of these new surrogacy provisions by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel (OPC) is at an advanced stage.

However, the Attorney General told Mr Donnelly that drafting by the OPC on the bill has had to be paused until the autumn.
Hundreds of post-primary teaching posts remain unfilled on Monday ahead of the return to school this month, with 416 posts advertised on the education recruitment website educationposts.ie.

The post-primary teachers union the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) has warned that schools are under enormous strain due to the current teacher recruitment and retention crisis.

Almost a fifth of schools have been forced to remove a subject or subjects from the curriculum, according to the ASTI.

Schools have also resorted to re-assigning Special Education Needs (SEN) teachers to mainstream classes.

An ASTI/RED C survey published earlier this year found that three-quarters of school principals received no applications for an advertised teaching post.

It also found unfilled teaching vacancies in almost half of all second-level schools.

Initiatives to tackle teacher recruitment issues include the upskilling of existing teachers, extra training places for teachers, changes to student-teacher placement arrangements, and changes to the substitution arrangements for teachers on leave or who have retired.

However, continuing to rely on these measures when they clearly have not worked is not an option, according to Kieran Christie, ASTI general secretary.

It is astonishing that the Minister was seeking to lure teachers to return from other countries this summer on the promise of part-time or fixed-term positions, Mr Christie said.

This must change whereby, subject to satisfactory probation, permanent appointments are made available.

Shortening of the extraordinarily long teachers pay scale and doubling the number of middle management posts in schools are the kind of measures that will be needed if we are to properly address the teacher supply crisis.

Failure to act on this reality in the face of overwhelming evidence will leave a damaging and lasting legacy.
The people of Carrick-on-Shannon in County Leitrim are rallying around a Ukrainian resident whose family were killed by Russian shelling over the weekend.

Yesterday, 18-year-old Kateryna learned of the tragedy that claimed the lives of four members of her family. Her mother Olesya, 39, her stepfather Dmitro, her 11-year-old brother Artem, and her newborn sister Sophia who was just 23 days old were killed.

Kateryna's 16-year-old sister was the only one who escaped the fatal incident as she was at her grandmother's house at the time.

Russian killed four members of Kateryna's family as well as another resident of the village of Shiroka Balka.

Two men were also killed in the neighbouring village of Stanislav, where a woman was also wounded.

The local community in Carrick-on-Shannon where Kateryna has been living with her boyfriend, Olexander, since December 2022, has come together today to offer their support.

The restaurant where Kateryna works, BR Bistro and Bar, broke the devastating news on their social media.

"We are shattered by this heartbreaking loss and the profound impact it has on Kateryna's life," said owner Bashkim Berisha.

As a community, we must come together to offer our support and love during this unimaginably difficult time.

Mr Berisha organised a gathering at the restaurant this evening in memory of the four family members who lost their lives. Speaking to the Irish Examiner, he said that it is not safe for Kateryna to return home for the funerals, and her grandmother and aunt advised her to remain in Ireland.

The team at the bistro are small but very close, Mr Berisha said that they are like family, and so it was important for him and his wife, Ramona, to do something for Kateryna as she is unable to grieve with the surviving members of her family.

People were encouraged to attend to pay their respects and offer support to Kateryna. A book of condolences was opened for people to sign. Mr Berisha added:

We will be with her today, tomorrow, the next couple of months and the next years and up until the end of this journey. We will be with her forever.

Many people arrived to the gathering at the bistro armed with cards and flowers and plenty of support for Kateryna.

Mr Berisha thanked those who had sent messages of sympathy and offered love and support to Kateryna in the hours since her world was torn apart by the loss of her family.

"It is heartwarming to witness the compassion and kindness shown by our community during this challenging time. Thank you," he said on social media.

He signed the message with: There is strength in unity,    .

A book of condolences was present at the memorial gathering for Kateryna's family. Picture: Bashkim Berisha

The restaurateur said he has made sure that Kateryna knows that he, his family, and his team will be there for her for whatever she may need. At the moment, the focus is on finding her a house so that her sister and grandmother can escape the war and be reunited with Kateryna.

"This lovely country is always accommodating and with a special situation like Kateryna's, I am sure we will have success," Mr Berisha said.

Kateryna began working part-time at the bistro in March and Mr Berisha said he was impressed with her right away. "She came in the door and she wanted to work and to integrate so I gave her a job," he said.

Kateryna has been taking courses to learn English since she arrived in Ireland and Mr Berisha has been helping her by hanging charts in the kitchen with Ukrainian words alongside the English translation.
The two sons of an American tourist who was assaulted in Dublin city centre last month say they are disappointed that they have not heard from the Minister for Justice.

Stephen Termini, 57 from Buffalo, New York, was initially treated for head injuries in Beaumont hospital following the attack but has since been moved to the Mater hospital.

Stephen Termini was initially treated for head injuries in Beaumont hospital following the attack but has since been moved to the Mater hospital. Photo: Michael Rizzuto/GoFundMe

His sons Mike and Jesse Rizzuto flew to Ireland from the US a month ago to be by his bedside and are due to return home this week.

Mr Termini had come to Ireland to retrace his family roots and his story made international headlines after he was left in a coma following the assault.

His sons have told the Irish Examiner their father is now doing well and doctors are hoping to discharge him next Monday.

The government responded to Mr Terminis attack by announcing an injection of 10million to help increase garda patrols in the area following a spate of similar incidents.

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said the Government is working with gardai to help combat street violence and condemned the attack on Mr Termini in the strongest terms.

However, the Rizzuto brothers say they have not heard from anyone in government about their father and feel very let down.

Mike and Jesse Rizzuto say they feel disappointed they havent heard from Minister Helen McEntee over the assault on their father in Dublin City centre. Minister McEntee said she was respecting their privacy. @DjinnxArtist #Dublin pic.twitter.com/MNg2ULDszr  Alison OReilly (@AlisonMaryORE) August 14, 2023

Mike Rizzuto said: I want to meet Minister Helen McEntee face to face, and I already said this.

Jesse and Michael Rizzuto: The people of Ireland are the ones that reached out. Not any government officials." Photo: Moya Nolan

No one has reached out to us at all, its kind of unfortunate because Ive seen it in the papers that X person would like to meet you, but its nothing upfront. Its not like we are difficult to reach. You just message us on Facebook, we are here."

His brother Jesse added: The people of Ireland are the ones that reached out. Not any government officials.

Mike continued: We had someone from Sinn Fein contact us and we met with him. But nothing from Ms McEntee. The fact that I havent been contacted personally, which shouldnt be a difficult thing to do, means I still believe Helen McEntee is very out of touch with her people."

The Rizzuto brothers said they are preparing to go home to New York this weekend as their father is recovering. They said he will most likely stay in Ireland  where his mother was born  and continue with his travels but that he will need support before he returns to any normal way of living.

Jesse and Michael Rizzuto say their father "is still confused and hes not fully sure what happened". Photo: Moya Nolan

A GoFundMe Page set up to support Mr Termini has raised more than 142,000.

He is still confused and hes not fully sure what happened, said Mike. He panicked a bit, asking for his things, but he is a lot better and out of danger, it was a lot to take in, I had to tell him little bits and pieces."

When asked if the brothers contacted Ms McEntees office, they said no, but that they had made it clear they would meet her in several interviews, including one in the Irish Examiner.

There are many assaults in the city centre now, said Mike. As a result, we havent gone outside at all at night. We do not feel safe in Dublin, especially the city centre.

But that is not what Ireland is like, we know that, but we must be cautious."

A spokesperson for the Justice Minister said Ms McEntee would still be happy to meet the family but she was respecting their privacy.

"Minister McEntee has said she would be happy to engage or speak with Mr Terminis family if they wish to do so, and that of course remains the case," the spokesperson said.

"The minister wanted to respect the familys privacy and has been guided by their stated wishes, including their recent wish that they did not want to meet yet in order to focus on their own family."

The spokesperson said the minister condemns violence on the streets and outlined a series of steps taken by gardai and the department in recent months to respond to this.

"The minister recently announced an extra 10m in funding for Garda overtime to provide for 240,000 extra Garda hours, or 20,000 extra Garda shifts in the city to the end of the year," they said.

"The Commissioner has outlined his operational plans to increase Garda visibility, involving both covert and overt, proactive and reactive policing operations.

"Proactive policing responses will involve further targeted intelligence-led operations (including surveillance), searches of people and locations, and increased focus on the congregation of large groups of people who can be perceived as engaging in anti-social behaviour will be undertaken.

"While the deployment of specifically tasked units would be operational policing matter for the Garda Commissioner to consider, National resources including the Garda Air Support Unit, Garda Mounted Unit and Garda Dog Unit in addition to other National Units and Roads Policing Units are being strategically deployed to enhance Garda visibility in the City Centre and its environs.

"A tough and firm response will send out the message that we will not tolerate this thuggery on our streets. Any witnesses to any assault is urged to contact An Garda Siochana on the Garda confidential line."
An East Cork mother who has not been able to get emergency respite for her 15-year-old son says she regularly has to sleep with her bedroom door locked and hide all knives in their home because of threats he has made about killing her.

The HSE has apologised for the lack of respite care and committed to examining whether alternative supports may be appropriate.

The boy has a diagnosis of autism and ADHD and is attached to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs) and East Cork Disability Network services.

He is on medication for anxiety and ADHD.

His mother is the boys full-time carer and says she lives in fear for her life, particularly when her sons behaviour becomes heightened.

Her GP wrote to the HSE in 2022 requesting urgent consideration of emergency respite for her son, stating that she is struggling as his behaviour has become more challenging in recent weeks.

The GP added that Mum has been unable to leave the family home and her son has been unable to attend to school due to the deterioration in his mental state and behaviour.

This followed an earlier call by the GP in 2020 for respite for the family.

The mother, who spoke to the Irish Examiner on the condition of anonymity to protect her family, said: I have been looking for respite since 2019 and got nothing.

She also says she applied for a home care package to give her a few hours to complete daily tasks but this was refused.

She describes her son as a good-natured, polite, happy, funny boy who loves to engage with his peers.

He desperately wants to make friends and be with his friends. However, he is crippled with anxiety.

Anxiety is a beast which causes his behaviours to escalate and spiral. He becomes impulsive, unpredictable, aggressive and rigid.

It has got to the point where we are hiding the knives. He wants to kill me, he wants to choke me. He is obsessed with death, violence, execution.

She said the behaviour has worsened since the onset of puberty but that he also retains the emotional traits of a young child at times.

Despite his threats of violence against his mother and declarations of wanting to be infamous for causing harm to neighbours, his mother says he also retains the emotional traits of a young child. She says:

He is a boy in a mans body, but with all of those urges and hormones.

In recent weeks, the worried mother has taken his computer away because of concerns about the nature of interactions he was having online.

Her GP has given her a letter to give to emergency services in the event of him having a violent episode.

She says: He is obsessed with knives and guns.

He recently told a relative that he wanted a bloody knife to stab anyone who tries to keep me off electronics.

She says: We have no place to look for help.

A spokeswoman for Cork Kerry Community Healthcare said: We deeply regret that there is a shortage of overnight respite provision for children with disabilities in the Cork area, and we are working to address that shortage. Applications for respite are made to a Regional Childrens Respite Forum, and the available respite is allocated on the basis of prioritised need.

She said the HSE will engage directly with the family, and said: In particular, we will examine whether alternative types of support or respite may be appropriate.

She added: Respite services are hugely important for young people with disabilities and for their families, and we sincerely apologise to young people and families affected by difficulties in accessing respite in the Cork area. We continue to work to re-open respite beds which have been closed, and we are working to further develop the provision of overnight respite services in Cork.

Desperate struggle for respite As the start of the new school year approaches, the normal last-minute actions like buying shoes and stationery will not be part of one East Cork mothers August chores. Instead, she is desperately seeking emergency respite for her 15-year-old son, who finds it too overwhelming to attend mainstream school. He should be starting third year and planning for his Junior Cert exams. Speaking to the Irish Examiner on the condition of anonymity to protect her family, the East Cork woman said: 'He is a boy in a mans body, but with all of those urges and hormones.' She lives in fear that, one day, he will kill her  because he has threatened to do so a number of times. The boy has been diagnosed with both autism and ADHD and is a student in an ASD unit in a mainstream second-level school. He is attending Camhs and the East Cork Disability Network Services. He cannot be sent to a special school because he does not have a diagnosis of an intellectual disability. His mother says that while he wants to attend school, he cannot as he is not on the same level as his peers socially and emotionally. She believes he needs to be a in special school, with peers, and able to avail of occupational therapy, speech therapy and life skills His sister is also autistic and has ADHD and dyspraxia, but is attending a unit in a special school in Cork city where she is getting on well. Their mother has been their sole carer for the past seven years. She feels guilty because she says a lot of her energy has to go into keeping her son stable. She fears her daughter is the forgotten child". "She craves going out, she wants and needs support to do simple things, like shopping in town for a day, but this is only a dream for her. She believes if he was attending a special school, he would be less stressed as he is in a setting now with neuro-typical students for some classes. He is on medication for anxiety and ADHD. The next step is anti-psychotic drugs but there is a hold on that because his heart rate is so high that he first has to be referred to a paediatric cardiologist so we are on hold until that is done. That will be through the public system, she says. She speaks of her desperation to secure respite, against a backdrop of a crisis in such services. According to Cork Kerry Community Healthcare  which has apologised to families affected by a lack of respite beds for children  difficulties in recruiting staff mean that unfortunately, there are not currently enough respite beds to meet demand in Cork, and in recent months not all beds have been open due to staffing shortages. Childrens respite in the Cork area is provided by a number of HSE-funded Section 38 and 39 agencies. A spokeswoman said: Both we and the Section 38 and 39 agencies sincerely regret the impact of these closures and we are working together to address this problem. We are committed to working with all the voluntary agencies involved to support them to open all these beds. Enable Ireland is being supported to increase its bed spaces from 138 to 828 per night. She said: While the recruitment environment is still difficult, Enable Ireland will be in a position to offer additional respite at the Lavanagh Centre from September, and access to this additional respite will be through the Regional Childrens Respite Forum. Respite applications have been and are being reviewed to commence planning for the children who will access the overnight respite. The Department of Education said it could not comment on individual cases but said a number of new special education places are coming on stream shortly.
A woman who was repeatedly raped by her father for nearly a decade of her childhood said she has forgiven him for the hell he put her through which included allowing two other men to sexually assault her.

Fiona Doyle (57) from Co Wicklow waived her right to anonymity in 2013 after Pat OBrien pleaded guilty to 16 counts of rape and indecent assault.

The case made international headlines when the late Justice Paul Carney sentenced OBrien to 12 years in prison, suspended the final nine years, and granted him bail pending an appeal.

'I know what I need and that is go to his funeral, and I need an end to this and so I had to go back and make that clear.' Fiona Doyle speaking to Alison O'Riordan. Picture: Moya Nolan

While the judge said it was one of the worst rape cases to ever come before him, he didnt jail OBrien because of his age (74) and ailing health.

However, following a public outcry, bail was revoked a few days later, and Justice Carney expressed his profound regret to Fiona Doyle.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) later appealed the sentencing, and Mr Justice Ryan agreed with the 12 years, but suspended three instead of the nine years that was ordered in the original judgement.

Patrick O'Brien of Old Court Avenue, Bray, Co Wicklow, was convicted in 2013 of the rape and indecent assault of his daughter, Fiona Doyle. Picture: Courtpix

Afterwards, Ms Doyle described her father as a monster who got what he deserves and she went on to write a bestselling book, Too Many Tears.

However, she has since undergone intense therapy and repaired many broken relationships.

In February this year she also visited her dying father to make peace with him.

I got very sick last year and nearly died, Ms Doyle told the Irish Examiner. My bowel burst, and I got sepsis and there were many complications.

The sentencing of Fiona Doyle's father caused a major controversy in January, 2013, leading to a rapid U-turn. 'Irish Examiner' subscribers can view the original pages on IrishExaminer.com.

I was in hospital from June to November. I thought I was going to die.

My sister came to see me, and we had not been talking. That was the start of the family reunion and a bigger understanding of myself. We booked into a hotel after I got well and decided to have it all put out on the table.

After we talked, it was the first time it dawned on me that my siblings, who were not raped or abused by our father, were affected by the case. We talked a lot of things out and began to see things from each others perspective.

Jim Doyle and Fiona Doyle with Ellen O'Malley Dunlop from the Rape Crisis Centre speaking to the media after the Court of Appeal decision to revise the sentence levied on Fiona's father, Patrick O'Brien. File picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

The effects of me speaking out had affected everyone and there was intergenerational trauma and alienation. I kinda saw them as selfish, but I do understand now where they are coming from.

We all decided the blame should be left at our fathers door and it wasnt ours anymore.

We got through it and I decided Im going to go and see my father who is now receiving palliative care in a nursing home.

Fiona Doyle has undergone therapy since the publication of her book, 'Too Many Tears'. File picture

Pat OBrien, who is now 82, is on oxygen and end-of-life care, was shocked at first to see Fiona, she says.

The look on his face, when I just turned up to confront him, she said.

I said: Hi dad, Im not here to row Im here to talk. So he relaxed a little. I know what I need and that is go to his funeral, and I need an end to this and so I had to go back and make that clear.

Fiona Doyle is now working on a second book with retired detective Alan Bailey (pictured) who told the Irish Examiner there is 'a lot to learn about intergenerational trauma'. Picture: Stephen Collins

He sensed the difference in my approach and my tone. Hes on a lot of oxygen now, its end-of-life care.

He did say, Im very sorry for what I did, and you have every right to feel the way you feel.

"But what I found was that it was me taking back power and control and showing him that I am not afraid.

I said: I heard you are not well, and you dont get visitors and I want you to know that, if something happens to you, I will be here and sit with you if needed.

He was thankful for that.

Ms Doyle learned that her father receives very few visitors, and she found the experience sad.

Fiona Doyle and her husband Jim embrace outside the Central Criminal Court after Mr Justice Paul Carney reversed his initial decision about bail and sent her father, Patrick O'Brien, to jail. File picture: Julien Behal/PA

He doesnt really have anyone, she continued. Its a pathetic sight. He had all that power over me and could do what he liked. Two others were also abusing me, and this just went on for years.

And then to see him there, having someone else in hospital wash, clean, and feed him. Thats what his life has come to.

During her case at the Dublin criminal courts, Fiona said her father had been sexually abusing her for as long as she could remember.

The assaults took place at their family home in Dun Laoghaire, south Dublin, from 1973 to 1982 when Fiona was a child.

Mother died before charges were brought At 13, she tested positive for a sexually-transmitted disease because of her father. She later made two serious attempts to end her own life. Patrick O'Brien and his wife Bridget (Breda) arriving at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin on January 24, 2013. Later, gardai had been preparing to charge Breda for not protecting her daughter but Fiona's mother died. File picture: Sam Boal Her mother, Breda OBrien blamed her for leading her father on. The gardai were preparing to charge Mrs OBrien for not protecting her daughter when she passed away. An uncle who raped Ms Doyle has also since died. And, after her fathers conviction, Ms Doyle reported his friend for raping her also. However, the man also died suddenly after he was questioned by gardai.

Speaking about forgiving her father, Ms Doyle said she knows that it could be hard for people to understand.

This might be shocking to hear she said, but family-related abuse is extremely common in Ireland.

What makes my abuse different is I dont have to think like this in regard to my uncle or my fathers friend who were also abusing me.

I dont have to forgive them. This is my father. I put a lot of thought into it and, when you come to a near-death experience in your own life, things change.

I was with my father for around an hour and talked about his health and we talked about what he misses in his life. He has lost a lot of contact.

Author and child abuse survivor Fiona Doyle visited her father recently. '[I]t was me taking back power and control and showing him that I am not afraid.' Picture: Moya Nolan

I did tell him Id ring him, and Id come back and visit again.

Fiona is now working on a second book with retired detective Alan Bailey, who told the Irish Examiner: It is her attempts trying to get her mother held accountable  and she died just as the DPP were reviewing the case.

Its a strong follow-up to her first book and there is a lot to learn about intergenerational trauma, he said.

 If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please click here for a list of support services.
It seems a bit like groundhog day. For over a decade, warning shots have been repeatedly fired across the bows of successive governments by the two Defence Forces representative associations forecasting that the countrys military was heading for a personnel meltdown, of which it is now very firmly in the grip.

A new survey of nearly 100 officers, the vast majority of whom have quit the military well before mandatory retirement age, lays bare yet again the reasons personnel are leaving in their droves and it makes quite stark reading.

Raco, the Representative Organisation for Commissioned Officers, first carried out a survey of its members who quit the Defence Forces in 2020. Three years on, little has changed, except the numbers quitting the countrys military continue at an alarming rate.

In 2020, Raco carried out an exit poll of officers and discovered, not to its surprise, that factors which had led them to quit included a very poor work/life balance and poor working conditions, while the hardships they had endured, including lengthy spells away from their families, were not reflected in the remuneration they received.

At that time, 63% of those who quit far before mandatory retirement age said pay was a lot better in the new careers they had taken up.

The same issues have cropped up again in Racos latest survey, begging the question, is anybody in power listening? And if they are, they will have to come up with far better ways of retaining people, especially the highly trained personnel.

The real shame, according to the latest survey, published in Racos in-house Signal magazine, is that many who quit readily admit that they thoroughly enjoyed the time they spent in the army, navy, or air corps, but felt their service was not appreciated.

The exodus of very experienced officers must be worrying to those left. Now, 37% of all officers across all three wings of the military have an average of less than five years service under their belts.

Read More Officers would not recommend Defence Forces career to friends or relatives, survey shows

In 2020, the exit poll respondents said the relationship between the military and the Department of Defence was generally dysfunctional, alleging the latter is inhibiting improvements in the Defence Forces.

This has not changed, as in the latest survey several respondents claimed some senior military management was too deferential to civilian heads in the Department of Defence, which, respondents said, is involved far too much in micro-managing the day-to-day running of the Defence Forces.

The survey highlighted a general feeling that career progression is poor, many are being disadvantaged by having to spend long periods away from their families, and accommodation is less than suitable in many military barracks outside of the main hubs of Dublin, Cork, and Kildare.

Respondents also said there is no policy to enhance remote working where possible to make their work/life balance more tolerable.

In a finding that is of major concern to Raco, 78% of those surveyed did not have an official exit interview with military management. However, if a recruit quits during training, an exit interview is routinely carried out by military management to find out why.

The effective strength of the military is far lower than the official figures released by the Department of Defence.

The slide in numbers continues unabated. When Raco carried out its first survey in 2020, figures from the end of September that year showed there were a total of 8,529 personnel across the whole of the Defence Forces. At that time, the army had 6,878 personnel, whereas it was supposed to have a minimum of 7,520. It was at 88.8% of its strength. The air corps stood at 752 where it should have had 886, representing a strength of 84.9%. The navy should have had a minimum of 1,094 personnel but had 899, or just 82.2% of its minimum strength.

The latest figures available for 2023, correlated on May 31, show the whole strength of the Defence Forces had shrunk to 7,764 personnel.

The army was at 6,305 (83.8% strength), the air corps was at 704 (79.5% strength), and the navy fared even worse, reduced to 755 personnel and a strength of just 69%.

The Irish Examiner understands the figures have fallen again and the effective strength of the military  those who can be put into action today  is far lower than the official figures released by the Department of Defence.

Former defence minister Simon Coveney once said he wanted a younger age profile in the countrys military and having highly trained people leaving the Defence Forces for other jobs could only ultimately benefit the nations economy.

That may be true to a certain extent, and there is no doubt that such people, who have learnt discipline and work ethic while in the military, are highly prized. But the private sector has benefitted from taxpayers money training these men and women to protect the State.

Mr Coveney said he wanted a fitter and younger military. The trouble is that the exit poll shows the fitter, younger, and highly educated are not staying either. To make matters worse, the same type of people are not signing up any more either.

Retention is in free-fall and recruitment is nowhere near what is needed, which must be especially worrying for the powers-that-be as the country has all but full employment and private sector companies will more than match what the Defence Forces can offer in remuneration and conditions.

Raco general secretary Lieutenant Colonel Conor King, whose association represents around 1,100 officers, said the latest survey shows that military service is now considered by many young officers as a JobBridge exercise as it is good for the training and CV but is no longer, as it was in the past, looked upon as a lifetime career.

He said the reduction in pension entitlements introduced for new entrants in 2013 is having a negative impact on young officers staying in the forces. The previous pension entitlements, he said, had made up for the relatively average pay and inferior working conditions endured in the Defence Forces.

Some 28% of those surveyed by Raco said they would not recommend serving in the Defence Forces to a family member.

Of those, 58% said they would only recommend it for five to 10 years and just 3% said they would recommend it as a lifetime career.

In a further damning insight into low morale, 22% said they still would not recommend it as a viable career even with an improvement in pay, allowances, pensions, and working hours.

Lt Col King pointed out that retaining experience is where the Defence Forces falls down.

Improved working conditions and a fair work/life balance are only guaranteed by the introduction of the Working Time Directive [and] would no doubt improve retention, said Lt Col King.

In total, 43% of those surveyed cited working conditions as a critical factor in their decision to leave, reinforced by over-work, where they were double- or triple-jobbing.

If resources could be invested to match, not even exceed, requirements, the Defence Forces would be a much more attractive working environment for all officers.

The survey showed that the vast majority of those who served are proud of their service in the Defence Forces and enjoyed it immensely.

It provided them with fantastic and varied life experiences all over the globe, friendships that have stood the test of time, and valuable education and skills that they continue to utilise in their new careers.

Many of those surveyed expressed a continued willingness to serve the State, with 47% willing to commit their time, effort, and experience for the continued benefit of the Defence Forces, if there was an ability to do so through joining the First Line Reserve now, for example. This is an immensely valuable, but underutilised, resource, he said.

The number of officers taking early retirements tripled from the 2020 survey to the latest one. None of those surveyed in the recent poll said covid was a reason for them quitting even though there was huge pressure on the Defence Forces at the time to aid the Governments effort in the face of the pandemic.

Instead, other issues were at play in their decision-making.

Of those who left, 94% had overseas service and 58% of them had undertaken three or more foreign tours of duty. One had done 12.

In the Raco survey, an officer is quoted as saying that they got no exit interview from their bosses and, therefore, regarded it as no recognition of service.

'Impersonal, disappointing'

It was very impersonal and disappointing after dedicating a significant part of my young adult life to the organisation, added the officer.

Another said that having sought a discharge there had been no approach from military HR to ascertain the reasons for leaving. The officer readily admitted that some interaction may have made them change their mind, but the lack of engagement reinforced their decision to quit as the organisation does not value its members.

The officer added that only after they had left, HR decided to do an exit interview. Any such interviews, either before or after leaving, appear to be a rarity.

Working conditions were identified by 43% of respondents as being a critical factor in their decision to leave the Defence Forces early.

A shortage of officers and multi-tasking to plug the gaps was also identified as a reason to quit.

One officer told the survey that they were completely overstretched and received no support or understanding from senior military management when they could not possibly reach all the targets imposed on them.

There was an attitude of not my problem [from senior management], the officer told the Raco interview.

Another officer referred to the inadequate pay they got for doing the job.

Current pay scales are not sufficient to compete with the private sector, said the officer. The organisation cannot recruit its way out of the retention crisis. The messaging to government has failed to produce any substantive change for the front-line units. I served at multiple levels in the organisation and saw at first hand the disconnect between the strategic level and the front line. There appears to be a general reticence to speak the truth to the political authority and to communicate the systematic risks that the nation is actively ignoring through its failures of defence policy and defence strategy.

Another said that chronic under-staffing and lack of resources and being constantly spread so thin meant they were firefighting and being forced into doing a mediocre job.

When it came to more flexible working arrangements, 26% of those who quit said they may have stayed if these were in place, a similar figure said maybe, but 48% gave a definitive no response.

One officer who responded to this problem, in particular, told the survey: Everybody is focussed on big projects that will take years to implement to solve the recruitment/retention problems.

Yet they [senior management] are ignoring simple, quick-fix measures like hybrid working. Increase the number of remote laptops available and develop an agreed policy that promotes hybrid working.

This is something that could be done at a relatively low cost in a month and would be a huge retention measure across the whole organisation.

Raco general secretary Lieutenant Colonel Conor King said the latest survey shows that military service is no longer looked on as a lifetime career.

Nearly everyone who took part in the Raco poll has found a new job. Of those, 63% found employment in the private sector with the remainder going to work in the public sector. In the latter, many jumped into very highly paid grades.

The majority cited their new jobs as being less onerous in terms of being away from their families; in many cases, with better pay and working conditions as well.

As far back as 2015, University of Limerick (UL) boffins undertook a Climate Survey of Defence Forces members which highlighted even then the dysfunctional turnover of personnel, which was obviously compromising operational capability, governance, safety and wellbeing of military personnel.

Lt Col King said that Raco had repeatedly highlighted a lack of safe manning levels and basic infrastructure, not only at their conferences every year since 2015, but in their regular engagements with senior military management.

Enlisted personnel

PDForra, the association which represents enlisted personnel, started firing warning shots on the issue just a couple of years previously. The exodus of enlisted personnel is even more pronounced than officers.

Eight years on from the definitive UL survey, the issues across the board have got even worse and personnel are continuing to vote with their feet.

Many retired senior officers across the army, navy, and air corps have told the Irish Examiner they believe the personnel crisis is now on a cliff edge and in terms of the navy may have gone beyond the point of no return.

They say that successive governments, who did not listen to the warnings, have left us all but defenceless, not just in the face of a foreign enemy but in terms of even having the capabilities to counter subversive elements who might start flexing their muscles again in this country.

The latest survey should be taken in conjunction with a changing world. The Russians pose a major threat to transatlantic seabed communications cables off our coast, which transmit multiple millions of daily transactions between North America and Europe. The navy cannot counter this threat and can barely mount sea fishery patrols or drug interceptions. The army struggles to put enough soldiers into the field on foreign and domestic duties, and we have no fighter jets to intercept suspect aircraft entering our airspace.
The Taliban have settled in as rulers of Afghanistan, two years after they seized power as US and NATO forces withdrew from the country following two decades of war.

The Taliban face no significant opposition that could topple them. They have avoided internal divisions by falling in line behind their ideologically unbending leader.

They have kept a struggling economy afloat, in part by holding investment talks with capital-rich regional countries, even as the international community withholds formal recognition. They have improved domestic security through crackdowns on armed groups such as the Islamic State, and say they are fighting corruption and opium production.

But its their slew of bans on Afghan girls and women that dominated the Talibans second year in charge.

They barred them from parks, gyms, universities, and jobs at non-governmental groups and the United Nations  all in the space of a few months  allegedly because they werent wearing proper hijab, the Islamic head covering, or violated gender segregation rules. These orders followed a previous ban, issued in the first year of Taliban rule, on girls going to school beyond sixth grade.

Why did they exclude women from higher education, most jobs and public spaces?

The Taliban say they are committed to implementing their interpretation of Islamic law, or Sharia, in Afghanistan. This leaves no space for anything they think is foreign or secular, such as women working or studying.

Its what drove them in the late 1990s, when they first seized power in Afghanistan, and it propels them now, ever since they took control again on August 15, 2021.

Their supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has praised the changes imposed since the takeover, claiming life improved for Afghan women after foreign troops left and the hijab became mandatory again.

What was the response to these bans?

Foreign governments, rights groups, and global bodies condemned the restrictions. The UN said they were a major obstacle to the Taliban gaining international recognition as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.

Overseas aid is drying up as major donors stop their funding, pulled in different directions by other crises and worried their money might fall into Taliban hands.

The lack of funds, as well as the exclusion of Afghan women from delivering essential humanitarian services, is hitting the population hard, pushing more people into poverty.

What are living conditions like in Afghanistan?

Nearly 80% of the previous, Western-backed Afghan governments budget came from the international community. That money  now largely cut off  financed hospitals, schools, factories and government ministries.

The covid-19 pandemic, medical shortages, climate change and malnutrition have made life more desperate for Afghans. Aid agencies have stepped into the breach to provide basic services like health care.

Afghanistan is struggling with its third consecutive year of drought-like conditions, the ongoing collapse in families income, and restrictions on international banking. Its also still suffering from decades of war and natural disasters.

How is the economy doing?

The World Bank said last month that the local currency, the afghani, gained value against major currencies. Customers can withdraw more money from individual deposits made before August 2021 and most civil servants are being paid. The World Bank described revenue collection as healthy and said most basic items remained available, although demand is low.

Read More Security forces break up protest by Afghan women against beauty salon ban

The Taliban have held investment talks with countries in the region, including China and Kazakhstan. They want sanctions removed and billions of dollars in frozen funds to be released, saying these measures will alleviate the suffering of Afghans. But the international community will only take such steps once the Taliban take certain actions, including lifting restrictions on women and girls.

How likely are the Taliban to change direction?

Its largely up to the Taliban leader, Akhundzada. The cleric counts like-minded government ministers and Islamic scholars among his circle. He is behind the decrees on women and girls. His edicts, framed in the language of Islamic law, are absolute. The bans will only be lifted if Akhundzada orders it.

Some Taliban figures have spoken out against the way decisions are made, and there has been disagreement about the bans on women and girls. But the Talibans chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid slammed these reports as propaganda.

The secret of their success is that they are united, Abdul Salam Zaeef, who served as the Taliban envoy to Pakistan when they ruled Afghanistan in the 1990s, said. If someone expresses his opinion or his thoughts, it doesnt mean someone is against the leadership or will go to another side, said Zaeef who spent several years at the Guantanamo Bay detention centre after the 2001 US invasion.

Disagreements are put in front of the emir (Akhundzada) and he decides. They follow his word.

What about international recognition?

Aid officials say the Taliban view recognition as an entitlement, not something to be negotiated. The officials also cite high-level meetings with powerful states like China and Russia as signs that the Taliban are building bilateral relations in their own way.

Qatars prime minister met Akhundzada in the southwestern Afghan city of Kandahar in June, the first-such publicly known meeting between the supreme leader and a foreign official.

Even though the Taliban are officially isolated on the global stage, they appear to have enough interactions and engagement for ties with countries to inch toward normalization.

Hibatullah Akhundzada has claimed life improved for Afghan women after foreign troops left and the hijab became mandatory again. File photo: Afghan Islamic Press via AP

Co-operation with the Taliban on narcotics, refugees and counter-terrorism is of interest globally, including to the West. Countries like China, Russia and neighboring Pakistan want an end to sanctions.

The political interactions are such that no country in the region is thinking of bringing Afghanistan under their power or control, said Zaeef. He said the Talibans foreign outreach is hampered by blacklists preventing officials from traveling, and by lacking common ground with the rest of the world.

What opposition is there to the Taliban?

Theres no armed or political opposition with enough domestic or foreign support to topple the Taliban. A fighting force resisting Taliban rule from the Panjshir Valley north of Kabul is being violently purged. Public protests are rare.

The Islamic State has struck high-profile targets in deadly bombings, including two government ministries, but the militants lack fighters, money and other resources to wage a major offensive against the Taliban.
The mother of George Harrison wrote she was really ashamed I was a female after she watched screaming fans at a Beatles concert.

Louise Harrison told teenager Janet Gray about the Beatlemania scenes she witnessed at a gig in Manchester in November 1963.

Janet, from Crosby, Liverpool, sent fan mail to the Harrison family home in Mackets Lane, Woolton, on a weekly basis from 1963 to 1966.

Mrs Harrison diligently answered thousands of letters from fans around the world.

Their correspondence was intimate as Mrs Harrison took a keen interest in the teenagers personal life as she shared the exploits of her son as his fame soared.

Louise Harrison, the mother of Beatle George Harrison, replied to thousands of items of fan mail (Beatles Shop/PA)

In a letter sent in November 1963, she wrote: Dear Janet, I dont know anything about your mothers letter. I did not have one yet.

I do hope my writing to you is not the cause of any trouble at home. For if so I will definitely not write any more.

Last Wednesday I went to Manchester and I was really disgusted at the way the so-called fans just screamed right through the whole of the Beatles act.

Nobody with any sense would pay and queue for a ticket just to stand on a seat and scream and not hear one sound from the stage. I was really ashamed I was a female.

Now Janet I hope you will try and remember that your mum is your best friend, even if you dont see eye to eye on some issues. Thank God I get on fine with all my 4 children and they with each other.

Anyhow I shall pray that everything will be just fine for you in the very near future. Lots of love Louise Harrison.

PS I have about 90 letters not opened yet and hundreds opened awaiting replys (sic).

In another reply in July 1964, she said: Dear Janet This will have to be short.

George was home for two days or rather nights  out all day rehearsing at Blackpool. George was not hurt Thank God in crash.

Oh Im surprised at you believing rot about Paul. What on earth makes you believed it, I dont.

You seem to be having a good time eh! I want to get away this weekend.

I must close now for shopping. Love Louise Harrison

A letter from Louise Harrison, mother of George Harrison, to Beatles fan Janet Gray (Beatles Shop/PA)

Thanks for snap its very good.

In September 1964, she wrote: Dear Janet, Ive been in Surrey 5 weeks.

George was there 5 days before I came home. He is very thin but OK.

Glad to hear you have a boyfriend. Hope you pass the GCE OK. Im so busy I could scream. 3000 letters to answer at least. So Ill say cheerio for now.

Nearly two years later in August 1966, she wrote: Dear Janet, I have just been away on holiday touring around France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany and now I am back to about 500 letters and so I am afraid this will have to be rather short.

I am hoping the boys will have a successful tour of America despite all the rumours we have heard.

Congratulations and good luck to your brother. Sorry to hear of your misfortune with the moped. You are very lucky to get such good pay.

I hope your mum enjoyed Lucerne, we were there.

Best wishes Louise Harrison.

A series of 25 letters in reply from Mrs Harrison have been put up for sale by the family of the late Ms Gray.

They will be among items listed at the Liverpool Beatles Memorabilia Auction which takes place in the city on Saturday August 26.

Further details can be found at www.beatlesauction.co.uk
Former Pakistani senator Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar was sworn in on Monday as the countrys prime minister to head a caretaker national government that will oversee parliamentary elections amid one of the worst economic crises the Islamic nation has faced, officials said.

Mr Kakar, who is comparatively new to politics and known to be close to the powerful military, has been representing his Baluchistan province in the Senate since 2018.

President Arif Alvi administered the oath of office to him in a brief ceremony in Islamabad.

Pakistani President Arif Alvi, right, administers the oath to caretaker prime minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar during a ceremony in Islamabad (Pakistan President Office/AP)

On Sunday, Mr Kakar quit as the head of his small Baluchistan Awami Party and as a senator after being named by outgoing premier Shehbaz Sharif and opposition leader Raza Riaz to oversee the vote and run the day-to-day affairs of the country until the people elect a new government.

It is normal practice in Pakistan to appoint a caretaker administration for the election period.

Under the constitution, the election should take place in the next 90 days.

Navy personnel escort provincial government officials to lay wreaths on the mausoleum of Pakistan found Muhammad Ali Jinnah during Independence Day celebrations in Karachi (Fareed Khan/AP)

The swearing-in took place as Pakistanis celebrated the countrys 76th Independence Day, but the events took place amid a deepening political turmoil, which started after the removal of former premier Imran Khan from power last year.

Pakistan gained independence when the departing British left India and split the subcontinent in 1947.

Mondays festivities began with gun salutes in the capital, Islamabad, and in each of the four provincial capitals.

In Islamabad, President Arif Alvi hoisted the national flag at a ceremony attended by officials and other dignitaries.

Pakistani President Arif Alvi hoists the national flag during Independence Day commemorations in Islamabad (Press Information Department/AP)

Security was high across the nation following multiple attacks at the weekend, including an assault in which Chinese working on a construction project escaped unharmed but two militants were killed when troops quickly returned fire in the coastal town of Gwadar in Baluchistan province.

On Sunday, a journalist, Jan Mohammad Mahar, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen as he was heading home in Sukkur, a district in southern Sindh province, police said. However, the motive behind the killing was unclear and officers said they are still investigating.

In his overnight farewell address to the nation, Mr Sharif asked his countrymen to make the right decision when they go to vote. He blamed Mr Khan for the economic crisis the country was facing when he came to power.

Mr Sharif replaced Mr Khan in April 2022 when he was ousted in a no-confidence vote in parliament.

A vendor holds balloons in the colours of the national flag and reading Happy Independence Day at a market in Peshawar (Muhammad Sajjad/AP)

Mr Khan was sentenced to three years in prison in a corruption case earlier this month and is currently being held at the high-security Attock prison in eastern Punjab province.

But he remains a popular opposition politician and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party is expected to give a tough time to his main rival Mr Sharifs ruling Pakistan Muslim League party in the elections.

Mr Khan himself would be unable to take part in the election unless his conviction is overturned as no-one with a criminal conviction can lead a party, run in elections or hold public office. He is appealed against the conviction.
At least 17 Myanmar junta forces as well as a resistance fighter were killed in the last three days as Peoples Defense Force groups (PDFs) and ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) stepped up attacks on regime targets across the country.

In one case, ethnic Chin resistance forces raided a military battalion, occupying an arsenal.

Incidents were reported in Sagaing, Magwe and Mandalay regions and Chin, Shan, Kayah and Karen states.

The Irrawaddy has collected the following reports of significant attacks from PDFs and EAOs.

Some military casualty figures could not be independently verified.

Junta soldiers killed in resistance ambush in Sagaing



PDF fighters ambush regime forces on motorbikes in Ayadaw Township on Sunday. / Ayadaw Post

At least four regime troops were killed in Ayadaw Township, Sagaing Region on Saturday when four resistance groups ambushed eight regime forces from Naung Gyi Ai police station, according to the Ayadaw Post, a local revolutionary media outlet.

The junta troops were attacked while going shopping on four motorbikes. During the attack, two were killed on the spot. Regime forces fled from the ambush site after abandoning their motorbikes and the bodies of two dead soldiers. Two more junta troops died of serious injuries on Sunday.

Pro-junta village raided in Sagaing

The PDF group Bagan Ogre Force told local media that it and around 10 local resistance groups managed to occupy and burn down the pro-junta village of Kuu Toe Seik in Shwebo Township, Sagaing Region last Friday.

The village is a base of 50 junta troops and all villagers are believed to be pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee militia members, said the PDF group. After two hours of raids, regime forces and Pyu Saw Htee militias fled to a nearby village despite being reinforced with more regime forces.

A militia member was arrested. All resistance groups retreated from the village after running out of ammunition.

Regime targets killed in resistance drone strikes in Sagaing



Local resistance groups conduct drone strikes on regime targets in Shwebo Township on Saturday. / Wild Tiger PDF

At least three regime forces were killed in Shwebo Township, Sagaing Region on Saturday when resistance groups conducted done strikes on regime targets in two locations, said Wild Tiger PDF, which coordinated the attacks.

First, the resistance group used a drone to drop two 60-mm improvised bombs on regime forces and Pyu Saw Htee militia transporting injured soldiers and militia members from Kuu Toe Seik Village to a hospital on Saturday morning.

The regime group was bombarded while using a destroyed bridge to cross a creek. One soldier was killed.

On the same day, the resistance group continued to conduct drone strikes on a military logistics unit in Zee Phyu Kone Village while transporting rations to a military base at the village.

Two more soldiers were killed and two others injured in the bombardment, said the PDF group.

Military vessel ambushed in Sagaing



Resistance forces ambush a military vessel on the Chindwin River in Salingyi Township on Saturday. / Hero Fighters

The PDF group Hero Fighter (Salingyi) said it and other resistance groups ambushed a military vessel with 20 soldiers traveling on the Chindwin River in Salingyi Township, Sagaing Region on Saturday.

The vessel from the base of the North West Military Command in Monywa was ambushed on its return trip after transporting rations and ammunition to a military unit in Salingyi Township.

During the ambush, one heavy explosive hit the vessel. Military casualties were unknown.

Military bases bombed by drones in Sagaing



Resistance forces conduct drone strikes on a military base in Alal Kyun Village in Kani Township last Friday. / KLG PDF

Kyauk Lone Gyi PDF said it and other resistance groups used makeshift remote-controlled airplanes to bomb regime bases at a police station and junta-run township General Administration Department offices as well as in the pro-regime village of Alal Kyun in Kani Township, Sagaing Region on Saturday and last Friday.

During the drone strikes on regime targets in the town of Kani, eight regime forces suffered injuries, said the PDF group citing military informants.

Military unit ambushed by resistance snipers in Sagaing



A resistance sniper takes part in an ambush against regime forces in Chaung-U Township last Friday. / Delta Force Taung Tha

A regime soldier was killed in Chaung-U Township, Sagaing Region last Friday when snipers of two resistance groups ambushed a military unit of 30 troops patrolling in the east of the township, claimed Delta Force Thaung Tha, which joined the attack.

Military battalion raided in Chin

At least six regime soldiers as well as a resistance fighter were killed in Falam Township, Chin State early on Saturday when ethnic Chin resistance groups including the Chin National Army (CNA), the armed wing of the Chin National Front, raided the headquarters of military Infantry Battalion 268, according to local Chin media outlets.

In the raid, several military weapons including a .50 caliber machine gun were seized by the resistance groups.

Heavy clash breaks out in Kayah

A large quantity of military weapons and ammunition was seized in Hpruso Township, Kayah State on Saturday when Karenni resistance groups clashed with regime forces, according to local media reports citing the Karenni Army (KA), the armed wing of the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP).

During an hour of fighting, junta forces conducted air strikes on resistance targets.

Casualties were unknown for either side.

Police station, military headquarters bombed in Karen

At least three regime forces and associates, including the wife of a battalion commander, were injured in Kawkareik Township, Karen State on Saturday when drone units of the resistance group Galon Column used drones to bomb a police station and the base of military Light Infantry Battalion 545 based in Kyondoe town, said the resistance group.

A military vehicle was also damaged in the drone strikes. Two civilians were injured when the regime bases indiscriminately responded with heavy explosives.

Clashes continue in northern Shan

Ethnic rebel group the Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA) said an intense clash broke out between it and a military unit of 60 troops near a village in Lashio Township, northern Shan State last Friday. Casualties on both sides were unknown.

After the clash, the junta deployed a large numbers of regime forces to the area. Between July 23 and Aug. 12, around 12 clashes between the TNLA and junta forces broke out in northern Shan State.

Junta patrol members killed in Magwe



PDF groups ambush soldiers patrolling on motorbikes in Myaing Township on Saturday night. / MVRF

Myaing Villages Revolution Front (MVRF) claimed to have killed three junta soldiers as it and other resistance groups ambushed three soldiers patrolling on two motorbikes in Myaing town, Magwe Region on Saturday night.

Two military weapons were seized in the ambush.

Regime forces injured in drone strikes in Mandalay

Three junta forces were injured in Ngazun Township, Mandalay Region on Sunday when six resistance groups used drones to drop six bombs on 30 regime forces in Kan Thar Village, said Black Eagle Defense Force (Myinmu), which coordinated the attack.

Regime forces bombed in Mandalay

Many regime forces are believed to have been killed or injured in Thabeikkyin Township, Mandalay Region on Sunday when Kyar Nyat PDF triggered land mines to ambush military vehicles and junta units from four locations in the township, said the resistance group.
Ethnic Chin resistance groups claimed to have penetrated the headquarters of a military battalion in Falam town, Chin State on Saturday, inflicting many junta casualties and seizing an arsenal.

At 1 a.m. on Saturday, the Chin National Army (CNA), the armed wing of the Chin National Front (CNF), and two other Chin resistance groups raided the militarys Light Infantry Battalion 268 in Falam, a CNA official told the media.

After two hours of fighting, the joint resistance forces managed to occupy the arsenal after penetrating the military base, seizing ammunition and over 10 weapons including an M2 .50 caliber machine gun, according to the resistance group.

In the clash, six regime forces were killed and nine injured, claimed the CNA official.

The Irrawaddy was unable to independently verify the military casualties.

Resistance fighter Ko Wunna Tun, the deputy commander of Battalion 4 of the Chin Defense Force (Kalay, Kabaw, Gangaw), was also killed in the clash, said the resistance group, which joined the raid.

After the resistance raids, the military base randomly shelled nearby villages using 120-mm, 80-mm and 40-mm explosives, injuring three civilians including a child.

In retaliation for the resistance raid, the junta used fighter jets to bomb Ramthlo Village on the Falam-Hakha highway, 35 km south of Falam town, at noon, destroying some houses and a church, according to Chin media outlets.

Seven residents suffered injuries in the air strikes.

On Monday morning, junta fighter jets also bombed Khuafo Village in Thantlang Township, destroying at least three houses and a church.

The air strike came after Chin resistance groups led by the CNA reportedly occupied a junta base during a raid in Thantlang town, according to Chin media outlet Khonuthung.

On March 30, the junta used fighter jets to bomb Khuafo Village, killing at least 10 residents including children.
Intense clashes continue to rage in Myanmars smallest state, Kayah, after the junta sent in heavy reinforcements in an effort to gain control over the resistance stronghold last month, according to local resistance sources.

The junta also conducted air strikes on both civilian targets and conflict zones for four consecutive days between Aug. 10 and 13, according to the Karenni Human Rights Group (KnHRG).

A church and three houses were damaged by junta air strikes in Htee Thaw Ku Village on Saturday. They also conducted air strikes in Shadaw Township near the border between Myanmar and Thailand yesterday, a representative of the aid group said.

No civilian casualties were reported, according to the group.

Clashes have rocked Loikaw, Demoso and Hpruso townships since early August when three columns of junta forces began advancing along Pyidaungsu Road between Demoso and Hprsuso townships.

On Sunday, combined resistance forces of the Karenni Army (KA) and the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) seized a large quantity of weapons and ammunition after ambushing junta troops stationed in Htee Thaw Ku Village in Hpruso Township on Saturday.

The battle lasted about one hour and junta troops were backed by air strikes and shelling, according to the resistance forces.

The death toll among junta troops remains unknown.

KNDF Battalion 14 reported on Sunday that combined resistance forces attacked a junta column on Loikaw-Shadaw Road on Aug. 11, killing at least four junta forces and injuring many others.

On Aug. 9, resistance forces clashed with junta troops near Hprusos Ka Dar Lar Village.

A KNDF member was killed during the clash, according to KNDF Battalion 14.

Meanwhile, security has been tightened in Loikaw town after junta troops were ambushed by allied resistance forces on Aug. 9.

At least three junta forces were killed and seven injured according to the Karenni Army (KA).

The Irrawaddy was unable to verify the number of junta casualties.

Transportation of food supplies, medicine and commodities from Loikaw Township is tightly restricted, according to local volunteers.

Severe food shortages are possible in the coming months due to the juntas restrictions and surging prices, a volunteer said.

Aid groups said around 100,000 people are in need of urgent food supplies and healthcare

assistance.
SiGMA Asia achieves headline success in Manila

The SiGMA Asia Summit in Manila, was nothing short of a sensational success making headlines and an incise industry impact as it hosted over 12,000 delegates in the Philippine capitals largest convention centre, the SMX.

A national influence

The eagerly anticipated event was most notably endorsed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) a highly influential agency in the Southeast Asian nations gaming industry.

An objective SiGMA Group has brought to fruition in hosting this Summit was to bring our vast network in the West to the most influential and significant forces within the Philippine and Asian sectors.

Opening Ceremony

Embraced with open arms, PAGCORs Chairman and CEO, Alejandro H. Tengco was present with SiGMA Group Founder, Eman Pulis to open this, SiGMA Asias very first event.

Presented with a gifted portrait from SiGMA in recognition of PAGCORs inspirational support of the event, the Chairman also took to the stage to give an opening keynote address.

Beginning by expressing gratitude for all the hard work he inherited as Chairman of the corporation, Tengco brought an abundance of local industry insights in the form of PAGCORs plans for the future.

He stated:

Engagements like this are an effective platform to communicate the organisations drive to revitalise the gaming sector in the Philippines. Ensure integrity of gaming industry, seamlessness in curbing illegal gaming operations.

Tengco touched on numerous aspects of PAGCORs plans, such as the upgrade and revisiting of regulations and the accompanying regulatory manuals, new project launches, revenue efforts to sustain nation-building projects by the government of the Philippines as well as the landmark shift of the organisation to purely regulatory duties.

Highlighting the cutting edge and recognising excellence

The first day of the Internationally acclaimed event was closed by the SiGMA Asia Awards, which brought an evening of prestige and buzzing excitement to the Conrad Hotels Grand Ballroom.

The generously sponsored BetConstruct-event recognised a total of 26 outstanding companies, showcasing their cutting-edge projects, exceptional services and innovative achievements.

The event also honoured Alejandro Tengco once again for his and PAGCORs outstanding contributions to the global gaming sector.

The event was not concluded with the last award, however, as a charity auction in support of the philanthropic organisation, SiGMA Foundation.

Several unique artworks were up for grabs in the spirited bidding contest that included an enigmatic portrait of Filipino national hero and legendary boxer Manny Pacquiao, which sold for 4,000.

SiGMA Foundation

SiGMA Groups philanthropic arm has long sought to make a positive difference in various affected areas across the world.

The inaugural SiGMA Asia Summit gave the Foundation an opportunity to interact with its esteemed platform when Board Chairperson, Mr Keith Marshall took to the SiGMA/AGS stage the morning after the SiGMA Asia Awards.

He made an impassioned statement about the enthusiastic and careful work that continues to be carried out:

I am so glad that the Foundation was given a voice to strive for the voiceless. Putting me on the SiGMA stage here to discuss what we do and how we can collectively work to appease the plight of so many souls across Ethiopia, Colombia and the Philippines has been inspiring. Lets continue doing what we can, when we can, for whom we can.

Incisive keynotes and re-imaginative industry discussions

SiGMA Summits are world-renowned for the industry-leading insights that are brought to the events and for the uplifting visibility the platform provides to innovative new ideas.

SiGMA Asias maiden event brought innumerable fresh, industry-moulding discussions from global sector leaders.

Esports Industry in the Coming Age of AI

One example of this was a panel dedicated to understanding artificial intelligence (AI) in the context of the Esports industry.

The panel featured Shin Boo Ponferrada a true Esports authority, who brought decisive knowledge to the discussion. He discussed with his fellow panel members Marco Kowalevski Starzz LLC Founder, Co-Founder of Daredevil Media Jared Dillinger, and Alex Chernavin, Senior Development Manager at Oddin.gg.

A range of diverse topics was discussed, such as AI nullifying the ability for players to cheat using unauthorised information, the nostalgic importance of many esports concepts and components and the profound capabilities AI has to enhance seminal areas of the sector such as first-person shooter offerings.

Marketing beyond your target market

Entrepreneurial visionary and award-winning DJ, Clinton Sparks also made a conference appearance.

Giving a keynote address where he re-centred numerous marketing techniques, Sparks focused on expanding companies beyond their current target markets and unlocking the true potential of the gaming industry.

Acknowledging the negative perceptions that many have regarding the gaming industry, Sparks explains how an enterprise can use new approaches that focus on alternative language and connect with people on a more personal level.

The truly positive impact gaming has had and how bringing a diverse approach to communicating with numerous audiences across various platforms was also touched upon in the highly informative speech.

Start-ups and sensational opportunities

SiGMA Asia also gave a host of cutting-edge start-ups an unparalleled opportunity to showcase their most unique concepts and viable ideas to the industry-leading delegation in the form of SiGMAs coveted exhibition floor.

An impressive number of start-ups were set up across the SMX Convention Center in colourfully exciting booths to display their enterprising ideas in the most creative way imaginable.

SiGMA Pitch

The SiGMA Pitch Competition also saw a return, bringing an even greater opportunity to 6 carefully selected start-ups from the expo floor.

These chosen enterprises were given the prestigious opportunity to Pitch their most unique concepts live on stage before a panel of seasoned professionals and industry-moulding individuals.

Although every contestant benefited significantly from the inspiringly positive exposure, Credexon emerged as the biggest winner, taking the prize with great delight while stating:

It was really nice for SiGMA to recognise us and to be able to bring something different while still being acknowledged by the market.

Centurion FC

MMA fight promotion Centurion also made its pulsating presence known, bringing an interesting format to Casa Ibarra, Manila, on the fight card titled: CFC Rex Orientem.

Attendees exuberant witnessed a thrilling 4-man tournament which culminated in the main event title-awarding bout.

This event marked the fourth and pen-ultimate 4-man tournament forming part of the Centurion FC series intended to climax at the Champions of Champions event later this year where an undisputed Champion will rise above the rest of the field.

Sunset on SiGMA Asia

Hosting numerous inaugurating events this year, SiGMAs Asia Summit was no exception to the great successes SiGMA group continues to enjoy.

Bringing unparalleled networking opportunities that connect industry leaders, regulatory powers, innovative start-ups and impactful affiliates together, creating intrinsic industry bonds and a far more supportive infrastructure surrounding the globally significant gaming sector.

Held against the storied backdrop of both a historic and emerging hub in the Philippine capital of Manila, the SiGMA Asia Summit achieved the ambitious objectives set by the organisation to the highest level with only more exceptional events to follow.

SiGMA Balkans/CIS

As a globally recognised nexus for networking, SiGMA Group sets its sights next to the Balkans this September, when the SIGMA Balkans/CIS Summit heads to Limassol Cyprus.

A host of networking opportunities and industry-leading knowledge will be emanating from the much-anticipated event which will pack panel discussions, keynote speeches, start-up pitches and much more into 3 days in the diverse Cypriot city.

Quelle: S.G. Worldwide Media Company Ltd
Monday, Aug 14th, 2023 (9:23 am) - Score 4,152

Some 400 homes across the rural Oxfordshire (England) village of Ardington have been left disconnected from their broadband and phone services for almost two weeks, which occurred after criminals stole more than 500 metres of underground copper cable from Openreachs local network.

The community, which is predominantly covered by Openreachs ADSL and Fibre-to-the-Cabinet (FTTC / VDSL2) based broadband network (although a couple of patches may have FTTP too), began to experience connectivity problems on 2nd August 2023. As the outage continued, residents soon began to complain about the impact on their lives and businesses, with some concerned about the impact on vulnerable members of the community.

NOTE: Such thefts usually occur late at night, often  but not always  in rural or suburban areas (slower police response) and around manhole covers, cables, poles and any other parts of their broadband network.

According to the Oxford Mail, the connection problems began after criminals ripped more than 500 metres worth of Openreachs heavy core copper telecoms cable out of the ground, causing significant damage to other parts of their network in the process. Sadly, repairing such damage is an inherently slow, expensive and complex process.

Openreach are now warning that their work may need a bit longer before everything is back to normal. The perpetrators of such crimes, who typically cut up and then sell the stolen copper on to scrap metal dealers, never have any regard for the harm they cause to locals, some of which depend upon their home phone service.

A Spokesperson for Openreach said: Were really disappointed that residents in and around Ardington are having to bear the brunt of criminal behaviour and theft from our network. These attacks cause significant damage and unacceptable disruption to the lives of local people and put vulnerable people at risk. More than 500 metres of underground cable was taken in this incident, and the damage is impacting phone and broadband service to around 400 local homes and businesses. Engineers have been working to restore phone and broadband but the scale nature and scale of the damage is so significant that weve had to bring in extra resource. Were doing our best to get the work done quickly and safely but it could be the middle of next week before everythings back up and running. Were already using anti-theft technology to help track stolen cable and convict criminals and our Security team is working closely with Thames Valley Police along with organisations like Crimestoppers, the National Crime Agency, British Transport Police and Network Rail, to tackle the problem together. We encourage anyone who is still experiencing problems to contact their provider who will advise us. We also urge people to call 101 to report any suspicious activity to the police. Examples of this activity include seeing people lifting manhole lids or unusual activity around our network in fields late at night, particularly if it involves 44 vehicles. If members of the public do believe a crime is in progress then they should dial 999.

The rollout of Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) based broadband ISP lines should, eventually, help to reduce such thefts as fibre has no value to thieves. However, this wont completely stop the problem from occurring in the short to medium-term because fibre and copper cables often share some of the same ducts  thieves sometimes mistakenly also pull fibre out of the ground thinking its copper.

Despite the problems, its worth pointing out that all of the major mobile network operators  EE (BT), Three UK, Vodafone and O2 (VMO2)  do appear to have reasonable to good 4G based (mobile broadband) signal coverage of the community.

Customers in the area who are members of an ISP that is a signatory to the automatic compensation scheme should be compensated for the outage. At present this scheme is supported by most of the major ISPs including BT, Hyperoptic, Sky Broadband (inc. NOW Broadband), TalkTalk, Utility Warehouse, Virgin Media, Vodafone (only on Openreachs network), EE, Plusnet and Zen Internet.

Finally, Openreach has a partnership with Crimestoppers, which offers rewards for information given anonymously to the charity about cable thefts, if it leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible  you can contact them 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111 or use their anonymous online form. You can also contact Openreachs security team direct or report via the local police (101), or if you see a crime in progress, then call the police on 999.
Today

Mostly cloudy. Periods of rain early. Low 71F. S winds shifting to NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.

Tonight

Mostly cloudy. Periods of rain early. Low 71F. S winds shifting to NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.

Tomorrow

Partly cloudy skies. High 91F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
Today

Windy with thunderstorms likely. Some may be locally heavy, especially during the morning hours. Potential for flooding rains. High 81F. Winds ESE at 25 to 40 mph. Chance of rain 70%.

Tonight

Windy. Rain showers this evening with clearing late. Low 71F. ESE winds at 20 to 30 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.

Tomorrow

A few passing clouds, otherwise generally sunny. High 91F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 14, 2023) - EMX Royalty Corporation (NYSE American: EMX) (TSXV: EMX) (FSE: 6E9) (the "Company" or "EMX") is pleased to report results for the quarter ended June 30, 2023 ("Q2-2023"). The Company's filings for the quarter are available on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca, on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov, and on EMX's website at www.EMXroyalty.com. Financial results were prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. All dollar amounts in this news release are in USD unless otherwise noted.

HIGHLIGHTS

Financial Updates for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2023

Revenue and other income for the three months ended June 30, 2023 was $3,408,000 compared to $7,034,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2022 ("Q2-2022"). Adjusted revenue and other income1 of $6,481,000 (Q2-2022 - $9,465,000) included $3,073,000 (Q2-2022 - $2,431,000) in revenue for the Company's share of royalty revenue from the Caserones Mine (effective) royalty interest in Chile. Revenue and other income and adjusted revenue and other income1 for Q2-2022 included the accrual of a $4,000,000 milestone payment related to Gediktepe.

Net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2023 was $4,722,000 (Q2-2022 - $3,315,000).

Cash used in operating activities for the three months ended June 30, 2023 was $1,160,000 (Q2-2022 - $4,152,000). Adjusted cash1 provided by operating activities for the three months ended June 30, 2023 was $1,294,000 (Q2-2022 - adjusted cash used in operating activities of $3,254,000). Operating cash flows for Q2-2023 include an accelerated $2,500,000 option payment by Aftermath Silver for the Berenguela property.

As at June 30, 2023, EMX had cash of $9,980,000 (December 31, 2022 - $15,508,000), investments, long-term investments and loans receivable valued at $14,346,000 (December 31, 2022 - $14,561,000) and loans payable of $41,428,000 (December 31, 2022 - $40,489,000).

Corporate Updates

Timok Dispute Update

On January 27, 2022 the Company announced that it had suspended the filing of a Notice of Arbitration to Zijin Mining Group Ltd ("Zijin") regarding its royalty agreement covering the Timok project in Serbia, which includes the producing Cukaru Peki copper and gold mine. This suspension followed EMX's previous announcement of its intention to file the Notice of Arbitration to formally dispute the royalty rate as defined under the Royalty Agreement (see EMX news release dated December 17, 2021). Discussions with Zijin have since proved amicable and productive and continued through Q2 2023. Both companies are expecting to execute a modified royalty agreement in 2023.

Acquisition of Additional Royalty Interest on Caserones

During Q2 2023, EMX acquired an additional 2.263% ownership in the underlying Caserones royalty holder, Sociedad Legal Minera California Una de la Sierra Pena Negra ("SLM"), for cash consideration of $3,517,000 pursuant to agreements with existing shareholders of SLM. The acquisition provides EMX with a further 0.044% (effective) net smelter royalty ("NSR") interest in the Caserones property, increasing the Company's NSR royalty interest to 0.7775%.

Acquisition Agreement for New Royalties with Franco-Nevada

During Q2 2023, EMX executed a term sheet with Franco-Nevada Corporation ("Franco-Nevada") (NYSE: FNV) (TSX: FNV) for the joint acquisition of newly created precious metals and copper royalties sourced by EMX (the "Agreement"). Franco-Nevada will contribute 55% (up to $5.5 million) and EMX will contribute 45% (up to $4.5 million) towards the royalty acquisitions, with the resulting royalty interests equally split (i.e., 50/50). The initial term of the Agreement is for three years, or until the maximum contributions totaling $10 million from both companies have been met, and may be extended if mutually agreed by both companies.

Royalty and Royalty Generation Updates

During Q2 2023, the Company's royalty generation business was active in North America, South America, Europe, Turkey, Australia and Morocco. The Company spent $4,255,000 (Q2-2022 - $5,108,000) on royalty generation costs and recovered $1,811,000 (Q2-2022 - $2,014,000) from partners. Royalty generation costs include exploration related activities, technical services, project marketing, land and legal costs, as well as third party due diligence for acquisitions. Included in revenue and other income was $807,000 in option, advance royalty, and other pre-production payments related to existing partnered projects as a result of the royalty generating activities. During Q2 2023, the Company also completed two new partnerships across the portfolio while continuing to replace partnered properties with new royalty generation projects.

Producing Royalties 6 Advanced Royalties 11 Exploration Royalties 152 Royalty Generation Properties 105

Figure 1. EMX's royalty and mineral property portfolio.

Highlights from Q2 2023 include the following:

EMX earned over $1,175,000 in royalty revenue from the Gediktepe mine. Mine operator Lidya advised EMX that Oxide Zone gold production will increase during the summer months of 2023.

The Caserones (effective) royalty distribution for Q1 was received in Q2 and totaled approximately $2,454,000. Lundin Mining completed the acquisition of fifty-one percent (51%) of the issued and outstanding equity of MLCC, the Caserones mine operator, from JX Nippon (see Lundin news release dated June 13, 2023). In connection with the acquisition, Lundin filed a technical report on SEDAR titled "NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Caserones Mining Operation, Atacama Region, Chile" that included current mineral resource and reserve estimates in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Leeville payments to EMX totaled approximately $664,000 from royalty production that totaled 338 ounces of gold. Q2 marked another strong quarter of Leeville royalty production along with robust gold prices.

EMX earned, and subsequently received in Q3-2023 Gold Bar South royalty revenue of $54,000 from Q1 production of 2,966 gold ounces and $80,000 from Q2 production of 3,984 gold ounces. The receipt of initial royalty revenue from Gold Bar South now establishes the operation as a paying royalty for EMX.

Arizona Sonoran Copper released results of the Parks-Sayler infill drill program in preparation for a PFS planned for 2024, which included enriched (secondary sulfide) copper intercepts from EMX's royalty property. Arizona Sonoran also provided an update on metallurgical programs being conducted in preparation for the PFS, which included recoveries of ~80% after 160 days from Parks-Sayler enriched copper mineralization (secondary sulfide).

Exploration drilling by South32 at the Hermosa property's Peake prospect returned mineralized intercepts covered by EMX's Hardshell royalty property included the best copper intercept to date of 139 meters averaging 1.88% copper, 0.51% lead, 0.34% zinc, and 52 g/t silver (true width not reported).

In Canada, EMX programs advanced available properties in the portfolio as partners conducted summer field programs on EMX royalty properties. EMX received $45,000 in cash payments and $Nil in share equity payments during the quarter from partnered projects.

EMX's Latin American royalty portfolio was advanced with work programs that included drilling and metallurgical test work conducted by AbraSilver at the Diablillos project's JAC Zone silver-gold discovery. GR Silver Mining Ltd ("GR Silver") reported on successful exploration step-out drilling at the San Marcial epithermal silver project. Aftermath Silver made an accelerated $2,500,000 option payment to EMX for the Berenguela polymetallic CRD project.

The Company's U.S. royalty generation portfolio progressed with ongoing partner-funded work programs, as well by the expansion of properties through the staking of new claims and permitting at key projects. EMX currently has 43 projects in partnership with other companies in the western U.S.

In Northern Europe the Company continued to develop and advance its portfolio of projects, with summer field programs commencing on numerous properties in Q2. EMX has 37 projects in partnership with other companies in Northern Europe and partner funded drill programs were completed in Q2 by Mahvie Minerals AB, a private Swedish corporation, at the Mo-I-Rana royalty property in Norway, and by Bayrock Resources, a private Australian company, at EMX's Vuostok battery metals royalty property in Northern Sweden.

Kendrick Resources PLC (LSE: KEN) announced drill results from EMX's Espedalen royalty property in Norway, including an intercept of 11.60 meters averaging 2.85% nickel, 1.04% copper and 0.08% cobalt from 52.4 meters depth in drill hole ESP23-08 (see Kendrick news release dated May 4, 2023). This hole was drilled at the Stormyra prospect on the Espedalen license (true width not reported, but can be estimated at 70-80% according to published cross sections). Kendrick plans to expand its exploration programs at Espedalen in the second half of 2023.

The Company optioned the Yarrol gold-copper (+ Co-Mn) project and the Mt Steadman gold project to Many Peaks Gold ("MPG") during Q2. The agreement provides EMX with cash payments, equity interests in MPG, and work commitments during a fifteen month option period. Upon exercise of the option, EMX will receive additional payments of cash and shares of MPG along with annual advance royalty payments, royalty interests and other consideration.

Royalty generation programs proceeded in the Balkans and in Morocco in Q2, where multiple exploration license applications have been filed by the Company. New target areas are being assessed for further acquisitions.

Investment Updates

As at June 30, 2023, the Company had marketable securities of $8,626,000 (December 31, 2022 - $9,966,000), and $4,688,000 (December 31, 2022 - $4,591,000) in private investments. The Company will continue to generate cash flow by selling certain of its investments when appropriate.

OUTLOOK

The 2023 year will continue to see revenue and other income coming from our cash flowing royalties, including Leeville and Gold Bar South in Nevada, Gediktepe and Balya in Turkey, potentially Timok in Serbia (pending conclusion of discussions with Zijin), and our effective royalty interest on Caserones in Chile. As in previous years, production royalties will continue to be complemented by option, advance royalty, and other pre-production payments from partnered projects across the global asset portfolio.

The Company will continue to strengthen its balance sheet over the course of the year by looking to retire portions of our long-term debt, continuing to evaluate equity markets, and the ongoing monetization of the Company's marketable securities.

EMX is well positioned to identify and pursue new royalty and investment opportunities, while further filling a pipeline of royalty generation properties that provide opportunities for additional cash flow, as well as exploration, development, and production success.

Qualified Person

Michael P. Sheehan, CPG, a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and employee of the Company, has reviewed, verified, and approved the above technical disclosure on North America and Latin America. Eric P. Jensen, CPG, a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and employee of the Company, has reviewed, verified, and approved the above technical disclosure on Europe, Turkey, and Australia.

About EMX

EMX is a precious, base and battery metals royalty company. EMX's investors are provided with discovery, development, and commodity price optionality, while limiting exposure to risks inherent to operating companies. The Company's common shares are listed on the NYSE American Exchange and TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "EMX", and also trade on the Frankfurt exchange under the symbol "6E9". Please see www.EMXroyalty.com for more information.

For further information contact:

David M. Cole

President and CEO

Phone: (303) 973-8585

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Scott Close

Director of Investor Relations

Phone: (303) 973-8585

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Isabel Belger

Investor Relations (Europe) Phone: +49 178 4909039

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Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release

Forward-Looking Statements



This news release may contain "forward looking statements" that reflect the Company's current expectations and projections about its future results. These forward-looking statements may include statements regarding perceived merit of properties, exploration results and budgets, mineral reserves and resource estimates, work programs, capital expenditures, timelines, strategic plans, market prices for precious and base metal, or other statements that are not statements of fact. When used in this news release, words such as "estimate," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "will", "believe", "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which, by their very nature, are not guarantees of the Company's future operational or financial performance, and are subject to risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and factors may include, but are not limited to unavailability of financing, failure to identify commercially viable mineral reserves, fluctuations in the market valuation for commodities, difficulties in obtaining required approvals for the development of a mineral project, increased regulatory compliance costs, expectations of project funding by joint venture partners and other factors.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release or as of the date otherwise specifically indicated herein. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified in this news release, and other risk factors and forward-looking statements listed in the Company's MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2022 (the "MD&A"), and the most recently filed Annual Information Form ("AIF") for the year ended December 31, 2022, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. More information about the Company, including the MD&A, the AIF and financial statements of the Company, is available on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca and on the SEC's EDGAR website at www.sec.gov.

1 Adjusted revenue and other income and adjusted cash provided by (used in) operating activities are non-IFRS financial measures with no standardized meaning under IFRS and might not be comparable to similar financial measures disclosed by other issuers. Refer to the "Non-IFRS financial measures" section on page 26 of the Q2-2023 MD&A for more information on each non-IFRS financial measure.
Stewart, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 14, 2023) - Decade Resources Ltd (TSXV: DEC) ("Decade" or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with REDPLUG Inc. ("REDPLUG") pursuant to which REDPLUG has agreed to purchase, on a bought deal private placement basis, 6,250,000 flow through units at a price of $0.24 per unit, for aggregate gross proceeds of $1,500,000 (the "Brokered Financing").

Decade will also complete a non-brokered private placement for 2,000,000 flow through units, at a price of $0.24 per unit, for gross proceeds of $480,000, and for 1,350,000 non-flow-through units at a price of $0.20 per unit, for gross proceeds of $270,000. (the "Non-Brokered Financing").

The Company expects to raise total gross proceeds of $2,250,000 from the Brokered Financing and the Non-Brokered Financing (together, the "Offering").

The share included in the non-flow-through unit is a common share.

The share included in the flow-through unit is a "flow-through share" as defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada).

Both the non-flow-through unit and the flow-through unit include one transferable warrant exercisable for the purchase of one additional common share, at a price of $0.32 per share, for 2 years.

The $300,000 financing announced on August 10, 2023, has been cancelled. Decade directors, Edward Kruchkowski and Randolph Kasum, will purchase 1,250,000 flow-through units of the Non-Brokered Financing for gross proceeds of $300,000.

Ed Kruchkowski, President of the Company, comments: "With these funds, Decade's 2023 exploration campaign will be greatly expanded, and fully funded. Our intention is to continue drilling aggressively at our 100% owned Nobody Knows property, where recent diamond drilling has intersected thick intervals of copper sulphides in felsic volcanic rocks. The discovery holes show similarities to many of the world's major sediment-hosted copper systems. Assay results are pending."

Proceeds from the sale of non-flow-through units will be used for general corporate purposes.

Proceeds from the sale of flow-through units will be utilized for incurring flow through expenses that qualify as "Canadian exploration expenses" and "flow through critical mineral mining expenditures" as defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada). Flow-through proceeds will primarily be spent on the Nobody Knows Copper property, with a smaller portion to be spent on the Red Cliff property.

Both financings are expected to close concurrently, on or about August 28, 2023.

The Offering is subject to approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV").

All securities issued in the Offering will be subject to the statutory hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance, in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

Directors' subscriptions in the Non-Brokered Financing will be considered to be related party transactions, as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101. However, the transactions will be exempt from formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements as neither the fair market value of any shares issued to, or the consideration paid by such persons, will exceed 25 per cent of the company's market capitalization.

Decade has engaged REDPLUG Inc. as its financial advisor in connection with the Financings. REDPLUG is a registered exempt market dealer specializing in private placements in the junior resource sector. REDPLUG's accredited investor clients are building positions in well-managed, insider-owned, resource companies including: prospect generators, advanced explorers, resource developers, and near-term producers.

Upon closing of the Brokered Financing and the Non-Brokered Financing, REDPLUG will receive a cash fee expressed as a percentage of the gross proceeds received, as well as a number of non-transferable broker-warrants exercisable at $0.24 for 2 years (B-Warrants), expressed as a percentage of the number of units sold. REDPLUG will receive a fee of 8% cash and 8% B-Warrants on the Brokered Financing, and 2% cash and 2% B-Warrants on the Non-Brokered Financing, except on subscriptions to directors, upon which no fee will be paid.

Decade may pay a fee to other registered dealers on the Non-Brokered Financing.

Decade announces that it has granted 1,000,000 incentive stock options to directors and consultants of the Company. The options are exercisable at $0.22 and will expire in five years.

This news release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from U.S. registration requirements.

Decade Resources Ltd. is a Canadian based mineral exploration company actively seeking opportunities in the resource sector. Decade holds numerous properties at various stages of development and exploration, from basic grass roots to advanced ones. Its properties and projects are all located in the "Golden Triangle" area of northern British Columbia. For a complete listing of the Company assets and developments, visit the Company website at www.decaderesources.ca. For investor information, please call 250-636-2264 or Gary Assaly at 604-377-7969.

Ed Kruchkowski, P. Geo., a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101 is responsible for the contents of this release. Ed Kruchkowski is not independent of Decade as he is the president of the Company.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DECADE RESOURCES LTD.

"Ed Kruchkowski"

Ed Kruchkowski, President

"Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release." "This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements."
Vancouver, British Columbia - TheNewswire - August 14, 2023 - New Energy Metals Corp. (TSXV:ENRG) (OTC:NRGYF) (New Energy or the Company ) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an option agreement (the "Agreement") dated July 28, 2023, to acquire a 100% interest in the highly prospective Atikokan Lithium Property (the "Property"). The Property consists of 4 mining claims comprising 3,788 hectares and is located approximately 12 km east of Atikokan, Ontario (Figure 1).



Figure 1. Regional location of the Atikokan lithium property.

The claims straddle the contact between a peraluminous S-type muscovite-bearing granite and metasediments within the Quetico subprovince (Figure 2). The Quetico-Marmion subprovincial boundary lies just 4 km north of the Property. Numerous lithium deposits of northwestern Ontario occur proximal to a subprovincial boundary (Breaks et al., 2003). Historically, the Atikokan area has documented strongly anomalous lake sediment results in Li, Rb, Cs, Ga and Sn (Jackson, 2001). Muscovite-bearing pegmatite dykes and small pegmatitc granite masses are widely exposed along Highway 11 between Nym Lake Road junction and west to Niobe Lake (McIlwaine and Larsen 1981a, 1981b). In 2003, Breaks et al., took 16 bulk rock samples along Highway 11 largely within the Property boundary (Figure 3). Bulk rock chemistry showed a significant number of anomalous lithium values. Lithium ranged from 11 to 164 ppm with a mean content of 72 ppm, however, 25% and 60% of the data, respectively, exceeded 100 ppm and 50 ppm. Taylor (1964) states that lithium values exceeding 100 ppm indicate extreme fractionation.

The Gilbert Lake rare-element mineral occurrence, sample 01-JBS-78-07 within the Property boundary was the most evolved pegmatitic rock encountered by the survey. This beryl-type pegmatite contains maximum levels in this area for most rare-elements: Be (18 ppm), Cs (80 ppm), Li (99 ppm), Rb (524 ppm), Sn (177 ppm), Ta (20 ppm), Nb (42 ppm) and Ga (81 ppm) (Breaks et al., 2003).



Figure 2. Regional geology of the Atikokan lithium property.



Figure 3. Bulk sample locations by Breaks et al., 2003.

For the rare alkali metals, cesium was significantly enriched 7 to 25 times above its mean crustal abundance for 80% of the data population and varied from 3.9 to 80 ppm. Many values exceeded 15 ppm, a level considered by Cerny and Meintzer (1988) to indicate significant fractionation in granitic systems. Rubidium had a range of 5 to 534 ppm and mean content of 270 ppm.

In essence, Breaks et al., 2003 summed up their reconnaissance prospecting and mapping with:

The anomalous Li, Rb, Cs, Sn and Ga documented in the bedrock by this survey corroborate the earlier lake sediment geochemistry work of Jackson (2001). Exploration for rare-element mineralization in the area should therefore focus on the numerous lake sediment anomalies for these metals in the general area as there is a close correlation with bedrock chemical data at least in the Nym-Niobe lakes area. The discovery of columbite-tantalite group minerals and beryl by this survey gives strong indications that, with careful prospecting, further rare-element minerals may be discovered. The presence of elevated Ta contents in bulk muscovite at localities 01-FWB-126 and 01-JBS-81 suggests that they should be investigated further for possible tantalum mineralization.

Under the terms of the Agreement, New Energy has the right to acquire a 100% interest in the Property by making aggregate cash payments of $66,000 over a period of two years. The optionors will retain a 3% net smelter returns royalty.

The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mike Kilbourne, P. Geo., a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

The acquisition is an arm's length transaction and qualifies as an Exempt Transaction pursuant to the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange.

The Company also wishes to announce that it has amended the terms of the Troitsa option agreement (the Troitsa Agreement) pursuant to which the Company will issue 900,000 shares (the Shares) of the Company to the optionor in lieu of the cash payment of $45,000 due in July 2023. The Company or its assignees will have the right of first refusal to purchase the Shares. All other terms of the Troitsa Agreement remain the same.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,

New Energy Metals Corp.

Rishi Kwatra

CEO & Director

#610  700 West Pender Street

Vancouver, BC V6C 1G8 Canada

Tel: 604-669-9788

www.new-enrg.com

References

1. Breaks, F.W., Selway, J.B. and Tindle, A.G. 2003. Fertile peraluminous granites and related rare-element mineralization in pegmatites, Superior Province, northwest and northeast Ontario: Operation Treasure Hunt; Ontario Geological Survey, Open File Report 6099, 179p.

About New Energy Metals Corp.

New Energy is a Canadian-based resource company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol ENRG. The Company has an option to purchase a 100-per-cent interest in the Roslyn lithium property, covering 5,100 hectares located 20 kilometers southeast of the Georgia Lake pegmatite field and 35 kilometers southeast of where Rock Tech Lithium just published a preliminary economic assessment supporting the indicated mineral resource of 10.6 Mt (million tons) grading 0.88 per cent lithium oxide and an inferred mineral resource of 4.2 Mt grading 1.0 per cent Li2O. The Company also has an option to purchase a 100-per-cent interest in the Troitsa copper property covering approximately 7,000 hectares located in the Omineca mining division of British Columbia.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement on Forward Looking Information

Certain statements made, and information contained herein may constitute forward looking information and forward looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. These statements and information are based on facts currently available to the Company and there is no assurance that actual results will meet managements expectations. Forward-looking statements and information may be identified by such terms as anticipates, believes, targets, estimates, plans, expects, may, will, speculates, could or would.

All of the forward-looking statements made in this document are qualified by these cautionary statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, forecast or intended and readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which may have been used. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking information. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate and forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance. Readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein speaks only as of the date of this document. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise forwardlooking information or to explain any material difference between such and subsequent actual events, except as required by applicable law.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 14, 2023) - Compass Gold Corp. (TSXV: CVB) (Compass or the Company) provides an update on the recent trench sampling program at the Tarabala prospect, located on the Company's Sikasso Property in southern Mali (Figure 1).

Highlights

Four trenches, 5-m deep and totalling 208 m in length, have been completed at Tarabala and Massala

979 samples have been submitted to the assay laboratory, and all results are expected in late August

Metallurgical studies will begin once the assays have been reviewed

Further trenching is planned following the rainy season

Compass CEO, Larry Phillips, said, "We are pleased that we were able to complete our initial surface trenching program at Tarabala and Massala during the early part of the rainy season. The trenches at Tarabala are only two of the seventeen planned to define the shallow mineralization over a distance of 800 m at a depth of 5 m. The results of the initial work should provide a reliable indication of grades and widths of the mineralized sections before proceeding with further trenching after the rainy season. Depending on the assay results, bulk samples from these initial trenches would be submitted for metallurgical analysis before the next phase of trenching. The metallurgical test work would investigate the gold recovery rates and indicate the most appropriate processing methods for a potential small-mining operation at Tarabala."

Dr. Madani Diallo, Director and Country Manager, added, "Our Malian field team has once again shown their professionalism by safely completing the trenching program during the early rainy season. I look forward to receiving the assay results and the subsequent metallurgical testing. With positive findings, we will be ready to complete the surface resource sampling when the rainy season concludes in October."

Next Steps

Once the trench channel assay results have been received and assessed, Compass plans to send a series of large (50-60 kg) samples for metallurgical test work at SGS (Lakefield) in Canada. The test work would include metallic screen fire assaying to check gold grades, and a series of gravity and chemical tests would determine gold recovery rates and the appropriate method of processing.

Provided the results received are positive, the Company plans to excavate an additional fifteen 5-m deep and up-to-100-m-long trenches starting in November when the rains abate. The assay results from this program, combined with the planned metallurgical study, would be used to perform a resource estimate on the near-surface mineralization and provide the relevant information concerning the potential for a near-surface small mining operation at Tarabala.

Figure 1: Location of Tarabala and Massala prospects where trenching was completed. Additional artisanal workings along the Tarabala and Massala faults are also displayed.

Recent Tarabala and Massala Trench Sampling Program

Two trenches were excavated at the Tarabala prospect to test the surface exposure of the mineralized structure encountered during previous drilling. Bedrock drilling identified a wide zone (up to 25 m) of mineralization at the prospect, e.g., 16 m @ 1.51 g/t Au (SAAC02) and 19 m @ 1.68 g/t Au (SARC022.)

A total of 17 trenches, 5 m deep and up to 100 m in length, over a distance of 800 m with a spacing of 50 m, were planned at the prospect. Only two trenches could be completed at the start of the rainy season. Trench 1 was excavated in a plateau area characterized by a hard iron-cemented crust (termed cuirass or hard cap), whereas the second trench was to the south of the eroded plateau and excavated in much softer laterite.

Two trenches were also excavated at the Massala prospect, 4 km to the north of Trench 1 (Figure 2). The trenches were located to test the surface expression of a mineralized zone identified by drilling, including 24 m @ 2.35 g/t Au (SAAC123). Previous drilling at Massala identified at least six gold-bearing veins in a 900 m wide zone over a distance of 1.7 km. Like Tarabala, trenching was performed in the hard cap as well as in the saprolite. Local artisanal miners reported coarse-grained (2-3 mm) gold grains being recovered from the hard cap.

A total of 979 1-m channel samples were collected continuously along the length of the trench at 1 m depths, and vertical channel samples were also collected. The samples are currently being analyzed for gold using a cyanide-leach (LeachWELL) assay method. Results for all four trenches are expected to be ready in late August.

Figure 2: Map showing the location of the recently completed trenches at the Tarabala and Massala prospects.

Technical Details

Both trenches at Tarabala and both trenches at Massala were excavated to a depth of 5 m. Trench lengths varied from 50 to 60 m at Tarabala, and 28 to 70 m at Massala to account for the width of the mineralization projected to surface from the previous drilling programs at both prospects. The total length of the trenches was 208 m. Continuous horizontal channel samples were collected every metre for the length of the trench. One metre vertical channel samples were collected from 0 to 5 m depth, at a maximum of 5 m along the trench. Sometimes the interval was reduced in areas of obvious mineralization characterized by veining and discolouration.

The excavation was performed by a local contractor under the supervision of Compass geologists. All samples were prepared by Compass staff, and an appropriate number of standards, duplicates and blanks were submitted and analyzed for gold using cyanide-leach (LeachWELL) analysis at ALS (Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso).

About Compass Gold Corp.

Compass, a public company having been incorporated into Ontario, is a Tier 2 issuer on the TSX- V. Through the 2017 acquisition of MGE and Malian subsidiaries, Compass holds gold exploration permits located in Mali that comprise the Sikasso Property. The exploration permits are located in three sites in southern Mali with a combined land holding of 1,173 sq. km. The Sikasso Property is located in the same region as several multi-million-ounce gold projects, including Morila, Syama, Kalana and Komana. The Company's Mali-based technical team, led in the field by Dr. Madani Diallo and under the supervision of Dr. Sandy Archibald, P.Geo, is conducting the current exploration program. They are examining numerous anomalies first noted in Dr. Archibald's August 2017 "National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report on the Sikasso Property, Southern Mali."

Qualified Person

This news release has been reviewed and approved by EurGeol. Dr. Sandy Archibald, P.Geo, Compass's Technical Director, the Qualified Person for the technical information in this news release under National Instrument 43-101 standards.

ForwardLooking Information

This news release contains "forwardlooking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the Company's planned exploration work and management appointments. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forwardlooking information. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by such information. The statements in this news release are made as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forwardlooking information except as required by applicable law.

For further information please contact:

Compass Gold Corporation

Larry Phillips - Pres. & CEO

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

T: +1 416-596-0996 X 302



Compass Gold Corporation

Greg Taylor - Dir. Investor Relations & Corporate Communications

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T: +1 416-596-0996 X 301

Website: www.compassgoldcorp.com

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
Cuyes West Drilling Highlights:

CU23-30  5.0 metres grading 6.75 g/t Au Eq intersected dacite porphyry

CU23-31  1.0 metre grading 11.03 g/t Au Eq intersected in the Cuyes West structure and 89 metres in the breccia pipe grading 1.01 g/t Au Eq

VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 14, 2023 /CNW/ - Luminex Resources Corp. (TSXV: LR) (OTCQX: LUMIF) (the "Company" or "Luminex") is pleased to announce drill results from two holes that successfully targeted a deeper level of the Cuyes West structure (CU23-30 and CU23-31) as well as intersecting the breccia pipe in the hanging wall, before the Cuyes West structure was reached.

Hole CU23-30 intersected multiple high-grade structures, notably 5.0 metres from 303.0 metres, which graded 6.42 g/t gold and 27.4 g/t silver (6.75 g/t Au Eq), that contained 1.0 metre from 307.0 metres grading 27.90 g/t gold and 47.6 g/t silver (28.47 g/t Au Eq) within the brecciated contact of a later, dacite porphyry (see Figure 2). The hole did not cut the breccia pipe itself, but within the dacite porphyry contact breccia intercepted 52.0 metres from 123.0 metres grading 0.53 g/t gold and 2.9 g/t silver (0.56 g/t Au Eq). The Cuyes West structure was intercepted at 600.5 metres with a thickness of 1.3 metres grading 11.70 g/t gold and 35.7 g/t silver (12.13 g/t Au Eq).

Hole CU23-31 intersected the breccia pipe target from 176.0 metres with 89.0 metres grading 0.95 g/t gold and 5.6 g/t silver (1.01 g/t Au Eq). The hole then cut the Cuyes West structure over a 1.0 metre interval from 386.0 meters grading 10.48 g/t gold and 46.2 g/t silver (11.03 g/t Au Eq). Other intervals are present in additional structures in holes CU23-30 and CU23-31 and these are detailed in Table 1.

The Cuyes West structure continues to remain open at depth with the deepest confirmed depth of 500 metres intercepted in both CU23-29 and CU23-30. The area near holes CU23-30 and CU23-31 of Cuyes West long section seems to be encroached on, and narrowed, by the later, less strongly mineralized dacite porphyry. The dacite porphyry and its upper and lower contact is interpreted to be steeply dipping to the southwest.

Luminex expects the continued expansion and infilling of the Cuyes West structure to add to the potentially mineable underground mineral resource at Condor. The Company plans to update its Preliminary Economic Assessment for Condor North in 2024 in order to incorporate a new mineral resource at the Cuyes West structure. Given the success of the deeper drilling, Luminex anticipates it will require more drilling to bring the full structure into the inferred category of mineral resource. Planned hole CU23-32 will be drilled from a new pad at Cuyes (see Figure 1) and will test the depth extent of the breccia pipe structure. This hole will inform future drilling plans.

The style of mineralization at Cuyes West structure is identical to that at the Camp deposit, 600 metres to the west. At a property scale, these mineralized structures are interpreted to be hosted in ring and radial fractures around the Cuyes caldera (See Figure 1).

Table 1. Drill intercepts for the Cuyes West structure and breccia pipe.

Hole Azimuth /

Dip / Length From (m) To (m) Interval

(m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Au Eq (g/t) CU23-30 0 / - 90 /

730.2m 26.0 41.0 15.0* 0.23 1.2 0.25 And 89.0 95.0 6.0* 0.68 17.2 0.89 And 123.0 175.0 52.0* 0.53 2.9 0.56 Incl 131.0 132.0 1.0 15.90 59.9 16.62 And 231.0 232.0 1.0 3.89 19.0 4.11 And 267.0 269.0 2.0 2.85 8.6 2.95 And 288.5 289.3 0.8 7.86 92.1 8.96 And 303.0 308.0 5.0 6.42 27.4 6.75 Incl 307.0 308.0 1.0 27.90 47.6 28.47 And 415.0 416.0 1.0 7.95 16.4 8.15 And 432.0 434.0 2.0 1.10 2.6 1.13 And 600.5 601.8 1.3 11.70 35.7 12.13 CU23-31 11 / -80 /

634.9m 16.0 24.0 8.0* 0.27 2.4 0.30 And 88.0 139.0 51.0* 0.46 6.7 0.54 And 176.0 265.0 89.0* 0.95 5.6 1.01 Incl 179.0 183.0 4.0 2.33 2.7 2.36 Incl 219.0 228.0 9.0 1.72 11.5 1.86 And 289.0 290.0 1.0 1.20 1.2 1.21 And 314.0 317.0 3.0 1.22 1.7 1.24 And 322.0 324.0 2.0 1.51 7.7 1.60 And 350.0 352.0 2.0 1.04 1.1 1.06 And 359.0 361.0 2.0 1.20 11.2 1.33 And 386.0 387.0 1.0 10.48 46.2 11.03 And 535.0 537.0 2.0 2.32 9.0 2.42 And 549.0 550.0 1.0 1.58 19.7 1.81

Asterisked (*) intervals are "Shallower" intervals calculated using a lower limit of 0.20 g/t Au with a maximum inclusion of ten continuous metres below cut-off occurring within the stated intercept and the highest gold value used in the reported weighted averages is 15.90 g/t Au. Remaining intervals not marked with an asterisk are for "Deeper" intervals calculated using a lower limit of 1.0 g/t Au with a maximum inclusion of up to six continuous metres below cut-off and the highest gold value used in the reported weighted averages is 27.90 g/t Au. Au Eq values assume $1,500 gold and $18.00 silver (Au Eq= Au g/t + (Ag g/t *0.012)).

Quality Assurance

All Luminex sample assay results have been independently monitored through a quality control / quality assurance ("QA/QC") protocol which includes the insertion of blind standards, blanks as well as pulp and reject duplicate samples. Logging and sampling are completed at Luminex's core handling facility located at the Condor property. Drill core is diamond sawn on site and half drill-core samples are securely transported to ALS Laboratories' ("ALS") or Bureau Veritas Minerals' ("BMV") sample preparation facility in Quito, Ecuador. The ALS lab's sample pulps are sent to Lima, Peru for analysis where gold content is determined by fire assay of a 50-gram charge with ICP finish. The BMV lab's samples are analyzed for gold by a 50-gram charge fire assay in Quito and the remainder of the sample is sent to Lima, Peru for a 44 element - ICP finish.

Silver and other elements are also determined by ICP methods. Over-limit samples assaying greater than 10 g/t gold and 100 g/t silver are re-analyzed by both labs using fire assay with a gravimetric finish. Luminex is not aware of any drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data referred to herein. ALS Laboratories and BMV are independent of Luminex.

Qualified Persons

Leo Hathaway, P. Geo, Senior Vice President Exploration of Luminex and the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed, verified and approved the scientific and technical information concerning the Condor Project in this news release and has verified the data underlying that scientific and technical information.

About Luminex Resources

Luminex Resources Corp. (TSXV:LR, OTCQX:LUMIF) is a Vancouver, Canada based precious and base metals exploration and development company focused on gold and copper projects in Ecuador. Luminex's inferred and indicated mineral resources are located at the Condor Gold-Copper project in Zamora-Chinchipe Province, southeast Ecuador. Luminex also holds a large and highly prospective land package in Ecuador, including the Pegasus and Orquideas projects, which are being co-developed with Anglo American and JOGMEC respectively.

Further details are available on the Company's website at https://luminexresources.com/.

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LUMINEX RESOURCES CORP.

Signed: "Marshall Koval"

Marshall Koval, CEO and Director

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements and information herein, including all statements that are not historical facts, contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements or information include, but are not limited to, statements regarding future drilling and work programs at Condor. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements or information can be identified by the use of phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur or be achieved.

With respect to forward-looking statements and information contained herein, the Company has made numerous assumptions including among other things, assumptions about general business and economic conditions, the prices of gold and copper, and anticipated costs and expenditures. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive.

Although management of the Company believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that a forward-looking statement or information herein will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements and information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. These factors include, but are not limited to: risks associated with the business of the Company; business and economic conditions in the mining industry generally; the supply and demand for labour and other project inputs; changes in commodity prices; changes in interest and currency exchange rates; risks relating to inaccurate geological and engineering assumptions (including with respect to the tonnage, grade and recoverability of reserves and resources); risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations, cost escalation, unavailability of materials and equipment, government action or delays in the receipt of government approvals, industrial disturbances or other job action, and unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental matters); risks relating to adverse weather conditions; political risk and social unrest; changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets; changes in laws (including regulations respecting mining concessions); and other risk factors as detailed from time to time in the Company's continuous disclosure documents filed with Canadian securities administrators. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 14, 2023) - Exploits Discovery Corp. (CSE: NFLD) (OTCQX: NFLDF) (FSE: 634) ("Exploits" or the "Company") is pleased to announce assay results from diamond drill holes BE-23-018 and BE-23-020 to 029 on its 100% owned Bullseye property located along the Appleton Fault Zone ("AFZ") located approximately 200 metres east of New Found Gold's recently reported high-grade intercepts at its Everest gold zone in central Newfoundland.

Highlights Include:

BE-23-028 encountered several clusters of quartz veining over approximately 18 metres in core-length as well as localized fault zones with associated sulfide enrichment.



Extensive sampling of these zones has generated gold assays up to 14.59 g/t Au.

The results and location of BE-23-028 suggest the potential extension of gold mineralization at Everest as reported by New Found Gold on May 10, 2023.

Select intercepts from BE-23-028 include: 4.08 g/t Au over 1.60 m core-length, located at a vertical depth of approximately 75 m below surface. Including 8.16 g/t Au contribution from a 0.70 m sample. 4.85 g/t Au over 0.75 m core-length, located at a vertical depth of approximately 185 m below surface. 14.59 g/t Au over 1.00 m core-length, located at a vertical depth of approximately 186 m below surface.



Mineralization remains open in all directions.

Assay results from 29 of the 30 drill holes have been received and publicly reported to date. The results from drill hole BE-23-030 are pending.

Ken Tylee, Vice President (Exploration), comments on Hole # 28: "We are excited to see several clusters of veining up to 18 metres in length hosting locally anomalous gold values reaching 14 g/t. These intercepts suggest that Hole 28 has encountered an extension of the Everest mineralized system announced by our neighbours on May 10, 2023, possibly tracking eastwards into our Bullseye claims. We will be looking to follow up these encouraging results as we plan for our second phase of drilling."

Figure 1: Plan map displays Exploits' Bullseye property with locations of drill holes including BE-23-018 and BE-23-020 to 029 shown within yellow dashed box.

Figure 2: Plan map showing Exploits' assay results from the 2023 diamond drilling program at Bullseye.

Figure 3: Cross-section of the Horseshoe gold mineralized zone.

Figure 4: Example of gold mineralization within clusters of quartz veins in drill hole BE-23-028.

Bullseye (Horseshoe) Interpretation:

Mineralization at the Bullseye property is hosted within a fold-thrust sequence of northeast-striking, steeply dipping, turbidite sequence. These rocks were deposited and deformed during the closure of the Iapetus Ocean and subsequent continent-continent collision. The Appleton Fault Zone is a regional scale deformation zone that developed during this period. The AFZ likely serves as a primary conduit for gold-bearing fluids. Brittle faults within the envelope surrounding the AFZ form a vast network of gold rich quartz veins.

Visible gold has been noted within 8 drill holes contributing to the locally high-grade intercepts. Several wide intervals of gold mineralization, in the 1.00 - 3.00 g/t range, are linked to quartz veining with elevated sulphide content. Notable sulphide minerals, such as pyrite, arsenopyrite, and boulangerite have been observed within the veins and in the surrounding host rocks. Within the Horseshoe zone, visible gold is found in brecciated and locally annealed vuggy quartz veins, features characteristic of epizonal gold deposits.

Bullseye Drilling - Tables of Selected Assays

Table 1: Selected drill assays

Bullseye Drilling 2023 - Selected Assays (Exceeding 1.00 g/t Au Value) from Sawn NQ Drill Core Hole ID From (m) To (m) Sample Length (m) Vertical Depth (m) Below Surface Analysis Method Au Assay (ppb)* Au Assay (g/t) Au - Weighted Average Grade (g/t )** BE-23-018 439.00 439.55 0.55 ~330m FA-AA 1,307.00 1.31 1.31 g/t Au over 0.55m BE-23-020 37.55 38.10 0.55 ~30m Screen-Met 4,837.41 4.84 4.84 g/t Au over 0.55m AND 286.00 287.00 1.00 ~225 FA-AA 1,724.00 1.72 1.47 g/t Au over 2.00m 287.00 288.00 1.00 1,214.00 1.21 AND 377.75 378.60 0.85 ~295m FA-AA 1,088.00 1.09 1.09 g/t Au over 0.85m BE-23-021 234.35 235.05 0.70 ~165m FA-AA 5,098.00 5.10 5.10 g/t Au over 0.70m BE-23-022 243.35 243.70 0.35 ~180m FA-AA 6,402.00 6.40 6.40 g/t Au over 0.35m BE-23-023 144.35 145.00 0.65 ~105 Screen-Met 5,247.08 5.25 1.88 g/t Au over 4.55m 145.00 145.35 0.35 1,804.71 1.80 145.35 146.00 0.65 862.26 0.86 146.00 146.65 0.65 2,769.04 2.77 146.65 147.45 0.80 479.63 0.48 147.45 148.00 0.55 1,098.88 1.10 148.00 148.90 0.90 1,265.41 1.27 BE-23-024 175.50 176.00 0.50 ~110m FA-AA 1,027.00 1.03 1.03 g/t Au over 0.50m AND 218.90 219.65 0.75 ~137m FA-AA 1,171.00 1.17 1.17 g/t Au over 0.75m BE-23-025 75.05 75.55 0.50 ~55m FA-AA 1,105.00 1.11 0.90 g/t Au over 1.35m 75.55 76.00 0.45 321.00 0.32 76.00 76.40 0.40 1,284.00 1.28 BE-23-026 283.25 283.65 0.40 ~200m FA-AA 943.00 0.94 0.94 g/t Au over 0.40m*** BE-23-027 301.20 301.80 0.60 ~200m Screen-Met 960.50 0.96 1.61 g/t Au over 2.05m 301.80 302.75 0.95 2,381.89 2.38 302.75 303.25 0.50 936.92 0.94 BE-23-028 77.45 78.00 0.55 ~55m FA-AA 1,406.00 1.41 1.41 g/t Au over 0.55m AND 102.10 102.45 0.35 ~75m Screen-Met 1,452.74 1.45 4.08 g/t Au over 1.60m 102.45 103.00 0.55 549.60 0.55 103.00 103.70 0.70 8,158.83 8.16 AND 253.70 254.45 0.75 ~185m Screen-Met 4,849.34 4.85 4.85 g/t Au over 0.75m AND 255.30 256.30 1.00 ~186m Screen-Met 14,589.07 14.59 14.59 g/t Au over 1.00m AND 302.05 302.40 0.35 ~225m Screen-Met 1,537.97 1.54 1.17 g/t Au over 1.95m 302.40 302.90 0.50 1,893.87 1.89 302.90 303.60 0.70 512.56 0.51 303.60 304.00 0.40 1,090.85 1.09 AND 307.40 308.35 0.95 ~228m Screen-Met 2,502.79 2.50 2.59 g/t Au over 3.45m 308.35 309.05 0.70 1,585.07 1.59 309.05 310.00 0.95 4,164.00 4.16 310.00 310.85 0.85 1,754.98 1.75 AND 340.60 341.45 0.85 ~250m FA 1,523.00 1.52 1.52 g/t Au over 0.85m BE-23-029 302.45 303.00 0.55 ~215m FA 834.00 0.83 0.83 g/t Au over 0.55m*** *Assays reported direct from lab certificate. Screen-Met samples are 'Weighted Averaged ppb' as calculated from lab **All intersections are core intervals and do not represent true thickness ***Highest assay value from drill hole

Table 2: Drill Collar Data

Bullseye - Collar Information for Reported Drill Holes Hole ID Easting Northing Elevation (m) Azimuth Dip Length (m) BE-23-018 659597 5431025 38 45 -45 445 BE-23-020 659622 5430992 37 195 -50 418 BE-23-021 659621 5430756 43 328 -48 400 BE-23-022 659601 5430736 43 335 -50 293 BE-23-023 660056 5431254 36 300 -45 463 BE-23-024 660039 5431335 21 300 -45 388 BE-23-025 660040 5431186 21 300 -45 367 BE-23-026 659738 5430874 40 335 -45 394 BE-23-027 659672 5430723 44 275 -45 400 BE-23-028 659663 5430710 44 190 -45 403 BE-23-029 659779 5430743 43 300 -45 451 Coordinates Reported in NAD-83

Bullseye Gold Property

The Bullseye claims were staked by Exploits in September 2022, and are contiguous to the very active targets currently being drilled by both New Found Gold and Labrador Gold. The claims are considered by the Company's geologists to be highly prospective because they directly overlay a 1,200 by 400 metre segment of the Appleton Fault and its related splay structures. Over a dozen exploration drill rigs have been employed by the three companies operating within this structural-stratigraphic setting over the past two years.

Quality Assurance - Quality Control ("QA/QC")

All prospective NQ core is logged and delineated for sampling by an Exploits' professional geologist. The core is subsequently halved by a diamond-bladed core saw by the Company's technicians with one half being placed in a bag with a unique sample identification. The remaining half core is retained within the Company's secure storage facility in Gander, NL. Sample bags are sealed and then shipped directly to Eastern Analytical Ltd. Certified standards and blanks are inserted at defined intervals following the Company's QA/QC documented procedures, representing approximately 5% of all samples sent for assaying. All core samples are currently analyzed at Eastern Analytical Ltd. of 403 Little Bay Road, Springdale, NL, a commercial laboratory that is ISO/IEC 17025 accredited and completely independent of Exploits. Samples are analyzed using fire assay (30g) with AA finish (Au-FAA 30 ppb process) and/or a four-acid digestion followed by multi-element ICP-OES analysis. All samples with visible gold or assaying above 10.0 g/t Au are further assayed using metallic screen to mitigate the presence of the nugget effect of coarse gold. Metallic screen assays are reported as 'Weighted Averaged ppb' directly calculated from the lab.

National Instrument 43-101 Disclosure

Ken Tylee, P.Geo., VP of Exploration with Exploits, is a qualified person within the Provinces of Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Tylee has reviewed and approved the technical information presented herein.

About Exploits Discovery Corp.

Exploits is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition and development of mineral projects in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The Company is focused on discovering high-grade structurally hosted epizonal gold similar to New Found Gold's success along the Appleton Fault zone and parallel structures within the Exploits Subzone.

Exploits is utilizing its experienced, talented local team and geologic understanding with the vision to become one of the most successful explorers in Canada.

On Behalf of the Board

/s/ "Jeff Swinoga"

President and CEO

For more information, please contact:

Shanda Kilborn

VP, Investor Relations

+1 (778) 819-2708

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

https://exploitsdiscovery.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this news release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected including, but not limited to, market conditions, availability of financing, actual results of the Company's exploration and other activities, environmental risks, future metal prices, operating risks, accidents, labor issues, delays in obtaining governmental approvals and permits, and other risks in the mining industry. All the forward-looking statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those in our continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances save as required by applicable law.

Acknowledgments

Exploits Discovery would like to acknowledge the financial support of the Junior Exploration Assistance Program from the Department of Natural Resources, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / August 14, 2023 / Aclara Resources Inc. ("Aclara" or the "Company") (TSX:ARA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Bonzi Yokomizo as General Manager of the wholly owned Brazilian subsidiary ("Aclara Resources Mineracao Ltda"), effective Aug 10, 2023

"We are delighted to welcome Bonzi Yokomizo as our new General Manager for Brazil," said Ramon Barua, CEO and Director of Aclara. " With over 30 years leading global mining projects, Bonzi's expertise is a cornerstone for Aclara. His exceptional understanding of Greenfield and Brownfield projects, coupled with his recent achievement in commissioning Brazil's inaugural ionic clay heavy rare earths mine, will play a pivotal role in driving the success of Aclara's projects in Brazil. Bonzi's remarkable skill in building and leading diverse teams, combined with his extensive in-country experience, brings a dynamic synergy that fosters innovation, drives operational excellence and ensures a robust foundation for Aclaras strategic growth in Brazil and beyond."

Mr. Yokomizo joins Aclara with a long history leading large-scale mining projects across the globe, including the Americas (Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Canada), Africa (Mozambique and Malawi), and the UK. His most recent role was Chief Projects Officer at Serra Verde, an ionic clays heavy rare earths mining project located in the State of Goias, Brazil, where he was instrumental in driving engineering for the project implementation, construction, and commissioning.

Prior to his tenure at Serra Verde, Bonzi held senior leadership positions at various world-class mining companies such as Anglo Gold Ashanti, Yamana Gold, Vale, and Votorantim. Notably, he has demonstrated prowess in overseeing complex projects, such as the Jack Pine oil sands project expansion with an estimated capex of $12.5 billion, Rio Colorado potash project with an estimated capex of $9.0 billion, Coal project with an estimated capex of $5.0 billion, and the Montes Claros de Goias Nickel project with an estimated capex of $1.5 billion, among others.

Mr. Yokomizo has consistently demonstrated the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, navigate complex challenges, and deliver projects on time and within budget. His strategic vision, combined with a hands-on approach, has positioned him as a respected leader in the mining industry.

As the Company continues to expand its operations and pursue new avenues of growth, Mr. Yokomizos's appointment signifies a strategic move to further enhance the company's project management capabilities to become a strategic leader in the heavy rare earths sector.

About Aclara

Aclara Resources Inc. (TSX:ARA) is a development-stage company that focuses on heavy rare earth mineral resources. Its primary project is located in the BioBio Region of southern Chile. The company is dedicated to developing its mineral resources through a project known as the Penco Module. This module encompasses an area of approximately 600 hectares and contains ionic clays that are rich in heavy rare earth elements.

Currently, Aclara Resources is primarily focused on the development, construction, and future operation of the Penco Module. The goal is to establish a processing plant that will produce a heavy rare earth concentrate. This concentrate will be generated by processing clays obtained from nearby deposits.

Aclara's extraction process offers several environmentally attractive features. It does not involve blasting, crushing, or milling. Additionally, it does not generate tailings, eliminating the need for a tailings storage facility. The company utilizes 100% recycled water and minimizes water consumption through high levels of water recirculation. The ionic clay feedstock is amenable to leaching with a fertilizer, and harmful radionuclides are not produced. 3

Simultaneously, alongside the development of the Penco Module, the company intends to identify further opportunities for increasing rare earth element production. This will involve intensive greenfield exploration programs and the development of additional project "modules" within the company's concessions.

Forward-Looking Statements



This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, which reflects the Company's current expectations regarding future events, including statements with regard to, among other things, management's expectations as to the accretive value to the Company from the appointment of Mr. Yokomizo as General Manager for Brazil. Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the factors discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form dated as of March 28, 2023 filed on the Company's SEDAR profile. Actual results and timing could differ materially from those projected herein. Unless otherwise noted or the context otherwise indicates, the forward-looking information contained in this news release is provided as of the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required under applicable securities laws.

For further information, please contact:

Ramon Barua

Chief Executive Officer

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 14, 2023 /CNW/ - Golden Shield Resources Inc. (CSE: GSRI) (OTCQB: GSRFF) (FRA: 4LE0) (the "Company" or "Golden Shield") is pleased to report on exploration results at its 100% owned flagship, 5,457-hectare, Marudi Mountain gold project located in southwestern Guyana (the "Marudi Mountain Property" or "Marudi").

The Company is pleased to report results from mapping and geological interpretive work at the Marudi Mountain Property which was conducted by Specialized Geological Mapping. In addition, the Company reports results of the reinterpretation of a 25 km2 Induced Polarization ("IP") and resistivity survey conducted by Arce Geofisicos S.A.C. and the 2018 helimagnetic survey conducted by GeophysicsOne Inc. It is important to note that the 2018 helimag survey at the Marudi Mountain Property was completed once drilling by the previous operator had ceased. Golden Shield is the first company to have this geophysical data available to guide drilling at the Marudi Mountain Property. Additionally, surface trenching, pitting, mapping, and sampling has taken place with the collection of over 2,000 rock samples.

In 2022, the Company completed approximately 9,000m of drilling on the Marudi Mountain Property and extended high-grade mineralization below the base of the historic resource constraining pit by 180m, with the best intercept being 50 meters grading 9.10 g/t gold.

In addition, the Company has completed the purchase of a dual-purpose Air Core ("AC") and Reverse Circulation ("RC") drill rig from Multi-Power Products Ltd., based in Kelowna, BC, Canada. This drill rig will be used to penetrate through the saprolite cover and test fresh bedrock in a grid pattern to validate drill targets before testing with the more expensive diamond drill rig that is located on site.

Leo Hathaway, Executive Chairman of Golden Shield, commented: "Recent geological work at Marudi has been pivotal in providing us with a new exploration model. Geophysical work has traced the prospective horizon into areas it was previously unknown, and the Company's recent work has then 'ground-truthed' this by trenching in these areas and unearthing the horizon in outcrop. This detailed understanding of the exploration model may now be applied elsewhere in the southern Guyana greenstone belt, in which Golden Shield is a first mover".

IP-Resistivity Survey

The reinterpreted 25 km2 IP-resistivity survey has proven effective in identifying the mineralized ferruginous quartzite ("FQ") and has mapped this prospective horizon over at least six kilometers in aggregate, and at multiple locations that have been untested by drilling.

The recognition of the surface trace of this prospective horizon indicates at least six more prospective Mazoa-type occurrences that were undiscovered or poorly understood before recent trenching, mapping and sampling work. These are listed below and ranked in order of priority, according to currently available information:

1) IP-6: The new IP data identified a brand-new undrilled, possible offset of the Mazoa Hill deposit, lying some 200m to the east, with comparable lithology and mineralization to the known deposit. Trenching has uncovered an intercept of 8 meters grading 1.10 g/t and this is open where it disappears below saprolite cover. This zone is a newly recognized unit of FQ. The discovery of IP-6 confirms the ability of the IP survey to identify "blind" FQ under deep saprolite cover. This will be tested with a grid of RC or AC drilling before diamond drill testing.

2) Peace Creek: Peace Creek represented the strongest chargeability anomaly and was historically drilled between 1946 and 1949 by the Rupununi Mining Company for a total of 438 meters, from which the best intercepts were 10.6 meters grading 1.83 g/t gold and 0.9 meters grading 105 g/t gold. Vanessa Ventures subsequently drilled three holes from 2004 to 2005, and the prospect has not seen any further drilling. There are numerous surface workings and large field of alluvial workings to the east-southeast, with Peace Creek being the mostly likely source of this mineralization. The Company interprets these features as indicative of a significant gold endowment in this area. Further mapping and trenching and/or AC/RC drilling is required to refine a drill target here.

3) Success Creek: Another brand-new undrilled prospect with a thick (yet unquantified) section of pyrite-pyrrhotite mineralized quartzite that has returned grades of 8 meters grading 1.4 g/t gold and 8 meters grading 1.3 g/t gold. The Company has uncovered a 15-meter high "wall" of quartzite that dips to the northwest underneath saprolite cover (Figure 4). Recent trench results include 8 meters grading 1.25g/t gold from trench TSH-23-54, 8 meters grading 1.25g/t gold from trench TSH-23-54; and 4m grading and 1.11g/t gold from trench TSH-23-53. The removal of surficial material is continuing to uncover additional quartzite, and the full strike length and mineralization potential are unconstrained.

4) Marudi North: Limited drilling (8,157 meters) by previous operators was completed at Marudi North, including an historic intercept grading 4.30 g/t gold over 17.6m. Mineralization occurs in FQ and strikes northeast - southwest. The Company has discovered additional FQ outcrops in trenching to the south of Marudi North (to date no assay results received from Trench sampling) and interprets the mineralized zone to be open in both directions (southwest and northeast), and to depth. Marudi North warrants further drilling and will be a priority target for future exploration.

5) Toucan: The Toucan area was previously drilled by Golden Shield in 2022 with encouraging results, the best being 4.84 g/t gold over 6 meters. Since then, the Company has conducted additional trenching, mapping and sampling and the Company's interpretation has been refined to make Toucan is a high priority target. Trench results include 4 meters grading 1.09 g/t gold in trench TTC-23-58 and 7 meters grading 1.11 g/t gold in trench TTC-23-63.

6) Kimberly: Kimberley is a northeast-southwest trending unit of FQ that is 30 meters thick and the strike length has not yet been established. However, trench TKI-22-4 produced 9 m grading 1.7 g/t gold; including 3 m at 3.9 g/t gold. These results will be followed up on by the Company in the near future.

Next Steps

Surface work. Continued field exploration consisting of trenching, pitting, auguring, sampling, and mapping. To date, the Company has collected over 3,248 geochemical samples on the Marudi Mountain Property. Results for most of these samples have been received and approximately 429 are awaited. These results will help finalize targeting for the RC drill program.



RC/AC drilling. The drill rig is in Guyana and will arrive on site shortly. Systematic RC drilling on grids, drill testing the ranked drilling targets described above, will commence in August. This will help to establish the size and approximate grade of the fresh-rock target currently obscured by saprolite cover.



Diamond drilling. In September, when results of the RC drilling have been received, Golden Shield will commence diamond drill testing the best of the RC anomalous areas. Results should be available in September and continue flowing to the end of Q4 2023.

Marudi represents the best understood example of an orogenic gold deposit, hosted in the Kwitwaro group metasediments in the southern Guyana greenstone belts. This, combined with the Company's relationships in the area, uniquely positions Golden Shield to explore this virgin greenstone belt for additional gold resources.

Table 1. Summary of Trench Results at the Marudi Mountain Property

Trench Name From To Width (m) Au (g/t) Target TMH-23-47 0 8 8 1.1 IP-6 TSH-23-50 15 21 6 0.48 Success Creek TSH-23-51 13 20 7 0.45 Success Creek TSH-23-53 38 46 8 1.25 Success Creek TSH-23-54 27 31 4 1.11 Success Creek TTC-23-58 11 15 4 1.09 Toucan Creek TTC-23-63 22.5 29.5 7 1.11 Toucan Creek

Reconnaissance Drill Results

In late 2022, preliminary drilling of five short reconnaissance holes at the Throne and July prospects yielded narrow gold intercepts including 1.5m grading 3.14 g/t gold from 154.10m in hole TH-22-35 at Throne and 2.4m grading 0.72 g/t gold from 133m in hole JU-22-38 at July. The results indicate the existence of a gold-bearing system. However, the orientation of the system cannot be constrained at this time and subsequent IP results indicate that the more prospective target may lay some 100m to the west (see Figure 2).

Table 2. Summary of Reconnaissance Drilling

Drillhole Name Coordinates (PSAD56 21N) Total Depth (m) Easting Northing Azi. Dip EOH From To Width Grade (Au g/t) TH-22-34 259443 244988 200 -55 157 No significant intercepts TH-22-35 259481 244904 200 -55 177 154.1 155.6 1.5 3.14 JU-22-36 259494 244539 220 -55 202 No significant intercepts JU-22-37 259594 244424 230 -55 189 No significant intercepts JU-22-38 259623 244285 230 -55 195 133 135.4 2.4 0.72

Quality Assurance

All Golden Shield sample assay results have been independently monitored through a quality control / quality assurance ("QA/QC") protocol which includes the insertion of blind standards, blanks as well as pulp and reject duplicate samples. Logging and sampling are completed at Golden Shield's core handling facility located at the Marudi property. Drill core is diamond sawn on site and half drill-core samples are securely transported to Actlabs Guyana Inc ("Actlabs") sample preparation and analysis facility in Georgetown, Guyana. Samples are crushed and pulverised and a 50-gram charge is analysed by Fire Assay with gravimetric finish. Golden Shield is not aware of any drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data referred to herein. ACTLABS Laboratories is independent of Golden Shield.

Qualified Persons

Leo Hathaway, P. Geo, Executive Chair of Golden Shield, and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed, verified, and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release and has verified the data underlying that scientific and technical information.

Technical Information

Certain data disclosed in this news release is related to historical drilling results. The Company has not undertaken any independent investigation of the drilling, nor has it independently analyzed the results of the historical exploration work in order to verify the results. The Company considers these historical drill results relevant as the Company is using this data as a guide to plan exploration programs. The Company's current and future exploration work includes verification of the historical data through drilling.

Additional Corporate Updates

Dr. Colin Porter has resigned from Golden Shield to pursue other ventures, and the Company wishes him every success.

About Golden Shield

Golden Shield Resources was founded by experienced professionals who are convinced that there are many more gold mines yet to be found in Guyana. The company is well-financed and has three wholly controlled gold projects: Marudi Mountain, Arakaka and Fish Creek. Golden Shield continues to evaluate other gold opportunities in Guyana.

This news release includes certain "ForwardLooking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forwardlooking information" under applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "plan", "forecast", "may", "would", "could", "schedule" and similar words or expressions, identify forwardlooking statements or information. These forwardlooking statements or information relate to, among other things: the exploration and development of the Company's mineral projects; and release of exploration results.

Forwardlooking statements and forwardlooking information relating to any future mineral production, liquidity, enhanced value and capital markets profile of Golden Shield, future growth potential for Golden Shield and its business, and future exploration plans are based on management's reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the price of gold and other metals; no escalation in the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; Golden Shield's ability to operate in a safe and effective manner and its ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms.

These statements reflect Golden Shield's respective current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information and Golden Shield has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: the Company's dependence on one mineral project; precious metals price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company's mineral exploration activities in Guyana; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; risks regarding mineral resources and reserves; the Company's inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects, including the inaccuracy of reserves and resources, metallurgical recoveries and capital and operating costs of such projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; the ability of the communities in which the Company operates to manage and cope with the implications of COVID-19; the economic and financial implications of COVID-19 to the Company; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the Company's interactions with surrounding communities and artisanal miners; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; the speculative nature of exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; and the factors identified in the Company's public disclosure documents available on www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information. 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 anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law.
AUGUST 14, 2023  TheNewswire - VANCOUVER, BC - Tribeca Resources Corporation (TSXV:TRBC) (OTC:TRRCF) (Tribeca Resources, the Company) is pleased to announce that, further to the news releases dated July 11, 2023 and July 24, 2023, it has now closed the second and final tranche of an oversubscribed non-brokered private placement (the Private Placement). Together with the first tranche, Tribeca Resources raised gross proceeds of C$3,309,863.

In connection with the final tranche, the Company raised gross proceeds of $503,488 via the sale of Units consisting of one common share of the Company (a "Common Share") and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant of the Company (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one additional Common Share at an exercise price of C$0.55 for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance of the Warrant, subject to certain acceleration provisions described below.

No finders fees were paid in connection with the final tranche of the Private Placement.

The proceeds of the Private Placement will be used to advance the Company's La Higuera Project, for wider business development activities and general corporate purposes, as the Board of Directors of the Company may approve and direct.

Tribeca Resources CEO, Dr Paul Gow commented: We are very pleased with the response to our financing. The quality of investors we have been able to attract are, we believe, the result of the significant exploration potential at our La Higuera copper-gold project.

With a treasury of over C$4M Tribeca is now fully funded for what will be an exciting Phase 2 drill program at the project.

Our plan to test the open extensions at the Gaby discovery, and potentially to include additional drill-ready targets at La Higuera, means we are well placed to make the upcoming period a rewarding one for our shareholders.

All securities issued pursuant to the Private Placement, including the Common Shares issued in consideration for services rendered in connection with introducing the Company to investors, are subject to a four month hold period from the closing date of the respective tranche of the Private Placement. If for a period of ten consecutive trading days between the date that is four (4) months following the closing of the Private Placement and the expiry of the Warrants, the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange (or such other exchange on which the Common Shares may principally trade at such time) is greater than C$0.75 per share, then upon the Company disseminating a press release, the expiry date of the Warrants will automatically accelerate, and the Warrants will expire on the 30th day following the date on which such press release is disseminated.

Closing of the Private Placement is subject to receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals and final acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange.

The subscription of an insider of the Company in the Private Placement accounted for $19,999.98 or approximately 0.60% of the total gross proceeds. Participation by such insider was exempt from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (MI 61-101) by virtue of the exemptions contained in Section 5.5(b) and 5.7(1)(b) of MI 61-101.

About Tribeca Resources

Tribeca Resources is a copper exploration company focused on discovering and developing assets in the Coastal IOCG Belt of northern Chile. The Companys management team, whose members are significant shareholders of the Company, has world-leading expertise and a discovery history with iron oxide copper-gold deposits in the worlds great IOCG Belts of the Carajas district in Brazil and the Gawler and Cloncurry provinces of Australia.

Tribeca Resources objective is to provide the mineral resources for the next generation of copper mines in Chile. It is focused on building a portfolio of projects, with emphasis on mid to advanced-stage copper exploration and resource development projects. To this end, mineral targets are regularly assessed in pursuit of acquisition, strategic exploration and significant discovery.

Tribecas flagship property is the La Higuera IOCG project that comprises 4,147 hectares of granted mining and exploration licences and is located towards the southern end of the Chilean Coastal IOCG Belt in the Coquimbo Region of northern Chile. The 822 hectare Gaby concession area is held under a purchase option (5% Exploration Levy on expenditure incurred during the option period; a US$2 million final payment due March 2024; with a 1% NSR Royalty granted to the owner), with the remainder of the concessions being outright owned (100%) by Tribeca Resources. Further information about the project can be found in the NI 43-101 Technical Report lodged by Tribeca on SEDAR on 24 October 2022.

On behalf of Tribeca Resources Corporation

Paul Gow Thomas Schmidt CEO and Director President and Director This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. +1 604 685 9316 +1 604 685 9316

Cautionary Note

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange Inc. nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange Inc.) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

This press release does not constitute or form a part of any offer or solicitation to purchase or subscribe for securities in the United States. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction in the United States, and may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons, as such term is defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act (Regulation S), except pursuant to an exemption from or in a transaction not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

Forward Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements and information that are based on the beliefs of management and reflect the Company's current expectations. When used in this press release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. The forward-looking statements and information in this press release include information relating to the ability of the Company to close the Private Placement on the timing and terms described herein, or at all, the use of proceeds of the Private Placement, the operations of the Company, the drilling program, that the Companys results have or will attract potential investors and approval of the TSXV and any other regulatory bodies.

Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company. 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. Such factors include, among others, the following risks: new laws or regulations could adversely affect the business and results of operations of the Company and anticipated work on the Project.

There are several important factors that could cause the Companys actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, among others: reliance on key management; changes in the credit or security markets; results of operation activities; unanticipated costs and expenses; fluctuations in commodity prices; and general market and industry conditions. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on the Company's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events.

The Company has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. 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.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Apogee Minerals Ltd. (Apogee or the Company) (TSXV: APMI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Tim Fernback as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Fernback remains the CFO for Apogee.

Mr. Fernback previously ran the technology consulting practice for a British Columbia venture capital firm specializing in financing and consulting to technology-based start-up ventures, and went on to run the investment banking and corporate finance departments for Wolverton Securities Ltd. Mr. Fernback provides strategic consulting services to several technology and mineral exploration companies, including in the areas of business planning and analysis, supply chain management, capital markets support, corporate finance, and mergers and acquisitions.

Over his successful multi-decade career in both venture capital and finance, Mr. Fernback has served in a variety of roles including CEO, COO and CFO of different junior resource companies listed on the TSXV, TSX, ASX and OTCQB public markets.

Mr. Fernback holds an Honours B.Sc. from McMaster University and is a graduate of the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia, where he completed an MBA with a concentration in Finance. Tim Fernback holds a Chartered Professional Accounting designation (CPA, CMA) and is an active member of the CPA of British Columbia and other industry associations within Canada.

James Pettit has been appointed as Executive Chairman will remain a Director of Apogee.

About Apogee Minerals Ltd.:

Apogee Minerals Ltd. is a mineral exploration company. Our goal is to build shareholder value through mineral project acquisitions and advancement, as well as new mineral discoveries.

To find out more about Apogee Minerals Ltd. (TSX-V: APMI) visit the Companys website:

www.apogeemineralsltd.com

Apogee Minerals Ltd.

Jim Pettit

James Pettit

Executive Chairman and Director

For further information, please contact:

Apogee Minerals Ltd.

Riley Trimble, Director

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tel: (604) 416-2978

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Such information includes, without limitation, information regarding the structure of the Proposed Transaction, the terms and conditions of the Proposed Transaction, the Consolidation, the Name Change, the terms of the Financing. the composition of the board of directors and officers of the Resulting Issuer upon completion of the Proposed Transaction, the intention of the parties to seek a sponsorship exemption or waiver, the issuance of subsequent news releases, and Alto Verdes future exploration plans. Although the Company believes that such information is reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.

Forward looking information is typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by the Company is not a guarantee of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking information as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to: the Companys ability to complete the Proposed Transaction; the expected timing and terms of the Proposed Transaction and the Financing; the state of the financial markets for the Companys securities; the state of the natural resources sector in the event the Proposed Transaction is completed; recent market volatility and potentially negative capital raising conditions resulting from the continued COVID-19 pandemic and risks relating to the extent and duration of such pandemic and its impact on global markets; the Companys ability to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies; and other risks and factors that the Company is unaware of at this time.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

The securities referred to in this news release have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from the U.S. registration requirements.

This news release does not constitute an offer for sale of securities, nor a solicitation for offers to buy any securities.
Game-changer strategy for TomaGold, which will allow it to acquire a district-size land package

The agreements comprise 20 mining properties, hosting a mix of copper-gold-silver-zinc mineralization, of which 6 were past-producing mines

TomaGolds objective is to further consolidate the Chibougamau Mining Camp with the goal of increasing the belts copper and gold resource and enhance shareholder value

MONTREAL, Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TOMAGOLD CORPORATION (TSXV: LOT) (OTCQB: TOGOF) (TomaGold or the Corporation) is pleased to announce that it has entered into agreements with SOQUEM Inc. (SOQUEM), Chibougamau Independent Mines Inc. (TSXV: CBG) (Chibougamau) and Globex Mining Enterprises Inc. (TSX: GMX) (Globex) to acquire a total of 20 mining properties that currently form the majority of the Chibougamau Mining Camp, in Quebec, Canada (the Properties).

In order to acquire the Properties, the Corporation has committed to make global cash payments of $13,805,000, work commitments of $10,425,000, issue 16,625,000 common shares of TomaGold and issue an additional amount of $1,825,000 in common shares of TomaGold over a period of 2 to 5 years in accordance with the specific agreements. Upon signing, TomaGold will be required to make cash payments of $540,000, issue 6,625,000 common shares of TomaGold and issue an additional amount of $25,000 in common shares of TomaGold. A summary of each agreement is included below. The Corporation is currently in advanced discussions with potential financial and mining partners to finance the acquisition, exploration and development of these projects.

David Grondin, President and CEO of TomaGold, stated: Never in its last 75-year history has the Chibougamau Mining Camp been controlled and developed by one operator with a global vision. With these acquisitions, we have achieved a first step towards that goal. This game-changer strategy will allow TomaGold to optimize the allocation of financial, human and technical resources under one roof for exploration, development and potentially production. By consolidating these assets, we will also have a better chance of attracting interest from first tier mining companies looking for large projects to expand their resources, and optimally finance the development of the mining camp through TomaGold.

Map of projected acquisitions

Summary of 100% earn-in agreements

SOQUEM Inc.



Option to acquire a 100% interest in the Williams (Au-Cu-Zn), David (Au-Cu-Zn), Brosman (Au-Ag-Cu-Mo), Radar (Au-Ag-Cu-Zn), Dufault (Au-Cu-Zn), McKenzie (Au-Ag-Cu-Zn) and Bruneau (Au-Cu) properties. Cash Work req. Shares (#) Shares ($) Effective date $ 25,000 $ 25,000 Year 1 $ 325,000 $ 50,000 Year 2 $ 500,000 $ 75,000 Year 3 $ 1,000,000 $ 100,000 Year 4 $ 1,500,000 $ 125,000 TOTAL $ 25,000 $ 3,325,000 $ 375,000

Chibougamau Independent Mines Inc.



Option to acquire a 100% interest in the Berrigan South (Au-Zn), Berrigan Mine (Au-Ag-Zn), Antoinette Lake (Zn-Au-Ag), Elaine Lake (Zn-Au-Ag) and Gwillim (Au-Cu) properties. Cash Work req. Shares (#) Shares ($) Effective date $ 300,000 6,000,000 Year 1 $ 50,000 $ 600,000 $ 150,000 Year 2 $ 300,000 $ 800,000 $ 200,000 Year 3 $ 500,000 $ 1,200,000 $ 300,000 Year 4 $ 750,000 $ 1,500,000 $ 350,000 Year 5 $ 750,000 $ 1,500,000 $ 350,000 TOTAL $ 2,650,000 $ 5,600,000 6,000,000 $ 1,350,000

Globex Mining Enterprises Inc.



Option to acquire a 100% interest in the Gwillim group of claims (Au-Ag). Cash Work req. Shares (#) Shares ($) Effective date $ 15,000 625,000 Year 1 $ 15,000 $ 150,000 $ 25,000 Year 2 $ 25,000 $ 150,000 $ 25,000 Year 3 $ 37,500 $ 200,000 $ 25,000 Year 4 $ 37,500 $ 500,000 $ 25,000 Year 5 $ 500,000 TOTAL $ 130,000 $ 1,500,000 625,000 $ 100,000



Summary of asset purchase agreement

Chibougamau Independent Mines Inc.



Acquisition of a 100% interest in the Kokko Creek (Au-Cu), Quebec Chibougamau GoldFields (Au-Ag-Cu), Copper Cliff Extension (Au-Cu), Grandroy (Au-Cu), Tommy Zones (Au-Cu), Bateman Bay (Au-Cu-Ag) and Virginia Option (Cu) properties. Cash Shares (#) Exclusivity (6 months) $ 200,000 Effective date $ 4,800,000 10,000,000 Year 1 $ 3,000,000 Year 2 $ 3,000,000 TOTAL $ 11,000,000 10,000,000

The agreements are subject to regulatory approval. The common shares to be issued in relation with the agreements are subject to a resale restriction period of four months and one day.

The technical content of this press release has been reviewed and approved by Andre Jean, P.Eng., the Corporations Director of Exploration and a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101.

About TomaGold

TomaGold Corporation (TSXV: LOT) (OTCQB: TOGOF) is a Canadian mineral exploration company engaged in the acquisition, assessment, exploration and development of gold, copper, rare earth elements and lithium projects. TomaGold holds interests in five gold properties near the Chibougamau mining camp in northern Quebec: Obalski, Monster Lake East, Monster Lake West, Hazeur and Doda Lake, as well as a 24.5% interest through a joint venture with Evolution Mining Ltd. and New Gold Inc. in the Baird property, located near the Red Lake mining camp in Ontario. In addition, it owns a 100% interest in a lithium property and in the Star Lake rare earth elements property, located in the James Bay region of Quebec.

Contact:

David Grondin

President and Chief Executive Officer

(514) 583-3490

www.tomagoldcorp.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Some of the statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as expects, intends, is expected, potential, suggests or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, should, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties beyond the Corporations control. Readers are cautioned that such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results and developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Corporation undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Jan. 2, 2018) - Sparton Resources Inc . (TSX VENTURE:SRI) ("Sparton" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has approved a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") for the advanced evaluation and possible acquisition of a 70% interest in the 16 square km. Yao... Read More
Kim So Hyun has a great sense of fashion but on her off days, she just wants to be comfortable in her own outfit.

In her Instagram, she can be seen lounging in basic fashion pieces that can be copped by fans and fashion beginners.

If you're tired of looking "basic" and "underdressed," then this is for you. Here are some staple pieces that you can mix and match for a more rounded look.

Kim So Hyun Accessory #1: White Baby Tee

In just a simple baby tee, Kim So Hyun still exudes charisma, all thanks to her swoon-worthy visuals and the appeal that a white shirt gives off.

While bold colors look good, a white baby tee is such a staple piece that can be partnered with a pair of washed denim jeans, a mini skirt or even a pair of plain black shorts.

For more formal events, Kim So Hyun couples it up with a pair of black slacks and a suit jacket for a more powerful look. She also puts on a coat (any length) for extra flair.

Kim So Hyun Accessory #2: Baby Doll Dress

Want to look cute without putting much effort? Just throw on a simple baby doll dress.

For women, a little black dress is a holy grail in every wardrobe. However, it can be worn to limited events and occasions.

Opt for a baby doll dress with much simpler and more casual details as it can be worn by anyone anywhere. Kim So Hyun also loves wearing midi dresses to look cute and more put-together.

In her Dazed Korea pictorial, she is wearing a black mini drape dress from the South Korean clothing brand WE11 DONE which she pairs with knee-high socks and a pair of pumps.

Kim So Hyun Accessory #3: Combat Boots All Day

In contrast to her delicate looks, Kim So Hyun also exudes a girl crush aura among impressionable pre-teens that are inspired by her.

In one photo from Dazed Korea magazine, she is seen wearing a pair of black ankle-high boots from the Italian brand Ferragamo.

Kim So Hyun pairs it with a leather trench coat and a white baby tee, incorporating one basic item with another.

Which accessory would you try on? Tell us in the comments below!

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
After dealing with a huge fire, Kim Rae Won, Son Ho Jun and Gong Seung Yeon's teams face a devastating crisis.

In episode 3 of "The First Responders 2," a sad goodbye helps the dream team to find a lead about the serial arsonist. Keep on reading.

'The First Responders 2' Episode 3: Bong Do Jin's Heartbreaking Fate

"The First Responders 2" Episode 3 shocks the viewers as it takes a melancholic turn.

After Song Seol (Gong Seung Yeon) is admitted to the hospital, the doctor tries to revive her repeatedly.

At the burning building, Jin Ho Gae (Kim Rae Won) checks on a dead body. It turns out that it belongs to Bong Do Jin (Son Ho Jun).

The fire department breaks down as they learn about his death.

Meanwhile, the doctors are able to rescue Song Seol.

Bong Do Jin's Legacy

The fire department and the police force pay respect to Bong Do Jin's body before he gets cremated. However, the doctors discover fragments of candles inside his stomach through an autopsy.

In an investigation, the candle fragments inside the late firefighter's body are used to cause another fire, and it's revealed that Bong Do Jin sadly witnessed it all.

In order to preserve the evidence for the police, he ate the candle before he died.

Thankfully, the police found a lead.

What's Bong Do Jin's Connection To The Mystery Man?

After tracing the number of the suspect's vehicle, they find out that it belongs to the fire department head, and is soon interrogated.

Meanwhile, Song Seol breaks her silence and reveals that the fire is caused by one person. The candles are manufactured in the same place owned by the victim of the first fire.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE THIS: Kim Rae Won, Gong Seung Yeon Exude Heroic Pride In 'The First Responders 2' Individual Teasers

Song Seol then goes to Bong Do Jin's home and finds a photo of the same man. On her way out, she comes face to face with the man inside the elevator.

At the end of the episode, the man tries to attack Song Seol.

Meanwhile, Ma Tae Hwa (Lee Do Yeop) is out of prison to pay respects to his dead father in the grave. To escape, he ingests some pills and is soon hospitalized.

Have you watched Kim Rae Won's "The First Responders" Season 2 yet? Tell us what you think about the drama in the comments below!

YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THIS: Kim So Hyun Regrets Going Back To Acting? Actress Reveals Doing THIS During 2-Year Break

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
"Moving" star Lee Jung Ha gained overwhelming responses from viewers after portraying a lead character in the webtoon based K-drama.

Helmed by Park In Je of "Kingdom" season 2, along with Kang Full, who also wrote the original web series, the 20-part episode K-drama depicts the story of teenagers with superhuman talents.

Interestingly, they inherited these extraordinary powers from their parents, who possess the same abilities as them. However, as they try to blend with normal people, a group of dark forces is eliminating individuals with superhuman powers and seeing them as a threat to society.

As the webtoon based series aired its first 7 episodes, lead star Lee Jung Ha captivated the attention of viewers with his transformation.

Lee Jung Ha Unbothered by His Weight Gain for 'Moving' - Here's Why

During the press conference, ahead of "Moving's" official release date, the 25-year-old actor revealed that he purposely gained weight for the role of Kim Bong Seok.

Since the webtoon character has a distinct look, Lee Jung Ha had something to do with his appearance, hence the 30 kg or 66 lbs weight gain.

As mentioned by a news portal, gaining weight was not that bad, and he enjoyed the process of it.

"I was really happy to be able to eat," he said, adding, "As I gradually gained weight, I wanted to become Bong Seok as soon as possible, and the more I gained, the more I could see him."

In Moving," the character of Kim Bong Seok is depicted as someone who lived a sheltered life. Although they were not wealthy, his mother, Lee Mi Hyun, played by Han Hyo Joo, made sure that Bong Seok was living a normal life.

Moreover, she also shielded her from the judgment of others. This is also the reason why Kim Bong Seok grew up without a friend. Lee Mi Hyun is afraid that people will discover his secret. That is his ability to fly, which he got from his father, Kim Doo Shik, played by Jo In Sung.

However, when he reached the 4th year of high school, Kim Bong Seok met a new girl who had similar abilities as him.

The female transferee student is played by Go Yoon Jung of "Alchemy of Souls." In 'Moving," her character has the ability to regenerate and heal itself.

On the other hand, another student who has superpowers is Lee Kang Hoon, played by Kim Do Hoon. Behind his smart and gentle persona lies a gifted boy with intense strength.

'Moving' Episode 8 Release Date and Where to Watch

After the intense cliffhanger in "Moving" episode 7, viewers are tuned in to the succeeding episodes of the webtoon-based series.

Interestingly, Disney+ Korea released a poster featuring Han Hyo Joo and Jo In Sung's characters, suggesting that the upcoming episode will showcase their love story.

As for "Moving" episode 8, it will be released on August 16 via Disney+ and Hulu, which will air every Wednesday.

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article

Written by Geca Wills
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If youve experienced a migraine headache before, the sensation is often very distinct: throbbing pain, sensitivity to light and loud noise, and sometimes nausea and vomiting. Migraine symptoms can be uncomfortable and distressing.

Equally concerning is when a migraine sufferer recognizes these symptoms in their child. Migraines typically emerge during early adolescence, particularly when females reach menarche (their first menstrual period). However, as many as half of the children can experience a migraine before the age of 12. Parents often wonder if this means their child will inevitably miss school days and if they will undergo the same headaches.

Migraine headaches can be just as real for children as they are for adults. You have more than a 60 percent chance of developing migraines if one of your parents has a history of migraines, says Dr. Bradley Torphy, Managing Director of the Chicago Headache Center and Research Institute (CHCRI). If both parents are affected, the risk is more than 80 percent.

For parents who havent experienced migraines, the presenting symptoms can sometimes resemble a stomach bug or a more severe neurological disease. Children frequently complain of nausea and vomiting as one of the most common and limiting features of their migraines. Uncontrolled, it can force them to miss school and activities regularly.

At the CHCRI, parents of children with migraines are advised to maintain a diligent symptom diary to identify potential trigger foods and behaviors. Ensuring adequate sleep and developing coping mechanisms for stress are crucial first steps in controlling migraines. Just like adults, children with migraines often benefit from resting in a quiet, dark room at the onset of symptoms. However, this may not always be immediately feasible. The pain of a migraine headache is genuine and warrants a visit to a doctor to discuss treatment strategies better suited for a busy schedule and active lifestyle.

When over-the-counter ibuprofen proves insufficient in relieving the headache or is required multiple times in a month, it may be time to consider prophylactic medication to prevent frequent migraines. Dr. Torphy offers adolescents solutions similar to those provided for his adult patients. There are drug options initially prescribed as blood pressure medications and antidepressants that have been shown to significantly decrease the number of migraine headache days. Additionally, migraine prophylaxis can help prevent rebound headaches, which can occur when a patient excessively uses ibuprofen or acetaminophen over time. Repetitive use of these over-the-counter medications can potentially trigger a headache.

Fortunately, significant progress has been made in both abortive and prophylactic migraine headache medications. In recent years, several oral medications have been developed to target the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) pathway, which has been linked to the severity and frequency of migraines. CGRP inhibitors have shown promising data in relieving symptoms when traditional medications fail. Adult migraine patients may not be aware of these newer options, and an evaluation with a doctor can help determine the right choice.

Christopher Medrano is a family medicine resident.
Police in Entebbe have recovered more iron sheets belonging to the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) from a private construction site in Nkumba, Wakiso district.

Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesperson, Mr. Luke Owoyesigyire says this followed a tip-off from a whistleblower that an Isuzu forward vehicle registration number UAZ/305A was loading pre-painted iron sheets.

Police have since cordoned off the construction site belonging to a woman only identified as Joy. and recovered 216 iron sheets.

We found there a motor vehicle which had already loaded 51 iron sheets and we managed to recover 164 iron sheets from one of the rooms at the construction site. This brings the total number of iron sheets to 215, Owoyesigyire said.

Minister for Karamoja Affairs Mary Goretti Kitutu, her deputy Agnes Nandutu, State Minister for Finance Amos Lugoloobi, and other senior government officials are battling charges relating to dealing with suspect property after being implicated in the diversion of iron sheets meant for the Karamoja Community Empowerment Programme.
Taxi operators under the Federation of Uganda Taxi Operators have challenged government for delaying to reinstate breathalysers. The devices are used to test alcohol levels consumed by motorists along roads across the Country.

They believe this has resulted in an increase in the number of road crashes that have left hundreds of Ugandans dead and many surviving with serious body effects.

Last week, the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Works and Transport, together with Uganda National Roads Authority held detailed discussions regarding the use of breathalysers to reduce road traffic crashes caused by drivers under the influence of alcohol among others.

Speaking to KFM, the Federation chairperson, Mr. Rashid Sekindi said driving under the influence of alcohol is an offence right from the driving school.

Last weeks traffic police report indicated that in one week from July 30th to August, 99 people were reported dead in 79 fatal crashes. According to the 2022 annual crime and traffic/road safety report, 20,394 road crashes were recorded countrywide where 1,579 pedestrians were killed translating into four dying every day and 131 every month.
By AFP

Nigers military regime vowed late Sunday to prosecute ousted president Mohamed Bazoum for high treason and slammed West African leaders for imposing sanctions on the country.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) imposed sanctions on Niger in response to the coup and has not ruled out using force against the army officers who toppled the democratically elected Bazoum on July 26.

The West African bloc has approved the deployment of a standby force to restore constitutional order in Niger as soon as possible but remains committed to finding a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

Nigers military leaders said they would prosecute Bazoum for high treason and undermining the internal and external security of Niger, according to a statement read out by Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane on national television.

Bazoum, 63, and his family have been held at the presidents official Niamey residence since the coup, with international concern mounting over his conditions in detention.

A member of his entourage said he saw his doctor on Saturday.

After this visit, the doctor raised no problems regarding the state of health of the deposed president and members of his family, the military said.

They also said sanctions imposed on Niger had made it difficult for people to access medicines, food and electricity, and were illegal, inhumane and humiliating.

 Open to diplomacy 

The comments came just hours after religious mediators met with coup leader General Abdourahamane Tiani, who indicated his regime was open to a diplomatic breakthrough.

Tiani said their doors were open to explore diplomacy and peace in resolving the matter, said Sheikh Bala Lau, a day after his Nigerian Muslim delegation held talks in the capital Niamey.

Tiani claimed the coup was well intended and that the plotters struck to stave off an imminent threat that would have affected Nigeria as well as Niger, according to Laus statement.

But Tiani said it was painful that ECOWAS had issued an ultimatum to restore Bazoum without hearing their side of the matter, the statement added.

The Muslim leaders visited Niamey with the blessing of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who is also head of ECOWAS.

Tinubu has adopted a firm stance against the coup, the sixth to hit an ECOWAS member state since 2020.

The bloc has severed financial transactions and electricity supplies and closed borders with landlocked Niger, blocking much-needed imports to one of the worlds poorest countries.

On July 30, it issued a seven-day ultimatum to restore Bazoum or face the potential use of force, but the deadline expired without the new rulers backing down.

The bloc scrapped a Saturday crisis meeting on the coup due to be held in Ghanas capital Accra for technical reasons.

Demonstrations in favour of the new military rulers have become a common sight in Niamey.

Thousands of people attended concerts on Sunday at the Seyni Kountche Stadium in support of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), the generals who have taken power.The crowd, mainly made up of young people, brandished the flags of Niger as well as those of Burkina Faso, Mali and Russia.

The prospect of a military intervention to reinstate Bazoum has divided ECOWAS members and drawn warnings from foreign powers including Russia and Algeria.

Nigers neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso, also ruled by military governments who seized power in coups, have said an intervention would be tantamount to a declaration of war on them.
The Television Academy has announced a new date for the 75th Emmy Awards, amid the ongoing strikes by Hollywood actors and writers unions.

The annual event, which celebrates the finest in television productions, was originally scheduled to be broadcast on Fox on September 18.

But following the announcement of the major strike by US actors union Sag-Aftra last month, actors have been forbidden to campaign for or attend award shows.

On Thursday the organisation announced that the ceremony would now take place on January 15, 2024, in the midst of award season.

It comes just a week after the 81st annual Golden Globes, which is currently due to take place on January 15.

Hit HBO drama Succession has made Emmy Award history at this years nominations after receiving three lead actor nods for its final season.

Scottish actor Brian Cox and co-stars Jeremy Strong and Kieran Culkin will go head to head, after all receiving nods in the category.

It marked the first time ever that three actors from the same series had been nominated simultaneously for outstanding lead actor in a drama series.

Sarah Snook was also nominated in the equivalent female category of outstanding lead actress in a drama series, and the series was also nominated for outstanding drama series.

The 75th annual Emmys are due to take place on January 15 and will be broadcast live from the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles.
A 20-year-old woman was the subject of fraud when she transferred 7,400 euro to someone she believed was the landlord of a property but later discovered the home was never for rent, according to gardai.

An Garda Siochana has issued a warning over student accommodation fraud amid an anticipated annual spike between August and October.

In the case of the 20-year-old woman, gardai said she had travelled to the Netherlands to obtain the keys for the rented property there but the landlord failed to meet her, ignored her phone calls and ultimately blocked her number.

She subsequently learned the property was never up for rent, gardai said.

In another case, a 30-year-old man viewed a digital letting agency and was sent what he believed was a contract via email, which he signed and paid a total of 4,000 euro for a property in Dublin.

The lease was agreed to start on July 1 2023. When the man went to the property, there was nobody there and he was unable to contact the landlord.

Elsewhere, a 25-year-old woman transferred 1,200 euro over the app Revolut for a first months rent after responding to an advertisement regarding an apartment  but no keys were ever provided.

Gardai also released details of a case study regarding a 28-year-old woman looking for a seasonal rental who contacted an agent with a UK-registered number via WhatsApp.

The agent requested a deposit of 1,236 euro which was transferred to a bank with a French international bank account number (IBAN).

The woman was then unable to make further contact with the agent.

A 21-year-old woman posted on Facebook that she was seeking student accommodation in Cork and received correspondence from a third party with what she believed was a suitable apartment.

The agent requested a deposit of 800 euro to secure the accommodation.

Since making the transfer she has not received keys to the apartment or any correspondence from the agent.

All these incidents were reported to gardai in July of this year.

Gardai said while there was a 38% increase in accommodation fraud in 2022 compared with 2021, there has been a slight decrease (8%) in fraud reports to the end of June this year.

Approximately one third of all accommodation fraud occurs during August and September, with more than 50% of victims of accommodation fraud aged under 25.

Approximately 55% of victims of accommodation fraud are female and around half of the incidents occur in Dublin.

Gardai said around two million euro has been stolen in accommodation fraud in last five years.

They warn that typically forms of fraud include when the fraudster claims to be out of the country and cannot show the renter the property unless they pay a deposit.

Gardai said fraudsters can also be living in the property when they show a number of people the home, get a deposit from several parties and disappear with the money.

Often the transaction appears normal until the renter finds that the property does not exist, is already occupied or the keys do not work and the landlord has disappeared.

Gardai also warned that reservation fraud occurs when a person pays for a hotel/guesthouse room and subsequently discovers that the transaction was fraudulent, for example, the property does not exist or staff at the property have no record of the booking.

The Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) has issued advice and warning signs when looking for rented accommodation.

Warning signs include when payment is demanded before signing the lease or when a renter is asked to pay cash, cryptocurrency or money via a non-bank transfer.

Gardai advised renters never to agree to rent a property without first having the opportunity to view it, to ensure that the keys work and they have proper contact details for the landlord/agent  which would ideally be registered with the Residential Tenancies Board.
President of The Association of Irish Local Government, Cllr Pat Fitzpatrick has today called on the Minister, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) to bring to an end the ongoing dispute with our local authority retained fire fighters.

Retained firefighters are on call 24/7. They make huge personal and family sacrifices by doing this job as they have to be available constantly especially with the low staffing numbers. They can never stray too far from home and often miss family holidays, school plays, and family trips  things that the rest of us take for granted, he said.

I was speaking to a local retained firefighter lately in Kilkenny who told me that one Sunday morning he was having breakfast with his family when his pager went off and within 15 minutes he was helping a family evacuate from their home after a major flood. It is only fair, right and proper that the pay and condition of the people that provide this vital service to the public is addressed to the satisfaction of the retained fighters," said Cllr Fitzpatrick.

There are currently around 3,000 firefighters nationwide, two-thirds of which are employed as retained rather than full-time firefighters. Retained fire service staff are paid an annual retainer of 8,500 per annum to be available for call-outs, with their pay then depending on the number of incidents they attend.

Retained firefighters are allowed to work part-time jobs to supplement their income, but do so knowing that their second job must be within 2.5km of their fire station. They must also live within that same distance from the fire station they are attached to in order to respond within five minutes of being paged to report to work.

The poor pay conditions has resulted in people leaving the service and is making recruitment very difficult for local authorities across the country. This has led to the strike action that we have seen over the last six weeks. Therefore, it is vital that this issue is resolved as soon as possible.

Cllr. Fitzpatrick concluded by saying, I am aware that the Labour Court have made a recommendation in relation to his dispute which is unacceptable to the retained firefighters. However, I would call on the Local Government Management Service, who have responsibility in this area, to use these recommendations as a starting basis to re-engage with the retained firefighters and their unions to reach an fair and equitable solution to this issue.
Strengths The best performing precious metal for the week was palladium, up 2.72%, on what might be the beginning of a short squeeze. Palladium had fallen 24% since mid-May, up until a recent rally on news that speculators had taken their short palladium positions to the most bearish position on record going back to December 2009. China raised its gold reserves for a ninth straight month in July as central bank purchases continue to underpin prices of the precious metal. Bullion held by the Peoples Bank of China (PBOC) rose by 740,000 troy ounces, the central bank said on Monday, which is equivalent to about 23 tons.

For Alamos Gold, based on 44% higher reserves versus the 2017 study, total production is now expected to be 2.2 million ounces, up 46% versus 1.5 million ounces in the 2017 study. LOM AISC is now expected to be $814 per ounce, up 9% from $745 per ounce in the 2017 study.

Franco-Nevada reported second quarter adjusted earnings of $0.95 per share, ahead of consensus of $0.89 per share. When compared to consensus, results were ahead in the precious metals segment. In the quarter, operations at Cobre Panama and Antapaccay successfully returned to full production, contributing strong deliveries to Franco-Nevada. Overall, for the quarter, Franco-Nevada reported gold-equivalent ounces (GEOs) of 168,515 ounces, ahead of consensus of 166,000 ounces. Weaknesses The worst performing precious metal for the week was silver, down 4.14%, illustrating its near 3 to 1 leverage factor to the price move in gold this week. Gold had choppy daily price action with a bias to the downside until a slight gain on Friday. Impala Platinum's fiscal year 2023 gross refined production 6E declined 5% year-over-year to 2.92 million ounces and was ~2% below company-compiled consensus. The key miss was driven by IRS where volumes declined 16% year-over-year and came in 4% below consensus. Management highlighted 111,000 ounces of production was deferred due to power constraints, the delay to restart the refurbished Number 4 furnace, and cable theft at Impala Rustenburg. MAG Silver reported second quarter financial results with diluted EPS of $0.19 from attributable production of 2.32 million ounces silver that was pre-reported. Unit production costs were not reported, but aggregate production costs were $71.2 million (15% above consensus).

Gatos reported second quarter 2023 EPS of -$0.05 compared to consensus of $0.05, resulting from both lower equity income pickup from the Los Gatos JV (driven by higher depreciation, depletion, amortization, and income tax expenses) and higher G&A costs at the corporate level (driven by an increase in one-time audit and consulting fees from the restatement of the financial statements). Opportunities According to Scotia, Kinrosss focus for the next 12 months is on further de-risking key assets, which include some of the following: 1) delivering on the Tasiast 24,000 mill expansion to its sustained capacity by year-end, 2) delivering a PEA at Great Bear in 2024, including permitting the exploration decline, 3) de-risking the mine plan at Round Mountain, with construction of the decline in 2024 and study work at Gold Hill satellite.

Greatland Gold would likely bid for full control of the Havieron gold-copper project in Western Australia if it goes up for sale following Newmonts acquisition of

Newcrest, according to Managing Director Shaun Day. The Havieron and nearby Telfer gold mines and mill are likely to be among assets that Newmont will look to sell.

Newcrest, according to Managing Director Shaun Day. The Havieron and nearby Telfer gold mines and mill are likely to be among assets that Newmont will look to sell. Silvercorp announced the planned acquisition of OreCorp Ltd. and its Nyanzaga Gold Project in Tanzania for A$242 million in cash and shares. This is the second acquisition announced by Silvercorp this year; in May, the company signed a non-binding term sheet to acquire Celsius Resources and its Maalinao-Caigutan-Biyog Project in the Philippines for A$56 million. Threats Reuters reported that Mali has adopted a new mining code following prior reports that proposed changes were in the works to increase state ownership in new projects from 20% to 35%, although changes to the mining code have not been confirmed by Reuters or B2Gold. B2Gold recently noted on its second quarter conference call that its Fekola mine in Mali is governed by the 2012 mining code, so would not be susceptible to changes under any future mining code.

For B2Gold, at the Fekola Complex, the permit for Bantako North permanent area was delayed pending the finalization of Malis new mining code. While details over the new code remain sparse, the main change seems to be related to an increase in government participation, from the current 20% to as much as 35%, as well as updates to taxes. BTG noted that it and other mining companies in the country have been engaging in discussions with the government to ensure an equitable environment for all stakeholders and a fair tax regime.

Barrick Gold Corp. will not be pressured into making any major acquisitions even as its rivals pursue a flurry of dealmaking in the mining industry, Chief Executive Officer Mark Bristow said. The market is constantly dragging us into the M&A

conversation, and we dont need that, Bristow said Tuesday in an interview at Bloombergs Toronto office. We are not anti-M&A  it is a component of any industry rearrangement  but the problem is that, in the gold industry, most of the tier one assets remaining are embedded in bad assets. And you cannot

unlock them. By Frank E. Holmes Contributing to kitco.com Follow @bulldogholmes www.goldnewsletter.com

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
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(Kitco News) - Coinbase, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the U.S., has partnered with Peoples Trust Company to provide access to Interac e-Transfers for Coinbase users in Canada, helping to make cryptos more accessible to millions of Canadians.

According to Coinbase, the new integration is meant to show the exchanges commitment to Canada as a priority Go Deep market, and Interac availability was the most requested feature by Canadian users.

Depositing funds through Interac is free and almost instant, Coinbase said, and over the past month, more than 50% of deposits have been made using the service.

Canada is well positioned to be a global leader in the cryptoeconomy thanks to the high levels of crypto awareness, a passionate local tech ecosystem, and the progress towards a strong regulatory framework, said Nana Murugesan, VP of International and Business Development at Coinbase. As Coinbases next Go Deep Market, we are making significant investments to help Canadians access the benefits of cryptocurrency.

Coinbase said Canada is the second-most crypto-aware country across its international markets and cited the Ontario Securities Commissions survey conducted in October which found that over 30% of Canadians said they plan to buy cryptocurrency within the year. That figure is more than double the amount of Canadians that owned cryptocurrency at the time of the survey, which presents a significant opportunity for growth in the Canadian market, Conibase said.

Canada has become a focal point for engagement by Coinbase over the past year. In March, the exchange signed an enhanced pre-registration undertaking with the Canadian Securities Administration (CSA) and continues working with regulators and policymakers on a strong digital currency regulatory framework for Canadians.

Coinbase was one of 11 exchanges that agreed to the pre-registration undertakings, which are comprised of nine requirements that crypto asset trading platforms (CTPs) are expected to follow. These include enhanced expectations regarding the custody and segregation of crypto assets held on behalf of Canadian clients and a prohibition on offering margin, credit, or other forms of leverage to any Canadian client.

Under the rules laid out by the CSA, trading platforms are precluded from pledging, rehypothecating or otherwise using crypto assets held on behalf of Canadian clients, and restrictions have been put in place to limit a CTP from relying on crypto assets to determine the capital of the CTP for excess working capital purposes and in determining the capital base of the CTP.

CTPs are also prohibited from allowing clients to purchase or deposit stablecoins and other proprietary tokens without the prior written consent of the CSA.

Coinbase has also built a tech hub in Canada with almost 200 full-time employees who are helping build the exchanges product offerings in the region. This makes Canada Coinbase's largest tech hub outside the U.S., the company said. Coinbase is also one of Canadas largest crypto employers.

Coinbase Ventures has also been active across Canada, investing in several Canadian start-ups  including Dapper Labs, Minerva AI, Axelar, Horizon Blockchain Games, and Zapper  to promote local innovation and entrepreneurship and develop technology that will advance the global crypto economy.

At Coinbase, our mission is to update the financial system and bring greater economic freedom to the world, said Lucas Matheson, Canada Country Director at Coinbase. Were thrilled to be leading this push and helping drive innovation in Canadas financial system.

According to Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, the exchange is developing a positive working relationship with the CSA and is encouraged by the direction of developments so far. We've found the Canadian regulators to be really amenable to work with and there's a real genuine interest, I think on both sides, to have regulatory clarity about how consumers can be protected in this environment, he said.
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(Kitco News) - Precious metals producer Guanajuato Silver today reported an employee fatality that occurred on Saturday, August 12, due to an accident at the San Ignacio mine in Guanajuato, Mexico.

In a statement, the company said the area of the incident was shut down temporarily as it works with Mexican authorities to conduct a thorough investigation.

The company will review the conclusions and implement any additional safety measures recommended to prevent such an accident from reoccurring, it added.

President Ramon Davila stated, "We offer our prayers and condolences to the family at this tragic time. We are currently providing support to all those impacted, while at the same time we are working with local authorities to fully understand the specific details of this incident."

Guanajuato Silver (TSXV: GSVR) (OTCQX: GSVRF) is a precious metals producer engaged in reactivating past producing silver and gold mines in central Mexico. The company has four operating mines and three processing facilities.
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Weather Alert

...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT THURSDAY... * WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions with heat index values of 105 to 115 degrees. * WHERE...Portions of south central, southwest, and west central Illinois. Portions of central, east central, northeast, and southeast Missouri. * WHEN...Until 10 PM CDT Thursday. The heat may last into Friday for some areas. * IMPACTS...Heat related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat and high humidity events. 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. &&
Weather Alert

...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 10 PM CDT THURSDAY... * WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions with heat index values up to 114 expected. * WHERE...Portions of south central, southwest, and west central Illinois. Portions of central, east central, northeast, and southeast Missouri. * WHEN...From Noon today to 10 PM CDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Heat related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat and high humidity events. 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. &&
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC  Get Free Report) has earned a consensus recommendation of Hold from the fourteen research firms that are covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $193.23.

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the company. Evercore ISI raised Marsh & McLennan Companies from an in-line rating to an outperform rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $195.00 to $199.00 in a report on Thursday, June 8th. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $168.00 to $192.00 in a research report on Monday, May 15th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $180.00 to $183.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Friday, April 21st. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, July 21st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $200.00 to $208.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, July 21st.

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Marsh & McLennan Companies Trading Up 0.6 %

Shares of MMC opened at $191.85 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84. The firm has a market capitalization of $94.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 0.94. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $185.53 and its 200 day simple moving average is $175.68. Marsh & McLennan Companies has a twelve month low of $148.11 and a twelve month high of $194.16.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MMC  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 20th. The financial services provider reported $2.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.12 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $5.88 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.77 billion. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a return on equity of 33.69% and a net margin of 15.20%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 9.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.89 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Marsh & McLennan Companies will post 7.71 earnings per share for the current year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, July 27th will be issued a dividend of $0.71 per share. This represents a $2.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.48%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, July 26th. This is an increase from Marsh & McLennan Companiess previous quarterly dividend of $0.59. Marsh & McLennan Companiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 43.36%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, CFO Mark C. Mcgivney sold 70,106 shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $185.53, for a total value of $13,006,766.18. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 33,678 shares in the company, valued at $6,248,279.34. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other Marsh & McLennan Companies news, CEO Dean Michael Klisura sold 12,976 shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $192.20, for a total transaction of $2,493,987.20. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 20,935 shares in the company, valued at $4,023,707. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CFO Mark C. Mcgivney sold 70,106 shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $185.53, for a total transaction of $13,006,766.18. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 33,678 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,248,279.34. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.30% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Marsh & McLennan Companies

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Edge Capital Group LLC purchased a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 4th quarter valued at $96,000. Main Street Financial Solutions LLC lifted its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 5.0% in the 1st quarter. Main Street Financial Solutions LLC now owns 2,064 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $345,000 after purchasing an additional 98 shares during the period. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 5.5% in the 4th quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 329,373 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $54,505,000 after purchasing an additional 17,025 shares during the period. Van ECK Associates Corp raised its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 4.3% during the 4th quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 72,713 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $12,033,000 after acquiring an additional 3,012 shares during the period. Finally, Summit Trail Advisors LLC raised its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 50.2% during the 1st quarter. Summit Trail Advisors LLC now owns 1,959 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $326,000 after acquiring an additional 655 shares during the period. 86.33% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Marsh & McLennan Companies

(Get Free Report

Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc is a professional services firm, which engages in offering clients advice and solutions in risk, strategy, and people. It operates through the Risk and Insurance Services, and Consulting segments. The Risk and Insurance Services segment is involved in risk management activities, as well as insurance and reinsurance broking and services.

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Finning International (OTCMKTS:FINGF  Free Report) had its target price increased by Raymond James from C$43.00 to C$50.00 in a research report released on Thursday morning, FlyOnTheWall reports.

FINGF has been the subject of a number of other reports. TD Securities increased their price objective on shares of Finning International from C$39.00 to C$46.00 in a research note on Thursday. Scotiabank lifted their price target on shares of Finning International from C$50.00 to C$54.00 in a report on Thursday. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price target on shares of Finning International from C$51.00 to C$52.00 in a report on Thursday. National Bank Financial upgraded shares of Finning International from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on shares of Finning International from C$48.00 to C$50.00 in a report on Thursday.

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Finning International Price Performance

Finning International Increases Dividend

Shares of OTCMKTS FINGF opened at $32.59 on Thursday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $31.44 and a 200-day moving average price of $27.95. Finning International has a 1 year low of $17.00 and a 1 year high of $34.93.

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 8th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 25th were given a $0.1866 dividend. This represents a yield of 2.75%. This is a boost from Finning Internationals previous dividend of $0.18. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, May 24th. Finning Internationals payout ratio is 37.53%.

Finning International Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Finning International Inc sells, services, and rents heavy equipment, engines, and related products in Canada, Chile, Bolivia, the United Kingdom, Argentina, Ireland, and internationally. The company offers articulated trucks, asphalt pavers, backhoe loaders, cold planers, compactors, dozers, draglines, electric rope shovels, excavators, hydraulic mining shovels, material handlers, motor graders, off-highway trucks, pipelayers, road reclaimers, skid steer and compact track loaders, track loaders, underground-hard rock, wheel loaders, and wheel tractor-scrapers.

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Publicis Groupe (OTCMKTS:PUBGY  Get Free Report) and CFN Enterprises (OTCMKTS:CNFN  Get Free Report) are both business services companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, institutional ownership, risk, valuation, dividends, earnings and analyst recommendations.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Publicis Groupe and CFN Enterprises top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Publicis Groupe $14.96 billion 1.34 $1.29 billion N/A N/A CFN Enterprises $4.32 million 0.98 -$9.90 million N/A N/A

Publicis Groupe has higher revenue and earnings than CFN Enterprises.

Analyst Recommendations

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Publicis Groupe 0 3 5 0 2.63 CFN Enterprises 0 0 0 0 N/A

This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for Publicis Groupe and CFN Enterprises, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Publicis Groupe presently has a consensus price target of $71.25, indicating a potential upside of 255.72%. Given Publicis Groupes higher probable upside, equities research analysts clearly believe Publicis Groupe is more favorable than CFN Enterprises.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

0.0% of Publicis Groupe shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.0% of Publicis Groupe shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 9.9% of CFN Enterprises shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Volatility & Risk

Publicis Groupe has a beta of 0.98, indicating that its stock price is 2% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, CFN Enterprises has a beta of 0.52, indicating that its stock price is 48% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares Publicis Groupe and CFN Enterprises net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Publicis Groupe N/A N/A N/A CFN Enterprises -320.58% N/A -265.71%

Summary

Publicis Groupe beats CFN Enterprises on 9 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Publicis Groupe

(Get Free Report)

Publicis Groupe S.A. provides marketing, communications, and digital business transformation services in North America, Europe, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East. The company offers advisory services for brand strategy, and repositioning and their identity under the Publicis Worldwide, Saatchi & Saatchi, Leo Burnett, Marcel, Fallon, and BBH brands; online advertising services under the Razorfish and Moxie brand names; crisis communications, press relations, public affairs, institutional relations, financial communications, and strategy management services; media consulting, planning, and buying services; performance marketing services; and e-commerce services. It also designs and delivers brand content for various channels, such as television, print, radio, cinema, and billboards, as well as digital, including display and social networks under the Prodigious, Harbor, and The Pub brand names. In addition, the company operates Epsilon PeopleCloud, a unified data and technology platform; and Publicis Sapient, a technological, digital, and consulting platform. Further, it provides healthcare communication services under the Digitas Health, Publicis Health Media, and Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness brands for the healthcare and well-being sectors. It serves clients in the automotive, retail, financial services, consumer products, and media sectors. Publicis Groupe S.A. was founded in 1926 and is headquartered in Paris, France.

About CFN Enterprises

(Get Free Report)

CFN Enterprises Inc. engages in the sponsored content and marketing activities for legal CBD, cannabis, and psychedelics industries in the United States. The company also manufactures CBD products for growers, pharmaceutical, wellness providers, and retailers' needs. It offers sponsored content, including articles, press releases, videos, podcasts, advertisements and other media, email advertisements, and other marketing campaigns. The company also operates various media platforms, such as CannabisFN.com, the CannabisFN iOS app, the CFN Media YouTube channel, the CFN Media podcast, and other venues to educate and inform investors interested in the cannabis industry. It distributes its content to various online platforms, which include CannabisFN.com website, press releases, financial news syndicates, search engines, YouTube, iTunes, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and others. The company was formerly known as Accelerize Inc. and changed its name to CFN Enterprises Inc. in October 2019. CFN Enterprises Inc. was founded in 2001 and is based in Whitefish, Montana.

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StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of CIRCOR International (NYSE:CIR  Free Report) in a research report released on Thursday morning. The firm issued a buy rating on the industrial products companys stock.

Separately, Stifel Nicolaus downgraded CIRCOR International from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, June 5th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $32.33.

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Check Out Our Latest Research Report on CIR

CIRCOR International Stock Performance

Shares of CIR stock opened at $55.73 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.10, a quick ratio of 1.48 and a current ratio of 2.30. CIRCOR International has a fifty-two week low of $13.32 and a fifty-two week high of $56.48. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $53.15 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $37.15. The company has a market capitalization of $1.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.68 and a beta of 2.37.

CIRCOR International (NYSE:CIR  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 11th. The industrial products company reported $0.53 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.12 by $0.41. CIRCOR International had a return on equity of 35.65% and a net margin of 3.40%. The firm had revenue of $203.10 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $188.80 million. Analysts expect that CIRCOR International will post 2.41 earnings per share for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On CIRCOR International

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Dorsey Wright & Associates bought a new position in shares of CIRCOR International during the first quarter valued at $26,000. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky bought a new stake in CIRCOR International in the 3rd quarter worth about $99,000. Quantbot Technologies LP bought a new stake in CIRCOR International in the 1st quarter worth about $147,000. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC increased its holdings in CIRCOR International by 52.4% in the 3rd quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC now owns 8,910 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $147,000 after buying an additional 3,062 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Credit Suisse AG grew its stake in shares of CIRCOR International by 10.0% during the 2nd quarter. Credit Suisse AG now owns 14,690 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $241,000 after purchasing an additional 1,335 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 94.64% of the companys stock.

About CIRCOR International

(Get Free Report)

CIRCOR International, Inc designs, manufactures, and distributes flow and motion control products in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North America, and internationally. The company has a product portfolio of brands serving its customers' demanding applications. It operates through two segments, Aerospace & Defense and Industrial.

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StockNews.com started coverage on shares of PEDEVCO (NYSEAMERICAN:PED  Free Report) in a research note issued to investors on Thursday. The firm issued a sell rating on the stock.

PEDEVCO Stock Performance

PEDEVCO stock opened at $0.99 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $86.17 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.01 and a beta of 1.32. PEDEVCO has a 52-week low of $0.80 and a 52-week high of $1.31. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $0.92.

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PEDEVCO (NYSEAMERICAN:PED  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 15th. The company reported $0.02 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.01 by $0.01. PEDEVCO had a net margin of 10.50% and a return on equity of 3.34%. The company had revenue of $8.16 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.12 million. Analysts predict that PEDEVCO will post 0.13 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at PEDEVCO

Institutional Trading of PEDEVCO

In other PEDEVCO news, Director John J. Scelfo sold 40,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $0.92, for a total value of $36,800.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 224,500 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $206,540. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website . In related news, Director John J. Scelfo sold 40,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $0.92, for a total value of $36,800.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 224,500 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $206,540. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link . Also, CEO Simon G. Kukes bought 130,453 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 15th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $0.89 per share, for a total transaction of $116,103.17. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 7,021,950 shares in the company, valued at $6,249,535.50. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here . Insiders own 68.50% of the companys stock.

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. XTX Topco Ltd boosted its stake in PEDEVCO by 44.7% during the 1st quarter. XTX Topco Ltd now owns 52,091 shares of the companys stock worth $70,000 after purchasing an additional 16,083 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of PEDEVCO by 2.1% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 945,769 shares of the companys stock worth $955,000 after acquiring an additional 19,300 shares during the period. First Republic Investment Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of PEDEVCO in the 1st quarter worth $28,000. Jane Street Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of PEDEVCO in the 1st quarter worth $30,000. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its stake in shares of PEDEVCO by 44.6% in the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 79,800 shares of the companys stock worth $88,000 after acquiring an additional 24,600 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 3.02% of the companys stock.

About PEDEVCO

(Get Free Report)

PEDEVCO Corp., an oil and gas company, focuses on the acquisition, development, and production of oil and natural gas assets in the United States. The company is headquartered in Houston, Texas. PEDEVCO Corp. is a subsidiary of SK Energy LLC.

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Sun Life Financial (TSE:SLF  Free Report) (NYSE:SLF) had its target price boosted by BMO Capital Markets from C$78.00 to C$79.00 in a research report released on Thursday morning, MarketBeat reports.

Several other brokerages also recently commented on SLF. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded Sun Life Financial from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating and raised their target price for the company from C$76.00 to C$79.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 16th. Evercore raised their target price on Sun Life Financial from C$73.00 to C$76.00 in a research note on Tuesday, July 18th. Desjardins set a C$75.00 target price on Sun Life Financial and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, July 20th. Finally, Barclays reduced their target price on Sun Life Financial from C$76.00 to C$75.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 13th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of C$74.36.

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Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Sun Life Financial

Sun Life Financial Stock Performance

SLF stock opened at C$67.85 on Thursday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of C$68.06 and a 200-day moving average price of C$66.31. Sun Life Financial has a 1-year low of C$52.97 and a 1-year high of C$70.11. The company has a current ratio of 49.82, a quick ratio of 84,866.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 30.15. The firm has a market cap of C$39.82 billion, a PE ratio of 12.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.24 and a beta of 0.97.

Sun Life Financial (TSE:SLF  Get Free Report) (NYSE:SLF) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 11th. The financial services provider reported C$1.52 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of C$1.44 by C$0.08. The firm had revenue of C$11.98 billion during the quarter. Sun Life Financial had a return on equity of 13.23% and a net margin of 13.30%. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Sun Life Financial will post 6.218018 earnings per share for the current year.

Sun Life Financial Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, August 30th will be paid a dividend of $0.75 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, August 29th. This represents a $3.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.42%. Sun Life Financials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 55.05%.

Sun Life Financial Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Sun Life Financial Inc, a financial services company, provides savings, retirement, and pension products worldwide. It offers term and permanent life, as well as personal health, dental, critical illness, long-term care, and disability insurance products. The company provides financial advice, asset management, and investments related products.

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This photo, carried by the North's Korean Central News Agency, Aug. 14, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un driving an armored vehicle while visiting an arms factory last week. Yonhap





North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called for a "drastic boost" of the country's missile production capacity, the North's state media said Monday, ahead of a key joint military exercise between South Korea and the United States next week.







Kim made the remarks during a two-day visit to major factories that produce tactical missiles and rocket launchers Friday and Saturday, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).







The visit came less than a week after the North Korean leader conducted a three-day "field guidance" of major munitions factories as South Korea and the United States plan to hold their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, which Pyongyang has denounced as a rehearsal for an invasion of the North.







This year's combined military exercise, scheduled for Aug. 21-31, will feature various contingency drills, such as the computer simulation-based command post exercise, concurrent field training and Ulchi civil defense drills.







This photo, carried by the North's Korean Central News Agency, Aug. 14, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, center, visiting an arms factory last week. Yonhap





It also came just days after Kim presided over an enlarged meeting of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, calling for preparing for a possible war in an "offensive" manner by modernizing munitions factories and mass-producing weapons.






Army chiefs and senior commanders from Asia-Pacific nations pose during the opening ceremony of the annual Indo-Pacific Army Chiefs Conference (IPACC) 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand, Sept. 9, 2019. EPA-Yonhap



A senior South Korean general will join an annual conference of top military officials in the Indo-Pacific region this week for talks on bolstering security cooperation, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Monday.



Lt. Gen. Park Woong, vice chairman of the JCS, will attend the three-day Indo-Pacific Chief of Defense Conference in Fiji from Monday (local time), jointly hosted by the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and the Military Forces of Fiji.



Senior military officials from 28 countries in the region, including Australia and Japan, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) are expected to attend the gathering, according to the JCS.



The conference's agenda items include efforts to uphold the "international rules-based order," response to cyber risks, and ways to develop resilient communities to respond to natural disasters and climate change, it said.



Park will also share his assessment on the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and discuss bilateral military cooperation with other participants, including those from the United States, Britain and Fiji.



The JCS said it expects the gathering to serve as an opportunity to enhance coordination with the international community in efforts such as deterring North Korea's nuclear and weapons of mass destruction threats.



Park will attend the event on behalf of JCS Chairman Kim Seung-kyum as Seoul's military is making preparations to kick off a major combined exercise with the United States next week. (Yonhap)


South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson Col. Lee Sung-jun, left, and U.S. Forces Korea spokesperson, Col. Isaac Taylor, join hands during a joint press conference at the defense ministry in Seoul on Aug. 14. Yonhap



South Korea and the United States will kick off a major combined military exercise next week to beef up their joint defense, both sides said Monday, amid North Korea's hardening rhetoric fueling concerns about the possibility of North Korea unleashing new provocations.



The annual Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise based on an all-out war scenario is set to take place from Aug. 21-31, featuring various contingency drills, such as the computer simulation-based command post exercise, concurrent field training and Ulchi civil defense drills.



In the lead-up to the drills, Pyongyang has ratcheted up tensions with leader Kim Jong-un having recently called for a "drastic boost" in the country's missile production capability and for war contingency preparations in an "offensive" manner.



"Ulchi Freedom Shield 23 is designed to be a tough and realistic exercise to strengthen the combined defense posture and alliance response capabilities based on scenarios that reflect diverse threats within the security environment and lessons learned from recent wars and conflicts," the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a press release.



The exercise will proceed in two parts. The first segment will run from Aug. 21-25, followed by the last part, which will take place from Aug. 28-31.



The exercise also includes drills on responses to cyberattacks and terrorism, the JCS said.



In addition to the allies' Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine personnel, U.S. space forces will also partake, adding a new dimension to the comprehensive exercise, according to the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK).



"Since the last UFS, one of the changes that we do have now is the space force," USFK spokesperson, Col. Isaac Taylor, told a press conference. "Throughout this exercise, one of the things that we will be focusing on ... is how do we incorporate multidomain operations."









In December last year, the U.S. military launched the U.S. Space Forces Korea, a USFK component, adding a new warfighting tool in line with its push to build capabilities by integrating and leveraging capabilities in all security domains.



Taylor refused to specify what assets will be deployed here for the exercise, but stressed the U.S. military will be "transparent" on the deployment issue.





South Korean and U.S. troops engage in allied drills in Gyeongsan, 250 kilometers southeast of Seoul, in this Aug. 26, 2022 photo. Yonhap
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August has just started its course, with many K-pop acts having their releases and activities. This busy profession can also lead to buzz.

For the month of August, the Korean Business Research Institute has officially announced its brand reputation rankings involving K-pop male idol groups. According to the chart, the data was covered from July 12 to August 12.

These results were derived from numerous factors such as the participation of consumers, coverage from the media, and other factors that can lead to overall exposure.

Here are 10 most popular K-pop boy groups in August 2023!

1. BTS

At the first place, BTS claimed the No. 1 spot, marking their 63rd consecutive month. According to the institute, BTS earned a total of 6,543,983 for their August 2023 boy group brand reputation rankings.

They also garnered a score of 85.11 percent positive reactions for their positivity-negativity analysis.

2. SEVENTEEN

SEVENTEEN made it on the No. 2 spot with a brand reputation index of 4,944,749, due to a 10.10 score increase.

3. EXO

After gathering an amazing amount of 145.77 percent score rise, EXO claimed the No. 3 with a brand reputation index of 4,572,081, leading them to join the top 3.

4. INFINITE

INFINITE managed to claim fourth place after seeing a brand reputation index of 3,480,732. This is because of how the group met an overwhelming 539.88 percent score rise for their brand index, highlighting their skyrocketing popularity.

5. ZEROBASEONE

ZEROBASEONE, the project boy group from Mnet's "Boys Planet," completed the top five with a brand reputation index of 2,459,420. It's also impressive how a newly debuted K-pop male group had entered the list's top five despite being a rookie act.

6. NCT

On No. 6, NCT garnered a brand reputation index of 2,294,215.

7. THE BOYZ

As for THE BOYZ, the group had collected a total score of 2,276,330 for their August 2023 brand reputation rankings.

8. Stray Kids

Stray Kids joined the August list's top 8, which saw a brand reputation index of 2,085,562.

9. SHINee

SHINee followed up on No. 9 with a brand reputation index of 2,082,142.

10. MONSTA X

Lastly, on the 10th place, MONSTA X rounded the top 10 with a brand reputation index of 1,823,196.

Read the full list of August 2023 boy group brand reputation rankings below:

1. BTS

2. SEVENTEEN

3. EXO

4. INFINITE

5. ZEROBASEONE

6. NCT

7. THE BOYZ

8. Stray Kids

9. SHINee

10. MONSTA X

11. BTOB

12. 2PM

13. ENHYPEN

14. TREASURE

15. Super Junior

16. ASTRO

17. TEEN TOP

18. WINNER

19. ATEEZ

20. TXT

21. Wanna One

22. TVXQ

23. PENTAGON

24. Golden Child

25. VIXX

26. BIGBANG

27. ONF

28. BOYNEXTDOOR

29. Shinhwa

30. GOT7

Which K-pop boy groups on the list are you stanning? Let us know in the comments below!

Read KpopStarz for more K-pop news.

KpopStarz owns this article

Written by Riely Miller
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It's back to school week in Texarkana; changes on the way
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St. Kitts and Nevis may be a Caribbean paradise where celebrities love to unwind, but the food on these islands is immaculate as well, though completely underrated thanks to its neighbors like Jamaica.

According to World Travel Guide, this former British territory's cuisine takes its inspiration from several influences, including Creole and West Indian cuisine. It also takes some influences from Chinese and other Indian dishes, as well as some Western influences.

5 St. Kitts and Nevis Food You Have To Try While on the Islands

St. Kitts and Nevis certainly has plenty of mouth-watering dishes to recommend, and we picked five of what we think is the best of them all. They include:

Goat Water

While this St. Kitts and Nevis dish does not sound as appetizing, this one is actually very good and is the favorite food for many tourists visiting the island. No, this is not literally water that comes from a goat, but rather a kind of goat stew.

According to National Geographic, this stew is thickened with flour and packed with local vegetables. These include yams, sweet potatoes, carrots, and red beans, though some variants also use breadfruit. It is usually served during lunch with some dumplings, which are known locally as droppers.

Cook-up or Pelau

This dish distinctive to St. Kitts and Nevis is a savory mix of rice, vegetables, and various types of meat like beef, salt fish, beef, and pigtail. This Caribbean rice dish is often said to be the islands' version of paella. It usually uses local pigeon peas as one of the main ingredients.

READ MORE: Saint Kitts and Nevis: 5 Things to Do in This Beautiful Caribbean Paradise

Salt Fish and Dumplings

This is the national dish of St. Kitts and Nevis and a visit to the Caribbean country would have been incomplete without trying salt fish and dumplings out. Basically, it is stewed saltfish with seasoned breadfruit and coconut dumplings. Spiced plantains are also used as one of the main ingredients and many say that this is the "real taste of St. Kitts culture."

This is known to have a distinct flavor, though National Geographic is warning that the taste is not really for everyone. Despite this, however, it remains one of the country's most popular food and there is a reason why it remains the country's national dish.

Conch Fritters

Conch are regularly found in the seas surrounding Saint Kitts and Nevis. In fact, these shellfish can be found all over the Caribbean. In St. Kitts and Nevis, these mollusks are often served as crispy and savory fritters that are hearty and often make an excellent snack, according to Away We Go.

Sugar Cake

Finally, we end with dessert, and St. Kitts sugar cakes are certainly a treat for many visitors as it is a combination of sugar, coconut, and ginger and is dyed into various colors. They are often described as crispy on the outside and soft on the inside and have been said to be quite addicting.

READ MORE: Antigua and Barbuda May Remove King Charles III as Head of State

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Salt fish, dumpling and provisions, St kitts and Nevis national dish, step by step procedure - St Kitts and Nevis Island life
Mark Zuckerberg took to X and seemingly called the fight between himself and Elon Musk off, taking to Threads to say neither side could agree on a few details, including exactly when the fight would happen. The Meta CEO also called out his X (formerly Twitter) counterpart for apparently ducking him.

"I think we can all agree Elon isn't serious and it's time to move on. I offered a real date. Dana White offered to make this a legit competition for charity," said Zuckerberg on Threads. "Elon won't confirm a date, then says he needs surgery, and now asks to do a practice round in my backyard instead."

However, it seems that the Meta CEO is still open to the fight happening, as he added, "If Elon ever gets serious about a real date and official event, he knows how to reach me. Otherwise, time to move on. I'm going to focus on competing with people who take the sport seriously."

Elon Musk then replied, "I will be in Palo Alto on Monday. Let's fight in your Octagon." The Tesla CEO added, "I have not been practicing much... while I think it is very unlikely, given our size difference, perhaps you are a modern day Bruce Lee and will somehow win."

Musk has been teasing that the fight would be held at an "epic location," probably the Colosseum in Rome. However, Zuckerberg stated that he was "not holding his breath" as he wants an earlier fight date and they could not agree on when it would go down.

"If he ever agrees on an actual date, you'll hear it from me. Until then, please assume anything he says has not been agreed on," he previously said, according to Sky News.

READ NEXT: Elon Musk Vs. Mark Zuckerberg Cage Fight Will Be Livestreamed on X

Elon Musk Vs. Mark Zuckerberg Fight Was Supposed To Be for Veterans

While neither Musk nor Zuckerberg could agree on an actual date yet, they did agree that the fight's proceeds would go to veterans. The UFC will not be involved but will instead be promoted by Musk's and Zuckerberg's respective foundations, though the UFC's Dana White is still helping out.

It was Italy that first reached out to Mark Zuckerberg that the country will be the one to host the battle of the billionaires, with Zuck directing them to UFC President Dana White, whose people helped in the negotiations.

Conor McGregor Withdraws Support for Elon Musk Vs. Mark Zuckerberg Fight

After Elon Musk announced that the UFC would not be the one handling and promoting the fight, MMA legend Conor McGregor withdrew his support. The Irishman previously stated that he would watch the two bickering billionaires duke it out, but only if the UFC was the one promoting it.

Dana White has not yet responded to Musk's claims that the UFC will not be involved, though, according to Talk Sport. However, as soon as Musk tweeted about the fight, he tweeted, "I could not be less interested in this, I am so happy the UFC will not be involved."

READ MORE: X: Hateful Tweets Are on the Rise

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Elon Musk vs Mark Zuckerberg: Biggest Fight of All time? -Lawrence Kenshin Striking Breakdowns
The Maui wildfire death toll has risen to 93, marking the devastating wildfires as the deadliest in modern US history, according to the Independent.

The island's blazes have become the country's deadliest wildfires in terms of casualties in over a century.

Authorities caution that locating and identifying the deceased is still in its early stages. Crews equipped with cadaver dogs have covered a mere three percent of the search area.

While surveying the devastation in Lahaina, Governor Josh Green stated on Saturday that this event will undoubtedly stand as the most severe natural disaster Hawaii has ever encountered.

Surpassing the toll of the 2018 Camp Fire in northern California, which claimed 85 lives and decimated the town of Paradise, the newly reported death count is a grim reminder of the scale of the tragedy.

Two other fires have been reported on the island - one in the Kihei area in south Maui and the other in the mountainous inland communities called Upcountry.

Fortunately, no fatalities have been reported in connection with these fires thus far.

Many survivors of the fires recount not receiving timely warnings or alerts, discovering their peril only upon witnessing flames or hearing explosions.

Though officials did send out alerts, widespread power and cellular outages likely hindered their dissemination.

READ NEXT: Maui Wildfire Death Toll Increases

Hawaii Officials Advice Tourists Not to Travel to Maui

In response to the devastating Maui wildfire, Hawaii officials have strongly advised tourists to avoid traveling to the island, AP reports.

Several hotels prepare to accommodate evacuees and first responders as the island grapples with the wildfire that obliterated a historic town.

Around 46,000 residents and visitors have already departed from Kahului Airport in West Maui since the extent of the damage in Lahaina became evident last Wednesday, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

The agency expressed the need for combined efforts from federal, state, and county governments, the local West Maui community, and the travel industry to focus on recovering those forced to evacuate their residences and businesses.

Tourists are encouraged to explore Hawaii's other islands for their travel plans.

Governor Green outlined plans to make 500 hotel rooms available for displaced locals and an additional 500 for Federal Emergency Management Agency workers.

Some hotels will continue regular operations to sustain local employment and the economy.

The state is in discussions with Airbnb to provide rental homes for residents, aiming for three- to nine-month durations for those who lost their homes.

Maui Wildfire Death Toll Expected to Rise, Says Governor

"It's going to rise," Governor Green while touring the devastation on historic Front Street in Lahaina, remarked on the grim outlook of the rising Maui wildfire death toll, CBS noted.

He emphasized that Hawaii is confronting its worst-ever natural disaster, and the immediate focus is on supporting survivors, providing shelter and healthcare, and eventually embarking on the rebuilding process.

As the island grapples with increasing casualties, concerns arise about the capacity of morgues to handle the growing number of victims.

Maui's limited resources include a solitary hospital and three mortuaries. FEMA, currently present with 150 personnel on-site, coordinates search and rescue efforts and preliminary assessments of affected areas.

Emergency managers on the island continue to evaluate the extent of the Maui wildfire destruction, particularly in Lahaina's central region.

READ MORE: 3 Florida Hunters Dead After Saving Their Dog

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Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Rising death toll makes Maui wildfires deadliest in US history | GMA - From ABC News
Georgia officials are closing in on former President Donald Trump as Fulton County DA Fani Willis may have obtained evidence tying him to a voting system breach. She is expected to announce charges against the ex-POTUS soon.

A source with knowledge of the situation has told CNN that Fulton County prosecutors, whose jurisdiction includes Atlanta, Georgia, are now "in possession of text messages and emails directly connecting members of Donald Trump's legal team to the early January 2021 voting system breach in Coffee County."

The source added that individuals involved in that voting system breach may also face charges. Willis and her tea, are expected to seek charges against a dozen individuals when the Fulton County DA's Office presents its case before a grand jury next week.

Prosecutors are reportedly suspicious if the breach in the rural and heavily Republican Coffee County was organic. While the county was heavily Republican and Trump was expected to win in that county, as he did when he won 70% of the vote there, allegedly, there is evidence that his legal team had access to sensitive voting software in that area.

After the voting was done, Trump's allies reportedly tried to access the voting system as part of their larger push to try and get evidence that could back up Donald Trump's claims that the elections were stolen. These claims have been proven false multiple times in the court of law.

Willis, whose investigation is different from Special Counsel Jack Smith's broader election interference investigation, is also taking a look at the ex-POTUS's "perfect phone call" to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, trying to persuade them to give Trump more votes to win the state.

READ MORE: Mike Pence Gets 100% Real on Potentially Testifying in Donald Trump Case

Former Georgia Lieutenant Governor, Journalist Summoned To Testify About Election Breach

Fani Willis has been calling witnesses left and right to testify as well, with the latest being former Georgia Republican lieutenant governor Geoff Duncan and journalist George Chidi. They are expected to testify before the Georgia grand jury and talk about Donald Trump's alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential elections.

Former Lt. Gov. Duncan has confirmed the summons, saying, "I can confirm that I have been requested to testify before the Fulton County grand jury on Tuesday. I look forward to answering their questions around the 2020 election." He then added, "Republicans should never let honesty be mistaken for weakness."

According to The Guardian, Chidi also confirmed that he was summoned, stating on social media, "I've just received a call from district attorney Fani Willis's office. I have been asked to come to court Tuesday for testimony before the grand jury."

Top Georgia Election Official Warned That Donald Trump Might Cause Violence

Back in December 2020, top Georgia election official Gabriel Sterling stated that he was concerned that violence could break out after the election. Now, that same election official says he is concerned that Trump might be doing the same for 2024.

According to CNBC, Sterling stated that all these criminal cases have been "giving oxygen" to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign. He added that the ex-POTUS might be "making himself a martyr."

He warned that Trump, without evidence, has been saying that Biden might steal the elections again. This time, however, "He's making himself a victim, he's making himself a martyr, and a lot of the American people are coming behind him because they do feel like some of these things are a little bit of a stretch."

READ MORE: Former Donald Trump Lawyer Admits To Making 'False' Statement on 2020 Election

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: D.A. Fani Willis responds to racist and sexist Trump attack ad - MSNBC
Texas Senator Ted Cruz has strongly criticized the appointment of special counsel David Weiss, the U.S. attorney in Delaware, for the investigation involving Hunter Biden.

In an interview on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures," the Republican senator labeled the appointment as "camouflage" and a "cover-up," according to The Hill.

Cruz, in conversation with Fox News anchor Maria Bartiromo, expressed his disapproval of the appointment, stating, "I think it's disgraceful."

He highlighted that David Weiss had been specifically chosen to lead the investigation and had allegedly spent the past five years concealing information.

Cruz asserted that Weiss' selection was influenced by Democratic Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons from Delaware.

Attorney General Merrick Garland made the decision to appoint Weiss as special counsel in response to a faltering plea deal concerning Hunter Biden's alleged tax and gun-related crimes.

According to Cruz, the investigation into Hunter Biden has not progressed beyond protecting Hunter and Joe Biden.

He referenced claims made by two IRS whistleblowers who asserted that Weiss was blocked from seeking special counsel status. However, these allegations have been denied by both Weiss and the Department of Justice.

READ NEXT: Hunter Biden Case

Hunter Biden Should Be 'Removed from Office and Prosecuted,' Says Texas Sen. Ted Cruz

Texas Senator Ted Cruz stated on Thursday that the evidence pertaining to bribery allegations involving foreign oligarchs and Hunter Biden is progressively accumulating.

He said if evidence emerges supporting the bribery claims and Hunter Biden is proven guilty, he should be "removed from office" and "prosecuted," per The Gazette.

Numerous Republicans, including former Vice President Mike Pence, have weighed in on Weiss' appointment.

Pence deemed the appointment "appropriate" and expressed confidence in Republicans within the House of Representatives continuing to uncover facts about the case.

Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), who is also a 2024 presidential candidate, described Weiss' appointment as an indication that nothing has changed within the Department of Justice.

He expressed concern that the appointment could erode trust in the DOJ among everyday Americans.

David Weiss and Hunter Biden Case

David Weiss, the U.S. Attorney for Delaware since 2018, has been overseeing federal investigations into Hunter Biden since 2019, The Independent reported.

Recent developments involve a plea deal that Hunter Biden reportedly considered, which ultimately fell apart.

He pleaded not guilty to some charges related to unpaid taxes and a federal firearm application after a federal judge raised concerns about potential future prosecutions being inhibited by the deal.

IRS whistleblowers, communicating with Republican members of Congress eager to prosecute Hunter Biden, claimed that Weiss's appointment as special counsel was necessary due to restrictions on his ability to pursue prosecutions outside of Delaware.

They also alleged that the U.S. Department of Justice prevented Weiss from pursuing felony tax evasion charges in California and Washington DC.

Texas Senator Ted Cruz accused Weiss of being actively involved in covering up "criminality" and obstructing justice by protecting the president or complicit in such actions.

He criticized Weiss's alleged inability to prevent partisan interests from influencing the investigation's direction, asserting that Weiss's actions might have contributed to political efforts to shield Joe Biden.

READ MORE: Texas Teen Arrested for Alleged Threats to Local School

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Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Ted Cruz: Every reporter should be asking Biden this question - From Fox News
Following the assassination of a presidential candidate who had received threats from a notorious gang leader, authorities in Ecuador have taken significant actions to address the situation, AP reports.

Adolfo Macias, also known as "Fito" and leader of the Los Choneros gang, was transferred from a less secure prison to a maximum-security facility in Guayaquil, a move aimed at safeguarding citizens and detainees, as stated by President Guillermo Lasso.

The relocation was accompanied by a large-scale raid involving around 4,000 soldiers and police officers at the original detention center, resulting in the seizure of weapons, ammunition, and explosives.

The Ecuador gang leader, Fito, had been confined in Prison 8, located in Guayaquil, since 2011.

Videos released by security forces depicted him in handcuffs and only wearing underwear as he was transferred from his previous detention facility to another location.

President Guillermo Lasso of Ecuador confirmed that Fito was relocated to La Roca, a maximum-security prison within the same complex.

La Roca is designed to accommodate up to 150 individuals and is renowned for its high-security measures.

President Lasso expressed his determination to restore peace and security while making it clear that appropriate measures will be taken if violent reactions arise.

READ NEXT: Ecuador: 2023 Presidential Election Candidate Fernando Villavicencio Assassinated

Ecuador Gang Leader Allegedly Sends Death Threats to Fernando Villavicencio Before His Assassination

Adolfo Macias, currently serving a 34-year sentence for charges including drug trafficking, organized crime, and homicide, had allegedly sent death threats to Fernando Villavicencio, the slain presidential candidate known for his anti-corruption stance.

Fernando Villavicencio was assassinated, having been shot three times in the head after leaving a campaign rally, BBC noted.

Before his murder, Villavicencio had spoken about receiving threats from Fito and expressed concerns about the gang's influence.

The assassination of Villavicencio has sent shockwaves through Ecuador, a nation that has largely avoided the drug-gang violence and corruption prevalent in neighboring countries.

Crime rates have increased recently, partly attributed to the activities of Colombian and Mexican drug cartels.

In response to the tragic event, the Construye party announced a change in its presidential candidate.

Christian Zurita, a journalist, was named as the replacement for Villavicencio.

This decision followed initial plans to have Andrea Gonzalez, Villavicencio's running mate, take his place. This choice was met with criticism from Villavicencio's widow, Veronica Sarauz.

Villavicencio's campaign focused on issues of corruption and drug-related matters. He was among the few candidates highlighting potential links between organized crime and government officials.

Shortly before his assassination, he reported alleged irregularities in oil contracts from a previous administration that cost the country billions of dollars.

Six Colombians have been arrested in connection with the murder, while a seventh was killed in a shootout. Authorities have not yet disclosed who orchestrated or financed the hitmen.

Pope Francis Condemns Fernando Villavicencio's Assassination

Pope Francis has condemned the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio and called for an end to political violence in Ecuador, according to Reuters.

Fernando Villavicencio, a former legislator and dedicated anti-corruption journalist, met a tragic fate when he was fatally shot as he departed from a campaign event on a Wednesday.

This unfortunate incident occurred less than two weeks before the August 20 election.

In response to the senseless violence, the Vatican issued a statement of condolence through a telegram addressed to Archbishop Alfredo Jose Espinoza Mateus of Quito.

In this message, His Holiness Pope Francis unequivocally denounced the unjustifiable violence in Ecuador that led to Villavicencio's assassination.

READ MORE: Brazil: Lula's Government Explains 'Growth Acceleration Plan'

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Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Ecuador gang boss who threatened Villavicencio moved to high-security jail - From Al Jazeera English
A Los Angeles Nordstrom in California fell victim to a disruptive incident on Saturday when a mob of criminals comprising over 30 individuals forcibly entered the store, making off with merchandise valued at nearly $100,000, according to Fox News.

The Los Angeles Police Department reported that a group of "criminals" executed the theft at approximately 4 pm that day.

Video footage from inside the store displayed a large assembly of around 30 to 50 individuals donning hooded sweatshirts.

These suspects were observed within the department store, hastily approaching the front entrance while clutching bags.

In their effort to seize as much merchandise as possible, they were seen maneuvering around racks, some of which still held items being swept up.

The police estimated that the total worth of the stolen merchandise ranged between $60,000 and $100,000.

Despite the commotion, the shopping mall itself was not evacuated. However, one individual exposed to bear repellent spray required medical attention from paramedics.

This incident marked the occurrence of a second "flash mob" robbery within Los Angeles County over a week.

The brazen actions of this group underscore the challenges presented by these coordinated and disruptive events in public spaces.

READ MORE: California Serial Stabbings Suspect Carlos Dominguez

Mob of Criminals' Attack on Los Angeles Nordstrom

The mob of criminals exhibited aggressive behavior, seizing merchandise with force and ripping off security devices attached to designer purses and luggage items, per KRON4.

Their actions resulted in significant chaos, with store shelves and display racks being toppled. This led to the scattering of merchandise and debris across the floor.

During the robbery, a security guard attempted to intervene but was subjected to a chemical spray attack.

Following the California heist, the suspects swiftly fled the scene using multiple getaway vehicles, eluding law enforcement before their arrival. The store was evacuated as officers secured the area on a busy Saturday.

Footage from citizen recordings showcased store employees working to restore order by cleaning up broken glass and clearing the extensive mess left behind.

Local shoppers expressed disbelief and disgust, finding the incident disheartening and affecting their perception of the store.

They also expressed frustration and a sense of urgency, believing that stronger measures are needed to address these violent and disruptive robberies.

They voiced concerns over the prevalence of such incidents and called for collective action to combat this growing problem.

Los Angeles Mayor Releases Statement Following the Robbery Incident in Los Angeles Nordstrom

In response to the Los Angeles Nordstrom robbery, Mayor Karen Bass issued a statement labeling the event "absolutely unacceptable," CNN reports.

She emphasized the need to hold accountable those responsible for this occurrence and individuals engaging in similar acts in neighboring areas.

Mayor Bass underscored the Los Angeles Police Department's ongoing commitment to identify and apprehend those responsible for the incident and implement measures to prevent future attacks on retailers.

The LAPD also released a brief statement addressing the local community and patrons of the Topanga Mall, expressing an understanding of the erosion of a sense of safety due to such incidents.

The department reiterated its determination to exhaust all available resources to capture those responsible and pursue criminal prosecution.

Law enforcement officers are diligently working to ascertain the identities and whereabouts of the suspects and have reported that they possess several leads to aid in their investigation.

A similar incident occurred in Glendale, California. In this nearby location, thieves executed a "bold, flash mob burglary" at a Yves Saint Laurent store on a Tuesday.

Police reported that stolen property worth $300,000 was involved.

These "flash mob" burglaries are characterized by a coordinated and sizable group of individuals rapidly entering a store, overwhelming staff, and taking control of the premises.

READ MORE: California: 2 Navy Sailors Reportedly Sold U.S. Military Secrets to China

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Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: 'Flash mob' ransacks Topanga Mall Nordstrom - From 'Flash mob' ransacks Topanga Mall Nordstrom
After inspiring memes and becoming somewhat of an internet icon, Reggie Ray, 42, better known as the "Chair Guy," turned himself to Montgomery Police following the infamous Alabama brawl.

According to NBC News, the "chair guy" was charged with disorderly conduct. He infamously hit one of the brawlers during the Alabama brawl with a folding chair, becoming not just an internet meme, but also inspiring somewhat of a civil rights symbol in the weapon that he used.

The Alabama brawl began when a black dock worker tried to tell a group of rowdy boaters to move their pontoon boat so that the riverboat that was supposed to use the dock can arrive. The rowdy boaters refused and attacked the dock worker. Soon, several people arrived to help the dock worker as they fended off the attackers. One of the people who came to the rescue was Ray, the "chair guy."

Before he turned himself over to Montgomery Police, the fourth person charged in the Alabama brawl, Mary Todd, 21, also turned herself over and was housed at the city's municipal jail. She was charged with assault in the third degree.

Civil Rights Attorney Representing the 'Chair Guy'

Ray turned himself in last Friday afternoon and was subsequently released from the Montgomery Municipal Jail that same day as his charge was only a misdemeanor. However, he is being represented by prominent civil rights attorney, Lee Meritt.

"Mr. Ray was involuntarily roped into the disorderly conduct initiated by a violent white mob. Mr. Ray will continue to participate with the ongoing investigation concerning the same and is committed to being forthcoming about his limited role in the brawl," said the lawyer.

READ NEXT: Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville Under Fire for Demanding To Have More White Nationalists in Military

In addition to Mary Todd and Reggie Ray, the other suspects that have been charged include 23-year-old Allen Todd, 25-year-old Zachary Shipman, and 48-year-old Richard Roberts. Ray is currently the only suspect who has not been charged with at least one count of misdemeanor third-degree assault. However, Montgomery police admitted that more suspects and charges are possible, according to WSFA 12.

Right now, the Montgomery Police Department is conducting a "frame-by-frame analysis of the videos of the brawls and extensive interviews with witnesses and the victim [riverboat co-captain Dameion Pickett]."

Investigators Looking Into Possible Hate Crime in Fight That Started the Alabama Brawl

The incident brought national attention to the city of Montgomery, which is largely broken down racial lines and is known to have a fraught history of racial violence and a proud place in the civil rights movement. A group of white men ganging up and attacking a lone black man in a city like Montgomery has certainly raised eyebrows.

According to CNN, investigators are now looking into whether the attackers may be charged with a hate crime or inciting a riot. Police are gathering evidence on whether this really is the case, but it was noted that the actions of the four boaters did not meet the criteria

READ MORE: Joe Arpaio's Racial Profiling Against Latinos Will Cost Taxpayers Over Quarter Billion Dollars

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Alabama riverboat brawl full fight - Abbas khan khattak
In a remarkable incident, North Dakota teen Wyatt Kauffman has managed to survive a near-fatal fall of almost 100 feet (30 meters) at the Grand Canyon in Arizona, per BBC.

The incident occurred at the North Rim, a popular tourist destination.

Rescue teams worked diligently for two hours to extract Wyatt Kauffman from his precarious situation on Tuesday.

He had fallen from a ledge at the Grand Canyon while attempting to make way for others to take photographs.

Holding onto a rock with one hand and squatting down, he lost his grip, leading to the fall.

After the fall, Wyatt reportedly does not recall any specific details.

He mentioned that he only vaguely recollects waking up in the back of an ambulance, then in a helicopter, and ultimately on a plane while being transported to the hospital.

READ NEXT: Biden Signs a Proclamation Creating a National Park Near Grand Canyon in Arizona

North Dakota Teen Spent Several Days in Las Vegas Hospital

After the harrowing fall at Arizona's Grand Canyon, Wyatt, the North Dakota teen, spent several days recuperating at a hospital located in Las Vegas, Nevada, according to Inforum.

His injuries included nine broken vertebrae, a concussion, a ruptured spleen, a collapsed lung, a broken hand, and a dislocated finger.

Wyatt was released from the hospital on Saturday, as conveyed by his father, Brian Kaufman, through Facebook posts.

The updates informed well-wishers that Wyatt was returning to North Dakota.

The National Park Service released an official statement regarding the incident, indicating that Wyatt had fallen a significant distance, approximately between 70 to 100 feet.

The fall occurred from the Bright Angel Point Trail, described by the Park Service as an "exposed, narrow, and surprisingly steep" trail.

Considering this incident, the National Park Service issued a cautionary advisory, emphasizing the importance of visitors adhering to designated trails and walkways.

Arizona's Grand Canyon Search and Rescue Team

The Grand Canyon's search and rescue teams are accustomed to a demanding workload, responding to over 300 calls for assistance each year, The Guardian reports.

These calls span a range of situations, from heat-related illnesses to incidents like the fall that Wyatt survived, where individuals have slipped over the edge.

Meghan Smith, the preventive search and rescue supervisor for Grand Canyon National Park, commended the search and rescue teams for their exceptional skills and dedication.

She expressed confidence in their ability to apply advanced medical techniques in challenging and remote environments. These skills are only utilized in some other settings.

Smith highlighted the teams' rigorous training and tireless efforts, noting that their expertise played a crucial role in executing a smooth and efficient operation in Wyatt's case.

She emphasized that this well-coordinated response will likely lead to positive outcomes for the patient.

Arizona's Grand Canyon has witnessed similar incidents in the past.

A tragic incident occurred when a 44-year-old man died when he fell over the edge of the North Rim near Bright Angel Point in August 2022.

The Park Service reported that the man had been off the trail when the accidental fall occurred, resulting in a descent of approximately 200 feet below the rim.

READ MORE: Mob of Criminals Attacks Los Angeles Nordstrom

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Teen speaks out after falling off cliff at Grand Canyon - From 12 News
We are a retailer from Lithuania and always looking to buy a truck of RUF briquettes at a reasonable price.
A Philadelphia man died Sunday after suffering multiple blunt force injuries during a two-vehicle collision, the Lehigh County Coroner confirmed Monday.

The crash happened near mile marker 40.9 of the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Upper Milford Township around 2 a.m. Pennsylvania State Police at King of Prussia said.

Police said Chad E. Condon, 47, of the citys Prospect Park neighborhood, struck a concrete barrier near the left lane twice before tailspinning across all lanes into the guardrail near the right lane, then stopping in the left lane.

A vehicle driving in the left lane hit the right side of Condons car, spinning it back into the right lane guardrail, police said. The second vehicle struck the concrete barrier before stopping on the shoulder, authorities said.

Condon died at the scene two hours later, the coroner reported.

The driver of the second vehicle was taken to a nearby hospital for a suspected, minor injury, but there was no update on their condition yet, police said.

The crash is being investigated by Pennsylvania State Police at King of Prussia and the Lehigh County District Attorneys Office.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Glenn Epps can be reached at gepps@lehighvalleylive.com or glenn_epps_on Twitter.
A Pennsylvania man who suffered a medical emergency in the White Mountains of New Hampshire has died despite extensive efforts by rescue crews, authorities said.

Jason Apreku, 21, of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, was hiking with friends Friday afternoon when he collapsed on Mount Madison, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department said in a statement.

His friends called for help and began CPR while an Army National Guard helicopter was dispatched from Concord.

Weather conditions in the area included gusts of up to 90 miles per hour with a wind chill of 29 degrees, the department said.

Despite all efforts and hoping that the clouds would lift and the wind would settle down, the helicopter crew could not get to the hiker, the department said in a release. After multiple hours of CPR, AED deployment, and many other lifesaving efforts, Apreku succumbed to the unknown medical issue.

Crews carried his body to a hut in below-freezing temperatures, and a helicopter brought him and the rescuers off the mountain Saturday morning.

A GoFundMe campaign was created to help his family pay for Aprekus funeral.
The buildings of Portlaoise, some of which have been demolished and others have curious functions, are set to be the subject of Heritage Week event in the Laois county town.

Laois Heritage Society presents Portlaoise Architecture - a Talk by Richard McLoughlin & Mairtin DAlton as part of the week which celebrates the heritage of Ireland.

"Portlaoise is a fascinating place," says the Heritage Society in its invite.

It continues: "A Plantation town dating from 1557, its planning subsequently became a matter of necessity and responding to circumstances, rather than an act of pure design".

The society says the town is home to buildings by many eminent architects, among whom are James Gandon, Richard Morrison, William Deane Butler, John Sterling Butler, JJ OCallaghan, Thomas Drew, Michael Scott and local architects like John Delaney, McCarthy OHora, and Jason OShaughnessy.

The invite says the many curiosities include: a Catholic Church built by the English after the Reformation of Henry VIII, and the 1980s County Hall even incorporates a Command Centre in the event of a Nuclear War.

"Portlaoise has demolished almost as many fine buildings as it has built, in its effort to define itself in its near 500-year-old story," says the publicity note for the event.

If this is enough to whet your appetite, the Heritage Society hope you will join architectural historian Mairtin DAlton and Conservation Architect, Richard McLoughlin as they describe and illustrate this fascinating story to mark National Heritage Week.

The event, on Thursday, August 17 takes place at 7pm at the Dunamaise Arts Centre on Church St. Eircode: R32 W93P.



For more email: info@dunamaise.ie or telephone: 057 866 3355

Heritage Week runs from August 12 to 20.
Two Laois competitors featured among the finalists of the inaugural Sustainable Farmers Awards at Tullamore Show on Sunday - Hubert and Ivan Austin, Coolrain and Michael Dunne, Portarlington.

The winners of the awards, a partnership between the FBD National Livestock Show, Bord Bia, Teagasc and the Irish Farmers Journal, were presented with their prizes by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue at the show.

These awards formed an important part of the first ever Sustainable Livestock Village at the show and showcase the positive sustainability practices being implemented on beef and lamb farms across the country.

Show Livestock Chairman, Michael Dolan, commenting on the awards said: The award winners highlight the good work being done on farms to implement sustainable practices, They provide useful pointers for other farmers as they work to improve the sustainability of their enterprises.

The five winners were: Suckler calf to weanling/ store  Margaret and Jack Stevenson, Co. Donegal; Suckler to beef  Vincent Keane, Co. Galway; Dairy calf to beef  Catriona and Joe O'Meara, Co. Wexford; Beef finisher  Samuel Hill, Co. Cavan; Lamb  PJ Finnerty, Co. Roscommon.

Bord Bia's Jim O'Toole congratulated the winners and thanked all the finalists for their participation in the Sustainability Awards.

The finalists were selected from almost 56,000 members of our Sustainable Beef and Lamb Assurance Scheme using verified audit data. These farmers are among the top performers with regard t their carbon footprint, grassland and manure management and soil fertility. Farm sustainability is increasingly important in driving the purchasing decisions of global buyers and through the participation of Irish farmers in Origin Green we can continue to build on the positive reputation of Irish meat and dairy, he added.

Commenting on the awards, Adam Woods, Deputy Editor of he Farmers Journal said his newspaper was delighted to partner with the industry in the awards.

In a changing world it has never been more important to highlight the huge amount of work that is already taking place on farms in relation to climate change. We hope that this new initiative will give more farmers the confidence to make changes to their farms, which will leave them more profitable and lower their carbon footprint.

Teagasc cattle specialist, Aidan Murray said livestock farmers are embracing technologies to farm ina more sustainable way.

The finalists in this competition are excellent role models of how farmers are working with nature and using modern science based technologies to improve their economic and environmental sustainability.

The Signposts programme  Farmers for Climate Action  which is supported by over 60 organisations and 120 signpost farms is demonstrating best practice to reduce greenhouse has emissions from farming. A free signpost service is available to all farmers who register with Teagasc.

The other finalists apart from the award winners were Julie and James O'Brien, Co. Cavan, Jerry Casey, Co. Cork, Martin Kelly, Co. Galway, Hubert and Ivan Austin, Coolrain, Co. Laois, Michael Dunne, Portarlington, Co. Laois, Michael Gleeson, Co. Limerick., Gerard Kelly, Co. Roscommon, Ray Tully, Co. Sligo, Edmond Phelan, Co. Waterford, Padraig Keane, Co. Wexford and Brian Mulligan, Co. Wicklow.
The name, meaning and cost of the new disc shaped stone on Portlaoise Main Street has been revealed.

Laois County Council has revealed the story behind its sculpture commissioned to decorate the footpath outside the recently opened county library.

The sculpture which locals are likening to a pill or a silvermint, is a huge cast terrazzo stone by artist David Beattie.

It is called Fragments of Time and Space.

It cost 52,000 and was commissioned by open competition by Laois County Council under The Per Cent for Art scheme, which requires up to 1% of the cost of public infrastructure such as the new 7.5 million library, to be spent on art.

The sculpture is said to be "created in response to the musical tradition of Portlaoise and as part of the new Cultural Quarter and Library in the centre of Portlaoise".

"As an artwork, it reflects on the physicality of sound in the built environment, creating an opportunity for participants to consider how sound informs our perception of public space. The large sculpture makes use of a parabolic disc to gather, reflect and amplify the surrounding sonic environment of Main Street in Portlaoise.

"Conceived as a listening point, a place to consider the fragmented sounds of activity that occupy the street, the artwork encourages you to develop a practice of listening, to develop a multi-sensory connection to your surroundings and discover new ways of being-in-the-world that addresses our everchanging role in the formation of place," the council state.

The curved bench includes an inscription from Laois born writer Pat Boran; listen: the streets still dreaming us that further extends the invitation to listen. Mr Boran who grew up on the Main Street, composed a poem that he recited at the opening of the library. See it below.

An official launch of the sculpture will take place on Culture Night, Friday, September 22.

The artist will also lead a series of workshops that explore the practice of listening and these will be held in the new library in Autumn 2023.

David Beattie is an artist and lecturer at Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design & Technology and TU Dublin, Ireland. Beatties artistic practice explores the material world through experiential, physical engagements with objects and non-objects. Recent projects have focused on the social and environmental impact of digital technologies, agroecology and the politics of listening, psychoacoustics and the communal listening experience. He was awarded the Harpo Foundation Award in 2010 and was a recipient of the Hennessy Art Fund for IMMA collection 2016.

Beattie has been commissioned to produce a number of temporary and permanent public artworks including VOID Commissions, Derry (2021/22), Reflectors, Bray, Co.Wicklow and Patterns of Illumination, Griffith Barracks Multi-denominational School, Dublin. Exhibitions include The Glucksman (2019), Berlin Opticians (2018+2019) TULCA Art Festival, Galway (2017), CCA Derry-Londonderry (2017), Irish Museum of Modern Art (2017+2013), Rubicon Projects, Brussels (2013) All Humans Do, The Model Sligo and Whitebox, New York (2012), The Mattress Factory Art Museum, Pittsburgh (2010), Douglas Hyde Gallery, Dublin (2010). Current work includes Future Light from Distant Stars, the focal point of which is a large greenhouse which is utilised as a growing environment, a meeting place, and a workshop space. https://visualcarlow.ie/whats-on/davidbeattie

In the past number of years, Beatties practice has shifted from gallery production to a more collaborative, research focused practice that involves co-producing projects with engineers, artists, scientists, educators, food producers, architects, writers, and designers, producing work that has found form in exhibitions, printed publication, public art and temporary

public events. Increasingly, through these co-produced projects, Beattie is seeking an audience beyond an art audience, positioning the work and engagements as part of a wider discussion on social change and climate action.
More than 29,600 children in County Kildare will benefit from free schoolbooks, workbooks and copy books from September.

This comes under an initiative introduced by the Minister for Education, Norma Foley TD.

Over 50 million has been made available to support this scheme, including an administrative grant for schools rolling out the scheme.

Nationwide, more than 558,000 pupils enrolled in over 3,230 primary schools, including over 130 special schools, will benefit from the scheme.

The news was welcomed by Fianna Fail TD James Lawless, who said: "This scheme will significantly ease the financial burden facing families during back to-school time.

James Lawless TD, Fianna Fail. File photograph.

This is a landmark moment for Irish education, and one which will provide significant benefit for families around the country.

Back-to-school time can be a challenging time for parents and families, and I welcome Minister Foleys commitment to easing the burden.

We in Fianna Fail believe in the power of education, and we believe in making education truly accessible for all.

Deputy Lawless concluded: This is yet another positive step forward, which I wholeheartedly welcome.
Integra Files Maiden Preliminary Economic Assessment Technical Report for Wildcat & Mountain View Projects





VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Integra Resources Corp. ("Integra" or the "Company") (TSXV: ITR; NYSE American: ITRG) is pleased to announce the filing of an independent Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") technical report for the Wildcat Project ("Wildcat") and Mountain View Project ("Mountain View") (together, "Wildcat & Mountain View") located in western Nevada.



The PEA demonstrates the potential for a low-cost, high-margin, heap leach gold-silver operation with a phased development and production strategy and robust economics. The average annual production of Wildcat & Mountain View and the DeLamar Project on a combined basis is expected to exceed 200kozs of gold equivalent ("AuEq"), demonstrating one of the largest heap leach production profiles among precious metal developers in the Great Basin.



Wildcat & Mountain View PEA Highlights:

After-tax NPV(5%) of US$309.6 million ("M") (C$408.6M 1 ) and 36.9% a fter-tax IRR using base case metal prices of US$1,700/oz gold ("Au") and US$21.50/oz silver ("Ag")

After-tax NPV(5%) of US$442.1M (C$583.6M 1 ) and 49.7% after-tax IRR using spot metal prices on June 27, 2023 (announcement date) of US$1,920/oz Au and US$22.00/oz Ag

Wildcat & Mountain View generate combined annual production of ~94koz AuEq from year 1-5 with average annual production of 80koz AuEq over the 13 year Life-of-Mine ("LOM")

LOM payable metals from Wildcat & Mountain View of 1,043koz AuEq

LOM site level cash costs of US$882/oz AuEq on a co-product basis; LOM site level all-in sustaining cash costs ("AISC") of US$973/oz AuEq on a co-product basis

Year -1 initial capex of US$115M to begin operations at Wildcat

Average Au Recovery of 71.4% at Wildcat and 77.1% at Mountain View

Low combined LOM strip ratio of 1.21 (Wildcat standalone strip ratio of 0.28)

LOM total net free cash flow generated of US$485M with average net annual free cash flow of US$46M from year 1-13 Updated mineral resource estimate at Wildcat & Mountain View demonstrates growth of +23% and +49% respectively compared to the previous mineral resource estimates dated November 2020: 2021-2022 drilling at Wildcat & Mountain View allowed the Company to convert the majority of the previous resource estimate from the Inferred ("Inf.") category to the Indicated ("M&I") category Wildcat Project: 746koz Au and 6,438koz Ag (829koz AuEq) in M&I (59,872,806 tonnes at 0.39 g/t Au and 3.34 g/t Ag) and 210koz Au and 1,980koz Ag (235koz AuEq) in Inf. (22,455,848 tonnes at 0.29 g/t Au and 2.74 g/t Ag) Mountain View Project: 578koz Au and 3,402koz Ag (622koz AuEq) in M&I (28,750,517 tonnes at 0.63 g/t Au and 3.68 g/t Ag) and 60koz Au and 244koz Ag (63koz AuEq) in Inf. (4,155,502 tonnes at 0.45 g/t Au and 1.83 g/t Ag)

The PEA results complement the 2022 Pre-feasibility Study for the DeLamar Project in southwestern Idaho, which demonstrated a base case after-tax NPV(5%) of US$314M and a 33% after-tax IRR2

(1) CAD:USD FX rate of 1.32

(2) See NI 43-101 technical report titled: "Technical Report and Preliminary Feasibility Study for the DeLamar and Florida Mountain Gold ? Silver project, Owyhee County, Idaho, USA", dated March 22, 2022 with an effective date of January 24, 2022 available under Integra Resources' SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com and EDGAR profile at www.sec.gov; Gold price assumption: US$1,700/oz Au; Silver price assumption is US$21.50/oz Ag

Integra's President, CEO & Director, Jason Kosec commented: "The successful Wildcat & Mountain View PEA demonstrates two high-margin, low-cost, heap leachable gold and silver deposits with a strong combined production profile, low pre-production capex and robust economics. When combined with the DeLamar Project, Integra demonstrates the path to becoming +200koz AuEq per annum producer in the prolific Great Basin. For the remainder of the year, the team is focused on delivering two more significant milestones at DeLamar, including the updated mineral resource estimate in Q3 and the submission of the Mine Plan of Operations in Q4."

The Wildcat & Mountain View PEA technical report (the "Report") has been prepared for Integra by Micon International Limited of Toronto, Canada and included contributions from Forte Dynamics, NewFields Mining Design and Technical Services and Convergent Mining. The Report has been prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 ? Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The Report titled "NI 43-101 Technical Report Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Wildcat and Mountain View Projects, Pershing and Washoe Counties, Nevada, USA" is available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) under Integra's profile and on the Company's website.

Integra's news release dated June 28, 2023 summarized certain key results, assumptions and estimates contained in the Wildcat & Mountain View PEA. The Company is pleased to report that there are no material differences between the key results, assumptions and estimates contained in the Report and Integra's news release dated June 28, 2023.

The PEA is preliminary in nature and includes inferred mineral resources that are too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. There is no certainty that PEA results will be realized. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

Qualified Persons

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Raphael Dutaut, Ph.D (P.Geo), Integra's Vice President, Exploration and Tim Arnold (PE, SME), Integra's Chief Operating Officer. Both individuals are "Qualified Persons" ("QP") as defined in NI 43- 101 ? Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has also been verified and approved by the following "Qualified Persons" within the meaning of NI 43-101 ? Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects: Richard Gowans, P.Eng, Micon International Limited (metallurgy and mineral processing, environmental, permitting and social considerations), Andrew Hanson, P.E., NewFields Mining Design and Technical Services (heap leach infrastructure), Chris Jacobs, CEng, MIMMM, Micon International Limited (economic analysis), William Lewis, P.Geo, Micon International Limited (mineral resource estimation), Deepak Malhotra, Director of Metallurgy, Forte Dynamics (infrastructure), and Ralston Pedersen, P.E., Convergent Mining, LLC (mining).

About Integra Resources

Integra is one of the largest precious metals exploration and development companies in the Great Basin of the Western USA. Integra is currently focused on advancing its three-flagship oxide heap leach projects: the past producing DeLamar Project located in southwestern Idaho and the Wildcat Project and Mountain View Project located in western Nevada. The Company also holds a portfolio of highly prospective early-stage exploration projects in Idaho, Nevada, and Arizona. Integra's long-term vision is to become a leading USA-focused mid-tier gold and silver producer.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS



Jason Kosec

President, CEO and Director

CONTACT INFORMATION



Corporate Inquiries: [email protected]

Company website: www.integraresources.com

Office phone: 1 (604) 416-0576

Forward Looking and Other Cautionary Statements

Certain information set forth in this news release contains "forward?looking statements" and "forward?looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and applicable United States securities laws (referred to herein together as "forward?looking statements"). Except for statements of historical fact, certain information contained herein constitutes forward?looking statements which includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: the future financial or operating performance of the Company and Wildcat & Mountain View; results from work performed to date; the estimation of mineral resources; the realization of mineral resource estimates; the development, operational and economic results of the PEA for the Wildcat and Mountain View deposits, including cash flows, revenue potential, staged development, capital expenditures, development costs and timing thereof, extraction rates, life of mine projections and cost estimates; timing of completion of a technical report summarizing the results of the PEA; magnitude or quality of mineral deposits; anticipated advancement of the mine plans for Wildcat & Mountain View; exploration expenditures, costs and timing of the development of new deposits; costs and timing of future exploration; the completion and timing of future development studies; estimates of metallurgical recovery rates; anticipated advancement of Wildcat & Mountain View and future exploration prospects; requirements for additional capital; the future price of metals; government regulation of mining operations; environmental risks; the timing and possible outcome of pending regulatory matters; the realization of the expected economics of Wildcat & Mountain View; future growth potential of Wildcat & Mountain View; and future development plans. Forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of words such as "may", "will", "could", "would", "anticipate", ?believe", expect", "intend", "potential", "estimate", "budget", "scheduled", "plans", "planned", "forecasts", "goals" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of factors and assumptions made by management and considered reasonable at the time such statements are made. Assumptions and factors include: the Company's ability to complete its planned exploration programs; the absence of adverse conditions at Wildcat & Mountain View; no unforeseen operational delays; no material delays in obtaining necessary permits; the price of gold remaining at levels that render Wildcat & Mountain View economic; the Company's ability to continue raising necessary capital to finance operations; and the ability to realize on the mineral resource and reserve estimates. Forward?looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or result expressed or implied by such forward?looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: general business, economic and competitive uncertainties; the actual results of current and future exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; meeting various expected cost estimates; benefits of certain technology usage; changes in project parameters and/or economic assessments as plans continue to be refined; future prices of metals; possible variations of mineral grade or recovery rates; the risk that actual costs may exceed estimated costs; geological, mining and exploration technical problems; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); title to properties. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers are advised to study and consider risk factors disclosed in Integra's annual report on Form 20-F dated March 17, 2023 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, and Millennial Precious Metals' management's discussion and analysis dated April 28, 2023 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.

There can be no assurance that forward?looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward?looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained herein are presented for the purposes of assisting investors in understanding the Company's plans, objectives and goals and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward?looking statements. This news release also contains or references certain market, industry and peer group data which is based upon information from independent industry publications, market research, analyst reports and surveys and other publicly available sources. Although the Company believes these sources to be generally reliable, such information is subject to interpretation and cannot be verified with complete certainty due to limits on the availability and reliability of raw data, the voluntary nature of the data gathering process and other inherent limitations and uncertainties. The Company has not independently verified any of the data from third party sources referred to in this news release and accordingly, the accuracy and completeness of such data is not guaranteed.

Cautionary Note for U.S. Investors Concerning Mineral Resources and Reserves

National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects is a rule of the Canadian Securities Administrators which establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. Technical disclosure contained in this news release has been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Classification System. These standards differ from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and resource information contained in this press release may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by domestic United States companies subject to the SEC's reporting and disclosure requirements.

All references to "$" in this news release are to U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated.

Cautionary Note Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Alternative performance measures in this news release such as "cash cost", "AISC" "free cash flow" are furnished to provide additional information. These non-GAAP performance measures are included in this news release because these statistics are used as key performance measures that management uses to monitor and assess performance of Wildcat & Mountain View, and to plan and assess the overall effectiveness and efficiency of mining operations. These performance measures do not have a standard meaning within International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and, therefore, amounts presented may not be comparable to similar data presented by other mining companies. These performance measures should not be considered in isolation as a substitute for measures of performance in accordance with IFRS.

Cash Costs

Cash costs include site operating costs (mining, processing, site G&A), refinery costs and royalties, but excludes head office G&A and exploration expenses. While there is no standardized meaning of the measure across the industry, the Company believes that this measure is useful to external users in assessing operating performance.

All-In Sustaining Cost

Site level AISC includes cash costs and sustaining and expansion capital, but excludes head office G&A and exploration expenses. The Company believes that this measure is useful to external users in assessing operating performance and the Company's ability to generate free cash flow from potential operations.

All-In Cost

Site level AIC includes AISC level costs and also includes initial capital and equipment finance costs associated with initial capital. The Company believes that this measure is useful to external users in assessing the Company's overall ability to generate free cash flow from potential operations.

Free Cash Flow

Free cash flows are revenues net of operating costs, royalties, capital expenditures and cash taxes. The Company believes that this measure is useful to the external users in assessing the Company's ability to generate cash flows from the Project.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

14 august 2023 at 08:25

News published onand distributed by:
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin at the Assemblee Nationale in Paris on May 8, 2023. GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT/AFP

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin presented himself as an option for the presidency in 2027, with a stark warning that far-right figurehead Marine Le Pen risks taking the Elysee if the wrong candidate stands. "What interests me is no longer to look at what happened in 2017 and 2022. What worries me now is what will happen in 2027," he told the Le Figaro daily on Sunday.

President Emmanuel Macron, who defeated Le Pen in 2017 and 2022, cannot stand for another consecutive term and total uncertainty remains over his preferred champion to take on the far right. Darmanin, only 40 and known for an unrelenting energy reminiscent of his mentor, former right-wing president Nicolas Sarkozy, has now thrown his hat into the ring.

France's politicians will return from holiday later this month and the initial manoeuvring for the 2027 presidential elections is set to mark the new political season. Darmanin will on August 27 host a major rally in his political fiefdom of Tourcoing in northeast France to set out his vision. "After six years in government, I am happy to answer the call of my friends who urge me to make a little more clear the popular compass that I am proposing," he said of the Tourcoing rally.

In Le Figaro, he warned against "putting our future" in the hands of technocrats and "using words that the French do not always understand". "We must speak from the heart, not with statistics," he said, adding that if the wrong candidate is found "Marine Le Pen will be elected."

'Top cop'

Darmanin, firmly on the right wing of Macron's ruling faction, has been on the front line of the crises and challenges that have hit the country since his appointment in 2020. He has consistently challenged the UK over its migration policy, deflected criticism over the chaotic 2022 Champions League final in Paris, and above all stood by police amid accusations of institutional racism and violence.

Editorial French Interior Minister Darmanin must learn from Champions League final chaos

Revelling in his informal title of "France's top cop", Darmanin has unstintingly supported police, including during the riots earlier this summer sparked by the point-blank killing of a teen by an officer during a traffic check.

His interview with Le Figaro came as he visits the overseas territory of French Polynesia this week, a reminder that since 2021 he heads a super ministry also responsible for France's overseas territories.

While still three-and-a-half years off, the sheer importance of an election which analysts see as giving the far right its best-ever chance of winning power means early manoeuvring is already intense.

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes French senatorial elections: What's at stake in the September vote

Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, the longest-standing member of Macron's government, makes almost no attempt to hide his ambition. Former prime minister Edouard Philippe, mayor of the northern port of Le Havre, has founded his own party and is clearly sniffing out the ground.

Macron has in public given no indication of who he favours although he said in July "what we have done needs to be continued", acknowledging Philippe was among those who could "take up the baton".

Close to Sarkozy

The son of a bar owner and a mother who worked as a cleaner at France's central bank, Darmanin became the country's youngest interior minister when appointed, taking on a post that helped propel Sarkozy to the presidency.

His rapid rise was shadowed by a complaint filed in 2017 by a woman who alleged he raped her in 2009. Darmanin denied any wrongdoing and the case was dismissed by a Paris court in 2022. The plaintiff is now appealing this verdict.
An air strike has killed at least 26 people in Ethiopia's embattled Amhara region, a hospital official and a resident told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Monday, August 14, as deadly clashes continue to rock the region.

The strike in Finote Selam on Sunday was the most severe since the conflict between members of the Ethiopian army and a local militia known as Fano erupted in towns and cities across Amhara after months of tensions.

The hospital official said he heard the blast while he was on duty at around 0700 GMT. A market was happening in the town, he added, and all the victims who arrived in the hospital were "wearing either casual civilian clothing or Sunday traditional clothes".

"The casualties range from a 13-year-old child to the elderly," he said. "I didn't get the chance to see what caused the explosion... but residents said it was a drone strike".

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes In Ethiopia's Tigray region, the wounds of war remain raw

"Twenty-two bodies were brought to the hospital, while four others who were critically injured died soon after arriving. We've so far received 55 injured patients out of which more than 40 are gravely injured," the official added, speaking anonymously over safety concerns.

A resident who arrived shortly after the strike told AFP he had "helped in the burial of bodies of 30 victims."

He said he saw "a medium-sized freight vehicle had been completely destroyed in an air strike with dead bodies strewn around the vehicle. I heard the loud sound of an aircraft before the attack," which took place in the center of the town near a hotel, he said.

Both sources said that at the time of the strike, the town was under the control of Fano, while the resident said the Ethiopian army had arrived on Monday.

Civilian deaths

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government imposed a six-month state of emergency across Amhara on August 4 and several cities remain under curfew, although violence eased towards the end of last week.

The unrest revived fears about the stability of Africa's second-most populous country, seven months after a peace deal ended a brutal two-year conflict in the neighboring region of Tigray.

Ethiopia's rights watchdog on Monday voiced "grave concern" over the fierce fighting in Amhara this month, and condemned a wave of arrests of ethnic Amharas.

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, an independent state-affiliated organization, said the fighting in Amhara involved the use of heavy artillery "resulting in the deaths and injuries of civilians."

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes East Africa on edge as regional powers set out to contain conflict in Sudan

No casualty figures have been issued by the authorities, but doctors in two of the affected cities told AFP last week there had been scores of deaths and injuries among civilians.

The EHRC said it had received credible reports of strikes killing many civilians in three towns, including Finote Selam. After several days of deadly clashes, the army has reoccupied the main towns in Amhara.

The EHRC said that while heavy fighting had subsided in major urban areas since August 9, "it continues in other parts of the region and remains a major concern until a sustainable solution is in place."
LIMERICK students will put their talents and knowledge to the test when they compete at Worldskills Ireland 2023 this September.

Worldskills Ireland is the countrys largest experiential skills, apprenticeships, and careers event.

Joining the other National Finalists from across the country are County Limerick natives: Bhavya Gaur and Michael Svirydav are competing in the Cyber Security competition; Michael Ryan, Drumcollogher, is competing in the Industrial Control competition, and; Dean Cooke, Shanagolden, Shaun Maloney, Glenrue, and Dylan ODonoghue, Kilfinnane, are competing in the Metal Fabrication competition.

Taking place at the RDS, Dublin from September 20 to 22, Worldskills Ireland is expected to welcome over 22,000 people.

Commenting on the announcement of 2023s National Finalists, Ray English, Worldskills Ireland Chair added: Congratulations to all the young people from across the country that are set to compete at the National Finals during Worldskills Ireland in September.

This is a gateway to Worldskills Lyon in 2024, the 47th international competition, taking place in France next year and we know that we have some incredibly talented young people in Ireland who will make us proud during the national and international competitions.
WELL WISHES and comments of congratulations are still flooding in, as an Irish model and social media personality gets engaged.

Rozanna Roz Purcell, 32, got engaged on the Cliffs of Moher in Clare on Thursday, August 10, to her long-term boyfriend, Zach Desmond.

The Tipperary native and RTE radio broadcaster announced the news to her 558k Instagram followers, posting a trio of pictures with her fiancee. Irish stars including Ua Healy, Deirdre OKane and Greg OShea congratulated the pair.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by R O Z (@rozannapurcell)

Zach is the son of MCD Productions managing director, Denis Desmond and Irish sensation Hozier's manager, Caroline Downey.

She wrote: Were engaged. I would like to remind everyone that I broke my ring finger this year and thats why its deformed these rings may need to be cut off cause they squeezed on!

Many famous names congratulated the pair, with the likes of Greg OShea saying: Ah! Massive congrats!, Jedward commenting: The most scenic setting for your engagement and its so you! Delighted for you both, congratulations Roz and Zach and the 2 Johnnies Johnny Smacks writing: Ah buzzing for ye lads, congrats.

On the evening of August 13, Roz posted another array of pictures of her time within the last week, including that of her engagement ring, made by Irish jewellery designer brand, Chupi.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by R O Z (@rozannapurcell)

Just recently, the social media personality and former Miss Universe Ireland took a tour of Clare and recommended her favourite things to do, see, eat and stay.

Having taken a staycation in the Banner county, the bestselling cookery author and entrepreneur posted a series of pictures from her time in Clare.
An endangered bird has returned to a Co Down bog thanks to conservation efforts.

For the first time in several years, two breeding pairs of lapwings have been spotted at Lecale Fens special area of conservation, just outside Downpatrick.

The breakthrough comes after efforts by Ulster Wildlife working with local farmer John Crea.

Like many other ground-nesting birds, the lapwing has suffered major declines over the last 40 years due to the loss of wetland habitat and changes in farming practices.

The bird is now red-listed on the Birds of Conservation Concern in Ireland and is a Northern Ireland priority species because of its decline, rarity and importance.

Lapwings require a mosaic of habitats to breed and prefer boggy open areas with bare ground or short vegetation, avoiding areas of dense cover.

Since 2018, Ulster Wildlife has been working with specialist contractors and the farmer to eliminate invasive species and scrub, such as rhododendron, from Lecale Fens, using amphibious machinery.

Simon Gray, peatland conservation officer with Ulster Wildlife, said conservation efforts have been ongoing for five years.

In the past, this area was managed by grazing or burning to stop scrub taking over and drying out the fen, but given climate concerns associated with peat burning and risks to livestock from deep water we had to come up with new and innovative solutions, he said.

Five years later and were thrilled to see our restoration efforts reap rewards for biodiversity, with Lecale Fens moving towards a healthy condition again.

This will have a knock-on effect on other wetland-loving wildlife too such as dragonflies, snipe and silver hook moth.

Mr Crea said he was delighted to see the lapwing back on his farm.

Its brilliant to see these birds doing so well and we hope they come back again next year to breed, he said.

Ulster Wildlife is working with landowners across Northern Ireland to restore designated peatland sites along with large-scale peatland areas in need of restoration.

The aim is to help bring back the rich diversity of species these sites once supported, as well as the host of benefits peatlands provide from flood prevention to carbon sequestration.

Mr Gray added: With over 75% of land in Northern Ireland farmed, it is vital that farmers and landowners are properly supported to help restore nature on a landscape scale with peatland sites, such as this, playing a vital role in helping to tackle the nature and climate crisis.

Find out more at ulsterwildlife.org/saving-our-peatlands.
Not so long ago analysts were openly wondering whether artificial intelligence (AI) would be the death of Adobe, a maker of software for creative types. New tools like DALL-E 2 and Midjourney, which conjure up pictures from text , seemed set to render Adobes image-editing offerings redundant. As recently as April, Seeking Alpha, a financial news site, published an article headlined Is AI the Adobe killer?"

Far from it. Adobe has used its database of hundreds of millions of stock photos to build its own suite of AI tools, dubbed Firefly. Since its release in March the software has been used to create over 1bn images, says Dana Rao, an executive at the company. By avoiding mining the internet for images, as rivals did, Adobe has skirted the deepening dispute over copyright that now dogs the industry. The firms share price has risen by 36% since Firefly was launched.

Adobes triumph over the doomsters illustrates a wider point about the contest for dominance in the fast-developing market for AI tools. The supersized models powering the latest wave of so-called generative" AI rely on gargantuan amounts of data. Having already helped themselves to much of the internetoften without permissionmodel builders are now seeking out new data sources to sustain the feeding frenzy. Meanwhile, companies with vast troves of the stuff are weighing up how best to profit from it. A data land grab is under way.

The two essential ingredients for an AI model are datasets, on which the system is trained, and processing power, through which the model detects relationships within and among those datasets. Those two ingredients are, to an extent, substitutes: a model can be improved either by ingesting more data or adding more processing power. The latter, however, is becoming difficult amid a shortage in specialist AI chips, leading model builders to be doubly focused on seeking out data.

Demand for data is growing so fast that the stock of high-quality text available for training may be exhausted by 2026, reckons Epoch AI, a research outfit. The latest AI models from Google and Meta, two tech giants, are believed to have been trained on over 1trn words. By comparison, the sum total of English words on Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia, is about 4bn.

It is not only the size of datasets that counts. The better the data, the better the model. Text-based models are ideally trained on long-form, well-written, factually accurate writing, notes Russell Kaplan of Scale AI, a data startup. Models that are fed this information are more likely to produce similarly high-quality output. Likewise, AI chatbots give better answers when asked to explain their working step-by-step, increasing demand for sources like textbooks that do that, too. Specialised information sets are also prized, as they allow models to be fine-tuned" for more niche applications. Microsofts purchase of GitHub, a repository for software code, for $7.5bn in 2018 helped it develop a code-writing AI tool.

As demand for data grows, accessing it is getting trickier, with content creators now demanding compensation for material that has been ingested into AI models. A number of copyright-infringement cases have already been brought against model builders in America. A group of authors, including Sarah Silverman, a comedian, are suing OpenAI, maker of ChatGPT, an AI chatbot, and Meta. A group of artists are similarly suing Stability AI, which builds text-to-image tools, and Midjourney.

The upshot of all this has been a flurry of dealmaking as AI companies race to secure data sources. In July OpenAI inked a deal with Associated Press, a news agency, to access its archive of stories. It has also recently expanded an agreement with Shutterstock, a provider of stock photography, with whom Meta has a deal, too. On August 8th it was reported that Google was in discussions with Universal Music, a record label, to license artists voices to feed a songwriting AI tool. Fidelity, an asset manager, has said that it has been approached by tech firms asking for access to its financial data. Rumours swirl about AI labs approaching the BBC, Britains public broadcaster, for access to its archive of images and films. Another supposed target is JSTOR, a digital library of academic journals.

Holders of information are taking advantage of their greater bargaining power. Reddit, a discussion forum, and Stack Overflow, a question-and-answer site popular with coders, have increased the cost of access to their data. Both websites are particularly valuable because users upvote" preferred answers, helping models know which are most relevant. Twitter (now known as X), a social-media site, has put in place measures to limit the ability of bots to scrape the site and now charges anyone who wishes to access its data. Elon Musk, its mercurial owner, is planning to build his own AI business using the data.

As a consequence, model builders are working hard to improve the quality of the inputs they already have. Many AI labs employ armies of data annotators to perform tasks such as labelling images and rating answers. Some of that work is complex; an advert for one such job seeks applicants with a masters degree or doctorate in life sciences. But much of it is mundane, and is being outsourced to places such as Kenya where labour is cheap.

AI firms are also gathering data via users interactions with their tools. Many of these have some form of feedback mechanism, where users indicate which outputs are useful. Fireflys text-to-image generator allows users to pick from one of four options. Bard, Googles chatbot, similarly proposes three answers. Users can give ChatGPT a thumbs up or thumbs down when it replies to queries. That information can be fed back as an input into the underlying model, forming what Douwe Kiela, co-founder of Contextual AI, a startup, calls the data flywheel". A stronger signal still of the quality of a chatbots answers is whether users copy the text and paste it elsewhere, he adds. Analysing such information helped Google rapidly improve its translation tool.

Expanding the frontier

There is, however, one source of data that remains largely untapped: the information that exists within the walls of the tech firms corporate customers. Many businesses possess, often unwittingly, vast amounts of useful data, from call-centre transcripts to customer spending records. Such information is especially valuable because it can be used to fine-tune models for specific business purposes, like helping call-centre workers answer customers queries or business analysts spot ways to boost sales.

Yet making use of that rich resource is not always straightforward. Roy Singh of Bain, a consultancy, notes that most firms have historically paid little attention to the types of vast but unstructured datasets that would prove most useful for training AI tools. Often these are spread across multiple systems, buried in company servers rather than in the cloud.

Unlocking that information would help companies customise AI tools to better serve their specific needs. Amazon and Microsoft, two tech giants, now offer tools to help companies better manage their unstructured datasets, as does Google. Christian Kleinerman of Snowflake, a database firm, says that business is booming as clients look to tear down data silos". Startups are piling in. In April Weaviate, an AI-focused database business, raised $50m at a value of $200m. Barely a week later PineCone, a rival, raised $100m at a valuation of $750m. Earlier this month Neon, another database startup, raised an additional $46m in funding. The scramble for data is only just getting started.

 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
New Delhi: In a move that is set to raise questions on the return of Go First, the airlines new management under the resolution professional (RP) has failed to raise funds from banks due to questions over availability of aircraft.

People aware of the matter told Mint that the airlines RP Shailendra Ajmera was asked by the Committee of Creditors (CoC) to approach banks with a revival plan and raise funds amounting to 450 crore. The CoC had also approved that the RP-led management can also approach the banks, who are part of the committee.

Ajmera, however, has not been able to raise funds despite approvals from the aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation due to a Delhi high court order that gives lessors permission to inspect the aircraft.

The aviation regulator approved Go Firsts plan to restart operations with 15 aircraft and 114 daily flights, subject to certain conditions.

Since there is no guarantee on aircraft availability due to that order, the airlines RP has not been able to raise funds, thus, delaying the resumption process. It is delayed and may not happen, if the aircraft are not made available," added the people mentioned above.

Messages sent to Ajmera did not elicit any response till the time of going to print.

Go First, owned by the Wadia Group, filed for insolvency with the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on 2 May attributing its financial struggles to faulty engines provided by Pratt and Whitney. It was admitted by NCLT on 10 May. If Go First fails to resume operations after moving to NCLT, it will be the second airline after Jet Airways that will not resume operations. Jet, which had shut operations in April 2019, is struggling to relaunch operations despite getting new promoters in Jalan Kalrock Consortium.

The issue of aircraft unavailability for Go First arose after a single judge bench of the Delhi high court in July granted aircraft leasing companies to access the aircraft leased to Go First for inspections and maintenance work. The court also directed authorities to facilitate these inspections and maintenance tasks. Several attempts by Go First to take a stay on the order by approaching the division bench of the Delhi high court and the Supreme Court did not bring any respite for the company.

The single judge bench of the high court is now set to start hearing the case from 17 August. It will be crucial for the airline to be able to fetch a favourable order for the airline to restart," said sources in the know.

Meanwhile, the airline has approached the CoC for an immediate infusion of 100 crore into the airline and be able to service its insurance and other statutory obligations.
MUMBAI : Top startup executives, who were laid off amid cost-cutting measures in the past year, are facing considerable challenges in securing new roles. Moreover, the generous pay packages they drew from their former employers are also hindering their re-employment prospects, founders, investors, and executive search consultants said.

If theyre looking at tech startups for CXO roles, probably noneunless theyre willing to take pay cuts and lower their designations," said Siddharth Gopi, the co-founder of TopHire, a staffing solutions firm primarily focussed on tech companies.

Overall, the number of openings is a lot lower in startups. And senior roles, especially, are even more affected than junior roles. Companies are preferring mid and junior folks that are hands-on rather than senior managerial folks who dont get their hands dirty as much," Gopi added.

Industry estimates suggest that 27,000-28,000 people have been laid off in the past two years across startups. Of this, about 5-8% are CXOs, while mid-level executives account for 40-50%, and the remainder are junior-level positions, according to estimates by executive search firm Native.

Most CXOs of tech startups who are not in action are finding it extremely difficult to find relevant new opportunities in todays macroeconomic situation. The sudden tectonic shift in the market conditions is to be blamed," said Sai Gopal, partner for engineering and digital technology at Native.

High-burn startups have slashed their spending strategies to prioritize profitability and boost unit economics to secure capital as investors have become more cautious with their funds.

The layoffs have been the direct result of the funding downturn that the early-stage companies are witnessing. According to data from Venture Intelligence, total venture capital funding dropped by 79% to $3.8 billion in the six months to 30 June from $18.4 billion in the year earlier.

The funding winter is giving the top-level talent a chill. The top engineers have it more difficult than the juniors. Demand for expensive seniors has dropped," Gopi of Tophire wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The firm has seen a 40% drop in job postings on its platform and a 25% drop in monthly active companies recruiting, indicating a broader downtrend.

Xpheno, a staffing solutions company, estimates that in the last 18 months, about 40-50 CXOs have been laid off across startups. In some cases, the founders stayed back, but CXOs got fired while in some, the top talent realized the low visibility and quit before they were retrenched," said Prasadh M.S., the head of workforce research at Xpheno. Prasadh said a product head of a tech-comm startup joined a more established product company by taking a pay cut from 96 lakh to 50 lakh last year for the lack of offers within the ecosystem at the same salary bracket that he was at.

The funding frenzy of 2021 led companies, flush with liquidity, to go into an aggressive hiring mode, driving up compensations. The average hike offered across levels was around 73.3%, TopHire data shows. Founders who raised capital in 2021 were spending as much as 30-40% of the funding on hiring talent, and a large part of it went to the CXOs. Hence, when it is time to cut the flab, even the top talent faced the brunt, these founders said on condition of anonymity.

The young CXOs who have only been part of the startup ecosystem typically dont possess the skill sets to operate in large steady state and complex businesses. The transition for them is not easy, and many companies now look at CXOs who have foundational experience in larger companies and few years in a disruptive startup environment," said K. Sudarshan, the managing director of executive search firm EMA Partners India.

While funding is still happening in early-stage startups, those in growth and late stages are unable to tap investments. A lot of early-stage startups that were funded in 2021 and have not been able to raise follow-on rounds due to plateauing growth are now winding down and laying off employees.

According to Navnit Singh, chairman and regional managing director, Korn Ferry India, a lot depends on which stage the startup is in. CXOs of series A funded or pre-series funded startups will have a tougher time to get a job in an established company, but those who have worked with mature startups should not find it difficult."

Although companies want CXOs who have worked in startups, sectors such as industrial manufacturing wont prefer them. CXOs from startups are typically getting placed in consumer retail and IT firms.

CXOs looking for their next role should also look outside the startup ecosystem, specifically towards global capability centres (GCCs). GCCs are aggressively expanding their presence in India. So, they could look at opportunities as a senior member of the GCCs India management team," Gopi of TopHire added.
In the ongoing intense price battle, Tesla Inc. has implemented a significant reduction of 14,000 yuan (equivalent to about 1.5 lakh) for its upper-tier Model Y variants within China.

Announced via the company's official Weibo account, Tesla's adjustments bring down the prices of its Model Y Long-Range and Performance versions to 299,900 yuan ( 34 lakh) and 349,900 yuan ( 40 lakh) respectively, Bloomberg reported.

The Model Y is a pivotal component of Tesla's vehicle portfolio, sharing the spotlight alongside the popular Model 3 as the cornerstones of CEO Elon Musk's automotive enterprise.

Tesla has also revealed its plans to provide insurance subsidies for Model 3 buyers in China. These subsidies, amounting to 8,000 yuan ( 91,000, will be extended to purchasers of entry-level, rear-wheel-drive versions of the Model 3 inventory vehicle. This offering is scheduled to be available from August 14 to September 30, Reuters reported.

Musk earlier expressed the potential for further reductions in prices, even if it meant putting pressure on the company's profit margins.

Tesla's strategy of price adjustments has been consistently evident across various markets, including the United States and China, since the latter part of the previous year.

This approach has entailed not only price cuts but also enhanced discounts and other incentives. These maneuvers have been undertaken to effectively manage inventory, counter competitive pressures, and navigate the uncertainties prevailing within the economic landscape.

Tesla sales drop in China

The impact of these tactics has been noticeable, especially in the context of Tesla's China-made vehicles. Recent data provided by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) highlighted a decline of 31% in the sales of these vehicles during July, when compared to the previous month of June.

This decrease represents the first instance of month-on-month decline since December, underlining the shifting dynamics and challenges within China's automotive market.

(With agency inputs)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sounak Mukhopadhyay Sounak Mukhopadhyay, who also goes by the name Sounak Mukherjee, has been producing digital news since 2012. He's worked for the International Business Times, The Inquisitr, and Moneycontrol in the past. He's also contributed to Free Press Journal and TheRichest with feature articles. He covers news for a wide range of subjects including business, finance, economy, politics and social media. Before working with digital news publications, he worked as a freelance content writer. Read more from this author
The Reserve Bank has imposed monetary penalties on four co-operative banks for deficiencies in regulatory compliance. These banks are -- Baroda Gujarat Gramin Bank, Vadodara, The Aska Co-operative Central Bank Ltd., Bally Cooperative Bank Ltd., Howrah and The Nabapalli Co-operative Bank Ltd., West Bengal.

The Reserve Bank imposed a monetary penalty of 5.00 lakh on Baroda Gujarat Gramin Bank, Vadodara (Gujarat) for contravention of directions issued by NABARD on Frauds - Guidelines for Classification, reporting and Monitoring of Frauds. The bank did not report five fraud cases to NABARD within prescribed timeline, resulting in contravention of aforesaid directions issued by NABARD.

The Aska Co-operative Central Bank Ltd., Aska was penalised 50,000 for non-compliance with certain provisions of the Reserve Banks Know Your Customer (KYC)) Direction, 2016. The bank had failed to put in place a system of periodic review of risk categorisation of accounts.

The Reserve Bank imposed a monetary penalty of 1,00,000 on Bally Cooperative Bank Ltd., Howrah, West Bengal for non-compliance with certain provisions of the central bank-Know Your Customer (KYC)) Direction, 2016. The bank had failed to put in place a system of periodic review of risk categorisation of accounts.

The apex bank imposed a monetary penalty of 2,50,000 on The Nabapalli Co-operative Bank Ltd., West Bengal for non-compliance with the directions issued by RBI on Exposure Norms and Statutory/Other Restrictions - UCBs and certain provisions of the Reserve Bank of India  (Know Your Customer (KYC)) Direction, 2016. The bank had breached prudential inter-bank (gross) exposure limit and prudential inter-bank counter-party limit and failed to put in place a system of periodic review of risk categorisation of accounts.

The actions of Reserve Bank was based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the banks with its customers.
Global regulators spent more than a decade trying to ensure that a large bank could fail without any government support.

Despite this years bank failures, they are still working on it.

Global regulators are reviewing the March failures, including Credit Suisses collapse and Swiss officials decision to push UBSto acquire its rival in a deal with billions of public money, people familiar with the probe said. Swiss officials chose to sidestep the postcrisis plan for global megabanks, under which Credit Suisse would have been wound down by regulators or restructured into a new entity.

In the U.S., regulators are considering new rules as soon as this month that would force midsize banks to add to their financial cushions in case of insolvency, people familiar with the plans said. The March failures of Silicon Valley Bank and another midsize bank prompted officials to take extraordinary steps to promise depositors they could access their money.

The tumult was far less severe than the financial crisis of 2007-09, when hundreds of banks went under and Washington injected hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars to keep the system afloat.

Still, the bank failures in the U.S. and in Switzerland have exposed gaps in the regulatory regime built up after the 2008 bailouts, some officials say.

It is shocking to me that after 15 years of costly reform efforts, we still couldnt resolve even a $200 billion bank like SVB without extraordinary government support," said Jonathan McKernan, a Republican member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

Other regulators have expressed skepticism about the post-2008 plans for winding down failed megabanks.

We really need to look at these closely to see if theyre realistic," Rohit Chopra, the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and an FDIC board member, said in a recent interview.

The 2010 Dodd-Frank financial overhaul requires the biggest banks to write plans showing how they could be dismantled in bankruptcy without using taxpayer money. If regulators think the so-called living wills arent credible, they have the authority to break up the banks.

Dodd-Frank also empowers regulators to seize a failing megabank and wind it down outside of normal bankruptcy proceedings if financial stability is at risk, as a backup option.

Some former U.S. officials say that while the big-bank wind-down plans might seem credible on paper, it is doubtful any regulator would actually rely upon them in a crisis. Daniel Tarullo, a former Federal Reserve governor who was the central banks point person on regulation, told the Brookings Institution recently that officials might not think even a modest risk of igniting a larger meltdown by allowing a megabank to fail would be worth taking.

In the first real-world test of the wind-down system for global banks during the March failure of Credit Suisse, Swiss officials deemed the process unduly risky. Instead, they viewed a rushed merger with UBS as the only viable path to resolving the crisis.

Personally I have come to the conclusionthat a globally active systemically important bank cannot simply be wound up according to the too big to fail plan," Swiss Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter told a Swiss newspaper in March. Legally this would be possible. In practice, however, the economic damage would be considerable."

The review of Credit Suisse and the other spring failures is spearheaded by the Financial Stability Board, a Switzerland-based group of global regulators that establishes baseline international standards. The work is being led by FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg, who heads an FSB steering group focused primarily on bank resolutions.

Gruenberg, through a spokesperson, declined to comment. An FSB representative said its report would be published this fall.

Through a spokesman, Keller-Sutter declined requests for comment.

UBS on Friday said it would no longer rely on Swiss government assistance tied to its emergency takeover of Credit Suisse. Analysts said it was a good sign that UBS isnt expecting to register huge losses on the assets.

In the U.S., the turmoil after the failure of SVBthen Americas 16th-largest bankprompted regulators to take emergency steps including a new Federal Reserve lending program. They declared SVB and Signature Bank a systemic risk to the financial system, allowing them to guarantee those failed firms deposits above a $250,000 federal insurance cap.

Months later, policy makers hope to extend to midsize banks a version of the long-term debt requirements that at present only apply to global megabanks. They have already proposed raising capital requirements for banks with $100 billion or more in assets and are considering a spate of new liquidity and stress-testing rules.

Tougher rules for midsize banks were already on the way before SVBs collapse. An October plan floated by the Fed and FDIC would have required firms with more than $250 billion in assets to raise long-term debt that can help absorb losses in case of their own insolvency. Regulators now are considering proposing to apply the measure to banks down to $100 billion, officials have said.

Industry groups have said they plan to fight the rule changes, saying the long-term debt requirements would be expensive and arent necessary to promote financial stability. The U.S. problems, particularly SVBs collapse, should have been prevented by better supervision, not more rules, they say.

Applying the long-term debt rules to banks that are similar in size to SVB and Signature could give regulators more options in how they handle such failures, Gruenberg has said, without resorting to a rushed sale of a failed lender to another midsize firm or a megabank.
The Internet services which were suspended in Haryana's Nuh district due to the widespread violence after communal clashes that erupted on July 31 have now been restored, a report by NDTV has stated.

Currently there is no official announcement on internet curbs being lifted. Earlier, the Haryana Government had extended the suspension of mobile internet and SMS services in the Nuh district till August 13. The order passed by the Haryana Home Secretary stated that the conditions in the district are still "critical and tense". The schools and educational institutions had opened on 11 August in Nuh after being shut down due to incidents of violence.

Speaking of the curfew in the state, the Nuh district administration informed that the curfew in place, will be relaxed from 6 am to 8 pm on 14 and 15 August. "Har Ghar Tiranga" campaign was also alunched in Nuh and on 15 August Deputy Commissioner Dhirendra Khargata said the national flag will be hoisted on all houses as well as establishments in the district.

Six people, including two home guards and a cleric, died in the communal clashes that erupted in Nuh when the VHP procession was attacked by a mob on July 31. Opposition parties in Haryana have alleged that the violence in Nuh was the result of the failure of the BJP-JJP dispensation in the state.

Till now, a total of 393 people have been arrested and 118 have been taken into preventive detention in connection with the communal clashes. Besides, 160 FIRs have also been registered in Nuh, Gurugram, Faridabad, Palwal, Rewari, Panipat, Bhiwani and Hisar, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij had said.

Earlier on Sunday, a 'mahapanchayat' by Hindu outfits at Pondri village in Haryana's Palwal announced that they will "resume" on August 28 the VHP's Braj Mandal Yatra in Nuh that was disrupted after communal violence in July. "The religious organisations have told the Panchayat that their Yatra is incomplete and they want the Yatra to resume on 28th August. The Panchayat has agreed to their demand and supported them," Ratan Singh, a Member of the panchayat said as quoted by ANI.

While speaking to ANI, Ratan Singh said, "For those who died, the panchayat has demanded families to be given 1 crore and a government job to one of the relatives. For those who are injured and on ventilation, the panchayat has demanded compensation worth 50 thousand."

(With inputs from ANI, PTI)
In a fresh attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the eve of Independence Day, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh Sunday said the Prime Minister will unleash his torrent of lies from the ramparts of the Red Fort for one last time, taking off from his tsunami of lies to the nation in the Parliament last week," reported ANI.

The Congress General Secretary said, Will he have the courage to question his own government and his ministers on their corruption and incompetence?" Accusing Modi Government of corruption and incompetence, the Congress General Secretary said, Even a defanged Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has been able to expose the sheer corruption and incompetence of Modi Government." Demanding answer from the prime minister Jairam Ramesh said Chuppi Todiye, Pradhan Mantri-ji!

Highlighting the findings of the CAG, Jairam Ramesh in a letter said the CAG has flagged an overall cost overrun of more than 100% in the much-hyped Bharatmala Pariyojana. This project was approved and monitored by none other than the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) that is chaired by the Prime Minister himself.

Ramesh said, The sanctioned cost of the 26,316 km of highways that have been awarded was 8,46,588 crore, as against the CCEA-approved length of 34.800 km at a cost of 5,35.000 crore. This means that these projects were awarded at a cost of 32.17 crore/km, more than double the cost of Rs15-37 crore/km approved by the CCEA. Despite multiple cost overruns, only 13,499 Km of national highways have been completed till 31 March 2023, less than 30% of the CCEA-approved length."

The Congress General Secretary further said, The CAG has also raised concerns about the inflated project cost of the Dwarka Expressway, which went up 14 times from the sanctioned 18 crore/km to 250 crore/km."

The CAG has also highlighted irregularities in the Bharatmala bidding process-successful bidders not fulfilling tender condition, bidders being selected on the basis of falsified documents, work awarded without approved detailed project reports or faulty DPRs and the diversion of funds to the tone of Rs3,598.52 crore from escrow accounts.

The Congress General Secretary asked, Will the Prime Minister take responsibility, for this incompetence and corruption in the Bharatmala projects under his direct watch?

The Congress General Secretary said, CAG has uncovered violation of toll rules, with NHAI wrongly collecting 132.05 crore from commuters in just 5 randomly audited tall plazas. At the same time, NHAI lost revenue of 133-36 crore due to lack of provision for revenue sharing in concession agreements in two sections of NH projects. If this audit were extrapolates to the whole country, the overall loss to the exchequer and the commuters walit amount to lakhs of crores." Jairam Ramesh asked that Will the Prime Minister take action against the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways?"

Jairam Ramesh further said," the CAG has reported payouts to the dead in the Prime Minister's favourite Ayushman Bharat Scheme. 88,760 patients had died during treatment and yet, 2.14,923 claims were shown as paid in respect of fresh treatments given to these dead 'patients. Other than that, 7.5 lakh recipients were linked to a single mobile number and 4,761 registrations made against seven Aadhar numbers. In total there are more than 1.24 crore fake beneficiaries linked to only 1,86,855 mobile numbers. Will the Prime Minister order an investigation on who were the real beneficiaries of this massive Digital India scam in Ayushman Bharat?

Jairam Ramesh said The CAG has raised similar questions on irregularities in the Ayodhya Development Project and the diversion of old page pension funds under National Social Assistance Programme for publicity of the Modi government's schemes instead."
With torrential rains in upper catchment areas of the Yamuna--Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, --and the water released into the Yamuna from the Hathnikund Barrage increased on Monday morning. The water level of Yamuna river at the Old Railway Bridge (ORB) stood at 203.48 metres at 3 pm and is rising further.

According to the Central Water Commission's (CWC) five-day flood forecast suggests the water level may touch the warning level of 204.5 metres on Wednesday.

"We are monitoring the situation. The water level may increase but a grave situation is unlikely," PTI reported quoting an official of the Delhi government's Irrigation and Flood Control Department.

On Monday morning, the water discharge from the barrage crossed 50,000 cusecs for the first time since July 26. The flow rate at the Hathnikund Barrage in Haryana's Yamunagar increased to 75,000 cusecs at 9 am, the highest since July 26.

A flood alert is issued only when this goes beyond 100,000 cusecs, according to officials.

In July, the worst of the flooding in Delhi was afterover 200,000 cusecs of water was released from the barrage for over several hours.

\At 9pm, the river was flowing at 203.37m at the Old Delhi Railway Bridge, well below the danger level of 205.33m.

Since the water flow has increased significantly from just 7,600 cusecs at 1am to over 75,688 cusecs at 9am, some impact will be seen in water levels over the next two to three days but situation is likely to remain under control if the rainfall in hills subsides," Hindustan Times reported citing an official in the irrigation and water department, asking not to be named.

The water discharge will not pose problem for the city, a Delhi government spokesperson said.

Delhi goverrnment officials further said that the jammed gates at the ITO barrage were now open, after a month-long effort by personnel of the Indian Army and the Navy. Of the 32 gates of the barrage, five were jammed due to silt accumulation, hindering the quick drainage of river water.

On July 13, the Delhi government had flagged that five of the 32 regulator gates at the ITO barrage, which is managed by the Haryana government, were jammed, leading to waterlogging at the busy ITO section.

The assistance of the Navy team was requested by the government on the July 14, in response to the increasing water levels of the Yamuna River... the last remaining Gate 28,29 were opened on August 12," the official added.

Meanwhile, the government spokesperson said, The departments are on alert... We expect the government of Haryana to keep Delhi posted in case they release high volumes of water into the Yamuna. We also expect the Haryana government to distribute water into the canal flowing towards UP also." The city is preparing to host world leaders from G20 nations in the second week of September, making the threat of floods a particularly important area for the administration to pay attention to.
A direct flight service between Kerala's Kochi to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam was launched from Cochin International Airport on Saturday. The new service was announced after a meeting between Vietnamese Ambassador, Nguyen Thanh Hai, met Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on July 5. The ambassador had then promised to start a direct flight service between Kochi and Ho Chi Minh City.

According to a Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) statement quoted by PTI, the new flight service is a significant milestone that will result in the addition of 45 flights connecting Kochi to Southeast Asian destinations.

Also Read: Maharaja steps back as Air India takes flight with The Vista logo

The new direct flight service designated as VJ1811 will operate on four days a week namely, Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The flight will depart from Ho Chi Minh City at 19:20 hours and arrive at Cochin International Airport at 22:50 hours. Meanwhile, the return flight, VJ1812 will leave Kochi at 23:50 hours and reach Ho Chi Minh City at 6:40 hours.

A statement by CIAL on the launch of the new flight service read, This service marks a historic milestone for CIAL as it establishes the first direct air link between Kerala and Vietnam, creating a significant avenue for both business and leisure travel."

"Furthermore, this new addition complements CIAL's existing flight services to various Southeast Asian destinations, enhancing the airport's connectivity and reinforcing its status as a vital hub for international travel," the statement further noted.

The launch ceremony of the new direct flight service was inaugurated by Vietnamese airline Vietjet's Vice President (Commercial) Jay L Lingeswara. In a statement about the new direct flight service, he said, The inaugural flights on this momentous day operated at full capacity. It signifies the growing demand for direct connectivity between Kochi and Vietnam"

"I am also optimistic about expanding this connectivity by introducing additional flights from other Vietnam cities to the Kochi route, thereby fostering stronger ties and facilitating seamless travel," Lingeswara added.

(With inputs from PTI)
India and China will hold the 19th round of Corps Commander-level talks today, Monday, August 14. The talks will start at 9.30 am at the Chushul border meeting point in Eastern Ladakh today. The two countries have been in a military standoff for the last three years since May 2020.

During the talks, India may press for early disengagement of troops from the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh. The 19th round of Corps Commander-level dialogue is taking place on Monday to ease tensions in the region.

As per details, the Indian delegation at the talks is going to seek completion of the disengagement process in the remaining friction points at the earliest.

Even as the two sides completed disengagement from several areas following extensive diplomatic and military talks, both Indian and China troops are locked in an over three-year standoff in certain friction points in eastern Ladakh.

On 23 April, the 18th round of the military dialogue took place where the Indian side strongly pressed for resolving the lingering issues at Depsang and Demchok.

In the fresh round of talks, to be held at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Indian side, the Indian delegation is most likely to be headed by Lt Gen Rashim Bali, the Commander of the Leh-headquartered 14 Corps. While the Chinese team is expected to be led by the commander of the South Xinjiang Military District.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in July spoke on the need to stabilize bilateral relations at a dinner during the G-20 summit in Bali in 2022.

Also, on 24 July, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi on the sidelines of a meeting of the five-nation grouping BRICS in Johannesburg.

Doval conveyed that the situation along the LAC in the western sector of the India-China boundary since 2020 had "eroded strategic trust" and the public and political basis of the relationship, said the statement.

It added that the NSA emphasized the importance of continuing efforts to fully resolve the situation and restore peace and tranquillity in the border areas to remove impediments to normalcy in bilateral ties.

In the meantime, India has maintained its ties with China cannot be normal unless there is peace in the border areas.

Earlier on 5 May 2020, the eastern Ladakh border standoff erupted after a violent clash in the Pangong Lake area.
The world commemorates the 113th anniversary of Nuzhet Gokdogan's birthday on Monday, Turkey's first female astronomer.

Google honours this occasion with a Doodle that reflects her substantial contributions to the field.

Google Doodle in her description noted that under the guidance of artist Ali Cetinkaya, Nuzhet Gokdogan acquired proficiency in French, German, and Turkish languages during her educational journey. A scholarship paved her way to Lyon University in France, where she successfully earned her bachelor's degree in mathematics. Following that accomplishment, in 1933, she attained her master's degree in physics from the University of Paris.

Gaining practical experience at the Paris Observatory, she was extended an invitation to pursue her research there. However, Gokdogan opted to return to Turkey instead.

Also Read: Google Doodle pays tribute to Bollywood icon Sridevi on 60th birth anniversary

Guided by artist Ali Cetinkaya, Nuzhet Gokdogan became skilled in French, German, and Turkish languages throughout her academic pursuit. A scholarship granted her the opportunity to enroll at Lyon University in France, where she achieved her undergraduate degree in mathematics with success. Subsequently, in 1933, she secured her master's degree in physics from the University of Paris.

Acquiring hands-on experience at the Paris Observatory, she was offered the chance to continue her research there.



In 1937, Gokdogan penned her thesis on the subject of interstellar dark matter surrounding the sun, culminating in the attainment of her PhD. Subsequently, she ascended to a professorship at Istanbul University.

Notably, in 1954, she achieved the distinction of being elected as the Dean of the Science Faculty, marking her as the inaugural female university dean in Turkey.

Contributing to the field, Gokdogan authored scientific articles for domestic publications and crafted three foundational textbooks covering astronomy, algebra, and cosmography. Her illustrious career concluded with her retirement in 1980.

The professor is commemorated for her role in progressing the field of astronomy in Turkey and for establishing multiple organizations focused on scientific endeavours.

Noteworthy among them are the Turkish Astronomy Association, the Turkish Association of University Women, and the Turkish Mathematics Association.
With the approaching Independence Day celebrations and the upcoming G-20 Summit, the Delhi Police's Special Branch has issued a vigilant advisory to all officers, urging heightened alertness, according to sources from The Indian Express.

In preparation for the Independence Day parade, where more than 30,000 visitors are expected, the police have taken comprehensive measures to mirror the security arrangements of the pre-pandemic era. These precautions encompass a network of over 1,000 cameras, a robust four-layer security protocol, anti-drone systems, facial recognition technologies, expert bomb disposal units, and the presence of para-military forces.

Also read: Independence Day 2023: From farmers, nurses to fishermen; here are 1,800 special guests invited at Red fort

The advisory, designed to thwart potential breaches by hostile entities, terrorist organisations, or anti-national groups impersonating officials, warns officers about the risks of impersonation and spoofing, reported The Indian Express . It details how adversaries might use telephone calls, both domestic and international, or social messengers to deceive police personnel by adopting the identity of senior officials or the police department itself.

Additionally, these elements might gather intelligence from individuals associated with public vendors or employees indirectly linked to event arrangements. Social media accounts of officers stationed at sensitive locations could also be exploited for information collection, while fake emails may be deployed to extract sensitive data.

Also read: Delhi Police issues traffic advisory for the Independence Day. Details here

To counter such threats, the Special Branch offers practical recommendations for officers. These guidelines stresses on refraining from sharing any form of information through phone or social media with unknown individuals posing as government officials without independently verifying their credentials. Protecting computer systems containing sensitive data against potential cyberattacks is deemed paramount, with adherence to established cyber safety protocols strongly advised.

Mint could not independently confirm the details

Read more at The Indian Express
In a recent series of high-level military discussions with China, India has emphasised the need for prompt and early disengagement of troops in the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh., people familiar with the matter said on Monday.

The India-China talks were held at the Chunshul-Moldo border point which is located on the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The military talks between India and China started at 9.30 am and continued for 10 hours.

The Indian delegation at the 19th round of Corps Commander-level talks especially called for the resolution of issues in Depsang Plains and Demchok, they said.

While there was no official release on the high-level military talks, it is learnt that local military commanders of the two sides held talks a day ahead of the Corps Commander-level meeting.

Despite successfully completing disengagement from various areas through extensive diplomatic and military negotiations, Indian and Chinese troops remain engaged in a standoff for over three years at specific friction points in eastern Ladakh.

The standoff has been going on ever since Indian and Chinese troops engaged in an aggressive face-off.

During the talks, the Indian delegation was headed by Lt Gen Rashim Bali, the Commander of the Leh-headquartered 14 Corps, while the Chinese team was led by the commander of the South Xinjiang military district.

On April 23 talks too, the Indian side had emphasised for disengagement at Depsang and Demchok. India has consistently asserted that establishing normalcy in its relationship with China hinges on achieving peace along the border regions.

On July 24, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi on the sidelines of a meeting of the five-nation grouping BRICS in Johannesburg.

In its statement on the meeting, the MEA said Doval conveyed that the situation along the LAC in the western sector of the India-China boundary since 2020 had "eroded strategic trust" and the public and political basis of the relationship.

It said the NSA emphasised the importance of continuing efforts to fully resolve the situation and restore peace and tranquility in the border areas so as to remove impediments to normalcy in bilateral ties.

(With agency inputs)
NEW DELHI : Indian goods exports remained under pressure in July as demand from key markets such as the US, Europe and China remained subdued amid high inflation driven by persistent geopolitical tensions.

While services exports continued to report healthy growth, merchandise or goods exports declined to their lowest in nine months, falling 16% to $32.25 billion in July from $38.34 billion in the year earlier, data released by the commerce and industry ministry on Monday showed.

Imports during the month also declined by 17% to $52.92 billion from $63.77 billion in the year-ago period, narrowing the trade deficit to $20.67 billion.

Petroleum product exports recorded the steepest decline, plunging more than 40% in July from a year earlier due to softening commodity prices amid reduced demand. This was followed by a 27% decline in labour-intensive gems and jewellery exports.

On the other hand, electronic goods, coffee, pharmaceuticals and iron ore exports reported an increase.

Commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal said that global headwinds persist and noted the decline in exports and imports of several countries, including key Indian markets such as the US and Europe.

Barthwal, however, expressed optimism that Indias exports of goods and services during FY24 would surpass the previous fiscal years $776 billion.

Sectors that are doing well include electronics, and that means India is integrating into global value chains", he said.

Aditi Nayar, chief economist at Icra Ltd, said that non-oil exports remained steady, even as lower oil exports dampened the overall shipments in July relative to the previous month.

Based on the available trends, we expect the current account deficit to widen to $11-13 billion in Q1 (June quarter) and further to $15-17 billion in Q2, with the monthly trade deficit likely to remain above the $20 billion mark in the next couple of months," Nayar added.

Engineering Export Promotion Council of India chairman Arun Kumar Garodia said that engineering exports have declined for the fourth consecutive month this fiscal, with July shipments dropping 6.62% from a year earlier to $8.74 billion.

The metals sector has significantly contributed to the declining trend over the past many months. Overall, the global demand has slowed, and, as a result, Indian engineering shipments to top destinations have shown negative growth," Garodia said.

A. Sakthivel, president of the Federation of Indian Export Organizations, said sluggish global demand, especially in China and the European Union, coupled with the contraction in growth, has led to the continuous decline in exports in recent months.

Manufacturing across the Eurozone and the US has contracted due to persistent policy tightening by both the US Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank, he added.

The main reasons for the moderating pace of growth in merchandise exports in 2023 have been the ongoing geopolitical tensions, disruptions in the global supply chain due to the Russia-Ukraine war, monetary tightening and recessionary fears, which have continuously led to a fall in consumer spending across the globe, especially in advanced economies," Sakthivel added.
Seema Haider earlier received an acting offer from Bollywood filmmaker Amit Jani for an upcoming movie. This revelation has ignited a heated debate surrounding Seemas Pakistani nationality and her presence in the Indian film industry.

The general secretary of Maharashtra Navnirman Seva (MNS), Ameya Khopkar, has thrown a spotlight on the matter. Khopkar, aligned with Raj Thackeray, expressed his concerns over Haider's involvement in the Indian film scene, asserting that a Pakistani national should not have a place in the industry. Khopkar conveyed his thoughts in Marathi on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) and emphasised MNS stance while asking the makers who chose to cast her. Also Read: After auditioning for movie, Seema Haider likely to contest election in 2024: Report "Were steadfast on our stand against any Pakistani national playing any role in the Indian Film Industry. Seema Haider, a Pakistani woman is currently in India. Allegedly she an ISI agent. Some publicity hungry folks of our industry are known to be keen on launching this Seema as an actress. They are nothing but shameless traitors. Consider this a clear warning to stop this nonsense or else face the wrath of MNS (sic)," Khopkar wrote. BEWARE! Youve been warned!" he added.

Seema Haider's Independence Day celebration

Seema, whose identity has been linked to reports of crossing borders and living in India without proper authorisation, took a patriotic stand for India on August 13 by hoisting the tricolour flag ahead of Independence Day.

Also Read: Seema Haider pleads for mercy from President Murmu

She was seen exclaiming "Bharat Mata ki Jai (Hail Mother India)", displaying her allegiance to the nation. Dressed in a tricolour saree and a headband adorned with the words "Jai Mata Di", Seema Haider chanted the iconic "Vande Mataram" as her husband Sachin Meena stood beside her.

In a different clip making rounds on social media, Haider was seen chanting "Pakistan murdabad (Down with Pakistan)," revealing her vocal disapproval of her country of origin.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday said that he came to power through constitutional means. Shehbaz Sharif had come to power in April last year after the then-opposition ousted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan from office through a no-confidence vote.

PM Sharif started his farewell address by announcing that he was handing over the responsibility of running the nation to a caretaker government after the conclusion of his government's 16-month tenure, according to a report published by Dawn.

PM Sharif's farewell address came ahead of Pakistan's Independence Day which is celebrated on August 14 every year. Indian Independence Act in 1947 created two sovereign nation-states in the form of India and Pakistan.

Referring to the appointment of Balochistan Awami Party Senator Anwaarul Haq Kakar for the caretaker PMs post, the Pakistan PM said, He belongs to our great province Balochistan, and I am sure that  he will ensure that free and fair elections are held in the country."

He also expressed gratitude to Pakistan for showing confidence in him to fulfill the responsibility of the country's PM. It is [also] a favor of God on us that he gave us the capability and courage to steer the country out of the worst economic, political, and foreign policy crises in history," he said as quoted by ANI, citing Dawn.

Speaking about the IMF bailout package, he highlighted the achievements of his government and measures that put the cash strapped-Pakistan on the path to progress and financial independence.

We tread a thorny and fiery path during the last 16 months. It was clear soon after we came to power that Pakistan was facing extremely destructive circumstances. A delay of even a day would have caused irreparable damage to the state," PM Sharif said.

Had we held elections immediately [after coming to power], we would have made political gains. But the grave situation in the country did not allow us to make political gains," he added.

On Saturday, Pakistan's President Arif Alvi approved the appointment of Anwarul Haque Kakar as Caretaker Prime Minister for the country, ANI reported.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Leader of the Opposition in the outgoing National Assembly Raja Riaz on Saturday met and concluded their last round of talks and decided to make Senator Kakar as caretaker PM.

(With ANI inputs)
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has urged Indian women who are interested in joining the politics to register themselves in the newly launched Indira Fellowship. In a tweet, Rahul Gandhi urged the women to claim their rightful place" in Indian politics, saying India will be truly successful only when women occupy equal space in society.

Taking to X, Congress leader said, "India will be truly successful only when women occupy equal space in our society. #IndiraFellowship seeks to empower women & transform politics.

They must take their rightful place in politics and shape Indias destiny - Aadhi Aabadi, Poora Haq!"

Rahul Gandhi further emphasized the imperative for women to claim their rightful place in the realm of politics, thereby becoming instrumental in moulding India's future.

The Indira Fellowship website, the Indira Fellowship is an initiative of the Indian Youth Congress. As per the official website, the Indira Fellowship is Indias first political fellowship for women.

Earlier on Sunday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that the violence in Manipur is a direct result of a particular type of politics of division, hatred and anger.

Describing the violence as "disturbing," the leader of the Congress party expressed his concern, noting that the injuries caused by the unrest would require a significant amount of time to heal completely.

The sadness and anger will not go away quickly. The continuing violence in Manipur is disturbing and needs to be stopped immediately. Violence in Manipur is a direct result of a particular type of politics of division, hatred and anger," Rahul Gandhi said.

I saw with my own eyes what happened there and what has been done to the people of Manipur. In 19 years of my political life, I have never experienced what I saw in Manipur," he added.

During his two-day trip to Kerala, the Member of Parliament representing Wayanad addressed the gathering. This occurred subsequent to his participation in the ceremonial laying of the foundation stone for the Community Disability Management Center (CDMC), held at the St Joseph High School Auditorium in Kodenchery, ANI reported.

He also announced to contribute 55 lakh from the MP fund for the facility.

The Center will aim to provide early intervention, treatment and rehabilitation of the children. It will provide psychotherapy, behavioural therapy, physiotherapy and speech education. I am very happy to give 55 lakh from the MP fund for this facility," said Rahul Gandhi.

(With inputs from ANI)
NEW DELHI : The steel ministry plans to write to all major steel companies with export interests to assess their preparedness for reducing their carbon footprint and for facing the green challenges emerging in global markets.

The development comes at a time when India is exploring tariff and non-tariff measures to counter EUs Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) that proposes to tax embedded carbon in imports of steel, aluminium, cement, hydrogen, electricity and fertilizers from 1 January 2026.

Starting October, companies will have to submit carbon emission details of their exports to EU.

The steel ministry, which is in dialogue with the commerce ministry over the mechanism to calculate and price embedded carbon in the steel sector, is preparing a blueprint for green steel production, involving changes in technology and processes by steel companies.

According to a person aware of the development, the ministry will write to all steel companies that are exporting or looking to do so later this month and assess their preparedness to deal with the carbon tax measures being considered by western nations.

The ministry will invite suggestions from the industry on steps required to deal with the new challenges emerging in steel trade and present a blueprint on the changes required to reduce emission levels in steel production to bring emission intensity of carbon dioxide in Indian steel at par with European standards.

The ministrys concern is also coming from the manufactures of various special steel grades under the recently announced production-linked incentive scheme that are likely to find large overseas markets. These new facilities would need to be emission-compliant to get theproducts accepted in various global markets.There is a need to assess the preparedness of the steel sector even though India is also working on a strategy to counter measures like CBAM through tariff and non-tariff measures. This is necessary as such measures may not be restricted to the EU but several other countries as well where Indian steel has found market," said a ministry directive.

Queries mailed to the steel ministry remained unanswered till press time.

The ministrys concern comes from data on steel production suggesting the emission intensity of carbon in Indian steel is much higher than global standards. As per a report by ratings agency ICRA, Indian steel producers have an average emission intensity of around 2.6 tonnes of emission per tonne of crude steel, which is 12% higher than the global average of 2.32 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of crude steel from the blast furnace route.

The implementation of CBAM is expected to affect between 15% and 40% of Indias annual steel exports to Europe. Failure to address the carbon footprint could lead to lower profits in EU markets and even result in a loss of market share in Europe for Indian mills, the ICRA report has said.

From 2026, for the chosen sectors of cement, fertilizer, iron and steel, electricity and aluminium, imports will face an additional tariff of between 20-35% under CBAM. This will negatively impact Indian industry which has significant export interests in the EU -- the destination for nearly 17% of Indian exports in 2012-2021.

Around 6% of these exports will fall under the purview of the CBAM. Of these CBAM-covered Indian exports, iron and steel, followed by aluminium is the most affected.

In 2022, around 27% of Indian exports of iron, steel and aluminium products, worth $8.2 billion, went to the EU. Individually, this included 31.4% of iron and steel exports, 20% of steel products, 19.9% of iron ore and pellets, and 27.7% of aluminium.
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, one of India's most successful investors, passed away on August 14, 2022. However, his legacy lives on and will continue to inspire generations to come.

In a 2012 interview with news agency Reuters, he remarked, "It's not a fitting comparison (with Warren Buffett). In terms of wealth and success and maturity, he's far, far ahead." Having risen from 5,000 in 1985 to an astounding 35,000 crore by 2022, the life journey of the late Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, often referred to as India's Big Bull, serves as a remarkable lesson in investing. Here is how social media paid tribute to the legendary investor.

Abhishek Murarka, an investment analyst, tweeted that on the first death anniversary of Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, family members shared a touching message. He mentioned that this message provides deeper insights into Jhunjhunwala's character compared to any social media post. Abhishek conveyed that the message conveys an important lesson for investors - while patience might be put to the test, unwavering conviction will always bring rewards.
A Russian warship fired warning shots at a cargo ship in the southwestern Black Sea on August 13 as it made its way northwards, marking the first instance of Russia using force against merchant shipping beyond Ukraine since withdrawing from a UN-brokered grain deal the previous month, reported Reuters.

This move comes after Russia halted its participation in a Black Sea grain deal in July that enabled Ukraine to export agricultural products via the Black Sea. Moscow argued that it considered all ships headed to Ukrainian waters as potential carriers of weapons.

The incident occurred on Sunday when Russia's Vasily Bykov patrol ship fired warning shots at the Palau-flagged Sukru Okan vessel, as it failed to respond to a request to halt for an inspection according to a statement by Russia. The vessel was on the way to the Ukrainian port of Izmail. Refinitiv shipping data indicated that the ship was near the coast of Bulgaria and was heading towards the Romanian port of Sulina.

Also read: Russia-Ukraine war: NSA Ajit Doval says, 'India promotes dialogue, diplomacy'

Warning fire to halt vessel

Russian officials stated that automatic weapons were used to halt the vessel with warning fire, and Russian military personnel boarded the ship with the assistance of a Ka-29 helicopter. After an inspection, the vessel continued its journey to Izmail. "After the inspection group completed its work on board, the Sukru Okan continued on its way to the port of Izmail," said defence ministry. "The incident was a clear violation of international law of the sea, an act of piracy and a crime against civilian vessels of a third country in the waters of other states," a senior adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said.

"Ukraine will draw all the necessary conclusions and choose the best possible response," tweeted Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor on X. A Turkish defence ministry official said he had heard an incident had taken place involving a ship heading for Romania, and that Ankara was looking into it.

A spokesperson for the southern military command, Natalia Humeniuk emphasised that the Russian statement had not been confirmed by other official sources and called for transportation and navigation in the Black Sea to adhere to international guarantees. She added, Russia was trying to assert its right to stop a ship or deploy aircraft in the Black Sea and "face no consequences." This incident raises concerns among shipowners, insurers, and commodity traders about the risks of navigating the Black Sea, which is a vital route for agricultural produce transportation for both Ukraine and Russia.

Tensions post Russia's exit of Black Sea grain deal

Since Russia exited the Black Sea grain deal, tensions have escalated, with Russia and Ukraine issuing warnings and conducting attacks that have unsettled global commodity, oil, and shipping markets. Both countries have threatened to treat approaching ships as potential military vessels, and their flag states as combatants on the opposing side.

Also read: Stuck Russian funds land in Indias T-bills

Concerns of a de-facto blockade of Ukrainian ports

This situation has led to concerns of a de-facto blockade of Ukrainian ports by Russia, prompting Ukraine and the West to accuse Russia of endangering the flow of wheat and sunflower seeds from Ukraine to global markets. Russia, on the other hand, contends that the West failed to implement a parallel agreement to ease regulations for its own food and fertiliser exports.

(With inputs from Reuters)
UBS is facing another legal challenge in relation to its controversial takeover of Credit Suisse , as hundreds of individual shareholders, including former employees of Credit Suisse, are planning to lodge a claim in Zurichs commercial court today, Financial Times reported.

The Swiss Investor Protection Association (SASV), representing retail investors, intends to file the claim on behalf of around 500 Credit Suisse equity investors who experienced significant losses when UBS took over the bank in March. The takeover, orchestrated by Swiss authorities, didn't allow shareholders in both banks to vote on the deal. UBS paid CHF 3 billion ($3.4 billion) for Credit Suisse, which was less than half the banks market value on the day before the deal was sealed.

This is the second class action against UBS by Credit Suisse shareholders, and there are several lawsuits being pursued by bondholders who were impacted.

UBS recently announced that it no longer required government support for the takeover, possibly aiming to reduce public discontent before national elections in October.

Also read: RBI allows UBS-acquired Credit Suisse to retain Indian banking license: Report

SASV plans to submit its case on August 14 under Switzerlands Merger Act, meeting a two-month deadline from when the deal was approved in June. The general secretary of SASV, Arik Roschke, suggested that UBS might consider settling the case, as a ruling against them could potentially result in a requirement to compensate all shareholders, costing billions of dollars. However, settling out of court would only result in compensation for the claimants. UBS took over one of the best capitalised banks in Europe at a bargain price in a horse-trading deal," Roschke said. Some of our claimants worked at Credit Suisse for 30 years and part of their payment was in stock," he added.

The claimants in this case are from various countries, including the UK, US, Germany, Austria, Thailand, and Dubai. Many are former Credit Suisse employees who owned shares as part of their remuneration, Financial Times reported. The SASV case operates on a not-for-profit basis, with claimants asked to pay a fee to cover the associations costs, which could be partly refunded. UBS declined to comment on the case. Niedermann Rechtsanwalte, the Swiss law firm has been retained to work on the case.

Also read: Credit Suisse-Archegos mess: UBS slapped with $400 million fine

This legal challenge follows a similar suit brought by legal services start-up LegalPass, backed by Ethos Foundation, representing institutional investors owning about 5 percent of stock in both banks. Additionally, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan and Pallas law firms are representing bondholders who were affected when $17 billion of additional tier 1 securities were written down as part of the transaction. Credit Suisse staff have also enquired about launching legal action after their bonuses linked to the AT1s were cancelled.

Mint could not independently confirm the details

Read in detail at Financial Times
Search giant Google is celebrating the 77th Independence Day of Pakistan with a special doodle. The Doodle artwork features The Indus River dolphin, a toothed whale species that is endemic to Pakistan. The endangered species is also called bhulan in Urdu and Sindhi and is a special sighting in coasts off Pakistan, Google noted.

Google users can also read a few untold stories about how Pakistan gained independence by going through the company's Art and Culture page.

Google's message on Pakistan's Independence Day reads, Todays annual Doodle celebrates Pakistan Independence Day 2023! On this day in 1947, Pakistan gained its independence and became a sovereign nation after almost 200 years of British occupancy."

Indian Independence Act in 1947 created two sovereign nation-states in the form of India and Pakistan. Hindustan Times quoted the act as reading, "As from the fifteenth day of August, nineteen hundred and forty-seven, two independent Dominions shall be set up in India, to be known respectively as India and Pakistan."

Also Read: Google Doodle pays tribute to Bollywood icon Sridevi on 60th birth anniversary

Pakistan's founding father and first President Mohammed Ali Jinnah in his historic radio address had said, August 15 is the birthday of the independent and sovereign state of Pakistan. It marks the fulfilment of the destiny of the Muslim nation which made great sacrifices in the past few years to have its homeland."

Pakistan Independence Day celebrations:

Google noted that Pakistani citizens wave their national flag high in the sky and sing their national anthem on the occasion of Independence Day. Pakistan and Prime Minister of Pakistan broadcast uplifting messages about national heroes, recent achievements, and goals for the future.

Government buildings in Pakistan like the Parliament House, Supreme Court, and Presidents House are decorated with bright lights and colors. Meanwhile, firework shows, rallies and musical concerts also take place to commemorate the special day, noted Google.
Hawaii wildfires are the deadliest wildfire in the US since the 2018 Camp Fire in California that killed at least 85 people and destroyed the town of Paradise. The fire went from zero to 100 and essentially managed to "eat an entire town in four hours".

Here are 10 points you should know Hawaii Wildfire:

1) Hawaii Governor Josh Green has said that the number of confirmed deaths from Maui wildfires has gone up to 89, making it the deadliest wildfire in more than 100 years in the US.

2) The Governor added that the death toll is further expected to go up and some victims were positively identified on Saturday. He noted that around 2,200 structures have been destroyed or damaged in West Maui with 86 percent of them being residential buildings.

3) Governor Green said that officials will review policies and procedures for improving safety. He said, People have asked why we are reviewing whats going on and its because the world has changed. A storm now can be a hurricane-fire or a fire-hurricaneThats what we experienced, thats why were looking into these policies, to find out how we can best protect our people."

4) US National Weather Service has said that Hurricane Dora was partly to be blamed for the strong winds that drove the flames initially leading to power being knocked out and firefighting helicopters getting grounded, reported AP.

5) Hawaii Tourism Authority has said that around 46,000 residents and visitors have flown out of West Maui's Kahului Airport since the start of devastation in the historic resort city of Lahaina.

6) In the weeks ahead, the collective resources and attention of the federal, state and county government, the West Maui community, and the travel industry must be focused on the recovery of residents who were forced to evacuate their homes and businesses," Hawaii Tourism Authority said in a statement quoted by AP.

7) As per Maui County estimates, over 80 percent of the structures in Lahaina were damaged or destroyed and around 4,500 residents are in need of shelter.

8) Hawaii wants to work with Airbnb to ensure that rental homes are available for locals. The Governor hopes that Airbnb can provide homes with three to nine-month rentals available.

9) Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono while speaking at CNN's State of Union on Sunday said that the Attorney General has launched a review as to why there were no warning signs alerting people to the danger around the wildfires which would have allowed people to flee before the flames consumed the town.

10) The Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Honolulu urged the people who were reeling from the effects of the wildfires to not give up hope. Parishioners across Hawaii churches mourned for the dead and prayed for the missing on Sunday.

(With inputs from AP)
New Delhi: An India-Sri Lanka power line project that hopes to link power grids between the two countries is in advanced stages of negotiation. A detailed project report (DPR) has been completed and is being reviewed prior to formal approval. The proposed power line received a boost from president Ranil Wickremesinghes visit to India in July.

We have decided that the work of connecting the electricity grids between the two countries will be expedited," said Prime Minister Modi in a statement during Wicrekemsinghes visit.

Mint had reported in January this year that the public sector Power Grid Corporation of India had prepared a preliminary report for the project. Mint reported that the interconnection would take place through overhead power lines and not subsea cables.

Talks on establishing power grid connectivity have been on for over a decade now. In 2010, the two countries agreed to explore the feasibility of linking their grids through an undersea cable. The proposal was dropped due to cost concerns.

Power grid connectivity will serve several purposes. First, it will help crisis-hit Sri Lanka improve its energy security after the country saw widespread power shortages in 2022. These outages, along with the countrys raging economic crisis, contributed to the fall of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The project may also eventually allow Sri Lanka to sell power to India and earn vital foreign exchange in the long term.

India today has a very robust power grid running from North to South and East to West of the country. In the future we would like to see the grid connected to neighbouring countries including Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and then expand that connection to South-east Asian countries, to emerge as a unified market," said Ajay Tewari, additional secretary, ministry of power in December 2022.

India has been keen to explore the possibility of creating a South Asian market for the power trade. It has established power grid connectivity with neighbouring countries like Nepal and Bhutan. According to media reports, India, Nepal and Bangladesh may have already finalised a draft text for a tripartite power trade agreement.

The project can also help India move ahead with its One World One Sun One Grid (OSOWOG) programme under the International Solar Alliance.
North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un, conducted another visit to significant munitions plants and directed a significant boost in the manufacturing of missiles and other armaments, as reported by state media on Monday.

According to AP, this action comes shortly before the commencement of the annual joint military exercises between South Korea and the US, exercises that North Korea perceives as practice for an invasion.

Kim's efforts to increase weapons production coincide with U.S. officials' suspicions that Russia's defence minister engaged in discussions with North Korea regarding the potential sale of additional weaponry to support Russia's conflict with Ukraine.

According to the Korean Central News Agency, Kim inspected facilities responsible for manufacturing tactical missiles, mobile launch systems, armoured vehicles, and artillery ammunition over the course of Friday and Saturday.

Also Read: Top Russian missile maker's data breached by hackers of North Korea, says report

During a stop at the missile factory, Kim set a goal to drastically boost" production capacity so the facility can mass produce missiles to meet the needs of frontline military units, KCNA said.

The qualitative level of war preparations depends on the development of the munitions industry and the factory bears a very important responsibility in speeding up the war preparations of the (North) Korean Peoples Army," Kim said, according to the report.

Also Read: US reinforces presence in South Korea with deployment of another submarine amid tensions with North Korea

Visiting other factories, Kim called for building more modern missile launch trucks and said there is an urgent need to boost production of large-caliber multiple rocket launcher shells at an exponential rate," the report said. Kim also drove a new utility combat armored vehicle, KCNA said.

After his diplomatic efforts with former US President Donald Trump fell apart in 2019, Kim has directed his attention towards expanding his nuclear and missile stockpiles. Since the beginning of 2022, Kim's military forces have carried out over 100 missile trials, frequently citing concerns about the increasing scale of joint military drills conducted by the US and South Korea as a reason for these tests.

North Korea could perform more weapons tests soon as the US and South Korea are set to start their summer military exercises later this month. North Korea calls the US-South Korean training practice for an invasion. The allies say they have no intentions of attacking North Korea.

KCNA quoted Kim as saying North Korea must have an overwhelming military force and get fully prepared for coping with any war" with the power to surely annihilate" its enemies.

Numerous experts believe that Kim's ultimate objective is to leverage his upgraded arsenal of weapons to secure concessions from the United States, such as the lifting of sanctions, once diplomatic negotiations are resumed with Washington.

Also Read: North Korea fires cruise missiles amidst silence on detention of US Army soldier who illegally crossed border

In recent weeks, the US government revealed that its intelligence agencies had concluded that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu engaged in discussions with North Korean representatives during a visit to Pyongyang the previous month. The talks reportedly centered on boosting the trade of weaponry to support Moscow's involvement in the conflict in Ukraine.

While North Korea has refuted assertions from the US about delivering artillery shells and ammunition to Russia, the country has openly expressed its backing for Russia in the ongoing war and indicated the possibility of sending laborers to assist in the reconstruction of areas in Ukraine that are under Russian control.

In response to pressure campaigns led by the United States regarding its nuclear program and economic challenges stemming from the pandemic, Kim has been working to strengthen relations with China and Russia.

(With inputs from AP)
Taiwan will not be afraid nor back down in the face of authoritarian threats, vice president William Lai told supporters on a US visit. William Lai, also frontrunner to be Taiwan's next president at January elections, is in the United States on what is officially a transit stop on his way to Paraguay for the inauguration of its new president. Paraguay is one of only 13 countries to maintain formal ties with the Chinese-claimed island.

Both Taiwan and the United States said the stopovers, including one in San Francisco on the way back, are routine.

However, China on Sunday condemned a brief US visit by Taiwan Vice President William Lai, saying he was a separatist and "troublemaker through and through," and Beijing would take strong steps to protect its sovereignty, drawing a rebuke from Taipei. Shortly after Lais arrival, Chinas foreign ministry said it firmly opposes" any official interaction between the US and Taiwan and any Taiwan independence separatists to the US." China deplores and strongly condemns the US decision to arrange the so-called stopover," it said in a statement. Lai clings stubbornly to the separatist position for Taiwan independence. He is a troublemaker through and through," it continued.

Lai last transited the US in January 2022.

Lai told a supporters lunch in New York on Sunday that "if Taiwan is safe, the world is safe, if the Taiwan Strait is peaceful, then the world is peaceful", according to Taiwan's presidential office.

"No matter how great the threat of authoritarianism is to Taiwan, we absolutely will not be scared nor cower, we will uphold the values of democracy and freedom," he said.

China has a particular dislike of Lai, who has previously described himself as a "practical worker for Taiwan independence", a red line for Beijing which has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control.

Lai, who has pledged to maintain peace and the status quo, reiterated in New York that on the basic of dignity and parity he was "very willing" to talk to China and seek peace and stability, as reported by Reuters.

But Lai said he will protect Taiwan's sovereignty, that only Taiwan's people can decide their future and that the Republic of China - Taiwan's formal name - and the People's Republic of China are "not subordinate to each other".

Both Taipei and Washington are aiming for the US stopovers to be low-key, and have called on China not to take any provocative action in response.

However, Taiwanese officials say China is likely to launch military drills this week near Taiwan, using Lai's U.S. stopovers as a pretext to intimidate voters ahead of a next year's election and make them "fear war".

Lai's speech was attended by Ingrid Larson, managing director of the American Institute in Taiwan, a U.S. government-run non-profit that carries out unofficial relations with Taiwan.

China considers Taiwan its most important diplomatic issue, and is a constant source of friction between Beijing and Washington, which is the island's most important international backer and arms supplier.

(With inputs from Reuters)
Zuckerberg seems to be getting hotter by the day. Twitter owner Elon Musk has now called the Meta boss a 'chicken' in response to his latest post about the long-awaited cage match.

Replying to a post on X (formerly Twitter), Musk wrote, Zuck is a chicken" Also Read: Mark Zuckerberg says time to move on from Musk cage fight challenge

Mark Zuckerberg on Sunday said that Elon Musk isn't serious about the cage fight and noted that it's time to move on. He wrote on Threads, I think we can all agree Elon isnt serious and its time to move on. I offered a real date. Dana White offered to make this a legit competition for charity. Elon wont confirm a date, then says he needs surgery, and now asks to do a practice round in my backyard instead. If Elon ever gets serious about a real date and official event, he knows how to reach me. Otherwise, time to move on. Im going to focus on competing with people who take the sport seriously,"

Earlier on Sunday, Elon Musk's biographer Walter Isaacson had shared a screenshot of interaction between the two tech giants. In the conversation, Musk asked Wanna do a practice bout at your house next week?"

Zuckerberg replied to the Twitter owner's message by saying that if Musk wanted to do a real MMA he should train on his own and decide if he wanted to do the fight or move on.

Elon Musk responded to the challenge with his usual wittiness and said he will be in Palo Alto on Monday and offered to fight on Mark Zuckerberg's Octagon.

Earlier, it was reported that Elon Musk is in touch with the government of Italy for hosting the proposed cage fight. The culture minister in the Italian government Gennaro Sangiuliano confirmed that Elon Musk has approached the government and they are considering the request.
Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg cant seem to agree on whether and when to duke it out in a cage match. Still, Italian cities home to famous archaeological venues are jockeying to be the stage for an event that would bring massive global publicity.

Musk, the chief executive of Tesla, set off the frenzy among Italian cities last week with a post on X, his social-media company formerly known as Twitter. Everything in camera frame will be ancient Rome, so nothing modern at all. I spoke to the PM of Italy and Minister of Culture. They have agreed on an epic location," Musk wrote.

Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook parent Meta, shot back on Sunday on rival platform Threads, accusing Musk of not being serious about getting into the ring and casting doubt on the fight. Elon wont confirm a date, then says he needs surgery, and now asks to do a practice round in my backyard instead. If Elon ever gets serious about a real date and official event, he knows how to reach me."

The two tech billionaires said in June that they would fight each other. Since then they have exchanged blustery gibes but given few concrete details on the bout.

Musks reference to ancient Rome made many Italians assume he meant the city of Rome rather than the empire. The Colosseum was the obvious contender for a gladiatorial contest.

But what appeared to be a first-round knockout for one of the worlds most recognizable monuments soon turned into a slugfest after Italian officials said the Colosseum, completed in AD 80, was too fragile.

Italian Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano hailed the Musk-Zuckerberg fight as a great event," but didnt disclose the possible venue. The ministry and the Italian prime ministers office didnt respond to requests for comment.

With the Colosseum out of the running, eyes turned to the Circus Maximus, the long oval stadium a short walk away.

In ancient times, the Circus Maximus hosted chariot races such as those depicted in the Hollywood epic Ben-Hur." Nowadays it hosts occasional rock concertssometimes to locals chagrin. Earlier this month, a Travis Scott concert became such a raucous affair that residents said they thought there had been an earthquake.

Enter stage right: the movie set that was used in Ben-Hur," now part of Cinecitta World, a movie theme park on the outskirts of Rome. The parks chief executive called the venue the best of both worlds, offering an ancient atmosphere without defiling a real monument.

Roman politicians have pushed for a relatively small theater in Ostia Antica, the port of ancient Rome and a short train ride away from the city.

The southern Italian region of Calabria made its case, with the regional president reminding all that it is home to the Riace Bronzes, two ancient statues of naked fighters. Never mind that the two mighty statues, pulled from the seabed 50 years ago and now in a museum, are of Greek origin and predate the rise of Rome by several centuries.

If youre looking for an epic location, evocative and enchanting, Taormina is it," Cateno De Luca, the mayor of the Sicilian town, wrote on X. Taormina, which has jumped in popularity after it featured in the HBO show The White Lotus," has an ancient Greek theater with a panoramic view of the Sicilian coastline.

A rival pitch came from the mayor of Benevento, near Naples, which has a Roman theater sometimes called the Colosseums twin, and another from a small town in the southern region of Basilicata, which also has one.

The mayor of Pompeii made the case for using a theater in the excavated ancient city, which was buried by the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79.

Veronas Arena, a well-preserved amphitheater that is slightly older than the Colosseum, stands in the hometown of star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet and hosts large-scale opera productions. The mayor of Verona, which bills itself as the city of love, has so far been silentperhaps because of the awkward optics of hosting a cage fight.

Some Italians think it would be unbecoming of a country so rich in history and monuments to host a punch-up between billionaires.

Vittorio Sgarbi, a pugnacious undersecretary at the Culture Ministry who often wades into Italys culture wars, said he couldnt care less about the fight and wouldnt watch it. He said Musk and Zuckerberg could use any of the potential venues, including the Colosseum, so long as they pay.

Sgarbi said that Sangiuliano, the culture minister, had asked for his advice on whether Italy should host the event.

For me its just fine," Sgarbi replied, according to an interview he gave to newspaper Corriere della Sera. How much are they going to give you? 100 million?"

Sangiuliano has said any money from Musk and Zuckerberg would go toward scientific research and upgrading two pediatric hospitals.

Sgarbi said he would root for Musk in the fight because the Tesla CEO once complimented him on a speech in Parliament.

I simply find it shocking that Italys cultural heritage is made available to two billionaires who want to fight like idiotic teenagers," Carlo Calenda, another opposition lawmaker, wrote on X. Its not a question of how much they pay. Some things simply arent for sale. One of them is the dignity and history of a great country."

Write to Eric Sylvers at eric.sylvers@wsj.com
Bitcoin is a digital currency that was created in 2009. One of the key features of bitcoin is its anonymity. Bitcoin transactions are not tied to any real-world identity, which means that users can send and receive bitcoin without revealing their identity.

This anonymity has been a major selling point for bitcoin, as it allows users to conduct financial transactions without fear of government surveillance or censorship. However, it has also been criticized by some as a way to facilitate illegal activities, such as money laundering and drug trafficking.

In this article, I will defend bitcoin anonymity. I will argue that it is a valuable privacy feature that allows people to control their own financial information. I will also address the concerns about bitcoin anonymity being used for illegal activities.

The Value of Privacy

Privacy is a fundamental human right. It is the right to control our own personal information and to decide who has access to it. Bitcoin anonymity allows people to maintain their financial privacy. This is important for a number of reasons.

First, financial privacy can help to protect people from identity theft and fraud. If hackers cant track your bitcoin transactions, they cant steal your identity and use it to commit crimes.

Second, financial privacy can help to protect people from government surveillance. In many countries, governments are collecting vast amounts of data about their citizens financial transactions. This data can be used to track peoples movements, monitor their spending habits, and even target them for political or religious discrimination. Bitcoin anonymity can help to protect people from this type of surveillance.

Third, financial privacy can help to protect people from censorship. In some countries, governments censor financial transactions. This means that they can prevent people from sending or receiving money to certain individuals or organizations. Bitcoin anonymity can help to protect people from this type of censorship.

The Concerns About Illegal Activities

It is true that bitcoin anonymity can be used for illegal activities. However, it is important to remember that cash is also used for illegal activities. In fact, cash is the preferred currency for many criminals. This is because it is difficult to track and trace.

The fact that bitcoin can be used for illegal activities does not mean that it should be banned. Bitcoin anonymity is a valuable privacy feature that has many legitimate uses. It is important to weigh the benefits of bitcoin anonymity against the risks of it being used for illegal activities.

In my opinion, the benefits of bitcoin anonymity outweigh the risks. Bitcoin anonymity allows people to maintain their financial privacy, which is a fundamental human right. It also helps to protect people from government surveillance and censorship. The risks of bitcoin anonymity being used for illegal activities are relatively small.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I believe that anonymity is a valuable privacy feature that should be protected. It is important to weigh the benefits of anonymity against the risks of it being used for illegal activities. In my opinion, the benefits outweigh the risks.

Shayne Heffernan
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Death toll from Maui wildfire reaches 89, making it the deadliest in the US in more than 100 years

Authorities in Hawaii say a fire that swept through a picturesque town in Maui this week has killed at least 89 people, making it the deadliest U.S. wildfire of the past century
Longford County Council wishes to inform the public that significant roadworks are scheduled to commence on the R198 Battery Road from the St Albans Residential Estate entrance, to just before the Druid Glen Roundabout.

Works are due to commence on Monday, August 14 and will be in place until Quarter 2 of 2024.

The proposed scheme includes the rehabilitation of the R198 Battery Road surface, the installation of a signalised junction at the entrance to Lisbrack Road, the construction of a right turn lane at the entrance to Abbeycarton Lane, the realignment of the R198 Battery Road surface to facilitate the provision of cycle lanes and continuous pedestrian footpath on both sides of the road, and the construction of pedestrian crossing points at various locations along the road.

Traffic Management systems will be installed on the public road, this will be a combination of lane narrowing, Stop/Go and Temporary Traffic Light systems with the nature of the works dictating the system employed as the project progresses.

Gardai hunt hoax bomb caller behind closure of Longford shopping outlets Gardai have launched a major investigation into establishing the identity of an individual who is suspected of making a number of hoax bomb threats that yesterday resulted in the evacuation of Longford Shopping Centre and a major supermarket in the county town.

Every effort will be made to reduce the impact of the works on the local community, businesses and school population, but it is inevitable that disruption will occur.

These works form part of the National Sustainable Mobility Policy Pathfinder scheme and are fully funded by the Department of Transport through the National Transport Authority (NTA) and delivered by its Active Travel programme.

The Pathfinder scheme will be of huge benefit to the users of the R198 Battery Road in achieving improved road safety for both pedestrians and cyclists, with reduced motorists interaction. The commenced scheme also helps Ireland meet its commitment to a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

Longford County Council wishes to apologise for any inconvenience caused and to thank you for your co-operation.
Local News, Business & Finance

By Long Island Published: August 14 2023

Governor Hochul celebrates New York State Insurance Fund's allocation of $585 million to businesses, promoting worker safety and prosperity through dividends and return-of-premium programs.

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the New York State Insurance Fund, New York States largest workers compensation insurer, allocated $585 million to New York employers last year through its dividends and return-of-premium programs. Every year, NYSIF returns funds to New York State businesses that prioritize worker safety protocols and exhibit strong safety records.

Through efforts like NYSIFs dividends and return-of-premium program, New York State is proving that safe, stable workplaces are not just good for workers  theyre also good for business, Governor Hochul said. New Yorks small businesses are the engine behind our economy and our states largest employers, and my administration is proud to provide these much-needed savings to companies in every industry that are joining our mission to keep workers safe.

The majority of the New York State Insurance Funds (NYSIF) policyholders are small- and mid-sized businesses in every region of New York State, many of whom have been with the company for decades. Companies either insure directly with NYSIF or belong to a NYSIF safety group where employers in the same industry can pool together to further reduce workers compensation expenses.

Gaurav Vasisht, Executive Director & CEO of NYSIF said, Were honored to pass these savings to employers as part of our mission to provide New York businesses with workers compensation coverage at the lowest possible cost. Thanks to Governor Hochuls leadership and commitment to helping smaller businesses, NYSIF can deliver hundreds of millions in savings for employers.

New York law requires businesses to secure workers compensation coverage, which is obtained through NYSIF, a private carrier, or by self-insuring. Unlike private carriers, NYSIF serves as a guaranteed source of coverage and must cover any employer that applies for coverage, regardless of risk and at the lowest possible cost to maintain a solvent fund. Providing dividends and return of premium to its policyholders is a key tenet of NYSIFs role. NYSIF also provides disability insurance and paid family leave to New York businesses.

While the program is not guaranteed and dependent on various factors, including financial performance, NYSIF has returned more than $1 billion to many New York businesses insured through this program during the last two years.

New York State Workers' Compensation Board Chair Clarissa Rodriguez said, We commend Governor Hochul and NYSIF for rewarding businesses that prioritize worker safety and reduce the need for workers' compensation benefits. As we all know, the best accident is the one that never happens.

New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento said, Everyone wins when worker safety is the priority. Policyholders with a proven commitment to keeping their workers safe are rewarded through the NYSIF dividends and discounts announced by Governor Hochul. More importantly, workplace safety means working people benefit from improved conditions on the job. We applaud Governor Hochul, NYSIF, and the unionized workers at the agency for continuing to put safety first.
ITM Power PLC - Sheffield, England-based maker of electrolysers to produce green hydrogen - Signs non-binding heads of terms agreement to sell Motive Fuels Ltd, a 50-50 joint venture set up in 2022 with Vitol Holdings SARL to build hydrogen refuelling stations in the UK. Doesn't say whether new agreement is with Vitol or another company but says it expects the deal to be completed by the end of calendar 2023. ITM Power and Vitol each had committed GBP30 million as seed funding to the joint venture, and ITM Power says its exit will free up GBP28 million in pre-committed cash for its core business of becoming a volume manufacturer of electrolysers. "Motive has been an important part of ITM's journey, and it is important to us that the business will be left in capable and ambitious hands," ITM Power Chief Financial Officer Andy Allen says.

Current stock price: 97.62 pence

12-month change: down 61%

By Tom Waite, Alliance News editor

Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
If it feels like its nearly impossible to discover the deals you used to find pretty regularly on airline tickets, youre not imagining things. In fact, the price of tickets earlier this year was up almost 10% over pre-pandemic rates just four years ago, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Britons are getting much more bang for their bucks, or rather sterling, in Turkey and Egypt this summer hence why they are flocking there on holiday.

On The Beach has said that the number of bookings it has received for summer trips to those destinations is more than double the level from 2019, before the pandemic.

It claims this is due to the fall in the value of the Turkish lira and Egyptian pound against sterling over that period.

The number of lira that can be bought for a UK pound has quadrupled from around eight in 2019 to 34 currently. Holidaymakers visiting Egypt are receiving approximately twice as much local currency for sterling than they were before the virus crisis.

There are an additional 1.2 million seats on flights from the UK to Turkey this year compared with in 2019, according to the tour operator. Annual flight capacity is expected to grow by another 1.6 million seats by 2025, reaching a total of five million.

Heathrow Airport announced on Friday that July was its busiest ever month for departures to Turkey, with more than 73,000 people flying to the country.

Airline Jet2.com recently revealed its flying programme to Turkey is three times larger than in 2018.

On the Beach chief customer officer Zoe Harris said: The top location for holidaymakers this holiday season is the Canaries, followed closely by mainland Spain.

Spain had a slight decline in bookings last year, however this year its back with a notable increase in bookings compared to 2019.

The destinations to watch out for are Turkey and Egypt.

They are rising the ranks at a rapid rate of knots.

We expect to see these two destinations to continue to rise and challenge for the Canaries top spot next year.
The Holy Pontiff conveyed impactful messages during his various speeches to audiences such as young people, political leaders, bishops, and the sick

During his highly awaited visit to Lisbon, Portugal, for the World Youth Day, Pope Francis inspired both young individuals and adults to advance without apprehension and embrace their essential roles within the Church and the global community.

The Holy Pontiff conveyed impactful messages during his various speeches to audiences such as young people, political leaders, bishops, and the sick.

In his inaugural official event, he urged the Western world to rediscover its fundamental principles.

In the Final Mass of Transfiguration on August 6, Pope Francis delivered a stirring homily about the Gospel of the Transfiguration, which we shall reproduce here in part.

After these exciting days, surely, we feel like repeating the words of the Apostle Peter on the mount of the Transfiguration: Lord, it is good for us to be here! (Mt 17:4). xxx in the wake of these grace-filled days, we can also ask an important question: What will we take back with us as we come down from the mountain to resume our daily lives?

Drawing from the Gospel, the Holy Father answered his question with three verbs: to shine, to listen, and to be unafraid.

To shine. Jesus is transfigured and  as the Gospel tells us  his face shone like the sun (Mt 17:2). His face shines like the sun and his clothes become dazzling white.

Through this brilliant burst of light, Jesus prepares the disciples for the dark night they will have to endure; this overwhelming experience of light would help them to endure the dark hours of Gethsemane and Calvary.

Dear friends, we too need a burst of light if we are to face the darkness of the night, the challenges of life, the fears that plague us, and the gloom that often overtakes us.

That light, the Gospel tells us, has a name.

Yes, the light that has come to illumine the world is Jesus himself (cf. Jn 1:9). He is the sun that never sets but continues to shine even amid the darkness of the night. able to break down certain walls and prejudices, and to bring the light of Christs saving love to the world.

May you always radiate that love! May you always radiate Jesus, the light of the world (Jn 8:12)! x x x

The second verb is to listen.

On the mount of the Transfiguration, a bright cloud overshadows the disciples and the Fathers voice proclaims that Jesus is his beloved Son.

The command that the Father gives is simple and direct: Listen to him (Mt 17:5).

Those words say it all.

The entire Christian life is contained in these, the last words spoken by the Father in Matthews Gospel: Listen to him. We are to listen to Jesus, talk to him, read his words and put them into practice, and follow his footsteps. Jesus has words of eternal life for us because he reveals that God is both Father and love, and because, in the Holy Spirit, we too become his beloved children.

That is what we need in this life, then: not fame, success or money, but the realization that we are not alone, that we always have Christ at our side, that we can start and end each day certain of the Lords embrace.

We need to listen to Jesus in order to trust that we are loved, embraced by a love that never fails x x x.

To shine, to listen and, finally, to be unafraid.

These were the last words spoken by Jesus on the mount of the Transfiguration, to encourage his fearful disciples: Get up and do not be afraid! (Mt 17:7).

After having a foretaste of Easter glory, after being bathed in light divine and hearing the Fathers voice, the disciples can come down from the mountain and face the challenges that await them on the plain below.

It is the same for us: if we cherish the light of Jesus and his words within us, we can live each day with hearts free of fear x x x.

He then exhorts the youth: As young people, you have great dreams, but often you may fear that they cannot come true.

Sometimes you can think that you are not up to the challenge, and you may be tempted to lose heart, to think you fall short, or to disguise your pain with a smile.

As young people, you want to change the world and work for justice and peace.

You devote all your energy and creativity to this, yet it still seems insufficient.

Yet the Church and the world need you, the young, as much as the earth needs rain.

Jesus now speaks to you, dear young people, who are the present and the future of our world. To all of you he says: Do not be afraid!

Francis exhorts: And do not be afraid, for the Lord loves you and walks at your side. With Jesus, life is born anew, always.

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It also appears that the Ayungin standoff could trigger something else more than Chinas planned takeover of Taiwan

The Ayungin Shoal is starting to become a flashpoint in Southeast Asia, with China claiming Ayungin Shoal ( Second Thomas Shoal) is part of its territory in the West Philippine Sea.

The Philippines, on the other hand, claims Ayungin Shoal, 104 nautical miles from Palawan, is part and parcel of our continental shelf and within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the country at the West Philippine Sea.

Thus, whenever there are private or Philippine Coast Guard vessels in the area, China claims they are intruding in Chinas territory, Santa Banana!

In 1999, the World War II-vintage BRP warship Sierra Madre was intentionally grounded at the Ayungin Shoal by the Philippine Navy in an effort to assert its claim to that Shoal and since then there has been a platoon of navy marines stationed there.

The problem now is that whenever that platoon of navy marines has to be resupplied with food and other necessities, the Chinese Coast Guard and other militia vessels block the Philippine vessel.

At one instance, the Chinese Coast Guard vessel aimed at a Philippine Coast Guard vessel with a military-laser, blinding the Philippine Coast Guard vessel with some Philippine journalists on board.

The latest incident was when a Chinese Coast Guard even fired water cannons.

These and other incidents, like when Chinese Coast Guard and militia vessels swarm the area, have prompted the Department of Foreign Affairs to file verbal and diplomatic protests, but China just ignores them.

Now, China is claiming the Philippines had promised and even vowed to remove the BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal, but, in the absence of that promise or vow, the National Security Council claims, its just a figment of the imagination of China.

No less than President Marcos Jr. disavowed that claim, and if theres any, he would rescind it.

Comes the question: who did it if it is true? I can believe that what China is doing is just a figment of its imagination to authenticate its claim to Ayungin.

BBMs first test

The Ayungin issue could well be the first test of his political will and leadership as President, Santa Banana!

The President had promised the Filipino nation that I will never give an inch of our sovereignty at the West Philippine Sea.

I am sure Chinas insistence that Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) is within Chinese territory and sovereignty, and with the Philippine claim that Ayungin is within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the country, necessitates a stand off, my gulay!

Even our fisherfolk are harassed by China Coast Guard and militia vessels when the former just want to fish in that area.

It can only get worse with the planned joint patrols of the United States and the Philippine Coast Guard at the South China Sea.

And with the increase of sites in the Philippines which US warplanes can use under the Expanded Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) of the Visiting Forces Agreement Treaty, as I said, Santa Banana, China is retaliating against the Philippines and its getting worse!

It does seem, if I am not mistaken, that China does seem to be retaliating at the Philippines with BBMs pivot from China from former President Dutertes pivot to China and Russia, if you recall.

In my opinion, China President Xi Jinping appears to be testing BBMs political will to see how far he can go.

It also appears that the Ayungin standoff could trigger something else more than Chinas planned takeover of Taiwan.

BBM is indeed walking on a tightrope, my gulay!

The big question now is, will the US truly defend the Philippines just in case there is war with China?

Pros and cons of internet

I have said enough in my previous columns about the pros and cons of the internet, Santa Banana, especially when I said that the GenZ generation is relying on almost everything on the internet and they are missing out on a lot of the things that my generation used to love in life, like courting and writing love letters, visiting a girl they like in her home etc.

Even in the movies, gone are the romantic Hollywood movies about love like Affair to Remember and Ingrid Bergman and Sophia Loren romantic films.

My gulay, most of the movies today are about crime, violence, disasters, calamities and dark movies about the future.

How I miss those love stories of Clark Gable, especially Casablanca of Humphrey Bogart and the like.

Well, my grandson told me that times have changed and life is now much faster.,

But the advantage of their generation is that with the internet, they know almost everything and can communicate with friends and even lost relatives anywhere in the world.

Travel destinations are now easier to discover and travel to because of the internet.

Well, I guess my generation belongs to the past.

When I talk to my grandson, I really feel old and jurassic.

To them I am a dinosaur, and whenever I talk of the joys of youth and recall the girls I wrote love letters to and dated them, he would laugh.

Now, Santa Banana, all they do, with a tap of a finger is text or email each other, girls dont play pakipot anymore like the girls of my time, since there are more women than men now.

Well, Santa Banana, things have really changed because of the internet.

My gulay, I am really old!

Manila Bay reclamations

President Marcos Jr. suspended 22 reclamation projects in Manila Bay, the reports said.

Santa Banana, there are 22 reclamation projects in Manila bay, all aimed at building artificial land areas in Manila Bay, I cant believe it !

With 22 reclamation projects in Manila, there goes the famous sunset of Manila Bay.

My gulay, what will happen to Manila Bay?

Whoever authorized them should be canned, jailed and the key thrown into the polluted Pasig River.

Well, at least BBM had the good sense of suspending them.

Its now up to the Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga to review them.

In my opinion, Mister President, they should, all 22 of them, be canceled.

They are all threats, not only to the environment, but to national security.

All for what, my gulay, for the benefit of people behind the reclamation?

What bothers me more about the reclamations projects right behind the American Embassy is that it is in joint venture with blacklisted state-owned China Communications Construction Co (CCCC) that was responsible for building those artificial islands for China at the West Philippine Sea, now highly militarized with airfields, ports and the like for the use of China at the South China Sea, which China claims to be its own under its mythical nine-dash line claim to the whole China Sea.

I believe not only the CCCC should be banned from getting involved in projects in the Philippines, but all Mainland Chinese business involvement in Philippine projects.

Note that, in most of the Chinese investments involved in the Philippines, they are state-owned.

Santa Banana, China does not have to invade the Philippines, they are already here!

P50 and bananas

We may laugh at news reports that for P50 and a bunch of bananas that motor boat capsized in the tragedy where 27 passengers died at Laguna Lake, also involved the common practice among government regulators of demanding padulas or grease money to violate rules and regulations.

In other words, just for P50 and a bunch of bananas, that motor boat which was clearly overloaded with 70 people with only 40-passenger seating capacity capsized because of heavy waves at the height of a typhoon can be traced to utter neglect and even corruption of the Coast Guard personnel to allow the motorized boat to leave port.

It is not unusual that even policemen want grease money to do things they should do.

I know only too well when I got involved in a vehicle accident, when you report to the police the accident, whoever is in charge at a police station wont act on that incident report unless you give him grease money.

An incident report is needed to make a claim at the car insurance company/

Worst of all, in the provinces, the police force become the private army of the mayor or some politician.

They say its the Filipino way: without padulasor grease money, nothing moves.

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BRICS, CBDCs, and Misdirection - with a Personal Perspective

The first portion of this piece, pertaining to personal experience with a political dissident is written entirely by Andy Sutton. The rest of the report is co-authored as is the case with much of the recent 'My Two Cents' work.



As a young first-year graduate student in 1997, I was required to take a class called 'Banking and Monetary Policy'. As I registered, the course itself sounded rather interesting - my undergraduate work had been in the field of what is now called Molecular Biology. It was an introductory course, taught by a professor who was in exile from South Africa.



The professor (name withheld) had been involved with that country's central bank at a moderately high level and had spoken out rather loudly against Apartheid. Facing the very real threat of either prison or execution, the professor sought political asylum in several countries. By a mere twist of fate, I had the honor of sitting under some of the best teaching I've ever experienced thanks to these unfortunate circumstances, full stop.



For many years now I, along with my writing partner Graham have been discussing the concept of BRICS, what the goals are, why there is a perceived need for an ex-dollar trade settlement mechanism, and what the possible implications are, not just for America, but the world as a whole. What started out as a seemingly benign desire to merely bring a parallel monetary system into existence has morphed into something that at least has the potential to be rather insidious.Back the Monetary Policy class. There were two pieces of required reading - G. Edward Griffin's 'Creature from Jekyll Island' and William Greider's 'Secrets of the Temple'. These were in addition to the requisite text by Mishkin. That the not-so-USFed was found in a place called Jekyll Island is beyond ironic. Greider's treatise was an 800-page behemoth, measuring almost 4 inches in width. I was immediately sucked in and the book read more like an exciting mystery novel than anything resembling academic reading. I couldn't put it down. 'Creature' was more readable in the traditional sense and it examined in great detail the founding of what became the most odious monetary institution on Earth. It also examined the various crises that werecaused to bring this institution into effect. I say 'intentionally' as 90% fact, 10% opinion. I refuse to believe that people could build massive fortunes through business acumen only to fall victim to incompetence where the idea of a central bank was concerned. Also, we can't forget that these fortunes were also built on almost inhuman cruelty, theft, deception, and avarice as well. These people were smart and shrewd.The professor spent as much time teaching us how the financial and economic worldas going over the required material for the class, which consisted of analyzing monetary policy, the issuance of bonds, monetization of same when markets dry up, and banking topics such as reserve requirements, the FDIC, regulation and governance of the banking system, and the not-so-USFed's 'open market' operations. We also spent a great deal of time discussing the President's Working Group on Markets - aka the Plunge Protection Team, which came into existence after the crash of 1987.We were shown how a gold-backed currency in the traditional sense is to the benefit of the People and to the detriment of the powerbrokers in any financial system. The gold-backed currency is honest money. Currency cannot be created arbitrarily or capriciously. In order to expand the currency aggregates, the issuing country MUST have the physical metal in reserve. The metal must be owned, not leased. Clear title must be held on the metal. In other words, pegging the value of currency to a commodity money demands discipline on the part of government, banks, and the structures that govern them. For those of you with a Biblical worldview, a look a Proverbs 11:1 tells the entire story in a single verse.This class, in the summer of 1997 changed everything about my thinking moving forward. It was transformational in a way few things can be. This professor, who at risk of life and limb, dared to tell the truth. While I paid almost 1,000 1997 US dollars for the class, its true value was far in excess of that. Most of the students in my class were in full agreement. The discussions were vibrant and animated, with us peppering our professor with questions which were answered enthusiastically, with occasional theatrics such as standing on the teaching table and hurling the textbook at the wall to make a point. This was, by far, the best class I ever had the honor of taking. Due to it being a summer class, it was only 6 weeks. It covered a full semester's material, but I believe to this day that I learned a lifetime's worth in that 6 weeks. To my dissident professor, I give my utmost respect and gratitude.Not to put too fine a point on it, this was teaching at its absolute finest. The learning was automatic, not forced. The material was not just read out of a sense of obligation, but was attacked with intellectual fervor and a desire for knowledge, and the thirst for truth. I have tried, albeit it mostly unsuccessfully, to teach this subject matter in this manner. Unfortunately, while I know the whole story of this professor, I lack the context of having been there and experiencing that story. I've had to find my own sources of passion in this regard, which thankfully has not been difficult. I will admit to having tossed several texts into the garbage can in front of my classes with extreme prejudice because they are full of lies.If we dare to conjure a posterity worthy of passing on,Many years later I had the opportunity to have several discussions with G. Edward Griffin in the form of podcasts produced under the now defunct Contrary Investors Cafe. Unfortunately, I am unable to share them. While he's been branded as a conspiracy theorist by much of the mainstream world, there is noinvolved. His observations are provable and the monetary regimes of the world have done just that of their own volition time and time again. - ASWe included the introduction above mostly due to the fact that South Africa is considered one of the founding nations of the BRICS alliance, albeit it not one of the original four. We'll allow the reader to draw their own conclusions and encourage further research on their part. This is not an all-inclusive report; it's an overview and status update. We will hit the highs and lows to date, but the minutiae of the subject are far outside the scope of this report. This will likely become a series. We felt it necessary to get this first part out before the summit later this month.The idea of BRICS came about entirely because of the USDollar's rapid retreat from the monetary discipline of the gold standard. The monetary system became fiat - currency was and is created from nothing and assigned value based on an extinct concept - the full faith and credit of the USGovt. Frankly, the USGovt has blown it where credit is concerned with debt ratios that baffle even the most conceptual minds. The ship on faith, sadly, sailed long ago.The USDollar also became weaponized during the period from 1971 - the year America left honest money - to the present. A weaponized currency is mostly one of coercion. You do what we tell you or else you lose access to our wonderful financial system. In essence, the USDollar became a global monopoly and a hegemon - and ripe for an alternative. Unfortunately, entering the 21st century, there were no viable alternatives. The EU was much too disorganized and for all intents and purposes was merely a satellite of the USDollar. China, while undergoing its version of the industrial revolution (thanks to American consumerism) was still in its infancy as an economic superpower. The same can be said of the rest of the early BRICS members. But they had - and still do - one thing that the collective West does not - Gold. Lots of it.The last 20 years have featured, among other things, the acquisition of gold at a near fever pitch by China. Russia is mining it like crazy. India too, albeit to a slightly lesser extent. The French, whose colonization of Africa is currently receiving quite a bit of attention, has absconded with most of the gold from its colonial outposts. It mines none of its own. None. Not a single gold mine. Yet it boasts over 4,000 tonnes of gold in reserve. Yet you don't hear even a peep from the French about monetary discipline or pegging the Euro to gold. Why?Governments do not want monetary discipline. They never have. They never will. Even in its infancy, BRICS was almost entirely about the necessity of a non-USDollar alternative than any individual or collective desire to cede control of the currency back to the strict discipline of a gold standard. In the end, it's all about control and this is a recurring theme. It will become even more so as we move into the era of central bank digital currencies. Thomas Jefferson nailed it when he stated that as soon as the majority realize that they can vote themselves transfer payments from the treasury that a country is toast. Governments, constantly seeking to curry favor to gain more control simply cannot resist the temptation of the power given by a fiat currency regime. This is the primary reason why the US left the gold standard. The temptation to spend beyond means is a powerful temptation.If it's not done for the discipline, then why do it? Fortunately, the answer is simple: credibility. The USDollar has none. Zero. Less than zero in fact. Any viable alternative must have a semblance of credibility. Even if it's just veneer, which we believe is the direction this venture is headed. The mechanics of the pegging have yet to be decided. Perhaps we'll be able to update after the BRICS forum later this month. Honest money advocates prefer a hard peg versus a soft one. Soft pegs are flexible and may be changed within a range. Sometimes there is no range, however. This is similar to what the USGovt did after 1933, however the soft peg was unidirectional towards depreciation of the currency. The USDollar was NEVER appreciated from 1933 to 1971. If you look at a US Gold Eagle 1 oz coin, you'll see it is struck with a $50 currency value. This wasn't even the terminal peg value.To make this idiocy more clear - the USMint purchases 1 oz. gold blanks at around $1950 per, then stamps $50 on them. Not that gold bugs particularly care. We understand that the bullion value is where it's at. The part dripping with irony? The 'money' used to buy those blanks? It's created from nothing. Think really hard about that for a while.As of this writing there are approximately 40 additional countries who want to participate in BRICS along with the founding four (BRIC). South Africa was added in 2011, hence the current moniker. The group has garnered serious interest since the increased and overt weaponization of the USDollar since the beginning of 2022. Not only did the myriad sanctions against Russia fail in epic fashion, they also succeeded in driving a wedge between the dollar-centric, SWIFT system and countries who were previously ambivalent to a competing currency and settlement system.With yet another proxy crisis brewing - this time in Africa, we are strongly of the opinion that this number will continue to grow. Again, we should know more after the summit at the end of this month.Based on our nearly 20 years of research and publications, the subtitle of this section might appear to be heresy. If we were talking about a traditional gold-backed, then yes. It would be heresy. However, there is a huge difference between what society remembers of gold-backed currencies and what is being proposed now. BRICS didn't start this way. When the idea of the world's 'emerging economies' banding together to form a trading block and an attendant currency was first hatched, it was proposed in the traditional sense. Paper (and electronic) scrip backed by ounces of gold. The value of scrip in the system would be pegged directly to the number of ounces in the bloc's reserves. This would establish the 'value' of the currency.A similar example would be the US monetary system until 1933. With one twist. The US actually had a redeemability feature in its currency. See the image below - taken at the Smithsonian Institute in 2008 by Andy and 'My Two Cents' contributor 'CJH'. Prior to FDR's infamous executive action, people could take $20 worth of paper scrip to a bank and receive one ounce of gold in exchange. Try that today. We have and the reactions are humorous, albeit ignorant and disgusting.There is a great deal of controversy on the issue of BRICS currency having a redeemability feature. With many countries involved, the issue of fraudulent redemption by unqualified parties is a real issue. There has been some back-channel chatter about BRICS member nations being able to redeem their excess currency, but then how does that affect the peg and the quantity of currency in the bloc itself? Those countries would have to hold the gold in order to maintain the integrity of the peg. There are many other possible issues and we just don't know enough about the actual mechanics yet. There are many aspects that haven't been formalized at this time.There has also been talk of using a basket of local, member nation currencies as the actual BRICS currency. Since the founding member nations have large quantities of gold, this could work, but again, there are many complexities involved in doing it this way also.All of the above, however, is not why we feel there are insidious potentials to the whole idea. The biggest reason we'll propose is the concept of the central bank digital currency. This is where things get rather unpleasant. Reading think tank whitepapers, it becomes obvious that policymakers view the central bank digital currency (CBDC) as the ultimate form of control. Below are some of the more troubling possibilities. Again, all of these have come directly from policy-driving think tanks.We're adding these troubling possibilities because the BRICS currency is likely to be in the form of a CBDC digital 'wallet', under the control of the BRICS NDB (New Development Bank) or a tangential entity, which has yet to be created. There are already digital Yuan, and digital Rubles. The trend here is fairly clear.- If you're going to a FedNow type system or what the Chinese are putting in place, it is highly likely that your currency will have an expiration date. Use it or lose it. Imagine getting paid twice a month. Let's say there's a one-year expiration date on your funds - from the day they are debited to your account. Savings? Gone. In order to save you'll have to enter the risk markets. Stocks and bonds. CDs may still be an option - again it's still too early to say for sure.- Member owned credit unions would cease to exist. Under the current system, credit unions are much safer than chartered commercial banks simply because they are not allowed to have in-house broker-dealer operations. They are not allowed to act as market makers. These are risky activities, which sunk names such as Merrill Lynch, Lehman Brothers, and Bear Stearns.- Since the central bank has the ultimate control over the digital wallets, you would not be able to choose your bank as you do now. This is a direct insult to the concept of liberty and the protections of personal choice in your financial matters.- Cash supports liberty, full stop. If anyone thinks that going to a CBDC is going to stop illegal activity? Think again. Gresham's law will apply in full force as always. The bad currency drives the good money underground. This is why silver US coins, for example, are not found in general circulation. The banks pulled their share, but most of it was people going through their coins and setting the silver aside. In this case, the bad digital currency will drive pretty much anything that can be used as a money underground.- There are currently several nations that are either considering or in the process of implementing social credit scores. The term means exactly what it says. Post something contrarian online - like this report? Suffer a financial penalty. With AI exploding onto the scene, it is not hard to conjure up scenarios where social media, emails, texts, and other communication systems may easily be monitored. 'Offenders' are easily punished since everything is centralized. This is the antithesis of liberty. While most other nations don't have free speech protections at all, in the US, we'll likely lose 3/5 of the First Amendment as a direct consequence of going to a CBDC. If you believe that this can't happen here? You probably shouldn't be reading this report.That last item is as political as we'll get. Policies, not personalities has always been our credo. The above list is not all-inclusive, but we feel those five items have the biggest transformational effect potential; at least form an economic and financial perspective.The emergency of cryptocurrencies has been a sword that has cut both ways. Crypto does have the potential to enhance anonymity. But, when centralized as with the CBDC, it has tremendous power to enhance governmental control over people. To say we were disappointed when we saw the path that BRICS was taking is an understatement of epic proportions. It opens the world up to many rather unpleasant possibilities that we were hoping this bloc would strive to avoid. Instead of being a legitimate tool to foster competitiveness in the monetary world, the evidence is leading us to believe this new CBDC will end up being just another 'BRIC in the wall.Sutton/Mehl

By Andy Sutton

http://www.andysutton.com

Andy Sutton is the former Chief Market Strategist for Sutton & Associates. While no longer involved in the investment community, Andy continues to perform his own research and acts as a freelance writer, publishing occasional My Two Cents articles. Andy also maintains a blog called Extemporania at http://www.andysutton.com/blog.

Andy Sutton Archive

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It may still be summer but Dunkin is already looking ahead to fall.

Some Dunkin locations in Massachusetts and New Hampshire officially have pumpkin flavored drinks and food items on their menu, ahead of an official release date from the doughnut chain.

what if we told you the wait for pumpkin season is shorter than you think?  Dunkin' (@dunkindonuts) August 8, 2023

Dunkin tweeted to its followers on Tuesday, what if we told you the wait for pumpkin season is shorter than you think? Since then, no other word from Dunkin about the release of pumpkin has been mentioned.

MassLive was able to confirm at least one location in each Massachusetts and New Hampshire that have already brought back pumpkin to their menu.

The Dunkin in the Sixteen Acres neighborhood of Springfield is back with pumpkin. The official address of the Dunkin location is 1918 Wilbraham Road in Springfield. That location is serving up its Pumpkin Spice Signature Latte along with a whole menu of other pumpkin food and drink items, MassLive confirmed.

A Dunkin' in Springfield is selling pumpkin coffee. Photo by Sean Morrison.

Another Dunkin already serving Pumpkin is in Peterborough, New Hampshire at 213 Concord St.

The Dunkin app is also not disclosing which locations are selling pumpkin products.
Two emergency responders from Massachusetts are helping in Maui during ferocious wildfires that have killed more than 96 people, making it the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century.

Massachusetts Task Force 1 said it sent two members to Maui as part of the FEMA Blue Incident Support Team and they will assist the Task Force Teams there. NECN reported the members were a public information officer and a structures specialist.

Our thoughts are with the people who have been affected by this disaster, Massachusetts Task Force 1 wrote on Facebook.

Officials have said at least 96 people have died. But they also warned that the full human and environmental toll was not yet known and the recovery only just beginning.

Two fires have not yet been completely contained, including the one that demolished the historic town of Lahaina, according to an update from Maui County late Sunday.

Even where the fire has retreated, authorities have warned that toxic byproducts may remain, including in drinking water, after the flames spewed poisonous fumes. And many people simply have no home to return to  so authorities plan to house them in hotels and vacation rentals.

The blaze that swept into centuries-old Lahaina on Tuesday destroyed nearly every building in the town of 13,000, leaving a grid of gray rubble wedged between the blue ocean and lush green slopes. That fire has been 85% contained, according to the county, while the Upcountry fire has been 60% contained.

Theres very little left there, Gov. Josh Green said, holding up a map of the area titled Buildings Damaged in Maui Wildfires Lahaina Area.

Crews with cadaver dogs had covered just 3% of the search area, Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said Saturday.

A Massachusetts family is asking for peoples help to find a woman who lives in Lahaina, which has been destroyed by a wildfire.

Linda Vaikeli hasnt been heard of since before the wildfires started, according to Boston 25. Her family, located in Rochester, told the news outlet she has health issues and doesnt get around very well.

She needs some assistance. I just hope someone was able to get to her and help her to evacuate, Beth McCleod told the news station.

Her son, Jason Musgrove, wrote on Facebook that as of Thursday around 9 p.m. there was no record of her with the Red Cross, hospitals or police.

Im gutted and overwhelmed with the unknown, he wrote.

She is still missing as of Monday morning.

When teams do come across scenes in houses or businesses, it is very difficult for them because they know, ultimately, they will be sharing with our people that there have been more fatalities. I do expect the numbers to rise, Green said.

The cause of the wildfires is under investigation, and Green said authorities would also examine their response. One fire, for instance, was thought to be out but later flared again.

In the hours before a wildfire engulfed the town of Lahaina, Maui County officials failed to activate sirens that would have warned the entire population and instead relied on social media posts. Power and cellular outages further stymied communication efforts.

Fueled by a dry summer and strong winds from a passing hurricane, the flames on Maui raced through parched brush  one moving as fast as 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) every minute, according to Green.

With those kinds of winds and 1,000-degree temperatures, ultimately all the pictures that you will see will be easy to understand, he said.

The fires are Hawaiis deadliest natural disaster in decades, surpassing a 1960 tsunami that killed 61 people. They also surpassed the 2018 Camp Fire in northern California that left 85 dead and destroyed the town of Paradise.

Maria Lanakila Church in Lahaina was spared from the flames that wiped out most of the surrounding community, but with search-and-recovery efforts ongoing, its members attended Mass up the road on Sunday. The Bishop of Honolulu, the Rev. Clarence Larry Silva, presided.

Taufa Samisoni said his uncle, aunt, cousin and the cousins 7-year-old son were found dead inside a burned car. Samisonis wife, Katalina, said the family would draw comfort from Silvas reference to the Bible story of how Jesus disciple Peter walked on water and was saved from drowning.

If Peter can walk on water, yes we can. We will get to the shore, she said, her voice quivering.

During the Mass, Silva read a message from Pope Francis, who said he was praying for those who lost loved ones, homes and livelihoods. He also conveyed prayers for first responders.

Meanwhile, Hawaii officials urged tourists to avoid traveling to Maui as many hotels prepared to house evacuees and first responders.

Green said 500 hotels rooms will be made available for locals who have been displaced. An additional 500 rooms will be set aside for workers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Some hotels will carry on with normal business to help preserve jobs and sustain the local economy, Green said.

The state wants to work with Airbnb to make sure that rental homes can be made available for locals.

J.P. Mayoga, a cook at the Westin Maui in Kaanapali, is still making breakfast, lunch and dinner on a daily basis. But instead of serving hotel guests, hes been feeding the roughly 200 hotel employees and their family members who have been living there since Tuesday.

His home and that of his father were spared. But his girlfriend, two young daughters, father and another local are all staying in a hotel room together, as it is safer than Lahaina, which is covered in toxic debris.

Everybody has their story, and everybody lost something. So everybody can be there for each other, and they understand whats going on in each others lives, he said of his co-workers at the hotel.

The Associated Press contributed to this reporting.
A New Hampshire woman said she is humbled by the support and prayers for her and her daughter while they were kidnapped in Haiti for 13 days.

Thank you all from the depths of my heart for your love, Alix Dorsainvil wrote in a statement.

Dorsainvil and her daughter were kidnapped on July 27 while serving in El Roi Haiti Outreach Internationals community ministry near Port-au-Prince, the nonprofits website stated. She has been a nurse for the school, according to a video on the website. But she also provides services for the community.

On Aug. 9, the nonprofit confirmed Dorsainvil and her daughter had been freed.

Today we are praising God for answered prayer, the nonprofits website read, adding there was still much to process and to heal from in this situation.

The nonprofit later added that the Dorsainvil and her daughter were healthy and unharmed.

Alix is a remarkably resilient woman whose walk with God guides her deep love for her family and her passionate commitment to the Haitian people, the website read.

She said she used the song See a Victory as her battle cry during the most difficult moments.

Theres a part that says, You take what the enemy meant for evil, and you turn it for good. And that is what he is already doing and will continue to do, she wrote, adding that she hopes to one day tell her story.

God was so very present in the fire with us and I pray that when I find the words to tell our story, that the mighty name of Jesus may be glorified and many people will come to know his love, she said in the statement.

Witnesses told The Associated Press that Dorsainvil was working in the small brick clinic when armed men burst in and seized her. Lormina Louima, a patient waiting for a check-up, said one man pulled out his gun and told her to relax.

When I saw the gun, I was so scared, Louima told the AP. I said, I dont want to see this, let me go.

Some members of the community said the unidentified men asked for $1 million in ransom, a standard practice of the gangs killing and sowing terror in Haitis impoverished populace.

The U.S. State Department confirmed to the Boston Globe that it was aware of reports of the kidnapping of two U.S. citizens in Haiti.

We are in regular contact with Haitian authorities and will continue to work with them and our U.S. government interagency partners, a department spokesperson told the newspaper.

The nonprofit previously said it was thankful for the team working to find Dorsainvil.

We are so thankful for the very knowledgeable and experienced professionals God has brought together to complete the task of securing their freedom, the website reads.

Dorsainvil first visited Haiti soon after the 2010 earthquake. She was still in college but fell in love with the people, the website reads. She continued taking trips back to Haiti during her breaks from school and during the summers.

Alix Dorsainvil, who is also the directors wife, and their child were kidnapped Thursday morning from El Roi Haiti Outreach Internationals campus near Port au Prince while serving in their community ministry. Dorsainvil is originally from New Hampshire. Photo by El Roi Haiti Outreach International.

She is originally from New Hampshire and graduated from Regis College in Weston, Massachusetts, according to the Associated Press, where there is a program to support nursing education in Haiti. She then started working as a nurse.

It doesnt surprise me that Alix chose to get involved in this type of service work, Regis College president Toni Hays told WMUR. She [is] amazing. She [is] passionate, she [is] compassionate.

And she continued going to Haiti.

Once she started working as a nurse she would save money and then self-fund all of her trips to Haiti, going as often as she could, the website said. She had lived in Haiti for multiple years, showing love and care in a variety of ways before coming on staff with us, but has had a heart for the hurting since she was a child. She seeks people out to show them love and compassion, and no one is excluded from receiving her kindness.

In 2020, Dorsainvil became a staff member at El Roi Haiti as a school nurse.

Alix is a deeply compassionate and loving person who considers Haiti her home and the Haitian people her friends and family, the website states. Alix has worked tirelessly as our school and community nurse to bring relief to those who are suffering as she loves and serves the people of Haiti in the name of Jesus.

About a year later, she married the ministry director, Sandro Dorsainvil.

Sandro Dorsainvil grew up in the Cite Soleil area, a community in Port-au-Prince known for its poverty and violence, according to the website. He taught himself English and Spanish and had multiple translating jobs in Haiti, including a translating job by an adoption agency. He later attended high school in Montana and graduated from Liberty University in 2018.

He is now the founder and director of El Roi Academy.

The violence has stirred anger among Haitians, who say they simply want to live in peace.

Around 200 protesters, largely from the area around El Roi Haitis campus, echoed that call as they walked through the sweltering streets wielding cardboard signs written in Creole in red paint.

She is doing good work in the community, free her, read one.

The nonprofit thanked the thousands of Haitians who used their voices and risked their lives to march for the release of Alix and her child as well as other Haitian captives.

To the many people and communities in Haiti that expressed support for Alix and her daughter during this time, we want to say thank you for the courage youve shown in the midst of your own challenges, the statement read.

Local resident Jean Ronald said the community has significantly benefitted from the care provided by El Roi Haiti.

Such groups are often the only institutions in lawless areas, but the deepening violence has forced many to close, leaving thousands of vulnerable families without access to basic services like health care or education.

Earlier this month, Doctors Without Borders announced it was suspending services in one of its hospitals because some 20 armed men burst into an operating room and snatched a patient.

As the protesters walked through the area where Dorsainvil was taken, the streets were eerily quiet. The doors to the clinic where she worked were shut, the small brick building empty. Ronald and others in the area worried the latest kidnapping may mean the clinic wont reopen.

If they leave, everything (the aid groups programs) will shut down, Ronald worried. The money they are asking for, we dont have it.

There is also a do not travel advisory issued for Haiti.

Do not travel to Haiti due to kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and poor health care infrastructure, the advisory states.

It states kidnappings are widespread and that victims regularly include U.S. citizens.

Kidnappers may use sophisticated planning or take advantage of unplanned opportunities, and even convoys have been attacked, it reads. Kidnapping cases often involve ransom negotiations and U.S. citizen victims have been physically harmed during kidnappings. Victims families have paid thousands of dollars to rescue their family members.

Still, Massachusetts organizations said there have been security challenges for years and the latest update by the U.S. State Departments do not travel advisory is nothing new.

Weve already adapted to the security risks for some time, said Elizabeth Fischelis, program manager for the Haiti Development Institute, an initiative of The Boston Foundation.

Haiti Development Institute, a non-profit with an office in Boston, supports organizations in rural Haiti and provides funds and grants to grassroots organizations. Fischelis said many donors have stopped going, although some still do.

There are intrepid donors who still go, but many dont, she said, adding that she arrived on the island last week and planned to stay only for a few days.

Fischelis said that the non-profit intentionally set up offices outside of Port-au-Prince to promote development in rural areas before violence grew.

There are definitely security concerns and areas not to go, but there are some places you can go safely and there is work that is proceeding, she said.

The Associated Press contributed to this reporting.
CHICOPEE  The citys National Night Out event will be held on Monday after being canceled twice because of rain.

The event, which was celebrated nationally Aug. 1, has been held in Chicopee on the first Monday of August for years. The free event will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. in Sarah Jane Sherman Park off Chicopee Street.

The event is designed to bring law enforcement and the community together to improve relationships and reduce crime.

There will be free food and displays from the police and fire departments with the Hampden County Sheriffs Office. Other activities include a flashlight parade around the neighborhood, police K9 demonstrations, dance and taekwondo shows, a rock wall and more.
Foster children in Massachusetts need loving homes, but Massachusetts is banning loving families like ours from caring for them.

Over a thousand children in our states foster care system are without a family. Some are even being housed in office spaces and hospital beds because the state has nowhere else to put them.

We are called to open our hearts and our homes to these children. We want to offer them the hope, stability, and love they deserve. However, rather than allowing us to help, Massachusetts is banning us from caring for foster children because of our religious beliefs.

It has always been our dream to welcome children into our family. Sadly, we found out early on in our marriage that we would not be able to have kids of our own. It was heartbreaking. We wondered if we would ever experience the joy of parenthood.

A year ago, we began exploring becoming foster parents through the states program. We were hoping to care for and eventually adopt one of the many children in the Commonwealth who desperately need a safe, loving home. After applying through the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, we successfully completed hours of training, extensive interviews, and an examination of our home.

Throughout this process, we emphasized our willingness to foster children, regardless of their race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation, including children with cognitive and physical disabilities.

During our home interviews, we became troubled that much of DCFs focus was on our Catholic faith.

For hours, we were peppered with questions about our views on sexuality, marriage, and gender. We were asked what our hypothetical response would be if a child were, in the future, to identify as gay, lesbian, or experience gender dysphoria. Nearly a third of the interviews were centered on this one topic.

Over and over, we emphasized that we would love and accept our child no matter their future sexual orientation or struggle with gender dysphoria.

Unfortunately, because we said that we would continue to hold to our religious beliefs about marriage and human sexuality, Massachusetts denied us the ability to foster.

Even though the state admitted that we would be able to truly connect and support a child in a meaningful way, it robbed us  and the children we wish to care for  of that opportunity. As the author of our license study put it: their faith is not supportive, and neither are they.

After years of devastation, we had finally believed we would be able to welcome kids into our family. We let ourselves begin to hope, and Massachusetts has taken that hope away from us. Worse still, its policies are getting in the way of vulnerable children finding happy homes.

We decided to do something about it.

Recently, with the help of our attorneys at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, we filed a lawsuit in federal court to ensure that faithful couples like us can offer loving homes to foster children in the Commonwealth. Its against the law for the state to exclude religious couples from fostering because of their faith and to punish families for their deeply held religious beliefs.

Massachusetts cannot get away with allowing vulnerable children to languish in cramped, unsafe housing rather than with loving families. Were determined to end this campaign against faith and kids in need once and for all.

Massachusetts is supposed to put the best interests of children first. But its telling children theres no room at the inn when homes like ours could be available if not for this discriminatory policy. Placing children in hospital rooms and crowded office spaces instead of with loving couples is unconscionable.

All children without a family deserve to be welcomed into a loving, supportive, and safe home. We pray that one day soon, families like ours will be able to offer that to a foster child in our state.

Mike and Kitty Burke live in Southampton.
A new bill that aims to change Massachusetts firearm laws is sparking controversy between legislators who are pushing for safer gun laws and gun ownership groups who say the bill goes too far and violates Second Amendment rights.

What does Bill HD.4420 do?

Bill HD.4420, titled, An Act Modernizing Firearm Laws, is a 140-page proposal that aims to, stem the flow of illegal firearms into the Commonwealth by modernizing and reforming the states gun laws.

The licensing laws that we have on the books work, right? Weve got the lowest rate of gun deaths in the continental U.S. of all gun deaths, state Rep. Michael Day, the Stoneham Democrat who proposed the bill, told the State House News Service. The rate of gun deaths is still increasing, as they are nationwide, and Massachusetts isnt immune to that.

Specifically, the bill would require a police officer to conduct a personal interview with anyone seeking to apply for a gun license. It would also prohibit those subject to a harassment prevention order or those who pose a risk to public safety or themselves from obtaining a gun license.

Tracking down ghost guns, or unregistered firearms, is another area of focus for the bill. Day told the State House News Service that between 2019 and 2021, the Boston Police Department reported a 280% increase in untraceable guns from the streets.

If passed, the bill would create a database that tracks guns used in crimes, surrendered or taken by law enforcement.

Another section makes explicit a prohibition on carrying firearms in schools, colleges, government buildings or any private place where a resident hasnt given consent, according to the State House News Service.

It would also ban carrying a firearm while intoxicated.

Why was the bill proposed?

The bill was proposed to ensure that Massachusetts gun laws align with last years U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down a concealed-carry law in New York and in other states with similar laws.

Prior to the ruling, New York had required residents to show proper cause, or an actual need, to carry a concealed handgun in public for self-defense, according to the Associated Press.

However, the 6-3 ruling from the Supreme Court found that New York States requirement was unconstitutional. Justice Clarence Thomas, who delivered the majority opinion, said the state was preventing citizens from exercising their Second Amendment rights, CBS reported.

The constitutional right to bear arms in public for self-defense is not a second-class right, subject to an entirely different body of rules than the other Bill of Rights guarantees, Thomas wrote. We know of no other constitutional right that an individual may exercise only after demonstrating to government officers some special need.

Massachusetts law requires those who seek a license to carry to show good reason to fear injury to themselves or their property or for any other reason, including for use in sport or target practice only, the AP reported.

However, Days proposal for Massachusetts would strike this language that the Supreme Court has found unconstitutional, according to the AP.

Where does the bill stand?

Although House Speaker Ron Mariano planned to consider the bill before state lawmakers broke for their summer vacation, he is now aiming to bring the measure up again this fall.

While the Houses commitment to pursuing a comprehensive update remains steadfast, a new legal landscape will be the greatest threat to those efforts. That is why the House believes that we must thoroughly evaluate all of the proposals made in [the legislation] over the Summer, and that House Members must have the chance to continue to speak with their constituents and provide feedback, Mariano wrote in a message obtained by State House News Service. House leadership will continue to work on the bill until it is ready for debate this Fall.

Who supports Bill HD.4420?

Ruth Zakarin, executive director of the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, said the bill is a sign of forward motion, according to the State House News Service.

Whats jumping out at me is how comprehensive it is. There was some real attention on having a comprehensive response to gun violence in the commonwealth, Zakarin told the State House News Service. We know that gun violence, being such a complex issue, there is no one policy or one fix that is the answer to how we best prevent gun violence. It takes a complex response. What I am most responding to right now is how comprehensive and how many topics are covered within the 141 pages of the bill.

Who is against Bill HD.4420?

The Gun Owners Action League, a nonprofit gun ownership advocacy group in Massachusetts, is vehemently against An Act Modernizing Firearm Laws. The group has even labeled the legislation as The Lawful Citizens Imprisonment Act on its website.

The gun laws are already so convoluted and complex that it is extremely difficult for the average citizen to comply with them, said Jim Wallace, the executive director of GOAL told the State House News Service. The newly proposed language will add a finality to that as it will now be virtually impossible. There will be no way to exercise our [Second Amendment] civil rights in Massachusetts without risking arrest and prosecution.
A Springfield man who was shot and killed on Thursday, Aug. 10, was identified by the Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gullunis office on Monday.

At 1:35 a.m., Springfield police went to the 500 block of East Columbus Avenue for a reported gunshot victim. They found Gary White, 25, who was struck by gunfire.

Officers provided first aid before White was taken to Baystate Medical Center, Gullunis office said. White died at the hospital from his injury.

What resulted in Whites death is under investigation, which is led by the Springfield Police Departments Homicide Unit and Hampden District Attorneys Murder Unit.

Springfield police said that anyone with information on the incident is urged to call the departments detective bureau at 413-787-6355 or anonymously at Text-a-Tip.

On Saturday, the number of homicides in Springfield reached a historic high for 2023, totaling 22 deaths. This is the largest recorded in data going back to 1999 and with still more than four months left in the year.
Young environmental activists scored what may be a groundbreaking legal victory Monday when a Montana judge said state agencies were violating their constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment by allowing fossil fuel development.

The ruling in this first-of-its-kind trial in the U.S. adds to a small number of legal decisions around the world that have established a government duty to protect citizens from climate change.

If it stands, the ruling could set an important legal precedent, though experts said its immediate impacts will be limited and state officials pledged to seek to overturn the decision on appeal.

District Court Judge Kathy Seeley found the policy the state uses in evaluating requests for fossil fuel permits  which does not allow agencies to evaluate the effects of greenhouse gas emissions  is unconstitutional.

Judge Seeley wrote in the ruling that Montanas emissions and climate change have been proven to be a substantial factor in causing climate impacts to Montanas environment and harm and injury to the youth.

Law professor David Dana at the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law said the ruling was a remarkable win for the young climate activists and predicted it will be used as a guidepost for attorneys bringing similar suits in other states.

However, its up to the Montana Legislature to determine how to bring the states policies into compliance. That leaves slim chances for immediate change in a fossil fuel-friendly state where Republicans dominate the statehouse.

Montana is one of the few states that has environmental protections written into its constitution.

The ruling really provides nothing beyond emotional support for the many cases seeking to establish a public trust right, human right or a federal constitutional right to a healthy environment, said James Huffman, dean emeritus at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland.

State officials tried to derail the case and prevent it from going to trial through numerous motions to dismiss the lawsuit. Seeley rejected those attempts.

Julia Olson, an attorney representing the youth, released a statement calling the ruling a win for Montana, for youth, for democracy, and for our climate.

As fires rage in the West, fueled by fossil fuel pollution, todays ruling in Montana is a game-changer that marks a turning point in this generations efforts to save the planet from the devastating effects of human-caused climate chaos, said Olson, the executive director of Our Childrens Trust, an Oregon environmental group that has filed lawsuits over climate change in every state since 2011.

Emily Flower, spokesperson for Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, decried the ruling as absurd and said the office planned to appeal. She criticized Seeley for allowing the plaintiffs to put on what Flower called a taxpayer-funded publicity stunt.

Montanans cant be blamed for changing the climate, Flower said in an email. Their same legal theory has been thrown out of federal court and courts in more than a dozen states. It should have been here as well, but they found an ideological judge who bent over backward to allow the case to move forward and earn herself a spot in their next documentary.

Attorneys for the 16 plaintiffs, ranging in age from 5 to 22, presented evidence during the two-week trial in June that increasing carbon dioxide emissions are driving hotter temperatures, more drought and wildfires and decreased snowpack.

The plaintiffs said those changes were harming their mental and physical health, with wildfire smoke choking the air they breathe and drought drying out rivers that sustain agriculture, fish, wildlife and recreation. Native Americans testifying for the plaintiffs said climate change affects their ceremonies and traditional food sources.

I know that climate change is a global issue, but Montana needs to take responsibility for our part, lead plaintiff Rikki Held, 22, testified during the trial. You cant just blow it off and do nothing about it.

The state argued that even if Montana completely stopped producing C02, it would have no effect on a global scale because states and countries around the world contribute to the amount of C02 in the atmosphere. A remedy has to offer relief, the state said, or its not a remedy at all.

But Seeley said the states attorneys failed to give a compelling reason for why they were not evaluating greenhouse gas emissions. She rejected the notion that Montanas greenhouse gas emissions are insignificant and noted that renewable power is technically feasible and economically beneficial, citing testimony from the trial indicating Montana could replace 80% of existing fossil fuel energy by 2030.

Every additional ton of GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions exacerbates plaintiffs injuries and risks locking in irreversible climate injuries, she wrote.

Since its founding, Our Childrens Trust has raised more than $20 million to press its lawsuits in state and federal court. No previous attempts reached trial.

Carbon dioxide, which is released when fossil fuels are burned, traps heat in the atmosphere and is largely responsible for the warming of the climate. This spring, carbon dioxide levels in the air reached the highest levels theyve been in over 4 million years, the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration said earlier this month.

Greenhouse gas emissions also reached a record high last year, according to the International Energy Agency.

July was the hottest month on record globally and likely the warmest that human civilization has seen, according to scientists.
A 24-year-old motorcyclist was hospitalized after he received serious injuries in a crash in Worcester on Friday, Aug. 11, Worcester police said on Saturday.

The motorcyclist, identified as a Millbury man, was driving west on Blithewood Avenue when he lost control, stuck the curb and hit two poles, according to early findings by the Worcester Police Crash Reconstruction Unit.

Police were dispatched to the area at around 7:40 p.m. and found a small group of people around where the motorcyclist stopped.

A nurse who was at the site of the crash gave the man medical aid, police said. Officers stepped in to assist before an ambulance arrived. Before paramedics picked him up, his injuries were considered life-threatening.

The mans name was not released by Worcester police. The investigation into the crash remains ongoing.

This crash came one week after another motorcyclist collided with a Toyota Camry in Worcester on Aug. 4. The Crash Reconstruction Units preliminary findings showed that a Toyota Camry was traveling in the second lane on Gold Star Boulevard, while the motorcycle was traveling in the left lane as they both approached Ruthven Avenue.

The motorcyclist was hospitalized with what police said were serious injuries.
Update: Due to rain, the lake will be reopened on Tuesday and will not be treated with algicide. The treatment will be at a later date, the city said in an update.

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Nestled north of downtown, Worcesters Indian Lake will close on Tuesday to allow contractors to treat its waters to prevent algae growth, the city announced in a statement on Monday.

The citys Department of Sustainability and Resilience hired contractors to apply the algicide copper sulfate when there is no current threat of harmful algae exposure, the city said.

Read more: WPI students intended as tenants for historic William Hogg House

Lake visitors are advised not to go swimming, boating or fishing in the water, and as well to keep pets out of the water, city officials said.

All persons are advised to discontinue using water from Indian Lake for irrigation of plants or lawns or watering livestock, officials continued. Beaches will be posted prior to the application.

Applying copper sulfate is a safe and effective way to control the growth of harmful, toxin-producing algae, the city said. Its application is a common practice that keeps the waters healthy for swimmers. The application of the algicide was approved by the Worcester Conservation Commission.

Indian Lake is scheduled to reopen on Wednesday, officials said.

Read more: Worcester Art Museum has history of lawsuits claiming employment discrimination

Several lakes across Massachusetts are closed and/or deemed unsafe due to high bacteria levels or the presence of algae. Lake Quinsigamonds Lake Park Beach and Regatta Point are both listed among the nearly 50 beaches in the Bay State declared unsafe, specifically due to bacteria exceedance.

To see the full list provided by the Bureau of Climate and Environmental Health and the Department of Public Health, visit the states website at the link here.
In continuation of its strategy to assist African businesses in increasing their international presence, the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and international consultants Development Reimagined (DR) have entered into a partnership to promote the entry and sale of high-end sustainable African brands in China.

The partnership which includes a grant from Afreximbank, has seen Africa Reimagined (AR), a flagship programme created and managed by DR, introducing high-end value-added Made-in-Africa goods from such sectors as fashion, skincare and beverages, to China.

The AR team led Africas participation at the 2023 China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) in Changsha from 29 June to 2 July, solidifying the partnerships dedication to fostering China-Africa trade relations and seizing the opportunity to further leverage growth.

The outing achieved several unprecedented milestones, including:

Exhibition of the largest number of luxury African brands to date  from 10 in 2019 to 20, including Maxhosa and Jessica Jane, two unique and luxury South African fashion brands; Taibo Bacar, Nkanda Yetu and Larry Jay, sustainable fashion brands from Mozambique, Zambia and Ghana respectively; Skin Gourmet, a beautifully branded Ghanaian skincare company; Zaaf  a handcrafted luxury bags and leather brand from Ethiopia; Monks Gin, a South African gin company; Yenae  a stunning jewelry brand from Ethiopia; and many more.

Several brands successfully sold out their products and connected with many potential business partnerships to accelerate their entry into the Chinese market. For the first time, the participating fashion brands were invited to showcase in a fashion show and business match-making event. The skincare and beverage brands were invited to a business match-making and promotional event in the Gaoqiao China-Africa Free Trade Zone (FTZ). This led to the brands establishing strong connections with Gaoqiao and displaying their products in the FTZ for future business partnerships;

The brands participated in numerous media interviews with Chinese news agencies, such as CGTN, Mango TV, and China Financial News, in addition to an exclusive interview with the BBC World Services Focus on Africa Podcast with Skin Gourmet and DR CEO, Ms. Hannah Ryder. The booth was also visited by dignitaries from Rwanda, Uganda and Senegal.

Mr. Yusuf Daya, Director, AU/AfCFTA Relations and Trade Policy, Afreximbank, commented;

We are encouraged about our partnership with Development Reimagined, aimed at enabling access of African brands to global markets. The vast Chinese consumer market provides immense opportunities for African businesses. We urge African entrepreneurs to embrace this challenge, crafting goods that resonate with the market, not only boosting the presence of African products in China but also fostering more jobs, collaborations, and economic growth. Alongside our partners, we will continue forging global partnerships that support African trade.

The Afreximbank-DR partnership marks a significant milestone in promoting trade and economic cooperation between Africa and China, said Ms. Hannah Ryder, CEO, DR.

Noting that the Chinese consumer market, valued at US$6.3 trillion, was projected to experience substantial growth), DR reported that African exports to China amounted to US$117.5 billion in 2022, a remarkable 24-fold increase compared to 2000.

The collaboration with Afreximbank is expected to include follow-up activities over the next six months to cement the sales and partnerships made at CAETE, testifying to the unwavering commitment of Afreximbank and DR to driving sustainable economic development in Africa through scaled up and improved exports of Made-in-Africa products to China. By leveraging their respective networks, market insights, and financial capabilities, the partnership will facilitate accelerated and value-for-money entry into the Chinese market for African brands, thereby supporting the growth of African economies, contributing to job creation and fostering community development.
The Africa Mercy, one of the hospital ships of Mercy Ships (www.MercyShips.org), has docked in Durban to undergo extensive repairs and maintenance to prolong its service life. Over the next seven months, as part of the refit project, the Africa Mercy will undergo a wide range of repairs and upgrades that will significantly improve the ships capabilities and elevate the quality of her services. A key highlight of Africa Mercys refurbishment process is the information technology (IT) upgrade, which will notably enhance the ships functionality and performance within her operating theatres.

This advanced IT platform will enable seamless communication and coordination between the Africa Mercy and Mercy Ships latest hospital ship, the Global Mercy. Moreover, it will support the provision of essential training for local doctors, fostering the development of in-country healthcare professionals. These improvements will enable faster and more efficient information exchange, ultimately optimizing the delivery of vital services.

Following its voyage from Senegal, the Africa Mercy will remain in South Africa for the remainder of this year, with a planned stop in East London before resuming active service in January 2024.

Brenda van Straten, Director, Mercy Ships, South Africa, says:

We believe every life deserves access to quality healthcare, regardless of geographical location. The Africa Mercy refit project is a testament to our unwavering commitment to extending the reach of our medical services and positively impacting the lives of thousands. Through this project, we are not only upgrading a ship; we are opening doors to hope, healing, and a brighter future for those in need.

The upgrade will also allow us to continue our program delivery, improving the working and living conditions of our dedicated volunteers, and optimize the ships operational efficiency and future maintenance costs. Durban has been selected as the location for the ships infrastructure upgrade due to our successful collaboration with the DORMAC shipyard in the past. The quality of their work, especially in the ships interior, a vital aspect of this project, has greatly impressed us. Additionally, Durbans proximity to our next destination, Madagascar, played a pivotal role in our decision-making process.

The data infrastructure upgrade and replacement of the current failing phone system will effectively resolve the connectivity and communication issues previously endured by the ships crew. The refit project will dramatically improve overall communication on the ship, enabling the swift and efficient exchange of important information and messaging.

The refit project encompasses an array of improvements to ensure the ships continued operation and enhance the experience of both volunteers and patients. The project includes modernizing the galley, upgrading the elevator system, and remodeling several cabin spaces. These modifications will enhance safety and functionality, creating an environment that fosters community and healing. The project also increases the likelihood of reaching more individuals in need of healthcare.

To ensure the success of the upgrade, Mercy Ships has assembled a team of renowned contractors and vendors from around the world, including South African companies such as DORMAC, Bradgary, MLQ, MAN Energy Solutions, AEGIR-Marine, and Loewe-Marine.

Chris Sparg, Managing Director, DORMAC Marine & Engineering, says:

The Africa Mercy upgrades, resulting from meticulous planning by Mercy Ships technical teams in collaboration with DORMAC, MLQ, and Bradgary, involved several ship visits to ensure detailed designs were completed. The one-month drydocking, complying with Classification Society rules, saw numerous upgrades.

Working with Mercy Ships experienced technical professionals was a pleasure as they deeply understand the ship and organizational needs. Our teams are proud to support Mercy Ships, positively affecting lives in Africa. With a long-standing association, DORMAC is grateful to its partners MLQ and Bradgary for world-class accommodation upgrades. We pledge our full support to Mercy Ships as the Africa Mercy continues its crucial services in nearby waters.

The Africa Mercy refit project is part of a broader five-year initiative. Upon completion of the refit, the Africa Mercy, in conjunction with the purpose-built Global Mercy, will significantly expand Mercy Ships capacity to provide life-changing surgeries. By utilizing these two ships, Mercy Ships aims to more than double its current reach and effectiveness in improving healthcare worldwide.

In parallel with the ships refurbishment, Mercy Ships will conduct eight Safer Anesthetics From Education (SAFE) courses in South Africa this year. These courses aim to enhance the skills and knowledge of healthcare professionals and improve the safety of anesthetic care in the region. Furthermore, the organization will continue to provide volunteer opportunities to South Africans who wish to contribute to Mercy Ships humanitarian efforts.

Mercy Ships has a history of providing valuable medical services in South Africa. In 1997/98, the organization conducted a field service in East London, administering medical treatments to South Africans in need. In 2010, Mercy Ships offered dental care, eye surgery, and a mental health course in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). These initiatives reflect the commitment to improving the health and well-being of individuals in South Africa and highlight the impact of these program on local communities.
MultiChoice Africa Holdings B.V (MAH) regrettably notifies DStv subscribers of its withdrawal of services from Malawi with immediate effect. This follows the injunction issued by the High Court in Lilongwe in a matter between MultiChoice Malawi (MCM) and the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) prohibiting an adjustment to the DStv tariffs.

MCM does not offer the DStv service to the public and therefore cannot set or adjust tariffs for this service, a point repeatedly made to MACRA. As a result, the order handed down to MCM is incapable of being implemented by them but carries with it grave consequences for the directors and management of MultiChoice Malawi, including imprisonment. MAH given the impact on its supplier (MCM) and an increasingly adverse regulatory environment is therefore left with no option but to terminate the DStv service indefinitely.

Customers are hereby, and with immediate effect, requested to halt payment for the DStv service. Customers who have already paid their new subscription for the DStv service will have those services honored until the current 30 day viewing cycle ends on or before 10 September 2023. From Wednesday, 9 August 2023, no new subscriptions or reconnections will be accepted.

MAH would like to thank customers for their support over many years. MAH would also like to thank MCM for their professional conduct in supplying services to MAH over as many years.
THE contribution of Irish nurses over the last 75 years in the UK's National Health Service (NHS) was recognised at a tree planting ceremony at Mayo University Hospital in Castlebar.

Dame Elizabeth Anionwu carried out the ceremony to celebrate the legacy and heritage of the nursing community locally and internationally, with a special focus on Irish nurses and their contribution to the NHS.

Born in 1947, Elizabeth has Irish / Nigerian heritage and was was honoured with an Order of Merit in 2022 and a Damehood in 2017 for her work on improving the health and wellbeing of multi-ethnic communities.

She is also an Emeritus Professor of Nursing at the University of West London.

The tree planting service was attended by Olayinka Aremu, President of the Association of Nigerian Nurses in Ireland, Conrad Bryan, Director of the Mixed Race Irish Association, Kevin Bourke and Marianne Staunton from the Mayo Emigrant Liaison Committee and members of MUH nursing staff.

During the event Dame Elizabeth commended the positive impact that 30,000 Irish nurses have made to the NHS.

She also spoke about the importance of working collaboratively and celebrating the unique and rich cultural heritage which the nursing community is built upon.

Padraig O'Luanaigh, Director of Nursing in MUH said it was 'a huge honour' to welcome Dame Elizabeth to MUH.

"She is a passionate advocate for the nursing profession and her work in campaigning for health equality is inspiring. We are extremely proud of our nursing team in MUH and were delighted to host this ceremony which acknowledges the commitment, professionalism and compassion of nurses both locally and globally."
At the invitation of Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark Lars Lkke Rasmussen will pay an official visit to China from August 16 to 19.

CCTV: We noted that Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi just concluded his visit to three Southeast Asian countries. Can you share more details about the visit?

Wang Wenbin: From August 10 to 13, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi visited Singapore, Malaysia and Cambodia.

During Wang Yis visit to Singapore, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong met with him. Wang Yi also met with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan respectively. Wang Yi noted that the leaders of the two countries jointly announced in March this year to upgrade the China-Singapore relationship to an all-round high-quality future-oriented partnership, opening up new prospects for high-level mutually beneficial cooperation between the two sides. Under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, China is willing to work with Singapore to expand areas of cooperation, strengthen coordination on multilateral affairs and showcase the multiple dimensions of our relationship under the new characterization. China will work with ASEAN countries to build a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home for China and ASEAN and push forward the sustained growth of China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership. Singapore spoke highly of Chinas resolve and efforts to advance its modernization drive, noting that the two sides have yielded fruitful results in Belt and Road cooperation. Singapore will work with China to jointly promote Singapore-China cooperation and open a new chapter of bilateral relations. Singapore opposes the law of the jungle and power politics, and supports deepening ASEAN-China cooperation to jointly safeguard regional peace, stability and development, uphold the World Trade Organization rules, and safeguard a fair, open, and inclusive cooperation framework.

During Wang Yis visit to Malaysia, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim met with him. Wang Yi also had talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs Zambry Abd Kadir. Wang Yi noted that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Malaysia, and next year the two countries will celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations. China is ready to work with Malaysia to maintain the sound and strong momentum of growth in bilateral relations, expand cooperation areas, achieve mutual benefit, win-win results, and common development, and pursue concrete and solid progress in building a China-Malaysia community with a shared future. Malaysia noted that China is a reliable and good friend of Malaysia and the two countries enjoy a special friendship and robust cooperation. Malaysia highly appreciates and supports the important global initiatives put forward by President Xi Jinping. Malaysia will continue to actively participate in Belt and Road cooperation, strengthen ties at all levels and in various fields, and expand mutual benefit and win-win results.

During Wang Yis visit to Cambodia, King Norodom Sihamoni, Prime Minister Hun Sen and Prime Minister-designate Hun Manet met with him respectively. Wang Yi also met with Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong and Deputy Prime Minister-designate Sun Chanthol, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister-designate Sok Chenda Sophea respectively. Wang Yi extended congratulations to Cambodia on the successful general election. He noted that as a comprehensive strategic cooperative partner which is building the China-Cambodia community with a shared future, China firmly supports Cambodia in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions, and safeguarding sovereignty, independence and national dignity. China is ready to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with Cambodia, enrich the diamond hexagon bilateral cooperation framework, and build a high-quality, high-level and high-standard China-Cambodia community with a shared future in a new era, so that the friendship between the two countries is deeply rooted in peoples hearts and passes on from generation to generation. Cambodia noted that it views China as a source of real strategic support and strong strategic backing, and will not waver in its resolve to consolidate and deepen Cambodia-China solidarity and friendship. They look forward to taking the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and the Cambodia-China Year of Friendship this year as an opportunity to set a good example for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and advance the Cambodia-China community with a shared future to a new level.

CCTV: Last weekend, the 84-km eastern bid section of Algerias East-West Highway built with the participation of a Chinese company opened to traffic, marking the official completion of the entire project which was launched 16 years ago. Do you have any comment?

Wang Wenbin: We are glad that Algerias East-West Highway project has officially opened to traffic. The 1,216-km highway is the highest-level road project built under the most complex geological conditions since the founding of Algeria. In particular, the 84-km eastern bid section is prone to geological disasters and faced enormous construction difficulties. It was described by many as a nightmare for geological engineers. Since the Chinese company took over the project, they worked in concert with the Algerian side, providing Chinese solutions to the technical difficulties and with high-quality work turned a half-finished road into a road to prosperity. While building the project, the Chinese companies also trained nearly 10,000 local construction workers. The project has benefited close to 40 million residents and received wide appreciation in Algeria. The project has become a fine example of China-Algeria and China-Africa Belt and Road cooperation.

China stands ready to work with Algeria and the rest of the world to advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and boost world economic recovery and sustainable development.

AFP: The Chinese Defense Minister will attend an international conference in Russia and pay a visit to Belarus this week. How significant is this for China? Also, Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to visit China in October, according to officials. Do you have any information about it?

Wang Wenbin: On your first question, the spokesperson for Chinas Ministry of National Defense has released the information, which you may refer to.

On your second question, the presidents of China and Russia have maintained strategic communication in various ways. Their discussions cover a rich and comprehensive range of topics. High-level exchanges have proceeded in an orderly manner with extensive exchange of views on bilateral cooperation and issues of mutual interest. The two sides will continue to advance the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era under the strategic guidance of the presidents of the two countries.

The Paper: A political scholar in Guatemala shared the analysis that the Seed Movement party candidate Bernardo Arevalo is very likely to win the second round of voting and he will recognize the one-China principle and establish diplomatic ties with China after being elected. Whats Chinas comment?

Wang Wenbin: There is only one China in the world. The government of the Peoples Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinas territory. The one-China principle is a universally recognized norm in international relations and a prevailing consensus among the international community. The fact that China has diplomatic relations with 182 countries fully shows that establishing diplomatic ties with China is the right choice that accords with the trend of history and our times.

China is Guatemalas second largest source of imports and fifth largest destination of exports. Recognizing the one-China principle and developing relations with China serves the fundamental interest of Guatemala. It is what its people want. We believe that Guatemala will choose the right side of history and make the right decision that serves the fundamental and long-term interests of the country and its people.

Associated Press of Pakistan: Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar has been named Caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan. Does China have any response to it?

Wang Wenbin: China congratulates Mr. Kakar on his appointment as Caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan. No matter how the international landscape and the domestic situation in Pakistan may change, the ironclad friendship between China and Pakistan will always remain rock-firm and unbreakable. China stands ready to work with Pakistan to advance our all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, build an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era, and bring more benefits to the two countries and two peoples.

Bloomberg: Id like to ask about the visit last week to Taiwan by three lawmakers from the Baltic states, one each from Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia. Does the foreign ministry have any comment about such a visit by the three lawmakers from the Baltic countries?

Wang Wenbin: There is only one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinas territory. China firmly opposes all forms of official interaction between the Taiwan authorities and countries having diplomatic ties with China. We urge relevant parties to abide by the one-China principle, refrain from sending wrong signals to the Taiwan independence separatist forces and take concrete actions to safeguard the sound and steady development of bilateral relations.

Beijing Daily: According to reports, on August 13, Chinese engineers were attacked at Gwadar Port in Pakistan. Could you share some details? Are there any Chinese casualties? Whats your comment on the incident?

Wang Wenbin: On August 13, a convoy from a Chinese project at Gwadar Port was hit by roadside bombs and gunshots, and no Chinese citizens were killed or injured. China strongly condemns this terrorist act and has asked the Pakistani authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice and take actions to keep Chinese nationals safe.

The Chinese embassy and consulate in Pakistan immediately activated the emergency response mechanism and reminded Chinese nationals, companies and project construction teams in Pakistan to stay alert, upgrade security measures, closely follow the security situation on the ground, guard against security risks, and keep themselves safe.

China will continue to work with Pakistan to jointly guard against and counter the threats of terrorism and effectively protect the safety of Chinese personnel, institutions and projects in Pakistan. No attempt to sabotage the friendship between China and Pakistan and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will succeed.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, August 11, 2023

A Washington state law requiring online companies to release detailed information about political ads to the public violates the First Amendment, the tech policy organizations NetChoice, Chamber of Progress and TechNet argue in new court papers.

The organizations are urging a Washington appellate court to reverse a ruling by King County Superior Court Judge Douglass North, who ruled that Meta Platforms violated the law and fined the company nearly $25 million.

The state measure, which was passed in November of 2018, requires companies displaying digital ads to make available a host of detailed information about them -- including the ads' cost and sponsors, descriptions of the geolocations and audiences targeted, and the total number of impressions generated.

Meta, which is appealing North's ruling, says in court papers filed in April that it attempted to ban all political advertising in the state, but that some users chose to ignore the ban and ran those ads anyway.

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The company also argues to the state Court of Appeals that the law violates the First Amendment and is overriden by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which immunizes companies from liability for users' posts.

The Attorney General's office countered in papers filed in June that the law serves important governmental interests of providing voters access to information that could educate them about their votes and preventing corruption in Washington elections.

NetChoice, Chamber of Progress and TechNet contend in their friend-of-the-court brief contend that the law violates the First Amendment, in part because it effectively bans online political ads in the state.

The groups argue that Meta and other platforms can't realistically comply with the law, because it doesn't require political advertisers to notify the platforms about political ads, or to provide platforms with information about the ads.

It is anything but undisputed that platforms have error-free automated means of obtaining real-time knowledge of all Washington candidates, ballot propositions, and related ads. Without that impossible omniscience, platforms cannot comply, the groups write.

Several leading platforms -- including Meta, Google, and Yahoo -- have endeavored to avoid violating the law by banning Washington state political ads, the groups add. Whatever the states supposed interest, the First Amendment does not permit Washington to pursue that interest through an overbroad law that shuts down an entire channel for core political speech and diminishes the voice of its citizens in Washington elections.

The legal battle dates to 2020, when Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson sued Meta for allegedly violating the disclosure law by selling hundreds of ads to at least 171 Washington state political committees, but failing to make information about the ads available.

North found that Meta violated the transparency law 822 times, based on evidence that Facebook failed to respond to specific requests for information about political ads. He then fined the company $30,000 per violation.

Meta was previously prosecuted for allegedly violating an earlier version of Washington's campaign finance law. The company settled that earlier case in 2018, when it agreed to pay $200,000 and also said it would stop accepting political ads in the state.

Ferguson alleged in the subsequent lawsuit that Facebook violated its earlier promise.

Notwithstanding its announced policy to no longer accept political advertisements for Washington elections, Facebook continued to accept or provide political advertising for election campaigns in Washington State after November 30, 2018, Ferguson alleged in the 2020 complaint.

Meta argues to the appellate court that it tried to block political ads in Washington, but that some ads slipped through the ban and made it onto Metas services due to the self-service nature of its ad platform.

The company also says the ruling should be reversed on the theory that the disclosure law is unconstitutional.

Unlike every other disclosure law that the Supreme Court has endorsed, this law imposes those burdens not on political speakers or candidates, but on digital platforms that display and disseminate political speech, the company wrote in its appellate papers.

Meta added that in 2019 a federal appellate court struck down a Maryland law that would have required online news sites, social media services and other platforms with more than 100,000 unique monthly users to post information about political ad purchases on their own websites.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, August 14, 2023

Laws in Texas and Florida that limit social-media platforms' ability to suppress posts should be struck down as unconstitutional, the Department of Justice said Monday in a filing with the Supreme Court.

When a social-media platform selects, edits, and arranges third-party speech for presentation to the public, it engages in activity protected by the First Amendment, U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar wrote. The states have not articulated interests that justify the burdens imposed by the content-moderation restrictions under any potentially applicable form of First Amendment scrutiny.

The administration is weighing in on a battle over laws passed in both states in 2021, and were largely driven by conservatives' accusations that social-media companies disproportionately suppress right-wing views.

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Courts have stayed enforcement of the laws in both states.

The Florida law (SB 7072) subjects large social-media companies to fines of $250,000 per day for deplatforming candidates for statewide office, and $25,000 per day for other offices. (The bill defines deplatforming as banning a user for more than 14 days, or permanently deleting the users' account.)

That state law also prohibits social media companies from censoring, deplatforming or shadow banning journalistic enterprises, based on content.

Separate provisions require social media platforms to disclose their content moderation policies.

The Texas statute (HB 20) prohibits large social-media platforms from removing or suppressing lawful speech based on the viewpoint expressed.

The industry groups NetChoice and Computer & Communications Industry Association challenged both laws in court.

In Florida, District Court Judge Robert Hinkle in Tallahassee blocked the bulk of the law, ruling that it likely violated the First Amendment. A three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit largely upheld Hinkle's ruling, but said provisions of the law requiring companies to disclose their content moderation practices were likely constitutional.

In Texas, District Court Judge Robert Pitman in Austin blocked the law on First Amendment grounds, but a three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed his ruling. The 5th Circuit stayed its decision pending review by the Supreme Court.

NetChoice and Computer & Communications Industry Association asked the Supreme Court to decide the constitutionality of the Texas law, as well as the transparency provisions of the Florida law.

Attorneys general in Florida and Texas also asked the Supreme Court to take up the dispute.

The Supreme Court in January asked the U.S. Solicitor General to weigh in on both cases.

The Solicitor General on Monday urged the Supreme Court to take up the dispute and to strike down the portions of the Florida and Texas laws that restrict platform's ability to wield editorial control over the content they display.

Given the torrent of content created on the platforms, one of their central functions is to make choices about which content will be displayed to which users, in which form and which order, the Justice Department argued. The act of culling and curating the content that users see is inherently expressive, even if the speech that is collected is almost wholly provided by users.
Connecting the Dots: STAT3 Activation, Glucose Metabolism, and Cancer Growth

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"Interestingly, our study showed for the first time that permanent activation of STAT3 prevents the development of prostate cancer as well as the development and spread of metastases. Conversely, we discovered that the loss of the signal pathway between STAT3 and IL6 in the prostate can lead to massive tumor growth and metastasis, which significantly increases the aggressiveness of the cancer and the mortality rate," explained principal investigator Lukas Kenner, summarizing the core findings.In the course of the study, the researchers also found that activation of STAT3 in the prostate leads to increased levels of cell components (LKB1/pAMPK) that are responsible for the regulation of glucose metabolism and are linked to type 2 diabetes mellitus. The proteins LKB1/pAMPK block certain cancer molecules (mTOR and CREB) and as a result also stop the tumor growing. "In light of this finding, we used a common diabetes drug in our research," said Kenner."As metformin is already available, our research findings could be useful in developing new treatment options for patients with STAT3-positive prostate cancer in the foreseeable future," Kenner pointed out, looking ahead to further research into the newly discovered approach.Prostate cancer has been the most common type of cancer in men in Austria since 1994, followed by lung cancer (Statistics Austria, 2022). In 2019, 6,039 new cases and 1,352 deaths due to prostate cancer were recorded. In the vast majority of cases, tumours in the prostate gland remain localised, meaning that they can be treated effectively. However, about 20% of patients develop metastatic prostate cancer, which is still incurable. Malignant prostate tumours are the second most common cause of cancer-related death in men worldwide (after lung cancer).Source: Eurekalert
A soldier in Alaska has been charged with murder after the body of his missing wife -- also a member of the Army -- was discovered in a storm drain in Anchorage near an apartment the two shared, according to local media reports.

Zarrius Hildabrand, 21, was arrested Friday and charged with first- and second-degree murder, as well as tampering with evidence in the death of his wife, Saria Hildabrand, 21, according to law enforcement. He had reported her missing Aug. 7, and joined his wife's family and search teams who were hoping to find her alive.

Dozens of volunteers, including about 40 National Guardsmen, joined the family in the search for Saria over several days last week, according to a service spokesperson. The two were married in December, and Saria was a medic in the Alaska Army National Guard.

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Zarrius Hildabrand was arraigned on the murder charges in Anchorage on Friday.

The two met in basic training, Saria Hildabrand's mother, Meredith Barney, told local media Friday. Saria originally enlisted into the Utah National Guard as a field artillery firefinder radar operator in May 2021, but joined the Alaska National Guard in April.

Zarrius Hildabrand initially told police his wife left for work the morning she went missing. That evening, he called police and her family, who flew in from Utah to help in search efforts.

He also took to Facebook to post photos of his wife and plead for the public to share any details on her disappearance with the police, writing "Updated information on my missing wife PLEASE SHARE AND REPOST!!!!!!"

"He walked around for hours with me searching for my daughter, knowing that she was dead," Barney said during an arraignment Friday, according to the Anchorage Daily News. "He lied to me multiple times, and tried to play it off like he was a concerned husband."

Saria, who served in the Alaska Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment, as a medic, was supposed to go to work Aug. 6, but never showed up.

Zarrius reported her missing after he was supposed to pick her up from work that evening.

Neighbors reported hearing a gunshot around 2:45 a.m., according to the Anchorage Daily News. Authorities discovered Zarrius' bed was missing a sheet and there was a new sheet on his kitchen table.

He went to the store the day his wife disappeared to buy hydrogen peroxide, a mattress cover, a large wheeled garbage can, and the new bedsheet, the newspaper reported.

Zarrius Hildabrand is an artilleryman assigned to the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. He enlisted into the Army in September 2021.

"Spc. [Saria] Hildabrand took an oath to selflessly serve and defend not only the state of Alaska, but the entire nation, a commitment worthy of admiration and respect," Maj. Gen. Torrence Saxe, the adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard, said in a statement. "Her untimely passing impacts everyone on the Alaska National Guard team. She will be sorely missed."

-- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon.

Related: Army Identifies Command Sergeant Major Who Was Killed Alongside 3 Children
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP, Mich.  Two pilots flying in an Ypsilanti air show on Sunday were circling for a second pass when they experienced a "difficulty" with the plane's engine and ejected before it crashed in the parking lot of a nearby apartment complex, a National Transportation Safety Board investigator said Monday.

"The airplane had made one pass down the runway. ... There were going to be three passes total, culminating in a landing. They were circling around for the second pass when they experienced the difficulty," said NTSB Senior Air Safety Investigator John Brannen.

After the plane hit the ground, it traveled around 500 feet through trees and landed near the Waverly on the Lake Apartments in Van Buren Township.

The pilot -- Daniel Filer of Texas, according to Federal Aviation Administration records -- had "serious but not life-threatening injuries," Brannen said during the Monday press conference. The co-pilot suffered minor injuries. It was unclear if the two pilots were still hospitalized Monday.

The cause of Sunday's crash isn't known yet, but new details emerged Monday as a team of experts started their investigation. Brannen said the plane experienced "engine loss-of-power issues."

A team was on the scene late Monday morning, documenting it and coordinating with a recovery crew to take the airplane offsite to do further investigation. A preliminary report is expected in around 10 days, but it could take up to two years to issue the final report.

"Right now, all the information is preliminary and we can't draw any conclusions," Brannen said. "The fact that both pilots survived and there were no ground injuries is a very good outcome."

The Environmental Protection Agency also has officials on site to address any potential fuel contamination issues, he added.

The two pilots ejected from the MiG-23UB fighter plane, which is a Russian plane, in mid-air at Willow Run Airport at 4:15 p.m. on Sunday and were rescued from Belleville Lake, according to the Wayne County Airport Authority. The pilots had declared an emergency and ejected immediately, NTSB said.

Brannen said the fact the plane is Russian could complicate the investigation.

"The fact that it is a Russian military airplane and there's no what we call a 'flight certificate' that civilian airplanes have with details of the manufacturers that you can go to for assistance in this, which will make this more difficult," Brannen said.

A number of factors can go into why pilots would make the decision to eject from a plane, including altitude, speed and the type of plane, said Brannen.

"All of those different factors play a role in that," he said. "It varies from case to case."

NTSB investigations aim to determine probable cause in transportation accidents. In some cases, they recommend changes for regulators, equipment manufacturers, companies or state and local governments to prevent future crashes.

In video footage of the event, two figures can be seen dropping as clouds of black smoke burst from the plane. The airport authority said the jet crashed into unoccupied vehicles in the apartment complex's parking lot.

The plane is a fixed wing, single-engine retired Russian military plane built in 1981, according to Brannen and FAA records. Brannen said that makes it "even more challenging," because manufacturers often help investigators determine what went wrong in crashes. "In this kind of case, I'm not sure what kind of support we'll get," he said.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Thunder Over Michigan airshow, which started at 3 p.m. on Sunday. Just before the show began, the president and CEO of the Yankee Air Museum, Kevin Walsh, said the 55 modern and vintage military planes that make up the show are requested from all over the world. The theme this year was "Greatest of Thunder," including a performance by the F-22 Raptor Eye.

While distraught, the Yankee Air Museum, which hosts the airshow as the museum's annual fundraiser, declined further to comment on the incident Monday and deferred to the Wayne County Airport Authority.

Randy Wimbley, spokesman for the Wayne County Airport Authority, said the FAA informed them they're preparing to hand off the investigation to the NTSB. The FAA does not host news conferences on crashes, he added.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor, said she had been in touch with authorities about the crash.

"It appears at this time that both pilots are safe, and there has been no human injury," Dingell said in a release. "Completing comprehensive physical assessments to ensure everyone's safety is [the] top priority right now."

The plane hit a silver pickup truck near unit 18 of the subdivision and a large portion of the plane, its wheel and dark brown pockets of grass were still visible at the crash site Monday.

Crews were picking up debris Monday morning and Emilio Cancel, 28, said he saw crews at the subdivision overnight with spotlights searching through the field since the plane crash.

Cancel, who has been a resident of a unit at Waverly on the Lake for four years, said he saw the plane crash in the field initially from his balcony.

His unit is on the perimeter of the crash site. He saw grass and trees catch fire on the plane's way down and he ran out to the scene.

"We were watching TV and we heard a big 'boom,' and then we're like, 'What the heck is that?'" Cancel said. "I looked outside, and all of [a] sudden, I see something 'boom,' blew up right here," he said. "The biggest fireball I've ever seen."

Cancel added: "It was crazy. I felt the shock. Our whole building shook, like we're getting bombed. ... I noticed it was a plane and I was worried for the pilots. I didn't know where the pilots ejected. The whole field was on fire. Everything was on fire... it was messed up."

He said he believes the fire didn't spread more throughout the field because of rocks that are planted near a spring.

"I had a friend at unit 18 they had to evacuate over there," he said. "Luckily, the building didn't end up catching fire."

Cancel looked through binoculars to see crews pick up debris Monday morning along with a few other residents like Paul Skrzycki, 72, who snapped photos.

Skrzycki was at Diamondback Saloon in Belleville watching the air show originally. He said he saw the plane start flaming over his head and heard the sounds when the pilots ejected.

"I saw the whole thing. I did not sleep very well last night because at that time I didn't know they ejected," Skrzycki said. "[There] was so much black smoke, I couldn't get close to it. ... I can definitely smell that smell; I'm going to remember that for a long time."

Skrzycki and his wife have been living in the area for 40 years and said it hit "too close to home."

"I'm not staying around for air shows anymore," he said. "It's always been a worry for all of us ... they just lucked out that they didn't hit an apartment ... how fortunate they are that it didn't go into [I-]94."

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The Defense Department's inspector general has launched reviews of the Navy and Marine Corps' sexual harassment complaint process, as well as the Army's handling of harassment prevention and response to determine whether the services are effectively managing their efforts to protect service members.

While it is unclear why the Pentagon's top watchdog is looking into the Department of the Navy's sexual harassment complaint and response process, the department rolled out guidance in June that provided service members a range of support programs if they are sexually harassed, to include crisis intervention and support services.

A memo sent July 12 to the service department -- which includes both the Navy and Marine Corps -- from Theresa Hull, deputy inspector general for diversity and inclusion and extremism in the military, said the IG investigation aims to determine whether the services have effectively managed their respective sexual harassment programs and complied with federal and DoD guidance on the subject.

Read Next: Advocacy Group Targets Race Consideration in Military Academy Admissions

In fiscal 2022, the military services, including the National Guard Bureau, received 3,201 complaints of sexual harassment from members, 1,053 of which were substantiated. Although the Defense Department's annual report on sexual harassment did not break these complaints down by service, at least 5% of the Navy's 501 unrestricted reports of sexual assault that year included allegations of sexual harassment.

The Navy and Marine Corps IG review will involve the offices of the under secretary for readiness, diversity, equity and inclusion; the chief of naval operations; and the deputy commandant of the Marine Corps for manpower and reserve affairs, as well as additional commands, according to the memo.

Meanwhile, the Army audit will take aim at the service's response to a variety of abuse and harassment, seeking to "determine the effectiveness of the Army's actions to prevent and respond to ... sexual harassment, bullying, and hazing, in accordance with Federal and DoD policies," according to a letter sent to the Army on July 12, also by Hull.

The Army review follows an internal audit that found the service has published multiple studies about "harmful behaviours," such as harassment, bullying, abuse and suicide but has not taken any "actionable" steps to prevent such behaviors. The Project for Government Oversight, POGO, obtained a copy of the January report through the Freedom of Information Act and published details of it in May.

The audit found that, among 47 research reports conducted by the service on abuse from Oct. 1, 2018, through Sept. 30, 2022, only five offered "actionable recommendations." And out of the 10 recommendations provided in those reports, the Army offices that were responsible "hadn't taken action to implement any of them."

In response to that criticism, Army officials concurred with the findings, saying they would create an office that would oversee and coordinate research on those behaviors.

The Army DoD IG review will include the offices of the under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, the assistant secretary of the Army for manpower and reserve affairs, and the commands at Fort Cavazos, Texas, and Fort Liberty, North Carolina, according to the memo.

Fort Cavazos was the target of the Army's massive response to command climate issues in the service in 2020, following the disappearance and murder of Spc. Vanessa Guillen, whose complaints of sexual harassment were ignored by leadership.

Fort Liberty is the largest Army post by population, with more than 43,000 active-duty service members.

The Department of the Air Force, which includes the Space Force, is not included in either of the two reviews, according to the DoD Office of Inspector General.

"While the Air Force is not included in the two reviews currently ongoing, we may consider reviewing the Air Force's sexual harassment policies in future DoD OIG oversight work," Hull said in an email to Military.com.

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Military.com. Follow her on Twitter and Threads @patriciakime

Related: A Coast Guard Academy Graduate's Harassment Story
KYIV, Ukraine -- Russia launched three waves of drones and missiles against the southern Ukraine port city of Odesa, officials said Monday, though the Ukrainian air force said it intercepted all the airborne weapons fired during the nighttime attacks.

Falling debris from the interceptions of 15 Shahed drones and eight Kalibr missiles damaged a residential building, a supermarket and a dormitory of an educational facility in the city, Odesa Gov. Oleh Kiper said.

Two employees of the supermarket were hospitalized, Kiper said. Video showed a huge blaze at the store during the night and, the next day, the large buildings charred and mangled wreckage.

Meanwhile, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, rebuked critics who suggest a 2-month-old counteroffensive aimed at dislodging Russian forces from occupied areas of Ukraine should be advancing more quickly.

The Ukrainian army does not intend to engage in conspicuous large-scale battles against the Russians as the operation moves forward, Podolyak said on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter.

The goal, he said, is a piecemeal and systematic destruction of the capabilities of the enemy army: its logistics, technical potential, officers and personnel.

Also Monday, the Dutch Defense Ministry and the British Royal Air Force said they scrambled fighter jets when Russian bombers were tracked flying toward the airspace of the Netherlands and off Scotland, respectively. The pair of Russian warplanes spotted in each location were flying in international airspace.

Britains air force said two Typhoon fighters were launched from RAF Lossiemouth to monitor the Russian bombers as they flew north of the Shetland Islands off Scotland. The Russian Tu-142 Bear-F and Tu-142 Bear-J, which are used for maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare, were in airspace that is part of NATOs northern air policing area, the U.K. Defense Ministry said.

Russian aircraft entering the U.K.s zone of international airspace can pose a hazard to other planes because they often dont communicate with air traffic control or broadcast their coordinates, the military said.

The Typhoons stayed with the Russian planes until they were out of the U.K.s area of interest, according to a statement from the lead pilot, who wasnt named.

Denmark's air force said its fighter jets identified the Russian bombers flying over the Baltic Sea toward the Netherlands. The Dutch Defense Ministry said it then scrambled two of its own F-16 fighters.

This doesnt happen often, but todays incident demonstrates the importance of rapid deployment, the ministry said. The F-16s are on standby 24 hours a day and can take off within minutes and intercept an unidentified aircraft.

British and German fighter jets were sent up in mid-March to intercept a Russian aircraft flying close to Estonian airspace, officials said at the time. The day before, the U.S. had said a Russian fighter jet struck a U.S. surveillance drone over the Black Sea.

Russia insisted its warplanes didnt hit the MQ-9 Reaper drone, arguing the drone had maneuvered sharply and crashed into the water. The back-to-back incidents raised concerns about aerial standoffs near Russia and Ukraine

The Kremlin's forces have pummeled Odesa since Russia last month broke off a wartime deal to protect Ukraines crucial grain exports. The Russian attacks appear aimed at facilities that transport grain and also at wrecking cherished Ukrainian historical sites.

The landmark agreement negotiated by the U.N. and Turkey had allowed grain to resume flowing from Ukraine to countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia and to help reduce the threat of hunger.

Russia has since declared wide areas of the Black Sea unsafe for shipping. On Sunday, a Russian warship fired warning shots at a cargo ship in the southwestern Black Sea.

Russias Defense Ministry said the ship was heading north to the Ukrainian Danube River port of Izmail. Russian forces fired shots from automatic small arms to force the ship to stop, the ministry said on Telegram.

Ukraines presidential office reported Monday that at least eight civilians were killed and 23 others were wounded in Ukraine between Sunday and Monday mornings.

In other developments Monday:

-- Russias Defense Ministry said the country's air defense systems shot down an unspecified number of Ukrainian drones over the Belgorod region without causing damage or casualties. The region, which borders Ukraine, is a regular target of Ukrainian cross-border shelling and drone strikes. Neither Russia nor Ukraine's latest battlefield claims could be independently verified.

-- The Norwegian government said Norway-based Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace will provide a newly developed anti-drone system to Ukraine in a deal worth 740 million kroner ($71 million). Russia has made frequent use of drones, especially Iranian-made Shahed drones, to pound Ukrainian territory.

Mike Corder in The Hague, Netherlands; Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark; Illia Novikov in Kyiv, Ukraine; Yuras Karmanau in Berlin and Brian Melley in London contributed.
The election of 1976 was the first presidential election since the end of the Vietnam War. The war had been over for Americans since 1973; North Vietnam defeated South Vietnam, reuniting the country by force in 1975. Still, Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter believed the fates of thousands of war resisters, draft evaders and deserters were the war's "unfinished business."

In August 1976, Carter addressed the American Legion National Convention in Seattle, where he announced the promise of a blanket pardon for those who evaded the draft during the war in his first week in office. Deserters would be considered on a case-by-case basis. True to his word, it was his first official act as president of the United States.

The result was a presidential proclamation that left everyone feeling slighted, left out or otherwise betrayed.

Between August 1964 and March 1973, 209,517 American men violated the Military Selective Service Act were charged with failing to register with local draft boards or leaving the country to avoid military service, relocating to places like Canada or Sweden. Another 360,000 were never formally charged. Returning to the U.S. meant a likely prison sentence, so 50,000 of the 100,000 evaders who left the country stayed in Canada permanently.

Carter's predecessor and opponent in the 1976 election, Gerald Ford, offered conditional clemency, allowing evaders to avoid prison time by working in public service for two years. What to do about these war resisters was still a controversial issue in 1976.

Ford's clemency program faltered due to low participation. Only 15% of the evaders eligible for clemency actually applied, meaning a better solution was necessary. Carter wanted to "get the Vietnam War over with" by issuing the blanket pardon. Researchers L. Amber Roessner and Lindsey Bier break down why a pardon failed to achieve Carter's stated goal.

A pardon was still a touchy subject, even within the Democratic Party. Party leaders were vocal opponents, while only a slim majority, 56%, of Americans supported it. Veterans groups saw the evaders as unpatriotic lawbreakers, and even expelled members for supporting them. Carter, a Navy veteran and member of the American Legion, called his support for the pardon "the hardest decision of his campaign."

He was a supporter of the Vietnam War until 1973, when he claimed the war "lacked moral principle." During his campaign, Carter said he wanted the war to be over in the hearts and minds of Americans" and "heal the domestic wounds of Vietnam."

Carter was a dark-horse candidate from the beginning, and few Americans knew who he was when he announced his bid for the presidency. In March 1976, he told The Washington Post, "I don't have the desire to punish anyone, I'd just like to tell the young folks who did defect to come home."

His stance on the issue was derided by journalists and politicians, while drawing wide support on opinion pages and letters to the editor from everyday Americans. Even The Wall Street Journal's editorial board applauded Carter for "his ability to treat the topics of abortion and amnesty with the complexity they deserve."

Carter's political opponents, like vice-presidential candidate Bob Dole, were against any kind of blanket amnesty, criticized Carter's support for it and campaigned against it. Others criticized Carter's plan, because it didn't go far enough: It did not address the problem of deserters or veterans with less than honorable discharges.

The election of 1976 was one of the closest in modern U.S. history, with Carter edging out Ford by 57 electoral votes. As president-elect Carter, he heard more voices than ever who wanted him to adhere to his campaign promise, and more voices compelling him to extend the pardon to deserters, those who resisted the war after seeing combat in Vietnam.

On Jan. 21, 1977, the day after his inauguration, Carter issued Executive Order 11967, granting a pardon to all Vietnam War draft dodgers. It included those who failed to register for the draft, but did not address the fate of deserters. After the pardon was issued, polling revealed only 20% of Americans supported the executive order.

President Jimmy Carter in the White House, 1977. (Library of Congress)

Some reporters commented that it would set a precedent for future military desertions during wartime; others believed it fell short of healing the wounds caused by the war. The U.S. military continued to search for deserters, such as Allen Abney, who deserted from the Marine Corps in 1968 and was arrested in 2006.

Veterans and veterans groups expressed outrage and resentment. Deserters and supporters of deserters were disappointed. Only 85 of those deserters who were eligible for the case-by-case pardon actually returned to the U.S. Many stayed in their new homes abroad.

The United States ended the draft in 1973 under President Richard Nixon, switching to the all-volunteer force the U.S. has today. Ford ended the Selective Service registration requirement for male citizens between ages 18 and 25 in 1975. It was Carter who reimplemented mandatory registration for males between ages 18 and 26 in 1980.

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on LinkedIn.

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The U.S. military has doled out exactly 3,535 Medals of Honor since the award's introduction during the U.S. Civil War, and as of August 2023, only 65 recipients were still alive. Retired Air Force combat photographer Jeremy Lock wants to photograph all of them.

"These guys are the ultimate heroes to me," Lock tells Military.com. "I've always had a fascination with them, these larger-than-life heroes that are just like us, just like you and me."

Lock, who was named Military Photographer of the Year seven times during his time in the service, created a special page on his website dedicated to the portraits he's taken of living Medal of Honor recipients. He's been at it for nearly eight years, with 32 portraits to show for it and the ultimate goal of capturing all of them.

Lt. Col. William Swenson received the Medal of Honor for actions near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in 2009. (Jeremy Lock)

Today, Lock is still a photographer, but he's also a storyteller and podcast producer. He started taking portraits of these Medal of Honor recipients through his regular work. In 2016, he was hired to be the lead photographer for the AirPower Foundation's annual Sky Ball gala event, which regularly features a guest list that includes former prisoners of war and Medal of Honor recipients.

Lock had years of photojournalism experience, covering everything from worldwide humanitarian missions to combat operations while in the U.S. military. His work had been featured in Time Magazine and even the Smithsonian. But before covering the gala, he'd learned studio portrait photography and decided to put that practice to use.

"I had this real opportunity," he says. "I had this new skill, and I thought, 'How amazing would it be to sit down for, like, 10 minutes with my heroes?' At first, it was tough, because they're trying to go to the gala."

The AirPower Foundation was impressed by Lock's efforts, and before long, the organization began specifically setting aside room for him to take the portraits.

"Now they're calling and asking: 'What room do you want to set up for the portraits? We gotta get these,'" he says with a laugh. "It's been awesome to sit down and just kind of capture the essence of who these heroes are. That's basically how the project was born."

Hiroshi H. Miyamura. (Jeremy Lock)

Lock has his favorites, of course. Among them is Army Staff Sgt. Hiroshi Miyamura, a former POW who received the Medal of Honor for covering his squad during a nighttime retreat, holding back a human wave of Chinese troops with his bayonet and killing 50 enemy troops before being captured.

Then there's Sgt. Maj. Bennie Adkins, who received the Distinguished Service Cross for his defense of a Special Forces camp in Vietnam's A Shau Valley in 1966. While wounded, he directed mortars while exposing himself to enemy fire to rescue his fellow soldiers. When no one else remained to fire the mortars, he took over until he ran out of ammo. He fought for 38 hours before leading his men in a two-day escape through the jungle.

Sgt. Maj. Bennie Adkins. (Jeremy Lock)

Both men passed away in the past few years: Adkins died in 2020 at age 86, and Miyamura died at age 97 in 2022. Lock, who has seen more than his fair share of combat with the U.S. military, has stunning portraits of both men.

"I mean, God. What an honor it is to do that," Lock says of taking their photos. "No one can tell what kind of person they're going to be on the battlefield. You can't answer until you've been in that situation. And these guys, they're me and you; they're us. But something switched in them on the battlefield, and they became heroic."

John Baca received the Medal of Honor after he threw himself on a grenade during a nighttime ambush in the jungles of Vietnam. (Jeremy Lock)

His podcast, "Last Letters," grew out of the time he's spent photographing his heroes. He hosts people from all walks of life, from Nobel laureates to exonerated prisoners, who talk about what they would do if they knew tomorrow was their last day on Earth.

"It opens up an amazing conversation," says Lock. "It's the greatest storytelling I've ever done. ... There's no bias whatsoever. At the end of the day, everyone is going to die: So what would your final words be? And who are you saying them to?"

The latest episode of the show features Maj. Gen. Patrick Brady, a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War who received the Medal of Honor after flying through a maelstrom of smoke, fog and enemy fire to rescue wounded soldiers, even landing in a minefield to reach them. Lock has a portrait of Brady, too.

Maj. Gen. Patrick Henry Brady. (Jeremy Lock)

"These guys aren't getting any younger," Lock says. "You'll see quite a few that have already passed. These photos show the kindness and greatness of them, but also their humanity -- that the person standing right next to you could be the next Medal of Honor recipient."

To view Lock's full portrait gallery, visit the Medal of Honor recipients page on his website, and be sure to see his other work on JeremyTLock.com, which includes 21 years of military photojournalism, and the Last Letters Podcast.

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, or on LinkedIn.

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A husband and wife from New Hampshire are suing Eataly in Boston after one of them fractured their ankle from slipping on a prosciutto slice while walking around the store last year, according to a lawsuit filed by the couple.

The lawsuit states that Alice and Richard Cohen were shopping at the store, located in the Prudential Center in Boston, when Alice slipped and fell on a piece of prosciutto as she walked up to a stand offering free samples.

This happened on Oct. 7, 2022, according to the complaint that was filed in Suffolk Superior Court on Friday, Aug. 11. Cohen fractured her left ankle as a result, the complaint said.

The lawsuit claims that Eataly failed to fulfill their duty to ensure that the surface of the floors were free from unnecessary dangers. Therefore, the Cohens are suing the company for negligence while seeking an amount sufficient to compensate for Cohens treatment, according to the complaint.

In an accompanying cover sheet, the couple claimed to have spent $2,274.68 on hospital and medical bills and $5,265 on physical therapy, Universal Hub reported.

The couple believes they should be awarded at least $50,000 in damages, Universal Hub added.
LANSING, MI  A 12-year-old Michigan boy was taking out the trash when a Lansing officer mistook him for a suspect. The Black child was handcuffed and then released to his father a few minutes later in what police are calling an unfortunate case of wrong place, wrong time, The Associate Press reports.

The white officer was searching for a suspect in a string of car thefts Thursday afternoon when he came across the child who was wearing clothes similar to that of the suspect, the AP reports.

The boy was identified as 12-year-old Tashawn Bernard during a Friday news conference held by his family and their lawyers, AP reports. Tashawn was approached by an officer who had his gun unholstered and held in front of him, according to a lawyer representing the family. Tashawn is traumatized so much that he doesnt not want to go outside anymore, lawyers Ayanna and Rico Neal said. The family is considering filing a lawsuit.

After a video of the incident circulated on social media, the Lansing Police Department issued a statement to explain what happened. The post to Facebook includes blurred photos of the Tashawn and the suspect who are both wearing a white T-shirt and bright yellow shorts.

Community relations is a top priority for us as a department, from top-down, the department said. Our hope is we can put this unfortunate case of wrong place, wrong time behind us and continue to represent the community that we serve.

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MARQUETTE COUNTY, MI  An Ohio man is dead after a rollover crash in the Upper Peninsula.

According to WLUC-TV, deputies from the Marquette County Sheriffs Office responded to the crash, which occurred on Marquette County Road 581 near County Road CD around 6:05 p.m. on Aug. 12.

Deputies say a vehicle traveling south on 581 ran off the road and crashed into a guardrail before re-entering the road and crashing into another section of the guardrail.

The vehicle rolled over and stopped in the ditch on the west side of the road.

The driver from Ohio was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the TV station.

Deputies were assisted at the scene by the Ishpeming Police Department, Ishpeming Township Fire Department and Michigan State Police.
GRAND BLANC, MI  One of the 16 Michigan Republicans accused of participating in a fake elector scheme to keep former President Donald Trump in power is facing a new challenge: keeping herself in her elected position.

The Genesee County Election Commission on Monday, Aug. 14, approved recall language against Grand Blanc Board of Education Trustee Amy Facchinello, setting the wheels in motion for a petition drive that could lead to a recall election.

Facchinello, who was elected to the school board in 2020, asked the commission to throw out the recall language on Monday, saying she would be unable to defend against it while criminal charges are pending against her.

The approved petition language says Facchinello should be recalled because of her connection to the false elector scheme.

I am unable to defend myself ..., she told the Election Commission. If a voter comes up to me and wants to ask me about this, Im unable to say anything.

Facchinello was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit forgery, a 14-year felony; two counts of forgery, a 14-year felony; one count of conspiracy to commit uttering and publishing, a 14-year felony; one count of uttering and publishing, a 14-year felony; one count of conspiracy to commit election law forgery, a five-year felony; and, two counts of election law forgery, both five-year felonies.

Grand Blanc Community Schools parent Michelle Ryder filed the recall language on July 19. She told the commission on Monday that her petition language was clear and factual, taken directly from the charging statement against Facchinello that was issued by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.

The Associated Press reported that Facchinello was among nine of the 16 Republicans who pleaded not guilty to the charges against them on Thursday, Aug. 10, in Ingham County District Court. Seven others had entered not-guilty pleas in previous court appearances.

Last month, Nessel announced the criminal charges against the 16, who investigators say met following the 2020 election and signed a document falsely stating they were Michigans duly elected and qualified electors for president and vice president.

Separate from the recall, Facchinello faces removal from the school board if she is convicted of any of the felony counts against her, according to the Grand Blanc Board of Educations bylaws.

Before the fake electors probe, Facchinello was the target of protests in 2021 for posting QAnon conspiracies on social media after being featured in a Time Magazine article about conspiracy theorists infiltrating local politics.

Michigan election law provides for a single special election if recall language is approved against an elected official and if the petitioner collects the minimum number of valid signatures required. The election automatically includes the recall target and other candidates seeking to replace the officeholder, and the candidate with the highest vote total completes the term in office.

To force a recall election for Facchinello, Ryder would be required to collect the signatures of at least 25% of the number of votes cast in the Grand Blanc school district for all candidates for the office of governor in the last gubernatorial election.

Facchinello has 10 days to appeal the Election Commissions decision.

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WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI -- Two people were seriously injured Sunday when a vehicle struck the motorcycle they were on in Webster Township, police said.

The couple from Canada, each age 54, were riding their motorcycle east on N. Territorial Road in Webster Township around noon Aug. 13, when a vehicle coming from the other direction crossed the center line and hit them, according to the Washtenaw County Sheriffs Office.

The driver, a 62-year-old from Rockwood, had fallen asleep at the wheel, police said.

Both people on the motorcycle suffered significant injuries but are expected to survive, police said.

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ANN ARBOR, MI -- A 21-year-old man has been charged on one count of assault with a dangerous weapon for allegedly threatening a man with a gun near University of Michigan campus last week, police said on Monday.

Muhamad Abbas, of Dearborn, was charged with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon, according to police.

Ann Arbor police were called to the 600 block of Monroe Street for an assault around 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 11.

Preliminary investigation revealed Abbas had threatened another man with a gun, but fled before officers arrived. No one was injured.

The men knew each other, police said.

Abbas was arraigned on Sunday, Aug. 13, and was given a $15,000 bond.

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ANN ARBOR, MI -- Candidates for Ann Arbor police chief will be available to meet the public at a Monday evening reception held in downtown Ann Arbor.

All four candidates for chief of the Ann Arbor Police Department will be available to meet community members from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 14, at the Ann Arbor Justice Center, 305 E. Huron St. The city will be also holding police chief candidate public interviews at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 15 in Council Chambers at Larcom City Hall, 301 E. Huron St.

Former Ann Arbor police Chief Michael Cox stepped down from the position in July 2022, with Interim Chief Aimee Metzer temporarily taking on the role. The search for a new chief is led by Baker Tilly, an executive search firm.

Read more about the candidates below. Candidate statements and biographies were provided by the city of Ann Arbor.

Nathaniel Clark

Nathaniel Clark said he wants to bring a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion to policing. Clark previously served as the chief of police for Forest Park, Georgia, from 2019 and 2023 and for Fort Smith, Arkansas from 2017 to 2019.

When law enforcement professionals embrace and apply DEI concepts to policing, the community and law enforcement build a culture of trust and transparency which can strengthen a deep and lasting partnership, thus building a strong and safe community, Clark said.

Marcus Dudley

Marcus Dudley has served as the chief of police for Abilene, Texas, since 2021, previously working in various police leadership roles in Aurora, Colorado.

In law enforcement, we must not be afraid to re-examine what we do in the performance of our duties, Dudley said. It is not acceptable to avoid change because the status quo is the way it has always been done.

Christopher Hassig

For candidate Christopher Hassig, a changing society also means greater expectations for law enforcement.

I stand by the ideal that we in law enforcement are here to serve the public and shall do so by abiding local, state and federal law, Hassig said. Society has greatly changed over the last few decades and will continue to do so.

Hassig has served as the commander of police with the Houston Police Department in 2021.

Latesha Watson

Latesha Waston said law enforcement needs to focus on building organizational cultures with respect and accountability.

Organizational culture within police departments triggers professional or unprofessional actions and behaviors, Watson said The way organizational members treat one another should transcend outward and be the example of how those team members interact with the public.

Watson is currently the director for the office of public safety accountability for the city of Sacramento, California. She served as the chief of police for Henderson, Nevada, from 2017 to 2019 and as the deputy chief of police for Arlington, Texas from 2002 to 2017.

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WAYNE COUNTY, MI -- Jessica Skeens Wynn thought she was used to feeling the impact of planes flying over her apartment during the Thunder Over Michigan show, but she felt something markedly different Sunday evening.

The airshow was cut short Sunday, Aug. 13 when an unknown malfunction caused two plane passengers to eject before the plane crashed into the parking lot of the Waverly on the Lake Apartments complex in Belleville.

Related: 2 hospitalized after plane crash halts airshow in Ypsilanti

When the plane actually hit, I could hear the whole apartment move, said Skeens Wynn, a resident of Waverly on the Lake. You can always feel it when the jets go over top for the airshow, but with this one all of my cats and the bird freaked out and ran. The impact was so heavy, it shook pretty hard.

Wayne County Airport Authority Public Relations Manager Randy Wimbley said the plane crashed into some unoccupied vehicles near the complex but that no one was injured.

A news release from the air show stated the crash involving a MiG-23 demonstration plane took place shortly after 4 p.m.

The pilot and backseater successfully ejected from the aircraft before the crash, officials from the Wayne County Airport Authority said.

Sean Barlett said he saw the crash transpire from the Hantz Hangar where he saw the plane take off traveling west before circling back around when he heard what sounded like two pop noises before the two pilots were ejected from the plane. About 5 to 10 second later Barlett said he could hear the crash.

We didnt see the actual plane crash - we saw the explosion, Barlett said. At some air shows they drop test missiles or parachutes for display purposes and exhibition purposes, but with this, it was very obvious that it was not part of the show.

Both pilots were taken to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in stable condition by the Huron Valley Ambulance after the crash. The patients were alert and awake as of 5 p.m. Sunday, said Marc Breckenridge, Huron Valley Ambulance public information officer.

The cause of the crash has not yet been disclosed by airshow officials. The FAA is investigating the crash.

The 25th anniversary airshow took place Aug. 12 and 13.

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FLINT, MI -- Eric Mays has become the fifth member of the Flint City Council facing approved recall petition drives that seek to remove them from their positions.

The Genesee County Election Commission voted unanimously on Monday, Aug. 14, to approve two sets of language targeting Mays, who represents the citys 1st Ward, after two previous attempts failed last month.

Monday was a difficult day for Mays.

In addition to the recall language having been approved, the councilman lost a court battle Monday morning when Genesee Circuit Judge B. Chris Christenson dissolved an injunction that prevented the Flint City Council from enforcing a month-long suspension against him.

I ask for the continued support of the residents of the 1st Ward, Mays said after Mondays commission meeting, which he did not attend.

Dionne Freeman, 1st Ward resident, filed three sets of petition language against Mays that were on Mondays agenda. Two sets of language were approved by the commission and can be circulated after a 10-day period in which Mays can appeal the approvals.

Freeman dropped a third proposed petition after the county board approved the first two sets of language. After the 10-day appeal period, Freeman can circulate petitions that say Mays should be recalled for being suspended from the council for 30 days or for being convicted of disorderly conduct earlier this year.

In addition to Mays, recall language has also been approved against four other council members -- Ladel Lewis, Ward 2; Judy Priestley, Ward 4; Dennis Pfeiffer, Ward 8; and Eva Worthing, Ward 9.

Michigan election law provides for a single special election if recall language is approved and if the petitioner collects the minimum number of valid signatures required.

In the case of a Flint City Council recall, petition circulators must collect the signatures of at least 25% of the number of votes cast in their ward for all candidates for the office of governor in the last gubernatorial election to force a special recall election.

Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter

Read more at The Flint Journal:

Flint councilmans suspension back in place after judge dissolves injunction

Recall language approved for school board member charged with being fake elector for Trump

Flint can use cops body cam footage from council meeting to defend against lawsuit
(This story has been updated to add comments from Eric Mays and his attorneys.)

FLINT, MI -- A month-long suspension of Flint Councilman Eric Mays has been upheld by a Genesee Circuit judge, taking the 1st Ward representative out of discussions and votes on critical city business for the remainder of August.

Judge B. Chris Christenson on Monday, Aug. 14, dissolved a temporary injunction thatd allowed Mays to attend and vote at council committee meetings last week, leaving his suspension in place for the rest of this month, starting with a meeting today that includes votes on a massive tax incentive for the redevelopment of the old Buick City complex and the distribution of millions of dollars in American Rescue Plan Act funds.

Other council members voted for the 30-day suspension last month, finding Mays committed conduct unbecoming of a council member when he lashed out at his colleagues with a barrage of profanity during a meeting that he was removed from on July 31.

The councilman sued the council, asking Christenson to enjoin the council from enforcing the suspension and to find it in violation of the Open Meetings Act.

Mays and attorneys working on his behalf said Monday they intend to appeal Christensons decision. Theyd argued the council had no authority to suspend him for 30 days.

Mays said after a Zoom hearing Monday the council violated its own rules and the city charter when it voted to suspend him and that it treated him differently than other members who have also used profanity during meetings but were never disciplined.

They dont apply the rules the same, said Mays, who said he wanted to raise issues over problems with the councils actions but couldnt because Mondays hearing wasnt held in person.

A note posted at the Genesee County Courthouse on Monday indicated that Christensons hearings were being conducted via Zoom because of work going on inside his courtroom.

City Attorney William Kim said in a statement to MLive-The Flint Journal that the judge recognized that the City Council has the authority to discipline its own members for violations of the city charter.

In its request to dissolve the injunction temporarily blocking Mays suspension, the city had argued the councilman had failed to establish any of the factors that would justify an injunction and his lawsuit against the council lacks any legal merit whatsoever.

In his lawsuit to overturn the suspension, Mays said the council is attempting to prohibit the participation of a duly-elected councilman from performing the very duties he was elected to perform.

Christenson said Monday the council had the authority to issue discipline in the manner it did, noting the council provided notice of its resolution to suspend Mays, allowed discussion of the discipline and provided the councilman and others the chance to comment on it before voting.

There was due process for this resolution, Christenson said. I do believe the council does have the authority to punish its own members and I do not find that the 30-suspension was out of line.

John A. Fernandez, an attorney for Mays, said the councilman would appeal Christensons ruling within 24 hours. He asked the judge to stay his ruling until such an appeal is considered but Christenson denied that request.

Mays and the Lento Law Group, which represents him in the case, issued a statement after Mondays hearing, saying Christenson, who issued the injunction blocking the suspension last week, had reversed course, ignored precedent, disregarded Flint City Council rules, and in our opinion, came to a completely erroneous and unfounded conclusion of law as to the Flint City Councils ability to punish its members.

Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter.

Read more at The Flint Journal:

Judge issues order allowing suspended Flint councilman to return to meetings

Flint Councilman Eric Mays sues city to block suspension for swearing

Fed-up Flint City Council suspends Mays for 30 days but he says its unlawful

Flint councilman thrown out of meeting after barrage of racial slurs
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  The death penalty is off the table as a possible punishment for one of two Nigerian nationals accused of running an international sextortion ring that led to the suicide death of a Michigan teen.

Samuel Ogoshi and Samson Ogoshi made their initial appearance in court Monday, Aug. 14, at the Gerald R. Ford Federal Building and US Courthouse in downtown Grand Rapids.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Grand Rapids police dog Dozer, seriously injured in an Aug. 4 cruiser crash, is starting physical therapy and showing small signs of improvement.

The crash left Dozer with paralysis in his hind legs, but veterinarians have told police that his spinal cord is intact.

In a Monday, Aug. 14 Facebook post, Grand Rapids police said Dozer was released from an animal hospital last week and is recovering at the home of his handler, Officer Teddy Vanvliet.

According to the post, Dozer is showing small but incremental progress in his left hind leg.

Related: Video shows violent crash that seriously injured Grand Rapids police dog

He has a long way to go, but we are encouraged that, mentally, he seems to be getting back to his usual happy and high-spirited self, the post read.

Dozer was injured about 3 a.m. Aug. 4 as Vanvliet was headed to a burglary in progress. An SUV struck his cruiser broadside at Hall Street and Madison Avenue SE. Five people in the SUV jumped out of the vehicle and fled on foot.

Grand Rapids police said they appreciate the continued support for Dozer.

Police also said they are aware of fundraisers not affiliated with Grand Rapids Police or the Grand Rapids Police Foundation.

Grand Rapids police suggest making donations to the departments K9 program at https://www.grpolicefoundation.com/support-giving.

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ALPINE TOWNSHIP, MI  Police have taken a suspect into custody following a shooting at York Creek Apartments on Monday morning, Aug. 14.
It wasnt the only newspaper to say the president had a drinking problem, but it was the one that paid the price.

Theodore Roosevelt had spent two terms as a Republican president from 1901 to 1909, but he returned in 1912 to run as a Progressive. He would eventually lose to Woodrow Wilson, but his reputation got a win shortly after in 1913.

Accusations of drunkenness from both left-wing and right-wing newspapers followed Roosevelt throughout his campaign, but it was what he read in the Iron Ore, a conservative paper in Ishpeming, Michigan, that was the last straw.

The offending passage reads as follows, according to Roosevelts presidential center at North Dakotas Dickinson State University, near the national park named after him:

Roosevelt lies and curses in a most disgusting way; he gets drunk, too, and that not infrequently, and all his intimates know about it. All who oppose him are wreckers of the country, liars, knaves, and undesirables. He alone is pure and entitled to a halo. Rats. For so great a fighter, self-styled, he is the poorest loser we ever knew!

Roosevelt sued the Iron Ores publisher, George Newett, for libel. Thats knowingly defaming a person through writing, as apposed to slander, which is through spoken words. A trial began in May 1913 with Roosevelt present in the Marquette courtroom.

During the weeklong proceedings Newett, according to a historical marker that sits inside the courtroom, claimed in his defense that Roosevelt was a public figure, a societal status that burdens the plaintiff with a higher standard of proof.

But Newett also maintained that his drunkenness allegations were true, and this is where Roosevelt prevailed. The ex-president brought to Marquette with him 25 well-known witnesses to testify to his good character, according to Mikel B. Classen, who wrote a book on the trial in 2015.

It read like a whos who, Classen writes. Truman Newberry, ex-Secretary of the Navy; and Dr. Presley Rixley former Surgeon General, two members of the Roosevelt family. Admiral George Dewey sent a deposition.

And Newetts key witness, a journalist named James Miller who claimed to have seen Roosevelt drunk, never made it to the stand. He had fled to Canada before the trial because of grand larceny charges.

With no proof of a drunk Roosevelt, Newett preceded the judges ruling and retracted his claim in court: In the face of the unqualified testimony of so many distinguished men  I am forced to conclude that I was mistaken.

It was a complete vindication, The New York Times reported after covering a dramatic trial that even made international headlines. The judge then ruled in the ex-presidents favor.

But the famously brash Roosevelt, who coined the phrase speak softly and carry a big stick, chose the former of that quote after Newett read his retraction. As he told his son Kermit in a letter, Roosevelt waived money damages from the court despite enduring an emotionally unpleasant expense.

There was a minimum reward, however, for winning the case: six cents. As he left the courtroom, Classen writes, a reporter asked the former president his plans to use his winnings.

Thats about the price of a good paper, Roosevelt replied. The price of the Iron Ore was three cents.

Read more from MLive:

Is LGBTQ book banning discriminatory? Michigan civil rights panel asking again.

Michigan manufacturers are at a crossroads. Whats next?

Whitmer administration backs more aggressive Michigan clean energy standard

Weapons detector installed at Michigan lawmakers offices after Capitol security boost
Welcome back Wallet Watchers!

Lets have a great start to the week with some of Michigans latest economy and business news.

Years after COVID-19 brought the world to a halt, the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency is working to make some organizational improvements. The pandemic exposed serious flaws within the system  some of which the state is still recovering from to this day.

Lets follow the money and see where it goes (that ones for you, Hamilton fans):

Michigan unemployment agency on mission to fix 99 problems

Issues plagued the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency when Director Julia Dale took the helm in October 2021.

There were any number of problems, she said of the beleaguered department. Theres the song that says I have 99 problems.

A mountain of pandemic claims strained an aging computer system, billions were paid to fraud, a churn in leadership, lawmakers held blistering oversight committee hearings, a series of audits scrutinized the agency, two lawsuits are pending and an overpayment issue is ongoing.

But Dale wants to learn from the past.

As the 11th director in 11 years, Dale, a lawyer who previously worked for the attorney general, is on a mission to improve the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency into a fast, fair and fraud-free service. This means rebuilding trust with claimants, businesses, lawmakers and other stakeholders by overhauling the state agency.

Our efforts in doing so are going to require a holistic approach to this transformation, Dale said this week as she embarked on a listening tour of all 13 unemployment offices.

That doesnt just mean replacing the (information technology) system  which we are doing and were very excited about  but it also means looking at how we make decisions.

More: Michigan unemployment agency on mission to fix 99 problems

Ford accused of selling hybrids at risk of spontaneous fire

Six customers are suing Ford Motor Co. because they allege the company sold hybrid vehicles with faulty engines, leading to catastrophic cars fires, according to a lawsuit filed last week in U.S. District Court in Detroit.

The 124-page document claims the Michigan-based auto manufacturer knew or should have known of the stall and fire risk prior to launching the vehicles  2020-2023 Ford Hybrid Escapes, 2022-2023 Ford Hybrid Mavericks and 2021-2023 Lincoln Hybrid Corsairs  and did not act to timely warn car owners.

The car models, which contain 2.5-leter hybrid electric vehicle and 2.5-liter plug-in electric vehicle engines, can suffer a block breach, according to the lawsuit. This occurs when the engine seizes and shatters the rods and connected bearings, which can thrust through the engine block or the oil pan, causing oil or fuel vapor leaks and pools where it is at risk of ignition, potentially causing spontaneous hood smoke or fires.

Warranty claims related to the fire risk were made to Ford as early as April 2021, the lawsuit said. It further alleges, although Ford issued recalls in March and July 2022 and reportedly developed a solution to prevent more fires, the company did not inspect the engines to decisively know which car had the defects to properly address the issue.

More: Ford accused of selling hybrids at risk of spontaneous fire

Michigan manufacturers are at a crossroads. Whats next?

A demo from Hyperion Automation at the Advanced Manufacturing Expo in downtown Grand Rapids on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023. (Photo by Rose White | MLive)

First came steam, second was electricity, then computers.

And now manufacturing, a cornerstone of Michigans economy, is in its fourth revolution: digitization. Industry advocates hope manufacturers embrace Industry 4.0  a term used to describe this current era  to drive the $100 billion economic engine into the future.

Manufacturing is at a crossroads, Tom Kelly, CEO of Automation Alley, said while attending the Advanced Manufacturing Expo last week in downtown Grand Rapids.

Kelly, who has served as CEO since 2016, described this as an opportunistic time for Michigans 11,000 manufacturers but also one steeped in fear and risk.

Fear manifests itself in a lot of different ways, he said. In manufacturing, how it manifests itself is by doing nothing.

If manufacturers dont get on board, it could spell disaster.

From auto supplies to aerospace, manufacturing has an outsized impact on the Michigan economy, accounting for 18% of the gross domestic product compared to 12% nationally. Although the number of jobs have dropped since 2000, manufacturing still employs 608,000 people in Michigan or 13% of the nonfarm workforce.

More: Michigan manufacturers are at a crossroads. Whats next?

24 Michigan agricultural projects get funding to improve food supply

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development distributed $1.8 million in grants to two dozen agricultural businesses and organizations to improve supply chains and address food insecurity.

The funding awarded Monday, Aug. 7 will support agricultural processing across Michigan through investments in technology, equipment, feasibility studies, healthy food access, regional food systems and urban agriculture, a news release said.

These investments highlight the unique opportunities available to our local food and agriculture businesses while allowing companies to increase capacity, secure supply chains, and implement climate-smart practices. With Governor Whitmers leadership, were ensuring Michigan is an essential destination for our food and agriculture industry, said Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Director Tim Boring in a statement.

The state received 109 proposals overall with requests totaling more than $8.6 million.

More: 24 Michigan agricultural projects get funding to improve food supply

Interested in more economy news? Check out all our coverage of how the economy impacts people in Michigan here.

Read more from MLive:

Is LGBTQ book banning discriminatory? Michigan civil rights panel asking again.

Weapons detector installed at Michigan lawmakers offices after Capitol security boost

Whitmer administration backs more aggressive Michigan clean energy standard

Michigan gets control of 21 oil wells, $2.85 million in lawsuit settlement
14.08.2023 LISTEN

Gospel musician Empress Gifty has registered her displeasure at Ghanaian media indicating some of the platforms always misrepresent her.

In an interview on Hitz FM, she said that the media have not been fair to her.

According to her, the media are mostly not circumspect in their reportage and also dont probe.

I understand their controversies and how they work, they can just change everything that you said, but as for me, I dont care, because I know I am doing the right thing and thats it, I make sure that on my page, I tell my people the truth about the whole issue. As for the media, I play along with whatever theyre doing she said.

Its about time the bloggers, the presenters, the consumers need to know that, maybe the caption is there but go check the interview, go listen to what Empress said, if you dont believe it, come to my page, and see what I said, and then you can give your conclusion.

If the bloggers and the presenters can also switch a little bit, it can also help them because I don't think I'm the only one, she added.
Actor and director Eddie Nartey has tied a nuptial knot with his newly found wife at a traditional marriage ceremony on Saturday.

The ceremony has come off two years after he lost his first wife.

It brought together a number of his colleague actors who witnessed the ceremony together with his family.

Photos and videos from the ceremony have since garnered a lot of attention on social media.

The star-dubbed marriage ceremony had the likes of Bismark The Joke, James Gardiner, Foster Romanus, and Peter Ritchie among the groomsmen.

Eddie Nartey lost his wife, Vida Ohenewaa Nartey two years ago. The sad incident occurred on Sunday, January 24, 2021.

He waited two years and live happily again.
Pro-New Patriotic Party (NPP) content creator and YouTuber, Bernard Kwadwo Amoafo, known widely as Kwadwo Sheldon has made a U-turn.

Despite being a staunch supporter of the ruling party in previous elections, he has now thrown his support behind former President John Dramani Mahamathe NDCs 2024 flagbearer.

In a tweet on Sunday, August 13, the Youtuber subtly captioned a picture of him besides Mr. Mahamas banner at an event, Vote JM."

Meanwhile, he was initially seen wearing NPP t-shirts and was a huge supporter of the four more for Nana mantra prior to the 2020 general elections.

Netizens expressed surprise at Sheldon's public display of support for Mahama and the NDC.

However, some observed that worsening economic conditions under Akufo-Addo may have shifted Sheldon's political allegiance.

The former president, who lost to President Akufo-Addo in 2016 and 2020, is seeking another term to lead Ghana in 2024.
15.08.2023 LISTEN

Fast-rising Ghanaian musical prodigy Ibrahim Mohammed, popularly known as Hyndu has set the music space ablaze with the announcement of his coming Hip-Hop single Preacher.

The track, produced by the talented BodyBeats, showcases Hyndus signature blend of captivating storytelling and infectious beats that seeks to encourage everyone.

Hailing from the vibrant town of Shama in the Western Region of Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana, Hyndus journey into the realm of music commenced during his formative years at Diabene Secondary Technical School.

A serendipitous encounter led to his performance of Saminis Gyae Hye song, igniting a passion that has propelled him to the forefront of the Ghanaian music scene.

Over the years, Hyndu has honed his craft and developed a remarkable discography of over 50 tracks, each a testament to his unique style and lyrical prowess. Notable hits such as El Classico, Parcel, Nsem Keka, and Heaven have solidified his status as an emerging force to be reckoned with.

Hyndus musical journey is marked by significant collaborations with acclaimed artists, including Pappy Kojo, Ras Kuku, Teephlow, and more. Despite the absence of a formal record label, his elder brothers unwavering support and a close-knit circle of friends have propelled his ascent in the industry.

With his eyes set on new horizons, Hyndus thirst for collaboration and opportunities remains unquenchable. As he continues to evolve and leave an indelible mark on the music landscape, he remains poised to captivate a global audience with his unrivalled talent and impactful storytelling.

Preacher is expected to be released in early September, featuring in some major digital stores.
The African Coconut Group (ACG), in collaboration with the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), will host the third International Coconut Festival in Ghana, under the theme, "Invest In Ghana's Coconut Sector for an Inclusive Climate and Social Resilience."

Addressing participants during the launch of the event on August 10th at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra, the Deputy CEO of GEPA, Albert Kassim Diwura, expressed the organization's dedication to supporting coconut industry stakeholders in achieving the target of USD 2.8 billion in annual export revenue by 2029.

He expressed confidence that the Coconut Festival would advance the coconut agenda and encourage investment in the sector.

He said, the Authority, in 2017, started the Coconut Revitalization Programme to improve the supply capacity of the value chain and revitalise the once-struggling coconut sector.

"We launched the coconut revitalization intervention some six years ago, with a clear objective of reviving the then ailing coconut industry to improve the supply capacity of the value chain, having realised the growing demand trend for coconut globally."

According to him, the growing global demand for coconuts globally was the driving force behind the intervention.

"The coconut industry is a multi-billion-dollar industry, and countries that have invested heavily in the value chain, such as the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries, have reaped the benefit. Ghana, our dear country has all it takes to become a leading global supplier of coconut and its derivatives to generate significant export revenue for the country."

He called on the business community in Ghana to explore opportunities within the coconut industry, adding that Ghana is well-positioned to emerge as a leading global supplier of coconut products, thereby generating significant export revenues.

GEPA has made a modest but quite significant investments in the sector since 2017 by procuring and distributing disease-tolerant coconut seedlings to coconut farmers across the major coconut farming Regions in the country specifically the Central, Western, Eastern, Western Nort, Volta, Oti and Bono East regions."

To date, nearly 800,000 seedlings have been distributed, covering over 12,500 acres.

Mr. Diwura gave the assurance that GEPA would continue to support the coconut sector with unwavering commitment until it became self-sufficient.

He acknowledged the considerable investments made by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development through the Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) programme.

Scheduled to take place from September 26th to September 28th in Takoradi, this year's festival offers an array of engaging activities.

Alongside exhibitions, there will be seminars, mentorship sessions for aspiring entrepreneurs, and dedicated discussions focusing on women's involvement in the coconut sector.

The first-ever International Coconut Festival was organised by GEPA and ACG in 2019, bringing together exhibitors and other stakeholders to promote the coconut business.

Ghana incorporated coconut into the portfolio of the Tree Crop Development Authority (TCDA) in 2019. The body has the mandate to develop and regulate the production, processing, marketing, and export of coconut and other selected tree crops.

As per statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organisation Corporate Statistical Database for 2017, Ghana claimed the 14th spot among the world's foremost coconut producers, boasting a production of 383,960 metric tonnes in that year alone.

The non-traditional export figures for 2022 were indicative of the coconut sector's substantial economic contribution. Notably, earnings from both fresh and processed coconuts reached 6.3 million dollars and 6 million dollars, respectively.

Ghana's export of desiccated coconut also emerged as a standout performer. Exports in this category rose to 21.9 million dollars in 2021, a significant increment from 6.3 million dollars in 2020 and 3.8 million dollars in 2019, securing the nation a commendable 9th position in global desiccated coconut exports.
14.08.2023 LISTEN

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Ghana Country Office has called for an investment in Green Skills for the youth in Ghana.

The call come on the occasion of the 2023 International Youth Day under the theme Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World.

In collaboration with the National Youth Authority, the Ghana Country Office of the UNFPA is supporting the commemoration this year.

In a press statement, it said The theme is relevant for Ghana, which is not left out in the face of the global climate crisis and which for young people to be involved in the action against climate change so that the country can achieve climate adaptation and sustainability.

"Green skills are the knowledge, abilities, values, and attitudes needed to support a sustainable, resource-efficient society and they include skills in areas such as renewable energy, waste management and climate change adaptation," it said.

According to the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), Ghana has a young age structure, with approximately 57% of the population being under the age of 25.

And amongst them, a significant number make up the workforce and are thus key to the countrys economic growth.

Hence, young people need these skills and must be part of the solution to climate change.

The UNFPA called on government, development partners, civil society, chiefs and traditional authorities and the private sector to invest in education and training programs to teach young people about green skills and raise awareness of the importance.

"Also, provide financial support to young entrepreneurs working in green businesses and create an enabling political and policy environment for green businesses to thrive," the statement emphasised.
The national youth organizer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Salam Mustapha, has praised the governments efforts to recover the economy after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mustapha said that despite the current turmoil in the global economy, Ghana has made one of the fastest economic recoveries.

The current world economy is in turmoil and once we are an intricate part of the world system, we have made one of the fastest recoveries among the committee of nations. Though we are still not totally out of the woods, the signs are showing that we are gradually coming out of it.

We have never seen where petrol prices skyrocketed and begin to fall again rapidly, and we are still working our way out of it If you follow trends, you will realise that even the first world economies are struggling and the way our economy is built and responds to some of the economic shocks is different for the first three years, we were part of the fastest-growing economies in the world, and it has nothing to do with the management of the economy, it is the Economic Management Team that does that.

Mustapha also said that the government is working to formalize the Ghanaian economy in order to reap the benefits.

No economy in this world is homogenous, and we promised to move away from the Guggisberg economy which we are doing. Look at the level of digitalization; paperless ports, trying to create the enabling systems that we become a new economy will not come in a day, and we have to formalise the economy and that is what we are doing.

citinewsroom
Illegal mining had been a major threat to rivers in Ghana over the years. Most of these rivers had been contaminated with cyanides and mercury. Whilst polluting rivers, forest covers are being depleted in an alarming rate due to its activities.

Global Forest Watch (GFW) reports that from 2001 to 2021, Ghana lost 1.4million hectares of its forest cover. The country lost 60% of its primary rainforest in 2018, which is the highest in the World.

About six million of the population lack access to clean water, according to Wateraid Ghana. Two point one million of the population in the Greater Accra Region alone, lack reliable household water.

The Ghana Water Company Limited maintains that the cost of water processing has skyrocketed due to heavy contamination of rivers by mining activities.

The United Nations estimates that about half of the worlds population would experience water shortage as early as 2025.

In Ghana, water scarcity hits the country every year.

Illegal mining in Ghana is targeted as the major contributing factor to pollution of water bodies, however Mr Samuel Obiri, Director of Centre for Environmental Impact Analysis (C.E.I.A.) said research has shown that licensed small scale and large scale mining activities are also contributing to the destruction and contamination of water bodies.

With all useful freshwater, groundwater constitutes 95% of water globally, says Prof. Sandow Mark Yidana, Professor of Hydrogeology and Dean of the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, University of Ghana (UG).

According to him, research has shown that groundwater is already in decline with some areas contaminated.

Experts have said Ghana is likely to import water if mitigation measures are not adopted to reverse the canker.

Alternatively, experts have said extraction of groundwater is the countrys best bet and that should be protected to avoid contamination.

In many communities in Ghana, especially in the northern part, people depend on groundwater as their source of water for domestic and irrigation purposes.

However, communities are now experiencing intermittent flow of water in these wells which was not like that in the past, said Yidana.

We are almost in a crises, surface water is contaminated, groundwater is also contaminated so it will get to a point that all the reservoirs will be contaminated. Can you imagine the situation where we have to import water because we have contaminated all our waters, that is why this galamsey fight is not a joke, is a war.

And these activities of government which are also intentional, and are targeting areas that should be protected is also a war, and with the impact of climate the effect could be dire, Prof. Yidana stressed.

He added, Trees absorb carbon from the atmosphere, the roots of plants stabilizes the soil so erosion is minimized. They also open up the soil for enhanced recharge, they open up the soil for more water to infiltrate so runoff is limited, so when it rains is more likely to have more water going down than runoff and evaporation.

Apart from the fact that it creates a certain ambience that decreases the impact of evaporation, when you plant them around river bodies they protect the water bodies. So that is very very important.

According to him, the sustainable way of enhancing adaptation to climate change is to invest more in research, identify recharge areas and invest in delineating Aquafier systems.

Also, government must make a deliberate effort to empower the Water Resources Commission to monitor the activities.

In a documentary by the Ministry of Environment Science and Technology and Innovation, Head of Public Relations, Gloria Holm-Graves admitted that there is already a strong evidence of the direct manifestations of climate change in Ghana. As a result, an increase in drought will increase river runoff affecting 1.3million people across the country.

In response to these climate risks, the ministrys adaptation measure includes greening and tree planting around the river bank, construction of seawall barriers and implementation of specific water harvesting measures to capture rainfall or divert high flows.

As part of key outcomes from COP26 in Paris, more than a hundred global leaders pledged to halt deforestation by the end of the decade under the Glasgow Leaders Declaration on Forest and Land Use. Given the composition of countries, this means that more than 33.6 million square kilometres of forests will be protected.

The Government of Ghana as part of its commitment to reforestation and afforestation in 2021 prior to COP26 embarked on an aggressive tree planting project dubbed Green Ghana Project to recover these lost forests.

Mr. Daryl Bossu, Deputy Director of A Rocha Ghana, in an interview said water is something that has not been well managed and distributed across the country.

For him, planting trees and at the same time destroying forest reserves was in bad faith. He cited that Ghanas quest to mine bauxite in the mountainous forestland of Atewa could pollute three major rivers including the Densu, Birim and Ayensu which provide drinking water to 5 million people.

Associate Executive Director of WACAM, Mrs. Hannah Koranteng at a responsible mining forum organized by WACAM, said "I just want to state that tree planting is not the same as pristine environment. If you are destroying the forest and you just stick to planting of tree, is plantation.

She added, And for ecological reasons the land has various species of organisms in them which if destroyed and they lose that habitat you cannot restore with tree planting. So they are a number of issues we talking about.

"For the sake of mass destruction of the environment, it is just prudent that we plant trees, but then it is not guaranteed that once you are planting trees you should destroy a pristine environment.
Hon Joana Gyan-Cudjoe, Parliamentary Candidate for Amenfi Central on the ticket of the NDC has been appointed as the National Coordinator for the NDC Women's Wing Working Committee.

Her duty is to facilitate the day to-today working activities of the women's wing towards the the 2024 general elections.

Her appointment came last Friday at AH hotel in Accra when the party officially inaugurated its womens wing working committee in a grand style.

The working Committee is expected to convey the partys campaign messages to the electorates through all possible means to ensure victory for the party.

Regional women's organizers and their deputies who took turns to address the gathering, predicted victory for the Party.

Delivering her speech, the newly appointed Coordinator of the women's wing working committee, Hon Joana Gyan-Cudjoe urged the women to unite in order to attain power in the upcoming general elections.

She noted that women are the dominant population in Ghana and therefore there is the need for them to support the men in their quest to win power for the people.

She however entreated party faithfuls to rally behind the Parliamentary Candidates in the party to win more seats for NDC in every constituency.

She promised to visit all regional women's organizers in the various regions to ensure effective work at the regional and Constituency level.

She however called on every women organizer to help lessen the work of the National Women Organizer, Dr Louisa Hanna Bissiw by always mobilizing members at the regional and constituency levels for the betterment of the party.

"I'm committed to provide all logistics to serve party members to make the 2024 campaign fruitful," she promised.
14.08.2023 LISTEN

The Founder of ChrisCares Foundation, Mr. Chris Arthur last Wednesday secured free National Health Insurance Scheme registration and renewal cards for over 1,500 people drawn from Upper and Lower Bobikuma in the Agona West Municipality to enable them access healthcare.

According to Mr. Chris Arthur, the gesture was to cushion beneficiaries who were acquiring the cards for the first time to seek quick medical attention rather than resorting to self medication when they fall sick.

He stressed that due to lack of financial resources, many people resort to over-the-counter medicine for pain relief rather than reporting to health facilities near them for proper treatment.

In an interview with newsmen at Upper Bobikuma, Mr. Chris Arthur who is also the Director of Technical Services of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) noted that he undertook the exercise mainly to put smiles on the faces of people by enrolling them onto the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

"I want to encourage every Ghanaian to patronize Health Facilities near them to get the required assistance from health workers when they feel uncomfortable in their bodies for the required antidote to the problem.

"Women and children are the most vulnerable in the society as such early detection of some common ailments could help to avoid deadly complications and chronic pains or fatigue.

'I decided to collaborate with the Agona District Directorate of the National Health Insurance Scheme for this exercise because according to their data, few people who have valid NHIS membership card in Upper and Lower Bobikuma.

"This means there are much more to be done to cushion them by way of supporting them through either new registration or renewal of expired membership cards.

"It is worthy to note that this exercise concede with my birthday celebration so I decided that the best way to celebrate it is to assist the valnerable by offloading burdens associated with lack of financial resources to receive quality health care delivery.

"After acquiring the health insurance cards, I expect them to stop self medication and advice from quack doctors whenever they fall sick or faces any challenges in their system," Mr. Chris Arthur stated.

A 48 year old Nana Kojo Asante-Boafo who had his NHIS card for the first time since the inception of the scheme thanked Mr. Chris Arthur for what he described as a God-sent to Agonaman to rescue them from their predicament.

"I wish him nothing but God's blessings, his divine protection, long life and above all gives him crown of success in his future endeavour. May his dreams and aspirations comes to pass," Nana Kofi Asante stated.

In a related development, Mr. Chris Arthur took time out of his busy schedule to visit students writing this year's Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) at Agona Nkum examination center.

He encouraged the 196 candidates from 11 schools made up of 8 public and 3 private schools in the Nkum circuit to attain higher heights in the educational ladder.

Mr. Chris Arthur accompanied by staff of ChrisCares Foundation gave the BECE candidates assorted food items to keep them refreshed and ready for the exam.
14.08.2023 LISTEN

The Minority Leader of parliament Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has denied claims by the Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah that he was part of the processes for the construction of the Bank of Ghanas new headoffice.

According to Dr. Forson, the Bank of Ghana under the erstwhile Mahama administration never awarded a contract for the construction of the new head office.

In a press release, Dr. Forson said the claim is a desperate attempt [by the NPP] to defend the indefensible.

For the record, I was not part of the processes for the construction of this new Head Office building, and the Bank of Ghana Board never began such processes for the construction of this new Head Office building at Ridge.

We maintain that the decision by the current Bank of Ghana Management and Board to construct an ultra-modern Head Office building at a time when the Bank of Ghana has recorded a loss of GhS60.8 billion and a negative equity of GHS55.1 billion; at a time when the ordinary Ghanaian is struggling to make ends meet, is a reckless and misplaced priority, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson stated.

He continued by asserting that no form of explanation can redeem the image of the Bank of Ghana (BOG).

No attempt at equalization can redeem the historical collapse and mismanagement of the Bank of Ghana by this Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP government, alongside Governor Addison and his management. The countdown to the resignation of the Governor and his deputies is still on, he stated.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) at a press conference on Tuesday, August 8, accused the Bank of Ghana of building a new head office at an amount of $250 million.

The Bank of Ghana subsequently justified the construction of the project insisting that its current head office, built in the 1960s, is no longer fit for purpose and cannot withstand earth tremors.
14.08.2023 LISTEN

With the successful conduct of the presidential primary of the opposition National Democratic Congress that produced former President John Dramani Mahama as the partys flagbearer for the 2024 presidential election, political horse-trading has begun in the party over who will become his running mate for the 2024 general elections.

While some big guns of the party seem to have positioned themselves for the vacant running mate slot, new political considerations, however, seem to be favoring the former chief of staff of the opposition National Democratic Congress,Mr. Julius Debrah, for the simple reason that he has worked closely with the past flagbearers of the party.

This development has resulted in chaos within the party's rank and file. Although Mr. Debrah has distanced himself from the call to be the party's running mate for the 2024 general elections, some sections of the party's membership disagree with Mr. Debrah on the matter.

Following the social media unrest within the party, the former National Vice Chairman of the opposition NDC, H.E. Alhaji Said Sinare has called on the membership of the party to be circumspect, decorous, democratic and speak in accordance with the fundamental principles and values of the NDC.

In a press release intercepted by the media, Mr. Sinare was quoted as having warned sternly the party's youths not to get involved in activities that would thwart the 2024 victory of his opposition NDC.

"Fellow Akantamasonians, our candidate and the presumptive president of our country, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, is locked in discussions with the party hierarchy and other stakeholders about the choice of our party's running mate for the crucial 2024 General election, an exercise that many political pundits say has a great role to play in the party winning the presidential elections next year.

"Although many of you will believe the name of our running mate is in the pocketbook of our Presidential candidate, I want to call on the rank and file of our party to be circumspect, decorous, democratic, and speak in accordance with the fundamental principles and values of our dear NDC in our public utterances as the party, together with our presumptive president, unveils the running mate of our party that will fly the partys flag along with President John Dramani Mahama at the appropriate time," he stated.

The founder of Zongo for NDC, who combed the length and breadth of the country and spent his energy and resources just to ensure President Mahama garnered the needed and expected Muslim votes in the 2020 general election, indicated that, "I want to inform you that, due to the dynamics of the 2024 elections, it is obvious that the choice of our running mate will be rough and tedious based on several factors, and we must prepare our hearts to accept the same after the announcement to rescue the suffering Ghanaians."

The party's Zongo president stressed that, "I want to warn that the various caucuses in the party that are reportedly behind the push for names as likely preferred choices should do that without any emotional attachment so that in the unlikely event that their candidates are rejected, they can still work with the party for our resounding victory come 2024."

He continued that, "I don't wish to argue against your assertions that many of the predicted candidates have proven themselves worthy of being designated as our party's running mate, but let's not forget that the position has been designed to be held by only one individual."

"Without any iota of doubt, President Mahama is the most influential politician; his mentoring of top politicians is legendary, and his national acceptance is no doubt a non-negotiable fact that can steer our party to victory come the 2024 election," he said.

"I want to insist that our candidate, with his wealth of political experience, connections, exposure, and love for our country, will not only match the sorry, disappointed, and heartless NPP to the opposition but will defeat any other candidate in the 2024 general elections if we are united," the former Ambassador stated.

He added, "Irrespective of everything, we must put the NDC first because our John the Rescuer is a candidate with national acceptability who will consolidate his legacies for a one-touch victory.

Advising the party's base against the use of vulgar words against each other, the vociferous politician and the light-skinned Rawlings look-alike politician, Alhaji Sinare, stated that, "To my dear youths criticizing each other on our social media platforms, I want to use this platform to appeal to you to divert this energy into exposing this questionable NPP government to our dear farmers, teachers, nurses, drivers, students, trainees, and countrymen and women, because we are suffering from the weak fundamentals of our economy, have again reminded the people of our country that you don't judge a book by its cover.

"May the greatest Allah take charge of this step too!

Victory is near!

"Eyezuuuuuuu!!."
The Burra Songai Chief of Okaikwai Central Sarki Mas'ud Habib joined other prominent Muslims and Zongo tribal Chiefs to call on the Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin at the Parliament House in Accra.

The visit which was made up of a delegation from the Coalition of Muslim Organizations in Ghana was to confer on the Rt. Hon. Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin the title Saifu_llah which means the Sword of God at Parliament House for his contribution towards safeguarding and protecting Ghanaian values and norms.

Sarki Mas'ud Habib assured Speaker of his commitment to push the need to practice Proper Human and Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values to his people which the Speaker has assured of its passage at the end of the year.

According to him, both the Qur'an and the Bible are against practices of LGBTQ and therefore the Bill against the act is in the right direction adding that the call for the passage of the Bill is a responsibility of all.

He commended the Speaker and Members of Parliament for the steps taken to ensure that the passage of the Bill live to see the light of the day.

He said the immense contribution of the Speaker of Parliament to protect and safeguard the Ghanaian values and norms against the LGBTQ calls for commendations from all Ghanaians.

Burra Songai people are members of Songai people with a paramount Chief. The Okaikwai Central Burra Songai Chief has played a major role in supporting his people with education, women empowerment as well as provision of social amenities.

Sarki Mas'ud Habib is a philanthropist who supports the needy devoid of one's tribe or religion and has been an advocate for promoting the culture and tradition of the Songai people. He has received many commendations from different organizations for his efforts and achievements towards promoting peace and unity within the Zongo communities and beyond.
Coup leaders in Niger are open to diplomacy to resolve a standoff with West Africa's regional bloc, a group of senior Nigerian Islamic scholars said on Sunday after meeting the junta in Niamey.

Their visit comes as the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) explores its options to restore civilian rule in Niger, including potential military intervention, following the July 26 ouster of President Mohamed Bazoum  the seventh coup in West and Central Africa in three years.

In a sign the bloc is still pushing for a peaceful resolution, Ecowas chairman and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu approved Saturday's mission to Niamey by the delegation of Islamic scholars, who had vowed to promote dialogue.

The group's meeting with junta leader General Abdourahamane Tiani lasted several hours, said Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau, who led the delegation.

"He said their doors were open to explore diplomacy and peace in resolving the matter," Lau said in a statement on Sunday.

Tiani reportedly emphasised the historic ties between Niger and Nigeria, saying the countries "were not only neighbours but brothers and sisters who should resolve issues amicably".

There was no immediate comment from the junta on the meeting, but Tiani's reported comments are one of few recent signs he is open to negotiation.

The coup leaders' previous rebuffs of diplomatic efforts by Ecowas, the United States and others had raised the spectre of further conflict in the impoverished Sahel region of West Africa, which is already dealing with a deadly Islamist insurgency.

With diplomacy faltering last week, Ecowas activated a standby military force it said would be deployed as a last resort if talks failed.

For now, the bloc is pursuing efforts for further negotiations. On Saturday, the bloc's parliament said it would ask Tinubu, who holds the bloc's revolving chairmanship, to get his permission to go to Niger, its spokesperson said.

Shoring up support

Any military intervention by the bloc could further strain regional ties as juntas in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea have voiced support for Niger's new military authorities.

On Saturday, Tiani sent a delegation, led by his defence chief General Moussa Salaou Barmou, to the Guinean capital Conakry to thank leaders there for their support  a sign of the junta's desire to affirm alliances as it stands up to regional and other powers.

"We are pan-African. When our people have problems, we are always present, and we will always be there," Guinea's interim president, Mamady Doumbouya, said at the meeting, according to a video shared late on Saturday night by the presidency.

In the footage, Doumbouya  who led a coup in Guinea in September 2021  did not say whether Conakry's support for the Niger junta would include military backing if Ecowas decided to use military force. Mali and Burkina Faso have already said they would help defend Niger.

At stake is not just the fate of Niger  a major uranium producer and Western ally in the fight against the Islamists  but also the influence of rival global powers with strategic interests in the region.

US, French, German and Italian troops are stationed in Niger, in a region where local affiliates of al Qaeda and Islamic State have killed thousands and displaced millions.

Meanwhile, Russian influence has grown as insecurity increases, democracy erodes, and leaders seek new partners to restore order.

Western powers fear Russia's clout could increase if the junta in Niger follows Mali and Burkina Faso, which ejected the troops of former colonial power France after coups in those countries.

(Reuters)
14.08.2023 LISTEN

Richard Ahiagbah, the Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accused Dr. Cassiel Forson, the Minority Leader in parliament of being part of the discussions for constructing a new Bank of Ghana head office under the then National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration.

According to Mr. Ahiagbah, there are records and facts to support his claims.

He said in a tweet that the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) goal is to caution Ghanaians about the mischief of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has refuted claims by the Director of Communications of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, that he was a member of the Bank of Ghana Board when the processes for the construction of the banks new head office began.

In a press release, Dr. Forson said the claim is a desperate attempt [by the NPP] to defend the indefensible.

He said the Bank of Ghana under the erstwhile Mahama/NDC administration never awarded a contract for the construction of the new head office.

He added that the bank never purchased land anywhere in Accra for the construction of the building.
Somaliland, once hailed as a beacon of democracy in Somalia, finds itself at a critical juncture today. President Muuse Biihi's alarming turn towards autocracy threatens not only the foundation of democracy but also the stability and progress the administration has achieved thus far. It is imperative that we address the growing autocratic tendencies and chart a path forward that upholds the principles of democracy, peace, and prosperity.

The extension of Bihii's term for two years, orchestrated by an unconstitutional guurti council, exemplifies the erosion of democratic norms. By sidestepping the constitution and manipulating the political process, Bixii has set a dangerous precedent that undermines the very essence of democratic governance. Such actions weaken trust in institutions, stifle political discourse, and pave the way for authoritarian rule.

Furthermore, the president's decision to wage war against Laascaanood civilians is deeply troubling. This military campaign has resulted in immense social and economic damages, with innocent lives lost, communities displaced, and infrastructure destroyed. The indiscriminate targeting of civilians only exacerbates existing grievances and heightens tensions, threatening to cause irreversible harm to the fabric of society.

Another disconcerting aspect of Bihii's rule is the fostering of divisions among different tribal groups. By sowing seeds of misunderstanding and animosity, his administration has created fertile ground for armed groups like "Gacan Libaax" to emerge. These militant factions, born out of frustration and disillusionment, pose a direct threat to stability and highlight the profound disillusionment with Bihii's leadership.

Equally disturbing is the suppression of press freedom under Bihii's regime. Journalists, such as Bushra Bandey and countless others, have been unjustly jailed without reasonable charges. This crackdown on media serves to quash dissent and control the flow of information, further entrenching autocratic rule. A free press is the cornerstone of democracy, and its stifling erodes the very foundation of a healthy society.

The only viable path forward lies in the immediate holding of presidential elections, preferably by late 2023. This will ensure a peaceful transfer of power and provide an opportunity for a new administration to restore democratic principles. It is crucial to empower the newly elected leadership to reestablish political associations, enabling a vibrant democratic landscape to flourish once again.

President Muuse Biihi must recognize that prolonging his stay in power will have dire consequences for Somaliland. The ramifications of continued autocracy surpass any potential benefits, leading to heightened internal turmoil and international isolation. Denouncing autocracy becomes the responsibility of each and every citizen, as the future of Somaliland and the whole nation is at stake.

We call upon the international community to support the restoration of democracy in Somaliland. It is incumbent upon the global actors to advocate for democratic values, ensuring that the voices and aspirations of the Somaliland people are heard and respected. For a stable, prosperous, and democratic future, we must unflinchingly confront the autocratic path of President Muuse Bihii and uphold the principles of accountable governance.
The President of Informal Waste Ghana, Madam Lydia Bamfo has called on the government and academia to collaborate with the informal sector in the quest to make Ghana Eco friendly to everyone.

Waste management remains one of the biggest challenges in Ghana and Africa. Incineration and plastic Pollution are consequential environmental issues that have negative impacts on the health and well-being of individuals and the planet.

At a media conference on Anti-Incineration and Plastic Pollution organized by Green Africa Youth Organisation(GAYO) and its partners, Madam Lydia Bamfo charged the government to be truthful to investors coming to Ghana to do plastic business.

According to her, the informal sector is doing its best in plastic waste management hence needs the government's effort to make it more effective.

Per the current environmental menace the country faced, Madam Lydia Bamfo stressed the country needs more manufacturers who can turn both plastic and organic waste into useful elements.

Mabel Laryea, Assistant Project Coordinator, GAYO underscored that the media conference was in line with GAYO Anti-incineration and Plastic Pollution Campaign.

Again, the conference seeks to examine the effects of incineration and plastic pollution in Ghana and the role of the media in bridging the existing knowledge gaps.

Ms Mabel Laryea called on the media to speak more often about climate change and its impact on the environment and how we all can play a role to fight against it.

She believes that the media is the strongest voice in every country that intermediate for both the government and the people said, the fight against climate change and plastic pollution is a collective responsible.

"The government and the NGOs can not do it all alone. I will like to use this medium to charge the media o support the campaign to propagate the news of plastic pollution and how to mitigate it in the country," she said.

Victor Kotey, Deputy Head of the Waste Management Department, Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) urged Ghanaians to switch to the use of paper bags and baskets like it was done in the olden days.

"Let's go back to how we do it years back when we carry baskets and paper bags to the market to buy foodstuffs. I believe by so doing we can reduce the use of plastic in the country," he said.

He also urged people who sell already-cooked food should start thinking of using paper bags than the use of plastics

About GAYO:

Green Africa Youth Organization GAYO is a a youth-led gender-balanced advocacy group that focuses largely on environmental sustainability and community development.
14.08.2023 LISTEN

Former President John Dramani Mahama's Special Aide Joyce Mogtari Bawah has criticized Director of Communications of the NPP Richard Ahiagbah's efforts to malign Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson's integrity.

According to the Special Aide to former President Mahama, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is only interested in destroying the credibility of the Minority Leader of Parliament.

She advised the NPP Communications Director to set his priorities right in a tweet.

The Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has rejected claims by the Director of Communications for the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) that he was part of Bank of Ghanas board when it commenced processes for the construction of its new head office building.

According to him, the claims are completely false and should be dismissed by all well-meaning Ghanaians.

In a statement issued on Saturday, August 12, the Dr. Ato Forson said the BoG under the erstwhile Mahama administration never awarded any contract for the construction of a new head office.

He thus challenged Mr Ahiagbah to provide evidence.
In a stride towards bolstering interparty collaboration and advancing the cause of democracy, the Co-Chairperson of DUA, Md. Louisa Atta-Agyemang, travelled to Togo to attend the congress of the Forum Democratique Republicain  a member party of the Democrat Union of Africa and one of the leading political parties in Togo.

With a resolute purpose, Md. Atta-Agyemang's journey was aimed at strengthening the ties between DUA and the FDR party and to share meaningful insights with the party.

Under the theme, "Let's Break the Chains of Servitude to Regain the Pride of Being Togolese," the FDRs congress provided a platform to empower party members, foster unity, and enhance the partys resurgence. The theme's resonance echoed the heartfelt yearning of the Togolese people to overcome challenges, reclaim their heritage, and pave the way for a brighter future.

The presence of Md. Louisa Atta-Agyemang at the congress signified the dedication of the Democrat Union of Africa to nurturing cross-border partnerships, specifically with the FDR party, and fostering an exchange of progressive ideas within the African political landscape.

Her attendance added to the discourse surrounding democratic principles, as well as enhancing the collective understanding of effective governance and political strategies. The event was heavily attended by the high-ranking members of the party led by the Chairperson Hon Apevon Dodji.

With an emphasis on unity and progress, the FDR Party Congress served as a platform for collaboration, discussion, and transformative conversations.

Md. Atta-Agyemang's participation further highlighted the need to promote democratic ideals and the holistic development of African nations.

She brought the audiences attention to the fact that development cannot thrive in chaos and hence centre right political parties should always work to protect the democratic dispensation of the state.

In her address, she condemned the increasing use of coups to take power in the West African Region.

African leaders and the entire world must stand to strongly condemn the recent increase in Coups in the West African Sub-region. The recent one in Niger is one that comes to test the resolve of all of us.

"We must learn that the consequences of Coups are always retrogressive and affects the socio-economic gains made, no matter how little it may be. I believe that no matter how terrible a Democracy may be, it is always better than a dictatorship.

"Leaders in the West African region must find diplomatic and all reasonable means to curb this phenomenon starting with Niger.

"Taking power by force cannot become a way of life. Democracys light prevails over Tyranny, she stated.

Her calls come in strongly to support the international calls for a return to civilian rule in Niger after power was forcefully seized by the military junta in West Africas uranium-rich country.
All is set for the Extraordinary Annual General Conference of the Enrolled Nurses Group, Ghana (ENG-GH) today, Monday, August 14.

The Conference being hosted in Sunyani will start at 12:30 pm.

As communicated by the Enrolled Nurses Group, the Special Guest of Honour for the Conference is the Ghana Health Service Director General, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye.

This years Extraordinary Annual General Conference of Enrolled Nurse Group, Ghana is being held on the theme: Championing the welfare of enrolled nurses through career development; to provide quality health care for all.

Speaking to Modernghana News ahead of the Conference today, Prince A.K Anaba, National Chairman of ENG-GH stressed that leadership will continue to have the interest of members at heart.

In a call to government, he appealed for an improvement in the condition of service of members.

We are calling on government to improve our condition of services by increasing the wages (salaries) of our members to meet the challenging state of the country, Prince A.K Anaba said.

This years historic Extraordinary Annual General Conference will be attended by National executives of the Enrolled Nurses Group, Regional executives, and some selected members and past executives of the group.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has approved John Dumelo as the parliamentary candidate for the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency ahead of the 2024 general elections.

The party earlier confirmed that two other candidates had consented to withdraw from the campaign in order to endorse Mr. Dumelo.

A statement issued by the constituency chairman Bismark Ahorvi Ayitey on Sunday, August 13 said: As a result of this harmonious agreement we proudly endorse and present Mr John Dumelo as the official NDC parliamentary candidate for Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency for the upcoming 2024 parliamentary elections.

A well-known actor and film producer Fred Nuamah withdrew from the Ayawaso West Wuogon (AWW) contest.

According to Mr. Nuamah, the invitation to join former President John Dramani Mahama's campaign team motivated him to opt-out.

In an interview with United TV, he stated, I have realized that the battle to regain power in 2024 is not an easy task so I believe moving forward if there are issues within the party, we will have a divided front therefore to unite the party I stepped down so as to promote unity. Additionally, there was an offer to serve in the national interest therefore I decided to drop this one. The new offer is to assist the incoming President of Ghana John Dramani Mahama camp therefore I am officially confirming that I have been elevated.

He continued I urge all my supporters across all levels of the party in the constituency to rally behind John Dumelo and provide him with needed support. Together, with a renewed sense of togetherness, we can secure victory in the 2024 elections and uplift our nation from its current state.
Enrolled Nurses Group, Ghana (ENG-GH) has raised concern about the condition of service of members amid the current economic hardships in the country.

Speaking to Modernghana News in an interview, Prince A.K Anaba, National Chairman of ENG-GH has called on government to improve the wages of members.

We are calling on government to improve our condition of services by increasing the wages (salaries) of our members to meet the challenging state of the country, he said.

Prince A.K Anaba further noted that as a group, they want government to increase the study leave slot for certificate nurses (ENs).

The National Chairman of ENG-GH also appealed to government to pay trainee allowances of rotational nurses, final-year students, and second and first-year students that are in arrears.

Meanwhile, ahead of the Extraordinary Annual General Conference of Enrolled Nurse Group on Monday, August 14, Prince A.K Anaba has assured members that leadership is in constant engagement with stakeholders to ensure better conditions for members.

This years historic Extraordinary Annual General Conference will be attended by national executives of the Enrolled Nurses Group, Regional executives, and some selected members and past executives of the group.

The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye will attend the Conference as the Special Guest of Honour.

He will be joined by Dr. Kofi Amoh-Kodieh, Regional Health Director for GHS in the Bono Region, as well as other dignitaries.

The Conference which will be held in Sunyani is on the theme: Championing the Welfare of Enrolled Nurses through Career Development; to provide Quality Health Care for all.
Kenya has announced plans to remove visa restrictions for all African Union member states later this year in an effort to boost pan-African integration.

The move was revealed by Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Alfred Nganga Mutua.

Mr. Mutua said the move demonstrates Kenya's commitment to play a leading role in regional integration.

It's also expected to boost tourism and generate revenue for Kenyan businesses.

"For an African to visit a European nation, is like trying to milk an elephant because of the visa process. However, for Europeans to visit an African nation, its like a walk in the beach. African must not fear fellow Africans. Kenya will be open to African countries freely to come and trade and also make money," he stated.

The policy change will allow citizens from AU member states to travel to Kenya without having to obtain a visa first.

This eases restrictions on travel, trade and cross-border cooperation within the continent.

Currently, Kenyans can visit about 25 African countries without a visa.

Under the new policy, citizens of more than 50 AU nations will have reciprocal privileges to enter Kenya visa-free.

The announcement comes amidst the kickoff of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.

Kenya has been a strong proponent of AfCFTA, which aims to create a single market liberalizing trade and movement across Africaheadquartered in Accra, Ghana.

No firm date has been set for implementation, but the policy, which represents a major milestone in strengthening connectivity between African countries, is slated to take effect before the end of 2023.
Young and ambitious, the son of Comoros President Azali Assoumani has all the trappings of a leader in waiting.

As the ruling party of the small Indian Ocean archipelago gathered to appoint a new secretary general at the weekend, many thought the top job would go to Nour El Fath Azali, 39.

Azali himself -- currently a private adviser to his father -- seemed open to taking on a bigger role.

"If the party asks me, I will accept its decision," Azali told AFP on the sidelines of the event in the capital Moroni, wearing a white shirt and a blue cap with the ruling party logo.

The Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros (CRC) eventually handed another term to incumbent secretary Youssoufa Mohamed Ali, a veteran politician.

And with his father looking to remain in power for another five-year term after elections next year, some believe Azali's anointment might have only been postponed.

Azali, who describes himself as a "perfectionist", has enjoyed a growing public presence since his father, currently the head of the African Union, won a disputed election in 2019.

Comoros President Azali Assoumani initially came to power in a 1999 coup. By SIMON MAINA (AFP)

As a presidential adviser he is often seen alongside ministers at televised press conferences, and was the driving force behind the CRC's congress held at a Moroni hotel, where he cut a busy figure.

Given the Comoros's turbulent history and what critics say are Assoumani's authoritarian tendencies, many believe he is poised to take over the reins of the small country of less than a million people.

'Paper tiger'

"My dearest wish is to see young people... take ownership of politics," said government spokesman Houmed Msaidie, in what sounded like an endorsement.

"Nour El Fath Azali is a true leader, a visionary," said Soilihi Mohamed Djounaid, a prominent CRC member who heads a state-owned energy company.

Assoumani, 64, a former army chief-of-staff, came to power in a 1999 coup. After retiring from politics in 2006 he returned with a bang 10 years later, winning a vote marred by violence and allegations of irregularities.

In 2019, he staged another round of elections after persuading Comorans to vote in a controversial referendum to support the extension of presidential terms from one five-year term to two.

Azali's rise has not pleased everyone. By Ibrahim YOUSSOUF (AFP)

It was then that Azali, a shy father-of-three with an MBA in international finance obtained in the United States, who previously worked in a bank, emerged from relative obscurity.

Yet his rise has not pleased everyone.

A CRC insider who asked for anonymity described Azali as "arrogant", accusing him of taking no prisoners in his quest for power.

"He's applying a scorched-earth strategy, trying to eliminate his father's supporters from the political arena," the insider said.

"The CRC is a paper tiger plagued by deep internal divisions. This doesn't bode well with just a few months to go before the presidential election."

Achmet Said Mohamed, a 2019 presidential candidate who recently returned to the Comoros after four years in self-imposed exile, said Azali's ascent was telling of the state of democracy in the Comoros.

"He just has the golden parachute of his dictator father. This is a fairly common phenomenon common to all dictatorships," he said.

Assoumani is widely expected to run for another term next year, with the first round of voting scheduled for January.
The Caucus for Democratic Governance, Ghana (CDG-GH) has added to calls for the resignation of the Governor of Bank of Ghana (BoG), Dr. Ernest Addison.

In a press release, CDG-GH raised concern about the GHS60.8 billion loss incurred by the Central Bank as reported in its 2022 Annual Report and Financial Statement.

After studying the report, CDG-GH says there are more questions than answers.

In its release dated Monday, August 14, it said the illegal printing of money by the Bank of Ghana for President Akufo-Addos government leading to damage to the economy has sent 850,000 Ghanaians into poverty.

Stressing that this is unacceptable, CDG-GH insists that BoG Governor Dr. Ernest Addison must leave his role as a matter of urgency.

It is under this condition that one can understand how the Governor of Ghana Bank could print money amounting to GHS35 billion in 2021 and GHS42 billion in 2022 to finance Akufo-Addos government in contravention of Section 30 of the Bank of Ghana (Amendment) Act, 2016 (Act 918). The amount printed (GHS35 billion in 2021 and GHS 42 billion in 2022) was a breach of the law.

Amount printed far exceed the threshold of 5% of the previous fiscal year`s total revenue. In spite of its autonomy, the Bank of Ghana under its Governor Dr. Addison opened up to the dictates of the Executive and printed huge sums of monies without recourse to the laws and regulations of BoG to damage Ghana`s economy and render Ghana bankrupt; sending 850,000 Ghanaians into poverty. Addison must go, parts of the CDG-GH release signed by Executive Director Dr. E.K. Hayford said.

Read the full press release below:

CAUCUS FOR DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE, GHANA (CDG-GH)

PRESS RELEASE

14th AUGUST 2023

BoG LEGAL INFRACTION PUSHES 850,000 PEOPLE INTO POVERTY.

ADDISON MUST GO !!!

REVIEW

The Caucus for Democratic Governance, Ghana (CDG-GH) reviewing the Bank of Ghana`s 2022 annual report and financial statements, is convinced that there are more question than answers to the report. The issue in question is the unprecedented huge losses of GHS 60.8 billion and the negative equity of GHS 55.1 billion recorded in 2022 by the BoG. Is the huge losses and negative equity the result of recklessness and mismanagement or fundamental issues that have to do with printing of money by BoG for the Government in 2021 and 2022?

POLITICIZATION

In order to understand the systematics of the problem, It is important to consider the political milieu in which Addison was operating; that is : the worrying and increasing rate of politicization of Police, Army, Security agencies, the Judiciary, the BoG, the EC, and the clan activities in national issues.

CDG-GH is of the view that Ghana presently is languishing in pervasive autocracy and dishonesty; with its economic processes still passing through plethora of worrying breaches of national Acts, Regulations and Parliamentary rules. Mafia cum family and friends dictatorship with its brutal and tribal ramification has taken over the State order of the day.

CONTRAVENTION

It is under this condition that one can understand how the Governor of Ghana Bank could print money amounting to GHS 35 billion in 2021 and GHS 42 billion in 2022 to finance Akufo Addo`s government in contravention of Section 30 of the Bank of Ghana (Amendment) Act, 2016 (Act 918). The amount printed (GHS35 billion in 2021 and GHS 42 billion in 2022) was a breach of the law.

THRESHOLD OF 5%

Amount printed far exceed the threshold of 5% of the previous fiscal year`s total revenue. In spite of its autonomy, the Bank of Ghana under its Governor Dr. Addison opened up to the dictates of the Executive and printed huge sums of monies without recourse to the laws and regulations of BoG to damage Ghana`s economy and render Ghana bankrupt; sending 850,000 Ghanaians into poverty. Addison must go !!!.

Dr E.K.Hayford

Executive Director, CDG-GH

0277606338
The Caucus for Democratic Governance, Ghana (CDG-GH) has expressed worry over the economic difficulties in the country.

In a press release reacting to the Bank of Ghana's 2022 annual report and financial statements, it said Ghana is presently languishing in pervasive autocracy and dishonesty under the ruling New Patriotic Party government.

This is part of the assessment of the Caucus after finding out from the Bank of Ghana report which confirms it incurred a loss of GHS60.8 billion in the past year.

The report which was widely discussed in both the media and the public also reveals how the Central Bank recorded a negative equity of GHS55.1 billion in 2022.

In the view of CDG-GH, Ghanas economy is still passing through a plethora of worrying breaches of national Acts.

CDG-GH is of the view that Ghana presently is languishing in pervasive autocracy and dishonesty; with its economic processes still passing through plethora of worrying breaches of national Acts, Regulations and Parliamentary rules. Mafia cum family and friends dictatorship with its brutal and tribal ramification has taken over the State order of the day, part of a press release from the Caucus signed by its Executive Director Dr. E.K. Hayford.

According to CDG-GH, it is important to consider the political milieu in which BoG Governor Dr. Ernest Addison was operating when the Central Bank incurred huge losses in order to understand the systematics of the problem.

The Caucus insists that the increasing rate of politicisation of the Police, the Army, Security agencies, the Judiciary, the BoG, the EC, and the clan activities in national issues is most worrying.

Just like the Minority in Parliament, CDG-GH believes Dr. Ernest Addison must leave his role as Governor of the Bank of Ghana.

Below is a copy of the press release from the Caucus for Democratic Governance, Ghana.

CAUCUS FOR DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE, GHANA (CDG-GH)

PRESS RELEASE

14th AUGUST 2023

BoG LEGAL INFRACTION PUSHES 850,000 PEOPLE INTO POVERTY.

ADDISON MUST GO !!!

REVIEW

The Caucus for Democratic Governance, Ghana (CDG-GH) reviewing the Bank of Ghana`s 2022 annual report and financial statements, is convinced that there are more question than answers to the report. The issue in question is the unprecedented huge losses of GHS 60.8 billion and the negative equity of GHS 55.1 billion recorded in 2022 by the BoG. Is the huge losses and negative equity the result of recklessness and mismanagement or fundamental issues that have to do with printing of money by BoG for the Government in 2021 and 2022?

POLITICIZATION

In order to understand the systematics of the problem, It is important to consider the political milieu in which Addison was operating; that is : the worrying and increasing rate of politicization of Police, Army, Security agencies, the Judiciary, the BoG, the EC, and the clan activities in national issues.

CDG-GH is of the view that Ghana presently is languishing in pervasive autocracy and dishonesty; with its economic processes still passing through plethora of worrying breaches of national Acts, Regulations and Parliamentary rules. Mafia cum family and friends dictatorship with its brutal and tribal ramification has taken over the State order of the day.

CONTRAVENTION

It is under this condition that one can understand how the Governor of Ghana Bank could print money amounting to GHS 35 billion in 2021 and GHS 42 billion in 2022 to finance Akufo Addo`s government in contravention of Section 30 of the Bank of Ghana (Amendment) Act, 2016 (Act 918). The amount printed (GHS35 billion in 2021 and GHS 42 billion in 2022) was a breach of the law.

THRESHOLD OF 5%

Amount printed far exceed the threshold of 5% of the previous fiscal year`s total revenue. In spite of its autonomy, the Bank of Ghana under its Governor Dr. Addison opened up to the dictates of the Executive and printed huge sums of monies without recourse to the laws and regulations of BoG to damage Ghana`s economy and render Ghana bankrupt; sending 850,000 Ghanaians into poverty. Addison must go !!!.

Dr E.K.Hayford

Executive Director, CDG-GH
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency, has issued a press statement to "officially announce" Mr John Dumelo as the partys parliamentary candidate for the constituency in the 2024 general elections.

This follows the concession of fellow aspirant Fred Nuamah to Dumelo, a situation that the party said was a "significant development in our parliamentary candidate selection process for the 2024 general elections".

"Upon further consultation with the party hierarchy and after engaging in constructive discussions with all the aspirants, we are pleased to inform the general public that the two other aspirants have graciously accepted to give the nod to Mr. John Dumelo to represent the party".

"As a result of this harmonious agreement, we proudly endorse and present Mr. John Dumelo as the official NDC parliamentary candidate for the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency for the upcoming 2024 parliamentary elections", the party declared.

It added: "We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the other aspirants who have demonstrated their loyalty to the party and its values by making this selfless decision for the greater good of the NDC and the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency".

"We call upon all party members, supporters, constituents, and the public to rally behind Mr. John Dumelo and support his campaign wholeheartedly. Together, let us work towards the shared goal of securing victory for the NDC in Ayawaso West Wuogon and building the Ghana we want together", it urged.

"We sincerely appreciate the efforts of the party hierarchy in reaching this consensus".

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14.08.2023 LISTEN

The Management of Kumasi Technical University has rubbished reports alleging that its Chancellor Dr. Kwame Addo Kufuor has sacked over 2,000 students.

Several media outlets that carried the story noted that the situation has created tension in the school.

But in a press release to clarify the reports, the school has explained that rather, some 648 students who have not registered due to failure to settle fees have been asked to defer their course.

The decision according to the release from the Management of Kumasi Technical University was taken by the board of the school after the affected students failed to register despite a postponement of the deadline for registration from May 29 to August 7.

The Management of the Universitys attention has been drawn to publications by some media houses in relation to the subject above and wants to state categorically that the reportage by those media houses is totally inaccurate, especially when the University has not been contacted on the issue, parts of the release form the Kumasi-based school said.

It continued, The University wants to state that no student has been sacked. Rather, students who have not registered for the Second Semester of 2022/2023 Academic Year, were asked to defer their programmes for that semester after the university made several concessions to get all students to register.

Per the Academic Calendar of the University approved by the Academic Board, the deadline for students to register was 29th May, 2023. The Management of the University sent a notice to all students on 24th May, 2023 to remind them of the deadline; and also announce designated offices to assist any student who had difficulties in connection with his or her registration.

Despite the Executives of the SRC setting a deadline of 3rd August, 2023, the University added a human face and formally ended course registration for students on 7th August, 2023, when even the End-of-Second-Semester Examination had begun.

After these many concessions, there are still 648 students who have not registered, as opposed to the 2,000 that some media houses had stated. It must be noted that, contrary to what was falsely claimed, the Universitys Academic Board took this decision, and not the Chancellor, the Honorable Dr. Kwame Addo Kufuor.

The Management of Kumasi Technical University through its press release assures parents and the general public that there is no tension on campus as over 11,000 students who registered for the Second Semester of the 2022/2023 Academic Year are comfortably writing their examinations without any difficulty.
Standard Chartered Bank Ghana Limited, one of the leading banks in the country is set to award an all-expense paid trip for a lucky client to travel to the United Kingdom to watch a Liverpool match in the 2023/24 English Premier League season.

This follows the relaunch of the banks Trip to Anfield Campaign which has been running for the past years.

The new campaign was launched on Sunday, August 13, during a match-viewing event of Liverpools opening match of the Premier League season against Chelsea at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra.

Speaking at the relaunch of the Trip to Anfield campaign on Sunday, the Head of Wealth Management at Stanchart, Dr. Setor Quashigah stressed that the Bank is passionate about its partnership with Liverpool and wants clients to experience the club.

We are very passionate about our partnership with Liverpool and we know our clients are also happy with the partnership. So we like our clients to experience Liverpool and so we keep doing it. Our clients are pushing for it and we are saying why not.

We will take you all the way to Anfield to experience Anfield, experience the players, and of course come back with stories. After all, we are here for good, Dr. Setor Quashigah said.

Dr. Setor Quashigah

How to participate:

Existing clients of Standard Chartered Bank Ghana enter the draw by funding their accounts and making transactions.

Non-clients can download the SC Mobile App and easily register for an account. Once that is done and the account is funded, you can enter the draw for a chance to travel to England with a loved one for the all-expense paid trip.

If you dont have an account yet just download SC Mobile, once you open the account you and fund the account then you are in already

So as soon as you open the account you get a slot, as soon as you fund you get a slot, as soon as you purchase a product or a solution you get a slot, Dr. Setor Quashigah explained in a media interview.

Duration:

The Trip to Anfield Campaign will run between 3-6 months before a winner is selected for the historic once-in-a-lifetime all-expense-paid trip to England to watch a Liverpool match in the English Premier League.

Whiles the campaign run in the coming months, clients of Standard Chartered Bank who enter the draw will win certified official Liverpool merchandise from the Bank through their monthly draws as well.

So we have monthly draws. Clients will have certified official Liverpool merchandise from us. So that should keep you excited until you head out to Anfield, Dr. Setor Quashigah noted.
14.08.2023 LISTEN

The French Revolution was a period of major social upheaval that began in 1787 and ended in 1799. It sought to completely change the relationship between the rulers and those they governed and to redefine the nature of political power. Britannica.

A revolution is ensuing in French-Speaking Africa. A revolt against a longstanding system of Economic Coup DEtats which many blame for huge political, social, and military insecurities those countries. Interestingly, tooting this horn ever so loudly is none other than the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni who has detailed in a few speeches her disgust for the economic raid occurring in many French-Speaking African nations for more than a century. Just as the partakers in the French Revolution no longer saw the French Monarchy as divine, the current citizens of many French-Speaking African nations no longer view as divine, France enriching itself from their countries resources and wealth while they are mired in abject poverty. Even worse, the masses seem to reject the era where few elites projecting themselves as all-knowing attain power just to enrich themselves, family, and friends to the detriment of the rest of the populace.

French Revolution

Western Civilization teaches us of 2 significant revolutions in its history; The French Revolution where the peasants and commoners rose against the monarchy and ruling elites to determine their future; with motivation from philosophers of both previous and contemporary eras including Rousseau and Voltaire and inspiration from social contractors like of Descartes and John Locke.

American Revolution

The American Revolution which culminated in its Independence from the British Monarchy in 1776 would be led by such figures as George Washington, James Madison and Thomas Jefferson from Virginia, John Adams from Massachusetts, Ben Franklin from Pennsylvania together with many men (and possibly women). The Americans tired of the economic abuse and having to send a huge proportion of their dollars and other resources to the British Colonialist would seek to determine their Economic Future by rising against the Mighty British and its powerful monarchy, sustaining many casualties but ultimately prevailing in the long run to bequeath a future nation of freedom and economic prosperity to generations there-after.

African Revolution

Here on the African Continent, a revolution which began many decades ago has been gaining steam, A Revolution of the African Mind, and a serious revolt against a form of pseudo-leadership where men and women attain power as a passage of time and fulfillment of personal ambitions with no zeal to improve the lot of its people. Instead, they ascend to power (political, military, economic) as a means of investment with the wealth of the nation as dividends.

Where they seek change, it is for Allyship with mainly foreign countries/entities with predominantly foreign beneficiaries in exchange for whatever monies and access they and their immediate families and friends shall enjoy.

Ghanas former top French Diplomat, Ambassador Anne Sophie Ave, who appears to have enjoyed significant goodwill (even lordship) through her perceived warmness and kindness towards the Ghanaian people has been giving advise and some guidance on how various sectors of the Ghanaian economy may improve. However, we are yet to ever hear Ambassador Anne Sophie encourage the leaders of her country to help Africa, especially the former French colonies improve by liberating them from the shackles of economic suffocation as succinctly touted by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Rather than pilfering the countries only to gift them aids mostly from their own treasure, the people of the former French colonies seek Economic Liberation and the Pursuit of their Compassionate Capitalism in the quest for security and development.

Ultimately the people of modern Africa would much prefer to achieve this liberation absent of all coup detats including foreign, constitutional, military, economic et al.

God Bless our homeland Ghana and the motherland Africa! GYE-NYAME.

[email protected]
Over 70 young men and women from 37 African countries will gather in Nairobi on 16 and 17 August to discuss the challenges and good practices of climate-induced mobility as well as opportunities for youth engagement on migration, environment and climate change across the continent.

The youth engagement forum  hosted by the International Organization for Migration (IOM)  will help the youth develop key messages for the Global Youth Statement ahead of the Africa Climate Summit and Africa Climate Week hosted by the Government of Kenya and the African Union in Nairobi in September. These key messages will also give young people a chance to make their voices heard at the COP28, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in November.

The upcoming youth forum will not only be an opportunity for the African youth leaders to contribute to policymaking processes but also an avenue to instigate life changing youth collaboration for local and global action on climate mobility, explains Rose Kobusinge, a young climate advocate from the UNs Framework Convention on Climate Change, and Youth Convention, YOUNGO.

The forum aims to strengthen the voices of young people on climate mobility and to empower young African advocates on climate and migration. Interactive sessions will be held to build the capacity of youth to speak about migration, environment, and the climate change nexus. It will also offer the chance to take stock of successful and innovative contributions by youth to address challenges and identify opportunities for human mobility in the context of climate change that could be replicated across the continent and globe.

Anyone can become a climate migrant today or tomorrow. Vulnerable communities are facing massive climate-related displacements and losses that could be avoided through planned, safe and regular migration and relocation. That is why I push myself to raise awareness on the issues arising from climate change-linked mobility but also the opportunities it brings, Rose concludes.

Young people are disproportionately disadvantaged when it comes to climate action due to a lack of access to jobs, finances, land ownership, political power and other resources and platforms where they can help mitigate the impact of a changing environment for their own generation and future generations.

Despite challenges, young people can also be powerful agents of change when it comes to promoting climate action and greener economies, raising awareness about disaster risk reduction, and building resilience to climate migration in their communities.

IOM is committed to giving young people increased access to platforms and forums that allow them to influence the policy decisions that will affect their future lives and livelihoods, states Mohammed Abdiker, IOM Regional Director, East and Horn of Africa.

The youth engagement forum is a precursor to the continental expansion of the Kampala Ministerial Declaration on Migration, Environment and Climate Change (KDMECC-AFRICA), the first regional policy framework that addresses the climate change and human mobility nexus. We will be integrating the priorities and perspectives that the youth will develop during this forum into the KDMECC-AFRICA and collaborate with them to move the commitments from paper to practice.

The Kampala Ministerial Declaration on Migration, Environment and Climate Change signed in 2021 highlights commitments by countries in the East and Horn of Africa to address challenges and opportunities for human mobility in the context of climate change and IOMs commitment to address emerging environmental impacts and degradation by building multilateral partnerships as outlined in its Strategic Vision.

The youth engagement forum is being held in collaboration with the United States Department of States Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration through the Africa Regional Migration Program (ARMP).
Ghana - August 14, 2023 - The use of crypto for illegal activities has been a topic of concern since the early days of this new form of digital currency. The publics perception of cryptocurrencies as being inherently linked to criminal activities (such as money laundering, drug trafficking, and cybercrime) can largely be traced back to the early media coverage around cryptocurrency  specifically the infamous Silk Road marketplace.

Silk Road was an online black market that operated on the dark web from 2011 to 2013, offering a platform for the anonymous buying and selling of illegal goods and services using Bitcoin. The marketplace was notorious for its involvement in drug trafficking, and the association between crypto and Silk Road's illicit activities contributed to the negative reputation of cryptocurrencies in the mainstream media.

The perceived anonymity and decentralization of crypto have given rise to concerns that they facilitate criminal activity. Many media outlets often choose to focus on high-profile cases of crypto-related crimes, furthering the idea that digital assets are mostly used by those seeking to engage in illegal activities while avoiding detection.

Data Shows That Crypto Is Mainly Used by Ordinary People

The reality is that crypto is primarily used by ordinary people and exists as a legitimate tool for a variety of everyday transactions. Binance alone has more than 120 million registered users. As with any emerging (or existing) technology, criminals will always use it for nefarious purposes. That said, illicit activity comprised just ~0.15% of crypto transactions in 2021  down from 0.62% in 2020 despite the industrys exponential growth  and money laundering accounted for 0.05%.

And dont just take our word for it. This is data from Chainalysis, an independent blockchain analysis company. Chainalysis data is often used by government agencies, including the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS CI), as well as the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA), to investigate and combat crypto-related crimes.

In the traditional fiat space, close to $800 billion to $2 trillion is laundered every year, which is around 2-5% of the global GDP  as reported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Compare that to crypto, and the amount is a minuscule 0.03% of that. Criminals dont like crypto because the fact that the transactions are publicly and permanently recorded actually enables investigators. In contrast with traditional financial investigations, the transparent nature of crypto makes it easier to identify bad actors.

Criminals Dont Like Transparency

Blockchain is inherently transparent. All transaction data is recorded in a public ledger. Anyone at any time can examine the entire codebase. Using crypto for nefarious purposes leaves an excellent paper trail for prosecutors to lock in a conviction.

Europol and the Basel Institute on Governance have stated that crypto is key to tackling organized crime. You simply cannot move large amounts of money around without getting noticed. In fact, crypto exchanges continue to be one of the primary allies in the fight against criminal activity. For example, in 2021, Binance helped take down a cybercriminal ring laundering $500 million in ransomware attacks.

Law enforcement agencies remain the spearhead of the collective fight against crime. Acquiring the required resources, skills, and tools, as well as partnering closely with crypto companies, has been a top priority for agencies globally. In the US, the Treasury Dept has asked for more funding to track and fight crypto crime, and the DoJ and FBI have set up dedicated national cryptocurrency enforcement task forces.

In addition, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog, has issued standards for virtual assets mirroring the ones for fiat. But implementation has lagged behind: out of 200 countries committed to FATF standards, only 19 have implemented the one for virtual assets (as of March 2023).

Final Thoughts

The idea that crypto is primarily a hotbed of illicit activity is grossly overstated. In fact, the vast majority of crypto transactions and investments are legitimate and focused on real-world use cases with the potential to transform the global economy. The emergence of blockchain tech has opened up new opportunities for financial innovation, and cryptocurrencies are just one aspect of this rapidly evolving landscape.

From decentralized finance (DeFi) to non-fungible tokens (NFTs), the potential applications of crypto and blockchain technology are vast and varied. We have only scratched the surface of what is possible. While there are certainly risks and challenges, its important to approach this exciting new tech with an open mind and a willingness to learn and adapt in order to fully realize its potential for positive impact. We should also have the appropriate guardrails in place to try and eliminate bad actors  something no financial services ecosystem is immune to.

Fact: Crypto is primarily used by ordinary people. Independent data shows that just 0.15% of crypto transactions involve illicit activity. If youre a criminal, youre more likely to get caught using crypto than if you use cash or the traditional finance system.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has kicked against plans by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to embark on a military operation in troubled Niger.

ECOWAS after a meeting last week directed a standby force to get ready for a military intervention in Niger to take power from the military junta to restore democratic rule.

In a statement from Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, he admonished ECOWAS to stop beating war drums.

Instead, he proposes that ECOWAS leaders should focus on addressing bad leadership, corruption, and endemic poverty in countries in the region.

ECOWAS leaders ought to stop the warmongering and give diplomacy and constructive dialogue a chance. The Niger crisis can be resolved without violence and bloodshed, parts of the statement from the North Tongu MP read.

He added, But more fundamentally, African leaders must reflect on the causes of these coups and begin to take urgent concrete steps to prevent more military takeovers. 6 coups in 3 years can only mean that Africa appears to be making a return to the coup era of the 1960s to 1980s.

Lets shift focus from the symptoms and start addressing the real issues of bad leadership, corruption, endemic poverty, democracy that works only for a few cronies and fat cats, massive unemployment, lack of opportunity, state-capture, constitutional manipulation, compromised judiciaries, discredited institutions, neo-colonial exploitation and a disunited Africa.

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa insists that West African leaders who purport to be lecturing Niger on democracy must be seen leading by example at home.
In November 2012, UBS trader, Kweku Adoboli, was sentenced to seven years in prison for what the press claimed to be the worst fraud in British history, which cost the Swiss bank $2.3 billion. However, the Bank of Ghana Governor Ernest Addison and his deputies have mismanaged the central bank, causing a loss of GHC 60 billion, equivalent to $5.3 billion, taking into consideration such a financial crime why should Addison and those responsible continue to enjoy impunity?

How serious are we as Ghanaians, and why does everyone seem quiet about grave events that might have an extended effect on the populous and the nation's economy? How can we be convinced that the same people that have destroyed our nation will be a better president tomorrow? If such heinous crimes go unpunished, how can we expect Ghana to advance? Considering the amount of money that got Adoboli imprisoned is nowhere near $5.3 billion, what might he be thinking about Ghana?

The Governor of Bank of Ghana, Ernest Addison, should have been arrested by now and ready to face trial for his crime that has cost the nation GHc 60 billion.

The majority of Ghanaians are tribal bigots who backed Akufo Addo's evil deeds because they despise the country's former president, John Mahama, even though there hasn't been a Ghanaian leader since Kwame Nkrumah who held office for four years as vice president and four years as president and launched numerous projects during that time. Despite this, Mahama endured abuse, was labeled a thief, and faced protests around the nation demanding his resignation.

Akufo Addo has received encouragement to commit significant crimes that have not only impacted all of the country's infrastructures, but the damage he has inflicted may take more than ten to fifteen years for the state to recover. Under the direction of the alleged economic wizard Bawumia, the Bank of Ghana printed new currencies on three consecutive occasions without the consent of parliament, further weakening the already precarious economy.

People wouldn't understand me if I said today that none of the NPP politicians, including Bawumia, Kyerematen, and Akoto, are unfit to serve as president. Look at Ghana's situation, both domestic and foreign investments have collapsed, and everything has come to a total standstill. Akufo Addo served as president for almost seven years without creating jobs for the people. Yet his administration claimed to have created one million jobs but was unable to inform Ghanaians of their location.

Though everyone continues to act as though everything is normal since Akufo Addo, not John Mahama, is the president of Ghana, the country has reached its most perilous point and poses a serious threat to the youth and the next generation. I find it unsettling to watch as the country of Ghana is destroyed by a family of criminals who only care about changing the names of institutions that have already been built and engaging in pervasive corruption that has destroyed the entire nation.

I refuse to acknowledge that since I don't reside in Ghana, I will stand by and watch as inept tribal bigots obliterate the nation. Instead, I will continue to fight to ensure that Ghanaians are aware of the type of government they are dealing with and that, if what they have already experienced is insufficient, they shouldn't wait to see what they cant see. It is clear who Akufo Addo is if a government can print new currency without the approval of parliament. The man treats Ghanaians with cruelty and disdain.

Ghana doesn't need leaders promising to fight corruption and rather engage in it to oppress the masses. Ghana doesn't need a leader who makes a public commitment to oppose illicit mining only to turn out to be complicit in it. Ghana doesn't need a leader that promised the populace to reduce taxes but has cunningly increased them. Ghana doesn't need a leader who has incurred a significant national debt without telling Ghanaians what the money was used for.

Ghana doesn't need a leader whose only goal is to rename existing institutions without creating any new ones. Ghana doesn't need a leader who will pull down an entire hospital building that serves a community when the funds to build weren't available. Ghana doesn't need a leader who sends security to attack a woman under threat of violence to cover up evidence of his extramarital with her, and most significantly, Ghana doesn't need a leader who has collapsed all the country's businesses.

I pray that Ghana will have a new leader who will ensure that those responsible for serious corruption scandals that have affected the nation, including Akufo Addo, Ken Ofori-Atta, Gabby Otchere-Darko, Jean Mensa, Ernest Addison, Cecilia Dapaah, Eugene Arhin, Charles Bissue, the ghost of Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie, Paul Adom-Otchere, Rev. Kusi Boateng and several others who have destroyed the nation should stand trial, and when found guilty by law, be given sentences of ranging from 10 to 15 years in prison.
Charles III is expected to make his first official visit to France as king in September, six months later than originally planned. The British monarch had been due to visit in March but opted to postpone amid protests against the French government's pension reforms.

The exact dates of the royal visit will be confirmed within the next two weeks, according to Franceinfo news radio.

No official announcement has yet been made but several French media outlets reported over the weekend they had information that Charles and Queen Consort Camilla would travel to France next month.

According to the regional newspaper Sud Ouest, the royal couple will visit the south-west city of Bordeaux as well as Paris.

The visit is expected around 20 to 22 September, the paper said, adding that King Charles's security detail had come to Bordeaux in July to prepare the visit.

March visit postponed

Charles and Camilla had originally planned to visit France on 26-28 March, on what would have been his first overseas stop since taking the throne last September.

But the trip was postponed at the request of President Emmanuel Macron because of protests over his government's pension reform, which caused widespread disruption.

The French president's office said the decision was taken "in order to be able to welcome His Majesty King Charles III in conditions which reflect our friendly relations", and that the visit would be reorganised as soon as possible.

The original schedule included stops in Paris and Bordeaux, as well as a state banquet at the palace of Versailles  the opulent residence of the last monarchs to reign in France before they were violently overthrown in the French Revolution.

Instead, Charles and Camilla ended up making Germany the destination for their first overseas visit as sovereigns.
The decision to rename institutions is often a complex and sensitive matter, particularly when it comes to renaming universities after individuals. Renaming the University of Ghana after JB Danquah, a prominent figure in Ghana's history could be seen as a show of recognition for his contributions but could that really be a political miscalculation should the officialdom begin to entertain that consideration?

The debate to rechristen the University of Ghana after Dr. JB Danquah has been reawaken by President Nana Addo's recent allusion to the foundership of Dr JB Danquah. It is true that no befitting monument has been named on the premises of the University of Ghana to immortalise the memory of the Doyen of Gold Coast politics. It is also a fact that without the critical role of JB Danquah, the flagship University would have not been in existence. It must be placed on record the contribution of JB Danquah to the establishment of the University of Ghana.

The colonial leadership in response to a protest for a university institution, had planned to build a West-African University in Ibadan, Nigeria. Dr. J. B Danquah led a charge that if the Secretary of State for the colonies, Oliver Stanley, was not ready to accept their proposals, there were ready to establish their own University College. He pushed for the Legislative Assembly then to establish the Kenneth Bradley Committee to look into the modalities of establishing a University College in the Gold Coast.

Dr J.B Danquah on his own volition succeeded in convincing the traditional leadership and the cocoa farmers to willingly contribute towards the building of the University of Ghana. On that very note, it was then possible to levy and collect two shillings and six pence per load of that cocoa crop season. The total money thus collected amounted approximately to 897,000 which on behalf of the farmers was presented to commence projects for the University in 1948

Others may hold some misgivings about the propriety and timimg of renaming the University but the contribution of JB Danquah to the making of the University of Ghana is unarguable. So if the President on this premise and in liason with the University Council decide to rename the University after JB Danquah, it will be done on merit and on fair grounds.

But, the impact of renaming the University of Ghana would depend on how the decision is perceived by different stakeholders and the broader public. It's essential for decision-makers to weigh the potential benefits and drawbacks carefully, ensuring that the process is inclusive and takes into account varied perspectives to minimize political miscalculations. In the rechristening, it is important to gauge public sentiments and examine the political impact. The history might be at your side but the politics will be high against you. This debate, for me, is one we will continue to have. Shalom

Abdallah Abdul Matin

Aide, Hon.Farouk Aliu Mahama
The West African bloc ECOWAS is mulling military intervention to restore Niger's elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, after he was detained by members of his guard on July 26.

But experts say any such move is freighted with operational and political hazards -- from mustering an intervention force to inflicting civilian casualties.

These, they say, are the main issues:

Mobilising the force

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) last Thursday mandated the deployment of a "standby force to restore constitutional order" in Niger.

The force has intervened six times among ECOWAS members since 1990, in such events as civil war or political chaos.

But, today as in the past, there is no clear agreement among ECOWAS members on the force's parameters, said Marc-Andre Boisvert, a Sahel specialist affiliated to the Centre FrancoPaix think tank in Montreal.

"Basically, the African standby force wasn't conceived to restore constitutional order in a country where there has been a coup," said Elie Tenenbaum of the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI).

Divided bloc: The Economic Community of West African States. By Nalini LEPETIT-CHELLA (AFP)

Gathering the force "depends on the will of the contributors," said Boisvert -- an effort that requires lengthy negotiations and overcoming "enormous suspicion".

Out of 15 ECOWAS members, three -- Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso -- have been suspended from the organisation's ranks because of military coups.

Of the others, West Africa's superpower Nigeria as well as Benin, Ivory Coast and Senegal say they are willing to send troops, although they also face strong opposition at home for this.

Force numbers

"An operation of this kind needs to mobilise between 3,000 and 4,000 soldiers," said a Senegalese general, Mansour Seck.

So far, only Ivory Coast has publicly named how many troops it would commit -- around a thousand.

New strongman: General Abdourahamane Tiani. By - (ORTN - TAlA Sahel/AFP)

"African states generally keep a jealous grip on their sovereignty when it comes to security and defence," Tenenbaum said.

Also, "it's hard to muster troops in armies which are already fragile and under-equipped."

Niger's own armed forces number around 30,000, of whom 11,000 are deployed fighting jihadists, according to figures given by Bazoum last year.

The military regimes in Mali and Burkina Faso have also said that any intervention in Niger would be considered a "declaration of war" against them.

On the other hand, their armed forces are weak and already embroiled with fighting jihadist insurgents.

Operational risk

Ousting the regime in Niger, a vast arid nation, means focussing on its capital Niamey.

A land offensive would mean having to cross several hundred kilometres (a couple of hundred miles) of hostile terrain.

In this light, specialists say a key lies in air mobility, possibly using Niamey's airport as a staging point for targeting the presidential palace where Bazoum is being held.

A French military plane landing at Niamey's Diori-Hamani international airport on August 1 during operations to evacuate French citizens from Niger. By Handout (Etat Major des ArmAes/AFP)

ECOWAS military chiefs "want to take Niamey airport and bombard the presidential palace, but we have modern anti-aircraft defence which is able to shoot down their aircraft," said Amadou Bounty Diallo, a Nigerien analyst and former soldier.

Seck said: "The landing strip is easy for the putschists to occupy -- all you need to do is put thousands of young people on it" to discourage pilots from opening fire to seize it.

"It won't be a simple military operation... one of the risks is that it could get bogged down, and that depends on the determination of the people on the spot," he warned.

Resistance to intervention will be based on the Presidential Guard, an elite force of 700 men, although the willingness of other army units to fight is a matter of debate.

Other components of the army outwardly endorsed the coup "in order to avoid bloodshed -- they don't want to be in a war," a Bazoum advisor said.

"As soon as things start getting serious, you will see many units break away."

In contrast, a Nigerien security source predicted that foreign intervention would cause the armed forces "to close ranks".

Civilian casualties

Coup supporters waving Russian and Nigerien flags at a demonstration outside a French airbase near Niamey on Friday. The base - adjoined to the international airport - is shared with Nigerien forces. By - (AFP)

High civilian casualties is one of the big risks, said Tenenbaum.

Pro-coup supporters have rallied several times in the capital, many of them declaring they are willing to come to the help of their army if it were attacked.

"All this to free a president that putschists have said they will execute in the event of ECOWAS intervention," Tenenbaum said.

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Focusing on professors who have created businesses and firms out of their courses, according to Mr. Alexander Yanyi-Ampah, Lead Vice President of the non-governmental organization Tebah Educational Initiative (TEI), will have a greater impact on students.

He expressed worry that the government had been emphasizing professors and lecturers with impressive academic credentials but little or no real-world experience to impart to students.

Mr. Yanyi-Ampah thinks that hiring people from the sector as lecturers will hasten the application of Ghana's educational system.

TEI is a global project that provides mentorship, career assistance, leadership training, and scholarship possibilities to children worldwide.

The programme started in Maryland in the United States and was extended to Haiti, South Africa, and currently Ghana, where some schools in the Northern Region, Bono, and Westen Region were benefiting from the outfit.

In a meeting with the Ghana News Agency Tema Regional Team, which was overseen by the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) in Tema, Mr. Yanyi-Ampah, was backed by the founder and president of TEI, Mrs. Viola Yanyi-Ampah.

He explained that lecturers, regardless of educational background, who had created and maintained their own businesses based on the courses they teach, had encountered both ups and downs in their businesses, allowing them to instruct students from a practical perspective.

He continued by saying that some of these experiences had a significant impact on how effectively the Ghanaian educational system was able to prepare young people for the job market.

"It's about the experience and the output, not just the titles." Someone who has built a business will have a stronger impact on you, he says.

He said that this approach would produce better results because most of those teachers would be better prepared to meet both local and international standards as a consequence of their increased understanding.

According to the TEI's Lead Vice President, most of these professors would advocate fieldwork because of their experience in helping students gain clarity about the subject or issue, and that clarity lasts with them for a longer period of time.

He emphasized that every educational theory should be supported by how it may be applied in laboratories or in real life, claiming that practicality leads to expertise in the corresponding discipline.

He stated that practicality leads to competence and that when pupils perform the same activity again and rigorously, they learn how to apply principles and repair their faults in order to improve their skills.

Mrs. Yanyi-Ampah also pushed educational institutions to develop human resources holistically for the global market.

"The essence of modern education is to uncover skills and completely equip graduates to provide solutions to society's numerous problems." Any educational system that generates graduates that contribute to societal problems must reconsider its mandates.

"Ghana and Africa require pragmatic youth who are prepared to weather the storm, explore global opportunities and resources, and apply them to domestic challenges," Mrs. Yanyi-Ampah added.

She stated that the foundation would continue to support and motivate students around the world this year through educational initiatives, mentorship, and scholarship possibilities.

The foundation seeks partnerships with important stakeholders to give the resources and means for a quality education, which is a necessary component for students all around the world, beginning in Ghana, to enter the global marketplace.

"Our mission is to provide hope, inspire, motivate, and encourage the students with whom we work to pursue academic excellence." We provide students with the opportunity to thrive throughout their education in order to progress their country and the globe as a whole.

"Through the Tebah Private Donor Award Scholarship scheme, we offer scholarship opportunities, provide self-awareness mentorship programmes, and encourage students in self-development activities by engaging them in debates, sports, and other extracurricular activities," she explained.

"We have high expectations and hopes for our students," Mrs Yanyi-AMpah said of the effort. We are creating a culture in which they can use their abilities and talents in their studies while being guided to become effective future leaders."

-CDA Consult || Contributor
The Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has issued a caution to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, urging him to abort any plan to deploy Ghanaian troops to troubled Niger.

The plea is in response to the potential participation of Ghana in an ECOWAS-led military intervention following the recent coup in Niger.

The West African region has been finding ways to deal with the coup in Niger, which has prompted leaders from ECOWAS to contemplate the deployment of a 'standby force' to assist in restoring democracy to the troubled nation.

However, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has voiced his concerns over the President's approach to this delicate situation.

Taking to Facebook on Sunday, August 13, 2023, Mr Ablakwa said President Akufo-Addo's reluctance to present his Niger Policy before the Ghanaian Parliament for comprehensive scrutiny is a concerning affront to democratic principles.

He stated, Akufo-Addos refusal to submit his Niger Policy to Parliament for thorough scrutiny by the peoples elected representatives is most undemocratic and awfully reckless".

Read full statement below:


The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justices (CHRAJ) doors are open wide for anyone who smells corrupt practices at work or at any public institution to walk in and report.

We will protect your identity and conduct our own investigations, Mr. Richard A. Quayson, CHRAJ Deputy Commissioner has stated.

In order to combat corruption, Mr. Quayson said that "it is time to infuse fearless honesty into the national behaviour and ignite collective sustained action with coordinated efforts.

We cannot work across purposes," so state and non-state institutions must collaborate on accountability and transparency strategies in public, private, and non-profit institutions.

Mr. Quayson made this statement during an interaction at the Ghana News Agency Tema Industrial News Hub Boardroom Dialogue platform. "We must all collectively move away from the talk, talk, and act on issues of corruption, and we must report an incident of corruption from our workplaces," he said.

The commissioner was speaking on the subject: "Is the fight against corruption a mirage or a reality 30 years in the fourth republic? At the event which was monitored by the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) in Tema.

"We can only fight it when everyone opens their eyes wide and uses their common sense to oppose corrupt practices," he stated.

The National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP) rollover initiatives, according to him, aim to increase public awareness of corruption, make it a high-risk, low-gain activity, and tighten the noose around it.

The CHRAJ Deputy Commissioner added that the fight against corruption depends on institutionalizing effectiveness, accountability, and transparency in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors; involving people, the media, and civil society organizations in the detection and eradication of corruption; and carrying out efficient investigations and legal actions against corrupt behaviour.

The public is getting more skeptical about the government's commitment to effectively combating the problem of corruption as it is perceived to be on the rise.

"Due to inadequate understanding of the complex mixture of factors implicated in corruption, lack of public participation in the development and implementation of the anti-corruption measures, and failure to foster local ownership in the formulation and implementation of the various strategies, confidence in the integrity of public office is quickly eroding.

"Lack of effective and sustained coordination in the implementation of anti-corruption measures; and lackadaisical government commitment to, and limited support for, the implementation of anti-corruption strategies," he said.

Mr. Quayson remarked that the patrimonial nature of Ghanaian society, where informal relationships, familial ties, and social reciprocity are expressed in degrees of favoritism, cronyism, and nepotism, is mostly responsible for fostering and influencing corruption.

He said that Ghana's social and economic institutions "exhibit a complex interplay between the traditional and the modern."

He claimed that in forming our social and economic institutions, cultural considerations also play a significant role.

"It is believed that the culture of gift-giving and gift-taking, which is employed in our culture to strengthen social and business ties, fosters corruption.

The patronage system also has a fundamental impact on the formal system, leading to inconsistencies between how institutions should function in theory and how they really function, as informal practices take the place of formal structures.

As a result, "political competition and public administration frequently seem to be governed more by personal ties than by formal rules."

According to Mr. Francis Ameyibor, Regional Manager of the GNA in Tema, the media is crucial in uncovering corruption, reporting on it, and garnering support for efforts to stop it.

"The fight against corruption requires free, independent media with proper access to information. The only way to create a climate where corruption is a high-risk, low-reward endeavour is to expose instances of it, according to Mr. Ameyibor.

Additionally, Mr. Ameyibor advised the media to refrain from bias and sensationalism while reporting on the prevalence of corruption because such reporting could impair the effectiveness of anti-corruption organizations to combat corruption in a productive manner.

-CDA Consult || Contributor
The minority in parliament has said President Nana Akufo-Addo must address the nation on the GHS60.8 billion loss of the Bank of Ghana in 2022 as well as the GHS55.1 billion equity recorded for the same period.

"Given the unprecedented collapse of our central bank, it is imperative for the President of Ghana to urgently address the nation", Minority Leader Cassiel Ato Forson said on Facebook.

He said: "During this address, the President should outline the decisive actions that the government plans to implement in order to restore solvency to the Bank of Ghana".

The minority has given BoG Governor Ernest Addison a 21-day ultimatum to resign from office or they would storm tye central bank to chase him out.

Responding to the minority, Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu described as misplaced, the caucus' concerns about the Governor of the Bank of Ghana's "mismanagement" of the central bank.

Speaking on the matter, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu admonished the minority against making "everything about NPP and NDC".

The Suame MP told Oman FM: "Ato Forson should have known better because he has held the position of deputy minister of finance before and knows the operations of the Bank of Ghana.

So, if you politicise issues of the BoG, it is not good for the country".

He said: "There is no law that mandates the BoG to report its daily activities to parliament", adding: "The law only mandates the BoG to report foreign exchange receipts to parliament and the BoG has always complied to this provision".

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said the central bank "does not report directly to parliament".

The Constitution,he argued, "says that if you pass any law that is inconsistent with the Constitution, that law is null and void", pointing out: "It's either the minority are over exaggerating issues or have not had time to examine the facts of the matter".

The minister of parliamentary affairs said the "response from the BoG addresses all the inconsistencies and falsehoods peddled against the institution".

He acknowledged that: "Yes, the country went through some difficulties which required that the BoG must intervene", arguing: "If not the international reserves built by the BoG, which was close to GHS10 billion, we would have really suffered".

"The BoG supported the country with about GHS4 billion of its GHS10 billion international reserves to support the situation", Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu noted.

He said, "Sri Lanka found itself in the same economic situation but because its central bank was not in a position to support, their situation got worse and have still not ben able to recover".

"If the BoG supports the country to recover, it is unfair to call for the head of the governor because they made losses", he underscored.

"The concerns of the minority are misplaced", Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu insisted, stressing: "The BoG has been in parliament to already explain why it is building a new head office".

"The West African Monetary Zone has been relocated to Ghana and it operates within the precincts of BoG but that has not been possible because of the limited space at the BoG.

"So, the building of the new head office is expected to address this as well".

"Also, the countries in West Africa have thrown their weight behind Ghana to host the head quarters of the secretariat to deal with the agenda towards a single currency".

"So, the building of the new head office is also expected to help in this direction".

Source: classfmonline.com
14.08.2023 LISTEN

The resignation of the Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Jerry Kofi Hinson, on health grounds has sparked controversy in the oil and gas industry.

Mr Hinson submitted his resignation letter to the board of directors of the refinery on Friday 11 August 2023.

Jerry Kofi Hinson, a former Executive Director of Minecom, who was responsible for the oil and gas business unit, was appointed as the Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery in March 2022.

He was the fourth MD of TOR under the administration of President Akufo-Addo. He took over the job from former managing director, Francis Boateng, and his deputy, Ato Morrison, who were both dismissed from office in June 2021.

Unconfirmed sources said he was forced to pull out following power play at the moribund company.

There is power play among some unseen hands over which company should have a stake in TOR in its revamping process.

Before his appointment in March 2022, a three-member Interim Management Committee (IMC) was appointed by the Minister for Energy, Matthew Opoku Prempeh, to steer the affairs of the refinery following the dismissal of the previous MD and his deputy.

Mr Hinson, who has over 25 years work experience in a major Oil and Gas Company (Royal Dutch Shell), with global experience in Assets Development and Hydrocarbon Resource Management, is said to have cited health reasons for his resignation.

Speaking on behalf of the board of directors of TOR, Dr. Kofi Amoa-Abban, thanked the outgoing MD for his service to the company and wished him good health and success in his future endeavors.

Meanwhile, the board of TOR has appointed Ernest Owusu-Sekyere, the Deputy Managing Director of the company, to act as the interim MD until a substantive MD is appointed.

Mr. Owusu-Sekyere has over 15 years' experience in the oil and gas industry and is expected to help lead the company during this period of transition.

The company is yet to release an official statement on the resignation of Mr Kofi Hinson.

-DGN online
AUGUST 14, 2023 - World Animal Protection is today calling on the South African Government to stand by its commitment to shut down the countrys cruel commercial captive lion breeding industry for good.

The international NGO has received evidence from anonymous sources on unregulated off grid lion farms who described unimaginable animal suffering. They also detailed how the facilities are using South Africas legal lion breeding and canned hunting industry to cover their involvement in the illegal international export of lion bones for use in traditional Asian medicine.

Their gathered evidence includes:

Lions kept in decrepit, filthy, and barren enclosures littered with old food carcasses and piles of faeces.

Lions and tigers slaughtered and processed on-site, with up to four animals processed by each labourer per day at both facilities during busy periods.

Lions severely neglected and starved to save farm owners money  resulting in instances of lion cannibalism, including how desperately hungry lions attacked and ate another adult lion at a facility.

Inhumane and unhygienic slaughter processes, with lions entrails spilled over the floor, and skin peeled back from their paws and skulls.

Low paid farm staff working in unsafe conditions without protective gear and at high risk of suffering an accident or being infected with zoonotic diseases.

World Animal Protections Global Head of Wildlife Research, Dr. Neil DCruze, said: Even as experienced researchers, we were deeply disturbed by the cruel practices taking place. It is sickening to see these majestic mammals reduced to mere commodities kept in merciless conditions.

Although the commercial captive breeding and canned hunting of lions remains legal, though poorly regulated in South Africa, the export of lion skeletons - including claws and teeth  was declared unconstitutional by the South African High Court in 2019.

In 2021, the South African Government announced its intention to immediately halt the domestication and exploitation of lions, and to ultimately close all captive lion facilities in South Africa.

But in late 2022, the government backtracked on its commitment and instructed a Ministerial Task Team to develop and implement a voluntary exit strategy and pathways for captive lion facilities.

Lack of enforcement of regulations and clarity on the future of the industry, has left a legal grey area, enabling some farms to operate what on the surface appear to be legitimate captive lion breeding and canned trophy hunting businesses - but which in reality supply the illegal international big cat bone trade facilitated by organised crime gangs.

While the skins, paws and skulls are handed over to the canned hunters as prized trophies, the skeletons are left to dry in the sun, packaged and sold to Asian buyers who regularly visit the off-grid breeding farms.

Dr. Neil DCruze continued: This new intelligence gathered by brave sources confirms what was previously suspected - these well-established legal operations are plugged secretly into unethical practices and an illicit international trade network.

According to sources  whose identities World Animal Protection and local partner NGO Blood Lions are protecting - staff and their families are routinely threatened with violence to maintain their silence about the cruelty and illegal bone trade.

It is estimated that between 8,000-12,000 lions and other big cats, including tigers, are bred and kept in captivity in more than 350 facilities across the country.

Dr. Neil DCruze added: A voluntary phase out of the industry alone wont be enough to halt the commercial exploitation of captive lions in South Africa. We now know some off grid lion farms go to great lengths to avoid detection.

Facilities use various tactics like security cameras, patrols and messaging apps to avoid detection during inspections to conceal illegal activities.

Dr. Louise de Waal, Director, and Campaign Manager of Blood Lions said: We urge the South African government to make good on their 2021 decision and bring a mandatory time-bound end to the commercial captive lion industry, which will make detecting and preventing the illegal trade easier at the same time. Only then our reputation as a leader in conservation be restored, and the welfare of the countrys captive lions and other big cats ensured.

World Animal Protection and Blood Lions have handed their findings to the South African Government.

South African citizens are encouraged to add their voice and call on the South Africa Government to phase out the captive lion breeding industry by registering their support at https://www.pridenotcruelty.co.za/ We also advise tourists and visitors to avoid venues and attractions that cruelly exploit lions and other big cats for entertainment, such as cub petting and walking with lions.
14.08.2023 LISTEN

Is the Junta uprising an opportunity to create the Federation of West African States? In as much as I do not ascribe to any military proroguing democratic structures, I must say a window of opportunity has been created to help start the process of West African Political and economical unity. It is about time we have a federal system with a powerful central government in West Africa(W/A) and by extension in Africa.

If I known of any selfless and disciplined group of people, I would most likely count on most W/A armies. I believe that the motivation for Traore of Burkina Faso, Goita of Mali, Doumbouya of Guinea, and Tiani of Niger was not necessarily born out of the desire to obtain power but basically to establish a foundation for the prosperity of their people. If that be the case, I believe the current coup leaders are best positioned to bring the unionist dream of one West Africa into fruition under their unceremoniously and spontaneous ascension to power.

It is important to note the apparent swift manner to which the current military leadership adhere to the principles of Solidarity when they were threatened by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and foreign fraternities in an extraordinary summit on Niger on 30th July, 2023 at Abuja Nigeria; the cohesive approach under which the military juntas of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Guinea sounded a clear resistance warning to ECOWAS and their appendix was very interesting; the question is, can this energy be channeled towards uniting the block under one leadership for the common good of W/A? ECOWAS was meant to bring this dream of unity into reality, however for many decades the body has failed to achieve this task; for example, convergence criteria for a common currency has become delusional as the body keeps postponing its implementation date year after year. As it stands now, there is limited hope of a political union within ECOWAS, and the largely corrupt elites, seeing what is prevailing in the sub region with respect to the military takeovers, are afraid for the stability of their own governments.

ECOWAS must come to the realization that, attempting to use force against Niger risk creating an even greater paranoia of stability in the sub region, with a potential perpetuity of hostilities; Who benefits from such a scenario? Your guess is as good as mine. Can ECOWAS reflect on what happened to Liberia and Sierra Leone in the past? What of Libya, and now Sudan, and other areas in the region which have only seen conflict and suffering in the past decades? Therefore any actions by ECOWAS should be carefully thought through. Let me emphatically state that in as much as ECOWAS citizens have embraced democracy, they do not ascribe to corruption and poverty. They simply want their lives to be better under efficient leaders; not leaders who sell their citizen for a better life for themselves, families, and associates. There is a precedence of Chiefs selling their fellow blacks to enrich their pockets in our part of the world, and the buyers know that there would be such people always in our mist as Africans, so they exploit this and sponsor such people to become our leaders ( most of these people are now our presidents). So ECOWAS must comprehend that its citizens currently careless about the form of governance superintending over them, they just want sincere leaders that are not manipulated by foreign powers and could win back sovereignty. ECOWAS must not miscalculate because the majority of its people do not support military intervention which in actual fact would be planned, financed, and executed by foreign powers with our Soldiers as sacrificial lambs on the ground.

The message is very simple, the African is tired of neo colonialism which leaves the masses of its people poor and dripping off the left overs of looted resources by foreign powers. The attitude of Africans to the Russia - Ukraine conflict says it all; it is not that African condone the infringing of territorial integrity of a sovereign state, but they have seen the double standards on the Kosovo and Palestinian issues, among others. World powers cannot continue to survive on the resources of Africa at the detriment of its people, whiles it paints a backward, primitive, and disease stricken image for the continent through its strong media empire, and doing very little to support them.

If the great powers wants to secure its future with Africa, they should do to it as they have done to the Arabian dessert, yet respecting its culture, values, and norms. it is about time it sees the continent as a partner and an equal one as such. If these powers would consider a philosophical doctrine which seeks a win-win situation with Africa, then there may be a harmonious relation ahead of us.

The Message to African leaders is that we cant have abundance of wealth and yet keep our people poor; how can we negotiate resource deals where we have just around 1-10 % stake as leaders of the continent? How can we just sell off our Uranium, Oil, Gold, Bauxite, etc. without maximizing the benefits of having such resources? How can the rest of Africa allow themselves to wallop in this cycle of Master and Servant relationships? It is a wake-up call for the African Continent.

Today, the coupe leaders should know that the masses have repose their trust in them and are prepared to go down the path of hardship with them, but it shall not be long when the economy begins to bite as a result of sanctions, the euphoria would tend to criticisms, and if they care to know, counter coups may occur; thats when they may realize that if they did not mean to really revolutionaries the system, perhaps they should have allowed the so called democratic systems to remain in place in their respective countries. If the junta leaders are not convinced of this prognosis, they should go to the grave site to ask Flt. Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings, General Sanni Abacha, Capt. Blaise Campaore, and others. As they are being hailed today, they shall not enjoy the honeymoon forever, it is therefore a call for all the Junta leaders to unite and think outside the box. Russia and China are friendly nation to partner with for development, but it should be noted that the West is not an enemy either; they only seek for their own interest and that of their people, therefore how can we position ourselves to seek the interest of our people without antagonizing the west with unnecessary jargons and fist fights?

Do we want to learn as Africans? Then we must go to the Indians to take some lessons.

By Joseph Ankamah

Freelance writer (Ghana)

Email: [email protected]
The military coup in Niger has opened up a door that has the potential to write African history for a brighter future new again. Ousted Niger President Bazoum is to face trial for treason. Helping countries like Germany, France, the USA, etc. sit on the bench with him. If the trial is accurate and not biased bringing out facts based on evidence that the democratically elected Niger president worked for himself as a puppet of Western white nations the alarm bell will hang over Africa for all in heaven and on earth to hear for generations to come.

ECOWAS has threatened Niger to intervene with force if ousted President Bazoum is not reinstated by yesterday, Sunday. The ultimatum has passed (13.08.23) no action taken today (14.08.23). While Senegal is very aggressive to move ahead with military intervention as the -female- Foreign Minister had said last week (why no intervention in Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso?) yet the aging new president of Nigeria is facing opposition in his country against any such attempt.

If ECOWAS is not sending troops into Niger the organization will be seen and treated like the house of jokers and never be able to be taken seriously anymore.

If the ousted Niger President gets a fair and most accurate trial all cards will be put on the table. All surrounding presidents of Africa will shake only a few stands unmoved. It will send a dramatic shockwave across the African continent.

When all cards from all parties in the trial are on the table, on record, and TV recorded foreign nations need winter jumpers in late European summer as it gets cold and nasty. Facts unknown to the people of Europe kept from the naked eye of the EU voters might find out the real truth based on facts.

Most likely that this scenario is seen as a disturbing factor for which reason EU leaders possibly put pressure on ECOWAS not to challenge the coup leaders' position but rather keep the dirt under the carpet. To lose the face of a "working" ECOWAS seems to be easier acceptable than losing a kingdom that can be taken for granted and looted.

At this stage predicting the outcome of the process is hard to undertake. Military coup leaders are not known to have the tools at hand for a new constitution, set up of government, or financial planning to make it work in practical terms.
Madagascar's chief of staff and an "associate" have been arrested in Britain on suspicion of seeking a bribe from a British mining company to secure licences to operate in Madagascar.

Romy Andrianarisoa, 46, the top aide to Madagascan President Andry Rajoelina, and Philippe Tabuteau, 54, have been charged with bribery offences in Britain following a "fast-paced" police investigation, the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) said Monday.

The pair were remanded in custody on Saturday, two days after being arrested in central London "at a meeting where they are suspected of having attempted to solicit a bribe", the NCA said.

Andrianarisoa and Tabuteau, a French national, were seeking around 225,000 ($285,000) in "upfront charges", as well as a five-percent equity stake in a proposed licence deal on the island nation off the southeastern coast of Africa, it said.

According to the Financial Times, which broke the story on Sunday evening, the latter request was for a stake in all the Madagascan projects of Gemfields.

The NCA, which targets serious and organised crime in Britain and internationally, said its probe began after the mining firm, Gemfields, "raised concerns" with the agency.

"Following a fast-paced investigation into suspected bribery in action, Andrianarisoa and Tabuteau were arrested in the Victoria area of London on Thursday afternoon," it added.

If convicted, they could each face up to 10 years in prison.

No further details about the alleged offences were provided.

Andy Kelly, head of the NCA's international corruption unit, praised Gemfields for "bringing this matter to our attention and for their ongoing cooperation with the investigation".

"Their quick reactions to engage the NCA have been critical to our ability to pursue this case," he added.

Gemfields did not respond immediately to a request for comment by AFP.

'Extreme corruption'

The Madagascan presidency announced in a Monday statement that Andrianarisoa, "in view of the situation", had been "relieved of her duties with immediate effect".

The chief of staff had officially been on leave since last week, the presidency said, adding that "the Malagasy authorities do not know the reasons for her trip to the United Kingdom".

The event comes as Madagascar gears up to go to the polls to re-elect Rajoelina or pick a successor on November 9, the first round of the presidential election.

Rajoelina has not yet officially announced his candidacy, and is facing questions over his dual French nationality.

Under local law if a person acquires foreign citizenship, he or she automatically loses the Madagascan nationality, and cannot stand for public office in any election.

Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, one of the Madagascan leader's rivals in the presidential election, seized on the arrests.

"This case is just one example of the extreme corruption that plagues our country to the detriment of all," he said, adding that Rajoelina "must go, for the good of my country".

Andrianarisoa and Tabuteau were each charged with one count of requesting, agreeing to receive or accepting a bribe, under Britain's 2010 Bribery Act.

Last month, NGO Transparency International published recommendations for the candidates in the presidential election, cautioning "the sprawling nature of the ramifications of corruption in Madagascar, and the intensity of the political and judicial protection that surrounds them, favouring impunity".

In 2018, a few months before the previous presidential election, Madagascar experienced a political crisis triggered by the adoption of controversial electoral laws, which led to the prosecution for corruption of 79 MPs suspected of taking bribes.

Last year authorities announced a probe into the lychee trade after a report from the NGO alleging evidence of corruption, tax fraud and other offences.

The watchdog ranked Madagascar 142nd of 180 countries in its 2022 corruption perceptions index.

Gemfields, which mines and markets coloured gemstones, specialises in emeralds mined from Zambia and rubies from Mozambique, according to its website.

It does not currently operate any mines in Madagascar but owns Madagascar-based Oriental Mining, which does reportedly hold licences to mine there.

The pair, who appeared before a British court on Saturday, will be in detention until a further hearing at Southwark Crown Court on September 8.
14.08.2023 LISTEN

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) says it will on Wednesday, August 16 vet parliamentary aspirants in ten constituencies where primaries were put on hold.

The Party on Saturday, August 12, 2023, closed nominations for ten out of the 18 constituencies which could not participate in the May 13, 2023, national parliamentary primaries due to unresolved issues.

The ten constituencies are: Tano North, Manhyia South, Mampong, Fomena, Adanse Asokwa, Afram Plains South, Ayensuano, Abuakwa North, Lower West Akim, and Akwatia.

The Party will hold primaries in the aforementioned constituencies on 25th and 26th August 2023.

Mr Daniel Amartey Mensah, the acting Director of Elections of the NDC, told the Ghana News Agency that all was set for the vetting of aspirants for the ten cleared constituencies on Wednesday.

He said the Party was putting measures in place to resolve outstanding issues to enable the remaining eight constituencies to hold their primaries by next month.

The Party believes that there are few outstanding issues we need to resolve. It is important for us to resolve those issues before we move on, Mr Mensah said.

The NDC initially planned to hold parliamentary elections in 276 constituencies, including the Santrokofi-Akpafu-Lolobi-Likpe (SALL) on May 13, 2023, but could not conduct the elections in some of the constituencies due to unresolved grievances among other internal issues.

The Party last Tuesday gave the green light for ten out of the 18 suspended constituencies to hold their primaries to elect candidates to represent the party in the 2024 general elections.

GNA
Over 600 students of the Kumasi Technical University (KsTU) are appealing to Universitys management to reconsider its decision asking them to defer their programmes following their inability to register for their courses.

A total of 648 students who have not registered for their courses are not participating in the ongoing end-of-semester examination and will automatically defer their courses.

The affected students although admit their failure to register for the courses, they are seeking the Universitys management to tamper justice with mercy.

I paid the fees late, and I wasnt able to do the registration. The day we were writing the exams, they said it was a deadline, but we didnt see any notice. After paying the fees, we were asked to pay the penalty which was GH100, we were told to go to IT for registration, but we were told they had closed registration when we reached there. We reported to the registrar, and he told us that there was nothing he can do about it. They later said they will have a meeting and get back to us, they later told us that we have to defer.

Meanwhile, management says the Universitys Academic Board decided several deadlines issued to the students to register for their courses.

Acting University Relations officer for the Kumasi Technical University, Joshua Appiah, in an interview with Citi News said, Students are supposed to register, and the university will know the number of students who have registered. This semester, thats the 2nd semester of the 2022/2023 academic year, the registration period was for 2 weeks, which ended May 29. By May 24, the university sent a notice reminding them to register.

After the deadline of May 29, there was an extension to June 5, with a penalty for those who havent registered to do so and pay a penalty to register. After June 5, there was another extension for them to register. It even went on further to June and July, the SRC even came to plead with management, even though the time elapsed. The final date was up to August 3.

He debunked claims that the affected students are over 2,000 as reported by some media outlets.

For now about 648 students are affected not 2,000 as speculated, even with the 648, it might be lesser than that. If you defer your money hasnt been lost, you can still come back next semester to continue your education. Nobody has been deferred from the university.

-citinewsroom
Private legal practitioner, Mr Martin Kpebu has applauded late President John Evans Atta Mills, describing his political records as unmatched.

According to Lawyer Martin Kpebu, apart from the late president politicians in Ghana now are only made up of crooks who are entangled in corruption.

Speaking to Asempa FM, he argued that these political crooks are found in not just the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) but in the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) awaiting to clinch power to continue their illegal act.

Politicians are usually crooksbad boys and girls. NDC, NPP, all of them are crooks. Apart from Atta Mills who did not steal from us, the rest are crooks...Atta Mills was an honest man, the rest have been dribbled with corruption.

We must have a special session on politicians and profile them, otherwise they would keep deceiving Ghanaians, these are crooks, Lawyer Martin Kpebu said.

The private legal practitioner continued, You would be there and your classmate who is not even doing well like you are, gets a position and all of a sudden, he builds a mansion. These guys are causing us headaches.

Since last year, Lawyer Martin Kpebu has been very critical of the ruling NPP government.

He has been a key member of a number of activist groups demanding accountability from government.

He holds the view that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has disappointed the Ghanaian people after promising so much hope.

For now, he wants Ghanaians to cope with the hardships and vote out the ruling NPP government in the 2024 General Elections.
14.08.2023 LISTEN

First, Nigeria hasnt gotten the money to squander on stupid military misadventures. It is virtually a bankrupt nation, ran aground by the insatiable greed of its otiose political elites. Long-suffering Nigerian workers have tried to ameliorate their depressing economic situations by calling for numerous strikes.

Nigerians cannot remember the last time their economic outlook had look gloomier!

The question for the analysts who argued that Nigeria as the Giant of Africa should project power is: In which parallel universe do these miseducated buffoons inhabit? Anyone who is not cocooned behind an academic wall, and has traveled around the ECOWAS subregion will not know that Nigeria is considered a Failed Lilliputian.

The delusions of grandeur, while true in the 1970s, are long gone. No thanks to the sad parade of insatiably greedy and corrupt leaders that misruled the country!

Even if Tinubu were to magically conjure up the money, how will he sell his intervention to very angry and restless Nigerians who find it difficult to put garri (one of Nigerias cheapest staple food) on the table? How will he justify expending humongous money to send troops to go and rescue a French puppet in Niamey?

Lets also not forget that even the legitimacy of Tinubus presidency is yet to be determined by the tribunal. A leader whose election is being hotly contested is hardly one to give preachments on the sanctity of democracy!

Lets also not forget that the alacrity with which Tinubu rallied to become the loudest Chihuahua of the Wests interests in Nigeria only lead credibility to the perception that the West had some heavy dirt on his past shenanigans which they might release to spoil his case at the Election Tribunal

Second, and more importantly, any stupid mistake to invade Niger will engulf the whole of West Africa in uncontrollable firestorms! Anyone who lives in West Africa will be aware that the region sits on a tinderbox!

Third, any intervention will not carry popular support; the politicians have hugely disappointed the people. No dividend has been redounded to the masses from their huge investment in democracy!

Honestly, the spectacle of ECOWAS leaders in their expensive Agbadas (flowing gowns) and their ultra-expensive foreign-made limousines calling emergency meetings not to discuss the economic plight of their sub-region, or the abysmal (almost sub-human) poverty of a good portion of their citizens is just unconscionable.

The question beggared is: Do these so-called leaders have no shame at all? Do they not see how ridiculous they look to the rest of the world, as they huff and puff over the termination of one of their members in the country that is widely considered the poorest in the West?

Fourth, Per International law, the only body which is authorized to sanction a military intervention in a sovereign country is the United Nations Security Council.

How will Tinubu and his fellow dreamers get a UNSC vote without Russia and China vetoing them to kingdom come? Or, will they allow themselves to be goaded by their curators in the West to compound their folly with more illegality?

Do these leaders forget that the ECOWAS was supposed to be an Economic Union of Sovereign Nations? Or, which provision of the ECOWAS Treaty gave them, or anybody, the power to intervene in the internal affairs of a member - militarily or otherwise?

Fifth, the very suggestion of military intervention in Niger has already shredded any notion of ECOWAS unity; it has split the organization, with Mali and Burkina Faso saying that they will consider any attack on Niger as a declaration of war. Both Algeria and Egypt (with powerful armies) also said that they will not countenance any intervention by ECOWAS - they, (unlike the ECOWAS leaders) probably remember the effects that the destruction of Libya had on their countries.

Today, Cape Verde publicly voiced its opposition to any attack on Niger. So, where does that leave Generalissimo Tinubu who wants to play Napoleon?

Another question: Will Tinubu risk an African World War so early in his presidency?

Sixth, The Ethnic Factor: Like in almost all of Africa, European cartographers who shredded the continent in 1884 paid no heed to the national/ethnic composition of the societies they arbitrarily carved into the colonial garrisons that they called countries. The result is that many tribes have more loyalty to their tribal groups than to these colonial inventions called countries. In the case of Nigeria, the Hausas formed large segments of the population of both countries. It is difficult to imagine the Hausa in Nigeria slaughtering their people in Niger on behalf of a French puppet.

The Senators from Northern Nigeria managed to persuade their colleagues to reject Tinubus warmongering stance. The governors of the Nigerian states that border Niger have come out to denounce any threat of war. Many tribal and religious leaders in the North have all come out against the war. Yesterday, the city of Kano witnessed a mammoth rally against war.

What type of democratic leader would Tinubu be were he to ignore his citizens' rejection of war and launch his war? The question an honest observer should ask is what democratic credentials does a man like Tinubu, whose secret police, the DSS, routinely ignore, courts' orders? Two examples are those of pro-Biafran leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who was illegally abducted in Kenya, and the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.

Perhaps, more importantly, the major question that Tinubu failed, so far, to articulate to Nigerians is: What dog does Nigeria have in Nigers internal affairs?

Apart from a desire to satisfy his handlers/curators in the West, why exactly does Tinubu want to wage war on Niger?

ECOWAS Misleaders should not doubt that the words of the junta leader in Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Traore: A slave that does not rebel does not deserve pity. The AU must stop condemning Africans who decide to fight against their own puppet regimes of the West. resonates greatly with the African masses.

Tinubu and his fellow leaders should come out and tell West Africans why we should continue to give away our national patrimony to foreign concerns at thieving prices. They should also inform us what their understanding of independence and sovereignty is if foreigners control our natural resources.

Lastly, it is simply beyond belief that ECOWAS appears to lack the intelligence to know that only foreign arms merchants will reap any benefit from any confrontation in Africa.
At least 26 members of the Nigerian security forces were killed and eight wounded in an ambush by gunmen in central Nigeria late Sunday, two military sources told AFP.

Additionally, an air force spokesman said a helicopter rescuing the wounded crashed on Monday morning in the area, where the army is fighting criminal groups, without specifying whether the crew and passengers had survived.

The two military officers asked not to be identified because they were not authorised to speak on the incident while military authorities were not available for comment.

"We lost 23 soldiers, including three officers, and three Civilians JTF (vigilantes) in the encounter while eight soldiers were injured," said the first source, following "a serious fight" along the Zungeru-Tegina highway.

A second officer gave the same toll and said the bandits also suffered "heavy casualties". He also said that communication had been lost with an air force helicopter dispatched to evacuate the casualties, with 11 of the dead and seven of the injured aboard.

He said the helicopter was carrying 11 of the dead and seven of the wounded. He added that the aircraft had crashed because of gunfire from "bandits".

A Nigerian air force spokesman confirmed that its Mi-171 helicopter while on a "casualty evacuation mission" crashed on Monday after take-off from Zungeru.

"The aircraft had departed Zungeru Primary School enroute for Kaduna but was later discovered to have crashed near Chukuba Village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State," spokesman Edward Gabkwet said in a statement.

He said efforts were under way to rescue those aboard and that preliminary investigations had been opened into the cause of the crash.

Barely a week goes by in Africa's most populous nation without attacks or kidnappings by criminals known as "bandits" in the northwest and centre of the country.

The gangs, who have been notorious for mass school abductions, maintain camps in a vast forest straddling the states of Niger, Kaduna, Zamfara and Katsina.

Northwest and central Nigeria have for years been terrorised by bandits who raid remote villages where they kill and abduct residents for ransom, as well as burn homes after looting them.

Impunity as well as insufficient security and wider government presence has allowed the violence to fester, experts say.
BlackRock Enhanced Global Dividend Trust (NYSE:BOE  Get Free Report) saw a large increase in short interest in the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 17,400 shares, an increase of 87.1% from the July 15th total of 9,300 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 114,700 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.2 days.

Institutional Trading of BlackRock Enhanced Global Dividend Trust

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in BOE. Raymond James & Associates grew its holdings in BlackRock Enhanced Global Dividend Trust by 5.7% during the first quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 347,898 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,935,000 after acquiring an additional 18,697 shares during the period. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. grew its stake in shares of BlackRock Enhanced Global Dividend Trust by 4.0% during the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 87,728 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $992,000 after purchasing an additional 3,393 shares during the period. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. increased its holdings in shares of BlackRock Enhanced Global Dividend Trust by 20.6% during the 1st quarter. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. now owns 15,231 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $173,000 after purchasing an additional 2,602 shares in the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of BlackRock Enhanced Global Dividend Trust by 2.6% in the 1st quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 67,042 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $758,000 after purchasing an additional 1,670 shares during the period. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. boosted its holdings in BlackRock Enhanced Global Dividend Trust by 32.6% during the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 15,170 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $171,000 after buying an additional 3,730 shares in the last quarter.

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BlackRock Enhanced Global Dividend Trust Trading Down 0.7 %

Shares of BlackRock Enhanced Global Dividend Trust stock traded down $0.07 on Friday, reaching $9.96. 108,569 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 143,755. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $10.02 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $10.02. BlackRock Enhanced Global Dividend Trust has a twelve month low of $8.52 and a twelve month high of $10.61.

BlackRock Enhanced Global Dividend Trust Announces Dividend

BlackRock Enhanced Global Dividend Trust Company Profile

The firm also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, August 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.063 per share. This represents a $0.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.59%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 14th.

(Get Free Report)

BlackRock Enhanced Global Dividend Trust is a closed ended equity mutual fund launched by BlackRock, Inc The fund is co-managed by BlackRock Advisors, LLC and BlackRock International Limited. It invests in public equity markets across the globe. The fund seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors.

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Grupo Financiero Banorte, S.A.B. de C.V. (OTCMKTS:GBOOY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest in the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 8,900 shares, an increase of 89.4% from the July 15th total of 4,700 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 32,900 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.3 days.

Grupo Financiero Banorte Trading Down 1.7 %

OTCMKTS:GBOOY traded down $0.75 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $43.43. The company had a trading volume of 8,970 shares, compared to its average volume of 15,849. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $43.15 and its 200-day simple moving average is $42.32. Grupo Financiero Banorte has a 12-month low of $28.60 and a 12-month high of $47.63.

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Grupo Financiero Banorte Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 23rd. Investors of record on Friday, June 16th were issued a $2.0135 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, June 15th. This is a positive change from Grupo Financiero Banortes previous dividend of $1.33. This represents a yield of 7.41%.

About Grupo Financiero Banorte

Grupo Financiero Banorte, SAB. de C.V., through its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial products and services in Mexico. The company offers payroll accounts and credit cards; car, mortgage, payroll, and personal credit banorte; and savings and investment products. It also provides insurance products, including life, home, auto, health, savings, credit card, mobile equipment, and mortgage credit insurance; foreign exchange services; and online and mobile banking services.

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Keeley Teton Advisors LLC decreased its position in shares of Air Lease Co. (NYSE:AL  Free Report) by 1.2% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 235,215 shares of the transportation companys stock after selling 2,906 shares during the quarter. Air Lease accounts for about 1.1% of Keeley Teton Advisors LLCs holdings, making the stock its 6th biggest position. Keeley Teton Advisors LLCs holdings in Air Lease were worth $9,260,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Air Lease by 2.0% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 9,709,215 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $301,082,000 after acquiring an additional 194,211 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its stake in Air Lease by 1.5% in the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 6,652,299 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $255,581,000 after buying an additional 98,873 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. lifted its stake in Air Lease by 1.6% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 5,763,177 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $257,324,000 after buying an additional 90,225 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its stake in Air Lease by 36.7% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 5,446,382 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $243,180,000 after buying an additional 1,460,769 shares in the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its stake in Air Lease by 3.9% in the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 4,390,423 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $168,680,000 after buying an additional 162,997 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.61% of the companys stock.

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Air Lease Trading Down 0.1 %

Shares of Air Lease stock traded down $0.06 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $41.48. 173,849 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 623,426. Air Lease Co. has a 52-week low of $30.08 and a 52-week high of $46.20. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.76. The company has a fifty day moving average of $41.90 and a 200-day moving average of $40.83. The company has a current ratio of 0.41, a quick ratio of 0.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.76.

Air Lease Dividend Announcement

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 12th will be issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 11th. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.93%. Air Leases payout ratio is 18.74%.

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Air Lease in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Citigroup upped their target price on Air Lease from $41.00 to $43.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Friday.

Get Our Latest Analysis on AL

Insider Transactions at Air Lease

In other news, EVP Alex A. Khatibi sold 25,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $40.00, for a total transaction of $1,000,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 89,266 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,570,640. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other news, EVP Alex A. Khatibi sold 25,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $40.00, for a total transaction of $1,000,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 89,266 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,570,640. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Yvette Hollingsworth Clark purchased 2,600 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 31st. The stock was bought at an average price of $37.96 per share, with a total value of $98,696.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 19,856 shares in the company, valued at approximately $753,733.76. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders own 6.50% of the companys stock.

Air Lease Company Profile

(Free Report)

Air Lease Corporation, an aircraft leasing company, engages in the purchase and leasing of commercial jet aircraft to airlines worldwide. It also sells aircraft from its fleet to third parties, including other leasing companies, financial services companies, airlines, and other investors. In addition, the company provides fleet management services to investors and owners of aircraft portfolios.

Further Reading

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Allen Investment Management LLC raised its stake in The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW  Free Report) by 16.5% during the first quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 6,466,671 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 916,387 shares during the period. Charles Schwab makes up about 5.7% of Allen Investment Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 5th biggest holding. Allen Investment Management LLCs holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $338,724,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the business. Toronto Dominion Bank raised its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 32,224.4% in the 4th quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 225,994,826 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $18,816,289,000 after acquiring an additional 225,295,680 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 2.3% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 26,658,930 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,215,792,000 after acquiring an additional 606,423 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley raised its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 62.5% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 22,255,649 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,853,005,000 after acquiring an additional 8,563,389 shares during the period. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 107.1% in the 4th quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 16,784,516 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,399,817,000 after acquiring an additional 8,680,289 shares during the period. Finally, Fisher Asset Management LLC increased its stake in Charles Schwab by 3.4% during the 1st quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 16,704,631 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $874,989,000 after buying an additional 545,595 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.77% of the companys stock.

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Charles Schwab Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE SCHW traded down $1.45 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $62.63. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,091,417 shares, compared to its average volume of 17,883,658. The Charles Schwab Co. has a 1-year low of $45.00 and a 1-year high of $86.63. The firms fifty day moving average price is $59.61 and its 200-day moving average price is $60.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.39 and a current ratio of 0.39. The firm has a market cap of $110.87 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.68, a P/E/G ratio of 3.68 and a beta of 0.91.

Charles Schwab Announces Dividend

Charles Schwab ( NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 18th. The financial services provider reported $0.75 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.71 by $0.04. Charles Schwab had a net margin of 33.15% and a return on equity of 27.54%. The business had revenue of $4.66 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.61 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.97 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was down 8.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.28 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 25th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 11th will be issued a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.60%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 10th. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.15%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

SCHW has been the topic of several analyst reports. UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of Charles Schwab from $67.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, July 24th. Raymond James raised shares of Charles Schwab from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $63.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Monday, May 15th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Charles Schwab from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Friday, August 4th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price target on shares of Charles Schwab from $70.00 to $74.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 19th. Finally, Redburn Partners downgraded shares of Charles Schwab from a neutral rating to a sell rating in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Charles Schwab currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $72.09.

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Insider Activity

In other news, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 75,760 shares of Charles Schwab stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $66.60, for a total value of $5,045,616.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman now directly owns 59,672,778 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,974,207,014.80. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other Charles Schwab news, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 75,760 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $66.60, for a total transaction of $5,045,616.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman now directly owns 59,672,778 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,974,207,014.80. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 77,640 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $51.76, for a total transaction of $4,018,646.40. Following the transaction, the chairman now directly owns 59,771,278 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,093,761,349.28. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 225,447 shares of company stock valued at $13,866,915. Company insiders own 6.60% of the companys stock.

About Charles Schwab

(Free Report)

The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services.

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Banco Santander S.A. lifted its stake in shares of Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (NYSEARCA:VGK  Free Report) by 3.4% in the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 443,151 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after buying an additional 14,543 shares during the period. Banco Santander S.A.s holdings in Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF were worth $27,010,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC grew its position in Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF by 327.1% in the 1st quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC now owns 457 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 350 shares during the period. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC acquired a new stake in Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF in the 1st quarter valued at $34,000. Centerpoint Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF in the 1st quarter valued at $37,000. Larson Financial Group LLC grew its position in Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF by 6,256.3% in the 4th quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 1,017 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $56,000 after purchasing an additional 1,001 shares during the period. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC bought a new position in Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF during the 3rd quarter valued at $63,000.

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Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF Stock Down 0.1 %

NYSEARCA:VGK traded down $0.09 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $61.61. 881,077 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,222,714. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $61.99 and its 200-day simple moving average is $61.42. Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF has a one year low of $44.99 and a one year high of $63.81. The company has a market cap of $18.84 billion, a PE ratio of 11.10 and a beta of 0.95.

Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF Profile

Vanguard European Stock Index Fund is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of stocks issued by Companies located in the markets of Europe. The Fund on focuses indexing investment approach by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the common stocks included in the FTSE Developed Europe All Cap Index.

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Brookfield (NYSE:BN  Get Free Report) had its price objective decreased by investment analysts at Royal Bank of Canada from $52.00 to $50.00 in a research report issued on Monday, BayStreet.CA reports. The firm presently has an outperform rating on the stock. Royal Bank of Canadas target price would suggest a potential upside of 45.60% from the companys current price.

A number of other research analysts also recently issued reports on BN. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods downgraded Brookfield from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research note on Friday, May 12th. Canaccord Genuity Group downgraded Brookfield from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, TD Securities increased their price target on Brookfield from $60.00 to $61.00 and gave the stock an action list buy rating in a research note on Monday. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, three have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $49.75.

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Brookfield Stock Down 0.0 %

Shares of BN traded down $0.01 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $34.34. The stock had a trading volume of 954,303 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,426,355. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32, a current ratio of 1.19 and a quick ratio of 1.01. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $33.34 and a 200-day simple moving average of $32.83. Brookfield has a 1-year low of $28.25 and a 1-year high of $53.57. The firm has a market capitalization of $56.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 381.60 and a beta of 1.42.

Brookfield (NYSE:BN  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 11th. The company reported $0.72 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Brookfield had a return on equity of 1.79% and a net margin of 0.33%. The business had revenue of $23.30 billion during the quarter.

Insider Transactions at Brookfield

In related news, major shareholder Opps Eb Holdings Ltd. Ocm sold 3,781,561 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $58.00, for a total value of $219,330,538.00. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 11.00% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Brookfield

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Silvercrest Asset Management Group LLC raised its position in Brookfield by 1.8% during the 2nd quarter. Silvercrest Asset Management Group LLC now owns 282,788 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,516,000 after purchasing an additional 4,988 shares during the last quarter. Van Den Berg Management I Inc. raised its holdings in Brookfield by 6.5% in the 2nd quarter. Van Den Berg Management I Inc. now owns 213,939 shares of the companys stock worth $7,199,000 after purchasing an additional 12,969 shares in the last quarter. Lombard Odier Asset Management Switzerland SA raised its position in shares of Brookfield by 70.7% in the 2nd quarter. Lombard Odier Asset Management Switzerland SA now owns 16,141 shares of the companys stock worth $957,000 after acquiring an additional 6,686 shares in the last quarter. Cerity Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Brookfield by 40.8% in the 2nd quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 30,223 shares of the companys stock worth $1,017,000 after acquiring an additional 8,751 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Graham Capital Management L.P. raised its position in shares of Brookfield by 40.7% in the 2nd quarter. Graham Capital Management L.P. now owns 55,941 shares of the companys stock worth $1,882,000 after acquiring an additional 16,170 shares in the last quarter. 54.14% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Brookfield

(Get Free Report)

Brookfield Corporation is an alternative asset manager and REIT/Real Estate Investment Manager firm focuses on real estate, renewable power, infrastructure and venture capital and private equity assets. It manages a range of public and private investment products and services for institutional and retail clients.

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Goehring & Rozencwajg Associates LLC decreased its position in shares of Caledonia Mining Co. Plc (NYSEAMERICAN:CMCL  Free Report) by 3.6% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 136,097 shares of the companys stock after selling 5,080 shares during the period. Goehring & Rozencwajg Associates LLC owned 1.06% of Caledonia Mining worth $2,069,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. LSV Asset Management purchased a new stake in Caledonia Mining in the 1st quarter worth approximately $57,000. Barclays PLC boosted its position in Caledonia Mining by 139.9% during the first quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 6,220 shares of the companys stock valued at $94,000 after purchasing an additional 3,627 shares during the last quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. increased its position in Caledonia Mining by 72.3% in the 1st quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 9,053 shares of the companys stock worth $138,000 after purchasing an additional 3,800 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley raised its stake in shares of Caledonia Mining by 11.3% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 9,527 shares of the companys stock worth $118,000 after purchasing an additional 964 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Caledonia Mining during the 2nd quarter valued at about $139,000. 30.08% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, Liberum Capital raised shares of Caledonia Mining from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, July 6th.

Caledonia Mining Stock Down 0.4 %

Shares of Caledonia Mining stock traded down $0.04 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $10.98. 484 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 80,872. The company has a market capitalization of $140.87 million, a P/E ratio of 13.23 and a beta of 0.76. Caledonia Mining Co. Plc has a 52 week low of $8.75 and a 52 week high of $17.58. The company has a current ratio of 1.21, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03.

Caledonia Mining (NYSEAMERICAN:CMCL  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 15th. The company reported ($0.29) earnings per share for the quarter. The company had revenue of $29.44 million during the quarter. Caledonia Mining had a positive return on equity of 7.60% and a negative net margin of 3.63%.

Caledonia Mining Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 14th were given a $0.14 dividend. This represents a $0.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.10%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, July 13th. Caledonia Minings dividend payout ratio is -186.66%.

Caledonia Mining Company Profile

(Free Report)

Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc primarily operates a gold mine. It also engages in the exploration and development of mineral properties for precious metals. The company holds 64% interest in the Blanket Mine, a gold mine located in Zimbabwe. It also owns 100% interest in the Maligreen project, a brownfield gold exploration project located in the Gweru mining district in the Zimbabwe Midlands; Bilboes, gold deposit located to the north of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe; and Motapa, a gold exploration property located in Southern Zimbabwe.

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China Literature Limited (OTCMKTS:CHLLF  Get Free Report) saw a large increase in short interest in July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 2,019,100 shares, an increase of 51.1% from the July 15th total of 1,336,700 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 20,191.0 days.

China Literature Stock Performance

CHLLF stock opened at $3.91 on Monday. China Literature has a 1-year low of $3.91 and a 1-year high of $5.43. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $4.48 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $4.60.

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About China Literature

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China Literature Limited, an investment holding company, operates an online literature platform in the People's Republic of China. The company promotes intellectual properties primarily through its online literature platforms, such as QQ Reading and Qidian; and New Classics Media, a film and TV drama series production house.

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Circle Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW  Free Report) by 50.4% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 7,236 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 2,425 shares during the quarter. Circle Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $379,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of SCHW. Toronto Dominion Bank increased its holdings in Charles Schwab by 32,224.4% during the 4th quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 225,994,826 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $18,816,289,000 after purchasing an additional 225,295,680 shares during the period. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Charles Schwab during the 4th quarter worth $1,325,555,000. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 107.1% in the 4th quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 16,784,516 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,399,817,000 after acquiring an additional 8,680,289 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley increased its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 62.5% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 22,255,649 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,853,005,000 after acquiring an additional 8,563,389 shares during the period. Finally, Flossbach Von Storch AG increased its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 48.7% in the 1st quarter. Flossbach Von Storch AG now owns 16,619,849 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $870,548,000 after acquiring an additional 5,445,011 shares during the period. 82.77% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Charles Schwab Stock Down 2.5 %

Charles Schwab stock traded down $1.57 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $62.51. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,686,829 shares, compared to its average volume of 17,883,658. The Charles Schwab Co. has a fifty-two week low of $45.00 and a fifty-two week high of $86.63. The company has a quick ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80. The company has a market cap of $110.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.68, a P/E/G ratio of 3.68 and a beta of 0.91. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $59.61 and a 200-day simple moving average of $60.59.

Charles Schwab Announces Dividend

Charles Schwab ( NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 18th. The financial services provider reported $0.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.71 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $4.66 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.61 billion. Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 27.54% and a net margin of 33.15%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 8.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.97 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.28 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 25th. Investors of record on Friday, August 11th will be issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.60%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 10th. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio is currently 29.15%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Charles Schwab news, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 75,760 shares of Charles Schwab stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $66.60, for a total value of $5,045,616.00. Following the sale, the chairman now owns 59,672,778 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,974,207,014.80. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 72,047 shares of Charles Schwab stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $66.66, for a total transaction of $4,802,653.02. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now directly owns 59,748,538 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,982,837,543.08. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 75,760 shares of Charles Schwab stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $66.60, for a total value of $5,045,616.00. Following the transaction, the chairman now owns 59,672,778 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,974,207,014.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 225,447 shares of company stock valued at $13,866,915 over the last quarter. 6.60% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price target on Charles Schwab from $64.00 to $66.00 in a report on Monday, July 10th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on Charles Schwab from $68.00 to $71.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, July 28th. Bank of America boosted their price objective on Charles Schwab from $46.00 to $53.00 in a report on Thursday, June 15th. Wolfe Research reduced their price target on Charles Schwab from $62.00 to $60.00 in a report on Monday, June 26th. Finally, Piper Sandler upped their price target on Charles Schwab from $77.00 to $86.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Monday, July 24th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $72.09.

Read Our Latest Research Report on Charles Schwab

Charles Schwab Company Profile

(Free Report)

The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services.

Further Reading

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By Azernews

Laman Ismayilova





Spectacular concert has been held at the Italian city of San-Remo to mark the 100th anniversary of National Leader Heydar Aliyev.

The event, organized at the San Remo Theater by the Azerbaijani composer and pianist Kamala Alizade, who lives in Italy, and her husband, composer, musician Stefano Muscaritolo with the support of the State Committee for Work with the Diaspora of Azerbaijan, was attended by the mayor of the city of Corbetta, well-known representatives of the local community.

Among the guests is the Mayor of the city of Corbetta (Milan) Marco Ballarini and his spouse. Director of MonteCarloTimes magazine, Ilio Masprone, well-known Italian journalists Feliciana, Lucia Di Spirito, famous Italian film producer Angelo Bassi and others.

Leading Adviser at the Azerbaijan State Committee on Work with Diaspora Leyla Hamzayeva welcomed the guests of the event.

In her speech, she noted that a series of events are being held in Azerbaijan and other countries within the Year of Heydar Aliyev.

Leyla Hamzayeva outlined that the State Committee supports the projects of diaspora activists, including the first project of the composer Kamala Alizade within the Year of Heydar Aliyev. Next, the musicians were invited to the stage.

Speaking about the concert, Kamala Alizade expressed her gratitude to the Azerbaijan State Committee on Work with Diaspora for supporting the event.

"Gala concert was organized by us with the support of the Azerbaijan State Committee on Work with Diaspora. I would take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the Committee Chairman Fuad Muradov and Leading Adviser Leyla Hamzayeva for their support in the holding the concert timed to the 100th anniversary of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev in San-Remo, Italy," she told AZERNEWS.

The composer noted that the concert program was distinguished with its originality.

"Me and my husband are both composers. Our bond is often called a cultural bridge between Azerbaijan and Italy. The concert program included music pieces composed by me and my husband Stefano Muscaritolo for the orchestra. The concert opened with the first part of J. S. Bach's Piano Concerto. The performance was conducted by maestro Massimo De Pra. My compositions, including Dante in Venice Symphonic suite, Concert of the 40th parallel" (both countries are geographically connected by the 40th parallel, Flying over Shusha, Scherzo (solo performance) as well as Stefano Muscaritolo's music pieces- Luxe Fulgebit For Soprano and Orchestra and Voice From Space, performed by the soloist of Ukraine of the Kiev Opera House Tatyana Anisimova," said Kamala Alizade.

"Stefano Muscaritolo's work "This Land" dedicated to the National Leader Heydar Aliyev was premiered at the concert. The composition was written in the words of the 17th century poet Giambattista Marino. Edward Lyaschuk, who performed the composition, totally captivated the audience.

I would like to note that my grandmother, Honored Doctor of Azerbaijan, Chairman of the Council of Veterans, Honorary Member of the Red Crescent, Gizbes Asadova, personally knew Heydar Aliyev and it is a great honor for me that it was I who had the honor on the 100th anniversary of Heydaoa Aliyev to be both the organizer, performer and composer of this significant event. I am very glad that my love, respect for this legendary personality could find a response in the heart of the Italian composer, so he dedicated a very beautiful work to Heydar Aliyev," she added.

"Me and Stefano Muscaritolo performed Azerbaijani folk songs, including "Ay Lachin" "You are my beauty" and my jazz composition "From the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean" in ethno-jazz style. The concert ended with my work "O patria mia", which means "My Motherland" in Italian. The music piece was composed in the words of the great Italian poet Giacomo Leopardi. My and Tatyana Anisimova's performance, accompanied by the orchestra, left no one indifferent," she noted.

The theme of patriotism has always taken a special place in the composer's music.

"I am very proud of Azerbaijan. Since 2003 I have been actively promoting my motherland at international level. My roots come from Shusha. The theme of the motherland has always been an integral part of my creativity. For example, the pain of losing Shusha is heard in the chamber work "Paradise Lost" (2001) Vocalise on Khojaly written by me at the age of 13 immediately after the terrible events. The music piece "Flying over Shusha" became a swallow of victory. The composition was performed in the winter of 2020 at a concert in the city of Udine, Italy," the composer said.

Alizade emphasized that the audience was totally captivated by the concert.

"The audience did not let us from the stage and gave us a standing ovation. For an encore, the orchestra performed "Bridge of Sighs", my piece from Dante's Suite in Venice. Before the concert, there was a press conference for the Italian media. Many articles have been also published about us, glorifying music and love between the two countries," she said.

Kamala Alizade and Stefano Muscaritolo will further continue to fascinate music lovers with their masterpieces.




Bangkok Bank Public (OTC:BKKPF  Get Free Report) is one of 275 publicly-traded companies in the BanksRegional industry, but how does it compare to its peers? We will compare Bangkok Bank Public to similar businesses based on the strength of its risk, dividends, valuation, earnings, analyst recommendations, profitability and institutional ownership.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Bangkok Bank Public and its peers top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Bangkok Bank Public N/A N/A 0.25 Bangkok Bank Public Competitors $2.32 billion $638.38 million 250.74

Bangkok Bank Publics peers have higher revenue and earnings than Bangkok Bank Public. Bangkok Bank Public is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

Dividends

Insider and Institutional Ownership

Bangkok Bank Public pays an annual dividend of $5.85 per share and has a dividend yield of 124.5%. Bangkok Bank Public pays out 31.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, BanksRegional companies pay a dividend yield of 12.4% and pay out 18.2% of their earnings in the form of a dividend.

11.7% of Bangkok Bank Public shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 34.7% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are owned by institutional investors. 17.0% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Profitability

This table compares Bangkok Bank Public and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Bangkok Bank Public N/A N/A N/A Bangkok Bank Public Competitors 34.75% 10.17% 0.95%

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current ratings and price targets for Bangkok Bank Public and its peers, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Bangkok Bank Public 0 0 0 0 N/A Bangkok Bank Public Competitors 1041 2984 3074 11 2.29

As a group, BanksRegional companies have a potential upside of 239.42%. Given Bangkok Bank Publics peers higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Bangkok Bank Public has less favorable growth aspects than its peers.

Summary

Bangkok Bank Public peers beat Bangkok Bank Public on 9 of the 10 factors compared.

Bangkok Bank Public Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited provides various commercial banking products and services in Thailand and internationally. The company operates through Domestic Banking, International Banking, Investment Banking, and Others segments. It offers various personal banking products and services, including savings, current, fixed deposit, foreign currency, and other accounts; home and personal loans, as well as loans for pensioners; mutual funds; investments products and services, such as bonds and debentures, as well as agency services; life and non-life bancassurance products; payment, funds transfer, currency exchange and foreign instrument, and SMS services; debit, credit, and prepaid cards; and phone and Internet banking, mobile banking, ATMs, and other services. The company also provides business banking products and services comprising operating accounts; loans for SMEs, international trade, investment banking, and e-guarantee services; securities services, such as custodian, mutual fund supervisor, provident fund registrar, securities registrar, and debenture holders' representative services; personal loans for small businesses; payment, collection, and merchant services; digital banking services; and commercial cards. In addition, it offers trade finance, remittances, export and import, project, corporate finance, electronic services, and financial advisory services, as well as liquidity, fund, and asset management services. The company was founded in 1944 and is headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand.

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Continental Aktiengesellschaft (OTCMKTS:CTTAY  Get Free Report) saw a significant decline in short interest in the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 1,200 shares, a decline of 55.6% from the July 15th total of 2,700 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 66,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.0 days.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, BNP Paribas raised Continental Aktiengesellschaft from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 5th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $62.67.

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Continental Aktiengesellschaft Stock Down 1.8 %

OTCMKTS:CTTAY traded down $0.13 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $7.37. 544,626 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 120,551. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $7.62 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $7.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a current ratio of 1.16. Continental Aktiengesellschaft has a twelve month low of $4.27 and a twelve month high of $8.28. The firm has a market cap of $14.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.68 and a beta of 1.55.

Continental Aktiengesellschaft (OTCMKTS:CTTAY  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, August 9th. The company reported $0.11 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.21 by ($0.10). The firm had revenue of $11.35 billion during the quarter. Continental Aktiengesellschaft had a net margin of 1.64% and a return on equity of 4.82%. On average, research analysts expect that Continental Aktiengesellschaft will post 0.7 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About Continental Aktiengesellschaft

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Continental Aktiengesellschaft, a technology company, offers intelligent solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic, and transportation worldwide. It operates through four sectors: Automotive, Tires, ContiTech, and Contract Manufacturing. The company offers safety, brake, chassis, motion, and motion control systems; solutions for assisted and automated driving; and audio and camera solutions for the vehicle interior, as well as intelligent information and communication technology solutions.

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Devon Energy (NYSE:DVN  Free Report) had its price target decreased by Piper Sandler from $72.00 to $65.00 in a research report sent to investors on Monday morning, FlyOnTheWall reports.

A number of other research analysts have also recently commented on the stock. Sanford C. Bernstein dropped their target price on shares of Devon Energy from $71.00 to $64.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 17th. Raymond James lowered their target price on Devon Energy from $70.00 to $62.00 and set a strong-buy rating for the company in a report on Monday, July 24th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on Devon Energy from $49.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 18th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on shares of Devon Energy from $71.00 to $77.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, July 24th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Devon Energy from a neutral rating to a buy rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $63.00 to $58.00 in a report on Tuesday, June 13th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $65.21.

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Devon Energy Stock Down 0.9 %

Shares of NYSE DVN opened at $49.97 on Monday. Devon Energy has a 52 week low of $44.03 and a 52 week high of $78.82. The stocks fifty day moving average is $50.03 and its 200 day moving average is $51.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a current ratio of 0.98. The stock has a market capitalization of $32.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.84, a PEG ratio of 0.18 and a beta of 2.32.

Devon Energy (NYSE:DVN  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The energy company reported $1.18 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $1.18. Devon Energy had a net margin of 28.10% and a return on equity of 37.89%. The company had revenue of $3.45 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.26 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.59 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was down 38.6% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts forecast that Devon Energy will post 5.47 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Devon Energy Cuts Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.49 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 14th. This represents a $1.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.92%. Devon Energys dividend payout ratio is currently 10.94%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, EVP Dennis C. Cameron sold 7,870 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.13, for a total transaction of $402,393.10. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 210,548 shares in the company, valued at $10,765,319.24. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.63% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Devon Energy

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Devon Energy by 96.4% in the 4th quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. now owns 5,608,577 shares of the energy companys stock worth $344,984,000 after acquiring an additional 2,752,752 shares in the last quarter. Capital Wealth Planning LLC grew its position in Devon Energy by 90.7% in the 4th quarter. Capital Wealth Planning LLC now owns 5,386,490 shares of the energy companys stock worth $331,323,000 after purchasing an additional 2,562,584 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC increased its stake in Devon Energy by 124.6% in the 2nd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 2,874,386 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $138,951,000 after buying an additional 1,594,886 shares during the last quarter. Epoch Investment Partners Inc. bought a new position in shares of Devon Energy during the 1st quarter worth approximately $77,126,000. Finally, Pacer Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Devon Energy by 61.3% in the first quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 3,911,733 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $197,973,000 after acquiring an additional 1,486,875 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 71.00% of the companys stock.

Devon Energy Company Profile

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Devon Energy Corporation, an independent energy company, explores for, develops, and produces oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in the United States. It operates in Delaware, Anadarko, Williston, Eagle Ford, and Powder River Basin. The company was incorporated in 1971 and is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

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Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO  Get Free Report) saw a significant decline in short interest during the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 1,220,000 shares, a decline of 17.6% from the July 15th total of 1,480,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 371,400 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 3.3 days. Currently, 0.2% of the companys shares are sold short.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts recently commented on the company. StockNews.com lowered Diageo from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, May 12th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered Diageo from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, May 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered Diageo from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 14th. Morgan Stanley lowered Diageo from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating in a research note on Thursday, July 20th. Finally, Barclays dropped their price target on Diageo from GBX 4,720 ($60.32) to GBX 4,440 ($56.74) in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $3,893.33.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Diageo Stock Performance

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Sei Investments Co. lifted its holdings in Diageo by 6.8% during the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 47,667 shares of the companys stock worth $9,647,000 after purchasing an additional 3,034 shares in the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Diageo by 27.8% in the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 3,749 shares of the companys stock valued at $762,000 after acquiring an additional 816 shares in the last quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Diageo by 19.2% in the 1st quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 1,228 shares of the companys stock valued at $249,000 after acquiring an additional 198 shares in the last quarter. Ergoteles LLC raised its holdings in shares of Diageo by 34.3% in the 1st quarter. Ergoteles LLC now owns 1,366 shares of the companys stock valued at $277,000 after acquiring an additional 349 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Prudential Financial Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Diageo by 33.5% in the 1st quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 6,788 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,379,000 after acquiring an additional 1,704 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 9.72% of the companys stock.

NYSE:DEO traded up $0.70 during trading on Monday, reaching $173.18. The companys stock had a trading volume of 461,554 shares, compared to its average volume of 390,527. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 1.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.67. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $172.77 and a 200-day moving average of $176.27. Diageo has a 12 month low of $160.09 and a 12 month high of $191.93.

Diageo Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 17th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 25th will be paid a $2.5089 dividend. This represents a yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 24th. This is an increase from Diageos previous semi-annual dividend of $1.43.

About Diageo

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Diageo plc, together with its subsidiaries, produces, markets, and sells alcoholic beverages. The company offers scotch, whisky, gin, vodka, rum, ready to drink products, raki, liqueur, wine, tequila, Canadian whisky, American whiskey, cachaca, and brandy, as well as beer, including cider and non-alcoholic products.

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DigitalBridge Group (NYSE:DBRG  Get Free Report) had its price target boosted by stock analysts at Royal Bank of Canada from $14.00 to $25.00 in a note issued to investors on Monday, FlyOnTheWall reports. Royal Bank of Canadas price target would indicate a potential upside of 42.94% from the companys previous close.

A number of other research analysts have also recently issued reports on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised shares of DigitalBridge Group from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $12.50 to $17.50 in a research note on Sunday, June 4th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their target price on shares of DigitalBridge Group from $18.00 to $19.00 in a research note on Friday, July 14th. 22nd Century Group reaffirmed a reiterates rating on shares of DigitalBridge Group in a research note on Wednesday, May 17th. Raymond James boosted their target price on shares of DigitalBridge Group from $24.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, August 7th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of DigitalBridge Group from $15.00 to $19.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, August 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, DigitalBridge Group has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $22.17.

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DigitalBridge Group Stock Performance

Hedge Funds Weigh In On DigitalBridge Group

Shares of NYSE:DBRG opened at $17.49 on Monday. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $15.14 and its 200 day simple moving average is $13.27. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -8.79 and a beta of 2.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a current ratio of 0.92 and a quick ratio of 0.92. DigitalBridge Group has a 1 year low of $9.99 and a 1 year high of $23.44.

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of DigitalBridge Group by 2.3% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 74,983,124 shares of the companys stock valued at $539,879,000 after purchasing an additional 1,666,885 shares during the period. State Street Corp raised its holdings in shares of DigitalBridge Group by 18.6% during the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 20,337,683 shares of the companys stock valued at $146,431,000 after purchasing an additional 3,184,920 shares during the period. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its holdings in shares of DigitalBridge Group by 28.4% during the second quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 18,874,133 shares of the companys stock valued at $92,106,000 after purchasing an additional 4,176,103 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. raised its holdings in shares of DigitalBridge Group by 5.9% during the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 11,325,685 shares of the companys stock valued at $166,601,000 after purchasing an additional 634,029 shares during the period. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of DigitalBridge Group by 3.4% during the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 6,838,900 shares of the companys stock valued at $49,241,000 after purchasing an additional 222,585 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.16% of the companys stock.

About DigitalBridge Group

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DigitalBridge (NYSE: DBRG) is a leading global digital infrastructure firm. With a heritage of over 25 years investing in and operating businesses across the digital ecosystem including cell towers, data centers, fiber, small cells, and edge infrastructure, the DigitalBridge team manages a $69 billion portfolio of digital infrastructure assets on behalf of its limited partners and shareholders.

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Dunelm Group plc (LON:DNLM  Get Free Report) has been assigned a consensus rating of Hold from the six research firms that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, two have given a hold recommendation and three have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 1 year target price among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is GBX 1,226 ($15.67).

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on DNLM shares. Barclays reissued an overweight rating and issued a GBX 1,300 ($16.61) target price on shares of Dunelm Group in a report on Friday, April 21st. Royal Bank of Canada downgraded Dunelm Group to an underperform rating and dropped their price target for the stock from GBX 1,300 ($16.61) to GBX 1,000 ($12.78) in a research note on Tuesday, July 4th. Shore Capital restated a hold rating on shares of Dunelm Group in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, Berenberg Bank upped their price target on Dunelm Group from GBX 1,240 ($15.85) to GBX 1,330 ($17.00) and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 2nd.

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Dunelm Group Price Performance

Dunelm Group Company Profile

LON DNLM opened at GBX 1,169.37 ($14.94) on Monday. Dunelm Group has a 52 week low of GBX 659.50 ($8.43) and a 52 week high of GBX 1,292 ($16.51). The firm has a market capitalization of 2.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 1,567.57, a PEG ratio of -10.32 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a quick ratio of 0.16, a current ratio of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 144.86. The company has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 1,115.99 and a 200-day moving average price of GBX 1,145.35.

(Get Free Report

Dunelm Group plc retails homewares in the United Kingdom. The company offers furniture and beds products, which include bedroom, living room, dining room, and other furniture, as well as bed and mattresses, and sofas and chairs; bedding products comprising bed linen, dorma, baby and kid's bedding, and duvets, pillows and protectors; curtains and rugs; and venetian, roller, roman, vertical, and made to measure blinds.

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Ecora Resources PLC (LON:ECOR  Get Free Report)s stock price hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as GBX 108.40 ($1.39) and last traded at GBX 110 ($1.41), with a volume of 363487 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 109.40 ($1.40).

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on ECOR. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a GBX 230 ($2.94) price objective on shares of Ecora Resources in a research report on Tuesday, July 25th. Berenberg Bank restated a buy rating and issued a GBX 190 ($2.43) price objective on shares of Ecora Resources in a report on Monday, July 24th.

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Ecora Resources Trading Up 0.5 %

Insider Transactions at Ecora Resources

The business has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 115.84 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of GBX 121.82. The company has a current ratio of 0.39, a quick ratio of 2.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 9.05. The stock has a market cap of 283.65 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 356.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.12 and a beta of 0.66.

In other news, insider Marc Bishop Lafleche bought 7,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 2nd. The stock was bought at an average price of GBX 113 ($1.44) per share, for a total transaction of 8,475 ($10,830.67). Insiders own 21.44% of the companys stock.

About Ecora Resources

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Ecora Resources PLC operates as a natural resource royalty and streaming company. It has royalties and investments in mining and exploration interests in cobalt, steelmaking coal, iron ore, copper, nickel, vanadium, uranium, calcium carbonate, chromite, gold, and silver primarily in Australia, North and South America, Europe, and internationally.

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Gladius Capital Management LP acquired a new stake in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE:BBW  Free Report) during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 1,520 shares of the specialty retailers stock, valued at approximately $36,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its position in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 4.8% in the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 47,038 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $860,000 after acquiring an additional 2,173 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. grew its stake in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 226.1% during the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 39,343 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $719,000 after acquiring an additional 27,277 shares during the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. increased its stake in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 67.8% during the 1st quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 25,438 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $465,000 after purchasing an additional 10,275 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 12.1% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 670,825 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $12,263,000 after acquiring an additional 72,169 shares during the period. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership increased its holdings in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 10.8% in the first quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 181,426 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $3,316,000 after purchasing an additional 17,751 shares during the period. 77.91% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Build-A-Bear Workshop Trading Up 1.5 %

Shares of BBW opened at $25.69 on Monday. Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. has a 12 month low of $12.47 and a 12 month high of $26.87. The firm has a market cap of $373.28 million, a P/E ratio of 7.88 and a beta of 1.97. The stocks 50 day moving average is $22.19 and its two-hundred day moving average is $22.53.

Insiders Place Their Bets

Build-A-Bear Workshop ( NYSE:BBW Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 25th. The specialty retailer reported $0.98 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.01 by ($0.03). The company had revenue of $120.05 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $124.24 million. Build-A-Bear Workshop had a net margin of 10.29% and a return on equity of 44.90%. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.89 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. will post 3.46 EPS for the current year.

In other Build-A-Bear Workshop news, Director George Carrara sold 3,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $20.54, for a total value of $61,620.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 24,073 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $494,459.42. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other Build-A-Bear Workshop news, Director George Carrara sold 3,000 shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $20.54, for a total transaction of $61,620.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 24,073 shares of the companys stock, valued at $494,459.42. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Sharon Price John sold 16,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $20.25, for a total value of $324,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 602,781 shares in the company, valued at $12,206,315.25. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 56,398 shares of company stock valued at $1,143,303 in the last 90 days. 11.40% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, StockNews.com began coverage on Build-A-Bear Workshop in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating on the stock.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on Build-A-Bear Workshop

About Build-A-Bear Workshop

(Free Report)

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc operates as a multi-channel retailer of plush animals and related products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Direct-to-Consumer, Commercial, and International Franchising. Its merchandise comprises various styles of plush products to be stuffed, pre-stuffed plush products, and sounds and scents that can be added to the stuffed animals, as well as range of clothing, shoes and accessories, and other toy and novelty items, including family sleepwear.

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Goehring & Rozencwajg Associates LLC increased its position in shares of Callon Petroleum (NYSE:CPE  Free Report) by 2.6% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 25,375 shares of the oil and natural gas companys stock after acquiring an additional 650 shares during the quarter. Goehring & Rozencwajg Associates LLCs holdings in Callon Petroleum were worth $849,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC increased its position in shares of Callon Petroleum by 1,546.1% in the 1st quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 4,889 shares of the oil and natural gas companys stock valued at $163,000 after buying an additional 4,592 shares in the last quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Callon Petroleum in the first quarter worth about $1,304,000. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank raised its position in shares of Callon Petroleum by 51.0% during the first quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 10,154 shares of the oil and natural gas companys stock worth $340,000 after purchasing an additional 3,430 shares during the period. Sigma Planning Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Callon Petroleum by 18.0% during the 1st quarter. Sigma Planning Corp now owns 11,876 shares of the oil and natural gas companys stock valued at $397,000 after purchasing an additional 1,808 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Barclays PLC increased its stake in Callon Petroleum by 56.1% during the 1st quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 74,808 shares of the oil and natural gas companys stock worth $2,502,000 after purchasing an additional 26,892 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.46% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

CPE has been the topic of a number of research reports. Truist Financial cut their price target on shares of Callon Petroleum from $51.00 to $48.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, August 7th. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their target price on shares of Callon Petroleum from $58.00 to $53.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 23rd. Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on Callon Petroleum from $43.00 to $40.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, July 18th. Mizuho upped their price objective on Callon Petroleum from $54.00 to $59.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, June 30th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $50.00 price objective on shares of Callon Petroleum in a report on Wednesday, August 9th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $49.57.

Callon Petroleum Stock Down 2.0 %

Shares of NYSE:CPE traded down $0.75 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $36.07. The company had a trading volume of 139,953 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,519,600. Callon Petroleum has a 1-year low of $28.91 and a 1-year high of $50.19. The stock has a market cap of $2.46 billion, a PE ratio of 2.44 and a beta of 2.75. The company has a quick ratio of 1.22, a current ratio of 1.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $34.73 and its 200 day moving average price is $35.13.

Callon Petroleum (NYSE:CPE  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The oil and natural gas company reported $1.99 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.78 by $0.21. The firm had revenue of $562.30 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $561.08 million. Callon Petroleum had a return on equity of 21.41% and a net margin of 35.11%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 38.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $3.68 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Callon Petroleum will post 7.2 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Callon Petroleum

In other Callon Petroleum news, Director Steven A. Webster acquired 7,384 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 31st. The stock was bought at an average cost of $30.50 per share, with a total value of $225,212.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 610,208 shares in the company, valued at approximately $18,611,344. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 1.80% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Callon Petroleum Profile

(Free Report)

Callon Petroleum Company, an independent oil and natural gas company, focuses on the acquisition, exploration, and development of oil and natural gas properties in West Texas. The company was founded in 1950 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Further Reading

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Northcape Capital Pty Ltd boosted its position in shares of Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE:PAC  Free Report) by 6.2% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 46,570 shares of the transportation companys stock after purchasing an additional 2,723 shares during the quarter. Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico accounts for about 1.1% of Northcape Capital Pty Ltds investment portfolio, making the stock its 7th biggest holding. Northcape Capital Pty Ltd owned about 0.09% of Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico worth $9,086,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of PAC. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. lifted its position in shares of Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico by 12.7% in the first quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 1,268 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $204,000 after purchasing an additional 143 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its position in shares of Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico by 7.9% in the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 6,769 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $1,091,000 after purchasing an additional 493 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico in the first quarter worth $231,000. Citigroup Inc. lifted its position in shares of Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico by 64.4% in the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 1,274 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $205,000 after purchasing an additional 499 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can lifted its position in shares of Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico by 2.3% in the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 12,494 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $1,969,000 after purchasing an additional 278 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 12.84% of the companys stock.

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Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico Stock Performance

NYSE:PAC traded up $0.67 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $181.23. 16,774 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 63,886. Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico, S.A.B. de C.V. has a one year low of $126.01 and a one year high of $200.85. The firm has a market capitalization of $9.16 billion, a PE ratio of 20.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.99 and a beta of 1.27. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $183.34 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $183.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 2.24 and a current ratio of 2.24.

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico Cuts Dividend

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

The company also recently announced a  dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 24th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, July 12th were issued a $2.1661 dividend. This represents a yield of 3.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, July 11th.

A number of analysts have recently commented on PAC shares. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. HSBC raised shares of Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday, May 8th. Finally, Bank of America upgraded shares of Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico from an underperform rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 19th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $150.50.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico Company Profile

(Free Report)

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico, SAB. de C.V., together with its subsidiaries, manages, operates, and develops airports primarily in Mexico's Pacific region. The company was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in Guadalajara, Mexico.

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ARMOUR Residential REIT (NYSE:ARR  Get Free Report) and Great Portland Estates (OTCMKTS:GPEAF  Get Free Report) are both small-cap finance companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, earnings, dividends, risk, valuation and profitability.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for ARMOUR Residential REIT and Great Portland Estates, as provided by MarketBeat.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score ARMOUR Residential REIT 0 1 0 0 2.00 Great Portland Estates 3 1 2 0 1.83

ARMOUR Residential REIT currently has a consensus price target of $5.50, suggesting a potential upside of 8.70%. Great Portland Estates has a consensus price target of $533.50, suggesting a potential upside of 10,743.50%. Given Great Portland Estates higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Great Portland Estates is more favorable than ARMOUR Residential REIT.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

Volatility & Risk

45.7% of ARMOUR Residential REIT shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.3% of ARMOUR Residential REIT shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

ARMOUR Residential REIT has a beta of 1.22, indicating that its share price is 22% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Great Portland Estates has a beta of 0.17, indicating that its share price is 83% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares ARMOUR Residential REIT and Great Portland Estates net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets ARMOUR Residential REIT -23.32% 15.92% 1.57% Great Portland Estates N/A N/A N/A

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares ARMOUR Residential REIT and Great Portland Estates top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio ARMOUR Residential REIT $228.43 million 5.06 -$229.93 million ($0.68) -7.44 Great Portland Estates N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Great Portland Estates has lower revenue, but higher earnings than ARMOUR Residential REIT.

Summary

ARMOUR Residential REIT beats Great Portland Estates on 7 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks.

About ARMOUR Residential REIT

(Get Free Report)

ARMOUR Residential REIT, Inc. invests in residential mortgage-backed securities (MBS) in the United States. The company's securities portfolio primarily consists of the United States Government-sponsored entity's (GSE) and the Government National Mortgage Administration's issued or guaranteed securities backed by fixed rate, hybrid adjustable rate, and adjustable-rate home loans, as well as unsecured notes and bonds issued by the GSE and the United States treasuries, as well as money market instruments. It also invests in other securities backed by residential mortgages for which the payment of principal and interest is not guaranteed by a GSE or government agency. The company has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code. As a result, it would not be subject to corporate income tax on that portion of its net income that is distributed to shareholders. The company was incorporated in 2008 and is based in Vero Beach, Florida.

About Great Portland Estates

(Get Free Report)

We are a FTSE 250 property investment and development company owning 2.5 billion of real estate in central London. We proactively manage our portfolio, flexing our activities in tune with London's property cycle to deliver long-term out-performance. We create in-demand spaces that people want to be part of; helping our occupiers, local communities and the city to thrive.

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Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. (OTCMKTS:INGXF  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant increase in short interest in the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 766,400 shares, an increase of 46.3% from the July 15th total of 523,800 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 2,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 283.9 days.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. Raymond James dropped their price objective on shares of Innergex Renewable Energy to C$21.50 in a report on Wednesday, May 10th. Desjardins raised shares of Innergex Renewable Energy from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, May 11th. Scotiabank cut their price target on shares of Innergex Renewable Energy from C$19.25 to C$17.25 in a research report on Wednesday, June 28th. National Bank Financial cut their price target on shares of Innergex Renewable Energy from C$19.00 to C$18.00 in a research report on Thursday. Finally, CIBC cut their price target on shares of Innergex Renewable Energy from C$16.50 to C$16.00 in a research report on Friday, July 21st.

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Innergex Renewable Energy Stock Performance

Innergex Renewable Energy Increases Dividend

Shares of Innergex Renewable Energy stock traded down $0.24 during trading on Monday, hitting $9.64. 600 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,455. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -120.44 and a beta of 0.50. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $9.74 and a 200-day moving average price of $10.42. Innergex Renewable Energy has a 1-year low of $8.93 and a 1-year high of $15.45. The company has a current ratio of 0.97, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.56.

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 30th were paid a dividend of $0.1336 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, June 29th. This is a positive change from Innergex Renewable Energys previous dividend of $0.13. This represents a dividend yield of 5.31%. Innergex Renewable Energys payout ratio is currently -662.50%.

About Innergex Renewable Energy

(Get Free Report)

Innergex Renewable Energy Inc operates as an independent renewable power producer in Canada, the United States, France, and Chile. It acquires, owns, develops, and operates hydroelectric facilities, and wind and solar farms, as well as energy storage facilities. The company operates through three segments: Hydroelectric Power Generation, Wind Power Generation, and Solar Power Generation.

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StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Inuvo (NYSE:INUV  Free Report) in a report published on Thursday. The brokerage issued a sell rating on the stock.

Separately, Alliance Global Partners dropped their price target on Inuvo to $1.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 15th.

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Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Inuvo

Inuvo Trading Up 6.2 %

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Inuvo

Shares of INUV opened at $0.25 on Thursday. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $0.23 and its 200 day moving average price is $0.30. The stock has a market capitalization of $29.80 million, a P/E ratio of -2.04 and a beta of 1.13. Inuvo has a 1-year low of $0.20 and a 1-year high of $0.59.

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Bard Associates Inc. grew its stake in Inuvo by 90.3% during the 4th quarter. Bard Associates Inc. now owns 1,260,502 shares of the companys stock valued at $279,000 after acquiring an additional 598,000 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers grew its stake in Inuvo by 42.1% during the 2nd quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 276,590 shares of the companys stock valued at $61,000 after acquiring an additional 81,960 shares in the last quarter. Herald Investment Management Ltd grew its stake in Inuvo by 15.1% during the 2nd quarter. Herald Investment Management Ltd now owns 6,092,857 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,328,000 after acquiring an additional 800,000 shares in the last quarter. Perkins Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in Inuvo by 12.4% during the 2nd quarter. Perkins Capital Management Inc. now owns 6,330,707 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,405,000 after acquiring an additional 699,625 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Prudential Financial Inc. purchased a new position in Inuvo during the 2nd quarter valued at about $34,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 17.73% of the companys stock.

Inuvo Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Inuvo, Inc, a technology company, engages in the development and sale of information technology solutions for marketing and advertising industries in the United States. The company's platforms identify and message online audiences for various products or services across devices, formats, and channels, including video, mobile, connected TV, linear TV, display, social, search, and native.

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Invesco Bond Fund (NYSE:VBF  Get Free Report) saw a large decrease in short interest in the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 1,700 shares, a decrease of 34.6% from the July 15th total of 2,600 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 30,700 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.1 days.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Sit Investment Associates Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Invesco Bond Fund by 3.7% in the 2nd quarter. Sit Investment Associates Inc. now owns 1,120,352 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $16,671,000 after purchasing an additional 39,834 shares during the period. Wells Fargo & Company MN raised its stake in Invesco Bond Fund by 8.9% during the 2nd quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 275,074 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,475,000 after buying an additional 22,415 shares during the period. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its stake in Invesco Bond Fund by 116.3% during the 2nd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 230,249 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,426,000 after buying an additional 123,793 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley raised its stake in Invesco Bond Fund by 3.5% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 226,678 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,554,000 after buying an additional 7,624 shares during the period. Finally, ProVise Management Group LLC raised its stake in Invesco Bond Fund by 207.1% during the 1st quarter. ProVise Management Group LLC now owns 93,820 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,446,000 after buying an additional 63,270 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 29.55% of the companys stock.

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Invesco Bond Fund Price Performance

VBF stock opened at $14.93 on Monday. The businesss fifty day moving average is $14.97 and its 200-day moving average is $15.46. Invesco Bond Fund has a twelve month low of $13.83 and a twelve month high of $16.96.

Invesco Bond Fund Announces Dividend

About Invesco Bond Fund

The business also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, August 15th will be paid a $0.0635 dividend. This represents a $0.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.10%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 14th.

(Get Free Report)

Invesco Bond Fund is a close ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Invesco Ltd. The fund is co-managed by Invesco Advisers, Inc, INVESCO Asset Management (Japan) Limited, INVESCO Asset Management Deutschland GmbH, INVESCO Asset Management Limited, Invesco Hong Kong Limited, INVESCO Senior Secured Management, Inc, and Invesco Canada Ltd.

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Altman Advisors Inc. lessened its position in iShares Gold Trust (NYSEARCA:IAU  Free Report) by 2.6% during the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 75,991 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 2,010 shares during the period. iShares Gold Trust comprises about 1.6% of Altman Advisors Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 8th biggest holding. Altman Advisors Inc.s holdings in iShares Gold Trust were worth $1,784,024,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in IAU. Natixis Advisors L.P. lifted its position in iShares Gold Trust by 2.7% during the first quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 18,628 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $686,000 after purchasing an additional 486 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. raised its position in iShares Gold Trust by 17.0% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 3,061,470 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $112,754,000 after acquiring an additional 445,160 shares during the period. Cibc World Market Inc. raised its position in iShares Gold Trust by 43.2% in the first quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 93,543 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $3,445,000 after acquiring an additional 28,233 shares during the period. Allianz Asset Management GmbH bought a new position in iShares Gold Trust in the first quarter worth approximately $3,469,000. Finally, Moors & Cabot Inc. raised its position in iShares Gold Trust by 10.0% in the first quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 15,156 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $558,000 after acquiring an additional 1,380 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 54.53% of the companys stock.

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iShares Gold Trust Stock Down 0.1 %

IAU traded down $0.04 during trading on Monday, hitting $36.20. The companys stock had a trading volume of 2,306,330 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,742,936. iShares Gold Trust has a one year low of $30.69 and a one year high of $39.04. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $36.78 and its 200-day simple moving average is $36.80.

iShares Gold Trust Company Profile

iShares Gold Trust (the Trust) is to own gold transferred to the Trust in exchange for shares issued by the Trust (Shares). Each Share represents a fractional undivided beneficial interest in the net assets of the Trust. The assets of the Trust consist of gold held by the Trusts custodian on behalf of the Trust.

Further Reading

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iShares MSCI Chile ETF (BATS:ECH  Get Free Report)s stock price reached a new 52-week low during trading on Monday . The company traded as low as $28.76 and last traded at $29.21, with a volume of 249242 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $29.49.

iShares MSCI Chile ETF Price Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $641.05 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.48 and a beta of 0.91. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $29.89 and a 200 day simple moving average of $29.15.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On iShares MSCI Chile ETF

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ECH. HighTower Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI Chile ETF during the 1st quarter worth approximately $459,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC acquired a new position in iShares MSCI Chile ETF during the 1st quarter worth $477,000. Royal Bank of Canada grew its stake in iShares MSCI Chile ETF by 113.2% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 169,069 shares of the companys stock worth $4,914,000 after purchasing an additional 89,781 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE raised its holdings in iShares MSCI Chile ETF by 58.2% in the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 142,996 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,156,000 after acquiring an additional 52,632 shares in the last quarter. Finally, UBS Group AG raised its holdings in iShares MSCI Chile ETF by 283.4% in the second quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 84,649 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,038,000 after acquiring an additional 62,569 shares in the last quarter.

About iShares MSCI Chile ETF

iShares MSCI Chile Capped ETF, formerly iShares MSCI Chile Capped Investable Market Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the MSCI Chile Investable Market Index (the Index). The Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure broad based equity market performance in Chile.

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Resolute Advisors LLC lowered its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:EEM  Free Report) by 2.6% during the first quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 18,414 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 491 shares during the period. iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF comprises about 0.1% of Resolute Advisors LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 22nd biggest position. Resolute Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF were worth $727,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in EEM. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new position in iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF during the first quarter worth approximately $146,000. AMI Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF by 5.7% in the first quarter. AMI Investment Management Inc. now owns 11,268 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $509,000 after purchasing an additional 605 shares during the period. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp boosted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF by 62.5% in the first quarter. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp now owns 65,005 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $2,935,000 after purchasing an additional 25,000 shares during the period. Moors & Cabot Inc. boosted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF by 14.5% in the first quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 8,965 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $405,000 after purchasing an additional 1,135 shares during the period. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. boosted its stake in iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF by 9.3% during the 1st quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 892,269 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $40,286,000 after acquiring an additional 76,229 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.70% of the companys stock.

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iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF Trading Down 0.5 %

NYSEARCA EEM traded down $0.21 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $39.35. 11,603,364 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 31,788,988. iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF has a 12 month low of $33.49 and a 12 month high of $42.53. The company has a 50 day moving average of $40.27 and a two-hundred day moving average of $39.62.

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF Profile

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF, formerly iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund (the Fund), seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of publicly traded equity securities in global emerging markets, as measured by the MSCI Emerging Markets Index (the Index).

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Keeley Teton Advisors LLC lowered its holdings in Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:NUS  Free Report) by 3.1% in the first quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 97,745 shares of the companys stock after selling 3,158 shares during the quarter. Keeley Teton Advisors LLCs holdings in Nu Skin Enterprises were worth $3,842,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Nu Skin Enterprises by 37.1% in the 2nd quarter. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC now owns 809 shares of the companys stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 219 shares during the period. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its holdings in Nu Skin Enterprises by 118.2% in the 3rd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 1,150 shares of the companys stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 623 shares during the period. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. bought a new stake in Nu Skin Enterprises in the 1st quarter valued at about $51,000. Quadrant Capital Group LLC boosted its holdings in Nu Skin Enterprises by 135.8% in the 4th quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 1,646 shares of the companys stock valued at $69,000 after purchasing an additional 948 shares during the period. Finally, Counterpoint Mutual Funds LLC bought a new stake in Nu Skin Enterprises in the 1st quarter valued at about $103,000. Institutional investors own 89.06% of the companys stock.

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Nu Skin Enterprises Price Performance

NUS stock remained flat at $25.19 during trading on Monday. 283,847 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 600,195. The businesss fifty day moving average is $30.85 and its 200-day moving average is $36.65. The company has a market capitalization of $1.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.52 and a beta of 1.17. Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. has a twelve month low of $24.56 and a twelve month high of $47.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 1.78 and a quick ratio of 0.94.

Nu Skin Enterprises Dividend Announcement

Nu Skin Enterprises ( NYSE:NUS Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 1st. The company reported $0.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.53 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $500.26 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $512.35 million. Nu Skin Enterprises had a net margin of 3.43% and a return on equity of 12.88%. On average, analysts forecast that Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. will post 2.47 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 6th. Investors of record on Friday, August 25th will be given a dividend of $0.39 per share. This represents a $1.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.19%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 24th. Nu Skin Enterprisess dividend payout ratio is 110.64%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Nu Skin Enterprises

In other Nu Skin Enterprises news, Director Andrew D. Lipman sold 2,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.28, for a total value of $68,560.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 58,393 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,001,712.04. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, Director Andrew D. Lipman sold 2,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.28, for a total value of $68,560.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 58,393 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,001,712.04. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Emma S. Battle sold 1,272 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $26.15, for a total transaction of $33,262.80. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 7,619 shares in the company, valued at $199,236.85. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 7,272 shares of company stock worth $224,043. 2.80% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

NUS has been the subject of several analyst reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Nu Skin Enterprises in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their target price on shares of Nu Skin Enterprises from $43.00 to $35.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Finally, DA Davidson dropped their target price on shares of Nu Skin Enterprises from $38.00 to $29.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $36.00.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Nu Skin Enterprises

About Nu Skin Enterprises

(Free Report)

Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, develops and distributes various beauty and wellness products worldwide. It offers skin care devices, cosmetics, and other personal care products, including ageLOC LumiSpa and ageLOC LumiSpa iO, ageLOC Body Spa; and nutricentials skin care products.

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Keeley Teton Advisors LLC lowered its stake in shares of Crane (NYSE:CR  Free Report) by 2.0% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 44,329 shares of the conglomerates stock after selling 882 shares during the period. Keeley Teton Advisors LLCs holdings in Crane were worth $5,031,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Arizona State Retirement System boosted its holdings in Crane by 2.8% during the first quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 13,827 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $1,569,000 after buying an additional 372 shares during the last quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Crane by 13.8% during the 4th quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 4,829 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $485,000 after purchasing an additional 586 shares in the last quarter. Venture Visionary Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Crane by 23.3% during the 1st quarter. Venture Visionary Partners LLC now owns 22,441 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $2,547,000 after purchasing an additional 4,242 shares in the last quarter. New England Capital Financial Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Crane during the 4th quarter valued at about $69,000. Finally, Picton Mahoney Asset Management bought a new position in shares of Crane during the 4th quarter valued at about $64,000. Institutional investors own 26.26% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

CR has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Crane in a report on Tuesday, June 6th. They set a hold rating on the stock. DA Davidson lifted their price objective on Crane from $92.00 to $107.00 in a report on Thursday, July 27th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on Crane from $87.00 to $101.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, July 19th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $104.75.

Crane Stock Down 0.9 %

NYSE CR traded down $0.80 during trading on Monday, hitting $89.48. The stock had a trading volume of 62,480 shares, compared to its average volume of 386,620. The company has a market capitalization of $5.08 billion, a PE ratio of 11.96, a P/E/G ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 1.49. The companys 50-day moving average price is $87.12 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $93.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 1.18. Crane has a 12 month low of $67.28 and a 12 month high of $95.21.

Crane (NYSE:CR  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The conglomerate reported $1.10 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.91 by $0.19. The firm had revenue of $509.60 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $524.65 million. Crane had a return on equity of 24.45% and a net margin of 13.10%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 3.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.90 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Crane will post 7.87 EPS for the current year.

Crane Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 13th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 31st will be paid a $0.18 dividend. This represents a $0.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.80%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, August 30th. Cranes payout ratio is 9.54%.

Crane Profile

(Free Report)

Crane Company, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells engineered industrial products in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. The company has four business segments: Aerospace & Electronics, Process Flow Technologies, Payment & Merchandising Technologies, and Engineered Materials.

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Kikkoman Co. (OTCMKTS:KIKOF  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest during the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 612,300 shares, a growth of 20.2% from the July 15th total of 509,500 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 0 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently  days.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, Citigroup upgraded Kikkoman from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday, May 29th.

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Kikkoman Price Performance

Kikkoman Company Profile

Shares of OTCMKTS:KIKOF remained flat at $55.75 during trading on Friday. Kikkoman has a 1 year low of $49.54 and a 1 year high of $59.20. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $57.16 and its 200-day moving average price is $54.27.

(Get Free Report)

Kikkoman Corporation, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells food products in Japan and internationally. It offers soy sauces, soy sauce soup bases, dipping and marinade sauces, and Del Monte seasonings; soy milk and Del Monte beverages; sweet sake for cooking; and wines. The company also manufactures and sells canned fruits, corn products, and tomato ketchup, as well as health foods; and purchases and sells oriental food products.

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Koninklijke Philips (NYSE:PHG  Get Free Report)s share price gapped up prior to trading on Monday . The stock had previously closed at $20.26, but opened at $20.78. Koninklijke Philips shares last traded at $20.68, with a volume of 86,043 shares traded.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on PHG shares. TheStreet upgraded Koninklijke Philips from a d+ rating to a c- rating in a report on Monday, July 24th. Citigroup raised their price objective on Koninklijke Philips to 19.00 ($20.88) in a report on Friday, July 7th. StockNews.com upgraded Koninklijke Philips from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Thursday, July 27th. Societe Generale upgraded Koninklijke Philips from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, April 25th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on Koninklijke Philips in a report on Wednesday, July 12th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $17.06.

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Koninklijke Philips Stock Up 3.2 %

The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $20.97 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $19.23. The company has a current ratio of 1.20, a quick ratio of 0.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59.

Koninklijke Philips (NYSE:PHG  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Sunday, July 23rd. The technology company reported $0.31 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.23 by $0.08. Koninklijke Philips had a positive return on equity of 7.95% and a negative net margin of 10.84%. The firm had revenue of $4.87 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.30 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.15 EPS. Equities analysts expect that Koninklijke Philips will post 1.11 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Koninklijke Philips

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Nemes Rush Group LLC acquired a new stake in Koninklijke Philips during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $43,000. Advisory Services Network LLC grew its stake in Koninklijke Philips by 28.7% during the 1st quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 2,226 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $41,000 after purchasing an additional 496 shares in the last quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp grew its position in shares of Koninklijke Philips by 31.6% in the 2nd quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 2,268 shares of the technology companys stock worth $49,000 after acquiring an additional 545 shares in the last quarter. Credit Suisse AG acquired a new position in shares of Koninklijke Philips in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $65,000. Finally, Global Retirement Partners LLC grew its position in shares of Koninklijke Philips by 47.8% in the 1st quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 3,016 shares of the technology companys stock worth $63,000 after acquiring an additional 975 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 6.58% of the companys stock.

Koninklijke Philips Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Koninklijke Philips N.V. operates as a health technology company in North America, the Greater China, and internationally. It operates through Diagnosis & Treatment Businesses, Connected Care Businesses, and Personal Health Businesses segments. The company provides diagnostic imaging solutions, includes magnetic resonance imaging, X-ray systems, and computed tomography (CT) systems and software comprising detector-based spectral CT solutions, as well as molecular and hybrid imaging solutions for nuclear medicine; echography solutions focused on diagnosis, treatment planning and guidance for cardiology, general imaging, obstetrics/gynecology, and point-of-care applications; integrated interventional systems, and interventional diagnostic and therapeutic devices to treat coronary artery and peripheral vascular disease; proprietary software to enable diagnostics and intervention; and enterprise diagnostic informatics products and services.

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Laffer Tengler Investments boosted its holdings in Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:MOH  Free Report) by 4.0% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,047 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 79 shares during the quarter. Laffer Tengler Investments holdings in Molina Healthcare were worth $548,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Cornerstone Investment Partners LLC acquired a new position in Molina Healthcare in the first quarter valued at approximately $251,000. Westpac Banking Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Molina Healthcare by 520.8% in the first quarter. Westpac Banking Corp now owns 28,348 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,583,000 after acquiring an additional 23,782 shares during the period. Empowered Funds LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Molina Healthcare by 114.0% in the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 17,040 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,558,000 after acquiring an additional 9,077 shares during the period. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund boosted its holdings in shares of Molina Healthcare by 1.1% in the first quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 11,686 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,126,000 after acquiring an additional 128 shares during the period. Finally, Community Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Molina Healthcare by 233.3% in the first quarter. Community Capital Management LLC now owns 3,500 shares of the companys stock valued at $936,000 after acquiring an additional 2,450 shares during the period. 95.09% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Bank of America increased their price objective on Molina Healthcare from $340.00 to $350.00 in a report on Thursday, July 27th. UBS Group assumed coverage on Molina Healthcare in a report on Tuesday, June 20th. They set a neutral rating and a $310.00 price target for the company. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $365.00 price target on shares of Molina Healthcare in a report on Friday, July 14th. StockNews.com raised Molina Healthcare from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, July 28th. Finally, Truist Financial decreased their price target on Molina Healthcare from $380.00 to $365.00 in a report on Tuesday, June 20th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Molina Healthcare currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $350.92.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Molina Healthcare news, insider Jeff D. Barlow sold 12,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $302.77, for a total value of $3,784,625.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 64,973 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $19,671,875.21. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, EVP Marc Russo sold 2,523 shares of Molina Healthcare stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $312.72, for a total value of $788,992.56. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 37,093 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,599,722.96. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider Jeff D. Barlow sold 12,500 shares of Molina Healthcare stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $302.77, for a total value of $3,784,625.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 64,973 shares in the company, valued at $19,671,875.21. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 17,246 shares of company stock worth $5,247,256. 1.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Molina Healthcare Trading Up 0.1 %

Shares of MOH stock opened at $315.73 on Monday. Molina Healthcare, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $256.19 and a fifty-two week high of $374.00. The stock has a market cap of $18.41 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.01, a P/E/G ratio of 1.07 and a beta of 0.69. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $297.88 and a 200-day simple moving average of $289.64. The company has a quick ratio of 1.52, a current ratio of 1.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66.

Molina Healthcare (NYSE:MOH  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The company reported $5.65 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $5.05 by $0.60. Molina Healthcare had a return on equity of 35.87% and a net margin of 2.81%. The business had revenue of $8.33 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.32 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $4.55 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 3.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts forecast that Molina Healthcare, Inc. will post 20.78 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About Molina Healthcare

(Free Report)

Molina Healthcare, Inc provides managed healthcare services to low-income families and individuals under the Medicaid and Medicare programs and through the state insurance marketplaces. It operates in four segments, Medicaid, Medicare, Marketplace, and Other. The company served in across 19 states. The company was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Long Beach, California.

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NextEra Energy Partners, LP (NYSE:NEP  Get Free Report) has been assigned a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from the twelve analysts that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $76.10.

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. CIBC upgraded shares of NextEra Energy Partners from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating in a research report on Monday, May 8th. KeyCorp reduced their price target on shares of NextEra Energy Partners from $83.00 to $72.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. Bank of America upgraded shares of NextEra Energy Partners from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and upped their price target for the company from $53.00 to $60.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on shares of NextEra Energy Partners from $72.00 to $69.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 19th. Finally, Guggenheim reduced their price target on shares of NextEra Energy Partners from $81.00 to $74.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 9th.

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NextEra Energy Partners Trading Down 0.1 %

Shares of NextEra Energy Partners stock opened at $47.85 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.31, a PEG ratio of 3.05 and a beta of 0.85. NextEra Energy Partners has a 12-month low of $46.65 and a 12-month high of $86.06. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $57.56 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $61.44. The company has a current ratio of 1.22, a quick ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41.

NextEra Energy Partners (NYSE:NEP  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 25th. The solar energy provider reported $0.53 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.72 by ($0.19). The business had revenue of $350.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $392.92 million. NextEra Energy Partners had a return on equity of 1.06% and a net margin of 12.22%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.61 EPS. Analysts predict that NextEra Energy Partners will post 1.27 EPS for the current year.

NextEra Energy Partners Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 4th will be issued a dividend of $0.854 per share. This is a positive change from NextEra Energy Partnerss previous quarterly dividend of $0.84. This represents a $3.42 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.14%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 3rd. NextEra Energy Partnerss dividend payout ratio is presently 202.37%.

Institutional Trading of NextEra Energy Partners

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its stake in NextEra Energy Partners by 2.8% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 29,854 shares of the solar energy providers stock worth $2,488,000 after purchasing an additional 800 shares during the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in NextEra Energy Partners by 43.2% during the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 9,474 shares of the solar energy providers stock worth $790,000 after acquiring an additional 2,858 shares during the period. Private Advisor Group LLC increased its stake in NextEra Energy Partners by 123.8% in the 1st quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 5,466 shares of the solar energy providers stock worth $456,000 after purchasing an additional 3,024 shares in the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. increased its stake in NextEra Energy Partners by 8.7% in the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 4,860 shares of the solar energy providers stock worth $406,000 after purchasing an additional 390 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can increased its stake in NextEra Energy Partners by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 65,199 shares of the solar energy providers stock worth $5,488,000 after purchasing an additional 402 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.47% of the companys stock.

NextEra Energy Partners Company Profile

(Get Free Report

NextEra Energy Partners, LP acquires, owns, and manages contracted clean energy projects in the United States. It owns a portfolio of contracted renewable generation assets consisting of wind, solar, and battery storage projects, as well as contracted natural gas pipeline assets. NextEra Energy Partners, LP was incorporated in 2014 and is headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida.

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Nu Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NU  Get Free Report) saw a significant decline in short interest during the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 57,310,000 shares, a decline of 21.8% from the July 15th total of 73,310,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 27,550,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.1 days. Approximately 2.8% of the companys stock are sold short.

NU Stock Performance

Shares of NU stock opened at $7.81 on Monday. NU has a 1 year low of $3.39 and a 1 year high of $8.29. The company has a quick ratio of 0.40, a current ratio of 0.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. The stocks 50-day moving average is $7.70 and its two-hundred day moving average is $6.03.

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NU (NYSE:NU  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 15th. The company reported $0.04 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.03 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $1.62 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.51 billion. NU had a positive return on equity of 6.73% and a negative net margin of 3.21%. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that NU will post 0.17 earnings per share for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on NU shares. Bank of America raised their price objective on shares of NU from $5.50 to $7.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 16th. Citigroup cut NU from a buy rating to a neutral rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $7.00 to $6.10 in a research report on Wednesday, May 17th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $6.43.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on NU

Institutional Trading of NU

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. BlackRock Inc. raised its holdings in shares of NU by 647.3% in the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 54,900,552 shares of the companys stock valued at $433,165,000 after buying an additional 47,554,011 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its stake in NU by 114.4% during the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 65,740,183 shares of the companys stock valued at $267,563,000 after acquiring an additional 35,079,798 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its stake in shares of NU by 31.6% in the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 72,973,414 shares of the companys stock valued at $347,353,000 after purchasing an additional 17,525,819 shares during the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors increased its holdings in shares of NU by 15.4% in the second quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 125,291,570 shares of the companys stock valued at $988,530,000 after purchasing an additional 16,737,962 shares during the period. Finally, Wasatch Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of NU during the first quarter worth approximately $129,071,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 51.83% of the companys stock.

About NU

(Get Free Report)

Nu Holdings Ltd. provides digital banking platform and digital financial services in Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and internationally. It offers Nu credit and debit cards; Ultraviolet credit and debit cards; and mobile payment solutions for NuAccount customers to make and receive transfers, pay bills, and make everyday purchases through their mobile phones.

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Roots Co. (OTCMKTS:RROTF  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant drop in short interest in July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 1,400 shares, a drop of 30.0% from the July 15th total of 2,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 0 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently  days.

Roots Stock Performance

Shares of RROTF stock remained flat at $1.98 during mid-day trading on Monday. Roots has a twelve month low of $1.98 and a twelve month high of $3.47. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $2.23 and its 200-day moving average price is $2.25.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, BMO Capital Markets dropped their price target on Roots from C$3.50 to C$3.25 in a research report on Friday, June 9th.

Roots Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Roots Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, designs, markets, and sells apparel, leather goods, footwear, and accessories under the Roots brand in Canada and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Direct-To-Consumer, and Partners and Other. The Direct-to-Consumer segment sells products through the company's corporate retail stores and ecommerce.

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Sawgrass Asset Management LLC cut its holdings in Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW  Free Report) by 3.2% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 39,728 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 1,293 shares during the quarter. Sawgrass Asset Management LLCs holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $9,672,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of ITW. Cibc World Market Inc. raised its position in Illinois Tool Works by 3.7% in the first quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 9,666 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $2,024,000 after purchasing an additional 348 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers raised its position in Illinois Tool Works by 4.2% in the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 9,070 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,899,000 after purchasing an additional 368 shares during the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC raised its position in Illinois Tool Works by 54.7% in the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 2,859 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $599,000 after purchasing an additional 1,011 shares during the last quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. raised its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 9.9% during the first quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 2,407 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $504,000 after acquiring an additional 217 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Covestor Ltd raised its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 70.7% during the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 746 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $156,000 after acquiring an additional 309 shares during the last quarter. 79.37% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on ITW shares. Credit Suisse Group raised their price objective on Illinois Tool Works from $281.00 to $292.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Barclays raised their target price on Illinois Tool Works from $203.00 to $210.00 in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on Illinois Tool Works from $236.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 19th. StockNews.com raised Illinois Tool Works from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday, July 24th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Illinois Tool Works from $235.00 to $240.00 in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $236.75.

Illinois Tool Works Stock Performance

NYSE ITW traded up $0.02 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $237.45. 385,474 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,099,505. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a 1 year low of $180.27 and a 1 year high of $264.19. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $247.52 and its 200-day simple moving average is $238.17. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.25. The stock has a market capitalization of $71.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.48, a P/E/G ratio of 4.23 and a beta of 1.13.

Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The industrial products company reported $2.41 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.39 by $0.02. Illinois Tool Works had a return on equity of 94.14% and a net margin of 19.30%. The firm had revenue of $4.07 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.14 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.37 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 1.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts expect that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 9.74 earnings per share for the current year.

Illinois Tool Works Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 12th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 29th will be given a dividend of $1.40 per share. This represents a $5.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.36%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 28th. This is a boost from Illinois Tool Workss previous quarterly dividend of $1.31. Illinois Tool Workss dividend payout ratio is currently 51.83%.

Insider Activity at Illinois Tool Works

In related news, CAO Randall J. Scheuneman sold 5,425 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, June 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $239.23, for a total transaction of $1,297,822.75. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 8,870 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,121,970.10. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.78% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Illinois Tool Works Company Profile

(Free Report)

Illinois Tool Works Inc manufactures and sells industrial products and equipment worldwide. It operates through seven segments: Automotive OEM; Food Equipment; Test & Measurement and Electronics; Welding; Polymers & Fluids; Construction Products; and Specialty Products. The Automotive OEM segment offers plastic and metal components, fasteners, and assemblies for automobiles, light trucks, and other industrial uses.

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Scheer Rowlett & Associates Investment Management Ltd. grew its holdings in Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (NYSE:CM  Free Report) (TSE:CM) by 8.0% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,447,671 shares of the banks stock after purchasing an additional 107,651 shares during the quarter. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce makes up approximately 5.1% of Scheer Rowlett & Associates Investment Management Ltd.s holdings, making the stock its 6th biggest holding. Scheer Rowlett & Associates Investment Management Ltd.s holdings in Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce were worth $61,385,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. ING Groep NV bought a new position in shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in the 1st quarter valued at about $109,000. Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $288,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its position in shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 1.9% in the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 1,120,922 shares of the banks stock valued at $47,549,000 after acquiring an additional 21,361 shares during the period. US Bancorp DE raised its position in shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 30.9% in the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 7,948 shares of the banks stock valued at $337,000 after acquiring an additional 1,878 shares during the period. Finally, MGO One Seven LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $325,000. Institutional investors own 37.70% of the companys stock.

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Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Stock Down 0.7 %

Shares of NYSE CM traded down $0.29 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $41.38. The companys stock had a trading volume of 193,155 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,146,618. The company has a current ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has a fifty-two week low of $39.40 and a fifty-two week high of $53.36. The stock has a market capitalization of $38.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.52, a PEG ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.00. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $42.88 and a 200-day simple moving average of $43.08.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Increases Dividend

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce ( NYSE:CM Get Free Report ) (TSE:CM) last released its earnings results on Thursday, May 25th. The bank reported $1.25 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.20 by $0.05. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce had a net margin of 11.14% and a return on equity of 14.13%. The business had revenue of $4.21 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.15 billion. Equities research analysts predict that Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce will post 5.14 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 28th. Investors of record on Wednesday, June 28th were paid a $0.642 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, June 27th. This is a boost from Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerces previous quarterly dividend of $0.64. This represents a $2.57 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.21%. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerces dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 64.65%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

CM has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. CIBC upgraded shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 9th. Canaccord Genuity Group upgraded shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, May 10th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, June 29th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $70.40.

Read Our Latest Research Report on CM

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Profile

(Free Report)

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, a diversified financial institution, provides various financial products and services to personal, business, public sector, and institutional clients in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Canadian Personal and Business Banking; Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management; U.S.

Further Reading

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Shimano Inc. (OTCMKTS:SMNNY  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant increase in short interest in the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 21,200 shares, an increase of 57.0% from the July 15th total of 13,500 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 118,900 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.2 days.

Shimano Stock Performance

OTCMKTS SMNNY traded up $0.03 on Friday, hitting $15.13. 79,908 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 74,462. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.28 and a beta of 0.59. The businesss fifty day moving average is $16.37 and its two-hundred day moving average is $16.40. Shimano has a 12 month low of $13.40 and a 12 month high of $19.02.

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Shimano Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Further Reading

Shimano Inc develops, produces, and distributes bicycle components, fishing tackles, and rowing equipment. It has operations in Japan, Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America, and Oceania. Shimano Inc was founded in 1921 and is headquartered in Sakai, Japan.

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DHI Group, Inc. (NYSE:DHX  Get Free Report) saw a significant decline in short interest during the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 267,200 shares, a decline of 24.4% from the July 15th total of 353,400 shares. Approximately 0.7% of the companys shares are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 126,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.1 days.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts recently weighed in on DHX shares. Lake Street Capital reduced their price objective on shares of DHI Group from $9.00 to $6.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 11th. B. Riley reduced their price objective on shares of DHI Group from $9.00 to $7.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 11th. StockNews.com raised shares of DHI Group from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Friday, August 4th. Finally, Barrington Research reissued an outperform rating and issued a $10.00 price objective on shares of DHI Group in a research note on Friday, July 28th.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On DHI Group

DHI Group Trading Down 3.3 %

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in DHX. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its holdings in shares of DHI Group by 394.0% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 59,564 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $354,000 after purchasing an additional 47,506 shares during the period. Citigroup Inc. acquired a new position in shares of DHI Group during the first quarter valued at about $328,000. BlackRock Inc. raised its holdings in shares of DHI Group by 6.0% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 799,582 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $4,757,000 after purchasing an additional 45,192 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its holdings in shares of DHI Group by 1.0% during the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 3,750,901 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $22,318,000 after purchasing an additional 35,706 shares during the period. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of DHI Group by 8.1% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 2,169,952 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $12,911,000 after purchasing an additional 163,094 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 71.28% of the companys stock.

DHX traded down $0.13 during trading on Friday, reaching $3.84. 70,821 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 89,397. The company has a quick ratio of 0.40, a current ratio of 0.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43. The stock has a market capitalization of $181.79 million, a PE ratio of 96.00, a P/E/G ratio of 2.56 and a beta of 1.21. The stocks 50-day moving average is $3.83 and its 200 day moving average is $3.98. DHI Group has a 12 month low of $3.00 and a 12 month high of $6.56.

DHI Group (NYSE:DHX  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 10th. The technology company reported $0.01 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.02) by $0.03. The business had revenue of $38.62 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $37.78 million. DHI Group had a net margin of 1.13% and a return on equity of 2.02%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.01 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that DHI Group will post 0.06 earnings per share for the current year.

About DHI Group

(Get Free Report)

DHI Group, Inc provides data, insights, and employment connections through specialized services for technology professionals in the United States. The company operates Dice that offers job postings of technology and non-technology companies for industries, such as positions for software engineers, big data professionals, systems administrators, database specialists, project managers, and other technology and engineering professionals; and ClearanceJobs, an online career network, which matches security-cleared professionals with hiring companies searching for employees.

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Sienna Senior Living (OTCMKTS:LWSCF  Get Free Report) had its target price lifted by equities research analysts at National Bank Financial to C$13.50 in a research note issued on Monday, FlyOnTheWall reports.

Sienna Senior Living Price Performance

Shares of Sienna Senior Living stock remained flat at $8.53 during midday trading on Monday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $8.64 and a 200 day moving average of $8.46. Sienna Senior Living has a 12 month low of $7.68 and a 12 month high of $11.07.

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Sienna Senior Living Company Profile

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Further Reading

Sienna Senior Living Inc provides senior living and long-term care (LTC) services in Canada. It operates through Retirement and LTC segments. The company offers a range of seniors' living options, including independent supportive and assisted living, memory care, and long-term care services. The company was formerly known as Leisureworld Senior Care Corporation and changed its name to Sienna Senior Living Inc in May 2015.

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TFI International Inc. (NYSE:TFII  Get Free Report) has been assigned an average rating of Moderate Buy from the seventeen ratings firms that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month target price among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $155.84.

TFII has been the topic of several recent research reports. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of TFI International from $157.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. BMO Capital Markets upped their price objective on shares of TFI International from $125.00 to $130.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. TheStreet raised shares of TFI International from a c rating to a b- rating in a research note on Friday, April 28th. Scotiabank boosted their target price on TFI International from $165.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Finally, CIBC increased their price target on TFI International from $139.00 to $156.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, August 2nd.

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View Our Latest Report on TFII

TFI International Stock Up 1.1 %

TFII stock opened at $132.49 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $11.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.40, a P/E/G ratio of 2.43 and a beta of 1.53. TFI International has a 52 week low of $85.86 and a 52 week high of $133.80. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $116.34 and a 200-day simple moving average of $115.80. The company has a quick ratio of 1.38, a current ratio of 1.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51.

TFI International (NYSE:TFII  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Monday, July 31st. The company reported $1.59 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.71 by ($0.12). The firm had revenue of $1.79 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.93 billion. TFI International had a net margin of 8.15% and a return on equity of 23.85%. TFI Internationals revenue was down 26.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $2.61 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that TFI International will post 6.4 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

TFI International Cuts Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, October 16th. Investors of record on Saturday, September 30th will be issued a dividend of $0.35 per share. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.06%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 28th. TFI Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 19.44%.

Institutional Trading of TFI International

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. First Hawaiian Bank lifted its holdings in TFI International by 4.9% during the 1st quarter. First Hawaiian Bank now owns 6,385 shares of the companys stock worth $762,000 after buying an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in TFI International by 1,481.8% in the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 348 shares of the companys stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 326 shares during the period. Pinebridge Investments L.P. acquired a new position in TFI International during the 2nd quarter worth $54,000. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC purchased a new stake in TFI International during the 1st quarter worth about $56,000. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its position in TFI International by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 313,511 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,426,000 after purchasing an additional 868 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 61.25% of the companys stock.

TFI International Company Profile

(Get Free Report

TFI International Inc provides transportation and logistics services in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The company operates through Package and Courier, Less-Than-Truckload (LTL), Truckload (TL), and Logistics segments. The Package and Courier segment engages in the pickup, transport, and delivery of items.

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The Gabelli Utility Trust (NYSE:GUT  Get Free Report) declared a monthly dividend on Wednesday, May 24th, Wall Street Journal reports. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 17th will be given a dividend of 0.05 per share by the investment management company on Thursday, August 24th. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 8.63%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, August 16th.

The Gabelli Utility Trust Stock Down 0.1 %

GUT stock opened at $6.95 on Monday. The Gabelli Utility Trust has a twelve month low of $6.56 and a twelve month high of $8.05. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $6.92 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $7.00.

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Institutional Trading of The Gabelli Utility Trust

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of GUT. MAS Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of The Gabelli Utility Trust during the 1st quarter valued at about $78,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of The Gabelli Utility Trust by 17.0% during the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 22,015 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $157,000 after acquiring an additional 3,200 shares during the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of The Gabelli Utility Trust during the 2nd quarter valued at about $196,000. Captrust Financial Advisors boosted its position in shares of The Gabelli Utility Trust by 5,457.2% during the 3rd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 16,894 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $117,000 after acquiring an additional 16,590 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Creative Planning lifted its position in The Gabelli Utility Trust by 233.2% in the 4th quarter. Creative Planning now owns 47,874 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $360,000 after buying an additional 33,505 shares during the last quarter.

About The Gabelli Utility Trust

The Gabelli Utility Trust is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched by GAMCO Investors, Inc It is managed by Gabelli Funds, LLC. The fund invests in the public equity markets across the globe. It makes its investments in stocks of companies providing products, services, or equipment for the generation or distribution of electricity, gas, water, telecommunications services, and infrastructure operations.

Further Reading

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Boston Partners trimmed its holdings in shares of The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE:THG  Free Report) by 36.4% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 160,523 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 91,932 shares during the period. Boston Partners holdings in The Hanover Insurance Group were worth $20,319,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Channing Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of The Hanover Insurance Group by 0.3% in the 1st quarter. Channing Capital Management LLC now owns 382,454 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $49,145,000 after acquiring an additional 1,175 shares in the last quarter. US Bancorp DE lifted its position in The Hanover Insurance Group by 13.5% in the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 1,542 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $198,000 after buying an additional 184 shares in the last quarter. Trillium Asset Management LLC lifted its position in The Hanover Insurance Group by 4.1% in the 1st quarter. Trillium Asset Management LLC now owns 37,691 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $4,510,000 after buying an additional 1,499 shares in the last quarter. Palisade Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in The Hanover Insurance Group in the 1st quarter worth approximately $334,000. Finally, Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank lifted its position in The Hanover Insurance Group by 12.7% in the 1st quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 5,797 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $745,000 after buying an additional 651 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.38% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Piper Sandler upgraded shares of The Hanover Insurance Group from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and cut their target price for the stock from $155.00 to $153.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 6th. Bank of America downgraded shares of The Hanover Insurance Group from a buy rating to a neutral rating and cut their price target for the company from $142.00 to $130.00 in a report on Thursday, May 18th. TheStreet downgraded shares of The Hanover Insurance Group from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a report on Tuesday, May 9th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their price target on shares of The Hanover Insurance Group from $148.00 to $141.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of The Hanover Insurance Group in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $148.43.

Insider Activity at The Hanover Insurance Group

In related news, Director Jane D. Carlin sold 1,246 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $114.04, for a total value of $142,093.84. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 2.40% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

The Hanover Insurance Group Stock Performance

NYSE:THG opened at $109.27 on Monday. The firms 50-day moving average is $112.59 and its 200-day moving average is $122.57. The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. has a 52-week low of $108.71 and a 52-week high of $148.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 0.37 and a current ratio of 0.37. The company has a market cap of $3.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -42.03, a PEG ratio of 0.98 and a beta of 0.67.

The Hanover Insurance Group (NYSE:THG  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 2nd. The insurance provider reported ($1.91) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of ($1.91). The company had revenue of $1.50 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.42 billion. The Hanover Insurance Group had a negative net margin of 1.60% and a negative return on equity of 2.83%. The businesss revenue was up 16.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.32 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. will post 3.05 earnings per share for the current year.

The Hanover Insurance Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, June 16th were paid a $0.81 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, June 15th. This represents a $3.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.97%. The Hanover Insurance Groups payout ratio is currently -124.62%.

The Hanover Insurance Group Profile

(Free Report)

The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides various property and casualty insurance products and services in the United States. The company operates through four segments: Core Commercial, Specialty, Personal Lines, and Other. The Commercial Lines segment offers commercial multiple peril, commercial automobile, workers' compensation, and other commercial lines coverage.

Further Reading

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Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its position in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM  Free Report) by 117.6% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 26,263 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 14,194 shares during the period. Tower Research Capital LLC TRCs holdings in Archer-Daniels-Midland were worth $2,092,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of ADM. Cetera Investment Advisers raised its stake in Archer-Daniels-Midland by 71.9% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 18,699 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,688,000 after buying an additional 7,821 shares during the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Archer-Daniels-Midland during the first quarter valued at $277,000. Brighton Jones LLC purchased a new position in Archer-Daniels-Midland during the first quarter valued at $226,000. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. raised its stake in Archer-Daniels-Midland by 22.0% during the first quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 31,004 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,798,000 after buying an additional 5,586 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. raised its stake in Archer-Daniels-Midland by 2.1% during the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 459,907 shares of the companys stock valued at $41,512,000 after buying an additional 9,327 shares during the last quarter. 78.13% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on ADM shares. Robert W. Baird decreased their price target on Archer-Daniels-Midland from $98.00 to $90.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. StockNews.com upgraded Archer-Daniels-Midland from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 26th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on Archer-Daniels-Midland from $83.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, July 31st. Roth Mkm started coverage on Archer-Daniels-Midland in a research note on Thursday, June 22nd. They issued a buy rating and a $92.00 price target for the company. Finally, Argus boosted their price target on Archer-Daniels-Midland from $91.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 1st. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Archer-Daniels-Midland has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $97.50.

Archer-Daniels-Midland Stock Performance

Shares of ADM opened at $84.82 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 1.63 and a quick ratio of 1.00. Archer-Daniels-Midland Company has a one year low of $69.92 and a one year high of $98.28. The firm has a market capitalization of $45.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.32, a PEG ratio of 1.84 and a beta of 0.82. The business has a fifty day moving average of $78.88 and a 200 day moving average of $78.63.

Archer-Daniels-Midland (NYSE:ADM  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The company reported $1.89 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.59 by $0.30. Archer-Daniels-Midland had a return on equity of 17.52% and a net margin of 4.14%. The business had revenue of $25.19 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $25.82 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.15 earnings per share. Archer-Daniels-Midlands revenue for the quarter was down 7.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Archer-Daniels-Midland Company will post 7.2 EPS for the current year.

Archer-Daniels-Midland Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 6th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, August 16th will be issued a dividend of $0.45 per share. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.12%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, August 15th. Archer-Daniels-Midlands dividend payout ratio is presently 24.03%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Archer-Daniels-Midland

In other Archer-Daniels-Midland news, insider Fruit Molly L. Strader sold 1,455 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $86.80, for a total transaction of $126,294.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 10,809 shares of the companys stock, valued at $938,221.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. 1.20% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Archer-Daniels-Midland Profile

(Free Report)

Archer-Daniels-Midland Company procures, transports, stores, processes, and merchandises agricultural commodities, products, and ingredients in the United States, Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company operates in three segments: Ag Services and Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions, and Nutrition.

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Findings from an almost three year investigation by Indias capital markets watchdog into Gautam Adanis eponymous conglomerate are finally expected to land at the desk of the nations Supreme Court on Monday.



Several observers are expecting minor, if any, red marks against the Adani Group after an expert panel appointed by Indias top court in May said the Securities and Exchange Board of India had drawn a blank in its investigation into 13 overseas entities alleged to be fronts for Adani companies. The panel accused Sebi of having diluted rules that would have helped break through so-called opaque structures and the regulators job is made harder by Indias overlapping web of corporate laws that offer loopholes large businesses often exploit.



Sebi had sought more time to complete the probe, but the court  amid a slump in Adani shares following a damaging report published in January by US shortseller Hindenburg Research  imposed an Aug. 14 deadline.



I am not confident that Sebi will file a robust case, said Bhaskar Chakravorti, dean of global business at The Fletcher School at Tufts University. Adani Group will mostly escape serious negative impact and over time build back up unless the Supreme Court and the regulators do something dramatically different, he added.



Sebi began looking at offshore investments into Adanis ports, power and infrastructure empire in October 2020. The heart of the matter is whether Adani used companies registered abroad to conduct business and pump up his share prices without properly disclosing affiliations. Adani has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and said it has made all required disclosures.



Hindenburgs broadside, more than two years later, reiterated the allegations and heaped pressure on the regulator to hasten the probe.



Adani Group and Sebi didnt respond to requests for comment. The regulator has previously told the Supreme Court it has continuously tightened rules concerning so-called beneficial ownership and related-party transactions, key aspects of a hearing into whether the Adani Group manipulated its stock price.



Direct Response

In June, Sebis board also approved changes mandating additional disclosures from foreign portfolio investors and granular information on their ownership and economic interests from September.



Rohit Jain, a managing partner at New Delhi-based law firm Singhania & Co., said the move was a direct response to the Adani fiasco.



This month, Sebi said it was also considering making Indias conglomerates report transcations involving their unlisted group companies, though it didnt offer more detail or specify a time line.



Shares of Adanis 10 listed companies have recouped about $47 billion after having lost more than $150 billion of their combined value in the aftermath of the Hindenburg report.







The conglomerate is also refocusing on core business interests, acquiring an Indian cement maker and exploring the sale of a roughly $2.6 billion stake in a consumer-staple joint venture with Wilmar International Ltd., Bloomberg News reported earlier this month.



Adani took a hit for a few months, said Nirmalya Kumar, a marketing professor at Singapore Management University. But now the doubts about governance have been papered over.



Its unclear yet what the Sebi report being submitted to the Supreme Court on Monday will contain. The spectrum of possibilities range from no adverse findings to a hard-hitting report that may introduce groundbreaking precedent for minority shareholders.



Adanis magic combination of incumbency, embedded network of business relationships and continued political clout may win the day, said Chakravorti at Tufts University. Adani, despite all the post-Hindenburg brouhaha, will be right there at the head of the pack.
Ever since the Rs2,000 bills were introduced shortly after 2016 demonetisation, they have been a puzzle to the aam aadmi. An average person who got these notes from ATMs always had a panic attack worrying where these notes will be transacted. Most small shop owners were reluctant to accept these notes; they instead asked for smaller denominations. The actual purpose of these notes were speculated intensly.



The only logical explanation that the experts came up with was that these notes were launched to speed up the process of re-monetisation post the note ban. Gradually, the Rs 2,000 notes went out of circulation as the central bank stopped printing a fresh lot of the currency. Reports, citing an RTI reply, suggested that no new Rs 2,000 denomination currency notes were printed during 2019-20, 2020-21, and 2021-22.



Ultimately, these notes were withdrawn on May 19, 2023. However, the headache for the central bank isnt over yet. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) needs to manage the sudden influx of liquidity due to the Rs 2000 note withdrawal. The RBI on August 1 said Rs 3.14 lakh crore worth of Rs 2,000 banknotes, or 88 percent in circulation, have returned to the banking system as on July 31, which is quite a huge amount. Last week, the RBI said banks have to maintain a 10 percent incremental cash reserve ratio (ICRR) from August 12 as part of the central bank's efforts to drain excess liquidity from the banking system following the withdrawal of the Rs 2,000 currency notes.



The Rs 2000 question



This will be effective from August 12. The public has time until September 3o to deposit their Rs 2000 notes. But, already around 88 per cent of the notes are back in banks.







May be its a time to ask some questions on these bills -- except aiding a faster remonetsiation post a hurriedly implemented noteban, did the introduction of the Rs 2000 notes do more harm to the general public than good? The notes created a headache for the government and tax authorities as illegal elements used these bills widely. Going by the data from the income tax department, these notes have constituted a major chunk of the black money seized in recent years.



'Major chunk'



In November 2019, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman told Parliament that 43.22 percent of unaccounted cash seized in the financial year 2020 was in the form of Rs 2,000 notes. In the financial year 2018, the Rs 2,000 note made up 67.91 percent of unaccounted cash, while the figure was 65.93 percent for financial year 2019. Consolidated data is not available for 2020-2022 but the trend is likely to be largely in line with the previous years.



Fake currency rackets loved the Rs 2,000 bills. These notes were used rampantly by the fake currency mafia ever since they were introduced. According to media reports, a major chunk of the fake currencies seized in the last three years was in Rs 2,000 denominations. In 2021, the face value of these seized fake notes stood at Rs 4,84,78,000 crore. Also, as many as 2,44,834 fake notes of Rs 2,000 in 2020 and 90,566,000 notes were seized in 2019.



In August, 2022, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said 2,272 fake currency notes of Rs 2,000 denomination were seized in 2016; 74,898 in 2017; 54,776 in 2018; 90,566 in 2019; and 2,44,834 in 2020. Between 2019 and 2020, there has been a 170-percent rise in fake currency notes of Rs 2,000 denomination, the minister said.



To sum up, the Rs 2,000 notes have been used rampantly by the fake currency mafia ever since it was introduced. On the other side, the common man has faced hardships in transacting with these bills. Besides, going by the data from the IT department, it looks like these notes have constituted a major chunk of the black money seized in recent years. In that sense, termination of the Rs 2,000 notes was a good riddance.



(Banking Central is a weekly column that keeps a close watch and connects the dots about the sector's most important events for readers.)




The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has found instances of irregularities in the awarding of projects by agencies implementing central government-funded highway projects.



In its report on the implementation of Phase-I of Bharatmala Pariyojana, the auditor has also found deficiencies in the appraisal and approval mechanism proposed to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) and also flagged huge cost overruns in many of the high-cost Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) projects, including the construction of the Dwarka Expressway project and Delhi-Vadodara Expressway.



The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)'s decision to opt for an elevated carriageway on the Haryana portion of the expressway has pushed up the construction cost to Rs 251 crore per km from the originally approved Rs 18.2 crore per km, the report pointed out.



The NHAI is building the expressway in question under the Bharatmala programme. The CCEA had approved an overall average construction cost of Rs 18.2 crore per km while approving the Bharatmala programme.



The CAG in its report found that the NHAI Board approved the Dwarka Expressway with a "civil cost of Rs 7,287.29 crore at Rs 250.77 crore per km as against civil cost of Rs 18.2 crore per km approved by the CCEA".



The auditor noted that NHAI has awarded these projects to be completed between November 2020 and September 2022, but they are still incomplete.



"These projects had achieved physical progress ranging between 60.50 percent to 99.25 percent as on 31 March 2023," CAG said in its report.



The CAG also pointed out that in the Dwarka Expressway, "for no reason on record", an eight-lane elevated main carriageway and six-lane at-grade road were constructed across a 19 km stretch in Haryana.



The auditor pointed out that a 14-lane national highway could have been built at grade in place of the aforementioned carriageway and road.



The CAG also said there was no justification on record for planning or construction of eight elevated lanes for average daily traffic of 55,432 passenger vehicles.



It also pointed out that only six lanes (at grade lanes) were planned or constructed for average annual daily traffic of 2,32,959 passenger vehicles, besides freight vehicles.



In its report, the CAG also said that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways of India (MoRTH) did not counter the audit observation that a 14-lane national highway could have been built at grade, and did not reply to the audit observation on passenger traffic.



The project was approved for decongesting NH-48 between Delhi and Gurgaon. The CAG said the Haryana government had handed over a 90-metre right-of-way (RoW) to NHAI free of cost and to build a 14-lane highway at grade, when a 70-75 metre RoW was enough.



Even the appraisal and approval mechanism decided by CCEA was also not strictly followed, the CAG said.



The CAG report also found instances of irregularities in the awarding of projects by agencies implementing central government-funded highway projects in the construction of Phase-I of Bharatmala Pariyojana.



Highlighting issues with awarding of projects by implementing agencies, the CAG said instances of irregularities in the award of projects by implementing agencies were observed.



This was in clear violation of the prescribed processes of tendering.



According to the CAG, the lacunae was in instances of successful bidder not fulfilling tender condition or bidder selected on the basis of falsified documents, award of works without there being approved detailed project reports or based on faulty detailed project report.



The NHAI and the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) are the implementing agencies that develop centrally funded road projects.



The CAG also noted that detailed project reports prepared by consultants were not appraised with due diligence by the competent authority before the approval of projects.



Pointing out that there were significant cost overruns, the auditor noted that only 75.62 percent of CCEA-approved length has been awarded while 158.24 percent of approved financial outlay sanctioned by the CCEA has been used up to March 31, 2023.



The Phase-I of Bharatmala Pariyojana was for development up to September 2022, at an investment outlay of Rs 5,35,000 crore.



In another report, the CAG found that the NHAI continued to collect user fee in three toll plazas (namely Nathavalasa, Chalageri and Hebbalu in Southern India) during the delayed period of construction. This was in violation of rules stating that no user fee shall be levied for the delayed period, leading to higher toll collection from commuters.
CarTrade Tech Limited has acquired OLX India's classified and auto transactions business from OLX India BV for Rs 535.54 crore. With the acquisition, which was announced in July, CarTrade is aimmg to be Indias largest auto classifieds and transaction platform. The CarTrade Tech group, in collaboration with OLX, would attract roughly 68 million average monthly unique visitors and have 32 million listings on an annual basis, the Mumbai-based company said in a statement on August 13. The combined vehicles auctioned would be approximately 1.3 million annually. In total, there would be more than 4,000 employees, with a physical presence in over 100 cities, it said. OLX is one of the strongest brands in the online classified space and we are really excited to acquire such a strong brand and work with such a really talented team, CarTrade Tech chairman and founder Vinay Sanghi said. OLX India, a leading classified player in the country with over 100 million app downloads, operates across 12 categories, including cars, bikes, real estate, and electronics. The platform has nearly 35 million average monthly unique visitors, around 32 million listings a year and roughly 30,000 dealers. In 2022, OLX Autos, through its transactions business, assisted in transacting the sale and purchase of 50,000 cars. Also Read: CarTrade Tech soars 15% on plans to acquire OLX India's auto business The acquisition would allow the company to offer a diversified classifieds portfolio and simplify the way used vehicle buying and selling is done, Sanghi said. CarTrade Tech also said it was banking on the synergies in technology and consumer strength of all its brands to ease the sale and purchase of used vehicle as well as boost efficiency. Also Read: CarTrade Tech acquires OLXs business in India for Rs 537 crore, stock down 3% CarTrade Tech will operate CarWale, OLX, Olx Auto, Shriram Automall, BikeWale, CarTrade, CarTrade Exchange and Adroit Auto brands in India.

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With the passage of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act by the government, companies, both startups and enterprises, have a tall task ahead of them in terms of complying with the law. Although the DPDP Act has been passed, it is not yet in force.



Experts told Moneycontrol that companies need to create an inventory of their datasets, figure out where the datasets are, who has access to them, and so on. They also need to conduct privacy impact assessments and gap assessments to evaluate their "readiness" with the law.



"In our ongoing engagements with Indian enterprises, we've identified they face two significant challenges. Firstly, there is proliferation of personally identifiable information (PII) across various systems, which increases the risk of potential data breaches," Deepak Annamalai, Head of Skyflow APAC told Moneycontrol.



Palo Alto-based Skyflow provides solutions that aim to help startups and enterprises comply with data protection laws in various countries, such as the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), India's Data Protection Act (DPDP), and so on.



"Secondly, organisations are also grappling with exerting control on data access. For example, on how to grant customer support teams access only to the last four digits of an Aadhaar number, and ensuring they see only what's necessary, not the entirety of the information, Annamalai added.



In this regard, Kanishk Gaur, the founder, and CEO of India Future Foundation, a Delhi-based tech think tank, has urged companies to undertake privacy impact assessments.



"Companies have to undertake privacy impact assessments to understand where they are with respect to the DPDP Act. Privacy impact assessment will identify the kind of data is moving within the organisation. They can either do it internally or engage with a law firm or a consulting firm to do that," Gaur said.



"Companies need to understand what datasets they are holding. If they are holding personal information of consumers, where is that information stored? Is that information going to a third party? What kind of controls would you have to bring in to safeguard this data? What kind of processing are you doing with the data? That's the journey these companies need to undertake," Gaur added.



Consulting firm Deloitte has also recommended a list of measures for companies in view of the new law, including conducting a "gap assessment to evaluate readiness."



Deloitte has also advised companies to take up data inventory using data discovery techniques; develop mechanisms to provide notices to data principals for personal data collected previously and going

forward; implement a consent management mechanism to collect, maintain, track, and update consent from individuals.



The firm also urged bodies to prepare and deploy mechanisms that will respond to a user's data-related requests; ensure valid contracts are maintained with data processors and lastly, monitor changes or updates to data protection laws and regulations.
IndiGo, Indias largest carrier by fleet and market share, declared its best ever quarterly results on August 2. At Rs 3,091 crore, the quarterly profit shadow that of any other listed airline in India in the past and is double of IndiGos previous best. Yet the next day, its share opened lower, seeing a drop of over 1 percent while the benchmark index was trading flat.



The worrying trend for analysts was possibly the news that the number of grounded aircraft due to lack of engines stands around 40. Having 13 percent if its 310-strong aircraft fleet grounded does not paint a pretty picture of an airline. The same week as the results, there was news of further issues with the Pratt & Whitney (P&W) engines on some of its aircraft which may require additional checks for which the planes may have to be grounded, albeit temporary, at least for the duration of the inspections.



An airline that is as committed as IndiGo towards fleet renewal had to rely on inducting an old Airbus A320ceo to its fleet to make up for the shortfall.



P&W has had a chequered history in India, with the engine supplier falling behind in supplying replacement engines and/or parts, with Go First accusing the engine maker for its grounding.



How many P&W powered planes does IndiGo have?



As per last count, IndiGo has a fleet of 167 A320neos in its fleet. Of this, 112, or over 65 percent, are P&W-powered A320neo with the remaining using CFM Leap engines. IndiGo signed up with CFM in 2019 and followed it up with another deal in 2021 to power its A320neo family. The latest, record breaking order for 500 aircraft, which was placed at the Paris Air show, is due for delivery only after 2030 and thus the airline has time to select the engines. Given its track record, though, P&W is a long shot as the engine of choice.



IndiGo has an even larger order book for the A321neo. For now, it has 87 A321neo aircraft in fleet, only 25 or 28 percent of which are equipped with P&W engines, with the rest being powered by CFM. This means that if aircraft are grounded for lack of engines or parts, as has often been the case with planes with P&W engines, the airline has recourse to more of the higher capacity aircraft helping add capacity (by ASK or available seat kilometre) when needed. All the aircraft coming in the later part of 2020 are fitted with CFM engines.



Overall, in the narrow-body family comprising the A320neo and A321neo, 54 percent of the aircraft are powered by P&W GTF engines, a cause of worry if engine issues persist.



IndiGo traditionally kept an aircraft with itself for six years before returning it to the lessor, in the interest of costs and maintaining a young fleet. A lot has changed since the induction of A320neo. The initial delays, engine issues and more have meant that it continues to operate the A320ceo, which would have been out of its fleet as per initial plans, and has either re-inducted aircraft or increased lease duration of aircraft to tide over the crisis. With the last of its P&W-powered aircraft joining the airline in 2020, even with a six-year cycle the aircraft would be around until 2026, if not longer. In one of the analysts calls prior to COVID, then CEO Rono Dutta had hinted at longer lease cycles since newer technology is not expected in the market in the immediate future. We would well see the planes being around for longer. The hope, then, is that all issues with the engine are resolved and the grounded fleet is back in the air at the earliest.



Not a total write-off



The airline and the Indian regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) came up with an assessment that called for the number of engines affected by the new P&W directive on engine inspections. Thankfully for the airline and its passengers, the number is relatively small and barring two that have not been called in for checks, all engines are currently on ground awaiting replacements.



Also Read: P&W's engine issues will affect some of our aircraft as well, says IndiGo CFO Gaurav Negi



As the airline launched four new international destinations in a short span in the last 10 days, two out of four new destinations saw the inaugurals being operated by the P&W-powered A320neos. These two routes, to Jakarta and Nairobi, are also among the longest of the new additions.



Also Read: IndiGo says working with Pratt & Whitney after latest engine inspection



Also, the airline has re-inducted a few aircraft to its fleet to tide over the crisis and these are from the initial deliveries. These, too, are powered by P&W. The engine manufacturer has time and again said that it is working closely with airlines that are impacted and trying its best to ensure the disruptions are low. Even as issues crop up, P&W has been on a roll recently having crossed 800 firm orders or commitments by June this year. Mexicos Viva Aerobus selected P&W GTF engines to power its 90 aircraft in July.



Also Read: Pratt & Whitney issue may lead to engine change of 5 IndiGo aircraft: Reports



India is a rapidly growing aviation market. While Air India has already made a choice for its Airbus narrow-body order, and Boeing has only one engine optionCFMP&W will have to strive hard to win back IndiGo as its customer. Unless the Airbus A220 or Embraer E2 family come to Indian skies, we could be headed for a P&W-mukt Bharat, which would not bode well for the engine manufacturer.
State-owned Hindustan Copper Ltd on Monday posted a 17.54 per cent decline in net profit to Rs 47.28 crore for the June quarter on account of higher expenses. It had clocked Rs 57.08 crore as "net profit after tax share of profit of JV/associates", in the year-ago period, Hindustan Copper said in a regulatory filing. The companys total income, however, increased to Rs 384.73 crore in the first quarter of the current fiscal from Rs 359.13 crore a year ago. The expenses rose to Rs 322.53 crore in the June quarter as against Rs 280.76 crore in the year-ago period.

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The board of ITC on August 14 has approved the demerger of the hotels business, with an indicative timeline of listing of the new entity in about 15 months. The hotels business will have the license to use the ITC brand name.



The Board at its meeting held today subject to necessary approvals, considered and approved the demerger of the hotels business under a scheme of arrangement amongst ITC and ITC Hotels and their respective shareholders and creditors under Sections 230-232 and other applicable provisions of the Companies Act, 2013, the company said in a regulatory filing.



Also Read | ITC Q1 results: Net profit jumps 17.58% to Rs 4902.74 crore, revenue falls 7%, exceeds estimates



Under the demerger, shareholders will get one share of hotels business for every 10 shares held in ITC. ITC shareholders are to hold about 60 percent direct stake in ITC Hotels (proportionate to their stake in ITC) and the remaining 40 percent stake to continue with ITC. No cash consideration is payable under the demerger scheme.



The company said that 100 percent economic interest will continue to be held by ITC shareholders in the hotels business.



ITC's hotel business includes owning, licensing, operating, managing, servicing, marketing, accommodating and supervising the operations of hotels along with dining and banqueting services. The turnover of the hotel business for FY23 stood at Rs 2,573.22 crore, representing 3.7 percent of the total standalone turnover of the company FY23.



Over time, this business has grown and is ready to operate independently in the booming hospitality sector yet benefiting from ITC's strong reputation. The increasing aspirations of society, India's solid economic base, government focus on travel and tourism, infrastructure development, and fast-paced digitalization offer great prospects for the Hotel Business's future growth, the company said in an investor presentation.



Also Read | ITC gets green signal from board for planned demerger of hotels business



The company has announced that properties, assets, investments, employees, liabilities and contracts forming part of the Hotels business to be transferred to the new entity. Intellectual property / trademarks exclusively used in Hotels Business will also be transferred. ITC Hotels to be given a license to use the ITC name as part of its corporate name & some of its properties / brand names, subject to customary conditions.



The Resulting Company is proposed to be listed on the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited.
The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) will continue to hold some stake in IDBI Bank even after the sale of the lender, said Chairman Siddhartha Mohanty in an exclusive interview with Moneycontrol on August 14.



"IDBI is our largest bank partner, so we would continue to have some stake in IDBI, (and) our bank partnership continues," said Mohanty.



Presently, the government and LIC, together, hold 94.71 percent stake in the bank. Of this, LIC holds 49.24 percent.



Mohanty also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modis appreciation for LIC is a big shot in their arm.



He further added that LICs investment is in strong hands and regulated as per the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). Edited excerpts of the interview:



Could you give an update on the IDBI Bank stake sale?



The government will take a call and decide on the IDBI Bank stake sale. We are a major shareholder in IDBI Bank. It is our largest bank partner. So we would continue to have some stake in IDBI Bank even after the sale, so that our banker partnership continues. But ultimately, the government will take a call about this investment.



Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised LICs performance in parliament. How do you look at it?



The Prime Minister's appreciation for LIC is a big shot in our arm, and we express our gratitude to PM Modi. We reaffirm our commitment to protecting the interests of all stakeholders, creating sustainable, superior value for all stakeholders, and our commitment to the nation as a whole.

And definitely, appreciation by the Prime Minister will boost the morale of everyone associated with LIC.



How do you see competition from private life insurers?



When the market was opened up, we had already been in the market for) about 23 years. Over the last 23 years, there has been competition. Despite that, we have sustained our market share. We have always commanded over 60 percent market share. At one point in time, it fell below 60 percent, but we bounced back. Our objective is to sustain our market share. But at the same time, we'll focus on profitability. So, what we intend to do is gain profitable market share. We continue to be the leader in the insurance space.



For LIC, how important is the protection portfolio (pure term plans)? Do you have any plans to launch a pure term plan?



Recently, we launched one unique term plan  Jeevan Kiran with ROP. ROP means Return of Premium, which is actually a term insurance plan, but after the end of the term, the total premium paid by the policyholder refunded to the policyholder. So, virtually the policyholder is not paying anything for the risk coverage for that period of 2025 years. It's a very unique plan, and it's getting traction in the market. We expect good business from this product.



Do you expect term premiums to rise this year?



Post-COVID, because of the experience, the term premium has been revised. But even now, it is most reasonable for policyholders. It is not very high, but has been revised.



Why is the rise in Value of New Business (VNB) margin marginal?



The VNB margin in the first quarter of last year (2022) was 13.6 percent. This year it is 13.7 percent. There has been some stress on VNB margins industry-wide. I am confident that VNB margin will rise in the coming quarters.



What is LIC's investment philosophy at this point in time? What is looking hot?



LIC's investment philosophy is to take advantage of market movements. We have to do this in the best interest of our stakeholders. And LIC is working in that direction.



Is LIC looking at partnering with new-age banks for business?



We have recently partnered with two new-age banks and are looking forward to partnering with more.



What are the product segments that LIC will focus on this year?



Last year, we launched many new products in the non-par segment. We also have guaranteed return products. So, the customer would make an informed decision on how much is being paid today and how much will be received after 10 years, 15 years, or 20 years. So, the customer can calculate the final return.



What's the situation with LIC's exposure to Adani stocks?



As a principle, we do not discuss individual stocks. But since you are talking about this stock, (let me tell you) we have made our stand clear.

I have said many times that LIC has never made any losses. Rather, we have made a good profit on this stock, and the market value of this stock today is much higher than the book value. So absolutely, there is no concern, and I can assure all our stakeholders that LIC's investment is in strong hands and regulated as per SOP. So there is nothing to worry about so far as LIC's investment is concerned.



What is your outlook on the future of the insurance industry in India?



The insurance industry in India is going to grow, and everybody should have total faith in the insurance industry. Everybody should take insurance.

And secondly, LIC is here to deliver as per our commitment.



We are going for a huge digital transformation of all our operations. So, in the current year, we will see a digital transformation. Customer onboarding through digital means will also be implemented in the current year. So, you will find a lot of change in our operations in digital mode.



Customers should have total trust in LIC, and everybody should take on more and more policies.
Foxconn Technology Group, the world's largest contract electronics manufacturer, is exploring options to make India its third global hub for electric vehicle (EV) contract production.



The Taiwanese company aims to supply five to seven lakh EVs by 2025, which will account for 5 percent of total electric vehicle sales worldwide, a report has said.



The company has already acquired a manufacturing unit in Ohio, US, for $230 million, which can produce five to six lakh vehicles every year.



The iPhone maker also has a factory in Thailand to make EVs. The plant, built in a joint venture with Thailand's energy giant PTT, will have an initial production capacity of 50,000 vehicles a year, which can be scaled up to produce 1.5 lakh units, the Business Standard reported on August 14.



Also Read: Foxconn to invest Rs 5,000 crore in Karnataka for phone enclosure, semiconductor equipment manufacturing units



Moneycontrol couldn't verify the report independently.



Foxconn assembles commercial EVs and e-buses but plans to move into passenger car production this year, the financial daily reported, citing the companys annual report released recently.



For this, the Taiwanese company held talks with Telangana and Tamil Nadu governments to set up an EV plant and a decision is likely soon.



It has also tied up with Yulon Motors, Taiwan's largest automaker, to build the first EV under the Luggen 7 brand this year. About 30 percent of Foxconn's revenue comes from countries other than China. The company said it was also considering setting up plants in Mexico, Vietnam, Indonesia and Europe.



Also Read: Foxconn signs LoI with Tamil Nadu to set up Rs 1,600 cr mobile components plant, generate 6,000 jobs



Experts say Foxconn can benefit from the growing competition in the EV space, which forced Elon Musks Tesla to slash the prices of its cars. Notably, new companies that cannot negotiate the supply chain or do not have experience in manufacturing vehicles can also outsource production.



India play



Foxconn may have an advantage in India, as it is already the largest electronics manufacturing service provider in the country. It is the largest contract manufacturer of iPhones for Apple for India and export markets.



Bharat FIH, Foxconns Indian arm, has been producing electronic components for EV two-wheeler companies such as Ather Energy and Ola Electric since 2015.



Foxconn is also planning to set up a compound semiconductor fab plant for gallium nitride and silicon carbide chips, critical components for the electric auto industry.
With an eye on limiting the impact of global headwinds and a demand slowdown across India's major trading partners including the US and China, New Delhi is looking to diversify its exports and imports basket.



Measures to arrest the impact of global headwinds include diversifying import source nations, scouting for newer markets for Indian goods as well as non-tariff barriers to push local manufacturing at the same time, a senior government official said.



Demand for Indian goods in key markets such as US, China, Bangladesh and Singapore has seen a significant drop in recent months. Latest data shows that India's exports to Beijing, the fourth-largest buyer of Indian goods, dropped 14.9 percent in April-July 2023 compared to the same period last fiscal. Whereas, outbound shipments to the US, India's top merchandise export destination, fell 12.48 percent on year during the first four months of the current fiscal.



"A slowdown in markets such as the US and China has impacted exports in this sector (gems and jewellery) quite a bit and this is one area where we are looking for diversification," Satya Srinivas, Additional Secretary, Commerce Ministry said during a briefing on August 14. India's outbound shipments of gems and jewelry fell 3.68 percent on year in the first four months of 2023-24.



India's exports came in at a nine-month low falling 16 percent to $32.25 billion in July as outbound shipments faced lackluster demand owing to a slowdown in major trading partners including China and the US, government data released on August 14 showed, while trade deficit for the last month widened marginally versus June.



New Delhi is also banking on its production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme to start showing results soon across all sectors and spur local manufacturing. Though, there is currently no plans to levy import licensing curbs on other electronic items after the recent imposition on laptops and desktops, the government is constantly monitoring imports to reduce dependence on a few countries, the government official cited earlier said.



"We have a PLI Scheme, we are monitoring our imports and we don't want undue dependence on limited sources of imports, and want to diversify both exports and imports. We are evaluating our position in consultation with other ministries but there is nothing on the offing currently," the official added.



The Union government on August 3 notified restrictions on the import of laptops, tablets, personal computers, ultra-small form factor computers, and servers. While exemptions were provided, the free import of these goods would be permitted only against a licence. The move was primarily seen as an attempt by the Indian government to reduce reliance on imports and push for domestic manufacturing via the PLI scheme.
Indias vegetable oil imports increased by 46 per cent to 17.71 lakh tonnes in July this year on the rise in palm oil shipments, industry body SEA said on Monday. The countrys vegetable oil imports stood at 12.14 lakh tonnes in the year-ago period, it said. Similarly, during the first nine months of the 2022-23 oil year (November-October), the overall import of vegetable oils increased by 23 per cent to 122.54 lakh tonnes from 99.74 lakh tonnes in the same period last year. Vegetable oil imports comprise both edible and non-edible oils. According to the Solvent Extractors Association (SEA), edible oil imports rose 46 per cent to 17.55 lakh tonnes during July this year, when compared to 12.05 lakh tonnes in the year-ago period. Non-edible oil imports too increased to 15,999 tonnes from 9,069 tonnes in the said period. With sharp reduction in domestic prices of edible oils, "demand has returned which is evident from the rising import in spite of better domestic availability reflecting in July data", the SEA said. Looking at the import of edible oils in the first three quarters, the industry body said it will not be surprised to see a "record" import of vegetable oils at 150 to 155 lakh tonnes in the current oil year ending October 2023. India is sitting on huge stock for nearly 45 days requirements and the supply chain will be comfortable during festival season, it added. India imports palm oil mainly from Indonesia and Malaysia, and a small quantity of crude soft oil, including soyabean oil from Argentina. Sunflower oil is imported from Ukraine and Russia.

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India's domestic air traffic in July rose 24.7 percent compared to the same month last year. Domestic airlines carried 1.21 crore passengers in July, data released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on August 14 shows.



However, domestic air traffic in July fell 3.1 percent compared to June when airlines carried 1.24 crore passengers. Air traffic has fallen for the second straight month in a row after it fell 5.5 percent in June compared to May when airlines carried 1.32 crore passengers.



Air traffic has returned to pre-Covid levels in India. In July 2019, domestic airlines carried 1.19 crore passengers.



July marks the fifth straight month when domestic air traffic in India has surpassed pre-COVID levels in India.



The aviation pie



The market share of India's largest airline, IndiGo, rose 20 basis points in July, recording the third straight month of rise in market share after the collapse of GoFirst, which stopped all operations on May 2.



IndiGo's market share for July stood at 63.4 percent, after rising by 180 basis points in June, 390 basis points in May, 70 basis points in April, 90 basis points in March and 130 basis points in February. The low-cost carrier flew 76.75 lakh passengers in July.



One basis point is one-hundredth of a percentage point.



Air India retained its position as the second-largest domestic carrier in July and garnered a market share of 9.9 percent, flying 11.98 lakh passengers during the period.



The Tata-Group airline saw its market share rise for three consecutive months in a row in May, June and July mainly due to the grounding of Go First.



Air India witnessed its market share fall from 9.2 percent in January to 8.6 percent in April, falling 20-30 basis points every month.



Vistara's market share in July rose 30 basis points to 8.4 percent after falling in June, the airline flew 10.20 lakh passengers last month.



In June Vistara saw its market share fall by 90 basis points to 8.1 percent.



AirAsia India, which, is also part of the Tata stable, maintained its fourth spot in terms of market share. Its market share fell by 50 basis points to 7.5 percent in July, as the carrier served 9.01 lakh passengers.



AirAsia India had become the fourth largest player in terms of market share in March and has maintained the position ever since.



The new entrant Akasa Air overtook SpiceJet in terms of market share in June and widened the gap between itself and SpiceJet in July.



Akasa Air carried 6.24 lakh passengers in July garnering a market share of 5.2 percent, which rose 30 basis points when compared to June.



SpiceJet saw its market share fall another 20 basis points in July, as it continues to struggle with its operating capacity due to financial constraints.



On August 14, the Supreme Court issued a contempt notice to low-cost airline SpiceJet's chairman and managing director Ajay Singh on a plea filed by Credit Suisse, accusing the cash-strapped carrier of failing to comply with a court-approved settlement plan for payment of dues, adding to the Gurugram-based company's troubles.



In the last few months various lessors of SpiceJet have sought repossession of aircraft and some of the cases have been settled by the airline.



On August 9, Sun Group chairman Kalanithi Maran has filed an application in the Delhi High Court and has sought for attachment of 50 percent of SpiceJet's daily revenues towards payment of Rs. 393 crore that the low cost airline owes him.



SpiceJet had seen its market share fall 100 basis points in June, 40 basis points in May, 60 basis points in April, 70 basis points in March, 20 basis points in February, and 30 basis points in January.



The airline's market share has fallen consecutively for the last 14 months in a row, data from the DGCA showed. SpiceJet had a peak market share of 10.7 percent in February 2022.



Most of GoFirst's market share of 6.4 percent carrying 8.29 lakh passengers in April has gone the way of IndiGo for the last three months, as the latter has seen its market share rise 590 basis points in the last three months.



The passenger load factor, or the occupancy rate, of SpiceJet, Vistara, IndiGo, Air India and AirAsia India stood at 88.9 percent, 87 percent, 83.7 percent, 84.2 percent, and 82.3 percent, respectively, in July.



Akasa Air, India's newest carrier, saw its passenger load factor remain fall slightly in July to 86.6 percent in July from 91.1 percent in June.



The airline has completed on full year of operations on August 7, 2023.



As many as 349 passenger complaints were received in July, data shows. The number of complaints per 10,000 passengers carried was around 0.29.



In July, IndiGo had the best on-time performance, leapfrogging Vistara who had taken over the pole position in June. IndiGo recorded an on-time performance of 86.8 percent at four metro airports  Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Mumbai in July.



Vistara and Air Asia were the second and third followed by Akasa Air.



On-time performance of Indian carriers recorded a 2-5 percent drop in July when compared to June as heavy rainfall across India forced the airlines to delay flights.



On-time performance in June saw a 4-5 percent drop when compared to May due to heavy rainfalls across India.
ITC Ltd's board is expected to approve the demerger of the hotels business on August 14 when it gives the nod to Q1 results, unlocking value and sharpening the parent companys focus as well as capital allocation towards the core businesses.



ITC will retain a 40 percent stake in the new demerged hotels entity, while the rest will be distributed among shareholders in proportion to their holding in the parent company. If an investor, for instance, owns a 1 percent stake, they will hold a 0.6 percent stake in ITC Hotels directly and an additional 0.4 percent through their stake in ITC Ltd.



The decision to not split the unit fully didn't sit well with the market. ITC share fell as much as 4 percent a day after the announcement nearly three weeks ago. However, domestic and international brokerages issued positive comments shortly thereafter.



Also Read : Value unlocking for hotels business, sharper capital+cash focus on cigarettes unit



Unlocking value



Global research and broking firms Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and Nomura issued or maintained favourable calls on ITC stock, with target prices of just under Rs 500.



Morgan Stanley said the separation of the hotel business would alleviate concerns about the allocation of capital and the utilisation of cash flows from the cigarette business for other ventures.



The decision could assist ITC's hotels business in defining its distinct trajectory of growth. The brokerage maintains an overweight position on ITC, setting a target price of Rs 474, which encompasses Rs 17 designated for the hotels sector.



Also read: ITC Preview | Net profit may rise 4.6% in Q1, cigarette volumes likely to grow 8%



Goldman Sachs, too, was positive on the demerger, saying the hotels division was a capital-intensive component within ITC, contributing merely 2 percent to its EBIT but consuming 20 percent of the employed capital.



The firm assigned a value of Rs 12 to the hotels sector in its sum-of-the-parts (SOTP) evaluation, within its overall target price of Rs 470 for ITC.



Nomura regards the demerger as a strategic manoeuvre, potentially leading to the unlocking of latent value.



According to Nomura, the separation could facilitate enhancements in ITC's financial structure, capital distribution, and Return on Capital Employed (RoCE) metrics.



Another favourable aspect stemming from the demerger would be the surplus cash generated and an augmented dividend payout profile due to the elimination of capital expenditure requirements for the hotels segment, it said.



Nomura endorsed ITCs decision to maintain control over the newly established entity. It has a buy call on ITC, with a target price of Rs 485.



Domestic brokerages Emkay and Nuvamas target prices are above Rs 500.



Emkay Financial Services said it would await greater clarity regarding ITC's rationale behind retaining a 40 percent stake in the newly formed entity, the structure of royalties, potential tax implications and the principal criteria for securing a strategic investor or partner for the venture.



Emkay said it anticipates further value unlocking for ITC as the company looks to secure a strategic business investor. The brokerage retained its buy recommendation for the stock, with a target price of Rs 525.



Nuvama put the target price at Rs 560, saying the demerger would unlock shareholder value. Prabhudas Lilladher raised its target price from Rs 455 to Rs 478, while upholding its accumulate recommendation.



ITC's share price has fallen over 5 percent since July 24, when in-principle nod was given to the split, to Rs 449.20 on August 19. It has returned over 34 percent this year against the under 7 percent rise in the Nifty.



Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
The market remained weak for the third consecutive week but traded largely within the previous week's range of 19,300-19,800, which is likely to be crucial for either side of direction, going ahead. If the index breaks 19,300, then it may get the next support around 19,000, whereas on the higher side, 19,600-19,650 is expected to be a crucial hurdle in the near term, experts said. According to them, 18,850-18,900 is likely to be crucial support area, which also coincides with horizontal resistance trendline adjoining highs of November 2022 and the week ended June 23.



The Nifty50 fell 0.45 percent or 89 points to 19,428 for the week ended August 11, forming a bearish candlestick pattern with lower highs for the third straight week on the weekly scale.



"On the weekly and monthly chart, positional trend of the Nifty seems very strong, but definitely there is a sign of weakness in the index for the short term and the index could extend its correction but we believe that the downside in the market would be limited," Vinay Rajani, CMT, senior technical and derivative analyst at HDFC Securities. said.



He feels the first semblance of support is expected in the 19,050-19,100 zone. If this zone is broken, then the next support comes in the zone of 18,850-18,900 which, he thinks, would be a good buying opportunity in the index. Any level above 19,650 in the near term, would negate the short-term downtrend, he says.



Considering the current scenario, Osho Krishan, senior analyst - technical and derivative research at Angel One, advised to avoid undue risk and aggressive trades in the indices.



The broader market space is keeping up the buzz, in which one needs to be very selective while choosing stock-centric moves for an outperformance, he says.



Let's take a look at the top 10 trading ideas by experts for the next three-four weeks. Returns are based on the August 11 closing prices:



Expert: Vinay Rajani, CMT, senior technical & derivative analyst at HDFC Securities



Bank Of India: Buy | LTP: Rs 87 | Stop-Loss: Rs 82 | Targets: Rs 95-100 | Return: 15 percent



The stock price has broken out from the symmetrical triangle on the weekly chart with rising volumes. PSU banking as a sector has been outperforming for last couple of months.



The stock is placed above all important moving averages, which indicates bullish trend on all time frames. After few weeks of consolidation, stock seems to have resumed primary uptrend.







Tata Communications: Buy | LTP: Rs 1,680 | Stop-Loss: Rs 1,611 | Targets: Rs 1,803-1,890 | Return: 12.5 percent



Primary trend of the stock has been bullish with higher tops and higher bottoms on the weekly charts. Stock price has been finding support on its 20 DEMA (exponential moving average).



The stock has recently shown throwback fall towards its previous top support. ADX (average directional index) Indicator has turned in to bullish trend. Stock is placed above all important moving averages, which indicates bullish trend on all time frames.







Jubilant Pharmova: Buy | LTP: Rs 447 | Stop-Loss: Rs 415 | Targets: Rs 485-540 | Return: 21 percent



The stock price has broken out from the Cup and Handle pattern on the weekly chart with jump in volumes. Stock price has also broken out from the bullish Flag pattern on the weekly chart.



The stock price has surpassed the double top resistance of Rs 421 on closing basis. Indicators and oscillators have turned bullish on the weekly and monthly charts.



After a short-term correction, the stock took the support near Rs 2,465 and reversed. Post reversal, it has formed higher bottom formation on daily and intraday charts, which is largely positive.Currently, the stock is witnessing positive consolidation near 20-day SMA (simple moving average) which indicates strong possibility of fresh uptrend rally from the current levels.Unless it is trading below Rs 2,475, positional traders retain an optimistic stance and look for a target Rs 2,650-2,660. Fresh buying can be considered now and on dips, if any between Rs 2,550 and Rs 2,500 levels with a stop-loss below Rs 2,475.After a sharp correction eventually, the stock took the support near 200-day SMA and reversed. Post reversal formation the stock is witnessing rangebound activity near 200-day SMA.We are of the view that, the stock has completed one leg of correction and if it succeeds trade above 200-day SMA or Rs 1,465 then we could expect a fresh uptrend rally from the current levels.For the positional traders now, Rs 1,465 or 200-day SMA is the key level to watch out, above which, the stock could rally till Rs 1,600-1,620. On the flip side, below Rs 1,465, traders may prefer to exit from the trading long positions.After a promising uptrend rally currently, the stock is witnessing profit booking at higher levels. However, the short-term texture of the stock is still in to the positive side. The stock is holding a higher bottom formation on daily charts and it is comfortably trading above 20 and 50-day SMAs which is largely positive.We are of the view that, as long as it is trading above Rs 410 or 20-day SMA the positive sentiment is likely to continue. Above the same, the stock could move up till Rs 450 and further upside may also continue which could lift the stock till Rs 462.The stock has given a fresh upside breakout from consolidation on the daily chart. It has also closed above 21 EMA (exponential moving average) with strong volume support. Momentum indicator MACD (moving average convergence divergence) has also given positive crossover and trading above 0 level.Traders can look to add at current level and add on dips till Rs 1,150 level, with stop-loss of Rs 1,110. Upside targets are placed at Rs 1,220-1,275 levels.The stock is bouncing back from its trendline support level and also defended 100 EMA on the weekly chart. It has defended 100 EMA very strongly in the past and bounced very sharply every time it has reversed from this EMA.Momentum indicator RSI (relative strength index) also indicating positive crossover on the weekly chart.Traders can look to add at current level and add on dips till Rs 2,200 with a stop-loss of Rs 2,050. Upside targets are placed at Rs 2,550-2,650 levels.The stock has been making higher top- higher bottom formation on the daily chart. Every time it touches 21 EMA, it makes higher bottom and resumes its upside momentum. It has also closed with bullish candlestick formation and heading for the upside target.Traders can look to add at current level with stop-loss of Rs 850. Upside targets are placed at Rs 1,020-1,070 levels.The stock has been forming a Higher Top Higher Bottom structure and is in an uptrend. Inspite of the recent run up, the volumes have been increasing gradually indicating buying interest in the stock.The RSI oscillator is hinting at a positive momentum and hence, we expect further upmove in the stock.Traders can look to buy the stock in the range of Rs 252-248 for potential near term targets of Rs 268 and Rs 280. The stop-loss on long positions should be placed below Rs 235.\The stock has recently seen a consolidation phase which seemed to be a time-wise corrective phase within an uptrend. In this consolidation, the momentum readings have cooled-off from the overbought zone and the RSI has now given a positive crossover along with the breakout in prices.Hence, traders can buy the stock in the range of Rs 850-840 for potential near term targets of Rs 885 and Rs 910. The stop-loss on long positions should be placed below Rs 815.

Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.Disclaimer: MoneyControl is a part of the Network18 group. Network18 is controlled by Independent Media Trust, of which Reliance Industries is the sole beneficiary.
#1. Market regulators orders to claw back illegal gains held at appeals tribunal



Disgorgement orders issued by the Securities and Exchange Board of India continue to end at the appeals tribunal. The Securities Appellate Tribunal has set aside Sebis disgorgement order in the National Stock Exchange dark fiber case. In 2023, the tribunal has set aside disgorgement orders in at least three other cases, including the NSE co-location case, the Satyam scam and a case pertaining to actor Arshad Warsi.



Why its important: The action by the appellate tribunal expose flaws in how the regulator recovers illegal gains. It needs to quickly devise a way to calculate wrongful returns on the principle of equitable approach.



#2. Government wants faster admission of bankruptcy case in company law tribunal



The benches of the National Company Law Tribunal should not get into querying a companys default once it is established by creditors for admission to the corporate insolvency process. It is one of the key themes of the draft guidelines for the tribunal being finalized by the corporate affairs ministry. While company law matters could involve the principle of natural justice and justify extended proceedings to hear all parties concerned, the same does not apply to the insolvency and bankruptcy code proceedings, an official said.



Why its important: The governments intention to reduce delays in admitting insolvency petitions is welcome, but ignoring the principles of natural justice of hearing all parties may not be hold much water.



#3. Computer hardware firms may get more time to set up local manufacturing



The central government is open to the idea of giving foreign companies more time to set up manufacturing units provided they submit a detailed roadmap of their make-in-India plans for products such as laptops, personal computers, and servers. The companies have sought up to 12 months to set up local factories.



Why its important: The decision to restrict imports was to encourage companies like Apple, Dell and HP to start production in India and not just be present through contract manufacturing or white labels. The government would be co-operative if that goal is met.



#4. Market regulator to submit final report on Adani to Supreme Court



Indias capital markets regulator is set to submit its report on the allegations made by US-based Hindenburg Research against the Adani Group to the Supreme Court early this week. The Securities and Exchange Board of Indias probe said this would be a final report and that its investigation was over.



Why its important: The regulators report is expected to throw light on whether the Adani Group manipulated share prices of group firms by exploiting loopholes in the minimum public shareholding norms, and whether it failed to disclose related-party transactions, among other issues.



#5. Foxconn looks at India as its third global outsourcing hub for electric vehicles



The Foxconn Technology Group is considering India as its third global base to tap into the potential electric vehicle outsourcing market, with plans to capture 5 percent of the sales worldwide by 2025. The company aims to deliver between 500,000 and 700,000 electric vehicles in two years. Discussions have taken place with Telangana and Tamil Nadu for build an electric vehicles factory and a decision is expected soon.



Why its important: India is emerging into a vibrant supply chain of auto components required for electric vehicles. Foxconns ability to minimize costs in the intensely competitive market could give it an edge.



#6. Samsung to get Rs 600 crore as incentive to manufacture mobile phones locally



The central government is likely to disburse up to Rs 600 crore to South Koreas Samsung Electronics for the first year under the production-linked incentive scheme for mobile phone manufacturing. The government may release the incentive amount by the end of this month.



Why its important: It would be the largest payout ever under the production-linked incentive scheme and the first in a series of similar schemes launched out to boost domestic manufacturing.



#7. Income-tax department finds tax evasion of Rs 15,000 crore by insurers



The income tax department has concluded its investigation into alleged malpractices in the payment of commissions by insurance companies and uncovered evasion of more than Rs 15,000 crore. The tax on the cumulative evasions would be about Rs 4,500 crore. The probe, which covered over 25 insurers and 250 businesses used to route commissions to agents, was conducted by the departments investigation wing.



Why its important: The system of paying commission by insurers need to be cleaned up. Tax action against them would be in the right direction to do that.



#8. Adani Ports and auditor Deloitte at loggerheads over claims by Hindenburg Research



Before resigning as auditor of Adani Ports, Deloitte had sought an independent probe on allegations made by American short seller Hindenburg Research, but the company said the accusations had no impact on financial statements. In a filing with the BSE on its resignation, Deloitte said it had in May raised concerns about certain transactions flagged in the Hindenburg report. Adani Port has said its audit committee believes Deloittes resignation as statutory auditor were not convincing or sufficient.



Why its important: The Adani Group is still struggling to dispel clouds cast by the damaging report by Hindenburg Research that saw a market rout of its listed firms earlier in the year.



#9. Indias appeal as alternative to China rising, says Citi India chief



Citi India has sold its retail business to Axis Bank and is now focusing on institutional business and glbal capability centers, said Ashu Khullar, CEO of Citi India. While India is not the only option to counter the worlds dependence on China, it provides a credible option and the bank is seeing growing interest among investors, he said.



Why its important: India is a bright spot among major economies amid a global slowdown. It is natural that investors would be keener to invest in the country.



#10. Dubais Emaar Properties to double down on India, its managing director says



Mohamed Alabbar, managing director of Emaar Properties, the Dubai real estate firm that built the worlds tallest building Burj Khalifa, is bullish on India and is also looking into acquiring digital assets in the country. The multi-faceted entrepreneur and investor is also taking on Amazon in West Asia and spearheading the United Arab Emirates first digital bank Zand.



Why its important: India offers multiple opportunities to Emaar when looked at from a long-term perspective. It would also be in tune with closer ties that the country has with the United Arab Emirates and Dubai in particular.
One workman died and two were injured in a fire incident on August 12 while disposing off waste material in the burning area of Economic Explosives in Nagpur. Economic Explosives is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Solar Industries India situated in Sawanga, Bazargaon in Nagpur. The fire incident has resulted in unfortunate casualty of one of our workmen and injuries to two others. The company deeply mourns this loss of life and stands with the family of the deceased in this moment of grief, Solar Industries said in a statement. All activities at the aforesaid plant are normal and there is no material loss or financial impact. We have also intimated concerned departments and statutory authorities, the company clarified to exchanges. The statement further added that the incident is being investigated for all root and contributory causes and corrective and preventative actions to be implemented.

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You can take an Indian out of India, but you can never take India out of an Indian. And thats why some of these folks choose to give it all up and come home. Or so it would seem.



Manish Jain, an artificial intelligence (AI) specialist, moved to the US 16 years ago for his higher studies. In 2013, he launched a start-up before selling it a few years later. Bharath Sundararajan, a retail and supply chain professional, also moved to the US to pursue a career. Both Jain and Sundararajan made a success of themselves and lived the American dream. But eventually, it didn't prove enough, and they moved back to India.



Getting a job overseas and having the chance to live abroad is an aspiration for many Indians  its their ticket to a better life and global exposure. But having examined the grass on the other side of the fence, a few return to India, believing the pastures here are actually greener. A thriving job market, a good standard of living and having family close by were big pull factors for these folks.



When opportunities come calling



For 37-year-old Jain, the promising start-up ecosystem in India was a big draw. Jain has a PhD in AI and was running his own venture in the US, which was later acqui-hired (acquired primarily for the expertise of the staff) by Procore Technologies, a construction management technology firm. I joined their new AI division and worked with them for two years. While I wasnt unhappy, I did not feel the same enthusiasm as when I worked for my own start-up, says Jain.







So, when Google Research made him a suitable offer  both in terms of the quality of work and the pay package  he decided to take it up and joined their Bengaluru office last December.



Commenting on the start-up scene in India, Jain says start-ups founded by his collegemates have attracted funding from the likes of Sequoia Capital (Sequoia India & Southeast Asia is now Peak XV Partners) and Lightspeed Venture Partners. The start-up ecosystem in India has matured a lot and there is good talent, too. So, its a good time to be here, he says.



Also read | ChatGPT lacks human touch, wont be able to replace financial advisors



From Yoga to finance



It was a search for spirituality that brought Eela Dubey to India. Dubey, who is now in her early 30s, was raised in the US. She came to India in 2015 to spend time with her extended family and also learn Yoga from her grandfather. I just loved the experience and ended up settling down in India.







She took up a job in finance. Her discussions with a colleague on the challenges that Indian parents face in planning for their childrens education led her to co-found EduFund early in 2020. Her firm helps create investment plans for parents to fund their child's education.



In a country like India, education is seen as a path to achieving a better life. There are a lot of growth opportunities here and so much to be done. In my 30 years, I have seen an increase in the use of technology, access to information, growth in several industries, etc. which is only going to compound much faster in the coming years, says Dubey.



Also read | What NRIs must keep in mind when investing their money



An assured base



Sundararajan, a retail and supply chain professional, returned with his family to Chennai in 2018 after spending a decade in the US. He then went to the US again in 2022, only to return, as it was getting difficult for his family to shift base.







His wife took a break from work in 2018 to take care of the children and this was extended until 2022 due to Covid. She took up a consulting job in Chennai that involved global travel. She even tried working out of the US, but it was getting difficult to manage the kids with her frequent travel and me working full-time in an office. It wouldnt have been fair for her to quit her job, which she enjoyed. So, we decided to come back to Chennai, says Sundararajan.



The challenges with lateral entry into a school in the US for their daughter, too, nudged Sundararajan and his wife to rethink their stay in the US.



Vikram Panchal, a Mumbai-based IT professional, came back to India in April 2023 to join his family, which had already returned earlier. He had spent the preceding two-and-a-half years working at client locations in Poland and Germany for an Indian IT firm. While his return was driven by family ties, he found it made sense economically, too. The IT industry in India is booming and there are many opportunities for individuals like me, says Panchal.







Staying close to family, raising children



All three returnees and Dubey told Moneycontrol that India is also about being close to family. For Jain, who is the father of a young child, being in India meant his son would be able to spend time with his grandparents.



For Panchal, children were the main reason for moving back. We wanted our kids to study in India. We didnt want them to be raised in a foreign country, says Panchal.



NRIs returning to India must revisit their financial plan to see how the transition to India will change their financial goals. For example, they could have significant expenses if they wish to continue their childrens education under an international curriculum in India, which their Indian compensation may not cover, says Vishal Dhawan, a certified financial planner and founder of Plan Ahead Wealth Advisors.



Also read | Here's why buying term insurance from India is more beneficial for NRIs



Aiming for a better life



But when it comes to comparisons on quality of life, the views vary. Jain strongly feels that well-paid tech workers like him can afford a far better quality of life in India than in the US. Panchal, too, thinks that he has much to gain by working in India. The income that we get in India is not equivalent to what one can get in Germany. But, you can save a good amount of money here to maintain a similar standard of living with better conveniences than in Europe. Germany has higher taxes compared to India, says Panchal. He adds, We are able to save on rental cost as we are living at our parents place. However, Panchal claims that he wants to buy a flat with better amenities for his family this year.



Harshil Morjaria, a certified financial planner at ValueCurve Financial Solutions, recommends a rental stay for 6-9 months in India after returning instead of buying a new home immediately. Its important to find a job or a sustainable income before making any big-ticket purchases, he says.



Dhawan recommends that NRIs returning to India avoid buying a residential property immediately, as they may need to get used to a different work culture, and therefore keep open the option of moving back if needed.



Sundararajan, too, talks about having to adjust to Indias work culture. After his return to India in 2023, he decided not to take up another corporate job but try his hand at a leadership role in a tier-one real estate firm in Chennai. It can be difficult to pivot to Indian work culture after working in the US. So, make sure you are financially secure in case your work plan for India does not work out, he advises. In referring to the culture in India, Sunderrajan implies that there's more work and less time for life, unlike in the US, where he had a better work-life balance.



Also read | Use NRO account for family expenses and NRE account for investments



Dealing with personal finance matters



Talking about her experience opening a bank account in India, Dubey says that one of the big benefits here is that you can ask the branch manager for help if you have a problem, which is uncommon in the US.



So, is there any personal finance advice that she would offer NRIs returning to India? Dubey recommends that people should consider taking professional help from chartered accountants and financial planners for tax planning and to manage their investments. For example, if you are a foreign national and are living and investing in India, then there will be certain global tax implications. So, you need the right people advising you, says Dubey.



Dhawan says that NRIs must understand their tax status once they return as they could have a resident but not ordinary resident (RNOR) status for a while. This may enable them to not pay tax on their foreign assets, as well as not declare those assets in their tax returns till they become residents.



Panchal suggests closing your overseas bank accounts if youre not going to use them to avoid being levied a monthly maintenance charge in the absence of any credits in that account.



You should clear all outstanding dues on credit cards before returning to India. The balance outstanding on credit cards can keep doubling every one and a half years in case the foreign bank charges 2.5 percent monthly interest. Also, these cards attract annual charges irrespective of their usage.



Banks may trace you and ensure recovery of the total outstanding amount. Also, you may be blacklisted from travelling to that country in future, says Varun Girilal, Director, Mitraz Financial.



Panchal is bullish on Indias growth trajectory and believes that its a good time to invest in Indian equities. My wife and I have already opened our demat accounts here to build a strong equity portfolio for ourselves.



For Jain, personal financewise the transition to India was smooth even though he did not really plan for it. The techie ensured that he had the basics in place, such as getting his phone number linked to his bank account, updating the Aadhaar card details for all his family members etc. He, however, feels that the family could have benefited from getting some professional tax advice.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in May 2023 proposed regulating fractional ownership of real estate assets in a bid to provide protection to small investors. The move received mixed reactions from several quarters.



Moneycontrol spoke to real estate experts to understand whether an investor should invest in a real estate property via the fractional ownership model or opt for a smaller property via the traditional exclusive ownership model.







What is fractional ownership?



Fractional ownership of a property typically refers to small investment holdings of real estate assets. This is where a number of investors pool in money to purchase a property being offered by several fractional ownership platforms known as FOPs in the open market.



There have been several models by FOPs where for instance10 investors will invest Rs 10 lakh each to purchase a residential property priced at Rs 1 crore. In return, the FOPs manage the property and the rental yield (after the FOP deducts its fee for taking care of the property) is shared between the investors equally or where the contribution to the pool was not equal, in the ratio of the contribution.



There are several FOPs that also offer a certain number of days free stay at the property in a given period of, say, one year.



Many FOPs come up with such schemes for purchase of second homes in holiday destinations and several platforms also offer fractional ownership of commercial properties for leasing purposes.



ALYF, an FOP platform, for example, offers a fractional ownership model where investments start as low as Rs 10 lakh.



What had SEBI proposed?



SEBI had in May 2023 proposed that FOPs should be made to register under the Framework for Micro, Small and Medium Real Estate Investment Trusts, and have separate trustees, sponsors and investment managers. In a discussion paper, SEBI had highlighted that there is lack of standard, uniform selling practices and lack of independent valuation, which could result in investors falling prey to mis-selling.



Exclusive ownership or fractional?



According to Sunil Gehi of Mohans Estate Consultants in Mumbai, it is always better to be an absolute owner of a smaller property and have exclusive possession rather than being an on-paper part-owner in a fancy property.



Gehi said, "There is a grey area when it comes to regulating the space of fractional ownership of properties. For example, today if I purchase an apartment or commercial property for Rs 10 lakh or any amount for that matter, I will become the exclusive owner. But here (under the fractional model) I will have ownership with, say, nine other owners. Are not we risking our capital? What if I want to exit and others do not agree? The companies dealing in it guarantees a buyback, but what if the buyback is not adhered to? To the best of my knowledge, no promoter of such schemes is offering an irrevocable bank guarantee for buyback."



He added, "Also, one cannot opt for any home loan to purchase residential property under the fractional ownership model. The only benefit here is that it will be like a serviced apartment where everything will be looked after from maintaining it to giving it out on rent."



Also read: Fractional ownership in commercial real estate promises great returns, but REITs are safer



Should you invest in a fractional ownership model for the short term?



Strata, a platform involved in fractional ownership involving commercial premium spaces beginning from Rs 25 lakh, said short-term investors should avoid investing in such a model.



"Besides being a stable and an ever-growing asset class, commercial properties offer superior returns, approximately 3X-4X rental returns, unlike their residential counterparts. Typically, the returns range between 12 and 18 percent depending on multiple factors such as location, type of asset, etc., while the combined IRR (internal rate of return or the annual growth an investment is estimated to generate) can be 13 to 15 percent over a period of four to five years. As a thumb rule, fractional ownership in commercial real estate is ideal for long-term investments. Therefore, if anyone is looking for short-term returns, they should avoid investing in (fractional ownership properties)," said Sudarshan Lodha, co-founder and CEO, Strata.



He added, "Investors should typically take up goal-based investing, wherein the goals are bigger, well-planned and aligned across a minimum period of three to five years or multiples thereof. One should carefully consider an array of factors such as ones income levels, saving mobilisation, investment pattern, risk appetite and investment goals, among others, before foraying into the space."




Bengaluru-based real estate developer Shriram Properties Limited (SPL) on August 14 reported a profit of Rs 16.6 crore for the first quarter of the current financial year, up 59 percent from the year-ago period.



The company's revenue dipped about 8 percent to Rs 157.2 crore from Q4FY23, the company said in a regulatory filing.



SPL clocked Q1 sales of Rs 459 crore, up 47 percent year on year (YoY), by selling 0.78 million square feet (msf). The share of plotted development stood at about 21 percent, while the development management model accounted for 12 percent of sales volumes during the quarter.



SPL launched Shriram Esquire, a premium residential project in Koramangala and Shriram Hebbal 1 in Bengaluru.



It has lined up two launches in Chennai and

another launch in Bengaluru during Q2 and is targeting three launches during Q3 FY24, the company said.



The average cost realisation for constructed units was higher at Rs 5,463 per sq ft, up from Rs 4,694 in the year-ago period. On a comparable basis, mid-market units clocked 1-6 percent higher realisation across projects and averaged at Rs 6,525 a sq ft.



The affordable units registered 8 percent YoY growth at Rs 4,711 per sq ft in Q1FY24, while the plotted unit realisation averaged at Rs 3,045 per sq ft.



During the quarter, SPL completed three projects  Shriram Blue, Shriram Rainforest and Eden144  with an aggregate development area of 1.36 msf.



The company said it is on track to hand over 3,000 units in FY24.



Alternate investment fund



SPL's gross debt was 12 percent lower at Rs 488 crore, while net debt stood at Rs 403 crore at the end of June 2023.



"This was despite the assumption of debt related to the acquisition of a new project at Chennai in May which is being launched as Shriram 122 West. With the proposed transfer of Shriram 122 West to the ASK co-investment platform by end-August 2023, SPL's gross debt would drop materially during Q2 FY24," the company said.



Shriram 122 West will be the second investment by the SPL-ASK co-investment Platform, set up with a commitment of Rs 500 crore in November 2022.



For Shriram 122 West, the co-investment platform will put in invest about Rs 205 crore and the transaction is expected to be closed by the end of August.



With this, SPL-ASK platform would have used 60 percent of its committed capital and is evaluating further opportunities for investment during FY24, the company said.



The platforms maiden investment was launched as premium plotted development, under the brand Shriram Pristine Estates.



The stock closed at Rs 68.40 on the National Stock Exchange, down 2.56 percent from the previous close.
Data sourced from at least three banks show that a good chunk of the Rs 2,000 notes in deposits and exchanges from businesses are from businesses, and not from retail customers.



The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had, on August 1, said that Rs 2,000 banknotes worth Rs 3.14 lakh crore, or 88 percent in circulation, have returned to the banking system as on July 31.



The RBI also launched an ICRR (Incremental Cash Reserve Ratio) to mop up excess liquidity in the banking system, following the withdrawal of Rs 2,000 notes.



The RBI had announced the withdrawal of Rs 2,000 notes on May 19, 2023, as part of its clean-note policy.



How much have banks received?



Public-sector lender Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) received Rs 2,000 notes worth Rs 3589 crore through deposits and exchanges.



We have 40 percent from businesses and mostly from small-level traders," said Ajay Srivastava, MD and CEO, IOB. Similarly, another public sector bank, UCO Bank, received Rs 2,000 notes worth Rs 3,471 crore in deposits and exchange.



"We have received 42 percent of Rs 2,000 notes from individuals and 58 percent from businesses. In total, we received Rs 471 crore in terms of exchange and Rs 3,000 crore in terms of deposits," said Ashwani Kumar, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO), UCO Bank.



Also read: RBI recalls all Rs 2,000 currency notes from circulation



Similarly, City Union Bank received Rs 380 crore. A top official of the bank, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that that bank has received around 90 percent of the Rs 2,000 notes from businesses.



A top official of another public sector bank, who did not wish to be named, also said that most of the deposits are coming from businesses, whereas individuals are doing exchanges more.



These notes (Rs 2,000) were mostly with businesses and individuals did not have much notes. This is why a trend of businesses depositing more Rs 2,000 notes with banks is observed, the PSB executive said.



Total notes



On August 1, 2023, the RBI said that Rs 2,000 notes worth Rs 3.14 lakh crore, or 88 percent in circulation, have returned to the banking system as on July 31. Consequently, Rs 2,000 banknotes in circulation, as at the close of business on July 31, remained at Rs 0.42 lakh crore, the RBI said in a press release.



Also read: Rs 2,000 note withdrawal: Banks see no rush for exchange, deposit



Of the total notes received back from circulation, 87 percent is in the form of deposits while the remaining 13 percent has been exchanged into other denominations, release added.



Indias largest lender, State Bank of India, had received Rs 2,000 notes worth Rs 14,000 crore in deposits.



Bank of Baroda (BoB) has so far received Rs 2,000 notes worth Rs 10,000 crore, either as deposits or in exchange. Indian Bank received the notes worth Rs 7,000 crore until July 26, 2023. Shanti Lal Jain, MD & CEO of Indian Bank, told this to Moneycontrol in an interview on July 28.



Private-sector lender Kotak Mahindra Bank received Rs 6,300 crore in Rs 2,000 notes until June 15. South Indian Bank has received Rs 2,000 notes worth Rs 888 crore until June 13, with the bulk of the withdrawn currency being deposited in their accounts by individuals.



Also read: Nearly two-thirds of Indians don't hold a single Rs 2,000 note, survey finds



Withdrawal of Rs 2,000 notes



The RBI had, on May 19, 2023, announced the withdrawal of Rs 2,000 notes as part of its clean-note policy. For smooth completion of exchange or deposit, the RBI provided all banks time until September 30, 2023. It also advised banks to stop issuing the Rs 2,000 denomination notes with immediate effect.



As the objective was met and smaller denomination notes were available in adequate quantities, printing of the Rs 2,000 notes was stopped in 2018-19.



According to RBI data, the total value of Rs 2,000 denomination banknotes in circulation was Rs 3.62 lakh crore, constituting 10.8 percent of the total notes in circulation on March 31, 2023.



Also Read: Banking Central | Rs 2,000 notes; did these bills do more harm to us than good?



It has also been observed that this (Rs 2,000 banknote) denomination is not commonly used for transactions. Further, the stock of banknotes in other denominations continues to be adequate to meet the currency requirement of the public, the RBI said in the release.



The Rs 2,000 note was introduced in November 2016 to meet the currency requirement after Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes were demonetised.



RBI, on August 10, said that banks have to maintain a 10 percent ICRR from August 12 as part of the central bank's efforts to drain excess liquidity from the banking system, following the withdrawal of the Rs 2,000 currency note.



ICRR is a temporary measure employed when there is a sudden increase in deposits to drain off the liquidity.
Byjus has roped in the former head of HR at Infosys Richard Lobo, in what is a significant appointment at the embattled edtech firm. Lobo will be an exclusive advisor to help transform its HR function.



The move follows BYJUs ongoing troubles with its employees. The edtech major has so far laid off at least over 5,000 employees while delaying appraisals, provident fund payments and holding back incentives of employees for this year.



Onboarding Lobo will be a significant move for the startup as he comes with over 23 years of experience at Infosys where he has held various leadership roles, most recently as the executive vice president and head of human resources.



In his new role, Lobo will guide BYJUS management on organizational change and transformation, to create an outstanding workplace for its employees.



This step aligns with BYJUS tradition of prioritizing its workforce, reflecting its commitment to sustainable growth and a people-oriented approach, the edtech said in a statement.



Lobo headed the HR function at Infosys from 2015 to 2023, with his last day on August 31, 2023. Prior to joining Infosys in 2000, he had also worked with the Godrej Group.



In a joint statement, Byju Raveendran, founder and CEO, and Divya Gokulnath, Co-founder, BYJU'S said, We extend our warmest welcome to Richard Lobo as he becomes an integral part of the BYJU'S family. His extensive experience and leadership in HR will be instrumental in further enriching our work culture and ensuring that the welfare of our team members remains at the core of every decision we take.



BYJUS has been built by its people; it is an ecosystem where talent can thrive and grow. Having Richard on board reassures us that BYJUS will evolve into a best-in-class global workplace, where merit and growth flourish hand in hand, they added.



Lobo, said, Im excited to take on this pivotal role and work closely with the team at BYJUs to build on their achievements and help transform the organization to be future-ready. I look forward to working with the leadership to scale global organisational design, innovate people practices, and help strengthen the foundation of the enterprise to support its next phase of growth as a global market leader.
Edtech firm Byju's' founders, top executives, and advisory council held a call with over 110 investor representatives on August 14, where they updated them on the progress of its Term Loan B negotiations, audited results, among other issues, according to sources.



Byju's move to update investors comes at a time when India's most valued edtech company has been battling multiple fires, from a missed deadline to rework loan terms, to delays in filing its audited numbers, and a protracted fundraising process.



One of the sources cited above said founder Byju Raveendran and CFO Ajay Goel gave an update on what will be a 'defining quarter' for the company as it gets its house in order. Mohandas Pai and Rajnish Kumar, who are part of the firm's advisory council, expressed confidence in the business.



"It was a very reassuring call. Byju said the TLB (term loan B) conversation should wrap by month end and that the talks with Davidson Kempener too are progressing well. They said the audited results for FY22 should be ready by end of September and FY23 by the end of the year," a person who was part of the call said.



Some of the investors who were on the call included representatives from firms such as General Atlantic, Peak XV Partners, Prosus, and Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, among others. Byju Raveendran did not immediately respond to a request for comment.



Byjus has also brought on board Richard Lobo, the former head of HR at Infosys, in what marks a significant appointment at the embattled edtech firm. Lobo will be an exclusive advisor to help transform its HR function.



The move follows Byjus ongoing troubles with its employees. The edtech major has so far laid off at least over 5,000 employees while delaying appraisals, provident fund payments and holding back incentives of employees for this year.



Onboarding Lobo will be a significant move for the startup as he comes with over 23 years of experience at Infosys where he has held various leadership roles, most recently as the executive vice president and head of human resources.



Byju's had raised $1.2 billion in debt via term loan B (TLB) in November 2021 from a clutch of overseas investors.



In March, the lenders first accelerated the TLB on account of certain alleged non-monetary and technical defaults and later in May, the lenders sued the company's wholly-owned subsidiary Byju's Alpha Inc in the Delaware Court on allegations of hiding $500 million from them.



A few weeks later, Byju's sued the lenders in the New York Supreme Court, challenging the acceleration of the TLB. It also skipped paying $40 million in interest that was due post the acceleration. Since then, the two parties have had multiple calls to reach an amendment.



The probable amendment was seen as a key milestone in the negotiations and a delay in reaching an amendment could make it even more difficult for Byju's to raise new funds, which it needs to tide over an immediate liquidity crunch.



Already, Davidson Kempner, a US-based investor, which lent Byjus $250 million in structured instruments in May, held back close to $150 million as the companys talks with its lenders did not progress well.



Further, Byjus also had a technical default on the Davidson Kempner loan, prompting Raveendran to raise funds to repay it to avoid losing control of his most valuable asset, Aakash Educational Services. Byjus had offered Aakashs shares as collateral for the Davidson Kempner loan.



Byjus is now exploring a fundraising from one of its earliest backers, Ranjan Pai, for Aakash Educational Services. Pai is expected to buy out a part of Raveendrans stake in Aakash, Moneycontrol reported earlier this week. Raveendran holds close to 30 percent stake in Aakash.



Byju's has been actively engaged in a substantial fundraising campaign since the start of the year. However, they have encountered difficulties in concluding the funding round. As a result, the company had to resort to implementing several cost-cutting measures, including laying off more than 2,000 employees, deferring appraisals, and giving up office spaces.
The Union Bank of India has started examination of a loan sanctioned to Reliance Communications (RCom) from the angle of fraudulent practice and has sought the company's response, according to a regulatory filing.



The company is undergoing an insolvency resolution process after it failed to clear vendor dues and other debt.



"Company has received a letter from Union Bank of India, with subject 'Examination of irregularities observed in the Loan Ac 495806390002088 and 495806390002240 from the fraud angle, as per the guidelines of Reserve Bank of India', asking to submit company's response or reply on the said irregularities as pointed out by Forensic Auditor," RCom said in a filing.



The Union Bank of India (UBI) in a letter, dated August 7, to RCom said the bank sanctioned from time to time various credit facilities for RCom's two loan accounts at the company's request.



The bank said that Reliance Communications failed to maintain the loan accounts according to the sanctioned terms, and consequent to the default committed by the company, the accounts became irregular or NPA (non-performing asset).



The UBI had appointed BDO India LLP as forensic auditor to investigate the matter after irregularities were found.



The forensic audit firm submitted its report on October 15, 2020, wherein certain serious irregularities or anomalies were pointed out by auditors which needed to be examined by a "competent authority to ascertain the incidence of fraudulent practices".



The bank has asked RCom to submit its response to the anomalies pointed out by the auditors within 15 days.



The UBI said in case, it does not receive any reply from RCom within the stipulated time period, it will construe that the company has nothing to say in the matter.



"Accordingly, the same will be placed before the appropriate committee for their decision on further action including identification of the loan account of M/s Reliance Communication Limited under fraud or otherwise, as per the extant guidelines as contained in the Master Directions of RBI on bank frauds," the letter said.
Indias working-age population will exceed Chinas over the next five years, going by various estimates. This will prove to be a significant competitive advantage in attracting global manufacturers.



The working-age population of India has been rising steadily since 1990 while that of China has been falling since 2010.







As Morgan Stanleys analysts note about the working-age population in India and China, India is seeing a favourable demographic trend while China has seen a decline in working-age population since the early part of the last decade. As their graphic illustrates, the number of people in their working age in India is expected to cross the number in China in 2024.



Some analysts believe that Indias working-age population will exceed Chinas number a little later, closer to 2030.







Given this trend and looking at various parameters, including GDP per capita income and debt/GDP ratio, analysts at Morgan Stanley wrote, India's future looks to a significant extent like China's past.



While the size of Indias workforce is a major competitive advantage", according to S&P Global Market Intelligences economists, they wrote that the ability to harness this advantage will depend on upskilling the workforce and in boosting female employment.



Labor dynamics will be pivotal in achieving Indias domestic growth targets and its global ambitions, wrote S&P Globals Sophie Malin, Senior Economist, and Ashima Tyagi, Economics Associate Director.



A key impediment to overcome will be public perception that upskilling is a last resort for those who have opted out of the formal academic system Consolidating and streamlining upskilling schemes may also improve their effectiveness. MSDE (Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship) has a challenging task in coordinating skill-development programmes spread across multiple ministries and associated departments within the central and state governments, they added.



They also noted that increasing female labour participation will partly depend on improving the perception of womens role in society. They wrote, This will reduce barriers for women entering the workforce and diminish gender discrimination more broadly.
India is aiming to close negotiations in the India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) as early as September, when the next round of negotiations is scheduled to take place between the two countries during the trade and investment working group meeting on August 24 and 25.



"There is visible progress in negotiations of this crucial FTA. We are moving towards endgame. In G20 meetings, the UK minister and senior officials will be in India and high-level meetings will take place to resolve the issues. We are hoping to close the chapter then and there," a senior government official told Moneycontrol.



As of July 28, the countries had achieved a broad consensus on trade of goods especially on the prickly issues of whiskey and automobiles. As many as 19 chapters of the total 26 have also been closed.



Another round is underway at present from August 8 and will continue till August 25. The government may exceed it if needed, Nidhi Mani Tripathi, Chief Negotiator of the India-UK FTA said during a press briefing on August 14.



India has made at least two visits to the UK, including by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal in the recent past to further negotiations in the FTA.



"These were the longest visits we have ever made to meet UK counterparts. The last round of negotiation was very intense and we were able to close many issues - have closed 19 chapters out of 26. Now there are only a few issues left," Barthwal told the media during a trade press briefing on August 14.



Both countries are yet to iron out their differences on intellectual property rights, rules of origin (RO) as well as the investment treaty, the aforementioned source further added.



Issues that continue to remain pending include those pertaining to intellectual property rights, rules of origin (RO) as well as the investment treaty.



Indias merchandise exports to the UK totalled $10 billion during April 2022 to February 2023 period, accounting for 2.5 percent of the countrys total exports. Merchandise imports from the UK stood at $8 billion during this period, with a share of 1.3 percent of all imports, data from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry showed. The UK was Indias 15th top trade partner during this period.



Also Read | India-UK FTA: Broad consensus on whiskey, automobiles goods achieved, says sources
The International Council for Bird Preservation conference held in Tokyo in 1960, recommended that each country designate a National Bird. Dr Salim Ali, the Birdman of India, recommended the Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps or GIB in birding circles) as the National Bird of India.



He explained that the purpose was to pinpoint public interest and attention to a particular species that stood in the greatest need of protection, especially where it was threatened with extinction owing to public apathy or direct human persecution. The GIB merited this distinction. It is a large and spectacular bird, indigenous to the Indian subcontinent, whose numbers, in spite of the ban on its killing, were dwindling at an alarming rate due to poaching and habitat encroachment. It needed an urgent nation-wide effort to save it from impending doom.



This sound advice was not taken, some said that the name Bustard could be misconstrued. The Peacock was declared as the National bird in 1963. The GIB did make it to being the State Bird of Rajasthan on May 21, 1982, but that did not stall its on ground free fall.







The earliest survey dated 1969 estimated 1,260 birds, by 2001 it was down to 600, the last assessment in 2018 pegged the global population at 50 to 249. IUCN listed it as endangered in 1994, but by 2011, it was Critically Endangered. Originally it was found in 12 states including Panjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Cholistan and the Punjab plains in Pakistan. The GIB is a wide-ranging species; it uses vast undisturbed tracts of protected areas, agriculture fields, pasture lands, village commons, most of which are fast shrinking due to increasing cropped areas fragmenting its habitat, indiscriminate use of pesticides has reduced its food sources, hunting though rare nowadays remains a threat, and feral dogs have emerged as a major threat in recent years. Additionally, over the last two decades, most of its habitat witnessed huge deployment of wind turbines, solar energy parks and high-tension transmission lines crisscrossing the birds fly paths. As a result, Bustards have disappeared from many states, a few individuals remain in some. Today, a single breeding population remains in Jaisalmer and only a 100 to 130 birds are left!



Unique and pre-historic, the heaviest flying bird in the world, the GIB is a specialist of the vast open arid and semi-arid savannah grasslands. Its three toed feet have specially evolved for it to be able to walk and run. Its side facing eyes give it a wider view, an advantage in wide open grasslands. But that makes its vision 2D, it lacks frontal and 3D vision and fails at detecting anything that appears suddenly in its flying path. It feeds on snakes, scorpions, rodents, plants, berries, fruits and feasts on termites, grasshoppers and locusts.







Males are about 4.5 feet tall, weigh up to 15 kg and achieve maturity at 4-5 years of age. Females, smaller at 4-6 kg, mature earlier. Their average lifespan is 12 to 16 years and are sexually active up to the age of 10 years. The female lays a single egg on bare ground, not even a semblance of a nest like other ground nesters. She cares for her young for up to 2 years, only re-entering the breeding cycle post that. The population is characterized by low reproduction rates. While this habitat specialist has since times pre-historic, the same cannot be said about the Anthropocene.



Rajasthan declared it as the State Bird in 1982, also proposed 3,162 sq. km across Barmer and Jaisalmer districts that includes 73 settlements as the Desert National Park. In absence of the national park notification it is managed as a wildlife sanctuary. The State Forest Department has augmented inviolate habitat patches to more than 200 sq km of fenced enclosures in the sanctuary since 2012. These are being used by the GIBs for breeding. However, the long period of proposed national park has developed hostility amongst local communities towards the park and the bird. Residents believe that they will never get roads, water, electricity, hospital, schools. Finally, a huge area of the Desert National Park is being proposed to be de-notified and rights transferred to local farmers. This scenario is not dissimilar to other former bustard bearing areas. Exclusionary approaches are not going to work in these landscapes. Various organisations, including GIB Community Conservation Project*, are working towards the conservation of the GIB by involving local communities through bird-based tourism, markets for organic farming, monitoring free ranging GIBs, working with a strong network of anti-poaching volunteers and other ways to make them beneficiaries of GIB conservation.



The Indian Government prepared a population recovery plan recommending habitat protection, restoration and captive breeding in 2013, that all range states were asked to implement. The captive breeding programme started in mid-2019 in Jaisalmer has 24 birds artificially incubated from eggs collected in the wild. As per available documents, birds from this centre may be ready for release only post 2040. Ironically, while the plans implementation moves at snails pace, huge existing habitats have been converted into renewable energy parks. Will any suitable habitat even remain for GIBs to be released in 2040?



'Renewable' power  the final nail in the coffin







Today, the countrys only breeding population of the GIB in Jaisalmer is divided into two halves, one around Sam-Sudasari in the Desert National Park and other in the east around Ramdeora, Khetolai, Dholiya, Loharki. 15 years data suggests that GIBs use a mosaic of habitat, even drinking from village water bodies. The current focus on creating more protected enclosures cannot compensate for the taking over of vast portions of its habitat by wind and solar energy parks and high power transmission lines. While being the heaviest flying bird in the world, GIBs fly at about 150-180 feet, the same height as transmission lines making them very vulnerable to collision and electrocution.







A large number of windmills and transmission lines cross the flight paths of the two sub-populations of still breeding GIBs. As per the community level GIB Mitra volunteers birds of the two sub-populations dont mix any more. In the last five-six years, nine individuals have been found dead under such power lines in Jaisalmer district alone. A Wildlife Institute of India study dated 2021 estimated that 16 GIBs die annually due to collision/electrocution with power lines in their entire range. The Supreme Court gave an order in April 2021, stating that GIB habitat should be free from high-powered transmission lines, all existing lines should go underground, until this, they should be equipped with bird diverters. Ironically, not a single line has gone underground nor have the lines been fully equipped with bird diverters. Between April 2021 to August 2023, three GIBs died due to collision with power lines. With just about 100-130 birds left ironically renewable power is the final nail in the coffin for this rare, magnificent bird.



Will the bird be around in 2047?







The Great Indian Bustards habitats and its flyways occupy just a minuscule of the total area available for renewable energy projects. The Supreme Courts order should be implemented in letter and spirit. All new power lines and new energy project in the earmarked GIB Priority Area should be stopped, all existing power lines in this area should be equipped with high-quality durable bird diverter or reflecting flappers, regular maintenance and replacement of any damaged bird diverter should also be our utmost priority. And we have to create many good habitat patches on village commons and Oran landscapes where village livestock and our own majestic Great Indian Bustard can roam freely. Together we can do this, otherwise a truly Great Indian will be lost forever.
India and China on Monday held a fresh round of military talks with a focus on disengagement of troops in the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh and ease overall tensions in the region.



The 19th round of Corps Commander level dialogue took place at the Chushul-Moldo border point on the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the region, military sources said.



The Indian and Chinese troops are locked in an over three-year confrontation in certain friction points in eastern Ladakh even as the two sides completed disengagement from several areas following extensive diplomatic and military talks. The talks began at around 9:30 am and they are continuing, the sources said.



The Indian delegation is headed by Lt Gen Rashim Bali, the Commander of the Leh-headquartered 14 Corps. The Chinese team was to be led by the commander of the South Xinjiang military district.



In the 18th round of the military dialogue that was held on April 23, the Indian side strongly pressed for resolving the lingering issues at Depsang and Demchok.



Last month, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke on the need to stabilise bilateral relations at a dinner during the G-20 summit in Bali last year.



On July 24, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi on the sidelines of a meeting of the five-nation grouping BRICS in Johannesburg.



In its statement on the meeting, the MEA said Doval conveyed that the situation along the LAC in the western sector of the India-China boundary since 2020 had "eroded strategic trust" and the public and political basis of the relationship.



It said the NSA emphasised the importance of continuing efforts to fully resolve the situation and restore peace and tranquillity in the border areas so as to remove impediments to normalcy in bilateral ties.



India has been maintaining that its ties with China cannot be normal unless there is peace in the border areas. The eastern Ladakh border standoff erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong lake area.



The ties between the two countries nosedived significantly following the fierce clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades.



As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process in 2021 on the north and south banks of the Pangong lake and in the Gogra area.
India's G20 presidency has been "incredibly important" as it offered effective leadership in addressing various global challenges including that of food security, British Security Minister Tom Tugendhat said.



"It's quite clear to me that this is the right presidency at the right time," Tugendhat said.



Under its G-20 presidency, India has been flagging concerns of the Global South including in areas of food, fuel and fertiliser besides focusing on ensuring inclusive global growth, speedy implementation of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and green development among others.



The British Security Minister was in India on a three-day visit primarily to attend the G20 anti-corruption ministerial meeting in Kolkata last week.



In an interview to PTI, Tugendhat, delving into India-UK bilateral ties, said there is no debate in his country about New Delhi being an "essential ally" of London.



In his remarks, the minister especially complimented India's global initiative to encourage the consumption and production of millet and elaborated on how it can contribute to dealing with the problem of food insecurity.



At the same time, the minister criticised Russia for violating its grain deal with Kyiv that would prevent crucial grain exports from Ukraine reaching the world markets.



"We're talking about different ways of seeing food security in many countries around the world. Now that's increasingly important," Tugendhat said.



"We've seen, sadly, Russia's violation of the grain deal with Ukraine and that will have callous implications that the Kremlin is taking on poorer countries around the world," he said.



"It's a brutal decision by (President Vladimir) Putin and it is completely wrong. So having India chairing the presidency, having the presidency of the G20 right now is incredibly important," the minister noted.



Tugendhat said India is providing leadership to the G-20 at a time when the world is facing a plethora of challenges.



"We are very focused on what we need to do as partners, which is to make sure that we're offering the leadership to our own people, but also the support to many others around the world," he said.



"And that's exactly what the Indian presidency of the G20 is doing. So I must say I'm very, very grateful to your government for all that it is doing," he said.



Asked about India facing the uphill task of building consensus on the text to refer to the Ukraine crisis in the leaders' declaration to be adopted at the upcoming Summit of the grouping, the British minister chose not to comment.



India is finding it difficult to build consensus on the issue in view of sharp differences between the West and Russia-China combine.



Both Russia and China had agreed to the two paragraphs on the Ukraine conflict in the Bali declaration, but they backtracked from it this year creating difficulties for India.



The G-20 operates under the principle of consensus.



Almost all key meetings held under India's G20 presidency, including those of finance and foreign ministers, could not come out with consensus documents due to opposition from Russia and China to any text referring to the Ukraine conflict.



However, Indian negotiators are confident of finding consensus on the text relating to Ukraine for the leaders' declaration.



Asked what kind of security cooperation India and the UK are looking at in the backdrop of the global geopolitical upheaval, Tugendhat did not give a direct reply but said both the countries see the world "very similarly".



On the ambitious India-UK trade deal, the minister said he was confident that both sides will be able to conclude it.



"I'm very hopeful. And I can tell you that officials are working on it right now. Look, we've got to get a deal that works for the Indian people, works for the British people," he said.



Tugendhat said the UK is trying to get the best deal for its people and the Indian government is doing exactly the same for the Indian citizens.



"And what we need to do is make sure that we get a deal that works for all of us. But I'm confident that we can come to an agreement that does that," he said.



Declining to give a timeline for the deal, he said: "I am confident that we can come to an agreement." In April last year, the two sides had set a Diwali deadline for concluding the free trade agreement but the deal could not be finalised in view of differences over certain issues as well as political developments in the UK.



The India-UK relationship was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the India-UK virtual summit held between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his then British counterpart Boris Johnson in May 2021.



At the summit, the two sides adopted a 10-year roadmap to expand ties in the key areas of trade and economy, defence and security, climate change and people-to-people connections among others. P
Singapore is open to the possibility of importing electricity from countries in the region, including India, the Energy Market Authority (EMA) told The Straits Times, on August 13.



This response comes following a set of questions sent to the authority seeking its comment on a reported move by India and Singapore to try and link their power grids.



Moneycontrol could not independently verify this news development.



The EMA welcomes proposals to import as much as four gigawatt of electricity into Singapore, according to the report. It is seeking bids till December 29 and will select and appoint companies to import the electricity.



Energy security



In the past, India and Singapore had fast-tracked plans to connect their power grids through an undersea cable via Andaman & Nicobar, allowing India to supply Singapore with renewable energy.



Power market instability has been a problem in Singapore due to wild price swings. In order to ensure a reliable and affordable supply of electricity, alternative sources of electricity are needed. Energy security in the city-state would be enhanced by importing electricity from other countries.



In the past, Singapore had said it would explore a variety of options, including regional power grids, for expanding renewable energy in the country because of land scarcity and intermittent solar power, as per a report by Economi Times (ET).



Due to their isolation from the mainland, the Andaman & Nicobar Islands faces unique challenges when it comes to power supply. Diesel generation accounts for almost 91 percent of the union territory's total generation capacity on various islands, while hydroelectricity and solar power make up the rest, the report added.



Additionally, the arrangement with Singapore will benefit the islands' connectivity, especially in terms of renewable energy.



India has also been in talks with Saudi Arabia and the UAE about connecting their power grids to trade renewable energy. In addition to Oman, where India could make a stop before connecting the UAE and Saudi Arabia, this proposal has been in the works for some time, the ET report further added.
The first global summit on traditional medicine will be held on August 17-18 in Gujarats Gandhinagar, and will be jointly hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Ministry of Ayush.



According to the ministry, the summit will take into account the vast experience and expertise of the country in traditional medicine. The event will serve as a platform for experts and practitioners to delve into the latest scientific advancements and evidence-based knowledge in the sector, with the ultimate goal of ensuring health and well-being for all, it said.



WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, will inaugurate the event in the presence of Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Ayush Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. The event will also be attended by G20 health ministers and regional directors of WHO. Eminent invitees from countries across WHO's six regions are expected to attend along with scientists, practitioners of traditional medicine, health workers and members of civil society organisations.



Union Minister of State for Ayush, Munjpara Mahendrabhai Kalubhai, said the summit's outcome will be a declaration which will assist WHO in shaping the future of WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine. It is very natural that after the foundation laying ceremony of the Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar last year, we are going to witness this first global event in India. It testifies to the multi-dimensional strides taken by various traditional medicine systems of our country in the recent past.



An array of distinguished speakers will be spearheading discussions on key focus areas, namely research, evidence and learning; policy, data and regulation; innovation and digital health; and biodiversity, equity and traditional (healthcare) knowledge.



This exhibition serves as a comprehensive display of Traditional Medicine worldwide and will showcase the interconnectedness of Traditional Medicine with the natural environment in the form of Kalpavriksha, along with scientific and technological advancements spearheaded by various regional centres of WHO and the Ministry of Ayush.
In discussing the future of a country much is made of the leader or government in power. But, in the ultimate analysis, it is the people who make the difference. The India of today has emerged through a dialectical process to the cusp of a breakout as an economic, cultural and even military power which none can take away from it. One has to traverse the country to sense this. Cutting across geographies and socio-economic strata, Indians  irrespective of their present station in life  are looking at the future with unprecedented optimism. This confidence once unleashed is difficult, if not impossible, to check.







Where does one see the change? First, as always, is among the youth. There is a restlessness to take charge of their future. Unlike in the past, few are excited by jobs. Those who have to settle for employment also dream of starting something of their own soon. Parents may still try to push them to engineering, medicine or accountancy but secretly they are nurturing larger ambitions. Time was when the dream of a father was to have his daughter or son join the same organisation that he worked for. Now, they do not even ask. The craze for sarkari naukri is beginning to wane in the villages notwithstanding reports about stampedes and scams in recruitment for government jobs. Ask a child what she would like to be when she grows up. The audacity of the answers may well surprise you.



Indias resilience



Of course, this may sound anecdotal. However, what is undeniable is the bounce-back one has seen post the pandemic. At the start of Covid19 pandemic, one had thought that it would have left the economy ravaged and the population financially crippled for years to come as the plague did to Europe in the fourteenth century and the two World Wars in recent history. Surely, there has been pain and some of it still lingers on in the form of unemployment and income displacement. But it has also brought to the fore a spirit of resilience that makes Indians such a formidable force in comparison to the population of advanced economies which were long lulled in a comfort zone by state welfarism.



The rapid adoption of digitisation  a tribute to technology  also displayed the latent hunger that existed in the aam aadmi to improve her quality of life. Once it was made affordable and accessible there was no looking back. It is the same hungry spirit that will devour any obstacles that may be placed on the way to derail their dreams. The next generation will not allow politics, caste, religion, community or any other divisive forces or vested interests  either domestic or foreign  to come in between.



What makes me so bullish about the next 25 years? It is certainly not political rhetoric. But the infectious enthusiasm that is all pervasive makes even a congenital cynic like me a convert about the prospects of Amrit Kaal as we turn a year older as a democracy.



Sandip Ghose is current affairs commentator and marketing professional. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication.
The recent elevation of TS Singhdeo as the Deputy Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh marks a significant turning point in Congress politics. Since the state's creation in 2000, the nomination of a Deputy CM has been a first. This has paved the way for big shifts in Chhattisgarhs political dynamics.



The decision, made during a crucial meeting chaired by Mallikarjun Kharge in which Rahul Gandhi and Chhattisgarh Congress In-Charge Kumari Shelja were also present, was geared towards streamlining preparations for the impending 2023 elections.



Placating Singhdeo



Singhdeo's rise to his present position has several facets to it, demonstrating both the complexity of power relationships and his significance in the party and the region of Surguja, where he hails from. Singhdeo, once disheartened by apparent marginalisation in the government and its decision making apparatus, stands at the confluence of certain circumstances that ultimately led to his elevation. Ironically, it is a revival that began with his low-profile resignation from the panchayat and rural development ministry, retaining only the health ministry.



The transfer of Singhdeo's trusted staffer from the health department had irked him to no end and had heightened his unease about the prevailing political environment, prior to this crucial meeting involving the central leadership. As a result of Singhdeo's concerns which he expressed at the meeting, he was promoted to the position of Deputy Chief Minister.



The party did not want to corner Singhdeo, who still holds sway in the Surguja region, comprising 14 assembly seats. Congress had won all of the 14 in the last elections. The step was seen as a balancing act between the Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Singhdeo by the party high-command and to tackle factionalism in the party.



Tamradhwaj Sahu: Twice Stumped



As political observers dissect the move, questions arise regarding the exclusion of Tamradhwaj Sahu from a similar position. Right after the results of the elections of 2018, Sahu was said to have been selected by the party high-command as the CM. The decision was later withdrawn under joint pressure from Baghel and Singhdeo.



Baghel finally ended up getting the CMs chair. Back then, it was widely reported that there was a formula of 2.5 years each for Baghel and Singhdeo for the chief ministerial post. But this was never officially confirmed.



Now when the party finally decided to make Singhdeo the deputy, the influential Sahu Samaj is wondering why Tamradhwaj Sahu also was not made the deputy CM. A section of the community is getting restless with the Congress and is feeling estranged by the partys treatment of Sahu.



How Will Sahus Swing?



The role of the Sahu community in Chhattisgarh's political landscape cannot be overstated. Their influence can be gauged by the fact that in each of the last three assembly elections there have been no less than 25 candidates from the Sahu community, from both BJP and Congress combined. The impact of the Sahu community's support, as reflected by the numbers of candidates from the community fielded by both the BJP and Congress, underscores its strategic importance in Chhattisgarh's political landscape.



With a substantial presence in the state, particularly in the plains, the Sahu community has traditionally held an allegiance to the BJP. However, 2018 elections saw a shift, as the community overwhelmingly supported the Congress party in the elections. This transformation signified a significant shift in the state's political equation, giving Congress a land-slide victory. Congress won well-past two-thirds of the total seats.



However, the seemingly growing disquiet within the Sahu community suggests that maintaining this support might prove challenging. After not considering Sahu for the post of deputy, an incident like the communal clash in Birampur, where a young member of the community, Bhubaneswar Sahu, 22 tragically lost his life, has inadvertently exposed the underlying churning within the community. Despite the government's announcement of compensation and employment for the victim's family, discontent has lingered.



Congress Loses Early Advantage



As Chhattisgarh gears up for the upcoming elections, the Congress party is no longer poised for an easy contest, as it had appeared to be the case a year ago. The path to electoral success could be fraught with challenges if the Sahu community, a key component of its support base in the last election, was to waver.



The delicate balance between community aspirations and party politics has to be maintained. Especially now, when the BJP in the opposition has started to come down on streets increasingly against the government as elections approach.



More than just a political ploy, TS Singhdeo's promotion to Deputy Chief Minister denotes a strategic realignment within the Congress party. The action could bring a sigh of relief for the Congress high-command but the political dynamics that it has altered on the ground would have to be dealt with delicately.



With the Sahu vote now up for grabs, it is increasingly becoming clear that the trajectory of Chhattisgarh's political environment in the lead-up to the 2023 elections will be shaped by the complex interaction of leadership dynamics, community support, and political calculations.



Harsh Dubey is a political commentator based in Raipur. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of the publication.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Monday said there is no confusion within the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance over his meeting with nephew and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in Pune.



"The MVA is united and we will successfully organise the next meeting of opposition bloc INDIA in Mumbai on August 31 and September 1," Pawar told reporters in Baramati.



This was the 82-year-old veteran politician's maiden visit to his home turf after Ajit Pawar joined the Eknath Shinde-led government on July 2.



MVA constituents Congress and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) had asked the NCP chief to clear the confusion such meetings between the uncle and nephew create in political circles.



"There is no confusion among MVA partners. We are all together and will ensure the INDIA meeting in Mumbai on August 31 and September 1 is organised successfully," Pawar said.



Pawar asked media not to create more confusion by asking the same question.



"Myself, Uddhav Thackeray and state Congress president Nana Patole have taken the responsibility of organising the INDIA meeting in Mumbai," Pawar said. The meeting will be held at a luxury hotel.



The NCP has no association with "factions from MVA" which align with the BJP at the state and national and level, Pawar said, alluding to the move by his nephew.



Pawar said he is expecting to speak to NCP leader Nawab Malik, who was on Friday granted two months' interim bail by the Supreme Court in a money laundering case.



The Enforcement Directorate arrested the former minister on February 23 last year in a case registered over the Goawala compound property in Kurla, allegedly linked to gangster Dawood Ibrahim.



Malik is in judicial custody since March 2022 and was admitted at a private hospital in Kurla in May last year. He is still at the hospital.



Pawar sidestepped a question on an editorial in Monday's issue of Sena (UBT) mouthpiece Saamana expressing displeasure over the "frequent meetings" between him and Ajit Pawar.
A Bengaluru techie lost several valuables that included a laptop, an Apple watch, airpods, a child's backpack and a Kindle while traveling back home in a British Airways flight from Chicago via London, a Times of India report said.



40-year-old Anupam Jain realised that one of his bags had gone missing after landing at the Bengaluru airport and when he reached home, he found that one of his suitcases had been unlocked.



He landed in Bengaluru on July 28 on a British Airways flight BA 119 from London and said that the suitcase, which he had bought for his daughter, was missing.



"Upon reaching the Bengaluru airport, I realised one of my three checked-in suitcases was missing. While I was busy lodging a complaint with the British Airways ground staff, I didnt check the other suitcases. After reaching home, I was shocked to realise that my blue and black suitcase had been unlocked," Jain said.



"A Columbia backpack I had bought for my daughter was also not there. I think someone opened my suitcase, possibly during transit at Heathrow, put all the gadgets in the backpack and took it away after zipping up the bag," he added.



Jain contacted British Airways for help who told him that a probe was on. He had received no communication about the missing bag from the airline until Saturday evening.



"They kept passing the buck and I didnt receive a positive answer," Jain said.



In a similar incident involving flyers, a Bengaluru woman realised after leaving an airport that she had left behind her wallet and keys in the toilet.
When Riti Kumari was 21, she received job offers from 13 companies including TCS, Infosys, and Wipro with one of the companies offering her a salary of Rs 17 lakh per annum. But, Kumari decided to follow her heart and instead took up an internship with Walmart. It's been a little over a year since and now Kumari earns more than Rs 20 lakh per annum.



Speaking to Moneycontrol, the software engineer from Bengaluru said that even though other offers were lucrative and her family was keen on her accepting one of them, Kumari was inspired by her sister to follow her instincts which is why she eventually chose Walmart. The internship period was of six months and she was promised a stipend of Rs 85,000.



"I was happy when I received Walmart internship offer, I was firm on joining it," she told the publication, adding that her parents were not very happy with her decision especially because not only was she opting for a role that would pay her much less than regular jobs, the internship would also get over in six months.



"It was a tough decision to choose between stability or risk," Kumari said. "But at that time when no one was supporting my risk my sister advised me to follow my heart."



Her sister, Preeti Kumari -- currently a Ph.D. student at IIT Dhanbad -- had rejected job offers to take Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) instead, against her family's wishes.



"That time also not everyone was in her favour but she took the decision and proved everyone wrong. So, I listened to my heart took the internship offer at Walmart, worked really hard, gave my pre-placement offer interviews, and ultimately got a job offer from Walmart," Kumari told Moneycontrol. According to reports published after she landed the job, Kumari was offered a salary of about Rs 20 lakh.



When asked about her parents' reaction to her career choices now, Kumari said, "Right now they are extremely happy with my success. Being one of the highest-placed students in my school and college history makes them proud. My father used to teach in the same school where I studied so he feels extremely proud as all the teachers praise me and keep congratulating him."



Read more: 'Failed JEE, couldnt get into IIT': Walmart techie who cracked interviews with over 13 companies




Billionaire Elon Musk has taken his ongoing feud with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to a new level by leaking a series of text messages, capturing a fiery exchange between the two tech titans. The messages, leaked to Musk's biographer Walter Isaacson and subsequently posted on X, formerly Twitter, expose a tense conversation revolving around the much-anticipated proposed cage match.



Musk's leaked screenshot portrays an initial message wherein he playfully taunts Zuckerberg about their differences in physical stature, suggesting a "practice bout." In a swift response, Zuckerberg dismisses the idea of a fight but challenges Musk to put forth serious effort if he intends to pursue a real MMA match. "I don't want to keep hyping something that will never happen," Zuckerberg asserts.



After a delay of nearly ten hours, Musk retorts with a proposal to settle their differences in Zuckerberg's own backyard Octagon fighting ring.



It is not clear when the exchange took place however the last update about the hyped cage fight was when Musk tweeted that the fight will take place in Italy, pay homage to the grandeur of Rome's past, and will be livestreamed on Meta and X. All proceeds to go to charity for veterans.



Zuckerberg had a response, shared on Threads, on Sunday. "I think we can all agree Elon isn't serious and it's time to move on. I offered a real date. Dana White offered to make this a legit competition for charity. Elon won't confirm a date, then says he needs surgery, and now asks to do a practice round in my backyard instead. If Elon ever gets serious about a real date and official event, he knows how to reach me. Otherwise, time to move on. I'm going to focus on competing with people who take the sport seriously.



He had suggested August 26 as a potential date for the brawl, but Musk has yet to confirm.



Replying to Zuckerberg's latest announcement, Musk called him a "chicken".



Zuck is a chicken

 Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 13, 2023

"Zuck is a chicken," he wrote on X.



The roots of this public feud trace back to the launch of Meta's Threads, a social media platform reminiscent of Musk's own X. Threads garnered a staggering 100 million users within its debut week, prompting intense competition and stirring the pot of competition between the two entrepreneurial giants.



Read: The Elon Musk vs Mark Zuckerberg cage fight will be held in Italy and livestreamed on...



Musk's initial challenge to Zuckerberg after Threads was launched started it all: "I'm up for a cage match if he is lol.
APJ Abdul Kalam was a visionary and the nation regards him as the Missile Man of India for his pioneering efforts for the country as an aerospace scientist. He was known for being a man of ethics and his humility was renowned.



He passed away 8 years ago on July 27. However, people are still inspired by him. Something similar was the case with IAS officer MV Rao. He took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a short story about Kalam and his great ethics. And the post has gone viral online.



Rao mentioned about how a company gifted Kalam a grinder but he respectfully declined to accept. In 2014, a company called 'Saubhagya Wet Grinder' was a sponsor in some event where Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam was the chief guest. The sponsor presented a gift to him which he respectfully declined to accept. The sponsor explained that it was just a grinder and requested him to accept. He took the gift without any further argument.



Next day, APJ sent his person to the market to find out price of grinder. He later made out a cheque from his personal account of market price and sent it across to company. As expected company decided not to deposit cheque, Rao wrote.



When Kalam noticed that no money was deducted from his account, he informed company to deposit cheque or else he would be constrained to send grinder back.



The company then deposited the cheque and made a photocopy of the same and framed it to keep on display.



Rao also attached the picture of the cheque for Rs 4,850.



Ethics in public life!!

In 2014, a company called

'Saubhagya Wet Grinder' was a sponsor in some event where

Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam was the chief guest.



The sponsor presented a gift to him which he respectfully declined to accept. The sponsor pic.twitter.com/qyqVa5dmfs



 M V Rao @ Public Service (@mvraoforindia) August 12, 2023





The post went viral and social media users were quick to applaud Kalams gesture in the comments section.



It was a lifelong lesson that APJ learnt from his father in his childhood: Behind every gift, theres some selfish reason, an expectation of a return of favour. Before you accept any gift, think hard about it, a user wrote.



Another user commented, Man of impeccable integrity.



People cannot forget him, he is the most loved human and president of India, a third user remarked.



A fourth user quipped, What a great man.
The Delhi Police issued traffic advisory and guidelines for smooth movement of vehicles on India's 77th Independence Day on Tuesday. The Delhi Police urged commuters to avoid certain roads in the national capital and opt for alternate routes during specific time frames of the day. As per the Delhi Traffic Advisory, the general public will not be allowed to move around Red Fort from 4-10 am and only commuters with authorised vehicles will be permitted around the area during those six hours. The advisory also said that eight roads-Netaji Subhash Marg, Lothian Road, SP Mukherjee Marg, Chandni Chowk Road, Nishad Raj Marg, Esplanade Road and the road linking to Netaji Subhash Marg, Ring Road from Rajghat to ISBT and Outer Ring Road from ISBT to IP Flyover-will remain closed for the public on Tuesday. For commuters traveling from northern part to the southern part of the national capital and vice versa, they will need to take alternate routes from Aurobindo Marg, Safdarjang Road, Kamal Ataturk Marg, Kautilya Marg, SP Marg, 11 Murti, Mother Teresa Crescent, Park Street, Mandir Marg, Panchkulan Road, Rani Jhansi Road to arrive at their final destinations. Delhi Police issues traffic advisory for Independence Day celebrations on 15th August pic.twitter.com/pQO8zWHijF  ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2023 Similarly, for those traveling from East Delhi to West Delhi and vice versa traffic will follow alternate routes of Nizamuddin Khatta, Barapula Road, Nizamuddin Khatta, Ring Road, Bhairon Road, Mathura Road, Subramanian Bharti Marg, Rajesh Pilot Marg, Prithviray Road, Safdarjung Road, Kamal Ataturk Marg, Panchsheel Marg, SP Marg/Ridge Road and vice versa. The advisory also said that buses which generally terminate at areas such as Red Fort, Delhi Main Railway Station and Jama Masjid will be diverted and normal bus services in these areas will resume after 11 am.

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The Supreme Court on August 14 granted the Delhi government an additional time of two months to formulate and notify a policy to govern bike taxis in the city. The government has now undertaken to notify a policy by September 30.



In June, the government had undertaken to introduce a policy by July end.



Earlier in June 2023, the Supreme Court vacated the Delhi High Courts order that stayed the ban on bike taxis in the capital. The Delhi government had in February 2023, issued a public notice prohibiting the use of two-wheelers by aggregators.



According to the order, the use of two-wheelers having a private registration mark or number to ferry passengers on hire is illegal and is in violation of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The order also said that using private vehicles to ferry passengers is a commercial activity and cannot be done with private registration. The order specifically noted that some digital platforms are facilitating such operations by offering bookings through an app.



The transport department also sent show-cause notices to Rapido and Uber in February 2023.



In May 2023, the Delhi High stayed the transport departments order banning bike taxis and noted that the stay would operate only until the Delhi governments policy is implemented and notified.



Subsequently, the Delhi government appealed against the high court's order at the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court vacated the stay, thereby brining the ban back after the government undertook to frame a policy for bike taxis and introduce it by July end. However, since the government has not done so, they moved the Supreme Court seeking extension of time to bring the policy.



Delhi government's lawyer informed the SC that the introduction of the policy is getting delayed due to administrative reasons and sought for an extension. The court accordingly granted the extension.
The Supreme Court on August 14 stayed the execution proceedings initiated by Reliance Infrastructure-owned Delhi Airport Metro Express Private Limited against Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to recover Rs 4,800 crore from the latter after it won an arbitration.



A stay was granted on execution as DMRC has moved a curative petition asking the apex court to reconsider its 2021 order upholding the arbitral award in Reliance Infra's favour. The stay is valid till the Supreme Court hears the curative petition next. The court has also issued a notice in the bunch of pleas.



The above transpired in petitions filed by the Union government and the Delhi government challenging the Delhi High Court's March 2023 order directing them to take cognisance of the DMRC request for extending sovereign guarantees or subordinate debt to help it clear the dues of an arbitral award passed in favour of Reliance Infrastructure-owned Delhi Airport Metro Express Private Limited. The HC order came on an execution petition filed by DAMEPL against DMRC over the payment of dues of an arbitral award passed in its favour.



DMRC had said that it has no funds and despite efforts, the two stakeholders  the Centre and the Delhi government  have been unable to arrive at a consensus on the ways and means by which the amount payable under the award may be liquidated.



The HC said that the Union government and Delhi government must decide on DMRC's request for a sovereign guarantee to pay Rs 4,800 crore arbitral dues within two weeks. If permission is granted, DMRC shall pay the entire amount to Reliance Infra within one month. If it is refused, the Centre shall repatriate all the funds received by it from DMRC post-March 10, 2022.



The case pertains to a 2008 agreement between Reliance Infrastructure and DMRC for Delhi Airport Express on a buildoperatetransfer (BOT) basis. However, Reliance Infrastructure terminated the agreement in 2012.



DMRC invoked an arbitration clause seeking to initiate arbitration. In 2017, the arbitral tribunal awarded damages to the Reliance Infrastructure arm and directed DMRC to pay Rs 2,800 crore plus interest.



In 2018, a single-judge bench of the Delhi High Court upheld the award and directed DMRC to pay damages.
The Supreme Court on August 14 issued a contempt notice to low-cost airline SpiceJet's chairman and managing director Ajay Singh on a plea filed by Credit Suisse, accusing the cash-strapped carrier of failing to comply with a court-approved settlement plan for payment of dues, adding to the Gurugram-based company's troubles.



If it finds that SpiceJet willfully failed to comply with its orders, the apex court has the power to punish the airline and Singh, who has also been summoned by the Delhi High Court for not filing an affidavit of assets and liabilities in the arbitration case with Sun Groups Kalanithi Maran.



The setback came on the day the company announced a profit in the June quarter of the current fiscal. SpiceJet's reported a net profit of Rs 197.53 crore for the April-June period against a loss of Rs 789 crore in the year-ago period.



While sections of the media had earlier reported that Supreme Court has sought Singh's personal appearance before the bench, it was later clarified that such a directive has not been issued.



Reacting to the top court's decision to issue a contempt notice, SpiceJet said it has till date "paid a total of $7.1 million to Credit Suisse", and intends to pay the remaining amount of $4.4 million at the earliest.



"A settlement agreement had been reached between SpiceJet and Credit Suisse last year for an amount of $24 million. The debt, it should be noted, is an old one and predates the current Promoter taking over the company," the airline said in a statement.



"The payment of the settlement amount was subject to RBI approval. SpiceJet could not start the payment as per applicable schedule under the consent terms for a few months till RBI approval came...The shortfall of $4.4 million pertains to the period when RBI approval was still awaited. The Company intends to pay this ($4.4 million) and the remaining balance amount as per the applicable schedule," SpiceJet added.



Casefile



Credit Suisse, represented by senior advocate Siddharth Dave, told the court that SpiceJet had deposited $6.5 million that it should have by now.



SpiceJet's lawyer senior advocate Shyam Divan urged the court not to issue notice as it paid the bank $200,000 over and above the $500,000 it had undertaken to pay every month. The court, however, issued notice, saying that the creditor's confidence must be upheld.



The Supreme Court had been adjourning Credit Suisse's contempt plea on SpiceJets undertakings to continue paying $500,000 every month. This time, the court refused to adjourn the case without issuing a notice.



In May 2022, SpiceJet and Credit Suisse entered into an agreement to resolve a payment dispute, which arose after the airline failed to clear dues to SR Technics, a Switzerland-based company that provides aircraft maintenance services. SpiceJet defaulted on dues amounting to $20 million.



The Madras High Court had ordered the winding up of SpiceJet due to the dispute. The Supreme Court stayed the order on a plea by the airline and urged both parties to settle the dispute.



An agreement was reached in May 2022, requiring SpiceJet to make an upfront payment and the remaining balance over an agreed timeline.



In 2011, SpiceJet entered into a 10-year contract with another SRT Technics for engine maintenance, which, in turn, sold its right to receive payments under seven invoices to Credit Suisse in 2012.



SpiceJet stock ended the day at Rs 33.67 on the National Stock Exchange, up 6.72 percent from the previous close.
Nowadays, several people have started to talk about their workplaces on social media. These posts go viral in no time and people get a place to vent. While some talk about how toxic their jobs can get, others write about various other issues faced at work.



One more such post is going viral online in which a person shared their experience of being treated like a criminal for taking time off work after eight months. The post was shared on Reddit and has grabbed a lot of attention.



First vacation since I joined the company - am treated like a criminal, the title read. The Reddit user then went on to recount how he was treated after taking time off work for the first time in eight months. The employees colleagues gave him a look of disgust and disbelief when he refused to work and check emails on vacation.



"I need you to finish these tasks by tomorrow. I am on vacation for 1.5 weeks from tomorrow onwards. My first vacation since 8 months. Look of disgust and disbelief. They then wanted me to take my laptop and check the emails daily. I rebelled and told them I will take my laptop but only check them once every 4-5 days  lol, the employee wrote.



Despite this being an extremely generous offer on my part I was met with a look of anger, disgust and disbelief and the recommendation to check them daily. And then theres people telling us how much work office work was 40 years ago before those damn emails, he wrote further.

First vacation since I joined the company - am treated like a criminal

by u/Tiredworker27 in antiwork





Social media users were concerned about the employee and urged him to not take his laptop. Some people even shared their own experiences of bad workplace ethics.



I quit a job last year because they called and harassed me about 10 times a day while I was on vacation out of country. Came back, yelled at the gm and out my notice in. Then yelled at him some more, a user wrote.



Another user commented, Don't take your laptop at all. Unless its your personal device, in which case do as you please, but leave your out-of-office on, and try to avoid checking emails. Part of the purpose of a vacation is mental decompression from work, which won't happen if you allow them to join you on your vacation.



If I'm taking my laptop then you're paying me, a third user remarked. A fourth user quipped, Caught flack the other day for saying Im not putting outlook on my personal phone. Lol some people want to work right up until they die I swear.



Put an auto response on your email and go on vacation. Don't bring your laptop and don't check your email. You need to keep firm boundaries on this, a user suggested.




Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, one of India's most revered stock market experts, who died on August 14 last year, called the Tata family his role model. On his first death anniversary, an old video surfaced on social media where "Warren Buffett of India" was heard praising the Tatas for their contribution to society.



"Tatas are blessed by God. They are my role models in life. The person who established the house of Tatas- Sir Ratan Tata brought this together and Sir Jamsetji Tata they willed all their wealth to charity," Jhunjhunwala said in the video.



On Rakesh Jhunjhunwala's death anniversary

"Tata's are blessed by God

They are my role model"



The greatness of Tatas from the legend Rakesh Jhunjhunwala



There is nothing bigger than the Tatas pic.twitter.com/vu8c1umKwM



 Aditya Shah (@AdityaD_Shah) August 14, 2023





He further revealed how the Tatas had played a role in treating and curing cancer patients all over India and spoke about the other institutions opened by them in other walks of society.



"Do you know the Tata cancer hospital in Mumbai, every child who comes to Mumbai is examined by them. If they feel they can cure it, they give free treatment. The Indian Cancer Society gives medicines. Now they are setting up a cancer hospital in every district, in every headquarters in India.



"Who set up India's first steel plant. First five star hotel. First power plant. First software company. First car manufacturing company. The Indian institute of sciences. So it is a role model of what is wealth. They are creating wealth for the good of society. What greater noble aim can a human have?" he added.



Jhunjhunwala had said, in an interview in 2021, that Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran had helped him become a rich man.



Also read: 'Rakesh Jhunjhunwala cared greatly for well-being of our employees': Akasa Air
Archaeologists have delved into the shadowy past of a 17th-century Polish village uncovering the remains of a young "vampire" child who had been interred face down and secured to the earth with a padlock. This macabre discovery in the village of Pien sought to quell concerns of the deceased's return from beyond the grave.



The lead archaeologist on the excavation, Professor Dariusz Polinski of Nicolaus Copernicus University, unveiled this grim tableau, describing the unmarked, mass cemetery as a resting place for "the excluded" - those shunned from Christian burial grounds for diverse reasons.



The child's skeletal remains, believed to be that of a 5 to 7-year-old, were unearthed in proximity to a fellow "vampire" inhabitant - a woman who was buried with a padlock binding her big toe and a sickle ominously poised to sever her head should she attempt a resurrection.



This eerie necropolis, known as the "city of the dead," stands testament to a bygone eras beliefs and practices that defy conventional understanding.



A vampire child' has been found in a cemetery of lost souls.



Archaeologists uncovered the 17th century skeletal remains with a padlock attached to its foot in the village of Pien, Poland.



Traditionally the padlock would prevent the vampire returning to claim more victims. pic.twitter.com/OYhAW3sbMO

 Mr Pal Christiansen (@TheNorskaPaul) August 11, 2023

Professor Polinski and his team have exhumed around 100 graves from this cemetery, each revealing peculiar burial techniques aimed at thwarting the return of the dead.



These so-called "anti-vampiric" measures include triangular padlocks, reminiscent of dark rituals, that were fastened to the feet of the dead to anchor them firmly to the earth. Signs of grave disturbances and post-burial excavations underline the desperate efforts to contain the restless spirits believed to stalk the living.



Unravelling the cryptic motives behind these unsettling interments, Polinski explicates that a myriad of factors contributed to such practices. Some individuals may have exhibited peculiar behaviour during their lives, invoking fear and trepidation.



Others might have succumbed to ailments or physical conditions that rendered their appearances unusual, marking them as potential sources of dread. "Sudden death," Polinski elucidates through a translator, "was often considered something people should be afraid of.



These "vampire burials" bore witness to the parallel struggles against unexplainable mass deaths that plagued Christian Europe from the 14th century onward. Researchers speculates that these enigmatic "vampires" were perhaps symbolic manifestations of pandemics or large-scale poisonings that left communities grappling with the incomprehensible.
The nomination of Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, a lesser-known Senator from Balochistan to head the caretaker government of Pakistan, as Prime Minister until parliamentary elections, has surprised most political figures in the country.



The fact that he was put in the important position on the recommendation of the all-powerful army has also raised questions on what it would mean for Pakistan in the coming days.



Follow our LIVE News blog here



Surprise at the choice



Pakistani media has quoted several former legislators and political leaders expressing surprise at Kakars choice.



Kakars name came from somewhere else, and it had to be accepted by all stakeholders, a politician who was not identified, said.



Pakistan Peoples Party leader Syed Khursheed Shah said no one was aware that Kakar would be the interim PM. He said the PPP had proposed three names that were better options. We should hope for the best, irrespective of the fact where the name came from, he added.



Also Read | India and Pakistan: How the two countries have fared since partition



Kakar will head an administration that will oversee day-to-day affairs and ensure smooth transition of power through free and fair elections.



The outgoing Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, and the leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Raja Riaz, accepted Kakars name after several rounds of discussions. Pakistan President Arif Alvi also gave his assent to the decision.



Kakar will take the oath of office soon.



We decided the caretaker PM should be someone from a smaller province and a non-controversial personality, Riaz said. Our aim was to remove the sense of deprivation in small provinces, he added.



Pakistans English daily, Dawn, acknowledged in its editorial that Kakars selection will be scrutinised and re-scrutinised in the coming days, and dissected for its implications for the country.



Who is Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar?



Kakar, a masters degree holder in political science from Balochistan University began his political career with the Pakistan Muslim League Quaid (PMLQ) party that broke away from Nawaz Sharifs Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PLMN) on the armys initiative. But he lost the election for the National Assembly seat on the PMLQ ticket from Quetta.



In 2012 he joined the PLMN but was denied a ticket in the 2013 elections.



Also Read | Pakistans deep state is at the centre of The Bomb, the Bank, the Mullah and the Poppies: A review



He became one of the founding members of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) in 2018 and got elected to the National Assembly in the same year. The BAP was floated with the active support of the military establishment to deal with the restive and impoverished province of Balochistan and its frequent troubles with insurgency.



The BAP came into being around the time the army propped up Imran Khan to counter Nawaz Sharif. Sharif was barred from contesting the polls and was jailed on corruption charges in 2018.



Kakar has served as the chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development. He has been a member of the Senates Business Advisory, Finance and Revenue, Foreign Affairs and Science and Technology committees.



Despite the surprise at Kakars choice, observers think he is politically non-controversial and a palatable choice.



The wider implication of Kakars choice



Choosing a caretaker PM had turned out to be a contentious issue among the PMLN, the PPP and the smaller political parties.



The PMLN supremo Nawaz Sharif wanted a trusted leader for the post. But several rounds of talks between him and PPP chairperson Asif Ali Zardari in Dubai in recent weeks, failed to achieve an agreement.



A caretaker PM should be a non-partisan choice and a man of standing. Any leader close to the two major political partiesthe PMLN and the PPP, would have raised questions about the fairness of the forthcoming parliamentary elections.



While Kakars choice is being seen as the best option, there are concerns over how this could lead the army to play a bigger role in domestic politics.



Imran Khan, though brought to power by the army, had launched a relentless attack on the armys interference in politics once he was thrown out of power in April 2022.



This had led to a re-thinking in the upper echelons of the military establishment on staying away from politics as the armys image was being affected.



But after the May 9 violence led by Imrans PTI supporters that attacked army instalments and the official residence of senior military commanders, the Army Chief, Asim Munir, decided to play a more active role in domestic developments.
In todays Money Morningmoney is changing in many ways right now. And gold could play a central role in a new international currency. You see, on the 22 August, five key countries are meeting in Johannesburg to decide exactly how a transition to a new form of money  likely backed by gold  will take place.

I heard an extraordinary comment from author Yuval Noah Harari last week.

Hes the bloke who wrote the best-selling Sapiens book.

You mightve read it.

Its basically a brief history of humankind and what makes us, well, human.

Anyway, recently on the Lex Fridman podcast, Harari had this to say about money:

money is a complete fabrication of the human mind, rarely existing in a physical form anymore yet has become the most powerful structure upon which Homo Sapiens go about existing. Because it is a story, a fabrication, the narrative remains within our control. We get to define the key components of the story: the characters, the journey, the rules and the outcomes.

Its worth noting in the same podcast, Harari also said humans would die off in about 100 years!

As someone dryly noted in the comments section about this particular prediction:

Short enough time to be scary but long enough to be able to avoid accountability. Brilliant!

Im not usually a cynical person, but I tend to agree with this commenters take.

Its the kind of prediction that makes the headlines, but has little downside risk for the predictor.

To me, thats a warning sign that someone is crafty rather than intelligent.

But its his ideas on money that I think are more worrying than his doomsday predictions.

Let me explain why

The most dangerous idea

The softly spoken Harari comes across as almost shy.

But dont be fooled

Thanks to Sapiens popularity, Harari now has the ear of powerful people at the likes of the UN and World Economic Forum.

They lap up all his takes, which align very closely to their own world view.

Namely, a world in imminent danger that needs the steady hand of authoritarian types to save it.

And his idea of money as something we get to controlwell, its music to their ears!

Needless to say, I hate this idea.

But Ill go even further

I think his idea that money is simply a narrative to be controlled is one of the most dangerous ideologies in existence.

Its a return to the failed communist experiments of the 20th century. A system of command and control using control over money to direct capital.

And if you accept Hararis view, the logic leads you to a dark place.

Money becomes a tool of control, a weapon to be wielded, and a means of social coercion.

In this world, wealth isnt a reflection of effort or ingenuity, but of power and politics.

Its not surprising perhaps then that this viewpoint is being celebrated in both the halls of academia and the corridors of power.

And weve seen plenty of examples of why this idea should scare you in recent years.

The big bank bail outs of the GFC of 2007, the protesting Canadian truckers who had their bank accounts frozen last year, the banning of donations to Wikileaks in 2011 by Visa and Mastercard, UK politician Nigel Farage having his bank account closed a month ago because of his politics

This isnt scaremongering, its a fast-emerging reality.

But it wasnt always this way.

Once upon a time, money was independent and not subject to the whims of rulers, democratic or otherwise.

The good news?

There are signs we could be returning to such a world.

And it could result in a surge in value for one key asset.

Let me explain

Back to gold

Before paper, money was gold.

It was accepted almost everywhere as a medium of exchange and a store of value.

Even national currencies were backed by gold in some way up until the second half of the 20th century.

Then, in 1971, the US used their immense military and political might to finally sever the link between money and gold.

There was nothing independent about money anymore.

Since then, the 50 years of brainwashing people to accept money by decree has been very successful.

I mean, ask any of your friends why the money in their pocket is valuable and theyll respond along the lines of because the government says so.

Money by decree is literally what fiat means.

But today, this could be changing in some parts of the world.

You see, with its never-ending debt, faith in the credit of the US is waning. And as top dog in the fiat system, that means faith in money is too.

As I mentioned last week, ratings agency Fitch has even cut US Government debt to AA+ from AAA rated.

Even without that signal, many countries have already been reducing their holdings of US debt for years now.

Over the past 25 years, foreign reserves held in US dollars have fallen from 75% to 58%.

With geopolitical tensions heating up, this trend is only likely to accelerate.

In fact, the BRICS block of countries (the emerging countries of Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, and India) are in the process of moving back to gold as money.

Or, at least, thats an idea theyve been floating of late.

These countries are having a summit on 2224 August in Johannesburg, and we should get more details on how a new BRICS-settlement currency could work then.

But gold is expected to be a key part of it.

If indeed the BRICS do turn their backs on the US dollar and move to gold, it could be a huge investment opportunity for you too.

While Im personally more of a Bitcoin [BTC] advocate  I think decentralised money that individuals can spend digitally is the new gold  I accept the fact a lot of countries like China, Russia, and India have significant gold holdings.

So I can see how they may turn back to gold in a big way to try and wean themselves off the US dollar.

It feels like a pivotal moment for gold

The opportunity at hand

So how do you play it?

Well, my mate Brian Chu is our go-to man on gold stocks here at Fat Tail Investment Research.

He runs his own family gold fund and has been in the space for well over a decade now.

Brian thinks the time is ideal to stake out a gold position in your portfolio. But how best to do this?

Explorers, producers, physical gold, gold ETFs?

Brians going to lay out his gold investing strategy later this week.

Keep an eye out for that.

Good investing,

Ryan Dinse,

Editor, Money Morning

PS: Alas, it wasnt to be! It appears the superconductor story Ive been following recently has hit a bit of a dead end. So far, no reputable lab has managed to replicate the initial teams findings on LK-99. Ill let you know if there are any new developments, but for now, it seems the dream of a superconducting room-temperature material remains just that.

PPS: Follow me at @konfidinse on Twitter (X.com) for live updates on this and other investing topics.
August 14, 2023

Newspaper Raids - "Exceedingly Rare"

It is always curious when an opener of a piece of news is contradicted by its content.

Raid of Small Kansas Newspaper Raises Free Press Concerns - NY Times

The search of Marion County Records office led to the seizure of computers, servers and cellphones of reporters and editors.

A small town in Kansas has become a battleground over the First Amendment, after the local police force and county sheriffs deputies raided the office of The Marion County Record. Raids of news organizations are exceedingly rare in the United States, with its long history of legal protections for journalists. ...

Three paragraphs later ...

The raid is one of several recent cases of local authorities taking aggressive actions against news organizations  some of which are part of a dwindling cohort left in their area to hold governments to account. And it fits a pattern of pressure being applied to local newsrooms. One recent example is the 2019 police raid of the home of Bryan Carmody, a freelance journalist in San Francisco, who was reporting on the death of Jeff Adachi, a longtime public defender.

There is now only a "dwindling cohort" of local newspapers but there are still "several recent cases" of such incidents. To me that contradicts the claim of those raids being "exceedingly rare". Would any decent writer really put it like that?

It seems to me that one of the editor of the piece, who probably hadn't read through it, attempted to put some aggrandizing "USA! USA! USA!" cheers into the opener. The propaganda effort failed for readers who read a bit more than the headline.

Posted by b on August 14, 2023 at 13:29 UTC | Permalink

Comments
Speaking of dedication, Willow's cousin, Aroha Tecklenberg added: "We know nearly everyone on this street here, and they're all lovely people. They've come over. They brought us food. They know Willow and we've walked Willow around here so many times.
Once upon a time, in a land north of Auckland, was an iconic thermal resort that both families and friends alike flocked to. A place where kids could scream excitedly down the waterslides, their parents relax in the warm waters, and all could convene in the movie pools for a family-friendly film.
In observance of Child Support Awareness Month, a billboard featuring an outreach program of the Office of the Attorney General, Love Your Kids Month," has been installed in Barrigada, as seen Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023.
Tennessee School District Doubles Down to Align with the American Library Association NEWS PROVIDED BY

Take Back the Classroom

Aug. 14, 2023 CLARKSVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 14, 2023 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Clarksville Montgomery County School System (CMCSS) in Tennessee has recently made an audacious decision to align with the American Library Association's (ALA) Library Bill of Rights.



Despite growing calls from parental rights groups and state commissions to disassociate with the progressive ALA, the CMCSS has taken the opposite approach and is embracing the radical policies of the ALA.



In their updated policy released on April 4, 2023, the CMCSS explicitly stated their commitment to the principles laid out in the ALA's Library Bill of Rights. This decision showcases the CMCSS's disregard for Tennessee law and the community they supposedly serve.



The controversy deepens as earlier this month it was discovered that contrary to state law, CMCSS provided a teacher training that taught students that "white" and "Christian" people are privileged while "a person of color" and someone who is "polyamorous" are oppressed.



Karen England, President of Capitol Resources Institute and Take Back the Classroom, expressed concern about the direction CMCSS is taking.



"The alignment with the ALA's agenda raises questions about whether the school district truly respects the legislative decisions made by our elected representatives," England said. "The presence of so many controversial books within CMCSS's library collection also raises eyebrows among concerned parents and the community."



Tennessee's 2022 enactment of the Age-Appropriate Materials Act was intended to address the issue of explicit and inappropriate content in school libraries. The Act mandated that all school districts, including CMCSS, ensure that library materials are suitable for the age and maturity levels of students and uphold the educational mission of the school.



"For years the public has been advocating for the televised broadcast of board of education meetings to ensure public accountability and transparency," England adds.



"However, it appears that our district remains the only one in the country that has not yet embraced this technological advancement. Maybe it is because they don't want their constituents to know what they are doing."



With the Tennessee Department of Education providing guidance on compliance, there are serious concerns that CMCSS's alignment with the ALA's progressive values are in direct conflict with the Tennessee law. SOURCE Take Back the Classroom CONTACT: Karen England, 775-737-6616, Kengland@CapitolResource.org

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Azerbaijani Ombudswoman calls on international organizations not to remain indifferent to Armenia's policy of inciting acute hatred toward Azerbaijan, Azernews reports.

The statement reads:

"It is known that the environment of intolerance and hate speech are among the factors that are the main threat to ensuring human rights. At present, the dissemination of statements threatening Azerbaijanis and threatening them with death, the widespread use of offensive language, and inciting hatred on ethnic grounds are the result of the intolerant attitude that Armenia has created towards Azerbaijan over the years.

We regret to inform you that the steps taken by Armenia against Azerbaijan and Azerbaijanis for this purpose not only do not subside but have recently become even sharper. We emphasize that a number of statements in support of the baseless propaganda of Armenia, which serves to disorientate local and international public opinion, serve not to ensure a just peace between the two countries, but to foment a conflict.

In this regard, we once again emphasize the importance of establishing peace in the region, we call on the ruling circles of Armenia, influential human rights organizations, and human rights activists to respect the requirements of international law and contribute to the prevention of hate politics by adopting a position of justice.

It should be noted that materials reflecting the results of the Azerbaijani-phobic policy of Armenia are regularly monitored and brought to the attention of international organizations."
Sens. Joe S. San Agustin, left, and Tom Fisher talk during a break of the Guam Legislature's budget session Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023, in the Guam Congress Building in Hagatna.
Governor vetoes Bill 7, says 'based on the same false premise as the last bill'
Reporter

Andrew Roberto was raised his whole life on Saipan. He graduated from Saipan Southern High School, holds a degree from Northern Marianas College, and a BA in English from the University of Guam. He once worked for KUAM, UNO Magazine, and the Guam Daily Post.
? La presidenta Dina Boluarte acudio esta manana al Instituto Nacional Materno Perinatal para velar por el estado de salud de la pequena 'Mila' y dialogar con el equipo de medicos que aplicaran los procedimientos a fin de preservar su vida. pic.twitter.com/lhJ1cP9lfk
YEREVAN, AUGUST 14, ARMENPRESS. The Iranian Embassy in Armenia has offered condolences to the families of the victims of the deadly minibus-truck collision in Armenias Shirak Province.

We received with deep pain the news of the deaths and injuries of a group of citizens of Armenia. We extend condolences to the families and friends of those killed, wishing them patience, and speedy recovery to those injured, the Iranian Embassy posted on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

11 people were killed and nine were injured in a collision between a minibus carrying passengers and a truck in the Shirak Province in the early hours of August 14.
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP)  The Miss Universe Organization has cut its ties with its Indonesian franchisee and will cancel an upcoming pageant in Malaysia after contestants complained to police, accusing local organizers of sexual harassment.

The New York-based organization said in a statement late Saturday it had decided to sever ties with PT Capella Swastika Karya, and its National Director, Poppy Capella.

Six contestants of a Miss Universe Indonesia pageant recently filed complaints with police, accusing local organizers of asking them to strip to their underwear for body checks for scars or cellulite, in a room with about two dozen people present, including men. Five of the contestants said they were then photographed topless.

In light of what we have learned took place at Miss Universe Indonesia, it has become clear that this franchise has not lived up to our brand standards and ethics, the Miss Universe Organization said on the social media site X, formerly known as Twitter.

The organization also said it would be cancelling this years Miss Universe Malaysia as the Indonesian franchisee also holds the license for the pageant. It said it would make arrangements for the Indonesia 2023 title holder to compete in Miss Universe pageant to be held in El Salvador late this year.

The Miss Universe Indonesia pageant was held from July 29 to Aug. 3 to choose Indonesias representative to the 2023 Miss Universe contest, and was won by Fabienne Nicole Groeneveld.

PT Capella Swastika Karya is an Indonesian beauty company which took over the license for Miss Universe Indonesia in March from Yayasan Putri Indonesia or YPI, an Indonesian foundation that held the license for 30 years.

The company founder, Poppy Capella, denied her involvement in the physical examination during the contest and said that she is against any kind of violence and sexual harassment.

I, as the National Director and as the owner of the Miss Universe Indonesia license, was not involved at all and have never known, ordered, requested or allowed anyone who played a role and participated in the Miss Universe Indonesia 2023 process to commit violence or sexual harassment through body checking, she posted on social media late Saturday.

Hengki Haryadi, the Jakarta police director for general crimes, said Sunday that during a Miss Universe Indonesia pageant held in the capital, Jakarta, from July 29 to Aug. 3, the victims were forced to remove their clothes and were photographed naked for physical examination in a hotel ballroom.

These victims feel forced to take off their clothes and pose inappropriately for body checking that traumatized them, Haryadi said.

He added that police are still examining surveillance cameras from the scene. Investigators will interview the victims and provide psychological assistance, he said.

In its statement Saturday, the Miss Universe Organization said there are no measurements such as height, weight, or body dimensions required to join a Miss Universe pageant worldwide, and thanked the Indonesian contestants who have bravery in speaking out.

To the women who came forward from the Indonesian pageant, we are sorry that this was your experience with our organization, it said, adding that they are also evaluating their current franchise agreement and policies to prevent this type of conduct from occurring in the future worldwide.

Controversy over the pageant has been mounting in Indonesia, the worlds most populous Muslim-majority nation, which has a reputation as a tolerant, pluralist society that respects freedom of expression. Most Muslims in Indonesia, a secular country of 277 million people, are moderate, but a small hard-line fringe has become more vocal in recent years.

In 2013, several conservative Muslim groups staged a massive protest against Miss World competition in Indonesia, prompted the contest moved from Jakarta to the resort island of Bali, and all of the more than 130 contestants required to wear Balis traditional long sarongs instead of the sexy bikinis that are historical part of the competition.

By NINIEK KARMINI

Associated Press
Gray Wolf Sighting In California - CDFW Image View Photo

California wildlife officials are celebrating a new pack of gray wolves being spotted in the Sierra Nevada.

The pack was located in the Sequoia National Forest, in Tulare County, about 200 miles from any other known population of the endangered species.

Gray wolves were prevalent in California up until the 1920s. They were heavily hunted and eventually became extinct in the state. Over the past decade-plus, a few gray wolves have started migrating in from out-of-state packs.

Providing history, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife reports, In late 2011, OR7 crossed the state line to become the first wolf in nearly a century to make California part of his range before returning to Oregon to form the Rogue Pack.

After spotting a possible gray wolf in the Sequoia National Forest last month, 12 scat and hair samples were collected in the area for genetic testing. All 12 samples were confirmed to be gray wolf.

CDFW reports that the new pack consists of at least five wolves, including an adult female who is a direct descendent of OR7, and four offspring (two females and two males).

Wolves are now protected under Californias Endangered Species Act and are federally protected in California under the federal Endangered Species Act. State officials stress that it is illegal to intentionally kill or harm wolves in the state.

Click here for more information about reporting potential sightings.
CHP San Andreas Unit logo View Photo

Copperopolis, CA  Two vehicles collided head-on at around 7 pm on Friday evening on Highway 4 west of Copperopolis.

The CHP reports that the driver of a 2020 Honda, an unidentified 25-year-old man from San Mateo, drifted into the oncoming westbound traffic lane and hit a 2020 Lexus, head-on.

The San Mateo man, and his two passengers, an unidentified 62-year-old woman, and an unidentified 25-year-old woman, both from San Francisco, were all killed.

The driver of the Lexus, 37-year-old Quang Tran of San Jose, suffered moderate injuries and was taken to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto. There were five passengers in Trans vehicle, ranging in age from two to 72, that suffered a mix of moderate to major injuries. All were taken to Doctors Medical Center.

The CHP reports that the details surrounding what led to the crash remain under investigation.
Hunter Bidens lawyers say gun portion of plea deal remains valid after special counsel announcement View Photo

WASHINGTON (AP)  Attorneys for Hunter Biden are pushing to keep part of a plea deal they reached with the prosecutor whose new status as special counsel has intensified the tax investigation into the presidents son ahead of the 2024 election.

As House Republicans continued their own investigations, Bidens attorney argued in court documents that an agreement sparing him prosecution on a felony gun charge still is in place even though the plea deal on misdemeanor tax offenses largely unraveled during a court appearance last month.

His lawyer argues the Justice Department decided to renege on its end of the deal on tax charges. The agreement on the gun charge also contains an immunity clause against federal prosecutions for some other potential crimes.

Biden plans to abide by the terms of that agreement, including not using drugs or alcohol, attorney Christopher Clark said in court papers filed late Sunday. Prosecutors who largely dictated the agreement after inviting them to begin plea negotiations in May should also be bound by it, he argued.

Its unclear whether prosecutors agree that the gun agreement remains valid. U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika ordered them to respond by Tuesday. The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

The two-part deal on tax and gun charges was supposed to have largely wrapped up the long-running investigation overseen by Delaware U.S. attorney David Weiss. But it hit the skids after a judge raised questions about its terms and it appeared to have fallen apart completely when prosecutors said the case was instead headed toward trial in court papers Friday.

Prosecutors revealed the impasse as Attorney General Merrick Garland named Weiss as special counsel, a status that confers broad powers to investigate and report out his findings.

The government said plea negotiations had broken down, filed to dismiss the tax charges against Hunter Biden in Delaware and indicated they could charge him instead in another court, like Washington, D.C., or California.

Hunter Bidens history of drug use and financial dealings have trailed the political career of his father, President Joe Biden. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said of the president Monday, He loves his son, and he is proud of him overcoming his addiction and how hes continuing to build his life.

House Republicans are pursuing their own congressional investigations into nearly every facet of Hunter Bidens business dealings and the Justice Departments handling of the case. They released a transcript of an interview with a former FBI agent who worked the case and said he was unable to interview Hunter Biden after FBI officials notified the Secret Service ahead of time in 2020. That underscored similar testimony from IRS agents turned whistleblowers and adds to Republicans lack of confidence in the Justice Department and Weiss as special counsel, Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer said.

House Democrats, though, pointed to several instances where the unnamed former FBI agent testified that he has never known Weiss or any of the assistant U.S. attorneys in Delaware to make decisions based upon political influence  a point that directly undermines Republican claims of political interference in the Hunter Biden case.

Republicans have denounced Hunter Bidens plea agreement as a sweetheart deal. It had called for him to plead guilty to failing to pay taxes on over $1.5 million in income in both 2017 and 2018, and get probation rather than jail on the misdemeanor counts. A separate agreement was to spare him prosecution on the felony crime of being a drug user in possession of a gun in 2018 if he kept out of trouble for two years.

The surprise appointment about Weiss as special counsel raised fresh questions about the case. Garland said Weiss had asked to be named special counsel.

It comes against the backdrop of the Justice Departments unprecedented indictments against former President Donald Trump, who is President Bidens chief rival in next years election.

The cases differ significantly: Trump has been indicted and is awaiting trial in two separate cases brought by special prosecutor Jack Smith. One is over Trumps refusal to turn over classified documents stored at his Mar-a-Lago estate. The other involves charges of fraud and conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election in the run-up to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

In the case of Hunter Biden, prosecutors have not made any accusations or charges against the president in probing the affairs of his son. House Republicans have been trying to connect Hunter Bidens work to his father, but have not been able to produce evidence to show any wrongdoing.

Asked whether special counsel David Weisss investigation would unearth any new information about whether the president was involved with Hunter Bidens business dealings, Jean-Pierre said: The president was not in business with his son. That still stands. And I just dont have anything else to add.

__

Associated Press writers Farnoush Amiri and Seung Min Kim contributed to this report.

By LINDSAY WHITEHURST

Associated Press
Federal officials are looking into another close call between planes, this time in San Diego

Federal officials are looking into another close call between planes, this time in San Diego View Photo

Federal officials are investigating an incident in which a private plane was told to abort its landing and narrowly avoided crashing into a Southwest Airlines jet that was using the same runway to take off in the latest in a series of recent close calls between planes.

Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, told CNN on Monday that the business jet came within 100 feet of hitting the airliner.

The NTSB and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the incident, which happened Friday at San Diego International Airport.

A Cessna Citation business jet was told to cut short its approach to landing and circle around because a Southwest plane was still on the runway, the FAA said. According to the agencys preliminary review, an air traffic controller cleared the private jet to land and then told the Southwest pilots to taxi on to the same runway and wait for approval to take off.

The private jet was able to pull up and circle before landing safely.

The airports automated system for tracking planes and vehicles on the ground alerted the controller to the potential conflict, the FAA said.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board, which tweeted that it too was looking into the San Diego incident, ave investigated more than a half-dozen close calls at airports around the country this year. The surge led the FAA to hold a safety summit in March.

Federal officials are also investigating two other recent incidents.

They are looking into the crash of a Soviet-built fighter jet during an air show in Michigan on Sunday; the pilot and another person on board ejected and avoided serious injury, officials said.

Investigators are also looking into what caused a possible loss of cabin pressure on an American Airlines flight over Florida on Thursday. Oxygen masks dropped and the plane descended more than 15,000 feet three minutes before landing safely in Gainesville, Florida, the FAA said. Pilots usually try to fly lower where the air is richer in oxygen if they believe there has been a loss of cabin pressure.

Associated Press
YEREVAN, AUGUST 14, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan has falsely accused Armenia of amassing troops and military equipment near the border, the Armenian Ministry of Defense has warned. In addition, the Defense Ministry said that Azerbaijans latest disinformation campaign has again generated fake news falsely accusing Armenia of maintaining a military presence in Nagorno-Karabakh, something that Yerevan has numerously denied and even called for an international fact-finding mission to be sent there for verification.

The statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan that the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia have concentrated a large number of weapons, military equipment, and personnel near the Armenian-Azerbaijani border does not correspond to reality, the Armenian Ministry of Defense said. In addition, regarding another false allegation mentioned in the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia once again declares that the Republic of Armenia does not have an army in Nagorno-Karabakh, it added.
Armed Robbery at Glen Lorne Guest House: Zimbabwean Family in UK Falls Victim to Violent Attack

In a distressing incident, a Zimbabwean family residing in the United Kingdom was targeted by armed robbers at a guest house in Glen Lorne, resulting in the loss of cash and belongings worth US$4,062.

The victims, Olivia Chitate (42) and Sandra Chitate (46), were subjected to a terrifying ordeal by a group of seven unidentified men armed with iron bars, axes, and wooden sticks. The incident occurred at the Cleopatra Sanctuary guest house on Pembi Close in Glen Lorne. Inspector Luckmore Chakanza, the Harare provincial police spokesperson, confirmed the incident and disclosed that seven family members had been victimized in the attack.

Inspector Chakanza stated, Police are investigating an armed robbery case where seven family members were assaulted and lost goods and cash at a lodge in Glen Lorne. Two of the victims are based in the United Kingdom and were currently staying at a guest house in Glen Lorne.

The harrowing incident unfolded around 1:45 am on Saturday when the assailants forcefully entered the guest house by prying open the sliding door. They confronted the victims, demanding cash. Although the family handed over US$400, the robbers deemed it insufficient and proceeded to ransack the entire premises.

The thieves made off with various items, including clothing, an iPad, an iPhone 13 Pro Max, AirPods, multiple cellphones (Samsung S20, Samsung F13, Huawei Nova 2, Samsung A13, and iPhone 6 Plus), six bags filled with clothes, food items, and personal documents. Additionally, they seized the car keys belonging to a Honda CRV and a black Nissan Xtrail, both of which were parked on the premises. The stolen items were loaded into the Honda CRV, which had been hired by the family for their stay in Zimbabwe.

The caretakers intervention scared off the robbers, who fled the scene, abandoning the loaded vehicle. However, they managed to escape with bank cards, cellphones, car keys, and US$400 in cash. The total estimated value of the stolen items amounts to US$4,062.

Law enforcement authorities are actively investigating the incident, striving to bring the perpetrators to justice and provide a sense of security to the affected family during this distressing time.

Breaking News via Email
A Nigerian man who had been residing illegally in Zimbabwe since 2015 was recently instructed to pay a fine before being deported back to Nigeria. Charles Okeke (48), who lacked any form of identification, revealed to Harare magistrate Ruth Moyo that he entered Zimbabwe through the Beitbridge border post and had been living in Budiriro with his wife, Sibongile Nyandu.

The court proceedings disclosed that on August 10, officers from the CID Counter Terrorism Unit received a tip-off regarding Okekes status as an illegal immigrant. Taking action based on the information received, the police approached him and requested to see his permit authorizing his stay in Zimbabwe. However, since Okeke failed to produce any valid documentation, he was subsequently arrested.

During the court hearing, Okeke pleaded guilty to the charge of residing in the country without a valid permit. As a result, he was ordered to pay a fine amounting to US$300 or face a 30-day jail term before being deported.

This case highlights the ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to address immigration violations and maintain proper documentation within the country. The authorities are determined to uphold immigration regulations and ensure the appropriate legal processes are followed for individuals residing in Zimbabwe.

Breaking News via Email
Guta RaMwari Religion has endorsed President Mnangagwa as its preferred candidate in the harmonised elections on August 23 this year.

The church, with an estimated membership of over 200 000 in Zimbabwe, said it was throwing its full weight behind Zanu PF and its presidential candidate President Mnangagwa.

In a statement, Guta RaMwari Religion spokesperson Evangelist Gift Makawa said as a church, they had resolved to support the status quo and rally behind the Government and the Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, President Mnangagwa.

God anointed him to improve our miserable lives. He is a man of peace, always advocating for unity, love, harmony and tolerance and shunning violence at all times, he said. Clearly, President E.D Mnangagwa in the Second Republic Government is a multi-skilled leader with a great versatility and ambitions which helps him to walk tall.

He always says Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabankazi balo and this shows that he has love for his people and wants all Zimbabweans to benefit from the partys empowerment programmes, including land reform, which is ongoing.

The indigenisation programmes and his impressive efforts in driving infrastructural development across the nation are well documented.

Evangelist Makawa urged Zimbabweans to vote wisely for the President whom he said had the people at heart and was protecting Zimbabwes sovereignty.

Zanu PF has indeed demonstrated that it is a party with innovative, vibrant, forward looking and people centred programmes and actions to improve the welfare of the people, he said. We pray for peace during and after these harmonised elections.

 Herald

Breaking News via Email
Opposition party CCC sends Zanu PF into panic: Overwhelming support stirs fear and sleepless nights

In a fiery rally held in Bulawayos Nkulumane high-density suburb, Gift Siziba, the deputy spokesperson of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), made bold claims that Zanu PF and President Emmerson Mnangagwa were losing sleep over the growing support for his opposition party. Siziba confidently declared, They fear us very much. We are not easy to shake off!

With years of relentless struggle for freedom under their belt, Siziba asserted that CCC had become a force to be reckoned with. For the past 20 years, we have been fighting in the real struggle for freedom, freedom for us and for the people, he passionately expressed.

According to Siziba, Zanu PF officials couldnt close their eyelids due to their constant worry of how CCC would defeat them in the upcoming elections. Urging the crowd to play their part, he called on voters to choose life and cast their votes for CCC, promising improved health services, better schools, and transportation systems.

However, Siziba didnt shy away from addressing internal challenges within CCC. He blamed Forever Associates Zimbabwe (FAZ), an alleged Zanu PF affiliate, for the fielding of double candidates within their party. Siziba dismissed the likes of Dingilizwe Tshuma, Soneni Moyo, and Albert Mhlanga, who he claimed were using CCCs popular party ticket to secure seats. Confidently, he declared, You wont win!

The rally showcased other notable CCC candidates for parliamentary and council seats, including ward 26 councillor Mpumelelo Moyo, Thokozani Khupe, Jesmine Toffa, Surrender Kapoikule, and Pashor Sibanda. The event took place in close proximity to a Zanu PF gathering, where supporters were busy displaying banners and posters for singer Sandra Ndebele, who is vying for a council seat in the constituency.

As the political landscape heats up, all eyes are now on the upcoming elections, with CCC riding a wave of enthusiasm and support. Will their momentum be enough to shake the foundations of Zanu PFs long-standing grip on power? Only time will tell.

Breaking News via Email
In a jaw-dropping turn of events, a 32-year-old convicted car thief, Tevnet Ncube, from Ratanyana village in Matabeleland South province, managed to snatch freedom under a Presidential amnesty, only to dive headfirst into his criminal ways once again! This audacious thief wasted no time and swiftly stole not just one, but two vehicles during his short-lived taste of freedom.

Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Abednico Ncube, confirmed the sh0cking arrest and shed light on the brazen crimes committed by Tevnet Ncube. It all started on August 10 when police received a tip-off about a stolen Honda Fit spotted at Maphisa growth point. Acting swiftly, the police apprehended the suspect, Tevnet Ncube, who was caught red-handed.

During the subsequent investigation, police uncovered another sh0cking revelation. It turned out that Tevnet Ncube was responsible for yet another motor vehicle theft that occurred on July 28. In this daring act, a Honda Fit with the registration AFS 1944 was stolen from a house in Bulawayo. The audacity! But thats not all, folks.

On August 9, the complainant had momentarily left his Honda Fit parked outside a house with the engine running while he ran an errand to deliver groceries from South Africa. To his absolute dismay, upon returning just ten minutes later, he discovered his beloved motor vehicle had vanished into thin air! Inside the stolen car, along with the complainants heartbreak, were a 32-inch plasma TV and some precious groceries.

But justice had its day. Inspector Abednico Ncube revealed that during the investigation, a series of stunning discoveries unfolded. The first stolen Honda Fit, taken on July 28, was found, albeit with a false number plate. Interestingly, the original plates were discovered in the very same vehicles boot. Talk about a twist!

Meanwhile, the second stolen vehicle, recovered at Maphisa, was found to be carrying the stolen 32-inch plasma TV and the pilfered groceries. What a bizarre loot!

Unbelievably, it was revealed that Tevnet Ncube had only recently been released from prison after serving a portion of his 14-year jail term for a similar offensestealing a motor vehicle back in 2016. It seems that freedom was wasted on this incorrigible thief.

As the law catches up with Tevnet Ncube once again, authorities are left scratching their heads at the audacity and persistence of this serial car thief. Stay tuned for more updates on this high-octane crime spree that has left the nation in shock and disbelief!

Breaking News via Email
A New Idea for How to Assemble Life Wired. Assembly theory. See NC on May 23 for link (Anthony L) and discussion.

Why Florence Nightingale was so much more than the Lady with the Lamp History Extra

Climate

#COVID19

Indonesians mask-up as Jakarta tops worlds most polluted city list WION

China?

China stocks hit after developer Country Garden suspends some bond trading FT

U.S. Building Up To 20 New Air Defence Sites on Guam: Creating the Worlds Most Heavily Protected Airspace to Face Chinese and Korean Strikes Military Watch

India

The Massacre In Manipur Madras Courier

Africa

Syraqistan

European Disunion

Railway Poetry London Review of Books. From 2017, still germane.

Dear Old Blighty

How the Tories plan to take the fight to Labour on the NHS The Spectator

New Not-So-Cold War

South of the Border

Blood and Treasure The American Conservative. From June, still germane.

2024

Democrats en Deshabille

Feinstein fall gives Democrats a scare The Hill. Did she fall, or was she pushed?

Supply Chain

Airlines rush to avoid cancellations after engine recall FT

The Bezzle

An impossibility theorem on truth-telling in fully decentralized systems (PDF) Bank of International Settlements

Digital Watch

Groves of Academe

Zeitgeist Watch

You Must Understand That Taylor Swift Knows Me Better Than Anyone Else On Earth Defector. On parasocial relationships.

Imperial Collapse Watch

Class Warfare

The Dream Was Universal Access to Knowledge. The Result Was a Fiasco. NYT

How the World Discovered  and Got the Taste for  Scotch Whiskey The Wire

Antidote du jour (via):

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
The kinetic war in Ukraine has gotten less attention over the summer than in past periods due to the much-previewed-and-hyped counteroffensive in the southern oblast of Zaporzhizhia being worse than a bust. Yet well give some examples below of how the Western press, to a large degree, is applying unimaginable amounts of porcine maquillage to Ukraines deteriorating situation. At best, this is a desperate effort to keep the war going in the hope that somehow, someway, luck or divine intervention will shift the tide in the Wests favor. But the damage to Ukraine is catastrophic, and the cost to the European economy from sanctions blowback, to arms stocks in the US and NATO member states, and of the fiscal commitment distorting national priorities (guns over butter in societies already showing social decay and fracture) is not shabby either.

From time to time weve repeated the advice we first heard from the investment bankers at Lazard to their CEO clients, of the dangers of believing their own PR. Here we see this psychopathy as a mass phenomenon as too many individuals in or near positions of authority keep repeating things that are bunk and genuinely seem to believe them. And that is occurring even as more and more Administration-friendly outlets are signaling the counteroffensive is going badly.

Another sign of problems are the complaints from the US and NATO officials that Ukraine deviated from its orders training of combined arms warfare (gotta love those talismanic phrases) to small unit infantry attacks after its initial attempts fared badly against heavy Russian mining. It does not take a great deal of insight to recognize that this is pre-positioning the scapegoating of Ukraine. However, it goes unsaid that combined arms warfare US-style presupposes air supremacy, something Ukraine has never enjoyed in the conflict areas.

An optimistic view is the inconsistent messaging is a sign of divisions in policy-making circles, and specifically, of the realists (reported particularly to be military officials who know the West cant win a land war against Russia) starting to get the upper hand.

But this apparent increase in realism still has a lot of fuzzy thinking. For instance, overwhelmingly, the op-eds that discuss peace talks or some other endgames, exhibit another pathology weve described: that the West is talking to itself about what Russia will accept as if that were true. Exhibit 1 is the frozen conflict idea, that Russia will agree to what amounts to a standstill. The wee problem with that is that Anthony Blinken stated in a Washington Post interview last fall, that the US would keep arming Ukraine after the war and planned to retake any territory Ukraine ceded to stop fighting now. From the Washington Post:

The Biden administration, convinced that Vladimir Putin has failed in his attempt to erase Ukraine, has begun planning for an eventual postwar military balance that will help Kyiv deter any repetition of Russias brutal invasion. Secretary of State Antony Blinken outlined his strategy for the Ukrainian endgame and postwar deterrence Russias colossal failure to achieve its military goals, Blinken believes, should now spur the United States and its allies to begin thinking about the shape of postwar Ukraine  and how to create a just and durable peace that upholds Ukraines territorial integrity and allows it to deter and, if necessary, defend against any future aggression. In other words, Russia should not be able to rest, regroup and reattack. Blinkens deterrence framework is somewhat different from last years discussions with Kyiv about security guarantees similar to NATOs Article 5. Rather than such a formal treaty pledge, some U.S. officials increasingly believe the key is to give Ukraine the tools it needs to defend itself. Security will be ensured by potent weapons systems  especially armor and air defense  along with a strong, noncorrupt economy and membership in the European Union. The Pentagons current stress on providing Kyiv with weapons and training for maneuver warfare reflects this long-term goal of deterrence. The importance of maneuver weapons isnt just to give Ukraine strength now to regain territory but as a deterrent against future Russian attacks, explained a State Department official familiar with Blinkens thinking. Maneuver is the future.

In other words, Blinken saw the war as ending without any deal. The West would then pump Ukraine full of weapons again to rinse and repeat and somehow expect a better outcome.

Ukraine neutrality was and is a key Russian demand. And Russia has the big conundrum that after the Minsk Accords were revealed as a big France/German/Ukraine con, that Russia cant trust any NATO/Ukraine pledge.1

Recall that Mark Milley had had the temerity to suggest that Ukraine consider peace talks after the much-bruited-about counteroffensive of course resulted in Ukraine territorial gains so it could then negotiate with Russia from a strong position. That was what precipitated the rejoinder-via-the-Washington Post from Blinken.

That optimistic belief appears to have been the basis for the recent Jeddah peace plan talks which did not include Russia. It appears a prime aim was to dent Global South tacit and explicit support for Russia after Russia was presumed to look weaker after the grand counteroffensive. Despite Ukraine trying to claim the summit was a success, other reports say participants questioned how anything could be accomplished with no Russian participation and did not back Ukraines maximalist peace terms.

So what we see are that two ideas from how the war would end, formulated before Russian mobilized forces were trained and deployed and started to show their stuff, appear to be on auto-pilot. Blinken and Biden both are still banging on about how Putin has already lost the war. Theres no sign of a meaningful change in position as the US/NATO plans are doing a big faceplant.

To state what should now seem obvious, the problem here is the dogged refusal to recognize facts on the ground, like no way, no how is Ukraine getting back Crimea or more than trivial amounts of territory Russia has taken, is that this is setting the stage, not for a Korea-style outcome, but the collapse of the Ukraine military and potentially much of what is left of Ukraine as a nation.2

It resulted in huge losses of men without Ukraine even getting to, much the less penetrating, Russias first of three fortified lines. Douglas Macgregor, who has good contacts, puts the deaths (not wounded, deaths) from this operation that started in early June at approaching 40,000. Theres informal corroboration via graveyards all over Ukraine being reported as out of space, overflowing hospitals near the combat area, and blood shortages. Oh, and more evidence of manpower strains come via Zelensky announcing another mobilization3 and making a show of stopping bribery to evade service.when anyone who had the dough to do so has almost assuredly already done so.

In Ukraine, the mobilization resource has actually been exhausted, so the military commissars are "raking out" even those citizens who should not be touched in wartime. The problem was raised by a former adviser to the President's Office Oleksiy Arestovich, according to whom the pic.twitter.com/7af3VTkc84   GEROMAN  time will tell    (@GeromanAT) August 6, 2023

Mobilization in Ukraine will affect every man, the country will have to send hundreds of thousands more men to the front, everyone will fight, said Taras Chmut, head of the help fund of the Armed Forces of Ukraine "Come Back Alive". pic.twitter.com/AOEfQYyDGW  Leandro Romao  (@lromao_ptbr) August 11, 2023

As the Ukraine counteroffensive in the South has failed, Ukraine has also been contesting Bakhmut4 at high cost and not much to show for it. In the last few weeks, Russia been pushing in a measured manner into Kharkiv. The Hill has just declared this campaign to be an offensive, but the level of manpower and materiel deployed is well below what Russia could commit if it chose to.5

Russia may simply have intended to apply enough pressure to create yet another meat grinder snd force Ukraine to commit more forces, either by redeploying from the south or by drawing upon its reserves. Alexander Mercouris has said (IIRC two days ago) that Ukraine was sending its last remaining reserves to this front. He also speculated (yesterday) that Russia may be taking its sweet time about re-taking Kupiansk, a city it had abandoned when it pulled out of Kharkiv last year, so as to better attrit Ukraine. Regardless, if Russia retakes the territory in Kharkiv that it ceded last year, this would be a big psychological blow to Ukraine and its supporters.

With that long-winded into, lets look at a sampling of news reports. This screenshot is from the front page of the Wall Street Journal on Sunday:

Now admittedly, the third headline clearly signposts shortcomings of Ukraine operations.6 But lets look at the first. Its opening paragraphs:

Ukraines current campaign to retake territory occupied by Russian forces could still have many months to run. But military strategists and policy makers across the West are already starting to think about next years spring offensive. The shift reflects a deepening appreciation that, barring a major breakthrough, Ukraines fight to eject Russias invasion forces is likely to take a long time. When Kyivs counteroffensive began in spring, optimists hoped Ukrainian troops could replicate their success last year in routing Russian forces. But an initial attempt to use newly supplied Western tanks and armored vehicles to punch through fortified Russian lines stalled. Since then, progress has been slow and painful, relying on small-unit tactics. A renewed push could still be in the offing. But military leaders and policy makers already are grappling with the question of what can be achieved in the next few months and how to prepare for a protracted conflict. A nagging concern in Kyiv and Western capitals is that politicians and voters may come to see the war as a quagmire and sour on supporting Ukraine. Even if Kyivs Western backers stay resolute, clocks are ticking as Ukrainian forces burn through munitions, manpower and stamina for a grueling fight. All military campaigns end at some pointeven in wars that grind on for yearsat what tacticians call a culmination, or the point when advancing forces can go no further due to success, impediments or lack of supplies. Kyivs goal now is for its current offensive to culminate with sufficient gains to show Ukrainian citizens and backers in Washington, Berlin and elsewhere that their support hasnt been misplacedand should continue.

There is so much misdirection by omission that it is hard to know where to begin. For starters, theres no indication of how badly the offensive has underperformed expectations. It was supposed to puncture Russian fortified lines in three weeks. Now well into the third month, it has not even gotten up to them.

On top of that, Ukraine does not have months left for this push. Mud season is expected to start in mid-late September. And if there is another warm winter, the ground will not harden enough for a winter campaign.

And we have the bogus claim that Ukraine defeated Russian forces, when Russia made tactical withdrawals before it had beefed up its forces via its partial mobilization, preserving men and materiel. So not only did Russia not suffer a battlefield defeat, but the Russian army now is not the Russian army as of then.

Now arguably Ukraine could regroup and refit during a fall-winter slowdown. But the fights can continue readily in urban areas.like Kupiansk in Kharkiv. Russia can also keep up missile strikes. So there is no great reason to think Ukraine will emerge next spring in better shape than it is now, even with more mobilization efforts apace. Recall Ukraine, out of desperation, has thrown these new troops into the front lines with barely any training, almost assuring their combat life will be very short.

Due to this post getting lengthy, I will spare readers more from this article or the companion Wall Street Journal articles, although I encourage readers to carry on about them in comments.

In a bit of synchonicity, reader Userfriendly sent along an even more disconnected piece: The Ukraine War might really break up the Russian Federation from The Hill. To give you a flavor:

Its time to start taking the potential disintegration of Russia seriously. A number of analysts see the shattering of the Russian Federation as a possible aftermath of Vladimir Putins catastrophic war in Ukraine. Although the world would be better off with a much weakened Russia, its fall may not go smoothly The Carnegie Endowment for International Peaces Tatiana Stanovaya occupies a middle ground, while leaning toward Ignatius. She writes that, on the one hand, the Kremlin will be wrestling simultaneously witha deepening crisis of Putins leadership, a growing lack of political accountability, increasingly ineffective responses by the authorities to new challenges, an intensifying fragmentation among elites, and a society that is growing more antiestablishment.

Huh? Putins approval rating remains around 80%. People in Russia like Mark Sleboda and Gilbert Doctorow, and visitors like Alex Christaforu, report that stores are full, life in proceeds very much like normal despite the war, and economic activity is accelerating. And despite Western mythology (and Putins high competence, particularly as a bureaucrat), Russia has bench depth in its leadership, so its not as if the state depends on Putin.7 And Putin is far and away the least bellicose member at the top of Russia. The idea that Putin gone would mean a less fierce Russia is lunacy.

As Userfriendly remarked,

I just do not understand how the entire US press core can be so utterly oblivious to the facts on the ground, and so confident of how right they are. Seriously, when dawn breaks I am genuinely worried what they will do. It wouldnt be the first time we got led into a war purely based on the obstinate ignorance of the stenographer class.

Again, there are way too many possible paths for the future of this conflict. If I were Russia, I would be thinking hard about a big offensive in the spring or summer of next year, both due to Ukraines likely decay path and to discomfit Biden. But the latter also risks reckless action by the US. So perhaps Russian just keeps grinding, albeit at a harder pace, and waits for Ukraine to start visibly falling apart before it acts.

____

1 That may be why Zelensky was so quick to agree to Ukraine not joining NATO in the failed March 2022 negotiations in Istanbul. He anticipated Ukraine would not have to live up to it. Recall that the revelation that Ukraine was just playing Russia did not come till June 2022, and even then from Petro Poroshenko, who could be depicted as an unreliable reporter. But in December, his account was soon confirmed by the two key European leaders who were party to the deal: Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande.

2 That is not to say that a Western defeat was baked in, but it most certainly is on that trajectory and there is no evidence of any plan to change course. Russia has increased its production of artillery, missiles and drones over the course of this war. The West kinda sorta plans to, through existing manufacturers and programs. Not only was Russia ahead in arm production capability when the war started but if anything it appears to have widened the output gap. Russia is also ahead of the West in missiles, air defense, and signal jamming. Russia reorganized its military, it seems successfully, for large-scale war and incorporating new in combat, such as the Penicillin counter-battery system and the Lancet and Geran drone. There is some controversy over the Geran drone. Russia appears to have been making it from kits from Iran since there are certain modules, particulars the analogue to GPS, that would have to come from Russia. It nows seems to be making largely or entirely domestically. one assumes under license.

The Lancet was first presented at a military show in 2019, which I take to mean it was neither produced in large scale or yet integrated into training or logistics. It was used in Syria in 2020 in what Wikipedia describes as a test and in some attacks in April 2021. And even then, Syria is an insurgent war and so the limited experience there would need to be translated to the Ukraine operation.

3 Ukraine defenders argue that this is not a total mobilization. Zelensky already has authority for a general mobilization via a decree signed February 24, 2022, so he does not appear to need to do anything formally to intensify recruitment. However, it is pretty clear that Zelensky is scraping the bottom of the barrel, manpower-wise.

4 It should be called by its Russia name of Artyomovsk since the Russians captured it in early May, but well stick with Bakhmut for reader convenience.

5 Admittedly it is not clear how large the Russian commitment to this effort is. From Asia Times today:

Information about Russian operations, particularly in the Kupyansk direction, is hard to find. The Russians are not calling their operations an offensive, although unconfirmed reports say that Russia has mustered 100,000 or more troops for their operation in this area, and have moved in a lot of heavy equipment.

6 Cynics will note this is just another pitch to extend the war: Ukraine would be winning if it had more and better Western weapons.

7 Admittedly succession could be messy but the point is that there are not big dissenting factions at the top.
Lambert here: As I keep saying, we will need to optimize the driving environment for robot cars, not human drivers (for example, put first responders in robot helicopters), and make sure the robot car fleet owners are immunized from lawsuits. The assumption here seems to be that robot cars scale (including EV robot cars). Maybe when the streets are emptied of everything but robots, they will. Meanwhile, I will sit back and wait for the time all traffic in the city of San Francisco is bricked by a some thirteen-year-old in a Palo Alto garage [snarl].

By Wolf Richter, editor of Wolf Street. Originally published at Wolf Street.

Robotaxi regulator, the California Public Utilities Commission, after hours of testimony from supporters and opponents, voted on Thursday to allow GMs Cruise and Alphabets Waymo to charge riders for driverless robotaxi service, day and night, anywhere in San Francisco, with no cap on fleet sizes. They can now commence full commercialization of robotaxis in San Francisco.

Weve been seeing them everywhere in San Francisco: Fully autonomous vehicles (AVs) from Cruise and Waymo with no driver and one or two people in the back, and vehicles with no one in them at all. Theyre generally well-behaved. They smoothly roll up to a stop sign, come to a complete stop, stay there for a couple of seconds, and then softly accelerate away. They stop when the light turns yellow and dont floor the accelerator to get through the intersection on dark-yellow or whatever. And they dont do donuts in intersections.

San Francisco is a challenging environment to drive in, immensely congested, with steep hills that impede visibility at intersections, lots of pedestrians and bicyclists, and people on weird electric conveyances with one wheel or two wheels or three wheels.

Occasionally, a hilarious video goes viral of a police officer or firefighter trying to tell a robotaxi what to do. Someone came up with the prank of the year, or whatever, by getting a bunch of empty robotaxis to all meet in one intersection, clog it up, stop, and bring everything to a halt for hours until human drivers could sort it out.

Human drivers do stupid things all the time, from donuts in intersections to going down embankments. They injure and kill pedestrians, bicyclists, and each other and their passengers. And they constantly get into minor accidents that no one even tracks. Thats normal. But robotaxis are held to a higher standard. And theyre doing amazingly well in that regard.

But they do some things humans dont do, like completely blowing off instructions from first responders and just freezing in place.

So this show has been going on in San Francisco for a while, to the great amusement and frustration of everyone around. But the robotaxi companies have been limited in the commercialization of the service. Waymo was allowed to only offer free driverless rides (to charge, a safety driver had to be in the vehicle); and Cruise was allowed to charge only for rides at night in limited parts of the City; the rest of the time, it could offer only free rides. But those restrictions were lifted on Thursday with the vote of the CPUC.

City officials, the fire department, and the police department have for weeks urged the CPUC to slow down the rollout of full commercialization because they worried about the interference of robotaxis with the work of first responders, as Fire Department Chief Jeanine Nicholson told the commission during the public hearings on Monday. Our folks cannot be paying attention to an autonomous vehicle when weve got ladders to throw, she said.

Officials cited 55 incidents over the last six months where robotaxis got in the way of first responders.

Through June, City agencies  which last year began collecting data on disruptive robotaxi incidents to prove that robotaxis werent ready for full commercialization  tallied 600 such incidents, such as interfering with public transportation or blocking traffic. City officials that have to deal with these messes worry that full commercialization of much bigger fleets would increase those disruptions.

Other opponents, including activists and unions, worry about the jobs of drivers  the jobs of lots of drivers. And you can see where this is going by what GM said in its Q2 earnings call, via Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt:

Theres over 10,000 human ride-hail drivers in San Francisco, potentially, much more than that, depending on how you count it. Those drivers of course arent working 20 hours a day, like a robotaxi could. So, it does not make a very, high number to generate significant revenue in a city like San Francisco, but certainly, theres capacity to absorb several thousand per city at minimum.

And people worry that large fleets of robotaxis will make congestion even worse, and they worry about all sorts of other mayhem.

Waymo said it has a permit for 250 AVs and deploys about 100 at any given time. Cruise said it operates 100 cars in San Francisco during the day and 300 at night. So the current fleets are relatively small. But with full commercialization, the fleets are bound to get much larger.

Both companies have invested many billions of dollars in developing this technology, and they will want to eventually get a return on their investment. So ramping up the fleet size would be the first step. But that also is a huge capital investment because the AV technology, for now, makes those vehicles expensive.

Cruise CEO Vogt addressed some of the issues of ramping up the fleet size:

As for what it would take to blanket a city like San Francisco, our goal is  I think Ive said on previous calls  is to make sure as we ramp-up manufacturing capacity. Weve got a variety of markets to absorb those vehicles. And there are practical reasons to ramp-up gradually in a city  as its transitioning to a new form of mobility. So, its not our intention to sort of produce vehicles and sort of direct them all into a single city.

Vogt also said that Cruise exceeded 3 million miles in 49 days in the cities it operates in; that its now doing over 10,000 rides per week; and that its rides are growing at 49% per month on average over the last six months.

Investors can be an impatient bunch, and analysts are poking around during earnings calls. After sinking billions of dollars into robotaxis, these companies are under pressure to show significant revenues. Uber and Lyft got lots of revenues, but they lost eyewatering amounts of money year after year  in part due to the cost of human drivers and related expenses.

Cruise and Waymo are now replacing the cost of drivers with other costs, including the much higher costs of the vehicles and the much higher costs of the people who are building, expanding, and maintaining the technology. So that equation isnt going to be easy to work out.

Meanwhile, we cannot wait for this to be truly commercialized to an every-day-for-everyone level to where its cheaper than car ownership, so we can get rid of our car that is mostly parked somewhere, and get rid of all the hassles and costs, and just let the machines do the driving when the driving needs to be done. Weve already waited for a decade; whats another decade?
Azerbaijan has falsely accused Armenia of amassing troops and military equipment near the border, the Armenian Ministry of Defense has warned.

August 14, 2023, 14:19 Azerbaijan falsely accuses Armenia of amassing troops on border Armenian Defense Ministry

STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 14, ARTSAKHPRESS: The statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan that the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia have concentrated a large number of weapons, military equipment, and personnel near the Armenian-Azerbaijani border does not correspond to reality, the Armenian Ministry of Defense said.

In addition, regarding another false allegation mentioned in the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia once again declares that the Republic of Armenia does not have an army in Nagorno-Karabakh, it added.
Moritz Zimmermann started at NATO as an intern. Now, hes the Deputy Chief of Staff of a team establishing the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic. DIANA is NATOs new body working with leading researchers and entrepreneurs across the Alliance, helping them develop technologies to keep NATO populations safe and secure. We spoke to Moritz about the big tech challenges facing the Alliance, how DIANA will tackle them and what its like to be part of a new generation of innovators at NATO.

From intern to innovator: Moritzs NATO journey

When Moritz first applied to NATOs internship programme, he never imagined that he would one day contribute to the Alliances innovation efforts.

When I received the NATO internship offer to work directly on NATOs counter-terrorism policies, it was a perfect fit for my studies on NATO, Iraq and ISIS, says Moritz. Through the internship programme, however, we had the chance to learn about NATOs work in other divisions and I Iearned about NATOs Science for Peace and Security (SPS) programme, which was supporting the development of technologies to counter terrorism, among other things.

Following his internship, Moritz took on a role with the SPS programme and began to work more closely on emerging and disruptive technologies.

When I first joined SPS, I was initially only interested in its counter-terrorism projects, he explains. But the experience introduced me to so many unique and fascinating technological developments across many other domains. As I delved deeper into this field, my focus began to shift to harnessing innovations of all kinds and exploring their potential to enhance Allied security.

As part of his new role, Moritz had the unique opportunity to support the drafting of a discussion paper on emerging and disruptive technologies for NATO Defence Ministers in June 2018.

It was a fascinating and rewarding experience to be in the room for the discussion and see Defence Ministers from across NATO discuss the very same paper I helped draft. As it happens, this discussion was a key driver in building the NATO Innovation Unit, which I later joined.

As a member of NATOs Innovation Unit, Moritz and his team came to the conclusion that in the face of a rapidly changing tech landscape  with things like artificial intelligence and biotechnology influencing every aspect of life, including security  NATO needed a new tool to keep pace. Enter DIANA.

Meet DIANA: putting NATO on the innovation map

DIANAs acceleration programme and test centre network will serve as a hub for the Alliances innovators. Start-ups, scientific researchers and technology companies will receive grants, mentorship, and access to the expertise they need to develop their ideas into viable products. DIANA will also give them new opportunities to engage with end-users, including procurement and security officials from Allied governments who will use these new technologies to protect their citizens.

For Moritz and his team, this ground-breaking project  unveiled at NATOs 2021 Brussels Summit, and launching its first pilot activities in 2023  began with a simple but compelling idea.

In the same way that I was interested in international security but never connected the dots between security and technology, I am sure that there are passionate people in the technology sector who have not thought to connect their work to security or NATO, Moritz reflects.

Although NATO has long kept its edge in the military domain, we recognised that today new technologies, like artificial intelligence, are mostly coming from the non-military domain  but they can nevertheless have a huge impact on how militaries function. This is why DIANA is focused on dual-use deep tech  transformational technologies that are mainly developed for commercial markets and uses, but that can have defence and security applications as well.

In brainstorming on how NATO can keep its technological edge in this changing world, the groundwork for DIANA began.

DIANA has test centres and accelerator sites across the Alliance, allowing NATO to support innovators where they are already working and help them connect with each other.

Who is DIANA? Why DIANA as a name for an innovation accelerator? We get these questions a lot, laughs Moritz.

To be honest, DIANA went without a name for a long time. At one point we were considering how to make the acronym JEDI work with the words Defence Innovation, but none of us were that enthusiastic about it. It actually happened that when we planned to unveil the Accelerator in 2021, the Italian Ambassador to NATO at the time had the idea to call it DIANA as Diana is the Roman goddess of the hunt  and with DIANA, we are hunting for innovative ideas so to speak.

DIANA itself began as one of these ideas. Now, Moritz is helping set up its offices, hubs and test sites, laying a foundation to unlock the vast potential of innovation by bringing people together.

There are brilliant people across the Alliance who may know everything about coding and highly specific technical research but nothing about starting a business, and vice versa, says Moritz. DIANA is about giving our best and brightest a unique platform to reach their full potential, which will help NATO realise its full potential as well.

Reaching their full potential: NATO interns and young professionals

Moritzs story is one of many such stories at NATO. Not every intern stays on with the Organization, let alone helps to set up a groundbreaking new body like DIANA. Nevertheless, the NATO Internship Programme and Young Professionals Programme (and similar programmes at NATOs wide array of commands and agencies) have given a new generation of diverse, young leaders a foot in the door at NATO, and often acted as the first step on their international career journey with the Alliance.

For aspiring NATO interns and young professionals who want to reach their own full potential and contribute to the Alliance, Moritz offers some advice based on his own experience.

I think that specialisation can be super important, but it is equally important to keep an open mind, try new things and never stop learning. Although it may seem like my studies have nothing to do with what I am currently working on in DIANA, they were instrumental to my journey here at NATO. So long as you are passionate, open for change and ambitious, there are many opportunities to learn and grow.
Anti-crime, anti-China presidential candidate in Ecuador ASSASSINATED

A presidential candidate in Ecuador who ran on an anti-China and anti-crime platform was assassinated by gunmen during a campaign event.

Ecuadorian journalist-turned-politician Fernando Villavicencio was gunned down on the night of Aug. 9 in the country's capital Quito. He had been walking out of an event when unknown assailants fired several shots, with the candidate receiving three rounds that took his life. According to an Aug. 10 report by the Ecuadorian paper El Comercio, at least nine others were injured and one of the attackers were killed after an exchange of gunfire with Villavicencio's security detail.

The politician was among eight presidential candidates vying for the seat of chief executive in the South American nation's Aug. 20 elections. It followed current Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso dissolving the National Assembly  the country's unicameral legislature  and calling for general elections. According to Lasso, who isn't running for reelection, incessant attempts to impeach him made the regular business of government impossible.

Following Villavicencio's assassination, Lasso announced a 60-day state of emergency in the country to restore order. He had been scheduled to attend a screening of the movie "Sound of Freedom" at a theater three minutes away from the crime scene but subsequently canceled his appearance.

"For his memory and his struggle, I assure that this crime will not remain with impunity," the incumbent president said. "Organized crime has made it very far, but the full weight of the law will fall on them."

Ecuadorian law enforcement later said on Aug. 10 that six individuals were arrested in relation to the killing. The six reportedly hailed from Colombia and were part of organized crime groups. Ecuador's police added that the government is pursuing the "intellectual authors" of the murder.

Villavicencio challenging crime, corruption and China

Villavicencio's campaign centered on fighting organized crime, eliminating political corruption and curbing China's influence on Ecuador. Prior to his untimely death, he accused a "capo"  a high-ranking member of the Mexican Sinaloa Cartel  named Fito of threatening to kill him. Villavicencio promised to build a giant high-security prison for the upper ranks of Ecuador's most prolific drug trafficking and other criminal gangs during his initial days in office if elected.

Before entering politics, Villavicencio had worked as a journalist. He exposed the corruption of former Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa, a socialist, and accused him of engaging in shady oil deals with Beijing that were detrimental to the Ecuadorian economy. In retaliation, Correa sentenced Villavicencio to 18 months in prison for insulting him in 2014  which the journalist avoided by living with an indigenous tribe.

Three years later in 2017, Villavicencio was sentenced to house arrest and forced to wear an anklet. He derisively dubbed the device as the "Chinese shackle" in reference to Beijing's investments in Correa's repressive government.

The former Ecuadorian president is currently in exile in Belgium due to criminal charges against him. Nevertheless, this hasn't dissuaded him from threatening Villavicencio. His last threat issued on social media in November 2022 dubbed the assassinated candidate as a "shameless coward" and warned that his "party will be over soon."

Villavicencio had been condemning China's encroaching influence in the country, lamenting in October 2022 that "Ecuador has been a Chinese colony since 2007." He expressed opposition to any free-trade agreement with Beijing and called for investigations into multiple deals inked by Correa and companies linked to the Chinese Communist Party. (Related: Generals warn of aggressive Chinese military expansion into Latin America.)

The socialist president wasn't the only target of Villavicencio's ire. Even Lasso himself, an establishment conservative, has been denounced by the late politician for not doing enough to hold back Beijing's influence on Ecuador.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Aug. 10 denouncing Villavicencio's murder.

"China condemns the attack and extends our condolences for the unfortunate assassination of Villavicencio," the statement said. "We hope the Ecuadorian government and relevant parties will work to maintain stability and that the upcoming election will be safe, steady and smooth."

Watch this footage of Fernando Villavicencio's assassination on Aug. 9.

This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Food and fuel shortages, price spikes continue to get worse in protest-hit Ecuador.

Medvedev calls for "physical elimination" of Zelensky following failed assassination attempt on Putin.

Assassination of top Putin adviser's daughter by suspected Ukrainian operatives puts Europe on hair-trigger for World War III.

Sources include:

Breitbart.com

Reuters.com

Brighteon.com
Retired Chinese surgeon recounts being forced to HARVEST ORGANS from people who were STILL ALIVE

A Chinese doctor has come forward publicly to discuss the way the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) turns surgeons into executioners who harvest organs , sometimes from people who are still alive, to prop up the country's organ harvesting industry

Dr, Zheng Zhi, previously a resident physician at one of China's largest military hospitals, recently discussed how he witnessed one man's kidneys and eyes being harvested for transplant while he was still alive back in 1994. (Related: Nursing program head at BCIT speaks out against China's forced ORGAN HARVESTING.)

Zheng recounted that he stepped into a van with five other surgeons and nurses and was guarded by armed soldiers. These guards brought in a man whose limbs were tightly bound with ropes. Zheng remarked that the man was likely no more than 18 years old. He and the other surgeons were told right before he was brought in that the man's organs were "healthy, fresh."

One of the doctors instructed Zheng to "step on" the man's legs and "don't let him move." He was then ordered to continue restraining the man as one of the surgeons sliced open the man's abdomen and two others reached in to remove the man's kidneys. Following this horrific sight, Zheng was then ordered to take the man's eyeballs.

"The nurse handed me a hemostat. I really couldn't stand it, and I said 'I can't do it, I can't,'" said Zheng. "It was horrifying beyond words. He was looking right at me. His eyelids were moving. He was alive."

Because of Zheng's refusal, other doctors in the van did the eye removal procedure. One doctor pressed open the man's eyelids and another doctor clamped out both eyes. Nurses then placed both kidneys and eyes into temperature-controlled boxes.

By this time, the body, now motionless, was placed in a black plastic bag and taken away by guards waiting outside the van. Once the necessary organs were harvested, the van sped back to the military hospital where Zheng worked in the Shenyang Military Region in China's far northeast.

Once at the hospital, the organs were quickly delivered to two operating rooms where other teams of doctors and nurses were waiting to conduct the transplants.

The incident has haunted Zheng since. He noted remembering how the man in the van looked at him with "desperate, fearful and pained" eyes.

"Under the light lay a young life, a fellow human being, whose organs were being harvested while he was alive," he remarked.

China has turned organ harvesting into a billion-dollar industry

In the decades since the incident that Zheng recounted, the massive and state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting industry has ballooned, bringing in billions of dollars each year to the communist regime in Beijing.

The most common victims of the CCP's organ harvesting business are prisoners, notably the adherents of the persecuted Falun Gong religious organization, regarded by the international community as prisoners of conscience due to being oppressed for their particular faith.

Zheng noted that in the same city in Shenyang, there is an infamous concentration camp wherein multiple whistleblowers revealed that imprisoned Falun Gong adherents were being killed en mass for their organs since 1999.

In 2020, the non-governmental body known as the China Tribunal concluded its inquiry into organ harvesting in the communist nation, noting that the regime killed prisoners of conscience for their organs "on a significant scale" and that "Falun Gong practitioners have been one  and probably the main  source of organ supply."

"They don't consent. They don't even know what's happening," said David Matas, an international human rights lawyer and one of the world's leading researchers into forced organ harvesting in China. "We call it a 'cold genocide' in the sense that it's not happening all at once, it's happening slowly over time."

Matas added that the killing of prisoners of conscience for their organs is still ongoing, and the industry has been sustained by people from all over the world  including the United States  coming to China to engage in "transplant tourism."

"They're continuing to advertise transplant tourism, and the institutions are still functioning," said Matas. "They haven't closed on these transplant hospitals."

Learn more about acts of medical violence like organ harvesting at MedicalViolence.com.

Watch this clip from Project Camelot discussing how the CCP engages in live organ harvesting.

This video is from the channel Chinese Taking Down Evil CCP on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

"Evil child trader" CAUGHT trying to abduct 11-month-old baby out of Ukraine to "sell for organ transplants."

Organs for freedom: Massachusetts Dems propose reduced sentences for prisoners who donate their organs or bone marrow.

Scientists pressuring FDA to approve use of bioengineered animal organs in human transplants.

ORGAN FACTORIES: Israeli company develops "artificial womb technology" to synthetically grow human embryos for organ harvesting.

Relative of Shanghai-based doctor reveals details about China's live organ harvesting program.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

NTD.com

Brighteon.com
Thug cops arrest man for reading Bible in public to protest drag event targeting children

A 19-year-old man who was reading the Bible using a basic public address (PA) system was handcuffed and arrested by cops over the weekend on a sidewalk near a public drag queen event targeted toward children. Marcus Schroeder, the young preacher, together with around 200 individuals from various "anti-groomers" groups were in the vicinity to protest the said "cross-dressing" show during the annual "Pride in the Park" on July 29 in Watertown, Wisconsin.

An X user posted the video where Schroeder, who was wearing a t-shirt with the words "WARRIORS FOR CHRIST," was approached by the police while he was quoting scripture. A cop grabbed the preacher's microphone before he even finished speaking. Confused, Schroeder was heard asking: "What are you doing?" Fellow protester Jason Storms, who recorded the viral video, said they were not given any warning and were allowed in the area to speak freely.

?BREAKING: Young man arrested for sharing the Bible on a public sidewalk Blatant violation of the 1st amendment of The Constitution. Every one of those cops should be fired and sued. pic.twitter.com/ef8zBXSf5c  TONY? (@TONYxTWO) August 1, 2023

As the policemen were putting Schroeder in handcuffs, another officer said Schroeder was being arrested for sharing his message with the use of a microphone and a speaker. "You guys are acting like thugs," Storms told the officers. "He has every right to be out here engaging in speechyou know that you just did wrong." Storms argued that the ordinance they cited as the reason for arresting Schroeder only provided a certain decibel level of amplified sounds that could be prohibited. "Cars pass by with loud music," he said adding, why aren't these drivers arrested? But the officers just turned their backs and took Shroeder, anyway.

The Republic Sentinel reported that the young preacher was charged with unlawful use of sound amplification and resisting arrest. The Wisconsin police department has yet to respond to questions regarding the nature of the charges against Schroeder. Meanwhile, a concerned citizen who called the local law enforcement said, they will not release any information regarding the arrest without a public record request.

I called Watertown Wisconsin this morning trying to get more information on the young man that was arrested and his Bible taken away. The Watertown Police Department has no public statement and will not release any information without a FOI request. They are aware the video is https://t.co/emAWDGaEpS pic.twitter.com/kbzMHWAwR4  Andrew_W_MG (@Andrew_W_MG) August 1, 2023

Schroeder was not the only one arrested on Saturday; he was joined by several other young people. Nick Proell, another young Christian, was also detained and removed from the venue but later released with a warning.

"The police, per orders from city leaders, arrested several young people. Three were arrested earlier in the day while inside the park praying and talking to attendees, and then released with warnings, said Storms, who serves as minister of evangelism at the Mercy Seat Christian Church. "It was open to the public, thus the public's right to free speech carries with them. One was arrested later in the day for preaching on the public sidewalk outside the venue and is being charged with unlawful use of sound amplification and resisting arrest."

According to Storms, there were several dozen police officers assembled to protect the drag queen event. They saw performers dressed in lingerie while "dancing and gyrating in front of little children, who were invited to give them one-dollar bills." The said show was mounted despite Wisconsin's law that prohibits individuals from causing a minor to view or listen to "sexually explicit conduct." (Related: Watch: 'Drag Race U.K.' star uses power tool to grind sparks from his crotch in front of children at theme park.)

Youth protesters on their detainment: "It was worth it!"

Following the arrest, Schroeder spoke to the news outlet and vowed to continue spreading the word of God, despite what happened. "It was worth it. It's actually an honor to be counted worthy to stand with the cloud of witnesses who have gone before us and been arrested for the sake of spreading Christ and His Kingdom. If the police wanted to try and set an example for others or anything like that, the only thing Ive seen is actually the exact opposite, where more and more people are seeing the severity of whats going on and being called to more action," he stated.

Proell agreed, saying that he "absolutely" does not regret his detainment. "I'd do it all over again if it gives me an opportunity to share the good news and rescue innocent children being sexualized by their parents," he said. "God will use it for good. We will stand for truth even if we stand alone."

Groomers.news has stories related to events that promote transgenderism and transhumanism, even to really young children.

Sources for this article include:

TheGatewayPundit.com

RepublicSentinel.com
FACEBOOK files: FBI communicated more than once with tech giant to cover up Hunter Bidens Laptop from Hell

Chair of the House Judiciary Committee Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) recently revealed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents involved in Hunter Bidens "Laptop from Hell" investigation lied about the extent of its communications with Facebook in 2020.

In the excerpts of the testimony given by Elvis Chan, who served as one of the FBI's liaisons with the tech company, and Laura Dehmlow, the current FBI section chief of the Foreign Influence Task Force, the agency claimed that it only met one time with the social media platform. In the November 2022 sworn deposition, which is a part of Missouri and Louisiana's lawsuit against the federal government and the Biden administration for colluding with social media companies to censor speech, Chan claimed that apart from one instance, he was not aware of any meetings between FB and the FBI regarding the younger Biden's laptop story. He also claimed that he had "no internal knowledge" of the investigation.

However, the uncovered internal communication, which Jordan dubbed as "Facebook Files" and obtained by the committee through a subpoena, proved these to be "completely false." It revealed that contrary to his claims of having no knowledge about the investigation, the FBI agent had a secret 'follow-up' call with Facebook on October 15, just one day after the New York Post story and the first FB meeting. He confidently told the tech company that "there was no evidence of any foreign connection of the leaks."

THE FACEBOOK FILES PART 4. FBI LIED ABOUT MEETING WITH BIG TECH REGARDING NY POSTS HUNTER BIDEN LAPTOP STORY Internal FB docs reveal that an FBI Special Agent made false statements in testimony about the FBIs role in the suppression of the Hunter Biden laptop story ? Thread:  Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) August 7, 2023

Also, when Facebook initially asked the FBI if the presidential son's laptop story was real, Dehmlow said: "No comment." But at that point, the agency was fully aware that the laptop was real, according to Jordan. "The laptop was real, and the FBI knew it," the congressman posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. "The FBI had the laptop since December 2019 "Is there any wonder why the Biden DOJ has so far stonewalled the Committee's efforts to interview Agent Chan?"

Of course, there was no evidence of any foreign connection. The laptop was real, and the FBI knew it. The FBI had the laptop since December 2019.https://t.co/OGvmv44njE  Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) August 7, 2023

The personal portable computer contained lots of Hunter's financial information, plus reams of messages between him and his father, in preparation for the November 2020 election. The laptop also contained a large number of deeply embarrassing photos of the troubled lawyer cavorting with prostitutes and taking drugs, at the height of his addiction.

The FBI knew that the laptop obtained by the New York Post had belonged to Hunter Biden, and the photo (above) of him in a drug-addled state was real, yet refused to confirm its authenticity to Facebook and Twitter, the congressman claimed.

Over the last two weeks, Jordan has released several tranches of internal company emails, court records, and various documents related to Facebook that Republicans are pointing to as "smoking gun" evidence that the Biden administration and Big Tech firms ran afoul of the First Amendment. (Related: SMOKING GUN: Rep. Jim Jordan presents evidence showing how the Biden administration pressured Zuckerbergs Meta to censor Americans.)

House GOPs file amicus brief on lawsuit against Biden's censorship on COVID-19 and Hunter's laptop

Revelations from those files were included in the amicus brief filed by House GOPs, accusing the current regime of exerting "direct and coercive" pressure on social media companies. Twelve House Republicans filed the said amicus curiae brief on Tuesday to accelerate the ongoing lawsuit that alleges that the Biden administration colluded with tech and socmed companies to censor First Amendment-protected content about the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) and Hunter Biden.

The members, who all sit on the House Judiciary Committee or its weaponization of government subcommittee, joined the case because they have uncovered smoking gun documents relevant to the case. The Republicans cited in a trove of material they had subpoenaed from Meta that indicated the company employees were "pressured" by the White House to suppress discourse about lab leak theory as COVID-19 origin, a topic that was pointed as "conspiracy theory" but now has been slowly gaining proofs to be possible and not far-fetched.

The brief also detailed testimony that GOPs heard from an official with the FBI related to Hunter's laptop, which first made headlines in the heat of Joe Biden's presidential campaign back in October 2020. "Rather than acknowledge the truth, the FBI actively influenced and deceived the social media companies to censor the story," the brief further read.

In July, U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty issued a sweeping preliminary injunction against the Biden administration, stating in a 155-page memorandum of his decision that he found an "almost dystopian scenario" where the government "seems to have assumed a role similar to an Orwellian 'Ministry of Truth.'"

Bookmark TechGiants.news for more stories related to Big Tech's role in censoring Americans.

Sources for this article include:

Breitbart.com

DailyMail.co.uk

NYPost.com

FoxNews.com

WashingtonExaminer.com
Bidens HHS admits no scientific basis for Becerras recommendation to get COVID-19 booster shots every two months

President Joe Biden's Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) conceded that Health Secretary Xavier Becerra's recommendation to get six Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) booster shots annually bears no academic and scientific evidence

Biden appointee Becerra posted on November 29, 2022, on X, formerly known as Twitter: "An updated COVID vaccine can help protect you from the worst outcomes of COVID. If it's been over 2 months since your last dose, make a plan to get one now." The next day he tweeted again, saying that people should get vaccinated if they "haven't gotten the updated vaccine yet and had the primary series or original booster two-plus months ago" and if "it's been three-plus months since one has had COVID-19."

Time to get your updated COVID vaccine if 1) You havent gotten the updated vaccine yet & had the primary series or original booster 2+ months ago 2) Its been 3+ months since youve had COVID If you have a big event in 2+ weeks, its a good time to go to https://t.co/b0lnuggpPW.  Secretary Xavier Becerra (@SecBecerra) November 30, 2022

This did not sit well with watchdog organizations such as the Functional Government Initiative (FGI), so it filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for documents supporting the "health czar's" statements. FGI asked for "any scientific support relied on by Becerra when approving or issuing the tweet recommending that all Americans receive a booster shot every two months" and "any study, synopsis, or similar statement or document of scientific, academic, or government research on whether a bi-monthly booster shot will effectively prevent the transmission or susceptibility to COVID-19 and known active variants as of November 2022."

It also asked for internal communications related to this. However, the administration did not comply with the timelines laid out in the law. This triggered FGI to sue the U.S. government. Left with no choice, HHS finally sent out a new response admitting the government had no evidence to support the HHS head's recommendation.

"The department reviewed 1,263 pages of potentially responsive records captured in the agencys search for this FOIA request. After a careful review of these records, I determined the 1,263 pages were not relevant to your request," HHS representative Alesia Williams told FGI.

FGI spokesman Pete McGinnis then released a statement slamming the department secretary for being "tremendously irresponsible to fire off tweets recommending frequent injections of a new vaccine booster apparently based on no academic or scientific support." He added: "How can the public be assured that the agency is 'following the science' on other important public health matters when it demonstrates such clear disregard for basic scientific integrity standards on an issue as important as COVID vaccine shots?"

Further proving that the current regime is incapable of effectively handling pandemics, Vice President Kamala Harris claimed that a single shot would protect people from COVID-19 for an entire year, one day before Becerra sent out an initial post. Again, there's no evidence supporting that claim and this created massive confusion for the people as it was contradictory to Becerra's initial post.

One shot, once a yearthats all most people will need to stay protected from COVID year-long. Make a plan to get your shot at https://t.co/ddwWZdNCgg.  Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) November 28, 2022

Epoch Times previously asked HHS about the opposing statements. Its spokesperson "clarified" that the message from across the administration is: "Don't wait. Get your free COVID-19 vaccine. It's safe and effective. People can go to vaccines.gov to find free and easily available vaccines in their community."

Despite ineffectiveness, the Biden admin is set to roll out new vaccines

Tons of reports, research, and pieces have come out in the past couple of years showing that COVID-19 vaccines are not only ineffective, they also cause major damage, sometimes leading to death. (Related: New research: COVID boosters cause MUCH more damage to the heart than previously believed.)

But still, regulators had authorized, without clinical trial data, newly formulated versions of the vaccines aimed at Omicron subvariants in the spring of 2023. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) even insisted that most people should only receive one additional shot, but that certain groups could receive more.

Now that the updated slate of vaccines isn't working well, this prompted plans to implement new formulations that, for the first time, won't include components of the Wuhan virus strain. The news outlet reported that the updated shots are expected to be rolled out in the fall.

As per new CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen, the agency is poised to recommend annual shots. "We anticipate that COVID will become similar to flu shots, where it is going to be you get your annual flu shot and you get your annual COVID shot."

In this connection, Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), chairman of the U.S. Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, and other members asked the federal agency for information on the planned recommendation. They noted that this would "mark a significant change in federal policy and guidance regarding COVID-19 vaccines and the way in which they are utilized."

Bookmark PharmaceuticalFraud.com for more stories on how the big government "shoves Big Pharma vaccines down people's throats" under the guise of "public healthcare."

Sources for this article include:

TheEpochTimes.com

NY1.com

Oversight.House.gov
On August 14 President of the Artsakh Republic Arayik Harutyunyan sent a condolence letter in connection with the car accident that happened near the village of Lanjik, Shirak region, the Presidential Office stated.

August 14, 2023, 15:54 ondolence letter in connection with the car accident that happened near the village of Lanjik, Shirak region

STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 14, ARTSAKHPRESS: The letter reads as follows:

"We learnt with deep sorrow about the large and tragic car accident that happened on August 14 near the village of Lanjik in Shirak region.

On behalf of the Artsakh people, authorities and on my own behalf I express my condolences and support to the relatives and friends of our brothers and sisters who were victims of the car accident, to our entire people. I wish all the wounded a speedy recovery.

In this difficult moment, we share with you the pain and sorrow of the irreparable loss."
CLAIM: Hunga Tonga volcanic explosion in January 2022 was STAGED by globalists to unleash Operation Heat Wave

All the hot weather this summer that the globalists desperately want us to believe is because of "global warming" and man-made "climate change" is a government psy-op involving weather manipulation and the triggering of volcanic eruptions, i.e., the Hung Tonga explosion that occurred in January 2022.

A veteran intelligence analyst and former United States military officer told State of the Nation that a program called Operation Heat Wave was launched to trigger the Hunga Tonga explosion and later trigger the "heat wave" that we are told is now occurring in 2023.

Because the Hunga Tonga explosion occurred underwater  and probably also because it was the product of government geoengineering  it received very little media attention. Very few people even know it happened, and even fewer are tying it to the very hot summer that people in some parts of the world are reporting.

"When the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano erupted on Jan. 15, 2022, it sent a tsunami racing around the world and set off a sonic boom that circled the globe twice," reports explain.

"The underwater eruption in the South Pacific Ocean also blasted an enormous plume of water vapor into Earth's stratosphere  enough to fill more than 58,000 Olympic-size swimming pools. The sheer amount of water vapor could be enough to temporarily affect Earth's global average temperature."

(Related: Check out our earlier report about the mysterious, puzzling concentric ripples that were seen in the atmosphere during the Hunga Tonga explosion.)

Is there anything the government doesn't control?

Commenting on the explosion at the time it occurred, Luis Millan, an atmospheric scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, told the media that he and his colleagues have "never seen anything like it."

The reason, of course, is because it was artificially prompted to create a cascade of seemingly catastrophic "warming," all to push the myth of global warming and man-made climate change.

In a way, the climate is changing, in some ways, because very powerful people are inducing it through weather manipulation and geoengineering weapons. In this case, Hunga Tonga appears to have been detonated, so to speak, in order to excuse the encroaching "green" agenda while rallying more support for it.

If enough gullible people fall for the lie that extreme weather events are the cause of gas-powered cars and people eating meat, then the government can stage as many Hunga Tonga events as necessary to fuel that narrative while blaming it on We the People.

Just like what happened in the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquakes, which some believe were also artificially triggered, the Hunga Tonga explosion was unprecedented. Seismologists say it bears all the signs associated with a highly technologically advanced directed energy weapon (DEW).

With enough energy directed at just the right location, the powers that be can set off earthquakes and volcanic eruptions at whim, it would seem. And the consequences they are then able to easily blame on whichever bogeyman is popular at any given time  right now it is meat-eaters and people who drive cars and live life that are in the crosshairs for "warming" the planet.

The ultimate endgame of all this is massive depopulation and a recreation of the world under a one-world government. Only a unified global response, we are told, can stop the climate from changing.

Chemtrails play an important role in this as well, as they are used to steer the weather, create rain  or deprive target areas of it  and do all sorts of other nefarious things that most people have no idea are taking place, which is the goal.

The latest news about how the government controls the weather and natural disasters can be found at Geoengineering.news.

Sources for this article include:

StateOfTheNation.co

NaturalNews.com
Imran Ahmed from CCDH censorship organization facing congressional inquiry over Disinfo Dozen report

The Committee on the Judiciary is investigating Imran Ahmed , CEO of The Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), due to his involvement in compiling for the Biden regime a so-called "Disinformation Dozen" list outlining who should be targeted for the elimination of their First Amendment rights.

Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Oh.), who also chairs the Committee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, sent Ahmed a notification that the Judiciary Committee will be looking into how third parties like the CCDH are contributing to the "censorship regime," a coercive and collusive arrangement with the executive branch of the government to censor protected speech and violate civil liberties.

Jordan informed Ahmed that owing to the committee's constitutional oversight obligations, it is requesting all relevant information and documents from the CCDH in order to determine the extent to which the group may have participating in the censorship of Americans  the CCDH is based out of the United Kingdom, by the way.

"The Biden White House relied on CCDH's report titled 'The Disinformation Dozen,' in its unconstitutional pressure campaign against social media platforms to censor those, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who CCDH maligned as 'anti-vaxxers ... responsible for almost two-thirds of anti-vaccine content circulating on social media platforms," Jordan's letter to Ahmed states.

(Related: Twitter, now known as X, just filed a lawsuit against the CCDH and other pro-censorship operatives.)

CCDH document based on fraudulent statistics bearing a 300-fold magnitude of error

It should be noted that the documents the CCDH has procured are based on inherently fraudulent statistics. Reports indicate that the CCDH's data bears a 300-fold magnitude of error, this according to official statistics and numbers from Facebook.

The CCDH has yet to correct the record or issue any kind of apology or retraction, despite the fact that the 12 named individuals in the "Disinfo Dozen" list have incurred unspeakable reputational and financial damage.

Jordan informed Ahmed that he and his organization have until no later then 5:00 p.m. on Aug. 17, 2023, to procure all documents and communications from Jan. 1, 2015, to the present between or among any employee, contractor, or agent of the CCDH and the executive branch of the United States government "relating to the moderation, deletion, suppression, restriction, demonetization, or reduced circulation of content; the accuracy or truth of content; or the attribution of content to the source or participant in a foreign malign or state-sponsored influence operation."

The letter also states that Ahmed and the CCDH will need to present all such documents and communications from the same time period between or among any employee, contractor, or agency and "any technology company, including social media companies, referring or relating to the moderation, deletion, suppression, restriction, demonetization, or reduced circulation of content; the accuracy or truth of content; or the attribution of content to the source or participant in a foreign malign or state-sponsored influence operation."

Jordan also wants a list of all employees, contractors, or agents of the CCDH, along with their current and prior titles, who during the same time period communicated with the Biden regime about moderating, deleting, suppressing, restricting, demonetizing, or reducing circulation of content.

"Pursuant to the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee on the Judiciary has jurisdiction to conduct oversight of matters concerning 'civil liberties' to inform potential legislative reforms," Jordan's letter to Ahmed concludes.

"In addition, H. Res. 12 authorized the Committee's Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government to investigate 'issues related to the violation of the civil liberties of citizens of the United States.'"

The latest news about the Censorship Industrial Complex can be found at Censorship.news.

Sources for this article include:

GreenMedInfo.com

Newstarget.com
Kim Jong-Un dismisses top general, calls for WAR PREPARATIONS

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has dismissed a top general and has called for "war preparations."

Pictures published by North Korean state media showed the hermit kingdom's leader talking to a room full of uniformed top generals while holding a cigarette. The leader pointed at maps and discussed "major military actions" against South Korea during that meeting of the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the Workers' Party of Korea.

According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the meeting centered on the matters of "making full war preparations and ensuring perfect military readiness for a war." Kim also reached an "important conclusion on further stepping up the war preparations of the KPA [Korean People's Army] in an offensive way."

The North Korean leader called for "all the munitions industrial establishments to push ahead with the mass-production of various weapons and equipment," KCNA said in an Aug. 10 report. "He also called for actively conducting actual war drills to efficiently operate [the] newly-deployed latest weapons and equipment."

Kim also dismissed Gen. Park Su-Il, chief of the KPA's general staff department, during the same meeting. The state-run outlet said he was replaced with Vice Marshal Ri Yong-Gil but refused to elaborate.

Cheong Seong-chang, a researcher at the South Korean think tank Sejong Institute, said Ri may have been the "most suitable person" to replace Pak as the vice marshal has previously held the position for a long time.

"Kim has shown a tendency to quickly replace officials when they are judged to be lacking in the ability to control and perform their duties," he said. Cheong added that Pak, who was promoted to the post in late 2022, may have been dismissed "because he did not demonstrate sufficient competence in the field of military operations."

Pyongyang showcased weapons in its arsenal during Victory Day parade

The meeting came days after Kim inspected key arms factories in the hermit kingdom. It also followed Seoul and Washington preparing for major drills in August. Pyongyang has repeatedly warned that the joint exercises, which it claims are rehearsals for invasion, could trigger "overwhelming" action in response.

An official from the South Korean Ministry of Unification told members of the media that the latest KCNA report appeared to be Pyongyang's "own response to the upcoming joint military training between Seoul and Washington." He commented on photos of Kim pointing to what looks like a map of the South Korean capital, which was published by the North's Rodong Sinmun newspaper: "I think he wanted to send a message to the South with a threatening action."

The CMC meeting also discussed preparations for a massive parade to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of North Korea on Sept. 9. The country was established on Sept. 9, 1948, under the leadership of founding father Kim Il-Sung  Jong-Un's grandfather  as premier.

In July of this year, North Korea held a major military parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice agreement. The July 27 parade served as a celebration of the country's Victory Day when the armistice agreement was signed in 1953. (Related: Kim Jong-Un shows off new ATTACK DRONES and BALLISTIC MISSILES in military parade.)

According to Newsweek, the younger Kim oversaw the parade alongside Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. The Russian official saw Pyongyang's nuclear missiles and a new drone weapon during a concurrent defense expo. The Hwasong-17 and Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missiles seen by Shoigu are reportedly capable of reaching targets anywhere in the United States.

Visit WWIII.news for more stories about North Korea gearing up for war.

Watch this G News report about North Korea saying its missile tests simulate an attack on South Korea.

This video is from the Chinese taking down EVIL CCP channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Japan extends order to track and destroy North Korean missiles as Pyongyang announces another attempt to launch a military satellite.

North Korea just tested their version of the Poseidon doomsday weapon that can create a "radioactive tsunami" that could kill millions.

South Korea ready to parry North Koreas military threat with $2.6B "Iron Dome" defense system.

North Korea threatens to shoot down U.S. aircraft entering its airspace.

North Korean leaders promise to "annihilate" the US by end of century.

Sources include:

France24.com

Newsweek.com

Brighteon.com
NO REMORSE: Pfizer says NO Australians were forced to take their vaccines, dismisses all harms caused by their experiments and mandates

Two Pfizer executives were recently brought before the Australian senate and interrogated . They were questioned for their role in pushing harmful medical experiments, unethical vaccine mandates, and policies of coercion and segregation that destroyed peoples lives and livelihoods

During the Australian senate inquiry into the covid-19 vaccine mandates, Pfizer Country Medical Director, Dr. Krishan Thiru, and the head of Regulatory Sciences for Pfizer, Dr. Brian Hewitt, dismissed the existence of unlawful vaccine mandates that they pushed just two years prior. Governments forced multiple rounds of Pfizers products across all sectors of society, from education, health care, and public service to retail, mining, media, and construction.

Pfizer reps try to shift accountability to policy makers

Pretending that the mandates were free of coercion and force, the Pfizer reps disregarded questions about vaccine mandates and said that all Australians had free choice to vaccinate or not. "I believe firmly that nobody was forced to have a vaccine," Dr. Thiru said. However, the Pfizer executives revealed that their company pushed out its own staff when employees refused to comply with Pfizers own vaccine mandates.

The Pfizer reps dismissed the massive breach of medical privacy that took place under the mandates, which led to widespread discrimination, defamation, coercion, and segregation of the unvaccinated. Individuals were even denied lifesaving organ transplants for refusing these vaccinations.

The Pfizer reps even tried to shift responsibility for their illegal actions onto Australian policy makers: "Mandates for vaccine requirements are determined by governments and health authorities, Dr. Hewitt said. I believe everybody was offered an opportunity to get a vaccine or not get a vaccine. I don't believe that anybody was forced to take a vaccine."

Over the past three years, Pfizer has benefited from violent government policies that violate basic human rights. The unvaccinated have had their basic movement and participation in society threatened by these mandates. Individuals have been threatened with the loss of their jobs, careers, and ability to provide for their family. This has caused unparalleled levels of stress, struggle, and pain, as people give up their body autonomy and basic human dignity to submit to Pfizer, the government, and their employers discriminatory demands. Others have stood strong and courageous, beating back against unethical mandates, and proving to the entire establishment that they are wrong about the restrictions, the discrimination, and the validity of vaccine science itself.

Pfizer reps show no remorse when confronted with the damage that their vaccines and mandates have caused

The chair of the senate inquiry, Deputy Opposition Whip Senator Matt OSullivan, was appalled at Pfizers lack of empathy and total disregard for what has transpired over the past three years. "In Western Australia, vaccines were mandated essentially across the entire population. There were a few exceptions. There were very few exceptions. If you wanted to go to work and earn a living and provide for your family, you had to be vaccinated," the senator said.

When the Pfizer reps dismissed the existence of these individual hardships and the societal destruction that the mandates caused, the senator responded: "Based on your evidence, I'm staggered that was the response you gave earlier to questions in relation to whether or not people were forced to have vaccines. If you had to make a choice between paying your mortgage and putting food on the table for your family, you can hardly say that those people were not forced... He continued, "There were plenty of people who were forced to do it. There were some in Western Australia  I've had so many who have contacted me  who had to go without because they chose not to be vaccinated. The state government forced them to be vaccinated, frankly."

The mandates led to sweeping civil unrest, with hundreds of thousands of people protesting across Australia. Police forces have been used as Pfizers own pawns to enforce the mandates, but they have lost all influence over the population. As the medical freedom movement restores bodily integrity and basic medical ethics, the movement has gone mainstream. Beating back all the lies and defamation, the medical freedom movement has unified with people who have been threatened and harmed, while becoming wholly justified in their courageous endeavors.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com
CLAIM: Putin just banned 5G in Russia, all towers to be dismantled

The internet is abuzz with claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin is on a crusade to dismantle Russia's 5G networks, which he is allegedly having destroyed tower by tower in the interest of protecting the Russian people against damaging radiation.

Independent media reports claim that Putin has banned all 5G towers in the Russian Federation due to concerns that the technology is medically unsafe and has caused the deaths of numerous school children who attend classes near St. Petersburg.

Putin has reportedly pledged to dismantle all existing 5G infrastructure while prohibiting any further construction of 5G nodes and towers throughout the country.

"Unlike the U.S. and the West, Russia did not start erecting towers overnight when the technology, developed by Qualcomm and the mobile ecosystem, became available in 2015," one media report explains.

"Since then, the telecom companies in the U.S. have built 150,000 towers; by comparison, Russia had only 22, primarily in Moscow."

(Related: Did you know that 5G wireless exposure just so happens to produce the same symptoms as the Wuhan coronavirus [Covid-19]?)

Mobile providers in U.S. used covid lockdowns as cover to rapidly blanket country in 5G nodes and towers while everyone was stuck inside

In case you missed it, the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) "pandemic," and the stay-at-home lockdown orders that occurred during it, provided perfect cover for the American wireless industry to blanket the country in 5G technology.

While Americans were stuck at home playing video games and ordering food from DoorDash, mobile phone providers were busy installing 5G nodes and towers on schools, churches, businesses, lampposts, street lights, and anywhere else they could get away with stuffing the things.

Once the "pandemic" ended, Americans came back outside to a whole new world filled with 5G technology that was not previously there.

"During the plandemic, with schools shuttered, mobile providers in the U.S. accelerated construction of towers within a stone's throw of elementary schools nationwide," reports explain.

"When schools reopened, students suddenly saw sprawling 5G dishes on the horizon and atop school roofs."

Russia did the opposite, naturally, taking a much more careful and cautious approach to 5G by limiting its installation. The country has four major mobile phone providers  MTS, Megafon, Rostelcom, and Vimpel-Communications Public Joint Stock  that have only been allowed to install a handful of towers in major cities like Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Novosibirsk.

Outside of St. Petersburg, one single 5G tower was placed about 15 meters from an elementary school playground. When children there began to get sick, Putin took a stand for them by implementing this new no-5G policy for Russia.

"In April 2023, 16 students experienced severe side effects of what Vladimir Putin has called electromagnetic poisoning," reports indicate. "Early symptoms included spontaneous vomiting, dizziness, tinnitus, intolerable headaches, and abdominal inflammation."

"Later symptoms were gastrointestinal bleeding, cerebral hemorrhaging, and blindness due to the decay of ocular nerves. The affected children were ages 8-12 and had attended school the same semester. Moreover, the sick kids were unvaccinated, so health officials at Russia's Ministry of Health ruled out Covid-19 vaccine side effects. Comprehensive bloodwork and radiological imaging tests ruled out preexisting maladies, foodborne ailments, medications, and biological and chemical agents. By June 6, 2023, 11 of the 16 students had died."

With the help of the Ministry of Defense, Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko ordered an inspection to evaluate which transmission frequencies were emanating from the cell tower in question, zeroing in on electromagnetic waves in the 24-50 gigahertz range near the bottom of the millimeter wave scale.

The latest news about the very serious dangers of 5G wireless technology and why it must be stopped can be found at 5Galert.com.

Sources for this article include:

DainikBidyaloy.com

NaturalNews.com
With the declining population of endangered gray wolves, researchers discovered new pack over the Sierra Nevada.

Researchers have been monitoring the wolf population in parts of California as they suffer from population decline and the brink of extinction.

The new pack of endangered wolves roaming over the Sierra Nevada shows hope to save the species. The gray wolf population declined as their species were hunted in the region in the 1920s, including habitat loss and encroachment.

According to the California Wolf Center, wolf packs are roaming around Northern California. Experts have been monitoring the three known packs:

Whaleback packs

Lassen packs

Beckwourth packs

One of the known wolves in California, "Journey," managed to travel from Oregon and California to look for a potential partner in 2011.

It is not allowed and illegal to hunt and kill wolves, thanks to the Endangered Species Act that protects them.

New wolf packs in California

Researchers discovered a new and unknown pack of gray wolves in Nevada's Sierra Nevada. The report of a wolf roaming near the Sequoia National Forest in Tulare County helped experts track the said pack.

In addition, the new pack of wolves is 200 miles from the known pack in the area.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife also recorded a new gray wolf pack in Tulare County. The increasing number of wolves in California showed a good sign for conservation and protection efforts in the region.

At least five wolves were in the new pack found in California, with four wolves and an adult female wolf.

NEWS RELEASE: New Gray Wolf Pack Confirmed In Tulare County  California Department of Fish and Wildlife (@CaliforniaDFW) August 12, 2023

Based on recent reports, experts looked into the tracks of the wolves. They also analyzed the DNA samples. Amazingly, the new pack is a descendant of the previous wolf, OR7.

Also Read: New Species of Mole in Eastern Turkey: Animal Likely Stayed Hidden for About 3 Million Years

More about gray wolves in the U.S

The National Wildlife Foundation explained that the gray wolf population can be found in parts of the U.S., including Michigan, Northern Wisconsin, Northeast Oregon and Yellowstone areas.

In January, the gray wolves in Michigan showed a stable population based on the 2022 surveys on the animal species.

Wolves like to travel in packs with four to nine-pack members. They can stay in forests, grasslands and woodlands, consuming mammals like deer, moose and others.

Wolves can live up to 13 years. They are best at spotting and hunting for possible prey, attacking in groups. Wolves are known for their strong social bonds, defending one another from threats and predators.

Meanwhile, the wolves couple are seen together until they finally die.

As wolves travel in packs, they can leave their scent to mark areas. The alpha male is considered the leader of the pack. However, other wolves can also challenge by growling.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) explained there are about 12,000 wolves in Europe.

Related Article: Gray Wolf Population in Michigan Continues Trend of Stability, New Report Shows

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The latest study found two new species of moles on parts of Eastern Turkey's mountains that have not been discovered for about three million years.

The moles were identified as Talpa hakkariensis and Talpa davidiana tatvanensis.

Researchers have been studying mole species around the world, and the discovery of the new species on land has been significant for scientists and researchers to implement possible conservation measures or avoid population decline.

In research published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, the study explained that cutting-edge technology, molecular genetics and nuclear DNA sequencing helped scientists to discover new species.

New mole species discovered in Eastern Turkey

When they found the new species of moles, researchers employed advanced technology to determine the distinction of moles from previously known species.

Researchers from the University of Plymouth, Ondokuz Mays University, and Indiana University conducted the study.

The researchers looked into the moles' size and shape.

They explained that new species of moles managed to survive on the mountains in Eastern Turkey, thriving in temperatures up to 50C during summertime.

To find partners, moles can roam around their areas by making large tunnels. With the tunnels, moles can create essential nests to feed and raise their babies.

According to the report, the talpa hakkariensis can be found in portions of southeastern Turkey with distinctive DNA and morphology.

According to the report, Senior author David Bilton explained that finding new mammal species is considered rare. He said that there are about 6.500 species of mammal that are already known.

Bilton is an Aquatic Biology from the University of Plymouth.

The senior author added that more studies would help discover new species of mole and diversity. He said that in order to protect global biodiversity, there is a need to understand other existence of species.

Discovering new species can assist researchers and experts in developing conservation efforts.

These animals, along with many other creatures, are at risk of population decline and even eventual extinction due to both man-made and natural causes, which is why these studies and discoveries are of utmost importance to scientists.

Also Read: Unique Deepwater Corals Reefs, Marine Animals Discovered on Wellington's South, Kapiti Coasts

Underground breathing of moles

Moles can be small, but they are considered unique, with their underground behaviors and way of survival.

They are known as burrowing creatures.

Moles can breathe underground. They are said to have super hemoglobin that helps them to survive their habitat. They can also leave marks in their areas using their urine.

Because many predators target moles, they frequently resurface from their burrows in twilight hours.

Related Article: 'Ice Mouse' Fossils Found: Little Mammal Thrived in Coldest Conditions 73 Million Years Ago

For more similar stories, don't forget to follow Nature World News.
The United Nations has concluded the transfer of more than 1 million barrels of oil from a decaying tanker stranded off the coast of war-torn Yemen, averting a possible environmental catastrophe.

On July 25, an international team began transferring oil from the neglected tanker known as FSO Safer. Almost all of the oil is moved to a replacement vessel called MOST Yemen.

It took 18 days for the salvage personnel to discharge the oil in a coastal combat zone studded with sea mines, high summer temperatures, and strong currents.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hailed the news of the completion of the operation and stressed that the move had avoided "what could have been a monumental environmental and humanitarian catastrophe."

Read Also: UN Starts Removing Oil From A Decaying Tanker Off Yemen's Coast With The Fear Of Ecological Disaster

Proud moment

More than $120 million was gathered for the operation, which included the acquisition of a second tanker for the offloaded crude, aircraft on standby to drop chemicals to dissipate the oil in the event of a spill, and insurance with more than a dozen insurers to finance the operation.

"Today is a proud moment for the many people across the UN System as well as our donors and partners who have worked tirelessly over the past months and years to avert a disaster in a country already vulnerable following protracted conflict," Achim Steiner, UN U.N. Development Programme Administrator, said in a press statement.

The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, David Gressly, who has led the UN system-wide efforts on the Safer since September 2021 said that the operation marks a great milestone for the protection of the Red Sea, however, he noted that there is still work to be done.

"The installation of a CALM buoy to which the replacement vessel will be safely tethered is the next crucial step," he added.

The second step of the project entails installing a mooring system to allow Yemen, the replacement vessel, to remain in position. The FSO Safer will be demolished after being towed to a shipyard.

The Secretary-General underlined the UN's commitment to completing the operation, which has a total cost of more than $140 million, with an additional $20 million required.

The United States applauded the success of the operation and urged other nations to contribute to its completion.

"The UN urgently needs the international community and private sector's financial support to fill the remaining $22 million funding gap needed to finish the job and address all remaining environmental threats," the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

Oil inside the tanker

Gressly said that the oil on board the FSO Safer was in good condition, which means it may be sold-a procedure that will necessitate negotiations between Yemen's warring parties.

He stated that the UN has volunteered to act as a "go-between," including the establishment of a trust fund or an escrow account, but no decisions have been made.

For many years, the U.N. and other governments, as well as environmental groups, have warned that an oil spill or explosion might impede global commercial shipping along the vital Bab el-Mandeb and Suez Canal routes, causing enormous economic loss.

A possible oil spill would also destroy coral, mangroves, and marine life in the area.

Related Article: Worse than Exxon Valdez Oil Spill: Abandoned Yemeni Tanker Can Wreck the Red Sea

Related Video:
The death toll in the massive wildfires that hit Maui in Hawaii has already climbed to 93, with American authorities saying that it is the deadliest wildfire that struck the United States in a century.

According to the County of Maui, a total of 93 individuals were reported to be death due to the destructive blaze. Two of the fatalities have been identified.

Governor John Green branded the wildfires as the largest natural disaster in the history of Hawaii.

"This is the largest natural disaster in our history. As of this moment, 93 individuals have perished," Green said at a video message.

"I have been in the ground zero twice and there is very little left there. Now, what was that mean? That means over 27 structures were destroyed in Lahaina," Green added.

Green promised that a comprehensive effort would be enforced to respond to the needs of the victims, meaning there will be a full force of the national and local government as well as other groups and stakeholders.

The death toll made the wildfires as Hawaii's worst natural disaster as it exceeded a tsunami that killed 61 people in 1960, a year after Hawaii became a US state.

Read Also: Maui Wildfire Death Toll Now at 53, Expected To Rise

Containing the flare-ups

So far, firefighters continue their efforts to extinguish the flare-ups that are observed in the Lahaina and Upcountry Maui.

Based on the initial damage assessment, three structures in Olinda and 16 others in Kula have been damaged in the Upcountry Maui.

Meanwhile, the blaze in Pulehu/Kihei was already 100% contained as of Saturday, officials said.

Latest advisory from the firefighting personnel said the blaze in Upcountry/Kula was already 60% contained, having an estimated 678 acres affected.

Authorities deployed a total of three helicopters, four engines, two tankers and one utility in the site.

They said that the hot spots in gulches and other hard to reach places, along with land divisions and fences, make it difficult for the firefighters to contain the blaze.

The County of Maui explained that the containment process indicates what percentage of the fire perimeter has been enclosed by a control line.

Authorities said that when a fire is 100% contained, that does not necessarily mean that it has been extinguished. It means that firefighters have it fully surrounded by a perimeter.

Once a fire is declared "extinguished," then it is already over.

Emergency response increasing

Meanwhile, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said that emergency responders have been increasing their presence in Hawaii to address the immediate needs of the wildfires survivors.

Officials have already sent thousands of supplies, meals, as well as liters of water with more on the way to support response efforts.

Earlier, it was disclosed that the cost to rebuild Lahaina was estimated at $5.5 billion, with more than 2,200 structures damaged or destroyed and over 2,100 acres (850 hectares) reduced to ruins.

A Family Assistance Center has been opened at the Kahului Community Center for family members who are looking for information about their relatives and loved ones who are unaccounted for and who could be affected by the wildfires on Maui.

Related Article: Maui Wildfires Considered As Largest Natural Disaster With Death Toll Reaching 80; 2,170 Acres Put To Ashes

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Antarctica, the most remote continent in the world, is not isolated from the effects of climate change, which have altered the landscape of every continent.

A new study published in the journal Frontiers in Environmental Science recently highlighted Antarctica's climate change challenges.

The study, which was co-authored by experts from the University of Exeter, the British Antarctic Survey, the University of Johannesburg, and others, concluded that it is "virtually certain that future Antarctic extreme events will be more pronounced than those observed to date" unless climate change is addressed.

The study revealed that climate change extremes are worsening in an area that had previously appeared to be somewhat protected from the wildness of global warming.

They claim that the continent "is not a static giant frozen in time," but rather experiences climate change's wrath and extremes "sporadically and unpredictably."

Read Also: Massive Melting Event in Antarctica Could Result to Catastrophic Events, Expert Warns

Melting sea ice

According to Anna Hogg, a co-author on the paper and professor at the University of Leeds, their analysis demonstrates intricate and linked changes between the ice, ocean, and air.

One of the most pressing challenges in Antarctica is the rapid melting of its ice. It was recently announced that Antarctic ice sheets are melting three times faster than they were 30 years ago.

"The four lowest annual minimum sea ice extents of the satellite era have occurred since, with both 2022 and 2023 setting new records," according to the report.

One western glacier is melting at such a rapid rate that experts have dubbed it the Doomsday Glacier.

Scientist warned that the glacier could shatter within the next five to 10 years.

"A changing Antarctica is bad news for our planet," says Martin Siegert, a glaciologist, professor of geosciences at University of Exeter and lead author on the paper.

If the current trend continues, coastlines will vanish and global warming will accelerate due to the loss of sunlight-reflecting ice. Scientists have always been concerned about this, and they are considerably more concerned now.

Heat waves

While Antarctica is traditionally associated with extreme cold, the continent's rising temperatures remain the overall issue.

According to the study, there is clear evidence that the temperature in Antarctica is rising.

According to the study, the most extreme heat wave ever seen globally "occurred over East Antarctica in March 2022, when surface temperature anomalies of up to [101.3 degrees Fahrenheit] were observed."

The highest-ever temperature recorded on the Antarctic mainland was 64.9 degrees Fahrenheit in February 2020.

Siegert emphasized that as the heat waves continue, Antarctica may transition from being the planet's refrigerator to the planet's radiator, as melting ice reduces Antarctica's ability to reflect sunlight.

When ice is replaced by dark sea water "that reflecting ability is reduced, and the Earth absorbs that heat," he said in an interview.

According to Waleed Abdalati, an environmental expert at the University of Colorado, catastrophic events are one thing, he argues, but when they are overlaid on a trend - a trend of global warming that heightens those catastrophic events - that is cause for alarm.

Related Article: Climate Change May be Responsible for Rapid Growth of Antarctica's Two Flowering Plants

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The military council formed by mutineers in Niger intends to bring charges of high treason against the deposed President of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, according to Al Jazeera TV channel.

August 14, 2023, 16:54 Rebels in Niger to charge President Bazoum with treason

STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 14, ARTSAKHPRESS: According to the rebels, they have collected evidence that allows them to prosecute the former president and his accomplices on charges of treason and endangering state security.

In late July, a group of military rebels in Niger announced the removal of Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum. They then established the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), headed by General Abdourahmane Tchiani, to run the country. Bazoum remains detained at his residence but is reportedly in telephone contact with the outside world.

The ECOWAS leaders had previously demanded that the rebels release Bazoum by August 7, threatening to use force among other options. Nevertheless, the neighboring countries of Mali and Burkina Faso warned that they would consider such a step as an attack on themselves. Since the ECOWAS ultimatum was ignored, the communitys leaders reconvened on August 10.

The organization said it was resolved to restore constitutional order in Niger. Upon returning from the summit, President of the Ivory Coast Alassane Ouattara said that the ECOWAS leaders agreed on launching a military operation in Niger as soon as possible.
Australian surfers, who were rescued after two days in the water after a boating accident, are taken to nearby Pinang Island by Indonesian rescue crews. Supplied

The four Australians who were feared missing in Indonesia for more than 36 hours had clung to their surfboards in the middle of the ocean after their boat began to sink in pitch black darkness.

Elliot Foote, his girlfriend Steph Weisse, and their two friends Jordan Short and Will Teagle went missing on Sunday night after their charter vessel failed to return from a remote island off North Sumatra due to bad weather.

The four friends were found safe on Tuesday, along with two of the three Indonesians who were also on the boat. A third Indonesian man remains missing.

Mr Foote, who travelled with 11 of his friends to Indonesias remote Pinang Island to celebrate his 30th birthday, was seen on his friends Instagram drinking a beer just hours after his miraculous rescue was confirmed.

Elliot Foote was seen drinking a beer on his friends Instagram

A friend of the family confirmed Elliot Foote had been found.

Will Teagles sister Amy described getting a Facetime from her brother.

I didnt realise until he told me, he said the boat they were on had sunk in the boat they were on had sunk in the middle of the night so it was pitch black and they grabbed what they could, she told A Current Affair.

They all managed to get a surfboard and they then spent two nights in the ocean.

He said they had no idea where they were, what direction they were facing. By the grace of God I guess they managed to paddle into what ended up being the right direction.

It is just very overwhelming.

Steph, Jordan and Will were found about 11am Sydney time on Tuesday by an Australian captain who had left to search for them at about 10pm on Sunday, local time.

But it was another three hours before Elliot, who had left the group to paddle for help about 5km away from the group, was found.

Australian surfers, who were rescued after two days in the water after a boating accident, are taken to nearby Pinang Island by Indonesian rescue crews. Supplied

Elliots dad said the discovery of the three was fantastic but he described the stress of the hours until his son was found.

It was gut wrenching, as you could imagine, Peter Foote told A Current Affair.

Then when I saw that video  and you hear that voice say, wheres Elliot? and they dont have him.

Story continues

My heart just dropped.

Elliots friends told rescuers he had paddled to the island for help, and he was found there.

Mr Toole said the four did not know the fate of their eight other friends for the time they were at sea.

Speaking to 7News, Stephs mother Jill Weisse said she had felt helpless while the search was carried out.

Steph Weisses parents react to the news Steph has been found. Picture: 7 News

Theres so little we can do, and your mind goes to all sorts of dark places, she said.

Steph was the first confirmed Aussie to have been found, followed by

On Tuesday afternoon, Elliots father, Peter, confirmed the news that three out of the friends had been rescued from the remote islands.

Moments after talking to Sky News, Mr Foote received a message form his son confirming he had been rescued.

Hey Dad, Elliot here. I am alive, safe now, love you. Chat later, the text read.



Elliot Foote and Steph Weisse went missing after their boat disappeared off Indonesia. Picture: Supplied

Mr Foote praised the work of search and rescue crews, including an Australian who lives in the area and aided in the search.

He had helped co-ordinated friends, hired charter boats and even offered rewards to local fisherman from his Sydney home.

He told Sky News the man had wanted assurance prior to calling off the search, before revealing his sons next move.

Elliot will make his way back to the island, they (the group) will regroup and get healthy, and probably have a great night tonight, he said.

Moments after talking to Sky News, Mr Foote received a message form his son confirming he had also been rescued.

Asked how badly he wanted to see his son, Mr Foote said:  I dont really need to see him as long as I know hes alive.

I cant wait to talk to him, what an adventure hes having, what a story to tell.

Hes got 10 days to go, so hes in the best place. They love it, its paradise.

As long as I can talk to him, he doesn't have to come home.

Peter Foote was helping co-ordinate the search party for the four missing Aussies. Picture: 7 news

A Google document used by the four families and seen by The Daily Telegraph was updated to read: All four Australians found alive.

The group, all from NSW, had been on a birthday surfing trip and were travelling on a longboat to Banyak Island near Banda Aceh.

A search operation was launched on Monday, with Indonesian authorities, as well as local fishermen, scrambling to find the group.

The search effort, which was also looking for three Indonesian crewmen missing from the boat, was called off at sunset on Monday.

Picture of a wooden charter boat similar to what four Australian surfers and three Indonesian crew members were travelling on. Picture: Supplied.

A day earlier, Mr Foote, from Northern NSW, wrote on Instagram that it was so good to be back in Indonesia.

Soho gulah Sorake  so good being back in Indo after so many years. Sharing waves with mates and the queen, Mr Foote wrote.

Starting the trip off with hiking in the North Sumatran jungle and seeing Orangutans was an amazing experience and something that I look forward to doing again for a longer time and going deeper.

Bukit Lawang is a beautiful spot with such kind people.

The message was adjoined by photos of Mr Foote surfing alongside his partner, Ms Weisse.

Dad not giving up hope

While visibly frazzled, Peter Foote had remained optimistic throughout the ordeal, despite there being no sign of the group in the early hours.

Apparently they have food and water on the boat and the boat has a roof so it should be all right, he told Nine News on Tuesday morning, before the group was found.

But it hasnt got electronic stuff: no navigation stuff, no communication stuff (...) IPERBs, GPS.

Mr Foote doubted the boat had capsized and believed they likely ran out of fuel.

He had urged for co-operation between Australian and Indonesia authorities.

Maybe they need to expand the area if they would have drifted, he said.

This morning they will ramp up and we will get them back soon.

Missing Australians Steph Weisse, left, with Jordan Short, Elliot Foote, and Will Teagle. Picture: Supplied

I just hope we can get some eyes in the sky, there are a lot of islands.

On Monday, a DFAT spokesman confirmed the government was providing consular assistance to the families.

The government had also reportedly chartered a private plane to help co-ordinate the search from the sky.

Indonesian National Search and Rescue agency Nias Island chief Octavianto said authorities had reacted to reports from a local resort.

Monday night the Pinang Resort reported that a speedboat with 10 passengers had arrived in Pinang Island (at about 10.18pm local time), while another speedboat with seven people on board had not arrived yet, he said.

Weve deployed three ships  and they are now moving towards the location for search and rescue. However, the issue is that the (missing vessel) is a basic wooden boat without any tracking devices or the like.

Poor weather and visibility hindered the ability of search parties to locate the missing Aussies on Monday.

Mr Foote said the news of his sons disappearance and the ensuing two-day ordeal was pretty tough.

You feel it physically, in the stomach, everywhere, he said.

It is really painful. Anyone who has been through it will know and understand.

Elliot Foote wrote on Instagram hours before his boat disappeared he that it was "good" to be back in Indonesia. Picture: Instagram

Elliot Foote and three others were in Indonesia for a 30th birthday trip. Picture: Instagram

I havent felt like this before. My heart is aching. It is just terrible.



Mr Foote said the surfing community had also come together to aid in the desperate search.

It is going to be a long, long day for them, he said.

I dont know how long their supplies are going to last for.

The sooner the better, really. Every minute counts.

After the group were found, Mr Foote praised the efforts of a local catamaran owner who aided rescuers.

He told Nine News the man had correctly guessed where the group would end up based on tidal patterns.

The father went so far as to say the man, who has not been identified, knew more than the locals about the area.

Birthday adventure turns to disaster

The group of 12 Australians in total had been travelling in Sumatra and on the island of Nias to celebrate Mr Footes 30th birthday.

On Instagram, Mr Foote shared details and photos of the groups travels, including to the popular nature park Bukit Lawang.

Setting off got Banyak Island, the group of 12 are understood to have separated onto two boats.

One boat took refuge on Sarang Alu, an island between the two the group were travelling between on Sunday.

The eight tourists on board arrived safely at their destination on Sunday night.

The other, containing the group, is understood to have opted to have continued travelling.

The photos reveal an interaction with orang-utans, which Mr Foote described as "amazing". Picture: Instagram

Mr Foote also posted images from a trip to a nature reserve in Sumatra. Picture: Instagram

Mr Foote described the group as resilient, resourceful kids,

His son Elliot, who is a carpenter, is a former Scots College student.

He recently moved to Murwillumbah in northern NSW to be with Ms Weisse.

The elder Mr Foote had paid for his son to go on the fateful trip to Indonesia with his 11 best mates.

Missing Australian Will Teagle. Picture: Supplied

Jordan Short (left) is one of four Australian's missing after their charter boat failed to return to Indonesia. Picture: Instagram

The group were all high school friends from Sydney and surfing mates from northern NSW.

Mr Teagles sister Amy took to social media on Monday asking anyone who might be travelling in the area to offer assistance in the search.

My brother and three of his mates are missing, Ms Teagle said.

Please if you know anyone in Sumatra that can offer any assistance let me know.

Similar calls for assistance were made by the Bronte Surf Life Saving Club and other local surf groups.

The search follows a string of high-profile incidents involving Australians, particularly in Indonesias restive Aceh province.

Noosa man Bodhi Risby-Jones was asked to pay $61,000 to the families of people involved in alleged drunken rampage on Simeulue Island.

The island is likewise located off the western Sumatra coast nearby to where the four Australians disappeared on Sunday.
By AFP

TAIPEI: Taiwanese tech giant and key Apple supplier Foxconn said Monday it sees the potential to invest "several billion dollars" in India, with the firm looking to diversify its manufacturing away from China.

Foxconn -- also known by its official name Hon Hai Precision Industry -- is the world's biggest contract electronics manufacturer and assembles devices for many companies, most notably Apple's iPhones.

It operates in more than two dozen countries but the bulk of its operations is based in China -- a dependence it is looking to reduce, with media reports of major investments in India.

"From the perspective of India's potential market size and if we can fully implement our plans there, I think several billion dollars in investment is only a beginning," Foxconn chairman Young Liu said when asked during an earnings call if the firm planned to invest $2 billion in India.

Foxconn in May announced the purchase of a huge tract of land on the outskirts of Indian tech hub Bengaluru for $37 million.

ALSO READ | Foxconn on investment spree in India; announces USD 600 million for Karnataka plants

It currently operates about nine production campuses and has more than 30 factories in India, with "turnover of business size of roughly $10 billion annually", according to Liu.

The company is planning to expand its India operations to "critical components" for consumer electronics and electric vehicles to boost its competitiveness, he said, without giving more details.

"Shipping (for critical components) will probably have to wait till next year but this year, relevant constructions have started," Liu said, adding the operations will take place in three states in India.

Last month, Foxconn withdrew from a $19.4 billion deal with India's Vedanta to make semiconductors in Gujarat state -- dealing a blow to New Delhi's plan to boost self-reliance in the tech supply chain.

Foxconn posted a one percent drop in second quarter net profits on Monday, while revenues fell 14 percent on-year to $1.3 trillion Taiwan dollars ($40.8 billion) -- an indication of a worsening market for global electronics during an economic downturn.

TAIPEI: Taiwanese tech giant and key Apple supplier Foxconn said Monday it sees the potential to invest "several billion dollars" in India, with the firm looking to diversify its manufacturing away from China. Foxconn -- also known by its official name Hon Hai Precision Industry -- is the world's biggest contract electronics manufacturer and assembles devices for many companies, most notably Apple's iPhones. It operates in more than two dozen countries but the bulk of its operations is based in China -- a dependence it is looking to reduce, with media reports of major investments in India.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "From the perspective of India's potential market size and if we can fully implement our plans there, I think several billion dollars in investment is only a beginning," Foxconn chairman Young Liu said when asked during an earnings call if the firm planned to invest $2 billion in India. Foxconn in May announced the purchase of a huge tract of land on the outskirts of Indian tech hub Bengaluru for $37 million. ALSO READ | Foxconn on investment spree in India; announces USD 600 million for Karnataka plants It currently operates about nine production campuses and has more than 30 factories in India, with "turnover of business size of roughly $10 billion annually", according to Liu. The company is planning to expand its India operations to "critical components" for consumer electronics and electric vehicles to boost its competitiveness, he said, without giving more details. "Shipping (for critical components) will probably have to wait till next year but this year, relevant constructions have started," Liu said, adding the operations will take place in three states in India. Last month, Foxconn withdrew from a $19.4 billion deal with India's Vedanta to make semiconductors in Gujarat state -- dealing a blow to New Delhi's plan to boost self-reliance in the tech supply chain. Foxconn posted a one percent drop in second quarter net profits on Monday, while revenues fell 14 percent on-year to $1.3 trillion Taiwan dollars ($40.8 billion) -- an indication of a worsening market for global electronics during an economic downturn.
Gautham Selvarajan By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: In a tragic turn of events, the father of a 19-year-old NEET student, who died by suicide on Sunday, killed himself hours after returning home from his sons funeral. Jegadeshwaran allegedly ended his life on Monday after he failed to get the desired marks in NEET.

According to police, P Selvasekar (48) was dejected over the death of his son and took an extreme step. The body was sent to Chromepet Government Hospital for postmortem. A case has been registered and an investigation is on.

Police said the man, who was residing in Kurinji Nagar in Chromepet, was running a photo studio. He and his wife were separated and his son Jegadeshwaran was living with him. Police said a relative who went to the house around 2:40 am found Selvasekars body.

Sources said Jegadeshwaran had completed Class 12 from a CBSE school in Pallavaram in 2022 after which he sat for NEET twice. He was upset since he could not score enough to land a government college seat, having secured 395 marks in his last attempt. On Saturday afternoon, Jegadeshwaran took an extreme step while he was alone in the house.

Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin arriving at Chromepet GH where postmortem was conducted, on Monday morning| Monish Linus

Talking to reporters, Jegadeshwarans friend Fayazuddin, who is pursuing a first-year MBBS in a private medical college, said, I scored only 160 in NEET, but my father could afford the fees and I joined a private college. Jegadeshwaran scored better than me, but his father was unable to pay the fees and he couldnt join MBBS.

A visibly rattled Fayazuddin said Jegadeshwaran wanted to truly serve people after becoming a doctor. However, only those who have money are securing seats while many others are unable to, he said.

When Sports Minister Udhyanidhi Stalin visited the Chromepet Government Hospital on Monday, Fayazuddin made an emotional appeal to him regarding the NEET issue.

Money has become the determining factor in NEET. We have been making the same request (exemption from the test) time and again and are fed up. If JEE and NEET alone are going to decide our future, what is the point in studying for Class 12 exams? How many more Jegadeshwarans and Anithas are we going to lose? Is there anything that can be done against Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi, Fayazuddin asked Udhayanidhi.

(Assistance for those having suicidal thoughts is available on TNs health helpline 104 and Snehas suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050)

CHENNAI: In a tragic turn of events, the father of a 19-year-old NEET student, who died by suicide on Sunday, killed himself hours after returning home from his sons funeral. Jegadeshwaran allegedly ended his life on Monday after he failed to get the desired marks in NEET.     ,   2        ,   .    .    -    pic.twitter.com/czIrloEquG  Udhay (@Udhaystalin) August 14, 2023 googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); According to police, P Selvasekar (48) was dejected over the death of his son and took an extreme step. The body was sent to Chromepet Government Hospital for postmortem. A case has been registered and an investigation is on. Police said the man, who was residing in Kurinji Nagar in Chromepet, was running a photo studio. He and his wife were separated and his son Jegadeshwaran was living with him. Police said a relative who went to the house around 2:40 am found Selvasekars body. Sources said Jegadeshwaran had completed Class 12 from a CBSE school in Pallavaram in 2022 after which he sat for NEET twice. He was upset since he could not score enough to land a government college seat, having secured 395 marks in his last attempt. On Saturday afternoon, Jegadeshwaran took an extreme step while he was alone in the house. Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin arriving at Chromepet GH where postmortem was conducted, on Monday morning| Monish Linus Talking to reporters, Jegadeshwarans friend Fayazuddin, who is pursuing a first-year MBBS in a private medical college, said, I scored only 160 in NEET, but my father could afford the fees and I joined a private college. Jegadeshwaran scored better than me, but his father was unable to pay the fees and he couldnt join MBBS. A visibly rattled Fayazuddin said Jegadeshwaran wanted to truly serve people after becoming a doctor. However, only those who have money are securing seats while many others are unable to, he said. When Sports Minister Udhyanidhi Stalin visited the Chromepet Government Hospital on Monday, Fayazuddin made an emotional appeal to him regarding the NEET issue.  ,      #NEET  ,   !      .   ,  .        pic.twitter.com/BsavDQK1a4  M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) August 14, 2023 Money has become the determining factor in NEET. We have been making the same request (exemption from the test) time and again and are fed up. If JEE and NEET alone are going to decide our future, what is the point in studying for Class 12 exams? How many more Jegadeshwarans and Anithas are we going to lose? Is there anything that can be done against Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi, Fayazuddin asked Udhayanidhi. (Assistance for those having suicidal thoughts is available on TNs health helpline 104 and Snehas suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050)
Mayank Singh By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Corps Commanders of India and Chinas PLA are set to hold the 19th round of meetings on Monday at Chushul-Moldo Meeting Point on the Indian side of the border to discuss the disengagement of troops from eastern Ladakhs remaining standoff points.

The thrust will be on the restoration of the Indian Armys patrolling rights up until the traditional patrolling points (PPs), sources said. It was exclusively reported by this newspaper that the Army has put its foot down on the issue of patrolling rights and has insisted with the Chinese side that it be allowed to patrol till the traditional patrolling points in the remaining standoff locations.

The Indian stance on the standoff points has remained consistent, the restoration of status quo ante as of April 2020. Importantly, this entails the restoration of patrolling rights till the traditional patrolling points, a source said.

Depsang and Demchok are the two remaining standoff points. In Depsang, Chinese troops have blocked Indian access to PP 10, 11, 11A, 12, and 13. As per sources, the total area here that remains out of access for Indian troops is about 952 sq km.

The five PPs are close to the LAC and are located inside the line that marks the Indian territory. The sub-sector north of which Depsang is a part, is strategically most important. China has multiple roads feeding this area while India has only the DSDBO road.

Mondays meeting comes three years after the first round of Corps Commanders meetings was held on June 6, 2020, days after clashes between Indian and Chinese forces in the Galwan Valley.

NEW DELHI: Corps Commanders of India and Chinas PLA are set to hold the 19th round of meetings on Monday at Chushul-Moldo Meeting Point on the Indian side of the border to discuss the disengagement of troops from eastern Ladakhs remaining standoff points. The thrust will be on the restoration of the Indian Armys patrolling rights up until the traditional patrolling points (PPs), sources said. It was exclusively reported by this newspaper that the Army has put its foot down on the issue of patrolling rights and has insisted with the Chinese side that it be allowed to patrol till the traditional patrolling points in the remaining standoff locations. The Indian stance on the standoff points has remained consistent, the restoration of status quo ante as of April 2020. Importantly, this entails the restoration of patrolling rights till the traditional patrolling points, a source said. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Depsang and Demchok are the two remaining standoff points. In Depsang, Chinese troops have blocked Indian access to PP 10, 11, 11A, 12, and 13. As per sources, the total area here that remains out of access for Indian troops is about 952 sq km. The five PPs are close to the LAC and are located inside the line that marks the Indian territory. The sub-sector north of which Depsang is a part, is strategically most important. China has multiple roads feeding this area while India has only the DSDBO road. Mondays meeting comes three years after the first round of Corps Commanders meetings was held on June 6, 2020, days after clashes between Indian and Chinese forces in the Galwan Valley.
By Express News Service

KOCHI: Budget airline Vietjet inaugurated direct flights from Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on Saturday. This launch has further bolstered the airports connectivity to Southeast Asian destinations, bringing the total number of monthly flights to 45.

The launching ceremony was graced by Jay L Lingeswara, vice president of commercials at Vietjet, who expressed heartfelt gratitude for the enthusiastic response from passengers hailing from both nations. The fact that the inaugural flights on this momentous day operated at full capacity speaks volumes about the burgeoning demand for direct connectivity between Kochi and Vietnam. I am also highly optimistic about expanding this connectivity by introducing additional flights from various cities in Vietnam to the Kochi route. This move will undoubtedly foster stronger ties and facilitate seamless travel, Lingeswara commented.

The direct flight service, identified as VJ1811, is set to operate four days a week - specifically on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Departing from Ho Chi Minh City at 7:20 PM, the flights estimated arrival at Kochi airport is 10:50 PM. The return flight, VJ1812, will take off from Kochi at 11:50 PM, touching down in Ho Chi Minh City at 6:40 AM.

This service marks a significant historical milestone for CIAL, as it establishes the very first direct air link between Kerala and Vietnam. This connection is poised to provide a substantial avenue for both business and leisure travel. Moreover, this new addition seamlessly complements CIALs existing flight services to diverse Southeast Asian destinations. This expansion augments the airports connectivity, firmly establishing its status as a pivotal hub for international travel.

In the fiscal year 202223, CIAL handled a total of 89.82 lakh passengers, underscoring its unwavering commitment to delivering excellence in passenger services. With an ambitious goal to surpass the one crore passenger milestone within the current financial year, CIAL continues to assert its position as the third-highest in the country for international passenger traffic.

KOCHI: Budget airline Vietjet inaugurated direct flights from Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on Saturday. This launch has further bolstered the airports connectivity to Southeast Asian destinations, bringing the total number of monthly flights to 45. The launching ceremony was graced by Jay L Lingeswara, vice president of commercials at Vietjet, who expressed heartfelt gratitude for the enthusiastic response from passengers hailing from both nations. The fact that the inaugural flights on this momentous day operated at full capacity speaks volumes about the burgeoning demand for direct connectivity between Kochi and Vietnam. I am also highly optimistic about expanding this connectivity by introducing additional flights from various cities in Vietnam to the Kochi route. This move will undoubtedly foster stronger ties and facilitate seamless travel, Lingeswara commented. The direct flight service, identified as VJ1811, is set to operate four days a week - specifically on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Departing from Ho Chi Minh City at 7:20 PM, the flights estimated arrival at Kochi airport is 10:50 PM. The return flight, VJ1812, will take off from Kochi at 11:50 PM, touching down in Ho Chi Minh City at 6:40 AM.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); This service marks a significant historical milestone for CIAL, as it establishes the very first direct air link between Kerala and Vietnam. This connection is poised to provide a substantial avenue for both business and leisure travel. Moreover, this new addition seamlessly complements CIALs existing flight services to diverse Southeast Asian destinations. This expansion augments the airports connectivity, firmly establishing its status as a pivotal hub for international travel. In the fiscal year 202223, CIAL handled a total of 89.82 lakh passengers, underscoring its unwavering commitment to delivering excellence in passenger services. With an ambitious goal to surpass the one crore passenger milestone within the current financial year, CIAL continues to assert its position as the third-highest in the country for international passenger traffic.
By PTI

THANE: Activists of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Monday staged a protest outside the office of the Thane municipal commissioner over the deaths of 18 patients at a civic hospital in Kalwa over the weekend.

Protesters carrying placards shouted slogans against the civic administration accusing it of being responsible for the deaths at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (CSM) Hospital in Kalwa.

Earlier on Sunday, civic commissioner Abhijit Bangar said 10 women and eight men died in 24 hours at CSM Hospital in Kalwa.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had taken feedback about the situation and ordered the setting up of an independent probe committee, he said.

Former Thane mayor Naresh Mhakse, who is also spokesperson of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, said the hospital was "overloaded" and was treating 650 patients per day against a capacity of 500.

#WATCH | 18 deaths reported in last 48 hours in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital, Kalwa of Thane district



"18 deaths have been reported in the last 48 hours. Some of the patients who have died were already receiving treatment for various ailments including chronic kidney pic.twitter.com/N84rFqCbaE  ANI (@ANI) August 13, 2023

The civil hospital in the area is being renovated so the load fell on the facility in Kalwa, he claimed.

Talking to reporters during the protest, Sushant Suryarao, vice-president of the MNS' city unit, said if the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) was well aware that the civil hospital was being relocated and the load would increase on CSM, they should have made arrangements to meet the eventuality.

Protestors demanded that the civic chief apologise to citizens for the deaths and that a case of culpable homicide be registered against those found at fault.

THANE: Activists of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Monday staged a protest outside the office of the Thane municipal commissioner over the deaths of 18 patients at a civic hospital in Kalwa over the weekend. Protesters carrying placards shouted slogans against the civic administration accusing it of being responsible for the deaths at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (CSM) Hospital in Kalwa. Earlier on Sunday, civic commissioner Abhijit Bangar said 10 women and eight men died in 24 hours at CSM Hospital in Kalwa.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had taken feedback about the situation and ordered the setting up of an independent probe committee, he said. Former Thane mayor Naresh Mhakse, who is also spokesperson of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, said the hospital was "overloaded" and was treating 650 patients per day against a capacity of 500. #WATCH | 18 deaths reported in last 48 hours in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital, Kalwa of Thane district "18 deaths have been reported in the last 48 hours. Some of the patients who have died were already receiving treatment for various ailments including chronic kidney pic.twitter.com/N84rFqCbaE  ANI (@ANI) August 13, 2023 The civil hospital in the area is being renovated so the load fell on the facility in Kalwa, he claimed. Talking to reporters during the protest, Sushant Suryarao, vice-president of the MNS' city unit, said if the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) was well aware that the civil hospital was being relocated and the load would increase on CSM, they should have made arrangements to meet the eventuality. Protestors demanded that the civic chief apologise to citizens for the deaths and that a case of culpable homicide be registered against those found at fault.
By PTI

BARAMATI: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Monday said there is no confusion within the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance over his meeting with nephew and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in Pune.

"The MVA is united and we will successfully organise the next meeting of opposition bloc INDIA in Mumbai on August 31 and September 1," Pawar told reporters in Baramati.

However, Pawar sidestepped a question on an editorial in Monday's issue of Sena (UBT) mouthpiece 'Saamana' expressing displeasure over the "frequent meetings" between him and Ajit Pawar.

This was the 82-year-old veteran politician's maiden visit to his home turf after Ajit Pawar joined the Eknath Shinde-led government on July 2.

MVA constituents Congress and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) had asked the NCP chief to clear the confusion such meetings between the uncle and nephew create in political circles.

"There is no confusion among MVA partners. We are all together and will ensure the INDIA meeting in Mumbai on August 31 and September 1 is organised successfully," Pawar said.

Pawar asked the media not to create more confusion by asking the same question.

"Myself, Uddhav Thackeray and state Congress president Nana Patole have taken the responsibility of organising the INDIA meeting in Mumbai," Pawar said.

The meeting will be held at a luxury hotel, he said.

The NCP has no association with "factions from MVA" which align with the BJP at the state and national and level, Pawar said, alluding to the move by his nephew.

Pawar said he is expecting to speak to NCP leader Nawab Malik, who was on Friday granted two months' interim bail by the Supreme Court in a money laundering case.

The Enforcement Directorate arrested the former minister on February 23 last year in a case registered over the Goawala compound property in Kurla, allegedly linked to gangster Dawood Ibrahim.

Malik is in judicial custody since March 2022 and was admitted at a private hospital in Kurla in May last year. He is still at the hospital.

BARAMATI: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Monday said there is no confusion within the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance over his meeting with nephew and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in Pune. "The MVA is united and we will successfully organise the next meeting of opposition bloc INDIA in Mumbai on August 31 and September 1," Pawar told reporters in Baramati. However, Pawar sidestepped a question on an editorial in Monday's issue of Sena (UBT) mouthpiece 'Saamana' expressing displeasure over the "frequent meetings" between him and Ajit Pawar.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); This was the 82-year-old veteran politician's maiden visit to his home turf after Ajit Pawar joined the Eknath Shinde-led government on July 2. MVA constituents Congress and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) had asked the NCP chief to clear the confusion such meetings between the uncle and nephew create in political circles. "There is no confusion among MVA partners. We are all together and will ensure the INDIA meeting in Mumbai on August 31 and September 1 is organised successfully," Pawar said. Pawar asked the media not to create more confusion by asking the same question. "Myself, Uddhav Thackeray and state Congress president Nana Patole have taken the responsibility of organising the INDIA meeting in Mumbai," Pawar said. The meeting will be held at a luxury hotel, he said. The NCP has no association with "factions from MVA" which align with the BJP at the state and national and level, Pawar said, alluding to the move by his nephew. Pawar said he is expecting to speak to NCP leader Nawab Malik, who was on Friday granted two months' interim bail by the Supreme Court in a money laundering case. The Enforcement Directorate arrested the former minister on February 23 last year in a case registered over the Goawala compound property in Kurla, allegedly linked to gangster Dawood Ibrahim. Malik is in judicial custody since March 2022 and was admitted at a private hospital in Kurla in May last year. He is still at the hospital.
By PTI

MUMBAI: Former Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik was on Monday discharged from a private hospital here, three days after the Supreme Court granted him interim bail for two months on medical grounds in a money laundering case.

One-and-a-half years after his arrest, Malik was discharged from the hospital in suburban Kurla, where he was undergoing treatment while being in judicial custody, at around 8 pm, his lawyers said.

Earlier in the day, a special court set his bail conditions, one of which barred him from talking to the media.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested the former state minister in February 2022 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in a case allegedly linked to fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and his associates.

The 64-year-old politician has been undergoing treatment at the private hospital since May 2022 for a kidney-related ailment.

The special court granted his release on a cash bond of Rs 50,000.

The other conditions imposed by the special court are that he shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat, or promises to any persons/witnesses acquainted with the facts of the case.

It also directed the accused to hand over his original passport to the ED, which is probing the case.

Malik shall not indulge in any criminal activities and provide all his details in respect of medical examination to the central agency, said the special court.

The Supreme Court had on Friday granted Malik interim bail for two months on medical grounds.

A bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi noted that the senior politician is in hospital for treatment of a kidney-related disease and other ailments.

"We are passing the order strictly on medical conditions and have not entered into the merits of the case," the bench had said while granting the interim bail.

Malik had sought relief from the Bombay High Court, claiming he was suffering from a chronic kidney disease apart from various other ailments.

He also sought bail on merit.

The HC, however, had rejected the NCP leader's plea for relief on medical grounds and is expected to hear his bail application on merit.

The ED's case against Malik is based on an FIR filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) against Ibrahim, a designated global terrorist and a key accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts, and his associates under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule, a key leader of the NCP faction led by party founder Sharad Pawar, hailed the interim bail granted to Malik as the "victory of truth".

"I came here to receive my brother. Satyamev Jayate!" Sule said outside the hospital, where Malik was admitted.

"I have always stressed that the arrest of Nawab Malik or former home minister Anil Deshmukh or Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut (both were arrested earlier and are now out on bail) was unfortunate. Finally, we got justice through the court," the Lok Sabha MP from Baramati told reporters.

Asked about Malik's daughter and brother meeting Deputy Chief Minister and rebel NCP leader Ajit Pawar a few days back, Sule said her visit to the hospital did not have any political angle.

Queried on Narendra Rane, an Ajit Pawar loyalist, asking several of his supporters to welcome Malik outside the hospital, Sule said she was not aware of it.

"When Anil Deshmukh was released (from jail in late 2022), I had come to receive him. Similarly, I have come here to receive Nawab bhai. Unfortunately, he had faced injustice and he tolerated it for a long time. The truth has finally come out via court. It is a big relief for all of us. It was a very difficult period for all of us," she said.

Sule said she had closely seen the suffering of family members of Malik and Deshmukh.

"The Supreme Court has finally given bail to Malik for two months. I hope it will get extended further. I am thankful to the court for giving him justice," she said.

MUMBAI: Former Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik was on Monday discharged from a private hospital here, three days after the Supreme Court granted him interim bail for two months on medical grounds in a money laundering case. One-and-a-half years after his arrest, Malik was discharged from the hospital in suburban Kurla, where he was undergoing treatment while being in judicial custody, at around 8 pm, his lawyers said. Earlier in the day, a special court set his bail conditions, one of which barred him from talking to the media.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested the former state minister in February 2022 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in a case allegedly linked to fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and his associates. The 64-year-old politician has been undergoing treatment at the private hospital since May 2022 for a kidney-related ailment. The special court granted his release on a cash bond of Rs 50,000. The other conditions imposed by the special court are that he shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat, or promises to any persons/witnesses acquainted with the facts of the case. It also directed the accused to hand over his original passport to the ED, which is probing the case. Malik shall not indulge in any criminal activities and provide all his details in respect of medical examination to the central agency, said the special court. The Supreme Court had on Friday granted Malik interim bail for two months on medical grounds. A bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi noted that the senior politician is in hospital for treatment of a kidney-related disease and other ailments. "We are passing the order strictly on medical conditions and have not entered into the merits of the case," the bench had said while granting the interim bail. Malik had sought relief from the Bombay High Court, claiming he was suffering from a chronic kidney disease apart from various other ailments. He also sought bail on merit. The HC, however, had rejected the NCP leader's plea for relief on medical grounds and is expected to hear his bail application on merit. The ED's case against Malik is based on an FIR filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) against Ibrahim, a designated global terrorist and a key accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts, and his associates under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule, a key leader of the NCP faction led by party founder Sharad Pawar, hailed the interim bail granted to Malik as the "victory of truth". "I came here to receive my brother. Satyamev Jayate!" Sule said outside the hospital, where Malik was admitted. "I have always stressed that the arrest of Nawab Malik or former home minister Anil Deshmukh or Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut (both were arrested earlier and are now out on bail) was unfortunate. Finally, we got justice through the court," the Lok Sabha MP from Baramati told reporters. Asked about Malik's daughter and brother meeting Deputy Chief Minister and rebel NCP leader Ajit Pawar a few days back, Sule said her visit to the hospital did not have any political angle. Queried on Narendra Rane, an Ajit Pawar loyalist, asking several of his supporters to welcome Malik outside the hospital, Sule said she was not aware of it. "When Anil Deshmukh was released (from jail in late 2022), I had come to receive him. Similarly, I have come here to receive Nawab bhai. Unfortunately, he had faced injustice and he tolerated it for a long time. The truth has finally come out via court. It is a big relief for all of us. It was a very difficult period for all of us," she said. Sule said she had closely seen the suffering of family members of Malik and Deshmukh. "The Supreme Court has finally given bail to Malik for two months. I hope it will get extended further. I am thankful to the court for giving him justice," she said.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday closed the contempt proceedings initiated by the Calcutta High Court against Andaman and Nicobar Islands Lt Governor D K Joshi and Chief Secretary Keshav Chandra for not complying with an earlier order on releasing monetary and other benefits to workers.

A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra granted the Andaman and Nicobar Islands administration time till November 30 to comply with the directions of the Calcutta High Court on payment of arrears and framing of a regularisation scheme for workers.

"With regard to the regularisation scheme, it has been stated that the enhanced wages shall be paid (to workers) from September 1, 2017, and it (UT administration) has requisitioned funds for the same," the bench noted.

The regularisation scheme shall be framed as per the statement made by the administration before the Calcutta High Court, it said.

"Now there is no merit in continuing with the contempt proceedings. Let compliance be completed by November 30. The contempt proceeding shall stand closed," the bench said.

On August 4, the top court stayed the order of the high court suspending Chief Secretary Keshav Chandra and imposing a fine of Rs 5 lakh on Lt Governor D K Joshi for not complying with an earlier order on releasing benefits to workers.

The high court had suspended Chandra and imposed a fine on the LG, which he had to bear from his own resources, for not complying with an earlier order on providing the benefits to workers.

An order passed on December 19 last year awarded higher pay and DA to nearly 4,000 Daily Rated Mazdoors (DRMs) employed by the island administration.

The order had come on a plea by the Andaman Sarvajanik Nirman Vibhag Mazdoor Sangh.

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday closed the contempt proceedings initiated by the Calcutta High Court against Andaman and Nicobar Islands Lt Governor D K Joshi and Chief Secretary Keshav Chandra for not complying with an earlier order on releasing monetary and other benefits to workers. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra granted the Andaman and Nicobar Islands administration time till November 30 to comply with the directions of the Calcutta High Court on payment of arrears and framing of a regularisation scheme for workers. "With regard to the regularisation scheme, it has been stated that the enhanced wages shall be paid (to workers) from September 1, 2017, and it (UT administration) has requisitioned funds for the same," the bench noted.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The regularisation scheme shall be framed as per the statement made by the administration before the Calcutta High Court, it said. "Now there is no merit in continuing with the contempt proceedings. Let compliance be completed by November 30. The contempt proceeding shall stand closed," the bench said. On August 4, the top court stayed the order of the high court suspending Chief Secretary Keshav Chandra and imposing a fine of Rs 5 lakh on Lt Governor D K Joshi for not complying with an earlier order on releasing benefits to workers. The high court had suspended Chandra and imposed a fine on the LG, which he had to bear from his own resources, for not complying with an earlier order on providing the benefits to workers. An order passed on December 19 last year awarded higher pay and DA to nearly 4,000 Daily Rated Mazdoors (DRMs) employed by the island administration. The order had come on a plea by the Andaman Sarvajanik Nirman Vibhag Mazdoor Sangh.
By PTI

CHANDIGARH: The body of a 55-year-old worker was pulled out of a 70-foot pit in Punjab's Jalandhar district on Monday afternoon, 45 hours after he got trapped in it, said officials.

The pit was dug to erect a pillar as part of the Delhi-Katra Expressway expressway project.

The incident took place on Saturday evening near Jalandhar's Basrampur village when Suresh, along with his co-worker Pawan, had entered the pit to free some part of the boring machine that got stuck underneath.

While Pawan came out, Suresh got trapped after earth fell on him, officials said.

The rescue operation started on Saturday evening and continued throughout Sunday and Monday.

The rescuers faced trouble in the operation soft earth continued to cave in as they dug deeper to reach Suresh.

A team of the National Disaster Response Force conducted the rescue operation. Earth excavation machines had been pressed into service. A medical team and an ambulance were also stationed at the site, officials said.

Immediately after Suresh was pulled out around 4 pm, he was taken in an ambulance to Jalandhar civil hospital where doctors declared him brought dead, the police said.

The body of the deceased, who hailed from Haryana's Jind, has been sent for post-mortem examination at the civil hospital.

An official of the National Highways Authority of India on Sunday said both the workers, having experience in the job, were sent into the pit with oxygen cylinders and protective gear.

All safety protocols were followed, he had said.

CHANDIGARH: The body of a 55-year-old worker was pulled out of a 70-foot pit in Punjab's Jalandhar district on Monday afternoon, 45 hours after he got trapped in it, said officials. The pit was dug to erect a pillar as part of the Delhi-Katra Expressway expressway project. The incident took place on Saturday evening near Jalandhar's Basrampur village when Suresh, along with his co-worker Pawan, had entered the pit to free some part of the boring machine that got stuck underneath.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); While Pawan came out, Suresh got trapped after earth fell on him, officials said. The rescue operation started on Saturday evening and continued throughout Sunday and Monday. The rescuers faced trouble in the operation soft earth continued to cave in as they dug deeper to reach Suresh. A team of the National Disaster Response Force conducted the rescue operation. Earth excavation machines had been pressed into service. A medical team and an ambulance were also stationed at the site, officials said. Immediately after Suresh was pulled out around 4 pm, he was taken in an ambulance to Jalandhar civil hospital where doctors declared him brought dead, the police said. The body of the deceased, who hailed from Haryana's Jind, has been sent for post-mortem examination at the civil hospital. An official of the National Highways Authority of India on Sunday said both the workers, having experience in the job, were sent into the pit with oxygen cylinders and protective gear. All safety protocols were followed, he had said.
The iPhone's emergency SOS feature reportedly helped rescue people trapped by fires on Hawaii's island of Maui, according to a viral tweet thread. Illustration: HuffPost; Photos: Reuters/Apple

During natural disasters and emergencies, you can lose cellular and Wi-Fi coverage just when you need it most.

But as a popular story on Twitter (now X) recently suggests, it can sometimes be possible to send messages to emergency responders with the help of a satellite if youre an iPhone user  even if you dont have a cellular connection.

Venture capitalist Michael J. Miraflor made a screenshot of an exchange between emergency responders and a family he knows that became stranded in the Maui wildfires. Miraflor said that Apple Emergency SOS was the only way they could get in contact with first responders.

In the text exchange Miraflor shared, a person shares their location in real-time with an emergency dispatcher while communicating: All buildings around us on fire ... visibility is zero. The emergency responder tells the person to hang on and put on the cars hazard lights. The text exchange ends with a confirmation to an emergency responder that the family is rescued.

My brothers girlfriends cousin and his family were caught in their vehicle in Maui while the wildfires suddenly erupted around them. No cell service, so Apple Emergency SOS was the only way they could get in contact with first responders. Literally saved their lives. 01:45 AM - 10 Aug 2023

This is not the first time Apples Emergency Text feature has reportedly been involved in a rescue. Since it became available to iPhone users in November 2022, people have been using it to text emergency services when phone calls are not possible.

In 2022, a man in Alaska activated it to get help when he was stranded on a snow machine without cellular service. This April, a group of stranded Utah hikers in a canyon used it to text emergency services when they could not call for help.

The canyon was about 500 feet deep of sheer rock walls, but about every 20 minutes, a satellite would line up where we were in the canyon, and by holding the phone up, we could get a signal where we could text 911 to Emery County, and that definitely saved our butts, one of the hikers described to Salt Lake Citys KUTV news station about the rescue.

Story continues

How Apples Emergency Text via satellite feature works.

If your emergency call to 911 fails because there is no cellular or Wi-Fi connection, iPhones 14 and up that have iOS 16.1 will prompt you to tap the Emergency Text feature.

From there, the iPhone will ask you to answer a few questions to describe your emergency to rescuers. You will be asked to select among options, such as car issue, fire, crime, or lost or trapped, and to describe any injuries.

Then, the iPhone will show you where in the sky to point your iPhone to connect to a satellite and send that initial message to emergency dispatchers who accept text messages or to relay centers staffed by Appletrained specialists who can call for help on the users behalf, according to Apples website.

The dispatcher will receive your responses and location, including altitude, phone battery level, and medical information if you have Medical ID enabled on your settings.

The transcript can also be shared with the iPhone users emergency contacts to keep them informed about whats happening.

Heres how to turn it on for yourself:

1. Go to Settings2. Tap Emergency SOS.3. Choose which way you want to activate Emergency SOS. You can select either Call with Hold and Release, Call with 5 Button Presses, or Call Quietly.

The Emergency SOS via satellite service is free for two years starting at the time of activation of a new iPhone 14 and up, and Apple has not shared how much the service will cost after that. This service is currently available in 14 countries, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Britain, and the United States.

For users with Android devices, the upcoming Snapdragon Satellite service is expected to help them send messages when no cellular signal is available.

Though you hope to never have to worry about using a feature like this, its good to learn how to use it. It just might save your life.

This post originally appeared on HuffPost.
Ejaz Kaiser By

Express News Service

RAIPUR: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday lashed out at the Modi-led Centre, saying BJPs action on everything remains Ram Bharose (at the mercy of God) as the saffron party has not fulfilled its promises. Kharge sounded the poll bugle in the Bharose Ka Sammelan, organised by the ruling Congress at Janjgir-Champa district which has a predominant scheduled caste (SC) population.

Chhattisgarh has 10 reserved SC seats but they have a say in around 45 out of the 90 constituencies of the state. Out of the 10 seats, the Congress has 7 MLAs, BJP two and BSP one legislator.

He said the BJP leaders know they cannot come to power in Chhattisgarh as the Bhupesh Baghel government has earned the Bharosa (trust) of the people. The BJP is desperately trying to scare Congress leaders and defame the Congress government through raids by the Enforcement Directorate, CBI and other agencies.

They did the same when our plenary session was held in Raipur early this year. But Congressmen cannot be intimidated by such acts and our party will win again with a massive mandate in Chhattisgarh, he stated.

The Congress president charged Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not breaking the silence on Manipur violence and said, It was under compulsion and left with no choice that we brought a no-confidence motion but Modi didnt speak out on the Manipur issue. Instead, he made fun of Congress.

The PM has insulted the people of Chhattisgarh by comparing the situation of Manipur violence and conflict with Chhattisgarh, which is a peaceful state witnessing good governance, Kharge said.

Addressing the event, CM Baghel said that the Congress government has worked for the growth and empowerment of the common people. Our government has put money in common peoples pockets to bring a real change for them and the state, he averred.

RAIPUR: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday lashed out at the Modi-led Centre, saying BJPs action on everything remains Ram Bharose (at the mercy of God) as the saffron party has not fulfilled its promises. Kharge sounded the poll bugle in the Bharose Ka Sammelan, organised by the ruling Congress at Janjgir-Champa district which has a predominant scheduled caste (SC) population. Chhattisgarh has 10 reserved SC seats but they have a say in around 45 out of the 90 constituencies of the state. Out of the 10 seats, the Congress has 7 MLAs, BJP two and BSP one legislator. He said the BJP leaders know they cannot come to power in Chhattisgarh as the Bhupesh Baghel government has earned the Bharosa (trust) of the people. The BJP is desperately trying to scare Congress leaders and defame the Congress government through raids by the Enforcement Directorate, CBI and other agencies.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); They did the same when our plenary session was held in Raipur early this year. But Congressmen cannot be intimidated by such acts and our party will win again with a massive mandate in Chhattisgarh, he stated. The Congress president charged Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not breaking the silence on Manipur violence and said, It was under compulsion and left with no choice that we brought a no-confidence motion but Modi didnt speak out on the Manipur issue. Instead, he made fun of Congress. The PM has insulted the people of Chhattisgarh by comparing the situation of Manipur violence and conflict with Chhattisgarh, which is a peaceful state witnessing good governance, Kharge said. Addressing the event, CM Baghel said that the Congress government has worked for the growth and empowerment of the common people. Our government has put money in common peoples pockets to bring a real change for them and the state, he averred.
By PTI

SHILLONG: An earthquake of 5.4 magnitude hit Meghalaya and the northern region of Bangladesh on Monday evening, officials said here.

There was no immediate report of any loss of life or damage to property, they said.

The earthquake took place at 8.19 pm, and the location was 49 km south-east of Cherrapunjee in Meghalaya, the National Center for Seismology said.

The depth of the quake was 16 km, it said.

"The epicenter was in Bangladesh, close to Dawki area of West Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya," said an official of the Regional Seismological Centre here.

The tremor was felt in all districts of Meghalaya and also in parts of Assam and West Bengal.

"We have not received any report of loss of life or damage to property," said an official of the disaster management authority here.

The northeastern states fall in the high seismic zone, and earthquakes frequently hit the region.

SHILLONG: An earthquake of 5.4 magnitude hit Meghalaya and the northern region of Bangladesh on Monday evening, officials said here. There was no immediate report of any loss of life or damage to property, they said. The earthquake took place at 8.19 pm, and the location was 49 km south-east of Cherrapunjee in Meghalaya, the National Center for Seismology said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The depth of the quake was 16 km, it said. "The epicenter was in Bangladesh, close to Dawki area of West Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya," said an official of the Regional Seismological Centre here. The tremor was felt in all districts of Meghalaya and also in parts of Assam and West Bengal. "We have not received any report of loss of life or damage to property," said an official of the disaster management authority here. The northeastern states fall in the high seismic zone, and earthquakes frequently hit the region.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday termed as "fake" and "ill-intended" a social media post exhorting the public to protest against authorities using a file photograph and falsely quoting Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud.

"We are trying our best to save the constitution of India, and the democracy of India, but your cooperation is also very important for this, all the people should unite and come out on the streets and ask the government about their rights. This dictatorial government will scare people, threaten them, but you don't have to be afraid, keep courage and ask the government to account, I am with you," reads the fake quote.

A press note issued by the apex court said no such post has been issued by the CJI nor has he authorised any such post.

"It has come to the notice of the Supreme Court of India that a social media post (urging the public to protest against authorities) using a file photograph and falsely quoting the Chief Justice India is being circulated," it said, adding, "The post is fake, ill-intended and mischievous."

It said appropriate action is being taken about it in consultation with the law enforcement authorities.

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday termed as "fake" and "ill-intended" a social media post exhorting the public to protest against authorities using a file photograph and falsely quoting Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud. "We are trying our best to save the constitution of India, and the democracy of India, but your cooperation is also very important for this, all the people should unite and come out on the streets and ask the government about their rights. This dictatorial government will scare people, threaten them, but you don't have to be afraid, keep courage and ask the government to account, I am with you," reads the fake quote. A press note issued by the apex court said no such post has been issued by the CJI nor has he authorised any such post.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "It has come to the notice of the Supreme Court of India that a social media post (urging the public to protest against authorities) using a file photograph and falsely quoting the Chief Justice India is being circulated," it said, adding, "The post is fake, ill-intended and mischievous." It said appropriate action is being taken about it in consultation with the law enforcement authorities.
Rajesh Asnani By

Express News Service

JAIPUR: In a surprising turn of events, the eagerly anticipated student union elections in Rajasthan, will not be held this year. The decision was reached during a crucial meeting held by the Higher Education Department on Saturday night.

This move follows recent indications from Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot suggesting his opposition to holding the elections in the state. Gehlot expressed concerns about the exorbitant spending by student candidates, likening it to the financial extravagance seen in legislative elections.

Today, students seem to be spending as if they are running for MLA-MP elections, remarked Chief Minister Gehlot. He raised questions about the sources of funding for these campaigns and the reasons behind the excessive financial outlay.

Gehlot further criticized certain student leaders who he believed were disregarding the recommendations put forth by the Lyngdoh Committee. He specifically cited the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and pointed to a recent incident involving ABVP members connected to raping a minor girl during their campaign for the student union elections in Jodhpur.

The Higher Education Department justified the decision to forego the elections by referring to concerns raised by university vice-chancellors. These academic leaders emphasized the misuse of financial resources and intimidation tactics in student union elections, which is against the recommendations of the Lyngdoh Committee. Additionally, it was feared that holding elections would disrupt the academic calendar and impede the implementation of the semester system under the NEP.

Protests have erupted in the state in response to the decision. Student leaders from all over the state condemned the cancellation and warned of escalating protests if the government does not reconsider and announce a new poll date. They held the government accountable for further unrest.

JAIPUR: In a surprising turn of events, the eagerly anticipated student union elections in Rajasthan, will not be held this year. The decision was reached during a crucial meeting held by the Higher Education Department on Saturday night. This move follows recent indications from Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot suggesting his opposition to holding the elections in the state. Gehlot expressed concerns about the exorbitant spending by student candidates, likening it to the financial extravagance seen in legislative elections. Today, students seem to be spending as if they are running for MLA-MP elections, remarked Chief Minister Gehlot. He raised questions about the sources of funding for these campaigns and the reasons behind the excessive financial outlay.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Gehlot further criticized certain student leaders who he believed were disregarding the recommendations put forth by the Lyngdoh Committee. He specifically cited the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and pointed to a recent incident involving ABVP members connected to raping a minor girl during their campaign for the student union elections in Jodhpur. The Higher Education Department justified the decision to forego the elections by referring to concerns raised by university vice-chancellors. These academic leaders emphasized the misuse of financial resources and intimidation tactics in student union elections, which is against the recommendations of the Lyngdoh Committee. Additionally, it was feared that holding elections would disrupt the academic calendar and impede the implementation of the semester system under the NEP. Protests have erupted in the state in response to the decision. Student leaders from all over the state condemned the cancellation and warned of escalating protests if the government does not reconsider and announce a new poll date. They held the government accountable for further unrest.
Yeshi Seli By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Exactly a month after Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and the President of UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan signed a Memorandum of Understanding on having trade in national currencies, the UAEs Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) made their first ever crude oil transaction in national currencies. The transaction involved the sale of one million barrels of oil.

"The first-ever crude oil transaction under the newly implemented Local Currency Settlement (LCS) took place on Monday between the ADNOC and IOCL. The transaction involved the sale of 1 million barrels of crude oil. Both Indian Rupee and UAE Dhirams were used in the transaction, according to the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi.

"Trade in local currencies is a very important aspect of India-UAE cooperation. It paves the way for enhanced economic collaboration and will make international financial interactions simpler, said PM Modi on July 15th.

UAE is one of Indias key partners in the oil and gas sector  which is significant for Indias energy security. Petroleum products form the bulk of trade between the two nations. UAE is the fourth largest source of crude oil and the second largest source of LNG and LPG for India. In 2022 $35.10 billion worth of petroleum products were traded between the two  which made up for 41.1 per cent of the total bilateral trade.

"This LCS and is expected to reduce transaction costs and time and increase reliance on local currencies. This will add to the preferential terms accruing from CEPA and traders can choose payment currency based on mutual agreement, the Indian Embassy statement added.

Mondays transaction is the second under LCS. The first one took place on July 15th the day the MoU was signed and involved the sale of 25 kg of gold from a leading UAE gold exporter (Peekay Intermark) to a buyer in India (YES Bank). This was valued at Rs 12.84 crore.

Meanwhile, the trade between the two nations rose to $85 billion in 2022, making the UAE Indias third-

largest trading partner for the year 2022-23 and Indias second-largest export destination. India is the UAEs second-largest trading partner. In February 2022, India became the first country with which the UAE signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Bilateral trade has increased by approximately 15 per cent since the entry into force of the CEPA on 1 May 2022.

NEW DELHI: Exactly a month after Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and the President of UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan signed a Memorandum of Understanding on having trade in national currencies, the UAEs Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) made their first ever crude oil transaction in national currencies. The transaction involved the sale of one million barrels of oil. "The first-ever crude oil transaction under the newly implemented Local Currency Settlement (LCS) took place on Monday between the ADNOC and IOCL. The transaction involved the sale of 1 million barrels of crude oil. Both Indian Rupee and UAE Dhirams were used in the transaction, according to the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi. "Trade in local currencies is a very important aspect of India-UAE cooperation. It paves the way for enhanced economic collaboration and will make international financial interactions simpler, said PM Modi on July 15th.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); UAE is one of Indias key partners in the oil and gas sector  which is significant for Indias energy security. Petroleum products form the bulk of trade between the two nations. UAE is the fourth largest source of crude oil and the second largest source of LNG and LPG for India. In 2022 $35.10 billion worth of petroleum products were traded between the two  which made up for 41.1 per cent of the total bilateral trade. "This LCS and is expected to reduce transaction costs and time and increase reliance on local currencies. This will add to the preferential terms accruing from CEPA and traders can choose payment currency based on mutual agreement, the Indian Embassy statement added. Mondays transaction is the second under LCS. The first one took place on July 15th the day the MoU was signed and involved the sale of 25 kg of gold from a leading UAE gold exporter (Peekay Intermark) to a buyer in India (YES Bank). This was valued at Rs 12.84 crore. Meanwhile, the trade between the two nations rose to $85 billion in 2022, making the UAE Indias third- largest trading partner for the year 2022-23 and Indias second-largest export destination. India is the UAEs second-largest trading partner. In February 2022, India became the first country with which the UAE signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Bilateral trade has increased by approximately 15 per cent since the entry into force of the CEPA on 1 May 2022.
By PTI

JAIPUR: Rajasthan Director General of Police Umesh Mishra on Monday said that police investigation did not find direct involvement of Bajrang Dal member and cow vigilante Monu Manesar in the killing of two men in Rajasthan in February.

He, however, said that Manesar's role in the "background" of the crime is still under investigation.

Monu Manesar, a prominent face in Haryana for cow vigilantism, is one of the 21 accused named in the FIR for the killing of Junaid (35) and Nasir (27).

The charred bodies of the two cousins were found in a vehicle in Haryana's Bhiwani on February 16.

He was also accused of making inflammatory remarks before the recent communal violence in Nuh in Haryana but he has denied any wrongdoing.

Addressing a press conference on Monday, DGP Mishra said, "I would also like to inform you that there is no direct involvement of Monu (Manesar) in this incident. In the background, his role is still being investigated."

On the cooperation from Haryana police in the case, he said the main issue is related to intelligence.

"We cannot say how much the Haryana police is supporting (us) in the case. It would not be appropriate to speak about it publicly. This is a fact that his (Monu Manesar's) role has not come to the fore."

"We have urged Haryana police for support in arresting the rest of the criminals," Mishra said.

The families of the Junaid and Nasir had alleged that they were kidnapped, beaten and murdered by members of the Bajrang Dal - a claim rejected by the outfit.

An FSL report had confirmed that the charred bodies were of Junaid and Nasir and blood stains found in a vehicle in which they were allegedly kidnapped also matched.

Six people, including two home guards and a cleric, had died in the recent clashes that erupted in Nuh over an attempt to stop a Vishva Hindu Parishad procession and spread to Gurugram.

JAIPUR: Rajasthan Director General of Police Umesh Mishra on Monday said that police investigation did not find direct involvement of Bajrang Dal member and cow vigilante Monu Manesar in the killing of two men in Rajasthan in February. He, however, said that Manesar's role in the "background" of the crime is still under investigation. Monu Manesar, a prominent face in Haryana for cow vigilantism, is one of the 21 accused named in the FIR for the killing of Junaid (35) and Nasir (27).googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The charred bodies of the two cousins were found in a vehicle in Haryana's Bhiwani on February 16. He was also accused of making inflammatory remarks before the recent communal violence in Nuh in Haryana but he has denied any wrongdoing. Addressing a press conference on Monday, DGP Mishra said, "I would also like to inform you that there is no direct involvement of Monu (Manesar) in this incident. In the background, his role is still being investigated." On the cooperation from Haryana police in the case, he said the main issue is related to intelligence. "We cannot say how much the Haryana police is supporting (us) in the case. It would not be appropriate to speak about it publicly. This is a fact that his (Monu Manesar's) role has not come to the fore." "We have urged Haryana police for support in arresting the rest of the criminals," Mishra said. The families of the Junaid and Nasir had alleged that they were kidnapped, beaten and murdered by members of the Bajrang Dal - a claim rejected by the outfit. An FSL report had confirmed that the charred bodies were of Junaid and Nasir and blood stains found in a vehicle in which they were allegedly kidnapped also matched. Six people, including two home guards and a cleric, had died in the recent clashes that erupted in Nuh over an attempt to stop a Vishva Hindu Parishad procession and spread to Gurugram.
Sudhir Suryawanshi By

Express News Service

MUMBAI: Maharashtra state health department issued the notification on Monday constituting the experts' committee to probe the death of 18 patients in civic-run Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Kalwa in Thane city. Thane is the home district of Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde.

According to the state health department, the committee has given the guidelines for the probe and asked it to submit the report by August 25.

On Sunday, in the last 24 hours, Eighteen patients died in civic-run Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Kalwa in Thane city. The hospitals said that most of the patients who died were either suffering from chronic diseases and were brought at eleventh hours to civic hospitals and most of them were aged.

The notifications read that the committee will have nine members and will be headed by the health department commissioner while Thane municipal commissioner, Thane district collector etc will be the member of this committee.

The committee will have given the sequence of events that happened in the hospital on that particular day. The measures taken and actions of the employees who worked in the ICU and normal wards were the 18 patients died. Fixing the responsibility if anyone of found guilty in the probe. Besides, submit factual reports about the current situations of the hospitals and available equipment. And, measures and recommendations to avoid such kind of incidents in hospitals. The committee can help from other departments, reads the notifications.

It further read that the committee should submit the probe report by August 25 to state government's health department.

The hospital staffer said that some of the patients who have died were already receiving treatment for various ailments including chronic kidney disease, pneumonia, kerosene poisoning, road accident and other reasons.

Meanwhile Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde on Monday called a meeting with Thane Municipal Commissioner Abhijeet Banger to review the situation.

MUMBAI: Maharashtra state health department issued the notification on Monday constituting the experts' committee to probe the death of 18 patients in civic-run Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Kalwa in Thane city. Thane is the home district of Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde. According to the state health department, the committee has given the guidelines for the probe and asked it to submit the report by August 25. On Sunday, in the last 24 hours, Eighteen patients died in civic-run Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Kalwa in Thane city. The hospitals said that most of the patients who died were either suffering from chronic diseases and were brought at eleventh hours to civic hospitals and most of them were aged. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The notifications read that the committee will have nine members and will be headed by the health department commissioner while Thane municipal commissioner, Thane district collector etc will be the member of this committee. The committee will have given the sequence of events that happened in the hospital on that particular day. The measures taken and actions of the employees who worked in the ICU and normal wards were the 18 patients died. Fixing the responsibility if anyone of found guilty in the probe. Besides, submit factual reports about the current situations of the hospitals and available equipment. And, measures and recommendations to avoid such kind of incidents in hospitals. The committee can help from other departments, reads the notifications. It further read that the committee should submit the probe report by August 25 to state government's health department. The hospital staffer said that some of the patients who have died were already receiving treatment for various ailments including chronic kidney disease, pneumonia, kerosene poisoning, road accident and other reasons. Meanwhile Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde on Monday called a meeting with Thane Municipal Commissioner Abhijeet Banger to review the situation.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The US is going to continue to expand its engagement with India to make it one of the most important relationships of the 21st century, influential US Congressman Ro Khanna said on Monday.

Currently on a visit to India, the Indian-American lawmaker said deeper cooperation between India and the US in areas of critical technologies and defence would be beneficial not only for the two countries but for the globe.

Khanna and Congressman Michael Waltz, the co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, are leading a Congressional delegation to India.

ALSO READ | US lawmakers to visit India, participate in PM's Red Fort address on Aug 15

"The India-US relationship has never been so stronger. It is building on defence cooperation, economic cooperation, technology cooperation, cooperation on climate," Khanna said.

The Congressman also described Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to the US as very successful.

"The prime minister's visit to the United States was a success. President (Joe) Biden comes here (India) in September. We are going to continue to make this one of the most important relationships of the 21st century," he said.

The lawmaker also hailed growing India-US cooperation in the maritime security domain.

"I am very pleased to see that the Indian Navy is doing exercises with the American Navy to make sure that the Arabian Sea is safe for free shipping lines," he added.

NEW DELHI: The US is going to continue to expand its engagement with India to make it one of the most important relationships of the 21st century, influential US Congressman Ro Khanna said on Monday. Currently on a visit to India, the Indian-American lawmaker said deeper cooperation between India and the US in areas of critical technologies and defence would be beneficial not only for the two countries but for the globe. Khanna and Congressman Michael Waltz, the co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, are leading a Congressional delegation to India.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); ALSO READ | US lawmakers to visit India, participate in PM's Red Fort address on Aug 15 "The India-US relationship has never been so stronger. It is building on defence cooperation, economic cooperation, technology cooperation, cooperation on climate," Khanna said. The Congressman also described Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to the US as very successful. "The prime minister's visit to the United States was a success. President (Joe) Biden comes here (India) in September. We are going to continue to make this one of the most important relationships of the 21st century," he said. The lawmaker also hailed growing India-US cooperation in the maritime security domain. "I am very pleased to see that the Indian Navy is doing exercises with the American Navy to make sure that the Arabian Sea is safe for free shipping lines," he added.
Preetha Nair By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Even as the Centre has proposed three new legislations to revamp the colonial-era criminal laws, the Criminal Law Reform Committee, which looked into the reform of the laws, faced severe criticism from several quarters for the ambiguity in its methodology and non-transparency after it was set up in May 2020.

The Home Ministry was also widely criticised by the legal fraternity for setting up a private committee, bypassing the law commission and criminal law experts, and entrusting the job to academics. Despite demands from stakeholders, the committee also has not made the report of public consultations available on its website, experts pointed out.

The panel, constituted during the Covid-19 lockdown, had drawn flak from several retired judges, bureaucrats and women activists, who flagged the lack of transparency, representation of women, and marginalised castes and minorities. After facing flak, the panel later included a female member.

Many have also expressed concerns over the committees time limit to propose the reforms. The first five law commissions took more than 10 years to change one-third of the CrPC. Thomas Babington Macaulay, who chaired the first law commission, had drafted the IPC in 1837, more than two decades before it became law.

Though Prof Ranbir Singh (former VC of National Law University, Delhi) held the position as the chairperson of the committee initially, Prof Srikrishna Deva Rao replaced him later. Other members include NLU VC GS Bajpai, Balraj Chauhan of NLU Jabalpur, senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, former judge GP Thareja, Praveen Sinha and Dr Padmini Singh.

Legal experts including former SC Judge Madan Lokur, ex-Delhi HC Chief Justice AP Shah, and ex-judge RS Sodhi, wrote to the committee in July 2020.

We are concerned that, unlike previous efforts of similar magnitude, this committee does not consist of full-time members. The members continue to discharge their full professional commitments alongside their work on this committee, they pointed out.

Besides defining terrorism for the first time, the changes aimed at transforming the country's criminal justice system include provisions for maximum capital punishment for mob lynching, sexual assault of minors, maximum imprisonment of 20 years for all types of gangrape and community service as one of the punishments for first-time petty offences.

Congress calls for wider consultations

The Congress on Sunday called for wider consultations involving experts and the general public on the three legislations that seek to overhaul Indias criminal justice system.

In a statement, Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala said that on August 11, without any prior intimation, public consultation or inviting suggestions from legal experts and other stakeholders, the Modi government introduced three Bills from its black magic hat, thereby restructuring the entire criminal law apparatus in a clandestine, hidden and opaque manner.

In a detailed analysis, Surjewala said that Shah had lied and misled on many points.

"The introductory remarks of the Home Minister gave away the fact that Amit Shah is himself out of depth, ignorant and oblivious to the entire exercise," the Congress leader said.

"Other than some credit seeking and point scoring in desperation, a hidden exercise, away from the public glare or stakeholders' suggestions and wisdom, cannot serve the public purpose of reforming the criminal law structure of the country," Surjewala said.

After an extensive "scrutiny" of existing and proposed laws, he said the detailed definitions of terrorism and terrorist acts already exist since the time of Indira Gandhi and "the definition of terrorists in the IPC is an eyewash."

On the issue of FIR against mob lynching, claimed to be brought for the first time, he alleged that Shah has given a "huge concession" to mob lynchers.

"The BJP government has watered down the lowest punishment for mob lynching to seven years (under BNS, 2023), whereas the lowest punishment under IPC for such crime was life imprisonment," he claimed.

Surjewala claimed that the issue of sexual assault on minors, all provisions already exist and so does the punishment of 20 years for gang rape.

Shah had introduced the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Bill, 2023; Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) Bill, 2023; and Bharatiya Sakshya (BS) Bill, 2023 that will replace the Indian Penal Code, 1860, Criminal Procedure Act, 1898, and Indian Evidence Act, 1872, respectively.

Congress MP Manish Tewari has also called for wider consultations on the bills.

"Some of these Acts, especially CrPC, have state amendments - given that law and order is a state subject. Each provision in each of these enactments has been extensively litigated over the past 150-100 years and the interpretation of each provision has been settled by judicial pronouncements by the privy council, federal court, Supreme Court, various high courts and in some cases even by subordinate courts," Tewari said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

These bills have serious implications on the fundamental rights enshrined in Part -III of the Constitution of India especially the Golden Triangle of Rights - Article-14, 19 and 21, he asserted.

Former Congress leader Kapil Sibal also alleged that the government talks about ending colonial-era laws but wants to impose "dictatorship" through such legislation.

The Rajya Sabha MP and former law minister called on the government to take back the three bills, 1872, alleging that if such laws become a reality, they would "imperil the future" of the country.

(With additional inputs from PTI)

NEW DELHI: Even as the Centre has proposed three new legislations to revamp the colonial-era criminal laws, the Criminal Law Reform Committee, which looked into the reform of the laws, faced severe criticism from several quarters for the ambiguity in its methodology and non-transparency after it was set up in May 2020. The Home Ministry was also widely criticised by the legal fraternity for setting up a private committee, bypassing the law commission and criminal law experts, and entrusting the job to academics. Despite demands from stakeholders, the committee also has not made the report of public consultations available on its website, experts pointed out. The panel, constituted during the Covid-19 lockdown, had drawn flak from several retired judges, bureaucrats and women activists, who flagged the lack of transparency, representation of women, and marginalised castes and minorities. After facing flak, the panel later included a female member.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Many have also expressed concerns over the committees time limit to propose the reforms. The first five law commissions took more than 10 years to change one-third of the CrPC. Thomas Babington Macaulay, who chaired the first law commission, had drafted the IPC in 1837, more than two decades before it became law. Though Prof Ranbir Singh (former VC of National Law University, Delhi) held the position as the chairperson of the committee initially, Prof Srikrishna Deva Rao replaced him later. Other members include NLU VC GS Bajpai, Balraj Chauhan of NLU Jabalpur, senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, former judge GP Thareja, Praveen Sinha and Dr Padmini Singh. Legal experts including former SC Judge Madan Lokur, ex-Delhi HC Chief Justice AP Shah, and ex-judge RS Sodhi, wrote to the committee in July 2020. We are concerned that, unlike previous efforts of similar magnitude, this committee does not consist of full-time members. The members continue to discharge their full professional commitments alongside their work on this committee, they pointed out. Besides defining terrorism for the first time, the changes aimed at transforming the country's criminal justice system include provisions for maximum capital punishment for mob lynching, sexual assault of minors, maximum imprisonment of 20 years for all types of gangrape and community service as one of the punishments for first-time petty offences. Congress calls for wider consultations The Congress on Sunday called for wider consultations involving experts and the general public on the three legislations that seek to overhaul Indias criminal justice system. In a statement, Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala said that on August 11, without any prior intimation, public consultation or inviting suggestions from legal experts and other stakeholders, the Modi government introduced three Bills from its black magic hat, thereby restructuring the entire criminal law apparatus in a clandestine, hidden and opaque manner. In a detailed analysis, Surjewala said that Shah had lied and misled on many points. "The introductory remarks of the Home Minister gave away the fact that Amit Shah is himself out of depth, ignorant and oblivious to the entire exercise," the Congress leader said. "Other than some credit seeking and point scoring in desperation, a hidden exercise, away from the public glare or stakeholders' suggestions and wisdom, cannot serve the public purpose of reforming the criminal law structure of the country," Surjewala said. After an extensive "scrutiny" of existing and proposed laws, he said the detailed definitions of terrorism and terrorist acts already exist since the time of Indira Gandhi and "the definition of terrorists in the IPC is an eyewash." On the issue of FIR against mob lynching, claimed to be brought for the first time, he alleged that Shah has given a "huge concession" to mob lynchers. "The BJP government has watered down the lowest punishment for mob lynching to seven years (under BNS, 2023), whereas the lowest punishment under IPC for such crime was life imprisonment," he claimed. Surjewala claimed that the issue of sexual assault on minors, all provisions already exist and so does the punishment of 20 years for gang rape. Shah had introduced the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Bill, 2023; Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) Bill, 2023; and Bharatiya Sakshya (BS) Bill, 2023 that will replace the Indian Penal Code, 1860, Criminal Procedure Act, 1898, and Indian Evidence Act, 1872, respectively. Congress MP Manish Tewari has also called for wider consultations on the bills. "Some of these Acts, especially CrPC, have state amendments - given that law and order is a state subject. Each provision in each of these enactments has been extensively litigated over the past 150-100 years and the interpretation of each provision has been settled by judicial pronouncements by the privy council, federal court, Supreme Court, various high courts and in some cases even by subordinate courts," Tewari said on X, formerly known as Twitter. These bills have serious implications on the fundamental rights enshrined in Part -III of the Constitution of India especially the Golden Triangle of Rights - Article-14, 19 and 21, he asserted. Former Congress leader Kapil Sibal also alleged that the government talks about ending colonial-era laws but wants to impose "dictatorship" through such legislation. The Rajya Sabha MP and former law minister called on the government to take back the three bills, 1872, alleging that if such laws become a reality, they would "imperil the future" of the country. (With additional inputs from PTI)
Shahid Faridi By

Express News Service

Bharat Jodo Yatra-2

Rahul plans Oct 2 launch from Mahatmas birthplace

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi has decided to launch the second leg of his hugely successful Bharat Jodo Yatra. Sources said it will begin from Porbandar, the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, this October 2. The Yatra will start from Gujarat and pass through at least four poll-bound states  Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram -- before concluding at the holy Parshuram Kund in the Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh. So far, it is unclear if the Yatra will also touch Telangana, also scheduled for elections this December.

A team of top Congress leaders, including K C Venugopal and Jairam Ramesh, is finalising the route in consultation with Rahul Gandhi and leaders of the states the Yatra will pass through. Initially, the Yatra was to culminate at the Kamakhya Devi Temple at Guwahati. But since the Manipur turmoil has hit the entire northeast, the Yatra was extended to the regions other states to express solidarity with the people. The Bharat Jodo Yatra has been one of the most successful mass contact programmes the Congress party has undertaken in decades.

A part of the credit for the partys success in the Karnataka assembly election has been given to the Yatra, which went through the southern state for twenty-one days, touching scores of villages, towns and cities. On the lines of the first leg of the Yatra that went on for five months, the Bharat Jodo-2 is likely to go on for four months and end with the Parshuram Kund Mela, known as the Kumbh of the Northeast, attended by thousands from across the country on Makar Sankranti in January.

CWC reconstitution

Congress finds Udaipur Declaration tough to implement

The Congress partys Nav Sankalp (new resolve) declaration adopted at the Chintan Shivir in Udaipur on May 15, 2022, has become the biggest impediment to reconstituting the Congress Working Committee, the partys highest decision-making body. The party said in its Udaipur Declaration, It is in the organisations interest to limit the term of a position to five years so that new people get an opportunity. Not only this, taking into consideration the demographics of India, it is important to ensure that 50% of the office bearers in Congress Working Committee, Pradesh Congress Committees, District Congress Committees, Block Congress Committees and Mandal Congress Committees are below the age of 50.

Each of these units must also reflect social reality. Just and fair representation of Dalits, adivasis, backward classes, minorities and women should be ensured. The principle of one-person-one-post should be followed. According to sources, the party is finding it difficult to get suitable candidates under fifty for the CWC. Top party leaders have had many rounds of meetings on this subject, but the constitution of the CWC has been inordinately delayed.

The Udaipur Declaration had mandated that all the vacant positions at the Block, District, State and National level will be filled in the next 90 to 180 days It has been over eight months since Mallikarjun Kharge was elected as Congress president in October 2022 and five months since the AICC plenary at Raipur ratified his election and authorised him to nominate the CWC, but a decision is yet to be taken on the issue.

Bharat Jodo Yatra-2 Rahul plans Oct 2 launch from Mahatmas birthplacegoogletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi has decided to launch the second leg of his hugely successful Bharat Jodo Yatra. Sources said it will begin from Porbandar, the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, this October 2. The Yatra will start from Gujarat and pass through at least four poll-bound states  Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram -- before concluding at the holy Parshuram Kund in the Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh. So far, it is unclear if the Yatra will also touch Telangana, also scheduled for elections this December. A team of top Congress leaders, including K C Venugopal and Jairam Ramesh, is finalising the route in consultation with Rahul Gandhi and leaders of the states the Yatra will pass through. Initially, the Yatra was to culminate at the Kamakhya Devi Temple at Guwahati. But since the Manipur turmoil has hit the entire northeast, the Yatra was extended to the regions other states to express solidarity with the people. The Bharat Jodo Yatra has been one of the most successful mass contact programmes the Congress party has undertaken in decades. A part of the credit for the partys success in the Karnataka assembly election has been given to the Yatra, which went through the southern state for twenty-one days, touching scores of villages, towns and cities. On the lines of the first leg of the Yatra that went on for five months, the Bharat Jodo-2 is likely to go on for four months and end with the Parshuram Kund Mela, known as the Kumbh of the Northeast, attended by thousands from across the country on Makar Sankranti in January. CWC reconstitution Congress finds Udaipur Declaration tough to implement The Congress partys Nav Sankalp (new resolve) declaration adopted at the Chintan Shivir in Udaipur on May 15, 2022, has become the biggest impediment to reconstituting the Congress Working Committee, the partys highest decision-making body. The party said in its Udaipur Declaration, It is in the organisations interest to limit the term of a position to five years so that new people get an opportunity. Not only this, taking into consideration the demographics of India, it is important to ensure that 50% of the office bearers in Congress Working Committee, Pradesh Congress Committees, District Congress Committees, Block Congress Committees and Mandal Congress Committees are below the age of 50. Each of these units must also reflect social reality. Just and fair representation of Dalits, adivasis, backward classes, minorities and women should be ensured. The principle of one-person-one-post should be followed. According to sources, the party is finding it difficult to get suitable candidates under fifty for the CWC. Top party leaders have had many rounds of meetings on this subject, but the constitution of the CWC has been inordinately delayed. The Udaipur Declaration had mandated that all the vacant positions at the Block, District, State and National level will be filled in the next 90 to 180 days It has been over eight months since Mallikarjun Kharge was elected as Congress president in October 2022 and five months since the AICC plenary at Raipur ratified his election and authorised him to nominate the CWC, but a decision is yet to be taken on the issue.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to examine a plea by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy against an order of the Madras High Court which allowed a firm to proceed with a defamation suit against him before the Singapore High Court.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Dipankar Datta issued notice to Advantage Strategic Consulting Pvt Ltd on the appeal filed by Swamy.

The matter has now been posted for hearing after six weeks.

Swamy has moved the top court against the April 18 order of a division bench of the high court which set aside an interim injunction granted against the company by a single judge in 2014.

The matter relates to Swamy's press meeting in New Delhi on April 26, 2012, during which he had reportedly commented on the alleged irregularities in the 2G spectrum allocation and the Aircel-Maxis deal.

Advantage Strategic Consulting Private Limited had taken exception to the allegations and issued a legal notice to him.

Later, its Singapore subsidiary of the same name initiated the impugned defamation proceedings in the Singapore High Court.

Swamy had filed a contempt of court petition in the top court, saying he could not be dragged to courts for having filed 2G-related cases in the apex court.

The petition was dismissed on September 10, 2013.

The UPA 2 government led by Manmohan Singh was rocked by a major scandal involving a presumptive loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore in the allocation of 122 2G (second generation) spectrum licences to telecom companies.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had pulled up the government for allocating the licences at old prices and without following the profitable competitive bidding process.

All the accused in the case, including the then telecommunications minister A Raja and DMK MP Kanimozhi were, however, acquitted in the case in December 2017 by a special court in Delhi which said the prosecution failed to prove the charges against them beyond reasonable doubt.

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to examine a plea by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy against an order of the Madras High Court which allowed a firm to proceed with a defamation suit against him before the Singapore High Court. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Dipankar Datta issued notice to Advantage Strategic Consulting Pvt Ltd on the appeal filed by Swamy. The matter has now been posted for hearing after six weeks.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Swamy has moved the top court against the April 18 order of a division bench of the high court which set aside an interim injunction granted against the company by a single judge in 2014. The matter relates to Swamy's press meeting in New Delhi on April 26, 2012, during which he had reportedly commented on the alleged irregularities in the 2G spectrum allocation and the Aircel-Maxis deal. Advantage Strategic Consulting Private Limited had taken exception to the allegations and issued a legal notice to him. Later, its Singapore subsidiary of the same name initiated the impugned defamation proceedings in the Singapore High Court. Swamy had filed a contempt of court petition in the top court, saying he could not be dragged to courts for having filed 2G-related cases in the apex court. The petition was dismissed on September 10, 2013. The UPA 2 government led by Manmohan Singh was rocked by a major scandal involving a presumptive loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore in the allocation of 122 2G (second generation) spectrum licences to telecom companies. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had pulled up the government for allocating the licences at old prices and without following the profitable competitive bidding process. All the accused in the case, including the then telecommunications minister A Raja and DMK MP Kanimozhi were, however, acquitted in the case in December 2017 by a special court in Delhi which said the prosecution failed to prove the charges against them beyond reasonable doubt.
By Express News Service

KOLKATA: The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Monday sought a report from the Jadavpur University authorities on its finding in the death of a first-year student who is said to be a victim of alleged ragging by seniors.

The UGC's anti-ragging cell asked the university authorities to submit the report by August 21. Following receipt of the report, the UGC will dispatch a team of its anti-ragging cell to conduct an on-the-ground inquiry, said a JU official.

The UGC, in its communication, has provided a format that the university must follow while submitting the report. According to the format, the institution must provide information on its anti-ragging committees inquiry and the conclusion it reached.

The central governments statutory body, in its format, asked the university authorities to mention the CCTVs installed on the campus covering the hostels for its students. It is a fact that there were no CCTVs where the incident took place. But in the UGC guideline, installation of CCTVs was clearly mentioned, said another JU official.

After visiting the campus on Sunday, joint commissioner of police Shankhashubhra Chatterjee admitted that the CCTVs were not present and there were a few that were not functional.

Swapnodeep Kundu, a resident of Bagula in Nadia, was found lying naked on the ground in front of the building that houses his hostel room on the second floor on Thursday last week. The student, who is yet to turn 18, was rushed to a private hospital in an unconscious condition where he succumbed to his injuries.

ALSO READ | Two more students arrested in first-year student's death in Jadavpur University

The West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR) visited the family of the deceased on Sunday and said brutal torture and sexual assault were performed on the victim.

Police already arrested three persons, a former student and two second-year students, in connection with Swapnodeeps death. His family lodged a complaint alleging that the student was ragged and murdered by senior students.

The Commission for Child Protection Rights, too, served a notice on the university asking it to inform the measures that were taken to prevent ragging.

On Monday, the heat of the unnatural death of a student in Kolkata's one of the premiere institutions spread to other parts of the state capital as students of other institutions staged demonstrations.

The students of Aliah University in Park Circus staged a demonstration in protest against Swapnodeeps death. The activists of SFI, the student wing of the CPM, put up a roadblock in front of Jadavpur University.

KOLKATA: The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Monday sought a report from the Jadavpur University authorities on its finding in the death of a first-year student who is said to be a victim of alleged ragging by seniors. The UGC's anti-ragging cell asked the university authorities to submit the report by August 21. Following receipt of the report, the UGC will dispatch a team of its anti-ragging cell to conduct an on-the-ground inquiry, said a JU official. The UGC, in its communication, has provided a format that the university must follow while submitting the report. According to the format, the institution must provide information on its anti-ragging committees inquiry and the conclusion it reached.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The central governments statutory body, in its format, asked the university authorities to mention the CCTVs installed on the campus covering the hostels for its students. It is a fact that there were no CCTVs where the incident took place. But in the UGC guideline, installation of CCTVs was clearly mentioned, said another JU official. After visiting the campus on Sunday, joint commissioner of police Shankhashubhra Chatterjee admitted that the CCTVs were not present and there were a few that were not functional. Swapnodeep Kundu, a resident of Bagula in Nadia, was found lying naked on the ground in front of the building that houses his hostel room on the second floor on Thursday last week. The student, who is yet to turn 18, was rushed to a private hospital in an unconscious condition where he succumbed to his injuries. ALSO READ | Two more students arrested in first-year student's death in Jadavpur University The West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR) visited the family of the deceased on Sunday and said brutal torture and sexual assault were performed on the victim. Police already arrested three persons, a former student and two second-year students, in connection with Swapnodeeps death. His family lodged a complaint alleging that the student was ragged and murdered by senior students. The Commission for Child Protection Rights, too, served a notice on the university asking it to inform the measures that were taken to prevent ragging. On Monday, the heat of the unnatural death of a student in Kolkata's one of the premiere institutions spread to other parts of the state capital as students of other institutions staged demonstrations. The students of Aliah University in Park Circus staged a demonstration in protest against Swapnodeeps death. The activists of SFI, the student wing of the CPM, put up a roadblock in front of Jadavpur University.
Mukesh Ranjan By

Express News Service

RANCHI: Responding to the summon issued against him in land scam case, Chief Minister Hemant Soren has asked Enforcement Directorate (ED) to withdraw it or he will take action against the central agency.

Notably, Soren was issued a notice by ED asking him to appear before it on August 14 for questioning in a land scam case but he skipped it.

Staff from the Chief Ministers Office reached the ED office and handed over a sealed envelope, sent by Soren, to the ED officials. ED sources informed that Soren in his letter said that he has provided all necessary documents and information to the Lokpal and CBI; if ED needs any information, it can get them from these agencies.

Soren also has made allegations that ED summoned him on August 14 in a land scam case, on the instructions of its political masters, they informed. Notably, CM Hemant Soren was summoned be ED for the second time for questioning, this time in a land scam case, and was asked to appear for questioning at its zonal office in Ranchi on August 14.

Earlier, Soren was grilled by ED for about 10 hours on November 18, 2022, in an illegal mining case. Incidentally, Soren was summoned after arresting of Bishnu Kumar Agrawal on August 1, a well-known businessman who owns shopping malls and other business establishments and was termed by ED as being habitually involved in acquiring land in a fraudulent and illegal manner in connivance with the government officials, including former Ranchi deputy commissioner Chhavi Ranjan.

Notably, Agrawal is the 13th person, including IAS and former Ranchi DC Chhavi Ranjan, to have been arrested by ED as part of its money laundering probe related to allegedly fraudulent sale-purchase of land in the state capital.

Earlier, ED carried out 41 searches and 5 surveys in this matter during which, several pieces of incriminating evidence like forged seals of the land revenue department, forged land deeds, records of the distribution of proceeds of crime among them, photographs doing forgery, evidence of giving bribe to Government officials etc, were seized. Investigation revealed that a racket of land mafia is active in Jharkhand which used to forge the legacy records in Kolkata and Ranchi.

Meanwhile, the ED has provisionally attached two land parcels worth Rs. 74.39 Crore in an Army land scam case in Ranchi. According to officials, a money laundering investigation was initiated on the basis of an FIR registered at Bariatu Police Station in Ranchi under various sections of IPC against Pradip Bagchi based on a complaint of Ranchi Municipal Corporation.

RANCHI: Responding to the summon issued against him in land scam case, Chief Minister Hemant Soren has asked Enforcement Directorate (ED) to withdraw it or he will take action against the central agency. Notably, Soren was issued a notice by ED asking him to appear before it on August 14 for questioning in a land scam case but he skipped it. Staff from the Chief Ministers Office reached the ED office and handed over a sealed envelope, sent by Soren, to the ED officials. ED sources informed that Soren in his letter said that he has provided all necessary documents and information to the Lokpal and CBI; if ED needs any information, it can get them from these agencies.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Soren also has made allegations that ED summoned him on August 14 in a land scam case, on the instructions of its political masters, they informed. Notably, CM Hemant Soren was summoned be ED for the second time for questioning, this time in a land scam case, and was asked to appear for questioning at its zonal office in Ranchi on August 14. Earlier, Soren was grilled by ED for about 10 hours on November 18, 2022, in an illegal mining case. Incidentally, Soren was summoned after arresting of Bishnu Kumar Agrawal on August 1, a well-known businessman who owns shopping malls and other business establishments and was termed by ED as being habitually involved in acquiring land in a fraudulent and illegal manner in connivance with the government officials, including former Ranchi deputy commissioner Chhavi Ranjan. Notably, Agrawal is the 13th person, including IAS and former Ranchi DC Chhavi Ranjan, to have been arrested by ED as part of its money laundering probe related to allegedly fraudulent sale-purchase of land in the state capital. Earlier, ED carried out 41 searches and 5 surveys in this matter during which, several pieces of incriminating evidence like forged seals of the land revenue department, forged land deeds, records of the distribution of proceeds of crime among them, photographs doing forgery, evidence of giving bribe to Government officials etc, were seized. Investigation revealed that a racket of land mafia is active in Jharkhand which used to forge the legacy records in Kolkata and Ranchi. Meanwhile, the ED has provisionally attached two land parcels worth Rs. 74.39 Crore in an Army land scam case in Ranchi. According to officials, a money laundering investigation was initiated on the basis of an FIR registered at Bariatu Police Station in Ranchi under various sections of IPC against Pradip Bagchi based on a complaint of Ranchi Municipal Corporation.
T Muruganandham By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: CHENNAI: After back-to-back suicides by a NEET aspirant and his father in Chennai on Sunday, Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday expressed his deep grief and lambasted Governor RN Ravi for making pro-NEET remarks a few days ago.

Stalin also said he would boycott the At-Home Reception to be hosted by the governor on Independence Day at the Raj Bhavan and shot off a letter to President Draupadi Murmu asking her to give assent to the NEET Exemption Bill passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly immediately to avoid loss of lives in the state.

The boycott is to condemn the governors remarks on the NEET Bill, delay in giving assent to the bills enacted by the assembly, and for creating confusion in the higher education departments and universities, Stalin said. Hinting at the 2024 Lok Sabha poll, the DMK leader said,

When the political change we strive for happens in a few months, the NEET wall will collapse and those who said they would not give assent to the anti-NEET Bill will vanish. Hours after the CMs statement, a Raj Bhavan press release said the event has been postponed due to rain forecast.

Delay in giving assent has lead to numerous student deaths: Stalin

The I-Day reception has been postponed as the main lawns in Raj Bhavan are flooded due to incessant heavy in and around the Guindy area. The meteorological department has also said thundershowers and rains will continue on August 15, the Raj Bhavan said.

The CM, in his letter to the President, pointed out that the NEET Exemption Bill is the outcome of legislative consensus, stemming from the collective will of the people of Tamil Nadu. The state government has already offered the clarifications sought by the union ministries of home affairs, health, and Ayush with regard to the bill, the letter said.

But our bill has not been given assent till now and this has caused immense anxiety in the minds of students and parents. Because of the delay, there have been several sad incidents of students (or their parents) dying by suicide. So far, 16 students had ended their lives due to NEEeeT, the CM said. Stalin said NEEeeT could be cleared only by those who get coaching by paying lakhs of rupees to private coaching centres.

Those who cannot afford to pay huge sums are unable to clear the exam. Also, those who clear NEEeeT with fewer marks can join medical colleges only by paying money. In a nutshell, it is clear that only the rich can have medical education (under NEEeeT). The CM also explained that students from poor economic backgrounds are entering medical colleges only through the 7.5% reservation offered for government school students.

The governor either fails to understand this fact or refuses to understand. His remarks have raised suspicions as to whether the governor is acting as a puppet in the hands of coaching centres, the CM said. The CM also recalled how the father of a Salem student posed questions about NEEeeT to the governor. But the governor who couldnt answer him directly said he would not give his assent to the bill.

This shows his ignorance since the bill is now before the President and he has no say on it anymore. DMK allies the Congress, CPM, CPI and the VCK too said they would also boycott the governors reception. This is the second time the DMK and its allies are boycotting the governors event. Top government officials, including the chief secretary, DGP and senior IAS officers too boycotted the event last year.

ALSO READ | 19-year-old fails to clear NEET twice, ends life

ALSO READ | Chennai: Father of NEET aspirant who died by suicide kills self

CHENNAI: CHENNAI: After back-to-back suicides by a NEET aspirant and his father in Chennai on Sunday, Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday expressed his deep grief and lambasted Governor RN Ravi for making pro-NEET remarks a few days ago. Stalin also said he would boycott the At-Home Reception to be hosted by the governor on Independence Day at the Raj Bhavan and shot off a letter to President Draupadi Murmu asking her to give assent to the NEET Exemption Bill passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly immediately to avoid loss of lives in the state. The boycott is to condemn the governors remarks on the NEET Bill, delay in giving assent to the bills enacted by the assembly, and for creating confusion in the higher education departments and universities, Stalin said. Hinting at the 2024 Lok Sabha poll, the DMK leader said,googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); When the political change we strive for happens in a few months, the NEET wall will collapse and those who said they would not give assent to the anti-NEET Bill will vanish. Hours after the CMs statement, a Raj Bhavan press release said the event has been postponed due to rain forecast. Delay in giving assent has lead to numerous student deaths: Stalin The I-Day reception has been postponed as the main lawns in Raj Bhavan are flooded due to incessant heavy in and around the Guindy area. The meteorological department has also said thundershowers and rains will continue on August 15, the Raj Bhavan said. The CM, in his letter to the President, pointed out that the NEET Exemption Bill is the outcome of legislative consensus, stemming from the collective will of the people of Tamil Nadu. The state government has already offered the clarifications sought by the union ministries of home affairs, health, and Ayush with regard to the bill, the letter said. But our bill has not been given assent till now and this has caused immense anxiety in the minds of students and parents. Because of the delay, there have been several sad incidents of students (or their parents) dying by suicide. So far, 16 students had ended their lives due to NEEeeT, the CM said. Stalin said NEEeeT could be cleared only by those who get coaching by paying lakhs of rupees to private coaching centres. Those who cannot afford to pay huge sums are unable to clear the exam. Also, those who clear NEEeeT with fewer marks can join medical colleges only by paying money. In a nutshell, it is clear that only the rich can have medical education (under NEEeeT). The CM also explained that students from poor economic backgrounds are entering medical colleges only through the 7.5% reservation offered for government school students. The governor either fails to understand this fact or refuses to understand. His remarks have raised suspicions as to whether the governor is acting as a puppet in the hands of coaching centres, the CM said. The CM also recalled how the father of a Salem student posed questions about NEEeeT to the governor. But the governor who couldnt answer him directly said he would not give his assent to the bill. This shows his ignorance since the bill is now before the President and he has no say on it anymore. DMK allies the Congress, CPM, CPI and the VCK too said they would also boycott the governors reception. This is the second time the DMK and its allies are boycotting the governors event. Top government officials, including the chief secretary, DGP and senior IAS officers too boycotted the event last year. ALSO READ | 19-year-old fails to clear NEET twice, ends life ALSO READ | Chennai: Father of NEET aspirant who died by suicide kills self
By Online Desk

On Sunday, Britain updated its travel advisory warning its citizens going to Sweden of possible terrorist attacks in the wake of recent Koran burnings in the country.

In a statement, the British Foreign Ministry said that the Swedish authorities had disrupted some planned attacks.

The statement read, "You should be vigilant at this time...terrorists are very likely to carry out attacks in Sweden". The ministry also warned that the potential targets include popular tourist spots.

In Sweden, people can burn religious scriptures, and books as it comes under free speech rules in the country and such incidents have been going on in Sweden for the last two months.

ALSO READ | Why does Sweden allow Quran burnings? Like much of West, it has no blasphemy laws

This has sparked international tensions between Sweden and various Muslim majority nations like Iraq and Iran, and Turkey, where a Swedish Consulate staff was shot.

Responding to UK's changed travel advice, Sweden's national security adviser Henrik Landerhol stated that the threats against Sweden has increased since the Koran burning incidents.

As quoted by Reuters, he also said that the storming of Sweden's Embassy in Iraq on July 19 as well as an attempted attack on its embassy in Lebanon earlier this month contributed to the risk assessment.

Following the unrest after Koran burnings, the United Nations Human Rights Council has condemned the incidents and has approved a resolution on religious hatred and bigotry.

On Sunday, Britain updated its travel advisory warning its citizens going to Sweden of possible terrorist attacks in the wake of recent Koran burnings in the country. In a statement, the British Foreign Ministry said that the Swedish authorities had disrupted some planned attacks. The statement read, "You should be vigilant at this time...terrorists are very likely to carry out attacks in Sweden". The ministry also warned that the potential targets include popular tourist spots.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); In Sweden, people can burn religious scriptures, and books as it comes under free speech rules in the country and such incidents have been going on in Sweden for the last two months. ALSO READ | Why does Sweden allow Quran burnings? Like much of West, it has no blasphemy laws This has sparked international tensions between Sweden and various Muslim majority nations like Iraq and Iran, and Turkey, where a Swedish Consulate staff was shot. Responding to UK's changed travel advice, Sweden's national security adviser Henrik Landerhol stated that the threats against Sweden has increased since the Koran burning incidents. As quoted by Reuters, he also said that the storming of Sweden's Embassy in Iraq on July 19 as well as an attempted attack on its embassy in Lebanon earlier this month contributed to the risk assessment. Following the unrest after Koran burnings, the United Nations Human Rights Council has condemned the incidents and has approved a resolution on religious hatred and bigotry.
By Associated Press

NIAMEY: Nigers mutinous soldiers say they will prosecute deposed President Mohamed Bazoum for high treason and undermining state security, in an announcement hours after the junta said they were open to dialogue with West African nations to resolve the mounting regional crisis.

If found guilty, Bazoum could face the death penalty, according to Nigers penal code.

Spokesman Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane said on state television Sunday night the military regime had gathered the necessary evidence to prosecute before competent national and international authorities the ousted president and his local and foreign accomplices for high treason and for undermining the internal and external security of Niger.

The announcement gave no precise details on the allegations nor the circumstances or date of a trial.

Nigers democratically elected president, Bazoum was ousted by members of his presidential guard on July 26 and has since been under house arrest with his wife and son in the presidential compound in the capital, Niamey.

People close to the president as well as those in his ruling party say the family's electricity and water have been cut off and theyre running out of food. The junta dismissed these reports Sunday night and accused West African politicians and international partners of fueling a disinformation campaign to discredit the junta.

ALSO READ | India issues advisory asking its citizens in Niger to leave the country at the earliest

International pressure is growing on the junta to release and reinstate Bazoum. Immediately after the coup, the West African regional bloc ECOWAS gave the regime seven days to return him to power or threatened military force, but that deadline came and went with no action from either side.

Last week, ECOWAS ordered the deployment of a standby force, but its still unclear when or if it would enter the country. The African Union Peace and Security Council is meeting on Monday to discuss Niger's crisis and could overrule the decision if it felt that wider peace and security on the continent was threatened by an intervention.

But as time drags on there's growing uncertainty as mixed messages mount.

On Sunday evening, before the military accused Bazoum of treason, a member of the juntas communication team told journalists that the regime had approved talks with ECOWAS, which would take place in the coming days. That same day a mediation team of Islamic scholars from neighboring Nigeria who had met with the junta on the weekend, said the regime was open to dialogue with ECOWAS.

Previous attempts by ECOWAS to speak with the junta have floundered, with its delegations being barred from entering the country.

The newfound openness to talks could be a result of ECOWAS pressure, including severe economic and travel sanctions, which are already taking a toll on the impoverished countrys some 25 million people, but it doesnt mean theyll go anywhere, say Sahel experts.

Lets see what these negotiations actually look like, because its also in the junta's benefit to in the least entertain talks, that doesnt mean theyll be serious about them, said Aneliese Bernard, a former U.S. State Department official who specialized in African affairs and is now director of Strategic Stabilization Advisors, a risk advisory group.

But while talk of dialogue ensues, so is military mobilization.

In a memo by Senegal's security forces dated Aug. 11, seen by The Associated Press, it ordered troops to start moving from bases in Senegal on Monday as part of its contribution to the ECOWAS mission in Niger. It was unclear how many troops would move or where they were going.

In the weeks since the coup, the junta has entrenched itself in power, appointing a new government and leveraging anti-French sentiment against its former colonial ruler to shore up support among the population, creating a tense environment for locals who oppose the junta as well as many foreigners and journalists.

In a statement Sunday, the board of directors for the Press House, an independent Nigerien organization that protects journalists, said local and international media were being threatened, and intimidated by Nigerien activists who support the junta and was deeply concerned about the very difficult climate they were operating in.

ALSO READ | Tensions rise as West African nations prepare to send troops to restore democracy in Niger

Since the coup, jihadi violence is also rising. Niger was seen by Western nations as one of the last democratic countries in the Sahel region it could partner with to beat back growing jihadi violence linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. France and the United States and other European countries have poured hundreds of millions of dollars into propping up Nigers military. Since the coup, France and the United States have suspended military operations.

On Sunday, Nigerien security forces were ambushed by fighters believed to be with the Islamic State group who attacked them on a dozen motorcycles, according to a security report for aid groups seen by AP.

This combined with another attack last week claimed by the al-Qaida linked group known as NJIM, signify a new phase of the conflict where groups are trying to consolidate power and it's largely a consequence of the suspended military operations, said Wassim Nasr, a journalist and senior research fellow at the Soufan Center, told The Associated Press.

This is due to the halting of cooperation and the military being busy with consolidating their coup in Niamey, he said. It's also a result of cutting communication and dialogue attempts with some jihadi groups, which had been established under Bazoum, he said.

A former jihadi, Boubacar Moussa, told AP that since the coup he's received multiple phone calls from active jihadis saying they have been celebrating the chaos and greater freedom of movement since the coup.

Moussa is part of a nationwide program that encourages jihadi fighters to defect and reintegrate into society, however, it's unclear if that program will continue under the military regime. As the situation evolves he believes jihadis will take advantage of the security gap and launch new attacks.

ALSO READ | How the attempted coup in Niger could expand the reach of extremism, and Wagner, in West Africa

NIAMEY: Nigers mutinous soldiers say they will prosecute deposed President Mohamed Bazoum for high treason and undermining state security, in an announcement hours after the junta said they were open to dialogue with West African nations to resolve the mounting regional crisis. If found guilty, Bazoum could face the death penalty, according to Nigers penal code. Spokesman Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane said on state television Sunday night the military regime had gathered the necessary evidence to prosecute before competent national and international authorities the ousted president and his local and foreign accomplices for high treason and for undermining the internal and external security of Niger.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The announcement gave no precise details on the allegations nor the circumstances or date of a trial. Nigers democratically elected president, Bazoum was ousted by members of his presidential guard on July 26 and has since been under house arrest with his wife and son in the presidential compound in the capital, Niamey. People close to the president as well as those in his ruling party say the family's electricity and water have been cut off and theyre running out of food. The junta dismissed these reports Sunday night and accused West African politicians and international partners of fueling a disinformation campaign to discredit the junta. ALSO READ | India issues advisory asking its citizens in Niger to leave the country at the earliest International pressure is growing on the junta to release and reinstate Bazoum. Immediately after the coup, the West African regional bloc ECOWAS gave the regime seven days to return him to power or threatened military force, but that deadline came and went with no action from either side. Last week, ECOWAS ordered the deployment of a standby force, but its still unclear when or if it would enter the country. The African Union Peace and Security Council is meeting on Monday to discuss Niger's crisis and could overrule the decision if it felt that wider peace and security on the continent was threatened by an intervention. But as time drags on there's growing uncertainty as mixed messages mount. On Sunday evening, before the military accused Bazoum of treason, a member of the juntas communication team told journalists that the regime had approved talks with ECOWAS, which would take place in the coming days. That same day a mediation team of Islamic scholars from neighboring Nigeria who had met with the junta on the weekend, said the regime was open to dialogue with ECOWAS. Previous attempts by ECOWAS to speak with the junta have floundered, with its delegations being barred from entering the country. The newfound openness to talks could be a result of ECOWAS pressure, including severe economic and travel sanctions, which are already taking a toll on the impoverished countrys some 25 million people, but it doesnt mean theyll go anywhere, say Sahel experts. Lets see what these negotiations actually look like, because its also in the junta's benefit to in the least entertain talks, that doesnt mean theyll be serious about them, said Aneliese Bernard, a former U.S. State Department official who specialized in African affairs and is now director of Strategic Stabilization Advisors, a risk advisory group. But while talk of dialogue ensues, so is military mobilization. In a memo by Senegal's security forces dated Aug. 11, seen by The Associated Press, it ordered troops to start moving from bases in Senegal on Monday as part of its contribution to the ECOWAS mission in Niger. It was unclear how many troops would move or where they were going. In the weeks since the coup, the junta has entrenched itself in power, appointing a new government and leveraging anti-French sentiment against its former colonial ruler to shore up support among the population, creating a tense environment for locals who oppose the junta as well as many foreigners and journalists. In a statement Sunday, the board of directors for the Press House, an independent Nigerien organization that protects journalists, said local and international media were being threatened, and intimidated by Nigerien activists who support the junta and was deeply concerned about the very difficult climate they were operating in. ALSO READ | Tensions rise as West African nations prepare to send troops to restore democracy in Niger Since the coup, jihadi violence is also rising. Niger was seen by Western nations as one of the last democratic countries in the Sahel region it could partner with to beat back growing jihadi violence linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. France and the United States and other European countries have poured hundreds of millions of dollars into propping up Nigers military. Since the coup, France and the United States have suspended military operations. On Sunday, Nigerien security forces were ambushed by fighters believed to be with the Islamic State group who attacked them on a dozen motorcycles, according to a security report for aid groups seen by AP. This combined with another attack last week claimed by the al-Qaida linked group known as NJIM, signify a new phase of the conflict where groups are trying to consolidate power and it's largely a consequence of the suspended military operations, said Wassim Nasr, a journalist and senior research fellow at the Soufan Center, told The Associated Press. This is due to the halting of cooperation and the military being busy with consolidating their coup in Niamey, he said. It's also a result of cutting communication and dialogue attempts with some jihadi groups, which had been established under Bazoum, he said. A former jihadi, Boubacar Moussa, told AP that since the coup he's received multiple phone calls from active jihadis saying they have been celebrating the chaos and greater freedom of movement since the coup. Moussa is part of a nationwide program that encourages jihadi fighters to defect and reintegrate into society, however, it's unclear if that program will continue under the military regime. As the situation evolves he believes jihadis will take advantage of the security gap and launch new attacks. ALSO READ | How the attempted coup in Niger could expand the reach of extremism, and Wagner, in West Africa
By Azernews

Qabil Ashirov

Today Pakistan commemorates the Independence Day. On this day, 76 years ago the country got its independence under the leadership of Muhammed Ali Jinnah. Pakistani Embassy in Azerbaijan hosted an event on the occasion of the day. The journalists, the employees of the Embassy, and the Pakistani community in Azerbaijan participated in the event. At the beginning of the event, the Pakistani Ambassador to Azerbaijan Bilal Hayee hoisted the Pakistani flag under the sounds of the national anthem. Then the guests, employees, and the Ambassador delivered a speech.

In a comment to Azernews, Bilal Hayee gave brief information about the Independence Day. He noted that 76 years ago, on the 14th of August in 1947, the state of Pakistan emerged on the map of the globe as an independent sovereign state.

There was a lot of struggle and history behind the creation of Pakistan. The Muslims of the subcontinent, a British colony at that time, struggled and strode for an independent homeland under the leadership of Muhammed Ali Jinnah, who we call Quaid-e-Azam or the Great Leader. The independence journey of Pakistan has been full of challenges and also opportunities and hopes. Pakistan's nation has emerged as a resilient, strong nation that understood the challenges. Today we are 240 million strong people. Pakistani diaspora is contributing to the international economies of many countries in the world. Also, many Pakistanis live and reside in Azerbaijan. I want to thank you today the people of Azerbaijan and the leadership of Azerbaijan who always supports Pakistan. The two countries are great friends and we are very happy that today many Azerbaijani friends came to the Embassy to celebrate the independence day with Pakistanis. So, let us say long live or as we say zindabad Pakistani-Azerbaijani friendship,

The Ambassador said that people-to-people relations between the two countries are expanding. Besides, he mentioned that the flight between Azerbaijan and Pakistan resumed. Also, tourism is increased.

Also, we are happy to note that our people-to-people relations are growing and expanding. Now, we have direct flights between Pakistan and Azerbaijan since 2022. The frequency of these flights is increasing. A large number of Pakistani tourists visit Azerbaijan every week. Similarly, Azerbaijanis are exploring the opportunity to travel to Pakistan for tourism. Also, our business relations are expanding. Last year, our trade turnover tripled. We hope this trend will continue; people-to-people relations will further get strengthened and this is the foundation on which we want to build the relationship. We are very hopeful and confident that this relationship has a very bright future and it will continue to flourish in the future, the Ambassador added.




The campaign against an Indigenous voice is facing pressure to reveal details of two volunteers sacked for expressing racist views.

Leading 'no' campaigner Warren Mundine confirmed he had "kicked people off" the campaign because of racist comments.

Mr Mundine declined to name them, but said two people had been removed from the campaign because he heard them say something racist.

"They're not prominent people, they were people who were working for us as volunteers," he told ABC Radio on Tuesday.

"I've gotten rid of them and I don't accept any racial comments from anyone in regard to these issues."

Mr Mundine said the remarks weren't about Indigenous people, but one was a "very anti-Semitic comment".

But the Liberals for Yes group said Mr Mundine had raised more questions than answers.

In a statement, the group called on the 'no' campaign to immediately release further details about the sackings.

"This referendum debate is too important, and the eradication of racism too essential, for political cover-ups and secret sackings to be allowed to remain in the cover of darkness," the statement said.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said there was increasing "hysterical" misinformation coming from the 'no' campaign.

He urged Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to distance himself from hateful messaging.

"The 'no' campaign wants to talk about everything but the actual proposal," he said.

"The 'yes' campaign is talking about what the proposal actually is, a simple and significant change to our constitution which is about recognition and listening."

Support for the voice is continuing to slip, as polls show a mirroring decline in voter sentiment towards the prime minister.

A Resolve Political Monitor poll conducted for the Sydney Morning Herald found support for the voice had declined from 48 to 46 per cent, on the 'yes' or 'no' question.

Story continues

This means support is down from 63 per cent one year ago.

Poll results indicated the voice had majority support in Victoria and Tasmania, but not in NSW, Queensland, Western Australia or South Australia.

To succeed, the 'yes' campaign will require more than 50 per cent of the vote across the nation and in four of the six states.

But Mr Dreyfus said he wasn't concerned about what the polls showed months out from the vote.

"I have confidence that Australians will see that this will make us a better country," he said.

Mr Dutton said the prime minister was "way off the pace" in terms of the public view on the voice.

"I understand the scepticism that's out there," he told Nine's Today program.

"Everybody wants a better outcome for Indigenous Australians, but I think people are really worried about a new layer of bureaucracy and whether it would give the practical outcomes in Indigenous communities that we all really want."

A referendum to enshrine an Indigenous voice in the constitution is expected to be held in October.
Creation of 19 new districts alters political landscape of Rajasthan

Jaipur, which was the largest district of the state is now divided into Jaipur city and Jaipur rural, both having eight assembly seats.Besides Jaipur, Alwar, Jodhpur and Nagaur have been split. Similarly, the newly-created districts of Kekri, Salumber and Dudu will now have only one assembly each.Dudu will be the smallest district in state.Meanwhile, experts say that after the formation of new districts, there may be an increase in the confusion regarding the assemblies.The Election Commission in the book 'Changing Face of Electoral India - Delimitation 2008' has said that all the assemblies should be within the limits of their district. That is, one assembly should not be divided into more than one district. But there are dozens of such assemblies in Rajasthan, which will be divided into one or more districts.Broadly, there are many such assemblies, which will be held in more than one district. Sanganer, Jhotwara, Amer and Bagru from Jaipur will come in both Jaipur city and rural districts. Similarly, in Jodhpur, the part of Sursagar will come in Jodhpur city and rural.Todabhim assembly will be divided into Gangapur and Karauli districts, Aspur assembly into Salumber and Dungarpur districts, Jaitaran assembly into Pali and Beawar and Khajuwala into Bikaner and Anupgarh.Similarly, many other assemblies will be divided among the districts of Alwar-Khairthal, Neem Ka Thana-Sikar, Alwar-Kotputli-Behror, Neem Ka Thana-Jhunjhunu, Barmer-Balotra, Nagaur-Didwana.Professor Seema Jalan, an expert on delimitation and Professor in the Department of Geography, states that the EC has given guidelines for the demarcation of Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies in the country. In the past, this guideline for making assembly constituencies was being violated, so this inconsistency was removed during the re-delimitation of assembly constituencies in 2008.Meanwhile, Ramlal Jat, Revenue Minister, Rajasthan, says, "The next Delimitation Commission will decide its criteria accordingly. We have tried that the assemblies remain in one district only, but what to do if the public protests, he added.With the formation of new districts, there are many such assemblies, which have shifted from one district to another.Jaipur district has been divided into four districts. In such a situation, 19 assemblies of the Jaipur district will be divided into four districts.Jaipur city and rural, both will have around eight assemblies each. Among these, Adarsh Nagar, Civil Lines, Hawamahal, Jhotwara, Kishanpole, Malviyanagar, Vidyadharnagar and Sanganer will be constituencies in Jaipur city.While Jaipur Rural will have Bassi, Chaksu, Jamvaramgarh, Chaumun, Phulera, Shahpura, Bagru and Amer. Similarly, Kotputli and Biratnagar, the earlier assemblies of Jaipur, have now shifted to Kotputli-Behror district. Whereas Dudu earlier in Jaipur will be an individual district with only one assembly (Dudu).Jodhpur has been divided into two districts, while Phalodi has been made a new district. In such a situation, till now 10 Vidhan Sabhas coming in Jodhpur district will also be divided.Maximum five assembly seats Luni, Bhopalgarh, Osian, Shergarh and Bilada will come in Jodhpur rural district while Jodhpur, Sardarpura and Sursagar assemblies will be in Jodhpur city. Phalodi and Lohawat will be in Phalodi district. However, many of these assemblies will come in the part of more than one district.Similarly, Alwar was the second largest district after Jaipur in terms of number of assemblies with 11 seats. Now only six assemblies will remain in Alwar.These will include Alwar City, Alwar Rural, Kathumar, Rajgarh-Laxmangarh, Thanagji, Ramgarh Assemblies while Kishangarhbas, Tijara and Mundavar Assemblies of Alwar district will come under Khairtal district. On the other hand, Behror and Bansur assemblies will come under Kotputli-Behror district.Similarly, till now there were seven assemblies in Barmer. But now Balotra district has been carved out of Barmer. In such a situation, now these 7 assemblies have been divided in these two districts. The assembly structure of Bharatpur and Bhilwara districts will also change with new landscape.After the new system of districts, Nagaur district with 10 assembly seats will now be left with only 5 seats. Further, there were 8 assemblies in Sikar and 7 in Jhunjhunu district. But now 2-2 assemblies of both these districts will come in the newly formed Neemkathana district.Besides new districts, three new divisions namely Sikar, Banswara and Pali have been formed taking the total count to 10 divisions in state.The list of divisions, new districts and total number of assembly seats are as followsJaipur Jaipur City, Jaipur Rural, Dudu, Dausa, Kotputli-Behror, Alwar, Khairthal 35 assembly seatsAjmer Ajmer, Beawar, Nagaur, Tonk, Didwana-Kuchaman, Shahpura, Kekri 25 assembly seatsUdaipur Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Salumber 22 assembly seatsSikar Sikar, Jhunjhunu, Churu, Neemkathana 21 assembly seatsJodhpur Jodhpur City, Jodhpur Rural, Phalodi, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Balotra 19 assembly seatsBikaner Bikaner, Sriganganagar, Hanumangarh, Anupgarh 19 assembly seatsBharatpur Bharatpur, Dhaulpur, Karauli, Deeg, Sawaimadhopur, Gangapur City 19 assembly seatsKota Kota, Jhalawar, Bundi, Baran 16 assembly seatsPali Pali, Jalore, Sanchore, Sirohi 13 assembly seatsBanswara Banswara, Dungarpur, Pratapgarh 11 assembly seatsarc/svn(IANS | Posted on 14 August 2023, 1692598869 162O158O95O170)
NBRI to hold campaign for bonsai, millet recipes

The events will begin from Monday and continue till Saturday.Under the campaign of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), 'one week one lab' will highlight India's global excellence in technology, innovation and start-ups.CSIR-NBRI director AK Shasany said "The campaign includes events specially planned to establish scientist-student connect. Also, panel discussions on various emerging issues, popular talks by eminent experts, exhibitions and industry meets will be held during the celebrations."He said NBRI will showcase its achievements in research and development areas, namely botanic garden and floriculture, plant diversity, systematics and herbarium, climate change, microbial and environmental technologies, plant molecular biology and plant genetic improvement and pharmacognosy, pharmacology and phytochemistry during the weeklong celebrations.Director general, CSIR, Delhi, N Kalaiselvi will be the chief guest of the inaugural function, whereas joint secretary, CSIR, Delhi, Mahendra Kumar Gupta will be the guest of honour.(IANS | Posted on 14 August 2023, 1692598870 162O158O87O181)
Independence Day recipes

Here are some recipes curated by Swapnadeep Mukherjee, Executive Chef, The Metropolitan Hotel & Spa.TRICOLOUR DOUGHNUTSIngredientsFlour (Maida)Breakfast SugarMilkWhite ButterSaltIcing SugarOrange colorGreen colorYeastOil for fryingMethodMix all flour, breakfast sugar, milk, yeast and salt in a bowl. Add water to make a soft dough but not stickyTake the dough, knead it well with butter, sprinkle some flour and keep it in a warm place for 1 hourFor the glaze, add icing sugar, milk and mix well with no lumps. Divide the glaze in to three bowls. Let one bowl remain in its original colour, in second and third bowl, add orange and green color, respectively and mix wellAfter 1 hour the dough has doubled in size, punch it and roll it 1/2 cm thickness and cut into round shape with round cutter. Again cut from center (to make it look like a doughnut) with a small cutter and keep them in a warm place for the second provingAfter 10 minutes, they have doubled in size, deep fry in hot oil on slow medium flame till they are in brown color. And let them cool.After cooling, coat the doughnuts in different colors.Take a plate, put tricolor doughnuts and serve.TRICOLOUR COCONUT LADOOIngredientsCoconut powderCondensed milkPinch of orange colorPinch of green colorPurified butterMilkMethodTake a pan, heat it and put purified butter.Add coconut powder and roast for five minutes at low flame.Then add milk followed by condensed milk and mix well.Keep stirring till you get a thick consistencyNow divide the mixture into three parts Mix orange colour in 1 part and green colour in second part, third part is white.Now make ladoo with soft hands, let it settle.Ready to serve hot or cold as per liking.TIRANGA PUNCHIngredientsKhusWaterOrange SyrupOrange/Pineapple SliceMethodIn a mixer, add 60ml khus with 90 ml water and mix well, Pour it in a glassNow, mix 60 ml orange syrup with 90ml water in a mixer.Remember, khus and orange syrup to be mixed seperately and not together for perfect blend.Take a tall serving glass, pour khus water, add crushed ice and float orange syrupGarnish with orange or pineapple slice for a flavourful drink.(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)ianslife/tb(IANS | Posted on 14 August 2023, 1692598870 162O158O86O211)
Linda Haynes, whose 'Rolling Thunder' role inspired Tarantino, dies at 75

As reported by People magazine, Haynes' son Greg Sylvander shared the news in a statement and said "It is with great sadness that I report that my mother, Linda Haynes Sylvander, has passed away, peacefully at home. My mom moved up to South Carolina to live with us over three years ago, and it was some of our very best times together."He added "As an only child, I have dreaded these times my entire life. I find peace in knowing that my mother was at peace and had the most beautiful life these final years together with her grandchildren, Courtney Sylvander and I. We are going to miss my mom immensely."Born Linda Lee Sylvander on November 4, 1947, in Miami, Haynes made her acting debut as Dr Anne Barton in the film 'Latitude Zero' (1969). After that she became a very big name in Hollywood, starring primarily in crime thrillers and neo-noir films at a time when neo-noir had just started emerging as a new style of filmmaking.She starred in various other crime thrillers such as 'The Nickel Ride', 'Rolling Thunder' and 'The Drowning Pool', as well as horror films such as 'Human Experiments' and the crime-drama film 'The Brubaker'. However, despite making it big in the '70s and '80s, she disappeared from the acting scene quite mysteriously.Her acting had greatly influenced Quentin Tarantino who is an ardent admirer of the film 'Rolling Thunder'.The director had said "The performance of the film for me is Linda Haynes as Linda Forchet. Linda Forchet is my favorite female character in a Paul Schrader written movie."Linda Haynes was noted for her dramatic flair and naturalistic acting which had greatly impressed many actors such as Tommy Lee Jones, Cesar Romero and Morgan Freeman.(IANS | Posted on 14 August 2023, 1692598870 172O71O250O77)
Study finds no evidence linking Meta use & psychological harm

Despite popular claims about the impact of social media on well-being, the researchers from the Oxford University in the UK found "no evidence" that Facebook use was consistently linked negatively to well-being, rather they found quite the opposite."Although reports of negative psychological outcomes associated with social media are common in academic and popular writing, evidence for harms is, on balance, more speculative than conclusive," they wrote in the research paper published in the journal Royal Society Open Science."We examined the best available data carefully -- and found they did not support the idea that Facebook membership is related to harm, quite the opposite. In fact, our analysis indicates Facebook is possibly related to positive well-being," said Professor Andrew Przybylski from Oxford Internet Institute.While the team did not find evidence to support popular misconceptions about Facebook, "this is not to say this is evidence that Facebook is good for the well-being of users", Przybylski said."Rather, the best global data does not support the idea that the expansion of social media has a negative global association with well-being across nations and different demographics."In the study, the team linked data tracking Facebook's global adoption with three indicators of well-being life satisfaction, negative and positive psychological experiences.They examined 72 countries' per capita active Facebook users in males and females in two age brackets (13-34years and 35+years).They found no evidence for negative associations and in many cases, there were positive correlations between Facebook and well-being indicators.The researchers also investigated differences relating to age and gender. Their analysis showed that the association between Facebook adoption and well-being was slightly more positive for males than females, across all well-being measures but these trends were not significant.Furthermore, Facebook adoption and well-being was generally more positive for younger individuals across countries. These effects were small but significant."Our findings should help guide the debate surrounding social media towards more empirical research foundations. We need more transparent collaborative research between independent scientists and the technology industry to better determine how, when and why modern online platforms might be affecting their users," said Professor Matti Vuorre, from the Oxford Internet Institute.rvt/svn(IANS | Posted on 14 August 2023, 1692598871 162O158O87O156)
Five years ago, downtown Auburn received a significant boost from New York.

A $10 million boost, to be exact.

In the third round of the state's Downtown Revitalization Initiative, the city was selected as the central New York recipient of a grant to fund economic development projects.

Auburn Mayor Michael Quill shared the stage with then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo at Auburn Public Theater to announce the $10 million award. Quill, who spoke to The Citizen about the fifth anniversary of the DRI announcement, called it one of the best things to ever happen to the city.

"It has really brought Auburn together," he said.

The near-misses in 2016, the first year of the DRI, and 2017 set up Auburn's win in 2018. Those who worked on the city's application felt confident in the inaugural contest, but Oswego was selected as the region's winner. The following year, Cortland beat out Auburn for the $10 million grant.

When Cuomo announced a third round of the downtown initiative in 2018, Auburn was in a great position to win  and it did.

But the fanfare of the announcement was just the beginning of a years-long process. The first task for a local committee was to narrow down the list of projects. One year after the city was awarded the $10 million prize, it identified 13 projects that would share the funding.

And then COVID-19 arrived.

The pandemic disrupted the city's DRI plan, but some projects were able to proceed. A new public safety building, the new home of the Auburn Fire Department, opened in October 2021. The $10 million project was supported with $1.2 million in DRI funds.

Cayuga Community College opened a new culinary institute at the Plaza of the Arts building in July 2021. The $1.25 million project was funded with $800,000 from the DRI award.

The city used $1 million in DRI funding to create the State Street Public Plaza on the site of the former Kalet's department store. The plaza began hosting events, including a concert series, in 2022.

Nick's Ride 4 Friends, a local addiction recovery organization, received $940,000 in DRI funds to renovate 13 Chapel St. The group's new headquarters opened in April 2022.

Ashley Moench, executive director of Nick's Ride 4 Friends, told The Citizen that the organization assisted an average of 95 people per month from Feb. 1, 2022, through Jan. 31 of this year. During the same time frame, the group offered 3,677 peer support services to clients.

"I love this space because it's full of hope and promise," she said.

One of the other completed projects is at 99 Genesee St., the home of Rudolph's Sugar Shack. Dawn and Marc Schulz, of Prison City Brewing, own the property. Rudolph's opened for business in October 2020.

For the Schulzes, the DRI funding determined whether they would renovate the Genesee Street building. They were awarded $172,800 for the project.

"We would not have been able to afford to do it without (the grant)," Dawn Schulz said.

She remembered the two years when Auburn was passed over in the competition. Everybody was disappointed, she said, but the city won in its third try.

"Anything that is able to give a boost of dollars put directly into downtown is certainly going to help," Schulz added.

Other projects are either progressing or in development. Auburn Public Theater received $700,000 for its expansion project. The theater's project includes the opening of Cafe 108, which serves breakfast and lunch.

Carey Eidel, executive director of Auburn Public Theater, highlighted other elements of the expansion project, including the construction of two marquees, an accessible ramp inside the theater's entrance, a new entrance leading visitors downstairs to Auburn Regional Media Access, and a new concession area, ticket booth and administrative offices. There is also a newly reconstructed studio for rehearsals and teaching.

The unfinished parts of the expansion, according to Eidel, include a new black box theater in the basement, a permanent home for the Auburn Music Hall of Fame, a catering kitchen and the Owasco Room, an event space that can be used to host banquets, concerts and weddings. It will seat up to 265 people.

Eidel projected that the expansion will be completed by the third quarter of 2024.

"Without the DRI money," Eidel said, "the scope of the project would have to be reduced because our original vision would not be able to be completed without it."

The plan for the West End Arts Campus was approved earlier this month by the city planning board. The project, which will link Cayuga Museum of History & Art to Schweinfurth Art Center, will receive $1.9 million in DRI funding.

The city is also advancing public art installations using $285,000 in DRI money. A small project grant fund totaling $600,000 was established to save some of the downtown funding for future projects.

DRI funds will also support the Seward House Museum's barn and carriage house renovations ($864,000) and restoration work at Willard Memorial Chapel ($267,000). The city set aside $385,000 for renovations at the Health Central building, but that project has faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

While there is more work to be done, city officials and stakeholders are pleased with the progress. Quill recently hosted Gov. Kathy Hochul for a walking tour of the DRI projects. Hochul tweeted that the DRI funding is "helping to transform cultural institutions, community spaces, small businesses and more."

Quill credited the collaboration between the city, Cayuga County and local organizations for the success of Auburn's DRI plan.

"It has been very beneficial to us," he said.
New promo for 'Star Wars' series 'Ahsoka' features Anakin Skywalker

This will be the first time that the interactions of the popular Master and Padawan duo from the 'Clone Wars' series will be shown in live action.The 42-second clip only connects the series more to the events of the animated 'Star Wars' shows 'Clone Wars' and 'Rebels', as well as featuring connections to 'The Mandalorian' live action series.Before that, just a week ago, the show had released another video titled 'Master and Apprentice' which showcased Ahsoka Tano training 'Rebels' character Sabine Wren in lightsaber combat.The 'Force' clip shows Ahsoka facing off against both Imperial Inquisitors, as well as her interactions with 'Rebels' character, the pilot Hera Syndulla while also facing off against Rogue force users, one of which is played by the late actor Ray Stevenson.Hayden Christensen can be heard voicing Anakin Skywalker in the background talking to Ahsoka, as well as brief clips of him as both Anakin and later the nefarious Sith Lord Darth Vader.The show will apparently feature different timelines, connecting threads from both the past as well as the present from the times of the Republic, to the Galactic Empire and now the New Republic which was formed after the events of 'Star Wars Episode VI Return of the Jedi'.Audiences will also get to see 'Rebels' characters Grand Admiral Thrawn and Ezra Bridger, both of whom vanished in the series with their whereabouts completely unknown.In addition, the series will also apparently dive deeper into the lore of The Force, which is the religion of all Force users, Jedi, Sith or otherwise. So far, Luke Skywalker or Din Djarin aka the Mandalorian have not made any appearance but it is guessed that they too will be coming to the show.'Ahsoka' will come out on August 23 on Disney+ with two episodes and will have over eight episodes, all of which are directed by Dave Filoni.(IANS | Posted on 14 August 2023, 1692598871 162O158O110O195)
35 artists to showcase their work at 'Reflecting the Self' exhibition

The theme of self-portraiture unites the diversity of artists' practices supported by the gallery. Comprising paintings, sculptures, installations, photography, and mixed media, the works delve deep into the narratives and vignettes from their own life stories.The exhibition fulfils two objectives Tto visit the idea of self-representation and to celebrate the strong bonds forged between the gallery and the artists, acknowledging their artistic excellence and the lasting impact they have made within the art community.The curators -- Tunty Chauhan and Deeksha Nath -- embrace a broader understanding of self-representation that encompasses figurative and abstract works, as well as alliterative and metaphorical approaches. Self-portraits can contain deeply personal and introspective elements, as well as convey political and cultural significance or evoke personal empowerment.They serve as a means for artists to connect with others, fostering empathy and sparking conversations about the intricate nature of the self. The process of creating self-portraits holds profound significance for the artists themselves and for those who engage with their artwork in the exhibition.Gallery Threshold was established in 1997 when Tunty Chauhan, through friendships with artists V. Ramesh, Ravindar Reddy, and Lama Goud, to name a few, began exhibiting the works of upcoming artists in Visakhapatnam.Over the course of the next few years, in association with the Faculty of Fine Arts, Chauhan invited over 40 artists to the city to exchange ideas and share their practices, setting in motion relationships and partnerships that have lasted 25 years and supported the practices of artists across generations. It moved to the Capital in 2001.(IANS | Posted on 14 August 2023, 1692598871 172O70O242O13)
India praises Kuwait's stand of neutrality in the Region

The Indian envoy explained that Kuwait has followed a policy of neutrality in the region and has played an important role in the issues related to the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.He further said that Kuwait is implementing a number of social and economic development projects in many developing countries, especially through the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, and is at the forefront of countries in providing humanitarian aid around the world, something that is highly appreciated by the international community, Al Qabas newspaper reported.The ambassador said that New Delhi looks forward to high-level visits from both sides to strengthen these historical relations between the two countries, due to their importance in providing an opportunity to reach agreements on important issues, Al Qabas newspaper reported.Adarsh Swaika also called on the Information Minister of the State of Kuwait, Abdulrahman B Almutairi and held discussions on deepening cultural and media cooperation."Amb@AdarshSwaika1 called on the Information Minister of the State of Kuwait H.E Abdulrahman B Almutairi. Focus of the discussions was on deepening cultural and media cooperation, including participation in cultural events, museum cooperation, media exchanges, tourism potential etc," Indian Embassy in Kuwait said on Twitter.https//twitter.com/indembkwt/status/1690647867742932992?s=20Adarsh Swaika, a joint secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, was appointed India's next Ambassador to Kuwait in October 2022. He was appointed at a time when India and Kuwait's relationship was deepening.Notably, the strengthening of cooperation can be attributed to the fact that the First Training Squadron of the Indian Navy comprising INS Tir, INS Sujata and Coast Guard Ship Sarathi arrived at the Al-Shuwaikh port in Kuwait in October 2022.Both countries enjoy friendly relations, which are rooted in history. India and Kuwait are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2022. Both nations have maintained regular high-level contacts.Kuwait stood with India during the second COVID and provided quick support in the form of oxygen and other relief material to India. An air/sea bridge was established between both countries in this regard.Kuwait had sent a special aircraft with 282 oxygen cylinders, 60 oxygen concentrators, ventilators and other medical supplies on May 4, 2021. Indian Naval Ships, INS Kolkata, INS Kochi, INS Tarkash, INS Tabar and INS Shardul carried liquid medical oxygen in ISO tanks, oxygen cylinders, concentrators and other medical supplies to India.(ANI | Posted on 14 August 2023, 1692598872 162O158O95O27)
Oil palm mission: Mega plantation drive involving eleven states concludes

The government believes this will further assist in achieving the target of bringing an additional area of 6.5 lakh hectares under oil palm production by 2025-26.The major oil palm growing states where the plantation drive was organized are Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Goa, Karnataka, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Tripura. The oil palm processing companies such as Patanjali Food Pvt. Ltd., Godrej Agrovet, 3F, KE Cultivation, and NavBharat also participated in the drive."The Mega Oil Palm Plantation drive concluded on 12th August 2023. Through this drive, the states and the companies were able to reach out to more than 7000 farmers in 77 villages of 49 districts in 11 states, covering approximately 3500 ha. of the area and planting more than 5.00 lakh planting material," Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare said in a statement.As part of the mega plantation drive, the companies also organized unique and intensive large-scale technical training seminars on oil palm cultivation for farmers along with the department staff. The aim of the seminars conducted was to make the farmers and the staff more aware of the management packages which will help to ensure the plants' health, thereby enhancing productivity and creating sustainable income sources.The central government launched National Mission for Edible Oils- Oil Palm in August 2021.India is the world's second-largest consumer and number one vegetable oil importer, and it meets about 60 per cent of its needs through imports, and in the process spends billions of dollars.A large part of it is palm oil and its derivatives, which are imported from Indonesia and Malaysia. India majorly consumes mustard, palm, soybean, and sunflower-derived edible oils.(ANI | Posted on 14 August 2023, 1692598872 172O70O250O154)
Three-time Grammy winner Ricky Kej performs for PM's Mission 'LiFE' in Delhi

A jam-packed crowd that vowed to a 'Green Earth, Clean Earth' was treated to 90 minutes of world-class integration of LEDs, Light Sound, and a Symphony Band during this musical evening.In the first iteration of 'Planet Voices,' the evening highlighted the beauty of nature with a musical composition by Ricky Kej to promote eco-friendly lifestyles, mindful consumption, and concepts of the circular economy.Rachit Jain, Director at Rashi Entertainment said, "Our country, rich in different cultures, has moved ahead with a billion hearts. Through ups and downs, we've stayed united. But now, we face a new challenge climate change. Our land needs us to protect it. Just like we've come together before, let's do it again. When we make eco-friendly choices and welcome new ideas, we're not just helping our country grow - we're also keeping our environment safe for our future. Your future, My future, our future. So, let's stand strong, show our love for our nation, and take action for a greener, better tomorrow.He added, "The launch of Planet Voices marks a turning point for us at Rashi Entertainment, as well as for the whole ecosystem of the industry. We are here to take a commitment to amplify the voices of change-makers, visionaries, and everyday citizens who are taking steps, no matter how small, to nurture and protect our planet, meaning the power of collective action."This project is meant to support the PM's Mission 'LiFE' at the Siri Fort Auditorium and the Ministry of the Environment, Lifestyle for the Environment, or LiFE.The primary goal of the mission is to promote personal responsibility for the environment through individual action.(ANI | Posted on 14 August 2023, 1692598872 162O158O87O58)
America's immigration system needs reform: US Congressman Shri Thanedar

In an exclusive interview with ANI, Shri Thanedar said, "We have issues around our immigration system. America's immigration system needs reform. A lot of tech companies are losing out on hiring a skilled workforce that they need to take our economy forward and create more jobs in America."The Congressman also voiced agreement with the demand for increasing H1B visas and expediting the process of clearing green card applications, saying that people waiting anywhere between 10 and 15 years to get their hands on the coveted green cards have to go through "very stressful situations".He added, "We are often asked if are taking any steps to fix the broken immigration system, increase H1B visas and green cards, as well as ensure quicker access to green cards."He added, "Some people have been waiting 10-15 years to get their green cards. This has resulted in a stressful situation for many engineers and those skilled in technical jobs. They are vital for the American economy."Speaking on the delegation from the US Congress, which is currently in India and will attend the Independence Day function in the national capital on Tuesday, August 15, the Congressman from Michigan's 13th Congressional district said, "This idea of a Congressional delegation to India started when Modi-ji came to America. I had a chance to escort him to the joint session of the Congress where he gave a great speech. The members of Congress really liked his speech and want to work on improving our relationship with India as we see a lot of threats from China. We see threats from Russia's invasion of Ukraine as well. Currently, there is so much instability across the globe as well in the Indo-Pacific area and a strong relationship with India is the need of the hour. This is why the Congressional delegation is here in India. Also, Modiji had specifically invited us to come to Delhi to attend the celebration of the 75th anniversary of India's independence. So we are here at the invitation of the Prime Minister of India."Detailing their scheduled plans of the Congressional delegation during the ongoing visit, Shri Thanedar said, "We will also be meeting the President . We will also hold meetings with cabinet members and talk about collaboration in defence, innovation and technology, and automotive technology that would benefit my home state of Michigan and my home district of Detroit. So there's a lot that we intend to do during this visit, but it's primarily to foster and grow, relationship between these two great democracies."He also brought up India and the US underlining their commitment to taking the bilateral ties, across diverse spheres, forward during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent maiden State visit to the country, and especially at the State dinner hosted in his honour by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden."President Biden and his wife Jill Biden hosted a State dinner in honour of Prime Minister Modi. They laid the foundation for a very strong friendship between our two nations through their personal interactions. Going forward, this strong bond or friendship will be the basis for a much stronger relationship between the two countries. There is a lot more that we could do together," the Congressman told ANI.During his State visit, Prime Minister Modi announced that Indian professionals could now renew their work visas without travelling to the US."New American consulates are being opened in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. H1B visas could now be renewed in India itself," PM Modi said in his address to the Indian diaspora at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington DC.The decision, PM Modi said, is in line with the initiative to boost and harness people-to-people contact between the two countries which the two leaders stressed during their bilateral meeting in Washington DC.The US authorities announced the introduction of 'in-country' renewable H-1B visas as part of the people-to-people initiative to smoothen the process of H-1B visa renewal for several Indians working in the US.While India will open a new consulate in Seattle this year, similar embassies are also in the works in two more American cities."Together, we are not just forming policies and agreements but we are shaping lives, dreams and destinies," PM Modi said earlier after his one-on-one meeting with President Biden.The two leaders affirmed that the movement of professional and skilled workers, students, investors and business travellers between the countries contributes immensely to enhancing bilateral economic and technological partnerships.While acknowledging the important steps taken to augment the processing of visa applications, the two leaders noted in the joint statement, "the pressing need to further expedite this process. The leaders also directed officials to identify additional mechanisms to facilitate travel for business, tourism, and professional and technical exchanges between the two countries".(ANI | Posted on 14 August 2023, 1692598873 162O158O86O156)
Dane van Niekerk ruled out of Hundred due to thumb fracture

She was injured during Invincibles' triumph over Manchester Originals, and scans indicated an intra-articular fracture that may necessitate surgery, according to the franchise.https//www.instagram.com/p/Cv4p6iWIzzZ/?img_index=1"I'm very sad to be ruled out of the tournament. I felt like I was hitting my stride in the game against the Originals so to get injured in the same match is incredibly frustrating," Van Niekerk said in a statement.Van Niekerk will stay with the team for the competition. "I'll stay with the group to offer Suzie and the team all the support I can," she said."I am very grateful to everyone that offered me their kind wishes after I missed the Superchargers game - it means a great amount," she added.New Zealand all-rounder Suzie Bates will take over as captain in van Niekerk's absence. The team will soon announce a substitute player.Van Niekerk appeared in two games, scoring 2 against Welsh Fire and 42 off 23 against the Originals. She then suffered an injury and was forced to miss the game against the Northern Superchargers.The Invincibles, who won both previous editions of the Women's Hundred, are presently sixth on the points standings with one win in four matches, one of which was abandoned due to rain.(ANI | Posted on 14 August 2023, 1692598873 162O158O94O37)
Over 8 lakh operations performed under 'cataract blindness-free Gujarat' campaign

The state stands as a national front-runner with a rate of 10,000 cataract surgeries per 10 lakh population. The state is already ahead of the 2023-24 target with an 81 per cent completion, performing 1,23,975 surgeries.The 'Rashtriya Netra Jyoti Abhiyan' is a three-year campaign of the Government of India, aimed at reducing blindness prevalence to 0.25 per cent by May 2025. Individuals aged 50 and above, who are blind or visually impaired due to cataract, are entitled to free surgeries.Aligned with the Central government's initiative, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel launched the 'Cataract Blindness-Free Gujarat' campaign in 2022. More than 8 lakh successful operations have been performed under this campaign, covering all 33 districts and eight municipal corporation areas of the state.The first of the four-phase campaign included a vision survey for people over 30; followed by registration of visually-impaired patients; patient surgeries; and follow-up action. Around 50,000 female ASHA workers were trained to facilitate vision tests through an 'E-card'.Additionally, hydrophobic intraocular lenses are provided free of charge after operations, reducing postoperative complications.In an effort to streamline the process, the Health Department of the Gujarat government has launched a dedicated website - cataractblindfree.gujarat.gov.in - providing all necessary information, from primary registration to follow-up services.janvi/arm(IANS | Posted on 14 August 2023, 1692598873 162O158O94O219)
OPS calls for harmony among students of different castes

The former Chief Minister was responding to the attack on the residence of a Dalit boy at Nanguneri in Tiruneveli district by his classmates belonging to an intermediate caste.The Dalit boy was attacked by lethal weapons, including sickles, and his younger sister was also injured while trying to save her brother.Panneerselvam in a statement on Sunday referred to the Nanguneri incident and said that teachers should impart the ideals of patriotism, humanity and moral values to the students. He also said that efforts should be made to strengthen teaching techniques and student-teacher relations.A heavy police contingent has been deployed in parts of Tirunelveli district after the attack on the Dalit boy and his sister by his classmates.The district has previous history of violent incidents in the name of caste in which many people have lost their lives, hence, to prevent any untoward incident taking place, a heavy contingent of police has been deployed in the caste-sensitive areas of the district.(IANS | Posted on 14 August 2023, 1692598874 172O71O250O53)
NZ fortifies bread, flour with folic acid against birth defects

The measure is to prevent neural tube defects, such as spina bifida. In New Zealand, these occur in about 10.6 per 10,000 live births and are associated with lifelong disability, Xinhua news agency reported.With the announcement that folic acid will be added to bread-making flour, New Zealand has joined more than 70 countries that already require folic acid to be added to a food staple to prevent neural tube defects, said Kathryn Bradbury, senior research fellow at the University of Auckland's School of Population Health.Studies have shown that folic acid supplements can reduce the occurrence of these neural tube defects during pregnancy by up to 70 per cent.Folic acid supplements must be taken before conception to be fully effective, but more than half of pregnancies in New Zealand are unplanned."Adequate folate intake in pregnancy is also a health equity issue," said Louise Brough, senior lecturer in Nutrition Science at the Massey University, adding Maori, Pacific people, young mothers and those on lower incomes are less likely to take folic acid supplements, especially preconception due to high levels of unplanned pregnancy.A 2011 New Zealand survey showed only one-third of women consumed folic acid supplements prior to pregnancy.Bread is an excellent vehicle for providing folate as it is widely consumed throughout New Zealand, with higher intakes among those on lower incomes, Brough said.Fortification of bread with folic acid became mandatory in Australia in 2009, and it is estimated that neural tube defects were reduced by 14 per cent among all women, but by 74 per cent among Aboriginal Australians, she said.There are also concerns around "mass medication" and the effects of higher folic acid intake on other population groups, Brough said. However, she said flour has been fortified with folic acid in the United States for over two decades and neural tube defect-affected pregnancies have reduced, without any demonstrable adverse outcomes in the population."Folate, also known as vitamin B9, is an important vitamin that many of us do not get enough of," said Associate Professor Lynne Chepulis of the University of Waikato.There is good evidence that folic acid supplementation is still highly beneficial outside of pregnancy, such as in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and even some cancers, Chepulis said, adding optimal folate levels are needed throughout life, but particularly, during periods of rapid growth.Emeritus Professor Elaine Rush of the Auckland University of Technology called for conducting a national nutrition survey to enable the fortification of bread with folic acid to reach the target consumers, such as women of childbearing age, which can also inform the fortification of other foods, such as rice.int/sha(IANS | Posted on 14 August 2023, 1692598874 162O158O86O211)
Beijing (Gasgoo)- On August 11, Chinas Anti-Monopoly Enforcement Bureau of the State Administration for Market Regulation has revealed that Changan Ford Automobile Co., Ltd. ("Changan Ford") intends to establish a new joint venture with Chongqing Changan Automobile Co., Ltd. ("Changan Automobile").

Mustang Mach-E; photo credit: Changan Ford

The forthcoming joint venture is expected to engage in the supply of mainstream brands new energy passenger vehicles and the distribution of Ford brand models already invested in by Changan Ford. Following the transaction, Changan Ford and Changan Automobile will hold a respective 60% and 40% equity stakes in the joint venture, resulting in shared control.

Established in 2001, in Chongqing, China, Changan Ford primarily focuses on vehicle manufacturing and sales. Notably, Changan Automobile holds a 50% equity stake in Changan Ford, effectively conferring it with a 70% ownership in the new yet-to-be-established joint venture.

Recently, Changan Ford announced that it has transitioned the operational responsibilities for the Ford Mustang Mach-E model to Changan Automobile in the Chinese market starting from August 1. According to China Association of Automobile Manufacturers data, Ford Mustang Mach-E recorded modest annual sales in China for 2022, numbering in the thousands. During the first half of this year, average monthly sales dwindled to approximately 300 units, with the highest and lowest monthly figures reaching 1,050 and 84 units, respectively - well below the previous year's average.

Ford China's President and CEO, Sam Wu, emphasized the company's commitment to the Chinese market, aiming to leverage the strengths of the Ford brand and products, foster enduring partnerships, sustainably evolve, and steadfastly complete the transition toward electrification.
Bugs in ride-hailing app Moovit could have allowed hackers to take free rides

Omer Attias who is a security researcher at SafeBreach, spotted three bugs in Movie which allowed him to collect new user's registration information from all over the world.The bugs could have allowed him to take over other people's accounts, and consequently their credit cards, to pay for his own rides, reports TechCrunch."We can fully impersonate accounts, without disconnecting them. It's crazy, we actually have the ability to perform all the operations on behalf of different accounts, including ordering train tickets," Attias was quoted as saying in the report.Attias, in fact, created a custom interface that allowed him to take over other people's accounts with just a few taps.Moovit is an Israel-based mobility-as-a-service provider and journey planner app. It has been owned by Intel through the Mobileye subsidiary since 2020.It claims to serve 1.7 billion riders in 3,500 cities across 112 countries.The company, however, said there is no evidence that malicious hackers found and exploited these bugs."Moovit was aware of and rectifying the issue when it was reported, and took immediate steps to finish correcting the issue," a company spokesperson was quoted as saying in the report.The vulnerabilities have long since been fixed and no customer action is required, the spokesperson added.In May 2020, Moovit was acquired by Intel for $900 million and has integrated with Mobileye. In October 2022, Moovit was acquired by Mobileye from Intel as part of Mobileye's IPO.(IANS | Posted on 14 August 2023, 1692598874 162O158O86O156)
Australian PM Anthony Albanese meets Quad naval leaders participating in Exercise MalabarA

Australian PM Albanese and Deputy PM Richard Marles welcomed naval leaders from all four nations in Sydney. He stated that it was an opportunity to discuss their shared vision for a prosperous and secure Indo-Pacific region.Taking to his official Twitter handle, Albanese stated, "This year's Exercise Malabar brings together the navies of India, Japan, the United States, and Australia. And for the first time ever it's being held in Australia."The naval forces of the United States, Japan, Australia and India began their Malabar joint defence exercise in Sydney on Friday, marking the first time Australia has hosted the war games amid China's growing assertiveness in the region.In another tweet, he stated, "I welcomed naval leaders from all four countries to Sydney today along with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, @RichardMarlesMP. It was an opportunity to discuss our shared vision for a prosperous and secure Indo-Pacific region."Malabar series of maritime exercises began in 1992 as a bilateral exercise between the Indian Navy and the US Navy, the Ministry of Defence said in a press release earlier. The exercise now includes navies of four nations - India, Japan, Australia and US. Royal Australian Navy participated in the exercise for the first time in 2020.The Malabar exercise started in 1992 as a bilateral initiative between the US and Indian navies, with Japan joining later. Australia rejoined the exercise in 2020 after having last participated in 2007.Exercise Malabar 2023 is being conducted in two phases - the harbour phase and the sea phase. The Harbour Phase involves wide-ranging activities like cross-deck visits, professional exchanges, sports fixtures and several interactions for planning and conduct of the Sea Phase, the Ministry of Defence said in a press release earlier.The Sea Phase will include various complex and high-intensity exercises in all three domains of warfare, encompassing anti-surface, anti-air and anti-submarine exercises including live weapon firing drills, according to the press release. The exercise provides an opportunity for Indian Navy to enhance and demonstrate interoperability and also gain from the best practices in maritime security operations from its partner nations.Indian Navy's indigenous frontline warships INS Sahyadri and INS Kolkata are participating in Exercise Malabar 2023 in Sydney from August 11-21 along with ships and aircraft from the US Navy, Japan Maritime Self Defence Force and the Royal Australian Navy .INS Sahyadri is the third ship of the indigenously designed and built Project-17 class multi-role stealth frigates and is presently commanded by Captain Rajan Kapoor, according to the press release. INS Kolkata is the first ship of the indigenously designed and built Project-15A class destroyers and is commanded by Captain Sharad Sinsunwal.(ANI | Posted on 14 August 2023, 1692598875 172O71O250O20)
North Korean leader visits military factories, calls for drastic boost of missile production capacity

Kim Jong-un's visit comes less than a week after the North Korean leader carried out a "field guidance" of major munitions factories. His visit comes at a time when South Korea and the United States plan to hold their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise later this month. North Korea has called the exercise as a reversal of an invasion of the North.North Korean leader's visit comes just days after Kim Jong-un presided over an enlarged meeting of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea. During the meeting, he called for boosting the missile production capacity, Yonhap News Agency reported."He set forth an important goal to drastically boost the existing missile production capacity... so as to mass-produce missiles as required by the system of the expanded and strengthened frontline units and missile units and by the operational plans," Yonhap News Agency reported citing the KCNA.Kim Jong-un further said that the North Korean People's Army should be equipped with an "overwhelming military force" for "coping with any war at any moment so as to prevent the enemies from daring use their armed forces, and surely annihilate them if they launch an attack."During his visit to a factory producing tactical missile transporter-erector-launchers, the North Korean leader called for the development of "more modern and highly efficient TELs substantially conducive to the army's perfect war preparations," Yonhap News Agency reported citing KCNA.Last week, Kim Jong-un carried out a three-day inspection of major arms factories, including those that develop shells of large-calibre multiple rocket launchers and engines of strategic cruise missiles, Yonhap News Agency reported citing state media.The three-day inspection came days after Kim Jong-un attended a massive military parade marking the 70th armistice anniversary of the Korean War on July 27, according to Yonhap News Agency report.North Korean leader made the visit to the factories to "learn about the implementation of the core goal of the party's policies on munitions industry" and set forth new goals to be conducted like modernizing weapons.(ANI | Posted on 14 August 2023, 1692598875 172O70O251O186)
Fighter jet crashes at US air show, 2 people eject safely

Shortly after 4 p.m. on Sunday evening, the two occupants parachuted from the MiG-23 fighter jet south of Willow Run Airport, near the city of Ypsilanti, and landed in Belleville Lake, CBS News quoted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as saying.In a statement, the Wayne County Airport Authority said that neither of the two men suffered significant injuries but both were taken to a local hospital as a precaution, CNN reported.The aircraft then crashed in the parking lot of a nearby apartment complex and struck unoccupied vehicles, the Authority said, adding that np one in the apartment complex was injured as a result.Organisers of Thunder Over Michigan, a two-day event of airshows, said they would stop the show after a "situation", but did not share further details."Please make your way into your vehicles and calmly make your way out of the airfield. Please be patient as we control traffic around the area," it announced in the social media post.The incident will be probe by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board.(IANS | Posted on 14 August 2023, 1692598875 162O158O111O134)
Insta Tourism L.L.C. Introduces BookMyBooking.com: An Online Travel Booking Service

Designed to revolutionize the way travellers plan and book their travel requirements, BookMyBooking.com offers a seamless and convenient platform for discovering, comparing, and securing the best tour, activities and package experiences worldwide.Insta Tourism L.L.C. is a Dubai-based company that promises a 360-degree travel related services through the portal. Insta Tourism L.L.C. is an established name for online visa & travel services with a huge global customer base.BookMyBooking.com comes with the advanced features, offers tailor-made packages and thematic tours that travellers will love to endear. With the rise of online travel services, Insta Tourism L.L.C. recognized the need for a comprehensive and user-friendly platform jacketed specifically for the online travel booking industry.BookMyBooking.com addresses this demand by combining advanced technology, extensive destination information, and a user-centric interface, making it the ultimate go-to platform for all travel enthusiasts. Key Features and Benefits of BookMyBooking.com Vast Tour Selection BookMyBooking.com showcases an extensive inventory of tour and activity options, covering a wide range of destinations and experiences across the globe.Our varied range of packages come with all-inclusive travel requirements like travel permits and airport transfers etc, making the user experience convenient and getting everything customised for an itinerary on one single platform. Uninterrupted User Experience BookMyBooking.com offers an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, allowing users to explore tours and activities, compare prices, read reviews, and make secure bookings effortlessly. The platform is designed to simplify the entire travel booking process, ensuring a stress-free experience for travellers.At BookMyBooking.com, comparisons between tours or activities help travellers make quick and clear decisions about their itineraries. Trusted Partners and Verified Reviews Insta Tourism L.L.C. has established partnerships with renowned travel experts ensuring that all listed tours, activities and hotels on BookMyBooking.com meet the highest standards of quality and reliability. Furthermore, the platform incorporates verified customer reviews, empowering travellers to make informed decisions based on real experiences. Personalized Recommendations Understanding that every traveller is unique, BookMyBooking.com employs intelligent algorithms to provide personalized recommendations based on individual preferences, travel history, and user feedback. This feature enhances the overall user experience and helps travellers discover hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path experiences.On top of it, Insta Tourism L.L.C. has a group of travel experts available 24x7 handholding and catering to the need of our users for a staggering experience. Secure and Reliable Payment eco-System Insta Tourism L.L.C. has implemented a secure payment gateway within BookMyBooking.com, guaranteeing the safety and confidentiality of customers' financial information. Travellers can book with confidence, knowing that their transactions are protected by state-of-the-art security measures.Exclusive travel accounts- Unique account creation can help users keep a tab on their choices made at BookMyBooking.com and it can help user to compare various travel services being used in the past. This feature will also offer amazing deals and discounts on various services while travelling. It will enhance users' experience while they are traveling to keep them updated. Insta Tourism L.L.C. believes that BookMyBooking.com will transform the way people plan and experience travel and related requirements like tours, packages, activities and hotel bookings.Insta Tourism L.L.C. strives to address the modern traveller's requirement and longing wish for convenience, choice, and reliability. The launch of this groundbreaking platform further solidifies Insta Tourism L.L.C.'s commitment to innovation and excellence within the travel and tourism industry. To explore the endless possibilities of BookMyBooking.com and embark on unforgettable experience, please visit www.bookmybooking.com and create a free account today.For media inquiries, please contactINSTA TOURISM L.L.C.201, M Square Commercial Building,Near Double Tree Hotel, Bur Dubai, Dubai, U.A.E.Call us +91- 011-42428686Whatsapp +971-555903386(ANI | Posted on 14 August 2023, 1692598876 162O158O110O150)
Why Biden's patch up bid between Saudi-Arabia and Israel may become a flop show

Saudi Arabia, or Arabs earlier, had a around 80-year-old dispute with the "Jewish" state and till 2000, voices in the Kingdom had been calling for the destruction of Israel. When two Gulf states, UAE and Bahrain, entered into normalisation of ties with Israel as part of the Abraham Accords, Riyadh, despite being pushed by President Donald Trump, stayed away.So far, Riyadh has been sticking to the Arab Peace Initiative, which conditions normalisation with Israel on its withdrawal from Arab territories and the establishment of a Palestinian state, as well as finding a "fair solution" to the plight of Palestinian refugees.Two historical adversaries, Saudi Arabia and Iran, engaged in the Yemen War had nevertheless also been engaging in discreet courtship eventually leading to a peace deal. So why could not Riyadh and Tel Aviv follow this precedent? But, even if this goal were to be achieved, it is unlikely to take place under Washington's tutelage. Simply put, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states have begun to exercise their strategic autonomy. It is therefore highly unlikely, in the era when the unipolar world is yielding to multipolarity, the Gulf countries will allow Washington to re-establish the US as the region's "chief mover and shaker".The Biden administration earlier this year handed over the draft of its Middle East Policy to the US Congress and it clearly reads that the new policy "includes efforts to expand and strengthen the Abraham Accords as well as efforts to normalise relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia".A US-Saudi security pact that produces normalisation of relations between Saudi Arabia and the Jewish state -- while curtailing Saudi-China relations -- would be a game changer for the Middle East, bigger than the Camp David peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, wrote renowned Middle East expert Thomas L. Friedman in one his columns on the prospects of Israel-Saudi deal.According to reports, the US sent its top diplomats Antony Blinken and Jack Sulliven to Riyadh and Tel Aviv several times since May onwards.A statement issued after Sullivan's recent Jeddah visit pointed out that its role was " to discuss bilateral and regional matters, including initiatives to advance a common vision for a more peaceful, secure, prosperous, and stable Middle East region interconnected with the world."The US media has been agog with prospects seemingly likely Israel-Saudi deal despite knowing obvious bottlenecks. "The US is now in the midst of complex negotiations with leaders who have their own reasons for a deal but are making demands that might prove to be too costly," said a recent New York Times report.According to the NYT "The Saudis are seeking three main things from Washington a Nato-level mutual security treaty that would enjoin the US to come to Saudi Arabia's defense if it is attacked (most likely by Iran); a civilian nuclear program, monitored by the US; and the ability to purchase more advanced US weapons, like the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence anti-ballistic missile defense system, which are particularly helpful to the Saudis against Iran's growing mid-and-long-range missile arsenal." Besides, added the NYT, the US deems it as an opportune moment to see that Saudis do not fall into complete Chinese embrace.Meanwhile, another reported condition has been put forth by King Salman himself and that is guarantee on "clear Israeli steps towards Palestinians." This is largely because Israel remains immensely unpopular among the Saudi and Arab people.It must be clear here that the US policymakers have unanimity on one front no transfer of nuclear technology to any state in the region, unless it changes under President Biden. Already there are signs, and regular dampeners, regarding finalisation of a fresh civil nuclear deal with Iran.Similarly, the non-Nato ally status to Saudi will also make President Biden seek a nod from the US Congress and seems highly unlikely. The deal on Palestine, perhaps may be possible, but will be linked to other conditions having been met first.Israeli position on the deal with the Saudis totally depends on the condition and decisiveness of the coalition government headed by embattled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A landmark diplomatic arrangement could help reverse his political fortunes as recognition from Saudi will be a bigger breakthrough than the Abraham Accords. But, concessions like the nuclear program will make him jittery, and, as a Middle East commentator said, the moment he will push for it, if at all he attempts, it will sound the death knell for his reign in power and politics.First-ever Saudi Ambassador to PalestineAs the US has intensified its moves for the historic peace deal, Saudi Arabia on Saturday sent its first ever ambassador to Palestine, under the control of Palestine Authority (West Bank). Ambassador to Jordan, Nayef bin Bandar Al-Sudairi, will also serve as Non-resident Ambassador to the Palestinian Authority and the Consul General in Jerusalem -- a move that reveals that Riyadh is not prepared to throw the Palestinians under the bus.(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)(IANS | Posted on 14 August 2023, 1692598876 172O70O242O252)
Ukraine condemns provocative actions of Russia in Black Sea

"The Russian Navy grossly violated the UN Charter, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and other norms of international law," the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Monday."These actions exemplified Russia's deliberate policy of endangering the freedom of navigation and safety of commercial shipping in the Black Sea."On Sunday, a Russian warship fired warning shots at a cargo ship, which Moscow claimed to be headed to Ukraine, in the south-western Black Sea, CNN reported citing Russia's Defense Ministry.Russia said the warship fired warning shots when the captain of the Palau-flagged dry cargo ship failed to respond to a request to stop for an inspection."The Russian warship opened warning fire from automatic small arms fire to forcefully stop the vessel," the statement said.The ministry claimed that the ship, named Sukra Okan, was headed to the Ukrainian port of Izmail. Marine traffic websites currently show the cargo vessel's destination as the Romanian port of Sulina which is close to Izmail. Kyiv did not immediately comment on whether or not the ship was headed to a Ukrainian port."In order to inspect the bulk cargo ship, a Ka-29 helicopter with a group of Russian servicemen was hoisted from the patrol ship Vasily Bykov," the ministry said. "Following radio conversations, the ship stopped its course and the boarding team landed on the bulk cargo ship," the statement said.Earlier, Russia withdrew from the agreement that had permitted Ukraine to export grain from its Black Sea ports a year ago, despite the war, to help alleviate a global food crisis.In July 2022, Turkey and the UN began talks on the Black Sea Grain Initiative, according to CNN.On July 17, 2023, Russia announced that it was suspending its participation in a UN-brokered deal that allowed the export of Ukrainian grain.Meanwhile, this week Ukraine announced that it would open up a temporary humanitarian corridor for ships to sail to and from its ports and has opened up registration for merchant vessels to use the sea route.The Ukrainian navy issued an order declaring "temporary corridors for merchant ships sailing to/from Ukrainian ports.""At the same time, it is reported that the military threat and mine danger from the Russian Federation remains along all routes," it said.(ANI | Posted on 14 August 2023, 1692598876 172O70O246O59)
Agritech Start-up Farmers Fresh Zone Receives UN Recognition

For the first time, UN hosted the SDG Agrifood accelerator programme and Farmer's Fresh Zone stood out for its unique module and practices which are scalable at any part of the world.Farmers Fresh Zone was one of the three start-ups to be part of the panel discussion happened in the event. While six were invited to present their unique SDGs, a total of 12 were selected for the programme.Sharing more details, Pradeep P S, Chief Executive Officer, AgriTech D2C & FAAS, said, "India is the second largest country in agriculture production and we, at Farmers Fresh Zone, are super proud to represent as the only one from India at a global forum. The event was at Rome, Italy aiming to attain the UN sustainable development goals. Being recognized as a leader of sustainability in the agriculture sector is no mere feat. I am extremely elated that our sincere thoughts and efforts to bring down carbon emissions have garnered attention. We presented our model before an august audience in the event. Participation at UN function in Rome also opened roads to network with global names in this sector."Under this programme, Farmers FZ will receive grands and other funds to make the necessary changes needed for each market, thus helping them widen their reach and making their business global. The support offered by the accelerator includes financial readiness, innovation potential and market reach. The core objective of the programme is to help agrifood startups to scale while conforming to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Farmers Fresh Zone business model contributes majorly towards SDG 1, SDG 2 and SDG 12 along with others.Farmers FZ started by bridging the gap between rural farmers and urban consumers by providing healthy, premium-quality and safe to eat vegetables from the fields to the table within a day. With the six years of immense understanding of agriculture sector the startup launched new vertical which helps agribusiness and farmers organization's to perform hassle free operations along with measuring carbon footprint. For their FaaS model the startup is having clients across India, Germany, US and Canada. The start-up's sustainable business model implements the principle of farm-to-fork and ensures that food wastage is minimised. It also promotes regional production and consumption.(ANI | Posted on 14 August 2023, 1692598877 172O70O247O73)
From Partition to Bharat Jodo, why peacemakers count

The anthology, divided into 12 chapters by 12 different people from varied backgrounds, has touched upon the faultlines of India and addresses the bigger issue of sponsored communal violence in the country.What makes the book different is how people highlighted in each of the 12 stories tried to help the victims in one way or the other. Whether they succeed in helping them out or not is a topic for the other day, but at least they tried their best.The first chapter sets the tone and tenor of the volume. The chapter has been written by the noted scholar and grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, Rajmohan Gandhi. He explains how Gandhi attempted to douse the communal fires at the time of Partition by reaching out to the minority Muslim community often at the risk of his own life.Rajmohan Gandhi notes that the Mahatma tried his best to reach out to M.S. Golwalkar, the RSS ideologue, by confronting him about riots in Delhi. But the forces of communalism only stopped after killing the messenger of peace -- Mahatma Gandhi.The anthology has a detailed chapter on the Naga crisis and how the state let it slip out of its hands without properly handling the situation.'The Peacemakers' editor Ghazala Wahab shares an interesting anecdote, referring to the incumbent National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, about how the state is actually allowing the situation to slip out of hand.She writes that in the autumn of 2005, when Doval was a few months into his retirement as Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), she met him for an informal chat on the state of India's internal health.She writes that through his career, Doval was known for his ears to the ground approach, which gave him exceptional insights into various separatist movements in India's border states.According to Doval, there was a tendency at the lowest levels of the bureaucracy to deny the existence of the problem and continue to overlook it as it was possible to do so.Once it is no longer possible to deny the problem, the lowest level of the administration usually unleashes unimaginable brutality to quieten it. This second response inadvertently worsens the problem, further alienating the people.At this stage, the administration, unable to keep the issue under wraps, usually tries to buy silence either by pumping in money in the name of development or by cultivating local leaders to keep the flock in check.Unfortunately, even as money repeatedly fails to buy peace, it creates vested interests over a period of time. They benefit for as long as the problem remains on the boil. The problem, as a result, lingers, sapping away resources, both manpower and money, which otherwise could be used elsewhere for growth.The chapters on the two events that rocked India -- the massacre of Sikhs in 1984 and the killing of Muslims in Gujarat in 2002 -- have been dealt in detail in the anthology.The chapter on the anti-Sikh riots has been written by senior journalist Rahul Bedi; the one on Gujarat is by Teesta Setalvad, the well-known civil rights campaigner. In both the massacres, there's a common thread -- pre-planned killings of people belonging to a particular community as an act of political retribution. The rule book in both the stories is also the same -- the complicity of the state machinery, especially the police.Talking of fault lines, no editor, author or journalist can leave Kashmir aside. The chapter on Kashmir has been written by Ghazala Wahab. It's titled 'Jammu and Kashmir, 2004-19 No Peace without Justice'.It talks in detail about the euphoria caused by the relatively 'peaceful' period from 2004 to 2009, when the Indian and Pakistani governments engaged themselves in back-channel talksm which had given hope to the Kashmiris that a just and peaceful solution was around the corner.It also talks about the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019 and how Jammu and Kashmir was downgraded. Wahab writes that when a peace process is ongoing, it is easy for all to ride the peacemaking bandwagon, because what seems imminent is easier to embrace.When the future becomes an obstacle course lined with concertina wires, according to Wahab, it inspires people to not give up and keep the faith.She writes that it is the resurgence of this faith and courage that keeps unnerving those who are seeking to rewrite the narrative of Kashmir by imposing a blanket of silence over the people.The icing on the cake in the anthology is its last chapter titled 'Bharat Jodo Yatra, 2022-23 Return of Hope'. The chapter talks about people who still believe in the 'Idea of India', in its pluralism.The chapter, written by a medical practitioner, Ramani Atkuri, gives hope to the people who believe all is lost to the forces of communalism and to the people who have started to believe that all is lost.It talks in great detail about how successful the Bharat Jodo Yatra was and how it has transformed the secular narrative of the country. The anthology concludes on this note of hope, highlighting Rahul Gandhi's message to India "Nafrat ki bazaar mein kholo mohabbat ki dukaan (Open shops of peace in the marketplace of hate)."(IANS | Posted on 14 August 2023, 1692598877 172O69O150O83)
Drake schools male fan for starting tussle with woman over his sweaty towel

The tension started after the 36-year-old emcee tossed his towel toward the audience after leaving the stage, reports aceshowbiz.com.A female fan then caught it, but one male fan suddenly tried to snatch the relic out of her hands.Drake saw the moment as he headed backstage. In a video circulating online, the Canadian rap star could be seen yelling at the man. He then assured the female woman that he had someone on the way to help."I'ma send someone up there," the four-time Grammy winner said while looking at the altercation. He also appeared to confront the man who tried to take the towel, but his team quickly guided him.The incident came after Drake revealed that the first night of his Los Angeles show was almost canceled. "Los Angeles, if you knew the things we had to do today to get this show off, smh but for you, anything. I will see you tonight," he penned on Instagram Story.That aside, Drake recently reacted to an alleged 'For All the Dogs' poster that was placed at a bus stop in his hometown of Toronto. The image, which was shared by DJ Akademiks on Instagram, featured three dogs and the Canadian rap star's quote that read "They say they miss the old Drake, girl don't tempt me."Drake did not confirm whether or not it was fake. However, he replied in the comment section, "Lol who did this," suggesting that he was not the one who made it up.(IANS | Posted on 14 August 2023, 1692598877 172O70O247O149)
With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information.

Wuling Xingyun SUV set to debut on August 16

In a recent update from SAIC-GM-Wuling ("SGMW"), its upcoming compact SUV, the Xingyun (translated into Nebula), is set to make its official debut on August 16. The vehicle will feature a 2.0L hybrid system. Reportedly, the new model is expected to hit the market in September.

Photo credit: SGMW

GAC Group's Xinjiang branch sees 1,000th EMPOW sedan roll off line

On August 12, the 1,000th EMPOW sedan manufactured by GAC Groups Xingjing branch officially rolled off the production line.

2023 Hongqi H9 hits market, starting at 309,800 yuan

Hongqi, the premium auto brand of FAW Group, officially put the 2023 Hongqi H9 onto the market. The new model brings about adjustments in exterior detailing, features, and intelligent technologies, with a price range maintained at 309,800 to 539,800 yuan. While retaining the classic family design, the new version elevates the emblem on the front to showcase an all-lit effect, accompanied by an extended headlight projection distance. Additionally, the previous exterior color options of "Glory Blue" and "Desert Gold" have been removed, making way for a new "Quantum Silver Gray" color variant.

Photo credit: Hongqi

All-new Changan Lumin variant to hit market on August 16

Changan New Energy announced that the refreshed Changan Lumin 205km Xiangqin Edition will be hitting the market on August 16.

Huawei's Intelligent Automotive Solution Business Unit nabs 1-billion-yuan revenue in H1 2023

Huawei recently unveiled its operating performance for the first half of 2023, indicating a "sound overall operation that meets expectations." Notably, revenue from Huawei's Intelligent Automotive Solution Business Unit reached 1 billion yuan in the first six months of 2023.

BYD Fangchengbao unveils exterior images of first model 'Bao 5'

Fangchengbao (translated to Formula Leopard), BYD's specialized and personalized brand, officially offered the first glimpse of its inaugural model, the Bao 5 (Leopard 5), with a set of exterior images.

XPeng's XNGP intelligent driving system to cover 50 cities by end of 2023

Chinese new energy vehicle startup XPeng announced on Monday its plans to see its XNGP intelligent driving system deployed in 50 cities by the end of this year.

Kia China teams up with Shell to bolster EV charging infrastructure construction

On August 12, Kia China and Shell China officially inked a strategic cooperation agreement under which the two entities are poised to embark on an in-depth collaboration on the charging infrastructure development. The inaugural collaborative endeavor has been materialized in the form of a supercharging station in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, which has already been put into operation.

Changan Ford plans to build joint venture with Changan Automobile for new energy vehicles

On August 11, Chinas Anti-Monopoly Enforcement Bureau of the State Administration for Market Regulation has revealed that Changan Ford Automobile Co., Ltd. ("Changan Ford") intends to establish a new joint venture with Chongqing Changan Automobile Co., Ltd. ("Changan Automobile").

City NCA goes online for S HI Pioneer model in Beijing, Chongqing, Hangzhou

BAIC Group's new energy vehicle brand, ARCFOX, announced last week that the city Navigation Cruise Assistance (NCA) service is available for S HI Pioneer Edition users in Beijing, Chongqing, and Hangzhou.

CATL, POWERCHINA form strategic partnership to drive energy storage, smart energy development

On August 11, Chinese power battery giant CATL and POWERCHINA (Power Construction Corporation of China), a state-owned infrastructure construction company, inked a framework agreement to carry out strategic cooperation in multiple areas including energy storage and global business expansion, according to CATLs WeChat account.
Maha DoT launches Mumbai 'freedom fighters tour circuit'

The DoT along with the Tourism Guides Association (TGA) and FRS Tours & Travels, launched the circuit on Sunday and it will continue till August 17."The initiative has garnered a good response and it will improve over the next three days," said an excited TGA President Farhan Shaikh, terming it as a 'must visit' for lovers of history desiring to peep into some glorious aspects in the struggle for the country's Freedom from British Rule in Mumbai.The circuit covers Rajgruha, Raghavji Road, August Kranti Maidan, Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit Pathshala, Ajit Villa, Mani Bhavan, Girgaum Chowpatty, Imperial Cinema, Sardar Gruha, Asiatic Library and the Gateway of India, all in south Mumbai, said Shaikh.Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit Pathshala is the place where the foundations of the 'Indian National Congress' were laid in 1885, making it one of the most important aspects of the entire Freedom Struggle that started with the First War of Independence in 1857.Rajgruha in Dadar was the residence of the Chief Architect of Indian Constitution, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, where he spent many years.Raghavji Road was the home of the legendary Yusuf Meherally who came up with the most iconic slogans of the freedom movement like 'Quit India' and 'Simon Go Back', which are remembered even today.Ajit Villa was one of the locations of 'Secret Congress Radio' launched by a fiesty 22-year-old girl, Usha Mehta in mid-August 1942, just five days after Mahatma Gandhi's historic 'Quit India' call to the British.The Imperial Cinema with its lush gardens was the venue for 'The First Satyagraha' and the maiden meeting between Mahatma Gandhi and Mohammed Ali Jinnah, later the Founder of Pakistan.Gowalia Tank, now August Kranti Maidan enjoys a special place in Indian history as the venue from where Gandhiji and other top Congress leaders gave the ultimatum to the British Raj with the 'Quit India' call on August 8, 1942, plus hoisted the Tricolour for the first time.Most of the top leaders were arrested from there but the struggle fructified exactly five years later, when, on August 15, 1947, India got Independence.Sardargruha was the abode of Bal Gangadhar Lokmanya Tilak who lived in Room No. 198 on the 4th floor during his visits to Mumbai from Pune, and also the place where he spent the last few years of his life till his death on August 1, 1920.Girgaum Chowpatty is the venue where Tilak was accorded a public funeral with over two lakhs paying their last respects.The Freedom history is also closely entwined with Mani Bhavan, or Gandhi Museum, where Gandhiji had strategized many of his struggles, like 'Non-Cooperation Movement' (1920-1922), 'Satyagraha', 'Khadi Movement' (taking forward the Swadeshi Movement of 1903 on a mass-scale), 'Khilafat Movement' (1919-1922), etc.The imposing Gateway of India is the monument from where the last British regiment marched out after the country gained Independence on August 15, 1947.Shaikh said that the tour is of 4-5 hours each in two batches daily, with a fee of Rs 1,000/head, including all entry tickets, snacks pack, touring in airconditioned bus and a tourism guide.(IANS | Posted on 14 August 2023, 1692598878 162O158O87O156)
Generic drugs' promotion by NMC appears like running trains without tracks: IMA

"The ill-advised steps taken by NMC on the issue of generic drugs is an emergency. The regulation is mandatory for doctors to prescribe only generic drugs. It is a matter of great concern for IMA since this directly impacts patients' care and safety. Generic promotion needs to be genuine. Running trains without tracks is how the present promotion of generic drugs by NMC appears to be," said IMA in its statement.IMA further said that the new guidelines of the NMC will not be in the best interest of the patient."NMC insists on its ethics guidelines to write prescriptions only in generic names. This measure is just shifting the choice from a medical practitioner who is primarily concerned, trained and responsible for the patients' health than a chemist/person sitting in chemist shop, who is selling drugs. This naturally wouldn't be in the best interest of the patient. If doctors are not allowed to prescribe branded drugs, then why such drugs should be licensed at all, given that modern medicine drugs can be dispensed only on the prescription of doctors of this system," IMA stated.The IMA has also said that the government, if serious about implementing generic drugs should give licence only to generics and not to any branded drugs while ensuring quality of generic drugs. Making quality brands available in the market but disallowing doctors who are responsible for patients' health, from prescribing them seems dubious, the statement said."The biggest impediment to generic drugs is the uncertainty about its quality. The quality control in the nation is very weak, there's practically no guarantee of the quality of drugs and prescribing drugs without assured quality would be detrimental to patient health. Less than 0.1 per cent of the drugs manufactured in India are tested for quality. This step should be deferred till the Government can assure the quality of all the drugs released into the market," it said.The statement issued by the IMA also stated that it urged the government to have 'one drug, one quality, one price system.'"IMA had been demanding for long that only good quality drugs should be made available in the country and prices should be uniform and affordable. IMA urges Government to have 'one drug, one quality, one price' system whereby all brands should be either sold at the same price which should be controlled or banned and only generics allowed while ensuring the highest quality of these drugs. The present system will only put a huge dilemma in the minds of practitioners and cause unnecessary blaming of Medical Profession by the society," IMA said in its statement.IMA further demanded intervention by the Centre and NMC regarding guidelines,"The notification is an injustice to doctors who always hold the interest of their patients as non-negotiable. IMA demands the deferring of this Regulation for wider consultations by the Government of India and IMA also calls for serious and urgent intervention by Union Government and NMC in this regard."According to the new NMC guidelines, all doctors will mandatorily be required to prescribe generic drugs failing which they will be penalised and even their license to practice may also be suspended for a particular period.The NMC in its notified 'Regulations relating to Professional Conduct of Registered Medical Practitioners" also asked doctors to avoid prescribing branded generic drugs.The regulations notified on August 2, stated, "India's out-of-pocket spending on medications accounts for a major proportion of public spending on health care. Further, generic medicines are 30 per cent to 80 per cent cheaper than branded drugs. Hence, prescribing generic medicines may overtly bring down health care costs and improve access to quality care."Under the generic medicine and prescription guidelines of the regulations, the NMC defined generic drugs a "drug product that is comparable to brand/reference listed product in dosage in dosage form, strength, route of administration, quality and performance characteristics, and intended use."(ANI | Posted on 14 August 2023, 1692598878 172O71O246O41)
Self-regulation of television channels must be effective: SC

A bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud made these remarks when it was hearing a plea challenging Bombay High Court.The News Broadcasters Association has filed an appeal against the Bombay High Court order that contained adverse observations over the self-regulation of TV channels.The court asked the NBA counsel to submit suggestions to strengthen the self-regulatory mechanism.The court noted that the quantum of penalty set many years ago has not been increased since then. The court noted the quantum of the penalty was not increased since 2008. The court said that the fine should be in proportion to the profiles earned by the channel from that show."The self-regulatory mechanism has to be effective," the court said while issuing notice on the petition and asked the respondents to file counter affidavit. The court also indicated that it will issue guidelines on the issue.The court also asked NBSA to seek suggestions from retired judges -Justices Sikri and Justice Raveendran.(ANI | Posted on 14 August 2023, 1692598878 162O158O94O112)
Suryast Shoot Wrap: Director Avishek Ghosh and Lara Dutta come together again after the heartwarming Ishq-E-Nadaan

Says Lara Dutta, " It has been an incredible experience on one of the most organised sets. I have never had such an intense shoot physically and emotionally and I will not forget playing Avantika in a long time to come. I am glad that I was given this opportunity to explore playing a character like this. It's been one of the most fulfilling experience."Says Patralekhaa Paul, "I enjoyed being part of Suryast. My character has some awesome shades, which I loved playing. I am sure cinema lovers would be in for a treat when the film releases."Says Director Avishek Ghosh, "Suryast has been a subject close to my heart, and we were privileged to have Lara and Patralekhaa joining us. Both lead artists have delivered memorable performances, making the Suryast journey an immersive experience.""Suryast" is a tale of two women who cross paths in an elaborate mind game of cat and mouse, setting it as the perfect revenge drama. Set in a majestic mansion with sprawling lawns in the United Kingdom, the story has all the elements of a mindbending thriller, which will enthrall audiences. The film has been written by Sudeep Nigam, and cinematography has been done by Tiyash Sen.(ANI | Posted on 14 August 2023, 1692598879 172O70O242O40)
Beijing (Gasgoo)- BAIC Group's new energy vehicle brand, ARCFOX, announced last week that the city Navigation Cruise Assistance (NCA) service is available for S HI Pioneer Edition users in Beijing, Chongqing, and Hangzhou.

Photo credit: ARCFOX

The service coverage expansion followed the initial launch of the NCA function in such cities as Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.

In Beijing, the coverage of the city NCA service extends to areas such as the Yizhuang area, Haidian District, and Shunyi District, with plans to gradually include the Fifth Ring Inner Road and closed-loop roads.

In Chongqing, the NCA high-precision map covers over 5,800 kilometers of the citys road network, spanning core areas including Yuzhong District, Dadukou District, and Jiangbei District.

In Hangzhou, the NCA service encompasses the city's central region, covering a distance of over 3,000 kilometers.

Photo credit: ARCFOX

The S HI Pioneer Edition model, which hit the market on May 19 this year at 329,800 yuan, boasts 34 perception hardware components, including 3 LiDAR sensors, 6 millimeter-wave radar sensors, 12 ultrasonic sensors, 9 ADS cameras, and 4 panoramic cameras, enabling a 360-degree detection perspective. The vehicle utilizes Huawei's MDC810 intelligent driving computing platform for execution and processing.

Since its debut, the S HI Pioneer Edition has accumulated an intelligent driving distance of one million kilometers. The farthest single-car single-trip journey the vehicle achieved under NCA-enabled condition reached 1,931 kilometers. Notably, the vehicle's parking spot recognition accuracy stands at 96%, said ARCFOX. High-speed NCA function for the model has been deployed in 261 cities, covering a total distance of over 310,000 kilometers.

ARCFOX stated that the launch of the City NCA service in six cities signifies the brand's accelerated advancement in urban applications of intelligent driving. Looking ahead, as OTA updates continue, the S HI Pioneer Edition is poised to feature Huawei ADS 2.0 technology in the near future.
An archive of pet columns from the UI College of Veterinary Medicine is at vetmed.illinois.edu/petcolumns. Requests for reprints of this article may be directed to Chris Beuoy at beuoy@illinois.edu.
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How Fani Willis oversaw what might be the most sprawling legal case against Donald Trump

Just one month after Donald Trumps January 2021 phone call to suggest Georgias secretary of state could overturn his election loss, district attorney Fani Willis announced she was looking into possibly illegal attempts to influence the results
Mary Lucille Hays teaches writing at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and at Zhejiang University in Haining, China. If youre missing your weekly dose of Birdland Letters in The News-Gazette, you can still read them every week in the Piatt County Journal-Republican. Consider subscribing to support your small-town newspaper. You can see photos of her travels on Instagram (@BirdlandLetters). Mary can be reached at letterfrombirdland@gmail.com or via snail mail care of the Journal-Republican, 118 E. Washington St., Monticello, IL 81856.
In a recent study published in The Lancet Global Health journal, researchers evaluated the impact of nutritional support in Indian adults with microbiologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis. The study aimed to assess the impact of micro- and macronutrient supplementation on tuberculosis treatment success, outcomes, and mortality in the study cohort.

Background

Tuberculosis remains a significant public health concern worldwide. In 2021, around three million people had tuberculosis and 494,000 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative tuberculosis patients died in India. Early diagnosis, comorbidity management, high-quality care, and thorough assessment are necessary to prevent tuberculosis-linked deaths.

Furthermore, undernutrition is a prevalent tuberculosis comorbidity in countries like India with high tuberculosis burden. Undernourished active tuberculosis patients are at risk of drug toxicity, disease relapse, and tuberculosis-associated mortalities.

Although World Health Organization (WHO) advises nutritional counseling, support, and assessment for tuberculosis, these guidelines are not always followed. While research has indicated that undernutrition management may lower tuberculosis mortality, there are conflicting results regarding the effects of micronutrient and macronutrient supplementation during tuberculosis treatment.

About the study

In the present study, the investigators determined how nutritional support impacts tuberculosis treatment efficacy, tuberculosis-linked mortality, and other outcomes across the reducing activation of tuberculosis through the improvement of nutritional status (RATIONS) patient group over a six-month intervention period.

RATIONS is a cluster-randomized, field-based controlled trial analyzing the impact of nutritional support among household contacts of adult microbiologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Jharkhand, India.

Patients aged 18 years or older from 28 tuberculosis units of the National tuberculosis elimination program (NTEP) were enrolled in the study. The present trial was embedded within the NTEP in four districts of Jharkhand: West Singhbhum, Saraikela-Kharsawan, Ranchi, and East Singhbhum.

Household contacts of the tuberculosis patients were eligible for the trial if they resided with the index patient, shared the same kitchen, and did not have an active tuberculosis diagnosis.

Both subject populations in RATIONS, i.e., tuberculosis patients and their household contacts, received nutritional support in the form of micronutrient pills and food rations, i.e., 52 g of protein and 1200 kcal per day.

The patients were nutritionally supported for six months in case of drug-susceptible tuberculosis and 12 months in case of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. Moreover, drug-susceptible tuberculosis patients were eligible for a six-month extension in nutrition support if they had a body mass index (BMI) below 18.5 kg/m2 at treatment completion.

The team recorded baseline diabetes status, modified Eastern cooperative oncology group (ECOG) performance status, and BMI. Subsequently, weight gain and clinical outcomes such as tuberculosis mortality, treatment success, alteration in performance status, and loss to follow-up were documented at six months.

Tuberculosis mortality predictors were evaluated leveraging Poisson and Cox regression employing adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRRs).

Results

The research team noted that 2,800 tuberculosis patients, including 1,979 males (70.7%) and 821 females (29.3%), with a mean age of 37.3 years for females and 41.5 years for males, were enrolled in the study between 16 August 2019 and 31 January 2021.

Most participants were from indigenous communities, known as scheduled tribes, engaged in physical labor, and received subsidized food rations from the public distribution system. Around 40% of the participants did not have formal education. Of 2,264 tested participants, 6 (0.3%), had tuberculosis-HIV co-infection, and of the total 2800 participants, 139 (5%), had diabetes.

Further, 2,291 (82.4%), participants had a BMI less than 18.5 kg/m2 and hence were underweight, and the BMI of 480 (17.3% ) participants were below 14 kg/m2 during enrolment. Mean BMI and weight were 16.4 kg/m2 and 42.6 kg for men and 16.2 kg/m2 and 36.1 kg for women, respectively.

In addition, of the 2676 participants, 54% or 1444 patients, demonstrated weight gain of around 5% of their baseline weight at two months. An association was found between decreased tuberculosis-linked mortality and relative and absolute weight gain during the initial two months across the Cox regression analysis.

Tuberculosis mortality predictors included BMI, baseline weight, hemoglobin, diabetes, and poor performance status. A 5% weight gain during the two months was associated with a reduced mortality risk.

At the six-month follow-up, five patients experienced treatment failure, 28 patients were lost to follow-up, 108 participants died due to tuberculosis, and 2,623 participants achieved treatment success. There was a median weight gain of 4.6 kg; however, 1,441 (54.8%) of 2,630 participants remained underweight.

Conclusions

The study results showed that undernutrition was a serious, potentially lethal, and widely prevalent comorbidity among Indian pulmonary tuberculosis patients. While the study reported that baseline body weight was a tuberculosis mortality risk factor, they also noted that weight gain with nutritional support during the initial two months was related to a considerably lowered mortality risk during treatment.

The findings indicated that the nutritional support strategy through micronutrients and food baskets was a practical solution that was linked to performance status normalization, higher treatment success rates, lower loss to follow-up, and improved weight gain in most tuberculosis patients, compared to the NTEP data.

The researchers suggest that tuberculosis programs in India and other nations with high undernutrition and tuberculosis rates should routinely evaluate hemoglobin levels, performance status, and nutritional status during tuberculosis diagnosis, offer graded nutritional support, and provide close supervision and inpatient care referrals during the intensive phase of the illness.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On August 11, Chinese power battery giant CATL and POWERCHINA (Power Construction Corporation of China), a state-owned infrastructure construction company, inked a framework agreement to carry out strategic cooperation in multiple areas including energy storage and global business expansion, according to CATLs WeChat account.

Photo credit: CATL

This collaboration, poised to create synergies across various sectors, encompasses a multifaceted approach spanning research into cutting-edge energy storage applications, cooperative ventures in energy storage products and industries, expansion into both domestic and international energy markets, smart energy and smart city demonstration projects, comprehensive renewable energy bases embracing wind, solar, hydro, and thermal sources, energy storage equipment manufacturing bases, as well as venturing into international markets.

POWERCHINA boasts a global footprint extending across 130 countries and regions. The conglomerate assumes a pioneering role in clean and low-carbon energy, water resources, and environmental development, fueled by its integrated "invest, construct, operate" capabilities that encompass the entire industry chain. In tandem, CATL emerges as a premier global innovator in the realm of new energy technologies, wielding a competitive edge in advanced energy storage R&D, manufacturing, operations, and comprehensive lifecycle services. This collaboration thus unites two industry powerhouses at the forefront of China's transition towards environmentally conscious and sustainable practices, deepening the integration of their respective industry chains.
In a recent study published in The Lancet Planetary Health, researchers explore the role of particulate matter within the environment to facilitate the spread of genetic elements responsible for antibiotic resistance.

Study: Association between particulate matter (PM)25 air pollution and clinical antibiotic resistance: a global analysis. Image Credit: Kodda / Shutterstock.com

Introduction

Antibiotic resistance remains an urgent public health issue, as millions of people die every year as a result of bacterial infections caused by pathogens that have become resistant to multiple antibiotics. In 2019, about 1.3 million deaths were attributed to antibiotic resistance, which is almost double the estimated number that was reported in 2016.

Antibiotic resistance is the result of the overuse and misuse of antibiotics. Notably, the genes responsible for antibiotic resistance are transferred between bacteria. Both these genes and resistant bacteria can spread rapidly throughout the world, as well as across species and ecosystems.

Antibiotic resistant bacteria and genes are commonly isolated from hospitals and livestock farms, where they subsequently enter the sewage systems and other parts of the ecosystem, including the air.

Air is the primary route for atmospheric dissemination of antibiotic resistance, with fine particulate matter 2.5 (PM 2.5 ) known to contain multiple types of these bacteria and genes. PM 2.5 alone may permeabilize the cell membrane, thus facilitating the efficient transfer of antibiotic resistance genes between bacteria. This can contribute to the more rapid exchange of these elements and ultimately accelerate the evolution of more deadly antibiotic resistance elements.

The aim of the current study was to provide quantitative evidence of how PM 2.5 affects antibiotic resistance. To this end, data from over 11.5 million cultured isolates were obtained, with 43 types of antibiotics being tested against nine pathogens including Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli.

What did the study show?

A significant association of PM 2.5 was observed with antibiotic resistance throughout various regions of the world. This relationship was consistently seen with most antibiotic-resistant bacteria, with a time-dependent increase in the strength of association.

PM 2.5 is the single most important factor in antibiotic resistance, as it outweighs the effects of antibiotic use, drinking water provision, and current health expenditure. The abundance of antibiotic resistance genes in PM 2.5 is higher than in soil, rivers, sediments, and some treatment systems.

For example, with K. pneumoniae, a rise by 1% in PM 2.5 was associated with a rise of 1.5% in carbapenem resistance. Aminoglycoside resistance showed a similar rise, while resistance to multiple other commonly used antibiotics such as amoxycillin-clavulanate, fluoroquinolones, polymyxins, and third-generation cephalosporins increased by 0.6-1.4%.

Rising antibiotic resistance was due to the acquisition of resistance elements through PM 2.5 . In 2018, this accounted for about 500,000 premature deaths, which amounts to a loss of almost 18 million years of life worldwide. In terms of welfare expenditure, the financial consequence of antibiotic resistance is estimated at $400 billion USD each year.

Overall, each unit of rise in PM 2.5 could lead to an increase in antibiotic resistance by 0.43%, which is comparable to the rise of 0.48% per unit increase in antibiotic use. PM 2.5 was among the primary drivers of antibiotic resistance, as it accounted for about 11% of variations.

In north Africa and west Asia, antibiotic resistance rose to about 20%. These continents currently have the highest rates of antibiotic resistance and are also likely to suffer the most from rising PM 2.5 levels.

China and India could be the countries where changes in PM25 have the largest effect on premature deaths attributable to antibiotic resistance due to their large populations.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has set an air quality standard that recommends no more than five g/m3 of PM 2.5 . If countries throughout the world achieve this standard by 2050, the global prevalence of antibiotic resistance will likely decrease by about 17%, in addition to preventing about 25% of premature deaths and yearly savings of about $640 billion USD.

Without intervention, antibiotic resistance will increase by an estimated 17%, with annual deaths from resistant infections also rising to 56%, which amounts to about 0.84 million deaths in 2050.

Importantly, various interventions have successfully reduced the adverse outcomes associated with antibiotic resistance. Some of these measures include doubling the current health expenditure, reducing current antibiotic use by at least 50%, achieving WHO-standard PM 2.5 levels, and providing universal access to basic drinking water.

What are the implications?

This pioneering analysis of how PM 2.5 levels affect clinical antibiotic resistance throughout the world demonstrates a consistent rise in antibiotic resistance with increasing PM 2.5 levels. These findings may support the development of novel strategies to control antibiotic resistance from an ecological perspective.

Our results highlight that controlling air pollution to reduce PM25 concentrations might lead to substantial health and economic benefits by reducing antibiotic resistance.
Direct flight services from Kerala to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam were launched from the Cochin International Airport on Saturday.

The Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), in a statement issued on Sunday, said the new flight service by Vietnamese airline Vietjet was a significant milestone for it.

The new flight service has resulted in adding 45 flights connecting Kochi to Southeast Asian destinations, CIAL said.

The launch ceremony was inaugurated by Jay L Lingeswara, Vice President (Commercial) of Vietjet, who expressed overwhelming gratitude for the positive response from passengers of both nations, the CIAL statement said.

The inaugural flights on this momentous day operated at full capacity. It signifies the growing demand for direct connectivity between Kochi and Vietnam.

I am also optimistic about expanding this connectivity by introducing additional flights from other Vietnam cities to the Kochi route, thereby fostering stronger ties and facilitating seamless travel," said Lingeswara is quoted as having said in the statement.

The new flight service was announced on July 11, a few days after Vietnamese Ambassador, Nguyen Thanh Hai, met Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on July 5 and promised to start a direct flight service between Ho Chi Minh City and Kochi.

After the meeting, Vijayan had said in a tweet that the direct flight service would enhance ties between Kerala and Vietnam and also boost the states tourism and development.

The direct flight service, designated as VJ1811, will operate four days a week - on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, it said.

Departing from Ho Chi Minh City at 19:20 hours, the flight is scheduled to arrive at Cochin International Airport at 22:50 hours and the return flight, VJ1812, will depart from Kochi at 23:50 hours, reaching Ho Chi Minh City at 06:40 hours, it added.

This service marks a historic milestone for CIAL as it establishes the first direct air link between Kerala and Vietnam, creating a significant avenue for both business and leisure travel.

Furthermore, this new addition complements CIALs existing flight services to various Southeast Asian destinations, enhancing the airports connectivity and reinforcing its status as a vital hub for international travel," the statement said.

It further said that the partnership between CIAL and Vietjet proves an ever-evolving landscape of aviation and a celebration of shared goals in providing seamless, convenient, and reliable air travel experiences".
Late Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, affectionately remembered as Indias Big Bull for his astute stock market investments, left behind a substantial estate valued in billions upon his demise at the age of 62. As his family mourns his passing, his wife Rekha Jhunjhunwala is steadfastly shouldering the responsibility of safeguarding his legacy, financial heritage, and significant stock portfolio.

With an adept hand, Rekha Jhunjhunwala has taken over the reins of her husbands business operations and stock holdings, skillfully overseeing a diversified portfolio that spans numerous companies and generates substantial profits in crores of rupees. In the wake of her husbands death, Rekha has been cautious about stepping into his shoes, visiting the office only when necessary.

Preserving the legacy means guaranteeing that her children grasp his mindset and principles," Rekha shared in a recent interview. She emphasizes that while the wealth aspect is important, her late husband provided them with security and meticulously planned for their future. Even their new residence, a testament to his vision, was meticulously designed by Rakesh Jhunjhunwala in collaboration with architects and designers.

A year has passed since the untimely demise of the renowned investor, and the Jhunjhunwala family has recently transitioned to a new residence. Despite reservations about leaving their cherished penthouse at Il Palazzo, Rekha was gradually coaxed into the move by her children, who cleverly shifted their belongings over time. The new home marks the beginning of a new chapter for the family while preserving the memories of their former abode.

Rakesh Jhunjhunwalas journey, starting as a full-time professional with a modest Rs 5,000 in 1985, has become legendary. His legacy lives on through his wife, who Forbes magazine now recognizes as one of the wealthiest women in India, boasting a remarkable net worth of $5.7 billion. The most valuable asset in her portfolio is Titan, a watch and jewellery manufacturer under the Tata Group. Riding the wave of Titans shares surging by 65 per cent, Rekha Jhunjhunwala has reaped substantial gains, amassing Rs 2,400 crore.

In a strategic move, Rare Enterprises, the private equity investment and asset management firm established by Rakesh Jhunjhunwala in 2003, divested 4.98% of shares in Rallies a month ago, selling them back to Tata Chemicals for Rs 208 crore. This move further highlights the strategic acumen that both Rakesh and Rekha Jhunjhunwala are known for.
SpiceJet on Monday reported a net profit of Rs 205 crore for the first quarter ended June 2023 on the back of strong demand for air travel in India, according to a statement. It is compared to a net loss of Rs 789 crore in the year-ago quarter, and is a 126 per cent jump on a quarter-on-quarter basis.

Spicejets operating expenses during April-June 2023 stood at Rs 1,291 crore as against Rs 2,072 crore in the year-ago period, according to the statement.

Following the results, shares of Spicejet on Monday, August 8, were trading higher by Rs 1.34 or 4.25 per cent at Rs 32.89 apiece on the BSE.

On an Ebitda basis, profit was Rs 525 crore for the reported (June 2023) quarter against a loss of Rs 393 crore for the quarter ending June 30, 2022. Total operating revenue for the reported quarter was Rs 2,002 crore as against Rs 2,457 crore in the same quarter of the previous year," Spicejet said in the statement.

The airline lowered its net loss to Rs 1,503 crore in FY2023 compared to Rs 1,725 crore in FY2022. For the same comparative period, SpiceJet reported operating revenue of Rs 8,869 crore in FY2023 as against Rs 6,557 crore in FY2022.

SpiceJet completed the hive-off of its logistics platform into a separate entity, SpiceXpress and Logistics Private Limited effective April 1, 2023. Consequent to the hive-off, there is an improvement of net worth in SpiceJet to the tune of Rs 2,557 crore (from negative Rs 4,288 crore to negative Rs 3,232 crore i.e. positive variance by 25 per cent).

Ajay Singh, chairman and managing director of SpiceJet, said, Despite facing multiple challenges, we have posted a profit in Q1 FY2024. Our teams relentless efforts and dedication and the continuous support from our valued customers have been pivotal in this success. I firmly believe in the potential of our airline, and I am pleased to have contributed to its growth by infusing Rs 500 crore into the company."

He added that this infusion will help bolster our efforts in reviving the airlines grounded planes, for which we have been working tirelessly, strengthening the fleet and expanding cargo operations.

Our logistics arm continues to soar. It is exceptional performance, with sustained profits, has been a driving force, contributing to our overall success. We remain focused on adapting to the changing landscape of the aviation industry, identifying and seizing new opportunities, and steering our airline towards greater heights," Ajay Singh said.

In terms of operational parameters, SpiceJet had the highest passenger load factor among all airlines in the country. The average domestic load factor was 92 per cent for the March 2023 quarter and 88 per cent for FY2023. SpiceJet had the highest load factor of 90 per cent in Q1FY2024.
The Banaras Hindu University (BHU) announced that the result for seat allotment of postgraduate (PG) programmes will release after August 15. The BHU PG seat allotment result will be issued on the official website at bhuonline.in. The BHU PG admissions 2023-24 will be done at the respective departments only after 15.08.2023, reads the official notice. The result of PG programs 2023-24 will be announced after 15.08.2023, it added.

The BHU PG seat allotment result was earlier scheduled to be released after August 11 but it got rescheduled. Once the seat allotment result is declared, the university directed all the registered candidates to prioritise the regular seat option over the paid seat option for their preferred course. The online registration process for BHU PG admission was active till July 31.

If a student selects a paid seat despite being eligible for a regular seat on merit, the candidate will be assigned the paid seat. It is to be noted that the allotment of seats will be made following the candidates Preference Order and merit.

Furthermore, if an applicant selects both the MA Hindi paid seat and the MA Hindi regular seat, the student will be assigned to the MA Hindi paid seat (first option) even if he/she meets the merit standards for the MA Hindi regular seat (second choice).

BHU PG Seat Allotment Result 2023: Steps To Download

Step 1: Go to BHUs official portal at bhuonline.in.

Step 2: On the homepage, look for and click on the PG Seat Allotment Result 2023

Step 3: As a new page opens, select the programme applied for.

Step 4: The BHU PG Seat Allotment Result 2023 will appear on the screen.

Step 5: Check and download the PG Seat Allotment Result 2023.

Candidates will be admitted based on their performance in the Common University Entrance Test Postgraduate (CUET PG) 2023. Before registering for the BHU PG course, candidates needed to check their eligibility for the programme to which they wished to apply.

The merit list for PG admissions will be prepared by BHU based on the marks received by candidates in the Common University Entrance Test for the subject chosen, as well as the scores acquired by them in the corresponding disciplines at the bachelors level.
The Board of School Education Haryana (BSEH) has begun the rechecking and revaluation process for the Class 12 senior secondary compartment result 2023. Students in the BSEH senior secondary curriculum (academic and open) who have scored more than 90% in any subject may now apply for the re-evaluation of their answer books. Re-evaluation and rechecking options are only available if an answer book is available with the Board.

According to BSEH, if the answer book is unavailable for whatever reason, only the candidates prior marks on his or her original marks sheet will be taken into account. The board is not required to reevaluate and recheck in such a situation, it was added. The students bank account will receive the reimbursement of the fee in such circumstances.

By August 31, applications and fees for rechecking can only be submitted online. The cost for rechecking the HBSE senior secondary exam paper from July 2023 is Rs 250 every answer book, while the cost for reevaluating the assessment paper is Rs 1,000 per answer book. Any rise in a subjects score, even if its only by one mark, will be added to the subjects overall grade.

Similarly, according to BSEH, the results will remain the same if marks are reduced or decreased during the re-evaluation. The answer book will be sent to the third examiner for additional re-evaluation if there is an increase of 15% or more in marks in any subject, and in that case the average of the marks given by the second and third examiners will be given in accordance with the Boards established rules and regulations.

Meanwhile, the Haryana Education Minister Kanwar Pal said students of the state government schools who will plant a tree when they are in class 9 and nurture it till class 12 would receive an additional 15 marks in their 12th class. A detailed proposal in this regard will soon be notified, he added. He said these marks are to be awarded on the basis of the health of the planted tree.
 For the last two years, the world has been restricted to homes. Daily activities that couldnt be managed without stepping out, came indoors all at once  from office to grocery shopping and schools. As the world accepts the new normal, News18 launches weekly classes for school children, explaining key chapters with examples from happenings around the world. While we try to simplify your subjects, a request to break down a topic can be tweeted @news18dotcom

After Independence, our countrys freedom fighters and politicians had various tasks from financial crisis to refugees issues to princely states to unemployment and health issues of the masses. According to the NCERTs class 8 history book chapter India After Independence, 8 million refugees had come to India from Pakistan. Thereafter came the problem of the princely states. After independence, there were almost 500 independent princely states governed by Maharajas who had to be persuaded to join the new nation.

The problems of the refugees and of the princely states had to be addressed immediately. Further, the adoption of the political system that would best serve the hopes and expectations of its population remained the most worrisome concern of the leaders. Other issues of our independent motherland were divisions between high and low castes, diversity, lack of education, and poverty.

As India is set to celebrate its 77th Independence Day tomorrow, August 15, lets trace the Indian history soon after our countrys Independence on August 15, 1947.

THE NEED FOR CONSTUTITION

Some three hundred Indians attended a series of talks on the countrys political destiny between December 1946 and November 1949. Although this Constituent Assembly" had its meetings in New Delhi, its members came from all over India and various political parties. Following these talks, the Indian Constitution was drafted and adopted on January 26, 1950.

Features of the Indian Constitution:

 The Constitution adopted the universal adult franchise as one of its features. The right to vote in state and federal elections will be extended to all Indians over the age of 21. This was a groundbreaking move because Indians had never before been permitted to select their own leaders.

 The Constitutions provision of equality before the law for all people, regardless of caste or religion, was a further characteristic that makes the Indian constitution stands apart.

 The Constitutions provision of special rights for the most underprivileged and impoverished Indians was its third component. The slur and blot" on the fair name of India"- untouchability was thus removed from the future of our country.

 Our constitution formed three separate lists  Union List, State List and Concurrent List. Union List includes subjects such as taxes, defence and foreign affairs solely governed by the centre. State List comprised education and health, which would be taken care of principally by the states. Concurrent List such as forests and agriculture where centre and the states would have joint responsibilities.

PLANNING TOWARDS DEVELOPMENT

Creating a sophisticated industrial base and rescuing India and its people from poverty were two of the new countrys main goals. A planning commission was established by the government in 1950 to assist in developing and implementing effective economic development plans. There was broad consensus regarding the mixed economy model.

The second five-year plan was created in 1956. This put emphasis on the growth of heavy industries like steel and the construction of big dams. The industries would be governed by the government. The states attempt to regulate the economy and its emphasis on heavy industries served as the foundation for economic policy over the following several decades.

INDIAS FREE AND INDEPENDENT FOREIGN POLICY

India attained independence soon after the end of the Second World War. Among the devastation of the war, a world organisation, what is today known as United Nations was founded in 1945. It was also the time when there was a power struggle and ideological disagreements between the USA and the USSR.

Further, colonial empires were dissolving and other nations gained independence. Free Indias foreign policy was created in this setting by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who also served as the newly independent Indias foreign minister. The cornerstone of this foreign policy was non-alignment. The non-aligned movement, which was spearheaded by statesmen from Egypt, Yugoslavia, Indonesia, Ghana, and India, pushed nations not to join either of the two major alliances. It was not a matter of remaining neutral" or isolated" that this policy of avoiding alliances was followed.

To learn about other topics taught in school, explained by News18, here is a list of other Classes With News18: Queries Related to Chapters on Elections | Sex Versus Gender | Cryptocurrencies | Economy & Banks | How to Become President of India | Post Independence Struggle | How India Adopted Its Flag | Formation of States & United India | Tipu Sultan | Indian Teachers Day Different from Rest of the World |Queen Elizabeth & Colonialism | Chandrayaan 3 | Article 370 |
Delhi University will release the BTech round two seat allotment results today. Students who have registered for the seat allotment and admission should access the results at admission.uod.ac.in. As scheduled, the seat allotment results will be announced today at 5 PM. After taking into account the all-India common rank list (CRL) of the JEE Main 2023 examination, the DU round 2 seat allocation list for BTech admission 2023 will be issued.

DU BTech Admissions 2023: Steps To Download

Step 1 - Go to DU admissions website - admission.uod.ac.in

Step 2 - Click on the allotment list on the homepage

Step 3 - The result will appear on the screen

Step 4 - Download and save

For round 2 seat allocation, DU will give preference according to program merit, category (UR, OBC, NCL, SC, ST, and EWS), and the availability of seats. The Delhi University offers up to 120 seats for each of its BTech programs. Candidates who are happy with the round-2 seat allocation list for DU must report. Beginning on August 21 and running through August 22, the mid-entry and opportunity for upgrades will be available.

For computer science and engineering, electronic and communication engineering, and electrical engineering, separate seat allocation lists for round 2 will be released. For round-2, the status of the DU engineering seat allocation will be made public at engineering.uod.ac.in.

In addition to the JEE Main results, applicants must receive an overall grade of at least 60% in math, physics, and chemistry. Students must have passed class 12 from a single recognized board and have completed English as a topic of study. A total of 360 seats will be distributed among the three programs, with 120 seats going to each of the three courses in computer science and engineering, electronics and communication engineering, and electrical engineering.

Meanwhile, DU has released the second merit list for the Undergraduate courses. Students can download or access the merit list by logging into their student portal at admission.uod.ac.in. The list will contain information on the open seats after the first round of admissions has been completed. From August 10 through August 14, colleges can review and approve the online applications.
Studying abroad can be financially challenging for many meritorious students who often opt out due to the expensive course fee, visa charges, accommodation and food expenses. Therefore, scholarships help many to pursue their dreams. News18 Scholarship Guide brings the best and most prestigious grants for Indian students to study abroad, with most of them covering flight tickets, accommodation and course fee; and some also providing stipend.

In order to get admission to the top college or university abroad, one must have full focus and energy, believes Karan Jayakumar, a Bengaluru native, who is currently pursuing Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne  the top ranking university in Australia. Jaykumar is a beneficiary of Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarship, which offers rebate in tuition fee for international students studying at the varsity.

Jaykumar believes what worked in his favour was his conscious decision to keep his dream to study abroad at the forefront and not pursue any other competitive exam which could distract him from his goal.

Despite coming from a science background, I made a conscious decision not to appear for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE). It was a risky move as I essentially focused all my efforts on a single path, hoping for a stroke of luck to work in my favour. Fortunately, things turned out well for me in the end, he told News18.com.

ALSO READ: Scholarship Guide | Shah Rukh Khan, JN Tatas Among Top 8 Grants to Study in Australia

I would recommend putting in maximum efforts during the high school to increase your chances of securing a scholarship, which can significantly alleviate the financial burden of studying abroad. The availability of scholarships is consistently expanding, and universities have started offering financial aid to students from low and middle-income families. I believe its worth taking a shot at applying for scholarships because you have nothing to lose and everything to gain, including valuable experience, he added.

Despite being an international student, Jaykumar does not believe that studying abroad is the only way to access quality education. There are numerous excellent universities in India that can provide an equally outstanding education. Moreover, my experience in Melbourne has taught me that job recruiters consider a multitude of factors beyond just the university attended.

Scholarship Journey

The 20-year-old completed his schooling under IB board from Bangalore International School. I made the decision to focus on four subjects at the higher level, namely physics, economics, computer science, and mathematics. Additionally, I studied English and Spanish at the standard level. It is with great pride that I achieved a perfect score of 45 out of 45 in the IB Diploma Program, he said.

Due to his academic performance, he got selected for the University of Melbournes scholarship which is granted to nearly 1,000 students from across the world every year.

Had he not got the scholarship, he would have considered taking the JEE entrance exam for admission to Indian colleges as one of his options.

ALSO READ: Scholarship Guide | Top 8 Govt & University Grants That Will Help Fulfil Your Dream to Study in US

If I had not been awarded the scholarship, I would have likely considered pursuing my higher education in a university or college in India. I would have had to weigh two options: either start preparation for JEE and defer university enrolment by approximately a year, or consider a less renowned university that does not require the JEE for admission.

Luckily for him, he got admission as well as scholarship offers from not just University of Melbourne but also Chancellors scholarship offers from Australian National University and University of Sydney. But he opted for UoM.

The admission process for my chosen university was straightforward and transparent, facilitated through the universitys website. To my delight, I was honoured to receive the Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarship, which had a specific criterion for eligibility: attaining a minimum score of 42 in the IB Program, he said.

Most of the universities in Australia offer scholarships based on academic performance which are automatically processed with the students college admission forms.

I discovered that there are also agencies available that simplify the application process for multiple Australian universities simultaneously. This alternative option can be particularly helpful for international students as it ensures that all necessary documents and requirements are efficiently submitted to multiple universities, increasing the chances of securing admission, he suggested.

ALSO READ: Scholarship Guide | Studying in UK Can Be Affordable, Less Daunting; News18 Brings You Top 10 Grants

Life at University of Melbourne

Claiming that people of Melbourne have been friendly and approachable, Jaykumar believes studying abroad in a different cultural setting has helped him in adulting.

Embracing independent living has been a valuable lesson in the art of adulting, where Ive had to take charge of everything without relying on constant assistance. This transition from a more sheltered environment, where I was accustomed to a more laid-back lifestyle, has been quite the contrast. However, over time, I have managed to adapt and become more self-reliant, feeling prepared and confident to face any obstacles that may arise.

ALSO READ: Scholarship Guide | Based on Your Needs & Merit, Top 10 Grants in Canada with Lowest Spending

To sustain his life abroad, he is also pursuing a part-time job at KFC. Balancing my studies and work is crucial, and I have implemented effective strategies to maintain harmony between the two. I prioritise and organise my schedule diligently, considering my class timings, study hours, and work shifts. This enables me to allocate dedicated time for each aspect and ensure that neither my studies nor my work suffer. Additionally, open communication with my supervisors and colleagues is vital. By informing them about my class schedules and study requirements in advance, we can coordinate work shifts and ensure that my work commitments do not conflict with important academic obligations.
The Dr A P J Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU) Lucknow will release the Uttar Pradesh (UP) BTech counselling 2023 round 1 seat allotment result today, August 14. Candidates who enroled in the first round of UP BTech counseling 2023 can view their seat allocation results at uptac.admissions.nic.in.

UP BTech Round One Seat Allotment: Steps To Check

The steps listed below can be used by applicants who took the JEE Main test in 2023, qualified, and have enroled in the first round of UP BTech counseling to view the seat allocation results.

Step 1- Go to uptac.admissions.nic.in, the official website to check round one seat allotment results.

Step 2- Select the seat allocation result link from the homepage.

Step 3- Log in with your roll number and password.

Step 4- Now, you can view the 2023 UP BTech seat allocation results.

UP BTech Round One Seat Allotment Schedule

-For registration, fee payment and document: July 24 to August 5

-Document verification by respective colleges: July 25 to August 6

-Responding to queries on round one: July 25 to August 7

-Document verification by colleges: July 25 to August 9

-Online preference option and locking: August 10 to August 13

-Seat allotment by college: August 14

-Fee payment with seat confirmation: August 14 to August 16

-Online acceptance of seat: August 14 to August 16

Candidates who received a seat in the first round of selection must pay Rs 12,000 for students in the SC and ST categories and Rs 20,000 for general and OBC candidates by August 16 in order to confirm their seat. Five rounds of UPTAC counseling, plus two spot rounds, will be held by the AKTU in 2023.

Based on the results of the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main, the number of open seats, and the number of choices expressed, candidates will be assigned seats. The seat allotment list for round 2 will be released on August 19. Round 2 choice filling, editing, and locking will start on August 17 and continue through August 18.
VEENDAM, The NetherlandsONE-DC, a leading name in adult lifestyle products, on Monday announced a strategic partnership with Entrenue & Nalpac, two premier distributors in the adult novelty industry.

The collaboration involves an exclusive distribution deal, wherein Entrenue and Nalpac will serve as the sole distributors of the Rosy Gold collection in the United States.

Phoebe Grott, director of marketing and strategic partnerships at Nalpac, expressed her enthusiasm about the collaboration, remarking, "The Rosy Gold collection is sophisticated and priced to attract new shoppers. Nalpac and Entrenue are excited to offer the collection to retailers in the US and will be offering trainings and marketing resources for the launch."

Davey Ottema, a seasoned sales representative from ONE-DC, played a pivotal role in negotiating the exclusive partnership. He commented, "We are thrilled to join hands with Entrenue & Nalpac to bring the Rosy Gold collection to the US market. This partnership will undoubtedly strengthen our position and increase accessibility to the premium products ONE-DC is renowned for. We look forward to working closely with Entrenue & Nalpac to ensure a successful launch and create a lasting impact on retailers and consumers alike."

The Rosy Gold collection includes a range of products designed to enhance the intimacy and pleasure of adult lifestyle enthusiasts.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has urged all the Indian nationals in Niger to leave the country as soon as possible. There are around 250 Indians in the nation facing coup detat, most of them based in the capital Niamey.

Members of the presidential guard overthrow President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26 with the support of the army and demonstrators and declared themselves the nations new leaders. The coup came as a shock to US and European governments that have worked closely with Bazoum and Nigers military in the fight against Islamist militants in Africas Sahel region.

The country of some 25 million people, already reeling under extreme poverty, has been hit by sanctions by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as a result of the coup.

What has MEA Urged Indians in Niger

The government has urged Indians to leave the country and advised them to take land border with utmost precautions. Niger closed its airspace days after the coup amid threats of military intervention from ECOWAS.

In light of the prevailing situation, Indian nationals whose presence is not essential are advised to leave the country as soon as possible. They may bear in mind that air space is currently closed. When departing through a land border, utmost precautions may be taken to ensure safety and security, a statement released by the Ministry said on microblogging site X, formerly known as Twitter.

It also urged those planning to travel to Niger in the coming days to reconsider their travel plans until the situation normalizes. All those Indian nationals who have not registered with the Indian Embassy in Niamey are strongly advised to do so expeditiously, it added.

The Ministry has also issued an emergency contact in the Embassy of India, Niamey, which is +227 99759975.

What is Happening Niger?

Niger ousted president Mohamed Bazoum, 63, and his family have been held at the presidents official Niamey residence since the coup amid mounting concerns over his conditions in detention. General Abdourahamane Tiani, head of the presidential guard has taken over, citing a worsening security situation.

The ECOWAS has imposed sanctions on Niger in response to the coup and has not ruled out using force against the army officers who toppled the elected government last month.

Nigers military leaders said they would prosecute Bazoum for high treason and undermining the internal and external security of Niger", according to a statement read out by Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane on national television.

The coup has received support from a section of people who marched in thousands in the capital Niamey in support of the military. Some demonstrators brandish giant Russian flags and chant anti-French slogans at the rally called to mark the anniversary of Nigers 1960 independence from France.

For the most part, the streets in the capital, Niamey, are calm with sporadic pockets of pro-junta demonstrations. Any pro-Bazoum demonstrations are quickly silenced by security forces.

Tensions with France

The coup unleashes tensions with Nigers former colonial ruler and traditional ally France. Paris evacuates its citizens from August 1 after a violent demonstration outside its embassy.

The military rulers in Niger have also pulled out of several military agreements with France, which has 1,500 soldiers in the country and invested hundreds of millions of dollars along with other European countries in military assistance and training Nigers forces.

Other nations including Italy has evacuated its citizens while the US and UK have evacuated their non-essential embassy staff.

Meanwhile, the military rulers have sought Russias help. Earlier this month, the junta during a trip to neighboring Mali reportedly asked the Russian mercenaries for help.
After Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif dissolved the countrys Parliament on Wednesday, the outgoing prime minister and opposition leader Raja Riaz agreed to name Senator Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar as caretaker premier.

Kakar, a first-time Senator, will be sworn in Monday as the interim premier of the country and will oversee a general election after the dissolution of the lower house of parliament.

Under Pakistani law, a neutral caretaker government oversees the election, which is meant to be held within 90 days, by November. However, there is uncertainty over the date as the nation grapples with constitutional, political and economic crises.

Who is Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar?

Kakar, 52, is an ethnic Pushtun from Balochistan and a member of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP)  a party considered close to the powerful establishment of the country. Balochistan is a region bordering Afghanistan and has witnessed internal turmoil at times in Pakistans history.

According to the channel Geo News, Kakar studied in the city of Quetta and later went to London for his higher education, returning to Pakistan in 2005.

Kakar was elected to the Senate in 2018 and has been a very active politician. He also served as the spokesperson of the Balochistan provincial government before his election to the upper house.

Born in 1971 in the Muslim Bagh area of Qila Saifullah district of Balochistan, he holds a Masters degree in Political Science, Sociology and is an alumnus of the University of Balochistan.

Why Was Kakar Chosen as Interim PM?

Anwarul Haq Kakar was a surprise" candidate for many in the ruling coalition and even those who signed the summary of his nomination were unaware of his candidature.

Kakars name was agreed upon during the final day of consultations between outgoing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Leader of the Opposition in the dissolved National Assembly, Raja Riaz Ahmad on Saturday.

Kakars name came from somewhere else and it had to be accepted by all stakeholders, a member of the outgoing ruling coalition was quoted as saying by the Dawn newspaper. The politician was apparently referring to the powerful military establishment.

Kakar was a surprise" for many in the alliance, in fact, even those who signed the summary of Kakars nomination too were unaware about Kakar"s name," the politician said while responding to a question.

Both sides had already expressed their desire that the caretaker prime minister should be from a smaller province, Leader of Opposition Riaz said. President Arif Alvi would administer the oath to him during a ceremony at Aiwan-e-Sadr, the Presidential Palace, in Islamabad, Radio Pakistan reported.

Why Did the Pakistan Parliament Dissolved?

Though Pakistan has chosen a caretaker government under Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, but there is no confirmation on the dates of the next election.

Though the election is meant to be held within 90 days, by November, there is uncertainty over the date amid the ongoing crises. Kakar and his cabinet will run the government until a national election is held and the winner can secure a parliamentary majority and select a new prime minister.

Will the election happen on time?

The outgoing Shehbaz Sharif government approved a new census in its final days and therefore new electoral boundaries must be drawn up by the Election Commission.

The exercise of drawing fresh boundaries for hundreds of federal and provincial constituencies in a country of 241 million people may take six months or more, according to a former commission official.

The Election Commission has to announce how long it will take to complete the exercise, which may also involve litigation by candidates over the new formations of the constituencies, and, based on that, give an election date.

Will Imran Khan Contest the Election?

Former prime minister and PTI chief Imran Khan, who is also the main opposition leader, cannot fight the upcoming election as he is in jail.

Khan is currently jailed for three years after being convicted on graft charges and is barred from contesting any elections for five years.

His party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), won the last general election in 2018, and he became prime minister until his ouster in a no-confidence vote in 2022. However, Khans party will contest the election.

Who are the Contenders?

There are three main contenders to lead the next government: Khans PTI, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of Shehbaz Sharif and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

Three-time PM Nawaz Sharif, brother of the outgoing prime minister Shehbaz Sharif and whose PML-N was the senior partner in the outgoing coalition government, is seeking a return from exile. But with a corruption conviction against him still in force, Shehbaz remains a front runner to return to power.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, 34, the young chairman of the PPP and son of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, is another key candidate.

(With inputs from agencies)
A woman was killed and more than 20 other people were injured when a truck hit a private bus in Madhya Pradeshs Mauganj district early Monday morning, police said.

The accident took place near Khatkari village on Rewa-Varanasi highway at around 4 am, an official said.

The bus was going to Varanasi (in Uttar Pradesh) from Beohari in MPs Shahdol district. Its driver was changing a punctured tyre when the truck hit the stationary bus from the rear side, Shahpura police station in-charge Abhishek Patel said.

A woman was killed and more than 20 others were injured, five of them critically, he said.

The seriously injured persons were referred for treatment to a hospital in Rewa district, located about 60 km from Mauganj.

The other injured persons were being treated at the Hanumana health centre, the official said.
Even as the Thane Municipal Corporation-run Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (CSM) hospital in Kalwa, on the outskirts of Mumbai, is at the centre of a controversy over 18 deaths in 24 hours over the last weekend, leaders of the Shiv Sena (Shinde camp), including a former mayor, say the Opposition camp is politicising the issue. Meanwhile, Jitendra Awhad, opposition leader and former minister in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, and Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP, have questioned the states inaction.

ALSO READ | After 18 Deaths in 24 Hours, Non-serious Patients Being Shifted from Thane Hospital to Another Facility

The deaths in the civic body-run hospital are unfortunate, but these have happened over 48 hours and not 24 hours. The opposition is unnecessarily targeting Maharashtra Chief Minister (CM) Eknath Shinde because he hails from Thane city. CM Shinde has ordered a probe into it. The officers at fault wont be spared, former mayor Naresh Mhaske said.

During the Covid pandemic, when Shinde and his team was out to help the people of Thane, the opposition leaders were scared to come out of their houses, Mhaske said.

THE MVA ATTACK

Awhad said, I am shocked that none of the government representatives reached there when the incident came to light. So far, no strict action has been taken by the CM against anyone. Forming a committee itself is an indication that no action will be taken against anyone.

He further added that the dean and his hospital staff should be sacked immediately, as there are a lot of complaints from people that despite this being a civic hospital, people have to shell out money for good food, to get a bed near the fan, etc.

Raut criticised Shinde for not visiting the hospital. Shinde is at his native village in Satara district. Even 24 hours after the incident, he has not visited the hospital. The CM claims that he helps everyone and roams around the state, but when people are losing their lives in his own town, he is nowhere to be seen.

Since the day this government came to power, farmers are committing suicides, now 18 people have died in the Kalwa civic hospital, more than 100 people died on the Samruddhi Expressway, a few months ago, in Kharghar, 20 people lost their lives in a government-organised programme Why is the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) silent now? Why are those who were yelling about a scam in Covid centers silent today? Who is responsible for these deaths? The Maharashtra government needs to answer, Raut said.

                .                   .   Sharad Pawar (@PawarSpeaks) August 13, 2023

ISSUES GALORE

As the Thane civic hospital is under maintenance, local patients from the district are coming to the Kalwa civic hospital. Despite a capacity of 500 beds, 600 patients are being treated here, according to reports. There are also reports of shortage of paramedics and doctors in the hospital.

ALSO READ | Heavy Police Force Deployed at Civic Hospital in Thane After Mob Gathers, Alleges Death of 5 Patients in Day; Charge Denied

Source in the TMC told News18 that in the past 15 days, 400 interviews for the vacant posts of doctors and paramedic staff have been conducted. The civic body has also shown the willingness to relax the condition of experience for the candidates who are willing to work in life-saving departments, the source said.

The TMC will be making additional arrangement of ambulances so that patients coming to the Kalwa civic hospital can be shifted to the Thane civic hospital, which has been shifted to another location within the city. The aim is to reduce the burden on the Kalwa unit.
In the wake of the death of 18 patients in 24 hours at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital at Kalwa in Thane, authorities have started shifting other patients, who are not in a serious condition and new admissions, to the Civil Hospital located nearby if they are willing to be relocated, officials said on Monday.

Thanes Additional Municipal Commissioner (in charge of health services) Sandeep Malvi said in the 24 hours ending on Monday morning, three patients died at the civic-run Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (CSM) Hospital, while one patient was brought dead.

The number of deaths at the Kalwa-based hospital has come down in the last 24 hours and the details are being compiled and analysed, he said.

Earlier, the CSM Hospital reported 18 deaths in the 24 hours between Saturday and Sunday, following which Chief Minister Eknath Shinde ordered the setting up of an independent committee to carry out a probe into the clinical aspect of the deaths.

Elaborate police security was also deployed at the medical facility.

The CSM Hospital was over-loaded" and treating nearly 600 patients per day against its capacity of 500, as per officials.

The Civil Hospital located nearby in the city is being renovated, so the load falls on the Kalwa facility, former Thane mayor Naresh Mhakse, who is also spokesperson of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, said on Sunday.

Due to the renovation work at the Civil Hospital, many patients have no option but to rush to the Kalwa-based hospital, as per doctors.

Dr Aniruddha Malgaonkar, medical superintendent of the CSM Hospital, on Monday, said the option of shifting has been left to the patients.

We will shift only those patients who are recovering and from among the new admissions," he said.

The CSM Hospital admits around 150 new patients per day, which has heavily increased its load, he claimed.

The Civil Hospital, located at a short distance from the CSM Hospital, has a capacity of 350 beds and its occupancy is about 50 per cent, as per officials.

Asked about three deaths reported in the last 24 hours compared to 18 in the previous day, a civic official said that on Saturday and a couple of days before it, some extremely serious patients were admitted to the CSM Hospital.

The deaths of patients happened in a short span, and hence attracted public attention, he said.

Most of those among the 18 deceased patients were over 50 years of age and many were referred to the CSM Hospital from private medical facilities, the official said.

There is no medical negligence," he said, adding the hospital staff is extremely cooperative.

A doctor at the CSM Hospital said How do you expect us to ignore the patients when we took care of patients during the Covid-19 pandemic."

He said as per the directions of civic commissioner Abhijit Bangar, they do not refer a patient to any other hospital when the treatment is available at their facility.

Notably, patients from the entire Thane district and surrounding areas come to the CSM Hospital for treatment.

Talking to PTI, Thane MLA Sanjay Kelkar claimed he had informed district guardian minister Shambhuraj Desai about the huge footfall at the CSM hospital.

Maharashtra minister Deepak Kesarkar on Sunday directed that a board be immediately displayed at the Civil Hospital, which is under renovation, to inform people that the facility is not closed. This will reduce the load on the Kalwa hospital, he said.

Guardian minister Desai said he was in touch with the Thane collector and the civic commissioner over the matter.

BJP MLC Niranjan Davkhare, who visited the hospital on Sunday, demanded that the administration increase the number of doctors, nurses and staff, and also ensure proper availability of medicines at the facility.

Davkhare told PTI that it has been decided to shift patients from the Kalwa-based hospital to the Civil Hospital in Thane to reduce the load.
Amendments to the Indian Penal Code, bringing in new provisions, and dropping or changing names of sections have attracted debates on various legal and political grounds.

However, the proposed Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) is also a way of bringing back the Bharatiya language supremacy. The word and expressions related to crown have been dropped from the penal code and more such changes in administration are needed, said a senior RSS functionary.

Shrugging off the British way of calling the criminal codes, Union Home Minister Amit Shah replaced Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and Indian Evidence Act with Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and Bharatiya Sakshya (BS) Bill respectively. To RSS, it is a step forward to the decolonisation process of India, said experts.

Rajdroha Ko Hum completely repeal kar rahe hain yeh Loktantra hai, Shah said while presenting the Bill. Technicalities apart, the idea behind dropping the word sedition was its primary association with monarchy. Lauding the governments efforts to overhaul the criminal justice system, the RSS functionary said, Sedition has always been associated with the crown. The dictionary meaning also says so. Apart from sedition, there are more such words which should not be used in democracy. They are related to a system of monarchy. Over the years, there were reforms, governments amended or tweaked certain rules and regulations. But after 76 years of Independence, we now need Bharatiyata or Indian-ness.

The functionary added: We still use the word collector for district magistrates. Now, both collector and magistrate are very colonial words. Collector means an official who collects taxes. However, this is a service for the people, and the tax people deposit with government exchequers is used in service and development. So those nomenclature should now be refined to suit Indian culture. Beyond reforms, we also need systematic changes, which are now taking place.

They also said not including penal sections or even mentioning the controversial term marital rape is another way of retaining the idea of marriage as an institution, which is a Bharatiya concept. In the past years, the idea of marital rape has been debated enough and has also emerged as contentious issue. Petitions were filed before courts regarding this too.

System reboot

The process began through the education system, bringing in changes in the syllabus and doing away with names connected to Indias colonial past. The process progressed further by building a new set of books reflecting nationalism and Right-wing ideology, making Indian cinema pro-Bharat. Now, this is the time to bring changes in the administration and legal system, not only by amending certain rules or regulations but bringing a change in its cultural space through language.

The process of moving away from English titles of laws or systems, technical, legal or administrative words, promoting official documents in Hindi or in regional languages in case of states started a few years back.

For instance, the investigations by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) were named Operation Garuda for dismantling the drug network, Operation Chakra to crack down on cybercrime, and Operation Trishul to net the fugitives over the past five years. Earlier, the big cases were used to be called scandals such as Bofors, Satyam or as scams like the fodder scam and so on. The new way of naming certain investigations is reflective of Indian culture, said a senior officer of CBI.

Calling a case like an X scam or Y Scandal is a British way of identifying it. We tried to modify that. Garuda is the divine sun bird which is associated with Indian scriptures. Chakra and Trishul are the divine weapons of our Gods. Not only in the CBI, but the change has been happening across ministries, departments and government organisations. We are slowly getting rid of colonial practices and dictions," said a senior IPS officer serving in the CBI.

Talking to News18, Justice L Narasimha Reddy, former chairman of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) and former CJ of Patna High Court said, Apart from the necessary amendments, bringing in Bharatiyata in Indian jurisprudence was necessary. It was long pending. It will enhance our confidence. Why should we still use the westernised administrative and legal framework? he asked.

Hindi supremacy?

Even though the Narendra Modi government and RSS both claim to make the legal and administrative system Bharatiya by dropping all colonial words and expressions, there are some reservations too in the bureaucratic circle.

For the past few years, we have noticed and experienced this change. It is Hindi supremacy too. In the past couple of years, the officers need to deliver their presentations in Hindi during the national conferences which have PM Modi or Amit Shah in attendance. We are asked to work on our Hindi speaking skills. The PPTs, even prepared in English, get translated in Hindi. The officer who is well conversant in Hindi presents it during such conferences while the officer who actually prepared it cannot do so if he is not a confident Hindi-speaking person, said a senior IPS officer, who does not want to be quoted.

However, Justice Reddy said: I understand that the change, especially the language change, will not be easy but it should be accepted by all well-meaning Indians. It will take time in assimilation, but we should reboot the system at some point. Barring a few exceptions, the proposed BNS has been accepted by the legal and administrative fraternity. I understand the issue but most of the regional languages of India come from Sanskrit.

He added: Languages like Malayalam or Bengali are rich in Sanskrit words. I also wish that the government allows liberty to the states to translate the Sanhita in their own languages. In countries like China, Japan and even the western one likes France, Germany and others, every official document is written in their own language. We have seen how airports have successfully used local languages. I am sure that the officers will also be trained for such a systematic change.
Hours after cremating his teenage son, who died by suicide after failing to clear the NEET exam twice in the last two years, photographer Selvasekar hanged himself at their family home in the Chromepet area of Tamil Nadus Chennai on Sunday.

A 19-year-old S Jegadeshwaran completed Class XII in 2022. Since then, he had appeared for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) exam twice, but could not clear it.

Jegadeshwaran allegedly took the extreme step on Saturday afternoon when he was alone at home. When Selvasekar was unable to reach his son on call, he asked the domestic help to check on Jegadeshwaran, who found him hanging in his room.

Their neighbours rushed the boy to a hospital, where he was declared brought dead.

According to his parents, the boy took the extreme step because he was dejected over his inability to clear the examination twice.

Unable to bear his sons loss, Selvasekar ended his life on Sunday. After returning home following Jegadeshwarans last rites, his father hanged himself in the middle of the night, causing great sadness in the area.

Tamil Nadu CM Expresses Grief

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister condoled the demise of Jegadeeswaran and his father, and said, I was shocked to know that Jegadeeswaran from Chromepet, who was a NEET aspirant, committed suicide. When I was thinking of how to console his parents, the next day his father Selvasekar also died by suicide."

I dont know how to console Jegadeeswarans family, friends, and relatives. It is horrible that a bright student who dreamt of becoming a doctor, has now joined the list of NEET suicides," he added.

The Chief Minister urged to not take the extreme step under any circumstances.

I am asking all students - no one should lose their life in any situation. We can definitely remove NEET which is an obstacle to your goals. Tamil Nadu Government is working and taking legal steps towards that," Stalin said.

NEET Politics In Tamil Nadu

NEET is perceived as anti-poor and discriminatory against students of government schools and from rural backgrounds in Tamil Nadu. Since 2017, over two dozen students have died by suicide due to their failure to clear the exam.

The DMK government in the state passed the NEET (exemption) Bill in 2021 but Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi rejected it in February 2022.

Following this, the legislation was passed once again and sent back to him.

On Saturday, Ravi reiterated that he will never give his assent to the anti-NEET bill, which is now pending before the President.
China is running major psyops against Narendra Modi to restrict his return as Indias prime minister in 2024, government officials told CNN-News18 on Monday. Modi is the first PM who took strong steps against China after the Galwan clashes, they added.

No government in India after 1947 spent the kind of money on border infrastructure that the Modi administration did in the past nine years, they said. There has been remarkable road development by the BRO in Arunachal Pradesh, Leh, and other areas near the Line of Actual Control (LAC), officials said.

It was Modis idea to place the XVII Corps in Panagarh (West Bengal), they said.

In Arunachal Pradesh and other areas we have developed logistics facilities like helipad, transit stations, etc," said an official.

On the other hand, Modis strategic partnership with countries known as being close to China is also important, like France, officials said.

India bought Rafale aircraft from France and the two countries have a strategic partnership, they pointed out.

Despite the proximity between China and Russia, we have maintained our ties with Moscow," an official said.

A major blow to Beijing was Indias business restrictions, technology ban, and ban on investments by Chinese companies, officials stated.

India took strong steps of banning Chinese flights during the Covid pandemic, they pointed out.

We earlier used to consider China as a threat but now we have isolated China from Pakistan," said an official.

The development of border infrastructure and theatre command will be game changers, officials said.

China wants a weak leader in New Delhi in 2024 whose access is limited and that is not possible in the Modi era, they added.
India feels that China is also looking for a resolution to the standoff at the Line of Actual Control, or LAC, since the Galwan Valley clash in 2020. And the country is hopeful for forward movement at the military talks between both sides, which are beginning from Monday. The talks are likely to continue for two days and, if that happens, it will be a first.

Top government sources told News18 that there were signs that China was also looking at a resolution to the standoff. China is facing a situation with Taiwan and it may not want trouble on two fronts. Also, the dynamics of the increasing closeness between the US and India is also playing a role. There are some other signals that the Chinese side would want to resolve this, said a top source.

Both sides have been in a standoff since May 2020 and 18 rounds of talks have already taken place. The 19th round of talks comes just a week before Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping come face to face at the BRICS Summit in South Africa, and the latters planned visit to India for the G20 Leaders Summit on September 9 and 10.

National security adviser Ajit Doval and foreign minister S Jaishankar also met the new Chinese foreign minister, Wang Yi, recently to discuss the border standoff and aspects of the bilateral relationship, which may have set the stage.

India does have an advantage when it comes to the standoff at the LAC while some areas are seeing no patrolling by either side. Depsang and Demchok remain two points where the two sides are not in agreement, so far  India wants to restore its patrolling in Depsang Plains and China, on the other hand, wants India to withdraw from points on the LAC where it is in an advantageous position.

A top source said Indian soldiers have shown great courage and bravery to stick to their positions despite adverse circumstances, and India will remain on high vigil.
A notorious threat actor has claimed to have hyper-sensitive and classified data of various Indian forces, including the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Border Security Force, and put it on sale in cyberspace. Threat actors can be a group or an individual involved in illegal cyber activities who pose a risk to an institution or a nation.

A top official dealing with such leaks told News18 that the group or individual has put 70 documents as samples which have been analysed by different agencies working to control, analyse and take action against such leaks.

The threat actor has claimed to have data close to 40 GB containing 21,000 documents in more than 60 folders. As a sample, the group or the individual has uploaded close to 11 MB data to look for a buyer. The notorious threat group has prepared 16 sets of secret and classified data of different forces and put it on sale on a forum.

This was first noticed by a central agency which is also not denying the role of an insider and steps to prevent such leaks have been initiated.

An intimation has been given to all the relevant forces regarding the leak. An alert has also been issued regarding the threat actor (name withheld) who has been targeting Indian security and armed forces.

This threat actor is notorious for releasing Indian defence data on various platforms, a top-level government official said while quoting an official communication.

News18 has sent a query to BSF, Indian Air Force and Indian Army last week regarding the leak and the threat actor and their response is awaited.

The sources claimed that the notorious threat actor has been targeting the cyber system of Indian forces which contains confidential and sensitive data. Earlier, the same actor was noticed leaking data on cyberspace for sale in lieu of thousands of dollars.

All the forces have centralised as well as internal cyber security systems to protect cyber infrastructure from unauthorised access and required action has been initiated to deal with such leaks, another government official claimed.

What do the documents contain?

It has been learnt that the documents shared by the notorious threat actor contain confidential and sensitive information which is restricted to the defence grid of the country. The sources said the leaks have confidential annual reports, including the reports of explosives, notes prepared by forces, technical annual reports, layouts, and information related to communication, deployment etc apart from other sensitive and confidential architectures of Indian forces.

The actor created an account on a forum in June to sell different data and was active on other forums, the official said.
Around northern Arizona, the Slipher name is associated with astronomy. In Frankfort, Indiana, the name is connected to farming. Last week, the two identities met as longtime Lowell Observatory astronomers  and brothers  V.M. and E.C. Slipher were posthumously inducted into their high school hall of fame in Frankfort.

V.M. graduated from Frankfort High School in 1897 and E.C. followed suit four years later. They both attended Indiana University, then spent their entire professional careers as astronomers at Lowell Observatory. They both made significant contributions to their field; among so many other things, V.M. first observed the expanding nature of the universe while E.C. revolutionized photography techniques for studying the planets. They both also served as director of Lowell Observatory (V.M. for several decades) and both served the Flagstaff community (E.C. even served as mayor at one time).

While these contributions are well established in Flagstaff, they were a footnote at best in Frankfort -- that is, until the brothers grandnephew, Clark Slipher, contacted Frankfort High School a few years back. He shared the story of V.M. and E.C. and how much they impacted astronomy, and this ultimately led to last weeks induction into the Frankfort High School Hall of Fame.

As guests of Clark and his wife Diane, my colleague Sherry Shaffer and I traveled to Indiana for the festivities. The induction took place during the communitys annual Hot Dog Festival (Frankfort High is home of the Hot Dogs, the mascot being a fierce-looking dachshund, if one can imagine such a thing).

On the morning of the induction ceremony, we explored the home where V.M. and E.C. grew up (the house and surrounding farmland is still owned by the family), nestled around hundreds of acres of corn and soybean fields. In a cosmically delightful coincidence, to get to the house of the future astronomers, you turn at the drive-thru restaurant namedwait for itthe Milky Way.

In looking around the farmland, one cannot help but see the connection between farming and astronomy, at least how the Sliphers practiced it. Farming requires patience, long hours of work, and a fair bit of tinkering with equipment to keep it running. Astronomy requires the same attributes, and the Sliphers adapted their propensity to tinker with farm equipment to doing the same with telescopes, cameras, and other scientific equipment. This trait allowed them to revolutionize techniques for gathering astronomical data.

After this morning journey through the Breadbasket of America, we participated in a podcast produced by the local library, and then headed over to the high school for the induction ceremony, where I had the honor of speaking on behalf of the Sliphers. We then adjourned to a local pizza parlor, joined by some three dozen members of the Slipher family.

Sherry and I were honored to represent Lowell Observatory and Flagstaff in what now feels like a sister city and pleased that that Hoosier community now celebrates the groundbreaking research conducted by two native sons 1600 miles away. That can perhaps only be topped by the fact that we were also given the title of honorary Hot Dogs and are now forever linked to the fine community of Frankfort.
Ahead of Independence Day, the family of a Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Javid Mattoo on Sunday hoisted the National flag of India at their home in Jammu and Kashmirs Sopore.

A video of Rayees Mattoo, brother of Hizbul terrorist Javid, went viral on social media. In the clip, he can be seen waving the Tricolour from the window of his home.

Javid Mattoo, also known as Faisal/Saqib/Musaib, is an active terrorist associated with the Hizbul Mujahideen terror outfit and among the top 10 targets in the valley on the list of security agencies

Another family of a Hizbul terrorist joined Prime Minister Narendra Modis Har Ghar Tiranga campaign and unfurled the national flag at their residence in Jammu and Kashmirs Kishtwar district.

The family also urged the prime minister to find their son Mudassir Hussain, who joined the terrorist Hizbul Mujahideen in Kashmir, and make him surrender before the government.

Talking to PTI, Hussains father said that his son took on the wrong path and thus, the government should find him.

My son has taken the wrong path. We request the government to find him. We hoisted the national flag on our home and want every household to hoist the tricolour," he said.

Hussains mother also said that she wanted him to return and surrender before the security forces.

We tried our best to know his whereabouts but failed. The Army should find him for us as we want him to return," she added.

Hussain is one of the most wanted terrorists in the Kashmir valley and carries a reward of Rs 20 lakh on his head, according to the police report.

On Friday, Prime Minister Modi urged people of the country to take part in the Har Ghar Tiranga movement between August 13 to 15. As part of the movement, he urged Indians to change their social media DP to tricolour.

He also asked citizens to upload their selfies with the flag on a dedicated portal for Har Ghar Tiranga.
India will mark its 77th Independence Day on Tuesday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading the nations celebrations by unfurling the tricolour and address from the iconic Red Fort in New Delhi.

After 200 years of British rule, India achieved independence on August 15, 1947.

During the freedom struggle, the Indian National Congress initially called for complete autonomy on January 26, 1930. In 1950 then, the Constitution of India came into effect and this date eventually evolved into Republic Day, whereas August 15 retained its significance as Independence Day, symbolising Indias successful liberation from colonial rule.

As the celebrations approach each year, a recurring mathematical puzzle emerges, questioning the precise count of Independence Days. The intrigue persists this year as India marks the 77th anniversary of its independence from British rule. The question remains: Is this years Independence Day the 76th or the 77th?

76th or 77th Independence Day?

India observed its first year of independence on August 15, 1948, followed by subsequent celebrations a decade later in 1957, then two decades after in 1967, and ultimately seventy years onward in 2017.

In 2023, India will commemorate 76 years of independence from British rule. When summing up the count of celebrated Independence Days in India since the pivotal date of August 15, 1947, recognised as the first, the total tallies to 77.

Hence, the occasion of 77th Independence Day is concurrently intertwined with the passage of 76 years since our momentous liberation from British rule in India.

August 15, 1947, witnessed a historic milestone as Indias inaugural Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, proudly unfurled the national flag atop Delhis Red Fort, formally proclaiming Indias sovereignty.

This significant moment followed years of unwavering perseverance, nonviolent defiance, and the unwavering dedication of countless freedom fighters and visionary leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi, Subhash Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh and numerous others.

Throughout the nation, this day witnesses vibrant festivities. The national flag proudly ascends in schools, government offices, and public spaces. Cultural galas, parades, and flag-hoisting ceremonies engage the populace. The Prime Ministers address resonates from the Red Fort, reflecting upon the nations strides and aspirations.
In preparation for the 77th Independence Day celebrations on Tuesday, the Delhi Police escalated security measures on Monday. Authorities issued a traffic advisory near the Red Fort where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation on August 15, implemented thorough vehicle checks, and initiated anti-terrorism protocols to ensure smooth festivities, which are being held weeks ahead of the G20 Summit.

Incorporated into the security arrangements at the historic Red Fort are 1,000 facial recognition cameras, anti-drone systems and a vigilant force of over 10,000 police personnel.

Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Dependra Pathak had said on Sunday that the police will also coordinate and share real-time information with other agencies to provide security. The Delhi Police will also use technology systems for security purposes. We are on our toes and doing rehearsals," he had said.

Facial Recognition Cameras, Anti-drone Systems Installed

Approximately 1,000 cameras integrated with facial recognition and video analytic systems have been installed in and around the historic Mughal-era fort, as well as at strategic points, to ensure comprehensive security and monitor the movements of VVIPs, the police said.

Furthermore, anti-drone systems have been set up at the Red Fort in adherence to standard protocol. An all-encompassing anti-terror strategy has been implemented, encompassing the installation of air defense weaponry. Strategic locations will be manned by snipers, elite SWAT commandos and sharpshooters to safeguard the Prime Minister and other VVIP guests.

Anti-terror Steps, Eye on G20 Summit

HGS Dhaliwal, Special CP of the Delhi Police, said necessary anti-terror measures leading up to the celebrations in the capital has been taken as events of national importance are always challenging."

He also noted that the forces are taking extra precautions due to Indias G20 Presidency the main events of the upcoming summit will occur in New Delhi. We have implemented preventive measures with support from other agencies. There is extra sensitivity due to the G20 Summit that will be held in three weeks,"he said.

We are also implementing these arrangements, keeping in mind that its a significant day for miscreants who often target such occasions," he added.

Security Cover for Over 900 Vital Installations

Delhi has 919 vital installations that have been placed under security cover, Dhaliwal said. We have color-coded the vital installations based on their sensitivity. For significantly sensitive installations, we have implemented additional security measures. The relevant officers, particularly the gazetted officers from various Delhi Police districts, conduct checks on a rotating basis, following a specific format. For instance, if there is a deficiency in perimeter security, lighting, or the presence of guards at a particular location, they address it. There are several such checkpoints, and whatever shortcomings we identify, we inform them so that corrective actions can be taken."

Deputy Commissioner of Police Joy Tirkey from the North East District of Delhi said security preparations for Independence Day began almost three weeks ago and a full dress rehearsal was held on Sunday. We create a checklist in which exercises are conducted in a time-bound mannerOn August 13, we conducted a full dress rehearsalWe identified areas for improvement and will address them accordingly. We will be deployed from 3 am tomorrow (August 15)." he said.

Delhi Police PRO Suman Nalwa said, The preparations start early. We launch our anti-terror campaign almost 3-4 months before the main eventAt the venue, there is a significant deployment with multiple agencies also involved. Even this year, adequate arrangements have been made. The celebrations are set to proceed smoothly tomorrow."

Border Checks, no kite flying zone

Rigorous border checks are being conducted, and the police have issued stern warnings against any attempts to disrupt law and order in the national capital.

In light of the recent unrest in Haryanas Nuh and neighboring regions, authorities are maintaining a stringent watch.

The vicinity around the Red Fort has been designated a no kite flying zone" until the conclusion of the event. A total of 153 kite catchers equipped with necessary apparatus will be deployed strategically to intercept kites, as highlighted by the police, who have also advised residents near the Red Fort not to fly kites until the conclusion of the event.

Traffic Advisory in Place

The Delhi Police has issued a traffic advisory for the public around Red Fort, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation on August 15. The area will be closed from 4 am to 10 am, open only to authorized vehicles. Eight road stretches, including Netaji Subhash Marg, Lothian Road, and Chandni Chowk Road, will also be closed for general traffic on Tuesday. Vehicles without Independence Day parking labels are advised to avoid specific routes.

Commuters traveling from north to south can take alternative routes such as Aurobindo Marg, Safdarjang Road and Kamal Ataturk Marg. For those going from east to west, NH-24 (NH-9), Barapula Road and Mathura Road are suggested alternatives. Old Iron Bridge and Geeta Colony Bridge toward Shanti Van will be closed and goods vehicles and interstate buses have restricted timings. Local city buses have also been advised to avoid Ring Road and take available alternative routes.

Buses terminating at Red Fort, Jama Masjid and Delhi Main Railway Station will be curtailed or diverted and normal bus service will resume after 11 am Tuesday. Buses terminating at various points will end opposite Turkman Gate Asaf Ali Road.

(With inputs from PTI, ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to deliver his 10th consecutive Independence Day address on Tuesday which also marks his last address before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The 77th Independence Day celebrations carry an air of anticipation as over the years, the event has been the platform for Prime Minister to showcase his governments achievements, outline its progress and unveil key flagship initiatives.

It is likely that the Prime Minister will choose to trace the nations trajectory across various sectors during his tenure since 2014, while also articulating his future visiona practice he has consistently engaged in during his previous addresses.

Political Messages

Experts will also be keen to decipher any political messages in the address. While Prime Minister Modi has largely avoided direct political confrontations with opposition parties in his Independence Day speeches, he has frequently commented on the governance reforms that his administration has introduced following a period of perceived corruption" and policy paralysis.

Themes central to his speeches have highlighted Indias escalating global prominence, renewed vigour in driving the nations developmental trajectory, and the growing self-assurance within the population. Additionally, his addresses underscore the nations commitment to robust security measures and foreign policy principles grounded firmly in the pursuit of national interests.

ALSO READ | Independence Day 2023: Is It Indias 76th or 77th Celebration? News18 Explains the Math Riddle

PM Modis Past Speeches and Crucial Policy Announcements

Since his inaugural Independence Day speech from the historic Red Fort in 2014, Prime Minister Modi has used this platform to introduce significant initiatives like Swachh Bharat and Jan Dhan accounts. Over the years, his addresses have served as a means to interact with the public on a diverse range of issues, including social challenges like crimes against women and social conflicts.

A notable highlight was the Panch Pran (five pledges) he emphasised in his 2022 speech. He urged citizens to propel India into a developed nation by 2047, shed remnants of colonial mindset, take pride in our heritage, strengthen unity, and uphold civic duties with integrity.

While addressing grassroots concerns, such as eradicating open defecation by advocating for toilets in underprivileged households, Prime Minister Modi has not shied away from presenting broader visions for the country.

His annual speeches have outlined ambitious endeavors, including the monumental Rs 100 lakh crore infrastructural push via the Gati Shakti project, nationwide electrification, and modernization of the defense forces, despite some critics downplaying his focus on seemingly minor" issues.

PM Modi might once again introduce significant initiatives. For instance, in the lead-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Modi revealed the ambitious health insurance scheme for the underprivileged, Ayushman Bharat, during his 2018 address.

Furthermore, his August 15 speeches have consistently served as platforms for unveiling crucial policy decisions. Notably, in 2019, he announced the establishment of the Chief of Defence Staff role. Similarly, the commemoration of the Amrit Mahotsav of independence in 2021 marked the introduction of the Gati Shakti strategy and the proposal to launch 75 Vande Bharat Express trains.

Independence Day Schedule

The 77th Independence Day with commence on Tuesday morning with the following schedule of events:

Prime Minister Modi will be warmly received by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and esteemed dignitaries at the Red Fort.

The Prime Minister will then proceed to review the Guard of Honour.

Ascending to the Red Forts ramparts, PM Modi will hoist the National Flag, followed by a resounding Rashtriya Salute.

Adding a touch of grandeur, flower petals are set to cascade from two Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH-DHRUV) of the Indian Air Force.

Following this floral display, the Prime Ministers address to the nation is scheduled around 7:30 am.

50 Nurses Among 1,800 Special Guests at Red Fort

Fifty nurses and their families from across the nation have received special invitations to join the Independence Day festivities at the Red Fort on Tuesday. These invitees are part of a distinguished group of 1,800 special guests representing diverse backgrounds. This inclusive initiative, in alignment with the governments vision of Jan Bhagidari, underscores the commitment to involve people from all walks of life across India in the celebration, according to a statement.

The guests include sarpanches from over 660 vibrant villages, members of farmer producer organizations, participants from the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, Shram Yogis (construction workers) from the central vista project, Khadi workers, contributors to various development projects, primary school teachers, nurses, and fishermen.

10,000 Cops, Anti-drone Systems in Place in Delhi

The security measures at the iconic Red Fort have been fortified with advanced technology, including 1,000 facial recognition cameras, anti-drone systems, and a dedicated team of over 10,000 police personnel.

These strict measures include integrated cameras with facial recognition capabilities, strategically positioned to monitor the movements of VVIPs. Additionally, anti-drone systems are in place, complemented by a comprehensive anti-terror strategy, including air defense weaponry. The safety of the Prime Minister and other esteemed guests is ensured through the presence of snipers, elite SWAT commandos, and skilled sharpshooters at strategic locations.

(With inputs from PTI)
In the latest development in the Krishna Janmabhoomi case, Krishna Janmabhoomi Mukti Nirman Trust on Monday moved Supreme Court to seek a Gyanvapi complex-like scientific survey of the Shahi Idgah site.

To ensure the credibility of the claim regarding the disputed land, it is imperative to carry out a thorough scientific survey. This survey will offer empirical data and substantiate the accuracy of their statements, providing a reliable basis for any conclusions or decisions," the plea filed in the Supreme Court said.

Thus, to fully comprehend the religious history and the significance of the site in a religious context concerning the land in dispute, a comprehensive investigation and study of its past are essential through proper scientific survey," the plea added.

Earlier in July, the Allahabad High Court dismissed a writ petition filed by the trust, requesting it to direct the Mathura civil judge to decide its application for a scientific survey of Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Masjid Eidgah premises before raising objections to the case.

The objections against the Krishna Janmabhiomi case were raised by the management committee of the mosque and the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board.

Earlier, members of the minority community approached the Supreme Court challenging orders of the Allahabad high court that directed to club all matters related to the Krishna Janmabhoomi. The Muslim side has alleged that the order of the high court is bad" in the spirit of the law.
Nineteen officials of the Maharashtra rural development department are on a study tour of Australia from August 13-27 to gain exposure on introduction of international standard procedures, development of diverse skills in work, and capacity building of employees. The officers will also observe the road infrastructure of Australia and New Zealand in this tour.

According to the government resolution published by the rural development department of Maharashtra, the tour has been organised with the help of Asian Development Bank which provides financial aid to make roads in the state under the Mukhya Mantri Gram Sadak scheme.

The bank and a company that has been appointed as technical consultant by the bank are going to bear the tour expenditure of the officials. The department had also clarified in the Government Resolution (GR) that for this tour, no money will be spent by the Centre or state government. Post the tour, the delegation is expected to submit its report to the general administration department. Also, all these officers are expected to share the knowledge which they will acquire during the tour with their colleagues and juniors in the department.

The poor condition of roads in the state had come to light during the last monsoon session of Maharashtra assembly when the state government and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde were cornered over poor roads and potholes.

One of the members of the Upper House of Maharashtra assembly, Satyajeet Tambe, had to catch a local train from Kalyan railway station to reach Vidhan Bhavan to attend the session. Posting his experience on X, formerly known as Twitter, Tambe narrated how the poor condition of the Mumbai-Nasik highway forced him to be stuck for more than three hours in traffic.

Recently, the Bombay High Court had also summoned six municipal commissioners for poor roads and deaths every year due to potholes. Five years ago, the court had observed that pothole-free roads were the right of all citizens. However, nothing much was done to improve their quality.
Over 50 people were killed in Himachal Pradesh on Monday after heavy rains wrecked havoc, triggering triggering landslides that blocked key roads, damaged homes and buried devotees in the rubble of a temple in Shimla. Meanwhile, in Uttarakhand the Chardham yatra has been suspended for two days after three people were killed and 10 others went missing following landslides which disrupted national highways to the pilgrim sites.

Himachal Pradesh

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are engaged in relief and rescue operations in the hill state as rain-related incidents led to atleast 50 deaths in 24 hours. All schools and colleges in the state were closed on Monday.

#WATCH | Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu says "Over 50 people have lost their lives in the state in last 24 hours. Over 20 people are still trapped, the death toll can also increase. Search and rescue operation is underway. We have taken the decision not to organise pic.twitter.com/bTeaotLcLv ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2023

The relief and rescue efforts involved personnel from the Army, SDRF, NDRF, ITBP, state police, and other agencies, as stated in an official announcement.

The weather department has issued a yellow warning for heavy rains on Tuesday and predicted a wet spell in the state till August 18. The weather office had predicted extremely heavy rains in nine out of 12 districts of the state, barring Kullu, Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti on Monday.

Nineteen people died in rain-related incidents in Mandi district, Deputy Commissioner Arindam Chaudhary told PTI.

Landslides Strike Shimla

Authorities have retrieved fourteen bodies from the locations of two landslides in the state capital and there are concerns that additional individuals might be trapped beneath the rubble of the Shiva temple in the Summer Hill region of Shimla. The temple was filled with worshippers who had gathered to offer prayers during a significant day in the holy month of Sawan.

VIDEO | Rescue operation underway after a temple collapsed due to massive landslide in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh earlier today. CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, along with officials, is present at the spot. Nine bodies have been pulled out of the debris, the CM said. "Teams are pic.twitter.com/3yp64LdmI0  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 14, 2023

A second landslide in Shimla occurred of which five bodies were pulled from the debris in the Fagli region, along with the successful rescue of 17 individuals, according to Shimla SP Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi.

The ongoing heavy rainfall is posing challenges to the ongoing rescue efforts in Shimla, where numerous areas have been left without electricity since Sunday night due to power line damage caused by landslides and uprooted trees.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had earlier stated that a total of nine bodies have been recovered from the wreckage of a Shiva temple located in the Summer Hill region. Additionally, another site in the Fagli area witnessed the burial of several houses under mud and slush.

Other Districts

Nineteen people died in rain-related incidents in Mandi district, Deputy Commissioner Arindam Chaudhary told PTI.

In Solan, another badly affected district, 11 people including seven members of a family have been killed.

The weather office predicted extremely heavy rains in nine out of 12 districts of the state, barring Kullu, Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti, on Monday and issued a yellow warning for Tuesday.

All schools and colleges in the state were closed on Monday. According to the state emergency operation centre, 621 roads were closed in the state because of the calamity.

The chief minister visited the site of the temple collapse in Shimla and said all efforts are being made to rescue people buried underneath the debris.

Distressing news has emerged from Shimla, where the Shiva Mandir collapsed as a result of the heavy rainfall. As of now, nine bodies have been retrieved. The local administration is diligently working to clear the debris in order to rescue individuals who may still be trapped. Om Shanti," he posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Deputy Commissioner Arindam Chaudhary said at least nineteen people have died due to rain-related incidents in Mandi district. A landslide resulted in the deaths of seven family members, including a two-year-old, in the Seghli panchayat. Deputy Commissioner Chaudhary stated that three persons were rescued from the incident.

In the severely affected Solan district, eleven people, including seven family members, died.

Hamirpur district recorded four casualties due to insessant rains. Two people remain missing, as one person was swept away by floodwaters and two were successfully rescued on Sunday night. An elderly woman was buried alive while her son was rescued after their house collapsed from the rain.

In Rangas area of Hamirpur, a woman was killed in a landslide, and an 80-year-old man died in a house collapse incident in Bhagatu panchayat.

Solan districts Jadon village experienced a cloudburst, resulting in the deaths of seven family members. A police official reported that two houses were washed away, six people were rescued, and seven others died. The victims were identified as Harnam (38), Kamal Kishore (35), Hemlata (34), Rahul (14), Neha (12), Golu (8), and Raksha (12).

In Balera panchayat of Solan, two children died when their makeshift house collapsed in a landslide. Another woman lost her life in a landslide in Banal village of Ramsheher tehsil, with an additional casualty reported in the Baddi area.

Six bodies were recovered in Sambhal near Pandoh, yet their identities are pending confirmation. Additionally, two deaths were reported from the Dharampur area. Reports indicated that one boy lost his life in Sirmaur district.

The UNESCO world heritage Shimla-Kalka railway bridge suffered severe damage near Summer Hill in Shimla, with the 50-meter bridge being swept away and the tracks left suspended in the air, officials reported.

Trains on the Shimla-Kalka railway track had been suspended since July 10 due to heavy rains causing landslides and fallen trees. A special train resumed operations on the Shimla-Solan stretch on July 20 after the route was deemed safe by railway authorities.

However, the Solan to Kalka stretch remains closed as repairs continue on the section between Dharampur and Parwanoo, which was heavily damaged recently.

Uttarakhand

Reviewing the states situation, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami conducted a meeting with senior officials, leading to the suspension of the Chardham yatra for a duration of two days until August 15. Landslides had breached the national highways to Badrinath, Kedarnath and Gangotri shrines.

In response to the Meteorological Departments issuance of a red alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall in six districts of Uttarakhand  Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Udham Singh Nagar, Nainital, and Champawat  Chief Minister Dhami has directed officials to maintain constant vigilance. Additionally, an orange alert has been issued for heavy to very heavy rain in Haridwar.

Pauri Landslide

Heavy rainfall triggered landslides in multiple regions of the state. In the Laxmanjhula area of Pauri district, a landslide resulted in four to five individuals going missing. The landslide, caused by heavy rains, led to debris falling onto a resort, potentially trapping the individuals beneath it, stated Shweta Choubey, Senior Superintendent of Police, Pauri.

Efforts for rescue and relief are underway, with response teams present at the scene, commencing a search operation, Choubey confirmed.

Chief Minister Dhami expressed his condolences in a Facebook post, lamenting the significant loss of life due to the heavy downpour in Pauri.

Monsoon Fury

According to Rudraprayag district disaster management officer Nandan Singh Rajwar, a landslide struck a camp at Lincholi on the Kedarnath trek route, causing damage to four shops. One person from Nepal died in the incident, and a trader is currently missing. The body of 26-year-old Kalu Bahadur has been recovered.

Additionally, two bodies were retrieved from rain-fed streams near Shiv Mandir and Miranagar areas in Rishikesh. One of the deceased has been identified as 35-year-old Dinesh Panwar, a resident of Amit Gram. The identification of the other body is currently underway, stated DSP Sandeep Negi.

Around 114 workers found themselves trapped within the Edit-II tunnel of the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail line project, as surging waters from a flooded stream in Shivpuri area inundated the passage. The tunnel became submerged with water rising up to four meters, said Ritesh Shah, the Station House Officer (SHO) of Muni-Ki-Reti police station.

Rivers Overflow

The majority of rivers are experiencing overflow, notably the Ganga surpassing the danger threshold in Tehri, Haridwar, and Rishikesh.

In Haridwar, the situation is concerning, with the Ganga reaching a height of 295.60 meters, exceeding the danger mark by 1.60 meters. Floodwaters have inundated over two dozen villages in Haridwar district, causing the destruction of sugarcane crops over an area of more than 100 bighas, as reported by officials.

The Bairagi camp in Haridwar has also been engulfed by the waters of the Ganga.

The Alaknanda, Mandakini, and Ganga rivers are registering water levels above the danger mark at Rudraprayag, Shrinagar and Devprayag, according to updates from the disaster control room.

Flash Flood Warnings

Moderate risk of flash floods is anticipated in a few watersheds and neighbourhoods of Uttarakhand, according to the IMDs 24-Hour Flash Flood Risk Outlook until 11:30 am on Tuesday. There could be surface runoff and inundation in certain fully saturated soils and low-lying areas across the affected region due to expected rainfall.

Similar conditions are projected for Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh met Sub-divisions. Moderate flash flood risk is likely in a few watersheds and neighbourhoods during the next 24 hours. The possibility of surface runoff and inundation in fully saturated soils and low-lying areas is indicated on the map due to anticipated rainfall, the bulletin read.

(With inputs from PTI)
A 35-year-old mother-of-two from Rajasthans Dungarpur district eloped to Kuwait with another man, police said Monday.

Deepika Patidar fled with her friend Irfan Haidar. Her family came to know about it after photos of the woman wearing a burqa were shared on social media, the police said.

As news of her eloping became public, Patidar Samaj and other Hindu organisations demanded action and handed over a memorandum to the collector and the superintendent of police.

The womans husband Mukesh Patidar, who works in Mumbai, lodged a missing persons complaint at Chitri police station on July 15.

Mukesh Patidar, who shared a son and a daughter with Deepika Patidar, told reporters on Monday that Haidar brainwashed his wife and converted her to Islam.

Haidar is a resident of Himmat Nagar in Gujarat, the police said.

The woman often visited Khed Brahma in Gujarats Sabar Kantha to meet Haidar. It was later found that he took her to Kuwait, Chitri SHO Govind Singh said.

The matter is being investigated to ascertain how she met Haidar and secured a visa.
A 70-year-old woman died and her husband was injured after their mouths were taped and hands tied allegedly by three robbers inside their flat in south Mumbai before the accused decamped with gold and other valuables, police said.

The incident took place on Sunday morning in Yusuf Manzil building in the Tardeo area, an official said.

The victims  Surekha Agarwal and her 75-year-old husband Madan Mohan Agarwal  were the only residents of the flat, he said.

When the couple was stepping out of their flat for a morning walk at around 6 am, the three robbers stormed in. They taped the victims mouths and tied their hands and legs. After that, they decamped with gold ornaments, watches and cash," the official of Tardeo police station said.

After the accused left the place, the womans husband somehow reached the door of the flat and pressed the alarm button. Later, someone from the housing society rushed to their help, he said.

The woman was found unconscious. She was rushed to a hospital where she was declared dead, the police official said.

A case has been registered under Indian Penal Code sections including 302 (murder), 394 (voluntarily causing hurt) and others and an investigation is on into the incident, he added.
A massive traffic jam was reported on Mumbais busy Western Express Highway on Monday morning. Social media users took to X to share their experience from the site that remained blocked for vehicular movement.

The heavy congestion was reported due to the work of demolishing the gantry girders on the Andheri flyover that started at midnight.

The Mumbai Traffic Police issued an advisory regarding the same a few days ago however, the work continued and took longer than expected leading to traffic congestion on Western Express Highway.

Western Express Highway blocked at 7 in the morning. Only in Mumbai. Saral Baheti (@SaralBaheti) August 14, 2023

Horrible horrible jam 20-25 mins delay on western expressway coz theyve shut it for some work bewr mrinal tai flyivwr all the way till the airport almost #mumbaitraffic @mumbaitraffic so annoying man just messes up peoples schedules Leave early Salilacharya (@Salilacharya) August 14, 2023

According to X users, the highway was blocked because of some ongoing work between the Mrinal Tai Gore flyover to the airport.

Visuals shared on social media show the highway jam-packed with vehicles as some construction work also appears to be underway.

Mumbai Traffic Police in its last update informed that the Andheri Bridge will remain closed from 00.05 Am to 05.00 Am on Monday.

Andheri Bridge is closed from 00.05 Am to 05.00 Am and the traffic is moving through sleep road due to the work of removing the iron arch at Western Expressway Andheri Bridge ascent and descent," the update read.

Alternative Routes

In a press note released by Mumbai Traffic Police on August 12, it suggested some alternative routes for the commuters.

Commuters travelling from Vakola towards Borivali can follow the Western

Express Highway North bound Slip Road From Hanuman Nagar Bus Stop via

Bahar Junction - Gold Spot Junction - Andheri Tab Junction  Gundawali, the advisory said.

Those travelling from Jogeshwari towards Bandra will follow the Western

Express Highway South bound slip Road from Gundawali - Andheri Tab

Junction - Gold Spot Junction - Bahar Junction  Hanuman Nagar, it added.
A semitrailer truck hauling cattle overturned on a ramp between Interstate 680 and West Dodge Road in Omaha on Saturday morning, leading to the deaths of 11 cattle and shutting down the ramp for about five hours.

The incident happened at about 6:45 a.m. on the ramp connecting northbound I-680 to westbound West Dodge Road.

The semis trailer contained about 80 cattle, an Omaha police spokesman said. The spokesman said the Nebraska Department of Transportation closed the ramp so the remaining cattle could be safely transferred to another trailer. The ramp reopened around 11:45 a.m.

No people were injured.

Top Journal Star photos for August 2023
In a horrific incident reported from Uttar Pradeshs Lucknow, a 37-year-old businessman allegedly killed his wife inside the car in front of their children for having a substantial Instagram following. The police said that the matter appears to be related to inferiority complex due to her social media appearance.

The accused strangled his wife inside his SUV on Purvanchal Expressway in Sultanpur on Sunday. Their children were also present in the car at the time, TOI reported.

As per the police, the victim enjoyed a substantial following on Instagram and had reportedly blocked her husband from the social media site which led him to suspect that some of her social media admirers would visit her in his absence, resulting in escalating tensions within their relationship.

The accused owns a tour and travel agency while his wife was a homemaker. The couple lived in Para locality of Lucknow with their 12-year-old daughter and a five-year-old son," Kurebhar SHO Praveen Kumar Yadav told TOI.

On being asked about the details of the case, the officer said, that the couple on Sunday morning embarked on a journey to Rae Bareli but instead diverted to Purvanchal Expressway. Later, the accused halted near Mujesh intersection in Sultanpur, where he and his now-deceased wife engaged in a heated argument. In a fit of rage, the man fatally strangled her, TOI reported.

Their children- a 12-year-old daughter and a five-year-old son were also present inside the car at the time of the crime. The incident left them traumatised and they burst into tears. The accused then locked himself inside the SUV.

Later, a patrolling team from UPEIDA noticed the vehicle parked suspiciously and alerted the nearest police station.

When the police arrived at the crime scene, their daughter disclosed the harrowing crime - that her father had murdered her mother. The accused was subsequently arrested based on her testimony.

Meanwhile, the victims Instagram account, which is currently locked and private, remains to be examined by authorities.
Amid incessant rainfall in Uttarakhand, the building of a defence college in the Maldevta area in the Dehradun district collapsed on Monday. Uttarakhand has been witnessing torrential rains for the past few weeks, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) sounding a red alert predicting heavy rainfall with lightning in six districts of the state today.

Heavy rainfall causes a flood-like situation in the Maldevta area. In a video doing rounds on social media, the building of the Dehradun Defence College in Maldevta could be seen collapsed like a pack of cards.

VIDEO | Dehradun Defence College building in Uttarakhands Maldevta collapses amid incessant rainfall. More details are awaited.(Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/YUZJozBkGz  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 14, 2023

The incessant showers in the state led to the flooding of major rivers and their tributaries and caused landslides along the national highways to Badrinath, Kedarnath, and Gangotri shrines. Several low-lying areas in Dehradun, Rishikesh, and Chamoli districts are also witnessing severe waterlogging.

VIDEO | Heavy rainfall led to waterlogging in several parts of Rishikesh, Uttarakhand on Sunday.A red alert for heavy rains has been sounded in six districts of Uttarakhand, including Dehradun and Nainital, by the meteorological department. pic.twitter.com/BwWkjij2ew  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 14, 2023

Several people are feared to be buried in landslides triggered by heavy rains in the state.

Alaknanda, Mandakini and Ganga rivers were flowing above the danger level at Rudraprayag, Shrinagar and Devprayag, the disaster control room here said.

The Badrinath National highway is blocked at a number of places due to landslide debris.There is also information about one person being buried under the debris near Pipalkoti.

In Chamoli district, a flood-like situation has developed along the banks of a dozen rivers, including Alaknanda and its tributaries Pindar, Nandakini and Birhi. Pindars tributary Pranmati was also flooded due to landslide.

VIDEO | Rudraprayag-Gaurikund National Highway closed near Bansbara village in Uttarakhands Chamoli district due to road erosion by the strong currents of Mandakini river.(Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/suJaVdj7Zp  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 14, 2023

Landslides in the upper reaches of Nandakini have caused the water level of the river to increase in the lower areas.

There are reports of loss of lives due to landslides in Pipalkoti town and surrounding areas on Badrinath National Highway.

River Ganga is flowing at the danger mark in Rishikesh, Junior engineer central water commission Sunny Vishnoi said. The commission recorded 435 mm of rainfall in Rishikesh on Sunday night.

(With PTI Inputs)
Mohit Rai is an established name in the fashion world as well as a well-known celebrity stylist and entrepreneur. He has made a name for himself in the fashion business thanks to his exquisite sense of style, imaginative vision, and commitment to his art.

He used his remarkable sense of style to work with numerous well-known A-list celebrities, including Paris Hilton, Ed Westwick, Amy Jackson, Gauri Khan, Suhana Khan, Kiara Advani, Kajol, Arjun Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha, Siddharth Malhotra, and Varun Dhawan, to name a few. For their red carpet attire, events, award shows, magazine covers, and brand endorsements, he outfitted them. In addition, while Paris Hilton was in India, he styled the widely recognised starlet and fashion icon for her Harpers Bazaar cover shoot.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mohit Rai (@mohitrai)

Mohit Rai discusses his career as a stylist and designer, as well as his goals and ideas for the future, in this exclusive interview with News18.com.

Excerpts from the interview:

How did you first get your start in the fashion styling industry? Why did you choose this line of work?

Honestly, I started out pretty much at the beginning of my career. It was at a time when all the luxury publications were being launched in India. There was a Vogue, there was a Bazaar and all of them were so sort of suddenly coming in, and I got my first job as an assistant in Harper Bazaar. I started out as an intern right out of design school and when we do these courses, we feel like were all fabulous and we all start immediately. But because obviously its a big investment and I think when youre that young, you dont have that kind of money. So I didnt invest into a label, but, I got myself a job at Harper and I did at that point because they were getting exposed to all these publications and magazines. I think we were all sort of getting used to and accustomed to the idea of magazine, luxury and styling. So for me, honestly so young to get out of college and immediately get a job in it was truly like a dream come true.

Youve collaborated with a large number of celebrities and influencers as a fashion stylist. Could you list a few notable events that made a big difference in your career?

Its all like one blur right now. Well honestly, my early days got me immediately in touch with some of the best photographers and best makeup artists. I think some of the key moments honestly at that point because they sort of established my eventual identity as a stylist, I think was when I got to attend International Fashion Week. This is one of the best things that can happen to you right because of the exposure that you get at these International Global Fashion Weeks. Even at India Fashion Week like just the exposure for such a young person at that age its really its really exciting. You know you get to interact with the designers and Im a core fashion person like my education is straight up in design and fashion. So for me to meet some of my idols face to face I think that was a key moment in my career. I think initially, very initially in my career, I remember one time I was, I went to a Fashion Week and I was sitting right behind Anna Wintour and and that literally it made me feel like, okay, Ive done something right to be. I dont think everyone gets that sort of opportunity. So I was like wow this is really something in my life thats happened to me.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mohit Rai (@mohitrai)

Fashion trends are always changing. How do you keep current and make sure your fashion choices are fresh and stylish?

I was always very very design driven. For me things like fabrics, fits and falls have always been very important. We always ensure that the fabric that somebody is wearing flatters them. So Im very design oriented even as a stylist. So obviously its always been my dream to have a label, which fortunately like I said I think when youre younger it takes a lot of investment. You have a very fair perspective on whats good and whats not and what catches the pulse of a generation, how to style campaigns and so heres so much that Ive learned along the way of my journey that really helped manifest all of it together. When now Im finally designing, Im shooting my own campaigns, Im packaging my own brand, marketing, dealing with consumers directly.

About the design philosophy and aesthetics honestly Ive always loved old world glamour. Ive always loved Indian wear; Indian couture really gets me going in life in a very excited manner. Im obsessed with the finery of Indian textile and craft. In India what I love is that you know even in the most middle class houses which I come from, we get everything made. Everything is tailored to us. Like even our blouses that our mothers wear, everything is tailored and custom made for them. So I love that in India we can get so much custom made. And jewelry is such a normal part of our culture. Every woman has some jewelry. So, I love that whole aesthetic. And obviously because Ive been working with Bollywood, there is a sense of contemporary glamour that I also sort of get immediately attracted to, which is why you see both the philosophies in our brand. Its a very traditional, very antique look. And then you also see the contemporary glamour which Ive just been surrounded by for a very long time now.

IRTH has been doing absolutely great and I wanted to know from you, what is one piece of advise or any kind of good word that you have heard for your label in its glorious 11 year.

I am absolutely obsessed with Sonam Kapoor. I think she is the OG fashion girl. Like no one can ever be like a Sonam Kapoor. Her understanding of fashion is very knowledgeable so it shows up and thats why she looks like what she does. I remember distinctly that when she wore Rheas outfit. Actually we had sent for Rhea and Rhea was supposed to wear it. I think Sonam saw it and she picked it up and said she want to wear it. And then I remember, they quickly got it altered to her size and everything. Everything just completely changed and then she was wearing it to like an international event which I guess was a Bulgari event. Honestly for us, as a young brand that was very encouraging. Because its not something that even she had chose for herself. But because she liked the outfit so much, she just picked it up from her sister and she wore it. She doesnt go around endorsing every brand. She is very picky and has a great taste level. She doesnt endorse anyone and everyone but only the people that she feels have something. So, for us that was very encouraging as a brand and thats something that I will never forget.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mohit Rai (@mohitrai)

Fashion trends are always changing. How do you keep current and make sure your fashion choices are fresh and stylish?

My brand philosophy, my honesty, my experience and my partner, we have a strong understanding of classic fashion. We both have a strong deep love for classic fashion that we can look. Suppose if somebody like an Audrey Hepburn was alive today she would wear. You know in terms of its classiness. If you look back at Audrey Hepburns style from the fifties and the sixties, we still think its relevant, its a benchmark of style, its a relevant image, its never out of fashion. It never feels outdated and incorrect. So we really feel that. Thats what we want to do in the long run. We only want to create classics -something that you can look back and be like, Oh! I looked amazing ten years ago when I wore this outfit Thats honestly the one thing that drives us. Obviously, to keep current you have to sort of adapt to what the consumers are looking at today because the consumer is very intelligent and theyre very exposed because of social media, now everyone has access to every look-book. Every brand under the sun is on Instagram. Theyre all catering to the same audience, the same level of people and the same consumer. So its very important I think for us to stay updated and to stay updated to a point where we know what the consumer wants.

Fashion is frequently faulted for maintaining unattainable beauty standards. In your style work, how do you tackle diversity and body positivity?

So Ive always been a into body positivity. Ive always worked with different body types, even before it was like a trending thing to do. I feel that a lot of people have sort of climbed on this bandwagon because its a trending topic. But like for me, its always an inherent and its not something that Ive ever even thought about. Im surrounded by women who are have real bodies, be it my sister, my mother, all my friends, theyre very realistic body types. Theyre very Indian body types.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mohit Rai (@mohitrai)

Ive been working with Sonakshi Sinha and Sonakshi is not a size-zero girl. I work with her since, since the past five, six years. I was working with Kareena right after she had Taimur and she wasnt a size-zero then. I worked with Bhumi, Vidy Balan, Kaajol, Gauri Khan and then, I also get to work with Disha Patani. Fashion is a projection of your personality. If you feel confident, youll be confident and youll act like, youll just be that person.
INDEPENDENCE DAY 2023: India is celebrating its 77th Independence Day on August 15, 2023. On this day in 1947, India became a free nation after more than two centuries of British colonial rule. Independence Day is a national holiday and a proud occasion for all Indians to commemorate the sacrifices and achievements of the freedom fighters, leaders, and citizens who fought for Indias independence.

ALSO READ: Happy Independence Day 2023 Wishes: Spread the Spirit of Patriotism with 77 Quotes, Images, Messages, Slogans, and Greetings

There are many ways to celebrate Independence Day and express your patriotism and love for the country. Here are some ideas to help you plan your I-Day celebrations:

Learn about the history and significance of Independence Day and the events that led to Indias freedom struggle. You can read books, watch documentaries, or listen to podcasts on the topic. You can also visit historical monuments, museums, or memorials that are related to the independence movement.

Watch or listen to the Prime Ministers speech from the Red Fort in Delhi, where he hoists the national flag and addresses the nation. You can also watch or listen to speeches by other leaders, celebrities, or students who share their thoughts and messages on Independence Day.

Sing or play patriotic songs that celebrate Indias diversity, culture, and spirit. You can choose from a variety of songs, from classical to contemporary, from filmy to non-filmy. You can also create your own playlist or make a mixtape of your favorite patriotic songs.

Fly kites on Independence Day, a tradition that symbolizes freedom, joy, and unity. You can buy or make your own kites in different colours, shapes, and sizes. You can also decorate them with slogans, images, or messages related to Independence Day. You can fly kites with your family, friends, or neighbours and enjoy the sight of the sky filled with colourful kites.

Know your rights as an Indian citizen and learn about the laws that protect and empower you. You can read the Constitution of India, the Indian Penal Code, or other legal documents that outline your rights and duties. You can also take online quizzes or tests to check your knowledge of the law.

Send wishes, quotes, images, messages, slogans, or greetings to your loved ones on Independence Day. You can use social media platforms, email, SMS, or phone calls to convey your sentiments and spread the spirit of patriotism. You can also use creative ways to wish your friends and family, such as making cards, posters, videos, or memes.

Participate in activities that are fun and educational for kids on Independence Day. You can organize games, quizzes, competitions, or crafts that teach kids about Indias history, culture, and values. You can also involve kids in making flags, badges, bookmarks, or stickers related to Independence Day.

Check out Google Doodles that have captured Indias Independence Day over the years since 2014. Google Doodles are special illustrations or animations that appear on Googles homepage on certain occasions. They showcase different aspects of Indias independence story, such as the national emblem, the freedom fighters, the tricolour flag, or the cultural diversity.

Witness the Independence Day celebrations at Wagah Border, where India and Pakistan share a border. You can watch the ceremony live on TV or online, where both countries perform a parade, salute each others flags, and exchange sweets. The ceremony is a display of patriotism and brotherhood between the two nations.

Donate or volunteer for a cause that supports Indias development and welfare. You can choose a cause that you are passionate about, such as education, health care, environment, women empowerment, or social justice. You can donate money, goods, or services to a charity or an organization that works for the cause. You can also volunteer your time, skills, or expertise to help out in their projects or campaigns.

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Happy Independence Day 2023!
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY 2023: President Droupadi Murmu will be delivering her Independence Day eve speech on Sunday, August 14, 2023 at 7 PM IST. The speech will be broadcast live on all major news channels and on the Presidents official website.

Murmu, a former governor of Jharkhand and the first tribal woman to be elected President of India, is expected to focus her speech on the theme of national unity and social harmony. She is also likely to highlight the achievements of the government in the past year and to lay out its vision for the future.

ALSO READ: Happy Independence Day 2023 Wishes: Spread the Spirit of Patriotism with 77 Quotes, Images, Messages, Slogans, and Greetings

The speech will be of interest to all Indians, as it will provide an opportunity to hear from the new President on her vision for the country. It will also be a chance for Murmu to connect with the people of India and to build a sense of unity and purpose.

Here are the details on where and when to watch President Droupadi Murmus Independence Day eve speech:

Time: 7 PM IST, Sunday, August 14, 2023

Channel: Akashvani, all Doordarshan channels in Hindi followed by the English version and also on all major news channels.

Website: https://presidentofindia.nic.in/

Broadcast of the address in Hindi and English on Doordarshan will be followed by broadcast in regional languages by regional channels of Doordarshan. Akashvani will broadcast regional language versions at 9:30 PM on its respective regional networks," the Rashtrapati Bhavan said in a statement.

10 Points From President Droupadi Murmus 2022 Speech

As she prepares to address her I-day eve speech, heres a look at the top 10 points from President Droupadi Murmus last years speech on the eve of the 76th Independence Day:

Full text of the address of President Droupadi Murmu on the eve of 76th Independence DayEnglish: https://t.co/JU4nC72cNYHindi: https://t.co/5gjNq5iunT pic.twitter.com/CQRRz4NP4I President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) August 14, 2022

Economic Growth and Inclusivity

President Murmu highlighted Indias growing economy, emphasizing that it is all-inclusive and gender disparities are decreasing. Role of Youth, Farmers, and Women

The President attributed Indias newfound confidence to its youth, farmers, and women, recognizing the role they play in the nations progress. Women Empowerment and Political Participation

Women are breaking glass ceilings and participating more in social and political processes, with over 14 lakh elected women representatives in Panchayati Raj Institutions. Remembering Freedom Fighters

President Murmu paid tribute to the sacrifices of freedom fighters and their significant contributions to Indias independence. Future Vision

The President expressed the belief that by the year 2047, India would fully realize the dreams of its freedom fighters and fulfill the vision of the Constitutions drafters, led by Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar. Success of Indian Democracy

Despite skepticism, Indias democratic form of government succeeded and flourished, showcasing the strength and enrichment of democracy in the country. Role of Women in Democracy

Indias adoption of universal adult franchise from the start of the Republic is credited with helping the world discover the potential of democracy, and womens rights have been at the forefront. Ancient Values and Democracy

The President highlighted the influence of Indias ancient values, including equality and decentralization, on the countrys democratic system. National Education Policy

President Murmu praised the National Education Policy for preparing the next generation for the industrial revolution while reconnecting them with Indias heritage. Vaccination Achievements and Hope

Indias successful vaccination drive, accomplishments in combating the pandemic, and the achievements of Indian daughters in various fields were emphasized.

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Happy Independence Day 2023!
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY 2023: India will be celebrating its 77th Independence Day, and the skies will once again be filled with colourful kites. Kite-flying is a fascinating and essential custom observed in the celebration of Indias Independence Day, which is observed on August 15. On this day in 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of Independent India, delivered a speech in which he stated, At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom."

ALSO READ: Happy Independence Day 2023 Wishes: Spread the Spirit of Patriotism with 77 Quotes, Images, Messages, Slogans, and Greetings

He also hoisted the Indian tricolour for the first time at the Lahori Gate of Delhis Red Fort, and all prime ministers have followed since then. As a result, people make it a point to fly the flag in their offices, parks, homes, neighbourhoods and schools.

The ritual of kite flying has long been a part of Indian culture, but have you ever pondered why kite flying is so important on Independence Day? If not, keep reading to find out why Indians are so obsessed with flying kites on August 15 every year.

History, Significance and Celebrations

Flying kites on Independence Day is a north Indian tradition, especially in Delhi, Lucknow, Bareilly, and Moradabad. It has a lot of historical significance aside from embodying the spirit of liberty. India was protesting the Simon Commission in 1927, and freedom activists coined slogans such as Go Back Simon."

The demonstration grew so popular around the country that people began writing slogans on kites and flying them in the skies. Kite flying since then become an integral part of Indias freedom history and a custom that is still practiced today.

Kites became an expression of independence and a way of resisting colonial power over time. As a result, kites are commonly seen soaring above rooftops and terraces on the I-Day and that is how people today express their gratitude and celebrate their independence and patriotism by flying kites.

Patang baazi, or kite-flying competitions, are organized locally every year in regions of northern India, including old Delhi and Lucknow. The kite is a simple structure, its history in the country is remarkable. People look forward to the entertaining competitions as part of the Independence Day celebrations.

Independence Day 2023 Theme

The theme of the Independence Day is Nation First, always first." The government has said that the theme is a reminder of the importance of putting the nations interests first, even in times of difficulty.

The day begins with the hoisting of the tricolor in schools, government offices, and public spaces, followed by patriotic songs and cultural performances that fill the air with a sense of national pride. Prime Minister addresses the nation from the historic Red Fort in Delhi, reflecting on the countrys achievements and emphasizing the need for continued progress.

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Happy Independence Day 2023!
PARSI NEW YEAR 2023: Parsi New Year, also known as Navroz or Nowruz, is a traditional festival celebrated by the Parsi community, which follows the Zoroastrian faith. It marks the beginning of the Iranian calendar year and usually falls on the first day of the month of Farvardin. Navroz is observed with great enthusiasm by Parsis to celebrate new beginnings, growth, and renewal. This year, Parsi New Year (Navroz) is being celebrated today on August 16. However the date may vary depending on the sighting of the new moon.

ALSO READ: Happy Parsi New Day 2023: Navroz Wishes, Quotes, Images, Messages, and Greetings to Share With Your Loved Ones!

WHY DO PARSIS HAVE 2 NEW YEAR?

Parsis have two New Year celebrations due to historical and cultural reasons that are connected to their migration and interaction with different societies. In 2023, the Parsi New Year will be celebrated on August 16, while the Gregorian New Year was celebrated on January 1.

Zoroastrian Religious New Year (Navroz)

This New Year, also known as Jamshedi Navroz," is based on the Zoroastrian calendar and is celebrated on the first day of the Iranian month of Farvardin. It has its origins in ancient Persia and is an important religious and cultural festival for Parsis. Navroz marks the vernal equinox and is a time of renewal, purification, and celebration of natures rebirth. It has been an integral part of Zoroastrian tradition for centuries and is observed with various customs and rituals. Shahenshahi New Year

The Shahenshahi calendar, also known as the Kadmi" calendar, is a different calendar system used by Parsis. It is based on a later version of the Zoroastrian calendar and is observed by a smaller segment of the Parsi community. The Shahenshahi New Year is celebrated six months after Navroz, typically around August or September, depending on the specific calendar calculations.

HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE

The reason for having two New Year celebrations is connected to the Parsis historical migration from Persia (modern-day Iran) to India. When the Parsis migrated to India to escape religious persecution in Persia during the 7th to 10th centuries, they encountered differences in local calendar systems and interpretations of religious events.

Over time, these differences led to the adoption of two distinct New Year celebrations within the Parsi community.

The division between the two calendars and New Year celebrations is more than just a difference in dates. It represents the diverse historical and cultural experiences of the Parsi community as it adapted to its new home in India. Both Navroz and the Shahenshahi New Year hold significance for different segments of the Parsi population, and they are observed with their respective traditions, rituals, and festivities.
INDEPENDENCE DAY 2023: Independence Day is a day of celebration, pride, and gratitude for the people of India. It is a day to remember the sacrifices and struggles of the freedom fighters who fought for the countrys independence from British colonial rule. It is also a day to reflect on the achievements and challenges of the nation, and to renew the commitment to its ideals and values.

ALSO READ: Happy Independence Day 2023 Wishes: Spread the Spirit of Patriotism with 77 Quotes, Images, Messages, Slogans, and Greetings

On August 15, 1947, India became a sovereign nation after more than two centuries of British domination. The historic moment was marked by the hoisting of the tricolor flag by Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, at the Red Fort in Delhi. He also delivered his famous speech, Tryst with Destiny, in which he declared, At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom .

Since then, every year on August 15, India celebrates its Independence Day with great fervour and enthusiasm. The main event is the flag hoisting ceremony by the Prime Minister at the Red Fort, followed by his address to the nation. The ceremony also includes a parade of various cultural and military contingents, and a display of aerial acrobatics by the Indian Air Force. Across the country, people hoist the national flag, sing patriotic songs, watch patriotic movies, and participate in various cultural and social activities.

IN PICS: These 10 Slogans Will Make You Proud to Be an Indian

Independence Day is not only a day of joy and celebration, but also a day of respect and honour for the heroes of the freedom movement. It is a day to salute their courage and dedication, and to remember their slogans that inspired millions of Indians to join the struggle for independence. Here are 10 of the most inspiring slogans of our freedom fighters that still resonate in our hearts today.

Independence Day 2023: 10 Most Inspiring Slogans

Jai Hind: Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose

One of the most influential leaders of his time, Subhash Chandra Bose, popularly known as Netaji. This was the first commemorative postmark of our independent country, now used as a slogan and salutation almost everywhere in India. Vande Mataram: Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

A poem from Bankim Chandra Chattopahyays novel Anandmath in 1882, written in Bengali and Sanskrit. Being a praise to the motherland, it has played a vital role in our freedom movement. Swaraj Mera Janamsiddh adhikar hai, aur main ise lekar rahunga: Adopted by Bal Gangadhar Tilak

A popular slogan adopted by Bal Gangadhar Tilak was coined by Kaka Baptista in our fight for independence. Not only did this slogan motivated people to fight for their rights, but also provoked the love for country in the hearts of thousands of people. Jai Jawaan, Jai Kisaan: Lal Bahadur Shastri

This is a slogan that awakens the inner-most sentiments of Jai Hindustan in the hearts of Indians even in todays era. Acknowledging the efforts of our soldiers and farmers, this slogan gave a new dimension to our freedom struggle. Satyamev Jayathe: Popularized by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya

Truth alone triumphs is the literal meaning of the above slogan. It has not only been adopted as the national motto of India but is also inscribed in script at the base of our national emblem. Inquilab Zindabad: Synonymous with Bhagat Singh, coined by Muslim leader Hasrat Mohani

This slogan awakened the feeling of patriotism in the youth of India during those days. The urge to lay their lives for their motherland and to get her free from the clutches of Britishers, this slogan embarks an important event in the fight for freedom. Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna, Ab hamare dil mein hai: Ramprasad Bismil

A patriotic poem by Bismil Azimabadi, later used as a slogan by Ramprasad Bismil in the struggle challenged the authority of British rulers. Enlightening the need of the hour, this slogan urged people to fight for what was right. Dushman ki goliyon ka hum samna karenge, Azad hee rahein hain, Azad hee rahenge: Chandra Shekhar Azad

The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre , that left hundreds of unarmed innocent people dead, lead to a profound effect on Chandra Shekhar Azad that made him use this slogan and fight for his country. Araam Haraam hai: Jawaharlal Nehru

Not a single sigh of relief did our freedom fighters took till they freed their motherland from the claws of British Government. Tum mujhe khoon do, mai tumhe azaadi doonga: Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose

Urging the youth of India to join the Indian National Army in the struggle for independence of India, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose used this slogan. This inspired thousands of young minds to sacrifice their lives for their motherland.

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Happy Independence Day 2023!
Ketika Sharma, acclaimed for her role in Bro: The Avatar, is currently basking in the beauty of Austria on a delightful vacation. Known for her glamorous appearances, she surprised her social media followers with a series of photos showcasing a more relaxed and comfortable side of her style. While exploring Austrias stunning landscapes, Ketika opted for casual attire that perfectly matched her radiant charm.

Amid her visit to the mesmerizing Hallstatt Lake, Ketika exuded effortless charm in a black pullover with full sleeves. She paired it with bell-bottom trousers adorned with a sleek black pattern, which she elegantly matched with large goggles and a D&G gold-plated belt. The alluring black theme throughout her outfit added to its appeal. She took to Instagram to share a collage of pictures captioned, Im in a Sunday kinda love with #hallsatt the nature-heaven."

In a recent photoshoot, Ketika showcased her style prowess once again, this time in an all-black ensemble that left everyone awestruck. She rocked a black top, layered with a collared black coat embellished with silver accents. The silver details added a touch of dazzle, breaking the monotony of black. She completed the look with matching pants adorned with silver stones along the hemline. Nude heels complemented her outfit, and she confidently posed on a wooden chair. Her makeup was tastefully understated, featuring nude lips, well-groomed eyebrows, shimmery eyeshadow, and a subtle highlighter. A sleek ponytail rounded off the look.

Formerly a prominent YouTuber, Ketika Sharma gained fame through her reenactments of famous dialogues and songs. Her cinematic journey commenced in 2021 with her debut role in the Telugu film Romantic, directed by Anil Paduri and written and produced by Puri Jagannadh. The movie starred Akash Puri and Ramya Krishnan alongside her. She has also collaborated with actors like Vaishnav Tej in her career.

Ketika Sharma notably featured in Pawan Kalyans Bro: The Avatar, sharing the screen with Sai Dharam Tej. The film achieved substantial commercial success, earning praise from fans and critics alike for Samuthirakanis direction. Her upcoming project includes an untitled film directed by Rajesh M Selva, where she stars alongside Aditi Rao Hydari and Anson Paul. With her evolving style and diverse roles, Ketika Sharma continues to captivate both her audience and the industry.
OMG starring Akshay Kumar, Pankaj Tripathi, and Yami Gautam has opened to positive review. The film has minted Rs 40+ Crores in its first weekend. The whole cast and crew is celebrating the success of the film and to make it more special Akshay Kumar hosted a dinner party for them. Pankaj Tripathi and Yami Gautam were also seen joining them.

The photo has been shared in which we can see Akshay Kumar, wearing a printed shirt, posing with everyone. The actor hosted a thank-you dinner for the phenomenal cast and dedicated crew of his film. As per the trade analyst Taran Adarsh, OMG 2 might be eyeing a bumper response on Independence Day. The film that highlights the importance of sex education in our lives saw an opening of Rs 10.26 Crores on Friday. It collected Rs 15.30 Crores on Saturday and Rs 17.55 Crores on Sunday. The net total of all the three days stands at Rs 43.11 Crores.

Take a look at the photo here:

Taran Adarsh took to his X account and shared the news, FANTASTIC TRENDING #OMG2 has an EXCELLENT opening weekend Look at the day-wise [SUPERB] growth, the audience has spoken loud and clear SMASH-HIT Biz on Tue [#IndependenceDay] will be HUGE Fri 10.26 cr, Sat 15.30 cr, Sun 17.55 cr. Total:  43.11 cr. #India biz, his post read.

OMG 2 is the sequel to Akshay Kumars 2012 film, OMG. The actor plays the role a messenger of Lord Shiva in the movie. The film was put on hold by the Censor Board and about 27 changes were directed to the filmmakers. After making the changes, OMG 2 was given an Adults Only (A) certificate by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).OMG 2 also stars Akshay Kumar and Pankaj Tripathi in the lead role.

Playing the messenger of Lord Shiva in OMG 2, Akshay Kumar makes appearances throughout the film to help Pankaj Tripathi, who is battling a court case based on sex education.
Editor's note: The Gazettes Stories of Honor series is supported by MasterLube and AARP.

There was no Thanksgiving for Guy Copeman in 1951. The 22-year-old Midwesterner had been looking forward to his first decent meal in weeks. A serving of warm turkey would have been a welcome reprieve from the daily routine of powdered eggs, powdered milk, dry cereal and rice they served on board the troop ship taking him to his first assignment at Okinawa.

A private first class in the U.S. Air Force, Copeman had his fill of lousy meals over the past year. During basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, he masked the flavor of his food with ketchup or jelly to choke it down. On board the troop ship making its way across the Pacific Ocean, Copeman chewed with a mouth of missing teeth; a dentist at Lacklund had yanked many of them out.

Copeman eagerly waited for his turkey dinner, but a cook ladled him more rice. Amidst the uproar from the passengers, word came from the captain that during their passage they had crossed the International Date Line. Wednesday had become Friday, and there would be no Thanksgiving meal.

Too bad mutiny wasnt still legal, wrote Copeman in his memoirs.

Raised in the area of Granger, Minnesota, farming country along the Iowa border, Copeman and four of his best friends received their draft notices in October 1950. Four months earlier, Cold War politics had erupted into war between communist North Korea and capitalist South Korea. Not wanting to serve as foot soldiers, the five enlisted in the Air Force after receiving their draft notices.

After completing basic training, a sergeant at Shepherd Air Force Base gave a flight of new recruits that included Copeman a choice of either becoming medics or cooks. With only a minute to decide, Copeman joined the would-be medics.

An interest in the X-ray department on base instigated Copemans transfer to a 16-week school to become certified as an X-ray technician. Of the 49 airmen and soldiers who entered the school, he was one of 17 to graduate. Before shipping out of San Francisco to sail to Okinawa, Copeman took leave to see home in the autumn of 1951. For the second time, he would be missing Thanksgiving and Christmas with his family.

I will never forget the day I had to leave home for this place of which I had never heard, into a war I knew very little about, he wrote. That day, his older sister, Dorothy, along with his parents, traveled with him to Rochester, Minnesota, where he boarded an airplane for the first time.

I hugged mother and Dorothy. Dad shook my hand. I saw a concerned look on his face which touched me as he never showed emotion of any kind.

Okinawa Island, about 400 miles south from the Japanese mainland, was the site of some of the most horrific fighting in World War II. By the end of the Battle of Okinawa in June 1945, there were around 50,000 American casualties while more than 100,000 Japanese soldiers and Okinawan conscripts were killed. During the Korean War, Okinawas Kadena Air Base was home to the 19th and 307th Bomber Squadrons.

Throughout the conflict in Korea, four-engine B-29 Superfortesses took off from Kadena at sundown for 12-hour roundtrip bombing runs over North Korea. As they flew north, Copeman and others left on the ground counted them once, then counted again at their return the following morning to see if, and how many, were shot down.

This was always sad because they left their barracks to go to work just like we did however they wouldnt be going to breakfast with the rest of us that morning, Copeman wrote.

Working out of a small room with an X-ray machine built for the battlefield, Copemans days were filled with screening locals for tuberculosis and curbing the islands rat infestation by spraying them with liquid ether and knocking them dead. As a military medic, however, it was his top priority to see to the medical needs of airmen. That meant tending to the survivors of crashed and damaged B-29s.

When bombers engines failed after takeoff, they went down into hellish terrain a few miles off the runway known as the boonies. Nothing lived in the volcanic rock except for brush and vipers. When planes hit the boonies, the ordinance they carried exploded, turning them into infernos.

It was such a crash that was my first experience, Copeman wrote. The fire lit up the area as we approached. Some of our medics were ahead of me when one or more bombs went off in the fire. A piece of flying shrapnel hit one of the medics in the head and tore through his helmet and his head, killing him. Another had his hand hit by more flying metal. We retreated as there was nothing we could do for those in the plane at this point.

The medics at Kadena would also be on hand for any bombers struck by antiaircraft fire. Several made crash landings on their return. Copeman was lying in the barracks just after sunset when a bell rang out, the sound indicating that there was a crash on the runway. He and the rest of the medics followed a trail of black smoke.

Where the hell are the medics? Copeman heard someone call from inside the black smoke.

Inside the wreck, Copeman recalled in his memoirs, he also heard .50-caliber rounds exploding like popcorn kernels. He found a crew member and dragged him out of the smoke. The man was limp, and in the clear air, Copeman saw the man suffered a fatal head injury. Since the mans family wouldnt be there to hold him, Copeman wrote, he would do it for them.

I remember just sitting there, holding this young man in my arms. Everyone else was busy, so I had a few minutes with him. I was thinking of sadness, someones brother and son was dead, he wrote. After a while someone came and took him away on a stretcher.

Even with the crew pulled from the crash, Copemans job wasnt done. At a wooden first aid station just off the runway, he patched the wound of a man with a hole in his chest and prepared him for transport to a hospital in Naha, the capital of Okinawa.

Copeman missed two Christmases before coming back to the U.S. as a staff sergeant assigned to what was then Great Falls Air Force Base. He completed his four-year enlistment in Great Falls, then got a job at Columbus Hospital as an instructor for their recently launched X-ray school. In Columbus, he met and later married Phyllis, a tissue technician. The two were married in December 1955 and moved to Billings a month later.

Thus ended my military career, Copeman wrote.

Guy Copemans memoirs came courtesy of his son, Charles Chuck Copeman, himself a retired sailor in the U.S. Navy. While Guy Copeman died in 2018 at the age of 89, he chronicled his life from the Midwest during the Great Depression to Okinawa to Billings.

Chuck Copeman spent just over two decades in the Navy as an aircraft electrician. Speaking on his own time in the service, Chuck said it was the look of the Navy's uniforms that convinced him to become a sailor, and it was after falling in love with fixing planes that he decided to stay. He got the instant job satisfaction of troubleshooting problems with jets, then watching a pilot jump in the cockpit and go vertical.

During his 21 years in the Navy, Chuck Copeman had assignments in the waters off Europe, Africa and Asia. In an interview with the Gazette, Chuck Copeman said he could relate to his fathers time in Okinawa, especially in reading over how special a care package from home was. Guy Copeman received boxes of date-filled cookies from his mother. When his son was deployed for Operation Desert Storm, Guy Copeman shipped him venison jerky.

I was on a ship for nine months, Chuck Copeman said. You need stuff from home.
Dulquer Salmaan, who is known as the heartthrob of the Malayalam films is all set for the release of his upcoming film King of Kotha. The charming actor was seen with another popular figure, Tollywood heartbeat Rana Daggubati at the pre-release event of the film. Rana who knows Dulquer from his acting school days shared an interesting anecdote from the sets of one of Dulquers films.

He revealed how a popular Bollywood actress had wasted Dulquers time on set but the latter chose to remain calm and understanding. Lauding Dulquers patient and calm attitude, Rana recalled that a big Hindi films heroine who was part of the film wasted Dulquers time as she was engrossed in a phone conversation about shopping in London with her husband.

Her unfocused attitude affected the shots quality and frustrated the people on the set.

Despite the disturbance caused by the situation, Dulquer chose to remain patient and understanding. Rana further said that the actor pacified the tension on the set and maintained a peaceful environment. According to Pinkvilla, Rana said, Dulquer was my junior at acting school. We became friends there. He is a very polite person. Hes doing a Hindi movie and the producers are my friends.

Rana also disclosed that he himself wasnt able to control his anger and had a word with the producers regarding the actress behaviour. However, He did not disclose the name of the heroine.

The duo shared the stage at the pre-release of the film with another powerhouse, the beloved Telugu actor Nani. Nani showered praises on Dulquer and called him a pan-Indian actor. According to Times Now, the actor said, Dulquer is the only pan-Indian actor. Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Tamil directors pen stories for him and that is the true definition of the pan-Indian star. King of Kotha looks promising.

Joining the powerhouses of the talent in the pre-release event was the mesmerizing Aishwarya Lekshmi, the female lead of the film.

The exciting trailer of the film King of Kotha was dropped in languages including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Hindi. The highly anticipated film will be released on August 24. The film revolves around the character Raju, played by Dulquer Salmaan as he aspired to become a gangster like his father.
Deepika Padukone and Hrithik Roshan will soon be seen sharing the screen space together for Fighter. Helmed by Siddharth Anand, Fighter is Indias first aerial action film and will also star Anil Kapoor in the lead role.

Now the makers of the much-awaited Indias first aerial action film Fighter, are all set to bring along the mega celebration for Independence Day with the Spirit of Fighter. While the audience has been eagerly waiting to experience more about this action entertainer, the director has indeed raised the bar of excitement while breaking this big announcement all set for its release tomorrow at 10 AM.

Deepika took to her Instagram handle and shared a poster while carrying the spirit of patriotism and announcing a big reveal tomorrow at 10 AM. She captioned-10AM, Tomorrow. #SpiritOfFighter #SiddharthAnand @hrithikroshan"

Carrying along the true spirit of Independence Day, this announcement has indeed a treat to relish. After WAR and Pathaan, Siddharth Anand is gearing up for yet another grand release with Fighter. Moreover, this has indeed raised the bar of excitement to watch out for this big reveal tomorrow at 10 AM.

Fighter marks Hrithik and Siddharths third film together. The duo previously collaborated on Bang Bang (2014), and War (2019) co-starring Tiger Shroff and Vaani Kapoor.

Fighter is also the second time that Siddharth worked with Deepika Padukone. They previously joined hands for Pathaan (2023), headlined by Shah Rukh Khan and co-starred John Abraham. This will be the first time that Hrithik and Deepika are sharing the screen. Besides this, it also promises to be Indias first-ever aerial action franchise. The film will hit theatres on January 25, 2024.

In April this year, it was reported that the team shot for an epic fight sequence in the movie. Hrithik Roshan and Siddharth Anand know that the stakes are high with Fighter and they are set to shoot their biggest climax till date. The team will be shooting for over 120 hours for this action-packed climax scene, which will take about 25 minute of screen time in the film. The team will be shooting hand-to-hand combats alongside aerial shots for the concluding episode of Fighter. Hrithik, Deepika and Anil will be a part of this epic climax shoot, a source told Pinkvilla.

The insider also claimed that Siddharth Anand has a larger-than-life vision for Fighter and that he plans to make it a visual treat for the audience.

Produced by Viacom18 Studios and Marflix Pictures, Fighter is directed by Siddharth Anand and will star Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone, and Anil Kapoor. The film is set to release on 25th January 2024.
Time and again, actress Kajol shares thought-provoking notes and quotes on Instagram for which she enjoys a massive fan following. On Monday, the actress penned a bundle of quotes of self-love which would surely resonate with every individual of today.

Taking to her Instagram story, she wrote, I will love me as hard as I love everyone else. I will fight for me as hard as I fight for everyone else. I will be as compassionate to myself as I am to everyone else. Kajols wisdom on self love is the perfect dose of Monday motivation, one would need.

Have a look :

Kajols success in the film industry is undeniable, but like any other journey, it has been accompanied by its fair share of challenges. Despite her remarkable achievements, the actress has been often subjected to negative comments and trolling.

Recently in an interview with Hindustan Times, the actress opened up about how she often talks to her children about handling online trolls. She advises Nysa (20) and Yug (12) to take the negativity with a pinch of salt. Kajol believes that its essential not to take everything said by trolls seriously or respond to each and every comment. Because roz kuch na kuch nikal raha hai, roz kuch na kuch bol rahe hain, she added.

Kajol further emphasised how these trolls should not be given any importance. I read some headlines that say brutally trolled. And Im like, What does it exactly mean and who are these people brutally trolling me or my family? Also, saying that an actor got brutally trolled for wearing a pair of shoes and going to the airport is like too much. One has to take it with a pinch of salt and have that bit of sense of humour, she said.

Kajol has been garnering praise with her back-to-back performances in OTT projects. She was last seen in Netflixs original film, Lust Stories 2 and Disney Plus Hotstars web series, The Trial Pyaar Kanoon Dhoka. The series also features Saurabh Shukla, Jisshu Sengupta and Gaurav Pandey in the lead roles. The actress also Do Patti with Kriti Sanon.
Sanjay Dutt is currently shooting for Puri Jagannadhs next Double Ismart. The actor would be seen sharing screen space with Ram Pothineni for the same. They are currently putting up in Bangkok for the same. We hear that, Sanjay suffered a minor injury at the sets.

According to a report in Pinkvilla, Sanjay suffered minor injury while shooting for a fight scene. A source close to the production house shared, He was shooting for a big action sequence that involved sword fighting, and in the moment got injured. He has got a couple of stitches on his head, but being the professional Sanjay is, he immediately got back on the set and resumed shooting.

Earlier last month, Sanjay had unveiled his looked from the Ram Pothineni starrer. He will be playing the role of Big Bull in this sci-fi mass entertainer. It takes me immense pride to be working with the director of the masses #PuriJagannadh ji and the young energetic Ustaad @ram_pothineni Glad to be Playing the #BIGBULL in this sci-fi mass entertainer #DoubleISMART. Excited to be teaming up with this super-talented team and Looking forward to the film hitting the screens on MARCH 8th, 2024.

Sporting a funky hairdo and a beard, Sanjay Dutt looks ultra stylish in the poster in a suit with earrings, rings, an expensive watch, and a tattoo on his face and fingers. He is also seen smoking a cigar in the first-look poster, though all the guns are pointed towards him. Its apparent through the poster that Sanjay Dutt is playing a powerful character.

Double iSmart is a sequel to the blockbuster iSmart Shankar. The film is being produced by Puri Jagannadh and Charmme Kaur under the banner of Puri Connects. It went on floors a few days ago in Mumbai. Hollywood cinematographer Gianni Giannelli is also working for this high-voltage action entertainer. Double iSmart is being made on a high budget with technically high in standards. The makers will reveal the other cast and crew of the movie soon.

Double iSmart will release in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi languages for Maha Shivaratri on March 8, 2024.
In the latest episode of MTV Roadies, the contestants lauded Sonu Sood for helping people during the Covid-19-induced lockdown. One of the contestants told the actor that he is an inspiration for many people, and asked him about where draws his inspiration from. Sonu shared that after the lockdown, he realized that his world was very small. He called helping people the most important role in his life.

Sonu Sood said, Maine life ke do phases dekhe hain. Ek toh bohot filme ki, 100 filme kar chuka hoon alag bhasha main. Aur phir, main Prithviraj shoot kar raha tha, set tha badi taam-jhaam. Phir lockdown ke andar voh picture ruk gayi. Jab main set pe wapas gaya lockdown ke baad toh duniya choti lagne lagi. Mujhe laga ki yeh duniya thi jiske liye main itna struggle karta tha? Inn banners ke saath kaam karna hai, yeh role karna hai, yeh character karna hai. (I have seen two phases in life. One, where I did about 100 films in different languages. Then, I was shooting for Prithviraj on an elaborate set. The filming stopped because of the lockdown. When I returned to the set after the lockdown was lifted, the world seemed smaller. I thought is this the world that I had been struggling for, wanting to work with certain banners, doing certain roles, playing certain characters?)"

He added, Yeh toh meri choti si duniya hai, yeh toh main aisehi itne saal andhere main ghoom raha tha. Asli cheez toh voh hai jab aap ek aam aadmi ke saath judte ho. Ek anjaan aadmi ki madat karte ho, khushi leke aate ho, voh jo nasha hai voh duniya ka koi character nahi nibha sakta. So mujhe laga ki meri life ka sabse important role yeh tha jo main lockdown main kar paya. (This is a small world, I had been living in the dark. The real value is in connecting with a common man. The ecstatic joy that you feel after helping someone and making them happy is not something that playing a character can bring. I thought that this is the most important role in my life)."

Sonu Sood is currently hosting the 19th season of Roadies, Karm Ya Kand. Prince Narula returned to the show as a gang leader for another season. Gautam Gulati and Rhea Chakraborty are the new additions to the show, leading their gangs for the first time.
Following the success of Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, Vicky Kaushal is set to star in another family drama. Bankrolled by Yash Raj Films, The Great Indian Family also features Manushi Chillar in the lead role. Directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya, the film is scheduled to hit theaters on September 22.

On Monday, the makers unveiled the films first teaser, offering a sneak peek into the comical family drama. Set in rural India, the storyline revolves around the chaos that unfolds within Vickys characters family due to unexpected events beyond their control.

In the teaser, the actor passionately discusses the importance of family bonds until he becomes emotional about his eccentric family members. He even refers to his family as a snake that can turn his aspirations to ashes. Then, multiple voices call him out for speaking negatively about his loved ones. He swiftly changes his tone, explaining that he wants to warn the audience about The Great Indian Family."

Sharing her excitement, Manushi Said, Im super excited and thrilled that two of my films have been announced today. Operation Valentine and The Great Indian Family. Two films on the very same day! Both drastically different genres. Operation Valentine is an action - drama, its an air force action which is very different from The Great Indian Family which is a family entertainer, a very light hearted, sweet story. Two roles, two shades, two announcements - only Gratitude. In both the films people will get to see me in completely different roles. I have absolutely enjoyed shooting for both the films and Im very excited for their release.

Vicky Kaushal is set to star in Meghna Gulzars biopic on Sam Maneckshaw, with aims at a December release. Former Miss World Manushi Chillar made her debut last year in Akshay Kumars Prithviraj.
Speaking at a function in Allahabad in 2013, Rahul Gandhi stirred the hornets nest by dismissing poverty as just a state of mind. Measuring his words carefully has never been a strong suit of the Gandhi scion. Unfortunately, in the last 10 years, nothing much has changed as Rahul continues to be irresponsible with his wanton public utterances.

While putting a stay on his conviction recently, even the Supreme Court of India said that Gandhis public utterances are in bad taste. Coming back to the issue of poverty, back in 2013, hailing the role of self-help groups (SHGs), the then Congress vice president, Rahul Gandhi said that SHGs provide the poor with self-confidence to overcome poverty. True, SHGs have played a stellar role under the aegis of Prime Minister Narendra Modis dynamic leadership in the last nine years, but Rahuls insensitive statement 10 years back, about self-confidence being the only solution to poverty, smacked of immaturity and worse.

Poverty is just a state of mind. It does not mean the scarcity of food, money or material things. If one possesses self-confidence, then one can overcome poverty, he had said, in a stark display of insensitivity and callousness. Well, Rahul Gandhi is absolutely wrong. Poverty is indeed the scarcity of food, money, material things and so much more. Most importantly, poverty is eventually about the lack of access to basic amenities and the lack of access to hope  the hope for a better life.

And without an iota of doubt, it is precisely this rebuilding of hope and igniting the spark of an aspirational India that wants the best, that has been the hallmark of PM Modis last nine years in power. While Rahul mocked the poor, his father, Rajiv Gandhi allowed middlemen a free run at the expense of the poor and his grandmother Indira Gandhi used the Garibi Hatao slogan for self-gratification.

In sharp contrast, PM Modi has dedicated himself to the cause of the poor and the underprivileged. In this column, an attempt has been made to elaborate upon all the schemes associated with PM Modis Garib Kalyan initiatives and how they are rapidly transforming India.

Our government has so far transferred Rs 28 lakh crore via DBT under different schemes. If Rajiv Gandhis remark had remained true even today, then 85% of it, i.e. Rs 24 lakh crore would have been looted. But today, it is also reaching the poor, said PM Modi in February 2023 at a business summit, while elaborating on reimagining welfare delivery. The delivery of bank accounts, loans, housing, property rights, toilets, electricity, and clean cooking fuel have all been given a whole new dimension under the Modi government, with no room for middlemen. Our focus is to empower the poor to enable them to contribute to the rapid growth of the country with their full potential, he had further added, at the event in New Delhi, earlier this year.

Speaking of welfare economics, the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) was launched by the Modi government in December 2016, on the lines of the Income Declaration Scheme (IDS). As part of the Taxation Laws (Second Amendment) Act, 2016, the scheme provided an opportunity to declare unaccounted wealth and black money in a confidential manner and avoid prosecution, but only after paying a fine of 50 per cent on the undisclosed income. An additional 25 per cent of the undisclosed income was allowed to be invested in the scheme, which could be refunded after four years, without any interest. Not declaring undisclosed income under the PMGKY attracted a fine of 77.25 per cent if the income was shown in tax returns. In case the income was not shown in tax returns, it attracted a further 10 per cent penalty, followed by prosecution.

The initial objective of PMGKY was to ensure tax evaders declared unaccounted money to avoid penalty and criminal prosecution. Through this scheme, the Modi government intended to use the deposited black money for the welfare of the poor people. The scheme was valid from December 2016 to March 2017. In 2020, the Modi government extended the scheme to include relief packages during the pandemic. The aim was to support the livelihood of the poor during the Covid lockdowns. Garib Kalyan is not a mere platitude but an abiding work ethic for PM Modi.

PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY) was launched in April 2020 for the provision of food grains through the PDS mechanism. Cash transfers of Rs 500 each to women who had Jan Dhan accounts and medical insurance to health workers including doctors, nurses, ASHA workers, paramedics and sanitation workers was also a part of PMGKY.

PM-GKAY, a brainchild of Prime Minister Modi, had approved a new integrated food security scheme for providing free food grains to Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) & Primary Household (PHH) beneficiaries, as per entitlement under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). Implementation of the new scheme benefitted more than 80 crore people every single month, starting from April 2020. PM-GKAY has strengthened the provisions of NFSA in terms of accessibility, affordability and availability of foodgrains to the poor. In all, the schemes outlay swelled to Rs 3.91 lakh crore since launch by the end of December 2022. The free ration scheme witnessed multiple extensions since April 2020. Under the PM-GKAY scheme, the beneficiaries covered under the NFSA get five kilograms of food grains (wheat or rice) per person per month. This quantity is over and above the quantity of food grains that they are entitled to, under the AAY. Under AAY, beneficiaries are already provided with 35 kilograms per family.

Thanks to PM-GKAY, many individuals received double their current entitlement absolutely free of cost. To ensure the availability of protein, 1 kg of pulses is also provided to families (as per regional preferences) under PM-GKAY, which is the largest food security program worldwide and one of a kind.

For the effective and uniform implementation of NFSA, PM-GKAY subsumed the two subsidy schemes of the Department of Food & Public Distribution, namely, (a) food subsidy to FCI (b) food subsidy for decentralised procurement dealing with procurement, allocation and delivery of free foodgrains to the states under NFSA. The Modi government is spending more than Rs 2 lakh crore in 2023 alone as food subsidy under NFSA, PM-GKAY and other welfare schemes to remove the financial burden of the poor and large chunks of the middle class who were adversely impacted by Covid.

Insurance cover of Rs 50 lakh per health worker fighting Covid was provided under PM-GKAY. Safai karamcharis, ward boys, nurses, ASHA workers, paramedics, technicians, doctors and specialists and other health workers were covered by a special insurance scheme. Any health professional, who while treating Covid patients, if met with some accident, was compensated with an amount of Rs 50 lakh under the scheme. All government health centres, wellness centres and hospitals of the Centre, as well as states, were covered under this scheme, with approximately 22 lakh health workers provided with insurance coverage to fight the pandemic in its worst phase, all through 2020-21.

Over 20.4 crore women Jan Dhan account holders got an ex-gratia of Rs 500 per month during the pandemic. An increase in MNREGA wage to Rs 202 a day from Rs 182 to benefit 13.62 crore families was undertaken under PM Garib Kalyan Yojana. An ex-gratia of Rs 1000 to over 3 crore senior citizens, poor widows and the disabled was given during the pandemic. The Modi government front-loaded Rs 2000 to be paid to farmers during Covid, under the existing PM Kisan Yojana, to benefit over 11 crore farmers. Modi government had also given orders to state governments to use building and construction workers welfare funds to provide relief to construction workers. There are around 3.5 crore registered workers in this fund. Also, the state governments were asked to utilise the funds available under the district mineral fund (DMF) for supplementing and augmenting facilities of medical testing, screening and other requirements in connection with preventing the spread of the pandemic, as well as treating the patients affected.

Under PMGKY, gas cylinders, free of cost, were provided to over 8 crore poor families. Wage-earners earning below Rs 15,000 per month in businesses having less than 100 workers were at risk of losing their employment. Hence, the Modi government decided to pay 24 per cent of their monthly wages into their PF accounts for an extended period of time, during Covid, to prevent disruption in their employment.

Women, through 63 lakh self-help groups (SHGs) that support over 6.85 crore households, got multiple benefits under PM Garib Kalyan Yojana. The limit of collateral-free lending was increased from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh. Employees provident fund regulations were amended to include pandemic as the reason to allow non-refundable advance to employees, to the extent of 75 per cent of the amount or three months of the wages, whichever was lower, from their accounts. Families of four crore workers registered under EPF took benefits of this window.

PM Garib Kalyan scheme has not been limited to the extraordinary measures taken by the Modi government during the pandemic. Even beyond that, welfarism has always been the cornerstone of what PM Modi has done in the last 9 years. For instance, as of March 2023, a total of 23.19 crore Ayushman cards have been created against the verified beneficiaries. Over 4.44 crore hospital admissions worth Rs 53,350.20 crore have been authorised through a network of 25,969 empanelled healthcare providers, including 11,700 private hospitals. Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), with over 9400 such outlets in 651 districts across the country, selling over 1800 medicines and 285 surgical items at cheap prices, are also transforming the healthcare landscape rapidly. Dont forget, under the Congress, Jan Aushadhi kendras remained a complete non-starter, despite starting way back in 2008. This clearly shows that merely launching a scheme is not enough. The ability and intent to execute that scheme is critical for its success and that is where Modis visionary leadership stands out.

Similarly, when the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) was launched on August 15, 2019, out of 19.27 crore households, only 3.23 crore (17 per cent) households in India had tap water connections. But almost four years hence, as of May 2023, the number of households with tap water connections has risen to over 12 crore. In August 2022, Goa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu became the first Har Ghar Jal certified regions with 100 per cent tap-water access. As of January 2023, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Puducherry and Telangana have also achieved 100 per cent tap-water access, thanks to the Modi government. Himachal Pradesh and Bihar have also achieved almost 100 per cent tap water penetration, in a vindication of how PM Modis Garib Kalyan scheme does not discriminate between BJP-governed and non-BJP-ruled states.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), a Central scheme, aims at providing financial assistance to all cultivable land-holding farmer families across the country, subject to certain exclusion criteria. Under the scheme, an amount of Rs 6000 is transferred annually in three equal installments of Rs 2000 directly into the Aadhaar seeded bank accounts of the farmers. A farmer-centric digital infrastructure has ensured the benefits of the scheme reach all the farmers across the country without any involvement of the middlemen, maintaining absolute transparency in registering and verifying beneficiaries. The Modi government has disbursed over Rs 2.60 lakhs crore to more than 11 crore farmers, with the 14th installment done in July 2023.

Speaking of Garib Kalyan, the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), launched in October 2014, wherein over 11 crore toilets were built, is a testimony to how dramatic improvement in sanitation is closely linked to an equally dramatic rise in growth, equity and overall well-being of the people. Under the 2nd phase of SBM, with a focus on urban India, SBM-U 2.0 was launched in October 2021. It envisions to make all cities garbage-free and ensure grey and black water management in all cities other than those covered under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT). AMRUT was launched on June 25, 2015, in selected 500 cities and towns across the country. AMRUT has aimed at making all urban local bodies ODF+ and those with a population of less than 1 lakh as ODF++, thereby achieving the vision of safe sanitation in urban areas. SBM-U 2.0 lays focus on source segregation of solid waste, utilising the principles of 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle), scientific processing of all types of municipal solid waste and remediation of legacy dumpsites for effective solid waste management. The outlay of SBM-U 2.0 is around Rs 1.41 lakh crore.

AMRUT 2.0, launched in 2021, aims to provide 100 per cent coverage of water supply to all households in over 4700 urban local bodies by providing over 2.68 crore tap connections and 100 per cent coverage of sewerage and septage in 500 AMRUT cities, by providing over 2.64 crore sewer/septage connections, which will benefit more than 10.5 crore people in urban areas. AMRUT 2.0 has adopted the principles of circular economy, promotes conservation and rejuvenation of surface and groundwater bodies and will also promote data-led governance in water management by leveraging the latest global technologies and skills. Pey Jal Survekshan is being conducted to promote progressive competition among cities. The outlay of AMRUT 2.0 is around Rs 2.87 lakh crore.

SBM-U and AMRUT have contributed significantly to improve the urban landscape during the last many years. The two flagship missions have augmented the capacity to deliver basic services of water supply and sanitation to the citizens. Swachhta has become a Jan Andolan today. All urban local bodies have been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) and 70 per cent of solid waste is being scientifically processed now. AMRUT has been ensuring water security by adding 1.1 crore household water tap connections and 85 lakh sewer connections, thus benefiting more than 4 crore people, in the last few years.

Banks and financial institutions have provided Rs 23.2 lakh crore to over 40.82 crore beneficiaries under Indias Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY). The scheme was launched in April 2015 to provide easy collateral-free micro-credit to non-corporate, non-farm small and micro-entrepreneurs for income-generating activities. PMMY is the worlds largest self-employment-generating initiative. It is a classic case of Garib Kalyan meets entrepreneurship, with over 70 per cent of beneficiaries of Mudra Yojana being women. Dont forget, even 81 per cent of beneficiaries of Stand Up India are women, with many belonging to poor and marginalised families.

The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) was launched in August 2014 with the aim to provide universal banking services through the opening of zero-balance bank account for every unbanked household, based on the guiding principles of banking the unbanked, securing the unsecured and funding the unfunded (access to credit). As of July 2023, there are 49.49 crore PMJDY accounts, with deposits of Rs 2.01 lakh crore. Over 56 per cent of beneficiaries of PMJDY are women, especially those belonging to the SC/ST communities.

Coming back to Garib Kalyan and poverty alleviation, India witnessed a significant reduction of multidimensional poverty with 13.5 crore people moving out of it between 2015-16 and 2019-21, according to a report by NITI Aayog. India has registered a significant decline of 9.89 percentage points in the number of Indias multidimensionally poor from 24.85 per cent in 2015-16 to 14.96 per cent in 2019-21, it said.

The national multidimensional poverty index (MPI) measures simultaneous deprivations across three equally weighted dimensions of health, education, and standard of living that are represented by 12 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) aligned indicators. The report said rural areas witnessed the fastest decline in poverty from 32.59 per cent to 19.28 per cent, while the urban areas saw a reduction in poverty from 8.65 per cent to 5.27 per cent. In the said five years, the MPI value halved from 0.117 to 0.066 and the intensity of poverty reduced from 47 per cent to 44 per cent, thereby setting India on the path of achieving SDG target 1.2 (of reducing multidimensional poverty by at least half), much ahead of the stipulated timeline of 2030. NITI Aayog said that the Modi governments dedicated focus on improving access to sanitation, nutrition, cooking fuel, financial inclusion, drinking water, and electricity has led to significant advancements in these areas. All 12 parameters of the MPI have shown marked improvements, the report said. It further said that improvements in nutrition, years of schooling, sanitation, and cooking fuel played a significant role in bringing down poverty.

Nelson Mandela once said, Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. Indeed, in the New India being deftly shaped by Prime Minister Modi, poverty is being replaced by dexterity and adroitness of thought, action and purpose, so that we move closer to prosperity, in more ways than one.

Sanju Verma is an Economist, National Spokesperson for BJP and Bestselling Author of The Modi Gambit". Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
Drug trafficking in India is directed, monitored, and controlled by extra-hemispheric actors, comprising various nationalities, having strong terror links. There are no magic-bullet solutions to solve this problem, which affects many other nations across the globe. Indias status as a pluralistic, democratic country, affects its strategic position as well as the economic health and political dynamics of the region.

Drug trafficking is the most effective weapon to strategically destabilise the country and also for creating opportunities for active collaboration with religious fundamentalists and separatists. Political commitments and limitations, have over the past several decades, resulted in a lack of bureaucratic and legislative agility in tackling drug trafficking. The government is also constrained by its own laws, and the liberal interpretation and attitude of the judiciary, which places emphasis on additional associated freedoms and the protection of various rights.

This is hampering two complementary types of drug enforcement activities: (1) those oriented toward preventing, addressing the effects of, or otherwise dealing with the specific harmful and destructive activities of extra-hemispheric actors, and (2) shaping the strategic playing field in the region, within which that engagement occurs.

Thus, whether it is Kashmir, Punjab, Manipur, Gujarat, the entire stretch of the West coast, and distant Lakshadweep, extra-hemispheric actors are taking undue advantage of fundamental rights and freedoms, procedural democracy, rule of law, protection of rights, and judicial delays to successfully avoid even a reasonable term of punishment. Survey of a few events from near and far, when juxtaposed with legal verdicts, emanating from different courts in the country, makes illuminating understanding.

On March 10, 2023, Kenya jailed six Pakistanis and one Iranian national who were found guilty of trafficking heroin via the Indian Ocean to Kenyas coastal city of Mombasa and sentenced them to life in prison. The men were in custody since 2014 when they were arrested and charged with trafficking heroin worth 1.3 billion Kenya shillings ($10 million). The ship was destroyed in an operation that was supervised by the then President Uhuru Kenyatta, who reiterated the countrys strict stance against drug trafficking.

On August 3, 2023, Singapore executed Mohamed Shalleh Abdul Latiff, a 39-year-old Singaporean for trafficking 54 grams (1.9 ounces) of heroin, an amount sufficient to feed the addiction of about 640 abusers for a week, it said in a statement. Two other citizens were executed prior to this. Saridewi Djamani, 45, who was the first woman to be hanged in 19 years, for trafficking about 31 grams (1 ounce) of heroin; and Mohammed Aziz Hussain, 56, hanged for trafficking around 50 grams (1.75 ounces) of heroin.

Compare the above actions with what is happening in our country.

On May 11, 2023, the Allahabad High Court Neutral Citation No. 2023:AHC:97588-DB judgement, delivered on May 5, 2023, in Habeas Corpus Writ Petition No. 729 of 2022, while allowing the petition said that the preventive detention laws in India are a colonial legacy and have a great potential to be abused and misused. Laws that have the ability to confer arbitrary powers to the state, must in all circumstances, be very critically examined and must be used only in the rarest of rare cases, the Court said. In this case, on January 4, 2016, the Zonal Director, NCB Lucknow officials intercepted a vehicle and recovered 312 kgs of Ganja. He managed to get out on bail. On October 25, 2020, the same person was again apprehended along with three other persons, transporting a total quantity of 170 kgs of Ganja.

The preventive detention of such repeat offenders gets trashed while ignoring the deliberate intent to harm society and future generations that they are causing. Is his freedom and liberty greater than those he is mentally and physically wrecking?

On October 1, 2022, terming preventive detention as a serious invasion of personal liberty, the Supreme Court ordered forthwith the release of a man arrested under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, (PIT-NDPS) 1988, for withholding bail orders by detaining authorities. SC Bench of the Chief Justice of India and two other judges set aside a Tripura High Court verdict which held that if the detenu was not prejudiced by non-supply of a particular document, he couldnt gain any benefit merely by agitating that a document mentioned in the detention order was not supplied. It also took exception to the unexplained delay in detention of accused Sushanta Kumar Banik and withholding bail orders by detaining authorities, saying whatever little safeguards the Constitution and the law authorising such action provided must be strictly adhered to.

For the drug trafficker to agitate the non-furnishing of a document is a grave violation of his rights, but his deliberate act of causing the horrible destruction of hundreds of human minds and bodies gets overlooked by the judiciary. The unknown and unseen addicted victims can never get impleaded in cases filed by drug traffickers.

The Manipur High Court in W.P. (Crl) No. 45 of 2022, Md. Nawaz Khan vs Special Secretary, held that in Sarabjeet Singh Mokha Vs District Magistrate, Jabalpur, and others [(Criminal Appeal No. 1301 of 2021, decided on October 29, 2021, the Supreme Court held that by delaying a decision on such representation, the state government denied the detenu a valuable statutory right. The Supreme Court observed that the delay by the state government in disposing of such representation strikes at the heart of the procedural rights and guarantees granted to a detenu. Though it is laudable that the Government of Manipur is waging a war on drugs and initiating stringent measures to arrest the menace of illicit drug manufacture, trafficking and marketing in and through the State of Manipur, it is equally its responsibility to ensure that procedural safeguards are taken note of strictly so as to protect the Constitutional and statutory rights of persons detained under preventive detention laws. A copy of this order shall be sent to the Chief Secretary, Government of Manipur, for information and necessary further action in the context of educating the detaining authorities in the State of Manipur as to what are the procedural norms that they need to adhere to while exercising power and jurisdiction under preventive detention laws.

Manipur is in the throes of an internecine drug war, which the court also acknowledges, but the right of the detenu to have his representation considered expeditiously is supreme! The state is experiencing extreme turmoil between different communities, due to cross-border drug trafficking. Is it justified to give priority to the rights of drug traffickers, when they are culpable for the miseries inflicted on thousands of families?

In another case of Kaikam Kigpen Vs State of Manipur, the High Court of Manipur (W.P. (Crl) No.32 of 2022, referred to the Supreme Court case of Union of India Vs Paul Manickam and Anr, reported in (2003) 8 SCC 342, at para 16 where it was held that meticulous compliance of the procedural safeguard provided in a preventive detention, however, technical, is mandatory.

Paragraph 16  In a case of preventive detention no offence is proved, nor is any charge formulated and the justification of such detention is suspicion or reasonability and there is no criminal conviction which can only be warranted by legal evidence. Preventive justice requires action to be taken to prevent apprehended objectionable activities. (See R. v. Halliday and Kubic Darusz v. Union of India). But at the same time, a persons greatest of human freedoms i.e. personal liberty is deprived, and, therefore, the laws of preventive detention are strictly construed, and meticulous compliance with the procedural safeguard, however technical, is mandatory. The compulsions of the primordial need to maintain order in society, without which enjoyment of all rights, including the right of personal liberty would lose all their meanings, are the true justifications for the laws of preventive detention. This jurisdiction has been described as a jurisdiction of suspicion, and the compulsions to preserve the values of lazy bureaucratic foot-dragging.

Such verdicts may appear lawful, appropriate and even numbingly routine, but who will see and hear the miseries of the thousands of unfortunate drug addicts and their families? Most states in the Northeast do not have enough rehabilitation centres to take care of the addicts. HIV infected population is also alarmingly high in Manipur. However, the rights of the traffickers are considered more important, to denote that democracy is perfectly functioning in our country.

Fortunately, another verdict from another court gives hope for the voiceless and the unrepresented. The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court dismissed the plea of an alleged drug trafficker detained under the PIT-NDPS. The court observed that the involvement of various terrorist groups and syndicates in drug trafficking leads to a threat to the national security and sovereignty of States by way of narco-terrorism. The court observed, Drug trafficking and abuse has continued its significant toll on valuable human lives and productive years of many persons around the globe. With the growth and development of the world economy, drug traffickers are also seamlessly trafficking various types of drugs from one corner to another ensuring the availability of contrabands for vulnerable segments of society who fall into the trap of drug peddlers and traffickers.

Furthermore, the court said on the serious drug menace affecting India, Due to Indias close proximity with major opium growing areas of the region, India is facing the serious menace of drug trafficking and as a spill-over effect, drug abuse, especially among the youth, is a matter of concern for us. The court noted that India has been facing a problem of transit traffic in illicit drugs. The spillover from such traffic has caused tribulations of abuse and addiction. This trend has created an illicit demand for drugs within the country.

The court also observed that the illicit traffic of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances poses a serious threat to the health and welfare of the people. The court referred to the Supreme Courts observations in Prakash Chandra Mohan Vs Commissioner (1986) while dealing with the question of preventive detention, wherein the SC observed that it must be remembered that observance of written law about the procedural safeguards for protection of individual is normally the high duty of public official but in all circumstances not the highest. The law of self-preservation and protection of the country and national security may claim in certain circumstances higher priority.

Fortunately, a few courts in this country are seeing the bigger picture, that there are extra-hemispheric forces, using the destructive power of narcotic drugs to damage the fabric of Indian democracy.

What is the situation in the US? In 1984, the US Congress adopted a preventive detention act allowing federal courts to detain arrestees pending trial if the government could show that no release conditions could protect the safety of persons and the community. The act was challenged before the US Supreme Court in United States v. Salerno, decided in 1987. The court held that the preventive detention bill violated neither the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment nor the excessive bail language of the Eighth Amendment. After Salerno, preventive detention laws were adopted in a number of US states.

Indian courts need to see the bigger picture, otherwise, we will remain well short of the sustained, comprehensive, energized response that counter-narcotics efforts demand. Manipur is a living example of a societal collapse breaking into a drug-dictated civil war. When offender-detenus are being released in the name of transparency and procedural violations, why is no written undertaking being taken for their future commitment not to repeat or indulge in drug trafficking or any drug-gang activity?

Drug empire builders should fear that courts will aggressively isolate them from offences like drug trafficking, funding extremism, and the horrors of terrorism.

Dr G Shreekumar Menon IRS (Rtd), PhD (Narcotics), is Former Director General, National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes & Narcotics. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
For four decades, the Chinese juggernaut has been marching forward. China has enjoyed a peace dividend in this period, and its rise has been  by and large  peaceful. By the end of the last decade, the world, including the US, the P5 nations and India, had more or less reconciled to a future dominated by the G2  the US and China. From a Chinese standpoint, the US was the only competitor and equal. But then, things started changing dramatically, as they often do.

First came the pandemic, delivering a body blow to the image that China had been so assiduously building for decades  a responsible power with a plan for achieving global success  if not dominance. Starting from the potential origin of the virus as a Chinese bio-weapon gone wrong, to the super sluggish recovery of its economy, post-pandemic, its been a PR nightmare. The suspected efficacy of its vaccine, to its inability to control the pandemic within its borders  despite draconian measures  raised uncomfortable questions about the quality of Chinese products and the Chinese model of governance itself. The world woke up to the dangers of a single point of failure in the global supply chains. Chinas export-driven economic miracle, where China was the factory of the world, is suddenly under global scrutiny, if not downright attack.

To be a great power, besides economic heft, China also needs to demonstrate dominance over geography beyond its borders, as well as over global institutions. Hence, dominance in Asia is a basic qualifying criterion. However, its attempt to drive home the message to India, in Galwan, went horribly wrong. Beijing had not factored in Indias resolute response, both militarily and economically. Indian public opinion now clearly treats China as its enemy number one  a burden that Pakistan had largely carried since Indias independence. Blood having been shed on the Sino-Indian border, new SOPs are in place. China knows that the local Indian Army commanders no longer have to wait for New Delhis nod before opening fire. China now has to match its rhetoric with actual gunfire and that situation can unfold very soon. Its well-honed strategy of browbeating opponents through chest thumping only has outlived its utility.

India on its part seems to be on a mission, of its own, to show the mirror to China. Besides maintaining a strong military posture along its border, it has overtly embraced the anti-China QUAD grouping. Unlike in the past, India clearly wants to take the battle into the South China Sea and limit Chinas degree of freedom in the Indian Ocean. It has started selling advanced weaponry to Chinas adversaries like Vietnam and the Philippines. From a largely defensive posture, throughout its history, India has now clearly taken an offensive-defensive stance in its dealings with China. Additionally, Indias economic countermeasures against China have created a template for other adversaries to emulate.

The post-World War II world order was shaped by America. There is no global institution worth its salt, that is not dominated by the US. However, China has been using its increasing economic muscle to quietly exert greater influence over some institutions like the World Health Organisation (WHO), over the years. On its part, it has created non-American groupings and institutions like SCO, BRICS, RIC, AIIB, etc. It has embarked on its flagship Belt and Road projects across the world. But to Chinas chagrin, India has now emerged as its most formidable detractor in all these forums. Not just these groupings, in most multilateral forums, including the UN Security Council, G20, NSG, etc., China and India appear to be at loggerheads.

The debt trap, inherent in Chinas Belt and Road initiatives, is becoming clearer by the day. The timing of it couldnt have been worse. With the West tightening the screws on economic and technology relationship with China, the light at the end of the tunnel of economic woes is not visible. China, which is experiencing an economic slowdown itself, has limited options for financial engineering. Taking over assets like the Hambantota port  in Sri Lanka  is a recipe for bad press, in an environment of dwindling equity. Indias overt and covert opposition to projects like the CPEC in Pakistan and Pokhara airport in Nepal, are almost rendering them unviable. And who did Sri Lanka turn to when its debt-ridden economy was on the verge of collapse? India.

Chinas bete noire  India  seems to have stolen a march over it as the voice of the Global South too. Indias vaccine diplomacy, where it distributed for free  made-in-India vaccines to many poor countries of the world, has turned the tide in its favour. Whichever way China looks, India is now in its face. It is far from being only doom and gloom for China and it, by and large, manages to frustrate Indias efforts across most forums of disagreement, for example, in the 1267 Sanctions Committee of the UN etc. But therein lies the rub. A claimant to G2 power status has now been relegated to fighting a battle of narrative, across multiple platforms, with the largest democracy in the world. Thats a positioning nightmare.

Chinas serious miscalculations has landed it in this imbroglio. Indias own rise, coupled with US response to its global domination, will continue to queer the pitch for China. How the story unfolds would make for an interesting read in the days to come.

The writer has over 19 years of IT services and investment banking experience. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
I recently completed an ambitious trilogy of books on our greatest tribal warriors  The Legend Of Birsa Munda, The Great Tribal Warriors Of Bharat and Sido Kanhu. In all honesty, while my co-authors and I ensured these stories were told in the most authentic manner, I have no inhibitions in asserting that these books complement my political narrative.

I have grown up in Jharkhand which during my growing up years was a part of Bihar. Jharkhand was formed on 15 November 2000. Sadly, even after 23 years, the state has been struggling for a clear cultural and political identity. Instead, what makes the headlines more often than not, are the unsavoury and shameful cases of corruption and episodes of lawlessness, where the state government is a mute spectator.

The malaise is deep and the correction needs to be deeper. Jharkhand needs a strong legacy and identity at the national level. That identity needs to amalgamate the contributions of Birsa Munda, Sido Kanhu and Jamsetji Tata  the biggest contributors to the regions narrative. This combination also represents the cohesive nature of Jharkhand society  the symbiotic relationship and existence between the Adivasi Samaj and the urban population.

Anyway, since the focus right now is our 76th Independence Day, let me align my thoughts to the occasion. I will be travelling this year to Ulihatu village in Khunti district, 60 km from Ranchi, to celebrate the Independence Day with the direct descendants and family members of Birsa Munda. Ever since I started working on my book four years ago, the research on the life of Birsa Munda would transport me to that era. I would vicariously live the life and times of the legend. When I was in Ranchi last year, I tried to visit his village. However, I was dissuaded by friends and even cab drivers were not enthusiastic to travel to that side. I was told that its still a small, non-happening village with very little opportunities.

Over the months and years, I feel only more convinced than before that the quest for Jharkhands asmita should begin from Birsa Mundas village. The distance between Ulihatu and the steel city of Jamshedpur is a mere 100 km. However, in terms of development and opportunities Ulihatu is still behind Jamshedpur by 100 years. The reason why Ulihatu should be the starting point is also because a laggard start best showcases the humongous trajectory achieved by Birsa Munda during his lifetime.

Last year I travelled to Deori Temple in Tamar on the Jamshedpur-Highway highway. I visited a government primary school close by which mostly had kids from the Munda tribe. While every kid was aware of Birsa Munda, not many knew of the relevance of his revolution for the country. Birsa Munda primarily fought against predatory proselytisation, a weapon employed by the British to culturally subjugate the Adivasi population. Sadly, the scourge is still prevalent in the region and is even supported by certain political groups.

Until such time, these kids dont grow up taking over pride in the achievements of their ancestry and their contribution to Bharat, their true potential in shaping the communitys and countrys future discourse will remain untapped. As a humble effort in this direction on 15th August this year, I will be in Ulihatu village distributing a copy of the Hindi edition of my book on Birsa Munda to each resident family in the village.

One of the countrys biggest tribal leaders post-Independence, Kariya Munda will be travelling to Ulihatu to join me on this momentous occasion. Kariya Munda knows the residents of this village personally and the first few copies will be personally handed over by him. Mrityunjay Sharma, a promising young leader and Election Management Chief, Jharkhand BJP, will be organising this noble initiative.

Around two years back, I wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting him to strengthen Birsa Mundas legacy and make his revolution a confluence of all Adivasi uprisings, struggles and revolts from 1765 (Raghunath Mahato) till our Independence. The first plea was conferring Bharat Ratna upon Birsa Munda. The second was the creation of a Birsa Tourism Corridor covering and encapsulating all areas associated with Birsa Mundas life and revolution. The third was the creation of Bharats biggest war memorial for all our Adivasi freedom fighters at Dombari Buru, the hills near Ranchi where Birsa Mundas revolution culminated before his men were overpowered by the British through an act of chicanery on 9 January 1900.

The quest for Jharkhands asmita and for the state to play a pivotal role and be a key contributor in Bharats resurgence in the lead up to 2047, should start from Ulihatu.

The writer is an author and BJP spokesperson. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
By Azernews

Qabil Ashirov





In politics, there is a tactic - when legal authority cannot tell something, a public person close to the authority, an opposition, or a former government official tells it on behalf. We can assess the words of Ruben Vardanyan, in the interview with Glumoff in the radio Van in this way. Remind the Nemesis terror act, Ruben Vardanyan threatened the top governmental officials of Azerbaijan. Here raises a question: "Why Ruben Vardanyan suddenly needed to threaten Azerbaijan?" For understanding his intention, first up, we need to know the means of Armenian policy.

What is Nemesis terror act?

The Nemesis is a terror act against the Azerbaijani and Ottoman government officials conducted by a clandestine cell of an Armenian terror organization called the Revolutionary Federation in the 1920s. More precisely, when WWI broke out, an adventurous ambition emerged among the Armenians to create a country stretching from the Caspian Sea to the Black Sea by wresting out lands from the Ottoman Empire and Azerbaijan. Relating to ambition, they collaborated with the enemies of the Ottoman Empire and Azerbaijan to backstabbing. When their ambition did not come true, they started to conduct assassinations against the prominent Azerbaijani and Turkish governmental officials who had impeded Armenians to realize their ambition. The First Azerbaijani Prime Minister Fatali Khan Khoyski and the Interior Minister of Azerbaijan Behdud Khan Javanshir were among those who were assassinated by Armenians.

ASALA  the continuation of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation

Armenians, who have never ever had any state over years, resorted to terrorism to get their dreams come true. Therefore, the Revolutionary Federation was neither the first Armenian terror organization nor the last one. ASALA was another terror organization that adopted the same ambition and the same tactics. The organization was created in 1975 in Lebanon. The members of ASALA aimed to force Turkiye to accept their wishes by assassinating dozens of Turkish diplomats throughout the world.

It should be mentioned that during the first Garabagh war, the leader of ASALA came to the region and became one of the leaders of the separatists. At that time, the Armenian government organized several terror attacks to Azerbaijan such as blasting the metro stations and busses. Of course, Armenians could not get anything either from Turkiye or from Azerbaijan.

Terror legacy

However, it is well-known that every time, when Armenia enjoys a defeat in the war scene, they immediately resort to terror. We witnessed it even during the Second Garabagh War. Immediately after the liberation of any cities in Garabagh by the Azerbaijani Army, Armenia used to launch a missile attack against the civilians' populated areas in Ganja, Barda, and so on. Dozens of innocent people were killed, injured, and maimed as a result of missile attacks. Armenians thought that they would force Azerbaijan to stop the counter-offensive operation in 2020 by terrorizing them. But it backfired. All citizens of Azerbaijan demonstrated a big solidarity with the Azerbaijani Army and we kicked Armenians out of our liberated lands.

Just now, a little part of Azerbaijani lands is under the control of Armenian separatists, and demonstrating goodwill, Azerbaijan tries to return these territories through negotiations. Unfortunately, instead of taking lessons from the near past and accepting Azerbaijan's peace proposal, Armenians tried to play a victim card. They thought that big countries would believe their crocodile tears. However, being aware of the Armenian character, no country in the world did react to it, except a few Armenophil politicians. In other words, Armenia did not enjoy humiliating defeat only in the military scene, but also in diplomacy. Reaching the deadlock, Armenians look for a means to get out.

It seems, remaining true to their character, Armenians intend to resort to terror once again. However, legal authority in Yerevan cannot voice it, therefore Ruben Vardanyan says the intention instead of them.

But let neither Ruben Vardanyan nor his fixers forget that, nobody can speak with Azerbaijan in the terror language. Azerbaijan has disbanded several terror organizations over 30 years. Take the Armenian masterpiece terror organization ASALA for example. After fighting with Turkiye, Israel, and France, ASALA regretted coming to Garabagh in the 1990s. Azerbaijani Army eliminated its leader Monte Melkonyan in 1993 and the organization disbanded in 1997.
When Amy Stiffarm was a graduate student at University of Montana, she learned that Native American women have low rates of breastfeeding. But she didnt understand why.

Until one day, I came across (reports) about how historical trauma and boarding school trauma took away our parenting knowledge and knowledge around how to feed your babies, said Stiffarm, who is Aaniiih and a descendent of the Chippewa Cree and Blackfeet tribes. I had never seen that before  something that was talking about the root causes. It was novel to me, it made sense, but why was no one talking about it?

Stiffarm, who was earning a masters degree at UM with a focus on maternal child health, said she struggled at times during the program.

I felt like I always had to do extra work to find Native American-specific information, she said. It felt like I was always going out of my way.

Even participating in online discussion boards could be exhausting.

I remember so many times I felt like, I dont want to talk about Native issues because I dont want to have to explain all of this stuff, Stiffarm recalled. But sometimes I would. I felt a little burdened to help educate people. I was just so tired and discouraged that people who were going to be public health professionals may not know anything about tribes.

Stiffarms experience was not unique to UM, and she acknowledged that she couldve had the same experience at other universities in the country. When she graduated, Stiffarm had two little girls. And while shed dreamed of pursuing a doctoral degree, the prospect, at the time, felt challenging.

I felt like I would need a dual Ph.D. in Native studies and public health, and that felt like it was too much, she said. You hear horror stories of your committee or adviser or professor not valuing Indigenous knowledge, and I just thought, I cant fight that fight right now.

But when University of North Dakota launched its Indigenous Health Doctoral program in 2019  the first program of its kind in the country  Stiffarm saw an opportunity.

I felt like, I have to do this, she said. This is what Ive been waiting for.

Stiffarm enrolled in the program, but soon, the pandemic hit. Stiffarms classes moved entirely online, and her daughters daycare shut down, leaving Stiffarm, a single parent, to figure out how to care for them while being a student and working part-time. There were good times, like when her daughters were occupied with paper and crayons so she could study, and there were challenging moments, like when she wondered if she could even complete the program. Fortunately, Stiffarms parents in Fort Belknap and other community members offered to help where they could, sometimes taking the children for a few days while Stiffarm prepared for exams.

Stiffarm could tell the new doctoral program was unique right from the beginning. Instead of educating her peers and professors on Indigenous value systems and historical trauma, she said the cohorts baseline understanding of these topics allowed them to focus instead on solutions.

We didnt have to always talk about disparities, she said. It wasnt all negative all the time. It felt like a breath of fresh air, as a scholar. It felt magical to have Native professors and peers who were mostly Native as well as some allies.

At University of North Dakota, Stiffarm studied perinatal mental health for Indigenous women  an issue personal to her. When Stiffarm first became pregnant, she found she wasnt sure exactly what she needed to do.

I realized, wow, I dont really know much about this, she said. I know so much about death. I know exactly what to do at funerals, but when it comes to giving birth, I dont know what to do.

After she had her second child, Stiffarm struggled with postpartum depression, and as a researcher, she wanted to know what exactly was happening to her body and mind.

I learned trauma is a risk factor, but no one talked about historical trauma, she said. I was at risk but didnt even realize it, and no one was talking about it. I saw there was a lack of research, a lack of a full story with root causes, so I thought, Alright, Ill (study) this.

In her three-part dissertation, Stiffarm wrote first about how non-Native organizations can thoughtfully and effectively engage with tribal communities. In doing this research, she spent a year in conversation with tribal communities about what resources were available and what services were needed.

Second, Stiffarm created a toolkit for providers and others in the public health field about cultural safety. The kit includes Montana-specific historical context and outlines how past events can affect Native Americans who have babies.

I had providers come to me and say, This is what I want to know, and then I had people saying, This is what I want my provider to know, she recalled. When there arent programs or research specific to Native women, you start to feel like people dont care. But this work has helped me realize people do care. They just dont know where to start.

Third, Stiffarm analyzed Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System data. Rather than compare Native American pregnancy data with white pregnancy data, she instead chose to focus entirely on Native communities, making her research particularly unique.

Stiffarm was a member of the first graduating class of University of North Dakotas new program, and upon graduating, she moved to Helena to become the program manager of Native American initiatives at Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies.

Stiffarm hopes to continue to educate non-Native providers on how to improve care, and she wants to help tribes be more aware of risk factors and hopes to support increasing doula work in Montana.

I cant even believe I have the opportunity to work with tribes in Montana, in my own state, she said. My research projects always took me elsewhere, so I feel like, Wow, I really get to do this. I want to give back.
2018: A riot of colour and a glimpse of Indian culture, was the running motifs of the Google doodle for the year 2018. The digital illustration was inspired by the truck art of India as it included images of iconic colorful plant life and mighty animals. (Image: google.com)
Maharashtra opposition leader Vijay Wadettiwar on Monday suggested that Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar may replace Eknath Shinde as the chief minister. Addressing a press conference in Gadchiroli city, Wadettiwar also claimed preparations are on to admit Shinde to a hospital and later replace him on health grounds. He said NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar, who heads the group of rebel NCP MLAs, met in Pune recently amid speculation about Shindes likely replacement and in view of talks among MLAs loyal to Ajit that he could be made the chief minister.

The buzz about the health of Shinde, who was at his native village in Satara, grew louder after his supporter and MLA Sanjay Shirsat recently claimed the CM has fallen sick as he works for 24 hours. Information is coming out about ongoing preparations to admit Eknath Shinde in a hospital and replace him with a new chief minister, Wadettiwar said.

The Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly also claimed the Chief Ministers Office (CMO) has stated that Shinde is not keeping well. I fear that he (Shinde) may be admitted to a hospital for two months and may be replaced on medical grounds. People of Maharashtra are asking whether preparations are on to admit Shinde in a hospital on medical grounds, the senior Congress leader said.

Notably, Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece Saamana also referred to MLA Shirsats claim about Shindes sickness. Shinde works for 24 hours, but it does not reflect anywhere in the state. If he has lost his sleep from the fear of losing his post anytime, it cannot be termed that he is working round-the-clock, the Saamana said in its editorial on Monday.

If Shirsats claims are true, Shinde should be admitted to an ICU and kept away from meeting (Deputy CMs) Devendra Fadnavis or Ajit Pawar. Shinde should be admitted to a good hospital in Mumbai or Thane, the editorial said sarcastically. Interestingly, senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan last month claimed that Ajit Pawar, who is part of the Shiv Sena-BJP government, will be appointed as the chief minister around August 10.

This claim was dismissed by senior BJP leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Fadnavis had said Ajit Pawar was well aware of the fact that he wont become the chief minister and the same was conveyed to him during the meetings held before July 2, when he joined the state government with eight MLAs of NCP.
A BJP leader succumbed to his bullet injuries on Monday morning, following which his supporters staged protests by blocking roads in Latehar district, police said.

Rajendra Prasad Sahu, a former vice-president of Latehar zila parishad, was shot at by motorcycle-borne unidentified gunmen near Doon school in Balumath area on Saturday evening.

He succumbed to his bullet injuries, sustained on the waist, stomach and leg, early on Monday while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Ranchi, Latehar Superintendent of Police (SP) Anjani Anjan said.

As news of his death reached his supporters, they blocked the Chatra-Ranchi and Balumath-Panki roads near Murpa More and burnt tyres, while also setting fire to a parked SUV.

Police later cleared the roads for the traffic, he said.

A manhunt has been launched to nab the accused. We hope to arrest them soon," the SP said.

Condoling Sahus death, Jharkhand BJP president and former chief minister Babulal Marandi said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, The poor law and order of the useless Hemant government took another life."

Former chief minister Raghubar Das tweeted, Another BJP leader was killed due to the poor law and order situation. I am pained by the news of the death of Latehars former zila parishad vice-president and BJP leader Rajendra Sahu, who was shot by criminals three days back."
Delhi Cabinet minister Atishi on Monday directed the chief secretary, hours after taking charge of the vigilance department, to take action on complaints of bribery in SDM offices.

The minister, in a note to chief secretary Naresh Kumar, directed for forming a team of senior IAS and DANICS officers within a week who will visit the SDM offices.

She also said that the chief secretary should visit at least five sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) offices and investigate the complaints.

The minister directed the chief secretary, who is also the chief vigilance officer of the Delhi government, to furnish a detailed report within a week, detailing irregularities detected in SDM offices and the ways to curb them.

In a recent reshuffle in his Cabinet, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal gave Atishi charge of the Vigilance and Services departments raising the number of portfolios allotted to her to 14.

The minister took charge of the Vigilance Department on Monday.

In a note, Atishi alleged that government officials in SDM offices are demanding bribes to issue regular certificates.
Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg on Sunday traded barbs at each other before their upcoming cage fight at an epic location in Italy, with the Tesla CEO challenging Meta Founder to fight in his backyard on Monday.

Musk posted a chat with Zuckerberg on X (formerly Twitter), saying he will be in Palo Alto (California) on Monday and offered to fight on Zuckerbergs Octagon.

Zuckerberg apparently messaged Musk: If you still want to do a real MMA fight, then you should train on your own and let me know when youre ready to compete.

I dont want to keep hyping something that will never happen, so you should either decide youre going to do this and do it soon, or we should move on, Zuckerberg said.

Musk replied: 1 have not been practicing much, apart from a brief bout with Lex Fridman today. While I think it is very unlikely, given our size difference, perhaps you are a modern day Bruce Lee and will somehow win.

American author-journalist Walter Isaacson first posted that Musk is asking Zuckerberg to fight at his home in Palo Alto, California.

In a tweet, Isaacson who has been the President and CEO of the Aspen Institute, a nonpartisan policy studies organisation, said: I got this text message from Elon Musk at 4:44am CT showing a screenshot of some text messages in which he tells Zuckerberg they should fight this Monday at Zuckerbergs home in Palo Alto.

Zuckerberg later posted on Threads that I think we can all agree Elon isnt serious and its time to move on.

I offered a real date. Dana White offered to make this a legit competition for charity. Elon wont confirm a date, then says he needs surgery, and now asks to do a practice round in my backyard instead, said the Meta Founder.

If Elon ever gets serious about a real date and official event, he knows how to reach me. Otherwise, time to move on. Im going to focus on competing with people who take the sport seriously, Zuckerberg added.

Meta Founder and CEO earlier said he was not holding his breath" for Musk to agree to a fight date.

Musk had said he has been in contact with the Italian prime minister and minister of culture about hosting the event.

However, Zuckerberg said no date has been agreed.

Zuckerberg, 39, holds a blue belt in jiu-jitsu and recently won gold and silver medals in a tournament.
Apple sells the iPhones and iPads in millions every year but there are a few countries where the companys products face a tough time selling, or even banned from sale. Brazil had banned the sale of iPhones until Apple decided to offer a charger in the box, and now Russia is the latest country taking action against Apples devices but for a different reason.

The Russian Ministry has specifically asked its employees to stop using the iPhone or iPad for work apps and mails.

These people are allowed to use the devices for their personal needs. The Russian security service believes that the Apple devices have been compromised by the US, which has forced the country to ban its use for the government. Apple has denied these charges, while the US security agency did not comment on the matter, as quoted by Reuters.

The links between Apple and the US security is understandable from Russia, which continues to accuse the country of using various means to intercept its network. Apple will definitely feel aggrieved with the decision, which could hamper its business in the region, which has already been affected due to the Russia-Ukraine war that has been going on for over a year.

Apple had decided to stop its business offices in the country, but Russia made its own move, accusing the company for not deleting inaccurate content about Russias military operation Ukraine, and even fined the company for this strategy.

In the other Apple news, the company is less than a month away from launching the new iPhone 15 series in the market, which is expected to be unveiled at a September 12 event as per reports. Apple could also have an all-new iPhone SE model in the market for buyers, which should be launching early next year.
Anubhav Singh Bassi has made his place as one of the nations foremost stand-up comedians, and is renowned for his storytelling prowess. With a staggering count of over 4.5 million YouTube subscribers, he has established himself as an internet sensation.

Early life and Education qualifications:

Hailing from Parikshitgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Anubhav Singh Bassi was born on January 9, 1991. He did his schooling at Dewan Public School. In 2015, he earned his BA LLB degree from Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University.

Career:

Anubhav Singh Bassi dabbled in various professions before achieving fame as a stand-up comedian. He first embarked on a journey to become a lawyer. Later, he shifted his focus to pursue the UPSC examination. But fortunes did not align in his favour, and he could not clear the civil service recruitment exam.

Undeterred, he ventured into running a fast-food restaurant, yet luck remained elusive. Ultimately, in 2017, Anubhav Singh Bassi embraced stand-up comedy as his next endeavour.

Also read: Meet Harsh Beniwal, the Indian YouTuber Whose Hilarious Sketches Strike a Relatable Chord

His journey into the field began with open mic events. He discovered one such event through an online search and gradually immersed himself in the stand-up scene while also working at a startup.

Although Anubhav Singh Bassis YouTube channel was established in 2016, his first video didnt make its debut until 2019. Titled Cheating, it humorously tackled the subject of lawyers. Subsequently, he rose to stardom with his channel.

Notably, he has given a Ted Talk about his personal struggles and the transformative journey that led him to become a celebrated comic.

Awards and International Tours:

In 2021, Anubhav received the esteemed Youth Icon of the Year trophy from the Golden Glory Awards. His nationwide tour, Bas Kar Bassi, was held in more than 35 cities. He has performed internationally as well, with different tours in the US, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United Kingdom and Europe.

Social Media Presence:

The stand-up comedian commands a substantial audience across various social media platforms. Notably, AnubhavSingh Bassis YouTube channel boasts a subscriber base of 4.54 million, while his Instagram handle has over 2.4 million followers.

Controversy:

Recently, the Supreme Court dismissed a petition on July 17 that sought action against Anubhav Singh Bassi for supposedly humiliating lawyers in his show Bas Kar Bassi. Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia stated that the court was uninterested in considering the petition. Advocate Farhat Warsi, the petitioner, was advised by the judges to come up with a stronger case, with the SC stating, Why should we entertain this against some stand-up comedy show? Come with something better. The apex court further remarked that the responsibility for addressing such matters should lie with the concerned legal community and not be shouldered by an individual petitioner.

Most popular videos on YouTube:

The most watched video on his channel, with a staggering 79 million views, is Cheating: Stand Up Comedy ft. Anubhav Singh Bassi

Hostel  Stand Up Comedy ft. Anubhav Singh Bassi, is the second most watched video with 70 million views.

Roommate  Stand Up Comedy Ft. Anubhav Singh Bassi was posted two years ago and has 69 million views so far.

Movies:

Anubhav Singh Bassi made his debut in Bollywood this year with Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar. The movie, directed by Luv Ranjan, starred Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor in prominent roles. In the film, Anubhav Singh Bassi portrays the character of Ranbir Kapoors childhood friend.
Over 300 people found themselves unexpectedly trapped atop Sulphur Mountain in Banff National Park, Canada, after a lightning strike triggered a power failure, halting gondola ride services. While those inside the gondola cabins were rescued via an emergency drive system, those already atop the mountain had to spend the entire night there before helicopters brought them down the next morning. Among the visitors were newlyweds Jaclyn and Brennen McConnell, who had gone there for a photo shoot when the gondola malfunctioned.

In a conversation with BBC, the bride said, We rushed to the gondola, got a ton of really stunning photos and then were like, Ok, well lets head back, and then we got wind that the power went out. And then so were just chilling out and the one hour turns into two. It just kept going. Then youre like, Ok, well were sleeping here."

Brennen McConnell added, That was like 10:30 at night, so we were there for three hours. Thats when I knew we were going to be here for a long time.

Talking about their situation, Jaclyn continued, Brennen slept on the floor in his suit. I slept in my wedding gown on the floor.

Despite the unexpected circumstances, Jaclyn McConnell maintained a positive outlook and assured that the situation wasnt as terrible as it sounds. She shared, It was not that bad. We were warm, we were safe. We had each other."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by BBC News (@bbcnews)

After spending a night atop Sulphur Mountain, the couple shared a video of getting rescued by helicopter. Brimming with joy, the newlyweds seemed relieved after the unexpected adventure.

Helena Gil, a visitor who was also trapped on Sulphur Mountain, shared a video showing people lying on the floor and highlighted the lack of preparedness by the company for such situations. She criticised them for not providing blankets, sweaters or other items to keep them warm. Gil mentioned that it took two hours for restaurants to start providing food and there was a lack of communication from the staff about the situation.

Current situation at the @BanffGondola  The lack of preparedness for situations like this is astonishing. Not even the gift shop is giving away blankets, sweaters etc only the restaurants started to provide food after 2 hours here and with nobody telling us what is going on pic.twitter.com/ERUWf3MI27 Helena Gil (@gil_helena) August 8, 2023

Banff Gondola shared a clarification on Instagram from their COO, Stu Back. The statement highlighted that their primary concern was the safety of individuals stuck in the gondola cabins. After successfully ensuring their safety, the team then focused on offering beverages and blankets to those at the upper terminal. The company aimed to make everyone as comfortable as possible during the challenging situation.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Banff Gondola (@banffgondola)

The comments section saw many individuals express disappointment with the companys response. Some even asked for refunds for the inconvenience they experienced.
Indias diverse landscape is a canvas painted with myriad cultures and stories, each village a chapter in its own right. Among the tales woven into the fabric of rural life is the intriguing narrative of a village, nestled just 20 kilometres from Madhya Pradeshs Vidisha city. In this quaint hamlet, the absence of proper tiled roofs atop houses is more than a mere architectural anomaly  its a steadfast belief that has stood the test of time.

According to a report by Local 18, the villagers here hold a conviction that constructing a concrete roof above their abodes is synonymous with inviting adversity. Its a notion that may seem perplexing to outsiders, but its deeply ingrained in the villages cultural tapestry. The solitary exception to this tradition is the roof that crowns the villages government school.

A resident shared that this unique practice originates from a priests counsel, who warned against the consequences of erecting concrete roofs. The belief is so strong that even during house construction, a visit to the temple is a must. Prayers and letters are sent to the deity, seeking guidance on the choice between concrete and non-concrete roofing. The divinitys message is resolute: opt for non-concrete. The villagers maintain that deviating from this divine mandate would inevitably lead to hardships, illustrating their point with the unfortunate tale of Nand Kishore, who defied the deitys will and faced numerous tribulations, including mental illness.

The tenets of this belief system are so entrenched that the village inhabitants have declined the offer of concrete-tiled roofs under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, a government initiative aimed at providing housing for marginalized sections of society. Their faith in the age-old tradition overrides any external benefits, illustrating the profound connection they share with their beliefs.

This isnt an isolated phenomenon. The villages of Beladula and Fakirpur in Odishas Kandhapada panchayat also adhere to a similar tradition, having refrained from adopting concrete roofs for over two centuries. Their conviction springs from a fear of angering their deity, underscoring the potency of cultural norms in shaping lives.
A small central Kansas police department is facing a torrent of criticism for raiding a local newspapers office and the owner and publishers home, seizing computers and cellphones, and, in the publishers view, stressing his 98-year-old mother enough to cause her weekend death.

Several press freedom watchdogs condemned the Marion Police Departments actions as a blatant violation of the US Constitutions protection for a free press. The Marion County Records editor and publisher, Eric Meyer, worked with his staff Sunday to reconstruct stories, ads and other materials for its next edition Wednesday, even as he took time in the afternoon to provide a local funeral home with information about his mother, Joan, the papers co-owner.

A search warrant tied the raids by Marion police, led Friday morning by Chief Gideon Cody, to a dispute between the newspaper and a local restaurant owner, Kari Newell. She is accusing the newspaper of invading her privacy and illegally accessing information about her and her driving record and suggested that the newspaper targeted her after she threw Meyer and a reporter out of a restaurant when it hosted an event for the congressman who represents the area.

While Meyer saw Newells complaints  which he said were untrue  as prompting the raids, he also believes the newspapers aggressive coverage of local politics and issues played a role. He said the newspaper was examining Codys past work with the Kansas City, Missouri, police as well.

This is the type of stuff that, you know, that Vladimir Putin does, that Third World dictators do," Meyer said during an interview in his office. This is Gestapo tactics from World War II."

Cody said Sunday that the raid was legal and tied to an investigation.

The raids occurred in a town of about 1,900 people, nestled among rolling prairie hills, about 150 miles (241 kilometres) southwest of Kansas City.

Meyer said that one Record reporter suffered an injury to a finger when Cody wrested her cellphone out of her hand, according to the report. The newspapers surveillance video showed officers reading that reporter her rights while Cody watched, though she wasnt arrested or detained. Newspaper employees were hustled out of the building while the search continued for more than 90 minutes, according to the footage.

Meanwhile, Meyer said, police simultaneously raiding his home seized computers, his cellphone and the homes internet router.

But as Meyer fielded messages from reporters and editors as far away as London and reviewed footage from the newsrooms surveillance camera, Newell was receiving death threats from as far away, she said. She said the Record engages in tabloid trash reporting" and was trying to hush her up.

I fully believe that the intent was to do harm and merely tarnish my reputation, and I think if it had been left at that, I dont think that it would have blown up as big as it was," Newell said in a telephone interview.

Newell said she threw Meyer and the Record reporter out of the event for Republican US Rep. Jake LaTurner event at the request of others who are upset with the toxic" newspaper. On the towns main street, one storefront included a handmade Support Marion PD" sign."

The police chief and other officials also attended and were acknowledged at the reception, and the Marion Police Department highlighted the event on its Facebook page.

LaTurners office did not immediately return phone messages left Sunday at his Washington and district offices seeking comment.

Newell said she believes the newspaper violated the law to get her personal information as it checked on the status of her drivers licence following a 2008 drunken driving conviction and other driving violations.

The newspaper countered that it received that information unsolicited, which it verified through public online records. It eventually decided not to run a story because it wasnt sure the source who supplied it had obtained it legally. But the newspaper did run a story on the city council meeting, in which Newell herself confirmed shed had a DUI conviction and that she had continued to drive even after her licence was suspended.

A two-page search warrant, signed by a local judge, lists Newell as the victim of alleged crimes by the newspaper. When the newspaper asked for a copy of the probable cause affidavit required by law to issue a search warrant, the district court issued a signed statement saying no such affidavit was on file, the Record reported.

Cody, the police chief, defended the raid on Sunday, saying in an email to The Associated Press that while federal law usually requires a subpoena  not just a search warrant  to raid a newsroom, there is an exception when there is reason to believe the journalist is taking part in the underlying wrongdoing."

Cody did not give details about what that alleged wrongdoing entailed.

Cody, who was hired in late April as Marions police chief after serving 24 years in the Kansas City police, did not respond to questions about whether police filed a probable cause affidavit for the search warrant. He also did not answer questions about how police believe Newell was victimised.

Press freedom and civil rights organisations agreed that police, the local prosecutors office and the judge who signed off on the search warrant overstepped their authority.

It seems like one of the most aggressive police raids of a news organisation or entity in quite some time," said Sharon Brett, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, adding that it seemed quite an alarming abuse of authority."

Seth Stern, director of advocacy for Freedom of the Press Foundation, said in a statement that the raid appeared to have violated federal law, the First Amendment, and basic human decency."

The anti-press rhetoric thats become so pervasive in this country has become more than just talk and is creating a dangerous environment for journalists trying to do their jobs," Stern said.

Meyer said he has been flooded with offers of help from press freedom groups and other news organisations. But he said what he and his staff need is more hours in the day to get their next edition put together.

Both he and Newell are contemplating lawsuits  Newell against the newspaper and Meyer against the public officials who staged the raid.

As for the criticism of the raid as a violation of First Amendment rights, Newell said her privacy rights were violated, and they are just as important as anybody elses."
BROADVIEWThe combine roared to life as Michelle Jones drove head-on into a golden sea of Montana winter wheat, the machines sharp teeth taking a first of a million bites from 1,500-acres that will keep the hulking John Deere trundling for at least a week.

This is a harvest like no other, a product of the wettest June that Jones has ever seen. She pauses for a moment to contemplate the bushels per acre in her fields, then offers an estimate with her best poker face.

Better than expected, she said. Well above average.

This years harvest is more small winnings scratch-ticket lottery than high stakes Texas Holdem. Statewide, the crop yield is way up from the previous two drought challenged years, but wheat exports, the sales that butter Montanas economic bread, are challenged.

The average yield for the state is likely to flirt with 50-bushels per acre, said Montana Wheat and Barley Committee Director Kent Kupfner. The yield is enough to generate 79.2 million bushels, thats 20 million more bushels of winter wheat this year than last year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported Friday.

The crop is a sharp turnaround from the 31-bushels per acre in 2021, an historic drought year in which a grasshopper infestation chewed much of what remained down to the root in Eastern and north central Montana. Last year wasnt much better, a 33-bushel yield for the state, with some Montanas best grain counties still stuck in extreme drought.

The grasshoppers are still here, clinging to the hood as the SUV navigates the spring washouts carved into the two-track leading to Jones field. This area known as the Gooseneck is still June green.

Gooseneck Land and Cattle is the name of the Jones family farm, which she works with her husband and brother. All three of them come from families who farmed in this same area. Gooseneck Creek, which is usually a cracked mud bed by August, still has surface water in areas. In hayfields, cut round bales are spaced just a few yards apart, a good indicator of how thick this years grass has been.

There was no indication in May that 2023 would turn out to be so favorable. Farm fortunes in this southcentral part of the state are made or broken by rain in the second quarter of the year. Until June, things were looking bleak.

You can survive a lot of dry months out here, but you cant survive without moisture in April, May, Jones said. You need a wet fall month and everything else can be dry but not those months.

June turned out to be one of the wettest on record according to the National Weather Service, 13 inches of rainfall, an inch shy of what Billings averages for precipitation in a year.

A remarkable 39% of Montana land made it to August with no signs of drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. By comparison only 16% of the state wasnt in some drought stage at this time a year ago. In August 2021, every square inch of Montana was in drought.

Wheat exports this crop year are challenging, said Kent Kupfner, executive director of the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee. The committee is part of the state Department of Agriculture and promotes the sale of Montana wheat and barley.

Japan, Korea, Taiwan, your routine buyers are there, Kupfner said. The more price sensitive markets, like the Philippines, are not because of the weak Canadian dollar. Canada is trading at a 30 cent per bushel discount.

Its often said in wheat circles that wheat sales soften when the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies is strong, especially when the Canadian dollar is worth significantly less. Currently, the U.S. dollar is worth $1.34 Canadian.

Economists dont see difference in currency values as giving grain from one country an advantage over another. There is an equilibrium that is reached quickly in the global trade, said Vince Smith, a long-time agriculture economist who lives in Bozeman. Wheat values posted this week by the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission show Canadian wheat and U.S. wheat prices are similar when converted to a single currency. The difference maker is the shipping costs added to the invoice that the buyer agrees to pay.

Further complicating Montana wheat trade is the states abundance of low-protein grain, or ordinary wheat. High protein wheat has long been a Montana niche, particularly hard red spring wheat. If you have low protein flour and need to improve the characteristics of your dough, high-protein wheat is whats blended in.

Rain, like the 13 inches that fell on Jones farm in June, isnt proteins friend. Rain drives up farmers wheat bushels per acre, which barring a heavy dose of nitrogen fertilizer, drives down protein levels. There are mountains of winter wheat piling up at grain elevators in Montana.

Winter wheat farmers were faced with a tough decision last fall about whether the fertilizer was worth it, Jones said. Montana was coming out of a rough 2022 crop year with high fertilizer prices and low yields for a second straight year. Many looked at the prospects of facing another tough crop year in 2023 and chose not to go big on nitrogen. Some turned to barley, which pays better for low protein, making the decision not to fertilize easier.

On Jones farm, 500 acres went into barley this year.
An air strike has killed at least 26 people in Ethiopias embattled Amhara region, a hospital official and a resident told AFP on Monday, as the region continues to be rocked by deadly clashes.

The strike on Sunday marked the deadliest reported since clashes between members of the Ethiopian army and a local militia known as Fano erupted in towns and cities across Amhara after months of tensions.

Twenty-two bodies were brought to the hospital, while four others who were critically injured died soon after arriving in the hospital" in Finote Selam, said the hospital official.

Weve so far received 55 injured patients out of which more than 40 are gravely injured," he added, speaking anonymously over safety concerns.

A resident who arrived shortly after the strike told AFP he had helped in the burial of bodies of 30 victims".

He said he saw a medium sized freight vehicle had been completely destroyed in an air strike with dead bodies strewn around the vehicle".

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmeds government imposed a six-month state of emergency across Amhara on August 4 and several cities remain under curfew, although violence eased towards the end of last week.

The unrest revived fears about the stability of Africas second most populous country, seven months after a peace deal ended a brutal two-year conflict in the neighbouring region of Tigray.
Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar was sworn in as Pakistans 8th interim Prime Minister on Monday, leading a caretaker national government responsible for supervising upcoming parliamentary elections. The lesser-known Baloch lawmaker was administered an oath by President Arif Alvi in a ceremony held at the Aiwan-i-Sadr in Islamabad.

The oath-taking ceremony was attended by Pakistans Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Asim Munir, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen Nadeem Raza and outgoing prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Dawn newspaper reported.

Kakar was announced as the interim premier on Saturday, following meetings between Shehbaz and outgoing Opposition Leader Raja Riaz and several days of speculation about the probable choice for the post. Despite being relatively new to politics, he has represented Balochistan province in the Senate since 2018.

Kakar resigned from his leadership role in the Balochistan Awami Party and stepped down as a senator after being nominated by outgoing premier Shehbaz Sharif and opposition leader Raza Riaz. His responsibilities include supervising the election process and managing daily government affairs until a new administration is electedan established practice in Pakistan during election periods.

As per the constitution, the election is expected to take place within the next 90 days. The swearing-in ceremony coincides with Pakistans 76th Independence Day, yet the celebration transpires against a backdrop of deepening political unrest that commenced with the removal of former premier Imran Khan from power the previous year.

The days events commenced with gun salutes in the capital, Islamabad, and each of the four provincial capitals. President Arif Alvi raised the national flag in Islamabad during a ceremony attended by dignitaries and officials.

In his farewell address, Sharif urged citizens to make informed voting decisions, holding Khan responsible for the economic crisis upon his ascent to power. Sharif succeeded Khan in April 2022 through a no-confidence parliamentary vote.

Khan, who received a three-year prison sentence in a graft case, is incarcerated at Attock prison in eastern Punjab province. Despite his imprisonment, Khan remains a prominent opposition figure, with his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party expected to provide strong competition to Sharifs ruling Pakistan Muslim League in the elections.

Khans eligibility for participation in the election hinges on the potential overturning of his conviction, as a criminal record bars individuals from leading a party, contesting elections, or holding public office. An appeal against his conviction is underway.

Last month, parliament rushed through legislation that gives the caretaker government more power to negotiate with international bodies such as the International Monetary Fund. Some analysts think the delay could give time for the main coalition partners to figure out how to address the challenge of Khans PTI.

But in reality, delaying the election could simply anger the public more and galvanise an opposition that has already suffered through months of crackdowns," said Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center.

The United States expressed apprehension last week over the potential for election-related unrest. The specter of election dynamics in Pakistan is often accompanied by the presence of the military, which has orchestrated a minimum of three effective coups since the nations inception through the partition of India in 1947.

(With agency inputs)
Chinas expanding presence in Africa in recent years has triggered apprehension as the Asian powerhouse extends its influence throughout the continent, prompting concerns about its motives, labour practices, and debt sustainability. Over time, numerous African governments have become cautious about excessive reliance on Chinese lenders, even as such lending has decelerated in recent years.

Beijings goals are to gain access to natural resources and buy up African land, while employing mainly Chinese labour and providing low-quality goods and services in exchange, according to a new report by the Hinrich Foundation, an Asia-based organisation. In the report written by senior research fellow and former World Trade Organization director Keith Rockwell, he argues that Chinas policy of turning a blind eye to the policies of autocratic governments, including those in Africa, has also not gone unnoticed.

Massive Investment and Presence:

With over 10,000 Chinese companies currently operating in Africa, the country has invested a staggering USD 300 billion in the continent. These ventures have provided employment for millions of Africans and facilitated a colossal USD 2 trillion in business since 2005.

Chinese firms have also taken on a substantial role in Africas infrastructure development, accounting for 31 percent of projects valued at USD 50 million or more, a sharp contrast to 1990 when US and European firms secured 85 percent of construction contracts.

The Chinese firms have embarked on ambitious multi-billion dollar undertakings across the continent, ranging from ports, railways, highways, bridges, to hydroelectric dams, often driven by Chinas expansive Belt and Road Initiative.

Ambivalence and Debt Trap Concerns:

Amid the economic and infrastructural strides, concerns have emerged over Chinas intentions. Many African governments are increasingly cautious of becoming overly reliant on Chinese lenders, fearing debt traps. Chinas expanding military presence has added to apprehensions among African leaders. Skepticism is fueled by suspicions that Beijing aims to exploit natural resources, acquire land, and employ Chinese labor, potentially affecting local economies and communities.

African nations grappling with substantial debt burdens have seen China become a significant creditor, holding around 65.8 percent of Zambias external debt and 22 percent of Kenyas. Chinas approach to sovereign lending, including reluctance to offer debt relief and extending new loans without addressing overextended development debt, has drawn criticism. This has strained diplomatic relations and prompted concerns about Chinas long-term intentions.

Shifting Dynamics and Evolving Engagement

Chinas lending practices have faced international scrutiny, prompting minor adjustments in its approach. In Zambia, a debt restructuring agreement was reached in June, allowing the nation to access IMF bailout funds after acrimonious negotiations. However, Chinese creditors separate negotiations and a preference for delaying and extending repayments indicate persistent challenges.

As Chinas outbound investment in Africa reached its peak around 2016, shifting priorities and mounting resentment toward Chinese policies have contributed to a substantial decline in lending, according to the report. The region experienced a 55 percent drop in Chinas Belt and Road lending in 2022. Discontent goes beyond financial matters, as highlighted by controversies surrounding major projects in Kenya and Zambia.
The Islamic State is threatening once more to destabilise peace in parts of western Asia and threatens to rear its head again reminding of the atrocities it committed in the last decade.

The recent attack targeted the holy shrine in Irans southern city of Shiraz where a gunman broke into its grounds and opened fire at pilgrims.

Iran-based Tasnim News Agency said that ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Levant - ISIL) claimed responsibility for the attack. In its report, the news agency said that four suspects linked to this incident have been arrested citing Kazem Mousavi, the chief justice of Fars province.

The Shah Cheragh shrine is located in Fars province and is one of the most important in Shia Islam.

The gunman was armed with an assault rifle and eight magazines with 240 bullets. He shot 11 rounds until security guards came and subdued him.

One person has been killed and eight others wounded in the attack," official news agency IRNA reported, quoting deputy Fars governor Esmail Ghezel Sofla. The Iranian state-run news outlet first reported four dead but has retracted that figure.

A similar attack on October 26, 2022 was carried out on the same shrine where 13 people died and 40 people were injured.

Later, the Islamic State terrorist group claimed the responsibility for the attack and released a video on its Amaq website conveying the same.

Iran has faced IS attacks in 2017 as well when the Iranian parliament and the mausoleum of Iranian religious leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini was attacked.

The group was almost decimated towards the end of the last decade but it maintains presence in the form of sleeper cells in Syria, Iraq and other neighbouring nations.

The group recently appointed Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi as its fifth leader after another jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham killed previous leader Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Qurashi in clashes in northwestern Syrias Idlib.

It carried out its deadliest attack earlier in August when it targeted government forces in Raqqa province. The terrorists surrounded the bus in the desert near Mayadeen, in Deir Ezzor province, and shot at the occupants of the bus with heavy weapons and rocket-propelled grenades.

At least 33 soldiers died in the attack.

This shows that ISIS maintains hideouts in the vast Syrian desert from which it carries out ambushes and hit-and-run attacks.

The Islamic State remains highly active in parts of western Africa where jihadist violence has turned life upside down. Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have been adversely impacted due to Islamic State West Africa (ISWA) - an affiliate of ISIS.

The Sahel region in Africa accounted for more terrorism deaths in 2022 than both South Asia and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) combined, according to the Institute for Economics and Peace which also said that the region is now the epicentre of terrorism.

Pakistan is also in the grips of jihadist violence and IS affiliate Islamic State - Khorasan Province (ISK) carrying out attacks on civilians and military personnel.

(with inputs from AFP)
At least 25 people are missing after a landslide at an unregulated jade mine in a remote region of Myanmar, rescue workers said Monday.

The incident on Sunday outside northern Kachins Hpakant township  near where hundreds of miners were entombed in a landslide in 2020  comes days after much of the country was swamped by torrential rain and floods.

The highly lucrative jade mining industry is mostly unregulated, with migrant workers enduring dangerous conditions and frequently deadly accidents.

About 25 people went missing. We havent got a detailed list as its difficult to get here," one rescue worker, who did not want to be named, told AFP from the scene.

He described how a massive pile of earth about 150-180 metres (500-600 feet) high left behind by mining excavations was loosened by the intense rains and collapsed.

Search and rescue missions were continuing, he said, but some workers had already returned to the scene in the hope of finding jade.

We havent found any dead bodies yet," he said.

Another rescue worker confirmed to AFP that attempts to recover people were ongoing despite fears of secondary landslides.

It is not safe for rescue workers to search it," said the individual, who was with the emergency group Myanmar Rescue and also requested anonymity.

He added that the mines operations had been suspended during the rainy season, but those caught in the landslide were believed to be locals hoping to strike it rich by scouring the mud.

Dozens die annually while working in the poorly regulated but lucrative jade industry, which uses low-paid migrant workers to scrape out a gem highly coveted in neighbouring China.

Jade and other abundant natural resources in Myanmars north  including timber, gold and amber  have helped finance both sides of a decades-long civil war between ethnic Kachin insurgents and the military.

Control of the mines sees civilians trapped in vicious fighting, with a rampant drug and arms trade further exacerbating the conflict.

While environmentalist and rights groups have long called for reforms, a 2021 military coup effectively ended hopes for better standards in the industry, according to international watchdogs.
Nigers coup leaders that toppled Mohamed Bazoum said late Sunday they would prosecute" the deposed president for high treason" and undermining the security" of the country.

The regime said it had gathered evidence that it would use to prosecute the deposed president and his local and foreign accomplices before the competent national and international bodies for high treason and undermining the internal and external security of Niger," according to a statement read out by Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane on national television.

Bazoum has been held in his presidential residence along with his son and wife since the day of the coup.

Military leaders said they had not taken over Bazoums residence and that he was still free to communicate with the outside world. Bazoum had received regular visits from his doctor, they said.

A consultation took place on Saturday, according to an adviser to the ousted president.

After this visit, the doctor raised no problems regarding the state of health of the deposed president and members of his family," the military added.

The ousted leader has said he was being held hostage" without electricity and had only rice and pasta to eat.

The generals also slammed the illegal, inhumane and humiliating sanctions" imposed by West African regional bloc ECOWAS, which has suspended financial and commercial transactions with Niger.

Nigers regime said the sanctions were depriving the country of medicines, food and electricity.
A school in Chinas Guangdong province is facing flak from Chinese citizens for encouraging victim-blaming when it comes to sexual harassment. The school in Guangdongs Zhaoqing held a mental health education class where it showed photos with messages saying that those who suffer sexual harassment do so because they dress flamboyantly and behave flirtatiously.

Girls shouldnt wear transparent or skimpy clothes and should avoid frivolous behaviour, the material presented at the mental health education class said. In China, mental health education classes are equivalent of sex education classes.

Chinese state-run media outlet Peoples Daily said that the Chinese social media users as well as the general populace were angered by the classes and also by the response given by the authorities when questioned regarding the material.

The class was held in 2022 but the photos appeared on Chinas heavily censored internet this month.

Chinese netizens said that those teaching the course are problematic while some pointed out that there are still prevalent conservative attitudes which reflect deep-rooted gender inequality.

Last week the school released a statement taking responsibility for the material disbursed. The lecture contained some inappropriate expressions, which caused misunderstanding among (online users). (The education bureau) has criticised and educated relevant personnel and (asked the school to) improve teacher training, the authorities said.

The word misunderstanding in the statement created more problems for the school with many pointing out that the word reflects that it was not an innocent error but a reflection of a widely-held belief.

Chinese citizens have time and again stood up against the treatment of women in Chinese society but incidents of crime against women and misogynistic views still exist in Chinese society.

Women have faced attacks while dining in restaurants for not responding to catcalls and provocations and feminist activism has also faced roadblocks in China despite the nation claiming to be a Communist nation which extends equal rights to women.

(with inputs from CNN)
Pakistan is celebrating its 76th independence day amid an economic crisis and political uncertainty. Compared to its neighbour India, which has emerged as a main global power in a growing multipolar world, Pakistans growth has been stunted and has depended mostly on China.

The nation recently secured a handout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which allowed other friendly nations to help Pakistan shore up its forex reserves and continue import of essential items.

The independence day celebrations will be observed but the Pakistani common man and woman will respond in a muted manner because they are burdened by sky-high prices of fuel.

ALSO READ | Pak Taliban to Form New Province, Shadow Govt, Threatening Xi Jinpings CPEC, BRI Plans

A political crisis has also engulfed Pakistan as leaders get jailed and when those leaders overturn convictions and come to power, they participate in politics of vengeance, thus exacerbating a vicious cycle of governments failing to meets aspirations of its people.

It should be noted that not only is there an economic crisis along with a political one, but the nation is struggling to contain a wave of terror that has taken the lives of hundreds of civilians and armed forces personnel since early 2022.

ALSO READ | When will Mian Nawaz Sharif Return to Pakistan?

The nation, often accused of harbouring terror and also of facilitating the rise of Taliban in Afghanistan and its subsequent toppling of the elected government on August 16, 2021, is now seeing some of the terror elements which it may have helped turn against it.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan is threatening the safety and security of Pakistans citizens and now wants to build a shadow province in the southwestern province of Balochistan.

The TTP is planning to establish its own Kalat-Makran province and will build a parallel government in that region. This shadow government, if formed, will cover over 40% Balochistan-area, including a 760-km coastline.

Pakistans top newspaper the Dawn reflected on the challenges the nation is facing and in an editorial pointed out that the nation has drifted away from the targets it had set for itself.

They asked if the ideals based on which Mohamed Ali Jinnah or Quaid founded Pakistan are now fading into a myth in their August 14 editorial titled Jinnah to now.

The Dawn pointed out that the nation shifted from its democratic ideals and reconstructed the ideas of its founding father, Jinnah, from a modernist to an orthodox and did so to suit prevalent narratives and enhance the power of clerics and the military in forming state policies.

Recurrent military regimes arrested the political process. In fact, these have polluted political outfits that now, more often than not, collude with unelected elements to wrest power, the news outlet said in a scathing editorial.

The rising tide of extremism turned Pakistan into a militancy hub For non-political forces to usurp or derail the Constitution and cave into religious hardliners violates every ideal close to the Quaids heart, the editorial further added.
Little-known senator Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar was set to be sworn in Monday as Pakistans caretaker prime minister to see the country through to an election due in months. Kakar, 52, takes charge of a country that has been wracked by political and economic instability for months, with Imran Khan  Pakistans most popular politician  in jail and disqualified from elections for five years.

He will be sworn in on the countrys Independence Day on Monday afternoon in a ceremony carried live on TV. I have confidence in the caretaker prime ministers ability to conduct free and fair elections," outgoing premier Shehbaz Sharif said in a farewell address to the nation late Sunday.

Kakars first task will be to choose a cabinet to run the country as it heads into an election period that could last for months. Parliament was officially dissolved last week, with elections due within 90 days according to the constitution. But data from the latest census was finally published earlier this month, and the outgoing government said the election commission needed time to redraw constituency boundaries.

There has been speculation for months that a vote would be delayed as the establishment struggles to stabilise a country facing overlapping security, economic and political crises. The country has been in political turmoil since Khan was dismissed as premier by a no-confidence vote in April 2022, culminating in him being jailed last weekend for three years for graft.

He has been disqualified from standing for office for five years, but is appealing against his sentence and conviction.

- Cracked down -

Authorities have cracked down hard against Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party in recent months, crushing his grassroots power by rounding up thousands of his supporters and officials. Political analyst Hasan Askari Rizvi told AFP at the weekend that Kakar has a limited political career and not much weight in Pakistani politics", but that could work in his favour.

This can be an advantage because he has no strong affiliation with the major political parties," he said. But the disadvantage is that being a lightweight politician, he may find it difficult to cope with the problems hes going to face without the active support of the military establishment."

Fellow analyst Ayesha Siddiqa noted Kakar had done courses at the National Defence University  formerly the militarys war college  and said he would be close to the establishment. It seems that the establishment has struck and they have found somebody who will be watching over their interests rather than that of politicians," she said.

Last month parliament rushed through legislation that gives the caretaker government more power to negotiate with global bodies such as the International Monetary Fund, another clue it may be around for a while. Some analysts think the delay could give time for the main coalition partners  the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)  to figure out how to address the challenge of Khans PTI.

But in reality, delaying the election could simply anger the public more and galvanise an opposition that has already suffered through months of crackdowns," said Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center.

The United States said last week it was watching with concern the prospect of election violence. Behind any election in Pakistan lurks the military, which has staged at least three successful coups since the country was forged from the partition of India in 1947.

Khan enjoyed genuine widespread support when he came to power in 2018, but analysts say it was only with the blessing of the countrys powerful generals  with whom he reportedly fell out in the months before his ousting.
Taiwan will not be afraid nor back down in the face of authoritarian threats, the islands vice president told supporters on a U.S. visit that Beijing has condemned, while reiterating a willingness to talk to China. William Lai, also frontrunner to be Taiwans next president at January elections, is in the United States on what is officially a transit stop on his way to Paraguay for the inauguration of its new president. Paraguay is one of only 13 countries to maintain formal ties with the Chinese-claimed island.

Taiwan and the United States both say the stopovers, including one in San Francisco on the way back, are routine, but China has denounced them and called Lai a separatist troublemaker". Lai told a supporters lunch in New York on Sunday that if Taiwan is safe, the world is safe, if the Taiwan Strait is peaceful, then the world is peaceful", according to Taiwans presidential office.

No matter how great the threat of authoritarianism is to Taiwan, we absolutely will not be scared nor cower, we will uphold the values of democracy and freedom," he said. China considers Taiwan its most important diplomatic issue, and is a constant source of friction between Beijing and Washington, which is the islands most important international backer and arms supplier.

China has a particular dislike of Lai, who has previously described himself as a practical worker for Taiwan independence", a red line for Beijing which has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control.

Lai, who has pledged to maintain peace and the status quo, reiterated in New York that on the basic principle of dignity and parity he was very willing" to talk to China and seek peace and stability.

But Lai said he will protect Taiwans sovereignty, that only Taiwans people can decide their future and that the Republic of China - Taiwans formal name - and the Peoples Republic of China are not subordinate to each other".

Lais speech was attended by Ingrid Larson, managing director of the American Institute in Taiwan, a U.S. government-run non-profit that carries out unofficial relations with Taiwan. Both Taipei and Washington are aiming for the U.S. stopovers to be low-key, and have called on China not to take any provocative action in response.

Still, Taiwanese officials say China is likely to launch military drills this week near Taiwan, using Lais U.S. stopovers as a pretext to intimidate voters ahead of a next years election and make them fear war".

On Monday, the Eastern Theatre Command of Chinas Peoples Liberation Army, which has responsibility for the area around Taiwan, showed pictures on its WeChat account of troops practicing storming a beach, though did not give the location, timing or specifically mention Taiwan.

It said the soldiers guided armoured vehicles to the enemy frontline positions and launched a fierce attack". China carried out war games around Taiwan in April after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen returned from California where she met U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy while also on a transit on her way back from Central America.
When Sergio Papa Ruark attended a presentation at his university about Two-Spirit people, he was awestruck.

I approached the presenter after, and I asked, Are there really more people like us  queer and Native? Papa Ruark recalled. And he said, Yes. He told me to search for Two-Spirit gatherings on Google, and thats what I did.

Two-Spirit is an umbrella term, referring to Indigenous people who occupy a traditional third gender. Different tribes had different words in their languages for these people, who often held important roles within cultures, seen as medicine people, negotiators, name-givers or critical to certain ceremonies.

When Papa Ruark, 42, turned to Google to learn more, he found a link for the Montana Two-Spirit Society Gathering, a multi-day event that includes powwows, dance and celebration.

For more than 25 years the Montana Two Spirit Society, a Missoula-based organization, has been hosting its annual gathering event, which includes, powwow, ceremony, pageants and presentations on generational trauma, legislation updates and healing. The event celebrates Two-Spirit culture and community and promotes healing.

Papa Ruark, who is Indigenous to Peru, registered for the event, but he was worried.

Im Indigenous, but Im Indigenous from South America, he said. I was a bit afraid because I didnt know how they would take that.

To Papa Ruarks surprise and delight, the Montana Two Spirit Society embraced him. Papa Ruark said someone at the gathering asked him what Two-Spirit culture was like in Peru, and Papa Ruark said he was embarrassed to say he didnt know.

I didnt know much about the Two-Spirit part of my culture, he said. I thought it didnt exist. So that was my next homework  to go back to my family and community and ask.

Community connection

This years Montana Two Spirit Society Gathering will occur Aug. 16 through 20, and David Herrera, co-founder and executive director, said this years event has been wildly popular. About a month before the gathering, more than 130 people had registered for the event and dozens had joined the waitlist, which was more than Herrera had seen in the past. He added that some panels will be catered toward youth, as a record 45 young people registered for the event.

The community aspect matters because theres strength in numbers, Herrera said. Its a way for us to come together and support one another, to learn from each other on ways we can strengthen our communities, ways that we can overcome generational trauma.

Herrera said he suspects the increased interest this year could be a reaction to the record amount of anti-trans legislation proposed in statehouses nationwide. In Montana, Republican lawmakers censured the states first transgender woman lawmaker, Rep. Zooey Zephyr, and Gov. Greg Gianforte has signed a bill banning transgender care for minors.

A lot more people are interested in the gathering this year, and I think its because they feel the need to connect with community, Herrera said. They want to come and enjoy an incredible event, learn about Two-Spirit culture, history and traditions.

The event, which began with a handful of people, has grown to attract people from all over the world, including from Samoa, Hawaii and the Philippines.

This year, the multi-day event will feature presentations on generational trauma, transgender and non-binary issues, a legislative update as well as sessions catered to young people. Herrera said there will be a talent show, as well as dancing and drumming and traditional games. The event will also feature its annual pageant, where a Mr. and Ms. Montana Two-Spirit are crowned.

I can be me

When Papa Ruark returned home after his first Two-Spirit gathering in Montana, he started to research his own culture.

I found out there is a dance that is practiced in honor of the androgynous warriors, and I was like, What? he recounted. I couldnt believe people dont talk about this.

Papa Ruark dove deeper into his research, and soon, the research itself was a form of healing for him. As he researched more, Papa Ruark began to dance again. Hed stopped dancing when he was 12 or 13 because he was told he wasnt allowed to dance in a skirt or dress.

I started dancing again because now I knew that in my culture, there were men that dressed as women, and they were warriors and heroes and leaders, he said.

He was eager to return to the gathering in Montana to share what hed learned, and when he gave his presentation last summer, in part through dance, he was crowned Mr. Montana Two-Spirit at the event. Papa Ruark said for him, the best part of the gathering is the community.

Its chosen family, he said. You hear stories from other Two-Spirit relatives, and you feel connected to them. We face discrimination, we face racism and classism, and this is basically the only time where I can wear my skirt, wear my dress and my earrings. I can be me.

Herrera said Papa Ruarks story epitomizes the goals of the Montana Two Spirit Society. He said when people educate their own communities and families on culture, tradition and ceremony, they can ultimately change hearts and minds.

Thats how we are going to overcome a lot of this hatred, Herrera said. Its one person at a time really sending that message that were all human.
US Congressman Ro Khanna on Monday backed India over the ongoing border issue with China, asserting that Beijing should respect New Delhis territorial integrity. Khanna, alongside Congressman Michael Waltz, co-chairs the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans and is currently leading a Congressional delegation to India.

India and China are also locked in a lingering border standoff in eastern Ladakh for the past three years. The bilateral relationship came under severe strain following the deadly clash in Galwan Valley in Eastern Ladakh in June 2020. These comments come as both neighbours on Monday held a fresh round of military talks with a focus on the disengagement of troops in the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh and to ease overall tensions in the region.

In an interview with news agency ANI, Khanna said, It is very important that we keep Indias sovereignty. They (China) need to respect Indias border and this is why we went to the Western Naval Command with the Indian Navy and we are also working very closely with the American Navy to make sure that the Arabian Sea remains free for navigation and that Indian Ocean remains free and we will continue to strengthen that relationship."

In a separate conversation with PTI, Khanna underscored the US commitment to expanding engagement with India, aiming to cultivate one of the 21st centurys most pivotal global relationships. The Indian-American lawmaker argued for deeper cooperation in critical technological and defense domains, emphasising the mutual benefits for both nations and the broader world.

The India-US relationship has never been so stronger. It is building on defence cooperation, economic cooperation, technology cooperation, cooperation on climate, he said.

Khanna celebrated the robustness of the India-US ties, highlighting its foundations in defence, economic and technological cooperation. He lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modis successful visit to the US, noting President Joe Bidens forthcoming visit to India in September as a testament to their ongoing commitment to strengthening the relationship.

The US lawmaker also hailed growing India-US cooperation in the maritime security domain. I am very pleased to see that the Indian Navy is doing exercises with the American Navy to make sure that the Arabian Sea is safe for free shipping lines, he added.
The United States on Monday announced $200 million in new ammunition, air defenses and anti-mine clearing equipment to Ukraine, after an accounting error allowed new funding.

The Pentagon in June revealed that it had another $6.2 billion to disperse to Ukraine than it previously thought after a mistake in how it calculated prices for some weapons.

In the first of an expected series of packages with the restored funds, the United States will send munitions for Patriot air defense systems, 12 million rounds of small arms ammunition and grenades, and ammunition for Himars, the multiple-rocket launchers that have proven critical on the ground, according to the State Department.

Russia started this war and could end it at any time by withdrawing its forces from Ukraine and stopping its brutal attacks," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement announcing the latest aid.

Until it does, the United States and our allies and partners will stand united with Ukraine, for as long as it takes," he said.

President Joe Bidens administration has sent $43 billion in security assistance since Russia invaded Ukraine last year, and last week asked Congress to approve $13 billion more.

While most mainstream US lawmakers of both parties support assistance to Ukraine, recent polls have shown softening US support for military assistance.

Former president Donald Trump, the frontrunner for the Republicans 2024 nomination, has criticized assistance to Ukraine, saying that he expects Russia to triumph and that European allies should do more.
The United Arab Emirates Sunday denied a report claiming weapons were found in its aid shipments to refugees of the Sudan war, arguing it does not take sides" in the conflict.

Fighting since April 15 between the forces of rival Sudanese generals vying for power has killed at least 3,900 people, according to conservative estimates by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project.

Observers say that both army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), are supported by foreign powers, with neighbouring Egypt backing Burhan and the UAE providing support for Daglo.

In a statement on Sunday, UAE foreign ministry communications director Afra Al Hameli said the UAE has not supplied arms and ammunition to any of the warring parties in Sudan since the outbreak of the conflict".

A report on Thursday by US publication the Wall Street Journal cited officials in Uganda who said they had discovered weapons on an Emirati aid flight to Sudanese refugees in Chad on June 2.

Hameli expressed the UAEs categorical refutation of the claims and allegations in the story", the statement said.

The UAE does not take sides in the current conflict engulfing Sudan, and seeks an end to the conflict and calls for respecting Sudans sovereignty."

According to the Wall Street Journal, instead of the food and medical supplies listed on the aircrafts manifest, Ugandan officials said they found dozens of green plastic crates in the planes cargo hold filled with ammunition, assault rifles and other small arms".

The Ugandan officials told the newspaper the Emirati plane, stopping in Entebbe on the way to its final destination, was allowed to continue its trip to Amdjarass International Airport in eastern Chad".

The officials later received orders from their superiors to stop inspecting flights stopping over from the UAE", according to the report.

The four-month conflict in Sudan has displaced nearly four million people, according to UN figures.

Since the fighting erupted, the oil-rich UAE has sent aid including medications and has also helped to evacuate foreigners, official news agency WAM noted.
Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs return to Pakistan was considered imminent after the ouster of Imran Khan from power in April last year. However, lo and behold, more than a year has passed, yet there is no official announcement from his party.

Nawaz Sharif left Pakistan in November 2019 for medical treatment in London and has remained there since in a self-imposed exile. Over the last year, at several points, some of his party leaders claimed that the senior Sharif and PMLN supremo is coming back to Pakistan next month. In recent months, speculation and anticipation of his have increased even more.

Home Coming

When he reached Dubai in the month of June, hopes were raised within the party about his potential return, given Dubais proximity to Pakistan. Rana Sanaullah, a prominent figure within the party, sent out a letter in mid-July to PML-N presidents and divisional secretaries, instructing them to prepare for Nawaz Sharifs return.

Whenever the leadership sets a date, the preparations for Mian Nawaz Sharifs return should be complete and caravans should come from the union council level, the letter read, according to Dawn newspaper.

However, no definitive date materialised, and Nawaz Sharif subsequently left Dubai for a break in Europe before returning to London this month. A PML-N insider expressed concerns about Nawaz Sharifs health and the potential risks associated with his return, particularly given his age, medical history, and existing health conditions.

Expected September Return

Statements from various party members added to the speculation. Khawaja Asif indicated that Nawaz Sharifs return was likely in September, while outgoing Prime Minister and Nawazs younger brother, Shehbaz Sharif, affirmed his return around the same time.

According to Dawn, the timing of Nawaz Sharifs return seems to hinge on several factors, notably the announcement of the general election schedule and the progression of legal cases he is involved in. Party sources link his potential return to these key developments.

Although the date of September 16 has been mentioned in relation to Nawaz Sharifs return, it is tied to the retirement of Justice Umar Ata Bandial, whom Nawaz Sharif has criticised and whom the party believes might not favor leniency in the cases against him.

Legal Troubles

Nawaz Sharifs legal situation further complicates matters. Designated as an absconder by the high court, his return raises questions about potential legal proceedings, including the possibility of serving a sentence under house arrest.

In the past, the return of Nawaz has been viewed as crucial for the PML-N partys prospects in upcoming elections, believed to invigorate the partys base and energize workers. A senior party member emphasised the significance of Nawaz Sharifs physical presence in galvanising both the party and voters.

As the situation stands, discussions on Nawaz Sharifs return and its implications appear to be ongoing within the party. Despite the expectations, a specific date for Nawaz Sharifs return and the involvement of senior party leaders in this matter are still unclear.
A new program in North Dakota aims to create a pathway for educators to become principals through an apprenticeship program.

North Dakota is the first state in the country to obtain approval for a federally supported apprenticeship program for school administrators, according to State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler.

The apprenticeship program comes just months after the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction announced a new teacher apprenticeship initiative.

The principal apprenticeship program is funded through DPI's Title II federal aid allocation. One of Title IIs purposes is to improve the quality and effectiveness of teachers and principals, according to DPI spokesman Dale Wetzel.

The program will offer incentives, including training and financial support, for educators to get the academic credentials they need to work as school principals, Baesler said.

North Dakota hopes to get additional federal grants that will benefit those aspiring principals when the Labor Department opens applications in the future, according to Wetzel.

DPI in a request for applications said that looming principal shortages are of concern in North Dakota and across the United States, citing a 2021 study by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. It found that 38% of principals are expected to leave the profession in the next three years. DPI data found a shortage of roughly 48 principals in all school levels for the 2022-23 school year -- a shortage of 9.7%.

A masters degree in educational leadership is necessary to be credentialed as a North Dakota principal. An assistant principal in the apprenticeship program would work under an established, veteran principal while taking online university classes.

"This apprenticeship makes it possible to hold down a paying job as an assistant principal while taking the classes needed to be credentialed as an elementary, secondary or K-12 principal. The federal grants are used to pay the tuition for those classes," Wetzel said.

Details of how the North Dakota program will work are being established, including the number of participating colleges and the subsidies available for educators, according to DPI Assistant Superintendent Laurie Matzke. The goal is to start the program this school year.

The apprenticeship will require a minimum of one year of on-the-job training of 2,000 hours, 30 credits of instructional time and an on-the-job-learning checklist to be signed off on by a mentor, according to the application DPI submitted to the Labor Department. Candidates will work full time as an assistant principal in a school while in the apprenticeship, and instructional time would be outside of normal work hours.

Candidates will graduate the program with a master's degree in education/school leadership and a Level I Professional Principal Credential.

"We have been working with our university system and school districts to iron out the details of our state apprenticeship program, and to make them aware of the opportunities that it will offer," Matzke said.

An Aspiring Principal Pipeline Grant program being launched alongside the apprenticeship program will award $150,000 to North Dakota State University to offer educational leader training programs. The programs will be offered in person and online.

The funds will subsidize the tuition costs of educators who enroll in these courses, according to Wetzel.

More information is at https://bit.ly/3OfxYyB.
The day after police raided the office of the Kansas newspaper she co-owned, along with her own home, Joan Meyer collapsed and died. Meyer co-owned the Marion County Record with her son Eric Meyer, the paper's publisher, and along with the newspaper office, police also descended on their home Friday. According to the Record, Joan Meyer, who was 98 and "otherwise in good health for her age," watched in tears as police seized her computer as well as a router used by her Alexa smart speaker (leaving her unable to use it for assistance, the paper notes), left a mess of cords tangled on the floor, and pawed through her son's papers. She wasn't able to eat or sleep after that, the paper says, and on Saturday, she collapsed at her home and died. The paper says the raids contributed to Meyer's death, leaving her "stressed beyond her limits."

"Died in the line of duty": In an opinion piece at the Kansas City Star, Melinda Henneberger agrees with the Record's assessment, writing of Meyer, a journalist since 1953, "It is not hyperbole to say that this attack on the people's right to know appears to have killed her." Henneberger says that one of the last comments Meyer made was to tell a colleague of the police raid, "These are Hitler tactics."
Niger's mutinous soldiers said they'll prosecute deposed President Mohamed Bazoum for "high treason" and undermining state security, in an announcement hours after the junta said they were open to dialogue with West African nations to resolve the mounting regional crisis. If found guilty, Bazoum could face the death penalty, reports the AP . Spokesman Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane said on state television Sunday night that the military regime had "gathered the necessary evidence to prosecute before competent national and international authorities the ousted president and his local and foreign accomplices for high treason and for undermining the internal and external security of Niger."

The announcement said high-ranking West African politicians and "their international mentors" have made false allegations and tried to derail a peaceful solution to the crisis to justify a military intervention. It said Bazoum was being charged following his exchanges with these people. The statement didn't ID specific Western countries and didn't specify a trial date. Bazoum, Niger's democratically elected president, was ousted by members of his presidential guard on July 26 and has since been under house arrest with his wife and son in the presidential compound in Niamey. People close to the president, as well as those in his ruling party, say the family's electricity and water have been cut off and they're running out of food. The junta dismissed these reports Sunday and accused West African politicians and international partners of fueling a disinformation campaign to discredit the junta.

International pressure is growing on the junta to release and reinstate Bazoum. Immediately after the coup, the West African regional bloc ECOWAS gave the regime seven days to return him to power and threatened military force if it didn't happen, but that deadline came and went with no action from either side. Last week, ECOWAS ordered the deployment of a "standby" force, but it's still unclear when or if it would enter the country. The African Union Peace and Security Council is meeting on Monday to discuss Niger's crisis and could overrule the decision if it felt that wider peace and security on the continent was threatened by an intervention. But as time drags on, there's growing uncertainty, and mixed messages are mounting.

On Sunday evening, before the military accused Bazoum of treason, a member of the junta's communication team told journalists that the regime had approved talks with ECOWAS, which would take place in the coming days. That same day, a mediation team of Islamic scholars from neighboring Nigeria who'd met with the junta over the weekend said the regime was open to dialogue with ECOWAS. Previous attempts by ECOWAS to speak with the junta have foundered, with its delegations being barred from entering the country. "Let's see what these negotiations actually look like, because it's also in the junta's benefit to [at] the least entertain talks. That doesn't mean they'll be serious about them," said Aneliese Bernard, a former US State Department official who specialized in African affairs and is now director of Strategic Stabilization Advisors, a risk advisory group.

(Read more Niger stories.)
Starbucks has notched a win against a conservative group that tried to stymie its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. The Messenger reports that on Friday, Chief US District Judge Stanley Bastian dismissed a case against the coffee giant brought last August by the nonprofit National Center for Public Policy Research, which claimed that Starbucks' DEI policies, including one that pledged to bring BIPOC representation at the corporate level to at least 30% by 2025, amounted to racial discrimination.

"Starbucks, acting through its officers and directors, crafted and publicized these policies with fanfare, preening over the supposed moral virtue their adoption signaled," the NCPPR's complaint read, accusing the policies of "flagrantly [violating] a wide array of state and federal civil rights laws." The group, which holds about $6,000 in Starbucks shares, went on to cite the Civil Rights Act as one piece of legislation being breached. The suit came about after the nonprofit asked Starbucks to retract its DEI policies, which were launched in 2020, and the coffee chain refused.

In addition to boosting minority representation, the policies also tie executive pay to diversity and aim to award contracts to "diverse" advertisers and vendors, per Reuters. In his short two-page ruling on Friday, Bastian called NCPPR's claims frivolous. "If the plaintiff doesn't want to be invested in 'woke' corporate America, perhaps it should seek other investment opportunities rather than wasting this court's time," Bastian wrote in his decision. Starbucks, for its part, is pleased with the ruling, noting it's dedicated to "creating a culture of warmth and belonging." An NCPPR rep, meanwhile, calls the decision "surprising and disappointing." (Read more Starbucks stories.)
Six white former Mississippi law officers pleaded guilty to state charges on Monday for torturing two Black men in a racist assault. The same six pleaded guilty to federal charges last week. Prosecutors say some of the officers nicknamed themselves the "Goon Squad" because of their willingness to use excessive force, including this attack, which ended with a deputy shooting one victim in the mouth, per the AP . In January, the officers entered a house without a warrant and handcuffed and assaulted the two men with stun guns, a sex toy, and other objects. The officers mocked them with racial slurs throughout a 90-minute torture session, then devised a cover-up that included planting drugs and a gun, leading to false charges that could have sent one victim to prison for years.

Their conspiracy unraveled months later, after one of them told the sheriff he had lied, leading to confessions from the others. Each one agreed to sentences recommended by state prosecutors ranging from five to 30 years, although the judge isn't bound by that. Time served for the state charges will run concurrently with federal sentences they are scheduled to receive. Each could get longer prison sentences in federal court in November. The men include five former Rankin County sheriff's deputiesBrett McAlpin, Hunter Elward, Christian Dedmon, Jeffrey Middleton, and Daniel Opdykeand a police officer from the city of Richland, Joshua Hartfield.

The victimsMichael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parkerarrived together. They sat in the front row, feet away from their attackers' families. Monica Lee, the mother of Damien Cameron, another Black man who died in 2021 after Elward punched and tased him during an arrest, embraced both men. Dedmon and Elward, who kicked in a door, pleaded guilty to additional charges of home invasion. Elward also pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, for shoving a gun into the mouth of one of the victims and pulling the trigger, in what authorities called a "mock execution." CNN has an in-depth look at the abuse the men endured and how the officers plotted to cover things up. "Are y'all available for a mission?" read the group text that preceded the assault.

(Read more Mississippi stories.)
Systematic negligence is a serious and pervasive problem that has caused untold suffering for many people. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to address this issue without the help of an experienced lawyer. Fortunately, some top lawyers specialize in fighting against systematic negligence and helping victims get the justice they deserve. With their years of experience and expertise, these attorneys understand how to battle against the most powerful institutions.

Defining Systematic Negligence

Systematic negligence is a legal concept that describes situations where an individual or organization has exhibited persistent disregard for ethical and legal obligations. In such cases, the person or organization in question may be liable due to their neglectful behavior.

A good lawyer can help you understand the specific parameters of your case and develop an effective strategy. In addition, they are experienced in presenting evidence and understanding how to submit your arguments in court.

Types of Systematic Negligence

Systematic negligence is a form of abuse of power that affects individuals, families, and communities on a wide scale. When the actions of state actors, such as police officers, result in unnecessary harm or loss to those under their care, it can be difficult for victims to reclaim justice. The best way to seek legal recourse is by working with an experienced and determined police misconduct attorney, who will fight for your rights.

In many cases, victims of systematic negligence are not even aware they have been wronged until they face serious repercussions. Police negligence is one type of systematic neglect that can be difficult to prove without the guidance and resources of a skilled lawyer. For instance, when the police fail to properly investigate a crime or take too long to respond to a call for help, this could constitute negligence, and should be addressed according to the law.

Benefits of Retaining a Top Lawyer

Having to deal with systematic negligence can be a complex and daunting process. With the right legal representation, however, victims of negligence can have their cases heard and receive the justice they deserve. Retaining a top lawyer is one of the best steps an individual can take for protection against poor practices or treatment from companies or organizations.

A top lawyer will comprehensively understand your rights and any applicable state or federal laws that may apply to your case. They will also work to ensure that you receive adequate compensation for damages and losses suffered due to said negligence. Additionally, top lawyers have experience in dealing with similar cases and are familiar with the legal landscape, making them valuable assets when navigating such complexities.

Making an Informed Decision

The right lawyer can be a powerful ally and a formidable weapon when fighting systematic negligence. With the right combination of legal expertise, experience, and creative strategies, a top lawyer can help fight for justice and keep employees safe. To successfully combat systematic negligence, and secure justice for your employees, it is important to seek out qualified legal representation that understands the complexities of this type of case.
A project looking to streamline business-related services offered by the state of North Dakota will first be implemented in six state agencies as a pilot program before expanding, Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller says.

The main focus of the project, dubbed the North Dakota Business Gateway, is the creation of a single portal through which business owners and residents can access all state agencies for government services. Currently, residents must access each state agency's services through its individual website. The 2023 Legislature approved about $5 million for the project.

Miller said the phased rollout will enable the state to fine-tune its approach before implementing the gateway for the rest of its agencies. The six initial agencies will be the offices of the Secretary of State and Tax Commissioner, the Department of Commerce, Job Service North Dakota, Workforce Safety and Insurance, and the Information Technology Department.

The state anticipates it will open a request for information in late August or early September to better understand the scope of the project. Once that is complete, and the state puts together a project charter and executive steering committee, it will begin the bidding process.

Miller said the project has received enough funding to complete the early stages before the beginning of the next biennium, or two-year state budget period. At that point, she said, the program will have created a single sign-on portal for users, and will look to prove its value and get more state funding for its expansion.

Once we get that all figured out, we want to be able to expand the full state agencies beyond that pilot group, Miller said. And then, we have been focusing on the business experience, but every citizen should have a similar experience to this -- very frictionless and easy to do business with the state.
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Note: Wise Mike Stepovich was a charter member of Mens Igloo No. 4, making him the first of three generations in his family to be members of the Pioneers of Alaska. His bride in the last article was the well-known Vuka Stepovich of Fairbanks & Fish Creeks. This spunky History Nugget has been brought to you by the Fairbanks Igloos of the Pioneers of Alaska.
North Dakota ended the 2021-23 state budget cycle with $166 million more in general fund tax revenues than the Legislature projected in March.

Tax revenues are the primary source of capital for the general fund, state government's main operating fund. The cycle began in July 2021 and ended this past June.

The Legislature forecast $4.56 billion in general fund revenue from taxes and fees throughout the entire cycle, but ended up with more than $4.72 billion -- nearly 4% more than projected, according to a Legislative Council report. Most notably, corporate income taxes resulted in nearly $82 million in surplus funds  19% more in revenue than projected.

Sales and use taxes, which are the largest revenue line item in the general fund, garnered more than $50 million in additional income, though that marked only a 2% increase above projections for the category. Individual income taxes came in $12.8 million above predictions, and were the second-largest driver of general fund revenue at $938.8 million.

The general fund also garners revenue through other sources, such as profits from the state-owned Bank of North Dakota, and the state lottery. These nontax revenues closed at just over $596 million for the biennium, which is $3.27 million more than projected in March.

Overall, the state ended up with $5.32 billion in general fund revenues  $169.27 million above projections. The funds were not appropriated by the Legislature in the 2023 session, so they will be available for disbursal in the 2025 session.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

On this glorious day of Independence, Pakistan School wishes all fellow compatriots in Bahrain a happy Independence Day. Lets refresh and remember the great sacrifices of the martyrs who laid down their lives for a free and sovereign Pakistan.

We are happy to present a synopsis of Pakistan School, Bahrain on this joyous occasion.

The incipiency of Pakistan School goes back to the later part of 1960s when the leading visionary members of the community realized the need for a schooling system for their children, leading to the establishment of a small primary school in 1968 in a rented building in Fareej Fadhel area of Manama.

After a few years the school was upgraded to secondary level education following affiliation with the Federal Board, Islamabad, Pakistan.

In 1984, the new campus of the Pakistan School was constructed in Isa town, which was inaugurated by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier.

Two new blocks, Jinnah Block and Sir Sayed Block were constructed in Isa Town Campus, between 1994-95. Today Pakistan school has two wings, Manama (Primary) and the main campus Isa Town.

The school is imparting quality education to students from 24 different nationalities. Besides Pakistanis, a huge number of Bahraini students are on roll of the school, which is an indicator of the high quality of education offered here and the unshakable trust shown by the Bahraini community in Pakistan School.

Pakistan School has laid down a well-defined, effective, practicable and productive network of extra and co-curricular activities for the personality and the character building of the students.

These activities are conducted on inter class, inter house and inter school levels.

Pakistani students have been performing remarkably in the Bahrain level sports, co-curricular and cultural activities.

In the last few years, the school has brought about tremendous and unprecedented progress in all spheres.

A lot of renovation and maintenance work, addition of huge infrastructure and modern facilities to the students, professional development programs for the faculty are a few to name here.

Our school is the first Pakistani community school in Bahrain to introduce Arabic as a compulsory subject in the curriculum for all classes.

An Islamic Center has been established in the school and has been functioning effectively to create a generation equipped with the right, authentic and profound knowledge of Islam.

Under the able leadership of Pakistan school has covered many distinctive landmarks during the previous couple of years in the academic and administrative areas like ; In January 2023 Pakistan School, Manama has successfully cleared the BQA visit. BQA has its own framework which includes certain aspects and the criteria for evaluating those aspects like ;

* Quality of outcomes

* Students  academic achievement

* Students personal development

* Quality of processes

* Teaching and learning

* Students support and guidance

* Quality assurance of outcomes and processes

* Leadership, management and governance Pakistan School Manama was able to meet all the aspects of BQA during their visit and cleared all their aspects and criterias.

Manama School teaching Staff and all those who contributed to the success of Manama School in the BQA visit were greatly appreciated and honored with certificates and cash prizes in presence of the Board of Management, and other respected community leaders and business community.

Pakistan Schools Federal Board results have shown consistent and impressive improvement over the last few years.

Around 1,000 students have achieved A and A+ Grades in the Federal Board, Islamabad examinations out of which 441 students are Bahrainis.

They have been given scholarships by the school and later on many of them were eligible to get scholarships in the University of Bahrain as well.

Besides Federal Board Examination, our students have exhibited their skills in the TIMMS, PIRLS and World Scholars Cup.

So far, our schools students have won 721 Gold and 524 Silver medals and trophies in the World Scholars Cup.

This year alone our students won 96 Gold and 81 Silver medals alongside two trophies in team debates and collaborative writing in the World Scholars Cup.

One of our students won in debates across the schools in Bahrain. Most of the teams from our school have qualified for the Global Round of the World Scholars Cup.

Pakistan School has earned a name of its own for participation in the national, cultural and social festivals to strengthen the bond of its deep love and affiliation with the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The sole aim of Pakistan school is to create a new generation inculcating in them qualities needed to be visionaries to lead their country in the future.
TORONTO, Aug. 14, 2023 /CNW/ - Buca, the beloved Italian eatery celebrated for its modern Italian dining experience, is thrilled to announce the opening of its highly anticipated new location at Hwy 7 and Jane in Vaughan, just north of Toronto. With a commitment to delivering exceptional cuisine inspired by Italian tradition and a dedication to quality, culture, and design, Buca has become a staple in Toronto's vibrant culinary scene.

Buca at Vaughan / photo credit Dominique van Olm (CNW Group/King Street Food Company)

Since its inception, Buca has cultivated a deep appreciation for the diverse regional cuisine of Italy. By sourcing only, the finest, seasonal ingredients from specialty purveyors and farmers, the restaurant continually showcases a profound passion for Italian culture with creative takes on outstanding dishes. With the new Vaughan location, Buca aims to fuse the inspirations of its original King Street and coastal Italian Yorkville establishments, while introducing unique elements that highlight the best of both locations and beyond.

This exciting new location boasts a spacious venue offering 110 seats in the main dining area, as well as a chic lounge and a charming outdoor patio for a total of 228.

Heading the culinary team is Executive Chef Jorge Fiestas, 12-year veteran of BUCA, and an exceptional talent known for his creative flair and unwavering dedication to excellence. Assisting Chef Fiestas is Senior Sous Chef Matthew Asturi, who brings his wealth of experience and passion for Italian cuisine to elevate the dining experience.

The menu at Buca Vaughan features an array of exceptional dishes that showcase the restaurant's reverence for meticulously crafted Italian inspired classics prepared with a modern twist, using the freshest ingredients available.

Signatures include Branzino Crudo, prepared tableside, Polenta with braised meats, and Bistecca alla Firoentina, an impressive shareable 40oz AAA beef porterhouse, aged for 45 days, served with caper agliata & salamoia Bolognese.

Known for its delectable hand crafted pasta, the menu includes Agnolotti del Plin, stuffed with ricotta, morel mushroom, Ontario green asparagus, legumes, St. Brigid's butter, parmigiano Reggiano, Bigoli, bronze die-extruded duck egg pasta, duck offal ragu, venetian spices, mascarpone & basil, Linguini alle Vongole, bronze die-extruded pasta, wild garlic, B.C. clams 'nduja, Ontario ramp aglio e olio and Maccheroncini di Campofilone, fresh angel hair pasta, Nova Scotia lobster, brodo di mare, St Brigid's butter, lobster bottarga.

Inventive pizzas include Calamari con Cipolle with grilled squid, fior di latte, cipollini onion, artichoke, peperoncino, parsley; Pomodoro e Tartufo, with preserved tomato, stracciatella cheese, scorzone truffle, basil and indulgent Funghi topped with mascarpone, gorgonzola, seasonal mushroom, and marjoram.

With a robust selection of piatti freddi, house-cured salumi, formaggi, and crudo, signature seafood and vegetable delicacies, to one of a kind meat offerings BUCA caters to diverse palates and embodies the essence of culinary prowess.

"We are thrilled to bring Buca's modern Italian dining experience to Vaughan," said Peter Tsebelis, Managing Director, King Street Food Company. "Our team has poured their heart and soul into every aspect of this new location, from the carefully curated menu to the service and design. We can't wait to welcome guests and share our passion for Italian cuisine."

Buca at Vaughan promises to be an unparalleled experience, where guests can indulge in a memorable culinary journey inspired by tradition. The restaurant invites the community and Italian food enthusiasts alike to experience the finest in modern Italian dining.

Buca at Vaughan is located at 898 Portage Parkway and offers complimentary valet parking. For more information, visit www.buca.ca or follow @bucatoronto on social media.

SOURCE King Street Food Company

For further information: MEDIA CONTACTS: Hannah Rastrick or Naomi Strasser, [email protected] / [email protected]
On Thursday, August 17th A&W Canada will donate $2 from every Teen Burger sold to MS Canada

VANCOUVER, BC, Aug.14, 2023 /CNW/ - This Thursday, treat yourself to a tasty Teen Burger and help A&W Canada and MS Canada reach their $2 million fundraising goal to support Canadians living with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Helping to ring in the 15th year, Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman, TJ Brodie and his wife Amber are partnering with the Burgers to Beat MS campaign to raise awareness and critical funds for MS Canada. This cause is very close to their hearts as Amber was diagnosed with MS in 2016.

A&W Burgers to Beat MS 2023 (CNW Group/A&W Food Services of Canada Inc.)

Since its inception, the Burgers to Beat MS campaign has raised more than $19 million to support world-class research programs, including advancing treatment and care, enhancing wellbeing, halting disease progression, and prevention.

Looking for more ways to make a difference? From now through Thursday, you can contribute to the cause by rounding-up your bill with any purchase or by making an online donation at BurgersToBeatMS.ca .

What: Celebrate A&W Burgers to Beat MS Day by ordering a Teen Burger and helping raise

critical funds for MS research. A&W will donate $2 from every Teen Burger sold across

Canada on August 17, to MS Canada to support Canadians living with MS.

Where: A&W Restaurants; visit aw.ca/locations to find a restaurant near you.

When: Thursday, August 17, 2023; all day from open to close.

Why: Canada has one of the highest rates of MS in the world. Approximately 1 in every 400

Canadians live with MS. Show your support for Canadians affected by MS and help

raise funds for MS Canada.

How: Canadians can order a Teen Burger via dine-in, take-out, drive-thru, the A&W mobile app, and third-party delivery partners.

Show your support and rally friends and family by posting on social media using

#BurgersToBeatMS and tagging @AWCanada and @mscanadaofficial to help raise

awareness.

About A&W Canada

A&W is proud to be a Canadian company  100% Canadian owned and operated, and one of the most trusted brands in the country. We believe in helping our customers take small, simple actions for the good of people and the planet. From serving 100% grass-fed beef, to offering reusables, and fundraising in support of Canadians living with multiple sclerosis, we strive to make a positive impact in all the communities we operate in across Canada. Home of Canada's Best Tasting Burgers, we serve Canadians coast to coast with over 1,000 restaurants across the country. For more information, please visit aw.ca .

About multiple sclerosis and MS Canada

Canada has one of the highest rates of multiple sclerosis in the world. On average, 12 Canadians are diagnosed every day. MS is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord). It is considered an episodic disease meaning that the severity and duration of illness and disability can vary and are often followed by periods of wellness. Most people are diagnosed with MS between the ages of 20 and 49 and the unpredictable effects of the disease will last for the rest of their lives. MS Canada provides information, support and advocacy to people affected by MS, and funds research to find the cause and cure for the disease, bringing us closer to a world free of MS. Please visit mscanada.ca or call 1-800-268-7582 for more information, to get involved, or to support Canadians affected by MS by making a donation.

Join the conversation and connect with the MS community online. Find MS Canada on Twitter , Instagram or Facebook .

Susan Senecal, President and CEO of A&W Canada and/or Dr. Pamela Valentine, President and CEO of MS Canada are available for interviews on August 16 and August 17.

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Taffin Sekulin

Strategic Objectives

[email protected]

C: 416 366 7735 x0268

SOURCE A&W Food Services of Canada Inc.
New Zealand winemakers honour the grape with a unique history

TORONTO, Aug. 14, 2023 /CNW/ - Kiwis know best! In advance of International Pinot Noir Day on August 18, New Zealand Winegrowers are celebrating the country's leading red wine export by showcasing this delicate yet intense grape. Famous around the world, it has achieved recognition as a versatile palate pleaser.

Often playfully referred to as "The Diva Grape" or "The Heartbreak Grape", Pinot Noir is notoriously fickle and famously difficult to grow due to its thin skin. In New Zealand, Pinot Noir was only first commercially bottled in 1987, and now has an impressive 1.5 million cases exported annually.

"Pinot Noir is a wonderful choice as it is so versatile when it comes to food pairing and entertaining," says Melissa Stunden, Canadian Sommelier and New Zealand wine expert. "It's light enough for pizza, salmon or chicken but will also complement richer red meats."

As the name suggests, Pinot Noir is derived from the French word for pine and black. The New Zealand varietal is fruity, softer, and more expressive than wine produced in the grape's native home of Burgundy. It is predominantly grown in the cooler southern regions of the country including Wairarapa, Marlborough, Nelson, North Canterbury and Central Otago.

Here are some crowd-pleasing options to celebrate International Pinot Noir Day:

Stoneleigh Marlborough Pinot Noir - Lively and distinctive with plums and spice on the nose and more primary red fruits on the palate. A light to medium-bodied wine, it carries beautifully supple tannins and a gentle touch of nutmeg spice, white pepper and vanilla oak.

Kim Crawford Pinot Noir - This wine has a rich ruby colour with a nose that offers delicate notes of plum and strawberry. It has black cherry and subtle spice flavours with juicy and fine tannins.

Oyster Bay Marlborough Pinot Noir - Soft, elegant and silky, this wine has a pretty, floral nose, with dark fruit and berries, portobello mushroom, vanilla and cherry. Its sweet fruit tannins provide structure and length. This wine is made from 100% Marlborough fruit.

Find these exciting wines in your local liquor store.

For the best New Zealand Pinot Noir experience, serve at 15 degrees Celsius in a large round bell-shaped glass, which will collect the delicate aromas of the wine. Please enjoy these wines responsibly.

New Zealand Wine  Altogether Unique

New Zealand wines draw inspiration from three unique properties: Purity, Innovation, and Care. New Zealand has the purity of unblemished sunlight, young soil, beautiful water and an absolute focus on the craft, a unique combination that cannot be replicated anywhere else. Our sense of adventure and innovation keeps us focused on doing things better, coupling the best of wine tradition with our 'in-built' ingenuity to constantly innovate. You can taste the care, respect and love our winegrowers put in every stage, cultivating sustainably and carefully crafting their grapes into world class wines.

SOURCE New Zealand Wine

For further information: Media Contact: Lauren Wasley, Carlaw Communications, [email protected], 647-883-9439
62 percent of Nigerians in a new survey believe Nigeria will move forward under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

The survey was conducted by CMC Connect LLP, Lagos-based public perception consulting and strategic communication firm, in partnership with Analysts Data Services and Resources (ADSR).

The firms said a total of 1,714 participants across the countrys six geopolitical zones took part in the survey and shared their opinions and views concerning the first 60 days of Tinubus administration.

38% do not see the country moving forward under the current administration, while 62% do, the report reads.

By and large, respondents are less satisfied with the first 60 days of the current administration, but they are more optimistic about the country moving forward under the current administration.

According to the survey, a substantial majority of respondents show strong satisfaction with the suspension of Godwin Emefiele as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Abdulrasheed Bawa as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The report said respondents endorsed the allowance of both old and redesigned naira notes as legal tenders, while the proposed removal of electricity subsidy got significant dissatisfaction due to concerns about energy costs.

The report said the unification of exchange rates and the presidents target of 6 percent average growth rate in the next four years also received moderate gratification levels from respondents.

There is substantial dissatisfaction with the arrangement of the ministerial list among respondents, emphasizing the relevance of diversified and representative cabinet selections, the report reads.

The removal of petrol subsidy generates mixed views, with a significant portion becoming disheartened and harboring strong concerns, showing the sensitive nature of energy policy changes.

Planned opening of more land borders, and the release of fertilizers and grains to farmers and households enjoy favorable reception.

Respondents support the appointment of Service Chiefs and the dissolution of governing boards of government agencies.

The suspension of the import tax change levy on certain vehicles, the introduced green tax on single-use plastics, and excise duty escalation on locally manufactured products, receives favorable thumbs up.

The establishment of the Nigerian education loan fund garners mixed satisfaction levels, underscoring the need for a balanced approach to education financing.

The firms said the findings of the survey showed that 33 percent of the respondents did not vote in the last election, while 67 percent voted.

51% of the respondents voted APC during the last election, 5% voted PDP, 32% voted LP, 2% voted NNPP, while 10% voted other parties, the report adds.




The Assistant Inspector General of Police for zone six Calabar, Jonathan Towuru has charged 39 newly promoted Assistant Superintendents of Police to realise that they have been promoted to higher responsibilities in the force.





He advised them to lead the rank and file efficiently, emphasising human rights protection.





Importantly, he directed them to increase the monthly home allowance they give to their wives since their promotions come with a commensurate pay increase.





Towuru, represented by the DCP Abayomi Shogunle of the Department of Finance, spoke when he, assisted by members of families, decorated the promoted officers.





The officers were all promoted from the rank of Inspector to ASP.





On behalf of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, I want you to realise that from now on you are on the Supervisory cadre as a senior police officer. Your duty will entail supervising the rank and file as well as the Inspectors.





As part of promoting human rights always, you should also take very good care of the home front by increasing their monthly food allowances since your promotions come with more money.





You must key in into the Inspector General of Police mission statement.





The AIG also used the opportunity to encourage policemen to regularly embark on Keep Fit exercises, so that they will be healthy to perform their assigned jobs well.





Commending the IG and leadership of the police in the zone on behalf of her colleagues, ASP Lucy Ejiba said the promotion will further motivate them to double their efforts on the job.
The ruling All Progressives Congress has stated that the persistent attacks on the legacy of the partys National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, in Kano State may have cost the presidential candidate of New Nigerian Peoples Party, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, a position in the cabinet of President Bola Tinubu.

Prior to the unveiling of Tinubus ministerial nominees, there were suggestions that Kwankwaso might get a position in Tinubus government, given the fraternity between the duo after the presidential election.

However, Kwankwaso did not make the list of Tinubus ministerial nominees, while a former governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, got a slot.

Speaking with our correspondent on Sunday, the Director of Publicity of the APC, Bala Ibrahim, said he believed the attacks on Gandujes legacies in Kano State by Governor Abba Yusuf of the NNPP and Kwankwasos political godson was why Tinubu decided against giving Kwankwaso a ministerial position.

Ibrahim said, Kwankwaso is a force to reckon with in the politics of Kano. But the way and manner his Kwankwasiyya movement goes about conducting itself has made the support for Kwankwaso to wane gradually. This is because of the brigandage the movement is bringing into the politics of Kano, and by extension, Nigeria.

The President must have felt the pulse of the public and weighed the relevance and implementation of his policies, particularly his effort to win the hearts of Kano people. There is no way you will dismiss the political maturity, sagacity and experience of Dr Abdullahi Ganduje when it comes to the way he plays politics in Kano.

If you weigh the two on a good calibrated scale, the political weight of Ganduje is by far higher than that of Kwankwaso. I believe the President must have listened to people who will give him honest and sincere advice, people who read the political temperature of the state very well, not those who are misguided by the hullabaloo of commotion caused by the brigandage of the Kwankwasiyya movement. It is that direction I think the President took the decision not to treat Ganduje lightly.

But the Kwankwaso camp knocked the APC for trying to taint its principal.

The NNPP National Publicity Secretary, Major Agbo, told our correspondent that the APC did not deserve a response.

Agbo said, Some of these issues are things the party is not supposed to be reacting to now. He (Kwankwaso) has spoken directly on the issue you talked about. He is the one who opted out. What else do you want?

If Ganduje is saying what he is saying and wants to continue to be behaving like a garrison commander, it is his business, not ours.




Actress Faithia Balogun has revealed that she almost turned down a role in the highly acclaimed movie Jagun Jagun.





The renowned Yoruba actress said it was her managements persistent encouragement that ultimately convinced her to take on the role, a decision shes now immensely grateful for.





In a heartfelt message, Faithia expressed her gratitude to fellow actor Femi Adebayo for granting her the chance to shine once again on the big screen.





The actress noted that upon first reading the script, she couldnt have anticipated the remarkable journey that awaited her.





She commended Adebayos visionary approach to filmmaking, praising the depth and complexity of the project that became evident as it unfolded on screen.





Jagun Jagun, far from being just another film, is hailed by Faithia as a masterpiece woven with emotions, dedication, and unparalleled artistry. Faithia extended her appreciation to the post-production team, led by the talented @anthills_ and @niyiakinmolayan, for their integral role in bringing the directors vision to life.





Faithia message was a tribute to the collaborative spirit of the film industry, as she also acknowledged her co-stars and the behind-the-scenes heroes who contributed to the movies success.





She emphasized the togetherness that was built during the production and how it left an indelible mark on her heart.





Interestingly, it was revealed that Faithia had almost declined the role, were it not for her management at @thehypeagencyng, led by @officialsamolatunji, who insisted she should take it.





Faithia acknowledged that she now sees the wisdom in their advice and expressed her thanks for the chance to once again showcase her acting prowess.




The Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has denied rejecting his predecessor, Nasir El-rufais ministerial nomination.





Recall that El-Rufais nomination was stepped down during screening following an incomplete security check.





A few days after, El-Rufai rejected the offer but nominated a replacement.





However, a statement by Muhammad Lawal Shehu, the spokesman for the governor, clarified that the reports were inaccurate and aimed at creating unnecessary tension between Uba Sani and El-Rufai.





The Governor emphasised that the accurate aspect of the story was his meeting with the president, adding that at no point during the meeting did the issue of a replacement nominee come up for discussion.





He, therefore, called on media outlets, social media users and blogging platforms to refrain from spreading unverified and false information that could mislead readers and contribute to political tension in the country.





He also urged newsmen to recognise their role as the fourth estate of the realm and maintain integrity by sharing verified and balanced stories that contributed positively to the nations progress.




The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has mocked the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Dino Melaye, over the alleged defection of its members in Idah Local Government of Kogi State.

The media was awash on Saturday over news making the rounds that ADC in Idah LGA collapsed its structure for Senator Dino Melaye and has defected to PDP ahead of the November 11 governorship election in Kogi State.

Reacting in a statement on Sunday, the Kogi State chairman of ADC, Adaji John, said the PDP governorship candidate has been scammed by fraudsters.

The statement reads: In the said video, only Dino Melaye spoke to the imaginary ADC audience. No single face of the audience was shown, nor were the ADC party materials the supposedly decampees brought made open.

Of course, a discerning mind will know the story is not true. But we were not surprised that such falsehood was been peddled by the media handlers of the PDP governorship candidate.

For a start, the name of the African Democratic Congress chairman for Idah Council Area is Adejo Ameadaji from Igalogba ward. Definitely, if it has been true that anybody visited or received Dino, it was to scam him, and they succeeded.

This development is purely fake and a move to extort Dino. The face shown in the video is not an ADC party member, in fact, he is an Ibaji man to the best of our knowledge and not a member of our party.

Those faceless persons led by the ghost Adejoh Haruna, whom the camera intentionally didnt capture, must have played on the low intelligence of Melaye or paid him back in his own coins because it is in the public domain that Melaye is a scammer and mentor of scammers. This is purely a case of scamming the scammer.

The press statement and the 40-second video have effectively proven that Melaye is a purveyor of falsehoods. And we are worried that Mr Melaye is already threading the path of APC and Yahaya Bello, who have been churning out media reports of receiving a series of fake decampees.

Unlike the governor, who managed to back his kangaroo decamping stories with some pictures, Dino Melaye failed to show anythis is the new low of peddling fake news that the PDP candidate has been associated with for a long time, just to confuse the people of the state of their relevance.

Adaji John reiterated that no single member of ADC in Idah has defected to the PDP, insisting that the name of the Idah ADC chairman is Adejo Ameadaji and not Adejoh Haruna.

Our good people of Kogi State, kindly ignore these desperate falsehoods. ADC is still on course to liberate our state from satanic strongholds, he stated.




Amid biting economic hardships, a former lawmaker, Ben Murray-Bruce, has suggested to the incoming minister of health and the federal government to launch a free c0nd_m distribution initiative.





Murray-Bruce said the suggestion is in light of the deepening economic challenges facing Nigerians, which have gravely impacted the middle class and exacerbated poverty levels.





In a post on his social media platform on Monday, the former lawmaker believes that ensuring accessibility to contraceptives is a crucial step in mitigating a potential population explosion.





He wrote, In light of the deepening economic challenges that Nigeria faces, which have gravely impacted the middle class and exacerbated poverty levels, it is imperative for the incoming Minister of Health or the federal government to launch a free c_ndo# distribution initiative immediately.





Ensuring accessibility to contraceptives is a crucial step in mitigating a potential population explosion, particularly when the financially constrained majority may prioritise basic necessities over family planning methods. An ounce of prevention now can avert a looming socio-economic catastrophe in the future.
Members of the public can comment on transportation conditions and land use plans in the Watford City area during a meeting from 5-7 p.m. Central time Wednesday.

The meeting is at the Rough Rider Center, 2209 Wolves Den Parkway in Watford City. Representatives from the city, the North Dakota Department of Transportation and the Civil Science Inc. engineering firm will be on hand.

Watford City is updating its long-range transportation plan and its future land use plan. More information and a community survey is at www.WatfordLRTP.org.

Wednesday's meeting is the initial step in obtaining public input. An additional public meeting is likely to be held in the fall or winter.

Written comments also will be accepted. They must be mailed by Aug. 31 to Kyle Comer, Consultant Project Manager, 531 W. Villard St., Suite 1, Dickinson, ND 58601, or emailed to comments@civilscience.com with "Public Input Meeting - PCN 23527" in the email subject heading.

People who need to request accommodations for Wednesday's meeting should contact City Planner Jake Walters at 701-444-8402 or jwalters@nd.gov.
The spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed has cautioned the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, against resorting to military action against Niger Republic.

Baba-Ahmed urged ECOWAS to negotiate with the junta in Niger and not resort to threats.

He warned that a military intervention would destabilize the region.

Tweeting, Baba-Ahmed wrote: This is a good time for ECOWAS to take a step back and assess the Niger Republic situation without threats and bravado.

There is still room for some negotiations, but ECOWAS must drive the process. Nigeria in particular must use its clout to calm nerves and lead responsibly.

Who is going to guarantee a well executed military intervention? Nigerians are against any military action.

This will further destabilize the region. ECOWAS without Nigeria is a few countries who will not set foot in Niger. Negotiations are the best.
Leaders of the military coup in Niger Republic say deposed President Mohamed Bazoum will be prosecuted for high treason and undermining the internal and external security of the country.

Bazoum, 63, has been kept at the presidents official residence since the July 26 coup.

In a statement read out on national television on Sunday, Amadou Abdramane, spokesman of the junta, said Bazoum was granted access to his doctors the previous day and that he was in fine fettle.

After this visit, the doctor raised no problems regarding the state of health of the deposed president and members of his family, he said.

The Nigerien government has to date, gathered the necessary evidence to prosecute the deposed president and his local and foreign accomplices before the competent national and international authorities for high treason and undermining internal and external security of Niger, Abdramane added.

JUNTA OPEN TO DIALOGUE

On Sunday, the military junta told an Islamic delegation from neighbouring Nigeria that its doors are now open for dialogue and a diplomatic resolution of the crisis, amid economic sanctions from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

We have agreed and the leader of our country has given the green light for dialogue, said Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, Nigers prime minister, who was recently appointed to the position by the junta.

They (Muslim delegation) will now go back and inform the Nigerian President what they have heard from us. we hope in the coming days, ECOWAS will come here to meet us to discuss how the sanctions imposed against us will be lifted.

The junta said the sanctions imposed by ECOWAS were making it difficult for people to access medicines, food and electricity.

ECOWAS resolved last week to deploy a standby force to Niger in a bid to restore constitutional order to the country.




Senior Pastor of the Citadel Global Community Church, formerly known as the Latter Rain Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, yesterday, declared that he was not against the removal of the fuel subsidy but the corruption in the system.

While he noted that fuel subsidy removal and its harsh economic impact was taking a toll on Nigerians, Bakare urged President Bola Tinubu to kill corruption and not Nigerians.

The firy televangelist also tasked Tinubu to mount a genuine fight against corruption, rise above vendetta, foster reconciliation, and give every Nigerian a reason to believe in a united country.

The cleric, who spoke on State of the Nation broadcast, theme Vice, virtue and time: The three things that shall never stand still, held at the church auditorium, located on Kuditat Abiola way, Ikeja in Lagos, also faulted the proposed military intervention in the Niger Republic by ECOWAS.

Speaking on the harsh economy in the country, he said: What is further clear concerning our domestic challenges is that by imposing hardship on Nigerians without going after those corrupt individuals, corporations and government officials, who have plundered Nigeria over the years in the name of subsidy, the president has picked the wrong fight.

In his Monday, July 31, 2023, address to the nation, the president stated that the vast sum of money which would have been better spent on public transportation, healthcare, schools, housing and even national securitywas being funnelled into the deep pockets and lavish bank accounts of a select group of individuals.

The president further stated that the subsidy removal policy was to stop the squandering of monies on smugglers and fraudsters.

This compels us to ask the following salient questions: Who are these select groups of individuals into whose deep pockets our national treasury has been funnelled?

Who are these smugglers and fraudsters that have been defrauding our nation in the name of subsidy?

Who are these nameless characters that have fed fat at the expense of the poor? Or are they all sacred cows?

Mr President, if you are truly on the side of the poor, if you are serious about the welfare of the people, if you truly want the poor to breathe, as you once said, then kill corruption, not Nigerians.

Fellow citizens, the rallying cry by which the Save Nigeria Group, SNG, galvanised Nigerians in January 2012 at Gani Fawehinmi Pack, Ojota was kill corruption, not Nigerians

This was our cry when we made it evident that our fight was not against the removal of fuel subsidy but the corruption in the system. This was our fight when, amid the threats to my life and family, right there at Ojota and live on national and international television, I called out by name those individuals and corporate entities who had allegedly ravaged our nation.

Mr President, given the complexity of the Nigerian economy, we are not thoroughly convinced that your palliatives will be sufficient to cushion the effect of your policies on the Nigerian citizen.

What we do know, however, is that on May 29, 2023, you swore an oath to be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

On the coup in Niger Republic, Bakare kicked against the proposal by ECOWAS for military intervention, describing it as counter-intuitive.

He said: It is, therefore, counter-intuitive to engage in what could be a protracted conflict. This much the Tinubu-led ECOWAS ought to have learnt from the aftermath of Americas invasion of Iraq in 2003.

While we condemn the spate of coup detats in West Africa, we recognise that the situation calls for deep introspection on the part of African leaders and makes even more urgent the case for good governance.

The call upon Nigeria at this time is not so much to compel submission in the subregion through the force of might, but to command alignment through exemplary governance. The real question is whether President Tinubu is capable of providing such moral leadership, even in the domestic context.

The president furtherstated that the subsidy removal policy was to stop the squandering of monies on smugglers and fraudsters.

Mr President, while we admit that, as of today, our nation has transitioned from an administration that came to power on the supposed wings of integrity and anti-corruption to one that cannot be described as such, the fact remains that you are today the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with enormous powers to fight against corruption in its hydra-headed forms.

Even if the allegations against you are valid, you can still have a road to Damascus experience and decide today to stand on the side of probity and bring to book the vested interests that have built their wealth on the ruins of our nation.

You can decide today to take the burden of reforms off the Nigerian people and go after the corporations and individuals who have plundered our nation. You can decide today to stand with the poor and take the fight to the plunderers.

Mr President, even though you have announced some palliatives, let me remind you that palliatives cannot address the root cause of the problem.

Therefore, we demand that you address the root cause of the problem. Take the yoke off the neck of the poor, go after the looters, recover the loot, and retool it to the benefit of Nigerians. In simple terms, Mr President, kill corruption, not Nigerians.

Some may ask at this juncture: Who exactly are these plunderers that have been enabled over the years to launder our collective patrimony through a dubious subsidy regime? How much can we recover from them?

My fellow citizens, tighten your seat belts as I take you back to certain alarming events that occurred in our nations recent history; events that have elicited lingering questions.

Emefiele, Bawas detention, vendetta

Bakare, who took a swipe at the continued detention of the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr Godwin Emefiele, and Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, FCC, Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa, described it as a clampdown on perceived political adversaries.

His words: Recently, the actions of the DSS have raised concerns about professionalism and adherence to the rule of law. Instances such as the reported invasion of the premises of the EFCC and the handling of the case of the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr Godwin Emefiele, have sparked discussions regarding the need for due process and equitable application of justice.

Considering the reported claims by the DSS that its actions were in line with an order from above, the handling of the Emefiele case has sent a signal to the world that the current presidents disposition to the war against corruption is primarily motivated by a clampdown on perceived political adversaries, while various other enemies of Nigeria remain untouched.

Mr Godwin Emefiele may have made the wrong judgement calls in the management of Nigerias monetary policy, but he must not be made a scapegoat. By the provisions of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Act, 2007, there is every possibility that the erstwhile Central Bank Governor did not act without presidential authorisation. If Emefiele is found liable for any crime, by all means, he should be prosecuted.

However, considering the dynamics of the pre-election environment, and the then-candidate Bola Tinubus public allegation that the naira-redesign policy was targeted at him, the optic of the president targeting Emefiele for prosecution after winning the election and being sworn in as president could be interpreted as a form of vendetta far beneath such a distinguished office.

The same can be said of the detention of the suspended chairman of EFCC, Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa. Mr Bawa was not only linked to the naira redesign policy, but he had also disclosed that the anti-graft agency would arrest and prosecute some outgoing governors after the expiration of their immunity on May 29, 2023.

Once again, if Bawa is indicted in any criminal investigation, then the lawful thing to do is to prosecute him. To continue to hold him in detention, in these circumstances, raises significant concerns about the readiness of the Tinubu administration to fight corruption.

This undemocratic disposition questions the pro-democracy antecedents of the president and indicates the consolidation of authoritarian tendencies.

It is rather preposterous that the DSS has reduced itself to a pack of Napoleons dogs let loose on perceived opponents of the president when, in this same country, a militant like Asari Dokubo is openly breeding an armed militia in open support of the president, doing so with impunity and without as much as a slap on the wrist from the security agencies.

Our security agencies cannot look the other way in the face of the brazen violation of the constitution by non-state actors who declare allegiance to the president while being ever poised to clamp down on the rights of the perceived opponents of the powers that be.

Let me remind those who constitutionally hold a monopoly on the use of force that they do so on behalf of the Nigerian people and not as agents of those in power. This reminder is especially pertinent as Nigerians become increasingly agitated due to the hardships imposed on them by the government.

As citizen-led movements spring up in Nigeria, the democratic quotient of those in power will be tested. Such office holders must remember the warning we sounded in December 2011, a few weeks before the protest in Ojota.

 Let those relying on their ill-equipped, underpaid, and underfed police officers and political thugs remember the words of President J. F. Kennedy: A society that cannot help the many who are poor, cannot save the few that are rich.

Undeniably, the state of our nation calls for courage. However, as the story of Rehoboam, the fourth king of Israel, teaches us, the kind of courage that adopts anti-people policies and oppresses the weak will only yield divisive outcomes.

Therefore, Mr President, use your courage to lessen the burdens of our citizens and not to further oppress them. Use your courage to unite the nation and not to further divide us.

While charging the president to address historical grievances and not to further deepen wounds, Bakare said: Use your courage to address historical grievances and not to further deepen wounds. Do justice, mount a genuine fight against corruption, rise above vendetta, foster reconciliation, and give every Nigerian  in the East, West, North, and South  a reason to believe in a united Nigeria.

Nigerians fed up with APC

On the outcome of the 2023 general elections, Pator Bakare said it was an indication that Nigerians were fed up with the All Progressives Congress, APC, just as he warned the party to revisit its foundation if it was to survive politically.

He said: At this juncture, I must also sound a warning to the ruling party, the APC. I was there when the APC was formed and the extent of my involvement is well-documented. As a stakeholder and, more importantly, as a nation-builder, I am obligated to state without equivocation that this is not the APC we envisaged.

The results of the last elections were a clear indication that Nigerians are fed up with what the APC has become. According to the results released by INEC, in the presidential elections, the APC had 15.4 million votes in 2015 and 15.2 million votes in 2019, but by the 2023 elections, the APCs support base had declined significantly to 8.8 million, with a loss of almost half of the traditional support base. If it were not for the divisions within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the emergence of the Obidient movement of the Labour Party, LP, that split the traditional support base of the PDP, the APC would have convincingly lost the 2023 elections.

Even now, the partys victory as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is being challenged in court. When I consider the vision and founding spirit that birthed the APC, I cannot but conclude that the APC is losing the plot.

The APC was established as a progressive party with clear motivations to establish true nationhood, eliminate corruption, oversee governance structure reforms, eradicate poverty, and facilitate economic growth.

However, like its predecessor, the PDP, the APC has now become a platform for politicians who have neither conviction nor ideology and who hop from party to party seeking power at all costs. The suffering meted out to the Nigerian people as a result of anti-people policies are not what the APC once stood for.

The APC stood for progressivism. Progressivism is characterised by substantial public investments in social sectors such as education and healthcare, and it achieves inclusiveness and social mobility by deploying political power to provide a minimum standard of living for citizens; progressivism prioritises equity, justice and inclusiveness in access to opportunities. While it facilitates a private sector-led economy, its economic growth policies are hinged on empowering the people by redistributing opportunities on the bases of fairness and equity. Progressivism is not built on trickle-down economics; instead, it is grassroots-oriented, invests in local opportunities, and builds the economy from the bottom up.

As progressivism eradicates currency arbitrage, it would not leave the currency to float without a guarantee of domestic production, the cushioning effect of social investments, and a readiness to intervene where necessary to strengthen the local currency.

As progressivism eliminates a corruption-ridden subsidy regime, it would not hesitate to boost or underwrite access to factors of production such as energy, infrastructure, and human resource in an atmosphere of transparency and accountability.

A progressive approach to the subsidy conundrum would have been characterised by a phased removal of subsidy, buffered by transparent investments in local refining capacity and social welfare, while the corrupt individuals and corporations that have bled the nation are compelled to return their loots.

Whereas progressivism cooperates with the international community in compliance with international economic and trade law, it would not allow the economy to drift in the ocean of one-size-fits-all recommendations by neoliberal foreign interests.

If the APC hopes to survive as a political party in a political landscape that is becoming highly competitive, it must revisit its foundations and reinvent itself into a new party that is an

Alternative, Parallel, and Contrast, APC, to what the current party has become.

While the president has tried to stabilise a rocking boat by announcing some interventions, let it be known that we cannot build a strong economy on reactionary and shifting policies. The president and his team must return to the drawing board to drive a coordinated economic programme based on the original progressive ideology of the APC.
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has dismissed a viral letter claiming it has transfered statutory powers and functions regarding appointments and promotions of judges to state governors.

In a statement on Sunday, Soji Oye, director of information at NJC, said the letter dated July 14, 2023, and allegedly signed by Olukayode Ariwoola, chief justice of Nigeria and NJC chairman, has no iota of truth.

The NJC said the letter which stated that Umar Abubakar should be appointed the substantive chief judge of Kebbi, and outlining several key points regarding the order of seniority, never emanated from the council.

The fake letter titled Order of Seniority of Judges of the High Court of Kebbi state and recommendation of Justice Umar Abubakar as the substantive chief judge of Kebbi state, addressed to the chief judge, stating that under section 10 of the existing law of Kebbi state 1996, His Excellency, the governor, has the power to determine seniority of judges and the NJC has no power to override or reverse the decision of His Excellency, the statement read.

It further stated that the office of the head of court/chief judge is purely a political appointment to be decided by the governor of a state.

For the purpose of clarification and avoidance of doubt, the NJC hereby emphatically disclaimed the letter as there is no iota of truth in it, and no such letter ever emanated from the office of the chief justice of Nigeria or the Council.

The public is hereby advised to discountenance the letter and its content.

Oye further said the council has reported the unfortunate case to the relevant security agencies to investigate and bring to book whoever is behind the letter.
Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has explained why he paid unscheduled visits to Island Maternity Hospital and Lagos Island Hospital, catching the medical personnel unaware.

The governor made this known in a statement on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Gboyega Akosile.

According to Sanwo-Olu, his visit to the hospitals was predicated on the need to see things for himself and ensure staff compliance with the health palliative scheme which covers the cost of normal pregnancy delivery, Caesarean section and antenatal care done in the state-owned hospitals.

The health scheme is part of the relief measures rolled out by the state government to cushion the hardship being faced by residents as a result of the fuel subsidy removal policy.

He said, I need to come and see things for myself to know where our intervention is specifically and generally needed, the governor said.

According to the statement, Sanwo-Olu walked into the hospital unannounced at exactly 6:35 pm.

The statement reads, At 6:35 pm, the governor walked quietly into the hospitals maternity ward where two expectant mothers were being examined.

One of them, Odeyemi Omowunmi, is heavily pregnant but she is not yet due for delivery. The 37-year-old expectant mother was compelled to take admission weeks ahead of her scheduled delivery.

Odeyemis forced hospitalisation was as a result of her unstable blood pressure  the condition that led to two previous miscarriages. In order not to lose the pregnancy, doctors advised Odeyemi be placed under constant observation until she is due for childbirth.

The care is free of charge. The medical expenses are completely covered under the health palliative scheme declared by Governor Sanwo-Olu across the Lagos State-owned General Hospitals.

The health palliative covers the cost of normal pregnancy delivery, Caesarean section and antenatal care done in the state-owned hospitals.

In a chat with the governor, Odeyemi said: My husband and I live in Abule Egba, where I started antenatal care at a private clinic. I was seven and half months into my pregnancy when they discovered that my blood pressure was too high. My husband feared that I might lose the pregnancy again, having had two successive miscarriages.

We were referred to the Island Maternity Hospital for advanced medical examination when doctors told me I must be admitted for continued observation. My husband did not want me admitted initially because of the cost. But we were told the care is completely free. We didnt believe it until I started getting treatment without anyone asking us to pay a dime.

Since the free medical services commenced on the first day of August, hundreds of pregnant women have benefited from the free deliveries and antenatal care across the Lagos-owned hospitals.

Sanwo-Olu was conducted around the maternity ward by the Chief Matron in Charge, Akinsola Dorcas.

The governor moved to Lagos Island Hospital, Odan, where he personally took an audit of facilities in the 10-storey Doctors Quarters in which a house officer recently died from injuries in an elevator accident.

Sanwo-Olu conducted an on-the-spot assessment of apartments, stores, and power supply systems in the quarters. He was led by a representative of the House Officers, Dr Segun Ogunlana.
School officials in Paterson have ended an incentive program that awarded $7,500 bonuses to 181 new teachers, a spokesperson for the K-12 district said.

Paterson and at least two other school districts in New Jersey began offering hiring bonuses in the past year, reflecting a national trend in education, to help combat combat staffing shortages worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The hiring bonuses in Newark and Camden are limited to teachers in five subject areas and remain ongoing, according to officials in both districts.

Patersons school board approved the incentive program in September 2022 in response to a high number of teacher vacancies. Within four months, bonuses been approved for 149 new hires, district officials said previously.

By June 30, when it ended, 181 of the 215 new teachers hired under the incentive program had been approved for the $7,500 bonuses, district spokesperson Dan Juan said. The bonuses are being paid out in two annual installments and are contingent on working at least two years in Paterson.

That adds up to $1.357 million in bonuses for new teachers, via the now-concluded program.

The 34 teachers not receiving bonuses, despite being hired after the program was implemented, either declined the payment, resigned or were not offered continued employment in the school district, Juan said.

It simply became too expensive and wasnt as effective as we hoped, Juan said.

Elsewhere, the Camden school district  which in March announced $10,000 bonuses for newly-hired teachers in five subject areas  is continuing with the incentive program, district spokesperson Sheena M. Yera said.

The sign-on incentive is being offered only to teachers of our highest-need subject areas: Special Education, Bilingual, Spanish, ESL, Math and Science, Yera said.

As of Wednesday, 14 teachers had received at least one payment on the bonus, Yera said.

The final payment comes after two years of service, so no teacher has received the full $10,000 yet, Yera said.

Similar incentives have been rolled out in other parts of the country.

In St. Paul, the second-largest school district in Minnesota, officials announced March 20 they are offering bonuses of up to $10,000 in hard to fill positions, starting with the 2023-2024 school year.

A survey by Education Week in February 2022 found that teacher bonuses mostly ranged between $1,000 and $5,000 and were subsidized by pandemic-related federal relief funds. Paterson funded its $7,500 hiring bonuses using its allotment from federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funding.

The Newark school district announced in June 2022 that new hires, in the same five subject areas noted in Camden, would be eligible for $4,000 signing bonuses. Newark, the states largest district, also began offering $1,000 bonuses to any district employee referring a teacher who ends up getting hired, a separate incentive that also remains in place.

As of Friday, 218 teachers had received the bonus, said Nancy Deering, a spokesperson for the school district.

Patersons bonus program was approved by the board, for the 2022-23 school year, but was not requested for renewal by the districts former superintendent, Eileen Shafer, Juan said.

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Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com.
A Florida man with connections to Jersey City has been sentenced to 30 years for the murder of a Jersey City father of three in 2021, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said.

Ariel Dumit, 38, had been convicted in April of gunning down 34-year-old Christian Parra in the BJs Wholesale Club parking lot on Marin Boulevard in Jersey City just after 8 p.m. on Feb. 28, 2021. Parra, a married father of three, was shot in the torso and pronounced dead at the Jersey City Medical Center at 9 p.m.

The sentence was handed down Monday by Hudson County Superior Court Judge Carlo Abad, who also presided over the two-week trial. Dumit was also convicted of two weapons possession offenses. The state was represented by Hudson County Assistant Prosecutors Erica Bertuzzi and Luisa Florez.
Jersey City will have to pony up nearly $1.2 million to settle four lawsuits that cover two allegations of gender discrimination, a crash with an unmarked city vehicle and police negligence.

The city council is expected to vote Wednesday on the settlements with Sabrina Harrold, Sabrina Pagan, Mark Sanders and Vanessa Gross. Sanders and Harrold are set to receive the largest settlements, $550,000 for Sanders and $500,000 for Harrold.

City spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said the numerous settlements were a result of the state courts alleviating their backlog.

The state courts started scheduling pending cases for settlement conferences, and these cases are part of that process, Wallace-Scalcione said.

Harrold was a former city Department of Recreation employee who sued the city claiming age and gender discrimination under then-director Artie Williams. In the lawsuit filed in 2020, she said the city retaliated against her for providing information about a former manager padding the payroll for at least five part-time employees.

Harrold claimed she was transferred a day after a news article was published about the payroll abuse to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Harrold also worked for the Jersey City Board of Education and has filed a lawsuit against the district alleging racial discrimination.

The lawsuit by Gross, a Jersey City firefighter, had alleged gender discrimination after her superior officers referred to her by derogatory and discriminatory names. When she objected, another superior officer told her females need to understand things are different in a firehouse.

Gross would receive $85,000 if the council approves the settlement.

When Gross, a member of the National Guard, reported the officers, she was retaliated against denied training approvals, military leave, transfer to a new unit and denied overtime. Gross was one of the first female Hispanic firefighters to join the Jersey City Fire Department when she was hired in 2013.

Pagan, whose settlement is $55,000, had filed a lawsuit claiming police negligence led to her being attacked in her home by her ex-boyfriend, who had been hiding in her house.

Police refused to go into the home to investigate until Pagan showed them the order of protection, even after she told them it was inside the home. The police officer told Pagan she had to go into her apartment and retrieve it so that he could see it. When Pagan went to retrieve the order, she was pushed down the stairs by her ex.

Sanders would receive $550,000 for the serious injuries sufferer while riding a motorcycle on Kennedy Boulevard near Danforth Avenue. Sanders was struck by an unmarked police vehicle being driven by Jersey City Police Officer John Boamah.

The lawsuit states the vehicle failed to timely utilize the brakes in operating the vehicle that was moving at a fast and excessive rate of speed.
The former marketing executive at a Hudson County hospital who made headlines when police found a cache of weapons stored in his office at the hospital has been approved to enter the pre-trial intervention program after one of the charges were dismissed, his attorney said Monday.

Reuven Alonalayoff was arrested in August 2022 after Secaucus police investigating a bomb threat at Hudson Regional Hospital in July located numerous guns and ammunition locked in a closet. Lee Vartan, Alonalayoffs attorney, said the weapons were being stored in a locked safe because he didnt have a secure location to keep them during a months-long trip to Israel.

The weapons possession charge filed by Secaucus police was dismissed when it was determined that the firearm did not meet the statutory definition of an assault rifle, a spokeswoman for the Hudson County Prosecutors Office said. Vartan noted that the weapon had been purchased legally.
The union representing police officers in one Monmouth County community is calling for their chief to be placed on administrative leave over allegations of ethical lapses and inappropriate relationships with subordinates.

But, Red Bank Police Chief Darren McConnell released a statement accusing union officials of spreading a false and defamatory narrative as he prepares to retire from the police department.

Red Bank PBA President Michael Zadlock addressed the borough council during its meeting Thursday night and announced the union had taken a no confidence vote against McConnell, who was also appointed interim borough manager during the meeting.
Tuesday is opening day for North Dakotas early Canada goose hunting season.

Closing dates are Sept. 7 in the Missouri River Zone, Sept. 15 in the Western Zone, and Sept. 22 in the Eastern Zone.

Hunting of Canada geese in August and early September is intended to reduce the number of locally breeding geese, which wildlife officials say remains high.

Bag limits and licensing requirements are the same as last year. Full details and a license application form can be found on the state Game and Fish Department website, at gf.nd.gov.

Waterfowl rest areas, closed to hunting during the regular season, are open during the early season. Most land in these areas is private, so hunters may need access permission.

Harvest Information Program certification is required, and beginning Sept. 1 hunters 16 and older need a federal duck stamp. Those who HIP registered to hunt the spring light goose conservation order in North Dakota do not have to register with HIP again, as it is required in each state only once per year.

HIP registration is a cooperative program designed to determine a sample of hunters from which to measure the harvest of migratory birds for management purposes.
Gubernatorial candidate and Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop unveiled a transportation proposal that would have the state take over the PATH rail system, revamp the state Motor Vehicle Commission, and implement New Jerseys own version of New York Citys congestion pricing plan.

The ambitious plan, announced Monday, proposes dedicated funding for NJ Transit operations with a surcharge from a restored state Corporate Business Tax, and would build the decades-delayed Bergen extension of NJ Transits Hudson-Bergen Light Rail line. It was the first of what Fulop said would be detailed policy plans unveiled monthly for the next year by his campaign.
A New Jersey State Police trooper charged last year with groping a teenage girl at a Pennsylvania hotel began serving a jail term Friday after pleading guilty to two less serious offenses, officials said.

David DeJesus, 46, of Howell was sentenced Friday to a jail term that could last from 60 days to 23 1/2 months in the Centre County Correctional Facility, a court official said.

DeJesus  a State Police sergeant first class  remains suspended without pay, an agency spokesman said Monday in an email that provided no additional details.

The trooper was hired by the State Police in 2004, according to state pension records.

DeJesus pleaded guilty last month to misdemeanor charges of false imprisonment and furnishing alcohol to a minor, officials said. The indecent assault charges were dropped in June ahead of a scheduled trial.

He was charged in 2022 by police in State College, Pennsylvania, with indecent assault without consent, indecent assault of a person less than 16-years-old, selling/furnishing liquor to a minor and unlawful contact with a minor.

The 14-year-old girl told authorities that she first interacted with DeJesus when she saw him drinking near the pool at the Ramada Hotel & Conference Center in State College and asked him for some alcohol, court documents said.

After giving the teenager an alcoholic beverage, he invited her into his hotel room, where she consumed a bottle of beer that he also gave her, the affidavit said.

The victim, who attended school with DeJesus daughter, was visiting the area with her father for a sporting event, according to the document. DeJesus was also attending the event, police said.

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NJ Advance Media staff writer Nicolas Fernandes contributed to this report.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
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Back in 1837, Belizaire was the Black or mixed-race domestic servant of the Freys, a wealthy, White, French Quarter family. The enslaved 15-year-old was apparently such an important part of the household that when a renowned artist painted a group portrait of the Frey familys three kids, he included Belizaire, standing casually behind them.

But then, an estimated 60 years later during the Jim Crow era, someone blotted Belizaire out, blending him into the background of the painting, trying to make it look like hed never existed.

Now, Belizaire is not just visible again, hes found a new home in one of the worlds greatest art-viewing venues, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Venue for the next Shrek rave

Home to the virtual Jackson Square experience for when it's too hot to be in the real Jackson Square

Make it a break room for Jackson Square artists and tarot readers

Just sell it already. I'm tired of hearing about it

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TL;DR: This rechargeable Mini Keychain Flashlight has multiple modes and a back equipped with multiple screwdrivers. Pick one up for just $14.99, or grab a two-pack for $21.99 ahead of back to school.

It's mid-August, which means that the stores are already trying to rush us to Halloween and Christmas. Well, we say, hold up, wait a minute, it's back-to-school time! This event is the event to kick off the new school year. And we are featuring items like this Mini Keychain Flashlight to light the way for your year ahead.

With the fall comes shorter days and less sunlight. A unique back-to-school item to supply your kiddo with is this mini flashlight with a keychain that fits right onto a keyring or backpack. It's only 1.2" x 1.2" x 1.2", so it will take up very little space but keep their environment illuminated, whether they are walking home from the bus while it's dark or darkish or walking around a college campus at night.

This flashlight boasts powerful LEDs that deliver up to 1,000 lumens of brightness, making it ideal for things like camping, hiking, and other outdoor activities. And it's waterproof, so it can be used in inclement weather.

The COB technology ensures a wider and brighter beam, making it easier to see in the dark, while the USB rechargeable battery allows you to charge on the go easily. It runs for up to six hours and takes three to five hours to charge.

The COB Mini Flashlight Keychain features the following seven light modes:

 High white light

 Low white light

 High yellow light

 Low yellow light

 Red light

 Red strobe

 Warm light + warm light (press for two seconds)

Get your little (or not so little) ones a pocket-size safety supply they can keep on their backpacks to start the year.

During this back-to-school event, you can get choose from the following options:

 COB Mini Multifunction Keychain Flashlight (one-pack) on sale for $14.99 (reg. $21.99).

 COB Mini Multifunction Keychain Flashlights (two-pack) on sale for $21.99 (reg. $43.98).

Prices subject to change.
Faimon Roberts III covers rural communities in Louisiana. His work is supported by a reporting grant from the Microsoft Journalism Initiative and is administered by the Greater New Orleans Foundation.

He can be reached at froberts@theadvocate.com.
Qabil Ashirov

Pakistan supports and helps Azerbaijan to strengthen its defense capacity since we know that Azerbaijan has challenges in this region.

This was told by the Pakistani Ambassador to Azerbaijan Bilal Hayee, telling at the event dedicated to the Independence day of Pakistan, Azernews reports.

Pakistan and Azerbaijan established diplomatic relations in 1992. So, actually this year we completed 31 years of diplomatic relations. Despite it is not a very long time, but still a significant time and which we can review and reflect on the achievements of this important partnership and friendship between the two countries. Let me tell you that Pakistan and Azerbaijan have excellent diplomatic and political relations. Pakistan and Azerbaijan support each other on important issues of national interest. For example, Pakistan is great public and vocal support of Azerbaijan on the issue of Karabakh. We believe that Karabakh is Azerbaijan and Pakistan has supported Azerbaijan on this issue at all international arena. Similarly, Azerbaijan has supported and extended full support to Pakistan on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. Azerbaijan is very considered about this factor. Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed territory that requires a solution in accordance with the UN resolutions. We are grateful for that, the Ambassador told.

Bilal Hayee also noted that Azerbaijan and Pakistan have excellent defense relations. He underlined that Pakistan is keen to help Azerbaijan to strengthen its defense capacity.

We have excellent defense relations. Pakistan and Azerbaijan's defense community is deeply involved with each other. We are supporting and helping Azerbaijan to strengthen its defense capacity since we know that Azerbaijan has challenges in this region. Being a big country in terms of defense, Pakistan is always with Azerbaijan on this issue, Bilal Hayee noted.
Archaeologists in Pien, Poland found the 17th century grave of a "vampire" child. Incredibly (fortunately?), the little bloodsucker's ankle was apparently secured with an iron padlock to prevent it from rising from the grave. Estimated to be around 5- to 7-years-old at the time of death, the child's gender is not yet known. From Live Science:

The remains were found just a few feet away from the skeleton of a "vampire" woman discovered last year, who was buried at about the same time with a sickle placed over her neck and a similar padlock on her foot]

"The padlock shows people were afraid of this child after its death," Dariusz Polinski, an archaeologist at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, told Live Science[]

Although the woman found last year and now the child have been widely labeled "vampires," Polinski said the modern conception of vampires originated later, and the term was not used at this time.
United States Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D-Highland, said Monday he is monitoring the possible consolidation of the domestic steel industry into a single integrated steel producer.

Cleveland-Cliffs, long an iron ore miner that supplied steel mills, proposed buying U.S. Steel, long the biggest steelmaker in the world, for $7.3 billion. U.S. Steel balked at the proposal but is reviewing strategic alternatives that could include a possible sale and said it remains open to negotiations.

My office continues to have conversations on the recent steel industry announcements with management and organized labor, including USW District 7 Director Mike Millsap and Northwestern Indiana Building and Trades Council Business Manager Randy Palmateer. I also would note that these are preliminary discussions regarding private entities approaching another private entity," said Mrvan, the vice chairman of the Congressional Steel Caucus.

U.S. Steel was a major driver of urbanization in Northwest Indiana at the dawn of the 20th century, clearing sand dunes and wooded hunting grounds from seven miles of Lake Michigan coastland in Gary to build Gary Works, the largest steel mill in the country.

Additionally, I would acknowledge U.S. Steel has an undeniable historical value to the current economic strength and workforce of Northwest Indiana, and I believe that these conversations are the result of the current strength of the domestic steel industry," Mrvan said. "This is a profoundly different type of conversation than those that we remember in past decades regarding industry and workforce contraction."

Mrvan said he and his colleagues in the Congressional Steel Caucus would closely monitor the situation.

As the vice-chairman of the Congressional Steel Caucus, I am proud to have been a part of the most recent successes and to support transformational investments in our infrastructure, in our steel-making abilities, and in organized labor and our workforce," he said. Of particular concern to me remains the vital role the steel industry provides for our national security. That is why my office and the Congressional Steel Caucus will continue to closely monitor these ongoing conversations and advocate for the strength of the domestic steel industry, which is essential to the economic health of our nation, our communities, and our workers.
U.S. Steel, which was founded in 1901 and was long the largest steelmaker in the world before foreign competition and mini-mills stepped up their game, is exploring a potential sale or sale of assets in a move that could have seismic repercussions for the domestic steel industry and Northwest Indiana.

The Pittsburgh-based company, which founded Gary as a company town around its flagship Gary Works steel mill in 1906, announced at midday Sunday it will evaluate strategic alternatives after receiving "multiple unsolicited proposals."

The company revealed later Sunday that among those was an unsolicited cash and stock proposal from steelmaker Cleveland-Cliffs, made on July 28 and updated Friday, to acquire all of U.S. Steels outstanding shares. But, U.S. Steel said, it "was unable to properly evaluate the proposal because Cleveland-Cliffs refused to engage in the necessary and customary process to assess valuation and certainty unless U.S. Steel agreed to the economic terms of the proposal in advance."

In a letter dated Sunday from U.S. Steel President and CEO David Burritt to Cleveland-Cliffs Chairman, President and CEO Lourenco Goncalves, Burritt wrote that U.S. Steel was rejecting the offer because the company could not agree to its terms "without conducting a thorough and completely customary due diligence process," which it said Cliffs terms did not allow.

Cleveland-Cliffs also said Sunday that U.S. Steel had rejected its offer.

U.S. Steel has, however, engaged financial and legal advisers to determine if a sale of assets or sale of the company as a whole would be in the best interest of the company and shareholders.

U. S. Steels Board (of Directors) and management team are committed to maximizing value for our stockholders, and to that end, we have commenced a comprehensive and thorough review of strategic alternatives, said Burritt, also a member of the Board of Directors. This decision follows the company receiving multiple unsolicited proposals that ranged from the acquisition of certain production assets to consideration for the whole company. The board is taking a measured approach to considering these proposals, including seeking more information in order to evaluate proposals that are preliminary and subject to ongoing due diligence and review.

Burritt invited Cleveland-Cliffs to engage in that process if it desired.

U.S. Steel said there is no timeline for completing the strategic alternatives review process. It emphasized that there is no assurance it would result in any transaction.

U. S. Steel has been on a strategic journey executing a compelling transformation, building our best-in-class EAF steelmaking and finishing capabilities, while reducing our carbon footprint. Our balance sheet is stronger than ever, and we are delivering resilient cash flow while prioritizing direct returns to stockholders. The interest demonstrated by the unsolicited proposals received to date is a validation of U. S. Steels strategy and successful track record of execution. While the Board conducts its review of previously received proposals and other proposals it expects to receive, our entire team remains focused on safely and responsibly executing across all of our operations and advancing our Best for All strategy, while continuing to deliver for all stakeholders.

Barclays Capital Inc. and Goldman Sachs & Co. will serve as U.S. Steel's financial advisers in the strategic alternatives review. Milbank LLP and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz will serve as legal advisers.

U.S. Steel was founded by Elbert Gary, Andrew Carnegie, J.P. Morgan, Charles Schwab and William Henry "Judge" Moore, who combined the Carnegie Steel Company, Federal Steel Company and National Steel Company to form a corporate titan on a scale the world had never seen before. U.S. Steel became the world's first billion dollar corporation and was such an integral piece of the establishment that Hyman Roth boasted "We are bigger than U.S. Steel" in "The Godfather II."

It was long the largest steelmaker in the United States before it was eventually eclipsed by North Carolina-based mini-mill operator Nucor. U.S. Steel employs thousands in Northwest Indiana at Gary Works and the Midwest Plant in Portage. It used to operate the now-idled East Chicago Tin.

It's long been a major economic driver and civic benefactor in Northwest Indiana, where it's sponsored many community causes, was the namesake of the U.S. Steel Yard in downtown Gary and even used to send Christmas Carolers to schools around Northwest Indiana before the holidays.
After police raided a small Kansas newspaper on Friday, its 98-year-old co-owner, Joan Meyer, "collapsed and died."

Meyer had become "stressed beyond her limits and overwhelmed by hours of shock and grief" after police stormed through the Marion County Record as well as Meyer's home  raids that were illegal, according to the paper (via CBS News).

Friday's raid was part of a "search warrant" after a restauranteur, Kari Newell, accused the paper of "illegally obtaining drunk driving information" about her and passing the information along to Marion Councilwoman Ruth Herbel. But the paper argues that "the Record did not seek out the information [but] rather, it was provided by a source who sent it to the newspaper via social media and also sent it to Herbel."

"Our first priority is to be able to publish next week," said publisher Eric Meyer. "But we also want to make sure no other news organization is ever exposed to the Gestapo tactics we witnessed today. We will be seeking the maximum sanctions possible under law."

The raid seems to have violated the First Amendment, according to Seth Stern, advocacy director of Freedom of the Press Foundation. "This looks like the latest example of American law enforcement officers treating the press in a manner previously associated with authoritarian regimes  The anti-press rhetoric that's become so pervasive in this country has become more than just talk and is creating a dangerous environment for journalists trying to do their jobs."

From CBS:
A new Indiana Court of Appeals ruling clarifies how trespassing must be enforced and prosecuted across the Hoosier State.

In a 3-0 decision, the state's appellate court made clear Monday that a police officer  who is not the owner of a specific piece of property or directly employed by the property owner  cannot unilaterally create a trespass violation by asking a person to leave the property and then arresting the person when he or she refuses to go.

According to court records, the ruling stems from an incident nearly four years ago in the southwestern Indiana city of Vincennes, where an appliance store operator emailed local police asking for extra patrols of its property just west of U.S. 41 to discourage transients from allegedly sleeping under cargo trailers parked on the side of the building.

On Nov. 24, 2019  the Sunday before Thanksgiving  Vincennes Police Capt. Harold Hensley drove by the appliance store and saw no one there, records show.

According to court records, Hensley then spoke with an employee at a nearby Subway restaurant who pointed out Marion Young, of Evansville, covered in gravel dust and grass, walking out from the side of the appliance store building.

Young refused to tell Hensley what he was doing there, prompting Hensley to tell him to leave. When Young said he wouldn't leave, Hensley and a second officer arrested Young and booked him in the Knox County Jail for trespassing, a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $5,000 fine, records show.

At Young's trial, records show Hensley was the sole witness for the prosecution. Hensley claimed he was acting as an agent for the appliance store when he asked Young to leave the property and was justified in arresting Young for trespass when he refused.

However, Judge Elizabeth Tavitas, a Lake County native writing for the appellate court, said Hensley was neither the owner of the property, nor an operator, manager, adult employee or security agent employed by the store, and therefore does not qualify as an agent under Indiana's trespass statute.

She also noted the record is unclear as to whether Young even was on the property of the appliance store when confronted by Hensley.

In any case, Tavitas said because there was no evidence Young was asked to leave store property by either the owner of the property or an agent of the property, prosecutors failed to prove one of the essential elements of criminal trespass and Young's conviction must be reversed.

"It is clearly established that a (police) officer acting in his official capacity may not arrest a person for criminal trespass when the owner of the property or the owner's agent has not asked him to leave the property," she said.

"The testimony of a police officer, by itself, that he was acting as an agent of the property owner is insufficient to establish that the officer was in fact an agent of the owner."

Tavitas acknowledged the appellate court's ruling may burden Indiana police officers by requiring them to find the property owner or the owner's agent prior to removing an obviously unwelcome person from a property.

In response she said, "It is not our role to rewrite the criminal trespass statute to reflect what we believe to be better public policy. That role belongs to the General Assembly. Our role is to apply the statute as written and look to the language of the charging information to determine whether the state has proven the necessary elements of criminal trespass."

Looking specifically at the facts in this case, Tavitas said: "Because the state failed to present evidence that either the owner of the property or the owners agent asked Young to leave the property, the state did not present sufficient evidence to support Youngs conviction for criminal trespass. We, therefore, reverse Youngs conviction."

Attorney General Todd Rokita still can ask the Indiana Supreme Court to consider reinstating Young's trespass conviction.

Gallery: Get to know these new Indiana laws that took effect July 1 AirTags Alcohol permits Animal facilities Annexation Book bans Bullying Charter schools Child molesting Childrens hospitals Domestic violence Drinking water Electric/hybrid vehicles Encroachment FAFSA Financial literacy Firefighting equipment Food and beverage tax Gender-affirming care Gary schools Gasoline tax Human trafficking Illiana Expressway Inmate gender Insurance fund Juror pay Juveniles Lake County convention center Lake County recorder Landlords Little Calumet River Lost farmland Machine guns Mail-in ballots Mental health Military bases Military pay Pension investments Public health School board elections Service animals Sex education SNAP assistance Speed cameras State comptroller Storage units Tax sales Taxpayer receipt Teachers unions Throwing stars Transit Development District 21st Century Scholars Valparaiso lawsuit Xylazine
Raymundo Garcia casually opened the door for incoming customers as he stood at the entrance of his restaurant, El Taco Real in Hammond. The busboy, as he calls himself, didnt miss a beat with his self-deprecating patter.

As a busboy, I was making $2.75 an hour, Garcia said. Now Im at $3.25.

Its all part of his long-rehearsed schtick thats nearly 50 years in the works, dating back to when his parents, Ray Sr. and Esther Garcia, first opened El Taco Real in 1974.

Were in our 50th year now, Garcia said as he greeted another customer. How can we have been in business for 49 years if Im only 47?

Insert standup comedian rim-shot here, I told him.

Thats right. Dont forget to tip your waitress, Garcia joked, deadpan style. And try the veal. (Watch a video and view more photos at the online version of this column.)

Garcia seamlessly chatted with a customer in Spanish as he talked with me in English. His bilingual mastery of both languages - and his sociological interest of the human condition - have served him well since his familys restaurant-cantina opened on April 1, 1974. No foolin.

My parents were not aiming for April Fools Day. But they quit their jobs and their money was running low. We had to open the restaurant, Garcia said.

His dad was a crane operator at Inland Steel. His mother worked at NIPSCO in the stenographers pool. Since day one, El Taco Real has been the real thing in our Region, an intentional takeoff on the iconic Coca-Cola commercials.

I never thought at that time, putting this place here that wed still be here, now coming up on 50 years, Garcia said. But heres the thing. I still love what I do. I love my business. I love my customers. I love my staff. So I have an opportunity to feed people and Im doing what I love to do. Im happy to be here.

Garcia has been feeding the soul of his city for decades. He also has invested serious money into Hammond through various redevelopment projects. Everything from replacing broken windows on neighbors homes, to painting over graffiti in alleys, to purchasing downtown buildings and rehabbing them.

It all started with El Taco Real, which wasnt the restaurants original name.

My dad wanted to call it Rays Tacos, Garcia said. But I knew we could be more clever than that.

In the early 1970s, Coca-Cola was heavily pushing its trademark branding slogan, The Real Thing. It inspired Raymundo Garcia to come up with the restaurant name The Real Taco. But his father was proud of his Mexican heritage and wanted the name to reflect it.

So El Taco Real was born, Garcia said.

Before El Taco opened, there was an influential restaurant in the Harbor section called Taco Joes.

It was a very important restaurant in the development of Mexican cuisine in this Region, Garcia said. Taco Joe sort of Americanized traditional Mexican recipes. He did everything a little bit milder, a little bit leaner, and a little less greasy. We kind of expanded on that idea.

This is the innovation that made El Taco Real famous in Northwest Indiana at the time, and through the decades. The popular eatery on Hoffman Street remains a landmark restaurant in the Chicago metro area.

Through the years, Garcia has routinely cleaned up the neighborhood around his restaurant. He kept buckets of paint in the back of his vehicle to cover up gang graffiti on neighbors garages. He also has purchased several nearby homes to improve the optics of the neighborhood.

A significant portion of his customers migrate regularly to The Taco, as he calls it, from outside of Hammond. Appearance matters. Its good for business. Garcia knows this.

Hey, welcome back, he told a group of older customers.

Long time, no see, one of them said.

"How bout it, Garcia replied.

Last Monday, the restaurant hosted a special event to begin commemorating its 50-year milestone. The reception featured the unveiling of a new painting of El Taco Real by Chicago-based artist Steve Connell, who specializes in transforming urban landscapes into artistic renderings using digital manipulation. He has a gift for capturing a certain mood and atmosphere, as he did with his painting of the restaurants exterior.

I tried to create a romanticized, nostalgic feel to the painting to match Gerrys vision of the restaurant through the years - setting it in the magic hour of the evening and giving it a glow, Connell told me. Plus its just a great place with wonderful food. And Ray is such a warm, welcoming guy.

Garcia said its exciting to have an artist of Connells stature recognize the Garcia familys life work for the past half century.

We are flattered, Garcia said.

Connell gives credit to Gerry Ludwig, who commissioned the painting and has obtained other artworks from Connells popular Chicago Night series. Ludwig is one of the original customers at El Taco Real.

In the early days, there were not many customers, Garcia said. Gerry had just gotten his first car and entered culinary school. That car enabled him to dine often at El Taco Real. I had lots of spare time in between customers, so we became friends.

Garcia has become friends with countless customers since the early days when the restaurants staff comprised only of him, his parents and a few friends.

I was the first employee here as a teenager. And Im still here as a very young 64-year-old, Garcia joked.

When the restaurant first opened, its name was a pivotal marketing tool.

If you read El Taco Real in Spanish, it comes off as the royal taco. We just wanted to be clever, funny and a little ironic. We didnt care whatever customers called us as long as they showed up.

Now in its 50th year, people keep showing up. How bout it.

GALLERY: The Times Photos of the Week
The enameled dial of a new custom watch by Vacheron Constantin depicts grimacing soldiers and their lunging horses, all engaged in deadly combat.

Unveiled in May, it is the Swiss watchmakers reproduction of The Fight for the Standard from the Battle of Anghiari, a 1603 drawing by the Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens that is kept  behind the scenes, and viewable by appointment  in the Department of Graphic Arts of the Louvre in Paris.

This timepiece is the first in a new program called A Masterpiece on the Wrist we have developed with the Louvre, Christian Selmoni, the watch brands director of style and heritage, wrote in an email. We invite clients to choose from a catalog of works defined with the museum, and we will reproduce the artwork on the dial of a unique watch.
Bartenders call it the fajita effect. As an eye-catching cocktail sails on a tray through a room, it inspires several more orders of the same drink. Fajita favorites of recent years have included the espresso martini, all manner of blue cocktails and any drink on fire.

The latest, though, has something else in common with fajitas besides contagious appeal: layers of colorful ingredients. In a layered cocktail, the various liquid components settle out in separate strata, giving the drink a striped or ombre look.

With the rise of people taking photos of drinks and posting it on social media, there is the aesthetic appeal, said Conrad Hayes, the beverage director at the Brooklyn bar Ottava. Its current menu includes the Cruella de Vil, a rum drink served over crushed ice, with a crowning scarlet layer of Lambrusco.

There are two ways to layer a cocktail: floats and sinkers. A float is a stripe of liquid  whether wine, spirit, bitters or juice  that is carefully applied to the surface of a completed drink. A sinker is also poured in last but, owing to the ingredients weight, falls to the bottom of the glass.
The disaster that erased the beloved West Maui town of Lahaina this week comes with the bitter taste of bewilderment. Brush fires met high winds whipped by a far-off hurricane, and overnight a historic town was gone, a pile of smoke and ashes. A lush watercolor landscape is redrawn in gray and black. At least 55 people are dead, and many more are missing.

A hurricane just burned down a town. Its all so weird and horrifying.

Living in Hawaii long enough gives you a familiarity with sudden catastrophes, the kind that can obliterate a community in a week, a day or an instant. To live in my home state or to love it from a distance is to know the continual threat of hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes and volcanoes.

But a lethal wildfire? That was new for Hawaii. And everything is changed.

We may not get a definitive verdict on whether Lahaina died for humanitys environmental sins, but we know that climate change is making Hawaii hotter and drier and that invasive grasses have been allowed to run rampant. Drought on Maui turned the grass into ready fuel and heightened the risk of wildfires, and then a hurricane brushed by.

The planetary crisis is hardly Hawaiis fault, but like other island areas in our rising oceans, it is unusually imperiled, and it has to do something. And when wildfires swept over Maui and the Big Island, it was a brutal reminder that Hawaii needs to be a serious climate leader, to nurture and spread the environmental consciousness that too many other states lack.
The CBS News president Neeraj Khemlani stepped down on Sunday after a little more than two years in his post, the latest executive reshuffling in a tumultuous period for television news.

Mr. Khemlani had been in charge of flagship programs such as CBS Evening News, and 60 Minutes. He will remain at CBS in a different capacity, he told staff in an internal email. He has signed a multiyear deal to develop content for the conglomerate, including documentaries, series and books.

Its an opportunity that will allow me to write, report and develop stories that Ive long wanted to pursue, Mr. Khemlani said in the email.

His replacement was not immediately named. He had been co-head of the news division with the local news veteran Wendy McMahon, who will remain in her role.
Mayor Brandon Johnson of Chicago announced on Sunday that he had chosen Larry Snelling, chief of the bureau of counterterrorism for the Chicago Police Department, as its new police superintendent, perhaps the most consequential appointment of Mr. Johnsons new administration as the city continues to grapple with violent crime.

Chief Snelling is a proven leader who has the experience and the respect of his peers to help ensure the safety and well-being of city residents, and address the complex challenges we all face related to community safety, Mr. Johnson, a Democrat, said in a statement.

The announcement ended a monthslong process conducted in large part by a public commission, whose members winnowed down candidates and listened to input from Chicago residents at community meetings in an effort to bring more transparency to the selection.

Mr. Snelling, 54, will preside over a sprawling department that includes more than 11,700 sworn officers, according to city data, at a time when morale among the rank and file is low and reforms to policing have, in the eyes of many Chicagoans, still fallen short.
We were fighting. We felt like we were winning. We were keeping it at bay, keeping it off of the properties. The water shut off. Even the firemen that were patrolling couldnt refill their trucks. The fire just grew. The sparks started blowing over and  and it just beat us in the end. I dont know. Youre standing there with a hose, and theres nothing coming out. And you see the fire coming over. And you see parts of your house starting to take  starting to burn. And you just feel, youre kind of defeated at the moment and youre going, Why? You know, we did everything. And all we could think of was, we have no water, we cant do anything. Jump in our cars and skedaddle and get out of town and then come back in the morning and see the place all burnt down. I was concerned about his safety. And then as soon as I saw him in the car, like hes home, that means thats not good. And he just said, We lost the house. I was going to retire. I mean, I am retired, right? But now Ive got a new life. So I need a new, new journey. A bend in my road. Makes you want to cry. You know? I still love it. Still love it. And thats why  they say, Would you move to Honolulu? I mean, I could move to Honolulu, but its the people and the climate, like  its like  its beautiful up here. You know? And itd be hard to leave.
Raised in a small town south of Pittsburgh, Snyder started at MoMA as an intern in 1974 fresh out of Harvard, having studied literature and art history. He worked in multiple departments over the years, eventually assigned with the oversight of MoMAs 1984 expansion designed by Cesar Pelli, after which Snyder was promoted to deputy director.

In 1997, Snyder moved to Jerusalem as director of the Israel Museum, founded in 1965 atop the Hill of Tranquillity as a universal institution with collections of visual art and archaeology spanning epochal times. Being at the Israel Museum took the modernist that I was and made me realize that theres a narrative that starts a million and a half years ago, comes to the present and teaches you how periods and cultures connect globally, Snyder said.

During his two decades as director, Snyder stewarded a $100 million expansion and upgrade of the museums 20-acre campus, more than doubling annual attendance to nearly one million visitors and increasing its endowment to $200 million.

Snyder continued to serve as the museums international president through 2018, when he returned to New York. In 2019, he was appointed executive chairman of the Jerusalem Foundation, where he has been refreshing the donor base and strategies for social, cultural and economic development in the complex city that he grew to know and love in a very big way.

For the Jewish Museum, Snyders wealth of credentials was a perfect fit. Pruzan said the board isnt looking for a turnaround.

Were really happy with where we are today on the curatorial side, Pruzan said. The opportunity is to explore how we can play a leadership role around societal issues like antisemitism and demonstrate the importance of culturally specific institutions in advancing the dialogue on these topics through our exhibitions and education programming.
Death toll from Maui fires continues to rise

A summer of ferocious weather across much of the U.S. has now yielded the nations deadliest wildfire in more than a century. On the Hawaiian island of Maui, at least 93 people have been confirmed dead, more than 2,200 buildings have been leveled and many people on the island remain unaccounted for after what began as scattered brush fires quickly escalated.

The death toll could increase as rescuers travel to parts of the state that have been blocked by fires or by closed roads, and a precise figure may not be known for weeks. Dozens of people have also been injured, some critically.

No cause for the fire has been determined, but experts said one possibility was that active power lines that fell in high winds ignited the wildfire that ultimately spread to Lahaina, a coastal town of 13,000 in western Maui that was leveled. Low humidity and strong mountain winds, as well as worsening drought conditions, probably also contributed to the fire, as did invasive plant life.

Related: Those staying near Lahaina say they have received far more help from volunteers than from federal and local agencies.
The Marion County Record was raided by local police, who took all of its equipment and even confiscated the personal cellphones of workers there, they claim. The newspaper's co-owner, 98-year-old Joan Meyer, died within hours of the smash-and-grab, and journalistic organizations are sounding the alarm about a shocking attack on the press.

The Marion County Record's co-owner and publisher, Eric Meyer, believes Friday's raid was prompted by a story published Wednesday about a local business owner. Authorities countered they are investigating what they called "identity theft" and "unlawful acts concerning computers," according to a search warrant. "Based on public reporting, the search warrant that has been published online, and your public statements to the press, there appears to be no justification for the breadth and intrusiveness of the search particularly when other investigative steps may have been available  and we are concerned that it may have violated federal law strictly limiting federal, state, and local law enforcement's ability to conduct newsroom searches," the letter said.

Turns out the police chief, Gideon Cody, thought that the paper was about to publish a story about him leaving his last job after allegations of sexual misconduct.

Meyer said that, before the raid, his newspaper had investigated Cody's background and his time at the Kansas City Police Department before he came to Marion. He declined to provide details of the newspaper's investigation of Cody. "I really don't think it would be advisable for me to say what it was we were investigating, other than to characterize the charges as serious.," Meyer said. He told The Star the newspaper didn't publish a story about the allegations. "We didn't publish it because we couldn't nail it down to the point that we thought it was ready for publication," he said. "He (Cody) didn't know who our sources were. He does now." Meyer said the newspaper told city leaders they had received information about Cody but could not confirm it.

Another factor in the raid appears to be the anger of a local politically-involved restauranteur:

He and his reporter Phyllis Zorn were kicked out of an August 2nd meeting at a local establishment with US Congressman Jake LaTurner (R-KS) by the City of Marion Police Chief after restaurant owner Kari Newell demanded they leave. Meyer and Zorn published a subsequent story about the hostile encounter, which infuriated Newell and prompted angry Facebook posts. The paper then received a tip about Newell having her license suspended in 2008 after a DUI, checked it out, decided not to publish it, and ultimately shared it with the local police because they believed it might've been shared with them as part of Newell's ongoing divorce battle. The police then told Newell what the newspaper shared, and she attended Monday's City Council meeting to make outrageous claims about the newspaper and one of the council members (who had also obtained the letter) violating her rights. She also called Meyer later that evening and erroneously accused him of identity theft. Not even four days later, police arrived at the newspaper office, Meyer's home and the council member's home with search warrants signed by a judge

Lots of things about to be tried in this small town.
A grand jury in Atlanta began hearing evidence today in an investigation into efforts by Donald Trump and his allies to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss in Georgia. If at least 12 of the 23 grand jurors agree that there is probable cause that the former president committed a crime, Trump could face his fourth criminal indictment as soon as tonight.

Follow our live updates.

The case, brought by Fani Willis, the Fulton County district attorney, is the result of a two-and-a-half-year investigation to determine whether Trump and his former advisers broke the law in their efforts to keep him in power. Nearly 20 people could face charges.

The investigation focused on five actions taken by Trump or his allies in the weeks after Election Day, when Joe Biden narrowly won Georgia. Those actions included phone calls that Trump made to pressure state officials to overturn the results, as well as the harassment of local election workers by Trump supporters, false claims of ballot fraud, a plan by Trump allies to create a slate of bogus electors and a data breach at an elections office in rural Coffee County, Ga.

The presiding judge in Atlanta told deputies in his courtroom this afternoon that they needed to keep this courtroom and this courthouse open beyond the usual closing time.
Another indictment looms for Trump

Donald Trump could face conspiracy charges related to attempts to overturn Georgias results in the 2020 election. A grand jury began hearing evidence yesterday and could deliver a criminal indictment soon  the fourth against the former president.

For two and a half years, prosecutors in Georgia have been investigating whether Trump and his allies broke state laws in their bid to keep him in power. Nearly 20 other people could also face charges as a result of the investigation.

The investigation has focused on five actions taken by Trump: phone calls intended to pressure Georgia officials to overturn the result, harassment of local election workers, false claims of ballot fraud, a plan to create a slate of bogus electors and a data breach at an elections office in a rural county.

The Georgia case shows the extraordinary lengths Trump and his allies went to in the state to reverse the election.
A lawyer for The Marion County Record, a Kansas newspaper that was raided by the police late last week, demanded that the towns Police Department not review any information on the devices it seized until a court hearing could be scheduled.

The lawyer, Bernard J. Rhodes, said in a letter to Marions police chief, Gideon Cody, that he was offering the department an opportunity to mitigate my clients damages from the illegal searches.

On Friday, the police and county sheriffs deputies raided the newspapers office, the home of its owner and editor, and the home of a city councilwoman. They collected computers, cellphones and other materials. The searches were part of investigation into how a document containing information about a local restaurateur found its way to and was handled by The Record  and whether the restaurant owners privacy was violated in the process.

A search warrant issued by a judge on Friday morning cited potential violations of laws involving identity theft and the illegal use of a computer.
After years of litigation to hold the pharmaceutical industry accountable for the deadly abuse of prescription painkillers, payments from what could amount to more than $50 billion in court settlements have started to flow to states and communities to address the nations continuing opioid crisis.

But though the payments come with stacks of guidance outlining core strategies for drug prevention and addiction treatment, the first wave of awards is setting off heated debates over the best use of the money, including the role that law enforcement should play in grappling with a public health disaster.

States and local governments are designating millions of dollars for overdose reversal drugs, addiction treatment medication, and wound care vans for people with infections from injecting drugs. But law enforcement departments are receiving opioid settlement money for policing resources like new cruisers, overtime pay for narcotics investigators, phone-hacking equipment, body scanners to detect drugs on inmates and restraint devices.

I have a great deal of ambivalence towards the use of the opioid money for that purpose, said Chester Cedars, chairman of Louisianas advisory opioid task force and president of St. Martin Parish. The states directives say only law enforcement expenditures related to the opioid epidemic, added Mr. Cedars, a retired prosecutor. That is wide open as to what that exactly means.
The fanfare started building minutes before Mayor Eric Adams made his arrival on Monday. Dozens of supporters, most on Mr. Adamss payroll, lined the City Hall rotunda staircase, behind the lectern where the mayor was about to appear.

After a brief lull, the familiar chorus of the mayors designated walkout song  Empire State of Mind, by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys  filled the room, a sound that seemed to startle the state attorney general, Letitia James, who mouthed, Oh, God, before laughing.

With everything in place, Mr. Adams strode in to make his announcement. He was elevating his press secretary, Fabien Levy, to become his administrations seventh deputy mayor.

In doing so, Mr. Adams was underscoring the importance he places on messaging: Mr. Levy, according to the mayor, will be the first person in New York City to hold the title of deputy mayor for communications.
The New York judge presiding over the criminal case against Donald J. Trump in Manhattan has declined to remove himself from the proceedings, a loss for the former president as he anticipates a potential fourth indictment this week.

Mr. Trump was charged with 34 felonies in March in a case brought by the Manhattan district attorneys office. The district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg, accused Mr. Trump of falsifying records to cover up a hush-money payment to a porn star that was made during the 2016 presidential campaign.

In late May, Mr. Trumps lawyers asked the judge, Juan M. Merchan, to recuse himself from the case. They argued that he should do so for three reasons.

They noted that, during the 2020 presidential campaign, Justice Merchan had donated $15 to Mr. Trumps opponent, Joseph R. Biden Jr., raising the potential appearance of bias.
The warrior king Kamehameha I, who united the islands into the Kingdom of Hawaii, established the first royal capital in Lahaina in 1802. (Kamehameha III declared Honolulu the capital in 1850.) In the museums collection were a fearsome harpoon gun and lances, dating to the 1850s, which it displayed on a wall. The courthouse roof caught fire, and the museum and all its artifacts, including the harpoon, have most likely been lost.

Flames scorched the sites of early Christian missionary homes, including the Richards House, the home of Lahainas first Protestant missionary, who helped translate for Kamehameha III and helped draft Hawaiis Constitution. The Native Hawaiians had an oral tradition, and missionaries such as the Rev. William Richards helped bring heluhelu (reading) and a Hawaiian alphabet to the islands, as well as a printing press to spread the Gospel. On the grounds of Lahainaluna Seminary (now Lahainaluna High School), founded in 1831, a press printed the first Hawaiian language newspaper. A printing museum and archive center seem to have been spared by the fires.

After the whaling industry declined, steamers began bringing tourists to visit the picturesque town, with its enchanting coral and rock structures and old wooden storefronts. Its oldest landmark was the Baldwin Home, dating to 1834 and named after two of the first medical missionaries to the islands, the Rev. Dwight Baldwin and his wife, Charlotte Fowler Baldwin. It, too, was consumed by the fire along with the medical instruments that the Baldwins used to vaccinate much of Maui against smallpox.

During the second half of the 19th century, the towns banyan tree kept growing and spreading its branches, through the death in 1891 of the last king and the penultimate monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii, Kalakaua, and the overthrow of his sister, Liliuokalani, two years later. Across from the banyan tree, the Pioneer Inn, founded in 1901 at the beginning of Hawaiis territorial period and still serving guests when the wildfires arrived, was consumed by flames. The area now known as the historic district survived the transformation of Lahaina from a town where boisterous seafarers sought pleasures of all kinds to one whose lures included discounted Crocs at the towns outlet mall or a bowl of mac and cheese at Fleetwoods on Front Street, owned by the drummer Mick Fleetwood. With a longstanding push-pull between commercial development and preservation, some Maui residents avoided the town because of the congestion and touristy elements.
Youve probably never heard of Charles Strobel, but by the time he died on Aug. 6, at the age of 80, he was a hero here in Nashville, at least among people who worry about what the city is becoming: a place where only the well-off can live with any measure of comfort or security.

Even before Nashvilles swift and stunning growth began to gentrify working-class and impoverished neighborhoods, Father Strobel had already become our civic conscience. What he understood is the difference between charity and community  a difference founded in kinship, in recognizing that we all fall down, that sometimes it takes another hand to pull us up again. All you have to do, he once told the novelist Ann Patchett, is give a little bit of understanding to the possibility that life might not have been fair.

That understanding seemed to have been inborn in Father Strobel, but his role as this citys moral gadfly began in 1985, when he was a priest assigned to Holy Name Catholic Church in East Nashville. One cold night he looked out the rectory window and saw people sitting in cars in the church parking lot, trying to keep warm. He went outside and invited them in.

Image Charles Strobel Credit... Room in The Inn, Nashville

I knew once they came through the doors that night, they would come back the next night and the night after that, he often said. I also knew I wanted them to come back.
Millions of people dating back to ancient days have waded and bobbed and frolicked close to shore for exercise, peace and pleasure and to connect with perhaps the grandest of all of Mother Natures majestic features. But to step into the water off Miami late last month was akin to stepping into a hot Jacuzzi, the antithesis of refreshing and inspiring. Years from now, we may well remember the summer of 2023 as the beginning of an era when many of our oceans stopped serving as a glorious place of recreation.

My childhood was spent in the very waters off the Florida coast that recently registered temperatures in the triple digits. I grew up in Fort Lauderdale, and the memories that loom largest are oceanic  spending all day splashing in the surf, laughing with my brother and sister, dunking one another, riding waves and playing endless underwater games, racing out to this or that buoy, flopping into bed at night exhausted and exhilarated by the magic caress of our irreplaceable backyard playground.

At age 9, after the Cuban revolution, I searched the horizon to catch a glimpse of Cuba, this suddenly forbidden island. My mother pointed out across the ocean and said to me: There. Havana is just across there. Its so close that you, you little swimmer, you could actually swim there. Later, after five attempts over 35 years, I finally did make that crossing. But I couldnt have made that swim last month. In such hot water, the body heat Id generate from the duress of the effort  a continuous 52 hours and 54 minutes  would quickly lead to overheating and failure. And danger. Hyperthermia would conquer even the strongest of wills.

Of course, that would be only one small consequence of swimming in these heated waters.

Years ago, the Chambers of Commerce along Floridas shores were surely consumed with worries about the increase in jellyfish swarms that have come with warmer waters. Now theyre no doubt huddled in meetings, contemplating the disaster that will ensue if these uncomfortable water temperatures drive tourists away for good.

And Florida is far from the only place where water temperatures are rising. Across the lower latitudes near the Equator, this marine heat wave has been massive. From southern Mexico through the Caribbean and to the western Indian Ocean, 40 percent of the worlds oceans have already fallen victim to the blunt force trauma of climate change. As of late June, it was warm enough to meet the criteria for a marine heat wave.
But at the same time, the key role lawyers played in buttressing the former presidents plans speaks to a troubling crisis in the legal profession. The lawyers he conspired with  whose alleged conduct breached a host of rules of professional ethics, in addition to provisions of criminal law  did not emerge from whole cloth. They are the product of a profession that has changed over the past 40 years, in ways that tend to reduce the supply of Rosen-type lawyers in public roles, and increase the supply of Clarks. And unless we make changes in the structure of public lawyering and the professional path lawyers take to get there, we will not only lose one of our most effective checks against authoritarian power, we could accelerate its consolidation.

Scandals among presidential lawyers are, of course, hardly new. By the end of the Watergate revelations, no fewer than 29 lawyers  including two of President Richard Nixons handpicked attorneys general  faced sanctions for failing to check presidential misconduct, and lying to facilitate its commission. Both government and professional associations responded by adopting a revolutionary set of reforms, aimed at reinforcing the rule of law as a guardrail of constitutional democracy. The American Bar Association revised its influential model rules of professional ethics to make clear that lawyers who work for any organization, including the government, have a duty to report any unlawful acts of federal officials they encounter in the course of their work.

Similarly, the A.B.A. for the first time demanded that students at any American law school wishing to retain its A.B.A. accreditation complete a course in professional responsibility before graduation. Every future American lawyer, the idea was, would grow up in a profession in which ethical duties, including heightened requirements of truthfulness and candor, would be hard-wired.

Congress, too, considered proposals to radically reform government lawyering  from requiring the attorney general to belong to a different political party than the president, to making him or her fully independent of the executive branch (and free from the presidents supervision or interference). To stave off these more dramatic measures, President Gerald Fords attorney general ordered the creation of a new Office of Professional Responsibility, charged with reviewing allegations that any department employee was violating legal or ethical rules  an office that exists to this day. Members of both parties said they supported the goal: to make sure government lawyers consistently uphold the highest standards of professionalism in the public service.

The parallels in lawyerly misconduct between Watergate and today are evident: Mr. Eastman is facing moral turpitude charges in California, Rudy Giuliani faces disbarment in Washington, D.C., and theyre far from the only ones. Dozens of other lawyers who represented Mr. Trump in election litigation now face misconduct allegations in state disciplinary proceedings nationwide.
The New York Times reported that the travel guide publishing industry has recently been dominated by "self"-published books created entirely using ChatGPT or similarly cheap and clunky commercial AI writing program. These books are comprised of mostly public domain photographs and the kind of generic tourist information that can be easily scraped off the internet  in other words, the exact opposite of the hyper-local, boots-on-the-ground insider information that people who book travel guides actually want to find out about. The article opens with an anecdote about a woman who forewent the popular Rick Steve's France guide book and opted to save a few bucks by purchasing the "France Travel Guide" by "Mike Steves" instead.

"I was immediately drawn by all the amazing reviews," said Ms. Kolsky, 53, referring to what she saw at that time: universal raves and more than 100 five-star ratings. The guide promised itineraries and recommendations from locals. Its price tag  $16.99, compared with $25.49 for Rick Steves's book on France  also caught Ms. Kolsky's attention. She quickly ordered a paperback copy, printed by Amazon's on-demand service. When it arrived, Ms. Kolsky was disappointed by its vague descriptions, repetitive text and lack of itineraries. "It seemed like the guy just went on the internet, copied a whole bunch of information from Wikipedia and just pasted it in," she said. She returned it and left a scathing one-star review. Though she didn't know it at the time, Ms. Kolsky had fallen victim to a new form of travel scam: shoddy guidebooks that appear to be compiled with the help of generative artificial intelligence, self-published and bolstered by sham reviews, that have proliferated in recent months on Amazon.

(Curiously, that book "by Mike Steves" book" is no longer showing up on Amazon searches, so I can't even deceptively link you to it to mooch off the affiliate clicks)

Also this week, Casey Newton, author of the popular Platformer tech newsletter, and The Daily Beast both reported on the story of Jane Friedman, an author who was surprised to find her namesake had been used and her writing style deepfaked to train an AI that wrote a bunch of other shitty books under her name, with the results sold through Amazon's Kindle self-publishing portal as well:

I wrote about how Amazon's bookstore is filling up with deepfaked authors and AI sludge  an early warning of the challenge that text generation poses to platforms. https://t.co/yItASizwXo pic.twitter.com/sRclu6A11G  Casey Newton (@CaseyNewton) August 9, 2023

From Platformer:

When she investigated, Friedman found several books that sounded like they might have been written by her, as Pilar Melendez reported at the Daily Beast: one was called Publishing Power: Navigating Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing; another was titled Promote to Prosper: Strategies to Skyrocket Your eBook Sales on Amazon. To Friedman, it seemed clear that someone was generating books with a chatbot, designed to sound like her, and uploading them to the world's most popular bookseller in hopes of drafting off her reputation. It appears to have been a low-effort scheme. The spam books didn't rank very high in search results, and there were no accompanying fake reviews that might have enticed buyers. But when she asked Amazon to remove the fake titles, she got caught up in the platform's vast bureaucracy.

Friedman eventually got the fraudulent books taken down. But as she wrote on her own blog:

Whoever's doing this is obviously preying on writers who trust my name and think I've actually written these books. I have not. Most likely they've been generated by AI. (Why do I think this? I've used these AI tools extensively to test how well they can reproduce my knowledge. I also do a lot of vanity prompting, like "What would Jane Friedman say about building author platform?" I've been blogging since 2009there's a lot of my content publicly available for training AI models. As soon as I read the first pages of these fake books, it was like reading ChatGPT responses I had generated myself.) [] To add insult to injury, these sham books are getting added to my official Goodreads profile. A reasonable person might think I control what books are shown on my Goodreads profile, or that I approve them, or at the very least I could have them easily removed. Not so.

I find this scam particularly concerning. How easy is it to find someone who's had a public presence on the Internet for 15 years, and then just "legally" scrape all of that publicly available writing in order to essentially steal their authorial identity? What impact will that have on privacy in the future  both on social media, and beyond?

A New Frontier for Travel Scammers: A.I.-Generated Guidebooks [Seth Kugel and Stephen Hiltner / The New York Times]

Writers are getting deepfaked on Amazon [Casey Newton / Platformer]

I Would Rather See My Books Get Pirated Than This (Or: Why Goodreads and Amazon Are Becoming Dumpster Fires) [Jane Friedman]

Full disclosure: I also write for Wirecutter, which is owned by the New York Times Company, which also publishes The New York Times
Calabasas | $1.2 Million

A three-bedroom, two-bathroom ranch house built in 1968, on a 0.1-acre lot

This house, which was recently updated with new stucco, insulation, drywall and HVAC systems, is in Calabasas Highlands, a quiet section of the city just off Mulholland Drive. It is less than a 10-minute drive from Bay Laurel Elementary School and Calabasas High School, well-ranked public schools, and about the same distance from the Commons at Calabasas, an outdoor shopping and dining center.

Driving to Topanga Canyon, Thousand Oaks or the beaches in Malibu, on the other side of the Santa Monica Mountains, takes about 20 minutes.

Size: 1,776 square feet

Price per square foot: $676

Indoors: A paved path runs from the street to the front door, which opens directly into a living room with white-oak floors and a large window facing the front yard.

Beyond is an open family-and-dining room with a fireplace, a beamed ceiling and a door to the rear deck. The adjacent kitchen has refinished oak cabinetry, quartz counters and a breakfast bar.
Historically, the artists whove made collectors prove their good intentions have been those, like Hammons and Mehretu, with enough power and influence to make the business bend to their will. Most artists have no autonomy, which means that once their work leaves the studio and goes to the gallery, their involvement with it is through. Lately, though, the practice of auditioning collectors has changed, especially as galleries and museums attempt to elevate work by artists whove long been neglected or ignored by mainstream institutions. A younger, more diverse generation of artists are asking for more control over how their work gets sold and to whom. Their motivation is as much cultural  and personal  as it is financial.

ONE OF THOSE artists is Janiva Ellis, whose paintings she once described as inherently Black because I am. She said it was witnessing the art worlds gross and stressful embrace of Black painters, especially figurative painters who focus on Black lives, during the protests against racial injustice in 2020 that encouraged me to be more intentional in deciding who gets to collect her work. At 35, she has a resale agreement that grants her residuals so long as shes living, and shes tried to prioritize what she calls safe stewardship.

Black artists are not the only ones pushing against precedent. Queer artists  another historically marginalized group  are also fighting for the same rights. These efforts have unsettled standard practices in an industry that remains overwhelmingly white, and attempts by artists of color and others seeking a more equitable share have proven controversial enough that few art-world figures are willing to talk about the subject. Ellis was an exception: She agreed to speak on the record but only over email in a conversation mediated by her gallery, 47 Canal in New York, where a representative told me, She is open to talking, but I hope you understand that wed like to be cautious as we approach this. Both Halsey and Kordansky declined to comment on the details of the sales contract for her show in 2020.

Among collectors, the response has varied. Gardy St. Fleur, an art adviser originally from Haiti who has helped galleries place works by artists of color with people who look like them, said it was important to find collectors who will truly value a work rather than cash in on whats popular. For some people, he said, its cool they collect Black art, but theyre not hanging that stuff in their home. Ive dealt with collectors who will want to collect Black artists, but then theyll just put them directly into storage. But Komal Shah, a philanthropist and former tech executive who grew up in India and now lives in California among some 300 pieces of art made by women and artists of color, told me that the idea of sorting collectors by race left her feeling a little dismayed  because works by Black artists going to Black collectors does not really make for a broader acceptance. It was the same logic, she said, as arguing that art by women can only be enjoyed by women: To me, that sounds almost like death upon arrival.
As our hot, stuffy plane approached Bodrum, the seaside resort city on Turkeys southwest coast, I closed my eyes and imagined a cool plunge into the crystalline turquoise waters of the Aegean. It was late July, and I was going home for vacation, despite warnings about the record heat. Southern Turkey is always hot in the summer, but the thought of sea breezes and swimming made it seem a desirable destination  especially after spending the last month in a heat wave in Geneva where air-conditioning is all but banned.

But when the plane door opened at Milas Bodrum Airport and I was hit by the instant scorch of a 113-degree Fahrenheit wind, I knew this summer would be different. My 1-year-old immediately started crying and other passengers gasped as they rushed to the bus that would take us to the terminal.

We werent the only ones feeling the heat.

I cant say we had a real vacation. We just melted, it was brutal, said Cem Tosunoglu, a 28-year-old computer engineer from Istanbul. A week earlier, he had cut short a luxury sailboat cruise around Bodrums secluded bays because of the excessive heat and the unexpected onslaught of vicious biting horse flies, which thrive in hot environments.

There was nowhere to escape, we were under attack and had no choice but to go back to the A.C. in our villas, he said. Even the seawater was too warm.
A Rocky Start

A.P. African American Studies has had a tumultuous journey since its official rollout in February, when it emerged that the College Board had revised the courses content. The nonprofit, which administers the A.P. program, had heard objections to the class from the administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis, the Florida Republican presidential candidate who has battled what he sees as leftist ideology in schools.

African American studies is interdisciplinary, encompassing concepts from history, sociology, politics, legal studies, arts and culture. But the College Board removed or watered down key subjects and concepts from the course framework, such as critical race theory and mass incarceration. After an outcry from scholars, the nonprofit  a behemoth in education  acknowledged mistakes in its dealings with the DeSantis administration, saying it would revise the course yet again to ensure students received the most holistic possible introduction to African American studies.

It is not yet clear what the final course will look like, and whether it will be broadly offered in the many right-leaning states that have so far passed laws restricting how subjects such as race and gender can be discussed in schools.

In Arkansas, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, a Republican, signed legislation in March that takes aim at critical race theory. But it also includes language protecting instruction on the history of race, ethnicity and sex, and it remains legal for teachers to discuss public policy issues of the day and related ideas that individuals may find unwelcome, disagreeable or offensive.

But like similar laws in Florida and dozens of other states, the somewhat vague language is subject to interpretation.

The Arkansas Department of Education declined to answer specific questions about its objections to the class. Its statement on Monday emphasized that the course is not a history course.

The state superintendent is Jacob Oliva, who was previously a senior education official in Florida under Mr. DeSantis.

On Twitter, Alexa Henning, the communications director for Gov. Huckabee Sanders, said the state already offers an African American history class and that it encourages the teaching of all American history and supports rigorous courses not based on opinions or indoctrination.

The College Board said in a statement that it had previously worked productively with Arkansas, and it expressed surprise, confusion, and disappointment in the states recent move.

The College Board said it rejects the notion that the A.P. African American studies course is indoctrination in any form. And it pointed out that more than 200 colleges have already agreed to provide credit for the class, including the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, the states flagship public postsecondary institution.

Whats Next

The conflict in Arkansas illustrates the difficult position the College Board finds itself in as it navigates between the world of higher education, where universities do not want to offer credit for high school classes that do not meet their content standards, and the world of public education, where the curriculum has become increasingly politicized and caught up in culture-war battles.
The Biden administration, in its first guidance on how to handle the Supreme Courts ban on affirmative action, offered colleges and universities on Monday something of a road map for how to achieve diverse classes while abiding by the court decision.

The administration said schools still had broad latitude when it comes to expanding its pool of applicants, through recruitment, and retaining underrepresented students through diversity and inclusion programs, like affinity clubs.

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, in a news briefing, made it clear that the administration faced the task of enforcing a court ruling that it strongly disagreed with. This is a moment of great urgency in higher education, Dr. Cardona said.

Alluding to how the enrollment of students of color had initially plunged in states that have banned affirmative action, he said, We cannot afford that kind of backsliding on a national scale.
If youre anything like me, Covid-19 hasnt been on your mind much lately.

Its been several months since I last wrote about it in this newsletter, and almost as long since I gave it serious consideration. And thats for good reason.

While Covid has never stopped infecting people in California, by now most of us have several layers of immunity against the virus through vaccines, past infections or both, so the risk of serious illness is not as high as it once was. The rate of spread has been relatively low this year, and Covid hospitalizations in California were lower last month than at any time since the pandemic took hold.

There are some signs, however, that this rosy picture may soon change. New Covid cases have been rising this month in California and across the country. While experts say the trend isnt a cause for alarm, they do agree its something to monitor if youre hoping to avoid infection.

We had sort of a nadir this past summer, and it stopped dropping and started to increase a bit, Erica Pan, the state epidemiologist, said last week in a briefing with health care workers. Im sure many of you are anecdotally both hearing about friends and family and colleagues, as well as seeing more or hearing more about some more circulating Covid.
But even if candidates can  or feel compelled to  open up, colleges face potential legal challenges. The Supreme Court warned that a candidates race may be invoked only in the context of the applicants life story, and colleges have consulted with lawyers to determine the line between an acceptable essay prompt and an unconstitutional one.

Obviously, this is a pretty subjective standard, said Ishan K. Bhabha, a lawyer who is advising many colleges and universities. Different schools are going to have different levels of risk tolerance.

Students for Fair Admissions, the group that defeated race-based admissions in the Supreme Court, is ready to challenge any essay topic that is nothing more than a back-channel subterfuge for divulging a students race or ethnicity, Edward Blum, the groups founder, said.

Feel free to tell us any ways in which youre different and how that has affected you.

 Duke University

Harvard, which was at the center of the lawsuit, has replaced last years single optional essay with five short essays, designed to allow the admissions committee to see each applicant as a whole person. The essays, up to 200 words each, are all required so that the admissions office can collect the same information from every applicant, according to Harvard.
As former President Donald J. Trump waits to learn if he will be indicted in Georgia over election interference in 2020, he has ramped up his verbal attacks on the prosecutor leading the investigation, Fani T. Willis, the Fulton County district attorney.

In an all-caps post on his social media platform, Truth Social on Monday, Mr. Trump wrote that Ms. Willis was out to get Trump and accused her of prosecutorial misconduct. As he has before, he criticized her time in office, arguing that she was overly lenient on crime and had allowed Atlanta to become one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the world.

Mr. Trumps attacks have been sharply personal. He has frequently attacked Ms. Willis with unsubstantiated claims, including an oft-repeated accusation that Ms. Willis, the first Black woman to hold her position, is racist.

Ms. Willis has previously dismissed Mr. Trumps attacks. In an email to her colleagues last week that was published by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Ms. Willis called Mr. Trumps recent comments derogatory and false and urged restraint, writing that we have no personal feelings against those we investigate or prosecute and we should not express any.
As of Saturday, officials had confirmed the identities of only two victims and had barely started searching the disaster zone with canine teams. Officials attributed the pace of the response, which many residents have criticized as too slow, to the overwhelming nature of the destruction and to Mauis remoteness, which complicated the arrival of out-of-state search teams.

The heat of the fire, the intensity and the speed of the fire  it literally just stopped everything in its tracks, said Representative Jill Tokuda, a Democrat, who represents Maui in Congress. Its going to make identification and notification really difficult, she said, adding that its painful just to think about that.

For days now, families have struggled to learn the status of loved ones in West Maui. Spotty-to-nonexistent phone reception, especially in the immediate aftermath, made it hard for survivors to contact loved ones. Roadblocks prevented people from other parts of the island from looking themselves.

For some residents, agonizing waits have ended in relief. Noelle Manriquez, who lost her house in Lahaina but made it to safety with her husband and three children, said it took three days for her to learn her parents had also survived. That time, she said, was very hard, very stressful.

Others have had heard nothing.

Chief John Pelletier of the Maui Police Department urged people searching for loved ones to take a DNA test that could help identify their remains.
The pastor Arza Brown had long told the congregants of Grace Baptist Church that if they left the sanctuary and gathered beneath Lahainas mango trees, that then their church would be under the mangoes, too.

When we talk about the church, Mr. Brown said on Sunday, the building is not the church. The building is just where the church meets.

This weekend, Grace Baptist was not inside the handsome blue structure two blocks from the Pacific where members had worshiped for 50 years. That building is now gone. And it was not beneath the mango trees on the lawn. Those trees are now scarred. But inside a coffee shop in Wailuku, over the mountains from Lahaina, the congregants were together all the same, singing Amazing Grace, reading from the Book of Psalms, and sharing stories of escape and loss and uncertainty.

In times of crisis  tsunami warnings, hurricanes, fires  Grace Baptist had been a refuge. And on Tuesday morning, when high winds battered Maui and fires ignited in the hills above, some residents turned to the church again for shelter. But around midday, Harry Timmins, an assistant pastor, noticed that the guests had suddenly left.
Building on the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act of 2022, a new rule put forth by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ensures that abortion is included on the list of protected medical conditions that may require employers to provide reasonable accommodations for workers, under the law. Typically, these reasonable accommodations include things such as modified job duties or additional rest breaks or time off to handle certain medical issues, with no penalty to the worker or their wages. In a lengthy footnote regarding the abortion decision, the EEOC explains:

The PDA [Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978] prohibits an employer from discriminating against a female employee because she has exercised her right to have an abortion  stating that the plaintiff "cannot be refused employment on the basis of her potential pregnancy"  The PDA's prohibition on discrimination against women based on their ability to become pregnant thus necessarily includes a prohibition on discrimination related to a woman's use of contraceptives.

Of course, there are some Americans  include many in positions of power!  who get off at the promise of being able to punish people, particularly women and other marginalized groups, for the crime of asserting their basic rights to autonomy. And naturally, those same people are quite upset about this ruling. If they can't punish someone for exercising their legal right to have an abortion, why then that's simply not fair to them!

As journalist Grace Haley explains:

Republicans are upset that new and expanded protections for pregnant workers would include abortion as one of the medical conditions that employers have to make accommodations for (like rest breaks, for example). Conservative lawmakers claim that the language violates the intent of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Actbut really they don't like the idea of protecting the rights of women who would dare to end a pregnancy. Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, the top Senate HELP Committee Republican, and the Alliance Defending Freedom are among the top critics so far, and we anticipate this fight to grow much like the other anti-abortion blockades we've seen over the past few months.

This builds on some legal action from late 2022, in which outraged anti-abortion lawyers tried to target companies who offered abortion travel benefits, with the legal trolls claiming:

On June 24, 2022, the Company announced a special employee benefit including "reimbursement for travel costs if an employee must travel more than 100 miles for an in-network provider."2 However, Title VII, as amended by the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978, prohibits discrimination with respect to com- pensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because of childbirth. See 42 U.S.C.  2000e(k); 2000e-2(a). The Company's decision to provide "coverage for an elective abortion and reimbursement for travel costs"which is properly classified both as compensation and/or as a privilege of employmentto a pregnant woman who chooses to abort her child, while denying any equivalent compensation or benefit to a pregnant woman who chooses life, facially violates the statute. 42 U.S.C.  2000e-2(a)(1); 2000e(k).

Give me a fucking break.

In response to the new EEOC rule, more anti-abortion tantrums ensued:

"The Biden administration is hijacking a bipartisan law that doesn't even mention abortion to forcibly require every employer in America to provide 'reasonable accommodations' for their workers' elective abortions," [Julie Marie] Blake, [Senior Counsel at the conservative Alliance Defending Freedom] said. "The administration's unlawful proposal violates state laws protecting the unborn and employers' pro-life and religious beliefs. The administration doesn't have the legal authority to smuggle an abortion mandate into a transformational pro-life, pro-woman law. Alliance Defending Freedom stands ready to continue defending unborn lives and to oppose this egregious federal overreach."

Wow, yeah, it sure must suck when the government forces you to let workers have bodily autonomy. </sarcasm>

Abortion, Every Day (8.9.23) [Grace Haley / Abortion, Every Day]

Abortion fight threatens to spoil bipartisan pregnant worker protections [Nick Niedzwiadek]

EEOC Official Quietly Targets Companies Over Abortion Travel [J. Edward Moreno / Bloomberg Law]
A group of young people in Montana won a landmark lawsuit on Monday when a judge ruled that the states failure to consider climate change when approving fossil fuel projects was unconstitutional.

The decision in the suit, Held v. Montana, coming during a summer of record heat and deadly wildfires, marks a victory in the expanding fight against government support for oil, gas and coal, the burning of which has rapidly warmed the planet.

As fires rage in the West, fueled by fossil fuel pollution, todays ruling in Montana is a game-changer that marks a turning point in this generations efforts to save the planet from the devastating effects of human-caused climate chaos, said Julia Olson, the founder of Our Childrens Trust, a legal nonprofit group that brought the case on behalf of the young people. This is a huge win for Montana, for youth, for democracy, and for our climate. More rulings like this will certainly come.

The ruling means that Montana, a major coal and gas producing state that gets one-third of its energy by burning coal, must consider climate change when deciding whether to approve or renew fossil fuel projects.
Emma Willits, a mental health counselor from Des Moines, is looking for a candidate who cares about climate change and universal health care. She voted for President Biden and will probably do so again, though Ms. Willits, 26, says it feels a little hopeless, honestly.

Sitting on a bench just across the fair midway, John Hogan described how he believed Mr. Biden was a criminal who should be hung  before his wife shushed him for being unkind. He said he voted for Donald J. Trump twice and would probably do so again, if the former president wins his partys nomination for a third time.

But Mr. Hogan, too, would like more options.

These two jokers compared to Ronald Reagan? said Mr. Hogan, a 58-year-old retiree from Pella, a small town an hour southeast of Des Moines. Come on.

In an era when American politics are defined by discord, theres one issue on which voters across the divided political landscape appear to be able to find common ground: Please, not another round of this.
Alabamas congressional map has been in limbo since June, when the Supreme Court ruled that the State Legislature had drawn it in a way that violated a landmark civil rights law and undercut the power of Black voters.

Now, a panel of three federal judges will decide whether the states Republican supermajority, which hastily drew a new map last month, fulfilled the justices order to create a second majority-Black district or something close to it.

In the new map, Republicans chose to increase the percentage of Black voters in one of the states six majority-white congressional districts to about 40 percent from about 30 percent, ignoring an outcry from Democrats and Black residents.

The decision over whether the new map should stand could have national implications, with Republicans controlling the U.S. House of Representatives by a very slim margin. Should the court reject the map, a second majority-Black district would most likely elect a Democrat, since most Black voters in Alabama support those candidates.
Russias invasion flips the script, he added. On top of that, the country the U.S. is sending arms to here is engaging in actual self-defense. The peace movement needs to resist the urge to simply replay our greatest hits about U.S. imperialism when we talk about Ukraine, he said, adding that his group strongly supports intensive diplomacy to resolve the conflict.

Ms. Benjamin said she was unable to rally major environmental groups to call for a quick end to the fighting, despite the specter of nuclear conflict and risks to Ukraines Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant near the conflicts front lines.

Several reasons explain the relative quiet on the left. First is the obvious fact that Mr. Biden has not committed the U.S. military to the conflict, making for a cost in treasure but not American troops. And liberals, especially Democrats in Congress, are not very eager to critique a Democratic presidents top foreign policy project, especially when doing so would align them with the likes of former President Donald J. Trump and the former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, both of whom have denounced Mr. Bidens support for Ukraine and called for an immediate end to the fighting.

Mr. Bidens rationale for backing Ukraine also squares with progressive ideals, a point that the liberal theorist Michael Walzer, author of the seminal 1977 book Just and Unjust Wars, argued shortly after President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022. Writing in The Wall Street Journal, Mr. Walzer said that Russias invasion of Ukraine is illegal under international law, and it is unjust according to every version of just war theory.

The view is common among defenders of Mr. Bidens policies.
The Biden administration urged the Supreme Court on Monday to decide whether the Constitution allows Florida and Texas to prevent large social media companies from removing posts based on the views they express.

The administrations brief, which was requested by the justices as they considered whether to hear the case, also urged the court to rule for the companies if review is granted.

The platforms content-moderation activities are protected by the First Amendment, Solicitor General Elizabeth B. Prelogar wrote.

The Florida and Texas laws, which are similar but not identical, were largely the product of conservative frustration. The laws supporters said the measures were needed to address what they called Silicon Valley censorship, notably including the decisions of some platforms to ban President Donald J. Trumps accounts after the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Out of the four cases Mr. Trump is facing  already a staggering legal burden for a politician running for another term  this is the second case centered on his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Yet he remains far ahead of competitors in the race for the 2024 Republican nomination, and neck and neck with President Biden in a potential rematch, according to a New York Times/Siena College poll conducted in late July.

Here is what we know about the investigation in Fulton County, which includes most of Atlanta.

Why was Donald Trump under investigation in Georgia?

Ms. Willis, the Fulton County district attorney, began looking into whether Mr. Trump and his associates violated Georgia law shortly after a recording was released of Mr. Trump talking by phone to Brad Raffensperger, Georgias secretary of state, on Jan. 2, 2021. During the call, Mr. Trump insisted that he had won the state of Georgia and made baseless allegations of fraud, even though multiple recounts confirmed that he had lost.

Mr. Trump told Mr. Raffensperger that he wanted to find 11,780 votes in the state  one more than he needed to win Georgia and its Electoral College votes.

Over time, court documents and other public records revealed that Ms. Willis, a Democrat, was also investigating false statements that lawyers for Mr. Trump made in state legislative hearings; a meeting of 16 pro-Trump Republicans who cast bogus Electoral College votes for him; an intimidation campaign against a pair of Fulton County election workers falsely accused of fraud, and a successful effort by Trump allies to copy sensitive software at an elections office in rural Coffee County, Ga.
At least nine people were killed inside a Himalayan temple that collapsed on Monday after heavy rains set off landslides and flash floods, the latest in a series of disasters this monsoon season that have brought death and ruin to many parts of South Asia.

Rescue workers were struggling to pull bodies from the mud surrounding the temple, which was hit by a landslide in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh.

Hira Lal Ghezta, an official at the site of the landslide, said those inside the Hindu temple when it collapsed included worshipers, priests and construction workers. He said that about 250 personnel from the Indian army, police and disaster force were leading rescue operations.

We fear at least 25 people are trapped under the debris, and we have already retrieved six bodies, he said. We suspect it was a cloudburst which brought upon the landslide leading to collapse of the temple.
As a child studying in a madrasa in Afghanistan, Mohammad Khalid Tahir dreamed of waging jihad. By the time he was a teenager, he had joined the Taliban and celebrated when they seized power from the U.S.-backed government two years ago.

But the high from that victory did not last. Reassigned as a soldier in the capital, he frequently complained that he was bored and longed to return to his lifes purpose, according to his family.

So this spring, he did  but across the border in Pakistan.

Our only expectation is to be martyred, Mr. Tahir says in a video of him en route to Pakistan that was viewed by The New York Times. About a month later, he was killed by Pakistani security forces, his relatives said.

As a generation of fighters raised in war now finds itself stuck in a country at peace, hundreds of young Taliban soldiers have crossed illegally into Pakistan to battle alongside an insurgent group, according to Taliban members, local leaders and security analysts.
Ukraine has stepped up small-scale amphibious assaults targeting Russian positions on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River, attacks that, if sustained, could complicate Russias defense in southern Ukraine by forcing it to move troops from other parts of the front line.

While Ukrainian raids have been taking place since Russian forces retreated from the city of Kherson to the eastern bank of the river in November, Russian military bloggers and Western military analysts have reported an increase in fighting over the past week both on the islands scattered across the delta and on the eastern bank.

There has been an uptick in small-scale combat along the banks of the lower reaches of the Dnipro River, Britains Defense Ministry said in a daily intelligence statement on Monday. Ukrainian forces have worked to raid or set up small bridgeheads at new locations on the Russian-held east bank, it said.

It added that Russian commanders face a dilemma of whether to strengthen this area or to deploy troops in the areas of Ukraines main counteroffensive operations, farther to the east.

Ukrainian soldiers have been battling well-entrenched Russian forces farther to the east for more than two months to grind out relatively small gains, and the attacks on the river could be part of an effort by Kyiv to force Moscow to spread its forces.

Russia appears to be trying to do much the same thing to Ukrainian forces. Despite being on the defensive along almost the entire 600-mile front, Russian forces are mounting offensive operations around the northeastern city of Kupiansk, which Ukrainian military officials have said is an attempt to draw Ukrainian forces away from areas where they are on the attack.

Some military analysts have expressed skepticism that Ukraine could mount a large-scale assault across the Dnipro given the unforgiving terrain. Any mass movement of troops and soldiers across the open river would most likely be spotted quickly and come under heavy bombardment.

And the Ukrainians themselves have been mostly silent on the cross-river fighting, with senior officials seeking to tamp down speculation about its significance.

There is no cause for excitement, Hanna Malyar, a Ukrainian deputy defense minister, said in a recent statement. Certain units performed a certain task there, she said, but called it part of a continuing effort to drive Russian forces farther from the bank to help protect Ukrainians living on the other side from daily and frequently deadly bombardments.

Much of the focus of military analysts has been centered around the village of Kozachi Laheri, northeast of Kherson on the Dnipros eastern bank. The first reports of fighting around the village came on Aug. 8, when  according to the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, and other Western analysts  Ukrainian forces managed to drive Russian forces from coastal positions with a sudden strike and advanced 800 meters deep into the occupied territory.

They then ambushed a reconnaissance group of Russians and fighting continues to rage on the east bank, according to Russian military bloggers. But the situation remains murky.

It remains unclear if the Ukrainians have established an enduring presence there, the I.S.W. said in a report last week.

Yevhen Dykyi, a Ukrainian former commander in the Aidar battalion, said the raids had largely been intended to make sure that the Russians could not feel comfortable even in rear positions.

We are demonstrating who really owns the entire Dnipro floodplain, he said. But so far, this is not a strategic story. Its still a tactical one.
A plane full of passengers traveling from Australia to Malaysia was two hours into the eight-hour flight today when a gentleman with a backpack threatened to "blow the plane up." The Malaysia Airlines flight turned around and headed back to Sydney.

During the "emergency incident," one of the passengers reportedly tweeted that the aggressive 45-year-old man was "threatening staff and passengers," according to the South Morning China Post.

Fortunately, crew members found no explosives in the backpack, and the man was arrested "without incident." It took about three hours after landing before passengers were able to deboard the plane, while 32 domestic flights were canceled.

From ABC News:
A billboard at the main entrance to the city of Kupiansk illustrates the tenuous nature of Ukrainian control in a region that has become one of the most active parts of the 750-mile front line in the war.

Kupiansk is Ukraine!!! it proclaims to anyone entering the city. The other side of the sign, visible to those in the city center, hints at why the first proclamation is so urgent. It shows an armed soldier standing in front of a helicopter, along with a phone number and a question: Do you have information about traitors to Ukraine?

At the outset of the war, Kupiansk, only 25 miles from the Russian border, fell to Moscows forces without a fight and remained under occupation for six months before being retaken in a lightning Ukrainian thrust in the Kharkiv region in the countrys northeast in September.

Now, however, while most attention is focused on the latest Ukrainian counteroffensive hundreds of miles to the south, Russian forces are mounting an offensive in the north, seeking to regain those lands. Kupiansk, a strategically important city that served as a logistical center for the Russian military, is right in the cross hairs, and many residents say they dread the return of the forces who terrorized them for six months.
His thatched-roof shack on the bank of the Danube River just 200 yards from Ukraine has no running water, and getting to it involves waiting for a ferry and a bumpy ride on dirt roads.

Last week, however, the farmyard home of Gheorge Puflea, 71, became a piece of attention-grabbing real estate thanks to its unwanted status as the first property in NATO territory damaged in a Russian attack aimed at Ukraine.

The drone missile assault, carried out before dawn on Aug. 2, hit a Ukrainian cargo port across the river, but it was so close that shock waves from the explosions shattered windows in Plauru, a tiny hamlet with just a dozen tumbledown homes on the Romanian side of the Danube.

The sound of the blasts and breaking glass woke Mr. Puflea from his sleep and sent him rushing outside in a panic.
In a month spent at the front line, Aleksandr, an ex-convict serving in the Russian Army, hadnt seen a single Ukrainian soldier and had barely fired a shot. The threat of death came from a distance, and seemingly from everywhere.

Sent to guard against a potential river crossing in southern Ukraine, his hastily formed unit, made up almost entirely of inmates, endured weeks of relentless bombardment, sniper attacks and ambushes. The marshy, flat terrain offered no cover beyond the burned-out hulks of cottages. He said he had watched dogs gnaw at the uncollected corpses of his dead comrades, drunk rain water and scavenged garbage dumps for food.

Aleksandr claims that out of the 120 men in his unit, only about 40 remain alive. These survivors are being heavily pressured by the Russian military to remain on the battlefield at the end of their six-month contracts, according to Aleksandr and accounts provided to The New York Times from two other Russian inmates fighting on the front line.

We are being sent to a slaughter, Aleksandr said in a series of audio messages from the Kherson region, referring to his commanders. We are not human to them, because we are criminals.
The Russian militarys decision to fire warning shots and board a freighter in the Black Sea this weekend has added a new level of uncertainty to the increasingly intense maritime theater of war, as Moscow, apparently for the first time, made good on its threat to treat Ukraine-bound civilian shipping as potentially hostile.

The Russian Ministry of Defense on Sunday announced the action, which was confirmed by Ukrainian officials, and video verified by The New York Times shows a military helicopter hovering above the cargo ship Sukru Okan. A group of people in military gear can be seen walking on the deck and climbing into the helicopter, while eight men in civilian clothes  apparently the ships crew  sit nearby.

It remains to be seen how the boarding of the ship might affect the flow of grain by sea from Ukraine, but some shipping industry analysts and executives said they did not think the episode would greatly affect a trade that had already been constricted by a virtual Russian blockade to a small fraction of its usual volume.

But it reflects the rising tensions on the Black Sea, which Western analysts have warned could escalate into violence involving countries not directly involved in the war. Russias warning last month about treating third-country shipping as hostile raised fears of armed clashes, and since then, Ukraines increasingly robust naval drone force has launched several attacks on Russian warships.
On Friday night, Mohammed al-Sayed donned a pale pink shirt and denim overalls to join a friend at a movie theater in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, where the men settled in to watch a film about a doll on a mission to dismantle the patriarchy.

Similar scenes played out across the conservative Islamic kingdom last weekend, as women painted their nails pink, tied pink bows in their hair and draped pink floor-length abayas over their shoulders for the regional debut of the movie, Barbie. While critics across the Middle East have called for the film to be banned for undermining traditional gender norms, many Saudis ignored them.

They watched as the movie imagined a matriarchal society of Barbie dolls where men are eye candy. They laughed when a male character asked, Im a man with no power; does that make me a woman? They snapped their fingers in delight as a mother delivered a monologue about the strictures of stereotypical femininity. Then, they emerged from the darkened theaters to contemplate what it all meant.

The message is that you are enough  whatever you are, said Mr. al-Sayed, 21, echoing the Ken dolls revelation.


Maine Asks for Tourism Pitches Fri., Aug. 11, 2023 The Maine Office of Tourism wants proposals for a public and media relations programs to attract new visitors and boost the awareness of the Pine Tree State among the traveling public.
An extreme cooling event in Europe caused an extinction of early humans on the continent around 1.1 million years ago, a study suggests.

The abrupt climate changes saw ocean surface temperatures off Lisbon dropping below 6C  conditions that would have made it hard for archaic humans to survive, according to the researchers.

The UCL scientists said their findings, published in the journal Science, challenge the widely held belief that after arriving from South-West sia by about 1.4 million years ago, these humans were able to survive through multiple climate cycles and adapt to increasingly harsh conditions.

Senior author Professor Chronis Tzedakis, of UCL Geography in London, said: Our discovery of an extreme glacial cooling event around 1.1 million years ago challenges the idea of continuous early human occupation of Europe.

Along with UCL, paleoclimate scientists from the University of Cambridge and CSIC Barcelona analysed the chemical composition of marine micro-organisms and examined the pollen content in a deep-sea sediment core recovered off the coast of Portugal.

Cores such as these can show a glimpse of the Earths past geology and climate.

Lead author Dr Vasiliki Margari, of UCL Geography, said: To our surprise, we found that this cooling at 1.1 million years ago was comparable to some of the most severe events of recent ice ages.

Co-author Professor Nick Ashton of the British Museum said: A cooling of this magnitude would have placed small hunter-gatherer bands under considerable stress, especially since early humans may have lacked adaptations such as sufficient fat insulation and also the means to make fire, effective clothing or shelters.

The experts then ran a climate simulation to capture the extreme conditions during this time.

Study co-author Professor Axel Timmermann, of the IBS Centre for Climate Physics at Pusan National University in South Korea, said: The results showed that 1.1 million years ago climate around the Mediterranean became too hostile for archaic humans.

Combined results suggest that Iberia, and more generally southern Europe, became devoid of human population and remained so for the next 200,000 years.

Study co-author Professor Chris Stringer of the Natural History Museum in London said: According to this scenario, Europe may have been recolonised around 900,000 years ago by more resilient humans with evolutionary or behavioural changes that allowed survival in the increasing intensity of glacial conditions.

Meanwhile, another study, also published in the journal Science, suggests climate change may have facilitated interbreeding between two groups of ancient human relatives: Denisovans and Neanderthals.

Back in 2018, scientists found evidence of a woman, nicknamed Denny, who lived 90,000 years ago and had a Denisovan father and a Neanderthal mother.

Simulations paleo-biologists from South Korea and Italy showed Neanderthals and Denisovans had different environmental preferences, with Denisovans more adapted to cold environments, such as boreal forests and tundra, while their Neanderthal cousins preferred temperate forests and grassland.

But in warm interglacial periods, when Earths orbit around the Sun was more elliptic and northern hemisphere summer occurred closer to the Sun, simulations suggest their habitats may have begun to overlap geographically.

Prof Timmermann, who is also one of the authors on the second study, said: When Neanderthals and Denisovans shared a common habitat, there were more encounters and interactions among the groups, which would have increased the chance of interbreeding.
A doubling of the budget for the Liming Programme in response to the large number of applications was announced at Tullamore Show by Agriculture Minister, Charlie McConalogue.

The increase brings the budget for the scheme to 16 million, a one hundred per cent increase on the original 8m allocated to the scheme in Budget 2023.

The Liming Programme was introduced by the Minister's department earlier this year to incentivise the use of lime to correct soil acidity, make nutrients more available for plant uptake and improve overall soil health,

There was a phenomenal level of interest in the programme with almost 41,0000 applications received revealed the Minister.

He said the budget increase will facilitate approval for up to 40 tonnes of lime per eligible applicant.

The level of applications is a clear indication of the importance farmers place on optimising soil health and improving their environmental sustainability, stressed the Minister.

The Minister said the past year has been a very challenging one for Irish farming on a number of different fronts.

Speaking at the official opening of Tullamore Show and the FBD National Livestock Show on Sunday, Minister Charlie McConalogue said his department had introdued a number of different supports to aid farmers in meeting these challenges.

In a wide ranging address, the Minister stressed the importance of farming sustainably and praised the show for introducing a Sustainable Livestock Village at this year's event.

He also highlighted the importance of farm safety and noted the high number of workplace accidents on farms every year.

Minister McConalogue encouraged those in attendance at the show to visit the Farm Safety Live Stand to view the demonstrations and listen to expert speakers on livestock and machinery safe practices.

Stressing the importance of agriculture to the economy the Donegal based Minister said 90 per cent of food was exported to over 180 countries to a total value of 19 billion.

Speaking at the outset of proceedings, Show Secretary, Chelsey Cox extended a special welcome to the dignitaries on the stage including the Australian and Chinese Ambassadors, Ministers McConalogue, Martin Heydon and Pippa Hackett, EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness, MEPs Maria Walsh and Colm Markey, Cllr Eddie Fitzpatrick, Chairman Offaly County Council, Cllr Neil Feighery, Tim Cullinan, President IFA, Pat McCormack, President ICMSA, Dermot Kelleher, President ICSA, Pat Walsh, Chairman Offaly IFA, Deputy Carol Nolan and Anne Marie and Stephen McQuade, the site owners.

Pat Gilligan, FBD's head of sales for the Midlands and East region, described Tullamore as the highlight of the summer shows calendar.

He stressed the importance of protecting the environment and predicted that agriculture will rise to the challenges it faces.

Tullamore Show had become more an occasion than just a show said Irish Shows Association chief, Ray Brady who described it as Ireland's premier show, logistically perfectly located in the centre of the country.

He said the volunteers who put in a huge effort to make the event possible deserved special praise.

Joe Molloy, Chairman of Tullamore Show, said the creme de la creme of livestock was on display in Tullamore and said lots of people would go home with prizes and awards.

He thanked the site owners, volunteers and all the services and agencies who made the event possible.

The official opening concluded with a blessing by Fr Michael Whittaker and Rev. Yvonne Hutchinson.
Here's Pence on this Sunday's Meet the Press denying he knew about the fake electors plot until "after the fact," despite the fact that in his own book describes him asking the Senate parliamentarian on January 3rd about "alternate electors."

"FMR. VICE PRES. MIKE PENCE: I just heard what was being talked about in the press at the time, Chuck, but I thought it was important. Look, I  in January of 2017, I took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. Under the Constitution, states certify elections. And, while there were irregularities in states, maybe a half a dozen states around the country that changed the rules in the name of Covid, we challenged those in sixty court cases. Once the courts had reviewed those and the states certified them, I wanted to make sure that  that we were  we were operating on January 6th in a way that was consistent with the Constitution, consistent with the laws of the country. And, and that's the reason that I sat down with the parliamentarian. I looked through the process. I was determined to hear the objections that Republicans were planning to bring, Chuck, and many did bring. I mean, you remember, Democrats brought objections to electoral college votes in three of the last four elections that Republicans prevailed. There's nothing 

CHUCK TODD: Right. Under the law 

FMR. VICE PRES. MIKE PENCE:  unusual about that 

CHUCK TODD: Right. None of it  right, they all 

FMR. VICE PRES. MIKE PENCE: So, I did ask the parliamentarian

CHUCK TODD: Yeah, under the law.

FMR. VICE PRES. MIKE PENCE: I did ask the parliamentarian very directly, Chuck. I asked her, because I was hearing rumors. I was reading in the newspaper that there were alternate electors. I just  I asked her point blank 

CHUCK TODD: Was anybody in the White House telling you this?

FMR. VICE PRES. MIKE PENCE:  "Are there any other electors from any state?" And she said there was not. I don't recall that. I just remember hearing it in the public 

CHUCK TODD: Okay.

FMR. VICE PRES. MIKE PENCE:  and I wanted a definitive answer whether or not the parliamentarian had received any additional electoral votes. She had not. So, as you know, we actually changed the language as those electoral college votes were recorded. But, look, you know, Chuck, I've told you many times. I said it again at the Iowa State Fair. I had no right to overturn the election. The Constitution is quite clear. As vice president, my job was to preside over a joint session of Congress where the Constitution says the electoral college votes shall be opened and shall be counted."

Todd pressed Pence on Trump's statement that "he never asked you to disregard the Constitution and that he never said that you were too honest," and whether either of those statements were true, and Pence just continued with the weasel words and refused to directly answer Todd's question. Pence also went after Trump's "crackpot lawyers" again when asked whether he thought Mark Meadows "served the president well."
Fire Breaks Out In Two Coaches Of Udyan Express At Bengaluru Railway Station

Karnataka HC Stays FIR Against Sandalwood Actor Upendra Over 'Anti-Dalit' Remark

Bengaluru

oi-Madhuri Adnal

In a big relief to Kannada actor Upendra, the Karnataka High Court has stayed the enforcement of the FIR registered against him under the Atrocities Act. The actor, who has transitioned into politics, had petitioned the High Court to dismiss the FIR.

Upendra's legal representative argued that the application of the Atrocities Act was inappropriate in this case since the actor had used an old proverb. Favoring the petitioner's stance, the High Court issued a formal notice to the Assistant Commissioner of Police of the VV Puram division.

Two separate FIRs were lodged against Upendra at different police stations in Bengaluru following his controversial comments about a Dalit community. These comments were made on August 12 during a live interaction with members of the 'Prajaakeeya' political party.

Based on these FIRs, the police summoned the actor on Monday morning. A police team also visited Upendra's residence in Kathriguppe, where they conducted an inquiry in the presence of the complainant. The actor, however, was not present during the police's visit.

The initial FIR was filed at the CK Achukattu police station, based on a complaint lodged by the Assistant Director of the Social Welfare Department.

FIR Filed Against Kannada Actor Upendra For Using Derogatory Remarks Against Dalits

In response to the backlash generated by his remarks, Upendra removed the live link from his social media account and issued an apology. Numerous Dalit groups staged protests in various areas, including Bengaluru and Ramanagara.

Concurrently, a social activist named Naveen Gowda has written to the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, urging a five-year ban on Upendra from participating in movies.

To ensure his safety, enhanced security measures have been implemented at Upendra's residence in Sadashivanagara. A team from the Karnataka State Reserve Police has been stationed at his residence.
OPINION: Politics, As Well As Economy, Of Pakistan In Army's Grip

Feature

lekhaka-R C Ganjoo

Elections scheduled in Pakistan few months later have come under cloud as the army has surreptitiously succeeded in controlling the political system and economic policy as well. The planning of the elections has been designed in the fashion proposed by the army. Even the appointment of interim Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq Kakar, a Pashtun from Balochistan has also been on the direction of the army. It is widely known that Kakar was responsible for launching a new political party Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) in 2015 with the support of the army.

All the powers for policy making have been vested in the interim Prime Minister keeping in view the deteriorating economic conditions of the country, and here the army can play a major role to goad Anwar ul Haq Kakar comfortably. Senator Anwar ul Haq Kakar was chosen as the caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan after the National Assembly was dissolved by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Aug 9, 2023.

In his farewell speech, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif candidly accepted that his government could not have run without the support of the powerful army. While giving an interview with a private news channel in Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif said that no government of Pakistan can run without the cooperation of the army. When Imran Khan became the Prime Minister, he had the support of the army, although later Imran made some allegations. It is an admitted fact that even when there was an elected government, the Pakistan army played an important role from behind the scenes.

Whether the elections in Pakistan will be held on a stipulated date or not is a big question mark. The general elections are scheduled to be held in Pakistan less than 90 days after the dissolution of the National Assembly, which was prematurely dissolved on August 10, 2023 by President Arif Alvi on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Who Is Anwaar-Ul-Haq Kakar? Pakistan Senator Named Caretaker PM Ahead Of Elections

This means that the election must be held no later than November 8, 2023. But after the approval of the results of the 2023 digital census by the Council of Common Interest (CCI) headed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on August 5, 2023, elections may be delayed for several months due to new delimitations becoming necessary.

The 336 members of the National Assembly consist of 266 general seats elected by first-past-the-post voting in single-member constituencies, 60 seats reserved for women elected by proportional representation based on the number of general seats won by each party in each province, and ten seats reserved for non-Muslims elected through proportional representation based on the number of overall general seats won by each party.

Intriguingly, the PTI-led government had earlier passed a bill that required the next general elections to be held using EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines). This was aimed at bringing an end to the allegations of rigging that plagued previous elections in Pakistan, but the opposition's concern was that it would make it extremely easy for PTI to rig the elections in its favour through security loopholes.

In 2022 when the PTI-led government was ousted through a successful vote of no-confidence in the National Assembly, the 11 opposition parties, some of them being long-time rivals, formed a new government and passed the Elections Amendment Bill, which nullified the proposed use of EVMs in the general elections. Hence, EVMs will not be used in the next general elections.

OPINION: Clouds Of Uncertainty Looms Over Pakistan Elections

Shehbaz Sharif has boldly declared that there was no restriction on the PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif's right to contest the election as he had completed his five-year disqualification period. "As far as Nawaz Sharif is concerned, the law is in the field now under which the maximum disqualification period is five years. There is no restriction on Nawaz Sharif as he has completed his five-year disqualification."

The new law promulgated by parliament had overwritten the previous law, the PM said, while referring to an amendment to the Elections Act, 2017, passed by the parliament earlier this year, limiting the disqualification of lawmakers to five years with retrospective effect. But in Shehbaz's statement, there is still a slip between cup and lip.

Pakistan army, instead of taking confrontation with the political establishment, systematically managed to control economic interests. Chief of the Army Staff General Asim Munir, along with former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, attending the high-level meetings with foreign dignitaries, indicate the importance of the army in political and economic affairs.

So much so that the caretaker government of Punjab signed a joint venture agreement on March 8 to hand over at least 45,267 acres of land in three districts, Bhakkar, Khushab, and Sahiwal to the Pakistan Army for 'Corporate Agriculture Farming'.

According to informed sources, the Joint Venture has been signed between the military, the Punjab government, and private firms dealing with corporate farming. As per the agreement, at least 40 per cent of the revenue generated from the cultivation will go to the Punjab government, 20 percent will be spent on modern research and development in the agriculture sector, while the remaining will be used for the succeeding crops and expansion of the project.

Agriculture is the backbone of Pakistan's economy because nearly 60 percent of Pakistan's income is directly related to agriculture. Over 60 percent of the country's population lives in villages. Due to this, it can be easily guessed why agriculture, the backbone of Pakistan's economy, has been systematically being taken over by its army.

The Pakistan Army's economic interests have expanded and they want more. The army's lust for money increased when it got involved in the projects such as the construction and expansion of the Karakoram highway, Cleaning of Canals, WAPDA duties, security of the election, and other sectors.

OPINION: TTP rubbing salt in the wounds of Pak Army

In July 2023 the civil-military-run Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) approved the hiring of consultants to reduce shareholdings of Pakistan and Canada's Barrick Gold equally in favour of Saudi Arabia in the Reko Diq gold and copper mine project. Former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired the apex committee meeting which was also attended by Chief of the Army Staff General Asim Munir.

The SIFC has given a December 25, 2023 deadline for concluding the transaction, including the signing of bidding documents, according to the Ministry of Energy officials. The SIFC also decided that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) - the military's media wing would jointly build the positive narrative for the work being done by the council.

(R C Ganjoo is a senior journalist and columnist having more than 30 years experience of covering issues concerning national security, particularly Kashmir. He has worked with several prominent media groups and his articles have been published in many national and international publications.)

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of OneIndia and OneIndia does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.

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Story first published: Monday, August 14, 2023, 13:37 [IST]
HC Asks Centre, EC, 26 Political Parties To Respond To Plea Against Use Of INDIA For Alliance

Absence Of Injuries No Ground To Hold Penetrative Sexual Assault Didnt Take Place: HC In Rape Case

India

pti-PTI

Mere absence of injuries cannot be a ground to hold that penetrative sexual assault did not take place on a minor, the Delhi High Court on Monday held while upholding the 12-year imprisonment of a man for sexually violating a four-and-a-half-year-old girl.

Justice Amit Bansal upheld the man's conviction for the offences of kidnapping and sexually assaulting the child, saying there was no infirmity in the trial court's judgement.

Regarding the man's contention that there were no injuries on the private parts of the victim, the high court said, "The trial court has correctly observed that injury on the private parts in cases of sexual offences depends on various factors such as depth of insertion, among others. It is not necessary that in every case there would be an injury caused.

"Therefore, the mere absence of injuries cannot be a ground to hold that penetrative sexual assault did not take place," it observed.

The high court said under Section 29 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, there is a statutory presumption raised against the accused.

Section 29 of the POCSO Act says that when a person is prosecuted for committing an offence of sexual assault against a minor, the special court trying the case "shall presume" the accused to be guilty.

"In the present case, the accused has failed to successfully rebut the aforesaid presumption by leading evidence or discrediting the evidence of the prosecution. The appellant (man) has not been able to shake the version of the prosecution and the prosecution has successfully proved its case beyond reasonable doubt," the high court said, adding that the testimony of the victim is credible and trustworthy.

It dismissed the man's appeal against his conviction and sentence, saying that he has not been able to shake the version of the prosecution which has successfully proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

Four Minors Arrested In Assam For Alleged Rape, Threats In Kokrajhar Case

According to the prosecution, the incident took place in June 2017 when the child, who was playing outside her house, went missing.

While searching for the minor, her father went to a neighbour's house and found her there, it said.

The prosecution said on returning home, the child disclosed that the man had taken her to his house on the pretext of giving her "mango frooti" and sexually assaulted her.

The parents informed police and a case was registered against the man at Gulabi Bagh Police Station.

The man's counsel argued before the high court that the entire case of the prosecution rests only on the sole testimony of the victim and has not been corroborated by the medical evidence.

He submitted that the testimony of the victim cannot be relied upon without corroboration as it suffered from material contradictions.
Actor-Turned-Politician Shatrughan Sinha In Favour Of Mamata Banerjee As PM

India

oi-PTI

Actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha on Monday said he would love to see West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as the next Prime Minister of the country.

Sinha, who is a member of the Trinamool Congress, headed by Banerjee, made the statement in response to a query as to how he saw Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as a prospective Prime Ministerial candidate. ''It would be very good for the country that at a time when we also have a woman as the President, we had a woman as the Prime Minister too. A firebrand leader like Mamata Banerjee, who has a mass base, would fit the bill,'' he told PTI here in an interview.

Sinha, who represents Asansol in the Lok Sabha, however, hastened to add ''who would be the Prime Minister is a decision that would be taken at an appropriate time. My point is to underscore that we, in INDIA, have no dearth of talent''.

''We have youth icon Rahul Gandhi, in whom the nation sees its future. We have the modern day Chanakya - Sharad Pawar. And of course, we have firebrand mass leader Mamata Banerjee. In contrast, the BJP-led NDA has none except Prime Minister Narendra Modi,'' asserted the actor-turned-politician.

He Should Return As Prime Minister In 2024: Madurai Priest Who Will Present 'Sengol To PM Modi

Sinha, who quit the BJP four years ago and remained with the Congress for a brief period before joining the TMC, also asserted, ''It does not behove the Prime Minister to mock our alliance with the use of terms like 'ghamandia' (proud)''.

''He speaks of issues like corruption and nepotism to criticize the opposition coalition. As a former NDA insider, I wager that the BJP and its allies are second to none when it comes to nepotism. And their stand on corruption got exposed when they allied with those accused of corruption in Maharashtra by the PM,'' said Sinha.

''As I have said, we have no dearth of talent. The BJP should worry for itself. The PM keeps saying he is a 'fakir' (mendicant) who may pick up his 'jhola' (humble belongings) and leave. If he indeed does so, how will the BJP ensure that the show goes on?'' the former BJP leader queried sarcastically.

On the flying kiss controversy, Sinha said he was surprised at the allegation levelled against Rahul Gandhi by Union minister Smriti Irani ''who respects me a lot as a senior in the acting profession, though unlike me, she never made it to films and remained confined to TV serials''. ''I too was present in the House at the time. No such gesture was made. I wonder why Irani, who has matured over the years, made such an allegation,'' said the superstar of yesteryears, adding, with a hint of mischief, the Urdu couplet ''kuchh tho majbooriyan rahi hongi, yunhi koi bewafa nahin hota (there must have been some pressing compulsions, one does not become unfaithful just like that)''.

Sinha also criticised the Prime Minister over his speech in Parliament, given in reply to the no-confidence motion. Reciting the couplet ''bahut der kar di meherbaan aate aate'', to underscore it was too little and too late, Sinha remarked ''it appeared the PM was engaged in a contest with his Home Minister (Amit Shah) who spoke for two hours. So the PM gave a speech that was even longer. It was a sure cure for insomnia''.

Often known by the nickname 'Shotgun', Sinha, known for his gift of the gab, recited another verse that he frequently uses to deride the Narendra Modi government "tu idhar udhar ki na baat kar, ye bata ki kaarwan kyon luta, mujhe rahzanon se gila nahin teri rahbari ka sawaal hai (don't meander, tell me why did the caravan was robbed. I don't resent the robbers but I am worried about your credibility as the ruler)''.

The former Patna Sahib MP, who represented the seat covering his home town for two consecutive terms, until losing it in 2019, asserted that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav were ''absolutely right'' in taking exception to Modi's claim that a new AIIMS has been set up in Darbhanga.

Mamata Banerjee Hails SC Order Staying Rahul Gandhi's Conviction In Modi Surname Case

''The PM's claim may go down in history as yet another goof up by the leader who famously spoke of Alexander reaching the shores of the Ganges and Kabir and Nanak meeting in Gorakhpur. Of course, becoming the Prime Minister does not make you a scholar. But I wonder what type of people brief him. I also wonder whether he listens carefully when he is briefed about issues,'' said Sinha.

''It is a fact that six new AIIMS were set up when we were around,'' said Sinha, in an indirect reference to his short tenure as Union Health Minister under Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He also deplored Modi's 'khooni khel' (game of blood) jibe at Banerjee claiming it ''betrayed the frustration over the thrashing received by the BJP in Panchayat polls, which saw the TMC registering a record win''.

''The PM got so upset when he was called 'maut ka saudagar', but he wants to get away by saying whatever he pleases,'' alleged Sinha, referring to the remark made by the then Congress president Sonia Gandhi when Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. ''We adore Mamata Banerjee and call him didi (sister). What an ugly thing to say about her at a time when the country is gearing up for Raksha Bandhan festivities,'' Sinha added with a rhetorical flourish.

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Story first published: Monday, August 14, 2023, 16:43 [IST]
Caught On Camera: Woman Bravely Fights Off Robbery Attempt in Telangana

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

A woman from Telangana's Sircilla showed incredible courage by fighting off an armed robber who tried to steal her belongings. The incident was caught on camera and has since gone viral on social media. The footage depicts the woman facing off against a knife-wielding assailant, showcasing her unwavering determination to repel the robbery.

The video captures a moment when the woman, alone in her house, steps out upon hearing a disturbance. To her surprise, she spots a robber concealed behind a wall. Without hesitation, the assailant lunges at her with a knife, but the woman skillfully dodges the attack.

This incident occurred in Vemulawada town, situated within the Rajanna Sircilla district. The attacker brandished a knife while attempting to target the woman. Despite the peril, the woman exhibited tremendous courage, resisting the robbery with all her might. Regrettably, the assailant managed to abscond with a seven-gram gold chain worn by the woman. The entire episode was captured by a CCTV camera during the early hours of the morning at the residence of Pilli Srilatha.

5 Arrested In Pragati Maidan Robbery Case

In #CCTV:

A woman fights with an armed #robber bravely and tries to foil the #theft attempt.

The woman is being attacked by the robber with a knife and the woman is seen trying her best to resist the #robbery in #Vemulawada of Rajanna #Sircilla dist.#Telangana #BraveWoman pic.twitter.com/yVPuL1dp7f  Surya Reddy (@jsuryareddy) August 14, 2023

A formal complaint has been lodged in connection with the case. The police have commenced an investigation, closely examining the available CCTV footage. Their efforts are directed towards apprehending the culprit responsible for the attack and subsequent theft of the gold chain. This incident, occurring within the sanctuary of her own home, underscores the vulnerability of women.

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Story first published: Monday, August 14, 2023, 18:04 [IST]
A supermarket in Krems an der Donau, Austria was evacuated last week after staff spotted what they believe was a Brazilian wandering spider, also known as a banana spider. The excruciatingly painful bites from these highly-venomous arachnids can cause rapid heartbeat, diarrhea, and priapisma prolonged erection that can last hours. Interestingly, researchers are studying the venom as a possible new treatment for erectile dysfunction. The supermarket remains closed.

From The Independent:

The four-inch spider was said to have been seen when staffed opened a box of bananas

In a statement, the Rewe retail group, which operates the PENNY stores, said "comprehensive cleaning and disinfection measures" were underway, before the outlet reopens next week.

"All measures are for safety and are carried out meticulously so that the branch can be reopened," the retailer added.
Four Persons Arrested For Hacking Karnataka Congress Website

India

oi-Sushmita Halder

The Karnataka Police arrested four persons over allegedly hacking the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) website and hosting a fake website in its place.

The accused have been identified as Dharmesh Jain, Arun, Siddharth, and Venkatesh. According to the sources, Venkatesh was linked to Varahe Analytics - a political strategy firm working with the BJharatiya Janata Party. These four persons were linked to a Hassan-based company.

Earlier in February this year, the Congress filed a police complaint after its website was attacked multiple times within a few days in the run-up to the state Assembly polls.

Contractors In Karnataka Demand Payment Of Pending Bills, Dy CM Says Inquiry Underway

The website was taken down by the hackers, who hosted in its place a spoof website that attacked the Congress party and accused it of being communal and corrupt. Photos of Congress leaders were misrepresented in the portal, following which the KPCC filed the complaint.

The cybercrime police soon sought information from service providers on the hosting details of the fake website, registration, logs, and other details including those related to payments.

During the probe, officials zeroed in on one M/s Vet Fab Technologies Private Ltd, which was registered in Hassan and had offices in Bengaluru. The firm had developed the fake website and uploaded the content with a target to disseminate false information, the police said in a statement.

The police nabbed Dharmesh Jain and Arun in connection with the payment for hosting the website, along with Siddharth and Venkatesh during raids carried out at the offices in Hassan and Bengaluru on Thursday.

Kerala: Karnataka Cops Held For Accepting Bribe From Cheating Case Accused

Venkatesh was an employee of the firm in Hassan, while the other three are its directors. Officers said Shashank Bharadwaj, employed at Varahe Analytics, had approached the company to create the fake website.

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Story first published: Monday, August 14, 2023, 13:27 [IST]
51 Killed In Himachal Pradesh Rains, 14 Of Them In Shimla Landslides; IMD Issues Red Alert

India

oi-Prakash KL

At least 51 people were killed as rains wreaked havoc in Himachal Pradesh, triggering landslides that blocked key roads, damaged homes and buried devotees in the rubble of a temple here.

Fourteen bodies were recovered from the sites of two landslides in the state capital, and officials feared there could be more people trapped under the debris of the Shiva temple in Summer Hill area.

The shrine was crowded with devotees, offering prayers on an important day of the holy month of Sawan. Nineteen people died in rain-related incidents in Mandi district, Deputy Commissioner Arindam Chaudhary told PTI.

In Solan, another badly affected district, 11 people including seven members of a family have been killed.

The weather office predicted extremely heavy rains in nine out of 12 districts of the state, barring Kullu, Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti, on Monday and issued a yellow warning for Tuesday.

Shimla SP Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi told PTI that 14 bodies have been pulled out of the rubble at the two landslide sites of Summer Hill and Fagli, while 17 persons rescued.

The officials said heavy rains are hampering rescue operations in Shimla several parts of which were without electricity since Sunday night as landslides and uprooted trees damaged power lines.

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Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu earlier said nine bodies have been pulled out of the debris from a Shiva temple in the Summer Hill area and the other site in the Fagli area where several houses were buried under mud and slush.

Himachal Pradesh: Schools, Colleges To Remain Closed Due To Heavy Rainfall

All schools and colleges in the state were closed on Monday. According to the state emergency operation centre, 621 roads were closed in the state because of the calamity.

In Hamirpur district, four people have died due to incessant rains. Hamirpur Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa said that two persons are missing. One person was swept away by the flood waters while two others were rescued on Sunday night. In another incident, an elderly woman was buried alive while her son was rescued after their house collapsed due to rains, the officials said.

In Rangas area of Hamirpur, a woman was killed in a landslide, while an 80-year-old man died in a house collapse incident in Bhagatu panchayat. In Solan district's Jadon village, seven members of a family were killed in a cloudburst on Sunday night.

Two houses in the district were washed away following the cloudburst. While six people were rescued, seven others were killed, a police official said.

The dead have been identified as Harnam (38), Kamal Kishore (35), Hemlata (34), Rahul (14), Neha (12), Golu (8) and Raksha (12), Superintendent of Police, Solan, Gaurav Singh said.

In Balera panchayat of Solan, two children died as their makeshift house collapsed in a landslide. Another woman died in a landslide in Banal village of Ramsheher tehsil, said Deputy Commissioner of Solan Manmohan Sharma, adding a person died in Baddi area.

In Mandi district, seven members of a family, including a two-year-old, were killed in a landslide late on Sunday night in the Seghli panchayat. Three persons were rescued, Deputy Commissioner Chaudhary said.

Six bodies have been recovered at Sambhal near Pandoh. The bodies are yet to be identified, the deputy commissioner said, adding two deaths have been reported from Dharampur area. One boy died in Sirmaur district, according to reports.

In Kangra, heavy rains claimed lives of two persons, including an 11-year-old boy, District Magistrate Nipun Jindal said. The chief minister visited the site of the temple collapse in Shimla and said all efforts are being made to rescue people buried underneath the debris.

''Distressing news has emerged from Shimla, where the Shiva Mandir collapsed as a result of the heavy rainfall. As of now, nine bodies have been retrieved. The local administration is diligently working to clear the debris in order to rescue individuals who may still be trapped. Om Shanti,'' he posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Later, talking to reporters at the site, he said, ''There was a gathering in the Lord Shiva temple at the time of the incident as it was Monday of the holy month of Sawan. All possible efforts are being made to rescue the people buried under the debris.'' Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are engaged in relief and rescue operations in the hill state.

The Unesco world heritage Shimla-Kalka railway line was damaged near Summer Hill here after a landslide swept away a 50-metre bridge, leaving a portion of the track hanging in the air.

Along with the Army, personnel from the SDRF, NDRF, ITBP, and state police, among others, were involved in relief and rescue works, an official statement said.

Deputy Commissioner of Shimla Aditya Negi told PTI that many people were feared buried in the two landslides in Summer Hill and Fagli areas. Heavy rains battered Himachal Pradesh since Sunday, triggering landslides that blocked several roads, including the key Shimla-Chandigarh road. Kangra received 275 mm rainfall since Sunday evening followed by Dharamshala 264 mm, Sundernagar 168 mm, Mandi 167 mm, Berthin 149, Shimla 135 mm, Dhaulakaun 111 mm and Nahan 107 mm.

The weather department has predicted a wet spell in the state till August 18. So far, the state has suffered losses to the tune of Rs 7,171 crore since the onset of monsoon on June 24, as per the state emergency operation centre.

A total of 170 incidents of cloudburst and landslide have been reported in the state this monsoon season and about 9,600 houses partially or completely damaged.
Himachal Rains: NDRF Teams Engaged In Rescue Operations, Says Shah

India

oi-PTI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are engaged in relief and rescue operations in rain-hit Himachal Pradesh and termed the loss of lives due to the deluge as ''extremely distressing''.

At least 29 people were killed in Himachal Pradesh, nine of them buried under the rubble of a temple and after another landslip in Shimla, as rains wreaked havoc in the state, triggering landslides that blocked key roads and brought down houses, officials said on Monday.

Up to 15 more people are feared trapped under the debris of the Shiv temple in Shimla's Summer Hill area. The shrine was crowded with devotees, offering prayers on an important day of the Sawan period. This was one of the two landslides reported from the state capital which is still witnessing intense rain.

''The loss of lives due to heavy rains and landslides at various places in Himachal Pradesh is extremely distressing. NDRF teams are engaged in relief and rescue operations along with the local administration. ''I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families. May God give them the strength to bear this sorrow. I wish for the speedy recovery of the injured,'' he said on X (formerly Twitter).

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29 Killed In Himachal Pradesh Rains, 9 Of Them In Shimla Landslides

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said nine bodies have been pulled out of the debris from a Shiv temple in the Summer Hill area that collapsed and the other site in the Fagli area where several houses were buried under mud and slush.

All schools and colleges in the state were closed on Monday. According to the state emergency operation centre, 752 roads were closed in the state because of the calamity.

The weather office predicted extremely heavy rains in nine out of 12 districts of the state, barring Kullu, Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti on Monday and issued a yellow warning for Tuesday.

In Solan district's Jadon village, seven members of a family were killed in a cloudburst on Sunday night.

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Story first published: Monday, August 14, 2023, 17:21 [IST]
Independence Day 2023: 15th August 2 Minute Short Speech For Students On 77th Independence Day

India

oi-Prakash KL

Independence Day of India is celebrated religiously throughout the country every year on August 15. This is an occasion that brings a sense of unity among the citizens, where people from all walks of life, regardless of their differences, join hands to commemorate their shared history and values.

This is also a time when students will have various cultural activities around the Independence Day as schools try to make them understand the importance of this occasion. Notably, they will be asked to come up with speeches on the Independence Day or the contribution of our freedom fighters to the movement.

For such students, we are providing samples of speeches:

Sample 1:

Dear all,

Independence Day is not another day on the calendar. It is a symbol of our unity, our resilience, and our commitment to upholding the values that define us as a people. It is a moment in the year we pay our tribute to the great people shook off the chains of colonial rule and freed our great nation from British rule.

As we stand here today, let us reflect on the struggles and sacrifices that have brought us to this point. Generations before us fought against tyranny and oppression, standing tall in the face of adversity to secure the rights and freedoms we hold dear. So, it is our duty to honour their legacy by preserving and nurturing the liberties they fought so hard to attain.

We remember that Independence Day is not just about the past; it is also about the present and the future. This day is a reminder of the importance of safeguarding our hard-won freedom, of cherishing the diversity that enriches our society, and of working together to overcome the challenges that lie ahead.

As we celebrate this Independence Day, let us do so with a renewed sense of purpose and a deep appreciation for the privileges we enjoy. Let us carry forward the legacy of our forefathers by contributing positively to our society.

Happy Independence Day to each and every one of you. May our nation continue to prosper, may our unity remain unbreakable, and may our commitment to freedom inspire the world.

Sample 2:

Hello everyone,

Today, we stand here to celebrate our Independence Day. This is a time when we take a moment to reflect upon the valiant efforts and sacrifices of the freedom fighters who laid down their lives for the cause of our liberty.

Their unwavering commitment, indomitable spirit, and selfless sacrifices have left an indelible mark on our history and continue to inspire us to this day.

Our freedom fighters came from diverse backgrounds, yet they were united by a common goal - the goal of liberating our homeland from the clutches of colonial rule. From Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolent resistance to Bhagat Singh's fearless defiance, each one of them contributed to the mosaic of our struggle for independence.

They faced unimaginable hardships, endured brutal suppression, and made personal sacrifices that are beyond measure. Many were imprisoned, tortured, and even gave up their lives, all for the dream of a free and sovereign nation. They exemplified the true meaning of courage, determination, and patriotism.

As we celebrate this Independence Day, let us pay our heartfelt tributes to the freedom fighters who paved the way for our freedom. Let us bow our heads in gratitude and promise to honour their legacy by contributing positively to our nation and working towards a brighter, more inclusive future.

Jai Hind.

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Story first published: Monday, August 14, 2023, 9:42 [IST]
ISRO Gearing Up For Mission To Study Sun

India

oi-PTI

Aditya-L1, the first space-based Indian observatory to study the Sun, is getting ready for its launch soon, ISRO said on Monday. The satellite, realised at U R Rao Satellite Centre here, has arrived at the ISRO's spaceport in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, the Bengaluru-headquartered national space agency said in an update on the mission.

"Mostly September first week," an ISRO official told PTI when asked about the date of the launch. The spacecraft is expected to be placed in a halo orbit around the Lagrange point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system, which is about 1.5 million kilometres from the Earth.

A satellite placed in the halo orbit around the L1 point has a major advantage of continuously viewing the Sun without any occultation/eclipses, ISRO noted. "This will provide a greater advantage of observing the solar activities and its effect on space weather in real time," it said. The spacecraft carries seven payloads to observe the photosphere, chromosphere and the outermost layers of the Sun (the corona) using electromagnetic and particle and magnetic field detectors.

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Using the special vantage point L1, four payloads will directly view the Sun and the remaining three payloads would carry out in-situ studies of particles and fields at the L1, thus providing important scientific studies of the propagatory effect of solar dynamics in the interplanetary medium.

PSLV-C57/Aditya-L1 Mission:



Aditya-L1, the first space-based Indian observatory to study the Sun , is getting ready for the launch.



The satellite realised at the U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), Bengaluru has arrived at SDSC-SHAR, Sriharikota.



More pics pic.twitter.com/JSJiOBSHp1  ISRO (@isro) August 14, 2023

"The suits of Aditya L1 payloads are expected to provide most crucial information to understand the problem of coronal heating, coronal mass ejection, pre-flare and flare activities and their characteristics, dynamics of space weather, propagation of particle and fields etc.," ISRO said. The major science objectives of the Aditya-L1 mission are: study of solar upper atmospheric (chromosphere and corona) dynamics; study of chromospheric and coronal heating, physics of the partially ionised plasma, initiation of the coronal mass ejections, and flares; observe the in-situ particle and plasma environment providing data for the study of particle dynamics from the Sun; physics of solar corona and its heating mechanism; diagnostics of the coronal and coronal loops plasma: temperature, velocity and density; development, dynamics and origin of coronal mass ejections; identify the sequence of processes that occur at multiple layers (chromosphere, base and extended corona) which eventually leads to solar eruptive events; magnetic field topology and magnetic field measurements in the solar corona; drivers for space weather (origin, composition and dynamics of solar wind).

The instruments of Aditya-L1 are tuned to observe the solar atmosphere, mainly the chromosphere and corona, while the in-situ instruments will observe the local environment at L1.

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Story first published: Monday, August 14, 2023, 12:06 [IST]
Will PM Modi Address The Nation From Red Fort Next Year? Here's What Times Now ETG Survey Says

Jayasudha Joins BJP: Know All About The Actress-Turned-Politician

India

oi-Prakash KL

Telugu actress-turned-politician Jayasudha is the latest celebrity from Andhra to join the BJP.

The former Congress MLA joined the saffron party in the presence of Telangana party affairs incharge Tarun Chugh and state chief G Kishan Reddy in Delhi.

Jayasudha, who represented Secunderabad as Congress MLA in combined Andhra Pradesh, was welcomed into the party by Telangana party affairs incharge Tarun Chugh and state chief G Kishan Reddy in Delhi on Wednesday.

In recent times, Jeevitha Rajasekhar, Kavita, Madhavilatha and Vijayasanthi joined the BJP. Also, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had met Telugu actors Junior NTR,

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Who is Jayasudha?

In a career spanning over five decades, Jayasudha has also worked in a few Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi films.

Born on 17 December 1958 in Madras, Tamil Nadu, Jayasudha's birth name is Sujatha Nidudavolu. Her family, hailing from a Telugu-speaking background, includes her father Nidudavolu Rameshwara Rao and her mother, the renowned actress Joga Bai, acclaimed for her roles in films such as 'Balanandam' (1954) and 'Kalahasti Mahatyam' (1954). Vijaya Nirmala, a prominent figure in Telugu cinema as an actress and director, is her father's first cousin. Notably, Jayasudha's paternal grandfather is the distinguished scholar and literary historian Nidudavolu Venkatarao.

At the age of thirteen, Jayasudha took her initial steps into the world of cinema through the Telugu movie "Pandanti Kapuram" (1972). Legendary filmmaker K Balachander cast her in a minor role in Tamil film 'Arangetram' where she shared the screen with Kamal Haasan.

She then worked in numerous films in both Telugu and Tamil such as 'Sollathaan Ninaikkiren' (1973), 'Naan Avanillai' (1974), and 'Apoorva Raagangal', as well as 'Idi Katha Kaadu' alongside Chiranjeevi. As there was another actress with the same name, she rechristened herself as Jayasudha.

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She made her debut as a heroine in Telugu film 'Lakshmana Rekha' (1975). Thereafter, there was no looking back as she went on to work in successful movies like: 'Jyothi' (1976), 'Idi Katha Kaadu' (1979), 'Premabhishekam' (1981), 'Meghasandesam' (1982), and 'Dharmaatmudu' (1983).

In 2009, she was elected as MLA from the Secunderabad constituency from Indian National Congress. However, she later joined the Telugu Desam Party in 2016. Later in 2019 she quit the Telugu Desam Party and joined YSR Congress Party.

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Story first published: Monday, August 14, 2023, 13:01 [IST]
NCP Will Not Go With BJP Although Some 'Well-Wishers' Are Trying To Persuade Me: Sharad Pawar

No Confusion Within MVA, Will Ensure Successful INDIA Meeting In Mumbai: Sharad Pawar

India

oi-PTI

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Monday said there is no confusion within the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance over his meeting with nephew and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in Pune.

"The MVA is united and we will successfully organise the next meeting of opposition bloc INDIA in Mumbai on August 31 and September 1," Pawar told reporters in Baramati. This was the 82-year-old veteran politician's maiden visit to his home turf after Ajit Pawar joined the Eknath Shinde-led government on July 2.

MVA constituents Congress and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) had asked the NCP chief to clear the confusion such meetings between the uncle and nephew create in political circles.

"There is no confusion among MVA partners. We are all together and will ensure the INDIA meeting in Mumbai on August 31 and September 1 is organised successfully," Pawar said. Pawar asked media not to create more confusion by asking the same question. "Myself, Uddhav Thackeray and state Congress president Nana Patole have taken the responsibility of organising the INDIA meeting in Mumbai," Pawar said. The meeting will be held at a luxury hotel.

NCP Will Not Go With BJP Although Some 'Well-Wishers' Are Trying To Persuade Me: Sharad Pawar

The NCP has no association with "factions from MVA" which align with the BJP at the state and national and level, Pawar said, alluding to the move by his nephew. Pawar said he is expecting to speak to NCP leader Nawab Malik, who was on Friday granted two months' interim bail by the Supreme Court in a money laundering case.

The Enforcement Directorate arrested the former minister on February 23 last year in a case registered over the Goawala compound property in Kurla, allegedly linked to gangster Dawood Ibrahim.

Malik is in judicial custody since March 2022 and was admitted at a private hospital in Kurla in May last year. He is still at the hospital. Pawar sidestepped a question on an editorial in Monday's issue of Sena (UBT) mouthpiece Saamana expressing displeasure over the "frequent meetings" between him and Ajit Pawar.

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Story first published: Monday, August 14, 2023, 12:43 [IST]
Two Weeks After Violence, Internet Services Restored In Haryana's Nuh

India

oi-Prakash KL

Two weeks after the violent communal clashes, internet services have been restored in Haryana's Nuh.

On July 31, the state government had suspended mobile internet, SMS and broadband services in view of the "tense and critical" situation after the July 31 clashes.

Six people, including two home guards and a cleric, have died in the clashes that erupted in Nuh over an attempt to stop a Vishva Hindu Parishad procession and spread to Gurugram.

A total of 393 people have been arrested and 118 taken into preventive detention in connection with the communal clashes in Haryana earlier this month. Besides, 160 FIRs have been registered in Nuh, Gurugram, Faridabad, Palwal, Rewari, Panipat, Bhiwani and Hisar, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij said in a statement on Friday.

The violence broke out after a religious procession was attacked as a mob tried to stop a Vishva Hindu Parishad procession, pelting stones and setting cars on fire. According to some claims, the trigger for the violence was an objectionable video posted on social media in Ballabhgarh.

Reports claim that Monu Manesar, a well-known cow vigilante linked to the Bajrang Dal, had previously released video messages announcing his intention to join the yatra. However, he refrained from participating upon the advice of the VHP, as they were concerned that his presence might escalate tensions. Nonetheless, a rumour about his presence became the catalyst for the outbreak of violence.

Ahead of the Independence Day celebrations, the District Magistrate of Nuh has announced that the curfew in Haryana's Nuh district has been relaxed from 6 am to 8 pm on August 14 and 15.

"Keeping in view, the information received from the Police department, in the exercise of the powers vested in me by virtue of Section-144 of the code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, I, Dhirendra Khadgata, IAS, District Magistrate, Nuh do hereby lift the curfew for the movement of public from 6 am to 8 pm on 14.08.2023 and 15.08.2023," the order reads.

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Story first published: Monday, August 14, 2023, 8:10 [IST]
Elon Musk Vs Mark Zuckerberg Cage Fight Called Off

International

oi-Prakash KL

The much-anticipated cage fight between the two of the world's top tech moguls Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has been virtually called off.

Zuckerberg has formally announced that it is "time to move on" as Musk is not "serious" about the cage fight.

"I think we can all agree Elon isn't serious and it's time to move on. I offered a real date. Dana White offered to make this a legit competition for charity. Elon won't confirm a date, then says he needs surgery, and now asks to do a practice round in my backyard instead. If Elon ever gets serious about a real date and official event, he knows how to reach me. Otherwise, time to move on. I'm going to focus on competing with people who take the sport seriously," Zuckerberg wrote on his Twitter-like app Threads.

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It comes days after Musk claimed that he's been in communication with Italy's Prime Minister and Minister of Culture to discuss the possibility of hosting the event.

"The fight will be organized through our foundations, not UFC. The live stream will be available on this platform as well as Meta. The entire scene within the camera frame will reflect ancient Rome, embracing a completely non-modern atmosphere. I've conversed with Italy's Prime Minister and Minister of Culture, and we've agreed upon an awe-inspiring location. Every aspect of this endeavor will pay homage to Italy's rich past and vibrant present. And all proceeds will be dedicated to supporting veterans," Musk wrote.

However, despite Musk's recent assertion that the cage match will be set in "ancient Rome," Gennaro Sangiuliano, Italy's Minister of Culture, stated that such an event won't be held in Rome, as reported by Variety.

"I had a lengthy and friendly conversation with Elon Musk," Sangiuliano stated in a released statement (translated by Google). "We discussed our shared passion for the history of ancient Rome. We are contemplating how to organize a significant charitable and historical reenactment event, while fully respecting and safeguarding the sites. But it won't take place in Rome."

Elon Musk Vs Mark Zuckerberg's Fight To Be Live Streamed On Twitter

It all started with a tweet from Musk, expressing his openness to a cage match with Zuckerberg, who happens to be trained in jiujitsu.

Also, the Tesla CEO had recently claimed that the cage match between the tech moguls will be streamed live on his Twitter, which is now rebranded as X. Talking about his preparations, Musk said that he was"lifting weights throughout the day, preparing for the fight." "Don't have time to work out, so I just bring them to work," he added.

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Story first published: Monday, August 14, 2023, 9:00 [IST]
Manipur: Woman Shot Dead By Unidentified Gunmen Near School A Day After It Reopened

Know About The 3 Passengers Shot Dead By A Railway Cop

Journalist From Sindhi News Channel Shot Dead In Pakistan

International

oi-Prakash KL

A journalist working for a Sindhi news channel was shot dead by unidentified assailants on Saturday night, according to reports in Pakistan media.

The victim has been identified as Jan Muhammad Mahar. He was shot dead in an armed attack by bike-borne men near St Saviour School on Queens Road.

Several rounds of fire were sprayed by the assailants. According to the police, the journalist sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his head and in close proximity to his eyes.

He was rushed to a private hospital in a critical condition, but unfortunately, he died during surgery, as confirmed by hospital officials.

Chinese Journalist Jailed For 3 Years Shares His Ordeal

The cops are yet to nab the people who killed the journalist and the motive behind the murder. However, three teams have been formed led by the DSPs. Of these teams, two were engaged in area cordoning and impromptu inspections, while the third team was focused on reviewing CCTV footage.

"A personal dispute seems to be the cause of the attack," Sukkur SSP Singhar Malik said.

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Story first published: Monday, August 14, 2023, 15:17 [IST]
The asylum-seeker accused of sex abuse and unlawful imprisonment of a human services employee is now sitting in the Erie County Holding Center without bail.

But the conversation about what should happen to asylum-seekers bused here is far from over. Concerns linger about how, and to what extent, migrants are being vetted to ensure the safety of local residents. In one instance, a migrant encountered by a Cheektowaga police officer was found to have outstanding arrests in New York City, said Cheektowaga Police Chief Brian Gould.

National Guard headed to Cheektowaga hotels housing asylum-seekers after second sex-crime arrest National Guard troops being sent to the Cheektowaga hotels housing asylum-seekers from New York City will act as a stabilizing presence, Erie County Executive Mark Pononcarz said Saturday, reacting to the arrest of a second migrant on a sex charge.

Meanwhile, on the political front, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz has become a political pinata for Republican leaders and candidates who have accused him of moralizing about the importance of accepting asylum-seekers in May, and deflecting early concerns and criticisms, only to now be demanding that the New York City busing effort cease until better safeguards can be put in place.

Poloncarz said New York Mayor Eric Adams has agreed not to send any more migrants to the region until that happens.

Roughly 540 migrants have been bused to three different Cheektowaga hotels since mid-June. Initially, Gould said, this wasnt a problem. Few concerns were reported, and even now, there have been virtually no reports of overnight activity involving asylees.

But he also said that these are people who have nothing to do during their waking hours except wait for their next meal since theyre not allowed to work for six months.

Gould said the two recent felony cases involving sex crimes over the past two weeks are the worst of what have, until now, been largely quality-of-life and low-level criminal complaints involving asylum-seekers. But concerns grew as more arrived and as more began being sheltered at a Dingens Street hotel, which is adjacent to a residential neighborhood.

Cheektowaga residents and business representatives have complained about having panhandlers follow them through the aisles at local grocery stores, trolling for work by the dozens in the Home Depot parking lot or sleeping on front lawns.

Cheektowaga police have arrested four or five migrants for shoplifting at the Walden Galleria or Walmart and are taking more calls from people who find the presence of migrants troubling even when they arent necessarily doing anything illegal. The shoplifters were released on appearance tickets, Gould said.

Cheektowaga feeling the strain of national immigration debate Cheektowaga did not sign up to be a focal point in Western New York for the the national debate over immigration, but with more than 500 asylum-seekers sent to the town from New York City, that is what it has become.

Gould said he spoke with representatives at DocGo, the company that is sending migrants to Erie County, when police encountered someone who had an arrest record in New York City. He said he was told that the person should not have been sent to the county, which raises more questions about the vetting process.

I think it speaks to their ability to actually perform that job than theyre saying theyre performing, he said.

Despite this, Gould said, the number of incidents reported at the Dingens Street hotel is lower than was previously reported to Cheektowaga police prior to the hotel being used to shelter asylum-seekers. Perception still matters to local residents, however, and Gould said they have the right to feel safe. He not yet heard back from the state regarding assistance to pay for overtime to increase patrols around the hotels.

Though discussion has taken place regarding the removal of migrants from this hotel, Dharnesh Patel, who handles hotel operations for the Bhavani Hotels Group, said he has not been told of any plans to move the migrants.

The hotel recently attracted the attention of county legislators because it is one of two hotels sheltering asylum-seekers that owes outstanding county property taxes. The Best Western on Dingens Street owes the most, at $72,773 in taxes and interest for this year. Patel said all taxes will be paid by early next month.

Frank Todaro, R-Lancaster, has visited the hotels where the migrants are staying and bought food and candy for a mother and her two children who followed him into Tops. But he still said that the county shouldnt accept more migrants and that the ones who are here now should be quarantined until paperwork is returned proving that they are not a known safety risk.

He also said he was criticized for raising concerns initially.

Bad things have to happen in order for people to wake up, he said.

Timothy Meyers, D-Cheektowaga, said hes sympathetic to resident concerns as well.

Its not right that all this stress is getting put on one community, he said. What, Cheektowaga is the only place thats got hotels? Thats what bothers me. The residents feel like theyre being singled out, and in some ways they are.

Poloncarz said that when he talked with New York City representatives, he said said he was clear that migrants should not be housed in hotels near residential neighborhoods. Thats why, initially, the hotels near the airport seemed like a good fit.

Political outcry follows arrest of asylum-seeker on rape charge An accusation of rape last week in a Cheektowaga hotel against an asylum-seeker from Venezuela has touched off a firestorm of criticism from Republicans who have been critical of Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz's response to the migrant crisis.

Erie County Republican Party Chairman Michael Kracker, however, said Poloncarz didnt do his job in ensuring there was a competent vetting process for migrants. He and other Republican leaders and hopefuls held another news conference Sunday to criticize Poloncarzs leadership.

Mark has routinely tried to take some route of moral superiority, and then when something blows up in his face, he walks it back and acts like he never did anything wrong, Kracker told The News, adding, He had just previously stated that anybody who even raised concerns was xenophobic and racist. And now hes saying that theres a public safety threat.

Poloncarz reiterated to The News on Sunday that he demanded a halt to the busing program because assurances made by New York City have turned out to be hollow. He repeated that he and other public safety leaders feel betrayed.

We were just demanding more from New York City, he said, and its quite apparent that the assurances they gave us early on have not met the level we expected.

He did not close the door on restarting the program but said he wants to wait and see how conversations go over the next week or so. He also said theres a difference between racist attitudes and legitimate questions. Tagging all asylum-seekers with the same broad brush is fundamentally unfair, he said.
Chanting 'Jai Shri Ram', Group Beats Up Muslim Youth For Going Out With Hindu Girl [VIDEO]

Mumbai: Lottery Results For MHADA To Be Announced On August 14

Mumbai

oi-Sushmita Halder

The Maharashtra Housing Area Development Authority (MHADA) lottery 2023 for 4,082 flats will take place on Monday. The lottery 2023 will take place at Y B Chavan Pratisthan. This is the first such lottery since Covid.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is scheduled to be the chief guest. The flats are located in various areas of Mumbai and include affordable housing options.

Around 1.20 lakh persons have bid and paid deposits between 50,000 to 1.52 lakh. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is scheduled to be the chief guest, but he may attend the programme online.

These flats are located in Tardeo, Sion, Andheri, Juhu, Goregaon, Kandivali, Borivali, Vikhroli, Ghatkopar, and Powai. The draw includes 1,947 flats under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) scheme located mostly in areas of suburban Goregaon.

Kerala Lottery Winning Numbers: Check Results For 'Nirmal NR 341'

Out of the total number of houses, 2,790 are for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS), 1,034 for the Lower Income Group (LIG), 139 houses for the Middle Income Group (MIG), and 120 for the Higher Income Group (HIG).

Some flats in Tardeo, Juhu, and Dadar are priced between 2.39 crore and 7.58 crore. The most expensive property in its inventory is a 1,531 sqft carpet area in Crescent Tower, Tardeo. Priced at 7,57,94,268, the 3BHK flat on the 19th floor of the building has an exclusive servants' quarter, which can be accessed privately. The apartment comes under the High-Income group (HIG), which overlooks the Mahalaxmi Race Course and offers a sea view.

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Story first published: Monday, August 14, 2023, 13:52 [IST]
According to its defense ministry, a Russian warship fired warning shots at a vessel headed to Ukraine in the Black Sea. It is the first such incident since Moscow exited the UN-brokered grain deal.
It is the first time the German finance minister has visited Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion. Meanwhile, Ukraine's president has vowed revenge after shelling in Kherson. DW has the latest.
Last night I had a vision; at least I thought I did. I saw what we, in the Judeo-Christian-Muslim cultures, call "the host of heaven" in a huge uproar over the identification of the worst of all faults. I could hear bits and pieces of their debate. "Greed!" shouted an anonymous angel. "Lust!" answered another. A little cherub suggested "lying".

"Bad faith!" yelled one of the seraphim. Suddenly, a hush came over the whole proceeding as the archangel Gabriel appeared. The answer, he said, was somewhat complicated. He had talked with G-d and still they could not say for certain if the answer were "ignorance" or "stupidity."

In the end, they decided that though the answer was "ignorance," it could be overcome, unless it were accompanied by "stubbornness," the ignorant refusing to overcome their ignorance. This combination they had decided to call "stupidity". Clearly this form of stupidity was the most lethal. Its cause was still unclear. As I was awakening, I thought I could hear Gabriel asking the Lord if, perhaps, profound stupidity, unlike the congenital variety, could be caused by a virus? His boss, wanting to help, but not to make it too easy for them, suggested studying the little-known Herpeticus stupidis virus.

Apparently, the virus strikes, overwhelms certain segments of the population, then succumbs to what is commonly called "herd immunity". Certain groups are apparently more susceptible than others, perhaps due to direct exposure. For instance, studies show that there was a serious outbreak among Tea Party members that went untreated. It seems to have heavily infected the Freedom Caucus, the victims either directly involved with the Tea Party or significantly exposed to some of its members. Studies indicate that infection with the virus is seldom fatal; however it can have lasting effects.

The most current research indicates possible spread to Progressive members of Congress due to excessive amounts of time spent arguing with Freedom Caucus members. Both groups are constantly at each other's throats instead of talking with their opponents' constituency. The Caucus membership desperately wishes things could be like they were in pre-Civil War times and many Progressives want to create a Utopia without paying for it. For the most part, their constituencies lie somewhere in between.

Progressives, under the influence of H. stupidis , managed to pass a civil rights bill that certain virus-free senators like Barry Goldwater reluctantly refused to approve because, though it was well intentioned, was not strictly constitutional. When an ultra-conservative Supreme Court struck down some of the clearly well intentioned, but unconstitutional provisions, many Progressives were, nonetheless, dumbfounded. The same thing occurred when the same High Court struck down the President's clearly unconstitutional student loan-buyback program. In both cases, under the long-term effects of H. stupidis , many legislators could not fathom that no matter how moral well-meaning legislation is, to last, it needs to be better researched, better written, and better understood. As is too often the case, Congress does not put in quite the time, the dedication and especially the intelligence, to properly write a law.

Then there are the acute H. stupidis -syndrome victims like Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert, temporarily needing assistance with their signatures and with very odd phrases (even for them) passing their lips, utterances that have been cut off from the appropriate synapses in the brain. Admittedly, these individuals, however, did start out at something of a congenital disadvantage even before their encounter with the virus.

Others, like the members of the DNC, seem to have passed on the virus from generation to generation. In 2000 the DNC, by neglecting to review the ill-fated Florida "butterfly ballot" before the election, cost their candidate, Al Gore, thousands of votes in Palm Beach County and with them, the presidential election. In 2020, the very popular Bill Nelson lost his Florida Senate seat to unindicted co-conspirator Rick Scott because, again, the DNC failed to review the flawed butterfly ballot in Broward County. It seems that thousands of people in the heavily Democratic county failed to vote for anyone for Senator. The vote was buried under a long column of instructions that most voters don't bother to read, a column, though technically "legal", is recommended, even by the federal election board, to be avoided in the construction of a ballot. No one knows how many elections could be saved if the incompetent "Committee" would make it a habit to simply review the ballots before elections. Unfortunately, it seems that one of the most common symptoms of the virus seems to be an aversion to "preventive treatment".

Al Finkelstein, D.O., 8/9/23
Nedlands, Western Australia - 25 June, 2023 - Breaking Through: The Secrets of Bassai Dai Kata, authored by Colin Wee and published by Moosul Publishing of Kansas, USA has been named a Finalist in Sports in the 2023 International Book Awards. Breaking Through summarizes the author's forty-year experience in the martial arts and chronicles the development of the JDK Method through the study of Bassai Dai, a pattern chosen for 
DeOnn Wooden remembers that Beaverton courtroom  and that judge  vividly.

The judge was calling different people and he was handing out sentences for people, he said. Big fines and jail time. Then it was my turn.

The judge did not look like an empathetic man. Wooden was wrong on that score.

The judge gave him a chance. And Wooden took it.

Now, 30 years later, Wooden is completing the paperwork to open his own electrical-services company. He expects to be in business in late August and plans to hire women and minorities who want to get into the trade.

He wants to give people like himself  people whove been knocked around by life, people who could use a break  a chance to prove themselves.

I know all about racism and roadblocks, the 53-year-old Vancouver resident said. Ive always been a man just trying to make it to the next stop in life. Ive run into plenty of roadblocks. I learned nothing could stop me forever. I moved forward by going around that roadblock.

Wooden grew up in Compton, Calif., where he said his future seemed clear  dead or in prison.

There were gang shootings every night, he said. Even if you werent in a gang, you could get shot. I had several friends killed. One was in the wrong neighborhood. Gangs beat him. He made it home, collapsed and died. He was 15.

But then Woodens family moved to Perris, a town near Palm Springs. This wasnt a perfect situation  he was one of the few Black kids there, and he felt it  but it gave him a chance. After graduating from high school, Wooden enrolled at a Phoenix trade school and earned a two-year degree in drafting.

He returned to California, but jobs proved difficult to come by. He couldnt figure out how to get a career started. One of his older brothers had moved to Portland and told Wooden it was nice up in the Pacific Northwest, so Wooden decided to go too.

I was 20, he said. I got off the train, looked to the West Hills, saw all the green and thought, this is the life for me.

It wasnt. He found a place to live in Beaverton and a series of jobs, but he couldnt get ahead, couldnt find his calling.

And it sometimes seemed like Beaverton didnt want him there.

The police pulled me over all the time for minor driving violations, he said. I believe it was because I was Black.

He moved to Northeast Portland, hoping to fit in better. He met a woman, fell in love and they had a son, but the relationship later ended. He joined a church and found steady work  in the maintenance department for a hotel and at a local print shop.

He didnt love what he was doing for a paycheck, but he could pay his bills  barely. He was beginning to think hed finally found his place in the world.

Then another curveball: In 1993 he was served an arrest warrant from the Washington County District Attorneys Office. All those traffic violations in Beaverton had caught up with him. He owed some $9,000 in fines.

As a show of support, Woodens pastor came to the courtroom with him. When Wooden stepped before the white judge, he was nervous.

The encounter started out poorly.

You see this paper in my hand? the judge asked.

Yes, Wooden answered.

This is a warrant for your arrest. You see that police officer standing behind you?

Yes, sir.

Hes going to take you to jail.

Woodens pastor then stood and asked the judge if he could speak.

What do you want in my courtroom?

The pastor explained Wooden was on the right track in life.

The judge looked at me and asked if it was true, Wooden said. I said yes.

Wooden recalls the moment in detail.

The judge said hed suspend the warrant and knock down the fines to $1,500, telling Wooden he had to pay $50 a month until the books were clear.

Wooden agreed.

But the judge issued a final warning before sending Wooden on his way.

If youre one day late paying, the judge said, Im personally coming to get you.

Wooden walked out of the courtroom a man with a mission.

I had the opportunity to get it right, he said. If I had gone to jail, my chance at a good life would be over. I decided to get a goal and stick to it.

Wooden, who never had the chance to thank the judge for this second chance, worked whatever job he could find, sometimes two or more at the same time. He never missed a court payment.

My father is a hard-working man, said his son, Dreydon DeOnn Wooden, 30. Even as a little kid all I saw him doing was working. He made it happen. We had food on the table. He did whatever it took.

Not too long after the judge knocked down the fines, a fire damaged a room in the church Wooden attended. He and other parishioners volunteered to remove debris and do some basic repair work. The church also hired an electrician, Riad Nasry, the owner of Alpha Electric, to rewire the room.

I was watching him work, said Wooden of the electrician. One day he was trying to put up a ceiling fan. It was difficult and he said hed come by the next morning to finish it.

Wooden remained at the church that evening.

I wasnt an electrician, he said. But I studied the instructions and put the fan in. The next day the electrician saw it. I told him what Id done. He checked all my work. It was perfect. He asked if Id like to come work for him and learn the business as an apprentice.

It was, said Nasry, an easy choice.

He jumped in and did the work, said Nasry. That is the kind of man who needs an opportunity.

Wooden got his license, worked for Alpha Electric for a few years and then moved to larger companies, learning new skills, as well as how to manage customers and other electricians.

I enjoyed taking something people cant see  electricity  and make something out of it, Wooden said. I can drive all over Portland and know exactly where I worked. That gives me great satisfaction.

In 2019, Nasry, the man who gave Wooden the chance during the church project, called and ask him to come back, this time to be the company foreman. Wooden oversees residential and commercial jobs in the Portland metro area.

I am truly blessed, Wooden said. I got friends that have been in prison 25 years. I had a friend who did 25, got out six years ago and died last year of a heart attack.

Wooden, a single father, always told his son, to never quit.

Nothing is given to you, he said. Work hard and then its going to be harder. Bitterness doesnt gain you anything. All it does is keep your heart sick.

Dreydon, who works as a designer and salesman for Grillworks Supply Co. in Beaverton, said his father has been a role model in his life.

Surviving the streets in Compton during that era meant you could lose your life saying the wrong thing or looking at someone the wrong way, he said.

Thats how my father lives, he said. Dont take things personally. Just do your job. Do a good job.

De'Onn Wooden describes himself simply. He is, he says, a man just trying to make it to the next stop in life. When he encounters roadblocks, and he's come up against many, he just keeps moving forward.

Time is precious, and DeOnn Wooden doesnt want to waste it. A few months ago, he told Nasry that he dreamed of starting his own company. Wooden wanted to have his own shop.

The owner not only gave Wooden his blessing, he also gave him a van to use, the first van in what Wooden hopes will one day be a fleet of work rigs.

When he worked for me, he helped my company make money, said Nasry. He was such a hard worker. I gave him a van because I respected him as an electrician and a man. I am proud of him.

Now, Wooden said, he wants to help other people.

Two older men  a judge and an electrician  changed my life, said Wooden. I want to be that for other people.

Wooden said he plans to help women and people of color become electricians by offering apprenticeships and helping them study and earn a license.

Woodens parents are gone.

But he carries his fathers message in his heart.

He told me to watch people and learn from them, he said. My father told me to always keep moving forward. Im just a hard-working electrician.

 Tom Hallman Jr

503-221-8224; thallman@oregonian.com; @thallmanjr

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Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson has been charged with murder in the shooting death of his wife last week in their Anaheim Hills home.

The judge, 72, was arrested on Aug. 3 after his son called emergency dispatchers to say his mother, 65-year-old Sheryl Ferguson, had been shot.

The judge was taken into custody, spent one night in jail and posted $1 million bail.

On the evening of the slaying, according to papers filed by prosecutors late Thursday, Ferguson and his wife got into an argument over dinner at a restaurant, where he threatened her by making a hand gesture indicative of pointing a gun at her.

The argument continued when the couple returned home, where Sheryl Ferguson said, Why dont you point a real gun at me? or something similar, prosecutors said in the court papers.

The judge, intoxicated, then pulled a Glock .40-caliber pistol from his ankle holster and shot her in the chest, the bullet exiting her back and hitting the wall behind her, prosecutors said.

The judges adult son, who called 911 and tried to perform CPR on his mother, said his father had been drinking too much, prosecutors said.

The judge himself later called 911 to say his wife needed a paramedic, but when asked if he had shot her, he said he didnt want to talk about it, prosecutors said.

However, according to the D.A.s office, the judge texted his court clerk and bailiff, saying: I just lost it. I just shot my wife. I wont be in tomorrow. I will be in custody. Im so sorry. The recipients initially thought the text was a joke, prosecutors said.

Ferguson smelled of alcohol and was still wearing the empty ankle holster when police took him into custody, prosecutors said.

He asked officers to shoot him, according to prosecutors, and made remarks that were captured by police body camera: What an ass I am, Oh, man, I cant believe I did this, and I guess Im done for a while.

Police took a sample of the judges blood to measure its alcohol content seven hours after the shooting, by which time it measured .06%, below the legal limit for intoxication, according to court papers.

Fergusons son told police that his mother had once talked the judge out of shooting himself, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors will ask the court to impose additional bail conditions on Ferguson. Among their concerns: a missing rifle.

Though Anaheim police confiscated 47 firearms in a search of the judges home, plus more that 26,000 rounds of ammunition, detectives were unable to find a .22-caliber rifle that is registered in his name, according to the district attorneys office.

Police missed still another rifle in their search of the judges home, though Fergusons defense attorney later found it and handed it over, the D.A. said.

Among the extra bail conditions, prosecutors will ask that Ferguson surrender his passport and his permit to carry a concealed weapon, possess no guns and wear an ankle monitor.

In a motion to set Fergusons arraignment for Tuesday, Deputy District Attorney Chris Alex asked the court to limit contact between the defendant and his adult son, described in court papers as the only eyewitness to the homicide, in order to prevent any degree of risk or undue influence upon Son.

Prosecutors will also ask that the judge avoid alcohol altogether.

Though its prosecutors appeared before the judge regularly until last week, the Orange County district attorneys office is handling the case, citing a decision by the state attorney generals office that there is no conflict.

Ferguson, who was a local prosecutor himself for more than three decades before becoming a judge in 2015, faces 40 years to life in prison if convicted of current charges.

This is a tragedy for the entire Ferguson family. ... It was an accident and nothing more, Fergusons attorneys, John Barnett and Paul Meyer, said in a statement, according to City News Service.

 Christopher Goffard, Los Angeles Times (TNS)

_____

2023 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
On August 27, girl-identified youth from all over Oregon are welcome to attend Parent-Daughter GirlCon in Eugene, a celebration of all things girl and geek.

GirlCon is for youth ages 10-18 to attend with their chosen guardian for a day full of cosplay, video games, anime, Dungeons & Dragons and more, in a safe and accepting environment. Itll be from 12-5 p.m. at Farmers Market Pavilion, located at 85th E. 8th Avenue.

Its being hosted by Ophelias Place, a prevention-based nonprofit that offers girl-identified youth tools to help navigate girlhood like out-of-school workshops and activities and group therapy, all centered around empowering young girls.

Its for girl-identified youth and really anyone whos experienced girlhood in their lifetime are absolutely welcome to come, said Teri Conklin, communications director for Ophelias Place. And if were able to reach one more young person out in the community who is looking for that connection with somebody else, thats what an event like this is really about.

GirlCon was born back in 2018 and went remote during the pandemic. This is the first year it will return to an in-person meet up.

Conklin wants parents and kids to know that Ophelias Place and GirlCon is a space for anyone at any stage of girldom between the ages of 10-18, whether its in the past or somewhere they feel they are now.

Were recognizing that todays youth are so smart and theyre so creative and theyre not afraid to explore who they are, said Conklin. As an organization that really is defined by what youth really want and what they really need, we need to be paying attention to their journey on determining who they are.

Listening to the interests and hobbies of the girls in the program was how GirlCon came to be -- and it has only grown.

This year, attendees can expect your usual comic con fare. Except, as the title of the event aptly suggests, it will be catered to young girls, like an artists alley, speakers like local artist Mar de Luna Arts, cosplay competition, short Dungeons & Dragons games for players at all levels and more.

Attendees are urged to dress up, if they want.

This is an opportunity for youth outside the major Portland-metro to experience geek culture in a group setting, too.

Connection and community for girls is important. The CDC released findings in February 2023 expressing an urgency to invest in schools as a vital lifeline to struggling youth. What some students cant find in school, they can find at Ophelias Place.

The findings went on to show that teen girls are experiencing record high levels of violence, sadness, and suicide risk. If a teen is part of the LGBTQ+ community, they continue to face extremely high levels of violence and mental health challenges.

Conklins advice for parents with a teen girl who might want to utilize the tools at Ophelias Place, or might be struggling over all, is simple.

Start doing your own research on how to be a better support for your young person, she said. She urged that growth can feel uncomfortable but that its okay to learn and Ophelias Place is there to help parents and support systems as well.

They may not turn around and say thank you to you, but youre making them a better person by being a better person.

For kids interested, Ophelias Place has a number of clubs like Anime Club, or over the summer theater and multimedia journalism camps.

As for GirlCon, any girl-identified youth ages 10-18 and their chosen guardian are welcome.

There is no cover charge and Ophelias Place just asks that you register and donate if you can.

We know that more and more women are getting interested in game development or theyre more and more interested in science, technology, mathematics said Conklin of the slowly changing tide in the number of women entering predominantly male jobs. Why on earth would we want to exclude girls from exploring those things?
For the better part of two years, Dennis Cote lived with the fear that every time he left his home he might chance across the stranger who was charged with brutally beating him out of racial hatred along a Southeast Portland street.

Thats because Multnomah County prosecutors told Cote they were powerless to keep the man locked up. And so the story went: It was the judges fault for releasing the man from jail pending trial on hate crime charges and for giving him permission to visit Idaho, where he defied court orders and stayed. And it was former Gov. Kate Browns fault that the man wasnt extradited to Oregon and the case came to a screeching halt.

But Cote, a 39-year-old graduate student of Filipino ancestry, never gave up.

He researched racially motivated violence in the United States, studied the reasons governors approve extraditions and enlisted the assistance of a pro bono attorney and an Asian American advocacy group. He also turned to The Oregonian/OregonLive for help. And now, Idaho police have tracked down Cotes alleged attacker and arrested him, and the case appears revived.

Cote is one of a small but significant number of hate crime victims whose cases have faltered in Multnomah County  the most liberal county in a liberal state. While the county has some of the most aggressive prosecutions in the state, it also has some gut-wrenching failures.

Many of these victims reluctantly accept that their cases may never go anywhere, but Cote said he had to keep fighting because prosecuting his attacker is important to him and others from targeted communities.

Hate crimes are sort of like terrorism, Cote said. They definitely scare people and intimidate them.

Cote recounts the details of that fall 2021 day: He was walking along a Southeast Portland street when a stranger approached from behind, called him an anti-Asian slur, and swiped at him with a knife, leaving a small cut on his hand.

The man knocked Cote to the ground and pummeled his face, stopping only when a passing driver pulled over and intervened. He said he suffered a broken nose and still has trouble breathing. He also sustained a concussion that blurs his vision, making it difficult to read, write and concentrate.

Cote shared a photo of his face after the attack. Warning, the photo is graphic.

The Oregonian/OregonLive asked five former Multnomah County prosecutors and two current defense attorneys if the Multnomah County District Attorneys Office pursued the case as vigorously as it should have. All identified missteps. Some expressed outrage.

Chuck Sparks, who retired as a chief deputy district attorney in Multnomah County in 2018, said he finds aspects of the case shocking and embarrassing for his former office.

That starts with prosecutors decision to pursue a misdemeanor fourth-degree assault charge instead of a felony second-degree assault charge against Cotes alleged attacker, 46-year-old Mark Franklyn, days after the beating in October 2021. The former might net a sentence of only probation. The latter, nearly six years in prison.

The experts told the news organization that if prosecutors had pursued the more serious assault charge, Judge Christopher Ramras probably wouldnt have let Franklyn out of jail without posting bail. Judge Judith Matarazzo also would have been less likely to grant Franklyn permission to leave the state for a visit to Idaho. Franklyn left in April 2022 and didnt return.

Although Idaho police arrested him within days, Multnomah County prosecutors decided not to argue there were extenuating circumstances that might have persuaded then-Gov. Brown to extradite Franklyn to Oregon.

So, Idaho authorities let him go. And the case sat stagnant for 15 months.

That is, until Cote reached out to The Oregonian/OregonLive for help. In July, the news organization asked current Gov. Tina Kotek if she would extradite Franklyn if he were arrested today.

Kotek said she would. Her staff shared the governors stance with prosecutors, and prosecutors asked a judge to re-issue a warrant in mid-July.

In the following weeks, sheriffs officials in Ada County, Idaho  Franklyns last known whereabouts  said they had no record of Multnomah County prosecutors asking them to search for and arrest Franklyn.

Liz Merah, a spokesperson for the DAs office, said reaching out is a matter of resources.

Unfortunately, with thousands of outstanding warrants at any given time, we do not have the resources to make individualized efforts to contact every possible county in every possible state in which a defendant may be, Merah wrote, in an email.

Instead, The Oregonian/OregonLive in early August contacted the sheriffs office in Ada County to ask if they were aware of Franklyns reissued warrant. A week after that, sheriffs deputies took Franklyn into custody. A sheriffs official confirmed Franklyn was arrested because the news organization told them about the details of the case and the reissued warrant  not because Multnomah County prosecutors had.

Friday, Koteks office said the governor approved Franklyns extradition.

And the case appears to be back on track.

Sparks, the retired prosecutor, said it shouldnt have taken a newspaper reporter to restart the case against Franklyn.

Its very disheartening to hear this case has not proceeded the way it really should have, said Sparks, who is not supporting Schmidts 2024 re-election.

Merah, the spokesperson for the DAs office, said because the case is still pending she is unable to comment about prosecutors decision not to charge Franklyn with a higher level of assault. But she said, overall, the attorneys criticizing the office do not have all the relevant facts about this case and, therefore, their conclusions are flawed.

Cote, however, disagrees.

To put it bluntly, I think the prosecutors dont take hate crimes seriously, he said. And that a lot of people are left feeling hopeless and defenseless.

-- Aimee Green; agreen@oregonian.com; @o_aimee

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If you compared a Buffalo construction industry event today to one from 20 or even 10 years ago, the number of women in the room today would be astonishing. It is easy to imagine a not-so-distant future where construction loses the title of a male-dominated industry.

However, the misguided decertification of Women-owned Business Enterprises (WBE) by New York State works against this trend. Many of these decertifications are happening to WBEs that have been legitimately operating and following the rules for years. And many of these women are not only leaders of their companies, but leaders of the industry, who give back to help others and serve as role models for those who will follow in their footsteps.

A reason often given by the state for decertification is the presence of a male relative working for the company, who they assume must be the one actually running the business. Ironically, a program meant to prevent discrimination is relying on the assumption that the man must be in charge if male and female family members work together. This is ridiculous and insulting to these female leaders who have built and run these businesses. Multiple family members working for a construction company is common and should not be held against women business owners.

Another factor in these decertifications is a lack of understanding of the role of the business owner in exercising control of the company. Too much emphasis is placed on direct supervision of workers in the field and not enough on other tasks essential to the operation of a construction company, such as business development, securing bonding and insurance, negotiating work, estimating and bidding, reviewing contracts, hiring employees, managing finances and planning the companys future. In reality, it is not practical or typical for the owner to do all of this and manage field operations directly, that is why field supervisors such as superintendents and foremen are hired.

Fixing this will take some attention and effort, but to begin with, Empire State Development (ESD) must institute an immediate moratorium on further decertifications while they evaluate their processes. Decertification can have a devastating impact on these companies and often results in loss of business and laying off workers. The recertification process should be a comprehensive review of the ownership, operation and control of these businesses, free from reliance on discriminatory and outdated standards. The decertifications are out of touch with what is happening in construction and they hurt our industrys ability to continue to become more diverse. This must be corrected immediately so these businesses can take advantage of the incredible construction projects happening in our community now.

Board of Governors:

Nicole Savage, President, NW Contracting

Lauren Chmielowiec, President, Upstate Steel/Upstate Rebar

Doug Elia, President, Montante Construction

Jim Panepinto, Owner, Pinto Construction Services

John Cleary, Senior Project Executive, Gilbane Building Company

Rob Coppola, Senior Account Executive, Lawley

Carley Hill, Founder & CEO, CAHill TECH, Inc.

Michelle Ashby, Founder & CEO, Tipping Point

Susanne Kelley, President, Sienna Environmental Technologies

Kevin Biddle, President, Mader Construction

Arnold Collier, Vice President, Iroquois Construction Services

Brad Buyers, Vice President, Sales, County Line Stone

Mercedes Calway, Project Executive, RP Oak Hill Building Company

George Churakos, President, Mark Cerrone, Inc.

Kirk Fitscher, Owner, KDF Construction Advisors

Joe Mannarino, President, Buffalo Construction Consultants

Dan Sarzynski, Partner, Rupp Pfalzgraf LLC

Robert Stark, Partner, CJS Architects

Joe Benedict, Executive Director, Construction Exchange
A 15-year-old boy died in the Cowlitz River Sunday evening, the Cowlitz County Sheriffs Office said.

Zander Medina, of Longview, Washington, was trying to cross the river with three friends: a 14-year-old boy from Longview, a 15-year-old boy from Kelso, Washington, and a 16-year-old boy from Longview.

About halfway across, the three friends realized the current was stronger than they had anticipated and attempted to turn around and swim back, according to the sheriffs office. Two of the boys reached the riverbank without trouble. A man on shore noticed the other two were struggling, jumped into the water and managed to help one of them to safety. Medina, however, disappeared from sight.

First responders arrived at the scene around 6:15 p.m., according to authorities. Divers from the Cowlitz County Dive Team quickly recovered Medinas body.

The name of the man who rescued one of the swimmers is not publicly known at this time.

-- Kayla Nguyen, knguyen@oregonian.com
As a heat wave continues to drive Portland temperatures over 100 degrees, hundreds of shelter residents living in Portlands safe rest villages and a new mass site with more than 100 tiny homes on Powell Boulevard have access to air conditioning to keep them cool, city spokespeople say.

Most of the 300-plus units spread across seven safe rest village sites in Portland have air conditioning, said Bryan Aptekar, communications liaison for the villages. The lone exception is the Sunderland RV Safe Park in Northeast Portland where residents bring their own vehicles which may or may not have electricity, he said. Administrators of that site have set up a misting station in a covered shelter space, Aptekar said, and each site has air conditioning in shared restrooms, showers and kitchen spaces. Shelter staff are providing water bottles to keep residents hydrated, Aptekar said, and letting them know how to get to local cooling centers if they or their unhoused acquaintances want to seek shelter in the shared spaces.

The 74 occupied residential pods at the citys new mass tiny home site along Powell Boulevard also have air conditioning, spokesperson Savannah Eadens said. Staff at the site, operated by California nonprofit Urban Alchemy, are recommending the guests stay on-site, Eadens said, but likewise informing residents about how to get to Portlands free cooling centers.

Unhoused Portlanders can seek shelter at the Old Town Cooling Center on Northwest Glisan St., Multnomah County East on Eighth Street in Gresham or Cook Plaza on Southeast Stark Street in Gresham between 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. The shelters reached about 18% capacity on Sunday and served 127 people, Multnomah County spokesperson Sarah Dean said. The Old Town Center was the busiest but never reached more than 50% capacity, Dean said.

The Lloyd Center also welcomes guests before 7 p.m. Monday, and the Portland Water Bureau has opened misting stations throughout the city that will spray through the night. TriMet wont charge riders heading to a cooling space.

Multnomah Countys Joint Office of Homeless Services last week began distributing hot weather gear to people without shelter and has so far distributed 900 reusable drinking bottles, 46,000 individual water bottles, and thousands more cooling towels and sunscreen packs, according to a Monday news release.

The county was not aware of any heat-related deaths as of midday Monday, Dean said. In 2021, more than 100 Oregonians died during a heat dome that set a new record of 116 degrees in Portland. Seniors, people living alone and those with medical conditions faced elevated risk during the heat dome. Most of those who died did not have air conditioning.

Following that heat dome, Multnomah County and the Portland Bureau of Emergency Management began tracking the temperatures inside housing units run by Home Forward, which can help the county understand the severity of a heat event while its happening, said Brendon Haggerty, manager of the Healthy Homes and Communities program at the Multnomah County Health Department. Sensors alert families when the temperature in their units exceeds 80 degrees.

Fifty-five sensors are currently operating inside units. On Sunday, several recorded temperatures in the upper 80s for several hours, conditions that start to signal danger for people most sensitive to extreme heat, Haggerty said.

This story was brought to you through a partnership between The Oregonian/OregonLive and Report for America. Learn how to support this crucial work.

Sami Edge covers higher education for The Oregonian. You can reach her at sedge@oregonian.com or (503) 260-3430.
A Multnomah County jury awarded a Black former civil rights director at the Oregon Labor Bureau $1.7 million Monday, finding she faced racial discrimination, a hostile workplace and whistleblower retaliation.

The decision in the case brought by Carol Johnson is a political blow for Val Hoyle, the former labor commissioner who hired and supervised Johnson and is now a first-term member of Congress.

Johnson and her legal team asserted in Multnomah County Circuit Court that many of Johnsons subordinates subjected her to pushback and hostility motivated by the fact that Johnson is Black. The lawyers said Johnson reported the discriminatory conduct to Hoyle and her deputy, Duke Shepard. Hoyle and Shepard expressed support for Johnson but never investigated or corrected employees hostile conduct, the lawyers said.

The jury awarded Johnson $9,170 in economic damages and $1.72 million for emotional distress and other non-economic damages.

Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Benjamin Souede asked jurors to determine whether the Labor Bureau discriminated against Johnson based on her race, created such intolerable working conditions that she had to quit, retaliated against her for making a state or federal discrimination complaint and retaliated against her for asking it to honor her rights under anti-discrimination laws. They decided yes on the first three but no on the fourth.

The jury awarded the biggest single payment to Johnson, $1.145 million, for reporting in good faith that she believed the bureau violated state or federal law.

Hoyle hired Johnson, then a fair housing lawyer with two decades of experience, in 2019 to serve as the director of the Labor Bureaus Civil Rights Division. In spring 2020, Johnson filed a federal equal employment complaint, saying she had been subjected to racial hostility on the job. In July 2020, she gave Hoyle written notice she would resign effective five weeks later.

The 12-member jury, composed mainly of white people but with at least four members of color, heard more than eight days of testimony and legal arguments and deliberated more than nine hours.

Johnson was represented by lawyers Diane Sykes and Beth Creighton. Assistant Attorneys General Marc Abrams and Jessica Spooner represented the Labor Bureau.

Johnson called her legal victory not just a win for me but for every person of color who has had to deal with racial discrimination and harassment in the workplace. If I could not find the courage to speak out, how could I possibly ask anyone else to trust the system?

A spokesperson for Hoyle told The Oregonian/OregonLive via email Monday that Hoyle respects the jurys decision and is grateful workers have a means to lodge complaints and receive justice.

As a lifelong advocate for working people, Rep. Hoyle strongly believes that every person should feel safe and secure in their workplace, communications director Marissa Sandgren wrote. Anyone who feels that they have experienced workplace discrimination should have the opportunity to speak up so we can address these issues and create an inclusive workplace for everyone. We respect the justice system and are grateful to the judge, jury and witnesses in this case.

During closing arguments, Abrams told jurors that Johnsons my way or the highway management style, including her lack of familiarity with and respect for labor union protections, not race, was a primary cause of the pushback and hostility by her subordinates.

But, Sykes said, Johnson spoke with Hoyle and Shepard about the role race played in her employees resistance to changes and they indicated to Johnson they agreed. The two top agency officials did not seek an investigation into Johnsons concerns, however, until after she announced her plans to resign, Sykes said.

Hoyle later compounded the harm, Sykes said: She sent a press release trumpeting a law firms investigation into Johnsons claims and touting findings that questioned Johnsons credibility. Hoyle sent the press release less than four months before she announced her run for Congress.

Val Hoyle had political aspirations and she had no shame about dragging Ms. Johnson through the mud to get there, Sykes told the jury Friday.

Hoyle, a Democrat, was elected to four terms in the Oregon House before winning the statewide labor commissioner race in 2018. In May 2022, she easily won the Democratic nomination for the seat in Congress vacated by Rep. Peter DeFazio, who served 18 terms. In fall 2022, she handily defeated Republican nominee Alek Skarlatos to win the race.

-- Betsy Hammond; betsyhammond@oregonian.com; @ORPolEds
Last week, fires ripped through the island of Maui, destroying buildings and killing residents. By Sunday, the death toll was listed as 96, but is expected to rise.

As Maui works to begin the recovery from the deadly disaster, many Portland-area businesses and nonprofits are raising funds and collecting donations to help victims of the fire. For those who want to help, here are some ways to join that effort.

Note: Avoid scams by donating to known and trusted organizations. Honolulu Civil Beat also has an ongoing list of safe places to donate.

Tributary Hotel

Tributary Hotel in McMinnville will donate $100 to the Hawaii Community Foundations Maui Strong Fund for each new hotel reservation made through September.

The Alibi Tiki Louge

The Alibi on North Interstate Avenue will donate 100% of the proceeds from their Lahaina Sunset POG slushie between Aug. 12 and 18 to the Maui Strong fund.

Ohana Hawaiian Cafe

Ohana Hawaiian Cafe, which has locations in both Portland and Milwaukie, will donate 10% of all proceeds from both locations from Aug. 14 to 20 to local charities and businesses actively assisting in the current situation on Maui.

FOMO Chicken

Fried chicken cart FOMO Chicken will be popping up at The Shaku Bar Thursday for a pig roast and donating profits to the Maui Strong fund.

Ka Aha Lahui O Olekona, Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, Oregon and SW Washington Chapter

This club is accepting donations of gift cards to Costco, Safeway and Target at their main office at 12655 SW Center Street, Suite 321, Beaverton. You can also donate to the Maui Strong fund through their website.

Da Hui

Da Hui on Foster is donating proceeds from their rum punch to relief efforts.

Lombard House

Lombard House (on North Lombard) will host a fundraiser on Friday, Aug. 18, for a Maui family that lost their home in the fire.

Oregon BottleDrop

You can donate the money in your BottleDrop account to the Maui United Way, or you can ask at redemption centers to have your deposit go to wildfire relief.

Pacific University

Pacific University in Forest Grove is raising funds for the over 50 undergraduate and graduate students who were affected by the Maui fires through the Pacific University Student Emergency Fund.

According to a press release from the school, The fund provides vital assistance to our students facing unforeseen circumstances and can be used for critical needs such as rent, food, transportation or other uses.

Students in need of assistance can contact the Office of Student Support at OSS@contact.pacificu.edu.

If you know of any other local fundraising efforts that arent included here, please send us an email at lacker@oregonian.com.

 Lizzy Acker

503-221-8052; lacker@oregonian.com; @lizzzyacker

Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe
The Reckon Report is a weekly newsletter that goes deeper in todays most-discussed headlines. Subscribe today and stay ready for the proverbial water cooler.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in Sept 2022, 2.5 million children missed school in Florida. Five schools were damaged, and three were destroyed as the category four hurricane hit the sunshine state from the west side  something that rarely happens. Over 168,000 children were kept out of the classroom for weeks, with some missing as many as 100 school days.

The losses for children were huge, while scientists and environmentalists said this was an example of climate change in action.

And yet, as the unwelcomed anniversary of Hurricane Ian approaches, many of Floridas school kids - who have endured one of the hottest summers on record and have been swimming in coastal waters over 100 degrees - will now be taught that climate change is not real.

The baffling juxtaposition, which education and environmental experts claim is the equivalent of teaching children that fire doesnt exist as it engulfs their classrooms, is being brought to Floridas K-5 schools by the right-wing non-profit group PragerU with the explicit blessing of Gov. Ron DeSantis and the states board of education.

The same duo has pushed anti-progressive politics in recent months that targeted the LGBTQ community, abortion rights, gun control, Black history, book bans, and gender identity while also trying to bully Disney away from its support of liberal issues.

PragerUs sleek and highly produced educational videos, presented in a series of cartoons, delicately infer that climate activists are like Nazis, wind and solar power pollute the earth, and that record global temperatures are merely cyclical and have nothing to do with human actions.

While environmental advocates and educators work hard to show the true extent of climate change, hoping it will alter human behavior, PragerUs arrival in one of the countrys largest public school systems is undoubtedly a major blow to the movement.

Raymer Maguire, director of policy and campaigns at the Cleo Institute, a women-led environmental education and advocacy group in Florida, told Reckon that teaching climate denialism could have a detrimental impact on Floridas students going forward.

By teaching future generations blatant lies and propaganda and that climate denialism that is in direct contradiction to scientific fact, he said. We are setting up our future generations to not have the tools and the education they need to tackle what is arguably the greatest crisis that theyre going to face in their lifetime.

Maguire also noted that offering different points of view to children was perfectly reasonable, provided they were rooted in scientific fact and good faith, which he says PragerU is not doing.

What theyre doing is completely denying the nearly universally accepted scientific fact that humans burning carbon is resulting in us having the climate impact that we feel today, he added.

A bad time for climate denial education

The videos come at a tricky time in Floridas environmental history. Alongside record-breaking heat in and out of the water this summer, the state is arguably the ground zero of climate change in the United States.

The sunshine state is expected to experience more rain and flash floods, detrimental coastal flooding by 2050, and more frequent and violent hurricanes. And on top of that, increased water temperature means a greater risk of waterborne bacteria and the death and total loss of precious corals and the ecosystems they protect. The 2020 Atlantic Hurricane season, for example, broke records for the most tropical depressions and named storms. While subsequent years have been quieter, the overall decade-to-decade trend is that major hurricanes are becoming more common as our oceans become warmer. Warm water is fuel for hurricanes.

That places people, homes, and aging infrastructure at greater risk, one of the reasons that insurance companies are fleeing Florida and other climate-vulnerable states.

Despite all the evidence, PragerU claims its merely to do with the earths natural cycles.

The climate is always changing, said the conservative companys CEO, Marissa Streit, echoing a classic climate-denial rallying cry that rejects fossil fuels as the cause of accelerated climate change.

While scientists have widely accepted that the planet goes through drastic changes in its temperature and has done throughout history long before Homo sapiens arrived 350,000 years ago, the recent changes to temperature and weather are more than can be attributed to cycles alone.

Although the earth experiences natural cycles of heating and cooling, these cycles have been exacerbated by human activities, including the use of fossil fuels not only in the extraction and production but for transportation and production of plastics as well, said Mary Gutierrez, director of Earth Ethics, a Florida-based environmental advocacy group. These are not just opinions but scientifically based, peer-reviewed reports. It is a huge setback for Florida, a state heavily impacted by climate change.

What does PragerU actually teach?

PragerUs climate videos often echo the climate science and policy views of fossil fuel companies that challenge renewable energies like solar and wind while greenwashing the harm they cause.

In one video, a young Polish schoolgirl becomes concerned about climate change after being taught about the dangers of fossil fuels at school. When she gets home, her parents explain that the planet has always cooled and warmed as part of a natural cycle long before humans began burning fossil fuels. They also tell her that climate action is only worthwhile once China and India cut their emissions since they are apparently the biggest polluters while suggesting that renewable energy is unreliable and too expensive.

When Ania returns to school, she repeats what her parents have told her to her teacher and classmates. She is shunned. However, her mood improves after her grandfather tells her about life under the Nazis before and during World War II. Ania feels empowered because her grandfather explains that fighting tyranny always takes courage.

A second video shows a child in Africa with a narrator explaining how wind and solar energy batteries eventually break down and become hazardous waste. It also attacks renewable energy by explaining how risky it is to rely on things like wind and sunlight, which are not constant.

In addition to climate denial videos, PragerU has content that promotes archaic versions of femininity, explicitly telling girls to smile and be less angry as they prepare for the role of a wife and mother. Another shows Frederick Douglass criticizing the Black Lives Matter movement and justifying the existence of slavery. One controversial video claims that slavery was not invented by white people, while another denies the existence of gender dysphoria.

Examples of extremism throughout the website vary from subtle to direct. One PragerU presenter, for example, said that everyone who died in the Holocaust chose to die before they were ever born.

Does anyone really want the videos?

Although the climate-denial curriculum has yet to be introduced in classrooms, some of Floridas counties have already ruled it out. At least three of the states ten largest counties have said they will not show the videos in their schools.I believe this should not be utilized, so I asked the chief academic officer if it would be used in Pinellas County schools, and I was informed that the district has no plans of adding these resources to [the] curriculum, said Pinellas County school board member Caprice Edmond to local news.

Florida Dept. of Education spokesperson Cassie Palelis said in a statement that the PragerU material aligns to Floridas revised civics and government standards and is no different than many other resources, which can be used as supplemental materials in Florida schools at district discretion.In addition to Pinellas County, Polk, Pasco, and Hillsborough schools have no plans of introducing climate denialism.

Referring to the immediate response from some counties that they wouldnt show the material, Maguire of the Cleo Institute said it had been encouraging to see.

We are mobilizing our members and organizers across the state to speak with their local school board members, he said. Because the activist, the voters, the people on the ground, can help to help grow the momentum to reject this on a county-wide level across the state. And I just think its an inspiring thing that this is being done at the local level, which obviously carries a little bit of personal and political risk for the folks that are doing it.He added: But theyre taking these bold steps to reject this curriculum, which has no place in our schools.

While the cartoons are primarily aimed at children, they are also subtly aimed at the parents who want their climate denial views expressed more widely in schools, according to Streit, who said that parents are not being heard and the climate change message was effectively a form of gaslighting.

Were hoping that this product will better explain to everyone what we want to see in our childrens schools, she said. Florida is the first state to approve videos from PragerU but isnt the only state to shy away from teaching the truth. School science curriculum in Texas now requires that schools teach positive lessons about fossil fuels.

However, not all parents agree with the videos or that they are being gaslit by the established science community.

These [Prager] kids videos are the antithesis to critical thinking, said Miami-Dade County parent Gregory Gonzalez, who said that he and his wife began researching them last week. We welcome a range of opinions on any issue, but the views are extremist. Comparing people trying to clean up pollution to Nazis is lazy and manipulative.
Portland hit 100 degrees about 3 p.m. Sunday, kicking off a string of triple digit days that are expected to stick around through mid week.

Strong high pressure remains anchored over the region coupled with a warm subsidence layer acting like a blanket will keep a very warm air mass in place across the Pacific Northwest, according to the National Weather Service.

And Portland wasnt the only hot location. Troutdale set a record for the date, hitting 105 degrees, besting the former record of 104 set in 2002. Hillsboro tied its record of 101, also reached in 2002.

The heat is just getting started. Mondays highs will jump above 100 with models suggesting areas from Salem to Eugene could reach 108-110 degrees. If they do, this would be the warmest day ever in the month of August in those two cities.

Portland is likely to reach about 104 degrees under sunny skies, and many residents will have a hard time staying cool in that sort of heat.

All heat advisories and excessive heat warnings are still in place through Wednesday. If you need a way to escape the heat, or know someone who needs help, several cooling centers are open in the Portland metro area.

The City of Hillsboro is also offering respite from the heat at one overnight shelter, and several daytime cooling centers. Read more here: flashalert.net/id/CityofHillsboro.

TriMet announced over the weekend that it will not turn away anyone riding to and from a cooling center who cannot pay fare between noon and 10 p.m. during Multnomah Countys extreme heat state of emergency. On buses, riders should tell the operator as they board that theyre heading to a cooling center.

An additional difficulty for those trying to stay cool or at least comfortable is that overnight minimum temperatures will not fall very far the next several nights. Generally, overnight minimum temperatures would cool to the high 50s during mid August. But this heat wave is likely to break several daily records for high overnight low temps. The current daily record low temps between Aug. 14-17 range from 65-68 degrees. Portland would be lucky to see temps cool that low. Its possible early Tuesday temps (overnights lowest temps is recorded normally between 4-6 a.m.) will be in the mid-to-high 70s.

That high overnight temp will kickstart another hot day Tuesday where Portlands heat reaches near 102 degrees.

Some help may be on the way as forecast models are showing a slight shift to a more onshore flow. This may help areas of the mid-to-southern Willamette Valley see a small measure of cooler air move inland. Cities from Albany to Cottage Grove may see a drop in daytime highs to the upper 90s.

Onshore flow will strengthen even more later Tuesday night and bring clouds and fog to the Oregon Coast. It should also offer up some shallow marine clouds in the metro area providing a slight touch of relief from the highest heats on Wednesday. Portland is likely to have a cloudy morning followed by sunny skies and a high of about 99 degrees.

Extended forecasts are showing continued cooling (if you can call it that) by Thursday with highs back down into the low 90s.
A 2-acre fire near a residential area in Boring, Oregon has prompted evacuation notices.

The Blue Jay fire, also known as the Dodge Park fire, started Monday morning. Level 1 (be ready) evacuation orders are in effect for the area between 37135 and 38328 Lusted Road and the Sandy River, fire officials said.

Air support and additional resources from the Oregon Department of Forestry arrived by Monday afternoon to assist Clackamas firefighters.

Fire crews responded to reports of smoke just after 5:45 a.m. and found a half-acre fire near the 37900 block of Dodge Park Boulevard on the west side of the Sandy River, officials with the Clackamas Fire District said.

Fire officials reported moderate fire activity Monday morning. Persistent hot, dry weather over the next few days may create additional challenges for fire crews. Temperatures in Boring were as high as 106 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

Officials ask people to avoid the area, and not to call 911 for smoke unless there is an active fire spreading or threatening a structure.

Residents in the area can check the Clackamas wildfire website for evacuation information.

 Austin De Dios; adedios@oregonian.com; @austindedios; 503-319-9744

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People living near the Bedrock and Lookout fires in Lane County have been ordered to evacuate immediately, the sheriffs office has said.

With the Bedrock fire growing to 19,300 acres, people northeast of Lowell should evacuate, the sheriffs office said, singling out homes on Peninsula Road east of Timber Creek and Big Fall Creek Road east of the intersection with Peninsula Road for the Level 3 evacuation, the highest level. Residents around Fire Creek Lake have been asked to start making plans to evacuate.

Gov. Tina Kotek has declared an emergency conflagration, allowing the state to mobilize more equipment to fight the fire.

The Lookout Fire has been growing rapidly due to the dry, windy conditions in Lane County, Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said in a prepared statement. The next few days are very concerning with continued red-flag conditions.

Mere miles to the northeast of the Bedrock fire, the Lookout fire, which began Aug. 5 and has engulfed grown to 215 acres, also has triggered a Level 3 evacuation notice. The evacuation area applies to homes on the north side of the McKenzie river east of Blue River.

That means people on Taylor Road, North Bank Road, any areas north of Highway 126 between Blue River Reservoir Road and Drury Lane, Mona Campground, Lookout Campground and the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest headquarters must evacuate now. People south of the McKenzie Highway have been asked to be ready to evacuate.

 Fedor Zarkhin

Office: 503-294-7674; Cell: 971-373-2905; fzarkhin@oregonian.com
Kazakhstan observes a 2.3-fold increase in the number of foreign tourists in the first quarter of 2023, Kazinform learned from the Ministry of Culture and Sport, Azernews reports, citing Kabar.

227,700 foreigners visited Kazakhstan from January through March, the Ministry says. This is 130,000 or 2.3-fold higher compared to the same period in 2022 (97,000 foreigners).

The number of domestic travelers rose by 20% in the first quarter and reached 1,348,000.

The Ministry expects that up to 1,400,000 foreigners will visit Kazakhstan this year.

Last year, the country welcomed approximately 1,000,000 foreign tourists.

According to Chairman of the Committee of Tourism Industry Dastan Ryspekov, the number of foreigners arriving in Kazakhstan has increased threefold since the beginning of the summer.
Good news from the federal government: A $764 million pension fund payout will safeguard benefits for more than 19,000 upstate union members, including workers and retirees at Tops Markets.

It is but one among other wins for retirees whose pensions were threatened with severe trims, or worse.

But do not forget about 20,000 salaried retirees from Delphi Corp. who have been fighting to recover pensions reduced some 14 years ago, from 30% to 70%. These workers also spent decades working hard only to find their promised pensions slashed.

Retirees facing such circumstances do what anyone would: fight. Winning back what was rightfully theirs  hard-earned pension benefits  also required the help of congressional legislators who used their influence to secure pensions.

In the latest case, $400 million of the economic benefit will head to about 8,000 to 10,000 workers and retirees from Western New York at employers such as Tops, Sahlens and Wardynskis.

Rep. Brian Higgins, D-Buffalo, reported the news. It came at the right time. The United Food and Commercial Workers Local One Pension Fund, a multi-employer plan, was projected to go insolvent and run out of money in 2026. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called the workers covered by the UFCW plan the beating heart of Upstate New Yorks food and commercial industry. The pension payout would protect benefits the members earned through a lifetime of work.

In April, the UFCW fund applied for funding through the American Rescue Plans Special Financial Assistance Program. The program supports severely underfunded multi-employer pension plans. The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. approved its application.

Other multi-employer plans with participants in Western New York have also found relief: International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 237 in Niagara and Orleans counties learned in June they would receive a $32.2 million pension-fix payout, using American Rescue Plan funds. And in November 2022, the pension corporation said it would allocate $963.4 million to the New York State Teamsters fund. The move affects 33,000 active and retired workers, including 3,900 retirees from two Buffalo-area Teamsters locals.

But what of the Delphi salaried retirees? Cuts to their pensions were among the worst outcomes of General Motors fall into bankruptcy. Rep. Claudia Tenney, a Canandaigua Republican whose district includes Lockport, has been championing the retirees cause. Her office produced a 19-minute documentary on the plight of these retirees in lobbying for approximately $750 million in federal spending over five years. The money would recover the lost pensions of nonunion workers at Lockports Delphi automotive plant.

Higgins, Schumer, Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand, also a New York Democrat, and Rep. Nick Langworthy, a Republican who represents the Southern Tier, back Tenneys Susan Muffley Act. The bill was named for the late wife of a Delphi retiree from Ohio.

The legislation has struggled against Tenneys Republican colleagues who control the House. Schumer was unable to get the bill passed last year because only four Senate Republicans supported it. He is not giving up. Neither is Tenney, whose persistence on behalf of these workers is evidence that compassion exists within the party.

The restored pensions are good news for the workers affected and for the economy, itself. But stay focused on the Delphi salaried retirees, as well. It shouldnt matter that they werent union members. They are also suffering.
Cairo, Egypt (PANA)  Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Monday criticised the Egyptian authorities for failing for a decade to hold anyone accountable for the largest mass killing in the country's modern history - the Raba massacre
Kojic acid originates as a derivative of rice wine, fermented soy sauce, and various types of fungi. It has found its application not only as a natural preservative in the food industry but has gained greater recognition for its roles in health and cosmetic products.

One of its prominent uses lies in its ability to promote skin lightening by addressing concerns such as scars, sun damage, and age spots. Among its various applications, pregnant women, who often contend with skin-related issues like melasma, seek clarity on the safety of using kojic acid. Discover more about the safety of kojic acid during pregnancy as we delve further into the topic.

Is Kojic Acid a Safe Skin-Lightening During Pregnancy?

Numerous skincare products incorporate retinol, a compound unsuitable for pregnant women due to its origin from vitamin A. While celebrated for its anti-aging properties and ability to address acne by stimulating cellular turnover, an excess of retinol can potentially disrupt fetal development. Deanne Robinson, M.D., the Co-founder and President of Modern Dermatology of Connecticut, underlines this concern.

In contrast, Kojic acid stands out as an exceptionally safe skin brightener that operates by inhibiting melanin production. The pigment responsible for skin, hair, and eye coloration, called melanin, is generated through the action of an amino acid called tyrosine. Kojic acid impedes the formation of tyrosine, effectively curtailing melanin production. This reduction in melanin yields a lighter skin tone.

Other Skincare Products That Are Safe to Use During Pregnancy

Besides kojic acid, other ingredients are also safe for use when you are expecting. Get more radiant skin with the chemicals without risking your baby's safety.

Soy:

Soy, recognized as a safe skincare ingredient during pregnancy, offers remarkable benefits comparable to retinoic acid. This natural alternative possesses an advantage over retinol due to its non-drying nature. It's adept at extracting excess oil from the skin, which contributes to maintaining collagen formation.

A study published in the "International Journal of Cosmetic Science" supports soy's collagen-boosting capabilities. Joshua Zeichner, M.D., Mount Sinai Medical Center assistant professor of dermatology, explained that soy keeps fibroblasts that form collagen working, leaving your skin more youthful. Do take note that soy could sometimes worsen skin color if you have melasma or dark skin.

Read Also: Smart Parenting Solutions: Top 5 Best GPS Trackers for Kids in 2023

Glycolic Acid:

Glycolic acid emerges as an effective choice for achieving clearer skin. Beyond its ability to control excess oil, this acid serves as an exfoliant, effectively removing dead skin cells. It operates by causing controlled micro-injuries to the skin, prompting collagen production.

Dermatologists offer glycolic acid peels with concentrations as high as 40 percent to facilitate skin rejuvenation. While home-use products contain lower concentrations, they still provide benefits. Pairing glycolic acid use with diligent sunscreen application is crucial, as the exfoliation process can render the skin more sensitive to the sun's rays.

Vitamin C:

Dr. Zeichner said that vitamin C is one of his go-to recommendations for expecting moms because it protects cells from damage by fighting off free radicals. As supported by studies, it also plays a pivotal role in collagen synthesis. By encouraging collagen production, vitamin C contributes to skin elasticity and resilience. Incorporating vitamin C-rich products into your skincare routine while pregnant can safely aid in protecting and enhancing the skin's appearance.

Aloe Vera:

Aloe vera, known for its soothing properties, is excellent for pregnancy skincare. It eases common discomforts like itching and dryness. Its gel provides hydration and relief, reducing redness and inflammation from stretching skin. It's a popular choice for moisturizing bellies and preventing stretch marks. Opt for pure aloe vera gel for best results.

Coconut Oil:

Coconut oil, rich in fatty acids, is nourishing during pregnancy. It maintains the skin's barrier, combating dryness caused by hormonal changes. It's great for elasticity and can soothe itchiness. Apply it to potential stretch mark areas but do a patch test first for allergies.

Cocoa Butter:

Cocoa butter is famed for its moisturizing and healing properties during pregnancy. It prevents stretch marks by hydrating and maintaining skin flexibility. Regular use enhances skin elasticity, and its antioxidants reduce scars. Use it for massages, but sensitive skin should be cautious about potential allergic reactions.

Besides kojic acid, numerous pregnancy-safe skincare ingredients enable expectant individuals to attain radiant and healthy skin without jeopardizing the baby's well-being.

These safe ingredients work harmoniously with the body's natural processes, ensuring the skin remains cared for and rejuvenated. This way, individuals can confidently use these skincare components to address their specific concerns and embrace the beauty of pregnancy while safeguarding the health of both themselves and their developing child.

Before trying out any skincare regimen, especially during pregnancy, consult a healthcare professional or dermatologist before introducing new products or ingredients. Their expertise ensures that the chosen skincare routine aligns with individual health considerations and the unique needs of pregnancy.

This post was first published October 13, 2020. Updated August 13, 2023.

Related Article: Kojic Acid: Easy Steps on How To Make Using Rice
Photo: (Photo : Seven Shooter on Unsplash)

In a distressing incident that has sent shockwaves through the community, a woman in Racine, Wisconsin, has been arrested and charged with neglect after her five children were discovered malnourished in the confines of their basement. Dashja Turner now faces five counts of criminal neglect, casting a spotlight on a case that highlights the importance of child welfare and care.

Around 3:30 p.m. on July 31, Racine police and the Human Services Department conducted a welfare check at Turner's house, which alerted authorities to the dire situation. The distressing scene that unfolded revealed Turner's five children, ranging in age from 14 months to 14 years old, in a frail and alarming state within the basement.

Neglect Allegations Lead to Criminal Counts Against Racine Woman

Startlingly, all the children appeared to weigh under 55 lbs., with the youngest, a 14-month-old, weighing a mere 10 lbs. Such weights are starkly below the healthy averages for their respective ages, raising serious concerns about their well-being. Additionally, the children had reportedly gone without bathing for several days and were found dressed only in socks.

The environment in which the children were discovered was equally concerning. The unfinished basement contained a lone twin-size air mattress with a single sheet, devoid of pillows or blankets. According to the outlet, purple paint covered every window, creating the impression of a place devoid of even the most basic comforts.

Racine County Court Commissioner John Bjelajac expressed his shock during Turner's initial court appearance, deeming the case an "egregious" instance of child neglect. The gravity of the situation prompted Racine police to reveal that numerous welfare checks had been conducted in response to concerns for the children's well-being.

Read Also: Disabled Mom Grows Molds in Her Body, Dies From Neglect by Her Adult Children

Heartfelt Pleas and Calls for Accountability Emerge During Hearing

Heartache and frustration were palpable during the court proceedings as Rickie Stevens, who shares a 7-year-old son with Turner, revealed the emotional toll of the situation. "It hurts very badly because I'm begging, texting you every holiday, every birthday, like, 'Can I have my son?' or Where are you?' Get ignored," Stevens recounted.

Turner had purportedly claimed that the children were being homeschooled, an assertion that has raised further questions about oversight and accountability. Assistant District Attorney Brooke Erickson sought to convey the severity of the case during the hearing, requesting that Turner's bail be raised to an unprecedented $1 million in cash.

Racine County Asst. D.A. Erickson emphasized the urgency of the situation when he defended the significant bail increase in court. "I think the exposure and the absolutely abhorrent conditions of these children warranted one million dollars in cash given the seriousness of the offense," Erickson asserted, highlighting the need for immediate action and accountability.

The case is set for a preliminary hearing on August 16, where further details about the children's living conditions and Turner's actions will come to light. As the community grapples with the disturbing revelations, questions arise about how such a distressing situation was allowed to persist and how similar incidents can be prevented in the future.

Related Article: No Child Neglect Charges Filed Against Parents of J.J. Rodriguez in Spencer Dog Mauling Incident
Google recently announced that it will start deleting Google accounts that have been inactive for two years. Now, the company is making sure everyone knows about it, sending Gmail users a message informing people about the account inactive account policy. These messages are being sent to all Gmail users, not only to Gmail accounts that could affected by deletion.

How to recognize Google account deletion emails

Googles emails use the subject line Updating our Google Account inactivity policy and come from the address no-reply@accounts.google.com. In it, Google delivers a high-level summary of the new account deletion policy:

We are updating the inactivity period for a Google Account to two years across all our products and services. This change starts rolling out today and will apply to any Google Account thats been inactive, meaning it has not been signed into or used within a two-year period. An inactive account and any content in it will be eligible for deletion from December 1, 2023.

In the following section, Google explains that only those users are affected who have been inactive in your Google Account for two years or have not used your account to sign in to any Google service for over two years.

Google emphasizes in the email that although the changes would take effect today (13 August 2023), it will delete accounts in December 2023 at the earliest.

What happens if your inactive Google account may be deleted

If Google deems your account inactive, it will send several reminder emails to both the affected email address and your account recovery email address (if you provided one) before taking action or deleting account content. Google intends to send these reminder emails at least eight months in advance. So you have plenty of time.

After Google has deleted a Google account, the Gmail address of the deleted account can no longer be used to create a new Google account.

Further reading: 5 tips to make Gmail more secure

How to prevent Google account deletion

Google explains how easy it is to prevent a Google account from being deleted: The simplest way to keep a Google Account active is to sign in to the account at least once every two years. If you have signed in to your Google Account recently in the past two years, your account is considered active and will not be deleted.

Alternatively, you can also prevent deletion by doing the following:

Read or send an email

Use Google Drive

Watch a YouTube video

Share a photo

Download an app

Use Google Search

Use Sign in via Google to sign in to a third-party app or service

Google notes that there may well be exceptions to the above policy, such as for a Google Account with YouTube channels, videos, or comments; an account with a gift card with monetary value; or an account with a published app, such as an account that hosts an app in the Google Play Store.

This article was translated from German to English and originally appeared on pcwelt.de.
Hollard Ghana, the country's favourite insurance group made-up of Hollard Insurance and Hollard Life, has been honoured with the prestigious Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Leadership Award at the Ghana Insurance Awards for its outstanding Al-Waleed Basic Comprehensive School transformation. The ceremony held last week recognised Hollard Ghana's exceptional commitment to CSR and its impactful efforts in renovating the school for the benefit of the community.



The renovated school now boasts structural refurbishments of the roof, ceiling, floors, windows, and doors. Hollard Ghana also revamped the toilets and library, created a sick bay, and painted the block of four classrooms and the dining hall. The courtyard was beautified with AstroTurf, creating a conducive and safe environment for the children in preschool at a cost of over GHS250,000. The staff, fondly called Hollardites, played an active role in the Al-Waleed CSR project. They volunteered to paint the school and raised funds to stock the library and sick bay. The result was a remarkable transformation, restoring the almost-dead facility to rival any modern Montessori school.



Commenting on the essence of the recognition, Cynthia Ofori-Dwumfuo, the Group Head of Marketing and Corporate Affairs, Hollard Ghana, described the win as a testament to the insurance company's aim to treat everyone with care and dignity.



"Our commitment to innovation extends beyond the insurance products we offer. We believe in fostering positive change by creating lasting impacts in the communities in which we operate. This win indicates the group's unwavering dedication to empowering future generations. Our purpose of enabling better futures drives our CSR efforts to create a sustainable future for the communities.



"Receiving this honour is evidence of the dedication of our team in bringing about positive change in the lives of the children at Al-Waleed Basic Comprehensive School. The school is among several CSR projects Hollard Ghana has embarked on to achieve exceptional, sustainable, and inclusive growth in Ghana. Some of these projects are our flagship thought leadership initiative H.Insured, a Streetwise Finance Literacy series all about insurance, events and a column in the BFT written by Hollardites. The H.Insured platform seeks to demystify insurance by taking insurance to the people in a jargon-free conversation and supporting public institutions like the Police Service and Ambulance Service, to mention a few", she added.



The Al-Waleed Basic Comprehensive School was constructed in 2005 with support from Prince Al-Waleed of Saudi and Former President of Ghana, John Agyekum Kuffour, had experienced a significant decline over the years due to a lack of maintenance funding. The school's kindergarten block was in disrepair and unsafe for preschool children between the ages of 2 to 5 years.



About Hollard Ghana



The countrys favourite insurance group is Hollard Ghana, with subsidiaries Hollard Insurance and Hollard Life Assurance. The group combines its deep local knowledge of the market with the world-class expertise of an international insurance brand. With feet firmly planted on Ghanaian soil but Headquartered in South Africa, Hollard delivers innovative insurance solutions customised to the unique risks Ghanaians face. Hollard was previously Metropolitan Insurance which operated in Ghana for over 25 years. Hollard Life was birthed in 2018 as a subsidiary. The company offers various life insurance products, including funeral, home, travel, motor, business, personal accident, savings and investments, group life insurance and employee plans, and more. Beyond various nationwide office branches and Hollard 2U franchise shops, Ghanaians can find Hollard Life at Shell Fuel Station Welcome Shops, Melcom stores and online at www.hollard.com.gh, www.melcom.com/hollard-insurance and www.jumia.com.gh for all their insurance needs.





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President Akufo-Addo yesterday swore in the newly constituted Board for the Head of State Award Scheme (HSAS).



That was however not without a charge for them to use their positions of influence to mobilise funds for the effective operationalization of the Scheme.



As Trustees, you are to provide direction for the operationalization of the award programme, reach out to more young people with this positive programme, and maintain public confidence in the scheme was how he put it when he swore them in at a short ceremony held at the Jubilee House.



Apart from that, he said you are also responsible for the mobilisation of the needed resources and funds to sustain and grow the award scheme to attract more young Ghanaians.



Speaking about the construction of an ongoing award house in Accra, the President noted that the new board having assumed office, has a duty to make sure that the project which is the first of its kind on the continent and beyond, is completed and put to full use by the award scheme.



President Akufo-Addo however assured the Board of Trustees of his governments support, especially in the area of their finances, in order to position the award scheme to attract more young people.



You can, however, be assured that the government of your chief patron, that is, myself in case anyone does not know it, will continue to support the scheme to help create avenues that will enable our youth to explore, be Innovative and use creative ways to solving societal problems to ensure the development of this nation, were his exact words.



Commitment



On his part and on behalf iof his colleague members, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Harry Sintim Aboagye gave his word that they will work to the best of their abilities and trust God to enable them exceed the expectations of the President.



As Trustees, we are committed to this cause for the future sustenance of our country, he gave his word.



That, he said was because the awards scheme is a fantastic programme, carefully designed to empower young people, giving them the opportunity to surmount the myriad of challenges life may throw at them.



By encouraging young people to learn new skills, get physically active, volunteer within their communities, and discover a sense of adventure outside the classroom, he indicated that the awards scheme helps them to unlock their potential.



Trustees



The Board of Trustees is made up of Harry Sintim Aboagye who is the Chairman, with Gladys Amoah as the Vice Chairperson and Kwadwo Addeah-Safo, Secretary to the Board.



Other members include Daniel A. Adotey, Hajia Muniratu Lamptey, Juliet Yayra Tengeh, Ohenewaa Sakyi Bekoe, Pius Hadzide, CEO of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Peter Anum, Executive Director of HSAS, and Mrs. Gifty Sakyi Bewusu.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









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Consultations on Ghanas much-anticipated energy transition and investment plan took place in Accra this week, as diverse stakeholders from government, the private sector, youth and civil-society organizations offered feedback on the plan ahead of its launch.



This energy transition and investment plan is expected to serve as the governments main roadmap for achieving universal energy access and net-zero carbon emissions, as expressed under the countrys current Energy Transition Framework and Nationally Determined Contributions, while fostering economic growth and protecting jobs.



Ghana has set goals to diversify its energy portfolio, increase the role of renewables and reduce energy intensity. All of these will need to be done in parallel and the upcoming energy transition and investment plan provides a detailed view of what is needed in terms of technical assistance and investment across key sectors.



By mapping out these needs, the plan will serve as the main tool for the government to engage the international community and investors for support. The Government of Ghana is developing the plan with technical support from Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL).



Ghanaian President Akufo-Addo and Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All, and Co-Chair of UN-Energy, met in Accra to discuss the plan's findings and recommendations, ensuring it is backed from the highest levels of government.



Ogunbiyi also participated in an inter-ministerial committee meeting, where she briefed ministers on how the plan is designed to support the work of various ministries, including environment, transportation, industry, and others.



At additional stakeholder engagement events, the private sector, civil-society organizations, youth and other advocacy groups were given the opportunity to weigh in on what they would like to see the plan prioritize. Among the points raised was the need for equitable access to the social and economic opportunities generated by the plan, such as jobs, particularly for women and youth.



Feedback from all consultations is guiding the plans finalization, with its launch expected to happen this fall.



A similar plan was launched in Nigeria last year and a dedicated Energy Transition Office has been established to drive the plans activation, having already secured USD 3.6 billion for its underlying projects.



Supporting quotes:



Ghana is committed to a clean, equitable energy transition that harnesses the full potential of renewable sources and energy efficiency. However, ambition alone will not transform our energy systems, which is why we embarked on creating an energy transition and investment plan that details what is needed to reach our goals. I look forward to working with international partners to realize the many opportunities presented in this plan.

His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana



It was a pleasure to meet with President Akufo-Addo, government ministers, local community groups and youth this week and hear first-hand how committed they are to a just and equitable energy transition. Their commitment has translated to an ambitious energy transition and investment plan that builds a case for changes across Ghanas entire energy system. These changes present a tremendous opportunity for partners and investors from around the world to contribute to climate action and sustainable development in Ghana.

Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All, and Co-Chair of UN-Energy

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The Acting Director General of the Geological Survey Authority (GSSA), Issac Mwinbelle, has offered insights into the rationale behind the Bank of Ghana's (BoG) decision to relocate its head office to a safer area.



Mr. Mwinbelle highlighted that the Ridge location chosen for the new headquarters is less vulnerable to earthquakes and tremors compared to the current High Street site, near James Town in Accra.



In an interview with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) on their GBC Radio network, Mr. Mwinbelle explained that the current location was susceptible to tremors and earthquakes due to the presence of fault lines in the area.



He emphasized that the coastal parts of Ghana, especially the eastern region of Accra, were prone to seismic activities, with fault lines running through Krokrobite, Weija, and Dansoman.



Mwinbelle acknowledged that while the current fault zones had not produced significant tremors, the movement along the fault lines had potential consequences.



He commended the Bank of Ghana's proactive approach in assessing the safety of its location, aiming to ensure the security of its staff and facilities.



He compared the safety of the new Ridge location to the High Street area, stating that the distance from the coastline played a role in mitigating earthquake-related risks.



Generally, the coastal parts of Ghana, most specifically the eastern part of Accra, are earthquake-prone and these earthquakes occur as a result of the fault line," he said.



The coastal part of Ghana has a number of fault lines that pass through the area, but the prominent ones, which has for the period produced some substantial earth tremors and earthquakes are the fault lines that are within the Krokrobite, Weija, and the Dansoman area.



Most of the earthquakes that have occurred over the period are a result of the movement along the fault line. The latest one which was on the 10th of March this year, if you look at the epicentre, it was close to James Town, meaning that it is moving towards the current location of the Bank of Ghana.



There are fault zones in these areas, but they have not produced any substantial earth tremor. It doesnt mean that there cannot be an earth tremor along those fault lines and for that, if the Bank of Ghana is being proactive by doing an assessment to find out whether the current location is suitable for a central bank or not, I think it is a plus for them, because they must ensure the safety of the Bank, the safety of the staff as well as the safety of whatever is contained there.



If you look at the earthquakes that have occurred, they have always occurred off the coastline that is into the sea, and by approximation Ridge is much further away from the coastline which is more offshore than the current location [of the Bank of Ghana] which is the High Street area.



In terms of lateral placement, the Ridge location might be much safer when it comes to earth tremors because the closer the structure is to the epic centre, the more devastation that it would cause as compared to when it is further away from the epicentre. We may likely experience much lower devastation on the structure.



The Bank of Ghana had earlier released a statement explaining its decision to relocate its headquarters. The statement outlined that a structural integrity assessment revealed the current building's inadequacy to withstand significant earth tremors and other potential challenges. The bank emphasized its commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and positioning itself as a financial hub in the sub-region, which led to the priority project of a new head office.



The decision faced scrutiny, with the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, raising concerns over the cost and financial implications of the new headquarters. He alleged that the bank was spending a substantial amount at a time when financial difficulties were evident. The minority also questioned the source of funding for the new building.

Source: graphic.com.gh









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News / Local

by Staff reporter

THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has started printing ballot papers for the presidential election and for more than a dozen National Assembly constituencies that had been affected by poll-related court cases.These have since been concluded.Eleven candidates will appear on the presidential ballot, including MDC-T leader Mr Douglas Mwonzora, who missed the 21-day deadline for candidates to pull out of the race after announcing his withdrawal from the poll on Tuesday.It has emerged ZEC only received Mr Mwonzora's withdrawal letter, dated August 2, last Tuesday, just 15 days before election day.Incumbent President Mnangagwa of Zanu-PF leads the line-up of contestants that also includes Mr Joseph Makamba Busha (FreeZim Congress), Mr Blessing Kasiyamhuru (Zimbabwe Partnership for Prosperity) and Professor Lovemore Madhuku (National Constitutional Assembly).Also on the ballot are Mr Trust Tapiwa Chikohora (Zimbabwe Coalition for Peace and Development), Mr Gwinyai Henry Muzorewa (United African National Council), Mr Nelson Chamisa (Citizens Coalition for Change), Mr Wilbert Mubaiwa (National People's Congress), Mrs Elisabeth Valerio (United Zimbabwe Alliance) and Mr Harry Peter Wilson (Democratic Official Party).ZEC said it will soon be ready to dispatch ballot papers to more than 17 000 people who have been cleared to cast their vote ahead of polling day  August 23.A myriad of poll-related court cases had forced the election management body to suspend ballot printing.Government has since gazetted Statutory Instrument 140A of 2023, which extends the deadline for submission of postal voting materials to ZEC from August 9 to August 20, as a result of the delays occasioned by the court cases.In an interview ZEC chief elections officer Mr Utloile Silaigwana said: "Yes, the commission has begun the process of printing presidential election ballot papers."The process is expected to be complete soon to allow time for distribution of postal ballot papers to all successful (postal voting) applicants."A total of 11 presidential candidates will appear on the ballot paper."The commission issued a statement to the effect that Section 107 of the Electoral Act allows presidential candidates to withdraw their candidature no later than 21 days from polling day."While the letter of withdrawal by the MDC-T presidential candidate is dated August 2, 2023, it was only delivered to ZEC on August 8, 2023."It, therefore, means that the purported withdrawal was out of time and could not be recognised at law, hence the MDC-T candidate will remain on the ballot paper."Distribution of postal voting material is expected to commence soon."The law now says the ballots can reach their intended polling stations three days before polling day," he continued."In the absence of a court order barring the commission from printing (National Assembly) ballot papers, the process will go on."He said ZEC was satisfied with the current electoral environment, "save for a few reported cases of violence"."Apart from that, all pointers are for a peaceful election, judging by messages of peace coming from various stakeholders," he added.Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said the courts had expeditiously dealt with all election-related cases."In any democracy, when you have a process, an aggrieved party can approach the courts for redress."So, what we saw indicates that our people are aware of their rights and whenever they felt aggrieved, they went to court for redress."It is part of the democratic culture, and we allowed it," said Minister Ziyambi."So, there is nothing really at the moment that stops ZEC from proceeding with the elections."Currently, everything is set . . . We are set for August 23."The courts noticed the urgency of the cases and the majority of cases, if not all of them, have been resolved."Now, there is nothing that will stop the electoral process from proceeding."
During a five (5) day visit to Lebanon from 7th to 11th August, 2023, Ghanas Foreign Minister, Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, together with Ghanas Consul General to Lebanon, Mr. Ali Samih Jaafar paid a courtesy call on the Lebanese Prime Minister, Mr Mostafa Bayram, Minister of Defence, Brigadier General Joseph Auon, Mr Elias Baysari, the Head of General Security, Mr Tony Saliba, the Head of State Security, Mr. Maurice Sleem, the Chief of Defence Staff, Mr Najib Mikati, Minister of Labour, President of the the Free Patriot& former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gebran Basil and the Chairman of the Lebanon-Ghana Friendship Committee, Mr. Ghassan Attallah to discuss cooperation between both countries and the welfare of Ghanaian migrant workers domiciled in Lebanon.



On their part, the relevant Lebanese authorities expressed their desire and readiness to collaborate with Ghanaian agencies through the Ghana Consulate in Lebanon to draw up appropriate framework to promote trade, tourism and medical exchange programs between both countries medical infrastructures.



As part of the visit, Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, visited the Ghanaian Battalion at the United Nations Interim Force Headquarters in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to reiterate governments commitment to their welfare and encouraged them to continue raising the flag of Ghana high through their service in UNIFIL.



She stated that since the inception of UNIFIL, the Ghanaian contingent had carried out operational and humanitarian activities, such as conducting patrols along the blue line, social donations, health outreaches, capacity building in support of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and other governmental institutions.



The Commanding Officer of GhanaBatt 89, Lt. Colonel Kwarteng, briefed the Minister on the status of operations and indicated that despite some recent incidents, the battalion is carrying out its duties with high professionalism to ensure peace within the operational area.



Madam Botchwey expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the Ghana battalion for their dedicated service to the Mission and encouraged them to maintain the high sense of commitment and dedication to duty.



To this end, the Foreign Minister, Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey also commended Mr Ali Samih Jaafar, the Consul General to Lebanon, for his continuous support to the welfare of Ghanaians expressed the hope that he would continue to work towards establishing business opportunities between Ghana and Lebanon.













Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo says Africa needs a new generation of farmers on the continent to resolve the yawning gap of food insecurity.



He decried the current situation where approximately 40 million Africans according to a U.N report go to bed without food even though the continent has the largest population of youth capable of producing more food.



The former president was speaking in Mankessim, Central Region of Ghana at a presidential Youth Dialogue as part of the African Youth and Governance Convergence organized by Youth Bridge Foundation in Partnership with AU ECOSSOC with technical support from the Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Training Centre.



Over the next 5 days, young people from 27 African countries and the diaspora from Dalhousie and Cornell Universities in Canada and the U.S will deliberate on the theme Advancing Youth Inclusive Governance, Peace and Security: The Digital Innovation Factor.



President Obasanjo questioned why the continent prides itself with over 60 percent of arable land yet import chicken and other farm produce from countries like Dubai less endowed with agricultural land.



Vietnam never produced coffee but now it has produced enough to become the 7th largest producer in the world in a space of 6 years, we need a new generation of farmers in Africa he said.



He recalled how covid 19 pushed him to start a fish farm on his property and can now boast of 1 million Catfish and half a million Tilapia.



We need our leaders to focus and if we focus, maximum 6 to 7 years, we will put food insecurity in Africa behind us he said.



He called on young people to engage in large-scale soilless and greenhouse farming in cities and create a value chain for agribusiness.



Former President Olusegun Obasanjo who is also an Eminent Fellow of the African Youth and Governance Convergence (AYGC) and the Chief Promoter of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library asked the youth to reject the idea that they are future leaders.



You must be leaders of today and not tomorrow, dont believe in that statement.



The octogenarian entreated young people to organize themselves well in order to resolve problems confronting the Youth.



He also enjoined delegates to think outside the box while taking advantage of opportunities that abound on the continent and elsewhere.



The Presidential dialogue afforded delegates attending the 15th African Youth and Governance Convergence to quiz the former head of state on a number of issues from security on the continent, women empowerment and politics to digital innovation.



Earlier, delegates visited the Elmina chief and his elders, Assin Manso Slave River site and the Elmina Castle Dungeon to connect with their ancestors and learn the atrocities meted out to innocent Africans as part of a week-long activities during the convergence.



The African Youth and Governance Convergence now in its 15th year affords young people from across 40 African countries and African Americans from the diaspora to deliberate and come out with homegrown solutions, be empowered and become change agents in their various communities.



Youth Bridge Foundation also partnered Hydra cyber security services, Dalhousie University, the Obasanjo Presidential Library, Vesti, JSE productions Diba and CTA Magic Hands for this years convergence.

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The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, called on the members of the church to pray for his death if he consults demons in performing miracles, signs and wonders.



Adeboye said this during the RCCG Holy Ghost Service of the 71st Annual Convention at the Redemption Camp, along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Friday.



The revered pastor said some prophets accused him of using demonic powers in leading the church, as well as preaching and prophesying to his members.



Adeboye said his attention was drawn to some publications on the internet where some so-called prophets, clerics and groups of persons made the allegation.



Addressing the congregation at the gathering, he urged the congregation to pray that he dies before sunrise if he is guilty of the allegation.



He said he initially ignored the rumours but on second thought because of others that might want to believe, he decided to speak about it.



Adeboye said, We are going to pray one more prayer. I usually dont pay attention to the sayings of some so-called prophets, especially if they are saying something about me. I just ignore them.



But, I learned that recently some people are saying Pastor Adeboye is using demonic forces, that there are some demons at Redemption Camp, that Pastor Adeboye will consult. Then, He would come and say My Daddy said.



I just felt I should not pay any attention, but they said they put these things on the internet. Then, when I was praying, I think about two or three days ago, as I was praying for the Convention naturally, then I felt the leading, that there might be some people, who might believe this thing.



He asked the congregation to pray, If there is any connection between him and forces of darkness. You are going to call on Almighty God, kill him before the sun rises so that he doesnt spoil Your Name.



So, that he doesnt lead several innocent people to hell. Then, you add to that prayer. Say Father, but if this boy (Adeboye) is using your power and your power alone, then multiply that power seven folds.





Source: vanguardngr









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Three Constituency Chairmen of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Volta Region have urged delegates in their respective constituencies to vote massively for Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto as Flagbearer to lead the party to victory in the 2024 election.



According to the Chairmen of the Keta, Anlo and Afadzato constituencies, they believe Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto's vision of using agriculture to turn around the fortunes of the Ghana is the best the country could ever get.



They also believe that the immediate past Minister for Food and Agriculture has an impeccable track record in government, which makes him the best candidate by all standards to lead the NPP to retain power in the next election.



The Chairmen made the call on the delegates when Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto embarked on a campaign tour of the Volta Region to sell his vision for the party and Ghana at large should he be elected as Flagbearer and ultimately as President.



The Chairman of the Afadzato Constituency, Gershon Zuttah, was particularly happy with Dr. Afriyie Akoto's message and a clean campaign he's embarked on so far.



"I like his campaign; his message is strong and very good. His campaign is not attacking anyone but putting out a very sound vision to move Ghana to the next level using agriculture as the driving force. This is the kind of visionary leader that Ghana needs. I urge delegates not to make the mistake of voting for any candidate except Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto. He has a lot of good things to offer the country. Let's elect Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto to enable him to implement his excellent policies and programmes for Ghana."



For his part, the Chairman of the Anlo Constituency, Joseph Adranyi, said Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto's excellent performance while in government as the Head of the Agric Sector which is evident for all to see, makes him the perfect candidate to lead the NPP to victory come December 7, 2024 election.



"We believe Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto is the best candidate to lead our great party to break the 8-year governance cycle. The little we can do to support him is to vote massively for him to win the Flagbearer race. I urge you to vote for him come November 4, 2023. I believe Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto will remember us the people of Anlo constituency when we elect him as Flagbearer and subsequently as President of Ghana.



The Chairman for the Keta Constituency, Dr. Benjamin Dzameshie also urged the delegates to vote massively for Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, if indeed they want the NPP to break the 8-year governance cycle.



"Should the party repose confidence in you by electing you as the Flagbearer, I know you will take good care of the party. Party work needs to be attractive as pertains in South Africa and Mexico, to mention a few. We believe in your vision to lead the party to establish businesses to take care of party matters and members. I urged delegates not to look no further than Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto. Let's honour him on November 4, 2023, to become our presidential candidate to retain power beyond 2024."



A total of 10 aspirants contesting the flagbearer race have successfully gone through vetting and have gone ahead to ballot for their positions on the ballot paper for the election.



They are a former Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, former Minister of Energy, Mr Boakye Agyarko; former NPP General Secretary and presidential spokesperson, Mr Kwabena Agyei Agyepong; former Member of Parliament (MP) for Mampong, Mr Francis Addai-Nimoh; former Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku.



The rest are Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia; former Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen; former Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Mr Joe Ghartey; energy expert, Mr Kwadwo Opoku and Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong.



A Special Delegates Congress will he held on August 26, 2023, to select five of the presidential aspirants.



The top five aspirants will then contest for the flagbearer slot on November 4, 2023, to elect one to lead the party in the 2024 general election.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Madam Akua Afriyie, a member of the National Democratic Congress at Kumawu has been sacked for her declaration to support Hon. Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen.



She has indicated her admiration for the NPP presidential hopeful even though she is a member of the opposition National Democratic Congress.



According to her, her sack came shortly after the video of her declaration of support for Alan went viral during the Kumawu by-election.



She had told the whole world that though she was an NDC member, if the NPP presented Alan as their flagbearer in the 2024 elections, she will gladly vote for him. She stated then that Alan had a vision that could save this country and give the teeming youth hope.



She has since become the talk of town in political circles for which the NDC did not take kindly to her pronouncement.



Akua Afriyie says she is now a floating voters having been served with a dismissal letter.



"I am currently not a member of the NDC or a member of the NPP but l am a strong supporter of Mr. Kyerematen".



She has cautioned that if the NPP denies Mr. Kyerematen the opportunity to lead the party, she Akua will simply stay clear of the 2024 elections.



Akua Afriyie is amongst the huge number of voters with the NDC ,whose love for Mr. Kyerematen is beyond partisan politics and makes the case of the NPP winning election 2024 with Alan a reality.



Meanwhile, the constituency delegates Durbar for the Kumawu, Afram Plains and Effiduase Asokore constituencies was massively attended with delegates vowing that it will not happen this time around that Alan will not win.



The delegates assured in unison that discerning Ghanaians are now fully awake from their slumber and would not allow themselves to be taken unawares.



They contended that it is Alans time to lead the party and nothing should stand his way this time round.

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Leading contender in the NPP flagbearership race, Hon. John Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, has re-affirmed his bid for the race with claims of better experience, vision and contributions for the party since 1992 than any of the other nine contenders.



He told delegates of the Ahafo Ano South, South West and South East constituencies, Wednesday, during his cluster delegates durbar, that he is the more experienced among all the contestants to assume the leadership of the party.



The former Trade and Industry Minister, said as one of 100 global leaders, together with late American President JF Kennedy and Billionaire Bill Gates, listed by the Time magazine in 1994, he has the vision to create more jobs and uplift the lives of Ghanaians if given the nod.



Popularly know as 'Alan Cash' Hon Kyerematen, cited as evidence of his track record, the 1D1F policy under which about 300 factories are being built and are at various levels of completion, and the Presidential Special Initiatives programme (PSI) which created fully integrated agricultural and industrial projects, respectively, under the current Akufo-Addo and former President Kufuor's administration.



He referred to his qualities as a unifier by sacrificing to step down and save the party from a potentially divisive runoff at the party's 2007 primaries after the first poll did not provide a clear winner.



Hon Kyerematen indicated that breaking the 8 depended on votes and assured the delegatew that he would garner two million votes from Ashanti region if he is given the mandate to the party at the Presidential Primaries in November.

He claimed that apart from former President Kufuor and the sitting Preident Nana Akufo-Addo, he is the next crowd puller able to give the NPP the needed numbers to break the 8 in 2024.



He therefore called on the delegates to count on his experience, vision and contributions and give him the responsibility to lead the party to break the 8 and form the next NPP government.

Speaking at the same forum, Hon. Saddique Boniface , Coordinator of the 'Alan for President' campaign and a former Minister for Zongos and Inner-City Development as well as a former MP for Madina, described Alan Kyerematen as the third NPP president of the 4th Republic.

Hon. Boniface believed Muslims from the Northern regions, and the Zongo constituencies, would vote massively for Alan and urged the gathering to do same.



According to him, delegates in constituencies in the North regions were passionate about their choice of Alan asmext leader of the party which was a pointer to his qualities of patience and as a unifier which are what the NPP needed to break the 8 in the 2024 elections. E N D

Source: Peacefmonline









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Atik Mohammed says the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Ernest Addison and his deputies must resign with immediate effect.



The Bank of Ghana (BoG) is said to have become insolvent, running into a loss of over 60 billion cedis, equivalent to 6 billion dollars, in 2022 following a report of the bank quoted by the Minority in Parliament during their Moment of Truth engagement with the media on Tuesday.



The Bank of Ghana recorded a staggering loss of GHS60.8 billion, which is equivalent to $6 billion. This is twice the amount we are to receive from our recent IMF bailout, the Minority quoted.



They added; The bank has also recorded a negative equity of over GHS55.1 billion. What this simply means is that the Bank of Ghana is insolvent" and blamed the incumbent government stating "the once prestigious Bank of Ghana, the mother of all banks in Ghana, has been bankrupted and collapsed by this NPP economic management team led by Dr Mahamudu Bawumia with the complicity of the Governor of the Central Bank.



The former PNC General Secretary, reacting to the accusations of mismanagement of the BoG, joined the Minoritys call for the Governors to vacate their post saying it greatly saddens me that a major player in Ghanas economic policy could be this reckless as far as spending is concerned.



To him, the Governors have joined the Finance Minister to engage in reckless spending and this isnt helpful and stressed if you know that what we are doing will bring these consequences and you still do it, then it means you have intentionally decided to ruin us and you dont deserve to be there. They should not just go but there should be an investigation.



I strongly share the view that the managers of our Central Bank, they have failed us, he admonished on Peace FMs Kokrokroo show.



He emphasized; If they make up their minds that they wont resign, there should be an immediate investigation into their conduct and if they are found culpable, that could be the basis for the President or whoever is appointing them to say that, look, on this basis; you cant continue to serve. But I will support the call that they should resign on their own and allow fresh legs to come.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Former Acting PNC General Secretary, Atik Mohammed has expressed concerns over the alleged financial malfeasance against the Bank of Ghana under the leadership of Dr. Ernest Addison, Governor of the bank.



The bank is said to have incurred a loss of GHC 60.8 billion last year due to mismanagement.



"This is twice the amount we are to receive from our recent IMF bailout, Minority Leader, Ato Forson told Journalists during a "Moment of Truth" event organized by the opposition National Democratic Congress on Tuesday, August 8.



He further stated, the bank has also recorded a negative equity of over GHS55.1 billion. What this simply means is that the Bank of Ghana is insolvent" and blamed the Akufo-Addo government saying "the once prestigious Bank of Ghana, the mother of all banks in Ghana, has been bankrupted and collapsed by this NPP economic management team led by Dr Mahamudu Bawumia with the complicity of the Governor of the Central Bank.



But the authorities of the Bank of Ghana have refuted the financial mismanagement claims.



BoG Response



"Bank of Ghana released its full-year 2022 audited financial statements on 28th July 2023. The

financial statements reported a total loss of GHS60 billion, which has since become a matter of

unfortunate politicisation. It is noteworthy that GHS53.1 billion of those losses were a direct result

of the Governments domestic debt restructuring exercise.



"It is important to put the Bank of Ghanas 2022 financial results in proper context with a clear statement of the problem that Ghana faced and the chronology of events in Ghana since 2019. There was a clear mismatch between revenue inflows and expenditure financed in 2020 by exceptional support from the IMF and World Bank resources, and in addition to financing from the Bank of Ghana through the issuance of the GHS10 billion Covid-19 bond", the bank's website disclosed.



The bank report also said; "This triggered a liquidity crisis, spilling over into a balance of payments crisis. External and domestic payments needed to be made, the domestic auction was failing, and the Bank of Ghana had to step in to arrest a major economic and social crisis.



"A major plank of the corrective action required for the IMF programme was the Domestic Debt Exchange, where the stock of Government of Ghana debt was to be halved from 105% of GDP to

55% of GDP by 2028. The holders of Government debt had their debt instruments exchanged for new ones with lower interest payments and longer terms.



"Despite the losses inflicted on households and banks, the threshold of 55% of GDP was not met. The Bank of Ghana was used to close the gap to enable Ghana meet the debt threshold that qualified Ghana for the IMF programme (Bank of Ghana therefore, acted as a loss absorber)."



It further established that "the Bank of Ghana had to absor a 50% haircut on its non- marketable holdings of Government debt instruments. This singular act led to significant impairment losses of GHS 32.3 billion to the Banks accounts. Impairments of marketable instruments also accounted for another GHS16.1 billion, bringing the total impairments of Government holdings to GHS48.4 billion" and continued that "as experienced by central banks globally, price and exchange rate movements led to a loss of GHS5.2 billion whiles impairments of Cocobod loans amounted to GHS4.7 billion. This is the reason the Bank of Ghana reported a loss of GHS60 billion in 2022".



BoG revealed that the money covered their vehicle maintenance expenses stating "fuel cost for all BoG operations, insurance of all BoG fleet of vehicles, car parts replacements, and other maintenance cost. Historically, fuel cost has accounted for about 90 percent of this vehicle maintenance expenses expenditure line. For 2022, the fuel cost increased by 123.3 percent compared to 28.9 percent in 2021".



Atik Questions BoG



But Atik Mohammed has taken the Bank of Ghana's statements with a pinch of salt.



Speaking on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, he found the bank's explanations and expenses untenable.

The question to ask is what is number of the Central Banks fleet of cars? How many cars do they have moving currency all over the country? The second question is on average, how many times do these vehicles carry or move currency from the Central Bank to these commercial banks and all other financial institutions? In a week, on average, how many times do they move?, he asked for further clarifications.



These are very critical questions that require answers because those answers will weather the expenditures they incurred are justifiable or not. But on the face of it and given the explanation theyve given us, they are not tenable, he told host Nana Yaw Kesseh.



Atik called for investigations into the BoG issue stressing it greatly saddens me that a major player in Ghanas economic policy could be this reckless as far as spending is concerned.





















Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Acheampong has urged the delegates of the ruling New Patriotic Party of the Mpreaso constituency to vote massively for the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to become the party's flagbearer.



Addressing party delegates of the Mpreaso Constituency, Seth Acheampong stated categorically that after careful consideration and observation, he believes electing Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as their flagbearer is the best strategic decision for the NPP, even though he has good relationship with the other nine candidates, but Bawumia stands tall among them.



The former Member of Parliament for Mpreaso, who said this when the Vice President engaged the NPP delegates in his constituency during a stopover on his campaign tour of the Region explained that "Since I became the Regional Minister, I have carefully observed that among the other candidates and as the truth stand, Dr Bawumia is the best person at this moment to lead the party if the NPP wants to break the 8 political jinx".







Seth Acheampong further explained that with his political experience and understanding of the partys inner workings, Dr Bawumia's unwavering dedication to the NPP is an exceptional personality with experience in governance and politics.



He further praised the Vice President's dedication to the NPP and his impressive track record by highlighting his contributions to the governments successes and his commitment to delivering on the partys promises.



He asserts that the vice president is the only candidate who can even approach the NDC's fortresses and deny them the opportunity to hijack the NPP's status as the ruling party, adding that the Vice President, who stands out among the other candidates, is currently the party's last chance.



He has therefore called on all delegates who will vote in the flagbearer elections of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to vote for Dr Bawumia and stand resolute with him.

Source: Deiu Media Ghana Ltd









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The MP for Ningo Prampram, Samuel Nartey George, has responded to US Ambassador Virginia Palmer's remarks at the US-Ghana Business Summit on social media.



Virginia Palmer speaking to journalists in Accra: Lots of ethnic communities make Ghana strong, stable, and attractive for investments. I hope it stays that way with regard to the LGBTQ community. They should be managed to be made the colour of the money green or red if its Ghanaian, but if it is discrimination, then that will send a signal not to (only) LGBTQ investors and exporters but to other American companies. Then Ghana will be less welcomingso I hope it stays that welcoming



In a Facebook post in response, Sam George wrote: Dear Virginia Palmer, US Ambassador to Ghana, I have seen videos of your comments at the US-Ghana Business Summit.



You have expressed fears that investors from the US would not find Ghana attractive if we as Ghanaians uphold our values and reject the depravity of LGBTQI. I find that really surprising.



Are American investors looking to invest in a Country and with partners who have no values? I thought the basic test of a potential partner is integrity and values? Ghana as you know is very intolerant of religious extremism. Has that made American investors wary of Ghana as an intolerant investment destination?



Let me reassure you and the U.S. Embassy Ghana that Ghana remains welcoming and open to American investors as a stable, viable democracy. We welcome investors who value the principles of integrity and respect the cultural values of their partners.



I am confident it should not be a worry as our intended legislation is NOT different from American laws in states like Florida and Kentucky. I believe the US Supreme Court agrees largely with Ghana's position.



Cheers to a mutually beneficial business relationship between  and the . 

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News / Local

by Staff reporter

New research has indicated that the biggest challenge in documenting immigrants is procedure, which increasingly excludes people who are considered 'not useful' to the South African economy.The centre of sociological research and practice at the University of Johannesburg conducted the research and reports that the cancellation and certain restrictions placed on Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEP) are discriminatory and delves on the repercussions of the dislocation of Zimbabwean nationals to society.The research is premised on the Pretoria High Court ruling in June, which declared the Minster of Home Affairs Aaron Motsoaledi's decision to terminate ZEPs unconstitutional and invalid. He is currently counteracting by applying for leave to appeal the high court's decision."The people we interviewed emphasised that ZEP holders have built their lives in South Africa. Many have nothing to go back to in Zimbabwe. Many have started families here, sometimes with South Africans. Children of ZEP holders will be harshly affected as their visas depend on their parents' permits," reads the report."Over 178 000 Zimbabweans in South Africa have the special permit allowing them to live and work in the country."One participant commented that: "Even if they are sending [us] back home, I don't know what they expect us to survive on. Already people there are struggling, so if we go back home then they are just saying [they] don't care about whatever is going to happen to you, people."According to the report, the ZEP was created for those escaping political and economical difficulties in Zimbabwe. However, these conditions have not come to an end, yet the government is planning to cancel it.In December 2021, Home Affairs discontinued the ZEP and set a deadline of 31 December 2022 for valid ZEPs holders to switch to another South African immigration category. It extended the deadline until 30 June 2023 and again until 31 December 2023."I have two kids, aged 15 and 13, in South Africa. I have nothing in Zimbabwe. So, the reason why these permits were given in the first place  must still be implemented. Because the very same reasons are still exist, the economic situation is still the same, nothing has changed."People are still flocking into South Africa, if anything  they should be making more people apply for these permits," said one of the ZEP holders.Tedious process of applying for permits and VisasThe research further reveals that apart from the nature of the restrictions being discriminatory, the actual process of applying for permits and alternate visas has become increasingly costly and requires time-bound documentation, which are difficult to coordinate and expensive."Online application has reduced queuing, but has also introduced extra expense and difficulties for those with connectivity problems. It is, therefore, becoming increasingly difficult for some people to formalise themselves."This exposes the hypocrisy of government: it rails against undocumented migration but makes it difficult for people to document themselves. Additionally, Zimbabweans were forced to abandon asylum permits and applications when the permits came in, meaning that people who came here seeking asylum are now in limbo."Another person interviewed on the experience of applying for permits, she said: "There are a few who do qualify for the other visa categories. I don't know how the waiver thing works. But I just heard that even those with non-critical skills can try the waiver route but I don't know how it works. And I am sure it also has its own challenges. But with most people, it is now just panic; not knowing what tomorrow will hold, oh"Counter the narrative that migrants are a burden'The report also said it is necessary to counter the narrative that international migrants are a burden by noting the social and economic value they bring."Either way, dislocating ZEP holders will negatively affect South Africans too. For example, local producer sand retailers will lose revenue if there are fewer people buying goods in South Africa to send back to Zimbabwe, and that could affect jobs. There's also rental income that will be lost," the report read."We would lose a great many friends, neighbours and spouses, face diminished variety and shrinking horizons, and diminish the value of life. Migration enriches everyone, far beyond cold economic benefits."But the official South African approach to international migration seems increasingly utilitarian and decreasingly about people, increasingly focused on manipulating the labour force and surplus population'," reads the report.
The Director of Local Government Services at the Office of the President, Dennis Miracles Aboagye has ridiculed the Minority in Parliament and the opposition National Democratic Congress for mounting pressure on the Governors of the Bank of Ghana to resign following a report highlighting the bank's losses to a tune of GH60 billion.



"We in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) saw the red flags and have consistently warned of the mismanagement of the financial sector by the Governor of the Central Bank and his team of incompetent deputies," Minority leader, Cassiel Ato Forson told journalists during an event dubbed "Moment of Truth".



He continued; "The Bank of Ghana recorded a staggering loss of GHS60.8 billion, which is equivalent to $6 billion. This is twice the amount we are to receive from our recent IMF bailout.



The Minority also stated that the bank has also recorded a negative equity of over GHS55.1 billion. What this simply means is that the Bank of Ghana is insolvent" and additionally blamed the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government stating "the once prestigious Bank of Ghana, the mother of all banks in Ghana, has been bankrupted and collapsed by this NPP economic management team led by Dr Mahamudu Bawumia with the complicity of the Governor of the Central Bank.



But to Dennis Miracles, what the Minority seeks to achieve won't come to pass as he recounted how President Akufo-Addo saved the lives of millions of Ghanaians during the COVID-19 pandemic through his measures, many of which cost the nation huge money that had to be sourced from the Bank of Ghana to salvage the citizenry.



He emphasized that Ghanaians are wise to remember the President and his government being their savior in their dire and trying times.



"In the very near future, within our lifetime, we as a people of Ghana will remember this government on how we saved the lives of millions of Ghanaians during the global pandemic," he said while delivering his submissions on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' show.



Replying the Minority, Miracles stressed Ghanaians are not "daft" to believe in the opposition party which, to him, has been a thorn in the flesh.



"They are not dumb. When the time comes, they know how to make their decisions. Between the NPP and the NDC, they know who in the midst of crises will be willing to stand by them," he stressed.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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FREDERICK, Md.  Maryland police caught, following a brief car chase, a motorist accused in the stabbing death of his father in Ohio several hours before, authorities said.

Jose Daniel Aguilera Cespedes, 25, was arrested late Saturday afternoon in Frederick County, according to a Maryland State Police news release. Police located him traveling eastbound on Interstate 70 in Washington County after the Fulton County (Ohio) Sheriffs Office alerted troopers that the driver of a Honda sedan had outstanding arrest warrants.

Police in Wauseon, Ohio, said they were called to a home Saturday morning where they found Edwin Aguilera, 64, dead from several stab wounds. A woman also was injured and taken to a hospital in Toledo, Wauseon Police Chief Kevin Chittenden said. An arrest warrant charging Aguileras son with murder and felonious assault was issued, the chief said in a separate news release.

Troopers located the sedan on I-70 and attempted to make a traffic stop. The sedan driven by Cespedes struck a Hagerstown police vehicle, followed by a pursuit for another 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) before heavy traffic brought the suspects car to a stop, leading to the arrest, Maryland police said.

Maryland police said Cespedes also was charged with first- and second-degree assault and traffic violations related to the pursuit. The state police communications office said in a email that Cespedes remained Sunday in the Frederick County detention center and didnt have attorney contact information for him.

Chittenden said that security at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore also assisted with the case, but he didnt provide details.

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PHILADELPHIA  A 17-year-old from West Philadelphia has been charged with buying and testing bomb-making materials in support of a foreign terrorist group, state and federal authorities announced Monday.

The teen, whom prosecutors declined to name because he is a juvenile, was arrested Friday at his home in the Wynnefield section of the city, said Jacqueline Maguire, special agent in charge of the FBIs Philadelphia office.

Investigators say hed purchased materials including chemicals, wiring and tactical equipment associated with improvised explosive devices and conducted generalized research on potential targets, she said at a news conference announcing the arrest. She also said the teen had been taking steps to travel overseas for the purpose of joining or supporting terrorist activity, though she declined to offer specifics.

The teen faces state felony charges including possessing weapons of mass destruction, conspiracy, arson and causing or risking a catastrophe.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said his office was required by law to charge the teen in juvenile court, but that prosecutors would seek to move his case into the adult system.

It was not immediately clear Monday whether the teen had retained a lawyer. Krasner said the teen remained in custody, and that it will be our intent that he remain there until the case is resolved.

The young man who is under arrest was an aspiring terrorist, Krasner said. He was not merely thinking but was doing things that are deeply disturbing and presented a grave danger to everyone  himself, his family, the block where he lives and frankly people everywhere in Philadelphia and potentially people around the country or even overseas.

Although Krasner and the FBI announced the case at a news conference Monday, they kept many of the details of their investigation and the teen at its center under wraps, citing his age and the ongoing nature of the probe.

However, sources familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity linked the arrest to an FBI raid Friday on the 5900 block of Woodbine Avenue at the home of a Qawi Abdul-Rahman, a Philadelphia defense attorney who unsuccessfully ran in this years Democratic primary for Common Pleas Court judge.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said his office was required by law to charge the teen in juvenile court, but that prosecutors would seek to move his case into the adult system.AP File Photo/Matt Rourke

Abdul-Rahman did not immediately return requests for comment Monday.

Maguire said that the teenager first came to the attention of the FBI through contacts hed made over social media with members of a Syrian group known as Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad, or KTJ, which the U.S. State Department designated as a foreign terror organization last year.

The group, which has claimed affiliation with ISIS, has taken credit for a 2017 attack on a subway in St. Petersburg, Russia that killed 14 people and injures scores more as well as a suicide bombing on a Chinese embassy in Kyrgyzstan in 2016.

Prosecutors said they found that the teens Instagram account had communicated with a KTJ account in March and April 2023. And his WhatsApp account displayed a banner associated with two terrorist groups: First, the Chechnya-based Riyad-us-Saliheen Martyrs Brigade, and later an image connected to ISIS.

But the investigation into the teen entered a new phase over the past several weeks after he began amassing equipment including tactical gear, wiring, chemicals, and devices often used as detonators, Maguire said.

FBI agents surveilled him as he bought materials to make homemade bombs on Aug. 7, and on Aug. 8, U.S. Customs and Border Protection provided records revealing 14 international shipments of military and tactical gear to his house, prosecutors said in a statement. They added that hed also taken steps toward assembling them into explosives and testing them in recent weeks.

These purchases quickly escalated this case into a threat and a priority for our office, she said. This was now a situation where we believe public safety was at risk.

As agents descended on his home Friday, they found what Maguire described as a significant number of firearms but no completed bombs in the house. She declined to elaborate on who those guns belonged to or where they were stored.

This investigation is very much ongoing, she said.

The teenagers apprehension came nearly a month after federal prosecutors charged a sophomore student at Pennsylvania State Universitys Abington campus with lying to the FBI about his contacts with ISIS sympathizers and efforts to assist an averted terror attack in Chicago last year.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorneys Office said the case against that defendant  Kamal Fataliev, 19, of Philadelphia  is not connected to the charges filed against the teenager charged Monday.

Jeremy Roebuck and Chris Palmer of The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote this story.

2023 The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC. Visit at inquirer.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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When people hear the word hospital, they typically dont think of the word beautiful directly afterward.

Apparently some people do, however, as theres an annual hospital beauty contest out there which aesthetics the looks of the United Statess medical institutions. For this years contest, two hospitals in Pennsylvania ranked amongst the top five.

Soliant  a leading national provider of healthcare jobs and staffing services  asks readers, Did you know that beautiful hospitals have been shown to speed healing?

With that in mind, Soliant hosted its 11th annual Most Beautiful Hospitals in the U.S. contest which allows for patients, staff, and the general public to nominate which hospital they think exhibits elements of beauty which contribute to the health and well-being of their patients.

The final rankings placed Reading Hospital in West Reading, Pa., in the fifth overall spot with 34,868 votes total.

Beautiful by day and stunningly lit up at night: The timeless red-brick and light beige cement elegance paired with modern turquoise-tinted windows atop a dramatic landscaped hillside, Reading Hospital rockets up from 17th place in our 2019 rankings to #5 for 2023!

But thats not the end to Pennsylvanian hospitals that made it to the top five, dear reader: Guthrie Troy Community Hospital took home the bronze in the number three spot with 51,912 votes received for its landscaping and interior design that conjures up feelings and imagery of a warm Pennsylvania autumn.

Rounding out the top five were White Plans Hospital in White Plains, N.Y. (fourth); Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center in Downey, Calif., (two); and Providence Hospital in Mobile, Ala. (first).
Jason Momoa has two words for tourists thinking of traveling to Maui after a week of crippling wildfires that killed at least 93 people.

Stay away, the native Hawaiian and Aquaman actor wrote on Instagram: Maui is not the place to have your vacation right now.

Our community needs time to heal, grieve and restore, he wrote. That means the less visitors on island taking up critical resources that have become extremely limited the better.

Momoa reposted photos from the organization Aina Momona, which explains the devastation that has damaged or destroyed at least 2,200 buildings in West Maui, nearly all of them residential. Across the island, damage was estimated at close to $6 billion. On Tuesday, August 8, 2023, a terrible combination of drought conditions and hurricane weather led to widespread wildfires across the island of Maui, the organization wrote.

Lahaina town is gone, the post continued. Families were forced to evacuate on short notice, many escaping with only the clothes on their backs.

Momoas comments came as residents of Maui said that they were appalled by the sight of tourists swimming at the beach as residents were still counting the dead. The search for survivors is only just beginning.

The same waters that our people just died in three days ago are the same waters the very next day these visitors - tourists - were swimming in, one local told the BBC.

Momoa is not alone in making such a plea. Fellow actor Dwayne Johnson, who is of Samoan descent and whose mother was born in Hawaii, used a video he posted on Instagram to express the same sentiments.

According to an Associated Press story, about 46,000 residents and visitors have flown out of Kahului Airport in West Maui since Wednesday, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

Gov. Josh Green said 500 hotels rooms will be made available for locals who have been displaced, AP reported. An additional 500 hotel rooms will be set aside for workers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Some hotels will carry on with normal business to help preserve jobs and sustain the local economy, Green said.

The state wants to work with Airbnb to make sure that rental homes can be made available for locals. Green said he is hopeful that the company will be able to provide three- to nine-month rentals for those who have lost homes.

As the death toll around Lahaina climbed past 90, authorities warned that the effort to find and identify the dead was still in its early stages. The blaze is already the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century. Crews with cadaver dogs have covered just 3% of the search area, Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said Saturday.

Wrote Momoa: Do not convince yourself that your presence is needed on an island that is suffering this deeply. Mahalo to everyone who has donated and shown aloha to the community in this time of need.

To donate:

Red Cross: Red Cross workers will use financial donations to help people replace lost prescription medications or reading glasses, for example. Text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Click here.

Maui Food Bank: The website says that for every $1 donated, the organization can provide four meals to those in need. It is accepting food and toiletries donations in-person, but says the fastest way to get aid to those who need it most is to make a donation online. Click here.

Maui Strong Fund: The Hawaii Community Foundation launched the fund, which has raised more than $1 million for fire relief so far. Donations will support local nonprofits who are providing food, shelter, and financial assistance to those affected by the wildfires. Click here.

Maui Humane Society: The organization is seeking pet food donations and people who can foster dogs to make room for the influx of animals who will need special treatment due to smoke inhalation and burns. Click here.

GoFundMe: The key word here is be alert for scams. To address these concerns, GoFundMe, a website for raising money, is verifying fundraising efforts from individuals affected by the Maui wildfires. You can browse the crowd-funding efforts at this link.

More:

Maui death toll at 93, expected to rise further
NEW YORK (AP)  The destruction and suffering caused by the Maui wildfires in Hawaii prompted many to immediately look for ways to help.

However, experts say immediate donations may not be the most useful following a natural disaster like the Maui wildfires. They suggest standing by a week or two until needs are assessed and support lines have been established. But they know that some people will not be able to wait.

Heres what you need to know about getting your donations to the people you are trying to help.

There are so many solicitations to help the people of Hawaii. What groups should get priority right now?

Experts recommend donating to nonprofits based on Hawaii that have provided rapid response services in the past.

Hawaii Community Foundation has raised more than $17 million as of Friday for its Maui Strong Fund, which is providing financial resources that can be deployed quickly. Though the foundation says its support will evolve, initially, it will focus on providing food, shelter and immediate financial assistance.

The Maui United Way says all donations will provide direct relief to families and nonprofits directly affected by the wildfires, offering a place to donate and apply for help on its website.

How can you guarantee donations reach those affected by the Maui wildfires?

Sydney Carney walks through her home, which was destroyed by a wildfire, Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)AP

Regine Webster, vice president of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, generally recommended giving to organizations with deep local ties and knowledge of the affected communities.

Wait a week, wait two weeks, to understand where the greatest needs are, Webster said. Then, look toward organizations that are really meeting those needs, again, prioritizing organizations with specific disaster expertise and organizations that are local in nature.

Many national and international organizations have already deployed to Maui to help. So if you already donate to a group like World Central Kitchen or the American Red Cross, you can simply continue to donate to them.

I want to donate to a specific person or family through a crowdfunding campaign. How can I make sure their campaign is legitimate?

The crowdfunding site GoFundMe has vetted hundreds of fundraisers for individuals and families who lost property or were injured in the fires, verifying the identities of the organizers and pledging to take additional verification steps before releasing the funds to the organizer.

As of Monday, GoFundMe said it had collected more than $13 million for those impacted by the Maui wildfires, from more than 100,000 people across all 50 U.S. states and 100 countries.

Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez warns donors to stay away from people rushing you to make a donation, asking you to donate with cash, gift card or on Cash App or Venmo. She also says to look for specifics about how your donation will be used.

Can donations arrive too quickly?

Yes. The needs of those in an emergency situation are different from those rebuilding after a natural disaster.

The Most Reverend Larry Silva, the Catholic bishop of Honolulu, said many offered resources to those affected by the wildfires. The problem at this point is getting supplies to those in need, since many evacuated to the West of Lahaina, where access from the rest of the island is extremely limited, he said in an email.

Donating home furnishings, for example, is very useful once families have been permanently relocated. However, at this point, when people are living in shelters, they are not useful and storing them creates costs and issues for nonprofits, especially on an island where storage space is limited.

Why is giving two weeks or a month after a disaster so important?

Experts say donations tend to drop off after the initial burst of media attention ends, even though many of the needs of those affected havent been met yet.

Waiting a few weeks also allows the government and nonprofits to figure out what rebuilding priorities have been funded and which havent. Later donations can be used to fund programs addressing pressing needs.

TV icon Oprah Winfrey, a part-time Maui resident, said she will be there for the long haul, doing what I can to rebuild after the wildfires.

My biggest concern is how do you get the resources to the people who actually need it, Winfrey told Hawaii News Now.
KILL DEVIL HILLS, N.C.  Three Maryland residents who died and three others who were injured in a house fire last week in North Carolinas Outer Banks were identified by officials Monday.

Those who died were identified as Sienna Farr, 13, of Silver Spring, and married couple Colleen Cohan, 64, and William Deeg, 68, of Ashton.

Farrs mother, Laura Volk, 48, and her boyfriend, David Brewer, 55, were being treated Monday in the burn unit at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in Virginia. Both were in stable condition, said Rachel Tackett, public information officer for the town of Kill Devil Hills.

Also injured was Volks daughter Sadie Farr, 16, who was treated locally at the Outer Banks Hospital and released last Friday.

All were vacationing in a waterfront rental home that was engulfed by the blaze in the pre-dawn hours Friday along North Virginia Dare Trail. Two neighboring properties were also damaged.

The cause of the fire remains undetermined, according to Tackett.

An oceanfront rental house smolders as first responder crews continue to work the scene, Friday, Aug. 11, 2023 in Kill Devil Hills, N.C.. Mulitple people thought to be vacationing in North Carolina's Outer Banks died early Friday morning in a fatal house fire, city officials said Friday. (Corinne Saunders/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)AP

Many hearts across the Outer Banks and Maryland communities are left to heal following this tragic incident, she said.

The Kill Devil Hills Fire Marshal, the Dare County Fire Marshal and the State Bureau of Investigation are investigating.

More:

Ring video shows Pa. house explosion that killed 5

Fish dropped from the sky knocks out power in N.J. town
A mans body was discovered Sunday in Frankford Creek in Philadelphia.

The body was found in the water by a marine unit at about 7:15 a.m. under the east side of a bridge at the creek. Police pronounced him dead at the scene, according to Phil17.

Police told NBC10 that there were no signs of trauma on the unidentified 32-year-old male and no drug-related paraphernalia or notes were found.

A cause of death has not yet been announced.

READ MORE: Teen critically wounded in Pa. shooting: reports
THOMPSON MESERVES PURCHASE, N.H. (AP)  A Pennsylvania man who suffered a medical emergency in the White Mountains of New Hampshire has died despite extensive efforts by rescue crews, authorities said.

Jason Apreku, 21, of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, was hiking with friends Friday when he collapsed on Mount Madison, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department said in a statement. His friends called for help and began CPR while an Army National Guard helicopter was dispatched from Concord.

Severe wind kept the helicopter from reaching the hiker, however, and he later died, according to the department. Crews carried his body to a hut in below-freezing temperatures, and a helicopter brought him and the rescuers off the mountain Saturday morning.

A GoFundMe campaign has been created to help his family pay for Aprekus funeral.
A man entrusted with taking care of money for a Pennsylvania volunteer fire company is now accused of stealing nearly $1 million from the department.

Kenneth Long, 61, of Birdsboro, Berks County, is charged with multiple counts of felony theft and forgery after Berks County Detectives said he stole a little less than $900,000 from multiple accounts belonging to the Birdsboro Union Fire Company between 2016 and 2023.

Long, who was treasurer for the department, was interviewed by detectives in February and admitted to taking the money and forging signatures of other people in the department on fake treasurers reports to hide his theft, according to the Berks County District Attorneys Office.

Long told detectives that that he stole the money to support his gambling habit, the DAs office said in a written statement.
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by Staff reporter

Nadia Nakai has explained why she didn't represent Zimbabwe following her BET Nomination.Recognition and accolades are often seen as the ultimate validation of an artist's talent and hard work. For Nadia Nakai, being nominated at the just-ended BET Award was undoubtedly a significant achievement in her career.Nadia Nakai has been an integral part of the SA Hip-hop community since she was born and bred in SA to a Zimbabwean mother. The rapper's origin has stirred confusion amongst her followers and music awards organisers.During the just-ended BET Awards, the Money Back hitmaker was nominated in the Best International Flow category representing Zimbabwe to which she later changed to South Africa.Speaking during an interview with Zingah on Choppin It With Bhudha T Podcast, Nadia Nakai said that she asked the BET Awards organisers to change the country she represents to South Africa.Not that she doesn't recognise her Zimbabwean roots, but she said that it wasn't going to be fair for Zimbabwean rappers who have been representing the Hip-hop culture for a long time."Me & Blxckie got nominated for BET and it said Zimbabwe, but then I got it corrected, they put South AH," she said. "They had to because you know why though? There's no way I could go and represent Zimbabwe for BET when there are amazing female artists that are based in Zimbabwe, that know the culture, that rap in Shona, that live that life.""They deserve to be the first one that gets nominated representing Zimbabwe because they are actually doing the damn thing in Zimbabwe. I can't take that credit and say I'm Zimbabwean but I actually dont move there like that, you know that's not where I'm at," she added.Bragga further said that the Zimbabwean female rapper who is deserving to be nominated for the BET is KikkyBad**s."Like KikkyBad**s, I feel like she deserves to be nominated for a BET representing Zimbabwe because she really is coming with the full aesthetic, the dope songs, she's rapping in Shona, she's part of the culture. She's like how I am here so I'm not gonna take that away from the artists that are doing it there. That's the reason why I insisted you need to change it because that's not true," Nadia Nakai said.
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AN election debate series scheduled for Iminyela Hall in Bulawayo on Thursday was disrupted by supporters belonging to opposing camps in the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).The meeting was organised by the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association, Election Resource Centre and the National Youth Development Trust.Aspiring candidates for the Tshabalala-Pelandaba constituency were set to be quizzed by the electorate on their plans for the area.The CCC has two candidates gunning for the constituency, deputy party spokesperson Ostallos Siziva, who is the official party candidate, and Soneni Moyo.Zanu-PF is represented by Gift Ndlovu.The CCC says Moyo was not endorsed by the party, and is allegedly sponsored by the Zanu-PF affiliate group, the Forever Associate Zimbabwe.Moyo accused Siziva's supporters of disrupting the meeting."Trouble started when I was invited by the master of ceremony to present my manifesto," Moyo said."They started booing and shouting at me saying they do not want me...there was political violence as they wanted to chase me out. Some of them were armed with catapults."Bulawayo CCC spokesperson, Swithern Chirowodza, dismissed claims that party supporters disrupted the event."Rather CCC supporters managed to rescue Siziva from Soneni's Zanu-PF crowd that pretended to be pro-CCC. Zanu-PF supporters sought to bar Siziva from speaking to supporters," Chirowodza said.Bulawayo Zanu-PF spokesperson, Archibold Chiponda, said the party had nothing to do with the violence."Zanu-PF supporters and members only support Zanu-PF candidates. I do not see how in any way Zanu-PF supporters could find themselves involved in internal CCC squabbles," Chiponda."This to me sounds like a simple case of those tensions finally erupting, leading to CCC members turning on each other."Meanwhile, Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga on Thursday bragged that Zanu-PF achieved economic wonders under President Emmerson Mnangagwa.He was addressing party supporters at a rally in Gweru at Mkoba stadium."You can see for yourselves the roads, dams, electricity and food security brought in by the second republic," Chiwenga said."All these achievements were realised under the second republic.""No one from outside the country will come to develop Zimbabwe. The Chinese developed China and so did Russia and America in their countries. So we should do likewise."He accused the opposition of running down urban councils as seen in, among others, collapsing service delivery.The opposition denies the charges and accuses Zanu-PF of interfering in council operations.
PokerStars Shares Exciting Schedule for 2023 UKIPT Brighton (Sept 5-10)

August 14, 2023 PokerNews Staff

The next leg of the 2023 PokerStars United Kingdom & Ireland Poker Tour (UKIPT) sees the popular mid-stakes live tour head to the seaside resort of Brighton in the United Kingdom.

UKIPT Brighton runs from September 5 through to September 10 at the Rendezvous Casino. Sixteen events, including satellites, are scheduled between those dates, including a 1,100 buy-in Main Event, which the PokerNews Live Reporting team will be providing coverage from start to finish.

The UKIPT Brighton Main Event features a trio of flights, two with 40-minute blinds and a third with a 20-minute turbo structure. Regardless of which Day 1 you play, you sit down behind a generous starting stack of 30,000 chips and play to a structure where the blinds start at 100/100 with a 100 big blind ante.

Late registration remains open until the end of the tenth level, at which point there is a 75-minute dinner break, and play concludes on each flight once only 15% of the field remains. Should you dust off your stack while late registration is open, up to three re-entries are permitted per flight.

2023 UKIPT Brighton Full Schedule

Date Time Buy-in Event Sep-05 4 p.m. 125 Milestone Satellite to Main Event (Event #1) Sep-05 6 p.m. 250 Milestone Satellite to High Roller (Event #2) Sep-05 9 p.m. 220 No Limit Hold'em - Freezeout (Event #3) Sep-06 2 p.m. 250 Milestone Satellite to High Roller (Event #4) Sep-06 4 p.m. 2,200 No Limit Hold'em - UKIPT High Roller (Event #5) Day 1 Sep-06 8 p.m. 125 Milestone Satellite to Main Event (Event #6) Sep-07 2 p.m. - UKIPT High Roller (Event #5) Final Day Sep-07 2 p.m. 1,100 No Limit Hold'em - UKIPT Main Event (Event #7) Flight A Sep-07 6 p.m. 220 No Limit Hold'em - Freezeout (Event #8) Sep-07 9 p.m. 125 Milestone Satellite to Main Event (Event #9) Sep-08 12 p.m. 125 Milestone Satellite to Main Event (Event #10) Sep-08 12 p.m. 1,100 No Limit Hold'em - UKIPT Main Event (Event #7) Flight B Sep-08 7 p.m. 1,100 No Limit Hold'em - UKIPT Main Event (Event #7) Flight C Sep-08 9 p.m. 220 No Limit Hold'em - Freezeout (Event #11) Sep-09 11 a.m. - Freeroll Satellite - Win a seat to a Regional Tour Main Event (Event #100) Sep-09 12 p.m. - UKIPT Main Event (Event #7) Day 2 Sep-09 12:30 p.m. 330 No Limit Hold'em - UKIPT Cup (Event #12) Flight A Sep-09 7 p.m. 220 8 Game Mix (Event #13) Sep-09 7 p.m. 330 No Limit Hold'em - UKIPT Cup (Event #12) Flight B Sep-10 12 p.m. 220 No Limit Hold'em - Women's Event (Event #14) Sep-10 12 p.m. - UKIPT Cup (Event #12) Final Day Sep-10 2 p.m. - UKIPT Main Event (Event #7) Final Day Sep-10 2 p.m. 220 No Limit Hold'em - Bounty (Event #15) Sep-10 4 p.m. 550 No Limit Hold'em - Deepstack Freezeout (Event #16)

Learn more about the PokerStars Power Path Discover what makes the PokerStars Power Path so awesome. Read more

Win Your Way to UKIPT Brighton

Main Event and High Roller satellites are available at the venue during the festival, but you can win your way into the UKIPT Brighton Main Event for pennies online at PokerStars.

You should also check out the amazing Power Path promotion that recently launched. Starting at only $0.50, the four-step program opens doors to every PokerStars player being able to have a chance to play in a prestigious tournament.

For example, one of the prizes for capturing a Silver pass is a UKIPT Brighton package, consisting of a 1,100 Main Event buy-in, a 330 UKIPT Cup entry, plus 580 in cash for expenses.

Get your hands on a Power Path Gold pass, and one of the prizes is a UKIPT passport, giving you entries to the Brighton, London, Edinburgh, and Nottingham UKIPT Main Events, plus 2,800 for expenses!

Find PokerStars on the PokerNews Online Tournament Calendar

The PokerNews Online Tournament Calendar is a free tool that shows all of the upcoming and in-play tournaments you can enter at PokerStars, and do so from the comforts of thePokerNews site. Several filters are available to help you narrow down the perfect online tournament for you and your bankroll. Why not give it a shot today?
It was a moment that usually only happens in dreams. Viorel Gavrila was heads-up for a title at the final table of the 888 888poker LIVE Bucharest Main Event and looked down at two black aces as his opponent, Admir Qinami, moved all in. That magical scenario made Gavrila a champion and kept the 888poker LIVE trophy at home in his native Romania.

Gavrila prevailed over a field of 191 total entries to win the coveted trophy and collect 30,000, the largest tournament cash of his poker career, after beating Qinami with pokers ultimate cooler, aces over kings.

Gavrila has a live tournament resume that dates back to 2015 and more than $200,000 in earnings but had never won a major tournament like this one. He won an event here in the Poker Room Bucharest for 19,238 last month and also finished third in a high roller at the 2019 888poker LIVE Bucharest festival. The top prize from this event will push his career earnings past $250,000.

Qinami was denied the victory in a cruel fashion, but he wrote quite a story for himself over the last five days nonetheless. The Albania native had no live tournament cashes before this event. He earned his way to Bucharest through a freeroll on 888poker and turned that into 19,500. Though the ending may have been bittersweet, he still proved the axiom that anyone can win in this game on any given day.

Final Table results

Place Player Country Prize 1 Viorel Gavrila Romania 30,000 2 Admir Qinami Albania 19,500 3 Marius Gicovanu Romania 14,500 4 Andrii Zaika Ukraine 11,500 5 Razvan Belea Romania 9,200 6 Gheorghe Velcea Romania 6,900 7 Konstantinos Vatseris Greece 5,300 8 Maksims Gorbacs Latvia 4,000 9 Alexandru Marcu Romania 3,500

Final Table action

The final table began shortly past 3 p.m. local time as action went quickly. After doubling up early, Alexandru Marcu got his chips in again with jack-nine but couldnt beat Gavrilas ace-ten, sending the Day 1b chip leader out in ninth place. Maksims Gorbacs, coming off a deep run in the WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas last month, was eliminated in eighth place when he shoved with ten-nine and Marius Gicovanu called with a dominating queen-ten.

Gavrila, who began the final table in second chip position behind Qinami, rivered the nut flush and got paid by Andrii Zaika, then spiked an ace on the turn to crack Konstantinos Vatseris queens to bust him in seventh place. Gavrila then woke up with kings in the big blind after Gheorghe Velcea moved all in from the small blind with ace-queen, flopping top set to leave Velcea drawing dead by the turn and heading off to collect his sixth-place payout.

Razvan Belea, who became a poker hero in his native country when he became the first Romanian to capture an EPT title in Paris in February, moved all in for 605,000 with king-jack but ran into Qinamis jacks. Belea couldnt improve and the 2021 champion of this event had to settle for fifth place this time.

Qinami still led at the start of four-handed play, but Gavrila began to catch up when he called a blind-versus-blind shove for 810,000 from Zaika with king-jack and spiked a jack on the flop to beat ace-eight, eliminating the Ukranian in fourth place.

But for all the hands that Gavrila won at the final table, it was the hands he made incredible laydowns that helped him to the victory. He first folded queens on the river early at the final table when Gicovanu bet 750,000 with trip sixes. He later rivered a full house, kings over aces, but Qinami had aces over kings and Gavrila was able to get away from the cooler.

After a lengthy three-handed battle that lasted more than an hour, Gicovanu four-bet shoved for 2,340,000 with nines but Gavrila snapped him off with jacks. Gavrila led Qinami 10,070,000 to 6,740,000 at the start of heads-up and had a chance to end the tournament early on.

Admir Qinami

Qinami shoved the turn for 4,600,000 with a flush draw and overcards as Gavrila, with two pair, used up all his time bank cards before deciding to fold. Gavrila reopened a sizeable lead when he flopped two pair. Qinami had a pair and flush draw but missed the river and had to fold to a bet of 3,200,000.

Then came the final hand that had the entire poker room buzzing. Gavrila opened on the button to 250,000 before Qinami three-bet to 725,000. Gavrila made it 1,500,000 and Qinami moved in his last 6,135,000. Gavrila instantly shot out of his seat and called as Qinami stood helplessly by the table watching the board seal his fate.

Gavrila got to accept the trophy and pose for the winners photo beside the best hand in poker, two aces. Qinami might have been writing a script worthy of a movie, but it was Gavrila who had the Hollywood ending here in Bucharest.

That concludes PokerNews coverage of the 888poker LIVE Bucharest Main Event. Stay tuned for more updates from poker tournaments around the world.
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Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) raged that Merrick Garland gave them the special counsel that they wanted to investigate Hunter Biden.

Cruz said on Fox Newss Sunday Morning Futures:

It is camouflage and cover-up. I think its disgraceful. David Weiss was a U.S. Attorney hand-picked to lead this investigation who spent the last five years covering it up. David Weiss who was personally selected by the two Democrat senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons has gone to another level to protect Hunter Biden and Joe Biden, David Weiss is the one that is subject to two whistleblower complaints from senior career irs officials that came forward, they said theyd never stated investigation like this in their entire time in law enforcement.

They said the Department of Justice lawyers working for David Weiss protected the Biden family and they gave heads up to Hunter Biden before search warrants were executed presumably so he can hide incriminating evidence, and refused to allow them to ask any questions at all about the big guy, Joe Biden that they were focused on, you could not inquire into president Joe Bidens personal corruption and the result of all of that is that David Weiss either was an active participant in covering up the criminality and protecting Joe Biden and engaging in and obstruction of justice, that is option one or option two he was not the driver he was complicit he was so weak he could not stop the partisan and main justice from turning it into a political effort to protect Joe Biden.

Video of Cruz:

Sen. Marsha Blackburn went on Fox and she was also really mad, I think everyone knows that David Weiss is not a prosecutor, he is not a special counsel, he is a collaborator. The sweetheart deal that he had cooked up for Hunter Biden, now theyre going to give him a sweetheart deal with the special counsel and run out the clock. The American people can see through this, and they know what is going on. And Merrick Garland, he owes the American people better than to do something like this.

Video of Blackburn:

Merrick Garland Outsmarted Republicans By Giving Them Exactly What They Wanted

In September of 2022, more than 30 Republican senators sent a letter to Merrick Garland asking him to name David Weiss special counsel.

The Senators, including Blackburn and Cruz asked Garland to give David Weiss, special counsel protections and authorities to conduct the investigation into Hunter Biden.

Republicans were outsmarted by Garland because by doing exactly what they asked for, the Attorney General undercut their claims that the DOJ is a politicized arm of the Biden administration. Cruz and Blackburn were both straining to square the circle and explain how the special counsel that they demanded is now a really bad thing.

Hunter Bidens lawyer doesnt think that any new evidence is going to be found by the special counsel, so that means that the sides will likely work out a new plea deal maybe with a couple of new charges thrown in, and well be back to where we were before.

The only difference is that the DOJ will have proven that they arent politicized by conducting a special counsel investigation into the Presidents son.

Senate Republicans are raging because they have been outsmarted, and they realize that this is the beginning of the end for their Hunter Biden conspiracy theory.
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Trump is making it clear how worried about and how much he fears his upcoming indictment for election crimes in Georgia.

The former president posted on Truth Social:

Why is Phoney (Like in PERFECT PHONE CALL, get it?) Fani Willis, the severely underperforming D.A. of Fulton County who is being accused of having an affair with a Gang Member of a group that she is prosecuting, leaking my name in regard to a Grand Jury pertaining to Election Fraud & Irregularities that I say took place in Georgia. I made a PERFECT PHONE CALL OF PROTEST. What does Phoney Fani have to do with me? She should instead focus on the record number of murders in Atlanta!

The only Election Interference that took place in Fulton County, Georgia, was done by those that Rigged and Stole the Election, not by me, who simply complained that the Election was Rigged and Stolen. We have Massive and Conclusive Proof, if the Grand Jury would like to see it. Unfortunately, the publicity seeking D.A. isnt interested in Justice, or this evidence. Also, as in Manhattan, the corrupt DOJ is pushing hard trying to keep Biden in Office. The whole system is dishonest and broken!

It is hilarious on one level that Trump defines a call where he pressures election officials and threatens to charge them with crimes a perfect call of protest.

Why would a candidate call state election officials to protest?

The proper format for legal recourse is the judicial system, not the secretary of state.

The only reason why a defeated candidate would call the secretary of state is if that person wanted the results changed. However, since sane people understand that the secretary of state administers elections but cant change results, the only conclusion that can be reached is that Donald Trump wanted the secretary of state to break the law.

It is as if Trump doesnt know that there is audio of his call and much of the country has heard it.

Trump is trying to convince the nation that prosecutors in multiple jurisdictions and their staffs are all engaged in a conspiracy against him, which is being led by the President Of The United States. This conspiracy is so airtight, unlike the ones that Trump masterminded, that no one is talking about it.
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After the Supreme Courts June 29th SFFA decision on affirmative action, the Biden-Harris administration announced the first set of resources from the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice on Monday to lawfully support and promote diversity and opportunity in colleges and universities.

The administration offered resources in a Dear Colleague Letter and a Question and Answer Guide to clarify how universities and colleges can lawfully pursue racially diverse campuses that expose students to a range of viewpoints and backgrounds after the Supreme Courts decision in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina et al. (SFFA).

Some of the questions and answers are meant to address potential misunderstandings of the SCOTUS decision. For example, a senior department official clarified on background, Schools may continue to collect data about the race of applicants and they can use that data for a variety of purposes, so long as it is not used to decide whether an applicant is admitted to a school and its use is consistent with privacy laws.

Additionally, they added, Id also note that demographic data help provide institutions with critical information related to their programs and objectives. So for example, reviewing demographic data related to student admission outcomes can aid institutions in ensuring that their admissions practices do not discriminate based on characteristics that are protected by federal civil rights laws, such as race, sex or disability.

This is only the first step the administration is taking to address the Supreme Courts attack on diversity in education. They say they will have more in September addressing this issue.

This is a moment of great urgency in higher education, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a call with reporters in which PoliticusUSA participated. The Supreme Courts decision to end Affirmative Action has taken away a tool that colleges have used for decades to build diverse campus communities and create equitable opportunities.

We know what has happened at colleges when individual states have banned affirmative action in the past: Fewer students of color applied and fewer students of color were admitted. We cannot afford that kind of backsliding on a national scale, not when our nation is more diverse than ever, not when our world is more competitive than ever, not when our need to accept and understand one another is greater than ever.

Cardona made the point that education is the foundation of opportunity, emphasizing it by sharing, Education is the reason that the grandson of a sugar cane farmer in Puerto Rico is speaking to you today as Cabinet Secretary.

Diversity isnt just about helping people from less advantaged backgrounds; it actually helps everyone on campus. Diversity enriches the educational experience, the American Council on Education believes. We learn from those whose experiences, beliefs, and perspectives are different from our own, and these lessons can be taught best in a richly diverse intellectual and social environment.

If the United States wants to be globally competitive, its essential to offer exposure to different experiences and backgrounds in higher education.



The two resources offered today by the Biden-Harris administration are included above and may be clicked on to open the PDFs.
Its a particular experience to be a marginalized person in a predominantly white setting. When youre an immigrant in any Predominantly White Institution (PWI) in the U.S., youre both defined by and alienated from your ethnicity. The idea of your ethnicity feels like a shroud that separates you from the people around you, while also obscuring the complexity of the reality of your place of origin.

Typically, mainstream attempts at reconciling this feeling are imperfect at best. Flattened. Oversimplified. Mantras like too Black for the white kids, too white for the Black kids and too foreign for America, too American for home are familiar but  now feel trite. Personally, I roll my eyes when I hear them since theyre often built on stereotypes and are followed by scapegoating. That incomplete idea of the other.

Love In Taipei takes a different approach.

Love in Taipei | Official Trailer | Paramount+ www.youtube.com

When Ever Wong (Ashley Liao)  a first-generation Taiwanese-American student raised in Ohio  goes on a cultural immersion trip to Taipei, shes exposed to a city and a group of friends that she never expected. But this transformative journey leads her to discover a version of her heritage that embraces the multiplicity of her culture  a culture that embraces her.

The films heart is the eclectic cast of friends that Ever encounters at the program  fondly nicknamed Loveboat. This isnt the 90s, says her fast friend Chelsea (Sophie Ha), Everyone knows Asians are cool now.

I also love the chemistry between Liao and her two love interests Rick Woo (Ross Butler) and Xavier Yeh (Nico Hiraga). Its still so rare to see Asian men as romantic leads in mainstream American films. And these two are both equally charming, playing off Liao so perfectly I wanted her to end up with both of them! And Nico Hirago told SSENSE in 2019: A dream role would be a super romantic and sensitive dude who gets his heart broken, some sappy shit. So I think he actually manifested this role.

Like any good rom-com, the formulaic romance arc is only part of the plot. This story focuses on Ever as she follows her passions and experiences life surrounded by people who look like her and also are individuals with stories of their own. This places Love in Taipei in the contemporary zeitgeist of films celebrating the multiplicity of the Asian-American experience like Joy Ride, Crazy Rich Asians, and more.

By exposing herself to an expansive version of her culture, Ever finds an expansive version of herself.
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Boeing's agreement to sell up to a total of 121 787 Dreamliner aircraft to two Saudi Arabian airlines will benefit Aiken County and the Midlands, U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., said Monday.

Wilson, a Republican who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Middle East subcommittee, said two Aiken County businesses make parts for the North Charleston-built 787 Dreamliner.

"The benefit is right here," Wilson said at USC Aiken on Monday morning.

He said AGY, located on Wagener Road, makes the interior of the planes. Wilson said Zeus, located near the intersection of U.S. 78, East Pine Log Road and Wagener Road, makes the tubing in the planes.

He added Prysmian, located in an industrial park between Interstate 20 exits 51 and 55 in Lexington County, makes the cabling in the planes.

"Central South Carolina benefits with one of the largest aircraft purchases in the history of the world," Wilson continued.

Saudi Arabia and Boeing announced the deal March 14. In the agreement, two Saudi Arabian airlines, Saudia and the newly formed Riyadh Air, agreed to purchase 39 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

Saudia holds an option to purchase an additional 10 aircraft, and Riyadh Air has an option to purchase 33 additional aircraft.

If both airlines exercise their options, the deal will be valued at around $37 billion.

Wilson said he would soon visit the oil rich kingdom as part of a Middle Eastern tour that also includes Israel and Turkey.

He said he would say thank you to the Saudi Arabian people for the agreement and for their 100 years of friendship with the United States. He added the deal would provide jobs and security for both countries.

Before his Middle Eastern tour, Wilson will continue the bus tour that brought him to USC Aiken .

Wilson said he plans to stop in Lexington and Richland counties  the Second Congressional District includes Columbia's suburbs and Fort Jackson  followed by Barnwell and western Orangeburg counties.

He added the last stop will be Shealy's Bar-B-Que in Batesburg-Leesville.
By Sarah Wu and Faith Hung

TAIPEI (Reuters) -Apple supplier Foxconn beat estimates for second-quarter earnings on Monday thanks to a booming artificial intelligence sector but retained a cautious outlook for this year due to global economic uncertainties.

The world's largest contract electronics maker downgraded its outlook for full-year revenue to a slight decline from a previous guidance of flat as it joins other companies grappling with a weak global economy and a sluggish recovery in China.

"At present there are many external variables: global monetary policy tightening, geopolitical tensions, inflation and other uncertainties," Chairman Liu Young-way said, describing Foxconn's outlook as "relatively cautious".

Liu told an earnings briefing he sees a lot of potential in India, where Foxconn has rapidly expanded its manufacturing facilities, adding: "several billion dollars in investment is only a beginning".

Last month, Foxconn pulled out of a joint venture with Vedanta to make semiconductors in India, but said it intended to apply for incentives under the country's chip production plan.

Foxconn, which sees a growing EV contract manufacturing market, said it is very likely to mass produce electric vehicle batteries at its troubled site in Wisconsin.

Liu did not provide details.

Foxconn has made electric vehicles, or EVs, a big part of its diversification plans, and has also hired a former Nissan executive, Jun Seki, to lead its EV business expansion.

Within the AI server supply chain, Foxconn has won a "very high" market share for GPU modules and substrates, Liu said.

As generative AI applications explode, Foxconn is gaining momentum in servers for this segment and believes it can deepen collaboration with North American customers, Liu added, offering a bright spot amid slower demand for smartphones and PCs.

"AI growth has been strong, but we have not seen any pick-up for other products."

Story continues

Earlier, Foxconn posted a 1% drop in second-quarter net profit that beat analyst expectations.

The Taiwanese company said net profit for the April-June quarter slipped to T$33 billion ($1.0 billion) from a revised T$33.29 billion in the same period the previous year.

It was better than an average forecast of T$25.57 billion profit from 13 analysts, according to Refinitiv.

Foxconn said it expected revenue for its smart consumer electronics products to slightly decline year on year in the third quarter. That group includes smartphones and makes up about half of Foxconn's total revenue.

Overall revenue for the third quarter would also fall slightly, it said.

Apple this month forecast that a sales slump would continue into this quarter, sending shares down despite beating Wall Street sales and profit targets in its fiscal third quarter.

Shares in Foxconn, which assembles around 70% of iPhones, rose 1.4% ahead of its results, compared to a 1.3% fall in the main market. Its shares have risen 10% so far this year.

($1 = 31.9140 Taiwan dollars)

(Reporting by Sarah Wu and Faith Hung; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Tom Hogue and Alexander Smith)
An Aiken man will spend more than two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to health care fraud.

Travis Anthony Mason, 52, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Joseph F. Anderson to 31 months in federal prison after being convicted of health care fraud, according to a media release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of South Carolina.

Mason was ordered to a three-year term of court-ordered supervision, is ineligible for parole in the federal system and was ordered to pay $1,966,194 in restitution.

Court evidence showed that Mason, through his company M3 Medical LLC, was involved in the marketing and sale of prescription compounded medications such as pain creams.

Investigators said Mason and his coconspirators targeted individuals with federally funded health insurance plans such as TriCare, which provided benefits for compounded prescriptions, the release said.

The defendants would obtain prescriptions for compounded medications that were unnecessary from a physician and would also direct that these prescriptions be filled by specific compounding pharmacies, the release said.

Mason and his coconspirators knew the medications would yield high reimbursement and Mason paid a percentage of the reimbursement amount for every compounded prescription that was filled

For two years, Mason and his coconspirators caused over $1,966,194 in loss to TriCare, the release said.

Fraud of healthcare programs steals resources from people who need care and, in this case, from men and women who have bravely served our nation, U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs said in a media release.

The Department of Defense Office of Inspector General Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the FBI investigated the case, while it was prosecuted by assistant U.S. Attorney Amy F. Bower.
As days turn into weeks, the odds are growing longer for families hoping to be reunited with missing loved ones after a fire swept across Hawaii's town of Lahaina. But some remain undeterred as they continue their search for those still unaccounted for. Maui resident Kevin Baclig says he's not ready to give up looking for his wife and in-laws, while Leona Castillo hopes to soon hear from her son. She hopes he was able to outrun the fire. The list of the missing has dwindled over the days, as loved ones reunite with other loved ones and as authorities identify more remains. President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit Lahaina on Monday to survey the devastation and meet with survivors. Read moreHope is hard to let go after Maui fire, as odds wane over reuniting with still-missing loved ones
The drought-stricken Panama Canal is limiting the number of big ships that can travel through the key trade passage, and that has port leaders in Charleston and other East Coast gateways monitoring the impact on cargo shipments.

The Central American country's second-driest year in nearly a century has led canal officials to limit the number of daily crossings to 32 ships, with a maximum draft  or depth  of 44 feet. The lack of rainfall has water levels at Lake Gatun, which feeds the waterway, at a four-year low.

That has caused container lines to cut back on the number of cargo boxes they carry and, in some cases, raise their prices. The average cost of sending a 40-foot container through the canal from China to the U.S. Gulf Coast has increased by 36 percent since June, according to a report by the Financial Times.

The fallout on volumes along the East and Gulf coasts has been minimal to date, but it could become a long-term headache. More than 140 ships were waiting to traverse the canal as of Aug. 13, according Marine Traffic, a vessel-tracking website.

Of the 26 weekly container services that call on the Port of Charleston, seven use the canal to make their way to the Wando Welch Terminal in Mount Pleasant while an eighth alternates between the Panama Canal and the Suez Canal, which cuts through Egypt.

The State Ports Authority said the backlog and tighter restrictions, which will be in place through the rest of this year, could delay some ship arrivals or alter future routes.

"This could cause some service schedule slides or more cargo routed through the Suez Canal," a spokeswoman said.

Cargo moving through the Panama waterway accounts for just 3 percent of global trade but 40 percent of all U.S. container traffic. While volumes have leveled off since the pandemic and canal restrictions are not yet a major concern, some shippers are bracing for delays.

Customers havent seen the delays they are going to be seeing, Joe Monaghan, CEO of Worldwide Logistics Group, told the Journal of Commerce. Were expecting very soon people are going to start saying wheres my freight?

One potential bright spot is the lower number of containers making their way to the U.S. now compared to the import surge during the pandemic. Shipments of inbound goods are expected to reach their highest levels in nearly a year this month but are still trailing pandemic-era shipments double-digit percentages, according to the National Retail Federation.

Ben Hackett of Hackett Associates said decreases in cargo volumes this year have come even though consumer spending and U.S. employment have increased.

The discrepancy between rising growth in sales and declining cargo volumes is happening because retailers are working their way through inventory built up over the last 12 to 18 months," Hackett said in a written statement. "Cargo growth should resume as inventories are depleted.
CAYCE  Cayce residents will now be able to watch council meetings from home, as the city begins livestreaming meetings for the first time post-pandemic.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Cayce, a 14,000-resident city across the river from downtown Columbia, began livestreaming its City Council meetings as the world hunkered at home and converted meetings, classes and social gatherings to remote forums. But as the city transitioned back to in-person meetings during the summer of 2021, the streaming technology failed and disrupted meetings by causing audio feedback for participants and listeners.

More than two years later, Cayce's municipal meetings will be available via streaming again.

"Our Cayce Council members love the face-to-face time with citizens at our Council meetings," said Cayce Spokeswoman Ashley Hunter, "but we are all thankful that these upgrades take our accessibility and transparency a step further."

Cayce spent a chunk of its federal pandemic-relief dollars to upgrade the livestreaming system. Starting Aug. 16, all meetings will be available to stream online.

Cayce will join most other Columbia-area municipalities in livestreaming meetings for those who can't attend in person. Lexington County and the town of Irmo voted earlier this year to join other South Carolina counties and towns in allowing council members to participate in meetings electronically, including to take votes.

Although livestreaming enhances the convenience of attending municipal meetings, the technology has its blemishes. Specifically, audio can periodically cut out for at-home watchers, making meetings challenging to follow at times.

To watch a meeting online, Cayce residents and anyone else interested can find the livestreams on Cayce's website, under the "Government" tab, at the bottom of the home page and to the right of the home page.
A cultural highlight of summers in the Midlands since 1988 has been the annual Trustus Playwrights Festival. Established as a means to showcase new stage works by up-and-coming authors, the festival receives submissions from across the country. The winning script is given a staged reading, followed by a full-scale live production at the end of the following season at Trustus Theatre.

The 2020 winner, "Down in the Holler" by Val Dunn, was chosen from 187 submissions, the largest number in recent memory, according to Trustus Artistic Director Dewey Scott-Wiley.

Scott-Wiley and four other current or former Trustus Company members served on the selection committee and chose the winner. The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a virtual reading that year, which Scott-Wiley directed. She will direct the live version, as well, and is joined by members of the virtual performance for this long-awaited live premiere; Christine Hellman and Tashera Pravato. Elizabeth Houck-Zozaya and Kathleen Pennyway round out the ensemble of four.

Set in the Shenandoah Valley, a rural section of western Virginia nestled against the Blue Ridge Mountains, the play is described as a collision of class and queerness, ultimately asking how we reconcile who we were and who we thought we would become.

Holler is traditional Appalachian slang for a hollow or cove; a small and remote creek valley.

Dunns script focuses on Juniper (played by Hellman), an ostensibly happy and settled denizen of a holler whose domestic bliss is challenged by the appearance of a beguiling figure who conjures memories and passions of a former life.

Val Dunn, the author, has a website that indicates her work possesses a strong sense of place and tackles issues of class and dykehood while pushing against the limitations of form.

Scott-Wiley noted that, Trustus has always embraced LGBTQ+ voices and stories, and for that I am extremely grateful.

Reached by e-mail in the mountains of Englands northwest Lake District where she now resides, Dunn wrote nothing bores me more than plays about rich, straight, white people in New York City. I think we've learned all there is to learn about those people. It's time for everyone else to have a turn to speak. For my part, I'm trying to give voice to rural queers.

The 2015 graduate of Marylands Washington College said she grew up on a farm. "So rurality is a key influence on my work," Dunn wrote. "I set this play in the Shenandoah Valley because it's somewhere I camped a lot as a kid, and the woods there have a palpable sense of magic.

Currently an Eccles Centre Fellow at the British Library where she is researching the mythos of the American farmer, Dunn described the mechanics of being a working author.

Often, it feels like 'being a playwright' is 50 percent writing plays and 50 percent applying to opportunities  contests, residencies, grants, etc.," Dunn explained. "In 2022, for instance, I submitted to 69 different opportunities. I think I got three yeses out of that? The news that Trustus wanted to produce my play was very, very welcome, particularly in the late-spring of 2020 when I wasn't even sure theater would ever happen again.

Nevertheless, her bio indicates productions of six other works and multiple awards and fellowships in the last decade, many in and around Philadelphia.

Most of that comes down to stubbornness  my own  and generosity (other people's). I was very lucky that, upon graduating college and moving to Philly, I quickly found an artistic community," Dunn recalled. "I had mentors who helped me make connections, writers groups that offered accountability and friends who were always willing to commiserate over margaritas. And when I couldn't land productions fast enough, I self-produced my plays.

Describing her work, the author said "I hope to convey the commingled agony and joy that is being alive. I hope that articulating the expansiveness of human emotion will engender empathy. I just want us to be better at taking care of each other.

The joy of playing pretend as a child led to aspirations of a career in acting, but in college I realized I was gay, and it became increasingly uncomfortable to inhabit straight roles, Dunn said.

Finding nuanced parts that addressed issues she cared about became a struggle. So I decided to write the plays I needed but couldn't find. Such plays are now more visible, though the great work continues," Dunn said. "What keeps me coming back to the form is an interest in creating all-encompassing worlds and capturing idiosyncratic communication.

Scott-Wiley observed that the production features an all-female cast and design team.

The play is set in 2010, when gay marriage was only legal in a few states and DC. I am struck by how differently the play hits in 2023, just three years after we did the first reading, Scott-Wiley said. Gay marriage felt like an absolute right three years ago. There is a tenuousness about it today, which makes the exploration of the work even more fulfilling. It is thrilling to be part of this young playwright's journey bringing 'Down in the Holler' to the stage.

"Down in the Holler" runs from Aug. 18 to 26 at Trustus Theatre. More information at trustus.org
GREENVILLE  Employees from the first Starbucks to unionize in South Carolina have requested a vote to remove the union, joining 16 cafes nationwide that have done the same.

Kacie Bory, an employee at the Starbucks on 3905 Pelham Road, filed the petition after a year with Starbucks Workers United as their national union.

The petition contains at least seven signatures, or 30 percent of the baristas and shift supervisors, who are requesting that the National Labor Relations Board hold an election to decide whether to remove the union.

"My coworkers and I are very disappointed with the performance of SBWU union officials," Bory said in a written statement. "Theyve done a lousy job of communicating with me and my colleagues and also havent stood up for our interests in the workplace."

The National Right to Work Foundation, a group that advocates for an employee's right to choose whether to join a union, is representing Bory and employees at five other Starbucks stores.

Two recent petitions in New York to request an election have been dismissed by the NLRB, saying that unfair labor practices by Starbucks irrevocably taint the petition and any related election.

Workers United expects the same result for this petition, the group told The Post and Courier.

"Starbucks illegally refuses to bargain with our union, illegally disciplines and fires union supporters, and illegally changes working conditions, then the National Right to Work Foundation piggy-backs on this activity in an attempt to decertify our union," Workers United said.

Under the law, Starbucks cannot support employees who want to remove the union. However, the company has advocated for the NLRB to hold elections to decide whether to proceed.
Lindblade, a professional equestrian center that once offered training and boarding services in northern Greenville County, is now for sale, listed for $1.575 million. Read moreAt this $1.5 million equine estate near Landrum, the only home is for horses
MONCKS CORNER  Feeling sick one night about 25 weeks into her pregnancy, Lauren Wright, 23, made it into the bathroom. But when she came out, she got "really dizzy and I fell," she said, actually passing out on the floor.

Wright took her blood pressure and it was high, which is unusual for her. The obstetrician brought her in and told her about preeclampsia, the most common serious pregnancy complication, which affects about 8 percent of all pregnancies but is on the rise in the United States, particularly among younger women. A study last year in the journal JAMA Open Networks found that women born in the 1990s and 2000s had twice the rate of preeclampsia or other hypertension-related disorders during pregnancy than women born in the 1950s.

The Food and Drug Administration recently approved a test that can help doctors manage what could become a serious problem for both women and their babies. Preeclampsia can be mild or severe and is a rise in blood pressure after 20 weeks of pregnancy that can also affect other functions in the body, according to the March of Dimes. Women are considered at higher risk if they had high blood pressure, diabetes or obesity prior to becoming pregnant. Women who are older, and the average age at birth has been climbing in the U.S., are carrying multiple fetuses and are first-time or much younger mothers are also at higher risk.

It is something obstetricians routinely assess, said Dr. Lauren Hamilton, physician director of Women, Infants and Children for Roper St. Francis Healthcare.

"As you look at patients and you look at their risk factors, you definitely think to yourself, 'Oh, this patient could be at risk, this patient is at increased risk,'^" she said.

While often mild, it can sometimes cause severe disorders for both mothers and their babies, and could result in strokes, comas or worse.

It can be "extremely serious," Hamilton said. "The mother can die."

Worldwide, it accounts for 10-15 percent of all maternal deaths and in the U.S. often leads to preterm birth if it occurs early in the pregnancy. While exact causes are debated, it is related to problems with the placenta. The new test from Thermo Fisher Scientific looks at two markers in the blood that could help predict whether a woman will develop severe preeclampsia in the next two weeks, the company said in a news release.

Neither Roper St. Francis nor MUSC Health are using the test yet, although both have an interest in it. While Hamilton said it is most likely to be used in the hospital, Dr. Gene Chang, a professor in the division of Maternal Fetal Medicine at Medical University of South Carolina, thinks it could also be used in the outpatient clinic, too.

"I don't think anyone has a good grip on how it is going to be used," yet, he said.

With preeclampsia in patients like Wright who are earlier in their pregnancy, it becomes a matter of weighing the risk of letting the baby develop longer and the risk to the mother's health as the pregnancy continues, Hamilton said.

"You dont want to have to deliver a patient early for the babys sake but then the mother cant get too sick because then everything just spirals out of control," she said. "Its always a balancing act between what we can do safely for the baby and what we can do safely for the mother."

Because preeclampsia is thought to be a problem with the placenta affecting the mother's health, "delivery of a baby is always the appropriate care for a mom with preeclampsia," Chang said. "The problem is, it is not always the greatest thing for a baby."

The new test "would probably allow us to know how far we can get with patients, when they need to be delivered," Hamilton said. "How close are they getting to having a crisis?"

If used in the clinic, it could be helpful in determining when a patient should be hospitalized, Chang said. In some patients with pre-existing conditions like high blood pressure, the test could be very helpful in knowing if the blood pressure increase is due to preeclampsia or is just their original condition getting worse, he said.

Then, "optimizing their hypertension treatment is the right answer," Chang said. "In that sense, it could be really helpful for us."

For Wright, the scary incident led to more tests, including twice-weekly visits to doctors for lab work and an ultrasound, as well as bed rest. While the goal was to make it at least to 34 weeks in her pregnancy, she actually made it to 36 before issues came to a head and she had to deliver on July 11. She was still sick afterward and ended up in the hospital for six days but her little boy, Branson, was healthy at 6 pounds, 12 ounces.

"He was fine; good to go," Wright said. "It was just me."

Other than needing more sleep, she is feeling better now. The idea of having a test that could have given doctors more information about precisely what was happening within appeals to her.

"I think it would be very reassuring," Wright said.
Its August in Texas, which, at the best of times, is like living inside the molten contents of one of those fried mozzarella sticks that I always steal from my youngest daughters order at the Sonic Drive In. This year, though, the summer heat is throwing a good old fashioned hissy fit. Read moreLive your best heat-dome life
The Red Cross is urging heat safety for student athletes as temperatures climb Read moreTen important ways to help keepstudent athletes safe when the heat is on
VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 14, 2023 /CNW/ - Golden Shield Resources Inc. (CSE: GSRI) (OTCQB: GSRFF) (FRA: 4LE0) (the "Company" or "Golden Shield") is pleased to report on exploration results at its 100% owned flagship, 5,457-hectare, Marudi Mountain gold project located in southwestern Guyana (the "Marudi Mountain Property" or "Marudi").

The Company is pleased to report results from mapping and geological interpretive work at the Marudi Mountain Property which was conducted by Specialized Geological Mapping. In addition, the Company reports results of the reinterpretation of a 25 km2 Induced Polarization ("IP") and resistivity survey conducted by Arce Geofisicos S.A.C. and the 2018 helimagnetic survey conducted by GeophysicsOne Inc. It is important to note that the 2018 helimag survey at the Marudi Mountain Property was completed once drilling by the previous operator had ceased. Golden Shield is the first company to have this geophysical data available to guide drilling at the Marudi Mountain Property. Additionally, surface trenching, pitting, mapping, and sampling has taken place with the collection of over 2,000 rock samples.

In 2022, the Company completed approximately 9,000m of drilling on the Marudi Mountain Property and extended high-grade mineralization below the base of the historic resource constraining pit by 180m, with the best intercept being 50 meters grading 9.10 g/t gold.

In addition, the Company has completed the purchase of a dual-purpose Air Core ("AC") and Reverse Circulation ("RC") drill rig from Multi-Power Products Ltd., based in Kelowna, BC, Canada. This drill rig will be used to penetrate through the saprolite cover and test fresh bedrock in a grid pattern to validate drill targets before testing with the more expensive diamond drill rig that is located on site.

Leo Hathaway, Executive Chairman of Golden Shield, commented: "Recent geological work at Marudi has been pivotal in providing us with a new exploration model. Geophysical work has traced the prospective horizon into areas it was previously unknown, and the Company's recent work has then 'ground-truthed' this by trenching in these areas and unearthing the horizon in outcrop. This detailed understanding of the exploration model may now be applied elsewhere in the southern Guyana greenstone belt, in which Golden Shield is a first mover".

Story continues

Figure 1. New Marudi property scale geology. (CNW Group/Golden Shield Resources)

IP-Resistivity Survey

The reinterpreted 25 km2 IP-resistivity survey has proven effective in identifying the mineralized ferruginous quartzite ("FQ") and has mapped this prospective horizon over at least six kilometers in aggregate, and at multiple locations that have been untested by drilling.

Figure 2. IP chargeability interpretation showing anomalous areas that have been untested, or poorly tested by previous drilling. (CNW Group/Golden Shield Resources)

The recognition of the surface trace of this prospective horizon indicates at least six more prospective Mazoa-type occurrences that were undiscovered or poorly understood before recent trenching, mapping and sampling work. These are listed below and ranked in order of priority, according to currently available information:

1) IP-6: The new IP data identified a brand-new undrilled, possible offset of the Mazoa Hill deposit, lying some 200m to the east, with comparable lithology and mineralization to the known deposit. Trenching has uncovered an intercept of 8 meters grading 1.10 g/t and this is open where it disappears below saprolite cover. This zone is a newly recognized unit of FQ. The discovery of IP-6 confirms the ability of the IP survey to identify "blind" FQ under deep saprolite cover. This will be tested with a grid of RC or AC drilling before diamond drill testing.

Figure 3. IP Chargeability overlain on historic map and grab sample and trench results for Marudi showing IP-6 anomaly to east. (CNW Group/Golden Shield Resources)

2) Peace Creek: Peace Creek represented the strongest chargeability anomaly and was historically drilled between 1946 and 1949 by the Rupununi Mining Company for a total of 438 meters, from which the best intercepts were 10.6 meters grading 1.83 g/t gold and 0.9 meters grading 105 g/t gold. Vanessa Ventures subsequently drilled three holes from 2004 to 2005, and the prospect has not seen any further drilling. There are numerous surface workings and large field of alluvial workings to the east-southeast, with Peace Creek being the mostly likely source of this mineralization. The Company interprets these features as indicative of a significant gold endowment in this area. Further mapping and trenching and/or AC/RC drilling is required to refine a drill target here.

3) Success Creek: Another brand-new undrilled prospect with a thick (yet unquantified) section of pyrite-pyrrhotite mineralized quartzite that has returned grades of 8 meters grading 1.4 g/t gold and 8 meters grading 1.3 g/t gold. The Company has uncovered a 15-meter high "wall" of quartzite that dips to the northwest underneath saprolite cover (Figure 4). Recent trench results include 8 meters grading 1.25g/t gold from trench TSH-23-54, 8 meters grading 1.25g/t gold from trench TSH-23-54; and 4m grading and 1.11g/t gold from trench TSH-23-53. The removal of surficial material is continuing to uncover additional quartzite, and the full strike length and mineralization potential are unconstrained.

Figure 4. Geological interpretation and grab sample and trench results for Success Creek. (CNW Group/Golden Shield Resources)

Figure 5. Wall of FQ at Success Creek being uncovered and sampled by company workers. (CNW Group/Golden Shield Resources)

4) Marudi North: Limited drilling (8,157 meters) by previous operators was completed at Marudi North, including an historic intercept grading 4.30 g/t gold over 17.6m. Mineralization occurs in FQ and strikes northeast - southwest. The Company has discovered additional FQ outcrops in trenching to the south of Marudi North (to date no assay results received from Trench sampling) and interprets the mineralized zone to be open in both directions (southwest and northeast), and to depth. Marudi North warrants further drilling and will be a priority target for future exploration.

5) Toucan: The Toucan area was previously drilled by Golden Shield in 2022 with encouraging results, the best being 4.84 g/t gold over 6 meters. Since then, the Company has conducted additional trenching, mapping and sampling and the Company's interpretation has been refined to make Toucan is a high priority target. Trench results include 4 meters grading 1.09 g/t gold in trench TTC-23-58 and 7 meters grading 1.11 g/t gold in trench TTC-23-63.

Figure 6. Geological interpretation and grab sample and trench results for Toucan. (CNW Group/Golden Shield Resources)

6) Kimberly: Kimberley is a northeast-southwest trending unit of FQ that is 30 meters thick and the strike length has not yet been established. However, trench TKI-22-4 produced 9 m grading 1.7 g/t gold; including 3 m at 3.9 g/t gold. These results will be followed up on by the Company in the near future.

Next Steps

Surface work. Continued field exploration consisting of trenching, pitting, auguring, sampling, and mapping. To date, the Company has collected over 3,248 geochemical samples on the Marudi Mountain Property. Results for most of these samples have been received and approximately 429 are awaited. These results will help finalize targeting for the RC drill program.



RC/AC drilling. The drill rig is in Guyana and will arrive on site shortly. Systematic RC drilling on grids, drill testing the ranked drilling targets described above, will commence in August. This will help to establish the size and approximate grade of the fresh-rock target currently obscured by saprolite cover.



Diamond drilling. In September, when results of the RC drilling have been received, Golden Shield will commence diamond drill testing the best of the RC anomalous areas. Results should be available in September and continue flowing to the end of Q4 2023.

Marudi represents the best understood example of an orogenic gold deposit, hosted in the Kwitwaro group metasediments in the southern Guyana greenstone belts. This, combined with the Company's relationships in the area, uniquely positions Golden Shield to explore this virgin greenstone belt for additional gold resources.

Table 1. Summary of Trench Results at the Marudi Mountain Property

Trench Name From To Width (m) Au (g/t) Target TMH-23-47 0 8 8 1.1 IP-6 TSH-23-50 15 21 6 0.48 Success Creek TSH-23-51 13 20 7 0.45 Success Creek TSH-23-53 38 46 8 1.25 Success Creek TSH-23-54 27 31 4 1.11 Success Creek TTC-23-58 11 15 4 1.09 Toucan Creek TTC-23-63 22.5 29.5 7 1.11 Toucan Creek

Reconnaissance Drill Results

In late 2022, preliminary drilling of five short reconnaissance holes at the Throne and July prospects yielded narrow gold intercepts including 1.5m grading 3.14 g/t gold from 154.10m in hole TH-22-35 at Throne and 2.4m grading 0.72 g/t gold from 133m in hole JU-22-38 at July. The results indicate the existence of a gold-bearing system. However, the orientation of the system cannot be constrained at this time and subsequent IP results indicate that the more prospective target may lay some 100m to the west (see Figure 2).

Table 2. Summary of Reconnaissance Drilling

Drillhole Name Coordinates (PSAD56 21N)



Total Depth (m)





Easting Northing Azi. Dip EOH From To Width Grade (Au g/t) TH-22-34 259443 244988 200 -55 157 No significant intercepts TH-22-35 259481 244904 200 -55 177 154.1 155.6 1.5 3.14 JU-22-36 259494 244539 220 -55 202 No significant intercepts JU-22-37 259594 244424 230 -55 189 No significant intercepts JU-22-38 259623 244285 230 -55 195 133 135.4 2.4 0.72

Quality Assurance

All Golden Shield sample assay results have been independently monitored through a quality control / quality assurance ("QA/QC") protocol which includes the insertion of blind standards, blanks as well as pulp and reject duplicate samples. Logging and sampling are completed at Golden Shield's core handling facility located at the Marudi property. Drill core is diamond sawn on site and half drill-core samples are securely transported to Actlabs Guyana Inc ("Actlabs") sample preparation and analysis facility in Georgetown, Guyana. Samples are crushed and pulverised and a 50-gram charge is analysed by Fire Assay with gravimetric finish. Golden Shield is not aware of any drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data referred to herein. ACTLABS Laboratories is independent of Golden Shield.

Qualified Persons

Leo Hathaway, P. Geo, Executive Chair of Golden Shield, and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed, verified, and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release and has verified the data underlying that scientific and technical information.

Technical Information

Certain data disclosed in this news release is related to historical drilling results. The Company has not undertaken any independent investigation of the drilling, nor has it independently analyzed the results of the historical exploration work in order to verify the results. The Company considers these historical drill results relevant as the Company is using this data as a guide to plan exploration programs. The Company's current and future exploration work includes verification of the historical data through drilling.

Additional Corporate Updates

Dr. Colin Porter has resigned from Golden Shield to pursue other ventures, and the Company wishes him every success.

About Golden Shield

Golden Shield Resources was founded by experienced professionals who are convinced that there are many more gold mines yet to be found in Guyana. The company is well-financed and has three wholly controlled gold projects: Marudi Mountain, Arakaka and Fish Creek. Golden Shield continues to evaluate other gold opportunities in Guyana.

This news release includes certain "ForwardLooking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forwardlooking information" under applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "plan", "forecast", "may", "would", "could", "schedule" and similar words or expressions, identify forwardlooking statements or information. These forwardlooking statements or information relate to, among other things: the exploration and development of the Company's mineral projects; and release of exploration results.

Forwardlooking statements and forwardlooking information relating to any future mineral production, liquidity, enhanced value and capital markets profile of Golden Shield, future growth potential for Golden Shield and its business, and future exploration plans are based on management's reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the price of gold and other metals; no escalation in the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; Golden Shield's ability to operate in a safe and effective manner and its ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms.

These statements reflect Golden Shield's respective current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information and Golden Shield has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: the Company's dependence on one mineral project; precious metals price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company's mineral exploration activities in Guyana; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; risks regarding mineral resources and reserves; the Company's inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects, including the inaccuracy of reserves and resources, metallurgical recoveries and capital and operating costs of such projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; the ability of the communities in which the Company operates to manage and cope with the implications of COVID-19; the economic and financial implications of COVID-19 to the Company; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the Company's interactions with surrounding communities and artisanal miners; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; the speculative nature of exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; and the factors identified in the Company's public disclosure documents available on www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information. 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 anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law.

Golden Shield Resources Inc. Logo (CNW Group/Golden Shield Resources)

SOURCE Golden Shield Resources

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Insects seem to be the main pest at the Possums counter this week. Armyworms, chinch bugs, fleas, roaches (hey, it is Charleston, they like the worlds best city also) and mosquitoes have been attacking our Lowcountry homes and yards. Read moreSummer pests at the gate
MYRTLE BEACH  The U.S. Coast Guard rescued four divers after they were reported missing off the coast of Myrtle Beach.

Ben Wiggins, 64, Luke Lodge, 26, Daniel Williams, 46, and Evan Williams, 16, were rescued 46 miles southeast of Cape Fear River, N.C. They were uninjured, and they reunited with their friends and family members around 6:10 a.m. Aug. 14.

Any time the Coast Guard launches for a search and rescue case, it is always our hope and goal to be able to reunite those we are searching for with their friends and families, said Capt. Timothy List, commander of Coast Guard Sector North Carolina. "In this case, that is exactly what took place, which is always a great feeling for our rescue crews.

The group went diving around noon on Aug. 13 off a recreational boat called Big Bill's. They were about 63 miles east of Myrtle Beach and 50 miles south of Cape Fear, N.C.

Once they dived, the men did not resurface, which prompted reports of the missing divers to the Coast Guard. A multi-vehicle search and rescue effort continued throughout the night by the North Carolina and Charleston Coast Guard sectors.

Around 12:45 a.m. Aug. 14, the missing divers were spotted after they used an SOS-strobe light to get rescue crews' attention, according to the Coast Guard.

A Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City HC-130 Hercules airplane crew notified the watchers at Coast Guard Sector North Carolina about how they spotted the light, located the divers and launched a life raft, according to the Coast Guard.

The HC-130 coordinated with the Navy destroyer Porter, which was conducting a training exercise near the divers location. The Porter crew rescued all four divers from the raft, according to the Coast Guard.

A 47-foot Coast Guard motor lifeboat crew arrived with the Porter and took the divers to reunite them with friends and family, according to the Coast Guard.

This story has been updated as of 3:46 p.m. Aug. 14.
MYRTLE BEACH  An Illinois tourist who visited Myrtle Beach in 2020 is suing a local hotel, its employees and several management companies after she claims her hotel room was infested with bedbugs.

This case follows multiple bedbug-related lawsuits that have been filed against area hotels in recent years, and the litigation comes as federal officials say bedbug complaints are on the rise.

Lindsay Roseman-Booth's suit states that she and her two children stayed in a room at Myrtle Beach's Grande Shores Ocean Resort around Aug. 12, 2020. They discovered bedbugs in the mattresses, bedding and carpet, and her sons had rashes on their bodies, according to the complaint.

Roseman-Booth is suing the hotel and 20 unnamed employees in Horry County court, alleging they acted recklessly and neglected to clean the room beforehand or offer her family a new room after the bugs were discovered.

Grande Shores Management Co. LLC, Grande Shores Rental LLC and Seaside Properties LLC have also been named as defendants in the lawsuit, which was filed Aug. 10.

The defendants declined to comment.

"Defendants had a duty to (Roseman-Booth) as an operator of the hotel to keep the hotel in a reasonably clean and safe condition," according to the lawsuit. "Defendants also had a duty to warn (her) of the bed bugs and/or infestation as it caused a threat to (her and her sons') safety."

Roseman-Booth and her children planned to stay in the hotel for four days. However, Roseman-Booth noticed rashes and bumps all over her 13-year-old son's skin two days into their trip, according to the lawsuit. A doctor recommended she remove the mattress from her son's hotel bed and inspect the bed and headboard.

Roseman-Booth discovered bedbugs crawling in the bed and dead bug carcasses behind the headboard, as well as "streaks and stains" on the bed, according to the lawsuit.

Bedbugs are small, flat brown bugs that can grow up to a quarter-inch long. When around a bed, the bugs can be found near the piping, seams and tags of a mattress and box spring, as well as in bed frame and headboard cracks.
ISLE OF PALMS  Police on this barrier island say they have recovered the gun used in the April beach shooting that injured five people, linking it to an 18-year-old high school senior.

Davion Bobby DelShawn Singleton has been charged with five counts of attempted murder, two gun charges and a count of possession of a stolen vehicle.

"He is the shooter," Chief Kevin Cornett said at a press conference on Aug. 14, days after the department announced Singleton's arrest. While the department is still investigating the shooting, and the chaotic events that led up to it, Cornett said detectives are not looking for any other shooters.

"We have made the significant arrest of the individual that shot and injured five people. But as I said, anybody else that was identified as being involved in criminal activity on April 7 that were on the beach will be held accountable," Cornett said. "It's not closed, still open and still being investigated."

Cornett would not say whether any of those shot were intended targets, though police have said one victim, a 28-year-old woman, was a bystander. The others injured were all boys ages 15 to 17, who were released from the hospital the following day. All were expected to recover.

He also declined to provide a motive, other than to say that some of the teens were "involved in disputes."

All five victims were shot with the same gun, which Cornett said detectives recovered and were able to link to Singleton.

"We understand that this was an event that took place that has changed the way that at least five individuals look at their experience on the beach," he said. "We hope that this will give them a little bit of peace."

Singleton, a senior at Summerville High School, was participating in the "senior skip day" that brought hundreds of area teens to the beach, Cornett said. The 18-year-old has no prior criminal history, the chief said.

He arrived on the island, and then fled, in a stolen vehicle, Cornett said.

Gunfire rang out around 5:30 p.m. after several fights had broken out on Front Beach behind the Sea Cabins condominiums.

Officers were already on the beach, detaining three people involved in a physical fight when the shots were fired. Police ultimately released those individuals in order to respond to the shooting, but they later identified those involved in the fight. Two were juveniles, but one, a 20-year-old man, was later arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, according to Sgt. Matthew Storen.

Three teens were charged with weapons offenses, though it appears they were not involved in the shooting.

All told, police have made five arrests from the bedlam.

Cornett thanked the Charleston Police Department, North Charleston Police Department, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, FBI, Somerville Police Department, Charleston County Sheriff's Office, and Mount Pleasant Police Department for aiding in the investigation.
FLORENCE  The final call for Dillon County Sheriff Douglas "Humbunny" Pernell Jr. echoed across the radio and through the Florence Center, where a crowd of more than 1,000 people gathered Aug. 13 to honor the only African American to ever hold that top law enforcement spot.

Friends, family and colleagues described him as a devoted public servant whose dream it was to become sheriff and serve his community.

"Today, we do not mourn Sheriff Pernell because he was a sheriff. We mourn his death because of who he was on this earth ... his character, heart, passion and his love for Dillon County," said Brian Wallace, the sheriff in neighboring Marion County and president of the South Carolina Sheriffs' Association.

Pernell, 61, died of natural causes at home the night of Aug. 7.

He was elected in 2020 in his fourth attempt to become sheriff after more than 30 years in law enforcement.

Within hours of the announcement about his death, tributes began to pour in from across the Pee Dee.

At the service inside the Florence Center, people from across South Carolina honored Pernell during a three-hour homegoing celebration that included remarks from local officials along with Pernells friends and family.

Wallace, Rev. Jared Myers, Rev. James Orr, Rev. Roanell Hough, Elder Johnnie Coe, Dillon County Chief Deputy Jamie Hamilton, Dillon Mayor Tally McCall, state Rep. Jackie Hayes, Rev. Olando McCauley, Deacon Chris McCoy, Rev. Rodney McCorkle and Pernell's sister Joyce and wife Cynthia all spoke.

Hamilton, who will replace Pernell as sheriff, said his former boss was a committed member of the community, a loving father and husband and a sheriff who cared deeply about the people he served.

"He never let the title define him. There's nothing wrong with titles. But if you called him, it was never 'This is Sheriff Pernell,'" Hamilton said. "He answered with 'Hello.' ... He didn't say, 'This is the Sheriff.' He said, 'This is Humbunny.' That's who he was."
The longtime chief of staff for the late U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond, and in some circles known as the "101st Senator" for his role in supporting the aging South Carolina politician, is being remembered as a humble servant and good man by some of those who befriended him over the years.

Robert J. Duke Short has died at age 89.

As a friend and also as chief of staff to U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond, Duke Short made an indelible impression on the lives of leaders and citizens all across his beloved South Carolina and his country, Gov. Henry McMaster tweeted Aug. 11. He was a good man.

Thurmond appointed Short as his top aide in 1988, and it was a position he served until the oldest- and longest-serving senator at that time in U.S. history retired in 2003. He had spent 48 years in the chamber, with Short alongside him running the office and more for the final 15.

The former South Carolina governor and one-time presidential candidate died later that year at age 100.

He was a remarkable man who led an amazing life, Short wrote in his book titled "The Centennial Senator: True Stories of Strom Thurmond from the People Who Knew Him Best" that was released in 2006.

"He was one of my closest friends, and in many ways he was a father figure to me. So I wanted to create something of which he would have been proud," Short wrote. We all have our shortcomings, and Senator Thurmond certainly had his. But I refused to write a critical or insider-tells-all book.

Thurmond in 1948 ran for U.S. president on the Dixiecrat States Rights Party and its platform championing segregation. He later called the Supreme Courts decision in the Brown v. Board of Education case  which included the earlier legal case out of South Carolina called Briggs v. Elliott  a clear abuse of judicial power for integrating public schools.

As a U.S. senator in 1957, he filibustered for more than 24 hours in opposition to a federal civil rights bill. He also voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which passed and prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin.

In 1971, Thurmond became the first member of the Southern congressional delegation to hire a Black aide  Thomas Moss, who worked on Thurmonds staff for 30 years.

Thurmond started to vote to appoint African Americans to federal judge positions, including to a military appeals court for the first time in South Carolina. He also voted in favor of the nomination of Clarence Thomas to the U.S. Supreme Court. He later supported making Martin Luther King Jr.s birthday a federal holiday.

Shortly after his death, it became publicly known for the first time that Thurmond had fathered a daughter when he was 22 with a teenage servant working in his familys home in Edgefield.

For his work and influence behind the scenes as Thurmonds chief of staff, particularly in those final years, Roll Call named Short one of the 50 most-powerful staffers in Congress.

In 2003, Passport LLC, hired Short to head its lobbying efforts in Washington. The company was founded by his son, Robert "Bo" Short.

"Short, affectionately known in the halls of the Capitol as 'Duke,' was the man who held Thurmonds office together in the waning years of the lawmakers career," a press released announcing the hire stated. "Short was often referred to as the 101st Senator ... because he performed so many duties for Thurmond as his health declined."

A native of Moultrie, Ga., Short graduated from North Georgia College, according to biographical information included in a South Carolina Senate resolution honoring him this year.

U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, a York County Republican, also recognized Short  calling him the epitome of the American success story  on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives on March 23, Shorts 89th birthday, according to the Congressional Record.

Robert J. "Duke" Short has set the gold standard for his years of dedicated service and commitment which will long be remembered, Norman said that day, and for that we all join in saying thank you, and wish him a happy birthday.

Following news of his passing, Norman tweeted that he was deeply saddened.

He was a humble servant of our great state & nation, and a beloved friend to so many, Norman wrote. Rest in peace, Duke.

Short worked as an industrial engineer and became a chiropractor before joining the Army. He became a second lieutenant in the 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division. Thurmond also had served in the 82nd Airborne during World War II, including at the Battle of Normandy in the D-Day operation.

Following his military service, Short served in the U.S. Treasury Department, first as a special agent in the agencys Intelligence Division and later as part of its Organized Crime Strike Force serving as one of the first Sky Marshals, the Senate resolution stated.

In the early 1970s, Short became national chief of investigations for the Federal Protective Services and then began his work with the U.S. Senate in 1974. He was a senior investigator for the Senate Subcommittee on Internal Security and later staff director and chief investigator for the Senate Judiciary Committee, which Thurmond chaired for six years, until 1987.

The next year, the Republican senator hired Short as his chief of staff.

In 1992, Short married Denise Dee Powers  a woman who Thurmond called the Queen of the Senate, he wrote in the acknowledgements in his 2006 book.

She was one of his dearest friends during the last fifteen years of his life, Short wrote. Not many people know how Dee looked after him, cooked his dinners, and even did his laundry.

More information will be added to the article as it becomes available.
Just caught up with the issue of Wired magazine that carries an interview with our wonderboy secretary of transportation, Pete Buttigieg. And heres the long introduction to the Q & A portion, and by god this should be read aloud at cocktail parties for the rest of the year as it is comedy gold:

THE CURIOUS MIND of Pete Buttigieg holds much of its functionality in reserve. Even as he discusses railroads and airlines, down to the pointillist data that is his current stock-in-trade, the US secretary of transportation comes off like a Mensa black card holder who might have a secret Go habit or a three-second Rubiks Cube solution or a knack for supplying, off the top of his head, the day of the week for a random date in 1404, along with a non-condescending history of the Julian and Gregorian calendars.

As Secretary Buttigieg and I talked in his underfurnished corner office one afternoon in early spring, I slowly became aware that his cabinet job requires only a modest portion of his cognitive powers. Other mental facilities, no kidding, are apportioned to the Iliad, Puritan historiography, and Knausgaards Springthough not in the original Norwegian (slacker). Fortunately, he was willing to devote yet another apse in his cathedral mind to making his ideas about three mighty themesneoliberalism, masculinity, and Christianityintelligible to me.

Because Buttigieg, at 41, is an old millennial; because as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford he got a first in PPE (Philosophy, Politics, and Economics), the trademark degree for Labour-party elites of the Tony Blair era; because he worked optimizing grocery-store pricing at McKinsey; because he joined the Navy in hopes of promoting democracy in Afghanistan; because he got gay-married to his partner Chasten in 2018; and because, as mayor of South Bend, Indiana, he agitated to bring hipster entrepreneurism and high-tech investment to his rust-belt hometown, I had to ask him about neoliberalism, the happy idea that consumer markets and liberal democracy will always expand, and will always expand together. I was also fascinated by the way that Buttigieg, who has long described himself as obsessed with technology and data, has responded to the gendering of tech, and especially green tech, by fearsome culture warriors, including Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Buttigieg, whose father was a renowned Marxist scholar, was himself a devotee of Senator Bernie Sanders as a young man. He now recognizes that the persistence of far-right ideology, with its masculinist and antidemocratic preoccupations, is part of the reason that neoliberalism has come undone. Not everyone, it seems, even wants a rising standard of living if it means they have to accept the greater enfranchisement of undesirables, including, of course, women, poor people, Black people, and the usual demons in the sights of the worlds Ted Cruzes and Tucker Carlsons.

He also talked about his faith. Lefties these days are said to be less religious than right-wing evangelicals, but between Buttigieg, whose Episcopalianism grounds his decisionmaking, and his boss, President Joe Biden, whose robust Catholicism drives his sincere effort to revive Americas soul, perhaps a religious left is rising again.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-08-14 15:00:29

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 14, 2023 / Bio Conscious Technologies Inc. ("Bio Conscious Technologies" or the "Company"), a leading Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovator in healthcare/diabetes technology, has announced a breakthrough in forecasting high-risk diabetic events using CGM data and advanced Machine Learning (ML) techniques. The company's latest achievement includes the publication of results for its nocturnal hypoglycemia detection model, showcasing its ability to detect these events up to 8 hours before they occur. Bio Conscious Technologies is excited to highlight its recent success in using the publicly available Ohio T1DM dataset, providing a benchmark for other companies to assess their capabilities.This latest accomplishment builds upon Bio Conscious Technologies' reputation for pioneering healthcare technology solutions. With its innovative use of machine learning algorithms, the company has proven its capacity to forecast high-risk medical events, including nocturnal hypoglycemia. By detecting these events well in advance, medical professionals, and patients can take proactive measures to prevent potentially life-threatening complications.Amir Hayeri, CEO of Bio Conscious Technologies, shared his insights on this breakthrough: "We are pleased to announce the progress we've made in the field of healthcare technology. Our nocturnal hypoglycemia detection model sets a new standard, detecting events up to 8 hours before they occur. By releasing our results on the Ohio T1DM dataset, we're inviting other companies to participate in this journey and aim for similar levels of accuracy and event horizon." The latest development is particularly promising for younger people with diabetes, who are susceptible to nocturnal hypoglycemia events. With Bio Conscious Technologies' advanced preventive technology, patients and medical professionals alike can gain invaluable insights and tools to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. The Company's commitment to collaboration and innovation is further underscored by our decision to share their results openly. By publishing these breakthroughs and utilizing a standard dataset, Bio Conscious Technologies invites other companies to assess their internal testing and strive to match or exceed their event horizon and accuracy.As Bio Conscious Technologies continues to push the boundaries of healthcare technology, our dedication to enhancing patient care remains at the forefront of our mission. This breakthrough has been achieved through Bio Conscious Technologies' innovative use of ML algorithms, which anticipate high-risk diabetic events with higher accuracy based on CGM data. We believe this breakthrough represents a significant advancement in the field of Diabetes technology and has the potential to revolutionize the way medical professionals monitor and treat patients with Diabetes."This breakthrough is consistent with our vision to do more with CGM data. Specifically, we can use CGM data to forecast adverse glucose excursions with a much longer horizon (hours vs. minutes) and higher accuracy when compared to metabolic models that are currently available. This is just the beginning," said Amir Hayeri, CEO of Bio Conscious Technologies. "Bio Conscious Technologies is proud to announce this groundbreaking achievement. Our AI breakthrough can potentially transform every aspect of the battle against diabetes through early detection and classification of Dysglycemia using CGMs.Bio Conscious Technologies will publish more details about these models soon and welcomes hearing from parties interested in our technology. By making these models available on Amazon AWS, to third-party users, scientific organizations, and app developers, Bio Conscious is creating a new era of healthcare collaboration and innovation.For more information on Bio Conscious Technologies and its breakthrough in healthcare technology, visit https://www.endobits.com/nocturnal-hypoglycemia About Bio Conscious TechnologiesBio Conscious Technologies is a leading innovator in healthcare technology and applied A.I., dedicated to developing innovative solutions to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. With a focus on machine learning and artificial intelligence, Bio Conscious Technologies is at the forefront of the healthcare technology transformation.Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsCertain statements contained in this press release, and other publicly available documents including the documents referenced herein, constitute forward-looking information or forward-looking statements (collectively, "forward-looking information)". These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "believe", "could" "should", "would", "estimate", "expect", "forecast", "indicate", "intend", "likely, "may", "plan", "potential", "project", "outlook", "seek", "target", "trend" or "will" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the parties' current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Examples of such forward-looking information include, without limitation, the new technology being able to anticipate medical events or prevent diabetes related complications; the accessibility of the models on Amazon AWS going forward; the ability of the new technology to improve patient outcomes or save lives; the ability of the new technology to revolutionize the way medical professionals monitor and treat patients; the ability of the Company to develop innovative solutions to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs; and the new technology being a breakthrough or a groundbreaking achievement in healthcare technology. Actual future results may differ materially. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and the parties are not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties, and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. Many factors could cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements, or future events or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. All t
Taliban fighters stand at a checkpoint in Kabul, September 2022

Two years since the Taliban swept into power in Afghanistan, not a single country has formally recognised their rule.

Even engaging with the Taliban government remains deeply controversial. Some say talking with them will help bring about change, others insist the Taliban will never change so there's no point in talking.

And as the world struggles to decide how to deal with Afghanistan's new rulers, women's rights - even their beauty salons - have become frontlines in political battles.

Beautician Sakina - in a dimly lit room, curtains tightly drawn, alongside bunches of lip pencils and gleaming palettes of eye shadow - reflects on why she feels women like her have become a bargaining chip.

"The Taliban are putting pressure on women because they want to push the international community to recognise their rule," she says in her new secret salon in Kabul.

She was forced underground two weeks ago after the government ordered all women's beauty parlours to shut. It is the latest in a seemingly endless raft of decrees restricting the lives and liberties of Afghan women and girls.

Sakina is uncertain what approach to the Taliban will work.

"If the Taliban are accepted as the government, they might remove restrictions on us, or they could impose even more," she says, with the kind of uncertainty and anxiety that plagues this huge, sensitive political issue.

The Taliban insist issues like women's rights are none of the world's business.

"Focusing on this one issue is just an excuse" says Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Taliban.

Speaking to the BBC from the Afghan city of Kandahar - home to the Taliban's supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada - he insists that "the current government should have been recognised long ago. We have made progress in some areas and we will also sort this issue."

Story continues

Whether to talk or not to the Taliban government sharply splits many communities with a stake in Afghanistan's future.

This includes a deeply embittered and still shaken Afghan diaspora, forced to flee their own country when the Taliban swept into power - for a second time - on 15 August 2021.

"Saying don't talk is easy," says Fatima Gailani, one of four women who were on the Afghan team that tried to negotiate with the Taliban right up to the moment they seized power.

"If you don't talk, then what do you do?"

Since the collapse of the last government, she's been involved in backchannel initiatives.

"We don't need another war", she emphasises, in a nod to voices, including former military commanders and old warlords, who still harbour hopes of eventually toppling the current order by force.

As poverty in Afghanistan increases, more families are forced to wait in Kabul for donated bread

Others in the diaspora are calling for greater pressure, including more sanctions and additional travel bans, to intensify the isolation.

"What is the point of engagement?" demands Zahra Nader, editor-in-chief and founder of Zan Times, a women-led newsroom in exile. "They have shown who they are and what kind of society they want to build."

Diplomats involved in dialogue emphasise that engagement is not recognition, and concede there is little to show so far.

But signs of dissatisfaction, even among senior Taliban leaders, with the most extreme edicts imposed by the ageing ultra-conservative supreme leader, keep kindling faint hope.

"If we don't engage Afghans who want to engage, in the smartest possible way, we'll give free reign to those who want to keep a large part of the population essentially imprisoned," says a Western diplomat involved in recent meetings with mid-level Taliban representatives.

Sources point to a recent unprecedented meeting between the reclusive Akhundzada with Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani - the supreme leader's first with a foreign official. Diplomats briefed on the discussions say they confirmed wide gaps, especially when it comes to education and women's rights, but also indicated a possibility to find a way forward, however slowly.

Discussions are tough - it's hard to find common ground.

"There's a lot of distrust, even disdain, between sides who fought each other for years," says Kate Clark of the Afghanistan Analysts Network. "The Taliban think the West still wants to corrupt their nation and the West doesn't like the Taliban policy on women's rights and their authoritarian rule."

Ms Clark highlights a fundamental disconnect: "The West may see issues like recognition as concessions, but the Taliban see it as their right, a God-given right to rule after they defeated the US superpower and returned to power, for a second time."

Outside powers balance criticism with praise for progress, such as a crackdown on corruption which boosted revenue collection, and some efforts to tackle security threats posed by the Islamic State group. And Western powers look to Islamic countries and scholars to take the lead on shared concerns over the Taliban's extreme interpretations of Islam.

But there is also a toughening of tactics.

Even the UN now speaks of "gender apartheid" as the Taliban tighten the vice around women by even banning them from public parks, women's gyms and beauty parlours. Moves are now underway to develop a legal case for "crimes against humanity".

The Taliban has ordered shop owners in Afghanistan to remove the heads of female mannequins

Despite some mixed messaging and occasional friction between regional and Western countries, so far there's a rare meeting of minds among world powers, including Russia and China on some red lines, including recognition.

The impasse has devastating consequences for ordinary Afghans.

The UN's latest report highlights, in bold letters, that their humanitarian appeal is only a quarter funded as of the end of July, as donors turn away. More and more Afghans are going to bed hungry.

Some 84% of households are now borrowing money just to buy food, the UN says.

And there is concern too that the footprint of Islamist groups like Islamic State is growing.

The Taliban government paints a rosy picture. And, even without recognition, their envoys - in signature traditional turbans and tunics - are among the world's most frequent flyers, jetting to meetings in many capitals.

The acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi receives delegations in Kabul almost daily, with all the usual protocol, including flags and official photographs set in elegant rooms.

Western embassies in Kabul remain shuttered, except for a small European Union and a Japanese mission. Discussion goes on about whether diplomats now based in the Gulf state of Qatar should at least be in Kabul if they want to exercise any influence at all.

There's no appetite, in any of the world's capitals, for another bloody chapter in this 40-year war.

And despite any discord among Taliban leaders, their unity remains a goal which matters above all else.

There are no quick or easy solutions.

"The only thing I could say from my heart is that we are really suffering," says the beautician Sakina.

"Maybe those who are not among us don't understand it, but it's really painful."
PR-Inside.com: 2023-08-14 18:22:33

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / August 14, 2023 / Ceres:As the California State Assembly returns this week to Sacramento for the end of the 2023 legislative proceedings, more than a dozen major companies are calling for lawmakers to finalize first-in-the-nation legislation that would require companies to provide standardized and consistent climate-related disclosures.In the coming weeks, lawmakers are set to consider two key pieces of legislation that would provide consumers, investors, and other stakeholders with information about how companies are managing the financial risks and opportunities from climate change. SB 253 (authored by Sen. Scott Wiener) would require all large public and private companies operating in the state to report their greenhouse gas emissions across their operations and supply and value chains, while SB 261 (authored by Sen. Henry Stern) would require them to report on their climate-related financial risks.While most large companies voluntarily disclose climate information already, these bills would provide a standardized and consistent template that would apply to companies operating in California, across the economy. Designed to meet the growing consumer and investor demand for information about companies' risk management and sustainability plans, the legislation has also won the support of leading businesses who see an opportunity to demonstrate their leadership to those stakeholders while helping them measure their own progress toward achieving their goals."We believe businesses have a responsibility to use not just their voices, but their operations to ensure the long-term health of our planet. We must develop new and innovative models to decouple economic growth from environmental impact while freely sharing our findings along the way. We must empower our employees, members, customers, and communities to support this transition. And we must demand that our government does the same," said Matthew Thurston, divisional vice president, sustainability, REI Co-op. "Legislation such as SB 253 and SB 261 provide the necessary transparency for businesses to account for their carbon emissions and climate risks, a key step towards enabling them to measure, verify, and achieve their climate targets." "Decarbonization in the corporate sector should be an urgent priority given the growing risks posed by climate change," said Stuart Landesberg, CEO, Grove Collaborative. "Without scope 1-3 GHG emissions disclosures, the full picture of corporate climate emissions and climate risks remains fragmented, incomplete, and unverified-making demands for action difficult to understand and follow through on. SB 253 and SB 261 provide a foundation for meaningful climate action, which is why Grove Collaborative proudly supports these critical steps towards corporate decarbonization, required to meet our net zero emissions by 2030 goal." Corporate support for the legislation has been growing this year. More than a dozen companies have submitted a letter to lawmakers in support of SB 253: Microsoft, IKEA USA, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Patagonia, Adobe, Avocado Green Brands, Dignity Health, Grove Collaborative, REI Co-Op, Everlane, Eileen Fisher, Recology, Atlassian, and Seventh Generation. In a separate letter, 12 companies signed in support of SB 261: Microsoft, VF Corp., Patagonia, REI Co-Op, Sierra Nevada, Alter Eco, DSM North America, Seventh Generation, Grove Collaborative, Avocado Green Brands, Atlassian, and Everlane.Consumers and investors alike have been making their desire for climate disclosure increasingly clear in recent years. According to a recent survey, 85% of Americans said companies should disclose more about the impact of their business practices on society, and 87% support mandatory climate disclosure. And in 2022, more than 500 investors representing nearly $40 trillion in assets under management called for governments around the world to strengthen climate disclosure standards, such as by requiring mandatory reporting.After a previous version of SB 253 failed to pass by a single vote in 2022, both bills have already been approved this year by the state Senate and are expected to come up for a vote in the Assembly before the end of the legislative session.If passed, the bills would create the first broad-based climate disclosure policy in the U.S., with SB 253 applying to more than 5,300 companies and SB 261 covering more than 10,000 companies - reflecting California's position as the world's fifth-largest economy. The legislation would complement the IFRS's International Sustainability Standards Board disclosure standards, the EU's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, and the federal disclosure rule soon to be finalized by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, because it would provide transparency into how both public and private companies are managing material climate-related financial risks and opportunities."The disclosure of corporate financial risks is a normal business function, which is why policymakers around the world are sensibly applying it to the considerable business and economic threats of climate change," said Alli Gold Roberts, senior director of state policy, Ceres. "Leading companies see the benefits of these policies, which help them attract investment, inform consumers, and measure their own progress toward their goals. Ceres and the companies and investors we work with urge the State Assembly to finalize SB 253 and SB 261 this year, positioning California once again as a national economic leader by bringing standardized and consistent climate disclosure requirements to the U.S."Ceres will join a rally at the Sacramento Capitol on Aug. 23 at 1 p.m. to demonstrate broad, cross-sectoral support for both SB 253 and SB 261. Notable participants include the bill authors, Sens. Wiener and Stern, as well as Assembly Member Tasha Boerner and other supporters of the legislation, such as Patagonia, California Environmental Voters, and the Greenlining Institute, among others.About CeresCeres is a nonprofit organization working with the most influential capital market leaders to solve the world's greatest sustainability challenges. Through our powerful networks and global collaborations of investors, companies and nonprofits, we drive action and inspire equitable market-based and policy solutions throughout the economy to build a just and sustainable future. For more information, visit ceres.org and follow @CeresNews.Media Contact: Helen Booth-Tobin, booth-tobin@ ceres.org , 617-247-0700 ext. 214View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Ceres on 3 blmedia.com Contact In
PR-Inside.com: 2023-08-14 13:01:34

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CRANBROOK, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 14, 2023 / Eagle Plains Resources (TSX-V:EPL), ("EPL") has been notified by option partner 1416753 BC Ltd. ("141"), a subsidiary of NevGold ("NevGold"), a BC corporation, that field crews have been mobilized to Eagle Plains' 100% owned Surprise and Toodoggone Lithium Projects. Under the terms of the recently approved option agreement, 141 may earn a 100% interest in the Acacia, Lost Horse, FinLith, Surprise and Toodoggone properties by completing $1,000,000 in exploration expenditures over two years and issuing 10,000,000 141 shares. A 2% NSR on certain properties has been reserved for Eagle Plains (see EPL news release Aug 2nd, 2023).2023 fieldwork will be carried out by TerraLogic Exploration Services of Cranbrook BC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eagle Plains. The Surprise and Toodoggone projects are early stage and were acquired based on their prospectivity for hosting Li bearing pegmatites. Fieldwork on both projects will focus on locating and assessing pegmatites for lithium potential using geological mapping, mineral identification and geochemistry.SurpriseThe 4491 ha Surprise Property is located approximately 40 kilometres east northeast of Atlin, BC. The property is centred on a large Cretaceous intrusion surrounded by sedimentary rocks of the Kedahda Formation. The Surprise Lake intrusion is crosscut by numerous aplite dykes and coarse grained pegmatitic zones which are the focus of the current exploration program. Regional government ("RGS") silt sample results are highly anomalous with respect to Li, Rb, Cs, Sn, Mo and W, with lithium values up to 118 ppm Li (the highest reported RGS value in British Columbia is 130 ppm). There are two MinFile reports on the property: Weir Mountain (104N017) reports tungsten and molybdenite mineralization in quartz veins; and the Northeast or CY showings (104N074) reports mafic-rich dykes with sphalerite-galena-magnetite in quartz veins cutting alaskite.The favourable geologic setting, namely a granitic intrusion enriched in critical elements (W, Sn, Mo), with demonstrated aplite-pegmatite dykes, coupled with very anomalous regional geochemical lithium results, suggest that the property is highly prospective for rare-metal enriched pegmatites.ToodoggoneThe 7153 ha Toodoggone property is located approximately 285 kilometres north of Smithers, BC, centred on a regionally mapped Cretaceous-age intrusion surrounded by sedimentary rocks of the Ingenika Group. The prominent Finlay-Ingenika strike-slip fault system lies approximately 4 kilometres to the west. Although the Toodoggone Region is well known for epithermal and porphyry deposits such as found at the Lawyers and Kemess mines, little reported exploration work has been completed on the property. Several historic stream silt samples collected through RGS surveys returned highly anomalous lithium results from streams fed by drainage systems on the property. The favourable geologic setting, with a granitic intrusion near a major fault system, coupled with highly anomalous RGS geochemical lithium results suggest that the property is highly prospective for lithium pegmatites.Charles C. Downie, P.Geo., a "qualified person" for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and a director of Eagle Plains, has prepared, reviewed, and approved the scientific and technical disclosure in the news release.About Eagle Plains ResourcesBased in Cranbrook, B.C., Eagle Plains is a well-funded, prolific project generator that continues to conduct research, acquire and explore mineral projects throughout western Canada. The Company was formed in 1992 and is the ninth-oldest listed issuer on the TSX-V (and one of only three that has not seen a roll-back or restructuring of its shares). Eagle Plains has continued to deliver shareholder value over the years and through numerous spin outs has transferred over $100,000,000 in value directly to its shareholders, with Copper Canyon Resources and Taiga Gold Corp. being notable examples. Eagle Plains latest spinout, Eagle Royalties Ltd. (CSE:"ER") was listed on May 24, 2023, and holds a diverse portfolio of royalty assets throughout western Canada.Eagle Plains' core business is acquiring grassroots critical- and precious-metal exploration properties. The Company is committed to steadily enhancing shareholder value by advancing our diverse portfolio of projects toward discovery through collaborative partnerships and development of a highly experienced technical team.Expenditures from 2011-2022 on Eagle Plains-related projects exceed $30M, the majority of which was funded by third-party partners. This exploration work resulted in approximately 45,000m of diamond-drilling and extensive ground-based exploration work facilitating the advancement of numerous projects at various stages of development.Throughout the exploration process, our mission is to help maintain prosperous communities by exploring for and discovering resource opportunities while building lasting relationships through honest and respectful business practices.On behalf of the Board of Directors"C.C. (Chuck) Downie"VP Exploration, DirectorFor further information on EPL, please contact Mike Labach at1 866 HUNT ORE (486 8673)Email: mgl@ eagleplains.com or visit our website at http://www.eagleplains.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsNeither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.SOURCE: Eagle Plains Resources Ltd.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-08-13 22:01:37

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LAHAINA, HI / ACCESSWIRE / August 13, 2023 / Kush Fine Art Gallery in Lahaina, HI, burnt by the wildfires. Due to the devastating fires that developed this week in Maui, Kush Fine Art Gallery has temporarily closed its doors in Lahaina, HI.Maui God of Sun by Vladimir KushKush expressed: "At this time, we are grateful for the safety of our staff, and we extend our deepest condolences to all the families who have lost their loved ones and their homes. Maui has been my home for many years, and I am heartbroken to see the tragedies which have unfolded in these past few days. I know every little corner of Lahaina and consider it almost my hometown. I am grateful for the countless messages of support and best wishes from all our collectors and friends." It was 22 years ago when world-renowned artist Vladimir Kush embarked on his own Metaphorical Voyage and opened his first art gallery: Kush Fine Art in Maui. The historic town of Lahaina holds a very special place in the artist's life, history, and journey. The artist's odyssey in Maui began by doing portraits in 1992 throughout various locations in Lahaina, until he started to showcase his art at the galleries in town, and today many of the artist's artworks are inspired by the visual metaphors, symbolism, and artifacts of this unique and magical island among other themes such as family, cosmos, time, history, love, Greek mythology, and many more.Kush Fine Art Gallery in Lahaina opened its doors to the public in the year 2001. Side by side, Kush and his father (Oleg Kush) painted the walls of the new gallery space in Lahaina, giving birth to Kush Fine Art as a business. Since then, the American cultural environment accepted and welcomed Kush's vision and his own genre of art "Metaphorical Realism", and the Kush Fine Art brand was established. His development as a professional artist and the realization of his genre is closely tied to the historical town of Lahaina. Over the years, KFA Gallery in Lahaina has welcomed thousands of visitors from all over the world every year.Kush's vision, drive, and dedication has not slowed down and the opening of his new gallery in Miami Beach is a testament to his passion and vision of expanding his art into new horizons. Visit Kush Fine Art and discover and explore the Art of Imagination from the West Coast to the East Coast in Las Vegas, NV, Laguna Beach, CA and Miami Beach, FL. Kush Fine Art Galleries is one of the most recognized names in the industry of fine art around the globe and with many more years to come, Kush's artworks will keep on bringing "Metaphorical Realism" to the entire world.Visit www.kushfineart.com to find out the latest news, contact us at info@ kushfineart.com with any inquiry and follow Kush on Instagram, Facebook, Threads and Twitter.Contact InformationJorge BarreraMarketing DirectorSOURCE: Kush Fine Art
PR-Inside.com: 2023-08-14 19:36:05

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 14, 2023 / Marvel Discovery Corp. (TSX-V:MARV)(Frankfurt:O4T)(OTCQB:MARVF) ("Marvel" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that assay results have been received from reconnaissance till and soil sampling at its Victoria Lake Property located approximately 90 kilometers south of Deer Lake in western Newfoundland. Samples from the program have identified multiple anomalies, including gold, barium, copper, zinc, and tin.Surveys were conducted over two geological targets within the western part of the Victoria Lake Property, with sample stations identified on the basis of historic till sampling results, lithologic information, and a structural analysis completed by Marvel in 2022 that identified the potential for structures associated with the Cape Ray Fault within both survey areas. The Cape Ray Fault is well recognized as being highly fertile for structural gold mineralization, and is host to well-known gold occurrences including the Cape Ray Deposit, the Valentine Gold Deposit, and the Wilding Lake Prospect. Sample station locations are presented in Figure 1.Soil Geochemistry Highlights include:Highest gold-in-soil analysis returned 87 ppb21.7% of soil samples reported anomalous gold-in-soil16.7% of samples reported anomalous copper5.0% of samples reported anomalous zincA barium anomaly identified proximal to gold-in-soil showing returned out of limit >10,000 ppm. (Sample resubmitted for further analysis.)Anomalous tin-in-soil (74 ppb) identified at one station associated with anomalous zincIn May 2023, a total of 60 till and soil samples were collected from predetermined stations over two target areas at the Victoria Lake Property, with 250-meter sample intervals over the north target location, and at 500-meter sample intervals over south target location. Samples were collected from within the B-horizon, though in some locations ground conditions remained frozen, which prevented ideal sample collection. The survey was paused because of this reason and will be completed during Marvel's summer exploration program of this area. The highest regional gold-in-till sample in the Newfoundland Geoscience Atlas reports 785ppb Au, and the north survey grid was designed to follow up on this historic high-grade anomaly. Results from the Spring 2023 survey have identified an extensive zone of elevated gold within the vicinity of the historic gold-in-till anomaly, and have further identified a second area of anomalous gold in the south survey area. The sampling program also identified anomalous levels of copper and zinc. Marvel interprets the anomalous base metals (including copper, zinc and tin) to most likely be associated with the Long Lake Volcanic Belt which underlies the property, a geologic belt that is well regarded for its VMS potential. The Long Lake VMS Deposit is located approximately 20 km northwest of the property within similar geology, and the deposit hosts a 43-101 compliant resource consisting of Indicated resources of 407,000 tonnes at 7.82% Zn, 1.58% Pb, 0.97% Cu, 49.0 g/t Ag and 0.57 g/t Au and Inferred resources of 78,000 tonnes at 5.77% Zn, 1.24% Pb, 0.70% Cu, 34.0 g/t Ag & 0.48 g/t Au (Messina Minerals Inc., April 16, 2012). The anomalous barium is interpreted by Marvel to either be associated with the property's gold or VMS potential. Barite has been previously reported in association with VMS Deposits in the Province of Newfoundland ( https://www.gov.nl.ca/iet/files/mines-investments-barite.pdf) , though at this early stage the presence of anomalous barium remains to be explained.Figure 1. Initial results from 2023 sampling stations at the Victoria Lake Property. The exploration project being completed at the Victoria Lake Property is being executed as part of a two-phase project. The second phase of the program includes the completion of reconnaissance to explore the critical element potential in association with granite and pegmatites in the southern portion of the property. Preliminary reconnaissance prospecting and till sampling over the prospective areas in the southern portion of the Victoria Lake Property are planned for this second phase of exploration. Marvel has applied for financial assistance for the Victoria Lake project through Newfoundland's Junior Exploration Assistance (JEA) Program.Figure 2. Location of Marvel's Victoria Lake Gold Project "Our regional scale reconnaissance soil sampling program highlighted several areas which we regard as high priority target areas, and these have now been defined for detailed prospecting and soil sampling efforts as we commence our summer and fall exploration programs. To have discovered such a broad area of gold and base metal style mineralization in our inaugural exploration campaign holds tremendous promise for future success on this property and field crews will be dispatched promptly to perform follow-up investigations." Stated, Karim Rayani, Chief Executive Officer, "The current market environment has seen companies trade near 52-week lows Marvel is no different however the Company believes the current macro environment is setting up for a strong return to commodity prices." Qualified PersonGreg Robinson, P. Geo, an independent qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed, and approved the technical contents of this news release on behalf of the Company.About Marvel Discovery Corp.Marvel, listed on the TSX Venture Exchange for over 25 years, is a Canadian based emerging resource company. The Company is systematically exploring its extensive property positions in:Newfoundland (Slip, Gander North, Gander South, Victoria Lake, Baie Verte, and Hope Brook - Au Prospects)Atikokan, Ontario (BlackFly - Au Prospect)Elliot Lake, Ontario (East Bull - Ni-Cu-PGE Prospect)Quebec (Duhamel -Ni-Cu-Co prospect & Titanium, Vanadium, and Chromium Prospect)Prince George, British Columbia (Wicheeda North - Rare Earth Elements Prospect)The Company's website is: https://marveldiscovery.ca/ ON BEHALF OF THE BOARDMarvel Discovery Corp."Karim Rayani"Karim RayaniPresident/Chief Executive Officer, DirectorTel: 604 716 0551 email: k@ r7.capital Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information:Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements which reflect the expectations of management. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. Forward-looking statements in this press release relate to, among other things: completion of the proposed Arrangement. Actual future results ma
PR-Inside.com: 2023-08-14 19:43:00

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / August 14, 2023 / Ray C. Anderson Foundation:The Ray, a nonprofit organization advancing net-zero transportation and energy infrastructure in partnership with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), Troup County, Georgia and Skydio, the leading U.S. drone manufacturer and world leader in autonomous flight, today announced a strategic partnership to develop a cutting-edge "drone as a first responder" (DFR) program along "The Ray Highway" on Interstate 85. The goal of the new program is to enhance safety and emergency response capabilities in the entire West Georgia region, a rural area which hosts multiple key interstate corridors. Interstates 85, 185 and 75 provide freight connectivity for key Southeast manufacturing and logistics."GDOT's interest in safety is evidenced not only by our ongoing investment in safety, but our continued interest in efforts such as this," said John Hibbard, Division Director of Permits and Operations for GDOT. "At The Ray's request, we have participated in scoping and planning this safety initiative and will continue to follow its progress and learn from the experience." The collaboration includes Troup County's Marshal Office and the county fire department, which this month received Skydio drones and training as technology donations from The Ray. DFR programs have helped agencies that are responsible for public safety and emergency management improve efficiency, response times, and overall emergency services in a variety of jurisdictions across the country. Commonly referred to as "first eyes on the scene," drones piloted on site or remotely transmit photos and videos captured overhead of an incident and provide key situational awareness to police, fire and other stakeholder agencies. As such, Georgia's Emergency Management Agency and the Georgia Department of Transportation have been engaged from the beginning in the partnership's planning and execution.The partnership is preparing to apply for the second round of awards from the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grant Program. The SMART Grant is a highly competitive and national program that leverages federal funds to accelerate innovation and technology interventions to solve real-world challenges facing communities today. Troup County's application with The Ray would be the first or among the first requests for the SMART Grant to support the development and implementation of DFR anywhere in the nation. If successful, Troup County intends to acquire remote operations equipment, additional training, and pursue Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorizations to engage in DFR operations. This will enable the county to build a functional DFR program that relies on remote operations and future autonomous drone operations." Drones acting as first responders bring critical capability for crisis and emergency management and are already deployed across the country in small, medium and large communities, including Chula Vista, CA and Brookhaven, GA," said Allie Kelly, executive director of The Ray. "We at The Ray are proud to bring an opportunity home to The Ray Highway, to help Troup County develop robust, reliable, and safe drone operations. In the near future, we hope to grow the operation into a cost-efficient program that can offer remote operation of drones as a first responder to interstates 85, 185 and surrounding West Georgia counties." To help launch the initiative, The Ray donated two Skydio drones to Troup County, and has provided the county with training resources through Skydio. The training sessions will equip Troup County drone pilots with the necessary skills and knowledge to operate the drones safely and effectively. Currently, Troup County has a limited drone program with four trained pilots and one basic drone in use. The county lacks a comprehensive program that allows trained pilots to incorporate drones into their regular emergency response activities. Through the support of The Ray and Skydio, Troup County is on the cusp of establishing a formal drone program, complete with a trained team and verified hours of operation."The Troup County Community Development Department is excited about incorporating drones into the team," said Jenny Parmer, Community Development Director for Troup County. "These drones are going to bring some incredible benefits to emergency response and infrastructure safety. Led by Chris Bagley, a former U.S. Army unmanned aerial vehicle master instructor, this project is getting off the ground with the Marshal Office, but the long-term vision is a collaborative effort across local public safety and emergency response departments." Drones enable rapid assessment of accidents, missing persons, animals or livestock, disasters, and hazardous situations, providing valuable data and insights to emergency response teams in a timely, efficient manner. With drones, responders can make informed decisions and deploy appropriate resources promptly, potentially saving lives and minimizing risks to human responders. Equipped with advanced sensors and cameras, they provide situational awareness, identify hazards, and reach inaccessible areas safely. The drones will enhance coordination through live video feeds and communication with on-the-ground teams, optimizing resource allocation. With ongoing technological advancements, drones have the potential to save lives and mitigate emergencies' impact."At Skydio we are proud to partner with The Ray and Troup County in their pursuit to make their community a safer place. Drones enable enforcement agencies to assess potential dangerous scenes and get to hard to reach areas where every minute is critical," said Fritz Reber, Head of Public Safety Integration at Skydio. "We are committed to supporting Troup County and The Ray as they seek to grow the county's drone program into a sophisticated DFR program." "The Ray is committed to transforming transportation infrastructure to eliminate fatalities on roadways," said Harriet Anderson Langford, Founder and President of The Ray. "By investing in DFR with Troup County, The Ray extends its focus beyond road safety to emergency situations where timely and effective response is crucial." About The RayThe Ray is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity and net-zero highway testbed, located on 18 miles of Interstate 85 between Lagrange, Georgia and the Georgia-Alabama state line. This stretch of interstate is named in memory of Ray C. Anderson (1934-2011), a Georgia native recognized as a leader in green business when he challenged his company, Interface, Inc., to pursue a zero environmental footpr
PR-Inside.com: 2023-08-14 19:51:03

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What you need to know:Verizon goes back to school with new immersive learning content across its award-winning education initiative, Verizon Innovative Learning, which has now provided over 3.5M students nationwide with digital skills training.K-12 educators nationwide can access tech-driven content from new and existing partners through Verizon Innovative Learning HQ, a free education portal that makes innovative learning tools available to all.This fall, Verizon will add 31 new Title I middle and high schools and 36 new labs to Verizon Innovative Learning.For a limited time customers can save $279.99 on select tablets when purchased with a 5G phone.NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / August 14, 2023 / As students return to classrooms, Verizon aims to increase digital equity and inclusion for teachers and students nationwide through its award-winning education initiative, Verizon Innovative Learning. In partnership with trusted education partners, edtech innovators and cultural institutions, educators will have access to a growing suite of programs and resources, including new tech-driven, ready-to-teach lesson plans that leverage the power of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) apps in the classroom.Launched in 2021, Verizon Innovative Learning HQ, a free education portal that makes innovative learning tools available to all K-12 educators nationwide, is unveiling more immersive educational content, including new esports and gaming-based curricula, as well as building on existing lesson plans and apps to provide students with the skills needed to thrive in a digital world. New innovative content Verizon plans to release during the 2023-2024 school year includes learning tools from:Games for Change: The non-profit has developed new professional development courses and lesson plans enabling educators to effectively implement esports and game design-based lesson plans within their classrooms. In addition, new college and career readiness curricula give students the opportunity to explore post-graduate options related to gaming and esports.The AI Education Project: The nonprofit organization plans to release a 10-week project-based course that introduces the fundamentals of AI through engaging, culturally relevant lesson plans.McGraw Hill: Building on the McGraw Hill AR app launched in 2022, the leading global education company plans to release science-focused course offerings covering a range of topics from anatomy and physiology to glaciers and photosynthesis. This is in addition to new math and social studies activities, as well as a new multi-language feature that just released offering Spanish versions of the original 10 math lessons.Discovery Education: In partnership with Discovery Education, Verizon has created a suite of standards-aligned digital learning resources to support two augmented reality apps, TimePod and Sandbox AR. These free apps let students create, share, and explore their curiosity through immersive worlds, including new paleontology content launching this Fall.NYC Media Lab: The partnership has released a series of learning content using 5G EdTech apps such as Arcadia Earth, Looking Inside: Cells, Visceral Science and 5G Covet's Tile Coding app from the winners of the Museum Initiative - a program aimed at connecting educators nationwide with museums, science centers, aquariums, and cultural institutions."Through Verizon Innovative Learning, we've seen how equitable access to technology and next-gen tools can not only drive student engagement but provide vital tools for educators to transform their classroom," said Alex Servello, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at Verizon. "With the help of our partners, more classrooms nationwide will have the opportunity to develop students' digital skills with ready-to-teach, tech-focused learning materials that explore new technologies, such as AI, and embed gaming/ esports." Verizon Innovative LearningFor over a decade, working through nonprofit partners, Verizon Innovative Learning has committed over $1 billion in market value to support digital equity and inclusion within education for some of the most vulnerable populations across the country. Focused on helping students develop the skills, knowledge and capabilities for success, the award-winning initiative has now reached over 3.5 million students across the U.S. while providing hundreds of Title I schools with connectivity and next-gen technologies that bring innovative lesson plans to life.In partnership with the nonprofit Digital Promise, Verizon is expanding the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools program by welcoming 31 new Title I schools from 10 new school districts across nine states, bringing the program's total reach to 592 schools nationwide. Students and teachers of this new cohort will be equipped with devices - including tablets and laptops - as well as up to four years of data, empowering 24/7 learning in and out of the classroom.In addition, Verizon is opening 36 new Verizon Innovative Learning Labs in Title I schools across the country this school year, bringing the total to 142 labs across 24 states, and offering emerging technology with a student-facing, project-based curriculum. In collaboration with nonprofit partner Heart of America and the J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute at Arizona State University, the Verizon Innovative Learning Lab program provides students with access to robust, hands-on learning tools such as VR equipment, 3D printing stations, AR apps and more in a custom-designed, state-of-the-art experiential learning environment.These efforts are part of Citizen Verizon, the company's responsible business plan for economic, environmental and social advancement. Through Citizen Verizon, the company has a goal to provide 10 million youths with digital skills training by 2030.Verizon delivers back-to-school savingsThis back-to-school season, Verizon is offering affordable deals on accessories and 5G devices, all from the network America relies on. Now through August 23, 2023, customers can save $279.99 on select tablets when purchased with a 5G phone and, right now customers that buy a 5G smartphone, get Razer Edge 5G for as low as $0/month with select service plans.11 5G Phone Only: Up to $1,919.99 device payment purchase with new or upgrade smartphone line on select service plan required first.Razer Edge 5G: $599.99 device payment purchase with new line on service plan required. Less $599.99 promotion credit applied over 36 mos.; promotional credit ends if eligibility requirements are no longer met; 0% APR.Media contact(s)Herbert Nyarko%0
Nigeria needs an estimated $20 billion annually to bridge the countrys gas infrastructure, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has said.

NEITI Executive Secretary, Ogbonnaya Orji, disclosed this at the policy dialogue on Nigerias Decade of Gas plan organised by the African Initiative for Transparency, Accountability and Responsible Leadership (Afrital) in Abuja on Monday.

The Nigerian government had in December 2020 rolled out the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP) to help deepen the use of natural gas and make it a preferred form of cleaner, cheaper energy for both personal and industrial use.

Mr Orji said Nigeria has the largest gas reserves in Africa and the ninth-largest globally. NEITI reports put the countrys gas reserves at over 200 trillion cubic feet (tcf).

He explained that NEITIs position is consistent with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act passed in 2021.

The PIA provided the most significant progress for the gas sector in strengthening governance and providing fiscal frameworks for the sectors growth.

We call on the government to urgently put a national gas utilisation policy in place. Such policy needs to be clear on the specific roles of the industry, government and investors in implementing the plan, Mr Orji said.

Similarly, he said the gas utilisation plan should show the market-driven opportunities that would successfully translate the gas plans into sustainable economic development.

For the gas utilisation policy to work, Mr Orji said there is a compelling need for deliberate ambitious investment in its infrastructure.

This includes specific connectivity across upstream facilities to processing, power plants and other end uses.

The network code provides a framework through third-party access to resolve some of the connectivity issues, but to a large extent, achieving the desired gas expansion will require an estimated $20 billion annually to bridge Nigerias gas infrastructure, Mr Orji said.

He said given the shrinking fossil fuel investment landscape, clarity is required of the infrastructure to be prioritised.

He explained that a new concept analysis would be required to demonstrate the new approaches the government intends to embrace to deliver on the gas infrastructure.

Besides, he said the projects must be prioritised given limited international funding and competing energy transition and development objectives.

Against this background, he said NEITI recommended that the federal government develop and publish a detailed, realistic and comprehensive gas policy with clear roles for the state and non-state actors and timelines to track periodic progress.

He also called on the government to provide an updated infrastructure blueprint outlining infrastructure commitments and priorities to address the vast shortage of gas industry infrastructure across the value chain; and direct independent assessment of the risks involved with gas expansion to create a strategy to minimise the impacts, maximise the benefits, phase out oil and gas assets and plan for a post-oil and gas future.

Government must also develop an industry-specific linkage between the integrated gas policy with Nigerias energy transition policies with a supporting action plan built on a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to track implementation, he said, adding that it must also marshal out a detailed plan to end gas flaring through a private sector-led commercialisation program and pursue an open, competitive and transparent gas flare commercialisation programme (NGFCP).

Paradigm Shift

In his address, the Executive Director of the African Initiative for Transparency, Accountability and Responsible Leadership (Afrital), Louis Ogbeifun, said many countries are abandoning fossil fuels as a significant energy source.

For Nigeria to make good on its promise to join the train, he said the country would have to increase its crude oil production in the short run beyond the current level to have money to diversify and invest in other alternative sources.

He said even in the medium and long-term periods, natural gas, which Nigeria has in abundance, which has been described as cleaner than coal or petroleum, is also within the fossil fuel family.

This, he said, means that walking off fossil fuel for Nigeria is not immediately foreseeable.

The question is, how does Nigeria maximise its hydrocarbon benefits with so much of its assets lost to vandalism, crude theft, and the massive depreciation of its currency?

Nigerias focus on using gas as a sustainable energy alternative is capital-intensive. It has been speculated that Nigeria would need over $1 trillion to achieve the 2060 zero-emission targets, Mr Ogbeifun said.

He said with the dwindling international funding support and the expulsion of foreign interests from some parts of the continent, which is spreading to other countries in the sub-region, the citizens must be worried about how to fund and birth the gas projects in a manner that would be cost-efficient, cost-effective, and less hazardous to our women, youths and the rest of the citizens.

With the myriad of challenges facing the federal government, especially with funding regimes and the bullish behaviour of the USD against the Naira, what alternative right-sizing plans do the government have to ensure that the decade of the gas action plan is not in jeopardy?

We should also be worried and begin to ask how the government shall deal with the burning of our gas, also popularly known as gas flair, that the target dates for ending gas fairing have been shifted several times, forex issues, lack or limited access to funding by acreage holders and local investors, he added.

Over the years, he explained that Nigeria has behaved like the prodigal son by exporting mineral resources to earn dollars for consumption without savings, reinvestment in revenue, and employment generation ventures.

It is also delighted to exchange its raw materials for finished products. Yet, we expect different results regarding foreign reserves, development, and economic boom.

This model has buried many industries in the economic graveyards, created employment overseas, and worsened unemployment and poverty in Nigeria.

These analogies reflect the contradiction of being a rich but poor nation. Rich because Nigeria is vastly rich and blessed with abundant minerals and energy resources but so poor that most citizens do not have access to affordable electricity and other essential social and welfare benefits, he said.

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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)s security borrowing from JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs could set Nigerias credit rating on a free fall to junk amid efforts to reposition the economy.

The apex bank, in its newly released 2022 financials, reported borrowing $7.5 billion from U.S banks JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs by pledging securities.

Analysts say that the loan deal, which the central bank said was contracted in exchange for its securities to be held for collateral, may impair the nations fragile fiscal position and credit rating.

The CBN also disclosed that it entered into 30-day forward contracts totalling 3.15 trillion naira in 2022 with undisclosed counterparties.

Sylvester Anaba, an analyst at a Lagos investment house, told PREMIUM TIMES that there wont be severe consequences as much as CBN can pay back its debt to these foreign creditors.

But if they default, then investors will begin to dump our bond. It will also impact our credit rating, he said.

Recently, they brought up some ratings and Nigeria was maintained at B-, about six notches down to junk rating. It means by the time CBN defaults; there is nothing that will save us from entering junk.

The apex bank disclosure on borrowings of $7 billion and $500 million, respectively, from JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs leaves fragile investor confidence in Nigeria in danger of fresh harm after President Bola Tinubus host of currency reforms and termination of a regime of costly fuel subsidies that are already winning international investors back.

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Rating agency Fitch last November downgraded Nigerias Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to B- from B, citing deterioration in Nigerias government debt servicing costs and external liquidity despite high oil prices.

A verdict by New York-based Moodys Investors Service early this year similarly cut Nigerias ratings to non-investment grade in danger to its prospects of sourcing debt from the international capital market. The then Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, rejected Moodys position.

But these are external rating agencies that dont have the full understanding of what is happening in our domestic environment, she said in a retort.

Against the backdrop of recent reforms, S&P Global Ratings earlier in August revised its outlook on Nigeria to stable from negative.

Nigerias newly elected government has moved quickly to implement a series of fiscal and monetary reforms, which we believe will gradually benefit public finances and the balance of payments, the rating agency said in a statement.

Analysts are worried that the various revelations from the newly released CBN financial reports may reverse the gains of recent months.

An exposure that high without documentation in the countrys public debt books is an early setback to recent measures like the unification of Nigerias multiple exchange rates, aimed at stabilising the naira.

Nigerias dollar bond due in 2030 sank 2.295 cents to its lowest level in the past one month on Friday at 83.221 cents as a crisis of confidence in the economy heightened among investors.

We are currently grappling with a confidence crisis in the forex market. This may further worsen the confidence problem. It could aggravate speculative activities, said Muda Yusuf, the chief executive of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise.

Rating agencies are going to begin to revise our ratings. You know what that will do to our reputation as a country, Dr Yusuf further said.

More Irregularities

CBN books for 2022 showed that $3.2 billion is owed to an unnamed party as foreign currency forward contract payablesno notes providing clarity on the transaction accompanying that item.

Since the loans from JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs etc., are collateralised with Nigerias foreign assets (securities), then the current gross external reserves of about $30 billion becomes $16.3 billion net, a prominent economist who sought anonymity told PREMIUM TIMES.

If the other outstanding obligations are included, CBN is technically insolvent, he added, noting that the exchange rate is likely to depreciate further.

The analyst remarked that the low levels of the real reserves has encumbered the apex banks intervention in the currency market.

The current state of the reserves means investors will rather accept the exchange rate as it is at the moment on the knowledge that the reserves could run dry soon.

The rush to the exit door will create an fx market stampede, the analyst said.

The decision of international investors in 2021 to quit the open market operation (OMO) bills denominated in dollars was set to strain the reserves with foreign investment in the bills already at $17 billion a year earlier.

According to the analyst, it was at this point that CBN took collateralised loans from these banks.

The immediate past president, the CBN board and the National Assembly failed to bring Godwin Emefiele, the apex banks governor, to book in a mark of failure of oversight, making them culpable, he added.

While they do not have to approve CBN transactions, they did not sanction the Governor for not publishing and gazetting Annual Reports, which would have exposed the scam.

The entities that lent money to CBN have violated an important international norm: If the law of a country requires published audited accounts, they broke the law by lending to an entity that did not meet the law, the analyst affirmed.

The IMF should be asked questions: CBN was given IMF advances in 2020, what Annual Report formed the basis? What safeguards took place before the money was advanced? Why has IMF Annual Reports since 2016 not pointed out these issues? Can IMF be relied upon as a credible and impartial organisation? he said.

Opacity

Last year, PREMIUM TIMES raised concerns over the failure of the apex bank to publish its financial reports in gross contravention of extant laws.

For years, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) repeatedly failed to release its annual reports showing details of its operations and financial obligations.

Since 2005 when it started publishing details of its annual report on its website, the CBN never failed to publish the report until it stopped the publication of the crucial documents shortly after the Muhammadu Buhari government came to power.

According to the CBN Act 2007, the apex bank is expected to publish its report within two months after the end of each financial year.

The Bank shall, within two months after the close of each financial year, transmit to the National Assembly and the President a copy of its annual accounts certified by the Auditor, the CBN Act reads in part.

A report required to be submitted to the National Assembly and the President shall be published by the Bank in such manner as the Governor may direct.

The Board shall ensure that accounts submitted pursuant to this section shall, as soon as possible be published in the Gazette.

The Bank shall, as soon as may be practicable after the last day of each month makeup end, publish a return of its assets and liabilities as at the close of business on that day, or if that day is a holiday, as at the close of business on the last preceding business day, the Act reads.

Analysts said the failure of the CBN to publish the report sent wrong signals to investors and others interested in understanding the state of the economy and concealed Nigerias fiscal problems for far too long.

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Women are increasingly involved in banditry-linked arms trafficking in Nigerias north-west. Between December 2022 and February 2023, police arrested several female gunrunners in Nigerias Zamfara State for allegedly supplying arms and ammunition to bandits.

Banditry  a composite crime that includes armed robbery, kidnapping, murder, rape and the illegal possession of firearms  is Nigerias most pressing security challenge.

Several news reports on illegal arms movements and sales in north-west Nigeria over the past three years involve women traffickers. In October 2021, a 30-year-old woman who specialised in supplying guns to bandits in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kaduna, Katsina and Niger states was arrested with 991 rounds of AK-47 ammunition. She was trafficking the contraband from Dabagi Village in Sokoto State to a notorious bandit kingpin responsible for terrorising Zamfara and neighbouring states.

In March 2022, Nigerian police arrested a 38-year-old female in connection with arms and ammunition smuggling from Plateau State to various bandit camps in Kaduna, Katsina and Zamfara. Eight locally made AK-revolver guns, submachine guns and 400 rounds of AK-47 ammunition were recovered from the suspect.

An estimated 30 000 bandits in groups ranging from 10 to over 1,000 fighters operate in north-west Nigeria. According to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) project, attacks by these groups increased by 731 per cent between 2018 and 2022 (from 124 to 1,031 incidents). There were around 13,485 banditry-related deaths between 2010 and May 2023. ACLED data relies on local sources and media reports, which means many incidents may go unrecorded.

Banditry pervades Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto and Zamfara states and is fast spreading to parts of north-central Nigeria and south-west Niger. A combination of factors makes Nigerias north-west susceptible to attacks. These include poorly managed security resources, conflicts between pastoralists and farmers, illegal gold mining, declining rural livelihoods, poor management of Nigerias international borders, weak law enforcement and a failure of security intelligence.

State officials say the major enablers of banditry are porous borders and arms trafficking. As far back as 2019, Nigerias information minister at the time, Lai Mohammed, said 95 per cent of weapons used for terrorism and kidnapping are trafficked through the countrys borders, emanating borders, emanating from Libya and other war-torn sub-Saharan African states.

The recent increase in womens involvement in arms trafficking should be viewed in the context of north-west Nigerias economic downturn, which disproportionately impacts women, says Umaima Abdurrahman, a gender activist in Kaduna State. She told the ENACT project that poverty is a significant driver of womens links to criminal activities such as drugs and gunrunning.

The most recent Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) shows that 80 per cent of people in north-west Nigeria are poor. Although the MPI does not disaggregate by gender, women bear the brunt of poverty in Nigeria. Most women in the countrys rural north depend on subsistence farming for food and income and comprise the bulk of people experiencing poverty in rural communities.

Credit constraints also limit womens economic potential in the North-west. About 70 per cent of women are likely to be excluded from access to financial services and the formal economy. Poverty among women is also rooted in the low rates of girls enrolled in school  only 47 per cent receive primary education in the north-west.

Women have limited livelihood options, receive lower salaries (if at all) and are often trapped in intergenerational cycles of poverty. Ms Abdurrahman says bandits take advantage of this poverty, enticing women into arms trafficking for money or other valuable materials.

According to Larai Garba Talbu, a journalist in Sokoto State, banditry is male-dominated, and the few women involved are mostly the gangsters friends or associates with whom they might share ransom money.

Bandits co-opt women into their criminal activities by copying Boko Harams methods in north-east Nigeria. As police and soldiers uncover smuggling operations and routes, terrorists recruit women as arms couriers because they are less likely to raise suspicion. The women hide AK-47 rifles under their veils or conceal improvised explosive devices on their backs as if they were babies.

The increasing involvement of women in gunrunning is a challenge that security operatives can unravel through strategic intelligence gathering. Because women are rarely perceived to be involved in organised crime, especially as leaders, traffickers or recruiters, they are more likely to fly under the radar of law enforcement. Organised criminals exploit this gap in policing intelligence and investigation.

In his 29 May inaugural address, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said security would be his administrations top priority. He promised to invest more in security personnel by providing better training, equipment, pay and firepower. While these promises are commendable, the dynamics of insecurity are changing fast, and addressing the gendered dimensions of banditry calls for a holistic approach.

Female security and law enforcement agents must be recruited, trained and resourced to aid intelligence gathering in local communities. These officers should search women at checkpoints and engage with those arrested for their involvement in organised crime.

Civil society groups and community leaders should raise awareness among women in affected communities about the personal and widespread harms of associating with bandits and arms traffickers.

And most important is the need for government to address the gendered disparity in education and the impact of poverty, both of which make women vulnerable to recruitment by Nigerias armed groups.

Oluwole Ojewale, ENACT Regional Organised Crime Observatory Coordinator  Central Africa, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and Mahmud Malami Sadiq, Independent Researcher, Sokoto, Nigeria

ENACT is funded by the European Union and implemented by the Institute for Security Studies in partnership with INTERPOL and the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime.

(This article was first published by ISS Today, a Premium Times syndication partner. We have their permission to republish).

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A Nigerian Air Force MI-171 Helicopter on a casualty evacuation mission crashed on Monday at about 1.00 p.m. near Chukuba Village in Niger State.

A statement by the spokesperson of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Edward Gabkwet, said the aircraft had departed Zungeru Primary School en route to Kaduna but was later discovered to have crashed near Chukuba Village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

He said efforts were ongoing to rescue the crew and passengers on board the helicopter while preliminary investigations have commenced to determine the probable cause of the crash.

More details later.

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Carnival Sunrise cruise ship sails on the Hudson River. Gary Hershorn/Getty Images

Passengers on a July 24 Carnival Sunrise cruise experienced high temperatures and broken AC.

While the cruise line promised refunds to affected voyagers, some said they hadn't received them.

One passenger told Insider the company's handling of the issue added insult to injury.

As the Carnival Sunrise sailed to Grand Cayman and Jamaica at the end of July, the outside temperature reached over 90 degrees. Inside, vacationers reported their cabins were uncomfortably, even dangerously, warm because of broken air conditioning  with some saying their rooms hovered above 80.

Video from the cruise circulated widely on social media, showing long lines of angry passengers waiting to complain to customer service and pictures of thermometers inside their staterooms  which cost upward of $300 dollars a person per night  displaying high temperatures.

One passenger who spoke on condition of anonymity told Insider that shortly after she returned to port, she contacted customer service and was told to email her concerns to the corporate customer-service address.

"A representative couldn't handle my concerns," the passenger said. "The reply email I received said that I could expect an email reply upwards of 45 days from now."

The passenger waited just over two weeks to hear back from Carnival and received a credit for about half the cost of their pair of July 24 tickets to use on another cruise, which she said left her "pretty satisfied."

Others haven't been so lucky.

Jaquillia Jones, who sailed on the cruise with her 12-year-old son and 27 other family members on a group vacation, told Insider she also complained but received only a credit of $160 toward her bill, which totaled over $2,000.

Insider reviewed her bill and a letter from Carnival Cruise Line indicating she'd been offered a 50% refund of her cruise fare in the form of a credit to her online account. Though she was promised the same refund as some other passengers, Jones told Insider she hadn't received any further communication from the company.

Story continues

"I understand things happen," Jones said. "I just replaced my AC at my house last year. I get it. But it's the insult that was on top of the injury that made me just completely lose it because these companies feel like they can treat you any kind of way and I don't think it's right."

Jones added that after complaining while aboard the ship, she was told to call the corporate customer-service phone number. She said when she got home and called, she was told there was nothing the representative could do because she'd already gotten off the ship.

In addition to the air-conditioning problem, Jones said her room wasn't clean upon arrival and that the food had gone down in quality since her last Carnival cruise  of which she had been on more than a half dozen, though she swore she wouldn't travel with the line again.

While she could forgive the other issues, the air conditioning was simply unacceptable, Jones said, adding that she was "shocked and appalled" at the way the company was handling customer complaints.

While Jones had a portion of her expenses refunded and has the letter saying she'll receive a refund credit, other passengers are still waiting to hear anything. On TikTok, Sunrise passengers responding to clips of what it was like on board without AC were still commenting about their lack of refunds weeks after returning to port.

One woman who had filmed part of her four-hour wait in line to speak with customer service wrote that for more than two weeks, she hadn't heard from the cruise line regarding her expected refund  but she did get contact from their billing department.

"They just sent me an email saying I owe $10 when I had $14 bucks from what I put on there, plus their credit," she wrote, referring to her onboard-spending card.

A representative for Carnival Cruise Line told Insider in an emailed statement that the company was "sorry" to guests affected by "an overtaxed air conditioning system," adding that the primary coils that caused the initial failure had been replaced.

"If a guest on Carnival Sunrise complained about stateroom temperature, we dispatched crew to the stateroom to assess the situation and take the air temperature," the statement said, adding that guests who had complained had their staterooms regularly monitored throughout the cruise.

Videos from the cruise show long lines of upset customers waiting to speak with the service department about their uncomfortably hot rooms while voyaging in Grand Cayman.

Jones told Insider no staff visited her room to confirm the temperature inside, even after she complained. She said she saw people sleeping by the pool to try to stay cool at night. USA Today reported another passenger took turns sleeping on their balcony with her husband, trying to catch a breeze.

The representative did not answer additional questions regarding whether each passenger's room was equipped with remote temperature-monitoring equipment or how it would be possible to gauge the temperature of every guest room without it.

"Any guest whose cabin was not cooled to our threshold comfort level was provided a refund of 50 percent of their fare, for each day that their stateroom was impacted," the Carnival Cruise Line statement said. "Depending on the extent of the impact, different guests might have received a different total of refund, but the process and calculation was consistent on a per day basis."

The representative did not answer additional questions regarding the specific temperature threshold or calculation used to determine a refund. A guest's status in the cruise line's loyalty program "had nothing to do with the compensation offer," the statement added.

"We realize that some of our guests were negatively impacted and have not disputed any guest's right to complain about the room temperature, but we also reserved the right to monitor the actual temperature both with in-room checks, as well as from the data of our shipboard monitoring systems, to validate the room temperature," the statement said.

Jones told Insider she was saddened by the company's handling of her complaints, thinking that they'd be more responsive after she had vacationed with them so many times. She added that her son's first cruise vacation was profoundly disrupted since neither of them could sleep well at night.

Jones said she couldn't believe the company's response.

"I don't know what refund everybody else got, but I know what I got," she added. "And I can't believe they treated me that way. You know, I'm important too."

Read the original article on Insider
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has said his administration was prepared to meet the target of ending open defecation in the state by 2025 in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.

Mr Mbah spoke on Monday when he met with a delegation from the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) Nigeria at the Government House, Enugu.

The delegation, led by the Chief of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Jane Bevan, was at the Government House to present the WASH master plan to the governor.

The governor said ending open defecation would be possible in the state within the benchmark because his administration has prioritised the supply of adequate water, ensuring sanitation and good hygiene, pointing out that he declared a state of emergency on water provision because of its importance to life.

He said an economic planning commission had been set up by the state government where he would be meeting local government chairpersons in the state monthly to discuss and chart development plans.

Mr Mbah explained that the commission would make it easy for the chairpersons at the council areas to set up and take ownership of WASH projects across the state to ensure an end to open defecation in the state.

READ ALSO:

So, we have the honour of hosting the Chief of WASH, UNICEF Nigeria, who came to present to us, beyond a baseline, a very detailed document identifying the critical challenges we have in the area of WASH, and we have also gone through those areas of challenges.

In the presentations are also pillars that we need and things we could do to help us achieve certain milestones by the SDGs, and we also have a target to ensure that by 2025, we have an end to open defecation in Enugu State, Mr Mbah stated.

The governor appreciated UNICEFs continued support of the state government.

Speaking to reporters, the WASH chief, Ms Bevan, commended Mr Mbah for demonstrating commitment and dedication to achieve the objectives of the WASH in the state.

Efforts are made on all the investments, in human resources, in infrastructure and behaviour change as well as the private sector.

There are so many different elements that will need to come together in order to make water, sanitation, and hygiene happen in the state. But I think the governor has got strong political will, and he can make it happen, she said.

We will beat deadline on water provision

Mr Mbah has repeatedly promised to end perennial water scarcity in Enugu within 180 days from 29 May, when he was sworn in as governor.

Speaking to the reporters, the governor maintained that his government would fulfil the promise within the stated timeline.

We will provide water regularly in our metropolis, and it is 102 days left. I am pleased to inform you that, with what we have on the ground, we are going to beat that deadline.

We know that we need a minimum of 100,000 cubic metres of water daily in Enugu city. So, the current plan we have will see us generating, in less than eight weeks, more than 120,000 cubic metres of water, he said.

In his efforts to ensure the fulfilment of the promise, the governor said he was fixing leakages at various reservoirs to avoid waste of water.

We will be able to deploy the whole water we are generating to the people. We are expanding the reticulation from the distribution side of things.

So, we are taking this coverage to ensure the entire city is covered. The new layouts that were not originally captured are being captured, he stated.

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The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has tasked state governors and their deputies to maintain cordial relationships toward strengthening democracy in Nigeria.

Mr Ganduje, a former governor of Kano State, said this when he received members of former APC deputy governors forum in Abuja on Monday.

He said being a deputy governor in Nigeria was most demanding because of sycophants who tried to create confusion and a rift between governors and their deputies.

He said that although deputy governors may be regarded as spare tyres, they were always needed in times of trouble in states.

If you dont need the spare tyre when you are normal, you will need it when you are in trouble.

There is no doubt the position of the deputy governor is the most controversial position in governance, not only in Nigeria but all over the world, he said.

This, he said, informed his writing of a book: Deputising and Governance in Nigeria.

Mr Ganduje said the APC, under his leadership, would consider organising a national conference to discuss ways of smoothening the relationship between governors and their deputies.

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That is why I decided to write a book, even until now, that problem is still on. In fact, if it persists, we are trying to organise a national conference on the relationship between governors and their deputies, he said.

He said the book dwells not only on governors and their deputies but also on the president and vice president, considering what happened between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

He added that he focused on deputising because in every political office and even in other offices, there was always a deputy.

Mr Ganduje, a former deputy governor of Kano State before becoming a governor for two terms, thanked the forum for the visit and assured that the APC would attain greater heights under his leadership.

Earlier, Chris Akomas, former Abia State deputy governor, who led the forum, said it was to congratulate Mr Ganduje on his emergence as APC national chairman.

He pledged the forums loyalty, saying it would work with the national chairman in all areas for the betterment of the country and with the President Bola Tinubu-led APC administration in the interest of all Nigerians.

The forum offered special prayers for Mr Ganduje to succeed in office and for God to protect and guide him in the assignment ahead.

It also prayed for peace, unity and understanding in the country under the Tinubu-led APC government.

(NAN)

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The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it has simultaneously decimated several criminal elements in the last few days through airstrikes in various theatres of operation.

This is contained in a statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF, Edward Gabkwet, on Sunday in Abuja.

In the Niger Delta Region, Mr Gabkwet, an air commodore, said that airstrikes were targeted at the nefarious activities of oils thieves which had continued to affect the general environment of the region as well as the oil output of the nation.

He said the NAF aircraft under Operation Delta Safe had on 11 August, conducted air interdiction missions at an illegal refining site situated South-west of Bille, a coastal town in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers.

Mr Gabkwet said that similar airstrikes were also extended to a well-known IPOB Camp in Orsumoghu in Ihiala local government area of Anambra same day.

According to him, intelligence haxd revealed that the proscribed IPOB elements in makeshift camps were sighted preparatory to an impending attack on innocent citizens when the need to effectively engage them arose.

He said the airstrike was subsequently carried and deemed successful.

NAF spokesperson said that similar airstrikes were carried out same day by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai at a location about 1.5km East of Arra, a once-deserted terrorists hideout near Sambisa Forest.

He said that earlier reconnaissance on the location had revealed terrorists massing up at the location which had hitherto been cleared of terrorists activities about six months ago.

There were strong indications that these terrorists had fled from locations around Lake Chad after the areas came under intense bombardment by NAF aircraft.

The location east of Arra was consequently attacked to decimate the terrorists and deny them settling at the location and using same as a staging point.

Footage of the aftermath of the strike later revealed it was successful as several terrorists were neutralised and structures destroyed, while the few surviving terrorists were seen scampering away in disarray.

At the end, their ability to attack friendly forces as well as innocent civilians were degraded, he said.

(NAN)

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Nigerias President, Bola Tinubu, said he is committed to a peaceful restoration of constitutional democracy in the Niger Republic rather than sacking Abdourahamane Tchiani with force.

Mr Tchiani, the commander of Nigers presidential guards, sacked the countrys constitutionally-elected government on 26 July, arrested Mohammed Bazoum, the countrys president and dissolved the government.

One of the Presidents media aides, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, contrary to the war narrative being speculated by some groups and opposition politicians, said those pushing that the Nigerian government should use the military to remove the junta from power are deliberately spreading fake news or an ignorant of the processes of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Mr Abdulaziz made the statement during an interview in Hausa aired by multiple stations in the north on Sunday.

An opposition politician, Najaatu Muhammad, in a series of media discussions, accused the Nigerian president of planning to cripple economic activities in Northern Nigeria by waging a war on the Niger Republic.

With the border closer (following the ECOWAS sanction) Goods worth billions of naira belonging to northern Nigerian businessmen were wasted, Ms Muhammad claimed.

But Mr Abdulaziz said the president is mindful of the long-existing bond between Niger and Nigeria in his commitment as ECOWAS chairman to mediating the crisis.

Using Nigerian military force in Niger is just propaganda and fake news being pushed by some people, but the truth of the matter is that the issue in Niger is being mediated through diplomacy.

ECOWAS also believes in the diplomatic resolution of the dispute in the Niger, not war. When the incident happened, in less than 24 hours, the president dispatched the first team of delegation to Niger to meet with the military junta but to no avail.

The president, in his determination to a peaceful resolution, later sent the Chadian President, Mahamat Deby-Itno, to the Niger Republic despite his country not being a member of ECOWAS this was also to no avail.

The third delegation consists of the respected retired military head of state, Abdulsalam Abubakar and the Sultan of Sokoto, whose caliphate transverse to the Niger Republic; both men were denied access to the military junta but rather were received by junior officers in the negotiation.

This is the diplomatic effort the president and ECOWAS have employed to ensure the peaceful restoration of democracy in the country.

This is what has been happening, but other people might have been ignorant of the happening, and propagating about Nigeria going to war with Niger, a president who sees war as an option, wont make these efforts in this regard, sending three different delegations to address the lingering problem.

The 14 Emir of Kano, Muhammed Sanusi, also unofficially tried to mediate but was also not successful. A contingent of Nigerian Ulumas was in Niger with the consent of the president for a peaceful resolution.

We pleaded with the people to contribute with prayers to arrive at a peaceful end, not war and the president is mindful of the business transaction between many states in Nigeria and the people of Niger, and he is hoping to address the problem through diplomacy.

ECOWAS is only willing to restore the democratically elected government in Niger like what it did in other members countries, not war against the citizens of the country, However, if it warrants for ECOWAS to use force in Niger, it wont be a war between ECOWAS and Niger people, the forces will only target the coup plotters, not ordinary citizens, Mr Abdulaziz said.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how ECOWAS imposed sanctions on Niger in a bid to have them reinstate Mr Bazoum. It also gave a seven-day ultimatum to the coup plotters which they ignored.

The bloc held another meeting last Thursday where it ordered the activation and deployment of its standby force to restore constitutional order in Niger.

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The Nigerian government has extradited two siblings to the United States of America to face trial for sexually extorting numerous young men and teenage boys.

The brothers, with another accomplice, Ezekiel Robert, allegedly hacked some social media accounts, posing to be young attractive women to entice unsuspecting victims to send their sexually explicit photographs.

A victim, 17-year-old Jordan DeMay of Marquette, Michigan, was said to have died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in March 2022.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which facilitated the extradition, said in a statement on Monday that Samuel Ogoshi and his brother, Samson Ogoshi, arrived in the US on Sunday.

EFCCs statement, signed by its spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said the Ogoshis would be tried at a court in the Western District of Michigan.

The US Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), also announcing that the brothers arrived in the US on Sunday, said they would appear in court on Monday (today).

The Nigerian government, through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, had initiated the extradition proceedings against the brothers and another accomplice, Ezekiel Robert, at the Federal High Court in Abuja in December 2022. It followed a request by the FBI.

EFCC arrested the Ogoshis sometime in February 2023 around the Ojo axis of Lagos. It picked up Mr Robert in Nasarawa.

While the extradition suit initiated against the brothers has been concluded, ending in a verdict sending them to the US to face trial, the case of Mr Robert is still pending in court.

READ EFCCS FULL STATEMENT

EFCC Press Release

Siblings Extradited To U.S. Over Child Exploitation, Sextortion

The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes, EFCC, on Sunday, August 13, 2023, facilitated the extradition of Samuel Ogoshi and his brother, Samson, to the United States of America, to face prosecution for sexually extorting numerous young men and teenage boys in the Western District of Michigan and across the U.S.

The Commission had, sometime in May, 2023, initiated the extradition proceedings at the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, against the Ogoshis alongside one Ezekiel Ejemeh Robert over exploitation of minors and production of pornography, following a request by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI.

READ ALSO:

The Ogoshis and Ezekiel were indicted in a United States Federal Court on December 1, 2022 on charges of exploitation of minors, resulting in death, conspiracy to sexually exploit minors by causing the minors to produce child pornographic images that the defendants now use to blackmail them.

They are further charged with conspiracy to distribute child pornography, which borders on sending images to minors, their families and friends, as well as conspiracy to commit stalking through the Internet.

The offences carry a minimum of five years and maximum 20 years imprisonment.

Specifically, Samuel was charged with causing the death of 17-year-old Jordan DeMay of Marquette, Michigan, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in March 2022.

According to investigations, the suspects conspired to conduct a sex-based extortion of minors and adults in the United States of America.

The trio allegedly hacked some social media accounts, posing to be young attractive women to entice unsuspecting victims to send their sexually explicit photographs.

These pictures were then used to blackmail the victims, thereby forcing them into making huge financial payments.

While the Ogoshis were arrested sometime in February 2023 around the Ojo axis of Lagos, Ezekiel was picked up in Nasarawa by operatives of the EFCC.

The extradition of the third defendant, Robert, is, however, still pending.

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

14/08/2023

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Female students in the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, in South-south Nigeria, held a peaceful rally on Monday inside the university campus to protest against the Dean of the faculty, Cyril Ndifon, whom they accused of sexual harassment.

A video clip of the protest posted on Twitter showed a handful of female students chanting protest songs in front of an administrative building inside the university.

Prof Ndifon, let the girls with big breasts breathe. Stop suffocating us, read one placard displayed in the video.

A few male students took part in the protest.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Florence Obi, told PREMIUM TIMES, Monday evening, that she addressed the protesting students and assured them that their complaints would be looked into.

Mrs Obi, a professor, vowed that the university management would investigate the allegations against Mr Ndifon but that the students would be required to provide evidence to back up their complaints.

When you are talking about sexual harassment, you need more than accusation, she said.

The vice-chancellor said the students on Thursday filed an official complaint to her and that a few of the students representatives met with her before the protest rally.

After the Monday protest, Mrs Obi met for about five hours with the faculty of law management to discuss the development, she said.

A committee has already been set up to handle some other issues raised by the students, she said.

Mr Ndifon was previously suspended by the school authority in 2015 after he was accused of raping a 20-year-old law student in his office, an allegation the professor challenged in court.

His suspension was lifted about a year after under unclear circumstances  our reporters could not find evidence that the court exonerated the professor.

The professor reacts

Mr Ndifon told PREMIUM TIMES that the protest against him was stage-managed by the President of the Law Students Association of the university, Ben Otu, whom he said was merely a pun in some power game in the law faculty.

Some lecturers are the real people behind this, he said.

Mr Ndifon said it was only 100 level students who were involved in the protest, and that the students were lured out on the pretext that they were going for a lecture.

He (LAWSAN president) removed the placards and gave to some of the students to carry. Some of the students ran away.

How come it was only the year one students who protested, year one students that I have never taught? Where are the year two students, year three, year four, and year five students?

Ask the lecturers who are behind these things. I won an election. You should ask them if this man is that bad and unpopular, how come he won an election as dean with a landslide for first and second term? the professor said.

READ ALSO:Rivers polytechnic suspends lecturer over alleged sexual harassment

What have I done wrong? They say I run the faculty as an emperor. That is what I have done wrong.

Mr Ndifon denied the sexual harassment allegation, saying he hardly knows the year one students in the faculty since he does not handle any of their courses.

PREMIUM TIMES reminded Mr Ndifon of a previous allegation of sexual harassment against him.

At the end of the day, after all the noise, my guilt was that I tore a students (examination) script and gave her the opportunity to rewrite, the professor responded.

PREMIUM TIMES could not immediately reach the LAWSAN president for his comment as his phone was switched off.

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Its been over three weeks since the military junta led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani sacked the administration of democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger Republic  our next door neighbor  on July 26. During the period, leaders and heads of governments in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have held two extra-ordinary summits in Abuja to agree on what to do next, especially defending democracy in the sub-region.

Bazoum and his family have been under house arrest since the Presidential Guard launched the coup. No one is sure of Bazoums fate but it has been reported that he is held under inhumane conditions. Bazoums daughter, Zazia, 34, who was on holiday in France when her father was overthrown, told The Guardian of London that electricity supply to the presidential residence was cut off. They also dont have clean water, and their gas oven is running out of fuel, she said.

If anything, the military junta is likely to infringe on Bazoums human rights. For the avoidance of doubt, military coups in the region have not helped anyone; instead, they are a bloody waste of time and plundering of resources. They inflict more pain on the people, retard their progress and increase multi-dimensional poverty.

This explains why the international community condemned the coup in Niger. ECOWAS, the United States, the European Union, the UN and the Africa Union have all spoken with one voice: this coup is unacceptable.

But observers are not surprised neither are they impressed that Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea declared support for the Nigerien junta  they are birds of the same feather. The Interim President of Mali, Colonel Assimi Goita, has been in charge since the night of May 24, 2021. Elections that were supposed to hold last year were suspended by Goita. Who can challenge the military strongman after announcing that the transition to democracy will be delayed for two years?

In the case of Burkina Faso, the story is not different. On September 30, 2022, a coup detat that removed Interim President Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba took place, and he was replaced by Captain Ibrahim Traore as the new interim leader. Damiba who was also the beneficiary of a military takeover eight months earlier, was sacked over his alleged inability to deal with the security situation in the country.

President Alpha Conde of Guinea was captured in the capital Conakry by the countrys armed forces in a military coup on September 5, 2021. Special Forces commander, Mamady Doumbouya, released a broadcast on television announcing the dissolution of the constitution and government.

Even in Sierra Leone, a coup attempt was foiled recently. If we look at the evolving playbook of instability and military takeovers in the West African sub-region, Chad will not be exempted for its own self-inflicted wounds ranging from repression of dissent, food insecurity, humanitarian crisis, corruption, violence and endemic poverty.

The seed of instability was planted by Chadian President Idriss Deby who died on April 20, 2021 in a military action while commanding troops in the Northern Chad offensive. He was both politician and military officer, and he became president of the country in 1990. He was succeeded by his son, Mahamat, a four-star general.

On the UNDPs Human Development Index, Chad is ranked miserably at 187th out of 189 countries. This is a country that links central and western Africa with Sudan and the Maghreb. Isnt it a shame that most countries on the west coast of Africa do not appreciate what they have in terms of strategic locations and the resources that they are endowed with?

Suddenly, ECOWAS believes the disturbing pattern of coups must end, but how does the regional body intend to go about it? Interestingly, all the so-called interim leaders in the Francophone coup-prone countries with outdated one-way allegiance to France cite the same reasons for staging coup detats: widespread insecurity, electoral malpractices, corruption and bad governance.

As the Chairman of ECOWAS, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is wearing two caps, and he must have experienced awkward moments in deciding the course of action with his colleagues. The seven states in Northern Nigeria bordering Niger whom he hosted in Aso Villa are opposed to any act of aggression.

This position is similarly canvassed by opinion leaders and other stakeholders from that section of the country. They see Nigeriens as their kith and kin with whom they have shared a common ancestry and heritage over several decades.

The other matter is that the Nigerian Senate turned down President Tinubus request to use military force in Niger. It is evident that the optics do not favour war that could escalate, in spite of the bluff from the military junta in Niamey.

The dilemma of ECOWAS is that the initial ultimatum for the military junta in Niger to restore constitutional order and bring back Bazoum as the countrys leader within seven days was hasty and wrong-headed; it was not a strategic decision.

With the military leaders in Niger digging in and forming a government, they have sent a strong message to ECOWAS that they mean business.

At the second ECOWAS meeting in Abuja after the ultimatum lapsed, President Bola Tinubu explained that the regional body would explore all diplomatic means to engage the Nigerien junta, adding that the use of force should not be ruled out.

However, military intervention in Niger by ECOWAS has been trailed by unpopular sentiments in Nigeria and Niger. Some analysts believe it is a face-saving gesture by ECOWAS leaders. But the military junta is over-reaching itself by snubbing emissaries from Nigeria. It is certainly not a good idea and it is in their best interest to embrace dialogue and discuss a democratic order.

But who will pay for the military confrontation in Niger? Wars cost money and Nigeria is not in a position economically to play any big-brother role in the sub-region. In terms of military might, Nigeria is way ahead of Niger and other countries in the sub-region but it is important to note that it is ECOWAS  not Nigeria  that has a dog in the fight.

Why is Alassane Quattara, the President of Cote dIvoire, asking for the use of force against Niger instead of pushing for a diplomatic resolution? Quattara has been in office since December 4, 2010 and if he did not engineer a constitutional amendment in 2016 that paved the way for his third term, his two-term limit of five years each would have ended three years ago.

Quattara described those behind the coup in Niger as terrorists, but he has no moral authority to speak on the crisis in Niger. Coup plotters point to sit-tight leaders like him as the reason for their military interventions.

As we have seen in the last three years, such military actions instigate political violence and armed conflict in the sub-region. The Ivorian president must admit that he abused constitutional democracy in his country and apologise to his people.

Going forward, ECOWAS should be clear about their next line of action. Are they pursuing dialogue and diplomacy or the use of force? What is the standby force all about? While I concede that ECOWAS should continue to defend democracy and promote peaceful resolutions as much as possible where there are conflicts, the body should avoid war and continue to apply sanctions on Niger and force the junta to the negotiation table.

The mere fact that the USA, Russia and France have boots on the ground in Niger is a clear indication that a proxy war is inevitable. These countries, as always, would protect their strategic interests in Niger and other countries where they have presence.

If coup detats are becoming fashionable in West Africa with interim presidents that refuse to leave office, shouldnt we be worried about the coup in Niger that is in our backyard? Is that why ECOWAS is considering a military option? Is President Tinubu also inclined to go to war to teach the military junta a lesson?

As we search for answers to these questions, there are useful lessons that we can learn from the Russia-Ukraine war that has dragged on for 18 months with significant casualties on both sides and avoidable humanitarian crisis before we embark on a military action in Niger.

Ehi Braimah is a global public relations and marketing strategist. He is also the publisher/editor-in-chief of Naija Times and Lagos Post, and can be reached via hello@neomedia.com.ng.

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It is only because people believed that man according to the Judeo-Christian world view, must conquer nature that we now have these machines that are greatly benefiting humanity.

When I look around and see the church of today however, I am saddened and sick to my stomach, because of our doctrines and wrong interpretation of the Christian faith. Most churches today make the Christian faith including scriptures like the one I quoted above to only be of spiritual use rather than for practical exploration and exploitation of nature.

Unfortunately, the church today is no longer equipping the believers in the pews to go conquer nature. We are no more encouraging people through the word of God to go and become masters of the sea world. Some churches rather put the fear of the waters and the sea world in believers. I sometimes hear of churches that talk about water spirits and scare believers away from going near the sea world. This must change if our continent is to see the brightness of the day.

It is not fear we are called to instill in people. No, no, no! We are rather called to instill faith in what God said about man into peoples minds. We should preach so that people begin to believe that indeed they have the authority and the power to research and exploit the sea and nature for their good and the good of the next generation.

Gods authority given to man over the sea is not limited to using the forces of water for the benefit of man. This authority is also extended to the animals themselves that dwell in the sea. We should do researches of how to explore sharks, whales, sea lions, to the benefit and progress of humanity. In Gods wisdom He has probably seen that these are not animals to be feared and just eaten. Their resources and energy can be used and directed to the development and betterment of mankind.

Our colleges, universities and schools must be equipped and informed to develop means through which our people should be educated and empowered, to go and totally explore the sea world for the betterment of humanity. We should focus on developing all forms of machines, mechanism, instruments, that could help us make better use of Gods provision in the sea, both animate and inanimate.

Apart from the sea world, the Bible also commands the man to run and have dominion over the birds of the air, thereby giving us authority over the air world and air space. We have a mandate from God Almighty to explore the air for him. The atmospheric space, the cosmos, outer space, must all be used for the benefit of man and for the glory of God. We have been given the authority to do this. We have the power. We need to change our mindset to begin to see ourselves as having power and authority over the air space, cosmos, etc.

The next logical step of action for us will be to start a process of exploration, research, education, that might enable us to better understand how to take advantage of that authority God has given us over the air world. Our schools, colleges and universities must be reprogrammed and informed on the possibilities of exploring the air. New methods must be discovered. New machines must be invented. Drones, airplanes, helicopters, rockets and other outer space equipment must be invented to meet the needs of man and his demands.

We must explore the air to meet our health demands. We must explore the air to bring solutions to the needs of the earth. We must study the composition of the outer space, the air in it and how all this could benefit man, resolve his problems and make him to serve his creator better. For this to happen, we must know our authority as lords and rulers over the air space. It is not spirits that are supposed to rule the air space. It is not principalities and powers that are supposed to rule the air space. It is not forces of darkness in high places that are supposed to rule the air space.

It is the son of man who God has given the authority to rule over the space world. Our only duty is to find ways and means by which we could better accomplish that rulership and dominion. It is thanks to the people who have this mindset of man being the lord of nature that we have airplanes. Through their in depth understanding, they deduced that if birds could fly, then there are opportunities of flight in the air space. Meaning maybe not only birds could exploit that possibility. They therefore settled down to study the possibilities, mechanism and physics behind the bird flying.

It is the studies of how the birds do it that led to the invention of formulas and algorithms which allows us to fly airplanes today. This is just an example of how man could use his God given authority to benefit humanity through exploration of the air world. This can still be done in relations to other forms of nature on daily basis. We have the permission not just to study how birds fly. We could also study how other animals co-exist in and with nature so that we might learn and apply the principles to our own existence by creating parallel systems as those animals, to our daily lives.

Going Forward

So, lets empower our youth, lets empower our pews to be aware of the authority and mandate that God Almighty has given to them to explore and exploit nature for the good of man and the glory of God.

Remember that we are given authority not just over birds of the air. Our authority expands to the air space itself, and to all animals that use the air space. So, the onus is on us to find out ways we could interrelate the activities of birds, insects, bats, bugs, etc. to our human existence on the earth. How can we possibly study how these animals and insects exploit the air such that we can learn from them and duplicate their exploits for our own betterment and progress.

The fact remains that we have been given authority over the air. We should exploit it. We should study the birds and insects. We should extend our authority to them. If there are principalities and powers in the air, lets challenged them for it. Lets confront them with the authority given to us by God. Let us declare that we are the crown of Gods creation. Let us come upon the forces of the air by faith and assert our authority to rule and manage the earth and the air world for God and His glory.

Sunday Adelaja is a Nigeria born leader, transformation strategist, pastor and innovator. He was based in Kiev Ukraine

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Our new ministers must dare to be different. This is a new epoch and a time to get it right if Nigeria would achieve socio-economic emancipation. It would be unconscionable for ministers to expect red-carpet treatment and excessive perks of office at this time that the country is going through severe economic turbulence. The least we expect is for ministers to roll up their sleeves from day one and go to work. They should refrain from pursuing individualistic and narrow interests.

Three recent developments are the focus of people with a keen interest in the political affairs of Nigeria at the moment. The first is whether ECOWAS, which means Nigeria, in real terms, will go to war in Niger Republic. The second is the brouhaha over the naira versus dollar exchange rate, having severely affected the standards of living of a broad spectrum of Nigerians. The third, and by no means the least, has far reaching implications on the shape, form and character of the Tinubu presidency.

This is the next Federal Executive Council, with raging questions on whether or not the incoming ministers are the messiahs that Nigerians have been expecting. In my view, one packs the most weight of these three significant developments. It is the quality, capacity and effectiveness of these ministers appointed by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. I hold this view since the impact of our cabinet ministers on policy and their individual momentum is what could directly determine the quality of governance and, by extension, the living standards in our country now and in the near future. Not surprising, the stakes were high and the tension palpable until the President released the list of ministers. From informed commentaries so far, it is evident that the list was received with mixed feelings.

There were huge expectations that technocrats, intellectuals, politicians with proven record of performance and highly skilled and talented Nigerians would dominate the cabinet. Some feel this expectation still needs to be fully met, given that the new-mint cabinet is dominated by old political war-horses with a sprinkling of professionals, youths and women.

Although inferentially, the President is expected to choose persons of good character, integrity and capacity for his team of cabinet ministers, politics is not arithmetic. Political exigencies sometimes trump these qualities in the melting pot of the choice of ministerial nominees. The President, as Head of State and leader of his party, must strike a delicate balance between the conflicting intricacies inherent in making such choices. Therefore, it is not uncommon to find tainted persons, political jobbers and hollow men make their way into cabinets. Politics will always be politics and not necessarily about what is best for the President, the government he leads or the Nigerian people. But that is where base or mundane considerations also end.

We have arrived at the business end of things for a government in which citizens have invested so much expectations, now that those nominated as ministers have been screened and cleared by the Senate. With the confirmation, they must now work hard for the country. Regardless of who nominated them or how they were nominated and got cleared by Senate. It does not matter if some had to bow-and-go with the attendant drama. Or that others made the list by being somebodys stooge or friend. The most important thing is that they have made it into the cabinet. The point to note is Nigerians have expectations of the new ministers. The current social and economic crises occasioned by the agenda of the President to transform the economy and make it viable now and in the future creates a fait accompli scenario for hard work by those in the policy engineering room of the administration. It remains to be said that in this period of unmitigated uncertainties, the new ministers hold the key to driving the Presidents vision and implementing policies that will lead Nigeria to a better position, socially, economically and politically.

Nigerians want ministers who can exhibit innovative thinking and demonstrate the capacity for practical, impact-oriented solutions to national issues. They desire and deserve ministers as public servants with creative ideas to overcome the challenges we face as a people. Nigerians yearn for leaders who can unleash transformative action towards development, and the new cabinet is expected to deliver no less.

Ministers occupy the highest offices in the executive wing of the ruling elite. Ministers, as individuals and as a collective, can significantly influence a countrys economic trajectory and quality of governance. One major success factor of the famed Asian Tigers is the quality of input to policy making and effective implementation of sound fiscal policies, resulting in better development outcomes. Singapores technocratic model is a ready reference point. The ministers there were at the fore of policy articulation and implementation. The exact opposite is true of most sub-Saharan African countries. In Nigeria, most ministers in the past could hardly lived up to expectation, where they ought to have added real value. They were simply passengers to nowhere. In the end, this category of persons in the federal cabinet are proof that more than crude loyalty to personalities is required to keep a ministerial position. Nigerians expect no less and demand even more now.

Our new ministers must dare to be different. This is a new epoch and a time to get it right if Nigeria would achieve socio-economic emancipation. It would be unconscionable for ministers to expect red-carpet treatment and excessive perks of office at this time that the country is going through severe economic turbulence. The least we expect is for ministers to roll up their sleeves from day one and go to work. They should refrain from pursuing individualistic and narrow interests. They must eschew visions that conflict with the overarching vision of the President. Instead, as ministers of the government of the federation, they must make out time to engage with the President to internalise and understand his vision for the country and how their respective roles will align to achieve high quality governance, prosperity and citizen satisfaction.

The President also has the responsibility of setting the agenda, giving policy direction, spelling out goals and timelines for the ministers. On their own, ministers must know that the countrys current mood  which is more pessimistic, gloomy and tense  must be systematically turned around through their actions, policies and altruism. By reason of greater awareness in the polity, the masses will resist any flagrant display of opulence and hedonism by the new ministers. The average Nigerian is in economic pains and the ministers must, by their lifestyles, provide hope for a better Nigeria.

Nigerians want ministers who can exhibit innovative thinking and demonstrate the capacity for practical, impact-oriented solutions to national issues. They desire and deserve ministers as public servants with creative ideas to overcome the challenges we face as a people. Nigerians yearn for leaders who can unleash transformative action towards development, and the new cabinet is expected to deliver no less. Any minister with the archaic I have come to chop mindset will come to the shocking realisation that this is the digital age of Nigeria. Youths and other stakeholders are gearing up to hold all officer holders, especially the ministers, accountable and responsible for their actions in office. These savvy Gen Z advocates, although political neophytes, are armed with the democratisation of the social media to advocate for transparency, justice, fairness and the rule of law. They have a strong collective voice and would make everyone hear them loud and clear. In recent years, they have communicated that they would actively engage in the political process and their expectations must be addressed. Let none take this demographic for granted.

the role of a federal minister is significant. Therefore, all newly appointed ministers should consider serving Nigeria in their respective capacities as a great honour. They must be guided by transparency in decision-making, managing resources and accountability. Ministers must work to script with ingenuity, in line with the philosophy that to whom much is given, much is also expected.

Those on the watchtower to monitor government performance must remember that Nigeria has had good ministers in the past whose works are worthy of emulation. As the watching citizens expect the new ministers to live up to the lofty standards of the past, they are further enjoined to make time to learn more about these past ministers to improve their performance. One such effective minister was Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Though not perfect, her dedication to duty and Nigeria is self-evident. She embodied that strength of character and demonstrated a determination to succeed where others have failed. She had the mental rigour to push for reforms and changes that had short-term and long-term impacts. Her restless creativity and boundless passion for serving Nigeria were infectious. Okonjo-Iweala came and served Nigeria, rather than being served by Nigeria. Time will fail us to begin an enumeration of her successes as a minister who served two different administrations. But her work in securing debt cancellation for Nigeria was notable. These impactful achievements are chronicled in various books and online resources. They make good resource and research material for the incoming ministers. Akinwumi Adesina is forever remembered for his innovative agricultural policies that served people experiencing poverty. If a minister wants to be among this league of much-loved ministers in Nigeria, now is the time to plan and work to create a legacy.

Ministers ought to be change agents. Nigerians like to feel the passion, patriotism, integrity, creativity and inclusiveness that should be the hallmark of democratic leadership. The ministers should possess excellent communication skills, expertise in the subject matter related to their portfolios, critical and strategic thinking skills, adaptability and resilience to succeed in performing their roles. Besides, ministers should understand that the mechanisms of governance, public administration and policy-making are essential for a minister to manage his or her portfolio effectively. They should have genuine commitments to serving the public and positively impacting citizens lives. Ministers, as heads of ministries, constitute the instrumentality of government functions. The government implements all its policies through its ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), while running a civil service structure that is apolitical and designed to serve the government of the day. It is important to note that no individual may possess all these qualities equally. However, striving to develop and exhibit them can contribute to effective leadership and governance.

The total output of government MDAs roughly correspond to the total productivity of government, in terms of policy creation and execution, as well as procedural and operational efficiencies. This much should be clear to those appointed by this administration. Based on the above, the principal function of the minister is to organise, manage and direct all material and human resources available to the ministry he or she runs to achieve its set mandate in line with the dominant ideology, goals and aspirations of the Federal Government. Therefore, ministers must see themselves as both the voice of the government and the voice of the people and the voiceless.

Finally, the role of a federal minister is significant. Therefore, all newly appointed ministers should consider serving Nigeria in their respective capacities as a great honour. They must be guided by transparency in decision-making, managing resources and accountability. Ministers must work to script with ingenuity, in line with the philosophy that to whom much is given, much is also expected. Ministers must acknowledge that they are responsible to the people, the Constitution of Nigeria and the President. The nation is looking up to the new ministers to uplift it from the subsisting social and economic quagmire. This is a task ministers can only fail at their peril. My dear compatriots, fellow countrymen and women, congratulations on your respective appointments.

Dakuku Peterside is a policy and leadership expert.

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A Commission like the EFCC should be dynamic and creative in its workings. The public is getting tired of its stereotypes. Chukkol needs to give the public a new face of the EFCC. Second, the existing operational framework that achieves results without hurting the sensibilities of the public should be sustained. Chukkol is putting the right foot forward in this regard and should continue in that direction for positive development.

With its strategic place in the annals of Nigeria, any tumult or even gentle wave in the workings of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is expected to leave a crack in its wall. But this is turning out to be a mere conjecture, especially with the dynamic handling of the Commission by its Acting Chairman, Abdulkarim Chukkol, following the suspension of its former Chairman, AbdulRasheed Bawa. It is instructive to note that Chukkol is leaving no one in doubt that a wound may leave no scar afterall, if properly and professionally treated!

At the various Commands of the EFCC, fresh leaves are sprouting from its towering tree. Operational and administrative activities are revving up admirably. A combination of unmistakable competence and the leadership strength of the Acting Chairman are at work, in the little and great engagements in the EFCC, and this is really commendable, considering the diversity and enormity of cases being handled by the Commission. .

One bold hint of the signature of Chukkol is his zero tolerance for corruption. At the Graduation Ceremony of fresh cadets of the EFCC on 21 July, the anti-graft czar cautioned them against corrupt practices and questionable conducts. His words were: The Commission has zero tolerance for corruption, indiscipline and unprofessional conducts. You have all been sworn to oaths of allegiance and secrecy, loyalty to the nation, to EFCC, as well as keep strict confidence any knowledge that may come your way in carrying out your duty. Every act of corruption, disloyalty, disobedience, insubordination would instantly be dealt with and the defaulters would be shown the exit door.

For those who know the Acting EFCC Chairman Chukkol, his warnings against compromises and corruption by fresh officers of the EFCC, are not mere preachments. He meant every word he said. Even, older officers know that corruption cannot grow under Chukkols watch. This is so important, given growing public angst against unethical practices by law enforcement agents across the country. The EFCC, as the nations most effective anti-corruption agency, cannot afford to treat graft with kid gloves. For a leader who is walking his talk and giving no room for suspicion, tackling indiscipline and dark practices in the system cannot be an uphill task.

Available records at the EFCC show that right from his days at the Lagos Zonal Command, the soft-spoken Chukkol has never been enmeshed in any shady practice. That President Bola Tinubu gave him the reins of leadership at the Commission, only shows the implicit confidence he has in him and the unimpeachable dynamics of his works over the years. It wont be suprising if he is allowed to continue in his strides and unobstrusive ways as the substansive head of the EFCC.

Has there been any radical paradigm shift since Chukkol assumed leadership of the EFCC? The answer is in the affirmative. The break and burst fever of the Bawas days seem to be over. The Commission never relents in closing in on internet fraudsters now. As a matter of fact, more arrests are being made periodically but without any public hysteria about marauder-like invasions of houses. It is strange to observe that the same operatives hounding and wounding suspected fraudsters have suddenly become urbane, professional and admirable, owing largely to a new-fangled approach initiated by Chukkol. The EFCC is doing its jobs with rising efficiency and professionalism. Chukkols leadership is simply telling us that an arrest needs not be an invasion. Greater impact is being made without giving the public a bloody nose.

Even, progress is rising in the area of convictions. Media reports in this area are becoming impressive. I think the EFCC should offer the public figures of the new advances in its prosecutorial efforts without further delay. As a keen watcher of developments in the EFCC, I find the systematic workings of the Commission under the watch of Chukkol, the quiet administrator, equable and promising. I have also noticed significant improvements in enlightenment campaigns of the works of the Commission in recent times. Nigerians are warming up to the changing dynamics in the fight against corruption and this may be the reason civil society organisations are dropping their grievances against the EFCC.

At this juncture, it is imperative to load the clouds of the Acting Chairman with some challenges he needs to address, in order to continue in his winning ways in the Commission. First, the restructuring of roles and responsibilities are vital. New brains and fresh insights should be deployed into key areas such as administration, procurement, public relations and information dissemination, recruitment, training and prosecution.

A Commission like the EFCC should be dynamic and creative in its workings. The public is getting tired of its stereotypes. Chukkol needs to give the public a new face of the EFCC. Second, the existing operational framework that achieves results without hurting the sensibilities of the public should be sustained. Chukkol is putting the right foot forward in this regard and should continue in that direction for positive development.

The publics eyes are on the EFCC, regarding setting new examples in the equitable treatment of its workforce. It is important to note that Bawas regime reportedly formed personality cults within the system. This should not continue. Every staff of the Commission deserves fair treatments, irrespective of tribe, religion or other extraneous affliations. Reports showed that Chukkol is already righting many wrongs in the system. This is commendable. A foremost anti-graft agency like the EFCC deserves no less. Posterity is sure to applaud the Acting Chairman for the bold reforms he is already initiating. This is what is desirable for the nation and this is what Abdulkarim Chukkol is working on.

More important is the need for enhanced synergy with other law enforcement agencies. Corruption is an hydra-headed monster and its tackling should be broad-based. Chukkol needs to embrace collegiate overtures from other agencies and make them feel relevant. The EFCC, legally, is the coordinating agency for the enforecement of laws against several corrupt practices. It should reach out more to sister agencies for seamless operations to tackle corruption. Reports showed that the Acting Chairman is already embracing agencies disposed to working with the EFCC. This is commendable.

The onus is on the stakeholders and the nation to suppprt the Commission more in this regard. Chukkol is offering us good promises and the EFCC really looks good with him as a skilful driver.

Gerald Nlebem, a public affairs analyst, writes this piece from Etche in Rivers State.

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A late connection from ferry to plane made it a stressful journey from Athens (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Q My niece has endured an extremely stressful journey home from Greece. She was booked to fly from Athens to London Gatwick at 12.30pm yesterday. Despite allowing plenty of time to reach the airport, the ferry had an engine problem and arrived over two hours late, which meant she missed the deadline for the flight.

She was able to book online for another flight to Heathrow at 1.30pm and received an email confirmation. But when she checked in immediately afterwards, she did not receive a seat number. At the gate she was told that the flight was overbooked and that she would have to wait to see if five people failed to appear. Is it normal procedure to put her last in line because she was a late booking? In the end, she was allowed on the flight. But what would have happened otherwise?

Sean K

A This unfortunate episode is a good example of why airlines overbook  but not a good example of how they should behave when overbooking presents a problem.

You might find it absurd that an airline can be prepared to sell more than 200 tickets for a plane with only 196 seats. Yet when overbooking is carried out properly, everyone benefits. Typically a proportion of passengers wont reach the airport on time, whether due to ferry propulsion problems or anything else. Others are simply no-shows.

For an average flight, easyJet (not the airline involved here) puts the no-show figure at 5 per cent  or 10 people on a 200-seat jet. At peak holiday times such as now, the figure tends to be lower. But from the airlines point of view, selling a few extra tickets represents pure profit  assuming they correctly predict the number of no-shows.

The airlines historical data will have shown it was worthwhile selling an extra seat just an hour or two before departure. But there should be no correlation between booking at the last minute and being a candidate for denial of boarding. Rather than saying wait and see to your niece, the airline should seek prospective volunteers  saying, for example: Who will accept 200 to wait for our later plane?

Story continues

As it turned out, the airline made a handsome profit on its decision to sell that final ticket. Had your niece been denied boarding, she will have been owed 400 (345) in statutory compensation, as well as a seat on another flight to London on the same day.

The new route will allow travellers to Egypt to avoid the main Cairo international airport (AP)

Q I have just received an email from Wizz Air promoting flights to a new destination: Sphinx. The email refers to the monumental guardian of the majestic pyramids of Giza. Is this a Cairo airport Ive never heard about? If so, how handy is it for the tourist sites?

Tom J

A Being on the Wizz Air mailing list, I also received this interesting message. From 30 October, the budget airline (third in Europe behind Ryanair and easyJet) will fly from Luton to this relatively new airport, which shares facilities with a big air force base. I look forward eagerly to trying the new Wizz Air route. It will bring welcome low fares compared with British Airways and Egyptair, and will also allow me to avoid the main Cairo international airport  which I find a chaotic and unfriendly introduction to a wonderful city and nation.

A quick reminder of the geography of Egypts teeming capital. Cairo straddles the Nile, with most places of interest on the eastern bank. The main international airport is about 20km (12 miles) northeast of the city centre. The great sphinx of Giza and the main pyramid complex are about 10km (6 miles) east. Crucially, this is also the location of the absurdly delayed Grand Egyptian Museum, which was due to open a decade ago. When it finally opens  possibly late this year, maybe in 2024  this spectacular creation will immediately become one of the worlds great heritage destinations.

Where does Sphinx airport fit into this picture? While you might imagine it would be right beside the great antiquities, in fact it is about 32km (20 miles) northwest  even further away than the main airport. But crucially, it has a fast highway link with Giza that completely avoids the centre of one of Africas biggest cities.

Furthermore, with a single, modern terminal, the arrival (and departure) experience is likely to be relaxed. And if your destination is the fine city of Alexandria at the mouth of the Nile, Sphinx airport is much better placed on the main highway northwest to the Mediterranean.

Collect an application form from a post office, fill it out and turn up at a passport office, such as the one in Victoria, London, for a pre-booked appointment with two photos (PA)

Q We are due to fly to Italy in four days time. My partner has lost his passport  he thinks on the journey back from Gatwick airport to London after his last trip. So he needs a replacement but I cant see how he can get a new one in time. Is there any way that you can see how  for example, waiting at the Passport Office in London or getting an emergency travel document?

Name supplied

A Sorry to hear this. In earlier times it would have been a relatively simple matter of turning up at the Passport Office at Petty France in London first thing in the morning and waiting for an interview and, an hour or two later, a replacement passport. But those days have long gone and the procedure for replacing a lost passport is now much slower. The emergency travel document to which you refer is only for British citizens who are abroad and have lost their passport.

To try to salvage your trip, your only choice is the 1 week Fast Track service. This is an analogue, rather than digital experience. Collect a paper application form from a post office, fill it out and turn up at a passport office for a pre-booked appointment with two photos. Booking an appointment online is the trickiest part, unless you have the good fortune to live in Northern Ireland: the Belfast office always seems to have times open. (For the avoidance of doubt, you do not need a passport to travel between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.) From my observations, Durham, Glasgow and Liverpool are the next most frequent options for short-notice appointments.

Try not to be disheartened by the 1 week tag. If you attend an appointment on Wednesday and are booked to travel on Saturday that may look impossible. But HM Passport Office promises it will be delivered to your home within seven days; the organisation is famously cautious with its estimated timings. Anecdotally you might be lucky and get the document on Friday; just make sure someone is at home to receive it.

Email your question to s@hols.tv or tweet @simoncalder
After toppling the democratically elected Nigerien President, Mohamed Bazoum, on 26 July, the new military junta in Niamey, riding on a dizzying wave of orchestrated populist urgings, has suspended the constitution, detained the president (and his family members), and closed the nations airspace and borders.

The junta has also continued to maintain a hard line in response to a range of sanctions, some of which are crippling, like those from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and other merely symbolic ones from the African Union, the United Nations, and some other states. It has neither released the detained president and his family, nor sought to restore civilian rule. Instead, using the easy fig leaf of geopolitics, it has made it all about French and American power overreach, and the pawns of these powers to subdue the sovereignty of Niger.

Seeking early legitimacy by dredging into the pool of the anti-colonial sentiments of its 25 million citizens, the junta seems poised for a long battle to retain power. This is where the key challenge of diplomacy will be tested vis-a-vis the new administration of Bola Tinubu in Nigeria, ECOWAS, and the world at large.

Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world, a victim of a callous history and geography. It is landlocked, arid, and an ugly symbol of the current global crisis. While a vengeful colonial history has drained most of the countrys wealth for the purposes of France, its post-colonial reality, since independence in 1960, has offered no respite from corrupt and greedy elites who have seemingly weaponised the sprawling poverty and wretchedness of the citizens to retain power and continue their plunder.

Much has been said about the countrys uranium deposit, but its true value is a paltry 6 per cent of the global market share and even France, contrary to the raucous media fiction, imports most of its uranium needs from Kazakhstan. The reality is that Niger is in the doghouse. It can hardly grow its own food. In fact, Niger imports one-fifth of all its food requirements, and for that reason, depends considerably on close to $2 billion a year in development assistance for survival.

The junta needs to take a hard look in the mirror and match the image with the object. Rhetoric and bluster will not cut it for the country; neither will the khaki or jumpsuits offer any easy way out of the economic and political crises facing the country. The situation could easily spiral out of control if not carefully managed.

With Russias cynical blockade of the UN-sponsored Ukrainian grains programme to Africa, Niger needs every cent of the half a billion euros in European assistance pledged until next year, and the $153 million US assistance in the books for this year, otherwise the humanitarian situation in the country will worsen and the poorest of its people will be the victims. This potential misery ought to inform the decisions taken by the junta, going forward.

PREMIUM TIMES urges the ECOWAS Council of Heads of State to deepen the path of diplomacy and dialogue with Niamey. The sanctions must not make a post-Tchiani recovery impossible. The electricity cut off, for instance, will damage, very badly, an economy already reeling. This is not a lame excuse in support of the objective of the junta, which is adding offences against the ancien regime daily as a justification for legitimacy. The most recent claim of probing a whopping $153 million defence procurement corruption is a case in point.

Corruption is the unhappy element in the post-colonial narrative of Nigers underdevelopment, and the Omar Tchiani-led coup will not be the first to use it as an excuse to unravel democracy. However, this defence procurement scandal deserves attention and diligent investigation.

As PREMIUM TIMES indicated three years ago, when we published this scandal, the defence sector, particularly its procurement process, is the most opaque and corruption-ridden aspect of state management in Africa. Hardly any ECOWAS state, including Nigeria, can stand the test of integrity in this regard. It will be fascinating to see how former President Issoufou, Tchianis erstwhile boss, under whose regime all this happened, and perhaps the unseen patron of this current coup, fares in relation to the scandal.

This is a straight line to the theme of good governance, the missing epicentre in the regions story of development deficit, and the foundation upon which successive military adventures have built their plots to truncate democratic consolidation in this corner of the globe.

Most commentators will propose that this fragility of the state, the worst representation of which assumes the complexion of francophone ECOWAS, should remind France of the moral quality of its civilisation and how its ex-colonies find purpose in that enterprise. It is for want of a decent term that we must characterise that relationship as the worst case of peonage in the lexicon of international relations.

This, putting it kindly, is a challenge to Frances conscience, and it ought to consider it a curse that some usurious oddity called Colonial Agreements still bind it to sovereign states six decades after their independence. More than ever before, the agreement casts France as a parasite on its former colonies. The spectre of the agreement is strong in the developments we are witnessing in Niger, beyond its instrumentalisation by the junta. Duplicity is not a strange entry in the choice of terms when it comes to diplomacy but a country that assembled the world in Paris this June to design a new global financial architecture that is just, equitable and inclusive must shred those horrible pages from the agreement binding it to its former colonies.

Pity will be the word if the Tchiani junta, like its compatriots in Mali and Burkina Faso, thinks that dressing up in military camouflage will solve the problems of their countries. Africa is the best reference of the encyclopedia of military worthlessness in governance, where successive revolutionary militarists quickly decompose into morbid putrescence, once the coup leaders find adjustment and cosily tuck their tummies into the sofa of power.

Tchiani, who has served as head of the presidential guard since 2011, is evidence of everything wrong with the military in Niger. His current metamorphosis as a presumed liberator needs to be welcomed with sharp doubt. For this reason, PREMIUM TIMES urges him to cut his rowdy rallies in Niamey short and announce a quick handover plan to an elected civilian administration based on credible and clear democratic tenets, including subordination of the military to civilian authority.

This is the point Nigeria, as the current Chairman of ECOWAS, has tried to deliver, loud and clear. It was not going to be an easy role. Nigerias northern segment has citizens whose relations are aboriginal Nigerien. Hausa is spoken by over 50% of the people in Niger, who also share the culture and religion as their Nigerian cousins. In many respects, the two countries share more than what separates them. This is the challenge Nigeria faces in imposing crippling sanctions on a fraternal neighbour.

The integrity and future of ECOWAS is also at stake. The decision of the Community had to be implemented, and while the communique issued on Thursday, 10th July in Abuja sounded escalatory, it nonetheless offers wide margins for mediation and negotiated outcomes. Niger must at least meet the Community halfway. The sponsored anti-Nigerian rhetoric in the country serves no tangible goal. The predominant mood in Nigeria itself rejects a war against Niger but that is not the same as saying people accept military rule. To be clear, there are few and influential war mongers in Nigerias policy corridor, but they are at best spent forces seeking relevance and lucre in a new dispensation.

It is worthy of making the point very strongly that no military in the subregion, or even Africa, has any special skills in making itself the preferred option in solving the continents myriad problems. Evidence has routinely proven this to be true. Niger should be the watershed that says no military regime will ever be tolerated again in our subregion, or even the African continent. It also means that we can now ask ECOWAS to be equally as stout in its opposition to any unconstitutional rule change that would benefit any incumbent in the subregion.

PREMIUM TIMES also hopes the Nigerian authorities are open to their peers in the sub-region that the Nigerian military is not ready for a foreign war now. It is deployed in 34 of the countrys 36 states, and with evidence of the resurgence of ISWAP being palpable and requiring its timely response, in addition to the challenges inherent to the overflow of displaced persons across the border  either as victims or embedded terrorists, any present military invasion could be far costlier than assumed. It is important to note the fact that many of our citizens do not want their cousins killed for no just cause.

PREMIUM TIMES urges all national, regional and international stakeholders to invest more in mediation and diplomacy above the military invasion of Niger at this time.

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The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the Anti-Corruption Agency of Nigeria (ACAN) recently concluded a three-day sensitisation workshop on Achieving Zero-tolerance for Corruption in the Workplace, with staff educated on the types and potential consequences of corruption as well as appropriate safeguards.

Declaring the workshop open on Day 1, the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote, commended ACAN and its parent body, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for extending the anti-corruption campaign to ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

He said the initiative was very welcome at the NCDMB, which has signified its approval and support of the campaign by launching its own outfit known as NCDMB-Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU), which is a distinct unit and now functional.

The Executive Secretary, who was represented by the NCDMB Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr. Akintunde Adelana, pledged the continued support of the Board for the anti-corruption drive, while urging all staff to make the best of the workshop. Mr. Adelana doubles as Chairman of NCDMB-ACTU.

The ICPC Chairman, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, expressed appreciation for the principled stance of the NCDMB Management on zero-tolerance for corruption in the workplace and for support for the anti-corruption drive of the Commission. He recalled that earlier in the year, NCDMB-ACTU was fully involved in a similar one-week sensitisation workshop organised by the Commission in Abuja.

Represented by the Provost of ACAN, Professor Olatunde Babawale, the ICPC boss lamented that Corruption is at the heart of the underdevelopment of the country and would have to be combated effectively to give a new lease of life to the society.

He noted The critical role that NCDMB plays in the oil and gas industry, pointing out the necessity to sanitise procedures in that sector. According to him, when corruption is taken out of the processes the industry is healthier and that would be to the good of the country.

Sub-themes of the sensitisation workshop were Tackling Workplace Corruption  The Role of NCDMB-ACTU, Eradicating Corruption in the Workplace: A Behavioural Change Approach, Overview of National Integrity Laws and the Implications for Organisational Integrity, Strategies for Achieving Zero-Tolerance for Corruption in the Workplace. Resource persons were Professor Olatunde Babawale, Mr. G.N. Bako, and Mr. Richard A. Bello.

In his presentation on Eradicating Corruption in the Workplace: A Behavioural Change Approach, Professor Babawale noted that the country is in a dilemma because corruption has persisted despite the multiplicity of laws designed to curb it. According to him a new, complementary approach is required that targets social norms  unspoken principles and collectively held beliefs.

He said rather than adore individuals whose sources of wealth are questionable, society should emphasise norms that care about morals and integrity and be unequivocal in condemning irresponsible acquisitive behaviour.

On little-known forms of corruption, he referred to gifts from subordinates to superiors, noting that it must not be encouraged. Besides, gifts from persons who have been rendered service should also be rejected by public servants because the giver is only wetting the ground for the next job or contract in that office.

Professor Babawale enjoined public officials to avoid favour reciprocation, noting that it behoves everyone who stands for integrity to create a cultural context in which corruption is not acceptable.

All members of Management and staff, except those on leave or assignments outside, participated in the workshop.

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An Islamic scholar, Malam Murtala was killed while seven residents were abducted when terrorists invaded Bungudu town in Zamfara State Monday morning.

Bungudu is one of the most insecure areas in Zamfara as terrorists and other outlaws roam freely and attack communities at will.

Those abducted include Abdurrahman Hassan, the first son of the emir of Bungudu; Abubakar Sarkin-Fada, a former civil servant; Amina Salisu, a married woman; and four other women.

The terrorists were said to have gone straight into the town a little after midnight and began shooting indiscriminately a local source, Ibrahim Bungudu, said over the phone.

My father was abducted inside our house during the attack. The bandits came straight into the house and made away with him. They didnt take anyone else, Babangida Sarkin-Fada, whose father Mr Sarkin-Fada was among those abducted.

Another resident, Zaharadeen Sani, alleged the involvement of informants in the operation.

Informants who live in communities or surrounding neighbourhoods have been accused of providing information that helps terrorists abduct residents or travellers and attack communities.

The bandits went from area to area, abducting people without being challenged. People abducted were from different areas. How did they know the houses of those they abducted? May God punish these informants, Mr Sani said.

Local sources said the terrorists are yet to reach out to families for negotiations.

The federal lawmaker representing Maru/Bungudu constituency, Abdulmalik Zubairu, said attacks on city and town centres are becoming worrisome.

Im calling on the federal and state governments to do the needful and bring an end to these mindless attacks. The measures taken so far are not enough. As a representative, Ill continue to do my best to proffer solutions to the activities of these bandits, Mr Zubairu said.

The Monday morning attack came a few days after a policeman, Nura Ibrahim, was killed after terrorists attacked the Bungudu Divisional Police Office.

When contacted, the police spokesperson in Zamfara State, Yazid Abubakar, said he was driving back to the state and promised to revert.

Im driving back to the state now. I dont have information on the attack. Ill seek information and get back to you, Mr Abubakar said over the phone, but he was yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.

Zamfara, like several other states in the North-west, has been witnessing a series of terrorist activities for over a decade.

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Green sofas are on the rise, as grey sofas fall in popularity.

LONDON, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The UK's taste in sofas has changed since the pandemic, based on the latest UK Google search data revealed by the experts at Furniture Village.

Sofa colour trends: vibrant colours are on the rise, but neutrals are not going anywhere

Top sofa colours according to UK Google Search Data (PRNewsfoto/Furniture Village) Top 10 sofa styles according to UK Search Data (PRNewsfoto/Furniture Village)

Grey has been the most searched sofa colour in the UK for three years in a row.

Mark Reynolds, Retail Buyer - Furniture Village commented: "This shows that consumers are still opting for neutral large furnishings, which they can then bring to life with accessories".

Green sofas were the 2nd most searched colour and have seen a 22% increase in interest since 2020.

As Mark Reynolds points out, "The colour green is having its moment within interiors this year, not just in sofa colours, but throughout the home. From forest hues to softer muted tones."

Most Searched Sofa Colours

Grey Sofa Green Sofa Cream Sofa Pink Sofa Blue Sofa

Sofa style trends reveal people still prefer the classic designs

Since 2020, the top 3 most searched sofa styles have been the Chesterfield sofa, loveseat sofas and modular designs.

"Large, luxuriously upholstered in leather or fabric with deep-set tufted buttons and rolled arms, Chesterfield sofas are typically associated with great British interiors." Adds Mark Reynolds.

Practical design options have seen a rise in popularity. Searches for modular increased by 22% since 2020. The loveseat sofa designs for tighter rooms also saw a 32% increase within the same period.

Most Searched Sofa Style

Chesterfield sofa Loveseat Modular sofa Sectional sofa Contemporary sofa

Sofa fabric trends show durable and practical fabrics as most popular

Leather is the most searched fabric option, and has been for the last few years.

"Leather is one of the most popular materials for households due to its durability. If you have children or pets, looking for a sofa which will clean easily, and stand the test of time is an important factor," said Mark Reynolds.

Boucle is fast becoming one of the top sofa fabric choices, after searches soared to 9 times the levels in 2020.

Most Searched Sofa Fabrics

Leather Sofa Linen Sofa Fabric Sofa Boucle Sofa Velvet Sofa

Explore all the popular sofa choices and expert predictions for future favourites.

Infographic - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2184689/Furniture_Village_Colours_Infographic.jpg

Infographic - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2184690/Furniture_Village_Styles_Infographic.jpg

SOURCE Furniture Village
- Invited experts from around the world to gather at AlUla, KSA from September 13-15

- Multi-sector reflection on how archaeology and cultural heritage can contribute to wider transformational changes in society

- 'Where the world came to meet, and where we will meet again'

ALULA, Saudi Arabia, Aug. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) is gathering international leaders from the fields of archaeology, cultural heritage, media, innovation, entrepreneurship and more for the first-of-its-kind AlUla World Archaeology Summit.

From 13  15 September at Maraya in AlUla, this invite-only event will feature panels and informal discussions centred on advancing the field of archaeology at a global scale, contributing to further discovery and innovation worldwide.

INAUGURAL ALULA WORLD ARCHAEOLOGY SUMMIT TO TAKE PLACE AT ANCIENT CROSSROADS OF CIVILISATIONS IN NORTH-WEST ARABIA INAUGURAL ALULA WORLD ARCHAEOLOGY SUMMIT TO TAKE PLACE AT ANCIENT CROSSROADS OF CIVILISATIONS IN NORTH-WEST ARABIA

Beyond scholarly discourse, the Summit will provide a global platform for collaboration with wider audiences. More than 60 speakers from diverse professional backgrounds will broaden the impact of archaeological relevance to global issues, co-creating visionary, heritage-based solutions to contemporary issues across sectors and vice versa.

Abdulrahman Alsuhaibani, Executive Director of Archaeology, Conservation and Collections at RCU, said: "The AlUla World Archaeology Summit will foster an environment of cross-disciplinary collaboration and knowledge exchange. Inspired by humanity's shared past, we will focus on innovative solutions that can have long-lasting impact on the world. We're excited to host the inaugural Summit in AlUla, where the world came to meet, and where we will meet again."

The AlUla World Archaeology Summit serves the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 with its focus on positively impacting humanity through insights gained from both cultural heritage and advancements in science. The event in AlUla runs during the same period that, for the first time, Saudi Arabia is hosting the 45th UNESCO World Heritage Committee 10-25 September in Riyadh.

The main programme will focus on four key themes  Identity, Resilience, Ruinscapes, and Accessibility. Both Saudi and international archaeology students and young professionals will be selected to join the parallel "Future Forum" providing a platform to engage and contribute to important conversations in the fields of archaeology and cultural heritage. There will be field excursions across AlUla, which in recent years has become a hub of archaeological fieldwork and conservation.

Key learnings from the Summit will be shared publicly after the event, along with selected video highlights. Visit www.worldarchaeologysummit.com to learn more.

Noted for editors:

It is always AlUla, not Al-Ula.

About the Royal Commission for AlUla

The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) was established by royal decree in July 2017 to preserve and develop AlUla, a region of outstanding natural and cultural significance in north-west Saudi Arabia. RCU's long-term plan outlines a responsible, sustainable, and sensitive approach to urban and economic development that preserves the area's natural and historic heritage while establishing AlUla as a desirable location to live, work, and visit. This encompasses a broad range of initiatives across archaeology, tourism, culture, education, and the arts, reflecting a commitment to meeting the economic diversification, local community empowerment, and heritage preservation priorities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 programme.

Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2184093/Royal_Commission_AlUla.mp4

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2184088/Royal_Commission_AlUla.jpg

SOURCE The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU)
The growth of the global intravenous equipment market is driven by growing prevalence of chronic diseases, technological advancements in intravenous equipment and growing number of surgical procedures.

PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Intravenous Equipment Market by Product Type (IV Catheters, Infusion Pumps, Administration Sets, Needleless Connectors, and Others), and End User (Hospitals and Clinics, Homecare Settings and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20232032". According to the report, the intravenous equipment market was valued for $15.0 billion in 2022 and is estimated to reach $26.7 billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.9% from 2023 to 2032.

Request Sample of the Report on Intravenous Equipment Market Forecast 2032- Allied Market Research- https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/11221

Prime determinants of growth

Increase in prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and autoimmune disorders, technological advancements in intravenous equipment and growing number of surgical procedures are the factors that drive the growth of the global intravenous equipment market. However, stringent regulatory requirements are hampering the intravenous equipment market growth. On the contrary, the growth opportunities in emerging markets are expected to offer remunerative opportunities for expansion of the intravenous equipment market during the forecast period.

Report coverage & details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20232032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $15.0 billion Market Size in 2032 $26.7 billion CAGR 5.9 % No. of Pages in Report 250 Segments covered Product Type, End User, and Region Drivers Growing prevalence of chronic diseases Technological advancements in intravenous equipment Growing number of surgical procedures Opportunities Growth opportunities in emerging markets Restraints Stringent regulatory requirements

Impact of Covid-19 on Intravenous Equipment Market

The pandemic resulted in a surge in the number of severely ill patients requiring hospitalization and intensive care.

In addition, COVID-19 patients required IV therapy for fluid resuscitation, administration of medications and nutritional support. This increased demand for IV therapy led to a rise in the demand for IV equipment, including infusion pumps, IV sets and catheters.

Moreover, pandemic accelerated the adoption of home-based care and telehealth services. Patients were increasingly seeking care in the comfort of their homes, including intravenous therapy. This shift created opportunities for the development of portable and user-friendly intravenous equipment suitable for homecare settings.

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The IV catheters segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on product type, the IV catheters segment held the largest share in 2022, accounting for nearly three-fifths of the global intravenous equipment market revenue, and is expected to register highest CAGR of 6.4% during the forecast period, owing to factors such as the high prevalence of chronic diseases requiring IV access, the increasing number of surgical procedures, and advancements in catheter technologies improving patient comfort and reducing complications.

The hospitals and clinics segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period

Based on end user, the hospital and clinics segment accounted for the largest share in 2022, accounting for more than two-thirds of the global intravenous equipment market revenue owing to availability and access to specialized departments and units, such as ICUs, emergency departments, surgical suites, and general wards, where intravenous therapy is extensively utilized. However, homecare settings segment is projected to register highest CAGR of 6.8% during the forecast period, owing to factors such as patient preference for receiving medical treatments at home and the cost-effectiveness of home-based care, leading to increased adoption and investment in intravenous equipment for homecare settings.

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North America to maintain its dominance by 2032

Based on region, North America held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2022, accounting for nearly two-fifths of the global intravenous equipment market revenue, owing to its well-developed healthcare infrastructure, high disease prevalence, robust reimbursement policies, presence of key market players, technological advancements, and commitment to patient safety. However, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 6.9% from 2023 to 2032, owing to rapidly growing population, coupled with the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, creates a significant demand for intravenous therapy and related equipment. The upsurge in healthcare expenditure in the emerging economies is anticipated to offer lucrative opportunities for the market expansion.

Leading Market Players: -

Becton, Dickinson and Company

B. Braun SE

ICU Medical, Inc.

Baxter International Inc.

Teleflex Incorporated.

3M Company

Company AngioDynamics, Inc.

Terumo Corporation

Poly Medicure Ltd.

Vygon

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players of the global intravenous equipment market. These players have adopted different strategies such as acquisition and product approval to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

Official Press Release: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/press-release/intravenous-equipment-market.html

Comprehensive Healthcare Industry Research Studies:

Medical Tourism Market - Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20222032

Audiology Devices Market- Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20222032

Ambulance Services Market- Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20222032

Predictive Analytics in Healthcare Market- Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20222032

Brain Monitoring Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20222032

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SOURCE Allied Market Research
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan Jeenbek Kulubaev received Chinese Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic Du Dewen, Azernews reports, citing Kabar.

During the meeting, the sides discussed issues of cooperation in the political, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres, and an exchange of views took place on the implementation of the agreements reached following the state visit of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Zhaparov to the People's Republic of China and participation in the 1st Summit " Central Asia-China in May 2023.

In addition, issues of preparing and conducting mutual visits at the highest and high levels were discussed, including the upcoming official visit of the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic Akylbek. Zhaparov to the XUAR of the PRC and the official visit of the Premier of the State Council of China Li Qiang to Kyrgyzstan in October 2023.

The parties, touching upon the progress of the promotion of infrastructure projects implemented jointly with the Government of China, outlined the importance of accelerating the promotion of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway construction project, optimizing the work of the Torugart and Irkeshtam checkpoints, as well as strengthening interregional cooperation.

Taking the opportunity, Kulubaev conveyed congratulations on the appointment of Wang Yi as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of China and invited him to pay a visit to the Kyrgyz Republic at any convenient time.
The twin Bollinger Algiers signs facing downtown New Orleans from the West Bank, which have stood along the Mississippi River for decades as prominent advertisements for one of Louisianas biggest private companies, are gone.

Bollinger Shipyards is closing the property and shifting operations to its larger locations on the Gulf Coast, the company confirmed last week.

The Bollinger company, which is headquartered in Lockport, said the decision to close up shop in Algiers was driven by a desire to consolidate its repair and maintenance operations, and was not a reflection of a downturn in business or any negative aspect of New Orleans.

We recently reallocated the work being performed at Algiers to our other facilities along the Gulf Coast, spokesperson T.J. Tatum said. Importantly, all jobs were relocated within our other 13 facilities as we continue to expand our workforce.

The company is the largest privately owned shipbuilder in the United States. Last year, it acquired Halter Marine in Mississippi, which considerably expanded its shipbuilding order book for Coast Guard and Navy vessels and added a large repair yard. The companys workforce grew by one third, to more than 3,000, with the acquisition.

Bollinger said the larger of the two dry docks at Algiers  Mrs. Jody, which weighs in at 4,000 tons and measures about 200 by 76 feet  sailed off to the newly acquired shipyard in Mississippi. The smaller dock  Miss Darby, about half the size of its counterpart  went to Port Fourchon to be reconditioned, then likely will be moved to the companys larger ship repair yard at Harvey.

About a dozen men were still working at Bollinger Algiers on Tuesday, breaking down equipment and moving machine tools and other equipment onto barges and trucks.

Writing on the wall

Gigi Tuong, who runs the Opelousas Point Grocery a few blocks from Bollinger Algiers, said the writing had been on the wall for some months. Some of the guys who came in for their shrimp plates would complain that they didnt want to relocate to the other shipyard in Harvey, Tuong said.

Story continues

Angela Doyle, who has been bartending at the next-door Dry Dock Cafe since Bollinger acquired the facility from Algiers Iron Works and Dry Dock Inc. in 1990, said the workforce began dwindling even before the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in 2020.

This place used to be packed full of Bollinger people, all running huge tabs when there was a ship in dock, and they were great tippers, Doyle said.

People found love at Bollinger back in its heyday in the 1990s, when more than 100 full-timers worked at the Algiers yard, she said. Maureen [Bullard], the owner when I first started, she married Tim from Bollinger. My sister, who worked at the cafe, found her husband there also, a contract welder, Doyle recalled. But that didnt work out.

Bollinger acquired Algiers Iron Works and Dry Dock during a time when it was rapidly adding repair and maintenance to its shipbuilding capability, under the leadership of Donald Boysie Bollinger, son of the company founder. Two years later, Bollinger acquired a repair yard on the Harvey Canal from Avondale Industries Inc., where most of the Bollinger Algiers workers are being offered jobs.

Boysie Bollinger, who sold the company more than a decade ago, recently acquired a $13 million penthouse at the Four Seasons Hotel and Residences, directly across from the Algiers shipyard that until recently bore his name.

A neighborhood evolves

The surrounding area in Algiers Point has undergone major changes in the three decades since Bollinger arrived. After a long period of decline from the 1950s through the 1970s, the turnaround accelerated in the 1990s as the second-oldest neighborhood in New Orleans became fashionable. Now, the renovated 19th century townhouses and refurbished Creole cottages are home to places such as Beatrixbell Handcrafted Jewelry and the Nomad Coworking Space -- and increasingly expensive homes.

Doyle said the changes have pushed up property values for homeowners such as herself, as well as property taxes. The Dry Dock Cafes clientele has changed as Bollinger declined, Mardi Gras World moved to the east bank and the ferry went from free to $2 a ride, Doyle said.

It was good when the Bollinger crowd would all come in and leave their signed lifesavers hanging on the wall, she said. Were going to miss them.
Alliance Creative Group (ACGX) Reports Second Quarter of 2023 Financials

ACG added an Equity position in an exciting growing brand

CHICAGO, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Alliance Creative Group, Inc., (http://www.AllianceCreativeGroup.com) (Stock Symbol OTC: ACGX) is pleased to announce the results of Operations for the Three Months and Quarter Ending June 30, 2023.

Revenues for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 ("Q2 2023") were $322,827

Gross Profits for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 ("Q2 2023") were $322,827

Net Income for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 ("Q2 2023") were ($54,484)

The total assets on the Balance Sheet for the Alliance Creative Group as of 6/30/23 were $4,943,921

The total outstanding common shares as of June 30, 2023 ("Q2 2023") were 3,454,211 with 2,198,971 of those shares in the float.

The Company ended the quarter with $150,328 Cash on hand.

Total Stockholder Equity as of 6/30/23 was $739,236

The full financial statement, balance sheet, statement of operations, cash flow statement, and disclosure statements are posted on the OTC Market Company website at www.OTCmarkets.com under the stock symbol ACGX in the section for filings and disclosure and on www.ACGX,us in the investor relations section.

Paul Sorkin, CEO of the Alliance Creative Group, Inc. said, "The 2nd quarter of 2023 included continued progress and some significant changes. We entered into a secured loan and equity agreement with Say Less Spritz, LLC, who acquired the rights to the Coastal Spritz brand. The agreement gives ACGX a 5% equity position while earning interest on the secured loan. ACG has also entered into a consulting agreement with Say Less Spritz that will pay ACG monthly. We are very excited about the Coastal Spritz brand and the opportunities with Say Less Spritz and believe the company has opened a number of very strategic distribution and retail relationships that will help provide a solid foundation for the company to grow from. We have received some interest in the Wayne property and are in negotiations to potentially sell it before the end of the year for a good profit. Our goal would be to use that extra capital to reinvest in other revenue producing assets that will allow us to continue to execute on our long-term business plans. The lower revenue for this quarter was caused by a few delays with some of our peak construction projects but we hope to know more about the realistic timelines and scope for those and other projects soon. PeopleVine has been performing incredibly well in 2023 and the pipeline continues to increase. The company has become a very solid and consistent profitable and positive cash flow SAAS company. PeopleVine has also been engaging in multiple conversations with potential future investors about possibly adding new growth capital and valuable introductions and resources to accelerate the business faster. Overall, we knew our new business plans and focus would take time to evolve and we are very pleased with the initial progress. We are continuing multiple conversations with potential acquisition targets, projects, strategic partners, investors, and other opportunities to determine the best fits. Our foundation and structure remains attractive for multiple potential opportunities and our long term goals are still based on building our shared resources foundation to position ourselves to own multiple vertically integrated portfolio companies that, if we are successful, can each reduce their expenses by leveraging our resources and relationships to increase the overall assets and revenues over time to hopefully create a larger return for everyone involved. We will continue to update the public as things are finalized and will share more details as they become available."

About Alliance Creative Group, Inc.

Alliance Creative Group, Inc. (Stock Symbol:ACGX) is a Parent Holding Company on the OTC market. The strategy ACG intends to deploy is a shared resource model where internal divisions, portfolio companies and strategic investments are vertically integrated, optimizing efficiencies and cost savings. ACG will apply some of its resources towards diversified classifications of real estate with a strong focus on distressed assets and healthcare. ACG will leverage its internal construction company to provide services while looking for some distressed value-add projects and opportunities. The remaining resources may be applied to a mix of early-stage equity investments in companies that synergize with the company's shared resource model and secured investment opportunities. ACG's strategic mission is to utilize a unique blend of capital, relationships, experience, and secured investment structures to increase value for its clients, partners, investors, and shareholders while reducing the overall risk. The company's big picture long term plan is to create an ecosystem of shared resources that can provide quality resources with reduced expenses while acting as a partner for internal projects. The intent is to have multiple businesses and investment projects or divisions to help diversify the risk and generate potential revenue in multiple ways while leveraging both the private and public markets. For more information, visit www.AllianceCreativeGroup.com or www.ACGX.us.

About PeopleVine

PeopleVine is a Software as a Service (SAAS) company that specializes in serving the Lifestyle Hospitality industry. The Member Experience & CRM Software allows luxury hotels, resorts, and private member clubs to elevate a more personalized online membership experience. PeopleVine helps their clients build member communities, drive engagement, and connect the dots that elevate experiences and revenues. The software empowers its clients teams to deliver efficiently managed operations through an integrated platform. PeopleVine is committed to being the most essential and adaptive SaaS engagement platform for companies that take a customer centric approach to business.

For more information www.PeopleVine.com

About Coastal Spritz

Coastal Spritz is a low ABV premium light wine in a can. Coastal blends a carefully sourced selection of West Coast rose and wine varietals with sparkling water and real fruit juice to create a single serving ready to drink (RTD) wine in a can. The Award winning Coastal provides 6 flavors: Classic Rose Spritz, Pineapple Rose Spritz, Watermelon Rose Spritz, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. All products are 100 calories or less, 5 grams of sugar or less, and contain all natural ingredients. The rose collection is sweetened with monk fruit to provide a cleaner and more enjoyable drinking experience without compromising on taste or quality. The Coastal Spritz brand is growing fast and gaining momentum. Currently, Coastal can be found in over a dozen states and in over 1,000 stores. Some retailers include: Trader Joes, HEB, Jewel Osco, Meijer, Liquor Barn, and lots more, as well as GoPuff and SpiritHub online. Coastal can also be found in iconic venues such as Wrigley Field, The Grand Ol' Opry, and The Philadelphia Zoo, where the brand continues to captivate wine enthusiasts who are looking for a refreshing and convenient beverage choice.

This news release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the bespeaks-caution doctrine. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, product and service demand and acceptance, changes in technology, economic conditions, the impact of competition and pricing, government regulation, and other risks described in statements filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All such forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, and whether made by or on behalf of the Company, are expressly qualified by the cautionary statements that may accompany the forward-looking statements. In addition, the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.

For more info: www.CoastalSpritz.com

Investor Relations and Media Contact

1-312-498-9769

[email protected]

SOURCE Alliance Creative Group, Inc.
HH Global is excited to announce three significant, new leadership appointments

LONDON, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As we continue to grow and succeed as a business it is essential that our strategy and organizational design evolve to keep ahead of ever-changing and increasingly demanding client and commercial market needs.

Group President

Kristian Elgey has moved into the position of Group President. Kristian has been part of the HH Global leadership team since 2016 and has been integral in shaping and developing business advancements in his role as Group CFO. As someone with a wealth of experience, Kristian's impact on the finance function, business growth and culture is undeniable.

Chief Operating Officer

Helen Babbe, as a valued member of the Group Management Board, has been promoted to the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO). Helen will focus on developing client-centric operations that have a consistent global approach, allowing for the biggest impact for all our partners, colleagues and clients.

Chief Financial Officer

Ben Goodband joins the business in the role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO). With an impressive history of global senior financial roles, paired with a strong background in strategic corporate leadership and investor relations Ben will be key to driving the delivery of our shared strategic priorities as we work towards our future goals.

About HH Global

HH Global is a tech-enabled, creative production and procurement partner that delivers big impact for big ideas across the globe. With +4,500 experts in every market and a thirty-year track record of success, we help the biggest brands on the planet achieve stronger, more sustainable growth. Across every channel. At the speed of modern business. With an unmatched supply chain, a growing suite of tech tools and data insightswe make our clients' brilliant ideas unmissable everywhere.

SOURCE HH Global
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Armata Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE American: ARMP) ("Armata" or the "Company"), a biotechnology company focused on pathogen-specific bacteriophage therapeutics for antibiotic-resistant and difficult-to-treat bacterial infections, today announced financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2023, and provided a corporate update.

Second Quarter 2023 and Recent Developments:

Announced leadership transition whereby worldrenowned healthcare leader and former Innoviva Board member Dr. Deborah L. Birx has been appointed Armata's new Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Birx has also been appointed to Armata's Board of Directors;

has been appointed Armata's new Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Birx has also been appointed to Armata's Board of Directors; Entered into new credit agreement with Innoviva, the Company's largest shareholder, for gross proceeds of $25 million , and executed an amendment to its existing senior convertible credit and security agreement with Innoviva, extending the maturity date to January 10, 2025 ;

, and executed an amendment to its existing senior convertible credit and security agreement with Innoviva, extending the maturity date to ; Continued enrollment in the Phase 2 study ("Tail wind ") of inhaled AP-PA02 in patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB) and chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa respiratory infection;

") of inhaled AP-PA02 in patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB) and chronic respiratory infection; Further analyzed clinical data from the SWARM- P.a. study with the goal of advancing AP-PA02 into a Phase 2b /3 registrational study in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients in 2024;

study with the goal of advancing AP-PA02 into a Phase /3 registrational study in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients in 2024; Completed enrollment as planned of the Phase 1b part of the Phase 1b /2a study of AP-SA02 in Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia ("diSArm"); Company anticipates initiating the Phase 2a part of the study in 3Q23;

part of the Phase /2a study of AP-SA02 in bacteremia ("diSArm"); Company anticipates initiating the Phase 2a part of the study in 3Q23; Commenced feasibility analysis of enrolling AP-SA02 prosthetic joint infection (PJI) study subjects at current "diSArm" sites for potential dual use enrollment in Q3-Q4 2023;

Progressed the build-out of its new advanced biologics cGMP facility that will provide the company with the manufacturing capacity to pursue partnership opportunities while also executing late-stage trials; and,

Delivered an oral presentation on the Company's recently completed Phase 1b /2a SWARM-P.a. clinical trial at the 6th World Conference on Targeting Phage Therapy, which was held June 1-2, 2023 , in Paris .

"I am pleased to report significant progress during the second quarter, as we continued to advance two critical pathway clinical studies while preparing to initiate a third," stated Dr. Deborah Birx, Chief Executive Officer. "For AP-PA02, our five-phage cocktail targeting Pseudomonas aeruginosa, we continue to analyze results from our SWARM-P.a. study with the goal of progressing to a Phase 2b/3 registrational study in adult cystic fibrosis patients in 2024. At the same time, we have incorporated important learnings from this study into our ongoing Phase 2 trial of AP-PA02 in patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis."

"Regarding our second clinical candidate, AP-SA02, we are concluding the Phase 1b part of our Staphylococcus aureus complicated bacteremia study in partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense, with plans to initiate the Phase 2a part this quarter. We are excited to observe that the phage cocktail is well tolerated every six hours intravenously, opening the door to direct clinical evidence from the Phase 2a part and the potential for an accelerated 2b/3 registrational study. Based on AP-SA02's favorable tolerability profile, we are in parallel advancing start-up activities for a second trial that will evaluate this cocktail as a potential treatment for S. aureus prosthetic joint infections."

"I am pleased with our progress to date, and, with our strengthened balance sheet, laser focus, and clearly defined strategy, we look forward to a productive back half of the year as we work towards introducing phage therapy as a much-needed novel treatment for a broad range of dangerous, drug-resistant pathogens," Dr. Birx concluded.

Second Quarter 2023 Financial Results

Grant Revenue. The Company recognized grant revenue of approximately $1.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023, which represents Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium ("MTEC")'s share of the costs incurred for the Company's AP-SA02 program for the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia. The Company expects to receive $16.3 million in grant funding from MTEC administered by the U.S. Department of Defense and the Defense Health Agency and Joint Warfighter Medical Research Program. The Company recognized approximately $1.9 million of revenue in the comparable period in 2022.

Research and Development. Research and development expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2023 were approximately $8.3 million as compared to approximately $9.0 million for the comparable period in 2022. The Company continues to invest in clinical trial and personnel related expenses associated with its primary development programs.

General and Administrative. General and administrative expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2023 were approximately $2.4 million as compared to approximately $2.1 million for the comparable period in 2022. The increase was primarily related to expenses related to the increased legal and professional expenses.

Loss from Operations. Loss from operations for the three months ended June 30, 2023 was $(9.6) million as compared to a loss from operations of approximately $(9.2) million for the comparable period in 2022.

Cash and Equivalents. As of June 30, 2023, Armata held approximately $12.5 million of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents, as compared to $14.9 million as of December 31, 2022. Subsequent to the end of the second quarter, Armata announced a new credit agreement with Innoviva for gross proceeds totaling $25 million.

As of August 8, 2023, there were approximately 36.1 million common shares outstanding.

About Armata Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Armata is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of pathogen-specific bacteriophage therapeutics for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant and difficult-to-treat bacterial infections using its proprietary bacteriophage-based technology. Armata is developing and advancing a broad pipeline of natural and synthetic phage candidates, including clinical candidates for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and other pathogens. Armata is committed to advancing phage with drug development expertise that spans bench to clinic including in-house phage specific GMP manufacturing.

Forward Looking Statements

This communication contains "forwardlooking" statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, statements related to Armata's bacteriophage development programs, Armata's ability to set up or operate R&D and manufacturing facilities, Armata's ability to meet expected milestones, Armata's future success or failure, Armata's ability to be a leader in the development of phagebased therapeutics, and statements related to the timing and results of clinical trials, including the anticipated results of clinical trials of APPA02 and APSA02, Armata's ability to develop new products based on natural bacteriophages and synthetic bacteriophages and Armata's ability to obtain additional funding and capacity to repay, refinance, or restructure its existing debt and obligations. Any statements contained in this communication that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forwardlooking statements. These forwardlooking statements are based upon Armata's current expectations. Forwardlooking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Armata's actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks related to the ability of Armata's lead clinical candidates, APPA02 and APSA02, to be more effective than previous candidates; that the top line results are indicative of the final data; Armata's ability to expedite development of APPA02 and APSA02; Armata's ability to advance its preclinical and clinical programs and the uncertain and timeconsuming regulatory approval process; Armata's ability to develop products based on bacteriophages and synthetic phages to kill bacterial pathogens; the Company's expected market opportunity for its products; Armata's ability to sufficiently fund its operations as expected, including obtaining additional funding as needed; and any delays or adverse events within, or outside of, Armata's control, caused by the ongoing COVID19 pandemic. Additional risks and uncertainties relating to Armata and its business can be found under the caption "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in Armata's filings and reports with the SEC, including in Armata's Annual Report on Form 10K, filed with the SEC on March 16, 2023, and in its subsequent filings with the SEC.

Armata expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forwardlooking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Armata's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based.

Media Contacts:

At Armata:

Pierre Kyme

Armata Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

[email protected]

310-665-2928

Investor Relations:

Joyce Allaire

LifeSci Advisors, LLC

[email protected]

212-915-2569

Armata Pharmaceuticals, Inc Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

















June 30, 2023

December 31, 2022











Assets

























Cash and cash equivalents

$ 12,456,000

$ 14,852,000 Prepaid expenses



5,745,000



3,664,000 Other receivable



8,633,000



8,531,000 Total current assets



26,834,000



27,047,000 Property and equipment, net



8,807,000



3,617,000 Operating lease right-of-use assets



43,652,000



43,035,000 Other long term assets



8,173,000



8,389,000 Intangible assets, net



13,746,000



13,746,000













Total assets

$ 101,212,000

$ 95,834,000













Liabilities and shareholders' equity











Convertible debt

$ 26,352,000

$ - Other current liabilities



25,210,000



24,873,000 Total current liabilities



51,562,000



24,873,000 Long term liabilities



27,430,000



31,804,000 Deferred tax liability



3,077,000



3,077,000 Total liabilities



82,069,000



59,754,000 Shareholders' equity



19,143,000



36,080,000 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

$ 101,212,000

$ 95,834,000

Armata Pharmaceuticals, Inc Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations





























Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,



2023

2022

2023

2022



(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

























Grant Revenue

$ 980,000

$ 1,883,000

$ 1,776,000

$ 3,119,000 Operating expenses:























Research and development



8,259,000



9,020,000



17,863,000



17,048,000 General and administrative



2,350,000



2,083,000



4,888,000



4,066,000 Total operating expenses



10,609,000



11,103,000



22,751,000



21,114,000 Loss from operations



(9,629,000)



(9,220,000)



(20,975,000)



(17,995,000) Other income (expense), net



46,000



5,000



64,000



6,000 Change in fair value of convertible debt



6,036,000



-



2,874,000



- Loss before income taxes and Net Loss

$ (3,547,000)

$ (9,215,000)

$ (18,037,000)

$ (17,989,000) Net loss per share, basic

$ (0.10)

$ (0.26)

$ (0.50)

$ (0.55) Weighted average shares outstanding, basic



36,068,130



35,999,642



36,056,649



32,517,416 Net loss per share, diluted

$ (0.17)

$ (0.26)

$ (0.50)

$ (0.55) Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted



56,544,698



35,999,642



36,056,649



32,517,416

Armata Pharmaceuticals, Inc

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows





















Six Months Ended June 30,





2023

2022













Operating activities:













Net loss

$ (18,037,000)

$ (17,989,000)

Adjustments required to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:













Share-based compensation



1,118,000



1,442,000

Depreciation



458,000



421,000

Change in fair value of convertible debt



(2,874,000)



-

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net



(10,295,000)



4,463,000

Net cash used in operating activities



(29,630,000)



(11,663,000)

Investing activities:













Purchases of property and equipment, net



(2,232,000)



(1,372,000)

Net cash used in investing activities



(2,232,000)



(1,372,000)

Financing activities:













Proceeds from issuance of convertible debt, net



29,226,000



-

Proceeds from sale of common shares, net of offering costs



-



44,414,000

Proceeds from exercise of warrants and share-based options



-



71,000

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities



29,226,000



44,485,000

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents



(2,636,000)



31,450,000

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period



20,812,000



11,488,000

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period

$ 18,176,000

$ 42,938,000

















































Reconciliation of Cash and cash equivalents:



Six Months Ended June 30,





2023

2022 Cash and cash equivalents

$ 12,456,000

$ 36,978,000

Restricted cash



5,720,000



5,960,000

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

$ 18,176,000

$ 42,938,000



SOURCE Armata Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. today announced the acquisition of Toronto, Ontario-based A.H. Horn and Associates Limited, dba Horn. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Horn provides sales and leadership development programs and consulting services across a variety of industries globally. The Horn team will operate under the direction of Sarah Beech, head of Gallagher's benefits and HR consulting operation in Canada.

"Horn has a strong market reputation whose expertise will enhance our leadership advisory capabilities, and they have a culture like ours," said J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., Chairman, President and CEO. "I am very pleased to welcome the Horn team to Gallagher."

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG), a global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm, is headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Gallagher provides these services in approximately 130 countries around the world through its owned operations and a network of correspondent brokers and consultants.

Investors: Ray Iardella, VP - Investor Relations Media: Paul Day, Communications Manager 630-285-3661/ [email protected] 630-285-5946/ [email protected]

SOURCE Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
Two global leaders in invoice processing will combine expertise, product and customer base

LONDON, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Genesis Bidco Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Basware, a leader in making AP automation and invoice processing happen, today announced its firm intention to make an offer to purchase the entire share capital of Glantus Holdings PLC (LSE: GLAN). The Glantus Board unanimously recommends the offer.

Glantus solution will be plugged into Baswares offering

Combining market-leading AP automation from Basware and specialist audit recovery and fraud prevention software from Glantus means customers will obtain complete coverage through the entire invoice processing and capital management lifecycle. Glantus' solution will be plugged into Basware's offering, bringing deeper expertise, an end-to-end data-driven view and speed to value savings for customers.

Basware enables finance and accounting teams in global enterprises to achieve efficiency through its invoice processing and AP automation platform. Through its 1,300 strong workforce, Basware automates more than 170 million invoices for thousands of customers globally every year. Basware is backed by Accel-KKR, a leading software private equity firm.

Glantus helps scaling companies generate capital by streamlining their financial processes, correcting anomalies, consolidating their data and providing real time reconciliation reports. Through its Datashark AP platform, it specialises in capital recovery from payment errors and identifying invoice fraud. Glantus went through an IPO on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange in May 2021.

Jason Kurtz, CEO, Basware, commented on the acquisition:

"Having communicated with the leadership team at Glantus recently, I've been thoroughly impressed by their dedication to revolutionise invoice automation for the office of the CFO  a vision behind which we both unite. Both our companies target similar customer segments  and we will be able to share our strengths with Glantus, as well as learn from theirs. Glantus is an exceptional fit with our investment strategy in terms of size, focus and business model. Our proposed acquisition of Glantus will further expand our product suite and we believe add value to customers in an accelerated time."

Maurice Healy, Founder and CEO, Glantus Holdings PLC, added:

"This offer represents the biggest opportunity in Glantus' 10-year history. We are immensely excited at the prospect of joining a leader in invoice automation in Basware. The synergy between our companies and our customer markets mean that we will be a natural fit. We are looking forward to working with Basware and the opportunity to combine the product offering as a result of the proposed transaction."

Following a successful acquisition and delisting, all parties intend to work together to develop Glantus in the private domain.

Subject to obtaining all necessary approvals, the transaction is expected to be finalised in Q4 2023. For more information, the announcement issued under Rule 2.7 of the Irish Takeover Rules on 14 August 2023 is available on Glantus' website at www.glantus.com and Basware's website at www.basware.com.

Statement Required by the Irish Takeover Rules

The Genesis Bidco Limited directors and the Basware directors accept responsibility for the information contained in this communication other than that relating to Glantus, and for the statements made by Glantus in respect of Basware. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the Genesis Bidco Limited directors and the Basware directors (who, in each case, have taken all reasonable care to ensure such is the case), the information contained in this communication for which they respectively accept responsibility is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information.

The Glantus directors accept responsibility for the information contained in this communication relating to Glantus, except for the statements made by Basware in respect of Glantus. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the Glantus directors (who, in each case, have taken all reasonable care to ensure such is the case), the information contained in this communication for which they respectively accept responsibility is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information.

No Profit Forecast / Asset Valuations

No statement in this press release constitutes a profit forecast for any period, nor should any statement be interpreted to mean that earnings or earnings per share will necessarily be greater or lesser than those for the relevant preceding financial periods for Genesis Bidco Limited, Basware or Glantus as appropriate. No statement in this press release constitutes an asset valuation.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to a proposed transaction involving Genesis Bidco Limited, Basware and Glantus, and following the acquisition, if completed, the combined group. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "project", "intend" and similar expressions, among others, generally identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements in this communication are based upon information available to Genesis Bidco Limited, Basware, Glantus and/or their respective boards of directors, as the case may be, as of the date of this communication and, while believed to be true when made, may ultimately prove to be incorrect. No obligation is undertaken to update these forward-looking statements.

Publication on a Website

In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Irish Takeover Rules, a copy of this press release will be available on Glantus' website at www.glantus.com and Basware's website at www.basware.com by no later than 12 noon (London time) on 14 August 2023. The content of the websites referred to in this press release is not incorporated into and does not form part of this press release.

Media Contact

Basware

Abs Hassanali

Global Head of PR & Communications

+447400227701

[email protected]

Glantus

Maurice Healy

CEO

[email protected]

About Basware

Basware is how finance leaders in global enterprises can finally automate their complex, labor-intensive invoice processes and stay compliant with regulatory change. Our AP automation and invoicing platform helps you achieve a new level of efficiency  in a matter of months  while reducing errors and risks. We bring a unique combination of true automation, complete coverage, and deeper expertise to make it all just happen for our customers. That's why the world's most efficient AP departments at thousands of companies rely on Basware to handle over 170 million invoices per year. Basware. Now it all just happens.

About Glantus

Glantus is a global provider of accounts payable automation and analytics solutions. The Glantus mission is to simplify data to drive constant innovation. The award-winning Glantus Datashark Platform is rapidly deployed around existing transactional systems to provide a single platform for Accounts Payable transformation. The automation solutions recover lost working capital, improve efficiency, and prevent errors. The advanced analytics empower customers to make decisions based on real-time data. We connect all AP systems and suppliers, eliminating cost and delivering new revenue streams. Glantus champions the amazing potential of the AP industry by freeing up its leaders, its best thinkers, and its doers to realise new value. We work in tandem with our partners, to deliver joint enterprise digital transformation solutions. For more information see glantus.com.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2184681/Basware_and_Glantus.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2064864/4008957/Basware_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Basware
TUCSON, Ariz., Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BeachFleischman PLLC, Arizona's largest locally-owned public accounting firm, acquires the majority ownership stake in the nearshore outsourcing firm, Kuadra Support, located in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. Kuadra serves the talent needs of public accounting firms and other U.S.-based businesses with remote teams, outsourcing, employee leasing, and staffing. Additionally, Kuadra offers various back-office support solutions such as bookkeeping and virtual assistants. The company will continue to operate under the Kuadra name and retain its key executive leadership team, including CEO, Fernando Barraza, and COO, Luis Fernando Garayzar.

"The transformation of the accounting profession creates significant opportunities. It's no longer bound by geographical boundaries, technological impediments, or local talent scarcity. Kuadra gives us the ability to provide nearshored back-office functions and talent sourcing to the U.S. market while continuing to expand our integrated service offerings for the clients we serve who want to augment staff, scale growth, and increase capacity by leveraging Mexican talent," said Fernando Barraza.

Luis Fernando Garayzar shared "We are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead as we build upon this partnership and create a positive impact on the professional services industry."

"By continuing our expansion into Mexico, BeachFleischman is positioned to leverage Mexico's top talent pool to build capacity, expand international reach, and provide our clients, including other CPA firms, with talent solutions," said Eric Majchrzak, CEO of BeachFleischman.

The Kuadra acquisition follows last year's announcement of BeachFleischman's joint venture agreement with the Mexico-based accounting firm, Teran Rojas & Associates, which provides tax planning, compliance, accounting, and auditing to businesses expanding operations in Mexico.

About Kuadra Support: Kuadra Support provides comprehensive staffing and remote teams solutions, bookkeeping services, and back-office support to businesses operating in the United States. Offices are in Tucson, AZ, and Hermosillo, Sonora, MX. Please visit www.kuadrasupport.com for more information.

About BeachFleischman PLLC: Founded in 1990, BeachFleischman PLLC is Arizona's largest locally-owned public accounting firm and one of the Top 200 largest CPA firms in the United States. The firm has over 200 client service and administrative professionals and provides accounting, assurance, tax, and advisory services to entrepreneurs, organizations, and businesses (U.S. and foreign-based). BeachFleischman specializes in several industries, including cannabis, construction, financial & professional services, healthcare, hospitality/restaurant, real estate, manufacturing, nonprofit, and technology. Offices are in Phoenix and Tucson, AZ. For more information, visit www.beachfleischman.com.

Media Contact:

Heather Murray, Director of Marketing

BeachFleischman PLLC

hmurray@beachfleischman.com

SOURCE BeachFleischman PLLC
SENVELGO  (velagliflozin oral solution) is the first liquid once-daily, orally administered prescription medication to improve glycemic control in cats with diabetes mellitus

(velagliflozin oral solution) is the first liquid once-daily, orally administered prescription medication to improve glycemic control in cats with diabetes mellitus While current treatment regimens are complex, SENVELGO oral solution makes treating feline diabetes simple and convenient for both cats and cat owners

DULUTH, Ga., Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Boehringer Ingelheim announced today that SENVELGO (velagliflozin oral solution), a revolutionary new treatment for cats with diabetes, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). SENVELGO is a once-daily liquid oral solution that cat owners can give with a small amount of food or directly into the cat's mouth.

Feline diabetes is one of the most common endocrine disorders in cats,1 with studies showing that up to 30% of diagnosed cats are left untreated due to the complexities of existing treatments.2

Up to one in three diabetic cats is euthanized within the first year of diagnosis and the complexity required to treat diabetic cats is often a contributing factor.2 SENVELGO oral solution simplifies the treatment process and removes the need for needles to improve glycemic control in cats with diabetes mellitus not previously treated with insulin.

Dr. Cynthia Ward, Professor Emerita of Internal Medicine at the University of Georgia and member of the U.S. Boehringer Ingelheim Diabetes Advisory Board says, "SENVELGO oral solution is a game-changer that will revolutionize the management of feline diabetes. It significantly eases the complexity of feline diabetes treatment and is easy to administer. In addition, SENVELGO oral solution makes it simpler to successfully monitor treatment and makes time-intensive blood glucose curve monitoring redundant."

As soon as one week after beginning treatment, SENVELGO oral solution improves the clinical signs of diabetes that cats experience by reducing elevated blood glucose levels and minimizing the risk of clinical hypoglycemic events.3 The novel drug comes in liquid form, the formulation that cats and cat owners prefer, according to studies.4, 5

Daniel Watkins, Head of U.S. Pet at Boehringer Ingelheim says, "At Boehringer Ingelheim, we are passionate about improving the health and wellbeing of animals. SENVELGO oral solution is a convenient feline therapeutic product and demonstrates our dedication to continuously deliver and drive new and innovative products to address the unique needs of cats. SENVELGO oral solution can help pet owners and their diabetic cats continue to enjoy a normal life, despite this chronic disease."

SENVELGO oral solution will be available in veterinary clinics in the U.S. by mid-October. The company plans to launch SENVELGO oral solution in countries around the world, pending regulatory approvals.

References

1 Susan Gottlieb & Jacquie Rand (2018) Managing feline diabetes: current perspectives, Veterinary Medicine: Research and Reports, 9:, 33-42, DOI: 10.2147/VMRR.S125619

2 Niessen SJM et al., The Big Pet Diabetes Survey: Perceived Frequency and Triggers for Euthanasia. Vet Sci. 2017 May 14;4(2):27.

3 Data on File at Boehringer Ingelheim

4 Zimmering et al., Ease of Use of Semintra  Cat Owner Feedback Under European Field Conditions ('Easy Programme'), Clinical/research abstracts accepted for presentation at ISFM Congress 2014. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. 2014;16(9):764-769. doi:10.1177/1098612X14545295

5 Taylor S, Caney S, Bessant C, Gunn-Moore D. Online survey of owners' experiences of medicating their cats at home. J Feline Med Surg. 2022 Dec;24(12):1283-1293

About SENVELGO (velagliflozin oral solution)

SENVELGO oral solution is a highly selective inhibitor of the sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2). SENVELGO promotes removal of glucose via the urine by inhibiting the reabsorption of glucose back into the bloodstream. This rapidly helps to reduce blood glucose to normal and sustained levels. The potential to reverse glucose toxicity can lead to resolution of clinical signs associated with feline diabetes.

This innovative therapeutic solution is indicated to improve glycemic control in cats with diabetes mellitus not previously treated with insulin. The drug is only available with a prescription from a veterinarian.

SENVELGO oral solution Important Safety Information

SENVELGO (velagliflozin oral solution) is indicated to improve glycemic control in otherwise healthy cats with diabetes mellitus not previously treated with insulin. Before using this product, it is important to read the entire product insert, including the boxed warning.

Cats treated with SENVELGO may be at an increased risk of diabetic ketoacidosis or euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis, both of which may result in death. Development of these conditions should be treated promptly, including discontinuation of SENVELGO and initiation of insulin therapy.

Do not use SENVELGO in cats with diabetes mellitus who have previously been treated with insulin, who are receiving insulin, or in cats with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The use of SENVELGO in cats with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, or the withdrawal of insulin and initiation of SENVELGO, is associated with an increased risk of diabetic ketoacidosis or euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis and death.

Sudden onset of hyporexia/anorexia, lethargy, dehydration, or weight loss in cats receiving SENVELGO should prompt immediate discontinuation of SENVELGO and assessment for diabetic ketoacidosis, regardless of blood glucose level. SENVELGO should not be initiated in cats with ketonuria, ketonemia, pancreatitis, anorexia, dehydration, or lethargy at the time of diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, as it may indicate the presence of other concurrent disease and increase the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis.

Keep SENVELGO in a secure location out of reach of children, dogs, cats, and other animals to avoid accidental ingestion or overdose. For more safety information, click here for full prescribing information or visit SENVELGOClinic.com .

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health is working on first-in-class innovation for the prediction, prevention, and treatment of diseases in animals. For veterinarians, pet owners, farmers, and governments in more than 150 countries, we offer a large and innovative portfolio of products and services to improve the health and well-being of companion animals and livestock. As a global leader in the animal health industry and as part of family-owned Boehringer Ingelheim, we take a long-term perspective. The lives of animals and humans are interconnected in deep and complex ways. We know that when animals are healthy, humans are healthier too. By using the synergies between our Animal Health and Human Pharma businesses and by delivering value through innovation, we enhance the health and well-being of both. For more information visit: https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/animal-health

Boehringer Ingelheim

Boehringer Ingelheim is working on breakthrough therapies that transform lives, today and for generations to come. As a leading research-driven biopharmaceutical company, the company creates value through innovation in areas of high unmet medical need. Founded in 1885 and family-owned ever since, Boehringer Ingelheim takes a long-term, sustainable perspective. More than 53,000 employees serve over 130 markets in the two business units Human Pharma and Animal Health. Learn more at www.boehringer-ingelheim.com

Intended Audiences Notice

This press release is issued from our U.S. Animal Health Headquarters in Duluth, Georgia, and is intended to provide information about our global business. Please be aware that information relating to the approval status and labels of approved products may vary from country to country, and a country-specific press release on this topic may have been issued in the countries where we do business.

SENVELGO is registered trademark of Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH. 2023 Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH. All rights reserved. US-PET-0660-2023

Media Contact:

Brett Israel

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health

Director of PR and Communications, U.S. Pets

[email protected]

More information

www.bi-animalhealth.com

SOURCE Boehringer Ingelheim
The Leader in Reusable LCD Writing & Creativity Solutions Continues its Trajectory of Innovation

KENT, Ohio, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Boogie Board, the category creator of reusable LCD writing and drawing tablets, is expanding its collection of screen-free creativity toys with the introduction of three new launches within the brand's pre-existing Magic Sketch and Sketch Pals product lines.

New Boogie Board Magic Sketch Glow New Boogie Board Sketch Pals Forest Friends Collection New Boogie Board Magic Sketch Creativity Kit

Boogie Board creates reusable writing, drawing and creativity products for home, work and play that promote sustainability  given their paperless formats  and reduce clutter. All Boogie Board toys and products come with a stylus that allows for seamless writing and drawing in bright, easy-to-read color. Users simply push the button on the tablet to clear the entire board without any smearing or streaking.

Due to the popularity of Boogie Board's innovative products, multiple copycat tablets have recently cropped up. The brand's trademarked "scribble" in its logo is a sign of product authenticity, quality, and rigorous safety standards.

Boogie Board's new toy launches are strategically timed to coincide with end-of-summer travel and back to school  two seasons where families are actively seeking unplugged play solutions.

"All Boogie Board toy products use patented LCD technology to provide kids a unique outlet for creativity that doesn't require a screen," said Hunter Morris, VP of Product Strategy and Marketing, Boogie Board at Kent Displays, Inc. "These are toys with built-in developmental and educational benefits that are ideal for at home or on the go." Morris continued, "The accessible price point of Boogie Board toys is an added bonus  we're proud to offer families high-quality play solutions with exceptionally long product life spans."

Families and kids can now enjoy the following new launches from Boogie Board, all of which are available for purchase on myboogieboard.com as well as select mass retailers and specialty toy locations.

Entering the Glow-in-the-Dark Category: Boogie Board Magic Sketch Glow

The brand's Magic Sketch collection now offers a mess-free glow-in-the-dark play option: Magic Sketch Glow. When the lights are on, kids can use the product's included stylus and eight templates to draw or trace in Colorburst writing on the board. Once lights are off, the included Magic Light Pen helps drawn creations glow in the dark. MSRP: $29.99.

Introducing Three New Friends: Boogie Board Sketch Pals Forest Friends

Boogie Board is growing its award-winning Sketch Pals line with three Forest Friends characters: Felix the Fox, Morris the Moose and Izzy the Owl. These clippable doodle buddies are the perfect travel and school bus companion since they easily clip to backpacks or car seats. Designed with squishy material for little hands, Sketch Pals also feature a tethered stylus to avoid missing play pieces. MSRP: $19.99 (for each).

Revamping a Brand Favorite: Boogie Board Magic Sketch Creativity Kit

The brand's popular Magic Sketch Kids Drawing Kit is getting a Creativity Kit upgrade thanks to the addition of a new clear storage bag designed to keep the kit's tools safely stored in one spot. This toy takes art and creative activities up a notch with a mess-free reusable Colorburst drawing board, 18 templates and two additional styluses. Kids simply slide the templates behind the drawing tablet for screen-free sketching, practicing letters or playing games. MSRP: $34.99.

Connect with Boogie Board and stay up to date on new launches by visiting myboogieboard.com and following @myboogieboard on Instagram and Facebook. Plus, share drawings, doodles and screen-free play moments on social using #myboogieboard.

About Kent Displays, Inc.

Kent Displays, Inc. (KDI) was founded in 1993 with the goal of developing cholesteric display technology into commercial applications. Born out of research and development from the Liquid Crystal Institute of Kent State University (located in Kent, OH), KDI's technology developed over the years into two divisions: a consumer products brand  Boogie Board  and a Technical Services Team that develops and scales the production of components using flexible, functional materials to commercial volumes. Today, KDI's products and technologies can be found in homes and businesses around the world. Learn more at kentdisplays.com.

About Boogie Board

In 2009, Boogie Board  part of Kent Displays, Inc.  launched the world's first reusable writing and drawing tablet using liquid crystal technology. Since its launch, Boogie Board has continued to redefine how people write. The brand's portfolio of award-winning paperless writing and creativity products for work, home and play promote sustainability and reduce clutter. Boogie Board product solutions encourage everything from organization and productivity to inspiration and imagination. Using the power of LCD technology, Boogie Board products deliver smart tech in a screen-free format  providing an unplugged, enjoyable experience for kids and adults alike. Key product collections include Versa, Blackboard, Jot, Sketch Pals, Magic Sketch, Scribble n' Play and more. Learn more at myboogieboard.com.

SOURCE Kent Displays, Inc.
MIAMI, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- We are thrilled to announce that Miami's own, the award winning Chef Adrianne Calvo, has swirled her magic in the digital sphere, winning five prestigious Telly Awards for her YouTube sensation, "Searching for Maximum Flavor."

Chef Adrianne in Napa Valley Chef Adrianne in Oaxaca

"Searching for Maximum Flavor," is an adventure packed culinary travel show that ultimately ends up in Chef Adrianne's restaurant kitchen where she creates something inspired by the journey. A runaway success since its inception, the series's genuine and unique approach has captured the hearts and taste buds of food and travel enthusiasts across the globe. The awards further confirm the show's unwavering commitment to quality, creativity, and innovation in the digital realm.

The Telly Awards, renowned for celebrating excellence in video and television across all screens, recognized "Searching for Maximum Flavor" in multiple categories. The show won for Best Online Series, Best Culinary Program, Best Editing, Best Cinematography, and Best Online Host, solidifying its position as a must-see culinary series.

Speaking on this momentous occasion, Chef Adrianne said, "I am overwhelmed and grateful by the recognition and the love we've received. The awards are a testament to our team's hard work and dedication. Our mission has always been to deliver maximum flavor, not just in food, but in our content too."

"Searching for Maximum Flavor" has indeed revolutionized the culinary digital landscape with its captivating storytelling, stunning visuals, and, of course, mouthwatering cuisine. The Telly Awards are another feather in the cap for Chef Adrianne, who is already a celebrated author, restaurateur, and television personality.

About Chef Adrianne Calvo:

Chef Adrianne Calvo, a Miami native, is known for her high-energy, innovative culinary creations. As a successful author, restaurateur, and television personality, her passion for cuisine and dedication to her craft is evident in her numerous accolades. Chef Adrianne's unique approach to food and her commitment to delivering maximum flavor has made her a beloved figure in the culinary world.

About the Telly Awards:

The Telly Awards is the premier award honoring video and television across all screens. Established in 1979, The Telly Awards receives over 12,000 entries from all 50 states and 5 continents. Entrants are judged by The Telly Awards Judging Councilan industry body of over 200 leading experts including advertising agencies, production companies, and major television networks.

For more information, please visit www.chefadriannes.com or follow Chef Adrianne on Instagram @chefadrianne.

Press Contact:

Victoria Adrover

363779@email4pr.com

(305)733-9500

SOURCE Chef Adrianne
The partnership integrates GLEAMER's cutting-edge BoneView (FDA), BoneView (CE), and ChestView (CE) products into the Eureka Clinical AI platform, revolutionizing diagnostic capabilities.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Advanced visualization and AI leader TeraRecon, a ConcertAI company, is proud to announce its strategic partnership with GLEAMER, a leading provider of AI solutions for medical imaging. By joining forces, the two companies aim to advance the field of radiology by integrating GLEAMER's BoneView and ChestView solutions into TeraRecon's Eureka Clinical AI Platform.

GLEAMER's BoneView (FDA) and BoneView (CE), which offer AI-powered bone fracture identification, will seamlessly integrate with the Eureka Clinical AI platform. Furthermore, Gleamer's ChestView (CE), an innovative AI solution for pulmonary nodule detection, will also be incorporated, expanding the platform's diagnostic capabilities.

"We are thrilled to partner with GLEAMER and integrate their advanced AI algorithms into the Eureka Clinical AI platform," said Dan McSweeney, President of TeraRecon. "This collaboration perfectly aligns with our commitment to deliver cutting-edge solutions that revolutionize medical imaging and enhance patient outcomes."

"We are thrilled to join forces with TeraRecon, and to make BoneView and ChestView available to all TeraRecon customers," said Christian Allouche, CEO and co-founder of GLEAMER. "It is inspiring to be part of this partnership and to offer tools that aim to assist busy radiographers, radiologists, and clinicians to manage patients at the point of care better, adding value for both staff and the patients."

The addition of GLEAMER's BoneView will aid radiologists, orthopedic surgeons, emergency physicians, family physicians, and physician assistants alike. BoneView identifies fractures in X-ray images and submits them to radiologists for final validation, providing healthcare professionals with a safe, reliable, time-saving, and user-friendly tool.

ChestView AI is designed to assist radiologists and clinicians in triaging cases and increasing diagnostic performances on chest X-rays. It detects pneumothorax, pleural effusion, alveolar syndrome consolidation, nodules, and mediastinal mass on both standing and bedside acquisitions.

Learn more about the Eureka Clinical AI platform capabilities and algorithms that span across neurology, radiology, cardiology, oncology, and more: https://www.terarecon.com/artificial-intelligence

About ConcertAI: ConcertAI is the global leader in Real-World Evidence (RWE) and AI technology solutions for life sciences and healthcare. Our mission is to accelerate insights and outcomes for patients through leading real-world data, AI technologies, and scientific expertise in partnership with the leading biomedical innovators, healthcare providers, and medical societies. For more information, visit us at http://www.concertai.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

About TeraRecon: Serving ~1,900 clinical sites globally, TeraRecon, a ConcertAI company, is a Best in KLAS solution provider for AI-empowered radiology, oncology, cardiology, neurology, and vascular surgery. Awarded the KLAS Category Leader for Advanced Visualization, TeraRecon solutions are independent of any one manufacturer's imaging equipment or PACS system, allowing a single, unified, and simplified clinical workflow that can improve efficiencies and deliver actionable physician-guided insights. For more information, visit us at www.terarecon.com

About Gleamer: Founded in 2017 Gleamer's suite of AI-powered solutions supports radiologists and clinicians in their diagnoses, thereby improving reliability and reducing the time taken to read and process examinations. These solutions' relevance and exceptional performance have been recognized worldwide thanks to nine publications in highly regarded peer-reviewed journals, one of which received the 2022 Alexander Margulis Prize for the best paper on Radiology awarded for its scientific excellence by the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

Gleamer offers a comprehensive range of standard radiology solutions, including BoneView for identifying bone trauma lesions, ChestView for detecting pulmonary pathologies, BoneMeasurement for automating MSK measurements, and BoneAge for automating bone age estimation. All four solutions hold MDR class IIa CE certification in Europe. BoneView has also received FDA clearance for use in adults and children over the age of two, making it the first AI-powered solution certified for detecting bone fractures in adults and children in the United States.

With 6,500 users in over 650 institutions spanning 24 countries, Gleamer's solutions are now widely acclaimed within the medical imaging industry. The company's outstanding performance and impressive growth have been rewarded by being named the EuroMinnies 2023 Best Vendor in Radiology winner, awarded by AuntMinnie Europe. www.gleamer.ai

Media Contact:

Megan Duero

[email protected]

SOURCE ConcertAI
SAN DIEGO, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CV Sciences, Inc. (OTCQB:CVSI) (the "Company", "CV Sciences", "our", "us" or "we"), a preeminent consumer wellness company specializing in hemp extracts and other proven science-backed, natural ingredients and products, today announced its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2023.

Second Quarter 2023 and Recent Financial and Operating Highlights

Generated revenue of $4.0 million for the second quarter 2023 compared to $4.1 million for second quarter 2022;

for the second quarter 2023 compared to for second quarter 2022; Recognized gross margin of 43.3% for the second quarter 2023 compared to 30.7% for the second quarter 2022 and a sequential improvement from 43.0% for the first quarter 2023;

Cash balance of $1.7 million at quarter end compared to $0.6 million at the end of 2022;

at quarter end compared to at the end of 2022; Generated cash flow from operations of $2.4 million in the first six months of 2023 compared to cash used in operations of $1.5 million in the first six months of 2022; cash flow from operations included employee retention credit (ERC) under the CARES Act for a total of $2.5 million ;

in the first six months of 2023 compared to cash used in operations of in the first six months of 2022; cash flow from operations included employee retention credit (ERC) under the CARES Act for a total of ; Extinguished outstanding note payable;

Maintained number one position as top-selling hemp extract brand in the natural product retail sales channel, according to SPINS, the leading provider of syndicated data and insights for the natural, organic and specialty products industry;

Continued progress in e-commerce channel with 8% increase in subscription revenue during Q2;

Launched PlusCBD Reserve Collection Extra Gummies to support healthy sleep, faster recovery, deeper relaxation and a brighter mood; and

Continued to evaluate strategic opportunities, including consideration of an inbound or outbound merger, sale, acquisition or other options for the Company.

"We continue to increase our distribution network in the natural product retail channel. Our flagship PlusCBD brand continues to improve its number one position and gain market share in the natural product channel, and, with our portfolio of high-quality and proven products, we believe the Company is positioned for future growth," stated Joseph Dowling, Chief Executive Officer of CV Sciences. "Our second quarter gross margins exceeded our expectations and we are encouraged by improvements we have made to reduce operating expenses. We have strengthened our balance sheet and continue to operate cost efficiently and plan to continue participating in the consolidation and brand contraction of the CBD market as we execute on our key strategic initiatives, and leverage core competitive advantages to drive long-term growth and shareholder value."

Operating Results - Second Quarter 2023 Compared to Second Quarter 2022

Sales for second quarter 2023 were $4.0 million, a decrease of 4% from $4.1 million for the second quarter 2022. The decline is primarily due to lower number of units sold during the second quarter 2023 by 16%, partially offset by increases in average sales price per unit in the second half of 2022. We generated an operating loss $1.1 million in the second quarter of 2023, compared to an operating loss of $2.3 million in the second quarter 2022, mostly due to improved gross margins and lower operating expenses. The Company had negative adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of 2023 of $1.2 million, compared to negative adjusted EBITDA of $1.8 million in the second quarter of 2022.

Conference Call and Webcast

The Company will host a conference call and webcast to discuss these results today at 10:00 am EDT/7:00 am PDT. The webcast of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at https://ir.cvsciences.com/news-events or directly at https://viavid.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1627000&tp_key=3c5f3865ae. Investors interested in participating in the live call can also dial (877) 407-0784 from the U.S. or international callers can dial (201) 689-8560. A telephone replay will be available approximately three hours after the call concludes, and will be available through Monday, August 21, 2023, by dialing (844) 512-2921 from the U.S. or (412) 317-6671 from international locations, and entering confirmation code 13740404.

About CV Sciences, Inc.

CV Sciences, Inc. (OTCQB:CVSI) is a consumer wellness company specializing in hemp extracts and other proven, science-backed, natural ingredients and products, which are sold through a range of sales channels from B2B to B2C. The Company's PlusCBD branded products are sold at select retail locations throughout the U.S. and are the top-selling brands of hemp extracts in the natural products market, according to SPINS, the leading provider of syndicated data and insights for the natural, organic and specialty products industry. CV Sciences follows all guidelines for Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and the Company's products are processed, produced, and tested throughout the manufacturing process to confirm strict compliance with Company and regulatory standards and specifications. With a commitment to science, PlusCBD product benefits in healthy people are supported by human clinical research data, in addition to three published clinical case studies available on PubMed.gov. PlusCBD was the first hemp extract supplement brand to invest in the scientific evidence necessary to receive self-affirmed Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status. CV Sciences, Inc. has primary offices and facilities in San Diego, California. The Company also operates a drug development program focused on developing and commercializing CBD-based novel therapeutics. Additional information is available from OTCMarkets.com or by visiting www.cvsciences.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements and information, as defined within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and is subject to the Safe Harbor created by those sections. This material contains statements about expected future events and/or financial results that are forward-looking in nature and subject to risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements by definition involve risk and uncertainties. CV Sciences does not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law. As a result, investors should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.

Contact Information

[email protected]

CV SCIENCES, INC. STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) (in thousands, except per share data)



Three months ended June 30,

Six months ended June 30,

2023

2022

2023

2022 Product sales, net $ 3,966

$ 4,138

$ 8,114

$ 8,585 Cost of goods sold 2,248

2,868

4,614

6,159 Gross profit 1,718

1,270

3,500

2,426















Operating expenses:













Research and development 36

102

71

223 Selling, general and administrative 2,758

3,483

4,914

6,033 Benefit from reversal of accrued payroll tax 



(6,171)

 Total operating expenses 2,794

3,585

(1,186)

6,256















Operating income (loss) (1,076)

(2,315)

4,686

(3,830)















Other expense, net 209

336

265

1,038 Income (loss) before income taxes (1,285)

(2,651)

4,421

(4,868) Income tax expense 3

2

3

2 Net income (loss) (1,288)

(2,653)

4,418

(4,870) Deemed dividend for beneficial conversion of Series A convertible preferred stock 

920



920 Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders $ (1,288)

$ (3,573)

$ 4,418

$ (5,790)















Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted 152,599

135,414

152,353

127,104 Net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted $ (0.01)

$ (0.03)

$ 0.03

$ (0.05)

CV SCIENCES, INC. BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED) (in thousands, except per share data)



June 30, 2023

December 31, 2022 Assets





Current assets:





Cash $ 1,690

$ 611 Accounts receivable, net 611

766 Inventory 5,836

6,563 Prepaid expenses and other 411

3,190 Total current assets 8,548

11,130







Property and equipment, net 457

575 Right of use assets 222

275 Intangibles, net 251

251 Other assets 401

505 Total assets $ 9,879

$ 12,736







Liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)





Current liabilities:





Accounts payable $ 2,161

$ 2,284 Accrued expenses 3,537

9,690 Operating lease liability - current 123

117 Debt, net 28

1,223 Total current liabilities 5,849

13,314







Operating lease liability - net of current portion 125

188 Deferred tax liability 11

11 Total liabilities 5,985

13,513







Commitments and contingencies













Stockholders' equity (deficit)





Preferred stock, par value $0.0001; 10,000 shares authorized; 1 share issued as of June

30, 2023 and December 31, 2022; no shares outstanding as of June 30, 2023 and

December 31, 2022 

 Common stock, par value $0.0001; 790,000 shares authorized as of June 30, 2023 and

December 31, 2022; 154,604 and 152,104 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30,

2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively 15

15 Additional paid-in capital 87,150

86,897 Accumulated deficit (83,271)

(87,689) Total stockholders' equity (deficit) 3,894

(777)







Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit) $ 9,879

$ 12,736

CV SCIENCES, INC. STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED) (in thousands)



Six months ended June 30,

2023

2022 OPERATING ACTIVITIES





Net income (loss) $ 4,418

$ (4,870) Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:





Depreciation and amortization 118

860 Stock-based compensation 153

662 Employee retention credit benefit 

(1,993) Note discount and interest expense 112

1,034 Benefit from reversal of accrued payroll tax (6,171)

 Non-cash lease expense 53

19 Loss on sale of property and equipment 

159 Other 312

205 Change in operating assets and liabilities:





Accounts receivable, net 148

1,019 Inventory 727

1,267 Prepaid expenses and other 2,778

885 Accounts payable and accrued expenses (262)

(795) Net cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities 2,386

(1,548)







FINANCING ACTIVITIES





Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock and common stock warrants, net of issuance costs 

554 Proceeds from issuance of convertible notes, net of issuance costs 

954 Repayment of note payable (1,117)

 Repayment of unsecured debt (190)

(221) Net cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities (1,307)

1,287







Net increase in cash 1,079

(261) Cash, beginning of period 611

1,375 Cash, end of period $ 1,690

$ 1,114







Supplemental cash flow disclosures:





Interest paid $ 4

$ 4 Supplemental disclosure of non-cash transactions:





Convertible note principal conversion into shares of common stock $ 

$ (1,030) Services paid with common stock $ 

$ 384 Issuance cost in accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 

$ 345

CV SCIENCES, INC.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (UNAUDITED)

We prepare our financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for the United States (GAAP). The non-GAAP financial measures, such as net income (loss) per share and Adjusted EBITDA included in this press release are different from those otherwise presented under GAAP. We use non-GAAP measures internally to evaluate our performance and make financial and operational decisions that are presented in a manner that adjusts from their equivalent GAAP measures or that supplement the information provided by our GAAP measures. The non-GAAP financial measures exclude non-cash compensation expense for stock options. When evaluating the performance of our business and developing short and long-term plans, we do not consider share-based compensation charges. Although share-based compensation is necessary to attract and retain quality employees, our consideration of share-based compensation places its primary emphasis on overall shareholder dilution rather than the accounting charges associated with such grants. Because of the varying availability of valuation methodologies and subjective assumptions, we believe that the exclusion of share-based compensation allows for more accurate comparison of our financial results to previous periods. In addition, we believe it useful to investors to understand the specific impact of the application of the fair value method of accounting for share-based compensation on our operating results.

Adjusted EBITDA is defined by us as EBITDA (net income (loss) plus depreciation, interest and income tax expense), further adjusted to exclude certain non-cash expenses and other adjustments as set forth below. We use Adjusted EBITDA because we believe it more clearly highlights trends in our business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on GAAP financial measures, since Adjusted EBITDA eliminates from our results specific financial items that have less bearing on our core operating performance.

We use Adjusted EBITDA in communicating certain aspects of our results and performance, including in this press release, and believe that Adjusted EBITDA, when viewed in conjunction with our GAAP results and the accompanying reconciliation, can provide investors with greater transparency and a greater understanding of factors affecting our financial condition and results of operations than GAAP measures alone. In addition, we believe the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors in making period-to-period comparison of results because the adjustments to GAAP are not reflective of our core business performance.

A reconciliation from our GAAP net income (loss) to non-GAAP net loss for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 is detailed below (in thousands, except per share data):



Three months ended June 30,

Six months ended June 30,

2023

2022

2023

2022 Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders - GAAP $ (1,288)

$ (3,573)

$ 4,418

$ (5,790) Stock-based compensation (1) 35

146

153

662 Benefit from reversal of accrued payroll tax (2) 



(6,171)

 Employee retention credit benefit (3) 





(1,993) Note discount and interest expense (4) 12

334

112

1,034 Deemed dividend (5) 

920



920 Net loss - non-GAAP $ (1,241)

$ (2,173)

$ (1,488)

$ (5,167)















Diluted EPS - GAAP $ (0.01)

$ (0.03)

$ 0.03

$ (0.05) Stock-based compensation (1) 





0.01 Benefit from reversal of accrued payroll tax (2) 



(0.04)

 Employee retention credit benefit (3) 





(0.02) Note discount and interest expense (4) 





0.01 Deemed dividend (5) 

0.01



0.01 Diluted EPS - non-GAAP $ (0.01)

$ (0.02)

$ (0.01)

$ (0.04)















Shares used to calculate diluted EPS - GAAP and non-GAAP 152,599

135,414

152,353

127,104

_____________ (1) Represents stock-based compensation expense related to stock options awarded to employees and non-executive directors based on the grant date fair value using the Black-Scholes valuation model. (2) Represents benefit from reversal of accrued payroll tax associated with RSU release to founder in 2019. (3) Represents expense reduction related to benefit for employee retention credit. (4) Represents amortization of OID/debt issuance costs and interest expense for convertible notes payable and notes payable. (5) Represents deemed dividend associated with beneficial conversion charge of conversion of Series A preferred stock.

A reconciliation from our net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 is detailed below (in thousands):



Three months ended June 30,

Six months ended June 30,

2023

2022

2023

2022 Net income (loss) $ (1,288)

$ (2,653)

$ 4,418

$ (4,870) Depreciation expense 58

343

118

860 Interest expense 9

336

65

1,038 Income tax expense 3

2

3

2 EBITDA (1,218)

(1,972)

4,604

(2,970) Stock-based compensation (1) 35

146

153

662 Benefit from reversal of accrued payroll tax (2) 



(6,171)

 Employee retention credit benefit (3) 





(1,993) Adjusted EBITDA $ (1,183)

$ (1,826)

$ (1,414)

$ (4,301)

______________ (1) Represents stock-based compensation expense related to stock options awarded to employees and non-executive directors based on the grant date fair value using the Black-Scholes valuation model. (2) Represents benefit from reversal of accrued payroll tax associated with RSU release to founder in 2019. (3) Represents expense reduction related to benefit for employee retention credit.

Media Contact:

Tori Rusko

cv@mattio.com

SOURCE CV Sciences, Inc.
- Renowned Clinician and Researcher Adds to MSP's Unparalleled Thought Leadership -

TORONTO, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - MedSpa Partners Inc. ("MSP") is proud to welcome Dr. Sue Ellen Cox and her team at Aesthetic Solutions to its top-tier North American medical aesthetics platform. Based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Aesthetic Solutions is North Carolina's premier medical aesthetic clinic, combining world-class dermatological expertise with the kind of charming and compassionate patient care befitting a clinic located in the town nicknamed "The Southern Piece of Heaven".

Dr. Cox has been a pioneer in dermatology for over 25 years, acting in myriad leadership roles to advance the practice of medical aesthetics, including teaching residents at several universities in North Carolina, authoring or co-authoring over 100 peer-reviewed publications, and speaking on her extensive clinical research findings around the world. Dr. Cox's commitment to excellence has been recognized by her peers and by industry through her appointment to numerous committees and boards, and she is the immediate past president of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS).

Speaking on her reasons for joining MedSpa Partners, Dr. Cox shared, "I am so proud of everything that we have accomplished at Aesthetic Solutions, and we still have so much opportunity to continue to evolve and grow. Partnering with MSP gives us access to the best-in-class support and expertise we need to take everything we do to the next level. I also look forward to joining MSP's world-class network of thought leaders and contributing to their mission of providing the best possible care and experience for patients."

MSP CEO Dominic Mazzone commented, "Dr. Sue Ellen Cox is one of the most recognized and respected leaders in the world of medical aesthetics, and has been at the forefront of dermatologic research and education for decades. But what makes her truly remarkable is that she has accomplished all of this while also building one of the most successful and best managed clinics we have seen by providing the highest quality of patient care rooted in unbiased guidance and evidence-based medicine. Dr. Cox and her team are the definition of premier and it's only natural they've found a home with MSP, the premier platform in North America. We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Cox and her team at Aesthetic Solutions to MSP, and we look forward to working with them to continue to raise the bar for the practice of aesthetic medicine.

About MedSpa Partners Inc.

MedSpa Partners is acquiring North America's leading Medical Aesthetics clinics, with the goal of allowing our industry-leading partners to achieve their personal and professional aspirations by creating world-class customer experiences through support, collaboration, and community. MSP is a portfolio company of Persistence Capital Partners, the leading private equity fund exclusively focused on high-growth opportunities in the healthcare field. Additional information on MSP is available at www.medspapartners.com, or contact:

SOURCE MedSpa Partners Inc.
VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Elevation Gold Mining Corporation (TSXV: ELVT) (OTCQX: EVGDF) (the "Company" or "Elevation Gold") is pleased to announce financial results for three and six months ended June 30, 2023. All figures are expressed in US dollars unless otherwise noted.

Summary for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2023

Elevation produced 6,788 ounces of gold and 43,735 ounces of silver for the three months ended June 30, 2023 .

. The Company generated total revenue of $14.9 million during the quarter, an increase of 4% compared to the second quarter of 2022, on 6,840 ounces of gold and 61,646 ounces of silver sold. The average realized price of gold per ounce sold (1) for the quarter was $1,946 .

during the quarter, an increase of 4% compared to the second quarter of 2022, on 6,840 ounces of gold and 61,646 ounces of silver sold. The average realized price of gold per ounce sold for the quarter was . Income from mine operations before depreciation and depletion of $0.8 million .

. On April 26, 2023 and May 24, 2023 , the Company announced results from reverse circulation holes that included an intercept of 225.6 meters with an average grade of 0.56 g/t and 2.77 g/t Ag, and an intercept of 47.2 meters with an average grade of 0.38 g/t Au and 1.69 g/t Ag, respectively, in the Reynolds Pit area.

Tim Swendseid, Elevation Gold CEO, stated "Moss experienced a challenging quarter as a result of very hard ore in West Pit that led to inadequate fragmentation and adversely affected throughput and mining costs. The situation improved by quarter's end and is expected to continue to improve through the remainder of the year as we incorporate ore from East Pit and an area in West Pit adjacent to the Mordor area. Both areas have demonstrated excellent fragmentation and have provided significantly positive production to model results thus far for both tonnage and grade. We expect to significantly benefit from high gold prices combined with strong production. We maintain our guidance for the year of 34,000-36,000 ounces and reiterate our expectation of a stronger second half. Additionally, as previously communicated, during this quarter we announced some outstanding drill results in the Reynolds Pit and are drilling additional holes there in Q3 to improve our outlook for 2024."

Consolidated Financial Results Summary

The following table provides a summary of the components of the Company's net income (loss) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022. For further details, refer to the Company's Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements and Management Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023.

(in thousands of dollars)



Q2 2023

Q2 2022 YTD 2023 YTD 2022 Revenue

$ 14,912 $ 14,386 $ 31,866 $ 27,920 Production costs



(13,368)

(17,583)

(25,405)

(28,982) Royalties



(707)

(726)

(1,598)

(1,344) Mine operating income (loss) before depreciation and

depletion



837

(3,923)

4,863

(2,406) Depreciation and depletion



(3,215)

(2,402)

(6,576)

(4,009) Loss from mine operations



(2,378)

(6,325)

(1,713)

(6,415) Corporate administrative expenses



(835)

(1,001)

(1,552)

(1,752) Finance costs



(1,792)

(1,878)

(3,817)

(3,417) Gain on revaluation of derivative liabilities 1,960

9,253

394

10,023 Impairment of mineral properties



-

(33,850)

-

(33,850) Other



(106)

(3)

(102)

(100) Loss for the period

$ (3,151) $ (33,804) $ (6,790) $ (35,511)

Consolidated Operational Results Summary

The following table provides a summary of the Company's operational statistics for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022. For further details, refer to the Company's MD&A for the same periods.





Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,



2023 2022

2023 2022 Ore tonnes mined t 745,781 726,226

1,424,435 1,461,443 Ore tonnes stacked t 721,187 768,997

1,419,538 1,486,895 Contained gold ounces stacked oz 8,850 10,456

18,538 18,506 Gold grade g/t 0.38 0.42

0.41 0.39 Gold ounces produced oz 6,788 6,809

14,677 13,077 Gold ounces sold oz 6,840 6,998

14,918 13,510 Average realized gold price (1) ($/oz) $ 1,946 $ 1,864

$ 1,924 $ 1,872 Cash costs per ounce of gold sold (1) ($/oz) $ 1,824 $ 2,425

$ 1,598 $ 2,050 AISC per ounce of gold sold (1) ($/oz) $ 2,485 $ 3,363

$ 2,137 $ 2,826

(1) Refer to the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 for a reconciliation to non-IFRS performance measures.

Non-IFRS Performance Measures

The following tables represent the calculation of certain Non-IFRS Financial Measures as referenced in this news release.

Reconciliation of Cash Costs and AISC

(in thousands of dollars, except per ounce figures) Q2 2023 Q2 2022

YTD 2023 YTD 2022 Gold ounces sold 6,840 6,998

14,918 13,510 Cost of sales $ 17,290 $ 20,711

$ 33,579 $ 34,335 Less: Depreciation and depletion (3,215) (2,402)

(6,576) (4,009) Add: Refining and transportation 88 80

157 129 Less: Silver and other bi-product revenue (1,688) (1,421)

(3,316) (2,756) Total Cash Costs 12,475 16,968

23,844 27,699 Sustaining capital expenditures 1,592 5,422

2,082 8,460 Capitalized stripping 1,662 -

3,737 - Accretion 432 143

664 262 Corporate administration 835 1,001

1,552 1,752 Total AISC $ 16,996 $ 23,534

$ 31,879 $ 38,173 Cash Costs per ounce of gold sold $ 1,824 $ 2,425

$ 1,598 $ 2,050 AISC per ounce of gold sold $ 2,485 $ 3,363

$ 2,137 $ 2,826

The Company has calculated Total Cash Costs, Total AISC, and relevant per ounce of gold unit rates consistently across each of the periods presented and include period adjustments for the heap leach and dore impairment charges (and reversals), which were incurred in Q2 2023. These impairment charges and reversals can create fluctuations in reported amounts in the periods in which they are recorded.

Reconciliation of Average Realized Price of Gold per Ounce Sold

(in thousands of dollars, except per ounce figures) Q2 2023 Q2 2021

YTD 2023 YTD 2022 Gold revenue $ 13,312 $ 13,045

$ 28,707 $ 25,293 Gold ounces sold 6,840 6,998

14,918 13,510 Average realized price per ounce sold $ 1,946 $ 1,864

$ 1,924 $ 1,872

Florence Hill Exploration Area

The Company announces that all multi-element assay determinations have now been received for the holes drilled by the Company in the Florence Hill area. During 2022 and early 2023, the Company drilled five holes and 3,142 meters in the combined Florence Hill, Hardy Vein and Grapevine areas, targeting hydrothermal systems and anomalies identified by 2022 aerial geophysical surveys. The results in multiple holes demonstrated intensive alteration with depth, akin to signatures expected from a porphyry system, although the Company does not feel the holes were of sufficient depth to fully test the area, in particular the Florence Hill area. Short intercepts of gold and silver were encountered by the core holes, indicating the potential for intersecting deeper economic mineralization. Positive results warrant further exploration.

Grant of Deferred Share Units

The Company announces that on August 14, 2023, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the grant of 1,200,000 Deferred Share Units ("DSUs") to certain directors of the Company pursuant to its equity incentive compensation plan (the "Plan"). The DSUs are subject to the terms of the Plan and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange").

Qualified Persons

Unless otherwise indicated, the technical disclosure contained within this press release that relates to the Company's operating mine has been reviewed and approved by Tim J. Swendseid, P.E., MBA, CFA, Chief Executive Officer of the Company and a Qualified Person for the purpose of NI 43-101.

Unless otherwise indicated, the technical data contained in this press release that relates to geology, exploration and mineral resources has been reviewed and approved by Ron Kieckbusch, CPG, Consultant to Elevation Gold. Mr. Kieckbusch is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument ("NI") 43-101 and is responsible for the Moss regional and Hercules Exploration Properties.

Additional Information

Full condensed interim consolidated financial statements for the three and six month period ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 and related MD&A for the same period can be found at www.sedar.com and the Company's website at www.elevationgold.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF ELEVATION GOLD MINING CORPORATION

"Tim J. Swendseid"

Tim J. Swendseid, CEO of Elevation Gold Mining Corporation

About Elevation Gold Mining Corporation

Elevation Gold is a publicly listed gold and silver producer, engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and operation of mineral properties located in the United States. Elevation Gold's common shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") in Canada under the ticker symbol ELVT and on the OTCQX in the United States under the ticker symbol EVGDF. The Company's principal operation is its 100% owned Moss Mine in the Mohave County of Arizona. Elevation also holds the title to the Hercules exploration property, located in Lyon County, Nevada.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

Certain of the statements made and information contained herein is "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this document constitute forward-looking information, including but not limited to statements regarding the Company's plans, prospects and business strategies; the Company's guidance on the timing and amount of future production and its expectations regarding the results of operations; expected costs; permitting requirements and timelines; timing and possible outcome of Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve estimations, life of mine estimates, and mine plans; anticipated exploration and development activities at the Company's projects; net present value; design parameters; economic potential; processing mineralized material; the potential of robust economic potential at the Moss Mine. Words such as "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "contemplate", "target", "plan", "goal", "aim", "intend", "continue", "budget", "estimate", "may", "will", "can", "could", "should", "schedule" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon various estimates and assumptions including, without limitation, the expectations and beliefs of management, including that the Company can access financing, appropriate equipment and sufficient labour; assumed and future price of gold, silver and other metals; anticipated costs; ability to achieve goals; and assumptions related to the factors set forth below. While these factors and assumptions are considered reasonable by the Company as at the date of this document in light of management's experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, these statements are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements and information. Such factors include, but are not limited to: risks inherent in mining, including, but not limited to risks to the environment, industrial accidents, catastrophic equipment failures, unusual or unexpected geological formations or unstable ground conditions, and natural phenomena such as earthquakes, flooding or unusually severe weather; uninsurable risks; global financial conditions and inflation; changes in the Company's share price, and volatility in the equity markets in general; volatility and fluctuations in metal and commodity prices; the threat associated with outbreaks of viruses and infectious diseases, including the COVID-19 virus; delays or the inability to obtain, retain or comply with permits; risks related to negative publicity with respect to the Company or the mining industry in general; health and safety risks; exploration, development or mining results not being consistent with the Company's expectations; unavailable or inaccessible infrastructure and risks related to ageing infrastructure; actual ore mined and/or metal recoveries varying from Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve estimates, estimates of grade, tonnage, dilution, mine plans and metallurgical and other characteristics; risks associated with the estimation of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves and the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits, including, but not limited to, models relating thereto; ore processing efficiency; information technology and cybersecurity risks; potential for the allegation of fraud and corruption involving the Company, its customers, suppliers or employees, or the allegation of improper or discriminatory employment practices; regulatory investigations, enforcement, sanctions and/or related or other litigation; estimates of future production and operations; estimates of operating cost estimates; the potential for and effects of labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties with or shortages of labour or interruptions in production; risks related to the environmental regulation and environmental impact of the Company's operations and products and management thereof; exchange rate fluctuations; climate change; risks relating to attracting and retaining of highly skilled employees; compliance with environmental, health and safety laws; counterparty and credit risks and customer concentration; litigation; changes in laws, regulations or policies including, but not limited to, those related to mining regimes, permitting and approvals, environmental and tailings management, and labour; internal controls; challenges or defects in title; funding requirements and availability of financing; dilution; risks relating to dividends; risks associated with acquisitions and related integration efforts, including the ability to achieve anticipated benefits, unanticipated difficulties or expenditures relating to integration and diversion of management time on integration; uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; uncertainty of estimates of capital and operating costs, production estimates and estimated economic return; uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones; and other risks and uncertainties including but not limited to those described the Company's public disclosure documents which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com under the Company's profile. All of the forward-looking statements made in this document are qualified by these cautionary statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, forecast or intended and readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which may have been used. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking information. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate and forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance. Readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein speaks only as of the date of this document. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise forwardlooking information or to explain any material difference between such and subsequent actual events, except as required by applicable law.

SOURCE Elevation Gold Mining Corp.
DUBLIN, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Europe Glamping Market - Focused Insights 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Europe glamping market will be valued at around $1.72 billion by 2028 from $860 million in 2022, growing at a CAGR of 12.3%

This report provides complete information regarding consumer preferences and the adoption of glamping in Europe. Glamping combines functionality and aesthetics; hence it appeals to luxury travelers.

Staycations are becoming popular, even among glamping enthusiasts. This has also widened the camping changes to a previously untapped market into luxurious accommodations. Furthermore, major players focus on strategic agreements, acquisitions, and collaboration with emerging players to enter the Europe roofing market to gain access to commercially launched products.

The UK remains the largest market, but Eastern and Central European countries are the most dynamic. Belgium, Croatia, and Slovenia are some of the emerging glamping destinations that are breathing new life into the glamping market in the region. This is largely because tourism is important for GDP growth in some of these countries.

These countries are also taking the sustainability route to reduce environmental pressure and increase economic benefits by tending to eco-travelers. Demographics and profiling potential glamper segments in the region give a well-rounded insight into how the glamping market will do going forward.

The outdoor sector has witnessed huge and sustained changes over the past few years, which are expected to continue during the forecast period. With the industry having matured, it is expected to witness many challenges. Delivering authenticity, expanding audience groups, and shifting from the mainstream lifestyle sectors will become incumbent to appeal. Experience is still going to be the most important. Mobile bookings will become more evident in an industry that has largely lagged.

Much of Europe perceives camping as a social experience more than a back-to-nature experience. It is the middle-class idea of vacation and is, for the most part, extremely simple. But that is changing due to an increased interest in glamping, with many people showing interest in the activity. It has become a new way of renewing accommodation for certain accommodations across European countries.

As millennials enter their peak earning years and others have a higher disposable income since the post-recession days, the concept is expected to grow. Many end-users have not been camping but might choose to glamp instead.

The growth of Airbnb also turns the pointer toward a trend where consumers require experiences that are offbeat, authentic, and approachable, breaking the traditional hotel model. Glamping is particularly gaining popularity among those belonging to ABC1 markets and higher social groups.

However, camping enthusiasts tend to scoff at the luxury attached to glamping. The lack of knowledge and the minimum basics that combine the safety and the novelty of the luxurious experience also contribute to this. While these challenges are expected to stall the market's growth to some extent, it is unlikely that glamping will slow down any time soon. As venues offering camping experiences have increased, startups have also popped up to serve the growing niche.

MARKET STRUCTURE

Market Dynamics

Competitive Landscape of Europe Glamping

Key Vendors

Other Prominent Vendors

LIST OF VENDORS

Key Vendors

Bushtec Safari

Sawday's Canopy & Stars

Eco Retreats

Huttopia

Wigwam Holidays

Other Prominent Vendors

Arena Campsites

BIGHEAD

Bond Fabrications

Chateau Ramsak

Concierge Camping

The Forge

The Glamping Orchard

Killarney Glamping

Lanzarote Retreats

Long Valley Yurts

REPORT HIGHLIGHTS

Accommodation (Revenue)

Cabins

Safari Tents

Yurts

Treehouses

Tipis

Others

Land Ownership (Revenue)

Private Land

Public Land

Area (Revenue)

Rural

Urban

Size (Revenue)

4-Person

2-Person

Others

End-User (Revenue)

Consumers

Events

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/pmlso4

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

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SOURCE Research and Markets
MAUI, Hawaii , Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Premier fire litigation firm Singleton Schreiber filed the first lawsuit on behalf of an individual against Hawaiian Electric Industries, Hawai'i Electric Light Company, and Maui Electric Company, alleging the utilities' powerlines started the blaze.

The complaint alleges multiple instances of negligence, trespass, and nuisance as contributing factors of the Lahaina Fire in West Maui. The fire burned through homes, businesses, places of worship, historic sites, and more, devastating the island in an unprecedented manner. It was deemed the worst fire in the United States in more than 100 years just due to the lives lost. The Maui Emergency Management Agency estimates that it will cost $5.52 billion to rebuild.

"The island of Maui is sacred land to the people who live there, their families, and their ancestors," said Singleton Schreiber Managing Partner Gerald Singleton. "Our goal is higher than filing a lawsuit; we want to make sure these people have their homes, their land, and their ancestry protected. For our attorneys, justice is helping each survivor rebuild their lives after this terrible tragedy. This is not a class action. We represent each client individually, as each of our clients' damages are unique."

According to the complaint, the defendants were warned about the extreme threat of wildfires as early as August 6, 2023. They also knew that deenergizing powerlines is a proven method to prevent wildfires. Still, they either left their powerlines energized or, after deenergizing them, re-energized them too soon.

The following factors also contributed to the poorly made decisions of the utility companies:

The nature of their utility infrastructure, which was intended, designed, and constructed to pass electricity through exposed powerlines in vegetated areas.

Failure to maintain the proper tension in their lines to prevent sagging, which is proven to lead to fires.

Failure to implement proper vegetation management programs to protect their lines against trees crashing into them during high winds.

The complaint further states that on August 9, 2023, the strong dry winds from Hurricane Dora came as expected. And, after months of drought, the winds predictably led to trees crashing into the defendants' powerlines, which toppled on either August 7th or 8th, igniting surrounding vegetation in communities across Maui, including Lahaina.

"The damage looks unbelievable on television, but for the people living in Lahaina and Maui, it's all too real," said the firm's lead Hawaii attorney, Col. Paul Starita (U.S. Marine Corps, Ret.). "Had these utility companies handled their equipment properly, the people of Lahaina would have been better prepped and prepared to escape the flames."

The resulting wildfire (now known as the Lahaina Fire) turned deadly as it spread throughout Lahaina and to other areas of Maui. So far, it has burned thousands of acres and catastrophically impacted the local communities to which it spread. Lahaina has been destroyed. At least 93 people lost their lives in the fire, and the number is expected to rise as crews search scorched areas for survivors and those who lost their lives. Over 2,200 structures (including homes) have been damaged or destroyed. People's priceless possessions as well as beloved pets or other animals were incinerated. For some, everything they had spent a lifetime earning, gathering, saving, and cherishing was lost.

"It's truly devastating, the community has suffered such significant historical and environmental losses," said Julia Bryant, fire litigation attorney at Singleton Schreiber. "Smoke and ash destroyed the air quality. The damage to the land and vegetation is overwhelming. Most importantly, the loss of life that the community is now grieving can never be remedied."

The case is Darlene Gomes, Paula Jelsma, Anderson Byrne and Saif Shaban v. Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc., Hawai'i Electric Light Company, Maui Electric Company, Second Circuit Court of State of Hawaii, District of Lahaina, Case No. 2CCV-23-0000225.

Premier Wildfire Attorneys

With over 200 employees, Singleton Schreiber has represented more than 12,000 victims of utility fires and has recovered over $2 billion in settlements and verdicts for its clients.

SOURCE Singleton Schreiber
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A San Diego jury reached a remarkable verdict on August 2, 2023, awarding a doctor-turned-whistleblower more than $39 million in damages after UC San Diego (UCSD) decided not to renew his contract.

The jury unequivocally supported Dr. Kevin Murphy in his retaliation case against the UC Regents in San Diego Superior Court.

The trial focused on a $10 million donation for research at UCSD. Dr. Murphy, age 55, contended that the university diverted these funds to the Moores Cancer Center without obtaining his consent. When he acted as a whistleblower to expose this wrongdoing, he faced severe backlash and ultimately lost his job.

During the trial, the plaintiff's attorneys, Mark Quigley and Ivan Puchalt, were able to prove to the jury that the Regents failed to investigate Dr. Murphy's multiple whistleblower retaliation complaints and permitted the retaliation against him to spiral out of control. The jury awarded Dr. Murphy approximately $10 million in economic damage and $30 million in damages in past and future emotional distress, including damage to his reputation, humiliation, embarrassment, shame, and financial hardship.

Dr. Murphy's inventive methodology, PrTMS (Personalized Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation), has shown promise in delivering superior outcomes to existing treatments for conditions like depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, autism, and concussions.

One of Dr. Murphy's patients demonstrated significant faith in his work by donating $10 million to support clinical trials on PrTMS. However, this substantial contribution became contentious between Dr. Murphy and UCSD.

While Dr. Murphy maintained that these funds were designated for his research initiatives, UCSD administrators argued that he violated their policies by utilizing the money for his business interests.

"Through this trial, we have painstakingly highlighted the stark disparity between the defendant's practices and Dr. Murphy's commitment to honor the donor's intent. We firmly believe the jury now comprehends the immense injustice he has endured," said Mark Quigley.

For the past seven years, the former department vice chair and esteemed oncologist at UC San Diego, Dr. Murphy, persistently asserted that the University of California tried to appropriate a $10 million fund earmarked for his research. After speaking out against these improprieties, he alleged that top officials initiated a public campaign to tarnish his reputation, which escalated over time.

Facing off against Dr. Murphy was the formidable entity of the University of California, which, due to its significant revenue generation, marshaled an extensive team of lawyers to counter his claims. The university initiated legal action against Dr. Murphy, accusing him of fraud and misusing university funds for personal gain.

The law mandates that whistleblowers wait 18 months before suing the university. When it was apparent that Dr. Murphy would sue after this waiting period, the Regents decided to play offense and sued Dr. Murphy and his two companies three days before the statutory deadline.

The court consolidated both lawsuits into a monumental eight-week trial, with both parties seeking millions in damages. The jury awarded the Regents just over $67,000 on its claim for breach of duty of loyalty. Dr. Murphy and his businesses were defended by Doug Petit and Matt Smith of Pettit Kohn Ingrassia Lutz & Dolin PC.

During the trial proceedings, Dr. Murphy detailed how the conflict with the institution detrimentally impacted his professional and personal life. This situation adversely affected his career progression, finances, personal relationships, and the businesses dedicated to his innovative brain stimulation therapies.

Dr. Murphy testified during the trial, "I was on the cusp of the peak of my career when all of this transpired."

Throughout the trial, Dr. Murphy held onto his convictions, affirming that he has no regrets about speaking out against UCSD, despite the setbacks endured by him and his businesses. "I did what was right and would do it again," he asserted.

"Dr. Murphy epitomizes the whistleblower who displayed the courage to expose wrongdoing within the institution he dedicated his career to. This verdict unveils the truth behind UCSD's efforts to retaliate and besmirch him for simply doing what was right," said Ivan Puchalt.

"This was a win for all employees in the UC system; the institution should encourage whistleblowers, not fire them and character assassinate them," added Kevin Murphy, M.D.

Mark Quigley and Ivan Puchalt led the plaintiff's trial team from Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP, a Los Angeles law firm that has successfully recovered billions for clients across California and the nation.

The case name is Murphy, M.D. vs. The Regents of The University of California

No: 37-2020-00032541-CU-BT-CTL San Diego County Superior Court

Media Contact: Gina Fernandes | [email protected] | 626-365-3006

SOURCE Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP
DUBLIN, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Nano Calcium Carbonate Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2018-2028 Segmented By Application, By Region and Competition" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Global Nano Calcium Carbonate Market is on the path of significant growth, driven primarily by the escalating demand from the building & construction sector.

This versatile material finds extensive application in various industries, including plastics, rubber, adhesives, and sealants, where its addition enhances performance under challenging temperature conditions. By improving hardness, heat resistance, weather resistance, toughness, and impact resistance, nano calcium carbonate enhances the properties of these materials.

Moreover, incorporating nano-calcium carbonate into paints enables better regulation of rheological and mechanical characteristics in the cured material. As the usage of nano-calcium carbonate as additives in polymers and adhesives expands, it not only reduces the cost of volume formulation but also improves the quality of the finished product, further fueling market growth in the foreseeable future.

Increasing Demand from Building & Construction Industry



In the construction business, nano calcium carbonate is used in products like adhesives, sealants, paints, and others. They are often employed to enhance these materials' characteristics. Additionally, nano calcium carbonate contributes to enhancing the material's properties which help to sustain material during the harsh conditions of the environment like summer, winter, and rainy seasons.



By virtue of chemical and nucleation effects, the nanoparticles also aid in improving cement hydration. Nano calcium carbonate is also employed as a modifier in formulations including epoxy, polysulphide, and MS polymers and is crucial in the creation of adhesives and sealants.



Therefore, increasing demand from the building & construction sector will lead to the growth of the Global Nano Calcium Carbonate market in the upcoming years.



Government Plans or Policies Concerning Healthcare



Governments all around the world are concentrating on improving health facilities and assisting the needy through their programs or initiatives, as nano calcium carbonates are utilized in the production of medicines. Nano calcium carbonate, which is extremely pure, is a component of many calcium formulations, including tablets and syrups.

Since it can neutralize acids and is added to low-pH active medicinal compounds, it also functions as an antacid chemical. Therefore, the increase in health facilities increases the demand for Global Nano Calcium Carbonate market during the projected period.



Growing Demand from Rubber Industry



Acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber, and styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) all use nano calcium carbonate. Moreover, nano calcium carbonate offers several benefits, such as lowering production costs while enhancing dimensional stability, stiffness, and toughness. Tires, tubes, vehicle parts, wires, belts, cables, medical devices & footwear are just a few examples of the many products that use rubber.



Growing demand for industrial rubber by the tire industry, as a cheap and efficient substitute for carbon black due to its superior chemical properties, is expected to drive the Global Nano Calcium Carbonate market demand during the forecast period.

Competitive landscape



Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies in the Global Nano Calcium Carbonate market.

Nanomaterials Technology Co., Ltd.

Chu Shin Chemical Co., Ltd.

Guangdong Qiangda New Materials Technology Co. Ltd.

Omya International AG

Imerys S.A.

Minerals Technologies Inc.

Yuncheng Chemical Industrial Co., Ltd.

Hebei Lixin Chemistry Co., Ltd.

Nanoshel LLC

Fujian Sanmu Nano Calcium Carbonate Co., Ltd.

Market Dynamics

Drivers

Rising demand from Building & Construction Industry

Increasing demand from Rubber Industry

Growing demand from Paint & Coating Industry

Market Trends & Developments

Product Launches

Merger's & Acquisitions

Technological Advancements

Challenges

Rising issues about mining activities

Deteriorating Paper Industry due to digitalization

Report Scope:



Nano Calcium Carbonate Market, By Application:

Plastics

Rubber

Building & Construction

Others

Nano Calcium Carbonate Market, By Region:

North America

United States

Mexico

Canada

Europe

France

Germany

United Kingdom

Spain

Italy

Asia-Pacific

China

India

South Korea

Japan

Malaysia

South America

Brazil

Argentina

Middle East & Africa

& South Africa

Saudi Arabia

UAE

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/5pnkez

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.



Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Research and Markets
The combined company will operate as Hero Digital and move its headquarters to Chicago

CHICAGO, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hero Digital, a leading customer experience transformation company, announced today that it has joined forces with Avionos, a digital technology consultancy focused on delivering B2B Commerce and Marketing Services, Managed Services, and demand generation solutions for fast-growth and enterprise brands.

The combination of Avionos and Hero Digital creates a digital experience and commerce powerhouse in the Salesforce and Adobe ecosystems. The combined company will operate as Hero Digital and will officially make Chicago its headquarters. It's a city that is fast becoming one of the leading technology and innovation hubs in the country with an abundance of digital forward brands and talent.

"We're thrilled to join forces with Avionos. Our blend of capabilities in strategy, creativity, technology, data, and marketing creates a unique and differentiated offering in the marketplace serving clients' digital experience and commerce needs," said Jay Dettling, CEO of Hero Digital. "Avionos brings a depth of expertise in B2B commerce and marketing that is unparalleled in the industry. This adds immediate value to our combined client base. We look forward to the opportunity to deliver superior customer experience and commerce solutions for the Fortune 1000."

The Avionos team, led by industry veteran Scott Webb, brings extensive digital commerce and experience expertise with a track record of delivering successful outcomes for many leading businesses including Brunswick, Transunion, Abbott Laboratories, Bissell and Trex. Its strong relationship with Salesforce and Adobe in B2B commerce and marketing complements Hero Digital's deep B2C commerce expertise and broader digital experience and technology capabilities. Avionos and Hero's combined managed services offering provides a turnkey solution designed to deliver sustainable enterprise value.

"Over the last nine years, our team has worked incredibly hard to build innovative solutions for our clients driving our growth organically year over year," said Scott Webb, CEO of Avionos. "We are excited to join forces with Hero Digital to accelerate that growth, bringing together Hero Digital's strategy, creative, marketing and technology capabilities with Avionos' technical expertise in Adobe and Salesforce B2B commerce and marketing. Our combined offerings and talent are a game changer for businesses that want to maximize their digital growth potential."

The leaders of both organizations have worked together in the past at Acquity Group, a successful commerce consultancy that was later acquired by Accenture. These announcements further fuel the growth Hero Digital expects in the coming year. Hero Digital recently appointed Jay Dettling as its CEO and acquired B2C commerce company Omnichannel, with more plans to expand and serve the larger customer experience, commerce, and digital transformation needs of its clients.

Avionos was advised by Canaccord Genuity as their exclusive financial advisor.

For more information on Hero Digital, visit www.herodigital.com.

About Hero Digital

Hero Digital is a leading independent customer experience company leveraging strategy, design, technology, marketing, and data, to solve the critical digital transformation needs of the Fortune 1000. Hero Digital creates new business growth by transforming the complete digital customer experience, enabling people and brands to prosper. Hero Digital's blended teams help companies like Comcast, U.S. Bank, Zoom, Nagase, UnitedHealthcare, and TD Ameritrade Institutional drive business growth across the customer journey.

About Avionos

Avionos' team of experts drive measurable business outcomes for Fortune 1000 companies such as Brunswick, Transunion, Abbott Laboratories, Bissell and Trex to turn their digital vision into reality. Avionos' digital transformation, marketing, and commerce capabilities elevate its global clients' digital experiences and drive business growth. Avionos is an Inc. 5000 company, a Certified Great Place to Work, and a Crain's Best Place to Work.

Media Contact Information

Mattie Van Gundy, Account Supervisor

[email protected]

713.409.1835

SOURCE Hero Digital
News at 4Cs

Registration for Free Community College is Now Open at Cape Cod CC Thanks to MassReconnect

After many months of discussion on Beacon Hill, free community college has finally come to Massachusetts. By signing the new State budget on Wednesday, August 9, Governor Maura Healeys groundbreaking MassReconnect program became a reality. As a result, Cape Cod Community College is now enrolling qualified students to start  or finish  their college degree for free with classes starting September 5.

MassReconnect makes community college free for Massachusetts residents who are 25-or-older on their first day of classes and have not yet earned a college degree. The program covers tuition and fees as well as the costs of textbooks and supplies.

This is a historic moment for our region and for adult learners across Massachusetts, said John Cox, President of Cape Cod Community College. MassReconnect removes the barrier of cost to a college degree, transforming access to higher education and this life-changing opportunity. We look forward to welcoming our next class of learners at 4Cs this September, ready to embark on their degree or finish what they may have started a long time ago.

To enroll for free at Cape Cod Community College, students must meet the eligibility requirements, complete the free application, and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). As a last dollar funding model, MassReconnect covers the cost of going to college once all other funding sources have been identified through the FAFSA. Students must then enroll in at least six credits (two classes) per semester in an approved program of study.

We understand that, for a lot of people, MassReconnect is going to be their first introduction to going to college, so we are here to help answer any and all questions, said Christine McCarey, Dean of Enrollment Management and Wellness at Cape Cod Community College. Our team is here to help you select the right program for you, complete the Admissions application, apply for Financial Aid, and connect you with Academic and Wellness support. Everyone is standing by to help you in-person or virtually.

Registration is open now at 4Cs with 14 and 7-week classes starting on September 5 and another 7-week Quick Term semester starting on October 30. More information on free college at Cape Cod Community College, including links to apply and complete the FAFSA, are available at capecod.edu/free/.
The global Industrial cooling systems market is driven by development of the pharmaceutical sector, upgrading cold storage infrastructure across emerging economies, and rise in adoption of energy-efficient & eco-friendly refrigerants.

PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Industrial Cooling System Market by Product Type (Air Cooling, Evaporative Cooling, Water Cooling, and Hybrid Cooling), Function (Stationary Cooling and Transport Cooling), and End- user Industry (Food and beverage, Chemical, Pharmaceutical, Utility and Power, Oil and Gas, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20222032." According to the report, the global industrial cooling systems market was valued at $16,625.2 million in 2020, and is projected to reach $31,333.5 million by 2032, registering a CAGR of 5.2% from 2023 to 2032.



Download PDF Sample @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/12816

Prime determinants of growth

The global Industrial cooling systems market is driven by development of the pharmaceutical sector, upgrading cold storage infrastructure across emerging economies, and rise in adoption of energy-efficient & eco-friendly refrigerants. Due to rapid expansion and upgrades in cold storage facilities have led to the higher demand for industrial refrigeration and related equipment in the developing countries such as India, China, Latin America, and the Middle East. In addition, refrigerants are not commercially utilized, owing to stringent government guidelines and regulations associated with industrial refrigerants. Moreover, the availability of eco-friendly and natural refrigerants has restricted the adoption of other refrigerants with higher efficiencies, which is expected to negatively impact market growth. However, the use of IoT-enabled refrigeration solutions has gained prominence for monitoring equipment in processing and storage industries. This is expected to provide lucrative opportunities to the players in the industrial refrigeration market.

Report coverage & details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20232032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $ 16,625.2 million Market Size in 2032 $ 31,333.5 million CAGR 5.2 % No. of Pages in Report 220 Segments covered Product type, Function, End-user industry, and Region. Drivers Development of the pharmaceutical sector Upgrading cold storage infrastructure across emerging economies Rise in adoption of energy-efficient & eco-friendly refrigerants Opportunities Use of IoT-enabled refrigeration solutions for equipment monitoring Restraints High energy costs for operation and maintenance of industrial refrigeration units Stringent regulations related to usage of refrigerants.

Covid-19 Scenario

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent global lockdowns, the industrial cooling systems market faced a downturn.

However, as the global situation started improving, the demand for industrial cooling systems is restoring back. This, in turn, is presenting various growth opportunities for companies operating in the industrial cooling systems market.

The evaporative cooling segment maintained its leadership status throughout the forecast period.

Based on product type, the evaporative cooling segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for nearly two-fifths of the global industrial cooling systems market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period, owing to an increase in rapid urbanization and infrastructure development in emerging markets create opportunities for new industrial cooling system to meet the rising demand in these regions. However, the air cooling segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 5.9% from 2023 to 2032, owing to the increase in use of industrial cooling system in small- and medium-scale industries.

Buy This Research Report (220 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, Figures) @

https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/checkout-final/9405655231b8dde348287e29e0a4da1c

The stationary cooling segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period.

Based on function, the stationary cooling segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than two third of the global industrial cooling systems market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period, owing to increase in purchasing power of middle-income population has boosted the growth of various manufacturing industries such as food & beverage, steel processing, pharmaceutical, and oil & gas. The transport Cooling segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 5.7% from 2023 to 2032.

The food and beverage segment maintains its lead position during the forecast period.

Based on end user industry, food and beverage segment accounted for the largest share in 2022, contributing to nearly one-third of the global industrial cooling systems market revenue, owing to a rise in global population and rapid urbanization have significantly increased the demand for food & beverage products. Furthermore, the increase in purchasing power of middle-income population in developing countries has boosted the demand for processed food and carbonated beverages. However, the chemical segment is expected to portray the largest CAGR of 6.6% from 2023 to 2032.

Asia-Pacific to maintain its dominance by 2032.

Based on region, Asia-Pacific held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2022, accounting for more than two-fifths of the global industrial cooling systems market revenue, owing to industrialization and business expansion by a key market player in the region. However, LAMEA is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 6.4% from 2022 to 2031, owing to rising construction and infrastructure sectors in developing countries such as Africa, the Middle East, and others.

Inquire Before Buying @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/12816

Leading Market Players: -

Airedale International Air Conditioning Ltd.

Baltimore Aircoil Company Inc.

Brentwood Industries, Inc.

Emerson Electric Co.

GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft

Hamon Group S.A.

Johnson Controls International plc.

Schneider Electric SE.

SPX Corporation.

Star Cooling Tower Pvt Ltd

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players of the global industrial cooling systems market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, business expansion, acquisition, collaboration, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

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About Allied Market Research:

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We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

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SOURCE Allied Market Research
PITTSBURGH, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- "We wanted to create a new container to help keep smokeless tobacco cool and moist and flavorful," said one of two inventors, from Pismo Beach, Calif., "so we invented the CHILL CAN. Our design would eliminate the waste associated with discarding dry or waterlogged tobacco."

The patent-pending invention provides a proper storage container for smokeless tobacco. In doing so, it helps keep the smokeless tobacco cool and moist. As a result, it prevents the tobacco from becoming dry, brittle, and flavorless and it could make the smokeless tobacco more enjoyable to consume. The invention features a compact and effective design that is easy to use so it is ideal for individuals who use smokeless tobacco. Additionally, it is producible in design variations and a prototype model is available upon request.

The original design was submitted to the San Diego sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 21-SDW-158, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.

SOURCE InventHelp
Google, Costco and Lowes take top spots in inaugural ranking of ESG performance, for having strongest reputation for ESG activities

NEW YORK, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ipsos, a global leader in market research, today unveiled Ipsos ESG Watch: a new report that assesses public perception of company performance on environment, social and governance (ESG) issues.

With three in ten Americans now saying it's more important for companies to focus on ESG over consumer needs, businesses operating in the U.S. face heightened expectations for leadership on social and environmental matters. Ipsos ESG Watch acts as a benchmark for brands to measure their performance against, helping to determine whether they are seen on the right or wrong ESG track  and by whom.

Of the 30 companies and 6 sectors evaluated in the inaugural report , reflecting a survey conducted with 3,000 Americans, Google earned the highest combined score on environment, social and governance issues, indicating widespread favorable perception toward its historical performance and current momentum.

Other top-performing brands included Costco (in second place) and Lowes (ranking third), with fourth and fifth place going to Visa and Apple, respectively.

Ipsos' research indicates that citizens, consumers, employees, and investors increasingly agree that public and private sector organizations should improve both their internal governance and their external impact on the environment and society  a perception that can have an outsized impact on other key business metrics.

"ESG has captured the attention of citizens. The impact of the polycrisis and the perception that some institutions are failing (or not capable) in the new operating environment has raised the stakes for public and private sector organizations," said Claire Hanlon, ESG Country Lead for Ipsos in the U.S.

"While ESG considerations should be central to all decision-making, public perception of performance in these areas can be just as important. Ipsos ESG Watch enables companies to understand how they rank so they can develop enhanced approaches to better align with public sentiment."

Ipsos ESG Watch offers an in-depth look at how public perception on ESG shapes brand value, along with other impactful sector-wide insights.

In the inaugural report, the bank and investment sector scored highest for performance on environment issues, followed closely by the retail and tech sectors. The retail sector, however, ranked highest both for its impact on society, and in terms of ethical and law-complaint decision-making. Conversely, the oil and gas sector earned lowest marks on these dimensions.

"The wide variation in perceptions of company performance within sectors suggests that ESG can be an important source of differentiation," noted Lauren Demar, Chief Sustainability Officer and Global Head of ESG for Ipsos.

"With 60% of Americans saying they 'don't know' or hold neutral perceptions of how companies are performing on ESG, and 64% of global citizens saying they try to buy products from brands that act responsibly, now is the time for businesses to communicate their ESG initiatives and shape citizen-consumer perceptions  before they are defined for them."

Highlights of the sector-specific data and the company performance rankings can be accessed at: https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/ipsos-esg-watch

For more information on Ipsos ESG Watch and Ipsos' other market-leading ESG insights and services, contact [email protected]

About Ipsos

Ipsos is one of the largest market research and polling companies globally, operating in 90 markets and employing over 18,000 people.

Our passionately curious research professionals, analysts and scientists have built unique multi-specialist capabilities that provide true understanding and powerful insights into the actions, opinions and motivations of citizens, consumers, patients, customers or employees. Our 75 business solutions are based on primary data from our surveys, social media monitoring, and qualitative or observational techniques. "Game Changers"  our tagline  summarizes our ambition to help our 5,000 clients navigate with confidence our rapidly changing world.

Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has been listed on the Euronext Paris since July 1, 1999. The company is part of the SBF 120 and the Mid-60 indexes and is eligible for the Deferred Settlement Service (SRD).

ISIN code FR0000073298, Reuters ISOS.PA, Bloomberg IPS:FP

www.ipsos.com

SOURCE Ipsos
ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Island Fin Poke Co., America's favorite poke restaurant, is thrilled to announce its highly anticipated Third Annual Franchise Conference, set to take place in the vibrant city of Miami, Aug. 27th to 29th. After last year's successful conference in Orlando, this year's event promises to be even bigger and better with the theme of "Riding the Wave of Success" all while bringing together even more franchisees, partners and corporate leaders to promote a stronger sense of community within the Island Fin brand.

This year's event promises to be even bigger and better with the theme of "Riding the Wave of Success." Tweet this Attendees at the 2022 Annual Franchise Conference for Island Fin Poke Co.

At Island Fin Poke Co., the essence of Ohana goes beyond a Hawaiian word that means family; it's a way of life. The brand is deeply committed to fostering a close-knit and supportive community among its franchisees, cultivating an environment where every member feels valued and cherished. The Annual Franchise Conference serves as a cornerstone event to strengthen this bond, encouraging franchisees to share experiences, learn from one another and collectively elevate the brand to new heights.

Franchisees will learn more about the different Island Fin business models, vendors, marketing strategies and trends, through a diverse lineup of expert speakers and workshops. The keynote speaker for this year is Patrick Nellis, the District Director of the Center for Institutional and Organizational Learning (CIOL) at Miami Dade College.

There will also be Virtual Reality workshop training, informative/interactive sessions and fun-filled team bonding events. Attendees will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the Island Fin experience, gaining deeper insights into the brand's culture, community engagement and commitment to quality and sustainability.

"We are thrilled to bring our third Annual Franchise Conference to the vibrant city of Miami," said Mark Setterington, CEO and founder of Island Fin Poke Co. "We firmly believe that collaboration and a shared vision are key to achieving success, and this conference presents an incredible opportunity for all of us to come together, learn from each other, celebrate our success as a brand and forge meaningful connections that will drive the growth of our brand."

Over the last year, Island Fin has grown into one of America's Best Poke restaurants and is considered one of the top hottest brands for 2023 alongside Starbucks, Plant Power and Taco Bell, according to the Lunchbox list of Top 30 Brands. Lunchbox created this inaugural list that highlights the top players that are redefining what it means to be a leading brand in the restaurant space. The brand is also ranked #29 on the 2023 Top New & Emerging Franchises list by Entrepreneur Magazine, a leading online franchise publication, and now has 28 locations open with 58 other units sold.

These recognitions and accolades are because of Island Fin's brand concept: That every Island Fin Poke Co. location offers a six sensory experience and every franchisee takes great pride in fulfilling that for their guests. This means each time a guest experiences a poke bowl at Island Fin, they are experiencing the IncrediBOWL, which is personally crafted by the team members to their guests' liking.

In the spirit of Ohana, Island Fin Poke Co. ensures that there is something for everyone to enjoy, so the brand offers chicken, tofu and spam protein options, in addition to the traditional fish options of the freshest boat-to-bowl tuna, salmon, shrimp and octopus. To top it off, the brand serves something that everyone loves: an assortment of delicious and refreshing Dole Soft Serve flavors.

Perhaps one of the most extraordinary and unique features at every Island Fin is the absence of trash cans and dining trays in the dining room. Unlike all other fast-casual and fast-food restaurants, the Island Fin team members will serve each guest their food and clear the empty dishes and trash at the end of every meal, making the guest's experience truly memorable. Additionally, Island Fin offers a wide variety of choices and preferences that allows guests to create endless combinations of gluten-free poke bowls.

Island Fin Poke Co.'s Third Annual Franchise Conference promises to be an unforgettable experience for all attendees, strengthening bonds within the Island Fin Ohana and setting the stage for an exciting future of expansion and success. For more information on their third conference, visit Island Fin Poke Co.'s website at www.IslandFinPoke.com or contact Bianca Kasawdish for media inquiries at [email protected].

About Island Fin Poke Co.

Island Fin Poke Co. is a Florida-based fast-casual concept known for its Hawaiian-style build-your-own poke bowls. From farm-to-fork, the brand uses the freshest ingredients to bring traditional flavors from the islands to local communities nationwide. Founded in 2017, Island Fin Poke Co. has 28 locations open, with numerous others in various stages of development. Island Fin Poke Co. was ranked #29 on the 2023 Top New & Emerging Franchises list by Entrepreneur Magazine, listed in Fast Casual's 2023 Top Movers & Shakers list, and recognized as a Top 100 Game Changer for 2022 by Franchise Dictionary Magazine. For more information, or if interested in joining the brand's Ohana, please visit https://www.IslandFinPoke.com/.

Contact:

Bianca Kasawdish

Vice President of Public Relations

InnoVision Marketing Group

[email protected]

SOURCE Island Fin Poke Co.
-- Laconic's SADAR platform and Karbon-X's carbon offset expertise leveraged to create verification methodology --

CALGARY, AB and CHICAGO, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Karbon-X, a pioneering organization committed to addressing climate change at the local level and Laconic Infrastructure Partners Inc. (Laconic), a leading global provider of environmental intelligence services, have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to develop a cutting-edge Biochar Verification Methodology. The novel methodology aims to ensure the accuracy and transparency of Karbon-X's reforestation project in the Chiquitania Region of Bolivia, and subsequently, it will be applied to verify other Biochar projects worldwide.

Laconic and Karbon-X jointly develop Biochar Verification Methodology to empower local communities to easily offset their carbon footprint and support conservation projects around the world.

Under this agreement, Karbon-X will hold a 65% ownership stake in the developed methodology, while Laconic will own the remaining 35%. The partnership combines Laconic's state-of-the-art SADAR Environmental Intelligence Platform with Karbon-X's expertise in carbon offset projects and reforestation initiatives.

"Charcoal production is seen as a contributor to climate change. At Karbon-X we can fundamentally make sustainable charcoal and the resulting Biochar fertilizers are not just a part of the solution, but a leading contributor to addressing climate change. Collaborating with Laconic and building out this methodology, we can achieve just that," said Chad Clovis, CEO of Karbon-X.

The use of charcoal extends beyond a summer BBQ. Many countries rely on charcoal as the primary fuel for cooking and utilities. A 2-hour grill session emits as much CO 2 as a car driven for twenty-six miles. "Applying sustainable practices to creating charcoal and Biochar fertilizers, such as using waste nut husks or wood waste from sawmills allow forests to stay standing and provides a reason to plant more trees and reduce commercial logging pressures. This could be a key solution to reducing emissions and providing a financial model to landowners to rethink their land management practices."

The Biochar Verification Methodology will leverage Laconic's advanced SADAR geospatial informatics platform to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of data collection and analysis. SADAR combines data-gathering, in-situ remote sensing, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to generate informative data visualizations. This approach empowers decision-makers to propose, model, and evaluate complex environmental scenarios with high data pedigree and confidence.

"Leveraging our unique SADAR Environmental Intelligence platform to develop the Karbon-X Biochar Verification Methodology will provide the much-needed data accuracy and verification from our highest data pedigree standards," said Andrew Gilmour, Co-founder and CEO, Laconic. "The new verification methodology will empower local communities to easily offset their carbon footprint and support conservation projects around the world."

The Biochar Verification Methodology developed through this collaboration will undergo rigorous testing and validation via Biocarbon Registry to meet the highest standards of accuracy and transparency. Once implemented successfully, it will provide valuable insights to improve and optimize carbon offset projects worldwide.

Chiquitania Region Reforestation Project

The Chiquitania Region Reforestation Project, co-owned by Silviculture Systems Corp and Karbon-X, aims to plant 5 Million Baru Nut trees native to the region by 2025. These trees not only sequester CO 2 from the atmosphere but also provide a valuable nutrient-rich food source for local ecosystems. By using a sustainable approach to processing the large husks produced by the Baru Nut trees into sustainable charcoal and Biochar, the project maximizes its positive environmental impact.

About Laconic

Laconic is the leading global provider of Environmental Intelligence services. We provide governments, financial institutions and corporations with actionable insights that enable critical environmental decisions for sustainable growth. Our SADAR Platform uses state-of-the-art data gathering, in-situ monitoring, sensing and geospatial technology to assess alternative scenarios and make ecologically sound business decisions based on multi-modal analytics. We partner with our clients to develop bespoke solutions that address diverse issues such as regional food security, decarbonization, financial compliance obligations, and habitat preservation. Our solutions respect and preserve the integrity of local social, cultural, and economic norms, while actively promoting sustainable growth. Founded in 2019, the company is a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) and headquartered in Chicago, with offices in Toronto, San Diego and Bali. For more information, please visit https://laconicglobal.com/ and https://www.natureworks.tv/

Laconic, SADAR, and NatureWorks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Laconic Infrastructure Partners Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. All other names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

About Karbon-X

Karbon-X is a pioneering organization with a mission to empower individuals to drive positive change for the planet. The company's innovative approach to climate action has gained widespread recognition. Karbon-X's mobile app empowers users to offset a portion of their carbon footprint and support scientifically-proven projects with real-world benefits that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Karbon-X is committed to transparency and impactful climate action at the local level. For more information, visit www.karbon-x.com.

Karbon-X media contacts:

Marita Dautel

[email protected]

+1 587 222 1583

Laconic media contacts:

Elke Heiss

[email protected]

SOURCE Laconic Infrastructure Partners, Inc.
DALLAS, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mammoth Holdings LLC, America's premier express car wash platform, announced the recent opening of its newest location, Pitstop Car Wash in Theodore, Alabama. The new site, located just outside of Mobile, Alabama, aligns with Mammoth's dual growth strategy of developing greenfield locations while also acquiring existing brands.

"We're pleased to serve the town of Theodore with a state-of-the-art facility and world class customer service," said Dave Hoffmann, Chairman and CEO of Mammoth Holdings. "The Theodore location is the company's 6th greenfield opening this year and represents another step forward towards our goal of 500 sites."

Mammoth Holdings Opens Pitstop Car Wash in Mobile Market Tweet this

With 3 locations now in the Mobile market, the Theodore location is set to become a go-to destination for car owners in the area, providing convenience and top-notch service to every car and every customer. The site is the sixteenth Mammoth location under the Pitstop Car Wash brand.

Mammoth Holdings is the first car wash platform formed by industry insiders and has 118 operating locations. Mammoth is customer-focused operationally; operator-focused in its approach to acquisitions; and seeks to be the partner-of-choice for car wash operators who desire liquidity, growth capital, and a tax-deferred equity investment opportunity.

Mammoth Holdings' multi-brand portfolio includes Busy Bee Car Wash, Coastal Carwash, Finish Line Car Wash, In & Out Express Carwash, Jax Kar Wash, Lulu's Express Car Wash, Marc-1 Car Wash, Mr. Squeaky Car Wash, Pals Carwash, Pitstop Car Wash, PureMagic Carwash, Silverstar Car Wash, Speedy Clean Car Wash, Suds Car Wash, Swifty Car Wash, Ultra Car Wash, Wash Me Fast, Wash-N-Go Express Car Wash, and Wiggy Wash.

Mammoth has significant growth capital and is actively seeking acquisitions and development opportunities.

In October 2018, Mammoth partnered with Red Dog Equity LLC, an Atlanta-based private equity firm, which, through its partnership with Tom Pritzker's family business interests (Advised by The Pritzker Organization), provides the equity for Mammoth Holdings' corporate development initiatives. Monroe Capital and Morgan Stanley provide Mammoth Holdings' debt financing.

About Mammoth Holdings

Headquartered in Dallas, Mammoth Holdings operates 118 conveyor car washes under the Busy Bee Car Wash, Coastal Carwash, Finish Line Car Wash, In & Out Express Carwash, Jax Kar Wash, Lulu's Express Car Wash, Marc-1 Car Wash, Mr. Squeaky Car Wash, Pals Carwash, Pitstop Car Wash, PureMagic Carwash, Silverstar Car Wash, Speedy Clean Car Wash, Suds Car Wash, Swifty Car Wash, Ultra Car Wash, Wash Me Fast, Wash-N-Go Express Car Wash, and Wiggy Wash brands in Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, Illinois, Utah, South Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana, Indiana, Missouri, Tennessee, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Florida.

Mammoth Holdings was founded by Gary Dennis and Chip Hackett in 2002. To learn more, please visit mammothholdings.com.

About Red Dog Equity LLC

Red Dog Equity LLC is a private equity firm that invests in lower middle-market companies poised for strong growth in partnership with driven, entrepreneurial business leaders ("Red Dogs"). To learn more, please visit reddogequity.com.

About The Pritzker Organization

The Pritzker Organization is the merchant bank for the business interests of the Tom Pritzker family. Additional information can be found at pritzkerorg.com.

SOURCE Mammoth Holdings
Former Kirkland Partner Will Bolster Firm's M&A Tax Capabilities

NEW YORK, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Massumi + Consoli, a nationwide boutique law firm focused on private equity transactional and advisory work, is pleased to announce that David E. Mannion has joined the Firm's Tax practice group as a Partner in its New York City office. David is the latest in a string of high-profile additions to the Firm's New York City office, including Carmen Wong, Jared Bryant and Benjamin Howard as the Firm continues to fortify its growing nationwide presence and enhance the depth of its capabilities for middle market transactions and advisory work.

David joins his former Kirkland & Ellis tax partner, Ryan Roberts, at Massumi + Consoli to bolster the Firm's Tax practice, which also recently added associate Misha Goodwin. He brings substantial experience representing private equity funds and their portfolio companies, along with other public and private companies on the tax aspects of complex domestic and cross-border business transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, spin-offs, reorganizations and restructurings.

"Having earned his reputation as a top transactional tax lawyer at K&E, David will bring a wealth of further experience and knowledge in servicing our clients," said Anthony Consoli, co-founder of Massumi + Consoli. "David's addition underscores our dedication to our core practice areas within the private equity industry, and he will help us continue our mission of delivering an unmatched value proposition for our investor clients."

With David joining the Firm, Massumi + Consoli continues to strengthen its position in the New York market, and his arrival further enhances the Firm's ability to deliver full-service transactional support to clients and provide innovative, pragmatic and efficient tax structuring guidance for transactions of all sizes.

"David's arrival is a testament to our growing stature and marks a significant step in strengthening our nationwide presence," said Peter Massumi, the Firm's other co-founder. "We continue to focus on enhancing our full-service capabilities to provide clients with a one-stop shop for their transactional needs."

"Massumi + Consoli is helping clients achieve their goals by combining the highest levels of sophistication, commercial advice, quality and responsiveness with some of the industry's top legal minds," said David. "I'm excited for the opportunity to work alongside these leading lawyers, including my former K&E partners, to contribute to the firm's premier M&A and private equity work."

About Massumi + Consoli LLP:

Founded in 2015 as a spin-out from the Private Equity and M&A group of Kirkland & Ellis, MCLLP delivers market-leading counsel to private funds and other financial institutions, along with their portfolio companies, and other acquisitive private and public companies, on complex private equity, M&A, fundraising and debt financing transactions and on ongoing corporate and investment management matters outside of the transactional context. MCLLP's mission is to serve as a superior alternative to large firm transactional practices through a platform that is more attuned to clients' needs and that provides unparalleled expertise, responsiveness and value.

SOURCE Massumi + Consoli LLP
DALLAS, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mohr Partners, Inc., a top-three global corporate real estate advisory & outsourcing services firm, is continuing its United States expansion with the recruitment of Jean Jensen and Emily Carden to open a new office in Phoenix, Arizona.

Jensen will serve as Mohr Partners' market leader and broker of record for Arizona, while Carden will continue her partnership with Jensen as a Senior Associate. Both previously worked with Coldwell Banker Commercial.

Managing Partner Jean Jensen & Senior Associate Emily Carden

"Mohr Partners has built a best-in-class corporate real estate advisory platform," Jensen said. "That will allow my occupier clients to make better strategic decisions around site selection by incorporating labor, logistics, incentives in addition to real estate to optimize their owned and leased real estate portfolios."

"Many of our national global corporate services clients have existing operations in the Greater Phoenix area or are looking at relocating their businesses to Arizona," Robert Shibuya, Mohr Partners Chairman & CEO said. "Consequently, we decided it was important to recruit a top local team and establish a corporately owned office to meet this demand."

Earlier this year, Mohr Partners announced new offices in Reno, Nevada, and Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. Those expansions, together with Phoenix, are part of a planned U.S. expansion plan that will continue in 2023 and beyond.

About Mohr Partners, Inc. :

Mohr Partners, Inc. is a global corporate real estate advisory & outsourcing company, providing corporate occupiers with an integrated set of portfolio services including strategic planning, business intelligence, lease administration & accounting, research and site selection, labor analytics, project and construction management, comprehensive demographics analysis, economic incentives negotiations, transaction management and facility services. Since 1986, Mohr Partners has been managing real estate portfolios for corporations, and each year completes transactions for its clients in all 50 U.S. states, all provinces of Canada and locations around the world. Mohr Partners seamlessly provides corporate real estate services globally through its strategic alliance partners in Canada, Mexico/Latin America, EMEA and Asia Pacific. For more information on Mohr Partners, please visit www.mohrpartners.com.

SOURCE Mohr Partners, Inc.
BUFFALO, N.Y., Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- M&T Bank Corporation (NYSE:MTB) ("M&T") will participate in the Barclays Global Financial Services Conference being held in New York City. Representatives of M&T are scheduled to deliver a presentation to investors and analysts on September 11, 2023, at 4:15 p.m. (ET).

A link to the webcast will be available at https://ir.mtb.com/events-presentations. The webcast may contain material information as well as forward-looking information, and cautionary statements regarding such forward-looking information will be available on the webcast link.

About M&T Bank

M&T is a financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. M&T's principal banking subsidiary, M&T Bank, provides banking products and services in 12 states across the eastern U.S. from Maine to Virginia and Washington, D.C. Trust-related services are provided in select markets in the U.S. and abroad by M&T's Wilmington Trust-affiliated companies and by M&T Bank.

CONTACT: Brian Klock

(716) 842-5138

SOURCE M&T Bank Corporation
Established in 1901, the U. S. Steel Corp. stands as a prominent figure in the steel manufacturing sector. The company specializes in offering high-value steel products, a prime example being the renowned XG3 advanced high-strength steel, which has gained widespread recognition and adoption in the market.

U. S. Steel's provides the essential building blocks for infrastructure, transportation, and countless other applications. The company's dedication to innovation and the development of specialized steel products not only highlights its adaptability to changing market needs, but also reaffirms its commitment to staying at the forefront of technological advancements.

Additionally, the company has a strong commitment to safety, which is underscored by the implementation of its customer-centric strategy known as Best for All. Through this strategic approach, U. S. Steel is actively contributing to the creation of a more secure and sustainable future not only for the corporation itself but also for its extensive network of stakeholders.

U. S. Steel, which has been utilizing innovative technologies throughout their history across its mines and mills, again dug deeper into its innovation bag and found the companys first generative AI application: MineMind.

The application is the result of a collaboration with Google (News - Alert) Cloud where U. S. Steel uses Google Clouds generative AI technology to drive efficiencies and improve employee experiences.

MineMind offers streamlined resolutions for mechanical issues, aiming to enhance efficiency, save valuable resources, and boost productivity. Powered by Google Cloud's AI technology (including Document AI and Vertex (News - Alert) AI), MineMind is projected not only to empower the maintenance team by delivering essential information at their fingertips but also to yield substantial cost savings through optimized technician allocation and improved truck upkeep.

The inaugural phase of this momentous launch is scheduled to commence in September, targeting over 60 haul trucks at U. S. Steel's Minnesota Ore Operations facilities, namely Minntac and Keetac. Once fully operational, MineMind promises to change the technician's work order completion time by an estimated margin of 20%.

Weve meaningfully accelerated digitization at U. S. Steel through our work with Google Cloud, said David Burritt, president and CEO of U. S. Steel. Faster repair times, less down time, and more satisfying work for our techs are only some of the many benefits we expect with generative AI.

An illustrative example of the application's prowess lies in its guidance for maintenance crews, simplifying truck repairs, facilitating parts procurement and simplifying complex data interpretation. The application further establishes its value by providing an exhaustive reference point, ensuring the provision of accurate and verified source information to bolster precision and reliability.

Our innovative work with U. S. Steel to power operational and functional innovation with our advanced generative AI technology has the potential to not only transform manufacturing but adjacent industries  from trends and logistics, to supply chain, sustainability, process automation and more, said Michael Clark, Vice President, Google Cloud, North America Regions.

U. S. Steel will work with Google Cloud to continue building new gen AI applications, including applications providing real-time data and insights. The two companies will seek to continue to expand the relationship to solve for high-impact areas across the U. S. Steel value chain.

Edited by Alex Passett
The dynamics of the multiple myeloma market are anticipated to change in the coming years owing to the rise in novel drugs and therapies and the number of healthcare spending across the world. Key players, such as Janssen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Pfizer, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, AbbVie, Roche, and others are involved in developing drugs for multiple myeloma.

LAS VEGAS, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DelveInsight's Multiple Myeloma Market Insights report includes a comprehensive understanding of current treatment practices, multiple myeloma emerging drugs, market share of individual therapies, and current and forecasted market size from 2019 to 2032, segmented into 7MM [the United States, the EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) and the United Kingdom, and Japan].

Key Takeaways from the Multiple Myeloma Market Report

As per DelveInsight analysis, the multiple myeloma market size in the United States was approximately USD 14 billion in 2022.

was approximately in 2022. According to the assessment done by DelveInsight, the estimated total incident multiple myeloma cases in the 7MM were approximately 65,500 in 2022.

in 2022. Leading multiple myeloma companies such as Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) , Pfizer, AbbVie and Roche (Genentech), Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Roche (Genentech), Arcellx, Novartis, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, BeiGene, CARsgen Therapeutics, Cartesian Therapeutics, C4 Therapeutics, Heidelberg Pharma, Bristol-Myers Squibb, RAPA Therapeutics, AbbVie (TeneoOne), Takeda , and others are developing novel multiple myeloma drugs that can be available in the multiple myeloma market in the coming years.

, and others are developing novel multiple myeloma drugs that can be available in the multiple myeloma market in the coming years. The promising multiple myeloma therapies in the pipeline include Talquetamab, Elranatamab, VENCLEXTA (venetoclax), Linvoseltamab, Iberdomide (CC-220), Mezigdomide (CC-92480), Cevostamab, CART-ddBCMA, PHE885, REGN5459, BGB-11417, Zevorcabtagene Autoleucel, Descartes-11, CFT7455, HDP-101, Orvacabtagene Autoleucel, RAPA-201 Autologous Cell Therapy, ABBV-383 (TNB-383B), Modakafusp (TAK-573) , and others.

and others. Multiple myeloma treatment landscape is evolving with the rise of monoclonal antibodies being used in newly-diagnosed patients. DARZALEX's position is strong, in comparison to its competitors in the market. There is a some degree of likelihood that many other drugs currently being evaluated for the treatment of multiple myeloma market will work together with DARZALEX rather than directly competing with it. J&J is exploring to sequence DARZALEX with TECVAYLI, CARVYKTI, and talquetamab.

There is a some degree of likelihood that many other drugs currently being evaluated for the treatment of multiple myeloma market will work together with DARZALEX rather than directly competing with it. J&J is exploring to sequence DARZALEX with TECVAYLI, CARVYKTI, and talquetamab. A second CD38 antibody called SARCLISA has been approved for the treatment of multiple myeloma. SARCLISA continues its rapid acceptance in key markets. But DARZALEX has an advantage over SARCLISA of more than four years. Both monoclonal antibodies are competing against one another in a quadruplet regimen and are close to a final showdown in transplant-eligible and ineligible settings.

By 2025, at least five new therapies are anticipated to be available in the United States , including three bispecific antibodies (Elranatamab, Talquetamab, and Linvoseltamab), one CAR-T (Zevorcabtagene autoleucel), and one BCL-2 inhibitor (Venetoclax).

Discover which therapies are expected to grab the major multiple myeloma market share @ Multiple Myeloma Market Report

Multiple Myeloma Overview

Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer that affects plasma cells, which are a vital component of the immune system. These plasma cells, normally responsible for producing antibodies to fight infections, become malignant and uncontrollably multiply, leading to the formation of cancerous tumors in bone marrow and interfering with the production of healthy blood cells. The exact cause of multiple myeloma remains unclear, but several risk factors have been identified.

Symptoms of multiple myeloma can vary, and some individuals may experience no symptoms in the early stages. Common signs include bone pain, especially in the back or ribs, as the cancerous cells infiltrate the bone marrow. Patients may also suffer from frequent infections due to a weakened immune system, fatigue, anemia, kidney problems, and unexplained fractures. Diagnosing multiple myeloma involves several key steps. Initially, a medical history and physical examination are conducted, paying attention to symptoms and risk factors.

Multiple Myeloma Epidemiology Segmentation

The total number of symptomatic cases of multiple myeloma in the US was ~32,000 in 2022.

Multiple myeloma is more common in males as compared to females. In the United States , more than 50% of males are diagnosed with multiple myeloma.

, more than of males are diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Data suggests that roughly half of the newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients are eligible for transplant; however, around a third of eligible patients end up not receiving the transplant. Approximately 30% of patients received SCT annually in the United States.

The multiple myeloma market report proffers epidemiological analysis for the study period 20192032 in the 7MM segmented into:

Total Multiple Myeloma Incident Cases

Total Multiple Myeloma Symptomatic Cases

Multiple Myeloma Gender-Specific Cases

Multiple Myeloma Age-Specific Cases

Multiple Myeloma Transplant Eligible and Ineligible Cases

Treated Cases Across the Lines of Therapies

Multiple Myeloma Treatment Market

The management of multiple myeloma is individualized based on factors such as the stage of the disease, the patient's overall health, and their specific genetic characteristics. Common multiple myeloma treatment options include chemotherapy, immunomodulatory drugs, and stem cell transplantation. Chemotherapy is often used to reduce the number of myeloma cells and control disease progression. Immunomodulatory drugs, such as lenalidomide and thalidomide, help enhance the body's immune response against cancer cells. Proteasome inhibitors like bortezomib and carfilzomib, specifically target the abnormal cells and inhibit their growth and survival.

For eligible patients, stem cell transplantation can be a crucial part of the treatment. Autologous stem cell transplantation, where the patient's own stem cells are collected and then infused back after high-dose chemotherapy, can help achieve deeper remissions and prolong survival. In recent years, advancements in multiple myeloma treatment have led to the approval of novel therapies, such as monoclonal antibodies like daratumumab and elotuzumab, CAR-Ts like ABECMA and CARVYKTI, and bispecific antibody like TECVAYLI which further enhance the treatment landscape.

The treatment of multiple myeloma is continually evolving as researchers and clinicians work to improve outcomes and enhance the quality of life for patients. As with any cancer, early detection and a multidisciplinary approach remain vital in providing the best possible care and improving overall prognosis. Patients are encouraged to work closely with their healthcare team to determine the most appropriate treatment plan for their specific condition.

To know more about multiple myeloma treatment guidelines, visit @ Multiple Myeloma Management

Multiple Myeloma Pipeline Therapies and Key Companies

Talquetamab: Johnson & Johnson (Janssen)

Elranatamab: Pfizer

VENCLEXTA (venetoclax): AbbVie and Roche (Genentech)

Linvoseltamab: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals

Iberdomide (CC-220): Bristol-Myers Squibb/Celgene

Mezigdomide (CC-92480): Bristol-Myers Squibb/Celgene

Cevostamab: Roche (Genentech)

CART-ddBCMA: Arcellx

PHE885: Novartis

REGN5459: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals

BGB-11417: BeiGene

Zevorcabtagene Autoleucel: CARsgen Therapeutics

Descartes-11: Cartesian Therapeutics

CFT7455: C4 Therapeutics

HDP-101: Heidelberg Pharma

Orvacabtagene Autoleucel: Bristol-Myers Squibb

RAPA-201 Autologous Cell Therapy: RAPA Therapeutics

ABBV-383 (TNB-383B): AbbVie (TeneoOne)

Modakafusp (TAK-573): Takeda

Learn more about the FDA-approved drugs for multiple myeloma @ Drugs for Multiple Myeloma Treatment

Multiple Myeloma Market Dynamics

Over the years, the multiple myeloma market has seen substantial growth due to advancements in medical research, improved diagnostic technologies, and the introduction of novel therapies. One of the key drivers of the multiple myeloma market has been the development and approval of innovative treatments. Immunotherapies and monoclonal antibodies have shown promising results in clinical trials, leading to their adoption as standard treatments for the disease. These advancements have significantly improved patient outcomes and survival rates.

Additionally, increasing awareness of multiple myeloma among both patients and healthcare professionals has resulted in earlier diagnosis and treatment initiation, which is crucial for better disease management. Moreover, the growing elderly population, as multiple myeloma primarily affects older individuals, has contributed to the expansion of the multiple myeloma market.

However, despite these positive developments, challenges remain in the multiple myeloma market. The high cost of some of the newer therapies can limit access for patients, raising concerns about affordability and reimbursement. Moreover, as competition intensifies, drug manufacturers need to focus on demonstrating their therapies' superior efficacy and safety profiles to gain a competitive edge. Furthermore, ongoing research efforts are continuously uncovering new insights into the disease's biology and potential therapeutic targets. These discoveries may lead to the development of more innovative treatment approaches, further shaping the dynamics of the multiple myeloma market.

Report Metrics Details Study Period 20192032 Coverage 7MM [the United States, the EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) and the United Kingdom, and Japan]. Multiple Myeloma Market CAGR 5 % Multiple Myeloma Market Size in 2022 USD 21 Billion Key Multiple Myeloma Companies Johnson & Johnson (Janssen), Pfizer, AbbVie and Roche (Genentech), Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Roche (Genentech), Arcellx, Novartis, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, BeiGene, CARsgen Therapeutics, Cartesian Therapeutics, C4 Therapeutics, Heidelberg Pharma, Bristol-Myers Squibb, RAPA Therapeutics, AbbVie (TeneoOne), Takeda, and others Key Pipeline Multiple Myeloma Therapies Talquetamab, Elranatamab, VENCLEXTA (venetoclax), Linvoseltamab, Iberdomide (CC-220), Mezigdomide (CC-92480), Cevostamab, CART-ddBCMA, PHE885, REGN5459, BGB-11417, Zevorcabtagene Autoleucel, Descartes-11, CFT7455, HDP-101, Orvacabtagene Autoleucel, RAPA-201 Autologous Cell Therapy, ABBV-383 (TNB-383B), Modakafusp (TAK-573), and others

Scope of the Multiple Myeloma Market Report

Therapeutic Assessment: Multiple Myeloma current marketed and emerging therapies

Multiple Myeloma current marketed and emerging therapies Multiple Myeloma Market Dynamics: Key Market Forecast Assumptions of Emerging Multiple Myeloma Drugs and Market Outlook

Key Market Forecast Assumptions of Emerging Multiple Myeloma Drugs and Market Outlook Competitive Intelligence Analysis: SWOT analysis and Market entry strategies

SWOT analysis and Market entry strategies Unmet Needs, KOL's views, Analyst's views, Multiple Myeloma Market Access and Reimbursement

Discover more about multiple myeloma drugs in development @ Multiple Myeloma Clinical Trials

Table of Contents

1. Multiple Myeloma Key Insights 2. Multiple Myeloma Report Introduction 3. Multiple Myeloma Overview at a Glance 3.1 Market Size Distribution by Line of Therapies in 2019 3.2 Market Size Distribution by Line of Therapies in 2032 4. Multiple Myeloma Executive Summary 5 Multiple Myeloma Key Events 6 Epidemiology and Market Forecast Methodology 6. Disease Background and Overview 7. Multiple Myeloma Treatment and Management 8. Multiple Myeloma Guidelines 9. Multiple Myeloma Epidemiology and Patient Population 9.1 Key Findings 9.2 Assumptions and Rationale 9.3 Total Incident cases of Multiple Myeloma in the 7MM 9.4 Total Symptomatic Cases of Multiple Myeloma in the 7MM 9.5 United States 9.5.1 Total Incident Cases of Multiple Myeloma in the United States 9.5.2 Total Symptomatic Cases of Multiple Myeloma in the United States 9.5.3 Gender-specific Cases of Multiple Myeloma in the United States 9.5.4 Age-specific Cases of Multiple Myeloma in the United States 9.5.5 Transplant Eligible and Ineligible Cases in Multiple Myeloma in the United States 9.5.6 Treated Cases across the lines of therapies in the United States 9.6 EU4 and the UK 9.6.1 Total Incident Cases of Multiple Myeloma in EU4 and the UK 9.6.2 Total Symptomatic Cases of Multiple Myeloma in EU4 and the UK 9.6.3 Gender-specific Cases of Multiple Myeloma in EU4 and the UK 9.6.4 Age-specific Cases of Multiple Myeloma in EU4 and the UK 9.6.5 Transplant Eligible and Ineligible Cases in Multiple Myeloma in EU4 and the UK 9.6.6 Treated Cases across the lines of therapies in EU4 and the UK 9.6 Japan 9.6.1 Total Incident Cases of Multiple Myeloma in Japan 9.6.2 Total Symptomatic Cases of Multiple Myeloma in Japan 9.6.3 Gender-specific Cases of Multiple Myeloma in Japan 9.6.4 Age-specific Cases of Multiple Myeloma in Japan 9.6.5 Transplant Eligible and Ineligible Cases in Multiple Myeloma in Japan 9.6.6 Treated Cases across the lines of therapies in Japan 10. Patient Journey 11. Key Endpoints in Multiple Myeloma 12. Multiple Myeloma Marketed Drugs 13. Multiple Myeloma Emerging Drugs 14. 7MM Multiple Myeloma Market Analysis 14.1 Key Findings 14.2. Multiple Myeloma Market Outlook 14.3 Key Market Forecast Assumptions 14.4 Total Market Size of Multiple Myeloma in the 7MM 14.5 United States 14.5.1 Total Market Size of Multiple Myeloma in the United States 14.5.2 Market Size of Multiple Myeloma by First-line Transplant Eligible Therapies in the United States 14.5.3 Market Size of Multiple Myeloma by First-line Transplant Ineligible Therapies in the United States 14.5.4 Market Size of Multiple Myeloma by Second-line Therapies in the United States 14.5.5 Market Size of Multiple Myeloma by Third-line Therapies in the United States 14.5.6 Market Size of Multiple Myeloma by Fourth-line Therapies in the United States 14.6 EU4 and the UK 14.6.1 Total Market Size of Multiple Myeloma in EU4 and the UK 14.6.2 Market Size of Multiple Myeloma by First-line Transplant Eligible Therapies in EU4 and the UK 14.6.3 Market Size of Multiple Myeloma by First-line Transplant Ineligible Therapies in EU4 and the UK 14.6.4 Market Size of Multiple Myeloma by Second-line Therapies in EU4 and the UK 14.6.5 Market Size of Multiple Myeloma by Third-line Therapies in EU4 and the UK 14.6.6 Market Size of Multiple Myeloma by Fourth-line Therapies in EU4 and the UK 14.7 Japan 14.7.1 Total Market Size of Multiple Myeloma in Japan 14.7.2 Market Size of Multiple Myeloma by First-line Transplant Eligible Therapies in Japan 14.7.3 Market Size of Multiple Myeloma by First-line Transplant Ineligible Therapies in Japan 14.7.4 Market Size of Multiple Myeloma by Second-line Therapies in Japan 14.7.5 Market Size of Multiple Myeloma by Third-line Therapies in Japan 14.7.6 Market Size of Multiple Myeloma by Fourth-line Therapies in Japan 15. Market Access and Reimbursement 16. KOL Views 17. Unmet Needs 18. SWOT Analysis 19. Appendix 20. DelveInsight Capabilities 21. Disclaimer 22. About DelveInsight

Related Reports

Multiple Myeloma Epidemiology Forecast

Multiple Myeloma Epidemiology Forecast  2032 report delivers an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical and forecasted epidemiology, and multiple myeloma epidemiology trends.

Multiple Myeloma Pipeline

Multiple Myeloma Pipeline Insight  2023 report provides comprehensive insights about the pipeline landscape, pipeline drug profiles, including clinical and non-clinical stage products, and the key multiple myeloma companies, including Janssen, Pharmacyclics, Novartis, Incyte Corporation, Gracell Biotechnology, SpringWorks Therapeutics, Sana Biotechnology, Cytovia Therapeutics, Pfizer, MorphoSys, Biokine Therapeutics, Arcellx, Rapa Therapeutics, iTeos Therapeutics, Sorrento Therapeutics, CARsgen, Ascentage Pharma, Cartesian Therapeutics, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Juno Therapeutics, Nanjing IASO Biotherapeutics, Arch Oncology, Oncoceutics, TeneoBio, Nerviano Medical Sciences, among others.

Relapse/Refractory Multiple Myeloma Market

Relapse/Refractory Multiple Myeloma Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast  2032 report delivers an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical and forecasted epidemiology, as well as the market trends, market drivers, market barriers, and key R/R multiple myeloma companies, including NexImmune, Amgen, AbbVie, Allogene Therapeutics, Precision Biosciences, Takeda Oncology, ORIC Pharmaceuticals, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Cellectis S.A., YZY Biopharma, Janssen Research & Development, Bristol Myers Squibb, Lava Therapeutics, Prelude Therapeutics, among others.

About DelveInsight

DelveInsight is a leading Business Consultant and Market Research firm focused exclusively on life sciences. It supports pharma companies by providing comprehensive end-to-end solutions to improve their performance. Get hassle-free access to all the healthcare and pharma market research reports through our subscription-based platform PharmDelve.

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DUBLIN, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "OOS and OOT Investigations Course - Best Practices, Key Components and a Comprehensive Review of the FDA Requirements" training has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Achieve Deficiency-Free Operations and Drive Continuous Improvement by Mastering the Complete Investigation Process



OOS investigations pose a significant challenge in the pharmaceutical industry, often resulting in warning letters due to deficiencies. FDA regulations mandate thorough investigations of out-of-specification (OOS) results, making well-documented and compliant quality management systems essential.

However, many companies struggle with understanding the regulatory expectations and proper handling of OOS and OOT (out-of-trend) cases. Inconsistent investigation and root-cause analysis processes can lead to errors and costly laboratory activities. This informative series provides comprehensive insights into best practices for OOS/OOT investigations.



The first session delves into the FDA Guidance for Industry on OOS/OOT investigation, offering a detailed understanding of the process. Discover how to differentiate between measurement and manufacturing causes when an OOS value is detected.



Learn essential techniques for conducting root-cause analysis and implementing necessary corrective and preventive actions. Gain insights into the critical role of testing in determining the cause of OOS results.

The second session explores OOT scenarios, addressing both stable and changed properties of drug products to establish trend monitoring and product profile maintenance. Learn how to perform risk assessments to identify critical quality attributes and collaborate with cross-functional teams for continuous product improvement.

In the third session, the focus shifts to documentation, a common cause of Warning Letters in OOS investigations. Gain valuable knowledge on designing investigation plans, setting acceptance criteria, defining timelines, and assigning responsibilities. Additionally, understand the essential components of a comprehensive investigation report.



The series concludes with a session addressing deficiencies in this area, emphasizing the importance of CAPA (Corrective and Preventive Actions) and the necessity of building ruggedness into analytical procedures to prevent OOS occurrences. Explore performance metrics and key performance indicators to evaluate system performance effectively.

In summary, this series provides analysts with a comprehensive understanding of the investigation process, up-to-date regulatory requirements, and strategies for monitoring OOS and OOT cases to continually enhance product performance.



Who Should Attend:

Quality Assurance Departments

Quality Control Departments

Research & Development Departments

Regulatory Affairs Departments

Validation Professionals

Auditors

Analysts

Lab Supervisors and Managers

Documentation Professionals

Consultants

Contract Laboratories Professionals

CROs

Agenda



DAY 1 (10 AM to 3 PM)



Lecture 1: Identification of Out-of-Specification (OOS) and the Investigation Process - A Comprehensive Review of the FDA Guidance and Requirements

Identifying and assessing OOS test results

Phase I: Laboratory Investigation

Phase II: Full Scale OOS Investigation

Identify root causes

CAPA and follow up

Lecture 2: Conducting Out-of-Trend Investigations and Establishing CQA Using Risk Management

Recognize different types of OOT results

Establish trend for release and stability data

Understand risk assessments to determine Critical Quality Attribute (CQA)

Determine course of actions to process

Understand cross-functional investigation

Monitoring product trends to avoid OOS

DAY 2 (10 AM to 3 PM)



Lecture 3: Developing Investigation Plans and Writing Investigation Reports

Design a systematic investigation plan

Determine root causes

Establish acceptance criteria for investigation

Components of an investigation report

Timelines and responsibilities

Establish Corrective Actions and Preventive Actions

Lecture 4: Laboratory Deficiencies and How to Minimize OOS/OOT

Review regulatory deficiencies to establish investigation process

Build ruggedness into the analytical procedures to prevent OOS occurrences

Build compliance into the investigation process to minimize OOS

Determine Key Performance Indicators (KPI) to monitor process

Establish documentation and performance metrics

Speaker



Ms. Thomas has over two decades of cGMP hands-on industry experience in both pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing operations. Her experience covers all Quality Systems; as well as, all areas of validation; including, process/product validation, facilities validation, CSV and 21 CFR Part 11, test method validation, equipment/automated processes and cleaning validation.



Utilizing strategic thinking, risk based approaches, and Lean principles, she has demonstrated success in steering and managing complex projects within the pharmaceutical and medical device industries.



For more information about this training visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ewr4fn

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.



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CLEVELAND, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pigybak, the innovative homeowner services platform, has officially launched in Cleveland. This pioneering service revolutionizes how homeowners manage their property needs by connecting neighbors to share contractors and savings. With Pigybak, Cleveland residents can easily find reliable contractors, save time, and contribute to community sustainability.

Pigybak introduces a fresh approach to property maintenance. Through its user-friendly app, homeowners can swiftly receive quotes for nearby services, benefitting both homeowners and contractors. The platform also enables users to bundle services with neighbors, leading to cost savings and hassle-free property upkeep.

One of Pigybak's standout features is its community-focused service bundling, streamlining tasks from lawn care to roof replacements, benefiting homeowners and the environment. Shanna Greathouse, Pigybak's CEO, highlights their focus: "We automate those 'aha' moments we all have as homeowners - when home maintenance isn't top of mind until seeing a neighbor getting it done. By then, the deal opportunity is often missed. Pigybak alerts you ahead and creates a win-win-win for homeowners, small business owners, and the environment."

Pigybak ensures user confidence through neighbor-endorsed recommendations and review ratings. Homeowners can make informed decisions by evaluating contractors' qualifications, licenses, insurance, and special designations like veteran-owned or even sustainable.

The platform goes beyond convenience; it positively impacts the environment and local community. Through optimized contractor scheduling, Pigybak contributes to emissions reduction. Moreover, the platform donates 5% of its revenue to trade development and community outreach nonprofits, starting with One Step Ahead Ohio.

To experience the future of homeowner services, download the Pigybak app from the App Store or Google Play Store. For more information, visit www.pigybak.com .

SOURCE pigybak LLC
The Plaintiffs' Lead Counsel Includes Gilbert Litigators & Counselors, Freedman Normand Friedland, and Berger Montague

CHICAGO, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In papers filed today in federal court, the Plaintiffs announced that the University of Chicago has agreed to pay $13.5 million to settle an antitrust class action brought by a proposed class of current and former students who received financial aid at seventeen elite universities.

The Plaintiffs asked the Court to preliminarily approve the settlement, which would allow notice to go out to members of the proposed class about the settlement. In the case, which resolved against the University of Chicago only, and continues against sixteen non-settling universities, the Plaintiffs assert that the University of Chicago conspired with sixteen other elite universities, including Brown University, California Institute of Technology, University of Chicago, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Duke University, Emory University, Georgetown University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, University of Notre Dame, Rice University, University of Pennsylvania, Vanderbilt University, and Yale University, as part of what was called the 568 Presidents Group. This Group, the Plaintiffs allege, met regularly to share information relating to these schools' financial aid practices and to converge on a common methodology for computing need-based aid in violation of the federal antitrust laws. As a result of this alleged conspiracy, the students allege that competition was suppressed, the amount of financial aid awarded was artificially reduced, and the net price that these students paid to attend was artificially inflated.

The case is Henry, et al. v. Brown University, et al., in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois before United States District Court Judge Matthew F. Kennelly.

The settlement with University of Chicago follows more than a year and a half of hard-fought litigation in federal court. Plaintiffs filed the case on January 9, 2022, and all of the defendant universities promptly filed motions to have it thrown out of court. The Plaintiffs opposed defendant universities' motion, and the U.S. Department of Justice and the New York Attorney General filed briefs in support of the students. On August 15, 2022, Judge Kennelly denied the universities' motion in all respects. Since that time, the parties have been engaging in extensive discovery, with the defendant universities having turned over more than a million documents to the Plaintiffs. Plaintiffs have also begun taking depositions of the universities' financial aid and other officers and employees.

As part of the proposed settlement, in addition to the monetary payment, the University of Chicago has agreed to provide certain information to the Plaintiffs, including documents and a witness interview, that Plaintiffs expect will assist them in prosecuting their claims against the sixteen universities that have not settled.

Plaintiffs' counsel believe that the settlement with the University of Chicago will benefit all of the students in the proposed class action. All members of the proposed student class, no matter which of the seventeen Defendant Universities they attended, will be entitled to the proceeds of the settlement according to a plan of allocation they have proposed. Moreover, Plaintiffs' counsel anticipate that the information that the University of Chicago has agreed to provide as part of the settlement will assist all of the members of the class.

One of Plaintiffs' lead counsel, Ted Normand, a partner at Freedman Normand Friedland, stated:

"Plaintiffs are pleased with this settlement. The $13.5 million is a significant sumit will help to compensate Plaintiffs for their injuries, to deter the misconduct that Plaintiffs have alleged, and to enable further compensation from the remaining defendants for the alleged injury to their alumni and current students."

Another of the Plaintiffs' lead lawyers, Robert D. Gilbert, a partner at Gilbert Litigators & Counselors, added: "The Defendants' colossal endowments have grown to surpass $230 billion. Surely the Defendants can and should give larger scholarships to their incoming middle class and working class students, and compete for their attendance. Reducing student debt and providing substantially more funds for scholarships will be good for our country. It is the right thing to do."

Eric Cramer, another lead attorney for the plaintiff class noted that: "This case will serve as an important reminder that the antitrust laws are a critical source of protection against exploitation by cartels and monopolies for all citizens, including students. Because universities play such an important role in our society, it is all the more important that they avoid collusion in the provision of financial aid and in the setting of their prices."

Next Steps

If Judge Kennelly grants Plaintiffs' motion and preliminarily approves the settlement, notice will be provided to all of the members of the Class regarding the details of the settlement. Further, the court will likely set a date for a final approval hearing at which time the court will decide whether to approve the settlement.

Plaintiffs' counsel will continue to vigorously litigate their claims against the remaining sixteen Defendant Universities.

About Plaintiffs' Legal Team

Gilbert Litigators & Counselors is a national litigation boutique. The Firm focuses on domestic and international litigation and arbitration, and the resolution of large, complex commercial disputes when the amounts in controversy range from tens of millions to several billions of dollars, with a particular emphasis on fraud and business tort cases, antitrust litigation, and litigation involving significant public policy issues.

Freedman Normand Friedland lawyers have litigated antitrust, securities, and market manipulation claims for both Plaintiffs and defendants for more than a decade. Over the past two years, the firm has been appointed as lead or co-lead counsel in over fifteen class actions.

Berger Montague is one of the nation's most experienced and successful complex litigation firms, having pioneered the antitrust class action. The firm has recovered more than $40 billion in verdicts and settlements for class members over 50 years and achieved one of the largest antitrust class action settlements in U.S. historynearly $6 billion.

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SOURCE Berger Montague
Appointment of Private Wealth Senior Executive to CEO Role Reflects Continued Focus on Driving Expansion in Wealth Management, Reinforcing Industry Leadership in Retirement Plan Advisory Space

As Chairman, Randy Long to Deepen Focus on Strategy Setting and Growth Planning

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SageView Advisory Group ("SageView"), one of the nation's leading independent RIA firms, today announced the commencement of the next phase of its growth vision with the appointment of Randy Long to the role of Chairman of the Board, while naming John Longley CEO. These appointments will be effective September 1, 2023.

Central to SageView's value proposition is the firm's ability to seamlessly connect its platforms, professionals and solutions across its retirement plan advisory business  which advises on more than 2,100 defined contribution, defined benefit and deferred compensation retirement plans, representing approximately 1.7 million participants with $170 billion in assets, and provides wealth management and financial planning services with its comprehensive wealth management business, which oversees $4 billion in client assets. These new appointments are expected to further fuel SageView's ongoing expansion in wealth management, while reinforcing the firm's leadership position in the retirement plan advisory space.

Building on Successful Growth and Expansion

"Since our launch 30 years ago, SageView has been driven by a passion for creating financially secure and fulfilling lives for individuals and households across the country. SageView has grown to be one of the nation's top institutional retirement plan advisory firms, serving 2,000 plan sponsors as the fiduciary partner of choice to navigate the industry's complexities," said Mr. Long.

Randy Long, who founded SageView in 1989, invited Aquiline Capital Partners, a private investment firm based in New York and London that invests across financial services and technology, to partner with SageView in 2020. With Aquiline's support, Mr. Long and his team have exceeded the firm's growth goals under its current three-year plan, successfully expanding via organic growth efforts and acquisition.

Mr. Long continued, "Building on our success to date, we believe this is the perfect moment for us to enhance our leadership team with the addition of John Longley, a widely respected private wealth leader, as our new CEO. I've had the pleasure and privilege of getting to know John over the past few months as part of our selection process, establishing our shared commitment to our firm's vision, value proposition and forward growth plans. By bringing John aboard while transitioning to the role of Chairman of the Board, I will be able to fully focus on strategy setting and growth planning for SageView over the long term, while partnering closely with John to ensure that our future success honors all that we have accomplished until now."

Private Wealth Leader with Proven Success in Driving Scalable Growth

Longley most recently served as President of SVB Private, a division of First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. He held that leadership role after being promoted from Head of SVB Private's Private Bank, Wealth and Trust unit. His previous roles include President, Western Region of Boston Private, which he joined in 2019. He co-founded and served as CEO of Dobot, a digital financial advisory platform, which was acquired by Fifth Third Bank. Earlier in his career, he served as the Head of Private Wealth BlackRock/iShares and CEO of Citi Private Bank N.A. at Citigroup.

"This is the ideal time for me to join SageView as CEO and continue the firm's tremendous success experienced under Randy's leadership. I am confident of our ability to accelerate growth as we launch the next phase of our long-term vision," said Longley. "In the course of exploring future opportunities, SageView stood out in three areas that provide the firm with unique advantages."

Mr. Longley continued, "First, SageView's partnership with Aquiline, a significantly well-resourced investment firm that understands our industry and provides a robust capital engine to drive continued investment in our business. Second, SageView's leadership in the retirement plan advisory business underscores our expertise in delivering financial wellness for plan participants. I look forward to working closely with Jon Upham, SageView President and Head of Retirement, to build upon this success. And third, SageView's ability to scale in wealth management by building the bridges to connect the platform, tools, and people across our retirement plan advisory and wealth management businesses."

Building on Organic and M&A-Driven Growth

SageView has acquired nine firms since its partnership with Aquiline Capital Partners was formed in 2020. These acquisitions include MJM401k of Arizona and Southern California, Bloomfield Hills Financial of Michigan, California, Colorado, Massachusetts and Texas, Channel Financial of Minnesota, kPlans Investment Services Inc. of California, Lakeview Wealth Management of Illinois, the advisors and assets of Capital One Investing based in New York, Florida, Tennessee, Maryland, Oklahoma, Virginia and Texas, Summit Financial Consultants of California and the founding team from RBG in California. The firm continues to identify new advisors and opportunities who are a strong cultural growth fit for SageView through acquisitions and recruiting.

About SageView Advisory Group

SageView Advisory Group, LLC is an investment advisor registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission serving retirement plan sponsors and individuals throughout the United States since 1989. SageView advises on 401(k), 403(b), 457, defined benefit and deferred compensation plans, and provides comprehensive wealth management and financial planning services to individuals and families. SageView is headquartered in Newport Beach, California, and has more than 30 offices nationwide.

SageView Advisory Group, LLC is a Registered Investment Advisor. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where SageView Advisory Group, LLC and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No advice may be rendered by SageView Advisory Group, LLC unless a client service agreement is in place.

For more information about SageView, visit www.sageviewadvisory.com or call (800) 814-8742.

Contact: Julie Katsnelson

800.814.8742 |[email protected]

SOURCE SageView Advisory Group
ATLANTA, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ServiceMaster Restore is excited to announce that Beartown Restore Group (BRG), a leading franchise brand builder, has acquired Service Environments of Texas (SET), a ServiceMaster Restore franchise owned by Brad Hollibaugh. With a strong track record of building multi-site services businesses, BRG aims to continue building the ServiceMaster business in Houston and beyond. The addition of Restore marks the BRG team's third franchise investment in a growing portfolio which includes European Wax Center and Massage Envy, and it is a testament to its confidence in the Restore brand.

Pictured (left to right): Jess Bellissimo (incoming CEO), Ian Cahn-Fuller (BRG), Linda and Brad Hollibaugh (SET).

"We believe that ServiceMaster is an incredible brand with a strong position in the growing restoration category. We are extremely excited to work with SET's stellar management team to continue to build the ServiceMaster business in Houston and beyond," said Ian Cahn-Fuller, founder of BRG.

This acquisition is a win-win for all parties involved. BRG gains a valuable addition to its portfolio, ServiceMaster Restore benefits from BRG's expertise in building multisite services businesses, and Hollibaugh gets to maintain an ownership position while supporting the business in an advisory capacity. We look forward to watching the continued growth and success of Service Environments of Texas under BRG's leadership.

About ServiceMaster Restore

With approximately 2,000 franchised and licensed locations around the world, ServiceMaster Restore and ServiceMaster Recovery Management (SRM) serve customers through a global network of franchises available 24/7/365 to provide residential and commercial restoration services resulting from damage caused by water, fire, smoke or mold. SRM is the large-scale commercial catastrophic disaster restoration unit of ServiceMaster Restore. ServiceMaster Restore is a business unit of Atlanta-based ServiceMaster Brands, a leading franchise provider of needs-based residential and commercial services. More information can be found at servicemasterrestore.com and srmcat.com.

About Beartown Holdings

Beartown Holdings was founded to invest in and grow leading services businesses using our own capital and experience to help them achieve their full potential. We are operators, and business builders, focused on supporting a few great companies on their journeys to amazing. We believe that our concentrated approach will maximize our impact and the outcomes for our portfolio of investments.

Contact:

Ian Cahn-Fuller  [email protected]

Jess Bellissimo - [email protected]

SOURCE ServiceMaster Brands
ROCHESTER, Mich., Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Abraham J. Salazar is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Platinum Business Professional for his contributions to the field of Automotive Fluid Dynamics.

Abraham J. Salazar

Dr. Salazar pursued higher education at the Simon Bolivar University in Venezuela where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and Turbomachinery in 1980 and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering and Thermo-fluids in 1986. He continued his studies at Simon Bolivar University where he earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering and Computational Fluid Dynamics in 1998. He also earned certification in lean systems for Toyota Motor Engineering at the University of Kentucky School of Engineering in 2010.

A senior manager of research and development at Giffin Inc., Dr. Salazar has more than 40 years of experience in the field of automotive computational fluid dynamics. He explained that Giffin Inc. is a company that provides automotive equipment to automakers. Prior to this post, Dr. Salazar held numerous positions in the mechanical engineering department at the University of Kentucky from 1991 to 2012, including an associate research professor; an assistant director and co-founder; an assistant research professor; a senior research engineer associate; a post-doctoral scholar; a graduate research assistant; a consultant; and a teaching assistant. He was also active as an assistant director and co-founder of the painting technology consortium at the University of Kentucky from 2000 until 2012.

Additionally, Dr. Salazar served as an assistant professor at the conversion and transport department of the Simon Bolivar University in Venezuela from 1980 to 1982. Between 1984 and 1990, He was a research engineer in the reservoir engineering department of the reservoir simulation section at the Intevep PDVSA in Venezuela from 1984 to 1990 while concurrently serving as an adjunct associate professor in the mechanical engineering department at the Metropolitan University in Caracas, Venezuela from 1988 to 1989. A leader in his field, the doctor has authored one book; several book chapters; 80 peer-review technical papers; and developed 15 patents nationally and internationally.

A leader in the field, Dr. Salazar has received the Automotive News PACE Award in 2017 from Giffin, Inc. and is most proud of his scholarly work and patents, in addition to being one of the first four recipients selected among numerous candidates for the National Council for Scientific and Technological Research Master's Sponsorship Program at the Simon Bolivar University in Venezuela. This award led to the expansion of his career and the opportunity to earn a doctorate degree in his specialty from the University of Kentucky.

When reflecting on his career, he attributes much of his success to his Christian faith; his ethical practices and principles; his perseverance as an immigrant; the mentorship of Dr. James McDonough; and the examples of his father, whose dedication to his family, sacrifices, and endurance inspired him to advance further and serve with integrity in all his endeavors.

Aside from his professional pursuits, Dr. Salazar is actively involved in mentoring young professionals and contributing to charity foundations through his missionary work at his local church.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE The Inner Circle
PALM CITY, Fla., Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Dipesh B. Patel is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Platinum Professional Member for his contributions to Family Medicine.

Dr. Patel pursued higher education at Boston University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. He then attended the American University of Antigua where he received an MD; and performed a residency in family medicine at Hoboken University Medical Center from 2009 until 2012 when he joined Martin Health at St. Lucie West.

Dipesh B Patel

Known for his thorough communication, Dr. Patel educates patients on their conditions and asserts that he views the whole person for the underlying cause of their condition. He treats for hypertension; diabete; heart disease; and general psychiatric issues. The doctor explained that family medicine is a medical specialty devoted to comprehensive health care for people of all ages and specialists like Dr. Patel are called family physicians or family doctors. A family physician is often the first person a patient sees when seeking healthcare services. They examine and treat patients with a wide range of conditions and refer those with serious ailments to a specialist or appropriate facility.

Serving the local population at Cleveland Clinic Martin Health, Dr. Patel explained that the healthcare practice provides a wide range of healthcare resources close to home. The facility is conveniently located for residents in the fastest-growing area of the Treasure Coast and has provided access to vital medical care since 1995.

A testament to his knowledge and leadership, Dr. Patel has served as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Family Medicine at Florida State University for the past 8 years. He asserts that he is dedicated to providing the latest in advancements and is a member of the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Family Physicians. The doctor would like to thank his parents, Bhagavat and Hemlata Patel, and all his siblings for their support. He has been married to Mrs. Kunjal Patel for 12 years and they have one child.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE The Inner Circle
NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C., Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Dreisa Jordan Sherrill is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Platinum Consulting Professional 2023 for her contributions to the Pageant Consulting Services Industry.

Dreisa Jordan Sherrill

Ms. Sherrill pursued higher education at Catawba College where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry and Commerce. She then attended Appalachian State University where she received a Master's degree in Educational Leadership and Administration followed by completing Ph.D. coursework in educational leadership and cultural foundations at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Known for her excellence as a personal stylist with more than 20 years in the pageant consulting field, Ms. Sherrill is the owner and operator of Queen D Consulting LLC and provides clients with a wide array of consulting services, including pageantry, fashion, and home decor. She asserts that she conducts individual consulting sessions with pageant contestants seeking preparation for interviews and assistance with general stage presence. She also provides personal fashion and wardrobe updating services as well as organization and styling for a variety of living spaces. Ms. Sherrill previously worked as a pageant consultant and wardrobe stylist for the Foxy Lady, an upscale women's boutique providing daywear for all ages.

Upon consideration of her career, Ms. Sherrill notes that is proud to have traveled to 28 states working as a director; judge; entertainer; and choreographer within the pageant industry. A testament to her exceptional knowledge of the pageantry industry, she has been awarded Miss Salisbury-Rowan in 1979; Miss Western Piedmont in 1982; Ms. Senior World 60s in 2021; Ms. South Carolina Senior America in 2022; and was also named the Global Beauty Awards Best Rookie Contestant in 2022.

Contact:

Katherine Green

516-825-5634

[email protected]

SOURCE The Inner Circle
TARRYTOWN, N.Y., Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Pierre-Yves Sonke, MD, is acknowledged as a Top Pinnacle Healthcare Professional for his contributions to Medical Imaging.

Pierre-Yves Sonke

Dr. Sonke began his scholarship at Erasmus Medical School in Rotterdam Netherlands and graduated in 1985. He then continued with a two-year fellowship in cancer research focused in radiation biology supported by the Kankerbestrijding (KWF), Dutch Cancer Society, in Rijswijk and Amsterdam Netherlands. Upon relocating to England, he completed internships in oncology at Princess Royal Hospital; emergency medicine at Hull Royal Infirmary; anesthesia at Royal Berkshire Hospital; and clinical chemistry at Royal Hallamshire Hospital.

Continuing his exceptional education, Dr. Sonke enrolled a residency in anatomical and clinical pathology in Long Island, New York. He completed a residency in nuclear medicine at North Shore Hospital and in diagnostic radiology at New York Methodist Hospital. The doctor attained board certification in diagnostic radiology through ABR and notes that the ABR is a not-for-profit physician-led organization that oversees the certification and ongoing professional development of specialists in diagnostic radiology interventional radiology radiation oncology and medical physics.

Dr. Sonke is currently an attending physician at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, New York. He is considered a specialist, including body imaging; nuclear medicine; PET/CT; body CT; MR and ultrasound imaging. According to the doctor, diagnostic radiology refers to the field of medicine that uses non-invasive imaging scans for medical diagnosis.

In addition to his medical practice, Dr. Sonke is an assistant professor of radiology at New York Medical College. He is a member of the American Roentgen Ray Society and the European Society of Radiology.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE The Inner Circle
The Nebraska Supreme Court has publicly reprimanded a Hastings judge for pulling strings to help his friend and parish priest out of a ticket he'd gotten for driving away from a gas station without paying.

County Court Judge Michael P. Burns got no additional punishment for his misconduct, Chief Justice Mike Heavican, who chairs the Commission on Judicial Qualifications, wrote in the reprimand, which came out with Friday's opinions.

Heavican said Burns, who had no history of prior discipline, "expressed embarrassment and remorse and has acknowledged the consequences, albeit unintended, of this misconduct."

The judge also immediately reported his own conduct and fully cooperated with the Judicial Qualifications Commission investigation that followed.

According to the order, on March 16, during a noon break, Burns got a message from a county clerk magistrate who had noticed a misdemeanor charge being filed against someone the clerk recognized as Burns' friend and parish priest, who isn't named in the reprimand.

Although a judge hadn't yet been assigned and Burns had a clear conflict due to his friendship with the priest, he told the clerk to hold off processing the charge so he could look into it.

Burns called the County Attorney who had filed the charge, feeling certain that his friend wouldn't have intentionally driven away from a convenience store without paying and there must be some mistake.

"He asked if further investigation might be warranted before proceeding, and provided the defendant's phone number to pass along to law enforcement," Heavican said.

He also contacted his friend, notifying him of the charge and encouraging him to follow up with law enforcement to resolve it.

Burns reported his conduct the same day.

The commission found Burns' actions "improper," and said he should have told the clerk magistrate he had a conflict of interest. And he shouldn't have gone to the prosecutor.

"Although Judge Burns reasoned he was helping his parish priest avoid the public embarrassment of an unjust minor criminal charge, he was only able to do so by virtue of his judicial position, using knowledge and contacts afforded to him as a judge," Heavican said in the reprimand, which is intended to address the specific conduct as well as instruct other judges should they find themselves in similar circumstances.

Burns has been a judge since 2011.
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of New Orleans has announced a partnership with Academic Partnerships (AP) to support the expansion of its online portfolio of graduate degree programs. UNO will launch six online graduate programs designed to meet the needs of working adults looking for an alternative to traditional on-campus education.

The University of New Orleans will offer programs in the College of Business Administration, the Dr. Robert A. Savoie College of Engineering, and the College of Liberal Arts, Education and Human Development.

With classes starting in January 2024, the following programs will be offered in 8-week courses and can be completed in as little as one year:

Master of Science in Engineering Management

Master of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management Executive Track

Master of Science in Tax Accounting

Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction

Master of Education in Educational Leadership (K-12)

Master of Education in Higher Education Administration

"We are excited to team up with Academic Partnerships. Together we will build on our shared mission of providing high-quality education in an affordable way," said Darrell Kruger, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. "As one of Louisiana's most diverse universities we continue to be focused on meeting our students where they are. By offering our programs in a more accessible format, we will be better able to serve our local community, Louisiana and beyond."

The University of New Orleans is a public metropolitan research university committed to providing educational excellence to a diverse undergraduate and graduate student body. The University is one of the region's foremost public resources, offering a variety of world-class, research-based programs, advancing shared knowledge, and adding to the region's industry, culture and economy. UNO has been repeatedly recognized as one of top 50 national universities whose students graduate with the least average debt.

"AP is proud to partner with the University of New Orleans to expand their online programs," said Fernando Bleichmar, CEO of Academic Partnerships. "We are especially looking forward to helping launch the programs in education. As school districts across Louisiana face devastating teacher shortages, UNO is working hard to make their education programs more accessible to the working teacher, in an affordable way. These programs will have a meaningful impact on the community, and we are excited to partner with UNO to make this a reality."

Helping to support this affordable and quality delivery model is Academic Partnerships, a leading online facilitator based in Dallas, Texas. AP is a partner to more than 55 universities across the country, primarily regional public universities, helping those institutions expand access to high-quality, affordable and workforce-relevant education.

The first cycle of classes begins January 8, 2024, with an application deadline of December 18, 2023. For more information or to apply for these programs, please visit https://online.uno.edu.

About the University of New Orleans

The University of New Orleans (UNO) is a major research university in one of the world's most fascinating cities. For 65 years, it has been one of the city's foremost public resources, offering a diverse set of world-class, research-based programs, advancing shared knowledge and adding to the city's industry, culture and economy. Since 1958, UNO has educated students from all 64 Louisiana parishes, all 50 states in the United States and more than 140 countries. Today UNO offers more than 40 undergraduate and pre-professional programs and more than 40 graduate programs.

For more information, please visit www.uno.edu.

About Academic Partnerships

Based in Dallas, Texas, Academic Partnerships is an online facilitator that assists primarily public institutions of higher education across North America in taking their academic programs online and recruits and retains qualified students through program completion. AP's mission is to expand access to high-quality, affordable, and workforce relevant education, especially for working and adult students. Founded in digital innovation more than a decade ago, Academic Partnerships brings single-minded dedication, an integrated set of services and data-driven performance to our collaboration with university partners. For more information on innovative online learning solutions, please visit www.academicpartnerships.com.

SOURCE Academic Partnerships
A jury from AI Worldwide Finance Awards has recognized VantagePoint, the first A.I. powered software for independent traders.

WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla., Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Acquisition International has recognized VantagePoint as the "Best Predictive A.I. Software for Traders (USA)" as part of this year's 2023 Worldwide Finance Awards. Each year this program serves to honor those who are firmly at the forefront of the Financial Services sector on a global scale!

Louis Mendelsohn founded Vantagepoint A.I. over 40 years ago with the mission of leveling the trading field for independent traders. When he released his concept of strategy backtesting, Mendelsohn transformed the trading world.

With the release of the VantagePoint's first A.I. software in 1991, Vantagepoint A.I. became the first company in the world to offer traders the power of Artificial Intelligence for their home computers and gave birth to what would become the FinTech Industry.

Vantagepoint's dual-patented, predictive, A.I.-driven forecasts and Global Intermarket Analysis allow traders to see predicted market movements 1-3 days in advance. VantagePoint's A.I. forecasts have been third-party verified at up to 87.4% proven accuracy, surpassing the typical 27% associated with market "gurus."

"For decades our software is literally helping traders around the world change their lives," says company President Lane Mendelsohn. "Using the information from our technical analysis, traders can make trading decisions with far more confidence and better trade timing for improved opportunities to find gains. In turn, VantagePoint traders tend to pay their trading success forward by creating a lasting legacy for their families and their communities."

While many companies now claim to use A.I., VantagePoint continues to be a stand-out for its longevity, two U.S. Patents, and track record.

See how A.I. can transform trading and provide insights, confidence, and timing assistance at a free, live, interactive training. Traders in attendance suggest which markets to be reviewed at each class. Attendees benefit from seeing what the A.I. forecast is for their favorite markets.

About Vantagepoint AI, LLC. Vantagepoint's artificial intelligence-based software forecasts Stocks, Futures, Forex, and ETFs with proven accuracy of up to 87.4%. Using patented Neural Network processes, VantagePoint software predicts changes in market trend direction up to three days in advance. Traders then know the optimal times to make their trades. Family-owned, Vantagepoint employs over 80 team members and is actively committed to giving back in the Tampa Bay community including regularly donating a portion of revenue to Shriners Hospitals for Children, Pasco Kids First, and The Children's Cancer Center. See artificial intelligence in action with a demonstration: www.vantagepointsoftware.com/demo

Media Contact: Jordan Youtz

[email protected]

SOURCE VantagePoint Software
"I am delighted to report that we submitted a Breakthrough Device Designation Request to the FDA in June for our Nu.Q technology in relation to sepsis. This was a milestone moment in our company's history and for the first time we are in active discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. We believe that our case is strong, and we look forward to reaching agreement on a clear regulatory pathway to approval, for what we believe would be a pioneering product."

"We continued making considerable progress with our Centers of Excellence in Europe for Nu.Q NETs, with the first clinical paper resulting from one Center already submitted for peer review and look forward to hosting a Key Opinion Leader Roundtable Event focused on sepsis in September," commented Cameron Reynolds, President and Group Chief Executive Officer of Volition.

"We are also getting closer to our goal of making our canine cancer screening and monitoring test accessible worldwide, through our current relationships, and through expected additional launches in large markets later this year.

"I am pleased to report that in the first half of 2023 we have already exceeded the total full year revenue we recorded in 2022 with total revenue to June 30th of $366,000. Revenue for the Nu.Q Vet Cancer Test grew five-fold over the prior year, reflecting sales of the reference kits through our global supply agreements."

Financial Highlights



Cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2023 , totaled approximately $19.7 million compared with $10.9 million at the end of 2022.

, totaled approximately compared with at the end of 2022. Received approximately $17.6 million net of underwriter's fees and commissions in cash through an underwritten public offering of its common stock in June.

net of underwriter's fees and commissions in cash through an underwritten public offering of its common stock in June. Expect to receive a further $13 million in milestone payments from Heska Corporation and additional significant non-dilutive funding from several Belgian agencies.

Event: VolitionRx Limited Second Quarter 2023 Earnings and Business Update Conference Call

Date: Tuesday, August 15, 2023

Time: 8:30 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time

U.S. & Canada Dial-in: 1-877-407-9716 (toll free)

U.K. Dial-in: 0 800 756 3429 (toll free)

Toll/International: 1-201-493-6779

Conference ID: 13740530

Cameron Reynolds, President and Group Chief Executive Officer of Volition, will host the call along with Terig Hughes, Group Chief Financial Officer, Dr. Tom Butera, Chief Executive Officer of Volition Veterinary Diagnostics Development LLC, and Scott Powell, Executive Vice President, Investor Relations. The call will provide an update on important events which have taken place in the second quarter of 2023 and upcoming milestones.

A live audio webcast of the conference call will also be available on the investor relations page of Volition's corporate website at https://ir.volition.com. In addition, a telephone replay of the call will be available until August 29, 2023. The replay dial-in numbers are 1-844-512-2921 (toll-free) in the U.S. and Canada and 1-412-317-6671 (toll) internationally. Please use replay pin number 13740530.

About Volition

Volition is a multi-national epigenetics company powered by Nu.Q, its proprietary nucleosome quantification platform. Through its subsidiaries, Volition is developing simple, easy to use, cost effective blood tests to help diagnose and monitor a range of life-altering diseases including some cancers and diseases associated with NETosis such as sepsis and COVID-19. Early diagnosis and monitoring have the potential to not only prolong the life of patients but also improve their quality of life. The tests are based on the science of Nucleosomics, which is the practice of identifying and measuring nucleosomes in the bloodstream or other bodily fluid - an indication that disease is present.

Volition's research and development activities are centered in Belgium, with an innovation laboratory and office in the U.S. and additional offices in London and Singapore.

The contents found at Volition's website address and YouTube are not incorporated by reference into this document and should not be considered part of this document. The addresses for Volition's website and YouTube are included in this document as inactive textual references only.

Media Enquiries:

Louise Batchelor/Debra Daglish, Volition, [email protected], +44 (0)7557 774620

Safe Harbor Statement

Statements in this press release may be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that concern matters that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or projected in the forward-looking statements. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "aims," "targets," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "optimizing," "potential," "goal," "suggests," "could," "would," "should," "may," "will" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other topics, Volition's expectations related to the revenue opportunities and launches of product sales with Heska and other counterparties to agreements, the timing, completion, success and delivery of data from clinical studies, the receipt of additional non-dilutive funding, the potential uses, benefits and effectiveness of its Nucleosomics technology platform, including the Nu.Q NETs test and the Nu.Q Vet Cancer Test, and the timing and execution of Volition's strategy with the FDA. Volition's actual results may differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements due to numerous risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, results of studies testing the efficacy of its tests; a failure by the marketplace to accept Volition's Nu.Q NETs test, Nu.Q Vet Cancer Test or other products based on its Nucleosomics platform; Volition's failure to secure adequate intellectual property protection; Volition's failure to obtain necessary regulatory clearances or approvals to distribute and market future products; Volition will face fierce competition and its intended products may become obsolete due to the highly competitive nature of the diagnostics and disease monitoring markets and their rapid technological change; downturns in domestic and foreign economies; and other risks, including those identified in Volition's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as well as other documents that Volition files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For instance, if Volition fails to develop and commercialize diagnostic, prognostic or disease monitoring products, it may be unable to execute its plan of operations. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about Volition's business based, in part, on assumptions made by management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release, and, except as required by law, Volition does not undertake an obligation to update its forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.

Nucleosomics and Nu.Q and their respective logos are trademarks and/or service marks of VolitionRx Limited and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, service marks and trade names referred to in this press release are the property of their respective owners. Additionally, unless otherwise specified, all references to "$" refer to the legal currency of the United States of America.

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1sWyf4pC4U

SOURCE VolitionRx Limited
BENTON HARBOR, Mich., Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Whirlpool Corporation board of directors has appointed Rudy Wilson, president of global consumer brands at SC Johnson, to the board, effective August 14, 2023. Wilson will serve on the audit committee and the finance committee.

Wilson, 48, was named president of global consumer brands at SC Johnson in 2021, after serving as chief marketing officer for the consumer brands division and as a regional senior vice president. Previously, Wilson held brand, marketing and general management roles at AT&T Corporation and PepsiCo, Inc.

Rudy Wilson

Wilson graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration from Arizona State University and a masters in business administration from the University of Michigan.

"Rudy Wilson's experience as a leader in marketing consumer products makes him an excellent addition to our board," said Marc Bitzer, chairman and CEO of Whirlpool Corporation. "We know his experience nurturing successful brands will allow him to bring a valuable perspective to both our board of directors and Whirlpool Corporation."

About Whirlpool Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is committed to being the best global kitchen and laundry company, in constant pursuit of improving life at home. In an increasingly digital world, the company is driving purposeful innovation to meet the evolving needs of consumers through its iconic brand portfolio, including Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, Consul, Brastemp, Amana, Bauknecht, JennAir, Indesit, Yummly and InSinkErator. In 2022, the company reported approximately $20 billion in annual sales, 61,000 employees and 56 manufacturing and technology research centers. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com.

SOURCE Whirlpool Corporation
XNK Therapeutics AB today announced that two posters, regarding bladder cancer and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) respectively, will be presented at the 20th Meeting of the Society for Natural Immunity (NK2023) in Oslo, Norway, in September

HUDDINGE, Sweden, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- XNK Therapeutics will participate at NK2023 in Oslo in September and present the latest research relating to the company's leading natural killer (NK) cells therapies. Two abstracts have been accepted for presentation at the meeting.

The data have been generated in collaboration with XNK's external partners, Anders Ullen and Fernanda Costa Svedman at the Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden, for the bladder cancer abstract, and Abhishek Maiti and Naval Daver at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, USA, for the AML abstract.

NK2023 is the 20th annual meeting arranged by the Society of Natural Immunity and takes place in Oslo, Norway, on September 26-29, 2023. The meeting will attract more than 450 participants and is focused entirely on NK cells, with a preceding day entirely focused on the development of NK cell-based immunotherapies.

"Discussing our pipeline with the world's combined expertise really helps us moving forward and as one of the leading companies in the field we are pleased to contribute to this important meeting," said Anna-Karin Maltais, CSO of XNK Therapeutics.

For more information, please contact:

Johan Liwing, CEO, XNK Therapeutics

Tel: +46 706 70 36 75

E-mail: [email protected]

About XNK Therapeutics AB

XNK Therapeutics is a clinical stage immunotherapy company focused on bringing new and more effective treatments to cancer patients. The company is at the forefront of autologous NK cell-based cell therapy development with a proprietary technology platform and a pipeline spanning both hematological malignancies and solid tumor indications. The most advanced product, evencaleucel, is in phase II studies in combination with the CD38 antibody isatuximab targeting multiple myeloma. Other programs include XNK02 in AML, currently in advanced preclinical studies in collaboration with MD Anderson Cancer Center and XNK03 in bladder cancer, currently in preclinical studies in collaboration with the Karolinska University Hospital. XNK's efforts are supported by a dedicated team that include world-renowned NK cell experts and by an approved in-house GMP facility. XNK Therapeutics is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. For more info, please visit http://www.xnktherapeutics.com.

About Bladder Cancer

According to the World Health Organization over 570,000 new cases of bladder cancer was diagnosed in 2020 globally. It is the 4th most common form of cancer in men and the American Cancer Society estimates that bladder cancer will cause over 17,000 deaths in 2022 in US alone. It affects mainly older people with 90% of patients being diagnosed at an age above 55 years. In locally advanced urothelial cancer, which constitutes about 30% of bladder cancers, the 5-year survival rate is below 40% and current treatments may include removal of the entire bladder, radiation, chemotherapy and checkpoint inhibitors. For metastatic disease the 5-year survival rate is limited to approximately 6% and current standard systemic treatments include chemotherapy, immunotherapy and antibody-drug conjugates.

About Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

AML is the most common form of acute leukemia in adults. Globally, close to 200,000 new patients are diagnosed and about 150,000 will die from AML each year. In AML, the bone marrow produces a large number of abnormal immature blood cells, so called blasts, that can overcrowd the bone marrow and interfere with the production of healthy mature blood cells. This results in for example infections and anemia. The blasts can also spread to other parts of the body, including the central nervous system.

Current treatments include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, stem cell transplantation and targeted therapy such as kinase inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies. The overall outcome for patients remains poor, relapse is common and 5-year survival rates are around 30%.

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/16693/3816949/2226154.pdf XNK Therapeutics to present two posters at the NK2023 conference in Oslo in September https://news.cision.com/xnk-therapeutics-ab/i/anna-karin-maltais,c3205438 Anna-Karin Maltais

SOURCE XNK Therapeutics AB
YANGGU, China, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Yanggu County, east China's Shandong Province, is the sole city at the intersection of the "Yellow River and Canal Cultural Tourism Belt". In recent years, the county has made great efforts to develop the cultural tourism brand of "Heroic Yanggu, a Pearl at the Yellow River and Canal" by taking the Yellow River and the Grand Canal as the link and promoting the integrated development of culture and tourism. To revitalize the cultural heritage of the "Yellow River and Canal", the county has strengthened its protection and utilization.

In recent years, preservation and exhibition projects have been carried out for various cultural relics related to the Yanggu section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, a world cultural heritage site. These include the remains of the Jingmen upper and lower water gates, Acheng upper and lower water gates, Taochengpu water gate, Canal Stone Bridge, Watergate Bridge, Zhangqiu Port, Qiji Port, as well as important cultural relics such as the salt transport department of Acheng, the Family Chen's former residence in Zhangqiu, and the Qiji Canal Ancient Street. The Chen's former residence has been transformed into the Yanggu Museum of Canal Culture, according to the News Office of the People's Government of Yanggu County.

By focusing on construction projects, the county aims to drive the development of the "Yellow River and Canal" cultural tourism industry. Since 2022, the county has submitted proposals for major projects, including the comprehensive development and construction of the ecological protection and culture and tourism integration of the Grand Canal National Cultural Park (Yanggu section of Huitong River), the transformation and upgrading of the Jingyang Hill tourist attraction, the construction of Yanggu Ancient City, and the construction of Chiyou Mausoleum Farming Cultural Park. These projects are part of the major construction project repository for the ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin.

Based on innovation and development, the county aims to integrate the cultural tourism resources of the "Yellow River and Canal". Yanggu County actively promotes the construction of the "Yellow River and Canal Cultural Tourism Belt", encouraging the innovative development of the Yellow River Culture and the Canal Culture. The county seeks to fully integrate into the tourism development layout of Shandong. With the support of core cultural tourism projects, revolutionary tourism routes, and the county's cultural resources, Yanggu has launched various travel routes, such as "revolutionary culture plus Yellow River culture", "revolutionary culture plus canal culture", and "revolutionary culture plus study tour".

Image Attachments Links:

Link: https://iop.asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=441835

Caption: The Grand Canal flows slowly through the Qiji Town of Yanggu County, vibrant with new vitality.

SOURCE The News Office of the People's Government of Yanggu County
LINCOLN  A Lancaster County District Court judge on Friday granted a motion to dismiss a lawsuit challenging a new law that increases restrictions on abortions and gender-affirming care for minors, but an appeal is likely on the horizon.

Judge Lori Maret filed her decision Friday after hearing arguments from lawyers for Planned Parenthood of the Heartland and the Nebraska Attorney Generals Office last month. The lawsuit claimed the law, enacted through Legislative Bill 574, violated the State Constitutions single-subject rule.

In her decision, Maret sided with the states arguments that all regulations within LB 574 fell under the category of health care.

We are thankful for the courts thoughtful analysis and recognition of the Legislatures prerogatives and processes, Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers said in an email. As a result of todays order, LB 574 remains law in Nebraska.

Planned Parenthood sought a temporary injunction through the challenge to halt the enforcement of the 12-week gestational ban on abortions, which took effect immediately, while the gender-affirming care restrictions wont begin until October. Marets decision keeps the abortion restrictions in place.

In response to the decision, the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska  which supplied most of the lawyers representing Planned Parenthood  immediately stated their intent to appeal the decision.

Ruth Richardson, CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States, in an email statement described the decision as a devastating blow to Nebraskans rights. She said LB 574s abortion restrictions will primarily hurt people of color, rural residents and low-income households.

We will never stop fighting for the freedom, bodily autonomy and health of our communities, Richardson said.

The final version of LB 574 that was signed into law in May immediately banned abortions after 12 weeks based on gestational age, and will restrict hormone therapy and puberty blockers for individuals under 19 starting Oct. 1, while also banning gender-affirming surgeries for the same age group.

The bill started out as an attempt solely to ban gender-affirming care for people under 19, while a separate bill sought to ban abortions after embryonic cardiac activity could be detected, at about the six-week mark. But the abortion measure, LB 626, was blocked when supporters failed to get enough votes to cut off a filibuster.

Supporters then combined the two topics into an amendment that replaced the original language of LB 574.

Gov. Jim Pillen called the resulting bill an important law and said he was grateful for Fridays decision.

I was proud to sign into law a measure that protects kids and defends the unborn, and I am pleased that it has been upheld, he said.

Opponents had a different view.

We strongly disagree with the courts conclusion, said Mindy Rush Chipman, executive director of the ACLU of Nebraska. State senators combined unrelated restrictions into a single bill in their rush to take away Nebraskans rights.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of August 2023
Breaking: Coinbase Expands to Canada With New Crypto Offerings

Source: Pixabay / Pete Linforth

Crypto exchange giant Coinbase has announced its official launch in Canada, offering users a series of new features including 30-day free use of Coinbase One and zero trading fees.

Announced Monday, the exchange said that the international expansion demonstrates its commitment to Canada as a priority Go Deep market. The Go Deep strategy leverages relationships with customers to sell more. This means that the customers are already aware of the business as a vendor, as a result the risks are lower from their perspective.

Coinbase has teamed up with Peoples Trust Company, a Vancouver-based financial services firm, to provide access to the Interac e-Transfers to all Canadians. This service simplifies the process of transferring money, making cryptocurrencies more accessible to users in the country.

As Coinbases next Go Deep Market, we are making significant investments to help Canadians access the benefits of cryptocurrency, said Nana Murugesan, Vice President, International and Business Development, Coinbase.

Murugesan further added that high levels of crypto awareness, a passionate local tech ecosystem, and the countrys progress toward a strong regulatory framework have positioned Canada as a lucrative crypto hub for exchanges and crypto businesses.

The move comes at a time when other crypto trading platforms such as Binance, the worlds largest crypto exchange, said they were pulling out of Canada due to new guidance about stablecoins and limits to investors.

New Offerings to Canadians

Coinbase said that the expansion would bring in a slew of added features for Canadians such as 30-day free use of Coinbase One, access to zero trading fees, boosted staking rewards, priority 24/7 support, and more.

Starting today, Canadian Coinbase users can also maximize the full potential of crypto with the best of Coinbase through membership with Coinbase One, the press release noted.

The company further said that Interac e-Transfers was the most requested feature by Canadian users. Users can deposit funds to Coinbase using this feature for free and almost instant, it added.

In the last month, over 50% of deposits have been made through Interac e-transfer.

According to a Bloomberg report in May, Coinbase has been setting its sights on growth outside the U.S. The company has been facing charges from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for operating as an unregistered securities exchange.

The companys CEO Brian Armstrong said at the time that Coinbase was proud to represent the industry in court in order to get regulatory clarity.

The expansion is a part of Coinbases Go Broad, Go Deep strategy, revealed in March, which includes growing its presence across six continents except for Antarctica. The exchange has nearly 200 full-time employees in Canada, making it its largest tech hub outside the US.
Lowell Gates was seen on body-camera footage throwing an object at officers before lunging at them with a flagpole, striking them at least thr
Islamabad, Aug 14 : China has strongly condemned the terror attack on a Chinese convoy in Balochistan's Gwadar on Sunday and has asked the Pakistani side to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Chinese Consulate General in Karachi in a statement later in the day said that all its citizens remained safe without being injured in the attack.

The Consulate General also asked the Pakistani side to take concrete and effective measures to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens, organizations and projects, Xinhua news agency reported.

"The Consulate General has immediately activated the emergency plan, reminding local Chinese citizens, enterprises and projects to be vigilant, upgrade security measures, prevent security risks, pay close attention to the security situation, and ensure safety," the statement added.

The convoy of vehicles belonging to Chinese engineers and Pakistani forces was targeted in Balochistanas coastal city of Gwadar on Sunday morning.

"Pro-independence" group Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack.
Lucknow, Aug 14 : The Samajwadi Party (SP) has announced the formation of its new state executive unit for Uttar Pradesh, which was dissolved by party president Akhilesh Yadav after the 2022 Assembly elections.

Senior party member Mohammad Azam Khan's son Abdullah Azam Khan has been made the party's state secretary in the new panel, the party's chief spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhury said.

He also said the new unit will have Irfanul Haq, C.L. Verma, Shyampal Bind and R.S. Bind as its vice presidents, and Rajkumar Mishra as treasurer.

The unit will have 61 secretaries, 48 members and 62 special invitee members besides others, Chaudhury added.

He said the party has taken forward 'PDA' (backwards, Dalits and minorities) in the list while trying to give due importance to the cadre.

Party chief Akhilesh Yadav recently spelt out his ''PDA formula'' for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls as a combination of ''Pichde (backward classes), Dalit and Alpasankhyak (minorities)''. He said it would ensure that the BJP bites the dust in the polls next year.

Chaudhury said that the 182-member state executive was announced after it was approved by Yadav.

In what was seen as an attempt to revamp the party after the debacle in the Assembly elections and the Lok Sabha bypolls in its bastions of Rampur and Azamgarh, the SP had dissolved the national, state and district executive bodies of all its organisations last year. Only its state president for Uttar Pradesh Naresh Uttam Patel was retained.
Meerut, Aug 14 : A 14-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped by two minors from her school when she was returning home after attending classes in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut district.

The victim, a Class 9 student, was walking back to her home in the districtas Rohta area when the accused -- one in Class 9 and the other in Class 12, allegedly waylaid her -- forcefully took her to a sugarcane field, and raped her, police said.

According to the complaint lodged by the survivoras father, the accused were stalking his daughter.

A case under Section 376D (gangrape) was registered at the Rohta police station on the basis of the complaint lodged by the girlas father, police said.

Station House Officer of Rohta police station, Ravindra Kumar Singh, said: "The investigation is underway. No accused has been arrested yet. As of now, the accused are absconding and efforts are underway to detain the two minors for questioning."
Lucknow, Aug 14 : The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has sought explanation from the Uttar Pradesh government for implementing the 'Mission Vatsalya' scheme from July 17, 2023, instead of April 1, 2022, when it was notified by the Centre.

A division bench of Justices Rajan Roy and Jaspreet Singh directed the state government to release funds under the centrally sponsored scheme to NGOs concerned from the date it was notified by the union government and not after one year when the state government issued a government order (GO) for it on July 17, 2023.

The Union Ministry of Women and Child development had launched the 'Mission Vatsalya' scheme on April 1, 2022.

Formerly known as 'Child Protection Services Scheme', it is for the welfare and rehabilitation of children in difficult circumstances.

The scheme will benefit child protection homes, both government and private.

However in Uttar Pradesh, the scheme was implemented from July 17, 2023, the date from which the state cabinet issued a government order.

The union government is contributing 60 per cent while the state's share is 40 per cent.

TheCentre had asked all state governments to prepare financial proposals for the year 2022-23 to avail funds under the 'Mission Vatsalya' scheme.

Passing the order, the court directed the government to file an affidavit stating why the scheme was made applicable from July 17, 2023 and not from April 1, 2022.

The court also directed that a state government official not below the rank of Principal Secretary, Women and Child Welfare department, will file the affidavit.

The affidavit will clearly state whether the guidelines of the scheme have been incorporated by the state government completely or partially, said the court.

The court also stated that reasons in both cases must be clearly mentioned in the affidavit.

"The rationale for adoption of the scheme only in part, if it is so, shall also be given," said the court.

The court further directed the state government to release pending funds of the NGOs concerned whose social audit was complete, including Drishti Samajik Sansthan.

The court fixed August 25 as the next date of hearing of the case.
New York, Aug 14 : Indian-American economist Raj Chetty was awarded Harvard University's coveted George Ledlie Prize for using big data to uncover myths, barriers to achieving the American Dream.

Chetty is the William A. Ackman Professor of Economics at Harvard University and director of Opportunity Insights -- a group of economists based at Harvard who study inequality.

"Raj's groundbreaking work on economic mobility and his efforts to share this data with policymakers are making the American Dream more accessible to all," said University Provost and Chief Academic Officer Alan M. Garber.

Using anonymised tax records, Chetty's Opportunity Insights constructed the Opportunity Atlas -- an interactive tool that maps out economic outcomes for children across the US to highlight which neighbourhoods seem to offer the best chance to rise from poverty.

Chetty said he became interested in this work because of his own background, coming to the US from India with his parents when he was nine-years-old. He said he saw the disparities not only between New Delhi and the US, but also between himself and his cousins.

"My parents, who grew up in very low-income families and villages in South India  the opportunities they had were greatly shaped by the fact that they happened to be the ones who were picked to get a higher education in their families," Chetty said in a Harvard University statement.

He added that it was common at that time in developing countries that a family would pick only one child to get advanced education because they couldn't afford to educate all the kids.

"And it so happened to be that my mom was the one chosen in her family, and my dad was the one chosen in his family," he said.

"And I could kind of see how that's played out through the generations in my own family, through the opportunities my cousins have had versus what I've had  ending up here at Harvard and the various opportunities I've had, I felt have stemmed from that."

The work of Opportunity Insights is focused on helping policymakers and economists understand the real-life factors behind economic mobility and pave the way for new approaches to make the American Dream available to all.

His work applies a big-data approach to the science of economic opportunity -- providing granular insights in much the same way that a microscope does for the biological sciences.

Chetty said one of the most impactful outcomes they've been able to observe is the role geography plays in children's outcomes.

"There are some places in America where kids with the exact same background have much better chances of rising up," he said.

"There are other places where they look much worse. So that was interesting in and of its own right, because it teaches you something about the origins of economic opportunity, that it really matters where you grow up. It's about your community, schools, and neighbourhood.

"It speaks to the old debates about nature versus nurture and shows that nurture matters quite a bit, but environment matters quite a bit above and beyond genetics and things like that," he added.

Chetty's earlier work focused on the fading American Dream, neighbourhood variation, and the role of childhood environment as a key driver of economic mobility.

He has since gone on to explore other factors, including the role of racial disparities and social capital and connections.

The George Ledlie Prize is bestowed no more frequently than every two years to a member of the Harvard community who has, "since the last awarding of said prize, by research, discovery, or otherwise, made the most valuable contribution to science, or in any way for the benefit of mankind".

It was last given out in 2021 to Dan Barouch of Harvard Medical School for his work developing a vaccine for Covid-19.

--IANS

mi/ksk
Lucknow, Aug 14 : The boyfriend of an Odisha woman, who was found dead in a car in Vrindavan Colony last week, has been arrested for the murder of the woman, said police on Monday.

The two were arrested on Sunday and have been identified as Vishnu Kumar Dwivedi and his aide Anuj Kumar Gupta a.k.a Sooraj Gupta, both of Kanpur. Both have confessed to their crime.

The prime accused, Vishnu, in his confession told police that he was married to a woman from Kanpur and also had a girlfriend before the marriage. He met the victim a few months back and both came close to one another.

The Odisha resident woman came from a poor family. Her parents had to borrow money to reach Lucknow on police call to identify the body, said the police.

Vishnu said the victim came to know of his marital status and about his second girlfriend and this was a reason for bickering between them. He said he and the girl had regular fights on the issue and he was fed up with her.

On August 9, the day of the incident, he invited his friends to take part in the party he had thrown on his birthday, said SHO, SGPGI, R.R. Singh.

He and his friend Anuj got the victim to take swigs which they gave her in abundance. After she was stone drunk, they strangled her to death and then put the corpse in a car which they abandoned in the thickets near an overhead water tank in sector 19 of Vrindavan Colony and fled the scene, said the police.

The car belonged to one Ravindra of Delhi and the police are yet to find how the car was in possession of Vishnu who took an Express train from Charbagh to flee to Dhanbad but was nabbed.
Carlisle Area School Board learned last week of a pilot program to teach Wilson Middle School students interpersonal skills to build better relationships with their teachers and peers.

Character Strong will be implemented this school year and involve students in all three grade levels.

"We know that culture and climate in our buildings is extremely important," Assistant Superintendent Michael Gogoj told board members. "It has become even more relevant and important through and post pandemic."

Under the proposed program, each student in grades 6 through 8 will be assigned to a group led by a teacher who will guide them through a 40-minute session every other week, said Jacob Evans, principal of Wilson Middle School.

Each grade level will have different topics structured around a core outcome, said Lisa Fulton, district counseling supervisor. In the sixth grade, the topics will focus on belonging since those students are new to the middle school experience. The topics will be meeting new people, building listening skills, understanding conflict resolution and becoming a better friend.

In the seventh grade, the topics will turn to helping students develop personal well-being along with insight on how those practices could impact their relationships with others. Topics will be understanding emotions, understanding stress, building social awareness, acting with empathy and learning to compromise.

Eighth-grade topics will focus on encouraging students to be more engaged in their school and community. Topics will be developing values as guides, practicing effective teamwork for impact, developing strategies for teamwork challenges and becoming school leaders.

The first four sessions in each grade level provide a foundation. Starting with the fifth session, the teacher will use a process called Character Dare to encourage students to practice the concepts in real-life situations.

Examples of Character Dares include growing school spirit by asking a friend to attend an after-school activity, writing a deserving business in town a thank you note and posting a sticky note on a friends desk or locker with a positive message on it.

Three years ago, the district was offered an opportunity to participate in a grant program called the Path to Graduation, Evans said. Research supporting the grant program identified emotional support students as the most likely group to drop out of school before graduation, he said.

Since then, the district has received about $20,000 for additional supports to reduce the likelihood of students dropping out of school, said Jill Condo, director of student services.

The district used part of the grant money to implement an award system for emotional support students at Lamberton Middle School, Evans said. The money was also used to develop the Check & Connect program at both middle schools where teachers mentor at-risk students, he said.

With $3,800 remaining, the district wants to pay for an online subscription to the Character Strong curriculum, Gogoj said. This would include access to downloadable lesson plans, teacher training materials and student worksheets.

The plan is to run Character Strong as a pilot program at Wilson during 2023-24 and then evaluate the results, Gogoj said. Depending on the outcome, the administration could recommend the program be continued at Wilson, expanded to Lamberton or discontinued for 2024-25 and beyond. It would be up to the school board to decide.

During meeting last week, education committee chair Anne Lauritzen asked how the district will fund Character Strong in the future if it is successful.

Evans said the district would have an entire school year with Character Strong as a pilot to figure out how to pay for it in subsequent years.

We might approach the Partnership for Better Health, Board President Paula Bussard said. If the state has grants for supporting mental health [initiatives], there may be some funding available.

Board member Linda Manning said the district could pursue a partnership with the Carlisle Victory Circle, which has experience with programs that promote character building and academic achievement.

There are a lot of very useful life skills, board member David Miller said of Character Strong. It has a lot of potential to do good. The teacher is a very critical component on how to present the material. Has there been any teacher training?

There are training videos available to Wilson teachers explaining how to set up a Character Strong session, Evans said. The district may look at looping where students have the same Character Strong teacher all three years of middle school, he said.

Lessons learned through Character Strong could help address the problem of diminishing levels of social interaction within the broader culture, school board member Bruce Clash said. Behavioral problems not only affect the student who is acting out, but the entire class each time a lesson needs to be shut down to restore order, he said.

It has been a building goal for Wilson to cut down on peer-to-peer issues and disciplinary incidents, Evans said. Research has showed that Character Strong can help with that.

The work we do is all about relationships, Fulton said. If students feel good and more connected to school, they tend to do better academically, she said.
Tirupati, Aug 14 : A leopard, which mauled a six-year-old girl to death on the Alipiri footpath route to Tirumala temple three days ago, was caught by the forest department personnel early Monday.

The animal was trapped in one of the cages near Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple. It was at the same place that the leopard had attacked the girl who was walking ahead of her parents on August 11evening.

The leopard sustained minor injury while it was trapped into the cage. It will be shifted to Tirupati SV Zoo Park, said Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Executive Officer AV Dharma Reddy.

The official said the leopard will be treated at the Zoo, where the experts will also conduct a test to determine if it has turned maneater or not. The forest department will subsequently decide on where to release the leopard.

After the August 11 incident, the temple body has beefed up security along with Forest and Police departments at all the vulnerable points along the footpath route to Tirumala temple.

The forest department along with trained personnel had kept two cages ready along with tranquilisers.

Officials said the movement of leopard was sighted at five places, including three three places near Alipiri to Galigopuram, at Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple and at the 38th Turning on Saturday night.

Lakshitha (6) was attacked by the leopard while she was walking to Tirumala along the Alipiri footpath on Friday. She was walking far ahead of her parents Dinesh and Sasikala.

Her parents searched for her in vain and alerted the TTD officials. The girlas body was found behind Narasimha Swamy temple on Saturday morning.

This was the second incident on the same footpath route in two months. A three-year-old boy, who was trekking to Tirumala along with his parents, was attacked and injured by a leopard on the night of June 22 near the 7thmile. The animal had tried to drag the boy into the forest but it was chased by pilgrims and security personnel.

Three days later, the leopard was trapped in a cage by the forest department near the same spot.

After the latest incident, the TTD decided not to allow pilgrims with children aged below 15 years after 2 p.m. to trek on both the footpath routes to Tirumala temple.

The TTD, which manages the affairs of the famous hill shrine, decided to allow pilgrims with children aged below 15 years from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. only to trek on both the footpath routes.

In another important decision, the movement of the two-wheelers has also been banned from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

TTD Chairman B. Karunakara Reddy will hold a high-level meeting with the TTD Executive Officer, District Collector and Superintendent of Police on Monday to discuss the measures to be taken in view of the safety of the pilgrims in both the footpath routes and Ghat roads.
San Francisco, Aug 14 : Amid the upcoming cage match's comments, X owner Elon Musk on Monday mocked Meta Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg by calling him "chicken".

When an X user posted Zuckerberg's statement that Musk "isn't serious" about the cage match and "it's time to move on", the tech billionaire replied: "Zuck is a chicken."

In response to another post that mentioned that Zuckerberg was trying to chicken out, Musk said: "He can't eat at chic fil a because that would be cannibalism Can't wait to bang on his door tomorrow."

On Sunday, Musk posted a chat with Zuckerberg on X, saying he will be in Palo Alto (California) on Monday and offered to fight on Zuckerberg's "Octagon".

Zuckerberg apparently messaged Musk: "If you still want to do a real MMA fight, then you should train on your own and let me know when you're ready to compete.

"I don't want to keep hyping something that will never happen, so you should either decide you're going to do this and do it soon, or we should move on."

To this, Musk replied: "1 have not been practicing much, apart from a brief bout with Lex Fridman today. While I think it is very unlikely, given our size difference, perhaps you are a modern day Bruce Lee and will somehow win".

In a Threads post later, the Meta founder said: "I think we can all agree Elon isn't serious and it's time to move on. I offered a real date. Dana White offered to make this a legit competition for charity. Elon won't confirm a date, then says he needs surgery, and now asks to do a practice round in my backyard instead.

"If Elon ever gets serious about a real date and official event, he knows how to reach me. Otherwise, time to move on. I'm going to focus on competing with people who take the sport seriously."

Zuckerberg had earlier said he was "not holding his breath" for Musk to agree to a fight date.

Meanwhile, Musk mentioned that he has been in contact with the Italian prime minister and minister of culture about hosting the event.

However, Zuckerberg, who holds a blue belt in jiu-jitsu and recently won gold and silver medals in a tournament. said no date has been agreed.

--IANSaj/ksk
Chennai, Aug 14 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken into custody, V. Ashok Kumar, brother of arrested Tamil Nadu minister Senthil Balaji.

The ED had served many notices to Ashok Kumar for appearing before officials for questioning. However, he had skipped the notices.

The ED, according to sources, took Ashok Kumar into custody from Kochi on Sunday, and then he was taken to Chennai. He will be produced before the Chennai Sessions court on Monday.

It is to be noted that the Enforcement Directorate had recently confiscated a 2. 5-acre property in Karur where a sprawling mansion was constructed in the name of the wife of Ashok Kumar, Nirmala.

The ED has also in its recent 3000-page charge sheet against Senthil Balaji mentioned that Ashok Kumar was one of the main links for all the financial dealings of the minister.

Sources informed IANS that the ED has taken Ashok Kumar into custody for questioning him along with Senthil Balaji to get to the bottom of the huge transactions conducted by the brothers.

Senthil Balaji was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on June 14 on charges of taking money for providing jobs in the transport department while he was a minister in the previous AIADMK government. The ED has charged him under PMLA Act.
Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 14 : Three trains travelling through Kannur and Kasargod districts in Kerala were pelted with stones, said officials on Monday.

The incident happened on Sunday night, and the Southern Railway officials have taken a serious note of this.

What has baffled the Railway Police is the timing of the stoning as it happened between 7.11 pm and 7.16 pm when two trains that left Kannur railway station and were bound to Kasargod. The trains were stoned near Valapattanam . The third train was stoned at Nileshweram, when it had left Kasargod for Kannur.

Even though the police have taken into custody four migrant workers from Valapattanam who were found in an inebriated state, they have claimed that they have done no wrong.

Incidentally, it was in Kannur district that a Vande Bharat train was also stoned a few weeks ago.

The Railways has taken the incident seriously in view of the April 2nd incident when a train bound for Kannur from Kozhikode was set on fire by a 27-year-old Delhi resident, Shahrukh Saifi.

The case is being investigated by the NIA and Saifi is presently under judicial custody.

The Kerala Police also have been roped in and on Monday more probe will take place.
Washington, Aug 14 : Two people ejected safely from a fighter jet that later crashed during an airshow in the US state of Michigan, the media reported.

Shortly after 4 p.m. on Sunday evening, the two occupants parachuted from the MiG-23 fighter jet south of Willow Run Airport, near the city of Ypsilanti, and landed in Belleville Lake, CBS News quoted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as saying.

In a statement, the Wayne County Airport Authority said that neither of the two men suffered significant injuries but both were taken to a local hospital as a precaution, CNN reported.

The aircraft then crashed in the parking lot of a nearby apartment complex and struck unoccupied vehicles, the Authority said, adding that np one in the apartment complex was injured as a result.

Organisers of Thunder Over Michigan, a two-day event of airshows, said they would stop the show after a "situation", but did not share further details.

"Please make your way into your vehicles and calmly make your way out of the airfield. Please be patient as we control traffic around the area," it announced in the social media post.

The incident will be probe by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board.
Niamey, Aug 14 : Niger's junta, which seized power following a coup in July, has vowed to prosecute ousted President Mohamed Bazoum for "high treason" and slammed West African leaders for imposing sanctions on the country.

Bazoum would be prosecuted "for high treason and undermining the internal and external security of Niger", Xinhua news agency quoted Col Maj Amadou Abdramane, a member of the country's Defence and Security Forces and the newly-established National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), as saying late Sunday.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has imposed sanctions on Niger in response to the July 26 coup and approved the deployment of a "standby force to restore constitutional order" in the country as soon as possible but remains committed to finding a diplomatic solution to the crisis, with Niger's coup leaders denouncing the sanctions as "illegal, inhumane and humiliating", according to the local media.

Soldiers in Niger detained Bazoum on July 26 and chose Abdourahamane Tchiani, former leader of the country's presidential guard, to lead the CNSP, a governing body established by them after the coup.

The junta has also indefinitely shut the country's airspace.
Kolkata, Aug 14 : The CPI(M) leadership faced hurdles while trying to explain the concept of the opposition Indian National Development Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) to grassroot workers during district-level party workshops.

Informed sources have said that the recent explanation of the CPI(M) central committee clearly stating that West Bengal will not be part of the party's national stand on the INDIA bloc did not satisfy a large section of the grassroots workers and members.

The question that has invariably surfaced at the district-level workshops that started from Sunday is whether the CPI(M)- led Left Front would give outside support to any probable INDIA- alliance government after the 2024 Lok Sabha polls where Trinamool Congress will also have cabinet presence.

"To be very frank our state leadership really does not have any answer to this question, since we are ourselves not clear in the matter," a CPI(M) state committee member said.

Another important question that was raised in the workshops was about the wall-graffiti campaign in support of left front candidates for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

The question is whether the grafitti will be "Vote for Left Front- supported CPI(M) candidate", or "Vote for INDIA-supported CPI(M) candidate".

"The question is if both Trinamool Congress and CPI(M) candidates start writing 'INDIA-supported before their names in the wall-graffiti, then there is a possibility of utter confusion among the common and more specially the continuing dedicated left voters. This is yet another question that the party leadership does not have any answer," the state committee leader said.

Meanwhile, regular grievances also surfaced at the workshops about CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury sharing the same dais and seen in the same frame with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in INDIA-alliance meeting in Patna and Bengaluru.

Some grassroots workers, according to party insiders, have also complained on why Yechury had not been as vocal about the recent panchayat poll violence as he should have been.
Bengaluru, Aug 14 : The Karnataka Education Department has locked the school after its owner-principal was arrested for allegedly raping a Class 2 student in the Varthuru locality of Bengaluru, sources confirmed on Monday.

The accused had obtained permission to build the school in Koramangala locality, but allegedly unofficially constructed the school in Varthur.

The Block Education Officer (BEO) has issued orders in this regard. The development has left 140 students, who are studying in this school, and their parents in lurch and are concerned about the replacement of the school.

Sources in the education department said that the parents have assured parents that they would obtain a seat for their wards in the school of their choice in the area and the fees would be fixed by the government. The parents have been told to choose alternative schools and get their children admitted.

Ten-year-old girl studying in Class 2 was raped by the principal on August 3. The police had arrested the accused principal following the parents' complaint.

According to police, the girl suffered from mild dyslexia. The incident had taken place when the girl had gone to the school at 8.30 a.m. The accused principal had taken her to his house located next to the school and committed the crime.

The accused had given the girl a cake after raping her. When the girl came back home, she complained of stomach ache to parents. The mother had observed bleeding in the undergarment, took her to a hospital and got her treated.

After visiting the hospital, gradually, the girl revealed everything to her mother. The parents of the girl then lodged a case and the police registered a case under the provisions of the POCSO Act.

mka

IANS
In a historic win, Sikh graduates US Marine boot camp with articles of faith. Image Source: IANS News

New York, Aug 14 : A Sikh army recruit, who fought a two-year-long legal battle to keep his articles of faith, has graduated from the US Marine Corps recruit training with his turban, beard and unshorn hair, paving way for religious freedom in the American military.

Jaskirat Singh, who was shipped off for boot camp in May, graduated on August 11 after three months of hard training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.

"I am honored to serve my country in the Marine Corps, and proud that I was able to do so while respecting my Sikh faith," Jaskirat was cited as saying in a Sikh Coalition release.

"I hope that my graduation sends a clear message to other young Sikhs who are considering military service: Your faith does not have to be a barrier to any career," he said.

"He was a squad leader throughout training," Major Joshua Pena, a spokesman for the Marine Corps Training and Education Command, told Military.com.

"He met all the standards. He's a Marine... We're really excited to see what he does with his career," Major Pena added.

Jaskirat, along with Aekash Singh and Milaap Singh Chahal, had sued the US government in April last year after the Marine Corps offered an accommodation that would require Sikhs to surrender their turbans and beards while at boot camp.

They argued that allowing Sikhs to wear religious beards would disrupt troop uniformity and appearance among the recruits, ultimately threatening national security.

In a historic move last December, the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals ultimately granted a preliminary injunction to allow Jaskirat to attend recruit training with his articles of faith.

The court cited that the present Corps' boot camp rule of cutting hair and shaving beards as a violation of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA).

"Singh (Jaskirat) is the latest in a long line of Sikhs to prove that turbans and beards pose no barrier to honorable and capable military service. Now, with a forward-looking policy change, the Marine Corps can ensure that it continues to welcome more capable recruits from all faith backgrounds," Amandeep S. Sidhu from Winston & Strawn LLP, said.

"His achievement is yet another testament to the simple fact that no one should be made to choose between any career and their religious beliefs," Giselle Klapper, Deputy Legal Director of the Sikh Coalition, said.

Jaskirat's case was represented by the Sikh Coalition, Winston & Strawn, the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, and BakerHostetler.

Other branches of the US military -- the US Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard -- already accommodate the religious requirements of Sikhism.

--IANS

mi/ksk
Los Angeles, Aug 14 : Actor Zachary Levi was at a fan event where he called out the film industry for the "garbage" content they put out.

"I personally feel like the amount of content that comes out of Hollywood that is garbage a" they don't care enough to actually make it great for you guys. They don't," Levi said during the Chicago Fan Expo this weekend while voicing support for the writers and actors on strike, according to Deadline.

The star of 'Shazam! Fury of the Gods' continued: "How many times do you watch a trailer and go, 'Oh my god, this looks so cool!' Then you go to the movie and it's like, 'This was what I get?' They know that once you've already bought the ticket and you're in the seat, they've got your money. And the only way for us to change any of it is to not go to the garbage. We have to actively not choose the garbage. It'll help. It'll help a lot."

Levi recently clarified comments he made during a fan event about the SAG-AFTRA strike that impedes him from talking about his work as an actor.

The Chuck alum said that his comments were taken out of context adding: "I fully support my union, the WGA, and the strike. I remain an outspoken critic of the exploitative system that us artists are subject to work in since I started my journey in this business 25 years ago. This strike is necessary to protect ourselves, our writers, and all those working in production who make the industry move."

Levi also mentioned that during the strike he believes that actors shouldn't forget about their fans as "our business exists and succeeds because of the fans, and I think it's imperative we appreciate them for their support of our careers."
In what is being described as a freak and unpredictable accident, a horse died and a rider fractured her skull at a polo match Sunday afternoon at King Family Vineyards in Crozet.

The horse, Fortuna, died after experiencing an aortic aneurysm.

She [the horse] collapsed just as she got onto the field, Ali King, a trainer at the Roseland Polo Club at King Family Vineyards, told The Daily Progress on Monday. It is so unlucky there was a rider on her when this happened.

The player, a guest from a visiting Jamaican team, experienced a minor skull fracture, according to King. The player was released from the hospital Monday morning and is predicted to make a full recovery.

The rider had been playing for a number of years, King said. This is a freak and unpredictable incident.

Every year, Roseland Polo professional players face off against a team from Jamaica on the pitch at King Family Vineyards. Hundreds of spectators attend weekly polo matches in the summer, and this one was no different.

According to King, Fortuna had just come onto the field when she collapsed. The teenage horse was said to be healthy aside from a preexisting condition.

Fortuna was in good health as far as we know. It is so unfortunate, King said. She had a preexisting condition where her aorta would swell to a larger-than-normal size. A teenage horse is plenty young enough to be doing what she was doing. Plenty of horses play into their 20s.

When a horses aorta ruptures, blood fills and compresses the horses heart, which oftentimes ends in sudden death.

It was not something that could have been avoided or predicted, Roseland Polo said in a statement. Unfortunately, this condition typically has no warning signs until the aorta ruptures, as was the case this past Sunday.

The chukker periods on Sunday were reduced from 7 1/2 minutes to six minutes each because of the heat. Temperatures reached nearly 100 degrees at their peak during the day.

But heat was not a factor in the incident, said King.

Even though there were high temperatures and humidity, there was still a good breeze and we reduced the playing times to keep the riders and animals safe, King said.

The incident, which took place during the final chukker of the first match of the day, did not stop play for the rest of the day.

About 98% of the crowd that had come to the matches stayed, King said. We all held a moment of silence, and then felt we needed to play.

King emphasized that animal wellbeing is a top priority of Roseland Polo.

Weve been around for 20 years, and we have many pros who put animal welfare at the forefront of what they and we do. Animal health comes first, King said. There is no way we could have predicted that would occur. It is unlucky there was a rider on the horse.
New Delhi, Aug 14 : A teacher of a reputed school in South Delhi was injured when she fell out of an auto-rickshaw and was dragged along the road by three bike-borne assailants, a police official said on Monday.

At 3,23 p.m. on August 11, the Saket police station received a PCR call regarding the incident.

Upon arriving at the scene, it was discovered that Yovika Chaudhary (24), a resident of Jawhar Park, was traveling home in an auto-rickshaw from the Gyan Bharati School, where she works.

When she reached the vicinity of Khoka Market in Saket, the three unidentified assailants suddenly approached her and "snatched her mobile phone, causing her to fall from the auto and sustain injuries", said the official.

She received medical treatment at Max Hospital in Saket.

"A case was registered under sections 356/379/34 IPC, which was later converted to 392/34 IPC. We are scanning CCTV cameras in the area to identify the culprits and nab them," the official added.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 14 : Actor Manish Raisinghan went down memory lane, and recalled 'delightful' childhood memories of Independence Day festivities.

Manish is currently seen as Karan Pratap Singh in the show 'Kyunkii Tum Hi Ho'. Talking about the Independence Day, he said: "Independence isn't just a word; it's an emotion that empowers us to soar as individuals and as a united nation. As an Indian, I take immense pride in this freedom."

"On this Independence Day, I'm grateful for the week off, a rare treat, and I plan to celebrate by indulging in some 'me time' and cherishing moments with my loved ones. Reflecting back, I recall the delightful childhood memories of Independence Day festivities, where games like the spoon and lemon race added a special charm, followed by awards that filled my heart with joy," shared Manish.

The actor urged people to be responsible citizens. "Each one of us, regardless of our perceived impact, can make a difference. Begin by transforming yourself - small actions today can ripple into extraordinary change tomorrow," he added.

The show is about Kavya (Priyanka Dhavale) and Karan Pratap Singh. Since Karan has come back, Kavya is trying to accept him as her husband and slowly the viewers will get to see Karan and Kavya's love story.

On the other hand Kunal (Karan Khanna) is back as a changed man he is no longer the old clever and cunning man but it will be interesting to see if this is just a charade or he is actually trying to mend his ways.

'Kyunkii Tum Hi Ho' airs on Shemaroo Umang.

Meanwhile, Manish was also last seen in the social drama series 'Nima Denzongpa', that aired on Colors.
Mumbai, Aug 14 : Actor Mohit Raina turned 41 on Monday with a double dose of excitement. As he gears up to promote his upcoming show 'The Freelancer,' his birthday holds special significance as it marks his first as a father.

Despite his busy schedule, Mohit is taking a well-deserved break to bask in the joy of fatherhood and spend valuable time with his family on this momentous occasion.

Reflecting on his birthday plans, Mohit shared: "I'm not usually very big on birthdays, and this year won't be any different. However, this birthday holds extra significance. For the past three years, work commitments took precedence, but this year, I'm taking a break to spend quality time with my wife and our daughter. It's definitely a perfect birthday plan."

On the work front, he has joined forces with renowned creator Neeraj Pandey for the highly anticipated series 'The Freelancer.' In this series, he takes on the role of a Mercenary character, a first for him.

The series is based on the book - 'A Ticket to Syria' by Shirish Thorat, directed by Bhav Dhulia, produced by Friday Storytellers and Neeraj Pandey is the Creator and Showrunner.

The series features Sushant Singh, John Kokken, Gauri Balaji and Navneet Malik, Manjiri Faddnis, Sarah Jane Dias amongst others.

The show is set to premiere on Disney+ Hotstar on September 1.
Jaipur, Aug 14 : With a huge inflow of tourists from Delhi-NCR, Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra, West Bengal and UP, domestic tourism is soaring new heights in Rajasthan registering a 394 per cent growth YoY in Rajasthan.

The tourist places like Udaipur, Jaipur and Mt Abu are all flooded with visitors and hence those who made advance bookings are having a chance to get rooms and vehicles on rent.

Such is the situation that neither vehicles nor rooms are available for those tourists who have been late in making bookings.

Tourism department deputy director, Daleep Singh Rathore says that Sarva Dharm Teerth Circuit being announced recently is the driving factor behind tourists rushing in huge number to Rajasthan. Religious tourism is on the rise here, he added.

Rajasthan Association of Tour Operators (RATO) said that domestic tourists should make prior bookings and then come to desert state to avoid last minute tension.

RATO President Mahendra Singh Rathore said that tourists from states like Karnataka, West Bengal, Gujarat and Delhi-NCR are coming to Rajasthan in large number. Domestic tourists in record number are coming to places like Sawai Madhopur, Kumbhalgarh, etc, to experience wildlife, he added.

Travel veteran Devipal Singh said tourists from Gujarat are mostly camping in Jawai while those from Delhi are going to Sariska, Ranthambore, etc, and those from UP are going to Bharatpur and Dausa.

In fact, for Udaipur, bookings are full for December and January too, for which it has been ranked second in list of beautiful world cities.
Chennai, Aug 14 : In yet another setback for the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), the Telangana High Court has ordered the Department of Financial Services to consider the application of S.N .Jayasimhan, Chief General Manager (CGM), for the post of Whole-Time Member (Finance and Investment).

Incidentally Jayasimhan, a qualified chartered accountant had spent a major portion of his stint in IRDAI in the finance and investment department.

The Department of Financial Services had called for applications for the post of Whole-Time Member (Finance and Investment) in IRDAI.

Jayasimhan had sent his application for the post through proper channel and also directly to the Department of Financial Services.

However, the IRDAI did not forward his application.

Aggrieved at this, Jayasimhan had approached the Telangana High Court for relief.

On its part, the IRDAI told the court that it did not forward Jayasimhanas application to the Department of Financial Services on the ground that he "may not be eligible" for the position.

The insurance regulator also said there was no statutory duty cast on it to forward the application and the notification calling for the applications did not specify that the applications should be routed through it or in government terms "proper channel".

It should be noted that the Department of Financial Services notification had clearly mentioned that the appointment will be made by the Central government on the recommendation of the Financial Sector Regulatory Appointment Search Committee.

In respect of outstanding candidates, the committee may also recommend relaxation in eligibility and qualifications and experience criteria.

The committee is also free to identify and recommend, based on merit, any person other than those who have applied for the office, the notification said.

The question that pops up is, can IRDAI sit on the judgement of who may not be eligible for the post of Whole-Time Member?

(Venkatachari Jagannathan can be reached at v.jagannathan@ians.in)

--IANS

vj/ksk
Panaji, Aug 14 : Tension prevailed in Karaswado at Mapusa-North Goa on Monday after a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was found desecrated by unknown persons. However, a new statue will be installed by people this evening.

Youths admiring Shivaji Maharaj gathered at the spot and demanded action against the miscreants. Soon they decided to install a new statue.

Speaking to IANS, Prashant Walke of 'Swarajya Gomantak Sanghatana-Mapusa' said that they have demanded the police to arrest the miscreants within seven days or they will take further action.

"Today evening we will install a new statue as we can't keep the desecrated one at the site. In future we will demand with government to provide us land in the area of Industrial Development Corporation (to shift the statue there)," Walke said.

Leaders of Bajrang Dal sought immediate action in the case. "Those who have vandalised the statue should be arrested and action should be taken against him. If police fail to do it then we will agitate in future," one of the Bajrang Dal leaders said.

He also appealed to maintain peace, so that the statue installation can be done by evening.

North Goa MP and Union minister of state for tourism Shripad Naik also visited the site and appealed to everyone to be vigilant to stop such incidents. "This is an attack on our culture," he said.

Congress MLA Carlos Ferreira also arrived at the spot and said that the statue will be replaced by evening. "We will request the government to allot land (in IDC) to install a big statue in the area. Shivaji has been a very tall leader. We should learn and respect all such tall leaders," Ferreira said.
New Delhi, Aug 14 : Ahead of Independence Day, the Delhi Police's Special Cell has arrested an inter-state arms and ammunition supplier and recovered five illicit pistols from his possession, an official said on Monday.

The officials said that the accused, Anil Sharma a.k.a Bhopali (24), a resident of Khargone in Madhya Pradesh, used to procure the illicit pistols from his state for supplying the same to different criminals in national capital and its peripherals.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Pratiksha Godara said that in view of the use of illegal firearms in various crimes in Delhi and adjoining states, the police team was working round-the-clock to thwart the nefarious designs of such anti-social elements.

"On August 9, were received specific inputs regarding an arms trafficker, Anil in Delhi and subsequently, he was apprehended along with five illicit pistols of .32 bore," said the DCP.

On interrogation, Anil revealed that he had completed his BCA and D-Pharma courses in the year 2022 in Madhya Pradesh and during his studies, he came into contact with bad elements and got involved in the supply of illegal arms in Khargone to meet his daily needs.

"His relatives are living in Bahadurgarh, Haryana, and therefore he visits Bahadurgarh on a regular interval. There, he came into contact with the local criminals of Haryana and Outer Delhi. To earn quick money, he also started selling pistols in the area. He used to procure pistols from a supplier based in Khargone, Madhya Pradesh," said the DCP.

Anil further disclosed that he had come to Delhi to deliver this consignment of illicit pistols to one of his contacts at Ghevra Mod, Delhi.

"He also divulged that he would purchase an illicit pistol for Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 and sell the same to criminals for Rs 35,000 to Rs 50,000 per piece," the DCP added.
Guwahati, Aug 14 : Assam Police arrested seven miscreants for opening fire at a public place and for beating a youth in Dhubri district, officials said on Monday.

Nurmahamad Ali, Sahabuddin, Muhammad Ali, Rafikul Islam, Mehbub Alom and Riyajul alias Panku, were arrested during a a joint operation by the police and CRPF on Sunday night.

According to the police, the accused persons publicly opened fire and beat 20-year-old Nandan Nath in the Bilasipara area on Saturday evening.

Nath, a native of Sashargaon locality, was seriously injured and is undergoing treatment at a hospital.

Dhubri SP Navin Singh told IANS that "along with attacking the victim, the miscreants fired in a public place that caused panic among locals".

"We conducted an operation based on a complaint and seven persons have been arrested."

As per police sources, the accused persons were allegedly involved in a number of theft cases in the area.

Police are currently interrogating the arrested individuals and a further investigation is underway.

--IANS

tdr/ksk
New Delhi, Aug 14 : Global smartphone brand Motorola on Monday announced the launch of the 'moto e13' smartphone in an all-new variant featuring 8GB RAM and 128GB storage.

The moto e13 in 8GB + 128GB will be available at Rs 8,999 starting August 16 on Flipkart, leading retail stores and motorola.in, the company said in a statement.

It comes in three colours -- Cosmic Black, Aurora Green and Creamy White.

"The moto e13 is an epitome of excellence, combining unbeatable technology and seamless performance," the company added.

The smartphone is powered by the UNISOC T606 octa-core processor, and comes with a premium acrylic glass (PMMA) body.

It features a vibrant 6.5-inch IPS LCD display that delivers an immersive visual experience.

Moreover, it comes with Dolby Atmos audio, and features a 5000mAh battery.

"With its segment-first IP52 water-repellent design, you no longer need to worry about spills and splashes ruining your device when you're on the move," the company said.

The smartphone also comes with the support of dual-band Wi-Fi (both 5GHz and 2.4GHz), a convenient USB Type-C 2.0 connector, and Bluetooth 5.0 wireless technology.

Additionally, it features a 13MP AI-powered camera system, designed to deliver picture-perfect memories.

"Intelligent features like Auto Smile Capture recognise smiling faces and snap the perfect shot, while Face Beauty and Portrait mode enhance your photos automatically," the smartphone maker added.
Seoul, Aug 14 : SK Telecom, South Korea's largest wireless carrier, said it will invest $100 million in the US artificial intelligence (AI) company Anthropic in a partnership deal to expand its footprint in the AI sector.

Anthropic is a San Francisco-based AI safety and research company, with products like the AI assistant Claude. It was founded in 2021 by former members of OpenAI, the operator of ChatGPT.

SK Telecom said it planned to collaborate with Anthropic to develop an AI platform, as well as a large language model (LLM) that supports various languages, including Korean, English, German and Japanese, reports Yonhap news agency.

Anthropic's chief scientist and co-founder Jared Kaplan will lead the development of a new LLM, SK Telecom said.

Based on the collaboration, SK Telecom plans to bolster its own LLM model to better and more efficiently serve customers' needs.

Last month, SK Telecom signed an agreement with Deutsche Telekom, e& and Singtel to form the global Telco AI Alliance "to accelerate AI transformation of the existing telco business and create new business opportunities with AI services."

SK Telecom said the new partnership with Anthropic is expected to help accelerate multilateral efforts to develop the Telco AI Platform.

"We aim to take a leading role in fostering an AI ecosystem jointly with global telecommunication companies, based on SKT's AI technologies specialized in Korean and Anthropics' global AI competence," SK Telecom CEO Ryu Young-sang said.

Following the launch of the Global Telco AI Alliance, SKT partners with Anthropic to promote AI innovation and secure a competitive edge.

SKT makes an additional $100 million investment in Anthropic a" which follows the previous investment from SKTVC -- and signs a partnership agreement with the company.

SKT and Anthropic will develop a multilingual large language model for the Telco AI Platform, which will allow for the creation of customized AI services for global telcos.
The largest number of visitors Georgia hosted in the second quarter of 2023 came from Turkey, followed by Russia and Armenia, the latest inbound tourism statistics published by the National Statistics Office of Georgia on Monday show, Azernews reports, citing Agenda.

Georgia hosted 290,800 visitors from Turkey, or 24 percent of the total number, with 22.1 percent arriving from Russia and 12.4 percent from Armenia.

Visits by Turkish citizens amounted to 366,100, with Russian nationals making 320,800 visits, and the number standing at 214,600 for those from Armenia.

The overall number of arrivals of international travellers in Georgia equalled 1.7 million in the second quarter of 2023, of which the number of visits by international visitors made up 1.5 million.

The number of arrivals of international travellers was 57.4 percent higher compared to the same period of 2022, while the number of visits by international visitors was 58.7 percent higher.

In the reporting period, international visitors have made 1.1 million tourist visits, which was 44.8 percent higher compared to the data from the same period of previous year.

The indicated purposes of a majority of visits - 51.5 percent - were holiday, leisure and recreation, with the average number of nights spent during the visit standing at 6.3.

The majority of visits came to the capital Tbilisi - with 709,300 visits - and the Black Sea region of Adjara with 661,800.

International travellers spent ?3.4 billion ($1.31bln) in the reporting period in Georgia, with the average expenditure per visit equalling ?2,292 ($879.93).

Figures showed 43.3 percent of total expenditure was spent on accommodation, 21.9 percent - on shopping, 16.5 percent - on foods and drinks, 10.9 percent - on holiday, leisure, recreation, cultural and sporting activities, and 6.1 percent on transport.
Wrapped in a tarp beneath the sheet metal roof of a Richmond City shed is a forgotten memorial to the fallen officers of Richmonds police department. The sculpted statue of a police officer wearing full uniform carrying a little girl and her teddy bear was created as an image of sacrifice and public service.

That heroic image has a completely different meaning for other Richmond communities that have a contrasting relationship with the institution of policing.

Retired police officer Glenwood Burley has been cordially, but incessantly, trying to elicit support from anywhere he can. His mission is getting the statue out of storage and restoring it to a proud place back in public. His eyes are set on the grounds of Virginia Capitol Square.

Hes looked to Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, the City Council, state and federal politicians and two governors, without garnering much support. Many have responded with complete silence.

When the protests rolled around in 2020, the memorial became a target. Demonstrators splattered the Richmond Police Memorial in red paint. Burley said hed caught wind that a group was planning to take the head off of the statue. He moved quickly with help from the City to put it into storage.

I think things have changed since 2020

The memorial has become something of a political hot potato in Richmond after the murder of George Floyd in 2020, and the subsequent protests against policing that broke out in the city. Those protests largely centered around the death of Marcus-David Peters who was killed by a Richmond police officer in 2018.The 2020 protests were largely peaceful, but Richmond police tear gassed protesters at the Robert E. Lee monument.

Months of protests in 2020 were largely peaceful though at a moment of inflection, police hit demonstrators with tear gas.

But to Burley, the statue still represents the mission that police officers are sworn to uphold. He carries a plaque that accompanies the statue in his car with him everywhere he goes. That plaque has the names of all 28 officers that have died in the line of duty since it was founded.

Its symbolic of sacrifice. There are nine men on that plaque that were killed during my 23 years. Some I drank with, many I worked with, went to Christmas parties with, attended ceremonies and picnics, Burley said. They died sacrificing, and Im blessed that Im here. The thing thats disheartening is that (their sacrifice) doesnt seem to be given any reverence by the citizens of the city.

The statue itself previously stood outside of the Richmond Coliseum. The arena had not yet closed but the memorial had become overgrown, littered with garbage and largely forgotten. Burley was instrumental in raising money and creating a committee to find it a new home near the Carillon at Byrd Park in 2016.

That wasnt the only time the statue was defaced. Burley said it was vandalized with red paint four other times during its four-year stint in Byrd Park.

Burleys quest has centered its sights on the Virginia State Capitol because he said it is the only place it will be safe from more vandalism.

It hurts me, it cuts to my emotions to lose people that you worked with, Burley said. And then to know at 81 years old Im rattling around in my black van, and I have the plaque underneath of some carpet in my van because I want the marker with the names to be with me wherever we go.

He acknowledges that the public as a whole has not been supportive, but that silence from elected officials is the unexplainable part of it.

Moving the statue to the Capitol would require a proposal to be reviewed by the Capitol Square Preservation Council to present findings to the governor. The governors office would have to accept the statue as property of the Commonwealth and then it would be added as a capital project in the state budget.

Attempts to contact the local officials Burley reached out to were often unsuccessful. That list includes names like Stoney; U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-Va.; state Sen. Lamont Bagby, D-Henrico; and Richmond police. McClellans office said it had no record of Burleys attempted contact, and didnt comment on the issue, while Richmond Police acknowledged the request but didnt respond after a week.

Richmond City Councilmember Reva Trammell said that she would be a supporter of wherever Burley wants to put the statue.

I think people have realized that we need our police. I think things have changed since 2020, Trammell said.

Still, the symbolism around Richmond Police Memorial is intricate, with different groups taking contrasting messages.

A police memorial feels similar to a Confederate monument

Allan-Charles Chipman is the executive director for Initiatives of Change USA, a network of people who create conversations around healing inequities related to race, gender, religion, politics, language and education.

For some people, especially in the African-American community who have experienced police brutality and the entirety of the (criminal justice) system, a police memorial feels similar to a Confederate monument, Chipman said. You have some community members who say a policing experience has led to the death of my daughter or my family or my loved one.

Richmond Police Memorial isnt the only symbol thats been tucked away in storage without a certain future. Protests that coalesced around the Robert E. Lee monument resulted in a living protest monument of graffiti, signs, photographs of people killed by police violence and wooden boxes filled with plants around the perimeter of the circle. It was called the most important piece of protest art since WWII by the New York Times Style Magazine.

Chipman said there was a great deal of tension around the removal of the old Confederate monuments pedestal. The statue itself was taken to the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia. Its pedestal, the piece with most of the graffiti, was put into storage until a decision could be made on its future.

Fences were also erected around the monuments circle keeping protestors out of the monument for months before it was removed.

It would be very strange to take down and cover up a memorial for what policing has meant for one part of society and then push to put into Capitol square, another narrative of what policing means, Chipman said.

The public might be more willing to examine one part of that narrative than the other, Chipman said. Its important to us  especially when talking about the public memory  not to pick and choose the narratives which get told but make sure that people can understand the proper history and the entire perspective of what it is.

Former Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham also voiced his support for Burley.

If I was still the chief, I would be pushing to have it back and trust me, it would have been back by now, back where it was (at Byrd Park), Durham said.

Durham was the chief of police when Peters was shot and killed in 2018. He announced his resignation six months later saying that he was burnt out, and had nothing else to give. He said then that Peters death specifically had taken a toll on his thoughts.

He acknowledged that police can often have tense relationships with the public but maintained that defacing the statue was an unacceptable and cowardly act.

As human beings theres different ways that you can air your grievances without taking it out in a statue that cant cause you harm, Durham said. If an officer causes you harm, speak to the police department, dont take it out on a statue.

Durham was a pivotal ally for Burley when moving the statue from both the Coliseum and Byrd Park, helping garner attention from city leaders and administrators while he was still chief.

Thats not just a memorial for people who lost their lives but thats a memorial for the family, Durham said. They will take their children, grandchildren, great, great, great grandchildren. They have nothing to come and see now.

Durham said Capitol Square was a prime location for the memorial, though he ultimately favored a return to Byrd Park amid the political lift it could take to put it at the Capitol.

Like Burley, he says hes also amazed by the silence.

It baffles me that whenever theres a loss of life in law enforcement. Theyre the ones on the frontline, people always offer their thoughts and prayers. But, where are you now? Durham said. Those officers who have dedicated their lives to service and lost their lives protecting the communities that they represent.

Chelsea Higgs Wise, executive director of the nonprofit Marijuana Justice, said its important to make some decision over the future of these symbols in storage, whether its to create more conversation or just make a decision and leave them in the past.

The question is about, will these monuments rise again, because there has been no concrete plan. Are we now going to spend another century deciding what to do with them? It is a worry, Higgs Wise said.

Higgs Wise said the goal should be moving public consciousness beyond these symbols to create actual policies that benefit underserved communities in Richmond, often communities of color.

If you parallel what that means for Black survival and just policymaking, were also in a state of limbo where weve been asking for so much help for so long, Higgs Wise said. These indecisive measures around monuments are also parallel to what happens to Black survival.
Lucknow, Aug 14 : The Uttar Pradesh government will set up five-star hotels with premium facilities for tourists in nine palaces and forts of the state, a government spokesperson said.

The move aims to enhance the tourism sector and provide employment opportunities for the youth, while also promoting rural tourism and culture and boosting economy.

This approach will not only restore the heritage assets but also create direct and indirect employment opportunities for the youth in the field of tourism. Additionally, it will contribute to the economic transformation of rural tourism, culture, and local areas.

The Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department is gearing up convert heritage properties, including Chattar Manzil in Lucknow, Chunar Fort in Mirzapur, Barua Sagar Fort in Jhansi, Kothi Gulistan-e-Iram, Kothi Darshan Vilas, and Kothi Roshan in Lucknow, Barsana Water Palace in Mathura, Shukla Talab in Kanpur, and Tikait Rai Baradari in Bithoor into heritage hotels.

The government has created three categories for the purpose with a proposed minimum investment amount of Rs 180 crore.

According to the spokesman, wellness centres, heritage hotels, resorts, museums, heritage restaurants, boutique restaurants, banquet halls, wedding tourism, adventure tourism, homestays, thematic parks, and other tourism and hospitality units will be constructed in heritage properties by the Tourism Department.

The proposed plan of the government is being actively considered by the tourism industry.

Leading hotel groups interested in investing in the adaptive reuse of ancient heritage buildings include Leela Hotels, Neemrana Hotels, Indian Hotels Company (Taj Hotels), Mahindra Hotels and Resorts, Oberoi Hotels, The MRS Group and Resort, Lalit Hotels, Hyatt Regency, Sarovar Hotels and Resorts, Accor Group, THF Hotels, Langer Hotels, Royal Orchid Hotels, Ramada Hotel, Clark Hotels, and Bridgman Groups of Hotels. All of them have shown interest in the Expression of Interest (EOI).

Notably, a few months ago, around 41 heritage entrepreneurs met officials of the Tourism Department to express their interest in the heritage buildings of the state. Furthermore, the Tourism Department has also studied heritage buildings in five states -- Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha, and Rajasthan.

According to Mukesh Meshram, Principal Secretary and Director General of Tourism, the selection of the successful bidder for the project will be based on the quality and cost-based selection method.

According to officials, criteria and responsibilities for the conservation of heritage buildings have been defined.

The established criteria and responsibilities includes maintaining the layout of archaeological buildings as they were originally, refraining from making any changes in their original form, adapting the use of the building in accordance with its mythological and historical significance, establishing informative signage by developers about the history of the heritage building, showcasing local culture, cuisine, arts, clothing, and cultural practices, as well as developing neighbouring villages under CSR selected by the developer, along with providing employment to 25 per cent of the local citizens.

Mukesh Meshram, said that the selection of the successful bidder will be based on the quality and cost-based selection method.
New Delhi: Actors Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt during the launch of the new song of their upcoming film 'Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani'. Image Source: IANS News

Mumbai, Aug 14 : With just moments away from getting the second winner of 'Bigg Boss OTT', the grand finale will be a star-studded event as Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt will be seen attending the event for her sister Pooja Bhatt, who has made it to the top 5.

Recent news suggests that Alia Bhatt could be there to support her sister Pooja Bhatt and might even share a fun segment with Salman Khan on stage.

The news of Alia Bhatt's potential appearance adds another layer of excitement to the show's success.

The show will also be attended by rapper Badshah who will be seen attending the grand finale on Monday.

The 39-year-old hip hop icon will be interacting with the top 5 contestants inside the house as well as performing a special set and shaking a leg with Salman Khan and the all eliminated participants of Big Boss OTT 2.

His setlist will include his club anthems such as 'Jugnu', 'Chamkeela Chehra', 'Tabahi' and his latest single 'Gone Girl'. Salman Khan and Badshah share a cordial relationship with one another and the duo were seen jamming together on Big Boss 15 in 2021 when Badshah taught Salman Khan the hookstep of aJugnua and spoke about how his mother would be proud of this on-stage moment.

It is also widely speculated through various fan pages that Ayushman Khurrana and Ananya Pandey will be making a promotional appearance for Dream Girl as well as Shahrukh Khan and Deepika Padukone for Jawan

The countdown to the final episode has begun with Elvish Yadav, Abhishek Malhan, Manisha Rani, Pooja Bhatt and Bebika Dhurve, in the running for the winner's title.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Gandhinagar, August 14 : Private doctors affiliated with the Nephrology Association of Gujarat on Monday started a three-day strike in protest against the state government's decision to slash dialysis rates under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) scheme.

The rates for dialysis have been lowered from Rs 2,300 to Rs 1,950, inclusive of a Rs 300 transport allowance for patients.

The Nephrology Association of Gujarat is advocating for a revised dialysis rate of Rs 2,500, which includes a transport allowance of Rs 300 for patients.

The association has issued a stern warning that if their suggested rate is not acknowledged, around 120 private doctors may withdraw from the PMJAY scheme.

In response to the reduction of reimbursement rates by 17 per cent, doctors affiliated with the association have ceased dialysis procedures under the PMJAY scheme for three days starting from Monday.

The association contends that a compensation of Rs 1,650 is unfeasible.

Further intensifying their stance, the association is also demanding authorization to reuse dialysis filters as per the guidelines laid out by the National Health Authority (NHA) and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. Amidst these developments, Health Secretary Manoj Agrawal has extended an invitation to the association for dialogue and discussions.

He confirmed that the strike encompasses 229 facilities.

However, he was swift to reassure that patients in need of dialysis services will not face any disruptions, highlighting the government's robust kidney dialysis program.

Additionally, a helpline number has been established for patients in need, while the 108 ambulance network has been directed to facilitate the transportation of patients to nearby government facilities for dialysis.
New Delhi, Aug 14 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday said that they have not detained or arrested R.V. Ashok Kumar, the brother of arrested Tamil Nadu Minister Senthil Balaji, in a money laundering case.

The agency mentioned that neither the minister's brother was arrested nor taken into custody.

However, they did issue four notices for questioning, but he did not appear. Notices were also issued four times to Ashok Balaji's wife and mother-in-law, but they also did not responded.

"A false news report that R.V. Ashok Kumar, brother of Senthil Balaji (Ex-Minister and MLA) has been detained in Kochi Kerala by the Directorate of Enforcement is being reported by multiple news sources. It is clarified that Shri R V Ashok Kumar has neither been detained nor been arrested by ED," the ED said in a statement.It further stated that it may, however, be stated that R. V. Ashok Kumar was summoned on four occasions as part of the ongoing probe. But he never joined the investigation and refused to appear before the ED citing frivolous inconsequential excuses.

"In similar manner, his wife, Nirmala and his mother-in-law, P. Lakshmi, have also not complied with four individual summons. It is significant to note that evidence indicates that all three individuals have played pivotal roles in layering and integrating the proceeds of crimes," said the ED.

--IANSatk/dpb
New York, Aug 14 : The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has been ordered to release nearly $5 million in assets seized from an Indian-American executive of a Chicago-based health technology startup who was convicted in a corporate fraud scheme, a media report said.

Rishi Shah, 37, co-founder and former CEO of Outcome Health, was convicted in April for his role in a $1 billion fraud scheme that targeted the company's clients, lenders, and investors.

A federal judge ruled recently that $4.9 million in investments should not have been frozen because they were made before the crimes occurred, the Chicago Business newspaper reported.

Prosecutors froze about $55 million in total assets, mostly holdings in startups and investment funds, owned by Shah and Shradha Agarwal -- former president of the company who was also convicted,

Shah's attorneys argued that $4.9 million of that was incorrectly frozen money that their client wanted to use for legal fees for representation at sentencing and for an appeal.

The government sought to keep the money frozen, arguing that it will be needed to pay restitution that it will ultimately seek. But it hasn't done so yet, according to the Chicago Business.

"While the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act allows the government to enforce an existing restitution order, it says nothing about a future one," US District Judge Thomas Durkin wrote.

"The court declines to take that leap."

During the trial, Shah, who owned about 80 per cent of the company's assets, sought to have $10 million of the frozen assets returned to him, which he and Agarwal could use to hire lawyers, but the request was denied.

According to the news report, Shah's attorneys have questioned how the government traced his assets and hinted at the value of improperly frozen assets, which may now be worth more.

"To the extent that Shah believes that the amount of untainted property presently restrained exceeds $4,856,482.41, the court will require further briefing and proceedings on that issue," judge Durkin wrote in his ruling.

Shah, who was convicted of five counts of mail fraud, 10 counts of wire fraud, two counts of bank fraud, and two counts of money laundering, won't be sentenced until fall.

According to the Justice Department, Outcome Health installed television screens and tablets in doctors' offices around the US and then sold advertising space on those devices to clients, most of whom were pharmaceutical companies.

Shah and Agarwal overbilled customers, which inflated Outcome Health's financials, which were then used to raise $488 million from investors and $435 million from lenders.

About $69 million of that money went to Shah and Agarwal.
Los Angeles, Aug 14 : Rapper Drake on the first night of the L.A. leg of his 'It's All a Blur' tour was filmed scolding a male fan for tussling with a woman over his sweaty towel.

The tension started after the 36-year-old emcee tossed his towel toward the audience after leaving the stage, reports aceshowbiz.com.

A female fan then caught it, but one male fan suddenly tried to snatch the relic out of her hands.

Drake saw the moment as he headed backstage. In a video circulating online, the Canadian rap star could be seen yelling at the man. He then assured the female woman that he had someone on the way to help.

"I'ma send someone up there," the four-time Grammy winner said while looking at the altercation. He also appeared to confront the man who tried to take the towel, but his team quickly guided him.

The incident came after Drake revealed that the first night of his Los Angeles show was almost canceled. "Los Angeles, if you knew the things we had to do today to get this show off, smha but for you, anything. I will see you tonight," he penned on Instagram Story.

That aside, Drake recently reacted to an alleged 'For All the Dogs' poster that was placed at a bus stop in his hometown of Toronto. The image, which was shared by DJ Akademiks on Instagram, featured three dogs and the Canadian rap star's quote that read: "They say they miss the old Drake, girl don't tempt me."

Drake did not confirm whether or not it was fake. However, he replied in the comment section, "Lol who did this," suggesting that he was not the one who made it up.
London, Aug 14 : West Ham United completed the signing of England international James Ward-Prowse from Southampton, the Premier League club announced on Monday.

The 28-year-old has joined the Hammers from Southampton for an undisclosed fee on a contract until June 2027 and will wear the No7 shirt.

Ward-Prowse, who has been capped 11 times by England, has spent his entire professional career with Southampton playing 410 in all competitions, with 343 of those coming in the Premier League. Indeed only four active players in the League have more appearances.

The midfielder has scored 49 goals and produced 38 assists. He is currently one free-kick goal short of David Beckhamas record in the competition of 18.

"From the outside looking in, this is a club that has been on the rise for a number of years now and coming off the success in the UEFA Europa Conference League last year, you can feel there is real momentum around this club," Ward-Prowse told the club's official website.

"When I think about my game, it is based on hard work, graft, and giving 100 per cent. West Ham United has always been a Club that has epitomises that. You can feel that from the fans and you can see it in the players who are here and the lads that have come through the Academy too," he added.
Walton Heath, Surrey : Diksha Dagar finished a career-best T-21 in a Major at the AIG Women's Open. The two-time LET winner, Dagar, ended the tournament with another superb back-nine show.

After a 2-over front nine, she was 3-under for the back nine for a 1-under scorecard. With rounds of 74-71-72-71, she totalled even par 288 for four days.

Aditi Ashok shot a second straight 75 to fall to T-40 with rounds of 72-69-75-75. She was Tied-ninth at the halfway stage of the tournament but slipped over the weekend.

Lilia Vu of the United States outplayed the field by six shots to win her second Major of the year at the 2023 AIG Womenas Open. Vu, who shot 72-68-67-67 totalled 14-under for the week. Vu was six shots ahead of Englandas Charley Hull, who just could not get her putter to perform and ended with a 73 after being tied for the lead at the end of 54 holes.

Dikshaas result of T-21 was the best-ever by an Indian womenas player at a Major, bettering T-22 by Aditi Ashok at the 2018 Womenas Open.

Playing her fourth Womenas Open this was the first time Diksha had made the cut after missing cuts in 2019, 2020 and 2022. This was her sixth Major overall and the first time she had made the cut.

Dikshaas winnings of $ 84,162 was also the highest of her professional career and it took her back into the Top-5 of the Ladies European Touras Race to Costa Del Sol, where Aditi is lying third.

Lying T-35 after the third round, Diksha bogeyed fourth and sixth on the front nine and turned in 2-over. On the back nine, which she had played in par or better each of the first three days, Diksha found birdies on the 12th, 15th and 17th to bounce back. She also missed a couple of chances. Despite finding fewer fairways and fewer greens in regulation, Diksha putted her best for the week with just 28 putts after going over 30 putts on the first three days.

Aditi, lying T-28 after the third day, birdied once each on the front and back nines, but bogeyed five times in her 75 and finished T-40.

In the 2023 Race to Costa del Sol, Celine Boutier extended her lead at the top of the rankings and now has 1,725.38 points. Spainas Ana PelAez TriviAo still sits in second place with 1,433.20 points with Aditi Ashok in third (1,309.19) and Swedenas Linn Grant in fourth (1,276.28). Indiaas Diksha has moved up to fifth place after finishing in a tie for 21st place.
New Delhi, Aug 14 : As many as 50 nurses along with their family members from across the country have been invited as special guests to witness the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort here.

A total of 1,800 special guests from various walks of life, ranging from Sarpanches, teachers, farmers, and fishermen, have been invited to participate in the Independence Day celebrations.

"These special guests will be part of the 1,800 special guests from various walks of life, including over 400 Sarpanches of more than 660 vibrant villages, 250 members from Farmer Producer Organisations scheme, 50 participants each of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, 50 Shram Yogis (construction workers) of the Central Vista Project, including the New Parliament Building," the Health and Family Welfare Ministry said on Monday.

The initiative to invite the people from all walks of life, across India, and be a part of the celebrations has been taken by the Government in line with its vision of 'Jan Bhagidari'.

Meanwhile, members of the Nursing community have expressed gratitude for the government for the initiative.

"I would like to thank the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Government of India from the bottom of my heart for inviting us to participate in the Independence Day celebration in New Delhi. It is recognition of our efforts during Covid," said Anita Tomar, one of the nurses invited.

Vandana Kaushik, another invitee said: "I express my regards to the government for recognising our efforts and dedication during Covid. I also want to thank the government for its pro-nurse attitude that it has shown through various development schemes."
Kochi, Aug 14 : The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) has told the Kerala High Court that awareness of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO Act) would be made part of the school curriculum from the next academic year onwards.

The counsel for the SCERT informed the matter when explaining the progress in a case before the Court to assess and rectify the specific issue of cases being registered against teenagers who unwittingly commit crimes punishable under the POCSO Act.

The Court was also informed that text books would be prepared by experts giving due importance and sensitivity to this issue.

"It was also assured on behalf of SCERT that awareness about POCSO will be made part of the curriculum with effect from the academic year 2024-2025 positively for standards I, III, V, VI, VIII and IX while that for standards II, IV, VII and X will be implemented from the academic year 2025-2026," a statement read.

The Court also noted that after the curriculum is revised, workshops will have to be conducted for teachers.

During a previous hearing of the case, the Court had strongly rebuked the state government for delaying the implementation of its orders to create and include in school curricula, a prevention-oriented programme on sexual abuse.
Amid a major road construction project, some Albany businesses are struggling.

Since construction started along Queen Avenue three months ago, sales at Fays Cafe have scaled back by 75%, said owner Fei Jiang. Down the street, business at an independent convenience store, GPS Market, has fallen back by about 60%, manager Rick Tepple said.

Fay's Cafe

Inside Fays Cafe, black and white photographs line the bright red walls. Pictures of Marilyn Monroe and historic photographs depicting 1950s nostalgia: milkshakes, diners and jukeboxes. Theres vintage style bar stools and tables, but theyre all empty  except one.

On a recent day, two customers found themselves alone at Fays Cafe. They had tried to get to the eatery at least a dozen times but had difficulties with the traffic, Lela Osborn said.

After seeing a Facebook post about the business struggling, they decided to make more of an effort and take a detour to get to the diner, Osborn said.

Cafe owner Jiang ran from the kitchen to the drinking fountain, multitasking between filling the machine with ice and preparing two cheeseburgers.

Its harder than COVID, Jiang said. At least with the pandemic, people could get to the restaurant, she said. With construction its like asking people to arrive by helicopter, she said.

As part of the Queen Avenue construction project, underground pipes will be replaced, the streets will be repaved and the streetscape tweaked for accessibility. The project involves around 5,600 feet of asphalt rehabilitation west of Broadway. It also calls for a replacement of approximately 3,500 feet of the waterline between Liberty and Ferry streets.

Work started in May and has an estimated completion date of Sept. 1. The road closed completely to through traffic on June 20.

For Jiang that translates to more than two months of struggling to pay bills and not being able to give her workers full-time hours, she said.

Jesus Carvajal, a single father of two, has had to make difficult decisions since his hours were cut at Fays Cafe. He is behind on the power bill and trying to cut costs where he can. He only uses AC a couple hours out of the day and has been barely able to make rent the last few months he said.

Im having to choose what to buy and what not to buy, he said.

Carvajal has worked at Fays for six years. He usually works between 40 and 50 hours a week. But since June, he has been working 20-hour work weeks. Hes trying to find part-time work in the meantime but hasn't had much luck, he said.

GPS Market

Down the street, another small business is struggling.

Business has been extremely difficult, GPS Market manager Tepple said.

The convenience store at 1655 SW Queen Ave. has had delays in deliveries and about a 60% decrease in sales. The owners have lost about $70,000 since construction began, he estimated.

At one point the business was blocked in every direction because of the construction on Queen Avenue as well as some work being done on Lincoln Street, he said.

The construction has also delayed restocking. A delivery by the Pepsi truck was delayed by three weeks because drivers didnt believe they could get through, he said.

Tepple said he felt like the construction was poorly timed because there are several road projects happening all at once. Between Albany and Corvallis, a bridge is undergoing construction, construction along Highway 20 and Queen Avenue's restoration.

This cuts off access to Albany, he said.

As manager of the convenience store, Tepple is often deferred to for communication because the owners speak sparse English, he said. They are an Indian family who are immigrants, he said. And the last few months have been a real financial hardship.

They've taken to working longer days to keep up with the gaps in business.

If he and his wife didn't work six days a week, 12 hours a day it wouldnt be open anymore, he said.

Tepple admires his bosses, and has felt frustrated by the citys communication, he said.

Theyre killing this store, he said.

Seeking support

Jiang reached out to the city for help but the experience left her wanting. At a recent City Council meeting, she was told she couldnt address the panel during the meeting because she didnt come during the allotted time for public comments.

It was the last meeting before councilors take a six-week break, so by the time Jiang can address the City Council  in September  the construction may be complete.

City Manager Peter Troedsson said Jiang could file a claim with her insurance if she was missing out on business, he said during the Wednesday, Aug. 9 council meeting.

But Jiang doesnt believe she can. She wasnt able to get insurance benefits during the pandemic, she said. The insurance only works for natural disasters or robberies, she said.

The project shouldn't come as a surprise, Albany civil engineer Chris Cerklewski said, as the city and contractors gave notice about the construction several times throughout the years.

The first notice came in the form of a mailed letter in July 2021; then there was a notification the project was delayed in June 2022 and again in April of this year overviewing the schedule and types of work.

Construction started on the west end and moved eastward, so construction every day may have been different, he said, making it difficult to denote specific detours, Cerklewski said.

Instead, the city uses flaggers to help guide people and some signs indicating businesses are still open, he said.

But for Jiang, that isnt enough.

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Even if people know her restaurant is open, they still aren't coming in because it's too difficult to access, she said.

Jiang isnt happy with her interactions with the city but has found support in the community. After a few Facebook posts, people have brought attention to her struggling business.

"The residents are lovely. Theyve given us love and care, she said.

Related stories:
Bengaluru: Vande Bharat Express Train passing Cantonment railway station during its trial run, in Bengaluru on Wednesday, Nov. 09, 2022. (Photo: Dhananjay Yadav/IANS). Image Source: IANS News

Bhopal, Aug 14 : Railway Police on Monday arrested a man for pelting stones and damaging windows of Bhopal-New Delhi semi-high speed Vande Bharat Express in Morena area of the state.

Railway officials said that the incident occurred at Banmore railway station in Morena district on Sunday. The accused has been arrested by the Railway Protection Force (RPF).

Railway officials said after examining the CCTV footage, the police arrested a man, identified as Firoz Khan (20) in connection with the stone throwing and booked him under provisions of the Railways Act.

Officials said that during interrogation, the accused admitted to have committed the offence.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched three Vande Bharat Express trains for Madhya Pradesh, the first one from Bhopal to New Delhi was launched on April 1.

Two Vande Bharat Express trains - Bhopal to Indore and Bhopal to Jabalpur were launched in July this year.
Dhuri : , Aug 14 (IANS) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday dedicated 76 more new Aam Aadmi Clinics statewide to commemorate the 76th year of India's freedom.

Addressing the gathering here after dedicating the clinics, the Chief Minister said this is the dawn of a new era in health revolution to provide quality health services to people at their doorsteps.

He said besides offering free medicines to people, these clinics are also providing service of 41 free clinical tests. "This is aimed at ensuring longevity of the life of the people of the state, besides focusing on quality health."

The Chief Minister said his predecessors have never paid attention towards the health of the common man, while his government is laying major thrust on ensuring quality treatment to people.

Mann said on their part these leaders got to get their treatment done from foreign shores but the common people were left in lurch without quality treatment.

He said these leaders just treated the people as mere vote banks and never bothered about the life and health of people.

The Chief Minister said that concerted efforts of the government Punjab is ushering a new era of health revolution. He said that quality cancer treatment is now available due to which the people no longer have to visit the other states for treatment.

Mann said that in the coming days, the shortage of the officers in the district will be overcome by posting them from headquarters. He said these officers will be allotted work in the districts so as to ensure the wellbeing of the public. He has already posted those officers as Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendent of Police, who are ever ready to work for the wellbeing of masses.

Congratulating the people of the state, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said this is a historic initiative for welfare of people.

He said Punjab will not stop as the people of state have elected Bhagwant Mann government for a better future.
Bengaluru, Aug 14 : The Congress-ruled Karnataka government on Monday declared that it would scrap the National Education Policy (NEP) of the previous BJP government from the next academic year.

Speaking at the KPCC office after inaugurating the general meeting of party members, Chief Minister SIddaramaiah made this announcement. "The NEP implemented by the previous BJP government would be scrapped from the next academic year," Siddaramaiah declared.

"Certain required preparation has to be done before scrapping the NEP. There was no time available in the current academic year for this. When the government was formed following the elections, the academic year had begun," he explained.

The NEP will continue in this academic year keeping the hardships of the students in mind if it is scrapped abruptly, he stated.

"NEP faces stiff opposition from students, parents, teachers and lecturers. BJP has sacrificed the interests of the students from the state by implementing the NEP in the state on experimental basis and by not implementing it in all states," CM Siddaramaiah charged.

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had announced that the Congress won't implement the NEP in the state. Instead, the government would formulate a new education policy, he said. Shivakumar had even dubbed NEP as the Nagpur Education Policy referring to the RSS headquarters in Nagpur city.

Shivakumar maintained, "There should have been elaborate discussion on the NEP. I am an education expert by choice. I run education institutions and in the post of trustee or president in various institutions. I can't understand the NEP. I tried to study and understand twice or thrice, but failed." Even after discussing with students and teachers, not able to grasp the gist of NEP, Shivakumar maintained.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had charged that the objective of NEP is to teach communal things to students. He also opined that the National Education Policy violates the rights of the state.

Commenting on the development, former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had stated, "to implement the National Education Policy (NEP) in Karnataka, nearly three years have been taken. The committee headed by U.R. Rao was set up and consent from all states obtained. After this, before implementation, a task force was formed and then it was implemented in higher and primary education," he maintained.
Gurugram, Aug 14 : Muslim residents in violence hit Nuh area of Haryana are divided over the demands of Hindu Mahapanchanyat who have demanded to merge the Muslim dominated Nuh with other districts of Haryana.

On Sunday, the Hindu Mahapanchanyat led by several right-wing groups and village panchayats had put several tough demands before the government.

Haryana Khaps, religious leaders, and Hindu bodies at Palwal Mahapanchayat have demanded that the Muslim dominated Nuh district should be merged with other districts of Haryana. They also sought arms licenses for Hindus living in Nuh for self-defence.

However, the Muslims residents in Nuh are divided and have given mixed reactions to the demands of Hindu Mahapanchanyat.

"Government should outrightly reject these communal demands. Such communal things have no place in our country," Abdul Wahab, a hotel owner in Nuh told IANS.

However, Naseeb Singh, who runs a grocery shop in Nuh, said that their demand is completely justified.

"These demands are completely justified. Even before these clashes, we had been extremely apprehensive about our safety. If the government agrees to meet these demands, our lives will become easier," he said.

Imran, a 32-year-old migrant worker, said he will never return to Gurugram after what he saw happening last week.

"I will never come back to live among Hindus," Imran said while he was packing his belongings in his small truck, preparing to travel back to his home village in Bihar.

"The divide between Hindus and Muslims is unbridgeable now."

"I have never seen Muslims more nervous than they are at the moment. I live under the feeling that something bad can happen to us anytime," said Alam Hussain, a worker.

Clashes first broke out between two communities in Haryana's Nuh on July 31, when a mob attacked a Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) procession near Nalhar temple.

Violence also erupted in Gurugram and spread to other districts of the state.

Six people, including two home guards and a cleric, died in the clashes while 88 people were injured.
New Delhi, Aug 14 : Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan shared the new ball for India in all formats for many years. But their bonding goes even deeper as the senior pacer played an important role in the ODI and Test debuts of the junior bowler from Delhi.

Players have butterflies in their tummies just before making their international debut. Former India pacer Ishant Sharma was nervous and scared well before his debut match for he had to travel alone to join the team in Ireland for an ODI series on an SOS call-up as many players were sick and unavailable.

Ishant, who had played only a few Ranji Trophy matches till then and was selected for the subsequent Test series against England, was leaving Indian shores for the first time and had to travel alone to England and then to Ireland. And to compound his problems, he lost his luggage and kit bag in transit.

So when the then-skipper Rahul Dravid informed him that he will be making his debut in the match the next day, Ishant had not even had a nets session in Ireland nor had proper shoes to play the match the next day. He was loaned his shoes by Zaheer Khan.

"I was more nervous about the whole travel bit than about a match. Somehow, I made it to Ireland, jet-lagged, only to realise that my kit bag was missing. I knew that stuff gets stolen on the train but I had no idea this could happen on a flight," Ishant Sharma said in Part 2 of his interview on Home of Heroes on JioCinema.

Ishant shared how Zaheer Khan played an important role in his ODI and Test debuts -a" lending him shoes for one and easing him out in the dressing room for the other, along with the fascinating back stories that led up to the big day.

"I slept that night in the clothes I travelled in. I didnat have my suitcase and my kit bag. I didnat have any cards back then, so all my money was also there. I never knew what to use between a debit or credit card, so my father just told me to use cash. I didnat even know I could claim that my kit bag was stolen, so I hadnat done that.

"Rahul Dravid told me that I have to debut the next day and I responded, aBut I canat play barefoot!a I didnat even practice. I asked Zak (Zaheer Khan) for a pair of size 11 shoes so I could play the match. He gave me some shoes, but my toe kept hurting, but I didnat care," Ishant said.

Zaheer was also there to ease Ishant into the team when Ishant made his Test debut in the Bangladesh series. Ishant was totally overwhelmed sharing the dressing room with the star players he had till then watched only on television.

"I remember the Bangladesh series where I made my Test debut. A dressing room with Paaji (Harbhajan Singh), Rahul bhai, Dada (Saurav Ganguly), Yuvi bhai (Yuvraj Singh), and Wasim bhai (Wasim Jaffer) was overwhelming," he said in the interview.

"I used to sit with Zak and watch them on TV and now suddenly sharing the room with them. I wanted to go and lie down but somehow I controlled my feeling. I couldnat muster the courage to say a word. Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni) and RP Singh were there. I was in a situation where a goat was surrounded by lions. Zak imagined what I was going through and told me to chill and relax. After that, I felt a lot more comfortable, but I was sitting quietly in a corner," he said.

Ishant also talked about when he was first selected for the Indian team and the way his father reacted to the news.

"I debuted in Bangladesh. I was at home when I got a call for India selection. I still remember that day, for the first time, I saw my father in tears. They were tears of joy, and he told me this is just the start. I had never hugged my father, we bonded well but obviously, we would have occasional disagreements over certain topics, and he would suppress his emotions. He would want to appear strong. He never imagined this day would come," said Ishant.
Mumbai, Aug 14 : Actor Dibyendu Bhattacharya, who is known for his work in 'Maqbool', 'Dev.D', 'Lootera', 'Black Friday', 'Delhi Crime' and 'Rocket Boys', has started shooting for the third season of his streaming show 'Undekhi' in Manali.

The series depicts the two aspects of the society - the influential people who are drunk on power and think they can get away with anything, and the oppressed, subjected to years of torture, who finally decide to bring themselves to justice. The first season of the series began with the murder of a dancer during a wedding, the events leading up to which are captured in the camera of the wedding photography team.

Reflecting on his journey so far, Dibyendu said: "The response to 'Undekhi' has been overwhelming and I am grateful to the audiences for appreciating my character DSP Barun Ghosh. The enigma the series has created is a testament to the dedication of the entire team."

He further mentioned: "I am grateful for the audience's appreciation of my role, and I'm excited to delve even deeper into the character in 'Undekhi 3'."

In the series, Dibyendu essays the role of DSP Barun Ghosh. His performance in the previous two seasons has earned widespread appreciation from the audience and the critics alike.

'Undekhi' streams on Sony LIV.
Chennai, Aug 14 : The seventeen year-old Dalit boy who was assaulted by his classmates from another caste in Nanguneri, Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu was operated upon on Monday at Tirunelveli government medical college.

Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian had said that an expert team of doctors from Stanley Medical College hospital will be treating the boy. Three doctors from Government Stanley Medical College, Chennai were deputed to Tirunelveli Government Medical College for Dalit boyas treatment.

The team of doctors after conducting the surgical procedure said that the condition of the boy is stable.

The Dalit boy and his thirteen year-old sister were injured when the classmates from another caste barged into their home and assaulted them.

The girl had not sustained grievous injuries however the Dalit boy had multiple grievous injuries and was taken to hospital in serious condition.

The incident had taken place on August 9th after the mother of the Dalit boy had raised a complaint in the school against a group of boys who used to tease the boy citing his caste as well as indulging in physical abuse.

When the school authorities reprimanded and warned the boys of other caste, they took revenge and assaulted the boy at his home. His sister who tried to prevent the attackers from attacking the boy was also injured in the attack.

Nanguneri police have already arrested seven boys in the case.

The Health minister Ma Subramanian and other ministers had met the boy at Tirunelveli Medical College on Sunday along with Thangam Thenarasu, State Finance Minister and handed over a solatium to the boy's family.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin also talked to the mother of the children over the phone and told her that the government was fully in support of the family.
New Delhi, Aug 14 : It may be called taking pragmatism a step further. It also reflects the hard reality that the 2023 ethnic strife between Kukis and Meiteis in Manipur has left another tribe and other neighbouring state - the Nagas of Nagaland worried.

"It is also deeply disturbing that Naga tribes in Manipur led by United Naga Council (UNC) are simply watching and waiting as Meiteis and Kukis inflict catastrophic destruction against one another," NNPG convener, N Kitovi Zhimomi said in his 'Naga Independence Day' speech.

Naga rebels claim that when Britishers left India on August 14, 1947, they were 'left as an independent community'.

The Naga insurgency has survived since then and now peace parleys between the central government and various Naga militant groups have been on since August 1997.

Expressing concern at the violence, Kitovi pointed out that, "Kukis will remain eternal neighbours of Tangkhuls and other tribes (Nagas)...sharing the same Christianity faith".

In reference to a rally organised by UNC recently wherein it passed a resolution seeking early settlement to the Naga peace talks, Kitovi said, "Why was the rally not for peace, tolerance and communal harmony in Manipur? This is insensitive and inhuman conduct on the part of UNC. These apex Naga Civil societies ....became the mouthpieces of a particular faction. They failed to differentiate between illusion and reality".

He further stated: "Today, with ropes around their necks, these apex bodies are unable to even comment when the entire neighbourhood (major parts of Manipur) is on fire".

However, the resolution at the UNC rally on August 9 has rekindled hope of an early solution.

UNC, the apex body of the Naga communities in Manipur, has demanded an early resolution on the Naga peace process while cautioning the Centre against any attempt to address the demands of any other community that could lead to the disintegration of the land of the Nagas.

The Meiteis, Nagas, and Kukis are the three major communities in Manipur.

The NSCN-Unification faction led by Neokpao Konyak and N Kitovi Zhimomi is the principal force behind the NNPG which is all for an early signing of a final peace pact with the central government. Kitovi is the convener of the NNPG.

Kitovi in his speech at a function organised at their designated camp referred to the newly enacted Forest Conservation Amendment Act, 2023.

"At the core, this amendment act, to the Naga people, is against the spirit of the Agreed Position signed on 17th November,

2017 between Govt of India and NNPGs. The Indo-Naga political negotiations have traversed the subject matter based on historical and political reasons. The Nagaland state government headed by the Chief Minister (Neiphiu Rio) must reflect the sentiment of the Naga people in the media on the subject of land, resources and utilisation in Nagaland."

The Agreed Position was signed in 2017 bringing NNPG (the umbrella body of seven militant groups) together for talks with the central government.

He said the Naga people are the "masters over their land" and their voices will be final and pointed out that land and its ownership is the one reason why the Indo-Naga political conflict began.

"It is not wise on the part of the Nagaland Government to make haphazard comments on inalienable and emotive issues beyond their chair and which will affect future generation Nagas," he said.

In his message on the occasion, Q. Tuccu, President of rival group, NSCN-IM, paid rich homage to Mahatma Gandhi for appreciating the Naga people's sentiment those days.

"Today I bow to Mahatma Gandhi for being a sagacious leader of great insight. We are heavily indebted to him for his courage to stand up for the historical and political rights of the Nagas," Q. Tuccu said.

Another senior Naga militant leader Thinoselie M Keyho, president of Naga National Council (NNC), tried to reach out to all factional leaders and said, "I want to send out a special appeal to all my former colleagues who are now in different camps to rally together again under the slogan, 'Nagas are one nation, one people'."

Since 2016-17, Naga people enthusiastically await the August 15th Independence Day speech of Prime Minister Narendra Modi expecting a major announcement of breakthrough in Naga peace talks. Of course Modi's speech on Tuesday will be the last and ninth such speech before next year's due elections in April-May 2024.

In his two-hour long speech in Lok Sabha on August 10, the Prime Minister skipped any specific and detailed reference to the ongoing Naga peace talks or the hurdles faced.

(Nirendra Dev is a New Delhi-based journalist. He is also author of the books 'The Talking Guns: North East India',

and 'Modi to Moditva: An Uncensored Truth'. Views expressed are personal)
New Delhi, Aug 14 : The Congress on Monday took a swipe at the government over alleged irregularities in several of the government projects highlighted by the Comptroller Auditor General (CAG) of India in its report, saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unleash torrents of lies from the ramparts of the Red Fort and questioned will he have the courage to question his own government and ministers about their corruption and incompetence.

The remarks from the Congress came after the CAG reports tabled in Parliament last week highlighted several alleged irregularities in the projects and schemes of the government.

In a statement, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "Tomorrow, the Prime Minister will unleash his torrent of lies from the ramparts of the Red Fort for one last time, taking off from his tsunami of lies to the nation in the Parliament last week. But will he have the courage to question his own government and his ministers on their corruption and incompetence?"

He said that last week the CAG tabled a series of reports in Parliament. Even a defanged CAG has been able to expose the corruption and incompetence of the Modi government.

Sharing a few of the alleged irregularities in the government projects and schemes highlighted by the CAG, Ramesh, who is also the party's communication in-charge said, "CAG has flagged an overall cost overrun of more than 100 per cent in the much-hyped Bharatmala Pariyojana. This project was approved and monitored by none other than the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) that is chaired by the Prime Minister."

He said that the sanctioned cost of the 26,316 km of highways that have been awarded was Rs 8,46,588 crore, as against the CCEA-approved length of 34,800 km at a cost of Rs 5,35,000 crore.

"This means that these projects were awarded at a cost of Rs 32.17 crore per km, more than double the cost of Rs 15.37 crore per km approved by the CCEA. Despite multiple cost overruns, only 13,499 km of national highways have been completed till 31 March 2023, less than 39 per cent of the CCEA-approved length," Ramesh said.

He said that the CAG also raised concerns about the inflated project cost of the Dwarka Expressway, which went up 14 times from the sanctioned Rs 18 crore per km to Rs 250 crore per km.

Ramesh added that the CAG has also highlighted irregularities in the Bharatmala bidding process a" successful bidders not fulfilling tender conditions, bidders being selected on the basis of falsified documents, work awarded without approved detailed project reports or faulty DPRs and the diversion of funds to the tune of Rs 3,598.52 crore from escrow accounts.

"Will the Prime Minister take responsibility for this incompetence and corruption in the Bharatmala projects under his direct watch?" he questioned.

He also pointed out that the CAG has uncovered violations of toll rules, with NHAI wrongly collecting Rs 132.05 crore from commuters in just 5 randomly audited toll plazas. At the same time, the NHAI lost revenue of Rs 133.36 crore due to lack of provision for revenue sharing in concession agreements in two sections of NH projects.

"If this audit were extrapolated to the whole country, the overall loss to the exchequer and the commuters would amount to lakhs of crores. Will the Prime Minister take action against the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways?" he asked.

"The CAG has reported payouts to the dead in the Prime Ministeras favourite Ayushman Bharat Scheme. 88,760 patients had died during treatment and yet, 2,14,923 claims were shown as paid in respect of afresh treatmentsa given to these dead apatientsa.

"Other than that, 7.5 lakh recipients were linked to a single mobile number and 4,761 registrations made against seven Aadhar numbers. In total there are more than 1.24 crore fake beneficiaries linked to only 1,86,855 mobile numbers," he said, asking the Prime Minister if he will order an investigation on who were the real beneficiaries of this massive Digital India scam in Ayushman Bharat.

He said that the CAG has raised similar questions on irregularities in the Ayodhya Development Project and the diversion of old page pension funds under the National Social Assistance Programme for publicity of the Modi governmentas schemes instead.

"We demand answers from the Prime Minister and also that he break his silence," he added.
Lucknow: Man arrested at CCSI Airport with gold bar valued at Rs 98.74 lakhs. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Aug 14 : The Customs officials at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport (Lucknow) arrested a man for allegedly smuggling gold bars worth Rs 98.74 lakh, officials said on Monday.

A senior customs official said that the arrest was made on August 13.

The official said that they seized 1.632 Kgs, 14 Gold bars valued at Rs. 98.74 Lakhs from the accused who arrived from Dubai.

The official said that the gold bars were concealed in metallic horse artifact.

The recovered gold has been seized under section 110 of customs act. The said passenger has been placed under arrest in terms of section 104 of the Customs Act," the official said.

Further investigation in the matter is on.
Firefighters made quick work of two separate brush fires at an old mill property in Lebanon.

Lebanon Fire District was alerted a fire in the 1400 block of East Grant Street at around 6:35 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13, according to a news release from the agency.

Responding units saw significant smoke from the area prior to arriving and called for more resources, the news release states, with initial units determining the fire was on the old mill property at the of Milton Street.

Two quarter-acre fires were knocked down and contained, limiting fire spread to three-quarters of an acre total, according to the releases, which note crews remained on scene for another 90 minutes to mop-up.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Lebanon Fire District responded with 13 firefighters on eight apparatus and two chief officers.

Fire officials added a reminder that hot weather promotes extreme fire behavior, and restrictions are in place on all open fires, including the prohibition of recreational and cooking fires. This includes agricultural burning but does not include the use of gas-fired barbeques or pellet grills.

The restrictions were activated in response to the anticipated heat dome that is expected to prevail over the coming weekend and throughout the week, the news release states.

Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help (copy) Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Albany Democrat-Herald.

Pacific Power has also cautioned about potential selective grid shutdowns to preempt transmission line issues, particularly in high-temperature and windy conditions.

Lebanon crews were called to another brush fire in the 3100 block of Burdell Boulevard around 1:30 a.m. Sunday. An estimated half-acre fire was found burning through blackberries and grass, throwing embers towards a building at an old mill site, according to a news release.

Firefighters deployed hose lines and halted the blaze before it spread further, citing the times of day as an asset to quickly gaining the upper hand, the news release states, getting control in about 10 minutes and working another hour mopping up hot sports any laying a wet line around the perimeter.

The incident drew 10 personnel on two engines, ladder truck, and medic unit along with a rehab unit for firefighters and two chief officers.
Kohima, July 14 : NSCN (IM) General Secretary Thuingaleng Muivah on Monday reiterated that integration of all Naga areas, separate flag and constitution are naturally inseparable, core and non-negotiable demands.

Addressing a gathering of the cadres of the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) on the occasion of 77th Naga Independence Day celebration on Monday, Muivah said that the separate flag and constitution are naturally inseparable from the sovereignty of a people.

"It is universally an accepted truth that the flag and constitution are constituent parts of sovereignty. There is no ambiguity about it. The Indian leaders understand it too. They must take the stand to speak the truth," he said.

The NSCN-IM leader said that on the issue of integration of all Naga areas, the government of India has officially acknowledged that it is the legitimate right of the Nagas and therefore, it shall be finalised accordingly.

"This free Nagalim for Christ is our portion of land from God. We must possess it and defend it at all costs. No power on earth can stop the moving wheels of history. We will keep going."

The main function of the 77th Naga Independence Day celebration was held at the NSCN-IM headquarters at Hebron, about 100 km from Nagaland capital Kohima.

Greater Nagalim' along with the separate flags and constitution are the NSCN-IM's core demands causing the delay in the final resolution in the much expected Naga issue.

Greater Nagalim stipulates the integration of Naga-inhabited areas of Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, as well as Myanmar.

There is stiff opposition to the NSCN-IM's demand in the neighbouring states.

In 2001, Manipur witnessed violent agitation against the NSCN-IM demand and even the state assembly was partially burnt. Many people lost their lives when the ceasefire between the Centre and NSCN-IM was extended without territorial limits.

The 89-years-old NSCN-IM leader in his speech said that the Naga national resistance movement is all about defending the inherent sovereign right of the Nagas and their land.

He said that after 18 years long political talks, the Government of India and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN), the one and only authentic political organisation of the Naga people finally signed the historic 'Framework Agreement' on the August 3, 2015 on the foundation of recognition of the unique history and sovereignty of the Nagas, and shared sovereignty and coexistence of the two entities.

"This is a mutually agreed official document. This Framework Agreement is our legacy. We must defend what we have achieved with our own sweat and blood," the Naga leader said.

He said: "We Nagas are proud of our past dynamic leaders who took the right decision in declaring the Naga National Independence on the 14th August, 1947 on the eve of the British departure from India. It was a historic step that gave new meaning to the Naga National Identity and saved the future of the Nagas."

The Centre has been holding separate negotiations with the dominant Naga outfit NSCN-IM since 1997 as well as the Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs), comprising at least seven groups, since 2017.

The stalemate continued as the NSCN-IM remained firm on its demand for a separate flag and constitution for the Nagas besides the integration of Naga inhabited areas.
Kolkata, Aug 14 : The Bimal Gurung-led Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) on Monday joined hands with two other separatist forces -- Kamtapur Progressive Party (KPP) and Beer Birsha Munda Unmilan Samiti (BBMUS) -- extending the ambit for the proposed Gorkhaland state.

GJM spearheads the movement for separate Gorkhaland state proposed to be carved out of the hills of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong and the plains and Terai and Dooars in North Bengal.

The demand is for a separate statehood carved out of the eight north Bengal districts -- Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Cooch Behar, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Malda.

A formal announcement on this count was made by the GJM leadership after a meeting with the two other separatist forces in Darjeeling on Monday.

The meeting was attended by GJM President Bimal Gurung and General Secretary Roshan Giri, KPP President Adhir Roy and Vice President Budharu Roy, and BBMUS Convenor Kishore Brojo.

It has been decided that the joint movement in support of a separate state carved out of the eight North Bengal districts will start before the big battle of 2024 Lok Sabha polls, thus making it a poll issue.

Budharu Roy told mediapersons that while the beginning of the movement on this issue will be made by these three parties, constant attempts will be on to rope in other political forces which are also in favour of separate statehood for North Bengal.

The demand for separate statehood is not new. In fact, in the recent past, this demand has also been raised by a number of BJP Lok Sabha members and legislators from North Bengal.

Now with GJM focusing on widening the ambit of a separate Gorkhaland state, a new dimension in separatist politics seems to be taking shape in the state.
New Delhi, Aug 14 : A 16-year-old boy was stabbed to death by three youths on Ghaziabad border, a Delhi Police official said on Monday.

A senior police official said that on Sunday at about 09:00 pm, the minor boy along with his friends Mohit and Kuldeep had an altercation with one Himanshu Sharma, Himanshu, Gaurav and some other youths near Mandoli Industrial Area.

"The minor was later found in the Uttar Pradesh Police area," said a senior police official.

During the probe, it was revealed that Gaurav took out a knife and the youths started assaulting each other.

"The minor sustained a stab injury on his right thigh and bled profusely. He was taken to GTB Hospital by his elder brother Sachin, where he was declared brought dead," said the official.

"The police have detained Gaurav, Himanshu Sharma and one other youth also identified as Himanshu. We have registered a Zero FIR and have sent it to PS. Loni Border, Ghaziabad, UP. The accused persons will be formally arrested by UP Police," said the official.
Mumbai, Aug 14 : Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray on Monday confirmed that he has got an offer to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), but he has not yet taken a final call on it, here on Monday.

Speaking at a party meeting here, Raj Thackeray -- the estranged cousin of former Chief Minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray -- did not reveal who made the offer, or when.

However, he mentioned that he did not take any decision as the Shiv Sena faction of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) group led by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar are part of the Shiv Sena-BJP government in Maharashtra headed by Eknath Shinde.

"As Shinde and Ajit Pawar are with the government, and since the BJP has not clarified what will be done with Ajit Pawar, I have not been able to take any decision on this," Raj Thackeray said.

He further contended that Ajit Pawar has gone to the BJP with the blessings of NCP President Sharad Pawar, and very soon the remaining faction of the NCP will also join Ajit Pawar.

The MNS chief said that since 2014, Sharad Pawar has always adopted a 'pro-Narendra Modi' stance and predicted that after the Ajit Pawar group, the Sharad Pawar camp will also join the state government.

Ruling Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat and others welcomed Raj Thackeray's statements on the BJP offer and said that if he took it, "that will be beneficial for the MNS" and the three-party alliance in power, while NCP MLA Rohit Pawar, the grand-nephew of Sharad Pawar, rubbished the MNS leader's forecast.

Raj Thackeray added that he addressed the party workers and leaders on the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, though he expressed doubts whether the planned civic elections are likely to be held anytime soon given the current political scenario in the state.
No other option but to utilise land for smooth traffic flow after removal of mosque: NDMC to Delhi HC . Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Aug 14 : The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) on Monday told the Delhi High Court that the joint inspection was carried out twice, and it was observed that the historic mosque that stands strong for over 150 years at the Sunehri Bagh Road roundabout is required to be demolished for the land to be put to use for safe and smooth flow of traffic.

On July 7, the court had directed the NDMC and the police to present their stance on the petition filed by the Delhi Waqf Board (DWB) which expresses concerns over the potential demolition of the mosque.

In its reply, the NDMC has said that the joint inspection was carried out twice in response to the Delhi traffic police letter regarding the increase in traffic. It is further stated that the officials involved unanimously concluded that the historic mosque is required to be removed/relocated.

The reply said: "...there is no other adequate feasible option but to utilise the piece of the land after removal of the religious structure in the larger public interest. The petition is liable to be declined and the petition may be dismissed."

The Municipal Council said that the area in question is a high security zone as it is in close proximity to central government offices, Parliament, the central vista project and offices of high-ranked officers of defence forces.

It also said that due to the movement of high officials, defence forces and foreign dignitaries, the heavy traffic congestion on this roundabout, and also in the adjoining area, has become a matter of serious concern.

The NDMC said the matter is also pending for consideration before the religious committee under the chairmanship of Delhi government's Secretary (Home).

A bench of Justice Prateek Jalan extended the interim order directing the authorities to maintain status quo and asked them to place before the court the report of the religious committee, once it is made available.

The judge has listed the matter for hearing next on October 6.

Earlier, in a bid to gather accurate information, the court had instructed all parties involved to conduct a joint inspection at the site.

Justice Jalan had issued notice on the plea seeking to protect a mosque from potential harm caused by the NDMC.

The court had also emphasised the need for a practical and holistic approach, urging both parties to adopt a reasonable perspective.

The judge had highlighted that indigenous properties are not exempt from acquisition as long as statutory conditions are met.

He had stressed on the importance of treating all religious structures equally and applying consistent policies.

Consequently, the court had ordered a joint inspection to take place on July 12, 2023, at 3 pm, with the option for further inspections if necessary.

"Notice shall be issued. The concerned parties are instructed to conduct a joint inspection on July 12, 2023, at 3 pm, and may schedule additional inspections as required. The NDMC is authorised to notify any other relevant authority about the inspection," the court had said.

"The respondents are directed to submit their response to the petition along with the necessary records within a period of two weeks. The report of the joint inspection should be presented as well," the court had ordered.

The petitioner's advocate, Wajeeh Shafiq, had informed the court that the authorities had conducted an inspection at the site without the petitioner's presence.

"The inspection was carried out based on a letter from the traffic police requesting the NDMC to assess the feasibility of redesigning the Sunehri Bagh roundabout due to increased traffic issues in the area," Shafiq had argued.

The petitioner had argued that the presence of the mosque was not the cause of traffic problems and that the notice for inspection was given less than 24 hours in advance.

The petition claims that the mosque's demolition was planned for the week starting July 3, 2023, following a pattern of demolishing waqf properties without following proper legal procedures.

The plea also states that the mosque had been in existence for over 150 years and served a large number of worshippers, hosting daily prayers, Friday prayers, and Eid prayers.

It alleges that the congestion in the area was not due to the mosque but rather due to uncontrolled vehicle parking on both sides of Motilal Nehru Marg.

As the counsel for the petitioner had urged the court to direct maintenance of status quo, the counsel for the NDMC had said the apprehension with respect to demolition of the mosque in the near future is misplaced.
Gandhinagar, Aug 14 : The 4th Health Working Group (HWG) meetings, a component of India's G-20 presidency, are scheduled to take place in Gandhinagar from August 17 to 19.

Officials confirmed that the agenda includes a joint assembly of health and finance ministers, along with a virtual address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Mona Khandhar, the G20 Nodal Officer for the Gujarat government, outlined the series of events. The proceedings encompass the 4th meeting of HWG deputies and ministers on August 17, a health ministers' session spanning August 18-19, and a combined meeting of health and finance ministers on August 19.

A special virtual address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated for the inauguration of the health ministers' meetings on August 18, as per a government release. The joint meeting of health and finance ministers on August 19 will see the participation of Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Khandhar also revealed the virtual attendance of finance ministers from various G20 nations.

Mandaviya is additionally expected to attend the HWG deputies' meeting on August 17. Concurrently, the event will encompass three parallel summits: AYUSH, medical tourism advantage India, and pharmaceuticals and medical equipment. These summits will be accompanied by relevant exhibitions.

The gathering will feature ministers from 19 countries and nine invitee nations, alongside senior representatives from 23 multilateral agencies. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel will deliver the inaugural address at a seminar on AYUSH, organized in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Keynote dignitaries hailing from diverse regions will participate in the meetings. Among them are State Minister of Indigenous Medicine of Sri Lanka J A Sisira Kumara Jayakody, Dr. Carla Vizzotti of Argentina, and Dechen Wangmo of Bhutan.

The August 17 event will be divided into two sessions, focusing on the finalization of the outcome document through 'Live Negotiations on the Draft Declaration led by India's G20 Presidency Health Track Focal Point,' as per a government release. An exhibition tour on themes such as WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit, One Earth One Health Advantage Healthcare India 2023, and India MedTech Expo 2023 will follow the closing session.

The August 18 health ministers' meeting will feature discussions on "Health Emergencies Prevention, Preparedness, and Response" with a spotlight on One Health and AMR (Antimicrobial Resistance). Additionally, panel discussions with WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit and 'One Earth One Health Advantage Healthcare India 2023' will take place.

On August 19, deliberations will revolve around reinforcing cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector. The discussions will emphasise accessibility to safe, effective, quality, and affordable medical countermeasures, digital health innovation, solutions for universal health coverage, and enhancements in healthcare service delivery.
Shifting of people from relief camps to temporary homes to start on I-Day: Manipur CM. Image Source: IANS News

Imphal, Aug 14 : The Manipur government will start shifting of violence-hit displaced people, now sheltered in relief camps, to the prefabricated temporary homes from the Independence Day (Tuesday) onwards, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said on Monday.

The Manipur Chief Minister had earlier announced that 4,000 prefabricated temporary homes would be constructed in different districts for the people displaced by the ethnic violence, which broke out in the state on May 3.

Speaking at a function on Monday, Singh said that shifting of displaced people to prefabricated homes would start from Tuesday at a few places of the state.

"Construction of temporary homes is now underway in full swing in many districts, and shifting of people will be done in a phase manner as and when the construction works are completed," Singh said, adding that the government is also planning to build permanent residents for the affected people who lost their homes due the violence.

The Chief Minister said that regular meetings of ministers, MLAs and officials are being held to ensure that all the measures of the government are properly executed.

Scholars and prominent public figures should refrain from narrating distorted history which could hinder the peace-building process and create confusion among the people, he cautioned.

In view of the ethnic strife in Manipur, approximately 50,650 men, women and children of different communities have been displaced and are now sheltered in 350 camps, set up in schools, government buildings and auditoriums.

The violence, which broke out after a tribal organisation held a rally on May 3 opposing recognition of Meitei community as Scheduled Tribe, so far has claimed over 160 lives and injured around 600 people of different communities, besides destroying a large numbers of assets, including people's homes.
New Delhi, Aug 14 : Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday said the wrong policies of those in charge in 1947 led to the partition of India.

Speaking at an event here, organised on the occasion of the Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, Puri without naming anyone, said: "Wrong policies of those in charge led to the partition of India. My parents were victims of the ravages of this greatest human tragedy. Born in 1952, I grew up listening to how my father miraculously escaped the carnage and boarded the last Frontier Mail from Lahore."

"My parent and several other members of the family had to begin their lives from scratch," he said.

"The Partition Horrors Remembrance Day will ensure that future generations never forget the pain and suffering of the countless people that were displaced and the millions that lost their lives due to the communal tensions (hate and violence) that occurred during that time."

"My blood boils when some 'buddhijeevis' (intellectuals)' who had earlier spread canards about jamun trees on Kartavya Path, suggest that we should not revisit horrors of partition now and that we should move on, letting bygones be bygones. Jews have not forgotten the holocaust."

"How can they even suggest that victims of genocides should forget their past? Instead, I suggest that they should also revisit the horrors of one of the world's most savage human tragedies and introspect. Those who forget history will find that sooner or later, history will repeat itself."

On the occasion, the Minister also honoured 75 great personalities who faced the brunt of partition.

From 2021, every year on this day, Partition Horrors Remembrance Day is observed to recall the sacrifices and struggle of our people during the time of partition.
New Delhi, Aug 14 : Delhi Police's Crime Branch have arrested four dacoits after multiple raids in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand in connection with an armed robbery of jewellery and cash worth over Rs two crores from a businessman in the national Capital, police said on Monday.

The accused identified as Jitender a.k.a Sanju (29), Chuttan Lal (50), Ajay Pal (28), and Mahipal (49), had held the businessman and his family captive at gunpoint for nearly an hour in his house in the Ashok Vihar area before fleeing away with cash and jewellery in may this year.

The Delhi Police Commissioner, Sanjay Arora had also declared a reward of Rs two lakhs on information leading to the arrest of the accused.

Divulging the details, a senior police official said that on May 7, in the early hours, five masked armed dacoits had barged into the house of a businessman in the area of Ashok Vihar, while the victim was sleeping in his house with his parents, wife, sister and their children.

"A gang, including five men, armed with three firearms, a knife, and housebreaking tools, executed a heist at the residence of a businessman. The victim's home had an office on the ground floor, while he resided on the first floor," said the Special Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ravindra Singh Yadav.

The dacoits breached the property by cutting through an iron grill on the ground floor window, accessing the premises via the office.

"Inside, they rifled through the office before moving to the living quarters, where they awakened the victim's family. Holding them at gunpoint, the dacoits ransacked the house but found nothing of value. They proceeded to assault the businessman with a bat, pressuring him to reveal the whereabouts of the cash and jewellery," said Yadav.

Ultimately, the dacoits fled with over a crore in cash and around two kg of jewellery. Before leaving, they locked the family in a room, taking their mobile phones and DVR setup.

"After an intensive investigation, the police identified Jitender as a suspect in the dacoity and apprehended him, leading to the recovery of a homemade pistol and ammunition. Subsequently, the identities of the remaining culprits were uncovered, leading to coordinated raids in various locations in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand," said Yadav.

Chuttan Lal and Ajay Pal were captured in Kashipur, Uttrakhand, and Mahipal was apprehended in Ramnagar.

"Their interrogation further revealed that the dacoity was orchestrated by Jitender, Miraj, Ajaypal, Chuttan Lal, and Mahipal. The gang meticulously planned their actions, even conducting a reconnaissance of the targeted residence," said Yadav.

"They divided roles among themselves, and on the day of the crime, the dacoits infiltrated the property, held the victim's father hostage, and coerced the family into a room," the Special CP added.
Kolkata, Aug 14 : The West Bengal Child Rights Commission (WBCRC) on Monday issued a show-case notice to the authorities of Jadavpur University (JU) over the death of Swapnadip Kundu, a first year student who died under mysterious circumstances after falling from the balcony of a students' hostel on the JU campus on August 10.

In the show-cause notice, the university authorities have been asked to explain the actions taken to implement the anti-ragging guidelines laid out by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and also the directions of the Supreme Court on ragging.

The JU authorities have been asked to submit a reply within two days as to why action should not be initiated against them for the purported failure to prevent ragging on the campus.

The show-case notice came on the same day of the filing of a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Calcutta High Court, seeking the courtas intervention in ensuring that the anti-ragging guidelines are strictly implemented, not just in JU, but in all the state universities.

In a statement issued by the WBCRC, the commission held the JU authorities responsible for not initiating any action against the senior students who are responsible for ragging their juniors and freshers.

WBCRC Chairperson Ananya Chakraborty has also questioned the non-existence of CCTV cameras on the university campus.

She also said that since the age of the victim student was less than 18, cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act should be initiated against the offenders.

The police have already arrested three accused persons, including two present and one former student of the university, in this connection. All three have been remanded to judicial custody till August 22.

The WBCRC has written to Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose, who by virtue of his chair is the Chancellor of JU. A similar letter has been forwarded to Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Kumar Goyal.
A Jefferson man riding a bicycle died after being hit by a motorist on Highway 164.

Harley Auten, 42, was riding southbound in the bike lane around 7:05 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12 when the crash occurred, according to an Oregon State Police news release.

As Auten crossed the intersection of Southeast Talbot Road, he was hit by a Dodge Ram 3500 driven by 55-year-old Brian Hammons of Jefferson, who was turning south onto the highway from eastbound Talbot, the news release states.

Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help (copy) Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Albany Democrat-Herald.

Auten was taken to Salem Hospital where he later died.

Hammons reportedly left the scene after medical personnel arrived but before law enforcement was on scene. He turned himself in the following day and was held at the Marion County Jail for charges of hit-and-run and criminally negligent homicide.

The investigation is ongoing. Witnesses are asked to contact Oregon State Police, referencing case SP23-252845.
Bhopal, Aug 14 : Internal differences among the top leaders of the Madhya Pradesh BJP unit continue to intensify even though the central leadership took full command of the poll preparations and has appointed two Union Ministers -- Bhupendra Yadav and Ashwini Vaishnaw -- as election in-charge beside appointing the seniormost state-based leader and Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar as the convenor.

The factionalism in the ruling party is presumably yet to die down, especially in the context of the Vindhya region, where the party had won 24 out of 30 assembly seats in 2018. However, back-to-back incidents against the tribals and ST/SC communities, especially Sidhi's pee-gate issue last month in this upper caste dominated area, have escalated the resentment of people belonging to both the upper and lower castes ahead of the assembly elections due around four months later.

Already struggling to counter anti-incumbency against its nearly two decades (except a brief period of the Congress government) of rule, the ghar-wapsi episode of former MLA couple from Rewa district Abhay Mishra and his wife Neelam Mishra recently has not just surprised the party workers, but the development has also annoyed two-time former minister and BJP leader of the Vindhya region  Rajendra Shukla.

Abhay Mishra, who runs a liquor business in Rewa and has imposed his own rules there, had won the assembly election on a BJP ticket in 2008 from Semaria constituency. His wife Neelam Mishra was also elected MLA from the same seat in 2013. However, the power tussle between Rajendra Shukla and Abhay Mishra came to the fore in 2018 when the latter's wife and the then sitting BJP MLA Neelam Mishra had broken down in the House and had staged a dharna in the well, alleging that her family was facing threats to life from her own party leader.

After that incident, the Mishra couple shifted to the Congress. Abhay Mishra had contested the assembly election against Rajendra Shukla in 2018 and lost by a margin of more than 18,000 votes. Mishra was positioning himself as the contender for the ticket either from Rewa or Semaria, however, aware of his image among the people after back to back survey reports, Congress state president Kamal Nath, who is in search of winnable candidates, denied him a ticket.

Subsequently, Mishra, who has already tried his best to get a ticket either for his wife or for himself from any political party such as the BSP or the AAP, and has a good bonding with state Home Minister Narottam Mishra, finally made his ghar-wapsi last week. "What annoys Rajendra Shukla is that Mishra's ghar-wapsi happened with the consent of chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Further, Mishra made a statement that the state BJP leadership has tasked him to win the Rewa and Samaria assembly seats," a Rewa-based senior BJP leader told IANS on condition of anonymity.

The sitting BJP MLA from Semaria, K. P. Tripathi who is close to Rajendra Shukla, had won the election in 2018 with a margin of 7000 votes against the Congress' Triyugi Narayan Shukla. Mishra's ghar-wapsi has also upset sitting BJP MLA Tripathi as both belong to Semaria and do not let go any chance to belittle each other.

"People of Vindhya region were already annoyed with the party leadership because despite winning 24 out of 30 assembly seats under the leadership of Rajendra Shukla in the Vindhya region, he wasn't given a place in CM Chouhan's cabinet. It is really very shocking for all of us that despite knowing the image of Mishra, why did the state leadership not find a better person instead of him. If this issue is not resolved, the BJP would pay the price in at least four assembly seats in Rewa district," said a source who has been closely monitoring Vindhya's politics for the last one decade and is associated with the RSS.

Four-time MLA and two-time minister Rajendra Shukla, who was once the favorite of CM Chouhan, has positioned himself as a prominent Brahmin political face in the Vindhya region after former assembly speaker Sriniwas Tiwari, who died in January 2018. Sources aware of the development told IANS that Rajendra Shukla and K. P. Tripathi reached Bhopal on Monday and they are likely to meet CM Chouhan and the Union Ministers appointed as the MP BJP's election in-charge team to raise their voice.
Mumbai, Aug 14 : Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole has briefed senior leader and MP Rahul Gandhi on the weekend meeting between Maha Vikas Aghadi ally Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar with NCP breakaway faction's Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, here on Monday.

The Pawar uncle-nephew rendezvous duo has ignited a political row among the MVA allies with both Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) taking umbrage at the developments which creates confusion in the peoples' minds.

Patole told mediapersons that this morning, he had given Gandhi an update on the closed-door meet of the Pawars in Pune over the weekend.

"Such private meetings lead to doubts in public minds If they are relatives they can visit each other's homes, why conduct a secret meeting," demanded Patole.

He said that matter was discussed even with Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray and the Congress high command as well as Gandhi, coming barely a fortnight ahead of the National Opposition I.N.D.I.A. conclave here on Aug. 31-Sep. 01.

"We are closely watching the political developments in the state and the matter will be discussed at the INDIA conference later," said a grim Patole.

Earlier, Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut had also reacted sharply to the Pawars meeting saying it sends confusing signals among the rank-and-file who are fighting it out ideologically at the lower levels, and could have repercussions on the MVA.

However, Sharad Pawar patiently said that he had no intentions of joining the Bharatiya Janata Party as was being speculated in some sections of the media and the MVA was strongly united.

Trying to soothe ruffled feathers among the allies, the 83-year-old Maratha also made it clear that as the father-figure of the Pawar clan, he had met his nephew Ajit Pawar and felt there was nothing wrong with this.
Patna, Aug 14 : A woman of Bihar's Kishanganj district claimed to have saved as many as 50 teenage girls from child marriage in Seemanchal region of Bihar.

Roshni Parveen, a 23 year old social worker, who underwent the plight of child marriage when she was just 14 and now she has an eight year old son, is working to prevent the child marriage. She is also planning to meet Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to fight against the social evil.

"At the age of 14, my parents have got married with a middle-aged man. When other children were planning for higher study, I was pregnant. After two years of marriage, I finally got divorce with my husband. Then I decided to save other girls from the pain I underwent and lost my childhood," Parveen said.

"I went village to village in Muslim dominant Kishanganj, Araria, Purnea, Katihar, Khagaria and other districts whenever I learnt about any child marriage. I saved them from child marriage either through district administration or convincing them personally. I managed to save around 50 girls especially from Muslim community," she said.

"I underwent the pain of child marriage and I don't want other girls to experience the same plight. Hence, I decided to work for this social cause in rest of my life," Parveen said.

"I am associated with Nguvu Collective, a social welfare organisation, and creating awareness personally and virtually in the region. Now, I want to meet Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to launch statewide awareness programme against the social evil. I am hoping that he will give me time so that I could tell my horrible story and many horrifying stories of other teenage girls," Parveen said.
Researchers find no evidence that game play time limits for minors in China reduce longer play. Image Source: IANS News

Hong Kong, Aug 14 : Researchers have found no evidence that the rules imposed by the Chinese government on online gaming time for minors had reduced heavy gaming, a new study has shown.

Researchers from the UK and Denmark obtained anonymised data from the US game engine developer Unity, which covered 7.04 billion hours of playtime from 2.4 billion mainland Chinese gamer profiles from August 2019 to January 2020, according to the study published in the journal Nature.

The researchers noted that those profiles include both children and adults because the data they obtained did not include age information, reports South China Morning Post.

According to the researchers, 0.77 per cent of the profiles they observed engaged in "heavy play" between August and October 2019, before China implemented its gaming time mandate.

Heavy play is defined as spending at least four hours a day and six days a week gaming.

This compares to 0.88 per cent of gamers who did so after the Chinese government limited minors' online gaming time to 90 minutes per day in November 2019.

The study also looked at play patterns in 2021, when China limited minors' online gaming time to three hours per week. The new rule had no discernible effect on heavy gaming, as per the researchers.

Earlier this month, China's cyberspace regulator proposed rules limiting the smartphone screen time of kids based on their age with a "minor mode".

The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) had announced that the age classification design will be divided into five age intervals -- under 3 years old; over 3 years old but under 8 years old; over 8 years old but under 12 years old; over 12 years old but under 16 years old; and over 16 years old but under 18 years old.

Kids over the age of 8 but under the age of 16 are limited to one hour of mobile usage.

For teens over the age of 16 but under the age of 18, the screen time is limited to two hours.
Panaji, Aug 14 : Followers of Shivaji on Monday installed a new statue of Maratha king after an existing one was found desecrated.

The followers of Shivaji have given seven days to police to nab the miscreants, who desecrated the statue of Shivaji.

Meanwhile, the leaders of Congress and BJP were also present, who were seen united for the cause of protecting peace in the state.

BJP MLA and Archeology Minister Subhash Phaldesai, Congress MLA Carlos Ferreira, Congress leader and former Union Minister Ramakant Khalap, BJP MLA Premendra Shet and others were present.

Subhash Phaldesai said that one who desecrated the statue should be punished.

"We have given seven days to the Home Department to investigate the matter and take action against miscreants. These miscreants are trying to spoil the communal harmony of the state. They should not be forgiven," Phaldesai said.

He said that Shivaji Maharaj protected the religion and fought against the foreign rule.

MLA Carlos Ferreira said that he is happy that tension has ended after the new statue is installed.

"People should be congratulated for keeping peace. This is the true spirit of Goa. This should be continued. Shivaji Maharaj has been my idol since my childhood. We need to respect everyone irrespective of religion," he said.

Youths admiring Shivaji had gathered at the spot and demanded action against the miscreants.

Speaking to IANS, Prashant Walke of 'Swarajya Gomantak Sanghatana-Mapusa' said that they have demanded the police to arrest the miscreants within seven days or they will take further action.

Leaders of Bajrang Dal sought immediate action in the case. "Those who have desecrated the statue should be arrested and action should be taken against him. If police fail to do it then we will agitate in future," one of the Bajrang Dal leaders said.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had said that miscreants are trying to disturb the peace of the state.
Kolkata, Aug 14 : : Any threat to West Bengal or the state government will be countered by surprising achievements in the field of development, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Monday.

"Let the culture and talents of Bengal move ahead. No one will be able to stop Bengal from progressing. No one will be able to terrorise or suppress Bengal. Bengal will counter and reply to that with surprising achievements in the field of development. People from all religions will remain united in Bengal. Let Bengal be the centre of unity and excellence," the Chief Minister said while addressing a government programme on Monday.

Speaking at another programme on Monday evening, the Chief Minister gave a political colour to the unfortunate and mysterious death a of fresher at Jadavpur University on August 10, as she said that those who abetted the suicide had links with the students' wing of the Marxists.

"Those who forced the poor fresher jump from the balcony of the students' hostel are Marxists. Sometimes they are also with the Congress and sometimes with the BJP. There are some typical CPI(M) activists there, who even stripped the victim of his clothes. There is an ambience of terror there," the Chief Minister said.

She alleged the offenders even forced the victim student to take off a religious thread from his hands.

"These students act as if the university campus is a red fort," the Chief Minister said.

She alleged that these students do not allow installation of CCTV cameras within the campus or entry of police.

"That is why I refrain from going to Jadavpur University," she said.

Reacting to the statement, CPI(M) politburo member Md Salim said that once Mamata Banerjee had joined hands with the Maoists in Junglemahal for killing CPI(M) activists.

"She encouraged many CPI(M) deserters to join Trinamool and some of them were even provided berths in the state Cabinet. She is now trying to confuse everyone over this issue," Salim said.
New Delhi, Aug 14 : Ahead of the crucial assembly election in Rajasthan later this year, the Congress is planning to drop several of its sitting MLAs, including five to eight ministers, and might field 60 new faces in the polls, sources said on Monday.

According to party sources, the Congress has decided to drop at least 35 MLAs in the elections later this year, with at least five to eight Ministers.

The source said that the party is also mulling the idea to field some celebrities, social workers, social workers, and some prominent award winners in the polls.

The source said that the decision is being taken in view of the survey that the party carried out a month ago.

The source said that the party has decided to field 60 new faces in the polls later this year citing anti-incumbency against the sitting MLAs and ministers.

The source further said that some of the senior ministyers might be fielded in the Lok Sabha elections scheduled next year, as they have got the potential to take on the BJP citing their popularity and works done in their constituencies.

The source, however, also said that some of the MLAs who will be denied tickets to contest in the assembly elections later this year will be placed in boards or local municipal bodies if the government returns to power.

The source, when asked, how many of the party MLAs from the former deputy Chief Minister and former state unit chief Sachin Pilot will be facing the axe of being denied ticket, said that there are at least 18 such leaders.

The crucial assembly elections is scheduled in the month of November later this year. The Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government has been launching several schemes in the state to woo the voters to break the tradition of the alternate government in the desert state.

The Congress had last month during the meeting of the party leaders with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi had decided to announce the party candidates at least two months ahead of the assembly election in the state. The party has also formed the election committee.

Meanwhile, the BJP is also hoping to return to power in the state.
New Delhi, Aug 14 : A Delhi court has denied bail to a woman accused of stealing bags from outside the courtrooms in the high court here.

On the Investigation Officer (IO)'s application seeking the accused's 14-day judicial custody, Metropolitan Magistrate Paras Dalal of Patiala House Courts granted her custody till August 26.

The accused filed the bail application on the ground that there has been no recovery of stolen property and that there is non-compliance of Section 41A of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC)

The complainant has argued that the accused is habitual of the conduct of picking up bags from outside the courtrooms in the high court of Delhi and apart from the present case is alleged of the similar offence in at least one other FIR and there is also apprehension that she may have been involved in two other such instances.

The complainant has further argued that due to the actions of the accused, there is fear in leaving the bags outside the courtrooms of the high court among lawyers, and has said that there is serious lapse of security since the accused is not an advocate, having no ID card yet she is seen in the compound of the high court premises without any entry pass.

It is argued that the complainant clearly identifies the accused carrying her bag which contained stolen property. However, the accused has claimed that the woman seen in the footage is not her.

The State has countered the bail on the ground that the accused has been non co-operative throughout the investigation. After her identity was established, she was served notice to join the investigation, yet she failed and when the police officials reached her house, she refused to join the investigation and even resisted the police officers in the investigation.

The IO has stated that the accused refused to share her details and as much as failed to provide any identity proof of herself.

"Having considered the seriousness of the allegations, this court deems it appropriate to commit the accused to judicial custody since the apprehension of the IO is true that once released on bail, the accused may abscond and even threatened the witness or indulge in similar offence vide same modus operandi," the court said.

--IANS

spr/dan
Mumbai, Aug 14 : After 18 months in jail, former minister Nawab Malik walked out on bail to a rousing reception by both factions of the Nationalist Congress Party, here on Monday evening.

Malik was granted two months' conditional bail on medical grounds and was set free from a private CritiCare Asia Hospital in Kurla where he was undergoing treatment since May 2022.

NCP (Sharad Pawar) sources said that now he is likely to continue his medical treatment at home under the care of his family members.

After the Supreme Court order granting bail on Friday, Malik's legal team started the relevant formalities which were completed late this evening and the ex-firebrand minister finally walked out to temporary freedom.

Appearing weary but relieved, Malik was received by his family members, then hundreds of supporters from the rival NCP factions greeted him, raising slogans in his favour and he got into a vehicle.

He was escorted to his car where he stepped out of the sunroof, greeted all with a smile and folded hands, but strictly declined to make any comments to the media as per the bail conditions.

Among the prominent persons who received him were NCP MP Supriya Sule who said that finally "justice has been done to Nawab-bhai".

Malik was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Feb. 23, 2022 in a case pertaining to alleged money-laundering arising out of a tainted deal in Kurla involving the mafia.
Guwahati, Aug 14 : An Imam was arrested on Monday by the police for allegedly being involved in the merciless killing of a 12-year-old student in a Madrasa in Assam's Cachar district.

In the wee hours on Sunday, the beheaded body of a student identified as Rabijul Hussain was discovered in the dorm room of the Darus Salam Hafizia Madrasa in Dholai area of Cachar district. Police initially detained some 20 hostel mates of Hussain and a few teachers of the Madrasa.

Numal Mahatta, the Cachar district's superintendent of police, said that the Imam confessed to his crime during questioning and that he had been detained under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including section 302 (murder).

The police officer claimed that when the accused allegedly assaulted the student last month, the Madrasa authorities took some minor action against the Imam. He was enraged by this, so he killed the 12-year-old minor boy as a form of retaliation.

After the student reported being harassed and spent a few days at his house, his father dropped him off at the Madrasa on Saturday, and the Imam killed him that evening, according to Mahatta.

Hafiz Mousin Rehman Khan, a native of the Kalain neighborhood of the Cachar district, has been named as the arrested Imam.

He has served as an Imam for the past five years, and according to the locals, he has been accused of torturing students on numerous occasions.

According to the police, the minor boy was killed with a sharp object. The Madrasa was sealed by police following the incident, and it will remain closed until they do their inquiry.
New Delhi, Aug 14 : Aviation watchdog Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said on Monday that India's domestic air passenger traffic volume surged around 25 per cent so far this year as compared to last year.

According to data released by the DGCA, the number of passengers carried by domestic airlines from January to July this year stood at 881.94 lakh as against 669.54 lakh during the corresponding period of the previous year, registering annual growth of 31.72 per cent and monthly growth of 24.68 per cent.

The data showed that during July 2023, a total of 349 passenger-related complaints were received by the scheduled domestic airlines.

The number of complaints per 10,000 passengers carried for the month of July 2023 was 0.29 per cent. The major reasons for complaints were flight problems. The airlines have received a total of 349 complaints, out of which 341 have been addressed, the DGCA data said.

Notably, from January to July this year, budget airline IndiGo secured 59 per cent market share by flying 519.91 lakh passengers, while Air India, owned by the Tata Group, carried a total of 81.37 lakh passengers, with a market share of 9.2 per cent.

Vistara, a joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, flew 76.55 lakh passengers, securing an 8.7 per cent market share. AirAsia India, now known as AIX Connect, carried 66.79 lakh passengers, making up 7.6 per cent of the total traffic, the data stated.

Asaka Air, which marked its one-year anniversary on the seventh of the month, flew 35.22 lakh passengers and claimed a five per cent market share, the data showed.

Despite its challenges, SpiceJet transported 51.20 lakh passengers from January to July this year, capturing 5.8 per cent of the market. Impressively, SpiceJet achieved the highest load factor at 88.9 per cent in July, compared to June.

IndiGo also excelled in punctuality, with 86.8 per cent of its flights departing or arriving on time at major airports such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.
New Delhi, Aug 14 : A first-of-its-kind global summit on traditional medicine, being organised by the World Health Organization (WHO) and co-hosted by the Ayush Ministry, will be held on August 17-18 at Gandhinagar in Gujarat.

Director General of the WHO, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus will inaugurate the event in the presence of Minister of Health Mansukh Mandaviya and Minister of Ayush Shri Sarbananda Sonowal.

G20 Health Ministers, Regional Directors and eminent invitees from countries across WHO's six regions are expected to grace the event along with scientists, practitioners of traditional medicine, health workers and members of civil society organisations.

Addressing a press conference, Minister of State for Ayush, Munjpara Mahendrabhai said: "It is very natural that after the foundation laying ceremony of the Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar last year, we are going to witness this first global event in India. It testifies to the multi-dimensional strides taken by various traditional medicine systems of our country in the recent past."

"By blending traditional practices with contemporary practices aided by visionary policies and digital initiatives, India has demonstrated a path for achieving universal health coverage (UHC) through traditional medicine systems," he said.

The Minister informed that the summit's outcome will be a declaration, and this declaration will assist WHO in shaping the future of WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine.
Chennai, Aug 14 : Mobile telephone player Vodafone Idea Ltd on Monday said it closed the first quarter of FY24 with a consolidated loss of Rs 7,840 crore.

In a regulatory filing, the company said for the period ended 30.6.2023 it had earned a total revenue of Rs 10,655.5 crore (Q1FY23 Rs 10,410.1 crore).

The company said its net loss for the period under review was Rs 7,840 crore up from the net loss figure of Rs 7,292.9 crore.
Amaravati, Aug 14 : The parents of some girl students of Kendriya Vidyalaya in Anantapur on Monday thrashed the school librarian for alleged sexual harassment.

Tension prevailed in the school premises when parents of some students beat up the librarian in front of the school principal.

They alleged that the librarian had been misbehaving with the students for the last few days.

Bhanu Prakash Naik was allegedly asking some girl students to massage him.

He had also threatened them with dire consequences if they disclosed this to anyone.

On learning about this, enraged students rushed to the school and pulled up the librarian. They later roughed him up in the principal's room.

Parents of the students alleged that the principal did not take action despite complaints against the librarian. They demanded that Bhanu Prakash be dismissed from the police. However, the librarian denied the allegations.

Police registered a case against the librarian under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and other relevant sections against the librarian.

Police said they were questioning the librarian and would take necessary action.

Some parents told local media persons that they spoke to higher officials of Kendriya Vidyalaya in Hyderabad and they promised to constitute a committee to launch an investigation on August 16.
Guwahati, August 14 : A suspected rhino poacher was killed in a police encounter in Assam's Chirang district. The accused was arrested on Sunday night from near the India-Bhutan border, the police said.

Nareswar Basumatary was shot by Assam's Special Task Force (STF), according to the police, after he tried to escape from custody.

The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau in Assam and a team from the Chirang Forest Department launched an operation on Sunday night close to the border between India and Bhutan based on a tip-off concerning the smuggling of rhino bones and other body parts.

During the operation, the authorities arrested Nareswar Basumatary along with Biran Narzary and Bahadur Magar, all natives of Jaipur Malibhita region in Chirang district, who were suspected poachers and smugglers.

The authorities also recovered rhino claws, skin, a homemade pistol and bullets from their possession.

Later, they were handed over to the STF led by Partha Sarathi Mahanta. The STF claimed that Basumatary promised to assist them in identifying other poachers.

He allegedly attacked the STF officers at Jalukani under Amguri police station in Chirang district, which is near the Bhutan border.

"When he got to the jungle, he suddenly shoved the officers and tried to run away. We warned him, but he didn't listen. When the police opened fire on him, he attempted to take a gun from a police man," an officer said on Monday.

Basumatary, who had several gunshot wounds to his hand and back, was admitted to the Barpeta Medical College for treatment where he passed away, according to the police.

His body has been sent for post-mortem.

"We are questioning the two others who were arrested along with Basumatary," the officer said.

The accused admitted to killing two rhinos in the Manas National Park earlier this year.

Seven rhino poachers have been identified by the arrested individuals.

"They killed a rhino during after spending six days inside the park. The rhino horn was sold," the officer said.
Mamata's call to Pawar, an effort to secure support for her nephew: BJP. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Aug 14 : BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya on Monday took a swipe at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi after he shared a picture of his meeting with Rameshwar, a vegetable seller.

"One should learn from the Gandhi family how to use the misery of a poor person for politics. Rahul Gandhi who does not even meet senior leaders of his party, meets Rameshwar ji," he wrote on X referring to Congress MP's meeting with the vegetable seller.

"Who wants to meet Rahul Gandhi in India today except associates of the Congress party?," Malviya questioned.

He further said, "Another poor's honour has fallen prey to Rahul Gandhi's hunger for power."

The Congress MP from Kerala's Wayanad on Monday invited the vegetable seller Rameshwar, whose video made headlines highlighting the pain of the vegetable sellers and the poor amid the soaring prices of the vegetables and had lunch with him.

Gandhi took to X and wrote, "Rameshwar ji is a lively person. One can see the innate nature of crores of Indians in them. Those who move ahead with a smile even in adverse circumstances are truly 'Bharat Bhagya Vidhaata'."

He also attached a photograph of his with Rameshwar.
Patna Aug 14 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said that Central government has to construct AIIMS at the site earmarked by the Bihar government in Darbhanga.

While inaugurating the Phase-II of JP Ganga pathway and Lohia Path Chakra in Patna, Kumar said that people sitting in Central government are uselessly arguing over Darbhanga AIIMS.

"We have allotted land at Sobhan Bypass which is well connected with other roads. We are ready to construct four lane approach road. The place is also having good connectivity with places like airport and railway station. Our stand is clear. If they want to construct AIIMS, they have to construct it at the same place we have offered," Kumar said.

He said that the Bihar government will expand DMCH soon and the low lying areas will be filled with clay.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumaras proposal was to construct AIIMS inside the DMCH which was rejected by the Centre expert committee.
New Delhi, Aug 14 : Everybody is talking about the March 5, 1966 'Aizawl Bombing' ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi triggered a row by referring to that unfortunate episode during his 'no-confidence motion' speech in the Lok Sabha.

But it ought to be understood that Indira Gandhi was hardly a 40-day old Prime Minister then and 'her image' still was that of 'Goongi Gudiya', or a dumb doll.

One version from informed sources is that when the Army/Assam Rifles movement was difficult and Mizo rebels refused to 'move out' from their positions, the bombing on the Mizo rebels hideouts were ordered.

The forward advance of 2 Para and 8 Sikh Regiment was also held up prior to that.

Indira Gandhi had been dubbed as a 'Goongi Gudiya' by none other than socialist stalwart Ram Manohar Lohia.

The fact of the matter is circa 1966 was a tough year for India. On January 11, 1966, India's second Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri expired in a rather controversial circumstances in Tashkent.

Gulzari Lal Nanda succeeded him and was in office for 13 days before Indira Gandhi took charge on January 24, 1966. It is also true Indira Gandhi was 'not the natural choice' of the Congress then, and she took oath only as a compromise candidate amid inner-party confabulations.

Now in circa 2023, some Mizo intellectuals are aggrieved.

Professor J.V. Hluna, a native Mizo historian, said, "Why the national media has given an impression that the Mizos had almost forgotten the Aizawl

Bombing of 1966 and Narendra Modi is making us remember that all over again. We never forgot, nor forgave anyone."

"In fact, apology was demanded by the Mizos from the Manmohan Singh government after, as a Sikh Prime Minister, he had tendered an apology for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots," Hluna told IANS.

During the UPA stint, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had tendered a public apology for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

It was also hailed in an American diplomatic cable as an aalmost Gandhian moment of moral clarity in India's long march to religious harmony".

An Aizawl-based social activist, Zodi Sanga, told this journalist last week, "Prime Minister Modi has revived old wounds. As a BJP leader, he might have done his part of politics. But he should have gone a step further and even tender an apology in the House on behalf of the

Government of India."

In terms of 'official version', those in service in multiple ministries and in the possible know of things say "most information about Aizawl Bombing is classified".

However, the date of Air Force bombing is 'confirmed' (March 5, 1966), they say, adding, "The Operation took place four days after the Mizo rebel leader on March 1, 1966 announced Mizo independence and made life difficult in more than one place for Assam Rifles."

Unlike reported in a section of the media, in the first week of March (1966) or even on the fateful aerial strike day, March 5, Laldenga was in Mizoram only and not in Karachi.

Local sources also claim that only after the third week of March, probably after the Indian Army consolidated its position and MNA lost ground, Laldenga left for Dhaka via the Chittagong hill tracks.

Laldenga's lieutenant Zorathanga had then appeared for his graduation exam from Manipur and was reportedly "awaiting results".

But the source also maintains that "Mizoram was still very much part of greater Assam state and that way there is no question of calling it secession. We can add one more information - the Army operation on the ground to clear Mizo insurgents' held positions was carried out by 61 Mountain Division led by Brig Rustom Zal Kabraji".

Even Mizo local experts have heard about "Brigadier Kabraji".

"The Army fighters of Mountain Division came from Tripura traversing tough terrains," a senior citizen in Aizawl said.

Hluna said, "Travelling required days of trekking and for some time Army soldiers faced hurdles between Silchar (in Assam) and Aizawl at the strategic location of Kolasib."

Answering questions, Hluna said, "By March 1, 1966, the Mizo National Army guerrillas were very successful and carried out attacks against Assam Rifles in Lunglei and Champhai...Even in Assam Rifles' local headquarters unit in Aizawl, the soldiers faced water problem and supply of essentials.

Mizo cadres prevented them from moving out of the camps."

He added, "One problem faced by Delhi could be the fact that there was political uncertainty... Indira Gandhi had taken over as the Prime Minister only on January 24, 1966 and within 40 days, Laldenga made the mega announcement and she had to decide about the Air Force actions."

This is a fact of life.

On March 5, 2011, while rest of India debated issues such as Lokpal and various corruption scams, a large number Mizos took out a silent procession in Aizawl to mark the 45th year of the Indian Air Force bombardment. Mizos call it 'Zoram Ni' (Mizoram Day) with pain in their hearts.

The air raids in Tlabung on the Mizoram-Bangladesh border and Sangau and Hnahlan on the Mizoram-Myanmar boundary besides Aizawl left about 20 people dead.

Hluna said, "A Christian missionary later could find 13 bodies at a spot near Aizawl and hence the apology demand made sense for Mizos after Manmohan Singh said sorry to the Sikhs... Either Manmohan Singh or even UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi should have said sorry on the floor of

the Parliament."

It may be mentioned that on January 27, 1998, Sonia Gandhi at a rally in Chandigarh had tendered a veiled apology for the Army storming the Golden Temple in 1984.

Among the former military officers, who served in northeast including in the tough terrains of Mizoram and Manipur, there is a general refrain that it was only after the 'aerial attack' that the military could regain control of the vast areas which had fallen into Mizo insurgents' hands.

(Nirendra Dev is a New Delhi-based journalist. He is also author of the books aThe Talking Guns: North East Indiaa, and aModi to Moditva: An Uncensored Trutha. Views expressed are personal)
Kolkata, Aug 14 : The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Monday issued notice to the West Bengal government, Director General of Police and the registrar of Jadavpur University (JU) over the mysterious death of a fresher at a student's hostel within the university campus.

Swapnadip Kundu, a first year Bengali honours student, died under mysterious circumstances after falling from the balcony of a studentsa hostel on the JU campus on August 10.

The NHRC has reportedly expressed anguish over the administrative and monitoring lapses on the part of the JU authorities that lead to the tragic incident.

The Commission also feels that since media reports have suggested attempts on part of the victim student to bring the matter to the notice of the university authorities which did not yield any result, it can be assumed that basic human rights of the victim were violated.

The NHRC, sources said, has sought separate replies both from the JU authorities and the state government in this connection within the next four weeks.

The rights body has also sought explanations from the university authorities on the steps taken by them to implement the anti-ragging guidelines laid out by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and also directions of the Supreme Court on ragging.

On Monday afternoon, the West Bengal Child Rights Commission (WBCRC) had issued a similar show-cause notice to the JU authorities in this matter. Earlier in the day, a PIL was filed before the Calcutta High Court seeking the courtas intervention in ensuring that the anti-ragging guidelines are strictly implemented, not just in JU but in all the state universities.
'Before talking of corruption against opponents, look within': Kharge tells PM Modi on CAG report. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Aug 14 : Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday targeted the government over the Comptroller Auditor General (CAG) report highlighting the alleged irregularities in construction of national highways saying that BJP's corruption is taking the nation's highway to hell.

He also asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to look within before talking about corruption against his opponents.

In a tweet, Kharge said: "BJP's corruption and loot are taking the nation on a highway to hell. In a scathing report against Modi government, CAG has pointed that Bharatmala Pariyojana is being built with -- innumerable deficiencies, non-compliance of outcome parameters, clear violation of tender bidding process, and huge funding mismanagement."

The Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha said: "One of the stark examples of the fraud, in this scheme, is the Dwarka Expressway. CAG has exposed that cost of this project was originally estimated at Rs 528.8 crore but later zoomed to Rs 7,287.2 crore -- a whopping 1,278 per cent increase.

"Dwarka Expressway was appraised and approved without any detailed project report. The planned toll rates shall hinder the recovery of capital cost of the project and result in undue financial burden on commuters," Kharge said.

He said that lane configurations of Dwarka-Expressway were determined without analysing the development of nearby competing infrastructure. Construction was done with suboptimal specifications.

"In 2024, INDIA will make your government accountable," Kharge added.

His remarks came after the CAG report on the National Highways and Bharatmala Project highlighted several irregularities in many projects.

The CAG in its audit report on 'Implementation of Phase-I of Bharatmala Pariyojana (BPP-1)' has revealed that the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) Board approved the Dwarka Expressway with civil cost of Rs 7,287.29 crore with per km Rs 250.77 crore as against per km civil cost of Rs 18.20 crore approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).
Patna Aug 14 : Two bikers died after they met with an accident in Bihar's Araria district on Monday.

The deceased were identified as Abhimanyu Kumar (55) and Sunil Kumar (29) natives of Maheshpur village under Pipra police station in Supaul district.

The police said they were returning from Jogbani and fell from the flyover due to over speeding and lost control in Forbesganj Araria on NH 57.

The victims died on the spot.

The postmortem of the dead bodies were conducted and handed over to their respective families.
Washington, Aug 14 : Former US President Donald Trump defied Federal Judge Tanya Chutkan on her "gagging and protective" order "with the remark that is highly partisan" and "very biased and unfair".

Taking to his Truth Social to hyper ventilate his grievance against the judge for virtually gagging him, Trump said "highly partisan" and "very biased and unfair", citing as evidence a statement she made during the sentencing of a woman who participated in the mob that breached the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Trump slammed the judge presiding over his newest criminal case early Monday, testing her three day old warning that he refrain from "inflammatory" attacks against those involved in his case.

In a Truth Social post just before 1 a.m., Trump assailed US District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan saying, "She obviously wants me behind bars".

Trump alluded to Chutkan's remark during the October 2022 sentencing of Christine Priola of Ohio. Chutkan had then admonished Priola, before sentencing her to 15 months in jail, on the January 6 mob's threat to the peaceful transfer of power.

"I see the videotapes. I see the footage of the flags and the signs that people were carrying and the hats that they were wearing, and the garb," Chutkan had said as per Policio, a leading news network.

"And the people who mobbed that Capitol were there in fealty, in loyalty to one man, not to the Constitution, of which most of the people who come before me seem woefully ignorant; not to the ideals of this county and not to the principles of democracy. It's blind loyalty to one person who, by the way, remains free to this day," Chutkan had observed in her sentencing of Priola, media reports said.

Most judges in the US have been quick to share her sentiments on the January 6 event and while some have expressed discomfort over punishing rioters -- who had been hoodwinked about the election verdict by Trump and sent to the Capitol with a warning that their country was being stolen and their livelihoods were in danger.

During the latest hearing on Friday, Chutkan, an appointee to the bench in 2014 by the then President Barack Obama, and followed by a unanimous confirmation by the senate, has reiterated politics in her courtroom in Trump's proceedings will not be tolerated.

She warned Trump, with a history of attacking judges in public, prosecutors and those arrayed against him as witnesses, that his inflammatory remarks could force her to speed up his criminal trial.

"I caution you and your client to take special care in your public statements about this case," Chutkan told Trump's lawyer John Lauro during the hearing.

"I will take whatever measures are necessary to safeguard the integrity of these proceedings."
Guwahati/Imphal, Aug 14 : Security has been further tightened in different northeastern states, especially in Assam and Manipur, as militant outfits, including ULFA (Independent) and an apex body of seven militant bodies in Manipur, have called for boycotting Independence Day celebrations on Tuesday.

Police officials in Assam, Manipur and other NE states said the armed police forces and central security forces have intensified their vigil in all the vulnerable and militant-prone areas while all the police stations and police posts have been alerted to maintain a close watch on the situation.

Militant outfits in the northeastern region almost every year give such calls urging people to boycott such celebrations.

Earlier on Saturday, the ULFA (I) led by its self-styled commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah through a statement e-mailed to the media houses asked the people of Assam, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh to boycott Independence Day celebrations on Tuesday.

The ULFA (I) along with a Naga outfit also called for a shut down for 17 hours from the midnight of August 15, keeping emergency services, media and religious activities outside the purview of the general strike.

In Manipur, an apex body of seven militant outfits also gave a call to boycott Independence Day programmes, besides calling for a 17-hour general shutdown on August 15.

In a statement, CorCom, an apex body of banned outlawed groups, said that the political status of Manipur declined abruptly with the "Indian annexation of Manipur on October 15, 1949 by which sovereign Manipur was reduced to just a Chief Commissioner's Province".

"From Part 'C' State in 1950, Manipur was crafted into a Union Territory in 1956. Not only did the Indian colonial rule promulgate the notorious AFSPA, and several other draconian laws in the whole of Manipur, it continued to play a divisive policy among the several ethnic groups intermittently, which has now resulted into wanton ethnic clashes," the statement read.

The statement added that the 'illegal' Manipur Merger Agreement, 1949 wiped out the sovereign history of Manipur that led to the "imposition of August 15 celebrations among the ethnic groups of Manipur".

The militant outfit under the CorCom include Kangleipak Communist Party, Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup, People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (Prepak), Prepak-Pro, Revolutionary People's Front, People's Liberation Army, and United National Liberation Front.

Meanwhile, the combined security forces during the past 24 hours have recovered seven looted arms, seven ammunition and huge quantities of explosives from four Manipur districts -- Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal and Bishnupur.

--IANS

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Military-level talks between India and China continued for de-escalation in the Galwan region of eastern Ladakh on Friday with top army commanders from both sides meeting to resolve the face-off.. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Aug 14 : India on Monday called for withdrawal of troops from friction points in eastern Ladakh during the 19th round of Corps Commander-level talks with China.

The Indian delegation also called for resolution of issues related to Depsang Plains and Demchok areas.

The Indian Army and the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) held the meeting, just ahead of the BRICS summit, at the Chushul-Moldo border point on the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the region.

Since the standoff began in May 2020, the two armies have disengaged from the northern and southern flanks of the Pangong Tso, Gogra and Hot Springs area. However, tensions continue to prevail in the Depsang Plains and Demchok.

Defence experts believe that the latest talks between the two armies have significant importance in view of the BRICS summit starting next week.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping may meet on the sidelines of the summit.

India and China are in a standoff in eastern Ladakh region since early 2020 when Chinese soldiers entered Indian territory and clashed with Indian personnel.

Since then, tension prevailed between the two armies. However, during the Monday talks both sides have agreed for withdrawal of troops from several. This comes after extensive diplomatic and military talks.

The Corps Commander-level talks first began in 2020 after the PLA violated agreements and crossed the LAC at several places in eastern Ladakh.

India has sought de-escalation, which includes withdrawal of all additional troops and equipment in the forward areas of the LAC to its pre-April 2020 position.

However, no inclination has been shown so far from the Chinese side that wants to consider the current holding position as the new status quo.

The last round of the Corps Commander-level talks was held in April just before the meeting of the Defence Ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

The Indian delegation for the Monday talks was led by Lt Gen Rashim Bali, Commander of the Leh-headquartered 14 Corps, while the Chinese team was to be headed by the commander of the South Xinjiang Military District.

Officials from the Indian Army, ITBP and Ministry of External Affairs were present in the meeting.
Jaipur, Aug 14 : Rajasthan DGP Umesh Mishra on Monday said that Rajasthan has witnessed less crime rate as compared to other states in the country.

He said that all the parameters show that crime is not increasing in Rajasthan.

He said that an increase in 'registration of crime' and 'increase in crime cases' are two different things.

He said that according to NCRB data, the percentage of conviction in rape cases in the state stands at 48.0 per cent while the national percentage stands over 30.19 per cent.

"In the POCSO Act, the conviction percentage in the state is 42.1 per cent while the national conviction percentage is over 32.2 per cent. In the cases of atrocities on women, the percentage of conviction in the state stands at 45.2 per cent whereas the national percentage of conviction is more than 26.5 per cent."

"Evening monitoring was being done earlier also. However it has now been commanded under the senior officials and the junior staff feels motivated if senior officials are also with them," DGP Mishra told IANS.

On Nuh violence, DGP said that the police are probing the role of Monu Manesar.

Addressing a press conference on the political tug of war going on between Haryana and Rajasthan police over Monu Manesar, Mishra said: "We cannot level any allegations on Haryana police. We cannot say whether the Haryana police is cooperating or not. But Monu has not been produced in front of us."

He said that Rajasthan Police has informed the Haryana Police about remaining criminals. "We trust our neighbouring police. We hope they extend full cooperation to us. We have been holding talks with Haryana Police. But this is also true they have not presented Monu to us," he said.
Rahul takes people by surprise with visit to industrial area in Delhi. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Aug 14 : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday night took people by surprise with his unannounced visit to the Okhla Industrial Area in South Delhi.

His visit was to the industrial area and interaction with the common people was confirmed by Congress Television.

In a tweet, Congress television, which is the official channel of the grand old party, said, "Rahul Gandhi today suddenly visited Okhla Industrial Area to listen to people."

However, party leaders remained tight-lipped over the purpose of his visit.

On August 1, Rahul Gandhi had visited the Azadpur Mandi, one of Asiaas biggest vegetable and fruit markets, where he had met some vegetable and fruit vendors along with traders.

Earlier also, the Congress leader had surprised people with his unannounced visits.

Last month, he had visited the farm fields in Haryana's Sonepat and sowed paddy samplings and even invited the women farmers to his residence for lunch.

He had also taken a truck ride from Haryana's Murthal to Ambala in May to understand the problems faced by the truck drivers.

The Congress leader earlier met gig workers in Bengaluru and also drove on a Scooty with a delivery partner.

He had also visited a PG men's hostel of Delhi University and had lunch with the students, besides visiting Delhi's Mukherjee Nagar area to interact with UPSC aspirants. He also traveled to the Jama Masjid and Bengali Market areas in April this year along with a food vlogger Kunal Vijayakar.
Bengaluru, Aug 14 : Former Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai has urged the Congress-led government in the state not to release water from Cauvery river to Tamil Nadu.

He alleged that the neighbouring state has violated the verdict of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT).

Bommai has written a letter in this regard to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and urged him to initiate legal proceedings.

The letter addressed to CM Siddaramaiah read: "I assume that Tamil Nadu state has again raised a controversy over distribution of water from the Cauvery river. I have read in the media that Tamil Nadu is preparing to approach the Supreme Court in this regard. I am writing this letter to you to keep the facts in mind and demand to initiate legal action in the matter.

"On June 1, the four reservoirs of Karnataka had storage of 24.352 TMC. Likewise, Mettur dam in Tamil Nadu had 69.77 TMC of water and Bhavani sagar dam had 16.653 TMC of water. From media it is learnt that by August 6, 2023, 14.054 TMC of water has flown to Tamil Nadu as per the Biligundlu measuring station.

"In this year the inflow to Mettur dam is 83.831 TMC. As per the provisions in CWDT, Tamil Nadu can grow 1.80 lakh acres of Kuruvai crop and utilise 32 TMC of water. But, Tamil Nadu by August 7, 2023 has utilised 60.97 TMC of water for Kuruvai crop which is double the proportion stipulated by the CWDT.

"Tamil Nadu without taking into consideration the water shortage in the Kaveri River catchment area had provided four times more water than stipulated for Kuruvai crop. There is setback to us as our officers have failed to register their protest in this regard and this has gone against the interest of the state," the letter read.

Bommai further said: "The release of water to Tamil Nadu will result in shortage of water to Bengaluru city, Cauvery river catchment areas and the state will face shortage of water to Kharif crop in the state. It will push farmers of our state to crisis. I urge you to make strong decisions and uphold the interests of the farmers."
Bengaluru, Aug 14 : Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Monday said that Tamil Nadu should not have rushed to the Supreme Court over release of Cauvery River water to their state.

"We are going to honor the court's verdict on Cauvery water sharing. We have to work unitedly to safeguard the interests of the two states," he said while answering a question on Tamil Nadu approaching the Supreme Court demanding the release of the River Cauvery from Karnataka dams.

He said that the action has been taken considering the rainfall received in this season and inflow of water to the reservoirs.

"District-in-charge minister for Mandya N. Cheluvarayaswamy has already requested the farmers of Mandya district not to take up sowing activity," he said.

"We are committed to provide water to Tamil Nadu while ensuring drinking water to our state. The decision of releasing water lies with the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT). We have to save the farmers of both the states."

"Our state's farm land as well as farm lands of Tamil Nadu should not go dry and action has to be taken ensuring both states get water," Shivakumar maintained.

"As far as the petition by Tamil Nadu to the Supreme Court is concerned, I will discuss the matter with the legal experts. We don't want to indulge in any confrontation with Tamil Nadu. We are like brothers and we should resolve the crisis without conflict," Shivakumar said.
New Delhi, Aug 14 : A 30-year-old man involved in a case of abduction and robbery has been apprehended, an official said on Monday. The accused contacted a woman, through shaadi.com and later abducted her when she came to meet him.

Later, he robbed her at gunpoint, a police officer said. The arrested individual has been identified as Hasan Khan.

A non-bailable warrant was issued against him for non-appearance in a different case.

Special Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) HGS Dhaliwal, said that on August 11, specific inputs regarding the movement of Khan was received that he would come in the search of a new hideout and may commit another crime.

A trap was laid near the U-turn towards Rohini, under the Mangolpuri flyover, and he was apprehended.

On questioning, it was revealed that he contacted a divorced woman (29) through shaadi.com.

"On August 6, he fixed a meeting with her through WhatsApp chat, and he met her near a park in Sector 21, Rohini. He asked her to sit in his car for further talks to see the possibility of their marriage," said the Special CP.

As soon as she entered the car, he took out a pistol and threatened to kill her if she made any noise.

"He abducted her at gunpoint and took her to Nangloi via Kanjhawala Road. On the way, he forcibly took away her mobile phone, ear rings, four gold rings, and smart watch. After that, he dropped her off at an isolated place in Nangloi, Delhi, and further threatened her with dire consequences," the official added.
Bhopal, Aug 15 : The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India in its report on Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) for the period September 2018 to March 202 has revealed that over Rs 1.12 crore was paid to about 403 patients in Madhya Pradesh who were declared 'dead' in the database.

As per the report available with IANS, Madhya Pradesh comes second after Kerala, where Rs 2.60 crore was paid to 966 patients, who were declared dead but continued to avail treatment under the scheme.

The report further revealed that a total 8,081 patients were shown to be hospitalised simultaneously at multiple hospitals in different parts of Madhya Pradesh.

It also noted that in four states -- Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Tamil Nadu -- excess payment totalling Rs 57.53 crore were made to the Empanelled Health Care Providers (EHCPs).

"In Madhya Pradesh, 25 hospitals submitted claims twice in respect of 81 patients (162 claims) for various surgical procedures during the same length of stay. The state health authority (SHA) paid the full amount for both claims as against the prescribed rate of 50 per cent payment on second claim, which resulted in over-payment of Rs 29.61 lakh to EHCPs. The SHA also made a double payment of Rs 3.27 lakh to 13 hospitals which submitted claims twice in respect of 35 patients for caesarean delivery during the same length of stay," the report said.

The Congress on Monday hit out at Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led state government, saying every day "new corruption of the BJP was coming to the fore".

Former Chief Minister and state Congress chief Kamal Nath said, "Shivraj government has done corruption with people alive. They have not spared even the god and dead persons, which is horrific and shameful for entire Madhya Pradesh."

He further said the CAG report has also mentioned about 8,081 cases of 4,590 patients, who simultaneously availed treatment at multiple hospitals, and flagged the involvement of 213 hospitals in it.

"The BJP government has lodged false cases against the Congress leaders, including me and Priyanka Gandhi following the expose on 50 per cent commission regime. Now, the CAG report on the Ayushman Bharat scheme, has clearly established that the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government is the most corrupt government in the world. Will the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government would also lodge a criminal case against the CAG in the wake of the latest report?" Kamal Nath said.
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An unarmed Denver man who was shot and killed by Denver police just over a week ago had a magic marker in his hand.

Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas told The Denver Gazette Monday that the officer who shot 36-year-old Brandon Cole thought that the marker was a knife but that Cole "was in essence unarmed, and that makes this tough."

When police first arrived on the scene, police said, Cole was rummaging around in a car. A 911 caller reported that Cole was likely intoxicated and had pushed his wife from her wheelchair, according to police.

Thomas said the officer who shot Cole was placed on modified paid leave while the investigation into the shooting continues.

Another officer who attempted to shoot Cole with a taser is also on modified paid leave, he said. The officer's taser didn't strike because "in this case, it appears only one of the two probes struck the moving subject, and as a result, the Taser did not have an effect on the individual," said Denver police detective Matt Clark.

Denver Police released two body worn camera videos, which showed officers encounter Cole during a domestic violence call on Aug. 5 in the 2300 block of Cedar Ave. One of the two videos showed that Cole yelled Lets go at least five times and walked toward one officer who is in the street pointing a taser. He then changed direction and walked toward a second officer who asked him to stop.

Officers could be heard calling him by his first name, trying to de-escalate the situation.

Cole did not stop and was shot as he appeared to advance upon the officer. Behind Cole, and in the line of fire, were two bystanders  a child and a woman, who were not injured.

Denver police said that the officer likely did not see the child and the woman behind Cole. Clark showed a screen grab of the view, which the officer had of Cole in the moments before she fired her gun. From that vantage point, Cole's body blocked the view of the bystanders behind him.

But moments before, the officer was heard telling the woman and the child to get out of the way.

Cole was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He was the father of three children aged 13, 8 and 7-years-old.

The body-worn camera video showed his wife, Ebony, asking police: Dont pull your gun on my husband, please.

She was on the ground, a wheelchair nearby. Police alleged she was thrown, or pushed, out of the wheelchair and then Cole began assaulting his 13-year-old son, whom Chief Thomas said is an important witness.

"His perceptions are critical," Thomas said.

Ebony Cole told the Denver Gazette that her husband was a hard-working man and a good father.

He enjoyed his kids and he adored me, Ebony Cole said.

Cole had no criminal records in the state of Colorado, according to a records search.

In a GoFundMe to raise funds for Coles funeral, Ebony Cole mentioned that her husband had his hands up when he was shot and killed, but that doesn't seem to appear in the video.

Jay Hirokawa, a former Aurora police officer and Denver District Attorney Investigator who reviewed the video for The Denver Gazette, said that domestic violence situations are often dangerous for police because people are out of control. Theyre upset. You have to worry about the victim, too. Sometimes they turn on the officers.

He said that in a split-second decision, the officer who shot and killed Cole likely did not realize that there were innocent bystanders behind him.

She probably didnt see anyone in the background. I can see a potential weapon coming out. If her belief is that she was in fear of her life or others, by policy, she was justified in use of force, said Hirokawa, who retired from law enforcement last year and runs Thin Blue Line Consulting.

Ebony Cole said that she has hired an attorney but would not name that person.
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After weeks of posturing and chest beating, the rumored fight between billionaires Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk is off.

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Zuckerberg posted on Meta's new social media platform Threads on Saturday that it is "time to move on." The Meta owner has frequently shared photos and videos of his jiu jitsu training in recent months.

"I think we can all agree Elon isn't serious and it's time to move on," Zuckerberg said. "If Elon ever gets serious about a real date and official event, he knows how to reach me."

Zuckerberg added that UFC owner Dana White had agreed to make the fight official and use its proceeds for charity but Musk would not confirm a date. He also said Musk suggested a "practice round" in Zuckerberg's backyard.

The post from Zuckerberg comes a week after Musk claimed that the cage fight would be streamed on X with proceeds going to a veterans charity. On Friday he tweeted that the fight would be managed by Zuckerberg's foundations and not the UFC.

"The fight will be managed by my and Zuck's foundations (not UFC)," Musk tweeted. "Livestream will be on this platform and Meta. Everything in camera frame will be ancient Rome, so nothing modern at all. I spoke to the PM of Italy and Minister of Culture. They have agreed on an epic location."

Musk added that the event would "pay respect to the past and present of Italy."
A wise man once said, If you dont vote, you cant complain. It seems that Bradon Herrera, also known as The AK Guy, is taking that a step further and is actually running for a seat in the United States House of Representatives.

No, really. He is.

Officially filed to be on the Republican primary ballot for the 23rd district of Texas, Brandon Herrera announced his candidacy last Saturday, Aug 12.

If youre unfamiliar with the AK-loving Herrera, he has been around in the firearms community for a long, long time. Most of his fame is due to his AK-50 project, his years-long attempt to bring .50 BMG to the AK pattern.

The AK-50, a .50 BMG AK.

He also owns TheAKGuy custom AK shop and runs one of the largest YouTube channels for firearms, clocking in at just short of 3 million subscribers as of this writing.

Brandon Herrera is also a self-described hardcore gun rights advocate, and he actually walks the talk. While most firearm manufacturers balk at the idea of inducing any kind of interaction with the BATFE that isnt legally required, Herrera testified against the BATFE at a recent oversight field hearing.

MORE THAN GUNS

While Herrera is obviously going to have the second amendment be a large part of his campaign, he also has a stance on other issues. His website, brandonherreraforcongress.com, lists gun rights, immigration, national budget, censorship, education, and abortion among the issues on which he is taking a public stance.

It also boldly states that Herrera is a pure constitutionalist that believes in god-given natural rights which are protected by the constitution, not granted by government.

While still early in his campaign, things such as the economy, energy, healthcare, veterans affairs, and the global climate are missing from his issues list.

VOTE

I wont tell you who or what to vote for, but I will tell you that its important to vote. We are all a part of the process and shoulder some of the blame when the process fails. Voting is not only a right but a fundamental necessity for a healthy democracy.

From Washington to Florida, Texas to Minnesota, every American should be voting for what we believe in.

If youre not registered to vote, find out how here.
The stocks of Mumbai-based real estate companies have been hitting lifetime highs on expectations that launches, steady demand, and price increases in the largest real estate market in the country would boost their financials.

Macrotech Developers (Lodha) and Oberoi Realty hit their all-time highs recently, while Godrej Properties came close to its 52-week high last month before witnessing a sharp correction.

While sales figures for the largest market in the country in the July and June quarter booking numbers were lower than the growth trends in the recent past, companies are bullish about their launch pipelines in 2023-24 (FY24).

Registrations for the Mumbai market saw a drop over the year-ago quarter as well as on a sequential basis.

On a high base, registrations were down 10 per cent year-on-year (YoY) and 1 per cent compared to June.

While these numbers were down, brokerages point out that registrations in July were above the 10,000-unit mark and higher than the 12-month average of 9,814 units.

Knight Frank, a real estate consultancy, says that this is a reflection of the ongoing strength in Mumbais residential market and the confidence of homebuyers, even in the face of recent interest-rate hikes.

Such resilience can be attributed to factors like rising income levels and positive attitudes towards home ownership, it added.

Even as volumes for July fell, the proportion of homes worth upwards of Rs 1 crore has seen an uptick, moving to 57.5 per cent in the period January to July this year as compared to just under 48 per cent three years ago.

The trend towards higher-priced apartments should benefit Oberoi Realty the most, while overall gains for the micromarket will help other players such as Godrej Properties, Macrotech Developers, and Sunteck Realty.

Ninety to 100 per cent of the sales and operations for Oberoi Realty, Sunteck Realty, and Macrotech Developers are from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), while Godrej Properties is more diversified, with MMR accounting for 40 per cent of its revenues.

While management commentary after the June quarter results was positive, the bookings in the quarter were underwhelming.

Oberoi Realty, for example, reported muted first-quarter (Q1) FY24 pre-sales numbers due to a lack of near-term launches.

The companys sales in Q1 fell 46 per cent by volume to 0.15 million square feet (msf) and 37 per cent by value to Rs 476 crore.

The company, however, has planned a raft of launches in the second half (H2) of the current financial year (FY24).

It will launch projects worth ~12,000 crore in H2FY24, helping it register a growth rate of 74 per cent.

Although this is positive, the 24 per cent gain from its lows in May could cap near-term gains.

Motilal Oswal Research says that the stock trades at a 30 per cent premium to its total net asset value (NAV) and a 60 per cent premium to its residential (NAV), thereby factoring in a large portion of the companys expected growth.

The brokerage has thus downgraded the stock to neutral. Godrej Properties too delivered a subdued pre-sales figure of Rs 2,250 crore, which was down 11 per cent over the year-ago period and 44 per cent lower than on a sequential basis.

About 80 per cent of the sales were from ongoing projects, with launches limited to three projects with a saleable area of 1.09 msf.

The booking area of 2.3 msf was down 21 per cent YoY and 57 per cent sequentially.

Even as sales in the quarter were muted, the company has reiterated its target of hitting Rs 14,000 crore of pre-sales in FY24 on the back of launches to the tune of 20 msf.

ICICI Securities believes that debt levels remain the key monitorable for the company.

While the company may continue to impress on gross sales bookings with a large launch pipeline in H2FY24, it will continue to incur land costs for ongoing and new projects.

The brokerage had downgraded its rating to sell from hold after the sharp rise in stock price over the past three months.

Unlike its peers, Macrotech Developers had steady June quarter bookings, up 17 per cent, even as launches remained muted.

The company has guided for a robust 20 per cent annual growth in bookings for 2022-23 (FY23) through 2025-26, led by a higher share of joint development projects and expansion into the Pune and Bengaluru markets.

While the company ended FY23 with a booking of Rs 12,060 crore, it is targeting sales of Rs 14,500 crore in FY24.

While new project additions are pegged at Rs 17,500 crore, it expects operating cash flows of Rs 6,000 crore for the financial year.

Analysts Murtuza Arsiwalla and Abhishek Khanna of Kotak Institutional Equities highlight that the company continues to execute well across parameters, with new business development providing incremental visibility, coupled with stable embedded margins.

However, the brokerage has lowered its rating on the stock from buy to add, given the 55 per cent return in the past three months.
A storm last week between Kirk and Idalia resulted in a hailstone measuring 5.25 inches in diameter, according to the National Weather Service of Goodland, Kansas  which potentially set a Colorado record.

The storm occurred Tuesday, Aug. 8 at around 7:20 p.m.

The Colorado State University Climate Center Committee is in deliberation to officially make this hailstone a record setter, Goodland NWS said in a statement Monday. The preliminary maximum diameter is 5.25 inches.

Idalia is an unincorporated town in Yuma County near the Kansas-Colorado state border.

NWS said the storm occurred near Highway 36. A hailstone picked up was measured by Dan Fitts of NWS, which is said to include a 3D scan of the stone, according to post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Fitts reported the stone melted down to 4.608 inches in diameter, 11.18 inches in longest axis circumference and 206.9 grams of mass (7.29 ounces).
The share of slow-moving orders in the overall order book of Larsen & Toubro (L&T) is at a multi-year low.

Photograph: Shailesh Andrade/Reuters

This has led to a renewed focus on fast-moving orders.

A mix of factors such as commodity price fluctuations, robust order inflow and strong sectoral demand have put capital goods order book in the fast lane, analysts and company executives said.

L&T, with its large presence in the capital goods sector, is often seen as the bellwether for trends in this space.

For the June 2023 quarter, the company told analysts that the share of slow-moving orders in its total book was less than one per cent.

As of June, L&Ts total order book was at Rs. 4.12 trillion.

An email query sent to L&T, seeking details on what led to the fall in slow-moving orders, remained unanswered.

However, L&T is not an outlier.

The companys competitors confirm a similar trend.

Slow-moving as a percentage of our order book at the moment, is the lowest ever, said Ashish Bhandari, managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) at Thermax Global.

In the last two-three years, project-related approvals have witnessed improved pace and come for bidding after financial closure.

"Some have come to the bidding stage only once all clearances are in place. This has helped, said Anupama Arora, vice-president and sector head  corporate ratings, ICRA.

There is more than the streamlining of approvals.

Order inflow has been robust for capital goods companies.

For the June 2023 quarter, L&T reported a 57 per cent growth in order inflow.

Thermax said order book grew 11 per cent and CG Power and Industrial Solutions reported a 47 per cent rise in order intake, all on a year-on-year (YoY) comparison.

Arora said the robust order inflow also allows capital goods companies to choose projects and avoid those with delay potential.

Bhandari added that the demand growth in certain sectors is also aiding the client's perspective.

Clients have a demand pull, so they do not wish to stall projects, he said.

Another reason for the lower share of slow-moving orders, Bhandari said, was stabilisation of pandemic disrupted supply-chains.

Top executives from L&T have pointed out that orders booked at lower commodity prices during the pandemic have strained margins of the company.

Arora said this has made both companies and clients conscious about project time-frames.

The recent fluctuation in commodity prices have made both companies and clients conscious as many of these are fixed-cost contracts, she added.
In FY22-23, Samsung exported $4.09 billion smartphones from India -- an increase of 42 per cent over 2021, when it was $2.8 billion -- accounting for 35 per cent of all smartphone exports.

IMAGE: Kindly note the image has been posted only for representational purposes. Actress Surbhi Puranik (Okka Kshanam, Voter, Fame) at the launch of Samsung Galaxy S21 Smartphone at Bajaj Electronics, in Hyderabad. Photograph: ANI Photo

South Korean giant Samsung remains the largest exporter amongst individual companies which assemble smartphones in India -- bigger than each of the Taiwanese equipment manufacturing services (EMS) players, Foxconn, Wistron and Pegatron, which assemble iPhones for Apple Inc in the country.

According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, in FY22-23, Samsung exported $4.09 billion smartphones from India -- an increase of 42 per cent over 2021, when it was $2.8 billion -- accounting for 35 per cent of all smartphone exports.

In 2018 its exports were a mere $0.7 billion.

Based on latest data on exports from Volza, till 3 August India accounted for 18 per cent of Samsung's exports of mobile devices globally.

This is only behind its exports from Vietnam, where the Korean company has made big bets and makes half of its global production of phones.

In terms of value, in calendar year 2022, Samsung Vietnam exported $31.42 billion worth of phones as completely built units (CBU), which is 95 per cent of the total mobile exports of the country ($33.3 billion).

Hence, when it comes to export value, Samsung India accounts for only a seventh of the company's exports from Vietnam in FY23.

Meanwhile, as much as 7 per cent of Apple Inc's production value has shifted to India in FY23, of which the bulk is for exports.

Apple Inc follows a different model from Samsung -- it does not manufacture or assemble its phones but gets the job done through vendors. In India Apple's vendors are Foxconn, Wistron and Pegatron.

In terms of individual companies, Foxconn's Hon Hai Precision Industry is second in the exporting pecking order, having exported $2.06 billion worth of smart phones in FY23.

Close on its heels is Wistron, with exports of $ 1.98 billion.

Pegatron, which started its factory more than a year later, has some catching up to do, with exports of iPhones worth $1.36 billion in FY 23.

These three companies collectively did exports worth $5.4 billion, accounting for 45.7 per cent of smartphone exports from India.

Based on S&P data, the overall exports of smartphones from the country was to the tune of $ 11.81 billion.

S&P also brings to the fore the fact that India's imports of telecom components (which include smart phones) is going up sharply even as more phones are exported.

So imports of micro processors, memory devices and components have collectively hit $23.7 billion in FY 23.

Value addition in mobile phones is low, ranging from 15 per cent to 20 per cent.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
'There is one negative thing which has happened very quietly. The position of the election commissioner has been downgraded.'

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra D Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh and senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge at a photo session with the retiring members of Rajya Sabha. Photograph: ANI Photo

Former chief election commissioner Dr S Y Quraishi discusses with Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com the pros and cons of the new bill tabled in the Rajya Sabha by the Narendra D Modi government that seeks to replace the Chief Justice of India in the selection committee that appoints the chief election commissioner with a Union Cabinet minister.

What do you make of the government tabling a bill in the Rajya Sabha that envisages the prime minister and a Union Cabinet minister -- and the Leader of the Opposition -- as members of the selection committee that chooses the chief election commissioner?

It's a mixed bag. There are certain positive features. There are certain negative features.

First of all, the Supreme Court's unanimous order was that there should be a collegium. So that has been complied with.

The only thing is that they had proposed a different composition (the three members then included the prime minister, the Leader of the Opposition and the Chief Justice of India).

And (in the bill that has been tabled in the Rajya Sabha for appointment of CECs) instead of the Chief Justice, they have brought in another Union (Cabinet) minister appointed by the prime minister.

That surely puts a question mark on the fairness of this (selection committee) because it is two to one. And the Leader of the Opposition will always be marginalised.

There is another clause which puts a nail in the (coffin of) neutrality: That nobody can find fault or defect in the composition (of this selection committee). So that will not invalidate (the appointment of the CEC made by this selection committee).

Even if the Leader of Opposition is not present, they (the remaining two members of the selection committee, that is, the prime minister and the Cabinet minister) can still go ahead and do the meetings.

So there are attempts to make the LoP totally ineffective, if not irrelevant.

There are two-three new things which are good. For instance, there was no qualification prescribed for the appointment of election commissioners earlier. But now it says that a (CEC should be a) serving secretary or a former secretary of relevant experience and integrity and who has experience of elections.

Prescribing qualification is a good thing because otherwise they could have brought in anybody from the street and nobody would have faulted because there is no law.

The other good thing is they have created a shortlisting committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary with two other senior secretaries, who will pick up five names (for appointment to the position of CEC) from out of the eligible people.

But at the same time, this good clause is being neutralised and the (proposed) law (the bill) says that the (selection) committee (that shortlists the candidates for the position of CEC) can go even beyond these five. So that makes mockery of the shortlisting committee.

Now, five members is a large number out of the very eligible candidates. And only secretary to the Government of India is eligible but to become secretary to the Government of India, you require a lifetime of experience.

Only 5 per cent of all the recruited people make it to the top. And if from the top, if five people are selected surely one suitable candidate will be available to say that the committee can go beyond those five.

So why are you making a joke of this five member committee and perhaps that will become the norm? But absolutely that is not acceptable and surely the Cabinet Secretary will not put up a name which will be a red rag to the bull kind of a situation, somebody who would be offensive to the PM.

In fact, most likely the Cabinet Secretary will even sound the PM with those five names (who would make the shortlist for appointment as the CEC). In any case, that may happen or not, although practically I know that that is what will happen.

The three member committee will pick up five very good people and for the LoP and the two members to agree to find some suitable candidates should be no problem at all.

Just as you say that the (selection) committee can select anybody from outside, can the LoP bring in somebody from outside? No.

Choosing from the five is a good option but the proviso that it could be neutralized is not good.

Do you think this law, after it is enacted, could head to the Supreme Court for interpretation of its Constitutionality? Does it not make a blatant mockery of the selection process?

There is no neutrality, there's no fairness.

What happens to the elections? Can free and fair elections be conducted by a CEC who is appointed by two executives

That, of course, will be carrying it too far because for the last 70 years, all election commissioners have been appointed by not two executives, but one executive, the prime minister. And all of them, except for a handful, have acquitted themselves very well.

We can't carry it too far.

Whether it will go to court, most probably it will, because I think people will challenge the exclusion of the Chief Justice. The apex court may or may not make it an issue.

Optically, that (having the CJI in the selection committee) was a good idea. Whereas practically, whether CJI's presence in the collegium was making a difference or not, that is something that many people ask. What they quote is the successive appointments of directors of the CBI.

In fact one CBI director appointed through this collegium process where the CJI was present had so many complaints against him (the CBI director). He met a criminal at his house 183 times in a year, according to IB (the Intelligence Bureau) report.

How was he appointed? With the concurrence of the CJI.

Therefore, some people say that CJI neither has that kind of time nor does he have personal knowledge of (bureaucrats); the LoP and prime minister know their officers, they are secretaries to the Government of India. The CJI will not know them.

The CJI will only see the record and record of everyone will be good; unless you had a good record, you cannot become the secretary. Now, how one proves after coming on the chair (selection is done) is a different matter.

All the people appointed have similar records, integrity certificate, brilliant experience, everything. Some showed backbone, some did not. So that's a question of individual conscience and individual backbone

Does the exclusion of the Chief Justice of India give a sense that the government is afraid of having the CJI who is chosen by a collegium of judges and not by the government?

I think it (having the CJI on the selection committee) is only optical than anything else. The Chief Justice is working for many other functions. We have not come across any clash of interest or conflict (between the executive and the CJI) in that thing (selection of many other officers to statutory bodies) and very harmoniously the same collegium with the Chief Justice in it have been taking decisions (to appoint) CIC (chief information commissioner), CVC (chief vigilance commissioner), director CBI... all those appointments have taken place (harmoniously).

It's a different matter that appointments of director CBI have been questioned later. At the time when the committee met (to appoint CBI director) on the file, it was all good.

The best thing about this bill, which has not been discussed and debated, is we have been demanding that out of the three (election) commissioners -- the two (ECs), one CEC -- the latter was protected from removal except through impeachment. The other two could be removed very easily.

Therefore, they (the two ECs) felt like they are on probation and they were always looking over their shoulder whether the government is happy, will they elevate me or not? Therefore they could have been manipulated.

The two (ECs) together could have been manipulated to control a CEC by over-ruling him (the CEC) every day.

We have been asking for protection granted by the Constitution to the CEC, which was for the institution and not for an individual. That institution was one man initially and from 1991 it became a three member institution.

Therefore, equal protection to all three is a brilliant idea. It is a good thing that the government has accepted -- a long pending demand of everybody.

In your personal as well as professional capacity, you being a former CEC, what could be an ideal process of selecting the chief election commissioner?

This collegium (proposed in the bill), with some aberrations removed, is a very good idea because optically also when the LoP has put a stamp (on the appointment of the CEC then it makes it fair).

In fact, I was once asked this question by (the journalist) Karan Thapar in an interview when I was the serving CEC. I said collegium system would be definitely better because although I'm extremely fair and everybody knows that I'm fair, but an occasional person who might say that 'you are appointed by such government', you'll be so hurt.

So he said, 'Would you have felt better if Sushma Swaraj (then the LoP) had also signed?' I said, 'Definitely, because perceptions are very important and if a leader of the Opposition is signatory to an appointment and that officer later on proves to be not worthy at least then, no political party can raise finger because the LoP was a party to the selection process.'

Therefore, for the public perception and perception of neutrality and credibility, a collegium is a good idea, but with the aberration which I mentioned removed.

There is one negative thing which has happened very quietly. The position of the election commissioner has been downgraded.

In 1993, through the Act, they were all equated with the Supreme Court judges. Now they have been downgraded to Cabinet Secretary.

Although salary of the Cabinet Secretary and the Supreme Court judge is the same, but in terms of status, in terms of precedence, optically, the stature of a Supreme Court judge is higher. So downgrading it to a rank of a bureaucrat is a bad idea.

I don't know whether it has been done deliberately or this has just happened by an oversight. And I only hope that it will be corrected.
'Before going to battle, Captain Anuj Nayyar gave me the engagement ring and photograph of his fiance.'

'I told him, "Why don't you keep it? It will motivate you to fight'.'

'He said he did not want the photograph to fall in the dirty hands of the enemy.

'I wondered why he was giving it to me. Did he feel he would not return?'

IMAGE: The Tiranga flies atop Point 4875 after a victory scripted in blood. All Photographs: Kind courtesy Brigadier Umesh Singh Bawa (retd)

"Captain Anuj Nayyar was a young boy who had graduated from the academy two years back. I had promoted him from lieutenant to captain just 15 days ago in the war zone."

"I told him, 'Anuj, I have placed three stars on your shoulder and I want you to fulfil the responsibility. He said, 'Sir, I will not let you down, I will capture the objective given to us'," remembers retired Brigadier Umesh Singh Bawa, Commanding Officer, 17 Jat, during the Kargil War.

Last fortnight, Brigadier Bawa, who received a Vir Chakra for the capture of Point 4875, paid homage to his brave soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice at the Kargil Memorial in Drass.

"I could not bring back 36 of our boys to their families. I still carry that guilt with me after 24 years," the brigadier tells Rediff.com's Archana Masih in the concluding part of the interview.

Part 1 of the Interview: What I Saw In The Kargil War...

The final assault of the battle for Point 4875 was the most difficult and your battalion lost many soldiers. Captain Anuj Nayyar's leadership and action will always be remembered in military history.

What were those final hours like?

At 8 am we saw the enemy preparing for a counterattack on Whaleback [a feature on that complex]. The company commander called to say that they were short of ammunition. I told them to hold on while we provided artillery fire support and some troops from the rear.

I sent young Captain Anuj Nayyar with 30 boys with extra ammunition. It took them 3 hours and they reached by 11 am.

The enemy tried another two counterattacks and we were able to beat them back. They suffered quite a lot of casualties. I too lost a lot of men and I salute them because they continued to hold that ground without vacating it.

Most of the attacks in the war were planned in the night -- when was your next attack? How did Captain Nayyar's leadership turn the tide?

My next attack with Charlie Company was on the night of July 6 (1999). The company commander was Major Ritesh Sharma and the leading platoon commander was Captain Anuj Nayyar.

The company commander Major Sharma with 5 other men was severely injured, so I asked them to fall back and hand over the charge of the company [about 120 men] to Captain Nayyar.

He was a young boy who had graduated out of the academy two years back. I had promoted him from lieutenant to captain just 15 days ago in the war zone.

I told him, 'Anuj, I have placed three stars on your shoulder and I want you to fulfil the responsibility. He said, sir, I will not let you down, I will capture the objective given to us'.

And he was recently engaged, wasn't he?

He was engaged to be married in September. Before going to battle, he gave me the engagement ring and photograph of his fiance.

I told him, 'Why don't you keep it? It will motivate you to fight.' He said he did not want the photograph to fall in the dirty hands of the enemy.

I wondered why he was giving it to me. Did he feel that he would not return?

These thoughts still go through my mind.

IMAGE: Then Colonel Umesh Singh Bawa, left, receives the COAS Commendation Card from General Ved Prakash Malik, then the army chief, right, for outstanding operations conducted by 17 Jat.

How did Captain Nayyar accomplish the task entrusted to him?

There were four bunkers [on the Whaleback feature] and he and his men captured three. He lobbed grenades, fired rocket launchers and led his men under heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire.

The fourth bunker was holding on and continued firing at them. It was 4 am on the morning of July 6 and Captain Anuj made his final attempt to capture the bunker.

Daylight had broken and he kept motivating his men under relentless enemy fire. He tried crawling towards the last bunker to throw a grenade and in doing so, was hit by an enemy rocket projectile.

I lost radio contact with him around 5 am. I sent another company commander with 30 men to check on them. I sent another radio set to replace Captain Anuj's radio set thinking it could have been destroyed.

The company reached around 9 and the company commander told me that he could see six motionless bodies near the fourth bunker. That was one of the worst news I have received in my entire life.

I cried to myself and could not show my grief to the troops.

How did the battle continue after that terrible loss of an officer and men?

I decided not to attack that bunker in the night, but in the morning.

My decision was unconventional because carrying out an attack in the day would expose us in full view of the enemy.

But I knew that the enemy would be expecting us in the night, so we kept pounding them with artillery and small arms fire. We did not allow them to sleep at night.

During the day the enemy was relaxed, secure in the thought that they will not be attacked because all our attacks used to be in the night. It is then that we launched a surprise attack from two sides.

It was 10 am and we attacked with 30 boys on each side as they rested on the reverse slopes.

The enemy left their weapons and ran -- by 1 pm we captured the objective and had the Tiranga flying on top of Point 4875.

I lost 1 officer, 1 Junior Commissioned Officer and 34 other ranks. About 100 soldiers had gunshot wounds and splinter injuries.

On site, we got unit citation by the army chief. We received battle honour Mushkoh, Theatre Honour Kargil and 1 Mahavir Chakra for Captain Anuj Nayyar, 4 Vir Chakras, 6 Sena Medals and 20 mentions in despatches.

IMAGE: Brigadier Umesh Singh Bawa and wife stand beside the bust of Captain Anuj Nayyar, Maha Vir Chakra, at the Kargil Memorial in Drass.

You won the battle by paying a very heavy price. How was it for you as commanding officer who is like the father figure of the unit?

I saw dead bodies being brought down from the objective. There were soldiers with broken hands, legs and some were shot in the eyes. All the euphoria of winning was changed into a solemn affair.

I was very sad that I could not bring back 36 of our boys to their families. I still carry that guilt with me after 24 years.

These young men sacrificed their lives for the country.

Every year on Kargil Vijay Diwas, I feel it is not a day to celebrate but to pay homage to those who made the supreme sacrifice.

My wife and I met Captain Nayyar's parents and other soldiers who were recovering in hospital when I went to Delhi after the war.

I thanked the families for the sacrifice of their loved ones when we met for our Raising Day after the war.

Every soldier who wears a uniform wants to fight a war some day.

How many times have you been to the Kargil War Memorial in Drass?

I have been to Drass thrice. This time I took my wife and we saw the icy peaks together.

On July 8, we celebrate Battle Honour Day and pay homage to the brave men who were killed in action.

The Kargil experience is the foremost in my military career. I wrote a book Mashkoh As I Saw It as a tribute to those days.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
Last updated on: August 14, 2023 13:19 IST

Glimpses from the preparations and rehearsal for Independence Day.

New Delhi

IMAGE: Scenes from the full dress rehearsal at Red Fort, here and below. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: A Special Protection Group commando does a walk through past the tri-services guard of honour which will greet the prime minister on Tuesday morning., Photograph: Rahul Singh/ANI Photo

IMAGE: Indian Air Force helipcopters sprinkle rose petals as they will do on Tuesday morning. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: Trumpets are blown as they will be on Tuesday morning to herald the prime minister's arrival at the Red Fort. Photograph: Rahul Singh/ANI Photo

IMAGE: The tri-services guard of honour marches as they will do on Tuesday after they have been presented to the prime minister,. Photograph: Rahul Singh/ANI Photo

IMAGE: A member of the Special Protection Group, which protects the prime minister of India, surveys the terrain during the rehearsal. Photograph: Rahul Singh/ANI Photo

IMAGE: Security tightened at the Red Fort, from whose ramparts the prime minister will address the nation on Tuesday morning. Photograph: Rahul Singh/ANI Photo

Patna

IMAGE: A Central Reserve Police Force contingent prepares for Independence Day at Patna's Gandhi Maidan, here and below. Photograph: ANI Photo

Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: Lady police personnel take a selfie at the Patna dress rehearsal. Photograph: ANI Photo

Bengaluru

IMAGE: The Tornadoes -- the Army Service Corps' motorcycle team -- perform at the Manekshaw parade grounds in Bengaluru. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: Border Security Force personnel marches at the Bengaluru rehearsal. Photograph: ANI Photo

Kolkata

IMAGE: The Kolkata police's Tornado team performs at a dress rehearsal. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: School students rehearse for Independence Day at Red Road, Kolkata. Photograph: ANI Photo

Bikaner

IMAGE: School students rehearse at the Dr Karni Singh stadium in Bikaner. Photograph: ANI Photo

Jammu

IMAGE: National Cadet Corps girl cadets march in Jammu. Photograph: ANI Photo

Bhopal

IMAGE: A Madhya Pradesh police contingent marches at the Lal Parade ground in Bhopal. Photograph: ANI Photo

Jalandhar

IMAGE: Police personnel march at the Guru Gobind Singh stadium in Jalandhar. Photograph: ANI Photo

Chhattisgarh

IMAGE: Indo-Tibetan Border Police troopers celebrate the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign. Photograph: ANI Photo

Pithoragarh

IMAGE: ITBP personnel take part in a Tiranga rally at the 7th Batallion's Nabhadang and Gala border outposts at Mirthi, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. Photograph: ANI Photo

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/ Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com

***

Srinagar

IMAGE: Police personnel take part in a Tiranga rally in Srinagar, here and below. Photograph: ANI Photo

Photograph: ANI Photo

Photograph: ANI Photo

Photograph: ANI Photo

Photograph: ANI Photo

Guwahati

IMAGE: Employees of the Assam Khadi and Village Industries Board stitch national flags in Guwahati. Photograph: ANI Photo

Ranchi

IMAGE: Jharkhand Rajya Khadi Gram workers stitch national flags in Ranchi, here and below. Photograph: ANI Photo

Photograph: ANI Photo

Dehradun

IMAGE: National flags on sale in Dehradun. Photograph: ANI Photo

Photographs curated by Anant Salvi/Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Mahipal Soni/Rediff.com
Three more patients died at the municipal-run Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital at Kalwa in Thane district, taking the toll to 21 since Saturday last, while authorities started moving patients who are not in a serious condition and new admissions to a civil hospital nearby if they are willing to be relocated, officials said on Monday.

IMAGE: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde meets a patient in an ICU ward during his visit to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Thane, August 14, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital and announced Rs 71 crore funds for creation of various facilities to treat patients coming from rural parts of Thane district, and promised action against those responsible for the deaths.

Shinde, who was accompanied by civic chief Abhijit Bangar and district collector Ashok Shingare, said the patient deaths at the CSM Hospital, located in his political turf Thane, were painful and asked all parties to desist from indulging in politics on the issue.

Thane's additional municipal commissioner (in-charge of health services) Sandeep Malvi said in the 24-hour period ended on Monday morning, three more patients died at the civic-run hospital, while one patient was brought dead.

He, however, did not disclose causes of their death.

The number of deaths at the Kalwa-based hospital has come down in the last 24 hours and the details are being compiled and analysed, Malvi said.

The CSM Hospital had reported 18 deaths in a 24-hour period between Saturday and Sunday, following which Chief Minister Shinde ordered setting up of an independent committee to carry out a probe into the clinical aspect of the deaths.

With this, 21 patients have died at the municipal corporation-run facility since Saturday last.

The CSM Hospital was "over-loaded" and treating nearly 600 patients per day against its capacity of 500, as per officials.

The Civil Hospital located nearby in the city is being renovated, so the load falls on the Kalwa facility, former Thane mayor Naresh Mhakse, who is also spokesperson of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, said on Sunday.

Dr Aniruddha Malgaonkar, medical superintendent of the CSM Hospital, on Monday said the option of shifting patients to the civil hospital has been left to them.

"We will shift only those patients who are recovering and from among the new admissions," he said.

The CSM Hospital admits around 150 new patients per day, which has heavily increased its load, he claimed.

The Civil Hospital, located at a short distance from the CSM Hospital, has a capacity of 350 beds and its occupancy is about 50 per cent, as per officials.

Asked about three deaths reported in the last 24 hours compared to 18 in the previous one day, a civic official said on Saturday and a couple of days before it, some extremely serious patients were admitted to the CSM Hospital.

The deaths of patients happened in a short span, and hence attracted public attention, he said.

Most of those among the 18 deceased patients were over 50 years of age and many were referred to the CSM Hospital from private medical facilities, the official said.

"There is absolutely no medical negligence," he said, adding the hospital staff is extremely co-operative.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Shinde on Monday visited the CSM Hospital and interacted with patients, their relatives and also reviewed the current staff and requirement of additional personnel to manage the influx of patients.

Speaking to reporters later, Shinde said, I have sanctioned Rs 71 crore for creation of more facilities at the hospital as well as at the mental hospital in Thane city, where general patients are treated. The Thane city's civil hospital is under construction hence its health services are shifted to premises of the mental hospital.

"The bed capacity of the civil hospital was 366 and it will be increased by 100 soon. The bed capacity of the Kalwa hospital would also be increased," said Shinde, who is the MLA from Kopri-Pachpakhadi in Thane district.

Asked about the CSM Hospital allegedly lacking in providing adequate medical services to patients, the chief minister said this was not the case.

The hospital has already admitted more patients than its capacity. Additional staff to handle patients will be made available soon, he added.

Asked what action the government would take against those responsible for the death of so many patients, he said those found guilty will be punished.

The inquiry committee report is expected to be out by August 25. Those found guilty will face action. The patients who died due to negligence, their kin will get some compensation from the state government, said Shinde.

"I do not want to comment on the medical staff here as they are facing a lot of work pressure. I do not want to demoralise them," said the chief minister.

A nine-member committee set up by the Maharashtra government is looking into the deaths at the CSM Hospital.

The panel, headed by health commissioner Dheeraj Kumar, has been asked to submit a report by August 25, as per an order issued by the state health department.

The state government had recently sanctioned Rs 60 crore for infrastructure improvement of the CSM Hospital, a senior official said.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Thane Municipal Corporation chief Bangar said the bed capacity of the hospital will be doubled from 500 to 1,000, while good hostel facilities will be provided for resident doctors.

In the 2022-23 TMC budget, a sum of Rs 317.20 crore was earmarked for health, of which Rs 10 crore was for improving facilities at the CSM Hospital and the Rajiv Gandhi Medical College located on its premises, he said.
Maharashtra opposition leader Vijay Wadettiwar on Monday suggested that Nationalist Congress Party leader and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar may replace Eknath Shinde as the chief minister.

IMAGE: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde with his deputy Ajit Pawar. Photograph: @CMOMaharashtra/Twitter

Addressing a press conference in Gadchiroli city, Wadettiwar also claimed preparations are on to admit Shinde to a hospital and later replace him on "health grounds".

He said NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar, who heads the group of rebel NCP MLAs, met in Pune recently amid speculation about Shinde's likely replacement and in view of "talks among MLAs loyal to Ajit that he could be made the chief minister".

The buzz about the "health" of Shinde, who was at his native village in Satara, grew louder after his supporter and MLA Sanjay Shirsat recently claimed the CM has fallen sick as he works for 24 hours.

"Information is coming out about ongoing preparations to admit Eknath Shinde in a hospital and replace him with a new chief minister," Wadettiwar said.

The Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly also claimed the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) has stated that Shinde is not keeping well.

"I fear that he (Shinde) may be admitted to a hospital for two months and may be replaced on medical grounds. People of Maharashtra are asking whether preparations are on to admit Shinde in a hospital on medical grounds," the senior Congress leader said.

Notably, Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece Saamana also referred to MLA Shirsat's claim about Shinde's "sickness".

Shinde works for 24 hours, but it does not reflect anywhere in the state. If he has lost his sleep from the fear of losing his post anytime, it cannot be termed that he is working round-the-clock," the Saamana said in its editorial on Monday.

If Shirsat's claims are true, Shinde should be admitted to an ICU and kept away from meeting (Deputy CMs) Devendra Fadnavis or Ajit Pawar. Shinde should be admitted to a good hospital in Mumbai or Thane, the editorial said sarcastically.

Interestingly, senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan last month claimed that Ajit Pawar, who is part of the Shiv Sena-BJP government, will be appointed as the chief minister around August 10.

This claim was dismissed by senior BJP leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Fadnavis had said Ajit Pawar was well aware of the fact that he won't become the chief minister and the same was conveyed to him during the meetings held before July 2, when he joined the state government with eight MLAs of NCP.
The Haryana government will take legal action against those behind the last month violence in Nuh district, Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh said on Monday.

IMAGE: Heavy police deployed on the Gurugram-Nuh border near the KMP Expressway after violence occurred between two groups in the Nuh district of Haryana, August 10, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Six people, including two home guards and a cleric, died in the clashes that erupted in Nuh after a procession of the Vishva Hindu Parishad was attacked by mobs on July 31 and spread to adjoining areas, including Gurugram.

The Bharatiya Janata Party's Gurgaon MP also met the family members of one of the home guards killed in the violence and paid tributes to him.

The state government will take legal action against those guilty, they will not be spared, Singh told reporters after a meeting with officials of the Nuh district administration at the Circuit House.

There is peace in Nuh district and the police are prepared to thwart any untoward incident, he said and added that it is the responsibility of the administration to protect every citizen of the district.

Singh also appealed to residents not to pay heed to rumours and maintain harmony.

The administration is holding talks with peace committees by going from village to village.

During a visit to Garhi Wajidpur village in Gurugram district, Singh met the family members of home guard Neeraj, who lost his life in the violence.

"We are completely safe in our country because of brave youngsters like Neeraj. The bravery displayed by Neeraj for the safety of citizens is a matter of pride for all of us. The central and state governments are with his family," Singh said.

On the demand by family members for a government job for Neeraj's wife, Singh assured them that he would communicate it to the Haryana government.

Gursev Singh of Fatehabad district was the other home guard killed in the violence.
With Janmashtami round the corner, Mumbaikars are all geared up for Dahi Handi.

Dahi Handi is celebrated on the day after Krishna Janmashtami. Young men and boys in the city create human pyramids to try and break a pot strung high up above them.

Cash prizes up to Rs 1 crore are given away in some areas of Mumbai to the groups who succeed in breaking the pot.

All photographs: Sahil Salvi for Rediff.com IMAGE: The Govinda team of Young Umarkhadi in south Mumbai practice for Dahi Handi which will be celebrated on September 7 this year, here and below.

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar on Monday said there was no confusion within the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance over his meeting with nephew and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in Pune.

IMAGE: Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar arrives in Parliament during the monsoon session, New Delhi, August 8, 2023. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo

The MVA is united and we will successfully organise the next meeting of opposition bloc INDIA in Mumbai on August 31 and September 1, Pawar told reporters in Baramati.

This was the 82-year-old veteran politician's maiden visit to his home turf after Ajit Pawar joined the Eknath Shinde-led government on July 2.

MVA constituents Congress and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) had asked the NCP chief to clear the confusion such meetings between the uncle and nephew create in political circles.

There is no confusion among MVA partners. We are all together and will ensure the INDIA meeting in Mumbai on August 31 and September 1 is organised successfully, Pawar said.

Pawar asked the media not to create more confusion by asking the same question.

Myself, Uddhav Thackeray and state Congress president Nana Patole have taken the responsibility of organising the INDIA meeting in Mumbai, Pawar said. The meeting will be held at a luxury hotel.

The NCP has no association with "factions from MVA" which align with the Bharatiya Janata Party at the state and national and level, Pawar said, alluding to the move by his nephew.

Pawar said he is expecting to speak to NCP leader Nawab Malik, who was on Friday granted two months' interim bail by the Supreme Court in a money laundering case.

The Enforcement Directorate arrested the former minister on February 23 last year in a case registered over the Goawala compound property in Kurla, allegedly linked to gangster Dawood Ibrahim.

Malik was in judicial custody since March 2022 and was admitted at a private hospital in Kurla in May last year. He is still at the hospital.

Pawar sidestepped a question on an editorial in Monday's issue of Sena (UBT) mouthpiece Saamana expressing displeasure over the frequent meetings between him and Ajit Pawar.
The latest in a number of Africa-focused announcements by payment giant Mastercard may be the most significant; it is widely reported to be taking a minority stake in the fintech arm of South Africas MTN.

That, however, is all we know about this deal with Africas biggest mobile company by subscribers, except that it values the arm that covers payments and remittances at more than US$5 billion.

According to a report in the UKs Financial Times, Ralph Mupita, MTNs chief executive, has suggested that the Mastercard investment will be finalised in in the very near term, though the amount of the investment and precisely when it will be effected has not been stated.

Its not too surprising that MTN has been seeking to unlock value in one of Africas largest mobile money networks, or indeed that MTN shares enjoyed a boost on the news. In fact this weeks group interim results statement, which refers to a resilient H1 performance, notes that the overall value of transactions on MTNs MoMo mobile-money platform increased by more than 61% to US$135 billion in the six months to the end of June.

Of course MTN has recently been looking to sell a number of assets in order to raise cash and strengthen its balance sheet. It was in 2021 that it first signalled its interest in securing a minority investment in the fintech unit at a valuation of more than US$5 billion  roughly the amount stated in todays news.

As we mentioned, this is far from the only major Africa-related announcement from Mastercard this month. In August alone it has announced a strategic partnership with fintech Lipa Later, involving buy now, pay later (BNPL) payment services in Africa, with EMIS on contactless cards in Angola, and with Airtel Africa on a new cross-border remittance service.

Nor is the MTN deal its only mobile money investment recently. In 2021 Mastercard invested US$100 million in the mobile money business of Airtel Africa, MTNs rival, valuing that unit, at the time, at more than US$2.6 billion.
President Droupadi Murmu has approved 76 gallantry awards, including four Kirti Chakras posthumously and 11 Shaurya Chakras to personnel of the security forces, on the eve of the 77th Independence Day, officials said.

IMAGE: Police personnel pay floral tribute to Inspector Dilip Kumar Das, who died in a Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh, at Bhargaon village in Barpeta, April 7, 2021. Das has been conferred the Kirti Chakra posthumously. Photograph: ANI Photo

Of the 11 Shaurya Chakras, five have been named posthumously.

Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra are India's second-highest and third-highest peacetime gallantry awards after the Ashok Chakra.

"President Droupadi Murmu has approved 76 gallantry awards to Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces personnel on the eve of Independence Day 2023. These include four Kirti Chakras (posthumous), 11 Shaurya Chakras, including five posthumous, two Bar to Sena Medals (gallantry), 52 Sena Medals (gallantry), three Nao Sena Medals (gallantry) and four Vayu Sena Medals (gallantry)," the defence ministry said in a statement.

The Kirti Chakra recipients who received it posthumously are -- Dilip Kumar Das, Raj Kumar Yadava, Bablu Rabha and Sambha Roy, all of the Central Reserve Police Force, it said.

The Shaurya Chakra recipients include five personnel who have been named for it posthumously, including Maj Vikas Bhambhu and Maj Mustafa Bohara of Army Aviation Squadron; Hav Vivek Singh Tomar of the Rajputana Rifles, Rifleman Kulbhushan Manta of the Rashtriya Rifles.

"On October 21, 2022, Major Bhambhu, as a pilot and Major Bohara, as a co-pilot were on Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance mission in a RUDRA helicopter along the border in Arunachal Pradesh," the ministry said in its citation.

"At 1028 hours post successful mission completion, 20 km to the border, the helicopter caught fire in a catastrophic manner. This was an unprecedented catastrophic failure. There was a rapid loss of altitude and variation in attitude with aircraft in extremities of limits," it said.

Both the pilots being in "extreme physical and mental stress in a life-threatening situation maintained exemplary composure" and tried to regain control and fly away from the built-up area and ammunition point of mugging to save precious lives, it added.

IMAGE: A coffin containing the body of CRPF jawan Bablu Rabha, who lost his life in a Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh, being taken to his residence for his last rite, in Goalpara district, April 5, 2021. Rabha has been conferred the Kirti Chakra posthumously. Photograph: ANI Photo

Maj Bhambhu and Maj Bohara have been named for the award "in recognition of their unfathomable courage, fortitude and professionalism of exceptional order".

Havildar Vivek Singh Tomar has been chosen for the award "for displaying distinctive raw courage and extreme bravery with utter disregard to personal safety leading for the safety of life of his comrades," his citations read.

Besides, IAF's Sqn Ldr G L Vineeth, a flying pilot, posted to the transport aircraft base, has been chosen for a Vayu Sena Medal, the statement said.

"The President has also approved 30 Mention-in-Despatches to the Army, including to Army dog Madhu (posthumous), and one to Air Force personnel for their significant contributions in different military operations," it said.

The operations include Operation Rakshak, Operation Snow Leopard, Operation Casualty Evacuation, Operation Mount Chomo, Operation Pangsau Pass, Operation Meghdoot, Operation Orchid, Operation Kalisham Valley, Rescue Operation and Operation Evacuation, the statement said.
The Supreme Court on Monday ordered no coercive steps shall be taken for two weeks against Hyderabad University professor Kham Khan Suan Hausing over two complaints lodged against him in strife-torn Manipur.

IMAGE: A scene of violence in Imphal, Manipur. Photograph: ANI Photo

While one of the complaints alleges that he committed deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings in Manipur, the other is regarding purported wrongdoing in enrolment as a voter of the state.

A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud said in order to facilitate Hausing in seeking access to the competent court for appropriate remedy, "for two weeks from today, no coercive steps be taken against him".

The bench, also comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, was hearing a plea by the professor seeking protection from arrest in these complaints.

Senior advocate Anand Grover, appearing for Hausing, said the two cases have been filed against him and a magisterial court in Imphal has also issued summons to him in one of them.

Arguing that the situation in Manipur is very serious, Grover said one of the complaints relates to an interview he gave to a news portal.

He said the professor had not made any speech and he needed protection so he can seek appropriate remedy in these complaints.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Manipur, said an order passed by the magistrate cannot be challenged directly before the apex court in a petition under Article 32 of the Constitution.

Article 32 of the Constitution deals with remedies for enforcement of fundamental rights and 32 (1) says the right to move the apex court by appropriate proceedings for enforcement of rights conferred by this part is guaranteed.

Mehta said the magisterial court had passed an order in one of the private complaints filed there.

"You (petitioner) can pray for anticipatory bail," the bench told Grover.

The senior advocate said the petitioner only wanted interim protection as the situation in the northeastern state is very serious because of the ethnic strife.

The bench noted a criminal complaint was lodged against Hausing in a chief judicial magistrate's (CJM) court for the alleged offences punishable under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth etc) and 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs).

It noted the magisterial court had last month issued summons to the petitioner in the criminal complaint.

The apex court said another complaint relates to probe into alleged wrongdoing in enrolment of the petitioner in the electoral roll of the state.

It said the petitioner will be at liberty to seek appropriate remedies, including anticipatory bail, before the competent court.

The top court is seized of a batch of petitions on the violence in Manipur.

It had recently expressed anguish over the manner in which women were subjected to grave atrocities in the state and said mobs use sexual violence to send out a message of subordination to the other community and the state is bound to stop this.

The apex court had also asked the three-member committee of former high court judges -- Justice Gita Mittal, former chief justice of Jammu and Kashmir high court, Justice Shalini Phansalkar Joshi, former judge of the Bombay high court and Justice Asha Menon, former judge of the Delhi high court -- to inquire into the nature of violence against women that occurred in Manipur since May 4.
Flagging the 16 suicide deaths of students over National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test in Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday urged President Droupadi Murmu to accord her assent at the earliest to the state's anti-NEET Bill.

IMAGE: President Droupadi Murmu (left) being received by Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi (centre) and state Chief Minister MK Stalin (right) on her arrival in Chennai, August 5, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Writing to the President, Stalin pointed to the "unfortunate consequences" due to the delay in the grant of approval to the Tamil Nadu Admission to Undergraduate Medical Degree Courses Bill, 2021 and urged her to provide assent immediately.

The chief minister underscored the back-to-back suicide deaths of a son and his father on August 12 and 13 respectively due to the stress of NEET.

"With this, the toll of students who have died by suicide due to NEET has increased to 16 in our state. These tragedies could have been definitely avoided if our Bill for exemption from NEET had been given assent and the medical admissions done on the basis of +2 marks," Stalin said in his letter to the President.

Giving a background to the legislative process, Stalin referred to the Justice A K Rajan Committee which studied the NEET-based admission process and its adverse impact on poor and rural students. Later, based on the panel's report and deliberations, the chief minister said, the Bill was passed on September 13, 2021.

Since it was returned by Governor R N Ravi after five months of delay, it was reintroduced in the assembly on February 8, 2022 and it was passed again after reconsideration and sent again to the Governor for reserving it for the President's consideration.

The Governor forwarded the Bill to the Union ministry of home affairs and it has been pending President's assent.

When the home ministry sought clarifications vis-a-vis the Bill, it was expeditiously made by the state government, Stalin said.

However, the TN Bill has not been provided assent till now and students have been forced to undergo the NEET based admission process.

"This has caused immense anxiety and stress in the minds of the students and parents."

As a result, there have been various sad incidents of students or their parents ending their lives, depressed by their failure to get admission to medical courses through NEET. The State's anti-NEET Bill is the outcome of legislative consensus, stemming from the "collective will of the people" of Tamil Nadu.

"Each day of delay in its implementation costs not only valuable medical seats to deserving students but invaluable human lives to our society. I, therefore, solicit your immediate intervention in he matter and urge you to accord assent at the earliest to the above Bill passed by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly," Stalin wrote to the President.
Delhi has been wrapped in a security blanket for Tuesday's 77th Independence Day celebrations, with more than 10,000 personnel manning the area in and around the Red Fort from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation, the police said.

IMAGE: Paramilitary personnel stand guard outside Red Fort, venue of the prime ministers address to the nation on Independence Day, New Delhi, August 14, 2023. Photograph: Shrikant Singh/ANI Photo

Around 1,000 cameras with facial recognition and video analytic systems have been installed in and around the Mughal-era fort and at other strategic locations to ensure security and monitor VVIP movements, the police said on Tuesday.

Suman Nalwa, the Delhi police spokesperson, said, "The entire Delhi police is on alert. Elaborate security arrangements have been made, the exercise for which started around three-four months ago. Anti-terror activities are also being done to check the areas in the districts near the venue. Tenant verification drives are also being carried out with RWA (residents' welfare associations) and MWA (market welfare associations) members."

Giving details of the technology being used to ensure security, Nalwa said, "AI-based facial recognition CCTV cameras have been installed. Anti-drone technology is also being used for security."

"Adequate traffic arrangements have been put in place. The traffic police has also issued an advisory. We urge the people to follow the advisory. The borders (of Delhi) will be closed for heavy vehicles from Monday night and others entering the city will be checked. We are keeping a strict vigil on social media as well," the Delhi police spokesperson said.

The Gyan Path in front of Red Fort will be decked with flowers and G20 signages. However, there will be no major decorations on the fort's rampart from where the prime minister addresses the nation.

The government has invited around 1,800 special guests from across the country to attend the programme. Seventy-five couples from each state and Union Territory, in their traditional attire, have been invited to witness the ceremony. Sarpanches of vibrant villages, nurses, fisherfolk and labourers engaged in the construction of the Central Vista project are also among the special invitees.

"This year, more than 20,000 officials and civilians will take part in the Independence Day celebrations. Gyan Path is being decorated with flowers and G20 signages," a police officer said.

Special Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) HGS Dhaliwal said all units are doing their jobs for the celebrations.

"All the checks are being implemented with related agencies. It is a big arrangement and all the units are doing their jobs. The G20 summit is in three weeks, due to which there is more sensitivity. We had seen that a week before the Republic Day celebration, anti-national and Khalistan-related graffiti appeared on walls in areas of west Delhi. Two people were arrested in this connection," Dhaliwal said.

Keeping in mind the recent violence in Haryana's Nuh and adjoining areas, strict vigil is being ensured, the police said.

Sharing details of the security arrangements, Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Dependra Pathak said, "Independence Day will be celebrated with full enthusiasm this year with no Covid-19 restrictions in place. Therefore, robust deployment of police will be ensured."

"We will also coordinate and share real-time information with other agencies. The Delhi police will also use technology for security. We are on our toes and conducting rehearsals," Pathak said.

Following convention, anti-drone systems have been installed at Red Fort. All anti-terror measures have been initiated, including the installation of air defence guns. Snipers, elite SWAT commandos and sharpshooters will be positioned at strategic locations for the security of the prime minister and other VVIP guests.

The forces continue to remain on high alert to thwart any untoward incident. The police have intensified patrolling and deployed extra pickets at vital installations based on intelligence inputs from central agencies, a senior officer said.

Thorough checking is being carried out at the borders and the police have warned of strict action against anyone trying to disrupt law and order in the national capital.

The areas surrounding the Red Fort have been demarcated as a "no kite flying zone" till the completion of the programme.

The police will deploy 153 kite catchers at strategic locations to intercept kites, they said. Residents of areas near Red Fort have been asked not to fly kites till the event is over.

A kite had landed just below the podium during Modi's Independence Day address in 2017. The prime minister had, however, continued with his speech.

"The Delhi police has also intensified patrolling and anti-sabotage checks. Hotels, guest houses, parking lots and restaurants are being checked and verification of tenants and servants is being carried out. Meetings are also being held with RWA and MWA members," Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Sagar Singh Kalsi said.

The police on Thursday imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC in areas such as Rajghat, ITO and Red Fort.

It has also prohibited the flying of sub-conventional aerial platforms such as paragliders, paramotors, hang gliders, unmanned aerial vehicles, microlight aircraft, remotely-piloted aircraft, hot air balloons, small-size powered aircraft, quadcopters or para-jumping from aircraft over the jurisdiction of the National Capital Territory of Delhi up to August 16.
Today, he lies in an unknown grave in a corner of a farmer's field in Pakistan, having given his all for his country.

A riveting excerpt from Ian Cardozo's Beyond Fear: True Stories on Life in the Indian Armed Forces.

Squadron Leader A B 'Tubby' Devayya took off on a mission during the 1965 War and never returned.

Devayya had joined the No. 1 Squadron in Adampur just before the onset of the war. Orders from the IAF Command Headquarters went out late on the night of 6 September to Adampur and Halwara for the Mystere and Hunter squadrons to plan strikes against PAF airbases.

Devayya was itching to confront the enemy. However, because he was surplus to the squadron at Adampur, he was placed in reserve and detailed as a standby, which meant that he would participate in the raid only if one of the aircraft raiding Sargodha could not get airborne.

Wing Commander 'Omi' Taneja, the Squadron Commander, commenced the briefing at 0415 hours.

'I want to make it clear that you have just enough fuel to hit your targets and get back. You will not have the luxury of a second pass over the target area, so make sure you keep your eyes open and access your targets as you go in. The success of the raid will depend on the number of enemy aircraft and vital installations destroyed.'

After the second wave of four aircraft had rolled, one of the standby aircraft suddenly moved on to the runway. This was Tubby Devayya who had jumped the gun and had already got airborne. He just could not wait to confront the enemy.

It was still half-light at Sargodha and much darker than anticipated. Its fighters on combat air patrol (CAP) for airfield defence went on alert, but before they could react, Taneja and his aircraft were already over the Sargodha airfield.

Taneja led the first dive on to the airfield. As he pulled out of his dive, he noticed two Sabres and an F-104 Starfighter parked further on the operational readiness platform (ORP). Taneja then broke radio silence to inform the second wave to attack them.

He radioed, 'Red Leader to Strike Formation, 2 Sabres and one Starfighter on ORP. Engage and destroy.'

However, the light conditions were too poor for the second wave to see the aircraft indicated by Taneja, so they attacked other targets.

When Taneja turned back for the base, Devayya was at the tail end of the group.

In the meantime, PAF Starfighters, alerted by Pakistan's Sakesar radar station, scrambled and were directed towards Sargodha.

A Pakistani F-104 Starfighter, flown by Flight Lieutenant Amjad Hussain, made visual contact with Sargodha after he saw the sky lit up by PAF ground defences.

By the time the Starfighters reached the scene of action, the Mysteres had exited the airfield and were heading towards India.

Devayya was the last one out of Sargodha and the first one to be spotted by the F-104 Starfighter piloted by Hussain.

Devayya had two options. First, he could face the Starfighter head-on and fight it out, in which case, even if he survived, he would have no fuel left to fly across the border back to India. The second option was to evade the pursuing Starfighter.

IAF pilots had been instructed not to indulge in personal heroics and instead prioritize the ability to fight again another day. Devayya was, however, of a different breed.

Not fighting the enemy was not an option for him.

Ignoring the superiority of the Starfighter, Devayya went after Hussain and began to attack him with unusual ferocity. Hussain used the superior power of the Starfighter to lift the combat from ground level to 7000 ft in order to gain more room for manoeuvring.

Devayya, however, locked on to the Starfighter and doggedly followed it all the way up, showing considerable courage in doing so because his rate of climb was much slower than the Starfighter.

Hussain was aware that his advantage in speed would make it difficult to close in on the Mystere in his bid to destroy it, and so he was forced to do a 'yo-yo' (bouncing up and down) to prevent an overshoot and managed to get behind Devayya.

He closed in on the Mystere, using his afterburner and, having got Devayya in his sights, fired a burst from the Starfighter's deadly six-barrelled 20-mm Vulcan revolver cannon.

Devayya's Mystere broke to the right and appeared to pass through the deadly stream of bullets. Hussain broke off the engagement, certain that the Mystere was destroyed.

Although the Mystere had received several hits, it was not disabled. Devayya had survived the attack and his aircraft was still flyable. There was still a chance to fly home and if his fuel ran out, he could have ejected safely over Indian territory.

Devayya ignored that option. He decided to destroy the Starfighter no matter the odds.

Hussain spotted the Mystere when it was turning to get behind him and was under the impression that this was another Mystere that was coming after him after he had destroyed the first one.

He was unaware that Devayya had survived his Vulcan onslaught and was now coming after him again.

At this stage, Hussain made a mistake. He reduced his speed in an attempt to out-turn his determined opponent to deliver the final blow.

Devayya saw his opportunity, closed in and found the Starfighter in his sights. He pressed home his attack and scored several hits on the Starfighter with his 2 x 30 mm DEFA cannons mounted on either side of the Mystere's fuselage.

This was the first and only Mach-2 Starfighter to be destroyed in air combat during the 1965 War. Devayya's successful destruction of a Starfighter was an extraordinary feat by any standard.

At Kot Naka village in Pakistan, about five miles south of Pindi Bhattian Tehsil, the farmers were out in the fields about to start their chores when they saw the two aircraft approaching them from the direction of Sargodha.

They watched in fascination and awe as the two aircraft wheeled, dived and turned while fighting to get the better of each other. The sound of the aircrafts' cannons reached them, and they wondered how this contest would end.

Then suddenly, they saw both aircraft fall out of the sky like leaves from a tree. One of the pilots came down by parachute, and the other aircraft went down across the Jang Canal. The pilot of this aircraft had failed to eject. His body was found intact, thrown clear of the wreckage. He was later buried by the villagers in the fields.

It was Squadron Leader Tubby Devayya.

Back in Adampur, an anxious Taneja was waiting for Devayya to join the mission debrief. Everyone was under the impression that Devayya was probably taking his time.

After a while, it was found that Devayya had not returned. Devayya was eventually listed as 'Missing in action.'

Declared dead seven years later, Devayya would have remained an unsung hero had it not been for John Fricker's Battle for Pakistan: The Air War of 1965 (published in Pakistan in 1979), which narrated the story of this air battle.

It was only in 1980 that Group Captain Taneja, VrC, read Fricker's account about the details of Hussain's admission of being shot down by an IAF Mystere over Sargodha on the morning of 7 September 1965.

Taneja knew better than anyone else that no other Mystere pilot had had air combat with a Starfighter that fateful morning of 7 September 1965.

He wrote to the Chief of Air Staff, strongly recommending that Devayya's gallantry be recognized by the award of a posthumous Maha Vir Chakra.

It took the Air Force eight more years to conduct a thorough investigation before recommending Devayya for the award.

On that basis, Squadron Leader Tubby Devayya was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra on 23 April 1988, 23 years after his exceptional act of conspicuous gallantry and fighting spirit well beyond the call of duty, against overwhelming odds and at the cost of his own life.

Today, he lies in an unknown grave in a corner of a farmer's field in Pakistan, having given his all for his country.

Excerpted from Beyond Fear: True Stories on Life in the Indian Armed Forces by Ian Cardozo, with the kind permission of the publishers, Penguin Random House India.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 82F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds from time to time. Low 54F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Considerable cloudiness. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 82F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds from time to time. Low 54F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
Security forces on Monday apprehended 82 irregular migrants in western Turkiye as they attempted to enter the country illegally, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency.

In the Mugla province on Turkiyes Aegean coast, the Turkish Coast Guard nabbed 28 irregular migrants on board a rubber boat off the Datca district.

In the northwestern Edirne province near the border with Greece, authorities held a group of 42 irregular migrants who had illegally crossed into Turkiye.

The border and gendarmerie units nabbed migrants from Palestine, Pakistan, Morocco, and Afghanistan.

Also, in the northwestern Kirklareli province near the border with Bulgaria, gendarmerie teams held 12 irregular migrants  all Afghan nationals  near the Derekoy border crossing.

All irregular migrants were later referred to local migration authorities for deportation.
Four Wiregrass veterans were among the more than 700 delegates attending the 21st Biennial National Vietnam Veterans of America Convention Aug. 8 through 12 in Orlando, Florida.

Representing the state were Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 373 First Vice President Bobby Enfinger of Ozark, Treasurer Ken Donahue of Enterprise, Secretary Ron Jones of Enterprise, and serving as delegate-at-large was Dale Aldridge of Ozark.

The Vietnam Veterans of America is the nations only congressionally chartered veterans service organization dedicated to the needs of Vietnam-era veterans and their families, said VVA Chapter President Bob Cooper. VVAs founding principle is Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another.

More than 700 delegates from VVA chapters across the nation joined hundreds of other Vietnam War veterans and guests in Orlando, along with members of the Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America, which held its national convention in conjunction with the VVA event.

During the convention, delegates set the organizations course for the next two years, heard from an array of speakers, attended information sessions and participate in events to include the Awards Banquet Aug. 12.

Harvey Pratt, the renowned artist and sculptor best known for creating the National Native American Veterans Memorial at the Smithsonians National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., received the VVA Excellence in the Arts award at the Awards Banquet. Jan Scruggs, who conceived the idea that became the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and founded and led the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, received the VVA Lifetime Achievement Award, and Laurel Lea Schaefer Bozoukoff, Miss America 1972, and was honored with the Presidents Award for supporting the troops in Vietnam.
OZARK-It has a Dothan address but the Dothan Regional Airport is actually located in Dale County, Adam Hartzog told Dale County Commissioners at the first commission meeting in August.

Hartzog is the director of the regional airport operated by the Dothan-Houston County Airport Authority, serving Southeast Alabama, Southwest Georgia, and the Florida panhandle. He met with the Dale County Commissioners to give an update on the improvement projects over the last eight months and future plans for the facility.

It is your airport, he said. Its a big asset to have in your county.

Some $1.1 million in infrastructure improvements have been made within the last year, Hartzog said. That includes improvements for T-hangars for general aviation pilots. We try to invest in the general aviation sector as much as we can. We want to continue to support our community pilots, he said. Groundbreaking on a new hangar for larger jet aircraft should be within the next 60 days, he said.

Plans for the immediate future include $21 million invested in runway repaving and a $6.5 million drainage project to alleviate issues inside and outside the airport building. Runway and taxiway lights will be upgraded to LED lighting which is expected to cost some $2.2 million.

The Federal Aviation Administration financial assistance with programs at the airport is much appreciated, Hartzog said, adding that the matching funds are self-generated so that the airport does not have to seek financial help from the county or municipalities. The Dothan Regional Airport is self-supporting and no tax dollars go to operating the airport. Many other airports receive city and county tax dollars to sustain their operations. The Dothan Regional Airport generates its revenue from the rent-paying users of the airport.

A recent economic impact study revealed that the Dothan Regional Airport provides a $100 million economic impact to the Wiregrass, Hartzog said. Its a great economic engine.
The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to examine a plea by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy against an order of the Madras High Court which allowed a firm to proceed with a defamation suit against him before the Singapore High Court.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Dipankar Datta issued notice to Advantage Strategic Consulting Pvt Ltd on the appeal filed by Swamy.

The matter has now been posted for hearing after six weeks.

Swamy has moved the top court against the April 18 order of a division bench of the high court which set aside an interim injunction granted against the company by a single judge in 2014.

The matter relates to Swamy's press meet in New Delhi on April 26, 2012 during which he had reportedly commented on the alleged irregularities in the 2G spectrum allocation and the Aircel-Maxis deal.

Advantage Strategic Consulting Private Limited had taken exception to the allegations and issued a legal notice to him. Later, its Singapore subsidiary of the same name initiated the impugned defamation proceedings in the Singapore High Court.

Swamy had filed a contempt of court petition in the top court, saying he could not be dragged to courts for having filed 2G-related cases in the apex court.

The petition was dismissed on September 10, 2013.

The UPA 2 government led by Manmohan Singh was rocked by a major scandal involving a presumptive loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore in the allocation of 122 2G (second generation) spectrum licences to telecom companies. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had pulled up the government for allocating the licences at old prices and without following the profitable competitive bidding process.

All the accused in the case, including the then telecommunications minister A Raja and DMK MP Kanimozhi were, however, acquitted in the case in December 2017 by a special court in Delhi which said the prosecution failed to prove the charges against them beyond reasonable doubt.
An intruder from Pakistan was gunned down by the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel as he tried to sneak into the Indian territory near the border village of Simbal Sakol in Punjabs Pathankot district on Monday morning, August 14.

According to sources, the incident occurred at around 3 am in the morning when the BSF troops observed suspicious movement of a Pakistani intruder ahead of the border fencing in the area near the Simbal Sakol village.

The troops' action on the intruder came after he did not stop and continued moving, despite repeated warnings. Sensing the imminent threat, the BSF personnel fired upon the miscreant in self-defence, neutralising him on the spot.

  #AlertBSF tps observed suspicious movement of a Pakistani infiltrator near Vil-Simbal Sakol,#Pathankot. The infiltrator was repeatedly challenged & subsequently neutralized in self-defense to prevent imminent danger pic.twitter.com/K3MQJwWQju  BSF PUNJAB FRONTIER (@BSF_Punjab) August 14, 2023

The BSFs action came just three days after it shot dead an intruder as he tried to sneak into the Indian territory near Thehkalan village of Tarn Taran district in Punjab. On August 11 morning, BSF troops observed suspicious movement of a Pakistani intruder ahead of the border fence near Thekalan village, the BSF spokesperson informed.
Niger military regime have announced that they would "prosecute" President Mohamed Bazoum under the charges of "high treason" and "undermining the security" of the country. The statement came on August 14, read aloud by the Niger military regime on a national television channel, reported CGTN. The Niger military overthrew the democratically elected president Mohamed Bazoum in a coup on 26 July.

Notably, this comes after the US diplomat's warning on August 11 who said that they would kill deposed President Mohamed Bazoum if neighbouring countries attempted any military intervention to restore his rule, reported AP. This warning by the US diplomats came shortly before the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) meeting.

Niger military regime to prosecute President Mohamed Bazoum

In the latest update on the Niger unrest, the Niger military group has announced the prosecution of the deposed president. "The Nigerien government has so far gathered ... evidence to prosecute the deposed president and his local and foreign accomplices before the competent national and international bodies for high treason and undermining the internal and external security of Niger," said Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane, as per the media report.

Meanwhile, the ECOWAS West African bloc has directly deployed a standby force to restore democracy in Niger after its deadline to reinstate Bazoum expired. Notably, after overthrowing the current democratically elected government president, the former leader of the country's presidential guard, Abdourahamane Tchiani was appointed to lead the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP).

CNSP is a governing body the soldiers established after the coup, which has been exercising legislative and executive authority. According to the new association, Bazoum was overthrown due to "the continued deterioration of the security situation" and "poor economic and social governance" in the country.

Further, the tensions in the region have mounted International pressure against leaders of the coup in Niger, reported AP. According to the American secretary of state, the US "stands very much" with West African nations who have threatened to use force to restore the country's democracy. Whereas Senegal has volunteered soldiers to assist. Senegals foreign affairs minister said her country would partake in a military intervention if ECOWAS decides to act. Senegalese soldiers have to go  these coups detat must be stopped,said Aissata Tall Sall.
The leaders of Egypt and Jordan, and the Palestinian president on Monday slammed Israel, saying it was fuelling chaos and violence in east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank as bloodshed surges between Israel and Palestinians. The condemnation came at the end of a three-way summit in the northern Egyptian city of el-Alamein that brought together Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, Jordan's King Abdullah II and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

The three accused Israel of a number violations against Palestinians, including what they said were incursions by Israeli soldiers at a contested holy site in east Jerusalem and illegally withholding Palestinian money. The site, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, is the holiest site in Judaism. Today, it is home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third-holiest site in Islam. The competing claims lie at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Israel's government did not immediately respond to the statement from the summit. The past months have seen one of the deadliest periods in years in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. More than 160 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire this year in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, according to a tally by The Associated Press. Palestinians have killed 29 people on the Israeli side during that time.

Israel's new ultra nationalist government, formed last December, has adopted a hard-line approach to the Palestinians. In January, it decided to withhold USD 39 million from the Palestinian Authority and transfer the funds instead to a compensation programme for the families of Israeli victims of Palestinian militant attacks. During violent flare ups, Egypt, which was the first Arab country to establish diplomatic ties with Israel, has regularly acted as a peace broker between the two sides. Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war, along with the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem. Palestinians seek those territories for their hoped-for independent state.
Anwarul Haq Kakar, the first-time senator who has been appointed as Pakistan's caretaker prime minister, was a "surprise" candidate for many in the ruling coalition and even those who signed the summary of his nomination were unaware of his candidature, according to a media report on Sunday.

Kakar's name was agreed upon during the final day of consultations between outgoing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Leader of Opposition in the dissolved National Assembly, Raja Riaz Ahmad, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office.

Kakar, 52, is an ethnic Pushtun from Balochistan and a member of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) -- a party considered close to the powerful establishment of the country.

"Kakars name came from somewhere else and it had to be accepted by all stakeholders, a member of the outgoing ruling coalition was quoted as saying by the Dawn newspaper. The politician was apparently referring to the powerful military establishment.

Kakar was a "surprise" for many in the alliance; in fact, "even those who signed the summary of Kakars nomination too were unaware about Kakar"s name," the politician said while responding to a question.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Syed Khursheed Shah has admitted that no one was aware that Kakar would become the interim premier.

He said the PPP had proposed three names and they were better options. "We should hope for the best irrespective of the fact where the name (of Kakar) came from," he said.

However, Leader of Opposition Riaz told reporters, I had given this name and the PM has consented to this name  the PM and I have signed the summary. Riaz said it had been decided between him and Sharif that they would not disclose other names that remained under consideration.

Both sides had already expressed their desire that the caretaker prime minister should be from a smaller province.

BAP Senator Abdul Qadir said his party had been making efforts for the past few days to get Kakar nominated for the office of caretaker premier.

He said that Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani was lobbying for Kakar and had met Sharif, opposition leader Riaz, Pakistan Democratic Movement chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, and other senior leaders of PML-N over the past few days.

The delay in nominating a caretaker prime minister was apparently because Riaz, generally believed to be a friendly opposition leader, came out to be a different man, as he had been insisting on his candidate instead of agreeing to the names suggested by the PML-N.

Under Provision of Article 224 (1A) of the Constitution, the president appoints the caretaker prime minister in consultation with the prime minister and leader of the opposition in the outgoing National Assembly, the lower house of Parliament.

Kakar on Sunday announced that he would resign as a member of the upper house of Parliament as well as his party.

Owing to the fundamental responsibility conferred upon me as the caretaker prime minister, I have decided to surrender my membership of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) and relinquish my Senate position.

Prayers requested from everyone, he said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Some political observers have expressed reservations over Kakars purported closeness to the establishment. Kakar was one of the founding members of the BAP, which is thought to have the backing of the countrys establishment.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Sharif congratulated Kakar and expressed confidence that he would ensure free, fair and impartial elections.

Kakar was elected to the Senate in 2018 and has been a very active politician. He also served as the spokesperson of the Balochistan provincial government before his election to the upper house.

Born in 1971 in the Muslim Bagh area of Qila Saifullah district of Balochistan. He holds a Master's degree in Political Science, Sociology and is an alumnus of the University of Balochistan.

The appointment of an interim government is a constitutional requirement and the outgoing prime minister is bound to choose his successor in consultation with the leader of the opposition within three days of the end of the National Assembly.

Kakar will assume charge when Pakistan is facing its worst economic crisis since independence in 1947. Pakistan's economy, which was already struggling due to financial mismanagement and political uncertainty, has been pushed to the brink by a global energy crisis and devastating floods that hit the country last year.

He will have to implement the tough conditions set by the International Monetary Fund when it approved a USD 3 billion staff-level bailout agreement with Pakistan in June.
India will mark its 77th Independence Day this year on August 15, 2023, with the Tricolour hoisting at the Red Fort, Delhi to the tune of the national anthem. In 1947, then-Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru waved the Indian flag on this day declaring India a free country against British rule after countless freedom fighters sacrificed their lives for the birth of the free India.

As India commemorates and observes its 77th Independence Day here are other countries that will celebrate the day in commemoration of their independence.

North Korea and South Korea

Two Koreas on the Korean peninsula--North and South Korea--will celebrate their National Liberation Day of Korea or the Independence Day on the same day as India. On August 15, 1945, the American and Soviet forces fostered diplomatic and militant efforts to end Japan's occupation of the Korean peninsula during World War II. Korea was divided into North Korea and South Korea three years later. South Korea will mark the day as Gwangbokjeol [which translates to the day the light returned] while North Korea will observe the Chogukhaebangui nal or the "Liberation of the Fatherland Day."

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Congo will celebrate its Independence Day on the same as India on August 15. On August 15, 1960, the country gained independence after nearly 80 years of French colonial rule. In DRC, the citizens will mark the 63rd 'Congo National Day' and will celebrate their chance at peace and security they achieved after the end of French rule.

Bahrain

20 years after India gained its independence, Bahrain ended the British colonial rule following a UN census of Bahrainis on August 15, 1971. They signed the friendship treaty with the British that terminated all previous agreements. Previously an emirate, Bahrain was declared as an Islamic constitutional monarchy in 2002. A National Action Charter was inked on 14 February 2002, and Bahrain changed its formal name from the State (dawla) of Bahrain to the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein, the sixth-smallest nation in the world, will celebrate its National Day on August 15 coinciding with India. It was liberated from German rule in 1866. Located in the European Alps between Austria and Switzerland, the country will mark Independence day as the 'Assumption of Mary Day' and will observe a bank holiday.
An Indonesian search and rescue team on Monday was searching for seven people, including four Australian tourists, reported missing in the waters of Aceh following bad weather. The group was in a wooden speedboat in the waters around Sarang Alu and Banyak islands in Aceh Singkil district. They were part of a group of 12 Australian nationals and 5 Indonesians who were traveling to Pinang Island in two boats. The area is known as a tourist destination with white sand beaches and good waves for surfing.

The boats left North Nias port in Nias island, which located around 150 kilometer (93 miles) from Indonesias Sumatra island, on Sunday afternoon and experienced bad weather with very heavy rain during the trip. Ten of them decided to stay and shelter on Sarang Alu island, while the others continued the trip, said a written statement from Nias Search and Rescue Agency on Monday.

The resort on Pinang Island later reported to the agency that the boat with 10 passengers had safely arrived, but the boat that had left earlier had not been seen. Rescuers were sending at least two rescue boats and a medical boat to the search area. Indonesia is an archipelago with more than 17,000 islands, and ferries and boats are a common form of transportation. With lax safety standards and problems with overcrowding, accidents occur frequently.

In July, an overloaded passenger boat capsized off Indonesias Sulawesi island, killing 15 people. In 2018, an overcrowded ferry with about 200 people on board sank in a lake in North Sumatra province, killing 167 people. In one of the countrys worst recorded disasters, an overcrowded passenger ship sank in February 1999 with 332 people aboard. Only 20 people survived.
A retiring public servant was recently honored for the substantial impact he has made on the Wiregrass community.

I guess this has been a long time coming, Houston County Commission chairman Brandon Shoupe said. I know youre excited, but we didnt feel like it would be right to let you go without recognizing you on behalf of the commission and the citizens of Houston County.

During a regular meeting of the Houston County Commission Monday, commissioners recognized retiring Wiregrass 2-1-1 executive director David Duke for his hard work and dedication, and proclaimed Sep. 1 as David Duke Day in the county.

This means a great deal; it really does, Duke said after the proclamation reading.

Duke has been involved in social services for nearly three decades. Prior to starting with Wiregrass 2-1-1, Duke spent 11 years working for Alfred Saliba Family Services.

From there, he moved on to become executive director of Wiregrass 2-1-1, which was created in July 2008 as the result of a partnership between Wiregrass United Way, the Wiregrass Foundation, and the Alfred Saliba Family Services Center.

Since its inception, the nonprofit agency has helped Wiregrass residents in need get connected to programs and services available in the area. Duke has been the driving force behind the organization from the beginning.

Im single; but in January 2008, I felt like I married 2-1-1 when I started organizing it for the area, Duke said. Its been my life and its been a wonderful one.

Duke believes the work hes done over the last 27 years has been rewarding.

This has been an incredible journey for me, Duke said. Houston County has been a wonderful partner of 2-1-1 from the outset. I always felt like when people and organizations come together, we can do so much more for the local communities that truly need us. Thats been something Ive enjoyed my entire social services career. Its made a huge impact and Im honored to have been involved in it.

Monday was Dukes final day of work, and he officially retires on Tuesday, which is also his 65th birthday. He said hes going to enjoy retirement, but you might still see him helping out the community.

As far as what Im going to do, I dont really know, Duke said. I havent made any plans right now, but I dont think I will ever not be involved somehow in the community giving back. Im sure Ill be back at some point.

Shoupe wished Duke the best of luck as he gets ready to embark on this new chapter in his life.

Its hard to find a person like David Duke, Shoupe said. Its going to be a loss for the community, but I know youre leaving the organization in good hands. I wish you all the best in retirement because you absolutely deserve it.

In other action Monday, the county commission:

 Reappointed Jennifer Stanley to the Dothan/Houston County Communications Board.

 Approved budget amendment for the Sheriff/Jail Dept. overtime due to the jail kitchen remodel.

 Approved resolution to amend subrecipient agreement using American Rescue Plan Act funds for the Water Infrastructure Project and approved accompanying agreement.

 Approved a request to sell a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck.

 Approved the Rebuild Alabama FY 2024 County Transportation Plan.

 Entered into a settlement agreement with Triad of Alabama LLC, d/b/a Flowers Hospital for tax appeals before the tax tribunal.
Iran's intelligence ministry arrested nine members of the Baha'i faith on charges of smuggling medicine and financial wrongdoing, state media reported on Monday.

State IRAN newspaper said the arrested people, mostly members of one family, had roles in smuggling medicine though a network of dozens of pharmacies. It said they bribed medics to send clients to the pharmacies and were involved in money laundering and tax evasion.

Iran bans the Baha'i religion, which was founded in the 1860s by a Persian nobleman considered a prophet by his followers, and from time to time has arrested and prosecuted members of the faith on spying and security charges.

Muslims consider the Prophet Muhammad the highest and last prophet.

In 2013, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who has final say on all state matters, urged Iranians to avoid all dealings with the Baha'i. Khamenei's fatwa, or religious order, supported similar fatwas in the past by other clerics.

In 2022, authorities arrested several members of the faith on spying.

The Baha'i say they've been persecuted by Shiite clerics in Iran since their religion's founding  something that's grown more intense since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The Miss Universe Organisation has ended its relationship with the Indonesian franchisee and will be canceling a forthcoming pageant in Malaysia. This action comes in response to contestants' complaints filed with the police, alleging instances of sexual harassment involving the local organisers.

In an announcement made on Saturday, the organisation, headquartered in New York, revealed its decision to disassociate from PT Capella Swastika Karya, along with its National Director, Poppy Capella.

Police complaints have been lodged by six participants of a Miss Universe Indonesia pageant, alleging that the event's local organizers instructed them to remove their clothing down to their underwear for the purpose of conducting "body checks." These checks were purportedly intended to examine for scars or cellulite. The alleged incidents occurred within a room where approximately twenty-four individuals were present, including men. Additionally, five of the contestants claim that they were subsequently photographed without their tops on.

In light of what we have learned took place at Miss Universe Indonesia, it has become clear that this franchise has not lived up to our brand standards and ethics, the Miss Universe Organisation said on platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

Upcoming Miss Universe in Malaysia cancelled

Furthermore, the organisation has announced the cancellation of the upcoming Miss Universe Malaysia for this year. This decision stems from the fact that the same Indonesian franchisee, which has now been disassociated, possesses the license for both pageants. In light of this, the organization has outlined plans for the Indonesian title holder of 2023 to participate in the upcoming Miss Universe competition set to take place in El Salvador later this year.

The Miss Universe Indonesia pageant, which occurred from July 29 to August 3, aimed to select Indonesia's representative for the 2023 Miss Universe contest. The victor of this pageant was Fabienne Nicole Groeneveld.

Indonesian company denies involvement

In March, PT Capella Swastika Karya, an Indonesian beauty company, assumed control of the Miss Universe Indonesia license from Yayasan Putri Indonesia (YPI), an Indonesian foundation that had held the license for three decades.

Poppy Capella, the founder of the company, has refuted any involvement in the physical examinations conducted during the contest. She firmly asserted her opposition to all forms of "violence and sexual harassment."

I, as the National Director and as the owner of the Miss Universe Indonesia license, was not involved at all and have never known, ordered, requested or allowed anyone who played a role and participated in the Miss Universe Indonesia 2023 process to commit violence or sexual harassment through body checking, she posted on social media late Saturday.

Victims coerced into being photographed naked: Jakarta Police

Hengki Haryadi, the Director of General Crimes at the Jakarta police, stated on Sunday that during the Miss Universe Indonesia pageant, which took place in Jakarta from July 29 to August 3, the individuals who were affected were coerced into disrobing and subsequently photographed in the nude as part of a physical examination. These incidents occurred within a hotel ballroom.

These victims feel forced to take off their clothes and pose inappropriately for body checking that traumatised them, Haryadi said.

Hengki Haryadi further mentioned that the police are currently reviewing the footage captured by surveillance cameras at the location. The investigators will proceed to conduct interviews with the victims and offer psychological support as needed.

In its statement released on Saturday, the Miss Universe Organisation emphasized that there are no prerequisites regarding measurements like height, weight, or body dimensions for participation in any Miss Universe pageant across the globe. The organisation also expressed gratitude to the Indonesian contestants who demonstrated courage by coming forward and sharing their experiences.

To the women who came forward from the Indonesian pageant, we are sorry that this was your experience with our organisation, it said, adding that they were also evaluating their current franchise agreement and policies to prevent this type of conduct from occurring in the future worldwide.

Controversy surrounding the pageant has been escalating within Indonesia, which holds the distinction of being the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation. The country is renowned for its reputation as an open-minded and pluralistic society that upholds the principles of freedom of expression. While the majority of Muslims in Indonesia, a secular nation with a population of 277 million, maintain moderate views, a small yet vocal extremist minority has gained prominence in recent years.

Back in 2013, a number of conservative Muslim factions organised a substantial protest against the Miss World competition being held in Indonesia. This led to the event being relocated from Jakarta to the resort island of Bali, with a mandate for all over 130 contestants to don traditional, modest Bali long sarongs instead of the conventionally provocative bikinis that had been a customary element of the competition.
Nepal's Vice President Ramsahay Prasad Yadav will travel to China on Monday for a week-long official visit during which he will attend the 7th China-South Asia Exposition and 27th China Kunming Import & Export Fair.

The events will be held in Kunming City from August 16 to 20.

Yadav is scheduled to address the official opening of the China-South Asia Expo on Wednesday, according to Foreign Ministry sources here.

In the 7th edition of the China-South Asia Expo, Nepal is designated as a Theme Country, and more than 100 Nepali traders will showcase their products there.

There will be a Nepal Pavilion at the expo. It would be inaugurated by the vice president.

Yadav will be accompanied by his spouse Champa Devi Yadav, Education Minister Ashok Kumar Rai, Science and Technology, and other senior officials of the Government of Nepal, sources said.

He will return to Kathmandu on August 21.
Even though the Taliban are officially isolated on the global stage, they appear to have enough interactions and engagement for ties with countries to inch toward normalisation.
Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu is visiting Russia and Belarus in a show of support for those nations which the West has sought to isolate over Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Li departed Monday on the six-day trip, during which he will deliver an address at the Moscow Conference on International Security and meet with defense leaders from Russia and other nations, the Defense Ministry said on its social media account, citing spokesperson Col. Wu Qian.

Russian Foreign Ministry Sergey Lavrov is due to speak at the conference on the topic of the Majority World countries search for ways to development outside Western mechanisms, including strengthening multilateral associations of a new type, Russias official TASS news agency reported.

It said representatives from about 100 countries and eight international organizations had been invited to attend.

The would discuss various aspects of security in the conditions of the establishment of a multipolar world order, ways to restore constructive international cooperation in the context of aggressive claims by Euro-Atlantic elites for world domination, it said, quoting the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson as saying.

Lis attendance underscores the drive by China and Russia to align their foreign policies in a bid to undermine the Western-led liberal-democratic world order, despite their economic and reputational costs.

That will be followed by a visit to close Russian ally Belarus, whose territory was partly used to stage last years invasion. While there, he will hold meetings and talks with Belarussian state and military leaders and visit military facilities, the ministry said.

China claims to be neutral in the conflict, but has accused the U.S. and its allies of provoking Russia and has maintained robust economic, diplomatic and trade ties with Moscow.

China has reliably backed Russia in opposing U.S. condemnation of the Ukraine invasion in international forums, but says it wont provide arms to either side in the war.

Li, who is barred from visiting the U.S. over arms sales he oversaw with Russia, visited Russia just last month to reaffirm military relations in the first formal military talks between the friendly neighbors since a short-lived mutiny by Russian mercenary group Wagner.

Last month also saw a pair of Russian navy ships visit China and hold a series of joint drills.

In contrast to his close ties with Russia, Li has shunned all contact with his U.S. counterpart Lloyd Austin, turning down a meeting with him at a recent forum in Singapore and refusing to take his phone call following the recent shooting down of a suspected Chinese spy balloon that has crossed the continental U.S.

Thats believed to be an outcome of the U.S. sanctions against him, the balloon incident, U.S. support for self-governing Taiwan that China claims as its own territory, disputes over Chinas aggressive actions in the South China Sea and an ongoing row over over trade and technology.
Danish Air Force fighter jets on Monday intercepted two Russian bombers that flew over Denmark and were headed toward the Netherlands into the airspace that is monitored by the NATO military alliance, the Dutch Royal Airforce said in an update on August 14. Dutch F-16s were scrambled to stop the encroaching Russian bombers, but they were intercepted before they could enter the Dutch NATO airspace and turned around, the Dutch military stated.

The planes are intercepted if their identifying code cannot be cracked, or they do not provide a flight plan, and if there is no communication or signal exchange, according to the sources. It is rare for Russian airplanes to violate European territory. Nordic country's military noted that at least two Danish F-16 jets identified these Russian aircraft in the international airspace over the North Sea. Denmarks military, Forsvaret, meanwhile said on social media that it had identified the Russian aircraft, but that they did not enter the Danish airspace.

F-16 kampfly fra @forsvaretdk var til morgen oppe for at identificere to russiske fly i internationalt luftrum over Nordsen. De russiske fly var pa ikke noget tidspunkt inde i dansk luftrum. #dkforsvar #vrdatkmpefor https://t.co/H3bPkp7azg  Forsvaret (@forsvaretdk) August 14, 2023

F-16 fighters from Forsvaret went up this morning to identify two Russian planes in international airspace over the North Sea. The Russian planes were at no time in Danish airspace, the Danish military stated.

Russian aircraft was intercepted in Danish territory by QRA

Denmarks military underscored that it despatched fighter jets in response to the Russian bomber that had encroached on the Dutch area of responsibility in the region. The aircraft was intercepted in Danish territory by QRA [Quick Reaction Alert, ed.], the Dutch update notified. Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) is the system that established the NATO Air Forces' readiness and modus operandi of air defence maintained around the clock.

Last month, British Royal Air Force fighter jets scrambled to intercept Russian aircraft flying close to NATO airspace, the Ministry of Defence UK notified in a statement. RAF Typhoons based in Estonia and Swedish Gripen fighters were scrambled to "intercept" a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft and a Su-27 fighter jet "flying close to NATO and Swedish airspace", the ministry said in the statement. Russian aircraft "were not complying with international norms by failing to communicate with the relevant Flight Information Regions (FIRs)" but "remained in international airspace and flew in a professional manner", it added.
Brazils federal police on Friday alleged former President Jair Bolsonaro received cash from the nearly $70,000 sale of two luxury watches he received as gifts from Saudi Arabia while in office, posing another potential blow for the embattled far-right leader.

Earlier in the day, officers raided the homes and offices of several people purportedly involved in the case, including a four-star army general. Bolsonaro has denied any wrongdoing involving the gifts.

A Federal Police officer said the force is seeking authoriziation to access the personal banking and financial information of Bolsonaro. The officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the investigation, said the Federal Police had asked for help from the FBI.

Bolsonaros lawyers said in a statement that he would authorize Brazils judiciary to have access to his banking records.

President Bolsonaro has never embezzled or misplaced any public assets, it said.

The case adds to the legal jeopardy facing Bolsonaro for activities while he was president. He is also being investigated in relation to a rampage by his supporters in the national capital after he left office as well as acts during the presidential election campaign he lost last fall.

Brazil requires its citizens arriving by plane from abroad to declare goods worth more than $1,000 and, for any amount above that exemption, pay a tax equal to 50% of their value. The jewelry would have been exempt from tax had it been a gift from Saudi Arabia to Brazil, but would not have been Bolsonaros to keep.

The amounts obtained from these sales were transformed into cash and then became personal assets of the former president through middle people and without entering the formal banking system, Federal Police contend, according to an order issued by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.

The judge said police believe the strategy of the suspects was hiding the origin, location and ownership of these amounts.

According to the investigation, Bolsonaros aide, Lt. Col. Mauro Cid, in June 2022 sold to a store in the U.S. a Rolex watch and a Patek Philippe watch given as a gift by the government of Saudi Arabia in 2019 for a total of $68,000, the judges order said. The money was allegedly transferred to the bank account of Cids father the same day.

In March 2023, when investigations were already underway and the Federal Police requested Bolsonaro return two sets of jewelry gifts, his lawyer, Frederick Wassef, repurchased the Rolex watch in Miami and turned it over to Brazilian authorities in April, the order said.

Both Wassef and Cids father were targets of the search and seizure warrants issued Friday, along with a close adviser to Bolsonaro responsible for returning the sets of jewelry.

Earlier this year, Bolsonaro was ruled ineligible to run for office until 2030 after a panel of judges ruled he abused his power and cast unfounded doubts on the countrys electronic voting system. He also is facing trial in several other cases that could put him behind bars.

One of the investigations revolves around Cids arrest in May for allegedly falsifying COVID-19 vaccine cards for his own family and Bolsonaros family during the pandemic.
Top Republican House members have expressed skepticism and concerns over a tentative agreement between the United States and Iran to secure the freedom of five imprisoned Iranian-Americans. The deal, which would also unfreeze $6 billion in Iranian assets held in South Korea, has ignited fears that the Biden administration could be laying the groundwork for a revival of the US nuclear deal with Iran.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner highlighted the lack of specific details provided to Congress regarding the proposed prisoner exchange during his appearance on CBS News' "Face the Nation." Turner cautioned that the release of detainees seemed to be intertwined with broader negotiations concerning Iran's nuclear weapons and enrichment programs, alluding to the possibility of revisiting the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal.

Is Biden admiministration bypassing Congress?

The JCPOA, established during the Obama administration, imposed temporary restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for eased sanctions. However, then-President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the accord in 2018 and reinstated sanctions.

Concerns have been amplified by reports suggesting the Biden administration may be pursuing an informal agreement with Iran, bypassing the need for formal congressional oversight. Turner emphasized the importance of transparency, stating, "We don't want a secret deal with Iran."

The proposed deal outlines the release of American detainees in exchange for access to Iran's $6 billion assets and the freedom of Iranian nationals held in the US. The funds would be transferred from South Korea to Qatar, with oversight over their usage by Iran.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul shared his reservations on "Fox News Sunday," highlighting the significant increase in the amount of assets being unfrozen compared to the JCPOA's $400 million. McCaul raised concerns that the substantial funds could inadvertently support Iran's "proxy war, terror operations, and nuclear bomb aspirations" in the region.

Both McCaul and Turner expressed a shared desire to bring the imprisoned Americans back home promptly but underlined the potential far-reaching consequences of the deal. The debate underscores the complex geopolitical landscape and the delicate balance between humanitarian efforts and national security considerations.
Chinese authorities claimed that it would be a violation of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) rules if the United States bars Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu from attending the APEC leaders summit in San Francisco in November.

The claim came after media reports that Washington plans to prohibit Lee from attending the meeting of 21 regional economies.

But the claim is misleading. APEC guidelines state visiting delegates are responsible for arranging their visas if they require them. The Hong Kong leader is under sanctions that bar his entry into the U.S.

In a report published on July 27, The Washington Post cited unnamed White House officials as saying that the U.S. has decided to bar Lee from participating in the APEC Economic Leaders Meetings (AELM) to be held in San Francisco from Nov. 15 to 17, 2023.

In response to the report, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that refusing to invite Lee due to current U.S. sanctions against him was a mistake which blatantly violates APEC rules and gravely contravenes the U.S. commitment as the host.

Lee currently cannot obtain any U.S. immigrant or non-immigrant visas due to an earlier U.S. presidential order and subsequent sanctions imposed on him and 10 other Hong Kong officials implicated in a 2020 government crackdown against democracy protestors.

Hong Kongs government pointed out in a separate statement that as the host of AELM, the U.S. had a basic responsibility to invite Hong Kongs leader to the meeting.

However the claim is misleading. Below is what AFCL discovered.

Is the AELM host responsible for inviting the leaders of all APEC members?

Yes. Article 4 of APECs guidelines for hosting meetings state that the host is supposed to send official invitations at least eight weeks in advance of the meeting, after deciding upon the meetings location and time.

The guidelines also say: APEC Leaders implicitly understand that they are invited to attend this meeting; the letter of invitation from the host economys leader is simply a formality.

But Matthew Goodman, a former National Security Council staff member who personally helped prepare for APEC meetings, told AFCL that APECs guidelines are neither related to international law nor legally binding.

The explanation of rules concerning invitations and visa preparations for countries participating in APEC meetings. (Screenshots taken from APEC's official website)

Will invited representatives always be able to attend AELM?

No. Section 12 of the guidelines states that all delegates invited to attend APEC meetings are responsible for arranging any required travel documents themselves. The section does not state that the host is required to issue them visas or waive policy or laws that would prohibit a person from entering its borders.

Given that the domestic laws of host countries must be respected, it isnt right to claim that the U.S. is violating APECs rules, Goodman says.

What will happen to Lee?

Unknown. A State Department spokesperson told AFCL that members of a foreign delegation must abide by U.S. laws and regulations when participating in APEC activities.

The U.S. will work with Russia and Hong Kong to ensure they participate in AELM in an appropriate way, said the spokesperson without elaborating further.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is in a similar situation to Lee as a result of U.S. sanctions put on him following the start of the Russo-Ukrainian war in 2022.

This means Both Lee and Putin would need to secure a special visa waiver from the U.S. in order to attend this year's AELM in San Francisco.

The APEC Secretariat has not responded to inquiries about Hong Kong and Russian leaders as of press time.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson from Hong Kongs Chief Executive Office reiterated its earlier call on the U.S. to abide by APECs rules when inviting leaders to attend AELM.

Hong Kong will attend the APEC meeting in accordance with APEC rules, guidelines and practices, the spokesperson told AFCL.

APEC guidelines state that representatives can remotely attend AELM and other preparatory meetings leading up to the conference.

Is there a history of a host refusing to invite APEC member economies to AELM?

Yes  particularly in the case of APEC member Chinese Taipei, as Taiwan is referred to by the 21-member grouping. China strongly objects to Taiwans participation as it regards the island as part of China although Taiwan is self-governing.

When China hosted AELM in 2001, it did not invite any Taiwanese representatives, despite then-Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bians expressed desire to attend in person.

South Korea, the host of AELM in 2016, also refused to invite then-President of Taiwans Legislative Yuan Wang Jin-pyng to the meeting, requesting that Taiwan instead send an economic official rather than a political figure.

Australia, which hosted AELM in 2007, rejected Tsai Ing-wen, who had just left her position as vice premier of Taiwans Executive Yuan, for similar reasons.

Former Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian expressed regret and dissatisfaction over China's refusal to allow Taiwan's delegates to attend the APEC meeting (Screenshot taken from the official website of Taiwan's Office of the President)

Translated by Shen Ke. Edited by Taejun Kang and Mat Pennington.

Asia Fact Check Lab (AFCL) is a new branch of RFA established to counter disinformation in todays complex media environment. Our journalists publish both daily and special reports that aim to sharpen and deepen our readers understanding of public issues.
"There are a small number of states who conduct foreign interference in New Zealand but their ability to cause harm is significant," says New Zealands "New Zealand's Security Threat Environment 2023" report, citing China, Russia and Iran as the main perpetrators.

New Zealand's secret service has published a report calling Chinese spying and influence operations a "complex intelligence concern," prompting calls for new laws to protect the country's democracy against foreign interference.

In a report titled "New Zealand's Security Threat Environment 2023," the country's Secret Intelligence Service said it is "aware of ongoing activity in and against New Zealand and our home region that is linked to [China]s intelligence services. This is a complex intelligence concern for New Zealand."

The report comes as governments around the world face growing concerns over Chinese infiltration and influence operations on foreign soil, including long-arm law enforcement.

"There are a small number of states who conduct foreign interference in New Zealand but their ability to cause harm is significant," the report said, citing China, Russia and Iran as the main perpetrators.

"Most notable is the continued targeting of New Zealands diverse ethnic Chinese communities," it said. "We see these activities carried out by groups and individuals linked to the intelligence arm of the Peoples Republic of China."

It said ethnic minority communities "can receive unwanted and unjustified attention from foreign states who conduct malicious activities designed to threaten and disrupt their peaceful life in New Zealand."

Meanwhile, foreign spies are also targeting companies, research institutions and government contractors, seeking to steal an "increasingly broad" range of information ranging from military capabilities to sensitive intellectual property and personal data, the report said.

Foreign interference

The report is the latest of several government policy documents to identify the Chinese Communist Party as a potential threat to New Zealand's national security and interests, according to Anne-Marie Brady, professor of political science and international relations at the University of Canterbury.

"The release of the SIS security threat environment report, which publicly states China is engaging in foreign interference and espionage in Aotearoa NZ, is a sign of a mature foreign policy, a confident [New Zealand] that is willing to speak up when it has to," she wrote via her X, or formerly Twitter, account.

She said the government has reached "a turning point in NZ-China relations."

"The differences are becoming starker, and common points like trade or cooperating on climate change are fraught with risk," tweeted Brady, who in 2017 authored an in-depth study detailing the New Zealand operations of the Chinese Communist Party's outreach and influence arm.

China is not just targeting dissidents, but also the overseas-based grown children of the countrys political and financial elite, New Zealand-based dissident Xing Jian told Radio Free Asia. Credit: Provided by Xing Jian





The report was among the first to show in detail how Chinese leader Xi Jinping launched an accelerated expansion of political influence activities worldwide, much of which rely on overseas community and business groups, under the aegis of the United Front Work Department.

Brady tweeted at the weekend: "It should be noted that NZ did not change, it is China under Xi since 2012, which has changed.

"NZ, like other countries in the world, is facing up to China as it is under Xi," she wrote.

Service stations

In recent months, governments around the world have launched investigations into Chinese police "service stations" run on foreign soil, while activists and dissidents have spoken out about threats and retaliation by the state security police or pro-China business people overseas.

"Out of the Five Eyes countries, it seems to me that New Zealand has the biggest concentration of [pro-Beijing] pinks," New Zealand-based dissident Xing Jian told Radio Free Asia on Monday.

"There are nationalists who take part in activities run by the Chinese consulate who also monitor expatriate [Chinese]," he said. "If you say anything, you will be reported."

Some members of the Chinese expatriate community have reported harassment of their families back home after taking part in pro-democracy events, says Chen Weijian, New Zealand-based editor-in-chief of the pro-democracy magazine "Beijing Spring." Credit: Provided by Chen Weijian





He said it wasn't just dissidents who were being targeted, but the overseas-based grown children of China's political and financial elite.

"These people are under surveillance too, the Chinese Communist Party dignitaries, the rich second generation," he said. "Some Chinese now have a lot of information about freedom and democracy, but they will worry that their family members back home in China will be targeted."

The secret service report defined transnational repression as "any effort of a foreign state intended to prevent acts of political dissent in migrant or expatriate populations."

"Transnational repression can include ... community surveillance, including the monitoring and infiltration of community groups ...harassment, threats and assault intended to intimidate individuals ... [and] proxy punishment, including the harassment, confinement, or harm to relatives in the country of origin," the report said.

It also cited "involuntary repatriation, in which individuals are coerced or compelled to return to their country of origin," a practice that was also outlined by the Spain-based rights group Safeguard Defenders in its report on China' network of secret overseas police stations.

Harassment

Chen Weijian, New Zealand-based editor-in-chief of the pro-democracy magazine "Beijing Spring," said some members of the Chinese expatriate community had reported harassment of their families back home after taking part in pro-democracy events.

"There was a staff member who defected from the Consulate General in Auckland and took part in some activities we organized," Chen said. "His wife [back in China] was approached by the state security police, the regular police and the United Front Work Department ... to try to get him to go back there."

He said the two countries still enjoy close ties, however.

The Chinese Embassy said it "strongly deplored and firmly rejected" the report, saying China doesn't interfere in other countries' internal affairs.

"Trust is the foundation of any relationship, and it is easier lost than earned," the embassy spokesperson said in an Aug. 11 statement.

According to The Post newspaper: "The Government has been quietly considering creating new foreign interference crimes to better prosecute foreign agents, and a foreign agent register to increase transparency of state-backed activity."

The Ministry of Justice has for a past year been looking at gaps in the law that could curtail our ability to respond to harmful interference," Stuff.co.nz quoted Prime Minister Chris Hipkins as saying.

Translated with additional reporting by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.
A recent independent study by specialised recruiter Robert Half has shed light on the evolving landscape of office attendance policies among Australian employers in 2023.

The research reveals a noteworthy shift in work dynamics, with a significant proportion of companies implementing mandatory in-office attendance for their staff.

At the outset of the year, 59% of business leaders expressed intentions to enhance the in-office presence of their employees. Subsequently, a substantial 87% of Australian enterprises have introduced compulsory in-office attendance, with a predominant focus on four days a week, as indicated by 28% of surveyed employers.

This transition, however, has not been without its challenges, as a considerable 31% of employers report the departure of at least one employee due to these mandates. Furthermore, an anticipated 40% anticipate resignations from staff members in response to the newly enforced in-office requirements.

The rationale behind these stringent mandates is multifaceted. Employers highlight several advantages, including the preference for face-to-face interactions in vital meetings (40%), heightened productivity observed when employees work on-site (37%), the challenge of maintaining corporate culture remotely (34%), the necessity to utilize office space (31%), increased difficulty in virtual team management (30%), and limitations on the career progression of junior employees when working from home (25%).

NUMBER OF DAYS STAFF MUST ATTEND THE OFFICE 5 days a week 19% 4 days a week 28% 3 days a week 26% 2 days a week 12% 1 day a week 2% Mandated office days total 87% Office days are not mandated 13%

Nicole Gorton, Director at Robert Half, notes the evolving sentiments among Australian employers concerning remote work. She emphasizes the strategic move of businesses to institute designated in-office days for their workforce. Gorton underscores the significance of managing this transition thoughtfully, acknowledging the importance of work-life harmony in attracting and retaining talent.

In light of these developments, Gorton suggests a flexible approach to address employee concerns. She proposes enabling staff members to select the three or four days that align best with their schedules for in-office attendance, thereby striking a balance between organizational needs and individual preferences.

The research also indicates that a majority of employers (98%) opt for a multi-day in-office attendance policy, with only a marginal 2% advocating for a single-day appearance. Notably, a relatively modest 19% of companies require a full workweek presence from Monday through Friday.

Flexibility and choice is not only valued by many professionals but is now a non-negotiable for those who relished the arrangement over the past three years. A hybrid workforce has its challenges and while employers require more people to return to the office, companies should not pull back on remote work policies altogether. When employers pay attention to both the employee and the business needs, embrace the options and conduct extensive planning, they can get the mix right and reap the rewards of an engaged and productive team. Otherwise, employers risk losing good staff,concluded Gorton.

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A group calls on Laos to give details of repatriation of detained lawyer Lu Siwei, who may face the same fate.

Qiao Xinxin, who launched a campaign to end internet censorship in China, known as the BanGFW Movement, holds a statement in an April 20 Twitter post in which he calls on activists to stage protests outside China's embassies around the world should he fail to post to his social media accounts for 48 hours.

Chinese authorities have formally arrested free speech activist Qiao Xinxin on suspicion of "subversion of state power" after he called for an end to internet censorship from overseas.

Qiao, whose birth name is Yang Zewei, went missing and is believed to have been detained on or around May 31 from his home in Vientiane, Laos, after launching an online campaign to end internet censorship in China, known as the BanGFW Movement, a reference to the Great Firewall.

He had lived in Laos for several years, and his arrest comes amid growing international concern about Chinas cross-border law enforcement operations.

He is currently being held in a juvenile detention center in Hunan's Hengyang city, and has been charged with "subversion of state power," Netherlands-based activist Lin Shengliang told Radio Free Asia.

Lin, who is in contact with Qiao's family, said his case is being handled by a "special investigation team" from Henyang.

"The government has now arrested him on suspicion of subverting state power," Lin said. "All he did was say some stuff online."

"He was the initiator of the BanGFW movement, which tried to advocate for the breaking of the [ruling] Chinese Communist Party's information blockade, allowing the Chinese people to have free access to information," he said.

Genuine threat

The charge against Qiao suggests Beijing sees him as a genuine threat to the stability of Communist Party rule, he said.

"They claim to have arrested him in Yunnan," he said, adding that the claim was a move to cover-up the "illegal cross-border arrest" carried out in Laos.

'The government has now arrested (Qiao) on suspicion of subverting state power. All he did was say some stuff online,' Netherlands-based activist Lin Shengliang told Radio Free Asia. Credit: Lin Shengliang file photo





Lin said plainclothes police -- likely state security officers -- visited Qiao's family after the news broke that he was being held in Hunan after going missing from Laos.

"They told the family not to give any interviews and not to disclose any information," he said. "They haven't been in touch since then."

Peter Dahlin, founder of the Spain-based rights group Safeguard Defenders, confirmed the report.

"The man detained by Chinese police in Laos and who then disappeared has reappeared in China, in police custody, charged with 'subversion of State power'," Dahlin said via his X, formerly known as Twitter, account.

"A surprisingly severe charge," he added.

According to a June 19 report on Qiao posted to the Safeguard Defenders website: "[Qiao] worked with a small team of exiled Chinese activists and volunteers who lived in Southeast Asia, the US, Canada and the Netherlands to help people inside China circumvent the great firewall and to advocate for China to end its censorship."

It said the network of activists had published open letters and held a street protest outside the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles.

Lu detained

Soon after Qiao went missing, police in Laos also detained human rights lawyer Lu Siwei, who will likely face a similar fate, fellow activists and his wife have warned.

Chakra Ip, founder and executive direction of London-based rights group The 29 Principles, said she believes there is no basis on which to extradite Lu to China.

"Lawyer Lu Siwei wasn't notified of any formal arrest, administrative or criminal detention, or summoned, before he left China," Ip said. "His Chinese passport is still valid, and his visas to Laos and the United States are legal and valid."

"This shows that he didn't break any immigration laws."

Chakra Ip, founder and executive direction of London-based rights group The 29 Principles, says she believes there is no basis on which to extradite Lu to China. Credit: Chakra Ip file photo

The group called on the Lao government to clarify whether China had submitted a formal extradition request for Lu.

Canada-based Li Jianfeng, a former Chinese judge, told Radio Free Asia earlier this month that 200 Chinese police officers were billeted in a Vientiane hotel, suggesting that cross-border operations are fairly commonplace between China and Laos.

Lu and Qiao's "disappearances" have sparked international criticism amid ongoing concerns around the Chinese Communist Party's "long-arm" law enforcement operations, which have included running secret police "service stations" in dozens of countries, according to the Spain-based rights group Safeguard Defenders.

Translated with additional reporting by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.






Amid protests from Beijing, State Department official says theres no need to over torque the US visit.

A State Department official said on Monday theres no reason for Beijing to over torque visits by Taiwanese Vice President Lai Ching-te to the United States this week, with the presidential hopeful vowing in New York that his self-governing island would never fear or retreat.

Lai, who has served as President Tsai Ing-wens vice president during her second term, is a favorite to succeed the popular but term-limited president after Januarys elections. He arrived in New York on Saturday and departed Sunday en route to an official visit to Paraguay, which is one of the democratic islands few remaining Latin American allies.

Speaking in New York, and less than six months out from Taiwans elections, Lai pledged not to back down in the face of threats from Beijing, which has vowed to reunite Taiwan with the mainland.

At this critical moment, I hope that we can once again pledge here and now that regardless of the magnitude of the threat posed by authoritarianism to Taiwan, we will not fear or retreat, Lai said. We will steadfastly uphold the values of democracy and freedom.

Left: Supporters cheer Taiwan's Vice President Lai Ching-te as he arrives at the Lotte Hotel in Manhattan in New York City, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023. Right: Protesters gather outside an event attended by Lai in Manhattan, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Jeenah Moon/Reuters photos)

He also said democratic Taiwans struggle against threats of invasion from communist China was a struggle for democracy worldwide.

The peace in the Taiwan Strait belongs to the entire world, the vice president said. When Taiwan is secure, the world is secure. When there is peace in the Taiwan Strait, there is peace in the world.

The status quo

Beijing claims Taiwan as inalienable territory under its One China principle and opposes direct ties between its leaders and those of the United States, and had publicly called for the trip to be canceled.

Xie Feng, Chinas ambassador in Washington, last month even likened Lais trip to a charging gray rhino causing a disturbance in the ties between Washington and Beijing, and Chinas foreign ministry has said that the trip violates U.S. commitments to the idea of One China.

But U.S. officials have their own interpretation of the One China policy, and State Department principal deputy spokesman Vedant Patel said on Monday Lais trip was in keeping with it and not unusual.

There is no reason to over torque this transit into anything escalatory, Patel said in a press briefing. This is consistent with our One China policy. We are not interested in deviating from the status quo; it is not any kind of pretext for coercion or provocative activity.

Taiwan's Vice-President Lai Ching-te receives the Key to the City from Asuncion's Mayor Oscar Rodriguez upon landing at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport in Luque, Paraguay, on Monday, Aug. 14, 2023, where he arrived to attend the inauguration of President-elect Santiago Pena. (Norberto Duarte/AFP)

Such transits are routine, given the distances involved, and they are common, he said, adding there had been 10 transits of Taiwanese vice presidents in the past two decades, not counting those made by its presidents. All have occurred without incident. This transit by V.P. Lai is the 11th transit, and his second  he previously transited in 2021.

Unofficial visits

Lai last visited the United States in 2022, and met virtually with 17 lawmakers. In 2020, he visited Washington during another trip, and attended an event also attended by then-President Donald Trump.

However, U.S. officials outside of Congress and the Trump administration have tended to avoid even the possibility of meeting Taiwanese leaders during their unofficial transits through the United States due to the sensitivity involved and Beijings protests.

That means Taiwanese officials typically avoid Washington. Tsai, the islands president, in April visited New York and Los Angeles during her own transits on the way to official visits to Guatemala and Belize.

On Monday, the House Foreign Affairs Committee was forced to retract a statement that suggested Lai visited Washington during his current trip, but called Taiwan a model democracy and a key U.S. partner.

Lai himself appeared to be enjoying his brief stopover in New York.

Happy to arrive at the #BigApple, icon of liberty, democracy & opportunities, he wrote on X, the platform previously known as Twitter.

The Taiwanese presidential hopeful arrives back in San Francisco on Tuesday from a trip to Paraguay  where he is attending a presidential inauguration  before flying back to Taiwan on Wednesday.
Chinese President Xi Jinping [center], also chairman of the Central Military Commission, poses for photos with the new commander of the rocket force, Wang Houbin [top left], and its political commissar, Xu Xisheng [top right], after promoting them to the rank of general in Beijing, July 31, 2023.

As China grapples with cascading natural disasters, President Xi Jinpings conspicuous absence draws intensified online scrutiny, in contrast to former leaders active roles in crisis management.

This past weekend saw not only ongoing rescue operations in the country's flood-ravaged northern region, but also the central and southwestern regions battling persistent rainfall. These have resulted in tens of thousands of people being displaced.

A mudslide on the fringes of Xi'an, a central Chinese city, claimed at least two lives on Friday. In addition, state media confirmed the evacuation of 81,000 people from high-risk areas in Sichuan Province.

The absence of Xi during these difficult times, fueled online discontent. Xi was last seen in public on July 31, just three days after Typhoon Doksuri struck China, when he appeared on television in Beijing for a military promotion event. Chinese netizens were already riled in the first week of August when the Communist Party boss of Hebei Province called on the people of the province to stand firm as a good moat of protection for Beijing.

Radio Free Asia's Mandarin Service highlighted netizens sharing visuals of former Chinese leaders, including Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao. Notably, footage captured Hu assisting soldiers and Premier Li Keqiang wading through the flooded fields of Chongqing.

Lin Shengliang, a Chinese dissident in the Netherlands, told RFA Mandarin that the absence of top leaders on-site during disasters reflects arrogance of power.

It proves that he [Xi Jinping] is firmly in control, a manifestation of arrogant power. He's not even willing to stage-manage [relief and rescue efforts].

A man washes his clothes in a stream near debris left over after flood waters devastated the village of Nanxinfang on the outskirts of Beijing, Aug. 4, 2023. Severe floods in China's northern province of Hebei brought by remnants of Typhoon Doksuri this month killed at least 29 people and caused billions of dollars in economic losses. Credit: AP Photo/Ng Han Guan

According to Lin, Xis absence could have a detrimental impact on subsequent rescue and post-disaster reconstruction efforts.

If the highest national leader doesnt go to the scene or doesn't attach importance to the matter, how can those below take it seriously? asked Lin. Even if they do take it seriously, its just putting on a show for the higher-ups.

Mixed messages

Unlike reporting in the West on extreme weather  most recently, apocalyptic fires in Hawaii in which close to 100 perished, a number that is expected to grow  climate change is apparently a taboo subject for Chinese state media.

As The Economist recently noted that Chinese reporting on natural disasters tends to dwell on heroics by soldiers, officials and rescue teams, while Chinese social media users mutter on the sidelines about official incompetence.

Meanwhile, state media commentary on the official response to the latest disasters has been confusing even for those well-versed in the Peoples Daily  a state media source of news and commentary that is seen as an opaque window into the inner workings of the Chinese Communist Party.

An RFA Mandarin commentary referenced the Peoples Daily: If one cannot lead by example and take the initiative, how can others truly be convinced and willing to follow? It asked, Who is the article referring to?

The Peoples Daily on Aug. 10 featured, Without leadership, there is no compliance; without leading by example, there is no trust  general secretarys wisdom in quotations. Another article read, At critical moments, leading from the front line... in flood control and disaster relief. With Xi Jinping as the CCP's general secretary, social media debates emerged, questioning if these were high-level criticism.

RFA Mandarin pointed out that leaders like Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao consoled the public during disasters. However, since Xi's leadership, he hasnt visited affected areas.

Isn't this exactly what the article means by 'If one cannot lead by example and take the initiative, how can others truly be convinced and willing to follow? the commentary said.

In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, Chinese President Hu Jintao, 2nd left, discusses with officials the quake relief work during his flight to the disaster area in southwest China's Sichuan Province Friday, May 16, 2008. Chinese President Hu Jintao flew to quake-hit Sichuan Province to console the victims, and inspect and direct the rescue and relief work. Credit: AP Photo/Xinhua, Ju Peng

New York City University professor of political science, Xia Ming, told RFA Mandarin that, regardless of how recent pronouncements in the Peoples Daily are read, Xi Jinping is confronting a leadership crisis, with his tight grip on the inner government indicating concerns for his safety.

The grievances of the Chinese people are significant right now. If he were to confront the people face to face at present, the cost of maintaining stability would be high he said. They would certainly need to arrange actors from the masses, and that would backfire rather than achieve the desired effect.

Government deceit

Former Tiananmen student leader-turned-China politics watcher Wang Dan wrote for RFA last week that flooded cities in Hebei Province were classic examples of man-made catastrophes that cast a bad light on the current state of China.

After floodwaters were deliberately released to lift flooding pressure on Beijing and other CCP key areas, the CCP authorities resorted to their usual strategy of lies, blaming the heavy rainfall, leading to clashes with the populace in the city of Baoding, wrote Wang, describing the situation as an impasse.

It's evident that the general public is aware of the governments deceit, and the government is equally aware of the publics awareness  Apart from instances of collective protests, the Beijing Red Cross Societys call for donations to aid disaster relief was met with overwhelming negative response and mockery online, another way the public's dissatisfaction was expressed.

A woman reacts as she fails to find her house after flood waters devastate Nanxinfang village on the outskirts of Beijing, Aug. 4, 2023. Severe floods in China's northern province of Hebei brought by remnants of Typhoon Doksuri this month killed at least 29 people and caused billions of dollars in economic losses. Credit: AP Photo/Ng Han Guan

Online discussions of calls for public donations for relief and rescue operations have been ridiculed due to a lack of any visible government response.

If nothing else, wrote Wang Dan, the latest natural disasters churning the lives of ordinary Chinese in Xis absence are a blow to his popularity and to the credibility of the party structure he has built around himself.

While we cannot predict to what extent the public resentment caused by natural disasters will impact the stability of the regime, the fact that such resentment is accumulating in China is undeniable, he said.

Edited by Taejun Kang and Joshua Lipes.
Rights groups spoke out about the case last week as some worried Nguyen Van Chuong had already been put to death.

The family of death-row prisoner Nguyen Van Chuong met with him at a temporary detention facility on Monday, days after more than a dozen international rights organizations publicly urged Vietnams president to halt his impending execution.

Additionally, a lawyer who has worked on the case told Radio Free Asia that he believes President Vo Van Thuong will likely direct the courts to halt Chuongs execution so that responsible agencies can re-examine the case.

Family members were asked on Aug. 4 to make arrangements with court officials to receive Chuongs remains  a notice that led many to believe that authorities were preparing to carry out the death sentence.

But relatives werent given information on an execution date and it was still unclear late last week whether the execution had already been carried out.

Chuong appeared healthy on Monday but was in low spirits and cried several times during the one-hour conversation, his mother told RFA.

He said although our family had received a notice [about the execution], he hadnt, Nguyen Thi Bich said.

On Friday, Amnesty International, the European Union and other international organizations cited concerns that he didnt receive a fair trial and was tortured during the investigation.

Chuong was convicted in the 2007 robbery and murder of a police major in Hai Phong city in northeastern Vietnam. Two others were convicted in the case.

He and his family have made many petitions over the years, asking all levels of the government to reconsider his death sentence.

The parents of Vietnamese death-row prisoner Nguyen Van Chuong show their petitions during a visit to attorney Le Van Hoas home in 2019. Credit: Luat su Le Van Hoa Facebook





Petitions and the president

Chuongs mother told RFA that several security guards observed Mondays visit between Chuong, his parents, his daughter and other relatives at the Hai Phong province facility. They sat on one side of a glass partition and spoke with him via telephone, she said.

He said he has sent petitions through his detention facilitys channel in vain because the detention facility didnt allow him to send them out and had thrown the petitions into table drawers, she said.

RFA contacted Hai Phong polices temporary detention facility to seek comments on Bichs allegations but couldnt reach the agency through a telephone number listed on the Internet.

Chuong has alleged that the testimonies of other suspects contradicted each other and that he was beaten and coerced by the investigator in the case. The make of weapon described and the marks on the victims body were inconsistent in their statements.

Additionally, state media reports have shown that several people from Chuongs village  40 kilometers (24 miles) away from the crime scene  were willing to testify that they saw him at the time of the murder.

Lawyer Le Van Hoa studied the case file as Head of Inspection of Unfair Sentences of the Central Committee of Internal Affairs from 2013 to 2014. He said his team saw that the case was full of holes and proposed that the Central Committee of Internal Affairs consult with the National Assembly Standing Committee to direct and re-examine this case.

But for unknown reasons, the Central Committee for Internal Affairs stopped looking into the case and the death penalty remained in place, Hoa told RFA last year.

Hoa later retired and began providing legal counsel to Chuongs family. He told RFA on Monday that all prisoners, including those on death row, have the right to lodge a petition to responsible agencies to make complaints or express their wishes.

I think the petitions and recommendations of those who pay attention to this case have reached State President Vo Van Thuong, he said.

Translated by Anna Vu. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster.
Crimea is facing a shortage of gasoline after Ukraine last month bombed the only bridge connecting the Russian-controlled peninsula to Russia.

Gasoline stations in Crimea have at times run out of the oil product over the past month, residents have told RFE/RL.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here.

One of the leading gasoline chains in Criema sent clients a text message last week urging them to stock up on the product amid concerns about a shortfall, residents said.

Russia, one of the worlds largest produces of oil products, has been supplying the peninsula with gasoline and other oil products via rail across the $4 billion Crimean bridge opened in 2018.

Ukraines armed forces on July 17 struck the bridge for the second time since Russia launched its full-scale invasion last year. The strike forced Russia to halt oil product shipments by rail.

The bridge has become a key Ukrainian target as it tries to drive Russian forces from its territory, including Crimea. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.

Oil products are now delivered via a slow ferry crossing that can only take place during the day.

Local residents have taken to social media to complain about the lack of gasoline.

There is no 95 [octane] for the third day in a row, especially at Atan [gasoline station chain], one resident posted on a Sevastopol community page on Vkontake, a Russian social network.

Following the July 17 bombing, Russian-installed Governor Mikhail Razvozhaev tried to calm residents, assuring them there wont be a deficit and said there was no need to stock up.

Misha, whats up with gasoline?  one resident wrote last week under Razvozhaevs Telegram channel, using the diminutive form of the governors first name in a sign of their displeasure. Do tankers only ship [Russian oil products] overseas?"

Some residents said gasoline can be found if you look for it. If some cases you need a ration card to fill up.

There is no gasoline at some gas stations. But there are plenty of those where it is sold freely. So you can find it when you need to fill up. I've filled up a full tank, and I only drive when its important business, one resident told RFE/RL.

There is gasoline, but you need a ration card. When I hear this, I feel that we have stepped 35 years into the past when you could only get sausage with a ration card, Nadezhda Golovanova wrote on a Sevastopol social media page, referring to food deficits during the Perestroika years.

WATCH: A section of the Crimea bridge was damaged by a deadly explosion last month. Moscow said two people were killed and a child was injured in the blast that it blamed on Ukrainian maritime drones.

Ukraine has sought to make life in Crimea untenable for Russia in an attempt to regain control of the peninsula.

With the receipt of new Western weapons and the development of indigenous ones, including drones, it has been making progress with that goal.

Kyiv has stepped up its targeting of Crimea in recent months and is also trying to cut off the land bridge from Russia to Crimea through the Donesk region with its latest counteroffensive. Ukraine has recently hit two bridges connecting Crimea to Ukrainian territory under Russian control.

Ukrainian military officials say the situation with supplies for residents will only get worse as Russia will need to prioritize deliveries to its military on Crimea.

Oleksandr Khmelevskiy, an independent expert, told RFE/RL that this could lead to social unrest, putting pressure on Moscow.

If the economic situation deteriorates significantly, support for the war from the population will decrease significantly. The further it goes, the more difficult it will be to explain to the population what Russia is fighting for, what this war was required for, he said.
ANAKLIA, Georgia -- In the 20 years that Data Gabelia has worked at the Hotel Anaklia, he's seen the fortunes of the Black Sea resort town of 1,500 people rise and fall.



In the 2000s, he saw money pour into Anaklia as then-President Mikheil Saakashvili sought to turn it into a top vacation destination as part of a development push.



After Saakashvili lost power in 2012, the new government abandoned the bold plans for Anaklia, leaving behind a string of half-built structures and abandoned beachside hotels and restaurants.



Since then, the town has toyed with transforming itself into a site for Black Sea partygoers by hosting music festivals and summer raves. But they have all since relocated -- leaving the western Georgian town behind.



In the time that Ive been here, the trend is that things seem to be moving backwards, not forwards, Gabelia told RFE/RL.

But now Anaklia may be donning a new identity, this time as an unlikely site for geopolitical intrigue that could place Georgia at the epicenter of a global competition for trade routes and infrastructure.



This is because the government has revived an ambitious and controversial plan to build a deep-sea port at Anaklia amid amplified interest in international trade following Moscows full-scale invasion of Ukraine, where Western sanctions on Russia -- the pathway for the majority of transcontinental trade -- have left freight companies and governments eyeing new routes.

If successful, it could revolutionize Georgias role as a key transit point between Europe and Asia and loosen the countrys status as a bottleneck for global trade.



The megaprojects future is also caught up in political controversy at home and geopolitical jostling abroad over who will build it. This could have far-reaching fallout for Tbilisi as it seeks candidate status with the European Union and has been worrying Brussels by building closer ties with Russia in recent years while also increasingly turning to Chinese companies to build its large-scale infrastructure.



With the bidding process opened, Anaklia could become an important bellwether to determine if Georgia continues down a path of further integration with the European Union and the West or pivots toward closer ties with Russia and China.



We are in an abnormal moment of geopolitical risk around the Black Sea [because of] Russias invasion, Romana Vlahutin, a visiting fellow at the German Marshall Fund and former EU special envoy for connectivity, told RFE/RL. Its hard to plan for something when things are this volatile, but we know that what we dont do, others will.



The leading alternative to avoid transit through Russia is through the so-called Middle Corridor, which connects China and the countries of Central Asia to Europe through Georgia and Azerbaijan.

The route has also received enhanced interest from Brussels, which is looking to fund strategic infrastructure that cuts Russia out of its trade networks and would compete with Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the global development project worth hundreds of billions of dollars that Beijing has used to build infrastructure and grow its influence.



If [Brussels] is serious about making the Middle Corridor happen, then you cant really do it without Anaklia, Vlahutin told RFE/RL.



Scandal And Struggle Over Anaklia



Georgias strategic location on the eastern edge of the Black Sea has made it particularly crucial for the Middle Corridor to take off and has pushed connectivity to the top of the countrys foreign policy agenda.



But the country has a dearth of high-quality infrastructure that has so far held back its transit potential, with long lines of trucks at its borders and ports at Batumi and Poti operating near capacity as trade along the route has steadily increased since 2022.



This has led to organizations like the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank warning that without a deep-sea port in Georgia -- which would allow larger ships to transport increased volumes at a more efficient rate -- neither the country nor the Middle Corridor will be competitive as a global trade route.



Against this backdrop, the Georgian government began talking about reviving the project in 2022. Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, who returned to office in 2021 for his second stint as head of government, said that building the port in Anaklia is his governments main and ambitious priority and opened a call for bidders on a new iteration of the project earlier this year, saying the government would retain a 51 percent stake.

The move caught some observers by surprise given that a previous attempt by a consortium between Georgias TBC Bank and U.S.-based Conti International to build a deep-sea port in Anaklia was canceled by the government in 2020 after being mired in controversy for years.



The consortium was founded in 2017 by a banker-turned-opposition politician Mamuka Khazaradze, who set up the Lelo for Georgia in 2019. Shortly after that, money laundering charges were brought against him and his partner, Badri Japaridze, who co-founded TBC -- Georgia's biggest bank -- with Khazaradze.



Following the charges, the American investor pulled out and the project ground to a halt until the government canceled the $2.5 billion port contract. In 2022, a court found Khazaradze and Japaridze guilty of fraud, but they were both released without prison time.



Khazaradze has claimed the authorities were trying to sabotage the project and that the real issue behind the dispute is his personal conflict with Bidzina Ivanishvili, the billionaire former prime minister who leads the Georgian Dream party that has been in power since 2012.

Speculation also spread in Georgian media that Russia had pressured Tbilisi to end the venture as Moscow would not welcome a port backed by a U.S. company on the Black Sea or one that would compete with its own port further north in Novorossiisk.



Khazaradze declined RFE/RLs interview request but is currently taking the government to an arbitration court in London over what he maintains were politically motivated charges to derail the port. Hes been an outspoken critic of the projects revival and believes it is unlikely to attract sufficient investment given the legal roadblocks his case could bring against it and the governments desire to hold a 51 percent stake in the port.



Who Will Build Anaklias Port?



Despite this unfolding controversy, the bidding process for the Anaklia project is under way.



The deadline for proposals passed in June and they are currently being reviewed, David Javakhadze, the director of the LEPL Anaklia Deep Sea Port Development Agency within Georgias Economy and Sustainable Development Ministry, told RFE/RL.

Several international companies have expressed their interest toward the project, including a consortium consisting of several companies, Javakhadze said in e-mailed comments that did not say which companies submitted bids.



Once selected, the deep-sea port would take years to be completed and likely cost billions of dollars. In the meantime, attention is focused on which companies -- and their country of origin -- will be selected.



Chinese firms are particularly emerging as potential bidders. Chinese companies had previously approached Khazaradzes consortium about building the port and interest in Georgia has only grown since the disruption to reliable trade routes due to the war in Ukraine. During an interview in late 2022, Zhou Qian, Chinas ambassador to Tbilisi, said Anaklia was important for the success of the Middle Corridor and that the embassy would encourage Chinese firms to place bids.



Tbilisis interest in China appears to be growing, too, with Garibashvili upgrading Georgias ties with Beijing to a strategic partnership during a July trip to Chengdu -- a development that has only added to speculation that a Chinese-led bid could be chosen to build the port.

Doing so could come with fallout for Tbilisis relations with Brussels, especially as it awaits the EUs decision in December on its bid for membership-candidate status.



Tbilisis relationship with Brussels and Washington has become strained in recent years amid increased anti-Western rhetoric, concerns over the rule of law, the governments neutral stance toward the Ukraine war, deepening relations with Russia, and democratic backsliding by the ruling Georgian Dream party.



In February, the government tried to pass a controversial foreign agents bill that copied a similar law infamously introduced in Russia in 2012 that branded media, NGOs, individuals, and other civil society organizations that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from foreign sources as agents of foreign influence. The government backed down and withdrew the bill in March following sustained street protests and international condemnation, with Brussels saying that it was incompatible with EU values.

Similar concerns were raised in May about warming ties with Moscow when the Kremlin unexpectedly abolished visas for Georgian nationals and lifted a flight ban unilaterally imposed in 2019 after a wave of anti-Kremlin protests in Georgia.



In response, the government resumed direct flights with Russia despite relations being rocky since Moscow invaded Georgia in 2008, with Tbilisi losing control of two Russian-backed separatist regions. EU spokesman Peter Stano told reporters following the move that it raised concerns about Georgias EU path.



Asuncion Sanchez Ruiz, deputy head of mission of the EU delegation to Georgia, says a similar litmus test will come in choosing the winning bid for the Anaklia deep-sea port. The project has been selected within Global Gateway, Brussels infrastructure financing answer to Chinas BRI, and she says that the EU has a strong preference to see European firms involved in the port.



Georgia has applied to the EU and whoever the final investor is, we need to make sure that its in line with the [EU-Georgia] Association Agreement, Sanchez Ruiz told RFE/RL during an interview in Tbilisi, referring to the 2016 deal that grants Georgia access to some sectors of the European Single Market as well as visa-free travel to the bloc.



If what is chosen is not in-line with the EU -- a club that Georgia wants to join -- then that should help tell us about the direction this government is heading towards, she said.



Big Hopes And Shattered Dreams



Amid the palm trees that dot Anaklia and the boardwalk that was meant to showcase it as a seaside destination, the marks of the aborted attempt to build Georgias first deep-sea port can still be seen in the town.



Maya Svanidze, a 60-year-old resident of Anaklia who operates a guest house for summer tourists, remembers the optimism that took the town as promises of new jobs and development were attached to the ambitious project.

Like many residents on Anaklias southwestern edge, she was offered a government payout to sell her home to make room for the operational grounds of the port. Svanidze accepted the money, which she said was enough to relocate and buy a new house just a few minutes away. She moved there with her family in 2018.



As ground was broken, mountains of earth and sand were moved and piled up within the new sprawling, fenced-off construction site. Then it all stopped -- but the sand stayed.

The sand has since become a major nuisance for locals, with regular gusts of wind from the sea spreading it into houses, drains, and cars for those who live nearby. Svanidze and others have raised the issue with officials, but the piles of sand have remained.



I would be happy to see this port get built and this sand and dust finally be gone, Svanidze told RFE/RL. But things have been promised before and they dont always come about. So, Ill believe it when I see it.

Subscribe To Our 'China In Eurasia' Newsletter It's impossible to tell the biggest stories shaping Eurasia without considering Chinas resurgent influence. China In Eurasia is a newsletter by correspondent Reid Standish in which he builds on local reporting from RFE/RLs journalists to give you unique insights into Beijings ambitions. It's sent on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. To subscribe, click here.
A polytechnic school in Russias Tatarstan, a region some 900 kilometers east of Moscow, is using manufacturing facilities that are part of a nearby special economic zone to assemble Iranian attack drones and are increasingly turning to underage students as laborers, many of whom often work in exploitative conditions.

The revelations at Alabuga Polytechnic University raise troubling implications about the lengths that Russian authorities are going to in order to boost the war effort and how the advanced Iranian weaponry -- which is increasingly used to bombard Ukrainian cities and has only recently begun to be manufactured inside Russia -- could contribute to escalating tensions and rising civilian casualties.

The use of underage students as drone factory workers and the details of the manufacturing facilities were first reported by Russian independent media outlets Protokol and Razvorot, which published a series of investigations in July.

Since then, RFE/RLs Idel.Realities has spoken with students who describe grueling working conditions and interviewed dozens of parents whose children have been enrolled at Alabuga Polytechnic University -- some as young at 15 -- who say that their children were forced to work exceedingly long hours, often without proper breaks or meals, and under hostile conditions that have deeply affected their mental health.

My son enrolled and 2 1/2 months later he called for me to take him away, Zhanna, who asked to be identified only by her first name to protect against reprisals for speaking about the operation, told RFE/RL. He said to me on the phone, Come and get me or Ill die, so I picked him up immediately.

Zhanna, who asked that her underage sons name also not be used, says that she sent him from Nizhny Novgorod to study at Alabuga Polytechnic University in 2022 because of its reputation as a leading technical institution inside Russia.

The school offered students -- often between the ages of 15-18 -- an opportunity to get vocational training as part of a dual program that combines a classroom education with practical work experience. Students were also promised an opportunity to work and earn a locally competitive salary of up to 70,000 rubles ($700) a month as part of the work experience program that could further their career growth.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here.

But, instead, those enrolled were encouraged and in some cases pressured into working at the drone facility, where the salaries of the mostly underage laborers are contingent on meeting tough production quotas.

This is a textbook definition of what constitutes exploitation, Sergei Podsytnik, an investigative journalist at Protokol who worked on the series of reports, told RFE/RL. [Students] assemble drones, with the work taking priority over their studies.

The pressure to fulfill these quotas has allegedly led to strenuous back-to-back days -- with some shifts lasting up to 15 hours -- with little time for sleep or adequate sustenance. Overtime work is often unpaid, further highlighting potential labor violations. Exhausted students also reported not always meeting their quotas, which led to them not earning the salary initially promised by the school. Many students came from disadvantaged backgrounds and relied on their earnings to cover costs for tuition, room, and board and would send the remainder home.

Other parents, such as Marina, said she decided to take her daughter out of the program when she discovered that she was working in apparent unsafe conditions and that staff from the school had instructed students not to tell their parents about the drone assembly work.

This was the last straw for me, Marina, who also asked for her identity to be concealed, told RFE/RL. This is a dangerous production process that involves dangerous chemicals. They also forbid the kids from telling everything to their parents.

RFE/RL sent multiple requests for comment to various staff and administrators at Alabuga Polytechnic University but received no replies.

Making Iranian Drones In Russia

The complicated and concerning dynamic at Alabuga Polytechnic University stems from growing military cooperation between Iran and Russia that has accelerated since Moscows full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Iran has said it provided drones to Russia before the start of the war, but not since. However, U.S. intelligence officials have warned for months of continued deliveries and deepening cooperation between Moscow and Tehran, saying the two sides were exploring how to set up a manufacturing plant for Iranian drones inside Russia.

According to The Wall Street Journal, an Iranian delegation visited Yelabuga in Tatarstan on January 5, touring a potential site for such a factory at the Alabuga special economic zone close to Alabuga Polytechnic University. U.S. officials released satellite images in April of the plant being built.

Russia already possesses an array of unarmed aerial vehicles, or UAVs, which are used mainly for surveillance and artillery spotting, but has turned increasingly to Tehran for attack drones.

After being forced to abandon Ukrainian territory that its troops captured in the early stretches of the war, Moscow shifted to a strategy of relentless air assaults on Ukrainian cities. These attacks often rely on a combination of cruise missiles and self-detonating drones packed with explosives to knock out electricity and running water for the civilian population in Ukraine.

So far, Iran has provided Russia mostly with so-called "suicide" drones, known as the Shahed-136, that contain a modest amount of explosives that can detonate when the drones crash into targets, military experts say.

In acquiring its own domestic assembly line, Russia could dramatically increase its stockpile of the relatively inexpensive but highly destructive weapons systems.

WATCH: Russia has resorted to using Shahed-136 drones from Iran in its war on Ukraine. Ukraine says it's already downed many of the drones, which work by slamming into their intended target, laden with explosives. Ordinary Ukrainians say they can already recognize the sound of the drones, which use two-stroke engines like lawnmowers or motorbikes. Iran has denied supplying the drones to Russia.

The arrangement also offers substantial economic and political benefits for Iran, which has sought to portray itself as neutral in the Ukraine war. The appearance of Iranian-made drones over Ukrainian cities, however, has triggered threats of new economic sanctions from the West. The United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom have also all issued rules in recent months designed to cut off the flow of drone components to Russia and Iran.

The Washington Post reported in November 2022, citing unnamed U.S. intelligence officials, that the agreement to deliver Iranian drone schematics and materials for manufacture in Russia resulted from Iranian leaders believing that the arrangement would allow Tehran to avert new sanctions.

Foreign Recruitment And Patriotic Education

Alabuga Polytechnic University is formally not a college. All of its students are officially enrolled at nearby Yelabuga Polytechnic College, with the Alabuga institution existing on paper as a specialized program for students looking to break into high-tech industries.

Currently, about 1,000 students are studying at Alabuga Polytechnic University, with several hundred of them -- most of whom are between the ages of 15 and 17 -- involved in assembling the Iranian drones.

In addition to the work on the drones, there are other signs that point to blurred lines in Russia between the education system and the countrys military amid the war in Ukraine.

According to current and former Alabuga Polytechnic University students, team-building and organized extracurricular activities through the school often take on a patriotic character that may be designed to expose students to official government narratives of international events or echo talking points from state television.

Organized paintball games have become a mainstay for students, especially first-year arrivals, in which they are encouraged to compete against one another and then play together against more experienced outside players. Teachers and administration officials regularly refer to paintball as being part of a patriotic education needed to complement the technical aspect of their studies.

In one instance, a group of new students competed in paintball as Soviet soldiers against outside players who were dressed as troops from Nazi Germany in a capture-the-flag competition meant to simulate the World War II battle of Stalingrad. According to one student, the Nazi flag contained the compass symbol used by the NATO military alliance instead of the swastika used by Nazi Germany.

Other instances of political teachings from staff are more direct. In a recording obtained by RFE/RL from June 16, a senior administrator can be heard telling the teenagers that NATO launched a hybrid war against Russia back in 2011 and that it has slowly become more overt. The man then goes on to tell students that their hard work and exceeding long days at the drone factory are part of a nationwide struggle against the West and that their patriotism will be rewarded.

Several students and parents identified the man in the recording as Timur Shagivaleev, the director-general of the special economic zone where Alabuga Polytechnic University and the drone factory operate.

Shagivaleev did not respond to RFE/RLs request for comment.

The man in the recording then goes on to tell students not to take holidays and to continue working even if it's mom's birthday, before ending his speech with, Long live our great country.

WATCH: Amid a new wave of Russian drone attacks on Ukraine, analysts in Kyiv are gaining useful intelligence from a collection of downed Russian aerial weapons. They have been studying the remains of Iranian Shahed drones and Russian Kinzhal missiles, among others.

Multiple current and former students told RFE/RL that students who work in the drone factory are often praised by staff, while those who have refused or asked to be reassigned due to the high workload are often publicly shamed. In some instances -- according to recordings heard by RFE/RL -- staff even encourage students to bully others who are not deemed patriotic enough.

According to Protokol and Razvorots investigations, Alabuga Polytechnic University has also turned toward recruiting foreign students to enroll. The majority of them come from African countries, but also from Central Asia and Azerbaijan, where they are promised world class salaries as part of the dual-track world experience program.

However, these foreign students are then given low-skill and menial tasks around the campus and the special economic zone, such as janitorial work, and are also paid lower salaries than initially promised.

Written by Reid Standish based on reporting by RFE/RLs Idel.Realities
Real estate tycoon Hy Kimhong has been detained for allegedly defrauding thousands of people of up to $100 million.

Investigating Judge Pich Vicheathor of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court has ordered the arrest of Kimhong, who is the proprietor of World Gold Company, along with five of his personal security personnel, according to Khmer Times.

His security guards allegedly violently obstructed his arrest on August 9.

Thousands of victims have claimed that World Gold Company staff contacted them and promised regular payments if they purchased land in Kampong Speu, a province in southern Cambodia, according to CamboJA News.

Some of them even borrowed from banks to make the purchase but never received any money.
PODGORICA -- Two incidents in quick succession this month that targeted Muslims in religious dress have cast a shadow over Montenegro's sun-splashed coast and its reputation for religious tolerance.

First, on August 4, a Kuwaiti woman in an Islamic head scarf and her family were doused with an alcoholic beverage from a hotel balcony overlooking the sidewalk in the medieval town of Budva on the Adriatic coast.

Two days later, a man berated and barred a teenager in a burkini -- the Muslim-inspired swimsuit that covers all but the face, hands, and feet -- from a pool near Utjeha Beach, which is about 20 kilometers south of the coastal town of Bar. Asked why, the man responded: "Because I hate Muslims and 300 guests object to it."

But some Montenegrins have responded to say they can't recall such incidents occurring in the past in their corner of the Balkans.

"Islamophobia, and especially gender-based Islamophobia, is present in Montenegro," longtime human rights activist Aleskandar Zekovic told RFE/RL's Balkan Service. "In both incidents, the targets of the attacks were women, which means that the practice of religious identity by women is very much the target of attacks by those who are driven by some kind of intolerance toward diversity."

Critics inside and outside the faith frequently disagree over the role of the dress code in Islam, particularly in its strictest form, and what it says about Islamic culture. Many Muslims reject conservative religious arguments that women should be covered by a burqa, chador, or head scarf when out in public.

Around one-fifth of Montenegro's 620,000 residents identify as Muslim, divided mainly between Bosnian-speaking ethnic Bosniaks and ethnic Albanians.

Bar and its environs have been hailed for years as a model of multifaith coexistence, including to a considerable extent during the 1990s. The region is also a popular tourist destination among Muslims from elsewhere in Europe and farther abroad.

Some locals trace that "tradition of coexistence" back more than a century to a chatty mufti who got along famously with his Orthodox and Catholic counterparts; others say it stretches back much further.

But nationally, a spate of anti-Muslim incidents followed elections in 2020 that were marked by Serbian Orthodox activism and a resurgence by Serbian nationalist parties.

In neither of the August cases along the coast did authorities establish or assert that race or nationality was among the motives, a factor that could have led to more serious fines or charges.

In Budva, an 18-year-old Austrian national of Serb descent was fined 250 euros ($272) for "brazen and reckless" behavior toward the Kuwaiti tourists, specifically for "spilling liquid" on them, according to an official statement obtained by RFE/RL. Alcohol is banned under strict interpretations of Islam.

In Utjeha, local radio and TV outlet Rozaje News shared a video on Facebook of a man later identified as Dragan Djurovic, the owner of a beachfront restaurant, shouting insults at a group that included a girl in a burkini, saying they couldn't use the pool. The video, from August 4 and posted three days later, included the "because I hate Muslims" retort. He said her presence would frighten off "normal" guests.

On August 6, a man whose family is from the northeastern Montenegrin city of Rozaje but who lives in Belgium complained to police that his daughter had been insulted by the man and prevented from using the Utjeha Beach "in a burkini swimsuit."

Investigators from Bar and the Montenegrin capital, Podgorica, concluded that there had been no criminal wrongdoing and merely pledged to initiate misdemeanor proceedings "if it is determined that there are elements of a misdemeanor in the actions."

After some public outcry, the man in the video, Djurovic, said the video clip had been edited selectively and said guests in hijab are welcome "but not at the swimming pools, where there is a sign stating that bathing in clothing is not allowed for hygiene reasons and the opposition of guests."

Burkinis are the creation of a Lebanese-Australian fashion designer and are usually made of similar fabric as other swimsuits. While initially intended to comply with hijab, a strict interpretation of Islamic dress, they also gained popularity among non-Muslims eager to block potentially cancer-causing rays of the sun.

France, Germany, and Belgium have grappled with burkini bans that add a layer of complexity to questions of religious practice in secular societies. A group of Belgian communities commissioned an opinion piece in 2017 from the independent public institution Unia that solicited the views of experts in which it said burkinis posed no health, safety, or hygiene risks.

"I guess it's legal and legitimate to hate Muslims in 'liberated' Montenegro," Rifat Fejzic, head of the Islamic Community in Montenegro, commented after the authorities' response to the Utjeha incident. He urged the government to do more to ensure that diversity is respected in the country.

Other critics warned that authorities' seemingly mild responses in both cases risk sending the wrong message to the public.

"Hatred must not be tolerated in any form, and it should have been considered whether there are elements of a criminal offense," Veselin Radulovic, a lawyer with experience on rights issues, said. "We have elements of hatred across the nation. It should not have been concluded so leniently, with only a misdemeanor."

Socialist opposition lawmaker Dritta Llolla called the Utjeha confrontation a reflection of mounting hatred and intolerance.

Bosniak Party lawmaker Kenana Strujic Harbic called it a sign that the "not-so-long-dormant beast of primitivism, savagery, and backwardness" has been reawakened in Montenegro.

Around 70 percent of the population of the Ulcinj municipality, of which Utjeha is a part, declares itself Muslim, and burkinis are a fairly common site on Ulcinj's beaches.

Arjona Resulani, a journalist from Ulcinj who broke barriers when she became the first presenter regularly to appear on Montenegrin television in Islamic dress, told RFE/RL's Balkan Service after the Utjeha incident that she's been wearing a burkini for months and "I haven't noticed any condemnation."

She said that included the beach at Utjeha. But "after what happened, of course, I won't [wear] it again. I wouldn't like to be in a situation like the girl from yesterday, where I feel bad about my choice."

Montenegrin law bans discrimination on religious grounds and is monitored by an ombudsman whose determinations may be enforced by courts.

Written by Andy Heil based on reporting by RFE/RL Balkan Service correspondent Srdjan Jankovic
The fate of the massive nuclear power plant in the crosshairs of Europe's largest war in decades has made for worrisome headlines since Russia launched its large-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly 18 months ago. As fighting intensifies not far from the plant, fears of a disaster have not abated.

On August 10, the main power line delivering electricity to the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant was disconnected twice, forcing it to rely on its last remaining off-site power line.

The main line was reconnected by evening. In the meantime, though, Ukraine's energy minister raised the prospect of a meltdown.

Is Russia's invasion of Ukraine about to cause a nuclear catastrophe?

Steven Nesbit, a nuclear power industry veteran who was president of the American Nuclear Society in 2021-22, told RFE/RL that the Zaporizhzhya plant has been in a precarious position since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. But the failure of the off-site power line did not make his assessment of the situation any more dire than it had been.

"I don't see anything really new right now that should have people extremely concerned relative to the already undesirable situation," he said, adding that the plant's offsite power sources have been interrupted before due to the war.

"I would not be surprised if it happens again, but simply losing one of the off-site power sources for a period of time is not a reason for undue concern," said Nesbit, who now runs his own nuclear consulting company.

Enerhoatom, Ukraine's state-owned nuclear power generating company, was the first to raise the alarm on August 10, saying that the plant was "on the verge of another blackout" after the main high-voltage line was disconnected, forcing operators to use the 330-kilovolt backup line.

In a statement the same day, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said that the main 750-kilovolt line had disconnected twice since the early morning and remained disconnected as of the evening. The plant had to "rely on its only remaining off-site power line, the 330 kV backup line, to supply the electricity that is required, for example, to perform safety functions such as pumping cooling water for the plant."

Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said the plant was "one step away from a blackout -- that is, the complete loss of external power," and that this could lead to a "major catastrophe."

The plant would resort to diesel generators if all external power was lost, but if the generators were damaged by a Russian attack, he said, "the cooling of the plant would stop and the irreversible process of heating and melting of nuclear fuel" would begin.

"I think that's a little alarmist," Nesbit said in a phone interview on August 11.

The same day, Enerhoatom said on Telegram that the main power line had been reconnected the previous evening after being knocked out by Russian fire.



The diesel generators are well protected and have enough fuel to provide power to keep the cooling system going for an extended period of time while external sources are being restored, Nesbit said.

"The six units can share power among them. It's a flexible and safe system," he said.

The Zaporizhzhya plant has lost all external power at least twice in the past year.

WATCH: RFE/RL has found documentary evidence that Russia is attacking Ukraine with cruise missiles that Kyiv handed over to Moscow in the 1990s.

Last November, the diesel generators kicked in when the plant lost its connection to both the main and reserve off-site power lines, in what IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi called "an extremely concerning development that again demonstrates the plant's fragile and vulnerable situation."

At the time, Enerhoatom said there was enough fuel to run the emergency generators for about 15 days.

Russia seized the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, which supplied about a fifth of Ukraine's power needs, shortly after the launch of its full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022.

The plant and the surrounding area are controlled by Russia, but it is being run by its Ukrainian engineers. In September 2022, Ukraine shut the station down to minimize risk of a catastrophe.

Five of the six reactors are in what is known as cold shutdown mode while one unit is being maintained at an elevated temperature -- hot shutdown mode -- to provide auxiliary steam and heating, the American Nuclear Society, which is monitoring information about the plant, said in July.

As a result, the level of heat production has been low and on-site equipment can provide enough of the water needed for cooling, the society, an international organization of engineers and scientists, said in a statement.

It called the threat of a large-scale release of radioactive material "speculative" but said that assessment does "not constitute an 'all clear' for safety risks at the plant site."

Nesbit said it is of crucial importance that the reactors at the Zaporizhzhya plant have not been generating power for months, allowing the heating level associated with the reactor fuel to fall. The shutdown cuts by many orders of magnitude the amount of radioactivity that could potentially be released in the event of a major incident involving the reactors.

Still, tension is high.

The plant is located in the Zaporizhzhya region in southeastern Ukraine, where fighting is intense amid a counteroffensive that Kyiv launched in early June, seeking to push Russian forces back from territory they have taken and eventually expel them from the country altogether.

Zaporizhzhya is one of four regions of Ukraine that Moscow claimed last year had become part of Russia but does not hold in their entirety. The plant stands on the south bank of a wide stretch of the Dnieper River that was largely drained by the breach of the Kakhovka dam downstream, while Ukraine controls the north bank.

Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of planning to sabotage the plant, warning of the possibility of a nuclear disaster that could threaten millions of people and poison the environment.

Ukraine recently claimed that Russia mined the roofs of the Zaporizhzhya reactors. Last week, the IAEA said its experts found no mines on the two reactors it was allowed to inspect. IAEA has yet to receive Russian permission to visit the other reactors.

It did find antipersonnel mines on the "periphery" of the plant's grounds, but such weapons are small and designed to pierce the human body, not one-meter-thick, steel-reinforced, concrete walls. Even a few mines on the roof would not be enough to cause a radioactive release, experts say.

Since it launched the full-scale invasion, Russia has repeatedly accused Ukraine of plotting set off a dirty bomb or cause a release of radioactivity and then blame it on Moscow. Russia asserted last week that Ukraine tried to attack the Zaporizhzhya plant with a drone.

Kyiv dismissed the claim as nonsense, and experts say it makes no sense for Ukraine to threaten a catastrophe on its own land.

Construction of the Zaporizhzhya plant began in 1980 as tensions between the Soviet Union and the West ratcheted up and concerns that the Cold War could turn hot increased.

The Zaporizhzhya plant "is designed to withstand a lot of challenges, both internal and external," Nesbit said. "Nuclear power plants were not designed to necessarily be impervious to wartime, but the characteristics that they do have -- the thick containment buildings around the reactor vessels -- do offer substantial protection in the event of hostilities."

He said, for example, that the hazard posed by a single, unmanned flying vehicle  a drone -- is pretty low.

Nesbit also said that he does not believe either side is motivated to cause damage to the plant but that war is unpredictable.

"The concern that we all have is that because it's wartime, you can't always control what's going to happen," he said.
DUSHANBE -- A court in Tajikistan has rejected an appeal filed by journalist Khurshed Fozilov against a seven-year prison sentence he was handed in May on charge of involvement in the activities of unspecified banned groups.

Tajikistan's Supreme Court said on August 14 that a court in the northern region of Sughd upheld the sentence, while Fozilov's lawyers had asked to annul the verdict and the conviction of their client.

Fozilov has maintained his innocence since he was arrested in early March.

The 37-year-old father of three is a freelance journalist who has cooperated with several independent media outlets, including the independent website Akhbor, which is based outside the country.

He often covered social issues and problems faced by ordinary people in Sughd and was critical of the local government. He has been active on social media networks as well.

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, who has run the Central Asian nation for almost 30 years, has been criticized by international human rights groups over his administration's alleged disregard for independent media, religious freedoms, civil society, and political pluralism in the tightly controlled former Soviet republic.

Last year, Tajik courts sentenced seven journalists and bloggers to prison terms ranging from seven years to 21 years on charges of spreading false information, involvement into activities of extremist groups, and cooperation with banned organizations. The journalists, their supporters, and human rights groups have called the charges trumped up and politically motivated.

International human rights groups, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and governments of the United States and the European Union have called on the Tajik government to drop all charges against the journalists and release them.

Tajikistan was ranked 152nd in Reporters Without Borders' 2022 World Press Freedom Index, and designated "Not Free" in Freedom House's 2022 Global Freedom Status.
The education of girls and women is universally accepted in more than 200 countries and territories, including nearly 50 Muslim-majority nations.

But Afghanistans hard-line Islamist Taliban rulers have banned teenage girls from attending school after the sixth grade since they returned to power two years ago. The ban was extended in December to women in universities.

Countless protests by Afghans inside the country, pressure from the international community, and lobbying by Muslim scholars and clerics have failed to convince the fundamentalist Taliban leaders to reopen schools.



Experts are divided over whether the ban is rooted in how the Talibans interpretation of Islam is shaped by conservative Pashtun tribal customs and cultural practices or if it is prompted by how senior Taliban ideologues interpret Islamic teachings.



Most Taliban leaders are ethnic Pashtun, Sunni Muslim clerics. Many were educated in Deobandi madrasahs in neighboring Pakistan. Deobandism emerged as a puritanical Islamic revivalist movement in 19-century British Colonial India. Based on the Sunni Hanafi school of jurisprudence, it is a prominent strain among Islamists in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Tribal Influences

Sami Yousafzai, a veteran Afghan journalist and commentator, argues that the Taliban restrictions against women are linked to social customs and cultural practices in eastern and southern Afghanistan.

Most Taliban leaders come from various Pashtun rural tribal communities in these regions bordering Pakistan.

"They believe that a woman's place is either inside a house or in a grave," Yousafzai said of the basic Taliban belief influenced by the status of women in the families of clerics and religious leaders in these Pashtun regions.

Women living in the households of the current Taliban policymakers were never educated and never left their homes, said Yousafzai, who has tracked the Islamist group since it emerged as a ragtag militia in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar in late 1994. These women never performed any government or nongovernmental jobs.

Yousafzai says the Taliban backs policies shaped by this worldview by leaning on Islamic teachings supporting such ideas. He says Taliban leaders rely on sayings attributed to the Prophet Muhammad that discourage women from leaving their homes.

Their primary belief is that pubescent girls should not leave home under any circumstance, he said. This is why they view women leaving home for education or work as engaging in moral corruption.

In Afghanistan, a Muslim nation of some 40 million people, activists and rights advocates accuse the Taliban of implementing "gender apartheid" by denying women education, work, freedom of movement, and deciding how they can appear in public.

Most Muslims agree that Islam allows women to get an education. Yet the Taliban publicly says that it will allow girls access to education only after ensuring complete gender segregation and other unspecified conditions.

Almost all Afghan secondary schools were gender segregated and universities imposed a strict separation between men and women after the Taliban takeover.



Yousafzai says in conservative and traditional Muslim societies around the world, some clerics also favor restrictions on women's education, work, and their role in public life. But the governments in those countries usually oppose or limit such ideas.

In recent years, Saudi Arabia -- one of the most conservative Sunni Muslim nations -- has allowed women to drive and granted them freedom of movement without a male guardian. These steps are part of a reform and modernity drive by Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman.

The Taliban ban on education has invited universal condemnation from Muslims globally.

The Taliban's ban on women's education is not rooted in [the Islamic] Sharia law but rather reflects cultural biases that contradict the teachings of Islam, said Salam al-Marayati, president of the Muslim Public Affairs Council in the United States.

He said that contrary to Taliban practices, Islam emphasizes the importance of seeking knowledge and encourages all individuals, regardless of gender, to acquire an education.

Historical Conflict

But Islamic scholars and those who have attempted to convince the Taliban about reopening girls schools offer a different explanation.

John Mohammad Butt, an Islamic scholar and former BBC broadcaster who is the only Westerner to graduate from Indias Darul Uloom Deoband, argues that the Taliban's policy on girls' education is not tribal but shaped by the century-old conflict over modern education.

The problem is that girls' education in Afghanistan -- indeed, contemporary education in general -- has generally been introduced in Afghanistan in line with a secular agenda, he said.



In the 1920s, a coalition of conservative clerics and tribal and community leaders deposed reformist King Amanullah Khan. He wanted to modernize Afghanistan along Turkish leader Kamal Ataturk's secular lines and championed modern education and rights for women.

This opposition to modernity and secularism continued, and conservative clerics opposed women's education and work. It became a key part of the Islamist opposition to the pro-Soviet Afghan communist governments after the April 1978 military coup that ended the Afghan monarchy. The mujahedin accused the communists of spreading immorality by promoting womens education and empowerment.

This has led to particular wariness on the part of conservative circles in Afghanistan with regard to girls' education, Butt said.

'Deep Ideological Conviction'

Obaidullah Baheer, a political science lecturer at the American University of Afghanistan, became part of an effort to rescind the ban by talking to the Taliban last year.

But he says the effort failed because the ban is a matter of deep ideological conviction for the current supreme leader of the Taliban, Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada.

Baheer says that the most prominent Taliban leaders have studied in Pakistani madrasahs and were thus disconnected from village and tribal life.

They have been indoctrinated by the Deobandi school of thought so that they now enforce the strictest version of Islam on the Afghan population, he said.

He argues that the ban on girls schools is a deliberate policy championed by Akhundzada, who he says has endorsed Taliban Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani's Arabic language book The Islamic Emirate And Its System. In this book, Haqqani supports a fringe Islamic opinion of preferring the choice of one of the Prophet Muhammad's wives, Sawdah Bint Zam'ah, who chose to stay at home until her death.

Baheer says Haqqani ignores his other wives and other female companions that played an active role in many sectors of society and how they served as students and teachers for men.

This fringe opinion is not held by all Taliban leaders but is one that the current absolute sovereign, the Taliban emir, seems to be convinced of, he said.

Butt says that even Haqqani has acknowledged the principle that if there is something that women need to act upon, then that is also something that women need to learn about.

I hope the Taliban authorities will come to realize in the not-too-distant future that education for women will make Afghan women into better Muslims, he says. It will enable them to make a stronger contribution to the well-being of their country.



Two years after grappling with the issue, Western diplomats appear to be encouraging Afghan conservative and clerical circles to find ways to end the ban.

Tom West, the U.S. special representative for Afghanistan, recently tweeted that Afghan women must be educated and contribute to the economy to help their country stand on its own two feet.

If change to policies is made, it will be because Afghans have asked for it, not a result of foreign requests, he wrote.
Iran is fast becoming a popular medical tourism destination for patients from neighboring Turkmenistan, who are unhappy with what they describe as a lack of qualified doctors in their home country.

Medical malpractice and misdiagnoses are widespread in hospitals across Turkmenistan, according to several Turkmen patients and their relatives who spoke to RFE/RL on condition of anonymity.

"Most doctors in Turkmenistan are incompetent," said an Ashgabat resident, who is accompanying his uncle to Iran, where he will have surgery on his knees.

"My uncle's friend, who had a similar medical condition, had surgery in Ashgabat but his condition worsened after the procedure," the resident said. "That man can no longer walk without crutches, which he didn't need before the surgery."

Another Turkmen citizen who is currently receiving medical treatment in Iran told RFE/RL that he doesn't trust Turkmen doctors.

"There are many new hospitals in Turkmenistan with modern equipment imported from Germany. But there are no specialists in Turkmenistan who know how to use this equipment," said the man, speaking by phone from the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad.

Turkmenistan invested millions of dollars in the health-care sector to build state-of-the-art medical facilities with advanced equipment after the health-obsessed dentist turned politician Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov came to power in late 2006.

Berdymukhammedov -- who ruled Turkmenistan until he handed the presidency to his son, Serdar, last year -- was known for ordering people to take part in compulsory mass walks, workouts, and bike rides to promote a healthy lifestyle.

Many Turkmen say the government has failed to educate enough health-care professionals with the knowledge and skills needed for high-quality, safe medical care.

Turkmen patients are particularly wary of doctors trained in medical schools in their home country. It is common knowledge in Turkmenistan that many students enter the country's medical schools only because they pay bribes.

Bribery often continues at the university and, after graduation, in finding employment. Those who pay the most or have powerful connections often get the highest grades and land the best jobs, regardless of their knowledge or skill level.

The man being treated in Mashhad said most of his fellow Turkmen patients in the same Iranian hospital had undergone surgery in Turkmenistan that did more harm than good.

"Iranian doctors sometimes perform surgery on such patients," the man said. "But in some cases, Iranian doctors refuse to treat them, saying it's already too late [to fix the damage that was done] or that additional surgery might put a patient's life at risk."

Some Turkmen patients said the Iranian doctors gave them a completely different diagnosis and subsequently different treatment than what they had received in Turkmenistan.

There are no official reports or statistics about misdiagnoses and medical malpractice in authoritarian Turkmenistan, where information is strictly controlled and criticism of the government is not tolerated.

Subsidized Health Care

Turkmen patients arrive in Iran on a tourist visa as the government in Ashgabat doesn't allow its citizens to seek medical treatment abroad.

"My niece and her husband booked an appointment at a fertility clinic abroad, because several years of treatment in Turkmenistan didn't work," an Ashgabat resident said. "But Turkmen authorities refused to issue them passports and didn't release their medical records, saying they will make Turkmenistan look bad by going to foreign hospitals."

The couple managed to go abroad on a tourist visa a year later and "decided not to inform their Turkmen doctor and authorities about it," the woman said.

Most Turkmen choose hospitals in Mashhad, which is located close to Turkmenistan's southern borders.

Turkmen patients said information about Mashhad hospitals was first spread by word of mouth after satisfied patients recommended them to others.

"There are certain hospitals in Mashhad that are well known among Turkmen clients," a Turkmen patient said. "For your first visit you do not need to make an appointment in advance. You come and see the specialist you need and set the dates for any surgery or future treatment you might need."

The Turkmen man accompanying his uncle to Iran said they are expected to make two trips, six months apart.

The total medical bill is estimated to reach about $12,000 with at least another $800 per person, per trip, set aside for hotel and plane tickets, he added.

Getting a passport is not easy in Turkmenistan, where authorities are wary of their citizens traveling abroad. Many patients said they had to bribe officials to get their passports.

"But obtaining an Iranian visa is relatively easy. It costs about $70," the man said.

Other foreign medical-tourism destinations for Turkmen include Russia, India, Turkey, and Uzbekistan.

But medical tourism is out of reach for the majority of Turkmen, many of whom live in poverty.

Many had to settle for treatment in their poorly equipped village hospitals, some of which don't have running water or a modern heating system, let alone adequate medical equipment.

Turkmenistan offers subsidized, affordable health care to its citizens with government-backed health insurance covering most treatments at state hospitals.

But in reality, corruption is reportedly rife in hospitals where patients often must pay fees to medics and for medication.

RFE/RL's Turkmen Service tried to contact health officials in Turkmenistan for comment but didn't' receive any response.

Meanwhile, Turkmen state media continued to report about new health-care facilities being launched in many parts of the country, including one in the newly built city of Arkadag.

Former President Berdymukhammedov, who still holds vast political clout in his role as the head of the powerful People's Council of Turkmenistan and as "leader of the nation," launched the construction of three massive health-care centers in Ashgabat in March.

Written and reported by Farangis Najibullah in Prague with reporting by RFE/RL's Turkmen Service
Although paddy fields in the Mekong Delta province of Hau Giang are still green, traders are coming to buy them. Photo by VnExpress/ An Binh

The rice harvest in the Mekong Delta is still more than a month away, but traders are already asking to buy and even putting down deposits.

In the still green fields in Hon Dat District in Kien Giang Province, the paddy has barely bloomed, but traders have been making a beeline to them.

On Aug. 8, three of them arrived at the 10-ha field belonging to Nguyen Van Pho and asked to buy his paddy at VND8,300 (US$0.35) per kilogram.

But he refused since he expects a price of VND8,500 or more. "This year, traders are willing to buy paddy when it is still green," he said. "They are willing to pay a deposit of VND5 million per hectare of paddy. This is the first time I have seen such a situation."

Phan Van Dong, who has worked as an intermediary between farmers and traders for more than 10 years in the provinces Giong Rieng District, said he has never seen rice prices as high as now.

They have gone up to VND8,300 per kilogram from VND7,500 just a week ago, he said. "There are dozens of intermediaries like me and only a few hundred hectares of paddy. We are competing with each other to buy."

The Vietnam Food Association said foreign importers are actively seeking to buy Vietnamese rice, and willing to pay $10-20 more per ton compared to period before India imposed the ban in late July.

India accounts for more than 40% of world rice exports, and non-basmati white and broken rice accounted for around 10 million tons of a total of 22 million tons of Indian rice exports last year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. With the ban taking effect, global insiders have raised concerns about food price rises.

In Can Tho City and Hau Giang Province too, traders are making advance payments to buy paddy though harvest is a month or two away.

For the past 10 days, Nguyen Thanh Tam of Can Thos Thoi Lai district, who is growing high-quality rice on five hectares, has been pestered by traders to sell his grain at prices that have increased from VND6,200 per kilogram to VND7,500.

Paddy was harvested in the Mekong Delta province of Hau Giang. Photo by VnExpress/ An Binh

The director of a rice export company in Can Tho said his company has deposited money to buy paddy grown on 30,000 hectares and expected to be harvested in the next five or six weeks.

"To ensure we get sufficient amounts of paddy for processing for export, we have had to increase our purchase prices to VND7,500-7,800 per kilogram for normal rice and to VND8,300-8,500 for fragrant rice."

But this would mean big losses for the company since prices were lower when it had signed the export contract with a foreign partner, he said.

Ngoc Quang Phat Company in Can Tho said it needs 20,000 tons of rice for export, but it is difficult to buy that quantity now.

It had signed deals with farmers to buy 50,000 tons of paddy at VND6,500 per kilogram (VND6.5 million per ton) in advance, but many are now asking it to hike the price.

Global supply is scarce, pushing Vietnams export prices to record levels.

Economist Tran Huu Hiep said the scramble occurring now is because most rice exporters cannot buy their own lands and farm the grain.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam said the links between rice companies and cooperatives remain weak.

The former buy 50% of their rice through traders, he said.

There are 180 rice exporters in Vietnam, but only half have tied up with cooperatives to secure supply, he said. "Businesses should step up cooperation with rice cooperatives."

On Aug. 6, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh instructed the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and other ministries and local authorities to ensure this years target of 43 million tons of paddy, equivalent to 20 million tons of rice, is achieved.

By early August more than 24 million tons had been harvested in the country. If there are no abnormal changes in the weather, the output will be adequate to meet both domestic and export demand, according to the ministry.

Vietnam, which is the world's third largest rice exporter after India and Thailand, estimates exports to be 7-7.5 million tons.
Welcome to Wider Europe, RFE/RL's newsletter focusing on the key issues concerning the European Union, NATO, and other institutions and their relationships with the Western Balkans and Europe's Eastern neighborhoods.

I'm RFE/RL Europe Editor Rikard Jozwiak, and this week I'm looking at sanctions: specifically, the horse-trading behind the EU's latest restrictions on Belarus, and how Hungary is trying to get Russian oligarchs delisted.

Brief #1: The Complex Politics Behind The EU's Latest Sanctions On Belarus

What You Need To Know: When the European Union officially imposed another round of restrictive measures on Belarus on August 3, it put an end to one of the longest-running sanctions sagas in the bloc in recent years.

The new measures were the first targeting the regime of Alyaksandr Lukashenka since the summer of 2022. While early sanctions on Russia following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 were to a large degree imposed on Belarus as well, further EU sanctions on Moscow were not applied to Minsk. That was largely due to the belief in Brussels that Belarus's role in the Ukraine war couldn't be compared to Russia's.

Then a new problem appeared: Many of the sanctioned components that Russia requires for its war effort -- in particular, dual-use goods that can be used for both civilian and military purposes -- were being rerouted via Belarus. The latest round of sanctions on Belarus is partly meant to address this problem.

The original proposal from the European Commission, seen by RFE/RL, suggested measures such as a ban on EU companies providing IT, consulting, and polling services to Belarus; a ban on the export of luxury goods to the country; and a prohibition on the import of Belarusian gold and steel.

The final agreed-upon package, though, was a good deal watered down, with EU export bans on firearms, ammunition, and materials used in the aviation and space industries, along with restrictions on potential dual-use items, such as drones, semiconductors, and computer hardware. The rest from the original proposal was left out.

To understand why the final sanctions were weaker than originally envisioned, and why they took so long to come to fruition, it is helpful to understand two considerable drivers of EU policy. The first is the importance of the so-called Global South -- countries with growing political and economic clout in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The second is classic Brussels horse-trading on political issues that are, at best, only tangentially linked.

Deep Background: The main reason for the delay in agreeing a new round of sanctions on Belarus -- apart from all the loopholes that needed to be closed -- was a proposed derogation, or exception, that would allow for the import of Belarusian potash, a key ingredient in fertilizers that the EU had already sanctioned as it is one of Minsk's main sources of income. A derogation on Russian potash exports had been agreed by the EU in December 2022, but a similar exception for Belarus was seen as being a little trickier.

Allowing the import of Belarusian potash would mean unfreezing the assets of the Belarusian tycoon Ivan Halavaty -- the CEO of Belaruskali, one of the biggest fertilizer producers in the world -- and those of Russian billionaire Mikhail Gutseriyev, who is building a potassium-chloride mining and processing plant in Belarus.

Crucially, allowing Belarusian exports of potash would mean the shipments being transported via Lithuanian ports, something which is deeply unpalatable to most Lithuanian politicians who tend to be the fiercest critics of the Lukashenka regime.

While Vilnius's refusal to agree on any potash derogations was backed by Estonia, Latvia, and Poland, there was a bigger group within the EU -- led by Portugal and other European countries with large ports -- that was pushing for the potash derogations.

This wasn't just a case of countries looking to secure vital income streams but also concerned issues of food security and allegations -- often stoked by the Kremlin -- that EU sanctions have led to food shortages in the developing world.

Drilling Down

The EU has not sanctioned food exports, neither from Russia nor Belarus. However, those in favor of the potash derogation have argued that some countries, notably Brazil, a former Portuguese colony, have suffered because they have had to import alternative fertilizers for their agricultural sectors.

Diplomats with knowledge of the matter but who are not authorized to speak on the record told me that Lisbon drove a hard bargain on the derogation issue because UN Secretary-General and former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres is particularly sensitive to the concerns of the Global South.

Recent developments in Belarus have given new urgency to the sanctions issue. First, there was the signing of an agreement in May to allow the deployment of Russian nuclear warheads on Belarusian territory; and then, making the situation even more acute, Wagner troops moved to Belarus from Russia under a deal to end the mercenary group's June rebellion led by its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin.

The deal started to come together at a summit of the EU and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in Brussels at the end of July. With Spain now holding the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, where ministers from EU countries convene to coordinate policies and adopt laws, Madrid was keen to show its partners -- including many of its former colonies in South America -- more than just goodwill.

To show it meant business, Spain pushed for the EU to green-light the Post-Cotonou Agreement -- a pact between the EU and 79 African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries that had been only provisionally agreed upon. The first Cotonou Agreement -- signed in 2000 in the largest city in the west African country of Benin -- created the foundation for Brussels to strike deals with these countries, covering areas such as trade and migration, and was hailed as a groundbreaking development in the EU's relations with the Global South.

The updated agreement, which would set the framework for EU relations with these countries for the next two decades, had been blocked by Hungary for the last three years. Hungary's reluctance to sign off was likely less to do with any objections to the pact but more about its tendency to bargain with the EU. Budapest made its support for the Post-Cotonou Agreement conditional on getting money from the EU budget that was still being withheld by the European Commission due to concerns about the rule of law in the country.

While Budapest eventually came on board, Poland introduced its own veto. Warsaw also used the Post-Cotonou Agreement as a bargaining chip, noting the desperate situation of its own farmers in an attempt to get the 100 million euros ($110 million) promised to Warsaw by the European Commission to compensate for financial losses incurred due to Ukrainian agricultural imports. The commission, in turn, said it would not release the compensation until Poland implemented a Brussels-brokered deal that would allow Ukrainian agricultural products to pass through EU territory once again.

($110 million) promised to Warsaw by the European Commission to compensate for financial losses incurred due to Ukrainian agricultural imports. The commission, in turn, said it would not release the compensation until Poland implemented a Brussels-brokered deal that would allow Ukrainian agricultural products to pass through EU territory once again. While Poland received the money earlier this summer, Warsaw still blocked the Post-Cotonou Agreement, using its support as leverage to get the Belarus sanctions over the line before the EU's August break.

After some intense horse-trading, the Post-Cotonou Agreement finally got the thumbs up on July 20, and the new Belarus sanctions were agreed without any exceptions for potash. The sanctions, however, were more limited in scope than the original European Commission proposal and came with a commitment to look into their possible impact on food security in the fall. The commission also made a pledge to explore further sanctions on Belarus going forward.

Brief #2: How Hungary Is Trying To Soften Sanctions On Russia

What You Need To Know: Before heading off on their summer break, the ambassadors of the 27 EU member states agreed to review some of the individual sanctions on the mainly Russian people and companies that the bloc deems to have undermined Ukraine's territorial integrity.

Since the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the bloc has slapped asset freezes and visa bans on more than 1,800 individuals and entities, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and many oligarchs and businessmen close to the Kremlin. The rollover of these sanctions usually takes place in March and September each year, offering individual member states a chance to make changes as the six-month extensions require unanimity.

Although no individual sanctions have so far been removed, the discussions have given Hungary plenty of opportunities to voice its displeasure about the EU's general sanctions policy on Russia. While Budapest has eventually agreed to all the EU's restrictive measures to date, it has used its veto power to water down some sanctions -- for example, by not agreeing that the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, should be targeted by the bloc; and by securing opt-outs for itself when it comes to the EU's embargo on Russian oil.

In September 2022, when the cases of sanctioned individuals were up for review, Budapest asked for the removal of three Russian oligarchs. It backed down, according to diplomats familiar with the file, after Hungarian officials were promised that the sanctions reviews would take place every six months and not every 12 as most other member states wanted, giving Budapest more opportunities to challenge the listings.

Hungary did just that. Ahead of the extension in March of this year, Budapest wanted nine people removed from the sanctions list. Once again, Hungary backed down but only after getting a commitment from the legal service of the Council of the EU to thoroughly examine the legitimacy of some of the listings.

Deep Background: When discussing the legal review ahead of the upcoming September rollover, I was told by diplomats familiar with the issue but who prefer to remain anonymous as they aren't authorized to speak on the record that Hungary has once again pushed for nine removals. (It's not clear if these are the same people Budapest wanted taken off the sanctions lists in March.) In the talks that took place throughout July, it was clear that there would be some delistings, though not necessarily the ones Hungary was pushing for.

The Council of the EU's legal service has identified so-called "weak cases," ones that EU lawyers fear they would likely lose in the European Court of Justice (ECJ), if challenged. So far, over 70 individuals and firms -- often wealthy oligarchs using expensive European lawyers -- have lodged appeals against their listings in the ECJ. Many hearings have already taken place, and some rulings are expected to come this fall.

Brussels would very much like to avoid the humiliation of losing such cases as it could open legal grounds for even more delistings. The EU has already lost one case, on March 8, after Prigozhin's mother, Violetta Prigozhina, challenged her inclusion on the list.

She had been sanctioned by the bloc due to supposed business ties with her son, but the ECJ reasoned that these links were tenuous at best. She remains listed because the ruling only concerned the decision to sanction her in February 2022 and not the subsequent renewals of the restrictive measures in September 2022 and in March of this year when the scope of EU sanctions was widened to make it easier to target family members of oligarchs. A warning shot, however, had been fired.

Drilling Down

According to several officials who are familiar with the talks but who are not authorized to speak on the record, the EU is set to delist three individuals ahead of the September renewal: Aleksandr Shulgin, Farkhad Akhmedov, and Grigory Berezkin. Blacklisted in April 2022, all of them have taken their cases to the ECJ, and EU lawyers have indicated they are likely to win in court.

Shulgin was presented in the EU's official journal, where the bloc's reasons for blacklisting are stated, as the "CEO of Ozon, Russia's leading multi-category e-commerce platform." The journal also noted that "he attended a meeting of oligarchs at the Kremlin with President Vladimir Putin to discuss the impact of the course of action in the wake of Western sanctions." According to EU sources familiar with his file but not permitted to speak on the record, Shulgin has submitted documents that state that he no longer has a connection to the company and no new evidence to the contrary has emerged.

Akhmedov, who according to the EU's official journal, is "close to the Kremlin and is a leading businessperson involved in economic sectors providing a substantial source of revenue to the Government of the Russian Federation," notably by owning gas companies. According to EU sources familiar with his case, he is set to be delisted because he was sanctioned based on old information.

Berezkin is described as "a leading Russian businessperson and considered to be the 'henchman' of President Vladimir Putin." As the chairman of the board of the Russian private equity firm ESN, the EU journal notes that he has invested in industries that have provided "a substantial source of revenue to the Government of the Russian Federation." According to sources familiar with his case, even some members of the Russian opposition support his removal from the list because he isn't thought to be closely linked to the Kremlin.

Three removals were not enough for Hungary, however, with Budapest lobbying for a fourth person to be delisted. That was Nikita Mazepin, the racing-driving son of oligarch Dmitry Mazepin. Hungary might not get what it wants, though, as sources within the EU legal service have suggested that there is likely enough evidence to show that Mazepin junior has financial ties with his sanctioned father.

There is still one key name missing from the sanctions list: Belarusian oligarch Alyaksandr Moshensky. Nicknamed "the fish king" due to his ownership of Belarusian seafood giant Santa Bremor, Moshensky is believed to enjoy close links to the Lukashenka regime. Various EU member states have tried to get him blacklisted several times, only to come up against Hungarian opposition, with Budapest citing "food security" as the reason. It's worth noting that Syarhey Niadbaylau, Moshensky's aide and the managing director of Santa Bremor, is also the honorary Hungarian consul in Belarus.



That's all for now. I am traveling this week, so please look out for the next newsletter on August 28.

Until next time,

Rikard Jozwiak

If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here.
THE dedication of staff at a health trust has been celebrated at a special fundraising event.

Colleagues from across Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals Trust's three hospital sites all took part in an NHS Big Tea event for healthcare workers.

Podiatry, occupational therapy and the laboratory were among the departments at Mexborough Montagu Hospital all gifted a box of Yorkshire Tea for employees to share a well-deserved brew.



The occupational therapy department's Jennefer Holmes, Ruth Flanaghan and Saffron Robinson with Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals Trust medical director Dr Tim Noble

Zoe Lintin, chief people officer at DBTH said: On this special anniversary, it is so important that we celebrate and champion the people who make the NHS great.

The people at DBTH are determined and loyal and have worked through some of the most challenging years of their careers in recent times.

These celebrations, and the gift of a box of tea to share, are just some of the ways in which we show our gratitude to them.

In addition, other celebrations hosted by the trust included free entry to the Yorkshire Wildlife Park for a day, and an afternoon tea for colleagues who had served more than 40 years in the NHS.



Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals Trust medical director Dr Tim Noble (centre) with podiatric surgery members Sarah Allen (left) and Tracey Merritt

Led by NHS Charities Together and the network of more than 230 NHS charities around the UK, the NHS Big Tea brings the nation together to celebrate the birthday of the NHS in July and give thanks to the workforce.

The events also help raise funds to provide the extra support needed for colleagues, patients, and volunteers  last year the DBTH charity attracted donations just short of 1,000.
ONLY seven voters were unable to vote in the Dinnington by-election after failing to take photo ID to the polling stations, according to council figures.

Turnout was 27.38 per cent, with 1,117 electors voting at eight polling stations and 1,379 electors voting by post.

Rotherham Council confirmed that 99.4 per cent of electors voting in the Dinnington ward polling stations brought photo ID that met newly introduced voter ID requirements.

They added at the end of polling day only seven electors (0.6 per cent) who tried to vote in a polling station were not given a ballot paper because they did not meet the new voter ID requirements.

The figures also show while 15 electors were initially turned away, eight returned with acceptable ID and were able to vote.

Chief executive Sharon Kemp, returning officer for the by-election, said: We carried out extensive awareness raising in the ward through social media, posters and leaflets and two outreach events.

Whilst it is always disappointing to turn any electors away, we must comply with the new government regulations.

With borough and parish elections next year and a parliamentary general election taking place in the next 17 months, I would urge anyone who does not have any of the acceptable photo ID documents, to apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate.

The by-election result saw Julia Hall from the Conservatives triumph, beating Labour by 244 votes, making Dinnington all blue again after suspended Conservative councillor Charlie Wooding lost his seat over poor attendance during 2022/23.
Vehicles queueing at a traffic light in Da Lat during the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Trung Tri

Long-time Da Lat resident Nguyen Quy says as much as 95% of the people living in the outskirts of the central highland city have accents from other regions.

In other words, they are not Da Lat "natives."

"Most [of them] have accents from central provinces, some speak northern dialects as well," Quy, who has lived in Da lat for around 10 years, said.

"It used to be not crowded in the suburbs [of Da Lat], but when I visit those places now, there are a lot of people and even more greenhouses than in the inner city."

The 2021 Vietnam Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index survey showed that the central highland province of Lam Dong, of which Da Lat is the capital, ranked fourth on the list of domestic regions that have attracted the most internal migrants recently, following metropolitan areas HCMC, Hanoi, and Da Nang.

Most migrants cited better environmental conditions in Lam Dong as their reason to migrate.

But there is another reason for many people to move here, as observed by VnExpress reporters: the business opportunities.

Tuyet Nga and her husband used to work as sales executives in HCMC. They had struggled financially for 10 years before deciding to move to Da Lat and establish a homestay.

"All of the money we made [in HCMC] was spent on paying interest on our loans, as we borrowed money from the banks to purchase a house in the outskirts of the city," Nga said.

But then someone suggested that operating a homestay in Da Lat could help earn a profit between VND20 million and VND30 million a month. The couple moved to the central highlands city over a year ago to shoot for the chance to change their life forever.

It turned out many people had the same idea as they did.

"Around five to six out of every 10 people I meet here are migrants from other locations," Nga said. "Most of the business owners here are not Da Lat natives."

And a lot of these people are making their living providing various forms of hospitality services, just like Nga and her husband. The result is a rising number of accommodations for rent in Da Lat, up from only 538 in 2006 to around 2,400 in 2022, more than a four-fold increase in 16 years.

Despite the huge number of accommodations that Nga and her husbands homestay has to compete with, their homestay is still full every peak travel season. Their current income is better compared to when they were in HCMC.

"Our homestay performed pretty well last year," Nga said. "Not only our accommodations, but those all over Da Lat often run out of rooms during the travel seasons."

Da Lat has long been a popular travel destination in Vietnam. Some 1.32 million tourists visited Da Lat in 2016, but the figure had increased to roughly 5.5 million 16 years later.

But this massive influx of people, both short-term tourists and new residents, is also a burden on the citys livability.

One of the most obvious consequences is the positive correlation between the population and the housing prices.

"I know of some pieces of land that cost a few hundreds of million dong around six or seven years ago," Quy said. "But their prices skyrocketed to tens of billion dong now."

He added that houses in the center of Da Lat that were on sale for VND3 billion around six to seven years ago are now sold for VND30 billion at the lowest.

"Prices have soared like that in less than 10 years," he said. "Its hard to buy a house or land in Da Lat at the moment."

Another impact is how harshly the rising population has hit the citys infrastructure.

Architect Ernest Hebrard's 1923 plan for Da Lat designed a city for between 30,000 and 50,000 residents. Given the number of Da Lat residents at that time, which stood at 1,500, the plan was quite generous.

But the number of people living in the city a century later has soared 150 times to reach 240,000 - almost five times higher than the maximum capacity of the city Hebrard had in mind.

Construction expert Dr. Phan Le Binh pointed out big challenges happening in the city as the urbanization rate has not kept up with the rise in population.

"The most basic consequence that everyone can see is traffic congestion," he said, noting that there used to be no traffic lights in Da Lat. Now theres traffic congestion almost everywhere, almost all the time.

"A highly populous place is also put under the pressure of the high needs for schools, hospitals, grocery markets, and much more," Binh added. "An increase of one resident will lead to new infrastructure added, so an increase of thousands of people will require huge changes in the citys infrastructure system."

The last thing Binh pointed out is the environmental impact of the growing population. The rising amounts of solid waste, water waste, and polluted air are all health hazards people can no longer escape in Da Lat.

The amount of forest cover in Da Lat has also been affected. Forest covered 69% of the citys total land in 1997, but that figure had dropped to only 51% only in 2020, according to the Lam Dong department of agriculture and rural development.

Inner-city pine forest area also reduced by half in the span of 21 years, from 350 hectares in 1997 to 150 hectares in 2018. The reduction is considered by many the main reason behind recent floods and landslides in the central highland municipality.

Architect Ngo Viet Nam Son approved of this reasoning, saying Da Lats changes in infrastructure have not kept up with the citys urbanization rate. He warned that if authorities do not implement any changes in urbanization planning, accidents will keep happening in the upcoming time.

He suggested that municipal authorities create peripheral urban sites known as satellite cities to ease the problems.

"We should not direct people to live in the inner-city anymore, as it is already too crowded," he said. "Creating peripheral urban sites with built-in services and businesses will encourage people to move to the outskirts of the city instead of compiling in the inner-city."

Successfully doing so will also return to Da Lat the image of "a city in the forest, a forest in the city," which was Hebards initial vision of the central highland city.

Whether these ideas will become reality in the future is not yet guaranteed, but there is one thing for sure: people will keep flocking to Da Lat seeking for better lives, at least in the near future. Many acquaintances of Nga and her husband have asked for advice from them on relocating to the city.

"We have many things to worry about if we live in big metropolitan areas like Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi," Nga said. "Like the kids tuition fees and many other living expenses."

"So I think: why not come here? If our businesses perform well, our lives will change forever, who knows?"
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (AJG), an insurance broker, announced Monday that it has acquired Ontario-based A.H. Horn and Associates Limited, dba Horn. Financial details of the transaction were not divulged.

Horn provides sales and development programs along with consulting services across many industries.

"Horn has a strong market reputation whose expertise will enhance our leadership advisory capabilities, and they have a culture like ours," said J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., Chairman, President and CEO of Arthur J. Gallagher.

In pre-market activity, shares of AJG are trading at $224.80 up 0.19% on the New York Stock Exchange.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
For the past six months of year 2023, Mahindra led SUV sales in India and Maruti Suzuki took the crown in July 2023

Maruti is the largest car manufacturer in India with total sales hovering above 1.81 lakh units in July 2023. Marutis strategy in the recent past has paved the way for Maruti to establish dominance in the SUV space. Were talking about the launch of Brezza, Grand Vitara, Jimny and Fronx.

These vehicles have turned the tide for Maruti Suzuki in establishing dominance in the SUV realm. For the first time, Maruti Suzuki has a sizable market share of 25% in the SUV space. This makes it the highest SUV-maker in India, leaving Mahindra, Hyundai and Tata Motors behind.

Maruti Suzuki Largest SUV-maker in India

From being the largest small-car maker, to largest SUV-maker, Maruti Suzuki has come a long way. Just last year, Maruti Suzuki wasnt a big name in the SUV realm. Companys newest strategies have worked wonders and established Maruti Suzuki as Indias largest SUV-maker in volume.

In July 2023, Maruti Suzuki sold 46,510 UVs with over 25% market share, which was higher than Mahindras 35,845 units with 21% market share and Hyundais 32,991 units with a 19% market share. Tata Motors had sold 28,147 SUVs in July 2023 with 16% market share. Most of the vehicles are marketed as SUVs. But if we take proper old-school SUVs with ladder frame chassis, Mahindra still leads the charts with 28,486 units sold.

Change in narrative for Maruti Suzukis sales

Latest car buying trends indicate a slight decline in small and budget hatchbacks in India. Marutis own Mini segment consists of Alto and S-Presso, contributing only 9,590 units. Alto used to be the highest selling car in India and now, sales favour larger vehicles within Marutis stables.

Companys Compact segment consists of Baleno, Celerio, Dzire, Ignis, Swift, Tour S and WagonR. This segment sold 67,102 units. The UV segment consists of Brezza, Ertiga, Fronx, Grand Vitara, Invicto, Jimny, Fronx and XL-6. This segment sold 62,049 units. Introduction of AWD setup, CNG powertrain options and even hybrid powertrains could be the mantra for this success.

SUV popularity and demand soaring

If we take a look at the year 2023, Mahindra held dominance in SUV space in the first six months till July. July saw Maruti Suzuki surpassing Mahindra to take the throne. In 2023, SUVs market share hovers between 40% and 50%, hitting the highest ceiling in July 2023 at 50%.

In comparison, hatchback body style market share hit a low of 28% in July 2023, within this year. When we take into account proper ladder frame SUVs and monocoque SUVs, the scale tilts heavily in favour of the latter. That is because of the sheer number of crossovers marketed as SUVs. In total, there were 1,39,018 units of monocoque SUVs sold in India in the month of July 2023. At the same time, ladder-frame SUVs contributed to only 31,866 units.

Marutis SUV Triumph

Maruti Brezza led the pack with a robust sale of 16,453 units, making it the top-selling SUV in July 2023. Following closely was the Fronx with 13,220 units sold, a testament to Marutis ability to cater to various customer preferences. The Grand Vitara, Jimny, Ignis, and Invicto also contributed to Marutis impressive total of 46,510 SUVs sold in the given month.

Mahindras Diverse Portfolio

Mahindra, known for its rugged and versatile SUVs, displayed a diverse portfolio in July 2023. The Scorpio/N secured the top position for the brand with sales of 10,522 units. The Bolero, XUV700, Thar, and XUV300 followed suit, showcasing Mahindras ability to capture a broad spectrum of consumers with varying preferences. The brands total SUV sales for the month reached an impressive 35,845 units.

Hyundais Urban Elegance

Hyundai, a manufacturer celebrated for its blend of style and technology, presented a captivating lineup in July 2023. The Creta emerged as the leader with 14,062 units sold, emphasizing Hyundais stronghold in the compact SUV segment. The Venue, Exter, Alcazar, Tucson, and Ioniq5 collectively contributed to Hyundais total SUV sales of 32,931 units. This performance highlights the brands ability to cater to both urban and adventurous consumers.

Tatas Rising Star

Tata Motors, a homegrown giant, has been making significant strides in the SUV market. In July 2023, Tatas SUV sales were led by the Nexon and Punch models, with 12,349 and 12,019 units sold respectively. The Harrier and Safari also made notable contributions to Tatas total SUV sales of 28,147 units. Tatas growing popularity showcases the companys successful efforts to combine style, features, and competitive pricing.
Toyota Fortuner Flexy Fuel showcased at GIIAS can run on 100% Bioethanol  Debuts at the 2023 GIIAS

Eco-friendly is not the word to use in the same sentence as Toyota Fortuner. With up to a 2.8L engine, Fortuner has a reputation for being this big, brawny, barge of an SUV. It has a thirst for fuel, which owners dont usually mind. The 2.7L petrol is cleaner burning than diesel, but with single-digit fuel efficiency, carbon/kilometer is still very high.

Toyota recently showcased a new variation of its popular Fortuner in Indonesia with an attribute of being eco-friendly. That is because this Fortuner runs on E-100 fuel (100% Bioethanol). Named Fortuner Flexy Fuel, this is by far the most eco-friendly version of Toyotas ladder-frame SUV.

Toyota Fortuner Flexy Fuel

The Japanese brand showcased this prototype at Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) held at Indonesia Convention Exchange (ICE) BSD city, Indonesia. Among the prototypes Toyota showcased at GIIAS, Fortuner Flexy Fuel is among the most interesting. Images are credited to Raynaldi Rino.

With BS6 P2 emission norms now mandated in India, all the vehicles are E20 fuel compatible. But to make a vehicle run on 100% Ethanol, significant changes must be made to the engine and fuel system. Ethanol is known to retain more moisture, which leads to internal corrosion.

Toyota engineers have customised the existing 2TR FE 2.7L petrol engine. Timing, tuning, fuel intake system, fuel pump, fuel lines, fuel tank, engine head, spark plugs, and multiple other components and attributes need extensive re-engineering to achieve 100% Ethanol compatibility.

The company has based this E-100 powertrain on Fortuner Sigma (widely known as Fortuner), which sits below Fortuner Legender. Brownie point for this test mule as it is running 100% Bioethanol. This is pure alcohol with higher Octane number and fewer pollutants.

Toyota flexes Hydrogen muscle with a family hatchback

Apart from Toyota Fortuner Flexy Fuel, the company also showcased E-100 Bioethanol compatible Corolla Cross and Hydrogen powered Corolla Cross H2 concept. The latter is more interesting as Toyota is advancing its Hydrogen might into family hatchback territory.

Corolla Cross H2 Concept draws Hydrogen powertrain from Mirai and the engine from GR Corolla. This 1.6L 3-cylinder engine is the most powerful 3-cylinder engine in the world with more power per cylinder than a Bugatti Chiron. The hydrogen powertrain in a family hatchback is an interesting proposition that showcases possibilities of this tech trickling down to affordable cars.
Having just returned from Vietnam, Arnaud Zein El Din got tons of messages from Vietnamese people, offering to give him the paper horse he was not able to take to the airplane.

The 44-year-old Arnaud Zein El Din arrived in Hanoi in early-July, and collected representative items from Vietnam, including a joss paper horse and bring them back home with him.

Unfortunately, his flight operator refused to let him bring the paper horse with him on the airplane, saying that it exceeded the allowed luggage size. When news broke, locals sympathized with the man and his love for traditional Vietnamese culture so much that they banded together to buy him a new one and have it sent to him as a gift overseas.

Son Dang, an architect in Hanoi, came up with the idea of looking for a paper horse similar to the one Mexican Zein El Din bought and sending it to him by post.

He shared the idea with a few friends of his and posted it on his Facebook account asking for donations. The group of friends received VND1.8 million (around $76) from donors, and Son added an additional VND2.2 million to cover the shipping fees. The process took four days.

Son and his friends searched all over Hanoi but couldnt find a horse looking exactly similar to Zein El Din's effigy. They had to reach out further to joss paper factories in Hanois outskirts district of Thuong Tin and its neighboring province Bac Ninh.

Zein El Din carrying the paper horse at Hanois Noi Bai International Airport on August 3, 2023. Photo from Son Dangs Facebook

They found several similar horses there, but all of them were too big to be delivered to Zein El Din. So, Son bought a smaller but more sophisticated horse and texted Zein El Din asking for his shipping address.

The horse was then sent to the courier service and is expected to be delivered to Zein El Din in 7 to 10 days.

Responding to Sons messages, Zein El Din said he was astonished by the impact of the images of him carrying the horse at the airport. He revealed that he had gotten many messages from strangers, offering to send gifts to him.

"The horse Son bought looks shinier and more sophisticated [than the one I had]. Im touched by the love I got from Vietnamese people," Zein El Din said.

"There are not only beautiful sceneries, but also beautiful and kind hearts in Vietnam."

Things Zein El Din collected in Vietnam. Photo from Zein El Dins Facebook

Love for Vietnam

Arnaud Zein El Din arrived in Hanoi in early-July, starting a three-week journey through Vietnam. He was drawn to Vietnamese culture during his stay in the country, so he decided to collect representative items and bring them back home with him.

His collection eventually included things like a pith helmet, traditional bamboo water pipe, a sedge mat, a mask, a glass cup, a broom, various other handmade items, and a joss paper horse.

Among these things, Zein El Din loved the paper horse the most. He was most impressed with the design and the patterns printed on it.

"I didnt even know the paper horse was supposed to be burned as an offering to the deceased, I just thought of it as a sophisticated handmade item," Zein El Din said. "But that is a great ritual and I felt bad having to leave it at the airport."

The paper horse Son and his friends bought after searching all over Hanoi. Photo courtesy of Son

Zein El Din said his trip to Vietnam was "great," and he made the right decision by extending the trip from 10 to 21 days.

The Mexican man explored every corner of the capital city and had a lot of unique experiences. He tried swimming nude at the Red River, attended a trance ceremony, drank with local people, and enjoyed various specialties, including coffee at sidewalk stalls, fresh beer, bun cha (grilled pork with vermicelli noodles), cha ca La Vong (pan-fried fish), and banh cuon (steamed rice rolls).

"I think I'm Vietnamese sometimes, as I quickly adapted to crossing the roads, enjoyed hearing noises from the streets, and looking at the crowds of people driving their motorbikes," Zein El Din said.

Zein El Din is planning to establish a digital museum displaying his personal collection of handmade items. He said he would come back to Vietnam, since he left part of his heart in "the beautiful country."
The California Supreme Court on Thursday grilled attorneys for the state Coastal Commission and two Encinitas homeowners in a hearing over a seawall dispute that could impact ocean-front homes throughout the state.

Neptune Avenue neighbors Tom Frick and Barbara Lynch are challenging whether the commission has the authority to impose a 20-year expiration date on a permit for a new seawall the pair built after a decades-old structure collapsed during a 2010 storm.

That question could be preempted, however, by the commissions contention that the property owners waived their right to sue over the matter when they built the new wall.

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Many of the justices rapid-fire questions Thursday focused on the latter issue. If the court finds the homeowners waived their rights, it could choose not to rule on whether the 20-year time limit violates the states constitution  the question central to the commissions authority over some of the most prized properties in the state.

In their lawsuit, the Fricks and Lynches have called the time limit an unconstitutional regulatory taking of private property, which devalued their homes.

In some of their questions Thursday, the justices appeared to push back against that argument, noting that for now, the permit is secure and so are the homes.

Deputy Attorney General Hayley Peterson, representing the commission, said that after the permit expires, theres no reason to assume the agency would deny a new one.

And if they do, thats the time to litigate a taking, said Justice Kathryn M. Werdegar. The possibility that the commission may deny this in 20 years, does not constitute a taking today.

Nonetheless, she also acknowledged that government taking can also occur because of onerous conditions that diminish the value of homes.

Jon Corn, an Encinitas land use attorney who represents the families, said uncertainty over the permits renewal casts a cloud over the properties that damages their worth and marketability.

That argument prevailed in San Diego Superior Court, but the commission challenged the decision. The 4th District Court of Appeals concluded that the commission could impose the time limit, and the homeowners had waived their right to dispute it when they accepted the permit. They appealed to the state Supreme Court, which heard oral arguments Thursday.

The Coastal Commission declined to comment on the hearing, but Rick Frank, director of the California Environmental Law and Policy Center at the UC Davis School of Law, said he thought most of the justices were persuaded by the states argument.

They seemed to be skeptical of the homeowners claims that they should be entitled to build the seawall, while simultaneously challenging the constitutionality of that provision, he said.

The case is being closely followed by environmental groups, property rights advocates and coastal homeowners across the state. Roughly a dozen groups have weighed in with friends of the court briefs, including the League of California Cities and the Surfrider Foundation, in support of the Coastal Commission, and the National Association of Realtors and California Building Industry Association, in support of the plaintiffs.

In Encinitas, the median sale price of a single-family home was $918,500 last year, and beach-front homes are among the most coveted in the city. Many of those are perched on sandy cliffs, and rely on seawalls for protection from erosion.

The commission says, however, that such structures actually accelerate erosion of the states cherished public beaches. With sea level projected to rise by three feet or more by the end of the century, the commission says it must keep close tabs on how seawalls affect the sand below.

That debate could remain unresolved, however, if the court decides that the homeowners forfeited their right to challenge the restriction when they built the wall under the permits conditions.

John Groen, executive vice president and general counsel for the Pacific Legal Foundation, which advocates for property rights and is representing the families pro bono, argued that the families accepted the condition under duress.

With their homes threatened by the crumbling bluff, they could not wait to litigate the complaint before starting construction. Moreover, he noted, they filed the lawsuit before receiving the final permit, suggesting that the commission knew of their objections when it issued it.

Then two and a half years later (the commission) said, oh, you waived your rights. said Corn, the private attorney who also represents the plaintiffs. A waiver has to be a knowing and intelligent relinquishment.

At times the justices seemed to sympathize with the homeowners quandary, acknowledging the conflict between their need to act quickly to repair the seawall and their desire to preserve their legal options.

It could be quite a challenge for the homeowner to wait until all of this (is resolved,) Justice Mariano-Florentino Cuellar said.

Peterson, representing the Coastal Commission, argued that applicants who enjoy the benefits of a permit also accept its burdens, and said California maintains a bright line on that premise. She said the plaintiffs could have applied for an emergency permit, or asked commission to allow them to proceed with litigation while the construction was happening. Cuellar said, however, that the the range of options seemed to muddy that line.

It subtracts from your argument about a bright line rule, he said.

The Supreme Court will decide the matter within 90 days, but its unclear which portions of the arguments it will consider. If the court decides to rule only on whether the homeowners had the right to sue, it may not weigh in on the constitutionality of the time limit, attorneys for both sides said, leaving that question open in future cases.

deborah.brennan@sduniontribune.com Twitter@deborahsbrennan
The facade of National Citys Big B Market, where customers have access to a small selection of fresh produce, was renovated in June.

National City has won an award for the artsy makeover of a small corner store that sells produce in a neighborhood characterized as a food desert  an area where nutritious and affordable food is scarce.

The outdoor renovation of Big B Market & Deli won an Orchid award last month. City staff will present the award to the City Council on Tuesday.

The makeover, completed in June, was part of a larger effort to address food insecurity in National Citys Old Town neighborhood  a microcosm of a city long troubled by health problems such as diabetes. The concentration of fast-food restaurants and a lack of major grocery store chains such as Vons or Ralphs exacerbate health concerns in the city of predominately low-income and Latino residents.

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The upgrades to Big B Market & Deli, on Coolidge Avenue at West 16th Street, transformed the facade into a vibrant sight.

The renovation, led by A Reason To Survive, a youth organization known as ARTS, brought together volunteers of all ages to help install a mural, a succulent wall, planters that feature mosaic art and a trellis shade structure. Volunteers also gave the exterior of the building a fresh coat of paint.

Over the course of months before the art pieces were installed on June 30, ARTS had worked with local elementary, high school and college students to design the mural, planters, trellis and succulent wall.

With the makeover complete, the hope is to attract more customers to the store, which a year ago started to sell fresh fruits and vegetables thanks to a partnership with BrightSide Produce, a nonprofit launched in 2017 by San Diego State University students.

It is hopefully a place families and kids, as theyre walking by, can stop  a place to rest, get a piece of fruit, said ARTS Executive Director James Halliday. He and others noted the store is two blocks away from Kimball Elementary School.

Ghali Dikho, the owner of Big B market, said he has already seen an uptick in customers thanks to the makeover.

It has helped, Dikho said. ...We made this little corner look like a nice neighborhood.

Dikho has been fairly receptive to the citys efforts to address food insecurity and the revitalization of Old Town. His store is one of 14 in National City where BrightSide Produce delivers fruits and vegetables.

While distributors generally require minimum orders and have high prices, BrightSide pulls orders from stores into one request large enough to work with large distributors.

While residents now have access to produce at corner stores like Big B Market & Deli, the vegetables and fruit are not what sell the most, Dikho said.

For Halliday, the access to produce is a major first step, the start of change.

The idea of having fresh fruits and vegetables at a corner store expands the notion of what is available, he said. It sends a message.

He is hopeful a customer who goes to a corner store for a snack or drink may begin to see healthy foods as an option.

Deputy City Manager Brad Raulston said its up to the city and its partners to promote healthy lifestyles.

I think we can change behavior, he said.

He said the idea of giving a corner store a makeover, transforming one into a vibrant spot with nutritious food options, cropped up around the time the city was working on its General Plan, a long-range blueprint for growth the city adopted in 2011.

The idea came about based on a desire in the community for better access to healthy food, he said.

The city set out to renovate the store about five years ago when it received a federal grant for a host of projects  mostly street upgrades  but didnt get the go-ahead from the owner at the time.

Plans for the makeover came to fruition, with Dikho as the owner, thanks to a $65,000 grant from the California Arts Council and an in-kind match from the city.

Raulston and Halliday say they see opportunities to renovate the facade of other corner stores.

Wed love to do a series of these, Halliday said.

The makeover was one of almost 120 nominations considered for the San Diego Architectural Foundations design-related Orchids and Onions awards.

The Orchid award National City won recognized the partners involved in the collaborative project, including ARTS, BrightSide Produce, Spurlock Landscape Architects, the Live Well Community Market Program at UC San Diego, the city of National City and the store owner.

Criteria used to evaluate nominations includes:

Contributes to its surrounding context and adds to community character

Skillfully and thoughtfully detailed and crafted  showing respect for materials and the community

Expresses something relevant to our time and place  San Diego, 2018 as well as its function

Provides social and economic benefit

Encourages social interaction or a quiet moment

Elicits a sense of civic pride

Is technologically or environmentally innovative

Supports community building

Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com

Phone: (619) 293-1876

Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez
On August 19, 2003, a suicide truck bomb exploded in Baghdad, Iraqs capital city. Twenty-two people died and more than 100 others were wounded in the attack. Most of those who perished were involved in humanitarian work. In their honor, the United Nations designated August 19 as World Humanitarian Day.

The United Nations designated August 19 as a day to honor the service and sacrifice of aid workers, including those who face threats and violence, as well as those who have paid the ultimate price, said USAID Administrator Samantha Power as part of last years observance. Wherever natural disasters, violent conflicts, and other humanitarian crises tear societies apart and test the human spirit, aid workers are on the ground to save lives.

Aid workers are guided by the principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence. Their overarching goal is to help those who need help the most, traveling to places where disaster has struck to deliver the basic necessities of life.

[H]umanitarians sometimes offer the only lifeline to those suffering, said Samantha Power. In Ukraine, aid workers from around the globe are facilitating access to food, water, and hygiene products for Ukrainians who continue to shelter as bombs target their homes and their communities.

In 2021 alone, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs identified 235 million people in 34 countries or regions in need. And year by year, this number continues to grow.

The Horn of Africa is experiencing its worst drought on record. Humanitarian aid workers are providing food, cash and medical assistance as seasonal rains fail, crops and cattle die, and water sources dry up.

And in Yemen, where the worlds largest humanitarian crisis continues to unfold, some 13 million people depend on humanitarian workers for life-saving help.

Humanitarian work is vitally important, but it is also dangerous. Last year alone, 115 aid workers were killed, 139 were injured and 185 were kidnapped. Today, the most dangerous place for humanitarian workers is South Sudan followed by Haiti and Ukraine.

On August 19, we pay tribute to aid workers who work tirelessly under the most challenging circumstances, and we pay special tribute to those who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty, said USAID Administrator Power. We recognize the tremendous service of USAIDs humanitarians and our many partners, and we express our gratitude to all aid workers worldwide for their courage and dedication.
Planetary-scale giant storms erupt on Saturn periodically. There have been at least six recorded occurrences of past eruptions, and the most recent one was in 2010, with its whole life span captured by NASAs Cassini mission. To find out more about these megastorms, University of California, Berkeleys Professor Imke de Pater and her colleagues had to probe layers in the Saturnian atmosphere below the clouds, which are invisible to the human eye. Thats why the astronomers turned to NSFs Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA).

Every 20 to 30 years, a giant storm erupts on Saturn, creating enormous cloud disturbances with a clear head marching forward until it wraps around the whole planet.

The most recent eruption was in 2010, with visible cloud activities lasting for more than 6 months.

At that time, NASAs Cassini spacecraft was still orbiting Saturn and the on-board instruments, including the visible camera, radio instruments, infrared camera, and radar, returned exquisite details of the astronomical feast.

The next event is expected to happen within 10 to 20 years, based on prior statistics and the understanding of the storm dynamics.

In 2015, Professor de Pater and co-authors used VLA to probe the deep response of Saturns atmosphere to the giant storms.

In addition to the remnant effect of the storm in 2010, they found long-lasting signatures of all mid-latitude giant storms, a mixture of equatorial storms up to hundreds of years old, and potentially an unreported older storm at 70N.

At radio wavelengths, we probe below the visible cloud layers on giant planets, Professor de Pater said.

Since chemical reactions and dynamics will alter the composition of a planets atmosphere, observations below these cloud layers are required to constrain the planets true atmospheric composition, a key parameter for planet formation models.

Radio observations help characterize dynamical, physical, and chemical processes including heat transport, cloud formation, and convection in the atmospheres of giant planets on both global and local scales.

With the power of radio to look beyond the clouds in the Saturnian troposphere, the astronomers found something surprising: anomalies in the concentration of ammonia gas in the atmosphere, which they connected to the past occurrences of megastorms in the planets northern hemisphere.

According to the researchers, the concentration of ammonia is lower at mid-altitudes in the atmosphere but has become enriched at lower altitudes.

They believe that the ammonia is being transported from the upper to the lower atmosphere via the processes of precipitation and re-evaporation. Whats more, that effect can last for hundreds of years.

Saturn is really nothing like Jupiter after all and that could have implications for future research.

The scientists further revealed that although both Saturn and Jupiter are both made of hydrogen gas, the two gas giants are remarkably dissimilar.

While Jupiter does have tropospheric anomalies, they have been tied to its zones, and are not caused by storms like they are on Saturn.

This considerable difference between these neighboring gas giants is challenging what astronomers know about the formation of megastorms on gas giants and other planets and may inform how theyre found and studied on exoplanets in the future.

Understanding the mechanisms of the largest storms in the Solar System puts the theory of hurricanes into a broader cosmic context, challenging our current knowledge and pushing the boundaries of terrestrial meteorology, said Dr. Cheng Li, an astronomer at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

The findings were published in the journal Science Advances.

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Cheng Li et al. 2023. Long-lasting, deep effect of Saturns giant storms. Science Advances 9 (32); doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adg9419
The newly-described saurosphargid reptile Prosaurosphargis yingzishanensis represents the earliest known occurrence of its clade.

Prosaurosphargis yingzishanensis lived in what is now South China during the Early Triassic epoch, some 247 million year ago.

Several groups of reptiles invaded the marine realm in the aftermath of the end-Permian mass extinction, the largest extinction event in Earths history, said Hefei University of Technology paleontologist Jun Liu and colleagues from Germany, Poland, and China.

This phenomenon was likely a result of the scarcity of marine competitors and predators caused by the extinction event and high productivity in the incipient shallow marine environment.

Triassic marine reptiles, including the iconic Ichthyosauromorpha and Sauropterygia, as well as some other smaller and lesser known groups, achieved high taxonomic and ecological diversity rapidly after their emergence in the Late Early Triassic and played a pivotal role in the reorganization of marine food webs following the end-Permian extinction.

Because Mesozoic marine reptiles represent likely several independent transitions from a terrestrial to an aquatic lifestyle, they also provide an ideal system to analyze the roles of function and constraint in determining evolutionary pathways.

Prosaurosphargis yingzishanensis was approximately 1.5 m (5 feet) in total body length and was covered by a heavy dermal armor composed of osteoderms.

The ancient species belonged to Saurosphargidae, a small group of aquatic reptiles within the large clade Sauropterygia.

Sauropterygia was a diverse clade of Mesozoic marine reptiles that first appeared in the Late Early Triassic and its members remained important predators in marine ecosystems until their extinction at the end of the Late Cretaceous, the paleontologists said.

Sauropterygia is traditionally divided into two major lineages, representing two markedly different body plans: the Placodontia and the Eosauropterygia.

Saurosphargids are a small clade of Mesozoic marine reptiles characterized by the presence of body armor comprising broadened dorsal ribs, forming a closed rib-basket, and a moderately- to well-developed osteoderm covering.

They are known from the Middle Triassic of Europe and South China, although recent evidence suggests they could have survived as late as the Late Triassic.

Saurosphargids are one of the reptile groups proposed as the sister-group of sauropterygians, but some recent phylogenetic analyses have suggested their placement within sauropterygians instead, as either the sister-group to placodonts or eosauropterygians.

The partial postcranial skeleton of Prosaurosphargis yingzishanensis was found in Yingzishan quarry, part of the Jialingjiang Formation, in China.

The specimen is now housed in the Geological Museum of the Hefei University of Technology.

The specimen represents the Early Triassic Nanzhang-Yuanan fauna and originates from the upper part of the third member of the Jialingjiang Formation, the researchers said.

Prosaurosphargis yingzishanensis represents the earliest recorded occurrence of saurosphargids, extending their fossil record back by approximately 4.5 million years from the Middle to the Early Triassic epoch.

Saurosphargids are thus the fourth major marine reptile lineage known from the Early Triassic Nanzhang-Yuanan fauna, which also includes as many as seven species of hupehsuchians, one species of ichthyosauriforms, and four taxa representing the sauropterygian lineage leading to Eosauropterygia, the scientists said.

Prosaurosphargis yingzishanensis is one of the largest marine reptiles known from this ecosystem.

The presence in the Nazhang-Yuanan fauna of several predatory reptiles representing a broad range of body sizes (0.25 to 4 m, or 0.8 to 13 feet) and displaying various ecomorphological adaptations supports the view of a rapid diversification of predators in the immediate aftermath of the end-Permian mass extinction and high predation pressure in shallow marine ecosystems in the Early Triassic, they concluded.

The study was published online in the journal eLife.

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Andrzej S. Wolniewicz et al. 2023. An armoured marine reptile from the Early Triassic of South China and its phylogenetic and evolutionary implications. eLife 12: e83163; doi: 10.7554/eLife.83163
Its been over 100 days since fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, and in that time, senseless violence has wrought unthinkable suffering, said U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield:

Millions of people have been displaced ... Civilians have been shot dead in the street. Children have been orphaned, forcibly recruited, subjected to violence. Women have been brutally raped. Fighting has blocked humanitarian assistance  food, water, medicine, and other essentials  from reaching people in dire need. There are credible reports that the Rapid Support Forces and allied militias have carried out continued atrocities and other abuses in West Darfur.

The United States condemns these reported atrocities, which are an ominous reminder of the 2004 genocide in Darfur, declared Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield:

And we are gravely concerned about the risk of further conflict in North and Central Darfur. Specifically, by a reported buildup of Rapid Support Forces and affiliated forces near El Fasher, which poses a threat to non-Arab populations in the area. We are deeply concerned by unconfirmed reports of armed actors in Sudan preventing people from leaving areas of Darfur in search of safety, including across the border into Chad.

We have a responsibility ... to not just extol human rights, but defend them, stressed Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield. So, we must all demand the parties comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law regarding the protection of civilians. The United States and its international partners are calling for the parties to immediately put down their weapons.

In the meantime, the U.S. as the largest single donor of humanitarian assistance to the people of Sudan, is working to support the millions of internally displaced people and the nearly one million others who have fled into neighboring countries.

Bureaucratic hurdles and other barriers have hindered relief efforts, warned Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield:

We call on Sudanese authorities to expedite visa approvals for humanitarian workers, enable the movement of humanitarian goods and personnel throughout Sudan, and facilitate the importation of humanitarian goods and equipment.

We must all urge the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to end the bloodshed and end the suffering of the Sudanese people. There is no acceptable military solution to this conflict, warned Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield. And peace cannot wait another day.
Five people were missing in Bardonecchia in the northwestern Piemonte region on Monday morning after a landslide at high altitude caused the Merdovine river to flood the town, Azernews reports, citing ANSA.

One person was reported to have sustained slight injuries as the sudden wave of water, mud and detritus that swept through Bardonecchia unexpectedly during the night.

A total of 120 people were said to have been displaced by the flooding and are now being accommodated in an Italian Red Cross camp and in hotels.

Firefighters intervened to rescue six people trapped in a camper that was swept downstream by the floodwater.

The local police station and hotel La Betulla are both badly damaged and the entire local fleet of police cars has been destroyed.

Local bridges have also been damaged, rendering the Alpine town near the French border inaccessible to all but the emergency services.

Gas supplies have been turned off in the area to prevent explosions.
CenterPoint Energy announced Bertha Villatoro has been named Senior Vice President of Human Resources. In this leadership role, Villatoro is responsible for talent management strategies enterprise-wide, including employee and labor relations, talent acquisition, diversity and inclusion, compensation and benefit programs and Human Resources technologies.

With the company since 2015, she has served in roles of increasing res ponsibility at CenterPoint Energy. Most recently, Villatoro served as Vice President of Human Resources Talent Management.

"Over the years, Bertha has proven to be a valuable member of our company and the Human Resources team. Her knowledge and expertise position her well for continued success and supporting the execution of the organization's goals," said Lynne Harkel-Rumford, CenterPoint Energy's Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. "Bertha will continue to be an instrumental member of the leadership team as we continue to execute on one of the most tangible growth plans in the industry."

Villatoro received a bachelor's degree in business administration from Texas A&M University and a master's degree in business administration from Rice University. She is a native Houstonian and graduated from Charles H. Milby High School. Villatoro is a Society for Human Resource Management-Certified Professional, a Certified Professional in Human Resources and a Certified Compensation Professional. She serves on CenterPoint Energy's Hispanic & Latin Professional Network Council.

As the only investor-owned electric and gas utility based in Texas, CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) is an energy delivery company with electric transmission and distribution, power generation and natural gas distribution operations that serve more than 7 million metered customers in Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio and Texas. As of June 30, 2023, the company owned approximately $38 billion in assets. With approximately 9,000 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years. For more information, visit CenterPointEnergy.com.
Ville de Dakar: Les Conseillers du Pur condamnent les "propos deplaces" de Barthelemy Dias

La sortie du maire de Dakar, Barthelemy Dias, jeudi dernier, contre le secretaire general national du Parti de l'unite et du rassemblement (Pur), Cheikh Ahmed Tidiane Youm, n'est pas du gout des militants et elus de la formation politique dirigee par Serigne Moustapha Sy.







A travers un communique, ces membres du conseil de la ville de Dakar ont condamne "fermement" les propos "deplaces, et irrespectueux" du responsable de Taxawu Senegal, par "un discours insidieux et volontaire d'omission de ses prerogatives".





Selon eux, "personne au Senegal n'ignore que le secretaire general national du Pur represente dignement le President du parti Serigne Mouhamadou Moustapha Sy Al Maktoum au sein de la conference des leaders de la coalition Yewwi Askan Wi". Ils rappellent, dans la foulee, que le guide religieux a renouvele a plusieurs reprises et publiquement sa confiance totale en Cheikh Ahmed Tidiane Youm.





A ce titre, ces conseillers a la Ville de Dakar et militants du Pur ont demande a leur collegue maire de "faire preuve de plus de retenue, de respect et de consideration a l'endroit du Pur et de l'ensemble de ses militants".




Waste heat recovery technology specialist Inspirit Energy updated the market on its waste heat recovery unit on Monday, known as the Inspirit Charger, having identified a component defect after a number of successful tests.

The AIM-traded firm said the technology, designed for both marine and automotive applications, had shown promising results in preliminary testing.

According to internal assessments, the Inspirit Charger had the potential to boost the performance of certain commercial engines by up to 30%.

It said that enhancement in performance translated directly into a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, marking a significant stride towards decarbonisation.

Following the completion of the second stage of building and testing under diverse conditions, the Inspirit Charger reportedly showcased its consistent performance in testing.

Each test, lasting about an hour, indicated that the unit could achieve a peak output of up to 97kw.

However, during a test visit to its Poland facility, Inspirit said an external manufacturing defect was identified in a key component of the waste heat recovery system.

The particular component, developed with new heat retaining coatings, drives the Helix Accelerator and was expected to deliver over 130kw output.

While the discovery of the error had led to some delays in the project, primarily due to the component's long manufacturing and testing lead time, the company confirmed that it had sourced alternative manufacturers.

The new component was currently being designed, and was expected to meet the system's requirements.

Despite the setbacks, Inspirit said it had continued its longevity tests on the first two stages of the waste heat recovery system.

Completion of the tests was expected by the first quarter of 2024.

Elsewhere, Inspirit said its waste heat recovery appliance had garnered attention for potential retrofitting on several industrial engines used in combined heat and power (CHP) applications, such as the CAT, Jenbacher, or Guascor gas engines.

It said those engines, typically designed for co-generating electricity and heat, could benefit from the Inspirit technology.

The company said it believed its engine could generate over 100kw of additional power through waste heat recovery, surpassing other alternatives currently available.

Inspirit said it was actively engaging in dialogues with potential strategic partners experienced in the CHP market.

The company said it was planning to make an official announcement regarding any resulting collaborations after finalising budgets and schedules.

The board of Inspirit has previously mentioned and still have no doubt that the technology the company has developed could have a significant impact on applications within the automotive industry where manufacturers seek to enhance performance from the recovery and electrification of waste heat, said chairman John Gunn.

The commercial potential would seem boundless and Inspirit is extremely optimistic about the commercial prospects for the business.

Gunn said that to the best of the firms understanding, it remained unique in the space at a time where manufacturers of combustion engines were seeking to create more efficient engines for commercial vehicles.

The market for industrial applications is another exciting market, with the growing pressure for industrial groups to decarbonise operations and drive energy efficiency whilst reducing the reliance on fossil fuels.

At 0939 BST, shares in Inspirit Energy Holdings were down 14.89% at 0.02p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
The proposal benefits customers, supports growth in Southeast Texas and helps strengthen the state's economy

The Public Utility Commission of Texas voted to approve Entergy Texas' settlement agreement for its base rate case filed in July 2022. This agreement recognizes approximately $2.3 billion in investments already made to modernize infrastructure and improve service reliability to customers.

"We thank the Commission for its hard work and for positioning Entergy Texas to better serve our customers and their growing energy needs," said Eliecer Viamontes, president and CEO of Entergy Texas. "The investments included in this rate case will also mitigate future severe storm damage and restoration costs and support the significant growth in Southeast Texas."

The terms included in the 2022 base rate case settlement agreement allow Entergy Texas to continue making the capital investments required to provide safe, reliable and affordable electric service to our customers. The decision also preserves the rates that took effect on an interim basis in June of 2023.

Entergy Texas plan to invest over $2.5 billion by the end of 2024 to replace aging generation and increase resiliency and capacity for Southeast Texas.

Learn more about Entergy Texas' 2022 base rate case at entergy.com/brightfuturetx.

About Entergy Texas

Entergy Texas, Inc. provides electricity to approximately 499,000 customers in 27 counties. Entergy Texas is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation, a Fortune 500 electric company. Entergy powers life for 3 million customers through our operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We're investing in the reliability and resilience of the energy system while helping our region transition to cleaner, more efficient energy solutions. With roots in our communities for more than 100 years, Entergy is a nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship. Since 2018, we have delivered more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to local communities through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees. For the latest news from Entergy, visit the Newsroom.

Contact

Entergy Texas Media

281-297-2353

entergytexasmedia@entergy.com
South Africa and Zambia-focussed Jubilee Metals unveiled a significant enhancement to its executive leadership team on Monday, including the appointment of a new finance chief.

The AIM-traded firm announced the forthcoming appointment of Neal Reynolds as its new chief financial officer, effective from 1 October.

At the same time, it said Ricus Grimbeek had been entrusted with spearheading Jubilee's ambitious foray into energy metals, with a specific emphasis on executing its Zambian copper strategy.

Bringing a wealth of expertise to his new role, Jubilee described Reynolds as a distinguished Chartered Accountant from South Africa, armed with a postgraduate qualification in leadership development.

Leveraging more-than-14 years of experience, primarily concentrated on mining and metals operations within the African landscape, Reynolds would bring with him invaluable insights, the board explained.

His most recent position was as the chief operational officer at Chemaf - a well-established producer of copper and cobalt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Reynolds' professional journey began at Deloitte & Touche, and subsequently in 2009, he transitioned to Pan African Resources.

Notably, in 2019, he undertook the mantle of CFO at Mopani Copper Mines, and subsequently extended his financial acumen as the CFO of Glencore Copper Africa.

Pedja Kovacevic, who currently holds the title of acting CFO, would segue into the role of chief of strategy and advisory, ensuring continuity and capitalising on his strategic insights once Neal Reynolds officially joins the ranks.

Ricus Grimbeek was meanwhile described by the Jubilee board as a seasoned mining engineer, with a track record spanning more than three decades in the industry.

It said his career had encompassed multifarious executive management roles, both technical and strategic, within prominent global mining entities.

Grimbeek had overseen a multitude of operations, and successfully overseen the execution of projects across diverse mining jurisdictions.

Significantly, he held a pivotal position as a board member of Makor Resources - an entity committed to the formalisation of small-scale and artisanal miners across Africa.

Amid its transformative phase, Jubilee Metals said it had also enacted a comprehensive revamp of its executive and senior leadership echelons, in alignment with its enlarged operations and refined strategic focus.

The cornerstone of the restructure would be the establishment of a strategic executive committee, encompassing five key members including CEO Leon Coetzer, joined by the chief of operations, the chief of strategy and advisory, the chief of energy metals Ricus Grimbeek, and the incoming CFO Neal Reynolds.

Additionally, an operational executive committee was set to augment the company's operational efficiency and effectiveness.

The committee would comprise the heads of various countries, technical departments, projects, human resources, and finance, in a bid to foster a streamlined and cohesive approach to the company's multifaceted operations.

I am pleased to welcome Neal to this important role at Jubilee and look forward to working closely with him as we continue to build capacity and grow our footprint in Zambia and investigate new opportunities in South Africa, said chief executive officer Leon Coetzer.

As an accomplished mining executive with over 14 years of experience, we are delighted to have attracted someone of his calibre.

Additionally, I am delighted to welcome Ricus to the Jubilee Metals team and believe that, with more than 30 years of experience in various management and technical roles, he will make an invaluable contribution to the team and will assist in achieving our goal of rapid growth and expansion specifically in Zambia.

Coetzer said he was pleased to be announcing the groups new executive structure as well.

I am confident [it] provides the organisational capacity to support our ambitious growth strategy, both in South Africa and Zambia.

At 0826 BST, shares in Jubilee Metals Group were up 4.17% at 7.12p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
Self-storage operator Lok'nStore updated the market on its trading for the financial year just ended on Monday, reporting robust revenue growth amid its ongoing expansion.

The AIM-traded company recorded a 12.1% increase in same-store self-storage revenue in the 12 months ended 31 July, indicating a solid uptick in demand and consumer interest.

Additionally, total self-storage revenue saw a 5.3% rise, reflecting the firms overall growth trajectory.

The company revealed a notable 6.8% increase in pricing per square foot of occupied space, which it attributed to the sustained strong demand for self-storage services.

It said the 2023 financial year saw a 9.7% expansion in owned lettable space, underlining Lok'nStore's commitment to increasing its operational capacity.

That growth aligned with the company's strategic objective of catering to the evolving needs of its customer base.

Notably, the year also marked the successful fundraising of 20.5m - a move aimed at supporting Lok'nStore's ongoing expansion initiatives.

In terms of occupancy rates, the company said closing occupancy for stores over three years old was 80.6%, down from 82.9% in the prior year, when accounting for the newly added space during the period.

The total occupied unit space still remained consistent with the previous year's figures.

Lok'nStore said it also made significant progress in its new store pipeline.

In the course of the fiscal year, the company unveiled two new landmark stores in Bedford and Peterborough, contributing to a portfolio now totaling 42 stores.

Initial trading in the recently-opened locations was described as promising.

Additionally, the company said it had been actively engaged in construction work for three new landmark store developments.

The forthcoming sites, in Staines, Basildon, and Kettering, were expected to be operational within the next 12 months.

LoknStore said its ongoing expansion endeavours were set to increase trading space by 162,100 square feet.

As of 31 January this year, Lok'nStore's remaining capital expenditure stood at 13.7m.

The company said its preliminary results for the year ended 31 July were set for release on 30 October.

Revenue momentum in the year to 31 July has been robust with same-store self-storage revenue up 12.1% against last year driven by continued strong demand, said chairman Andrew Jacobs.

We continue to deliver on our strategy of opening more new stores in the undersupplied self-storage market, adding 9.7% to our owned available space in the last 12 months.

Jacobs added that the firm was onsite at three further new stores, all of which would open in the 2024 financial year, while it had a secured pipeline of a further eight.

These new stores will accelerate our growth in cash flows to fund more dividends to shareholders and more growth of the business.

At 0834 BST, shares in LoknStore Group were up 1.33% at 741.7p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
Domain registry and internet services provider CentralNic gave an upbeat outlook on Monday as it delivered an impressive set of first-half results, with revenues rising by nearly a fifth.

The figures, which were in line with guidance given last month, showed that revenue increased 18% year-on-year to $396.4m in the six months to 30 June, while adjusted EBITDA rose 16% to $44.6m. Adjusted EPS jumped 34% to 11.37 cents.

The London-based firm said results were driven by "ongoing market share gains of its proprietary privacy-safe, AI based customer journeys which address a multi-billion-dollar opportunity".

Over the 12 months to 30 June, the number of visitor sessions jumped 49% to 5.3bn, while revenue per thousand sessions was stable at $100m.

Looking ahead, CentralNic expects to trade "at least in line with current market expectations" for the whole of 2023.

Chief executive officer Michael Riedl said the company "continued to deliver yet another strong quarterly performance, enhancing our market share in each of the segments in which we operate".

He said CentralNic has a "highly dependable and sustainable" business model, and expressed his optimism around AI's role in the long-term business strategy: "Our strategy is built on three pillars: (a) enhancing AI capacity, (b) accelerating AI impact, and (c) scaling our AI advantage. The group has been at the forefront of the industry in integrating AI into the heart of our operations and has successfully pioneered and launched multiple AI projects."

Shares rose 1.8% to 134p in early trade on Monday.
Precious metals explorer and miner Hochschild Mining updated the market on its Volcan Gold Project on Monday, situated in the Maricunga Region of Chile.

The company gained ownership of the Volcan project in 2012 following its acquisition of Andina Minerals.

After several years of inactivity, the project was reignited in early 2022, with the aim of reevaluating its viability and economic potential within the current gold price landscape.

On Monday, Hochschild outlined a series of achievements over the last year and a half, signifying significant progress within the Volcan Gold Project:

It said a fundamental milestone had been the establishment of Tiernan Gold Corporation - a newly-formed Canadian subsidiary under the umbrella of Hochschild Mine Holdings UK.

The restructuring efforts had culminated in the transfer of ownership of the Volcan project to Tiernan.

As part of the ongoing development process, Hochschild successfully completed an updated mineral resource estimate under Canadian NI 43-101 standards.

The assessment revealed substantial reserves, including 463.3 million metric tonnes of measured and indicated resources, with a gold content of 0.66 grams per tonne, equating to an impressive 9.8 million ounces of gold.

Additionally, the project boasted an estimated 75 million metric tonnes of inferred resources containing approximately 1.2 million ounces of gold, with a grade of 0.516 grams per tonne.

The board added that the completion of a positive preliminary economic assessment, also in accordance with NI 43-101 standards, was a pivotal step forward for Volcan.

It said the assessment outlined a compelling operational framework, including plans for a 22 million metric tonnes-per-annum open-pit, heap leach operation with a projected mine life of 14 years.

Notably, the initial decade of operations was expected to yield an average annual gold production of 332,000 ounces, with a cumulative output of 3.8 million ounces over the mine's lifespan.

The development would require an initial capital investment of $900m, supplemented by a sustaining capital of $276m over the mine's life.

Operational efficiency was said to be a central focus, with estimated cash costs of $921 per ounce and all-in sustaining costs of $1,002 per ounce, both evaluated over the mine's life.

A favourable financial outlook was indicated by the after-tax 5%-discounted net present value of $826m, and an internal rate of return of 21%, at a gold price of $1,800 per ounce.

Financial partnerships were being fostered, the company added, with Hochschild securing a $15m financing agreement by selling a new 1.5% net smelter returns (NSR) royalty on the Volcan project to Franco-Nevada, enhancing the capital base for its development.

Finally, In a move aimed at maximising the project's potential, Hochschild said it had enlisted Canaccord Genuity to assess various strategic alternatives for Tiernan Gold.

There has been a significant amount of work completed over the past 18 months on the Volcan project, said chief executive officer Ignacio Bustamante.

The updated Mineral Resource Estimate and PEA confirm that Volcan is a large resource capable of generating significant annual gold production with substantial margins at today's gold prices.

Furthermore, Tiernan is now fully funded independently to carry out the next phases of project de-risking and, with gold prices remaining strong, we believe there is significant value in this project.

Bustamante said that, by engaging a financial advisor, the firm was looking at a number of options to unlock value while it focused its resources on the development of high-grade reserves and resources close to Immaculada, Mara Rosa construction in Brazil and the recent Royropata discovery near Pallancata.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
The govt is looking at a new EV strategy along the lines of a phased manufacturing plan (PMP). This is part of a plan to woo global auto biggies such as Tesla in the high-end electric vehicles market. The new plan is expected to be company-agnostic and respond to the needs of the entire industry, besides playing a role in boosting the EV ecosystem in India, the stated. The plan is based on the basic premise that a phased manufacturing program will help companies gradually raise the level of indigenization.

The govt expects its incentives to meet domestic demand besides creating a base for exports. These incentives are also expected to help develop capacity in a new segment without negatively impacting domestic companies like Tata Motors and Mahindra. It may be noted here that these two companies are putting big money into the electric vehicle space. According to the, the new plan will bring a graded duty structure to boost local manufacturing.

This plan has the potential to help fast-track India's transition towards EV, at the same time boosting an emerging segment, sources cited by. Tesla is currently making plans to diversify beyond China, which is one of its major production bases. There have of late been enough indications that the Elon Musk-led EV giant has been seeking to "bring its entire ecosystem, including vendors, to India," officials told TOI. As per the, Tesla is already sourcing goods worth around Rs 12,000 crore from the country. During discussions held so far, officials told Tesla that the company could come through the PMP or FAME route, it said.

There were in that Tesla is looking to set up a factory in India to make vehicles priced around Rs 20 lakh, with a capacity of around five lakh units. Other than Tesla, some other global biggies such as BMW and Foxconn have also evinced interest in the Indian EV space. BMW executives recently met officials from the heavy industries ministry, pitching for allowing duty-free import of EVs for three years. After this period, they intend to invest in a manufacturing facility in India, they said. If the company fails to invest, it would refund the duty benefits.

The executives told the ministry. In early, the CEO of Mobility in Harmony, the EV platform of Foxconn, said that the company, which is in the process of deploying more money in India, is looking to set up a base either in India or Thailand for a three-seat vehicle to be priced between Rs 8.5 lakh to Rs 17 lakh.
Farmers FZ, the only start-up from India to be recognized for FAO and Seed's SDG Agrifood accelerator programme for innovators, to receive tailor-made help Farmers FZ model focuses on bringing in fresh food to the plates and also on lowering carbon emissions Farmers Fresh Zone (Farmers FZ), a Kochi-based start-up, was one among the 12 agri-food start-ups selected across the world by Food and Agriculture organization of the United Nations.

For the first time, UN hosted the SDG Agrifood accelerator programme and Farmer's Fresh Zone stood out for its unique module and practices which are scalable at any part of the world. Farmers Fresh Zone was one of the three start-ups to be part of the panel discussion happened in the event. While six were invited to present their unique SDGs, a total of 12 were selected for the programme. Sharing more details, Pradeep P S, Chief Executive Officer, AgriTech D2C & FAAS (Farm to fork as SaaS), said, "India is the second largest country in agriculture production and we, at Farmers Fresh Zone, are super proud to represent as the only one from India at a global forum.

The event was at Rome, Italy aiming to attain the UN sustainable development goals. Being recognized as a leader of sustainability in the agriculture sector is no mere feat. I am extremely elated that our sincere thoughts and efforts to bring down carbon emissions have garnered attention. We presented our model before an august audience in the event. Participation at UN function in Rome also opened roads to network with global names in this sector." Under this programme, Farmers FZ will receive grands and other funds to make the necessary changes needed for each market, thus helping them widen their reach and making their business global. The support offered by the accelerator includes financial readiness, innovation potential and market reach.

The core objective of the programme is to help agrifood startups to scale while conforming to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Farmers Fresh Zone business model contributes majorly towards SDG 1, SDG 2 and SDG 12 along with others. About Farmers Fresh Zone Farmers FZ started by bridging the gap between rural farmers and urban consumers by providing healthy, premium-quality and safe to eat vegetables from the fields to the table within a day. With the six years of immense understanding of agriculture sector the startup launched new vertical which helps agribusiness and farmers organization's to perform hassle free operations along with measuring carbon footprint. For their FaaS model the startup is having clients across India, Germany, US and Canada. The start-up's sustainable business model implements the principle of farm-to-fork and ensures that food wastage is minimised. It also promotes regional production and consumption.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Lucchese crime family boss Vittorio Vic Amuso, who ordered a hit on a capo outside a Fort Wadsworth gas station in the Spring of 1991, has been denied early compassionate release by a federal judge.

Frederic Block, senior United States district judge, denied the motion Thursday in Brooklyn federal court.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  New York City could face a school bus driver strike at the start of the new school year, according to recent media reports.

Chancellor David C. Banks told his parent advisory council last week that the city was currently negotiating with the school bus driver union  Amalgamated Transit Union  and that there were concerns around a potential strike, according to a report by Chalkbeat. He told parent leaders he would share more in the coming days about the possibility.

A strike could greatly impact public school students across the five boroughs. Banks told the media outlet that anywhere from 85,000 to 150,000 students could be affected.

The last time there was a school bus strike was in January 2013, when workers demanded better job security.

At the time, dozens of school bus drivers and matrons, who were members of Local 1181, walked the picket line outside the Pioneer Bus yard on Arthur Kill Road in Rossville. Inside the lot, more than 380 yellow buses sat idle  when they normally would be out on Staten Island roads to pick up students and deliver them home. That walkout in 2013 lasted more than four weeks.

Local 1811 of the Amalgamated Transit Union told Chalkbeat last week that the union had no comment about the current possibility of a bus driver strike.

Banks told his parent advisory council that parents would have alternative transportation options available in the event of a strike. City Department of Education spokesperson Nathaniel Styer told Chalkbeat that plans could include giving students MetroCards and reimbursement for use of alternative transportation.
As the new academic year approaches, Arkansas families are preparing to head back to school. As our mission is "We Power Life," Entergy Arkansas is excited to demonstrate this commitment to improve our communities by volunteering and donating nearly $300,000 this year to help parents and students get ready for the new school year.

"Entergy is investing in bright futures by supporting a variety of efforts throughout the state of Arkansas," said Laura Landreaux, president and CEO of Entergy Arkansas. "We're investing for employers who need highly skilled candidates contributing to a vibrant economy where everyone has a chance to pursue their dreams, and more importantly, in the students who will shape our future. We want Arkansas students to have unlimited opportunities when it comes to quality education and employment here in our state."

Entergy Arkansas strives to contribute to a society that is healthy, educated, environmentally safe and productive. Since many of our customers face rising costs for everything from bills to groceries, Entergy Arkansas wants to help ease the burden on students, families, and faculty when it comes to preparing for back-to-school needs. That includes supporting programs and nonprofits in their mission to feed families, provide school supplies and resources, and offer educational programs and scholarships that support students of all ages. We are proudly contributing to the following community education efforts:

Free school supplies Entergy Arkansas has donated $10,000 to purchase school supplies and haircuts and in different locations across the state. More than $1,100 of these funds came from personal contributions from employees. Entergy Arkansas is donating funds to buy school supplies for students in the Wynne School district, as Wynne High School was heavily damaged by the March 31 tornado. Entergy Arkansas is also proud to partner with the Martin Luther King Jr. Commission in hosting a "School Supply Tour" at locations in Little Rock, North Little Rock, Hot Springs, and Stuttgart on Aug. 9 and in the Norphlet/Smackover area on Aug. 10. A Back-to-School Family Fun Day will also be held at Luna Street Park in Lake Village on Aug. 12 from noon to 3 p.m. Students can receive free school supplies on a first-come, first-serve basis at these events. A complete list of locations and times can be found in our newsroom: https://www.entergynewsroom.com/article/entergy-arkansas-helping-families-prepare-for-back-school/

Free haircuts for students Working with local barber shops and salons around the state, Entergy Arkansas will make it possible for children in all five service regions to receive haircuts for school at no charge. Students can also receive free school supplies on a first-come, first-serve basis at these events. For locations, visit https://www.entergynewsroom.com/article/entergy-arkansas-helps-students-prepare-for-back-school-season-with-free-haircuts/

Arkansas Food Bank Cereal Drive Entergy Arkansas has donated $30,000 to purchase 30,000 boxes of cereal for the Arkansas Food Bank, giving us the distinction as the Overall Winner of the 2023 Summer Cereal Drive. The cereal and other groceries - including fresh and shelf-stable foods - can help students get the nutrition needed to focus and learn better in school. The donations are available at food banks and food pantries across the state. Local resources can be found online at https://arhungeralliance.org/emergency-resources/

Single Parent Scholarship The Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund provides funds to help with college expenses for single parents. Entergy Arkansas awards $15,000 in scholarships to deserving applicants each year.

Kids to College Entergy Arkansas has earmarked $100,000 for making $50 dollar contributions to qualifying customers who wish to open a 529 child savings account to help save money for post-secondary education. The donations are available for each child aged 16 and younger in the family. Customers can set up accounts here: https://www.entergy.com/csr/kids/.

Academies of Central Arkansas Entergy Arkansas is partnering with two Little Rock schools to support Energy Pathways at Hall STEAM Magnet High School in the Little Rock School District and Joe T. Robinson High School in the Pulaski County Special School District. Our $125,000 donation for these pathways will provide students with relevant information and exposure to real-life work experiences, helping them be better prepared for jobs in the energy field.

The sum of these contributions and volunteer efforts reflects the company's focus on quality education and improving the communities we serve.

"We believe education is a lifelong journey and has the power to improve the quality of life for the student, their family and the community," said Ventrell Thompson, Entergy Arkansas vice president of customer service. "Because of this, we are committed to ensuring families are adequately prepared for success in the upcoming school year."

About Entergy Arkansas

Entergy Arkansas, LLC provides electricity to approximately 730,000 customers in 63 counties. Entergy Arkansas is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation, a Fortune 500 electric company. Entergy powers life for 3 million customers through our operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We're investing in the reliability and resilience of the energy system while helping our region transition to cleaner, more efficient energy solutions. With roots in our communities for more than 100 years, Entergy is a nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship. Since 2018, we have delivered more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to local communities through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees. For the latest news from Entergy, visit the Newsroom.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  New changes are on the horizon for students applying for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form for the 2024-2025 award year.

The FAFSA is a form to get financial aid from the federal government to pay for college. Every year, more than 13 million students who file the FAFSA receive aid in the form of grants, work-study programs and low-interest loans from the U.S. Department of Education. If you dont file, you wont qualify for most financial aid.

Certain changes began in the 2021-22 year and full implementation of major provisions will occur during the 2024-25 award year. The new form  with the full implementation of major changes  wont be available until an unspecified date in December. In years prior, the FAFSA form typically became available on Oct. 1.

The changes are meant to simplify the process  becoming the first major redesign of the system in more than 40 years. It will provide a more streamlined application process, expand eligibility for federal financial aid, reduce barriers for certain student populations, and create a better user experience for the FAFSA form.

Some of the changes include:

Every contributor  anyone (student, the students spouse, a biological or adopted parent, or the parents spouse) who is required to provide information on the FAFSA form  will need an FSA ID to access and complete their section of the online form.

All contributors must provide consent to have their federal tax information transferred directly into the students FAFSA form via direct data exchange with the IRS. If any contributor doesnt provide consent, submission of the FAFSA form will still be allowed. However, a Student Aid Index, which replaces the Expected Family Contribution, will not be calculated and the student wont be eligible for federal student aid.

Students will be able to list up to 20 colleges on their online FAFSA form and 10 colleges on the FAFSA PDF.

Users can start or access the FAFSA form by visiting StudentAid.gov and logging in, where theyll see the link to the FAFSA form on their Dashboard.

As part of this process, federal student aid implemented the new rules around cost of attendance (COA) changes, professional judgment updates, expanded Federal Pell Grant eligibility, certain FAFSA form changes, and additional assistance for certain student populations for the 2023-24 award year.

Some financial aid eligibility restrictions have also been removed already under the transition, including restrictions related to certain drug convictions and the failure for males to register with the Selective Service  both starting with the 2023-2024 FAFSA form. The ban on Pell Grant eligibility for confined or incarcerated individuals had also been eliminated.

When it becomes available, you may choose any of these methods to file a FAFSA form:

Log in at fafsa.gov to apply online

Complete a FAFSA PDF (note: you must print out and mail the FAFSA PDF for processing)

Request a print-out of the FAFSA PDF by calling us at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243); then fill out the form and mail it for processing

If you are starting the application for the first time on fafsa.gov, select Start Here. Your name and Social Security number must match those on your Social Security card. If you filled out a FAFSA form last year and want to renew it, select Log In on the FAFSA home page, select I am the student and want to access the FAFSA form, enter your FSA ID, and be sure to select Renew my FAFSA Form once given the option. That way, many of the (non-financial) questions will be prefilled for you  just be sure to update any information that has changed since last year, including the financial questions.

School Zone: An education newsletter with the updates you need throughout the school year and beyond. Enter your email address here and hit "subscribe" to receive this weekly newsletter:



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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  More than 100 organizations, including a Staten Island-based non-profit, signed onto a letter Monday calling for more action from the state to address the ongoing migrant crisis.

About 100,000 migrants have made their way to the five boroughs since spring 2022, but city officials have mostly been left on their own to deal with the humanitarian crisis thats more than doubled the homeless shelter population.

Now, the 100 organizations  including Project Hospitality, the Islands leading homeless services provider  want the state to develop a plan to address the issue and take immediate action to provide more housing to the new arrivals.

[We] urge you to provide decisive leadership and to take immediate action to help manage the pressing situation created by the current influx of new arrivals into the State of New York from countries around the globe, the groups, led by the Coalition for the Homeless and Legal Aid Society, wrote in their letter. This is a humanitarian crisis that impacts all New Yorkers and requires the authority and resources of your office to address. We appreciate that you have declared a State of Emergency and are already working to provide some valuable resources to assist New York City, including most recently by funding two sites in New York City that will serve up to 3,000 adult men. But, with hundreds of new arrivals each day into New York City and the uncertain future of the Biden administrations asylum policy, much more is needed.

Specifically, the groups want to see the governor overturn local executive orders that have closed county borders to newly arrived migrants while encouraging them to accept the new arrivals, identify more state-owned facilities where migrants could be housed, and to facilitate migrants transfers to those facilities.

County executives, including for Rockland and Orange counties, have signed orders limiting new migrant arrivals to their districts, but those orders are facing court challenges.

The organizations want to see Hochul use state law to overrule those local challenges to make it easier to more widely distribute care of the new arrivals.

Most of the nearly 100,000 new arrivals remain in the care of New York City, prompting officials to set up 198 emergency shelter sites around the five boroughs  including 13 massive humanitarian emergency relief and response centers, and sites at Staten Island hotels and at least one former school building.

The rumored use of a former Midland Beach senior assisted living center brought hundreds of protestors to a Father Capodanno Boulevard parking lot Saturday to protest the possibility.

For its part, the state has made several sites it controls available for use, including Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in Queens, the JFK International Airport seasonal mail sorting building, and the Lincoln Correctional Facility in Manhattan. Under Hochul, the state has also provided National Guardsmen to assist at shelter locations, and more than $250 million in funding.

The organizations that sent the letter to Hochul said theyd like to see them use more locations, including state armories, like the one on Manor Road.

Hochul spokesman, Avi Small, didnt directly address the organizations letter, but touted his boss efforts throughout the crisis.

Since this humanitarian crisis began, Governor Hochul has gone above and beyond to help the City meet their legal obligation to shelter asylum seekers  including $1 billion in funding, providing state-run land to shelter thousands of individuals, deploying nearly 2,000 National Guard personnel to operate shelters, and repeatedly pressuring the federal government for more aid, he said. Governor Hochul will continue this hands-on approach, working closely with federal, State and local officials to provide additional support.

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MARION, Kan. (AP)  A small newspaper and a police department in Kansas are at the center of a dispute over freedom of speech that is being watched around the country after police raided the office of the local newspaper and the home of its owner and publisher.

Officials with the Marion Police Department confiscated computers and cellphones from the publisher and staff of the Marion County Record in the Friday raid, prompting press freedom watchdogs to condemn the actions of local authorities as a blatant violation of the U.S. Constitutions protection for a free press. The police searches were apparently prompted by a complaint from a local restaurant owner, Kari Newell, who accused the newspaper of invading her privacy after it obtained copies of her driving record, which included a 2008 conviction for drunk driving.

Newspaper publisher and co-owner Eric Meyer maintains that the newspapers aggressive coverage of local politics and Police Chief Gideon Codys record are the main reason for the raids.

A search warrant tied Friday morning raids, led by Cody, to a dispute between the newspaper and Newell. She is accusing the newspaper of illegally accessing information about her and her driving record  a charge Meyer disputes. She also suggested that the newspaper targeted her after she ordered Meyer and a reporter out of her restaurant earlier this month during a political event.

This is the type of stuff that, you know, that Vladimir Putin does, that Third World dictators do, Meyer said during an interview with The Associated Press in his office.

Cody said Sunday that the raid was legal and tied to a criminal investigation.

The raids occurred in a town of about 1,900 people, nestled among rolling prairie hills, about 150 miles (241 kilometers) southwest of Kansas City, making the small weekly newspaper the latest to find itself in the headlines and possibly targeted for its reporting.

Last year in New Hampshire, the publisher of a weekly newspaper accused the state attorney generals office of government overreach after she was arrested for allegedly publishing advertisements for local races without properly marking them as political advertising. In Las Vegas, former Democratic elected official Robert Telles is scheduled to face trial in November for allegedly fatally stabbing Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German after German wrote articles critical of Telles and his managerial conduct.

Meyer said one Record reporter suffered an injury to a finger when Cody wrested her cellphone out of her hand during the raid of the newspaper. The newspapers surveillance video showed officers reading that reporter her rights while Cody watched, though she wasnt arrested or detained. Newspaper employees were hustled out of the building while the search continued for more than 90 minutes, according to the footage.

Meanwhile, Meyer said, police simultaneously raided his home, seizing computers, his cellphone and the homes internet router. He worked with his staff Sunday to reconstruct stories, ads and other materials for its next edition Wednesday.

Both Meyer and Newell have said theyve fielded messages  and some threats  from as far away as London in the aftermath of the raids.

Newell said she threw Meyer and the reporter out of the event for Republican U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner at the request of others who are upset with the toxic newspaper. On the towns main street, one storefront included a handmade Support Marion PD sign.

LaTurners office has not returned phone messages left since Sunday at his Washington and district offices seeking comment.

While Newell accused the newspaper of unlawfully seeking information on the status of her drivers license, the newspaper countered that it received that information unsolicited, which it verified through public online records. It eventually decided not to run a story because it wasnt sure the source who supplied it had obtained it legally. But the newspaper did run a story on the city council meeting, in which Newell herself confirmed shed had a DUI conviction and that she had continued to drive even after her license was suspended.

A two-page search warrant, signed by a local judge, lists Newell as the victim of alleged crimes by the newspaper. When the newspaper asked for a copy of the probable cause affidavit required by law to issue a search warrant, the district court issued a signed statement saying no such affidavit was on file, the Record reported.

Cody, the police chief, indicated that probable cause affidavits were used to get the search warrants. When asked for a copy, Cody replied in an email late Sunday that the affidavits would be available once charges are filed.

Cody defended the raid on the newsroom, saying there is an exception to the federal requirement for a subpoena  not just a search warrant  to do so when there is reason to believe the journalist is taking part in the underlying wrongdoing.

Cody, who was hired in late April as Marions police chief after serving 24 years in the Kansas City police, did not give details about what that alleged wrongdoing entailed and did not respond to questions about how police believe Newell was victimized.

Press freedom and civil rights organizations have said that police overstepped their authority with the raids.

Both Meyer and Newell are contemplating lawsuits  Newell against the newspaper and Meyer against the public officials who staged the raid.

Meyer also blames the home raid for stressing his 98-year-old mother enough to cause her death on Saturday. Joan Meyer was the newspapers co-owner.

As for the criticism of the raid as a violation of First Amendment rights, Newell said her privacy rights were violated, and they are just as important as anybody elses.

An empty spot on reporter Phyllis Zorn's desk shows where the tower for her computer sat before law enforcement officers seized it in a raid on the Marion County Record, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023, in Marion County, Kan. Editor and Publisher Eric Meyer says the raid was designed to intimidate the newspaper as it investigated local issues. (AP Photo/John Hanna)

The offices of the Marion County Record sit across from the Marion County Courthouse in Marion, Kan., Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023, in Marion, Kansas. Law enforcement officers raided the newspaper office and seized computers and employee cell phones in what Editor and Publisher Eric Meyer believes is an attempt to intimidate the newspaper as it examines local issues, including the police chief's background. (AP Photo/John Hanna)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Senior citizens who have received unsolicited coronavirus (COVID-19) test kids in recent months may be victims of a scam, and two local officials are urging them to take action.

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) and Borough President Vito Fossella on Monday issued a joint press release calling on seniors who received unsolicited COVID-19 tests to report providers to the Medicare Fraud Line, ask for a new Medicare Card, and report the fraud to the congresswomans office.

Over the past several months, both elected officials have received a host of constituent complaints about unsolicited COVID tests, including one resident of the congresswomans district who received 140 tests over several months.

These providers are exploiting taxpayer dollars and ripping off our vulnerable senior citizens who are now appearing on lists purchased by these providers, Malliotakis said. I encourage senior citizens across Staten Island and Southern Brooklyn who have fallen victim to these deceptive practices to contact our office so we can assist them in reporting the fraud to the Center of Medicare and Medicaid services.

The Department of Justice issued a consumer alert about the problem in June announcing that a similar problem has been on the rise in New Hampshire, and earlier this month, secured a conviction against a Maryland doctor who submitted over $15 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare and a commercial insurer for patients who received COVID-19 tests at his testing sites.

Problems with COVID tests are just some of the fraud schemes bourn out of the COVID-19 pandemic, with federal officials also pointing to issues with the Paycheck Protection Program and enhanced unemployment benefits.

Unemployment fraud led to legislation from the House Committee on Ways and Means, of which Malliotakis is a member, that is aimed at recouping taxpayer money lost to fraud and making it easier for states to prosecute perpetrators. That legislation passed the Republican-controlled, House but has not passed the Democrat-controlled Senate.

Fossella issued a direct statement to his constituents who may have been victim to the Medicare fraud.

If you have received COVID test kits you didnt order, I strongly suggest that you request a new Medicare number and card, because your Medicare number has been compromised, Fossella said. Call the Medicare Fraud Line to report all statements where you have been billed and ask for a new card.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  In honor of those who have passed away, here is a compilation of obituaries posted on SILive.com. Viewing times and guest books can be seen here.

Theresa Marie Savastano, the family matriarch, passed away peacefully on Saturday morning August 12, 2023, surrounded by her family. Theresa was born and raised on Staten Islander to Sal and Mary Foti, owners of Piazza Bakery & Catering in Port Richmond. She was the eldest of four daughters and is survived by her youngest sister. She married Dominick Savastano Jr. in 1956 and has three children. Both of her sons Dominick and Thomas opened their first restaurant named Bella Mama after Theresa on Morningstar Road. Theresa retired from the Department of Environmental Protection in 1989 and enjoyed trips to Atlantic City, Delaware and Florida with her sisters and cousins. For the full obituary, click here.

Rose Ann (Episcopia) Villani, age 89, passed away Friday, August 11, 2023. Rose Ann is a native Staten Islander, born September 21, 1933. She passed away in her Florida home, where shes been a resident for the past 10 years. She loved celebrating holidays, birthdays and never missed an opportunity to go to the casino. She was the wife of the late Emilio Villani. She was the mother of five, grandmother to five grandchildren, and is known as GG to nine great-grand children and one great-great-grandchild. For the full obituary, click here.

YESTERDAYS OBITUARIES

Elliot Mark Simon, 82, died July 22 in his San Fransisco home. The native Staten Islander will be remembered for his many talents and his passion for the arts. After graduating from Curtis High School, Simon pursued a Bachelor of Science in psychology from the College of the City of New York and a Master of Science in human development from the University of Chicago. After college, he embarked on a 40-year career as a book editor. He was a proud member of multiple community choirs and a natural entertainer. For the full obituary, click here.

Former Staten Islander Thomas Dickinson Searl III, 77, of Hamilton Square, N.J., died August 8 in Trenton, N.J. He was a graduate of New Dorp High School and Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn. Tom was then employed by Studebaker Worthington, Fedders, and Hayward Industries in Elizabeth, N.J. where he worked as an engineer for more than 30 years. He also served in the Army during the Vietnam War in the intelligence sector where he earned several medals. Additionally, he was a lifelong member of New Dorp Moravian Church, where he served over 45 years in various capacities. Tom was a devoted family man, an avid gardener, an inventor who held patents, and a skilled handyman. For the full obituary, click here.
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Brisa Ranch in Pescadero is one of three organizations with which the San Mateo County Resource Convervation District are partnered to set up a central food hub for small farmers and ranchers.
Miller-Heidke adds: We wouldnt want to create the impression theres a direct link between this [musical] and the Wiggles  something always fascinated us about them, but this is pure fiction. Loading The mischief on stage is informed by the couples touring experiences, including Miller-Heidkes successful career and Nuttalls earlier days playing with his band in dive bars. At the same time, the pair name-check the real, surreal world of childrens music making in Bananaland: Hi-5 is worse than ISIS, grumbles one character. During rehearsals, Nuttall and Miller-Heidke discovered that one of their actors, Joe Kalou, who plays Kitty Litter guitarist Seb Kale, had been a member of Hi-5 in its latter years.

He actually stayed quiet about it, Nuttall says, with a laugh. He never mentioned it, for some reason. The musical involves very physical comedy, and cast members have been adding their own playful choreography. Heading the cast as Ruby is Max McKenna, who played Muriel in the premiere season of P.J. Hogans Muriels Wedding the Musical, for which Miller-Heidke and Nuttall also composed original music. Max McKenna also starred in Muriels Wedding the Musical, for which Nuttall and Miller-Heidke wrote original songs. Credit: Lisa Tomasetti A lot of our writing comes out of a pop-rock tradition, and Max early on in Muriel showed this ability to straddle those two forms, says Nuttall. Miller-Heidke says McKenna, who uses they/them pronouns, has been a bit of a muse since Muriel. I find Maxs voice to have this other-worldly beauty and power and emotion, and also [I admire] their acting chops  particularly for this role [as Ruby] because theres a fair bit of clowning. Max is hilarious.

Simon Phillips, who directed the Muriel musical, also directs Bananaland. I cant imagine this show existing without him, says Nuttall. His belief in it is really the reason that it went ahead. Weve also done two Shakespeare [plays] with him where Kate and I did the music [Twelfth Night and As You Like It], and his instinct for how music works with text is incredible. For someone who doesnt play an instrument or isnt a conductor, he will get quite granular. Nuttall and Miller-Heidke collaborated with Phillips on As You Like It for MTC. (Pictured: Christie Whelan Browne as Rosalind.) Credit: Jeff Busby Yet the pair say the director, who doubled as a dramaturg on Bananaland, was blunt about Nuttalls script during the development. In terms of his storytelling instincts, both of us are still in awe of him, says Miller-Heidke. Hes a ray of sunshine, so charismatic and such a wonderful collaborator. [But] he has been brutal: this is Keirs first script, and he and Simon have had many, many Zoom meetings [over] bottles of red wine, and hes capable of delivering some really brutal truths.

Yeah, in a charming manner, adds Nuttall, who then impersonates Phillips: Well, frankly Keir, I mean I just dont think your craft is good enough. Nuttall and Heidke-Miller dissolve with laughter. The pair prefer to compose separately, and Nuttall mostly wrote his script in cafes. Miller-Heidke says the expansive, colourful and daring music falls into three strands: the bombastic Kitty Litter songs; their inane, catchy songs when they become a kids band; and the various solo, duet and ensemble pieces where characters get to sing from the heart. One song in the latter category is Toby, which Miller-Heidke can be seen singing online in a performance captured at Bananalands official launch in June, possibly inspired by her own experience as a parent. In the musical, the song is sung by Kitty Litter member Karen, desperately missing her five-year-old son while on tour: Toby, now your mammas here / and for you, she would lay down her life. While Bananaland will premiere as part of Brisbane Festival, it is understood the musical will tour in the future to other cities including Sydney and Melbourne, with dates and venues yet to be announced.

Its on the cards, says Nuttall of a tour, but its too early for us to   Miller-Heidke cuts in:  confirm or deny. Loading Given Muriels Wedding the Musical will open in the UK next year, what are the international prospects for Bananaland? Im not sure, says Nuttall, who says their eyes are not on Broadway. Its unashamedly Australian, he says.Everybody speaks in our vernacular, but its no more colloquial than Muriels Wedding, and I think a lot of the barriers to things being international is really just a [matter of] perception  A very specific cultural universe often works to a shows advantage.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has flatly rejected paying Indigenous Australians reparations for their treatment by British colonists, and pointed out there is no mention of such payments in the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

No campaigners have raised the possibility of reparations being sought if a Voice to parliament is supported at a referendum this year, pointing to comments by Yes campaigner Thomas Mayo who two years ago called for financial compensation.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has ruled out reparations for Indigenous Australians. Credit: Rhett Wyman

In an interview on Tuesday, Melbourne radio host Neil Mitchell asked Albanese: What about reparations, what about truth-telling ... what is your view on those three things?

Albanese said it was incorrect to suggest a Yes vote would lead to reparations.

Whats not legitimate is to pretend that that is what the referendum is about, he said.

Theres nothing in the Uluru Statement about reparations. There is, as in the Uluru Statement from the Heart, theres truth-telling, well, is anyone actually against telling the truth?

I dont support reparations.

Read the full story here.
Cook County has entered into a 12-year agreement set to begin in March 2025. As part of the retail agreement with Constellation, Cook County will receive energy and renewable energy certificates (RECs) to match the energy use at public buildings including health clinics, office buildings, highway maintenance facilities, public safety buildings and warehouses.

Backed by Cook County's commitment, Constellation has entered into a separate long-term power purchase agreement to procure 24 MW of renewable energy from Swift Current Energy, who will own and operate Double Black Diamond Solar located in Morgan and Sangamon Counties, Illinois. Construction of the solar project started in March 2023 and by its completion, Double Black Diamond is expected to be one of the largest solar projects in the US with 593 MW of renewable energy generation.

Through the agreement with Constellation, Cook County is meeting several Clean Energy Plan Goals such as helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the energy use of 4,733 households each year, according to U.S. EPA greenhouse gas equivalencies. Cook County has achieved a 44% greenhouse gas reduction to date from a 2010 baseline, meaning less renewable energy needs to be purchased to meet the Clean Energy Plan commitment for electricity to be 100% renewable by 2030 for County owned-and-operated buildings.

"Cook County is a great example of civic leadership through embracing sustainable energy sources, while supporting a newly constructed renewable resource," stated Jim McHugh, Chief Commercial Officer at Constellation. "We take pride in guiding Cook County on a path towards sustainability and providing a carbon-free energy solution to reduce harmful emissions. Residents can applaud these strong actions taken by Cook County leadership to combat the climate crisis."

This transaction also includes impacts above and beyond the provision of renewable energy. Constellation and Swift Current Energy have committed a combined $432,000 to support local solar and energy job training programs, environmental biodiversity and habitat protection for the solar site, and local economic development through job creation. Most of the modules that Swift Current Energy procured for the project were made in the U.S. Additionally, the project is employing approximately 450 craftspeople at peak construction.

"Any time we can achieve our sustainability goals, while also bringing economic development to our communities, we consider it a huge step forward." said President Toni Preckwinkle, "The co-benefits secured for this agreement mean investment in jobs, training, and domestic manufacturing, and the energy savings and environmental effects are monumental. I am proud that Cook County is a leader for not just sustainability, but in agreements that benefit the community as well.

"Double Black Diamond will deliver significant benefits to the state of Illinois during both its construction and operation." said Eric Lammers, CEO and Co-Founder, Swift Current Energy. "We are proud to be constructing the Double Black Diamond Solar project with skilled craftspeople and with components made in America, and we are delighted to add Cook County as an important customer."

The remainder of the County's goal for building electricity use to be 100% renewable by 2030 will be met by energy efficiency projects, on-site solar installations, and future off-site renewable energy agreements.

###

About Constellation

A Fortune 200 company headquartered in Baltimore, Constellation Energy Corporation (Nasdaq: CEG) is the nation's largest producer of clean, carbon-free energy and a leading supplier of energy products and services to businesses, homes, community aggregations and public sector customers across the continental United States, including three fourths of Fortune 100 companies. With annual output that is nearly 90% carbon-free, our hydro, wind and solar facilities paired with the nation's largest nuclear fleet have the generating capacity to power the equivalent of 15 million homes, providing about 10% of the nation's clean energy. We are further accelerating the nation's transition to a carbon-free future by helping our customers reach their sustainability goals, setting our own ambitious goal of achieving 100% carbon-free generation by 2040, and by investing in promising emerging technologies to eliminate carbon emissions across all sectors of the economy. Follow Constellation on LinkedIn and Twitter.
A 45-year-old man who allegedly told passengers on a Malaysia Airlines flight from Sydney that he was carrying a bomb has refused to come out of his cell to face court.

Flight MH122 bound for Kuala Lumpur departed just after 1pm on Monday but turned back after Muhammad Arif allegedly become aggressive towards other passengers and crew.

Malaysia Airlines flight MH122 sits on the runway at Sydney Airport and Muhammad Arif, who allegedly made the threats. Credit: Nine News, Supplied

The plane carrying 194 passengers landed at 3.47pm, and was stuck on the tarmac for three hours as Australian Federal Police responded.

The Canberra man was set to appear before Downing Centre Local Court after being charged with one count of making a false statement about a threat to damage a division three aircraft, and one count of a passenger not complying with cabin crews safety instructions on Tuesday morning.
A terrified mother has described the moment she was allegedly carjacked by a blood-covered inmate who escaped from Sydneys Long Bay Correctional Complex, and revealed how she got away.

Jason Neil Melbon, 43, faced court on Tuesday after escaping from the jail in Sydneys east on Monday afternoon and allegedly attacking two women.

I was just very scared, very scared: Rachelle has recounted her alleged carjacking by prison escapee. Credit: Nine News

Police say Melbon assaulted the first woman in her home on Esperance Close in Little Bay, tying her up with power cords, before running up to a second woman a few doors down.

That second woman, a nurse known only as Rachelle to preserve her safety, said she was unpacking groceries in her Little Bay driveway when Melbon allegedly approached.
An extremely detailed diary entry found by a schoolgirls suspicious parents led police to suspect a Sydney English teacher had committed sex offences against multiple female students over two decades, a court has heard.

Vasilious Kafataris, 55, has pleaded not guilty in Parramatta District Court to 17 charges relating to four complainants, aged between 15 and 17, including sexual touching, assault and sexual intercourse with a person under 18 who was under his care at the time.

Former English teacher Vasilious Kafataris leaves Parramatta District Court on the first day of his trial. Credit: AAP/Miklos Bolza

In her opening address to the jury on Monday, prosecutor Georgina Namat said the Crown would be calling former students and teachers to give evidence about Kafataris alleged tendency to have a sexual interest in female students at high schools where he worked and to act on that interest.

She said Kafataris worked at three different high schools in Sydneys west and south-west between 2000 and 2021, allegedly grooming students and engaging in sexual conduct with or towards them.
At Horsham Secondary College in Victorias Wimmera district, getting the basics right gives the schools 1000 students a strong grounding for a life of learning.

Horsham was a school of dwindling enrolments and high staff turnover when principal Rob Pyers started in 2014. A focus on positive pathways, giving students more choice and building better relationships with the community has set the college on a new trajectory.

Principal Rob Pyers and students from Horsham Secondary College. Credit: Jason South

Horshams median study score last year reached a 10-year high of 32, up from 29 in 2013. The percentage of students with a study score 40 or above leapt to 10.1 (way ahead of 2013s 4.8).

The school has now been awarded The Ages 2023 Schools that Excel government winner for the regional area. The annual series celebrates schools that achieve outstanding advancement in their VCE results. The Age has gathered VCE results data going back 10 years for every secondary school in the state and turned it into an easy-to-use dashboard.
The aim may be to educate students who make a difference in the world, but teachers who are always available to answer questions and analyse VCE exam data to deliver the best results have led Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar to higher academic scores.

The P-12 school of 900 students in Essendon has shown gradual improvement in its VCE results over the past 10 years. Its median study score has hardly shifted from 35, while the percentage of students with a study score 40 or above has surged to 26.3 - a rise from 17.5 in 2013.

Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School principal Elisabeth Rhodes (centre) and deputy principal Tracy Healy (right) with students. Credit: Justin McManus

Its why The Age has named the girls school its 2023 Schools that Excel winner for non-government schools in Melbournes west. The annual series celebrates schools that achieve outstanding advancement in their VCE results.

The Age has gathered VCE results data going back 10 years for every secondary school in the state and turned it into an easy-to-use dashboard to show how each one fared over the past decade, what its graduates do after finishing, and more.
Australias richest person Gina Rinehart has railed against taxes, bureaucrats and bird-killing clean energy she claims will raise food prices and cause a shortage of fresh produce.

The chair of Hancock Prospecting told a Bush Summit event she wanted to put smiles on faces in the audience, and there were great outcomes to achieve with the travelling roadshow organised by her company and News Corporation. It visited her hometown of Perth for the first time on Monday.

Australias richest person, mining magnate Gina Rinehart, wants governments to cut taxes and red tape and to help farmers pay for net zero policies. Credit: Trevor Collens

She gave a 10-minute speech for the crowd of about 200 with recurring themes that taxes, bureaucracy and renewable energy were the enemies of regional Australia.

The push to net-zero emissions was too expensive for the agricultural sector unless, like Rinehart, you had a mining company in your back pocket.
A magician and childrens entertainer who made an appearance on Australias Got Talent is accused of hypnotising young boys and luring them with magic tricks before sexually abusing them.

Dewald Venter, 29, stands trial this week over 33 counts of child sexual abuse relating to three teenage boys and one teenage girl over a four-year period beginning in 2011.

Dewald Venter Credit: Nine News

On Monday, at Perths District Court, state prosecutor Joel Grinceri told the jury Venter allegedly met his first victim online, a Year 8 schoolboy who the court heard was feeling confusion regarding his sexual orientation and went online looking at chat forums.

The boy allegedly connected with Venter, who said he was looking for experimental fun before meeting him at a skate park and then driving him to a construction site where he abused him.
Voters have cut their support for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after a fierce political dispute over the Indigenous Voice, slashing his net performance rating from 16 to just 2 percentage points over the past month and weakening trust in the governments message.

The powerful shift has narrowed the gap between Labor and the Coalition to only 4 percentage points on the primary vote, down from 9 points last month, at a crucial point in the contest for a Yes or No vote at the referendum likely in October.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton (right) trails Anthony Albanese as preferred prime minister by 25 to 46 per cent, but has gained ground on this measure from the result of 21 to 51 per cent last month. Credit: Fairfax Media

The exclusive findings from the Resolve Political Monitor show that support for the Voice has slipped from 48 to 46 per cent on the Yes or No question that will decide the referendum, continuing a decline from 63 per cent one year ago.

The results indicate the Voice has majority support in Victoria and Tasmania but is opposed in NSW, Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia, suggesting it would be defeated at the referendum because it would not gain a national majority as well as approval in a majority of states.
ELKO  An Elko man who was the subject of a police chase three weeks ago is wanted again, this time as a person of interest in a shooting.

Elko Police Department officers reported Monday that they were called to 1400 Mountain City Highway on the evening of Aug. 9 for a report of gunfire that was heard in the area. Officers arrived and located a man who had been shot once in the leg.

While canvassing the area, officers located shell casings that were consistent with the caliber of firearm used to shoot the victim.

Police said the victim was very uncooperative with law enforcement at that time and was transported to the Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital for his wound. He was subsequently flown to Salt Lake City for advanced medical care.

EPD detectives have since been able to interview the victim in Salt Lake City and identified Tyree Adams, 24, as a subject of interest in this case.

Anyone who has information on Adams whereabouts is asked to contact Elko Dispatch at 775-777-7300.

Police searching for suspect from Sunday incident A man who led police on two car chases and then jumped into the river to elude capture remained at large on Tuesday afternoon.

Police also requested the publics help in finding Adams following a July 23 incident in which a car was seen traveling more than 80 mph near Elko High School. Officers began pursuing the vehicle briefly but then terminated the chase due to the danger posed to the public because of the excessive speeds in the 25-mph speed zones.

Adams was spotted later that day and pursued a second time, but police said he stopped at the end of the cul-de-sac at Fifth and Front streets, and jumped into the Humboldt River to elude capture.

Adams was described as approximately 6 feet tall and 245 pounds with a tattoo above his right eyebrow, on both of his arms, and on his chest.
A group of former Labor attorneys-general is calling on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to intensify his efforts to convince the United States to end its pursuit of Julian Assange, and say they fear the WikiLeaks founder could die in an American prison if his case is not resolved soon.

The intervention by the nine former federal and state first law officers came after US ambassador Caroline Kennedy flagged the possibility of a deal that could mean Assange returns to Australia in exchange for pleading guilty to some charges.

Julian Assange in 2017. Former attorneys-general say the US pursuit of the WikiLeaks founder sets a dangerous precedent for journalists and whistleblowers. Credit: AP

Asked about the Assange case, Kennedy told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age: I think that there absolutely could be a resolution.

In a letter sent to Albanese last week, the former attorneys-general contrasted the treatment of Australian journalists who have been lauded for their work exposing alleged war crimes by Australian Defence Force personnel to Assange, who exposed wrongdoing by US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Remarks from a key figure in the Voice No campaign about Indigenous journalist Stan Grant and independent senator Lidia Thorpe have been condemned and labelled disgusting and grotesque.

Australian Jewish Association head David Adler, who sits on the advisory board of top No outfit Advance with former prime minister Tony Abbott, insists he was not trying to insult the prominent Indigenous pair when he questioned Thorpes Aboriginal heritage and repeatedly suggested Grant had artificially darkened his skin.

David Adlers comments about Stan Grant (left) and Lidia Thorpe have been condemned. Credit: Oscar Colman, Facebook, Alex Ellinghausen

Days after Grant stepped down as host of the ABCs Q+A citing racist abuse in May, Adler posted pictures of the Wiradjuri man on social media that he said showed STAN GRANTS COMPLEXION SEEMS TO HAVE CHANGED.

Look at the 3 pics. Can anyone explain?
Ever expanding western Sydney has exerted a huge influence on changing Australia society for at least three decades. Now it is shaping up to play a pivotal role in determining the outcome of the referendum on an Indigenous Voice to parliament.

The Herald spoke to people in western/south western Sydney and asked how theyll be voting. Georgia Manion from Lakemba plans on voting Yes. Credit: James Brickwood

With three states leaning No and two Yes, NSW will be crucial to achieving the majority of states required to embed the Voice to parliament in the Constitution. And to win NSW, the Yes campaign needs western Sydney, which is home to a third of the states electors.

The region has been as a game changer ever since residents attracted the sobriquet Howards battlers, as they were first described during the 1996 federal election campaign. That year they helped usher John Howard into power. This year they assisted Chris Minns end the Coalitions hegemony in the NSW election. Over those intervening years, just as western Sydney has grown up, so too did the battlers, and their families, and now it is more manifold than ever.

But, as the Heralds Jordan Baker and Matt Wade point out, no one knows which way the diverse, electorally unpredictable region is likely to fall on the referendum. Both sides of the debate realise Sydneys west is vital to victory and that the migrant vote is pliable.
The University of NSW is urging students and academics to report any foreign government interference witnessed in class, as human rights groups warn that free speech and academic freedom are increasingly under threat.

In emails sent in June and July, the university asked staff and students to come forward with any complaints of such interference, referring to Human Rights Watch reports that pro-Beijing groups had intimidated those critical of the Chinese Communist Party.

UNSW has told students to be on the lookout for foreign government harassment. Credit: Ryan Stuart

The university warned students that harassing or making threats against staff or fellow students was a breach of code of conduct rules, as well as reporting on comments or behaviour back to a foreign government.

New reports of harassment and intimidation of UNSW staff and students also have emerged since the start of the awareness campaign, deputy vice chancellor Professor George Williams has confirmed.
Brimming with playful, colour-drenched interiors by Spanish artist Jaime Hayon, this funky hotel is part of a new neighbourhood anchored around Battersea Power Station, an impressively restored art deco landmark by the River Thames. Now containing an industrial-chic mall, the chimney-clad building is visible from some of the Art Otels 164 rooms and suites  plus its heated rooftop infinity pool and bar-restaurant by Michelin-acclaimed Portuguese chef Henrique Sa Pessoa. Theres a good Venetian-flavoured eatery by the ground-floor lobby, too. A new tube station services the area (its on the Northern Line), while Thames Clippers river buses also stop by. From 200 ($371). Phone: +44 333 400 6152. See artotellondonbattersea.com

Chateau Denmark imbues the spirit of rock n roll across its 55 eclectic rooms.

A rock n roll spirit infuses this hedonistic hotel scattered across 16 buildings in and around Denmark Street, a Soho strip thats lined with guitar shops and studios where David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix and the Rolling Stones hung out and recorded. Mick Jaggers portrait is among the zany, music-tinged pieces brightening Chateau Denmarks corridors and 55 eclectic rooms and apartments. Sized up to 93-square-metres, some are large enough to stage private parties, with lavishly stocked mini bars, drinks trolleys and butlers on call to shake cocktails. The theatres, pubs and clubs of Londons West End are on the doorstep.

From 298 ($555). Phone: +44 20 3656 1000. See chateaudenmark.com

The Hoxton Shepherds Bush

Hip hotel brand The Hoxton brings a retro-modern vibe to west London.

One of the citys hippest hotel brands has landed in a gritty, yet gentrifying slice of west London that was popular with Australian expats and backpackers in the 1990s and Noughties. Facing Shepherds Bush Green, near the infamous old Walkabout pub (now closed), The Hoxton has a retro-modern vibe with 237 rooms, a lobby made for lingering, a wraparound bar and Thai-Americana diner Chets. Around the corner, you have the multicultural Shepherds Bush market, a giant Westfield and tubes into central London. Notting Hills Portobello Road is about half-hour away on foot.

From around 139 ($258). Phone: +44 20 3540 3140. See thehoxton.com
I havent been to New York for four years and as every year passes, I wonder what the city will have lost when I finally get back there.

One institution that will certainly make it to the next decade is Sardis, the venerable theatre district restaurant and bar which has been the gathering place for showbiz folk since it opened in 1921.

When they make the next version of Planet of the Apes, it will be the Sardis sign, not the Statue of Liberty, that they find sticking out of the sand. If it survived the closing down of Broadway during the pandemic, it will survive anything.

Sardis New York, photographed in 1975 and little changed since. Credit: Alamy

The food is supposedly indifferent, but the atmosphere is off the charts. The dark burgundy walls are famously lined with caricatures of theatre and film celebrities, most of whom frequented the joint whenever they were in town. Its an honour to have your likeness on the wall and these days Cate Blanchett and Hugh Jackman join historic luminaries such as Lucille Ball and Paul Newman.
Shinto shrines are uncomplicated. They have a pared-down Japanese style that contrasts with the ornate exuberance of Catholic churches or Buddhist temples, and are often located in simple natural settings.

Credit: Jamie Brown

Although major Shinto shrines can be busy with students or businesspeople praying for success, or you might stumble into a wedding or priestly procession, the chief reason to visit is for lovely tranquillity amid the crowded clamour of Japan.

The best shrines arent featured in guidebooks but are modest country affairs hunkered under cedar trees or bamboo, where breezes and birds provide the only soundtrack.

You know youve entered a Shinto complex when you see a pair of stone guardian lions, dogs or foxes near the main torii entrance gate. If you want to follow the rituals, rinse your hands and mouth at the water basin and approach the shrine from the side; the centre is reserved for any deities who care to pass by.
Singapore/Jakarta: Four Australians on a surfing trip to Indonesia for a friends 30th birthday are missing off the coast of Indonesias Aceh province after their wooden speed boat struck rough weather en route to the remote Banyak Islands.

A search and rescue effort was launched on Monday in a bid to find the small vessel which disappeared on Sunday night and on which three Indonesian crew were also on board.

The four missing are Steph Weisse, Jordan Short, Elliot Foote and Will Teagle. Credit: Instagram

The four Australians are Elliot Foote, Steph Weisse, Will Teagle and Jordan Short.

The keen surfers had been travelling in Sumatra and on the island of Nias with eight other friends to celebrate Footes 30th birthday.
PHILIPSBURG:--- On Saturday, August 12, 2023, fifteen (15) financing recipients departed St.Maarten for the United States to pursue their studies.

Thirteen (13) students will be pursuing their studies in Tallahassee Florida. Tallahassee and St.Maarten have a sister city agreement which was initiated by the late Arthur Lugisse.

Most of the students, eight (8) will be studying at the Tallahassee Community College TCC, four (4) at the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, and one (1) at Florida State University.

The Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports, Drs. R.E Samuel was on hand at the airport to address the departing students and parents. Saturdays are the busiest day at SXM airport, consequently, they were unable to make the usual arrangements for the departing students.

Upon arrival in Tallahassee, the students were welcomed by Mrs. Lilita Forbes-Johnson and other members of the Tallahassee Sint Maarten Foundation who transported them to a hotel.

The Tallahassee Sint Maarten Foundation will be organizing an introduction and orientation program which will include assisting the students with opening a US bank account, school registration, city-and shopping tours, setting their rooms, and finally a welcome ceremony at City Hall.

The students will be majoring in a variety of priority studies for Sint Maarten such as Psychology, Computer science, Mechanical Engineering, Construction Management, Speech- and Physical Therapy, Public Administration, Digital Media, MFA in Music, MFA in Dance, Dance Therapy, and Commercial Pilot.

In the coming weeks more students will be departing the island independently with their parents to various cities in the United States (5) Canada (3) and the United Kingdom(1).

The next batch of study financing recipients for the USA, predominantly CXC and CAPE graduates will depart the island in January 2024, after they receive their official high-school exam results.

Approximately 25 students will remain at St.Maarten to pursue their studies at the University of St. Martin, NIPA, AUC, and via online E-learning platforms.

The most popular E-learning provider is Monroe College.

Unfortunately, several study financing recipients with prerequisite high-school diplomas seeking admittance into NIPA's Nursing program were denied entry into this program based on a recently introduced ATI test. Provisions will be made to assist these students to pursue their dream to become a nurse elsewhere.

Division Study Financing wishes all the students much success with their studies and thanks to everyone who assisted with the preparation of the students for their transition to live and study abroad. Special thanks to our main partner the Tallahassee Sint Maarten Foundation, and our colleagues at the Department of Finance and Treasury who worked tirelessly to ensure that the study financing recipients received their funds.
~ The UPP was not formed to benefit one individual or their families  Franklyn Meyers.~



PHILIPSBURG: --- Despite the infighting and political backstabbing, the United Peoples Party led by Rolando Brison is back as their supporters showed up in large numbers showing their support for the new and reformed UPP the green machine.

On Sunday evening persons within the St. Maarten community that supported the UPP under the leadership of Theodore Heyliger returned and showed their support for the party that is now led by Member of Parliament Rolando Brison with its deputy leader Minister of VSA Omar Ottley.

Special invited guest and keynote speaker Terrence Drew Jr kept the crowd on their feet at the Aleeze Convention Center when he spoke of the importance of youths in every nation. Drew Jr. called on every young person to take up their role in society while knowing their worth. He called on the youths to denounce the labels given to youths that are often called drug addicts and criminals.

Former Member of Parliament and co-founder of the United Peoples Party Franklin Meyers sent a clear message when he said that the United Peoples Party was not formed to benefit any one person or family. It is a party that was formed to unite people and to be inclusive.

At the congress, a new board was nominated and elected, while the UPP board recognized the founding board members for their contributions and dedication towards building the United Peoples Party which was founded by the late Joseph Richardson, Theodore Heyliger, and Franklin Meyers.

The UPP board also recognized some Associations for their contributions. The Indian Merchant Associations, the La Semana Dominicana, the Haitian Association and the Guyanese St. Maarten Association are among those that were recognized.

Leader of the UPP Rolando Brison pledged to continue working for the people of St. Maarten, he reminded that even though he was attacked and faced numerous challenges since being elected and chosen to revive the UPP party he did not get distracted from the work he set out to do for his country and its people. Brison made clear that he is the only Member of Parliament that presented numerous laws to the Parliament of St. Maarten and had them passed.

Another speaker that kept the large crowd going was the Minister of Everything Omar Ottley.

Ottley held two Ministries for nine months without complaining, he also reminded the gathering how much he worked on things that mattered to them one being increasing the food basket and ensuring that the minimum wage was increased. He said he is currently working on a living wage for the workers in St. Maarten.

Some candidates that will be running on the UPP Slate are:

Rolando Brison

Omar Ottley

Tamara Leonard

Kevin Maingrette

Ydellienne Heerenveen

Mark Mingo

Juanly Abel

Mellissa Molanus

Cresburk Browne

Francisco LaCroes

Lyndon Lewis

Richard Patrick

Steve Chase

Akeem Arrindell

Chanel Brownbill

Sidhardth Bijlani

The Congress was live-streamed by SMN News. The full stream can be found on SMN News Facebook Page
China firmly opposes any visit by "Taiwan independence" separatists to the United States and rejects any form of official interaction between the US and the island, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

The Foreign Ministry made the remarks after reports said that deputy leader of China's Taiwan region Lai Ching-te set off for Paraguay on Saturday to attend the inauguration of the country's new president, and has arrived in New York for a "stopover".

China deplores and strongly condemns the US decision to arrange the so-called stopover for Lai, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said, adding that Beijing opposes the US government having any form of official contact with the Taiwan region.

China is closely following the developments of the situation and will take resolute and strong measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity, the spokesperson said.

Lai is a troublemaker who clings stubbornly to the separatist position for "Taiwan independence", the spokesperson said.

The US and the Taiwan authorities arranged for Lai to engage in political activities in the US in the name of having a "stopover", which violates the one-China principle and gravely undermines China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the spokesperson said.

The fact once again shows that the fundamental cause of the continued tensions in the Taiwan Strait is the Taiwan authorities' attempt to solicit US support for "Taiwan independence" and that the US are bent on using Taiwan to contain China, the spokesperson added.

The Taiwan question is the core of the core interests of China, the bedrock of the political foundation of China-US relations, and the first red line that must not be crossed in China-US relations, the spokesperson reiterated.

The spokesperson urged the US to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, deliver on its commitment of not supporting "Taiwan independence" or "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan".

Washington should stop all forms of official interaction with Taiwan, stop conniving at and supporting "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and their separatist activities, and stop fudging and hollowing out the one-China principle, the spokesperson added.
South Reward:--- The Honorable Minister of Justice, Anna E. Richardson, recently visited St. Dominic High School at the invitation of the school administration. The purpose of the visit was to engage in an enlightening discussion with pupils of the 3rd form on a range of important topics.

Minister Richardson's visit proved to be an inspiring and educational experience for both the students and the Minister herself. During the interactive session, Minister Richardson delved into meaningful conversations with the students, addressing key themes such as perseverance, standing up against peer pressure, making thoughtful choices, and the significance of demonstrating good behavior, including respect for both adults and peers.

A central focus of the dialogue was the recent jouvert jump-up. Minister Richardson acknowledged the concerns raised by the Sint Maarten Police Department (KPSM) regarding the alarming number of youth who were observed to be under the influence of substances during the event. This led to a thought-provoking exchange wherein Minister Richardson invited the students to share their insights on the reasons behind the increasing prevalence of drug and alcohol use, as well as risky behaviors such as early sexual activity.

In response to these challenges, Minister Richardson shared valuable information about the ongoing efforts of the Ministry of Justice. She revealed that the Ministry is actively working on the development of an event policy aimed at ensuring well-structured and safe events within the community. This policy seeks to incorporate safety measures from the initial application phase and will include provisions to prevent underage youth from participating in events with adult themes, as mandated by existing laws.

Recognizing the importance of youth perspectives in shaping a safer environment, Minister Richardson presented the students with an engaging assignment. She challenged them to collaboratively prepare a presentation outlining suggestions for fostering a secure and supportive atmosphere for the youth of Sint Maarten. The goal is to counter the pressures and temptations that may lead to detrimental choices, both immediately and in the future. The Minister has granted the students a three-month timeline to craft their presentation.

Minister Richardson expressed her enthusiasm to return in three months' time to witness the creative solutions the students propose to address the challenges faced by their peers. By actively involving the young generation in the formulation of strategies, the Ministry of Justice aims to curb unhealthy teen phenomena and promote positive choices among Sint Maarten's youth.

"I extend my heartfelt appreciation to Teacher Susan Meijnaar and Principal Esmeralda Sutton for extending the gracious invitation that allowed me to engage with the students on this remarkable platform. The experience was nothing short of inspiring, and I am genuinely excited about the prospect of returning within a few short months. The enthusiasm of the students was infectious, and I am eager to continue our meaningful interactions." - Minister Richardson.
3U operationally and strategically on track for H1 2023

Posted by Publisher Internet

3U operationally and strategically on track for H1 2023

Sales growth in the Renewable Energies and ITC segment

SHAC segment gains market share despite sales decline

Management Board expects catch-up effects in the SHAC market and reaffirms forecast for 2023

Group revenue of 3U HOLDING AG (ISIN DE0005167902) from continued operations of EUR 25.09 million in the first half of 2023 (H1 2023) was at the level of the first half of 2022 (H1 2022: EUR 25.36 million). Revenues in the two high-margin businesses ITC (Information and Telecommunications Technology) and Renewable Energies increased further compared to the previous year. Sales in the SHAC (sanitary, heating and air conditioning technology) segment also once again outperformed the German online retail sector as a whole, but suffered a year-on-year decline against the backdrop of the downturn in the construction industry, particularly in the second quarter. This development of the strongest segment in terms of sales in the 3U Group could not be fully compensated by the pleasing growth of the other business units. Consequently, the sales proportions of the segments in the Group also changed slightly. The segment ITC generated 25.2% (H1 2022: 24.0%) of total revenues in the first half of the year, the segment Renewable Energies 17.3% (H1 2022: 16.4%) and SHAC 58.7% (H1 2022: 60.7%).

The interim financial statements as at 30 June 2023 no longer comprise the information of the cloud computing business in the subgroup of weclapp SE which was deconsolidated in the financial year 2022. Consequently, the figures from continued operations from the first half of 2022 respectively the second quarter of 2022 are used for year-on-year comparison.

EBITDA

In the first half of 2022, 3U HOLDING still recorded other operating income of EUR 9.01 million, mainly from the InnoHubs property development project. In the current reporting period, this income was significantly lower at EUR 0.84 million. The cost of materials ratio (cost of materials as a percentage of sales) was slightly lower than in the first half of 2022 at 62.8%, while the personnel expense ratio was slightly higher at 16.7%. Despite increased maintenance expenses due to the repair of a wind turbine in Roge in the first quarter of 2023, the ratio of other operating expenses to sales was now significantly lower than in the previous year at 14.3% (H1 2022: 33.2%), largely due to the costs incurred at the time in connection with the sale of InnoHubs space in the comparable period of the previous year.

Against this backdrop, Group earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) decreased to EUR 2.59 million in the first half of the 2023 financial year (H1 2022: EUR 5.99 million). As a result, the EBITDA margin at Group level reached 10.3% after 23.6% in the first six months of the previous year.

Group result

At EUR 1.69 million, depreciation and amortisation in the first half of 2023 was at the same level as in the corresponding period of the previous year (H1 2022: EUR 1.67 million). As expected, 3U recorded a positive financial result of EUR 1.44 million in the first six months of 2023 (H1 2022: EUR -0.14 million).

The consolidated result attributable to the shareholders of the parent company amounted to EUR 1.60 million in the first half of 2023 (H1 2022: EUR 2.47 million). Earnings per share were EUR 0.04 (basic and diluted) in the reporting period.

Segment results

The ITC segment posted revenue growth of 4.2% in the reporting period. In the first six months of 2023, segment revenue of EUR 6.33 million was achieved (H1 2022: EUR 6.08 million). The Data Center & Managed Services business was able to significantly increase its revenue by more than 46%. Due to internal efficiency improvements and thanks to increasing service revenues, the segment\-s EBITDA increased by 13.9%. It reached EUR 1.80 million after EUR 1.58 million in the first half of 2022. The EBITDA margin of the ITC segment was thus 28.5% (H1 2022: 26.1%).

Wind yield and solar radiation were around 15% lower in the first half of 2023 than in the same period of the previous year, when wind and sun were strong. In addition, the temporary standstill of a wind turbine at the Roge wind farm in the first quarter of 2023 had a negative impact on sales. In contrast, the improved delivery conditions from the electricity supply contracts agreed for 2023 for the Klostermoor and Roge wind farms made a significant contribution to the revenue growth of the Renewable Energies Segment. Revenue increased by a total of 4.6% to EUR 4.34 million (H1 2022: EUR 4.15 million). Against the backdrop of the repair costs for the turbine in Roge, the segment EBITDA reached a total of EUR 3.21 million, which corresponds to a slight decline of 1.8% (H1 2022: EUR 3.27 million).

The Management continues to believe that the prospects for the SHAC segment, with its focus on the megatrends of e-commerce and climate-friendly or CO2-neutral heating systems, are excellent in the medium to long term. In the reporting period, however, the current business was not able to decouple itself from the overall economic environment. According to the Bundesverband E-Commerce und Versandhandel (BEVH), sales in the German online trade industry shrank by 12% in the second quarter of 2023, while the number of building permits issued for residential buildings nationwide slumped by 36%, according to the Federal Statistical Office. Thus, although business in the SHAC segment again outperformed the industry environment, it still recorded a decline in revenue and earnings. At EUR 14.72 million, segment revenue in the first half of 2023 was 4.4% lower than in the same period of the previous year (H1 2022: EUR 15.40 million). EBITDA declined from EUR -0.06 million in the same period of the previous year to EUR -0.44 million in the first half of 2023 due to lower contribution margins.

Cash flow and financials

Cash flow from operating activities amounted to EUR 0.03 million in the first six months (H1 2022: EUR 2.18 million), which, in addition to a lower result, is mainly due to a significantly lower increase in current trade payables and the change in other liabilities. Investing activities in the reporting period resulted in a cash outflow of EUR 3.74 million (H1 2022: cash outflow of EUR 3.52 million). Investments in investment property relate to the acquisition of office space in the InnoHubs building in WArzburg originally used by the former Group company weclapp, which is now intended for letting to third parties. Investments in tangible assets mainly comprise the acquisition of a plot of land for the construction of a new company headquarters in Marburg.

The cash outflow from financing activities came to EUR 117.97 million in the reporting period (H1 2022: EUR 0.57 million) and is mainly due to the distribution of the dividend for the 2022 financial year in the amount of EUR 3.20 per share. In total, cash and cash equivalents decreased as expected by EUR 121.68 million (H1 2022: decrease of EUR 1.91 million). Cash and cash equivalents amounted to EUR 68.03 million on 30 June 2023 (31 December 2022: EUR 189.70 million and 30 June 2022: EUR 10.80 million).

The almost complete distribution of the balance sheet profit of 3U HOLDING AG to the shareholders is also reflected in the Group\-s equity. As of 31 December 2022, the consolidated net income was mainly increased by the sale of weclapp SE and amounted to EUR 159.0 million. The profit carried forward as of 30 June 2023 totalled EUR 45.74 million. As debt was also EUR 3.40 million lower as of 30 June 2023 than as of 31 December 2022, the consolidated balance sheet continues to show a very solid equity ratio of 76.9% (31 December 2022: 86.7%).

\At the half-year 2023, we are very satisfied with the development of our segments ITC and Renewable Energies,\ affirms Uwe Knoke, member of 3U HOLDING AGa?s management board. \However, the fact that many do-it-yourselfers and homeowners were irritated by the political debates about the so-called heating law hampered us in the SHAC segment in the second quarter and left its mark on the half-year results. However, the sharp downturn in the sector leads us to expect catch-up effects in the coming months. With the imminent launch of our innovative ThermCube, \-the all-in-one cabinet-housed heat pump heating system\-, we are very well positioned for this.\

The Management Board affirms its guidance announced in March and anticipates strong organic growth in 2023. Revenue in 2023 is expected in a range of between EURA 55.0 million and EUR 60.0 million. In view of the lower level of other income in line with expectations and the significantly higher proportion of lower margin retail business, the Management Board anticipates EBITDA of EURA 6.0 million to EURA 8.0 million. Net profit of the 3U Group is therefore expected in a range of between EURA 2.5 million and EURA 3.5 million.

The actual operating result may be higher or lower than forecast here due to the acquisition or sale of the Groupa?s operating units. The resulting effects can only be planned for to limited extent, however. The 3U Group remains true to its corporate purpose of creating value in the interest of its shareholders and all stakeholders and will continue to pursue its strategic course of expanding successful parts of the business successfully in the long term and, given the relevant demand, of selling them at attractive conditions.

In harmony with the corporate strategy, the Management Board is addressing a series of investment undertakings. Along with purchasing companies or customer bases in the financial year 2023 this pertains notably to repowering the Langendorf wind farm. Options for further very promising investments are meticulously assessed on a running basis.

Uwe Knoke explains further: \The medium- and long-term perspectives of 3U, as we presented them in our MISSION 2026, remain favourable, and we continue to work consistently on the implementation of our strategic measures. Temporary downturns in the industry environment can be balanced out by us as a diversified management and investment holding company. They strengthen us in our operating activities in the intact megatrends of digitalization, e-commerce and renewable energies, and in our aspiration to increase value in the interests of all stakeholders.\

Half-year financial report

The interim statement on the first half of the 2023 financial year will be published on today, 14 August 2023. The report can be downloaded from the companya?s website (www.3U.net) under the aInvestor Relations/Publicationsa heading.

Die 3U HOLDING AG (www.3u.net) mit Sitz in Marburg wurde 1997 gegrAndet. Sie steht als operative Management- und Beteiligungsholding an der Spitze des 3U Konzerns. Zum Zweck der Wertsteigerung fAr das Aktionariat, die BeschAftigten, Kunden, Lieferanten und alle Stakeholder erwirbt, betreibt und verAuAert sie Unternehmen in den drei Segmenten ITK (Informations- und Telekommunikationstechnik), Erneuerbare Energien und SHK (SanitAr-, Heizungs- und Klimatechnik). In allen drei Segmenten ist der 3U Konzern mit GeschAftsmodellen in Megatrends erfolgreich und profitabel und strebt insbesondere mit seinem GeschAftsmodell im E-Commerce marktfAhrende Positionen an.

Die Aktien der 3U HOLDING AG werden auf XETRA, Tradegate und an den deutschen RegionalbArsen gehandelt (ISIN: DE0005167902; KArzel: UUU).
Why not bet on royalty companies

An excellent idea is to enhance the portfolio with an investment in a royalty company

Royalty companies pay money to mining companies in return for a share of current or future production, usually gold or silver shipments. And there are royalties, company shares or so-called milestone payments. Royalties usually account for one to three percent. They can take different forms but are usually defined as a small percentage of the net smelter return (NSR). This in turn is calculated as the proceeds of precious metal production, with refining and transportation costs deducted.

The mine operator can bring his mine to production more quickly and the royalty company participates in the mining company without its own mining risk. In addition, shares in companies that are not yet producing are favorable for the royalty company. If the precious metals are then produced, the royalty company can often score with a special profit lever. This is even more true when gold and silver prices rise. So, both partners benefit, because financing is not always easy to obtain. Another advantage of royalty companies is the large number of partner companies, i.e., a broad diversification. For the investor, this means diversification that a single mining company cannot offer in this way. Among the well positioned and successful royalty companies are Gold Royalty and Osisko Gold Royalties.

With a focus on North America, Osisko Gold Royalties (https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/osisko-gold-royalties-ltd/) owns over 180 royalties and streams. Among them is the valuable five percent net smelter return royalty with respect to the largest gold mine (Malartic Mine) in Canada.

Gold Royalty (https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/gold-royalty-corp/) has more than 200 royalties in its portfolio and is focused on North, Central and South America. Current corporate information and press releases from Gold Royalty (https://www.resource-capital.ch/en/companies/gold-royalty-corp/) and Osisko Gold Royalties (https://www.resource-capital.ch/en/companies/osisko-gold-royalties-ltd/)

In accordance with A34 of the German Securities Trading Act (WpHG), I would like to point out that partners, authors and employees may hold shares in the respective companies addressed and that there is therefore a possible conflict of interest. No guarantee for the translation into German. Only the English version of this news is valid.

Disclaimer: The information provided does not constitute any form of recommendation or advice. Express reference is made to the risks involved in securities trading. No liability can be accepted for any damages arising from the use of this blog. I would like to point out that shares and especially warrant investments are fundamentally associated with risk. The total loss of the invested capital cannot be excluded. All information and sources are carefully researched. However, no guarantee is given for the correctness of all contents. Despite the greatest care, I expressly reserve the right to make a mistake, especially with regard to figures and prices. The information contained is taken from sources that are considered reliable, but in no way claim to be correct or complete. Due to judicial decisions the contents of linked external pages are to be answered for (so among other things regional court Hamburg, in the judgement of 12.05.1998  312 O 85/98), as long as no explicit dissociation from these takes place. Despite careful control of the contents, I do not assume any liability for the contents of linked external pages. The respective operators are exclusively responsible for their content. The disclaimer of Swiss Resource Capital AG applies additionally: https://www.resource-capital.ch/de/disclaimer-agb/.
Alpha Lithium Updates and Improves Preliminary Economic Assessment for Tolillar Project in Argentina

br />US$1.7 billion (CDN$2.3 billion) after-tax NPV8 with an IRR of 25.6%

US$8.2 billion (CDN$11.0 billion) of cumulative free cash flow over a 35-year mine life

7-year after-tax payback period from start of production

Significant upside potential remains from over 60% of salar not yet drilled or included in this PEA

a Alpha Lithium Corporation (NEO: ALLI) (OTC: APHLF) (German WKN: A3CUW1) (aAlphaa or the aCompanya)  https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/alpha-lithium-corp/  , a company developing a portfolio of highly prospective lithium assets in Argentina, today announced the results of an updated Preliminary Economic Assessment (aPEAa) for its wholly owned Tolillar lithium brine project in the Salta Province of Argentina (aTolillara). This recent PEA is an update to last montha?s PEA (see July 10, 2023 news release), which now includes additional resources identified less than one month ago (see July 17, 2023 news release). This PEA provides an independent, third-party economic assessment of the potential value of Tolillar, based on the latest estimation of lithium resources.

The PEA evaluated a 25,000 tonnes per annum (atpaa) commercial-scale operation to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate chemicals. Importantly, the study does not include the planned 25,000 tpa second phase expansion. Instead, the Company opted for a update to the previous PEA, simplifying and dramatically accelerating the reporta?s delivery time, which will be more useful for the Companya?s ongoing and expanded strategic review process (the strategic review process is more fully described in the June 23, 2023 news release).

Brad Nichol, President & CEO of Alpha commented, aThe results of the PEA demonstrate that Alphaa?s Tolillar project is an exceptionally robust lithium carbonate project, even with conservative assumptions. Tolillar represents one of the last, large, independent, wholly-owned lithium brine salars globally, and once the latest technical work is incorporated, Tolillar should become an even larger and longer-lived operation. Additionally, with its substantial fresh-water source on site, it is not difficult to understand why Tolillar is such a sought-after target.a Nichol added, aI am very pleased with the speed at which Alphaa?s team has advanced the Tolillar project from a greenfield site to PEA. To demonstrate the viability and significant economic potential of such a project speaks to the abilities of our unique team of experienced lithium specialists.a

PEA Highlights:

US$1.7 billion (C$2.3 billion) after-tax NPV with an 8% discount rate and IRR of 25.6%

Average Li2CO3 price of $23,146 per tonne, over 35 years of production

After tax payback period of 3.7 years from start of production

After tax, cumulative free cash flow of US$8.2 billion ($C11.0 billion) over a 35-year production life

Initial capital cost (aCAPEXa) of $777 million (includes contingency of $179 million)

Brine mining and processing cost, excluding Li2CO3 transport, (aOPEXa) of $5,172 per tonne

Cash cost of $5,980 per tonne (includes mining, processing, G&A, transportation, and royalties)

The PEA was prepared by Ausenco Chile Limitada (aAusencoa), a global engineering firm, experienced in the lithium industry. Ausenco has prepared multiple economic assessments and feasibility studies, specifically for, but not limited to, South American lithium brine extraction companies over the past several years. In addition to being DLE and production process experts, Ausencoa?s knowledge was invaluable for assessing current and conservative operating and capital costs, which incorporated the latest global cost estimates. All values are reported in US dollars, unless otherwise noted. References to CDN$ have been converted at 1.35 x US$.

Economic Analysis and Summary:

Lithium chemicals produced from brines are almost universally less expensive than those produced from hard rock, giving brine operations a significant competitive advantage. Specifically, the Tolillar project benefits meaningfully from the following:

Immediate proximity to (10-15 km from) Liventa?s Fenix Project, which has produced approximately 20,000 tpa of lithium carbonate chemicals for over two decades. Tolillar will dramatically benefit from the existence of a national high-grade highway (6 km away) connecting the project to supplies and services, a nearby (6 km) high-pressure natural gas pipeline with existing capacity, nearby (90 km) 3-phase power, and nearby (90 km) international rail lines.

A significant freshwater discovery on the north, south and west sides of the Tolillar salar, with the western discovery being capable of supporting a major lithium chemicals plant, on its own.

A proven DLE-based production process, built upon a process that has been tested and utilized for over two decades in Argentina. Alphaa?s production technology has been developed by an expert team with unmatched, hands-on, DLE and production experience.

Being the sole owner of the Tolillar salar eliminates potential conflicts or competition for production, fresh water, equipment, and personnel.

The Discounted Cash Flow Model, generated independently by Ausenco, with an outside consultant providing tax estimate advice, demonstrates an attractive economic result from the potential production of lithium carbonate chemicals from the Tolillar project. As a result, the Company expects to continue construction of its 120 tpa pilot plant, which will provide the necessary data to support the design and feasibility study for the 50,000 tpa lithium carbonate chemicals plant envisioned by Alpha.

The PEA NPV results take into account royalties that are specifically applicable to the Tolillar project.

Alpha has a strong technical team with extensive lithium experience leading its efforts in Argentina.

Total estimated initial capital costs are $776.6 million for the first phase (25,000 tpa) of lithium carbonate chemicals. Contingency costs are estimated at 30% of total direct and indirect costs. Capital costs for the second phase (a second 25,000 tpa) are not included in this PEA analysis; however, management expects those to be approximately 35% lower than the capital costs for the first phase by utilizing economies of scale.

To expedite the completion of this PEA, management elected to utilize Ausencoa?s previous capital estimates for a 25,000 tpa lithium chemicals plant. The additional of a second 25,000 tpa phase was considered, but Ausenco could not commit to completing a PEA that included a full-scale 50,000 tpa production scenario within the time constraints of Alphaa?s enhanced strategic review process.

The estimated operating costs are current as of Q1 2023 and reflect 100% year-on-year cost increases in some cases, such as for chemical reagents, which dramatically increased due to ongoing COVID-19 related global supply chain constraints. Management supports the use of potentially temporarily inflated costs and believes the cost estimates are appropriately conservative in light of many reported cost overruns in the industry. Finally, the second largest cost center is aEnergy,a accounting for 18% of the total operating cost. Alpha management has previously investigated and utilized solar power to provide energy to similar and larger projects in the past; however, solar power was not incorporated into the PEA at this time. Utilization of solar power should dramatically decrease the estimated operating cost.

Lithium Markets and Price:

Alpha consulted industry experts at Global Lithium LLC for estimates of long-term market and pricing dynamics. Recently, the price of lithium carbonate has been volatile, ranging from $5,000/tonne in 2018 to over $80,000/tonne in Chinaa?s spot market in 2022, before moderating in 2023. Even during the most recent period of spot market volatility, long-term contract prices outside of China remained relatively constant in the $60,000/tonne range, on average, through April 2023.

For estimating future cash flows from new projects, Global Lithium LLC and Alpha recommended a conservative approach, using a price significantly below (approximately 50% of) the upper end of the expected long-term marginal cost curve, yielding conservative project economics that leave room for significant upside. While most forecasters do not forecast prices beyond 2030, Global Lithium LLC recommended using a price of $22,500/tonne from 2031 to 2035 and a price of $23,500/tonne from 2036 and beyond.

The PEA is based upon brine grades across the companya?s Measured, Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources only. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that the Tolillar project envisioned by the PEA will be realized. The PEA is preliminary in nature and includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves.

Qualified Person:

A Technical Report prepared in accordance with NI 43-101* in support of the PEA will be filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and on the Companya?s website (www.alphalithium.com) within 45 days. The PEA Technical Report is intended to be read as a whole, and sections should not be read or relied upon out of context. Scientific and technical information related to the PEA contained in this news release has been reviewed by:

James Millard, P. Geo, Ausenco Engineering Canada Inc., Environmental Studies and Permitting

Patricio Pinto, RM, Ausenco Chile Ltda., Principal Process Engineer

These persons, above, have the ability to verify the authenticity of this data and are independent from the Company.

Dr. Mark King, PhD, FGC, PGeo, of Groundwater Insight, Inc., is a qualified person (QP) as defined by NI 43-101. Dr. King has extensive experience in salar environments and has been a QP on many lithium brine projects. Dr. King is independent from the Company and has reviewed and approved the technical information mentioned in this press release. A Technical Report prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 in support of the resource estimate will be filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and on the Companya?s website (www.alphalithium.com) within 45 days.

All operations and assets of the Company are in Argentina and are fully managed by Alpha Lithium Argentina SA (aAlpha SAa) utilizing local employees and consultants. Since initiating the first steps of an exploration program in 2020, Alpha SA has drilled more than 20 holes, constructed an in-house brine chemistry research laboratory, developed a proprietary Lithium Carbonate production process that successfully works in Tolillar, started construction of a pilot plant, and employed dozens of highly skilled Argentinian technologists, engineers, geologists, geophysicists and chemists, in addition to several students, accounting, managerial and HR professionals. The Company is grateful for, and reliant upon, the significantly large Argentinian team that has proven instrumental at generating value for shareholders.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF ALPHA LITHIUM CORPORATION

aBrad Nichola

Brad Nichol

President, CEO and Director

For more information:

Alpha Lithium Investor Relations

Tel: +1 844 592 6337

relations@alphalithium.com

www.alphalithium.com

www.protectalphalithium.com

About Alpha Lithium (NEO: ALLI) (OTC: APHLF) (German WKN: A3CUW1)

Alpha Lithium is a team of industry professionals and experienced stakeholders focused on the development of the Tolillar and Hombre Muerto Salars. In Tolillar, we have assembled 100% ownership of what may be one of Argentinaa?s last undeveloped lithium salars, encompassing 27,500 hectares (67,954 acres), neighboring multi-billion-dollar lithium players in the heart of the renowned aLithium Trianglea. In Hombre Muerto, we continue to expand our 5,000+ hectare (12,570 acres) foothold in one of the worlda?s highest quality, longest producing, lithium salars. Other companies in the area exploring for lithium brines or currently in production include Orocobre Limited, Galaxy Lithium, Allkem Ltd., Livent Corporation, and POSCO in Salar del Hombre Muerto; Orocobre in Salar Olaroz; Eramine SudAmerica S.A. in Salar de Centenario; and Gangfeng and Lithium Americas in Salar de Cauchari.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as \will\, \may\, \should\, \anticipate\, \expects\ and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company\-s expectations include the results of further brine process testing and exploration and other risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by applicable law.

No securities regulatory authority has reviewed nor accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.

* National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects of the Canadian Securities Administrators (aNI 43-101a)
S ales boomed at Made in Chelsea star Oliver Proudlocks jewellery brand Serge DeNimes thanks to the business launching in America.

Revenue was up by 20% to 2.4 million as retailers like Macys and Bloomingdales started stocking its rings, necklaces and bracelets in the US.

The business, which Proudlock started before his reality TV career, expects sales to hit 4 million this year and 6 million in 2024.

He said: Growth in America has been astronomical. There has been a huge push and we have new stockists on the East and West coasts as well as Canada.

Proudlock, who attended Eton at the same time as Prince Harry, also hailed the rise of genderless fashion as a big boost for his brand.

Men are increasingly using accessories as a really powerful way to communicate and we are delighted to be at the forefront of that trend, he said. That truly genderless feel - where partners can share what they like to wear - has been massive for us. Were not just a mens brand and have increasing numbers of female customers.

Serge DeNimes managing director Samuel Darcy recently told Brightpearls Lightning 50 Podcast that competition has grown in the mens jewellery space.

He told the podcast: I joined seven years ago when we were transitioning from apparel into mens jewellery.

When we started there were not many competitors and now there are dozens which is a good judge of our success.

That shift to where an accessory such as jewellery can be the defining part of a mans outfit - the statement item and inspired by the likes of Harry Styles and Pharrell Williams - has been massive for us.

Darcy said that bringing in retail operating specialists Inventory Planner had been a big help, adding: It helps me to zero in on new ranges and understand better what we need to do to maximise sales.
Thousands of ordinary South Korean people, activists and fishermen gathered Saturday in central Seoul from across the country to express their firm opposition to Japan's planned discharge of radioactive wastewater into the ocean.

Participants in the protest rally shouted slogans in unison and held placards that read "Desperately oppose dumping radioactive wastewater into the ocean," and "Keep it on land, not marine dumping."

Click here to watch the video:GLOBALink | S. Koreans rally against Japan's radioactive wastewater discharge plan-Xinhua (news.cn)
L andlords selling up will typically make around 10,500 less than they would have done had they sold in 2022, analysis suggests.

So far this year, the average landlord in England and Wales has sold their buy-to-let for 94,800 more than they initially paid for the property, having owned it for an average of 11 years, according to estate agent Hamptons.

This gain has shrunk by around 10% or 10,500 from a record 105,300 achieved last year, and is similar to what landlords selling in 2016 typically achieved.

The gains Hamptons has calculated do not include tax and other charges, which would eat into any profits made by landlords from selling up. Hamptons used Land Registry figures to make its calculations.

Smaller terraced houses and flats, which have seen weaker price growth in recent years, have made up a higher share of buy-to-let sales so far this year, Hamptons said.

There are signs that the landlords looking to sell today may have missed the top of the market

Mortgage costs have increased sharply in recent months and may push some landlords to sell up.

The estate agent believes it is likely that the amount made by landlords selling up will fall further on the back of both lower prices being achieved and a rising proportion of sellers having bought later in the house price cycle.

Despite the slowing pace of price growth, the proportion of landlords selling for less than they paid is limited, Hamptons said.

It calculated that one in 16 (6%) landlords have sold at a loss so far in 2023, slightly up from one in 20 (5%) last year but down from one in 10 (10%) in 2020.

However, nearly a fifth (19%) of investors who sold a flat did so for less than they paid, researchers added.

Aneisha Beveridge, head of research at Hamptons, said: As house prices start to slip back, there are signs that the landlords looking to sell today may have missed the top of the market.

She added: Lower house prices and higher rents will combine to shore up the rental market as more landlords hold off on the decision to sell.

Here are the average gross gains made by landlords selling in 2023, followed by 2022, according to Hamptons:

 London, 308,500, 319,300

 South East, 128,000, 140,300

 East of England, 112,000, 117,600

 South West, 95,700, 105,000

 West Midlands, 66,500, 71,800

 East Midlands, 64,000, 71,200

 Wales, 55,100, 62,900

 North West, 52,500, 58,900

 Yorkshire and the Humber, 44,800, 49,900

 North East, 22,200, 26,400
T he boss of stock trading app Plus500 said today that London investors view of his business as a finance company rather than a tech firm prompted the company to look at a US listing.

CEO David Zruia confirmed to the Standard that Plus500 was thinking of listing its shares in the US alongside London, after reports in May that the business was looking to join firms like Arm, CRH and Flutter that recently expressed plans to sell shares in New York.

We estimate that the valuation would be higher within US exchanges, he said. Its something well consider when market conditions are better.

The main point here is that we are a technology firm but we are not valued as a tech firm. We are valued as a financial services firm which is not really accurate. In the US we can see tech companies getting much better valuations.

I think that once, or if, well be listed in the US well be valued more.

The City has tried to make efforts to convince more firms, especially those in the tech sector, to list their shares in London and stay there, with the FCA streamlining its listing rules and Jeremy Hunt announcing a change in how pensions will be encouraged to invest their funds.

But there has been little sign so far that these efforts have made a significant difference, as decisions are still driven by valuations thhat remain much higher overseas.

Last week, the discount for UK equities compared to those in other countries hit its widest on record.

The UK equity market discount has now moved to its widest on record vs Rest of the World, after a small reversal in 2021/22. Remarkable to think that prior to the Brexit vote UK equities traded at a valuation premium to the RoW. Higher cost of equity capital for UK plcs is one of pic.twitter.com/KsHU9o8RrF  Simon French (@shjfrench) August 10, 2023

It comes as profits for the first half fell by 44% compared to the same period of 2022, to $174.9 million (137.8 million) as revenue fell by 278% to $368.5 million. But Zruia stressed that this was a rise on the second half of last year, after activity in early 2022 had been unusually high thanks to the pandemic day-trading boom.

Active customer numbers are now stable after pandemic highs and new customer numbers are growing again, analysts at Jeffries noted.

Despite the year-on-year drop, Plus500 bought back another $60 million worth of shares, taking its return to shareholders this year to almost $350 million. CFO Elad Even-Chen said the buybacks helped to address the fact management believes the stocks are undervalued.

Shares are up 65p, or 4.5%, to 1,496p today.
A US private equity business was today shocked after a fake press release appeared on the London Stock Exchange website alleging that the firm was planning to invest $1 billion into ChatGPT owner OpenAI.

The announcement, which appeared on the LSEs regulatory news site, claimed that New York-based Ripplewood would like to set up the software as a driving force in the fund and that in the event of a possible IPO a ChatGPT stake is a giant valuable asset[a] bargain for investors.

The AI-supported investment opportunity is intended to be a user-friendly and cost-efficient solution to optimize investors portfolios. The market launch of the AI-supported investment option is planned for the end of 2023 if participation in OpenAI is successful, the press release said.

Ripplewood has hired lawyers to investigate the appearance of the bogus corporate announcement, which appeared on the exchange via German news wire EQS News.

Ripplewood CEO and founder Tim Collins told the Standard: This is illegal. We have contacted the authorities.

The fake press release is suspected of being an attempt to deceive members of the public into handing cash to scammers posing as corporate advisers funding AI businesses.

The London Stock Exchange said it would remove the announcement from its website after discovering it was illegitimate.

A spokesperson said: We were made aware of a potentially erroneous press release being displayed on the London Stock Exchange website and other news platforms. The non-regulatory press release originated from one of our newswire partners and upon notification from them, the press release was deleted from our website.

EQS said: Due to the negative feedback after the publication today we decided to deactivate the account [behind the press release] for now. We will further investigate.

OpenAI did not respond to a request for comment.

The trick is the latest example of scammers pretending to be American investors to confuse unsuspecting members of the public. Hundreds of WhatsApp users have also been targeted by crooks posing as Goldman Sachs employees as part of a ploy to get them to invest in crypto schemes, the Standard previously reported.

Over 1.2 billion was stolen through fraud in Britain in 2022, according to data from UK Finance.

ChatGPT designer OpenAI is part-owned by Microsoft after it invested $10 billion into the company in January 2023.
A t its heart, growth is about people and the value they create.

Thats why London has been so successful  why cant policy makers see that?

At the Mansion House, the Chancellor said a strong City needs a successful economy, and a strong economy needs a successful City. Of course, he is right.

Yet both of those factors depend on one thing  an agglomeration of people with the skills and motivation to create value in our economy and prosperity for our nation. That London is the engine of the UKs economy isnt what makes it one of the best cities in the world to work in. Its that being one of the best cities to work in supports Londons economic performance.

Yet our recent Report on Jobs shows the sharpest drop in recruitment in UK in three years, led by London. London is weaker on permanent recruitment and pay than the rest of the country, with uncertainty over the economy and business investment plans seeing employers lean more on temporary work to meet present demand. Firms are coping with today  not necessarily building for tomorrow.

To some extent, these figures are a sign of Londons strength - robust despite the relative lack of economic growth, high cost of capital and general uncertainty. But even in periods of loosening (when there are fewer jobs and plenty of workers), this labour market is tighter than we are used to. And when growth returns, whether we can get the economic benefits that people drive in the way we have before is a challenge.

This is where industrial strategy comes in.

When people hear these words, they often think factory. Thats no bad thing  144,000 people work in London manufacturing  but an industrial strategy is about every sector. Its about services too, including the ones London thrives in supplying: hospitality, finance, law, recruitment.

An effective industrial strategy should unite thinking about competitiveness, investment and employment. The people strand of any strategy must encompass skills, but also vital issues of labour supply such as transport, childcare, immigration, and welfare-to-work support.

Its telling that this is where - across the whole UK  our economy is underperforming.

To its credit, the Government realises childcare is a problem, but their plans dont deal with the problem now. The skills system has been under-funded for years and is reeling from botched reform to apprenticeships after the 2015 election. Outside London, the halving of local bus services since 2011 means people often cant get to work even if they are available.

Yet we know what works. Look at what Londons transport structure does to support the economy  we need that to spread. And to link centres together  the tragedy of cuts to HS2 is the removal of far greater local passenger and freight capacity on the classic network, better local services in Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester, and radical cuts in journey times between Yorkshire and Birmingham. All of these would be engines of growth, driven by business links and commuting.

On skills, London might look to the rest of the country. Mayors in the West Midlands and Greater Manchester have started to address the state of the skills system  and efforts in London to do the same are rightly being focussed on by Sadiq Khan.

But what is lacking here is an overall, long-term approach. What is our pitch to the world?

The Chancellor was right about the linkages of our economy  but theres more to supporting growth than an AI Summit, however valuable that is. We are overdue a proper, long-term strategy for our economy that helps us set out to the world why they should invest in Britain, because we are investing in ourselves.

This isnt just about Government  it is also about us as businesses. Stepping up on skills, planning for our workforces, redesigning jobs, and adapting how we hire and develop staff will be critical to survival and long-term growth. So many recruiters across the country tell me of clients who are hiring based on decades-old job descriptions and see it as going through a process. Thats not how they would approach a legal case, or product strategy  yet their people plan is just as important.

Neil Carberry is chief executive of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation
I n theory, there is no one more hardline than I when it comes to rigorous exam standards. In theory, I should be rejoicing that A-level results  out on Thursday  will show that standards are back to their pre-pandemic levels. But Im not. Everything I read about how its going to be harder this year to get As at A-level fills me with nervous gloom. And the reason of course is that I have a dog in this fight: my sons results come out on Thursday too. And so, next week, do my daughters GCSEs.

This particular exam cohort had a raw deal; it lost a year, almost two years, of schooling because of Covid  unless you were in a private school, in which case you got normal teaching online. No sport, no interaction, estimated grades. And now its got exams marked on the basis that its business as usual.

Foreign as well as ancient languages are now increasingly the preserve of private schools: state ones tend to steer their pupils towards easy A grades.

Actually, you could tell from the curriculum that we were back to normal; instead of the slimmed-down syllabus of the last couple of years it was the full English breakfast  in the case of history, there was the French and Venetian Renaissance, as well the easy stuff.

But what is really provoking is the perennial problem of sub-par A-levels jostling with those in proper subjects. And yes, I am talking about sociology. Apparently there has been a rush to take up the subject on the part of young activists, that is, insanely annoying teenagers; its now the fifth most subscribed subject at A-level; psychology, which is almost as bad in my view, is second.

So a student who took Latin, Greek and History  thanks to the London Oratory School my son is one of a vanishing breed of state school classicists (one in 10 candidates in Ancient Greek is state schooled)  is competing for a place at university against the cohort in dud subjects. Its one reason why foreign as well as ancient languages, especially German, are now increasingly the preserve of private schools: state ones tend to steer their pupils towards easy A grades. Its all part of what a distinguished historian I know calls the gobshiteification (technical term) of the culture. Just call it dumbing down.

But Im a rank hypocrite. In one case, Im praying that the bar isnt set too high.

Melanie McDonagh is a columnist
D eputy leader of the Labour Party is a curious position. First, because the holder is not appointed by the leader but is instead elected by party members. This introduces some immediate creative tensions (see: Jeremy Corbyn and Tom Watson). Second, and often relatedly, the deputy is not guaranteed a senior shadow/cabinet position, nor the title of deputy prime minister in those brief interludes of Labour government.

So, while in 1997 Tony Blair appointed John Prescott deputy PM and placed him in charge of what is today three departments, ten years on Gordon Brown merely made Harriet Harman Leader of the House  something of a graveyard shift in British politics. The deputy leader role is also little guarantee of the top job. Only Clement Attlee and Michael Foot went on to become leader (sorry for the Margaret Beckett erasure).

Undeterred, lots of people still seem to want the job, the most recent of whom is Angela Rayner. Shes the focus of todays Evening Standard front page and in particular what Keir Starmer may do with her in the shadow cabinet reshuffle that must, surely, one day, eventually happen.

Relations between the two are not as close as they might be, what with Starmer having attempted (unsuccessfully) to demote his deputy following the disastrous 2021 Hartlepool by-election result, before ending up promoting her so much so that her full title is currently: Deputy Leader, Shadow First Secretary of State, Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Shadow Secretary of State for the Future of Work or DLSFSSSCDLSSFW for short.

Of course, the political terrain is somewhat different today than in May 2021. Not only is Boris Johnson no longer prime minister, hes not even the previous one. Labour is also consistently 20 points ahead in the polls and people even seem to want to spend a Sunday roast with Starmer (or, to be precise, more than they want to with Rishi Sunak).

There are suggestions that Rayner is a weak link in a not especially well-known opposition frontbench. Critics point to her ties with the Jeremy Corbyn regime, her support for the deselected left-winger Sam Tarry, with whom she is in a relationship and her description of Tories as scum. All this is fair enough, though I would point out that Starmer and Corbyn were hardly strangers during those years.

At the same time, Rayner has a remarkable personal story, having left school at 16 after becoming pregnant. She is also a highly-regarded House of Commons performer, though, lets be honest, it wouldnt exhaust the charisma of a dining room table to outshine Dominic Raab or Oliver Dowden at the despatch box.

Put another way, it does not seem obvious to me that Rayner will be the main Tory target come the next general election. If the Conservatives go low, it is more likely to be in attacking Starmer for being Director of Public Prosecutions when the decision was made not to prosecute Jimmy Savile  though he was not personally involved in the decisions made by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Should Labours lead narrow, or the quirks of first-past-the-post produce only a small parliamentary majority next year, Rayners stock and influence will rise. Until then, expect Labours odd couple to play happy families. Internecine warfare is more of a second-term priority.

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In the comment pages, what matters most in a really good restaurant? Where you sit, says Dylan Jones. Melanie McDonagh calls the brutal A-level correction deeply unfair. Suzannah Ramsdale asks why gyms in London are so expensive? While James Kirkup says Rayner isnt Starmers Prescott but could yet be her Gordon Brown.

And finally, Lime bikes have just got their own clothing range. I understand they dont click incessantly when you wear them for too long.

This article appears in our newsletter, West End Final  delivered 4pm daily  bringing you the very best of the paper, from culture and comment to features and sport. Sign up here.
 John Prescott in a skirt. Thats Angela Rayners well-practised line to describe her relationship with Sir Keir Starmer. The words are carefully chosen, intended to remind people of Tony Blairs long-serving deputy, a word-mangling former trade unionist whose loyalty to Blair underpinned the New Labour project for more than a decade.

But Rayner isnt Starmers Prescott. Her relationship with her leader is fated to be much more complicated. Prescott is 15 years older than Blair and abandoned any hope of leading Labour when the younger man beat him to the top job in 1994. Angela Rayner is 43, some 17 years younger than Starmer. Prescott saw his role as deputy leader and deputy prime minister as the end of his career. No one at Westminster thinks that this is Rayners last job.

The fact that she could one day take the top job means some tension between her and Starmer is inevitable. That tension is only heightened by the fact that Rayner is more charismatic and, frankly, interesting than her leader.

Labours deputy leaders are always important figures in the party because theyre not hired  or fired  by the leader but elected by the members. That means they have a mandate and a power base of their own. Such a power base needs to be carefully maintained though, for instance by making sure your allies and supporters get selected for winnable seats. Starmers team have been working hard to ensure such seats go to loyal, centrist allies, much to the chagrin of the Labour Left.

Some Left-wing Labour members and trade unionists hope Rayner will be their champion at the top of the party. Shes a former care worker and union organiser who came up on the Left of the party and backed Jeremy Corbyns leadership.

Right now, though, the most important audience for Labour isnt those Left-leaning activists. Its the floating and undecided voters and soft Tories the party needs to win over if it is to achieve any sort of majority in the Commons. Will former Tory voters in places such as Stevenage and Milton Keynes warm to a blunt-spoken Mancunian who repeatedly backed Corbyn and has described Tories as scum?

Conservative election planners hope not. A key plank of Tory election strategy is to paint Starmers Labour as unreformed socialists intent on taxing and spending and waging a Corbynite war on wealth and aspiration.

On paper at least, Rayner should be perfect fuel for the Tory campaign PR machine  living proof that Labour hasnt changed and that Starmer is just a front for old-school Corbynism.

Rayner, after all, was a consistent backer of Corbyn and his policies. She joined his shadow cabinet in 2016 when many Labour moderates turned against him, and remained part of his top team as voters overwhelmingly rejected Labour in the 2019 election. Of course, much the same is true of Starmer, who served in that same shadow team and once called Corbyn a friend who would make a great prime minister.

Labours leader today wants to distance himself and his party from Corbyn. The more voters see of a self-described socialist deputy leader who was a prominent part of the Corbyn team, the more open they may be to claims that she is a Trojan horse meant to let the old Labour Left into power.

In reality, she is a much harder target for Tory spinners, because of the striking discipline she is showing in remaining on-message with the Starmer agenda. When he surprised his colleagues by announcing that Labour would keep the Conservatives deeply controversial two child limit on welfare claims, it would have been unsurprising to see Rayner expressing doubts. After all, she has previously described the policy as obscene and cruel.

Yet when Labour MPs raged about Starmers position at a recent meeting in the Commons it was Rayner who took the flack for the leadership. Likewise when Starmer hardened Labours line on trans issues to declare that a woman is an adult female, Rayner, an outspoken advocate of trans rights, could have played to the Left-wing gallery by dissenting. Instead, she kept quiet.

Will she toe the line all the way to the election? No one should be surprised by her discipline and professionalism. You dont go from being a teenage mother on a depressed council estate to Parliament and the shadow cabinet without formidable drive and determination. And Rayner can count. Today, Starmer leads a party thats 20 points ahead of the Tories in the polls. This is not a time to be seen challenging the boss. Better to knuckle down, and maintain your base in the party for the future.

If shes moved to a new position in the shadow cabinet at a reshuffle next month, bet on her accepting the move graciously rather than publicly resisting a switch as she did in 2021 when Starmer was in a much weaker position.

The real tests for the Starmer-Rayner relationship will come if and when their party takes power. A Starmer government may lack a big Commons majority and expects to have very little money to spend, meaning a cautious safety-first agenda. Thats a recipe for discontent among Labour activists hungry for boldness and looking for someone to champion their cause in government, perhaps in the hope of taking over in due course. Angela Rayner isnt Keir Starmers John Prescott but she could become his Gordon Brown.

James Kirkup is director of the Social Market Foundation
T he Governments small boats week descended into farce on Friday, as asylum seekers were taken off the Bibby Stockholm barge after traces of Legionella bacteria were found in the onboard water system.

There followed a war of words between Dorset Council and the Home Office after migrants spent four days on the vessel. The Government today insisted that it evacuated the barge as soon as ministers were notified that traces of bacteria had been detected.

The backdrop to this level of incompetence is people dying in the English Channel. Six migrants, all Afghans, drowned over the weekend as their boat capsized. All sides say their priority is to crack down on the traffickers and prevent dangerous crossings. Campaigners point to the absence of safe and legal routes while ministers focus on apparent deterrents such as Rwanda, where not a single migrant has been sent.

The reality is that between last Thursday and Saturday, more than 1,600 migrants were detected crossing the Channel. It is poor weather, seemingly more than anything else, that is the greatest deterrent. It ought now to be clear that preventing further tragedies at sea will require more than one week of headline-grabbing initiatives.

The Rayner effect

How do you solve a problem like Angela Rayner? Indeed, is she a problem at all? The Labour leader certainly once thought so, going as far as to (unsuccessfully) try to sack her after the 2021 Hartlepool by-election defeat. Instead, Keir Starmer gave his deputy more job titles.

Relations between Labours top two have thawed since then, while Starmers position remains unchallenged so long as he maintains an extensive poll lead. But tensions are never far below the surface.

From her connections to Jeremy Corbyn to her support for deselected Left-winger Sam Tarry, with whom she is in a relationship, Rayner still poses challenges for a leaders office keen to ditch any links to the previous, discredited regime. The long-anticipated shadow cabinet reshuffle should provide some clues as to her future.

New Kings Head era

Last night the curtain came down on the Kings Head Theatre for the last time. The Islington theatre is moving to a newer, larger venue around the corner.

For more than half a century, the Kings Head Theatre has hosted shows, many of which have transferred to the West End a conveyor belt of talent.
Mary Poppins (1964)

Played by the iconic Julie Andrews, Mary Poppins is Disneys unsung activist queen; not only does she liberate a fox from the terrors of a fox hunt, she single-handedly uses her nifty clicknclean method to free Mrs Banks from the shackles of her housewifely duties so that she can campaign for womens suffrage instead. Lord only knows what lies within the depths of that bottomless handbag of hers, but I bet shes got a few decent ideas tucked away in there which would help to sort out the current political mess. Based on Nanny Poppins alone, this one has to be up there; and Dick Van Dykes eternally cheerful chimney sweep Burt well and truly tips it over into greatness. EH

Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)

This incredible film looks absolutely bonkers now, but back when I was a kid it all made total sense. Of course Angela Lansburys Miss Eglantine Price should be flying around on a broomstick wearing a M1 helmet and wielding a sword  how else would a new witch protect Britain from the Nazis? A story about three London kids who are evacuated during the Blitz, it all kicks off when Prices witchcraft school closes down. The motley crew set off to find the schools Professor Emelius Browne (David Tomlinson) using a magic bed  a truly elegant travel solution. When they find him the gang then go looking for a spell, which leads to a series of adventures. Theres a dance contest, fights with German soldiers, and a fabulous underwater excursion which set us all up to be wildly disappointed the first time we got the Eurostar. EJG

The Lion King (1994)

From good old-fashioned Shakespearean usurping to a set of lighters-in-the-air tunes by Tim Rice and Elton John, The Lion King has every single vital component needed for a stone-cold Disney classic - theres betrayal, heartache, and even a fart-joke in the middle of Hakuna Matata. Truly, something for everyone. From the moment our Simba gets held aloft on that big grey rock as a poor abandoned young cub, shortly after his beloved dad Mufasa has been murdered, I was rooting for him and his pals Timone and Pumbaa all the way, hoping that they could finally wreak revenge on scheming uncle Scar, one of Disneys greatest camp villains, and his pack of cackling hyenas. When victory finally comes, soundtracked by an epic Circle of Life, who can help but let out an involuntary roar of joy? EH

Hercules (1997)

Who knew that tapping into the rich seam of Greek mythology and fusing it with some good ol American comedy would create such joy? Infinitely meme-able, the film tells the story of Hercules, a god stripped of his immortality, who must complete twelve quests to regain it. Does it play fast and loose with the myths? Absolutely (classicists need not watch). But its secret weapon is the supremely camp Hades, with flaming hair and quips for days - Im surrounded by idiots, he groans, as his latest scheme goes disastrously awry. Add in some great slapstick comedy and gospel-inspired tunes and what you have is a film that will stick in your head for hours afterward. Zero to hero - just like that. VJ

The Parent Trap (1998)

It took years before I managed to shrug off The Parent Traps many stereotypes  in fact, Im still not sure I have. Are Californian vineyard owners not millionaires who look like Dennis Quaid? Do their smiles not catch the sun on a balmy afternoons next to the pool? And do London wedding dress designers not live in townhouses in Kensington, have butler best friends, and wear cocktail dresses at all hours? Its hard to know. In the film that catapulted her to fame, Lindsay Lohan plays twins Hallie and Annie who are split up by their parents as babies after a messy divorce  one is taken to America, the other to England. In an incredibly cruel move, the film doesnt dwell on for even a second, the parents Nick (Quaid) and Liz (Natasha Richardson) raised their girls as only children. Things go haywire when the girls meet at a posh summer camp and decide to swap identities. EJG

A Bugs Life (1998)

A Bugs Life is the forgotten child of Disney pictures. Overshadowed by other Disney films the same year  Mulan and The Parent Trap  not to mention another bug-related epic Antz, it was never going to have an easy ride, and you wont hear it mentioned on many peoples favourites lists. Thats a shame, because it is a strong film that stands apart. While a lot of other Disney flms comprise basically a road trip of sorts, A Bugs Life is more of a Western-cum-war film, with political undertones about colonialism that will escape but definitely influence younger viewers (I speak from experience). Like all my favourite Disney films, it has an enemy that is genuinely pretty spooky, and it makes the plight of the ant colony even more thrilling. While the animation may struggle in todays technological era, the voice acting more than makes up for it. DC

Monsters Inc. (2001)

Another one of Pixars tales with every aspect so lovingly crafted that the incidental details and the supporting characters threaten to steal the movie from under the hairy claws of its leads. Boo, the human toddler (voiced by story artist Rob Gibbss own gabbling little girl, Mary) who infiltrates Monstropolis and upends the lives of scare-workers Sulley and Mike so that they stumble upon a bit of corporate skullduggery, is easily the cutest creature committed to film, including Bambi, while big fluffy Sulleys luscious blue fur  a huge leap forward in computer animation at the time  is mesmerising every time he moves. Plus Roz, the cuttingly deadpan administrator for Scare Floor F, with her goldenrod forms in triplicate and her unimaginable secrets, is quite simply an inspiration. ND

Finding Nemo (2003)

The team behind Finding Nemo doesnt so much tug the heartstrings as tie an anchor to them and hurl it into the abyss. This beautiful Pixar film is all about the parent-child relationship but combines that with a wonderful inventiveness and wackiness that takes the sting out of any lingering emotional blows. Dude, who could forget the current-surfing turtle Crush? Or indeed Ellen DeGeneres scene-stealing performance as the forgetful fish Dory (so good, in fact, that it inspired a film of its own)? Or  horrors  Darla, the fish-shaking monster so terrifying she gave me, a non-fish, nightmares? This is Disney operating at the top of its game: enjoyable as a kid, even more so as an adult. VJ

The Incredibles (2004)

Im still not sure about the overriding paean to exceptionalism, but the sheer joyful imagination involved in creating the superpowers of the Parr family is absolutely epic (particularly those attributed to JackJack, the baby, still pre-verbal and evidently the centre of some kind of perfect super-storm that is going to cause all sorts of trouble just as soon as hes had his nap). And of course the theyre just like us! depiction of parenting while super is heartwarming. But its the fact that it was the crucible in which was forged one of the most memorable characters of all time that makes it a top five film for me. Edna Mode, the tiny, withering, ferocious fashion designer and engineering genius who kits out the supers according to their mind-boggling abilities has my heart forever. Just remember daahling: no capes! ND

Up (2009)

I first watched Up on a New Years Day several years ago. It was both the best and worst thing I could have done. In the grips of my hangxiety  single, sad and existential  the opening montage of Carl and Ellies loving relationship over the decades brutalised me. Their first kiss, wedding, hopes, shattered dreams, miscarriage, domestic drudgery, failing health and Ellies death. Their love is so pure, I thought, as I wept last nights glitter off my face. The rest of the movie is lovely  Carl, now 78 and widowed, decides to realise a lifelong dream of travelling to South America (by tying helium balloons to his house, how else?) and ends up lumbered with an eager little boy whos stowed away  but its the first four minutes I still watch over and over again. SR

Tangled (2010)

The first time I watched this film, weirdly, was all in German  but even so, I was spellbound enough to go home and rewatch it in English the minute I could buy a cinema ticket. Tangled (a retelling of the Rapunzel story) is arguably the first nu-Disney princess film: it has a headstrong heroine who calls the shots, a female-centric plotline and while the romance is very sweet, its Rapunzels journey to discover who she is that takes precedence here. The visuals are gorgeous, the songs are (if not top-quality) enjoyable enough and Flynn Rider continues the grand tradition of many peoples first crushes being a cartoon. Combined with the traditional Disney flourishes  semi-sentient animals, a wicked stepmother  and what you have is an underrated bit of cinema gold. VJ

Toy Story 3 (2010)

I dont think Ive watched a film that felt more like the end of an era than Toy Story 3. My soul still cant bear the ending sequences of this Tom Hanks-led Disney blockbuster. I could feel my childhood slip out of my hands as a then 17-year-old Andy prepared to give his beloved toys away, after watching him grow up throughout the franchise. I can only imagine how my parents felt watching me packing up my room as I prepared to flee the nest for university. My tear-soaked 13-year-old self left the ODEON cinema and walked into the real world, primed but saddened by the harsh reality of actually having to grow up. JK
A major Hollywood strike by US actors and writers, which has paralysed the film and television industry, has reached its one-month mark.

Members of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (Sag-Aftra) have been on strike since July 14, after negotiations over new contracts with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) broke down.

Scores of big Hollywood names including Academy Award winners Jessica Chastain and Brendan Fraser, and fellow actors Bryan Cranston, Bob Odenkirk and Hilary Duff have been pictured on the picket lines in Los Angeles and New York over the past four weeks.

The strike has resulted in a major stalling of major Hollywood productions, events and award ceremonies, with actors forbidden from engaging in any promotional activity for work.

Sag-Aftra, which represents around 160,000 actors across the US, has raised concerns over a number of issues including pay and the use of artificial intelligence (AI).

Its members joined their colleagues from the Writers Guild of America (WGA), who walked out on May 2, and recently marked 100 days of strikes.

Sag-Aftra chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said the strike could become the catalyst for a historic culture change in all industries as he praised members for their commitment to the cause.

We are living in a historic hour, as we fight to achieve a seminal contract, the likes of which we havent seen in over 60 years, he said in an online statement.

It was 1960 when we last went on strike alongside the WGA and achieved pension and health plans and residuals.

Our futures depend on not accepting anything less transformative in this negotiation.

Since the beginning of the strike, some independent productions have been granted interim agreements to allow them to resume.

Mr Crabtree-Ireland said the agreements were introduced to give journeymen performers and crew the opportunity to pay their bills and put food on the table by working on these indie projects.

He continued: Our strike can become the catalyst for a historic culture change in all industries, whereby making money and doing the right thing on behalf of workers are no longer mutually exclusive of each other but go hand in hand, redefining the meaning of success.

Last month, Hollywood star Dwayne The Rock Johnson made a historic seven-figure donation to the Sag-Aftra Foundation Relief Fund for actors who face financial ruin during the actors strike, according to US outlet Variety.

The action has prompted responses from US political figures including US president Joe Biden and California governor Gavin Newsom, who contacted both Sag-Aftra and the AMPTP in an effort to help broker a deal.

It has also affected productions in the UK, with filming paused on upcoming films including a Formula 1 feature film starring Brad Pitt and Deadpool 3, and on the musical film Wicked.

British acting union Equity held a solidarity rally in Leicester Square, in central London, which was attended by stars including Brian Cox, Andy Serkis, Simon Pegg, Hayley Atwell, and Imelda Staunton.
Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni met with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi here on Sunday, with the two sides pledging to boost bilateral friendship and cooperation.

Calling China his second hometown, King Sihamoni said he looks forward to visiting more cities in China.

He said this year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations and the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, expressing heartfelt thanks to all of China's support for and help to Cambodia.

Sihamoni said Cambodia will firmly abide by the one-China principle, carry forward the ironclad friendship between Cambodia and China, and support building a high-quality, high-level and high-standard China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era, so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples. Cambodia-China friendship will last forever, he noted.

Hailing the traditional friendship between China and Cambodia as the most valuable common treasure of the two countries, Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that during their meetings this year, the leaders of the two countries have reached essential consensuses on building the China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era, drawing up a blueprint for the long-term development of bilateral relations.

"We are ready to work with the Cambodian side to take this as the guide and join hands to promote the construction of the China-Cambodia community with a shared future to a new level," he said.

Wang said that during his visit to the kingdom, he had in-depth communication with its old and new leaderships, dovetailed development strategies, planned cooperation in the next phase, and achieved positive results.

He said he believes that under joint efforts of the two countries, the exemplary relationship of mutual respect, equal treatment and common development between China and Cambodia will make greater progress.

China will work with Cambodia to advance the implementation of the bilateral "diamond hexagon" cooperation consensus and promote the cooperation on "Industrial Development Corridor" and the "Fish and Rice Corridor" to help Cambodia accelerate its development and revitalization and improve the living standards of its people, said Wang.
Review at a glance









 This isnt actually the worst hen do Ive ever been on, says Bernadette, mother of the bride, midway through the third episode of the BBCs six-part comedy Henpocalypse.

Given that, at this stage in the proceedings, a deadly disease has swept the country overnight, trapping the bridal party in a remote Welsh cottage for two months surviving off nothing but cold tinned soup, dead owls and snorting instant coffee granules, you can only wonder what the others were like.

This is a swift descent into chaos. The party begins in typical fashion  a group of girlfriends, decked out in as much penis paraphernalia as they can carry, rent a pink seven-seater (complete with bespoke headlight eyelashes), and drive from the West Midlands to the Welsh countryside for a weekend of debauchery.

Zara (Lucie Shorthouse) is a caricature of a bridezilla: superficial, self-obsessed and hyper-fixated on making sure her hen party and wedding are picture-perfect (How dare you put my wedding into perspective!). Her two bridesmaids, childhood best friend Shelly (Callie Cook) and cousin Jen (Kate OFlynn) are also along for the ride, alongside auntie Veena (Lauren ORourke) and Bernadette (Elizabeth Berrington).

Too busy getting black-out drunk and being on the receiving end of lap dances from a gold hotpants-clad stripper to pay attention to the news playing silently on the TV in the background, the group are oblivious to the rapidly unfolding epidemic of the extremely virulent crab measles (no further explanation is offered) which proceeds to wipe out the entirety of the countrys male population in the space of 48 hours. All except the male stripper, Drew (Ben McGregor), passed out in the living room after the previous nights antics. In an attempt to preserve the human race, the group then handcuff him to a radiator for nine weeks. At one point he threatens to castrate himself with a spork.

Lucie Shorthouse as Zara / BBC / Various Artists Ltd.

Hungry, increasingly claustrophobic and armed with makeshift spears (pink dildos sellotaped to mops), the hens eventually break quarantine and find themselves confronted with a group of rabid Claire-from-Fleabag-esque Pilates instructors in barefoot shoes, determined to fight them to the death for possession of the last man on Earth.

One of the shows writers is Caitlin Morans sister, Caroline, which youd think would be a good sign. Unfortunately, Henpocalypse does not stick the landing. While there are some genuinely funny one-liners  Im awfully dribbly when I cough the rest of the script is made up almost entirely of penis, vagina and fecal gags, the novelty of which, very much like a hen party, begins to wear off after the first 20 minutes. And such gems as solid norks (nice breasts, apparently), and nosh off (Ill leave you to Google that one), it feels as though the writers stopped consuming popular culture after the last season of The Inbetweeners.

Its a shame, as there are no faults to be found with the cast. Berrington in particular shines as the indomitable matriarch of the group (and of the Asda meat counter), delivering an abundance of menopause-related gags with impeccable comedic finesse. And a surprise  if extremely bizarre  cameo from none other than Danny Dyer is genuinely hilarious. Unfortunately the material these fine actors are working with is flimsier than a cheap dildo.

Henpocalypse! will air on BBC Two at 10pm on August 15
RIHANNA DEBUTS NURSING BRAS

She did pregnancy reveal #1 in rare, vintage Chanel. She did reveal #2 at the Superbowl. Rihanna has rewritten the rules of what maternity style (maternity style formerly an oxymoron) looks like. And now, shes sprinkling a bit of that magic to bleary-eyed postpartum days  and, obviously, nights. Riris latest act: a Savage Fenty maternity bra, as modelled by herself and (awwww) son RZA.

GANNI UNVEILS FIRST LOOK AT PALOMA ELSESSER COLLAB

Over to Copenhagen Fashion Week where those deliciously well-dressed Danes served up shed loads of wardrobe (and, you know, life) inspiration. Something to look forward to for SS24: Gannis size-inclusive collab with model and long-time pal of the house, Paloma Elsesser. The more I get to know Paloma, the more she becomes the girl of my dreams, says Gannis creative director Ditte Reffstrup.

QASIMI LAUNCHES UNICEF COLLABORATION T-SHIRTS

Qasimi for Unicef /

In response to the humanitarian crises in Sudan and support of UNICEFs vital efforts there, QASIMI introduced a charity T-shirt. Through this charity initiative, we aim to make a tangible difference in the lives of those affected by the Sudan War. By partnering with UNICEF, we are confident that together, we can provide much-needed relief and support says Hoor Al Qasimi, creative director. All proceeds will be donated to UNICEF.

From 180, qasimi.com

MARC <3 KIM

Kim Kardashian for Marc Jacobs /

Of course these two were gonna get it on  artistically speaking  eventually. Marc Jacobs has signed up Ms. Kimberly Kardashian for his already-going-viral winter 2023 campaign. Hard into it.

PLUS, HIS HEAVEN LINE JOINS FORCES WITH BLEACH LONDON

As for the Heaven by Marc Jacobs line? That has joined forces with Londons very own cool-kid colourists Bleach for a line of limited-edition, vegan hair dyes inspired by their shared love of bold, irreverent ideas and grungy nihilistic nostalgia.

DACCORI OPENS POP-UP AT HARRODS

Purveyors of superior party shoes, London brand DAccori have landed at Harrods Shoe Heaven with a planetary pop-up showcasing the best of the brands Pre-Fall 24 collection. Obviously there are some rather zhuzhy, daring disco platforms and mules (metallic satin! Crystal straps! Architectural heels!); but for those who want to keep their feet firmly on the ground  founder Mo DAccori is debuting his first line of flats, too.

YOUR NEW FAVOURITE KNITS AT DOVER STREET MARKET

Paolina Russo FW23 /

CSM graduate and London-based rising star Paolina Russos avant-garde knitwear has found a new home in Dover Street Market as part of its seasonal switch-up. Head to the Haymarket store to get cosy with the naturally-dyed, optical knits.

180, Dover Street Market
T he secret to tip-top brain function, excellent elocution and being an attractive, inspirational beacon of zen and calm? According to celebrities Gillian Anderson, Bella Hadid, Joe Jonas, Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker, the answer is nootropics  bottled, canned and contained in snacks and supplements for your consumption.

Over the last few years, each of the aforementioned celebrities has founded or invested in a brand offering so-called smart-drugs which promise a range of feel-good benefits.

Theres G Spot, actor Andersons recently launched line of caffeine, alcohol and sugar-free sparkling drinks designed to celebrate self-care, self-awareness, and the freedom to be who you are. Similarly, Kin Euphorics, co-founded by model Hadid, offers a range of non-alcoholic alternatives, from canned heart-opening joy in the form of Bloom, to made-to-mix promising social magic and soothing serenity.

Meanwhile, Jonas and Barker are two of the high profile investors in Mindright, a brand peddling brain-boosting coffee enhancers, snack bars and popped chips. Plus, as part of her supplement brand, Lemme, the eldest Kardashian sister sells a nootropics-led gummy supplement, Lemme Focus.

So what exactly are these magic ingredients? According to nutritionist and health influencer Emily English, (@emthenutritionist), nootropics are substances designed to improve mental functions such as memory, focus, creativity, and motivation. These can range from natural supplements, synthetic pharmaceutical drugs and even certain foods. Their primary objective is to target our brains, providing a boost for our mental agility, and enhancing the brains functionality and performance.

Moreover, were well acquainted with many of them already, says English. The term may sound new but one of the most popular nootropics that most of us consume daily is caffeine.

According to G Spot nutritionist Natasha Draycott, who developed the range with Anderson, understanding the difference between the natural and the pharmaceutical kind is key. Some Nootropics are pharmaceutical drugs you need a prescription for, like Ritalin. Whereas natural Nootropics like bacopa, L-theanine and medicinal mushrooms, which are included in the G Spot drinks, you dont need to be prescribed.

There is a huge range of nootropics on the market, Draycott continues. Some are widely studied and some we still dont know a lot about. Different Nootropics can have different physiological and psychological effects and interestingly Nootropics effects can vary person to person, just like any medication or supplement.

Draycott personally recommends looking out for cordyceps, theanine, lions mane, bacopa, chaga, reishi, ashwagandha and maca, which studies have shown can do everything from reduce stress, to fight inflammation and infection, as well as increase energy levels and libido. Similarly, Kardashian recommends lions mane, as well as B12, panax ginseng, L-theanine and citicoline for focus and concentration.

English believes the surge in interest and investment in nootropics-focussed brands is due to the fact we are increasingly living in a performance oriented society. People are becoming obsessed with health optimisation, whether physical or mental. People are always looking for ways to gain an edge and improve their wellbeing. The world of nootropic supplements promises just that.

Plus, were having more conversations about mental health than ever, she says. We also have a drastically increased awareness of our mental health. As society becomes more attuned to the importance of mental health, and the prevalence of things like anxiety and depression people are exploring ways to boost mental clarity and mood, reduce brain fog, and enhance cognitive function.

Draycott agrees. Advancements in neuroscience have led to a better understanding of how our brain works and the research and results have become more available to the wider population with the rise of social media and podcasts. Therefore, more people are becoming aware of how we can enhance cognition and want to increase productivity and energy, naturally.

Essentially, more and more of us are tuning into the concept of biohacking, which is the practice of using technology and science to find ways to optimise health and longevity, says Draycott. The biohacking movement has really grown and has a big part to play in the growth of nootropics, adaptogens and mushrooms.

While these celebrity products are fit for consumption, English warns of going off-piste, for the internet is rife with misinformation. Be wary of nootropics communities. Websites like Reddit have communities where users discuss their experiences and share resources, however just because something has worked for someone doesnt mean it will work in the same way for you.

The best way to do your research? According to English, The most critical step is to look for scientific evidence. A nootropic that has undergone rigorous testing and peer-reviewed studies will be more trustworthy. The more studies demonstrating the nootropics effect and safety the better.

And dont forget to be sure to look for purity, educate yourself on any side effects and beware of promises that seem too good to be true, adds English. If a nootropic is promising to cure all your ailments this is an automatic red flag for me. I see a lot of companies use statistics to sell their product but the actual dose in the product isnt enough to see a benefit. It can be very misleading.

Otherwise we can enjoy living the life of an angelic A-lister, right? Race you to Holland and Barrett.
T he BBC has sold its Maida Vale Studios to a partnership that includes Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer and film producer Tim Bevan.

The complex of seven sound studios was bought by the BBC in 1933 and has cemented a place in music history with recordings from The Beatles, David Bowie, Led Zeppelin and Dusty Springfield.

The partnership will also include producer Steven Kofsky and Eric Fellner, who co-chairs Working Title Films with Bevan.

The new owners have made assurances that its legacy as a centre for pioneering music-making will continue, also vowing to retain the rendered Edwardian facade which was granted Grade II-listed status in 2020.

A multi-million pound planned refurbishment will update the existing studios and fund the creation of a not-for-profit educational facility.

Describing the complex as a place of revolutionary science in the service of art, Zimmer recalled the first time he worked for the BBC at the Maida Vale Studios 45 years ago.

I was just a kid, in awe, honoured to be booked to play on one of my first sessions. I still remember the strong pull, the desire to touch the walls, as if that would somehow allow me to connect to the artists whose extraordinary music had resonated against these walls on a daily basis.

This was a place that inspired you to give your best, where music was performed around the clock and art was taken seriously. For the people by the people. This was the place that kept a struggling musician like me from giving up.

The BBC, who first announced the closure of the studios in June 2018, listed the complex for 10.5 million last year, although final sale price details are not yet available on the Land Registry.

It will move operations to East Bank in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, dubbed Londons newest creative quarter, in partnership with the V&A, Sadlers Wells, UCL and UALs London College of Fashion. The new studio is set to open in late 2025 and will include two spaces for public concerts.

Lorna Clarke, Director of Music at the BBC said: Maida Vale has played such an important part in the BBCs history, and its significance in popular culture is huge.

We are so pleased to secure a sale which looks to continue the bright, vibrant future of music making in this iconic building  not only providing new studio spaces but jobs and an education facility.

We look forward to being able to continue to deliver world-class music to BBC audiences with our new tailor-made BBC Music Studios in the wonderfully rich cultural district of Londons East Bank.
A woman whose dismembered body parts were recovered from a canal in west London is the alleged killers own mother, it can be revealed.

Arizo Nour, 33, is accused of killing her mother Karima Nour, 57, before making an attempt to dispose of her remains on August 6.

She appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday charged with murder, and was remanded in custody by Judge Simon Mayo KC until a further hearing in December.

On Monday, the victims identity was revealed for the first time, a week after the grisly canal discovery.

Last week, prosecutor Louise Oakley told the Old Bailey that police had first been called to Mrs Nours home in Feltham after family concerns about her welfare.

They were then led to a bridge over the Grand Union Canal off Bulls Bridge Lane, Southall, and searches located the presence of a suitcase in the canal.

Human body remains were recovered, said Ms Oakley. A second suitcase was identified and further human body remains were identified.

She also revealed that a bag with a head inside had been found in the canal on Thursday night.

At court on Friday, Mrs Nours daughter appeared via videolink from HMP Bronzefield where she spoke only to confirm her identity.

Judge Mayo set a timetable for the progress of her case, with a plea hearing set for December 1.

Nour, from Northumberland Crescent, Feltham, was remanded in custody until the next court hearing.
T he remains of a 57-year-old woman found in a London canal were those of the alleged killers own mother, it has emerged.

Arizo Nour, 33, appeared before the Old Bailey on Friday accused of the murder of Karima Nour.

The defendant, from Feltham in West London, was remanded in custody and will next appear at the same court on December 1, when she is expected to enter a plea.

Reporting restrictions which had banned identification of the pairs relationship were lifted by Judge Simon Mayo KC on Monday morning following submissions by the media.

Police were called to an address on Northumberland Crescent just before 10.30pm on August 6 following reports of a concern for welfare.

While no-one was found inside the property when officers attended, signs of a disturbance were discovered.

Searches were then carried out in the canal off Bulls Bridge Lane, Southall, on August 7 where the remains of a body, believed to be that of the defendants mother, were found.

Chief Superintendent Sean Wilson, local policing commander in west London, said: This was a shocking incident and my thoughts are with the friends and family of Karima Nour.
A n east London restaurant which dumped its waste near local homes has been ordered to pay nearly 7,000 for fly-tipping.

Wah Bey on Cranbrook Road, Ilford, was prosecuted by and fined by Redbridge Council after inspectors found rubbish dumped around their bins in breach of a legal notice.

Officials also found multiple bags of kitchen and food waste from the restaurant fly-tipped on the street and in and around residents bins on nearby Frinton Mews, sparking complaints.

Fines were issued to the restaurant for fly-tipping, but these were unpaid by company director Sarfraz Ghaffar, eventually leading to court action.

Ghaffar pleaded guilty at Barkingside Magistrates Court on Tuesday August 1 to six charges of flytipping and two charges of breaching an environmental legal notice.

Fined: Wah Bey / Google Maps

He was ordered to pay fines, court and council costs, as well as compensation to the council for clear up costs - all totalling 6,824.

The court also heard that Ghaffar, 43, had also been convicted in December 2022 for four breaches of an environmental notice, for which hed been fined and ordered to pay court and council costs totalling 2,142.

Redbridge Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety, Cllr Khayer Chowdhury, said: We all have a responsibility to ensure our streets and neighbourhoods are clean, and that includes businesses.

Fly-tipping commercial waste on our streets and into the bins of innocent residents is unacceptable.
T he Madagascan presidents chief of staff has been arrested and charged in London with a bribery offence.

Romy Andrianarisoa, 46, and associate Philippe Tabuteau, 54, are suspected of seeking a bribe to secure licences to operate in Madagascar from UK gemstone mining company Gemfields.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) said Andrianarisoa and French national Tabuteau were arrested in Victoria on Thursday afternoon, at a meeting where they are suspected of having attempted to solicit a bribe.

They are alleged to have asked Gemfields to pay 225,000 for a licence to operate in the country alongside a 5% equity stake.

The allegations were reported to the NCA by Gemfields. The pair appeared in court on Saturday where they were remanded in custody, the NCA said.

The pair will next appear at Southwark Crown Court on September 8.

Joanne Jakymec, chief crown prosecutor for the CPS, said: The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised the NCA to charge Romy Andrianarisoa and Philippe Tabuteau with requesting a bribe.

The CPS made the decision to authorise charges after reviewing a file of evidence from the NCA relating to allegations of bribery."
M urder detectives have revealed that a 10-year-old girl killed in her Surrey home was found alone as they continue the hunt for her killers.

Three people known to the victim, named locally as Sara Sharif, are being sought by the police but are believed to have left the country.

No other people were present in the semi-detached home when officers responded to concerns for the girls welfare at about 2.50am on August 10.

No arrests have been made but her family have been informed, Surrey police said.

A post-mortem examination will be held on Tuesday afternoon.

PA

Surrey Police launched a murder investigation on Thursday after discovering the child at a house in the quiet village of Horsell near Woking.

A Surrey Police spokesperson said: Detectives have confirmed that no other people were present at the address when they attended in the early hours of Thursday morning.

The three people they would like to speak to were known to the victim. Formal identification is yet to take place but we understand the child has been named locally.

DCI Debbie White, senior investigating officer, said previously: Our investigation into this tragic incident has continued at pace today with a number of enquiries underway.

We have identified three people we would like to speak to in connection with our investigation and from our enquiries, we believe that they left the country on Wednesday, 9 August. We are working with our partners, including international authorities, to locate them.

Officers have been in the local area today carrying out house to house enquiries and we expect a police presence to remain around the scene over the coming week.

Inspector Sandra Carlier, borough commander for Woking, said: I know that the community are shocked and saddened by yesterdays events, and we stand with them in their grief. Officers will remain in the area carrying out patrols, and enquiries as part of the investigation, over the weekend.

I would like to reiterate that we do not believe there to be any risk to the wider public at this time. We will continue to provide updates as and when we are able to.
At the ceremony (Photo: NDO)

Speaking at the ceremony, Indonesian Ambassador to Russia Jose Antonio Morato Tavares, Chairman of ASEAN Committee in Russsia in 2023, affirmed that today ASEAN has become a partner contributing to peace, security and stability in the region and the world, building an environment favourable for prosperity and development in Southeast Asia.

The Indonesian Ambassador emphasised that the current geopolitical situation in the world is complicated, requiring ASEAN leaders to have a profound and comprehensive vision to overcome challenges to maintain stability and ensure the prosperity of the people of the region.

Within the framework of the event, cultural programmes, folk games and food stalls with typical dishes of ASEAN member countries were held./.
The vandal uses a tree lopper to remove the camera.

The shadowy figure ignores the crowd filming him and walks on before repeating the procedure on another Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera.

It is unknown what area or time the act of vandalism took place.

It came as more than a dozen Ulez enforcement cameras are vandalised or stolen every week, it was revealed on Wednesday.

Last week The Standard spoke to an army veteran on a hunger strike until the Ulez scheme is revoked completely.

The current estimated total cost to supply and install the ANPR cameras and associated supporting infrastructure for London wide ULEZ is in the range of 45-50m

With just weeks to go until the clean air zone is expanded to the Greater London boundary, the Met said it is investigating multiple reports of vigilantes attempting to sabotage Transport for Londons equipment.

The theft of 11 Ultra Low Emission Zone cameras and 17 incidents of vandalism were reported to detectives between July 21 and August 1. At least eight in Chiswick have had their wires cut in recent weeks by so-called Blade Runners.

It follows a spate of attacks earlier this year  with two men being charged with criminal damage in May.

The equipment uses Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology to identify the most polluting vehicles vehicles, that will face a 12.50 daily charge when the Ulez expands to outer London on August 29.

TfL contractors still have almost 1,000 cameras to install before the scheme goes live, while having to contend with vandalism and opposition from some councils to having them erected on local roads.

A City Hall spokesman told the Standard they were confident all of the necessary infrastructure would be in place by the end of the month.

Mayor Sadiq Khan said the controversial decision to expand the Ulez wasnt easy, but we must do everything we can to save the lives of Londoners and protect them from the dangers of toxic air.
A large part of the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) will be out of action for 10 days from Saturday, August 19, so that engineering works can be undertaken.

The works are taking place between Star Lane and West Ham, and will see Transport for London (TfL) making modifications for the first time in 12 years to track components.

Because of this, the DLR will be shut between Stratford International and Canning Town from Saturday to Tuesday, August 29  which will include the August bank holiday Monday.

Tom Page, TfLs general manager for the DLR, explained that works had not been completed along the section since 2011, and were needed for safety and reliability.

He said: This closure between Stratford International and Canning Town is to allow vital track-maintenance works to take place so that we can continue to offer customers a safe and reliable service across the DLR network.

I would like to thank customers for their patience while these routine works take place and would ask anyone travelling to plan ahead, allowing plenty of time for any journey.

It had previously been reported that TfL was ordering 11 DLR trains which will come into service next year.

New DLR trains will soon be on the network / Handout

How to get around Londons east side during the 10 days of DLR disruption

It will not be the end of the world  or the line  for the majority of the DLRs users, as the Jubilee line runs in sync with the DLR line up to Stratford. This means Canning Town, West Ham, Stratford, and Stratford International users will not be impacted too much.

But the Jubilee does not stop at DLR stations Star Lane, Abbey Road, or Stratford High Street, so customers will need to get the bus duringthe period of disruption.

See tfl.gov.uk for routes and timetables.
R ishi Sunak gets back to work this week after some down-time on the sandy beaches of Santa Monica, California. There is a nightmarish in-tray waiting for him in Downing Street. And there was another polling blow over the weekend. A survey showed that more Brits would trust Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to look after their pets than they would the Prime Minister.

When asked which of the two men would be best at feeding your pet when on holiday, 36 per cent of respondents named Starmer and 23 per cent Sunak. Some 41 per cent said dont know, according to Deltapoll.

This might prove to be political dynamite for Starmer in animal-loving Britain. His credentials as a champion of our four-legged friends were further bolstered over the weekend when it emerged that Starmer recently saved a pup from mortal peril.

While the Labour leader was on holiday in the Lake District last week, Chilli, a family friends dog, fell off a cliff during walkies. Starmer helped to find the black retriever spaniel cross, who was missing for several days.

Chilli, a retriever spaniel cross who Starmer helped to rescue / Langdale Ambleside MRT / Instagram

Chilli sustained head injuries during the fall, but is expected to recover, according to the Daily Mirror.

Perhaps we will start seeing more of Nova, the Prime Ministers fox red labrador, as he tries to show some puppy love. The Sunak family got the dog in 2021 and he appeared in a number of photo opportunities during the race for the Tory leadership.

Kings Head set go back to the future

Dame Janet Suzman, Steven Berkoff and Mark Gatiss at the Kings Head / Dave Benett

It was last orders at the Kings Head theatre pub yesterday. After a gala performance celebrating the history of the venue, prominent actors associated with the theatre toasted its future in the ground-floor bar. Guests at the bash included actor and writer Mark Gatiss, Shakespearean thesp Dame Janet Suzman and actor-playwright-director Steven Berkoff. The Islington fixture is moving to a new purpose-built space after 53 years crammed into a pokey but much-loved 100-seat back room on Upper Street.

Sofi Berenger, senior producer at the Kings Head, said: Its bittersweet to be saying goodbye to the oldest pub theatre in the UK. The new venue is due to open early next year.

Since it opened in 1970, the theatre pub has helped to launch the careers of stars including Hugh Grant and Victoria Wood. Joanna Lumley, Alan Rickman and Richard E. Grant have also walked its boards.
S ir Keir Starmer faces a series of highly contentious selection battles in London Labour strongholds ahead of the general election, senior party figures warned on Monday.

His most high-profile problem comes in Islington North, where a candidate is yet to be chosen to take on Jeremy Corbyns seat.

The former Labour leader was suspended by his successor in 2020 and sits as an independent following a row over anti-Semitism. But he has strongly hinted that he will run against the party in the constituency at the next election.

Some fear that Mr Corbyn, could split the Left-wing vote, while others said they would be concerned about the wellbeing of any candidate who took the job on. One senior Labour figure said: That is for a braver man or woman than I.

It depends what Corbyn does. But I think its likely Islington North will be selected at the last minute to give the cranks as little time as possible to wage any campaign of abuse. I think we would win, but it will not be pleasant.

Mr Corbyn's ally Diane Abbott, the first black woman elected to Parliament and the longest-serving black MP, is also suspended from the party.

An investigation over accusations of antisemitism is ongoing and may see a new Labour candidate being selected for her seat in Hackney North and Stoke Newington.

One MP said: "She's trailblazer. No one wants to see Diane end her political career suspended. It'll have to be sorted well before the election."

In north London, MP for Enfield Southgate Bambos Charalambous has been suspended from the party pending a formal investigation into a serious complaint.

The former shadow minister has said he is aware of an allegation and it is right and proper for the party to investigate.

But no decision has yet been made over whether he will be allowed to stand for Labour at the next election.

Boundary changes also mean the capital is getting two extra MPs at the next election.

The new constituencies, one in east London and the other in south London, are in safe Labour areas.

But the new seat in Newham is looking particularly problematic for the party.

Lyn Brown, MP for West Ham since 2005 and a shadow Foreign Office minister, has reportedly indicated she will stand in the Stratford and Bow constituency, leaving the new West Ham and Beckton seat up for grabs.

However, both local Constituency Labour Parties (CLP), which traditionally choose the parliamentary candidate, have been suspended since 2021 over "a significant number of serious allegations", relating to antisemitism, the conduct of party members and electoral fraud.

It has sparked fears among a number of potential local candidates that Labour's governing body, the National Executive Committee, will "parachute in" a contender from outside the borough.

"That would go down like a bucket of cold sick," one senior Labour figure told the Standard.

"The CLP has had its problems, but the people who were causing them have left and there are a lot of good local candidates ready to step in."

Another added: "Parachuting in someone from outside Newham would go down like a sack of s***."

But another London Labour source said: "Using words like 'parachute' isn't helpful. Fact is the local Labour party in Newham has had huge problems. I think the best candidate will be a local one, but you can see why some at HQ might not."

Ilford South MP Sam Tarry, who is in a relationship with Angela Rayner, lost a reselection battle last year to Redbridge council leader Jas Athwal meaning he will not be standing in the constituency he won in 2019 again.

He threatened Labour with legal action, with his supporters accusing figures close to the leadership of ousting him over his left-wing views.

Some have suggested Mr Tarry may put himself forward for one of the east London seats.

But a source told the Standard: "He's politically dead. Anything can happen but I don't think Keir would allow it."

Sir Keir has faced criticism from some senior party figures for what is being perceived as a witch-hunt against the Corbynite left and figures who fall out of line.

In a strongly-worded intervention, Jon Cruddas, the outgoing MP for Dagenham and Rainham, described moves by the party to discipline Neal Lawson, a former speechwriter for Gordon Brown who heads the pressure group Compass, a disgrace.

Mr Cruddas, who is retiring at the next election, said: "The most rightwing, illiberal faction in the party has been handed control to decide who is and is not a member. They are settling scores and are clearly embarked on a witch-hunt  not just of the Corbynite left but of mainstream democrats within the party."
A id organisations have urged the UK not to abandon Afghanistan as Western allies mark two years since the Taliban retook Kabul.

The Taliban, in a lightning offensive across the country, returned to power in Afghanistan on August 15 2021 as Western forces, including Britain and the US, hurriedly made their withdrawal after a 20-year occupation.

Operation Pitting was the largest evacuation effort Britain has been involved in since the Second World War, with more than 15,000 people taken from Afghanistan to the UK in just over 16 days in August 2021.

Bond, an umbrella body in the UK representing international development organisations, said the Afghan people had been living in a waking nightmare since the return of the fundamentalist Taliban regime.

Our support cannot end because troops left

The organisation said more than 80% of the population in the central Asian country is living below the poverty line as the economy continues to contract, jobs vanish and government services crumble.

Gideon Rabinowitz, Bonds policy and advocacy director, said: Families have been plunged into poverty, malnutrition threatens over a million children as food insecurity engulfs the country, and the dreams of millions of women and girls have been shattered as they endure tight restrictions on their freedoms.

The UK and the international community must not abandon Afghanistan. Our support cannot end because troops left.

We urge the UK Government to stay engaged via civil groups on the ground and diplomatic pragmatism while maintaining its commitments to promised UK aid funding and refugee resettlement.

With millions of Afghans fleeing harsh Taliban rule, a cross-party group of MPs have urged Conservative ministers to tackle the slow delivery of its resettlement and assistance programmes.

Afghans have been the most common nationality to arrive on small boats crossing the English Channel in the first half of this year, according to the latest provisional data from the Home Office.

Labours Sarah Champion, chairwoman of the Commons International Development Committee, and Conservative Sir Julian Lewis, chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee, are among 10 MPs to have jointly petitioned immigration minister Robert Jenrick to improve Home Office efforts.

In a letter sent to mark the two-year anniversary, the MPs said they were concerned with both the pace and scale of the Afghan citizens resettlement scheme (ACRS), which they said pledged up to 20,000 places over five years.

But they said just 281 Afghans were brought to the UK via ACRS in the year ending March 2023.

While Afghans wait, we are concerned about the risks they face

Not only has delivery been slow, but the remaining places simply do not match up to the number of Afghans eligible for UK protection, leaving thousands of Afghans who supported the allied efforts or have connections to the UK, trapped in the country or neighbouring countries, the MPs said.

While Afghans wait, we are concerned about the risks they face.

The group of MPs, which also includes the SNPs Patrick Grady and Green MP Caroline Lucas, called for Mr Jenrick to increase ACRS places by at least 6,500 and to open a delayed family reunion mechanism to allow those left behind after the evacuation to be swiftly reunited with their family in the UK.

The former diplomat Sir Laurie Bristow, who was serving as UK ambassador to Afghanistan when Kabul fell, also told The Daily Telegraph newspaper that Britain had an obligation to help those Afghans who had supported allied efforts in their country before the Talibans return.

A Government spokeswoman said the UK had made one of the largest commitments of any country to support Afghanistan.

We have so far welcomed over 9,113 individuals under ACRS. It will provide up to 20,000 people affected by events in Afghanistan and the region with a safe and legal route to resettle in the UK

She said: The ACRS is one of the boldest resettlement schemes in the UKs history and is designed to support those who have assisted UK efforts in Afghanistan and stood up for UK values, as well as vulnerable people.

We have so far welcomed over 9,113 individuals under ACRS. It will provide up to 20,000 people affected by events in Afghanistan and the region with a safe and legal route to resettle in the UK.

We continue to work to deliver on our commitments to the people of Afghanistan.

To mark the two-year anniversary, there is a protest scheduled on Tuesday morning in London to demonstrate against Taliban rule.

The Afghanistan and Central Asian Association has organised a peaceful protest outside Parliament, with the gathering expected to include British Afghans in the UK, activists, students and academics.

Tobias Ellwood, the Tory chairman of the Defence Select Committee, is due to speak at an event in the evening organised by the same organisation.

The former defence minister is facing a no-confidence motion as committee chairman after publishing a video claiming that Afghanistan has improved since the Taliban regained power.

Last month, he apologised in the face of a backlash from members of his own committee after claiming that security in Afghanistan has vastly improved and corruption is down since the fundamentalists returned in 2021.

Mr Ellwood, following a visit to the war-torn nation, called for Britain to reopen its embassy in Kabul, following on from the European Union re-establishing a physical presence in the territory last year.

The veteran later deleted his video report from Helmand province, which was praised as positive by the Taliban, from social media and expressed regret over its recording.
T he level of funding allocated for a range of key public services is often below the amount required to meet the needs of many poorer communities, a study has found.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) think tank said the Governments use of old data to distribute funding has led to significant gaps between the share some areas receive and the amount they would be given if allocations were calculated using more up-to-date estimations of local demand.

Analysis of the 245 billion available across the NHS, schools, local government, police and public health in 2022-23 showed the highest levels of funding per capita were allocated to inner London boroughs and relatively deprived areas in the North of England, including parts of Greater Manchester, Liverpool and Teesside.

The more affluent rural areas received the least funding per head.

But the study paints a more inconsistent picture when funding levels were directly compared to allocations which reflect estimated current spending needs. These were based on Government assessments updated by the IFS using new data on all areas.

NHS funding was described as relatively well-targeted as two-thirds of areas received allocations within 5% of their share of estimated needs due to the Government using more up-to-date information to assess demand.

However, the IFS said the system of funding for local government, taking into account the level of needs and capacity to raise revenue through mechanisms such as council tax, has broken down.

It found only 39 council areas out of 150 received a share of funding that was within 5% of their share of estimated spending needs.

This means there is inconsistent funding across the country for services such as social care, housing, transport, leisure centres and libraries, the IFS said.

Based on a scenario in which all councils set the same level of council tax, the analysis found local authorities in the more affluent South East would still have received a share of funding 9% higher than the share it required to meet spending needs.

Meanwhile, the North East with higher levels of deprivation would have received a share 5% lower than required.

The study highlights that repeated delays to reforms of the local government funding system have perpetuated particularly stark differences in funding allocations.

For example, affluent Wokingham in Berkshire received 45% more local government funding in 202223 than it would have if total funding was allocated in line with current needs, while more deprived Hounslow received 31% less.

This variation is only partly explained by the councils setting different council tax levels, the IFS said.

The think tank found the majority of areas receive a lower funding share than they required for some services but a higher share than required for others.

However, a small number of areas were given a significantly lower share based on the scale of their spending needs across multiple services.

The Government should commit to  and set out a time frame for  the necessary reforms if it is serious about making funding systems fit for the future and aligning funding for public services with its goals for levelling up

Dudley in the West Midlands received 127 per capita less for the NHS, 122 less for local government and 47 less for police services than if all available funding was allocated in line with relative spending needs.

Taking into account all funding for the NHS, local government and public health, areas in the West Midlands overall were allocated 126 per capita less funding on average than required.

While areas in the North West received slightly more funding than their share of estimated needs for all services, this hid some some significant funding gaps for some services.

Manchester was found to have received 23% less local government funding per capita and Cumbria 26% less public health funding per capita than their individual shares of estimated needs.

Moreover, the most deprived fifth of areas in England received a share of total funding that was 3% lower than their share of estimated needs, while the least deprived fifth receive 3% more.

The IFS said the pattern is driven almost entirely by starker gaps in local government funding.

IFS senior research economist, Kate Ogden, said: Funding systems for public services are trying to balance a range of different aims. But if one of the aims is for people to be able to access consistent public services across the country, then the current systems are not fit for purpose.

Addressing this issue will take several years at least and will create losers as well as winners, which will be particularly obvious when overall funding is constrained.

But, the Government should commit to  and set out a time frame for  the necessary reforms if it is serious about making funding systems fit for the future and aligning funding for public services with its goals for levelling up.

Jo Bibby, director of health at the Health Foundation, said local government funding is critical for the building blocks of good health, such as secure housing, good education and green spaces.

She added: There must be marked improvement in funding allocation, transparency, and support for local areas to address specific needs.

Without this, we will not see reductions in the inequalities across the country that all our policymakers, regardless of party, have committed to tackling.

A Department for Levelling Up spokesperson said: Levelling up is a long-term programme of reform that sits at the heart of our ambition as a government.

After listening to feedback from local government, we will work with the sector in the next Parliament to take stock of the challenges and opportunities they face before consulting on any potential funding reform.

Through the 2023/24 local government finance settlement, the most relatively deprived areas of England will receive 17% more per household in available resource than the least deprived areas.
T he Government on Monday insisted that it evacuated the Bibby Stockholm asylum barge as soon as ministers were notified that traces of potentially deadly Legionella bacteria had been detected.

All 39 asylum claimants who had been moved on to the vessel off Portland last week had to be relocated on Friday, deepening the controversy about the Governments asylum policy a day before six people died when their vessel sank off France.

Senior Conservative backbencher David Davis said the startling incompetence of the Home Office had been laid bare, while former party chairman Sir Jake Berry described the barge removals as farcical.

Dorset Council said it informed the contractors operating the barge, CTM and Landry & Kling, on Monday about the presence of the bacteria, and that it told a Home Office official on Tuesday.

However, Health Secretary Steve Barclay said: As soon as ministers were notified on Thursday night, there were some concerns with that, they took instant action. He said it was possible a Home Office official was told earlier, that is an issue for those in the Home Office to respond to.

Nobody aboard the barge had fallen ill, Mr Barclay stressed on Sky News.

My understanding is that no-one has. So there has been no concerns in terms of anyone that has been on the barge and all those people are being subject to health assessments.

Legionella bacteria can cause a potentially fatal lung infection known as Legionnaires disease. It is contracted by breathing in droplets of water containing the bacteria.

Mr Barclay said he wanted the barge back in action. Yes I do, because it is costing 6 million a day in terms of the cost of hotels. It is important that we both maintain safety standards but also reflect the pressure on the taxpayer position in terms of that 6 million.

He defended the Governments asylum policy more widely after the drownings, which he called shocking, and after 509 more people crossed the Channel in 10 boats on Saturday  more than the entire 500-person capacity of the Bibby Stockholm.

The six victims  all believed to be Afghan males  were aboard a dangerously overloaded boat carrying about 65 people which sank in the early hours of Saturday. Another five were taken to hospital in Kent after a rescue operation by British and French vessels.

We are making progress, the minister said, citing a returns agreement with Albania and arguing that the Governments Rwanda deportation plan would have a significant deterrent effect if it was upheld by the Supreme Court.

But Mr Barclay refused to comment on a leaked memo saying the Government thinks the migrant crisis could last five more years, and blamed Labour for exacerbating it by opposing action.
A fghan scholars studying in the UK under a Foreign Office scheme say they are living in fear of being forced back into Taliban clutches.

The current cohort of Afghan Chevening scholars says they are stuck in limbo and face the possibility of having to return to Afghanistan after their graduation in September or once their visas expire.

The Home Office initially stated that the scholarship was not a pathway to resettlement and that scholars should follow the standard Chevening policy of returning home or to a third country.

What should I do? Where should I go? Should I just become stateless and homeless at the same time after September?

But the Home Office has now indicated that scholars can apply for another UK visa, such as the graduate route, or consider claiming asylum.

Three of the 17 Afghan students from the 2022/23 year told the PA news agency about their struggles with panic attacks and fear of persecution as a result of the Governments policy.

One said that even if they were granted a graduate visa, they would still be at risk of deportation after two years.

Afghan Chevening scholars already in the UK in 2021 and 2022 were granted indefinite leave to remain.

The Chevening scholarship programme provides study at UK universities  mostly one-year masters degrees  for students with potential to become future leaders, decision makers and opinion formers.

The scholars agreed to speak to PA on condition of anonymity, due to concerns for their safety and the safety of their families still in Afghanistan.

One of them, who is specialising in international human rights law, said: I am having panic attacks thinking about what exactly is going to happen.

After September, I will have no accommodation, it is difficult to get a job without a visa. What should I do? Where should I go? Should I just become stateless and homeless at the same time after September?

Another student, who is studying accounting and finance, said he was made aware that the scholarship was not an offer of resettlement but was hopeful things would return to normal in Afghanistan by the time he graduated.

He added: There is no possibility of going back to my country  I dont want to put myself and my family in danger.

We should be treated in the same way as the previous cohorts and be granted leave to remain indefinitely.

A third scholar, who is studying management of information systems, said he was sent an email from the programme in early June, telling him to book his flight back home.

He described it as a hard moment, adding: Since then, I have not been able to concentrate on my studies.

After having repeatedly asked for clarity, the scholars said Chevening had informed them at the end of June that they may be exempt from the requirement to return to Afghanistan due to the expiration of their visas in their countries of residence at the time of accepting the scholarship.

A Government spokesperson said: We understand the situation in Afghanistan, and are therefore providing a letter of consent to current scholars whose visas in other countries have expired or will expire, allowing them to apply for another UK visa.

This will exempt them from the normal requirement to leave the UK on completion of study.

The Home Office also made clear that if someone had come to the UK legally, and circumstances in their home country changed, such that it was no longer safe for them to return home, they could claim asylum.

After the Taliban seized power in 2021, the Government programme only offered the scholarship opportunity to Afghan nationals living outside their home country and this was the case for the three scholars, who fled to neighbouring nations after the takeover.

One of the scholars said: The third country, which the Home Office says we should consider going back to  there are peculiarities in our situation.

She added: Right now, India is not giving any type of visa for Afghans. And if I do get a temporary visa, I go there, I stay for one or two months and after that, I have to go back to Afghanistan.

A girl who is single, who has done human rights law in the UK, under the UK Government scheme, who has worked with international forces, I would be persecuted, I would be hanged in front of everybody.

All three of them also insisted that claiming asylum would be a bad option, with one noting that the average waiting time for an initial decision on an asylum case could be between one and three years, during which time they would not be able to work and would potentially be placed in a hotel.

Moreover, according to the scholars, applying for a graduate visa, as the Home Office suggested, would bring financial challenges and potentially leave them with no option but to return to Afghanistan once it expired.

Ministers must end their debilitating quagmire and grant leave to remain in the UK, as the Home Office did for the students who completed their studies last year

One scholar said: The problem, for instance, with the graduate visa is that it has a very high fee, and I dont think many of the Chevening scholars would be able to pursue that route.

But even if I manage to borrow some money, it is only for two years. I want to be assured that after this period, I wouldnt be forced to leave.

Another added: If I get a visa and after two years, for some reason, I cannot get a sponsored job, I will definitely be deported or either I will be deported or I will have to apply for asylum or  I dont know what happens in two years.

Labours Neil Coyle (Bermondsey and Old Southwark), an MP representing one of the scholars, told PA that Chevening scholars were the best and brightest, adding: Ministers must end their debilitating quagmire and grant leave to remain in the UK, as the Home Office did for the students who completed their studies last year.
S ir Keir Starmer came under growing pressure today to carry out a reshuffle within weeks, with Labour MPs split over what post he should give his deputy Angela Rayner.

The Labour leader was being urged to shake up his top team before Labours annual rally in Liverpool in early October, and possibly even before MPs return to the Commons at the start of next month.

With speculation rife over Ms Rayners future, one senior Labour MP said Sir Keir should give her a proper job to get her teeth into rather than her current less high-profile shadow Cabinet Office role. Another said she was in a strong position for a big job given her popularity among trade unions, the Labour Left and some more centrist MPs, and having her own mandate as Labours elected deputy leader.

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But a third senior Labour MP argued that she was not good on detail and came over as not serious. With polls suggesting that Labour is poised to win power next year, he added: You are talking about being a minister. What would you give her to do? Thats the problem.

If this view gained traction, it could give Sir Keir a dilemma with echoes of Tony Blairs decisions about his deputy John Prescott when New Labour got into government after the 1997 general election.

Lord Prescott, now 85, was a very influential figure in Labour and often played a key role defusing the repeated rows between Mr Blair and his chancellor Gordon Brown. But his critics say he was over-promoted in government with a vast Whitehall empire, at a time covering transport, the environment and the regions, and he came under fire for policies such as the failed regional assemblies.

Ms Rayner currently has a wide-ranging brief as shadow first secretary of state, shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and shadow secretary of state for the future of work. Elected to Parliament in 2015 as MP for Ashton-under-Lyne, she is being mooted now as a possible shadow levelling-up secretary. She is seen to the Left of Sir Keir and at times has not shied away from making clear her disagreements with him.

Her partner, Sam Tarry, the Leftwing MP for Ilford South, was sacked as shadow transport minister last July in a frontbench collective responsibility row after giving a TV interview on the picket line at Euston during an RMT rail strike. Only two years ago, Ms Rayner was being talked up as a potential successor to Sir Keir, alongside Rachel Reeves, Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham, as his party reforms were compared to Neil Kinnocks, paving the way for someone else to take it into government.

Ms Rayner has her critics within Labour circles, including over her language such as branding the Tories scum. But her direct communications approach is seen as appealing to some voters. Given the level of support for her within the Labour movement, one senior MP predicted a big job for her in any reshuffle.

It partly depends on her as much as on Keir, and what she wants to do, he added, with Ms Rayner seen to have emerged in a stronger position after resisting a planned move for her in a May 2021 reshuffle. Another senior Labour MP said: This (a reshuffle) is hugely vital. People need to get on top of their brief before the general election, with expectations that it will be in the autumn of 2024.

Shadow cabinet ministers who appear vulnerable to being moved include Jim McMahon, shadow for environment, food and rural affairs, with criticism that some of them are uninspiring.

Sir Keir is not expected to replace many of his top team, with shadow chancellor Ms Reeves emerging as one of Labours strongest performers.

If Ms Rayner was given the levelling-up brief, a role would have to be found for Lisa Nandy, currently in the post. Apparent tensions between Sir Keir and shadow climate and net zero secretary Ed Miliband appeared to have bubbled up recently over Labours 28 billion green economy revolution plan, funded by borrowing.

But with global warming rising up the agenda, moving Mr Miliband may seem odd given that he is one of the few shadow Cabinet members to have served in government.
A n education union has called on the First Minister of Scotland to take action on the lack of job security among newly qualified teachers.

The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) is the largest teaching union in the country, and said Scottish teachers in recent years have been appointed on short-term, temporary contracts.

The union said this has meant a growing number of teachers are leaving the profession to find job security elsewhere, adding this has had serious implications for the Scottish educational system.

In a letter to First Minister Humza Yousaf, EIS general secretary Andrea Bradley wrote on the urgent matter of precarity of employment for thousands of teachers in Scotland, whose professional and personal lives are in turmoil, as a result of the lack of the job security that many were led to believe they would have by entering the teaching profession.

She said she had raised the issue with the First Minister in early June.

The letter continues: I appreciated the concern that you expressed at the time and have become increasingly concerned myself as more and more members have contacted the EIS over the summer months in desperation at the prospect of no work when the new school session begins.

Ms Bradley said the newly qualified teachers years of study that they have undertaken shows they are committed to children, young people and to their profession.

Regrettably for the thousands of teachers who undertook their ITE courses in good faith, the long-term staffing strategy for education has not served them well

She said their commitment often comes with significant personal sacrifice and expense; through the successful completion of a rigorous probationary year and through the achievement of an exacting suite of professional standards.

The letter adds: In embarking on such a path, many will have done so in direct response to the Scottish Governments own Inspiring Teachers and Teaching Makes People recruitment campaigns of 2016 and 2017, which rightly sought to bring more graduates into the profession.

Regrettably for the thousands of teachers who undertook their ITE courses in good faith, the long-term staffing strategy for education has not served them well.

The letter ends: Not only does the staffing situation that Ive outlined negatively impact the lives and wellbeing of thousands of teachers, to the point that many are simply leaving or plan to leave the teaching profession in Scotland, the EIS believes that it falls short of delivering the quality of education that children and young people in Scotland should have the benefit of at all times, and particularly as our education system struggles to recover from the pandemic, and our most socio-economically disadvantaged children and young people from blow after blow of Westminster-driven austerity on their education.

On behalf of the EIS, I ask again that you give this matter urgent consideration and provide additional funding to local authorities that is effectively ringfenced for the recruitment of additional permanently employed teachers, as well as looking carefully at teacher workforce planning for the years ahead to ensure stability and sufficiency of teacher staffing within our schools ongoingly.

The Strategic Board for Teacher Education, which is made up of a range of education bodies, is looking at issues around the recruitment and retention of teachers in Scotland in detail

A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said that while teachers are employed by local authorities and not the government, it is taking strong action to protect increased teacher numbers and is offering councils an additional 145.5 million in the 2023 budget.

They added: Over the past 10 years the number of teachers in permanent posts has remained stable at over 80%, and since December 2014 the number of school teachers in post has increased by 8%, from 49,521 to 53,459 in December 2022.

The Strategic Board for Teacher Education, which is made up of a range of education bodies, is looking at issues around the recruitment and retention of teachers in Scotland in detail.

This includes, for example, geographical and subject-specific issues, as well as how we can increase diversity within the profession and improve support for early career teachers.

More broadly the Education Secretary has discussed the national picture on recruitment with Cosla, and she looks forward to working with our councils on the issue of recruitment and retention  noting that it is they who employ our teachers and not the Scottish Government.
At the reception (Photo: sggp.org.vn)

Mr. Danai Sunantharod, Vice Governor of Phuket province in Thailand said at a reception which was organized by Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) Peoples Committee Vo Van Hoan for a Thai business delegation who are paying a working visit to the city on August 10.

Mr. Hoan highly appreciated the Vietnam- Thailand long-term traditional relations that have achieved many important achievements in socio-economic development, and the cooperation between HCMC and Thai localities in the fields of trade, investment, exchange, science, technology, people-to-people exchange contributing to the Vietnam-Thailand enhanced strategic partnership.

In 2015, HCMC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish friendly and cooperative relations with Bangkok. Since then, the two cities have maintained regular exchanges of delegations, culture, arts, and trade promotion, among others.

He hoped that HCMC and Phuket need to organize a conference to promote investment, trade, and tourism in the two localities to create connectivity and investment opportunities for enterprises of the two sides and identify the business community as a decisive factor in economic cooperation activities. The two localities need promptly establish contact, identify priority areas, and develop cooperative potentials into specific cooperation activities and projects as soon as possible.

For his part, Phuket deputy governor Danai Sunantharod said that the provinces leaders always create favorable conditions for Vietnamese tourists to Phuket and the community of Thai citizens of Vietnamese origin in the locality.

The province wishes to further promote cooperation activities with HCMC, especially in areas where the two sides have strengths.

At the meeting, representatives of the Phuket Chamber of Commerce and Businesses introduced potential areas and hoped to cooperate with HCMC in sharing experience in developing sustainable tourism, tourism advertising, education, health, and inviting HCMC businesses to invest in Vietnamese cuisine restaurants and real estate in Phuket./.
T he mother of George Harrison wrote she was really ashamed I was a female after she watched screaming fans at a Beatles concert.

Louise Harrison told teenager Janet Gray about the Beatlemania scenes she witnessed at a gig in Manchester in November 1963.

Janet, from Crosby, Liverpool, sent fan mail to the Harrison family home in Mackets Lane, Woolton, on a weekly basis from 1963 to 1966.

Mrs Harrison diligently answered thousands of letters from fans around the world.

Their correspondence was intimate as Mrs Harrison took a keen interest in the teenagers personal life as she shared the exploits of her son as his fame soared.

In a letter sent in November 1963, she wrote: Dear Janet, I dont know anything about your mothers letter. I did not have one yet.

I do hope my writing to you is not the cause of any trouble at home. For if so I will definitely not write any more.

Last Wednesday I went to Manchester and I was really disgusted at the way the so-called fans just screamed right through the whole of the Beatles act.

Nobody with any sense would pay and queue for a ticket just to stand on a seat and scream and not hear one sound from the stage. I was really ashamed I was a female.

Now Janet I hope you will try and remember that your mum is your best friend, even if you dont see eye to eye on some issues. Thank God I get on fine with all my 4 children and they with each other.

Anyhow I shall pray that everything will be just fine for you in the very near future. Lots of love Louise Harrison.

PS I have about 90 letters not opened yet and hundreds opened awaiting replys (sic).

In another reply in July 1964, she said: Dear Janet This will have to be short.

George was home for two days or rather nights  out all day rehearsing at Blackpool. George was not hurt Thank God in crash.

Oh Im surprised at you believing rot about Paul. What on earth makes you believed it, I dont.

You seem to be having a good time eh! I want to get away this weekend.

I must close now for shopping. Love Louise Harrison

Thanks for snap its very good.

In September 1964, she wrote: Dear Janet, Ive been in Surrey 5 weeks.

George was there 5 days before I came home. He is very thin but OK.

Glad to hear you have a boyfriend. Hope you pass the GCE OK. Im so busy I could scream. 3000 letters to answer at least. So Ill say cheerio for now.

Nearly two years later in August 1966, she wrote: Dear Janet, I have just been away on holiday touring around France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany and now I am back to about 500 letters and so I am afraid this will have to be rather short.

I am hoping the boys will have a successful tour of America despite all the rumours we have heard.

Congratulations and good luck to your brother. Sorry to hear of your misfortune with the moped. You are very lucky to get such good pay.

I hope your mum enjoyed Lucerne, we were there.

Best wishes Louise Harrison.

A series of 25 letters in reply from Mrs Harrison have been put up for sale by the family of the late Ms Gray.

They will be among items listed at the Liverpool Beatles Memorabilia Auction which takes place in the city on Saturday August 26.

Further details can be found at www.beatlesauction.co.uk
T he grounds of a hotel in Co Down have come to life with the display of the some of largest Irish sculptures to ever come to the art market.

The pieces include Larger Than Life, from Patrick OReillys bear series, standing at four metres (13.1ft), and Wind And Sea by Paddy Campbell which is 4.3 metres (14.1ft).

The pieces have a combined value of more than 900,000 euro (776,028) and weigh around two tonnes each.

They are being displayed at the Culloden Estate and Spa in Belfast ahead of this weekends international art and sculpture fair, Art and Soul which showcases seven million euro (6,036,415) worth of works by Andy Warhol, Banksy, Damien Hirst and Keith Haring.

Art And Soul, curated by Gormleys, is the islands largest ever sculpture exhibition and runs from Saturday until September 10.

The free event will feature a major outdoor exhibition of 80 large sculptures and installations set throughout 12 acres of landscaped grounds.

More than 280 works by international artists alongside leading Irish sculptors Patrick OReilly, Ian Pollock, Bob Quinn, Sandra Bell, Eamonn Ceannt, John Fitzgerald, Anthony Scott and Orla De Bri, will go on display.

It will also include exhibitions by renowned Irish artists Martin Mooney, Maser, Peter Monaghan, Gordon Harris and Stephen Forbes.

The hotels interior will display 100 artworks by some of the worlds best-known artists, including Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Robert Indiana, Damien Hirst, Salvador Dali and Banksy.

We are delighted to return this fair to the Culloden, where it first began, said Oliver Gormley of Gormleys.

It gives art lovers a unique opportunity to view these incredible works in the beautiful surroundings of the estate.

All works will be for sale, with prices ranging from 1,000 euro (862) to 490,000 euro (422,544).

Art and Soul 2023 will mark ten years of Gormleys events at the five-star Culloden.

Howard Hastings, chairman of Hastings Hotels said: We have been hosting this internationally acclaimed event for a decade, in partnership with Gormleys Fine Art, and are delighted to once again exhibit some of the most impressive pieces from world-renowned artists  as well as a host of local talent.

This edition of Art and Soul is a true exhibition of brilliance with works by celebrated artists.

Once again, we are supporting local artists across Northern Ireland too  and Im proud to shine a light on the talent we have right on our doorstep, enabling them to share centre stage with some of the worlds most celebrated artists.

During the event, there will be a programme of artists talks and daily guided tours.

Art and Soul will be open to the public daily from 11am7pm.

More information is available at: cullodenestateandspa.ie and gormleys.ie.
A 17-year-old who was missing for a day-and-a-half after setting off on a hike in the Scottish Highlands has been found safe and well.

Isaac Johnson was reported missing around 11pm on Saturday after he failed to return from a hill walk in a remote, mountainous area in the west of Scotland.

His disappearance sparked a major search by police, mountain rescue teams, and the Coastguard.

Police Scotland Chief Inspector Donna Allan said Isaac has set off around lunchtime on Saturday, and was thought to have been walking in the area south of Creag Nan Lochan.

She said officers were growing increasingly concerned for his welfare, adding it was an extremely worrying time for this family.

But in an update on Monday afternoon, Police Scotland confirmed the teen, who is from Glen Moidart in the Highlands, had been traced safe and well.

The force thanked those who shared and responded to its media appeal.
A fter another overcast weekend, Brits are hoping there will finally be some sunshine in August  although the weeks ahead are not looking good.

The Met Office has said that a dry bank holiday Monday, on August 28, is unlikely although there could be some warm spells from August 26 to September 9.

The BBCs outlook for London reads: The second half of next week could be drier for a time, but low-pressure systems are expected to return, making later August and early September unsettled with temperatures near or a little above average, except in the wetter periods.

The miserable August follows a July that was one of the wettest in British history. An average rainfall of 140.1mm across the UK last month meant that it was the sixth-highest total for the month since records began in 1836.

But why is the weather so bad and when will it stop raining?

Why is the weather so bad?

Speaking on the Met Offices YouTube series Deep Dive, Met Office meteorologist and presenter Alex Deakin said: What were seeing with the jet stream is this shift more towards being directed towards the UK from the southwest, which is helping to push low-pressure systems towards the UK.

It seems that this low-pressure system will be continuing into the weekend.

Ahead of the weekend, the jet stream is looking to be relatively strong and, as well as bringing a period of some more persistent rain for many, its also bringing some strong winds and continuing this fresh period of weather, he added.

When will it stop raining?

It seems the UK wont be getting extreme warm weather like last summer. Following record-breaking temperatures last month, the Met Office has stated that no heatwave is on the cards for the remainder of the summer.

The UK is predominantly under the influence of low pressure, which is continuing a showery regime, with some potentially heavy and thundery showers possible at times through the week, said Andy Page, chief meteorologist at the Met Office.

While not everywhere in the UK will experience the heaviest downpours, it will remain an unsettled and relatively cool period, in stark contrast to the heat we experienced in June.

The bad weather in the UK has come at a time of heatwaves across Europe.

A jet stream effect has brought cool air to the UK whereas the continent has seen hot African air.

Climate scientist Hannah Cloke told the Mirror: I think we're very, very lucky because, otherwise, wed be sitting in that hot African air. Thats really very dangerous indeed. The jet stream just happens to be in this position, which is bringing that cooler weather across the UK.

Last summer, it wasnt like that. We were experiencing that air being drawn off over the UK so easily. We could be in that situation again, where we see this really hot air come across the UK. We're certainly not ready for extreme heat here in the UK.
A woman who cooked a mushroom meal which is suspected of killing three people has said she was devastated by their deaths and revealed she also ended up in hospital after eating the food.

Erin Patterson, 48, made beef Wellington for her former parents-in-law Gail and Don Patterson, Gails sister Heather Wilkinson and her husband Ian, at a lunch she hosted at her home in Leongatha, Victoria, Australia.

The meal was reportedly arranged in a bid for reconciliation with Ms Pattersons ex-husband, but he pulled out of the event at the last minute.

Within days of the meal, on July 29, three of her guests  Mr and Mrs Patterson and Ms Wilkinson - had died from suspected mushroom poisoning while Mr Wilkinson remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital.

In a newly-released statement, Ms Patterson told Victoria Police she had bought button mushrooms for the meal from a supermarket, and dried mushrooms from an Asian grocery store in Melbourne months earlier.

I am now wanting to clear up the record because I have become extremely stressed and overwhelmed by the deaths of my loved ones, she said.

I am hoping this statement might help in some way. I believe if people understood the background more, they would not be so quick to rush to judgement.

I am now devastated to think that these mushrooms may have contributed to the illness suffered by my loved ones. I really want to repeat that I had absolutely no reason to hurt these people whom I loved.

When she was first interviewed by police, Ms Patterson did not reply to questions but has now said she regretted that decision and blamed it on the nightmare she was in.

She has admitted lying to police about when she dumped a food dehydrator at a near-by tip, and said she got rid of the appliance in a panic when she was accused at the hospital by her ex-husband Simon Patterson of poisoning his parents.

Ms Patterson also gave police a detailed account of the meal, saying she allowed guests to choose their own plate of beef Wellington before taking a serving herself.

She said she also suffered stomach pains and diarrhoea in the aftermath, was put on a saline drip in hospital, and given a liver protective drug.

It has earlier been reported that Ms Pattersons two children were present at the meal but received different food. However it has now emerged they were at the cinema at the time.

They ate leftovers the following day, Ms Patterson said, but the mushrooms had been removed because her children do not like them.

Scraps of the meal have been handed over to hospital toxicologists for examination, as experts attempt to determine the cause of the poisonings.

In her statement, Ms Patterson paid tribute to her former in-laws, saying: I had been close with Simons parents for a long period of time.

Our relationship had continued in a fairly amicable way after I finished the relation-ship with their son Simon.

Our relationship was affected to some degree by seeing them less after my marriage breakdown with Simon however I have never felt differently towards his parents.

I had a deep love and respect for Simons parents and had encouraged my children to spend time with their grandparents as I believed they were exceptional role models.
A boy has survived after falling a 100ft at the Grand Canyon after he slipped over the edge while trying to dodge a photo being taken by other visitors.

Wyatt Kauffman, 13, fell off a cliff on Tuesday at the North Rim of the iconic national park in Arizona during a family trip, and plunged nearly 30 metres at the Bright Angel Point trail.

The teenager was airlifted to a Las Vegas hospital for treatment of nine broken vertebrae plus a ruptured spleen, a collapsed lung, a concussion and a broken hand and dislocated finger.

I was up on the ledge and was moving out of the way so other people could take a picture, Mr Kauffman told Phoenix television station KPNX.

I squatted down and was holding on to a rock. I only had one hand on it.

It wasnt that good of a grip. It was kind of pushing me back. I lost my grip and started to fall back, he added.

Rescue crews had to rappel down the cliff and get the injured boy out of the canyon in a basket.

I just remember somewhat waking up and being in the back of an ambulance and a helicopter and getting on a plane and getting here, to the hospital, said Mr Kauffman, who is from North Dakota.

A National Park Service search and rescue team set up a rope rescue down to the steep and narrow trail and raised the teen safely to the rim.

Were extremely grateful for the work of everyone. Two hours is an eternity in a situation like that, the boys father Brian Kauffman said.

He said his son and his mother were on a trip to visit national parks when the incident occurred.

Brian Kauffman said his son was discharged from the hospital on Saturday and was taken home.

Were just lucky were bringing our kid home in a car in the front seat instead of in a box, Brian Kauffman told KPNX.

The Grand Canyon search and rescue team respond to, on average, more than 300 calls each year, ranging from heat illness to falls over the edge of the canyon.

Meghan Smith, Preventive Search and Rescue Supervisor, said: I can say with great confidence that they put to use advanced medical skills in an austere environment that are rarely executed in most other places.
T he death toll from Hawaiis devastating wildfires today climbed towards 100 as officials said they had searched only three per cent of a devastated town.

The number of victims reached 96 this morning, making the fires the deadliest in the United States for more than a century.

John Pelletier, the Maui police chief, described the blaze as a fire that melted metal, saying it had been severe enough that each recovered body would have to be identified using DNA. He has warned that just three per cent of Lahainas charred ruins have been searched so far, stoking fears that the death toll will continue its sharp climb. None of us really know the size of it yet, he said.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green says it is the largest natural disaster the US state had faced, as questions are mounting about how the fire started, how it got so out of control, and whether the official response was sufficient.

Hollywood star Dwayne Johnson, who spent part of his childhood in Hawaii, said he was completely heartbroken, while pointing his fans to the Hawaii Community Foundation for relief effort donations.

In a clip on his Instagram the wrestler-turned-actor said: Everything that Ive seen transpire over these past couple of days, everything that continues to transpire hour-by-hour, minute-by-minute, its all heartbreaking.

Hawaii native Jason Momoa has warned tourists not to travel to Maui. The actor said: Do not convince yourself that your presence is needed on an island that is suffering this deeply.

Oprah Winfrey, who flew into Hawaii last week and owns property on Maui, has promised she would make a major donation to the rebuilding effort. The billionaire and her camera crew were turned away from a shelter for survivors.

A Tourist Keep Out in Lahaina, Hawaii / AP

Officials said out of respect for those who have come to seek safety and shelter at emergency shelters, our policy remains that no media are given access. The County of Maui later clarified that Winfrey was welcomed into the facility after she instructed the camera crew to remain outside.

Fleetwood Mac drummer Mick Fleetwood has had his restaurant in Lahaina destroyed and described the situation as catastrophic.

Fleetwood, who has lived in Hawaii for decades, told Sky News he was in LA when the fires broke out but quickly returned. He said: The whole town of Lahaina is no more. That in itself is a statement that leads you immediately to the people who lived there.
M ore than 30 people are dead and many others are trapped after heavy monsoon rains triggered floods and landslides in Indias Himalayan region.

Rescuers on Monday tried to free people trapped beneath piles of debris, after torrential downpours that began over the weekend in mountainous Himachal Pradesh state flooded roads and washed away homes.

A cloudburst in the states Solan district on Sunday night killed nine people in the area.

Twelve more bodies were pulled from beneath mud and debris following two landslides in Shimla, the states capital, authorities told the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency.

Four other people were killed in heavy rains and a landslide in the states Hamirpur district.

Rescuers were working on Monday to urgently free those still trapped beneath debris in Shimla, said Himachal Pradeshs chief minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

Authorities said the figure could rise as rescue work continues.

Homes in Solan have been washed away and roads flooded in the incessant rain, police told PTI, while in Shimla landslides brought down a Hindu temple.

All schools and colleges in the state have been shut and more than 700 inundated roads have been closed.

Indias weather department warned that moderate to heavy rainfall will hit various parts of the state on Monday.

It had issued a red alert over the weekend for intense downpours in neighboring Uttarakhand state, where 60 people have died in monsoon rains this season, PTI reported.

In July, record monsoon showers killed more than 100 people over two weeks in parts of northern India, including in Himachal Pradesh, which was the worst hit.

Disasters caused by landslides and floods are common in Indias Himalayan north during the June-September monsoon season, and can affect thousands of people in Indias mountainous regeions.

Scientists say they are becoming more frequent as global warming contributes to the melting of glaciers there.Last year, flash floods killed nearly 200 people and washed away houses in Uttarakhand.
P aul OGradys final TV project has been announced by ITV.

The late TV presenters final show, a two part documentary, was filmed by the station in 2022.

OGrady died unexpectedly but peacefully on March 28 and laid to rest at a service attended by a host of OGradys celebrity friends including Julian Clary, Ronnie Wood, Alan Carr and Dame Sheila Hancock,

He will be seen on the new ITV series Paul OGradys Great Elephant Adventure later this year.

The documentary will follow OGradys travels through Thailand and Laos to celebrate the work done by elephant conservation centres to rescue, rehabilitate and protect these most majestic, but vulnerable, of animals," ITV said in a press release.

Thailand has the largest number of elephant rescue centres in the world while Laos is nicknamed the land of a million elephants, and each episode sees Paul travel across the region to roll up his sleeves and muck in to help out at a different rescue centre, the broadcaster continued.

On April 13, the star was seen in the final episodes of Paul OGrady: For The Love of Dogs / ITV

Along the way, Paul also heads out from the sanctuaries to grab a slice of local life by exploring nearby colourful markets, temples, apothecaries and sampling the local cuisine.

Each episode highlights a particular challenge faced by elephants in the region and as ever  Pauls love for animals shines throughout the series. The tone is warm, playful and heartfelt and always characterised by his much-loved wit and humour.

Their statement also revealed that the project is one that he was incredibly passionate about.

On April 13, the star was seen in the final episodes of Paul OGrady: For The Love of Dogs.

His husband of five years Andre Portasio, confirmed his death earlier this year. It is with great sadness that I inform you that Paul has passed away unexpectedly but peacefully yesterday evening, he had said in a statement at the time.

He will be greatly missed by his loved ones, friends, family, animals and all those who enjoyed his humour, wit and compassion. I know that he would want me to thank you for all the love you have shown him over the years.
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University of Chicago physicists have observed quantum superchemistry for the first time - a phenomenon allowing tiny particles to react at ultra-cold temperatures.

Its been suggested these molecules could in future be used as qubits - or basic units of information - in quantum supercomputers for processing data at unfathomably fast speeds.

Researchers say the study, 20 years in the making and published in the journal Nature, involved cooling down cesium atoms at absolute zero to coax them into a quantum state so they formed molecules.

Ninety-three people are confirmed to have died on the Hawaiian island of Maui in the deadliest US wildfires in more than a century.

Lahaina resident Sydney Carney describes how her home was destroyed, while the local restaurant owned by British rock star Mick Fleetwood, founder of Fleetwood Mac, also burned down.

University College London research suggests medics should offer depressed patients therapy to help overcome addictive social media use and improve their mental health.

Scientists searched more than 2,700 experimental studies and found those who limited their use of social media saw improvements in levels of depression, anxiety and loneliness.

And the rest

Plus, Russia moon shot latest, pollution wars six-fold parking fees, warning messages in cigarette packs, food security greenhouse gas link and robotaxi traffic jam.

Listen above, and find us on your Spotify Daily Drive or wherever you stream your podcasts.
In a strategic business move, Sabeer Nelli, a prominent US fintech entrepreneur, has announced the expansion of ZilBank to Bahrain, endorsing it as the perfect launchpad for his Middle Eastern venture.

Nelli's decision is significantly influenced by Bahrain's appealing regulations, its strategic geographical positioning, the strength of its financial sector, and its established role as a gateway to the Middle East.

A critical factor in Nelli's decision has been the ongoing efforts by the Bahrain Economic Development Board. By actively nurturing fintech firms, the Board has successfully positioned Bahrain as an appealing environment for growth and innovation within the sector.

Strong legacy

Bahrain, also known for its strong legacy as an Islamic finance hub, offers a supportive regulatory environment courtesy of the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB). The kingdom has always shown unwavering support for the industry through robust regulations and has facilitated a solid foundation for the sustainable growth of the fintech industry.

The support for the fintech industry is unequivocal, with open arms welcoming innovations that promise to enhance the existing efficiency and effectiveness of current systems.

Renowned for his ethical approach to business, Nelli founded ZilBank as part of Zil Money Corporation to address the challenges small businesses often encounter in financial management. His banking principles, built around fundamental socio-religious guidelines, discourage activities such as charging interest, gambling, and speculation, thereby aligning perfectly with the ethos of Islamic finance.

Compatibility

This compatibility was a deciding factor for Nelli when choosing to expand his business to the Middle East, beginning with Bahrain. Zil Money Corporation, the parent company of OnlineCheckWriter.com, ZilBank.com, and ZilMoney.com, is devoted to creating innovative payment technologies that cater to the changing requirements of businesses. Their commitment extends to ensuring all their services uphold Shariah, a critical requirement within the Middle Eastern markets.

With ZilBank, Nelli is keen on helping Bahraini individuals and businesses intending to set up a bank in the US. He believes there is a pressing need to support non-US residents in their aspirations to set up a bank account in the US remotely, and ZilBank is designed to meet this need. ZilBank's fee-free business checking account necessitates only the submission of fundamental business details and a valid US visa, making the process streamlined and user-friendly.

ZilBank also boasts a plethora of other benefits. Users can manage multiple bank accounts through a single platform, facilitating smooth financial management across different business pursuits. Additionally, the platform offers features such as instant money transfers between ZilBank accounts and efficient ACH and wire transfers. As the cherry on top, having a US bank account allows entrepreneurs to receive US dollars directly, thus bypassing foreign exchange fees and opening a world of opportunities in the global market.-- TradeArabia News Service
Tourists visit the Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, Aug. 2, 2023. (Xinhua/Pema Yangtso)

XINING, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- During her summer vacation, Gao Yong'e had just one day in Xining, the capital city of Qinghai Province in northwest China, and she knew exactly where she was going to go: the Tibetan Culture Museum.

"I wanted to spend the day learning and experiencing the rich and diverse traditional culture of my country," said the 31-year-old, who hails from Anhui Province in east China.

In the museum, Gao's camera raced to capture the array of treasures  from Tibetan costumes to glass incense bottles, and even the ancient coins that once traversed historic trade routes. Inspired by the sheer beauty and historical significance, Gao clicked away in a blur.

The Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum boasts a collection of more than 50,000 works, spanning Tibetan medicine, literature, calligraphy, folk culture, art, and astrology. Many items are national-level cultural relics.

"The number of visitors to the museum has reached a historic high during the summer vacation. In July alone, nearly 200,000 people visited the museum, while the daily flow of tourists reach over 6,000 since August," said Dorje Gyal, deputy director of the museum.

"We hire out all the audio guides within an hour of opening each day, and there is an overwhelming demand for guided tours," he added.

Aside from exhibitions, the museum also features interactive activities, such as thangka painting and traditional costume photobooths, so visitors can get hand-on when exploring the vast collection.

Sun Xinyi and her mother made the museum their final stop after enjoying the breathtaking natural landscapes in the plateau province. "The unique Tibetan culture is an important part of our Chinese culture, therefore, we should learn and understand it well," the nine-year-old said.

"Currently, more and more young people are enthusiastic about museums, consciously seeking to understand the profound historical heritage of our country. This is due to their identification with traditional culture, and this identification leads to their fondness," said Dorje Gyal. "The 'museum tourism fever' enriches cultural and tourism activities, demonstrating the charm and confidence of traditional Chinese culture."

Data from the provincial culture and tourism department showed that, in the first half of the year, Qinghai received nearly 18.22 million visitors, achieving tourism revenue of 16.23 billion yuan (about 2.27 billion U.S. dollars), representing a year-on-year increase of 98 percent and 146 percent compared to 2022.

Qinghai has a total of 41 museums, including 25 at the national level.

Tourists visit the Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, Aug. 2, 2023. (Xinhua/Pema Yangtso)

Editor: WJH
Jim Martin, Mississippi State University associate vice president for corporate engagement and economic development and Mississippi Cyber Initiative lead, spoke to the Starkville Rotary Club on Monday.
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Kostyantyn Zhevago, investor, entrepreneur, philanthropist

Even with significant support from Western countries and international organizations, Ukraine still needs private investments. However, attracting funds from businessmen is a more complex task than, for instance, organizing luxurious conferences. Transparent policies, effective reforms, innovative projects, and active promotion of Ukraine's advantages in the international market are needed. Successful investment attraction requires a wise strategy and determined steps to achieve success.

The world supports Ukraine and does not leave our country alone with the consequences of the war. Conferences, round tables, and official meetings are being held on all continents to discuss ways to support Ukraine and plans for its reconstruction.

At the end of June, London hosted a massive conference that brought together the most influential representatives from 61 countries around the world. Among the participants were not only heads of state and high-ranking officials, but also over 1000 prominent businessmen ready to discuss ways of cooperation and assistance to Ukraine in this challenging time.

The EU promised to allocate 50 billion euros over four years. The UK pledged 3 billion dollars for credit guarantees to businesses willing to invest in Ukraine. Assistance has also been pledged by the US, Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland, Latvia, and other countries. The World Bank and the European Investment Bank have announced their contributions. Overall, around 60 billion dollars in contributions for the benefit of Ukraine have been announced.

Previously, a similar event took place in Lugano, Switzerland, and more will follow. Do such events have an effect? Undoubtedly. Is this effect sufficient? Undoubtedly, no.

Russia has inflicted damages of 119 billion dollars on Ukraine's infrastructure, as reported by the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine in March this year. In total, post-war recovery will require no less than 411 billion dollars, according to a May report by the UN. And with each passing day, this estimate will only increase.

How many sumptuous conferences need to be held in European capitals to attract such funds? I fear that there won't be enough capitals. Moreover, our Government has grand ambitions. For the aforementioned conference in London, Ukrainian officials came with a reconstruction plan that drew criticism from experts and businessmen. I speak about this responsibly, as a shareholder of a company whose shares are traded on the main platform of the London Stock Exchange and are part of the FTSE index - the index of the largest companies in the UK. I regularly communicate with influential representatives of funds and private investors.

"It has no connection to reality," noted Alexander Kharchenko, Director of the Energy Research Center, for the media after reviewing the plans for energy recovery in Ukraine. And the Napoleon-esque plans of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine to achieve a trillion dollar GDP by the end of 2030 became a widely used joke. Complete incompetence - an absolutely populist statement that might have an effect on the domestic audience but not on qualified investors. Ukraine already had a Prime Minister who rode a scooter around the Cabinet of Ministers and populistically promised a 40% GDP growth for Ukraine each year for the next 5 years, starting from 2019. And where is he, where is the scooter, and where is the growth? It's a pressing question for all Ukrainians.

What do foreign investors actually look at: beautiful government plans or the realities of Ukrainian entrepreneurs' lives? A rhetorical question. In the spring, Ukrainian law enforcement agencies conducted searches at entrepreneurs' premises nearly every week.

Searches at founders and partners of investment company Concorde Capital, at software developer ImproveIT Solutions, at technology company MacPaw, and many other stories. And I'm not even mentioning the clearly politically motivated pressure on companies, including public ones owned by myself or my family members. Even the business ombudsman, Roman Vashchuk, a former Canadian ambassador to Ukraine, had to speak out about the increasing pressure on businesses.

The conflict between law enforcement and Ukrainian businesses has reached a point where the President's Office has decided to hold weekly (!) roundtable discussions to "resolve problematic issues." Another example of trying to replace substance with form. Entrepreneurs haven't seen such "collaboration" between business and authorities since the presidency of Yanukovych.

Neither conferences nor roundtable discussions in the President's Office by themselves improve the Ukrainian business climate. The only path, though not an easy one, is honest courts, absence of corruption, efficient anti-monopoly bodies, and a tax system that's business-friendly. And then, both Ukrainian and foreign investors will have a good time in Ukraine.

Foreign funds and private investors primarily consider whether the local business environment in Ukraine is conducive to their operations and to the existing foreign investments. Only after that, they decide whether to enter the country or not. But when domestic businesses are being harassed by the Bureau of Economic Security, the State Bureau of Investigations, the Prosecutor's Office, the Security Service of Ukraine, and other law enforcement agencies, what is a foreigner supposed to think? Will they get another or better treatment?

In June 2023, the consulting company Advanter Group surveyed owners and CEOs of Ukrainian businesses. They surveyed over 700 companies. Among the main problems troubling businesses, the third place was occupied by "Unpredictable actions of the state that could worsen the business environment." Unfortunately, this is the most relevant title for the next conference on Ukraine's recovery.
Minister of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism Stefan-Radu Oprea signed on Monday in Navodari the approval notice for the establishment of the "Mamaia Nord Resort" Destination Management Organization (DMO) and handed it to Navodari mayor Florin Chelaru, the Ministry said in a release.

"I want us to promote Romanian tourism and I believe that we can only succeed through a good cooperation between the state institutions, control ones included, and the representatives of the business environment and of course, us, the team from the Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism. The government of Romania pledged to attract through the NRRP all the funds allocated to destination management organizations. This is a total of about 10 million euros, of which 8 million euros for the development of DMOs (through infrastructure projects aimed at increasing the accessibility, sustainability and development of destinations) and another 2 million euros for the digitalization of tourist destinations and the elaboration of tourism development and marketing strategies," Minister Stefan-Radu Oprea said.

The "Mamaia Nord Resort" DMO represented by the public-private partnership of the Navodari Local Council, the Mamaia Nord Employers' Organization and Holiday Beach SRL will develop and implement the tourism development and marketing strategy at local level. Among the goals committed to by the three founding members are increasing the degree of capitalization on the destination's tourist potential, extending the duration of stays and increasing the number of visitors, identifying measures to reduce seasonality, increasing the visibility of the tourism brand and promoting the sustainability of the companies in the industry.

Romania currently has 15 local DMOs, one county and a regional one.
Former Finance Minister Darius Valcov, who fled a 6-year sentence for influence peddling and money laundering, is in the custody of the Romanian Police, after being taken over from Italian authorities on Monday and brought under escort to Romania, to be delivered to the Rahova Penitentiary.

"Darius Valcov is in police custody now, and will arrive in Romania. He is the first fugitive I bring back during my term as a Justice minister. I thank everyone involved, from police to the liaison magistrate, I thank the Italian authorities, and it's good to know what's next. Once he lands in Romania, he will be handed over to the Rahova Penitentiary, where he will spend 21 days of quarantine. We ensure him the four square meters of detention space, these were the guarantees the Justice Ministry provided the Italian courts, through the National Penitentiary Authority, for us to be able to bring him back, to serve his sentence here. After the stay in Rahova and when he gets to serve in a semi-open regime, we will move him to another penitentiary. Therefore, I think it's good to have everybody's trust in the justice system restored. We bring our famous or less famous fugitives back to the country," Justice Minister Alina Gorghiu wrote on Facebook.

The Romanian Police escort with the fugitive arrived on August 14 at the Henri Coanda Bucharest International Airport.
Romania's H1 current account deficit narrows by 18 pct YoY

The current account of Romania's H1 balance of payments was running a deficit of 9.826 billion euros, down by more than 18 percent from 11.997 billion euros in the year-ago period, the National Bank of Romania (BNR) announced on Monday, told Agerpres.

The goods deficit was by 1.447 billion euros lower, the primary income deficit increased by 847 billion euros, while the surplus of the balance of secondary revenues was by 125 million euros less.

The country's total external debt increased by 14.672 billion euros over January - June 2023, with the long-term external debt amounting to 112.591 billion euros as of June 30, 2023 (70.7 percent of the total external debt), up by 15.2 percent from December 31, 2022, and the short-term external debt standing at 46.642 billion euros (29.3 percent of the total external debt), down 0.4 percent compared to the level registered on December 31, 2022.

The long-term external debt service ratio was 14.9 percent between January - June 2023, compared to 16.2 percent in 2022. The goods and services import cover was 5.1 months as of June 30, 2023, compared to 4.4 months as of December 31, 2022.

The ratio of BNR's foreign exchange reserves to the short-term external debt by remaining maturity was 90.5 percent as of June 30, 2023 compared to 80.2 percent as of December 31, 2022.
Sea mine explodes near Costinesti pier

In underwater explosion rocked the area of the pier in front of the Forum Hotel in the Costinesti seaside resort on Monday morning around 9:00 hrs. There were no injuries or fatalities, Constanta County's Dobrogea Emergency Management Inspectorate (ISU) announced. An ISU Dobrogea first-responder crew with a special fire truck and a RIB boat was quickly deployed to the scene and cordoned off the zone, told Agerpres.

Preliminary data shows the explosion was caused by a sea mine. A team of divers specializing in the destruction of explosive devices is taking action at the scene.

A second drifting mine was reported in the area of the Costinesti breakwater, which is why a Romanian Navy EOD diver team was called to the indicated sea sector to assess the situation and neutralize the device, the Navy Press Office said.
ST. LOUIS  Faulty locks and understaffing at the citys downtown jail are partially to blame for a beating two years ago in which three men were punched, kicked and stomped in the head by fellow inmates while corrections officers failed to intervene for hours, according to a lawsuit filed last week.

Throughout 2021, inmates at the City Justice Center repeatedly took advantage of faulty locks to break out of their cells and shatter windows, destroy equipment and set fires at the jail. And because of those faulty locks, the lawsuit claims, inmates who were not supposed to be in the recreation area broke out of their cells one night in mid-August and beat their fellow detainees, which was captured in a widely circulated video.

Now, Stanley Miller, Robert Childs and Zachary Kearnes are seeking compensation from the city, jail leadership and unnamed employees in a federal lawsuit in which they claim their rights were violated when they were left unprotected from other detainees with violent histories.

Its a big problem beyond these three folks, said local attorney Elad Gross, who sued on behalf of the men who were beaten. Gross has previously filed other lawsuits over public records and conditions at the jail.

A city spokesman did not respond to a request for comment about the lawsuit.

Issues have plagued the downtown jail since 2021, when detainees first began escaping their cells by jamming them with trash and debris. Inmates on several occasions destroyed parts of the jail in protest of conditions at the facility and court shutdowns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Video of the Aug. 13, 2021, beating showed officers standing outside the door of the recreation room during the beatings. Maj. Tonya Henry, the jails security chief, said at the time that another situation was happening at the same time and my staff was pretty much spread thin.

She said the handful of officers shown in the video didnt have the equipment necessary to stop the fight.

Around 11:30 p.m. that night, the fight broke out when an inmate began punching Kearnes in the face. Several corrections officers locked the doors and stood by as detainees attacked Childs, then Miller, the suit says.

Additional backup officers arrived, but they continued to watch as beatings continued. At 11:51 p.m., an employee spoke to the inmates through a window and said, Well be in there in a minute, but it took them roughly 25 minutes to extract Kearnes. Childs and Miller were left inside, according to court documents.

At around 2:15 a.m., officers entered the recreation area again and used pepper spray as detainees rushed toward the officers, the suit says. Childs and Miller were finally taken from the recreation area and transported to University Hospital.

Kearnes was diagnosed with a traumatic head injury, damaged teeth and swelling around his eyes. He required additional dental work and still experiences anxiety and other mental health problems, according to court documents.

Childs had injuries to his face, back and head and continues to suffer from back pain, inflammation, nerve pain, loss of feeling in his legs, and urination and bowel issues. Miller likely had a concussion.

In September 2022, Gross sued the city for Missouri Sunshine Law violations alleging officials failed to provide him requested emails, texts and reports as he tried to research the assaults on the three men. That lawsuit is ongoing.

But Gross said Monday he hopes the new litigation will convince the city to correct ongoing dangerous conditions at the jail. The city is still working on repairing the locks roughly two years after the attacks. An official said in May they hoped to be finished by the end of 2023.

Certainly we hope the city will be making changes and this hopefully will benefit other people, Gross said.

A hearing has not yet been set in the case.
UPDATED with age of suspect, more details about arrest

ST. LOUIS  No one was injured Monday morning when a gunman fired several shots near a MetroLink station on South 14th Street.

Police said shots were fired about 8:30 a.m. in the 400 block of South 14th Street, near Spruce Street. Police took two men into custody.

A spokeswoman for the transit agency, Patti Beck, said the incident did not occur on Metro transit property. It apparently happened on a public sidewalk, she said, and spilled onto 14th Street.

Two men had been fighting and one pulled a gun, witnesses told police.

Police said the 38-year-old suspect ran west through the parking lot at the Greyhound station and tossed the gun. Police ran after the gunman and caught him. They also recovered the gun.

Shay Delgado said her 23-year-old son was the man being shot at; she said he had just gotten off a bus and was heading to a MetroLink train to get to his job at Wendy's when the gunman opened fire.

"He shot five times, and the bullets missed him," Delgado said.

Delgado said the gunman had posted threats on Facebook a year ago and last week pulled a gun on her son as he stood on the Metro platform.

She said she gave police the man's name a week ago.

"They need to do something about it," she said.

She said her son was taken into custody Monday because of outstanding warrants.

Laurie Skrivan of the Post-Dispatch staff contributed to this report.
CLAYTON  St. Louis County will reconsider a plan to give senior-citizen homeowners a property tax break after rejecting it last month.

St. Louis County Councilman Dennis Hancock, a Republican from Fenton, said he expected to reintroduce the legislation at Tuesday nights council meeting. He thinks the political timing for the plan is better now  the council is also considering a tax break for Boeings secret, $2 billion expansion project.

I think there were some (councilmembers) last time who couldve gone either way, Hancock said Monday. It might be an opportunity to have more pointed conversations with some of them.

But as of Monday afternoon, none of the councilmembers who opposed the tax break for seniors had changed their minds, they said.

The issue hit the council this spring.

The Missouri Legislature had approved a plan to freeze property taxes for seniors. Under the bill, seniors could get the break if they were eligible for Social Security retirement benefits, owned a home and were required to make tax payments on that home. Any county could adopt the measure with an ordinance or by voter approval.

In May, St. Louis County Councilman Mark Harder, a Republican from Ballwin, introduced a bill to do so, despite the county facing a projected $44 million deficit. The move received overwhelming praise from seniors at county council meetings.

But in mid-July, four of the seven councilmembers voted against it. Democrats Shalonda Webb of unincorporated north St. Louis County, Lisa Clancy of Maplewood, Kelli Dunaway of Chesterfield and Rita Heard Days of Bel-Nor had concerns about its financial impact on schools and fire districts, and worried it could be a windfall for wealthy seniors, among other things.

Just days later, news of Boeings $2 billion expansion broke. The military-industrial giant was looking to expand in north St. Louis County and would bring 500 new jobs to the region. The company wouldnt say what it wanted to build  or even if it would build  but the aerospace industry has long been ramping up for a national competition to build the next generation of U.S. fighter jets.

And Boeing was asking the council for a tax break, too: an estimated $155 million over 10 years.

Dunaway said it didnt seem fair to give millions in corporate welfare to Boeing on the heels of rejecting tax relief for seniors.

Then, on Monday, Hancock asked the council to consider a return to the senior tax-relief bill.

While St. Louis County would give Boeing half-off on the projects real and personal property taxes, taxing districts would also see an estimated $155 million of new taxes on the other half, Hancock said. That money could be used to cover losses from the senior property tax break, he said.

Harder, who first introduced the property tax legislation, said that he supports Hancocks effort.

If people feel Boeing should get this, then maybe seniors should also get some type of tax break, Harder said.

Hancock will need at least one of the Democrats to change her vote.

On Tuesday, all four said nothing had changed for them.

Without changes, I will not be supportive, Days said.

If the new senior tax bill passes, the county assessor would still calculate real estate values in the same way, said Sarah Siegel of the St. Louis County assessors office  it would only freeze the amount homeowners owe, she said. The county assessor would still assess the value according to Missouri law, and taxpayers would still receive the same assessment notices.

The county Collector of Revenue would factor in the freeze and calculate the amount of taxes an eligible homeowner must pay. Seniors could benefit as soon as 2025, after the next property assessments.

The timeline for Boeings project is not public. The county council could consider project tax breaks as soon as Tuesday. If the company doesnt land a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense, the deals would likely be moot.

The senior property tax legislation is Bill 114.
SEDALIA, Mo.  The chairman of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee said Monday that attempts by a conservative bloc in Congress to separate food assistance programs out of the new farm bill is a nonstarter.

First of all, its not going to happen, said U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, a Pennsylvania Republican who was at the Missouri State Fair on Monday. The division makes no sense whatsoever.

Thompson, along with four colleagues from the ag panel, spent more than an hour at a pavilion on the fairgrounds fielding requests for the farm bill from Missouri farmers and ag groups as part of a listening tour on the massive program.

Alongside the lingering effects of a two-year drought on farmers and ranchers, issues facing the farm industry have made headlines in Missouri in recent weeks:

Tyson announced it was closing two chicken processing facilities in Missouri, resulting in hundreds of job losses.

Smithfield Foods announced the closure of 35 hog farms as the U.S. meat industry has grappled with declining profits and higher feed and labor costs.

And the Missouri Department of Natural Resources announced hearings on an Arkansas companys plan to build a massive lagoon to store waste from the states meat processing facilities amid pushback from residents in Randolph County.

While Thompson acknowledged the current farm bill is likely to expire Sept. 30 without a new version being ready for passage, he said efforts to separate the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program from other ag programs by members of the House Freedom Caucus were unlikely to fly.

Members of the conservative bloc say the SNAP program, formerly known as food stamps, should be overhauled and should include work requirements for certain recipients.

But farm groups and lawmakers are wary of such a plan after a similar slog occurred in the 2014 and 2018 negotiations, with SNAP benefits playing a role in each delay in a tug-of-war between the interests of urban lawmakers who want public nutrition programs and rural lawmakers who seek farm subsidy assistance.

Last week, more than two dozen House Democratic lawmakers asked Republican leaders of the House to drop demands for cutting SNAP benefits.

U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson, a freshman Democrat who sits on the committee, told reporters after the hearing that his urban Chicago district has much in common with rural America when it comes to food security.

Were losing grocery stores. I want to help bridge that gap, Jackson said.

Freshman U.S. Rep. Mark Alford, a Missouri Republican who hosted the event at the fair, said he favors keeping SNAP intact but implementing some changes aimed at addressing the concerns of the Freedom Caucus.

We have to eliminate the waste and the fraud in the SNAP program, said Alford, who represents the 4th Congressional District.

Tom Oelrichs, a dairy farmer, also told the panel that keeping food stamps in the overall legislation was important for his business.

I think its important for SNAP to be included in the farm bill, Oelrichs said.

Others who testified called for more spending on broadband internet access in rural parts of the state.

Its no longer a luxury. Its a requirement, said Thompson. Its a high priority for the committee.

Brian Lehman, a corn farmer from Versailles, said drought conditions show the need for crop insurance programs to continue.

Crop insurance is something that is vital to us, Lehman said.

Thompson said he is working with his Senate counterparts to craft an extension to keep programs on track if the current law expires without a new bill in place.

The clocks ticking, Thompson said. The on-time part is a challenge. Oct. 1 is coming fast.
To reduce the cost of transporting Ukrainian grain to the port of Klaipeda, Lithuanian businesses and scientists propose to deliver it to Kaunas by rail, and then transport it along the Neman River to Klaipeda. At the same time, railway operator Lietuvos gelezinkeliai considers this project unrealistic, BNS has reported.

The initiative to use river transport for grain transportation, while it is traditionally delivered to Klaipeda by rail, arose in the light of the diplomatic efforts of the Lithuanian authorities to expand opportunities for the export of Ukrainian products through the ports of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

"When transporting Ukrainian grain by rail and reloading it in Kaunas, one would have to change the railway track or reload containers from one rolling stock to another once, not twice  this would significantly affect cost savings... The European experience also shows that domestic transportation of goods by water can be 30-40% cheaper than by land," CEO of the Bega stevedoring company (operating in the port of Klaipeda) Laimonas Rimkus said.

According to him, the new logistics route may involve grain warehouses and transshipment equipment of Linas Agro, operating in Kaunas and Jurbarkas.

The Ministry of Transport of Lithuania told BNS that they are considering all proposals related to assistance in the export of grain from Ukraine.

"All proposals, even non-traditional ones, on alternative routes for transporting grain from Ukraine are relevant, useful and are under consideration," the ministry said.

Meanwhile, Lietuvos gelezinkeliai's freight forwarding company, LTG Cargo BNS, told BNS that the proposed idea of transporting grain to Kaunas would not be evaluated, since the river port in Kaunas is not connected to railways.

"The company did not evaluate the previously mentioned alternative modes of transport, as there is currently no infrastructure that could connect the railway and the river port in Kaunas," the company said in a comment.

Earlier, the port of Klaipeda said that it could receive more than 10 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain, but the biggest problem remains how to deliver it to the port. In general, in the ports of the Baltic countries, according to the Lithuanian authorities, it is possible to transship 25 million tonnes of grain per year. At the same time, the head of the stevedoring company Bega said that after the fall in grain prices, it is no longer profitable for sellers to export Ukrainian grain through Klaipeda, they are looking for a suitable infrastructure in the Danube region.

"He [the seller] chose a shorter route  not to go to Lithuania through Poland, he chooses the Danube region, he goes to other countries. Unfortunately, to the detriment of Lithuania, the river infrastructure and terminals are developing very strongly there. We know there are big changes, and I would not really hope that it [grain] will be transported to Klaipeda  Klaipeda is too far away," Rimkus said in July.

Ukraine has been exporting the bulk of grain and other agricultural products through its ports on the Black Sea for many years. However, after the start of the war on the territory of the country, the work of the ports was severely limited. Export flows were largely redirected to Europe.
The Boeing Co. wants to expand its footprint in the St. Louis region by a million square feet, 500 new employees and a $1.8 billion investment. But to do it, the company says it needs government subsidies.

Company representatives and regional economic development boosters are now making their case for the tax breaks. The St. Louis County Council could consider them again on Tuesday.

Here are eight things to know about the proposal:

What do we know about the plan?

Boeings project at its north St. Louis County complex will support new aerospace programs. The plan, if approved and built, would be one of the biggest defense projects in the regions history.

The company has said the project would expand manufacturing potential for future franchise programs. At its existing St. Louis facilities, Boeing specializes in building fighter jets for the U.S. Department of Defense and employs 16,000 people.

The project would include constructing multiple buildings and leasing space totaling a million square feet at two sites adjacent to St. Louis Lambert International Airport. But the company said it needs tax breaks from St. Louis County to be competitive as it competes for future contracts with the Department of Defense.

A proposal pending before the St. Louis County Council would give Boeing half off on the projects real and personal property taxes over 10 years in exchange for the new jobs and investment  saving the company an estimated $155 million in taxes over the decade.

What dont we know?

Boeing hasnt said publicly what it will be making at its expanded facilities, only that it will involve advanced manufacturing. But the plan comes as the aerospace industry ramps up for a national competition to build the next generation of U.S. fighter jets. The Department of Defense is expected to make a decision next year on who gets those contracts.

Whats at stake?

Boeing promises the new facility will bring 500 jobs to the region, plus an economic ripple effect: For every job it creates, it expects two to three additional jobs will be created.

Those jobs could be in the service industry, such as in restaurants, or in companies that supply Boeing. The company does business with more than 280 suppliers in the state, according to Randell Gelzer Jr., senior director of state and local relations for Boeing.

While Boeing is set to save an estimated $155 million in taxes over 10 years if the deal is approved, it will also pay the same amount in taxes. The public finance law firm helping broker the deal said the Ferguson-Florissant School District can expect to receive an estimated $79 million of that.

Boeing could still take the project elsewhere, said Maggie Kost, who works to attract businesses to the region with the booster organization Greater St. Louis Inc.

But Gelzer said St. Louis is Boeings top choice.

How much will it cost?

Boeings pitch now is for a $1.8 billion facility. The tax breaks, if passed, would relieve the company of paying $155 million in taxes over 10 years.

The plan doesnt cost county taxing districts any existing tax revenue.

Has Boeing gotten tax incentives in the past?

Yes, both from St. Louis County and the state of Missouri.

The county agreed to a deal in 2021 with Boeing providing half off real and property taxes over 10 years  an estimated $3.1 million in savings. The company said the incentives would help it finance a $45 million investment in advanced manufacturing capabilities at its north St. Louis County campus.

In 2015, the state offered $229 million over 18 years to Boeing if the company added 2,000 jobs. If it maintained current jobs, then numbering 14,500 employees, for a decade, the company could collect $146 million.

The deal came as local officials worried the companys local employment might shrink as fighter pilot programs wound down.

The company is compliant with the requirements of that deal, said Michelle Hataway, acting director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

Is anyone opposed to it?

A few regular critics of St. Louis County government oppose the plan, and at least one County Council member  Councilwoman Kelli Dunaway, a Democrat from Chesterfield  has reservations about subsidizing Boeing.

But states across the nation are fiercely competitive regarding jobs and development, offering millions of dollars in tax incentives to corporations. Cobb County, Georgia, for instance, has agreed to tax abatements worth $77.9 million for Lockheed Martin, another defense giant that may compete against Boeing for future fighter jet contracts.

In St. Louis County, the plan needs four votes on the seven-member council to pass. Councilmembers heard from a slate of about a dozen regional leaders last week who support giving Boeing the tax break, and no officials have fully opposed it publicly yet.

Why is Lambert airport in the mix?

Boeing wants to lease about 158 acres of land at St. Louis Lambert International Airport for its expansion project. The company would initially pay rent of about $2.63 million per year under a plan submitted last week.

The lease calls for an initial rent payment in 2026 or when the aerospace giant begins using the new manufacturing complex it hopes to build, whichever is sooner. After that, at least that amount would be paid annually during the remainder of the 17-year lease, totaling more than $39 million. In addition, there could be periodic increases in the rent tied to the consumer price index. Boeing would have options to continue the lease in five-year increments through 2070.

The rent from Boeing would represent a key revenue stream, said airport Director Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge. Some old, decrepit buildings would be torn down, and undeveloped land would be put to use, she said. The airport could also see an increase in travelers, Hamm-Niebruegge said, here to do business with Boeing.

Every time theres an opportunity for a business to grow, theres an opportunity for our passenger traffic to grow, Hamm-Niebruegge said.

What happens next?

The County Council will have to take a vote on the measure, likely in the coming weeks. If it passes, St. Louis County Executive Sam Page would have to sign it.

The Airport Commission approved the lease last week but it will also have to be approved by St. Louis chief fiscal body, the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, which is expected to consider the lease this week. Approval also is needed from the city Board of Aldermen because even though the airport is in St. Louis County, its owned and operated by the city. The Board of Aldermen returns from recess in mid-September.

But if Boeing doesnt land a major contract with the Department of Defense, the company would be able to cancel its agreement with Lambert, Hamm-Niebruegge said. And the deal with St. Louis County would be off the table, according to Kristin Lappin, a spokeswoman for the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership. The St. Louis County agency is helping negotiate the deal.

Mark Schlinkmann of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.
ST. LOUIS  The old City Workhouse has sat empty for more than a year now. But one day, that silent mass of concrete could be replaced by open air, roaring engines, a cheering crowd and a checkered flag.

A racetrack is one of several possible futures city officials are now considering for 23 acres on the north riverfront after reviewing hundreds of suggestions from residents submitted over the past few months. The old jail could also become a solar energy farm for nearby residents, an animal shelter to supplement an overflowing site in Midtown or, after demolition, nothing at all.

The workhouse sits at the confluence of two of Mayor Tishaura O. Jones biggest priorities: reimagining the citys approach to public safety and reinvigorating the long-suffering North Side. She transferred the last of its inmates in June 2022 to the downtown jail after left-wing supporters spent years casting the place as a sweltering, rat-infested disgrace.

Now, shes waiting on a special advisory committee to get public input and come up with a plan for whats next.

And in a news release Monday, her office announced that that committee had zeroed in on eight possible uses enumerated on its website, aftertheworkhouse.com:

The committee said it could be an industrial site, a natural fit in a place surrounded by lots full of tractor-trailers and a compost dump.

The committee said it could be a museum memorializing the history of the jail. The website highlights a similar project in Montgomery, Alabama, where a nonprofit built a museum focused on the history of slavery and racism atop land where slaves once worked.

The committee said it could also be restored to its natural prairie state, returned to Native Americans, or transformed into a racetrack, animal shelter or solar farm.

The committee acknowledged that many people responding to its online survey said they need other things in the area, such as affordable housing, a grocery store or a community center with child care. But committee members said the jails location in an industrial strip makes those uses difficult: The soil is likely contaminated. Theres pollution from adjacent sites. And its isolated from other residential areas.

The committee said profits from any development on the site could help pay for a community center or something like it elsewhere in the city, though.

Alderman Rasheen Aldridge, who represents a broad swath of the northeast side, said the recommendations made sense for the most part, and that an industrial use would probably be best. He said the city could use part of it to store towed cars; the current lot has been bursting at the seams and delaying pickups. The North Side also needs job training centers teaching skilled trades that pay well, he said.

A lot of people of color struggle to get into the trades because they don't have the opportunities nearby, Aldridge said.

But Alderwoman Pam Boyd, whose ward covers the workhouse along with the rest of far north St. Louis, said she still couldnt understand why the jail closed to begin with, let alone why the committee would consider demolishing it. The city spent millions of dollars upgrading the facility in its final years of operation and it has recreation space that the downtown jail doesnt.

The inmate population downtown has been climbing this summer, too.

Nobody sees the craziness this is, Boyd said.

But Nick Desideri, a spokesman for Jones, said the workhouse will not be reopened to house inmates.

This site must be used to address a pressing issue in our city, he said.

Officials are now asking residents to fill out another survey, this time to rank the eight ideas for the jail site as well as possible uses for profits generated by the makeover.

Out of more than 700 responses from the initial survey released this summer, about 80 were from the Baden neighborhood, which is the closest residential neighborhood to the former jail. At a neighborhood meeting on Monday, the citys steering committee presented and encouraged residents to fill out its latest survey, where again residents can indicate if they live in the area.

Its a step in the right direction for the city to prioritize the community in the closest proximity, said Tashara Earl, president of the Revitalization of Baden Association. Earl, a former aldermanic candidate and lifelong Baden resident, said any transformation for the workhouse will affect the Baden neighborhood, whether it be through additional traffic or pollution.

Whatever the facility will be, theyll have more engagement with it if they include residents in the process, said Earl.

A report on those follow-up survey results could come before the end of the year.

Taylor Tiamoyo Harris of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.(tncms-asset)526db224-03df-11ee-9651-dbee1c13f92d[0](/tncms-asset)(tncms-asset)1d19a16a-008c-11ee-9b34-83692b739d4f[1](/tncms-asset)
HAZELWOOD  E. Dean Jarboe, a chain-smoking businessman, seized on a lot of opportunities in his long life, investing in anything from wine to plastic coatings. The 1977 purchase of a 4-acre industrial space here in the 9200 block of Latty Avenue seems to have left the longest legacy of all, one of hardship and frustration.

The property was contaminated by the mishandling of radioactive waste left over from efforts to develop the nations first atomic weapons. Now, nearly half a century after the $150,000 purchase, the storied property is an example of one of many unresolved environmental issues from the historic arms race.

Jarboe ran Futura Coatings, a resin business, and other firms at the location, including one that ended up moving and storing contaminated dirt from the area. He died in 2017 at 92. His two sons, Jeffrey and Rodney, still occupy 9200 Latty Avenue as a business headquarters and to manufacture fake brick and stone panels.

The brothers are in a fight with the federal government over liability for past and future cleanup of radioactive contamination on the property. At last count, they were potentially on the hook for about $1 million.

Forty-five years later, this turns out to be the worst investment weve ever made because we are going to have to pay more than what we paid for the property by a quantum leap, Rodney, 68, said Thursday in an interview at his office.

He said federal laws for Superfund sites are too broad and very unfair to small businesses.

Mallinckrodt Chemical Co. processed massive amounts of uranium ore for the development of atomic weapons from 1942 to 1957. The work was done in secret on the riverfront, just north of downtown St. Louis. Beginning in 1946, tons of byproduct with residual radioactive material were shipped to a location on the northern border of Lambert airport, by Coldwater Creek, to be stored.

By the mid-1960s, Continental Mining and Milling Co. purchased much of the material. The company had it trucked about a mile away, to the 9200 block of Latty Avenue. Another company, Cotter Corp., processed residues of radioactive ores there until 1973 and shipped material offsite to Canon City, Colorado. Some of the contaminated material ended up buried at West Lake Landfill in Bridgeton. Some spilled in transit between the airport and Latty Avenue or was washed or blown around by Mother Nature.

The Army Corps of Engineers has overseen two costly cleanups of the Latty Avenue area since 2000. Jarboe Realty is considered one of the so-called potentially responsible parties of the environmental Superfund site.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division said it wanted Jarboe Realty to pay $1.76 million of the Corps cleanup tab, or a 2% share of overall liability, according to records the firm shared with the Post-Dispatch.

In response, the firm has argued that the liability would strip Jarboe Realty of nearly all its assets, stock, and property, other than the Latty property which is essentially unmarketable.

Most of the land within 4 feet of the office perimeter and industrial buildings has been remediated to modern standards. The federal government says contamination still exists in inaccessible soils under some of the nearby active roads, railways and buildings. A monitor down the hall from Rodneys office, and others throughout the plant, tests air quality for radon gas. He said the government also monitors test wells on the property.

In the ongoing settlement negotiations, Jarboe Realty offered to pay $400,000 of the cleanup bill, noting that it still likely could be a turning point that will bankrupt affiliated businesses currently on site: Replications Unlimited and Creative Polymers.

Id rather pay nothing, Rodney Jarboe, of Town and Country, told the Post-Dispatch. We are giving away our retirement fund. My brother and I, we should be in our glory years, winding things down, harvesting our investments, and this is stealing it.

On July 18, government officials countered with a revised settlement proposal. They dropped Jarboe Realtys liability from $1.76 million to $974,000. Eric Albert, an attorney for the government, noted several reasons for doing so in the proposal, but said Jarboe Realty appears not to recognize any real distinctions from the other companies on site. He argued that Jarboe Realty can afford to pay as much as $1.23 million.

Making his case, Albert wrote that we cannot ignore the reality that Jarboe Realty has allowed Jeffrey and Rodney Jarboe to withdraw $870,000 in company funds, which is booked as owner draws, since 2017, long after it knew of its significant potential liability to the United States.

He added: (T)he fact remains that Jarboe Realty is liable as a current owner under federal Superfund law, and that it has benefited from the Corps remedial actions.

Moreover, E. Dean Jarboe purchased the properties knowing that they might still be radiologically contaminated, so Jarboe Realty should not now be surprised that it is being asked to pay for a small portion of the governments cleanup costs.

There are conflicting reports about if E. Dean Jarboe knew the property was contaminated when he bought it in 1977. But its clear that safety standards were changing fast and so were the agencies responsible for enforcing them in St. Louis.

According to a 1977 story in The Kansas City Star, he had reports from Cotter and federal officials showing the site had been completely decontaminated to federal standards. But when skeptical authorities from the Energy Research and Development Administration and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, or NRC, showed up, Bayless Inc., the seller, told them Jarboe was the new owner. More testing was requested.

Rodney Jarboe said his father told him for years that he didnt know the land was previously contaminated until shortly after he bought it. He said federal officials quickly stalled their plans to create a successful family business, which helped motivate his father to launch a construction company on site to help speed the cleanup.

Why pay somebody else to do it when he could do it, Rodney said. He got the contract for moving it. He was a shrewd business guy. ... He did not do anything independent of being managed by the NRC.

But he said being a potentially responsible party for the cleanup wasnt triggered by moving dirt, rather for being an existing owner of property in a Superfund site.

Big government is putting responsibility on small business, he said.

Asked for comment Friday, an attorney for the Department of Justice referred questions to a spokesman, who said the Environment and Natural Resources Division had no comment about the ongoing settlement negotiations.
NEW ORLEANS  Nearly $3 billion in settlement money from the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster that devastated the Gulf Coast and killed hundreds of thousands of marine animals is now funding a massive ecosystem restoration in southeastern Louisianas Plaquemines Parish.

The flat, sparsely populated land divided by the Mississippi River delta is marbled by bayous and bays. Farms, fishing camps and shrimp boats share the region with oil rig supply vessels and industrial storage. And it's about to host a vast undertaking meant to mimic Mother Nature: Enormous gates will soon be incorporated into a flood protection levee.

The aim is to divert some of the river's sediment-laden water into a new channel and guide it into the Barataria Basin southeast of New Orleans.

If it works, the sediment will settle out in the basin and gradually restore land that has been steadily disappearing for decades. State coastal officials call it a first-of-its-kind project they are certain will work, even as climate change-induced rising sea levels threaten the disappearing coast.

Gov. John Bel Edwards called it the largest such ecosystem restoration project in the state's history. "Quite frankly Im not aware of one on this scale any where in the country and there are few in the world that can match the size of this project, he said at last week's groundbreaking.

Bren Haase, chair of Louisiana's Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, estimates the project will build anywhere from 20 square miles to 40 square miles over the next 30 to 50 years.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which permitted the project last year, projected creating as much as 21 square miles by 2070. Subsidence  the natural sinking of land  and sea level rise will diminish the returns, so much so that a net loss of land remains likely. But that can be seen as a factor increasing the importance of the effort.

As land loss accelerates due to sea-level rise and subsidence, more of the remaining wetland area would be attributed to diversion operations, the statements executive summary said.

Coastal experts say south Louisiana was built by sediment deposited as the powerful river continuously altered its own crooked, meandering course over thousands of years.

Human efforts to constrain the river with flood protection levees and huge flow-control structures safeguarded cities and communities that developed along the banks as the river became a medium of navigation and commerce. But the development also stopped the millennia-old process of building land naturally.

That is a major reason Louisiana's marshy coastal wetlands have given way to growing swaths of open water, posing myriad environmental concerns. Those concerns include worry about the erosion of land that serves as a natural hurricane buffer for New Orleans.

The Mississippi River built Louisiana  and finally reconnecting it with coastal areas that are currently starved of freshwater and sediment will ensure our future, U.S. Rep Garrett Graves, a Republican, said in a news release. Graves supported the project in Congress and served as a top coastal restoration official under former Gov. Bobby Jindal.

Channeling water from the Mississippi into the basin poses environmental and economic problems, too. Even as it granted permits for the project, the Corps noted the environmental costs of introducing non-salty river water into coastal areas where aquatic animals thrive in salty or brackish water. The changes will likely kill bottlenose dolphins and have varying effects on fish and sea turtles. Fishermen have long opposed the project because of its expected effects on shrimp and oysters as well.

Kerri Callais, a board member for the Save Louisiana Coalition, which opposes the diversion, is among opponents who favor other coast-building methods, including rebuilding barrier islands and using pipelines to pump sediment to land-depleted areas.

These are projects that we know will build land, will not take decades, and will not take the livelihoods, culture and heritage of our citizens away, Callais, a member of the governing council in neighboring St. Bernard Parish, said in an email.

Opposition has remained despite state promises of efforts to mitigate harm. Last week, for instance, coastal officials outlined $10 million in planned spending on a variety of projects to aid fishers and oyster harvesters who will have to change the areas where they work or make other adjustments as a result of the project. Millions more in spending is planned to help communities near the river that might see increased flood threats from the project, including elevation of roadways.

Some environmental groups see the potential benefits. Matt Rota, senior policy director for the nonprofit Healthy Gulf, said the project will use less energy than sediment pumping, and he acknowledged the need to work with the river on its natural ability to build land.

This diversion, if it's successful, is more passive, Rota said in a phone interview, which means it can keep going, whether or not we have money or the fuel.

Still, Rota said, Healthy Gulf wants to see more done to help locals who depend on fisheries and oysters for their livelihoods. He said state and federal governments must also work harder to limit pollution upriver that flows south.

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BRANDON, Miss. (AP)  Six white former Mississippi law officers pleaded guilty on Monday to state charges for torturing two Black men in a racist assault. All six had recently admitted their guilt in a connected federal civil rights case.

In the gruesome crimes committed by men tasked with enforcing the law, federal prosecutors saw echoes of Mississippis dark history, including the 1964 killing of three civil rights workers after a deputy handed them off to the Ku Klux Klan. Locally, the sheriff whose deputies committed the crimes this year called it the worst case of police brutality he had ever seen.

Prosecutors say some of the officers nicknamed themselves the Goon Squad because of their willingness to use excessive force and cover up attacks including the assault that ended with a deputy shooting one victim in the mouth.

In January, the officers entered a house without a warrant and handcuffed and assaulted the two men with stun guns, a sex toy and other objects. The officers mocked them with racial slurs throughout a 90-minute torture session, then devised a cover-up that included planting drugs and a gun, leading to false charges that stood against the victims for months.

Their conspiracy unraveled after one officer told the sheriff he had lied, leading to confessions from the others. The charges against the victims weren't dropped until June after federal and state investigators got involved, according to their attorney.

The men include five former Rankin County sheriffs deputies  Brett McAlpin, Hunter Elward, Christian Dedmon, Jeffrey Middleton and Daniel Opdyke  and a former police officer from the city of Richland, Joshua Hartfield, who was off duty during the assault.

Elward pleaded guilty to aggravated assault for shooting his handgun in the victim's mouth in what authorities called a mock execution, thinking the weapon would dry fire without a bullet in the chamber.

They appeared Monday in jumpsuits with the names of the jails covered by tape.

They agreed to sentences recommended by state prosecutors ranging from five to 30 years, although the judge isn't bound by that. Time served for the state convictions will run concurrently with the potentially longer federal sentences they'll receive in November.

The victims  Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker  arrived together to Monday's hearing and sat in the front row, just feet from their attackers families. They were embraced by Monica Lee, the mother of Damien Cameron, a Black man who died in Elward's custody in 2021.

I enjoyed the view of seeing the walk of shame. Head down, the disgust everybody felt for them and that they feel for themselves, Parker said after the officers were led away in shackles. I hope this is a lesson to everybody out there: Justice will be served.

The charges followed an Associated Press investigation in March that linked some of the officers to at least four violent encounters since 2019 that left two Black men dead. In addition to Jenkins' lasting injuries, another Black man also accused them of shoving a gun inside his mouth. The Justice Department launched a civil rights probe in February.

All six of the former officers pleaded guilty to state charges of obstruction of justice and conspiracy to hinder prosecution. Dedmon and Elward, who kicked in a door, also admitted to home invasion.

After details of the case became public, some residents pointed to a police culture they said gives officers carte blanche to abuse their power.

Rankin Countys majority-white suburbs have been a destination for white flight out of the capital, Jackson, which is home to one of the highest percentages of Black residents of any major U.S. city.

The officers warned Jenkins and Parker to go back to Jackson or their side of the Pearl River, the federal charging documents say.

Jenkins and Parker were targeted because a white neighbor complained that two Black men were staying at the home with a white woman, court documents show.

Parker was a childhood friend of the homeowner, Kristi Walley, who was at the hospital at the time. Shes been paralyzed since she was 15, and Parker was helping care for her.

Hes a blessing. Every time Ive needed him hes been here, Walley said in a February interview. There were times Ive been living here by myself and I didnt know what I was going to do.

Parker and Jenkins have left Mississippi and arent sure they will ever return for a long stay.

Jenkins still has difficulty speaking because of his injuries. The gunshot lacerated his tongue and broke his jaw before exiting his neck. He can only eat soft foods easily and has recurrent nightmares.

As far as justice, I knew we were going to get it, Jenkins has said. But I thought it was maybe going to take longer.

Other consequences remain to be determined.

Lee claims Elward and a current deputy not linked to the Jenkins assault killed her son. A grand jury declined to indict Elward after he punched Cameron and shocked him with a stun gun, but a Rankin County judge ruled Wednesday that Lees claims of excessive force could move forward against him, and Lee said the FBI told her they're reviewing the case.

Separately, Carvis Johnson, the Black man who said another deputy pointed a gun into his mouth, filed a federal lawsuit from behind bars alleging that McAlpin beat him during an arrest and told him to stay out of Rankin County.

Jenkins and Parker, meanwhile, are seeking $400 million in damages in their federal civil rights lawsuit against Rankin County.

Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey applauded the investigations that led to the guilty pleas.

I believe todays guilty pleas show the community that our system of checks and balances is effective, Bailey said in a statement after the hearing. An unbiased and impartial investigation into these former officers uncovered their criminal actions.

Bailey had acknowledged his lax body camera policy failed. After the officers pleaded guilty, he promised to change it.

Malik Shabazz, one of Jenkins and Parkers' attorneys, said Bailey is directly responsible for the vicious acts of his subordinates.

Court documents unsealed by federal prosecutors suggest only some members of the Goon Squad participated in the illegal raid. There are other Rankin County deputies known to the United States Attorney, the documents say.

We would certainly hope that they continue to investigate the Goon Squad and other outstanding claims that may exist against these officers, as well as other officers, said Trent Walker, another attorney for Jenkins and Parker.
MARION, Kan. (AP)  A small newspaper and a police department in Kansas are at the center of a dispute over freedom of speech as the newspaper struggled Monday to publish its next edition, days after police raided its office and the home of its owner and publisher.

Officials with the Marion Police Department confiscated computers and cellphones from the publisher and staff of the Marion County Record in Friday's raid. On Monday, Kansas state authorities confirmed they are also involved in a criminal probe of the newspaper over allegations that it illegally obtained and used personal information about a local business owner.

Friday's raids have been widely condemned by press freedom watchdogs as a blatant violation of the U.S. Constitutions protection for a free press. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly called the raids concerning. An attorney for the newspaper deemed the searches and seizures illegal and said the police department's action offends the constitutional protections the founding fathers gave the free press. The Society of Professional Journalists pledged $20,000 toward the newspapers legal defense.

But some Marion residents hold a different view, accusing the newspaper of aggressive news coverage that has driven out businesses and painted a negative picture of the town of about 1,900 people.

Newspaper publisher and co-owner Eric Meyer said he believes the newspapers dogged coverage of local politics and Police Chief Gideon Codys record are the main reason for the raids. The Record was in the midst of digging into the newly hired chiefs past as a Kansas City, Missouri, police captain when the raids were carried out, Meyer said, although the newspaper hasnt yet published a story.

The newspapers attorney, Bernie Rhodes of Kansas City, sent a letter to the Cody demanding that police not review any information on the computers or cellphones seized, saying they were taken illegally and contain identities of confidential sources. He also accuses Cody of misinterpreting laws on privacy and wrongly applying them to news reporters.

I can assure you that the Record will take every step to obtain relief for the damages your heavy-handed actions have already caused my client, Rhodes said.

The police searches appear to have been prompted by a complaint from a local restaurant owner, Kari Newell, who accused the newspaper of invading her privacy after it obtained copies of her driving record, including a 2008 drunken driving conviction. Newell says the newspaper targeted her after she ordered Meyer and a reporter out of her restaurant earlier this month during a political event.

Meyer says a source gave the newspaper the information unsolicited and that reporters verified it through public online records. The paper eventually decided not to run a story, but it did report on Newell's complaints about the newspapers investigation at a city council meeting, where she publicly confirmed shed had a DUI conviction and that she drove after her license was suspended.

The search warrant names Newell as a victim and lists the underlying reasons for the searches as suspicion of identity theft and unlawful acts concerning computers.

Both Meyer and Newell have said they have fielded messages  and some threats  from as far away as London in the aftermath of the raids. Meyer worked with his staff Monday to reconstruct stories, ads and other materials for its next edition Wednesday.

Cody defended the raid on the newsroom, saying it was conducted legally, while press freedom and civil rights organizations have said that police overstepped their authority.

Jared Smith, a lifelong Marion resident, said Monday that he supports the police raid. Smith accused the newspaper of ruining his wifes day spa business opened only a year ago by digging into her past and discovering she had appeared nude in a magazine years before. That fact was repeated in the Record more than 20 times over a six-month period, Smith said.

The newspaper is supposed to be something that, yes, reports the news. But its also a community newspaper, he said. Its not, How can I slam this community and drive people away?' 

Authorities appeared unprepared for the public backlash to the raids, as involved agencies either refused to comment Monday or took pains to acknowledge the constitutional right to a free press while defending the ability of police to investigate journalists.

Cody referred questions Monday to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, saying it was leading the investigation. The state agency, in turn, refused to say it had taken over the investigation, referring instead to a statement saying it had joined the investigation and seemed to try to distance itself from the raids.

The state police agency said it had assigned an agent to the case at the request of Cody on Aug. 8  three days ahead of the raids  but did not apply for the search warrants and wasn't there when they were executed. While the agency declared freedom of the press as a vanguard of American democracy, it also appeared to defend the actions of local police, saying: No one is above the law, whether a public official or a representative of the media."

Both Meyer and Newell are contemplating lawsuits  Newell against the newspaper and Meyer against the public officials who carried out the search.

Meyer also blames the raid at his home for stressing his 98-year-old mother enough to cause her death on Saturday. Joan Meyer was the newspapers co-owner.

-

Beck reported from Omaha, Nebraska.

The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about APs democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
A county election worker in Oregon recently found himself in an unsettling situation during his rounds collecting ballots from drop boxes. A disgruntled woman, driving erratically, had been following him for hours. As the situation escalated, the woman began shouting that she had a gun and would continue filming him doing his job. Unfortunately, this election worker is not alone.

One in six local elections officials in America have experienced threats while on the job. The dedicated citizens who keep our elections running smoothly face an increasingly hostile political environment. While theyve repeatedly sounded the alarm about the need for increased funding for security, their calls have mostly fallen on deaf ears.

Election workers serve on the front lines of our democracy, helping to ensure every American can exercise their freedom to vote. They do the often thankless work while facilitating our elections  from collecting ballots from drop boxes to opening polling locations in the early hours of morning. Before 2020, election workers carried out their duties largely unnoticed, but this drastically changed after Donald Trump falsely accused them of rigging the presidential election for Joe Biden.

Trumps lies exposed election workers to escalating threats despite the nonpartisan nature of their work. As a communications professional at a national democracy organization, I monitor election news trends and have witnessed a dramatic surge in threats to election workers over the last year. Many election workers feel unprotected: Only 27% say the federal government is doing a good job supporting their needs. Its not surprising they feel this way when their calls for much-needed money for election security have been ignored by Congress.

Because of these threats, election workers are leaving the profession at a disturbing rate. A recent survey found that one in five local elections officials is unlikely to continue serving through 2024. Election administration will suffer if institutional knowledge is lost en masse before the next presidential election.

The federal governments lack of urgency is astounding. The U.S. Department of Justice established the Election Threats Task Force in 2021. But a year later, out of more than the 1,000 cases it reviewed, only one individual was tried and sentenced. President Joe Bidens 2024 budget called for just $5 billion in election infrastructure funding over the next 10 years, even as a bipartisan coalition of state and local officials estimates theyll need $53 billion.

Our leaders on Capitol Hill have fallen even shorter. Congress appropriated just $75 million for election administration in fiscal year 2023. This is significantly less than the $400 million election administrators hoped for to make important improvements and repairs before the 2024 election.

In 2022, with conspiracy theories swirling, election officials understood that voters had more questions about their work. Rather than shy away, most administrators seized the opportunity to communicate with the public frequently and transparently. This dedication resulted in a dramatic increase in Americans trust in election administration compared with 2020. As election workers repair our democracy, the least Congress could do is invest in them and in our elections.

Some states have taken steps to shield their election workers from intimidation and harm. Oregon, Colorado and Maine enacted or increased penalties for threats against election workers.

But a nationwide threat requires a nationwide response. Safeguarding Americans freedom to vote means protecting their local election office as democracys vital entry point.
Even as Missouri lawmakers have been busily working to ensure that public school children get whitewashed versions of American history in class and girded reading choices in school libraries  all based on fabricated culture-war controversies  they remain uninterested in addressing an actual scourge that threatens those kids: corporal punishment in public schools.

As was humiliatingly highlighted in a Washington Post analysis last week, Missouri is one of fewer than 20 states that still allow this barbaric practice. Far from being an unintended statutory oversight, its the deliberate policy of the state. This is clear because, just last year, a new Missouri state law went into effect requiring permission slips from parents before schools can physically inflict pain upon their children.

Were sorry, but what century is this?

Parental permission slips dont make this OK. Missouri lawmakers should, as soon as possible, take a break from trying to protect school kids from knowledge, and finally protect them from what is, in the end, tax-funded child abuse.

The spare the rod, spoil the child trope is, according to most psychologists today, bunk.

Corporal punishment, notes the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, signals to the child that a way to settle interpersonal conflicts is to use physical force and inflict pain. Multiple studies have shown that corporal punishment of children is not only ineffective in addressing antisocial behavior beyond the immediate moment, but that it can lead to long-term behavioral and mental health problems.

Of course, how parents choose to discipline their own children in the home is one thing  though its worth noting that even a quick disciplinary smack administered by a parent against a child would, if inflicted upon that parent by another adult, be actionable in both civil and criminal court. Kids dont have the same virtually ironclad legal protection that adults do when it comes to being intentionally subjected to pain.

The socially complicated issue of parental discipline at home aside, its astonishing that in the 2020s, we're still debating the notion that physical violence against a child by an educator is ever acceptable.

Its not like there arent other disciplinary options. Everything from detention to expulsion is available to deal with behavioral problems by students.

To the credit of some Missouri legislators, they have tried, repeatedly, over the years to outlaw corporal punishment in public schools. But the closest they got was last years measure requiring a parental signature before imposing the paddle. Which almost qualifies as dark humor.

Think about it: I hereby grant the school district permission to beat my kid 

What about public-school parents who believe that corporal punishment is intrinsically abusive? Even if their own kids arent in danger, thanks to the permission-slip rule, those parents (and all other taxpayers in the state) are still funding each of those paddle smacks via taxes used for education.

Why should those who dont think that hitting children should be part of the states educational experience be paying (literally) to help make it happen?

Defenders of the current statute point out that, in practice, corporal punishment reportedly happens very rarely in Missouri schools. This is irrelevant. Were talking here about a specific state statute  which, like all state statutes, contributes to the narrative of what a state stands for.

Missouri, it seems, stands for hitting kids.

Its outlandish that the closest the Legislature has yet come to confronting this tax-funded child abuse is to specify the circumstances under which it can legally happen. Every constituent should remember that the next time one of these legislators warns about the dangers of library books or history curriculum.
As has been recently demonstrated in Ukraine, you cant teach experience. Its something that requires actually doing the deed or using training methods that accurately portray what you need experience handling. This was evident during the recent Ukrainian counteroffensive in southern Ukraine. The nine new Ukrainian armored brigades involved were equipped with 230 tanks and 1,550 other armored vehicles. Some of the new tanks and IFVs were Western models but most were the Russian type tanks and IFVs (Infantry fighting vehicles) Ukraine has long used. There was also additional artillery ammunition, HIMARS missiles and long range Scalp guided bombs as well as short range anti-aircraft missiles. There were also specialized armored engineer vehicles for clearing paths through minefields. There were UAVs (Unmanned Aerial vehicles) for reconnaissance, surveillance and spotting targets for the artillery, missiles or longer range weapons. The Ukrainian troops had received several weeks of additional training. What was missing was enough additional training for the new brigades to learn how to operate effectively in a combined arms operation involving so many different types of equipment and capabilities. A few weeks of combined arms training for the brigades would have made a big difference by developing skills needed to integrate and operate all the new equipment effectively. That lack of training was evident after the offensive began and was slowed down by Russian defenders who were outnumbered and not as lavishly equipped. Defending does not require as much training or additional weapons to succeed.

Back in 1982 the U.S. Army came up with a solution to the problem the Ukrainians recently encountered. The American army created a large NTC (national training center) where army combat brigades could confront a realistic Russian opponent. NTC type training was not only very close to the experience troops get in actual combat, but it also stressed commanders the same way actual combat does. This enables commanders to test themselves, and their subordinate commanders, before they get into a real fight. You can also use NTC type facilities to experiment with new tactics in addition to keeping troops well trained in whatever the current tactics are. This includes counter-terror operations as well as the kind of novel combat tactics that might be encountered in the future.

While the NTC is primarily for peacetime training, it can be used in wartime if there is time to send the brigades to an NTC for training that takes three weeks. During the Iraq War, several national guard brigades, which were composed of reservists, were sent to the NTC before going overseas. NTC training was modified for Iraq War conditions and the troops who trained there found it useful.

Ukrainian military leaders have long been aware of the NTC concept, which has been adapted by many nations since the 1980s. Ukraine does not have one and none of its brigades have actually used one. Nevertheless, Ukraine supplies the United States and other NATO nations with advice on how to modify their current NTC training to represent the current state of the Russian forces. The NATO countries report back to Ukraine any NTC events that might help the Ukrainian forces.

Ukraine has long been aware of how important NTC-type training is. For example, in 2014 Ukraine persuaded a German firm to cancel a signed $134 million contract to build a NTC-like military training facility for Russia. This cancellation was the result of the growing list of economic sanctions on Russia as a result of the 2014 Ukraine crisis. Many Russians feared the Ukrainian land-grab will cause major economic damage, but in the case of this German contract, the loss will mainly be to Russian efforts to modernize and upgrade their armed forces. This training center contract was to enable Russia to join the United States, Germany, China, Israel, and many other major military powers who are benefitting from the use of instrumented combat training centers. Russia had hired the German firm (Rheinmetall), which built such a training range in 2008 for Germany, to basically build a very similar one in Russia.

This was all based on a breakthrough training system developed by the U.S. Army in 1982. This was the National Training Center (NTC), a 147,000 hectare (359,000 acre) facility in the Mohave Desert at Ft Irwin, California. There, the United States Army revolutionized the training of ground combat troops in the 1980s with the development of MILES (laser tag) equipment for infantry and armored vehicles and the use of MILES in a large, "wired" (to record all activities) combat training area. Other countries soon realized the importance of these innovations and a few built their own NTC clones. NTC type training centers are usually built to enable a combat brigade to go through several weeks of very realistic combat exercises.

Since 2003 Israel has been using and expanding its own NTC. This is a 39,000 hectare (98,000 acre) Tactical Training Center (TTC) at Ze'elim in the Negev desert. In addition to wide-open areas for the training of armor, infantry, and artillery units, there are several villages and urban areas wired for training troops to fight in close quarters. Israel has now developed a portable version of this technology and many other innovations as well.

China opened its own version of NTC in 2010. The Chinese NTC was a big deal. It meant the Chinese were really serious about training their ground combat troops to the highest standards. This kind of training is serious business, in part because it's expensive to use an NTC. Not just the fuel and ammo the troops will use, but the expense of a staff to run the NTC, and perform as OPFOR (opposing force). American intelligence officers track which units go through the Chinese NTC and mark them as likely to be much more effective in combat.

Ft Irwin itself has been expanded and since the 1980s the United States has established many similar training centers, all using lots of electronics to assist the trainees in having a realistic experience while also enabling them to see their mistakes and learn from them. Israeli and American manufacturers have individually, or through collaboration, developed new features for NTC type facilities. These include portable equipment that can allow any area to be wired to provide the same effect (constant monitoring, and recording, of everything everyone does. There are also VPUs (Vehicle Player Units) that make Hummers appear as armored vehicles (tanks, infantry vehicles, or artillery) to the monitoring system, and save a lot of money by not using the real thing. There is also a system that releases different colored smoke when a vehicle is hit, indicating if it is damaged or destroyed. Helicopters and warplanes, for example, are being wired to operate as part of NTC exercises.

One of the critical aspects of this type of training is the playback. Instructors can edit the electronic record of who did what when and show commanders and troops where they made mistakes. This feedback makes the troops much more effective in the future.

Blocked from buying an NTC from Germany, Russia considered turning to China, which has built modern military training centers. These were not as effective as one the Germans were offering Russia, but were probably good enough. Russia never did get a training center able to train brigade-size units in a realistic and effective fashion. Russia subsequently built smaller, more tactical training centers using some of the concepts found effective in NTCs. This did not make up for the absence of a proper NTC and that proved to be the case when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
The new location serving a full menu of breakfast, brunch and lunch opens its doors on Monday, Aug. 14 in Willis, Texas.

WILLIS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / August 14, 2023 / First Watch, the leading Daytime Dining concept with more than 480 restaurants nationwide, announced today it has opened a new location in Willis, Texas. The new breakfast, brunch and lunch restaurant, which features an expansive dining room and bar, is located at 12360 I-45 N, Ste. 400, Willis TX 77378 and employs approximately 30 people.

Trifecta

Traditional breakfast with eggs, toast and waffle

First Watch's curated menu takes an elevated approach to traditional and innovative offerings that are made to order using farm-fresh ingredients. The menu includes crave-able items such as Avocado Toast, Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict, Farm Stand Breakfast Tacos and Lemon Ricotta Pancakes. The new restaurant will offer healthy, flavorful favorites like house-made granola and pico de gallo, organic greens, house-roasted vegetables, cage-free eggs and 100% fresh-squeezed orange juice as well as more indulgent, traditional breakfast, brunch and lunch offerings.

First Watch Willis will also offer options from the restaurant's juice bar - including the best-selling Morning Meditation (made with orange, lemon, turmeric, organic ginger, agave nectar and beet) - juiced in-house daily using only the highest quality fruits and vegetables. The new restaurant features First Watch's brunch cocktail program, which allows guests to enjoy signature creations like the Blackberry Bramble Sangria (a signature blend of Merlot, mixed berries and apple with a squeeze of orange and lime) and Cinnamon Toast Cereal Milk (coconut rum, cold brew coffee, coconut milk and agave nectar).

The concept also offers a revolving seasonal menu, following the sun to source the highest quality ingredients, wherever and whenever they are in season, which has items like Crab Avocado Toast, Pumpkin Pancake Breakfast, Elote Mexican Street Corn Hash and Watermelon Wake-Up fresh juice, among many others.

To celebrate the opening of the new Willis location, customers who dine in-restaurant during its first five days in business will receive free coffee with their meal. In addition, the first 120 customers to visit the new restaurant will also receive a custom, reusable travel mug.

The interior brightly builds upon First Watch's Urban Farm design prototype with the addition of warm blue tones, quartz countertops, and a subway-tile backsplash. A grab-and-go retail area will showcase Sweet Street's new line of GMO-free, additive-free desserts for purchase and the concept's socially responsible and award-winning Project Sunrise coffee, grown by independent groups of female farmers in South America, called the Mujeres en Caf. Communal tables as well as patio and bar seating make First Watch a great place for guests to work remotely in an approachable atmosphere.

First Watch serves its entire menu seven days a week from 7 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. for pickup, delivery and dine-in service. The restaurant also offers customers complimentary newspapers and free Wi-Fi Internet access.

For more information about First Watch, its menu offerings or to find the nearest location, visit firstwatch.com.

About First Watch

First Watch is an award-winning Daytime Dining concept serving made-to-order breakfast, brunch and lunch using fresh ingredients. A recipient of hundreds of local "Best Breakfast" and "Best Brunch" accolades, First Watch's chef-driven menu includes elevated executions of classic favorites along with First Watch specialties such as the protein-packed Quinoa Power Bowl, Farm Stand Breakfast Tacos, Avocado Toast, Chickichanga, Morning Meditation (juiced in-house daily), Spiked Lavender Lemonade and its signature Million Dollar Bacon. In 2023, First Watch was named the top restaurant brand in Yelp's inaugural list of the top 50 most-loved brands in the U.S. In 2022, First Watch was awarded a sought-after MenuMasters honor by Nation's Restaurant News for its seasonal Braised Short Rib Omelet, recognized with ADP's coveted Culture at Work Award and named a Most Loved Workplace in Newsweek by the Best Practice Institute. In 2021, First Watch was recognized as FSR Magazine's Best Menu and as the fastest-growing full-service restaurant chain based on unit growth. There are more than 480 First Watch restaurants in 29 states, and the restaurant concept is majority owned by Advent International, one of the world's largest private-equity firms. For more information, visit www.firstwatch.com.

About Mac Haik Enterprises LTD (MHE)

Mac Haik Restaurant Group (MHRG) is a division of Mac Haik Enterprises LTD (MHE), a diversified holding company based in Houston, TX. MHE is a major investor in three rapidly growing fast casual restaurant brands, Original ChopShop, Slapfish and Due Cucina, and one of the largest franchisees of First Watch Restaurants. MHE also owns Mac Haik Outdoor Media, Mac Haik Hospitality, and Mac Haik Automotive Group which encompasses 23 car dealerships. The 11 affiliated companies of MHE have engaged in the development, ownership and management of commercial real estate and healthcare facilities, asset acquisition and disposition, facilities management, property management, leasing, project management, construction plus janitorial services, as well as hotel ownership. Overall, MHE companies employ over 3,000 employees. To learn more about MHRG, please visit www.machaik-enterprises.com.

Contact Information

Lacey Martin

Vice President of Marketing

[email protected]

(713) 408-1381

SOURCE: First Watch

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On the night of Monday, August 14, the Russian occupiers attacked the territory of Ukraine, carrying out several waves of attacks with strike drones and Kalibr cruise missiles, all targets were hit by the Air Defense Forces, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said on Telegram channel.

"In total, the enemy used: 15 Shahed-136/131 strike UAVs, eight Kalibr cruise missiles. All targets were destroyed by the forces and means of air defense of the Air Force in cooperation with units of other components of the Defense Forces," according to the statement.

It is specified that the UAVs attacked from the south-east direction (Primorsko-Akhtarsk), and Kalibr attacked from the side of the Black Sea, from a frigate in Yalta region.

According to the Air Force, anti-aircraft guided missiles and small arms from direct cover units were used to hit targets.

It is noted that "as a result of the anti-aircraft battle, due to the fall of fragments of rockets and drones, a fire broke out in several locations in the city of Odesa, rescuers are working."

"And more good news in conclusion: at about 05:00 on August 14, 2023, an anti-aircraft missile unit of the Air Force destroyed an enemy helicopter (type is being specified) in Bakhmut direction," the Air Forces said.

As commander of the AFU Air Force Mykola Oleschuk later said, the Ukrainian defenders destroyed the enemy attack helicopter Ka-52.
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / August 14, 2023 / Jaguar Mining Inc. ("Jaguar" or the "Company") (TSX:JAG)(OTCQX:JAGGF) is pleased to announce that the Company has reached an agreement with a subsidiary of AngloGold Ashanti Limited (NYSE: AU)("AngloGold") for a non-cash royalty exchange on royalties previously attached to its Pacincia Gold Mining Complex ("CPA") under a historical accord, in exchange for another two mining rights ("Carancas" and "Pacheca"), located close to AngloGold's other operating assets (Lamego and Corrego do Sitio).

CPA is located close to two of the Company's operating assets (Caete and MTL Complexes) in the prolific Iron Quadrangle area of Minas Gerais, Brazil (Figures 1 & 2). The complex is comprised of two underground mines, Santa Isabel and Margazao, and a processing plant with capacity to treat approximately 1,750 tpd within approximately 9,000 Ha of contiguous permitted mining tenements. The CPA Plant was commissioned in April 2008 and commercial production was declared in December 2008. Total production during this period is estimated at approximately 1,755 Mt at an average grade of 3.06 g/t Au containing approximately 154,000 ounces of gold. The operation has been on care and maintenance since 2012.

In the Company's most recent NI43-101 disclosure published in May 2023 (available on Sedar), CPA has an estimated Inferred Mineral Resource of 1.80 Mt at an average grade of 4.06 g/t Au, containing approximately 235,000 ounces of gold.

In 2003, the Company executed a sale purchase agreement with AngloGold covering the three main individual tenements related to CPA. The agreement included payment, related commitments, and a up to 4.5% NSR Royalty that was payable to AngloGold from production at a gold price above US$510 per ounce. The two companies have been in ongoing discussions regarding restructuring the NSR which, in its original form, did not reflect current or projected market conditions.

Vern Baker, President and CEO of Jaguar Mining stated: "We are very pleased to announce that we have reached this agreement with AngloGold. The removal of the royalty attached to our CPA asset coupled with the large additional contiguous tenements package (previously under joint venture) recently acquired from IAMGOLD allows us to proceed with an in-depth evaluation of potential redevelopment opportunities. CPA consists of two mines and a mill which have the potential to produce with minimal refurbishment capital investment. We also believe we can grow the current Mineral Resource inventory materially in size and quality to support the investment necessary to achieve this objective. Along with the recently announced full acquisition of the Acurui properties, this announcement is another step supporting our ongoing strategy to increase the utilization of our existing processing capacity, both through exploration on our land and potential arrangements with neighbors to fill our mills."

Figure 1. Location of Jaguars Paciencia Gold Mining Complex relative to its Caete and MTL Complexes and increased mineral rights areas following the recent acquisition of IAMGOLDs Brazilian Assets

Figure 2. Jaguars Paciencia Complex showing location of tenements impacted by the new agreement with AngloGold and contiguous tenements recently acquired from IAMGOLD

Historical mining activity at CPA has been focused on a relatively short 1.5 km strike length of Jaguars overall extensive tenement package which covers a highly prospective, 15 km strike segment of the regionally significant Sao Vicente/Paciencia Lineament. This Lineament is a crustal scale shear zone that extends some 60 km across the Iron Quadrangle. Numerous gold deposits and prospects are spatially related along the entire length of this structure.

Gold mineralization is manifested as a regular series of shallowly dipping tabular sheets composed of quartz veins hosted in an altered matrix comprised of sericite/chlorite/carbonate schist with higher grades concentrated along structurally controlled plunging "oreshoots". The length of these individual shoots varies between 10 m and 200 m along strike and can extend greater than hundreds of metres following the down plunge direction of continuity. (Figure 3).

The mineralization is free milling with gold occurring as discrete, visible grains hosted by quartz veins and/or veinlets, or as tiny inclusions within sulphide crystals, mainly pyrite and arsenopyrite. Historical metallurgical recoveries have averaged 92.4%.

Figure 3 - Long Section facing Southwest showing the location of the Santa Isabel Mine and the significant upside strike and dip potential along a 15km segment of the Sao Vicente/Paciencia Lineament within Jaguars Tenement Package

Qualified Person

Scientific and technical information contained in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Jonathan Victor Hill, BSc (Hons) (Economic Geology - UCT), FAUSIMM, Vice President Geology and Exploration, who is also an employee of Jaguar Mining Inc., and is a "qualified person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").

The Iron Quadrangle

The Iron Quadrangle has been an area of mineral exploration dating back to the 16th century. The discovery in 1699-1701 of gold contaminated with iron and platinum-group metals in the southeastern corner of the Iron Quadrangle gave rise to the name of the town Ouro Preto (Black Gold). The Iron Quadrangle contains world-class multi-million-ounce gold deposits such as Morro Velho, Cuiaba, and Sao Bento.

About Jaguar Mining Inc.

Jaguar Mining Inc. is a Canadian-listed junior gold mining, development, and exploration company operating in Brazil with three gold mining complexes and a large land package with significant upside exploration potential from mineral claims. The Company's principal operating assets are located in the Iron Quadrangle, a prolific greenstone belt in the state of Minas Gerais and include the Turmalina Gold Mine Complex and Caete Mining Complex (Pilar and Roca Grande Mines, and Caete Plant). The Company also owns the Paciencia Gold Mine Complex, which has been on care and maintenance since 2012. The Roca Grande Mine has been on temporary care and maintenance since April 2019. Additional information is available on the Company's website at www.jaguarmining.com.

For further information please contact:

Vernon Baker

Chief Executive Officer

Jaguar Mining Inc.

[email protected]

416-847-1854

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's expectations and plans relating to the future. All of the forward-looking information made in this news release is qualified by the cautionary statements below and those made in our other filings with the securities regulators in Canada. Forward-looking information contained in forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "are expected," "is forecast," "is targeted," "approximately," "plans," "anticipates," "projects," "anticipates," "continue," "estimate," "believe" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "would," "might," or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, may be considered to be or include forward-looking information. This news release contains forward-looking information regarding, among other things, the duration of the temporary suspension of the Company's 2023 production guidance in ounces and costs, the expected future release of new guidance for 2023, the anticipated impact of planned changes in mining systems and cost cutting initiatives on the Company's future performance and production results, information related to expected sales, production statistics, ore grades, tonnes milled, recovery rates, cash operating costs, definition/delineation drilling, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production, capital expenditures, costs and timing of the development of projects and new deposits, success of exploration, development and mining activities, currency fluctuations, capital requirements, project studies, mine life extensions, restarting suspended or disrupted operations, continuous improvement initiatives, and resolution of pending litigation. The Company has made numerous assumptions with respect to forward-looking information contained herein, including, among other things, assumptions about the estimated timeline for the development of its mineral properties; the supply and demand for, and the level and volatility of the price of, gold; the accuracy of reserve and resource estimates and the assumptions on which the reserve and resource estimates are based; the receipt of necessary permits; market competition; ongoing relations with employees and impacted communities; political and legal developments in any jurisdiction in which the Company operates being consistent with its current expectations including, without limitation, the impact of any potential power rationing, tailings facility regulation, exploration and mine operating licenses and permits being obtained and renewed and/or there being adverse amendments to mining or other laws in Brazil and any changes to general business and economic conditions. Forward-looking information involves a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including among others: the risk of Jaguar not meeting the forecast plans regarding its operations and financial performance; uncertainties with respect to the price of gold, labour disruptions, mechanical failures, increase in costs, environmental compliance and change in environmental legislation and regulation, weather delays and increased costs or production delays due to natural disasters, power disruptions, procurement and delivery of parts and supplies to the operations; uncertainties inherent to capital markets in general (including the sometimes volatile valuation of securities and an uncertain ability to raise new capital) and other risks inherent to the gold exploration, development and production industry, which, if incorrect, may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company and described herein. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of gold exploration, development, mining and production, including environmental hazards, tailings dam failures, industrial accidents and workplace safety problems, unusual or unexpected geological formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding, chemical spills, procurement fraud and gold bullion thefts and losses (and the risk of inadequate insurance, or the inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks). Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

For additional information with respect to these and other factors and assumptions underlying the forward-looking information made in this news release, see the Company's most recent Annual Information Form and Management's Discussion and Analysis, as well as other public disclosure documents that can be accessed under the issuer profile of "Jaguar Mining Inc." on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking information set forth herein reflects the Company's reasonable expectations as at the date of this news release and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

SOURCE: Jaguar Mining Inc.

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ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / August 14, 2023 / Forbes has recognized Southern Company on its 2023 list of America's Best Employers for Women. Ranked No. 9 in the country, the company received the highest mark in the utility industry and is also the top-ranked company based in the state of Georgia.

"We are honored to be selected once again as one of America's Best Employers for Women," said Chris Womack, CEO and president of Southern Company. "Workforce and leadership diversity is a tenet of ours and helps ensure we have a variety of experiences and perspectives to better serve customers. Southern Company will continue to emphasize a culture where all employees feel valued, respected and able to accomplish their professional goals."

The Best Employers for Women have been identified in an independent survey from a vast sample of more than 60,000 employees working for companies employing at least 1,000 people within the United States. The sample included more than 40,000 women.

The evaluation was based on four criteria:

Direct recommendations - (General work topics): The employees were asked to give their opinion on a series of statements surrounding atmosphere and development, image, working conditions, salary and wage, workplace and diversity regarding their employer. Direct recommendations - (Topics relevant to women): To focus on topics which are in general more relevant for women, women were asked to rate their employers regarding parental leave, family support, flexibility, discrimination, representation and career, and pay equity. Indirect recommendations: Participants were given the chance to evaluate other employers in their respective industries that stand out either positively or negatively concerning diversity. Only the recommendations of women were considered. Diversity among Top Executives / Board: Based on extensive research, an index was built based on the share of women in executive management or board positions. Statista, a statistics portal and industry ranking provider, researched this data for each company using publicly available company information.

The list was announced on July 25 and presented by Forbes and Statista. It can be viewed in its entirety at: https://www.forbes.com/lists/best-employers-women.





View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Southern Company on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Southern Company

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/southern-company

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: Southern Company

View source version on accesswire.com:
Shares of Hawaiian Electric Industries (NYSE: HE), a utility company based in the Hawaiian islands, plunged by over 35% Monday morning on concerns related to its potential role in fires that killed more than 90 people on Maui last week.

The tragedy that took so many lives and devastated the historic town of Lahaina caused an estimated $6 billion in damages, and there was worry on Wall Street that Hawaiian Electric Industries could be partly liable if its equipment sparked the fires.

Officials havent determined the cause of the fires but plaintiffs attorneys believe Hawaiian Electrics equipment was a possible source, and the company has faced criticism for not turning off power despite warnings about weather conditions.

While the cause is under investigation, fingers are being pointed at the utility, said Wells Fargo equity analyst Jonathan Reeder.

It remains unclear if any of Hawaiian Electrics equipment directly caused any of the wildfires, but Reeder thinks it is prudent to account for the risk given recent wildfire-related claims in California, Colorado and Oregon that have all exceeded $1 billion.

Discussing potential liability for the company, the Wells Fargo analyst said, The utilitys insurance will provide some protection but HE has not disclosed the deductibles or limits. We think the coverage is likely under $1B based on much larger utilities limits. Further, HEs ability to ring-fence Maui Electric is unclear  Hawaiian Electric unconditionally guarantees Mauis obligations per HEs 10-K  and any attempt to do so would likely face legal challenges.

Reeder said factoring in $1 billion of liabilities for Hawaiian Electric does not seem unreasonable given early damage estimates.

By Louis Juricic




Oualid Lahsini to lead the firms continued growth in the region.

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Brevan Howard, a leading alternative investment platform specializing in global macro, today announced the appointment of Oualid Lahsini as Chief Executive Officer of its Middle East business, and Head of Client Partnerships for MENA and Asia. Mr Lahsini will be based in Abu Dhabi and report to Natalie Faye Smith, Head of Strategy and the Client Partnership Group at Brevan Howard.

Mr Lahsini joins from Ares Management Corporation where he was a Partner and Head of Middle East and Africa Relationship Management. He brings two decades of investment management industry experience to the firm.

Aron Landy, CEO of Brevan Howard, said: We are delighted to have Oualid join Brevan Howard to lead our efforts in the Middle East. His investment expertise, client-first mentality, and knowledge of local market dynamics will be immensely valuable as we grow our presence in the region.

In February 2023, Brevan Howard announced its new Middle East regional hub, located at the Al Sarab Tower in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), which will accommodate more than 100 employees across portfolio management, research, trading, risk, operations, client services, business development, compliance, and technology. The Abu Dhabi office complements the firms existing hubs in London, New York, and Geneva.

I am excited to join Brevan Howard during this period of remarkable growth. The firms excellence in macro and derivatives is well-known across the global investment community. Im looking forward to supporting the growth of the firm in the region through hiring exceptional talent, strengthening our partnerships with local institutions, and supporting our global portfolio and risk management teams with local insights, said Mr Lahsini.

About Brevan Howard

Brevan Howard is a leading global alternative investment manager, offering institutional investors access to diversified strategies rooted in its edge  macro thinking, trade structuring and risk management. The firm manages over $33 billion in assets for institutional investors worldwide, including sovereign wealth funds, corporate and public pension plans, foundations, and endowments. Brevan Howard has approximately 1,000 team members, representing more than 40 nationalities, located in offices around the world, including Abu Dhabi, Austin, Geneva, London, Hong Kong, Jersey, New York, and Singapore.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230813187486/en/

Hillary Yaffe

Brevan Howard

[email protected]

Bill McIntosh / Darius Athill

Peregrine Communications

[email protected]

Source: Brevan Howard
Second Quarter 2023 Highlights

Revenue totaled $34.5 million

Total orders were $38.0 million

Net loss totaled $(7.3) million; Adjusted net loss1 was $(5.7) million

Adjusted EBITDA1 totaled $4.8 million, representing an Adjusted EBITDA margin1 of 14.0%

First Half 2023 Highlights

Revenue totaled $69.5 million

Total orders were $72.6 million

Net loss totaled $(8.6) million; adjusted net loss1 totaled $(11.2) million

Adjusted EBITDA1 was $8.9 million, representing an Adjusted EBITDA margin1 of 12.8%

HARTLAND, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Fathom Digital Manufacturing Corp. (NYSE: FATH), an industry leader in on-demand digital manufacturing services, today announced financial results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2023.

Three Months Ended Six Months Ended ($ in thousands) 6/30/2023 6/30/2022 6/30/2023 6/30/2022 Revenue $34,474 $41,985 $69,481 $82,526 Net income (loss) $(7,264) $34,284 $(8,595) $53,278 Adjusted net income (loss)1 $(5,669) $1,497 $(11,171) $696 Adjusted EBITDA1 $4,819 $8,973 $8,920 $14,846 Adjusted EBITDA margin1 14.0% 21.4% 12.8% 18.0% 1 See Non-GAAP Financial Information. Reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures are included in the appendix.

Fathoms results for the second quarter were consistent with our expectations as we continue to realize cost savings from our previously announced optimization plan, partially offsetting the impact of a challenging macro environment, said Ryan Martin, Fathom Chief Executive Officer. During the quarter, we grew order volumes approximately 10% on a sequential basis, increasing our backlog, and improved sequentially our Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin by 17.5% and 230 basis points, respectively. Our focus remains on fully leveraging our comprehensive capabilities to meet the high-mix, low-to-mid volume production needs of enterprise-level customers and driving profitable, long-term growth.

Summary of Financial Results

Revenue for the second quarter of 2023 was $34.5 million compared to $42.0 million in the second quarter of 2022, a decrease of 17.9% primarily due to lower production volumes driven by the softer macroeconomic environment, primarily impacting Fathoms production precision sheet metal product line. For the six months ended June 30, 2023, revenue totaled $69.5 million versus $82.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022.

Gross profit for the second quarter of 2023 totaled $10.5 million, or 30.6% of revenue, compared to $15.5 million, or 37.0% of revenue, in the second quarter of 2022. Gross profit for the six months ended June 30, 2023 was $22.5 million, or 32.4% of revenue, compared to $27.5 million, or 33.4% of revenue, which includes approximately $3.2 million in non-cash purchase accounting adjustments, for the same period in 2022.

Net loss for the second quarter of 2023 was $(7.3) million compared to net income of $34.3 million in the second quarter of 2022. Excluding the revaluation of Fathom warrants and earnout shares, stock compensation expense, optimization plan expenses, and other costs, Fathom reported an adjusted net loss in the second quarter of 2023 totaling $(5.7) million compared to adjusted net income of $1.5 million for the same period in 2022.

Net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2023 was $(8.6) million compared to net income of $53.3 million for the same period in 2022. For the six months ended June 30, 2023, the adjusted net loss was $(11.2) million compared to adjusted net income of $0.7 million for the same period in 2022.

Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of 2023 totaled $4.8 million versus $9.0 million for the same period in 2022 primarily due to lower volume leverage, partially offset by cost savings from the execution of Fathoms optimization plan. The Adjusted EBITDA margin in the quarter was 14.0% compared to 21.4% in the second quarter of 2022.

For the six months ended June 30, 2023, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin were $8.9 million and 12.8%, respectively, compared to $14.8 million and 18.0%, respectively, for the same period in 2022.

Conference Call

Fathom will host a conference call on Monday, August 14, 2023 at 8:30 am Eastern Time to discuss the results for the second quarter 2023 and provide the companys outlook for the third quarter 2023. The dial-in number for callers in the U.S. is +1-833-470-1428 and the dial-in number for international callers is +1-404-975-4839. The access code for all callers is 900561. The conference call will be broadcast live over the Internet and include a slide presentation. To access the webcast and supporting materials, please visit the investor relations section of Fathoms website at https://investors.fathommfg.com.

A replay of the conference call can be accessed through August 21, 2023, by dialing +1-866-813-9403 (US) or +1-929-458-6194 (international), and then entering the access code 173691. The webcast will also be archived on Fathoms website.

About Fathom Digital Manufacturing

Fathom is one of the largest on-demand digital manufacturing platforms in North America, serving the comprehensive product development and low- to mid-volume manufacturing needs of some of the largest and most innovative companies in the world. With more than 25 quick turn manufacturing processes combined with an extensive national footprint, Fathom seamlessly blends in-house capabilities across plastic and metal additive technologies, CNC machining, injection molding and tooling, sheet metal fabrication, design and engineering, and more. Fathom has more than 35 years of industry experience and is at the forefront of the Industry 4.0 digital manufacturing revolution, serving clients in the technology, defense, aerospace, medical, automotive, IOT sectors, and others. Fathom's certifications include: ITAR Registered, ISO 9001:2015 Design Certified, ISO 9001:2015, ISO 13485:2016, AS9100:2016, and NIST 800-171. To learn more, visit https://fathommfg.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as estimates, projects, expects, anticipates, forecasts, plans, intends, believes, seeks, may, will, would, should, future, propose, target, goal, objective, outlook and variations of these words or similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results, and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside the control of Fathom Digital Manufacturing Corporation (Fathom) that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Important factors, among others, that may affect actual results or outcomes include: the inability to recognize the anticipated benefits of our business combination with Altimar Acquisition Corp. II; changes in general economic conditions, including as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic or any future outbreaks of other highly infectious or contagious disease; the implementation of our optimization plan could result in greater costs and fewer benefits than we anticipate; the outcome of litigation related to or arising out of the business combination, or any adverse developments therein or delays or costs resulting therefrom; the ability to meet the New York Stock Exchanges listing standards following the consummation of the business combination; costs related to the business combination and additional factors discussed in Fathoms Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) on April 7, 2023, as amended on May 1, 2023, as well as Fathoms other filings with the SEC. If any of the risks described above materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by our forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that Fathom does not presently know or that Fathom currently believes are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect Fathoms expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Fathoms assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements. Fathom undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements made by management or on its behalf whether as a result of future developments, subsequent events or circumstances or otherwise, except as required by law.

Non-GAAP Financial Information

This press release includes Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin, which are non-GAAP financial measures that we use to supplement our results presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We believe Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin are useful in evaluating our operating performance, as they are similar to measures reported by our public competitors and regularly used by security analysts, institutional investors and other interested parties in analyzing operating performance and prospects. Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin are not intended to be a substitute for any U.S. GAAP financial measure and, as calculated, may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of performance of other companies in other industries or within the same industry.

We define and calculate Adjusted Net Income as net income (loss) before the impact of any change in the estimated fair value of the companys warrants or earnout shares, tax receivable agreement liability, optimization plan expenses, goodwill impairment, stock-based compensation, and certain other non-cash and non-core items, as described in the reconciliation included in the appendix to this press release. We define and calculate Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) before the impact of interest income or expense, income tax expense and depreciation and amortization, and further adjusted for the following items: change in the estimated fair value of the companys warrants or earnout shares, tax receivable agreement liability, optimization plan expenses, goodwill impairment, stock-based compensation, and certain other non-cash and non-core items, as described in the reconciliation included in the appendix to this press release. Adjusted EBITDA excludes certain expenses that are required in accordance with U.S. GAAP because they are non-recurring (for example, in the case of optimization plan expenses), non-cash (for example, in the case of depreciation, amortization, goodwill impairment, and stock-based compensation) or are not related to our underlying business performance (for example, in the case of interest income and expense). Adjusted EBITDA margin represents Adjusted EBITDA divided by total revenue. We include these non-GAAP financial measures because they are used by management to evaluate Fathoms core operating performance and trends and to make strategic decisions regarding the allocation of capital and new investments.

Information reconciling forward-looking Adjusted EBITDA to GAAP financial measures is unavailable to Fathom without unreasonable effort. The company is not able to provide reconciliations of forward-looking Adjusted EBITDA to GAAP financial measures because certain items required for such reconciliations are outside of Fathom's control and/or cannot be reasonably predicted, such as the provision for income taxes. Preparation of such reconciliations would require a forward-looking balance sheet, statement of income and statement of cash flow, prepared in accordance with GAAP, and such forward-looking financial statements are unavailable to Fathom without unreasonable effort. Fathom provides a range for its Adjusted EBITDA forecast that it believes will be achieved, however it cannot accurately predict all the components of the Adjusted EBITDA calculation. Fathom provides an Adjusted EBITDA forecast because it believes that Adjusted EBITDA, when viewed with the company's results under GAAP, provides useful information for the reasons noted above. However, Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance or liquidity under GAAP and, accordingly, should not be considered as an alternative to net income or cash flow from operating activities as an indicator of operating performance or liquidity.

Consolidated Balance Sheets Period Ended June 30, 2023

(Unaudited) December 31, 2022 Assets Current assets Cash $ 10,733 $ 10,713 Accounts receivable, net 24,496 28,641 Inventory 17,177 15,718 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 2,618 3,588 Total current assets 55,024 58,660 Property and equipment, net 48,384 47,703 Right-of-use lease assets, net 12,034 12,565 Intangible assets, net 242,342 251,412 Other non-current assets 144 175 Total assets $ 357,928 $ 370,515 Liabilities and Shareholders Equity Current liabilities Accounts payable $ 10,311 $ 7,982 Accrued expenses 8,155 8,176 Current lease liability 2,233 2,374 Other current liabilities 3,478 4,828 Current portion of debt, net 49,167 42,744 Total current liabilities 73,344 66,104 Long-term debt, net 109,551 114,327 Fathom earnout shares liability 808 5,960 Sponsor earnout shares liability 137 930 Warrant liability 600 2,780 Payable to related parties pursuant to the tax receivable agreement (includes $4,050 and $4,000 at fair value, respectively) 28,263 25,360 Noncurrent lease liability 10,285 11,083 Total liabilities 222,988 226,544 Commitments and Contingencies: Contingently Redeemable Preferred Equity: Redeemable non-controlling interest in Fathom OpCo 80,059 92,207 Shareholders' Equity: Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value; 300,000,000 shares authorized; issued and outstanding 70,085,417 and 65,808,764 shares as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively 7 7 Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value; 180,000,000 shares authorized; issued and outstanding 66,547,589 and 70,153,051 shares as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively 7 7 Additional paid-in-capital 592,068 587,941 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (107 ) (107 ) Accumulated deficit (537,094 ) (536,084 ) Shareholders equity attributable to Fathom Digital Manufacturing Corporation 54,881 51,764 Total Liabilities, Shareholders Equity, and Redeemable Non-Controlling Interest $ 357,928 $ 370,515

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30, 2023 June 30, 2022 June 30, 2023 June 30, 2022 Revenue $ 34,474 $ 41,985 $ 69,481 $ 82,526 Cost of revenue 23,940 26,437 47,002 54,981 Gross profit 10,534 15,548 22,479 27,545 Operating expenses Selling, general, and administrative 9,445 11,617 20,217 26,381 Depreciation and amortization 4,643 4,452 9,218 8,968 Restructuring 1,406 - 2,056 - Total operating expenses 15,494 16,069 31,491 35,349 Operating loss (4,960 ) (521 ) (9,012 ) (7,804 ) Interest expense and other (income) expense Interest expense 3,959 1,858 7,429 3,332 Other expense 65 129 138 195 Other income (1,784 ) (36,108 ) (8,103 ) (63,223 ) Total interest expense and other (income) expense, net 2,240 (34,121 ) (536 ) (59,696 ) Net income (loss) before income tax $ (7,200 ) $ 33,601 $ (8,476 ) $ 51,892 Income tax (benefit) expense 64 (683 ) 119 (1,386 ) Net income (loss) $ (7,264 ) $ 34,284 $ (8,595 ) $ 53,278 Weighted average Class A common shares outstanding Basic 69,703,407 52,259,885 68,382,896 51,530,961 Diluted 136,302,053 135,524,773 136,213,635 135,305,168

Q2 2023 Revenue by Product Line Three Months Ended ($ in thousands) 6/30/2023 % Revenue 6/30/2022 % Revenue % Change Revenue By Product Line Additive manufacturing $3,287 9.5% $4,410 10.5% -25.5% Injection molding $6,064 17.6% $7,093 16.9% -14.5% CNC machining $13,240 38.4% $14,584 34.7% -9.2% Precision sheet metal $10,164 29.5% $14,751 35.1% -31.1% Other revenue $1,719 5.0% $1,147 2.7% 49.9% Total $34,474 100.0% $41,985 100.0% -17.9%

Six Months 2023 Revenue by Product Line Six Months Ended ($ in thousands) 6/30/2023 % Revenue 6/30/2022 % Revenue % Change Revenue By Product Line Additive manufacturing $6,875 9.9% $8,559 10.4% -19.7% Injection molding $10,743 15.5% $13,908 16.9% -22.8% CNC machining $27,470 39.5% $27,910 33.8% -1.6% Precision sheet metal $20,547 29.6% $29,434 35.7% -30.2% Other revenue $3,846 5.5% $2,715 3.3% 41.7% Total $69,481 100.0% $82,526 100.0% -15.8%

Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted Net Income (Loss) Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30, 2023 June 30, 2022 June 30, 2023 June 30, 2022 Net (loss) income $ (7,264) $ 34,284 $ (8,595) $ 53,278 Stock compensation 1,239 1,796 2,332 3,926 Inventory step-up amortization - - - 3,241 Restructuring expense 1,406 - 2,056 - Change in fair value of warrant liability(1) (400) (12,500) (2,180) (20,600) Change in fair value of earnout share liabilities(1) (1,115) (22,930) (5,945) (41,900) Change in fair value of tax receivable agreement(1) (250) (200) 50 (200) Integration, non-recurring, non-operating, cash, and non-cash costs(2) 715 1,047 1,111 2,951 Adjusted net loss $ (5,669) $ 1,497 $ (11,171) $ 696 1 Represents the impacts from the change in fair value related to the earnout shares liability, the warrant liability and the tax receivable agreement associated with the business combination completed on December 23, 2021; 2 Represents adjustments for other integration, non-recurring, non-operating, cash, and non-cash costs related primarily to integration costs for acquisitions and severance.

Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted EBITDA Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30, 2023 June 30, 2022 June 30, 2023 June 30, 2022 Net income (loss) $ (7,264) $ 34,284 $ (8,595) $ 53,278 Depreciation and amortization 6,465 5,996 12,543 12,204 Interest expense, net 3,959 1,858 7,429 3,332 Income tax expense (benefit) 64 (378) 119 (1,386) Stock compensation 1,239 1,796 2,332 3,926 Inventory step-up amortization - - - 3,241 Restructuring expense 1,406 - 2,056 - Change in fair value of warrant liability(1) (400) (12,500) (2,180) (20,600) Change in fair value of earnout shares liability(1) (1,115) (22,930) (5,945) (41,900) Change in fair value of tax receivable agreement(1) (250) (200) 50 (200) Integration, non-recurring, non-operating, cash, and non-cash costs(2) 715 1,047 1,111 2,951 Adjusted EBITDA $ 4,819 $ 8,973 $ 8,920 $ 14,846 1 Represents the impacts from the change in fair value related to the earnout shares liability, the warrant liability and the tax receivable agreement associated with the business combination completed on December 23, 2021; 2 Represents adjustments for other integration, non-recurring, non-operating, cash, and non-cash costs related primarily to integration costs for acquisitions and severance.

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Michael Cimini

Director, Investor Relations

Fathom Digital Manufacturing

(262) 563-5575

[email protected]

Source: Fathom Digital Manufacturing Corporation
SYNLAB Vet complements the existing footprint of Mars Petcares full-service veterinary diagnostics business, providing diagnostics and technology to more veterinary professionals and pets in Europe.

MCLEAN, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Mars Incorporated (Mars) today announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the assets of SYNLAB Vet, a European provider of specialist veterinary laboratory diagnostics, from SYNLAB Group (FSE: SYAB). Upon transaction close, SYNLAB Vet will join Mars Petcare, a purpose-driven global business serving pets and pet owners through products and services across veterinary health and diagnostics, nutrition, innovation, and technology. This acquisition will enable the Science & Diagnostics division of Mars Petcare to expand its veterinary laboratory business in Europe in addition to its full-service global veterinary diagnostic offerings across veterinary labs, point-of-care, imaging, and software.

Nefertiti Greene, President, Mars Science & Diagnostics said: We look forward to welcoming SYNLAB Vet to the Mars Petcare family of businesses. We share the belief that excellence in veterinary diagnostics and advanced technology is transformative for veterinary care. Nef added: This transaction is complementary to our existing diagnostics business and will bring additional reach across Europe and further our purpose to create A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS.

The closing of the transaction is subject to regulatory clearance.

Advisors

Lazard served as the financial advisor for Mars, and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer acted as Marss legal advisor.

About Mars, Incorporated

For more than a century, Mars, Incorporated has been driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. This common purpose unites our 140,000+ Associates. It is at the center of who we are as a global, family-owned business, and it fuels how we are transforming, innovating, and evolving to make a positive impact on the world.

Every year, our diverse and expanding portfolio of quality confectionery, food, and pet care products and services delight millions of people and supports millions of pets. With more than $47 billion in annual sales, we produce some of the worlds best-loved brands including CESAR, Bens Original, PEDIGREE, ROYAL CANIN, Cocoavia, DOVE, EXTRA, KIND, M&Ms, SNICKERS and WHISKAS. We are creating a better world for pets through nutrition, breakthrough programs in diagnostics, wearable health monitoring, DNA testing, pet welfare and comprehensive veterinary care with AniCura, BANFIELD, BLUEPEARL, Linnaeus and VCA.

We know we can only be truly successful if our partners and the communities in which we operate prosper as well. The Mars Five Principles  Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom  inspire our Associates to take action every day to help create a world tomorrow in which the planet, its people and pets can thrive.

For more information about Mars, please visit www.mars.com. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

About Mars Science & Diagnostics

Mars Science & Diagnostics is a division of Mars Petcare, a diverse business dedicated to one purpose, creating: A Better World for Pets - with over 100,000 Associates helping pets, their owners, and pet professionals in more than 130 countries.

Science & Diagnostics brings together the power of leading pet health science with expertise across diagnostics, data, and technology to change outcomes in pet health. Our global veterinary diagnostics businesses Antech with Heska span point-of-care diagnostic laboratory instruments and consumables including rapid assay diagnostic products and digital cytology services; local and cloud-based data services; practice information management software and related software and support, reference laboratories, veterinary imaging and technology, education and telemedicine with board-certified specialist support services. Our at-home diagnostics offering includes Whistle with smart devices to monitor pet health and Wisdom Panel, the worlds most accurate pet DNA test. For 60 years our Waltham Petcare Science Institute has been advancing science to better understand pet health.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230813673711/en/

Media Contacts

Mars, Incorporated media inquiries:

Kekst CNC

Neil Maitland

[email protected]

Source: Mars
SANTIAGO, Chile--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Parque Arauco S.A. (PARAUCO.SN) announced the initiation of the first phase of the reconfiguration and expansion project for its main asset in Peru, Megaplaza Independencia, requiring a USD 33 million investment.

Eduardo Perez Marchant, CEO of Parque Arauco, noted, "The normalization of our activity levels and the return of our financial ratios to optimal levels enable us to resume our growth path. This growth rests upon three pillars: an expansion pillar for our main assets, a growth pillar for new retail properties, and a growth pillar for residential rental expansion (multifamily). With great enthusiasm, we are announcing the expansion of our primary asset in Peru. This project complements the already announced expansion of our main asset in Chile, Parque Arauco Kennedy, as well as the recent announcement of the commencement of construction for Parque La Molina in Peru, our second lifestyle format shopping center in addition to Larcomar."

Parque Arauco currently owns 55 real estate assets across Chile, Peru, and Colombia, encompassing a total commercial area of 1,123,500 m. Of this space, 47% is situated in Chile, 35% in Peru, and 18% in Colombia. Megaplaza Independencia stands as Parque Arauco's most relevant asset in Peru, boasting 109,500 m of leasable space. It ranks as the second most important asset for Parque Arauco in terms of area, following Parque Arauco Kennedy. Megaplaza Independencia hosts major brands in Peru, including Falabella, Ripley, Oechsle, Tottus, Sodimac, H&M, and Zara, and attracts more than 2 million visits per month.

The initial phase of the project entails the establishment of the largest gastronomic district in Lima's northern region and the construction of a large central plaza which will contribute positively to the community. The project also involves the creation of a new area for telecommunications service providers and improvements to internal foot traffic. This first phase requires an investment of PEN 123 million (approximately USD 33 million) and should contribute an EBITDA of PEN 11.5 million (approximately USD 3 million) by the third year. Project execution is set to start during the second half of 2023, with a gradual opening until completion during the second half of 2026. Subsequent phases, which will involve additional retail space alongside residential rental expansion (multifamily), will be communicated at a later stage, once the project has progressed further in securing the necessary construction permits.

Alejandro Camino, General Manager of Parque Arauco Peru Division, commented, "This initial phase of reconfiguration and expansion is part of an ambitious masterplan in collaboration with Gensler, a global architecture and design firm, and BL Arquitectos, aimed at enhancing the substantial inherent value we see in this asset as an urban nucleus. We are convinced that this new investment in our iconic asset Megaplaza Independencia will contribute improving the lives of the people in Lima Norte, zone in which our mall plays a fundamental role in providing a spacious and secure public space for the community, underscoring our commitment to continue contributing to Peru's development."

About Parque Arauco

Currently, Parque Arauco owns a total area of 1,123,500 m of Gross Leasable Area (GLA) in Chile, Peru, and Colombia. The company inaugurated its first shopping center in Chile in 1982, entered the Peruvian market in 2005, and expanded into Colombia in 2008. For further details, please visit the company's website: www.parauco.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230809348838/en/

Lauren Brown

Head of Investor Relations

[email protected]

(56 2) 2299 0608

Source: Parque Arauco S.A.
PASO ROBLES, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pearce Renewables, a division of Pearce Services, today announced the acquisition of Natron Resources Inc. (Natron Resources or the Company), a leading provider of design and engineering services for solar photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage systems. The acquisition expands Pearces existing engineering capabilities for renewable energy generation systems.

Founded in 2008 and headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, Natron Resources provides comprehensive electrical, civil, and structural engineering services for renewable energy and general commercial customers. The Company has professional engineering licenses nationwide and delivers innovative, high-quality project designs while meeting client budgets and scheduling objectives.

I am delighted to welcome the entire Natron Resources team to the Pearce family and honored they have decided to partner with Pearce to accelerate their growth, said Michael Wolf, Pearce Renewables Chief Operations Officer. The addition of Natron Resources represents a huge step towards Pearces goal of being the national leader in commercial and utility-scale solar engineering services.

Over the past 15 years, Natron Resources has developed a strong reputation for being an expert in our industry and for our deep bench of high-performing, seasoned professionals, said Jeff Ansley, Founder & President of Natron Resources. The combination with Pearce will provide tremendous career advancement opportunities for the entire Natron team and will provide additional resources needed to meet our customers growing demand for solar energy engineering services.

Pearce Renewables is the largest independent services provider in the renewable energy industry, providing repair, maintenance, and engineering services for solar, wind, electric vehicle (EV), and energy storage system customers nationwide.

About Pearce Services & Pearce Renewables

Pearce Services is the leading national provider of operations, maintenance, and engineering services for mission-critical infrastructure. Pearce offers innovative, tech-enabled services for renewable energy, electric vehicle (EV), energy storage system, and telecom infrastructure customers. With nationwide 24/7/365 coverage, Pearce deploys its highly-trained technicians safely and efficiently to provide unmatched response times, quality, and consistent service for distributed mission-critical assets. Pearces engineering and support teams use sophisticated software, analytics, and detailed safety plans to support our technical experts in the field. Constant innovation and close collaboration with our customers are hallmarks of our service. To learn more about Pearce Services and Pearce Renewables, please visit www.pearce-services.com or www.pearce-renewables.com.

About Natron Resources Inc.

Natron Resources Inc. is an engineering firm located in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. The Company focuses on Solar system design and engineering for commercial and industrial customers. Natrons experience spans commercial, industrial, municipal, low-power systems, and utility scale projects. The Company offers comprehensive technical support for diverse projects including strategic planning, technical analysis, design, and project management. Backed by decades of experience, Natron's engineers and project managers are industry authorities, renowned for creating sustainable electrical and solar solutions across the country. To learn more about Natron Resources, please visit www.natronresources.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230814487257/en/

For Media Inquiries:

Dana Gorman / Matthew Butler

H/Advisors Abernathy

[email protected] / [email protected]

212-371-5999

For Business Inquiries:

Geoffrey Tollett

Vice President of Mergers & Acquisitions

[email protected]

805-467-2528

Source: Pearce Renewables
GRAPEVINE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Southland Holdings, Inc. (NYSE American: SLND and SLND WS) (Southland), a leading provider of specialized infrastructure construction services, today announced financial results for quarter ended June 30, 2023.

Revenue of $257 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, down 5.9% from $273 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2022.

Gross loss of $34 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, compared to gross profit of $38 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2022.

Net loss attributable to stockholders of $13 million, or $(0.27) per share for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, compared to a net income attributable to stockholders of $19 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2022.

Adjusted net loss of $35 million, or $(0.76) per share for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, compared to an adjusted net income of $19 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2022.(1)

Adjusted EBITDA of negative $42 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, compared to $35 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2022. (1)

Backlog of $2.7 billion, up 36% compared to $2.0 billion as of June 30, 2022.

Positive cash flow from operating activities of $24 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023.

(1) Please refer to Non-GAAP Measures and reconciliations for our Non-GAAP financial measures, including, Adjusted Net Loss, Adjusted Net Loss Per Share, and Adjusted EBITDA

2023 Second Quarter Results

Southland incurred significant unfavorable charges during the quarter, primarily stemming from its legacy asphalt and concrete materials production and paving business. In an effort to wind down this component of its Transportation segment and reallocate resources towards core operations, the Company sold various materials production assets in the second quarter. As a result, the Company recorded unfavorable charges in the quarter related to additional expected future costs associated with procuring and transporting materials from third parties. While work is expected to be completed over the next one to two years, Southland has recorded the increased estimated future costs to finish these projects in this quarter in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. The negative impact to gross margin from these charges were approximately $49 million for the second quarter. At the end of the second quarter, approximately 12% of Southlands $2.7 billion backlog consists of legacy large-scale paving work.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) Three Months Ended (Amounts in thousands) June 30, 2023 June 30, 2022 Revenue $ 256,927 $ 273,016 Cost of construction 290,721 235,279 Gross profit (loss) (33,794) 37,737 Selling, general, and administrative expenses 16,448 13,490 Operating income (loss) (50,242) 24,247 Gain (loss) on investments, net 50 (259) Other income (expense), net 24,007 (780) Interest expense (4,305) (2,065) Income (loss) before income taxes (30,490) 21,143 Income tax expense (benefit) (18,589) 1,815 Net income (loss) (11,901) 19,328 Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests 925 (78) Net income (loss) attributable to Southland Holdings Stockholders $ (12,826) $ 19,406 Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders Basic (1) $ (0.27) Diluted (1) $ (0.27) Weighted average shares outstanding Basic (1) 46,870,890 Diluted (1) 46,870,890

(1) The structure of Southlands historical common equity structure was in the form of membership percentages and no shares were issued. As such, reporting periods prior to the three months ended March 31, 2023 will not present share or per share data. Basic net loss per share is the same as diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders for the three months ended June 30, 2023, because the inclusion of potential shares of common stock would have been anti-dilutive for the period presented.

Revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2023, was $256.9 million, a decrease of $16.1 million, or 5.9%, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2022.

Gross loss for the three months ended June 30, 2023, was $33.8 million, a decrease of $71.5 million, or 189.6%, compared to gross profit of $37.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022. Our gross profit margin decreased from 13.8% to a negative 13.2% for the three months ended June 30, 2023 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2022.

Selling, general, and administrative costs for the three months ended June 30, 2023 were $16.4 million, an increase of $3.0 million, or 21.9%, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2022. Selling, general, and administrative costs as a percent of revenue were 6.4% for the three months ended June 30, 2023 compared to 4.9% for the three months ended June 30, 2022.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) Six Months Ended (Amounts in thousands) June 30, 2023 June 30, 2022 Revenue $ 531,756 $ 531,502 Cost of construction 546,607 488,834 Gross profit (loss) (14,851) 42,668 Selling, general, and administrative expenses 32,019 27,789 Operating income (loss) (46,870) 14,879 Gain on investments, net 18 21 Other income (expense), net 21,408 (1,356) Interest expense (7,559) (4,032) Income (loss) before income taxes (33,003) 9,512 Income tax expense (benefit) (16,836) 3,157 Net income (loss) (16,167) 6,355 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests 1,323 550 Net income (loss) attributable to Southland Holdings Stockholders $ (17,490) $ 5,805 Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders Basic (1) $ (0.38) Diluted (1) $ (0.38) Weighted average shares outstanding Basic (1) 46,043,878 Diluted (1) 46,043,878

(1) The structure of Southlands historical common equity structure was in the form of membership percentages and no shares were issued. As such, reporting periods prior to the three months ended March 31, 2023 will not present share or per share data. Basic net loss per share is the same as diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders for the six months ended June 30, 2023, because the inclusion of potential shares of common stock would have been anti-dilutive for the period presented.

Revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2023 was $531.8 million, an increase of $0.3 million, or 0.0%, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2022.

Gross loss for the six months ended June 30, 2022, was $14.9 million, a decrease of $57.5 million, or 134.8%, compared to gross profit of $42.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022. Our gross profit margin decreased from 8.0% to a negative 2.8% for the six months ended June 30, 2023 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2022.

Selling, general, and administrative costs for the six months ended June 30, 2023 were $32.0 million, an increase of $4.2 million, or 15.2%, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2022. Selling, general, and administrative costs as a percent of revenue were 6.0% for the six months ended June 30, 2023 compared to 5.2% for the six months ended June 30, 2022.

Segment Revenue Three Months Ended (Amounts in thousands) June 30, 2023 June 30, 2022 % of Total % of Total Segment Revenue Revenue Revenue Revenue Civil $ 65,567 25.5% $ 74,851 27.4% Transportation 191,360 74.5% 198,165 72.6% Total revenue $ 256,927 100.0% $ 273,016 100.0% Six Months Ended (Amounts in thousands) June 30, 2023 June 30, 2022 % of Total % of Total Segment Revenue Revenue Revenue Revenue Civil $ 138,556 26.1% $ 149,894 28.2% Transportation 393,200 73.9% 381,608 71.8% Total revenue $ 531,756 100.0% $ 531,502 100.0% Segment Gross Profit Three Months Ended (Amounts in thousands) June 30, 2023 June 30, 2022 % of Segment % of Segment Segment Gross Profit Revenue Gross Profit Revenue Civil $ 5,906 9.0% $ 12,422 16.6% Transportation (39,700) (20.7)% 25,315 12.8% Gross profit (loss) $ (33,794) (13.2)% $ 37,737 13.8% Six Months Ended (Amounts in thousands) June 30, 2023 June 30, 2022 % of Segment % of Segment Segment Gross Profit Revenue Gross Profit Revenue Civil $ 14,672 10.6% $ 19,389 12.9% Transportation (29,523) (7.5)% 23,279 6.1% Gross profit (loss) $ (14,851) (2.8)% $ 42,668 8.0%

Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation Three Months Ended Six Months Ended (Amounts in thousands) June 30, 2023 June 30, 2022 June 30, 2023 June 30, 2022 Net income (loss) attributable to Southland Holdings Stockholders $ (12,826) $ 19,406 $ (17,490) $ 5,805 Depreciation and amortization 8,176 11,973 16,736 23,640 Income taxes (benefit) (18,589) 1,815 (16,836) 3,157 Interest expense 4,305 2,065 7,559 4,032 Interest income (161)  (298) (11) EBITDA (19,095) 35,259 (10,329) 36,623 Transaction related costs 559  1,594  Contingent earnout consideration non-cash expense reversal (23,625)  (20,689)  Adjusted EBITDA $ (42,161) $ 35,259 $ (29,424) $ 36,623

Backlog (Amounts in thousands) Backlog Balance December 31, 2022 $ 2,973,886 New contracts, change orders, and adjustments 262,088 Gross backlog 3,235,974 Less: contract revenue recognized in 2023 (538,464) Balance June 30, 2023 $ 2,697,510

Adjusted Net Loss and Adjusted Net Loss Per Share Attributable to Common Stock Reconciliation Three Months Ended Six Months Ended (Amounts in thousands except shares and per share data) June 30, 2023 June 30, 2022 June 30, 2023 June 30, 2022 Reconciliation of adjusted net income (loss) attributable to common stock: Net income (loss) attributable to common stock (GAAP as reported) $ (12,826) $ 19,406 $ (17,490) $ 5,805 Adjustments: Transaction related costs 559  1,594  Contingent earnout consideration non-cash expense (23,625)  (20,689)  Income tax impact of adjustments (1) 463  (311)  Adjusted net loss attributable to common stockholders $ (35,429) $ 19,406 $ (36,896) $ 5,805 Weighted average shares outstanding (2) Basic and diluted (2) 46,870,890 46,043,878 Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders (2) $ (0.27) $ (0.38) Adjusted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders (2) $ (0.76) $ (0.80)

(1) The income tax impact of adjustments that are subject to tax is determined using the incremental statutory tax rates of the jurisdictions to which each adjustment relates for the respective periods. (2) The structure of Southlands historical common equity structure was in the form of membership percentages and no shares were issued. As such, reporting periods prior to the three months ended March 31, 2023 will not present share or per share data. Basic net loss per share is the same as diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2023, because the inclusion of potential shares of common stock would have been anti-dilutive for the period presented

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) (Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) As of ASSETS June 30, 2023 December 31, 2022 Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 39,124 $ 57,915 Restricted cash 14,984 14,076 Accounts receivable, net 183,439 135,678 Retainage receivables 125,220 122,682 Contract assets 508,378 512,906 Other current assets 28,340 24,047 Total current assets 899,485 867,304 Property and equipment, net 102,340 114,084 Right-of-use assets 16,551 16,893 Investments - unconsolidated entities 119,029 113,724 Investments - limited liability companies 2,590 2,590 Investments - private equity 3,266 3,261 Deferred tax asset 21,458  Goodwill 1,528 1,528 Intangible assets, net 1,956 2,218 Other noncurrent assets 3,298 3,703 Total noncurrent assets 272,016 258,001 Total assets $ 1,171,501 $ 1,125,305 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Current liabilities Accounts payable $ 133,736 $ 126,385 Retainage payable 38,369 33,677 Accrued liabilities 131,001 121,584 Current portion of long-term debt 51,326 46,322 Short-term lease liabilities 15,598 16,572 Contract liabilities 197,336 131,557 Total current liabilities 567,366 476,097 Long-term debt 233,218 227,278 Long-term lease liabilities 8,483 10,032 Deferred tax liabilities 2,985 3,392 Other noncurrent liabilities 96,583 48,622 Total long-term liabilities 341,269 289,324 Total liabilities 908,635 765,421 Commitment and contingencies (Note 7) Stockholders' equity Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, authorized 50,000,000 share, none issued and outstanding in 2023   Preferred stock, $1.00 par value, 24,400,000 issued and outstanding in 2022  24,400 Common stock, $0.0001 par value, authorized 500,000,000 share, 47,856,114 and none issued and outstanding in 2023 and 2022, respectively 8  Additional paid-in-capital 269,436  Accumulated deficit (17,490)  Accumulated other comprehensive income (923) (2,576) Members capital  327,614 Total stockholders' equity 251,031 349,438 Noncontrolling interest 11,835 10,446 Total equity 262,866 359,884 Total liabilities and equity $ 1,171,501 $ 1,125,305

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (unaudited) Six Months Ended (Amounts in thousands) June 30, 2023 June 30, 2022 Cash flows from operating activities: Net income (loss) $ (16,167) $ 6,355 Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities Depreciation and amortization 16,736 23,640 Deferred taxes (21,866) (92) Change in fair value of earnout liability (20,689)  Gain on sale of assets (85) (1,208) Foreign currency remeasurement gain (3,641) 191 Earnings from equity method investments (140) (3,803) TZC investment present value accretion (1,213) (1,166) Loss (gain) on trading securities, net 24 (357) Changes in assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable (53,589) (50,631) Contract assets 4,803 (6,625) Prepaid expenses and other current assets (4,093) (3,502) ROU assets 343 2,347 Accounts payable and accrued expenses 21,700 (30,934) Contract liabilities 65,774 (13,899) Operating lease liabilities (126) (2,298) Other 1,593 67 Net cash used in operating activities (10,636) (81,915) Cash flows from investing activities: Purchase of fixed assets (4,953) (2,679) Proceeds from sale of fixed assets 7,214 2,726 Loss on investment in limited liability company  335 Proceeds from the sale of trading securities (21) 814 Capital contribution to investees  (1,000) Net cash provided by investing activities 2,240 196 Cash flows from financing activities: Borrowings on line of credit 3,000 55,000 Borrowings on notes payable 248 695 Payments on notes payable (27,701) (21,294) Advances from (to) related parties 215 (404) Payments from related parties 5 7 Payments on finance lease (2,396) (3,430) Distributions (110) (1,556) Proceeds from merger of Legato II and Southland Holdings, LLC 17,088  Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (9,651) 29,018 Effect of exchange rate on cash 164 945 Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash (17,883) (51,756) Beginning of period 71,991 111,242 End of period $ 54,108 $ 59,486 Supplemental cash flow information Cash paid for income taxes $ 2,903 $ 4,127 Cash paid for interest $ 7,541 $ 4,106 Non-cash investing and financing activities: Lease assets obtained in exchange for new leases $ 8,528 $ 6,771 Assets obtained in exchange for notes payable $ 6,667 $ 580 Issuance of post-merger earn out shares $ 35,000 $  Dividend financed with notes payable $ 50,000 $ 

Conference Call

Southland will host a conference call at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, August 15, 2023. The call may be accessed here, or at www.southlandholdings.com. Following the conference call, a replay will be available on Southlands website.

About Southland

Southland is a leading provider of specialized infrastructure construction services. With roots dating back to 1900, Southland and its subsidiaries form one of the largest infrastructure construction companies in North America, with experience throughout the world. The company serves the bridges, tunnelling, communications, transportation and facilities, marine, steel structures, water and wastewater treatment, and water pipeline end markets. Southland is headquartered in Grapevine, Texas.

For more information, please visit Southlands website at www.southlandholdings.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release includes certain unaudited financial measures not presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), including but not limited to adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (Adjusted EBITDA), backlog, adjusted net loss, adjusted net loss per share and certain ratios and other metrics derived therefrom. Note that other companies may calculate these non-GAAP financial measures differently, and therefore such financial measures may not be directly comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Further, these non-GAAP financial measures are not measures of financial performance in accordance with GAAP and may exclude items that are significant in understanding and assessing financial results. Therefore, these measures should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to net income, cash flows from operations or other measures of profitability, liquidity or performance under GAAP. Southland believes that these non-GAAP measures of financial results provide useful information to management and investors regarding certain financial and business trends relating to Southlands financial condition and results of operations. Southland also believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide an additional tool for investors to use in evaluating ongoing operating results and trends. These non-GAAP financial measures are subject to inherent limitations as they reflect the exercise of judgments by management about which items of expense and income are excluded or included in determining these non-GAAP financial measures.

Please see the accompanying tables for reconciliations of the following non-GAAP financial measures for Southlands current and historical results: adjusted net loss per share attributable to common stock (a non-GAAP financial measure) to net loss per share attributable to common stock; and adjusted net loss attributable to common stock, and Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP financial measures) to net loss attributable to common stock.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on Southlands current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of Southlands business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of Southlands control. Southlands actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements.

Any forward-looking statement made by Southland in this press release is based only on information currently available to Southland and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Southland undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230814666825/en/

Southland Contacts:

Cody Gallarda

EVP, Chief Financial Officer

[email protected]

Alex Murray

Corporate Development & Investor Relations

[email protected]

Source: Southland Holdings, Inc.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine strongly condemns the provocative actions carried out by the Russian Federation on August 13 in the Black Sea in relation to the Turkish dry cargo vessel Sukru Okan, which was en route to the port of Izmail (Odesa region).

"The Russian Navy grossly violated the UN Charter, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and other norms of international law. These actions exemplified Russia's deliberate policy of endangering the freedom of navigation and safety of commercial shipping in the Black Sea," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Ukraine expressed its support and solidarity with Turkiye, our strategic partner, and we call on the international community to take decisive action to prevent Russian Federation's actions that impede the peaceful passage of vessels through the Black Sea.

"Russia should not be able to block international routes in the Black Sea, particularly those leading to Ukrainian seaports. In this regard, Ukraine urges its partners to strengthen their efforts to preserve the functioning of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which is crucial to ensuring global food security," the ministry said.
NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NRG) announced a proposed offering of pre-capitalized trust securities redeemable 2028 (the P-Caps) by Alexander Funding Trust II, a newly-formed Delaware statutory trust (the Trust). The P-Caps are intended to replace NRGs existing pre-capitalized trust securities redeemable 2023 issued by Alexander Funding Trust, which mature on November 15, 2023.

The Trust will initially invest the proceeds from the sale of the P-Caps in a portfolio of principal and/or interest strips of U.S. Treasury securities (the Eligible Assets) and will enter into a facility agreement with NRG, pursuant to which NRG will pay a facility fee to the Trust, and NRG will agree to issue senior secured notes due 2028 (the Secured Notes and, together with the P-Caps, the P-Caps Securities) to the Trust under certain circumstances. The Eligible Assets held by the Trust will be pledged as collateral for the benefit of certain banks that have agreed to provide letters of credit for NRGs account to support NRGs existing and future collateral obligations. NRG will not receive any proceeds directly from the offering of the P-Caps.

Any Secured Notes will be guaranteed on a first-priority basis by each of NRGs current and future subsidiaries that guarantee indebtedness under its credit agreement and will be secured by a first priority security interest in the same collateral that is pledged for the benefit of the lenders under NRGs credit agreement, which consists of a substantial portion of the property and assets owned by NRG and the guarantors. The collateral securing any Secured Notes will be released if NRG obtains an investment grade rating from two out of the three credit rating agencies, subject to reversion if such credit rating agencies withdraw NRGs investment grade rating or downgrade NRGs rating below investment grade.

The P-Caps Securities are being offered only to qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and who are also qualified purchasers as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The P-Caps Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell any security, including the P-Caps Securities, nor a solicitation for an offer to purchase any security, including the P-Caps Securities.

About NRG

NRG is a leading energy and home services company powered by people and our passion for a smarter, cleaner, and more connected future. A Fortune 500 company operating in the United States and Canada, NRG delivers innovative solutions that help people, organizations, and businesses achieve their goals while also advocating for competitive energy markets and customer choice.
Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval to ELREXFIO (elranatamab-bcmm) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) who have received at least four prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor, an immunomodulatory agent, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody. Approval was based on the results of the single-arm Phase 2 MagnetisMM-3 trial, and continued approval for this indication is contingent upon verification of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial(s). ELREXFIO is a subcutaneously delivered B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-CD3-directed bispecific antibody (BsAb) immunotherapy that binds to BCMA on myeloma cells and CD3 on T-cells, bringing them together and activating the T-cells to kill myeloma cells.

ELREXFIO reflects our ongoing commitment to developing scientific breakthroughs that meaningfully improve outcomes for people with cancer. Discovered at Pfizer, we advanced this therapy from a first-in-patient trial to approval in less than five years, because we know that time is life for people living with multiple myeloma, said Angela Hwang, Chief Commercial Officer and President of Global Biopharmaceuticals Business, Pfizer. With significant responses in a patient population with highly refractory disease, we believe ELREXFIO is poised to potentially become the new standard of care for multiple myeloma, as we plan to build upon this indication with continued development across the expansive MagnetisMM program.

The approval of ELREXFIO is based on data from response rates and duration of response. Data from cohort A (n=123) of the Phase 2 MagnetisMM-3 study (NCT04649359) showed meaningful responses among heavily pretreated RRMM patients who received ELREXFIO as their first BCMA-directed therapy. Among the patients in this study who received four or more lines of therapy prior to ELREXFIO (n=97), the overall response rate was 58%, with an estimated 82% maintaining the response for at least nine months. The median time to first response was 1.2 months. This study also established ELREXFIO as the first BCMA-directed therapy in the U.S. with once-every-other-week dosing for responding patients after 24 weeks of weekly therapy, which means less time at the clinic and potentially greater long-term treatment tolerability. The label also includes data from MagnetisMM-3 cohort B (n=64). Among the 63 patients in this cohort who received at least four prior lines of therapy, including a BCMA-directed therapy (CAR-T or antibody-drug conjugate), the overall response rate was 33% after a median follow-up of 10.2 months, with an estimated 84% maintaining the response for at least nine months.

In longer-term efficacy data for cohort A (n=123) presented at the 2023 European Hematology Association meeting, the objective response rate was 61%, and median duration of response, overall survival, and progression-free survival had not yet been reached at 14.7 months median follow-up. For the responding patients, the probability of maintaining a response at 15 months was 72%. Among responding patients who switched to every-other-week dosing at least six months prior to the data cut-off date (n=50), 80% maintained or improved their response after the switch, with 38% attaining a complete response or better after the switch.

Most multiple myeloma patients will experience relapse or resistance of their disease to treatment, often facing increased symptom burden and lowering their chance of surviving longer with each attempted line of therapy, said MagnetisMM clinical trial investigator Ajay Nooka, MD, MPH, Director of the Multiple Myeloma Program at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University. By offering durable clinical response with an established safety profile and the convenience of subcutaneous administration, ELREXFIO provides a much-needed new option for heavily pre-treated multiple myeloma patients who are struggling with relapsed myeloma.

ELREXFIOs label contains a Boxed Warning for cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurologic toxicity (NT), including immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), in addition to warnings and precautions for infections, neutropenia, hepatotoxicity and embryo-fetal toxicity. The most common adverse reactions to ELREXFIO (incidence 20%) are CRS, fatigue, injection site reaction, diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infection, musculoskeletal pain, pneumonia, decreased appetite, rash, cough, nausea, and fever (pyrexia). The most common Grade 3 to 4 laboratory abnormalities (20%) are decreased lymphocytes, decreased neutrophils, decreased hemoglobin, decreased white blood cells, and decreased platelets. The step-up dose regimen (12/32/76 mg), combined with acetaminophen, dexamethasone, and diphenhydramine pre-treatment, is intended to reduce the incidence and severity of CRS. As a precaution, patients should be hospitalized for 48 hours following the first step-up dose and for 24 hours following the second step-up dose. No hospitalization is required for the third step-up dose. Given the risk of CRS and NT, including ICANS, ELREXFIO is available only through a restricted program called the ELREXFIO Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS). A confirmatory trial (MagnetisMM-5) in the double-class exposed relapsed or refractory population involving 854 patients was initiated in 2022 to gather additional safety and efficacy data. Data will be shared as available.

Accessibility is key to unlocking the potential impact of new treatment options. Unfortunately, novel therapies for triple-class-exposed multiple myeloma can be out of reach for medically underserved populations, said Jenny Ahlstrom, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the HealthTree Foundation for Multiple Myeloma. With the approval of ELREXFIO, patients have a new off-the-shelf treatment option that can be delivered on an ongoing basis in community clinics, where the majority of patients with multiple myeloma receive their care.

For patients who are prescribed ELREXFIO, Pfizer offers the support of Patient Access Navigators, through our Pfizer Oncology Together program, who provide personalized services for all aspects of treatment, including financial assistance resources, treatment support, and resources to navigate potential insurance and coverage issues.

ELREXFIO received Breakthrough Therapy Designation and Orphan Drug Designations and was approved under the FDAs Accelerated Approval Program, which is designed to shorten the time of FDA review for drugs that treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need. The FDA review was also conducted under Project Orbis, a framework for the concurrent submission and review of oncology drugs among international partners to potentially expedite approvals. Currently, five countries (Switzerland, Brazil, Canada, Australia, and Singapore) are participating. A new drug application for ELREXFIO is being evaluated by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Additionally, a marketing authorization application for ELREXFIO is currently being evaluated under the PRIME scheme by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

The extensive MagnetisMM clinical development program is investigating ELREXFIOs use across the entire spectrum of myeloma progression, from newly diagnosed multiple myeloma to RRMM. Ongoing registrational-intent trials are exploring ELREXFIO both as monotherapy and in combination with standard or novel therapies. These include the Phase 3 MagnetisMM-5 trial in the double-class exposed setting and MagnetisMM-7 with ELREXFIO as maintenance treatment in newly diagnosed patients after transplant.

View the full Prescribing Information, including the Boxed Warning and patient Medication Guide. If it is not currently available via this link, it will be visible as soon as possible as we work to finalize the document. Please check back for the full information shortly.
Splash Beverage Group, Inc. (NYSE American: SBEV) (Splash or the Company), a portfolio company of leading beverage brands, today announced it has established a $10 million operating capital credit facility with a European and Singapore based private funding group. The company will use this credit facility along with additional funds raised for operating capital and will withdraw its existing $200 million S-3 Registration Statement.

The Registration Statement, initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on September 28, 2021, was intended to provide Splash Beverage Group with the flexibility to sell up to $200 million common stock, preferred stock, warrants or units for potential future business opportunities, strategic initiatives, and general corporate purposes. Following the establishment of the new credit facility and funds raised internally and a comprehensive review of the company's financial position, the Company has determined that the S-3 public shelf offering is no longer necessary.

The new credit facility will immediately provide $10 million in operating capital and matures in 5 years. The credit facility provides favorable financing at the current Euribor rate plus 1.5% and includes customary covenants for an agreement of this nature.

We are very pleased to enter into this agreement and onboard capital from our existing investors. This $12.7 Million in total ensures the Company is well funded and will be used to fuel growth as we focus on reaching profitability, said Robert Nistico, Chief Executive Officer of Splash Beverage Group. The flexibility and availability of this capital allows us to retire our existing public shelf offering, which underscores our commitment to prudent capital allocation and responsible financial management. We remain committed to delivering value to our shareholders and are focused on executing our strategic plans to drive sustainable long-term growth."

About Splash Beverage Group, Inc.:

Splash Beverage Group, an innovator in the beverage industry, owns a growing portfolio of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage brands including Copa di Vino wines by the glass, SALT flavored tequilas, Pulpoloco sangrias, and TapouT performance hydration and recovery drinks. Splashs strategy is to rapidly develop early-stage brands already in its portfolio as well as acquire and then accelerate brands that have high visibility or are innovators in their categories. Led by a management team that has built and managed some of the top brands in the beverage industry and led sales from product launch into the billions, Splash is rapidly expanding its brand portfolio and global distribution.

For more information, visit:

www.SplashBeverageGroup.comwww.copadivino.comwww.drinksalttequila.comwww.pulpo-loco.comwww.tapoutdrinks.com

Forward-Looking Statement:

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws. Words such as expect, estimate, project, budget, forecast, anticipate, intend, plan, may, will, could, should, believes, predicts, potential, continue and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. These forward-looking statements and factors that may cause such differences include, without limitation, the risks disclosed in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 8, 2021, and in the Companys other filings with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any obligation to update or publicly announce any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

Contact Information:Splash Beverage Group[email protected]954-745-5815

Source: Splash Beverage Group, Inc.
DETROIT, Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Time is running out to apply to participate in the Mark Cuban Foundation Artificial Intelligence (AI) Bootcamp hosted by Perficient, the leading global digital consultancy, taking place in Detroit. Applications for the no-cost bootcamp are closing soon!

The AI bootcamp is targeted toward underserved high school students (9th-12th grade) and offers participants a chance to learn the fundamentals of AI. Perficient has been selected as one of the 28+ host companies across the U.S. for fall 2023, and will host AI Bootcamps in Detroit, St. Louis, Plano, and Houston.

If accepted, participants will engage in a four-week bootcamp held on consecutive Saturdays from October 14th to November 4th. It is imperative that students commit to attending all four sessions. The bootcamp sessions will take place from 2pm-6pm ET.

No prior experience in computer science, programming, or robotics is required. The applications for both students and parents can be submitted through markcubanai.org/perficientmipr.

During the bootcamp, students will explore the world of artificial intelligence, including ethical implications and real- life applications, such as, TikTok recommendations, smart home assistants, facial recognition, and self-driving cars. Participants will also discover the features of Large Language Models like ChatGPT, which can answer questions, create original stories, and even generate computer code.

To provide a beneficial learning environment, trained volunteer corporate mentors, who are knowledgeable in AI, machine learning, and data science, will lead the students through the curriculum. Throughout the bootcamp, students will have the opportunity to work with open source tools and develop their own AI applications related to Computer Vision, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, and Generative AI.

The Mark Cuban Foundation provides the bootcamps curriculum materials, trains corporate volunteer mentors, and recruits and scores applications for local students selected to attend camp. In addition, the Mark Cuban Foundation and Perficient work together to provide food, information on transportation options, and access to laptops for students at no-cost to use during the bootcamp. This bootcamp is facilitated with support from Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp Program's media partner, Notified, a globally trusted technology partner for investor relations, public relations and marketing professionals.

It was a lot of fun, I learned things I didn't even know were possible with AI and their real-world applications showed me just how much it will change our world." - Brandon B., 10th Grade, 2022 AI Bootcamp Participant

Founded by Mark Cuban in 2019, the AI bootcamp initiative has hosted no-cost AI bootcamps for students across several U.S. cities, including Dallas, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Atlantic City to name a few. The Mark Cuban Foundation has impacted 900+ students to date and has a goal to increase that number year over year.

Students interested in applying to the Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp should do so before Friday, September 8th, 2023 at markcubanai.org/perficientmipr. To see our 2023 camp locations and to learn more about the Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamps, please visit markcubanai.org/faq.

Contact: Carli Lidiak, Mark Cuban Foundation

Phone: 309-840-0348

Email: [email protected]

Source: Mark Cuban Foundation
Press release

Bollene, 14 August 2023  8:00 (CET)

The publication or distribution of this press release in certain countries may be prohibited in accordance with legislation. The information contained in this press release does not constitute an offer of securities in France, the United States of America, Canada, Australia or Japan or any other country. This press release is not intended to be published, released or distributed, directly or indirectly, in the United States of America, Canada, Australia or Japan. This document does not constitute an offer for sale or a public offering for Egide shares in the United States of America or any other country.

Launch of a capital increase of approximately

1.9 million euros for Egide SA, with preemptive subscription

rights for shareholders

and conclusion of a 750,000 euros bond loan

C apital increase of  1,921,561.20 with P reemptive S ubscription R ights for shareholders

Subscription price per New Share:  0.65

Ratio of new shares for old: 2 new shares for 7 existing shares

Subscription period from 21 August 2023 to 31 August 2023 inclusive

Ex-rights date: 17 August 2023

C ommitment to subscribe on a non-preemptive basis for a maximum amount of  1,921,561.20, i.e. 100% of the transaction, on the part of Compagnie Nationale de Navigation (CNN), an entity affiliated to Mr Patrick Molis

Conclusion of a  750,000 bond loan with Compagnie Nationale de Navigation

Turnaround plan and abandonment of the sale of the US subsidiaries

Strengthening corporate governance

1. Capital increase with Preemptive Subscription Rights for shareholders.





Egide, the global specialist in hermetic packaging, is today announcing the launch of a 1,921,561.20 Capital Increase with preemptive subscription rights (the Preemptive Subscription Rights) for shareholders to be subscribed in cash (the Capital Increase) through the issuing of 2,956,248 ordinary shares (the New Shares) at a unit price of 0.65, representing a discount of 26.4% compared to the closing price on 11 August 2023 (0.883) and a discount of 14.3% compared to the volume-weighted mean price of the 20 trading sessions preceding the determination of the issue price by the Board of Directors (0.759).

Egides shareholders will be able to subscribe to the Capital Increase at the rate of two (2) New Shares for seven (7) existing shares.

Compagnie Nationale de Navigation, an entity affiliated to Mr Patrick Molis, has given Egide a commitment to subscribe on a non-preemptive basis (i.e. without preemptive subscription rights) to the Capital Increase in a maximum amount of 1,921,561.20, representing 100% of the planned Capital Increase and thus guaranteeing that the transaction will be completed.

The Company does not know the other shareholders intentions.

2. 750,000 bond loan





Alongside the Capital Increase, on 9 August 2023 Egide entered into a bond issue and subscription agreement in the amount of 750,000 (the Bond Issue) with Compagnie Nationale de Navigation. This loan, maturing on 14 December 2023, will be repayable in cash or, subject to approval by Egides general shareholders meeting, in shares.

3. Use of the funds





The 2,671,561.20 raised by the Capital Increase and the Bond Loan will enable the Company:

to begin work on turning around its US subsidiaries;

to recruit a sales team to boost sales;

to finance the increase in its working capital requirement due to higher revenue.

4. Strengthening corporate governance

Compagnie de Navigation Nationale, chaired by Mr Patrick Molis, an entrepreneur in the maritime transport, logistics, energy, aeronautics and defence industries, is demonstrating its confidence in the Egide Groups future by giving a commitment to subscribe to 100% of the capital increase.

The Company and the Compagnie Nationale de Navigation have agreed that, in return for the latters investment under the Capital Increase and for as long as it holds more than 5% of the Companys capital on a fully diluted basis (after the exercise of any other security that may be issued in the future giving access to the Companys capital), the Company will make its best efforts to ensure that the Compagnie Nationale de Navigation has the right to appoint a director on the Board of Directors.

Its representation on Egides Board of Directors will strengthen the Groups corporate governance through the presence of a successful business leader who is destined to become the Companys largest shareholder. This presence will also facilitate the Companys growth in the defence industry.

5. Turnaround plan and abandonment of the sale of the US subsidiaries





Egide has decided to terminate the sale of its US subsidiaries and is launching a reorganisation and turnaround plan for its subsidiaries.

In this context, Egide is also announcing Jim Collins resignation from his position as director of Egide SA early August and his departure as an employee at the end of September 2023. A new management team will be put in place in the United States tasked with turning around the two subsidiaries.



Philippe Bringuier, CEO of Egide says: I am delighted by the launch of these two financial transactions, which will provide Egide Group with resources needed to pursue its plan for a return to profitability and to turn its US subsidiaries around. They will also strengthen its shareholder structure with the Compagnie Nationale de Navigation becoming a shareholder of Egide and the arrival on its Board of Directors of Compagnie Nationale de Navigations chairman Patrick Molis, an entrepreneur in the maritime transport, logistics, energy, aeronautics and defence industries.

The Egide Group is opening a new chapter in its history: following the change in governance, it is refocusing on the high-growth defence and aerospace markets, which provide higher added value than the telecoms industry in which the Group has traditionally operated, and putting in place a plan for a return to profitability.

We thank all our shareholders, employees and partners who are supporting us in this new strategy.

6. Terms and conditions of the Capital Increase





Share capital before the transaction

Egides share capital before the transaction is 5,173,434, made up of 10,346,868 shares, fully subscribed and paid up, with a par value of 0.50 each.

Share codes

Name: EGIDE

Share ISIN: FR0000072373

Mnemonic: ALGID

Preemptive Subscription Right codes

Preemptive Subscription Right ISIN: FR001400KBC2

Place of listing: Euronext Growth

Nature of the transaction

The transaction will involve the issuing of 2,956,248 ordinary shares (the New Shares) with Preemptive Subscription Rights for shareholders, at a unit price of 0.65. The gross proceeds of the issue will thus be 1,921,561.20 (the Capital Increase).

Egides shareholders will be able to subscribe to the Capital Increase at the rate of two (2) New Shares for seven (7) existing shares held (seven (7) preemptive subscription rights will enable their holder to subscribe to two (2) New Shares).

Legal basis of the offering

Egide SAs Board of Directors, making use of the power delegated to it by the tenth resolution adopted by the Combined General Meeting of shareholders of 18 June 2021, decided at its meeting of 11 August 2023 to exercise the power delegated to it and carry out a capital increase by issuing New Shares, with Preemptive Subscription Rights for shareholders.

Subscription opening and closing dates

From 21 August 2023 to 31 August 2023 inclusive, on the Euronext Growth market in Paris.

Subscription price

The subscription price has been set at 0.65 per New Share, comprising the par value of 0.50 and an issue premium of 0.15. This price represents a discount of 26.4% compared to the closing price on 11August 2023 (0.883) and a discount of 14.3% compared to the volume-weighted mean price of the 20 trading sessions preceding the determination of the issue price by the Board of Directors (0.759).

Subscription to basic entitlement

Subscription of the New Shares is reserved, as a priority, for holders of existing shares registered in their securities accounts at the end of the day preceding the opening date of the Preemptive Subscription Rights trading period, i.e. 16 August 2023.

Holders of Preemptive Subscription Rights will be able to subscribe to their basic entitlement at the rate of two (2) New Shares for seven (7) existing shares held, in other words seven (7) Preemptive Subscription Rights which will enable their holder to subscribe to two (2) New Shares, without fractions being taken into account.

Holders of Preemptive Subscription Rights may only exercise a number of such rights that enables them to subscribe to a whole number of New Shares. Shareholders or purchasers of Preemptive Subscription Rights who do not hold, for subscription to the basic entitlement, a sufficient number of existing shares or Preemptive Subscription Rights to obtain a whole number of New Shares must purchase or sell on the market a number of Preemptive Subscription Rights that will result in their holding a multiple enabling them to acquire a whole number of New Shares.

It is stated, for information, that as of 11 August 2023 the Company does not hold any of its own shares.

Subscription to excess New Shares

Shareholders are given a right of pre-emption to subscribe to excess New Shares. This right will be exercised in proportion to their rights and up to the number of shares they have applied for.

At the same time as they submit their applications to subscribe to their basic entitlement, shareholders or purchasers of Preemptive Subscription Rights may subscribe to any number of excess New Shares they wish over and above the number of New Shares resulting from the exercise of their preemptive subscription rights in respect of their basic entitlement.

Any New Shares not subscribed for in the subscriptions to basic entitlements will be distributed and allotted to subscribers for excess New Shares up to the number of shares applied for and pro rata to the number of existing shares for which they have exercised their preemptive subscription rights in respect of their basic entitlement, provided that no fraction of a New Share will be allotted.

If the same subscriber submits several separate subscription applications, the number of excess New Shares to be allotted to such subscriber will be calculated on the basis of the totality of their Preemptive Subscription Rights only if they have specifically requested this in writing no later than the closing date for subscriptions. This request must be attached to one of the subscription applications and must provide all information necessary for the rights to be combined, stating the number of subscription applications made and the authorised intermediary or intermediaries with which such applications have been deposited.

Subscriptions in the names of different subscribers cannot be combined in order to obtain excess New Shares.

Euronext will publish a notice announcing, where relevant, the allocation scale for subscriptions to excess New Shares.

Exercising Preemptive Subscription Rights

Holders wishing to exercise their Preemptive Subscription Rights must submit a request to do so to their authorised financial intermediary at any time during the subscription period, i.e. between 21 August 2023 and 31 August 2023 inclusive, and pay the corresponding subscription price.

Each subscription must be accompanied by payment of the subscription price by payment in cash or by set-off against liquid, due receivables from the company. Subscriptions that have not been fully paid up will be cancelled automatically with no requirement for formal notice.

The Preemptive Subscription Rights must be exercised by their beneficiaries before expiry of the subscription period, failing which they will be lost.

The Preemptive Subscription Rights will be tradable from 17 August 2023 to 29 August 2023 inclusive, on the same conditions as the existing shares.

A seller of a Preemptive Subscription Right will transfer that right to the purchaser and for the purpose of exercising the preemptive subscription right thus acquired the purchaser will be substituted for the owner of the existing share in all the latters its rights and obligations thereunder.

Any Preemptive Subscription Rights not exercised at the end of the subscription period will lapse automatically.

Listing of the Preemptive Subscription Rights

At the end of the trading session on 16 August 2023, Egides shareholders will receive one (1) Preemptive Subscription Right for each share held (i.e. a total of 10,346,868 Preemptive Subscription Rights issued). Each shareholder holding seven (7) Preemptive Subscription Rights (and multiples of this number) will be able to subscribe to two (2) New Shares (and multiples of this number) at the unit price of 0.65.

The Preemptive Subscription Rights will be listed and traded on the Euronext Growth market, under ISIN FR001400KBC2, from 17 August 2023 to 29 August 2023 inclusive.

Theoretical value of the preemptive subscription right

0.052 (on the basis of the Egide share closing price on 11 August 2023. i.e. 0.883). The subscription price of 0.65 per share represents a discount of 20.5% compared to the theoretical ex-rights value of the share.

Subscription applications on a non-preemptive basis (i.e. without preemptive subscription rights)

In addition to the possibility of subscribing for basic entitlements and excess New Shares in accordance with the terms and conditions set out above, any natural or legal person may subscribe to the Capital Increase on a non-preemptive basis, whether or not they hold Preemptive Subscription Rights.

Persons wishing to subscribe on a non-preemptive basis must submit their applications to their authorised financial intermediaries at any time during the subscription period and pay the corresponding subscription price.

Pursuant to Article L.225-134 of the French Commercial Code, subscriptions on a non-preemptive basis will be taken into account only if subscriptions to basic entitlements and subscriptions to excess New Shares do not cover the whole of the Capital Increase. The Board of Directors will be entitled to allocate all or some of the unsubscribed shares at its discretion among the persons (shareholders or third parties) of its choice who have submitted applications for subscription on a non-preemptive basis.

Preemptive subscription rights detached from own shares held by the Company

It is stated, for information, that at 11 August 2023 the Company does not hold any of its own shares.

Restricting the amount of the capital increase

Pursuant to Article L. 225-134 of the French Commercial Code, if the subscriptions for basic entitlements, subscriptions for excess New Shares and subscriptions made on a non-preemptive basis do not cover the whole of the issue, the Board of Directors may restrict the amount of the issue to the amount of the subscriptions received, provided such amount is at least 75% of the amount of the Capital Increase.

Paying agents  Payment of subscriptions

Subscriptions for New Shares and payments by subscribers whose securities are held in administered registered form (forme nominative administree) or bearer form will be accepted up to and including the subscription period closing date at their authorised intermediaries acting in their name and on their behalf.

Subscriptions and payments by subscribers whose shares are held in pure registered form (forme nominative pure) will be accepted free of charge at CIC Market Solutions (6 avenue de Provence - 75009 Paris; [email protected]).

The New Shares must be paid up in full on subscription, by payment in cash, for the whole of their nominal value plus issue premium. The amount of the issue premium paid will be recognised on the liabilities side of the balance sheet in a special Issue Premium account over which all existing and new shareholders will have rights.

The funds paid for subscriptions will be centralised at CIC Market Solutions (6 avenue de Provence - 75009 Paris; [email protected]), which will draw up the certificate of deposit of the funds recording the completion of the Capital Increase.

Subscriptions for which payments have not been made will be cancelled automatically with no requirement for a formal notice.

Investment restrictions

Sale of the New Shares and the Preemptive Subscription Rights may be subject to specific regulations in some countries. No action has been taken to place the New Shares or the Preemptive Subscription Rights in any country, in any way whatsoever.

Guarantee

The Capital Increase will not be the subject of a performance guarantee (garantie de bonne fin) within the meaning of Article L. 225-145 of the French Commercial Code. Consequently, trading in the security will begin only after settlement and after the registrars certificate has been issued.

Subscription commitment

In a letter signed 11 August 2023, Compagnie Nationale de Navigation, an entity affiliated to Mr Patrick Molis, gave the Company a commitment to subscribe on a non-preemptive basis for a maximum amount of 1,921,561.20, representing 100% of the planned Capital Increase and thus guaranteeing completion of the transaction.

Accordingly, the Company has undertaken that the Board of Directors will allot to the investor as a priority any New Shares not covered by subscriptions to basic entitlements or to excess New Shares, in accordance with Article L.225-134 of the French Commercial Code.

If the Compagnie Nationale de Navigations subscription commitment were to be used in full, the Compagnie Nationale de Navigation would hold around 22% of the Companys capital and voting rights on the settlement date and would thus become the Companys largest shareholder.

The Company does not know the other shareholders intentions.

Governance right

The Company and the Compagnie Nationale de Navigation have agreed that, in return for the latters investment under the Capital Increase and for as long as it holds more than 5% of the Companys capital on a fully diluted basis (after the exercise of any other security that may be issued in the future giving access to the Companys capital), the Company will make its best efforts to ensure that the Compagnie Nationale de Navigation has the right to appoint a director on the Board of Directors.

Retention commitment

Compagnie Nationale de Navigation has given a commitment to retain the New Shares to be allotted to it under the Capital Increase for a period of 180 days following the settlement date of the issue, subject to certain usual exceptions.

Settlement of the New Shares

According to the indicative timetable of the Capital Increase, the settlement date for the New Shares is scheduled to be 7 September 2023.

Characteristics of the New Shares

Entitlement to dividends: The New Shares, which will be subject to all the provisions of the Articles of Association, will bear current dividend rights and be fungible with the Companys existing shares from the time they are issued. According to the indicative timetable of the capital increase, it is anticipated that the new shares will be registered in securities accounts on the settlement date. i.e. 7 September 2023.

Currency of issue of the New Shares: The New Shares will be issued in Euros.

Listing of the New Shares: An application will be made for the New Shares to be admitted to trading on the Euronext Growth market in Paris, on 7 September 2023. Nevertheless, they will only be able to be listed after the depositary has issued the certificate of deposit. They will be immediately fungible with the Companys existing shares already traded on the Euronext Growth market in Paris and will be tradable, from that date, on the same listing line as those shares under the same ISIN FR0000072373  mnemo ALGID.

DILUTION

Impact of the issue on net assets per share

Net assets per share (in Euros) Non-diluted basis* Diluted basis** Before issue of the New Shares under this Capital Increase 0.854 0.887 Euros After issue of 2,956,248 New Shares under this Capital Increase 0.665 0.696 Euros *: Based on net assets of 8,841,000 Euros on 31/12/2022 **: At 11 August 2023 there are 455,000 outstanding stock-options

Impact of the issue on a shareholders position

Shareholders holding (in %) Non-diluted basis* Diluted basis** Before issue of the New Shares under this Capital Increase 1.000% 0.958% After issue of 2,956,248 New Shares under this Capital Increase 0.778% 0752% *: Based on 10.346.868 shares at 31/12/2022 **: At 11 August 2023 there are 455,000 outstanding stock-options.

Terms and conditions of subscription

You have Preemptive Subscription Rights attached to your Egide SA shares giving you a preferential right to subscribe to the new shares at the rate of two (2) New Shares for seven (7) Preemptive Subscription Rights (1 existing share giving entitlement to 1 Preemptive Subscription Right).

Either you have an exact and sufficient number of existing shares to be able to subscribe through your Preemptive Subscription Rights to a whole number of new shares (for example, if you have seven (7) Egide shares, you will have a preferential right to subscribe to two (2) New Shares).

Or you do not have a sufficient number of existing shares to obtain a whole number of New Shares, in which case you can purchase or sell a number of Preemptive Subscription Rights that will result in your holding a multiple enabling you to acquire a whole number of new shares (two (2) New Shares for seven (7) Preemptive Subscription Rights).

You may also, in addition to your subscriptions made using your Preemptive Subscription Rights, subscribe on a non-preemptive basis by 31 August 2023 (although your subscription will be taken into account only if the transaction has not already been fully subscribed by holders of Preemptive Subscription Rights.

Each subscription must be accompanied by payment of the subscription price.

Indicative timetable of the transaction

11 Aug. 2023 Board of Directors decision concerning implementation of the transaction and the final terms and conditions thereof. 14 Aug. 2023 Issue of the Companys press release describing the principal features of the capital increase.



Publication of the notice to shareholders in the Bulletin des Annonces Legales et Obligatoires (BALO) (French bulletin of compulsory legal notices).



Issue by Euronext of the notice concerning the offering announcing the listing of the preemptive subscription rights. 16 Aug. 2023 Accounting day at the end of which holders of existing shares recorded in their accounts will be allotted preemptive subscription rights. 17 Aug. 2023 Admission and opening of the preemptive subscription rights trading period on the Euronext Growth market. 21 Aug. 2023 Opening of the subscription period 29 Aug. 2023 End of the preemptive subscription rights trading period on the Euronext Growth market. 31 Aug. 2023 Close of the subscription period 5 Sept. 2023 Issue of the Companys press release on the results of the subscriptions.



Issue by Euronext Paris of the notice of admission of the New Shares indicating the final amount of the Capital Increase and the allocation scale for subscriptions to excess New Shares. 7 Sept. 2023 Settlement of the transaction and admission of the New Shares to trading on Euronext Growth.

Warning

Pursuant to Article L. 411-2-1 1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code and Article 211-2 of the General Regulation of the Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF) (the French financial markets authority), the Capital Increase does not require a prospectus approved by the AMF because the total amount of the offering calculated over a period of twelve months does not exceed 8 million Euros.

A notice to shareholders concerning this transaction will be published on 14 August 2023 in the Bulletin des Annonces Legales et Obligatoires (BALO).

Risk factors

The principal risk factors associated with the issue are mentioned below:

the market for the preemptive subscription rights could offer only limited liquidity and be highly volatile;

shareholders who do not exercise their preemptive subscription rights will see their shareholding in the Companys capital diluted;

the market price of the Companys shares could fluctuate and fall below the issue price of the shares to be issued under the preemptive subscription rights;

the volatility and liquidity of the Companys shares could fluctuate significantly;

if the market price of the Companys shares falls, the preemptive subscription rights could suffer a loss in value.





Before investors take any investment decision, they are invited to consider the risk factors described in the 2022 Annual Financial Report available on Egides website (www.Egide-group.com) in the section Finance  Financial Information.

7. Terms and conditions of the Bond Issue





Alongside the Capital Increase, on 9 August 2023 Egide entered into a bond issue and subscription agreement in the amount of 750,000 (the Bond Issue) with Compagnie Nationale de Navigation, an entity affiliated to Mr Patrick Molis.

The Bond Issue bears interest at 8% a year and will be repayable in full (principal and interest) on 14 December 2023.

Under the bond issue and subscription agreement, Compagnie Nationale de Navigation will be able to request that the principal and interest outstanding from Egide under the Bond Issue be repaid in full or in part by setting off receivables against the subscription price of the shares subscribed by Compagnie Nationale de Navigation under a capital increase by the Issuer, the features and terms and conditions of which will be discussed and agreed by the parties.

Compagnie Nationale de Navigations subscription will thus be limited to the lower of the two following amounts: (i) the amount of principal and interest outstanding from Egide under the Bond Issue, and (ii) the amount above which Compagnie Nationale de Navigation would exceed the threshold of 30% of Egides capital or voting rights.

CONTACTS

Egide Philippe Bringuier  CEO and CFO: +33 4 90 30 35 94  [email protected]

FINEXTENSO  Isabelle Aprile  Media Relations: +33 1 39 97 61 22  [email protected]

About the EGIDE Group  You can find all the latest news about the Group online at: www.egide-group.com and LinkedIn

Egide is an international group specialising in the manufacture of hermetic packages and heat dissipating solutions for sensitive electronic components. We are active in cutting-edge markets with high technological barriers in all critical environments (thermal imaging, optoelectronics, hyper-frequency components, power packages, etc.). Egide is the only dedicated global player and has manufacturing operations in France and the United States.

Egide is listed on Euronext Growth Paris- ISIN: FR0000072373 - Mnemo: ALGID

Attachment
Company Announcement 13/2023 (14.08.2023)

As of 14 August 2023, Louise Hahn steps down as Member of the Board of Directors of European Energy A/S.

Chair of the Board of Directors, Jens Due Olsen, says: Unfortunately, it is not compatible for Louise Hahn to continue as Member of the Board in her new position. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Louise Hahn for her contribution. We wish her all the best in her future endeavours.

For further information, please contact Jens Due Olsen: [email protected].

This Company Announcement has been made in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 on market abuse (the Market Abuse Regulation) and contains information that prior to its disclosure may have constituted inside information under the Market Abuse Regulation.
The subsidiary company of AS Tallinna Sadam, OU TS Shipping, signed an agreement with BP Exploration Operating Company Ltd (hereinafter: BP) for chartering multifunctional icebreaker Botnica until September 3, 2023. The charter started on August 7, but additional testing of the ship and installed equipment was carried out until August 12. BP is a multinational energy company based in UK. According to the scope of service, Botnica will be chartered as a service operation vessel to support work scopes at BPs Mungo normally unattended installation, located in the North Sea UK Sector.

In June, Botnica provided auxiliary vessel services to Equinor in UK. From September to November, Botnica is chartered to Baffinland for assisting Panamax-type cargo vessels in Arctic waters of northern Canada exporting iron ore from the Milne Inlet port to the ocean. Considering all 2023 summer work contracts, the revenue base is comparable to previous years, but the cost base is higher due to additional requirements for equipment regarding new summer charter contracts.

According to a 10-year agreement with the Estonian Transport Administration, Botnica provides icebreaking services in Estonian coastal waters from December 20 to April 20.

Tallinna Sadam is one of the largest cargo- and passenger port complexes in the Baltic Sea region, which serves annually 10 million passengers and 20 million tons of cargo in average. In addition to passenger and freight services, Tallinna Sadam group also operates in shipping business via its subsidiaries  OU TS Laevad provides ferry services between the Estonian mainland and the largest islands, and OU TS Shipping charters its multifunctional vessel Botnica for icebreaking and construction services in Estonia and offshore projects abroad. Tallinna Sadam group is also a shareholder of an associate AS Green Marine, which provides waste management services.

Additional information:

Marju Zirel

Head of Investor Relations

Tel. +372 5342 6591

[email protected]




The Company reports positive cash flow of $80,000

Subscription-based revenue represents 62% of total revenue, grew 50%

Funds raised in Private Placement to enable execution of pending awards

DENVER, Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Intermap Technologies (TSX: IMP; OTCQB: ITMSF) (Intermap or the Company), a global leader in 3D geospatial products and intelligence solutions, today announced preliminary second quarter results and a private placement offering.

Preliminary Second Quarter Results

For the period ending June 30, 2023, the Company reported revenue of $1.6 million, compared with $2.0 million for the first quarter of 2023 and $2.4 million for the second quarter of 2022. During the six months ended June 30, 2023, the Company reported positive cash flow from operating activities of $80,000.

The Companys second quarter results were affected by delays in government contracts. All of the contracts relate to ongoing work that Intermap is confident will continue in the latter half of this year. Some of these contracts are expected to grow substantially this year. The contract delays were generated by repeat customers on critical, funded domestic and foreign government programs.

Intermaps commercial business is continuing to grow with new software and data subscriptions, especially in the European insurance market. The Companys software and solutions revenue increased to $1.1 million compared with $0.8 million for the second quarter of 2022. In the first half of 2023, software and solutions revenue totaled $2.3 million compared with $1.7 million for the same period in 2022. The Companys European revenue increased 75.6% in the second quarter of 2023 compared with the same period in 2022. This increase is driven by the expansion of its European insurance software and solutions through multi-license subscription agreements with countrywide insurance associations.

As the Company enters the second half of the year, momentum remains high with a focus on execution of pending government contracts and commercial opportunities.

The Companys consolidated financial statements for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Private Placement

Intermap continues to explore strategic ways to expand its shareholder base, allowing for broader investor participation and greater liquidity in the publicly traded stock.

On August 10, 2023, Intermap closed the first tranche of an issuer private placement (the Private Placement) of 810,000 units ("Units"). Each Unit consists of one Class A common share of the Company (a Share) and one transferable common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one additional Share at an exercise price equal to the United States dollar (USD) equivalent of C$0.80 per Share, which is exercisable for two years from the date of issuance. The Units were issued at a price of C$0.55 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of C$445,500. The Company intends to close a second tranche of the Private Placement within the next week on the same terms.

Capital raised in the Private Placement strengthens Intermaps balance sheet and enables the Company to pursue strategic contracts, capitalize on new opportunities and expand existing relationships with major clients. The Private Placement included participation from longstanding investors and new shareholders.

We appreciate the continued support of our investors, said Patrick A. Blott, Intermap Chairman and CEO. Our commercial business continues its rapid growth with an increasing percentage of recurring revenue. In our government business, programs will continue and grow, and Intermaps participation is expected to increase. Our first half operating performance highlights Intermaps ability to manage operating leverage and maintain cash flow by adjusting variable spending to accommodate unexpected contract volatility. This infusion of capital will help fund future growth and position us to execute on new and exciting opportunities.

Under the first tranche of the Private Placement, Intermap also issued 48,600 warrants (Finder Warrants) to certain finders. Each Finder Warrant under the first tranche is exercisable for one Share at an exercise price of $0.48954 per Share, being the USD equivalent of C$0.6575, at any time until August 9, 2025. The exchange rate that is used to calculate the USD equivalent exercise price for each the Warrants and the Finder Warrants is the Bank of Canadas latest published rate for the business day immediately prior to the issuance of same.

All securities issued in connection with the Private Placement are subject to a 4-month hold period, during which time trading in the securities is restricted in accordance with applicable securities laws.

The Private Placement and the listing of the Shares issued under the Private Placement and the Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the TSX) are subject to final approval of the TSX upon satisfaction of customary closing conditions. The TSX has conditionally approved the Private Placement and the listing of the Shares issued thereunder and the Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants and the Finder Warrants prior to closing of the first tranche of the Private Placement.

Unless otherwise indicated, all dollar or $ references are expressed in USD.

To learn more about Intermap, visit intermap.com/investors.

Intermap Reader Advisory

Certain information provided in this news release, including reference to revenue growth, growth and continuation of government contracts, pending government contracts and commercial opportunities, and closing of the second tranche of the Private Placement, constitutes forward-looking statements. The words anticipate, "expect", project, estimate, forecast, continue, focus, will, intends and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Although Intermap believes that these statements are based on information and assumptions which are current, reasonable and complete, these statements are necessarily subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Intermaps forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties pertaining to, among other things, cash available to fund operations, availability of capital, revenue fluctuations, nature of government contracts, economic conditions, loss of key customers, retention and availability of executive talent, competing technologies, common share price volatility, loss of proprietary information, software functionality, internet and system infrastructure functionality, information technology security, breakdown of strategic alliances, and international and political considerations, as well as those risks and uncertainties discussed Intermaps Annual Information Form and other securities filings. While the Company makes these forward-looking statements in good faith, should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary significantly from those expected. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits that the Company will derive therefrom. All subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, attributable to Intermap or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the forward-looking statements made herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities law.

About Intermap Technologies

Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Intermap (TSX: IMP; OTCQB: ITMSF) is a global leader in geospatial intelligence solutions, focusing on the creation and analysis of 3D terrain data to produce high-resolution thematic models. Through scientific analysis of geospatial information and patented sensors and processing technology, the Company provisions diverse, complementary, multi-source datasets to enable customers to seamlessly integrate geospatial intelligence into their workflows. Intermaps 3D elevation data and software analytic capabilities enable global geospatial analysis through artificial intelligence and machine learning, providing customers with critical information to understand their terrain environment. By leveraging its proprietary archive of the worlds largest collection of multi-sensor global elevation data, the Companys collection and processing capabilities provide multi-source 3D datasets and analytics at mission speed, enabling governments and companies to build and integrate geospatial foundation data with actionable insights. Applications for Intermaps products and solutions include defense, aviation and UAV flight planning, flood and wildfire insurance, disaster mitigation, base mapping, environmental and renewable energy planning, telecommunications, engineering, critical infrastructure monitoring, hydrology, land management, oil and gas and transportation.

For more information, please visit www.intermap.com or contact:

Jennifer Bakken

Executive Vice President and CFO

[email protected]

+1 (303) 708-0955
PHOENIX, Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mobivity Holdings Corp. (OTCQB: MFON), a global provider of personalized reward solutions that drive customer acquisition, frequency, and spend, today announced financial results for the second quarter (Q2) ended June 30, 2023.

Q2 2023 Financial Highlights

Revenues of $1.9 million remained consistent compared to $1.9 million in Q2 2022.

Gross profit margin of 26% compared to 36% in Q2 2022.

Operating expenses of $2.5 million compared to $2.4 million in Q2 2022.

Net loss was $2.3 million compared to a net loss of $2.0 million in Q2 2022.

Adjusted EBITDA, excluding certain non-cash expenses, was ($1.8) million compared to ($1.1) million in Q2 2022.

Cash and cash equivalents of $529,000 as of June 30, 2023 compared to $427,000 as of December 31, 2022.

Recent Business Highlights

Appointed industry senior executives to key leadership positions to strengthen market leadership in connecting brands with game publishers: Will Sanchez appointed as Chief Financial Officer Asif Iqbal appointed as Vice President of Engineering Dan Grigorovici appointed as Vice President of Product Beatrice Olivas appointed as Senior Director of Brand Strategy Rob Crews appointed as Senior Director of Restaurant Strategy

Signed contract with major mobile casual game publisher for in-game rewarded play

Signed deal with international restaurant brand for on-location user acquisition

Connected Rewards program with major global convenience store brand successfully drove thousands of game downloads and acquired thousands of digital loyalty subscribers for the brand

Tom Akin, Mobivity Chairman of the Board, commented, During the second quarter, we accelerated the transformation of our business by hiring key leaders equipped with the industry expertise and experience to address the markets we serve. With the right people and the continued advancement of Connected Rewards, we are laying the groundwork to accelerate adoption of our offerings and ignite long-term growth. We are increasingly optimistic about the prospects for our business given the opportunities we see to connect brands with game developers and advertisers through Connected Rewards.

Consolidated Financial Summaries:

(In thousands) Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, 2023 2022 $$ % 2023 2022 $$ % Revenue $ 1,861 $ 1,867 $ (6 ) (0.3 %) $ 3,743 $ 3,897 $ (154 ) (4.0 %) Gross profit $ 490 $ 664 $ (174 ) (26.2 %) $ 1,305 $ 1,519 $ (214 ) (14.1 %) Gross margin 26.3% 35.6% N/A (930 bps) 34.9% 39.0% N/A (410 bps) Operating Expenses $ 2,515 $ 2,449 $ 66 2.7 % $ 5,549 $ 5,080 $ 469 9.2 % Loss from operations $ (2,025 ) $ (1,784 ) $ (241 ) (13.5 %) $ (4,244 ) $ (3,561 ) $ (683 ) (19.2 %) Net loss $ (2,272 ) $ (1,952 ) $ (320 ) (16.4 %) $ (4,750 ) $ (3,885 ) $ (865 ) (22.3 %) Adjusted EBITDA * $ (1,762 ) $ (1,146 ) $ (616 ) (53.8 %) $ (3,128 ) $ (2,522 ) $ (660 ) (24.0 %)

*Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure. The Company defines and calculates Adjusted EBITDA as net loss before the impact of interest income or expense (net), income tax provision or benefit, and depreciation and amortization, and further adjusted for the following items: stock-based compensation and/or other non-recurring and non-operating costs or income, as described in the reconciliation below.

Conference Call

Date: Monday, August 14, 2023Time: 5 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) Dial in Number for U.S. Callers: 1-844-825-9789 Dial in Number for International Callers: 1-412-317-5180 Please Reference Conference ID: 10181765

The call will also be accompanied live by webcast over the Internet and accessible at https://viavid.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1627822&tp_key=67ae9b45a7.

To join the live conference call, please dial in to the above referenced telephone numbers five to ten minutes prior to the scheduled conference call time.

A replay will be available for two weeks starting on August 14, 2023 at approximately 8 p.m. ET. To access the replay, please dial 1-844-512-2921 in the U.S. and 1-412-317-6671 for international callers. The conference ID# is 10181765. The replay will also be available on the Companys website under the investor relations section.

Non-GAAP MeasurementsThis press release includes certain financial information which constitutes non-GAAP financial measures as defined by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A full reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures to GAAP can be found in the tables of todays press release. Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA is supplemental to results presented under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. These non-GAAP measures are used by management to facilitate period-to-period comparisons and analysis of Mobivitys operating performance and liquidity. Management believes these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors in trending, analyzing and benchmarking the performance and value of Mobivitys business. These non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, other similar measures reported in accordance with GAAP.

About MobivityMobivitys cloud-based Connected Rewards technology delivers billions of offers and promotions, building large, owned audiences for some of the worlds biggest brands. Through its partnerships with leading game publishers, digital operators, and ad networks, Mobivity connects a massive universe of consumers to its broad network of brands. As a result, digital consumers download and play more games, and earn real-world rewards that are redeemed in-store, driving acquisition, frequency, and retention for brands and game publishers. For more information about Mobivity, visit or call (877) 282-7660.

Forward Looking StatementThis press release contains forward-looking statements concerning Mobivity Holdings Corp. within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Those forward-looking statements include statements regarding the benefits of recent additions to the Companys management team; the Companys expectations for the growth of the Companys operations and revenue; and the advantages and growth prospects of the mobile marketing industry. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, and actual circumstances, events or results may differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to differences include, but are not limited to, our ability to successfully integrate our recent additions to management; our ability to develop the sales force required to achieve our development and revenue goals; our ability to raise additional working capital as and when needed; changes in the laws and regulations affecting the mobile marketing industry and those other risks set forth from time to time in Mobivity Holdings Corp.s reports filed with the SEC, including, but not limited to, Mobivity Holdings Corp.s most recent annual report on Form 10-K , quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and current reports on Form 8-K. Mobivity Holdings Corp. cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this announcement. Mobivity Holdings Corp. does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation to update or revise such statements to reflect new circumstances or unanticipated events as they occur.

Investor Relations Contact:Will Sanchez  Chief Financial Officer, Mobivity(877) 282-7660

Brett Maas  Managing Partner, Hayden IR[email protected]  (646) 536-7331

Mobivity Holdings Corp.Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

June 30, December 31, 2023 2022 (Unaudited) (Audited ASSETS Current assets Cash $ 529,471 $ 426,740 Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts $9,423 and $34,446, respectively 542,711 1,081,183 Other current assets 423,371 195,017 Total current assets 1,495,553 1,702,940 Right to use lease assets 878,380 981,896 Intangible assets and software development costs, net 99,257 194,772 Other assets 127,417 137,917 TOTAL ASSETS $ 2,600,607 $ 3,017,525 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT Current liabilities Accounts payable $ 3,481,685 $ 3,412,612 Accrued interest 442,269 443,448 Accrued and deferred personnel compensation 297,572 569,347 Deferred revenue and customer deposits 469,750 902,727 Related party notes payable, net - current maturities 1,361,250 2,711,171 Notes payable, net - current maturities 18,096 32,617 Operating lease liability, current 263,663 251,665 Other current liabilities 15,162 49,541 Total current liabilities 6,349,447 8,373,128 Non-current liabilities Related party notes payable, net - long term 3,894,345 2,481,290 Notes payable, net - long term 30,223 31,092 Operating lease liability 801,492 936,924 Total non-current liabilities 4,726,060 3,449,306 Total liabilities 11,075,507 11,822,434 Stockholders' deficit Common stock, $0.001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 65,797,567 and 61,311,155, shares issued and outstanding 65,798 61,311 Equity payable 307,318 324,799 Additional paid-in capital 113,868,248 108,806,353 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (69,598 ) (100,963 ) Accumulated deficit (122,646,666 ) (117,896,409 ) Total stockholders' deficit (8,474,900 ) (8,804,909 ) TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT $ 2,600,607 $ 3,017,525

Mobivity Holdings Corp.Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30, June 30, 2023 2022 2023 2022 Revenues Revenues $ 1,861,171 $ 1,867,162 $ 3,742,653 $ 3,896,731 Cost of revenues 1,371,206 1,202,749 2,437,781 2,377,697 Gross profit 489,965 664,413 1,304,872 1,519,034 Operating expenses General and administrative 1,071,153 897,984 2,615,259 2,105,160 Sales and marketing 602,911 566,270 1,294,131 1,163,771 Engineering, research, and development 804,343 873,836 1,538,718 1,576,059 Depreciation and amortization 36,582 110,421 100,484 234,733 Total operating expenses 2,514,989 2,448,511 5,548,592 5,079,723 Loss from operations (2,025,024 ) (1,784,098 ) (4,243,720 ) (3,560,689 ) Other income/(expense) Loss of settlement of debt   (10,857 )  Interest expense (244,443 ) (167,126 ) (482,889 ) (326,953 ) Settlement losses (2,500 )  (12,500 )  Foreign currency gain (115 ) (510 ) (291 ) 2,809 Total other income/(expense) (247,058 ) (167,636 ) (506,537 ) (324,144 ) Loss before income taxes (2,272,082 ) (1,951,734 ) (4,750,257 ) (3,884,833 ) Income tax expense     Net loss (2,272,082 ) (1,951,734 ) (4,750,257 ) (3,884,833 ) Other comprehensive loss, net of income tax Foreign currency translation adjustments (137 ) 12,261 31,365 (634 ) Comprehensive loss $ (2,272,219 ) $ (1,939,473 ) $ (4,718,892 ) $ (3,885,467 ) Net loss per share: Basic and Diluted (0.03 ) (0.03 ) (0.07 ) (0.07 ) Weighted average number of shares: Basic and Diluted 65,670,815 58,602,319 63,884,441 57,921,596

Mobivity Holdings Corp.Reconciliation of GAAP Measure to Non-GAAP Measure

(In thousands) Three months ended June 30, Six Months ended June 30, 2023 2022 2023 2022 Net Loss $ (2,272 ) $ (1,952 ) $ (4,750 ) $ (3,885 ) Stock Based Compensation 229 529 1039 801 Depreciation and Amortization 37 110 100 $ 235 Interest Expenses Net 244 167 483 327 Adjusted EBITDA $ (1,762 ) $ (1,146 ) (3,128 ) $ (2,522 )

Source: Mobivity Holdings Corp.
PLANO, Texas, Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Time is running out to apply to participate in the Mark Cuban Foundation Artificial Intelligence (AI) Bootcamp hosted by Perficient, the leading global digital consultancy, taking place in Plano. Applications for the no-cost bootcamp are closing soon!

The AI bootcamp is targeted toward underserved high school students (9th-12th grade) and offers participants a chance to learn the fundamentals of AI. Perficient has been selected as one of the 28+ host companies across the U.S. for fall 2023, and will host AI Bootcamps in Plano, St. Louis, Detroit, and Houston.

If accepted, participants will engage in a four-week bootcamp held on consecutive Saturdays from October 14th to November 4th. It is imperative that students commit to attending all four sessions. The bootcamp sessions will take place from 1pm-5pm CT.

No prior experience in computer science, programming, or robotics is required. The applications for both students and parents can be submitted through markcubanai.org/perficienttxpr.

During the bootcamp, students will explore the world of artificial intelligence, including ethical implications and real- life applications, such as, TikTok recommendations, smart home assistants, facial recognition, and self-driving cars. Participants will also discover the features of Large Language Models like ChatGPT, which can answer questions, create original stories, and even generate computer code.

To provide a beneficial learning environment, trained volunteer corporate mentors, who are knowledgeable in AI, machine learning, and data science, will lead the students through the curriculum. Throughout the bootcamp, students will have the opportunity to work with open source tools and develop their own AI applications related to Computer Vision, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, and Generative AI.

The Mark Cuban Foundation provides the bootcamps curriculum materials, trains corporate volunteer mentors, and recruits and scores applications for local students selected to attend camp. In addition, the Mark Cuban Foundation and Perficient work together to provide food, information on transportation options, and access to laptops for students at no-cost to use during the bootcamp. This bootcamp is facilitated with support from Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp Program's media partner, Notified, a globally trusted technology partner for investor relations, public relations and marketing professionals.

It was a lot of fun, I learned things I didn't even know were possible with AI and their real-world applications showed me just how much it will change our world." - Brandon B., 10th Grade, 2022 AI Bootcamp Participant

Founded by Mark Cuban in 2019, the AI bootcamp initiative has hosted no-cost AI bootcamps for students across several U.S. cities, including Dallas, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Atlantic City to name a few. The Mark Cuban Foundation has impacted 900+ students to date and has a goal to increase that number year over year.

Students interested in applying to the Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp should do so before Friday, September 8th, 2023 at markcubanai.org/perficienttxpr. To see our 2023 camp locations and to learn more about the Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamps, please visit markcubanai.org/faq.

Contact: Carli Lidiak, Mark Cuban Foundation

Phone: 309-840-0348

Email: [email protected]

Source: Mark Cuban Foundation
Head of National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service Natalia Aliushyna says more than half of civil servants surveyed report a decrease in wages, and more than 70% report a significant increase in workload during the year.

"Currently, the National Agency on Civil Service is conducting a survey on the working conditions of civil servants during martial law. Some 40,000 civil servants answered within a week, while 93% of respondents said they work in a regular mode at their workplaces. Last year, this figure was 68%. So, in 2022, some 32% of civil servants worked remotely, and today some 6.3%. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, people have been transferred to idle time, but if then this figure was 9%, then today it is 1%. These numbers will change somewhat before the completion of the survey, but the dynamics are clear," Aliushyna said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

The department's head said the reasons for the dismissal of people from the civil service were also analyzed, in particular, over 70% of respondents noted a significant increase in the workload during the year.

"One of the reasons is the mobilization of 3,946 civil servants in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Their functions are performed by the remaining ones. Moreover, some 35% of the respondents were involved in work on weekends, while 8% at night. However, some 19% said compensation for such work in their government agencies are absent," she said.

Aliushyna also said some 61% of civil servants answered that they have access to shelter at work, while 22% have it partially, and 17% do not have it at all.

As for the need for psychological support of civil servants, some 59% of respondents noted a deterioration in their health during the year, almost 10% added that their psychological state negatively affects their work performance, some 39% needed psychological help, but only 5% asked for it.

"More than half of the respondents noted a decrease in salaries. That is, we state that civil servants experience excessive workload, critically low wages and unfair payroll, psychological stress... Under such conditions, it is useless to expect that people will be able to work fully for a long time. Answer to these challenges  dismissal. I note that the country is the first to lose the most trained and competitive civil servants," Aliushyna said.

As reported, since the beginning of 2023, as of June 30, some 20,366 civil servants have been dismissed and 18,519 civil servants have been appointed. Currently, the actual number of civil servants in Ukraine is 163,600 people.
WHITE MARSH, Md., Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Time is running out to apply to participate in the Mark Cuban Foundation Artificial Intelligence (AI) Bootcamp hosted by Strategic Education, Inc. in White Marsh. Applications for the no-cost bootcamp are closing soon!

The AI bootcamp is targeted toward underserved high school students (9th-12th grade) and offers participants a chance to learn the fundamentals of AI. Strategic Education, Inc. has been selected as one of the 28+ host companies across the U.S. for fall 2023.

If accepted, participants will engage in a four-week bootcamp held on consecutive Saturdays from October 14th to November 4th. It is imperative that students commit to attending all four sessions. The bootcamp sessions will take place from 2pm-6pm ET.

No prior experience in computer science, programming, or robotics is required. The applications for both students and parents can be submitted through markcubanai.org/seipr.

During the bootcamp, students will explore the world of artificial intelligence, including ethical implications and real- life applications, such as, TikTok recommendations, smart home assistants, facial recognition, and self-driving cars. Participants will also discover the features of Large Language Models like ChatGPT, which can answer questions, create original stories, and even generate computer code.

To provide a beneficial learning environment, trained volunteer corporate mentors, who are knowledgeable in AI, machine learning, and data science, will help lead the students through the curriculum. Throughout the bootcamp, students will have the opportunity to work with open source tools and develop their own AI applications related to Computer Vision, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, and Generative AI.

The Mark Cuban Foundation provides the bootcamps curriculum materials, trains corporate volunteer mentors, and recruits and scores applications for local students selected to attend camp. In addition, the Mark Cuban Foundation and Strategic Education, Inc. work together to provide food, information on transportation options, and access to laptops for students at no-cost to use during the bootcamp. This bootcamp is facilitated with support from the Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp Program's media partner, Notified, a globally trusted technology partner for investor relations, public relations and marketing professionals.

It was a lot of fun, I learned things I didn't even know were possible with A.I. and their real-world applications showed me just how much it will change our world." - Brandon B., 10th Grade, 2022 AI Bootcamp Participant

Founded by Mark Cuban in 2019, the AI bootcamp initiative has hosted no-cost AI bootcamps for students across several U.S. cities, including Dallas, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Atlantic City to name a few. The Mark Cuban Foundation has impacted 900+ students to date and has a goal to increase that number year over year.

Students interested in applying to the Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp should do so before Friday, September 8th, 2023 at markcubanai.org/seipr. To see our 2023 camp locations and to learn more about the Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamps, please visit markcubanai.org/faq.

Contact: Carli Lidiak, Mark Cuban FoundationPhone: 309-840-0348Email: [email protected]

Source: Mark Cuban Foundation
Peda Waltair, Visakhapatnam, India, Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global financial system has undergone multiple changes throughout its lifetime. First, with the introduction of the gold standard, then with advancements in banking communications, digitized international trade and investment, and remittances. All of these inventions have made the world economy more efficient. In recent years, this trend hasnt stopped. World-leading entrepreneurs still continue to release exciting financial products that improve our lives and make the market more efficient.





The next iteration of financial technologies are already here: cryptocurrency, cryptography, distributed ledgers, and blockchain technology. These four technologies are already changing the nature of P2P payments and global value exchanges.

World Pay (WPAY) is the newest creation that seeks to build on the P2P and blockchain revolution to make finance more direct and transparent.

Introducing WPAY: A Decentralized Payment System For Everyone

WPAY is a decentralized payment system that is based on cryptographic proof rather than trust. WPAYs payment system allows for direct transactions to take place between people without the need for a third-party.

This is a positive key feature that WPAY is introducing as it will help many people worldwide avoid the entry barriers, the high-fees, the slowness, and the risks of censorship of using traditional payment platforms such as Paypal. In addition, WPAYs application of advanced cryptography protects users against fraud, while also supporting small transactions.

The world today is digital in every way. Social media interactions are digitized, communications are digitized, business is digitized, and finance is digitized. Resulting from this are realistic banking and app risks that happen every day such as fraud, hacks, and theft. A solution to these problems is WPAY.

In particular, WPAY is solving these problems with its platform that implements blockchain and cryptographic technology.

WPAYs solution is based on cryptographic proof that facilitates direct transactions between parties without the need for a middleman. WPAYs secure and innovative payment system ensures that transactions are irreversible, which protects sellers from fraud and protects buyers from payment uncertainties. This is the meaning of a win-win application.

WPAY is trailblazing on a new path towards improved fintech experiences.

The WPAY Train Has Arrived: Use-Cases For The WPAY Token

First, WPAY has released a token called the World Pay Token ($WPAY), which is a decentralized cryptocurrency built on the Binance Smart Chain. The WPAY token is a pure peer-to-peer version of electronic cash that allows for online payments to be sent directly from one party to another without going through a financial institution.

The World Pay Token provides a powerful connection between the real and virtual worlds, integrating the two universes where payments can be made more simply and the P2P industry can thrive.

The advantages of WPAY are that the token has no intermediaries, which means lower transaction costs, transfer speeds are fast, which means less waiting periods, and there are no borders, which means you can transact with anyone around the globe. These three primary features provide WPAY with the potential to streamline decentralized cross-border payments and transactions.

The Future of WPAY: Experimenting With Its Ecosystem

WPAY has announced an exciting roadmap which includes token listings on crypto exchanges. WPAY will list on MEXC on August 14th.

Additionally, WPAY will be launching utilities, introducing a WPAY P2P Exchange, and developing a WPAY Wallet that has two-factor authentication. WPAYs next phase involves a WPAY P2P launchpad, a WPAY blockchain, QR scan functionality, a WPAY card, which connects to Visa or Mastercard, and an NFT marketplace.

These initiatives showcase that WPAY is planning to develop an ecosystem that will strive to attract more users to its platform.

Cryptocurrency and P2P systems are a bright partnership that can yield positive benefits for the world. WPAY has the ability to play a major role in the industry.

About WPAY

WPAY is a decentralized payment system that is based on cryptographic proof rather than trust. WPAYs payment system allows for direct transactions to take place between people without the need for a third-party.
Wytec Management Assembles Advisory Board to Direct Technology Advancements

SAN ANTONIO, TX, Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire  Wytec International (Wytec), a leading developer and integrator of 5G technologies, is assembling an Advisory Board to advance the development of its patented LPN-16 Small Cell technology.

This follows Wytecs announcement on April 28th, 2023, of a Multi-Phased Master Service Agreement with Trabus Technologies (www.trabus.com) to upgrade Wytecs patented LPN-16 Small Cell (https://wytecintl.com/technology/lpn-16-small-cell/) to include Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Blockchain technology. The advanced integrated platform will support quick deployment of multiple IoT applications such as improved in-building cellular services, active shooter sensing technology, remote learning, and more. The bundled solution will dramatically reduce costs while enabling an IoT infrastructure.

To accelerate the Companys technology advancements, management has appointed Robert Sanchez as the Companys Interim CTO and a key member of the new Advisory Board. As CTO, Sanchez has been directing and will continue to direct, the Trabus team with its development of Wytecs AI/Blockchain advancements, while coordinating with the Denton Law Firm to ensure Wytecs IP is protected. Another significant role for Sanchez will be assisting in the roll out of Wytecs upcoming Pilot Projects involving multiple school districts and municipalities.

I am very excited to be working with Wytec in this new venture involving the protection of our youth and safety of Americas cities. Wytecs new technology is world-class and deserves every bit of the level of attention that management is providing, said Sanchez, following his appointment as Wytecs Interim CTO.

Mr. Sanchez is a distinguished authority in the technology industry. With four decades in the business, Sanchez has held esteemed positions including a Senior Director position with Qualcomm, CEO and President of Globaltel Media, CTO with AppTech Corporation, and he was Co-Founder and Chief Architect of inCode Wireless. He attained a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from University of California in San Diego (UCSD), a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering in Communications Theory from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles (USC), and he has an Honorary PhD in Humanities from Ramon Magsaysay Technological University (RMTU) in the Philippines.

To learn more about participating in Wytec's 5G Pilot Project Partnership, visit https://wytecintl.com/partner/, or contact Wytec at [email protected] or 888-284-4531.

About Wytec

Wytec International, Inc. is a San Antonio, Texas, based telecommunications company that owns two patents related to the deployment of 5G secured private networks. Wytec designs and deploys wireless networks and public safety solutions with an emphasis on municipalities and school districts and was named a Best Tech Startup in San Antonio four times due to factors including: Revenue potential, Leadership team, Brand/product traction, and Competitive landscape. To learn more about Wytec, visit www.wytecintl.com or follow us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/wytec-international.

Source: Wytec International, Inc.
Xeltis secures additional 12.5 million from European Innovation Council Fund in final close of D2 financing

Funding extends Xeltis Series D2 financing round to 44.5 million





EINDHOVEN, The Netherlands  14 August 2023, Xeltis a leading developer of transformative implants that enable the natural creation of living and long-lasting vessels today announces the closing of an additional 12.5 million in funding from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund, set up by the European Commission. Todays extension from EIC and the closure of the Series D2 financing round announced in February 2023, brings the total amount raised to 44.5 million.

The additional funding will support the continued clinical development of Xeltis transformative implants. In April Xeltis shared highly-encouraging 6-month data from its first-in-human (FIH) aXess vascular graft trial (NCT04898153). An ongoing pivotal trial for aXess is enrolling patients across Europe. Moreover, the EIC Accelerator funding will be used to advance Xeltis coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) program.

Svetoslava Georgivea, Chair of the EIC Fund Board said: It is the ambition of the European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund to invest in European companies that develop cutting-edge technologies with high impact. Xeltis, with their restorative medical device technology is an excellent example of such a company, which the EIC Fund invests in to support their potential to scale and grow their business.

Eliane Schutte, CEO of Xeltis commented: Securing this additional investment from the EIC is an important validator of Xeltis work to enable a better standard of care for patients with major life-threatening diseases through our transformative vascular implants. We look forward to providing updates from our pivotal aXess trial in due course, with enrollment progressing well.

In December 2021 Xeltis secured 15 million from the EIC Accelerator, part of the European Commissions Horizon Europe program, following a rigorous selection process. The 15 million consists of a 2.5 million grant and a 12.5 million equity investment through the EIC Fund. The Company is one of a select group of innovative European start-up companies funded under the program to help bring promising technologies to market.

-End-

Notes to editors

About the EIC

The European Innovation Council Fund from the European Commission is an agnostic Fund: it invests across all technologies and verticals, and all EU countries and countries associated to Horizon Europe. It provides the investment component of the EIC Accelerator blended finance.

The EIC Fund aims to fill a critical financing gap and its main purpose is to support companies in the development and commercialisation of disruptive technologies, bridging with and crowding in market players, and further sharing risk by building a large network of capital providers and strategic partners suitable for co-investments and follow-on funding.

The Fund pays particular attention to the empowerment and support of female founders as well as the ambition to reduce the innovation divide among EU countries.

About Xeltis

Xeltis is a medtech company developing transformative implants that enable the natural creation of living and long-lasting vessels. Xeltis seeks to address the limitations of currently available options for the millions of people requiring hemodialysis access grafts or cardiovascular replacements every year. The Companys proprietary endogenous tissue restoration (ETR) platform utilizes an advanced polymer implant which regenerates the patients own tissue before gradually being absorbed and leaving new, living and long-lasting vessels in place. Xeltis most advanced product currently under clinical development is aXessTM, an implantable blood vessel for hemodialysis vascular access. Xeltis groundbreaking technology has high potential to be applied to other major vascular and cardiovascular diseases.

Xeltis is based in The Netherlands and the USA. Its investors include DaVita Venture Group, EQT Life Sciences, Kurma Partners, VI Partners, and Ysios Capital, as well as Grand Pharma Group and several public and private investors.

Contacts

Xeltis

Eliane Schutte, CEO

Alexander Goemans, CFO

[email protected]

Consilium Strategic Communications

Amber Fennell / Chris Welsh

+44 (0) 20 3709 5700

[email protected]
Denver, Colorado--(Newsfile Corp. - August 14, 2023) - CBD of Denver, Inc. (OTC Pink: CBDD) a leading innovation company, announces updates on plans for its new Luxora subsidiary and for its existing products.

Axel Reinke, CEO of Berliner Innovation, conveyed his enthusiasm regarding the company's latest accomplishments: "After many months of due diligence we identified operations and a management team that is now our Luxora subsidiary, expanding our reach in the CBD wholesale sector, seamlessly complementing our existing endeavors. We also anticipate the forthcoming completion of the 2021 - 2022 Audit of CBD of Denver Inc. as part of our ongoing efforts to increase transparency and shareholder value." Reinke further highlighted the expansion of the Magic Lappen into additional EDEKA locations in Hannover, Minden and the surrounding locations in Germany, and the continued success of the Magic Lappen product in currently in over 140 EDEKA stores, yielding consistent orders.

The company diligently spent months of due diligence meeting with the various senior management team of Luxora in Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherland to assess its operations. The team has decades of cumulative experience in all facets of the CBD and Cannabis business. Members of the Luxora team sit on the local boards that are helping shape the Cannabis legislation in Germany, Luxora CEO Jan Schwager has a decade of experience in the industry, we he and his team having operated businesses in other European countries that have introduced legislation similar to that being introduced in Germany. The Luxora team is also pursuing other opportunities in Spain and Austria, with which the Company has already started discussions. Jan and his team are also considered experts in genetics for the CBD and Cannabis business. Our North American partners have close to 50 years of experience in the grow and distribution of CBD and cannabis both in North and South America.

Luxora will operate as a subsidiary of CBD of Denver and is being combined with the Company's existing wholesale CBD business. Additionally, the Company intends to change its name to BERLINER INNOVATION. The Company has filed a notice of corporate action with FINRA and is waiting for FINRA to accept and process the name change and assign a new trading symbol. With the acquisition of Luxora, CBD of Denver Inc. (soon to be BERLINER INNOVATION) will continue to operate as the parent company of LIBRA 9 GmbH that includes The Magic Lappen, Anti-slip R13, and the innovative disinfectant D365. Additionally, CBDD's LUXORA LLC subsidiary, will be responsible for managing LUXORA Holding AG's Swiss and German cannabis operations. The two subsidiaries provide diversified revenue streams for the combined entities.

Jan Schwager, CEO of LUXORA LLC, conveyed his optimistic outlook on the integration of their knowledge, products, and distribution channels into CBD of Denver's CBD operations: "As we align our efforts, we are now directing our attention to the German decriminalization of Cannabis Clubs. With the expected unveiling in mid-August, the new law will offer pivotal insights into the reach and implications of this groundbreaking endeavor. In addition to this our company has different verticals such as the wholesale division, several retail brands and an exclusive US sourcing arrangement. The company is working on other verticals to add, as this progresses the company will continue to update you."

"Months of meticulous work and the concerted efforts have culminated in this strategic milestone, and we are pleased to enhance the value proposition for our shareholders," stated Robert Roever, a member of the Board Directors.

"Having evaluated the operational landscape, I am confident in our team's diverse capabilities, and I am excited to leverage my experience to assist to amplify shareholder value," director Nick Sprung commented.

CBD of Denver will host an investor call on August 17th through Zoom. The call details will be shared via press release prior to the call. Stakeholders are encouraged to submit their questions in advance through the official websites: www.berlinerinnovation.de and www.luxora-holding.com.

About CBD of Denver, Inc. (BERLINER INNOVATION)

CBD of Denver, Inc. is focused on acquiring profitable assets at attractive valuations to create value for shareholders. The company's team is dedicated to sourcing high-margin, innovative products that align with its values. The Company is offering is offering a number of innovative consumer products through Libra 9 GmbH, such as the Magic Lappen and the Berlinr13 Anti-Slip solution.

About the Magic Lappen

The Magic Lappen provides maximum shine, streak free drying, and only requires water - no chemicals or detergents. The Magic Lappen is also chemical-free and lint-free; cleaning of all smooth and shining surfaces is robust and durable with a leather-like feel. Its innovative structure enables high absorption of dirt, dust, and grease and can be washed many times at 60. The product is vegan and ecofriendly.

Follow Magic Lappen on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok for more information and updates.

Follow The Magic Lappen on Instagram: @themagiclappen or shop on our website: https://www.the-magic-lappen.com/.

Visit the CBDD/ Berliner Innovation: www.berlinerinnovation.de.

See our innovative Anti-Slip product: www.berlinr13.de.

For questions, please submit to [email protected] the company will respond.

About LUXORA LLC

LUXORA LLC is a trailblazing entity in the European cannabis industry, with offices spanning the USA and Europe. Our core expertise revolves around unlocking the potential of the legalized cannabis market, offering Plug&Play solutions tailored to the dynamic needs of this rapidly expanding sector. With a profound understanding of the opportunities and challenges brought forth by legalization, our experienced team is dedicated to pioneering the future of the legal cannabis market in Europe. Our offerings range from consulting and market research to product development and distribution solutions, aimed at simplifying the path to legalization for our esteemed clients.

For inquiries, please contact: Investor Relations Email: [email protected]

For more information, please visit: Website: www.luxora-holding.com

Follow Us: Twitter | Instagram

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/177141
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 14, 2023) - Exploits Discovery Corp. (CSE: NFLD) (OTCQX: NFLDF) (FSE: 634) ("Exploits" or the "Company") is pleased to announce assay results from diamond drill holes BE-23-018 and BE-23-020 to 029 on its 100% owned Bullseye property located along the Appleton Fault Zone ("AFZ") located approximately 200 metres east of New Found Gold's recently reported high-grade intercepts at its Everest gold zone in central Newfoundland.

Highlights Include:

BE-23-028 encountered several clusters of quartz veining over approximately 18 metres in core-length as well as localized fault zones with associated sulfide enrichment.



Extensive sampling of these zones has generated gold assays up to 14.59 g/t Au.

The results and location of BE-23-028 suggest the potential extension of gold mineralization at Everest as reported by New Found Gold on May 10, 2023.

Select intercepts from BE-23-028 include: 4.08 g/t Au over 1.60 m core-length, located at a vertical depth of approximately 75 m below surface. Including 8.16 g/t Au contribution from a 0.70 m sample. 4.85 g/t Au over 0.75 m core-length, located at a vertical depth of approximately 185 m below surface. 14.59 g/t Au over 1.00 m core-length, located at a vertical depth of approximately 186 m below surface.



Mineralization remains open in all directions.

Assay results from 29 of the 30 drill holes have been received and publicly reported to date. The results from drill hole BE-23-030 are pending.

Ken Tylee, Vice President (Exploration), comments on Hole # 28: "We are excited to see several clusters of veining up to 18 metres in length hosting locally anomalous gold values reaching 14 g/t. These intercepts suggest that Hole 28 has encountered an extension of the Everest mineralized system announced by our neighbours on May 10, 2023, possibly tracking eastwards into our Bullseye claims. We will be looking to follow up these encouraging results as we plan for our second phase of drilling."

Figure 1: Plan map displays Exploits' Bullseye property with locations of drill holes including BE-23-018 and BE-23-020 to 029 shown within yellow dashed box.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6393/177063_00edff6624b029ee_002full.jpg





Figure 2: Plan map showing Exploits' assay results from the 2023 diamond drilling program at Bullseye.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6393/177063_00edff6624b029ee_003full.jpg

Figure 3: Cross-section of the Horseshoe gold mineralized zone.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6393/177063_00edff6624b029ee_004full.jpg

Figure 4: Example of gold mineralization within clusters of quartz veins in drill hole BE-23-028.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6393/177063_figure%204%20aug%2014%202023.jpg

Bullseye (Horseshoe) Interpretation:

Mineralization at the Bullseye property is hosted within a fold-thrust sequence of northeast-striking, steeply dipping, turbidite sequence. These rocks were deposited and deformed during the closure of the Iapetus Ocean and subsequent continent-continent collision. The Appleton Fault Zone is a regional scale deformation zone that developed during this period. The AFZ likely serves as a primary conduit for gold-bearing fluids. Brittle faults within the envelope surrounding the AFZ form a vast network of gold rich quartz veins.

Visible gold has been noted within 8 drill holes contributing to the locally high-grade intercepts. Several wide intervals of gold mineralization, in the 1.00 - 3.00 g/t range, are linked to quartz veining with elevated sulphide content. Notable sulphide minerals, such as pyrite, arsenopyrite, and boulangerite have been observed within the veins and in the surrounding host rocks. Within the Horseshoe zone, visible gold is found in brecciated and locally annealed vuggy quartz veins, features characteristic of epizonal gold deposits.

Bullseye Drilling - Tables of Selected Assays

Table 1: Selected drill assays

Bullseye Drilling 2023 - Selected Assays (Exceeding 1.00 g/t Au Value) from Sawn NQ Drill Core Hole ID From (m) To (m) Sample Length (m) Vertical Depth (m) Below Surface Analysis Method Au Assay (ppb)* Au Assay (g/t) Au - Weighted Average Grade (g/t )** BE-23-018 439.00 439.55 0.55 ~330m FA-AA 1,307.00 1.31 1.31 g/t Au over 0.55m BE-23-020 37.55 38.10 0.55 ~30m Screen-Met 4,837.41 4.84 4.84 g/t Au over 0.55m AND 286.00 287.00 1.00 ~225 FA-AA 1,724.00 1.72 1.47 g/t Au over 2.00m 287.00 288.00 1.00 1,214.00 1.21 AND 377.75 378.60 0.85 ~295m FA-AA 1,088.00 1.09 1.09 g/t Au over 0.85m BE-23-021 234.35 235.05 0.70 ~165m FA-AA 5,098.00 5.10 5.10 g/t Au over 0.70m BE-23-022 243.35 243.70 0.35 ~180m FA-AA 6,402.00 6.40 6.40 g/t Au over 0.35m BE-23-023 144.35 145.00 0.65 ~105 Screen-Met 5,247.08 5.25 1.88 g/t Au over 4.55m 145.00 145.35 0.35 1,804.71 1.80 145.35 146.00 0.65 862.26 0.86 146.00 146.65 0.65 2,769.04 2.77 146.65 147.45 0.80 479.63 0.48 147.45 148.00 0.55 1,098.88 1.10 148.00 148.90 0.90 1,265.41 1.27 BE-23-024 175.50 176.00 0.50 ~110m FA-AA 1,027.00 1.03 1.03 g/t Au over 0.50m AND 218.90 219.65 0.75 ~137m FA-AA 1,171.00 1.17 1.17 g/t Au over 0.75m BE-23-025 75.05 75.55 0.50 ~55m FA-AA 1,105.00 1.11 0.90 g/t Au over 1.35m 75.55 76.00 0.45 321.00 0.32 76.00 76.40 0.40 1,284.00 1.28 BE-23-026 283.25 283.65 0.40 ~200m FA-AA 943.00 0.94 0.94 g/t Au over 0.40m*** BE-23-027 301.20 301.80 0.60 ~200m Screen-Met 960.50 0.96 1.61 g/t Au over 2.05m 301.80 302.75 0.95 2,381.89 2.38 302.75 303.25 0.50 936.92 0.94 BE-23-028 77.45 78.00 0.55 ~55m FA-AA 1,406.00 1.41 1.41 g/t Au over 0.55m AND 102.10 102.45 0.35 ~75m Screen-Met 1,452.74 1.45 4.08 g/t Au over 1.60m 102.45 103.00 0.55 549.60 0.55 103.00 103.70 0.70 8,158.83 8.16 AND 253.70 254.45 0.75 ~185m Screen-Met 4,849.34 4.85 4.85 g/t Au over 0.75m AND 255.30 256.30 1.00 ~186m Screen-Met 14,589.07 14.59 14.59 g/t Au over 1.00m AND 302.05 302.40 0.35 ~225m Screen-Met 1,537.97 1.54 1.17 g/t Au over 1.95m 302.40 302.90 0.50 1,893.87 1.89 302.90 303.60 0.70 512.56 0.51 303.60 304.00 0.40 1,090.85 1.09 AND 307.40 308.35 0.95 ~228m Screen-Met 2,502.79 2.50 2.59 g/t Au over 3.45m 308.35 309.05 0.70 1,585.07 1.59 309.05 310.00 0.95 4,164.00 4.16 310.00 310.85 0.85 1,754.98 1.75 AND 340.60 341.45 0.85 ~250m FA 1,523.00 1.52 1.52 g/t Au over 0.85m BE-23-029 302.45 303.00 0.55 ~215m FA 834.00 0.83 0.83 g/t Au over 0.55m*** *Assays reported direct from lab certificate. Screen-Met samples are 'Weighted Averaged ppb' as calculated from lab **All intersections are core intervals and do not represent true thickness ***Highest assay value from drill hole

Table 2: Drill Collar Data

Bullseye - Collar Information for Reported Drill Holes Hole ID Easting Northing Elevation (m) Azimuth Dip Length (m) BE-23-018 659597 5431025 38 45 -45 445 BE-23-020 659622 5430992 37 195 -50 418 BE-23-021 659621 5430756 43 328 -48 400 BE-23-022 659601 5430736 43 335 -50 293 BE-23-023 660056 5431254 36 300 -45 463 BE-23-024 660039 5431335 21 300 -45 388 BE-23-025 660040 5431186 21 300 -45 367 BE-23-026 659738 5430874 40 335 -45 394 BE-23-027 659672 5430723 44 275 -45 400 BE-23-028 659663 5430710 44 190 -45 403 BE-23-029 659779 5430743 43 300 -45 451 Coordinates Reported in NAD-83

Bullseye Gold Property

The Bullseye claims were staked by Exploits in September 2022, and are contiguous to the very active targets currently being drilled by both New Found Gold and Labrador Gold. The claims are considered by the Company's geologists to be highly prospective because they directly overlay a 1,200 by 400 metre segment of the Appleton Fault and its related splay structures. Over a dozen exploration drill rigs have been employed by the three companies operating within this structural-stratigraphic setting over the past two years.

Quality Assurance - Quality Control ("QA/QC")

All prospective NQ core is logged and delineated for sampling by an Exploits' professional geologist. The core is subsequently halved by a diamond-bladed core saw by the Company's technicians with one half being placed in a bag with a unique sample identification. The remaining half core is retained within the Company's secure storage facility in Gander, NL. Sample bags are sealed and then shipped directly to Eastern Analytical Ltd. Certified standards and blanks are inserted at defined intervals following the Company's QA/QC documented procedures, representing approximately 5% of all samples sent for assaying. All core samples are currently analyzed at Eastern Analytical Ltd. of 403 Little Bay Road, Springdale, NL, a commercial laboratory that is ISO/IEC 17025 accredited and completely independent of Exploits. Samples are analyzed using fire assay (30g) with AA finish (Au-FAA 30 ppb process) and/or a four-acid digestion followed by multi-element ICP-OES analysis. All samples with visible gold or assaying above 10.0 g/t Au are further assayed using metallic screen to mitigate the presence of the nugget effect of coarse gold. Metallic screen assays are reported as 'Weighted Averaged ppb' directly calculated from the lab.

National Instrument 43-101 Disclosure

Ken Tylee, P.Geo., VP of Exploration with Exploits, is a qualified person within the Provinces of Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Tylee has reviewed and approved the technical information presented herein.

About Exploits Discovery Corp.

Exploits is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition and development of mineral projects in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The Company is focused on discovering high-grade structurally hosted epizonal gold similar to New Found Gold's success along the Appleton Fault zone and parallel structures within the Exploits Subzone.

Exploits is utilizing its experienced, talented local team and geologic understanding with the vision to become one of the most successful explorers in Canada.

On Behalf of the Board

/s/ "Jeff Swinoga"

President and CEO

For more information, please contact:

Shanda Kilborn

VP, Investor Relations

+1 (778) 819-2708

[email protected]

https://exploitsdiscovery.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this news release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected including, but not limited to, market conditions, availability of financing, actual results of the Company's exploration and other activities, environmental risks, future metal prices, operating risks, accidents, labor issues, delays in obtaining governmental approvals and permits, and other risks in the mining industry. All the forward-looking statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those in our continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances save as required by applicable law.

Acknowledgments

Exploits Discovery would like to acknowledge the financial support of the Junior Exploration Assistance Program from the Department of Natural Resources, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/177063
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 14, 2023) - Graph Blockchain Inc.(CSE: GBLC) (OTC Pink: REGRF) (FSE: RT50)("GBLC" or "Graph Blockchain" or the "Company")announces that Alexander MacKay has stepped down from the board for personal reasons, effective August 11, 2023. As of this transition, the Company will operate with two active board members and will commence the search for a qualified individual to fill the vacant position, ensuring continued strong leadership and governance. The Company would like to thank Mr. MacKay for his contributions to the Company and wish him luck with his future endeavours.



The Board as of 08/14/2023:

Chief Executive Officer Paul Haber

Chief Financial Officer Frank Kordy

Chief Technology Officer Andrew ElLithy

Board Members:

Director - Paul Haber

Director - Young Cho Lee



About Graph Blockchain

Graph Blockchain provides exposure to various areas of Decentralized Finance (DeFi). Focusing on altcoins through its wholly-owned subsidiaries Babbage Mining Corp., a Proof of Stake ("POS") miner, and Beyond the Moon Inc. an IDO-focused company, Graph gives investors exposure to the vast emerging market of cryptocurrencies with the significant technological disruption and potential gains altcoins represent. Through its strategic acquisitions, Graph is assembling a collection of products and technologies that will lead the DeFi market and offer an unprecedented investment for shareholders.

For additional information on Graph Blockchain and other corporate information, please visit the Company website at www.graphblockchain.com.

For further information, please contact:

Paul Haber, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Company

Phone: (416) 318- 6501

Email: [email protected]

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking statements.

Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur" or "will be achieved". Forward-looking information in this news release are based on certain assumptions and expected future events. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: the potential inability of the Company to continue as a going concern; the risks associated with the blockchain in general. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions, or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.

Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and reflect the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change thereafter. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results, or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law.

The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities 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/177202
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 14, 2023) - PORTOFINO RESOURCES INC. (TSXV: POR) (OTCQB: PFFOF) (FSE: POTA) ("Portofino" or the "Company") announces that it has executed a Binding Letter of Intent (the "Binding LOI") to buyout the original Option agreements (Yergo Binding Letter Agreement - February 15, 2019, and the Binding Letter Agreement Addendum May 12, 2021).

The Binding LOI ensures all rights and concession ownership for the 2,932 hectare Yergo Lithium Project (the "Project") (see Figure 1 and 2) are transferred directly to Portofino. This enables Portofino to advance its previously submitted drill permit application and proceed thereafter with an initial, planned 4-hole drill program.

David Tafel, CEO of Portofino, commented: "This agreement is a very positive development for Portofino as it overcomes a legal hurdle created by the previous concession owner, and secures 100% direct concession ownership. Our previously planned exploration activity can now recommence after an approximate one-year delay."





Figure 1:Yergo Lithium Project Strategic Location

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3751/177111_2887fb00443a78b1_001full.jpg

The formation of lithium-bearing brines for both the Yergo Lithium Project and Zijin's 3Q Project, are likely due to the historic volcanic activity located between the projects that occurred during the same time period.





Figure 2:Yergo Lithium Project, Controlling 100% of the Aparejos Salar

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3751/177111_2887fb00443a78b1_002full.jpg

Yergo Lithium Project, Catamarca Argentina:

The Project is 2,932 hectares in size, controlling the entire Aparejos Salar, located approximately 9 kilometers from the Salar Tres Quebradas (the "3Q Project"), previously developed by NeoLithium Corp., and acquired by Zijin Mining for C$960 million in 2022 (see: Zijin 3Q Project).

Portofino previously completed and reported results of a geophysical survey identifying 2 large, aquifers within the project measuring approximately 2.3km x 1km and 1.8km x 2.5km (POR News Release 06-APR-2021) (see Figure 3) as well as surface sampling programs returning values up to 373 mg/l Lithium and has advanced the project to a drill-ready stage.

Portofino's technical team has identified 4 priority drill targets and a drilling contract has been finalized for a minimum of 300 meters.





Figure 3:Zonation of the saline nucleus with lithium geochemical concentrations (orange-red)

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3751/177111_2887fb00443a78b1_003full.jpg

Acquisition Terms

The Binding LOI terms include concurrent:

Removal of the legal injunction granted in the favour of Portofino; Transfer of all rights and title to the Yergo concessions to Portofino; and Payment of US$600,000 by Portofino to the concession owner.

NOTE: Terms of the original option agreement consisted of escalating payments totaling $500,000

Background

POR News Release 22-SEPT-2022: Portofino Receives and Rejects Notice of Termination for Yergo Property Agreement

POR News Release 20-OCT-2022: Portofino Granted Injunction Against Yergo Property Owner by Catamarca Mining Court

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mike Kilbourne, P.Geo., who is a Qualified Person ("QP") as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The QP has not completed sufficient work to verify the historic information on the properties in Argentina and neighbouring companies.

About Portofino Resources Inc.

Portofino is a Vancouver-based Canadian company focused on exploring and developing mineral resource projects in the Americas. Portofino has an opportunity to earn a majority interest in several lithium projects in Salta, Argentina and up to 100% of the Yergo Lithium property in Catamarca. The properties are situated in the heart of the world-renowned Argentine Lithium Triangle and in close proximity to multiple world-class lithium projects. The Company also has the right to earn 100% interest in three northwestern Ontario, Canada lithium projects: Allison Lake North, Greenheart Lake and McNamara Lake.

Portofino's South of Otter and Bruce Lake projects are in the historic gold mining district of Red Lake, Ontario, Canada proximal to the Dixie gold project discovered by Great Bear Resources and now owned by Kinross Gold Corp. In addition, Portofino holds three other northwestern Ontario gold projects; the Gold Creek property located immediately south of the historic Shebandowan mine, as well as the Sapawe West and Melema West properties located in the rapidly developing Atikokan gold mining camp.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"David G. Tafel"

Chief Executive Officer

For Further Information Contact:

David Tafel CEO, Director

604-683-1991

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking statements. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur" or "will be achieved". The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company's future business plans. Forward-looking information in this news release is based on certain assumptions and expected future events, namely the growth and development of the Company's business as currently anticipated. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and reflect the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change thereafter. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/177111
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - August 14, 2023) - Leading the charge in intelligent data protection solutions purpose-built for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and Veeam Cloud & Service Providers (VCSPs), Probax once again finds itself in the limelight being recognized as Veeam Software's 'Innovation Partner of the Year - Australia and New Zealand'. This marks the third occasion the company has received the prestigious Innovation Award, emphasizing its commitment to excellence and innovation within the Veeam ecosystem.

Figure 1

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Probax was presented with the award during VeeamON Tour 2023, held August 8 at Sydney's illustrious Royal Randwick Racecourse. Thirteen distinguished partners from Australia and New Zealand were honored during the event, with Probax standing out on its commitment to continued innovation in the data protection industry.

Just last week, Probax announced a strategic alliance with ThinkOn Inc. This partnership saw Probax double down on its award-winning technologies, while ThinkOn took ownership of Probax's expansive global client portfolio and associated assets, inclusive of its global infrastructure and selected talent pool. The move, now fortified with this award, further validates Probax's strategic shift to focus on its proprietary technologies and extend its reach within the Veeam ecosystem.

This latest award is indicative of Probax's resounding success and enduring relationship with Veeam Software. Probax's transformative strategies, paired with its unique and award-winning solutions, continue to solidify its position as a frontrunner in the industry.

"This award is a testament to our strategic pivot and the hard work of our team," stated Kevin Allan, Chief Technology Officer at Probax. "Our proprietary technologies are setting new industry benchmarks in data protection automation, intelligence and management for users and resellers of Veeam Software."

The Veeam Innovation Award serves not just as a reflection of past achievements, but also as a beacon for future aspirations. With its eyes firmly set on the horizon, Probax continues to innovate and provide the utmost value for Veeam's partner network and end customers.

As Probax continues to lead and innovate in the data protection industry, the company is excited about what the future holds. "This is just the beginning," Allan concluded. "We're more prepared than ever to amplify the value we offer to the Veeam community."

For media enquiries, please contact:

Sam Meegahage

COO & Company Secretary

[email protected]

+1 8888-776229

About Probax

Probax is an award-winning provider of data protection solutions purpose-built for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and Veeam Cloud & Service Providers (VCSPs). With unmatched partner enablement and support, together with continued innovation and integration with leading technology vendors including Veeam Software, Amazon Web Services and Wasabi Technologies, Probax empowers businesses to protect their most valuable asset, their data.

Probax is a Platinum Veeam Cloud & Service Provider (VCSP) that has been awarded multiple VCSP Innovation and VCSP Partner of the Year awards by Veeam Software.

www.probax.io

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Two global leaders in invoice processing will combine expertise, product and customer base

LONDON , Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Genesis Bidco Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Basware, a leader in making AP automation and invoice processing happen, today announced its firm intention to make an offer to purchase the entire share capital of Glantus Holdings PLC (LSE: GLAN). The Glantus Board unanimously recommends the offer.

Combining market-leading AP automation from Basware and specialist audit recovery and fraud prevention software from Glantus means customers will obtain complete coverage through the entire invoice processing and capital management lifecycle. Glantus' solution will be plugged into Basware's offering, bringing deeper expertise, an end-to-end data-driven view and speed to value savings for customers.

Basware enables finance and accounting teams in global enterprises to achieve efficiency through its invoice processing and AP automation platform. Through its 1,300 strong workforce, Basware automates more than 170 million invoices for thousands of customers globally every year. Basware is backed by Accel-KKR, a leading software private equity firm.

Glantus helps scaling companies generate capital by streamlining their financial processes, correcting anomalies, consolidating their data and providing real time reconciliation reports. Through its Datashark AP platform, it specialises in capital recovery from payment errors and identifying invoice fraud. Glantus went through an IPO on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange in May 2021 .

Jason Kurtz , CEO, Basware, commented on the acquisition:

"Having communicated with the leadership team at Glantus recently, I've been thoroughly impressed by their dedication to revolutionise invoice automation for the office of the CFO  a vision behind which we both unite. Both our companies target similar customer segments  and we will be able to share our strengths with Glantus, as well as learn from theirs. Glantus is an exceptional fit with our investment strategy in terms of size, focus and business model. Our proposed acquisition of Glantus will further expand our product suite and we believe add value to customers in an accelerated time."

Maurice Healy , Founder and CEO, Glantus Holdings PLC, added:

"This offer represents the biggest opportunity in Glantus' 10-year history. We are immensely excited at the prospect of joining a leader in invoice automation in Basware. The synergy between our companies and our customer markets mean that we will be a natural fit. We are looking forward to working with Basware and the opportunity to combine the product offering as a result of the proposed transaction."

Following a successful acquisition and delisting, all parties intend to work together to develop Glantus in the private domain.

Subject to obtaining all necessary approvals, the transaction is expected to be finalised in Q4 2023. For more information, the announcement issued under Rule 2.7 of the Irish Takeover Rules on 14 August 2023 is available on Glantus' website at www.glantus.com and Basware's website at www.basware.com.

Statement Required by the Irish Takeover Rules

The Genesis Bidco Limited directors and the Basware directors accept responsibility for the information contained in this communication other than that relating to Glantus, and for the statements made by Glantus in respect of Basware. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the Genesis Bidco Limited directors and the Basware directors (who, in each case, have taken all reasonable care to ensure such is the case), the information contained in this communication for which they respectively accept responsibility is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information.

The Glantus directors accept responsibility for the information contained in this communication relating to Glantus, except for the statements made by Basware in respect of Glantus. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the Glantus directors (who, in each case, have taken all reasonable care to ensure such is the case), the information contained in this communication for which they respectively accept responsibility is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information.

No Profit Forecast / Asset Valuations

No statement in this press release constitutes a profit forecast for any period, nor should any statement be interpreted to mean that earnings or earnings per share will necessarily be greater or lesser than those for the relevant preceding financial periods for Genesis Bidco Limited, Basware or Glantus as appropriate. No statement in this press release constitutes an asset valuation.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to a proposed transaction involving Genesis Bidco Limited, Basware and Glantus, and following the acquisition, if completed, the combined group. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "project", "intend" and similar expressions, among others, generally identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements in this communication are based upon information available to Genesis Bidco Limited, Basware, Glantus and/or their respective boards of directors, as the case may be, as of the date of this communication and, while believed to be true when made, may ultimately prove to be incorrect. No obligation is undertaken to update these forward-looking statements.

Publication on a Website

In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Irish Takeover Rules, a copy of this press release will be available on Glantus' website at www.glantus.com and Basware's website at www.basware.com by no later than 12 noon ( London time) on 14 August 2023 . The content of the websites referred to in this press release is not incorporated into and does not form part of this press release.

Media Contact

Basware

Abs Hassanali

Global Head of PR & Communications

+447400227701

[email protected]

Glantus

Maurice Healy

CEO

[email protected]

About Basware

Basware is how finance leaders in global enterprises can finally automate their complex, labor-intensive invoice processes and stay compliant with regulatory change. Our AP automation and invoicing platform helps you achieve a new level of efficiency  in a matter of months  while reducing errors and risks. We bring a unique combination of true automation, complete coverage, and deeper expertise to make it all just happen for our customers. That's why the world's most efficient AP departments at thousands of companies rely on Basware to handle over 170 million invoices per year. Basware. Now it all just happens.

About Glantus

Glantus is a global provider of accounts payable automation and analytics solutions. The Glantus mission is to simplify data to drive constant innovation. The award-winning Glantus Datashark Platform is rapidly deployed around existing transactional systems to provide a single platform for Accounts Payable transformation. The automation solutions recover lost working capital, improve efficiency, and prevent errors. The advanced analytics empower customers to make decisions based on real-time data. We connect all AP systems and suppliers, eliminating cost and delivering new revenue streams. Glantus champions the amazing potential of the AP industry by freeing up its leaders, its best thinkers, and its doers to realise new value. We work in tandem with our partners, to deliver joint enterprise digital transformation solutions. For more information see glantus.com.

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SOURCE Basware
Head of the National Agency of Ukraine for Civil Service Natalia Alyushyna declares the minimum percentage of collaborators in the civil service.

"The Civil Service Agency's head does not keep such statistics. We do not have the authority to carry out relevant investigations. Of course, there are such cases. But we are talking about the minimum percentage of collaborators in the public service," Aliushyna told Interfax-Ukraine, answering a question whether the facts of the collaboration of civil servants in the occupied or front-line territory are known today.

The department's head said during the war civil servants showed themselves to be conscientious citizens, able to take responsibility and show initiative.

"I am proud of the thousands of colleagues who have shown dignity and respect for people. I hope that after the war we will see a different attitude of society towards representatives of the state, who, together with the military, saved Ukraine," she said.
SAN FRANCISCO , Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Brex, the first fully unified global spend platform, today launched group events  an expansion of Brex travel that enables businesses to create and manage large scale, group corporate events for employees. With this launch, Brex is the first and only T&E solution with a native travel experience that allows companies to book and manage events, travel, offsites, and more for globally distributed teams of any size with an unlimited number of attendees.

Over the past few years, the rise in distributed teams has brought about new ways of working, which have in turn put a premium on the importance of in-person events to help foster meaningful connections. When compared to pre-COVID-19 pandemic, Brex has observed a >3x increase in offsite spend across its customers, highlighting the demand for in-person moments. However, the existing tools for creating, organizing, and managing large corporate events are outdated and disjointed, leading to frustration, overspend, and wasted time for finance teams, managers, and employees.

Brex travel's group events feature delivers a markedly better experience by:

Allowing event coordinators to manage all types of travel needs, such as organizing events, inviting attendees, sharing budgets and customizing travel policies.

Making it easy to plan group events of any size, such as company offsites, global team-building events, conferences, and customer events.

Offering event management functionality including RSVP, agenda access, food allergy and preference management, all from one place. Admins can then monitor attendee status and provide information for a successful event.

Enabling attendees to book and manage their travel needs across flights, hotels, and car rentals, using a Brex card for seamless expensing or personal cards for reimbursements.

All of the above can be done directly in the Brex travel dashboard or mobile app, ensuring greater collaboration, duty of care, and control of spend.

"Corporate travel has made a strong comeback, but companies are now more globally distributed than ever before and require a travel and events solution that meets the needs of their modern workforces," said Henrique Dubugras, co-founder and co-CEO of Brex. "With the launch of group events, Brex is the premier offering in the market supporting large enterprise teams with unlimited users in a native experience, so companies no longer have to use antiquated, disparate systems, and instead offer a T&E solution employees actually love."

Since launching Brex travel back in March, the product has seen fast adoption and robust scaling, with hundreds of customers booking trips through it every day. With Brex, we've achieved hyper efficient financial and travel operations. "Group events has been a major success, providing a more streamlined travel experience for employees while driving higher travel policy compliance and savings," said Teddy Collins , Vice President of Corporate Finance at SeatGeek.

When booking and managing group events in Brex, customers will enjoy Brex travel's:

Unbiased global inventory: Brex travel delivers a consumer-grade booking experience, with an unbiased global inventory that provides employees with the most comprehensive choices and gives companies access to preferred rates.

travel delivers a consumer-grade booking experience, with an unbiased global inventory that provides employees with the most comprehensive choices and gives companies access to preferred rates. Best-in-class support: Organizers and employees access 24/7 customer support wherever they are.

Organizers and employees access 24/7 customer support wherever they are. Pre-negotiated discounts: Exclusive deals in place with top airlines and hotels, and access to low-cost carriers across the globe.

Exclusive deals in place with top airlines and hotels, and access to low-cost carriers across the globe. Duty of care : Know where your traveling employees are, and contact them in case of emergencies

: Know where your traveling employees are, and contact them in case of emergencies Automatic receipts and reconciliation: Brex automatically adds receipts and pre-populates memos, categories, and other expense fields to remove all manual work with expenses and closing the books.

automatically adds receipts and pre-populates memos, categories, and other expense fields to remove all manual work with expenses and closing the books. Custom, granular controls: Companies can embed their T&E policy in travel budgets to ensure that employees can only select approved, in-policy travel -- automatically controlling factors such as cabin class, time of travel, or fare based on attributes like employee role.

To learn more about group events, visit https://www.brex.com/budgets/group-events

About Brex

Brex is the first fully unified global spend platform  with corporate cards, expense management, reimbursements, bill pay, procurement, and travel, all in one place. Brex makes it easy for finance teams and founders to manage every aspect of global spend at scale by empowering their employees anywhere to make better financial decisions. Brex proudly serves tens of thousands of businesses, from enterprises to startups.

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SOURCE Brex
LOS ANGELES , Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A San Diego jury reached a remarkable verdict on August 2, 2023 , awarding a doctor-turned-whistleblower more than $39 million in damages after UC San Diego (UCSD) decided not to renew his contract.

The jury unequivocally supported Dr. Kevin Murphy in his retaliation case against the UC Regents in San Diego Superior Court.

The trial focused on a $10 million donation for research at UCSD. Dr. Murphy , age 55, contended that the university diverted these funds to the Moores Cancer Center without obtaining his consent. When he acted as a whistleblower to expose this wrongdoing, he faced severe backlash and ultimately lost his job.

During the trial, the plaintiff's attorneys, Mark Quigley and Ivan Puchalt, were able to prove to the jury that the Regents failed to investigate Dr. Murphy's multiple whistleblower retaliation complaints and permitted the retaliation against him to spiral out of control. The jury awarded Dr. Murphy approximately $10 million in economic damage and $30 million in damages in past and future emotional distress, including damage to his reputation, humiliation, embarrassment, shame, and financial hardship.

Dr. Murphy's inventive methodology, PrTMS (Personalized Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation), has shown promise in delivering superior outcomes to existing treatments for conditions like depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, autism, and concussions.

One of Dr. Murphy's patients demonstrated significant faith in his work by donating $10 million to support clinical trials on PrTMS. However, this substantial contribution became contentious between Dr. Murphy and UCSD.

While Dr. Murphy maintained that these funds were designated for his research initiatives, UCSD administrators argued that he violated their policies by utilizing the money for his business interests.

"Through this trial, we have painstakingly highlighted the stark disparity between the defendant's practices and Dr. Murphy's commitment to honor the donor's intent. We firmly believe the jury now comprehends the immense injustice he has endured," said Mark Quigley .

For the past seven years, the former department vice chair and esteemed oncologist at UC San Diego, Dr. Murphy , persistently asserted that the University of California tried to appropriate a $10 million fund earmarked for his research. After speaking out against these improprieties, he alleged that top officials initiated a public campaign to tarnish his reputation, which escalated over time.

Facing off against Dr. Murphy was the formidable entity of the University of California, which, due to its significant revenue generation, marshaled an extensive team of lawyers to counter his claims. The university initiated legal action against Dr. Murphy , accusing him of fraud and misusing university funds for personal gain.

The law mandates that whistleblowers wait 18 months before suing the university. When it was apparent that Dr. Murphy would sue after this waiting period, the Regents decided to play offense and sued Dr. Murphy and his two companies three days before the statutory deadline.

The court consolidated both lawsuits into a monumental eight-week trial, with both parties seeking millions in damages. The jury awarded the Regents just over $67,000 on its claim for breach of duty of loyalty. Dr. Murphy and his businesses were defended by Doug Petit and Matt Smith of Pettit Kohn Ingrassia Lutz & Dolin PC.

During the trial proceedings, Dr. Murphy detailed how the conflict with the institution detrimentally impacted his professional and personal life. This situation adversely affected his career progression, finances, personal relationships, and the businesses dedicated to his innovative brain stimulation therapies.

Dr. Murphy testified during the trial, "I was on the cusp of the peak of my career when all of this transpired."

Throughout the trial, Dr. Murphy held onto his convictions, affirming that he has no regrets about speaking out against UCSD, despite the setbacks endured by him and his businesses. "I did what was right and would do it again," he asserted.

" Dr. Murphy epitomizes the whistleblower who displayed the courage to expose wrongdoing within the institution he dedicated his career to. This verdict unveils the truth behind UCSD's efforts to retaliate and besmirch him for simply doing what was right," said Ivan Puchalt .

"This was a win for all employees in the UC system; the institution should encourage whistleblowers, not fire them and character assassinate them," added Kevin Murphy , M.D.

Mark Quigley and Ivan Puchalt led the plaintiff's trial team from Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP, a Los Angeles law firm that has successfully recovered billions for clients across California and the nation.

The case name is Murphy, M.D. vs. The Regents of The University of California

No: 37-2020-00032541-CU-BT-CTL San Diego County Superior Court

Media Contact: Gina Fernandes | [email protected] | 626-365-3006

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SOURCE Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP
SHANGRAO, China , Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. ("JinkoSolar" or the "Company") (NYSE: JKS), one of the largest and most innovative solar module manufacturers in the world, today announced its unaudited financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023 .

Second Quarter 2023 Business Highlights

Leveraging our outstanding global supply chain management, high quality products and extensive marketing network, module shipments in the second quarter increased 36.2% sequentially and 74.4% year-over-year.

Demand for solar modules is strong globally. Our orderbook visibility for 2023 has reached about 80%, with overseas orders as the major contributor.

N-type module shipments in the second quarter were about 10.4 GW, making JinkoSolar the first module company in the industry to deliver 10 GW of N-type modules in a single quarter.

The mass production efficiency of N-type TOPCon cells reached 25.5%, and power output of N-type modules reached about 580wp, 25-30wp higher than that of the same version of P-type modules.

We are optimistic that the stabilization of prices along the supply chain will stimulate pent-up demand gradually. We raise our module shipment guidance for 2023 to be in the range of 70 to 75 GW.

Second Quarter 2023 Operational and Financial Highlights

Quarterly shipments were 18,613 MW (17,763 MW for solar modules, and 850 MW for cells and wafers), up 28.5% sequentially, and up 76.7% year-over-year.

Total revenues were RMB30.69 billion ( US$4.23 billion ), up 31.5% sequentially and up 62.9% year-over-year.

( ), up 31.5% sequentially and up 62.9% year-over-year. Gross profit was RMB4.78 billion ( US$659.6 million ), up 18.4% sequentially and up 72.5% year-over-year.

( ), up 18.4% sequentially and up 72.5% year-over-year. Gross margin was 15.6%, compared with 17.3% in Q1 2023 and 14.7% in Q2 2022.

Net income attributable to JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.'s ordinary shareholders was RMB1.31 billion ( US$180.1 million ), compared with net income attributable to JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.'s ordinary shareholders of RMB788.7 million in Q1 2023 and net loss attributable to JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.'s ordinary shareholders of RMB623.3 million in Q2 2022.

ordinary shareholders was ( ), compared with net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of in Q1 2023 and net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of in Q2 2022. Adjusted net income attributable to JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.'s ordinary shareholders, which excludes the impact from (i) a change in fair value of the convertible senior notes (the "Notes"), (ii) a change in fair value of long-term investment and (iii) the share based compensation expenses, was RMB1.43 billion ( US$196 .7 million), compared with RMB836 .4 million in Q1 2023 and RMB368 .4 million in Q2 2022.

( .7 million), compared with .4 million in Q1 2023 and .4 million in Q2 2022. Basic and diluted earnings per ordinary share were RMB6.39 ( US$0.88 ) and RMB5.55 ( US$0.77 ), respectively. This translates into basic and diluted earnings per ADS of RMB25.54 ( US$3.52 ) and RMB22.20 ( US$3.06 ), respectively.

Mr. Xiande Li , JinkoSolar's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are pleased to report solid growth as we overcame volatility in supply chain prices and end demand thanks to our excellent marketing network, high quality products, and highly effective supply chain management. Module shipments in the second quarter were approximately 17.8 GW, up 36.2% sequentially. Shipments of the competitive N-type module were approximately 10.4 GW, up 74.1% sequentially, making us the first module manufacturer shipping 10 GW of N-type modules in a single quarter globally. Our efforts in supply chain management, technology advancement and process improvement also improved our profitability. Net income was US$180.1 million in the second quarter, up 65.6% sequentially. Adjusted net income was US$196.7 million , up 70.5% sequentially. Diluted earnings per ordinary share were US$0.77 , up 48.5% sequentially.

Due to the substantial release of polysilicon production volumes and excessive inventory, price of polysilicon declined sharply in the second quarter, resulting in certain volatility in module prices and a slow-down in customer orders, affecting module demand. As the prices in lower supply chain stabilized in the third quarter, domestic customers started to place orders, and major projects were initiated and started construction in China . The low prices of modules also led to a surge in module demand in some overseas markets. We expect production and sales in the PV market to rebound in the second half of 2023.

With more and more players deploying TOPCon production capacity, N-type TOPCon is certain to become the mainstream technology in the industry. However, some new entrants experienced project delays and slower-than expected ramp up in production volume and efficiency due to lack of sufficient technical know-how and differences in technology and production process, keeping competitive N-type production in short supply. As of the end of the second quarter, the mass-produced efficiency of our 182 mm N-type TOPCon cells had reached 25.5%, with N-type module power output of around 580 wp, 25-30 wp more than P-type module of the same version. We expect mass-produced N-type cell efficiency to reach 25.8%, by the end of 2023. The integrated cost of N-type module remained competitive compared to P-type module.

At the end of May, we announced the construction of a major production base of 56 GW integrated wafer-cell-module capacity in Shanxi ("Shanxi Integrated Base"), which will become the largest N-type integrated production facility in the industry. Shanxi Integrated Base is another strategic expansion of the production model championed by JinkoSolar in the PV industry that will fully demonstrate our advantages in highly efficient technology and products, lower investment costs, greater operational efficiency as well as intelligent and smart manufacturing capabilities. Meanwhile, our 1 GW capacity expansion project for N-type modules in the U.S. is expected to start production in September 2023 . We have established an industry-leading overseas industrial chain network, with integrated production capabilities from wafer and cell to module, with traceability and excellent product competitiveness. As we continue to invest in N-type capacity expansion overseas in the second half of 2023, we expect to reach an integrated production capacity of over 12 GW overseas by the end of 2023, with the production capacity of N-type accounting for over 75%.

We are optimistic that demand will grow as prices stabilize and raise our module shipment guidance for 2023 to be in the range of 70 to 75 GW, with N-type module accounting for approximately 60% of total module shipments. As demand for N-type products continues to increase in the global market, we will move on to invest in N-type capacity which is competitive both in technology and costs. We expect our annual production capacity for mono wafers, solar cells and solar modules to reach 85.0 GW, 90.0 GW and 110.0 GW, respectively, by the end of 2023, with N-type capacity accounting for over 75% of the total capacity. We expect module shipments to be in the range of 19.0 to 21.0 GW for the third quarter of 2023."

Second Quarter 2023 Financial Results

Total Revenues

Total revenues in the second quarter of 2023 were RMB30.69 billion ( US$4.23 billion ), an increase of 31.5% from RMB23.33 billion in the first quarter of 2023 and an increase of 62.9% from RMB18.84 billion in the second quarter of 2022. The sequential and year-over-year increases were mainly attributable to the increases in the shipment of solar modules due to the increasing demand in the global market.

Gross Profit and Gross Margin

Gross profit in the second quarter of 2023 was RMB4.78 billion ( US$659.6 million ), compared with RMB4.04 billion in the first quarter of 2023 and RMB2.77 billion in the second quarter of 2022.

Gross margin was 15.6% in the second quarter of 2023, compared with 17.3% in the first quarter of 2023 and 14.7% in the second quarter of 2022. The sequential decrease was mainly due to the increase in inventory provision, and year-over-year increase was mainly due to the decrease in the cost of raw materials.

Income from Operations and Operating Margin

Income from operations in the second quarter of 2023 was RMB1.54 billion ( US$212.1 million ), compared with income from operations of RMB1.21 billion in the first quarter of 2023 and loss from operations of RMB289.1 million in the second quarter of 2022. The changes were primarily attributable to a significant increase in our revenues in the second quarter of 2023.

Operating profit margin was 5.0% in the second quarter of 2023, compared with operating profit margin of 5.2% in the first quarter of 2023 and operating loss margin of 1.5% in the second quarter of 2022.

Total operating expenses in the second quarter of 2023 were RMB3.24 billion ( US$447.4 million ), an increase of 14.7% from RMB2.83 billion in the first quarter of 2023 and an increase of 6.0% from RMB3.06 billion in the second quarter of 2022. The sequential and year-over-year increases were mainly attributable to an increase in impairment loss on property, plant and equipment.

Total operating expenses accounted for 10.6% of total revenues in the second quarter of 2023, compared to 12.1% in the first quarter of 2023 and 16.2% in the second quarter of 2022.

Interest Expenses, Net

Net interest expenses in the second quarter of 2023 were RMB208.5 million ( US$28.7 million ), an increase of 276.3% from RMB55.4 million in the first quarter of 2023 and an increase of 136.8% from RMB88.0 million in the second quarter of 2022. The sequential and the year-over-year increases were mainly due to a decrease in interest income.

Subsidy Income

Subsidy income in the second quarter of 2023 was RMB292.4 million ( US$40.3 million ), compared with RMB264.0 million in the first quarter of 2023 and RMB464.8 million in the second quarter of 2022. The sequential and year-over-year changes were mainly attributable to the changes in the cash receipt of subsidies from local governments in China which are non-recurring, not refundable and with no conditions.

Exchange Gain/Loss and Change in Fair Value of Foreign Exchange Derivatives

The Company recorded a net exchange gain (including change in fair value of foreign exchange derivatives) of RMB916.4 million ( US$126 .4 million) in the second quarter of 2023, compared to a net exchange loss of RMB73.7 million in the first quarter of 2023 and a net exchange gain of RMB221.5 million in the second quarter of 2022. The sequential and year-over-year changes were mainly attributable to the exchange rate fluctuation of US dollars against RMB in the second quarter of 2023.

Change in Fair Value of Convertible Senior Notes

The Company issued US$85.0 million of 4.5% convertible senior notes due 2024 in May 2019 and has elected to measure the Notes at fair value derived by valuation model, i.e. Binomial Model.

The Company recognized a gain from a change in fair value of the Notes of RMB89.7 million ( US$12.4 million ) in the second quarter of 2023, compared to a loss of RMB261.4 million in the first quarter of 2023 and a loss of RMB536.9 million in the second quarter of 2022. The changes were primarily due to the changes in the Company's stock price in the second quarter of 2023.

Change in Fair Value of Long-term Investment

The Company invested in certain equity interests in several solar technology companies engaged in photovoltaic industry chain, which are recorded as long-term investment and reported at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in earnings. As of June 30, 2023 , the Company had RMB1.09 billion ( US$149.8 million ) in long-term investment, compared with RMB1.08 billion as of March 31, 2023 .

The Company recognized a gain from change in fair value of RMB2.3 million ( US$0.3 million ) in the second quarter of 2023, compared with a gain of RMB440.4 million in the first quarter of 2023.

Equity in Earnings of Affiliated Companies

The Company indirectly holds a 20% equity interest in Sweihan PV Power Company P.J.S.C, a developer and operator of solar power projects in Dubai , and a 9% equity interest in Xinte Ltd, a domestic silicon material supplier, and both are accounted for using the equity method. The Company recorded equity in gain of affiliated companies of RMB63.3 million ( US$8.7 million ) in the second quarter of 2023, compared with gain of RMB180.0 million in the first quarter of 2023 and loss of RMB0.1 million in the second quarter of 2022. The fluctuation of equity in gain of affiliated companies primarily arose from the net gain incurred by an affiliate company.

Income Tax Expense

The Company recorded an income tax expense of RMB341.1 million ( US$47.0 million ) in the second quarter of 2023, compared with an income tax expense of RMB315.0 million in the first quarter of 2023 and an income tax expense of RMB118.1 million in the second quarter of 2022.

Non-Controlling Interests

Net income attributable to non-controlling interests amounted to RMB1 .11 billion ( US$152 .5 million) in the second quarter of 2023, compared with RMB605.1 million in the first quarter of 2023 and RMB276.8 million in the second quarter of 2022. The sequential and year-over-year increase were mainly attributable to the increase of net income of the Company's majority-owned principal operating subsidiary, Jinko Solar Co., Ltd. ("Jiangxi Jinko").

Net Income and Earnings per Share

Net income attributable to the JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.'s ordinary shareholders was RMB1.31 billion ( US$180.1 million ) in the second quarter of 2023, compared with net income attributable to the JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.'s ordinary shareholders of RMB788 .7 million in the first quarter of 2023 and net loss attributable to the JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.'s ordinary shareholders of RMB623.3 million in the second quarter of 2022. Excluding the impact from (i)a change in fair value of the Notes (ii) a change in fair value of the long-term investment and (iii)the share based compensation expenses, the adjusted net income attributable to JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.'s ordinary shareholders was RMB1.43 billion ( US$196.7 million ), compared with RMB836.4 million in the first quarter of 2023 and RMB368.4 million in the second quarter of 2022.

Basic and diluted earnings per ordinary share were RMB6.39 ( US$0.88 ) and RMB5.55 ( US$0.77 ), respectively, in the second quarter of 2023, compared to basic and diluted earnings per ordinary share of RMB3.91 and RMB3.74 , respectively, in the first quarter of 2023, and basic and diluted losses per ordinary share of RMB3.15 and RMB3.15 , respectively, in the second quarter of 2022. As each ADS represents four ordinary shares, this translates into basic and diluted earnings per ADS of RMB25.54 ( US$3.52 ) and RMB22.20 ( US$3.06 ), respectively in the second quarter of 2023; basic and diluted earnings per ADS of RMB15.62 and RMB14.95 , respectively, in the first quarter of 2023; and basic and diluted losses per ADS of RMB12.60 and RMB12.60 , respectively, in the second quarter of 2022.

Financial Position

As of June 30, 2023 , the Company had RMB17.03 billion ( US$2.35 billion ) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, compared with RMB10.17 billion as of March 31, 2023 .

As of June 30, 2023 , the Company's accounts receivables due from third parties were RMB21.59 billion ( US$2.98 billion ), compared with RMB18.04 billion as of March 31, 2023 .

As of June 30, 2023 , the Company's inventories were RMB20.09 billion ( US$2.77 billion ), compared with RMB21.44 billion as of March 31, 2023 .

As of June 30, 2023 , the Company's total interest-bearing debts were RMB34.31 billion ( US$4.73 billion ), compared with RMB30.02 billion as of March 31, 2023 .

Second Quarter 2023 Operational Highlights

Solar Module, Cell and Wafer Shipments

Total shipments were 18,613 MW in the second quarter of 2023, including 17,763 MW for solar module shipments and 850 MW for cell and wafer shipments.

Operations and Business Outlook Highlights

We are optimistic about global market demand and the opportunities brought by penetration of N-type technology. We will continue to maintain our leading position in N-type modules through technology iteration, improvement in mass production capability, and cost optimization. By the end of 2023, we expect mass-produced N-type cell efficiency to reach 25.8%, and the integrated cost of N-type modules to remain competitive with P-type modules. The proportion of N-type modules shipments of our total module shipments is expected to reach about 60% in 2023, as we expect there will be a strong demand for high-efficiency products from a growing number of markets and customers.

As we continue to invest in N-type capacity expansion overseas in the second half of 2023, we expect to reach an integrated capacity of over 12 GW overseas by the end of 2023, with the production capacity of N-type accounting for over 75%. We will continuously strengthen and expand our global industrial chain to provide premium and high-quality products and services to our global clients.

Third Quarter and Full Year 2023 Guidance

The Company's business outlook is based on management's current views and estimates with respect to market conditions, production capacity, the Company's order book and the global economic environment. This outlook is subject to uncertainty on final customer demand and sale schedules. Management's views and estimates are subject to change without notice.

For the third quarter of 2023, the Company expects its module shipments to be in the range of 19.0 GW to 21.0 GW.

For full year 2023, the Company estimates its module shipments to be in the range of 70.0 GW to 75.0 GW.

Solar Products Production Capacity

JinkoSolar expects its annual production capacity for mono wafer, solar cell and solar module to reach 85.0 GW, 90.0 GW and 110.0 GW, respectively, by the end of 2023.

Recent Business Developments

In April 2023 , Jiangxi Jinko completed the issuance of its convertible bonds in the principal amount of RMB10 billion on the Shanghai Stock Exchange's Sci-Tech Innovation Board. JinkoSolar subscribed for the convertible bonds in an aggregate amount of RMB5.5 billion with its special preemptive rights and is subject to a six-month lock-up period. JinkoSolar has the right to either sell its convertible bonds after the lock-up period or convert the convertible bonds into Jiangxi Jinko's ordinary shares.

, Jiangxi Jinko completed the issuance of its convertible bonds in the principal amount of on the Sci-Tech Innovation Board. JinkoSolar subscribed for the convertible bonds in an aggregate amount of with its special preemptive rights and is subject to a six-month lock-up period. has the right to either sell its convertible bonds after the lock-up period or convert the convertible bonds into Jiangxi Jinko's ordinary shares. In May 2023 , JinkoSolar was recognized as a Top Performer in the 2023 PV Module Reliability Scorecard published by PV Evolution Labs (PVEL) for the ninth consecutive Year.

, was recognized as a Top Performer in the 2023 PV Module Reliability Scorecard published by (PVEL) for the ninth consecutive Year. In May 2023 , Jiangxi Jinko entered into an equity transfer agreement with Ziyang Major Industry Equity Investment Fund Partnership (Limited Partnership) and Mr. Shihong Dong , pursuant to which Jiangxi Jinko agrees to sell its 100% equity interest in Xinjiang Jinko Solar Co., Ltd. , a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jiangxi Jinko, at a consideration of RMB4.3 billion . As of the date of this press release, the transaction has not yet been completed.

, Jiangxi Jinko entered into an equity transfer agreement with (Limited Partnership) and Mr. , pursuant to which Jiangxi Jinko agrees to sell its 100% equity interest in , a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jiangxi Jinko, at a consideration of . As of the date of this press release, the transaction has not yet been completed. In May 2023 , Jiangxi Jinko entered into an investment framework agreement with the Management Committee of Transformation Comprehensive Reform Demonstration Zone of Shanxi Province for an integrated project manufacturing monocrystalline silicon pull rod, silicon wafer, high-efficiency solar cells and modules. According to the agreement, Jiangxi Jinko plans to construct production lines with a total annual production capacity of 56 GW for a total estimated investment of approximately RMB56 billion .

, Jiangxi Jinko entered into an investment framework agreement with the for an integrated project manufacturing monocrystalline silicon pull rod, silicon wafer, high-efficiency solar cells and modules. According to the agreement, Jiangxi Jinko plans to construct production lines with a total annual production capacity of 56 GW for a total estimated investment of approximately . In June 2023 , JinkoSolar officially launched its Second Generation of the High Voltage Energy Storage Battery into the European market.

, officially launched its Second Generation of the High Voltage Energy Storage Battery into the European market. In June 2023 , JinkoSolar was awarded the "Top Brand PV Europe Seal 2023" by internationally recognized research institute EUPD Research .

, was awarded the "Top Brand PV Europe Seal 2023" by internationally recognized research institute . In June 2023 , Jiangxi Jinko signed a strategic distribution agreement for residential storage solution with V. Kafkas SA ., the leading Greek company in the field of Electrical Equipment, Lighting, Building Automation and Energy Management Solutions. This agreement covers Greece and Cyprus for the years 2023 and 2024.

, Jiangxi Jinko signed a strategic distribution agreement for residential storage solution with ., the leading Greek company in the field of Electrical Equipment, Lighting, and Energy Management Solutions. This agreement covers and for the years 2023 and 2024. In June 2023 , JinkoSolar delivered more than 220,000 Tiger NEO bifacial 72 modules to the 123 MW Verila Solar Power Plant in Bulgaria .

, delivered more than 220,000 Tiger NEO bifacial 72 modules to the 123 MW Verila Solar Power Plant in . In July 2023 , JinkoSolar officially became a member of the IRENA Coalition for Action , further affirming its dedication to sustainable energy development.

, officially became a member of the , further affirming its dedication to sustainable energy development. In July 2023 , Jiangxi Jinko published estimates of certain preliminary unaudited financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2023 .

, Jiangxi Jinko published estimates of certain preliminary unaudited financial results for the six months ended . In July 2023 , JinkoSolar achieved the highest " AAA " category ranking in PV Tech's Q2 ModuleTech bankability report.

, achieved the highest " " category ranking in PV Tech's Q2 ModuleTech bankability report. In August 2023 , JinkoSolar was recognized as a 2023 Overall Highest Achiever for the fourth consecutive year in Renewable Energy Testing Center PV Module Index Report.

, was recognized as a 2023 Overall Highest Achiever for the fourth consecutive year in Renewable Energy Testing Center PV Module Index Report. In August 2023 , Jiangxi Jinko announced that it intends to offer ordinary shares, subject to market conditions and other factors, in a private offering to qualified institutional buyers in compliance with the requirements of the China Securities Regulatory Commission .

Conference Call Information

JinkoSolar's management will host an earnings conference call on Monday, August 14, 2023 at 8:30 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time ( 8:30 p.m. Beijing / Hong Kong the same day).

Please register in advance of the conference using the link provided below. Upon registering, you will be provided with participant dial-in numbers, passcode and unique access PIN by a calendar invite.

Participant Online Registration: https://s1.c-conf.com/diamondpass/10032820-hdy6f.html

It will automatically direct you to the registration page of "JinkoSolar Second Quarter 2023 Earnings Conference Call", where you may fill in your details for RSVP.

In the 10 minutes prior to the call start time, you may use the conference access information (including dial-in number(s), passcode and unique access PIN) provided in the calendar invite that you have received following your pre-registration.

A telephone replay of the call will be available 2 hours after the conclusion of the conference call through 23:59 U.S. Eastern Time, August 21, 2023 . The dial-in details for the replay are as follows:

International: +61 7 3107 6325

U.S. : +1 855 883 1031

Passcode: 10032820









Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations section of JinkoSolar's website at http://www.jinkosolar.com.

About JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.

JinkoSolar (NYSE: JKS) is one of the largest and most innovative solar module manufacturers in the world. JinkoSolar distributes its solar products and sells its solutions and services to a diversified international utility, commercial and residential customer base in China , the United States , Japan , Germany , the United Kingdom , Chile , South Africa , India , Mexico , Brazil , the United Arab Emirates , Italy , Spain , France , Belgium , Netherlands , Poland , Austria , Switzerland , Greece and other countries and regions.

JinkoSolar had 14 productions facilities globally, 24 overseas subsidiaries in Japan , South Korea , Vietnam , India , Turkey , Germany , Italy , Switzerland , the United States , Mexico , Brazil , Chile , Australia , Canada , Malaysia , the United Arab Emirates , Denmark , Indonesia , Nigeria and Saudi Arabia , and global sales teams in China , the United States , Canada , Brazil , Chile , Mexico , Italy , Germany , Turkey , Spain , Japan , the United Arab Emirates , Netherlands , Vietnam and India , as of June 30, 2023 .

To find out more, please see: www.jinkosolar.com

Currency Convenience Translation

The conversion of Renminbi into U.S. dollars in this release, made solely for the convenience of the readers, is based on the noon buying rate in the city of New York for cable transfers of Renminbi as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as of June 30, 2023 , which was RMB7.2513 to US$1.00 . No representation is intended to imply that the Renminbi amounts could have been, or could be, converted, realized, or settled into U.S. dollars at that rate or any other rate. The percentages stated in this press release are calculated based on Renminbi.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the quotations from management in this press release and the Company's operations and business outlook, contain forward-looking statements. Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in JinkoSolar's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 20-F. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China :

Ms. Stella Wang

JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.

Tel: +86 21-5180-8777 ext.7806

Email: [email protected]

Mr. Rene Vanguestaine

Christensen

Tel: +86 178 1749 0483

Email: [email protected]

In the U.S. :

Ms. Linda Bergkamp

Christensen, Scottsdale, Arizona

Tel: +1-480-614-3004

Email: [email protected]

JINKOSOLAR HOLDING CO., LTD. UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (in thousands, except ADS and Share data)

For the quarter ended

For the year ended

Jun 30, 2022

Mar 31, 2023

Jun 30, 2023

Jun 30, 2022

Jun 30, 2023

RMB'000

RMB'000

RMB'000

USD'000

RMB'000

RMB'000

USD'000 Revenues from third parties 18,730,454

23,249,809

30,635,727

4,224,860

33,457,953

53,885,536

7,431,155



























Revenues from related parties 110,688

79,253

49,372

6,809

147,973

128,625

17,738



























Total revenues 18,841,142

23,329,062

30,685,099

4,231,669

33,605,926

54,014,161

7,448,893



























Cost of revenues (16,069,363)

(19,288,045)

(25,902,426)

(3,572,108)

(28,607,540)

(45,190,471)

(6,232,051)



























Gross profit 2,771,779

4,041,017

4,782,673

659,561

4,998,386

8,823,690

1,216,842



























Operating expenses:

























Selling and marketing (1,622,544)

(1,556,301)

(1,665,996)

(229,751)

(3,007,011)

(3,222,296)

(444,375) General and administrative (1,131,984)

(1,084,408)

(800,148)

(110,345)

(1,788,397)

(1,884,556)

(259,892) Research and development (149,703)

(188,556)

(225,574)

(31,108)

(294,678)

(414,130)

(57,111) Impairment of long-lived assets (156,598)

-

(552,751)

(76,228)

(156,598)

(552,751)

(76,228) Total operating expenses (3,060,829)

(2,829,265)

(3,244,469)

(447,432)

(5,246,684)

(6,073,733)

(837,606)



























Income from operations (289,050)

1,211,752

1,538,204

212,129

(248,298)

2,749,957

379,236 Interest expenses, net (88,041)

(55,392)

(208,453)

(28,747)

(250,239)

(263,845)

(36,386) Subsidy income 464,756

264,042

292,376

40,320

770,052

556,418

76,734 Exchange gain/(loss) 389,216

(129,047)

1,358,867

187,396

395,599

1,229,820

169,600 Change in fair value of foreign exchange derivatives (167,670)

55,338

(442,492)

(61,022)

(97,137)

(387,154)

(53,391) Change in fair value of Long-term Investment



440,424

2,278

314

-

442,702

61,051 Change in fair value of convertible senior notes (536,902)

(261,435)

89,747

12,377

(641,838)

(171,688)

(23,677) Other income/(loss), net (587)

3,124

58,971

8,132

12,431

62,095

8,563 Income before income taxes (228,278)

1,528,806

2,689,498

370,899

(59,430)

4,218,305

581,730 Income tax expenses (118,089)

(315,004)

(341,144)

(47,046)

(189,110)

(656,148)

(90,487) Equity in earnings of affiliated companies (117)

179,955

63,281

8,727

6,329

243,236

33,544 Net income (346,484)

1,393,757

2,411,635

332,580

(242,211)

3,805,393

524,787 Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling

interests (276,785)

(605,107)

(1,105,533)

(152,460)

(352,121)

(1,710,640)

(235,908) Net income attributable to JinkoSolar

Holding Co., Ltd.'s ordinary shareholders (623,269)

788,650

1,306,102

180,120

(594,332)

2,094,753

288,879



























Net income attributable to JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.'s

ordinary shareholders per share:

























Basic (3.15)

3.91

6.39

0.88

(3.05)

10.31

1.42 Diluted (3.15)

3.74

5.55

0.77

(3.05)

9.90

1.37



























Net income attributable to JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.'s

ordinary shareholders per ADS:

























Basic (12.60)

15.62

25.54

3.52

(12.18)

41.22

5.69 Diluted (12.60)

14.95

22.20

3.06

(12.18)

39.61

5.46



























Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding:

























Basic 197,894,301

201,919,745

204,566,514

204,566,514

195,119,882

203,250,441

203,250,441 Diluted 197,894,301

210,954,844

223,654,851

223,654,851

195,119,882

211,556,947

211,556,947



























Weighted average ADS outstanding:

























Basic 49,473,575

50,479,936

51,141,628

51,141,628

48,779,971

50,812,610

50,812,610 Diluted 49,473,575

52,738,711

55,913,713

55,913,713

48,779,971

52,889,237

52,889,237



























UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME



























Net income (346,484)

1,393,757

2,411,635

332,580

(242,211)

3,805,393

524,787 Other comprehensive income/(loss):

























-Unrealized loss on available-for-sale securities -

(1,031)

58

8

-

(973)

(134) -Foreign currency translation adjustments 217,564

(57,972)

282,017

38,893

187,038

224,045

30,897 -Change in the instrument-specific credit risk 20,571

45,218

20,227

2,789

58,130

65,445

9,025 Comprehensive income (108,349)

1,379,972

2,713,937

374,270

2,957

4,093,910

564,575 Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests (337,435)

(586,223)

(1,168,875)

(161,195)

(412,771)

(1,755,098)

(242,039) Comprehensive income attributable to JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.'s ordinary shareholders (445,784)

793,750

1,545,062

213,075

(409,814)

2,338,812

322,536

























































JINKOSOLAR HOLDING CO., LTD. UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands)

Dec 31, 2022

Jun 30, 2023

RMB'000

RMB'000

USD'000 ASSETS









Current assets:









Cash and cash equivalents 10,243,500

14,701,590

2,027,442 Restricted cash 1,027,454

2,324,683

320,588 Restricted short-term investments 8,945,271

7,462,253

1,029,092 Short-term investments -

80,989

11,169 Accounts receivable, net - related parties 139,714

56,359

7,772 Accounts receivable, net - third parties 16,674,876

21,590,016

2,977,399 Notes receivable, net - related parties 282,824

91,862

12,668 Notes receivable, net - third parties 6,697,096

4,430,623

611,011 Advances to suppliers, net - related parties 56,860

54,573

7,526 Advances to suppliers, net - third parties 3,271,284

3,679,192

507,384 Inventories, net 17,450,284

20,086,015

2,769,988 Forward contract receivables 119,625

24,527

3,382 Prepayments and other current assets, net - related parties 23,105

20,712

2,856 Prepayments and other current assets, net 3,290,902

3,804,614

524,680 Held-for-sale assets -

2,418,965

333,591 Available-for-sale securities 104,499

-

- Total current assets 68,327,294

80,826,973

11,146,548











Non-current assets:









Restricted cash 1,378,680

2,118,440

292,146 Long-term investments 1,711,072

2,576,808

355,358 Property, plant and equipment, net 32,290,088

34,064,537

4,697,714 Land use rights, net 1,431,424

1,456,122

200,808 Intangible assets, net 79,600

182,035

25,104 Financing lease right-of-use assets, net 558,407

368,106

50,764 Operating lease right-of-use assets, net 396,966

400,405

55,219 Deferred tax assets 704,244

703,856

97,066 Advances to suppliers to be utilised beyond one year 310,375

169,819

23,419 Other assets, net - related parties 52,363

55,290

7,625 Other assets, net - third parties 1,421,669

2,098,906

289,452 Available-for-sale securities Non current



50,000

6,895 Total non-current assets 40,334,888

44,244,324

6,101,570











Total assets 108,662,182

125,071,297

17,248,118











LIABILITIES









Current liabilities:









Accounts payable - third parties 10,378,076

11,697,118

1,613,106 Notes payable - related parties 419,500

558,237

76,984 Notes payable - third parties 20,204,323

21,871,312

3,016,192 Accrued payroll and welfare expenses 2,035,931

2,048,852

282,550 Advances from related parties 3,829

2,367

326 Advances from third parties 9,220,267

7,681,854

1,059,376 Income tax payable 737,735

439,397

60,596 Other payables and accruals 9,214,384

10,411,838

1,435,855 Other payables due to related parties 5,964

22,992

3,171 Forward contract payables 63,137

295,349

40,730 Convertible senior notes - current -

939,408

129,550 Financing lease liabilities - current 168,381

92,713

12,786 Operating lease liabilities - current 65,489

72,406

9,985 Short-term borrowings from third parties,

including current portion of long-term bank

borrowings 12,419,170

15,009,072

2,069,846 Held-for-sale liabilities -

1,634,788

225,448 Total current liabilities 64,936,186

72,777,703

10,036,501











Non-current liabilities:









Long-term borrowings 13,022,795

13,316,518

1,836,432 Convertible senior notes 1,070,699

4,506,619

621,491 Accrued warranty costs - non current 1,422,276

1,760,207

242,744 Financing lease liabilities 69,881

40,437

5,577 Operating lease liabilities 339,885

336,209

46,365 Deferred tax liability 194,808

269,853

37,214 Long-term Payables 601,759

617,312

85,131 Guarantee liabilities to related parties

- non current -

-

- Total non-current liabilities 16,722,103

20,847,155

2,874,954











Total liabilities 81,658,289

93,624,858

12,911,455











SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY









Ordinary shares ( US$0.00002 par value, 500,000,000

shares authorized 204,135,029 and 208,472,163 shares

issued as of December 31, 2022 and June 30, 2023 ,

respectively) 28

29

4 Additional paid-in capital 9,912,931

10,640,761

1,467,428 Accumulated other comprehensive income 217,563

408,566

56,344 Treasury stock, at cost; 2,945,840 ordinary shares as of

December 31, 2022 and June 30, 2023 (43,170)

(43,170)

(5,953) Modification of non-controlling interests









Accumulated retained earnings 6,249,883

8,344,636

1,150,778 Due from shareholders



-

-











Total JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. shareholders' equity 16,337,235

19,350,822

2,668,601











Non-controlling interests 10,666,658

12,095,617

1,668,062











Total shareholders' equity 27,003,893

31,446,439

4,336,663











Total liabilities and shareholders' equity 108,662,182

125,071,297

17,248,118

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jinkosolar-announces-second-quarter-2023-financial-results-301899646.html

SOURCE JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.
Active military personnel, veterans and first responders receive free admission to the fair with their families on Aug. 18

INDIANAPOLIS , Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Peterman Brothers, a leading HVAC and plumbing company serving the Greater Indianapolis area, is honoring the sacrifice of active and former military personnel and first responders at the Indiana State Fair on Friday, Aug. 18 .

First responders and current and former members of the military who present valid ID at the gate will be admitted free with their families on Military and First Responders' Day, sponsored by Peterman Brothers.

"We want to pay tribute to the people who put their lives on the line to protect us and preserve our freedoms," said Chad Peterman , president of Peterman Brothers. "The Indiana State Fair is a great event that represents the deep values we share in the Indianapolis area. That makes it a great occasion for us to express our gratitude to the neighbors who lay it all on the line and let them know how much we care and appreciate what they do."

In addition to Military and First Responders' Day, Peterman Brothers will have a booth at the fair through Aug. 20 . Attendees can stop by to register to win prizes or find out more about the company.

The Indiana State Fair takes place through Aug. 20 . For more information about the fair, please visit https://www.indianastatefair.com/.

Peterman Brothers is available to help with any plumbing or cooling needs. For more information, call (260) 201-3070 or visit https://www.petermanhvac.com/.

About Peterman Brothers

Founded in 1986, Peterman Brothers provides residential heating, cooling, and plumbing services in the Greater Indianapolis area. A second-generation family business, the company offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee with any new installation of HVAC equipment. All technicians are certified through the North American Technical Excellence (NATE) program and fully bonded and insured. Peterman Brothers provides 24/7 emergency service to its customers and offers several financing options with approved credit. To find out more, call (260) 201-3070 or visit https://www.petermanhvac.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Heather Ripley

Ripley PR

865-977-1973

[email protected]

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/peterman-brothers-sponsors-military-and-first-responders-day-at-indiana-state-fair-301898783.html

SOURCE Peterman Brothers
DETROIT , Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle , Arun Kumar Sherma is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Life Member for his contributions to the field of Internal Medicine.

Dr. Sherma pursued higher education at Northwestern University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a focus on Neuroscience. He then attended the University of Cincinnati, School of Medicine where he received a Medical Degree. The doctor completed a residency in internal medicine and neurology at Tulane University and a fellowship in neurocritical care at the University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine in Philadelphia .

Dr. Sherma is board-certified in neurology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) and explained that the ABPN is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to serving the professions of psychiatry and neurology. He is also board-certified in internal medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) and asserts that the ABIM is a physician-led, non-profit, independent evaluation organization driven by doctors who want to achieve higher standards for better care in a rapidly changing world.

An expert in treating patients with traumatic brain and spinal cord conditions in the intensive care unit that may be due to stroke; brain hemorrhages; neuromuscular disorders; or traumatic injury, Dr. Sherma is an Assistant Professor of Neurology with Wayne State University, School of Medicine. He explained that neurology is a branch of medicine dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Neurologists are licensed medical specialists who diagnose and treat disorders that affect the brain; spinal cord; nerves; and muscles of patients. He said neurologists examine a patient's mental and physical status; conduct medical tests and scans; and evaluate the results to diagnose and treat the patient.

Dedicated to excellence in the field, the doctor is a member of the Neuro Critical Care Society; Society of Critical Care Medicine; American Association of Neurology; and the American College of Physicians. Aside from his professional pursuits, the doctor volunteers his time and fosters animals for the ASPCA.

Contact: Katherine Green , 516-825-5634, [email protected]

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Recognized for the eighth consecutive year among top-tier private companies leading the way in cloud technology

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. , Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Yardi has been named to the 2023 Forbes Cloud 100, the definitive ranking of the top 100 private cloud companies in the world, published by Forbes in partnership with Bessemer Venture Partners and Salesforce Ventures. Yardi was a member of the inaugural Cloud 100 in 2016 and is the only company focused on the real estate vertical this year.

"We're honored that Forbes continues to recognize Yardi for our cloud technology and services," said Jay Shobe , senior vice president of cloud services at Yardi. "Since the inaugural list, this inclusion has reflected the continual efforts of our employees and the unfailing support of our clients worldwide."

For the eighth straight year, the Cloud 100 reviewed submissions from hundreds of cloud startups and private companies. The Cloud 100 evaluation process involved ranking companies across four factors: market leadership (35%), estimated valuation (30%), operating metrics (20%), and people and culture (15%).

"The companies of the Cloud 100 list represent the best and brightest companies in this crucial tech sector," said Kenrick Cai , Forbes editor of the Cloud 100. "This year's companies had to react rapidly to AI's sweeping impact while contending with a market pullback. Their resilience puts them in elite company."

"This year's Cloud 100 list is one of the most dynamic in history. While the industry faced macro headwinds, the 2023 Cloud 100 winners displayed the innovation and resilience of the cloud economy and the combination of growth and efficiency that prove the power of the cloud business model. 95 percent of the honorees are forecasted to reach Centaur status - $100 million of annual recurring revenue - by the end of the year," said Mary D'Onofrio , partner at Bessemer Venture Partners. "It is further exciting to see so many honorees at the forefront of the AI revolution, which we believe will continue to transform the cloud and propel the next wave of growth for many of this year's winners."

"The past year our industry has seen a generational step forward in innovation and with AI leading the charge, we are witnessing one of the most important platform shifts in decades," said Paul Drews, managing partner, Salesforce Ventures. "The Cloud 100 list represents the best of the best and we've never been more excited about what the future holds, not only for the cloud but for the entire technology industry. We are proud of what these founders and their communities have already accomplished and look forward to seeing how they continue to transform the industry in the future."

The Forbes 2023 Cloud 100 is published online at forbes.com/cloud100 and will appear in the August/ September 2023 issue of Forbes magazine.

About Yardi

Yardi develops industry-leading software for all types and sizes of real estate companies across the world. With over 9,000 employees, Yardi is working with our clients to drive significant innovation in the real estate industry. For more information on how Yardi is Energized for Tomorrow, visit yardi.com.

About Bessemer Venture Partners

Bessemer Venture Partners helps entrepreneurs lay strong foundations to build and forge long-standing companies. With more than 145 IPOs and 300 portfolio companies in the enterprise, consumer and healthcare spaces, Bessemer supports founders and CEOs from their early days through every stage of growth. Bessemer's global portfolio has included Pinterest, Shopify, Twilio, Yelp, LinkedIn, PagerDuty, DocuSign, Wix, Fiverr, and Toast and has $20 billion of assets under management. Bessemer has teams of investors and partners located in Tel Aviv, Silicon Valley , San Francisco, New York, London, Hong Kong, Boston, and Bangalore. Born from innovations in steel more than a century ago, Bessemer's storied history has afforded its partners the opportunity to celebrate and scrutinize its best investment decisions (see Memos) and also learn from its mistakes (see Anti-Portfolio).

About Forbes

Forbes champions success by celebrating those who have made it, and those who aspire to make it. Forbes convenes and curates the most influential leaders and entrepreneurs who are driving change, transforming business and making a significant impact on the world. The Forbes brand today reaches more than 140 million people worldwide through its trusted journalism, signature LIVE and Forbes Virtual events, custom marketing programs and 45 licensed local editions in 76 countries. Forbes Media's brand extensions include real estate, education and financial services license agreements.

About Salesforce Ventures

Salesforce Ventures helps enterprising founders build companies that reinvent the way the world works. Since 2009, we've invested in and partnered with more than 400 of the world's most tenacious enterprise software companies from seed to IPO, including Anthropic, Cohere, Airtable, Databricks, DocuSign, Guild Education, monday.com, nCino, Snowflake, Snyk, Stripe, Tanium, and Zoom. Salesforce Ventures leverages our decades of expertise in the cloud and our long-term relationships with key decision-makers at thousands of businesses around the world to give our portfolio companies an advantage, help them build credibility, and accelerate growth. Salesforce Ventures has invested in more than 25 countries with offices all over the world including in San Francisco, Irvine, New York, London, and Tokyo. Follow @SalesforceVC and learn more at http://www.salesforceventures.com.

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Acquisition expands the capabilities and risk mitigation services of Zurich Resilience Solutions' Cyber Team.

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. , Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Zurich Holding Company of America, a subsidiary of Zurich Insurance Group, has acquired SpearTip, a cyber counterintelligence firm that helps protect clients against cyber threats through proactive and response services. This acquisition expands the cyber risk mitigation services available from Zurich Resilience Solutions, a global division of Zurich's Commercial Insurance Business, to support customers' growing needs for comprehensive cyber risk management support amidst a challenging risk landscape.

The acquisition of SpearTip represents a further step towards bringing powerful cybersecurity controls to our customers.

"Both Zurich Resilience Solutions and SpearTip share a commitment to helping businesses anticipate and prevent cyber threats while being ready to respond when an attack occurs," said Tom Fioretti , Head of North America Zurich Resilience Solutions. "The acquisition of SpearTip represents a further step towards bringing powerful cybersecurity controls to our U.S. customers, helping strengthen their business operations."

Zurich Resilience Solutions employs an in-house team of Cyber Risk Management specialists who provide objective assessments of businesses' cybersecurity posture and unique threat environment, with consultative support to strengthen overall cyber resilience. SpearTip has been providing cyber risk mitigation services since 2005 and helps organizations identify their cyber risks and vulnerabilities by offering services within three main functional areas:

Managed Detection and Response/Security Operations Center Service Incident Response including Digital Forensics Advisory Services

"For more than two years, we have worked closely with SpearTip and have seen firsthand their impressive cyber technical capabilities," said David Shluger , VP of Cyber Risk Services for Zurich Resilience Solutions. "The combination of their technical capabilities with Zurich's service excellence extends the capabilities of the Zurich Resilience Solutions' Cyber Services Team to bring a full suite offering to our customers."

For more information about Zurich's Cyber Risk Management services, go to Zurichna.com/risk/cyber-risk-engineering-services.

About Zurich North America

Zurich North America is one of the largest providers of insurance solutions and services to businesses and individuals. Our customers represent industries ranging from agriculture to technology. Zurich North America is part of Zurich Insurance Group ( Zurich ), a leading multi-line insurer serving people and businesses in more than 200 countries and territories. Founded 150 years ago, Zurich is transforming insurance. In addition to providing insurance protection, Zurich is increasingly offering prevention services such as those that promote wellbeing and enhance climate resilience.

Reflecting its purpose to "create a brighter future together," Zurich aspires to be one of the most responsible and impactful businesses in the world. It is targeting net-zero emissions by 2050 and has the highest-possible ESG rating from MSCI. In 2020, Zurich launched the Zurich Forest project to support reforestation and biodiversity restoration in Brazil .

The Group has about 60,000 employees and is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland . Zurich Insurance Group Ltd (ZURN), is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and has a level I American Depositary Receipt (ZURVY) program, which is traded over-the-counter on OTCQX. Further information is available at http://www.zurich.com/ and http://www.zurichna.com/.

In the United States , Zurich Resilience Solutions' services are provided by SpearTip, LLC and The Zurich Services Corporation. For more information about the products and services Zurich Resilience Solutions offers in the United States , go to www.zurichna.com/risk.

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FILE PHOTO: A 3D printed natural gas pipeline is placed in front of displayed Chevron logo in this illustration taken February 8, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's labour regulator cleared the way for strike action at Chevron's Wheatstone platform if workers vote in favour of such a step, fuelling concerns the country's exports could be cut.

The Fair Work Commission last week ruled workers at Chevron's downstream Wheatstone facility and its Gorgon facility can ballot workers for strike action.

(Reporting by Lewis Jackson in Sydney; Editing by Alasdair Pal)
TRIPOLI (Reuters) -Clashes broke out in the Libyan capital Tripoli late on Monday, residents said, and flights to the city's main airport were suspended, after the reported seizure of a powerful armed faction commander by a rival force.

"We have heard gunfire for almost two hours now and we do not know what will happen. We fear for our safety," said one of the residents in Furnaj district.

Mahmoud Hamza, head of the 444 brigade that controls much of Tripoli, was detained at Mitiga airport by the Special Deterrence Force, local media and a source in the 444 brigade said.

Sources at Mitiga said all flights to and from the airport were being rerouted to Misrata, 180km (110 miles) to the east.

Any sustained fighting between the two factions, the most powerful in the capital after a period of military consolidation, could pose significant risks.

Monday's clashes are already the worst to hit Tripoli for months, though there has been sporadic violence between armed factions in some other parts of northwest Libya in recent weeks.

Libya has had little peace or security since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising and it split in 2014 between warring eastern and western factions. Major warfare has been paused since a 2020 ceasefire, but there is no sign of a lasting political solution.

A video shared online, that a witness to the clashes said was authentic, showed tracer fire streaming past an apartment building as the sound of gunshots rattled out.

A Reuters journalist in the Ain Zara district, near where the clashes were taking place, said armed men had closed a major road in the area.

(Reporting by Reuters Libya newsroom, writing by Angus McDowall, editing by Chris Reese and Sandra Maler)
FILE PHOTO: Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX, arrives at court as lawyers push to persuade the judge overseeing his fraud case not to jail him ahead of trial, at a courthouse in New York, U.S., August 11, 2023. REUTE

By Luc Cohen

(Reuters) - Sam Bankman-Fried, the indicted founder of bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX, needs access to medications to treat depression and attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) while jailed ahead of his fraud trial, his lawyers said on Monday.

In a letter, Bankman-Fried's lawyers asked U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan to order the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn to ensure their client has a daily Emsam skin patch for depression and three or four doses a day of Adderall for ADHD.

He has been prescribed those medications for five and three years, respectively, they said.

"Without these medications, Mr. Bankman-Fried will experience a return of his depression and ADHD symptoms, which will severely impact his ability to assist in his own defense," the 31-year-old former billionaire's lawyers wrote, citing a letter from his psychiatrist filed in court.

Kaplan on Friday remanded Bankman-Fried to the MDC after finding probable cause to believe he had tampered with witnesses at least twice. Bankman-Fried was only able to bring enough of the medicines to last a few days, his lawyers wrote.

Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty to charges he stole billions of dollars in FTX funds to plug losses at his Alameda Research hedge fund.

Until Friday, he had been largely confined to his parents' Palo Alto, California, home on $250 million bond since his December extradition from the Bahamas, where FTX was based.

After he was brought to a Bahamas courtroom for an initial appearance following his arrest at the luxurious Albany resort where he lived, Bankman-Fried briefly left at the start of the proceedings to change his Emsam patch, a medical strip applied to the skin to treat depression in adults.

(Reporting by Luc Cohen in San Jose, California)
Every occupier destroyed, Russian equipment burned, smoke on the Crimean bridge is evidence that no crimes of Russia will be answered, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video message on Sunday.

"Every occupier destroyed, every piece of Russian equipment burned, fire instead of their headquarters and warehouses, the very eloquent smoke on Kerch bridge and more  all this proves that we will not leave any of Russia's crimes unanswered," he said.

Zelenskyy said from the beginning of the day until six in the evening, 17 reports of shelling were received only in the Kherson region. "Other regions include Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, Donbas, Kharkiv, the border areas with Russia in the northeast. Everywhere our warriors retaliate against the occupiers' terror," he said.

"Now there can be only two personal lines of behavior  either you fight for Ukraine, or you help fight, you help save lives," Zelenskyy said.
FILE PHOTO: Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, departs federal court after a plea hearing on two misdemeanor charges of willfully failing to pay income taxes in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S. July 26, 2023. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo

By Jack Queen

(Reuters) -Lawyers for Hunter Biden said in a late Sunday court filing that prosecutors reneged on a plea deal that would have resolved tax and firearms charges against the U.S. presidents son as his father seeks reelection.

Delaware federal prosecutors said on Friday that Hunter Biden may be headed for a criminal trial after plea negotiations broke down.

U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika rejected a proposed plea deal in July, raising concerns over its legality and the scope of immunity it offered Hunter Biden.

Under that proposed arrangement, Hunter Biden would have pleaded guilty to not paying taxes on $1.5 million in income between 2017 and 2018 and entered into a separate deferred prosecution agreement for illegally owning a firearm while using drugs, a felony.

The case has become a political lightning rod as Republicans in Congress raise the possibility of impeaching Biden over his son's business dealings and accuse the Department of Justice of giving him a "sweetheart deal."

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland has denied Republican accusations of favoritism. On Friday, he elevated Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss, an appointee of former President Donald Trump who has been investigating the case since 2019, to special counsel status, which gives him additional authority.

If the case goes to trial, the president would be campaigning for reelection in November 2024, likely against former president Donald Trump, as his son faces criminal prosecution.

Trump, a Republican, faces three criminal trials of his own next year.

(Reporting by Abinaya Vijayaraghavan in Bengaluru and Jack Queen in New York; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman, Robert Birsel)
FILE PHOTO: Bank employees wait for customers to offer loans at a "loan mela" or a loan fair organized by various Indian banks in New Delhi, India, October 4, 2019. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis/File Photo

By Siddhi Nayak

MUMBAI (Reuters) - India's so-called 'bad bank' set up to buy legacy stressed loans from the country's lenders has seen such purchases grind to a standstill recently due to disputes over pricing and future liabilities, bankers and industry sources said.

Stressed assets worth over 500 billion rupees ($6.03 billion) have been stalled from being transferred to the National Asset Reconstruction Co Ltd (NARCL) currently, two bankers and an industry source said.

NARCL, which started in July 2021 to buy 2 trillion rupees in bad loans, has bought 213.5 billion rupees of such loans as of July 17, according to a government statement to parliament.

But, "so far in this fiscal year, no account has been transferred to NARCL," said one of the bankers.

"There are issues related to pricing, valuation of accounts, which, along with the delay in obtaining security receipts from the government, is prolonging the entire transfer process," said another banker at a state-run lender's stressed assets unit.

While four stressed accounts, including three by IDBI Bank, have been transferred to NARCL so far, 12-13 accounts are stuck, "with no resolution in sight," this banker said.

The sources requested anonymity as they are not authorised to speak to the media. NARCL did not reply to a Reuters email seeking comment.

Bankers said another reason for the stalemate is due to differences over the wording in the loan purchase agreements, especially for fraud accounts.

"NARCL does not want legal liabilities or government investigations after the sale of fraud accounts and wants banks to sign a clause pertaining to that," another banker said.

"Banks are reluctant to sign such a clause, resulting in more delays."

Alongside stalled purchases, there have been no recoveries of loans and bankers say they have low expectations going forward.

Bank of India has not made any recovery from NARCL accounts, it said late last month.

One banker, however, said that it is too early to judge the success of the asset reconstruction company's recoveries.

"NARCL being in the market has pushed private asset reconstruction companies to offer a better price," this banker said.

($1 = 82.9633 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Siddhi Nayak; Editing by Savio D'Souza)
Latvia's Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins addresses the opening session on the first day of the Ukraine Recovery Conference in London, Britain June 21, 2023. Henry Nicholls/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

By Andrius Sytas and Janis Laizans

RIGA (Reuters) - Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins announced his resignation on Monday, blaming a breakdown in relations with parts of his multi-party governing government.

"This Thursday I will submit the resignation of myself and this cabinet to the president," he told a press conference.

Alongside its Baltic neighbours Lithuania and Estonia, Latvia is a leading voice in pushing the European Union and NATO to increase pressure on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

Karins' centre-right New Unity party won a national election in October 2022, gaining 26 of 100 seats in a fractured parliament where seven parties are represented.

He blamed coalition partners "blocking the work for prosperity and economic growth" for Monday's decision, according to a posting on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

Karins's party governed the European Union nation of 1.9 million, with support from the conservative National Alliance and the United List of smaller parties giving him a narrow parliamentary majority.

But relations with the coalition soured after it failed to field a joint candidate a presidential election in May.

On Friday, Karins made an abortive attempt to bring more parties into government.

They included the left-leaning Progressives party and the Greens and the Farmers Union, a coalition of conservative groups fronted by Aivars Lembergs, the mayor of port town Ventspils who was put on a U.S. sanctions list for alleged corruption in 2019.

Karins' New Unity party plans to select its candidate for prime minister on Wednesday, he said.

President Edgars Rinkevics has responsibility for giving a mandate to a new prime minister to try to form a government. That candidate would also face a parliamentary vote of confidence.

Latvia's next parliamentary election is scheduled for 2026.

(Reporting by Janis Laizans and Andrius Sytas, editing by Terje Solsvik and John Stonestreet)
(Reuters) - Australian police on Monday arrested a 45-year-old man travelling on a Malaysia Airlines flight from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur, following an in-flight incident, but said there was no threat to the community.

Flight MH122 turned back to Sydney while still over Australia after a man had become aggressive and began shouting at passengers, the Guardian reported, citing a man who said on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, he had been on board. Reuters could not immediately verify the report.

Police gave no further details about the incident, but said the passengers and the crew were evacuated from the plane once it was deemed safe. They said the man would be charged on Monday night, without giving details of the suspected offence.

As a result of the incident, 32 domestic flights were cancelled, and other domestic flights faced a delay of up to 90 minutes, Sydney Airport said on the X platform.

There were no international flight cancellations.

(Reporting by Chandni Shah in Bengaluru and Jackson Lewis in Sydney; Editing by Alison Williams)
(Reuters) -Private jet charter company Wheels Up Experience said on Monday it was considering strategic alternatives, including filing for bankruptcy protection, sending its shares down over 8% in extended trading.

The company also reported a second-quarter net loss of $160.6 million, widening from $92.76 million a year earlier, hurt by weaker demand for private jet travel, which had soared during the pandemic as the wealthy preferred to fly solo.

Last week, the company said there was "substantial doubt" about its ability to continue operations, even as it announced a short-term funding from Delta Air Lines.

The amount, at up to $15 million in the form of a secured promissory note, was disclosed on Monday.

Wheels Up has taken a slew of restructuring measures this year, including job cuts and management changes.

In an SEC filing on Monday, the company reported a working capital deficit of $720.8 million, adding that it has seen recurring losses in the first half of the year.

(Reporting by Ananta Agarwal and Nathan Gomes in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta)
Taiwan's Vice President William Lai arrives at the Lotte Hotel in Manhattan in New York City, New York, U.S., August 12, 2023. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon

TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan will not be afraid nor back down in the face of authoritarian threats, the island's vice president told supporters on a U.S. visit that Beijing has condemned, while reiterating a willingness to talk to China.

William Lai, also frontrunner to be Taiwan's next president at January elections, is in the United States on what is officially a transit stop on his way to Paraguay for the inauguration of its new president. Paraguay is one of only 13 countries to maintain formal ties with the Chinese-claimed island.

Taiwan and the United States both say the stopovers, including one in San Francisco on the way back, are routine, but China has denounced them and called Lai a separatist "troublemaker".

Lai told a supporters lunch in New York on Sunday that "if Taiwan is safe, the world is safe, if the Taiwan Strait is peaceful, then the world is peaceful", according to Taiwan's presidential office.

"No matter how great the threat of authoritarianism is to Taiwan, we absolutely will not be scared nor cower, we will uphold the values of democracy and freedom," he said.

China considers Taiwan its most important diplomatic issue, and is a constant source of friction between Beijing and Washington, which is the island's most important international backer and arms supplier.

China has a particular dislike of Lai, who has previously described himself as a "practical worker for Taiwan independence", a red line for Beijing which has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control.

WILLING TO TALK

Lai, who has pledged to maintain peace and the status quo, reiterated in New York that on the basic principle of dignity and parity he was "very willing" to talk to China and seek peace and stability.

But Lai said he will protect Taiwan's sovereignty, that only Taiwan's people can decide their future and that the Republic of China - Taiwan's formal name - and the People's Republic of China are "not subordinate to each other".

Lai's speech was attended by Ingrid Larson, managing director of the American Institute in Taiwan, a U.S. government-run non-profit that carries out unofficial relations with Taiwan.

Both Taipei and Washington are aiming for the U.S. stopovers to be low-key, and have called on China not to take any provocative action in response.

Still, Taiwanese officials say China is likely to launch military drills this week near Taiwan, using Lai's U.S. stopovers as a pretext to intimidate voters ahead of a next year's election and make them "fear war".

On Monday, the Eastern Theatre Command of China's People's Liberation Army, which has responsibility for the area around Taiwan, showed pictures on its WeChat account of troops practicing storming a beach, though did not give the location, timing or specifically mention Taiwan.

It said the soldiers guided armoured vehicles "to the enemy frontline positions and launched a fierce attack".

China carried out war games around Taiwan in April after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen returned from California where she met U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy while also on a transit on her way back from Central America.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Lincoln Feast)
FILE PHOTO: Russian Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov speaks to the media during a news conference in Moscow March 5, 2015. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin

(Reuters) - Russia's ambassador to the United States said on Monday the U.S. denied entry visas to some Russian officials who planned to travel to Seattle for a meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.

"Entry visas for officials from several ministries and government bodies were not issued," Anatoly Antonov, the Russian ambassador, said.

(Reporting by Maria Tsvetkova; Editing by Chris Reese)
U.S. Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin holds a news conference on the day of a NATO Defence Ministers' meeting at the Alliance's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium June 15, 2023. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo

By Idrees Ali

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Navy on Monday became the third branch of the military to no longer have a Senate-confirmed leader for the first time in history, as a Republican senator continues to block military nominations.

Retiring Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Mike Gilday gave up command on Monday. The Navy, Army and Marine Corps are now all without a confirmed leader.

"This is unprecedented. It is unnecessary. And it is unsafe," U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said during a relinquishment ceremony at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville, who represents Alabama, has blocked hundreds of military nominations from moving forward, saying the Pentagon is improperly using government funding to cover travel costs for abortions for service members and their dependents.

"This sweeping hold is undermining Americas military readiness. Its hindering our ability to retain our very best officers and its upending the lives of far too many American military families," Austin added.

President Joe Biden has nominated Admiral Lisa Franchetti to lead the Navy, an historic step that would break a gender barrier in the U.S. military by making her the first woman to command the service and to become a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff - if and when the Senate confirms her. She will lead the Navy in an acting capacity until then.

After the U.S. Supreme Court last year overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling recognizing a constitutional right to abortion, the Pentagon said it would cover travel costs for service members seeking abortions and up to 21 days off.

Several states have limited abortion access since Roe v. Wade was overturned, and the military argues that women service members cannot choose where they are stationed.

The Senate's approval of military promotions is usually smooth. Tuberville's hold cannot prevent the Democratic-majority Senate from voting on any promotion, but it can drastically slow down the process.

(Reporting by Idrees Ali; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa  Japanese police arrested two Marines on Okinawa on suspicion of drunken driving after a separate pair of crashes over the weekend, one involving injuries to a Japanese driver and child passenger.

Cpl. Eduardo Sebastian, 22, of Camp Courtney, was arrested at 12:51 p.m. Sunday after his Honda Edix collided with another vehicle at a Route 75 intersection in the Higashi district of Okinawa city, a spokesman for Okinawa prefectural police said by phone Monday.

The other driver, a woman, 41, and her daughter, 9, were treated for minor injuries at a local hospital, the spokesman said. The woman injured her knee, back and neck, and the girl suffered a facial abrasion, according to the spokesman.

A Breathalyzer measured Sebastians blood-alcohol content at 0.15%, five times Japans legal driving limit of 0.03%, the spokesman said. Police said Sebastian told them that he drank two highball cans before driving.

By comparison, all 50 U.S. states have set 0.08% as the legal limit for driving under the influence or driving while impaired.

Also in Okinawa city, police arrested Cpl. Mike Moncoeur, 21, of Camp Schwab, at 7:49 a.m. Saturday, the spokesman said.

Police said Moncoeur was northbound on Route 224 in a black Nissan Infinity when he strayed into the opposite lane and collided with another vehicle at around 6:47 a.m. in the Noborikawa district.

A breath test at the scene measured Moncoeurs blood-alcohol content at 0.12%, four times the legal limit, the spokesman said.

Neither Moncoeur nor the other driver were seriously injured, according to police.

Police forwarded Moncoeurs case to prosecutors on Sunday and plan to forward Sebastians on Tuesday, the spokesman said.

If convicted of violating Japans traffic law, Moncoeur faces a maximum five years and three months in prison or a $7,400 fine.

If convicted of violating traffic law and of negligent driving resulting in injury, Sebastian faces a maximum of 12 years and three months in prison or a $14,800 fine.

Both Marines were still in police custody Monday, the police spokesman said. Some government spokespeople in Japan are required to speak to the media only on condition of anonymity.

A spokesman for the III Marine Expeditionary Force said the command is aware of the incidents and is cooperating with local authorities.

The alleged behavior does not reflect the core values of the U.S. Marine Corps, nor does it represent the conduct of the vast majority of Okinawa-based Marines, said Capt. Brett Dornhege-Lazaroff.
A Sikh man who won a court order allowing him to enter the Marine Corps without being required to shave his beard or cut his hair recently graduated from boot camp.

Wearing a white turban, Pvt. 1st Class Jaskirat Singh was among the Marines celebrating their achievement Friday at U.S. Marine Recruit Depot in San Diego, nonprofit organization the Sikh Coalition announced in a statement the same day.

Im proud to demonstrate that wearing a turban or beard does not make me any different or less of a Marine, and I intend to prove that in the future, Singh said at a news conference afterward.

Singh, who will serve in the infantry, is thought to be the first Sikh to be granted the grooming standards waiver to attend recruit training, according to the coalition.

The 21-year-old is among four Sikhs who sued the Marines in April 2022 alleging that the service discriminated against them in denying their religious accommodation requests.

The Corps refusal to allow them to keep their beards and leave their hair uncut for boot camp or duty in a combat zone is unconstitutional, the men say. The Navy also is named in the suit.

Key to the mens argument is the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which limits the federal government in restricting a persons exercise of religion, even when it may have a compelling interest to do so.

The Army and Air Force make accommodations for Sikh service members. The Navy has made changes for Jewish and Muslim sailors pending the outcome of a lawsuit.

In December, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled that the Corps must allow Singh and two other recruits who are parties in the lawsuit to attend boot camp without cutting their hair or shaving their beards while their case continues.

The remaining party in the lawsuit, Marine Corps Capt. Sukhbir Singh Toor, is seeking accommodation so he can serve in a combat zone.

In defending the service, Justice Department lawyers have argued that the requirements are necessary to promote uniformity, cohesion and other esprit de corps characteristics. Beards also could interfere with a proper seal on a gas mask, the services attorneys have said.

But Singh and his attorneys say Marine Corps values such as honor, service and discipline are fundamental to the Sikh religion as well. That commonality is what inspired Singh to enlist, he said.

For me personally, my understanding of the principles of (Sikhism) overlaps with my decision to serve my country, Singh said at the news conference, adding that many Sikhs serving in the military have the same interpretation.

Singh said fellow recruits were supportive during boot camp, asking questions about his faith and pleased with the diversity coming into the Corps. Commanding officers treated him the same as they treated other recruits, Singh said at the news conference.

Singh also said he easily met seal requirements for a gas mask during his training. If he had failed, the service wouldnt have let him graduate, one of his attorneys said.

While Singh and his attorneys are glad he and the other Sikh recruits can attend boot camp without forfeiting their religious identity, they cautioned that the court decision applies only to them.

More legal work remains to guarantee the accommodation for other Sikhs, they said.

What were pushing for  obviously is a policy change so that the next person doesnt have to go back to court essentially to fight this, said Giselle Klapper, deputy legal director of the coalition.

However, the Corps could implement the policy change based on the court decision, she added.
Kyiv City Mayor Vitali Klitschko met with German Finance Minister Christian Lindner, who arrived in Kyiv on a working visit.

"We discussed the situation in Ukraine and Kyiv and further support for Ukraine's struggle against the Russian aggressor. In particular, they talked about financial and assistance in the supply of weapons. I said Ukraine is in dire need of the necessary weapons. These are air defense systems and long-range weapons. We are counting on our partners understanding of the situation, that we cannot delay," Klitschko said on his Telegram channel.

According to Klitschko, Lindner, in turn, said Germany will continue to support Ukraine, because he is convinced that the task of the civilized world is to do everything so that Ukraine wins the war unleashed by Russia, otherwise the threat from the Russian aggressor will hang over the whole of Europe for a long time to come.
NIAMEY, Niger  The military junta that seized power in Niger said it plans to prosecute deposed President Mohamed Bazoum for "high treason" and undermining state security, an announcement that came hours after the mutinous officers said they were open to dialogue with West African nations to resolve the regional crisis.

If convicted, Bazoum could face the death penalty, according to Niger's penal code.

A spokesperson for the junta, Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane, said on state television that the military regime had "gathered the necessary evidence to prosecute before competent national and international authorities the ousted president and his local and foreign accomplices."

The Sunday night announcement said Bazoum was being charged following his post-coup exchanges with high-ranking West African politicians and "their international mentors," whom the leaders of the revolt accuse of making false allegations and attempting to derail a peaceful transition in order to justify a military intervention.

The statement did not identify specific foreign nations and did not specify a date for the trial of Niger's democratically elected president.

Still, on the streets of the capital Monday, some residents told The Associated Press they believed Bazoum was guilty. "Crimes for high treason is really what he deserves because this man betrayed Niger by stealing all of Niger's resources," Niamey resident Assan Zakite said.

Niger, an impoverished country of some 25 million people, was seen as one of the last country's that Western nations could partner with in Africa's Sahel region to beat back a jihadi insurgency linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. Before last month's coup, Europe and the United States had poured hundreds of millions of dollars into propping up its military.

Members of the presidential guard ousted Bazoum on July 26. He has since been under house arrest with his wife and son in the presidential compound in the capital, Niamey.

The junta has faced international pressure to release and reinstate Bazoum. Immediately after the coup, the West African regional bloc ECOWAS gave the regime seven days to return him to power and threatened to use military force if that did not happen. The deadline came and went with no action from either side.

Last week, ECOWAS ordered the deployment of a "standby" force, but it's unclear when or if it would enter Niger. The African Union Peace and Security Council was meeting on Monday to discuss the crisis and could overrule the West African bloc's decision if it thought an intervention threatened wider peace and security on the continent.

People close to the president and in his political party reported last week that the first family's electricity and water were cut off and they're running out of food. The junta dismissed the reports and on Sunday accused West African politicians and international organizations of waging a disinformation campaign to discredit the junta.

Rights groups worry Bazoum won't get a fair trial because the junta's newly appointed justice minister is the former president of the country's military tribunal.

"We don't trust him. He can't embody ideal independence and free justice," Ali Idrissa, executive secretary of a local human rights group, the Network of Organizations for Transparency and Analysis of Budgets.

The junta named a 21-person Cabinet last week that includes both civilians and military officers, but the uncertainty and mixed messages from the people claiming to run Niger continued.

Before the military accused Bazoum of treason, a member of the junta's communication team told journalists Sunday evening that the regime had approved talks with ECOWAS that would take place in the coming days. A mediation team of Islamic scholars from neighboring Nigeria that had met with the junta over the weekend also said the regime was open to dialogue with ECOWAS.

Previous attempts by ECOWAS to speak with the junta foundered as its delegations were barred from entering the country. The military regime's stated openness to talks could reflect the toll of severe economic and travel sanctions West African leaders imposed after Bazoum's ouster but does not mean the discussions will go anywhere, according to Sahel experts.

"Let's see what these negotiations actually look like, because it's also in the junta's benefit to, in the least, entertain talks. That doesn't mean they'll be serious about them," said Aneliese Bernard, a former U.S. State Department official who specialized in African affairs and is now director of Strategic Stabilization Advisors, a risk advisory group.

Talk of a potential military mobilization outside Niger also continues.

In an Aug. 11 memo seen by The Associated Press, Senegal's security forces ordered a "regroupment" from bases in Senegal for Monday as part of the country's contribution to the ECOWAS mission in Niger. It was unclear what the move entailed exactly.

In the weeks since the coup, the junta has entrenched itself in power, appointing a new government and leveraging anti-French sentiment against its former colonial ruler to shore up support among the population, creating a tense environment for citizens who oppose the junta and for many foreigners and journalists.

The board of directors for the Press House, an independent Nigerien organization that protects journalists, said Sunday that local and international media representatives were being threatened and intimidated by Nigerien activists who support the junta. The organization said it was deeply concerned about the "very difficult climate" in which reporters were operating.

The military takeover also has not stamped out jihadi violence, which the coup leaders originally cited as a justification for removing Bazoum. Fighters on motorcycles and believed to be with the Islamic State group ambushed Nigerien security forces Sunday, according to a security report for aid groups seen by the AP.

The attack and another last week claimed by the al-Qaida linked group known as JNIM are largely a consequence of military operations to combat extremist violence being suspended since the coup, according to Wassim Nasr, a journalist and senior research fellow at the Soufan Center.

"This is due to the halting of cooperation and the military being busy with consolidating their coup in Niamey," Nasr said. Communications and dialogue attempts with some jihadi groups, which had been established under Bazoum, also were cut after the coup, he said.

A former jihadi, Boubacar Moussa, told the AP that he's received multiple phone calls from active jihadis saying they were celebrating the chaos created by the coup and the greater freedom of movement the uprising gave them.

Moussa is part of a nationwide program that encourages jihadi fighters to defect and reintegrate into society. It is unclear if the program will continue under the military regime. He thinks as the situation evolves, jihadis will take advantage of the security gap and launch new attacks.

Associated Press reporter Lorian Belanger in Shintotsukawa, Japan, Jean-Fernand Koena in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, and Chinedu Asadu in Abuja, Nigeria, contributed to this report.
CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea  U.S. and South Korean forces will kick off another round of large-scale military exercises next week with over 30 separate drills, military officials said Monday.

Ulchi Freedom Shield Exercise will commence Aug. 21 for 10 days, U.S. Forces Korea spokesman Army Col. Isaac Taylor and South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesman army Col. Lee Sung-jun told reporters in Seoul.

The exercise is named after Eulji Mundeok, a Korean general who led his troops against forces of the Chinese Sui dynasty in the seventh century.

The exercise will include service members from all military branches training to counter the advancing threats from North Korea, according to Lee.

Our military will resolutely respond and prepare for future situations and endeavor for an enhanced readiness posture, Lee said.

Taylor described the exercise as routine training.

Both spokesmen declined to describe the exercise in detail, including what scenarios the troops will be undertaking and how many of them will be taking part.

The allied nations resumed large exercises last year with Ulchi Freedom Shield and the 11-day Freedom Shield Exercise in March after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol took office in May 2022.

The exercises, once a regular feature on the Korean Peninsula, were paused during former President Donald Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-ins tenure in 2017, when the two presidents negotiated for North Koreas denuclearization with its leader, Kim Jong Un.

Yoon and President Biden have resumed the exercises and boosted their military partnership in the wake of North Koreas weapon tests.

In July, the nuclear-capable ballistic missile submarine USS Kentucky made a stop in Busan, South Koreas largest port, for the first time in 42 years to show the alliances overwhelming capabilities and readiness, the Ministry of National Defense said in a press release.

Prior to the Kentuckys visit, the allies in March also conducted Warrior Shield, the largest field exercise in six years between the two countries, with roughly 1,200 troops at sites as close as 16 miles from the border with North Korea.

The U.S. and South Korea in March also held the Ssangyong Exercise, a series of maritime drills involving over 30 ships, 70 aircraft and roughly 50 amphibious assault vessels. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force also sent a destroyer for two days of naval exercises with South Korea and the U.S. after Ssangyong concluded.

In North Korea, Kim on Monday toured a weapons factory and called for the regime to boost its missile production, North Koreas state-run Korean Central News Agency reported that day.

North Korea has fired 17 ballistic missiles in 12 separate days of testing so far this year, including a solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile on July 12.

The communist regime last fired two short-range ballistic missiles from Pyongyang that flew roughly 340 miles before landing in the Sea of Japan, or East Sea, on July 19.
Wagner mercenaries were within shouting distance when the ambush began.

From the high ground, they raked a column of Ukrainian military armor below. An antitank rocket punched through Ilia Mykhalchuk's vehicle, and the 36-year-old recalled quickly taking stock of his injuries.

They were ghastly.

Right arm: ribbons of shredded flesh. His left: pocked with shrapnel.

Mykhalchuk stumbled from the burning wreckage, fell to the frozen ground and, using his fractured teeth for leverage, tightened a tourniquet onto each of his mangled arms. Moments later, his attackers drew near, shooting him through the legs. They moved closer. Death, Mykhalchuk believed, was imminent.

"I was sure," he recently recalled, "they wouldn't capture me."

Yet that is exactly what happened.

Mykhalchuk spent six weeks as a prisoner of the Wagner Group, Russias contract army whose savage campaign to capture the eastern city of Bakhmut cost thousands of lives over the winter and spring and left thousands more, including Mykhalchuk, grievously wounded. The Kremlins management of the months-long siege and its bid to force the private entity into subservience so enraged Wagner boss Yevgeniy Prigozhin that in June he took the extraordinary step of staging a rebellion, marching on Moscow in a stunning  if fleeting  challenge to President Vladimir Putins authority.

Mykhalchuk was freed in a prisoner exchange in April, having spent 46 days in captivity, during which he lost both arms to amputation by Wagner medics who, he said, neglected to suture his skin after the procedure. In interviews with The Washington Post, he gave a breathtaking account of his captors' alleged barbarism and mind-bending efforts to break the will of Ukrainian soldiers they had taken off the battlefield.

Following corrective surgeries in Ukraine, Mykhalchuk was brought to the United States by a consortium of charitable groups for intensive rehabilitation. He's now in the Washington area at a specialized facility outfitting him with arm prosthetics from a company with deep expertise treating American troops who lost limbs while at war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mike Corcoran, the prosthetist heading the effort, marveled at Mykhalchuk's resilience, saying, "He's not a shrinking violet."

Corcoran's company, Medical Center Orthotics and Prosthetics, has provided services to 19 Ukrainians, and more of them are on the way. It's a costly enterprise; Mykhalchuk's arms alone are valued at $200,000. The work has been facilitated through donations from the Brother's Brother Foundation and the aid group United Help Ukraine, which pays for housing, food, interpreters and other nonmedical needs.

It is vital for amputees to accept their limb loss and focus on rehabilitation, Corcoran said. Some of the Ukrainians he has helped have struggled, he said, and it's clear from the look in Mykhalchuk's eyes that his experience in Wagner captivity has taken a toll.

In his 20s, Mykhalchuk, who is from western Ukraine, was drawn to the outdoors, spending downtime with a fishing pole. For work, he did construction, painting, welding, bricklaying  anything with his hands.

Before Russia's full-scale invasion last year, Mykhalchuk previously served small stints in the Ukrainian military under mobilization obligations in 2004 and in a volunteer unit in 2015 to 2017. He was drafted in December, he said, and stationed in the east with the 67th Mechanized Brigade.

In late February, the unit drew an important mission outside Bakhmut, then the epicenter of fighting. U.S. intelligence assessments at the time revealed that Ukrainian forces were desperate to hold vital supply routes, including those stretching back to Berkhivka.

The 67th was ordered to secure part of the village. The brigade, Mykhalchuk said, is loathed by Russian forces for its ties to the far-right nationalist group Right Sector, which formed a militia following the Kremlin-backed insurgency in eastern Ukraine in 2014. Right Sector was absorbed into the Ukrainian armed forces last year, but animosity between its members and Russian forces remains. That was top of mind, Mykhalchuk said, when Wagner fighters approached as he lay immobilized. They often "kill us right away," he added.

Wagner's guns for hire took on the brunt of fighting in and around Bakhmut, where a mix of criminals with little training and skilled operators fought Ukrainian soldiers for control of the city. Russian mercenaries are prevalent in other parts of the world as well, namely Africa and the Middle East, where they have traded muscle for Kremlin influence and access to natural resources. In Mali, Ukraine and elsewhere, they have been accused of numerous war crimes and human rights abuses.

Wagner was Moscow's premier private military firm, powered by Prigozhin's longtime relationship with Putin, until its failed uprising in June. Prigozhin and his mutineers were then given haven in Belarus, where their arrival has prompted Ukraine and Poland to tighten security.

The Wagner Group could not be reached for comment. Representatives for the Russian Defense Ministry did not reply to requests for comment.

The Wagner attack on Mykhalchuk's unit was so fast and violent that it had to have been planned, he said. One other Ukrainian soldier was captured along with him, he said, with dozens of others either still missing or presumed dead. A spokesperson for the brigade could not provide an official account of the incident or Mykhalchuk's time in captivity. Ukrainian prosecutors have announced war-crimes investigations into the Wagner Group.

Wagner soldiers slipped off his tourniquets and replaced them with crude rubber tubing, tying them in knots so tight they could not be loosened, he recalled. As Mykhalchuk was moved into Russian-held territory, he pleaded for his captors to amputate his right arm. They refused to help him, he said.

Ten hours later, they arrived at a compound where Mykhalchuk would spend the duration of his captivity. He was taken to the basement, which he described as dark and poorly ventilated.

His left arm was salvageable after the rocket attack, he said, but it had turned black from necrosis, starved of blood from the tight rubber tubing. He said his captors made clear there would be no medical attention rendered until he was interrogated  which he said went on for hours.

Eventually, Mykhalchuk was sedated, he recalled. When he awoke, both arms were gone above the elbow. The people who performed the procedure bandaged his stumps without first stitching them, he said.

The interrogations were unrelenting. When he would lose consciousness, he said, he was injected with an unknown substance to keep him awake so they could continue.

His captors did not appear interested in tactical information, such as Ukrainian troop locations or other potentially useful intelligence. There were higher-ranking prisoners whom Wagner could have pressed for such information, Mykhalchuk said. Instead, he surmises that his value to Wagner was merely to be tortured psychologically. His interrogators made light of his amputations, telling him, he said, that he would never fight again, and sadistically asking questions about his fondness for fishing.

Wagner's strategy, he said, appeared designed to undermine the Ukrainians' values and to make them question how their countrymen would view them after release from captivity. The Wagner fighters sought to splinter the soldiers' solidarity and, alluding to their experiences fighting in other conflict zones, showed cunning proficiency when it came to manipulation.

"They tried to make us believe that we couldn't trust each other, and that it was a kill-or-be-killed situation," he said. "They were just playing with us, the way a cat plays with a mouse  when he catches it before he kills it."

Wagner fighters are known to be a volatile mix of serious soldiers and unpredictable convicts drawn from the Russian prison population, Mykhalchuk said. But the Wagner soldiers in the basement of his makeshift prison were professional, he said. He didn't know their names. Many appeared to exhibit greater respect for Ukrainians like him who were captured while fighting, but less for those who had surrendered  they were treated with derision.

Some prisoners were physically tortured, he said, but he did not witness it. The harshest abuse came in moments of capture, rather than in the basement. Some Ukrainians had their fingers cut off, he said. One man detained alongside him in the basement was set on fire with gasoline before being taken.

"When they're capturing you," Mykhalchuk said, "that is the fighting time."

Mykhalchuk looked to other captives for help enduring his confinement. They bathed and fed him, he said, with tenderness and care he did not expect. They took shifts speaking with him when the pain was too great to sleep.

The basement air was suffocating, he said, and eventually Wagner soldiers cut a hole in one of the walls to improve circulation. The captives existed in a sort of timelessness, without any sight of the sun or clocks. The first week flew by for Mykhalchuk because of his disorientation. In the second week, a new prisoner brought in a watch that flashed the date and time. After that, he said, "time began to drag."

A routine emerged. Late at night, the guards would announce who among the prisoners would be freed early the next morning. Mykhalchuk's name was called on April 15 to leave in a prisoner swap. When he emerged from underground, his eyes stung and, he said, it was difficult to breathe in the fresh air after so many weeks in a stifling basement.

He was taken with other prisoners to an agreed-upon location, a straight road for both Ukrainian and Russian units to have a long line of sight. Several drones from each side hovered above, some just a few feet over their heads. The first thing Mykhalchuk asked for once back in Ukrainian custody was coffee and a cigarette.

He does not know what has become of the dozens of soldiers with him when Wagner forces attacked. Not knowing, he said, has been upsetting.

"The parents of those friends, they all want to talk to me," he said. "I don't even know how to talk to them, or what to tell them."

Mykhalchuk spent weeks in a hospital recovering, time that included surgery to correct his hasty amputations. There are limited options for prosthetics in Ukraine, so he feels fortunate to be receiving such state-of-the-art care, he said, before heading back home. Construction could still be in his future, he said, though maybe this time as a foreman.

The artificial limbs he's being outfitted with give him far greater dexterity than anything he would have been provided back home. They are equipped, for instance, with bionic sensors that will make it much easier to summon the necessary power from what remains of his arms.

At the clinic outside D.C., Mykhalchuk donned a suction cup holding the sensors that translate electrical signals from his biceps and triceps. One sequence of muscle twitched controls allowing him to bend the elbow. Another sequence commands wrist movement.

For the first time in five months, Mykhalchuk picked up an object. The rubber hand grasped a white bottle. He tightened his grip before letting it go. It felt unusual, he said.

"It's an instrument," Mykhalchuk observed. "I have to practice and take control of it."

He practiced learning the most important motions right away: how to bring the artificial hand to his face to eat, drink and, importantly, smoke. One important goal is to tie his own shoes, he said.

Other possibilities have become clear, too. In one session, as he and the staff discussed precision touch, his interpreter offered a suggestion. "Can you show the finger to the Russians?" she asked.

Mykhalchuk smiled.

The Washington Post's Mary Ilyushina in Riga, Latvia, and Serhiy Morgunov in Utrecht, Netherlands, contributed to this report.
Wagner PMC is probably experiencing difficulties with financing, according to British intelligence.

"The Wagner Group is likely moving towards a down-sizing and reconfiguration process, largely to save on staff salary expenses at a time of financial pressure," the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Department of Defense said on Twitter on Sunday.

Since the abortive mutiny of June 2023, the Russian state has acted against some other business interests of Wagner owner Yevgeny Prigozhin. "There is a realistic possibility that the Kremlin no longer funds the group."

"If the Russian state no longer pays Wagner, the second most plausible paymasters are the Belarusian authorities," the British intelligence experts said. "However, the sizable force would be a significant and potentially unwelcome drain on modest Belarusian resources," they added.
ISLAMABAD  An explosion ripped through a hotel in Afghanistan's eastern province of Khost on Monday, killing at least three people and wounding seven others, police said.

The blast occurred at a city hotel frequented by Afghan people and refugees from Pakistan's former militant stronghold of North Waziristan bordering Afghanistan, said Mustaghfir Gurbaz, a police spokesperson in Khost.

He said officers were investigating to determine what caused the blast and who was behind it.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, though Afghanistan's Taliban government has blamed the regional affiliate of the Islamic State group  known as the Islamic State in Khorasan Province  for previous attacks.

Gurbaz provided no information about the Pakistani refugees staying at the hotel. Authorities in Pakistan have said members of the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP, are hiding in Khost and elsewhere in Afghanistan.

TTP is a separate group but is a close ally of the Afghan Taliban, which seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021 as U.S. and NATO troops were in the final stages of their pullout from the country after 20 years of war.

Pakistani officials say many TTP leaders and fighters have found sanctuaries in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover, which also emboldened the Pakistani Taliban.
WASHINGTON  Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed a special counsel Friday in the Hunter Biden probe, a surprise move that intensifies the investigation into the president's son ahead of the 2024 election.

Garland noted the "extraordinary circumstances" of the matter as he named David Weiss, the U.S. attorney in Delaware who had already been probing Hunter Biden's financial dealings, as special counsel after plea deal talks in the case broke down.

The sudden turn of events raises fresh questions about the case against Hunter Biden on tax evasion and a gun charge, deepening an investigation that was close to resolution just weeks ago. Weiss had asked to be named special counsel, gaining broad authority to investigate and report out his findings.

It comes as the Justice Department has taken the unprecedented step of indicting former President Donald Trump, who's President Joe Biden's chief rival in next year's election, in two separate cases. It also puts questions about Biden's family at the forefront of the 2024 presidential election.

Speaking at the Justice Department, Garland said he expects the special counsel to work expeditiously in an "even-handed and urgent" manner.

Garland said Weiss, who had been appointed by Trump as U.S. attorney, told him this week the investigation had reached a stage in which he should continue as special counsel.

"Upon considering his request, as well as the extraordinary circumstances relating to this matter, I have concluded it is in the public interest to appoint him as special counsel," Garland said.

The announcement of a special counsel is a significant development from the typically cautious Garland and provides Weiss with independence, authority and budget to pursue the investigation.

It's not fully clear why the attorney general took the step in appointing a special counsel for the Hunter Biden case, but prosecutors in Delaware also announced Friday that plea deal talks Weiss was pursuing in the tax evasion case had hit an impasse.

In a court filing Friday, Weiss' team said charges would be better filed in California or Washington. Though Garland has said Weiss always had the authority to file outside Delaware, the venue may have been a factor in his request to be named special counsel.

Nevertheless, the announcement ensures the Justice Department's probes of Trump, and now of Biden's youngest son, who used drugs and whose personal entanglements have trailed his father's political career, will carry into election season.

The federal cases differ significantly: Trump has been indicted and is awaiting trial in two separate cases brought by special prosecutor Jack Smith. One is over Trump's refusal to turn over classified documents stored at his Mar-a-Lago estate. The other involves charges of fraud and conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election in the run up to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

In the case of Hunter Biden, the president has not been accused or charged with any wrongdoing by prosecutors probing the affairs of his son.

Hunter Biden's attorney Chris Clark said little has changed about their understanding of the situation and the prosecutor's role.

"Whether in Delaware, Washington, D.C., or anywhere else, we expect a fair resolution not infected by politics," Clark said in a statement.

President Biden has said repeatedly he does not talk with his son about business.

Trump's team on Friday questioned the independence of the special counsel Weiss, who he himself had appointed. But a Trump spokesman said the prosecutor should move quickly, and anyone found with wrongdoing "should face the required consequences."

Mike Pence, another Republican rival for the presidency in 2024, told reporters at the Iowa State Fair that he welcomed the special counsel appointment  as he made his own dig at the Biden family.

"To be honest with you, I can't relate to what his son was doing when he was vice president," said Pence, who served alongside Trump. "When I was vice president, my son was flying an F35 in the Marine Corps defending this country."

Garland said Weiss will have "all the resources he requests" to probe the matter.

Last month, Hunter Biden's plea deal over tax evasion and a gun charge collapsed after U.S. District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika, who was appointed by Trump, raised multiple concerns about the specifics.

House Republicans had derided that agreement as a "sweetheart" deal as they pushed their own probe into Hunter Biden's business dealings.

House Republicans have been struggling to connect the son's work to his father, and so far they have not been able to produce evidence to show any wrongdoing.

Rep. James Comer, the Republican chair of the House Oversight Committee, has been leading the congressional inquiry into Hunter Biden's financial ties and transactions.

Comer joined forces with two chairmen of powerful House committees to launch a larger investigation into claims by two IRS agents who said the Justice Department improperly interfered in the yearslong case.

The Republicans claimed Weiss was being blocked from becoming a special counsel. It's a claim Weiss and the Justice Department denied.

The Kentucky lawmaker has obtained thousands of pages of financial records from various members of the Biden family through subpoenas.

Since then, Comer has brought in a former business associate of Hunter Biden, Devon Archer, who provided fresh insight during closed-door testimony into how the Democratic president's son capitalized on his relationship with his father, who was then vice president, to court foreign investors.

Archer said Hunter Biden was using the "illusion of access" in Washington. But he offered no tangible evidence that Joe Biden played any role in his son's work beyond saying hello during their daily family calls or as he stopped by a couple of dinners.

Comer joined other Republicans Friday in rejecting the appointment of a special counsel, calling it a "coverup" by the Justice Department, and vowed to continue his own probe.

Special counsels are typically appointed to investigate cases where the Justice Department perceives itself as having a conflict or where it's deemed to be in the public interest.

As special counsels, they aren't subject to day-to-day supervision from the Justice Department, though they are still overseen by the attorney general. They have a budget and, unlike most prosecutors, are expected to produce a report at the end of their investigations explaining their findings and decisions.

Weiss was nominated by Trump to serve as Delaware U.S. attorney in 2017 and was retained after Biden took over so he could continue to oversee the Hunter Biden investigation.

Associated Press writers Farnoush Amiri and Nomaan Merchant in Washington and Hannah Fingerhut in Des Moines contributed to this story.
This story has been corrected

As many as 100 spouses of deceased service members are expected to descend on Capitol Hill in late September to lobby for a bill that would eliminate financial penalties imposed for decades on husbands and wives who want to remarry.

Tonya Syers would be there but shes getting remarried after a nearly three-year engagement. She turns 55 on Sept. 15 and is finally free to wed without losing the benefits her first husband, a 20-year Army veteran, had earned before passing away.

I feel like my life has been on pause, Syers said. If it was up to us, we probably wouldve been married within a year of meeting.

Congress decided in the 1960s that widows and widowers would lose compensation, health care, educational opportunities, commissary access and other benefits if they remarry before age 55. Now surviving spouses and advocates are asking lawmakers to make the decision to undo those rules.

This is one of those archaic injustices that the survivor community faces, said Ashlynne Haycock-Lohmann, deputy director of government and legislative affairs for the nonprofit organization Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, or TAPS. The age 55 is arbitrary.  Theres no science behind that age.

The group is organizing the September lobbying effort and led the drafting of a bill introduced this spring that would allow spouses of fallen service members and veterans to collect benefits no matter the age at which they remarry. The measure, called the Love Lives On Act, is the first comprehensive legislative attempt to address nearly all benefits affected by the age requirement at once, Haycock-Lohmann said.

The bills price tag, estimated at $2.7 billion for 10 years, means its path in Congress will be difficult. Only one part of the legislation, a no-cost provision that ensures spousal access to commissaries and military bases, made it into the Senate and House drafts of the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act.

A spokesperson for Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran, the top Republican on the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, said the senator will continue to press for additional benefits as lawmakers negotiate the final version of the annual defense policy bill. Moran introduced the Love Lives On Act alongside Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga. A companion bill is also in the House.

At least 30,000 surviving spouses would benefit from the proposed legislation, Haycock-Lohmann said. While most spouses receiving compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs are in their 70s and 80s, the average age of a spouse at the time of their partners death is now 25 to 35, she said.

Kelli Campbell-Goodnow was 36 when her husband, Maj. Shawn Campbell, died in a helicopter training exercise off the coast of Hawaii in 2016. She had been a homemaker for the entirety of Campbells 15-year career in the Marines and was left to raise four young children alone.

Four years later, she remarried, and was forced to give up her benefits and physically hand over the identification card that afforded her privileges to which she had grown accustomed.

It was really kind of a degrading, sad thing to have to go through, Campbell-Goodnow said. They almost make you feel like you did something wrong.

Campbell-Goodnow said she worried about the financial implications of getting remarried but never wavered in her decision, believing her faith would take care of her. But now, as a business school student with tens of thousands of dollars in student loans, she wishes she could take advantage of the Fry Scholarship for surviving spouses.

Im doing OK, but it hurts that I cant access scholarships and things for school and it hurts that Im kind of nonexistent now, Campbell-Goodnow said. I was a stay-at-home mom, I homeschooled our kids. Our lifestyle was very much wrapped up in his job and our duty station and our [military] community.

Military spouses, most of them women, struggle far more than their civilian counterparts to build careers due to frequent moves, unavailable child care and other factors unique to the military lifestyle. Education and other survivor benefits become a critical lifeline for these spouses when service members die, Haycock-Lohmann said.

Surviving spouses widowed at 30 most likely have to retrain, go back to school and then youre looking at starting your first real career at 40, she said. Thats almost 20 years of lost income that theyll never be able to make back. These arent just the service members benefits. These survivor benefits help make up for their own lost earning potential.

The notion that a widow or widower will no longer need those benefits if they remarry before 55 is misguided, Haycock-Lohmann said, because it implies survivors become the responsibility of their new spouses.

The laws are very archaic, very 1950s, she said. They treat surviving spouses as if they are property.

Surviving spouses can lose roughly $40,000 in benefits from the VA and Defense Department per year if they remarry, she said. Only about 5% of widows and widowers younger than 55 get remarried because of the financial penalties, according to TAPS.

Syers, the widow of an Army veteran, said she receives about $2,000 in monthly benefits, half of the retirement funds that her husband, Chief Warrant Officer Lowell Syers, would have collected if he lived to 60. Lowell Syers died in 2019 at age 51 from glioblastoma, a brain cancer that also killed combat veterans John McCain, a former senator, and Beau Biden, President Joe Bidens son.

Syers followed her husband for 10 military moves, including postings to Germany and South Korea, and raised two children. Her ability to get a job suffered as a result.

She said she considers herself fortunate for losing her husband at a comparatively older age. When she met her fiance in 2020, Syers told him they would need to wait several years to marry  a length of time that was tough but doable.

My younger widow sisters, they have to wait decades, she said. "Nobody should have to wait like this to get married.

Syers has shared her story in letters to members of Congress in hopes of gaining support for the Love Lives On Act. Haycock-Lohmann said the veteran and military spouse community feels it is the right time to make progress on the issue of spousal benefits after years of focus on legislation such as the PACT Act, a mammoth veteran health care bill that was signed into law last year.

This bill represents how we treat families, said Campbell-Goodnow. It's such a punch in the gut to have to go through loss again, to have to surrender the benefits your husband worked for because you're doing something you know he wouldve wanted: moving on and moving forward with your family.
WASHINGTON  The United States will send Ukraine another package of military aid worth about $200 million that will include missiles, mine-clearing equipment and other vital hardware, defense officials said Monday.

It includes additional air defense munitions, artillery and tank ammunition, anti-armor weapons and other equipment to help Ukraine counter Russia's ongoing war of aggression, the Pentagon said.

The aid, worth as much as $200 million, is the 44th earmarked for Ukraine since mid-2021 under the presidential drawdown authority, which means the equipment is taken from Pentagon shelves and sent on an emergency basis.

Included in the aid are rockets for U.S.-made Patriot missile systems in Ukraine, various artillery and tank rounds and dozens of vehicles to tow equipment on land and water, officials said.

The United States has committed more than $43.7 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of the Biden administration, including more than $43 billion since the beginning of Russias unprovoked and brutal invasion on February 24, 2022, the Pentagon said.

Funding for the new aid comes from more than $6 billion that the Pentagon recently discovered due to an accounting error. Military officials uncovered the error in May and said it gave the Pentagon extra funds to ship weapons and equipment to Ukraine. The aid announced Monday is the first to dip into those excess funds, and it comes during a counteroffensive by Ukraine troops against Russian forces in various parts of the countrys eastern region to recover occupied territory.

Every day, Russia is killing Ukrainian civilians and destroying civil infrastructure, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Monday in announcing the new aid package. Russia started this war and could end it at any time by withdrawing its forces from Ukraine and stopping its brutal attacks. Until it does, the United States and our allies and partners will stand united with Ukraine.

The new aid tranche is the latest in a series of security packages that the U.S. has committed to Ukraine in recent months. An $800 million package in early July included, for the first time, cluster munitions, which are weapons that burst in the air and disperse smaller bomblets across a large stretch of area. Ukrainian officials had asked the U.S. to send cluster munitions for months. Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagons top spokesman, said Monday that the latest aid does not include additional cluster munitions.

Once the extra $6.2 billion in newly uncovered funds run out, new aid for Ukraine would have to be authorized by Congress. Some news reports have said President Joe Bidens administration has been working on a supplemental budget request to Congress.

Ukraine has long requested F-16 fighter jets and M1 Abrams tanks, though both appear to be a ways off still. The U.S. and other partner countries have agreed to train Ukrainian pilots to fly the F-16, but so far no country has pledged to send any planes to Ukraine. Almost three dozen Abrams tanks are being refurbished in the United States and the Pentagon has said they should start arriving in Ukraine in the next few months. Ukrainian troops are being trained to operate the tanks in Germany.

We are confident we can provide those tanks when we said we would, which would be before the end of this year, Ryder said Monday. The training has gone well for those tank crews.

Other items included in the new military aid:
As Pakistan celebrates its 76th Independence Day on August 14 (today), the nation is brimming with excitement and eager to pay tribute to the relentless struggle of our forefathers and national heroes in their quest for a separate homeland.

President Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) President Asif Ali Zardari, and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari extended heartfelt congratulations to the nation on the occasion of 76th Independence Day.

The day commenced with special prayers for the country's prosperity and unity, an apt prayer given the turmoil on the political and economic fronts.

Moreover, a 31-gun salute in the federal capital and 21-gun salutes in all provincial capitals were made as a tribute to the country that has weathered many a storm.

In a moving moment, the country then resounded with sirens at 7:58am, heralding the grand flag-hoisting ceremony at 8am.

Mosques across the country reverberated with early morning prayers for prosperity, solidarity, and peace.

As the country marks the day with a national holiday, various public and private sector departments are geared up to host a range of special functions and activities, including seminars, discussions, photographic exhibitions, artistic displays of paintings and poetry, national song renditions, and vibrant debate competitions to reflect on the monumental feat achieved 76 years ago.

The spotlight today will be on recognising the tireless contributions of the leaders of the Pakistan Movement and the sacrifices made by national heroes and ordinary people as they fought for sovereignty and a right to self-determination in a time, even when the odds were against them.

Streets and avenues of the federal capital and other cities have already turned into a sea of colours  especially green  and people adorn their houses, cars, and streets with flags, banners, and buntings, creating an ambiance of festivity that is sorely needed.

Prominent public and private edifices are aglow with illuminations, commemorating this significant occasion.

Print and electronic media, on this day, pay tribute to the indelible contributions of Pakistan's heroes, paying homage to their extraordinary dedication.

Police across the country have finalised traffic management plans for the convenience and safety of the general public as people throng public spaces such as parks, malls, markets, and beaches to celebrate the day, mingling with each other.

Literary and cultural organisations, including the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA), have chalked out a number of programmes to mark the day's significance.

However, no one is as excited on this day as children, the country's biggest asset and its future.

To engage these excited little ones and to educate them about the significance of the day, private and public educational institutions will hold different activities, including competitions, functions, and sessions to educate students about the historical struggle behind the creation of Pakistan.

Cities across the country have turned green and white colour with Jashan-i-Azadi stalls carrying dresses, flags, buntings, pin badges, toys, and other decorative accessories to attract youngsters and children.

Moreover, different brands, online retailers, eateries, cab-hailing services, and even electronics companies have offered exciting discounts, adding to the festivity.

Culmination of democratic, political struggle

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, President Arif Alvi congratulated people on Pakistan's 76th Independence Day anniversary.

"On this day, we pay tribute to the sacrifices rendered by our founding fathers and workers of the Pakistan Movement," the president wrote.

"The stories of those people, who faced hardships, endured oppression and braved immense challenges to reach Pakistan, serve as a source of inspiration for our future generations," he wrote, adding that the sacrifices of our forefathers should be valued.

"76 years ago, on this day, Pakistan gained independence after the historic struggle of the Muslims of the sub-continent under the dynamic leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

"The Muslims of India wanted a homeland for themselves where they could freely order their individual and collective lives in accordance with the teachings of Islam.

This day marks the culmination of a democratic and political struggle in our quest for freedom from colonial rule," he wrote.

Reflecting on the significance of this day, he wrote that it gives us the opportunity for introspection.

"We should reflect on the nation's progress so far, prevailing challenges, and opportunities for growth. It is a time to renew our commitment to building a stronger and more prosperous Pakistan as envisioned by the Father of the Nation."

He then urged people to pledge to uphold the principles of democracy, freedom, equality, tolerance, forgiveness, socio-economic justice, and moral and ethical values, as enunciated by Islam.

"On this important day, let's also remember our oppressed brothers and sisters in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), facing Indian atrocities for decades."

"India's illegal actions, including ending Jammu and Kashmir's special legal status in 2019, have further deteriorated the human rights situation in the valley in the form of extra-judicial killings, torture, and illegal detentions," he stated as he reaffirmed the country's dedication in standing with our Kashmiri brethren.

He further urged the entire Pakistani nation to work wholeheartedly for the country's development.

"There is a need to unite to cope with the social, political, economic and security challenges facing the Nation today. So, let's resolve that we will not hesitate to offer any sacrifice for the security, prosperity, and development of the country," he wrote.

An idea rooted in self-assertion

Meanwhile, outgoing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that the nation is celebrating the 76th anniversary of Pakistan's independence.

In his message for Independence Day, he said on this auspicious occasion, he extended his heartfelt congratulations to the entire nation, including overseas Pakistanis.

"This day holds a special significance in our hearts, for this historic day saw an unprecedented freedom struggle culminating in the establishment of the State of Pakistan.

"Today, we pay rich tributes to the men, women and children who got together under the dynamic leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah to struggle for the creation of a land they could call home," he stated.

"In the process, they established a glorious example of commitment and devotion to the cause of Pakistan. I also take this opportunity to pay homage to the Quaid-e-Azam's visionary leadership and other leaders without whom the dream of Pakistan could not see the light of day."

"The nation will eternally remain indebted to them for gifting us with the precious gift of freedom," the PM said, adding the freedom struggle for a separate homeland represented an idea whose time had come, an idea rooted in self-assertion and hope of a better tomorrow.

It was for a country where our people could explore their potential and live in peace in line with their glorious traditions, ethos, culture, and values.

The idea of Pakistan was much bigger than we can imagine, the PM maintained, adding it was an aspiration shaped by a fear of living under the majoritarian principle advocated by Congress.

PM Shehbaz further said there was no denying the importance of the many milestones we have achieved in the last seven and a half decades, often against opposing circumstances.

"We have faced the worst natural disasters, conflicts and wars and always managed to build back better. All along the way, we have jealously guarded the gift of freedom that we so passionately prize," he added.

He also recognised the importance and the urgency of Kashmir's struggle for freedom that spans well over seven decades.

"As we celebrate Independence Day, we stand in complete solidarity with the oppressed people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJ&K), who are waging a struggle for their right to self-determination.

"Pakistan remains committed to providing political, moral, and diplomatic support to them. Despite a four-year military siege and complete information blackout, the people of IIOJ&K have displayed remarkable resilience and defiance against the Indian oppressive apparatus," he said, calling upon the international community and human rights organisations to take note of the rights abuses in IIOJ&K.

"Our stance remains firm, advocating for a peaceful resolution of the dispute in line with the UN resolutions, recognizing the right of Kashmiri people to decide their own future through a free and fair plebiscite.

"The spirit of independence continues to inspire Pakistanis to overcome challenges and work towards a nation that embodies the principles of justice, equality, and prosperity for all," he concluded.

Supremacy of Parliament

Meanwhile, former president Zardari said that pledging loyalty to the Constitution means acknowledging the supremacy of the Parliament as the authentic court of the people.

"On the occasion of Independence Day, a pledge should be made to ensure the rule of the people according to the philosophy of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan," he said in a statement on the eve of Independence Day.

Zardari said today that the leadership and workers of the PPP renew their pledge to make Pakistan a democratic and welfare state according to the ideology of Quaid-e-Azam, for which Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto had fought.

He added that Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto fulfilled the dream of Quaid-e-Azam in the form of the 1973 Constitution.

Moreover, Bilawal said that the day is also the occasion to ask ourselves whether today's Pakistan has succeeded in achieving all the goals that our founding fathers had set and dreamed of at the time of its establishment.

"In the light of the vision of Quaid-e-Azam, we still have a long way to go and work hard to establish a strong federal democratic state and a society based on tolerance and equality," he said.

The PPP chairman added that his party is the true torchbearer of the ideology and principles of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who was a unique democrat and statesman who believed in religious tolerance.

"Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's gift of a unanimous constitution to the nation is a reflection of Quaid-e-Azam's vision of the state of Pakistan and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto fought her entire life to free the country from dictatorship and protect the rights and freedoms of the people and embraced martyrdom during that struggle."

Bilawal extended greetings to the nation on Independence Day and expressed good wishes for all Pakistanis.

He said today is the day to pay homage to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and his companions who struggled for freedom under his leadership and made sacrifices.

"August 14 symbolises making the impossible possible through peaceful political and democratic struggle," he added.

Immense blessing of freedom

Meanwhile, Punjab interim CM Naqvi extended heartfelt congratulations to the nation on the country's 76th Independence Day.

In his message, released Sunday, he expressed his felicitations to all his countrymen on this significant day.

He acknowledged the immense blessing of freedom and expressed gratitude to Allah Almighty for enabling his countrymen to breathe in the world as a sovereign nation.

The chief minister underscored the need to comprehend and uphold the intrinsic worth and honour of a nation that is free.

He paid tribute to the countless Muslims who dedicated their lives to kindle the flame of liberation and the venerable forebears of our liberated land.

Paying homage to the unparalleled valour of those who laid down their lives during the Pakistan Movement, he emphasised the significance of their sacrifice in pursuit of a peaceful nation.

The CM, in his message, called for introspection and learning from past experiences to chart a promising path forward.

He stressed the imperative of adhering to the tenets of faith, unity, and organisation, with each individual playing an integral role in the nation's advancement.

Naqvi asserted the shared responsibility of bequeathing a harmonious, robust, and flourishing Pakistan to the forthcoming generations.

He underscored the pivotal role of exemplary unity and solidarity in confronting the challenges that lie ahead.

He called upon all citizens to renew their commitment to prioritise the nation's growth over personal interests and collaboratively elevate the stature of Pakistan.
Patrick Leonard (23) is accused of assaulting and injuring the woman, a neighbour who was sick from concussion following the incident, a court heard.

A young man held a womans head and banged it off a parked car, knocking her unconscious after a pub row, it is alleged.

Patrick Leonard (23) is accused of assaulting and injuring the woman, a neighbour who was sick from concussion following the incident, a court heard.

The case against him was adjourned at Dublin District Court.

Mr Leonard, of Edenmore Avenue, Coolock is charged with assault causing harm to the woman.

The incident is alleged to have happened at Main Street, Raheny, on June 12, 2022.

Garda Sergeant Michelle Lynch said the DPP consented to the case being dealt with in the district court, subject to the judge considering the issue of jurisdiction.

Outlining the prosecutions case, she said gardai received a 999 call at 12.52am.

It was reported that a woman had been assaulted by a man outside the Raheny Inn.

The woman was unconscious on the ground and it was alleged that the accused had held her by the head and struck it on a vehicle that was parked outside the pub.

The accused and the alleged victim were neighbours and knew each other, Sgt Lynch said.

The alleged assault stemmed from an incident that occurred in the pub involving a number of people.

The woman was sick and vomited from concussion and attended a hospital emergency department. However, there was no follow-up treatment required and she made a full recovery, the court heard.

There was no medical report, but hospital notes were available, and there was also CCTV evidence.

Judge Bryan Smyth deferred a decision on jurisdiction and adjourned the case, but when it came back before the court, a medical report was still not available and defence solicitor Tony Collier sought a further adjournment.

The case was put back to a date in September.

Mr Leonard has not yet entered a plea.
They range from high-ranking lieutenants to those foolish enough to let the mob use their accounts to launder cash.

Ami Enabulele, who was jailed for three years

These are some of the people taken down in Ireland as part of an international police operation targeting the infamous Black Axe gang.

They range from high-ranking lieutenants to those foolish enough to let the mob use their accounts to launder cash.

Ireland became a stronghold for the gang, which originated in Africa in the 1970s but has tentacles around the world, and gardai have been at the forefront of a major crackdown on their operations.

Gardai have made hundreds of arrests in recent years as part Operation Skein, which is the Irish contribution to Interpols Operation Jackal targeting the notorious crime syndicate across 21 countries.

Black Axe is the main cyber-crime gang operating in Ireland and is involved in a large number of frauds, such as business email compromise (BEC) scams, romance frauds and fake e-retailer schemes.

Gardai and Interpol announced this week how authorities around the world were involved in a period of joint international law enforcement action against Black Axe, which mostly took place April and May.

The operation led to dozens of raids and arrests in counties across Ireland.

Among those arrested was a 40-year-old woman based in Clondalkin in Dublin who is considered to be one of the main players in the gang in Ireland.

The woman is suspected of running a large Irish network, which includes a bank employee who was also arrested by gardai as part of Operation Skein.

The operation began with a request for assistance from another EU country via EUROPOL in early 2020 after 1.1m was stolen in a BEC fraud and laundered through Asia. The fake emails originated from Ireland.

Ireland has also been a key location where the gang recruit money mules who allow the gang to use their accounts to transfer the stolen funds.

Numerous Irish businesses have been victims of the scams.

However, gardai have had major success against Black Axe and similar gangs operating here in recent years.

Junior Boboye was described by gardai as a high-ranking member of a West African crime group [Black Axe] when he was jailed last December for five years for his role in an 800,000 money-laundering and fraud operation.

Boboye, with an address at Castle Park, Ashbourne, Co Meath, was described as an active lieutenant and recruiting sergeant within the hierarchy of an organised crime group at his sentencing hearing.

When gardai searched his phone, they found Boboye had been sent a video of a man being executed by being shot in the head, to which Boboye responded: True sir, he got what he deserved.

Gardai said it showed the lengths the gang would go to.

Boboyes second-in-command, Emmanuel Olaniyan (29) from Liffey Terrace, Lucan, was jailed for three years for his part in the fraud.

Two others, Taiwo Ajike (24) and Onyebuchi Aduba (23) were money mules for the operation. Ajike was given a suspended sentence while Aduba was dealt with under the Probation Act.

The money mules are at the lowest rung of the operation and are easily caught, as they use their own bank accounts, which can be easily traced.

While Boboye was described as a high-ranking member of the gang in court, in reality there are several tiers above him including middle-managers, a director and ultimately the gangs bosses.

They also recruit computer experts to take part in infiltrating companies email systems.

While the online world is where the gang commits fraud, there have been a number of violent incidents linked to Black Axe in Ireland, including petrol bomb attacks.

A man arrested and convicted last year told gardai how another person above him received a threat to his life from the gang.

Joyce Sulambi received a suspended sentence

Last November Joyce Sulambi (24) of Lohunda Park, Clonsilla, Dublin 15, was given a suspended sentence after he defrauded two Irish transport companies by diverting an invoice of almost 50,000 into his own bank account.

When he was arrested he admitted his involvement to gardai and told about the threat to the person who recruited him.

I let my account be used for it. It was three lads, but I was mainly dealing with one lad, his life is under threat at the moment, Sulambi told gardai.

Another recruiter caught by gardai was IT worker Ajibola Bamidele, who was described a sergeant in the organisation when he was jailed for two years in December after he enlisted others as money mules for the gang.

Bamidele of Hastings Green, Hamlet Lane, Balbriggan, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four counts of money laundering on dates in June and July 2020.

The court heard the former Google worker started out as a money mule himself before moving up to becoming a recruiter.

Another man targeted by gardai, Kayode Falade, recently pleaded guilty to his part in a 125,000 redirect fraud carried out by Black Axe.

The court heard that hackers broke into employees email addresses, then contacted suppliers and creditors to divert legitimate payment for engineering work into a different bank account.

A false Nigerian passport was used to open the accounts where the money was redirected to, and Falade withdrew cash from the accounts.

Supermarket worker Falade (37) of St Vincents Street North, Phibsborough, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty his involvement in the fraud in June.

Last year, Valentin Radu (34), was given a two-and-a-half-year suspended sentence in relation to his part in the attempted theft of 743,000 as part of an email interception fraud.

Valentin Radu received a suspended sentence last year

Gardai had identified 16 people linked to the fraud, which they believe was carried out by an international organised crime gang.

Radu, of Warrenstown Place, Blanchardstown, was a just a small cog in the operation and only withdrew 1,500 of the cash.

He told the Sunday World he was stupid for getting involved but denied being a member of the crime gang and said he was tricked into it by a friend who fled to Romania after the crime.

Im stupid I cannot help [it], he told us. I have my fault anyway. I f***ed up, thats it. I made a mistake and need to realise that.

Valentin Radu

Italian national Giuseppe Diviccaro (47), with an address at Addison Drive, Glasnevin, Dublin, was jailed for three-and-a-half years in 2021 after helping launder thousands of euro for the Black Axe.

He opened seven bank accounts using a real ID but a fraudulent utility bill and then laundered 200,000 through the accounts.

Gardai found almost 10,000 in cash in his apartment when they raided it.

Diviccaro, who posed as fashion photographer working internationally in Europe and Nigeria while actually working for the gang, later said he had a gambling addiction which turned him into a criminal.

Giuseppe Diviccaro was jailed

He was part of a trend in Ireland where bank accounts were opened in Italian names and were used to launder money for the gang.

Another fraudster  Ami Enabulele, of Glendale Manor, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal  was jailed for three years last summer after he was centrally involved in a scam where more than 205,000 was taken from dozens of AIB customers accounts.

In that scam the gang accessed online accounts of victims and contacted banks pretended they had forgotten their passwords.

Ami Enabulele, who was jailed for three years

They then used phone shop employees to get SIM cards in the same number as the victims but with a different phone provider.

When the bank sent texts to the numbers so they could change their passwords the fraudsters were then able to access the victims accounts.

Enabulele has close links to a Dublin-based gang member who was higher up the chain in the operation and was arrested last August.
Keith ONeill was jailed for life for the 2012 murder

This is the first picture to be published showing the face of the hitman who gunned down gangster John Wilson in Ballyfermot, Dublin, in 2012.

Our exclusive image shows convicted killer Keith ONeill this week appearing before Blanchardstown District Court, where he was given a one-month sentence for possession of a mobile phone in Wheatfield Prison.

ONeill was jailed for life in 2015 for shooting dead John Wilson in front of his seven-year-old daughter on September 28 2012.

The 35-year-old was shot in the arm and chest in the hallway of his home on Cloverhill Road, Ballyfermot.

Wilson had just collected his young daughter from school when the gunman walked in through the open door and shot him from behind.

The child said she just heard bang, bang, bang and could see her dad rolling around.

The murder weapon, a Ruger gun, was found in a burned-out getaway car.

Afterwards, ONeill went to JD sports, bought new clothes and dumped his runners, jeans and two t-shirts in a skip.

When they were found in the JD bag and forensically examined, firearms residue and petrol were found on the fabric along with a phone.

ONeill pleaded not guilty to the gang-related murder but he was found guilty by a jury and sentenced to life in prison.

John Wilson was shot dead at his home in Ballyfermot, Dublin

At the time, John Wilson was a member of one of Irelands most feared criminal families.

Along with his brothers, Eric and Keith, and their nephew Luke, the family grew up in Ballyfermot while their cousin Alan was raised in the south inner city.

Though John, who was suspected of shooting up a Dublin pub, was the eldest, Eric was the first to become involved in murder when he shot his former best friend Martin Kenny in 2005 in a dispute over missing drugs.

Eric went on to carry out hits in Drogheda, the North and Spain before being jailed for 28 years for shooting English criminal Tall Dan Smith in a coked-up rage at a Costa del Sol bar in June 2010.

Keith is also doing life for the contract slaying of Daniel Gaynor in Finglas in August 2010.

Their cousin Alan was charged with and acquitted of the 2008 abduction and murder of Romanian girl Marioara Rostas in Dublin.

In 2017, Alan and youngster Luke Wilson were jailed over a Kinahan Cartel plot to murder Hutch figure Gary Hanley.

Appearing before Blanchardstown District Court this week, killer Keith ONeill pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a mobile phone while in custody.

The court heard the phone was uncovered during a search of ONeills cell at Wheatfield Prison on March 29 last.
When the Sunday World spoke with workers in one of the businesses at the property, they told us they had never heard of STY Global or Barry Young

CAB and Spanish police at raid of a home linked to mobster Barry Young

CAB and Spanish police at raid of a home linked to mobster Barry Young

The corner shop building in Alicante from which criminal Barry Young operated his fictitious cleaning service

The corner shop building in Alicante from which criminal Barry Young operated his fictitious cleaning service

This is the corner-shop building in Alicante from which gang-boss Barry Young registered a cleaning service intended to wash his dirty cash.

Company records show how the Sligo gangster, caged for 11 years earlier this month, registered STY Global and Construction Sl, operating out of Unit Three at 36 Avenida Naciones in Alicante, Spain on October 24, 2019.

But when the Sunday World spoke this week with workers in one of the businesses at the property, they told us they had never heard of STY Global or Barry Young.

The building is located less than an hours drive from the Torrevieja villa formerly occupied by crook John Gilligan, with whom Young was suspected to have business ties.

Gangster Barry Young was given 12 years in prison

Gilligan (70) was arrested at the Los Balcones property in October 2020 after police discovered he had been shipping cannabis and powerful sleeping pills back to Ireland hidden in boxes of childrens toys and flip-flops.

He and his associates have been charged with drug trafficking, the illegal possession of weapons, and belonging to a criminal gang.

Company records for Youngs Alicante company show that even before investigators discovered his involvement, STY Global had been put on a risk-watch by company monitoring service Skyfinder over its unusual finances.

Young registered the company using an alias and listed its activities as the general cleaning of buildings.

But the front was described by the monitoring company as high risk and given a liquidity score of just one out of 100.

Potential suppliers were also warned payment delay probability was high.

STY Global was one of two front companies operated by Young.

At home in Ireland, he registered BY (Barry Young) Recovery out of his home address on Geldof Drive in Cranmore, Sligo.

He listed the companys activities as service activities incidental to land transportation and his own profession as a mechanic.

Young, who is also suspected of having interests in two apartments and a bar in Alicante, was flying out to the Spanish holiday paradise on January 11 when he was nabbed by gardai at Dublin Airport.

The arrest was the culmination of a painstaking investigation stretching over a number of years during which gardai established that Young was the boss of a 20-strong gang operating across Sligo, Donegal, Leitrim and Galway, where it was involved in drug-dealing, intimidation and money laundering.

Following Youngs arrest, gardai seized his phone and discovered thousands of messages, images, videos and calls relating to the mobsters criminal activities in running the Sligo-based gang.

Phone activity revealed messages about drug seizures, drug-debt enforcement, intimidation, cash lodgements and movements, and the collection and distribution of drugs.

CAB and Spanish police at raid of a home linked to mobster Barry Young

Young moved money through a business to a Spanish account held in his name in February and April 2019.

The transfers totalling 35,000 were made ahead of his planned departure from Ireland.

The court heard that drug seizures linked to the gang totalled over 628,000, while Young himself had 40,000 in ready cash despite his only stated income being social welfare payments.

Outlining the background to the arrest, Detective Garda Inspector Ray Mulderrig told the Special Criminal Court that he believed Young was fleeing to Spain in a bid to escape his life of crime and drug-debts.

After Youngs January 2022 arrest in Dublin Airport, searches in the Sligo area found 36,360 in cash, 145,250 worth of cannabis, 11,000 worth of cocaine and 4,500 worth of valium and diazepam linked to the gang.

CAB and Spanish police raided a home linked to mobster Barry Young

A search of Youngs home by Sligo gardai saw the seizure of banking and vehicle documents, along with business papers for BY Recovery, though investigations found that no facility or yard for the business existed.

Michael Bowman SC, for Young, said his client had been under enormous pressure to pay his debts and had been looking for a way out of the life he made for himself, adding that Young was preparing to move out of Ireland when arrested.

Det Insp Mulderrig agreed with Mr Bowman that there had been a legitimate threat to Youngs life due to his debts and that his clients mental health had suffered as a result.

At his sentencing hearing on July 31, Mr Justice Tony Hunt described Young as a scourge on the people of Sligo for a number of years and he noted evidence that a relatively small community in the west of Ireland is burdened by four such gangs.

Mr Justice Hunt set the headline sentence at 16 years but due to mitigating factors, including Youngs early guilty plea, he reduced that to 12 years.

Mr Justice Hunt said the purpose of the suspension is to acknowledge that he is young enough to emerge back into the community and he wants to incentivise Youngs promises that he would turn his life in a different direction.

Following the sentence, Chief Supt Aidan Glacken told the media outside court that Barry Young has been involved in the sale and distribution of controlled drugs for the last 20 years.

CAB and Spanish police at raid of a home linked to mobster Barry Young

He directed and controlled a very large, organised crime gang involved in an illegal business in the northwest of the country and this gang had substantial international links.

In the pursuit of greed and in the pursuit of money, this organised crime gang has caused much harm, much stress, much destruction to society and families through their reckless nature.

We will continue in this work to dismantle these gangs.

Young is currently incarcerated on the C-Division in maximum security Portlaoise Prison.
Dad-of-three Kevin Moore reveals how he learned to adapt to his new reality

Three years ago, Kevin Moores family were mentally preparing for his funeral, after the IT worker was given just a 1pc chance of survival following a catastrophic stroke.

Instead, on a rainy day in May, they were cheering him on as he defied the odds to walk a mile unaided for charity.

Now 43, Kevin, from Co Wicklow, came very close to death or massive brain damage in January 2020. Leading a relatively healthy existence up to that point, he didnt smoke, eat or drink in excess, and was quite fit. He had, however, been suffering from unexplained headaches.

In 2019, he visited his GP but because of his young age, the doctor didnt take him too seriously. He thought it was sinus pain and prescribed a nasal spray. He didnt check Kevins blood pressure and this would prove crucial, as family had a history of high blood pressure.

Kevin Moore, who suffered a stroke in 2020, recently walked a mile as part of a fundraiser. Photo: Frank McGrath

When, on January 5, 2020, he got up to go to the toilet in the middle of the night, his leg buckled underneath him.

I couldnt hold myself up and I shouted to my wife who was in bed, Whats wrong with my leg? I slammed myself down on top of the bed and for a split second I thought to myself, Am I having a stroke? Then I thought, No, Im too young, he tells Magazine+.

There was light coming into the room from the window and he could see himself in the wardrobe mirror. My wife was on the phone and I thought whos she ringing at this hour of night? In fact, she was phoning an ambulance.

An unconscious Kevin was rushed to hospital where he was diagnosed with a burst blood vessel in his brain, which had resulted in a bleed. He underwent a decompressive craniotomy in an effort to relieve the pressure. This involved sawing open and removing part of his skull.

He was then put into a medically- induced coma to allow his brain to heal. The doctors didnt know when, or even if, he would ever wake up. They gave him almost no chance of survival.

Six weeks passed and Emma, Kevins wife of almost 10 years, and their children, Toby (19), Kealen (14), and Robyn (12) were distraught. It was very hard on all my family and especially my wife and kids, says Kevin. My eldest son told me afterwards hed picked out his funeral suit.

Then one day, he woke up. I remember waking, but my eyes were still closed. I heard my wifes voice saying: Kevin, Kevin, wake up! I remember thinking Id better wake up or Id be in trouble, he laughs. It felt like a curtain going up when I opened my eyes and the only reason I forced myself awake was because I heard her voice.

Emma was standing at the end of his bed, and asked if he remembered what had happened. He couldnt  but he had defied the odds to recover. Luckily his speech wasnt affected, but he couldnt walk, and although he had some movement in his left shoulder, he couldnt move his left wrist or the fingers of his left hand.

He spent eight months recovering in St Vincents Hospital, Dublin, as the doctors attempted to get his blood pressure under control, and afterwards three months in the National Rehabilitation Hospital, Dun Laoghaire.

In hospital, Kevin worked with an occupational therapist and did physio every day. He was in a wheelchair for a long time but little by little, he learnt to walk again. But his hand and wrist did not recover.

Hes left-handed, and has had to completely rethink everything he does. He previously worked as a server engineer but he can no longer type, so cannot go back to it.

In August 2020, he was referred to Open Door, a daycare centre in Bray, which helps to rehabilitate people with disabilities. It provides social interaction, physiotherapy and arts and crafts, as well as in-house relief for carers.

In the woodwork class, I came up with an idea for a one-handed chopping board for cutting up food, as well as a phone holder, he says. The woodwork teacher helped me to make them, and I still use them every day.

Open Door also got me out of the house and I met new people there, many of whom were recovering from illness or accidents like me.

Despite his traumatic ordeal, Kevin is loath to feel sorry for himself. The way I see it theres the old me and the new me, and I just have to accept that Im never going to be the same. You have to accept it, because otherwise youd get very depressed. Considering what happened, it could have been a lot worse, he believes. I could have died.

Hes grateful to the doctors who saved his life in the hospital, and also to his wife and kids for their support. My wife is an amazing woman. If she hadnt phoned the hospital that night, I wouldnt be here.

Kevin's wife Emma (pictured on their wedding day) has been his rock

They were also his biggest cheerleaders when he raised 1,600 for Open Door during the charity walk earlier this year.

I didnt find it too hard, as I did a couple of practice runs leading up to it, says Kevin. I got a great sense of achievement from it and it feels good to know the money will help others who are recovering.

Kevin is hoping to find a new job in the future, one that he can do with his disability. He also wants to get back to drumming, which he used to love to do. Im hoping I can do it with one hand, he smiles. I just have to adapt and find ways of coping.

For anyone else trying to recover, his advice is to keep pushing yourself and know that things will improve. It makes you appreciate your health and your life even more, he says. I feel like I was given a second chance. Im very lucky.

Support Kevins fundraiser at idonate.ie/crowdfunder/kevinswalk and see opendoor.ie
China's State Council stresses optimizing foreign investment environment

Xinhua) 08:04, August 14, 2023

People visit a match-making event of the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) in east China's Shanghai, July 26, 2023. The 6th CIIE is scheduled to be held in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10. (Xinhua/Xin Mengchen)

BEIJING, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- China's State Council has recently issued a statement outlining its guidelines regarding further optimizing the foreign investment environment and intensifying efforts to attract foreign investments.

The guidelines urged to improve the overall balance between domestic and international situations and foster a world-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized.

They also called for giving full play to the strengths of China's enormous market, making more efforts in attracting and utilizing foreign investment and doing it more effectively to make contributions to promoting high-standard opening up and building a modern socialist country in all respects.

Under the guidelines, 24 specific measures in six aspects have been put forward, according to the State Council.

These aspects include improving the quality of foreign capital utilization, guaranteeing the national treatment of foreign-invested enterprises, strengthening the protection of foreign investment, improving the facilitation of investment and operation, increasing fiscal and tax support, and improving ways to promote foreign investment.

The statement also said that all regions are encouraged to adopt supporting measures in light of local conditions to enhance policy synergy.

The Ministry of Commerce should strengthen guidance and coordination with relevant departments on policy promotion, implement the policies and measures timeously, create a more optimized investment environment for foreign investors, and effectively boost foreign investment confidence.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
Al Salam Bank has launched the 17th edition of its annual summer internship programme for graduates.

The two-month programme welcomes 29 students from various reputable local and international universities, providing them with practical experience and mentorship opportunities to support their future careers.

The programme has been thoughtfully designed to equip interns with a unique training experience encompassing extensive vocational and educational sessions from the bank's various departments.

Job market

Al Salam Bank aims to hone the skills of this year's participants, comprising 16 female and 13 male graduates, to enter the competitive job market. In addition to practical training assignments, the interns will undergo group projects overseen by experienced in-house mentors. The winning team will be rewarded based on their innovative solutions designed to enhance the services provided by Al Salam Bank.

As part of their training experience, the interns will have the opportunity to visit Bahrain Bourse to gain firsthand insights into the workings of the stock market and its role in the banking sector. Through this visit, the Bank also aims to deepen the graduates' understanding of the dynamics of working in local financial markets and the financial sector.

Muna Al Balooshi, Head of Human Resources and Administration at Al Salam Bank, said: "As part of our social responsibility commitment, Al Salam Bank is dedicated to enacting change in the community in which we operate. We continue to invest in the Kingdom's youth with possibilities to nurture and refine their skills to enhance their future career paths.

Through our summer internship programme, we aim to provide graduates with well-rounded training that prepares them for successful careers in the banking industry. We believe in investing in the future of local talent, recognizing them as the kingdom's greatest asset."-- TradeArabia News Service
A Russian warship forcibly stopped and searched a civilian cargo ship en route to the Izmail port in Odesa region, likely as part of a Kremlin effort to curtail maritime traffic to Ukrainian ports without committing naval assets to fully enforce a blockade, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has said on its report over August 13.

Regardless the facts that the Russian patrol ship forcibly stopped and searched a dry cargo ship sailing under the flag of Palau to Izmail and that the Russian Defense Ministry announced on July 19 that it would consider all ships en route to Ukrainian ports as potential military cargo carriers and the flag countries of such vessels as "involved in the Ukrainian conflict on the side of the Kyiv regime," Russian forces did not stop three civilian ships which openly advertised their destination as Ukraine over their ships' automatic identification system (AIS) on July 30.

"The reports of the three civilian ships sailing to Ukraine unhindered suggested that Russian forces may be unable or unwilling to forcibly stop and search neutral vessels, and Russian forces likely conducted their first forced inspection to reimpose the threat of escalation against civilian vessels en route to Ukraine. Russian forces also likely conducted the forced stop and inspection to undermine confidence in temporary trading corridors through the Black Sea to Ukrainian ports, which Ukrainian officials announced on August 10," the ISW said in the report.

According to the analysts, the Russian naval posturing in the Black Sea is likely intentionally ambiguous and seeks to create a chilling effect on civilian maritime traffic to Ukraine without requiring Russian forces to commit Black Sea Fleet assets to the enforcement of a naval blockade.

"The Russian military is likely less willing to commit the Black Sea Fleet to such a blockade than it was in July following notable Ukrainian strikes on Russian naval targets in the Black Sea and the Novorossiysk naval base in Krasnodar Krai in early August," the ISW said.
Widely praised in guest reviews for the comfort and the quality of its food, Avalon House is a member of the Original Irish Hotels collection, comprising traditional and boutique properties dotted around the country.

Have you noticed how its increasingly hard to find the much-flagged hidden Ireland?

Former off-the-beaten-track treasures are ever more crowded, thanks to GPS and other navigational aids, as well as the countrys improved road infrastructure.

Remember those childhood family car journeys  some of us folks of a certain age do  hopelessly lost on deserted country roads looking for our final destination?

Recently I drove cross-country, having missed the Durrow, Co Laois turn-off, crossing the Kilkenny border with a dead phone battery and no sense of direction.

At moments like this, we ask ourselves what wed do without that satellite shepherd who normally guides us. After a vain effort to flag down a slurry tractor driver, a signpost announces that the end goal is only 10km away.

The leafy facade

Entering Castlecomer (where the stationed Crown force would march up and down the wide main square asserting dominance over the Irish) the vibe is certainly one of hidden Ireland, with its imposing old buildings like the former bank, monumental courthouse and period shop fronts.

From the town squares Lime Tree cafe, a grand stop-off after a long journey for coffee and a snack, I drive on down the hill to the towns leafy outskirts.

Widely praised in guest reviews for the comfort and the quality of its food, Avalon House is a member of the Original Irish Hotels collection, comprising traditional and boutique properties dotted around the country.

Here, the Georgian frontage, sash windows and Virginia creeper define low-key grandeur. A spacious car park, the suntrap terrace and carved lions guarding the entrance provide a friendly calling card.

The four-star property, in days gone by a renowned guesthouse run by a popular local family, was taken over some years back by the younger generation, who set about renovating this terrace of 18th-century stone buildings.

A multi-million euro investment to extend and upgrade the interior and increase the amenities was happily achieved without losing the original character. According to general manager Peter Wilson, plans are afoot to develop adjoining Georgian-era properties for future expansion, which may also include a spa.

A plush bedroom

My stylish bedroom, one of 30 decorated in shades of aquamarine, gold and cream, features a free-standing bathtub, Rituals toiletries and a large picture of swans with intertwined necks on the wall.

I suspect, laying into the chocolate-covered strawberries and Prosecco, that I may have strayed inside the honeymoon suite!

A boutique wedding venue, Avalon House boasts a 150-seater ballroom and adjoining courtyard bar with a retractable roof, which used to be the town fire station.

Lils, the formal restaurant on the first floor, is not open but theres a good menu in the spill-over Larks Bar area downstairs, hung with old photographs of Wandesforde Estate, whose owners earned a fortune coal mining after opening seams in the hinterland from the mid-17th century.

Excellent seasonal cuisine, featuring food from local producers, dominates the dinner choices.

Breakfast the following morning is served in Lils, and the traditional Irish breakfast  free-range eggs, delicious bacon, sausages, and sublime black and white pudding sourced from Country Style in Waterford, together with superb home-baked brown bread  is reason enough for a return visit, served by a charming, helpful waitress.

No wonder the Avalon breakfast was recently singled out by top Irish food writers for special mention.

After all that overindulgence, its time to visit nearby Castlecomer Discovery Park, spread over 80 acres of stunning natural woodland and lakes, to try adventures including Irelands longest zip line. It was unfortunately not open during my visit.

But I tentatively climbed the first of the skywalk challenge levels, whose scary heights filled me with a new respect for contestants of Im a Celebrity.

Following the closure of the coal mines, the park was created as a community project, today an outstanding national amenity for children and adults.

The onsite Coal Mining Museum takes visitors through 300 years of local coal mining history in a fascinating 45-minute interactive multi-media experience.

And dont forget, to check out the craft design studios  housed in the former stable yard  that host workshops and events throughout the year, and also offer collections of jewellery and crafts from a range of local designers.

TRAVEL FACTFILE

KILKENNY See visitkilkenny.ie  BASED in Castlecomer, the four-star Avalon House Hotel has a one-night package, with dinner and B&B, starting from 124 per room.  ACTIVITIES at Castlecomer Discovery Park include a bouncing net (5), archery (16 per target), boating (16), and zipline and octagon high ropes course (27).
Ratoath man Brian Meagher was sacked after going to fight in Ukraine

Brian is battling for reinstatement in his usual prison officer role

Brian Meagher who went to fight in the Ukraine

An Irish prison officer who was shot and hit by shrapnel while fighting in the Ukraine says he just wants his job back after he was dismissed by the Irish Prison Service.

Ratoath man Brian Meagher, who served four years as a prison officer in Mountjoy Prison, is fighting for reinstatement after he was officially informed of the decision to sack him in June.

It is understood prison authorities concluded Brian was absent without leave from his post in Mountjoy Prison when he was struck by shrapnel from a landmine and shot in the back by Russian troops in Kharkiv on September 6, 2002.

The 37-year-old, a former soldier with 15 years experience in the Irish Defence Forces, has now hired legal representation to appeal his dismissal.

Brian is battling for reinstatement in his usual prison officer role

Contacted this week, Brian  who has made a near-miraculous recovery from injuries that include shrapnel wounds to his heart  told the Sunday World: All I want to do now is to be allowed to get back to work.

Unfortunately, I cant say anymore for now as the decision is subject to an ongoing appeal.

The decision by the Irish Prison Service (IPS) to dismiss Brian is understood to hinge on the contention that, after going on annual leave in June of 2022, he failed to return to work when his holiday period expired.

Efforts were made by senior management in Mountjoy to contact him  but these were unsuccessful.

Fighting against Russia in the Ukraine

Brians superiors only learnt of his involvement in the war when he appeared on RTEs Prime Time detailing how he had been shot and hit by shrapnel, which lodged in his heart, spine and legs, during a major offensive by the Ukrainian army the previous week.

It is understood, however, that Brian rejects this version of events.

A family friend, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Brian had organised swaps in his job in Mountjoy for the period from when his leave ended until shortly before he was shot.

Swaps are a device by which officers are allowed to cover for each other if they cant make their designated shift.

He didnt just go on annual leave and not return, the friend said. Hed organised swaps and then obviously, when he got injured, that fecked everything up.

He had told people in the prison that he was going travelling, that he was going on a hill-walking tour, and that they wouldnt be able to get in contact with him.

He had put in all the paperwork and then someone couldnt go in for him, they cancelled a few hours beforehand, and thats when he officially became absent.

So, its not entirely true to say he was absent without leave and he has documentation and messages to show this was the case.

Irish Prison Service where Brian worked for four years

While Brians shifts were being covered by swaps, the army veteran, who had felt compelled to travel to fight against the Russian invasion, was assigned to a foreign legion supporting the breakthrough September offensive against Vladimir Putins forces.

Brians unit were tasked with mopping up after mechanised infantry would smash through the Russian lines. Tragically, the Irish volunteers unit ended up in enemy territory on day one.

Most of the Russian forces had fled, but one unit remained and it ambushed the foreign legion, including Brians unit.

Brian was standing in an open-back truck when he was hit twice in the heart by shrapnel and struck by a bullet in the spine. After being initially treated at a makeshift field hospital, he was transferred to a hospital in Kyiv before being medically evacuated from the war-torn country back to Ireland in October.

Since sustaining his injuries, Brian has undergone a total of 10 surgeries and is due to have two more in the near future.

Brian Meagher in a hospital in Ukraine

His recovery has been incredible, the family friend told the Sunday World.

Hes up and about and walking around.

The shrapnel in his heart has to be left there as it would be too dangerous to remove.

The Ukrainian doctors were going to remove it but a high-ranking American heart surgeon who reviewed his file advised against it.

Brian was undergoing these surgeries and was being treated also from a superbug he picked up in the Ukraine when he was informed that the Prison Service was recommending his dismissal.

Brian at home with his mother

He asked for his file so he could put in a submission but he didnt get it. Even then, parts of it were redacted, until five months later.

He was then told the file had gone to the Minister of Justice for a decision because of the public interest in the case  but we dont know how true that is.

And then two months ago, he received a couriered three-line letter saying hed been dismissed.

The family member said Brian had been left now with no choice but to seek legal representation and file an appeal.

Brian has not in any way given up on his job and he fully expects to be reinstated even if it takes a year before this happens.

He doesnt believe he has done anything wrong.

On one side of things we have the head of our government flying out to Ukraine to meet with their President and assure him of Irelands full support in the war.

And then on the other, we have Brian, an Irish citizen who it appears is being punished for actually going out to Ukraine and supporting them in the fight against invasion.

Contacted this week, a spokesperson for the Irish Prison Service said it cannot comment on issues relating to present or former staff members.
Hes ditched the suit and tie  and is all smiles reflecting on his nine-year political career.

Todd Muller has been the Bay of Plenty MP since 2014  and is calling it quits at the 2023 general election after feeling as though he doesnt have enough left in the tank.

With years of experience door knocking and navigating the yappy dogs belonging to seemingly every home in Papamoa, Muller says he has absolutely loved getting to know his electorate and representing them in Parliament.

Across the country, Muller is known as the shortest-serving leader of any political party represented in Parliament, after resigning as the National Party leader 53 days after taking up the reigns in 2020.

Great privilege

Despite this, he says there are no regrets in his roller-coaster career, and views his famously short time as the National Party leader as a highlight.

It was a great privilege to be the leader of the National Party. You know, it will always be defined by the fact I wasnt there very long, and the unfortunate events I had to walk through afterwards, but its a highlight.

Outside of his short stint as the party leader and battle with his mental health, Muller says there are no bad memories during his time in Parliament.

When I look back over those nine years, with the exception of obviously having a pretty public breakdown, I absolutely loved it.

Highlights

Muller says major highlights of his political career include becoming the Chairman of Foreign Affairs and Trade, visting New Zealand troops in Iraq, going to America to see Trump, Obama and Clinton in person, and working to get the Zero Carbon Bill up with Climate Change Minister James Shaw.

Todd Muller traveled to Iraq as the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in 2017. Photo: File/SunLive.

As part of the Zero Carbon Bill, Muller and Shaw set up an independent commission to advise successive governments on how to best go about the journey of decarbonisation.

Bipartisanship is relatively rare in New Zealand politics. To have bipartisanship on an issue as important as climate change, I think, it was really critical and is still critical.

James Shaw

Im really proud of being able to pull that together with James Shaw. I credit it to him. He was the [Minister of Climate Change] and opened his office and said lets to this together and thats pretty special to be able to do.

When asked who the best politicians to work with, Muller says Shaw comes to mind, despite describing his partys policies as largely mad.

On who were the worst politicians to work with, Muller simply says they know who they are.

Muller says he feels Covid-19 "knocked the stuffing" out of the local community and country. Photo: File/SunLive.

Looking at the future of the Bay of Plenty and the wider country, Muller says New Zealands capacity to deal with internal challenges worries him.

I do feel Covid-19 knocked the stuffing out of us, both as a community and country in general.

I worry it is going to take a fair amount of turn around to get us back where we need to be. There are some big questions for New Zealand around how we want to grow as a country, where we want to be in terms of population, and how we are going to fund things.

For better or for worse, Governments have decided to borrow money. Now we have to decide how to grow out of it. Should we be more aggressive with immigration? How to we manage that? How do we speed up the building of things?

Its one thing to commit to infrastructure building, which is clearly what has happened, but we seem to have lost the ability as a country to build quickly and efficiently. We seem lost in this morass of process and grumpiness. Thats going to take more than a couple years of good governing to turn around.

Home

On returning home to his family, Muller says it has been fantastic to be back home with his wife Michelle and kids Bradley, Amelia and Amy  who are finding it happily strange to have him back.

And as for his next steps, Muller says he is planning on picking up a mix of things both locally and nationally in a portfolio as opposed to one job, but is not prepared to say what they are just yet.
An inquiry into the fatal capsize of the fishing charter boat Enchanter has found problems with the skippers navigation and delays with the search and rescue operation.

Five people died when the Enchanter was capsized near North Cape by a large wave forming a wall of water on March 20, 2022.

They were Mike Lovett, 72, Richard Bright, 63, Mark Sanders, 43, Mark Walker, 41 and Geoff Allen, 72  all Waikato fathers who had formed a tight-knit fishing syndicate out of Brights Cambridge bar.

Five other people  including skipper Lance Goodhew and deckhand Kobe ONeill  were winched to safety by helicopter in dark and atrocious conditions.

Maritime New Zealand later charged the skipper and his business, Enchanter Charters, with Health and Safety and Maritime Transport breaches. These charges are still before the courts.

A 100-page report by the Transport Accident Investigation Commission released on Friday has identified problems with the skippers navigation, the search and rescue operation, and the way the vessel was surveyed.

TAIC chief commissioner Jane Meares and chief investigator of accidents Naveen Kozhuppakalam presented the findings of the investigation into the accident.

The investigation found the rescue mission was fraught with delays due to the rescue helicopters not being dedicated to search and rescue, helicopter fuel not being available at the remote site and crew of a navy ship not understanding search and rescue terminology.

Safety features which could have helped survival also failed to work: life jackets were unreachable because of where they were stowed, life rafts failed to deploy and lifebuoys did not have reflective tape which would have made them easier to find.

Kozhuppakalam says it's likely Enchanter strayed into an area prone to occasional larger waves that peaked as they entered shallower water.

He says three people were alive in the water when last seen by survivors but were later found dead.

The commission has made nine recommendations to help improve and prioritise search and rescue operations, plus improve the safety of commercial vessels.

Recommendations include that Maritime NZ notify surveyors of changes to maritime rules and require commercial vessels carrying passengers outside inshore limits be fitted with an automatic identification system.

Meares says the Ministry of Transport should identify opportunities for the supply and storage of fuel and should have procedures for asking helicopter operators about their maximum range and opportunities for refuelling for sustained search and rescue operations.

Meares says fuel in remote areas tended to be available for medical services rather than search and rescue operations.

A number of factors would have improved survivability, including lifejackets, life rafts, track and trace technology and the fast deployment of search and rescue crew, says Meares.

The emergency locator beacon was also not activated until more than half an hour after the accident happened.

Meares says the report makes reference to a disagreement between TAIC and the skipper as to where the accident occurred.

She says the recommendations all need to be addressed and as soon as possible.

Kozhuppakalam says search and rescue operations need to have a cohesive unit.

The accident was initially survived by nine of the 10 people on board, yet five people tragically died, the commission says in its report.

The fatal trip

The 16.2m Enchanter was on a five-day fishing charter at Three Kings Islands, and had spent a day sheltering from a northeast weather system, the commission found.

As the weather cleared, the skipper headed to Murimoto Island, just off North Cape, intending to spend the night there.

But before the boat could get to the island, at 7.50pm, it was hit on the side by a near-vertical wave, described by the skipper as a wall of water.

The inquiry considered if this wave was a rogue wave  an unexpectedly large and unpredictable wave.

But it found it walled up to a steep breaking wave because the boat was likely in water just 10m deep, far shallower than the 50m the skipper had estimated.

The wave knocked the boat down, causing the Enchanters main cabin and flybridge to tear from the hull, which capsized the vessel.

One passenger asleep in a forward cabin was trapped, while everyone else made it into the water.

The skipper, first mate and three passengers managed to scramble on top of the broken-off flybridge and upturned hull.

Four other passengers were seen in the water alive, including one who was clinging to a lifebuoy.

The rescue mission

Emergency equipment like life jackets couldnt be reached because they were stowed under bunks in the front passenger cabin and the life rafts did not automatically deploy like they should have.

However, the Enchanters EPIRB (Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon) surfaced next to the skipper and, while it didnt automatically activate like it should have, he was able to manually turn it on.

The first mate soon noticed one passenger face-down in the water but efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.

The NZ Rescue Co-ordination Centre tasked Northland Emergency Services Trusts helicopter to respond and it managed to find and winch to safety the skipper, first mate and three passengers over two trips.

Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopters also joined the search, but the inquiry found neither helicopter was dedicated for search and rescue  all are first air ambulances  and it took some time for them to gather crew and get equipped.

While the Northland trust has a trailer of fuel at Kaitaia Hospital, the fuel was quickly used up by the first two helicopters and both were grounded for 4 hours while more fuel was sourced.

An air force P3 Orion and three fishing boats joined the search in the early hours of March 21, but it was not until first light that three bodies were recovered.

Navy vessel Taupo joined the search at about 11am. But, for 4 hours  due to search terminology being confused with Defence Force terminology  it incorrectly took on the role of on-scene command, directing the search to a different area than the rescue centre wanted.

The body of a fourth passenger was located at 1.20pm, while the fifth passenger was recovered from the hull by the police dive squad the following afternoon.

The inquiry found while the Enchanter was well-built and maintained, its stability and resilience was tested when it was operated in shallow waters, where steep breaking waves were more likely.

It also found the life rafts were not of a high enough standard, the lifebuoys did not have correct reflective tape and two lifebuoys did not have automatic lights  issues which shouldve been picked up by surveys.

The fact the life jackets could not be reached also had a factor in survivability, although the inquiry also noted passengers couldve been affected by injuries from the capsize and pre-existing medical conditions.

Recommendations aimed at addressing safety issues

The commission recommended the Ministry of Transport:

Set standards for search and rescue assets and training.

Identify and source air and maritime assets appropriate for search and rescue.

Identify opportunities for fuel supply and storage for search and rescue operations.

Have procedures to prompt air operators on maximum range and refuelling options for long operations.

Develop a joint search and rescue training programme so terminology is understood.

To Maritime New Zealand it recommended:

Implement a formal system to notify and instruct surveyors of changing maritime rules for building, maintaining and surveying vessels.

Ensure it has an adequate system for monitoring the performance of marine surveyors.

Ensure appropriate rules or guidance is given to marine surveyors and boat operators about the risk of having all life jackets stowed in one place which might not be accessible.

Require commercial vessels to be fitted with an automatic identification system when carrying passengers beyond inshore limits.

-Denise Piper/Stuff.
The new traffic lights at Fifteenth Avenue are now in place and in use.

In the coming weeks, Tauranga City Council will return to work on all four corners of this intersection to remove the remainder of the old traffic light poles and carry out any associated remedial works to the ground these are removed from, as well as asphalting and line marking.

"We ask visitors to the weekly Farmers Market at Tauranga Primary School to be aware of the following closure next weekend.

"The southbound lanes of Cameron Road will be closed between Fourth Avenue and Fifth Avenue from 6am Saturday, 19 August, to 6pm Sunday, 20 August. Arundel Street will also be fully closed to traffic.

"Access to Arundel Street will remain for residents only from Devonport Road, with no entry on to Cameron Road. Traffic will still be able to access Cameron Road using Fifth Avenue (east) or Sixth Avenue (east)."

Meanwhile, work is continuing at the Eleventh Avenue, Ninth Avenue, Eighth Avenue and Elizabeth Street intersections, as well as in other sections throughout the corridor, including some areas of the centre median.

"We ask that you take these works into account when you plan your journey and thank drivers for their patience and understanding. You can check here for travel updates. We also recommend checking Google Maps or Waka Kotahi NZTA Journey Planner."

For more detailed information on these works, visit the road closures webpage.



Continuation of night works closure - northbound lanes of Cameron Road between Fifteenth Avenue and Thirteenth Avenue (6pm to 6am):

From 6pm Sunday, August 13, the northbound lanes of Cameron Road between Fifteenth Avenue and Thirteenth Avenue (including the Fourteenth Avenue intersection) will be closed for four nights (6pm to 6am) to continue resurfacing work. Northbound traffic will be diverted down Fifteenth Avenue, along Devonport Road to Thirteenth Avenue. Cameron Road and the Fourteenth Avenue intersection will be open for use during the day, with Cameron Road reduced to one lane while this work is underway.



From 6pm Tuesday, August 15, to 6am Thursday, August 17, the same closure will be in place with the same diversions, for line marking. This work is weather dependent and if it does not occur on these nights, it will occur in the days following.



Intersection work:

Cameron Road/ Elizabeth Street (north-east corner, outside Pacific Toyota): there is a southbound left lane closure which extends left around the corner into Elizabeth Street (east).

(north-east corner, outside Pacific Toyota): there is a southbound left lane closure which extends left around the corner into Elizabeth Street (east). Elizabeth Street (west)/ Cameron Road (north-west corner, outside Brain Watkins House Museum): there is a left lane closure for traffic turning left from Elizabeth Street (west) on to Cameron Road.

(north-west corner, outside Brain Watkins House Museum): there is a left lane closure for traffic turning left from Elizabeth Street (west) on to Cameron Road. First Avenue (west): is exit only, but will return to being entry only in the coming week. There is currently no parking in this street.

is exit only, but will return to being entry only in the coming week. There is currently no parking in this street. Arundel Street: as above.

as above. Fifth Avenue (east): is entry only.

is entry only. Fifth Avenue (west): is closed, with Cameron Road accessible via Fourth Avenue (west) or Sixth Avenue (west).

is closed, with Cameron Road accessible via Fourth Avenue (west) or Sixth Avenue (west). Seventh Avenue (west): is now closed permanently to traffic as it becomes a green space cul-de-sac.

is now closed permanently to traffic as it becomes a green space cul-de-sac. Eighth Avenue (west): is exit only but will become entry only in the coming week.

is exit only but will become entry only in the coming week. Ninth Avenue (west): is exit only.

is exit only. Eleventh Avenue/ Cameron Road intersection : there are lane closures along Cameron Road and into Eleventh Avenue (east) around the McDonald's and Z Service Station corners.

: there are lane closures along Cameron Road and into Eleventh Avenue (east) around the McDonald's and Z Service Station corners. Twelfth Avenue intersection (west): from Sunday, 13 August, this intersection will be exit only while we complete stormwater works and a new kerb and channel. We expect this work to take six weeks.

from Sunday, 13 August, this intersection will be exit only while we complete stormwater works and a new kerb and channel. We expect this work to take six weeks. Fifteenth Avenue/ Cameron Road/ SH2/ Cameron Road intersection centre median: the centre right-turning lanes are closed but traffic can still turn right into Fifteenth Avenue and SH2 using the centre turning lanes.

the centre right-turning lanes are closed but traffic can still turn right into Fifteenth Avenue and SH2 using the centre turning lanes. Fifteenth Avenue/ SH2/ Cameron Road intersection: work is underway at the centre medians.

work is underway at the centre medians. Sixteenth Avenue/Cameron Road (east): is entry only from Cameron Road. Access to Sixteenth Avenue (east) remains via Devonport Road.

is entry only from Cameron Road. Access to Sixteenth Avenue (east) remains via Devonport Road. Sixteenth Avenue (east): is entry only.

is entry only. Sixteenth Avenue (west): is exit only.

Please note, above works are weather dependent.
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Malaga has again proved that its annual 'feria' summer fair never fails to attract hundreds-of-thousands of people from all over the world.

Related article Malaga Feria 2023 Picture special: Malaga's summer fair 2023, in full swing Salvador Salas / Marilu Baez / Marilu Baez / Nito Salas

It's backed up in the numbers, with hotel occupancy data better than expected for this year's fair. On Sunday 13 August, mayor Francisco de la Torre, revealed that there will be more than 90% hotel occupancy this year, some 2% more than in 2022. "The forecasts have been improving for the better, as is natural, in recent days," he said. De la Torre also pointed out that occupancy of five-star hotels is above 95%, and four-star hotels have exceeded 90%.

The mayor pointed out that strong occupancy numbers in five-star hotels is a sign of an improvement in the quality of tourism, one of the council's goals. "We want the fair to be an event of excellence, quality in every way, both in the fairground as in the city centre," he said.

Foreign visitors

On the first Friday and Saturday of the fair, visits to the city's tourist offices grew by 37%, to 7,369 visitors, compared to 2019, and 5% higher than 2022, which was a very successful year for tourism in Malaga. De la Torre pointed out that 50% of visitors are Spanish and the other half, foreigners. Among the international visitors, most are from the United Kingdom, France and Italy. While most of the Spaniards are coming from Madrid and the Valencian region.

The mayor also said there will be four cruise ships arriving during the days of the feria, and put the total number of cruise passengers that will disembark in the port at around 13,000.

The president of the Junta de Andalucia, Juanma Moreno, also visited the fairgrounds on Sunday and pointed out the importance of the Malaga fair for the economy of the region. "It is one of the great economic drivers of Andalucia," he said. "It is a great showcase of what we are. A hospitable, open, fun, cheerful city where one can enjoy our gastronomy and our folklore. The fair is a source of great satisfaction," he added.
The situation in the Kupiansk and Lyman directions in eastern Ukraine is currently difficult, Russian invaders are constantly attacking and Ukrainian troops are repelling their attacks, Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine Hanna Maliar has said.

"After the activation of Russian troops in the Kupiansk and Lyman directions, our defenders were able to prevent the enemy from advancing and significantly reduced its offensive potential. Currently, a certain decrease in the number of shelling and ammunition used by the enemy is recorded in the east, however, this does not mean that the enemy retreated from its plans. The enemy is now regrouping and trying to restore lost opportunities. Fighting continues," she said on the Telegram channel on Monday.

In the Kupiansk direction, the enemy is increasing the density of minefields along the state border in Belgorod region and searching for weaknesses in the Ukrainian defense. In the Lyman direction, the enemy continues assault operations in order to force the Ukrainian troops out of the Serebriansky forest area in Donetsk region, but to no avail.

Also, the occupation forces are trying to conduct an offensive in the Avdiyivka and Maryinka directions in Donetsk region in order to establish full control over Maryinka and encircle Avdiyivka, the deputy minister said.

"Our defenders do not allow the enemy to implement its plans although it is very difficult. Fierce fighting continues. The situation there is tense and difficult. In addition, the enemy is constantly making unsuccessful attempts to restore the lost position in the vicinity of Staromayorske," Maliar said.
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Readers Choice is back for 2023. Advance Media New York is kicking off the third annual CNY Readers Choice Awards, calling on readers to give shout outs to their favorite local businesses.

Readers Choice celebrates readers picks for outstanding local businesses that serve the Central New York community. syracuse.com and The Post Standard are giving readers a platform to spotlight their favorite local businesses, accepting nominations Aug. 14-27.

Everyone in Central New York has a favorite place that they love recommending to others, said Lindsay Marlenga, Senior Director of Marketing at Advance Media New York. The Readers Choice Awards does just that featuring all of the best places in Central New York, as voted by the community.

Once nominees are in, voting takes place Sept. 18 through Oct. 1, with finalists revealed Nov. 19. Winners will be announced in a special section publishing Sunday, Nov. 19 in The Post-Standard and on syracuse.com.

Last years Readers Choice garnered 8,000 nominations in over 120 business categories with Central New Yorkers casting more than 125,000 votes for their favorite businesses. After the votes were tallied, 123 winners were crowned as 2022 Readers Choice champions.

Visit https://syracuse.secondstreetapp.com/Readers-Choice-2023/ to nominate your favorite local businesses in over 120 categories. Readers will be entered for a Chance to Win a $100 Amazon Gift card.

Local business owners and their employees are also encouraged to nominate their business at https://syracuse.secondstreetapp.com/Readers-Choice-2023/. Businesses from Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, Seneca and Tompkins counties are eligible to be nominated.
A legendary rap group is coming to Syracuse to celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.

The Sugarhill Gang will perform at the Middle Ages Beer Hall in Syracuse on Friday, Dec. 1. Doors open at 7 p.m., music starts at 8; must be 21 or older to attend.

Tickets are $35 (plus fees) through ticketweb.com. Prices increase to $45 on the day of the show.

The Sugarhill Gang, also sometimes written as The Sugar Hill Gang, first rose to fame with the 1979 hit Rappers Delight, which became the first rap song to hit the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The group, which featured Wonder Mike, Master Gee and the late Big Bank Bank, also had memorable classics like Apache (Jump On It), and 8th Wonder.

The Sugarhill Gang were credited with helping spread hip-hop, which began in New York City on Aug. 11, 1973, to mass audiences and inspiring multiple generations of artists.

Join us for an electrifying evening of music, dance, and celebration as we pay homage to the genre that changed the music landscape forever. Its a chance to relive the magic of hip hops early days and groove to the rhythms that have inspired countless artists, an event description says.

Middle Ages Beer Hall is a new 8,000 square-foot music and events space that opened this spring on the second floor at 120 Wilkinson Street, directly above the Middle Ages Brewing Co. in Syracuse. Other upcoming shows at Middle Ages Beer Hall include Martin Sexton (Sept. 16), Sophistafunk (Oct. 20), Biggie Is Dead, a live mashup of Notorious B.I.G. and The Grateful Dead (Sept. 22), and tributes to artists like Fleetwood Mac, AC/DC, Snoop Dogg and the Allman Brothers Band.
American High is inviting the Central New York community to celebrate its newest movie shot in the Syracuse area.

Miguel Wants to Fight will premiere Wednesday, Aug. 16, exclusively on Hulu. However, you can still see it on the big screen when American High hosts a special in-person screening Friday, Aug. 18, at its headquarters in Liverpool, N.Y.

The fun begins at 7 p.m. with food trucks and mingling outside the Syracuse Studios building (the former A.V. Zogg Middle School and Liverpool high school) located at 800 4th Street in Liverpool. The movie will then be shown in the auditorium around 8 p.m.; attendees may bring food from the food trucks inside for the event.

RSVP is required online at https://forms.gle/ZtqxBw9912p3VY3r9 or via https://linktr.ee/americanhigh.

Admission is free, but a $5 donation is suggested for The Academy at American High, the film production companys 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and trade school. (For more information about classes and internships, visit syracusestudios.com/academy.)

Parking is available on-site, though carpooling is encouraged as a greener and more efficient option.

Fans unable to attend in-person can still join the fun through a virtual watch party Saturday, Aug. 19, starting at 8 p.m. via Teleparty. RSVP at the same link to receive information about joining the virtual screening.

Miguel Wants to Fight, the eighth Hulu Original film from Liverpool-based American High, is a coming-of-age comedy about a 17-year-old boy who asks his three best friends to help him get in his first fight ever before moving to a new city. A trailer shows scenes that were shot in Liverpool and at Syracuse Studios.

Despite living in a neighborhood where fighting is stitched into the fabric of everyday life, high school junior Miguel (Tyler Dean Flores) has never found himself in one. And, to be honest, hes perfectly fine with that. But when a combination of events turn his life upside down, Miguel and his three best friends the stoic David (Christian Vunipola), the rowdy Cass (Imani Lewis) and the quick-tonged Srini (Suraj Partha) enter into a series of hilarious misadventures as he tries to get into his first ever fight, the official synopsis says.

Flores, whose credits include The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and The Dark Knight Rises, leads a cast that includes Raul Castillo (Army of the Dead), Dascha Polanco (Orange is the New Black), Jordyn Owens (Uncoupled) and Andrea Navedo (Jane the Virgin).

"Miguel Wants To Fight," the eighth Hulu Original Film shot by American High in the Syracuse area, is a coming of age comedy about a 17-year-old who asks his three best friends to help him get in his first fight ever before he moves to a new city. Mrs. Rodriguez (Dascha Polanco), shown. (Photo by: Brett Roedel/Hulu)

The film is directed by Oz Rodriguez, written by Jason Conception and Shea Serrano, and produced by American Highs Jeremy Garelick, Will Phelps and Molle DeBartolo with Mickey Liddell, Pete Shilaimon and Oz Rodriguez. Executive producers include Jimmy Price and Michael Glassman.

Its one of 16 feature-length movies shot in Central New York by American High over the past six years. Other American High titles include Sid is Dead, Its a Wonderful Binge, I Love My Dad, Crush, Sex Appeal, Plan B, The Binge, Big Time Adolescence, Looks That Kill, The Ultimate Playlist of Noise, Holly Slept Over and Banana Split, along with the upcoming releases Empire Waist and an untitled Kevin James film.

American High renewed a deal with Hulu earlier this year for more movies on the streaming service.
It will be the most colorful time of the year before we know it, Upstate New York and a new set of peak fall foliage activities in the Adirondack Mountains await you.

The Adirondack Railroad launched new train rides this summer which will take autumnal adventures to the next level. In fact, it will take you all the way to the High Peaks.

Regularly scheduled rail service by The Mountaineer will run from Old Forge / Thendara, NY to Tupper Lake and return. On select dates during the late Summer and the Fall foliage season, this train will include High Peaks Limited trips departing from Utica, turning around in Tupper Lake, for an 11-hour round trip service through the beautiful countryside.

This select service will feature a domed observation car originally operated in scenic rail service to the West Coast by the Union Pacific Railroad to get maximum views of the autumn leaves.

Tickets are on sale now and range from $75-$165 depending on which three classes of accommodations guests choose.

There will also be shorter two-hour trips from Tupper Lake to Sabattis, traveling southbound out of the historic village of Tupper Lake. Travelers will encounter a lattice truss bridge built in the late 1800s and many historic ruins of past mountain communities. There will also be views of popular Mt Arab as you wind past Adirondack lakes, wildlife, and ledge rock carved by ancient glaciers.

In addition to the Tupper Lake train rides, Adirondack Railroads Adirondack Scenic Rail Bikes service is also now offering a 7-mile round trip from Tupper Lake through the natural beauty and spectacular views of the Adirondack Mountains and Raquette River.

There are also rail bike rides which depart from Thendara along Moose River and through the forest canopy.

To see more details and purchase tickets for the new Tupper Lake rail adventures, visit the Adirondack Railroad website.

READ MORE

New Upstate NY fall foliage, pet friendly rail bike adventures announced

Adventures in Upstate NY: Explore Adirondack treetops at Wild Center in Tupper Lake (video)

Explore teeny-tiny town named Adirondacks best-kept secret
This summer, a tour evoking pop-punk nostalgia is headed to the Western New York region.

The Offspring are set to take the stage at the Darien Lake Amphitheater close to Buffalo on Sunday, August 20th. The concert will feature opening performances by Sum 41 and Simple Plan, beginning at 7 p.m.

Standard admission lawn seating tickets are currently on sale through Live Nation, starting at $41.30, while reserved seats begin at $51.17. However, for those seeking discounted prices and alternative seating options, ticket resellers like VividSeats, StubHub, and others offer various choices. Heres a glimpse of what you can discover if you explore different ticket sources:

VividSeats : Lawn seats start at $29. Reserved seating starts at $36

StubHub : Lawn seats start at $30. Reserved seating starts at $40

SeatGeek : Lawn seats start at $27. Reserved seating starts at $33

MEGASeats : Lawn seats start at $37. Reserved seating starts at $44

The Offspring, led by Dexter Holland, is best known for 90s hits like Come Out and Play, Self Esteem, Pretty Fly (For a White Guy), The Kids Arent Alright and Why Dont You Get a Job?

Sum 41 is a Canadian rock band best known for Fat Lip and In Too Deep from their breakout 2001 album, All Killer No Filler. The Deryck Whibley-led group is expected to release a new album this year.

Simple Plan, also from Canada, rose to fame on the Warped Tour in the early aughts and hit the mainstream with songs like Im Just a Kid, Id Do Anything, Perfect, Addicted, and Welcome to My Life.

More concerts:
Joshua Solomon, Times Union, Albany, N.Y. (TNS)

ALBANY  In typical times, for-profit companies dont run human shelters in New York.

But during the ongoing migrant crisis, New York City entered into a $432 million no-bid contract with a for-profit health care company, DocGo, to shepherd thousands of migrants through the emergency and help communities that have been overwhelmed by the calamity.

In recent weeks, following increased scrutiny of its management of the crisis, DocGo has faced public criticism from local and state officials for arguably falling short of its contractual obligations.

I would say Im not satisfied as Im standing here, but Im going to be reviewing this, Gov. Kathy Hochul said last week, adding her administration is reviewing DocGos work with New York City Mayor Eric Adams office.

The governors comments came days after Albany-area officials chastised the company during a news conference.

The question is: What in Gods name is DocGo doing? asked Assemblyman John McDonald, D-Cohoes, who noted the extensive work local nonprofits have been engaged in since migrants began arriving in late May to the Albany area.

As local and state officials increase their scrutiny of DocGo  and deflect blame at the company for a crisis that has also exposed government breakdowns at every level  migrants in the Capital Region continue to report concerns about access to health care, including for at least two pregnant women who were relocated to Capital Region hotels.

The publicly traded DocGo reported its most successful financial quarter during an earnings call last week.

We believe we have strategically positioned DocGo to leverage cash flows from our core municipal contracts to fund this growth internally, DocGo President Lee Bienstock told investors. We are seeing that strategic plan come together beautifully.

The company projects the $432 million contract with New York City, which is being subsidized by the state, will lead to about $300 million in revenue. DocGo officials said they expect the contract, which has not been made public and officials refuse to release, will be extended past its March 2024 end date.

I think it is extremely unlikely that the families with children  which again is over 85 percent of the individuals coming into New York  are going to be left without these services at any point, DocGo CEO Anthony Capone said.

The multimillion-dollar contract for a for-profit company has become common in New York since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The rollouts of mass vaccinations and emergency rental assistance also led to severe public criticism, including concerns about wasting taxpayer dollars by using for-profit companies hired under no-bid, emergency contracts. The practice is legal but has provided few options for legislators to halt the process carried out by the executive branches of government, often through executive orders.

The states ability to conduct oversight on the DocGo work also is limited because the states Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services and the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance do not have access to the companys contract, despite $1 billion in state funding being set aside for New York Citys migrant crisis.

DocGo, in response to questions from the Times Union, asserted it is meeting its contractual requirements and going beyond it in some instances, including providing toys for migrant children. It said it is also adjusting its work to handle any missteps along the way, including unsatisfactory meals.

We continue to look to adapt to ensure we are delivering our guest quality products and are happy to collaborate with officials in Albany, a DocGo spokesperson said in a written statement, declining to provide their name.

The situation has grown more dire in recent weeks as the southern border continues seeing record numbers of illegal crossings and homeless migrants have been left huddled on New York City sidewalks. Adams administration has been scrambling to find housing options and casting blame at President Joe Bidens administration for mishandling the crisis.

DocGo said it has provided medical care and other services to more than 19,000 migrants since beginning its work in September.

Prior to sending any migrants upstate, it said its employees screen them for COVID-19, check them for rashes or lesions and conduct a verbal screening for other communicable symptoms or chronic conditions. If the migrants have vaccine records, they are recorded with New York City.

A number of migrants and nonprofits the Times Union spoke with at three hotels in the Capital Region over the last week alleged systemic failures on the part of DocGo and government agencies, saying theyve struggled to receive basic services, including sufficient health care.

A senior official in Hochuls administration, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told the Times Union they were also very concerned by news reports on the treatment of migrants in the Capital Region, including security guards used by DocGo who have engaged in heavy-handed treatment and scolded migrants who talk to reporters. But the person said the state is looking into whether it was a systemic issue or a case of localized mismanagement.

Coordination hasnt been there

At least two pregnant migrant women have made appointments with a local obstetrician seeking prenatal care, but neither showed up, said Joe Gambino, CEO of the Schenectady-based Hometown Health. While he was unsure why they were no-shows, Gambino said his concern is they had no transportation to get to the appointments.

Gambino said he has repeatedly reached out to DocGo to offer the services of Hometown Health, which is the only federally qualified health care center in the county and is equipped to offer Medicaid-reimbursable care for underserved populations.

DocGo, in response to questions about the prenatal care of the two women, said it provides urgent care as needed onsite by advanced practice providers at all facilities serving families and children.

The company also said it works with local health care providers for ongoing treatment and provides a shuttle for transportation to the appointments. And caseworkers for DocGo will assist in identifying medical needs and booking medical appointments.

Though caseworkers said shuttles from the Ramada Inn make several stops at Hometown Healths main clinic several times a day, Gambino said no one from DocGo has made an effort to cooperate with scheduling health care appointments for the migrants.

The coordination hasnt been there, Gambino said. Instead, he said, people have been showing up at the clinic unannounced.

As far as Im concerned, what were asking for is not unreasonable, he said. All were saying is, Let us know whos coming. Lets set a time and well make sure we can see them.

The clinics offers to have migrant children staying at a Rotterdam hotel immunized before the start of the approaching school year have not been taken up by DocGo.

One indication that local officials are beginning to find the situation untenable: More than two months after the migrants arrived in Albany, the state is in discussions with local health departments to potentially step in and oversee immunizations and tuberculosis screenings, according to an Albany County official.

At the Colonie hotel, some migrants said they were dubious about what medical services had been provided.

Its all bad, said Nicolas, who is staying at the SureStay with his three children and wife and would only be identified by his first name. He pointed to the limited availability of on-site nurses and said when children get sick, they are given pills that are hard for them to swallow instead of liquid medicine. His children have yet to see a doctor.

Outside the Rotterdam Super 8 last week, dozens of women milled about with their toddlers and children, navigating the busy roundabout in front of the hotel as they picked up snacks at the nearby Cumberland Farms gas station and looked through clothes and toys at the adjacent church.

Four women who spoke to the Times Union said they have not received any medical care beyond an initial health assessment while theyve been at the Rotterdam motel.

All of them noted that they had not necessarily needed outside health care since arriving weeks ago, and that their children have not required the services of on-site nursing staff. DocGo said it has an advanced practice provider available at the hotels where migrants are housed.

They have also been told they will receive health insurance cards in a few weeks and can use those to make medical appointments. DocGo said the health care centers it works with provide medical care services to uninsured patients.

Deimaryz, a migrant who has two school-age children and asked to be identified only by her first name, said she had a sinus infection that over-the-counter painkillers couldnt resolve. She went to the hotels nurse, who gave her a nasal spray. She has not been able to see a doctor.

One of her children has cavities and needs to see a dentist. DocGo said dentistry services are included care that local health centers are supposed to provide.

Deimaryz said she is hoping the promised health insurance will handle her familys medical needs, but hasnt been told what it will cover or been approached by anyone from DocGo to offer more information.

If migrants have needs beyond the scope of the on-site nurse, they are taken to a nearby hospital emergency room, Deimaryz said.

For some emergencies that people have, (employees) take them to the hospital, but it is very difficult to return, she said, speaking through a translator.

Its extremely difficult

After fleeing from a wave of violence in Ecuador, Myra, her husband and two children arrived July 13 in the United States. They spent a week in Phoenix before arriving July 23 in New York City. Two days later, they were bused to Albany.

Myras 19-year-old daughter, Mishelle, has significant mental disabilities and struggles to walk very far on her own. The family requested a wheelchair from DocGo workers at their hotel. They were told one was not available.

The three spend most of their time in their hotel room while Myras husband tries to find work. If she wants to leave the hotel with her daughters, she must carry Mishelle if they are going far.

We have investigated this issue since it was brought to our attention on Wednesday and have been unable to identify the family in question, a DocGo spokesperson said in a statement on Friday, asking for further information to identify the individual. (DocGo responded to questions without providing the name of the person providing the information.)

Another group of six adult migrants told the Times Union about their experiences with DocGo since arriving in Albany last month. They were interviewed last week with translation help from Jesenia Alcantara, the director of operations at the nonprofit Capital District Latinos headquarters on Central Avenue.

The six men and women, who would only give their first names, said DocGo employees had in some instances failed to properly care for them.

A man named Sebastian said his two children, 8 and 10, became ill the first day in Albany after eating food provided by DocGo. He took them to an emergency room but left after not seeing a doctor for 10 hours.

Other migrants said they had also suffered digestive ailments since eating the food provided by DocGo, which has said it contracted with local vendors. Sebastian said he was later able to look in the hotels walk-in cooler where he saw stacks of frozen meals, labeled by the day they were to be served.

An Albany County official said DocGo has replaced its food vendor at least once since it started placing migrants in the area.

Alcantara expressed frustration with what she said is a lack of care DocGos employees in the Albany area were giving to the migrants.

They are being neglected, she said. All of us, we are all human beings, first, fourth, fifth, 10th generation, found a way to get here. And someone at some point assisted our family.

Following public criticism from Capital District Latinos, Alcantra said migrants were told the hotels will no longer give them rides to the nonprofit center. DocGo said the center requested it to instruct the asylum-seekers not to go to CDL without an advanced appointment.

When the first few dozen migrants arrived in the Albany area they were given bus passes by DocGo. But none of the migrants the Times Union spoke with, who had recently arrived, said they have received one. Some also recounted getting lost trying to find their way back to their hotels after going out on their own, Alcantara said.

Migrants at the Colonie hotel on Wolf Road described a system where a hotel shuttle makes a daily route. But no one explained to the new arrivals what stops are along the route or provided them with a map.

Once dropped off at a store, such as a Walmart, the migrants said they had no way of getting back to the hotel if they missed the returning shuttle. The migrants want DocGo to either offer improved transportation or help them get CDTA bus passes so they can travel on their own, Alcantara said.

Assemblywoman Pat Fahy, D-Albany, said at a news conference that she had asked DocGo to provide bus tokens, but received no response from the company.

All the migrants interviewed at the nonprofit appeared to be in different stages of the immigration process and some said they had not spoken with legal representation about applying for asylum or ensuring they would make the required court dates.

Five of the six said they had not seen a doctor and that they and their children had not been screened for medical or mental health conditions.

Genius, an immigrant from Haiti, said he has not yet been given soap to wash with and has been asking other migrants to use their toilet paper.

Its extremely difficult to navigate the whole situation, Genius told Alcantara.

Albany County officials said nearly three months ago, as migrants began arriving in the area, that there were issues with their care and food quality, according to Mike McLaughlin, director of Policy and Intergovernmental Affairs for County Executive Daniel McCoy.

McLaughlin confirmed that the county did not have substantial communication with DocGo officials after the end of June, despite statements from the company otherwise.

Radio silence, he said. The message was being brought to DocGo by us. Basic information requests to establish current status were being brought to them by us. Concerns about the hotel and everything were being brought to them by our service providers.

In the past several days DocGo re-established communication with the county, including providing updated demographic data.

But the situation has created stress among local officials and triggered a multitude of lawsuits  aimed primarily at New York City  because of what many upstate elected leaders said is a lack of coordination when migrants are dropped off in their communities, often without notice. In Colonie, police recently filed code violations against a hotel where migrants have been staying for more than 28 days, which is a limit set by a town code.

Schenectady County Manager Rory Fluman issued a statement Friday saying the county is experiencing a housing crisis and cannot accommodate any additional asylum-seekers. We have ... been assured there is no intent to send additional asylum-seekers to Schenectady County.

The senior member of Hochuls administration interviewed for this story explained that the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance is conducting inspections at the hotels following complaints from nonprofits, individuals or local officials.

The official said the state made clear to New York City that DocGo must meet the states sheltering standards. It also, following reported mishaps, informed the city of a list of hotels that are not suitable for migrants because they already house homeless people.

Until now, Albany Countys role has largely been as an advocate for service providers on the ground, according to McLaughlin. But legal aid groups and others trying to help the migrants are completely underwater, he said.

Albany Law Schools Immigration Law Clinic estimated it would cost $6.7 million in the first year to provide a full spectrum of care for 750 migrants, according to a budget proposal it sent to the governors office in June.

That figure includes housing, case management, legal services and food and other basic necessities. An additional $500,000 was recommended for technology to help streamline services.

The legal processing related to these folks is unbelievably burdensome, McLaughlin said. It is unbelievably bureaucratic. It is unbelievably complicated. And this is apparently stuff that was supposed to be provided under their contract as well. It is not.

State officials are attempting to provide another path for relieving the housing burden on New York City: paying for the relocation of migrant families upstate. But a $25 million pilot program has been unsuccessful.

For up to 4,000 migrants or 1,250 families who agreed to be relocated to an upstate community, the state will pay for rent for one year, while they get on their feet and try to find jobs. A couple hundred families are in the referral process, according to the senior Hochul administration official, but intake has been slow.

The families must first apply for asylum and agree to move upstate before they can be enrolled. Immigration paperwork has proven to be very challenging for individuals with little official paperwork to confirm their identity after crossing the border.

Similarly, a program to link migrants with jobs, once they have successfully applied for asylum, has also stumbled. The senior official said with the challenges to applying for asylum, mixed with many migrant men finding off-the-books work, it has resulted in little use of the program.

___

(c)2023 the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.)

Visit the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) at www.timesunion.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Ukraine can continue to count on further Germany's support at international, bilateral levels  German Finance Minister

Finance Minister of Germany Christian Lindner, who is on a visit to Kyiv on Monday, said Germany is committed to further assistance to Ukraine.

"We know that Ukraine is also defending our values as well as the European order of peace and freedom in general. That is why Ukraine can continue to count on Germany's support at both the international and bilateral levels," he said at a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Serhiy Marchenko.

According to Lindner, Germany has mobilized EUR 22 billion for various directions of support of Ukraine.

"For the next few years, while planning our budget, we have already firmly planned further assistance to Ukraine," he said.
Ukrainian defense forces continue to conduct an offensive in the Melitopol and Berdiansk directions in southern Ukraine, in particular, they continue to liberate the village of Urozhaine, Volnovakha district, Donetsk region, Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine Hanna Maliar has said.

"Fighting continues. [The defense forces] had success in the Urozhaine direction, to the south and southeast of Staromayorske, Donetsk region, and are gaining a foothold on the achieved positions. In the course of offensive operations, the defense forces of the Tavria direction continue to liberate the settlement of Urozhaine," she said on the Telegram channel on Monday.

Also, according to the deputy minister, over the past week, Ukrainian defenders managed to de-occupy 3 square kilometers of territory near Bakhmut.

"Heavy fighting continues in the Bakhmut direction. The enemy is trying to stop the advance of our troops and restore the lost positions in the areas west of Kleschiyivka, west of Andriyivka, Kurdiumivka. Over the past week, the liberated territory in the Bakhmut direction increased by 3 square kilometers and in total the liberated area in the Bakhmut direction is 40 square kilometers," Maliar said.
Sustainable Farmer Award winners announced

Winners highlight benefits of implementing sustainability practices.

The winners of the inaugural Sustainable Farmer Awards, a partnership between the FBD National Livestock Show, Bord Bia, Teagasc and the Irish Farmers Journal were presented with their prizes by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D. at yesterday's show.

The awards form an important part of the first ever Sustainable Livestock Village at the show and showcase the positive sustainability practices being implemented on beef and lamb farms across the country.

Commenting on the awards, Show Livestock Chairman, Michael Dolan said: The award winners highlight the good work being done on farms to implement sustainable practices. They provide useful pointers for other farmers as they work to improve the sustainability of their enterprise.

The awards recognise the achievements of winning farms across five farming systems: suckler calf to weanling/store; suckler to beef; dairy calf to beef; beef finisher; and lamb producer.

Jim O Toole, Bord Bia Chief Executive commented: Id like to congratulate the winners and thank all the finalists for their participation in this years Sustainable Farmer Awards. The finalists were selected from almost 56,000 members of our Sustainable Beef and Lamb Assurance Scheme using verified audit data.

"These farmers are among the top performers with regard to their carbon footprint, grassland and manure management and soil fertility. Farm sustainability is increasingly important in driving the purchasing decisions of global buyers and through the participation of Irish farmers in Origin Green, we can continue to build on the positive reputation of Irish meat and dairy.

Teagasc Beef Specialist, Aidan Murray said: Livestock farmers are embracing technologies to farm in a more sustainable way. The finalists in this competition are excellent role models of how farmers are working with nature and using modern, science-based technologies to improve their economic and environmental sustainability. The Signposts Programme  Farmers for Climate Action, which is supported by over 60 organisations and 120 Signpost farms, is demonstrating best practice to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from farming. A free Signpost Advisory service is available to all farmers who register with Teagasc.

Commenting on the awards, Adam Woods, Deputy Editor with the Irish Farmers Journal said: The Irish Farmers Journal is delighted to partner with the industry in this years Sustainability Farmer Awards. In a changing world, it has been never more important to highlight the huge amount of work that is already taking place on Irish farms in relation to climate change. We hope that this new initiative will give more farmers the confidence to make changes to their farms, which will leave them more profitable and lower their carbon footprint.

Sustainable Farmer Awards Finalists:
Major international farm safety and farmer health conference to be held in Ireland

Teagasc will host a major international conference on farm safety and farmer wellbeing from August 23rd to August 25th 2023 at Teagasc Research and Innovation Centre, Dunsany, Grange, Co. Meath and Teagasc, Ashtown, Dublin 15. The conference has attracted researchers from the USA, Australia and across the EU and UK.

Thirty papers will be delivered over the course of three days covering three topics; Farm safety  From research to practice; Policy and culture; and, Farmer Wellbeing. Participants will also visit Teagasc facilities at Grange and Ashtown to view safety demonstrations. There will a visit to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marines facilities at Backweston, Co. Kildare, where participants will hear from policy stakeholders and tour the facilities.

Three keynote presentations will be delivered by eminent international experts:

Professor Julie A. Sorensen  Director and Research Scientist - Northeast Centre for Occupational Health and Safety in Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing/New York Centre for Agricultural Medicine and Health;

Professor Peter Lundqvist  Professor of Work Science at the Department of Agricultural Biosystems and Technology at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences;

Professor Alison Kennedy  Director of the National Centre for Farmer Health, Australia. These presentations will focus on understanding why people engage in safe and unsafe practices, the challenges to farmer mental health and wellbeing and how these challenges can be met.

Speaking in advance of the conference, Dr David Meredith, leader of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine sponsored BeSAFE (Farm Safety Behaviours) Project said; Ireland is at the forefront of undertaking and leading research into farm safety and farmer health and the conference is an opportunity to showcase issues and approaches that we are currently working on. We are also keen to show how this research makes an impact, whether that be on a farm, or supporting policy, or strategy development, by working with farmers, advisors and policy stakeholders, he added.

Dr Meredith stated that the conference allows those interested in the issue of farm safety, or farmer health, to learn from the knowledge and experiences of researchers from across the EU, Australia and the USA.

There are a limited number of places available at the conference which is organised as part of the DAFM funded BeSAFE project. BeSAFE is led by Teagasc in partnership with colleagues in University College Dublin and Galway University. Anyone interested in attending is asked to email Dr Mohammad Mohammdrezaei at Mohammad.Mohammadrezaei@teagasc.ie to make a reservation.

The conference programme is available here
Sustainable Farmer Award Winners Announced at FBD National Livestock Show

Winners highlight benefits of implementing sustainability practices

The winners of the inaugural Sustainable Farmer Awards, a partnership between the FBD National Livestock Show, Bord Bia, Teagasc and the Irish Farmers Journal were presented with their prizes by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Mr Charlie McConalogue T.D. at the Tullamore Show on Sunday, 13 August.

The Awards form an important part of the first ever Sustainable Livestock Village at the Show and showcase the positive sustainability practices being implemented on beef and lamb farms across the country.

Commenting on the Awards, Show Livestock Chairman, Michael Dolan said the award winners highlight the good work being done on farms to implement sustainable practices. They provide useful pointers for other farmers as they work to improve the sustainability of their enterprise.

The Awards recognise the achievements of winning farms across five farming systems:

Suckler calf to weanling/store - Margaret & Jack Stevenson, Co. Donegal

Suckler to beef - Vincent Keane, Co. Galway

Dairy calf to beef - Catriona & Joe OMeara, Co. Wexford

Beef finisher - Samuel Hill, Co. Cavan

Lamb producer - PJ Finnerty, Co. Roscommon

Jim O Toole, Bord Bia Chief Executive commented: Id like to congratulate the winners and thank all the finalists for their participation in this years Sustainable Farmer Awards. The finalists were selected from almost 56,000 members of our Sustainable Beef and Lamb Assurance Scheme using verified audit data. These farmers are among the top performers with regard to their carbon footprint, grassland and manure management and soil fertility. Farm sustainability is increasingly important in driving the purchasing decisions of global buyers and through the participation of Irish farmers in Origin Green, we can continue to build on the positive reputation of Irish meat & dairy.

Commenting on the Awards, Adam Woods, Deputy Editor with the Irish Farmers Journal said that The Irish Farmers Journal is delighted to partner with the industry in this years Sustainability Farmer Awards. In a changing world, it has been never more important to highlight the huge amount of work, that is already taking place on Irish farms in relation to climate change. We hope that this new initiative will give more farmers the confidence to make changes to their farms, which will leave them more profitable and lower their carbon footprint.

Teagasc cattle specialist, Aidan Murray highlighted that Livestock farmers are embracing technologies to farm in a more sustainable way. The finalists in this competition are excellent role models of how farmers are working with nature and using modern science based technologies to improve their economic and environmental sustainability. The Signposts programme  Farmers for Climate Action, which is supported by over 60 organisations and 120 signpost farms, is demonstrating best practice to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from farming. A free signpost service is available to all farmers who register with Teagasc.

The Sustainable Livestock Village represents a collaboration between the National Livestock Show, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Bord Bia, Teagasc, Animal Health Ireland, ICBF, Dairy industry Ireland, Meat Industry Ireland and the Irish Farmers Journal.

Sustainable Farmer Awards Finalists
In brief: Like everything else in these economically challenging times, streaming is becoming more expensive. With so many companies raising their prices, subscribing to the premium services will cost $87 this fall, while the average cable TV package costs $83 per month. It begs the question: is the era of cheap streaming services and cord-cutting over?

Disney announced last week that it will be introducing price increases across all of its ad-free services and packages, including a 27% hike for Disney+ and a 20% jump for Hulu. It marks the second time in 12 months that Disney has confirmed price rises. It also means that the service now costs double the $6.99 it started with in 2019.

The Financial Times writes that as of fall, the $87 per month price to subscribe to the top US streaming services is $14 more than it was one year earlier ($73).

Back in 2020 when the streaming industry was one of those areas being boosted by the pandemic, it was estimated that 31.2 million households would "cut the cord" by the end of the year, and that by the end of 2024, fewer than half of US households will subscribe to a traditional pay TV service. But that may no longer be the case.

One of the main factors prompting cord-cutters was the high prices, especially when compared to the then-much-cheaper streaming options. But the FT notes that the average cable TV package is now $4 cheaper than subscribing to all the premium streamers. It's led to the publication's declaration that the era of cheap streaming is now over.

Another reason people used to cut the cord in favor of streaming was commercials. But companies such as Netflix and Disney now offer ad-supported tiers for lower prices. Disney's version has 3.3 million subscribers, and about 40% of its new subs opt for this plan.

Password sharing, once a big benefit of streaming, is also being killed off. Netflix already charges those who share their login credentials extra, while Disney said it will be doing the same, likely starting next year.

One thing that streaming still has over traditional TV is that customers can pick and choose which services they prefer and easily pause their subscriptions  many people cancel and then resubscribe when flagship shows like Stranger Things or The Mandalorian return.

It'll be interesting to see if customers start abandoning streaming services as prices continue to rise. Disney CEO Bob Iger claimed the number of people who canceled their subs last time prices went up was insignificant, but Disney could lose a lot more people once its plans become more expensive on October 12.
A website acts as a digital portrayal of an enterprise, highlighting its principles, goods, services, and achievements. Nonetheless, in addition to its visual appeal, it is required to offer an unblemished user experience to effectively communicate the branding of the enterprise.

What is the role of web design companies?

The responsibility of a web design firm primarily involves curating the layout and design of a website. They prioritize the enhancement of the user experience, ensuring that the website is not only visually captivating but also straightforward to navigate while conveying critical information about the brand effectively.

Alongside web design services, numerous firms also offer online marketing, content production, and search engine optimization (SEO) services to fully leverage the advantages of owning a website. By integrating these services, enterprises can forge a strong online presence, reaching a broader customer demographic and augment their sales.

In essence, web design firms are vital in molding the online persona of an enterprise, enabling effective brand communication, and optimizing the user experience in pursuit of business objectives.

In the year 2023, the top five leading manufacturer web design companies are presented in the subsequent section:

1 Lform

Overview

Lform, a distinguished web design agency established in 2005, prides itself on delivering specialized services to B2B manufacturing entities and consultancies. Its operations are guided by Creative Director Ian Loew, who is steadfast in his conviction regarding the profound influence of web design on prospective clients' impressions and a business' profitability.

Setting itself apart from its counterparts, Lform is resolute in its refusal to compromise service quality with pre-constructed templates. Despite the initial cost and timeline reductions such templates might offer, they are often linked to such problems as update failures or invalid code modifications.

Lform's commitment to providing exceptional services has earned recognition and accolades from multiple award-giving bodies such as Clutch, Expertise.com, AVA, GDUSA, Wimgo, Techreviewer, and DesignRush. In the past decade, the firm's growth and expansion positioned it as a reliable partner for B2B manufacturing consultancies and companies.

Drawing from its sector-specific expertise and collaborative modus operandi, Lform assures the delivery of extraordinary and quantifiable outcomes for its clientele through its inbound marketing and web design services.

Services

Lform dispenses its web design services aligned with its specializations in B2B manufacturing websites. This ensures the provision of a custom web design that communicates effectively and leaves a lasting impression and successfully transforms audiences into devoted customers.

Lform's offerings in web design are custom-tailored to cater to the distinct needs of B2B manufacturing online marketing. The agency excels in providing customized web designs that adeptly convey messages, impress visitors, and convert these visitors into loyal clients.

B2B Web Design

Lform is an expert in B2B web design, guaranteeing fully responsive designs that cater to B2B users across various platforms. These users typically seek specific information and progress to the subsequent action swiftly. Lform's website designs cater to customer needs and mitigate leaks from the conversion funnel.

SEO Web Design

Lform incorporates search engine optimization (SEO) to enhance the visibility of a website's content to search engines. The process at Lform commences with wireframing, creating a comprehensive site map, and utilizing stylescapes to construct an SEO-friendly website.

Lform might create a two-dimensional wireframe of a site to ensure the correct placement of sections. Wireframing ensures the inclusion and integration of every website component into the overall design meeting their clients' needs.

The web design agency then creates a full site map, which depicts the navigational pathways of visitors and crawlers through the site, to ensure it is organized and user-friendly. Ultimately, Lform strives to create a website that reflects a company's vision using stylescapes.

Through its choice of iconography, color schemes, fonts, and other design elements, a company's stylescape expresses its aesthetic preferences. Before crafting individual interface elements, Lform aspires to establish a consistent look and feel for the website using stylescaping.

Lform ensures that every facet of the website design - from the visuals to the content - operates harmoniously. Lform can craft a website that scores highly in search results, particularly when other ranking factors, such as page speed and interactive elements for user-friendly navigation, are taken into consideration.

Homepages

Lform excels in creating visually striking homepages that make a lasting impression on B2B users. By considering the business's marketing strategy, audience research, and core message, Lform designs homepages that virtually mirror the brand and engage audiences for lead conversions.

Product Catalogs & E-commerce Storefronts

Drawing on its deep-rooted expertise in B2B manufacturing marketing, Lform applies SEO strategies to design well-structured, fully operational product catalogs and e-commerce storefronts. By striking a balance between visual appeal, product information, and easy navigation, Lform ensures these pages effectively convert leads into sales.

Landing Pages

Lform provides custom landing page designs that prompt users to take the desired actions, such as purchasing a product, subscribing to a newsletter, or signing up for an exclusive event. With Lform's web design services, businesses can generate more leads, communicate unique selling propositions, and gather contact information for future marketing initiatives.

Interactive Elements

Lform integrates interactive elements into the website designs, enabling users to interact directly with the site through clicks, drags, or text inputs. The agency ensures each element aligns with the business's objectives and enhances the user experience.

Diverging from other web design firms, Lform prioritizes functionality when incorporating interactive elements that enhance user experience.

Enterprises aiming to enhance their digital presence can leverage Lform's expertise in manufacturing web design. The agency creates customized, interactive websites that reflect a company's vision and meet the desired outcomes. Lform ensures secure, visually appealing, and effective websites that stimulate sales for B2B companies.

2 DD.NYC

Overview

Founded in 2015, DD.NYC specializes in web design, web development, innovative branding, and product packaging. It is a creative design agency that caters to a wide range of industries. This company utilizes modern design practices to create world-class websites. DD.NYC focuses on responsive design and makes sure every website is optimized for any device and interface.

DD.NYC ensures the website it designs can attract target audiences, improve engagement, drive sales, and increase the brand value of businesses. These results are evident in the 99% client satisfaction it has received for its web design services.

Services

DD.NYC offers different kinds of website design services. It leverages the platform of WordPress to create a responsive, scalable, and optimized website for its clients. The website design becomes a collaborative process between DD.NYC and the client to understand the latter's goals and preferences to create a website that properly reflects the brand and incorporates features as requested.

This web design agency also offers website support and maintenance services to keep websites up to date, running smoothly, and secure from vulnerabilities. DD.NYC. also ensures the website it designs is customized to fit the business' banding, created to deliver a unique story. Moreover, businesses can also expect web design from

DD.NY is mobile-first, tablet-responsive, and cross-browser-tested.

DD.NY also offers web design services related to corporate, brochure, e-commerce, and animated websites. It can also craft effective landing pages for lead conversion. Overall, businesses can leverage DD.NY for its comprehensive approach to website design. The web design agency can deliver tailored solutions, according to the unique needs of their clients.

3 Bop Design

Overview

Founded in 2008, Bop Design has come a long way starting as a boutique web design agency. While it remains selective with the projects it takes on, this firm now caters to B2B companies, helping them establish their brand identity through creating engaging website designs and utilizing content marketing strategies. With these two specialties,

Bop Design can drive inbound leads for its clients.

Bop Design employs a holistic B2B marketing approach for its clients to grow and expand their market. It begins by setting a solid foundation and initiating the inbound marketing plan for brand recognition and lead generation.

Services

Bop Design streamlines content and features efficient navigation in its web design services. It can deliver the brand message quickly and clearly in the initial stage of user onboarding, ensuring visitors are already engaged and in the conversion process.

Bop Design also makes its websites scalable, allowing businesses to integrate more functionality and content for future updates or rebranding. With its expertise in the WordPress CMS, it can easily edit a website's content on the backend to include new services, personnel, or expand locations for its client.

Bop Design also implements SEO strategies to ensure the website it designs gains more traffic through organic searches. The web design agency identifies geo-targeted and industry-specific keywords to help its clients rank more quickly. It also ensures the optimal page speed of websites to deliver the best user experience.

Businesses can leverage Bop Design for their B2B marketing strategies, 24/7 access to customer service, and expertise in WordPress CMS.

4 Creative Brand Design

Overview

Creative Brand Design is an award-winning, web design agency with specializations in web design and development. It ensures high performance and engagement and UI/UX and SEO optimized in its delivery of web design services. The company has offices located in the UK and the US yet its client base comes from different locations and different industry sectors.

With over a decade of experience, Creative Brand Design is equipped to provide bespoke web solutions. It is also a certified Google Partner and has been accredited by Digital Agency Network, Clutch, CSS Design Awards, CSS Winner, and Awwwards for its credible work in website design.

Services

The web design services of Creative Brand Design are handled by an experienced team utilizing the tools in Adobe Suite. The company enables collaboration among its members and clients to create the best website design possible. It considers each user and each platform, guaranteeing a seamless user experience across all devices.

Creative Brand Design also ensures its website is optimized for immediate search engine indexing and ranking. The company also utilizes advanced technologies to include interactive elements into its website, boost engagement, and inspire visitors.

Like other established web design companies, Creative Brand Design also specializes in WordPress CMS, enabling them to adapt and create custom web designs to meet clients' unique needs. It also utilizes Gutenberg ACF editor, enabling them to create and edit websites in a block structure, which allows more flexibility in editing for content updates in the future.

Creative Brand Design also secures the website it designs from threat or malicious actors by including reCAPTCHA v3, antivirus and firewall technology, and third-party software integration. It can also integrate social media accounts into the website through API coding, enabling clients to gain followers directly and direct traffic to their website.

Overall, businesses can leverage the web design services of Creative Brand Design for its comprehensiveness, fully taking into account every aspect of web design to deliver a bespoke web solution for its global client base.

5 Huemor

Overview

Founded in 2011, Huemor helps businesses expand their audience, establish their brand, and recruit top talents through its web design services. The company takes into account every detail about its client, its customers, and its competition before defining a strategy for website transformation.

Huemor also assures full transparency in its services, informing the client of each update, and enabling collaboration in the process. Since its founding, the web design agency has expanded its offices to nine countries and has gained 110 international awards, establishing itself as a renowned top service provider in the digital marketing space.

Services

Huemor understands designing a website requires a more aesthetic appeal. It also needs to accomplish tangible business goals. The web design agency ensures it can convert leads into actual sales by implementing proven marketing strategies in its web design services.

Huemor also ensures the websites it designs are created for the target audience. The company can help its clients identify what resonates with its market and design a website that delivers a smooth user experience while conveying the brand's values.

As an expert in the field, Huemor aims to simplify the process for its clients. It ensures the website it designs is easy to navigate for all users, even for admins who lack proficiency in technology.

With its work as a web design service provider, Huemor has increased monthly website visits of its clients by 83%, conversions by 94%, and leads generated by 91% on average. These ratios prove the web designs of Huemor are effective, making them one of the best web design companies to work with.

Conclusion

These top 5 best manufacturer web design companies provide useful industry knowledge, tried-and-true solutions, and access to cutting-edge technologies for B2B companies looking for high-quality web designs. Although each organization uses a different strategy when providing web design services, they are equally capable of producing outstanding web designs that are specifically suited to the requirements of B2B businesses.

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Researchers have innovated wildlife tracking using Artificial Intelligence (AI)-controlled cameras and microphones, making a major step towards protecting biodiversity.

The ground-breaking technology records the movements of numerous animal and bird species in their natural environments and identifies them, offering enormous potential in solving the ecological issues the country confronts as Britain struggles with a growing biodiversity problem.

The AI-powered monitor robots have been put through rigorous testing at three different locations, with impressive outcomes. The installed AI arrays have recorded noises and pictures, allowing computers to precisely identify certain species and produce elaborate maps of their distribution.

Numerous bird species are included in the repertory of identified animals by AI through their distinctive songs. Without the assistance of human observers, AI analysis has also been effective at locating animals, including foxes, deer, hedgehogs, and bats.

Scale Revolution

ZSL conservationist Anthony Dancer believes scale is vital to this development as tens of thousands of data files and many hours of audio from the test sites would have overwhelmed human observers, per The Guardian. The previously unachievable has become feasible due to the use of AI technology.

With its extensive land holdings, Network Rail was instrumental in the project. The tests were carried out beside rail lines at Barnes, Twickenham, and Lewisham in London. These areas made the best testing grounds since they were safely enclosed and seldom visited by people. Future efforts to monitor biodiversity may benefit from successfully classifying species like the Eurasian blackcap, blackbird, and great tit using AI-controlled tools.

Read Also: 'Soft Life Era' TikTok Trend: How It Impacts Mental Well-Being

In addition to cataloging several bird species, the AI-monitored system also detected the presence of different bats, including the common pipistrelle. The significance of railway bridges as bat roosting sites has been emphasized in the hopes that AI can provide valuable insights into safeguarding these essential ecosystems.

ZSL and Network Rail are eager to expand the use of AI monitors to more locations, buoyed by the project's success. According to Opp.Today, Chobham in Surrey and the New Forest are prospective locations for this initiative's expansion. Moreover, the information gathered will provide light on how different species are reacting to climate change, which will help guide policies for managing vegetation along train lines and other important sites.

The Future Role of AI in Environmental Protection

This ground-breaking initiative demonstrates how AI may revolutionize conservation efforts. Beyond the boundaries of Britain, artificial intelligence (AI) technology has served a significant role in monitoring endangered wildlife, assisting conservationists in identifying possible risks. For example, scientists have used AI to track deer numbers, giving them critical information to improve their preservation efforts.

The automated monitoring systems will monitor moths, bats & birds in biodiversity hotspots around the world, thanks to funding from @abrdn_plc and a new partnership with UKCEH & @turinginst.



Tom also spoke to @BBCOxford this morning - we'll post a listen again link here  pic.twitter.com/xwiy85g74X  UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (@UK_CEH) July 26, 2023

Despite its achievements, artificial intelligence still faces difficulties recognizing species in distant and varied locations, according to a report from Washington State Magazine. Like that found in Washington State, rugged mountainous topography presents particular challenges. But as AI's potential for understanding these environments quickly emerges, it might provide practical, affordable, and long-lasting solutions that could pave the way for the long-term preservation of Earth's unique ecosystems.

The prospects for protecting biodiversity have become more optimistic at a time when technology and conservation are merging. As it develops, AI can become a powerful ally in conserving our planet's natural beauty for future generations.

Read Also: Russian Cosmonaut Takes Historic Ride on Robotic Arm During Spacewalk Outside ISS

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Apart from tech developments, this week, Tech Times' Weekly Wrap is focusing its sights on controversies behind the massive world of tech and innovation, with the anticipated Musk v Zuck fight still seeing unsure footing. On the other hand, there was a recent study regarding OpenAI's ChatGPT developments, particularly, in the fake answers it brings.

Still, there were massive concerns regarding Zoom's data access on its users, especially in building its generative AI models for future releases.

Musk v Zuck Fight: Is It Happening or Not?

(Photo : Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

One of the most significant news of last week was Elon Musk's announcement of the recent update regarding his fight with another tech CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, as both are looking to hash it out in the ring.

As per Musk, this said the fight would take place in "Ancient Rome," and he has already talked with the Italian Prime Minister and its Culture Minister regarding the famed tech CEO brawl taking place in the country where arena fighting was a famous sport.

However, it saw a clap back from Zuckerberg, as he posted on his Threads platform that there are no such set dates and locations for this. The Meta CEO claimed that Musk should not be trusted with what he discloses online, especially as there are no agreements yet or final set dates regarding this fight.

Zuck asserted that the final and legitimate information would come from him, and not from his opponent who talks massive on X.

Read Also: AI Language Models Like ChatGPT Exhibit Political Biases, New Study Finds

ChatGPT: Trusted Despite Wrong Answers

(Photo : OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images)

On many occasions, some claim ChatGPT gives the public wrong answers and is not entirely legitimate as most of it was AI-generated and fictional. A study by Purdue University centers on how it still can fool as much as a third of its users with what it has to say, with its arguments being convincing and articulate.

According to its published paper, ChatGPT's answers contained approximately 52 percent wrong answers when asked about software engineering questions.

It was also found that it contained excessively wordy answers from the AI chatbot, with 77 percent of its answers showing this type of content for users.

Zoom's Data Access for Generative AI

(Photo : OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images)

Amidst Zoom announcing the end of its remote working setup and now looking into a hybrid work environment for its employees that live near its offices, there were various concerns over its video conferencing app.

This was because there have been several complaints regarding Zoom's access to user data regarding their training of its latest project for generative AI.

As per users, they are fearful that Zoom uses their audio and video data, listening in to what takes place, which in turn, the company uses for improving their tech.

However, Zoom has since defended its data access, saying that no such data were recorded or listened to for its use on Generative AI, stating that it does not share information with third-party companies.

Related Article: Vision Worsening As You Age? Here's Eye Conditions Linked With Aging

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
German Finance Minister Christian Lindner, who is paying a visit to Kyiv on Monday, said he supports the provision of long-range Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine and hopes that this issue will be clarified soon.

Ukraine must win this war. Therefore, part of our responsibility is to ensure that Ukraine's resilience always outweighs the brutality emanating from Putin's war. The Federal government wants to do everything in its power to strengthen Ukraine's military potential, Lindner said at a joint press conference with Finance Minister of Ukraine Serhiy Marchenko.

Speaking about the issue of the transfer of Taurus missiles to Ukraine, Lindner noted that the usual procedure is being applied, and Germany will discuss with its allies what is necessary and what is possible.

"Since I know that many people support such assistance  as I do personally, I hope that this issue will be clarified soon, very soon," he said.
As a popular choice for item tracking, Apple's AirTag is relied upon by many to monitor their belongings. However, a recent incident in Canada demonstrates that the outcome isn't always as expected.

(Photo : BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

This photo illustration taken on February 13, 2023 shows an Apple Air Tag in Washington, DC. Originally designed as a solution for the absent-minded, the AirTag digital tracking button is also sometimes employed for a more sinister function.

Tracking Gone Wrong

Becca Hislop placed an AirTag in her vehicle, as per a report from Phone Arena. When her car was stolen near Science World in Vancouver on a Sunday morning, she took it upon herself to respond. The tracker indicated her car's movement through the city, getting caught in downtown traffic.

The following day, Hislop opted to pursue the AirTag's signal, leading her to a winery in Kelowna. However, the story didn't conclude there, revealing the tech-savvy nature of the thieves.

Given the increasing number of incidents where AirTags have helped recover stolen items and the NYPD's distribution of the devices to deter car thefts, it's likely that criminals are now more alert than ever to potential tracking attempts. After all, no one welcomes the feeling of being constantly observed.

The thieves, aware of the AirTag, cleverly affixed it to a vehicle from the Evo Car Share rental service. Consequently, although the AirTag consistently provided its location, it led the owner astray, pointing in the wrong direction.

Recovering the Car

Criminals have grown increasingly vigilant against potential tracking efforts. Although she couldn't utilize AirTag to monitor her car during its theft, Global News reported that the Vancouver police eventually managed to locate it, with minimal harm. Meanwhile, the vehicle was en route to East Hastings Street.

Hislop ultimately contacted the Vancouver police, leading to the successful retrieval of the car, albeit with minor damages. Voicing her feelings, Hislop conveyed that she hopes that karma catches up with the person responsible. Hard work goes into acquiring possessions, and it's unjust for certain individuals to believe they can deceive and simply take.

Similar Incidents

Similarly, Apple Insider reported four individuals faced charges for carjacking and the subsequent death of the driver. This unfortunate event occurred after the victim attempted to reclaim the vehicle utilizing AirTag technology.

Another alarming occurrence took place in April, where the owners of a truck chose to pursue their stolen vehicle instead of waiting for police intervention. This decision led to a dangerous shootout, ultimately resulting in the alleged thief's demise within the vehicle.

While not resulting in fatalities, a New York man experienced a distressing outcome in August 2022 when he managed to track down his stolen motorbike using AirTags. However, his effort concluded with a broken nose, highlighting the potential risks associated with such actions.

Also Read: Federal Aviation Administration Approves AirTags on Checked Baggage Following Lufthansa's Statement



Taking matters into your own hands when dealing with criminals is never advisable. U.S. law enforcement agencies strongly urge citizens to promptly notify them in case of incidents instead of embarking on solo missions, as situations can escalate rapidly, posing significant risks.

Tragic outcomes, including fatalities and severe injuries, have resulted from such encounters in the past, underscoring the need for caution and restraint when faced with similar circumstances.

Related Article: YoGPS: An Innovative GPS Tracker for Effective Wide-range Tracking



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In an intriguing incident, Canada's Halifax Harbor underwent a remarkable transformation, with its water turning a vivid shade of pink.

(Photo : JEAN-SEBASTIEN EVRARD/AFP via Getty Images)

Canadian sailor Mylene Paquette celebrates as she arrives at the Lorient harbour, western France, on November 12, 2013.

Pink Halifax Harbor

A team of scientists from Dalhousie University employed pink fluorescent dye, applying it to Nova Scotia Power's Tufts Cove Generating Station in Dartmouth. According to Interesting Engineering, the primary objective was to track the dynamic movement of the water and its contents.

The significance of this project lies in its potential to contribute to the fight against climate change. The envisioned impact is to facilitate the introduction of alkaline materials into the harbor, capable of capturing CO2 emissions.

Dr. Katja Fennel, the oceanographer leading this groundbreaking research, clarified it is just a small part of a much broader research endeavor. She emphasized the intricate nature of their efforts, underscoring the larger implications of this innovative study.

"The ultimate goal here is to test an idea for a technology that would help us reduce atmospheric CO2 and could be one tool in the toolbox for fighting climate change, basically," she stated.

In the experiment, 500 liters of dye were introduced into the cooling water outflow from the harbor's generating station. To address any environmental concerns, it's crucial to emphasize that the dye used is water-soluble and poses no harm.

Subsequently, the researchers deployed a fleet of boats, drones, and underwater robots to meticulously monitor the trajectory of the dye. This comprehensive tracking initiative aims to gain a thorough understanding of material movement within the harbor.

Implementing Addition of CO2-Capturing Alkaline into the Water

Fennel shared with CBC Radio's Maritime Noon that the valuable data gathered during this experiment will play a pivotal role in September. At that time, Dartmouth-based company Planetary Technologies will implement the addition of the CO2-capturing alkaline material into the water, marking a significant step forward in the process.

She stated that the ocean possesses a remarkable capacity for securely and enduringly storing CO2. She explained that this ability stems from the ocean's slight alkalinity, which is why it already retains a vast quantity of CO2-roughly 50 times the amount present in the atmosphere.

This insightful perspective, shared during the news radio discussion, sheds light on the ocean's crucial role in maintaining the balance of CO2 in our environment.

Also Read: Scientists: Halve World's Carbon Dioxide Emissions Each Decade Starting 2020 To Combat Warming

The introduction of the alkaline material aims to bolster the ocean's ability to absorb carbon dioxide, effectively removing this harmful greenhouse gas from the atmosphere and securely storing it within the water. However, before implementing this strategy, scientists need to assess its potential effectiveness through the utilization of pink dye, as a critical step in the evaluation process.

In order to establish the effectiveness of this approach in mitigating CO2 in the atmosphere, CTV news reported that it's essential to measure and accurately quantify the amount of CO2 being captured. She elaborated that dye serves as a valuable tool for this purpose, which will enable them to differentiate water that has undergone alkaline treatment.

Related Article: Plant Growth Not Keeping Up With CO2 Rise, Dimming Hopes Of Climate Change Mitigation

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Zelenskyy thanks USA for new package of defense assistance

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the United States for providing new defense assistance.

I thank Joseph Biden, the U.S. Congress, and the American people for a new $200 million assistance package. Air defense missiles, artillery ammo, mine clearing systems, and anti-tank weapons will add strength to our Defense Forces. Another step toward our joint victory! he said on Twitter Monday.
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The Laude group of companies, a Polish logistics operator, transferred to Ukraine assets worth EUR100 million from the Russian Federation and Central Asian countries, the company plans to invest another EUR250 million in the economic exchange program between Ukraine and the EU, the press service of Laude reported.

"The Laude group of companies is expanding its potential in Ukraine. A logistics company from Torun (Poland) over the past few months has transferred its assets worth EUR100 million to Ukraine. These are all assets that were previously located in Russia and Central Asian countries," the report says.

It is noted that, among other things, the movement included 510 specialized railway platforms and several thousand containers, which are actively used to transport products from Ukraine to Europe.

The company plans to increase investments in Ukraine by acquiring locomotives, wagons and containers.

"We have decided to implement an investment program worth about EUR250 million aimed at economic exchange between Europe and Ukraine. Railways here are a key element for both exports and imports, and the company is an important operator," the company's CEO Marcin Witczak said.

Laude reported that in May, after a thorough and lengthy check, they received approval for cooperation with Ukrzaliznytsia.

"This is a key agreement, which means that we are very closely connected with the Ukrainian market," he commented.

At the same time, Laude's development plans go beyond the expansion of logistics systems.

Among several hundred employees of the company, there are many specialists from Ukraine. We are working on a training program for drivers from Ukraine, said the CEO of the company.

Laude Group belongs to one of the largest importers of steel from Ukraine to the EU  ATS S.A. Laude is active in international markets through its companies, connecting eastern and western transport routes through Poland. The company's activities over the past 15 years have been carried out in Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Moldova (formerly in the Russian Federation). The company cooperates with contractors from Turkey, China, and India. Over the past years, it has been actively investing in the development of Laude in Germany.
Guest column: We studied violence in Louisiana. Here are some stark truths.
Some of the scariest Australian horror movies are spun from true stories, such as serial killer Ivan Milat stalking tourists in the outback the inspiration for Wolf Creek.

Director Nick Kozakis sold-out Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) hit Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism similarly bloodies the waters of fact and fiction, depicting a startling story of religious fervour gone horribly wrong.

Australian director Nick Kozakis Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism blurs the line between truth and fiction.

More intimate than the late William Friedkins head-spinning masterpiece The Exorcist, it nevertheless filled ACMIs biggest cinema twice over after debuting at the Overlook Film Festival in New Orleans.

Premiering the film at a festival like Overlook was daunting because its attended by dedicated horror fans, and Godless isnt your typical exorcism film, Kozakis says. But they were so warm and welcoming that I genuinely believe the buzz generated from that ... has opened up avenues in Australia and globally.
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Review Eating outMelbourne A hearty welcome back to one of our all-time Melbourne favourites, French Saloon Besha Rodell August 15, 2023 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

1 / 8 Big windows, a red vaulted ceiling and white floorboards give French Saloon a timeless quality. Wayn Taylor 2 / 8 The go-to dish: raw scallops with black garlic, mandarin and chicken skin. Wayne Taylor 3 / 8 Smoked eel is layered with diagonal strips of crunchy apple and pickled kohlrabi. Wayne Taylor 4 / 8 Feuille de brick, thin pastry tubes filled with whipped Brillat-Savarin cheese and topped with caviar. Wayne Taylor 5 / 8 Gnocchi with cauliflower and a shower of aged goats cheese. Wayne Taylor 6 / 8 Porterhouse comes with a potato carved into the shape of a marrow bone. Wayne Taylor 7 / 8 French Saloons small covered balcony. Wayne Taylor 8 / 8 The French Saloon dining room by day. Kristoffer Paulsen Previous Slide Next Slide Good Food hat 15.5 / 20 How we score European$$$ Dont call it a comeback; its been here for years. OK, OK, maybe it is fair to call it a comeback. Because while its true that French Saloon, the Hardware Lane stalwart from Con Christopoulos and chef Ian Curley, has been quietly operating as a function space since 2021, those of us who had no wedding or retirement party to throw have missed the place. There is a long list of people who told me that, before its events-only era, French Saloon was their favourite Melbourne restaurant. (This list includes Good Foods former chief reviewer.) Its easy to see why. Were back: Beloved Hardware Lane restaurant French Saloon reopens for the first time since 2021

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In the first place, it is so very, very Melbourne. Off a bustling laneway, up a wonky staircase, through a vintage wooden and glass doorway, the room feels like an artists loft turned pared-back brasserie, the huge windows creating a romantic moonlit feel, the red-painted timber ceiling, white-painted floorboards, and zinc and marble bar exuding timeless elegance. It reminds me of other great rooms around the world that dont try too hard and become iconic as a result: Saint John in London; Peter Luger in New York. (Yes, of course the food helps at these spots, but it does here, too  more on that shortly.) When the restaurant first opened in 2016, it was met with excitement, if not outright jubilation. I get the feeling its one of those places that needed to sink into itself, its assurance, its sense of elegant ease. It is so very, very Melbourne. Off a bustling laneway, up a wonky staircase ... the room feels like an artists loft turned pared-back brasserie. Today, that ease is front and centre, not least in the service, which is charming and warm and knowledgeable without the slightest hint of pomp or snobbery. Go ahead and ask for a wine recommendation from the impressive list, stocked with European and Australian bottles  both times Ive done so Ive discovered something new to love at a price I could handle.

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The menu, a collaboration between Curley and head chef Luke Fraser (who also holds that title at sibling venue downstairs, Kirks Wine Bar), retains its focus on local ingredients and French technique, with mostly stunning results. A special of sweet, juicy yabby tails ($33) came swimming in a sauce so green, so packed with fresh herby goodness, it tasted like pure photosynthesis. Smoked eel is plated as a perfect square and topped with apple and pickled kohlrabi. Wayne Taylor Dish composition is detailed and charming  smoked eel ($28) is arranged precisely on the plate in a square, layered with diagonal strips of crunchy apple and pickled kohlrabi, and a dollop of Chantilly cream imbued with horseradish. Raw scallop ($28) has its purity and sweetness bolstered by black garlic and mandarin, then tempered by the salty umami of chicken skin. That same crumbled chicken skin goodness found its way onto a generous dollop of chicken liver parfait ($20), an exceedingly loose and creamy version, served with fluffy brioche and candied kumquats.

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Would that more kitchens might give up the ubiquitous soft Italian gnocchi preparation in favour of the Parisian version ($38), lighter, fluffier, seared to give it delightfully crispy edges, and served here with cauliflower and a shower of aged goats cheese. My dining companion one evening rolled his eyes when I insisted on ordering the dish  What will gnocchi possibly tell you about the cooking in a place like this?  and then couldnt stop exclaiming how glad he was to have eaten it. Porterhouse with a faux marrow bone, a carved potato filled with mushroom persillade. Wayne Taylor While the restaurant is known for its steaks, my porterhouse ($52) was the only dish with which I found any fault. The steak itself was slightly over-salted, and perhaps a tad more medium than the requested (and suggested) medium-rare. But it was the side of faux marrow potato that didnt quite work. A potato carved into the shape of a marrow bone then filled with smoked mushroom persillade, the whole thing was a little too clever for its own good, the potato needing to be slightly undercooked to hold its hollowed-out-bone trick. Id have preferred a real marrow bone, or a simpler, better-cooked potato.

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To me, the kitchens greatest strength is in seafood, in the aforementioned entrees and in the fish of the day, which recently has been a gorgeous hapuka ($44), white-fleshed and meaty, served with sweet clams. Desserts are another strong suit, particularly the decadent chocolate marquis ($18), and the tarte au citron ($18), its pastry buttery and restrained, its sweet/sour filling silky and dusted with freeze-dried raspberries. For the sweet-averse, however, the cheese selection ($18 for one cheese; $25 for three; $42 for five) is fantastic, which is no surprise  the cheeses are supplied by Spring Street Grocer (another Christopoulos business), which famously has one of the best collections in town. This is Christopoulos particular gift  to conjure venues that are bests, favourites, paragons of whatever form he and his teams are attempting and achieving. French Saloon has a formula that the city loved in the past and is likely to love well into the future. A hearty welcome back to one of our all-time favourites. The low-down Vibe: Artists loft meets pared-back brasserie Go-to dish: Raw scallop, $28 Drinks: Classic cocktails and nice wine list that is calibrated extremely well to the food Cost: About $180 for two, plus drinks

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Qantas has formally declared its support for an Indigenous Voice to parliament as outgoing airline boss Alan Joyce committed to flying the Uluru Dialogue team around the country to help spread the message to regional and remote areas.

Joyce said on Monday that Qantas had a long history of supporting reconciliation and the airline would not exist without the guidance of First Nations people. As well as providing free flights to the Yes campaign, three of the companys aircraft  a Qantas Boeing 737, a QantasLink Dash 8 Turboprop and a Jetstar Airbus A320  now feature livery with the official Yes23 logo.

Qantas was established in the 1920s thanks to the guidance of First Nations people ... We were one of a number of companies which supported the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which calls for a Voice, and were very proud of that ... Were now literally flying the flag, Joyce said as the special livery for the planes was unveiled in Sydney.

Qantas was one of many big companies that called for constitutional recognition of First Nations people in 2014. The company also supported the Uluru Statement from the Heart in 2019 and was vocal in favour of gay marriage before the 2017 vote on the issue. Joyce personally invested about $1 million in the latter campaign.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 14. The embassy of Spain in Russia announced the provision of assistance to the Armenian separatists in Karabakh, Trend reports.

The embassy of Spain in a publication in X (Twitter) stated that financial and social support will be provided to 250 families.

Moreover, in the publication, the state agency used the so-called "flag" of the Karabakh separatists.
Fergeus said most councillors would not be transparent about meetings or phone calls with developers unless forced by law, and he believed that had harmed councils standing in the community. Loading Having a register of councillor interactions with property developers isnt just about cracking down on people doing the wrong thing, its about establishing community trust in councils, he said. It is emblematic of councils doing the right thing and having an open dialogue with the community about how planning decisions are made. Although a large proportion of planning decisions are made by council officers under delegation without councillor input, Fergeus said more months than not, Monash councillors were approached by developers advocating for a certain planning outcome.

He said he had met with developers himself, with other councillors at group briefings, but he declined such invitations now. I didnt find them particularly useful. We get a detailed report by officers on submissions made by developers and when we get those, we get them with the benefit of expert analysis from our planners, he said. Im a social worker  Im going to rely on experts, not people with vested interests. Merri-bek Council in Melbournes inner north and Dandenong in Melbournes outer south-east voted to implement opt-in trials of registers in 2021 and 2022, respectively  both pushed by Greens councillors. Im a social worker  Im going to rely on experts, not people with vested interests. Monash councillor Josh Fergeus But both have seen a lack of engagement: Dandenong has published no entries since it took effect in March last year, and Merri-bek has had just two contributions. It is unknown if the lack of contributions means there have been no meetings, or if meetings have not been disclosed.

Merri-bek councillors this week asked officers to consider tweaking the policy to ban developers from meeting councillors at all  alone or as a group  whenever the public is not invited. Kingston Council introduced a mandatory register in March 2022, but it is only tabled publicly every two years. City of Whitehorse last month adopted a register that will be available for public perusal on the council website and updated on a quarterly basis. Port Phillip Council and Baw Baw Shire have both considered reports about registers in the past two years but did not implement them. Merri-bek Council is considering whether to ban all meetings between developers and councillors when the public isnt present. Credit: Joe Armao IBACs Operation Sandon report recommended that statutory planning responsibilities be removed from councillors.

But how the government will respond to the recommendation is unclear, and there may still be a role for councillors in strategic planning or smaller projects. Dandenong councillor Rhonda Garad, who pushed for a register, said the lack of uniformity on developer interaction rules was a failure of the state government. They had the opportunity to make these standard governance processes and they chose not to do that, the Greens councillor said. IBAC acting Commissioner Stephen Farrow (left) and Deputy Commissioner David Wolf. The watchdog has recommended an overhaul of council conduct and planning. Credit: Wayne Taylor Garad said she was concerned loose practices would be weaponised as an excuse to push councils and local communities out of planning decisions.



[The state government is] implicating the whole local government sector as being incompetent at best or corrupt at worse, when it was two or three councillors in one council and because there were not standardised levels of integrity baked into the act.

A state government spokesman said councils were required to develop their own governance rules but the government was considering recommendations of Operation Sandon and will respond in due course. At a state level, the Labor and National parties have opposed a ban on donations from the property industry. The Centre for Public Integrity last year called for publication of the ministerial diaries of state MPs, as Queensland, NSW and the ACT does.



Council Watch, formerly known as Ratepayers Victoria, said councils did not need to wait for government reform to adopt registers. [Councillors] are still decision-makers for the foreseeable future, and they should lead the way on this, said vice president Dean Hurlston.



It would restore public image of councils ... flush it into the public domain. Municipal Association of Victoria president David Clarke said councils already had disclosure requirements for receiving gifts or declaring conflicts of interest on specific decisions as they came up, and some councils already required that councillors meet with developers only with a council officer present.
Victorian landowners who must host power lines for a new renewable energy project stand to gain millions of dollars in compensation but fear it wont be enough to make up for the 85-metre towers and transmission lines crossing their properties.

Power grid operator AusNet has started sending compensation valuations to landowners affected by the 190-kilometre Western Renewables Link project, which will connect renewable energy generators in the states west to the power grid.

Victorian potato farmer Tony Toohey fears being short-changed by the Western Renewables Link project, which will cut across his property. Credit: Joe Armao

The company has sent valuations to about a dozen property owners and said there would be more offers to come in following months. Compensation ranges from hundreds of thousands of dollars to multimillion-dollar offers.

But AusNet is facing a backlash from angry farmers who say the project will hamper their farming operations and devalue their land. A rally is planned outside state parliament on Tuesday.
Berlin: German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was stranded in Abu Dhabi for more than 18 hours on Monday en route to Australia after a technical fault on her government Airbus A340-300 forced the pilot to return to the United Arab Emirates capital after a refuelling stop.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock in front of a German government plane. Credit: AP

A malfunction meant the wing flaps on the aircraft  which is more than two decades old and has a history of mechanical problems  could not be retracted correctly and the plane had to jettison fuel before it was light enough to land safely back in Abu Dhabi, the German air force said in a tweet.

German news agency DPA reported that around 80 tons of kerosene was dumped.

Flight tracking website Radarbox.com showed the aircraft taking off from Abu Dhabi at 3.33am local time and circling for almost 2 hours before landing again at 5.33am. The plane, registered as 16+01, flew for 12 years with Deutsche Lufthansa AG before it was acquired by the German air force for VIP transport.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 15. On August 16, at 23:00, a session of the UN Security Council, convened at the request of Armenia, will be held to discuss the humanitarian situation in Karabakh, Trend reports citing website of the US Mission to the UN

"At the request of Armenia, the meeting is scheduled for August 16," the US Mission said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 14. The use of radio-electronic warfare equipment illegally placed in Azerbaijan's sovereign territories is of particular concern, according to the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

In recent weeks, along with the civil aircraft of Azerbaijan Airlines, aircraft of foreign countries have also been subjected to electronic interference, which poses a serious threat to their safety, the ministry said.

The ministry also emphasized that recent days have seen the gathering of heavy-caliber weaponry, other military equipment, and personnel for another mil, along with the illegal military construction work and increase in operations within sovereign territories of Azerbaijan, where the Russian peacekeeping contingent is temporarily stationed (under the trilateral statement signed by Azerbaijani, Armenian, and Russian leaders following the 2020 second Karabakh war).

Previously, GPS interference was recorded when ATR-45 passenger aircraft of the Azerbaijan Airlines flew on the Baku-Fuzuli route on July 24, passenger aircraft C-680 of the Czech Airlines flew on the Budapest-Baku route on July 25, and when ATR-45 passenger aircraft of the Azerbaijan Airlines flew on the Baku-Gabala route and in the opposite direction on July 27.

The command of the Russian peacekeeping forces was informed about these facts and the same accidents that took place earlier. No measures have been taken by the Russian peacekeeping forces to date against these provocations, which pose a serious threat to the security of flights passing through Azerbaijans airspace.
Batavia, NY (14020)

Today

Mostly cloudy. High 71F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 53F. Winds light and variable.
Only here in NZ would we be so trusting of two random guys just trying to grab a late-night feed. I guess we may be some of the nicest people, but obviously, were too humble to toot our own horn.
UAE-based Azizi Developments today (August 14) celebrated the handover of its premium residential development, Berton - strategically located in the heart of Dubais new growth corridor, Al Furjan, featuring 190 studios, 41 one- and two-bedroom apartments as well as 16 luxurious penthouses - to families of 49 nationalities.

A key project, Berton blends masterful craftsmanship and interior artistry with gracefully furnished homes featuring high-end parquet flooring, state-of-the-art decor, and generous spaces.

The property offers its residents the opportunity to live in one of the most up-and-coming locations in the emirate, situated near Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Sheikh Zayed Road, and the Expo 2020 Route metro line. Berton is remarkably well-connected to all of Dubais points of interest and boasts ease of access to the Al Maktoum International Airport.

All the 247 units within Berton have been snapped up by investors from 49 different nationalities, said its top official.

"In the midst of the pronounced growth spurt that Dubais real estate sector is currently experiencing, we are proud to have completed Berton in the very promising Al Furjan community. Our relentless efforts in delivering the highest quality, premium projects to our valued clients within projected timelines have yet again come to fruition," remarked CEO Farhad Azizi.

"This remarkable journey is not ours alone; I extend my profound gratitude to all stakeholders who have worked so diligently, hand-in-hand with us, and whose instrumental role was undeniably pivotal to the realization of our vision," stated Azizi.

"We do not confine ourselves to traditional construction alone; we aspire to enrich lives and elevate Dubais real estate prominence on the global stage, creating prestigious residential and commercial developments that stimulate the growth of this very progressive sector," he said.

"With the completion of Berton, we have manifested into reality much more than just a residential complex  the lifestyles enabled by this world class development will shape the lives of many families for generations to come," he added.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 14. The Armenian Armed Forces, illegally stationed on the territory of Azerbaijan, have intensified their military construction activities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan said in a statement, Trend reports.

Armenia's obligations outlined in the fourth paragraph of the trilateral statement signed by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Russia, and Armenia on November 10, 2020 have been gravely violated in recent weeks as a result of the Armenian Armed Forces' increased military engineering and other construction activities on Azerbaijani soil.

Additionally, in recent days there has been a concentration of numerous weapons, military equipment, and personnel in preparation for another military adventure along the state border not delimited by Armenia, in addition to military engineering works and the illegal build-up of activities on the sovereign territories of Azerbaijan, where the Russian peacekeepers are temporarily stationed.

Following over a month of military action to liberate its territories from Armenian occupation from late September to early November 2020, Azerbaijan has pushed Armenia to sign the surrender document. A joint statement on the matter was made by the Azerbaijani president, Armenia's PM, and the president of Russia.

A complete ceasefire and a cessation of all hostilities in the zone of the Karabakh conflict were introduced on November 10, 2020.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988, when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, the Armenian Armed Forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.
Jhanda Satyagraha: Centenary of a movement that created history





By Kartik Lokhande

As the nation gears up for the Har Ghar Tiranga initiative, wherein the Government has appealed to the people to hoist the national flag at their homes on August 15 and share the pictures on social media, it becomes all the more important to know about the historic movement 100 years ago fought over 128 days for the honour of the then version of national flag. That, Nagpur was the centrestage of that movement in 1923 is a matter of pride for every Indian. While the nation is celebrating Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and formulating vision for the Amrit Kaal -- 25-year period from 75th anniversary to centenary of Indian Independence -- it is time for every Indian to connect to the historic past to understand the true spirit of the struggle for freedom from the British Raj. In this context, Nagpur Jhanda Satyagraha comes as an example of assertion of right to uphold the honour of the national flag.

After the Patel brothers -- Sardar Vallabhbhai and Vithalbhai -- took over the reins of the Nagpur Jhanda Satyagraha, Nagpur witnessed several meetings. Right from stalwarts to the ordinary citizens participated in these meetings. Patel brothers also kept talking to the British as well as members of the Central Provinces Legislative Council to secure release of the volunteers arrested during daily marches with national flag. All these developments paved way for the successful culmination of the Flag Satyagraha.

Successful culmination on Aug 18

The British Governments contention was that the processionists should apply for permission. Congress claimed the right to proceed along any public road without let or hindrance. There were hectic meetings and negotiations between the Legislative Council, the administration, the police, and the Patel brothers. As per the Central Provinces Police Abstract of Intelligence, Sardar Patel wrote to the District Superintendent of Police, Nagpur, on August 17, 1923. The said police abstract quotes Sardar Patels letter as follows: Sir, I hereby intimate to you that I propose to organise and take a procession through the city and the Civil Lines on the 18th August 1923, at the time by the routes and in the manner mentioned in the published notice, a copy of which is herewith enclosed for your information

After talks, certain conditions were finalised for the August 18 procession. Some of the conditions included: Crowds to be detained at railway bridge past Council Hall up to Bansilals Bank. Here they can say Jais, and sing national songs (neither scurrilous nor seditious). From Bank to Secretariat corner, one man to sing national songs only. Turning to right from Secretariat corner to English Church past Commissioners office and Masonic Lodge. Here they say no Jais or shouts or songs. From Church to Sadar Bazar, they can say Jais and sing songs. At Sadar Bazar they disperse. As per Dr Vyas book, on August 18, the procession passed through present-day landmarks of railway bridge, Vidhan Bhavan, Akashwani Square, General Post Office (GPO), Ravi Bhavan, Masonic Lodge, VCA ground, All Saints Cathedral, Sadar Bazar, and culminated in a meeting at Tiger Gap ground. Sardar Patel, Pt Makhanlal Chaturvedi led the procession, and stalwarts like Dr Rajendra Prasad, Shankarlal Parekh, Subhadra Kumari Chauhan, Wasudeo Rao, Subhedar, Seth Punamchand, Thakur Laxman Singh, and many others participated. All the participants wore white clothes. A total of 100 persons participated in the procession that was held between 12 noon and 3 pm.
18 deaths reported in 24 hrs in Mahs Thane hospital





THANE,

EIGHTEEN patients have died in the last 24 hours at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Kalwa in Thane, Municipal Commissioner Abhijit Bangar said on Sunday. These comprise 10 women and eight men, of which six are from Thane city, four from Kalyan, three from Sahapur, one each from Bhiwandi, Ulhasnagar and Govandi (in Mumbai), one patient is from some other place and and one is unidentified, he said. Twelve of the deceased were above the age of 50, Bangar added. Earlier, State Health Minister Tanaji Sawant and local Deputy Commissioner of Police Ganesh Gawde had put the number of deaths at 17. Addressing a news conference, Bangar said Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had taken feedback about the situation and had ordered the setting up of an independent probe committee that will be headed by the Commissioner of health services and will include Collector, civic chief, Director of health services, interventionist at state-run JJ Hospital in Mumbai and civic surgeon. It will carry out probe into the clinical aspect of the deaths, he added.

These patients had complications of kidney stone, chronic paralysis, ulcer, pneumonia, kerosene poisoning, septicemia etc, he said. The line of treatment will be probed and statements of kin of the deceased etc will be recorded. Allegations of negligence levelled by some kin is a serious matter, which the probe committee will look into, Bangar said. The entire COVID staff has been shifted to this hospital and additional nursing staff has been appointed. We are also aiming to have round the clock post-mortem facility here, he told reporters. Earlier in the day, State Health Minister Sawant said the Dean of the hospital had been asked to submit a report in two days. A Thane Municipal Corporation official said the deaths were being analysed and several civic officials are at the heavily-patronised facility for inspection of records etc. Speaking to PTI, Deputy Commissioner of Police Ganesh Gawde said, We have information of 17 deaths in the last 24 hours. We have been told the usual figure per day is six to seven. The hospital management told us some of the patients arrived there in a critical stage and succumbed during treatment. Some were elderly. We have increased police presence at the hospital to avoid any untoward incident due to these high number of deaths, the DCP informed.
Dedicate yourselves to Bharat Mata to make India great in Azadi Ka Amrit Kaal: Shah





AHMEDABAD,

AHEAD of Indias 77th Independence Day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah here on Sunday appealed to the youth to dedicate themselves to Bharat Mata for 25 years of the Azadi Ka Amrit Kaal to make India a great nation. Shah and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel flagged off the Tiranga Yatra organised by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) in the city. We no longer need to die for the country because we are independent. But, nobody can stop us from living for our country, Shah said. On Prime Minister Modis appeal, every house hoisted the national flag on August 15, 2022, he said. If each of the one crore families in Gujarat hoist the tricolour on their houses, then the entire State and the country will become tirangamay, the Union Minister said. Shah said PM Modi has appealed to people to celebrate 25 years (from 2022) till August 15, 2047 as Azadi Ka Amrit Kaal and use it to make the country great and number 1 in every sphere.

This Amrit Kaal is of special importance for our young generation. Like the young generation led the countrys struggle for independence for 90 years and rid it of the shackles of colonialism, the young generation of today will have to dedicate itself to Bharat Mata for 25 years till 2047 and make India great, Shah said in his address. As a result of the 90 years of freedom struggle between 1857 and 1947, India, the mother of democracy, has been making its way as the worlds largest democracy, he said. But I would like to especially tell the youth that behind our freedom is the sacrifice of millions of people...The sacrifice of our forefathers is not just a sacrifice but a sanskar for us all to live for the country. We no longer need to die for the country because we are independent. But nobody can stop us from living for our country, he said.
Facebook, biryani and murder





Staff Reporter

The digital age often paves the way for unexpected relationships, and Sana Khans story is no exception. What started as a virtual friendship between Sana and Amit alias Pappu Shahu on Facebook during the lockdown evolved into a relationship, before meeting an untimely tragic end.

Sana alias Heena Khan, a 34-year-old functionary of Bharatiya Janata Partys Minority Cell from Awasthi Nagar, befriended Pappu on Facebook during the lockdown. As their friendship deepened, Sana Khan managed to obtain Pappus mobile number from Facebook. The two engaged in constant interactions and sparked a bond of love. Their first in-person encounter took place in May 2021, during a train journey when Sana was returning from Varanasi. Pappu Shahu had offered her a tiffin of biryani. This marked the beginning of blossoming of love between the two, police said. Eventually, they started meeting at Nagpur and Jabalpur. The couple tied the knot this year in April. However, cracks began to appear in their relationship as investigation suggested that Sanas behaviour turned abusive, causing distress to Amit.

Matters escalated on August 1 during a video call between Amit and Sana. During the call, Sana noticed that a gold chain she had gifted Amit was absent. This sparked a heated argument between the two and Sana abused Pappu, claimed police. During the argument, Sana demanded Rs five lakh she had invested in his Dhaba. Amit invited Sana to Jabalpur for discussion. As a result, Sana went to Jabalpur on August 2. Upon her arrival at Amits residence, she again started abusing Pappu and a confrontation took place. In a fit of rage, Amit allegedly struck Sana on the head three times with a stick. She collapsed on the ground in a pool of blood. Before she got medical help, Sana succumbed to the injuries.
India a better bet for foreign investment





By Subrata Majumder

MORGAN Stanley in its recent review portrayed India as the most attractive destination for foreign investment in Asian emerging market. It upgraded India from 6th position to top in the region. Macroeconomic stability and faster growth in the post COVID years were reasons. India proved resilient to global volatility, stoked by US recession and Ukraine war. Global analysts were upbeat with India emerging as the next global destination for FDI, in contrast to China and South East Asias eroding prominence. In 2022, India and Vietnam were the only two countries in East and South East Asia to pitch for higher growth in FDI inflow. China, which was the main headway for global FDI inflow, was dragged into retreat with its stringent COVID policy and domestic oriented investment policies. FDI in China grew merely by 4.5 percent, as compared to India recording 10.3 per cent. South East Asia, which has been a major challenge to India, lost steam. FDI growth slid to 4.6 per cent in 2022 in South East Asia. US-China face off and Ukraine war added a new layer of FDI culture in the world. Low cost production and global network of supply chain, were outweighed by global political bi-partition and currency war. A wide gulf was created between west and east and de-dollarisation emerged for the FDI boost in the bi-partitioned world. China poured substantial investment in Russia in Chinese Yuan and India opened gate for local currency investment by UAE - the third biggest trade partner of India. US dollar is eroding prominence and Chinese yuan or local currencies are gaining steam in the de-dollarisation movement.

According to IMF survey, dollar share in central bank foreign exchange reserves declined from 71 percent in 1999 to 59 percent in 2021. US dollar was alleged for using more like a political weapon. Eventually, de-dollarisation has become an additional factor for FDI diversification. Given these, de-coupling and de-risking are gaining significance in making new trend in FDI. Till now, China was one of the main destinations for USA, Japan and EU investment. Chinese prominence is in retreat and outplaced by India as alternative in East and South East Asia with the advent of de-coupling and de-risking policies. FDI growth in China nosedived to 4.5 percent in 2022, after a spurring growth by 21.2 percent in 2021 De-coupling and de-risking do not have any academic or institutional definition by UNTACD, WTO, World Bank or IMF. In colloquial term, de-coupling means exiting investment from China and de-risking refers to China+1 investment strategy. On June 21, USA announced multiple policy challenges  all centering to downplay China. President Joseph Bidden rolled out red carpet to Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit, despite Indias neutral stance in Ukraine war.

This reflects USAs tilt towards India underlining Indias role in Indo-Pacific to counter China. Given these, global analysts perceived, USA needs India more than India needs. USA was one of the top two foreign investors in India. During the recent visit to USA by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, USA and India signed several agreements covering defence procurement, joint weapon production and development of several critical technologies. These opened several opportunities for India to lure US investors, in the wake of de-coupling and de-risking strategies. India ranked 8th in global FDI inflow, according to World Investment Report. It emerged as the second most attractive destination for FDI flow in South East Asia and third in the whole of South East Asia and East Asia in 2021. The main drivers for FDI flow in India were USA, Singapore and Japan. Together, these three nations accounted for nearly 50 per cent of FDI flow in India It is difficult to assess how much shift was made or could be made by USA and Japanese investors, owing to de-coupling and de-risking. Nevertheless, some cases may exemplify the shift. De-coupling of Apple of USA from China partly and shifting to India has become the headlines. Apples decision of shifting production base in India signifies Indias challenge to China. It raises concern over Chinas hegemony in global supply chain in the next decade. China has been the global powerhouse for supply chain manufacturing. Nearly, one fourth of global supply chain is accounted by China. Japanese investors also looked to India as against China after Japanese Government provided big subsidy to diversify offshore investment from China, to reduce over-dependence.

Eventually, Japanese investment fell drastically in China. Though Japanese investment also fell in India in the post COVID era, the magnitude of fall was slower in India than in China. It was by 34.4 percent in case of China, as compared to 14.1 per cent in India. There were 13, 934 Japanese companies in China in 2016. It dropped to 13, 685 in 2019. Share of parts and components from China declined from 29.5 percent in 2015 to 26.1 percent in 2021. Focuses were made for South East Asian countries for diversification of Japanese investment. Even though thrusts were given for shifting to Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia by the Japanese Government, India emerged the preferred destination for Japanese investors. Vietnam was focused a coveted destination for diversification. But Japanese investment in India increased much more than Vietnam. In 2021, Japanese investment in India increased by 132.9%, as compared to 76.3% in Vietnam. This advocated Japanese investors tilt towards India. To sum up, though India was earlier not hyped as a better alternative to China, the recent developments in Indian economy and policies, including political stability, ensure a better bet for foreign investors. (IPA)
Nadda holds meetings with WB BJP leaders







KOLKATA,

BHARATIYA Janata Party (BJP) President J P Nadda on Sunday held a series of meetings in Kolkata with party leaders of the State, and asked them to strengthen the booth-level organisation ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

He asked the BJPs State leadership to reach out to the people more. The meetings were attended by the partys State office bearers, MLAs and MPs. Nadda-ji took stock of the partys organisational strength. He went through the reports of the partys Panchayat poll performance, and enquired about the drop in vote share in places where we had performed well in the Lok Sabha elections and Assembly polls, a BJP leader said.

He also asked the party leaders to reach out to the people with the development works undertaken by the Centre, and expose the misrule of the TMC Government. Nadda held a meeting on Saturday night, another on Sunday morning and one more in the afternoon at the National Library. He also visited the Dakshineswar Temple on the outskirts of Kolkata along with his wife Mallika Nadda in the morning. Nadda arrived here on Friday on a three-day visit, to take stock of the organisation ahead of the LS polls. For the 2024 elections, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has set a target of winning 35 Lok Sabha seats from West Bengal.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 14. Representatives of Azerbaijan's Albanian-Udi community, successor of the Albanian (Caucasian) Apostolic Independent Church, have visited the Khudavang Monastery complex in Azerbaijans Kalbajar district, the State Committee on Religious Associations of Azerbaijan told Trend.

The committee said that in a church inside the temple complex, community representatives carried out religious rituals and lit candles.

On the grounds of Vang village is the ancient Caucasian Albanian temple complex known as the Khudavang monastery complex (IVXIII centuries).

Nine buildings make up the complex, five of them are primary buildings and the remaining auxiliary and service ones.

Many aspects of Khudavang monastery were altered and unlawful repair work was done during the Armenian occupation (which lasted from 1993 until November 10, 2020).
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 14. "On the occasion of Pakistan's Independence Day, we send the government and its friendly citizens our warmest wishes. We look forward to deepening our strategic partnership and bilateral ties", the MFA stated.

Strong interstate ties between Azerbaijan and Pakistan have blossomed into a strategic relationship over the past three decades. The foundation of this collaboration is mutual respect and cooperation on different global concerns.

Azerbaijan and Pakistan have strong political, economic, and cultural links to one another. Warm and cordial ties between the two nations are built on shared beliefs, objectives, and respect.
The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust (NYSEAMERICAN:GLU  Get Free Report) saw a significant growth in short interest in July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 2,000 shares, a growth of 81.8% from the July 15th total of 1,100 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 13,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.2 days.

The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust Price Performance

Shares of NYSEAMERICAN GLU traded down $0.31 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $14.20. The company had a trading volume of 23,174 shares, compared to its average volume of 15,917. The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust has a 12-month low of $13.09 and a 12-month high of $17.19.

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The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 24th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 17th will be paid a dividend of $0.10 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, August 16th.

Insider Buying and Selling at The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

In other news, insider Mario J. Gabelli sold 1,900 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $13.21, for a total transaction of $25,099.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 4,703 shares of the companys stock, valued at $62,126.63. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. GABELLI & Co INVESTMENT ADVISERS INC. acquired a new position in The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust in the second quarter worth approximately $6,923,000. Prospera Financial Services Inc raised its holdings in shares of The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust by 42.5% during the 4th quarter. Prospera Financial Services Inc now owns 41,007 shares of the companys stock valued at $577,000 after purchasing an additional 12,221 shares in the last quarter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust during the 4th quarter valued at $148,000. LPL Financial LLC raised its holdings in shares of The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust by 27.5% during the 2nd quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 27,333 shares of the companys stock valued at $441,000 after purchasing an additional 5,897 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Osaic Holdings Inc. boosted its stake in shares of The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust by 14.0% during the 2nd quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 37,356 shares of the companys stock worth $531,000 after acquiring an additional 4,600 shares in the last quarter.

About The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust

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The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched by GAMCO Investors, Inc It is managed by Gabelli Funds, LLC. The fund invests in public equity markets across the globe. It primarily invests in stocks of companies involved to a substantial extent in providing products, services, or equipment for the generation or distribution of electricity, gas, or water and infrastructure operations, and in equity securities including preferred securities of companies in other industries, in each case in such securities that are expected to pay periodic dividends.

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Alamos Gold Inc. (NYSE:AGI  Get Free Report) (TSE:AGI) saw a significant decrease in short interest during the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 5,620,000 shares, a decrease of 25.3% from the July 15th total of 7,520,000 shares. Approximately 1.4% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 2,440,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.3 days.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

AGI has been the subject of several research reports. Scotiabank began coverage on shares of Alamos Gold in a research report on Monday, April 24th. They issued an outperform rating and a $14.50 price objective for the company. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Alamos Gold from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, June 3rd. Laurentian lowered Alamos Gold from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, April 27th. TD Securities upgraded Alamos Gold from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, July 28th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating and set a $10.00 price target on shares of Alamos Gold in a research note on Tuesday, August 8th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $15.25.

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Alamos Gold Trading Up 0.5 %

Shares of NYSE AGI traded up $0.06 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $11.67. 1,423,075 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,168,638. Alamos Gold has a twelve month low of $6.35 and a twelve month high of $14.12. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.46, a PEG ratio of 1.35 and a beta of 1.07. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $12.08 and a 200 day simple moving average of $11.94.

Alamos Gold (NYSE:AGI  Get Free Report) (TSE:AGI) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The basic materials company reported $0.15 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.12 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $261.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $251.17 million. Alamos Gold had a net margin of 16.98% and a return on equity of 6.00%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 36.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.07 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Alamos Gold will post 0.43 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Alamos Gold Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 29th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 15th were given a dividend of $0.025 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, June 14th. This represents a $0.10 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.86%. Alamos Golds dividend payout ratio is currently 24.39%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Alamos Gold

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of AGI. Foundation Resource Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Alamos Gold by 2.8% during the 1st quarter. Foundation Resource Management Inc. now owns 33,088 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $405,000 after acquiring an additional 895 shares in the last quarter. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC grew its position in Alamos Gold by 3.8% in the first quarter. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC now owns 27,000 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $330,000 after purchasing an additional 1,000 shares in the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP grew its position in Alamos Gold by 8.9% in the first quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 12,280 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $150,000 after purchasing an additional 1,005 shares in the last quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC increased its stake in Alamos Gold by 4.1% in the 4th quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 29,313 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $296,000 after buying an additional 1,148 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. lifted its position in Alamos Gold by 9.8% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 14,007 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $171,000 after buying an additional 1,247 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 63.16% of the companys stock.

Alamos Gold Company Profile

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Alamos Gold Inc engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and extraction of precious metals in Canada and Mexico. The company primarily explores for gold and silver deposits. It holds 100% interest in the Young-Davidson mine and Island Gold mine located in the Ontario, Canada; Mulatos mine located in the Sonora, Mexico; and Lynn Lake project situated in the Manitoba, Canada.

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Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. (NYSE:BAM  Get Free Report) (TSE:BAM.A) has been given an average recommendation of Moderate Buy by the nine ratings firms that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 1 year price target among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $39.00.

A number of research firms have recently commented on BAM. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on Brookfield Asset Management from $33.00 to $34.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research note on Thursday. StockNews.com began coverage on Brookfield Asset Management in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Scotiabank began coverage on Brookfield Asset Management in a research note on Thursday, July 13th. They issued an outperform rating on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price objective on Brookfield Asset Management from $34.00 to $35.00 in a research note on Thursday. Finally, TD Securities boosted their target price on Brookfield Asset Management from $47.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock an action list buy rating in a research report on Thursday.

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Brookfield Asset Management Stock Performance

BAM stock opened at $35.13 on Monday. Brookfield Asset Management has a 52-week low of $26.76 and a 52-week high of $36.50. The stocks 50 day moving average is $32.82 and its two-hundred day moving average is $32.65.

Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE:BAM  Get Free Report) (TSE:BAM.A) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 9th. The financial services provider reported $0.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $0.32. The business had revenue of $985.00 million for the quarter. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Brookfield Asset Management will post 1.31 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Brookfield Asset Management Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 31st will be given a $0.32 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, August 30th. This represents a $1.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.64%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Brookfield Asset Management

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp increased its stake in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 74.0% in the 2nd quarter. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp now owns 2,855,654 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $93,194,000 after buying an additional 1,214,601 shares during the period. Credit Suisse AG lifted its holdings in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 2.9% in the second quarter. Credit Suisse AG now owns 629,711 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $20,547,000 after purchasing an additional 17,459 shares in the last quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC lifted its holdings in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 327.3% in the second quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 435,386 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $14,206,000 after purchasing an additional 333,501 shares in the last quarter. Trexquant Investment LP bought a new stake in Brookfield Asset Management during the second quarter worth about $2,867,000. Finally, Capital World Investors raised its holdings in Brookfield Asset Management by 16.8% during the second quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 18,250,067 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $595,517,000 after acquiring an additional 2,625,505 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 57.29% of the companys stock.

About Brookfield Asset Management

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Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. provides alternative asset management services. Its renewable power and transition business includes the ownership, operation, and development of hydroelectric, wind, solar, and energy transition power generating assets. The company's infrastructure business engages in the ownership, operation, and development of utilities, transport, midstream, data and sustainable resource assets.

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Banco de Chile (NYSE:BCH  Get Free Report) was the target of a large drop in short interest in the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 197,500 shares, a drop of 24.5% from the July 15th total of 261,600 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 111,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.8 days.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on BCH shares. Itau BBA Securities upgraded shares of Banco de Chile from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $24.00 target price for the company in a research report on Friday, June 2nd. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Banco de Chile in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On Banco de Chile

Banco de Chile Price Performance

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in BCH. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership boosted its position in shares of Banco de Chile by 252.3% during the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 685,643 shares of the banks stock valued at $13,384,000 after purchasing an additional 491,004 shares in the last quarter. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. acquired a new position in shares of Banco de Chile in the first quarter worth about $3,970,000. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Banco de Chile in the first quarter worth about $146,000. BlackRock Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Banco de Chile by 80.4% in the third quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 256,655 shares of the banks stock worth $4,536,000 after buying an additional 114,359 shares during the period. Finally, Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Banco de Chile by 687.9% in the first quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 91,710 shares of the banks stock worth $1,790,000 after buying an additional 80,070 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 1.12% of the companys stock.

BCH traded down $0.42 on Friday, reaching $21.50. The company had a trading volume of 101,605 shares, compared to its average volume of 109,544. The company has a fifty day moving average of $21.37 and a 200-day moving average of $21.05. The company has a market capitalization of $10.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.66, a PEG ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 0.38. The company has a current ratio of 1.56, a quick ratio of 1.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.98. Banco de Chile has a one year low of $16.81 and a one year high of $23.50.

Banco de Chile Company Profile

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Banco de Chile, together with its subsidiaries, provides various banking and financial products and services to customers in Chile. It operates through Retail Banking, Wholesale Banking, and Treasury and Money Market segments. The company offers deposit products, such as checking accounts, current accounts, demand deposits and accounts, saving accounts, and time deposits; commercial, mortgage, consumer, working capital, syndicated, and installment loans; and credit cards.

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JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded shares of Bancolombia (NYSE:CIB  Free Report) from a neutral rating to an underweight rating in a report released on Thursday morning, MarketBeat.com reports. They currently have $30.00 price objective on the banks stock.

CIB has been the subject of several other reports. TheStreet raised Bancolombia from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research note on Friday, April 14th. Bank of America cut Bancolombia from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, April 27th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $30.67.

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Bancolombia Price Performance

Bancolombia Increases Dividend

CIB opened at $28.20 on Thursday. Bancolombia has a 12 month low of $21.55 and a 12 month high of $33.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 1.02. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $28.21 and a 200 day moving average price of $26.69.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 12th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 29th will be issued a $0.7727 dividend. This is an increase from Bancolombias previous quarterly dividend of $0.70. This represents a $3.09 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 10.96%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 28th. Bancolombias payout ratio is presently 52.46%.

Institutional Trading of Bancolombia

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. CWM LLC raised its stake in Bancolombia by 86.8% during the 1st quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,263 shares of the banks stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 587 shares during the last quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC grew its holdings in Bancolombia by 852.4% during the 2nd quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 1,781 shares of the banks stock valued at $48,000 after buying an additional 1,594 shares during the last quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC grew its holdings in Bancolombia by 100.9% during the 2nd quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 1,870 shares of the banks stock valued at $50,000 after buying an additional 939 shares during the last quarter. US Bancorp DE grew its holdings in Bancolombia by 25.0% during the 2nd quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 2,262 shares of the banks stock valued at $60,000 after buying an additional 453 shares during the last quarter. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Bancolombia by 13.7% during the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 2,719 shares of the banks stock worth $117,000 after purchasing an additional 327 shares during the period.

About Bancolombia

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Bancolombia SA provides banking products and services in Colombia, Panama, Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Bermuda, and Guatemala. The company operates through nine segments: Banking Colombia, Banking Panama, Banking El Salvador, Banking Guatemala, Trust, Investment Banking, Brokerage, International Banking, and All Other.

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CAE (TSE:CAE  Free Report) (NYSE:CAE) had its price target boosted by BMO Capital Markets from C$35.00 to C$37.00 in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, Marketbeat Ratings reports.

CAE has been the topic of several other reports. TD Securities lifted their target price on CAE from C$37.00 to C$39.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their target price on CAE from C$36.00 to C$35.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, June 1st. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, CAE currently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of C$37.38.

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CAE Price Performance

Shares of CAE stock opened at C$31.66 on Thursday. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is C$29.11 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$29.82. CAE has a 52 week low of C$20.90 and a 52 week high of C$32.68. The company has a market capitalization of C$10.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 44.59, a PEG ratio of 1.76 and a beta of 1.99. The company has a quick ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 72.45.

CAE (TSE:CAE  Get Free Report) (NYSE:CAE) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 31st. The company reported C$0.35 EPS for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of C$0.35. CAE had a return on equity of 6.78% and a net margin of 6.62%. The business had revenue of C$1.26 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$1.21 billion. As a group, analysts expect that CAE will post 1.1809026 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About CAE

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CAE Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides simulation training and critical operations support solutions in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia, Oceania and Africa, and Rest of Americas. It operates through three segments: Civil Aviation, Defense and Security, and Healthcare.

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Atalaya Mining (LON:ATYM  Free Report) had its price target upped by Canaccord Genuity Group from GBX 590 ($7.54) to GBX 600 ($7.67) in a report issued on Thursday, Marketbeat reports. Canaccord Genuity Group currently has a buy rating on the stock.

ATYM has been the topic of several other reports. Berenberg Bank reaffirmed a buy rating and set a GBX 420 ($5.37) price target on shares of Atalaya Mining in a research note on Friday, July 21st. Canaccord Genuity Group reaffirmed a buy rating and set a GBX 600 ($7.67) price target on shares of Atalaya Mining in a research note on Monday, May 15th.

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Atalaya Mining Price Performance

Atalaya Mining Increases Dividend

Atalaya Mining stock opened at GBX 344 ($4.40) on Thursday. Atalaya Mining has a 12-month low of GBX 183 ($2.34) and a 12-month high of GBX 385 ($4.92). The stock has a market capitalization of 481.19 million, a P/E ratio of 2,293.33, a P/E/G ratio of -2.02 and a beta of 1.70. The firms 50-day moving average is GBX 326.78 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 339.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 14.42, a current ratio of 1.69 and a quick ratio of 1.64.

The business also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 28th. Investors of record on Thursday, August 24th will be given a $0.05 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 24th. This is a boost from Atalaya Minings previous dividend of $0.04. This represents a dividend yield of 1.2%. Atalaya Minings dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 4,666.67%.

Atalaya Mining Company Profile

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Atalaya Mining Plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the mineral exploration and development in Spain. The company's flagship property is its 100% owned Proyecto Riotinto mine, an open-pit copper mine located in the Andalusia region of Spain. It produces copper concentrates, including silver by-products.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 14. Ramiz Malik was awarded the "Honorary Diploma of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan" for long-year productive activity in the development of theatre art in Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a relevant decree in this regard.
Citizens Business Bank lessened its position in shares of Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ  Free Report) by 5.1% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 17,181 shares of the companys stock after selling 927 shares during the period. Citizens Business Banks holdings in Constellation Brands were worth $3,881,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in STZ. Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Constellation Brands by 1.0% in the 1st quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 188,055 shares of the companys stock valued at $42,480,000 after buying an additional 1,870 shares in the last quarter. SWS Partners acquired a new position in shares of Constellation Brands in the 1st quarter valued at $1,601,000. Obermeyer Wood Investment Counsel Lllp boosted its holdings in shares of Constellation Brands by 10.2% in the 1st quarter. Obermeyer Wood Investment Counsel Lllp now owns 1,652 shares of the companys stock valued at $376,000 after buying an additional 153 shares in the last quarter. Spire Wealth Management boosted its holdings in shares of Constellation Brands by 9.0% in the 1st quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 4,626 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,045,000 after buying an additional 383 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fortis Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Constellation Brands by 18.1% in the 1st quarter. Fortis Advisors LLC now owns 981 shares of the companys stock valued at $222,000 after buying an additional 150 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.49% of the companys stock.

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Constellation Brands Stock Up 0.1 %

Shares of NYSE STZ traded up $0.21 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $267.89. The stock had a trading volume of 94,373 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,238,594. The firms 50-day moving average price is $255.79 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $236.43. Constellation Brands, Inc. has a 52 week low of $208.12 and a 52 week high of $273.65. The company has a current ratio of 1.14, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.23.

Constellation Brands Dividend Announcement

Constellation Brands ( NYSE:STZ Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, June 30th. The company reported $2.91 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.83 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $2.51 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.47 billion. Constellation Brands had a positive return on equity of 22.32% and a negative net margin of 3.14%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 6.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.66 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Constellation Brands, Inc. will post 11.62 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 24th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 10th will be issued a dividend of $0.89 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, August 9th. This represents a $3.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.33%. Constellation Brandss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -194.54%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on STZ. Roth Capital upgraded shares of Constellation Brands from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, May 30th. Truist Financial increased their price target on shares of Constellation Brands from $220.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Monday, July 3rd. Roth Mkm increased their price target on shares of Constellation Brands from $270.00 to $284.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, July 3rd. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on shares of Constellation Brands from $290.00 to $305.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, July 24th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Constellation Brands in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Constellation Brands presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $266.24.

View Our Latest Analysis on STZ

Insider Transactions at Constellation Brands

In other news, CFO Garth Hankinson sold 1,550 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $267.96, for a total transaction of $415,338.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 9,491 shares in the company, valued at $2,543,208.36. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, CFO Garth Hankinson sold 1,550 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $267.96, for a total value of $415,338.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 9,491 shares in the company, valued at $2,543,208.36. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP James O. Bourdeau sold 30,723 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $269.00, for a total value of $8,264,487.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 5,500 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,479,500. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 100,819 shares of company stock worth $27,054,755 over the last three months. 16.19% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

About Constellation Brands

(Free Report)

Constellation Brands, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, produces, imports, markets, and sells beer, wine, and spirits in the United States, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, and Italy. The company provides beer primarily under the Corona Extra, Corona Premier, Corona Familiar, Corona Light, Corona Refresca, Corona Hard Seltzer, Modelo Especial, Modelo Negra, Modelo Chelada, Victoria, Vicky Chamoy, and Pacifico brands.

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Ero Copper Corp. (NYSE:ERO  Get Free Report) saw a large increase in short interest in the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 1,900,000 shares, an increase of 74.3% from the July 15th total of 1,090,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 129,400 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 14.7 days. Currently, 2.3% of the companys stock are short sold.

Ero Copper Stock Up 0.2 %

Shares of Ero Copper stock traded up $0.04 on Friday, reaching $21.15. The companys stock had a trading volume of 54,500 shares, compared to its average volume of 151,839. The company has a market capitalization of $1.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.59 and a beta of 1.15. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $20.87 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $18.66. Ero Copper has a 52 week low of $8.83 and a 52 week high of $24.38. The company has a quick ratio of 2.80, a current ratio of 3.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the company. Stifel Nicolaus assumed coverage on Ero Copper in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. StockNews.com began coverage on Ero Copper in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lowered Ero Copper from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and reduced their price objective for the company from $26.00 to $24.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 29th.

Institutional Trading of Ero Copper

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp increased its holdings in shares of Ero Copper by 2.6% in the 2nd quarter. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp now owns 43,160 shares of the companys stock worth $873,000 after purchasing an additional 1,095 shares in the last quarter. Credit Suisse AG grew its holdings in shares of Ero Copper by 60.4% in the second quarter. Credit Suisse AG now owns 108,197 shares of the companys stock worth $2,900,000 after acquiring an additional 40,742 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Ero Copper by 5.4% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 31,394 shares of the companys stock worth $635,000 after acquiring an additional 1,616 shares during the period. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can grew its holdings in shares of Ero Copper by 10.9% in the second quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 69,313 shares of the companys stock worth $1,408,000 after acquiring an additional 6,788 shares during the period. Finally, Boston Partners grew its holdings in shares of Ero Copper by 37.2% in the second quarter. Boston Partners now owns 135,808 shares of the companys stock worth $2,748,000 after acquiring an additional 36,796 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 53.19% of the companys stock.

Ero Copper Company Profile

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Ero Copper Corp. engages in the exploration, development, and production of mining projects in Brazil. The company engages in the production and sale of copper concentrate from the Caraiba operations, located within the Curaca Valley, northeastern Bahia state, as well as gold and silver by-products. It also holds a 99.6% interest in the Tucuma project, a copper development project located within southeastern Para state; and holds a 97.6% interest in the Xavantina Operations located in Mato Grosso state.

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Forge First Asset Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS  Free Report) by 81.7% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 181,541 shares of the casino operators stock after purchasing an additional 81,641 shares during the quarter. Las Vegas Sands makes up approximately 4.7% of Forge First Asset Management Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 4th largest holding. Forge First Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Las Vegas Sands were worth $10,426,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Anomaly Capital Management LP increased its position in Las Vegas Sands by 270.7% during the 4th quarter. Anomaly Capital Management LP now owns 1,993,958 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $95,850,000 after purchasing an additional 1,456,042 shares during the period. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. increased its position in Las Vegas Sands by 775.0% during the 1st quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 361,505 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $20,167,000 after purchasing an additional 320,191 shares during the period. Desjardins Global Asset Management Inc. increased its position in Las Vegas Sands by 146.6% during the 1st quarter. Desjardins Global Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,528 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $145,000 after purchasing an additional 1,503 shares during the period. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina increased its position in Las Vegas Sands by 8.4% during the 1st quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 225,686 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $12,966,000 after purchasing an additional 17,430 shares during the period. Finally, Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC increased its position in Las Vegas Sands by 2.5% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 28,347 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $1,363,000 after purchasing an additional 691 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 39.66% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $70.00 to $69.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 20th. Citigroup boosted their target price on Las Vegas Sands from $76.00 to $80.50 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded Las Vegas Sands from a buy rating to a hold rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $69.00 to $65.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 8th. Argus decreased their target price on Las Vegas Sands from $72.00 to $68.00 in a report on Friday, July 21st. Finally, Roth Mkm upped their price target on Las Vegas Sands from $74.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $70.81.

Las Vegas Sands Stock Down 0.9 %

Shares of NYSE LVS traded down $0.51 during trading on Monday, reaching $55.90. The company had a trading volume of 1,743,042 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,559,830. The stock has a market cap of $42.73 billion, a PE ratio of 798.86, a P/E/G ratio of 6.07 and a beta of 1.17. The company has a quick ratio of 2.75, a current ratio of 2.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.57. Las Vegas Sands Corp. has a 12-month low of $33.38 and a 12-month high of $65.58. The businesss 50-day moving average is $58.15 and its 200 day moving average is $58.11.

Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, July 19th. The casino operator reported $0.46 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.44 by $0.02. Las Vegas Sands had a return on equity of 5.73% and a net margin of 0.75%. The firm had revenue of $2.54 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.41 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned ($0.34) EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 143.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Las Vegas Sands Corp. will post 1.87 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Las Vegas Sands Cuts Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 16th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, August 8th will be issued a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 7th. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.43%. Las Vegas Sandss dividend payout ratio is presently 1,142.86%.

About Las Vegas Sands

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Las Vegas Sands Corp., together with its subsidiaries, develops, owns, and operates integrated resorts in Macao and Singapore. It owns and operates The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel, the Londoner Macao, The Parisian Macao, The Plaza Macao and Four Seasons Hotel Macao, Cotai Strip, and the Sands Macao in Macao, the People's Republic of China; and Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

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General Electric (NYSE:GE  Free Report) had its price target upped by Morgan Stanley from $122.00 to $125.00 in a report released on Thursday, Marketbeat reports. The brokerage currently has an overweight rating on the conglomerates stock.

Several other equities research analysts have also commented on GE. Bank of America upped their price target on shares of General Electric from $108.00 to $120.00 in a report on Thursday, July 6th. Citigroup lifted their price target on General Electric from $126.00 to $135.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, July 27th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of General Electric in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Wolfe Research lifted their target price on shares of General Electric from $107.00 to $125.00 in a report on Wednesday, June 28th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on shares of General Electric from $120.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, July 17th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $118.67.

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General Electric Price Performance

Shares of NYSE GE opened at $114.60 on Thursday. General Electric has a fifty-two week low of $48.06 and a fifty-two week high of $117.96. The company has a market cap of $124.73 billion, a PE ratio of 13.59, a P/E/G ratio of 7.02 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a current ratio of 1.25. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $109.40 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $98.65.

General Electric (NYSE:GE  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The conglomerate reported $0.68 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.46 by $0.22. General Electric had a net margin of 13.32% and a return on equity of 9.30%. The company had revenue of $15.85 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.76 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.78 EPS. General Electrics revenue was up 18.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts expect that General Electric will post 2.33 EPS for the current fiscal year.

General Electric Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 25th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, July 11th were paid a dividend of $0.08 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, July 10th. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.28%. General Electrics dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 3.80%.

Insider Transactions at General Electric

In related news, SVP Michael J. Holston sold 112,614 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.20, for a total transaction of $12,973,132.80. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 57,923 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,672,729.60. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, SVP Michael J. Holston sold 58,292 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $104.68, for a total transaction of $6,102,006.56. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 70,537 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,383,813.16. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, SVP Michael J. Holston sold 112,614 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.20, for a total transaction of $12,973,132.80. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 57,923 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,672,729.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.67% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of General Electric

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. BlackRock Inc. lifted its position in General Electric by 4.4% in the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 70,480,887 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $7,742,325,000 after buying an additional 2,974,946 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC lifted its position in General Electric by 5.7% in the first quarter. FMR LLC now owns 63,795,835 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $6,098,882,000 after buying an additional 3,463,502 shares during the last quarter. Capital International Investors lifted its position in General Electric by 0.3% in the second quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 54,261,585 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $5,960,462,000 after buying an additional 156,054 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its position in General Electric by 17.3% in the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 48,490,012 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $4,639,533,000 after buying an additional 7,157,356 shares during the last quarter. Finally, TCI Fund Management Ltd. acquired a new stake in General Electric in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $2,496,379,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.75% of the companys stock.

General Electric Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

General Electric Company operates as a high-tech industrial company in Europe, China, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, and Africa. It offers gas and steam turbines, full balance of plant, upgrade, and service solutions, as well as data-leveraging software for power generation, industrial, government, and other customers.

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Hartford Investment Management Co. boosted its position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS  Free Report) by 16.4% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 28,535 shares of the investment management companys stock after purchasing an additional 4,025 shares during the period. Hartford Investment Management Co.s holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group were worth $9,334,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Morgan Stanley boosted its position in The Goldman Sachs Group by 40.0% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 5,936,351 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $2,038,425,000 after buying an additional 1,696,350 shares during the period. Fisher Asset Management LLC lifted its position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 2.9% in the 1st quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 5,044,608 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $1,650,142,000 after purchasing an additional 144,177 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 4,764,509 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $1,396,236,000 after purchasing an additional 52,016 shares during the period. Putnam Investments LLC lifted its position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 4.2% in the 4th quarter. Putnam Investments LLC now owns 2,245,996 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $771,230,000 after purchasing an additional 89,985 shares during the period. Finally, Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $759,531,000. 76.90% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

GS has been the subject of several research reports. UBS Group upped their price target on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $385.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, July 24th. Credit Suisse Group reissued an outperform rating and set a $410.00 target price on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in a research report on Thursday, July 20th. Societe Generale cut shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, July 10th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $339.00 to $375.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reissued an equal weight rating and set a $347.00 target price (up previously from $337.00) on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in a research report on Friday, July 21st. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, The Goldman Sachs Group presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $396.93.

The Goldman Sachs Group Trading Down 1.2 %

Shares of The Goldman Sachs Group stock traded down $3.92 on Monday, reaching $336.81. The company had a trading volume of 557,164 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,552,324. The firms 50 day moving average price is $335.47 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $337.25. The firm has a market cap of $111.04 billion, a PE ratio of 14.37, a PEG ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 1.39. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. has a 52-week low of $287.75 and a 52-week high of $389.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.18, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a current ratio of 0.81.

The Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE:GS  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 19th. The investment management company reported $3.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.25 by ($0.17). The company had revenue of $10.90 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.61 billion. The Goldman Sachs Group had a net margin of 9.74% and a return on equity of 8.27%. The Goldman Sachs Groups revenue was down 8.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $7.73 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. will post 25.75 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The Goldman Sachs Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 28th. Investors of record on Thursday, August 31st will be paid a dividend of $2.75 per share. This is an increase from The Goldman Sachs Groups previous quarterly dividend of $2.50. This represents a $11.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.27%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, August 30th. The Goldman Sachs Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 46.93%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other The Goldman Sachs Group news, major shareholder Goldman Sachs Group Inc sold 9,000,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $11.73, for a total transaction of $105,570,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 51,676,439 shares in the company, valued at approximately $606,164,629.47. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, CEO David M. Solomon sold 4,200 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $356.28, for a total transaction of $1,496,376.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 124,782 shares in the company, valued at approximately $44,457,330.96. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, major shareholder Goldman Sachs Group Inc sold 9,000,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, June 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $11.73, for a total transaction of $105,570,000.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 51,676,439 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $606,164,629.47. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 10,159,686 shares of company stock valued at $123,960,027 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.54% of the companys stock.

The Goldman Sachs Group Company Profile

(Free Report)

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc, a financial institution, provides a range of financial services for corporations, financial institutions, governments, and individuals worldwide. It operates through Global Banking & Markets, Asset & Wealth Management, and Platform Solutions segments. The Global Banking & Markets segment provides financial advisory services, including strategic advisory assignments related to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate defense activities, restructurings, and spin-offs; and relationship lending, and acquisition financing, as well as secured lending, through structured credit and asset-backed lending and involved in resale agreements.

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Kinsale Capital Group (NYSE:KNSL  Get Free Report) and Linea Directa Aseguradora, S.A., Compania de Seguros y Reaseguros (OTCMKTS:LNDAF  Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, earnings, analyst recommendations, valuation, risk, dividends and institutional ownership.

Profitability

This table compares Kinsale Capital Group and Linea Directa Aseguradora, S.A., Compania de Seguros y Reaseguros net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Kinsale Capital Group 22.60% 29.11% 7.74% Linea Directa Aseguradora, S.A., Compania de Seguros y Reaseguros N/A N/A N/A

Insider and Institutional Ownership

86.4% of Kinsale Capital Group shares are held by institutional investors. 6.0% of Kinsale Capital Group shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Valuation and Earnings

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Kinsale Capital Group $1.01 billion 8.47 $159.11 million $9.85 37.47 Linea Directa Aseguradora, S.A., Compania de Seguros y Reaseguros N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

This table compares Kinsale Capital Group and Linea Directa Aseguradora, S.A., Compania de Seguros y Reaseguros top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Kinsale Capital Group has higher revenue and earnings than Linea Directa Aseguradora, S.A., Compania de Seguros y Reaseguros.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for Kinsale Capital Group and Linea Directa Aseguradora, S.A., Compania de Seguros y Reaseguros, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Kinsale Capital Group 0 2 3 0 2.60 Linea Directa Aseguradora, S.A., Compania de Seguros y Reaseguros 0 1 0 0 2.00

Kinsale Capital Group presently has a consensus price target of $379.83, suggesting a potential upside of 2.92%. Given Kinsale Capital Groups stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts clearly believe Kinsale Capital Group is more favorable than Linea Directa Aseguradora, S.A., Compania de Seguros y Reaseguros.

Summary

Kinsale Capital Group beats Linea Directa Aseguradora, S.A., Compania de Seguros y Reaseguros on 9 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Kinsale Capital Group

(Get Free Report)

Kinsale Capital Group, Inc., a specialty insurance company, provides property and casualty insurance products in the United States. The company's commercial lines offerings include construction, small business, excess and general casualty, commercial property, allied health, life sciences, energy, environmental, health care, inland marine, public entity, and commercial insurance, as well as product, professional, and management liability insurance. It markets and sells its insurance products in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands primarily through a network of independent insurance brokers. Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia.

About Linea Directa Aseguradora, S.A., Compania de Seguros y Reaseguros

(Get Free Report)

Linea Directa Aseguradora, S.A., Compania de Seguros y Reaseguros engages in insurance and reinsurance business in Spain and Portugal. It offers motor, home, medical, assistance, and fire insurance; and reinsurance products. The company is also involved in the provision of vehicle repair services; and provides insurance brokerage, claims management, claims related repair work, and other specialized household services. It distributes its products through telephone and Internet sales channels. The company was formerly known as Bankinter Aseguradora Directa, S.A. Compania de Seguros y Reaseguros and changed its name to Linea Directa Aseguradora, S.A., Compania de Seguros y Reaseguros on January 26, 1995. The company was incorporated in 1994 and is based in Tres Cantos, Spain.

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Boyd Gaming Co. (NYSE:BYD  Get Free Report) insider William S. Boyd sold 100,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $67.42, for a total transaction of $6,742,000.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 9,866,224 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $665,180,822.08. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink.

Boyd Gaming Stock Performance

Shares of BYD opened at $67.31 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.66, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 0.84. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.74, a P/E/G ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 1.76. The companys fifty day moving average is $68.89 and its two-hundred day moving average is $66.33. Boyd Gaming Co. has a 1 year low of $46.10 and a 1 year high of $73.00.

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Boyd Gaming (NYSE:BYD  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 27th. The company reported $1.58 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.56 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $916.95 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $910.59 million. Boyd Gaming had a net margin of 19.61% and a return on equity of 41.56%. Boyd Gamings revenue was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.48 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Boyd Gaming Co. will post 6.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Boyd Gaming

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. CI Investments Inc. grew its stake in shares of Boyd Gaming by 9,520.0% during the 4th quarter. CI Investments Inc. now owns 481 shares of the companys stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 476 shares during the period. Belpointe Asset Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Boyd Gaming by 237.6% during the 1st quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 655 shares of the companys stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 461 shares during the period. Quarry LP grew its stake in shares of Boyd Gaming by 130.3% during the 1st quarter. Quarry LP now owns 822 shares of the companys stock worth $53,000 after purchasing an additional 465 shares during the period. Quadrant Capital Group LLC grew its stake in shares of Boyd Gaming by 73.1% during the 2nd quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 1,208 shares of the companys stock worth $84,000 after purchasing an additional 510 shares during the period. Finally, Sunbelt Securities Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Boyd Gaming during the 1st quarter worth $86,000. 68.68% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Several analysts have recently weighed in on BYD shares. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Boyd Gaming from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, July 28th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price objective on shares of Boyd Gaming from $76.00 to $78.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Truist Financial boosted their price objective on shares of Boyd Gaming from $83.00 to $85.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Susquehanna upped their price target on shares of Boyd Gaming from $80.00 to $84.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Finally, Argus upped their price target on shares of Boyd Gaming from $78.00 to $80.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, July 31st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $77.00.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Boyd Gaming

About Boyd Gaming

(Get Free Report)

Boyd Gaming Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a multi-jurisdictional gaming company in Nevada, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. It operates through three segments: Las Vegas Locals, Downtown Las Vegas, and Midwest & South.

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Lenovo Group Limited (OTCMKTS:LNVGY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large drop in short interest in July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 33,100 shares, a drop of 34.8% from the July 15th total of 50,800 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 81,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.4 days.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on LNVGY shares. Morgan Stanley upgraded Lenovo Group from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 2nd. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Lenovo Group from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 31st.

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Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Lenovo Group

Lenovo Group Stock Down 3.2 %

LNVGY stock opened at $20.26 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 0.88, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $21.23 and a two-hundred day moving average of $19.97. The company has a market cap of $12.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.01, a PEG ratio of 1.03 and a beta of 0.99. Lenovo Group has a 12 month low of $13.51 and a 12 month high of $23.00.

Lenovo Group (OTCMKTS:LNVGY  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 24th. The technology company reported $0.19 earnings per share for the quarter. Lenovo Group had a return on equity of 27.90% and a net margin of 2.60%. The company had revenue of $12.64 billion for the quarter. As a group, analysts forecast that Lenovo Group will post 2.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Lenovo Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 17th. Investors of record on Thursday, July 27th will be given a $0.7462 dividend. This is a positive change from Lenovo Groups previous dividend of $0.18. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, July 26th. Lenovo Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 58.89%.

About Lenovo Group

(Get Free Report)

Lenovo Group Limited, an investment holding company, develops, manufactures, and markets technology products and services. It operates through Intelligent Devices Group, Infrastructure Solutions Group, and Solutions and Services Group segments. The company offers commercial and consumer personal computers, as well as servers and workstations; and a family of mobile Internet devices, including tablets and smartphones.

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MGM China Holdings Limited (OTCMKTS:MCHVF  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decline in short interest in the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 190,500 shares, a decline of 29.2% from the July 15th total of 269,200 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 100 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1,905.0 days.

MGM China Stock Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS MCHVF remained flat at $1.41 during midday trading on Friday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $1.24 and a two-hundred day moving average of $1.23. MGM China has a 52 week low of $0.42 and a 52 week high of $1.41.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Macquarie initiated coverage on MGM China in a research report on Tuesday, July 18th. They set an outperform rating on the stock.

About MGM China

(Get Free Report)

MGM China Holdings Limited, an investment holding company, engages in the development, ownership, and operation of gaming and lodging resorts in the Greater China region. The company develops and operates casino games of chance and other casino games, and related hotel and resort facilities, as well as provides hotel management services; and develops integrated resorts in Macau.

Further Reading

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Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp trimmed its position in Yum China Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:YUMC  Free Report) by 32.6% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 3,374,590 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,628,938 shares during the quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corps holdings in Yum China were worth $213,915,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of YUMC. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of Yum China by 140.0% in the 1st quarter. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. now owns 250,975 shares of the companys stock worth $10,187,000 after purchasing an additional 146,410 shares during the period. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. grew its stake in shares of Yum China by 2.5% in the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 21,843 shares of the companys stock valued at $907,000 after buying an additional 528 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC grew its stake in shares of Yum China by 7.5% in the first quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 12,533 shares of the companys stock valued at $521,000 after buying an additional 871 shares in the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Yum China in the first quarter valued at about $418,000. Finally, Rhumbline Advisers grew its stake in shares of Yum China by 5.3% in the first quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 407,659 shares of the companys stock valued at $16,934,000 after buying an additional 20,676 shares in the last quarter. 75.56% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

YUMC has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Yum China in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating for the company. TheStreet upgraded Yum China from a c+ rating to a b rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 2nd.

Yum China Stock Down 0.7 %

NYSE YUMC traded down $0.40 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $55.10. 992,203 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,709,120. Yum China Holdings, Inc. has a 1-year low of $38.58 and a 1-year high of $64.70. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $57.96 and a 200-day simple moving average of $59.93. The company has a current ratio of 1.71, a quick ratio of 1.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01. The company has a market cap of $22.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.08, a P/E/G ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 0.55.

Yum China (NYSE:YUMC  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, July 31st. The company reported $0.47 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.39 by $0.08. Yum China had a return on equity of 10.39% and a net margin of 7.20%. The firm had revenue of $2.65 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.72 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.20 EPS. Yum Chinas quarterly revenue was up 24.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Yum China Holdings, Inc. will post 2.04 EPS for the current year.

Yum China Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 18th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 28th will be given a $0.13 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 25th. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.94%. Yum Chinas payout ratio is 29.38%.

About Yum China

(Free Report)

Yum China Holdings, Inc owns, operates, and franchises restaurants in China. The company operates through two segments, KFC and Pizza Hut. It operates restaurants under the KFC, Pizza Hut, Little Sheep, Huang Ji Huang, Lavazza, COFFii & JOY, Taco Bell, and East Dawning brands, which specialize in chicken, pizza, hot pot cooking, simmer pot, Italian coffee, specialty coffee, Mexican-style food, and Chinese food categories.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 14. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry condemned the terrorist act in Iran, Trend reports.

"We strongly condemn the terror attack in Shiraz, that claimed the lives of innocent people. Azerbaijan suffered from terrorism and condemns all its forms and manifestations. We extend our condolences to families of the victims of this attack, the government and the people of Iran," the ministry said on X (Twitter).

The terror attack took place in the city of Shiraz in southern Iran on August 13. The explosion occurred in the Shahcheragh Holy Shrine, there are victims.
Newport Trust Co raised its holdings in Whirlpool Co. (NYSE:WHR  Free Report) by 1.2% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 1,065,761 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 13,023 shares during the period. Whirlpool accounts for 0.4% of Newport Trust Cos portfolio, making the stock its 26th largest position. Newport Trust Cos holdings in Whirlpool were worth $140,702,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Whirlpool by 96.2% in the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 204 shares of the companys stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares during the period. Cutler Group LLC CA bought a new stake in shares of Whirlpool in the 1st quarter worth approximately $28,000. Point72 Asset Management L.P. bought a new stake in shares of Whirlpool in the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. lifted its position in shares of Whirlpool by 526.3% in the 1st quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 238 shares of the companys stock worth $41,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the period. Finally, OLD Mission Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Whirlpool in the 4th quarter worth approximately $39,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.04% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Juan Carlos Puente sold 420 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $134.16, for a total value of $56,347.20. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 17,699 shares in the company, valued at $2,374,497.84. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, EVP Juan Carlos Puente sold 420 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $134.16, for a total value of $56,347.20. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 17,699 shares in the company, valued at $2,374,497.84. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Marc R. Bitzer sold 20,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $143.18, for a total value of $2,863,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 138,583 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $19,842,313.94. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 26,420 shares of company stock valued at $3,778,667 over the last three months. Company insiders own 1.85% of the companys stock.

Whirlpool Trading Down 1.1 %

Shares of NYSE WHR traded down $1.59 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $138.97. The stock had a trading volume of 153,161 shares, compared to its average volume of 752,755. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $146.43 and its 200 day simple moving average is $140.20. The firm has a market cap of $7.62 billion, a P/E ratio of -4.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.09 and a beta of 1.53. Whirlpool Co. has a fifty-two week low of $124.10 and a fifty-two week high of $178.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.92, a current ratio of 0.87 and a quick ratio of 0.52.

Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Monday, July 24th. The company reported $4.21 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.76 by $0.45. The company had revenue of $4.79 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.81 billion. Whirlpool had a positive return on equity of 29.70% and a negative net margin of 8.13%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 6.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $5.97 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Whirlpool Co. will post 16.47 EPS for the current year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

WHR has been the subject of several analyst reports. Credit Suisse Group restated a neutral rating and set a $150.00 target price on shares of Whirlpool in a research report on Tuesday, July 25th. Bank of America cut their target price on Whirlpool from $90.00 to $87.00 in a research report on Tuesday, July 18th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Whirlpool in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on Whirlpool from $118.00 to $121.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 26th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $131.00.

View Our Latest Research Report on WHR

Whirlpool Profile

(Free Report)

Whirlpool Corporation manufactures and markets home appliances and related products and services in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and Asia. The company's principal products include refrigerators, freezers, ice makers, and refrigerator water filters; laundry appliances, and commercial laundry products and related laundry accessories; cooking and other small domestic appliances; and dishwasher appliances and related accessories, as well as mixers.

Further Reading

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Northland Power (TSE:NPI  Get Free Report) had its price objective reduced by CIBC from C$36.00 to C$35.00 in a report issued on Monday, BayStreet.CA reports. CIBCs price target suggests a potential upside of 49.00% from the stocks current price.

Several other research analysts have also recently commented on the stock. National Bankshares lowered their price target on shares of Northland Power from C$40.00 to C$37.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, June 30th. CSFB increased their price target on shares of Northland Power from C$42.00 to C$46.00 in a research note on Friday, May 19th. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded shares of Northland Power from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating and set a C$36.00 price target for the company in a research note on Wednesday, May 24th. BMO Capital Markets cut their price target on shares of Northland Power from C$42.00 to C$38.00 in a report on Friday. Finally, ATB Capital cut their price target on shares of Northland Power from C$50.00 to C$48.00 in a report on Friday, April 21st. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of C$38.63.

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Northland Power Stock Up 3.4 %

About Northland Power

NPI traded up C$0.78 during trading hours on Monday, hitting C$23.49. 706,615 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 802,338. Northland Power has a 12-month low of C$21.03 and a 12-month high of C$46.23. The firm has a 50 day moving average of C$26.79 and a 200 day moving average of C$30.74. The firm has a market cap of C$5.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 0.41. The company has a current ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 151.84.

(Get Free Report)

Northland Power Inc, an independent power producer, develops, builds, owns, and operates clean and green power projects in North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia. The company produces electricity from renewable resources, such as wind, solar, or hydropower, as well as clean-burning natural gas and biomass for sale under power purchase agreements and other revenue arrangements.

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Owens Corning (NYSE:OC  Get Free Report) has received an average rating of Moderate Buy from the twelve research firms that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and seven have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year target price among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $140.92.

A number of research firms recently commented on OC. Benchmark downgraded Owens Corning from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, July 20th. Loop Capital upped their price objective on shares of Owens Corning from $138.00 to $157.00 in a report on Thursday, July 27th. Bank of America increased their price objective on shares of Owens Corning from $127.00 to $152.00 in a research note on Friday, July 14th. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded shares of Owens Corning from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating and boosted their target price for the company from $135.00 to $168.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 27th. Finally, Truist Financial lifted their price objective on Owens Corning from $105.00 to $135.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 6th.

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Insider Activity at Owens Corning

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Owens Corning

In related news, EVP Daniel T. Smith sold 3,670 shares of Owens Corning stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $106.11, for a total value of $389,423.70. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 46,811 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,967,115.21. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website . In related news, Director W Howard Morris sold 1,033 shares of Owens Corning stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $141.63, for a total value of $146,303.79. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 40,889 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,791,109.07. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website . Also, EVP Daniel T. Smith sold 3,670 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $106.11, for a total value of $389,423.70. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 46,811 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,967,115.21. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold a total of 11,603 shares of company stock worth $1,329,296 in the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.89% of the companys stock.

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Owens Corning during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $911,000. Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd purchased a new stake in Owens Corning during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC purchased a new stake in Owens Corning during the 1st quarter worth approximately $27,000. Mendota Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in Owens Corning during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $39,000. Finally, Desjardins Global Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in Owens Corning by 100.0% during the 2nd quarter. Desjardins Global Asset Management Inc. now owns 310 shares of the construction companys stock worth $40,000 after buying an additional 155 shares in the last quarter. 93.43% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Owens Corning Trading Down 0.2 %

Shares of Owens Corning stock opened at $141.18 on Monday. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $130.44 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $110.70. The firm has a market capitalization of $12.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.01, a PEG ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 1.48. Owens Corning has a 12-month low of $74.22 and a 12-month high of $143.67. The company has a current ratio of 2.07, a quick ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60.

Owens Corning (NYSE:OC  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The construction company reported $4.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.25 by $0.97. Owens Corning had a return on equity of 25.59% and a net margin of 13.62%. The firm had revenue of $2.56 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.54 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $3.83 EPS. The firms revenue was down 1.5% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts predict that Owens Corning will post 13.59 EPS for the current year.

Owens Corning Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 4th. Investors of record on Monday, July 17th were paid a $0.52 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, July 14th. This represents a $2.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.47%. Owens Cornings dividend payout ratio is presently 14.74%.

Owens Corning Company Profile

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Owens Corning engages in manufacture and sale of insulation, roofing, and fiberglass composite materials in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, and internationally. It operates in three segments: Composites, Insulation, and Roofing. The Composites segment manufactures, fabricates, and sells glass reinforcements in the form of fiber; and glass fiber products in the form of fabrics, non-wovens, and other specialized products.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Protalix BioTherapeutics (NYSEAMERICAN:PLX  Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note issued to investors on Thursday.

Separately, TheStreet upgraded shares of Protalix BioTherapeutics from a d- rating to a c- rating in a research report on Monday, August 7th.

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Protalix BioTherapeutics Price Performance

Shares of NYSEAMERICAN PLX opened at $1.92 on Thursday. Protalix BioTherapeutics has a 1-year low of $1.00 and a 1-year high of $3.55. The stock has a market cap of $125.61 million, a P/E ratio of -6.40 and a beta of 1.35. The company has a current ratio of 1.76, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 28.04. The businesss 50-day moving average is $2.07.

Protalix BioTherapeutics (NYSEAMERICAN:PLX  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Monday, August 7th. The company reported $0.21 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.04) by $0.25. The business had revenue of $35.08 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.22 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned ($0.15) earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that Protalix BioTherapeutics will post 0.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Protalix BioTherapeutics

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Natixis acquired a new position in Protalix BioTherapeutics in the 2nd quarter valued at about $264,000. BlackRock Inc. increased its stake in shares of Protalix BioTherapeutics by 2,173.9% during the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 2,640,971 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,282,000 after acquiring an additional 2,524,828 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Protalix BioTherapeutics during the 2nd quarter valued at about $1,105,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. acquired a new position in shares of Protalix BioTherapeutics during the 2nd quarter valued at about $90,000. Finally, Northern Trust Corp acquired a new position in shares of Protalix BioTherapeutics during the 2nd quarter valued at about $726,000. 4.48% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Protalix BioTherapeutics Company Profile

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Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc, a biopharmaceutical company, engages in the development, production, and commercialization of recombinant therapeutic proteins based on its proprietary ProCellEx plant cell-based protein expression system in the United States, Australia, Canada, Israel, Brazil, Russia, Turkey, and internationally.

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PT Bank Central Asia Tbk (OTCMKTS:PBCRY  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant drop in short interest in the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 14,000 shares, a drop of 28.2% from the July 15th total of 19,500 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 27,200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.5 days.

PT Bank Central Asia Tbk Trading Down 1.9 %

Shares of OTCMKTS:PBCRY traded down $0.30 during trading on Friday, reaching $15.41. 26,243 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 36,729. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $15.26 and a 200 day simple moving average of $14.84. PT Bank Central Asia Tbk has a 1-year low of $12.84 and a 1-year high of $15.98.

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PT Bank Central Asia Tbk Company Profile

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PT Bank Central Asia Tbk, together with its subsidiaries, provides banking products and services to individual, corporate, and small and medium enterprise customers in Indonesia and internationally. It offers savings accounts; motorcycle financing, as well as car, housing, working capital, and investment loans; mutual funds and bonds; electronic money services; credit cards; business collection services; and home and eBanking, remittance, and customer services.

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China MeiDong Auto Holdings Limited (OTCMKTS:CMEIF  Get Free Report) was the target of a large growth in short interest in July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 2,172,700 shares, a growth of 16.8% from the July 15th total of 1,860,900 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 700 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 3,103.9 days.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, The Goldman Sachs Group lowered shares of China MeiDong Auto from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, July 24th.

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China MeiDong Auto Price Performance

About China MeiDong Auto

Shares of OTCMKTS CMEIF remained flat at $1.18 during trading on Friday. China MeiDong Auto has a twelve month low of $1.18 and a twelve month high of $1.90.

(Get Free Report)

China MeiDong Auto Holdings Limited, an investment holding company, operates as an automobile dealer in the People's Republic of China. The company is involved in the sale of new passenger cars and spare parts; and provision of service and survey. It also provides after-sales services, such as auto registration, insurance, auto parts, repair and replacement, sales and maintenance of automotive supplies, etc.; financing referral solutions; and other value added services.

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Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund, Inc. (NYSE:MSD  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 7,000 shares, an increase of 105.9% from the July 15th total of 3,400 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 88,300 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.1 days.

Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund Price Performance

Shares of NYSE MSD remained flat at $6.55 during trading hours on Friday. The company had a trading volume of 80,795 shares, compared to its average volume of 118,200. Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund has a 1 year low of $5.85 and a 1 year high of $7.07. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $6.54 and its 200-day simple moving average is $6.56.

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Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 14th. Investors of record on Friday, June 30th were given a $0.1875 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, June 29th. This represents a $0.75 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 11.45%.

Institutional Trading of Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund

Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund Company Profile

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in MSD. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. raised its stake in Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund by 100.0% during the 2nd quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. now owns 8,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $52,000 after acquiring an additional 4,000 shares during the last quarter. Daymark Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $71,000. Landscape Capital Management L.L.C. purchased a new stake in Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $81,000. Tortoise Investment Management LLC raised its stake in Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund by 91.5% during the 4th quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC now owns 16,559 shares of the companys stock valued at $108,000 after acquiring an additional 7,914 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Almitas Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $111,000. 36.39% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

(Get Free Report)

Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund, Inc is a closed ended fixed income fund launched and managed by Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc The fund invests in fixed income markets of emerging market countries across the globe. It primarily invests in debt securities of government and government-related issuers, of entities organized to restructure outstanding debt of such issuers and debt securities of corporate issuers in or organized under the laws of emerging countries.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 14. Members of Armenian separatist groups are pulling artillery installations and other military equipment into the settlements of the Karabakh Economic Region of Azerbaijan, creating firing positions there, Trend reports.

The aim is to open fire at the positions of the Azerbaijani army, provoking retaliation.

VIDEO:
In a country facing mounting challenges, Nigeria's Senate President Godswill Akpabio finds himself at a critical juncture. A resounding plea emerges, urging Akpabio to exhibit sensitivity and prudence in his leadership. The call goes beyond just financial matters; it underscores the dire need for leaders to recognize the gravity of their actions and words amidst the hardships faced by the nation.

The recent incident where the Senate President trivialized the poignant phrase "Let the Poor Breathe" is emblematic of a troubling lack of empathy exhibited by some leaders. This phrase symbolizes the earnest plea for fairness and equity from marginalized communities, especially those grappling with poverty. Treating such a plea lightly only serves to undermine the struggles of those who are most vulnerable.

During a crucial period of economic instability and hardships experienced by the populace, Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced that recess allowances were disbursed to senators. However, he later revised his statement, clarifying that prayers were sent to their email boxes instead. This announcement drew criticism from Nigerians who are grappling with financial difficulties.

Amid the backdrop of Nigeria's strugglespoverty, insecurity, and economic challengesthere arises a unique opportunity for President Tinubu to offer valuable counsel. As a revered figure, President Tinubu's role is pivotal. He has the capacity to advocate for a more empathetic brand of leadership that resonates with the shared pains of Nigerians. Amidst multifaceted challenges, President Tinubu's voice could potentially serve as a bridge between the leadership and the citizens.

At the heart of the leadership insensitivity issue lies a profound psychological disconnect. Leaders, entrenched in their positions of power, often lose touch with the hardships faced by ordinary citizens. This empathy deficit perpetuates a cycle of despair, eroding public trust and creating a climate of hopelessness. To address this deficit, leaders must undergo a psychological transformation that fosters empathy and self-awareness. Orientation programs, psychological briefings, and experiential learning can bridge this gap and cultivate leadership that not only governs but also truly understands the needs of the populace.

The attempt to justify the Senate President's flippant words with paid consultants only compounds the issue. Instead of acknowledging insensitivity, this approach widens the gap between leadership and citizens. Similarly, the explanation that the funds for senators were "prayers sent to emails" deflects responsibility and underestimates the significance of the matter. Such excuses undermine the severity of the challenges at hand and erode public trust in leadership's ability to address them.

Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi's critique of Senate President Akpabio's televised announcement of holiday allowances exemplify the growing discontent. Senator Ningi, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), labeled the Senate President's actions a "huge embarrassment." He advocated for more transparency and clarity on the purpose and source of these allowances. His stance reflects the public sentiment that financial matters deserve thorough explanation.

Kassandra Ugochukwu's tweet further echoes the criticism towards the Senate President, highlighting the shift from large-scale corruption to more discreet financial actions. This shift, as mentioned in the tweet, might be the reason for decreased aggression in the Senate. Such observations reveal the underlying concerns about the ethical conduct of leaders and the role of financial matters in governance.

Amidst this discourse, legal practitioner Maduabuchi O. Idam'suse of the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) highlights the need for transparency regarding senators' "holiday enjoyment" allowances. By demanding detailed information about the amount and source of these funds, Idam emphasizes the significance of ethical conduct and responsible use of public funds. His actions underscore the growing demand for transparency and accountability within governance.

In light of these issues, the path forward necessitates a comprehensive psychological transformation. Leadership must be rooted in empathy, compassion, and ethical duty. The nation's desperate pleas for sustenance and health demand a resolute departure from the current status quo.

As the challenges faced by Nigeriansskyrocketing exchange rates, widespread poverty, and rampant insecuritygrow increasingly severe, the significance of effective leadership cannot be underestimated. The actions and statements of leaders, including the Senate President, spotlight a concerning trend of apathy and insensitivity towards the struggles of ordinary citizens. While political leaders wield authority, their responsibilities encompass more than governance; they extend to empathizing with and addressing the needs of the people they serve.

This plea underscores those words spoken by leaders, especially those in positions of authority, hold immense power. It is disheartening to witness leaders trivialize issues that deeply affect citizens' lives. Such actions create a disconnect between the governed and the governing, eroding the public's trust in their leaders' capacity to understand and address their concerns.

In a nation grappling with economic instability and security challenges, ethical leadership is paramount. Holding positions of authority is not enough; leaders must demonstrate an unwavering commitment to the welfare of their citizens. Sensitivity to the struggles faced by the average Nigerian should form the bedrock of leadership attributes. Rather than perpetuating a divide, leaders must cultivate an understanding of the people's pain and plight.

As a solution, comprehensive orientation programs for leaders, enriched with psychological briefings about national hardships, emerged as a promising strategy. Fostering a deep understanding of citizens' realities, combined with awareness of their responsibilities, can encourage leaders to act with heightened sensitivity. Reinforcing accountability mechanisms is equally vital, ensuring leaders are held answerable for their words and actions.

In a nation standing at the crossroads of challenges and uncertainties, the role of leadership cannot be understated. Ethical leadership is not just a term; it's a vital embodiment of responsibility, compassion, and empathy. As President Bola Tinubu ponders the future, this plea calls on him to consider his role in shaping it. By offering counsel and guidance, President Tinubu has the potential to be a beacon of change in a landscape desperate for transformation.

The urgency of this plea lies in its potential to reshape leadership's trajectory. It's an invitation to President Tinubu to steer leaders away from insensitivity and towards empathetic accountability. By leveraging his influence, President Tinubu can inspire leaders like Senate President Akpabio to prioritize the nation's welfare, ushering in a new era of leadership that embraces the aspirations and needs of the Nigerian people.

Professor John Egbeazien Oshodi, born in Uromi, Edo State, Nigeria, is an American-based police and prison scientist, forensic/clinical psychologist, and legal psychologist. He is the founder of the Dr. John Egbeazien Oshodi Foundation for Psychological Health in Nigeria, and he provides forensic-clinical psychological services to several government organizations in the United States. He is currently a contributing faculty member at Nexus International University, Weldios University, Walden University, and Nova Southeastern University. [email protected].
BudgIT, a civic-tech organization leading the advocacy for transparency, accountability, and effective service delivery in Nigeria, calls for an immediate release of a transparency and accountability plan to ensure President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's promises are fulfilled following the Presidents July 31st national broadcast concerning the nations current economic crisis.

On July 31, 2023, while addressing the nation, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, among other key issues, said a budget of N75 billion will be allocated from July 2023 to March 2024 to support 75 promising manufacturing enterprises with N1 billion credit each at 9% interest for up to 60 months for long-term loans and 12 months for working capital. He also added that there are plans to stabilize staple food prices by releasing 200,000 metric tonnes of grains and 225,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer and inputs to farmers. While stressing that N125 billion will be invested in MSMEs, with N50 billion designated for a Conditional Grant to 1 million nano businesses and N75 billion for 100,000 MSMEs and start-ups, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu noted that the plan also includes the introduction of affordable CNG-fueled buses through an N100 billion investment, and collaboration with labor unions to establish a new national minimum wage.

These promises indicate a significant effort to navigate the complexities of the economic crisis from the fuel subsidy removal and mitigate the impact on the Nigerian populace; however, their successful execution is contingent upon transparent planning and accountability mechanisms.

The fuel subsidy removal, which caused a 335% increase in fuel pricesfrom N184/ltr to N617/ltrin less than two months, has adversely affected and forced the living conditions of many citizens to deteriorate drastically. This has increased the cost of goods and services and strained the already fragile economy. Many Nigerians now struggle to afford necessities while the country faces an economic crisis. In this context, President Bola Tinubu's pledges offer a glimmer of hope, but achieving them is essential to alleviate the widespread suffering and rebuild the nation's economic stability.

BudgIT acknowledges the complexities of the current economic situation and the need for immediate and effective action. In line with our mission toward transparency and accountability, we implore that fulfilling President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's promises calls for a united front and a clear roadmap. BudgIT is committed to collaborating with the government, civil society organizations, and all stakeholders to address these economic challenges and secure a brighter future for Nigeria.

Based on this, we request a comprehensive register and accountability plan detailing the distribution of 200,000 metric tonnes of grains, 225,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer, and seedlings to ensure these resources are fairly and equitably distributed. A transparent method for qualifying beneficiaries must be established and made public to prevent the resources from ending in politically connected individuals' hands.

Recall that the Nigerian government promised the poorest of Nigeria N8000 per household for six months, which was temporarily put on hold because of the challenges they identified with the National Social Register. However, the government must promptly clarify whether the existing Social Register will be utilized or a new list will be generated. Clarity on this disbursement is essential to streamline the delivery of financial support to those who need it most.

Also, the negotiations between the government and labor unions to establish a new national minimum wage for workers represent an opportunity to enhance the livelihoods of the Nigerian workforce. It is important to note that the specific timeline and percentage increase should be communicated transparently to workers and the public, as this will ease the tension between the labor unions and their members.

In its promise to support MSMEs, it is essential to publicize the criteria determining the eligibility of the 100,000 MSMEs, start-ups, and enterprises to be funded with N75 billion to kick-start sustainable economic growth, accelerate the structural transformation and improve productivity. What method will determine the qualifications of small-holder farmers with a strong performance record for implementing the expansive agricultural program and targeting and leveraging large-scale private sector players in the agricultural business? This question begs for answers as Nigerians grapple on straws and demand answers from their government and elected officials.

To this end, BudgIT's call for transparency and accountability in implementing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's promises is essential to rebuild trust, ensure equitable distribution of resources, and steer Nigeria toward a more stable economic future. We remain committed to collaborating with the government and other stakeholders to collectively address the nation's challenges and secure a brighter future for all.

Signed

Nancy Odimegwu

Communications Associate


A helicopter belonging to the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, has crashed around Chukuba village in Niger State.

NAF authorities confirmed that the incident occurred on Monday, said the MI-171 Helicopter was on a casualty evacuation mission, before it crashed at at about 1p.m., near Chukuba village.

Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said the aircraft had departed Zungeru Primary School en route to Kaduna.

He said efforts were currently ongoing to rescue the crew and passengers on board the helicopter, while adding that preliminary investigations has commenced to determine the probable cause of the crash.
The acting Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has embarked on reinvigorating the corporate social responsibilities programmes in the Service to give back to society for supporting the Nigeria Customs Service in achieving its core mandates.

The acting CGN kicked off this with his visit to Dorian Home in Akure, Ondo State, an Orphanage home for Charity and Social Development on Monday, 14th August.

While speaking during the visit, CG Adeniyi said the Nigeria Customs has a responsibility to support and assist communities where they operate and carry out their mandates.

We've seen that this place has capacity for almost a thousand kids, so they need to feed them, they need to clothe them, and they need to provide them medicaments.

So in any of these areas periodically, we would be looking at our stores, and we would be sending off those kind of items that can assist them to achieve the objectives for which this kind of homes are set up, he added.

In continuation of his working visit to zone 'A', the Customs Boss visited the Ondo/Ekiti Area Command, where he was received by the Area Controller, Comptroller Beatrice Eboka. He commissioned and inspected the newly renovated residential accommodation for officers and men of the command.

In his address to officers and men of the Command, the Ag. CGC charged them to be diligent in their operations and documentation to ensure that products meant for export meet international standards.

"You have a role to ensure that the products shipped out of this place meet international standards

"You must not do anything to delay the processes, ensure that they do not stay too long in your hands, documentation must be done in good time so that the products do not get bad before they're shipped out of the country, he added.

The CG Adeniyi also visited the palace of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Alade Toyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi CFR, The Deji and Paramount Ruler of Akure, to pledge his loyalty and commitment to the service to continue to be a responsible Government Agency.

Customs will continue to be a responsible government agency, respecting the laws of the land and maintaining a very good relationship where we operate.

The paramount ruler appreciated the Customs boss for his visit and congratulated him on his appointment while also offering prayers for a successful tenure.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 14. As a result of the 30-year Armenian occupation, eight cities and hundreds of villages of Azerbaijan were destroyed, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan - Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan Hikmet Hajiyev said, Trend reports.

He noted in a post on the social network X (Twitter) that an unprecedented reconstruction process funded by the Azerbaijani state is restoring the territories liberated from occupation.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.

The occupation lasted until 2020, when the second Karabakh war erupted. Following over a month of military action to liberate its territories from Armenian occupation from late Sept. to early Nov. 2020, Azerbaijan has pushed Armenia to sign the surrender document. A joint statement on the matter was made by the Azerbaijani president, Armenia's PM, and the president of Russia. A complete ceasefire and a cessation of all hostilities in the zone of the Karabakh conflict were introduced on Nov. 10, 2020.

Following the liberation of its lands, Azerbaijan from Nov. 2020 started carrying out operations on clearing its lands from mines, booby traps, and various weapons left behind by the Armenian troops.
In North Dakota, several cities have embraced the growing trend of backyard chicken keeping, recognizing its numerous benefits for citizens. This progressive approach by these cities acknowledges the increasing interest in sustainable living practices and access to fresh eggs.





Furthermore, it recognizes the educational opportunities provided to children when they learn about responsible animal care firsthand in an urban environment. Such initiatives not only enhance self-sufficiency but strengthen community bonds as well as people come together to explore more sustainable ways of urban living. That being said, I have compiled a list of a few North Dakota municipalities that allow the keeping of backyard chickens in residential areas.





Fargo, ND

four chickens may be kept, and the presence of roosters is strictly prohibited. Furthermore, chicken coops must be adequately ventilated, providing a minimum of four square feet of space per chicken, and must be situated at least three feet away from any neighboring properties. In 2017, the Municipal Code of the City of Fargo was amended to grant residents the privilege of keeping chickens in their backyards. This ordinance encompasses specific regulations that individuals should familiarize themselves with if they intend to raise chickens. A maximum ofmay be kept, and the presence of roosters is strictly prohibited. Furthermore, chicken coops must be adequately ventilated, providing a minimum of four square feet of space per chicken, and must be situated at least three feet away from any neighboring properties.

To ensure compliance with these regulations, residents are required to obtain an annual permit, which carries a nominal fee of $10. This permit is essential for the lawful keeping of backyard chickens within the city limits of Fargo, North Dakota.





Bismarck, ND
Boatman faints during Phuket sea trip with tourist

PHUKET: A British holidaymaker, identified by Phuket Tourist Police only as Mr Christopher, safely returned to shore and provided assistance to his long-tail boat skipper after the latter passed out during a sea trip from Koh Yao Noi last Friday (Aug 11).

tourismmarineSafety

By The Phuket News

Monday 14 August 2023 08:00 AM

Mr Christopher [last name withheld] from the UK contacted the 1155 Tourist Police Hotline on Thursday (Aug 11) to inform them that his longtail boat captain had lost consciousness during a sea trip, Phuket Tourist Police reported on Facebook.

Upon receiving the information, Tourist Police officers contacted the relevant authorities in Phang Nga, and a motor boat with medical personnel was dispatched to locate the long-tail boat and provide assistance.

It is understood that Mr Christopher provided the officials with GPS coordinates of the boat, which was adrift in some location in Phang Nga Bay, a 400 sqkm area between the island of Phuket and mainland Krabi. Phuket Tourist Police did not mention the exact method used, but GPS sharing is available in the Tourist Police i lert u application, promoted by Tourist Police as en emergency communication tool.

"As for the boat driver, he was taken to Koh Yao Hospital for further medical treatment. We thank all the parties that contributed to the safe return of the tourist back to the shore," Phuket Tourist Police concluded.

No information was provided regarding the specific details of what happened to the unnamed boatman or his condition after he was taken to Koh Yao Hospital.
Cambodias next leader, Chinese FM pledge to boost ties

PHNOM PENH: Cambodias next leader Hun Manet said he met Chinas foreign minister Wang Yi in the capital Phnom Penh yesterday (Aug 13) and they pledged to boost ties between the two countries.

Chinesepolitics

By AFP

Monday 14 August 2023 11:45 AM

Cambodias prime minister-designate Hun Manet (right) shaking hands with Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh yesterday (Aug 13). Photo: AFP

Wang arrived in Cambodia on Saturday, the first Chinese official to visit since Hun Manet was appointed prime minister last Monday, as part of a three-day tour of Southeast Asia.

Beijings top diplomat also visited Singapore and Malaysia after tensions flared with the Philippines over the South China Sea.

Wang met outgoing leader Hun Sen, his son Hun Manet, and other Cambodian officials.

Hun Manet was appointed by the King but he and his cabinet must still win an Aug 22 vote in parliament, where his fathers Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) dominates the lower house.

Hun Manet posted on his Telegram channel that he and Wang pledged to promote cooperation between the two countries.

He also reaffirmed in a Facebook post his governments unchanged position towards the One-China policy and promised no interference in Chinese national affairs.

Hun Manet is scheduled to visit China in September and October.

Wang also met his Cambodian counterpart and reaffirmed Beijings unwavering commitment to respecting Cambodian sovereignty and conveyed Beijings support for the kingdom, according to a Cambodian foreign ministry statement.

His visit follows diplomatic clashes between Beijing and Manila over their claims to the South China Sea.

China insisted a Philippine navy vessel grounded on a reef in the Spratly Islands be removed from the hotly contested waters, long a flashpoint between them, after the Philippines accused the China Coast Guard of firing water cannon at boats on a resupply mission last weekend.

Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines are all members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which is in talks with China over a code of conduct in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost in its entirety.

Phnom Penh has become one of Chinas strongest allies in the region under Hun Sen, who ruled for almost four decades, receiving huge sums of Chinese investment.

Hun Sens CPP won all but five of the 125 seats in the lower house in July polls, which were widely decried as a sham after the main opposition party was barred from running.

He announced days after his landslide victory he would hand power to his eldest son, a four-star general, and that he would become president of the Senate early next year as well as serving in other positions until at least 2033.
Jason Wilder memorial raises B32k for charity

A charity memorial held in Phuket Town last month in memory of renowned Phuket DJ Jason Wilder (real last name Winder) raised more than B32,000 to buy musical instruments for impoverished school children in Northern Thailand.

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By The Phuket News

Monday 14 August 2023 10:38 AM

Dear Friends and Family During the remembrance gatherings at Pastel Bar and Goodvibes P-Town last month, we gathered donations for a charity in memory of our close friend Jason Winder. One of Jasons dreams and pursuits here in Thailand was to spread the power of music by enabling children access to it and fostering their musicality, explained Good Vibes P-Town through a post online.

In his memory, we collected 32,720 THB during both remembrance and charity events. We used this money to buy drum kits for a school in northern Thailand, Tungkawittaya school in Lampang, which was in dire need of replacing their broken and worn down instruments.

In the name of Pastel Bar and Goodvibes P-Town, we want to thank all our friends that came and attended the events and enabled us to make one more dream of Jason come true.

Thanks go out as well to all artists and musicians that have joined us in these two events, the post said.

May Jason live on in our memory and music!

Jason, the iconic voice of the Phuket Live Radio - Live 89.5FM Drive Time show who made the phrase Sawadee Khrap Pee Nong Khrap! a calling, passed away in June at the Glastonbury music festival whilst resting in his on-site tent. He was 48 years old.

Jasons passing was widely lamented by the Phuket community, and by those who knew and loved him abroad.

Jasons sister, Emily Hope, later came forward to explain what happened in the final moments of his life.

I want everyone to know he died peacefully during a nap in our tent after he and I had been cuddling, laughing and making future plans and after the amazing paramedics had announced the death he was surrounded by friends holding him, telling him how loved he was and singing his favourite songs.

He died blissfully happy. Next to his favourite person. In his favourite place on earth, she wrote.
Protesters slam Pheu Thai, Bhumjaithai for alliance with military parties

BANGKOK: A group of protestors, mostly on bicycles and motorcycles, rallied in front of Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai party headquarters yesterday (Aug 13) to denounce their efforts to form the next government with military-linked parties.

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By Bangkok Post

Monday 14 August 2023 07:13 AM

A protestor splashes paint in front of the Bhumjaithai Party headquarters on Phahon Yothin Road in Bangkok yesterday (Aug 13). Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb

People using about 50 vehicles first gathered at the BTS Mo Chit station on Phahon Yothin Road at about 1:30pm. Rally leaders criticised both parties for potentially teaming up with political parties connected to the May 2014 coup detat, reports the Bangkok Post.

About an hour later they moved to the Bhumjaithai Party headquarters on the same road.

The protesters arrived at the head office at about 3pm. It was closed and guarded by police.

Protesters there criticised Bhumjaithais policies related to COVID-19 and cannabis decriminalisation. They scattered leaftlets, splashed paint and attached glue traps normally used to trap mice. Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul is also known by his nickname Noo (mouse in Thai).

The demonstrators then moved to the Pheu Thai headquarters on Phetchaburi Road at about 4:45pm. The place was also closed.

There they dumped and destroyed Pheu Thai souvenirs including stickers, cups, calendars and shirts. They also demanded Pheu Thai restore its coalition partnership with the election-winning Move Forward Party.

Pheu Thai came second in the May 14 general election with 141 House seats and Bhumjaithai came third with 71 seats. Both announced their joint effort to form the next government after Pheu Thai withdrew from its previous coalition alliance with Move Forward which won 151 House seats.
SmartLand app arrest in Phuket

PHUKET: A 25-year-old man has been arrested in Phuket for providing a mule account for the SmartLand scam app, which has duped people out of millions of baht.

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By Eakkapop Thongtub

Monday 14 August 2023 09:58 AM

The man, named by police only as Winat or Oil, was taken into custody at a popular lifestyle shopping mall in Thalang, reported the Investigation Division Metropolitan Police Bureau (IDMB) yesterday (Aug 13).

Winat was placed under arrest by officers from the IDMB, which is based in Bangkok. Joining the arrest party were officers from PCT 5, the Information Technology Crime Suppression Center operated under the Provincial Police, with Region 5 covering Chiang Mai.

Winat, who police said also went by the name Oil Talad Neau, was wanted for fraud on arrest warrant No. 461/2566 issued by Nonthaburi Provincial Court on July 19.

The SmartLand app had duped many victims, including a famous female news anchor who has lost millions. The latest victim had lost B1 million, officers reported.

People were lured into downloading the SmartLand app by the claims that it was operated by a Department of Lands officer in Phuket, who could presumably help facilitate land transfers and title upgrades.

During questioning, Winat confessed to his role in the crime, police said,

Earlier this year, Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn, Minister of Digital Economy and Society of Thailand, issued a warning that people could face up to three years in jail or a fine of up to B300,000, or both, if they are found to be providing mule accounts for online scams.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samriddhi Kendra (PMKSK): Empowering Indian agriculture

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Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Chemical and Fertilizers

As per Economic Survey 2022-23, around 65 % of the countrys population lives in the rural areas and 47 per cent of the population is dependent on agriculture for livelihood.Agriculture is a time bound activity that requires right agri-inputs at right time to maximise the production and productivity. Agri-inputs are essential ingredients of agriculture and an efficient delivery system of agri-inputs and services play a crucial role in the growth of farm income.

In India, the network of input services is fragmented and there are separate dealer networks for seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and implements acting in silos promoting their respective interests. In addition, the need for testing of soil, seed, fertilizers and information regarding different farmer oriented schemes reaches farmers through different agencies in a disjointed and piecemeal manner.This approach fails to provide technology based holistic information to the farmers for taking informed decisions.

The solution lies in providing holistic solutions to the farmers under one umbrella/ roof backed by the government that the farmer can trust and follow. In the past, the private sector has tried to replicate the model of umbrella centres for farmers inputs and services but more or less those attempts remained unsuccessful.

Thus, the idea of transforming the existing fertilizer retail shops that are mostly frequented by farmers into Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samriddhi Kendra (PMKSK) , a one-stop shop solution, has come up as a sustainable and long term solution to cater to the needs of the farmers. The programme launched by the Modi Government, has ushered in a revolutionary transformation in the countrys agricultural sector.With a vision to empower farmers and boost agricultural growth, this pioneering initiative aims to simplify access to agricultural inputs, information, and services, uplifting the lives of farmers and contributing to the nations progress.

Under the PMKSK initiative, around 2, 80,000 active retail fertiliser shops are undergoing a phased conversion into comprehensive one-stop shops for farmers. At its core, the PMKSK initiative focuses on offering a diverse range of agri-inputs, including fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides, small farm machinery/ implements to the farmers including drone services for spraying of fertilizers and pesticides in a hassle-free and convenient manner.A vital aspect of the PMKSK initiative is the provision of soil and seed testing facility. By equipping farmers with knowledge about their specific soil and crop conditions, these facilities enable informed decision-making, optimised resource utilisation, and higher yields. This promotes precision agriculture and resource-efficient farming practices.Moreover, PMKSKs serve as knowledge hubs, disseminating crucial information on crops and government welfare schemes. Bridging the information gap, these centres empower farmers to make informed choices, thereby enhancing their efficiency and income.

The aim is to simplify the lives of millions of farmers. The initiative will ensure better farm productivity and overall prosperity of the farming community.

Recent developments demonstrate the success of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samriddhi Kendra initiative. In a significant event named PM-Kisan Sammelan held in Sikar, Rajasthan, on July 27, 2023, the Honble Prime Minister dedicated 1, 25,000 PMKSKs to the nation. The widespread participation of nearly 2 crore farmers across the country shows an affirmative stamp by the end users to this initiative.

The success of the initiative can also be gauged from the feeling of oneness and sense of pride among different stakeholders. The recent survey indicated that there is already a 15- 20% increase in the number of farmers visiting the centres and it is found that they are happy with the transformation right from the ambience of the PMKSK to the facilities and inputs available at the centres. The sale of nano urea too has reached 6 crores through these PMKSKs. Drone entrepreneurs supported by fertilizer companies are slowly associating with PMKSKs for promoting spraying of fertilizers and chemicals in a better way. The increased bonding between states, KVKs, dealers has been resulting in successful dissemination of knowledge and services to the farmers in a positive way.

Thus, PMKSKinitiativeis proving to be a game changer in empowering the farmers and strengthening the backbone of the nations economy. By simplifying access to agricultural inputs and knowledge, empowering farmers with modern technologies, and fostering sustainable practices, PMKSKs are ushering in a new era of prosperity for the farming community. With unwavering government support and collective efforts from stakeholders, PMKSKs will continue to drive positive change, strengthening the agricultural backbone of the nation and contributing to a thriving and self-reliant agrarian ecosystem. PIB
SoO: Bipartite or Tripartite?

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It certainly evokes keen interest as it is quite significant. The Ministry of Home Affairs is holding another round of talks on August 17 with several Kuki militant groups clubbed together under two umbrella organisations; Kuki National Organisation or KNO and United Peoples Front or UPF. Both KNO and UPF are signatories of the tripartite Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement involving the Government of India and Government of Manipur. The agreement was first signed in 2008 with a pre-condition or term that the Kuki militant groups would not raise any demand which challenges the integrity of Manipur. But now both UPF and KNO have been violating this fundamental term in the most arrogant manner. They have been openly demanding the Ministry of Home Affairs to withdraw the clause (to safeguard integrity of Manipur) from the SoO agreement. Another round of talks was held in New Delhi on July 26 in the midst of the large scale violence gripping Manipur. It was during this round of talks that KNO and UPF representatives urged the Centre to withdraw the clause on safeguarding the territorial integrity of Manipur. With the Government handling the militant groups under SoO agreement with a very soft hand, these militant groups are becoming bolder and bolder. They are now demanding a Kuki-exclusive Union Territory. It is anybodys guess what these militant groups would demand next. At the same time, as indicated by their complete turn-around and disowning of their own pledge, the trustworthiness or credibility of both these groups are now highly questionable. Although the Ministry of Home Affairs has neither issued any confirmation on the August 17 talks nor divulged any details, one KNO leader has claimed that they have scheduled a bipartite meeting with officials of the Union Home Ministry on August 17 and it would be a continuation of political dialogue regarding our issues.

If the words of the KNO leader are completely true, something is amiss. If we are not mistaken, Suspension of Operation is a tripartite agreement and the highest stakeholder in the whole engagement is undoubtedly the State of Manipur. In another word, the Government of Manipur must be a party to any dialogue held with militant groups under SoO agreement. The Government of India must not take undue liberty while dealing with these militant groups if serious repercussions and backfires must be avoided. It is understandable that New Delhi has been upholding the SoO agreement for the sake of peace in spite of rampant extortion and other unlawful activities by these militant groups which present clear cases of violation of ground rules. The demands for withdrawal of the clause on upholding the integrity of Manipur and creation of a Union Territory are reasons enough for abrogation of the SoO agreement. As history stands testimony, peace brought through appeasement policies will never be durable. New Delhi must draw a distinct line between peace and appeasement. Considering the huge firepower and unlimited arms and ammunition used in the waves after waves of offensive targeting Meitei villages which lasted for almost three months, the role of Kuki militant groups under Soo agreement in the recent violence must be first investigated thoroughly. At the same time, the Government of Manipur must be taken on board while dealing with these groups for SoO is a tripartite agreement. Earlier, Manipur Legislative Assembly adopted a resolution demanding amendment of Article 3 of the Indian Constitution by inserting a provision/clause that prior consent of the State legislatures of the affected State(s) shall be mandatory while forming new States, alteration of areas, boundaries or names of existing States. Though this resolution was adopted in another context, it is equally applicable to all political dialogues between Government of India and any militant group including Kuki militant groups under SoO agreement. Moreover this resolution was driven by a strong collective spirit and it was based on a very solid historical premise.




BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 14. The Turkish Foreign Ministry has issued a statement regarding Azerbaijan's Lachin-Khankendi road, Trend reports.

According to the statement, Turkiye is closely following the situation concerning the Lachin-Khankendi road and understands Azerbaijan's legitimate concerns on this issue.

"Unfortunately, these concerns, voiced by Azerbaijan for a long time, were not taken into account, and as a result, Azerbaijan, within its sovereign rights, took measures that it deemed appropriate," the statement said.

In order to prevent the transportation of manpower, ammunition, mines, as well as other military equipment from Armenia for illegal Armenian armed groups on the territory of Azerbaijan (which weren't withdrawn contrary to the trilateral statement of November 10, 2020 signed by Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian leaders following the second Karabakh war), and as an adequate response to the unilateral establishment of a border checkpoint by Armenia on the border with Azerbaijan on April 22, 2023, at the entrance to the Lachin-Khankendi road contrary to the trilateral statement of November 10, 2020, on April 23 this year, the units of the State Border Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan set up a border checkpoint in its sovereign territories, on the border with Armenia, at the beginning of the Lachin-Khankendi road.
As the Congress nationally is getting enthused over the Bharat Jodo Yatra 2.0 by their leader Rahul Gandhi, in West Bengal the enthusiasm is yet to pick up.

There is no clear roadmap of how the Congress in West Bengal will participate in the mega event or which leaders of the allies of the Indian National Development Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) will be invited to participate in the event. State Congress leaders like S Aich Roy feel that the state unit of the party is waiting for specific instructions from the party high command.

The situation in West Bengal is tricky considering our arch political rival in the state, the ruling Trinamool Congress, is also a part of the INDIA alliance.

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As regards the CPI(M)- led Left Front there is not much complication since we are already having an understanding with them at the state level.

So we are waiting for instructions from our high command on whether we will be inviting leaders of other INDIA constituents to participate in the event, said a senior Congress leader who did not wish to be named.

He admitted there is a high possibility that leaders from no other INDIA constituent from West Bengal might be invited for the event. In the case of West Bengal we are having an understanding with the CPI(M)- led Left Front, which is the Congresss principal opposition in Kerala. So in case the Left Front leaders in West Bengal are invited for the event, our Kerala unit might be offended.

So we have decided to leave the decision entirely to our high command, he explained. In Tripura also, the Congress is having an understanding with the CPI(M)- led Left Front and in Tripura as well the partys state unit will in all probability leave the decision to the central leadership. As for the Trinamu Congress leadership it will not discuss the matter until they receive a formal invitation from the Congress.

According to veteran party MLA Tapas Ray, any decision will be taken only after a formal invitation comes from the Congress and it will be taken only by chief minister Mamata Banerjee. The party will act as per the directions of the chief minister, he said. The CPI(M) leadership in West Bengal too feels that giving the matter a thought before a formal invitation is counting the chickens before they are hatched.

The problem for us is the same as that of the Congress on this count in the perspective of Kerala, where the principal opponent for the Left Front is the Congress. So whatever needs to be done will be a collective decision, said a state committee member of the party on condition of anonymity .
Kolkata Police arrested two more Jadavpur University students on Sunday in connection with the mysterious death of fresher Swapnadip Kundu on 10 August. The two arrested individuals have been identified as Deepsekhar Dutta (19) and Manotosh Ghosh (20).

While Deepsekhar is a second-year student of economics, Manotosh is a secondyear student of international relations. Police said that they initially interrogated the two and found inconsistencies in their statements. As a result, there was an urgent need to take them into custody for further questioning, according to a city police official.

This marks the second and third arrest in this case. Earlier, the police had arrested Sourav Chowdhury, a former M.Sc. student of mathematics from the same university who is believed to be the mastermind behind a ragging gang within the university campus. Saurav was accused of handling accommodation arrangements at the student hostel.

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Police today discovered a mysterious letter with a signature and diary from the University hostel. The letter was wriiten addressed to Dean of Students of JU regarding ragging matter. Police however is varifying whether the signature was of the deceased student. Questions arose about the university authorities monitoring, considering a former students involvement in hostel-related administrative operations.

He was remanded to police custody until 22 August on Saturday. Swapnadip Kundus body was found in front of the balcony of the student hostel on 10 August morning, with investigations pointing towards a ragging angle in the tragedy. Police also discovered that the victims reserved behaviour towards female students led the offenders to label him as gay.

The night before his death, he called his parents in Nadia and informed them about the ragging he was facing. Advisor of the West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR), Ananya Chakraborti, visited Swapnadips residence in Nadia and demanded that the trial for the case be conducted under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. After leaving, she spoke to the media, mentioning Swapnadips age and stating that the incident falls under the POCSO Act.

She said: Swapnadip was not 18 years old; he was 17 years, 9 months, and 9 days old at the time of his death. Therefore, the trial should fall under the POCSO Act for this incident. Kolkatas Police Commissioner, Vineet Goyal, said on Sunday that the mystery surrounding Swapnadeep Kundus death will be resolved soon.

He emphasized the significance of the incident and mentioned that police are conducting a thorough investigation. Speaking to reporters on Red Road, Vineet Goyal said, In connection with the Jadavpur incident, two individuals were arrested on Sunday. One more person had been arrested earlier. A high-level investigation is ongoing, with an additional Deputy Commissioner of Police overseeing the investigation process at every step. He further added: A post-mortem of the deceased student has already been conducted, and videography has been completed.

We hope to conclude the investigation swiftly, he said. The father of Manatosh, Satinath Ghosh, meanwhile, said some passed-out students may have framed there son Manatosh on fake and false charges, since Manatosh by nature is vocal against any kind of wrong doing ..
Even after the formation of the Panchayat boards, panchayat poll-related violence persists. Sheikh Saheb Ali, a candidate of the Trinamul Congress (TMC) in Haroa, who had won election to the Panchayat samity in Haroa was shot dead last night. Ali was returning home last night he became the target of a hail of bullets on Haroa Road.

The family and locals have alleged that nearly eight to ten rounds of bullets were fired at him. The incident has raised tensions in the Trinamul camp, with accusations of factionalism within the party contributing to the incident. After the incident, the area witnessed protests and demonstrations against the killing of the Trinamul leader. Saturday saw elections for the positions of Pradhan and Upa-Pradhan in the region. Sheikh Saheb was vying for the Pradhan position. However, he was unable to secure victory.

After the results, on his way home, he was targeted with a barrage of bullets in the Shamla Bazar area. According to locals, Sheikh Saheb was returning home on a motorcycle. At that moment, he became the target of a hail of bullets. The assailants allegedly looted him and left his body lying in the field. Following the incident, locals informed the police, who reached the scene and retrieved the body.

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The body has been sent for post-mortem examination. The incident has shaken the community and the local area. Investigations are ongoing to determine the motive behind the murder and to apprehend those responsible.
The Daily Show, often referred to as TDS, has become a beloved late-night talk show in the United States. It is popular for its clever take on current events. Now following Trevor Noahs departure late last year, the stage is ready for a new face. An Indian-American actor Kal Penn, is taking over. So, lets delve into who Kal Penn is.

Professionally known as Kal Penn, his full name is Kalpen Suresh Modi. Besides being an actor, hes also an author and a former member of the White House during the Obama administration. You might recognize him from his roles as Lawrence Kutner on the TV series House, Seth Wright, a staffer on Designated Survivor. He appeared as Kumar Patel in the beloved Harold & Kumar film series.

His notable performance in the movie The Namesake has also garnered attention. Interestingly, he even spent time teaching as a visiting lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania in the Cinema Studies Program.

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Born in Montclair, New Jersey, his roots trace back to Indian immigrant parents hailing from Gujarat. His mother, Asmita Bhatt, is a fragrance evaluator for a perfume company, while his father, Suresh Modi, is an engineer. His fathers origins are in Kaira, and his mother was born in Baroda.

Kal Penns connection to India isnt merely ancestral. He often visited Gujarat during his childhood vacations, cultivating a grasp of both Gujarati and Hindi languages. He shares that the stories of his grandparents involvement in Mahatma Gandhis marches during Indias struggle for independence deeply influenced his passion for politics.

Penns political interests also extended to the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries, where he found resonance in the messages of Pete Buttigieg, Bernie Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren. Following Joe Bidens nomination, he expressed his support for the candidate.

In October 2021, amidst promoting his memoir titled You Cant Be Serious, Penn made a personal announcement: he and his boyfriend of 11 years, named Josh, were engaged. He shared insights into his journey of self-discovery, revealing that he came to terms with his sexuality later in life compared to many others.
The Bimal Gurung-led Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) on Monday joined hands with two other separatist forces  Kamtapur Progressive Party (KPP) and Beer Birsha Munda Unmilan Samiti (BBMUS)  extending the ambit for the proposed Gorkhaland state.

GJM spearheads the movement for separate Gorkhaland state proposed to be carved out of the hills of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong and the plains and Terai and Dooars in North Bengal.

The demand is for a separate statehood carved out of the eight north Bengal districts  Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Cooch Behar, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Malda.

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A formal announcement on this count was made by the GJM leadership after a meeting with the two other separatist forces in Darjeeling on Monday.

The meeting was attended by GJM President Bimal Gurung and General Secretary Roshan Giri, KPP President Adhir Roy and Vice President Budharu Roy, and BBMUS Convenor Kishore Brojo.

It has been decided that the joint movement in support of a separate state carved out of the eight North Bengal districts will start before the big battle of 2024 Lok Sabha polls, thus making it a poll issue.

Budharu Roy told mediapersons that while the beginning of the movement on this issue will be made by these three parties, constant attempts will be on to rope in other political forces which are also in favour of separate statehood for North Bengal.

The demand for separate statehood is not new. In fact, in the recent past, this demand has also been raised by a number of BJP Lok Sabha members and legislators from North Bengal.

Now with GJM focusing on widening the ambit of a separate Gorkhaland state, a new dimension in separatist politics seems to be taking shape in the state.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray on Monday confirmed that he has got an offer to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), but he has not yet taken a final call on it, here on Monday.

Speaking at a party meeting here, Raj Thackeray  the estranged cousin of former Chief Minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray  did not reveal who made the offer, or when.

However, he mentioned that he did not take any decision as the Shiv Sena faction of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) group led by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar are part of the Shiv Sena-BJP government in Maharashtra headed by Eknath Shinde.

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As Shinde and Ajit Pawar are with the government, and since the BJP has not clarified what will be done with Ajit Pawar, I have not been able to take any decision on this, Raj Thackeray said.

He further contended that Ajit Pawar has gone to the BJP with the blessings of NCP President Sharad Pawar, and very soon the remaining faction of the NCP will also join Ajit Pawar.

The MNS chief said that since 2014, Sharad Pawar has always adopted a pro-Narendra Modi stance and predicted that after the Ajit Pawar group, the Sharad Pawar camp will also join the state government.

Ruling Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat and others welcomed Raj Thackerays statements on the BJP offer and said that if he took it, that will be beneficial for the MNS and the three-party alliance in power, while NCP MLA Rohit Pawar, the grand-nephew of Sharad Pawar, rubbished the MNS leaders forecast.

Raj Thackeray added that he addressed the party workers and leaders on the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, though he expressed doubts whether the planned civic elections are likely to be held anytime soon given the current political scenario in the state.
India and China today held the 19th round of military-level talks to end the ongoing stand-off at eastern Ladakh so as to restore peace in the border areas.

The talks were aimed at disengagement of troops in the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh and ease overall tensions in the region, highly placed sources said.

The talks took place at Chushul-Moldo border point on the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the region. The 19th round has taken place nearly four months after the last edition of the military talks.

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The Indian delegation was headed by Lt Gen Rashim Bali, Commander of the Leh-headquartered 14 Corps. The Chinese team was led by the commander of the South Xinjiang military district.

India is believed to have pressed for early disengagement of troops from the remaining friction points, emphasising that relations between the two countries could not become normal until the border face-off was amicably resolved. The Indian delegation particularly pushed for troop disengagement at Depsang and Demchok.

Sources said confidence-building measures, ensuring adherence to border protocols, sharing of patrol information to avoid clashes between troops and ensuring adequate communication between the ground troops along the LAC and at buffer zones  were being discussed between the two sides.

The Indian and Chinese troops are locked in an over three-year confrontation in certain friction points in eastern Ladakh even as the two sides completed disengagement from some of the key areas following extensive diplomatic and military talks.

Upping the ante ahead of the military talks, National security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval recently told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that the situation along the LAC since 2020 had eroded strategic trust and the public and political basis of the relationship.

Sources said a positive outcome of todays talks could set the stage for a possible meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Africa later this month on the margins of the BRICS Summit.

The Chinese leader is also scheduled to visit India for the G20 summit on 9-10 September, heightening the prospects of a breakthrough in the talks ahead of the crucial visit. Such a breakthrough had happened in 2017 when Indian and Chinese troops were locked in a stand-off at Doklam. The two-and-half-month-old deadlock ended days before Modi and Xi were scheduled to meet for the BRICS summit in Xiamen (China).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday remembered those who lost their lives during the countrys Partition in 1947.

In a tweet in Hindi, the Prime Minister said: Partition Remembrance Day is an occasion to reverently remember those Indians whose lives were sacrificed in the partition of the country.

Along with this, this day also reminds us of the suffering and struggle of those who were forced to bear the brunt of displacement. I salute all such people.

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On his part, Union Home Minister Amit Shah called the partition of the country on the basis of religion as a dark chapter in history.

The hatred it generated has killed millions and displaced crores of people. The country had to pay a heavy price for this and many people are still facing the brunt of this menace.

Today, on Partition Vibhishika Memorial Day, I bow down to all those people who lost their lives and their family members due to partition. he also tweeted in Hindi.

Also taking to X (formerly Twitter), External Affairs Minister s. Jaishankar said: The Partition caused immense suffering to millions. Its strategic consequences were also far reaching. This painful period of our history holds important lessons for our nation.

On #PartitionHorrorsRemembranceDay laud the courage of those who rebuilt their lives after enduring this devastating tragedy.

Partition Horrors Remembrance Day is an annual national memorial day observed on August 14, commemorating the victims and sufferings of people during the 1947 Partition.

It was first observed in 2021, after announcement by Prime Minister Modi.
The Punjab Police, in joint operation with Central Agencies, have busted yet another terror module being operated by a US-based wanted gangster Harpreet alias Happy with the arrest of five operatives.

Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav said here on Monday that the police came to know about the terror module after the recovery of two foreign-made 9mm pistols along with ammunition from the possession of the arrested accused.

Gangster Harpreet Happy is in touch with two wanted terrorists, Pak-based Harwinder alias Rinda and US-based Goldy Brar, the DGP said.

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Those arrested have been identified as Gurinder Singh of Lakhuwal in Amritsar, Gurpinder Singh alias Lahoria of Ajnala in Amritsar, Lovepreet Singh of Ajnala in Amritsar, Narinder Singh of Sundal Riali in Gurdaspur and Sukhmanpreet Singh alias Jeevan of Ajnala in Amritsar.

Yadav said following the inputs that gangster Harpreet Happy on the directions of terrorists Harwinder Rinda and Goldy Brar planning to target prominent political and socio-religious leaders in the state through his newly formed gang of criminal-minded people to disturb the peace and harmony, counter intelligence in coordination with Central agencies carried out a special operation.

Assistant inspector general, State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) Amritsar Sukhminder Singh Mann said on the basis of the reliable inputs that the operative of gangster Happy, who is in possession of weapons, is expected to hold a meeting in Amritsar, a special team of SSOC Amritsar immediately rushed to the area and cordoned it off in a planned manner resulting in the arrest of five operatives of this module after recovering weapons from their possession.

Mann said the arrested accused persons were hatching a conspiracy to carry out target assassinations in the state. He said the arrested persons has recently received a drone-delivered weapon consignment through the Indo-Pak border arranged by Happy with the help of Harwinder Rinda.

The accused persons have also been receiving financial aid sent by Harpreet Happy through various channels, he said, while adding that it has also come to light that they have conducted a recce of Punjab-based targets defined by Happy.

Further investigations are being carried out to unearth the entire terror network and to trace the channels via which Harpreet Happy arranged weapons consignment as well as financial aid for his associates, Mann added.
The Supreme Court on Monday said that the social media post, being circulated using a photo of the Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and quoting him is false, ill-intended and mischievous.

A statement issued by the apex court said that law enforcement authorities will take appropriate action in this regard.

A post on social media is being circulated where Chief Justice Chandrachud is quoted urging the public to protest against authorities.

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A press note issued by the top court said no such post has been issued by the Chief Justice Chandrachud nor has he authorised any such post.

It has come to the notice of the Supreme Court of India that a social media post (invoking the public to protest against authorities) using a file photograph and falsely quoting the Chief Justice India is being circulated. The post is fake, ill-intended and mischievous. No such post has been issued by the Chief Justice of India nor has he authorised any such post, the release stated.

It said appropriate action is being taken about it in consultation with the law enforcement authorities.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 14. The activity of Armenian separatist troops in the territories of Azerbaijan, where the Russian peacekeeping contingent is temporarily stationed, has been observed in recent days, the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan said, Trend reports.

It was noted that strengthening of combat positions on the territory, as well as the preparation of new defense lines, digging trenches was observed.

"In addition, the facts of the deployment of military equipment of various purposes by Armenian separatist troops, in particular air defense and electronic warfare equipment in several settlements of the Karabakh economic region of Azerbaijan, mass weapons of the civilian population, were revealed, said the ministry.

According to the ministry, firing positions in many cases are created near residential buildings. Despite the fact that the Azerbaijani side, through the Russian peacekeeping contingent, has repeatedly appealed to the Armenian side with a demand to stop these activities, the Armenian separatist troops ignore the calls. In addition, they are preparing for new provocations by conducting intensive combat training activities.

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Had the Mahatma been alive to witness the civil war like situation in Manipur, and communal riots in Haryana, he would certainly have died a second death ~ by shame; unable to comprehend the kind of country he had helped create. However, leaders of today are unfazed; made of sterner stuff, their skin is far thicker than that of the Mahatma and his followers. Also, in contrast to the Mahatma, for the current lot of politicians, politics is not a service to society, but only a means to grab power.

Shamefully, while the Opposition sees opportunities in every tragedy that befalls the nation, the Government is perpetually in denial mode; they would have us believe that we are living in the best of times. More unfortunately, the Parliaments response to crises is not one of constructive guidance, but of meek acceptance of the diktats of the executive.

Tying itself into knots over technicalities, Parliament has only now discussed the unprecedented breakdown of law and order in Manipur, though more than three months have elapsed since violence first broke out. The Supreme Court is trying to prod the Government to take proactive action, but has not been successful so far. Rather, a scurrilous social media campaign has been launched against the Supreme Court, warning it to lay off Manipur and such contentious issues. Although it is easy to blame polarising forces for the current unhappy situation, a fundamental question arises: What makes Indians so easy to polarise?

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Probably, fissiparous tendencies lie just below the surface in most Indians, who value caste, creed and religion much more than nationalism. After the Mutiny of 1857, that had seen most Indian soldiers uniting against them, the British organised Army regiments on caste basis, safe in the knowledge that no two regiments would see eye-to-eye, much less collaborate against them: If one regiment mutinies, I should like to have the next so alien that it would fire into it (Sir Charles Wood, Secretary of State for India, May 1862).

Unfortunately, seventy-five years after Independence, this grotesque assumption by the British remains valid, because religion and caste still remain divisive forces, which are frequently amplified and misused, by political parties and vested interests. In this context, a recent editorial by a respected columnist in a national daily deserves mention.

The columnist justified communal polarisation for electoral purposes but unequivocally condemned its use for dividing society, forgetting that polarisation is not a pet dog, that will go back to its kennel after performing its tricks. Rather, polarisation is a genie, which released from its bottle, will devour all within its reach. Another, even more glaring reason for the Governments failure to handle crisis situations, is the oft noted failure of its machinery in crunch situations, be it floods in Delhi, riots in Haryana or armed clashes in Manipur.

It is seen that wherever conflicting political interests are involved, civil servants willingly abdicate responsibility and act only with the approval and guidance of their political masters, sacrificing good administration in the process. A number of judgements of the Supreme Court to shelter the police and civil administration from the whims of the Government of the day e.g., the celebrated TSR Subramanian case and the Prakash Singh case, have been blatantly ignored by all governments. Left at the mercy of the political executive, most bureaucrats willingly collaborate with politicians.

The bureaucrat-politician partnership could have been transformative for the country, because the vast administrative experience of bureaucrats would supplement the politicians vision and grassroots connection, leading to quantum change. However, such politician-bureaucrat collaboration is mostly used for ulterior purposes, and seldom for noble aims. Not surprisingly, there is a tough competition between bureaucrats for the favour of powerful politicians; dog eat dog rather than service brotherhood is the new culture of the bureaucracy.

The mass transfer of bureaucrats and police officers on every change of regime, is proof of this fact. No wonder, honest bureaucrats feel dejected, while the less scrupulous align themselves to individual politicians and factions. Daily reports in newspapers about corruption in bureaucratic ranks shows a mirror to the narrative of good governance. With top bureaucrats tangoing with politicians, the lower bureaucracy has been left leaderless.

Additionally, Indian bureaucratic culture has become highly deficient; under the guise of Indianisation, timeless values of honesty, integrity, and responsibility have been discarded ~ to be replaced by a culture of showmanship, brazen commercialism and avarice. It would appear that corruption, and a meek surrender to politicians, have made seniors lose all moral authority over juniors, while a convoluted procedure for punishment of errant bureaucrats has eroded their real authority also.

The worst loser in this scenario is the public, which is often let down in adverse situations, and which has to suffer deficient service on a daily basis. The problem of bureaucratic non-performance is so acute that in a longish speech in Parliament, on 10 February 2021, PM Modi questioned the operational capability of IAS officers. The only solution for this problem is to have a well-trained, reasonably honest bureaucracy, one that is alive to the problems of the public.

In any case, reforming the bureaucracy, and aligning it with 21st century requirements, is urgently required, but changing the ethos and work culture of a massive and well-entrenched organisation is a daunting task. The Government had launched the National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (Mission Karmayogi) in September 2020, with a timeline of one year, for this purpose.

However, no substantial progress can be noted, even after three years. Even reports of the First and Second Administrative Reforms Commission (1966 and 2005) have been only partially implemented. Fearing job losses, optimisation and automation of work processes are perpetually placed on hold. The Government has tried to leverage technology to rein in corruption by eliminating discretion, but with little success.

Rather, technological solutions have promoted centralisation; that has hamstrung bureaucratic initiative at the operational level. A decidedly better approach to improve bureaucratic performance could be to first realise that there is an acute shortage of employees at the cutting edge, like constables and teachers.

By an ingenious bureaucratic stratagem, such shortages are made up by hiring contractual workers, who are not trained and have no responsibility or loyalty. Such staff provide poor service to the public, and are the first to desert their posts, in the face of any crisis. This problem has arisen because most departments have surrendered large numbers of lower-level posts for some few posts at the top.

Resultantly, bureaucracy now resembles an inverted pyramid, with a large number of commanders, who have no troops to command. Routine measures that would improve governance with little effort, like giving proper training to subordinate Government employees and formulating SOPs for them, in light of recent technical advances, are hardly attempted. Also, a matrix of responsibility and accountability for government employees needs to be worked out, so that dereliction of duty can be identified and dealt with.

Lastly, the procedure to book delinquent officers needs to be streamlined, by getting rid of the meaningless rigmarole that makes action against bureaucrats virtually impossible. This would put the fear of God in lower-level functionaries, who in addition to service rules are protected by their powerful unions. Hopefully, such measures would prevent the handover of armouries or innocent women to militants (as in Manipur), make the police stop religious processions from degenerating into frenzied mobs (as in Haryana) and ensure proper upkeep of barrage gates (as in Delhi).

In the context of civil service reforms, an instance appearing in the book Comparative Government: An introduction to the study of politics, by Professor Samuel E. Finer bears repetition: Two American political scientists (Professors Almond and Verba) made a survey of what they called the civic culture in five countries. These were USA, Britain, Germany, Italy and Mexico. Answering the query (in the opinion poll they held), which aspect of national life do you take most pride in? 33 per cent (of Britons) named their governmental arrangements. Furthermore, four-fifths of the (British) respondents believed that the civil servants would treat them fairly, and no less than ninetenth believed that the police would. We can only hope that our bureaucracy could achieve these high standards.
I am very proud of India being the largest democratic country in the world. A democratic government, chosen by a majority of its citizens, seems to be the only logical and fair way to rule a country. When I came to the US, I felt comfortable to know that the US is also a democratic country where all political leaders are elected by voting just like it was in India. However, over the years I have realized that American democracy is not what I would consider an ideal form of governing. Now the situation has reached a point where it seems inevitable that this democracy will soon end. My first reason to doubt it from the very beginning was the fact that it is a two-party system.

Although thirdparty candidates have run in many presidential elections, everyone knows that such a candidate will not win; such parties come and go and are put together only with elections in mind. There are also two major parties in some countries like the UK and Spain but there are many smaller parties which continue their existence and carry various degrees of influence. Political views cannot be binary; in fact, there is a huge number of people in the US who are labelled independent and end up deciding election results. I remember my efforts to engage a fellow American graduate student into a political discussion a few months after coming to the US. He responded, You are too new to this country to understand that it is not political parties but big corporations which run the country.

He was right. Another oddity in the US election is the so-called electoral college. Election results are not determined by counting individual votes (popular votes) but rather votes by electors from each state. The number of electors in each state is equal in number to its congressional delegation (representatives and senators). A majority of popular votes in each state gives the candidate all electoral votes in that state in a winner takes all scheme. This was written into the US constitution to ensure that presidents are not elected by a handful of populous states like New York and California, but opponents argue that it is not consistent with the democratic principle of one person, one vote. It remains a topic of continuous debate and several attempts to amend it have failed. There are fundamental problems with any democracy. Ancient Greek philosopher Plato was against the concept of democracy because of disparity in peoples intelligence. In the democratic process a vote by an expert counts the same as a vote by an incompetent person. Excessive freedom in democracy gives an opportunity of governance to the bullies and brutes who are motivated by self-interest and do not care for the good of the country. A related concern is that a fair election can be held only if the population of a society is at a similar socio-economic level.

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If there is a large gap between the rich and poor, it is inevitable that the voice of the poor will drown because of their lack of education, money and influence. The US has been slowly but surely changing into such a society of haves and have nots. Now a large fraction of the population does not even have the intellectual capacity to appreciate the political issues involved and the relative merits of various candidates.

When I first came to the US, I was impressed to learn that a key goal in American foreign policy is to protect and even establish democracies in other countries by supporting regime changes against threats from communism, terrorism and other disruptive forces. The Korean war, Vietnam war, Iraq war and now the war in Ukraine all show this resolve. America has sacrificed hundreds of thousands of soldiers and spent billions and billions of dollars. I realized over the years that it is a facade.

The main purpose of the US government, under pressure from the defence industry, is to sell weapons to all these countries and keep the economy going. A sad realization. The influence of foreign money and corruption certainly casts doubt on the patriotism and fairness of politicians. Just in the past few years, we have heard about Donald Trumps collusion with the Russians, Joe Bidens compromised policies because of money coming from China and endless speculation about how George Soros is influencing the outcome of various elections with his money.

We cannot even know the truth because of partisan views in the mainstream media possibly influenced by foreign money. No one in the mainstream media talks about one other key reason for not trusting politicians: their addiction to drugs, alcohol and sex. Many political leaders in Washington DC including senators, congressmen and even presidents have these addictions. President George Bush and Richard Nixon were reportedly heavy drinkers and Bill Clinton is infamous for his escapades with Monica Lewinski, not to mention his association with Jeffry Epstein. Even John Kennedy was known for his extramarital affairs.

Allegations of sexual assault have surfaced against Donald Trump and Joe Biden in recent years. Married Ted Kennedy escaped prison time even after it was clear that his female companion Mary Jo Kopechne drowned because of his negligence in the Chappaquiddick accident. Decisions and comments made by these leaders often do not make any sense and go against common sense. Just watch Vice President Kamala Harris speak on any occasion. The recent discovery of cocaine in the White House certainly increases the suspicion of drug use there. One wonders how these people, who lack judgment to conduct their own lives in a decent manner, can make difficult decisions which determine the welfare of the entire country.

The final reason for my conviction that American democracy is approaching an end is the potential interference by Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the 2024 election. We already had two presidential elections in 2016 and 2020 which divided the country into hyper partisan adversarial groups, each group accusing the other of stealing the election. Many people are concerned that AI will play a major role in altering the election results in 2024.

AI can do that by creating fictitious voters, falsifying vote counts, spreading misinformation and other deceptions. If that happens, common people will completely lose confidence not only in the election process but democracy itself. That will be the day when American democracy finally collapses. I do not know how it will end. In many countries, a military coup leads to military dictatorship but that is unlikely in the US.

Equally unlikely is a peoples revolution because Americans are not into revolutions but are self-centred people with a live and let live mentality. A gradual transition to a pseudo-monarchy is more likely. It could start from a landslide victory of one party over the other and then the winning party wielding its ruling power to enact laws favouring everything consistent with its ideology. If the president can somehow eliminate the term limit of his tenure, he/she can remain president for an indefinite period and eventually hand over power to his successor. Such a political dynasty could eventually evolve into a monarchy.

(The writer, a physicist who worked in industry and academia, is a Bengali settled in America.)
Taiwans vice president and presidential candidate William Lais stopover in the US on Sunday en route to Paraguay irked China, denouncing the move, its foreign ministry branded him a troublemaker through and through, according to CNN.

On his way to Paraguay, where he will witness Santiago Penas inauguration as president on August 15, Lai arrived in New York on Saturday. Taiwans sole ally in South America is Paraguay.

In a statement shared on X, previously known as Twitter, Lai said he was happy to arrive in New York  an icon of liberty, democracy and opportunities.

Ahead of Lais arrival, US government officials said they expected his transit to occur without incident.

These transits of senior officials are unofficial, in keeping with our US One China policy, a senior administration official told CNN on July 16, calling such transits fairly common.

Lai last transited the US in January 2022.

Chinas ruling Communist Party claims Taiwan as part of its territory, despite never having controlled it, and has not renounced the use of force to take the self-ruled island, CNN reported.

Shortly after Lais arrival, Chinas foreign ministry said it firmly opposes any official interaction between the US and Taiwan and any Taiwan independence separatists to the US.

China deplores and strongly condemns the US decision to arrange the so-called stopover, it said in a statement.

Lai clings stubbornly to the separatist position for Taiwan independence. He is a troublemaker through and through, it continued.

The ministry also said Taiwan was the core of the core interests of China and urged the US to abide by the one-China principle  adding it was closely following developments and would take resolute and strong measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Trips to the US by Taiwans officials are referred to as transits instead of visits because the US does not have formal diplomatic relations with the government of Taiwan and the stopovers come as part of an unofficial trip en route to another destination, according to CNN.

Lai is due to transit through San Francisco on August 16 on his return to Taipei, Taiwans vice foreign minister Alexander Yui said during a media briefing earlier this month.
As per Aljazeera, six contestants of a Miss Universe Indonesia pageant recently filed complaints with the police, accusing local organisers of asking them to strip to their underwear for body checks for scars or cellulite, in a room with about two dozen people present, including men.

Five of the contestants said they were then photographed topless.

In wake of allegations, The New York-based Miss Universe Organization decided to sever ties with PT Capella Swastika Karya  the beauty company that runs the Indonesia pageant  and the companys National Director Poppy Capella.

In light of what we have learned took place at Miss Universe Indonesia it has become clear that this franchise has not lived up to our brand standards and ethics, Miss Universe said on the social media site X, formerly known as Twitter.

It also said it will cancel this years Miss Universe Malaysia as the Indonesian franchisee also holds the licence for that pageant. Arrangements will be made for the Indonesia 2023 title holder to compete in the Miss Universe pageant to be held in El Salvador late this year.

The Miss Universe Indonesia pageant was held from July 29 to August 3 to choose Indonesias representative to the 2023 Miss Universe contest, and was won by Fabienne Nicole Groeneveld.

Capella denied her involvement in the physical examination during the contest and said she is against any kind of violence and sexual harassment.

I, as the national director and as the owner of the Miss Universe Indonesia license, was not involved at all and have never known, ordered, requested or allowed anyone who played a role and participated in the Miss Universe Indonesia 2023 process to commit violence or sexual harassment through body checking, she posted on social media.

The Miss Universe Organization said there are no measurements such as height, weight, or body dimensions required to join a Miss Universe pageant worldwide, and thanked the Indonesian contestants who have bravery in speaking out.

To the women who came forward from the Indonesian pageant, we are sorry that this was your experience with our organization, it said.
Jehovahs Witnesses gather this weekend at the Ryan Center at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston Friday morning. The convention, Exercise Patience! runs through the weekend.
Wrentham police at the scene of a serious motorcycle crash in that town in August 2019.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 14. Promotion by Spain of an illegal separatist regime created by Armenia in sovereign territory of Azerbaijan is unacceptable, Spokesman for Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Aykhan Hajizada said, Trend reports.

It is strange to see a country to fight separatism in its territory while supporting separatism in other countries. Promotion by Spain of an illegal separatist regime created by Armenia in sovereign territory of Azerbaijan is unacceptable. We strongly condemn this non-constructive approach, Aykhan Hajizada wrote on his X (Twitter) page.

The embassy of Spain in Russia announced the provision of assistance to the Armenian separatists in Karabakh.

The embassy of Spain in a publication in X (Twitter) stated that financial and social support will be provided to 250 families.

Moreover, in the publication, the state agency used the so-called "flag" of the Karabakh separatists.
Riyadh aims to double in size over the next seven years on the back of $1 trillion infrastructure projects across the Saudi capital in a bid to cater to an ever-increasing population which will soar to 15 million from 7.5 million, said experts ahead of Cityscape Global expo, which kicks off on September 10 and runs until September 13.

Following the announcement by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi capital is set to experience a surge in construction activity with some $12.2 billion of contracts being awarded till date.

A further $18 billion worth of projects are currently at the bidding/evaluation stage with an additional $170 billion to be awarded in the near future, stated the experts.

Its flagship projects include the world's largest urban development project by the New Square Development Company and the world's largest new passenger terminal at King Salman International Airport.

A recent successful bid to host Expo 2030 is a further statement of the city's ambitions and will deliver a $7.8 billion masterplan that is a cornerstone of Riyadh's continued evolution into a thriving global destination.

Also Riyadh is a major part of the kingdom's plans for a sustainable economic future and currently represents around 50% of the non-oil based economy in Saudi Arabia.

With a vibrant economy, lively cultural scene and open visa policy, Riyadh has set out plans to become one of the most visited cities in the world, said experts.

This major investment in infrastructure is vital to delivering a world class destination for health, education, research and business as it gears up for major transformational change by 2030. The Saudi capital is eyeing a place in the list of world's top ten cities by 2030, they stated.

Authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have backed plans for major infrastructure projects across the city, said the organisers of Cityscape Global expo.

These projects will be showcased at the mega event in addition to other 'giga' projects including NEOM, the Red Sea Project and Qiddya, with others yet to be revealed.

The event agenda will also feature a host of global visionaries and thought-leaders including Anna Konif Jerlmyr, former Mayor of Stockholm and Board Member of AGV invest; Stephen Yarwood, Urban Futurist and the former Lord Mayor of Adelaide; Lord Gavin Barwell, former British Minister of State for Housing and Planning, and Former Chief of Staff to the British Prime Minister; Ger Baron, Chief Technology Officer, City of Amsterdam and Jeremy M. Goldberg, Worldwide Director of Government Operations and Critical Infrastructure, Microsoft.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 14. The Prosecutor of Criminalistics Division at the Criminalistics and Information Technology Department of the Azerbaijani General Prosecutor's Office, Mubariz Baghirov, has been dismissed and appointed as the Chief of the Criminalistics and Information Technology Department at the Prosecutor's Office of Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Trend reports.

In this regard, the Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan, Kamran Aliyev, signed the respective decree.

Following another decree of Aliyev, the Chief of the Criminalistics and Information Technology Department at the Prosecutor's Office of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Agil Aliyev, has been dismissed and appointed as the Chief of the Investigation Department at the Prosecutor's Office of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.
On stage, dressed modestly in plain black clothes, professor Kaushal Kumar began his performance art. As a curious audience observed, he took out at least a dozen red threads or kalava from a bag and placed them on a table. The act was a part of the Interrogations and Ideologies: A Quest for Equality exhibition hosted by The American Center that brought together a group of artists who used different installations as a powerful expression of social equality and justice. It was curated by professor Y.S. Alone.

As professor Kumar picked up the first and began wrapping it around his body, the audience wondered what was in store next. Can anyone help me? he asked the audience and a few went up the stage, picking up the thread bundles and wrapping them around his body. In about 15 minutes, professor Kumar was an embodiment of the tree that stands clenched in red religious threads, tied in hopes and prayers. Wrapped tightly from head to toe in about a dozen bundles of kalavas, he hopped around the stage and struggled but managed to climb down and exit as the startled audience wondered what to expect next.

Artist performing at the American Center exhibition in Delhi

But he had made his point. And the conclusion of the performance art was ones own to draw. The expression of our identities differs from person to person and from community to community. In the case of the majority, it becomes a power symbol, he says, explaining his act.

It is rather true  the whole purpose of the performance was to show the society how our dominant beliefs and ideologies sometimes hold us down hard and restrict us like the bark of the holy tree that has been tied around with layers of threads.

Paintings from the exhibition organised at the American Center, Delhi

As a part of the exhibition, artists showcased Ambedkarian aesthetics, a world untethered from prejudices, inhibitions, and the metanarratives of hegemonic modernity through their paintings. Artist Jaya Darondes art from the series titled Relationship represented the oppressed womens relationship in the hierarchical social structure of the Indian social System  with a socially affluent male, Shukla Sawants First Flight was all about representing the issues of womens labour rights from taking care of the baby to the freedom to fly high, the narrative of the everyday life of the Indian women caught in the domesticity.

United States deputy chief of mission Patricia Lacina, who attended the exhibition said that every nation struggles with notions of equality and that artists have a special role to play here. In this context, the US and India have a long-standing history of cultural collaboration where art professionals from both nations have thrived and collaborated to promote social justice. These art expressions not only ignite minds but also reiterate the commitment of the US and India in envisioning an equitable world, she said.

Professor Alone says that he has been in touch with the artists who present an Ambedkarian approach through his previous exhibitions and wanted to bring them all together under one exhibition and that is why he calls it Ambedkarian Aesthetics. All these artists come from diverse backgrounds but have a common thread of democratic equality, he says.
Dr Basil Tumaini can't stop marvelling at the advanced medical techniques being practiced in India. The Tanzanian neurologist, who works at a national hospital in Dar es Salaam, is doing a training programme at Apollo Hospital Hyderabad. He is full of praise for the advanced medical techniques being practiced at Apollo Hospital Hyderabad. Many of my colleagues have trained in India, he said.

Dr Tumaini is under the supervision of Dr Rajesh Reddy at Apollo. Clinically Tanzanian doctors are very good and they gain a lot from the advanced techniques being practiced in India, said Dr Reddy. Round the year we have many African doctors who come to our hospital for training.

The collaboration between Indian hospitals and health institutions and governments in many emerging economies has been steadily increasing for a while and has accelerated of late. Big Indian hospital groups like Apollo, Manipal, Narayana Health, Max, Aster and HCG either have international presence or are planning exposure through international tie-ups and exchange programmes. This is helping them to build brands and attract medical tourists as well.

Sangita Reddy | Bhanu Prakash Chandra

Our mission statement is to bring advanced healthcare within the reach of everyone and not just the people in India, said Sangita Reddy, joint managing director of Apollo. In Bangladesh we had a franchise partnership and did not own that facility. We will continue our partnership in Bangladesh but, at the same time, we are educating their doctors. Setting up international presence is also equally financially attractive for us as in India only ten percent of our patients are paying the full rates and many more patients come at a discounted price. All of this comes at a risk as it is challenging to send doctors from here and also we need to adhere to local regulations. It is always better to do it with a partner abroad.

Apollo has set up a hospital in Sri Lanka and is now building new projects in Kenya and Nigeria. In Tanzania we have a new project coming up, said Reddy. Setting up in Africa is challenging, but the Indian entrepreneur and the Indian mindset has helped us manage better. In Africa, the general health conditions are not so goodthe infrastructure is not there, the manpower is not there. We can train and place people. At any given time there would be 30 doctors from Africa training at Apollo. We have also trained African nurses where they learn new techniques and our quality management.

Manipal Hospitals ran a 50-bed hospital in Kuala Lumpur, but the group sold it a while ago. When we had set up our hospital in Malaysia a few years back, it was in the backdrop of our presence in the field of medical education. Hence it is a brand name which is already well recognised and we thought that healthcare is something we could easily add on in Malaysia. We cannot have only one hospital in a country and will need to have a chain there to have a meaningful presence there, said Dilip Jose, Managing Director and CEO, Manipal Health Enterprises.

Dilip Jose | Bhanu Prakash Chandra

The group, however, is working with hospital groups in other countries in skill set improvement and technology upgrade. Currently we are working with two hospital groups in Bangladesh to revive their clinical programmes and help them to add more programmes and also helping them recruit doctors, said Jose. Manipal is also looking to streamline a Nigerian hospital's operations.

While money is not a constraint for big Indian health care groups to start hospitals abroad, talent is. Even if you have to set up a hospital of you own, it is important that the country has talent on the clinical side. You cannot set up a big hospital abroad and think that you will get nurses and doctors from India. We should develop talent locally and only then one can think of setting up a hospital abroad. Our attempt is to develop talent there and then sometimes later we might have an opportunity to invest in a hospital in Africa, said Jose.

Narayana Health, which was started by cardiologist Devi Shetty, has a 100-bed hospital on the Cayman Islands. It had also run hospitals in Bangladesh with some success. We had a lot of logistical challenges during Covid and hence we exited it. We also ran a small hospital in Yemen before the civil war. We had a joint venture of running a hospital in Kenya. We raised the funds, the construction started and then one of our partners went bankrupt. We had a heart centre in Malaysia and had put money in the Columbia Asia Hospital over there. We invested the money and set up the heart centre for them. However, there were challenges in getting our doctors the Malaysian certification. Hence we sold the business back to them, said Viren Prasad Shetty, executive vice chairman of Narayana Health.

Viren Prasad Shetty | Bhanu Prakash Chandra

The group is now planning to expand to other Caribbean locations. Shetty said it would take time as they need to understand the country, political situation, economy, tax structure and business arrangements. It is worth doing it, as the opportunity exists and there is a whole lot of entrepreneurs in the health sector in India who want to try international expansion, he said.

Narayana Health is also looking at good opportunities in Bangladesh, Africa and Malaysia. We have to see the right fit and the opportunity. In many other places we have information centres, clinics and partners, said Shetty. In India, the hospital gets the highest number of foreign patients from Bangladesh.

Investing in a hospital in a low-income country often does not make any business sense. In many countries in east or west Africa, it takes time to have a break even, said Shetty. But once established, the potential is immense as it has massive demand. Narayana Health has trained doctors and nurses in the Cayman Islands and eventually the local staff is expected to take over in the long run.

Aster DM Healthcare, which is now a major player in India, took an entirely different route. Started in 1987 as a single clinic by Dr Azad Moopen in the UAE, it now has around 800 facilities in the GCC and India. India has proved that it can provide the best healthcare practice. India has proved that when it comes to healthcare delivery and challenges, it has the wherewithal to withstand them as demonstrated during the Covid 19. The trust in the Indian healthcare system and organisations has surely gone up, said Dr Moopen.

Dr Azad Moopen

About 70 per cent of Aster's revenues is from overseas operations, mostly from the Middle East. Over the years, we have gained good trust among the people of all the countries we are present in the Middle East. In GCC, we have 15 hospitals, 110 clinics, and 245 plus pharmacies spread across the region. In GCC and India, we plan to expand our footprint with hospitals, clinics, pharmacies and labs, said Moopen.

Healthcare Global Enterprises Limited (HCG), which specialises in cancer treatment, has a cancer centre in Kenya which was established a few years back. The availability of clinical talent is definitely a challenge, said Raj Gore, chief executive officer, HCG Limited. We source clinical talent from India. Predominantly the doctors are Indian expats. Apart from clinicians, sourcing well-trained paramedic staff is also a challenge. We train local resources. We also support these centres through tele-physics, tele-medicine and tele-radiology.

Many Indian hospital groups work closely with foreign hospitals, healthcare travel operators, international insurance companies and health ministries in various countries to bring medical tourists to India. The Heal in India initiative by the ministry of health is expected to make a significant impact in promoting India as an attractive destination for medical services, said Dr Abhay Soi, chairman and MD, Max Healthcare Institute.

Max has opened branch offices in Nairobi (Kenya), Lagos (Nigeria), Dubai (UAE) and Muscat (Oman), and those in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Yangoon (Myanmar), Kathmandu (Nepal), Dhaka (Bangladesh) and Tashkent (Uzbekistan) will soon be operational.
Beleaguered low-cost airline SpiceJet has rushed forward with a clarification after the Supreme Court issued a contempt of court notice and demanded that chairman and managing director Ajay Singh respond within four weeks.

The issue relates to the $24 million SpiceJet was supposed to pay Credit Suisse as per an agreement last year.

SpiceJet, in a statement issued on Monday evening, said it intended to pay the amount due and that the delay was owing to the RBI approval for which it was waiting. "SpiceJet could not start the payment as per applicable schedule under the consent terms for a few months till RBI approval came," the statement said, adding that this was a due pending from before Ajay Singh again became the promoter of the company (Singh, who founded the airline, was forced to sell the airline, only to buy it back around 2014).

"Till date, SpiceJet has paid a total of $7.1 million to Credit Suisse. The shortfall of $4.4 million pertains to the period when RBI approval was still awaited," the statement said, adding that it intended to repay the remaining $4.4 million "as per the applicable schedule."

Credit Suisse had filed a case last year complaining of lack of payments from the airline and had called for a winding up of the airline. After the Madras High Court agreed to Credit Suisse and ordered winding up of the airline, the Supreme Court had stepped in to facilitate an "in principle commercial settlement" whereby SpiceJet will repay, an agreement a livid apex court on Monday noted the Gurgaon-headquartered airline had not adhered to.

The court development came even as the airline announced its quarterly results on Monday morning, returning a profit of Rs 205 crore after previous cycles of massive losses.
Delhi Cabinet Minister Atishi is now by far the most heavyweight minister in the national capital after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, holding as many as 14 portfolios. As per an official notification issued today, Atishi has been given the charge of the Vigilance and Services departments.

The notification was issued following approval by Lt Governor V.K. Saxena on the recommendation made by Kejriwal that the Vigilance and Services departments be allocated to Atishi.

Kejriwal had moved the recommendation on August 8, and the Lt Governor cleared the proposal on August 12, the same day the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2023 was notified. The law gives the Centre and its representative in Delhi, the Lt Governor, a decisive say in matters relating to the bureaucracy in the capital.

The two departments were previously held by cabinet minister Saurabh Bharadwaj.

Services and Vigilance gain significance in the light of the new law, with the two departments having a bearing on the bureaucrats in Delhi. Atishi has been assigned the two departments at a time when it has become more challenging than ever for the Kejriwal regime to assert itself in matters relating to the civil services of Delhi. There has been a constant tussle between the AAP government in the capital and the Lt Governor, with matters relating to Services and Vigilance forming a major chunk of the contentious issues.

Atishi's stature, meanwhile, is now much taller than her cabinet colleagues and she is virtually number two in the Delhi government. She already held portfolios that included Education, Finance, Revenue, Public Works Department, Women and Child Development, Power, Tourism, and Planning. She had made an entry into the Delhi Cabinet on March 9, 2023 in the wake of the arrest of former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, and before him, another Delhi cabinet minister Satyendra Jain.
Flagging the 16 suicide deaths of students over NEET in Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Monday urged President Droupadi Murmu to accord her assent at the earliest to the state's anti-NEET Bill.



Writing to the President, Stalin pointed to the "unfortunate consequences" due to the delay in the grant of approval to the Tamil Nadu Admission to Undergraduate Medical Degree Courses Bill, 2021 and urged her to provide assent immediately. The chief minister underscored the back-to-back suicide deaths of a son and his father on August 12 and 13 respectively due to the stress of NEET. "With this, the toll of students who have died by suicide due to NEET has increased to 16 in our State. These tragedies could have been definitely avoided if our Bill for exemption from NEET had been given assent and the medical admissions done on the basis of +2 marks," Stalin said in his letter to the President.

Giving a background to the legislative process, Stalin referred to the Justice A.K. Rajan Committee which studied the NEET-based admission process and its adverse impact on poor and rural students. Later, based on the panel's report and deliberations, the chief minister said, the Bill was passed on September 13, 2021. Since it was returned by Governor R.N. Ravi after five months of delay, it was reintroduced in the assembly on February 8, 2022, and it was passed again after reconsideration and sent again to the Governor for reserving it for the President's consideration. The Governor forwarded the Bill to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and it has been pending President's assent. When the Home Ministry sought clarifications vis--vis the Bill, it was expeditiously made by the state government, Stalin said.

However, the TN Bill has not been provided assent till now and students have been forced to undergo the NEET-based admission process. "This has caused immense anxiety and stress in the minds of the students and parents. As a result, there have been various sad incidents of students or their parents ending their lives, depressed by their failure to get admission to medical courses through NEET. The State's anti-NEET Bill is the outcome of legislative consensus, stemming from the 'collective will of the people' of Tamil Nadu. Each day of delay in its implementation costs not only valuable medical seats to deserving students but invaluable human lives to our society. I, therefore, solicit your immediate intervention in the matter and urge you to accord assent at the earliest to the above Bill passed by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly," Stalin wrote to the President.
As the country celebrates its 77th Independence Day at Red Fort in Delhi on Tuesday, around 1,800 people from different walks of life have been invited as special guests.

The warriors of the Covid times in the healthcare, who worked with grit in those harsh times was also invited.

According to an official release, the initiative has been taken under the vision of 'Jan Bhagidari'.

Around 75 couples from each State/Union Territory in their traditional attire have also been invited to the event at Red Fort to be led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The 'special guests' list include over 400 Sarpanches from 660 villages, 250 from Farmer Producer Organisations scheme, 50 participants each of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana.

Also, 50 each of Khadi workers, those involved in border roads construction, making of Amrit Sarovar, Har Ghar Jal Yojana, primary teachers, and fishermen were also invited.

The special guests are scheduled to visit the National War Memorial.

We are happy that PM Modi has especially invited us for the Independence Day celebrations. During the Covid, it was very difficult for us to work...We worked for 12 hours and the Covid period was very challenging for us...I am very thankful that the nursing fraternity has been given recognition &I wish to thank PM Modi for this... Nidhi, senior nursing officer was quoted by ANI.

Invites were sent to around 50 nurses along with their families.

'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' celebrations, launched by the PM, marks an end this year.

Under the new initiatives taken by the authorities to celebrate the Independence Day includes selfie points arranged at various locations including National War Memorial, India Gate, Raj Ghat and Vijay Chowk.

An online selfie contest will be also conducted by the Ministry of Defence on the MyGov portal from August 15-20 as part of the celebrations.
The national capital is all set to host the 77th Independence Day celebrations on Tuesday, as the Delhi Police and security agencies go all out to ensure a strict vigil in the city.

Officials said robust arrangements have been made in the wake of the recent communal clashes at Nuh. These include 1,000 facial recognition cameras, anti-drone systems, and over 10,000 police personnel keeping vigil over the Red Fort, from where the Prime Minister will address the nation.



Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Dependra Pathak said Independence Day will be celebrated with full enthusiasm this year with no COVID-19 restrictions in place. "We will also coordinate and share real-time information with other agencies to provide security. The Delhi Police will also use technology systems for security purposes. We are on our toes and doing rehearsals," Pathak said.



These include video analytic systems in and around Red Fort and other strategic locations. Besides anti-drone systems, anti-terror measures including the installation of air defence guns, snipers, elite SWAT commandos and sharpshooters, are also in place.



"The Delhi Police has also intensified patrolling and anti-sabotage checks. Hotels, guest houses, parking lots and restaurants are being checked and verification of tenants and servants is being carried out. Meetings are also being held with RWA (resident welfare associations) and MWA (market welfare associations) members," Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Sagar Singh Kalsi told PTI.



Prohibitory orders under CrPC Section 144 have been imposed in areas such as Rajghat, ITO and Red Fort ahead of Independence Day. "Given Independence Day celebrations, Section 144 of CrPC (Code of Criminal Procedure) has been invoked in areas nearby Rajghat, ITO, Red Fort etc. No gathering of any kind is permitted in these areas," police posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.



Traffic curbs



Traffic curbs are in place ahead of the celebrations in Delhi. The Traffic Police have banned the entry of commercial and heavy vehicles from Noida and Ghaziabad towards Delhi from tonight. "From the night of August 14 at 10 pm, the entry of heavy and medium goods vehicles (vehicles carrying goods) will be stopped from Delhi's border, and entry will start only after the programme ends on the next day, August 15," Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) SS Yadav told ANI.



The vehicles will be regulated and diverted towards the alternate routes. As many as 3,000 traffic police personnel will be deployed to regulate the traffic. There will be controlled movement of vehicles near the Red Fort on some parts of JLN Marg, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, and Ring Road.



Besides, special parking arrangements are also in place for common people and diplomats from different countries who will be coming to the Red Fort to attend the celebrations.


BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 14. Non-governmental organizations operating in Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic have appealed to the international community, Trend reports.

According to the appeal, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic has been living under a blockade for over 30 years. The appeal said that the local population remained without gas for nearly 15 years and even without electricity due to the blockade imposed by Armenia.

Moreover, according to the appeal, energy lines connecting Nakhchivan to the rest of Azerbaijan were cut off by Armenia, and the railway connection between Nakhchivan and Baku was severed in 1992 after the shelling of the last train that ran on it.

"The international community has not taken any steps to lift this blockade and has not exerted any pressure on Armenia in this regard," the appeal stated.

The NGOs noted that Armenia continues to regularly shell the population and settlements of Nakhchivan.

"If it weren't for the national leader of the Azerbaijani people, Heydar Aliyev, and his worthy successor, President Ilham Aliyev, Nakhchivan would have been occupied just like Karabakh. Contrary to the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention) requirements, Armenia is building a metallurgical plant in Arazdayan, an area bordering Sadarak," the appeal said. "This is a policy of environmental terrorism against the population of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. The construction of an industrial heavy plant on the specified transboundary territory without the consent of the Azerbaijani government will lead to pollution of the environment with toxic waste and disruption of the ecosystem."

"Armenia does not adhere to the provisions of the trilateral statement signed on November 10, 2020, following the second Karabakh war, and takes no actions to open the Zangazur corridor. While we await consistent calls from the international community to Armenia regarding this matter, and sanctions against Armenia for this reason, the opposite is happening," the appeal said.

"Why have those who have been spreading one false statement after another, slander about "closure" of Lachin-Khankendi road, unfairly accusing the Azerbaijani state, never once raised the issue of the long-standing blockade of Nakhchivan?" the appeal authors emphasized.
As India and China go to the 19th round of Senior Higher Military Commander Level (SHMCL) talks on Monday at the Chushul border post on the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, there are reasons for optimism and hopes for a breakthrough.



The past 18 rounds have yielded effective disengagement in five of the seven friction areas. The current round of talks is to resolve the two remaining friction areas in eastern LadakhDemchok and Depsang.

The first stand-off was resolved in Galwan in July 2020, Pangong Tso and Kailash ranges in February 2021, Gogra in August 2021 and PP 15 in September 2022.

The 18th round of talks had taken place on April 23 in Moldo, a PLA post on the Chinese side of the LAC.

In recent months, there has been a flurry of meetings between Indian and Chinese leaders and officials at various levels.

Just last month on July 24, Indias National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of a BRICS meeting in Johannesburg.

Following the meeting, a Chinese foreign ministry press release pointed out that Indian PM Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping had reached an important consensus on stabilizing China-India relations when they met in Indonesias Bali in September 2022 for the G-20 summit.

Before the July 24 Bali meet, on July 10, Wang, who then headed the Central Commission on Foreign Affairs, had also met Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar on the sidelines of the East Asia summit in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The operative wording in recent joint statements and press releases issued by both sides In line with the guidance provided by the State Leaders therefore has a definite bearing and implication for the trajectory of the talks.

Moreover, there is pressure on Beijing on the domestic front with signs of the giant economy faltering. The post-pandemic recovery has not been quite robust even as there has been shrinking trade, and foreign investment and the worlds second-largest economy is showing deflationary tendencies.

With military tension yet to abate with Taiwan, China may find it problematic to focus equally on two military frontsIndia and Taiwan.

On the other hand, India goes to parliamentary elections in 2024 and there is pressure on New Delhi to resolve outstanding issues of which the border tangle with China at the top of the stack.

On top of that, PM Modi and President Xi are expected to meet during the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg on August 22-23. And after 16 days, the two leaders are again to meet for the G20 summit in New Delhi on September 9-10.

The economics of deploying and maintaining huge deployments in difficult terrain along the 3,488 km long border is also substantial.

A military establishment source had told THE WEEK on Thursday that after the Galwan incident of May 15, 2020, the Indian Air Force had flown in about 68,000 Indian troops, about 90 tanks, nearly 330 BMP infantry combat vehicles, radar systems, artillery guns and other equipment to be deployed in the difficult border.

Given the fact that the Indian military largely mirrors the PLAs moves in the current stand-off, it is likely that a similar number of Chinese troops are also deployed along the LAC, totalling over 1,30,000 on both sides. Such huge deployments involve expenditures that do not give any tangible returns and that can be crippling in times of economic distress.
The BJP on Monday seized on Congress leader Randeep Surjewala's comments describing those voting for the ruling party as having "demonic tendencies" and said it has begun abusing voters after failing to launch its "prince", a reference to Rahul Gandhi.



Several BJP leaders shared the clip of the Congress general secretary's remarks at a rally in Haryana to hit out at the opposition parties. Lashing out at the BJP government in Haryana, the Congress leader likened it to a demon.



Repeated electoral losses have pushed the Congress into irrelevance and such nonsensical comments indicated that the party had decided to remain permanently in opposition, Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri said.



"Having failed to launch the prince again and again, the Congress has now started abusing the public," BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said.



On the one hand, there is Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is seen as a form of 'janardan' by 140 cr countrymen, and on the other there is the Congress which considers people as demons, he said.



"People of the country understand this difference very well and will work to shut down the mega shopping mall of their hatred," he said.



BJP's IT department headed Amit Malviya claimed that it is due to this kind of mindset of the Congress, its top leadership and their courtiers that they have lost the support of people. But they have to face more humiliation in the people's court, he added.



As a row erupted, Surjewala put out a clarification, defending his comments and accusing the BJP of clinging onto words to murder the issues raised by him. This government repeatedly tries to hide its failures behind emotional issues.



Citing several alleged failures of the government, including communal violence in Nuh, he said,"if those who have thrown the society into the fire of hate and killed the dreams of youngsters are any less than demons?"
A Corps Commander-level talks between the armed forces of India and China has begun at the Chushul border meeting point in Eastern Ladakh on Monday. This is the 19th round of talks along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) after the border row between the two countries escalated over the last few years.

During the talks, India is expected to seek early disengagement of troops from the remaining friction points. India may also seek strict adherence to border protocols and mutual exchange of patrol information to avoid clashes between troops, said reports.



Though the two sides completed disengagement from several areas following extensive diplomatic and military talks, several regions, including Depsang in the Daulet Beg Oldi sector and Charding Nullah Junction (CNJ) in the Demchok sector, continues to witness a strong military presence.



Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the LAC in the region.



Interestingly, the talks are set to happen ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit to South Africas Johannesburg on August 22-24 to attend the BRICS Summit Though no such plans have been announced yet, the possibility of a meeting between Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping has not been ruled out yet. Xi will also be in New Delhi for the G20 summit in September.



The 18th round of talks was held in April where both sides agreed to continue discussions through military and diplomatic channels. The latest round of talks also comes as Indian and Chinese Foreign Ministers and National Security Advisors met recently.



Over 68,000 airlifted



Reports quoting sources in the defence and security establishment said India had airlifted over 68,000 Army soldiers, around 90 tanks and other weapon systems to eastern Ladakh from across the country for rapid deployment along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) after the deadly clashes in the Galwan Valley.



The IAF deployed its Su-30 MKI and Jaguar jets for round-the-clock surveillance and intelligence gathering on the enemy build-up, besides putting several squadrons of combat aircraft in "offensive posturing" since the 2020 clashes.



The troops and weapons were ferried by the transport fleet of the IAF within a "very short period of time" for quick deployment in various inhospitable areas along the LAC under a special operation, the sources said while highlighting how the force's strategic airlift capability has increased over the years.



In view of the escalating tensions, the IAF had also deployed a sizeable number of remotely piloted aircraft (RPAs) in the region to keep a hawk-eye vigil on Chinese activities, they said.



Over 68,000 troops, more than 90 tanks, nearly 330 BMP infantry combat vehicles, radar systems, artillery guns and many other equipment were moved to LAC after the Galwan clashes, they said. The total load carried by the transport fleet of the IAF, which included C-130J Super Hercules and C-17 Globemaster aircraft, was 9,000 tonnes and displayed the IAF's increasing strategic airlift capabilities, they added.



A number of fighter jets, including Rafale and Mig-29 aircraft, were deployed for combat air patrol while various helicopters of the IAF were pressed into service for the transport of prefabricated structures, ammunition and spares of military equipment to mountainous bases.



The sources said the range of surveillance by Su-30 MKI and Jaguar fighter jets was around 50 km and they ensured that the positions and movements of Chinese troops were accurately monitored.



The IAF also quickly enhanced its air defence capabilities and combat readiness by installing various radars and bringing a range of surface-to-air guided weapons to frontline bases along the LAC in the region, they said.



The strategy was to strengthen military posture, maintain credible forces and monitor the enemy build-up to effectively deal with any situation, the sources said, referring to India's overall approach.



The IAF platforms operated in extremely difficult circumstances and accomplished all their mission goals, said a source without sharing further details. The overall operation demonstrated the IAF's growing airlift capability compared to what it was during 'Operation Parakram', said another source.



(With inputs from PTI)
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Monday said there is no confusion within the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance over his meeting with nephew and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in Pune.

The MVA is united and we will successfully organise the next meeting of opposition bloc INDIA in Mumbai on August 31 and September 1, Sharad Pawar told reporters in Baramati.

This was the 82-year-old veteran politician's maiden visit to his home turf after Ajit Pawar joined the Eknath Shinde-led government on July 2.

MVA constituents Congress and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) had asked the NCP chief to clear the confusion such meetings between the uncle and nephew create in political circles.

There is no confusion among MVA partners. We are all together and will ensure the INDIA meeting in Mumbai on August 31 and September 1 is organised successfully, Sharad Pawar said. He asked media not to create more confusion by asking the same question.

Myself, Uddhav Thackeray and state Congress president Nana Patole have taken the responsibility of organising the INDIA meeting in Mumbai, Sharad Pawar said. The meeting will be held at a luxury hotel.

The NCP has no association with "factions from MVA" which align with the BJP at the state and national and level, he said, alluding to the move by his nephew.

Sharad Pawar sidestepped a question on an editorial in Monday's issue of Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece 'Saamana' expressing displeasure over the frequent meetings between him and Ajit Pawar.

Asked about rumours that Maharashtra NCP chief Jayant Patil may join hands with the BJP and also whether there was a discussion about him during a meeting with Ajit Pawar in Pune, the NCP president said no such discussion took place.

"I heard Jayant Patil's brother received a notice (of ED). Such steps are being taken by misusing the power. Some of our colleagues received notices, and then they went with the BJP and a similar attempt is being made in the case of Jayant Patil, but I am sure his stand regarding the ideology is clear," he said.

To a query on the monsoon session of Parliament which concluded last week, Sharad Pawar said one of the most important issues was of strife-torn Manipur. The issue is not just limited to Manipur, he said.

Some of the north-eastern are located along the border with China and there is also one country beyond Manipur. If hardships are related to the people who live in border areas, and if the government is not paying attention to these hardships, then it is the "most worrisome thing for the country," he said.

That is why the opposition tried to raise the issue in Parliament continuously, but the government did not show any intent to discuss it under one particular section, so the demand was not fulfilled, he said.

"The prime minister spoke for more than two hours (referring to the PM's reply in the Lok Sabha to the no-confidence brought by opposition parties), but he spoke on the Manipur issue for a limited time. His speech lacked the stand of giving some hope to the people of Manipur using some strict steps, and that is why no substantial output was achieved," Sharad Pawar claimed.

Asked about the BJP blaming the Congress for the current situation, he asked what the ruling BJP has done in the last nine years but for blaming the Congress for what happened 30 years ago.

The NCP president also said he is expecting to speak to party leader Nawab Malik, who was on Friday granted two months' interim bail by the Supreme Court in a money laundering case.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested the former minister on February 23 last year in a case registered over the Goawala compound property in Kurla, allegedly linked to gangster Dawood Ibrahim.

Malik is in judicial custody since March 2022 and was admitted at a private hospital in Kurla in May last year. He is still at the hospital.

Sharad Pawar said he tried to contact Malik on Sunday, but learnt that he has not yet come out of the jail.

"Once he comes out, I will speak to him," he said. The NCP president also criticised the Centre for importing tomatoes from Nepal (amid the price rise of the key kitchen staple in India), saying generally when farmers start getting some money for their produce, the government takes a decision to import the produce from other countries.

Sharad Pawar also expressed concern over 18 deaths in 24 hours at a hospital in Thane district and said such a thing happened in Thane, the home turf of Chief Minister Ekanath Shinde.

"The state government should take corrective steps immediately," he said.
Punjabs counter-terrorism operations may be well known, but the cops who have helmed them at various stages on ground are sometimes nondescript officers who have used more brain than brawn in tackling the complex Pakistan-sponsored pro-Khalistani networks.



One such officer is Amit Prasad, Additional Director General, counter intelligence in Punjab police, sole recipient of the Presidents police medal for distinguished service from Punjab this year.

On the eve of Independence Day, a total of 954 Police personnel have been awarded Police Medals.

A 1995 batch IPS officer of Punjab cadre, Prasad is a graduate in history who has been working to curb the growing threats from terror-gangster networks and pro-Khalistani activities. These nexus have time and again fuelled militancy in the border state, the latest being this year with the terror threat peaking in Punjab with the storming of Ajnala police station and subsequent chase for pro-Khalistani operative Amritpal Singh.

While the security establishment remained on tenterhooks for months, the damage was minimum, with no loss of lives or destruction of public property and law enforced with Singh and other accused being sent to jail.

Punjab has since remained peaceful even as countries like the UK, Canada, and the US have seen transnational networks trying to create unrest. Prasad has been serving in Punjab for eight years now, helming efforts to control organised crime as well. He earlier served in ITBP carrying out rescue operations during the 2013 Kedarnath flood disaster.

Meanwhile, the President's Police Medal for Gallantry has been awarded to one CRPF personnel, Police Medal for Gallantry bagged by 229 personnel, President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service awarded to 82 and the Police Medal for Meritorious Service has been awarded to 642.

Among the majority of the 230 Gallantry Awards, 125 personnel were from left-wing extremism-affected areas, 71 personnel from Jammu and Kashmir region and one personnel from North East region are being awarded for their gallant action. The CRPF, which is the largest paramilitary force in the country has bagged the highest number of gallantry medals at 84, including four Kirti Chakra and

four Shaurya Chakra this year.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday indicated that there might be changes in the cabinet in the days ahead, and said the Congress state unit will be revamped, to build a new team.

Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President, said this at the general body meeting of KPCC.

"We have to prepare a good foundation for 2024 (Lok Sabha polls) and 2028 (next assembly polls). We will have to revamp the KPCC in the days to come, we will have to relieve some Ministers. We will have to certainly make changes. From block to district to KPCC level we will have to revamp and build a new team," Shivakumar said.

Later, in his address, senior party leader and Food & Civil Supplies Minister K H Muniyappa called upon his Cabinet colleagues to make way for fresh faces after 2.5 years.

"This is my personal opinion....The decision on the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister is made by the high command, not us. But it will be good for all of us, except the first-time ministers, to make way for others after 2.5 years ," he said.

"It is not good for us to expect others to just look on, without sacrificing. We have become a model for the entire country by implementing five guarantees. Similarily, by introducing a new practice of making way for others after 2.5 years, we will become a model for the nation," he added.

With too many aspirants, there has been some amount of disgruntlement in the party, about them not making it to the Ministry.

The current cabinet has eight first time Ministers: K N Rajanna, Madhu Bangarappa, Laxmi Hebbalkar, M C Sudhakar, Mankal Vaidya, Suresha B S (Byrathi Suresh), N S Boseraju and B Nagendra.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Monday said the cabinet will boycott the tea party hosted by the Governor on Independence Day condemning his comments in favour of NEET examinations.



The decision comes in the wake of the recent death of a NEET aspirant and his father in Chennai. In a statement, Stalin said, The state has lost the priceless lives of several students due to the NEET examinations. Governor, failing to understand that underprivileged students are losing their opportunities, has spoken unsympathetically [in favour of NEET]. Governor's statement, 'I would never permit NEET exemption in State. If I had the power, would never give assent the anti-NEET bill' has shocked students of the state.

Through his statement, the governor has belittled anti-NEET protests happening in the state for the past seven years, Stalin said. He said the State government has sent the bill to the President for her assent. Stalin added that he would be writing a letter to the President on Monday seeking her to sign the bill.

The chief minister said the future of students in the state is important to them. Ravi is causing confusion in the higher education department as well, and his pro-NEET comment is tantamount to 'destroying' the dreams of students and their parents. To mark the state government's opposition to Governor's public, pro-NEET stand, we have decided to boycott the tea party to be hosted him on August 15 in Raj Bhavan," Stalin said.

Meanwhile, Stalin advised students not to lose hope and never to think of suicide. Referring to upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Stalin said in a few months, those who said I would not sign would disappear when the political change they wish to bring in the country happens.
Niger's military junta, late on Sunday, said they would prosecute the ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. The coup leaders said they gathered the necessary evidence to prosecute Bazoum for high treason and undermining the security of the country, CNN reported.



The Nigerien government has to date, gathered the necessary evidence to prosecute the deposed president and his local and foreign accomplices before the competent national and international authorities for high treason and undermining internal and external security of Niger, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) told CNN.

They added that the president receives regular doctor check-ups and that there's no problem with his health and that of his family members. The military junta, that had ceased power from Bazoum, had, on Sunday said that they are ready to consider a diplomatic solution to its stand-off with the West African bloc ECOWAS, AFP reported.

The military junta also slammed ECOWAS for imposing sanctions on the country. Coup leader General Abdourahamane Tiani said it was "painful" that ECOWAS had issued an ultimatum to restore Bazoum without hearing "their side of the matter".

Military leaders called the sanctions inhuman and said that they were making it difficult for people to access medicines, food and electricity. A day after Sheikh Bala Lau and his Nigerian Muslim delegation held talks with Tiani, the latter "claimed the coup was well intended" and that the plotters "struck to stave off an imminent threat that would have affected" Nigeria as well as Niger.

Since the military coup, demonstrations in favour of the military leaders have become a common sight in the capital city of Niamey. On July 30, ECOWAS issued an ultimatum to restore Bazoum in seven days or face the potential use of force. The military leaders, however, did not cede.
For the first time, a 21-year-old Sikh Marine has graduated from the elite US Marine Corps recruit training without having to shave his head or beard or give up the articles of faith that are considered sacred in Sikhism.



Private First Class Jaskirat Singh on Friday made history on completing his training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego after a federal judge ordered the military service in April to accommodate the recruit's religious practices, The Washington Times reported.

The order came nearly a year after three Sikhs and Jewish and Muslim recruits sued the Marines seeking religious accommodations.

The Army and Air Force accommodate Sikh recruits, attorney Giselle Klapper with the Sikh Coalition said, while the Navy offers more limited accommodations. The Marines were the most restrictive of the services.

He is likely the first enlisted Marine to graduate from recruit training while wearing articles of faith intrinsic to the Sikh tradition, specifically a beard and turban, Military.com quoted the Sikh Coalition which, along with other advocates, has helped him and more than 50 Sikh Americans secure military accommodations for religious wear.

Last year, a federal court of appeals granted a preliminary injunction allowing Singh to begin training without having to have his head and beard shaved, which is customary for recruits when they first arrive at boot camp.

The injunction also allowed Singh to wear religious articles such as turbans and patkas.

Making it through Recruit Training is an achievement I am deeply proud to share with all of my brothers and sisters in my battalion," Singh was quoted as saying by the Messenger news website.

"The fact that I did it with my Sikh articles of faith, which posed no barrier to my achievement, is deeply meaningful to me personally," he said.

Singh said his fellow recruits supported him and his religious beliefs, and that he had chosen the Marine Corps because of the services' values of honour, courage and commitment overlapping with Sikh values.

The court order covered only Singh, but Klapper said the group hopes the Marine Corps will extend the accommodation to all Sikh recruits.

Another attorney who worked on the case, Amandeep S. Sidhu, a partner at a law firm, said he also looks for change by the Marines, one of the nation's oldest and elite military services.
Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna is in Delhi as co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional delegation to India. Khanna, on Monday, said that China needs to respect India's borders.



It's very important that we keep India's sovereignty. They (China) need to respect India's border and this is why I went to the Western Naval Command. We are working very closely with the American Navy to make sure the Arabian Sea remains free for navigation and that the Indian Ocean remains free, and we will continue to strengthen that relationship, Khanna told ANI.

Khanna's comments come as India and China, on Monday, held a fresh round of military talks with a focus on disengagement of troops in the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh and easing overall tensions in the region, according to a PTI report. Khanna said he hoped that India would play a role in bringing about peace between Ukraine and Russia.

Khanna also said he would work towards India getting critical US technologies like key allies including Israel, Japan and South Korea. Answering a query about discussions on democratic and human rights he said, recognising minority rights and pluralism helps become better democracies.

Khanna also condemned the attack on the Indian Consulate in San Francisco by Khalistani extremists in July. There was no place for that and I condemned it very strongly. There can be no violence against an embassy, against a consulate in America and there is no space for a separatist movement, he said.

He termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's State visit to the US a big success and added that bilateral ties have never been stronger. "I am very pleased to see that the Indian Navy is doing exercises with the American Navy to make sure that the Arabian Sea is safe for free shipping lines," he told PTI.

The Congressman also met with Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan. Amitabh Bachchan's life story embodies the story of India. He is the biggest brand ambassador for India to the world, Khanna told PTI.

Bachchan reportedly presented Khanna with a book written by his father, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, who knew Khanna's grandfather Amarnath Vidyalankar, a freedom fighter. Vidyalankar worked closely with Lala Lajpat Rai and spent two years in jail during the Quit India movement.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 14. The Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) has released weekly data on landmine clearance activities on the country's liberated lands, Trend reports, citing the agency.

185 anti-personnel mines, 65 anti-tank mines, and 35 unexploded ordnance were found and defused as part of the de-mining procedure in Tartar, Aghdam, Lachin, Khojavend, Fuzuli, Shusha, Kalbajar, Gubadli, Jabrayil, and Zangilan from August 7 to August 12, 2023.

392.12 hectares of mines and explosive ordnance were removed, according to ANAMA.

The Republic of Azerbaijan's freed regions are serviced by the mine-clearing efforts of the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA), a legal institution of public law. In 2021, the agency was established.

The agency's primary mission is to plan, coordinate, and oversee all mine and unexploded ordnance removal across the country's regions.

Following the liberation of its lands from Armenian occupation in the second Karabakh War, Azerbaijan started carrying out operations to clear its lands of mines, booby traps, and various weapons left behind by the Armenian troops.
Kolkata, Aug 14 (PTI) Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday said West Bengal has an investment opportunity of Rs 1 lakh crore in the port and logistics sector.

He was optimistic about garnering greater interest from domestic and international investors in the 2023 edition of the Global Maritime India Summit.

The minister was speaking at the Kolkata roadshow for the summit, which will be held between October 17 and 19 in New Delhi.

Sonowal, the union minister for ports, shipping and waterways, is expecting participation from over 100 countries in the ensuing event and a higher number of delegates than the previous 2021 edition of the summit.

In the conference two years ago, 475 MoUs were signed worth Rs 3.5 lakh crore, the minister said.

He also stated that 75 per cent of the MoUs are "under implementation".

The minister stressed the need to unlock investment opportunities in India's maritime sector from both domestic and overseas.

He noted that the country has a policy of 100 per cent foreign direct investment through automatic routes for projects related to the construction and maintenance of ports and harbours.

During the roadshow for the event, he said the public-private partnership (PPP) has played a pivotal role in the development of India's ports.

Currently, PPP terminals are handling around 50 per cent of cargo at major ports, he said.

"West Bengal has the potential for an investment opportunity of Rs 1 lakh crore in the port and logistics sector and the state should take advantage of this opportunity. This will create huge employment and thus I call upon you to participate in this developmental journey," Sonowal told the delegates.

Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (SMPK) Chairman Rathendra Raman said the riverine port will showcase projects worth Rs 5,000 crore at the summit.

Under the Sagarmala scheme, projects worth Rs 12,000 crore have been proposed for West Bengal, the minister said.

The total cost of the Sagarmala project is over Rs 5.5 lakh crore, and it aims at developing India's waterways and coastal areas.

Around 230 projects worth Rs 1.2 lakh crore had already been executed, while 260 projects worth Rs 2.3 lakh crore are under various stages of construction, and the rest is under tendering process, Sagarmala Joint Secretary from the Ministry of Port and Shipping Bhushan Kumar said.

Sonowal highlighted the growth in the ports and maritime sector, with a 102 per cent rise in Major Ports' capacity from 800 to 1,617 million tonne.

He said that the 2023 maritime summit will witness the convergence of global players, policymakers, regulators, investors, and other stakeholders who are integral to the growth of the industry.

The event will foster meaningful partnerships and drive innovation in the maritime sector.

Adani Ports and SEZ CEO (Ports) Subrat Tripathy lauded measures taken by the government and said this led to "tremendous growth" in the sector.

He urged the ports to consider the concession period to be increased to 50 years from the average of 30 years now for better investment and funding planning.

Speaking at the roadshow event, GRSE chairman and managing director Cmde PR Hari sought shipbuilding assistance from the government to extend to warships and demanded the requirement of a national shipbuilding framework.
World Biofuel Day, celebrated every year on August 14th, serves as a powerful reminder of the significance of environment-friendly fuels. In our ever-growing quest for renewable and sustainable sources of energy, biofuels continue to emerge as a game-changer in preserving our delicate nature while mitigating harmful emissions. This day allows us to acknowledge the pivotal role that biofuels play in paving the way towards a greener future. By harnessing organic materials, we can produce cleaner-burning fuels that substantially reduce carbon footprints and contribute to combating climate change. World Biofuel Day serves not only as an occasion for celebration but also encourages businesses across various industries to actively invest in research and development efforts aimed at further eco-friendly fuel advancements.



Biofuels have emerged as a promising alternative to conventional fossil fuels. With their pivotal role in reducing carbon emissions, biofuels contribute significantly towards mitigating the environmental impact caused by traditional energy sources. Additionally, these remarkable eco-friendly fuels reduce our dependence on finite fossil-based resources while offering a cleaner burning solution for transportation and other energy-intensive sectors. By utilizing biofuels wisely and increasingly integrating them into daily lives, we can shape a greener future by embracing sustainability and fostering innovation in clean energy solutions



Pan Oleo Energy, Indian biodiesel manufacturer, took a significant step towards promoting sustainable fuels by hosting a remarkable event called the "Clean fuel" awareness campaign to honor World Biofuel Day. The company conducted informative programs in Bangalore and Chennai to educate the masses about the numerous benefits of biofuels and other clean fuels while raising awareness about the urgent need to combat climate change. The Clean fuel campaign had organized interactive sessions and educational workshops that provided an excellent platform for individuals from all walks of life to comprehend how embracing cleaner alternatives can positively impact our environment by reducing harmful emissions and dependence on fossil fuels. Industrial experts took part in this drive and emphasized the importance of adopting these sustainable alternatives for transportation and power generation as they have a considerably lower impact on the environment compared to traditional fossil fuels.



One of the main Biofuel highlighted during this campaign was Ethanol - an environmentally friendly biofuel derived from organic matter such as corn or sugarcane. The benefits of Ethanol were highlighted, which include reduced greenhouse gas emissions and increased engine efficiency when blended with regular petrol.



In addition to ethanol, biodiesel was another focal point discussed at length during this informative event. Made from renewable sources like vegetable oils or animal fats, biodiesel offers substantial advantages over traditional diesel due to its lower levels of harmful pollutants emitted into the atmosphere upon combustion. The importance of blending these Biodiesel into conventional fuel compositions cannot be overstated; it not only improves engine performance but also helps combat climate change by reducing reliance on non-renewable resources and lowering overall harmful emissions. Advantage of widespread adoption of Biodiesel was explained in the campaign to the public and emphasis was laid on how waste organic oils could be processed into biodiesel.



Other fuels, explained during this campaign, include Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and Marine Biofuel. Sustainable aviation fuel is a groundbreaking solution specifically targeting decarbonizing aviation. SAF has gained momentum in recent years as it has been proven to significantly reduce life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in aviation by up to 80%. Marine biofuel is a promising alternative energy source that has garnered considerable attention due to its potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the shipping industry.



Tags: World Biofuel day, Biofuels, Pan Oleo Energy, Biodiesel, Ethanol, Sustainable aviation fuel, India, SAF, awareness campaign



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CHENNAI, India, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Saksoft Limited announced that its wholly owned subsidiaries, have completed the acquisition of Solveda Group headquartered in New York with centres in London, Gurgaon and Noida. (https://www.solveda.com/ ).



Speaking on this acquisition, Aditya Krishna, Chairman & Managing Director, Saksoft, said, "We are pleased to welcome Solveda's leadership, employees and clients to Saksoft. This acquisition reinforces our continued focus on our Inch-wide Mile-Deep strategy of competing in market niches where we have competitive advantage. Solveda's deep expertise in E-commerce applications will help us open and leverage another market niche which is attracting significant technology spend across the globe."

Nick Rosser, CEO - Solveda LLC, said, "With increased client exposure and access to new geographies, our partnership with Saksoft will help fuel the next stage of our evolution into a global full-service eCommerce solution provider. We are delighted to be able to do this whilst preserving Solveda's independent culture and our shared commitment to excellence will drive even more meaningful results for our clients."



Deepak Agarwal, CEO -Solveda India, said, "We are excited to join forces with the Saksoft Group as we see synergy in our experience and expertise. Our strong business relationship, project execution experience in the global eCommerce market combined with Saksoft's larger portfolio of solutions can provide scale for our business growth."



About Solveda



Solveda is a software design and development company with niche expertise in cutting edge E- commerce applications catering to B2B and B2C customers. Solveda offers complete project delivery of E-commerce applications by utilizing pre-built artefacts and accelerators thus reducing time to market and costs for customers. With a worldwide workforce of 200 people Solveda has enterprise customers globally, serving customers in the US, APAC and EMEA regions.



About Saksoft Group



Saksoft Group (www.saksoft.com) specialises in Enterprise Applications, Augmented Analytics, Intelligent Automation and Enterprise Cloud. The group is headquartered in Chennai, India and has 16 offices across USA, Europe, and Asia employing over 2000 employees.



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BENGALURU, India, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Himalaya Wellness Company, a leading wellness brand committed to promoting health and well-being, collaborates with and supports the Southern Command Indian Army and the Society for Environment and Biodiversity Conservation's (SEBC) ambitious project, Tiranga Tunnel, aimed at preserving Pune's unique biodiversity.



The Indian Army, known for its dedication to safeguarding the nation and natural resources, has taken the initiative to preserve Pune Cantonment's ecological balance. The region, situated near the biodiverse Western Ghats, faces numerous environmental challenges, including declining tree cover and increasing pollution. The Southern Command Indian Army, in collaboration with Himalaya Wellness Company, has conceptualized the Tiranga Tunnel project as a historic endeavor to protect nature's treasures and promote environmental responsibility.



The Tiranga Tunnel, a symbol of national unity and environmental consciousness, will be located at the entrance of the Southern Command Headquarters, Pune, honoring the prestigious Southern Command of the Indian Army. The tunnel embodies their commitment to sustainable development and ecological preservation. The arch has twelve exquisitely designed tunnels, each adorned with the colors of our national flag - Saffron and White bougainvillea representing courage and purity, and Green money plants symbolizing prosperity. The floral installations symbolize the unity and harmony that bind our diverse nation together. With a width of 13 meters and a towering height of 4.5 meters, the Tiranga Tunnel is a majestic monument connecting our glorious past with the promising future. Starting from the statue of revered Field Marshal Manekshaw, the Tiranga Tunnel will lead us to the entrance of the Headquarters.



Lieutenant General Ajai Kumar Singh, AVSM, YSM, SM, VSM, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Southern Command, inaugurated the initiative on India's 77th Independence Day, marking a historic step towards safeguarding the environment and showcasing the Indian Army's commitment toward serving the nation and conserving biodiversity.



The anticipated outcomes of the Tiranga Tunnel include improved biodiversity conservation, increased awareness about ecological preservation, and setting a benchmark for sustainable development on military lands.



"We are honored to be part of this historic initiative. As a wellness company, we have always prioritized environmental responsibility and community outreach through our 'Care for Earth' initiative. Our collaboration with the Indian Army is a testament to our shared commitment to environmental conservation and sustainable practices. Joining hands with the Indian Army in this noble endeavor strengthens our resolve to contribute to a greener, healthier future. We hope that by supporting this historic biodiversity project and the construction of the Tiranga Tunnel, we will be able to raise awareness about the need for maintaining nature's abundance and promoting green initiatives," shares K G Umesh, Director-Human Resources, at Himalaya Wellness Company.



Himalaya Wellness Company remains steadfast in supporting such innovative environmental efforts. The Company is committed to making a positive impact on the environment.



About Himalaya Wellness Company:



In 1930, a young visionary by the name of Mr. M. Manal foresaw the benefits of herbal remedies while riding through the forests surrounding Deharadun. After diligently researching the science of the traditional field of Ayurveda, he decided to dedicate his life creating products that would improve millions of lives across the world. Today, with a history spanning more than nine decades in herbal research, Himalaya has positioned itself as a brand that cares about not only enriching people's lives but also the environment. With their "head-to-heel" range of products, Himalaya aims to provide a holistic solution to everyday ailments.



Seeped in a legacy of researching nature, Himalaya has successfully been able to harness the science of Ayurveda through cutting-edge research to become a brand that is safe, efficacious, and trustworthy.



For more information, please visit: himalayawellness.in



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PUNE, India, Aug. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Amidst the fervor of India's Amrit Mahotsav of Independence, the role of researchers in driving the nation's progress over the past 75 years has been widely acknowledged. Looking ahead, the need for a robust force of researchers to guide India's future journey to advancement remains paramount. In this endeavor, MIT Art, Design and Technology University stands as a beacon, nurturing the researchers who will shape tomorrow's India, as expressed by Padma Shri Dr. Prem Shankar Goel, the former Director of ISRO Sateliite Centre.



The vibrant celebration of MIT-ADT University's eighth anniversary at Loni Kalbhor on Friday, August 11, was marked by enthusiastic participation and the presence of distinguished dignitaries. Dr. Prem Shankar Goel as the Chief Guest, in his address, emphasized the pivotal role researchers have played in India's progress and how they will continue to mold its future. The ceremony was presided over by the founder of MAEER's MIT Group of Institutions, Professor Vishwadharmi Dr. Vishwanath D. Karad, the visionary behind MIT-ADT University. Dignitaries including Chief Scientist of National Chemical Laboratory Dr. Ashish Lele, and Managing Director of Marex Media, Kamal Chadha, graced the event.



The ceremony commenced with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp by esteemed dignitaries, followed by the unveiling of a revolutionary agricultural innovation - the unique Do-Bot machine designed for customized delivery. During the ceremony, Prof. Dhimant Panchal was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contributions. Dr. Mohit Dubey received the Leadership Excellence Award, reflecting the commitment to nurturing leaders at MIT-ADT University.



Dr. Ashish Lele, from CSIR National Chemical Laboratory, lauded MIT-ADT University's 8th Foundation Day celebration. He praised its affiliation with the MIT Group of Institutions, likening institutions to wine, gaining value over time. Applauding the institution's purpose-driven education, he highlighted its innovative degree programs and design thinking approach. He emphasized MIT-ADT University's aspiration for excellence and relevance, shaping agile, spiritually elevated professionals. Acknowledging its achievements, Dr. Lele urged the institution to aim higher, citing global benchmarks. Addressing students, he emphasized the power of wisdom over mere knowledge and shared five life mantras, urging them to rise to challenges with courage. In conclusion, he expressed unwavering confidence in MIT-ADT University's boundless potential and its students' ability to achieve greatness.



Mr. Kamal addressed the vibrant gathering, acknowledging the thousands of eager students before him. Drawing from his extensive experience visiting universities globally, he emphasized that monuments and structures cannot replace the confidence and smiles of students. Highlighting flexibility as vital, he shared a powerful acronym - FAMILY, FITNESS, LAW ABIDING, EXAMINER, EXTRAORDINARY, IDEATE, BOLDNESS, LEADERSHIP, and MONEY. He praised the Karad family and its impact on society, urging respect for one's family and society. He stressed the importance of physical and mental fitness, while being law-abiding and disciplined. With wit and wisdom, he shared his maritime and media journey, underlining the journey of success, not a destination. His reflections resonated with the audience, leaving them with a profound message of holistic success.



Padma Shri Goel graced MIT-ADT University with his presence, commending its remarkable achievements within a short span. Amidst luminaries, he highlighted the intrinsic connection between science, technology, and society in India. He recognized engineers as creators of revolutionary marvels and praised India's space triumphs. Yet, he addressed disconnects, including lagging silicon electronics and manufacturing. Shri Goel accentuated the need for comprehensive manufacturing, especially in defense, and urged students to embrace innovation's transformative power. As he emphasized the vital role of science and technology, his words resonated, creating a resonant echo within MIT-ADT's innovative realm.



Dr. Vishwanath Karad's address at MIT-ADT University was a compelling call to embrace the unique fusion of science and spirituality on campus. He dismissed comparisons with prestigious institutions and showcased the monumental creation symbolizing this blend. Urging everyone to delve deep, he challenged students and faculty to comprehend the mechanism linking science and spirituality. Highlighting the upcoming congregation of global thinkers, he positioned India as a beacon for this intersection. Drawing parallels with western top universities' historic influence, he proclaimed India's turn to lead the discourse. His speech wasn't just informative; it was a powerful plea for active involvement. Dr. Karad's words weren't just an address; they ignited a passion to shape a future where science and spirituality harmonize for human advancement. His address was a thought-provoking catalyst for MIT-ADT's community to be at the forefront of transformative education and innovation.



Dr. Sudarshan Sanap, Dean of the School of Engineering and Science, extended sincere gratitude to all dignitaries, guests, faculty, and students present. He acknowledged their pivotal roles in making the event a remarkable success. Dr. Sanap acknowledged the visionary leadership of Dr. Vishwanath Karad, the driving force behind MIT-ADT's values and achievements.



In conclusion, the event and celebration showcased the remarkable achievements and aspirations of MIT-ADT University, underscoring its commitment to excellence in education, research, and innovation. With gratitude to all participants, the University looks forward to a future filled with continued growth and impactful contributions to society.



About MIT-ADT University: Spearheading Excellence in Education and Innovation



Founded under the visionary guidance of MAEER's Trust, a pioneer in private engineering education in Maharashtra, the inception story traces back to the establishment of Maharashtra Institute of Technology (MIT-Pune) in 1983. MIT-Pune, standing as the group's flagship institution, set the benchmark for quality education. Formally established through the enactment of the MIT Art, Design and Technology University Act, 2015, MIT-ADT University in Pune emerged on June 27, 2016. Operating on a self-financed model and conferred with the authority to grant degrees under the UGC Act, 1956, the university redefines education with its central focus on Art, Design, and Technology.



Adopting a holistic approach to education, MIT-ADT University fosters physically resilient, intellectually sharp, mentally agile, and spiritually elevated individuals. The curriculum encourages the practice of yoga, meditation, and various enrichment activities to nurture well-rounded personalities. The university caters to over 12,000 students across diverse disciplines such as Engineering, Arts, Design, and more. MIT-ADT University has firmly positioned itself as a champion of innovation and entrepreneurship, evident through its ranking within the Top 50-100 for NIRF innovation in 2022. The institution's "Excellent" performance in ARIIA 2021 and the coveted 5-star Innovation Council rating reflects its unswerving dedication. The Atal Incubation Centre, a joint venture with AIM, NITI Aayog, stands as a beacon of progress and innovation.



As a mentor institution under the aegis of the Ministry of Education's Innovation Cell, MIT-ADT University has been instrumental in guiding institutions and ATL Tinkering Schools across Maharashtra. By sharing best practices in multidisciplinary education, fostering industry collaborations, and nurturing innovation events, the university has fostered a thriving culture of entrepreneurship and innovation among these mentee institutions. The enduring impact is evident in the growth of these institutions and the enrichment of Maharashtra's innovation ecosystem.



MIT-ADT University: A cradle of education where innovation thrives, entrepreneurship blossoms, and excellence prevails.



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MUMBAI, India, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Gynoveda.com, an Ayurveda-backed women's healthcare company, is the World's first Ayurveda FemTech brand. It combines Ayurveda, Technology, Content and Community for women, especially for gynaecological disorders. Husband-wife duo Rachana and Vishal Gupta, founders of Gynoveda, along with Dr. Aarati Patil (M.D. Ayurveda), are on a mission to make Ayurveda the world's first choice for women's health from puberty to menopause. The brand's ayurvedic proprietary medicines with FDA approval have helped over 5 lakh women treat the root cause of disorders related to PCOS, irregular periods, infertility, pregnancy, skin, hair, and general wellness. The company has delivered over 4 Lakh orders across 20,000 pincodes in 58 major cities of India.



Conceptualised and created by Vishal and Rachana Gupta, the brand focuses on empowering women with the freedom to lead healthier and happier lives. Its Ayurvedic supplement, recognized by European Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research, was found to be effective in assisting timely ovulation and thus can be useful in the management of infertility associated with gynaecological disorders like PCOS, Irregular periods etc.



Strengthening its commitment to women across the world, Gynoveda conducted a study at Dhanwantari Ayurveda Centre, Pallakad, Kerala, in May 2023. Based on the study, 85% of women achieved ovulation on time after consuming Gynoveda's Ayurvedic supplement (within 3 months). Moreover, no adverse drug reaction was observed, offering women an opportunity to experience safe motherhood.



The company aims to raise awareness about the importance of menstrual health on a grassroot level, making Ayurveda the first choice for women's healthcare. For the same, the brand raised $10M in funding, which has been deployed to double down on strengthening R&D, formulating new ayurvedic offerings, onboarding talent, expanding distribution channels, and increasing brand awareness. Currently, empowering women via D2C channels like the website, and e-commerce marketplaces. Gynoveda plans to step into the offline domain in the near future to reach women across the breadth and depth of India, helping them get freedom from issues like infertility, PCOS, and more.



Gynoveda founders, along with a team of doctors and scientists, invented the world's first gynaecological period bot that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to enable women to self-diagnose their reproductive health by answering a few questions on their mobile in just 2 minutes and getting results instantly. Staying true to their goal, Gynoveda has built a strong community of 100,000 women in the last 3 years. Named the Circle of Sisterhood, the women-focused community aims to empower women to proactively take control of their health, further spread the word, and help women across the globe. More importantly, this is a place where women find peer support and take solace in the fact that they are not alone on their journey to motherhood.



About Gynoveda



Gynoveda is the World's first Ayurveda FemTech brand. It combines Ayurveda, Technology, content, and Community for women's healthcare, especially menstruation. Husband-wife duo Rachana and Vishal Gupta, founders of Gynoveda, are on a mission to make Ayurveda the world's first choice for women's health from puberty to menopause. Gynoveda's ayurvedic proprietary medicines with FDA approval and NBAL certification have helped over 5 lakh women treat the root cause of disorders related to PCOS, irregular periods, infertility, pregnancy, skin, hair, and general wellness. The company has delivered over 4 Lakh orders across 20,000 pincodes in 58 major cities of India.



The company raised $10 million in March 2023 in Series A funding led by India Alternatives Fund. Since then, its e-commerce platform, Gynoveda.com, has been growing rapidly at 25% month-on-month and has crossed 100 crores ARR in the current financial year. Gynoveda founders, along with a team of doctors and scientists, invented the world's first Period Test, a gynaecology chat bot that uses artificial intelligence (AI) which any woman can use to self-diagnose her reproductive health by answering a few questions on her mobile in just 2 minutes and get results instantly.



Media Contact:

Sucharita Sarkar

sucharita@jajabor.io

+91 8879427046



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New Delhi Aug 14 (PTI) India's exports contracted by 15.88 per cent to USD 32.25 billion in July this year from USD 38.34 billion in the same month last year, the government data showed on Monday.

Imports during the month also declined by 17 per cent to USD 52.92 billion from USD 63.77 billion in July 2022.

During April-July this fiscal, the exports dipped by 14.5 per cent to USD 136.22 billion.

Imports during the period also declined by 13.79 per cent to USD 213.2 billion.

Commerce secretary Sunil Barthawal said that the global headwinds are still there. There is decline in exports and imports of several countries.
New Delhi Aug 14 (PTI) India's exports contracted by 15.88 per cent, the sixth month in a row, to USD 32.25 billion in July this year due to a global slowdown and fall in shipments of key sectors like petroleum, gems and jewellery, according to official data released on Monday.

Imports during the month also declined by 17 per cent, the eighth month in a row, to USD 52.92 billion from USD 63.77 billion in July 2022. This led to a narrowing of the trade deficit to USD 20.67 billion against USD 25.43 billion in July 2022.

However, the deficit (difference between imports and exports) widened in July against June, when it was USD 20.13 billion.

Cumulatively, the merchandise exports during April-July this fiscal dipped by 14.5 per cent to USD 136.22 billion. Imports during the period declined by 13.79 per cent to USD 213.2 billion, leaving a trade deficit of USD 76.98 billion compared to USD 87.99 billion during April-July 2022.

Briefing media about the data, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthawal said the global headwinds are still there.

There is a decline in exports and imports from several countries, including key Indian destinations like the US and Europe. In both these regions, imports are declining continuously.

However, he expressed hope that India's exports of goods and services during 2023-24 would be higher than that of the previous fiscal year of USD 776 billion.

"We are hopeful and sure that our exports will be higher than last year's exports, both goods as well as services," he said, adding India's trade performance, after witnessing "very high" growth in 2022-23 has continued to show declining trends in July compared to the high base of last year in the backdrop of a global slowdown.

Sectors, which are doing good, include electronics, and that means "India is integrating into global value chains and moving up in value chains", the secretary said.

On the import front, gold imports increased by 47.73 per cent to USD 3.5 billion in July.

Oil imports during the period declined by 23.4 per cent to USD 55 billion against 71.74 billion a year ago. The imports in July contracted by 36.65 per cent to USD 11.75 billion.

In July, only 11 of the 30 key export sectors exhibited positive growth, including iron ore, oil meals, oil seeds, electronic goods, coffee, rice, and pharmaceuticals.

Exports of electronic goods increased by 13.09 per cent during July at USD 2.05 billion. During April-July, these exports rose by 37.6 per cent to USD 9.01 billion.

The secretary informed that smartphone exports during April-June jumped to USD 3.7 billion from USD 1.6 billion in the same period last year.

Further services exports in July are estimated at USD 27.17 billion compared to USD 24.26 billion in July 2022. Imports stood at USD 14.85 billion against USD 14.06 billion in July 2022.

The estimated value of services exported in April-July 2023 was USD 107.93 billion compared to USD 100.35 billion in April-July 2022.

The Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) said that sluggish global demand with growth contraction and softening of commodity prices has led to a continuous decline in exports.

Icra Chief Economist Aditi Nayar said: "Based on the available trends, we expect the current account deficit to widen to USD 11-13 billion in Q1 of this fiscal and further to USD 15-17 billion in Q2, with the monthly trade deficit likely to remain above the USD 20 billion mark in the next couple of months".
New Delhi, Aug 14 (PTI) Westland Books new imprint 'Literary Activism' on Monday announced the launch of "On Being Indian" by author Amit Chaudhuri, bringing together an essay and memoir that fuses political and literary analysis.

It is the second release from 'Literary Activism' after poetry collection "Book of Rahim & Other Poems" by award-winning poet Arvind Krishna Mehrotra.

Originally a talk delivered at Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi, in February 2020, and then published as an essay in 'Social Research Quarterly' the following year, "On Being Indian" claims to be "many things" -- part analysis, part intellectual and cultural history, part literary criticism, and part an impassioned expression of, and meditation on, what it means to 'be Indian'.

"On one level, it is a record of the various events and utterances that led up to and characterised the protests against the 'Citizenship Amendment Act' in India. On another level, it questions, and shows us the limited value of, dichotomies such as the secular and the religious," said Chaudhuri, who is also the director of the 'Centre for the Creative and the Critical' at Ashoka University and general editor of the imprint.

The collaborative imprint, which aims to focus on literature in English and translation from other languages, will bring out at most three books in a year, informed the publishing house.

Chaudhuri's previous non-fiction works include "Finding the Raga: An Improvisation on Indian Music" (2021), "Calcutta: Two Years in the City" and "Origins of Dislike".
(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)
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Seoul, Aug 14 (AP) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un again toured major munitions factories and ordered a drastic increase in production of missiles and other weapons, state media said Monday, as the South Korean and US militaries announced they will begin major drills next week to hone their joint capability against the North's evolving nuclear threats.

Kim's push to produce more weapons also comes as US officials believe Russia's defense minister recently talked with North Korea about selling more weapons to Russia for its war with Ukraine.

The Korean Central News Agency said Kim visited factories producing tactical missiles, mobile launch platforms, armoured vehicles and artillery shells on Friday and Saturday. He visited a spate of other munitions factories in early August.

During a stop at the missile factory, Kim set a goal to drastically boost production capacity so the facility can mass produce missiles to meet the needs of front-line military units, KCNA said.

The qualitative level of war preparations depends on the development of the munitions industry and the factory bears a very important responsibility in speeding up the war preparations of the (North) Korean People's Army, Kim said, according to the report.

Visiting other factories, Kim called for building more modern missile launch trucks and said there is an urgent need to boost production of large-caliber multiple rocket launcher shells at an exponential rate, the report said. Kim also drove a new utility combat armored vehicle, KCNA said.

Kim has been focusing on enlarging his nuclear and missile arsenals since his high-stakes diplomacy with then-President Donald Trump collapsed in 2019.

Since the start of 2022, Kim's military has conducted more than 100 missile tests, many of them in the name of warning the US and South Korea over their expansion of joint military training exercises. Many experts say Kim eventually aims to use his modernized weapons arsenals to wrest US concessions, such as sanctions relief, whenever diplomacy resumes with Washington.

North Korea could perform more weapons tests soon as the US and South Korea are set to start their summer military exercises next Monday.

North Korea calls the US-South Korean training a practice for an invasion. The allies say they have no intentions of attacking North Korea.

KCNA quoted Kim as saying North Korea must have an overwhelming military force and get fully prepared for coping with any war with the power to surely annihilate its enemies.

The US-South Korean drills, called Ulchi Freedom Shield, is a computer-simulated command post exercise. During this year's exercise that is scheduled to run through until August 31, the allies said they'll also conduct large-scale field training events, which will reportedly be the largest of their kind in recent years.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson, Lee Sung Joon, told reporters that this year's UFS drills are aimed at further strengthening the allies' response capabilities by performing exercises based on scenarios that reflect North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile capabilities and other regional security situations. Col. Isaac L. Taylor, a spokesperson for the US military, told the same news conference that the drills are designed to be a tough and realistic exercise.

Earlier this month, the White House said US intelligence officials had determined that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu spoke to North Korean officials during a visit to Pyongyang last month about increasing the sale of munitions to Moscow for its war in Ukraine.

North Korea has denied American claims that it shipped artillery shells and ammunition to Russia. But the North has publicly supported Russia over the war and hinted at sending workers to help rebuild Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine.

Kim has been trying to beef up ties with China and Russia in the face of US-led pressure campaigns over its nuclear program and pandemic-related economic difficulties.

KCNA said Monday that 200-some hectares (494 acres) of farmland in North Korea's eastern region were flooded because of Tropical Storm Khanun.

Kim visited typhoon-hit areas, called for immediate steps to protect crops there and criticized local officials for failing to prevent the farmlands' flooding, the report said.

North Korea is prone to weather-related disasters such as flooding and droughts. Observers say North Korea's food shortage has worsened due to several reasons including draconian pandemic restrictions, unsuccessful attempts to supply grain via state-run facilities and dwindling personal incomes.(AP)



RUP

RUP
Islamabad, Aug 14 (PTI) Anwarul Haq Kakar, a first-time Senator who was appointed as Pakistan's caretaker prime minister, will be sworn in Monday as the interim premier of the country after his resignation from the upper house of Parliament was accepted.

Kakar, 52, is an ethnic Pushtun from Balochistan and a member of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) -- a party considered close to the powerful establishment of the country.

President Arif Alvi would administer the oath to him during a ceremony at Aiwan-e-Sadr, the Presidential Palace, in Islamabad, Radio Pakistan reported.

Kakar's name was agreed upon during the final day of consultations between outgoing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Leader of the Opposition in the dissolved National Assembly, Raja Riaz Ahmad on Saturday.

Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjarani on Monday accepted Kakars resignation from the Senate ahead of the latters swearing-in as the caretaker prime minister, the Dawn newspaper reported.

A day earlier, the Prime Minister-designate announced his resignation from the Senate as well as the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), which he founded in 2018.

According to Geo News, Kakar stepped down from his post because he wanted to be an impartial interim premier.

Since it was his responsibility to hold free and fair general elections in cooperation with the Election Commission of Pakistan, he had decided to resign.

A notification issued by the Senate Secretariat on Monday notified Kakars resignation.

Anwaarul Haq Kakar, a member Senate of Pakistan, has resigned his seat, as his principled stance of neutrality on becoming the caretaker prime minister, by writing under his hand in person before the Senate chairman, the notification said.

The honourable Senate chairman has been pleased to accept the resignation and consequently his seat has become vacant in terms of clause (1) of Article 64 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan with effect from August 14, it added.

Meanwhile, state-run Radio Pakistan reported that Kakar would be sworn in as the interim premier on Monday.

In a statement issued on Sunday, outgoing Prime Minister Shehbaz expressed confidence that Kakar would ensure fair elections. He said the trust reposed by all parties in Kakars name proves their proper choice as the upcoming caretaker Prime Minister is an educated person and a patriot.

According to the outgoing premier, Kakar was decided upon under a constitutional process as he was the most suitable person to head the interim set-up.
Seoul, Aug 14 (AP) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made another inspection tour of major munitions factories and ordered a drastic increase in production of missiles and other weapons, state media said Monday, days before South Korea and the US begin annual military drills that North Korea views as an invasion rehearsal.

Kim's push to produce more weapons also comes as US officials believe Russia's defence minister recently talked with North Korea about selling more weapons to Russia for its war with Ukraine.

The Korean Central News Agency said Kim visited factories producing tactical missiles, mobile launch platforms, armoured vehicles and artillery shells on Friday and Saturday.

During a stop at the missile factory, Kim set a goal to drastically boost production capacity so the facility can mass produce missiles to meet the needs of frontline military units, KCNA said.

The qualitative level of war preparations depends on the development of the munitions industry and the factory bears a very important responsibility in speeding up the war preparations of the (North) Korean People's Army, Kim said, according to the report.

Visiting other factories, Kim called for building more modern missile launch trucks and said there is an urgent need to boost production of large-caliber multiple rocket launcher shells at an exponential rate, the report said. Kim also drove a new utility combat armoured vehicle, KCNA said.

Kim has been focusing on enlarging his nuclear and missile arsenals since his high-stakes diplomacy with then US President Donald Trump collapsed in 2019. Since the start of 2022, Kim's military has conducted more than 100 missile tests, many of them in the name of warning the US and South Korean over their expansion of joint military training exercises.

North Korea could perform more weapons tests soon as the US and South Korea are set to start their summer military exercises later this month. North Korea calls the US-South Korean training a practice for an invasion. The allies say they have no intentions of attacking North Korea.

KCNA quoted Kim as saying North Korea must have an overwhelming military force and get fully prepared for coping with any war with the power to surely annihilate its enemies.

Many experts say Kim eventually aims to use his modernised weapons arsenals to wrest US concessions, such as sanctions relief, whenever diplomacy resumes with Washington.

Earlier this month, the White House said US intelligence officials had determined that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu spoke to North Korean officials during a visit to Pyongyang last month about increasing the sale of munitions to Moscow for its war in Ukraine.

North Korea has denied American claims that it shipped artillery shells and ammunition to Russia. But the North has publicly supported Russia over the war and hinted at sending workers to help rebuild Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine.

Kim has been trying to beef up ties with China and Russia in the face of US-led pressure campaigns over its nuclear programme and pandemic-related economic difficulties. (AP)



VN

VN
Nairobi, Aug 14 (AP) Authorities in Ethiopia are carrying out mass arrests of hundreds, even thousands, of people in the capital after deadly unrest in the country's Amhara region, lawyers and witnesses said.

Ethiopia's Cabinet declared a state of emergency earlier this month in Amhara after local militia fighters known as Fano seized control of several major towns, which the military has since retaken by force.

The Fano, who fought alongside Ethiopian military forces in a two-year conflict in the neighbouring Tigray region, have resisted being disbanded after a peace deal last November.

Ethiopia's parliament is to vote Monday on giving formal approval to extraordinary measures which allow authorities to arrest suspects without a warrant, conduct searches and impose curfews.

Under the previous state of emergency imposed during the Tigray conflict, tens of thousands of ethnic Tigrayans were rounded up across the country.

This time, there has been widespread arrest of civilians who are of ethnic Amhara origin, the state-appointed Ethiopian Human Rights Commission said Monday, calling on the federal authorities to cease the detentions.

Activists say ethnic Amharas are being targeted in the mass arrests.

Two lawyers said the emergency measures also appear to be in effect in the capital, Addis Ababa, where suspects are being held at police stations, schools and other makeshift detention centers after being swept off the streets.

The lawyers, like others, spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution.

One lawyer said he visited seven schools and police stations last week where hundreds of people were held. The other lawyer, citing police sources, said 3,000 people had been arrested in Addis Ababa.

A third lawyer said he encountered several young people last week at police stations and courts in Addis Ababa who had been arrested and accused of having links to the Fano militia.

One man, an ethnic Amhara, said he was picked up off the street last week by plainclothes police officers who overheard him discussing the recent unrest on the phone.

He said he was held at a school with hundreds of others before being taken to a police station. He was released on Thursday without any charge.

Another man said his brother was arrested in Addis Ababa a day before the state of emergency was declared and is being detained at a school with several hundred others. Most of the detainees there are young boys, said the man, who has visited his brother twice.

The federal government said only 23 people have been arrested under the state of emergency in Addis Ababa. Those include Christian Tadele, an outspoken opposition lawmaker who should have immunity from arrest under Ethiopia's Constitution as a member of parliament.

(N)o suspect has been arrested apart from these 23 individuals and the information circulating that there are mass arrests is wrong, the federal government's communication service said a statement Friday.

On Saturday, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission urged that the state of emergency be limited to one month and to the specific place where the special danger is said to have occurred, rather than applying it throughout the entire country.

The commission on Monday said it had confirmed heavy fighting in and around cities and towns across the Amhara region, which involved the use of heavy artillery resulting in the deaths and injuries of civilians, as well as damage to property.

It said prisons and police stations in the region were broken into and that Amhara regional officials were the target of attacks, with some killed, resulting in the temporary collapse of local state structure in many areas.(AP)



RUP

RUP
London, Aug 14 (PTI) The British government launched a consultation on Monday to seek views on adding health alert inserts inside cigarette packs to encourage more smokers to quit, telling them how they could enhance their life expectancy and save around 2,000 pounds per year if they abandon smoking.

The plan being considered will see inserts into the packaging of cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco with positive messages to encourage people to quit and signpost them to advice and support.

The messages will set out the health benefits of quitting smoking  for example, improvements to breathing within a matter of days and a 50 per cent reduction in the risk of heart attack within a year.

They will also show smokers how much money they stand to save by giving up, with the average person likely to save over GBP 2,000 per year if they quit.

Smoking places a huge burden on the NHS [National Health Service], economy and individuals. It directly causes a whole host of health problems  including cancers and cardiovascular disease  and costs the economy billions every year in lost productivity, said UK Health Secretary Steve Barclay.

By taking action to reduce smoking rates and pursuing our ambition to be smoke-free by 2030, we will reduce the pressure on the NHS and help people to live healthier lives, he said.

According to official estimates in the UK, smoking remains the single leading preventable cause of illness and mortality in the country. It results in nearly 4 per cent of all hospital admissions each year  equivalent to almost 450,000 admissions.

Tobacco-related harms are also estimated to cost British taxpayers an estimated GBP 21 billion every year, including over GBP 2 billion in costs to the state-funded NHS.

Although smoking rates in the UK are at an all-time low, the government wants to take further action to cut waiting lists and reduce the burden on the NHS. Introducing pack inserts into all tobacco products in the UK could lead to an additional 30,000 smokers giving up their habit  delivering health benefits worth GBP 1.6 billion.

Such pack inserts are already used in other countries such as Canada and Israel, with Australia also announcing its intention to introduce them.

The UKs Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said there is evidence that they can be an effective means of encouraging smokers to quit. An evaluation of the policys impact in Canada found that almost one in three smokers had read the inserts at least once in the past month and that those who were exposed to the inserts multiple times were significantly more likely to try to give up smoking.

The DHSC said the consultation this week builds on a package of measures designed to drive the governments ambition to be smoke-free by 2030  which means reducing smoking rates to 5 per cent or less.

These include: funding a new national swap to stop scheme to offer a million smokers across England a free vaping starter kit, alongside expert support; launching a financial incentive scheme in the form of vouchers and behavioural support to support pregnant women to stop smoking; and a new strategy to combat illicit tobacco, punishing those involved in the illegal market.
Lahore, Aug 14 (PTI) A Hindu man in Pakistan's Punjab province has been arrested for allegedly committing blasphemy by making 'disrespectful' comments about Muslim holy places and shifted to jail to protect him from an enraged mob, police said on Monday.

The police took the suspect - identified as Akbar Ram of West of Rahim Yar Khan district, some 400 kms from provincial capital Lahore - into custody on the complaint filed by Faisal Munir, a person from his area, who produced two witnesses before the police to make a case against him.

Inspector Safdar Hussain of Kotsamaba Police Station Rahim Yar Khan told PTI on Monday that police arrested suspect Akbar Ram under blasphemy charges on August 11 and immediately shifted him to jail on judicial remand fearing a law-and-order situation in the village.

"Had we kept the blasphemy suspect in the police station it might have triggered a law-and-order situation in the area as he was accused of hurting the sentiments of Muslims," Hussain said.

Akbar Ram has been booked both under blasphemy law (295-A of Pakistan Penal Code) and the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance.

The official added that the timely arrival of police saved the life of Akbar Ram.

"Police reached the village after learning that a Hindu man had committed blasphemy and the people were gathering near his house. Police controlled the situation and took Akbar Ram into custody as the mob was demanding that he should be handed over to them," he said.

According to the FIR, a copy of which is available with PTI, complainant Faisal Munir, a motor mechanic by profession, said that he was present at his workshop along with Tahiq Majid and Muhammad Tariq when Akbar Ram came there and started making comments disrespectful to Muslim holy places.

The complainant further alleged that Akbar Ram before committing blasphemy in front of many people on August 11 also used to make objectionable comments about Islam before him.

The family members of Akbar Ram have reportedly fled the village after blasphemy charges were hurled at him to save their lives.

Pakistan is among the countries where blasphemy is punishable by death. Blasphemy is a hugely sensitive issue in the country, where even unproven allegations can stir mobs and violence.

In 2021, a Sri Lankan national who was working as a factory manager in Punjab province was killed by an angry mob over allegations of blasphemy.

Minorities including Christians and Hindus in Pakistan have frequently been subjected to blasphemy allegations and some were tried and even sentenced under the tough blasphemy law.

According to the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Pakistans blasphemy laws are "controversial" with public opinion in two distinct camps.

One camp believes the laws to be absolutely essential and necessary for the protection of Muslims sentiments. The other view is that the laws are draconic, leveraged by vested interests to primarily target minorities, and used to settle personal vendettas and disputes.
Nagpur, Aug 14 (PTI) Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday said the day is not far away when people will travel by drones (air taxis).

He said farmers were now spraying insecticides using drones and even goods weighing up to 200 kilograms can be transported using them.

"The day is not far away when we will go to the railway station or airport using drones (air taxis)," he said at the 'Akhand Bharat Sankalp Day' programme organised by the Rashtranirman Samiti here.

He asked students to harness technology to secure the borders and interiors of the country and also to bring development in villages.
Bilaspur, Aug 14 (PTI) The Chhattisgarh High Court on Monday granted interim bail to liquor businessman Trilok Singh Dhillon and hotelier Nitesh Purohit, arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case linked to the alleged Rs 2,000 crore liquor scam in the state.

The HC also extended the interim bail granted earlier to Anwar Dhebar, another accused in the case who is elder brother of ruling Congress leader and Raipur Mayor Aijaz Dhebar.

A single bench of Justice Deepak Kumar Tiwari granted interim bail to Dhillon and Purohit and posted the matter for hearing after four weeks, their lawyers said.

Purohit's lawyer Mateen Siddiqui said a bail application under section 439 of the CrPC (Code of Criminal Procedure) was filed in the HC.

The CrPC section deals with special powers of high court or sessions court regarding bail.

Siddiqui said, during the hearing, senior advocate Nitya Ramakrishnan and he appeared for Purohit and pointed out that the HC has granted interim relief to other accused in the case.

Purohit is also suffering from schizophrenia, they told the court.

Lawyer Surendra Singh appeared for Dhillon.

The ED's lawyer, however, opposed their interim bail applications.

After hearing the arguments from both sides, the HC allowed the applications and granted the duo interim bail and said it will take up the matter after four weeks.

The HC also extended the interim bail granted to Anwar Dhebar till next hearing.

Anwar Dhebar was the first person to be arrested in the money laundering case that stems from an Income Tax department chargesheet filed earlier in connection with alleged tax evasion and irregularities in liquor trade in Chhattisgarh and some other states, officials had said.

The central agency then arrested four more persons -- Managing Director of Chhattisgarh State Marketing Corporation Ltd (CSMCL) Arunpati Tripathi, businessman Dhillon, hotelier Purohit and one Arvind Singh.

The ED had submitted a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) in the case in a PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) court in Raipur on July 4 in which it claimed Rs 2,161 crore of corruption money was generated in the alleged 'liquor scam' that began in 2019 in Chhattisgarh and that the amount should have gone to the state exchequer.

The main responsibilities of the Excise Department are to regulate the supply of liquor, ensure quality liquor to users to prevent hooch tragedies and to earn revenue for the state but the criminal syndicate led by (recently retired) Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Anil Tuteja and Anwar Dhebar had turned these objectives upside down, it had said.

This syndicate comprises senior bureaucrats of the state, politicians, their associates and officials of the excise department, alleged the prosecution complaint.

Anwar Dhebar and four others were named accused in the case in the prosecution complaint.
Shillong, Aug 14 (PTI) An earthquake of 5.4 magnitude hit Bangladesh and the north-east region of India on Monday evening with tremors being felt in Meghalaya and Barak Valley districts of Assam, officials said here.

The quake's epicentre was located near Kanaighat town in Bangladesh, they said.

There was no immediate report of any loss of life or damage to property, the officials said.

The earthquake took place at 8.19 pm, and the location was 49 km south-east of Cherrapunjee in Meghalaya, the National Center for Seismology said, adding that the depth of the quake was 16 km.

"The epicentre was in Bangladesh, close to Dawki area of West Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya," said an official of the Regional Seismological Centre here.

The tremor was felt across Meghalaya and in Assam's Guwahati city and Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi districts of Barak Valley besides parts of West Bengal.

"We have not received any report of loss of life or damage to property," said an official of the disaster management authority here.

The northeastern states fall in the high seismic zone, and earthquakes frequently hit the region.
Kolkata, August 14 (PTI) Two days before India became independent, Mahatma Gandhi drove down in a pre-World War Cadillac automobile into Kolkatas Beliaghata, a densely populated locality and the epicentre of rioting in the megapolis, to be greeted for the first time in his life by crowds which shouted Go back Gandhi.

He had come to stay in a dilapidated single-storey building with Doric pillars situated in a tiny by-lane off Beliaghata main road, set between the sprawling Muslim slum of Miagunje and a lower middle class Hindu locality, to try to bring peace to the most populous city between Paris and Shanghai.

The city, Indias capital till a few decades back and the nerve-centre of the countrys political, cultural and industrial renaissance, was on the eve of Independence riven by intense communal rioting which had reared its head in the aftermath of Muslim Leagues Direct Action Day, a year before.

The house, named Hyderi Manzil, was in a sort of no-mans land in riot-hit Kolkata and had been selected by Hussein Suhrawardy, former Muslim League Premier of Bengal, at whose pleading the man dubbed One Man Boundary Force by Lord Louis Mountbatten had agreed to come to Kolkata to try and bring peace to the "most troubled city on earth at that time".

"Gandhi came out and calmed the crowd that had gathered against him  that was the start of the work of the `One Man Peace Army in this very city," said Papri Sarkar, secretary of the Purba Kalikata Gandhi Smarak Samiti which runs Gandhi Bhavan, the new name given to Hyderi Manzil, which in 1947 was owned by a Bohra Muslim merchant family with the surname Bengali.

The Mahatma is quoted as having reasoned with the angry crowd: "I have come to serve Hindus and Muslims alike. I am going to place myself under your protection. You are welcome to turn against me  I have nearly reached the end of lifes journey  but if you again go mad, I will not be a living witness to it."

The house itself had been selected by Muslim leaders of Kolkata led by Suhrawardy, who many blame for the August 1946 riots in the city termed as the Great Calcutta Killings, after Gandhi acceded to their pleas that he stays on in Kolkata in August to bring peace to the city instead of travelling to Noakhali where less than a year back Hindus had been massacred.

Their reasoning was that many more people risked being massacred in the city than anywhere else in the country and that peace here would act as an example for the rest of the country and calm down communal madness not only in Noakhali but even in distant Punjab.

Gandhi said as much to the crowd and vowed that just as he would fast unto death if Muslims killed people in Noakhali, he would fast unto death if Hindus ignored his message in Kolkata. The Mahatma had earlier stayed in Noakhali for four months to bring peace there and stop the anti-Hindu carnage.

He called Suhrawardy, who was staying with him in the house, out on to the porch of the building and made him address the crowd and "apologise for the riots which occurred during his premiership," recounted Sarkar.

"It was a brave decision to step into the middle of a carnage and it was certainly well thought out if not an audacious plan. The ripple effect of more heinous rioting in Kolkata would have been disastrous for the entire country, said Dr Kingshuk Chatterjee of Calcutta Universitys department of history who has specialised in political Islam.

"There is much to learn from him. He shunned both the talks to end British rule and chose to stay in Noakhali and then stayed away from the Independence Day celebrations in Delhi to bring peace in Kolkata," pointed out Aditya Mukherjee, professor of contemporary history and director, Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Advanced Study.

On August 14, 1947, Gandhi held his last prayer meeting in British India to a mixed crowd of Hindus and Muslims at Hyderi Manzil and said, "From tomorrow, we will be delivered from the bondage of British rule, but India will be partitioned too. Tomorrow will be a day of rejoicing, but it will be a day of sorrow as well."

"The mixed areas of Beliaghata had seen the most intense rioting in the run up to Independence. There were masjids and temples in the area and the slightest incident sparked off a bloodbath," Sarkar explained and added, "The frail figure of Gandhi fasting and addressing peace meetings had a strange, unexplainable effect  rioters suddenly started disappearing from the streets of the city."

At 2 am in the night on August 15, a delegation of Muslims, who were planning to celebrate Independence Day by fasting, came to meet the Mahatma, they wanted to share their Sehri (meal before sunrise). Schoolchildren from both communities came at the crack of dawn at 4 am to sing nationalist songs in his compound as Gandhi began his own fast to bring peace.

"And then the miracle happened. Rioting stopped in Kolkata on August 15, thats why the press described it as the Great Calcutta Miracle," said Sarkar, a Gandhian and a social worker by vocation.

Amrita Bazar Patrika, a nationalist Indian-owned newspaper had a banner headline on the front page: "Fratricidal bloodbath suddenly ends: Miraculous change in citys atmosphere." The accompanying copy read: "Chaotic Calcutta is at last quite after the year-long travail that was about to suck everything noble in its soul."

Thousands of people from all walks of life and from all communities made their way to Hyderi Manzil on Independence Day to have a glimpse of the man whom India had recognized as the Father Of The Nation.

The entire Bengal cabinet led by the Premier Prafulla Chandra Ghosh trooped down to meet him. To them, his message was: "Beware of power  power corrupts. Do not let yourself be entrapped by its pomp and pageantry. Remember you are in office to serve the poor."

"If Gandhi ji was still alive, then this situation of riots and conflict in the northeast and elsewhere may have been stilled," said Sarkar. Agreed Chatterjee, "We very badly need another Gandhi."
Kolkata, Aug 14 (PTI) Bangladesh is trying to bring back two of the fugitive army officers who were involved in shooting dead the country's founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and members of his family in cold blood at their Dhaka house on August 15, 1975.

Bangladesh's Law & Justice Minister Anisul Huq in an exclusive interview with PTI said that his country was negotiating a return of two self-confessed killers of Sheikh Mujib - Rashed Chowdhury from the US and SHBM Noor Chowdhury from Canada.

"While the whereabouts of Major Shariful Haque Dalim, (a principal plotter behind the killing) is still not known, we know that Col Rashed Chowdhury is in the US and Noor Chowdhury, another of the coup plotter involved in the killing of Bangabandhu is in Canada. We are still in talks with the US on getting the killer officer back," said Huq.

Canada has laws which do not permit a person facing a death sentence at home to be extradited and this has proven to be a hurdle. They killed the father of the nation and 17 members of his family  Given the heinous nature of the crime, we have tried to convince Canada to return Noor Chowdhury, the minister said.

The gruesome killing of Sheikh Mujib and his entire family save his two daughters- Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana - who were travelling abroad, at their Dhanmondi bungalow on India's independence day had 28-years-ago shaken the entire world.

"They are self-confessed killers and the available evidence is conclusive of their crime," Huq, a London-trained senior advocate of the Bangladesh Supreme Court said.

In 1975, a coterie of middle-level Army officers planned a coup to topple Sheikh Mujib's elected government and replace it with a military government. They chose August 15, India's independence day, to carry out the coup.

Four groups of soldiers led by the coup plotters entered Dhaka in the early hours of August 15, 1975. The first group entered Sheikh Mujib's house and killed him after an argument and then went on to slaughter all members of the family as well as personal staff present, including a pregnant daughter-in-law of the family.

Other groups took over the radio station, key government buildings and disarmed security forces stationed at Savar in the city.

Four Awami League leaders  the first Prime Minister of Bangladesh Tajuddin Ahmed, another former PM Mansur Ali, a former Vice President Syed Nazrul Islam and former home minister AHM Qamaruzzaman  were also arrested and incarcerated in Dhaka jail, and later murdered in prison.

Bangladesh consequently marks August 15, as a national day of mourning.

"We have relentlessly tried to track down and bring to justice the killers of Bangabandhu," said Huq.

Two years ago, Abdul Majed, a former captain in the Bangladesh army and one of the killers, was hanged after being brought back from abroad. Ten years before that, five other convicts -- Syed Farooq Rahman, Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan, Bazlul Huda, AKM Mohiuddin Ahmed and Mohiuddin Ahmed -- were executed in January 2010, while a fifth Aziz Pasha died in Zimbabwe.
Guwahati, Aug 14 (PTI) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said that the state government will shortly commence administrative re-organisation work following the delimitation of assembly and parliamentary constituencies.

He said while some protests against the final delimitation report are taking place, people have to accept it as reality.

The final report on delimitation, which was published by the Election Commission (EC) on August 11, retained the number of assembly constituencies in Assam at 126 and Lok Sabha seats at 14. However, it revised the nomenclature of one parliamentary and 19 assembly constituencies as mentioned in the draft notification.

The EC has stated that 19 assembly and two Lok Sabha constituencies have been reserved for Scheduled Tribes, while nine assembly and one Lok Sabha seats have been reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs).

The EC has given the final report. The delimitation notification will be issued by the President of India within two-three days, Sarma told reporters here on the sidelines of a programme.

The chief minister said he will mention a part of the state governments plan about moving forward with the delimitation during his Independence Day speech on Tuesday.

The government has to now decide on the circles, block re-organisation, how the panchayats will work. Administrative reforms will be needed and we will have to work for two months non-stop on it, the CM said.

On protests in some parts over the final report, Sarma said, Some protests may be there, but people have to accept that the delimitation has become a reality now.

Opposition parties have criticised the final delimitation report and termed it as a ploy by the ruling BJP to safeguard its political future. They also alleged that the EC has failed to address the objections placed before it by the political parties as well as individuals and other organisations.

Sarma claimed that the final notification has accepted some of the suggestions placed by the state government in line with the demands of the people.

All assembly and parliamentary constituencies in the state were redrawn based on the 2001 census. The last delimitation exercise in Assam took place in 1976 on the basis of the 1971 Census.

The EC had on June 20 notified the draft delimitation document.
New Delhi, Aug 14 (PTI) Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Monday demanded an apology from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge over a remark by a leader of his party that people voting for the BJP have "demonic tendency", saying this reflects the "arrogance" of the opposition party.

Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera said in Jaipur on Monday that the present political fight in the country is going on between "demons and humans", referring to party colleague Randeep Singh Surjewala's remarks calling those voting for the BJP as having "demonic tendency".

Surjewala sparked a row with his remarks on Sunday, calling the ruling BJP and JJP in Haryana as parties of "demons" and also said those who vote for and support the BJP are of "demonic tendency".

In a statement issued here, Thakur said Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra can contest elections from anywhere but the party should "at least not term voters as demons".

Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra has said that his wife Priyanka Gandhi would be "very good" in Parliament and hoped that the party plans better for her. His remarks come ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The Union minister for information and broadcasting said, "Priyanka Gandhi is free to contest elections from anywhere, but the Congress should stop calling voters as demons."

"Priyanka Gandhi is welcome to contest elections from anywhere, but she should not emulate Rahul Gandhi, who criticised people of north India after winning elections from Wayanad (in Kerala)," Thakur said. Rahul Gandhi represents Wayanad in the Lower House of Parliament.

"The Congress is calling the people of India demons. This is the same party that had called Prime Minister Narendra Modi as 'neech', scorpion and merchant of death. Such comments reflect Congress' despair and disappointment," Thakur said.

He said the Nehru-Gandhi "dynasty" never apologises to anyone because of its arrogance. Hence, the 'ghamandia' alliance is calling voters as demons, the Union minister said referring to the opposition INDIA bloc.

"I demand that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge tender an apology to the nation in this regard, failing which the people will give a befitting reply to the Congress," Thakur said.
New Delhi, Aug 14 (PTI) Noting that economic empowerment of women strengthens their position in family and society, President Droupadi Murmu on Monday wished women in the country to overcome challenges with courage and move ahead in life.

In her address to the nation on the eve of the 77th Independence Day, the President said women are contributing extensively in every field of development and service to the country and are enhancing the nation's pride.

"Today our women have made their special place in many such fields in which their participation was unimaginable a few decades ago," she said.

Highlighting the role of women freedom fighters such as Matangini Hazra, Kanaklata Baruah, Kasturba Gandhi, Sarojini Naidu, Ammu Swaminathan, Rama Devi, Aruna Asaf Ali and Sucheta Kriplani, Murmu said they have set inspiring ideals for all future generations of women to serve the nation and the society with self-confidence.

"I am happy to note that the economic empowerment of women is being given special focus in our country. Economic empowerment strengthens the position of women in the family and society.

"I urge all fellow citizens to give priority to women empowerment. I would like our sisters and daughters to overcome challenges with courage and move ahead in life. Development of women was among the ideals of our freedom struggle," she said.

India is the mother of democracy and since ancient times it had democratic institutions functioning at the grassroots, the President said, but long years of colonial rule wiped them out.

With India's Independence began the era of foreign rulers withdrawing from many colonies, and colonialism drew close to its end, she said.

"What is special about our freedom struggle is not only the fact that its objective was achieved but also how it was fought. Under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and a galaxy of extraordinary visionary leaders, our national movement was animated by a unique set of ideals," Murmu said.

Gandhi and other leaders re-kindled the soul of India and helped the nation rediscover its civilisational values, she said.

"Following India's shining example, 'truth and non-violence', the cornerstone of our resistance, has been successfully employed in many political struggles around the world," Murmu said.

The President said along with economic growth, human-development-concerns have also been accorded high priority.

Talking about the National Education Policy, she said it "has started making a difference. From my interactions with students as well as educationists at various levels, I gather that the learning process has become more flexible."

Terming it a "visionary policy" aimed at merging ancient values with modern skills, the President said the National Education Policy 2020 will bring in unprecedented changes in the education sector over the years, leading to a great transformation of the nation.

She said India's economic progress is powered by the dreams of its people, particularly the young generation for whom limitless opportunities have opened up.

"From start-ups to sports, our youth have explored new horizons of excellence," she said.
Chandigarh, Aug 14 (PTI) A Pakistani intruder has been shot dead along the International Border in Punjab's Pathankot district, a BSF official said on Monday.

He said the Border Security Force troops noticed some suspicious movement around 12:30 am near Simbal Sakol village in Pathankot.

The troops challenged the intruder but he did not stop and continued moving ahead. Sensing threat, they opened fire, killing the intruder on the spot, the official said.

On August 11, BSF troops neutralised a Pakistani intruder along the International Border in Tarn Taran district.
New Delhi, Aug 14 (PTI) Delhi Women and Child Development Minister Atishi on Monday inspected a centralised Anganwadi kitchen located in Kondli and "personally tasted" the food to check its quality, officials said.

During the inspection, she said, "The Kejriwal government is committed to providing nutritious meals to every needy woman and child in Delhi. With this goal, the government is operating 11 centralised kitchens, which provide cooked meals and take-home ration to over eight lakh children and women across Delhi every day".

Her office in a statement also said that through this centralised kitchen in Kondli, the Delhi government provides free, nutritious, and delicious meals to more than 43,000 children studying at 604 Anganwadis of east Delhi.

Through centralised kitchens, the government is focused on enhancing the nutrition for children, aged six months to three years, pregnant women, and lactating mothers coming to Delhi's Anganwadis, she said. These centralised kitchens play a crucial role in achieving this goal, the minister said.

The centralised kitchen located in Kondli-Gharoli is equipped with state-of-the-art machinery. The kitchen is divided into three sections. The first section serves as a storage area for grains, the second section contains a fully automated machine that undertakes tasks from cleaning the grains to packaging, all without human intervention or touch.

In the third and final section, the cooking process occurs. This section contains large mechanised containers where food is prepared according to the menu of the day. The prepared food is quality-checked and then distributed to 604 Anganwadi centres in the East Delhi district, the statement said.

Atishi personally tasted the food to check its quality and taste during the inspection, it said.
New Delhi, Aug 14 (PTI) Mere absence of injuries cannot be a ground to hold that penetrative sexual assault did not take place on a minor, the Delhi High Court on Monday held while upholding the 12-year imprisonment of a man for sexually violating a four-and-a-half-year-old girl.

Justice Amit Bansal upheld the mans conviction for the offences of kidnapping and sexually assaulting the child, saying there was no infirmity in the trial courts judgement.

Regarding the mans contention that there were no injuries on the private parts of the victim, the high court said, The trial court has correctly observed that injury on the private parts in cases of sexual offences depends on various factors such as depth of insertion, among others. It is not necessary that in every case there would be an injury caused.

"Therefore, the mere absence of injuries cannot be a ground to hold that penetrative sexual assault did not take place," it observed.

The high court said under Section 29 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, there is a statutory presumption raised against the accused.

Section 29 of the POCSO Act says that when a person is prosecuted for committing an offence of sexual assault against a minor, the special court trying the case shall presume the accused to be guilty.

In the present case, the accused has failed to successfully rebut the aforesaid presumption by leading evidence or discrediting the evidence of the prosecution. The appellant (man) has not been able to shake the version of the prosecution and the prosecution has successfully proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, the high court said, adding that the testimony of the victim is credible and trustworthy.

It dismissed the mans appeal against his conviction and sentence, saying that he has not been able to shake the version of the prosecution which has successfully proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

According to the prosecution, the incident took place in June 2017 when the child, who was playing outside her house, went missing.

While searching for the minor, her father went to a neighbours house and found her there, it said.

The prosecution said on returning home, the child disclosed that the man had taken her to his house on the pretext of giving her "mango frooti" and sexually assaulted her.

The parents informed police and a case was registered against the man at Gulabi Bagh Police Station.

The mans counsel argued before the high court that the entire case of the prosecution rests only on the sole testimony of the victim and has not been corroborated by the medical evidence.

He submitted that the testimony of the victim cannot be relied upon without corroboration as it suffered from material contradictions.
Chennai, Aug 14 (PTI) Staunchly denouncing Governor R N Ravi's pro-NEET stand, Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday said his government would boycott the tea party to be hosted by him on Independence Day.



Two days ago, Ravi had said that he would never give assent to the Tamil Nadu Assembly Bill to exempt the state from the purview of the national test "if he had the power to do so". The Governor's statement has shocked students and young people., Chief Minister Stalin said, condemning Ravi's words.



The Bill is pending with the President for her assent.







"The Governor's comment is irresponsible and belittles Tamil Nadu's seven year long anti-NEET struggle," the CM said.







Ravi is causing confusion in the higher education department as well, and his pro-NEET comment is tantamount to "destroying" the dreams of students and their parents.





To mark the state government's opposition to Governor's public, pro-NEET stand, Stalin said, "We have decided to boycott the tea party to be hosted him on August 15 in Raj Bhavan."
Gurugram, Aug 14 (PTI) Police have registered a case against six people for allegedly beating up the owner of a roadside eatery here on being asked to pay for the food they ate, officials said on Monday.

The incident occurred on Saturday night and the FIR was lodged at the Kherki Daula police station based on a complaint filed by dhaba owner Ranjit, a resident of Nakhrola village, they said.

Police said the accused came to the eatery near the Rampura flyover on the Delhi-Jaipur highway around 11 pm on Saturday and ordered food.

After they were done eating when the staff at the dhaba asked them to pay up, the accused tried to rob the place, the officials added.

Complainant Ranjit alleged the miscreants dragged him and his workers out of the dhaba and attacked him with sticks and sharp-edged weapons, leading to injuries to his head.

"They fled after threatening to kill me," he said in his complaint.

A senior police officer said police were inspecting CCTV footage from the dhaba and the accused would be arrested soon.
Jaipur, Aug 14 (PTI) A 35-year-old mother-of-two from Rajasthan's Dungarpur district to Kuwait 'eloped' with another man, police said Monday.

Deepika Patidar fled with her friend Irfan Haidar. Her family came to know about it after photos of the woman wearing a burqa were shared on social media, the police said.

As news of her eloping became public, Patidar Samaj and other Hindu organisations demanded action and handed over a memorandum to the collector and the superintendent of police.

The woman's husband Mukesh Patidar, who works in Mumbai, lodged a missing person's complaint at Chitri police station on July 15.

Mukesh Patidar, who shared a son and a daughter with Deepika Patidar, told reporters on Monday that Haidar brainwashed his wife and converted her to Islam.

Haidar is a resident of Himmat Nagar in Gujarat, the police said.

The woman often visited Khed Brahma in Gujarat's Sabar Kantha to meet Haidar. It was later found that he took her to Kuwait, Chitri SHO Govind Singh said.

The matter is being investigated to ascertain how she met Haidar and secured a visa.
Nagpur, Aug 14 (PTI) A 24-year-old man committed suicide at his house following a quarrel with his mother in Hudkeshwar area of Nagpur city in Maharashtra, police said on Monday.

The deceased Rohit Barange argued with his mother on some issue on Sunday and became very upset. He hanged himself from a ceiling fan with a rope at his house, a police official said.

Police have registered a case of accidental death.
At the Westerly Library & Wilcox Park: Learn more about Victory Day at the library




Russia launched three waves of drones and missiles against the southern Ukraine port city of Odesa, officials said Monday, though the Ukrainian air force said it intercepted all the airborne weapons fired during the nighttime attacks.

Falling debris from the 15 Shahed drones and eight Kalibr missiles interceptions damaged a residential building, a supermarket and a dormitory of an educational facility in the city, Odesa Gov. Oleh Kiper said.

Two employees of the supermarket were hospitalized, Kiper said. Video showed a huge blaze at the store during the night and, the next day, the large buildings charred and mangled wreckage.

Meanwhile, the Dutch Defense Ministry said it scrambled two F-16 fighter jets early Monday when two Russian bombers were tracked flying toward the airspace of the Netherlands.

This doesnt happen often, but todays incident demonstrates the importance of rapid deployment, the ministry said. The F-16s are on standby 24 hours a day and can take off within minutes and intercept an unidentified aircraft.

Danish F-16s identified the Russian planes flying in international airspace over the Baltic Sea, but the bombers did not enter Denmarks airspace, the Danish air force said.

British and German fighter jets were scrambled in mid-March to intercept a Russian aircraft flying close to Estonian airspace, officials said at the time. The day before, the U.S. had said a Russian fighter jet struck a U.S. surveillance drone over the Black Sea.

Russia insisted its warplanes didnt hit the MQ-9 Reaper drone, arguing the drone hadmaneuvered sharply and crashed into the water. The back-to-back incidents raised concerns about aerial standoffs near Russia and Ukraine

The Kremlins forces have pummeled Odesa since Russia last month broke off a wartime deal to protect Ukraines crucial grain exports. The Russian attacks appear aimed at facilities that transport grain and also at wrecking cherished Ukrainian historical sites.

The landmark agreement negotiated by the U.N. and Turkey had allowed grain to resume flowing from Ukraine to countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia and to help reduce the threat of hunger.

Russia has since declared wide areas of the Black Sea unsafe for shipping. On Sunday, a Russian warship fired warning shots at a cargo ship in the southwestern Black Sea.

Russias Defense Ministry said the ship was heading north to the Ukrainian Danube River port of Izmail. Russian forces fired shots from automatic small arms to force the ship to stop, the ministry said on Telegram.

Ukraines presidential office reported Monday that at least eight civilians were killed and 23 others were wounded in Ukraine between Sunday and Monday mornings.

In other developments Monday:

 Russias Defense Ministry said the countrys air defense systems shot down an unspecified number of Ukrainian drones over the Belgorod region without causing damage or casualties. The region, which borders Ukraine, is a regular target of Ukrainian cross-border shelling and drone strikes. Neither Russia nor Ukraines latest battlefield claims could be independently verified.

 The Norwegian government said Norway-based Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace will provide a newly developed anti-drone system to Ukraine in a deal worth 740 million kroner ($71 million). Russia has made frequent use of drones, especially Iranian-made Shahed drones, to pound Ukrainian territory.

(AP)




by Rabbi Yair Hoffman for Five Towns Jewish Home

It is in Netanyahus latest memoir and those who read it had no inkling as to what Netanyahu was referring to. Now, Michael Oren, Israels former ambassador to the United States has revealed it. And if it was true, and the former president was not joking  then Obamas halachic status may have changed  that is  in terms of brachos.

Before we get to Michael Orens revelation, which can be seen on the youtube video accompanying this article, some background.

The Shulchan Aruch (OC 324:8) rules that on Jewish kings one recites the blessing, Boruch atta Hashem, elokainu melech haolam  shchalak mikvodo lirayav. On kings of the nations of the world one recites the blessing, boruch shnasan mikvodo lbasar vadam. This is based upon a passage in Brachos 58a. The blessing, it seems, is recited with Shaim uMalchus  mentioning the Name of G-d as well as mentioning His Kingship over the world.

ARE PRESIDENTS LIKE KINGS?

Rav Ovadia Yosef ztl ruled (Yechave Daas 2:28) that the blessing is recited as long as the person in charge can either execute or pardon someone from execution. He cites the Radvaz (Vol. I #296) as well as the Orchos Chaim (Hilchos Brachos Siman 49) to this effect.

Rav Dovid Yosef Shlita in his Halacha Brurah (Vol. XI page 306) writes that one recites the blessing with Shaim UMalchus even on a democratically elected leader of a limited term. This is true only as long as his pardoning cannot be overruled.

What about a President who doesnt wear royal clothing? Rav Ovadia Yosef ztl in his Yabia Omer 8:22:25) writes that when the President Richard Nixon flew to Israel the blessing was recited without Shaim uMalchus. It seems, however, that this concept has evolved a bit, taking into account that in Western countries, kings and leaders just dont wear royal clothing anymore. Thus, Rav Dovid Yosef rules that even if the king is not wearing specialized clothing but is wearing respectable clothing and is surrounded by other significant people, then a blessing is made with Shaim uMalchus.

Rav Vosner is Shaivet haLevi I #35 rules that shaim uMalcus is recited on the president. The Debreciner Rav ruled (Beer Moshe Vol. II #9) that shaim uMalchus is not recited. Rav Moshe Shternbuch (Teshuvos Vhanhagos Vol. II #139 rules that the temporary nature of the presidency is what would disqualify it from the shaim uMalchus aspect of the blessing.

And now to Orens revelation. He claims that President Obama threatened Netanyahu with death if he didnt listen to him and did so with a hand signal. The president asked the Prime Minister, Do you know what I do with people who disagree with me? He then gave the slit the throat sign. This author believes that President Obama was joking and that Prime Minister Netanyahu just didnt get his attempt at humor. Mr. Oren believes that it was serious.

Now if Mr. Oren and the Prime Minister are correct  then the bracha would be recited with Shaim uMalchus. Press link below to see Oren Video

https://youtu.be/FAQUPe2b9K0

Any opinions out there?

The author can be reached at [email protected]




by Rabbi Yair Hoffman for Five Towns Jewish Home

Many people first move into new homes in mid-August to better prepare for new school years and new jobs. In the rush of it all, we may, at times, neglect properly reflecting upon the imact of the Mezuzos that we are affixing.

There is significant Divine reward we receive when we observe the Mitzvah of Mezuzah, the Mitzvah has tangible benefits in this world too[1].

When Moshe Rabbeinu attempted to convince his father-in-law, Yisro, to remain with the nation of Israel he said to him (BaMidbar 10:32), If you remain with us, it shall be that the good which Hashem will do for us will be extended to you. The words vehaya hatov hahu  it shall be that the good are equivalent to the gematriah of Mezuzah. What is that good?

The Talmud (Menachos 43b) states the proper observance of this Mitzvah in combination with the proper observance of Tefillin and Tzitzis will assure that the person not come to sin.

The Mitzvah of Mezuzah also has a protective quality to it[2]. When a person places the Mezuzah upon his doorway, Hashem guards him from damaging spiritual forces known as mazikin[3]as well as from other dangers. The Talmud (Menachos 33b) states:

Rabbi Chaninah said: Come and see how the qualities of the Holy One blessed be He are different from that of flesh and blood. It is the nature of human beings to have the master sit in the house while the servants stand guard outside. Not so is the nature of the Holy One Blessed be He! His servants sit inside while He stands guard outside..

Even though Hashem dislikes a wayward city, an ir hanidachas, and included a chapter in the Torah (Dvarim 13:13) telling us how to lay it waste and everything that is in it, it is the Mezuzah that ensured that there never was a city in Israels history that was destroyed on account of its evil[4].

One who purposefully lives in a home (such as a tent)[5] where he is fully exempt from observing the Mitzvah of Mezuzah will not be saved during a period of Divine Wrath (BeIdna DeRischa)[6].

We see from here that the Mezuzah has the ability to placate Divine Wrath. The 713 letters in the Mezuzah allude to the words that Moshe Rabbeinu used to avert the destruction of the Jewish people in his supplication before Hashem (Shmos 32:12) Return from Your Divine Wrath  Shuv MeCharon Apecha. These three words are equivalent in Gematriah to the number of Hebrew letters in a Mezuzah  713.

The reward for observing this Mitzvah is also very great. If one is careful in the performance of this Mitzvah, he and his descendants will merit long life. The converse, however, is also true[7].

And there are other physical rewards as well. The Talmud (Shabbos 23b) tells us that one who is careful in the Mitzvah of Mezuzah merits a beautiful home[8]. This can be attested to by the experience of many people.

The Baal HaTurim explains that the Torah juxtaposed the Shma section in the Torah to the section of And it shall be when Hashem shall bring you to the land.. (Dvarim 6:10) to teach us that it is in the merit of observing the Mitzvos of a Sefer Torah, Tefillin, and Mezuzah that we will inherit the land without effort.

It was also the Mezuzah and Unkulus meticulous observance of this Mitzvah that was paramount in the incident of the conversion of the Roman Caesars men recounted in the Talmud (Avodah Zarah 11b).

Unkulus the son of Klonimus converted to Judaism. The Caesar, his uncle, sent a legion of Roman soldiers to retrieve him. Unkulus enticed the soldiers to Judaism by quoting verses, and they converted to Judaism. The Caesar sent a new legion but this time he instructed them not to enter into conversation with his nephew. As they dragged him from his home, Unkulus saw the Mezuzah affixed to his doorpost. He longingly placed his hand upon it and asked them, Do you know what this is? The soldiers could not contain their curiosity and answered, You tell us.

Apparently moved by what they observed, they asked him about it, thus ignoring their Caesars instructions. Unkulus explained the unique nature of this Mitzvah that we have seen before:

It is the nature of human beings to have the master sit in the house while the servants stand guard outside. Not so is the nature of the Holy One Blessed be He! His servants sit inside while He stands guard outside. As it states (Tehillim 21:8), Hashem Shall guard your departure and arrival, from now and forever more.

They, too, converted, and the Caesar did not pursue the matter further.

We see from the protection the Mezuzah offers from sin, from damaging spiritual forces, and from other dangers, the long life for us and for our children, the reward of beautiful home, and the land of Israel itself, the incredible impact of this fundamental Mitzvah. We also observe the powerful effect, both upon ourselves and upon others, if one observes this Mitzvah meticulously. It is a Mitzvah that requires a small investment at the beginning, but lasts for a long time. It behooves us to appreciate its significance.

[1] See Bachs explanation of the Tur chapter 285

[2] As mentioned earlier, one should observe the Mitzvah because it is what our Creator commanded and not for the protective quality of it. Aruch HaShulchan 285:3. In fact, the Kesef Mishna indicates that the protection only comes with the observance of the Mitzvah.

[3] See Tur and TaZ 286:9 who quote the Maharam MiRothenberg who states that before he affixed a Mezuzah between the Bais Midrash and his home, a ruach rah would disturb him while he was taking his afternoon nap.

See also MeShiurei HaRishon LeTzion IV 169 that when there is a kosher Mezuzah on the doorpost the home is guarded by sixty angels and the Name of Hashem barring the entry of any damaging spiritual force. See also Yabia Omer 8 YD 30 who cites a proof to this from the Jerusalem Talmud.

The Tur (285) describes the protective quality as greater than the fact that the Mezuzah extends life perhaps because the protection quality is an open miracle, while the longer life is a hidden miracle (Bais Yoseph). Alternatively, the wondrous aspect of a king watching his servants is why it is described as greater (Bais Yoseph and Bach).

[4] Sanhedrin 71a; 113a; Yalkut Shimoni Parshas Reeh 888. The reason that it is not destroyed is because the verse says to destroy everything in it (Dvarim 13:16) and a Mezuzah cannot be destroyed since the verse earlier (Dvarim 12:31) states, Do not do so to Hashem your G-D. Therefore the command to destroy the entire city cannot be fulfilled. The city can thus never be designated as a wayward city. This is Rabbi Eliezers position. According to Rabbi Yonasan, however, there was such a city and apparently, they destroyed everything in it but the Mezuzah.

[5] Or if he purposefully constructed his doorways in a manner that they would be exempt from Mezuzah.

[6] Introduction to Sefer Chareidim; Shla in Chulin based upon Shabbos 32b cited in Saichel Tov p. 55. Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky in Kuntrus Mezuzos Baisecha 285:1cites an authority who states that someone who does this is also subject to the Gemorah in Shabbos 32b.

[7] Shulchan Aruch 285:1; Tur; Sifrei Aikev Piskah 46; See also Shabbos 32b regarding the sin of being neglectful in this Mitzvah.

[8] The TaZ explains that the carefulness lies in reminding oneself of Hashem when seeing the Mezuzah.

The author can be reached at [email protected]




The medical staff at Shaare Tzedek Hospital in Jerusalem are fighting for the lives of a 38-year-old Charedi woman and her twin newborn babies.

The mother, a resident of the Romema neighborhood, began feeling unwell on Sunday, complaining about severe shortness of breath. Paramedics were called to the scene and she lost consciousness as they began evaluating her. They began carrying out CPR and continued advanced resuscitation techniques as they evacuated her to the hospital in very serious condition  24 hours before her scheduled C-section to deliver twin babies.

At the hospital, a medical team of specialists continued emergency lifesaving procedures, including an emergency C-section. The newborn twin baby girls were born without a pulse but after the staff carried out prolonged resuscitation attempts, their pulse was restored and they were transferred in very serious condition to the neonatal intensive care unit.

The mother, whose pulse was also restored by the medical staff, was transferred to the ICU in very serious condition.

On Sunday morning, the mother came to the hospital to sign paperwork and undergo pre-surgical tests prior to a scheduled C-section on Monday. She then returned home and at noon, she began feeling unwell.

It should be noted that Israel is experiencing another extreme heat wave that began on Shabbos and continued on Sunday although it is unknown if the extreme temperatures are related to the incident. This is not the womans first pregnancy, and the hospital is checking several possible scenarios, including an embolism or a stroke.

The family has requested that the public daven for Shoshanah bas Puah btoch shaar cholei Yisrael as well as the two newborn baby girls: Rivka bas Shohanah and Bracha bas Shoshanah.

In order to help complete the Sefer Tehillim on their behalf, click here.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Plus500 profits slumped in a first half marked by 'quieter' trading volumes, reflecting a normalisation after online trading boomed during the pandemic and in the wake of the Ukraine war.

Active customers on its platform, which allows investors to trade on complex financial instruments such as contracts for difference (CFDs), fell by almost 20 per cent compared to a year ago.

However, the FTSE 250-listed Israeli firm announced $120million (94.5million) of shareholder returns, with a fresh share buyback programme of $60million and the rest in dividends.

'Quieter' market: Plus500's active customer numbers fell by almost a fifth in the last year

Profits before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation fell by 43 per cent to $174.1million (137.2million) in the first six months of the year, as revenues tumbled 28 per cent to $368.5million (290.4million).

Plus500 lost more than 41,100 active customers, or a 19 per cent decline, compared to the first half of 2022, when market volatility in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine encouraged a boom in amateur investing.

New customer numbers fell 12 per cent to 50,449 compared to the first half of 2022, though they increased by 2 per cent from the end of 2022.

Plus500 said comparisons with the last six months of 2022 provided 'a more meaningful comparator [...] given the significantly heightened volatility' across financial markets seen at the start of 2022.

Trading platforms are grappling with a slowdown in client activity, as market volatility has eased from the highs witnessed at the start of the war in Ukraine and during the pandemic.

Despite quieter market conditions, Plus500 said it was confident about its performance for the year and expects revenue and profit to be in line with expectations.

Plus500 shares rose 4.6 per cent to 14.97 in morning trading on Monday, as investors cheered further returns, though they remain down by around 18 per cent since the start of the year.

Chief executive David Zruia, who faced a shareholder revolt over pay in May, said the latest investor payouts demonstrated 'the strength of our balance sheet and the Board's continued confidence in the group's prospects'.

'Our cash generative earnings model, combined with our continued strategic, operational and financial position, ensures Plus500 is well placed to deliver sustainable growth and strong returns in the medium to long term,' he added.
Ministers are facing pressure to rethink the planned ban on new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 amid a chronic shortage of electric car charging points.

Around 40 per cent of UK households do not have a driveway or access to off-street parking, a figure that rises to 60 per cent in urban areas.

As a result, many will be forced to rely on a public network of on-street electric car chargers as well as service stations and other sites such as supermarket car parks.

But a report shows there are just 17,047 on-street chargers in the UK  with 75 per cent of them in London.

And in a further sign government efforts to drive an electric car revolution are floundering, nearly seven in ten local authorities in the UK have yet to install any on-street charging points.

Powerless: Around 40% of UK households do not have a driveway or access to off-street parking, a figure that rises to 60% in urban areas

The figures, uncovered by a Freedom of Information request by car maker Vauxhall, will fuel fears that Britain does not have the infrastructure required to hit the Governments deadline.

Industry experts warn motorists  particularly those who cannot charge their cars at home  are being put off making the switch by so-called range anxiety, as well as the high cost of buying an electric vehicle.

The Daily Mail has launched a campaign calling on ministers to rethink the 2030 petrol and diesel ban. Recent polling for this newspaper found that barely one in four agree with the deadline.

Tory MP Sir John Redwood said: Many people are put off buying EVs by the absence of reliable charging points, the short range and the time it takes to charge a car.

Councils make this worse by not putting facilities in. We are also short of grid capacity and on many days EVs are recharged using electricity from fossil fuels.

Fellow Tory Craig Mackinlay said the lack of on-street charging points risked generating further public distrust of electric cars, adding to existing concerns about driving range, cost and reliability.

He added: The looming 2030 ban of new petrol and diesel cars and vans is premature, out of step with competitors in the US and EU and noting the lack of enthusiasm by local authorities in providing charging points, looking like a pipe dream to be enjoyed solely by the wealthy.

The report by Vauxhall found that while London has 12,708 on-street charging points, there are just 4,339 more spread across the rest of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The capital has another 6,397 on-street charging points planned over the next year compared to just 3,580 for the rest of the country.

Vauxhall also revealed 69 per cent of councils and local authorities have yet to install any on-street charging points and a similar number has not published any kind of strategy to do so.

That threatens to undermine government plans to have 300,000 public charging points in place by 2030.

Accessibility to charge points near your home is critical to the transition to electric vehicle ownership in the UK, said Vauxhall managing director James Taylor. We want to help educate and inform the decision-makers, and enable the installation of more chargers, more quickly.

In order to hit the 300,000 target, public chargers need to be installed at a rate of over 100 a day. However, with fewer than 4,000 installed in April, May and June, the rate is around 40 a day.

Quentin Willson, founder of campaign group FairCharge, said: The UK needs thousands of local charging hubs to encourage EV uptake among the population without driveways who cant charge at home.

The Government needs to get a grip on this.

Critics have warned the rushed policy and incoming ban on petrol and diesel cars could cost hundreds of thousands of jobs and leave households worse off.
Britain's spending on fixing potholes on local roads has fallen faster than nearly all other major economies, analysis reveals.

Annual road maintenance budgets in the UK were halved from 4billion to 2billion from 2016 to 2019, while several high-income countries increased what they spent by up to 50 per cent in the same period.

The analysis from the Local Government Association shows that local road repair budgets have dropped more in the UK than in nearly all OECD nations  a group of 38 'high income countries'  in almost two decades.

Spending in Sweden, Denmark, the US, Japan and New Zealand increased by around half over the same period, while budgets were protected in France, Finland and Canada.

The only OECD countries to see similar drops in spending to the UK are Italy and Ireland.

(PA Graphics)

Wheely annoying: Potholes are the bain of drivers' lives - but the amount spent fixing them is falling

The figures come as the LGA, which represents councils across England and Wales, publishes its own polling figures, showing that only 34 per cent of residents were satisfied with how well local roads are maintained.

LGA chairman Shaun Davies has called for local transport decisions to be devolved to councils.

Mr Davies said: 'The UK has fallen from the top to almost the bottom of the league when it comes to the amount we spend on repairing our local roads.

'Decades of reductions in funding from central government to local road repair budgets has left councils facing the biggest ever annual pothole repair backlog.

'Ultimately, all local transport decisions should be devolved.

'This will allow councils not just to tackle potholes but make improvements to road surfaces, saving money in the long term and improving our roads for everyone who uses them.'

Estimates from a survey published earlier this year found that councils face a record 14billion road repair backlog which would take them 11 years to tackle.

AA president Edmund King said: 'While winter damage on main roads is fixed fairly rapidly in the spring, residential and rural roads remain blighted by potholes.

'This is not only a threat to vehicles but a danger to pedestrians and cyclists who are more active at this time of year.'

The Government increased its Potholes Fund  which provides money to councils in England to tackle the issue  by 200 million to 700 million for the current financial year.

Shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh said: 'The Prime Minister posed as a friend of the motorist  but his broken promises have left millions of potholes on our roads.

'Lined up side by side, the giant Tory pothole would stretch from London to John O'Groats and back again.

'After 13 years, Tory promises, just like our roads, are falling apart,' the Labour MP said.

A Government spokesperson said: 'We're spending more than 5 billion from 2020 to 2025, with an extra 200 million announced at the Budget in March, to resurface roads up and down the country  enough to fix millions of potholes.

'This year we've made 58.7 billion available to local councils, a 5.1 billion increase on last year, the majority of which is unringfenced and can be used on local priorities such as road maintenance.

'We've also brought in new rules to clamp down on utility companies leaving potholes behind after carrying out street works.'
Landlords selling a property this year may have missed the top of the market and lost out on more than 10,000 compared to if they sold last year, a top lettings agent has warned.

Hamptons suggested landlords will have made a 10.1 per cent smaller gain by selling their buy-to-let this year compared to those who sold last year.

So far this year, the average landlord in England and Wales sold their buy-to-let for 94,800 more than they initially paid for the property, having owned it for an average of 11 years.

The gain is down 10.1 per cent from a record 105,300 last year and is almost identical to what landlords selling in 2016 achieved, it said.

Landlords selling a property this year compared to last year may have missed the top of the market, Hamptons says

This chart shows the gap between average landlord purchase and sale price in England and Wales

Hamptons attributed the smaller gains to a slowdown in house prices and the type of properties being sold.

The slowdown follows a sharp rise in mortgage rates, which is leading some landlords to consider leaving the buy-to-let market altogether.

However, Hamptons insisted that landlords are 'consoling' themselves' with record high rents.

Aneisha Beveridge, of Hamptons, said: 'As house prices start to slip back, there are signs that the landlords looking to sell today may have missed the top of the market.

'Rather, some investors are consoling themselves with record-breaking rental growth which is slowly ironing out the arithmetic for landlords.'

The Hamptons table shows the gap between the average landlord purchase and sale price

Average gains on the sale of a property by a landlord fell year-on-year in every region for the first time since 2020.

In percentage terms, northern regions recorded the largest year-on-year falls. This reflects both slowing price growth and a shift in the type of home being sold.

Smaller terraced houses and flats, which have seen weaker price growth in recent years, made up a higher share of all buy-to-let sales so far this year.

Table shows the average landlord profit on the sale of a buy-to-let property in England and Wales

North London estate agent Jeremy Leaf, said: Everyone knows there is a huge shortage of property to rent, particularly affordable, and the private rental sector plays such an important role in providing affordable social housing as well. To see these numbers and the sector in decline is worrying.

But the particular statistic which stood out for me is that the average length of time of sale for landlords is 11 years.

"This implies that it is not just accidental landlords who are selling up because they have cold feet but those who have been around for a while who are experienced and should be aware of all the pitfalls. It means supply is reducing just when it's needed and maintaining upwards pressure on rents.

'Its also disappointing that established landlords are selling up in such numbers when you consider that rents have gone up so much. You would think this would encourage more to stay in the business and take advantage of the longer-term gains.'

Northern landlords make more profit

In contrast to 2016, investor profits have risen fastest and furthest in the north of the country, according to Hamptons.

Investors in the North East recorded a 176 per cent increase in the average capital gain on the sale of a buy-to-let between 2016 and 2023, with all three northern regions boasting an increase in gains of at least 50 per cent since 2016.

House prices in Northern England have risen the most in the past seven years, while in parts of London and the South East prices have remained static.

Even so, higher average prices mean that in cash terms London landlords who sold up still saw the largest gross capital gains.

So far this year this figure stood at 308,500. However, this number is down 3.4 per cent from 319,300 last year and 15 per cent down from a peak of 365,000 in 2016 due to slower price growth.

There are just three regions where the average investor profit is still at six figures. These are London, the South East and East.

Average gains on the sale of a property by a landlord fell year-on-year in every region for the first time since 2020

The South West fell off that list this year when the average capital gain shrank from 105,000 in 2022 to 95,700 today.

It is likely that the amount made by landlords selling up will fall further on the back of both lower prices being achieved and a rising proportion of sellers having bought later in the house price cycle.

The average landlord selling in 2023 bought 11 years ago. It means 65 per cent of landlord sales this year were homes that had been bought since 2009, after the point where prices bottomed out.

This figure rises to 70 per cent for flat sellers, who typically have shorter holding periods and therefore tend to see lower capital growth.

Despite the slowing pace of price growth, the number of landlords selling for less than they paid is limited.

Only 6 per cent of landlords sold at a loss so far in 2023, slightly up from 5 per cent last year but down from 10 per cent in 2020.

However, almost one in five - at 19 per cent - of investors who sold a flat did so for less than they paid, alongside slightly more than one in five - at 22 per cent - of investors who sold a buy-to-let in the North East.

The average monthly rent and rental growth on newly let properties in July 2023

There are few signs that the pace of rental growth is slackening, with the cost of a new tenancy up 9.9 per cent year-on-year across Britain to an average of 1,282 a month.

On an annual basis, rents have risen more than 5 per cent for 27 consecutive months and above 7 per cent for the last 10 months.

This prolonged period of growth leaves the average rent 28 per cent higher than in February 2020, on the eve of the pandemic.

During the past year rents in London have continued to rise faster than anywhere else in the country, with the average price of a new let up 13.9 per cent.

Annually, rents here have been growing at a double-digit pace for 15 of the last 17 months.

However, the rate of Inner London rental growth has slowed as rents surpassed pre-Covid levels, with growth now broadly on par with Outer London.

However, looking back to the onset of Covid, rents have grown faster in the North than in the South.

While average rents in London and the South East are up 26 per cent and 24 per cent respectively since February 2020.

In the Midlands they are up 31 per cent and in Northern England they are up 33 per cent, where rents have risen on the back of higher house price growth as yields have held steady.

A sharp rise in mortgage rates means some landlords may have to consider leaving the buy-to-let market altogether

Ms Beveridge, of Hamptons, added: 'Lower house prices and higher rents will combine to shore up the rental market as more landlords hold off on the decision to sell.

'On the flip side, this will also weigh down on the Government's capital gains receipts handed over by landlords selling up over the next few years.

'New homes coming onto the market continue to achieve record rents and in the short term it's hard to see what would put concerted downward pressure on the pace of growth.

'With around 35,000 landlords coming off fixed rate mortgages each month, the upward pressure on landlords' costs marches on.

'In the run up to remortgaging, landlords are fighting to balance the books by paying down debt and hiking rents that have dropped below market rate.'
Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (NYSE:TDS  Get Free Report) has received an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the four ratings firms that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and two have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $23.00.

Several brokerages have recently commented on TDS. StockNews.com began coverage on Telephone and Data Systems in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a sell rating for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Telephone and Data Systems from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and set a $38.00 price target for the company in a report on Tuesday, August 8th. Citigroup raised Telephone and Data Systems from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $16.00 price target for the company in a report on Friday, August 4th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on Telephone and Data Systems from $16.00 to $15.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, July 25th.

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Telephone and Data Systems Trading Up 1.0 %

Shares of NYSE TDS opened at $17.41 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $1.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -20.48 and a beta of 1.12. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $8.86 and a 200 day simple moving average of $9.79. Telephone and Data Systems has a 52 week low of $6.43 and a 52 week high of $17.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a quick ratio of 1.20 and a current ratio of 1.37.

Telephone and Data Systems (NYSE:TDS  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, August 4th. The Wireless communications provider reported ($0.17) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.04) by ($0.13). The company had revenue of $1.27 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.29 billion. Telephone and Data Systems had a negative return on equity of 0.51% and a negative net margin of 0.53%. The businesss revenue was down 6.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.15 earnings per share. On average, research analysts predict that Telephone and Data Systems will post -0.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Telephone and Data Systems Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 15th will be paid a $0.185 dividend. This represents a $0.74 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.25%. Telephone and Data Systemss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -87.06%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Telephone and Data Systems

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in TDS. Credit Suisse AG increased its holdings in shares of Telephone and Data Systems by 16.5% in the second quarter. Credit Suisse AG now owns 144,055 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $1,186,000 after buying an additional 20,424 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. grew its stake in shares of Telephone and Data Systems by 3.1% in the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 17,393,332 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $143,147,000 after buying an additional 519,784 shares during the last quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company boosted its stake in Telephone and Data Systems by 1.7% during the 2nd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 41,279 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock valued at $340,000 after purchasing an additional 691 shares during the last quarter. Quinn Opportunity Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Telephone and Data Systems during the 2nd quarter valued at $539,000. Finally, Hsbc Holdings PLC grew its holdings in shares of Telephone and Data Systems by 194.6% in the second quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 32,448 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $268,000 after acquiring an additional 21,435 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 80.81% of the companys stock.

Telephone and Data Systems Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc, a telecommunications company, provides communications services in the United States. It operates through two segments: UScellular and TDS Telecom. The company offers wireless solutions to consumers, and business and government customers, including a suite of connected Internet of things (IoT) solutions, and software applications for monitor and control, business automation/operations, communication, fleet and asset management, smart water solutions, private cellular networks and custom, and end-to-end IoT solutions; wireless priority services and quality priority and preemption options; smartphones and other handsets, tablets, wearables, mobile hotspots, fixed wireless home internet, and IoT devices; and accessories, such as cases, screen protectors, chargers, and memory cards, as well as consumer electronics, including audio, home automation and networking products.

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Shares of Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI  Get Free Report) have been assigned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the six research firms that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and three have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $309.67.

Several analysts have recently weighed in on MSI shares. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price objective on Motorola Solutions from $310.00 to $335.00 in a report on Friday, May 5th. Barclays dropped their price target on shares of Motorola Solutions from $329.00 to $322.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, August 4th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on Motorola Solutions from $290.00 to $300.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, August 4th. Raymond James raised their target price on Motorola Solutions from $315.00 to $320.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, August 4th. Finally, StockNews.com cut Motorola Solutions from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, July 6th.

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Motorola Solutions Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE MSI opened at $285.96 on Friday. Motorola Solutions has a 12 month low of $212.76 and a 12 month high of $299.43. The company has a quick ratio of 0.96, a current ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 17.14. The company has a market cap of $47.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.42, a P/E/G ratio of 3.07 and a beta of 0.92. The businesss 50 day moving average is $286.87 and its two-hundred day moving average is $280.09.

Motorola Solutions (NYSE:MSI  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The communications equipment provider reported $2.65 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.51 by $0.14. The company had revenue of $2.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.36 billion. Motorola Solutions had a net margin of 15.72% and a return on equity of 2,157.02%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 12.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.87 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that Motorola Solutions will post 10.36 EPS for the current year.

Motorola Solutions Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 14th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 15th were paid a $0.88 dividend. This represents a $3.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.23%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, June 14th. Motorola Solutionss payout ratio is 39.91%.

Institutional Trading of Motorola Solutions

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its position in shares of Motorola Solutions by 11.6% during the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 3,918 shares of the communications equipment providers stock worth $949,000 after purchasing an additional 406 shares in the last quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. lifted its stake in Motorola Solutions by 3.1% in the first quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 11,087 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $2,685,000 after buying an additional 329 shares in the last quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. increased its position in shares of Motorola Solutions by 8.8% during the first quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 2,870 shares of the communications equipment providers stock worth $695,000 after acquiring an additional 231 shares in the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Motorola Solutions during the first quarter worth $225,000. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. increased its holdings in Motorola Solutions by 7.3% during the 1st quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 55,177 shares of the communications equipment providers stock worth $13,362,000 after purchasing an additional 3,741 shares in the last quarter. 82.93% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Motorola Solutions

(Get Free Report

Motorola Solutions, Inc provides public safety and enterprise security solutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Products and Systems Integration, and Software and Services. The Products and Systems Integration segment offers a portfolio of infrastructure, devices, accessories, and video security devices and infrastructure, as well as the implementation and integration of systems, devices, software, and applications for government, public safety, and commercial customers who operate private communications networks and video security solutions, as well as manage a mobile workforce.

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Osisko Gold Royalties (TSE:OR  Free Report) had its target price lowered by TD Securities from C$27.00 to C$26.00 in a report issued on Friday morning, Marketbeat reports. The firm currently has a buy rating on the stock.

Other equities analysts have also issued research reports about the company. National Bank Financial lifted their price objective on Osisko Gold Royalties from C$23.00 to C$27.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 18th. National Bankshares boosted their target price on Osisko Gold Royalties from C$23.00 to C$27.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. CIBC boosted their target price on shares of Osisko Gold Royalties from C$23.00 to C$27.00 in a research note on Monday, April 17th. Raymond James boosted their target price on shares of Osisko Gold Royalties from C$25.00 to C$25.50 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, June 8th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets upped their price objective on shares of Osisko Gold Royalties from C$22.00 to C$23.00 in a research note on Wednesday, June 7th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Osisko Gold Royalties currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of C$25.86.

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Osisko Gold Royalties Stock Down 0.3 %

Osisko Gold Royalties Announces Dividend

Osisko Gold Royalties stock opened at C$18.67 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 8.14, a current ratio of 8.82 and a quick ratio of 0.98. The stock has a market capitalization of C$3.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.90, a PEG ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 0.63. Osisko Gold Royalties has a 1-year low of C$12.11 and a 1-year high of C$24.42. The business has a fifty day moving average price of C$19.80 and a 200-day moving average price of C$20.13.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, October 16th. Investors of record on Friday, September 29th will be given a dividend of $0.06 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 28th. This represents a $0.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.29%. Osisko Gold Royaltiess dividend payout ratio is 50.00%.

Insider Transactions at Osisko Gold Royalties

In other news, Director Victor Bradley sold 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of C$21.76, for a total transaction of C$108,794.00. Company insiders own 0.58% of the companys stock.

About Osisko Gold Royalties

(Get Free Report)

Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd acquires and manages precious metal and other royalties, streams, and other interests in Canada and internationally. It also owns options on offtake; royalty/stream financings; and exclusive rights to participate in future royalty/stream financings on various projects. The company's primary asset is a 5% net smelter return royalty on the Canadian Malartic mine located in Canada.

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Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX  Get Free Report) CFO Kevin J. Mitchell sold 9,900 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.00, for a total value of $1,138,500.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 103,803 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,937,345. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website.

Phillips 66 Stock Up 1.7 %

PSX opened at $116.64 on Monday. Phillips 66 has a twelve month low of $74.02 and a twelve month high of $117.29. The company has a quick ratio of 1.17, a current ratio of 1.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $101.53 and a 200 day moving average price of $100.23. The company has a market cap of $51.94 billion, a PE ratio of 5.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.43 and a beta of 1.37.

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Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The oil and gas company reported $3.87 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.54 by $0.33. The firm had revenue of $35.74 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $32.13 billion. Phillips 66 had a net margin of 6.81% and a return on equity of 26.25%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $6.77 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Phillips 66 will post 14.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Phillips 66 Announces Dividend

Institutional Trading of Phillips 66

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 18th will be paid a $1.05 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 17th. This represents a $4.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.60%. Phillips 66s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 18.22%.

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Genus Capital Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Phillips 66 during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $3,243,000. Bryn Mawr Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Phillips 66 by 4.1% in the 2nd quarter. Bryn Mawr Capital Management LLC now owns 6,287 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $600,000 after purchasing an additional 246 shares in the last quarter. Robertson Stephens Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Phillips 66 by 3.2% in the 2nd quarter. Robertson Stephens Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,766 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $359,000 after purchasing an additional 117 shares in the last quarter. Pinebridge Investments L.P. raised its stake in Phillips 66 by 8.9% during the 2nd quarter. Pinebridge Investments L.P. now owns 210,402 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $20,068,000 after acquiring an additional 17,226 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board acquired a new stake in Phillips 66 during the 2nd quarter worth $2,244,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.52% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently weighed in on PSX shares. Mizuho lifted their price target on shares of Phillips 66 from $106.00 to $118.00 in a research note on Monday, July 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price target on Phillips 66 from $124.00 to $119.00 in a research report on Friday, May 12th. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an equal weight rating and set a $125.00 price target on shares of Phillips 66 in a research report on Wednesday, July 19th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of Phillips 66 from $111.00 to $130.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, August 3rd. Finally, TD Cowen raised shares of Phillips 66 from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $110.00 to $123.00 in a report on Thursday, June 1st. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $124.77.

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About Phillips 66

(Get Free Report)

Phillips 66 operates as an energy manufacturing and logistics company in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties (M&S). The Midstream segment transports crude oil and other feedstocks; delivers refined petroleum products to market; provides terminaling and storage services for crude oil and refined petroleum products; transports, stores, fractionates, exports, and markets natural gas liquids; provides other fee-based processing services; and gathers, processes, transports, and markets natural gas.

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StockNews.com started coverage on shares of WidePoint (NYSEAMERICAN:WYY  Free Report) in a research report report published on Thursday morning. The firm issued a sell rating on the technology companys stock.

WidePoint Price Performance

WYY stock opened at $1.80 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $15.72 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -1.03 and a beta of 1.04. WidePoint has a 12 month low of $1.70 and a 12 month high of $3.05. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $1.87 and a 200 day moving average price of $1.92.

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WidePoint (NYSEAMERICAN:WYY  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 15th. The technology company reported ($0.11) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The company had revenue of $25.27 million for the quarter. WidePoint had a positive return on equity of 2.98% and a negative net margin of 16.03%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On WidePoint

WidePoint Company Profile

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of WYY. Susquehanna International Group LLP acquired a new position in WidePoint during the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. UBS Group AG purchased a new position in WidePoint in the first quarter worth $29,000. Citadel Advisors LLC raised its position in WidePoint by 121.1% in the third quarter. Citadel Advisors LLC now owns 13,577 shares of the technology companys stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 7,437 shares in the last quarter. EA Series Trust acquired a new stake in WidePoint in the second quarter valued at $35,000. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC purchased a new stake in shares of WidePoint during the 2nd quarter worth $37,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 11.85% of the companys stock.

(Get Free Report)

WidePoint Corporation provides technology management as a service (TMaaS) to the government and business enterprises in North America and Europe. The company offers TMaaS solutions through a secure federal government certified proprietary portal and secure enterprise portal that provides ability to manage, analyze, and protect communications assets, as well as deploy identity management solutions that provide secured virtual and physical access to restricted environments.

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Oscar Health (NYSE:OSCR  Free Report) had its price target boosted by The Goldman Sachs Group from $5.50 to $7.50 in a research report released on Thursday, Benzinga reports. The Goldman Sachs Group currently has a neutral rating on the stock.

A number of other research analysts have also weighed in on the company. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an equal weight rating and set a $5.00 price objective on shares of Oscar Health in a report on Friday, July 14th. Bank of America upgraded shares of Oscar Health from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and increased their price target for the company from $5.40 to $8.75 in a report on Tuesday, June 6th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group boosted their price objective on shares of Oscar Health from $7.00 to $8.50 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, August 9th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $6.11.

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Read Our Latest Analysis on OSCR

Oscar Health Price Performance

Shares of NYSE OSCR opened at $7.50 on Thursday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $8.16 and a 200 day moving average price of $6.51. Oscar Health has a 1-year low of $2.05 and a 1-year high of $9.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 1.21 and a quick ratio of 1.18. The company has a market cap of $1.64 billion, a PE ratio of -3.39 and a beta of 1.03.

Oscar Health (NYSE:OSCR  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, August 8th. The company reported ($0.07) EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.33) by $0.26. The company had revenue of $1.52 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.38 billion. Oscar Health had a negative net margin of 9.55% and a negative return on equity of 49.14%. The businesss revenue was up 49.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned ($0.53) EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Oscar Health will post -1.64 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Oscar Health news, CFO Sid Sankaran sold 137,826 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $7.15, for a total value of $985,455.90. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 207,474 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,483,439.10. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, CFO Sid Sankaran sold 137,826 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, June 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $7.15, for a total transaction of $985,455.90. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 207,474 shares in the company, valued at $1,483,439.10. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Ranmali Bopitiya sold 11,597 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $7.15, for a total transaction of $82,918.55. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 81,313 shares in the company, valued at $581,387.95. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 169,373 shares of company stock worth $1,211,017. 25.54% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Southeastern Asset Management Inc. TN grew its holdings in shares of Oscar Health by 30.8% during the 4th quarter. Southeastern Asset Management Inc. TN now owns 14,576,904 shares of the companys stock worth $35,859,000 after purchasing an additional 3,430,032 shares during the period. Capital World Investors acquired a new position in Oscar Health during the first quarter valued at approximately $27,427,000. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. purchased a new stake in Oscar Health during the first quarter worth approximately $13,349,000. State Street Corp increased its position in shares of Oscar Health by 512.6% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,069,734 shares of the companys stock worth $8,796,000 after acquiring an additional 1,731,860 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its stake in shares of Oscar Health by 105.3% in the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 2,950,100 shares of the companys stock valued at $23,778,000 after acquiring an additional 1,512,900 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 67.61% of the companys stock.

Oscar Health Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Oscar Health, Inc operates as a health insurance in the United States. The company offers Individual and Small Group, and Medicare Advantage plans, as well as +Oscar, a technology driven platform designed to help providers and payors directly enable their shift to value-based care It also provides reinsurance products.

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Brown Advisory Inc. boosted its position in Welltower Inc. (NYSE:WELL  Free Report) by 293.0% in the first quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 49,284 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after purchasing an additional 36,744 shares during the period. Brown Advisory Inc.s holdings in Welltower were worth $3,533,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. NewEdge Wealth LLC raised its stake in Welltower by 23.5% in the 1st quarter. NewEdge Wealth LLC now owns 8,127 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $583,000 after acquiring an additional 1,549 shares during the period. Federated Hermes Inc. raised its position in shares of Welltower by 11.1% in the first quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 5,361 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $384,000 after purchasing an additional 535 shares during the period. Metis Global Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of Welltower by 15.3% during the 1st quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC now owns 22,511 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,614,000 after buying an additional 2,985 shares in the last quarter. Davis Selected Advisers lifted its stake in shares of Welltower by 18.7% during the 1st quarter. Davis Selected Advisers now owns 181,550 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $13,015,000 after buying an additional 28,570 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. grew its stake in Welltower by 9.2% in the 1st quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 631,673 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $45,285,000 after buying an additional 53,410 shares in the last quarter. 93.16% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

WELL has been the topic of several recent research reports. Raymond James downgraded Welltower from a strong-buy rating to an outperform rating and increased their target price for the stock from $82.00 to $90.00 in a research report on Friday, June 23rd. Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on Welltower from $82.00 to $87.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 16th. StockNews.com started coverage on Welltower in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a sell rating on the stock. Mizuho cut their price objective on shares of Welltower from $91.00 to $86.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 30th. Finally, Barclays upped their target price on shares of Welltower from $82.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, August 2nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $82.54.

Welltower Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:WELL opened at $84.26 on Monday. The companys fifty day moving average price is $81.13 and its 200-day moving average price is $76.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 3.12 and a quick ratio of 3.12. The firm has a market capitalization of $43.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 366.35, a PEG ratio of 3.03 and a beta of 1.06. Welltower Inc. has a one year low of $56.50 and a one year high of $86.39.

Welltower Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 23rd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, August 15th will be issued a $0.61 dividend. This represents a $2.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.90%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 14th. Welltowers payout ratio is currently 1,060.87%.

About Welltower

(Free Report)

Welltower Inc (NYSE:WELL), a real estate investment trust ("REIT") and S&P 500 company headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, is driving the transformation of health care infrastructure. Welltower invests with leading seniors housing operators, post-acute providers and health systems to fund the real estate infrastructure needed to scale innovative care delivery models and improve people's wellness and overall health care experience.

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Federated Hermes Inc. decreased its position in shares of The Macerich Company (NYSE:MAC  Free Report) by 27.4% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 770,377 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 291,402 shares during the quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. owned 0.36% of Macerich worth $8,166,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Macerich by 12.2% during the 1st quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 65,654 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $696,000 after purchasing an additional 7,156 shares during the period. New Mexico Educational Retirement Board grew its stake in Macerich by 15.1% in the 1st quarter. New Mexico Educational Retirement Board now owns 38,852 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $412,000 after acquiring an additional 5,100 shares during the period. Natixis Advisors L.P. grew its stake in Macerich by 14.5% in the 4th quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 82,815 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $932,000 after acquiring an additional 10,467 shares during the period. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC grew its stake in Macerich by 10.4% in the 4th quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 14,427 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $162,000 after acquiring an additional 1,359 shares during the period. Finally, MQS Management LLC acquired a new stake in Macerich in the 4th quarter valued at $116,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.38% of the companys stock.

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Macerich Stock Up 1.0 %

Shares of NYSE:MAC opened at $12.63 on Monday. The Macerich Company has a 1 year low of $7.40 and a 1 year high of $14.51. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.72 billion, a PE ratio of -31.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.22 and a beta of 2.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53, a current ratio of 0.96 and a quick ratio of 1.02. The firms 50-day moving average is $11.78 and its two-hundred day moving average is $11.16.

Macerich Announces Dividend

Macerich ( NYSE:MAC Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 8th. The real estate investment trust reported ($0.07) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.42 by ($0.49). Macerich had a negative net margin of 10.07% and a negative return on equity of 3.01%. The firm had revenue of $212.40 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $193.97 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.46 EPS. Macerichs quarterly revenue was up 4.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that The Macerich Company will post 1.8 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 8th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 18th will be paid a $0.17 dividend. This represents a $0.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.38%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 17th. Macerichs dividend payout ratio is currently -170.00%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on MAC shares. Piper Sandler dropped their price target on shares of Macerich from $11.00 to $9.00 in a research note on Friday, May 5th. 22nd Century Group reaffirmed a maintains rating on shares of Macerich in a research note on Thursday, June 29th. Mizuho lowered their target price on shares of Macerich from $11.00 to $9.00 in a research note on Friday, May 26th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Macerich in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a sell rating on the stock. Finally, Truist Financial lowered their target price on shares of Macerich from $15.00 to $14.00 in a research note on Wednesday, June 28th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $11.25.

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About Macerich

(Free Report)

Macerich is a fully integrated, self-managed and self-administered real estate investment trust (REIT). As a leading owner, operator, and developer of high-quality retail real estate in densely populated and attractive U.S. markets, Macerich's portfolio is concentrated in California, the Pacific Northwest, Phoenix/Scottsdale, and the Metro New York to Washington, DC corridor.

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Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. raised its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (BATS:QUAL  Free Report) by 477.6% in the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 19,060 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 15,760 shares during the quarter. Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc.s holdings in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF were worth $2,365,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the business. Diversified LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF by 1.1% during the first quarter. Diversified LLC now owns 7,460 shares of the companys stock worth $926,000 after purchasing an additional 83 shares during the last quarter. Colony Group LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF by 1.9% during the second quarter. Colony Group LLC now owns 5,251 shares of the companys stock worth $587,000 after purchasing an additional 98 shares during the last quarter. Beaumont Financial Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF by 4.0% during the first quarter. Beaumont Financial Advisors LLC now owns 2,654 shares of the companys stock worth $329,000 after purchasing an additional 102 shares during the last quarter. Valeo Financial Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF by 2.4% during the first quarter. Valeo Financial Advisors LLC now owns 4,862 shares of the companys stock worth $603,000 after purchasing an additional 115 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Verdence Capital Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF by 3.8% during the first quarter. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 3,200 shares of the companys stock worth $397,000 after purchasing an additional 116 shares during the last quarter.

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iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF Trading Down 0.4 %

Shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF stock opened at $136.18 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $30.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.30 and a beta of 1.03. iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF has a 12 month low of $71.96 and a 12 month high of $88.63. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $135.03 and its 200-day moving average price is $127.26.

iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF Company Profile

The iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Sector Neutral Quality index. The fund tracks an index of US large- and mid-cap stocks, selected and weighted by high ROE, stable earnings growth and low debt\u002Fequity, relative to peers in each sector.

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Peakstone Realty Trust (NYSE:PKST  Free Report) had its price objective trimmed by Truist Financial from $24.00 to $22.00 in a research report released on Friday morning, Marketbeat reports. The firm currently has a hold rating on the stock.

Separately, Bank of America assumed coverage on Peakstone Realty Trust in a report on Tuesday, June 13th. They issued an underperform rating and a $27.00 price objective for the company.

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Read Our Latest Stock Report on PKST

Peakstone Realty Trust Stock Performance

Peakstone Realty Trust Increases Dividend

Shares of Peakstone Realty Trust stock opened at $21.15 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 7.02, a current ratio of 7.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $26.91. Peakstone Realty Trust has a fifty-two week low of $8.00 and a fifty-two week high of $47.00.

The business also recently announced a monthly dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 30th were given a dividend of $0.225 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, June 29th. This is a positive change from Peakstone Realty Trusts previous monthly dividend of $0.08. This represents a $2.70 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 12.77%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Peakstone Realty Trust

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Peakstone Realty Trust during the second quarter worth $450,000. MBL Wealth LLC acquired a new position in Peakstone Realty Trust during the second quarter valued at $296,000. Integrated Advisors Network LLC acquired a new position in Peakstone Realty Trust during the second quarter valued at $705,000. Brookstone Capital Management acquired a new position in Peakstone Realty Trust during the second quarter valued at $264,000. Finally, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in Peakstone Realty Trust during the second quarter valued at $8,713,000. 0.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Peakstone Realty Trust

(Get Free Report)

Peakstone Realty Trust is an internally managed, publicly registered real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns and operates a high-quality, newer-vintage portfolio of predominantly single-tenant industrial and office properties. These assets are generally leased to creditworthy tenants under long-term net lease agreements with contractual rent escalations.

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Wedbush Securities Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Pimco Total Return ETF (NYSEARCA:BOND  Free Report) during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 9,558 shares of the exchange traded funds stock, valued at approximately $887,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. RFG Advisory LLC grew its stake in shares of Pimco Total Return ETF by 11.1% during the first quarter. RFG Advisory LLC now owns 267,030 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $24,768,000 after buying an additional 26,691 shares during the last quarter. Goldstein Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Pimco Total Return ETF by 0.7% during the first quarter. Goldstein Advisors LLC now owns 151,616 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $14,063,000 after buying an additional 1,052 shares during the last quarter. Hamilton Wealth LLC grew its stake in shares of Pimco Total Return ETF by 3.0% during the first quarter. Hamilton Wealth LLC now owns 6,406 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $594,000 after buying an additional 186 shares during the last quarter. WealthShield Partners LLC grew its stake in Pimco Total Return ETF by 7.9% in the first quarter. WealthShield Partners LLC now owns 23,513 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,181,000 after purchasing an additional 1,725 shares in the last quarter. Finally, 3D L Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Pimco Total Return ETF by 9.2% in the first quarter. 3D L Capital Management LLC now owns 249,216 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $23,116,000 after purchasing an additional 21,025 shares in the last quarter.

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Pimco Total Return ETF Stock Down 0.4 %

Shares of NYSEARCA:BOND opened at $89.92 on Monday. Pimco Total Return ETF has a 52-week low of $86.61 and a 52-week high of $96.95. The stock has a market cap of $3.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 56.50 and a beta of 0.18. The businesss 50 day moving average is $91.23 and its 200 day moving average is $91.96.

Pimco Total Return ETF Company Profile

The PIMCO Active Bond Exchange-Traded Fund (BOND) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Barclays U.S. Aggregate index. The fund is an actively managed portfolio that aims to maintain a consistent level of dividend income by investing in a broad array of fixed income sectors and utilizing income efficient implementation strategies.

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Masonite International (NYSE:DOOR  Free Report) had its price target upped by Stephens from $110.00 to $130.00 in a report issued on Thursday, MarketBeat reports. Stephens currently has an overweight rating on the stock.

Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Robert W. Baird raised their target price on shares of Masonite International from $110.00 to $115.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 10th. Benchmark lifted their price objective on shares of Masonite International from $113.00 to $133.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on shares of Masonite International from $95.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 10th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on shares of Masonite International from $102.00 to $115.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 10th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Masonite International from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday, June 19th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $118.00.

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Masonite International Trading Up 1.0 %

DOOR stock opened at $105.78 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.29, a current ratio of 2.86 and a quick ratio of 1.93. The company has a market capitalization of $2.33 billion, a PE ratio of 13.58 and a beta of 1.63. The firms 50-day moving average is $101.69 and its 200 day moving average is $93.90. Masonite International has a 12 month low of $65.71 and a 12 month high of $107.48.

Masonite International (NYSE:DOOR  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, August 8th. The company reported $2.30 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.09 by $0.21. The business had revenue of $742.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $729.18 million. Masonite International had a net margin of 6.09% and a return on equity of 24.81%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 2.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.58 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Masonite International will post 7.88 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Masonite International

In other Masonite International news, CAO Catherine Anne Shellabarger sold 803 shares of Masonite International stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $93.50, for a total transaction of $75,080.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 3,769 shares in the company, valued at approximately $352,401.50. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 1.21% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Masonite International

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc acquired a new position in shares of Masonite International in the 3rd quarter valued at $32,000. Spire Wealth Management lifted its stake in shares of Masonite International by 421.9% in the 1st quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 381 shares of the companys stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 308 shares during the period. Federated Hermes Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Masonite International by 55.0% in the 3rd quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 513 shares of the companys stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 182 shares during the period. CWM LLC lifted its stake in shares of Masonite International by 3,100.0% in the 1st quarter. CWM LLC now owns 416 shares of the companys stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 403 shares during the period. Finally, Point72 Hong Kong Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Masonite International in the 1st quarter valued at $46,000.

Masonite International Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Masonite International Corporation designs, manufactures, markets, and distributes interior and exterior doors for the new construction and repair, renovation, and remodeling sectors of the residential and non-residential building construction markets worldwide. It offers molded panel, flush, stile and rail, steel, and fiberglass residential doors, as well as medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and architectural interior doors.

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Forge Global (NYSE:FRGE  Free Report) had its target price raised by Piper Sandler from $1.75 to $2.50 in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, FlyOnTheWall reports.

Separately, Oppenheimer boosted their price objective on Forge Global from $2.40 to $3.50 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 9th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $3.69.

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Forge Global Price Performance

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Shares of FRGE opened at $2.85 on Thursday. The stocks 50-day moving average is $2.44 and its two-hundred day moving average is $1.91. The stock has a market cap of $496.73 million, a PE ratio of -5.38 and a beta of 2.70. Forge Global has a 12 month low of $1.10 and a 12 month high of $5.28.

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of FRGE. BlackRock Inc. increased its position in shares of Forge Global by 393.8% during the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 7,474,829 shares of the companys stock worth $18,164,000 after acquiring an additional 5,961,171 shares during the last quarter. MUFG Americas Holdings Corp purchased a new stake in shares of Forge Global during the third quarter worth about $8,140,000. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Forge Global by 124.5% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,995,803 shares of the companys stock worth $4,850,000 after acquiring an additional 1,106,935 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Forge Global by 2.9% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 1,439,343 shares of the companys stock worth $2,518,000 after acquiring an additional 40,068 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp increased its position in shares of Forge Global by 396.3% during the second quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 875,678 shares of the companys stock worth $2,128,000 after acquiring an additional 699,233 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 30.29% of the companys stock.

About Forge Global

(Get Free Report)

Forge Global Holdings, Inc operates a financial services platform in California. The company offers trading solution, a platform that connects investors with private company shareholders and enables them to efficiently facilitate private share transactions; and custody solution, which enables clients to securely custody and manage assets.

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Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. trimmed its holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG  Free Report) by 4.9% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 352 shares of the restaurant operators stock after selling 18 shares during the period. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd.s holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill were worth $601,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in CMG. Van ECK Associates Corp raised its position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 3.9% during the 1st quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 3,311 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $5,656,000 after acquiring an additional 124 shares in the last quarter. First Trust Direct Indexing L.P. raised its position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 2.8% during the 1st quarter. First Trust Direct Indexing L.P. now owns 439 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $750,000 after acquiring an additional 12 shares in the last quarter. Czech National Bank raised its position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 0.3% during the 1st quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 3,254 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $5,559,000 after acquiring an additional 9 shares in the last quarter. Simplicity Solutions LLC raised its position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 55.3% during the 1st quarter. Simplicity Solutions LLC now owns 733 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $1,252,000 after acquiring an additional 261 shares in the last quarter. Finally, ETF Managers Group LLC grew its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 1.3% during the 1st quarter. ETF Managers Group LLC now owns 455 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $777,000 after buying an additional 6 shares during the last quarter. 91.91% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

CMG has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Wedbush decreased their price target on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,300.00 to $2,200.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 27th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,025.00 to $2,010.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 27th. Barclays raised their price target on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,885.00 to $1,950.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday, July 27th. Stephens reissued an overweight rating and set a $2,400.00 price objective on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in a report on Thursday, July 27th. Finally, Oppenheimer dropped their price target on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,350.00 to $2,300.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 27th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $2,139.72.

Chipotle Mexican Grill Stock Up 0.0 %

Shares of CMG opened at $1,846.55 on Monday. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. has a 12-month low of $1,344.05 and a 12-month high of $2,175.01. The firm has a market capitalization of $50.95 billion, a PE ratio of 46.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 1.31. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $2,034.04 and its 200-day simple moving average is $1,858.06.

Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The restaurant operator reported $12.65 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $12.25 by $0.40. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a return on equity of 45.85% and a net margin of 12.00%. The business had revenue of $2.51 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.53 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $9.30 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 13.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. will post 43.06 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Robin S. Hickenlooper sold 105 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, May 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $2,073.08, for a total transaction of $217,673.40. Following the transaction, the director now owns 853 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,768,337.24. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 1,086 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $2,138.00, for a total value of $2,321,868.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 23,347 shares in the company, valued at $49,915,886. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Robin S. Hickenlooper sold 105 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $2,073.08, for a total value of $217,673.40. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 853 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,768,337.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 3,332 shares of company stock valued at $6,830,885 over the last 90 days. 0.96% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

About Chipotle Mexican Grill

(Free Report)

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc engages in the development and operation of classically-cooked, real food with wholesome ingredients without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. It offers a focused menu of burritos, tacos, burrito bowls, and salads prepared using classic cooking methods. The company was founded by Steve Ells in 1993 and is headquartered in Newport Beach, CA.

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Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. decreased its holdings in First Horizon Co. (NYSE:FHN  Free Report) by 64.0% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 34,080 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 60,540 shares during the quarter. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd.s holdings in First Horizon were worth $606,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Soros Fund Management LLC bought a new stake in First Horizon during the 4th quarter worth about $209,132,000. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of First Horizon in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $133,345,000. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec acquired a new stake in shares of First Horizon in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $44,982,000. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its holdings in First Horizon by 62.6% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 4,302,681 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $101,070,000 after buying an additional 1,657,018 shares during the period. Finally, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. acquired a new stake in First Horizon during the 4th quarter worth approximately $38,389,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.79% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on FHN. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of First Horizon from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, May 24th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on shares of First Horizon from $13.00 to $14.00 in a report on Thursday, July 20th. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on shares of First Horizon in a research note on Wednesday, June 28th. They issued a neutral rating for the company. Robert W. Baird initiated coverage on shares of First Horizon in a research note on Tuesday, July 18th. They issued a neutral rating and a $14.00 target price for the company. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of First Horizon from $13.00 to $13.50 in a research note on Thursday, June 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $15.42.

Insider Activity

In other First Horizon news, Director William H. Fenstermaker bought 10,000 shares of First Horizon stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 7th. The stock was bought at an average price of $11.62 per share, with a total value of $116,200.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 256,312 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,978,345.44. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 1.55% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

First Horizon Trading Up 1.0 %

FHN stock opened at $13.59 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a current ratio of 0.94 and a quick ratio of 0.93. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $12.31 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $15.96. First Horizon Co. has a one year low of $8.99 and a one year high of $24.92. The stock has a market cap of $7.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.75 and a beta of 0.94.

First Horizon (NYSE:FHN  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 19th. The financial services provider reported $0.39 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.38 by $0.01. First Horizon had a net margin of 24.64% and a return on equity of 13.44%. The firm had revenue of $1.42 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $820.19 million. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.34 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that First Horizon Co. will post 1.49 EPS for the current year.

First Horizon Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, October 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 15th will be given a $0.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 14th. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.42%. First Horizons payout ratio is presently 31.75%.

First Horizon Profile

(Free Report)

First Horizon Corporation operates as the bank holding company for First Horizon Bank that provides various financial services. The company operates through three segments: Regional Banking, Specialty Banking, and Corporate. It offers general banking services for consumers, businesses, financial institutions, and governments.

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Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. decreased its holdings in Amphenol Co. (NYSE:APH  Free Report) by 64.6% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 11,548 shares of the electronics makers stock after selling 21,030 shares during the quarter. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd.s holdings in Amphenol were worth $944,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in APH. MCF Advisors LLC boosted its position in Amphenol by 129.0% in the 1st quarter. MCF Advisors LLC now owns 300 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 169 shares during the period. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV purchased a new position in Amphenol in the first quarter valued at $27,000. Altshuler Shaham Ltd acquired a new position in Amphenol during the 4th quarter worth $33,000. Edmond DE Rothschild Holding S.A. purchased a new stake in Amphenol during the 4th quarter worth about $41,000. Finally, OLD Mission Capital LLC acquired a new stake in Amphenol in the 4th quarter valued at about $45,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.93% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Amphenol

In other news, VP Lance E. Damico sold 75,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $88.71, for a total transaction of $6,653,250.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 25,700 shares in the company, valued at $2,279,847. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In related news, VP Lance E. Damico sold 75,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $88.71, for a total transaction of $6,653,250.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 25,700 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,279,847. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CFO Craig A. Lampo sold 300,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $88.11, for a total transaction of $26,433,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 87,045 shares in the company, valued at $7,669,534.95. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 1,289,962 shares of company stock worth $113,052,232. 2.22% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

APH has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Robert W. Baird upped their target price on shares of Amphenol from $89.00 to $100.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 27th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Amphenol from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Sunday, August 6th. Bank of America lifted their price objective on shares of Amphenol from $90.00 to $100.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 27th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on Amphenol from $80.00 to $88.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 27th. Finally, Truist Financial upped their price objective on Amphenol from $93.00 to $101.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, July 27th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $94.25.

View Our Latest Report on Amphenol

Amphenol Stock Performance

NYSE APH opened at $87.21 on Monday. The company has a fifty day moving average of $83.97 and a two-hundred day moving average of $79.93. The company has a market capitalization of $52.02 billion, a PE ratio of 28.41, a P/E/G ratio of 3.44 and a beta of 1.24. Amphenol Co. has a 1 year low of $65.21 and a 1 year high of $90.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 2.33 and a quick ratio of 1.60.

Amphenol (NYSE:APH  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The electronics maker reported $0.72 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.68 by $0.04. Amphenol had a return on equity of 25.85% and a net margin of 15.15%. The firm had revenue of $3.05 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.95 billion. The businesss revenue was down 2.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.75 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that Amphenol Co. will post 2.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Amphenol Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 11th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 19th will be paid a dividend of $0.21 per share. This represents a $0.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.96%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 18th. Amphenols dividend payout ratio is currently 27.36%.

Amphenol Company Profile

(Free Report)

Amphenol Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, primarily designs, manufactures, and markets electrical, electronic, and fiber optic connectors in the United States, China, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Harsh Environment Solutions, Communications Solutions, and Interconnect and Sensor Systems.

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Mather Group LLC. reduced its position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC  Free Report) by 56.9% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 15,053 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 19,862 shares during the quarter. Mather Group LLC.s holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $563,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Wayfinding Financial LLC raised its holdings in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 5.1% during the first quarter. Wayfinding Financial LLC now owns 7,421 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $277,000 after acquiring an additional 363 shares in the last quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company by 13.0% in the first quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 25,076 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $937,000 after purchasing an additional 2,888 shares during the period. Alliance Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 2.9% in the 1st quarter. Alliance Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 11,119 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $416,000 after purchasing an additional 311 shares in the last quarter. Thrive Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company in the 1st quarter worth approximately $209,000. Finally, 9258 Wealth Management LLC increased its position in Wells Fargo & Company by 9.1% during the 4th quarter. 9258 Wealth Management LLC now owns 12,180 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $503,000 after buying an additional 1,015 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 72.11% of the companys stock.

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Wells Fargo & Company Stock Performance

Shares of WFC opened at $43.73 on Monday. Wells Fargo & Company has a 52 week low of $35.25 and a 52 week high of $48.84. The company has a quick ratio of 0.83, a current ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05. The stock has a market cap of $160.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.93, a PEG ratio of 0.88 and a beta of 1.13. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $43.46 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $42.34.

Wells Fargo & Company Increases Dividend

Wells Fargo & Company ( NYSE:WFC Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 14th. The financial services provider reported $1.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.16 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $20.53 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $20.11 billion. Wells Fargo & Company had a net margin of 16.18% and a return on equity of 11.15%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 20.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.74 earnings per share. On average, analysts expect that Wells Fargo & Company will post 4.86 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 1st. Investors of record on Friday, August 4th will be issued a $0.35 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 3rd. This is a boost from Wells Fargo & Companys previous quarterly dividend of $0.30. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.20%. Wells Fargo & Companys payout ratio is currently 35.00%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. BMO Capital Markets cut their target price on Wells Fargo & Company from $54.00 to $51.00 in a research note on Monday, July 17th. Piper Sandler upped their price objective on Wells Fargo & Company from $43.00 to $45.00 in a research report on Monday, July 17th. VNET Group reissued a maintains rating on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a report on Monday, June 26th. StockNews.com began coverage on Wells Fargo & Company in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their target price on Wells Fargo & Company from $44.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, April 17th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Wells Fargo & Company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $48.62.

Read Our Latest Research Report on Wells Fargo & Company

About Wells Fargo & Company

(Free Report)

Wells Fargo & Company, a diversified financial services company, provides banking, investment, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through four segments: Consumer Banking and Lending; Commercial Banking; Corporate and Investment Banking; and Wealth and Investment Management.

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Mather Group LLC. trimmed its holdings in Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (NYSE:NLY  Free Report) by 4.7% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 28,352 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 1,393 shares during the quarter. Mather Group LLC.s holdings in Annaly Capital Management were worth $542,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Bank of Montreal Can boosted its position in shares of Annaly Capital Management by 24.0% in the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 381,525 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,828,000 after purchasing an additional 73,892 shares in the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in Annaly Capital Management in the first quarter worth $199,000. Rhumbline Advisers grew its stake in shares of Annaly Capital Management by 3.3% in the first quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 1,185,123 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $8,343,000 after acquiring an additional 37,762 shares during the last quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Annaly Capital Management by 6.6% during the first quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 97,368 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $685,000 after acquiring an additional 6,043 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cibc World Market Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Annaly Capital Management in the 1st quarter worth about $163,000. 51.24% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have issued reports on NLY. StockNews.com raised shares of Annaly Capital Management to a sell rating in a report on Thursday, June 22nd. Piper Sandler upped their price objective on Annaly Capital Management from $21.50 to $22.00 in a research report on Friday, July 28th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $22.00 price target on shares of Annaly Capital Management in a research note on Tuesday, August 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on Annaly Capital Management from $23.00 to $22.00 in a report on Monday, April 24th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Annaly Capital Management from $23.00 to $21.00 in a report on Friday, April 28th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $21.31.

Annaly Capital Management Stock Performance

Annaly Capital Management stock opened at $19.87 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $20.10 and a 200 day moving average of $19.96. Annaly Capital Management, Inc. has a one year low of $15.11 and a one year high of $27.36.

Annaly Capital Management Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 30th were paid a $0.65 dividend. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 13.09%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, June 29th. Annaly Capital Managements dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -62.20%.

About Annaly Capital Management

(Free Report)

Annaly Capital Management, Inc, a diversified capital manager, engages in mortgage finance. The company invests in agency mortgage-backed securities collateralized by residential mortgages; non-agency residential whole loans and securitized products within the residential and commercial markets; mortgage servicing rights; agency commercial mortgage-backed securities; residential mortgage loans; and agency or private label credit risk transfer securities.

Further Reading

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 14. Azerbaijan's mobile performance outshines its regional peers across Central Asia and Caucasian countries, Ookla Principal Analyst Sylwia Kechiche told Trend.

According to Kechiche, the Azerbaijani government has been investing in expanding and upgrading the country's broadband infrastructure to support the increasing demand for internet services and enable digital transformation, which is a crucial pillar of economic growth.

"In June 2023, Azerbaijan ranked in 59th place for mobile with a median 40.39 Mbps download speed, ahead of Kazakhstan (68th), Georgia (74th), Armenia (81st), Kyrgyzstan (82nd), and Uzbekistan (107th)," she said.

Azerbaijan outperforms the above countries due to the proliferation of 4G technology, the analyst explained.

Besides, according to her, continued investment in this technology has increased 4G speeds from a median download speed of 33.75 Mbps in June 2022 to 43.46 Mbps in June this year.

Kechiche added that 4G availability has also increased, from 73.1 percent in June 2022 to 80.5 percent in June 2023.

In May 2023, Azerbaijan ranked 59th out of 140 countries in terms of mobile data download speed and 116th out of 180 countries in terms of broadband internet data transfer speed.
Boston Partners lowered its holdings in EnerSys (NYSE:ENS  Free Report) by 51.4% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 376,046 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 398,316 shares during the period. Boston Partners owned approximately 0.92% of EnerSys worth $32,664,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of ENS. HighTower Advisors LLC bought a new stake in EnerSys in the 1st quarter valued at about $264,000. Bank of Montreal Can lifted its holdings in shares of EnerSys by 12.9% during the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 10,670 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $812,000 after acquiring an additional 1,221 shares during the period. MetLife Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of EnerSys by 35.1% during the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 47,723 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $3,559,000 after acquiring an additional 12,406 shares during the period. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS lifted its holdings in shares of EnerSys by 8.8% during the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 15,118 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,127,000 after acquiring an additional 1,229 shares during the period. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its holdings in shares of EnerSys by 7.8% during the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,403,889 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $104,691,000 after acquiring an additional 101,062 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 94.17% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

ENS has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. CL King initiated coverage on shares of EnerSys in a report on Friday, July 14th. They set a buy rating and a $137.00 price target for the company. BTIG Research upped their price target on shares of EnerSys from $100.00 to $125.00 in a report on Friday, June 16th. Oppenheimer cut their price target on shares of EnerSys from $119.00 to $117.00 in a report on Friday. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of EnerSys in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a strong-buy rating for the company.

Insider Buying and Selling at EnerSys

In other news, insider Andrew M. Zogby sold 10,537 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $104.21, for a total transaction of $1,098,060.77. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 20,495 shares in the company, valued at $2,135,783.95. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Corporate insiders own 1.90% of the companys stock.

EnerSys Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:ENS opened at $94.71 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $3.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.53, a PEG ratio of 0.88 and a beta of 1.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 2.76 and a quick ratio of 1.48. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $106.01 and a 200 day simple moving average of $93.01. EnerSys has a one year low of $56.72 and a one year high of $113.34.

EnerSys (NYSE:ENS  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 9th. The industrial products company reported $1.89 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.80 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $908.60 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $968.70 million. EnerSys had a net margin of 5.69% and a return on equity of 16.17%. The firms revenue was up 1.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.15 EPS. Research analysts predict that EnerSys will post 7.67 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

EnerSys Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 15th will be given a $0.225 dividend. This is a boost from EnerSyss previous quarterly dividend of $0.18. This represents a $0.90 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.95%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 14th. EnerSyss dividend payout ratio is 13.70%.

EnerSys Company Profile

(Free Report)

EnerSys provides various stored energy solutions for industrial applications worldwide. It operates in three segments: Energy Systems, Motive Power, and Specialty. The company offers uninterruptible power systems applications for computer and computer-controlled systems, as well as telecommunications systems; switchgear and electrical control systems used in industrial facilities and electric utilities, large-scale energy storage, and energy pipelines; integrated power solutions and services to broadband, telecom, renewable, and industrial customers; and thermally managed cabinets and enclosures for electronic equipment and batteries.

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CACI International (NYSE:CACI  Get Free Report) had its price objective boosted by Barclays from $350.00 to $400.00 in a note issued to investors on Monday, FlyOnTheWall reports. Barclayss target price would suggest a potential upside of 16.32% from the stocks current price.

Several other analysts also recently weighed in on CACI. Raymond James lifted their price objective on shares of CACI International from $340.00 to $370.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday. William Blair restated an outperform rating on shares of CACI International in a research report on Thursday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of CACI International from $330.00 to $380.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of CACI International in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Finally, 888 restated a maintains rating on shares of CACI International in a research report on Friday, April 28th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $374.33.

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CACI International Trading Up 0.2 %

CACI International stock opened at $343.87 on Monday. The firms 50-day moving average is $338.68 and its 200-day moving average is $313.17. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a quick ratio of 1.22 and a current ratio of 1.22. CACI International has a 1 year low of $245.32 and a 1 year high of $359.33. The company has a market cap of $7.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.90, a PEG ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 0.99.

CACI International (NYSE:CACI  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 9th. The information technology services provider reported $5.30 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.85 by $0.45. The firm had revenue of $1.70 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.73 billion. CACI International had a net margin of 5.74% and a return on equity of 13.87%. CACI Internationals quarterly revenue was up 3.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $4.54 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that CACI International will post 19.73 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Transactions at CACI International

In other news, Director Gregory G. Johnson sold 150 shares of CACI International stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $320.30, for a total value of $48,045.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 5,958 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,908,347.40. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 1.23% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of CACI International

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Dark Forest Capital Management LP raised its stake in shares of CACI International by 262.5% in the 4th quarter. Dark Forest Capital Management LP now owns 87 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 63 shares in the last quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of CACI International during the 4th quarter worth about $36,000. Van ECK Associates Corp acquired a new stake in shares of CACI International during the 1st quarter worth about $39,000. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of CACI International during the 1st quarter worth about $49,000. Finally, Quent Capital LLC increased its position in shares of CACI International by 33.0% during the 1st quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 234 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $69,000 after purchasing an additional 58 shares in the last quarter. 89.34% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About CACI International

(Get Free Report)

CACI International Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides expertise and technology to enterprise and mission customers in support of national security missions and government modernization/transformation in the intelligence, defense, and federal civilian sectors. It operates through two segments: Domestic Operations and International Operations.

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Wedbush Securities Inc. reduced its position in Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSEAMERICAN:CQP  Free Report) by 65.3% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 17,197 shares of the energy companys stock after selling 32,345 shares during the quarter. Wedbush Securities Inc.s holdings in Cheniere Energy Partners were worth $814,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Institutional & Family Asset Management LLC increased its stake in Cheniere Energy Partners by 58.4% during the first quarter. Institutional & Family Asset Management LLC now owns 30,435 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $1,440,000 after purchasing an additional 11,215 shares during the last quarter. Donoghue Forlines LLC grew its position in shares of Cheniere Energy Partners by 8.4% during the 1st quarter. Donoghue Forlines LLC now owns 14,995 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $710,000 after buying an additional 1,167 shares during the last quarter. Sigma Planning Corp raised its stake in Cheniere Energy Partners by 12.5% during the first quarter. Sigma Planning Corp now owns 4,322 shares of the energy companys stock worth $205,000 after acquiring an additional 481 shares during the period. Global Retirement Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Cheniere Energy Partners by 255.6% in the first quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 978 shares of the energy companys stock worth $44,000 after acquiring an additional 703 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. boosted its stake in Cheniere Energy Partners by 105.0% in the first quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. now owns 4,100 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $194,000 after acquiring an additional 2,100 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 46.48% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In other news, COO Corey Grindal sold 7,649 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $45.93, for a total transaction of $351,318.57. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website.

Cheniere Energy Partners Stock Performance

Cheniere Energy Partners stock opened at $49.85 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $24.13 billion, a PE ratio of 6.66 and a beta of 0.83. The firms 50-day moving average is $46.57. Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. has a 52 week low of $42.96 and a 52 week high of $62.08.

Cheniere Energy Partners (NYSEAMERICAN:CQP  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The energy company reported $0.84 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.82 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $1.93 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.27 billion. Cheniere Energy Partners had a net margin of 31.31% and a negative return on equity of 174.10%. Cheniere Energy Partnerss quarterly revenue was down 53.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.25 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. will post 3.21 earnings per share for the current year.

Cheniere Energy Partners Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 14th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 7th will be given a dividend of $0.255 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 4th. This represents a $1.02 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.05%. Cheniere Energy Partnerss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 41.44%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

CQP has been the topic of a number of research reports. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price target on Cheniere Energy Partners from $53.00 to $49.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. UBS Group raised shares of Cheniere Energy Partners from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $57.00 price target for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 19th. Wolfe Research cut shares of Cheniere Energy Partners from a peer perform rating to an underperform rating and set a $43.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Thursday, June 1st. Finally, StockNews.com cut shares of Cheniere Energy Partners from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $49.71.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Cheniere Energy Partners

Cheniere Energy Partners Profile

(Free Report)

Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P., through its subsidiaries, provides liquefied natural gas (LNG) to integrated energy companies, utilities, and energy trading companies worldwide. It owns and operates natural gas liquefaction and export facility at the Sabine Pass LNG production terminal located in Cameron Parish, Louisiana.

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Foster & Motley Inc. bought a new position in shares of LTC Properties, Inc. (NYSE:LTC  Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 12,521 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock, valued at approximately $440,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Wedbush Securities Inc. grew its stake in shares of LTC Properties by 2.6% in the 1st quarter. Wedbush Securities Inc. now owns 24,120 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $847,000 after purchasing an additional 600 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its stake in shares of LTC Properties by 26.4% during the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 917,887 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $32,245,000 after purchasing an additional 191,918 shares in the last quarter. Trillium Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in LTC Properties by 6.9% in the first quarter. Trillium Asset Management LLC now owns 81,163 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,716,000 after purchasing an additional 5,210 shares during the period. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. grew its position in LTC Properties by 10.4% in the 1st quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 23,123 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $812,000 after buying an additional 2,181 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Assetmark Inc. increased its stake in LTC Properties by 11.7% during the 1st quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 24,338 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $855,000 after buying an additional 2,558 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.97% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In related news, Director Timothy Triche sold 6,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $33.03, for a total value of $198,180.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 39,425 shares in the company, valued at $1,302,207.75. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 2.00% of the stock is owned by insiders.

LTC Properties Trading Up 0.1 %

LTC Properties Dividend Announcement

NYSE:LTC opened at $33.74 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11, a quick ratio of 13.18 and a current ratio of 13.18. The company has a market capitalization of $1.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.73 and a beta of 0.94. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $33.85 and its 200 day moving average price is $34.34. LTC Properties, Inc. has a 52 week low of $30.87 and a 52 week high of $45.49.

The firm also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 29th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, September 21st will be paid a dividend of $0.19 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, September 20th. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.76%. LTC Propertiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 133.33%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

LTC has been the topic of several recent research reports. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on shares of LTC Properties in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. They issued an equal weight rating and a $36.00 price target on the stock. VNET Group reiterated a maintains rating on shares of LTC Properties in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price objective on LTC Properties from $37.00 to $32.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 30th. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of LTC Properties from $35.00 to $34.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 3rd. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of LTC Properties in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, LTC Properties presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $35.33.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on LTC Properties

LTC Properties Company Profile

(Free Report)

LTC Properties, Inc is a real estate investment trust, which engages in managing seniors housing and health care properties. It operates through the Texas, Michigan, Florida, Wisconsin, Colorado, and Remaining States geographic segments. The company was founded by Andre C. Dimitriadis on May 12, 1992 and is headquartered in Westlake Village, CA.

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Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. decreased its holdings in Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:BR  Free Report) by 68.8% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 4,410 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 9,740 shares during the period. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd.s holdings in Broadridge Financial Solutions were worth $646,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in BR. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 0.8% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 13,714,442 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $2,135,476,000 after buying an additional 108,223 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley lifted its stake in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions by 41.0% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 7,043,656 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $944,766,000 after purchasing an additional 2,048,184 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its stake in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 3,391,471 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $454,898,000 after purchasing an additional 25,752 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions by 2.7% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 2,481,795 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $332,358,000 after purchasing an additional 66,309 shares during the last quarter. Finally, T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions by 85.1% in the 4th quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,230,810 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $299,219,000 after purchasing an additional 1,025,907 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 89.05% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

BR has been the subject of several analyst reports. DA Davidson raised their price objective on Broadridge Financial Solutions from $160.00 to $164.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 9th. Raymond James raised their price objective on Broadridge Financial Solutions from $183.00 to $186.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 9th. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on Broadridge Financial Solutions from $165.00 to $175.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 9th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Broadridge Financial Solutions in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on Broadridge Financial Solutions from $169.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 9th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Broadridge Financial Solutions currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $170.00.

Broadridge Financial Solutions Price Performance

Shares of BR stock opened at $181.90 on Monday. Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. has a 52-week low of $131.35 and a 52-week high of $183.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.00, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a current ratio of 0.58. The firm has a market capitalization of $21.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.39 and a beta of 1.02. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $164.62 and a 200 day moving average price of $152.35.

Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE:BR  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 8th. The business services provider reported $3.21 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.10 by $0.11. The company had revenue of $1.84 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.87 billion. Broadridge Financial Solutions had a return on equity of 42.09% and a net margin of 10.40%. Broadridge Financial Solutionss quarterly revenue was up 6.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.65 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. will post 7.64 earnings per share for the current year.

Broadridge Financial Solutions Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 5th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 15th will be issued a $0.80 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 14th. This is an increase from Broadridge Financial Solutionss previous quarterly dividend of $0.73. This represents a $3.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.76%. Broadridge Financial Solutionss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 54.82%.

Insider Activity

In other news, VP Laura Matlin sold 4,052 shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions stock in a transaction on Friday, May 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $153.73, for a total value of $622,913.96. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 5,825 shares in the company, valued at approximately $895,477.25. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, SVP Robert Schifellite sold 26,109 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $179.27, for a total value of $4,680,560.43. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 48,082 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,619,660.14. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, VP Laura Matlin sold 4,052 shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $153.73, for a total value of $622,913.96. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 5,825 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $895,477.25. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 47,179 shares of company stock worth $8,158,444. 1.60% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Broadridge Financial Solutions Profile

(Free Report)

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc provides investor communications and technology-driven solutions for the financial services industry. The company's Investor Communication Solutions segment processes and distributes proxy materials to investors in equity securities and mutual funds, as well as facilitates related vote processing services; and distributes regulatory reports, class action, and corporate action/reorganization event information, as well as tax reporting solutions.

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Mather Group LLC. lessened its holdings in Cummins Inc. (NYSE:CMI  Free Report) by 8.7% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,770 shares of the companys stock after selling 169 shares during the period. Mather Group LLC.s holdings in Cummins were worth $423,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC lifted its stake in shares of Cummins by 39.2% in the 4th quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 142 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Jag Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Cummins by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Jag Capital Management LLC now owns 9,255 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,242,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Waldron Private Wealth LLC lifted its stake in shares of Cummins by 4.7% in the 1st quarter. Waldron Private Wealth LLC now owns 1,047 shares of the companys stock valued at $250,000 after purchasing an additional 47 shares during the last quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems lifted its stake in shares of Cummins by 0.4% in the 4th quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems now owns 11,085 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,686,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Trust Co. of Vermont lifted its stake in shares of Cummins by 0.8% in the 1st quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont now owns 6,319 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,509,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.72% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

CMI has been the topic of several research analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on Cummins from $241.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, August 4th. Credit Suisse Group cut their price target on Cummins from $290.00 to $288.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, August 4th. VNET Group restated a maintains rating on shares of Cummins in a report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Citigroup upped their price target on Cummins from $265.00 to $290.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, July 18th. Finally, 888 restated a maintains rating on shares of Cummins in a report on Wednesday, May 31st. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $266.17.

Cummins Trading Up 0.6 %

NYSE:CMI opened at $238.72 on Monday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $244.05 and a 200-day simple moving average of $237.65. The stock has a market cap of $33.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.37, a P/E/G ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 1.05. Cummins Inc. has a 1 year low of $200.40 and a 1 year high of $265.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 1.40.

Cummins (NYSE:CMI  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The company reported $5.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $5.19 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $8.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.39 billion. Cummins had a net margin of 7.89% and a return on equity of 25.46%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 30.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $4.77 earnings per share. As a group, analysts anticipate that Cummins Inc. will post 19.9 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Cummins Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 7th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 25th will be paid a dividend of $1.68 per share. This represents a $6.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.82%. This is an increase from Cumminss previous quarterly dividend of $1.57. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 24th. Cumminss dividend payout ratio is 35.18%.

About Cummins

(Free Report)

Cummins Inc designs, manufactures, distributes, and services diesel and natural gas engines, electric and hybrid powertrains, and related components worldwide. It operates through five segments: Engine, Distribution, Components, Power Systems, and New Power. The company offers diesel and natural gas-powered engines under the Cummins and other customer brands for the heavy and medium-duty truck, bus, recreational vehicle, light-duty automotive, construction, mining, marine, rail, oil and gas, defense, and agricultural markets; and offers new parts and services, as well as remanufactured parts and engines.

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Mather Group LLC. decreased its position in Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:KEYS  Free Report) by 9.0% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 1,834 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock after selling 181 shares during the quarter. Mather Group LLC.s holdings in Keysight Technologies were worth $296,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of KEYS. Panagora Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Keysight Technologies by 14.7% in the 1st quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 9,411 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $1,487,000 after buying an additional 1,206 shares in the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL boosted its stake in shares of Keysight Technologies by 1.3% during the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 6,780 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $1,071,000 after purchasing an additional 88 shares during the period. Prudential PLC bought a new position in Keysight Technologies during the 1st quarter valued at about $592,000. National Pension Service raised its holdings in shares of Keysight Technologies by 2.2% in the first quarter. National Pension Service now owns 274,276 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $43,327,000 after buying an additional 5,882 shares during the period. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Keysight Technologies by 0.8% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 20,348,229 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $3,214,409,000 after acquiring an additional 153,857 shares during the last quarter. 84.08% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on KEYS shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of Keysight Technologies from $218.00 to $205.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. Bank of America lowered Keysight Technologies from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $163.00 to $148.00 in a report on Monday. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Keysight Technologies in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Citigroup started coverage on shares of Keysight Technologies in a report on Thursday, June 29th. They issued a buy rating and a $200.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on shares of Keysight Technologies from $184.00 to $180.00 in a report on Monday, April 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $190.58.

Keysight Technologies Stock Down 0.6 %

Shares of KEYS opened at $156.54 on Monday. Keysight Technologies, Inc. has a 52 week low of $139.63 and a 52 week high of $189.45. The company has a market capitalization of $27.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.86, a PEG ratio of 2.54 and a beta of 1.05. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $163.91 and its 200-day moving average price is $161.35. The company has a quick ratio of 2.68, a current ratio of 3.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38.

Keysight Technologies (NYSE:KEYS  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 16th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $2.12 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.95 by $0.17. The firm had revenue of $1.39 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.38 billion. Keysight Technologies had a net margin of 21.11% and a return on equity of 31.75%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 2.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.68 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Keysight Technologies, Inc. will post 7.47 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity at Keysight Technologies

In other Keysight Technologies news, SVP Soon Chai Gooi sold 29,139 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $161.95, for a total transaction of $4,719,061.05. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 227,874 shares of the companys stock, valued at $36,904,194.30. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Keysight Technologies news, SVP Kailash Narayanan sold 500 shares of Keysight Technologies stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $165.00, for a total transaction of $82,500.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 26,169 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,317,885. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, SVP Soon Chai Gooi sold 29,139 shares of Keysight Technologies stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $161.95, for a total transaction of $4,719,061.05. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 227,874 shares in the company, valued at approximately $36,904,194.30. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.51% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Keysight Technologies Profile

(Free Report)

Keysight Technologies, Inc provides electronic design and test solutions to commercial communications, networking, aerospace, defense and government, automotive, energy, semiconductor, electronic, and education industries in the Americas, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. Its Communications Solutions Group segment provides electronic design automation (EDA) software; radio frequency and microwave test solutions, and related software; hardware and virtual network test platforms and software applications, including data center, routing and switching, software defined networking, security, and encryption; oscilloscopes, logic and serial protocol analyzers, logic-signal sources, arbitrary waveform generators, and bit error rate testers; and optical modulation analyzers, optical component analyzers, optical power meters, and optical laser source solutions, as well as resells refurbished used Keysight equipment.

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Ralph Lauren (NYSE:RL  Free Report) had its target price hoisted by Barclays from $139.00 to $141.00 in a report released on Friday morning, MarketBeat reports. The firm currently has an overweight rating on the textile makers stock.

Other analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their target price on shares of Ralph Lauren from $119.00 to $122.00 in a research note on Friday, May 26th. UBS Group increased their price objective on Ralph Lauren from $168.00 to $169.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, July 31st. OTR Global raised shares of Ralph Lauren to a positive rating in a research note on Friday, April 28th. TheStreet lowered shares of Ralph Lauren from a b+ rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Thursday, May 25th. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group raised their target price on shares of Ralph Lauren from $140.00 to $155.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, August 4th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Ralph Lauren presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $134.00.

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Read Our Latest Research Report on Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE RL opened at $121.46 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $7.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.53, a PEG ratio of 0.98 and a beta of 1.40. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $124.73 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $118.84. The company has a current ratio of 2.18, a quick ratio of 1.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59. Ralph Lauren has a 12 month low of $82.23 and a 12 month high of $135.76.

Ralph Lauren (NYSE:RL  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 10th. The textile maker reported $2.34 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.15 by $0.19. Ralph Lauren had a net margin of 8.24% and a return on equity of 24.97%. The company had revenue of $1.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.48 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.88 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up .4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts predict that Ralph Lauren will post 9.45 earnings per share for the current year.

Ralph Lauren Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 30th were given a dividend of $0.75 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, June 29th. This represents a $3.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.47%. Ralph Laurens dividend payout ratio is currently 38.36%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Patrice Louvet sold 9,272 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, July 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $125.00, for a total value of $1,159,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 193,060 shares of the companys stock, valued at $24,132,500. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 39.09% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ralph Lauren

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Credit Suisse AG lifted its position in Ralph Lauren by 0.3% during the 2nd quarter. Credit Suisse AG now owns 58,765 shares of the textile makers stock worth $7,246,000 after acquiring an additional 190 shares during the period. iSAM Funds UK Ltd raised its position in Ralph Lauren by 26.7% during the 2nd quarter. iSAM Funds UK Ltd now owns 3,143 shares of the textile makers stock worth $388,000 after buying an additional 662 shares during the last quarter. Bridgewater Associates LP lifted its stake in shares of Ralph Lauren by 11.7% in the 2nd quarter. Bridgewater Associates LP now owns 10,269 shares of the textile makers stock worth $1,266,000 after acquiring an additional 1,079 shares during the period. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company boosted its holdings in shares of Ralph Lauren by 0.5% in the second quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 29,893 shares of the textile makers stock valued at $3,686,000 after acquiring an additional 134 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. raised its holdings in Ralph Lauren by 52.4% during the second quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 5,742 shares of the textile makers stock worth $708,000 after purchasing an additional 1,974 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 73.95% of the companys stock.

Ralph Lauren Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Ralph Lauren Corporation designs, markets, and distributes lifestyle products in North America, Europe, Asia, and internationally. The company offers apparel, including a range of men's, women's, and children's clothing; footwear and accessories, which comprise casual shoes, dress shoes, boots, sneakers, sandals, eyewear, watches, fashion and fine jewelry, scarves, hats, gloves, and umbrellas, as well as leather goods, such as handbags, luggage, small leather goods, and belts; home products consisting of bed and bath lines, furniture, fabric and wallcoverings, lighting, tabletop, kitchen linens, floor coverings, and giftware; and fragrances.

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RFG Advisory LLC decreased its stake in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM  Free Report) by 13.5% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 3,246 shares of the companys stock after selling 506 shares during the period. RFG Advisory LLCs holdings in Archer-Daniels-Midland were worth $259,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in ADM. Trust Co. of Vermont raised its holdings in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 135.6% in the 4th quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont now owns 318 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 183 shares in the last quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC raised its holdings in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 655.8% in the 4th quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 393 shares of the companys stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 341 shares in the last quarter. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 88.1% in the 1st quarter. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 476 shares of the companys stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 223 shares in the last quarter. Almanack Investment Partners LLC. purchased a new position in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland during the 3rd quarter valued at about $43,000. Finally, Hollencrest Capital Management bought a new position in Archer-Daniels-Midland during the 4th quarter worth approximately $53,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.13% of the companys stock.

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Insider Transactions at Archer-Daniels-Midland

In other news, insider Fruit Molly L. Strader sold 1,455 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $86.80, for a total value of $126,294.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 10,809 shares in the company, valued at $938,221.20. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Company insiders own 1.20% of the companys stock.

Archer-Daniels-Midland Trading Down 1.3 %

ADM opened at $84.82 on Monday. The business has a 50 day moving average of $78.88 and a 200-day moving average of $78.63. The stock has a market cap of $45.47 billion, a PE ratio of 11.32, a PEG ratio of 1.84 and a beta of 0.82. Archer-Daniels-Midland Company has a 52 week low of $69.92 and a 52 week high of $98.28. The company has a quick ratio of 1.00, a current ratio of 1.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33.

Archer-Daniels-Midland (NYSE:ADM  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 25th. The company reported $1.89 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.59 by $0.30. The business had revenue of $25.19 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $25.82 billion. Archer-Daniels-Midland had a return on equity of 17.52% and a net margin of 4.14%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 7.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.15 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that Archer-Daniels-Midland Company will post 7.2 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Archer-Daniels-Midland Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 6th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, August 16th will be paid a $0.45 dividend. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.12%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, August 15th. Archer-Daniels-Midlands dividend payout ratio is currently 24.03%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms recently issued reports on ADM. Robert W. Baird reduced their price target on Archer-Daniels-Midland from $98.00 to $90.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Roth Mkm initiated coverage on Archer-Daniels-Midland in a research report on Thursday, June 22nd. They set a buy rating and a $92.00 price target on the stock. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on Archer-Daniels-Midland from $83.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, July 31st. StockNews.com upgraded Archer-Daniels-Midland from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 26th. Finally, Barclays cut their price objective on Archer-Daniels-Midland from $99.00 to $95.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 1st. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Archer-Daniels-Midland presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $97.50.

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About Archer-Daniels-Midland

(Free Report)

Archer-Daniels-Midland Company procures, transports, stores, processes, and merchandises agricultural commodities, products, and ingredients in the United States, Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company operates in three segments: Ag Services and Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions, and Nutrition.

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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS boosted its holdings in shares of Devon Energy Co. (NYSE:DVN  Free Report) by 0.3% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 110,818 shares of the energy companys stock after acquiring an additional 320 shares during the period. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYSs holdings in Devon Energy were worth $5,608,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Tyler Stone Wealth Management purchased a new stake in shares of Devon Energy in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Clearview Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Devon Energy in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board purchased a new stake in shares of Devon Energy in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Devon Energy in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Finally, Manchester Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Devon Energy by 132.5% in the 4th quarter. Manchester Capital Management LLC now owns 520 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 2,120 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 71.00% of the companys stock.

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Devon Energy Price Performance

Devon Energy stock opened at $50.41 on Monday. Devon Energy Co. has a 52-week low of $44.03 and a 52-week high of $78.82. The companys 50 day moving average is $50.03 and its two-hundred day moving average is $51.92. The company has a quick ratio of 0.90, a current ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55. The firm has a market cap of $32.30 billion, a PE ratio of 6.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.18 and a beta of 2.32.

Devon Energy Cuts Dividend

Devon Energy ( NYSE:DVN Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 1st. The energy company reported $1.18 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $1.18. Devon Energy had a net margin of 28.10% and a return on equity of 37.89%. The company had revenue of $3.45 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.26 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.59 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was down 38.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts expect that Devon Energy Co. will post 5.47 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 15th will be given a $0.49 dividend. This represents a $1.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.89%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 14th. Devon Energys dividend payout ratio is presently 10.94%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have recently weighed in on DVN shares. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on shares of Devon Energy from $71.00 to $77.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, July 24th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Devon Energy from a neutral rating to a buy rating and dropped their price target for the company from $63.00 to $58.00 in a research note on Tuesday, June 13th. UBS Group decreased their price objective on shares of Devon Energy from $54.00 to $53.00 in a report on Monday, July 10th. Evercore ISI decreased their price objective on shares of Devon Energy from $52.00 to $50.00 in a report on Monday, July 10th. Finally, Piper Sandler decreased their price objective on shares of Devon Energy from $82.00 to $71.00 in a report on Tuesday, June 13th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Devon Energy has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $65.53.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Devon Energy

Insider Buying and Selling at Devon Energy

In other Devon Energy news, EVP Dennis C. Cameron sold 7,870 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $51.13, for a total value of $402,393.10. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 210,548 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,765,319.24. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders own 0.63% of the companys stock.

About Devon Energy

(Free Report)

Devon Energy Corporation, an independent energy company, explores for, develops, and produces oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in the United States. It operates in Delaware, Anadarko, Williston, Eagle Ford, and Powder River Basin. The company was incorporated in 1971 and is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

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Wedbush Securities Inc. boosted its holdings in Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK  Free Report) by 10.3% in the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 2,922 shares of the industrial products companys stock after purchasing an additional 274 shares during the period. Wedbush Securities Inc.s holdings in Rockwell Automation were worth $857,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Aspire Private Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Rockwell Automation in the 1st quarter valued at $11,444,550,000. New Hampshire Trust purchased a new stake in Rockwell Automation in the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Clear Street Markets LLC purchased a new stake in Rockwell Automation in the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. Delta Asset Management LLC TN purchased a new stake in Rockwell Automation in the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. Finally, First Manhattan Co. raised its position in Rockwell Automation by 150.0% in the 4th quarter. First Manhattan Co. now owns 125 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.28% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

ROK has been the subject of several research reports. Wolfe Research upgraded shares of Rockwell Automation from an underperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 11th. Bank of America dropped their price objective on shares of Rockwell Automation from $375.00 to $335.00 in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Rockwell Automation from $334.00 to $375.00 in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of Rockwell Automation in a research note on Tuesday, June 27th. They set a hold rating and a $335.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein upped their price target on shares of Rockwell Automation from $250.00 to $290.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 11th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $288.24.

Insider Buying and Selling at Rockwell Automation

In other Rockwell Automation news, VP Isaac Woods sold 150 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $325.00, for a total value of $48,750.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 940 shares in the company, valued at approximately $305,500. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Rockwell Automation news, VP Isaac Woods sold 150 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $325.00, for a total value of $48,750.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 940 shares in the company, valued at approximately $305,500. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, SVP Tessa M. Myers sold 677 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $301.18, for a total transaction of $203,898.86. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 2,880 shares in the company, valued at $867,398.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 15,338 shares of company stock worth $4,736,430. Corporate insiders own 0.64% of the companys stock.

Rockwell Automation Price Performance

Rockwell Automation stock opened at $296.18 on Monday. Rockwell Automation, Inc. has a 52 week low of $209.27 and a 52 week high of $348.52. The company has a quick ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 1.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $320.94 and its 200 day simple moving average is $296.58. The firm has a market capitalization of $34.02 billion, a PE ratio of 24.16, a P/E/G ratio of 2.00 and a beta of 1.43.

Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 1st. The industrial products company reported $3.01 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.19 by ($0.18). Rockwell Automation had a return on equity of 40.33% and a net margin of 16.51%. The business had revenue of $2.24 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.33 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.66 earnings per share. Rockwell Automations quarterly revenue was up 13.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts predict that Rockwell Automation, Inc. will post 11.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Rockwell Automation Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 11th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 14th will be issued a $1.18 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 11th. This represents a $4.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.59%. Rockwell Automations dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 38.50%.

Rockwell Automation Profile

(Free Report)

Rockwell Automation, Inc provides industrial automation and digital transformation solutions in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America. The company operates through three segments, Intelligent Devices, Software & Control, and Lifecycle Services. Its solutions include hardware and software products and services.

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CACI International (NYSE:CACI  Free Report) had its target price boosted by TD Cowen from $360.00 to $382.00 in a research note issued to investors on Friday, Benzinga reports. TD Cowen currently has an outperform rating on the information technology services providers stock.

Several other research firms have also recently commented on CACI. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded CACI International from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $405.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 12th. William Blair reiterated an outperform rating on shares of CACI International in a research report on Thursday. Raymond James lifted their price target on CACI International from $340.00 to $370.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on CACI International from $315.00 to $360.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 22nd. Finally, 888 reiterated a maintains rating on shares of CACI International in a research report on Friday, April 28th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, CACI International presently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $371.13.

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View Our Latest Analysis on CACI

CACI International Stock Up 0.2 %

CACI opened at $343.87 on Friday. CACI International has a 12 month low of $245.32 and a 12 month high of $359.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 1.22 and a quick ratio of 1.23. The stock has a market cap of $7.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.90, a P/E/G ratio of 2.19 and a beta of 0.99. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $338.68 and its 200 day moving average price is $313.17.

CACI International (NYSE:CACI  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, August 9th. The information technology services provider reported $5.30 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.85 by $0.45. CACI International had a return on equity of 13.87% and a net margin of 5.74%. The firm had revenue of $1.70 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.73 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $4.54 EPS. The firms revenue was up 3.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that CACI International will post 19.73 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Transactions at CACI International

In other news, Director Gregory G. Johnson sold 150 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $320.30, for a total value of $48,045.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 5,958 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,908,347.40. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Corporate insiders own 1.23% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of CACI International

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of CACI. Zions Bancorporation N.A. boosted its position in CACI International by 37.3% during the first quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 2,762 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $832,000 after purchasing an additional 751 shares during the last quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. boosted its position in CACI International by 47.7% during the first quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 288 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $87,000 after purchasing an additional 93 shares during the last quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC boosted its position in CACI International by 43.8% during the first quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 1,911 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $576,000 after purchasing an additional 582 shares during the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors boosted its position in CACI International by 435.5% during the second quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 4,943 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $1,393,000 after purchasing an additional 4,020 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio boosted its position in CACI International by 0.9% during the third quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 13,625 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $3,557,000 after purchasing an additional 122 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.34% of the companys stock.

About CACI International

(Get Free Report)

CACI International Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides expertise and technology to enterprise and mission customers in support of national security missions and government modernization/transformation in the intelligence, defense, and federal civilian sectors. It operates through two segments: Domestic Operations and International Operations.

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Mather Group LLC. increased its holdings in shares of Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:LNG  Free Report) by 4.9% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,164 shares of the energy companys stock after purchasing an additional 101 shares during the period. Mather Group LLC.s holdings in Cheniere Energy were worth $341,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Bornite Capital Management LP purchased a new position in Cheniere Energy in the 1st quarter valued at about $13,865,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Cheniere Energy in the 1st quarter valued at about $2,102,000. Yousif Capital Management LLC boosted its position in Cheniere Energy by 7.3% in the 1st quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 5,069 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $703,000 after buying an additional 345 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. boosted its position in Cheniere Energy by 95.0% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 4,244 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $589,000 after buying an additional 2,068 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cibc World Market Inc. boosted its position in Cheniere Energy by 22.8% in the 1st quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 4,287 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $594,000 after buying an additional 797 shares during the last quarter. 83.36% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Cheniere Energy Trading Up 0.1 %

Shares of NYSEAMERICAN:LNG opened at $167.01 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $40.19 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.92, a PEG ratio of 0.36 and a beta of 1.02. Cheniere Energy, Inc. has a 1-year low of $135.00 and a 1-year high of $182.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.60, a quick ratio of 1.25 and a current ratio of 1.33. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $152.24 and a 200 day moving average price of $152.31.

Cheniere Energy Dividend Announcement

Cheniere Energy ( NYSEAMERICAN:LNG Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The energy company reported $5.61 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.81 by $2.80. The firm had revenue of $4.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.25 billion. Cheniere Energy had a net margin of 28.47% and a return on equity of 481.80%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 48.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.90 earnings per share. On average, research analysts anticipate that Cheniere Energy, Inc. will post 15.04 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 16th. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 9th will be paid a $0.395 dividend. This represents a $1.58 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.95%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, August 8th. Cheniere Energys dividend payout ratio is 4.65%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on LNG. Raymond James cut their target price on shares of Cheniere Energy from $205.00 to $200.00 and set a strong-buy rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of Cheniere Energy from $230.00 to $222.00 in a research note on Tuesday, August 8th. TheStreet upgraded shares of Cheniere Energy from a c+ rating to a b rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 3rd. StockNews.com lowered shares of Cheniere Energy from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday. Finally, Mizuho dropped their price target on shares of Cheniere Energy from $200.00 to $187.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 22nd. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Cheniere Energy presently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of $200.33.

Read Our Latest Analysis on Cheniere Energy

About Cheniere Energy

(Free Report)

Cheniere Energy, Inc, an energy infrastructure company, primarily engages in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) related businesses in the United States. It owns and operates the Sabine Pass LNG terminal in Cameron Parish, Louisiana; and the Corpus Christi LNG terminal near Corpus Christi, Texas. The company also owns Creole Trail pipeline, a 94-mile pipeline interconnecting the Sabine Pass LNG terminal with various interstate pipelines; and operates Corpus Christi pipeline, a 21.5-mile natural gas supply pipeline that interconnects the Corpus Christi LNG terminal with various interstate and intrastate natural gas pipelines.

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Dubai International Chamber, one of the three chambers operating under Dubai Chambers, has launched the Global Expansion Series to help local businesses grow internationally.

Designed to support the objectives of the Dubai Global initiative, the series of events will create a dedicated support channel for business matching, provide timely intelligence on market opportunities and accessibility, and assist companies to expand globally through exporting and investment.

Focusing on businesses with the capability and capacity to export, the first event in the series brought together 32 companies operating in various sectors including F&B, construction, healthcare, and building material manufacturing. Representatives from partner organisations in the banking and credit insurance sectors also participated in the session, sharing details of trade finance and export credit solutions aimed at assisting companies to overcome financial barriers to engaging in international trade.

Integral role

Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, said: Dubai International Chamber spearheads the Dubai Global initiative, which accelerates efforts to boost His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubais plan to increase non-oil foreign trade from AED1.4 trillion ($380 billion) to AED2 trillion by 2026.

Our Global Expansion Series plays an integral role in supporting Dubais five-year foreign trade plan and consolidating the emirates position as a leading destination for foreign direct investments and a launchpad for expansion into global markets, he added.

The Global Expansion Series engages with companies seeking to grow their businesses internationally, initiating conversations that support opportunities to boost their exports. The event also explored target market approaches and implementation strategies, highlighting the extensive business and trade support services provided by the chamber in Dubai together with the assistance available in key markets through the chambers international representative offices.-- TradeArabia News Service
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 14. If Turkmenistan does not act before the EU lines up alternate sources of gas, the Trans-Caspian Pipeline project will become unviable, Allan Mustard, co-founder and co-head of the Trans-Caspian Resources energy startup, Former US Ambassador to Turkmenistan, told Trend.

The window of opportunity is closing fast. The policy shift from hydrocarbons to renewables exerts a profound impact on IFI support. I suspect that any financing for the connector will at this point have to come from the private sector or the governments involved, he said.

Moreover, according to the ambassador, Turkmenistan has announced willingness to finance TAPI, the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India pipeline, which will cost between $8-10 billion.

Turkmenistan is also building a greenfield smart city at an estimated total cost of $4.8 billion. Turkmenistan recently spent a billion and a half dollars on a new state tribune, a luxury hotel, a convention center, and two bank headquarters buildings. A half-billion-dollar connector is certainly within Turkmenistan's financial grasp, and given the revenue it would generate, would be a wise investment, he concluded.

Meanwhile, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said during the opening ceremony of the Shusha Global Media Forum on New Media in the Era of the 4th Industrial Revolution on July 21 that the Trans-Caspian Pipeline is not the project, which Azerbaijan will initiate.

"Because usually the projects, which are initiated by the countries, other projects based on these country's resources as we did for instance with the Southern Gas Corridor," said President Ilham Aliyev.

Furthermore, as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov stated, Turkmenistan is ready to continue cooperation with European partners on the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline project.

"Turkmenistan, being committed to the strategy of diversifying energy flows, expresses its readiness to continue cooperation with European partners on the implementation of the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline project. The idea of its construction, initiated by Turkmenistan, was initially considered by Turkmenistan not only as an economically and commercially viable project, but also as a key condition for ensuring global energy security and sustainability based on equal consideration of the interests and benefits of energy producers, transit countries and energy consumers," he said.
[August 13, 2023] MLION CORPORATION PAVES WAY BY SETTING INDUSTRY STANDARDS WITH COMMERCIAL LAUNCH OF INNOVATIONS GOLISTID & GOTAGID Tweet

Steel is the most heavily utilised material known to mankind. With 1,831 million tons of steel produced in 2022 alone, it accounted for approximately 7.2 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. The widely practiced processes towards the production of steel has remained highly pollutive throughout the last two centuries. SINGAPORE, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MLION CORPORATION PTE. LTD. officially announced the Commercial Launch of its 2 technological innovations, GoListid and GoTagID today. The event was graced by Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Gan Kim Yong. Attendees included representatives from various government agencies, financial institutions, built environment industries, and industry and technological partners. Developments for both innovations and how they will benefit business operations as well as play a part in environmental sustainability were presented. The company has received continuous support from Enterprise Singapore, including efforts to scale up its solutions and adopt new technology. Mr Lee Pak Sing, Assistant Chief Executive Officer for Trade and Connectivity at Enterprise Singapore, said: "We congratulate MLION CORPORATION for venturing into new growth areas with the launch of GoListid and GoTagID. Under Enterprise Singapore's Scale-Up programme which supports high-growth local companies, MLION enhanced the features of its GoListid and GoTagID solutions to better cater to the steel industry's growing demand for sustainability and circularity. Enterprise Singapore will continue to partner local enterprises like MLION to deepen their capabilities to develop innovative solutions and diversify their range of products." Mr Eric Leong, Chairman & CEO, MLION CORPORATION PTE. LTD., said: "MLION has a vision, and that is to disrupt an industry that is resistant to change through innovation and technology. To achieve that change, MLION needed to become a leader in the steel industry, and this was made possible through the Scale-Up programme by Enterprise Singapore. With Enterprise Singapore's support, MLION was able to grow rapidly and regionally in manpower and operations. Embarking on Enterprise Singapore's Singapore Global Executive Programme (SGEP), we look forward to building a larger pool of talented and critical thinkers who share the same viion as MLION."



GoListid is an innovative B2B steel marketplace application that facilitates the buying and selling of pre-owned construction steel materials. It caters to a vast network of domestic and international market participants and helps to increase the lifetime value of steel. The promotion of reusing pre-owned steel encourages the development of a sustainable circular economy and aims to reduce the carbon footprint of the steel and construction industry. It provides an integrated solution that includes financing, logistics, and quality assurance as an additional layer of acquiring customer trust and confidence in the solution. GoListid will also be introducing the industry's first Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered 5-point rust grading system. The application ensures accurate assessments of rust conditions of the materials, allowing complete transparency and accountability for buyers and sellers. Like all digitised applications, GoListid is expected to continuously evolve through multiple upgrades and versions, and in the pipeline, several advancements can be expected, for instance: Predictive Analytics and deep learning capability. GoTagID is a first-of-its-kind tagging solution that enables the tracking and tracing of steel materials beyond the point-of-sale where conventional methods of identification and traceability have perpetually failed. The Rapide and Endure Tags are designed with state-of-the-art technology to enable tagging of steel and provide it with its own unique identity (ID)  allowing the traceability of origin, factory manufacturing data, testing records, and present and historical geolocation. The Rapide Tags has been tried, tested, and proven to be the most reliable method to address the failures of existing sticker in the processes of shipping and logistics. The Endure Tags are engineered and developed to withstand extreme heat, strong vibrations, mechanical impacts, and harsh and corrosive environments. The Endure Tags enables the materials to be reused repeatedly within their lifespan as they are compliant with BCA's Reusability on Steel BC1 2023 regulations. In addition, both tags are ideal for providing Green Steel manufacturers with the ability to trace and store Carbon Footprint Information, Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) Documentation, and other relevant Green Steel Certifications unique to the material.

About MLION MLION CORPORATION PTE. LTD. is a foundation solutions provider in the steel construction industry that focuses on waterfront and underground construction markets in the Asia region. As a market leader, it offers highly customised solutions, proprietary products, innovative technologies, design and fabrication assistance, and tailored logistics at meeting the very needs of its customers. Learn more about MLION by visiting  www.mlioncorp.com About GoListid GoListid is the revolutionary digital marketplace for pre-owned construction steel materials with a focus on sustainability. It aims at facilitating the buying and selling of these materials anywhere in the world and in turn encourages the reusability of construction steel, reducing the need to scrap the steel materials and reproducing causing additional carbon footprint. Learn more about GoListid by visiting  www.golistid.com About GoTagID GoTagID is a first-of-its-kind steel tagging solution that provides tracking and tracing capabilities beyond the point of sale, suitable for harsh construction environments. It provides steel with a unique identity and enables end users the ability to trace factory origins, raw materials, as well as track present and historical geolocation of the steel asset anywhere in the world. Learn more about GoTagID by visiting  www.gotagid.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/mlion-corporation-paves-way-by-setting-industry-standards-with-commercial-launch-of-innovations-golistid--gotagid-301893486.html SOURCE MLION CORPORATION PTE. LTD.

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[August 13, 2023] Preqin deepens coverage on Southeast Asian fund performance through partnership with the Singapore Venture and Private Capital Association Tweet

Partnership will allow for more robust performance measurements and reporting transparency for funds in this emerging region SINGAPORE, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Preqin, the global leader empowering the alternatives community with essential data and insight, announces today an innovative performance benchmark partnership with the Singapore Venture and Private Capital Association (SVCA). Southeast Asia is considered one of the top investment destinations by institutional investors, presenting the best opportunities for investments across the private capital space, according to Preqin's latest Investor Outlook survey. Currently, Preqin tracks 818 Southeast Asia-focused private capital funds, collectively accounting for $57.9bn in assets under management and representing a compound annual growth rate of 16% between 2017 and 2022. With the region's increasing growth and attractiveness to investors, Preqin is pleased to partner with SVCA to produce a fund performance benchmark report for the region, which aims to provide deeper insights into the performances of this market for those looking to invest in Southeast Asia. Geetanjali Bhalotia, SVP, Head of Investor Data at Preqin says, "SVCA and Preqin have been long standing partners, with shared objecive of growing private capital markets in Southeast Asia. We are delighted to elevate this collaboration through our new performance benchmark partnership, which will help enhance transparency into the performance of funds in the region, fostering greater investments and facilitating the expansion of the market."



Sunil Mishra, Chairman of SVCA says, "These performance benchmarks will be an important development in providing greater transparency into Southeast Asia, improving performance coverage. This partnership will further help promote investments into Southeast Asia's venture capital and private equity segments at a time when there is increasing interest from all global institutional investors in the region. We are thrilled to be working with Preqin on this important initiative given their similar successful work in other markets and request all members to actively support this initiative." With support from the SVCA, Preqin's team of researchers will be reaching out to fund managers of Southeast Asia-focused funds throughout September 2023 to collect performance data securely over an encrypted platform. Utilizing the data submitted, an anonymized and aggregated performance benchmark report will be made available  without cost  in the coming months. Produced half-yearly going forward, this report will provide updates for fund managers and investors to help them better benchmark against funds that are Southeast Asia-focused. The aim is ultimately to enhance reporting methods and to bring greater transparency to the region.

To guide fund managers on the data submission process, Preqin will also invite fund managers to a 1-hour workshop on 4 September 2023. If you'd like to speak to Preqin's performance data team or submit your firm's performance data, please reach out to [email protected]. For more information on all our global benchmarking initiatives, please visit: https://www.preqin.com/data/free-benchmarks For more information on the press release, contact [email protected] or call (+65) 6305 2200. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/preqin-deepens-coverage-on-southeast-asian-fund-performance-through-partnership-with-the-singapore-venture-and-private-capital-association-301899349.html SOURCE Preqin

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[August 13, 2023]

OLIVER WYMAN STRENGTHENS INDONESIA CAPABILITIES WITH SENIOR APPOINTMENT

JAKARTA, Indonesia, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Global management consultancy, Oliver Wyman, today announced the addition of Erik Koenen as a Partner based in Jakarta. With his extensive experience in the Financial Services sector, Erik will collaborate with Oliver Wyman's Southeast Asia leadership team to enhance the firm's offerings in Indonesia.

This strategic move represents Oliver Wyman's commitment to further invest in the Indonesian market. Currently serving a diverse range of clients in the Financial Services, Energy and Natural Resources, and Transportation sectors, the firm aims to deepen its capabilities in Indonesia, specifically in the areas of Digital Transformation (including AI and Advanced Analytics), Climate and Sustainability, Business Performance Improvement, and Enterprise Risk Management.

Seo Young Lee, Partner and Head of Southeast Asia, said: "Indonesia's robust economic growth[1] and promising outlook have driven demand for Oliver Wyman's expertise as businesses recover from the pandemic. The addition of Erik to the team, at this inflection point positions us well to meet these growing client needs in Indonesia and the region."

Erik added: "I have always admired Oliver Wyman and its talented people, who approach challenges with humility and focus, to help organizations navigate complex and unprecedented issues. In Indonesia, I aim to further strengthen the firm's local strategy and commitment to provide insightful guidance, work alongside our clients, and deliver breakthrough impact."

With over 25 years of experience, including 16 years in Indonesia, Erik has held senior positions in prominent technology conglomerates, consulting firms, and banks. Prior to joining Oliver Wyman, Erik worked at Google Cloud, where he led the technology strategy targeted at the largest population of digital natives in Southeast Asia.

About Oliver Wyman

Oliver Wyman is a global leader in management consulting. With offices in more than 70 cities across 30 countries, Oliver Wyman combines deep industry knowledge with specialized expertise in strategy, operations, risk management, and organization transformation. The firm has more than 6,000 professionals around the world who work with clients to optimize their business, improve their operations and risk profile, and accelerate their organizational performance to seize the most attractive opportunities. Oliver Wyman is a business of Marsh McLennan [NYSE: MMC].

For more information, visit www.oliverwyman.com . Follow Oliver Wyman on Twitter/X @OliverWyman.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/oliver-wyman-strengthens-indonesia-capabilities-with-senior-appointment-301898638.html

SOURCE Oliver Wyman
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, August 14. Turkmenistan's Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov expressed hope for a meeting of foreign ministers of Caspian states by the end of this year, Trend reports via the press service of Turkmenistan's Foreign Ministry.

Meredov made the remark during the ongoing International Conference titled "Caspian Sea: Symbol of Peace and Friendship" in Turkmenistan.

According to him, the initiative to convene this meeting belongs to Russia.

He emphasized the importance of actively utilizing existing mechanisms of cooperation in the Caspian region, especially within the framework of the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea.

Meredov also expressed his concern about the "slow progress achieved since the adoption of this convention five years ago".

Previously, the Foreign Ministry of Turkmenistan said that the country is ready to cooperate with partners on the implementation of the Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline.

The ministry reminded the public that the international legal validity of the project is beyond doubt after the adoption in 2018 by five coastal states of the fundamental document regulating the key principles of policy in the Caspian Sea, the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea.

In this regard, the ministry referred to Article 14 of the convention, in particular, stating that parties can lay cables and pipelines along the bottom of the Caspian Sea and that the determination of the route for laying underwater cables and pipelines is carried out in agreement with the party through the sector of the bottom through which the underwater cable or pipeline should be conducted.

Thus, to date, the construction of the Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline is directly related to the delimitation of the seabed between Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan.
[August 13, 2023] China's Zaozhuang is transitioning towards a "green" environment and promoting the clustering of lithium battery industry chains Tweet

ZAOZHUANG, China, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- This is a report from the Shandong Office of Hong Kong Business Daily. The first press conference of the 2023 Zaozhuang International Lithium Battery Industry Exhibition was held in Jinan on July 31. As a city thriving on coal, in recent years, Zaozhuang has seized major opportunities such as the national implementation of the "dual carbon" strategy, the construction of a green, low-carbon, and high-quality development pilot zone in Shandong, and the support of Shandong to cluster and develop the lithium battery industry in our city. It has continuously promoted the high-end, green, and intelligent development of the lithium battery industry, promoted the transformation of energy structure to "green", and made every effort to build a green, safe, and new energy model city. In September 2022, the first Zaozhuang International Lithium Battery Industry Exhibition was successfully held in the city, establishing an international comprehensive service platform that integrates product display, technical exchange, research and development cooperation, investment promoton and docking, and science education. During this period, over 1200 guest merchants and 165 well-known enterprises were invited to participate, and 32 major projects with a total investment of 133.5 billion yuan were successfully signed.



Zaozhuang improving the working mechanism of "chain length+chain owner+alliance+fund", fully supporting the accelerated development of local top lithium battery enterprises, and attracting a group of leading enterprises, forming an industrial development pattern of leading traction, project driving, and group collaboration. Zaozhuang City has formulated a development plan for the lithium battery industry, introduced the first special regulation for the lithium battery industry in China - the "Zaozhuang Lithium Battery Industry Development Promotion Regulations", formed the lithium battery industry alliance and the first lithium battery industry union in China, established a new energy industry fund with a total scale of 20 billion yuan, and accelerated the construction of the "Zaozhuang Solution Zaozhuang Satisfaction" platform to promote consultation and suggestions from the public and market entities The issue demands "one platform acceptance and a package solution". Under the guidance of the China International Chamber of Commerce, the 2023 Zaozhuang International Lithium Battery Industry Exhibition, jointly organized by the Zaozhuang Municipal People's Government, the Shandong Provincial Council for the Promotion of International Trade, and the Shandong Provincial Energy Bureau, will be held in Zaozhuang on September 16.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/chinas-zaozhuang-is-transitioning-towards-a-green-environment-and-promoting-the-clustering-of-lithium-battery-industry-chains-301899415.html SOURCE Shandong Office of Hong Kong Business Daily

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[August 13, 2023] NuclearByte Brings Transparency and Efficiency Innovation to Global Nuclear Energy Transactions Tweet

SINGAPORE, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Under the trend of global energy transformation and carbon reduction, nuclear energy has become an important energy option for many countries and regions due to its high efficiency and clean characteristics. The emergence of NuclearByte not only facilitates transactions in the nuclear energy industry, but also emphasizes the importance and strategic value of the digital transformation of nuclear energy projects on a global scale. Recently, NuclearByte, an innovation leader that uses blockchain technology to promote the digital transformation of the nuclear energy industry, released the latest data of the project. This data reveals the transaction convenience and cost savings that NuclearByte has brought to the global nuclear energy industry chain, and at the same time shows that it has received strong recognition from more than 20 nuclear energy companies around the world. Project leader Aleksander Swallow said:"NuclearByte's success has far exceeded expectations. We have provided a more convenient and transparent transaction solution for the global nuclear energy industry. The successful launch of the project has allowed users to not only experience the convenience of transactions, but also greatly save costs." Swallow further revealed that Nuclear Byte's transactio amount exceeded US$1 billion, and it has helped more than 20 nuclear energy-related companies around the world to settle transactions, saving an average of 5% of exchange rate loss costs.



"NuclearByte's value isn't just in numbers," Swallow said. "Our proposal increases transaction efficiency, reduces costs and drives sustainable nuclear energy development. Through NuclearByte's technology, we have successfully reduced transaction times and costs worldwide. For example, a contract involving a cross-border transaction may take weeks to complete using traditional settlement methods, whereas with NUCBT, the same transaction can be completed in just a few hours. These improvements help to attract more investors into the nuclear energy market, further promoting the sustainable development of global nuclear energy. " NuclearByte demonstrates the great potential of cryptocurrencies in solving practical problems, and global nuclear energy companies also speak highly of the contribution of NuclearByte. Swallow said with confidence: "We will continue to work with global partners to promote the development of the nuclear energy industry. We believe that NuclearByte will play a greater role in the world in the future."

The innovative application of NuclearByte not only brings practical benefits to the nuclear energy industry, but also demonstrates the close integration of financial technology and sustainable development. As the global pursuit of clean energy continues to heat up, NuclearByte is expected to have a broader and far-reaching impact in the future. Company: NuclearByte technology

Contact Person: Amy

Email: business@nuclearbyte.com

Website: https://nuclearbyte.com/

City: Singapore View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/nuclearbyte-brings-transparency-and-efficiency-innovation-to-global-nuclear-energy-transactions-301899441.html SOURCE NuclearByte technology

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[August 14, 2023] Robust First Half 2023 Results for Golden Agri-Resources Despite Year-on-Year CPO Price Downturn Tweet

EBITDA for the first half of 2023 reached US$478 million , with net profit of US$182 million .

, with net profit of . Integrated business model continued to help mitigate the impact of lower CPO prices compared to last year. SINGAPORE, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Golden Agri-Resources Ltd ("GAR" or the "Company") recorded resilient results for the first half of 2023, despite the decline in CPO market price compared to last year's record levels. CPO market price (FOB Belawan) for the period fell by 40 percent year-on-year, averaging US$949 per tonne compared to US$1,595 per tonne for the same period last year. EBITDA stood at US$478 million, delivering a healthy margin of 9.8 percent, while underlying profit and net profit were US$220 million and US$182 million respectively. GAR's integrated business model helped to shield the Company from the worst impacts of volatile industry conditions. During the first half of 2023, the Company's downstream business continued to perform well, registering a substantial increase in sales volume which helped to partly mitigate weaker results from the plantation business that was directly impacted by the drop in market prices. On the results, Mr. Franky O. Widjaja, GAR Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented: "We saw CPO price normalising from a record high last year, while our financial performance for the first half of 2023 remained robust. GAR's integrated business value chain has performed well and proved resilient against industry volatility. This is further sustained by our focus on pursuing higher value-added products and services that benefit our customers and consumers, including healthier product alternatives and traceability to the plantation. "CPO price is expected to remain firm with the coming of El Nino conditions, which are forecast to peak in the next few months. Meanwhile, global demand is expected to continue to recover. Demand from the biofuel sector also continues to be strong, especially in Indonesia." Segmental performance Plantations and palm oil mills As of 30 June 2023, GAR's planted area stood at 538,000 hectares, of which 500,000 hectares wer mature. Nucleus and plasma estates made up 422,000 and 115,000 hectares of this area respectively.



Fruit yield for the first half of 2023 decreased by five percent year-on-year from 9.4 tonnes to 8.9 tonnes per hectare. Palm product output for this period was 1.33 million tonnes, compared to 1.45 million tonnes for the same period last year. High rainfalls primarily in Kalimantan in the early part of the year, coupled with preparation of old estates for replanting, were the main drivers of this decrease. During the first half of 2023, GAR's upstream business registered lower year-on-year EBITDA of US$219 million, mainly due to weaker CPO market prices, lower plantation output, and higher cost for fertilisers that were bought at higher price last year.

Palm, laurics and others GAR's downstream business primarily consists of processing and global merchandising of palm and oilseed-based products comprising bulk and branded products, oleochemicals and other vegetable oils. This segment achieved a notable increase in sales volume during the first half of 2023, recovering year-on-year following the lifting of Indonesia's temporary export ban in June 2022. The higher sales volume partly compensated for lower average selling prices, resulting in US$4.8 billion of revenue. Segmental EBITDA in first half of 2023 reached US$258 million. While ten percent lower than the same period last year, this segment maintained a stable margin of 5.3 percent. Palm, laurics and others contributed over 50 percent to GAR's consolidated EBITDA, compared to 36 percent in the same period last year, demonstrating the efficacy of the Company's integrated business model. Strengthening Sustainability Efforts GAR places sustainability at the heart of its operations and is committed to operating responsibly to protect the environment and ecosystems that are vital to wildlife, while supporting local communities that are crucial to its business. Continued investment in sustainability has allowed GAR to conserve almost 80,000 hectares of High Carbon Stock (HCS) forests and High Conservation Value (HCV) areas on its concessions and support communities and suppliers to protect more than 160,000 hectares. Elsewhere, GAR has implemented initiatives to protect biodiversity, restore mangrove and peatland areas, tackle climate change, and reduce waste and water use. The Company is continuing its progress towards 100 percent Traceability to the Plantation (TTP) for its palm supply chain in Indonesia, having achieved 98 percent TTP to date. Through ongoing efforts to build close relationships with its suppliers, such as the Sawit Terampil programme, the Company will continue to assess compliance with its No Deforestation, No Peat, and No Exploitation (NDPE) requirements using the NDPE Implementation Reporting Framework (NDPE IRF), placing the Company in a strong position to help European customers comply with the upcoming EU deforestation regulation. About Golden Agri-Resources Ltd (GAR) GAR is a leading fully-integrated agribusiness company. In Indonesia, it manages an oil palm plantation area of 537,733 hectares (including plasma smallholders) as of 30 June 2023. It has integrated operations focused on the technology-driven production and distribution of extensive portfolio of palm-based products throughout its established international marketing network. Founded in 1996, GAR was listed on the Singapore Exchange in 1999 and has a market capitalisation of US$2.3 billion as of 30 June 2023. Flambo International Limited, an investment company, is GAR's largest shareholder, with a 50.56 percent stake. In addition, GAR has several subsidiaries, including PT SMART Tbk, which was listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in 1992. As an integrated agribusiness, GAR delivers an efficient end-to-end supply chain, from responsible production to global delivery. In Indonesia, its primary activities include cultivating and harvesting oil palm trees; the processing of fresh fruit bunch into crude palm oil (CPO) and palm kernel; refining CPO into value-added products such as cooking oil, margarine, shortening, biodiesel and oleo-chemicals; as well as merchandising palm products globally. GAR's products are delivered to a diversified customer base in over 100 countries through its global distribution network with shipping and logistics capabilities, destination marketing, on-shore refining and ex-tank operations. GAR also has complementary businesses such as soybean-based products in China, sunflower-based products in India, and sugar businesses. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/robust-first-half-2023-results-for-golden-agri-resources-despite-year-on-year-cpo-price-downturn-301899499.html SOURCE Golden Agri-Resources

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[August 14, 2023]

ROKIT HEALTHCARE Achieves European Certification for Cutting-Edge Organ Regeneration

SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ROKIT HEALTHCARE, a pioneering biotech firm specializing in advanced organ regeneration, proudly announces a significant milestone. In July 2023, the company obtained the coveted certification under the European Medical Device Regulation (CEMDR) for its revolutionary "Dr. Invivo AI Regen Platform." This certification underscores ROKIT's commitment to advancing medical technology and patient care.

The "Dr. Invivo AI Regen Platform" marks a leap in organ regeneration and medical device innovation, fusing artificial intelligence (AI) with bioprinting. This groundbreaking approach delivers exceptional outcomes without immune responses in a short timeframe, revolutionizing organ regeneration.

Central to the platform is cutting-edge AI technology identifying affected areas, translating data into bioprinting code files. Using the patient's own fat tissues, the kit generates a specialized regeneration-patch for transplantation. This treatment tarets chronic wounds like diabetic foot ulcers (DFU), redefining skin regeneration. Dedication to diabetes foot treatment led to trials across nations, backed by recognized SCI-level journal publications.







With approvals from global medical authorities, including the U.S. FDA and the South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), the "Dr. Invivo AI Regen Platform" gained worldwide recognition. Exported to 10 countries, including the U.S., recent CEMDR certification paves the way for ROKIT HEALTHCARE's expansion into advanced markets.

CEMDR's significance lies in stringent standards for medical device sales in Europe, replacing the European Medical Device Directive (MDDCE). Certified devices can be marketed in 31 countries, including the European Economic Community (EEA) and European Union (EU). Europe leads regenerative medicine with 10% annual growth.

SeokHwan You, CEO of ROKIT HEALTHCARE, states, "This certification propels us globally, extending advanced medical solutions." A regenerative medicine leader, the company advances AI-driven regenerative medicine and bioprinting.

Established in 2012, ROKIT HEALTHCARE, a Born2Global Centre member, pioneers AI and bioprinting-based regenerative medicine. Collaborating with Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) and Asan Hospital, it addresses chronic renal failure.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2183958/ROKIT_HEALTHCARE_Inc_Photos_attached_to_press_releases_20230809.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/rokit-healthcare-achieves-european-certification-for-cutting-edge-organ-regeneration-301898586.html
[August 14, 2023] Introducing Car Chilli, Singapore's latest car sharing app Tweet

SINGAPORE, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- An upsurge in Certificate of Entitlement (COE) prices has ignited a demand for car rental and sharing services within Singapore. Seizing this opportune moment, Car Chilli emerges as the newest addition to Singapore's Car Sharing economy, poised to capture and cater to this surging demand. Following a successful fundraising round that resulted in a seven-figure investment, Car Chilli proudly unveils its car sharing app in Singapore. Car Chilli connects car owners and car rental companies looking to monetize their vehicles with users seeking flexible, reliable, and affordable transportation options. Through the app, individuals can access a wide range of car rental options. Rental periods are tailored to your needs, whether you require a vehicle for a couple of hours or for longer periods. The company is also one of the few car sharing apps in Singapore that offers short term rental options to people planning a trip to Malaysia. In addition to inviting car owners to list their vehicles within the app, Car Chilli also forms strategic partnerships with car rental companies to facilitate the onboarding and listing of their vehicles on Car Chilli. "Our objective is to provide car rental businesses with access to technology that helps them amplify their short-term revenue potential but also broadens their brand exposure amongst a new customer demographic." Said Jimmy Leong, Co-Founder of Car Chilli. Car Chilli enables a hassle free experience for both car owners and renters by offering 24/7 customer support and providing a GPS tracking and auto-locking system to car owners. This technology allows car owners to track their vehicles and enables a hassle-free rental process as no face to face meet ups are required thus ensring convenience and peace of mind. A Car Chilli workshop is also available and offers a range of services to car owners, including maintenance, cleaning, and repair, ensuring that vehicles are always in optimal condition and ready for rental.



Founded as a spin-off from a successful car rental company with a 10-year track record in the car rental business, Car Chilli has an existing customer database and fleet of cars that will be available through the app. The app is available for download on the app stores. However, Car Chilli have initially launched in specific locations across Singapore and invited a select group of existing customers to test the app and provide valuable feedback for further improvement. For residents living near Jurong, Hougang, Serangoon, or Sengkang, good news! You can start using Car Chilli in these areas as the app has already been rolled out in these districts with cars ready for hire. The nationwide rollout is scheduled for later this year where Car Chilli aims to have over 1,000 cars available island wide. "We are thrilled to introduce Car Chilli to Singapore" said Nelson Lee, CEO and Co-Founder of Car Chilli. "Our mission is to provide the community with flexible and affordable rental options, be a technology partner for car rental companies and car owners, to help enhance their income, all while contributing to more liveable cities by reducing congestion and promoting sustainability through shared mobility". Starting in Singapore, Car Chilli plans to roll out across South East Asia.

For more information about Car Chilli and its innovative car sharing solutions, please visit https://www.carchilli.com/ or download the Car Chilli app, available on App Store/Google Play. Media Contact: Aga Appl

Marketing and PR Manager

[email protected]

+65 9780 4603 About Car Chilli: Car Chilli is a provider of car sharing solutions in Singapore. Through its mobile app, Car Chilli connects car owners and car rental companies looking to monetize their vehicles with users seeking flexible and affordable rental options. The app gives car owners and car rental companies the opportunity to monetize their vehicles when they are not in use while offering car hirers a wide range of flexible and affordable rental options in Singapore. Car Chilli is a spin-off from a successful car rental company founded in Singapore that currently has a customer base of over 5,000 people, a fleet of over 100 cars and has been operational in Singapore for more than a decade. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/introducing-car-chilli-singapores-latest-car-sharing-app-301899541.html SOURCE Car Chilli Carsharing

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[August 14, 2023] Splurging $500,000: Bossjob Launches Global "Talent War" for Jobs Tweet

Bossjob Accelerates Globalization Strategy, Attracts Employers with High Bonuses for Registration and Free Usage SINGAPORE, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the July announcement of launching talent services in the Japanese market, the internet recruitment platform Bossjob has further accelerated its globalization process. Recently, Bossjob initiated the "Boss Big Bonus" campaign worldwide, allowing HR professionals to participate in sharing a $500,000 cash reward. There are no limits on the number of participants and total earnings! Bossjob is the first online recruitment platform to promote the direct hiring model globally. This model has been successfully validated in the Philippines recruitment market. Currently, Bossjob is expediting its global expansion into Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and other locations. $500,000 Cash Reward, Replicating Success in the Philippines Market To attract new users and enhance employer retention, Bossjob launched an event with a $500,000 bonus pool. From August 1, 2023, to October 31, 2023, during the campaign period, participants can share a $500,000 cash reward by completing specified tasks. The campaign targets all registered employers on Bossjob who qualify after company verification. Regarding rules, participants earn points through performance and task completion, where 100 points can be exchanged for $1 in cash. A maximum of 10,000 points, equivalent to $100, can be obtained for completing a single task. In onboarding tasks, participants can each earn 20 points for uploading personal information and improving company details. Engaging in conversations and responding to candidate greetings on Bossjob can each earn 5 points daily, while daily gift baskets are randomly distributed between 1 and 5 points. To add excitement to the event, Bossjob also established a KPI competition segment, offering an additional 20 points for the top 50% of players on the weekly leaderboard. The most interesting aspect of this event is inviting new users to join Bossjob. Successfully inviting a company can yield 10,000 points, equivalent to $00, with no upper limit on the number of invitations. The more active employers are, the more candidates they hire, and the more new employers they recommend, the greater the cash rewards they receive.



As of August 6th, the cash reward for the top-ranking participant on the leaderboard has exceeded $1,000 and continues to rise. The enthusiasm of campaign participants is not only due to the allure of cash incentives but also stems from Bossjob's corporate value, which is essential for retaining long-term users and clients.

Even back when the globalization strategy was initiated, Bossjob had implemented a free strategy, and this time they invested funds for subsidies, driven by the market's validation of Bossjob's successful MDD innovative model of "Mobile + Direct Chat + AI Matching". Bossjob introduced online chatting into the recruitment scene, leveraging cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence algorithms and big data, to recommend highly suitable candidates to companies, and recommending jobs to job seekers, thereby enhancing the matching precision for both sides, reducing information asymmetry, and consequently improving job search and recruitment efficiency. Bossjob has been operating this model in the Philippines recruitment market, with a registered user base of over 3.5 million. Job seekers' chat opening rates exceed 80%, while employer response rates fall between 60% to 80%, and job matching rates are around 50%. This success in the Philippines market validates Bossjob's direct hiring model and its plans for international expansion. Accelerating Global Expansion: Bossjob Lowers Costs and Increases Efficiency for Employers Talent competition is a key topic in today's competition among global economies. Despite the technology industry globally dealing with growth slowdowns and even significant layoffs, the demand for talent remains high among local veteran companies, startups, and multinational enterprises, fueled by population growth, digital developments, and the development of the mobile internet industry in places like Singapore and other Southeast Asia countries. According to the "Global Think Tank Dynamics" research report, rental prices for Class A office buildings in Singapore are reaching historical highs of the past decade, and tech talents are highly sought after in the city-state. Additionally, according to the "Survey on IT Talent Supply and Demand" by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, the IT industry in Japan is expected to face a shortage of 450,000 talent by 2030, with the maximum reaching 790,000 and the minimum at 160,000. The imbalance between talent supply and demand in the job market has caused employers to place more emphasis on the quality of talent and the efficiency of matching on recruitment platforms, providing an opportunity for the implementation and promotion of Bossjob's global strategy. Bossjob's Co-founder Kiat How believes that Bossjob holds advantages in terms of talent, products, and efficiency. Covering a talent pool of 3.5 million across multiple countries in Southeast Asia, which continues to grow, Bossjob boasts a large and diverse talent pool, capable of fulfilling recruitment needs across various industries. Using direct chat features, employers and job seekers can communicate anytime, anywhere, reducing intermediary steps and unnecessary processes for a better experience. Moreover, Bossjob utilizes big data and artificial intelligence technology to establish and continuously optimize a talent matching model, aiming to increase the alignment between applicants and jobs, thereby enhancing recruitment efficiency and lowering hiring costs for employers. Bossjob's global strategic layout in places like Japan and Singapore is progressing smoothly. They plan to enter Hong Kong in the third quarter of this year and cover over 30 million users in Southeast Asia by 2026. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/splurging-500-000-bossjob-launches-global-talent-war-for-jobs-301899574.html SOURCE bossjob.com

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[August 14, 2023]

Friendship Diary: Chinese city hosts Russia-Zibo conference

BEIJING, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from chinadaily.com.cn:

A Russia-Zibo Economic and Trade Discussion Conference was held in the international business hub  located in Zibo, Shandong province  on Aug 5.

The aim was to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Zibo and the Republic of Buryatia, Russia.

The conference witnessed the signing of a strategic cooperation framework agreement between the export support center of Buryatia and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Zibo Committee.

The Russian delegation to the conference  made up of representatives from international trade and energy companies in Buryatia  held in-depth talks with key figures from Zibo's business community.

The conference covered a wide range of topics  including timber, big international transport logistics, coal, pharmaceuticals, food and tourism.

Forty-five companies from Zibo's light industry, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, heavy machinery and other key sectors participated.

According to Zibo Customs, Russia is the second-largest trading partne of the city. Last year, the total value of the import and export trade between Zibo and Russia surged 65.8 percent year-on-year to 15.85 billion yuan ($2.22 billion). Exports totaled to 2.54 billion yuan, while imports came to 13.31 billion yuan.







Zibo maintains close relations with Russia. On June 9, an online economic and trade cooperation exchange was held between China and Russia  with over 200 companies from the city engaged in procurement discussions with more than 40 Russian companies and buyers.

What's more, the Zibo Committee of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade organized for a delegation to go to Russia on June 18-22 for a series of economic and trade exchange activities, resulting in a raft of preliminary trade agreements.

On July 18, a Buryatia delegation visited the Zibo committee  engaging in talks on commerce in such areas as new materials.

The Zibo international business hub  set up by the city's international trade promotions committee and launched in March  has held more than 100 international fairs and activities and has attracted enterprises and merchants from over 50 countries and regions.

Several Zibo businesses and residents also sought cooperation opportunities and bought goods at the international business hub. It is widely said to have become a new window for Zibo to open to the international market.

Zibo, approved as a Shandong Peninsula economy opening zone city by China's State Council, holds local legislative power and covers 5,938 square kilometers.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/friendship-diary-chinese-city-hosts-russia-zibo-conference-301899604.html
[August 14, 2023] CIIE: Alpaca wool suppliers show more confidence in the market of China Tweet

SHANGHAI, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As a niche industry in the past, Alpaca products have thrived in Chinese market thanks to the China International Import Expo (CIIE). In 2021, Pacific Alpacas, an alpaca fiber provider from New Zealand, suffered a sales slump at home due to COVID-19 lockdowns and was eager to explore new markets. Considering China's large population and expanding middle-income group, the enterprise's manager Hu Tao set his sights on its market. After months of preparation, the company attended the fourth CIIE in November 2021, with a 9-square-meter booth. To Hu's surprise, the booth received a throng of buyers, distributors and suppliers. The 100 alpaca wool quilts he brought sold out within three days. This unexpected result boosted Hu's confidence in the Chinese market. In June 2022, Pacific Alpacas transported 3.3 metric tons of alpaca fiber to China, marking the largest export of alpaca fiber in New Zealand's history. Five months later, the company participated in the 2022 CIIE and sealed strategic agreements with several Chinese partners including China Southern Airlines' e-commerce branch and a cross-border e-commerce industrial park in Sanya, Hainan province.



Hu said the CIIE can help enterprises tap into Chinese markets quickly. Pacific Alpacas is not the only alpaca product supplier that benefited from the CIIE. At the fifth CIIE in November 2022, the Peruvian alpaca product brand BBFAT showcased 120 exhibits and made contracts with 23 partners.

Xu Ling, head of brand operations in BBFAT, said that when it entered Chinese markets in 2021, they exhibited only 30 products at the CIIE. "Thanks to the event, we have gained lots of fans in China," Xu said. Currently, BBFAT is operating five stores in China which are racking up sales of about 400,000 yuan ($55,600) every month, according to Xu. As export orders surge, a growing number of Peruvian craftsmen have escaped poverty, Xu added. Diana Pita, commercial counsellor of Peru's Consulate General in Shanghai, said that CIIE has become a perfect platform for foreign companies to learn about China's commercial culture and consumption trends. BBFAT has developed alpaca wool-made plush panda toys for Chinese markets, while Pacific Alpacas has created a variety of alpaca coats. In addition, Wild Wild World, an alpaca theme park built by Pacific Alpacas and an alpaca farm from Inner Mongolia autonomous region, began operations in Shanghai's Chongming Island in April. Covering an area of 12.53 hectares, the park is the largest one of its kind in East China. Now Pacific Alpacas is preparing for the sixth CIIE, which is scheduled for November. "In contrast from the previous sessions, we have applied for a special booth this year," Hu said, adding that they will create an array of alpaca-themed artworks for the event in collaboration with artists from New Zealand. BBFAT also plans to bring more than 200 exhibits to the sixth CIIE, according to Xu. Media contact:

Ms. Cui Yan

0086-21-968888

[email protected]

http://www.ciie.org/zbh/en/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ciieonline

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ciieonline View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/ciie-alpaca-wool-suppliers-show-more-confidence-in-the-market-of-china-301899601.html SOURCE CIIE

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[August 14, 2023] SINBON Electronics Honored with HR Asia's "Best Companies to Work for in Asia 2023" Tweet

TAIPEI, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SINBON Electronics, an electronic interconnect design and integration service provider, was recently awarded the HR Asia's "Best Companies to Work for in Asia Award" for 2023 in Taiwan. This prestigious recognition acknowledges SINBON's efforts in creating a well-being environment for its employees while also striving to provide a platform for career development to its talented people. HR Asia's "Best Companies to Work for in Asia Award" is one of the most authoritative and significant awards in the field of human resources management in the Asia-Pacific region. This year's theme, "Diversity thrives, inclusion prevails," incorporates values such as diversity, equality, and inclusiveness, emphasizing the importance of respecting and accepting individual differences among employees. It also highlights the value brought by individual uniqueness while promoting workplace equality through an inclusive environmet.



SINBON actively integrates these values into its corporate culture, believing that top talents come from diverse regions and backgrounds. We will offer customized training programs for employees from different countries. It also emphasizes on promoting local executives in overseas locations. Furthermore, SINBON prioritizes the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, adopting principles of openness, inclusivity, diversity, respect, and equality. This approach ensures fair and smooth career advancement pathways, gradually realizing the vision of diversity and inclusivity. San Li, Assistant Manager of the Human Resources Department, saying with gratitude, "We are grateful for the recognition by HR Asia's judging panel. We will continue to 'Stay humble, and continue to be responsible." Thereby, SINBON remains committed to providing a fair, safe, and well-equipped work environment, respecting workplace rights, and implementing information security measures to foster a fully protected human rights environment.

The SINBON's 2022 Sustainability report is now available at our official website: https://www.sinbon.com/csr/report About SINBON Established in 1989 in Taiwan, SINBON is a world-leading provider of integrated design and production services of bespoke interconnect solutions. SINBON has widely established operations in Taiwan, China, Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, Hungary, and the United States. For more information, please visit www.sinbon.com, or reach out to us at [email protected]. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2183312/SINBON_Electronics_Honored_HR_Asia_s_Best_Companies_Work_Asia_2023.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/sinbon-electronics-honored-with-hr-asias-best-companies-to-work-for-in-asia-2023-301898453.html

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[August 14, 2023] SENNHEISER GROUP SUCCESSFULLY CLOSES FIRST FISCAL YEAR FOCUSING ON PROFESSIONAL AUDIO BUSINESS Tweet

The family-owned company generated sales of 467.7 million euros with its professional audio solutions in 2022 WEDEMARK, Germany, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sennheiser Group was able to further expand its strong position as a provider of professional audio solutions in fiscal year 2022 and grow sustainably on its own. Sales of professional audio solutions increased by 26 percent to 467.7 million euros. This not only enabled the company to meet the targets it had set itself, but also to significantly exceed expectations. The independent family business also used 2022 to make sustainable investments for the future. This was made possible in particular by the sale of the Consumer Business and the associated focus on business with professional customers. One year after announcing its intention to focus exclusively on the Professional Business, the Sennheiser Group can look back on very positive development. Sales of professional audio solutions have grown continuously over the past years - with the exception of the pandemic year, 2020. In 2022, this growth even accelerated. The company was thus able to further expand its strong position as a provider of professional audio solutions. "We have managed to keep up the positive momentum from 2021. Our focus on professional audio solutions has enabled us to grow disproportionately while increasing profitability in a year that, like many other companies, presented us with major macroeconomic challenges," said Co-CEO Dr. Andreas Sennheiser. Particular growth drivers in fiscal year 2022 were the increased demand for professional meeting solutions due to newly emerging formats of hybrid working and learning, as well as the resurgence of the event industry. "The year 2022 has shown that the strategy we developed as a company was the right one," says Co-CEO Daniel Sennheiser. "And it has shown us once again what our employees achieve through their competence, motivation and passion, even in challenging times. For that we are very grateful." The focus on the Professional Business has generated disproportionate growth, so that the company is expected to return to its original size more quickly than previously anticipated following the sale of the Consumer Business. In total, the Sennheiser Group generated sales of 507.4 million euros in fiscal year 2022. The Consumer Business, which accounted for around half of total sales until 2021, was still included for two months in 2022. Total earnings amounted to 114.0 million euros before interest and taxes (EBIT). This includes special effects from the sale of the Consumer business. Sales growth in all regions The Sennheiser Group's sales growth was reflected in all regions. The Aericas region generated a total of 177.8 million euros, making it the most dynamic market in global terms; the largest increase in sales was achieved here, at 41.1 percent. In the APAC region, sales amounted to 93.0 million euros, representing growth of 24.1 percent. The development in APAC is particularly noteworthy, as this market was most strongly characterized by the Consumer Business until it was sold. Sennheiser has maintained the Group's entire infrastructure in the region - this paid off in 2022 and led to a very positive business development in the Professional segment. Overall, the region recovered at a much slower pace due to the prolonged pandemic restrictions. EMEA remains the market with the largest sales at 196.9 million euros. Growth here was at 15.5 percent; there was a very positive development in the Business Communication area in particular in this region.



Sustainable investments in the future "Based on our strategy, we have announced our intention to invest sustainably in the core competencies of the Sennheiser Group. Accordingly, we are building up forces and employees - especially in research and development and at our production sites," says Andreas Sennheiser, Co-CEO Sennheiser.

In 2022, the company invested a total of 41.8 million euros in research and development, which corresponds to around 8 percent of total sales. At the same time, R&D was repositioned as a central function within the Sennheiser Group, with the particular aim of being better able to develop the software portfolio and in a more effective way. Digital solutions that offer customers added value through a combination of hardware, software and services are the focus here. Research work was driven forward in the fields of artificial intelligence, cloud processing and future wireless technologies. In parallel, the company is continuing to drive forward the conversion of its entire IT infrastructure with regard to digital business models. Here, Sennheiser has invested more than 4.5 million euros in 2022 and plans further investments in the double-digit millions in the coming years. With the aim of placing the customer even more strongly in the focus of all activities, investments in the harmonization of the ERP landscape, the development of a Group-wide data architecture and the implementation of an agile Service Organization are on the agenda. The Sennheiser Group countered the uncertainties arising from geopolitical developments by investing in its supply chain. "We have constantly developed our supply chains and continuously expanded our own production capacities. This enabled us to be a reliable partner for our customers despite sometimes difficult supply situations. We have been able to meet almost all requirements last fiscal year," says Co-CEO Daniel Sennheiser. Currently, the company is focusing investment on strengthening its own production sites, including at its headquarters in Wedemark and on expanding the plant in Brasov, Romania. A total of 17.8 million euros was invested in these projects in 2022. "We firmly believe that our own production offers significant strategic added value. The challenges in the global supply chains last year confirmed this approach," said co-CEO Dr. Andreas Sennheiser. "In addition, this is the best way for us to ensure the quality of our Sennheiser and Neumann products, which has always distinguished us." One emerging business area is Sennheiser Mobility. "With the increasing importance of electromobility, we are also positioning ourselves as a company in the automotive sector. Our goal: to play a decisive role in shaping the audio experiences of the future in this space," says Dr. Andreas Sennheiser. "Specifically, we see potential in the interaction between the AMBEO immersive audio technology and the Business Communication area: because in the future, the vehicle will also increasingly become the communication center for virtual meetings." Co-CEO Daniel Sennheiser sets clear premises for the future: "To shape the future of the audio industry, we need the best team in the business. That's why we are continuously investing in our team." Andreas Sennheiser adds: "After all, all the products and services we offer our customers are based on the knowledge, experience and passion of our employees." About the Sennheiser Group Building the future of audio and creating unique sound experiences for our customers - this is the aspiration that unites the employees of the Sennheiser Group worldwide. The independent family-owned company Sennheiser was founded in 1945. Today, it is managed in the third generation by Dr. Andreas Sennheiser and Daniel Sennheiser and is one of the leading manufacturers in the field of professional audio technology. sennheiser.com | neumann.com | dear-reality.com | merging.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/sennheiser-group-successfully-closes-first-fiscal-year-focusing-on-professional-audio-business-301899621.html SOURCE Sennheiser

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 14. Discussions about Iran's nuclear program no longer have economic, but political goals, said Bahman Arman, an Iranian economic analyst, Trend reports.

According to him, as a result of the US imposing new sanctions after withdrawing from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) related to Iran's nuclear program, necessary equipment and spare parts cannot imported to Iran in various fields. Because the countries that produce the mentioned equipment and spare parts do not want to face US sanctions.

It can be said that the sanctions have brought all economic sectors of Iran to its knees. It is clear from the content of the nuclear talks held so far that the discussions are not focused on the negative effects of sanctions on Iran's economy. More political issues and disputes are being discussed, Arman added.

The analyst also pointed out that in discussions about Iran's nuclear program, the opposite parties (the US, the UK, France, Russia, China and Germany) do not pay serious attention to Iran's economic interests. Instead, all parties to the nuclear debate focus on their own interests.

Arman noted that Iran's nuclear negotiating team should keep Iran's economy in the main focus in all discussions. Iran's goal should be to revive the country's economy and develop itself in all areas.

The recent indirect talks between Iran and the US have resulted in the exchange of prisoners between the two countries and the unblocking of Iran's frozen assets in abroad. With the unblocking of frozen assets in South Korea, those funds can only be spent to a limited extent. This is not very effective for Iran's economy, he said.

On May 8, 2018, the US announced its withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and the 5+1 group (Russia, China, the UK, France, the US, and Germany) and imposed new sanctions against Iran as of November 2018.

Over the past period, the sanctions affected Iranian oil exports and more than 700 banks, companies, and individuals. The sanctions have resulted in the freezing of Iranian assets abroad.

On January 16, 2016, Iran's nuclear program precipitated the establishment of the JCPOA between Iran and the P5+1 group (the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany). The US announced its departure from the agreement in May 2018 and implemented sanctions on Iran in November of the same year. To sustain the agreements established as part of the JCPOA, European signatories began in January 2019, and INSTEX, a financial vehicle for continuing trade with Iran, was formed.

On May 8, 2019, Iran announced that it will no longer meet its duties under the pact to sell more than 300 kilograms of uranium, citing the failure of other signatories to do so.

On July 7, Iran announced that it would not be fulfilling its commitments regarding the enrichment of uranium at 3.67 percent and the reconstruction of the Arak Heavy Water Reactor Facility as stated in the deal.

On September 5 of the same year, Iran announced its commitment to enrich uranium using next-generation centrifuges and not mix it with the enriched uranium residues as part of the third step of reducing commitments in the JCPOA.

On November 5, 2019, Iran announced that it had taken the fourth step in connection with reducing its commitments to the nuclear agreement. So, uranium gas is being pumped to the centrifuges at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant.

On January 5, 2020, Iran took the last fifth step in reducing the number of its commitments within the JCPOA.

---

Follow the author on Twitter:@BaghishovElnur
[August 14, 2023] Huawei obtains highest-level security certification for smart device OSs Tweet

DELFT, Netherlands, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Huawei's HongMeng Kernel was awarded the industry's first Evaluation Assurance Level 6 Augmented (EAL6+) certificate as part of Common Criteria for Information Technology Security Evaluation (CC), the highest security level available in the field of general-purpose operating system (OS) kernels. Huawei is the world's first smart device manufacturer to receive this certification in this particular domain. OS kernels are the foundation of OS security and privacy. CC, also known as the ISO/IEC 15408 standard, is an information security certification that is among the most influential in the global IT industry. CC is a widely used and globally recognized standard for product security evaluation. SGS Brightsight, a renowned security evaluation lab in the world, performed the security evaluation for HongMeng Kernel. Mr. Kai-Fan Chang, COO Asia of SGS Brightsight, said, "SGS Brightsight, as the largest security evaluation lab in the world, is honored to perform the security evaluation of Huawei's HongMeng Kernel to reach international Common Criteria EAL6+ level. We believe that HongMeng Kernel will become one of the most important building blocks in future Huawei IoT and mobile products. It also shows the dedication of Huawei to create secure products." Gong Ti, President of Huawei's onsumer BG Software Engineering Dept, said, "The security capabilities of the HongMeng Kernel are now recognized by internationally accredited certification bodies, reflecting the fact that the HongMeng Kernel has reached the highest security level for OS kernels and bringing device and ICT security to new heights."



Dr. Michael Lemke, Chief Security Officer of Huawei Germany, stated, "Kernels are the foundation of system security and privacy. Huawei is committed to ensuring security and privacy in the ICT and device domains. Moving forward, Huawei will continue to comply with the shared global standards for foundational software and cyber security and ensure that the security capabilities of Huawei's products continue to meet internationally recognized best practices." The CC EAL6+ certificate marks a new level of industry recognition for Huawei's cyber security. To date, Huawei has obtained more than 500 certifications under industry-recognized cyber security schemes like CC, FIPS, PCI DSS, and CSA STAR.

Cyber security and privacy protection are Huawei's top priorities, commitments that are above and beyond any commercial interests. Huawei continues to maintain a solid track record in cyber security, and our efforts have earned widespread recognition in over 170 markets around the world, where we serve more than three billion people. Customer trust is the most solid testament to the security and quality of Huawei's products and services. On the industry front, Huawei firmly believes that openness and collaboration lead to shared success. We actively engage with the ICT industry, working with our peers and industry stakeholders to share best practices in cyber security and privacy protection. In 2022, we submitted nearly 300 cyber security standards proposals to 3GPP and GSMA. Working side-by-side with stakeholders all along the value chain, we are innovating together to bolster the industry's cyber security and privacy protection capabilities. Together, we are building a more secure digital world. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/huawei-obtains-highest-level-security-certification-for-smart-device-oss-301899623.html

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[August 14, 2023] Coinbase Accelerates International Expansion with Official Launch in Canada Tweet

Today, Coinbase announced its Canadian expansion with a series of new offerings that demonstrate its commitment to Canada as a priority Go Deep market. Through its partnership with Peoples Trust Company, part of Peoples Group, Coinbase is now providing access to Interac e-Transfers * to 100% of Canadian Coinbase users, making it secure and simpler than ever to move money in and out of your account. This will make cryptocurrencies more accessible to millions of Canadians. Interac availability was the most requested feature by Canadian users, and today's news demonstrates Coinbase's plan to build a platform that is for Canadians, by Canadians. Depositing funds to Coinbase using Interac is free and almost instant. In the last month, over 50% of deposits have been made through Interac e-transfer. Starting today, Canadian Coinbase users can also maximize the full potential of crypto with the best of Coinbase through membership with Coinbase One. Free for all users for 30 days, Canadians now have access to zero trading fees, boosted staking rewards, priority 24/7 support, and more. "Canada is well positioned to be a global leader in the cryptoeconomy thanks to the high levels of crypto awareness, a passionate local tech ecosystem, and the progress towards a strong regulatory framework," said Nana Murugesan, Vice President, International and Business Development, Coinbase. "As Coinbase's next Go Deep Market, we are making significant investments to help Canadians access the benefits of cryptocurrency." Coinbase sees Canada as its next Go Deep Market. Canada is the second-most crypto-aware country across Coinbase's international markets, and an Ontario Securities Commission survey found that over 30 per cent of Canadians said they will buy cryptocurrency within the year, more than double those who say they currently own crypto assets. This presents a significant opportunity for growth in the Canadian market.



These announcements are the latest of several commitments Coinbase has made to grow in Canada. In March, Coinbase signed an enhanced Pre-Registration Undertaking (PRU), and continues working with regulators and policymakers on a strong digital currency regulatory framework for Canadians.

Hired Lucas Matheson as Coinbase's Canadian Country Director. Lucas is passionate about the potential of cryptocurrencies to transform the financial landscape and wants to help make cryptocurrencies more accessible in Canada.

Built a tech hub with almost 200 full-time employees who are helping build Coinbase products. This makes Canada Coinbase's largest tech hub outside the U.S. Coinbase is also one of Canada's largest crypto employers.

Coinbase Ventures has been active across Canada, investing in several Canadian start-ups to promote local innovation and entrepreneurship, and develop technology that will advance the global crypto economy. Canadian portfolio companies include Dapper Labs, Minerva AI, Axelar, Horizon Blockchain Games, and Zapper. "At Coinbase, our mission is to update the financial system and bring greater economic freedom to the world," said Lucas Matheson, Canada Country Director, Coinbase. "We're thrilled to be leading this push and helping drive innovation in Canada's financial system."

Supporting Quote From Peoples Group "Peoples Group is pleased to partner with industry leader Coinbase, to enable this money movement tool for their Canadian customers and expand payment possibilities," said David Furlong, Chief Operating Officer of Peoples Group. About Coinbase Coinbase is building the cryptoeconomy - a more fair, accessible, efficient, and transparent financial system enabled by crypto. Coinbase started in 2012 with the radical idea that anyone, anywhere, should be able to send and receive Bitcoin easily and securely. Today, Coinbase offers a trusted and easy-to-use platform for accessing the broader cryptoeconomy. About Peoples Group Peoples Group has been providing a tailored suite of financial solutions and delivering world-class customer interactions, since 1985. We have grown substantial market share in the insured commercial lending space and are the leading issuer of prepaid payment cards as well as an innovative merchant acquirer. We are an entrepreneurial organization that excels at customizing solutions to fit the needs of our clients. As a trusted partner of many FinTechs, we have a proven track record of giving them the tools and guidance to realize their success. For more information, please visit peoplesgroup.com * Interac e-Transfer is a registered trademark of Interac Corp. Used under license. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230814475027/en/

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[August 14, 2023] IDC Launches Future of X Scorecards to Identify, Quantify, and Optimize the Impact of Critical Technologies and Capabilities on Business Outcomes Tweet

International Data Corporation (IDC) has been at the forefront of industry research on digital transformation and the rise of digital businesses for over a decade. To help business leaders build their digital-first strategies, IDC first launched its Future of X (FoX) research - eight research practices that focus on the key elements of a successful digital enterprise. To further this research, IDC today introduced its Future of X Scorecards, designed to address the need for improved benchmarking in the development and execution of digital business strategies. As enterprises continue to invest in digital technologies and services and these digital transformation initiatives mature, organizations face a new phase of accountability. Increasingly, business leaders, including the C-Suite, recognize that digital transformation initiatives must yield to more purposeful digital-first strategies that drive measurable business outcomes, accelerate time to value, create sustainable growth, establish stronger competitive differentiation, and strengthen industry ecosystems. This is where IDC's FoX Scorecards can be leveraged. FoX Scorecards will help decision makers assess their capabilities, identify best practices, and prioritize the technologies that will improve and optimize business outcomes. IT buyers can use FoX Scorecards to justify investment in technology initiatives that can measurably improve key business outcomes while technology suppliers can use the Scorecards to demonstrate the value of their technology solutions. Each FoX Scorecard uses a standardized methodology that leverages the respective practice's research framework and comprehensive survey data: FoX Practice Research Framework: Identifies the processes, organizational structures, and enabling technologies that empower enterprises to achieve their top business goals.

Identifies the processes, organizational structures, and enabling technologies that empower enterprises to achieve their top business goals. FoX Scorecard Survey: IDC's Future of X Scorecard survey data identifies investments, readiness, and performance across enterprises. IDC clients can leverage the unique value of FoX Scorecards through FoX research subscriptions and IDC Custom Solutions. Each FoX practice will publish a Signature report that highlights and prioritizes critical technology investments areas while identifying the risks of inaction. IDC's Custom Solutions provide technology suppliers with an expanded set of interactive tools to deliver qualified leads, accelerate sales velocity, and strengthen customer relationships. "During this period of economic uncertainty, enterprise buyers are seeking faster time to value and quantifiable business outcomes from their tech investments. IDC FoX Scorecards will serve as valuable tools for IT and business leaders, aiding them in prioritizing and optimizing technologies and capabilities that cn maximize business outcomes," said Tony Olvet, group vice president, Worldwide C-Suite and Digital Business Research at IDC.



In his recent IDC blog, Tony Olvet discusses the growing complexity of enterprise technology and the role that FoX Scorecards play in helping businesses prioritize technology investments, allocate resources, and achieve successful business outcomes. The first of IDC's FoX Scorecards were recently published:

IDC Future of Work Scorecard, 2023 (Doc #US50635023) compares what differentiates leading enterprises from their peers, including expertise in areas such as where and how to invest in hardware/software technologies and services leading to increased operational efficiency, improved employee productivity, and cost savings.

(Doc #US50635023) compares what differentiates leading enterprises from their peers, including expertise in areas such as where and how to invest in hardware/software technologies and services leading to increased operational efficiency, improved employee productivity, and cost savings. IDC Future of Digital Infrastructure Scorecard, 2023: Improve Digital Business Outcomes with Cloud, Automation, and Ecosystems (Doc #US50402123) highlights specific technology strategies, operating model enhancements, and governance processes that can help tech buyers deliver maximum business value from infrastructure and cloud investments. About IDC's Future of X Research IDC's eight Future of X (FoX) research practices provide the guidance digital businesses need to attract digital talent, make appropriate digital infrastructure investments, provide seamless connectivity, improve enterprise intelligence, implement data-driven operations, establish trust, improve customer experiences, strengthen industry ecosystems, and, ultimately, achieve measurable business goals and outcomes. Each FoX practice is global, cross-functional, and organized as a virtual team, combining thought leadership with industry-leading analysis of critical technology trends and survey-based insights. Contact IDC to learn more about FoX research. About IDC International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. With more than 1,300 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology, IT benchmarking and sourcing, and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. IDC's analysis and insight helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based technology decisions and to achieve their key business objectives. Founded in 1964, IDC is a wholly owned subsidiary of International Data Group (IDG), the world's leading tech media, data, and marketing services company. To learn more about IDC, please visit www.idc.com. Follow IDC on Twitter at @IDC and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the IDC Blog for industry news and insights. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230814430577/en/

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[August 14, 2023] Antaisolar Announces Signing of 470MWp Solar Tracker in Uzbekistan with Enter Engineering Tweet

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Antaisolar the leading supplier of the whole industry chain in PV mounting system, announced it has signed a 470MWp Solar Tracking System Supply contract with Enter Engineering, the top-ranked EPC contractor in Central Asia. Gabriel William Wong, Vice President of Antaisolar, Arabin Lama, General Manager of APAC, and representatives of Enter Engineering attended the contract signing ceremony. The project will be Antaisolar's largest solar tracker project in Central Asia, and will be completed in December 2023. After the completion of the project, it will be able to transmit about 600 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity every year, and reduce the annual carbon dioxide emissions by 600,000 tons. It can effectively promote the development and construction of local renewable energy, assist in the transformation and upgrading of the local energy structure.



Uzbekistan has sufficient sunlight resources, suitable for the development of solar energy. In recent years, in response to global climate change and national economic development, Uzbekistan vigorously develops the new energy industry, and plans to increase the proportion of renewable energy power generation to 25% in 2026. As a photovoltaic emerging market country with great development potential, Uzbekistan attracting the attention of global PV investors and developers.

Antaisolar and Enter Engineering will continue to deepen cooperation in the photovoltaic market. With excellent product quality, rigorous project design and efficient team service, they will deeply discover the photovoltaic market in Central Asia, and contribute to the construction of a zero-carbon society. About Antaisolar Antaisolar, the global leading of Solar trackers and mounting system solutions provider.. Established in 2006, it has currently built up a manpower of more than 800 employees, know-how technology with an in-house R&D team of 120 specialists. As of the end of 2022, its cumulative solar racking shipments had reached 25.4GW. www.antaisolar.com Contact

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/antaisolar-announces-signing-of-470mwp-solar-tracker-in-uzbekistan-with-enter-engineering-301899736.html SOURCE Antaisolar

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[August 14, 2023] Verizon turbo charges its Brownsville 5G network with the addition of more spectrum Tweet

BROWNSVILLE, Texas, Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Verizon announced that it now has access to the total amount of 5G C-band spectrum awarded at auction in March 2021  four months ahead of schedule. Brownsville residents and visitors will now be able to use a full 160 MHz of spectrum, nearly tripling the 5G bandwidth available to serve customers throughout Brownsville. This allows Verizon to more quickly expand and enhance its 5G Ultra Wideband network, providing much greater capacity to accommodate more customers and more robust services, as well as enable higher data speeds. This additional spectrum will also allow Verizon to offer 5G Home broadband and Business Internet services to more customers throughout Brownsville.

Early access to the remainder of the C-band spectrum puts us another four months ahead of schedule from our original projections. This additional spectrum will make 5G Ultra Wideband available to even more Americans, and will open up more availability of our home and business broadband solutions, said Joe Russo, EVP & President of Global Networks and Technology for Verizon. The more spectrum we deploy on our network, the more capacity we add for our customers to connect. Since Verizon began deploying 5G service using C-band spectrum, the lightning fast 5G service has been made available to more than 222 million people in 359 markets* and more than 40 million households have access to Verizons Home Internet with 384,000 new customers subscribing to Verizons Fixed Wireless Access based home internet products (both LTE and 5G) in the second quarter of this year alone, bringing total FWA customers to 2.3 million. Verizons C-band holdings Verizon won C-Band licenses for between 140-200 MHz in all available markets, and began deploying 60 MHz in the first 46 areas in 2022. As the additional spectrum has been cleared by satellite companies outside of the first 46 areas, Verizon has been able to deploy 5G Ultra Wideband using a portion of its licensed bandwidth in many more markets coast to coast. Now, with final clearance from the satellite incumbents, Verizon will be able to use the entirety of its licensed C-band spectrum, an average of 161 MHz coast to coast with some markets accessing a full 200 MHz . Verizon has been deploying equipment that is capable of the full 200MHz of bandwidth, so with a mere software update, customers will start to see the effects of this dramatic increase in bandwidth in the immediate next few days and weeks.



Specifically, Verizon now has access to: A minimum 140 megahertz of total spectrum in the contiguous United States and an average of 161 megahertz nationwide; thats bandwidth in every available market, 406 markets in all.

Up to 200 megahertz in 158 mostly rural markets covering nearly 40 million people. This will further enhance Verizons broadband solution portfolio for rural America. More service in more places

Accelerated access to best-in-class spectrum holdings means greater capacity and faster speeds in major metro areas where Verizons network is already undefeated in 96.8% of the metro drive tests (121 out of 125 markets) performed by the most rigorous scientific testing company** in the first half of 2023. Additional spectrum also allows Verizon to continue expanding coverage of its 5G network, the most reliable in the US,*** introducing 5G Ultra Wideband service into even more rural and suburban areas. * Market is defined in terms of PEA or Partial Economic Area defined by the FCC. ** Rankings based on the RootMetrics metro RootScore Reports for 125 metro areas tested during Jan - June 2023: Tested with best commercially available smartphones on three mobile networks across all available network types. Your experiences may vary. The RootMetrics award is not an endorsement of Verizon. ***Rankings based on the RootMetrics State of 5G in the US Report: 2H 2022. Tested with best commercially available smartphones on three mobile networks across all available network types. Your experiences may vary. The RootMetrics award is not an endorsement of Verizon. MEDIA CONTACT:

Karen Schulz

864.561.1527

[email protected]



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[August 14, 2023] Verizon turbo charges its New York 5G network with the addition of more spectrum Tweet

NEW YORK, Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Verizon announced that it now has access to the total amount of 5G C-band spectrum awarded at auction in March 2021  four months ahead of schedule. New York residents and visitors will now be able to use a full 160 MHz of spectrum, nearly tripling the 5G bandwidth available to serve customers throughout New York. This allows Verizon to more quickly expand and enhance its 5G Ultra Wideband network, providing much greater capacity to accommodate more customers and more robust services, as well as enable higher data speeds. This additional spectrum will also allow Verizon to offer 5G Home broadband and Business Internet services to more customers throughout New York.

Early access to the remainder of the C-band spectrum puts us another four months ahead of schedule from our original projections. This additional spectrum will make 5G Ultra Wideband available to even more Americans, and will open up more availability of our home and business broadband solutions, said Joe Russo, EVP & President of Global Networks and Technology for Verizon. The more spectrum we deploy on our network, the more capacity we add for our customers to connect. Since Verizon began deploying 5G service using C-band spectrum, the lightning fast 5G service has been made available to more than 222 million people in 359 markets* and more than 40 million households have access to Verizons Home Internet with 384,000 new customers subscribing to Verizons Fixed Wireless Access based home internet products (both LTE and 5G) in the second quarter of this year alone, bringing total FWA customers to 2.3 million. Verizons C-band holdings Verizon won C-Band licenses for between 140-200 MHz in all available markets, and began deploying 60 MHz in the first 46 areas in 2022. As the additional spectrum has been cleared by satellite companies outside of the first 46 areas, Verizon has been able to deploy 5G Ultra Wideband using a portion of its licensed bandwidth in many more markets coast to coast. Now, with final clearance from the satellite incumbents, Verizon will be able to use the entirety of its licensed C-band spectrum, an average of 161 MHz coast to coast with some markets accessing a full 200 MHz . Verizon has been deploying equipment that is capable of the full 200MHz of bandwidth, so with a mere software update, customers will start to see the effects of this dramatic increase in bandwidth in the immediate next few days and weeks.



Specifically, Verizon now has access to: A minimum 140 megahertz of total spectrum in the contiguous United States and an average of 161 megahertz nationwide; thats bandwidth in every available market, 406 markets in all.

Up to 200 megahertz in 158 mostly rural markets covering nearly 40 million people. This will further enhance Verizons broadband solution portfolio for rural America.





More service in more places Accelerated access to best-in-class spectrum holdings means greater capacity and faster speeds in major metro areas where Verizons network is already undefeated in 96.8% of the metro drive tests (121 out of 125 markets) performed by the most rigorous scientific testing company** in the first half of 2023. Additional spectrum also allows Verizon to continue expanding coverage of its 5G network, the most reliable in the US,*** introducing 5G Ultra Wideband service into even more rural and suburban areas. *Market is defined in terms of PEA or Partial Economic Area defined by the FCC. **Rankings based on the RootMetrics metro RootScore Reports for 125 metro areas tested during Jan - June 2023: Tested with best commercially available smartphones on three mobile networks across all available network types. Your experiences may vary. The RootMetrics award is not an endorsement of Verizon. ***Rankings based on the RootMetrics State of 5G in the US Report: 2H 2022. Tested with best commercially available smartphones on three mobile networks across all available network types. Your experiences may vary. The RootMetrics award is not an endorsement of Verizon. MEDIA CONTACT:

Karen Schulz

864.561.1527

[email protected]



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[August 14, 2023] Verizon turbo charges its Colorado Springs 5G network with the addition of more spectrum Tweet

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Verizon announced that it now has access to the total amount of 5G C-band spectrum awarded at auction in March 2021  four months ahead of schedule. Colorado Springs residents and visitors will now be able to use a full 160 MHz of spectrum, nearly doubling the 5G bandwidth available to serve customers throughout Colorado Springs. This allows Verizon to more quickly expand and enhance its 5G Ultra Wideband network, providing much greater capacity to accommodate more customers and more robust services, as well as enable higher data speeds. This additional spectrum will also allow Verizon to offer 5G Home broadband and Business Internet services to more customers throughout Colorado Springs, where Verizons network already ranks as the best performing according to the nations most rigorous scientific testing company RootMetrics. * Early access to the remainder of the C-band spectrum puts us another four months ahead of schedule from our original projections. This additional spectrum will make 5G Ultra Wideband available to even more Americans, and will open up more availability of our home and business broadband solutions, said Joe Russo, EVP & President of Global Networks and Technology for Verizon. The more spectrum we deploy on our network, the more capacity we add for our customers to connect. Since Verizon began deploying 5G service using C-band spectrum, the lightning fast 5G service has been made available to more than 222 million people in 359 markets** and more than 40 million households have access to Verizons Home Internet with 384,000 new customers subscribing to Verizons Fixed Wireless Access based home internet products (both LTE and 5G) in the second quarter of this year alone, bringing toal FWA customers to 2.3 million.



Verizons C-band holdings Verizon won C-Band licenses for between 140-200 MHz in all available markets, and began deploying 60 MHz in the first 46 areas in 2022. As the additional spectrum has been cleared by satellite companies outside of the first 46 areas, Verizon has been able to deploy 5G Ultra Wideband using a portion of its licensed bandwidth in many more markets coast to coast. Now, with final clearance from the satellite incumbents, Verizon will be able to use the entirety of its licensed C-band spectrum, an average of 161 MHz coast to coast with some markets accessing a full 200 MHz . Verizon has been deploying equipment that is capable of the full 200MHz of bandwidth, so with a mere software update, customers will start to see the effects of this dramatic increase in bandwidth in the immediate next few days and weeks.

Specifically, Verizon now has access to: A minimum 140 megahertz of total spectrum in the contiguous United States and an average of 161 megahertz nationwide; thats bandwidth in every available market, 406 markets in all.

Up to 200 megahertz in 158 mostly rural markets covering nearly 40 million people. This will further enhance Verizons broadband solution portfolio for rural America. More service in more places Accelerated access to best-in-class spectrum holdings means greater capacity and faster speeds in major metro areas where Verizons network is already undefeated in 96.8% of the metro drive tests (121 out of 125 markets) performed by the most rigorous scientific testing company*** in the first half of 2023. Additional spectrum also allows Verizon to continue expanding coverage of its 5G network, the most reliable in the US,**** introducing 5G Ultra Wideband service into even more rural and suburban areas. *Rankings based on the RootMetrics Colorado Springs RootScore Report: 1H 2023. Tested with best commercially available smartphones on three mobile networks across all available network types. Your experiences may vary. The RootMetrics award is not an endorsement of Verizon. ** Market is defined in terms of PEA or Partial Economic Area defined by the FCC. *** Rankings based on the RootMetrics metro RootScore Reports for 125 metro areas tested during Jan - June 2023: Tested with best commercially available smartphones on three mobile networks across all available network types. Your experiences may vary. The RootMetrics award is not an endorsement of Verizon. ****Rankings based on the RootMetrics State of 5G in the US Report: 2H 2022. Tested with best commercially available smartphones on three mobile networks across all available network types. Your experiences may vary. The RootMetrics award is not an endorsement of Verizon. MEDIA CONTACT:

Karen Schulz

864.561.1527

[email protected]



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[August 14, 2023] Formidium Opens State-Of-The-Art Workspace at the GIFT City in Ahmedabad, India Tweet

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Formidium, a global leader in providing fund technology and back-office solutions, has opened its newest workspace at Gujarat International Finance Tech-City, popularly known as GIFT City in Ahmedabad, India. The new office is located at STPI, 9th Floor, GIFT One Tower, GIFT City, Gandhinagar-382355, 12km from Ahmedabad International Airport. GIFT City presents an unprecedented ecosystem for crucial economic activities, offering globally benchmarked regulations, taxation, policies, and more. GIFT City is being developed with world-class facilities and as a prominent business district catering to global and domestic enterprises, and a preferred destination for Financial Services and IT/ITes companies in India. Formidium's facilities at the GIFT City will give its Ahmedabad based staff the resources to continue to innovate and deliver its clients premier services through pioneering technologies. The new workspace features a spacious, modern, and comfortable layout. Beyond the space itsel, the new office is equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure, top-notch connectivity, and cutting-edge technology. The combination of a human-focused workspace and up-to-date technological resources gives the Ahmedabad based staff everything they need to support Formidium's mission.



"We're overjoyed, proud, and absolutely thrilled to announce the opening of our brand-new, dynamic, office at the GIFT City in Ahmedabad! This isn't just an office, it's a launchpad for ambitions, creativity, and a hub for collaboration. We've curated this new office to cultivate a thriving culture of innovation and productivity. The extraordinary GIFT City space is purpose-built to inspire unmatched energy and enthusiasm! As a global leader in fund technology and third-party fund administration, the new office further strengthens our position to cater to the evolving needs of the financial industry," said Manish Sudrania, Co-Founder of Formidium. About Formidium:

Formidium Corp. is a global investment fund administration services and technology provider headquartered in Downers Grove, IL (USA). Formidium has developed its proprietary technology for fund accounting (Seamless Investment Backoffice) and for Investor onboarding (CommonSubDoc). Formidium also offers a Marketplace for alternative investments to HNWIs, Family Offices, and other Institutional Allocators. Formidium's operations and technology are SOC 1, SOC 2, and SOC 3 audited, ISO27001 certified, and supported by over 2 million hours of R&D and a global staff of 900. Learn more about Formidium at www.formidium.com Formidium Corp.

633 Rogers St, Suite 106

Downers Grove, IL 60515 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/formidium-opens-state-of-the-art-workspace-at-the-gift-city-in-ahmedabad-india-301899708.html SOURCE Formidium Corp.

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[August 14, 2023] Verizon turbo charges its El Paso 5G network with the addition of more spectrum Tweet

EL PASO, Texas, Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Verizon announced that it now has access to the total amount of 5G C-band spectrum awarded at auction in March 2021  four months ahead of schedule. El Paso residents and visitors will now be able to use a full 160 MHz of spectrum, nearly doubling the 5G bandwidth available to serve customers. Continuing its network enhancements throughout El Paso , this additional bandwidth allows Verizon to more quickly expand and enhance its 5G Ultra Wideband network, providing much greater capacity to accommodate more customers and more robust services, as well as enable higher data speeds. This additional spectrum will also allow Verizon to offer 5G Home broadband and Business Internet services to more customers throughout El Paso.

Early access to the remainder of the C-band spectrum puts us another four months ahead of schedule from our original projections. This additional spectrum will make 5G Ultra Wideband available to even more Americans, and will open up more availability of our home and business broadband solutions, said Joe Russo, EVP & President of Global Networks and Technology for Verizon. The more spectrum we deploy on our network, the more capacity we add for our customers to connect. Since Verizon began deploying 5G service using C-band spectrum, the lightning fast 5G service has been made available to more than 222 million people in 359 markets* and more than 40 million households have access to Verizons Home Internet with 384,000 new customers subscribing to Verizons Fixed Wireless Access based home internet products (bot LTE and 5G) in the second quarter of this year alone, bringing total FWA customers to 2.3 million.



Verizons C-band holdings Verizon won C-Band licenses for between 140-200 MHz in all available markets, and began deploying 60 MHz in the first 46 areas in 2022. As the additional spectrum has been cleared by satellite companies outside of the first 46 areas, Verizon has been able to deploy 5G Ultra Wideband using a portion of its licensed bandwidth in many more markets coast to coast. Now, with final clearance from the satellite incumbents, Verizon will be able to use the entirety of its licensed C-band spectrum, an average of 161 MHz coast to coast with some markets accessing a full 200 MHz . Verizon has been deploying equipment that is capable of the full 200MHz of bandwidth, so with a mere software update, customers will start to see the effects of this dramatic increase in bandwidth in the immediate next few days and weeks.

Specifically, Verizon now has access to: A minimum 140 megahertz of total spectrum in the contiguous United States and an average of 161 megahertz nationwide; thats bandwidth in every available market, 406 markets in all.

Up to 200 megahertz in 158 mostly rural markets covering nearly 40 million people. This will further enhance Verizons broadband solution portfolio for rural America. More service in more places Accelerated access to best-in-class spectrum holdings means greater capacity and faster speeds in major metro areas where Verizons network is already undefeated in 96.8% of the metro drive tests (121 out of 125 markets) performed by the most rigorous scientific testing company** in the first half of 2023. Additional spectrum also allows Verizon to continue expanding coverage of its 5G network, the most reliable in the US,*** introducing 5G Ultra Wideband service into even more rural and suburban areas. ** Market is defined in terms of PEA or Partial Economic Area defined by the FCC. ***Rankings based on the RootMetrics metro RootScore Reports for 125 metro areas tested during Jan - June 2023: Tested with best commercially available smartphones on three mobile networks across all available network types. Your experiences may vary. The RootMetrics award is not an endorsement of Verizon. **** Based on most first place rankings in RootMetrics 2H 2022 assessments of 125 metros. Experiences may vary. Not an endorsement. MEDIA CONTACT:

Karen Schulz

864.561.1527

[email protected]



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[August 14, 2023] True Fit Partners with Shopify to make AI Fit Personalization Available to Merchants of all Sizes Tweet

Apparel and footwear merchants of all sizes can grow profitably by reimagining the rudimentary size guide and providing best-in-class AI fit recommendations to digital shoppers. BOSTON, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- True Fit , the leading AI platform that decodes size and fit for consumers and apparel and footwear retailers, today announced its partnership with Shopify Inc. , a complete commerce platform that enables merchants to start, grow and manage a business. The strategic partnership will bring the quality, reliability, and economic benefits for which True Fit is known with its enterprise customers to merchants of all sizes. As part of the partnership, Shopify merchants can connect their brand to True Fit's Fashion Genome, the broadest and richest global connected AI fit platform, to remove shopper hesitation around fit, delivering consumer confidence and conversion, reducing fit-related returns and growing customer loalty. Fit is a trust exercise, and reimagining the rudimentary size guide by providing fit recommendations powered by millions of shoppers and enhanced by AI will help merchants of all sizes grow their brands profitably.



True Fit's expert size and fit recommendations are trusted by 82 million active users, tens of thousands of brands and hundreds of retailers globally across menswear, womenswear, kidswear, unisex apparel, footwear, swim and structured intimates categories. Merchants of all sizes can now access the full power of True Fit's size and fit features in minutes, by installing the new True Fit app available in Shopify's app store. As merchants grow, they can leverage True Fit's full strategic platform of offerings, including solutions to improve the cost of shopper acquisition and access unique apparel-retail business intelligence. "This is a very exciting moment for the $2.5Tr apparel industry, which historically has remained digitally constrained around 20-25% digital. By opening up the power of the Fashion Genome's machine learning and artificial intelligence data engine to merchants of all sizes on the Shopify platform, we will accelerate merchant growth through frictionless digital discovery and consumption." commented William Adler, President and CEO of True Fit. "It is our mission to democratise access to the Fashion Genome and artificial intelligence widely across the industry, helping millions of consumers connect to the brands they love. True Fit builds trust between shoppers and brands with deep learning, and in doing so helps merchants cultivate loyal first party audiences, rich consumer preference patterns, and key product fit insights that all help to optimise a profitable growth business. We are thrilled to bring this enterprise capability to the rising brands, which will strengthen the fabric of the apparel markets from largest to smallest merchants."

Shopify and True Fit have already helped brands like Few Moda , Greyson , Toast and Dia & Co . fuel growth and success by building trust into the shopper experience. True Fit is excited to extend a seven day free trial to Shopify merchants: https://apps.shopify.com/truefit . To learn more about the partnership, visit https://www.truefit.com/shopify or contact True Fit directly at [email protected] . For media inquiries, please contact [email protected] . True Fit: Powered by Shoppers, Enhanced by A.I. True Fit is the leading AI platform apparel and footwear merchants leverage to decode size and fit for consumers, bringing them confidence to buy. The platform is powered by The Fashion Genome, connecting $300Bn cross market transactions, fit and style attributes from thousands of leading brands and preferences from True Fit's millions of active members. True Fit streamlines buying for shoppers, drives loyal first party audiences and delivers unparalleled insights for merchants. Connect with True Fit today to learn more about how it has helped retail businesses of all sizes expand digitally. www.truefit.com/business View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/true-fit-partners-with-shopify-to-make-ai-fit-personalization-available-to-merchants-of-all-sizes-301899380.html SOURCE TRUE FIT

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 14. Iran has never strayed from the direction of discussion and diplomacy to resolve the dispute on its nuclear program, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said at a press briefing in Tehran on August 14, Trend reports.

According to Amir Abdollahian, Iranian current government (which has been in power since August 2021) has tried to diplomatically lift the sanctions imposed unilaterally by the US against Iran.

While there is progress on the return of the parties (US, France, England, China, Russia, Germany and Iran) to the Comprehensive Joint Action Plan regarding Iran's nuclear program, which came into force in 2016 and was abandoned by the US in 2018, trade with the countries the use of national currencies should be considered. Because even if the JCPOA is fully active, trade is planned to be carried out in US dollars. The Iranian side is not satisfied to trade only with US dollars, the minister said.

On January 2016, Iran's nuclear program triggered the creation of JCPOA between Iran and the P5+1 group (US, Russia, China, UK, France, and Germany). In May 2018, the US announced its withdrawal from the deal and imposed sanctions on Iran in November of the same year. To preserve the agreements reached as part of the JCPOA, the European signatories of the deal started in January 2019 and a financial mechanism for maintaining trade with Iran called INSTEX was formed.

On May 8, 2019, Iran announced ceasing to fulfill its commitments regarding the sale of over 300 kilograms of uranium, as stated in the deal, basing its decision on the other signatories that have not fulfilled their obligations.

On July 7, Iran announced that it will not be fulfilling its commitments regarding the enrichment of uranium at 3.67 percent and the reconstruction of the Arak Heavy Water Reactor Facility as stated in the deal.

On September 5 of the same year, Iran announced its commitment to enrich uranium, using next-generation centrifuges and not to mix it with the enriched uranium residues as part of the third step of reducing commitments in JCPOA.

On November 5, 2019, Iran announced to have taking the fourth step in connection with reducing its commitments to the nuclear agreement. So, uranium gas is being pumped to the centrifuges at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant.

On Jan.2020, Iran took the last fifth step in reducing the number of its commitments within JCPOA.

On May 8, 2018, the US announced its withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and the 5+1 group (Russia, China, the UK, France, the US, and Germany), and imposed new sanctions against Iran as of November 2018.

Over the past period, the sanctions affected Iranian oil exports, more than 700 banks, companies, and individuals. The sanctions have resulted in the freezing of Iranian assets abroad.

---

Follow the author on Twitter:@BaghishovElnur
[August 14, 2023] iWallet First to Adopt FedNow Real-Time Check Deposits Tweet

iWallet Provides Businesses Instant Mobile Check Deposits for Home Servicers to Accept Payments in The Field SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- iWallet a fintech startup, developed a payment app for businesses and is one of the first processing apps to integrate FedNow, the newest, real-time mobile check deposit technology by the end of 2023. The real-time mobile check deposit provides businesses instant payments and peace of mind if a transaction is completed or if it failed. All iWallet merchants making mobile remote check deposits in the field, will have the ability to have their techs cash checks, make refunds and use funds deposited instantly thanks to the FedNow, July 2023 real-time payments launch. "Traditionally merchants pay a processing fee to use credit cards and businesses aren't able to have their technicians make remote check deposits in the field," states Jim Kolchin, iWallet Founderand CEO. "As an early adopter of FedNow, iWallet will be offering real-time paper check deposits free to qualified businesses."



The main difference with current check processing going forward will be, the check writer will get a text message from their bank in real-time with a six-digit code to confirm the transaction. This number will be used to verify the check transaction and will allow it to instantly process. Merchants will get a real time notification from the iWallet app via FedNow, that the funds have been received by their bank. Additional merchant benefits for techs using iWallet's mobile check deposits in the field are check stop payments will cease to exist since a stop payment can only be issued before payment is processed. The new real-time deposit capability for businesses will be at full capacity once all banks join FedNow, which can take some time.

With FedNow, iWallet merchants will be able to use the funds instantly from mobile check deposits in the field even on holidays and weekends when banks are closed. About iWallet

iWallet is an end-to-end system payment processing platform created for field service providers. An easier, smarter and faster way to remotely manage all forms of payments and automate simple bank functions by digitizing paper checks into instant deposits from a phone or tabletanytime, anywhere. The safe and secure process improves cash flow, is convenient and fills a much needed void for companies with two or more field service providers. MEDIA CONTACT:

Renee Borsack

[email protected]

(949) 233-2575 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/iwallet-first-to-adopt-fednow-real-time-check-deposits-301898721.html SOURCE iWallet

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[August 14, 2023] Ketabon GmbH Reports Top-Line Results from Phase 2 Trial of Take-at-Home, Oral Ketamine Option for Treatment-Resistant Depression Tweet

Lead Asset KET01, an Oral Prolonged-Release Ketamine Formulation, Demonstrated Early Improvements in Depressive Severity Key Findings Included Minimal Incidences of Dissociation or Cardiovascular Effects MUNICH, Germany, Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ketabon, a joint venture between HMNC Brain Health and Develco Pharma, announced today top-line results from its Phase 2 KET01-02 Ketabon study with lead asset KET01. KET01 is an oral adjunctive treatment featuring a prolonged-release formulation of ketamine and is being studied in patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). KET01, at a 240mg/day dose, demonstrated rapidly occurring, and clinically relevant improvements in depressive severity with statistical significance versus placebo on Day 4 and Day 7. The improvements from baseline were sustained while on active treatment until Day 21, and also after the 4-week follow-up period. The placebo-treated arm showed an improvement over time, and at the primary endpoint, Day 21, the change from baseline in the 240 mg/day arm did not reach statistical significance compared to placebo. Importantly, KET01s antidepressant effects were not associated with the typical findings of other ketamine-based treatments, including increased dissociation, heart rate, and blood pressure, which have been an impediment to the clinical uptake of treatments with ketamine and esketamine for depression. We are highly encouraged by the top-line results of KET01-02, which have the potential to transform the treatment landscape for patients continuing to suffer from TRD, said HMNC Brain Health's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Hans Eriksson. Notably, these results were not associated with a signal of dissociative symptoms, as measured by the Clinician-Administered Dissociative States Scale - or CADSS - suggesting that the oral prolonged-release administration has the potential to be a robust antidepressant that offers better tolerability than other forms of ketamine-based treatments. The trial investigated the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of KET01 in 22 out-patients with current major depressive episodes not responding to a minimum of two standard antidepressants, thereby fulfilling the criteria for TRD. Patients were administered doses of 120 mg/day KET01, 240 mg/day KET01, or placebo given once daily in addition to their ongoing standard antidepressant treatment over a three-week period. The study was conducted across 29 sites in Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic.



KET01 offers rapid improvement of depressive symptoms while the occurrence of dissociative events interestingly seems to be lower than in currently used ketamine-based treatments. This could lead to wider and more convenient, private at-home use, added Professor Martin Walter, Chair and Head of the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Jena, who is the international Coordinating Investigator of the study. TRD is a major medical problem affecting close to a hundred million people worldwide, and patients suffering from this condition currently have very limited treatment options. While ketamine has been shown to provide effective relief, it has been hampered by the high incidence of dissociative side effects and other adverse events, leading to the need for resource-intensive monitoring programs. KET01 has the potential opportunity to vastly change this paradigm. For more information, please visit https://www.ketabon.health/ .

About HMNC Brain Health

HMNC Brain Health (HMNC Holding GmbH) is a global precision psychiatry biopharma company pioneering the development of personalized therapies powered by predictive companion diagnostics, leading to higher remission rates. The Company develops a unique pipeline for targeting both Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD). The Company has a presence in both Germany and the U.S. and is backed by a renowned global VC, several family offices, and a strategic healthcare investor. The Company now enters the next stage of its development with a large-scale licensing and fundraising agenda. About Develco Pharma

With headquarters in Pratteln, Switzerland, Develco Pharma is a Swiss-German pharmaceutical company specializing in the development and manufacture of orally administered, modified, prolonged & chrono-release drugs containing known active ingredients. Established in 2006, today the company has a workforce of 130 employees. In Germany, a state-of-the-art production facility for analgesics & other indications has been in operation in Schopfheim, in the Baden region, since 2016. Develco identifies and defines pharmaceutical products containing known active ingredients and develops generic, hybrid, value-added, and innovative formulations backed by clinical data for the delayed or modified release of active ingredients. On the strength of its experience and innovativeness, the company has emerged as an internationally recognized provider of pharmaceuticals for the treatment of several disease areas. The customer base of Develco Pharma includes global pharmaceutical groups. The company has some 180 market approvals in all (products of different dosages) in Europe, the US, the Middle East, South Africa, Asia, and Australia. About The Ketabon Program

The Ketabon program, a joint venture between HMNC Brain Health and Develco Pharma in Switzerland comprises an oral prolonged-release formulation of ketamine for TRD with minimal dissociative side effects. The pharmacokinetic profile of the prolonged-release formulation could significantly improve the risk profile and patient convenience, by minimizing dissociative side effects compared to the currently applied intravenous and intranasal ketamine therapies resulting in a decreased need for monitoring under medical supervision. TRD patients with insufficient response to standard antidepressants represent close to 30% of an overall estimated number of 320 million patients worldwide suffering from major depressive disorder. Clinical development of oral prolonged-release ketamine could also be potentially expanded into other indications beyond depression, such as anxiety, aggression, PTSD, and panic disorder. Media contacts (U.S.): Anne Donohoe

+1212.896.1265

[email protected] Investor Contact (U.S.) Sophia Bashford

+1929.246.7307

[email protected]



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[August 14, 2023] The Delivery Ceremony of the First Batch of 1,000 Zhongtong Buses Ordered by Kyrgyzstan Tweet

LIAOCHENG, China, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On August 8, the delivery ceremony of the first batch of the 1,000 Zhongtong buses ordered by Kyrgyzstan was held at Zhongtong Bus Holding Co., Ltd. in Liaocheng Economy and Technology Development Zone of Shandong, China. The 500 vehicles in this batch will be shipped to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, in succession by September 30 this year. The next batch of buses will be all delivered by 2024. This batch of buses are natural gas powered passenger buses customized and developed according to local demands, with a length of 10.5 meters, adopting the design of a full-flat low floor and a wide passage. Compared with fuel vehicles, their carbon emissions are reduced by 20-30% and sulfide emissions reduced by 99%, and their driving convenience, comfort and environment-friendliness have been well improved. In recent years, with the mounting pressure from air pollution and ecological improvement, the government of Kygyzstan hopes to introduce clean energy vehicles to replace the existing fuel buses and boost the low-carbon transition of public transportation. On May 20 this year, the off-line ceremony of the first batch of the 1,000 Zhongtong buses ordered by Kyrgyzstan was held at Zhongtong Bus Holdings Co., Ltd. in Liaocheng Economy and Technology Development Zone of Shandong, China, with a theme of "Co-building the Silk Road in the New Era of Greenness". Politicians and officials of Kyrgyzstan came to the site to "accept the buses".



Currently, Zhongtong Bus has an annual production capacity of 30,000 large, medium and light buses, producing more than 140 kinds of products in six series such as public transportation, passenger transport, sightseeing, group transport, school buses and special-purpose buses, with its products exported to more than 100 countries and regions. With the expansion of overseas market, Zhongtong Bus's share of overseas market continues to increase, making it one of the typical brands in the global bus industry. Image Attachments Links:

Link: https://iop.asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=441827

Caption: The first batch of 1,000 intermediate buses in Kyrgyzstan rolled off the production line.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-delivery-ceremony-of-the-first-batch-of-1-000-zhongtong-buses-ordered-by-kyrgyzstan-301899810.html SOURCE Liaocheng Economy and Technology Development Zone of Shandong

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[August 14, 2023] Chicago Selected as Host Site for a 3rd Time for Artificial Intelligence Bootcamp - APPLICATIONS CLOSING SOON! Tweet

CHICAGO, Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Time is running out to apply to participate in the Mark Cuban Foundation Artificial Intelligence (AI) Bootcamp hosted by Rush in Chicago. Applications for the no-cost bootcamp are closing soon!

The AI bootcamp is targeted toward underserved high school students (9th-12th grade) and offers participants a chance to learn the fundamentals of AI. Rush has been selected as one of the 28+ host companies across the U.S. for fall 2023. If accepted, participants will engage in a four-week bootcamp held on consecutive Saturdays from October 14th to November 4th. It is imperative that students commit to attending all four sessions. The bootcamp sessions will take place from 1pm-5pm CT. No prior experience in computer science, programming, or robotics is required. The applications for both students and parents can be submitted through markcubanai.org/rushpr. During the bootcamp, students will explore the world of artificial intelligence, including ethical implications and real- life applications, such as, TikTok recommendations, smart home assistants, facial recognition, and self-driving cars. Participants will also discover the features of Large Language Models like ChatGPT, which can answer questions, create original stories, and even generate computer ode.



To provide a beneficial learning environment, trained volunteer corporate mentors , who are knowledgeable in AI, machine learning, and data science , will lead the students through the curriculum. Throughout the bootcamp, students will have the opportunity to work with open source tools and develop their own AI applications related to Computer Vision, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, and Generative AI. The Mark Cuban Foundation provides the bootcamps curriculum materials, trains corporate volunteer mentors, and recruits and scores applications for local students selected to attend camp. In addition, the Mark Cuban Foundation and Rush work together to provide food, information on transportation options, and access to laptops for students at no-cost to use during the bootcamp. This bootcamp is facilitated with support from Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp Program's media partner, Notified, a globally trusted technology partner for investor relations, public relations and marketing professionals.

It was a lot of fun, I learned things I didn't even know were possible with A.I. and their real-world applications showed me just how much it will change our world." - Brandon B., 10th Grade, 2022 AI Bootcamp Participant Founded by Mark Cuban in 2019, the AI bootcamp initiative has hosted no-cost AI bootcamps for students across several U.S. cities, including Dallas, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Atlantic City to name a few. The Mark Cuban Foundation has impacted 900+ students to date and has a goal to increase that number year over year. Students interested in applying to the Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp should do so before Friday, September 8th, 2023 at markcubanai.org/rushpr. To see our 2023 camp locations and to learn more about the Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamps, please visit markcubanai.org/faq. Contact: Carli Lidiak, Mark Cuban Foundation Phone: 309-840-0348 Email: [email protected]



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[August 14, 2023] Ryan Named One of the Best Places to Work in Los Angeles County by the Los Angeles Business Journal for the 13th Year Tweet

Ryan, a leading global tax services and software provider, has recently been named one of the Best Places to Work in Los Angeles County for the 13th time. This annual program was created by the Los Angeles Business Journal and Workforce Research Group. The Los Angeles Business Journal partnered with Workforce Research Group to honor the top 100 employers in Los Angeles County. This survey and awards program was designed to identify, recognize, and honor the best employers in Los Angeles, benefiting the county's economy, workforce, and businesses. "To be named to this prestigious list for the thirteenth time is a testament to the hard work our team members put into creating a positive and rewarding workplace culture," said Ginny B. Kissling, Global President and Chief Operating Officer at Ryan. "As the most populous county in the U.S., Los Angeles residents have many choices when it comes to their employer. I am grateful to our Glendale and Los Angeles teams for their continuous dedication to making Ryan an employer of choice."



Ryan was recognized and honored at a celebratory event held on August 9, 2023. For more information on the Best Places to Work in Los Angeles program, visit https://labusinessjournal.com/events/bptw2023/. About Ryan

Ryan, an award-winning global tax services and software provider, is the largest Firm in the world dedicated exclusively to business taxes. With global headquarters in Dallas, Texas, the Firm provides an integrated suite of federal, state, local, and international tax services on a multijurisdictional basis, including tax recovery, consulting, advocacy, compliance, and technology services. Ryan is an 11-time recipient of the International Service Excellence Award from the Customer Service Institute of America (CSIA) for its commitment to world-class client service. Empowered by the dynamic myRyan work environment, which is widely recognized as the most innovative in the tax services industry, Ryan's multidisciplinary team of more than 4,100 professionals and associates serves over 21,000 clients in more than 60 countries, including many of the world's most prominent Global 5000 companies. More information about Ryan can be found at ryan.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230814602877/en/

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[August 14, 2023] NOTICE TO DISREGARD -- Sino United Worldwide Consolidated Ltd Tweet

NEW YORK, NY, Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- We are advised by Sino United Worldwide Consolidated Ltd that journalists and other readers should disregard the news release SUIC Beneway Signs Agreement with Taiwan Top Catering Group to Create Franchise & Supply Chain-tailored AI & Fintech Platform Ahead of IPO Roadshows and Capital Raise issued Aug. 14, 2023 over GlobeNewswire.







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[August 14, 2023] Battelle Wins $107 Million Task Order to Support Navy and Marine Corps Force Health Protection Tweet

Battelle was recently awarded a $107 million task order to provide ongoing Force Health Protection (FHP), analysis, assessment, and evaluation for the Navy and Marine Corps Force Health Protection Command (NMCFHPC). Battelle was awarded this Task Order under the Department of Defense Information Analysis Center's (DoD IAC) multiple-award contract (MAC) vehicle. These DoD IAC MAC task orders (TOs) are awarded by the U.S. Air Force's 774th Enterprise Sourcing Squadron (ESS) to develop and create new knowledge for the enhancement of the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) repository and the R&D and S&T community. The NMCFHPC is facing ever increasing pressures from emerging public health threats, an evolving military health enterprise, and a shifting future battlespace. As prime contractor, Battelle will provide scientific analysis support for ongoing FHP efforts, including health risk assessment, deployment health, health surveillance, population health and health information. Battelle and its team will deliver high-value, low-risk scientific analyses and technical support, helping NMCFHPC achieve its mission and ensure mission readiness through disease prevention and health promotion in support of the National Military Strategy. "Battelle has a long-standing relationship with NMCFHPC that encompasses over two decades of demonstrated success in support of military public health requirements and a shared vision and commitment to success. We are poud to continue this work," said Greg Kimmel, General Manager of Battelle's Health business.



Battelle's work will enable the fielding of a healthy and fit force, prevention of injuries and illness, promotion of health and wellness, and protection of the force from health hazards. "As a non-profit applied science and technology firm, we invest millions annually into research and development and has substantive benefits for the NMCFHPC mission, and that equips our scientists to tackle emerging problems in public health," said Battelle Program Manager Amy Vinturella.

About Battelle Every day, the people of Battelle apply science and technology to solving what matters most. At major technology centers and national laboratories around the world, Battelle conducts research and development, designs and manufactures products, and delivers critical services for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio since its founding in 1929, Battelle serves the national security, health and life sciences, and energy and environmental industries. For more information, visit www.battelle.org. About DoD IAC Program The DoD IAC, sponsored by the Defense Technical Information Center, provides technical data management and research support for DoD and federal government users. Established in 1946, the IAC program serves the DoD science & technology (S&T) and acquisition communities to drive innovation and technological developments by enhancing collaboration through integrated scientific and technical information development and dissemination for the DoD and broader S&T community. Disclaimer. "This material is based upon work supported by the DoD Information Analysis Center Program Management Office (DoD IAC PMO), sponsored by the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) under Contract No. FA807518D0005." Approved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited. "Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the 774th Enterprise Sourcing Squadron or the Defense Technical Information Center." View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230814307577/en/

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[August 14, 2023] ADDING MULTIMEDIA John West Appointed VP of Business Development and Strategy at Tyto Athene, LLC Tweet

Tyto Athene, LLC announced that John West, an industry veteran with over three decades of expertise in providing strategic consultation to federal government clients, has joined the company's leadership team as the Vice President of Business Development and Strategy. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230814956363/en/ John West, VP of Business Development and Strategy at Tyto Athene, LLC. (Photo: Business Wire) Throughout his career, West has actively supported various government sectors in a variety of roles including management, business development, and executive client interface capacities. John's impressive background that includes a tenure as Vice President at Leidos and a prior leadership role as the Managing Director at Verizon Enterprise Solutions, Public Sector. "Something that appealed to me about Tyto was the size, the people, and the leadership team," West said. "Tyto is mid-size and because of that, we have a lot of agility and the ability to ract quickly to changes in the market; and while we do have effective processes, we are not overly encumbered by them. Tyto is a place that enables leaders to make and implement decisions quickly, and it's exciting to have this opportunity."



In his new position, West will play a pivotal role in developing business relationships and guiding the strategic vision of Tyto Athene. "As we continue to position our company for growth, having a proven leader with so much enthusiasm for the industry will no doubt help Tyto succeed," said Chris Meilhammer, CEO of Tyto Athene. "John West is an excellent addition to the leadership team, and we're honored to welcome him in this new role."

About Tyto Athene: At Tyto Athene, we harness the power of technology to provide solutions that shape the future. With over 50 years of experience providing mission-focused digital transformation, our team of experts offers a broad range of expertise in four major technology domains: Network Modernization, Hybrid Cloud, Cyber Security, and Enterprise IT. We connect people with technologies to seamlessly integrate and manage systems to provide the greatest value to Defense, National Security, Intelligence, Space, and Public Safety for the people who matter the most. To learn more about our mission, visit us at: www.gotyto.com Or follow us on Facebook: /TytoAthene, Twitter at @TytoAthene, and LinkedIn at @gotyto View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230814956363/en/

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[August 14, 2023] BDA's Fifth Annual Bermuda Tech Summit To Be Held October 8-10 Tweet

The fifth annual Bermuda Tech Summit, presented by the Bermuda Business Development Agency (BDA), will be held from October 8-10, with the theme 'Building a Foundation for the Future'. David Hart, BDA CEO, said, "We invite you to join us for three days of thought leadership, industry presentations and networking with oceanside views at the iconic Hamilton Princess & Beach Club. Due in no small part to the regulatory certainty that Bermuda provides, we continue to attract some of the world's most notable tech companies to our shores, increasing direct investment and creating exciting new career paths for Bermudians. Organising the Bermuda Tech Summit aligns with the 'Business Attraction and Investment Promotion' priority from Bermuda Economic Development Strategy and has a direct connection to the Climate Risk Finance, Blue Economy, FinTech and Insurtech initiatives." Confirmed speakers include: George Alayon, Deputy Director, Supervision (Insurance), Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA); Martin Carrica, Founder, Nalu; Cha'Von Clarke-Joell, Assistant Privacy Commissioner, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Bermuda; Karamoko Dickens, Founder, Conci Bermuda; Eric Donkoh, Head of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (BMA); Troy Dort, Director, IT Advisory, KPMG; Moad Fahmi, Senior Advisor, Supervision (FinTech), BMA; Robert M. Franklin III, Venture Partner, Masters Fund; Stuart Lacey, independent director, BDA; Paul McLeod, CEO, Bespoke Analytics; Nick Muller, CEO, TriFi Bermuda; Eugene Phillips, CEO, CCS Bermuda; Sandra Ro, CEO, Global Blockchain Business Council; Stan Stalnaker, Founding Director and Chief Strategy Officer, Hub Culture; Zac Townsend, Co-Founder, Meanwhile; and Darren Wolfberg, Co-Founder, Blockchain Triangle. This year's agenda aims to raise awareness of Bermuda's digital asset framework, showcase the ongoing workto establish blue and green investment facilities, and raise awareness of Bermuda's innovation sandbox and option to beta test cleantech solutions and initiatives in support of the Ministry of Economy and Labour's 2023-2027 Economic Development Strategy. Panels will include: 'The Transformative Power of Artificial Intelligence,' 'FinTech's New Wave (Buy, Build or Modernise),' 'Bermuda's Journey to Becoming Climate Tech Central' and 'Insuring Continuity - Safeguarding the Future of Digital Assets'. Additional topics will include climate tech, data privacy, carbon credit trading platforms, and pioneering digital assets. Click here to see an agenda and full event description on the BDA website.



Mr. Hart, continued, "Without the generous support of our sponsors, we could not put on this in-person event, and we are so pleased to announce that our first sponsors have also come on board: RELM is a diamond sponsor and will sponsor another legendary closing party; Appleby, Carey Olsen, CCS Group Limited and XBTO are platinum sponsors; Hub Culture, KPMG, and One Communications are gold level sponsors; and Chainproof is a silver sponsor." If you are interested in sponsoring the Bermuda Tech Summit, click here or email [email protected].

Potential delegates are encouraged to take advantage of early bird registration prices for one more week until August 21, 2023. Delegates travelling from overseas are strongly encouraged to book their hotel rooms with our special rates through to September 8. From September 9, hotel room rates will increase significantly, or may be completely sold out, due to limited availability. The Bermuda Tech Summit, presented by the BDA is the signature event of the annual 'Bermuda Tech Week' being held from October 7-13 - stay tuned for more information about Bermuda Tech Week events in coming weeks. CONNECTING BUSINESS The BDA encourages direct investment and helps companies start up, re-locate, or expand their operations in our premier jurisdiction. An independent, public-private partnership, we connect you to industry professionals, regulatory officials, and key contacts in the Bermuda government to assist domicile decisions. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230814975769/en/

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Chris Hansen Joins Alliant Insurance Services Amid Continued Midwest Expansion

Chris Hansen has joined Alliant Insurance Services as Senior Vice President within its Employee Benefits Group. Based in Minneapolis, Hansen's arrival further strengthens Alliant's growing presence in Minnesota and throughout the Midwest region.

"Chris understands the impact benefits can have on a business and its employees, and he knows what it takes to create sustainable, successful benefits programs," said Kevin Overbey, President, Alliant Employee Benefits. "He is highly adept at delivering holistic programs that promote operational performance and enhance employee well-being."







"Chris combines strategic analysis and a growth-oriented mindset that will further strengthen our team in the Midwest," said Mike Malouf, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, Alliant Employee Benefits. "He has a strong command of the unique dynamics affecting businesses in the region and provides creative solutions for long-term growth."

Prior to joining Alliant, Hansen was Director of Sales with a national insurance brokerage and consulting firm. He earned his bachelor's degree in finance and speech communications at Minnesota State University.

Hansen can be reached at [email protected].

About Alliant Insurance Services

Alliant Insurance Services is one of the nation's leading distributors of diversified insurance products and services. We operate through a network of specialized national platforms and local offices to offer our clients a comprehensive portfolio of solutions built on innovative thinking and personal service. The business of managing risk is getting more complex, and Alliant is meeting this complexity head-on, not with more layers of management, but with more creativity and agility. Alliant is changing the way our clients approach risk management and benefits, so they can capitalize on new opportunities to grow and protect their organizations. Visit us at alliant.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230814893686/en/
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 14. Iran has agreed with the US on two separate issues as a result of months of indirect negotiations with the mediation of Qatar, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said at a press briefing in Tehran on August 14, Trend reports.

The minister stressed that the first of these agreements is the exchange of prisoners, which can be considered a humanitarian step. The second agreement is the releasing of Iran's frozen assets abroad.

Reportedly, Irans $6 billion of funds have been frozen in South Korea and $10 billion in Iraq. An agreement was reached between Iran and the US on the unblocking of these funds. It is noted that these funds will be transferred to Qatari banks and spent on importing products that are not subject to US sanctions against Iran.

On May 8, 2018, the US announced its withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and the 5+1 group (Russia, China, the UK, France, the US, and Germany), and imposed new sanctions against Iran as of November 2018.

Over the past period, the sanctions affected Iranian oil exports, more than 700 banks, companies, and individuals. The sanctions have resulted in the freezing of Iranian assets abroad.

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Carnegie Mellon's Hacking Team Wins 7th DEF CON Capture-the-Flag Title, Most in Competition's History

The winningest team in DEF CON's Capture-the-Flag (CTF) competition history, Carnegie Mellon University's Plaid Parliament of Pwning (PPP), was back at it again, as the team defended its title, earning its seventh victory in the past eleven years.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230814047557/en/

PPP joined forces with the University of British Columbia's Maple Bacon and hackers from CMU Alum startup Theori.io (The Duck), playing under the name Maple Mallard Magistrates (MMM).

DEF CON's three-day flagship competition, widely considered the 'Olympics' of hacking, brought together some of the world's most talented cybersecurity professionals, researchers, and students, as twelve of the world's top teams (who qualified from a field of 1,828 teams) attempted to break each other's systems, stealing virtual flags and accumulating points while simultaneously protecting their own.

As the number of cybersecurity attacks continues to increase worldwide, competitions like DEF CON's Capture-the-Flag provide the opportunity for leading cybersecurity engineers to measure up against one another, learning and developing new techniques as they work through various challenges.

Carnegie Mellon students, faculty, and alumni once again demonstrated the University's prowess in cybersecurity, finishing in the top spot on the leaderboard at the end of days one and two, and holding on in the competition's final 24 hours to secure the victory. For the win, the team earned eight black badges, the most elite recognition in hacking.

"It feels great to win once again, and the team is incredibly pleased that we built and maintained a lead throughout the entire contest," said Jay Bosamiya, PPP's team captain for DEF CON Capture-the-Flag, a Ph.D. student in Carnegie Mellon's Computer Science Department, and member of CMU's CyLab Security and Privacy Institute. "Our victory as MMM shows how well our three teams work together."







"It's hard to understate the impact our students have in cybersecurity," said David Brumley, Professor in CMU's Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. "Aside from DEF CON, CMU students were the first to hack a Tesla and the iPhone, have founded multiple successful companies like Theori, ForAllSecure, and Comma, and have become professors at top universities. Graduates of CMU's cybersecurity programs are simply among the best in the field, and DEF CON is just one very specific way that proves it."

PPP was first formed in 2009 and began competing at DEF CON in 2010. The team's previous wins came in 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2022, with second-place finishes in 2015, 2018, 2020, and 2021. The team runs and competes in several cybersecurity competitions each year and recently defended its title at the MITRE embedded Capture-the-Flag event (eCTF).

Members of PPP contribute to Carnegie Mellon University's annual student-focused hacking competition, picoCTF, developing challenges of varying levels of complexity. picoCTF has long been the go-to CTF for middle and high school students looking to build and hone their cybersecurity skills, and in recent years has expanded to include an undergraduate leaderboard, as well as several country and continent-specific leaderboards.

Home to the CyLab Security and Privacy Institute, U.S. News and World Report's top-ranked undergraduate cybersecurity program, and several world-class graduate programs and courses, Carnegie Mellon University continues to lead the way in cybersecurity education and research.

About the College of Engineering:

The College of Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University is a top-ranked engineering college known for its Advanced Collaboration culture in research and education. The College is well-known for working on problems of both scientific and practical importance. Our "maker" culture is ingrained in all that we do, leading to novel approaches and transformative results. Our acclaimed faculty have a focus on innovation management and engineering to yield transformative results that will drive the intellectual and economic vitality of our community, nation, and world.

About Carnegie Mellon University:

Carnegie Mellon, cmu.edu, is a private, internationally ranked research university with acclaimed programs spanning the sciences, engineering, technology, business, public policy, humanities, and the arts. Our diverse community of scholars, researchers, creators, and innovators is driven to make real-world impacts that benefit people across the globe. With a bold, interdisciplinary, and entrepreneurial approach, we do the work that matters.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230814047557/en/
[August 14, 2023] Kerecis to Donate FDA-Approved Fish Skin for Burn Victims of Maui Wildfires Tweet

Kerecis, the company pioneering the use of fish skin and fatty acids for tissue regeneration and protection, is donating its GraftGuide fish-skin burn product for victims of the fires on Maui, Hawaii. Qualified medical personnel wanting to get fish-skin burn-treatment products for their patients should call 703-287-8752 or email [email protected]. Kerecis is dispatching a specialist to train doctors who would be using the product for the first time. "Severe burns are life-threatening and extremely painful," said Fertram Sigurjonsson, founder and CEO of Kerecis. "We want to help burn victims heal as quickly and fully as possible. We are contacting medical facilities in Maui and encourage medical professionals to contact us to get Kerecis GraftGuide fish skin for their patients." Kerecis had previously donated its burn products for victims of boththe California wildfires in 2020 and the volcanic eruption on White Island in New Zealand in 2019.



About the Kerecis GraftGuide Fish Skin The GraftGuide product line is intact fish skin that addresses the challenges of burn healing. The products are available in multiple sizes and forms. GraftGuide Standard is meshed fish skin, available in sheets of 250 cm2 (38 square inches) and 300 cm2 (46 square inches). GraftGuide Micro is intact fish skin divided into fragments, which mold into wound beds. And GraftGuide Mano is intact fish skin designed to fit the shape of the hand.

About Kerecis Kerecis develops products from fish skin and fatty acids for cellular therapy, tissue regeneration and protection. When grafted onto damaged human tissue or implanted, the patented material supports the body's own processes to heal and regenerate. Because no disease-transfer risk exists between cold-water fish and humans, the Kerecis fish skin is only gently processed and retains its similarity to human tissue. The gentle processing preserves the skin's original three-dimensional structure, maintaining its inherent natural strength, complexity and molecules (such as fatty acids). Clinical studies have found that the Kerecis products heal wounds faster than competing products. Kerecis is the only approved manufacturer of medical devices containing intact fish skin globally. Trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230814169067/en/

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[August 14, 2023] Greenlane Renewables Announces Second Quarter 2023 Financial Results Tweet

VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 14, 2023 /CNW/ - Greenlane Renewables Inc. ("Greenlane" or the "Company") (TSX: GRN) (FSE: 52G) (OTC: GRNWF) today announced its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023. For further information on these results please see the Company's Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca. All amounts reported are in Canadian dollars and in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") unless otherwise stated. Second Quarter Highlights Include: Revenue of $14.9 million .

. Gross profit of $3.8 million , Gross Margin 1 before amortization of $4.3 million (29% of revenue).

, Gross Margin before amortization of (29% of revenue). Net loss and comprehensive loss of $4.3 million .

. Adjusted EBITDA 2 loss of $1.5 million .

loss of . Sales Order Backlog 3 of $16.3 million as at June 30, 2023 .

of as at . Cash and cash equivalents of $16.1 million and no debt outside the ordinary course of business, as at June 30, 2023 .

and no debt outside the ordinary course of business, as at . The Company announced a collaborative agreement with ZEG Biogas e Energis SA ("ZEG Biogas"), a company 50% owned by Vibra Energia S.A. ("VIBRA"), previously the fuel distribution unit of Petrobras, to establish industrial scale volume production of Greenlane's Totara+ Water Wash biogas upgrading product in Brazil . ZEG Biogas' goal is to deliver 75 Totara+ systems over the next 5 years, for which the Company will earn revenue under a new royalty-like business model together with supply of components from outside of Brazil and ongoing local service contracts. Subsequent Event: The Company increased its standby letter of credit facility from $20 million to $26.5 million . The facility is secured by a guarantee from Export Development Canada and is used to enhance sales by providing guarantees and letters of credit to the Company's customers who require them. "During the second quarter we continued to work toward our goal of becoming cash flow and Adjusted EBITDA positive in the next nine months by targeting attractive market segments where Greenlane can realize volume opportunities with a streamlined product portfolio and by investing in systems and processes that will allow us to scale the business," said Brad Douville, CEO of Greenlane Renewables. "Our agreement with ZEG Biogas is emblematic of the type of opportunity that will help create operating leverage. The second quarter was an extremely busy one for us, as we continued to successfully build and commission over 20 separate upgrading projects. We delivered strong gross margins this quarter. Additionally, our sales team has been active in building relationships with strategic customers interested in placing larger orders. As I transition into my new role as Vice Chair of the Company I look forward to taking a more focused role in these initiatives. We are looking forward to adding additional sales to our backlog through the remainder of 2023." "The market for RNG continues to offer tremendous growth opportunities for Greenlane's products and services. Not only are we excited about the growing sales opportunities that we see for biogas upgrading equipment, but we believe the expansion of our traditional business model to include a royalty-like structure offering a standardized system will support further sales growth." Greenlane's Gross Margin before amortization for the second quarter of 2023 is 29% of revenue, up from 25% in the second quarter of 2022. The increase is driven by gained efficiencies on project execution and a reversal for warranty provisions that have expired. Excluding the reversal of warranty provisions, Gross Margin before amortization is 26%, in line with our historical range. During the second quarter, the Company took control of one of the projects in its Deployment of Development Capital ("DoDC") program as a result of unforeseen circumstances and associated delays. Initially, under its convertible note, the Company had the opportunity to receive a return on its invested funds and to convert the note into a minority equity interest in that renewable natural gas project. As a result of this transaction, the Company has now acquired 100% of this pre-construction project and is advancing the opportunity. Accordingly, the convertible note was canceled, and the Company recorded a corresponding impairment in the note in the amount of $1.1 million. Greenlane has also evaluated its DoDC program in the context of the rapidly evolving RNG market and its strategic growth plan and has determined that funds previously allocated to the DoDC program should be re-allocated to working capital. This shift better positions the Company to leverage its product and execution expertise over repeatable, high volume / high value opportunities globally. Greenlane continually provides an update on its system sales opportunities that successfully convert into contractual agreements in its reported sales order backlog ("Sales Order Backlog"). The Company's Sales Order Backlog of $16.3 million as at June 30, 2023 is a snapshot in time which varies from quarter-to-quarter. The Sales Order Backlog increases by the value of new system sales contracts and is drawn down over time as projects progress towards completion with amounts recognized in revenue. A typical system sales contract (excluding Airdep and ZEG Biogas product sales) has six stages of completion and a duration of nine to 18 months, and therefore annual and quarterly operating results will fluctuate as a result of the timing of contract related work. The Market Outlook The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final rulemaking for the renewable fuel volumes for 2023-2025 under the Renewable Fuel Standard Program in late June. As noted in industry press, the new rule was published without inclusion of the potentially lucrative but controversial eRIN program and included positive treatment for RNG. eRINs in the EPA's initial proposal would have offered a substantial new source of revenue for biogas producers in the waste industry, many of which generate electricity and not renewable natural gas. The EPA's deferral of eRINs resulted in a 30% jump in D3 RIN prices. According to EPA data, 99.8% of D3 RIN generation for the first half of 2023 was from RNG. Additionally, the final EPA rulemaking is supportive of co-digestion projects with mixed waste streams through inclusion of RIN apportionment between D3 and D5 RINs. In a recent publication of its analysis of the EPA's final rulemaking, BioCycle states that historically anaerobic digesters processing food waste and producing RNG were automatically assigned a lower value D5 RIN, while digestion facilities processing manure and biosolids to generate RNG were allocated the higher value D3 RIN. Through the apportionment mechanism in the EPA's final rule, mixed waste stream digestion facilities that accept food waste, manure and biosolids will be eligible for D3 RINs, which is a big win for the industry as the separation and processing of food waste is a growing source of feedstock. The transportation sector continues to turn to RNG as a key driver of its decarbonization strategy. NGVAmerica and the RNG Coalition announced that 69 percent of all U.S. on-road fuel used in natural gas vehicles in calendar year 2022 was RNG, surpassing the previous year's record-breaking level. RNG use as a transportation fuel grew 17 percent over 2021 volumes, up 218 percent from 2018 levels. And in California, fleets fueled with bio-CNG achieved carbon-negativity in their transportation operations last calendar year for the third straight year. NGVAmerica also announced that over US$230 million has been awarded by the Biden administration to compressed natural gas transit bus projects across the United States. Natural gas-powered buses offer the most cost-effective emission reduction investment, as operators can affordably achieve carbon-negative transit by refueling with RNG. Conference Call The public is invited to listen to the conference call in real time by telephone today, August 14th, at 2:00 p.m. PT (5:00 p.m. ET). To access the conference call by telephone, please dial: 1-800-319-4610 (North America toll-free) or 1-604-638-5340. Callers should dial in 5-10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time and ask to join the Greenlane Renewables conference call. Callers should dial in 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time and ask to join the Greenlane Renewables conference call. Shortly after the conference call, the replay will be archived on the Greenlane Renewables website and replay will be available in streaming audio and a downloadable audio file. SPECIFIED FINANCIAL MEASURES Management evaluates the Company's performance using a variety of measures, including "Gross Margin before amortization", "Adjusted EBITDA" and "Sales Order Backlog". The specified financial measures, including non-IFRS measures and supplementary financial measures should not be considered as an alternative to or more meaningful than revenue, gross profit or net income. These measures do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and therefore they may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other publicly traded companies and should not be construed as an alternative to other financial measures determined in accordance with IFRS. The Company believes these specified financial measures provide useful information to both management and investors in measuring the financial performance and financial condition of the Company. Management uses these specified financial measures to exclude the impact of certain expenses and income that must be recognized under IFRS when analyzing consolidated underlying operating performance, as the excluded items are not necessarily reflective of the Company's underlying operating performance and make comparisons of underlying financial performance between periods difficult. From time to time, the Company may exclude additional items if it believes doing so would result in a more effective analysis of underlying operating performance. The exclusion of certain items does not imply that they are non-recurring. Note 1 - Gross Margin before amortization is a non-IFRS measure and is defined by the Company as gross profit before amortization of intangible assets and property and equipment. Note 2 - Adjusted EBITDA is a non-IFRS measure and is defined by the Company as earnings before interest, taxes, foreign exchange, depreciation and amortization, as well as adjustments for other income (expense), value assigned to options and RSU's granted, and strategic initiatives. Reconciliation of net loss and comprehensive loss to Adjusted EBITDA:







(in $000s) Three months ended June 30th 2023 2022 Net loss and comprehensive loss (4,339) (2,680) Add (deduct):



Exchange difference on translating foreign operations (80) 508 Provisions for income taxes 293 - Foreign exchange (gain) loss 810 (491) Other loss 20 - Finance income (131) (10) Finance expense 17 20 Impairment of notes receivable 1,068 - Share-based compensation 182 638 Strategic initiatives - 782 Amortization of office equipment 110 113 Amortization of property and equipment 49 39 Amortization of intangible assets 482 652 Adjusted EBITDA (1,519) (429)



Note 3 - Sales Order Backlog is a supplementary financial measure that refers to the balance of unrecognized revenue from contracted biogas upgrading system supply projects. The Sales Order Backlog increases by the value of new system sales contracts and is drawn down over time as projects progress towards completion with amounts recognized in revenue (by reference to the stage of completion of each contract). About Greenlane Renewables Greenlane Renewables is a pioneer in the rapidly growing renewable natural gas ("RNG") industry. As a leading global provider of biogas upgrading systems, we are helping to clean up two of the largest and most difficult-to-decarbonize sectors of the global energy system: the natural gas grid and the commercial transportation sector. Our systems produce clean, low-carbon and carbon-negative RNG from organic waste sources such as landfills, wastewater treatment plants and agricultural and food waste streams. To the company's knowledge, Greenlane is the only biogas upgrading company offering and actively deploying the three main technologies: waterwash, pressure swing adsorption, and membrane separation. Greenlane's business has been built on over 35 years of industry experience, patented and proprietary technology, with over 140 biogas upgrading systems sold into 19 countries, including some of the largest RNG production facilities in the world, and over 140 biogas desulfurization units sold. For further information, please visit www.greenlanerenewables.com . Forward Looking Information Advisory  This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements contained herein that are not historical in nature contain forward-looking information. Forward-looking information can be identified by words or phrases such as "may", "expect", "likely", "could", "plan", "expects" or "is expected to","believe", "continues to", "remains" or "continually" or the negative of these terms, or other similar words, expressions and grammatical variations thereof, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" happen or that current events or conditions will continue or be repeated. The forward-looking information contained in this press release, includes, but is not limited to: that ZEG Biogas' goal is to deliver 75 Totara+ systems over the next 5 year,, that the Company will earn revenue under a royalty-like business model, and will supply components and have ongoing service contracts; management's expectation that the Company will be cash flow and Adjusted EBITDA positive in the next nine months; that the Company will continue to be successful in building and commissioning projects; that strategic customers are interested in placing larger orders and that management is looking forward to additional sales through the remainder of 2023; that the market for RNG continues to offer tremendous growth opportunities for Greenlane's products and services and management's belief that the its royalty-like model will support further sales growth; that the shift of funds to working capital better positions the Company to leverage its product and execution expertise over repeatable, high volume / high value opportunities globally; that the regulatory developments outlined under 'The Market Outlook' are supportive of new and expanded opportunities in the RNG market; that the sales order backlog will be drawn down and the Company advances and completes projects to realize revenue; that significant capital continues to flow into the RNG sector. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this press release and is based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable at the time such statements were made, including management's perceptions of future growth, that regulatory developments in the US and other jurisdictions in which the Company conducts business will be favourable for the RNG industry; results of operations, operational matters, historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, the state of competition in the RNG industry and competitors' capabilities, that favourable legislative initiatives will have a positive impact on the pace of growth and the availability of financing in the RNG industry and will generate sales opportunities for Greenlane, as well as other considerations that are believed to be appropriate in the circumstances. While management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to management, there is no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. By their nature, forward-looking information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. A variety of factors, including known and unknown risks, many of which are beyond Greenlane's control, could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information in this press release. Such factors include, without limitation: risks relating to the collaboration with ZEG Biogas not resulting in the volume production of Units or other ancillary benefits to Greenlane as anticipated, risks that ZEG Biogas' biomethane production goals are not met over the anticipated time period; that strategic customers may not place larger orders as anticipated; the market for RNG may not continue to offer tremendous growth opportunities for Greenlane's products and services, and the expansion of the Company's traditional business model to include a royalty-like structure offering a standardized system may not support further sales grow; that legislative changes may not support new opportunities in the RNG industry; risks relating to Greenlane's financial performance, Greenlane may face impediments in delivering and advancing projects to be able to timely realize revenue reducing the sales backlog; RNG initiatives and projects of natural gas utilities being changed, delayed or canceled, the state of competition in the RNG industry, Greenlane's position as a leading biogas upgrading and project development solutions provider. Additional risk factors can also be found in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis, and its Annual Information Form, all of which have been filed under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. FINANCIAL OUTLOOK INFORMATION  This news release contains "financial outlook information" regarding Greenlane's prospective revenue and results, which is subject to the same assumptions, risk factors, limitations, and qualifications as set forth in the above. Revenue and other estimates contained in this news release were made by Greenlane management as of the date of this news release and are provided for the purpose of describing anticipated changes, and are not an estimate of profitability or any other measure of financial performance. Investors are cautioned that the financial outlook information contained in this news release should not be used for purposes other than for which it is disclosed herein. The Company's revenues are largely derived from a relatively small number of biogas upgrader orders accounted for on a stage of completion basis over typically a nine to eighteen-month period. Timing of new contract awards varies due to customer-related factors such as finalizing technical specifications and securing project funding, permits and RNG off-take and feedstock agreements. Some contracts contain termination provisions that allow the customer to terminate with no penalty or with minimum prescribed threshold payments based on the length of time since the contract was entered into. Some projects have built-in pause periods to allow customers to complete concurrent activities such as civil work. As a result, the Company's revenue varies from month to month and quarter-to-quarter. THE COMPANY QUALIFIES ALL THE FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS AND FINANCIAL OUTLOOK INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS NEWS RELEASE BY THE FOREGOING CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS. Neither the TSX Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release or has in any way approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. SOURCE Greenlane Renewables Inc.

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[August 14, 2023] Molina Healthcare of New Mexico Receives Notification of Intent to Award New Medicaid Contract Tweet

Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE: MOH) ("Molina" or the "Company") confirmed that the New Mexico Human Services Department (HSD) has announced its intention to award a Medicaid managed care contract to Molina's New Mexico health plan, Molina Healthcare of New Mexico. The announcement by HSD follows its rescission of the cancellation of the Turquoise Care Request for Proposals made on January 30, 2023. The go-live date for Molina Healthcare of New Mexico's new Medicaid contract is expected to be July 1, 2024. The new contract is expected to have a duration of three years, with potential extensions adding a further five years to the term. Molina Healthcare of New Mexico is among four health plans awarded a new Turquoise Care Medicaid contract. The four health plans will be offering health care coverage to all of the enrollees in the New Mexico managed care program, with current enrollment of approximately 785,000 members. About Molina Healthcare Molina Healthcare, Inc., a FORTUNE 500 company (currently ranked 126), provides managed health care services under the Medicaid and Medicare programs and through the state insurance marketplaces. Through its locally operated health plans, Molina Healthcare served approximately .2 million members as of June 30, 2023. For more information about Molina Healthcare, please visit molinahealthcare.com.



Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding HSD's announcement of its intent to award a Medicaid managed care contract to Molina's New Mexico health plan. All forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations that are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Such risks include, without limitation, any changes incidental to a successful protest or legal action, the successful negotiation of a Medicaid contract with HSD, any delay in the start date of the new contract, the satisfaction of readiness review, and a decline in Medicaid enrollment as a result of recertifications. Given these risks and uncertainties, Molina cannot give assurances that its forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. All forward-looking statements in this news release represent Molina's judgment as of the date hereof, and it disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to conform the statement to changes in its expectations that occur after the date of this news release. Information regarding the other risk factors to which the Company is subject is provided in greater detail in its periodic reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), at www.sec.gov.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230814805840/en/

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[August 14, 2023] Two Major Victories for Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria and the City of Everett Tweet

The United States Attorney's Office has closed a preliminary investigation against the City of Everett which had been opened more than 14 months ago by former U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins. The inquiry related to allegations of racial and gender discrimination and sexual harassment by City officials and employees. Rachael Rollins was forced to resign in May 2023 after two federal watchdog agencies found that she sought to use her position to influence a local election and lied to investigators. The City of Everett was committed to a full and fair inquiry and retained outside counsel to conduct an internal review of the allegations and to assist in the inquiry, including interacting with representatives of the Department of Justice. The City demonstrated its commitment to a thorough and timely review by cooperating fully with all aspects of the inquiry and providing information and records responsive to the requess of the Department of Justice.



"We cooperated fully throughout the course of this inquiry," said Mayor Carlo DeMaria. "I am pleased that the matter has been closed, but I am not surprised by the outcome." With the written notification from the Department of Justice, the matter is now closed without further action or investigatory activities, and no charges will be brought against the City or any municipal employees or officials.

The closing of the inquiry does not mean that the work underway in Everett will come to an end. "Our commitment to ensuring that we are an 'Everett for Everyone' began before this inquiry was opened and that work continues," said the Mayor. "We will continue to find ways to bring residents together to celebrate the diverse cultures that make our community special, as well as continue with our teachings and trainings dedicated to providing our residents and also our employees with a city government that is accessible, respectful and culturally sensitive." In another dramatic development, Mayor DeMaria and his attorney Jeffrey Robbins have been notified by Middlesex Superior Court that he will likely win a major judgment of at least $850,000 against The Everett Leader Herald, its owner and publisher and have attached their properties in that amount in a landmark defamation lawsuit filed by Mayor DeMaria against the newspaper for fabricating corruption charges against him. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230814354276/en/

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[August 14, 2023] Rogers Corporation Welcomes Griffin Gappert as New Chief Technology Officer Tweet

Rogers Corporation (NYSE:ROG) ("Rogers"), announced that Griffin Gappert, Ph.D. has joined the company as Vice President and Chief Technology Officer (CTO). He will lead Rogers' global Research and Development (R&D) organization and partner with business unit leaders to drive innovation and commercialization of next-generation material solutions. Griffin joins Rogers from Henkel where he was the Global Head of Innovation for Henkel's Adhesives Automotive OEM business, based in Germany. He brings more than 20 years of experience in the specialty materials and chemicals industries to Rogers. Prior to joining Henkel, Griffin held leadership roles at Ashland Inc., Dow Chemical Company and The Rohm and Haas Company. Griffin holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. "We are excited for Griffin to join Rogers in this important role," said Colin Gouveia, Rogers' President and Chief Executive Officer. "Griffin brings extensive R&D leadership experience from large multinational companies and deep expertise in advanced electronic and elastomeric materials. His broad experience and skillset make him a natural fit for the CTO role at Rogers." "I am excited to join Rogers, a global leader in advanced materials-based technologies," said Griffin. "Rogers has a long history of driving innovation and helping customers solve their most complex challenges. I look forward to leveraging my experience leading global teams to commercialize innovative products to help drive Rogers' growth." About Rogers Corporation Rogers Corporation (NYSE:ROG) is a global leader in engineered materials to power, protect and connect our world. Rogers delivers innovative solutions to help our customers solve their toughest material challenges. Rogers' advanced electronic and elastomeric materials are used in applications for EV/HEV, automotive safety and radar systems, mobile devices, renewable energy, wireless infrastructure, energy-efficient motor drives, industrial equipment and more. Headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, Rogers operates manufacturing facilities in the United States, Asia and Europe, with sales offices worldwide. Safe Harbor Statement Statements included in this release that are not a description of historical facts are forwar-looking statements. Words or phrases such as "believe," "may," "could," "will," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "seek," "plan," "expect," "should," "would" or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, and are based on Rogers' current beliefs and expectations. This release contains forward-looking statements regarding our plans, objectives, outlook, goals, strategies, future events, future net sales or performance, capital expenditures, future restructuring, plans or intentions relating to expansions, business trends and other information that is not historical information. All forward-looking statements are based upon information available to us on the date of this release and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. Other risks and uncertainties that could cause such results to differ include: the duration and impacts of the coronavirus global pandemic and efforts to contain its transmission and distribute vaccines, including the effect of these factors on our business, suppliers, customers, end users and economic conditions generally; continuing disruptions to global supply chains and our ability, or the ability of our suppliers, to obtain necessary product components; failure to capitalize on, volatility within, or other adverse changes with respect to the Company's growth drivers, including advanced mobility and advanced connectivity, such as delays in adoption or implementation of new technologies; uncertain business, economic and political conditions in the United States (U.S.) and abroad, particularly in China, South Korea, Germany, the United Kingdom, Hungary and Belgium, where we maintain significant manufacturing, sales or administrative operations; the trade policy dynamics between the U.S. and China reflected in trade agreement negotiations and the imposition of tariffs and other trade restrictions, including trade restrictions on Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei); fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; our ability to develop innovative products and the extent to which our products are incorporated into end-user products and systems and the extent to which end-user products and systems incorporating our products achieve commercial success; the ability and willingness of our sole or limited source suppliers to deliver certain key raw materials, including commodities, to us in a timely and cost-effective manner; intense global competition affecting both our existing products and products currently under development; business interruptions due to catastrophes or other similar events, such as natural disasters, war, including the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, terrorism or public health crises; the impact of sanctions, export controls and other foreign asset or investment restrictions; failure to realize, or delays in the realization of anticipated benefits of acquisitions and divestitures due to, among other things, the existence of unknown liabilities or difficulty integrating acquired businesses; our ability to attract and retain management and skilled technical personnel; our ability to protect our proprietary technology from infringement by third parties and/or allegations that our technology infringes third party rights; changes in effective tax rates or tax laws and regulations in the jurisdictions in which we operate; failure to comply with financial and restrictive covenants in our credit agreement or restrictions on our operational and financial flexibility due to such covenants; the outcome of ongoing and future litigation, including our asbestos-related product liability litigation or risks arising from the terminated DuPont Merger; changes in environmental laws and regulations applicable to our business; and disruptions in, or breaches of, our information technology systems. Should any risks and uncertainties develop into actual events, these developments could have a material adverse effect on the Company. For additional information about the risks, uncertainties and other factors that may affect our business, please see our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Rogers Corporation assumes no responsibility to update any forward-looking statements contained herein except as required by law.



View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230814095228/en/



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Our tragic pace of cowtown killing continues along a record breaking pace as we record another deadly shooting on Sunday.

Here's the first report . . .



Homicide 3600 block of Norton

This evening just before 6pm officers were dispatched to the 3600 block of Norton on a reported Shooting.



Upon arrival, officers were summoned inside of a nearby residence where they located and adult male victim suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Responding officers immediately began life-saving measures until EMS could respond and take over. Upon EMS arrival the victim was declared deceased.



The preliminary investigation is believed the victim and an additional adult male were inside of the residence when shots were fired inside of the home.



An adult male was taken into custody at the scene, and no additional persons of interest are believed to be involved at this time.



Homicide detectives and crime scene personnel have responded to the scene and will begin gathering evidence and collecting witness statements. This investigation is considered ongoing at this time.



We are working with Partners for Peace in all our homicide investigations to monitor risks for retaliation and provide social services to affected residents.

##########





Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

KCPD investigating fatal shooting in 3600 block of Norton Avenue The Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department responded shortly before 6 p.m. Sunday to reports of a shooting in the 3600 block of Norton Avenue.

Kansas City police investigating fatal shooting in the 3600 block of Norton Upon arrival at the scene, officers were directed to a home where they discovered an adult male victim who had been shot.

Developing . . .
A local angle on this week's conservative sensation . . . Rather than rant about old news we wanted to share a bit of perspective on the media game and more context that we found interesting.



From the best report on the topic, we found this passage interesting . . .



"Yet when it came out six years ago, Rising Star was mostly ignored; as a result, its most scandalous and perhaps revelatory passages, such as Obamas long letter to another girlfriend about his fantasies of having sex with men, read today, to people who are more familiar with the Obama myth than the historical record, like partisan bigotry. But David Garrow is hardly a hack whose work can or should be dismissed on partisan grounds. He is among the countrys most credible and celebrated civil rights historiansthe author of The FBI and Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bearing the Cross (which won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography) and one of the three historian-consultants who animated the monumental PBS documentary Eyes on the Prize, as well as the author of a landmark history of abortion rights, Liberty and Sexuality.

"In part, Garrows failure to gain a hearing for his revision of the Obama myth lay in his timing. Rising Star felt like old news the moment it was published in May 2017as whatever insights the book contained were overtaken by the fury and chaos surrounding the beginning of Donald Trumps presidency. "



And that brings us to the local angle from a top ranking cowtown conservative author via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Mel K & Author Jack Cashill | Little Woke Library & What the Obama Biographer Left Out | 8-10-23 Find Jack's amazing work here: https://www.cashill.com/ Jack's New Book: Untenable: The True Story of White Ethnic Flight from America's Cities https://www.amazon.com/Untenable-Ethnic-Flight-Americas-

Further reading . . .

Obama's Fraudulent Legacy Is Being Exposed, And It's On The Wrong Side Of History - The Federalist The most discussed piece of journalism this year is shaping up to be a deeply unflattering interview with a respected Obama biographer.

Obama biographer on where the ex-president failed at home and abroad, and how he may have helped Donald Trump Obama biographer David Garrow discusses the 44th president's missteps on foreign policy and how he inadvertently helped Donald Trump's political rise.

Developing . . .
Real talk and two questions . . .

Is everyone really this upset over some white lady and her papers???

Also . . .

Is anyone surprised about small town po-po ALLEGEDLY abusing power.

Again, all of this hot mess is basically the plot to Footloose but without Kevin Bacon dancing. This story needs Kevin Bacon dancing . . .

That's better.

Now there's a Kansas City connection but it's pretty slim and not really a big deal since the po-po here actually has a decent relationship with all local media.

In the meantime, here's an apt summary and lots more info as the tale is picked up by local media and the small town Kansas po-po has yet to present any evidence of wrongdoing against the paper as promised . . . Check-it . . .



"If youre just getting up to speed this morning, law enforcement officials converged on a newspaper in this small community on Friday and carted off computers and cellphones. Such raids should not  and mostly do not  happen in the United States. For one thing, theyre almost always illegal. For another, they strike at our fundamental First Amendment rights."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Powerful voices speak up for Kansas paper after shocking raid. Meanwhile, where's the affidavit? - Kansas Reflector Another day, another avalanche of news from the flabbergasting raid on the Marion County Record. Here's a roundup.

Marion police chief who helped conduct raid on newspaper office is former KCPD captain The police chief that helped to execute a search warrant on a Kansas newspaper's office on Friday recently retired from the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department, the KSHB 41 I-Team has uncovered.

News organizations across country condemn raid of Kansas newspaper office The E.W. Scripps Company, on behalf of KSHB-TV and KMCI-TV , has co-authored a letter to the police chief of Marion, Kansas, condemning a raid at the newspaper offices of the Marion County Record.

KBI director on Marion County newspaper raid: Media is not 'above the law' - Kansas Reflector The top law enforcement officer in the state appeared to justify a Marion county search warrant that led to an raid on a local newspaper.

After a police raid on a Kansas newspaper, questions mount Law enforcement seized computers and other records from the Marion County Record on Friday, raising concerns about press freedom.

Police questioned over legality of Kansas newspaper raid in which computers, phones seized MARION, Kan. - A small central Kansas police department is facing a firestorm of criticism after it raided the offices of a local newspaper and the home of its publisher and owner - a move deemed by several press freedom watchdogs as a blatant violation of the U.S.

A police raid of a Kansas newsroom raises alarms about violations of press freedom Law enforcement officers in Kansas raided the office of a local newspaper and a journalist's home. First Amendment experts are calling it a likely violation of federal law.

Kansas newspaper co-owner dies after police raids that raised First Amendment concerns Marion County Record said co-owner Joan Meyer died after becoming "stressed beyond her limits" over the raids.

Developing . . .
Follow-up report and documentation of a MASSIVE urban blaze today . . .



"According to KCFD, When responders arrived there was a heavy fire inside the building. Fire fighters attempted to attack the fire inside but were forced to evacuate."



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Kansas City Fire Department responding to apartment fire in east KC The Kansas City Fire Department is currently in defensive mode on a two-story apartment building on the 3200 block of Hardesty.

Kansas City, Missouri, firefighters battle 4-alarm blaze at apartment building on Hardesty Avenue Firefighters with the Kansas City, Missouri, Fire Department battled a 4-alarm blaze at a two-story apartment building in the 3200 block of Hardesty Avenue.

Developing . . .


The new Type XX is where two branches of the Breguet family meet: the junction of 250 years of watchmaking and 100 years of pioneering flight. But Breguets influence on aviation goes much deeper

We take a birds-eye view of this remarkable trajectory and another aspect of this renowned name.

A musical family

Not many people know of the Breguet familys connections with the world of classical music. Aviation pioneer Louis Breguet was brother to Madeleine, who married Georges Bizets only son. Their grandmother studied piano under Chopin. His aunt, Louise Breguet, was the wife of Ludovic Halevy, member of the Academie Francaise and author of the libretto to Carmen. A street next to the Opera Garnier in Paris is named after Ludovics uncle, the composer Fromental Halevy. Who would have expected a family of engineers to be so musically inclined?

From the gyroplane to Santos-Dumont

A pioneer of the gyroplane, forerunner of the helicopter, Louis Breguet was one of the first to conduct research into rotary wings and in 1935 published a comparison between rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft. His company built the first large-diameter rotary-wing aircraft in 1906-1907. It was powered by an Antoinette piston engine  the second-ever built by the engineer Leon Levavasseur who would later go into business with Louis Bleriot. By 1906 Levavasseur had developed two engines. Breguet acquired both, one of which he later sold to a certain Alberto Santos-Dumont.

Gyroplane Breguet-Richet n1, one of the rare photos of the August 24, 1917 uprising. Assistants prevent the aircraft from moving sideways  Breguet

Beet that!

Louis Breguet based his aviation company at Velizy-Villacoublay near Paris, the site of a large airbase, although he conducted his first flights from Douai, some 175 kilometres north of the capital. If we can call them flights! One of the earliest Breguet aircraft, built during the winter of 1907-1908, was a biplane with two sets of rotary wings. This curious structure, which was powered by a 50 hp engine, succeeded in hovering a record four metres above the ground over a distance of 20 metres. A crash landing on September 17 put an end to its career. During his manoeuvres, Breguet ploughed up quantities of sugar beet, a locally grown crop, becoming known in the regional press as the beet puller. His exploits were even celebrated in song!

A lucky escape

In 1910 the Breguet II took to the airs. The beginnings of modern aircraft could be seen in this new design, which had a steel fuselage, a front-mounted engine and could carry a passenger. Incidentally, this was also the year that Louis Breguet passed his pilots licence  about time, one might say! Then, on April 18 1910, his plane dropped from a height of 20 metres. He was transported, unconscious, to hospital in Douai. Though discharged shortly after, for the rest of his life he remained convinced he had had a miraculous escape.

Gyroplane Breguet-Dorand, September 22nd 1936  Breguet

Eiffel, Breguet and company

Aviation evolved rapidly between the two world wars, in particular aircraft engines. The 50 hp motors of the pioneering days were replaced by 180 hp engines manufactured by Hispano (the majority of fighter planes up to the mid-twentieth century were powered by Hispano engines, as were Hispano-Suiza luxury cars). In 1918 Breguet teamed up with Gustave Eiffel whose aerodynamic laboratory was the first of its kind. Together they produced the Breguet LE-180H (short for Laboratoire Eiffel 180 Hispano). It made just one flight but laid the foundations for the monoplane we know today.

The birth of the airline industry

Rapid advances in aero-engines led to larger aircraft capable of longer flights. The Breguet 26 T and 28 T were early examples, built between 1926 and 1931, and powered by a 420 hp Jupiter engine. They were part of the fleet operated by Air Union, the airline founded by Louis Breguet and one of the companies that would later be merged to form Air France. They had two pilots seats, a larger, heated and soundproofed cabin, and toilets. The introduction of the Breguet 280 T extended flight range to 1,100 kilometres. The year was 1928, the airline industry was born.
The funeral is tomorrow and this weekend's news cycle was dominated by the aftermath of this tragedy.

Here's the most relevant takeaway we found as the story inevitably fades from headlines . . .



The 29-year-old officer will be remembered by Zimmerman for the sacrifice he made to keep his community safe.



"I hope the community hopefully remembers there is a widow now and two small children who have lost someone that's very dear to them because that individual stepped up, Jonah stepped up to make sure that his community was safe," Jan Zimmerman, director of the Surviving Spouse and Family Endowment (SAFE), said.



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Last respects paid to fallen Fairway Ofc. Jonah Oswald at visitation Friends, family and law enforcement colleagues paid their last respects Sunday to fallen Fairway Police Department Ofc. Jonah Oswald, who died Aug. 6 in the line of duty.

Full video: Candlelight vigil held to remember the life and sacrifice of officer Jonah Oswald Following the Parade of Blue, a candlelight vigil was held Saturday night to remember Fairway, Kansas police officer Jonah Oswald.

Developing . . .


Ask The Kit is the real-talk advice column you never knew you needed. Every month, writer Ingrie Williams answers your pressing beauty questions. How can I deal with frizz? Why is my skin freaking out? Send your Qs to ask@thekit.ca
City councillor Gary Crawford resigned July 26, clearing the way for a byelection to replace him in Scarborough Southwest. - Toronto Star file photo
Andrew Palamarchuk is a reporter with Metroland Media Toronto and toronto.com. He has been covering the crime beat since 2002 and has a passion for giving a voice to those affected by tragedy and looking at societal issues that may have contributed to it.
Recalls have been issued on multiple makes and models of cars, trucks and SUVs. - Metroland file photo
Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data.

My ex-wife is poisoning my daughter against me. All she wants from me is money to go to Europe. Do I pay up? Ask Ellie
When she lost her mother and grandmother in six months, she had to become the matriarch. Heres how this Indigenous writer filled the big space left behind.
Ukrainian director, screenwriter and producer Oksana Bayrak, known for her love of the USSR and Russia, was in Odessa for a long time after the full-scale invasion, which she openly told about in her social networks. However, as it turned out, the disgraced celebrity still escaped from Ukraine and went to the terrorist country adored by herself.

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For Ukrainian Internet users, the page of the traitor is inaccessible. However, journalist Alina Dorotiuk still managed to see Bairak's publications from the Russian Federation. The corresponding screenshots she shared in her Telegram-channel.

So, judging by the geolocations that the filmmaker-putinist leaves in InstaStories, she now lives in St. Petersburg. The director admires the Russian city, confessing her love for it and Russia as a whole.

"Peter-Leningrad. My love and admiration. The most beautiful and resilient city in the universe," the director signs her photos.

Genocide of the Ukrainian people and the terrorist war, which Bayrak saw with her own eyes, she prefers to ignore. Moreover, in the Russian Federation, the pro-Danka happily hangs around with other famous fans of Putin and his bloody dictatorial regime. For example, the Ukrainian can be found in the company of Anton Batyrev, who filmed and lived in Ukraine, but after February 24 took a pro-war stance.

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It's funny that as recently as last year Bayrak called "rats" artists who left Ukraine during the war. The odious star herself was proud of the fact that she remains in Odessa.

However, the director's escape to the Russian Federation is not surprising. Bairak has never hidden her ardent love for the Kremlin and Russia. Back in 2006, she ran for the Verkhovna Rada from Putin's "Party of Putin's Politics," and in 2014 she condemned Euromaidan. After that, she repeatedly spoke out against decommunization and derusification.

As OBOZREVATEL wrote, the former actor of the Theater of Young Spectators on Lipki Gleb Mikhailichenko, who performed for the AFU, has shone in Russia. After the full-scale invasion, the artist decided to earn rubles and organized a production company among citizens of the terrorist country.

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Only verified information from us in Telegram-channel Obozrevatel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The threat of an attack of the "Wagnerites" on Kyiv from the territory of Belarus, where they are located, exists. However, it will depend on the availability of forces and means and decision-making by the political top brass of the aggressor country of the Russian Federation.

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This opinion was expressed by the commander of the United Forces of the AFU, Lieutenant General Serhiy Naev, reports RBC-Ukraine. The Ukrainian military is doing everything necessary to fight back against the enemy if necessary.

"No one has ever rejected a repeated offensive (with the participation of the "Wagnerites". - Ed.) on Kyiv. We understand that hostile intentions depend only on the decisions of the highest political leadership of the Russian Federation. Therefore, given the above, such a possibility exists, but as of now it is not backed up by forces and means. But this does not mean that it cannot happen in the future," Naev noted.

He added that Ukrainian intelligence is monitoring the enemy, and its actions will depend on the availability of forces and means and decision-making by the Russian political top brass. The armed forces of Ukraine are doing everything necessary to fight back the occupiers.

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"Our intelligence constantly monitors the situation and timely brings information to the leadership of the AFU and the relevant commanders of the groups. Given the above, we are doing everything to increase our ability to prevent successful hostile actions in the Kyiv direction," Naev emphasized.

As reported OBOZREVATEL, around Kyiv created the most powerful air defense system. It consists, in particular, of Patriot, Nasams and IRIS-T SAMs.

Only verified information from us in Telegram-channel Obozrevatel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The attack by the aggressor country Russia on the international dry cargo ship Sukra Okan, which was on its way to the Ukrainian port of Izmail, is an unconditional violation of international maritime law. This is yet another act of piracy and a crime by Moscow.

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This was written on his Twitter account on Sunday, August 13, by Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine. He said that this Russian attack requires the identification of those involved and recognition by the international community as a crime.

Podolyak recalled that it was a matter of Russia's targeted shelling and forced inspection of an international civilian dry cargo ship.

"This is an unconditional violation of international maritime law, an act of piracy and a crime against civilian vessels of a third country in the waters of other states," the representative of the Office of the President wrote.

Podolyak stressed that "this precedent with an attempt to introduce "privateer law" needs a clear legal fixation, identification of all persons and recognition of the fact of the crime by the international community."

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"Ukraine will make all the necessary conclusions and choose the optimal response," he added.

Recall that on the morning of August 13, the Russian Defense Ministry said that they allegedly attacked the civilian Palau-flagged dry cargo ship Sukra Okan in the Black Sea. The vessel was en route to the Ukrainian port of Izmail. The occupants allegedly opened fire on the dry cargo ship with automatic small arms and used a helicopter.

The occupiers also claimed to have inspected a civilian vessel that had "stalled." However, according to the InformNapalm intelligence community, this is a lie. The rest of the Defense Ministry's claims are also far from reality.

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"There was no helicopter and no warning shots either. There were only threats by Russians in the radio air. There was a Turkish crew on board the Sukra Okan, which "put a bolt" on the threats and did not obey. So the Rashists lied about the 'successful inspection' of the ship," the report said.

As reported OBOZREVATEL, the Russian occupation army is afraid of the repetition of strikes on the ships of the Black Sea Fleet. In this regard, the ships of the aggressor country try to stay in the waters near Novorossiysk.

Only verified information from us in Telegram-channel Obozrevatel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Caribbean Airlines has put passengers on notice for disruptions and or delays in their fligh
Hi, my name is Scott C. Waring and I wrote a few books and am currently a ESL School Owner in Taiwan. I have had my own UFO sighting up close and personal, but that's how it works right? A non believer becomes a believer when they experience their first sighting. You witnessed it, your perceptual field changes, so now you need to share it.





I created this site to help the UFO community get a little bit organized. I noticed that there was a lot of chaos when searching for UFO sighting reports, so I hope this site helps. I wanted to support those eyewitnesses who have tried to tell others about what they have seen, yet were laughed at by even closest of friends.





More and more each day the governments of the world leak bits and pieces of UFO information to the public. They have a trickle down theory in hopes of slowly getting citizens use to the idea that we are not alone in universe and never have been. The truth is being leaked drop by drop until one day we look around and find ourselves neck high in it.





The discovery of alien species in existence is the most monumental scientific event in human history, suppression of that information is a crime against humanity.





About me:

I live in Taiwan. I OWN MY OWN ENGLISH SCHOOL, AND ONCE HAD 5 SCHOOLS.

Am Former USAF at SAC base (flight line).

Age: 42

Educ: BA in Elem ed. Masters in Counseling ed.





I had two UFO sightings, (30+bus size orbs) in military and in 2012 personally saw the UFO over Taipei 101 building on New Years Day (and recored it).
American analysts believe that Ukrainian forces have made somewhat bigger advances along two major lines of attack over the past few months.

That's according to The New York Times, Ukrinform reports.

Military analysts said Ukrainian troops had advanced 10 to 12 miles (16-19 kilometers) along two main lines of attack in Kyiv's drive to reach the southern coast and sever Russian supply lines.

In the ground war, the Ukrainians are advancing south along two principal lines of attack: through the eastern village of Staromaiorske toward the Russian-occupied city of Berdiansk, a port on the Sea of Azov; and farther west toward the Russian-occupied city of Melitopol, a vital transportation hub near the coast.

"The amount of territory seized, 10 to 12 miles on both vectors of attack, while relatively small, is important in that it is compelling Moscow to divert forces from other parts of the front line, military analysts say," the article reads.

The Institute for the Study of War called the advances "tactically significant," saying Moscow's redeployment would most "likely further weaken Russian defensive lines in aggregate," creating "opportunities for any Ukrainian breakthrough to be potentially decisive."

In the Berdiansk sector, Ukraine has consolidated gains around the ruined village of Staromaiorske, which it recaptured in late July, and appears to be pushing toward the Russian stronghold of Urozhaine, according to the Ukrainian military and military analysts.

At the same time, Russian forces are mounting their own offensive operations in northeastern Ukraine around the city of Kupiansk. By forcing Ukraine to defend there, military analysts say, Russia is most likely trying to draw Ukrainian forces from other areas where they are on the offensive.

According to the article, Ukraine has devoted thousands of soldiers, including some of its most experienced and battle-hardened marines, and armor to the campaign drive south down the Mokri Yaly River Valley.

"If they can manage to push through or around Urozhaine, that will put them within 50 miles (80 kilometers) of the two major port cities of Berdiansk and Mariupol on the Sea of Azov. And with each mile they advance, the Ukrainian forces put more pressure on the Russian supply lines," The New York Times wrote.

Photo: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Nearly 1,000 Ukrainian marines are returning home after being trained by Royal Marines and Army Commandos, during a six-month UK program supported by international partners.

According to Ukrinform, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported this on Facebook.

"The training, announced by the UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during President Zelensky's visit to the UK in February, has seen British Commandos training Ukraine's forces in small boat amphibious operations  conducting beach raids using inflatable boats," the statement said.

It is the first program of amphibious training delivered by the UK to Ukraine, culminating with the Ukrainian marines planning and conducting raids by both day and night.

"The UK has led the way in training the Armed Force of Ukraine, providing world-leading training in frontline combat skills to more than 20,000 of Ukraine's Army recruits through Operation Interflex. This program of training, delivered by elite British commandos, will support Ukraine to build its own distinct marine force and expand its capability to operate in a maritime environment," Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said.

Approximately 900 Ukrainian marines have completed the course, which included training to use Next Generation Light Anti-Tank Weapons (NLAW) and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, use of mortars and drones for reconnaissance, and explosive demolition of obstacles such as Dragon's Teeth anti-vehicle fortifications.

Equipment used in the training is the same as some of the military support the UK has provided to Ukraine, with more than 10,000 anti-tank weapons including thousands of NLAW systems already provided.

Instructors from 42 Commando and 47 Commando Raiding group delivered the training, alongside Army Commandos from 24 Commando Engineers and Royal Artillery Gunners from 29 Commando. Instructors from the Netherlands Marine Corps were also part of the training program.

One of the recently trained Ukrainian marines said: "The training I have received from the UK Royal Marines has been far more intense than I expected. I have learned so much and never expected to be doing the things I have done. All the way through, our British instructors have been beside us, showing us how to move and how to work together in a small team  this will make a difference when we return home to Ukraine."

Each training cohort underwent a rigorous five-week program, developing individual skills including fieldcraft, battlefield first aid, close quarters combat, and fitness, and unit planning in realistic scenarios.

The training will further support Ukraine's capability to develop its own marine force and develop an international training concept for marines.

More than 20,000 recruits from the Armed Forces of Ukraine have already received training in the UK since the start of 2022, learning essential frontline skills including trench and urban warfare, leadership, and medical training.

At the start of 2023, the UK committed to train a further 20,000 Ukrainian recruits  approximately double the amount trained last year  under one of the largest training programs of its kind in the world.

Beyond teaching combat skills to recruits, the UK has provided a broad package of other skills including medical training to provide pastoral care, spiritual support and moral guidance.

Including both the Op Interflex and the program for marines, the UK's training for the Armed Forces of Ukraine is supported by Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and Sweden.

The UK remains fully committed to supporting Ukraine, with a further GBP 2.3 billion already earmarked for further military support through 2023, with additional munitions and equipment to be delivered in the coming months. Further UK government assistance continues in the form of humanitarian support and economic aid.
Eight enemy Kalibr cruise missiles and 15 Shahed-136/131 combat drones were destroyed in the sky over Ukraine last night. An enemy helicopter was downed around 05:00.

The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine posted this on Telegram.

On the night of August 14, the Russians launched several waves of combat drones and Kalibr cruise missiles.

The UAVs attacked from the south-eastern direction (Primorsko-Akhtarsk), Kalibr missiles were fired from the Black Sea (an enemy frigate in the area of temporarily occupied Yalta).

In total, Russian troops launched 15 Shahed-136/131 combat UAVs and eight Kalibr cruise missiles.

The air defense forces and means of the Air Force in cooperation with units of other components of the defense forces destroyed all targets.

Anti-aircraft guided missiles and small arms were used.

A fire broke out in several locations in Odesa city due to falling fragments of missiles and drones.

Around 05:00 on August 14, in Bakhmut direction, an anti-aircraft missile unit of the Air Force destroyed an enemy helicopter (the type is being specified).

As reported, when shooting down the missiles, which the enemy fired at the center of Odesa city, fragments damaged a dormitory of one of the educational institutions and a supermarket.

The blast wave damaged the windows and balconies of several buildings and cars parked nearby.

According to preliminary information, three supermarket staff members were injured.
The Ukrainian forces have achieved success in Urozhaine on the southern front.

Ukraines Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Maliar announced this on the air of the United News telethon on Ukrainian TV channels, speaking about the offensive of the Armed Forces in the Melitopol and Berdiansk sectors, Ukrinform repots

"Last week, fighting continued in the village of Urozhaine, there is some success," she said.

Also, according to Maliar, the Armed Forces of Ukraine achieved "certain success" south and southeast of Staromayorske, getting entrenched in certain positions.

However, the deputy defense minister noted that in the south, the Ukrainian forces are facing very strong enemy resistance.

"Overall, the number of shelling attacks in the south and in the east over the past week came to about 10,000 attacks, that is, it is a continuous burst of fire. In addition, the dominant heights are mined. Therefore, our Armed Forces are facing very serious obstacles on their path," Maliar said.

As reported by Ukrinform, on August 9, Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko together with three brigades of the Offensive Guard visited the southern sector. According to him, the enemy is putting up resistance, but soldiers of the Offensive Guard as part of the Defense Forces are stubbornly recapturing every piece of Ukrainian land.

Photo: AFU General Staff
Russian President Vladimir Putin may visit Turkey in the coming days.

This was reported by the Turkish edition Milliyet, according to Ukrinform.

"Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Turkey in the coming days. Thus, Putin will visit a NATO member state for the first time since the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war," the report says.

It is noted that Turkey is now actively implementing multilateral diplomacy in coordination with other countries, including Ukraine, the United States and the EU, and its ministries of trade, foreign affairs and national defense, within the framework of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, making efforts to extend its operation and thus ensuring communication with Russia.

"After the termination of the 'grain deal', the first stage saw a 15% increase in grain prices. After the termination of secure trade through the corridor, Ukraine put alternative grain routes on the agenda. However, taking into account both security and cost, none of the options can replace the Black Sea corridor. Rising prices have a negative impact on poor countries, most of which are in Africa," the publication says.

As reported, on August 2, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the grain deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin and agreed on his visit to Turkey. Later, President Erdogan expressed hope that the visit would take place in August.
Once again, Russia is trying to accumulate stocks of long-range weapons to continue its missile terror.

Vadym Skibitskyi, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, said this in an interview with Obozrevatel, answering the question whether the tactics of shelling by the Russian Federation have changed, according to Ukrinform.

"Now Russia is once again trying to accumulate stocks of long-range weapons to continue its missile terror," Skibitskyi said.

According to him, in general, the change in Russian tactics today is that they combine different types of weapons during air attacks, but the number of missiles in one wave of attack has decreased. "The Russians also imitate launches, use fake targets, and conduct reconnaissance, including space reconnaissance," the DIU representative added.

He emphasized that the Russians are seeking to identify gaps to bypass our air defense system or to hit our systems to defend against air threats.

As reported, an increasing number of possible weapons shipments are being transported from Tehran to Moscow via the Caspian Sea. Experts believe that this route is used to transport drones, bullets, and mortar shells that Russia is purchasing for the war in Ukraine.
The Defense Forces of Ukraine are holding back Russian troops in the Marinka sector. Eleven combat clashes have taken place at the front in the past 24 hours.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said this in its evening update as of 18:00 on August 14, Ukrinform reports.

In the Melitopol and Berdiansk directions, the Defense Forces of Ukraine continue to conduct an offensive operation, getting entrenched in the regained positions and engaging in counter-battery fire.

The Air Force of Ukraine launched 11 strikes on Russian troops: one on their command post, seven strikes on areas where personnel, weapons and military equipment were concentrated, and three strikes on anti-aircraft missile systems.

The Russian army launched another air strike and missile attack on the territory of Ukraine using Kalibr missiles and Iranian-made Shahed-136/131 combat drones. The enemy targeted Odesa region.

Over the past day, the enemy launched 12 missile attacks and 24 air strikes, carried out 40 MLRS attacks on the positions of the Defense Forces and populated areas.

As a result of the Russian terrorist attacks, there are dead and wounded among the civilian population, as well as damage to residential buildings and other infrastructure.

The General Staff stresses that the threat of the enemy launching further missile and air strikes on Ukraine remains high.

According to the General Staff, the Moscow regime continues the illegal integration of the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine into its social and political sphere.

Thus, in Svatove, Luhansk region, in order to change the leadership in the local self-government bodies, the invaders demand that representatives of administrations and village councils resign "at their own will".

Russians plan to create "municipalities" that will be headed by local collaborators based on the results of sham elections in the occupied territories on the only voting day in Russia - September 10.

As reported by Ukrinform, on the night of August 14, Russian forces attacked Odesa region three times. The invaders used 15 combat drones and 8 Kalibr missiles to strike the region.

In total, the Defense Forces destroyed 15 Shahed-136/131 unmanned aerial vehicles, eight Kalibr cruise missiles, as well as an enemy in the sky over Ukraine on the night of August 14.

Photo: General Staff
The Dubai AI and Web 3.0 Campus has announced that it is issuing artificial intelligence (AI) and Web3 licences for technology firms.

The licences support activities ranging from Distributed Ledger Technology Services, specialised Artificial Intelligence Research & consultancies, IT infrastructure builders, Technology Research and Development and Public Networking Services.

Licences will be issued by Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading global financial centre in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, which is currently home to an established ecosystem of tech enablers and start-ups at the DIFC Innovation Hub.

Dedicated campus

The Dubai AI and Web 3.0 Campus is a dedicated campus for AI and Web3 innovation and will provide state-of-the-art physical and digital infrastructure within the DIFC Innovation One new premises, including R&D facilities, accelerator programmes and collaborative workspaces, to attract, build and scale firms in the region. The campus was launched earlier this year and is supported by Dubais industry-leading regulatory regime aligned with the emirates vision of becoming a global leader in AI and Web3.

PwC estimates AI to contribute $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030. Another report by McKinsey determines that AI will create about 200,000 jobs in the Middle East alone by 2025.

Supporting this growth, the Dubai AI and Web 3.0 Campus is positioned to become the largest cluster of AI & Web3 companies in the region attracting over $300 million in capital and creating 3,000 jobs by 2028.

Virtual assets

The campus will also increase accessibility and participation in Web3 development, backed by a collection of underlying technologies such as blockchain, AI, internet of things and the metaverse. Virtual assets owned in Web3 decentralised infrastructures represented about 40% of the virtual-asset global economy in 2021, according to a report by BCG, and the transaction value of virtual assets is said to range between $150 billion and $300 billion by 2025.

Mohammad Alblooshi, Chief Executive Officer of the DIFC Innovation Hub, said: The campus will foster a world-class nurturing environment that enables business growth and development. We are confident that by granting these licences, we will attract more global talent and investment to the region and create a culture of collaboration and innovation. This is a notable milestone for the Dubai AI and Web3 Campus and will strengthen Dubais position as the business destination of choice for technology-focused companies and attract more world class talent and diversified investors to the region.--TradeArabia News Service
U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that Washington has allocated a new batch of weapons for Ukraine. The cost of the next aid package is $200 million and includes artillery shells, ammunition for air defence systems, anti-tank weapons, etc.

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The politician said this during a press conference with the American press. The White House remains a reliable and loyal ally of Kyiv until the last Russian occupier leaves Ukrainian territory.

"Today we are announcing another security assistance package designed to help Ukraine defend its territory and its people," he said.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked his American counterpart Joe Biden and all citizens of the United States for the weapons and assistance that have become another signal to Russia and its occupiers.

"Missiles for air defence, ammunition for artillery, mine clearance systems, anti-tank weapons will add power to the defence forces. Another step towards a common victory!" the Ukrainian leader wrote on Twitter.

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Anthony Blinken listed what the new supply package for the Ukrainian army includes:

ammunition for air defence,

artillery shells,

anti-tank weapons,

additional demining equipment.

It should be noted that the latter was strongly requested by Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov, who noted that Ukraine is the most heavily mined country and that we cannot overcome this disaster without Western partners.

"We have experienced sappers and modern equipment, but they are not enough for the frontline that stretches for hundreds of kilometres in the east and south of Ukraine," he said the day before.

As reported by OBOZREVATEL, last week, the Biden administration indicated that, if necessary, it was ready to appeal to Congress to allocate additional funds to help Ukraine. The scope of the White House's new request for further support for Kyiv is based on mathematical calculations.

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Only verified information is available on our Obozrevatel Telegram channel, Threads and Viber. Don't fall for fakes!
Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal discussed the prospects of investment cooperation for Ukraines reconstruction with German Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner.

"An important meeting with German Finance Minister Christian Lindner who arrived on a visit to Ukraine. We discussed the prospects of cooperation between Ukraine and the German Credit Institute for Reconstruction (KfW). We implement five joint investment projects worth EUR 247 million, we prepare three more worth EUR 73 million," the Head of Government posted on Telegram.

He thanked the German government for its security, financial support and sanctions imposed and noted that Ukraine had already received more than EUR 1.5 billion in macro-financial assistance from Germany, mostly in the form of grants.

"We are grateful for the support for the IMF arrangement, for Germany's role in EUs Ukraine Facility program, for the promotion of European integration," said the Prime Minister.

He noted that Ukraine expected German business to participate in the reconstruction.

During the meeting, Shmyhal also emphasized the need to strengthen sanctions against the Russian Federation and to confiscate Russian assets which would be the main source of funding for reconstruction.

Lindner stressed that Germany would continue to support Ukraine and that cooperation projects would have a long-term nature.

As reported, Germany recently provided a security assistance package to Ukraine which included, in particular, Patriot air defense systems, drones, Bandvagn 206 tracked all-terrain vehicles, and more.
Finance Minister of Ukraine and Germany - Sergii Marchenko and Christian Lindner - signed a memorandum of cooperation between the two countries.

This was reported by an Ukrinform correspondent following the ministers press conference in Kyiv.

The memorandum provides for ensuring advisory support by the German side to Ukraine, including in the areas of customs policy, monitoring of financial markets, management of state investments, and privatization of state enterprises.

"I want to thank Finance Minister of Germany Christian Lindner, a true friend of Ukraine, who helped us a lot in difficult times and is helping us now.... I want to thank him for his personal decisions and contribution to Ukraine's budget and military aid. We signed a memorandum today that will allow us to further expand support for Ukraine," Marchenko said.

The German finance minister expressed confidence that his country will continue to support Ukraine "as much as necessary". To date, Germany has already provided EUR 22 billion in financial support, including EUR 12 billion in military assistance.

According to Lindner, a program of support for Ukraine until 2027 has already been developed in Germany, which provides for annual support, including military assistance, at the level of EUR 5 billion annually.

As reported, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal met with German Finance Minister Christian Lindner on August 14.

Prospects of investment cooperation for Ukraine reconstruction were discussed.

Photo: Sergii Marchenko/Facebook
The Joe Biden administration formally addressed Congress regarding the allocation of an additional $40 over $24 billion for aid to Ukraine and other countries affected by the Russian war.

The text of the appeal was published on Thursday on the White House website, Ukrinform reports.

"Today, the Administration is transmitting a supplemental funding request to the Congress to address three sets of critical needs for emergency funding," the document states.

It is proposed to allocate funds within the framework of a potential short-term continuing Congress resolution for the first quarter of fiscal year 2024.

The need for further support for Ukraine is noted.

Previous supplemental appropriations for direct military aid, economic and humanitarian assistance, and other support have been committed or nearly committed. The Administration is requesting supplemental security, economic, and humanitarian assistance funding that would support Ukraine, as well as countries and vulnerable populations worldwide impacted by Russias unprovoked and brutal invasion of Ukraine," the letter notes.

The request includes more than $13 billion in security assistance, $8.5 billion in economic and humanitarian support for Ukraine through State Department and USAID funds, as well as $2.3 billion from Treasury so that Ukraine does not have to rely on bonded financing from China or other sources.

In this context, it is also emphasized that the United States aims to support the global opposition to Russias war, as well as to provide a credible alternative to China's coercive lending and infrastructure projects for developing countries. To this end, the White House is also asking Congress to allocate $3.3 billion to support World Bank programs, as well as provide loans to implement IMF programs.

"Additionally, the Administration is requesting $200 million to counter the destabilizing activities of Vagner and other Russian Malign Actors in African countries, which includes funding to bolster African countries democratic institutions and security," the letter added.

Another issue in need of critical funding is support for American communities across the country that have suffered losses from natural disasters caused by extreme weather conditions. In addition, the document calls for efforts to reduce the influx of illicit drugs across the U.S. border.

As Ukrinform reported, in December 2022, Congress approved a large-scale financing package to support Ukraine, as well as allies and partners, for over $40 billion. This financing allowed for ensuring the allocation of permanent tranches of military, economic, and humanitarian support to Ukraine, as well as to strengthen NATO's military presence in Eastern Europe.
Germany will continue to support Ukraine because Ukraine must not lose the war.

German Federal Minister of Finance Christian Lindner, who is visiting Kyiv on August 14, posted this on X (formerly known as Twitter) account of the Ministry he heads.

"It is about the future of the European order of peace and freedom. Ukraine cannot lose this war," the politician told German journalists in Kyiv. He added that Russia was attacking Ukraine for its choice in favor of democracy.

Lindner assured Ukraine of continued support from the German government. During the day, he discusses specific directions and forms of such support with Ukrainian politicians.

In particular, the German finance minister reminded about the help from the federal government to Ukraine and those seeking asylum in Germany totaling 22 billion euros. Germany's military aid to Ukraine exceeds 12 billion euros. Germany is also ready to participate in the reconstruction of the destroyed infrastructure.

"We will support Ukraine politically, militarily, and financially until it wins this war," Lindner stated back on the anniversary of the start of the Russian war.

He also said that being in Kyiv was a special and touching moment for him. He already visited Ukraine at the beginning of 2020.

In Kyiv, Lindner has already met with Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko and the leadership of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

Lindner arrived in Kyiv on the morning of August 14  this is his first visit to the Ukrainian capital since the beginning of the full-scale war. The German government official is to hold political talks in Kyiv.

Earlier, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and several other ministers visited Ukraine.
Why do relatives invite agents of influence of the "Russian world" - priests of the pro-Russian Orthodox Church - to perform the funeral service for the fallen Ukrainian defenders?

Ever since the Anti-Terrorist Operation/Joint Forces Operations (ATO/JFO), there have been reports in the news and on social media that priests of the UOC-MP refuse to perform funeral services for fallen defenders, calling them fratricidal murderers unworthy of Christian remembrance. On the other hand, now the official pages of the UOC are literally full of posts about how in one of their deaneries it was their fathers who conducted the last rites of a fallen soldier. Of course, no one has abolished freedom of conscience in Ukraine, and the relatives of the victims have the right to invite a priest of any denomination to perform the burial rite. But this does not remove the moral problem and painful questions: why, even now, during a full-scale war, do relatives of Ukrainians who died at the hands of Russian invaders call for agents of influence of the "Russian world" to accompany them on their last journey? Is this a kind of Stockholm syndrome, mental infantilism of believers, or a tribute to ritual without faith?

"THE MOSCOW PATRIARCHATE EXISTS BECAUSE PEOPLE GO AND DON'T CARE"

In fact, in the second year of the war, Ukrainians should have no doubts about the real role of the UOC-MP in Russian-Ukrainian relations. There is ample information about the openly collaborative activities of the clergy of this church both in the temporarily occupied territories and in the territories controlled by Ukraine. There is also a lot of news about odious representatives of the UOC, such as Metropolitan Pavel (Lebed), known as Pasha Mercedes, and lower-ranking "figures". But even today, those who have lost their loved ones in the war with Russia, in the most terrible moments of their farewell, deliberately or not so deliberately legitimize pro-Moscow clergymen: for some reason, they are invited to perform the burial rite.

"Recently, I read a story in a news feed about the mother of a fallen Ukrainian soldier who was refused a memorial service by a priest of the Moscow Patriarchate because he was a 'fratricide' and 'unworthy of Christian remembrance'. There are many stories like this on the Internet, and when I hear them, I want to ask: why did you go to the Moscow Patriarchate church in the first place? It's simple: most people don't care which church they go to. Then everyone wonders why the Moscow Patriarchate still exists in Ukraine, and here is the answer: because people go and they don't care," Archimandrite Sofroniy Chupryna, a clergyman of Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Savior, spokesman for the Vinnytsia-Bar Diocese of the OCU, wrote on Facebook.

He notes that the "propagandists of the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine" constantly post photos of soldiers' funerals, where the rite of passage is performed by priests of the Moscow Patriarchate, both in cities and villages.

"Do people really not know which patriarchate the church in their village belongs to? Is it so difficult to clarify and ask where you pray and to whom, whom you feed and sponsor? Why dishonor the memory of your relatives, especially Ukrainian heroes, because it is a shame to perform funeral services for Ukrainians killed by Russians in churches where they pray for the Moscow Patriarch, who blessed the killing of Ukrainians?" he asks.

Indeed, photos and posts about the funeral services of fallen soldiers by priests of the UOC-MP can be seen on social media in any of the dioceses. And even if the deceased was not a parishioner of this church, at almost all funerals the burial rite is also used for ideological preaching about the persecution of the UOC-MP. And if someone hints that they are under the control of the Russian Orthodox Church, they can be hit with a cross at the funeral.

Such an incident occurred in the Vinnytsia region last year, on July 22, in the village of Ialanets, Tulchyn district, during the funeral of the fallen soldier Oleksandr Ziniv. The OCU priest, who also came to the funeral, began to reproach the UOC-MP fathers for speaking Russian and called for a ban on the activities of "Russian priests." After the argument, the UOC-MP priest attacked his colleague from another denomination and hit him with a metal cross, causing bodily harm.

The Tomashpil District Court then found the attacker guilty of committing a criminal offense under Part 1 of Article 125 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: inflicting light bodily harm, and sentenced him to a fine of 45 tax-free minimum incomes, which is UAH 765. He also ordered the injured OCU priest to pay UAH 5,000 in non-pecuniary damage.

But Ukrainians continue to call for funerals of Moscow priests.

"Some say they are not going to the patriarchate, but to God. Others say that the church of the Moscow Patriarchate is closer to home, others that they did not know, did not hear, and so everyone has their own excuse. But all of them continue to sponsor the Moscow Patriarchate, carry money, buy, order, and maintain collaborating priests who are waiting for Putin's arrival.

Even the example I mentioned. If that priest had not refused the grieving mother of a soldier and performed a memorial service, she would have continued to go to the church of the Moscow Patriarchate. She probably did it before, praying there, lighting candles, writing notes so that the Lord would save her son. And he was killed. And not just anyone, but Russians who came to kill, rob, capture, rape, abuse, and destroy with the blessing of the very Moscow Patriarch for whom they pray and whom they consider their "master and father" in the church where the mother prayed for her son. I do not understand this," Archimandrite Chupryna said.

PRO-RUSSIAN CHURCH AS AN INHERITANCE

It would seem that the Vinnytsia region is less Russified than some regions of the South and East of Ukraine, and the clergy of the UOC-MP should not have such influence here. However, it was here that, before the creation of the Single Local Church in Ukraine, there were the most pro-Russian religious communities.

- We are an agricultural region, and therefore we had the largest number of rural settlements. In each of those where there was no church, one was built. And where there was a church, but there was not enough space, there were often patrons who built a new one "on behalf of their family." When the Law "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations" was adopted in the 1990s, the state began to officially register the statutes of religious communities and thereby grant legal entity status to religious organizations. Therefore, historically, the region had the largest number of UOC-MP communities. And, accordingly, the largest number of priests of this denomination," says Ihor Saletskyi, head of the Department for Nationalities and Religions of the Vinnytsia Regional Military Administration.

However, according to the official, after the Unification Council of Ukrainian Orthodox Churches and the receipt of the Tomos of Autocephaly, the Verkhovna Rada legislated a mechanism and procedure for changing the subordination of religious communities. This allowed the UOC-MP communities, which saw themselves as part of the OCU, to make decisions to change their confessional affiliation and submit documents to the state authorities that registered it.

- While in 2019 there were almost 1,000 UOC-MP communities and about 200 UOC-KP communities in the Vinnytsia region, today we have just over 500 registered religious communities of the UOC-MP and just under 500 communities of the OCU. That is, the balance has almost leveled off. In addition, there are about 300 religious communities of the UOC-MP in the region that operate without registration, do not have the status of a legal entity and civil legal capacity. In addition, our department is currently a participant, both as a defendant and a third party, in seven lawsuits related to religious communities changing their jurisdiction.

As for believers, in this segment, we can see both visually and through sociological research that the majority of Orthodox Christians are parishioners of the OCU, about 57% of them. And from 4 to 7% are believers of the UOC-MP. There are not many people who stubbornly hold on to the UOC-MP, but they are organized. If there are 10-15 of them in each locality, then this is, in fact, the priest, his family, and the clergy around him. But when they come from five villages to one, it seems that there are a lot of them," the official says.

As for why believers ask priests affiliated with the Moscow Patriarchate to perform funeral services for fallen soldiers, he believes that this is done primarily by those who have close relations or are relatives of these priests.

- There is a category of believers and priests who have the "Russian world" in their minds, and you cannot convince them. There are those who are fundamentally in favor of a funeral service by a priest of the UOC-MP. And there are those who turn to them only because a priest must be present at the funeral. If there is no one from the OCU, then let this one perform the funeral service. There are also such inert people. It seems to me that they will realize the difference, but it is a matter of time," the official says.

GETTING RID OF INTOXICATION WITH THE "RUSSIAN WORLD"

According to Yuriy Chornomorets, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at the Drahomanov National Pedagogical University, the "infantilism" of Ukrainians toward the UOC-MP can be explained by the long intoxication with the "Russian world." And they invite priests of this church to the memorial service for their dead relatives because they see them not as clergy of the Moscow Patriarchate, but simply as their priests.

- The fact is that for many years people have gotten used to the fact that this is a local church. They have been told a thousand times that it is simply the Church of Christ, simply the Orthodox Church. They are used to it and do not associate it directly with Moscow. And they don't even notice how much they are influenced by Moscow's narratives. People live in this as in a natural environment. There is a principle: if you throw a frog into boiling water, it will be saved because it will immediately swim out. And if you put it in water and gradually raise the temperature, it will be boiled. So it works in the same way here - there is an imperceptible intoxication.

In addition, we need to understand that the parents of these fallen soldiers may belong to two completely different types of believers in the Moscow Patriarchate. There is a large number of believers who go to church, take communion, and are in favor of breaking with Moscow, 72% of them. Half of the priests also support breaking with Moscow and are putting a lot of pressure on the bishops, on Metropolitan Onufriy, to make this happen. And there are 28% of those who are fanatics who believe that only their church is correct and, accordingly, there is no need to break with Moscow, we must maintain this connection. They are people who have a sectarian type of worldview and will always and everywhere belong to the Moscow Patriarchate," says Chornomorets.

The scholar believes that the main task of the state is to adopt legislation that would make it impossible to preserve the canonical unity of the church with Moscow.

- For us, it is strange that more than 500 days of the great war have passed, and the Russian religious organization is not banned on our territory. This passivity of the state is very surprising. After all, because of this passivity, it will lose again and again, rise from the ashes again and again and think, for example, why did we lose the 1917 Liberation War? They lost because they did not adopt the necessary legislation in time. And we thought: how can we explain this to the people so that they finally understand something?

Our task is not to educate individuals, individual believers and priests, to explain something to them, etc. This is a very strange way, in my opinion. There are specific crimes of the hierarchy, there is a specific economic situation of this religious organization. Accordingly, it is necessary to draw specific legislative and legal conclusions," Chornomorets is sure.

COURT AND THE CASE

Meanwhile, in the Vinnytsia region, in April 2023, the regional council terminated lease agreements for real estate and land plots and prohibited any use of property that is jointly owned by the territorial communities of the region with religious organizations of the UOC-MP. A similar decision was made by the Vinnytsia City Council.

A lawsuit is still pending between the Vinnytsia City Council and the religious community of the Holy Exaltation Church in Vinnytsia (UOC-MP) over the right to permanently use municipal property. It is about 2 hectares of land that the city council had allocated.

The second lawsuit, in which the UOC-MP is suing for property, concerns the religious community of the Church of the Great Martyr George the Victorious. It is located on the land of the Ministry of Defense, next to the Vinnytsia Officers' House, which was destroyed by Russian "Kalibr" in July last year. The court of first instance ruled in favor of the UOC-MP religious community. However, the Northwest Court of Appeal overturned the decision of the Vinnytsia Commercial Court and issued a new one, recognizing that the Vinnytsia City Council had used the land plot illegally and had no right to grant it for permanent use to the UOC religious community.

And finally. On August 7, the Vinnytsia City Court found the head of the Tulchyn Diocese of the UOC, Metropolitan Jonathan (in the world - Anatoly Yeleckykh), guilty under four articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Namely: Part 2 of Art. 109 (actions aimed at the violent change or overthrow of the constitutional order or the seizure of state power); Part 1 of Art. 110 (encroachment on the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine); Part 2 of Art. 161 (violation of the equality of citizens based on their race, nationality, region, religious beliefs, disability and other grounds); Part 3 of Article 436-2 (justification, recognition as lawful, denial of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, glorification of its participants). According to the report, following the trial, the Metropolitan was sentenced to 5 years in prison with confiscation of property. However, the verdict had not yet entered into force at the time of writing.

Antonina Mnich, Vinnytsia

Photos by the newspaper "33 Channel" and from social networks
The Russian Federation runs a purposeful genocidal policy against Ukraine, killing and injuring children on Ukrainian soil or deporting them.

This was stated by the President's Commissioner for Children's Rights and Rehabilitation, Daria Herasymchuk, who spoke on the air of Ukrinform: Evening Stream.

"This is a genocidal policy. They (Russians  ed.) pursue two tasks: either to eliminate and break the children here, on the territory of Ukraine, which they do - they kill, inflict serious injuries, commit sexual and psychological violence against children, that is, they break them, destroying the future of the Ukrainian nation here. Also, their second task is to abduct Ukrainian children in order to replenish their own nation," said the children's ombudsperson.

According to her, often abducted Ukrainian children are sent to cadet corps or subjected to other militarization classes so that they later join the ranks of the Russian army.

Herasymchuk also noted that the Russians exaggerate the data on children deported from Ukraine in order to present the crime as a "noble act."

"The largest number we recorded in the Russian media is 744,000 allegedly evacuated children. Everyone understands that this is in no way an evacuation, but rather an abduction, deportation, and forced displacement, but the Russians present it as a really noble act. And accordingly, the bigger the number they voice, the better the act sounds to them, being more global," she explained.

At the same time, according to Herasymchuk, the Russians have provided no confirmation of these data, as neither have they granted access to the children to the Ukrainian side, international organizations, or third countries.

The President's envoy emphasized that Ukraine has data on 19,500 children abducted by Russia, but this figure could potentially reach 300,000, as this is how many young Ukrainians used to live in the territories now temporarily occupied by the Russians.

Herasymchuk recalled that Ukraine secured the return of just 386 children earlier deported by Russia.

The lawyer with the Regional Center for Human Rights NGO, Kateryna Rashevska, emphasized that the deportation of Ukrainian children by the Russians is nothing but genocide.

"This is definitely a purposeful policy, and to answer the question of why they do it, you need to look at the internal situation in Russia. The fact is that they are facing significant demographic problems," she noted.

According to the legal expert, abduction and deportation of children is a tool for the physical extermination of the Ukrainian people as the Russians are getting stronger, while the Ukrainians are being weakened in this way.

According to Rashevska, it is now impossible to establish the exact number of deported children because there is no access to the territories temporarily captured by the Russians. International organizations, such as UN special representative Virginia Gamba, could help with establishing data, but she "removed herself from the process, claiming that deported and forcibly displaced children are outside her mandate," Rashevska believes. However, the lawyer emphasizes that the issue of child abduction is indeed part of the UN special representative's mandate.

The specialist added that for legal qualification it does not matter whether the child was accompanied or unaccompanied at the time of their removal from the Ukrainian territory.

Such removals were mostly done through coercion and intimidation by Russian forces, which by their very presence created an atmosphere of fear and lack of freedom, where it was impossible to make a free and informed decision, she noted.

As reported, as of August 14, the Russian army killed at least 502 children and injured another 1,097 across Ukraine.
The Russian occupiers are beginning to suspect that the Russian authorities do not care how many of them are maimed in Ukraine or remain in Ukrainian soil forever. Some mobilized Russians have been led to this idea by the fact that they are sent to the assaults without any artillery or air support.

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One of the invaders fighting against Ukraine as part of the 5 omsbr 1 AK complained about this in a conversation with a relative, which was intercepted by officers of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. The invader concluded that they were nothing more than "expendable material" for the Kremlin.

During the conversation, the mobilized occupant complained about the low morale and psychological condition of the 5 omsbr 1 AK fighting with the Ukrainian Defense Forces in Avdiivka direction. He told the interlocutor about correspondence with his acquaintance, who is fighting against Ukraine as part of a reconnaissance unit on the Maryinka direction.

"He says: Gray, there is such a bullshit, how many times we had situations here that I could barely get away..... They send them out, they say "you'll have support", all bullshit. Shit! There's no support, there's no fucking support, there's nothing. They come there - in the end they are alone," says the occupant in the intercepted conversation.

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Such an attitude on the part of the command to the "cannon fodder" recruited on the territory of the Russian Federation and in the occupied Donetsk region in the Russian army naturally leads to significant losses.

"The boys were put down, fuck it... They're a construction crew. Or what the fuck is the right fucking word? A band. It's called a group. They sent a group, like support, all that shit. Five 200s, one 300. Barely got the fuck out of there. And no support, no support, no support, no support," says the invader.

The same attitude is encountered not only in the unit where his acquaintance serves: other occupants also count in vain on artillery or any other support during assault operations.

"For the government, we're fucking expendable. That's all," the occupier concludes.

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We will remind, earlier in the Main Directorate of Intelligence published another intercepted conversation, in which the wife of the occupier told how Russian "mobilizeds" are sent to storms in Ukraine .

According to her, the Russian Federation continues to use mobilized people as cannon fodder. They are used to form assault groups, deceiving them into sending them to the front line - initially they are told that they have a goal that has nothing to do with the performance of risky tasks.
Tonight, on August 14, the occupants launched missile strikes on one of the settlements of Zaporizhzhya district. As a result of the strike killed two people, three more were pulled out from under the rubble.

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This was reported in the official Telegram-channel of the Ministry of internal Affairs of Ukraine. In the locality were completely destroyed two residential houses, another 2 two houses were damaged.

"Zaporizhzhya district. Around 2:00 the enemy launched rocket attacks on one of the settlements.

As a result of shelling on the territories of two houses completely destroyed two residential houses, damaged two more houses and in the neighboring ones windows flew out," - stated in the message.

Rescuers carried out search and rescue operations at the sites where the strikes occurred and pulled the victims out from under the rubble. Three people were rescued, two died.

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Recall that occupation troops of the aggressor country Russia attacked Odessa and the region on the night of Monday, August 14, with Kalibr cruise missiles and kamikaze attack drones. Debris from enemy missiles fell in the city and several fires broke out. Windows in buildings were blown out by the blast wave, three people are known to have been injured.

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Also on the night of August 14, Russian troops continued to terrorize the residents of Kherson. The enemy shelled residential neighborhoods of the city with artillery. As a result of war crimes injured civilians.

Only verified information from us in Telegram-channel Obozrevatel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Ukrainian air defense forces repelled a massive attack of the Russian Federation on the night of August 14, which it carried out in several waves of missiles and attack UAVs. We are talking about neutralization of eight Kalibers and 15 kamikaze drones.

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All of them the enemy directed at Odessa. This was reported in the Air forces of the AFU, adding that in the area of Bakhmut district defenders also destroyed another Russian helicopter.

It is noted that on Monday night the occupiers made several waves of air attacks. They launched strike drones from the southeastern direction(Primorsko-Akhtarsk), and Kalibr cruise missiles - from the waters of the Black Sea (enemy frigate near Yalta).

"In total, the enemy used 15 Shahed-136/131 and eight Kalibr missiles. By forces and means of air defense of the Air Force in cooperation with units of other components of the Defense Forces, all targets were destroyed. Used anti-aircraft guided missiles and small arms of units directly in the message," - stated in the message.

The military indicated that as a result of the anti-aircraft battle there was a fall of debris of missiles and drones, which caused a fire in several locations in Odessa. Rescuers are working there.

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"And some more good news in conclusion: at about 05:00 on August 14, 2023, an enemy helicopter (type to be specified) was destroyed by an anti-aircraft missile unit of the Air Force in the Bakhmut direction. We hold the sky! Together - to victory!" - added in the AF AFU.

As reported by OBOZREVATEL, since the beginning of the full-scale war, the air defense forces of Ukraine shot down 13 aeroballistic missiles Kh-47 "Kinzhal". The defenders also destroyed more than 20 ballistic missiles with which the Russian Federation is shelling our regions.

Only verified information from us in Telegram-channel Obozrevatel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The Memorandum of Information Exchange between Kyrgyzstan and Latvia is signed

As part of the U.S. Government-funded Project Support to the Kyrgyz Republics efforts in the field of identification, confiscation and recovering the illicitly-acquired assets emanating from corruption activities, UNODC supported Kyrgyz partners in participating at the 29th Plenary Meeting of the Egmont Group. The event was held on 3-7 July in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Within the framework of the event held in the UAE, the State Financial Intelligence Service under the Ministry of Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic (SFIS) signed a Memorandum of Information Exchange with the Financial Intelligence Unit of Latvia.

The systematic exchange of information and strategic cooperation between financial intelligence agencies is vital in thwarting illicit financial activities that threaten the stability and security of our societies. Our collaboration with the Egmont Group has enabled us to tap into a global network of financial intelligence experts, which has further enhanced our capabilities and resources said Mr. Chyngyz Kenenbayev, SFIS Deputy Chairman.

Being a part of the Egmont Group allows SFIS to connect and collaborate with fellow financial intelligence units from around the world, sharing information and insights that can help combat money laundering, terrorist financing, and other financial crimes.

Together, joint efforts can address the evolving challenges of the financial landscape and safeguard the integrity of two countries financial systems, concluded Mr. Kenenbayev.

SFIS remains committed to working with international partners and collaborating with the Egmont Group to enhance Kyrgyz financial intelligence capabilities and combat financial crimes.

News in russian laguage

***

For more information, contact Vasilina Brazhko

Communications and PR Specialist at

UNODC Criminal Justice Programme in Central Asia

UNODC PO in the Kyrgyz Republic

+996775987817

vasilina.brazhko [at] un.org
Kahului, United States, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Aug, 2023 ) :The death toll in Hawaii from the deadliest US wildfire in more than a century ticked towards 100 Sunday, fueling criticism that government inaction contributed to the heavy loss of life.

Officials say 93 people are known to have died, but warned the figure was likely to rise as recovery crews with cadaver dogs work their way through hundreds of homes and burned out vehicles in Lahaina.

The historic coastal town on the island of Maui was almost completely destroyed by the fast-moving inferno early Wednesday morning, with survivors saying there had been no warnings.

When asked Sunday why none of the island's sirens had been activated, Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono said she would wait for the results of an investigation announced by the state's attorney general.

"I'm not going to make any excuses for this tragedy," Hirono, a Democrat, told CNN's "State of the Union.

" "We are really focused, as far as I'm concerned, on the need for rescue, and, sadly, the location of more bodies." More than 2,200 buildings were damaged or destroyed as the fire tore through Lahaina, according to official estimates, wreaking $5.5 billion in damage and leaving thousands homeless.

"The remains we're finding are from a fire that melted metal," said Maui Police Chief John Pelletier. "When we pick up the remains... they fall apart." That was making identification difficult, he added, appealing for those with missing relatives to give DNA samples that might speed up the process.

Pelletier said cadaver dogs still had a vast area to search in the hunt for what could still be hundreds of people who are unaccounted for.

"We're going as fast as we can. But just so you know, three percent -- that's what's been searched with the dogs," he said.
High Commission for Pakistan, New Delhi celebrated 76th anniversary of Independence of Pakistan with national zeal and patriotic spirit on Monday

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Aug, 2023 ) :High Commission for Pakistan, New Delhi celebrated 76th anniversary of Independence of Pakistan with national zeal and patriotic spirit on Monday.

Aizaz Khan, Charg d' Affaires, hoisted the national flag on the occasion.

Officers and staff of the High Commission along with their families were present.

Messages of the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan were read out to the audience.

The Charge d' Affaires in his remarks paid rich tribute to the Father of the Nation, Quaid- e- Azam, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and other leaders of the freedom struggle, who carved out a separate homeland for the Muslims of the subcontinent, where they could live in accordance with their own values and traditions. He stated that supreme sacrifices rendered by our founding fathers could not be forgotten.

"We can achieve new heights of greatness and prosperity for our country if we remain united as a nation and focus our efforts towards economic progress and social justice," he added.

Recounting the great sacrifices of the armed forces of Pakistan in the defense of the motherland, the Cd'A paid homage to the brave sons of soil and martyrs.

Aizaz Khan said, "Pakistan is a proponent of peace in the world and the region, and seeks peaceful relations with all neighbouring countries including India." "However, for sustainable peace in South Asia, it is imperative to resolve the core issue of Kashmir as per relevant resolutions of the United Nations and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people," the Cd'A emphasized.

Dressed in green and white, the children of Pakistan High Commission's officials, gave a beautiful performance on the national songs and delivered speeches, highlighting the historic struggle for the creation of Pakistan.

At the end of the ceremony, prizes and gifts were distributed among the children. A special cake was also cut on the occasion.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

First International flight carrying eighty passengers including one local passenger arrived on Monday morning from Dubai to Skardu International Airport

Skardu, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Aug, 2023 ):First International flight carrying eighty passengers including one local passenger arrived on Monday morning from Dubai to Skardu International Airport.

CAA, PIA and Local Administration authorities welcomed the passengers at Skardu International Airport.

There was a scene of jubilation today when the flight was landed at Skardu airport direct from Dubai to Skardu when people of Baltistan were observing Independence Day of Pakistan. The flight went back to Dubai from Skardu with passengers after re-fueling.

Refueling facilities were made by the PSO earlier which was not available so far. International flights from different countries to Skardu will be helpful for foreign investment, trade, and tourism.

PIA and CAA authorities hopeful that International tourists, expedition parties and trekkers will directly come to Baltistan through their countries.

APP-SBA
The terrorist state of Russia is trying to establish its own production of Shahed kamikaze attack drones. The aggressor intends to produce UAVs on its own because of fears of a supply cut-off from Iran.

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Ukrainians should also be prepared for the fact that Russia will continue to terrorise civilians. This was stated by Natalia Gumenyuk, head of the Joint Press Centre of the Security and Defence Forces "South", during a telethon.

According to her, the Russian occupiers feel their superiority in the air, so they use this method of terrorising the civilian population of Ukraine to the maximum.

At the same time, Gumenyuk noted that Russia has already begun to use its own Shaheds for attacks on the territory of Ukraine. Moscow fears that Iran may stop supplying drones due to sanctions.

"The enemy will continue to put pressure on us from the air, in particular because they currently have air superiority and use this method of terror as often as possible. The fact that they are trying to set up this production is justified by the fear that sanctions against Iran could stop these supplies. We do not lose hope that the international community will press this issue," said Gumenyuk.

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The Operational Command "South" also said that it is not yet possible to say exactly how many drones of its own production Russia is using. The conclusions are based on the wreckage of the downed UAVs, and a more accurate report can be provided by experts studying the consequences of the attacks.

As a reminder, the occupation forces of the aggressor country Russia attacked Odesa and the region with Kalibr cruise missiles and kamikaze attack drones on the night of 14 August. The wreckage of enemy missiles fell in the city, causing fires and destruction, and injuring three people.

Earlier it was reported that the occupiers have recently changed their tactics of using Shahed attack drones. In particular, the enemy began to use them mainly at night and at extremely low altitudes, constantly changing the construction of routes.

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As OBOZREVATEL wrote, the aggressor country Russia may well resort to shelling Ukraine on Independence Day, 24 August, as well as on any other day. At the same time, the defenders of Ukrainian skies will continue to monitor the situation, warn of and respond to threats.

Only verified information is available on our Obozrevatel Telegram channel, Threads and Viber. Don't fall for fakes!
The World Wide Fund for Nature Pakistan (WWF-Pakistan) released the trailer for its highly anticipated wildlife documentary series titled "Wildlife Diaries of Pakistan" on 14 August, on the occasion of Pakistan's 76th Independence Day

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Aug, 2023 ):The World Wide Fund for Nature Pakistan (WWF-Pakistan) released the trailer for its highly anticipated wildlife documentary series titled "Wildlife Diaries of Pakistan" on 14 August, on the occasion of Pakistan's 76th Independence Day.

According to the news release, Wildlife Diaries of Pakistan pays tribute to the country's rich biodiversity and natural heritage. Pakistan is a land rich in cultural diversity but also boasts remarkable natural treasures. Yet, these treasures face increasing threats, including the loss of precious biodiversity; a concern that requires urgent attention. WWF-Pakistan's captivating wildlife series takes step and sheds light on the issues and challenges.

According to WWF's 2022 Living Planet Report, wildlife populations  mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish- have seen a devastating 69 per cent drop on average, globally, since 1970. This is a grave warning about the health of our planet.

Pakistan's unique biodiversity, which sustains entire ecosystems and maintains the delicate ecological balance, is also at serious risk from habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change.

Hammad Naqi Khan, Director General WWF-Pakistan stated, "Pakistan is facing the double emergencies of human-induced climate change and biodiversity loss, which threatens the survival of our current and future generations.

As a nation, we stand at a crossroads where the urgent need to protect our natural heritage has never been more crucial. WWF-Pakistan's dedication to conserving biodiversity is mirrored in the 'Wildlife Diaries of Pakistan', which took over a year to complete. This endeavour is a call to action, an awakening to the importance of safeguarding our ecosystems for future generations."The series, directed by Naveed Qamar, Cyber Productions, embodies not only our love for the nation but also our responsibilities as custodians of its extraordinary natural treasures. The episodes will take the viewers on a journey into the lives of some remarkable species and their habitats, reminding us of the irreplaceable value of our natural world. The complete series will be available to watch on WWF-Pakistan's official YouTube channel with the first episode available to watch on September 20, 2023.
(@FahadShabbir)

At least five people died on Monday and seven others are missing after their Europe-bound migrant boat sank off Tunisia's coast, a judicial official in the city of Sfax told AFP

Tunis, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Aug, 2023 ) :At least five people died on Monday and seven others are missing after their Europe-bound migrant boat sank off Tunisia's coast, a judicial official in the city of Sfax told AFP.

Sfax has emerged as a major hub for migrants from Tunisia and other parts of Africa attempting perilous voyages across the Mediterranean, often in rickety boats in hopes of a better life.

Court spokesman Faouzi Masmoudi said "35 people, most of them Tunisians" including women and children were on board the boat that went down "shortly after departing from the coast of Sidi Mansour" near Sfax.

The deaths include at least one child and two women, Masmoudi said, adding that "23 people have been rescued".

The boat sank "less than an hour after departure", according to the spokesman.

Last week judicial officials reported the deaths of at least 11 migrants in a shipwreck off Sfax, as the North African country sees a spike in attempted sea crossings.

The eastern Tunisian port city is located about 130 kilometres (80 miles) from the Italian island of Lampedusa.

The court has launched an investigation into the latest shipwreck, Masmoudi said, as search operations were underway.

More than 1,800 people have died this year in shipwrecks on the central Mediterranean migration route, the world's deadliest -- more than twice as many as last year, according to the International Organization for Migration.

- Growing numbers - The Tunisian coastguard says it intercepted 34,290 migrants in the six months to June 20, most from sub-Saharan African countries, compared with 9,217 over the same period in 2022.

The number of people from sub-Saharan African countries trying to make the crossing has spiked since Tunisian President Kais Saied alleged in a February speech that "hordes" of irregular migrants were causing crime and posing a demographic threat to the mainly Arab country.

Many have also fled since hundreds of migrants were arrested or chased into the desert after the deadly stabbing of a Tunisian man in a brawl with migrants in Sfax on July 3.

Tunisians have opted for the sea journeys in growing numbers as the country faces a grinding economic crisis and severe shortages of basic staples.

On Saturday, at least two Tunisians including a baby died when their boat sank soon after leaving the coast in Gabes, south of Sfax, the coastguard said.

Italy says about 95,000 migrants have arrived on its shores since the start of the year -- more than double the number for the same period in 2022.

Tunisians are the fourth-largest group among them, behind migrants from the Ivory Coast, Guinea and Egypt.

Mouhamed Borhen Chamtouri, a commander of the coastguard in Sfax, told AFP on Thursday that this month the force had intercepted about 3,000 migrants in just 10 days, 90 percent of whom were from other parts of Africa.

In July, the European Union signed an agreement with Tunisia that provides 105 million Euros ($115 million) in direct European aid to prevent the departure of migrant boats and combat smugglers.
USM Social Works SOAR Team Facilitating Anti-Human Trafficking Training Aug. 15-17

Mon, 08/14/2023 - 10:51am | By: David Tisdale

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) School of Social Works SOARing in Mississippi (Stop, Observe, Act and Respond) team is holding a SOAR for Communities training session at the Universitys Gulf Park Campus in Long Beach August 15-17, 2023. This gathering will include personnel from anti-human trafficking service providers and others serving the state's lower nine counties.

The session is coordinated through the schools Center for Human Trafficking Research and Training (CHRT) with expert facilitators from the Office on Trafficking in Persons National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center (NHTTAC).

The goal of this three-day session is the creation of an action plan with concrete next steps for strengthening the identification of victims and implementing an efficient referral system. The action plan will utilize a public health approach combining input from various professions, including health, education, social services, criminal justice and the private sector. At its heart, SOAR training helps participants know the signs, observe risk factors, ask questions using trauma-sensitive language, and respond with appropriate resources in the human trafficking situations they may encounter. SOAR for Communities bridges these skills between service provider agencies and seeks to enhance agency responsiveness.

Participants will include representatives from the Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence, Southern Christian Services, the State Attorney Generals Office, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, the Mississippi Department of Health Office Against Interpersonal Violence, Jubilee Havens, lived experience experts, subject matter experts from the National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center, and others. Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson, whose office created the Mississippi Businesses Against Trafficking initiative, will attend on the first day. The meeting represents the first time these providers have gathered for the purpose of identifying needs and system gaps and for the development of a continuum of care.

We hope to create an interdisciplinary advisory board designed to sustain collaborative efforts, said Dr. Tamara Hurst, associate professor of social work at USM and principal investigator of the SOARing in Mississippi program. Eradicating labor and sex trafficking requires a concentrated effort among the social service, criminal justice and other agencies that assist victims and survivors of human trafficking.

Rebecca Stewart, director of the Domestic Abuse Family Shelter, Inc. (DAFS) based in Hattiesburg and Laurel, will also attend.

DAFS is proud to participate in this specialized training program aimed at equipping domestic violence shelters with the necessary skills to identify and assist trafficking victims, Stewart said. This comprehensive training will empower our staff to recognize the signs of human trafficking better and provide the appropriate support and resources to those in need. By attending this training, we are reaffirming our commitment to combating human trafficking and ensuring the safety and well-being of survivors within our community.

USMs SOARing in Mississippi program is one of two in the nation federally funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office on Trafficking in Persons to demonstrate the effectiveness of a public health approach in addressing labor and sex trafficking. The CHRT is an interdisciplinary collaboration of researchers, trafficking survivors and students who participate in collecting, analyzing and evaluating human trafficking data from Mississippis state and local agencies.

Learn more at the Center for Human Trafficking Research and Training. Learn more about the USM School of Social Work, which is housed in the College of Education and Human Sciences.
Hattiesburg Native Soars in Role as Executive Chef at The University of Southern Mississippi

Mon, 08/14/2023 - 02:06pm | By: Van Arnold

Start with a heaping helping of passion; add a generous dose of discipline; sprinkle in copious amounts of ingenuity, instinct, and ambition. Voila! What you have is a recipe for success that has catapulted Joshua Cathey from home cook to Executive Chef at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM).

While most of his duties these days are administrative in nature, dont think for a minute that Cathey cant whip up a delectable dish on the spot.

Josh is so talented. If you give him a basket full of random food items, he will make a five-star meal out of the items. Guaranteed. I would bet my check on it, said Marcus White, who works closely with Cathey as Director of Operations for Aramark Collegiate Hospitality.

Catheys culinary skills have earned him numerous accolades since he joined the Aramark Collegiate Hospitality team in 2016. In February of this year Cathey captured first place in the Aramark Culinary Excellence Competition at Auburn University where he competed against chefs from every corner of the south region. That victory helped him advance to the National ACE competition held last month at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y. Cathey took home the bronze medal from that contest.

Soft-spoken, humble, and a consummate team player, Cathey prefers not to dwell on his personal achievements. His colleagues, however, are not shy about acknowledging the acclaimed chefs expertise inside and outside the kitchen.

Josh leads positively through servitude leadership, said District Manager Charles Dorsa, who serves as Catheys supervisor. He serves his team to ensure they can provide the best food and hospitality possible. He is always self-educating himself to be better at his craft and sharing that knowledge with everyone. His charismatic personality makes him extremely approachable and that too has contributed to his success, along with a selfless attitude.

Catheys impressive path to executive chef began just a few miles from the USM campus in his hometown of Hattiesburg, Miss. His Kensington Woods neighborhood teemed with the sounds of children laughing and playing. He counts among his favorite childhood memories the summers spent outside with his friends.

I knew all the kids in my neighborhood, said Cathey. We played every sport outside and rode bikes all day long. Those were some of the best summers.

The itch to cook came from his grandmothers kitchen where he watched attentively while she prepared a variety of southern delicacies.

I started cooking, or better yet attempting to cook, at a very young age, said Cathey. Spending time with my grandmother in the kitchen sparked my interest. I learned a lot from her just by watching and asking questions until I was brave enough to attempt a few dishes of my own.

After graduating from Hattiesburg High School in 2007, Cathey enrolled at USM where he earned a BSBA degree in tourism management (2011). While in school, Cathey began his professional career in catering at the Hattiesburg Lake Terrace Convention Center in 2010.

A few years after graduation, which included gaining more kitchen experience, Cathey applied to Aramark as a sous chef  someone who works directly under the chef de cuisine or head chef.

After my interview, the Executive Chef said they were hiring a Catering Chef and thought I would be a good fit, said Cathey. After my interview and mystery basket, I was offered the job.

Fast-forward five years and the Executive Chef position with Eagle Dining at USM becomes vacant. I had to do three interviews and demonstrate my knowledge of how to lead a large culinary team, Cathey explained. I have definitely enjoyed it and was glad that I took that leap of faith.

Dorsa is more than delighted that Cathey took that gigantic step  one that has helped Eagle Dining soar to exemplary heights.

Josh has contributed to the success of Eagle Dining over the last three years in ways I didnt expect, said Dorsa. He goes above and beyond just food, helping provide the best possible experience for our students. We would not be where we are today if it werent for Josh being the leader and chef he is.

Cathey assisted with creating Aramarks Culinary YOUniversity, has been a preceptor for the nutrition program on the graduate level, and held cooking demos for students and groups in the community. He was selected to be one of this year's Aramark 40 Under 40 awardees. He also serves on the culinary board for Hattiesburg High School, focusing on giving back to the next generation of culinarians.

His primary duties as Executive Chef at USM include monitoring food financial for all locations, inspections, food safety, culinary training and mentoring, menu development and helping with events in the Fresh Food Company on campus.

Josh is a wonderful Executive Chef, but we are developing him to be more than just that, said White. Josh helps us write budgets when it comes to food costs and labor. Josh is great at what he does in the kitchen, but he is also great with operations.

And goodness, is he detail-oriented. White enjoys relating a memory that perfectly encapsulates Catheys drive for perfection.

We were in Houston for one of his practice sessions for the ACE competition, and I was meeting him for dinner that night, said White. Josh had been in the kitchen since 5 a.m. working on his craft and didnt get finished until 6 p.m. We were discussing his day and everything he had done that day and while we were eating he had a pocket-size notebook and he started writing things down. We would talk a little more and he would write some more. I finally asked him, what are you writing and he stated that he was thinking about his day and what he could have done better and what he would have done differently. He was writing it down to study for the next time.

Cathey resides in the Hattiesburg area with his wife, Jessica, and their 7-year-old daughter, Journey. He jokes that the cooking duties are actually evenly split between himself and Jessica. But just like any accomplished chef, Cathey has a signature dish  a scrumptious staple found in most Southern kitchens.

My signature dish and my favorite dish to prepare is chicken and andouille gumbo. Its a very versatile dish. Sometimes, Ill add duck, seafood, and different types of sausages. It just depends on who Im making it for, said Cathey.

When asked what he would consider the most common mistake that most home cooks make, Cathey noted: Not resting meats after cooking. Resting it makes for a juicier cut of meat.

Canvas the USM landscape and you will be hard-pressed to find many who bleed black and gold more enthusiastically than Cathey. He takes immense pride in his alma mater and his hometown.

I am so proud of where I come from and the things that I have been able to accomplish over the years, he said. Everywhere I go, I tell people about Hattiesburg and Southern Miss. I try to give back by sharing my experiences.

Dorsa summed up his colleague and friend by stating, Josh is a nurturer, a caring, dedicated individual. Both personally and professionally. He is a dedicated father, husband and professional. He does not accept defeat or failure in anything he does.

Now, that sounds like a recipe for success.
Three University of Wyoming research proposals recently were selected to receive seed funding through the Hydrogen Energy Research Centers (H 2 ERC) Hydrogen Production and Transportation for Wyoming initiative.

The funding, available through the UW School of Energy Resources (SER), is part of Phase II of a funding initiative to promote and facilitate hydrogen research among current UW faculty members and researchers that will be applicable in Wyoming.

In 2022, H 2 ERC issued a request for proposals (RFP) on hydrogen energy, in which topics of interest included all supply chain levels, such as hydrogen production, use, transportation and storage. Seven projects were selected under the initiative that focused on hydrogen storage and hydrogen made from natural gas.

Phase II proposals were requested to focus on three areas of interest: hydrogen transportation, electrolysis hydrogen production systems or hydrogen production from Wyomings coal resources.

We are excited to have the ability to offer opportunities like this to members of the university who are interested in advancing a hydrogen economy, says Eugene Holubnyak, H 2 ERC director. We have received a lot of support from the state, and our objective is to grow this area of research for the benefit of the state. We were really pleased with the quantity and quality of proposals we received, and I am grateful and humbled to be surrounded by so many brilliant colleagues.

The selected proposals will receive up to $150,000 over a two-year period. The selected projects are:

-- Saman Aryana, an associate professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering and the Occidental Chair in Energy and Environmental Technologies, will lead the project Hydrogen Production through Coal Gasification -- State of the Art and Future Directions.

-- Haibo Zhai, an associate professor in the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management and the Roy and Caryl Cline Chair of Engineering, Environment and Natural Resources, leads the proposal titled A Multi-Scale Computing Framework for Advancing Hydrogen Transportation Infrastructure.

-- Charlie Zhang, an assistant professor in the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management, leads the proposal titled Developing a Smart, Safe, Sustainable, Resilient (SSSR) Hydrogen Transport Ecosystem in Wyoming. The project team includes Selena Gerace, an SER associate research scientist, and Danish Kumar, a graduate research assistant in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences.

While it was not a requirement to have participated in Phase I of the funding initiative to receive an award in Phase II, all three selected projects are repeat recipients.

We opened Phase II of the RFP with the intention of soliciting from a large pool of applicants across the UW community, Holubnyak says. Our review team at SER was presented with the difficult task of selecting only three finalists among many excellent proposals, and our winning submissions will continue to drive forward the excellent research contributions that they have already proven in this field.

About the Hydrogen Energy Research Center

Supported by the state of Wyoming, the Anschutz Foundation and Williams, H 2 ERC focuses on applied research to support the growth of the hydrogen industry in Wyoming. It leads investigative analysis to identify and quantify the relative competitive advantages of Wyoming in an emerging hydrogen economy and collaborates with Wyoming stakeholders to support growth of a hydrogen industry focused on serving the states existing energy customers and growing new markets.

For more information, email Christine Reed, SER outreach director, at christine.reed@uwyo.edu.
In the autumn and winter period, the aggressor country Russia intends to continue its missile terror of Ukraine. To this end, the occupiers are now trying to accumulate stocks of long-range weapons.

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Vadym Skibitskyi, a representative of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, told OBOZREVATEL in an interview. According to him, the occupiers combine different types of weapons during air attacks.

At the same time, the number of missiles in one wave of attack has decreased. At the same time, the invaders imitate launches, use fake targets, and conduct reconnaissance, including space reconnaissance. They are trying to identify gaps to bypass the Ukrainian air defence system or to hit systems to defend against airborne threats.

"Now Russia is again trying to accumulate stockpiles of long-range weapons to continue its missile terror. Thus, I confirm that in the autumn and winter period, the aggressor state intends to attack our critical infrastructure, in particular the energy system. For this purpose, the Russians, among other things, are amassing weapons and conducting reconnaissance to identify priority targets on the territory of our country. Therefore, we also need to prepare and strengthen the protection of our cities and communities. In fact, we are doing this," explained the representative of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine.

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He added that Russia would like to arrange a new blackout in Ukraine, using missile weapons and long-range drones like the Shahed.

Skibitsky also spoke about Russian Lancet drones.

"As for the Lancets, these are combat drones designed to destroy our air defence systems, artillery and other weapons at the front. These drones are indeed a problem for our army, but we are trying to find an effective defence against them. FPV drones have proven their effectiveness on the battlefield. They are a cheap and effective weapon. Both we and the enemy are working towards establishing production and systematic training of operators," he concluded.

As OBOZREVATEL previously reported, the spokesman for the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Yuriy Ihnat, said that in autumn and winter, Russia could continue massive attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. The aggressor will probably rely on kamikaze drones, but missiles will also be used.

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Only verified information is available on our Obozrevatel Telegram channel, Threads and Viber. Don't fall for fakes!
Trump's Iowa state fair spectacle clouds DeSantis as former president is joined by Florida officials

Gone was the helicopter, but Donald Trump is renewing his reputation for defying norms and creating a mega-celebritys spectacle at the Iowa State Fair
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi ended a whistle-stop tour of Singapore, Malaysia and Cambodia Sunday as tensions in the hotly disputed South China Sea continued to rise ahead of the Sept. 5-7 ASEAN leaders' summit in Jakarta.

His four-day trip was designed "to strengthen strategic communication with the three," according to a Chinese statement ahead of the tour, however, analysts said Wang was also keen to accelerate Beijings version of a Code of Conduct for the disputed international sea lanes and had focused on "friendly countries" in ASEAN.

Hunter Marston, a Southeast Asian academic with Australia National University, said shoring-up Chinese goodwill with more pliable partners in the 10-country ASEAN bloc was key, while at the same time isolating Western-leaning countries like the Philippines and Vietnam.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has moved his country closer to the U.S. and taken a much harder line against Chinese maritime expansionism since his election last year.

Talks between Manila and Hanoi have also begun for a maritime pact to defend their mutual interests amid confrontations with Chinese vessels in recent weeks, which Marcos says "will bring an element of stability to the problems that we are seeing now in the South China Sea."

Marston said Wang had to reassert Chinese foreign policy concerning its interests, which meant offering more than simply ignoring a 2016 ruling by an international court in The Hague, which found in favor of the Philippines and rejected Chinese claims in the South China Sea.

"In some way he's probably making the Philippines feel a little bit out there on its own. In some ways the trips to Malaysia and Singapore are a lot more comfortable places for China to visit in light of Marcos Jr.'s overtures to Washington," he said.

Beijing's relations with ASEAN have been tested by its self-proclaimed control of most of the South China Sea through its nine-dash line, an assertion made despite overlapping claims from half of the bloc's members; Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei.

Perhaps adding to Chinese anxiety is U.S. President Joe Biden, who announced on Tuesday that he would visit Vietnam "shortly" and two days later told a campaign reception in Salt Lake City that the Quad alliance  consisting of the U.S., Japan, India and Australia  was proving effective.

He said the U.S. was now in a position where "the Philippines and, soon, Vietnam and Cambodia" would want to be part of a U.S. relationship. "They dont want to have a defense alliance, but they want relationships because they want China to know that theyre not alone."

Gavin Greenwood, an analyst with Hong Kong-based A2 Global said Chinas motives rest on a combination of reassurance to an overt ally, Cambodia; greater clarity on future foreign and defense policies with Singapore, and improved relations with Malaysia ahead of the leaders' summit.

He also said Wang had chosen his countries carefully before embarking on the tour.

Code of Conduct questioned

"Further, Wangs short Southeast Asia tour omits other key ASEAN members where there are seriously contentious issues  notably the Philippines and Vietnam  and those where there is not  Indonesia, Thailand, Laos and Myanmar."

Beijing's commitment to the planned Code of Conduct has also been questioned and blamed for its many delays, with diplomats saying China enjoys a position of strength through bilateral negotiations with individual ASEAN states as opposed to finding a consensus through the agreement with the 10 nations as a bloc.

That was evident last week during a confrontation between Chinese and Philippine vessels at Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands, where Manila maintains a scuttled naval vessel as an occupied base that Beijing wants removed.

After Wang visited Singapore and Malaysia, the official Chinese state news agency, Xinhua, reported Wang had noted that China had repeatedly expressed its willingness to resolve differences with the Philippines through bilateral dialogue.

It also said Wang hoped that the Philippine side would abide by the consensus reached in the past, and he stressed that China is willing to work with ASEAN countries to accelerate consultations on the Code of Conduct in line with international law.

"The Chinese are clearly trying to put on a nice face by sending Wang around on a diplomatic tour in light of the blatant maritime harassment they have directed against the Philippines and Vietnam in recent weeks," Marston said.

"It's also in Beijing's interests to send Wang, given his recent reappointment as foreign minister, to signal continuity and stability in China's foreign policy," he added.

"I think some of it is directly aimed at The Philippines, especially in light of the latest blatant coercion and intimidation tactics."

Meeting in Cambodia

However, Biden's references to Cambodia  China's closest regional ally  were met with disbelief among bureaucrats in Phnom Penh who enjoy a cozy relationship with Beijing and will shortly open a Chinese-funded reconstruction of the Ream Naval Base on the south coast.

"China wants to accelerate the Code of Conduct, which was already happening just before the COVID-19 pandemic erupted and Beijing wants that back on track. In its current form its the type of thing that will really annoy the Americans," said a source close to the Cambodian government.

In Cambodia, Wang lunched with Prime Minister Hun Sen  who has often been accused of acting as Chinas proxy within ASEAN  and met with his son, Hun Manet, who will replace his father as prime minister on Aug. 22.

After Wangs visit, the Chinese embassy in Phnom Penh said China will, as always, stand with Cambodia, and firmly support Cambodia in following a development path suited to its national conditions, safeguarding national interests and dignity, and playing a bigger role on international and regional occasions.

Marston said, "The timing of the visit to Cambodia is well placed in light of recent elections, cementing Beijing's partnership with Phnom Penh but I wouldn't expect Phnom Penh to depart from Hun Sen's foreign policy of non-alignment/soft tilt toward China." However, the biggest issue confronting Hun Sen since winning last month's one-sided election remains Cambodia's struggling economy. Chinese investment and tourists  once a hallmark in ties between the two countries  have not returned since the pandemic subsided.

"Cambodian officials increasingly recognize and openly note that the pre-COVID era of free-flowing Chinese cash has come to an end," said Bradley Murg, an affiliate fellow at Pacific Forum.

"Wang will need to clarify China's financial commitments to its closest Southeast Asian ally and how Beijing will mitigate the reality  that the long-awaited Chinese investment expected to flow into Cambodia  is simply not here."

These issues are expected to play out in Jakarta when ASEAN leaders meet next month.

Greenwood said the bland rationale offered for Wang's visit  to strengthen strategic communication with the three Southeast Asian countries  appeared to match the nature and probable outcome of his brief trip.

"Overall, Wang's visit can be expected to be viewed by Washington and its allies as routine with little indication that it will alter the status quo regarding the three countries' present foreign and security policies or priorities," he said.
The U.S. ambassador to Russia on Monday was able to meet with Evan Gershkovich, an American journalist detained in a Moscow jail.

The consular visit by Ambassador Lynne Tracy is only the third such visit granted since the Wall Street Journal reporters arrest in March.

Ambassador Tracy reported that Evan continues to be in good health and remains strong, despite the circumstances, the U.S. Embassy in Moscow said in a statement.

Tracy last met with Gershkovich on July 3.

As of Monday, the 31-year-old reporter has been in Russian custody for nearly 20 weeks. He is being held in Moscows Lefortovo Prison.

Russian authorities detained Gershkovich on espionage charges on March 29, while he was on assignment in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg.

Gershkovich, the Journal and the U.S. government vehemently deny the allegations. The U.S. State Department has classified Gershkovich as wrongfully detained.

Journalists are at high risk of being detained or harassed when reporting from hostile countries, say media analysts.

Currently, two American journalists are held overseas: Gershkovich in Russia and Austin Tice, a freelancer being held in Syria.

Paul Beckett, the Journals Washington bureau chief, told VOA Monday, Theres a much greater realization that this can happen to anybody, and when it does, it needs everybodys support.

This is going to keep happening, and as long as regimes see advantage to them to doing it, they will do it more and more and I think thats what we all have to respond to, Beckett added. Thats why wed like to see the government not just get Evan and Austin back but figure out how to take the incentives out of doing this for the governments that participate in it.

Beckett spoke with VOA at the National Press Club in Washington where he appeared on a panel to draw attention to the cases of Gershkovich and Tice.

The Monday event marked 11 years since Tice was kidnapped at a Syrian checkpoint. He is believed to be held by the Syrian government.

Clayton Weimers, the executive director of the Reporters Without Borders U.S. bureau, told VOA that Tice and Gershkovichs cases show that the U.S. needs a better strategy to respond to the threat of these issues.

The United States and indeed democracies around the world need to find ways to raise the cost of this kind of bad business, Weimers said. How do we impose stiffer penalties to disincentivize hostage-taking in the first place?

In Gershkovichs case, the journalist has had his initial pretrial detention extended until at least August 30.

Last month, Moscow said that Russia was in contact with Washington about a potential prisoner swap.

A State Department spokesperson told VOA via email on Monday that embassy officials will continue to provide all appropriate support to Gershkovich and his family.



We expect Russian authorities to provide continued consular access. Once again, the United States calls on the Russian Federation to immediately release Evan Gershkovich and also to release wrongfully detained U.S. citizen Paul Whelan, the spokesperson said.

Whelan is a former U.S. Marine whom Russia sentenced to 16 years in prison on espionage charges that he and the U.S. government deny.

In July, U.S. President Joe Biden said the United States is serious about a prisoner exchange to obtain Gershkovichs freedom, but the White House has also said discussions with the Kremlin on a potential swap have not yet given way to a pathway to a resolution.
Health workers say at least 26 civilians were killed in a drone strike in a town in Ethiopias Amhara region. Federal government forces and a regional militia that fought on the same side during the recent war in the Tigray region have been fighting each other for the past four months.

The attack Sunday took place in the central town of Finote Selam, in the West Gojam Zone of Ethiopias Amhara region.

A doctor at Finote Selam Hospital who spoke on the condition of anonymity said injured people started arriving around midday.

"There are many people who died at the site of the accident, but we do not have the exact numbers of that," he said. "But the ones who arrived here and passed away are around 26 people as of now.

Amhara militia known as Fano fought alongside federal troops against Tigrayan forces during the two-year war that ended last November in the Tigray region.

Fighting between the federal government and Fano was sparked in April when the government ordered the militia to integrate with the countrys police or military following the peace deal in Tigray.

Essential supplies for saving lives, including oxygen tanks, have been running short due to roadblocks in the area, according to health workers in Finote Selam.

The doctor said the hospital struggled to deal with the wounded from the drone strike.

The hospital did not have the capacity to handle even the ones who came yesterday," he said. "There were more than 100 injured people who came in at the beginning, and many more after that.

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, in a statement released Monday, said that it received credible reports of shelling in Finote Selam as well as two other locations in Amhara region -- Burie and Debre Birhan.

The commission also said that civilians were subject to beatings and killings in many areas of Bahir Dar, the capital city of Amhara region.

The Ethiopian government announced the arrest of 23 individuals in relation to what it called illegal activities last Friday, 10 days after declaring a state of emergency in Amhara.

Among those arrested were an opposition parliamentarian, Christian Tadele, and the editor-in-chief of the online news outlet Alpha Media, Bekalu Alamrew.
Australia's biggest warship heads to the Philippines Monday where tensions with Beijing have escalated in recent days over disputed waters in the South China Sea. HMAS Canberra will take part in joint military exercises with U.S. forces and the Philippines.

The South China Sea is one of the world's most important waterways. It links the Indian Ocean to the Pacific and is a critical shipping channel with rich fishing grounds. It could also harbor valuable deposits of natural resources.

Neighboring countries have contested the region for years. China has laid claim to large swathes, which has angered competing claimants, including Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam. Flashpoints - big and small - are common.

Most recently, authorities in the Philippines accused the Chinese of using a water cannon against its vessels carrying supplies for Filipino soldiers based on one of the disputed Spratly Islands. The Philippine Coast Guard said China's actions were "excessive and unlawful". China demanded the removal of the beached ship the soldiers are living on.

The United States stays neutral in the territorial disputes but has deployed military aircraft and ships near disputed islands in what it calls "freedom of navigation" operations in the South China Sea.

Monday, Australia sends its largest warship - HMAS Canberra - to the Philippines take part in joint exercises with U.S. and Filipino forces.

Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, Australia's Chief of Navy, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Monday that Canberra wants to maintain peace in the region.

"The South China Sea has been an area of tension now for many, many years," he said. "We have continued to conduct our operations and activities and exercises with allies and partners safely and securely despite those tensions. So, I'm not particularly concerned about this deployment about this deployment any more so than any of the other deployments that we do."

Australia's defense and security partnership with the Philippines dates back more than 100 years.

Earlier this year, officials said that the Philippines and Australia had discussed joint patrols in the South China Sea.

In February, China's coast guard directed a military-grade laser at the crew of a Philippine coast guard vessel around Second Thomas Shoal.

Beijing insisted its actions were legal.

China's ambitions in the South China Sea, and other geopolitical and trade disputes, have fractured Australia's relationship with Beijing in recent years.

A left-leaning government in Canberra elected in May 2022 has sought to stabilize bilateral ties but has insisted that there would inevitably be areas of disagreement and competition.
Britain's government Monday rejected claims that it was slow to evacuate asylum-seekers from a barge moored off the south coast of England once traces of the bacteria that causes Legionnaire's disease were found in the ship's water system.

In the latest critique of the government's ballyhooed efforts to control migration and reduce the cost of housing a rising number of asylum-seekers, local health officials said over the weekend that the barge operator was told about the bacteria last Monday  the day before asylum-seekers were moved onto the Bibby Stockholm.

But Health Secretary Steve Barclay said ministers weren't informed about the bacteria until Thursday and they took "very quick action."

The Home Office, the central government department that oversees migration, moved all 39 men who were being housed on the ship into other accommodation on Friday.

Questions about the government's response to the bacteria issue came after immigration dominated the weekend news, with a surge of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats during a period of good weather and at least six people dying when one boat sank off the coast of France. More than 1,600 people arrived in England on 30 boats from August 10-12, the government said Monday.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made stopping the boats a key goal as he looks for issues that will bolster voter support for his Conservative Party, which is trailing badly in opinion polls, ahead of a general election that is expected to take place next year.

Part of that strategy is a plan to move asylum-seekers from hotel accommodations onto barges and disused military bases to make it less attractive for people to come to the U.K. and to cut the cost of housing those who seek shelter in Britain. Sunak also wants to deport people who enter the country illegally to Rwanda, though that plan has been stalled by court challenges.

The British government says it is spending about 6 million pounds ($7.6 million) a day on hotel rooms for 51,000 asylum-seekers. The number of people requesting asylum in Britain jumped to more than 167,000 at the end of last year, from about 45,000 in 2018, according to the U.N. refugee agency.

Ultimately the government hopes to house up to 500 adult men on the Bibby Stockholm.

Legionnaires' disease is a serious respiratory infection caused when people inhale tiny water droplets containing the bacteria. It is not transmitted person-to-person but is found in the cooling systems of large buildings and water lines that aren't in regular use. While symptoms are similar to the flu, Legionnaires' disease can be treated with antibiotics.

The finger-pointing surrounding the bacteria is just the latest setback for the plan to move asylum-seekers onto the Bibby Stockholm. Fire officials previously raised concerns about safety precautions on the barge, and migrant rights advocates questioned whether it was appropriate to house people fleeing war and persecution in such cramped conditions.

In a reflection of simmering tensions even among Conservatives, former Home Secretary Priti Patel on Monday accused the government of being "secretive'' and ''evasive'' in its plans to house asylum-seekers at a former Royal Air Force base in Wethersfield, which is near her constituency in eastern England.

In a letter marked ''Urgent'' and addressed to the present Home Secretary Suella Braverman and Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick, Patel laid bare her frustration with the government's failure to provide details about the plan after the Daily Telegraph reported that the former military bases could be used for three to five years, or even longer. Patel said she had asked a series of parliamentary questions but had received no definitive answer."

''They've bypassed the usual planning requirements, claimed the site is temporary for emergency use only and now we see they've been planning to use the site for five years, she wrote on X, the site formerly known as Twitter. This is unacceptable.
Cambodias incoming prime minister, General Hun Manet, had a trial run over the weekend for his most important foreign relationship, hosting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during a visit to Phnom Penh.

Hun Manet assured Wang Yi that Cambodias new government will maintain an unchanged stance on Bejings one-China policy and a non-interference policy toward China, according to a message on the Cambodian leaders Facebook page.

Hun Manet also agreed to join a Belt and Road Initiative forum in China in mid-October, which is likely to be one of his first foreign trips after being sworn in to office later this month. He will join the 20th China-ASEAN exposition in Nanning, the capital of the southern Guangxi region.

Following his visit to Phnom Penh, Wang Yi said the forum would promote Chinas industrial development corridor and fish and rice corridor, as well as enhance Cambodia's capacity for independent development at a faster pace, according to a statement on the Chinese embassys website.

He also thanked Hun Sen for his historic contribution to the China-Cambodia friendship and said Beijing is ready to work with the new Cambodian governmentso that the friendship between the two countries is deeply rooted in people's hearts and passes on from generation to generation.

However, Hun Manet received Beijings highest blessing long before Prime Minister Hun Sen announced last month that his eldest son would succeed him within weeks of Julys national parliamentary election.

In February last year, Hun Sen brought Hun Manet to a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. His excellency the president strongly believes in Hun Manets capacity  to maintain the speed of development for the country, said a senior Cambodian official after the visit.

Cambodia over the past decade has become increasingly reliant on China for its economic growth, and by extension its political stability. At the same time, Cambodia has been a spoiler in regional efforts to counter Chinas rising influence.

No one expects those dynamics to change under Hun Manet, who will have his father watching over him as president of the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP).

However, there is some optimism that the 45-year-old West Point-educated scion will find a way to achieve a greater balance between Beijing and democratic countries  including the United States, Japan, Australia and European Union members  that have funded much of Cambodias recovery after the murderous Khmer Rouge and civil wars that continued until the early 1990s.

People expect this because they know Hun Manet understands the Western perspectives very well given his educational background, said Chhay Lim, a visiting fellow at the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at the Royal University of Phnom Penh.

Chhay Lim said the main question is not whether Cambodia will change its China strategy, but whether Phnom Penh can formulate strategies to engage with Western nations or to cultivate more friendly relations with them for potential economic benefits, given that the U.S. and EU remain its largest export markets.

The ruling partys critics are skeptical that Hun Manet can bring about the type of democratic reforms that would be necessary to improve relations with Western powers. He is taking over following an election in which the main opposition party was barred from participating, amid an ongoing crackdown on all forms of dissent.

The Hun Sen regime is trapped in its authoritarianism. This regime cannot afford any kind of liberalization, because this would lead to the collapse of the regime, Sam Rainsy, the longtime opposition leader currently living in France, told VOA Khmer in a telephone interview on August 7.

I think they are going irreversibly to more and more authoritarianism, he said. And this trend can only be supported by China.

Sam Rainsy said the notion that Western countries can somehow pull Hun Manet or Hun Sen away from China was an illusion, especially while Hun Sen continues to pull the strings.

The 71-year-old prime minister, in power since 1985, said he will remain the president of the ruling party and become president of the Senate and head of King Norodom Sihamonis advisory council  giving him many levers of power despite ceding his premiership.

Astrid Noren-Nilsson, a senior lecturer at the Center for East and South-East Asian Studies at Lund University in Sweden, said Hun Sen would continue to wield immense power in the short-term.

Whether Hun Manet might deviate from his fathers geopolitical path in the long-run remains a complete question mark, she said. But efforts are already underway in Cambodia to court Western countries through a think tank at the Foreign Ministry staffed by Western-educated officials, she added.

Whilst the emphasis of the new government will be on deepening cooperation with China, I think there is an ambition toward diversification and a sort of normalization of relations with the U.S., Noren-Nilsson told VOA Khmer.

The CPP has also spent more than $1 million on high-end lobbyists to burnish Cambodias image in Washington in recent years.

Of particular concern to U.S. policymakers is development at Cambodias main naval base, where U.S. officials say China is secretly building a naval facility for its exclusive use. Both Phnom Penh and Beijing deny the reports.

"It is not targeted at any third party, and will be conducive to even closer practical cooperation between the two militaries, better fulfillment of international obligations and provision of international public goods," Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian said last year.

CPP spokesman Sok Eysan said last week anyone who accuses Cambodia of being biased in favor of China is, in fact, biased against China. And he said Hun Manets geopolitical strategy would become clear with time.

We cant analyze anything yet, he told VOA Khmer by phone. But, he added, whoever is the prime minister has to adhere to CPPs policy unchangeably.
Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov has appealed to international partners to assist in demining Ukrainian territories. The Russian occupiers are rapidly planting explosive objects when retreating, creating obstacles for the Defense Forces, but with the help of allies, they can be overcome.

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The official told about this in a commentary to The Guardian. He noted that sometimes our sappers dig up five mines for every square meter.

Recall that the day before, 133 pyrotechnic calculations worked throughout the country. Most of all - in Kherson, Kharkiv and Donetsk regions. Each specialist was personally thanked by the Ukrainian guarantor Zelensky.

As reported OBOZREVATEL, to date mined about 200 thousand square kilometers of territories, which makes Ukraine the most mined country on the planet. It takes decades to demine them.

Only verified information from us in Telegram-channel Obozrevatel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu is visiting Russia and Belarus in a show of support for those nations which the West has sought to isolate over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Li departed Monday on the six-day trip, during which he will deliver an address at the Moscow Conference on International Security and meet with defense leaders from Russia and other nations, the Defense Ministry said on its social media account, citing spokesperson Col. Wu Qian.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is due to speak at the conference on the topic of the Majority World countries' search for ways to development outside Western mechanisms, including strengthening multilateral associations of a new type, Russia's official TASS news agency reported.

It said representatives from about 100 countries and eight international organizations had been invited to attend.

They would "discuss various aspects of security in the conditions of the establishment of a multipolar world order, ways to restore constructive international cooperation in the context of aggressive claims by Euro-Atlantic elites for world domination, it said, quoting the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson as saying.

Asked about the visit, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin referred to the Defense Ministry statement but added that Chinese and Russian leaders have maintained strategic communication in different ways on various issues.

The two sides had orderly high-level exchanges of views on extensive topics including bilateral cooperation and issues of joint concern, Wang told reporters at a daily briefing.

The two countries will continue to advance the China-Russia comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era, he said. That was an apparent reference to a joint statement issued between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing last year just prior to Russia's February invasion in which they declared a "no-limits friendship."

Xi, meanwhile, visited Moscow in March, sending a message to Western leaders that their efforts to isolate Moscow over the fighting in Ukraine had fallen short.

Li's attendance at the conference further underscores the drive by China and Russia to align their foreign policies in a bid to undermine the Western-led liberal-democratic world order, despite their economic and reputational costs.

That will be followed by a visit to close Russian ally Belarus, whose territory was partly used to stage last years invasion. While there, he will hold meetings and talks with Belarussian state and military leaders and visit military facilities, the ministry said.

China claims to be neutral in the conflict but has accused the U.S. and its allies of provoking Russia and has maintained robust economic, diplomatic and trade ties with Moscow.

China has reliably backed Russia in opposing U.S. condemnation of the Ukraine invasion in international forums but says it wont provide arms to either side in the war.
Russia continues its attacks on Ukraine. One resident shares thier story of the bombardment. Plus, a new poll shows less than half of Americans support additional aid for Ukraine. And, how Russia is rewriting the history of its invasion of Ukraine.
A Georgia prosecutor appears ready to lay her case against former President Donald Trump in front of a grand jury this week. Seven people have been killed by Russian shelling in Ukraine. Could Nigers junta leaders be open to negotiation? Barbie is once again the one to beat in US movie theaters.
Young environmental activists scored what experts described as a ground-breaking legal victory on Monday when a Montana judge said state agencies were violating their constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment by allowing fossil fuel development.

The ruling in this first-of-its-kind trial in the U.S. adds to a small number of legal decisions around the world that have established a government duty to protect citizens from climate change.

If it stands, the ruling could set an important legal precedent, though experts said the immediate impacts are limited and state officials pledged to seek to overturn the decision on appeal.

District Court Judge Kathy Seeley found the policy the state uses in evaluating requests for fossil fuel permits, which does not allow agencies to look at greenhouse gas emissions, is unconstitutional.

It marks the first time a U.S. court has ruled against a government for violating a constitutional right based on climate change, said Harvard Law School Professor Richard Lazarus.

"To be sure, it is a state court not a federal court and the ruling is based on a state constitution and not the U.S. Constitution, but it is still clearly a major, pathbreaking win for climate plaintiffs," Lazarus wrote in an email.

The judge rejected the state's argument that Montana's emissions are insignificant, saying they were "a substantial factor" in climate change. Montana is a major producer of coal burned for electricity and has large oil and gas reserves.

"Every additional ton of GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions exacerbates plaintiffs' injuries and risks locking in irreversible climate injuries," Seeley wrote.

However, it's up to the Montana Legislature to determine how to bring the state's policies into compliance. That leaves slim chances for prompt changes in a fossil fuel-friendly state where Republicans dominate the statehouse.

Only a few states, including Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New York, have constitutions with similar environmental protections.

State officials had tried to derail the case and prevent it from going to trial through numerous motions to dismiss the lawsuit.

Claire Vlases was 17 when she became a plaintiff in the case. Now 20 and working as a ski instructor, she said climate change hangs over every aspect of her life.

"I think a lot of young people feel really helpless, especially when it comes to the future," Vlases said, adding that she expects Montana lawmakers to respect the state's constitution and abide by the court's decision.

"Hopefully this is one for history," she said.

Emily Flower, spokesperson for Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, called the ruling absurd and said the office planned to appeal. She criticized Seeley for allowing the plaintiffs to put on what Flower called a "taxpayer-funded publicity stunt."

"Montanans can't be blamed for changing the climate," she said. "Their same legal theory has been thrown out of federal court and courts in more than a dozen states. It should have been here as well."

Attorneys for the 16 plaintiffs, ranging in age from 5 to 22, presented evidence during the two-week trial that increasing carbon dioxide emissions are driving hotter temperatures, more drought and wildfires and decreased snowpack.

The plaintiffs said those changes were harming their mental and physical health, with wildfire smoke choking the air they breathe and drought drying out rivers that sustain agriculture, fish, wildlife and recreation. Native Americans testifying for the plaintiffs said climate change affects their ceremonies and traditional food sources.

The state argued that even if Montana completely stopped producing C02, it would have no effect on a global scale because states and countries around the world contribute to the amount of C02 in the atmosphere. A remedy has to offer relief, the state said, or it's not a remedy at all.

Seeley said the state's attorneys failed to give a compelling reason for why they were not evaluating greenhouse gas emissions. She noted that renewable power is "technically feasible and economically beneficial," citing testimony from the trial indicating Montana could replace 80% of existing fossil fuel energy by 2030.

Since its founding, Our Children's Trust has raised more than $20 million to press its lawsuits in state and federal court. No previous attempts reached trial.
The governor of the U.S. state of Hawaii said many more people could be found dead following wildfires on the island of Maui as the death toll climbs toward 100.

Governor Josh Green told CBS Mornings in a recorded interview broadcast Monday, We are prepared for many tragic stories."

He said search crews are going street by street through the devastated town of Lahaina and said they will likely find 10 to 20 bodies per day. Green said the search will probably take 10 days but said it is impossible to guess, really.

Green said the number of missing people has dropped from over 2,000 to about 1,300 as cellphone service has gradually been restored, and people have been able to contact their loved ones.

Maui County officials said late Sunday that multiple fire crews are working to address any remaining flare-ups in the fire that began August 8. The fire was estimated to have burned more than 850 hectares.

The death toll from the blaze stands at 96, making it the deadliest fire in the United States in the last 100 years. The toll has surpassed the 2018 Camp Fire in California, which destroyed the town of Paradise and killed at least 85 people.

Officials say the Maui fire raced as fast as a kilometer a minute across Lahaina and destroyed most of the buildings in the town of 13,000.

Search teams have used cadaver dogs to locate bodies in the towns ruins. However, Maui County Police Chief John Pelletier said Saturday that search crews had only covered 3% of the search area.

The Pacific Disaster Center and Maui County Emergency Management Agency estimated that 4,500 people were in need of shelter and that the estimated cost of rebuilding from the fire was more than $5.5 billion.

The fire has raised questions about how prepared Hawaii was to battle the threat of wildfires. Residents say sirens stationed around the island  which are meant to warn people of impending disasters  never sounded. Officials have vowed to investigate the cause of the fires and the response of state and local officials.

Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse.
For the team aboard the Okeanos Explorer off the coast of Alaska, exploring the mounds and craters of the sea floor along the Aleutian Islands is a chance to surface new knowledge about life in some of the world's deepest and most remote waters.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research vessel is on a five-month mission aboard a reconfigured former Navy vessel run by civilians and members of the NOAA Corps. The ship, with a 48-member crew, is outfitted with technology and tools to peer deep into the ocean to gather data to share with onshore researchers in real time. The hope is that this data will then be used to drive future research.

"It's so exciting to go down there and see that it's actually teeming with life," said expedition coordinator Shannon Hoy. "You would never know that unless we were able to go down there and explore."

Using a variety of sonars and two remotely operated vehicles  Deep Discoverer and Serios  researchers aboard the ship are mapping and collecting samples from areas along the Aleutian Trench and the Gulf of Alaska. High-resolution cameras that can operate at depths of up to 6,000 meters (19,685 feet) allow researchers to document and immediately share their findings. The ship can also livestream dives to the public.

Many factors, such as depth, speed and sonar capability, influence how much sea floor can be mapped. In 2 to 4 weeks, the Okeanos Explorer can map as much as 50,000 square kilometers (31,069 square miles), Hoy said.

During these dives, Hoy said the team plans to investigate some of the area's cold seep communities  places where gases from under the sea floor rise through cracks and where plants don't rely on photosynthesis for food production.

"We're also going to be looking through the water column to see what interesting animals and fauna that we can see there," she said.

Kasey Cantwell, the ship's operations chief, said the data will help researchers and the public better understand these remote stretches of ocean, including marine life and habitats in the area. That could inform management decisions in fisheries. Data could also help detect hazards and improve nautical charts.

"It's really hard to care for things you don't understand, to love things you don't understand," Cantwell said.

The deep ocean off Alaska's Aleutian Islands is one of the least mapped places in the U.S., partly due to its remoteness. Modern mapping standards have covered just 34% of the sea floor around Alaska, which has one of the nation's largest coastal ecosystems, and only a fraction of that has been seen, according to the expedition's website.

Closing these gaps is a mission priority and will help meet a goal of mapping all the United States' deep waters by 2030 and near-shore waters by 2040, according to Emily Crum, a communications specialist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

But the data collection process is laborious.

Thomas Morrow, a physical scientist on the ship, likened the effort to "walking the length of several city blocks in complete darkness with a tiny flashlight."

Nevertheless, all these small looks add up to a better understanding of what lies in the deepest parts of the sea.

In the expedition's first two months, researchers recorded methane seeps and saw a Brisingid sea star at a depth of 2,803 meters (9,200 feet) that had not been documented in the Aleutians before. At least two potential new species have also been discovered.

Earlier this year while on an expedition off the coast of Washington state, researchers aboard the ship documented a jellyfish floating in the deep, and soon had a call from an excited scientist who told them the jellyfish was behaving in ways not seen before.

"The feeling of wonder that sometimes happens in that control room is so palpable," he said.
Anwaarul Haq Kakar is Pakistans new caretaker prime minister.

He was sworn in Monday by President Arif Alvi in Islamabad in a ceremony at the presidential palace, attended by outgoing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Sharif and opposition leader Raja Riaz Ahmad agreed on Alvis installment after talks Saturday.

Kakars resignation from the Senate was accepted Monday, ahead of his swearing-in.

The interim prime minister is a 52-year-old ethnic Pashtun from Balochistan. He is a member of the Balochistan Awami Party.

In the caretaker position, he is responsible for ensuring that the coming elections are free and fair. Kakar also decided that he needed to resign from his party, which he founded, to maintain neutrality in the elections.

Outgoing Prime Minister Shehbaz said Kakar was the most suitable person for the caretaker role.
Polish authorities arrested two Russians and charged them with espionage for allegedly distributing propaganda material on behalf of Russias Wagner mercenary group.

Poland's Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski said Monday on social media that the countrys internal security service and police arrested the Russians, and that the accused had distributed the materials in the cities of Krakow and Warsaw.

Polish authorities said the Russians distributed about 300 leaflets with links to Wagner recruitment websites and were in possession of 3,000 pro-Wagner items.

The Russians were identified only as Aleksiej T. and Andriej G., and were due to receive up to $5,000 for their activities, authorities said.

Poland has said it will deploy 10,000 troops to the area along its border with Belarus amid concerns about the presence of Wagner fighters training in Belarus.

Some information for this story came from Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Pakistani authorities are investigating the shooting death Sunday of a prominent local journalist in the southern Sindh province.

Jan Mohammad Mahar, bureau chief of the Sindhi-language cable television network KTN News, was shot at least four times at close range by unidentified assailants, according to local reports.

He was attacked as he drove through a busy commercial area in the city of Sukkur on his way home from work. Mahar, who was in his 40s, was taken to a hospital where he died.

As of Monday, Mahars family had not filed a police report, although a person familiar with the case told VOA that a few suspects were already being investigated. So far, no clear motive has emerged, the source said on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to the media.

VOA called police officials involved in the investigation but received no response.

Global press freedom watchdogs consider Pakistan unsafe for journalists. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, at least 97 media workers and journalists have been killed in the country since 1992, with many targeted for their work. The rate of conviction, however, is almost negligible.

Kiran Mirza, a member of the Sukkur Press Club, told VOA that a senior police officer who visited the hospital that treated Mahar told journalists that in a recent meeting, Mahar did not mention he was facing any threats.

Mirza said her colleagues were "extremely angry and sad" over the incident.

The Sukkur Press Club has called on media groups from across the province to protest in front of the police superintendent's office Tuesday morning if culprits are not arrested by then.

Mahars killing comes a week after unknown assailants shot and killed another journalist, Ghulam Asghar Khand, near his home in the town of Ahmedpur in Sindh.

Freedom Network, a Pakistan-based media watchdog, recorded at least 140 cases of threats and attacks against journalists, media professionals and media organizations between May 2022 and March 2023.
Ukrainian officials said Monday a Russian aerial attack on the southern port city of Odesa injured at least three people.

The military said air defenses downed all 15 drones Russia used in the attack, as well as eight sea-based missiles, but that falling debris caused damage on the ground.

Three people were injured after debris fell on a supermarket, and a student dormitory was also damaged.

Firefighters battled several fires that broke out as a result of the falling rocket fragments, the regional governor, Oleh Kiper, said on Telegram.

Russian shelling Sunday killed at least seven people, including a 23-day-old girl, and injured at least 22 others in Ukraines Kherson region.

"Her brother, who was only 12 years old, was taken to the hospital. Unfortunately, they could not save him. He died from severe wounds. The children's mother, her name was Olesia, she was only 39 years old, died. My condolences," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address.
Ukrainian defense forces continue to advance on the Tauride direction on the front. Ukrainian defenders continue to inflict losses on the occupying Russian army.

ADVERTISIMENT

On Sunday, August 13, an ammunition depot and a command and observation post of the enemy were destroyed. This was reported by the commander of the operational-strategic grouping of troops "Tavria" Brigadier General Oleksandr Tarnavsky on his channel in Telegram.

Over the past day the losses of the occupants killed, wounded and prisoners amounted to 269 people (dead - 81, wounded - 176, prisoners - 12).

Also from the army of the aggressor country was "minus" 15 units of military equipment:

- one tank;

- two armored vehicles;

- three artillery systems and mortars;

- 9 units of automotive and 1 unit of special equipment.

ADVERTISIMENT

According to Tarnavskiy, artillery units of the Tauride direction Defense Forces performed 1,630 firing tasks during the day.

"The Ukrainian Defense Forces are working and going forward. Glory to Ukraine!" - the message reads.

The General Staff of the AFU reported on the evening of August 13 that 24 combat clashes of the Defense Forces with Russian occupation troops took place on the front over the past 24 hours. Our defenders continue to hold back the offensive of Russian troops near Avdiivka and Maryinka in the Donetsk region, and also repelled enemy attacks in the Kupyansk, Shakhtarsk, Bakhmut and Zaporizhzhya directions.

ADVERTISIMENT

As reported by OBOZREVATEL, the Defense Forces from August 7 to 12 inflicted significant losses to the occupants not only in manpower, but also in equipment. The armament of the Russian army was reduced by two helicopters, 78 drones, 61 tanks, 73 TBMs and other equipment.

Only verified information from us in Telegram-channel Obozrevatel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
In a rare televised speech Monday, the head of Sudan's military accused the rival paramilitary force of committing war crimes as all-out civil war threatens to engulf the northeast African country.

Sudan was plunged into chaos in April when months of simmering tensions between the military, led by Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces, commanded by Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, exploded into open fighting in Khartoum and elsewhere.

In a speech broadcast on Sudan TV, Burhan accused the RSF and Dagalo of committing violations under the falsehood of promising to restore democracy.

"How can you bring about democracy by committing war crimes?" he said, in a speech celebrating Sudan's annual armed forces day.

Earlier this month, rights organization Amnesty International accused both sides of committing extensive war crimes, including deliberate killings of civilians and mass sexual assault. In its 56-page report, the group said almost all rape cases were blamed on the RSF and its allied Arab militias.

In Darfur, the scene of genocidal war in the early 2000s, the conflict has morphed into ethnic violence, with the RSF and allied Arab militias targeting African communities in the western region, U.N. officials say.

Last week the violence intensified in South Darfur province, killing dozens. The Darfur Bar Association, a Sudanese legal group focusing on human rights in the western Darfur region, said at least five civilians died in crossfire during intense clashes between the military and the RSF in Nyala, South Darfur's capital, on Friday.

Some 50 kilometers (30 miles) west of Nyala, Arab tribesmen in RSF vehicles raided the Kubum area of South Darfur last week, burning down the local market and sacking a police station, the legal group said in a separate statement. At least 24 people were killed in the attack, it said.

Last month, Karim Khan, a prosecutor from the International Criminal Court, told the United Nations that he would be investigating alleged new war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur.

The nearly four-month conflict has also reduced the capital, Khartoum, to an urban battlefield. Across the city, RSF forces have commandeered homes and turned them into operational bases, residents and physician groups say. The army, in turn, has struck residential areas from the air and with artillery fire. Over 2.15 million people have since fled Khartoum state, according to U.N. data.

The country's health minister, Haitham Mohammed Ibrahim, said in June that the conflict has killed upward of 3,000 people but there has been no update since. The true tally is likely far higher, say local doctors and activists.

Meanwhile, Meta, Facebook's parent company, confirmed to The Associated Press that it had suspended the RSF's account and the account belonging to Dagalo. Meta told the AP in an email that the group had violated its Dangerous Organizations and Individuals policy but did not provide any further details.

On its website, Meta says the policy aims to clamp down on "organizations or individuals that proclaim a violent mission or are engaged in violence."

In a statement sent to the AP on Monday, the RSF said the closure of the accounts infringes on the public right to impartial information.

"The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) are allowed to disseminate graphic violence on their page while the RSF's call for democracy and freedom is silenced,'' the paramilitary said.

As of Monday, the paramilitary and Dagalo still had active accounts on X, the platform previously known as Twitter.
Taiwan Vice President William Lai says the self-ruled island will not be intimidated by threats from mainland China.

Lai made the comments at a luncheon Sunday in New York City, a day after arriving on a stopover on his way to Paraguay to attend the inauguration of the South American countrys new president.

He told supporters that "once again at this time and place, that no matter how great the threat of authoritarianism is to Taiwan, we absolutely will not be scared nor cower, we will uphold the values of democracy and freedom."

Lai, a Harvard-educated doctor turned politician is the front-runner in Taiwans upcoming presidential elections.

He has previously described himself as a "practical worker for Taiwan independence," but on the campaign trail he has stressed that he is not seeking to change the current situation. He has also expressed willingness to be friends with China.

China claims Taiwan as part of its national territory, although the island has been self-ruled since it split from the communist-ruled mainland in 1949 after a long civil war. Beijing has vowed to annex the island by any means necessary, including a military invasion.

The Chinese foreign affairs ministry issued a statement Sunday denounced Lai as a "troublemaker through and through" who "clings stubbornly to the separatist position for 'Taiwan independence.'"

The ministry also said China "deplores and strongly condemns the U.S. decision to arrange the so-called stopover," adding that Beijing firmly opposes "the U.S. government having any form of official contact with the Taiwan region."

The ministry warned that it could take "resolute and strong measures" in response to the visit.

China has deployed 79 military aircraft and 23 naval vessels to areas near Taiwan since Sunday, according to Taiwan's National Defense Ministry. Among them, 25 military craft have crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait or intruded Taiwan's southwestern and southeastern air defense identification zone.

During the past year, China staged two large-scale military exercises around Taiwan in response to visits, once after then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei last August and again in April when Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen met with current House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California.

Following Tsai's stopover in California and meeting with McCarthy and other U.S. lawmakers, Beijing staged a multiday, blockade-style military exercise around Taiwan.

Lai made similar transit stops in the U.S. in January 2022 as part of his trip to Honduras. During those stopovers, he conducted online meetings with former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Tammy Duckworth and met with members of the Taiwanese community.

Laura Rosenberger, the chair of the American Institute in Taiwan  a U.S. government-run nonprofit that manages unofficial relations with Taiwan  confirmed on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that she would be meeting with Lai when he transits back through San Francisco Wednesday before returning to Taiwan.

Taiwanese presidential candidates have visited the U.S. during election campaigns in the past, but experts say Lais role as Taiwans sitting vice president will make Washington handle his transit more carefully because it does not want to be perceived as endorsing Lai.

"The U.S. can neither treat Lai too well nor too badly, so letting him transit through New York and San Francisco is a compromise in my opinion," Chen Fang-yu, a political scientist at Soochow University in Taiwan, told VOA.

Chen added that at a time when Washington hopes to have more military and diplomatic engagement with China, with Washington inviting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to visit Washington next month, it will try to make Lais stopovers "less formal" to avoid triggering any overreaction from Beijing.

Some information in this report came from Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump was on the attack Monday, assailing a Georgia prosecutor presenting evidence against him to a grand jury about his efforts to overturn his 2020 reelection loss in the southern state while at the same time taunting the judge in Washington overseeing the federal election interference case he is facing.

After a 2 -year investigation, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis started calling witnesses before a grand jury Monday in Atlanta to hear evidence of how Trump allegedly illegally attempted to upend his narrow loss to Democrat Joe Biden in Georgia, a pivotal battleground election state.

On his Truth Social media site Monday, Trump said in all caps, "Would someone please tell the Fulton County grand jury that I did not tamper with the election. The people that tampered with it were the ones that rigged it, and sadly, phoney [sic] Fani Willis, who has shockingly allowed Atlanta to become one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the world, has no interest in seeing the massive amount of evidence available, or finding out who these people that committed this crime are."

"She only wants to 'get Trump,'" he wrote. Trump said he would "be happy" to give evidence to the grand jury, although in months of criminal investigations targeting him, he has turned down all offers to testify.

Willis has focused her investigation on Trump and a dozen or more of his political allies and could indict them this week on charges of attempting to interfere with the election outcome. The case against Trump in the state stems broadly from his taped phone call in early 2021 to state election officials soliciting them to "find" him 11,780 votes, one more than Biden's margin of victory.

It was the first time a Republican presidential candidate had lost the state since 1992. Georgia was one of several states where Trump narrowly lost and unsuccessfully sought to reverse the result, even as dozens of judges ruled against his election fraud claims.

To this day, he falsely contends that election irregularities cost him another term in the White House, though he leads the contest among Republican voters for the party's 2024 presidential nomination by a wide margin.

Trump also attacked Georgia's former Republican Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan, who said over the weekend that he had been summoned to testify before the grand jury Tuesday. He also had rebuffed Trump's efforts to help overturn his loss in the state. Trump, while misspelling Duncan's name, called him "a nasty disaster for those looking into the election fraud that took place in Georgia."

In the Washington case, Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith has accused Trump in a four-count indictment of scheming with six unnamed co-conspirators to illegally upend his national reelection loss.

The jurist randomly assigned to oversee the case, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, warned Trump last Friday to refrain from "inflammatory" attacks against people involved in the case, mainly to prevent intimidation of witnesses or influence possible jurors.

Trump assailed her early Monday on Truth Social, calling her "highly partisan" and "very biased and unfair."

"She obviously wants me behind bars," Trump wrote.

He cited a statement Chutkan made as she sentenced a woman who participated in the mob of Trump supporters that breached the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, seeking to block Congress from certifying that Biden had won the November 2020 election.

As Chutkan sentenced Christine Priola of the Midwestern state of Ohio to 15 months in prison, the judge said, "I see the videotapes. I see the footage of the flags and the signs that people were carrying and the hats that they were wearing, and the garb."

"And the people who mobbed that Capitol were there in fealty, in loyalty to one man, not to the Constitution, of which most of the people who come before me seem woefully ignorant; not to the ideals of this county and not to the principles of democracy," the judge said. "It's blind loyalty to one person who, by the way, remains free to this day."

Chutkan warned Trump's lawyers at the Friday hearing that his defense should be mounted in the courtroom and "not on the internet," although it was unclear what action, if any, she might take against him for his Truth Social comment about her.

Aside from the investigation in Georgia and the election interference case in Washington, Trump is facing two other indictments. Smith accused him in Florida of illegally hoarding highly classified national security documents as he left the White House in early 2021, while a New York state prosecutor has indicted Trump on charges of altering business records to hide a hush money payment to a porn film star ahead of his successful 2016 run for the presidency.

He has denied wrongdoing in all four cases.
The U.N. peacekeeping mission in Mali said Sunday it had brought forward its withdrawal from a base in the north of the country due to deteriorating security conditions.

During the operation, three of its soldiers were wounded when they came under fire, the force added a few hours later.

The MINUSMA force's departure from Ber comes after the Malian army said Saturday that six soldiers died and 24 fighters from "armed terrorist groups" were killed in a skirmish in the area Friday.

Former rebels from the Tuareg ethnic group also said the army and the Russian mercenary group Wagner had attacked their forces Friday in Ber.

"MINUSMA has expedited its withdrawal from #Ber due to the deteriorating security situation in the area & the high risks posed to our #BlueHelmets," the force said Sunday on Twitter, recently rebranded as "X."

"It urges all concerned parties to refrain from any actions that could further complicate the operation."

The number of troops involved or details on the original departure date were not specified.

In a message posted later Sunday, the force added: "The MINUSMA convoy that withdrew from #Ber today was attacked twice," adding that three wounded peacekeepers had been evacuated to Timbuktu for treatment.

Attacks against peacekeepers can constitute war crimes under international law, the statement added.

Numerous incidents

Mali's army in a statement issued Sunday evening, said it had taken possession of the Ber camp "after numerous incidents had marred the movement of our units."

Army troops were targeted with sporadic fire as they advanced Sunday toward Ber, the statement said, without identifying the assailants.

The army also reported earlier incidents, while it was on the way to Ber.

It said armed "terrorist" groups had staged "an attempted incursion into the camp and harassing fire" against its troops, as well as other clashes, which left a total of six soldiers dead and four wounded, according to a military press release.

For several days now, the Ber area has been the scene of tensions between the army and the Russian Wagner paramilitary group against the CMA, an alliance of Tuareg-dominated groups seeking autonomy or independence from the Malian state and which controls vast areas of the north.

A CMA official, commenting on social media Sunday, had called for MINUSMA to "simply leave" Ber and not hand the camp over to the army.

The junta, which has ruled Mali since 2020 had pushed the U.N. Security Council in June to withdraw MINUSMA by the end of the year.

The U.N. Security Council in June decided to do so, and the first departures happened early this month from the central Ogossagou base.

Increasing tensions

The MINUSMA mission, which had some 11,600 troops and 1,500 police officers in the country, began in 2013 after separatist and jihadi rebellions broke out in northern Mali the previous year.

Its impending withdrawal from all of Mali has exacerbated tensions between the junta and the CMA ex-rebels.

CMA said Saturday that the Malian army was "determined to occupy MINUSMA's holdings at all costs, including those in areas under CMA control," in violation of a 2015 peace deal.

On Thursday, the former rebels announced the departure of all their representatives from the capital Bamako for "security" reasons, further widening the gap with the junta.

The CMA also criticizes the military for having approved a new constitution in June, which it says compromises the peace agreement.

Mali's junta has fallen out with former colonial power France and turned to Russia for political and military support.

The deep security crisis that has engulfed northern Mali since 2012 has spread to the center of the country as well as neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger.
The United States announced Monday a new security assistance package valued at $200 million for Ukraine. U.S. officials say its the first installment of a $6.2 billion aid package previously authorized under presidential drawdown authority guaranteeing the speedy delivery of existing Pentagon stockpiles to Ukraine.

The aid includes air defense munitions, artillery rounds, anti-armor capabilities, and additional mine-clearing equipment, said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who plays a central role in coordinating drawdowns, said in a statement.

Two U.S. officials told the Reuters news agency last Monday that the U.S. government would commit the $6.2 billion in funds to Ukraine after discovering a Pentagon accounting error that had overvalued billions of dollars of aid.

In May, the Pentagon said it had mistakenly overvalued U.S. weaponry shipped to Kyiv by inputting replacement value" instead of "depreciated value" to calculate the billions' worth of ammunition, missiles and other equipment it sent to Ukraine. The accounting error works to Kyiv's benefit because more equipment can be sent.

Washington is currently working on a supplemental budget request to continue aid to Kyiv, the U.S. officials said.

Every day, Russia is killing Ukrainian civilians and destroying civil infrastructure, while also weaponizing hunger and contributing to global food insecurity through its destruction of Ukraines civilian ports and grain infrastructure, Blinken said in his statement.

Russia started this war and could end it at any time by withdrawing its forces from Ukraine and stopping its brutal attacks. Until it does, the United States and our allies and partners will stand united with Ukraine, for as long as it takes, he added.

Ukrainian officials said Monday a Russian aerial attack on the southern port city of Odesa injured at least three people.

The military also said air defenses downed all 15 drones Russia used in the attack, as well as eight sea-based missiles, but that falling debris caused damage on the ground.

Firefighters battled several fires that broke out as a result of the falling rocket fragments, the regional governor, Oleh Kiper, said on Telegram.

Watch related video by Heather Murdock from Odesa:

Russian shelling Sunday killed at least seven people, including a 23-day-old girl, and injured at least 22 others in Ukraines Kherson region.

Her brother, who was only 12 years old, was taken to the hospital. Unfortunately, they could not save him. He died from severe wounds. The children's mother, her name was Olesia, she was only 39 years old, died. My condolences, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address.

Black Sea

Black Sea ports are trying to clear a backlog of cargo vessels around the waterway. Dozens of ships dropped anchor in various Black Sea ports after Russias navy fired warning shots Sunday at a Palau-flagged cargo vessel headed to the Ukrainian port of Izmail.

There is growing unease among insurers and shipping companies. They fear that war premiums could rise to cover the heightened risk of ships becoming damaged or sinking in the area.

The cost of a Black Sea war risk premium, which is typically renewed every seven days and is in addition to annual insurance expenses, was estimated at tens of thousands of dollars per ship for the voyage.

"The security guarantees given to shipping by both sides under the BSGI (Black Sea Grain Initiative) are no longer in effect, which means that the Ukrainian Black Sea ports are effectively blockaded and out of use for commercial vessels," Norwegian ship insurer Gard said in an advisory note last week. It added that Ukrainian sea ports in the northwestern area were no longer categorized as "safe" ports contractually.

Ukraines foreign ministry on Monday condemned what it called gross violations of international law by Russias navy after the warning shots were fired.

A Ukrainian foreign ministry statement called on the international community to take decisive action to prevent Russian Federations actions that impede the peaceful passage of vessels through the Black Sea.

Ukraine also urged its partners to strengthen their efforts to preserve the functioning of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which is crucial to ensuring global food security.

In July, Russia withdrew from the Black Sea grain agreement, which had allowed shipments to sail safely across the waterway.

The Russian defense ministry said Sunday the shots were fired because the captain of the Sukru Okan had ignored demands from the warship to stop. After firing the shots, Russian military troops descended from a helicopter onto the cargo ship.

After Russian forces inspected the Sukru Okan, the vessel was allowed to proceed to Izmail, the defense ministry said. Izmail is the main export route for Ukrainian agricultural products.

China-Russia

Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu is visiting Russia and Belarus in a show of support for those nations which the West has sought to isolate over Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Li Monday began the six-day trip. He is scheduled to deliver an address at the Moscow Conference on International Security and meet with defense leaders from Russia and other nations, the defense ministry said on its social media account, citing spokesperson Col. Wu Qian.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will deliver remarks on the topic of the Majority World countries' search for ways to development outside Western mechanisms, including strengthening multilateral associations of a new type, Russia's official TASS news agency reported.

It said representatives from about 100 countries and eight international organizations had been invited to attend.

Some information in this report came from Reuters, The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse.
The U.S. military has confirmed that four Russian military aircraft were tracked operating near the U.S. state of Alaska late Sunday and early Monday.

North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said that it had detected and tracked the aircraft operating in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).

The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace. This Russian activity in the Alaska ADIZ occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat, NORAD said in a statement Monday.

The ADIZ is international airspace directly next to sovereign airspace that requires the ready identification, location and control of all aircraft in the interest of national security, according to NORAD.

NORAD remains ready to employ a number of response options in defense of North America, the command said.

Also Monday, Britains Royal Air Force says it scrambled fighter jets to intercept two Russian bombers as they passed north of the United Kingdom.

Pilots launched in their Typhoon jets to intercept two Russian long-range bombers this morning, monitoring them as they passed north of the Shetland Islands, ready to counter any potential threat to U.K. territory, said Armed Forces Minister James Heappey.

A NORAD spokesperson told VOA that his office had not been told anything at this time that would connect the Russian bomber flights Monday near the United Kingdom to the Russian military flights near the U.S. state of Alaska.

The U.S. military has confirmed multiple Russian military aircraft operations in the ADIZ this year.

In May, U.S. F-16 and F-22 fighter jets intercepted six Russian aircraft, including TU-95 bombers, SU-35 fighter jets and IL-78 tanker aircraft that had entered the Alaska ADIZ. Less than a week later, NORAD tracked another Russian military aircraft operating in the ADIZ.

NORAD said earlier that these Russian aircraft did not enter U.S. or Canadian sovereign airspace.

The May flights occurred as several planned large-scale military training exercises were underway in and around Alaska.
Millions of Zimbabweans will head to the polls next week.

Some, like Tinotenda Mandizha - who is 25 and unemployed - will vote for the very first time.

He belongs to a vast generation of young Zimbabweans that have only ever known economic chaos, rocketing prices and a country on the brink of infrastructural collapse.

Although a dozen candidates are vying for the presidential spot, the main contest is between incumbent Emmerson Mnangagwa of the longtime ruling ZANU-PF party, and Nelson Chamisa, of the new Citizens Coalition for Change.

Theyre going all out to woo younger voters: blasting out hugely popular dancehall music at campaign rallies, posting social media videos of pop stars and sporting heroes, and fielding younger candidates in parliamentary and council contests.

All in an effort to win over a generation of voters who were just children when long-time ruler Robert Mugabe was ousted six years ago.

But Tinotenda, who eeks out a living selling his mothers handmade wares isnt convinced change will happen.

"I am appealing with the authorities to hear our cries and address our concerns. Our cries are not being heard as young people, we do not have jobs.

Three quarters of the countrys population is under 34.

And one-sixth of the registered electorate are first time voters.

Elections watchdog officer Brighton Tamberekera believes their vote will determine the outcome - provided its free and fair.

What we know is that in the voters roll, we have about 1 million voters who are going to vote for the first time"

We are talking of 1 million voters who will be ushered in a closely contested election, so, there is high probability that this election will be decided by the first time voters.

Incumbent Mnangagwa has promised to extend economic opportunities to the youth in sectors such as agriculture and mining.

While Chamisa has promised to create youth jobs youth by boosting the informal sector.
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Against a backdrop of economic chaos, Zimbabwe heads to the polls on August 23. Presidential hopefuls are going all out, vying for the attention of the countrys youth. Rachel Judah has more.
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Photo: Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock for SAG-AFTRA

Welcome to Vultures Strike Recap, or Strike-cap, if you will, a regular rundown of all the biggest news from the WGA and SAG picket lines.

Last Wednesday, August 9, was Day 100 of the 2023 writers strike. As WGA board member Deric A. Hughes pointed out, the last strike in 20078 ended on Day 100. A big point of contention in that strike was streaming residuals, much like AI is in this one. And what happened? The day after the strike ended, Hulu launched, he said on Day 1 of the SAG strike. People are sharing their feelings, both serious and joking, about yet again finding oneself in historic times.

I could easily handle striking for another 100 days but I cant deal with my father asking if theres any news three times per week.  John Levenstein (@johnlevenstein) August 10, 2023

There has been some movement on the strike-ending front. After last weeks meeting to talk about meeting to talk, the AMPTP and WGA actually met and talked on Friday, August 11. We will evaluate their offer and, after deliberation, go back to them with the WGAs response next week, the WGA told members in an email that day. In the meantime, weve got a contrite star of Heels on the picket line, a real wrestler trying to turn face, and the return of Lil Sebastian  from the grave and to the front lines of the strike.

Stephen Amell Joined the Picket Line

You know, after his anti-picket comments seemingly spurred Arrow cast members to reunite? Amell looked contrite on the line and issued a statement explaining that he supports his union. Someone explained to him that striking is a negotiation tactic and not a breakdown in negotiations.

CM Punk Wore a Shirt

CM Punk is a character played by actor Phil Brooks, known for his work on Heels and Mayans M.C. On August 13, Brooks wore his SAG-AFTRA on Strike! shirt for his live appearance on AEWs Collision as the wrestler CM Punk. This is weird for a litany of reasons: One, CM Punks first promo upon his return to AEWs ring was all about how David Zaslav is his friend who calls him One Bil Phil (as in, he generates a lot of money), and Collision itself is a show Zaslav asked AEW to add to its schedule ahead of the strikes, potentially because wrestling is, quite famously, a very non-union enterprise. This brings us to reason two that its weird: Highlighting that you are in a union that is on strike while continuing to work as the star of a major company with workers who dont enjoy the same union protections is certainly a choice. And finally, CM Punk is kind of a heel now, and he gets booed at every show that isnt in his hometown of Chicago. Sometimes he plays into being a villain (see: friends with David Zaslav) and other times he doesnt, so its very hard to know if wearing the shirt was a troll or an attempt to genuinely show support.

CM Punk is wearing a 'SAG-AFTRA on Strike' t-shirt on #AEWCollision tonight. pic.twitter.com/hgmC1SUZ85  Denise 'Hollywood' Salcedo (@_denisesalcedo) August 13, 2023

(Most of) Parks and Rec Reunited to Strike

Another week, another big cast reunion on the picket line. This time, it was a good chunk of Parks and Recreation. Missing from the pics were Amy Poehler, Chris Pratt, and Aziz Ansari. Pratt posted pics from the reunion and captioned them in solidarity. Ansaris movie Good Fortune was shut down by a WGA picket in May.

PARKS AND REC REUNION AT THE STRIKE!! MY FAMILY!! #WGASTRONG pic.twitter.com/UwMOMaOks0  eli (@clairesjam) August 11, 2023

Enough of This Horseshit

The WGA may have been striking for 100-plus days, but the Buena Park Medieval Times has been on strike for six months. The workers at Medieval Times arent just striking for themselves; theyre concerned with how the company treats their horses. Horses also showed up at the SAG-AFTRA strike this week. And Lil Sebastian, as previously discussed, was back from the dead to show up for his human pals. Huzzah for cross-species solidarity. Huzzah!

A Different Kind of K-drama

Netflix is refusing to meet with the Korea Broadcasting Actors Union, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. Netflix says its following all local laws and regulations because its a streaming service  and not a broadcaster. Other streamers, however, have met with the union. One of the talking points surrounding this strike was the notion that Netflix would fare better because it has an international library from which to pull. But now it looks like that international library may have labor issues of its own to address.

Sounds like #Netflix is about to have the entire world striking against it.

South Korean actors in Netflix originals want better pay. The company refuses to meet with their union https://t.co/V24zOYdKKJ  Gary Scott Thompson (@GarySThompson) August 7, 2023

What Is Scabbing?

Jeopardy! is continuing to film despite its writers being on strike. Players from past seasons are being asked to return, and the show will use answers banked by WGA writers pre-strike as well as ones from past seasons. Polygon reported on the players who are now facing an impossible decision about whether or not to return to the show and cross a picket line. James Holzhauer also tweeted his frustration with the upcoming season.

If you dont have time to listen, heres the executive summary of todays announcement:



1:00-2:00: Jeopardys writers are invaluable and we couldnt produce the show without them

2:00-15:00: Here is how we will produce the upcoming season without themhttps://t.co/w6XzbTXutV  James Holzhauer (@James_Holzhauer) August 7, 2023

Picket Signs, Picket Fits, Picket Beats

Mad Men quotes! Those meme boots! And a DJ for Day 100!

Never thought wed have to go 100 days, let alone that the picket lines would be a double strike solidarity fest with taco trucks and DJs well after the point the studios expected us to pack up and cave pic.twitter.com/xpEAS6YkVb  Tyler Ruggeri (@t_ruggeri) August 8, 2023

Do you have a story tip or interesting writers strike update to share? Drop us a line at tips@vulture.com.

A previous version of this article cited CBS Newss report that the current strike is the longest in WGA history. The longest WGA strike to date remains the 1988 strike, which lasted 153 days.
The mobilised Russian occupiers complain about the attitude of the command to them as cannon fodder. The Russian invaders also talk about significant losses of Russian army personnel in the war against Ukraine.

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Ukraine's military intelligence intercepted a telephone conversation between the occupier and his father, in which they discuss the dissatisfaction of the mobilised personnel with the decisions and actions of the Russian command. The corresponding audio recording was published on the DIU's Youtube channel (to watch the video, scroll to the bottom of the page).

The phone conversation shows that the Russian's son was recently mobilised and is fighting against Ukraine. His father asked him about the situation at the front.

The occupier apparently complained about the way they were treated by the command. After he answered, my father complained that the command decided to throw cannon fodder at everything.

"Well, they treat us like f*cking meat, of course. Well, yes, now they have decided to throw bodies at everything, almost like Wagnerians," the Russian is outraged.

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The Russian mobilised man also complained about the significant losses among the infantry and the disorder in their army.

The father responded by saying that he understood where this was going and called Russia a "f*cking country"

"Our people are being sent to places where it is not clear what and where. That is, the unit was coordinated, at least what was left of it. And now it's not clear what, not clear how. When there was cohesion, it was at least clear what we were whispering about and what kind of conversation was going on. And now it turns out that we're running away, it's not clear where the f*ck we're going. It was a f*cked-up country, and it's still a f*cked-up country," the Russian said.

Watch out for foul language! 18+

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As reported by OBOZREVATEL:

In an intercepted conversation, another Russian occupier told a colleague how he had fled the front for money, as he realised that the Russian command was using people like him as cannon fodder in the war against Ukraine. He recommended that his interlocutor return home.

Russian citizens are beginning to see the light in the context of the war their country has unleashed in Ukraine. In private, Russian civilians have begun to discuss the possibility of evading mobilisation.

Only verified information is available on our Obozrevatel Telegram channel, Threads and Viber. Don't fall for fakes!
Last week I was terrified when Luann was behind the wheel of the duos borrowed pickup truck and Sonja Tremont Morgan of the 1-877-KARS-4-KIDS Morgans wouldnt put the directions in Waze for her. This is a woman who had a collision with a bush and she wasnt even driving. What do you think will happen while she tries to put on her readers, open her phone, and thumb directions into Waze, all while navigating a strange town and turning the steering wheel with her knees?

This week, its even worse. As the two drive from the newly renovated Motel Benton to start preparing for their town-wide Christmas in July, Luann is doing her makeup while trying to operate a functioning motor vehicle. Shes putting on her blusher, as my grandmother would say, without one single hand on the wheel. Even worse, it looks like her whole makeup bag exploded in her lap. Its like Sephora was riding in the back seat and found out about the safety precautions in the CrapMobile, and it just barfed up an entire makeup display right there onto Luanns pantsuit. I know there are PSAs about driving and texting, but where are the ad campaigns to combat vehicular makeup homicide?

Yes, the motel is renovated and its looking nice. Not only did Lu and Sonjarita buy their home away from home a hot tub (which Sonja calls her bone away from bone), but they also hired someone to paint a gorgeous mural of a hunting scene where a bunch of bucks in shadow stand around a wooded glen. In the very middle of the mural is an avenue of oak, birch, and pine trees leading up to the setting sun. Its the kind of place youd get lost for an hour if your edible is a little too strong.

The womens rooms arent that much improved, though. Luann slapped some pink curtains and matching duvets in her room, along with her new carpet, and she seems to think these are luxury combinations. Sonja says her room now has a walk-in closet because she can fit her whole body into the closet. You cant say the same for her basement. You cant get a full human down there with all the years-old Wesson oil thats been piling up. Anyway, the best feature of either room is the giant cock painting that Sonja has on her wall. No, not that kind of cock. But I have imagined a narrative behind the painting, and its that Billy Richard painted it for Sonja and shipped it up to her at the motel, and shes been displaying it proudly ever since. Billy sent me a picture of his cock! she would have shouted at Luann when revealing her gift, in the scenario I invited in my mind. (Catholic Jesus, I really need to stop watching reality television.)

The big event in this episode is a Christmas in July party that the mayor asked the women to throw for the town. Sonja and Lu had production buy the town fake Christmas trees, giant lighting displays, a fake snow-maker, and a foam-maker so big that even the largest dance club in Ibiza was like, Girl, its too much foam! I swear, this whole show is just a boondoggle to get NBCUniversal to spend its money on one poor, downtrodden town. Who knew that this countrys greatest wealth-distribution engine would be reality television?

The ladies put on their Sexy Lady Santa costumes that they borrowed from the PAs Halloween closet, and Luann gives us an aphorism for the ages: Whats the difference between sexy and slutty? Not much! Then Sonja does a freestyle rap in front of the mirror about how no one knows the hos shes a-ho-ing. I would make it my ringtone if this were 2004 and I still had a Swarovski-encrusted Sidekick.

When Sonja and Lu finally arrive at the event, Craig, the parks-and-rec guy who is the true hero of this whole series, says, When they pulled up, I thought, Oh God, they look like hookers. That is not the first time that Craig has said that or that Lu and Sonj have heard it. But at least Sonja decided to put her knickers on because there would be children present. I mean, that didnt stop Sonja from flashing everyone her thong every time she bent over. One of the 197 billion reasons I love Sonja is because, for her, wearing a thong under a tiny dress is considered demure. But, yeah, there are going to be a bunch of Bentonian children scarred because they saw right up Mrs. Clauss chimney.

The episode was not without a little bit of drama. Our dynamic duo has to perform their song about Benton for their upcoming Follies and somehow try not to look exactly like Dorothy and Rose singing Miami, Miami, youve got style. Luann wants to be able to rehearse the song so that the pair dont humiliate themselves in front of the 60 people who have so far bought tickets. But she has a hard time doing that because Sonja keeps changing the lyrics.

I think this is a situation where theyre both right and theyre both wrong. Sonja wanted to change the song to put the names of all the people who helped them along the way into the ditty. I think thats admirable and, as she said, makes the song less about them and more about the town they came to help. However, Sonja keeps saying, Well fix this. Well edit it. It will be great. No, Sonja Sonj, the time is now. (Blue skies, sunshine, white sands by the miiiiiiiiiiiiile. Sorry, its stuck in my head.)

This is where Luann is right. They do need to rehearse, so Sonja needs to get the song right and pronto. But Im glad shes fixing it. This reminds me of something I always tell my ghostwriting clients: You can care how good it is and work, or you can not care how good it is and not work. You just cant care about how good it is and not work. I think this is the case of two carers who only want to work at Pilates class and order around their interns.

They are a little embarrassed that they have only sold 60 tickets so far, so they devise a foolproof plan to sell tickets: Paula Abdul, the only mortal woman married to a cartoon of a dancing cat. Sonja and Lu bring the pop idol and accomplished choreographer in to work with one of the groups who is performing at the Follies. The girls try to appear impressed, but they werent even a bit of glitter in their mommies ovaries by the time she was off American Idol, so they probably have no idea why shes turned up to order them around. Im as confused as these girls about how this is going to sell tickets. At least production thought enough to get Paula a car and driver. Do you know there are women around these parts putting their eyelashes on behind the wheel?!
Sicily's main airport suspends flights on Monday.

Catania airport on the Italian island of Sicily has suspended all departures and arrivals until 06.00 on Tuesday 15 August due to the eruption of the nearby Mount Etna volcano.

The eruption has sent an ash cloud into the air across the southeast of Sicily, with lava flowing from a south-east crater of the volcano at a height of 2,800 metres, according to Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV).

Air passengers due to travel through Catania today are advised not to make their way to the airport until after consulting their airline.

Causa attivita eruttiva dellEtna e contestuale ricaduta di cenere vulcanica, le operazioni di volo sono sospese fino alle ore 20.

Per info contattare il vettore



Due to Etnas eruptive activity and fallout of volcanic ash, flight operations are suspended until 08:00 pm  Aeroporto di Catania (@CTAairport) August 14, 2023

Catania airport is providing real-time travel updates for travellers via its social media channels.

It has been a difficult summer for Sicily's main airport which faced three weeks of travel chaos after a large fire broke out in the building's main terminal in mid July.

The closure on Monday comes the day before Ferragosto, a major summer holiday in Italy.

Article updated after Catania Airport postponed reopening time.
Mattarella calls for justice and responsibility amid protracted trial into bridge's fatal collapse in 2018.

Italy on Monday marks the fifth anniversary of the collapse of the Morandi Bridge in the north-west city of Genoa in a disaster that claimed the lives of 43 people.

The names of the 43 victims will be projected in Piazza De Ferrari, the city's main square, and the governor of the Liguria region Giovanni Toti will attend a ceremony of commemoration.

Italy's president Sergio Mattarella, referring to the protracted court trial over the bridge's fatal collapse, said on Monday: "The passage of time does not mitigate the weight of responsibility for what happened", stressing that there is a "responsibility to do justice".

In 2022, 59 people were put on trial, mainly former officials and technicians, for charges ranging from multiple manslaughter to making false statements about the safety of the bridge which had been plagued with structural problems for years.

During a heavy rainstorm on the morning of 14 August 2018, the day before Italy's Ferragosto holiday, a 210-metre section of the bridge collapsed suddenly, hurling dozens of vehicles onto the railway tracks 45 metres below.

On this day five years ago the #PonteMorandi bridge in Genoa collapsed in a disaster that killed 43 people. Less than a year later the remains of the bridge were blown up and it was replaced with a new structure that opened in 2020. #14agosto pic.twitter.com/wHjGf35x9k Wanted in Rome (@wantedinrome) August 14, 2023

The disaster, one of the worst in modern Italian history, resulted in a major debate about Italy's ageing road infrastructure, including Genoa's Viadotto Polcevera which was inaugurated in 1967 and became known as Ponte Morandi after its structural designer, the engineer Riccardo Morandi.

In June 2019, some 10 months after the collapse, the remains of the original bridge was demolished and work got underway on a new structure.

Teams of 500 construction workers worked around the clock, including during Italy's nationwide covid lockdown, to complete the Ponte di Genova in record time.

400 #vigilidelfuoco, tra #USAR, #cinofili, #saf, #NBCR, mobilitati in poche ore per operare in uno scenario complesso: il #14agosto di 5 anni fa il crollo del #ponteMorandi, 43 le vittime, tante le persone salvate nelle auto sopra e sotto le macerie#pernondimenticare pic.twitter.com/w1UCK626dm  Vigili del Fuoco (@vigilidelfuoco) August 14, 2023

The new high-tech bridge was designed by celebrated Italian architect and Geona native Renzo Piano whose curved design evokes a ship's hull in tribute to the local maritime history.

During a ceremony to mark the placement of the final section of the new bridge in April 2020, then Italian premier Giuseppe Conte said the structure "symbolises an Italy that knows how to pick itself up, roll up its sleeves, and doesnt allow itself to be defeated.

The viaduct, which spans about one kilometre, was built by a consortium comprising inspection and engineering services group RINA, construction giant Salini Impregilo and shipbuilder Fincantieri.

Ponte di Genova was inaugurated on 3 August 2020, in a ceremony attended by President Mattarella, before opening to traffic two days later.

Photo Giuseppe Conte - Twitter
During the day, on 14 August, 11 combat engagements between the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the occupiers' soldiers took place at the frontline positions. Our defenders continue to conduct offensive operations in the Melitopol and Berdiansk directions, consolidate their positions, and carry out counter-battery measures.

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This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, publishing a daily summary on Facebook. The enemy launched 12 missile and 67 air strikes, fired more than 40 times from multiple launch rocket systems at the positions of our troops and settlements.

"Unfortunately, Russian terrorist attacks have resulted in civilian casualties and injuries. Residential buildings, a shopping centre, a student dormitory, kindergartens, schools and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and damaged," the military said.

Our troops added that the threat of missile and air attack remains throughout Ukraine and called on residents of cities and villages not to neglect air raid warnings. Only today the enemy was active:

In the Kupyansk sector, the enemy launched air strikes in the areas of Ivanivka, Zahryzove in Kharkiv region and Stelmakhivka in Luhansk region. More than 15 localities came under enemy artillery and mortar fire, including Novomlynsk, Vilshana, Synkivka, Kupyansk, Podoly, and Buhaivka in the Kharkiv region;

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In the Lyman sector, the enemy conducted air strikes in the areas of Bilohorivka, Luhansk region, and Sporne, Donetsk region. More than 25 localities came under enemy artillery fire, including Nevske, Dibrova, Bilohorivka in Luhansk region and Siversk, Verkhnekamianske, Sporne in Donetsk region;

In the Bakhmut sector, the enemy conducted air strikes in the areas of Vasyukivka and Klishchiyivka in the Donetsk region. More than 25 localities suffered from enemy artillery shelling, including Vasyukivka, Orikhove-Vasylivka, Novomarkove, Hryhorivka, Bohdanivka, Klishchiyivka in the Donetsk region;

In the Avdiivka sector, the enemy conducted an air strike in the area of Avdiivka. The localities of Oleksandropil, Keramik, Novokalynove, Stepove, Avdiivka in the Donetsk region came under artillery fire;

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In the Maryinka sector, the defence forces continue to hold back the advance of Russian troops near the towns of Maryinka and Krasnohorivka in the Donetsk region. The enemy launched an air strike in the areas of Krasnohorivka and Novomykhailivka in the Donetsk region. More than 10 localities came under artillery fire, including Krasnohorivka, Maryinka, Heorhiivka, Ostro, Novomykhailivka, Katerynivka in the Donetsk region;

In the Shakhtarsk sector, the enemy carried out air strikes in the areas of Velyka Novosilka, Blahodatne, Makarivka and Urozhayne in the Donetsk region. More than 10 localities came under artillery fire, including Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Niva, Blahodatne, Urozhayne, Staromayorske in the Donetsk region;

In the Zaporizhzhia sector, the enemy launched an air strike near Novodanylivka, Zaporizhzhia region. More than 20 settlements suffered from enemy artillery shelling, including Charivne, Novoandriivka, Shcherbaky, Pavlivka, Pyatikhatky, Kamianske in Zaporizhzhia region;

In the Kherson sector, the enemy launched an air strike near Olgivka, Kherson region. More than 20 localities came under enemy artillery fire, including Zolota Balka, Mykhailivka, Havrylivka, Respublika, Novokaira, Komyshany in Kherson region and Kherson.

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Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Armed Forces inflict significant losses on the occupiers, not only in manpower but also in military equipment. During the day, Ukrainian aviation struck a command post, seven strikes on areas where personnel, weapons and military equipment were concentrated, and three strikes on anti-aircraft missile systems; one Russian military helicopter was also destroyed.

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Earlier, OBOZREVATEL reported that according to the GUR, there is a trend in the mood of the population in the temporarily occupied Crimea, which indicates that people want to get out of the Russian occupation. In particular, many people are not just waiting for this, but are bringing the liberation closer with concrete actions.

Only verified information is available on our Obozrevatel Telegram channel, Threads and Viber. Don't fall for fakes!
Listen to the full Jan. 2 phone call. This audio has been edited to remove the name of an individual about whom the president makes unsubstantiated allegations. (Video: Obtained by The Washington Post)

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About 3 p.m. Saturday, President Trump held an hour-long call with Brad Raffensperger, Georgias secretary of state, in which he repeatedly urged him to alter the outcome of the presidential vote in the state. He was joined on the call by White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and several lawyers, including longtime conservative attorney Cleta Mitchell and Georgia-based attorney Kurt Hilbert. Raffensperger was joined by his offices general counsel, Ryan Germany, and Deputy Secretary of State Jordan Fuchs.

The Washington Post obtained a copy of a recording of the call. This transcript has been edited to remove the name of an individual about whom Trump makes unsubstantiated claims.

Meadows: Okay. Alright. Mr. President, everyone is on the line. This is Mark Meadows, the chief of staff. Just so we all are aware. On the line is secretary of state and two other individuals. Jordan and Mr. Germany with him. You also have the attorneys that represent the president, Kurt and Alex and Cleta Mitchell  who is not the attorney of record but has been involved  myself and then the president. So Mr. President, Ill turn it over to you.

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Trump: Okay, thank you very much. Hello Brad and Ryan and everybody. We appreciate the time and the call. So weve spent a lot of time on this, and if we could just go over some of the numbers, I think its pretty clear that we won. We won very substantially in Georgia. You even see it by rally size, frankly. Wed be getting 25-30,000 people a rally, and the competition would get less than 100 people. And it never made sense.

But we have a number of things. We have at least 2 or 3  anywhere from 250 to 300,000 ballots were dropped mysteriously into the rolls. Much of that had to do with Fulton County, which hasnt been checked. We think that if you check the signatures  a real check of the signatures going back in Fulton County  youll find at least a couple of hundred thousand of forged signatures of people who have been forged. And we are quite sure thats going to happen.

Another tremendous number. Were going to have an accurate number over the next two days with certified accountants. But an accurate number will be given, but its in the 50s of thousands  and thats people that went to vote and they were told they cant vote because theyve already been voted for. And its a very sad thing. They walked out complaining. But the numbers large. Well have it for you. But its much more than the number of 11,779 thats  the current margin is only 11,779. Brad, I think you agree with that, right? Thats something I think everyone  at least thats a number that everyone agrees on.

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But thats the difference in the votes. But weve had hundreds of thousands of ballots that were able to actually  well get you a pretty accurate number. You dont need much of a number because the number that in theory I lost by, the margin would be 11,779. But you also have a substantial numbers of people, thousands and thousands, who went to the voting place on November 3, were told they couldnt vote, were told they couldnt vote because a ballot had been put on their name. And you know thats very, very, very, very sad.

We had, I believe its about 4,502 voters who voted but who werent on the voter registration list, so its 4,502 who voted, but they werent on the voter registration roll, which they had to be. You had 18,325 vacant address voters. The address was vacant, and theyre not allowed to be counted. Thats 18,325.

Smaller number  you had 904 who only voted where they had just a P.O.  a post office box number  and they had a post office box number, and thats not allowed. We had at least 18,000  thats on tape, we had them counted very painstakingly  18,000 voters having to do with [name]. Shes a vote scammer, a professional vote scammer and hustler [name]. That was the tape thats been shown all over the world that makes everybody look bad, you, me and everybody else.

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Where they got  number one they said very clearly and its been reported that they said there was a major water main break. Everybody fled the area. And then they came back, [name] and her daughter and a few people. There were no Republican poll watchers. Actually, there were no Democrat poll watchers, I guess they were them. But there were no Democrats, either, and there was no law enforcement. Late in the morning, early in the morning, they went to the table with the black robe and the black shield, and they pulled out the votes. Those votes were put there a number of hours before  the table was put there  I think it was, Brad, you would know, it was probably eight hours or seven hours before, and then it was stuffed with votes.

They werent in an official voter box; they were in what looked to be suitcases or trunks, suitcases, but they werent in voter boxes. The minimum number it could be because we watched it, and they watched it certified in slow motion instant replay if you can believe it, but slow motion, and it was magnified many times over, and the minimum it was 18,000 ballots, all for Biden.

You had out-of-state voters. They voted in Georgia, but they were from out of state, of 4,925. You had absentee ballots sent to vacant, they were absentee ballots sent to vacant addresses. They had nothing on them about addresses, thats 2,326.

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And you had dropboxes, which is very bad. You had dropboxes that were picked up. We have photographs, and we have affidavits from many people.



I dont know if you saw the hearings, but you have dropboxes where the box was picked up but not delivered for three days. So all sorts of things could have happened to that box, including, you know, putting in the votes that you wanted. So there were many infractions, and the bottom line is, many, many times the 11,779 margin that they said we lost by  we had vast, I mean the state is in turmoil over this.

And I know you would like to get to the bottom of it, although I saw you on television today, and you said that you found nothing wrong. I mean, you know, and I didnt lose the state, Brad. People have been saying that it was the highest vote ever. There was no way. A lot of the political people said that theres no way they beat me. And they beat me. They beat me in the . . . As you know, every single state, we won every state. We won every statehouse in the country. We held the Senate, which is shocking to people, although well see what happens tomorrow or in a few days.



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And we won the House, but we won every single statehouse, and we won Congress, which was supposed to lose 15 seats, and they gained, I think 16 or 17 or something. I think theres a now difference of five. There was supposed to be a difference substantially more. But politicians in every state, but politicians in Georgia have given affidavits and are going to that, that there was no way that they beat me in the election, that the people came out, in fact, they were expecting to lose, and then they ended up winning by a lot because of the coattails. And they said theres no way, that theyve done many polls prior to the election, that there was no way that they won.

Ballots were dropped in massive numbers. And were trying to get to those numbers and we will have them.

Theyll take a period of time. Certified. But but theyre massive numbers. And far greater than the 11,779.

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The other thing, dead people. So dead people voted, and I think the number is close to 5,000 people. And they went to obituaries. They went to all sorts of methods to come up with an accurate number, and a minimum is close to about 5,000 voters.

The bottom line is, when you add it all up and then you start adding, you know, 300,000 fake ballots. Then the other thing they said is in Fulton County and other areas. And this may or may not be true . . . this just came up this morning, that they are burning their ballots, that they are shredding, shredding ballots and removing equipment. Theyre changing the equipment on the Dominion machines and, you know, thats not legal.

And they supposedly shredded I think they said 300 pounds of, 3,000 pounds of ballots. And that just came to us as a report today. And it is a very sad situation.

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But Brad, if you took the minimum numbers where many, many times above the 11,779, and many of those numbers are certified, or they will be certified, but they are certified. And those are numbers that are there, that exist. And that beat the margin of loss, they beat it, I mean, by a lot, and people should be happy to have an accurate count instead of an election where theres turmoil.

I mean theres turmoil in Georgia and other places. Youre not the only one, I mean, we have other states that I believe will be flipping to us very shortly. And this is something that  you know, as an example, I think it in Detroit, I think theres a section, a good section of your state actually, which were not sure so were not going to report it yet. But in Detroit, we had, I think it was, 139 percent of the people voted. Thats not too good.



In Pennsylvania, they had well over 200,000 more votes than they had people voting. And that doesnt play too well, and the legislature there is, which is Republican, is extremely activist and angry. I mean, there were other things also that were almost as bad as that. But they had as an example, in Michigan, a tremendous number of dead people that voted. I think it was, I think, Mark, it was 18,000. Some unbelievably high number, much higher than yours, you were in the 4-5,000 category.



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And that was checked out laboriously by going through, by going through the obituary columns in the newspapers.

So I guess with all of it being said, Brad, the bottom line, and provisional ballots, again, you know, youll have to tell me about the provisional ballots, but we have a lot of people that were complaining that they werent able to vote because they were already voted for. These are great people.



And, you know, they were shellshocked. I dont know if you call that provisional ballots. In some states, we had a lot of provisional ballot situations where people were given a provisional ballot because when they walked in on November 3 and they were already voted for.



So thats it. I mean, we have many, many times the number of votes necessary to win the state. And we won the state, and we won it very substantially and easily, and were getting, we have, much of this is a very certified, far more certified than we need. But were getting additional numbers certified, too. And were getting pictures of dropboxes being delivered and delivered late. Delivered three days later, in some cases, plus we have many affidavits to that effect.

Meadows: So, Mr. President, if I might be able to jump in, and Ill give Brad a chance. Mr. Secretary, obviously there is, there are allegations where we believe that not every vote or fair vote and legal vote was counted, and thats at odds with the representation from the secretary of states office.



What Im hopeful for is there some way that we can, we can find some kind of agreement to look at this a little bit more fully? You know the president mentioned Fulton County.



But in some of these areas where there seems to be a difference of where the facts seem to lead, and so Mr. Secretary, I was hopeful that, you know, in the spirit of cooperation and compromise, is there something that we can at least have a discussion to look at some of these allegations to find a path forward thats less litigious?



Raffensperger: Well, I listened to what the president has just said. President Trump, weve had several lawsuits, and weve had to respond in court to the lawsuits and the contentions. We dont agree that you have won. And we dont  I didnt agree about the 200,000 number that youd mentioned. Ill go through that point by point.

What we have done is we gave our state Senate about one and a half hours of our time going through the election issue by issue and then on the state House, the government affairs committee, we gave them about two and a half hours of our time, going back point by point on all the issues of contention. And then just a few days ago, we met with our U.S. congressmen, Republican congressmen, and we gave them about two hours of our time talking about this past election. Going back, primarily what youve talked about here focused in on primarily, I believe, is the absentee ballot process. I dont believe that youre really questioning the Dominion machines. Because we did a hand re-tally, a 100 percent re-tally of all the ballots, and compared them to what the machines said and came up with virtually the same result. Then we did the recount, and we got virtually the same result. So I guess we can probably take that off the table.



I dont think theres an issue about that.

Trump: Well, Brad. Not that theres not an issue, because we have a big issue with Dominion in other states and perhaps in yours. But we havent felt we needed to go there. And just to, you know, maybe put a little different spin on what Mark is saying, Mark Meadows, yeah wed like to go further, but we dont really need to. We have all the votes we need.



You know, we won the state. If you took, these are the most minimal numbers, the numbers that I gave you, those are numbers that are certified, your absentee ballots sent to vacant addresses, your out-of-state voters, 4,925. You know when you add them up, its many more times, its many times the 11,779 number. So we could go through, we have not gone through your Dominion. So we cant give them blessing. I mean, in other states, we think we found tremendous corruption with Dominion machines, but well have to see.



But we only lost the state by that number, 11,000 votes, and 779. So with that being said, with just what we have, with just what we have, were giving you minimal, minimal numbers. Were doing the most conservative numbers possible; were many times, many, many times above the margin. And so we dont really have to, Mark, I dont think we have to go through . . .



Meadows: Right

Trump: Because whats the difference between winning the election by two votes and winning it by half a million votes. I think I probably did win it by half a million. You know, one of the things that happened, Brad, is we have other people coming in now from Alabama and from South Carolina and from other states, and theyre saying its impossible for you to have lost Georgia. We won. You know in Alabama, we set a record, got the highest vote ever. In Georgia, we set a record with a massive amount of votes. And they say its not possible to have lost Georgia.

And I could tell you by our rallies. I could tell you by the rally Im having on Monday night, the place, they already have lines of people standing out front waiting. Its just not possible to have lost Georgia. Its not possible. When I heard it was close, I said theres no way. But they dropped a lot of votes in there late at night. You know that, Brad. And thats what we are working on very, very stringently. But regardless of those votes, with all of it being said, we lost by essentially 11,000 votes, and we have many more votes already calculated and certified, too.

And so I just dont know, you know, Mark, I dont know whats the purpose. I wont give Dominion a pass because we found too many bad things. But we dont need Dominion or anything else. We have won this election in Georgia based on all of this. And theres nothing wrong with saying that, Brad. You know, I mean, having the correct  the people of Georgia are angry. And these numbers are going to be repeated on Monday night. Along with others that were going to have by that time, which are much more substantial even. And the people of Georgia are angry, the people of the country are angry. And theres nothing wrong with saying that, you know, that youve recalculated. Because the 2,236 in absentee ballots. I mean, theyre all exact numbers that were done by accounting firms, law firms, etc. And even if you cut em in half, cut em in half and cut em in half again, its more votes than we need.

Raffensperger: Well, Mr. President, the challenge that you have is the data you have is wrong. We talked to the congressmen, and they were surprised.



But they  I guess there was a person named Mr. Braynard who came to these meetings and presented data, and he said that there was dead people, I believe it was upward of 5,000. The actual number were two. Two. Two people that were dead that voted. So thats wrong.



Trump: Well, Cleta, how do you respond to that? Maybe you tell me?

Mitchell: Well, I would say, Mr. Secretary, one of the things that we have requested and what we said was, if you look, if you read our petition, it said that we took the names and birth years, and we had certain information available to us. We have asked from your office for records that only you have, and so we said there is a universe of people who have the same name and same birth year and died.

But we dont have the records that you have. And one of the things that we have been suggesting formally and informally for weeks now is for you to make available to us the records that would be necessary 

Trump: But, Cleta, even before you do that, and not even including that, thats why I hardly even included that number, although in one state, we have a tremendous amount of dead people. So I dont know  Im sure we do in Georgia, too. Im sure we do in Georgia, too.

But were so far ahead. Were so far ahead of these numbers, even the phony ballots of [name] , known scammer. You know the Internet? You know what was trending on the Internet? Wheres [name]? Because they thought shed be in jail. Wheres [name]? Its crazy, its crazy. That was. The minimum number is 18,000 for [name] , but they think its probably about 56,000, but the minimum number is 18,000 on the [name] night where she ran back in there when everybody was gone and stuffed, she stuffed the ballot boxes. Lets face it, Brad, I mean. They did it in slow motion replay magnified, right? She stuffed the ballot boxes. They were stuffed like nobody has ever seen them stuffed before.

So theres a term for it when its a machine instead of a ballot box, but she stuffed the machine. She stuffed the ballot. Each ballot went three times, they were showing: Heres ballot No 1. Here it is a second time, third time, next ballot.

I mean, look. Brad. We have a new tape that were going to release. Its devastating. And by the way, that one event, that one event is much more than the 11,000 votes that were talking about. Its, you know, that one event was a disaster. And its just, you know, but it was, it was something, it cant be disputed. And again, we have a version that you havent seen, but its magnified. Its magnified, and you can see everything. For some reason, they put it in three times, each ballot, and I dont know why. I dont know why three times. Why not five times, right? Go ahead.

Raffensperger: Youre talking about the State Farm video. And I think its extremely unfortunate that Rudy Giuliani or his people, they sliced and diced that video and took it out of context. The next day, we brought in WSB-TV, and we let them show, see the full run of tape, and what youll see, the events that transpired are nowhere near what was projected by, you know 

Trump: But where were the poll watchers, Brad? There were no poll watchers there. There were no Democrats or Republicans. There was no security there.

It was late in the evening, late in the, early in the morning, and there was nobody else in the room. Where were the poll watchers, and why did they say a water main broke, which they did and which was reported in the newspapers? They said they left. They ran out because of a water main break, and there was no water main. There was nothing. There was no break. There was no water main break. But were, if you take out everything, where were the Republican poll watchers, even where were the Democrat pollwatchers, because there were none.

And then you say, well, they left their station, you know, if you look at the tape, and this was, this was reviewed by professional police and detectives and other people, when they left in a rush, everybody left in a rush because of the water main, but everybody left in a rush. These people left their station.

When they came back, they didnt go to their station. They went to the apron, wrapped around the table, under which were thousands and thousands of ballots in a box that was not an official or a sealed box. And then they took those. They went back to a different station. So if they would have come back, they would have walked to their station, and they would have continued to work. But they couldnt do even that because thats illegal, because they had no Republican pollwatchers. And remember, her reputation is  shes known all over the Internet, Brad. Shes known all over.

Im telling you, Wheres [name]  was one of the hot items . . . [name] They knew her. Wheres [name]? So Brad, there can be no justification for that. And I, you know, I give everybody the benefit of the doubt. But that was  and Brad, why did they put the votes in three times? You know, they put em in three times.

Raffensperger: Mr. President, they did not put that. We did an audit of that, and we proved conclusively that they were not scanned three times.

Trump: Where was everybody else at that late time in the morning? Where was everybody? Where were the Republicans? Where were the security guards? Were the people that were there just a little while before when everyone ran out of the room. How come we had no security in the room. Why did they run to the bottom of the table? Why do they run there and just open the skirt and rip out the votes. I mean, Brad. And they were sitting there, I think for five hours or something like that, the votes.

Raffensperger: Mr. President, well send you the link from WSB.

Trump: I dont care about the link. I dont need it. Brad, I have a much better 

Mitchell: I will tell you. Ive seen the tape. The full tape. So has Alex. Weve watched it. And what we saw and what weve confirmed in the timing is that they made everybody leave  we have sworn affidavits saying that. And then they began to process ballots. And our estimate is that there were roughly 18,000 ballots. We dont know that. If you know that 

Trump:  it was 18,000 ballots, but they used each one three times.

Mitchell: Well, I dont know about that, but I know 

Trump:  well, I do, because we had ours magnified out 

Mitchell: Ive watched the entire tape.

Trump:  but nobody can make a case for that, Brad. Nobody. I mean, look, thats, youd have to be a child to think anything other than that. Just a child. I mean you have your never-Trumper U.S. attorney there 

Mitchell:  how many ballots, Mr. Secretary, are you saying were processed then?

Raffensperger: We had GBI . . . investigate that.

Germany: We had our  this is Ryan Germany. We had our law enforcement officers talk to everyone who was, who was there after that event came to light. GBI was with them as well as FBI agents.

Trump: Well, theres no way they could  then theyre incompetent. Theyre either dishonest or incompetent, okay?

Mitchell: Well, what did they find?

Trump: Theres only two answers, dishonesty or incompetence. Theres just no way. Look. Theres no way. And on the other thing, I said too, there is no way. I mean, theres no way that these things could have been, you know, you have all these different people that voted, but they dont live in Georgia anymore. What was that number, Cleta? That was a pretty good number, too.

Mitchell: The number who have registered out of state after they moved from Georgia. And so they had a date when they moved from Georgia, they registered to vote out of state, and then its like 4,500, I dont have that number right in front of me.

Trump: And then they came back in, and they voted.

Mitchell: And voted. Yeah.

Trump: I thought that was a large number, though. It was in the 20s.

Germany: Weve been going through each of those as well, and those numbers that we got, that Ms. Mitchell was just saying, theyre not accurate. Every one weve been through are people that lived in Georgia, moved to a different state, but then moved back to Georgia legitimately. And in many cases 

Trump: How may people do that? They moved out, and then they said, Ah, to hell with it, Ill move back. You know, it doesnt sound like a very normal . . . you mean, they moved out, and what, they missed it so much that they wanted to move back in? Its crazy.



Germany: They moved back in years ago. This was not like something just before the election. So theres something about that data that, its just not accurate.

Trump: Well, I dont know, all I know is that it is certified. And they moved out of Georgia, and they voted. It didnt say they moved back in, Cleta, did it?

Mitchell: No, but I mean, were looking at the voter registration. Again, if you have additional records, weve been asking for that, but you havent shared any of that with us. You just keep saying you investigated the allegations.

Trump: Cleta, a lot of it you dont need to be shared. I mean, to be honest, they should share it. They should share it because you want to get to an honest election.

I won this election by hundreds of thousands of votes. Theres no way I lost Georgia. Theres no way. We won by hundreds of thousands of votes. Im just going by small numbers, when you add them up, theyre many times the 11,000. But I won that state by hundreds of thousands of votes.



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Do you think its possible that they shredded ballots in Fulton County? Because thats what the rumor is. And also that Dominion took out machines. That Dominion is really moving fast to get rid of their, uh, machinery.



Do you know anything about that? Because thats illegal, right?



Germany: This is Ryan Germany. No, Dominion has not moved any machinery out of Fulton County.

Trump: But have they moved the inner parts of the machines and replaced them with other parts?

Germany: No.

Trump: Are you sure, Ryan?

Germany: Im sure. Im sure, Mr. President.

Trump: What about, what about the ballots. The shredding of the ballots. Have they been shredding ballots?

Germany: The only investigation that we have into that  they have not been shredding any ballots. There was an issue in Cobb County where they were doing normal office shredding, getting rid of old stuff, and we investigated that. But this stuff from, you know, from you know past elections.

Trump: It doesnt pass the smell test because we hear theyre shredding thousands and thousands of ballots, and now what theyre saying, Oh, were just cleaning up the office. You know.

Raffensperger: Mr. President, the problem you have with social media, they  people can say anything.

Trump: Oh this isnt social media. This is Trump media. Its not social media. Its really not; its not social media. I dont care about social media. I couldnt care less. Social media is Big Tech. Big Tech is on your side, you know. I dont even know why you have a side because you should want to have an accurate election. And youre a Republican.



Raffensperger: We believe that we do have an accurate election.

Trump: No, no you dont. No, no you dont. You dont have. Not even close. Youre off by hundreds of thousands of votes. And just on the small numbers, youre off on these numbers, and these numbers cant be just  well, why wont?  Okay. So you sent us into Cobb County for signature verification, right? You sent us into Cobb County, which we didnt want to go into. And you said it would be open to the public. So we had our experts there, they werent allowed into the room. But we didnt want Cobb County. We wanted Fulton County. And you wouldnt give it to us. Now, why arent we doing signature  and why cant it be open to the public?

And why cant we have professionals do it instead of rank amateurs who will never find anything and dont want to find anything? They dont want to find, you know they dont want to find anything. Someday youll tell me the reason why, because I dont understand your reasoning, but someday youll tell me the reason why. But why dont you want to find?

Germany: Mr. President, we chose Cobb County 

Trump: Why dont you want to find . . . What?

Germany: Sorry, go ahead.

Trump: So why did you do Cobb County? We didnt even request  we requested Fulton County, not Cobb County. Go ahead, please. Go ahead.

Germany: We chose Cobb County because that was the only county where theres been any evidence submitted that the signature verification was not properly done.

Trump: No, but I told you. Were not, were not saying that.

Mitchell: We did say that.

Trump: Fulton County. Look. Stacey, in my opinion, Stacey is as dishonest as they come. She has outplayed you . . . at everything. She got you to sign a totally unconstitutional agreement, which is a disastrous agreement. You cant check signatures. I cant imagine youre allowed to do harvesting, I guess, in that agreement. That agreement is a disaster for this country. But she got you somehow to sign that thing, and she has outsmarted you at every step.

And I hate to imagine whats going to happen on Monday or Tuesday, but its very scary to people. You know, when the ballots flow in out of nowhere. Its very scary to people. That consent decree is a disaster. Its a disaster. A very good lawyer who examined it said theyve never seen anything like it.



Raffensperger: Harvesting is still illegal in the state of Georgia. And that settlement agreement did not change that one iota.

Trump: Its not a settlement agreement, its a consent decree. It even says consent decree on it, doesnt it? It uses the term consent decree. It doesnt say settlement agreement. Its a consent decree. Its a disaster.

Raffensperger: Its a settlement agreement.

Trump: Whats written on top of it?

Raffensperger: Ryan?

Germany: I dont have it in front of me, but it was not entered by the court, its not a court order.

Trump: But Ryan, its called a consent decree, is that right? On the paper. Is that right?

Germany: I dont. I dont. I dont believe so, but I dont have it in front of me.

Trump: Okay, whatever, its a disaster. Its a disaster. Look. Heres the problem. We can go through signature verification, and well find hundreds of thousands of signatures, if you let us do it. And the only way you can do it, as you know, is to go to the past. But you didnt do that in Cobb County. You just looked at one page compared to another. The only way you can do a signature verification is go from the one that signed it on November whatever. Recently. And compare it to two years ago, four years ago, six years ago, you know, or even one. And youll find that you have many different signatures. But in Fulton, where they dumped ballots, you will find that you have many that arent even signed and you have many that are forgeries.

Okay, you know that. You know that. You have no doubt about that. And you will find you will be at 11,779 within minutes because Fulton County is totally corrupt, and so is she totally corrupt.

And theyre going around playing you and laughing at you behind your back, Brad, whether you know it or not, theyre laughing at you. And youve taken a state thats a Republican state, and youve made it almost impossible for a Republican to win because of cheating, because they cheated like nobodys ever cheated before. And I dont care how long it takes me, you know, were going to have other states coming forward  pretty good.



But I wont . . . this is never . . . this is . . . We have some incredible talent said theyve never seen anything . . . Now the problem is they need more time for the big numbers. But theyre very substantial numbers. But I think youre going to find that they  by the way, a little information  I think youre going to find that they are shredding ballots because they have to get rid of the ballots because the ballots are unsigned. The ballots are corrupt, and theyre brand new, and they dont have seals, and theres a whole thing with the ballots. But the ballots are corrupt.

And you are going to find that they are  which is totally illegal  it is more illegal for you than it is for them because, you know, what they did and youre not reporting it. Thats a criminal, thats a criminal offense. And you cant let that happen. Thats a big risk to you and to Ryan, your lawyer. And thats a big risk. But they are shredding ballots, in my opinion, based on what Ive heard. And they are removing machinery, and theyre moving it as fast as they can, both of which are criminal finds. And you cant let it happen, and you are letting it happen. You know, I mean, Im notifying you that youre letting it happen. So look. All I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have because we won the state.

And flipping the state is a great testament to our country because, you know, this is  its a testament that they can admit to a mistake or whatever you want to call it. If it was a mistake, I dont know. A lot of people think it wasnt a mistake. It was much more criminal than that. But its a big problem in Georgia, and its not a problem thats going away. I mean, you know, its not a problem thats going away.



Germany: This is Ryan. Were looking into every one of those things that you mentioned.

Trump: Good. But if you find it, youve got to say it, Ryan.

Germany: . . . Let me tell you what we are seeing. What were seeing is not at all what youre describing. These are investigators from our office, these are investigators from GBI, and theyre looking, and theyre good. And thats not what theyre seeing. And well keep looking, at all these things.

Trump: Well, you better check on the ballots because they are shredding ballots, Ryan. Im just telling you, Ryan. Theyre shredding ballots. And you should look at that very carefully. Because thats so illegal. You know, you may not even believe it because its so bad. But theyre shredding ballots because they think were going to eventually get there . . . because well eventually get into Fulton. In my opinion, its never too late. . . . So, thats the story. Look, we need only 11,000 votes. We have are far more than that as it stands now. Well have more and more. And . . . do you have provisional ballots at all, Brad? Provisional ballots?



Raffensperger: Provisional ballots are allowed by state law.

Trump: Sure, but I mean, are they counted, or did you just hold them back because they, you know, in other words, how many provisional ballots do you have in the state?

Raffensperger: Well get you that number.

Trump: Because most of them are made out to the name Trump. Because these are people that were scammed when they came in. And we have thousands of people that have testified or that want to testify. When they came in, they were proudly going to vote on November 3. And they were told, Im sorry, youve already been voted for, youve already voted. The women, men started screaming, No. I proudly voted till November 3. They said, Im sorry, but youve already been voted for, and you have a ballot. And these people are beside themselves. So they went out, and they filled in a provisional ballot, putting the name Trump on it.

And what about that batch of military ballots that came in. And even though I won the military by a lot, it was 100 percent Trump. I mean 100 percent Biden. Do you know about that? A large group of ballots came in, I think it was to Fulton County, and they just happened to be 100 percent for Trump  for Biden  even though Trump won the military by a lot, you know, a tremendous amount. But these ballots were 100 percent for Biden. And do you know about that? A very substantial number came in, all for Biden. Does anybody know about it?

Mitchell: I know about it, but 



Trump: Okay, Cleta, Im not asking you, Cleta, honestly. Im asking Brad. Do you know about the military ballots that we have confirmed now. Do you know about the military ballots that came in that were 100 percent, I mean 100 percent, for Biden. Do you know about that?

Germany: I dont know about that. I do know that we have, when military ballots come in, its not just military, its also military and overseas citizens. The military part of that does generally go Republican. The overseas citizen part of it generally goes very Democrat. This was a mix of em.

Trump: No, but this was. Thats okay. But I got like 78 percent of the military. These ballots were all for . . . They didnt tell me overseas. Could be overseas, too, but I get votes overseas, too, Ryan, in all fairness. No they came in, a large batch came in, and it was, quote, 100 percent for Biden. And that is criminal. You know, thats criminal. Okay. Thats another criminal, thats another of the many criminal events, many criminal events here.

I dont know, look, Brad. I got to get . . . I have to find 12,000 votes, and I have them times a lot. And therefore, I won the state. Thats before we go to the next step, which is in the process of right now. You know, and I watched you this morning, and you said, well, there was no criminality.



But I mean all of this stuff is very dangerous stuff. When you talk about no criminality, I think its very dangerous for you to say that.



I just, I just dont know why you dont want to have the votes counted as they are. Like even you when you went and did that check. And I was surprised because, you know . . . And we found a few thousand votes that were against me. I was actually surprised because the way that check was done, all youre doing, you know, recertifying existing votes and, you know, and you were given votes and you just counted them up, and you still found 3,000 that were bad. So that was sort of surprising that it came down to three or five, I dont know. Still a lot of votes. But you have to go back to check from past years with respect to signatures. And if you check with Fulton County, youll have hundreds of thousands because they dumped ballots into Fulton County and the other county next to it.

So what are we going to do here, folks? I only need 11,000 votes. Fellas, I need 11,000 votes. Give me a break. You know, we have that in spades already. Or we can keep it going, but thats not fair to the voters of Georgia because theyre going to see what happened, and theyre going to see what happened. I mean, Ill, Ill take on anybody you want with regard to [name] and her lovely daughter, a very lovely young lady, Im sure. But, but [name] . . . I will take on anybody you want. And the minimum, there were 18,000 ballots, but they used them three times. So thats, you know, a lot of votes. And they were all to Biden, by the way, thats the other thing we didnt say. You know, [name] , the one thing I forgot to say, which was the most important. You know that every single ballot she did went to Biden. You know that, right? Do you know that, by the way, Brad?

Every single ballot that she did through the machines at early, early in the morning went to Biden. Did you know that, Ryan?

Germany: Thats not accurate, Mr. President.

Trump: Huh. What is accurate?

Germany: The numbers that we are showing are accurate.

Trump: No, about [name] . About early in the morning, Ryan. Where the woman took, you know, when the whole gang took the stuff from under the table, right? Do you know, do you know who those ballots, do you know who they were made out to, do you know who they were voting for?

Germany: No, not specifically.



Trump: Did you ever check?

Germany: We did what I described to you earlier 

Trump: No no no  did you ever check the ballots that were scanned by [name] , a known political operative, balloteer? Did ever check who those votes were for?

Germany: We looked into that situation that you described.

Trump: No, they were 100 percent for Biden. 100 percent. There wasnt a Trump vote in the whole group. Why dont you want to find this, Ryan? Whats wrong with you? I heard your lawyer is very difficult, actually, but Im sure youre a good lawyer. You have a nice last name.

But, but Im just curious, why wouldnt, why do you keep fighting this thing? It just doesnt make sense. Were way over the 17,779, right? Were way over that number, and just if you took just [name] , were over that number by five, five or six times when you multiply that times three.



And every single ballot went to Biden, and you didnt know that, but now you know it. So tell me, Brad, what are we going to do? We won the election, and its not fair to take it away from us like this. And its going to be very costly in many ways. And I think you have to say that youre going to reexamine it, and you can reexamine it, but reexamine it with people that want to find answers, not people that dont want to find answers. For instance, Im hearing Ryan that hes probably, Im sure a great lawyer and everything, but hes making statements about those ballots that he doesnt know. But hes making them with such  he did make them with surety. But now I think hes less sure because the answer is, they all went to Biden, and that alone wins us the election by a lot. You know, so.



Raffensperger: Mr. President, you have people that submit information, and we have our people that submit information. And then it comes before the court, and the court then has to make a determination. We have to stand by our numbers. We believe our numbers are right.

Trump: Why do you say that, though? I dont know. I mean, sure, we can play this game with the courts, but why do you say that? First of all, they dont even assign us a judge. They dont even assign us a judge. But why wouldnt you . . . Hey Brad, why wouldnt you want to check out [name] ? And why wouldnt you want to say, hey, if in fact, President Trump is right about that, then he wins the state of Georgia, just that one incident alone without going through hundreds of thousands of dropped ballots. You just say, you stick by, I mean Ive been watching you, you know, you dont care about anything. Your numbers are right. But your numbers arent right. Theyre really wrong, and theyre really wrong, Brad. And I know this phone call is going nowhere other than, other than ultimately, you know  Look, ultimately, I win, okay? Because you guys are so wrong. And you treated this. You treated the population of Georgia so badly. You, between you and your governor, who is down at 21, he was down 21 points. And like a schmuck, I endorsed him, and he got elected, but I will tell you, he is a disaster.

The people are so angry in Georgia, I cant imagine hes ever getting elected again, Ill tell you that much right now. But why wouldnt you want to find the right answer, Brad, instead of keep saying that the numbers are right? Cause those numbers are so wrong?

Mitchell: Mr. Secretary, Mr. President, one of the things that we have been, Alex can talk about this, we talked about it, and I dont know whether the information has been conveyed to your office, but I think what the president is saying, and what weve been trying to do is to say, look, the court is not acting on our petition. They havent even assigned a judge. But the people of Georgia and the people of America have a right to know the answers. And you have data and records that we dont have access to.

And you can keep telling us and making public statement that you investigated this and nothing to see here. But we dont know about that. All we know is what you tell us. What I dont understand is why wouldnt it be in everyones best interest to try to get to the bottom, compare the numbers, you know, if you say, because . . . to try to be able to get to the truth because we dont have any way of confirming what youre telling us. You tell us that you had an investigation at the State Farm Arena. I dont have any report. Ive never seen a report of investigation. I dont know that is. Ive been pretty involved in this, and I dont know. And thats just one of 25 categories. And it doesnt even. And as I, as the president said, we havent even gotten into the Dominion issue. Thats not part of our case. Its not part of, we just didnt feel as though we had any to be able to develop 

Trump: No, we do have a way, but I dont want to get into it. We found a way . . . excuse me, but we dont need it because were only down 11,000 votes, so we dont even need it. I personally think theyre corrupt as hell. But we dont need that. All we have to do, Cleta, is find 11,000-plus votes. So we dont need that. Im not looking to shake up the whole world. We won Georgia easily. We won it by hundreds of thousands of votes. But if you go by basic, simple numbers, we won it easily, easily. So were not giving Dominion a pass on the record. We dont need Dominion because we have so many other votes that we dont need to prove it any more than we already have.

Hilbert: Mr. President and Cleta, this is Kurt Hilbert, if I might interject for a moment. Ryan, I would like to suggest that just four categories that have already been mentioned by the president that have actually hard numbers of 24,149 votes that were counted illegally. That in and of itself is sufficient to change the results or place the outcome in doubt. We would like to sit down with your office, and we can do it through purposes of compromise and just like this phone call, just to deal with that limited category of votes. And if you are able to establish that our numbers are not accurate, then fine. However, we believe that they are accurate. Weve had now three to four separate experts looking at these numbers.



Trump: Certified accountants looked at them.

Hilbert: Correct. And this is just based on USPS data and your own secretary of state data. So thats what we would entreat and ask you to do, to sit down with us in a compromise and settlements proceeding and actually go through the registered voter IDs and the registrations. And if you can convince us that 24,149 is inaccurate, then fine. But we tend to believe that is, you know, obviously more than 11,779. Thats sufficient to change the results entirely in and of itself. So what would you say to that, Mr. Germany?

Germany: Im happy to get with our lawyers, and well set that up. That number is not accurate. And I think we can show you, for all the ones weve looked at, why its not. And so if that would be helpful, Im happy to get with our lawyers and set that up with you guys.

Trump: Well, let me ask you, Kurt, you think that is an accurate number. That was based on the information given to you by the secretary of states department, right?

Hilbert: That is correct. That information is the minimum, most conservative data based upon the USPS data and the secretary of states office data that has been made publicly available. We do not have the internal numbers from the secretary of state. Yet we have asked for it six times. I sent a letter over to . . . several times requesting this information, and its been rebuffed every single time. So it stands to reason that if the information is not forthcoming, theres something to hide. Thats the problem that we have.

Germany: Well, thats not the case, sir. There are things that you guys are entitled to get. And theres things that under law, we are not allowed to give out.

Trump: Well, you have to. Well, under law, youre not allowed to give faulty election results, okay? Youre not allowed to do that. And thats what you done. This is a faulty election result. And honestly, this should go very fast. You should meet tomorrow because you have a big election coming up, and because of what youve done to the president  you know, the people of Georgia know that this was a scam  and because of what youve done to the president, a lot of people arent going out to vote. And a lot of Republicans are going to vote negative because they hate what you did to the president. Okay? They hate it. And theyre going to vote. And you would be respected. Really respected, if this thing could be straightened out before the election. You have a big election coming up on Tuesday. And I think that it is really is important that you meet tomorrow and work out on these numbers. Because I know, Brad, that if you think were right, I think youre going to say, and Im not looking to blame anybody, Im just saying, you know, and, you know, under new counts, and under new views, of the election results, we won the election. You know? Its very simple. We won the election. As the governors of major states and the surrounding states said, there is no way you lost Georgia. As the Georgia politicians say, there is no way you lost Georgia. Nobody. Everyone knows I won it by hundreds of thousands of votes. But Ill tell you its going to have a big impact on Tuesday if you guys dont get this thing straightened out fast.

Meadows: Mr. President, this is Mark. It sounds like weve got two different sides agreeing that we can look at those areas, and I assume that we can do that within the next 24 to 48 hours, to go ahead and get that reconciled so that we can look at the two claims and making sure that we get the access to the secretary of states data to either validate or invalidate the claims that have been made. Is that correct?

Germany: No, thats not what I said. Im happy to have our lawyers sit down with Kurt and the lawyers on that side and explain to him, hey, heres, based on what weve looked at so far, heres how we know this is wrong, this is wrong, this is wrong, this is wrong, this is wrong.

Meadows: So what youre saying, Ryan, let me let me make sure . . . so what youre saying is you really dont want to give access to the data. You just want to make another case on why the lawsuit is wrong?

Germany: I dont think we can give access to data thats protected by law. But we can sit down with them and say 

Trump: But youre allowed to have a phony election? Youre allowed to have a phony election, right?



Germany: No, sir.

Trump: When are you going to do signature counts, when are you going to do signature verification on Fulton County, which you said you were going to do, and now all of a sudden, youre not doing it. When are you doing that?



Germany: We are going to do that. Weve announced 

Hilbert: To get to this issue of the personal information and privacy issue, is it possible that the secretary of state could deputize the lawyers for the president so that we could access that information and private information without you having any kind of violation?

Trump: Well, I dont want to know who it is. You guys can do it very confidentially. You can sign a confidentiality agreement. Thats okay. I dont need to know names. But on this stuff that were talking about, we got all that information from the secretary of state.



Meadows: Yeah. So let me let me recommend, Ryan, if you and Kurt will get together, you know, when we get off of this phone call, if you could get together and work out a plan to address some of what weve got with your attorneys where we can we can actually look at the data. For example, Mr. Secretary, I can you say they were only two dead people who would vote. I can promise you there are more than that. And that may be what your investigation shows, but I can promise you there are more than that. But at the same time, I think its important that we go ahead and move expeditiously to try to do this and resolve it as quickly as we possibly can. And if thats the good next step. Hopefully we can, we can finish this phone call and go ahead and agree that the two of you will get together immediately.

Trump: Well, why dont my lawyers show you where you got the information. It will show the secretary of state, and you dont even have to look at any names. We dont want names. We dont care. But we got that information from you. And Stacey Abrams is laughing about you. Shes going around saying these guys are dumber than a rock. What shes done to this party is unbelievable, I tell you. And I only ran against her once. And that was with a guy named Brian Kemp, and I beat her. And if I didnt run, Brian wouldnt have had even a shot, either in the general or in the primary. He was dead, dead as a doornail. He never thought he had a shot at either one of them. What a schmuck I was. But thats the way it is. Thats the way it is. I would like you . . . for the attorneys . . . Id like you to perhaps meet with Ryan, ideally tomorrow, because I think we should come to a resolution of this before the election. Otherwise youre going to have people just not voting. They dont want to vote. They hate the state, they hate the governor, and they hate the secretary of state. I will tell you that right now. The only people that like you are people that will never vote for you. You know that, Brad, right? They like you, you know, they like you. They cant believe what they found. They want more people like you. So, look, can you get together tomorrow? And, Brad, we just want the truth. Its simple.



And everyones going to look very good if the truth comes out. Its okay. It takes a little while, but let the truth come out. And the real truth is, I won by 400,000 votes. At least. Thats the real truth. But we dont need 400,000 votes. We need less than 2,000 votes. And are you guys able to meet tomorrow, Ryan?



Germany: Ill get with Chris, the lawyer whos representing us in the case, and see when he can get together with Kurt.

Raffensperger: Ryan will be in touch with the other attorney on this call, Mr. Meadows. Thank you, President Trump, for your time.

Trump: Okay, thank you, Brad. Thank you, Ryan. Thank you. Thank you, everybody. Thank you very much. Bye.

An earlier version of the full audio of Trumps call inadvertently left in a reference to an individual about whom he has made unsubstantiated claims. It has since been updated.
JB Hi-Fi has surprised the market with better than expected results despite a spending slowdown, but the electronic retailers boss, Terry Smart, is under no illusions about the looming tough slog as customers shy away from big purchases.

While the retailer has so far managed to ride out the belt-tightening by consumers, Smart said it was clear that the economic environment was getting tougher.

JB Hi-Fi chief executive Terry Smart says the retailers low-price focus comes at a time when shoppers demand more value. Credit: Eamon Gallagher

Its just absolutely challenging out there ... We anticipate that it is going to remain more challenging in the market, he said.

Shares in the $5.3 billion retailer picked up on Monday despite the retailer posting a 3.7 per cent dip in the 2023 financial year profit to $524.6 million. Sales in the last quarter slowed appreciably, dropping 1.8 per cent across JB Hi-Fis Australian stores and 12 per cent across The Good Guys stores.
Each year, the outlook for Q+A gets even bleaker, and new analysis of audience figures indicates the once-vaunted shows move back to Monday nights might not have been the ratings booster the national broadcaster had hoped it would be.

The ABC has spent years trying to make the show work, finding new hosts and new timeslots, but more recently audiences have been declining at a significant rate.

In its heyday, Q+A was a must-watch television show for many Australians.

After 10 years running on a Monday night, the program moved to Thursdays at the end of 2020. Director of the ABCs entertainment and specialist division, Michael Carrington said at the time the broadcaster discovered audiences now look for content elsewhere around 9pm, justifying the shows move to an 8.30pm prime-time slot on Thursdays.

Some still watch the ABC but others might watch a [subscription] streaming service. In an era of declining budgets, we want to use the money we have to attract and engage the biggest audiences.
Whod want to be the subject of a documentary, to have their lives  or versions of them  put on display for all the world to see? In perpetuity? Yes, it might give you fame for 15 minutes, but would the angst be worth it? Maybe youd see it as a chance to tell your untold story and have people listen? Its your choice, of course, for whatever reasons, but Subject (US, 2022), a new documentary that has just made its Down Under debut on DocPlay, offers a cautionary tale about the risks involved.

One of the documentaries explored in Subject is The Staircase, which examines the trial of Michael Peterson (accused of murdering wife Kathleen) and the impact it has on their family, including adopted daughters Margaret and Martha Ratliff (pictured).

Made by Jennifer Tiexiera and Camilla Hall, it primarily concerns itself with the impact of one-off films or mini-series on those who are sharing their stories with the filmmakers. Featuring interviewee testimonies, it examines half a dozen documentaries in detail: The Staircase (France, 2004-2018, Netflix), The Square (UK, 2013), Hoop Dreams (US, 1994, Stan & DocPlay), The Wolfpack (US, 2015, DocPlay), Capturing the Friedmans (US, 2003, DocPlay) and Minding the Gap (US, 2018, DocPlay). Numerous others are referred to in passing.

Theyre all cases where filmmakers have needed to seek permission from people to enter their private spaces or circumstances and make films about them. The issues that emerge run parallel to those that arise between journalists and those they interview on the record, and each of the situations is what one might classify as in the public interest. Such as the consequences for a family when a father is accused of murdering his wife, as in The Staircase, or of being a paedophile, as in Capturing the Friedmans.

Subject begins by suggesting that the language being used in describing the relationships between those behind the camera and those in front of it is crucial. Instead of calling interviewees subjects, it proposes that thinking of them as participants might go some way towards adjusting the power balance. Which is why, as the films title appears on screen at the start, a line is slowly drawn through it.
Fugro has completed the site survey and inspection of an offshore gas platform in UAE waters entirely from an onshore remote operations centre (ROC) using its Blue Essence technology without sending personnel offshore.

Having commissioned the regions first-ever government-licensed USV (uncrewed surface vessel) in early 2023, Fugro has successfully completed its first USV operation for a client in the Middle East. The Fugro Pegasus USV (part of the Blue Essence fleet) was mobilised for Chinese operator Atlantis in early June to perform a subsea survey and inspection of the UAQ3 platform within the Umm Al Quwain gas field.

This pioneering operation was executed from Fugros onshore remote operations centre (ROC) in Dubai using a specialist team of mariners and surveyors. The Fugro Pegasus USV was equipped with a Blue Volta electric remotely operated vehicle (eROV), which was used to inspect the integrity of the platforms structure and generate a detailed map of the surrounding seabed.

Real-time data reviewing

The data collected was streamed to the ROC, allowing Atlantis to review the data in real-time during the operation. This enabled the team to quickly identify and investigate areas of further interest to develop a comprehensive risk assessment for the clients upcoming decommissioning programme.

The Blue Essence USV fleet forms part of Fugros remote & autonomous operations programme to deliver market-leading Geo-data insights to its clients with improved efficiency, safety and sustainability.

Thanks to their economical design and optimised fuel system, the USVs eliminate carbon emissions by 95% versus conventional vessels and can spend up to two weeks at sea without refuelling. Furthermore, the ability to remove personnel from the offshore environment significantly reduces health and safety risks and creates the opportunity to build a more localised and diversified workforce onshore.

Remote survey technology

Patrick Boyce, Drilling Manager at Atlantis (UAQ) ltd, said: Fugros remote survey technology aligned seamlessly with our projects HSEQ, technical goals and was the most attractive commercial choice. The Fugro Pegasus was able to mobilise on time and despite difficult sea conditions, it completed the full scope of work in 40% of the allotted time frame.

The USV operation was managed by the technical team at the very impressive Fugro ROC. Communications with the USV were strong throughout and provided excellent imaging results. Of particular note was the evident expertise and professionalism of the Fugro team, who have obviously dedicated many months to honing their execution procedures.

Hannes Swiegers, Fugros Director of IRM Services & Remote Operations for the Middle East and India, said: This is a significant milestone for our Middle East business and demonstrates how novel technologies can play a key part in delivering our clients long-term safety, sustainability and in-country value (ICV) ambitions. Together with our clients, we are setting a new standard in Geo-data acquisition and analysis through continuous innovation, reducing unnecessary time, risk and carbon emissions. This new era of remote and autonomous technology will define the future of offshore operations in the energy sector and contribute towards a safer and more sustainable world.-- TradeArabia News Service
In Finland, the speaker of Parliament Jussi Halla-aho became a presidential candidate. It is known that the politician donated to the AFU and even ordered from the Ukrainian army an inscription on the shell, which was used against the Russian occupiers.

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About the fact that Halla-aho will run for President from the political party "True Finns", reported the publication Yle. It is noted that in his speech the politician criticized the Finnish media for the desire "to see a left-wing government at the head of the country" and called to get rid of dependence on China.

The politician said that True Finns has been criticized on many issues, including that their policies play into the hands of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In his opinion, the media has also repeatedly indoctrinated people that immigration is a good thing and made them support climate policies that harm Finns but do not affect climate change.

It should be noted that in January 2023, Jussi Halla-aho ordered an artillery shell inscription through the Ukrainian service SignMyRocket. He reported about the purchase on his Facebook page. The post was a kind of politician's response to a discussion in the Helsingin Sanomat newspaper about how far demonization of the enemy can go.

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"If killing Russian soldiers is right and necessary in the current situation, also everything that contributes to it is right and necessary," Halla-aho said at the time.

As reported by OBOZREVATEL:

- in June 2023, an officer of the Home Front Service of the Finnish Defense Forces received an award from the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhny. He was awarded the badge "For assistance to the army";

- Russians started to actively sell their dachas in Finland. Announcements began to appear en masse after the announcement of tougher rules of entry into the country for Russian real estate owners;

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- Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said that Ukraine should decide for itself when it is ready for possible negotiations with the aggressor country Russia on the end of the war. No other state should put pressure on Kiev on this issue.

Only verified information at our Telegram channel Obozrevatel and in Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
A man has been arrested after allegedly threatening crew and passengers on board a Malaysia Airlines flight bound for Kuala Lumpur, which was forced to return to Sydney Airport because of the midair emergency incident.

Flight MH122 departed Sydney Airport at 1.06pm but turned back while over the north-west of NSW after passengers reported that a man on board had become aggressive. The plane landed at the airport at 3.47pm and passengers were stuck on the tarmac for three hours as Australian Federal Police responded to the incident.

Passengers disembark from Malaysia Airlines flight MH122. Credit: @chzaib/@jawadmnazir

The Airbus A330 was parked on the taxiway at the southern end of the main north-south runway, far from the terminals and other planes, before federal police boarded the plane and arrested the 45-year-old man.

A spokesperson for the AFP said the man was expected to be charged.
The tribunal decision says it could not order Peter Rowland Group to pay Sabbatini because she launched legal action nine days after quitting, and equal pay orders could be made only for current employees. Even if she was still employed, it could only lift her wage, not order backpay for the time spent being underpaid. It is difficult to read Section 302 [of the Fair Work Act] as indicative of an intention that equal remuneration orders could operate to remedy past instances of unequal remuneration, the decision said. I think its unreal, Sabbatini said. Something like that should never happen, especially in Australia, which I believe [is] a pretty fair country to live in. I needed to get out of that place. University of Adelaide labour law expert Andrew Stewart said the case was significant because it confirmed individuals could only use equal pay provisions if they remained with their employer.

Most employees do not take their employers to court, he said. So its going to take a brave employee to run a similar claim. Stewart said the provisions were designed to address structural inequality for large groups of workers, such as historically low-paid female-dominated industries, but nothing stopped a single person from using them. Sabbatini says a pay disparity such as hers should never happen, especially in Australia. Credit: Justin McManus Anti-discrimination laws, at federal and state levels, were an alternative to remedy past pay injustices for individuals, such as women who suffered wage inequity, he said. But they were often inaccessible. Except in South Australia and Queensland, discrimination laws effectively require you to pursue a claim in court to get any legal remedies, Stewart said, explaining this protracted, formal process also meant an applicant might have to pay their employers legal fees.

Cost, delay, uncertainty of outcome  theres a reason why we dont tend to see equal pay matters being brought by individuals, even under discrimination laws, he said. But I think that says something. Theres a huge amount of evidence about a lack of pay equity in our society. Sabbatinis case, Stewart said, does help strengthen the argument that, if this case is going to be a discrimination remedy, shouldnt there be a more effective system  particularly for unrepresented, un-unionised workers  to have their claim dealt with in a fairly quick way? Loading I certainly would see that as involving conciliation and the Fair Work Commission. And then if that didnt succeed, a Fair Work court thats set up to operate quickly. Professor Dominique Allen, a Monash University labour law expert, said discrimination laws required workers to prove to a higher legal standard, which was often difficult without costly legal help.

You would have to show she was treated less favourably because of her sex. Its often hard to show that link, she said. Sabbatini said her kitchen colleagues were stunned she was paid less, particularly as executive chef Shannon McKay had asked the company to pay all casual chefs a $65,000 annual salary when they were put on full-time contracts in December 2021. McKay is now in a relationship with Sabbatini. The Fair Work decision notes one male fellow chef de partie was paid the same as Sabbatini for a time. But he started his full-time wage on January 4, 2022  about four months before Sabbatini was offered hers. The male chef left in July 2022. Peter Rowland Group is known for its fine-dining catering. Credit: Simon Schluter Two other chefs on $80,000 also began their contracts in January 2022, the Fair Work decision says. A third on $80,000 started full-time in December 2022.

They just treated me with the least respect I can get. And I just felt it was because I am a woman, first, and second, because Im not an Australian citizen, Sabbatini said. Elena Sabbatinis burns after a workplace accident. After joining Peter Rowland Group in April 2021, Sabbatini said, her life revolved around work  and she embraced it. She moved to Docklands to be close to the kitchen, often worked considerable overtime to finish well after dusk while starting before dawn, and took on extra jobs. I used to love working there. I used to love the team. And I really didnt care much [about money], she said. Last December, her aunt who raised her died in Italy. Having to stay in Australia to eventually gain residency, Sabbatini could not fly back to say goodbye. She said she came to work instead to see kitchen colleagues she considered her Australian family. She ended the day in hospital with accidental burns to her right arm.

During that time, I was feeling extremely depressed, Sabbatini said. Out of curiosity, I asked one of the [other] chef de partie  a good friend  how much they were getting paid. I saw black  all I could see was all the sacrifices that I gave for the company. It wasnt about money  it never was. It was just the way they treated me. Peter Rowland Groups Docklands headquarters. Credit: Justin McManus The way they just didnt give a damn about me. Peter Rowland Groups eponymous founder established the business in 1962 before it developed a reputation for fine-dining catering at prestigious events such as the Melbourne Cup and for Rich Listers such as Kerry Packer.

The business, once known as Peter Rowland Catering, encountered financial difficulty in the mid-2010s. It collapsed in 2017 before Melbourne-based developer and investment firm Capital Alliance paid $3.6 million and took on the wound-up companys $7 million in debt, forming the current group. Peter Rowland Group declined to comment.
Mining pioneer Lang Hancock penned a letter threatening to remove his daughter Gina Rinehart from the family empire for disloyalty after she allegedly tried to have his new wife Rose Porteous deported, and left the country with her mothers will.

The letter was read in the West Australian Supreme Court by lawyers for Rineharts children Bianca and John Hancock, who have joined a multibillion-dollar court battle for a stake in Hancock Prospectings iron ore mines.

Bianca Rinehart enters court flanked by lawyers, with Christopher Withers SC on the left. Credit: AFR

Lawyer Christopher Withers produced letters from 1985 he said laid bare the declining relationship between Lang Hancock and his daughter, and showed her removal as a director of the empire was the product of her own conduct.

In them, Withers said Gina referred to Porteous, who Lang had wed that same year, as an oriental concubine and a prostitute before berating Lang for the way he was administering the company.
Singapore: Glove-making giant Ansell has been accused of leaving workers from Myanmar high and dry and afraid of being forced back to their conflict-ravaged home country after laying them off suddenly from its factory in Thailand.

The ASX-listed personal protective manufacturer employs hundreds of Burmese migrants on the production line of its facility east of Bangkok, which is a key operation in its global supply chain.

Ansells factory in Thailand is at Lat Krabang, an industrial district east of the capital. Credit: Supplied

But migrant worker advocates and leading human rights lawyers claim the company has left workers at risk of forced labour and human trafficking by severely underpaying them in compensation packages after they were abruptly told last month that they would no longer have jobs.

We are very worried about our future, said one of the 42 retrenched workers, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of concern about how they could be treated.
The World Customs Organization (WCO), in partnership with the CEMAC Commission, organized meetings of the Committee of Tariff and Nomenclature, and the Committee of Origin from 1 to 4 August 2023 in Douala, Cameroun. The meetings were hosted by the Ministry of Finance of Cameroun and were organized under the EU funded programmes for HS and Origin Africa.

Both Committees, in the context of the established work plan with CEMAC Commission, worked to enhance the capacities of CEMAC Commission and its Member States for better management of tariff matters and to ensure full implementation of the 2022 edition of the Harmonized System. The meetings were attended by Origin and Tariff experts from Cameroun, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon, as well as representatives of the International Monetary Fund, the AfCFTA Secretariat and UNCTAD.

In their opening remarks, Mr. Mbogo Ngabo SELI, Commissioner in charge of CEMAC Common Market Department, and Mr. Samuel Desire KWEDI, Head of Delegation of Cameroonian Customs, expressed their appreciation to the European Union and WCO for the continuous support provided under the HS Africa Programme. They highlighted the outstanding work and efforts undertaken since 2019 that resulted in the establishment of a migration matrix to implement the HS amendments, followed by several technical meetings and targeted technical assistance that concluded with the implementation of the HS 2017 in all member states in 2021, and dedicated support for the migration to the HS 2022. They stressed the importance of this meeting to give another impetus for all CEMAC countries in finalizing the migration to the latest edition of HS. Furthermore, they invited the representatives of the Customs Administrations and other experts who had joined the proceedings by invitation to examine the draft texts establishing the Committees of Tariff and Origin, respectively submitted for consideration, with a view to ultimately achieving economic development and a better integration of the CEMAC zone.

In addition, they welcomed the EU WCO new programme of Origin as a great opportunity for the region to modernize its practices and work model as well as building sustainable capacities and competences that shall benefit the region and facilitate efficient implementation of the AfCFTA.

The meetings were a driver to support all countries to finalize the migration to the HS 2022, considering that Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of Congo, and Equatorial Guinea have not yet implemented to latest version of the HS. One of the objectives of this meeting was to take stock of the state of play in the migration process, the challenges hindering the migration to HS 2022 and the support needed for each country. It was also an opportunity for countries that successfully migrated to share experience and best practices, as well as to project forward for a seamless implementation of the next editions of the HS.

During the meetings, the legal texts establishing the CEMAC committees of Tariff and Nomenclature and Origin were reviewed and adopted at technical level. The Origin Committee also revised and adopted the regulation relating to the approval procedure for products originating from CEMAC, which shall contribute to facilitating trade and in implementing self-certification. All adopted legal texts shall be submitted to the Council of Ministers of the Union of Central African States for validation. The meetings were concluded with a way forward to assist all members in implementing the HS 2022 by the end of the year.

The meetings proceedings have seen active contribution and participation of experts from IMF and UNCTAD. The WCO EU HS and Origin Africa programmes worked in full complementarity with the support provided by the different initiatives of IMF and UNCTAD in the region. The WCO shall further build upon these partnerships to provide meaningful and impactful support to CEMAC Commission and its members.

For more details, please contact wcoHSAfrica@wcoomd.org.
Moldova will terminate the agreement signed within the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) on the establishment of the Joint Consultative Commission on Disarmament. On Monday, 14 August, the country's Cabinet of Ministers approved the denunciation of this document.

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This was reported on the website of the Ministry of Defence of Moldova. It noted that Chisinau did not comply with the provisions of the CIS agreement.

"The agreement concluded in Bishkek on 9 October 1992 was not implemented by our state in view of the fact that at the time of the establishment of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Republic of Moldova excluded cooperation in the military and political sphere, which contradicts the principles of sovereignty and independence of our state," the statement said.

The ministry added that Moldova ensures the fulfilment of its international obligations in terms of legal restrictions on arms and military technology. To this end, Chisinau is implementing the provisions of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe of 1 July 1992 and the Vienna Document 2011 on Confidence and Security Building Measures.

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Earlier, on 20 July, the Moldovan parliament approved in the second reading the draft denunciation of the Convention on the Interparliamentary Assembly of the CIS. The PAS MPs also denounced the CIS Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Prevention and Elimination of Consequences of Natural and Man-made Disasters.

The Moldovan authorities also plan to terminate agreements on mutual assistance in the event of accidents and other emergencies at power plants in the CIS countries, on the return of cultural and historical property to the states of origin, on strategic forces, on the armed forces and border troops, and on cooperation in the field of labour protection, NewsMaker reports.

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As OBOZREVATEL previously reported, Moldova has officially terminated cooperation between its Information and Security Service (SIS) and the Federal Security Service (FSB) of the Russian Federation. Legally, the agreement was denounced on 31 July 2023.

Only verified information is available on our Obozrevatel Telegram channel, Threads and Viber. Don't fall for fakes!
WSU Board of Trustees appoints new chair, 4 new members

August 14, 2023

OGDEN, Utah  Ogden native and former corporate executive and legal counsel for Citigroup Karla Bergeson was elected as chair of Weber State Universitys Board of Trustees at its annual orientation meeting today.

Bergeson, who was appointed to the Board of Trustees in 2017 and served as vice chair since 2021, thanked the board members for their trust in her leadership.

I am honored and privileged to serve as chair of Weber State Universitys Board of Trustees, Bergeson said. I look forward to working with this amazing team of trustees and doing everything in our power to better foster student success. One way our board can help our students succeed is to continue to build on WSUs successful collaborations with the community, businesses, local schools and Hill Air Force Base.

She succeeds Kearston Cutrubus, who has led the board since 2021. Bergeson is a former executive vice president and deputy general counsel for Citigroups credit card business in the U.S., where she worked for 23 years before retiring and returning home to Utah. She received an honorary degree from Weber State and delivered the commencement address in 2017. She said shes also proud to serve on Weber States National Advisory Council.

Weber State alum Keith Titus was elected as the boards vice chair. Titus is president and CEO at MarketStar, an Ogden-based global sales organization, and joined the board in 2021. He also serves on the Ogden School District Foundation and the WSU National Advisory Council.

Eight of the universitys 10 trustees are appointed by Utahs governor and approved by the Utah Senate before being sworn in. Appointees are eligible to serve two four-year terms.

Four new members also joined the board at its Aug. 14 meeting:

Lori Belnap Pehrson, retired Northrop Grumman executive and member of WSUs National Advisory Council

Casey Hill, a partner with Lincoln Hill lobbying firm

Monet Maggelet, a former elementary school teacher and program officer at Call to Action Foundation & Call Foundation

Tammy Gallegos, executive vice president and chief strategic engagement officer with America First Credit Union

Other appointed members of the board include Donald Salazar and Brent Bishop.

Weber State student body president Ashley Potokar and Alumni Association president Rob Higginson serve in non-appointed positions for one- and two-year terms respectively.

WSU President Brad Mortensen thanked the following outgoing members for their work on the board: Amanda Covington, Kearston Cutrubus, Louenda Downs and Karen Fairbanks.

More information about the Board of Trustees is available on the website.
Two citizens of the terrorist country Russia have been detained in Poland for distributing propaganda materials of the Wagner group. The Russians were engaged in their activities in Krakow and Warsaw.

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The detainees were announced on suspicion of espionage. This was announced on Twitter by Polish Interior Minister Marusz Kaminski (to see the photo, scroll to the end of the page).

According to him, police officers and employees of the Internal Security Agency learned about the activities of the two Russians on Polish territory. The suspects were arrested.

"The Internal Security Agency, in cooperation with the police, identified and detained two Russians distributing propaganda materials of the Wagner Group in Krakow and Warsaw. Both were announced charges, including espionage, and arrested," Kaminski said.

The news agency TNV24 reported that Russian citizens put up leaflets with the logo of PMC Wagner in Krakow on August 10 and in Warsaw on August 11. The Russians had more than three thousand propaganda materials, which they received in Moscow. The stickers read "We are here. Join us," and also indicated a QR code.

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"Alexei T. and Andrei G. posted a total of about 300 leaflets in public places in Krakow and Warsaw indicated to them. In total, they were instructed to place materials in several hundred public places in both Polish cities," the report said.

According to the investigation, the Russians documented their activities by photographing places with propaganda materials. On the basis of the photographic materials they received remuneration. In total, they were to receive up to 500 thousand Russian rubles for the assigned tasks.

The prosecutor charged the detainees with activities for foreign intelligence purposes against the interests of the Republic of Poland, participation in an international criminal association of an armed nature aimed at committing crimes of a terrorist nature, recruitment of mercenaries prohibited by international law, and promotion of armed symbols of the Russian Federation.

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Recall, in the Polish Krakow appeared posters of the Russian terrorist organization PMC "Wagner". They contain contact information of the PMC.

Recently, mercenaries of the Russian private military company "Wagner" were spotted 2 km from the border with Poland. They had already made an attempt to break through from the territory of Belarus.

Earlier it was reported that Poland had moved troops to the border with Belarus. The military group was created to carry out the operation Rengaw.

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As reported OBOZREVATEL, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said that some fighters of PMC "Wagner" were deployed near the Lithuanian state border. The head of state emphasized that the presence of "Wagner fighters" in Belarus creates an additional risk factor for the security of his country.

Only verified information from us in Telegram-channel Obozrevatel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Reading, PA (19601)

Today

Partly sunny, very warm, and more humid; spotty late shower or t-storm possible, especially north, however most remain dry..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy. There might be a stray early shower or t-storm but most should stay dry. It will turn less humid overnight.
A key piece of the infrastructure of my childhood has been wiped away, and I didnt think it would hurt this much.

In truth, it was crumbling for years. But I gasped when my brother sent a photo of the spot where our northern New Jersey home once stood. The picture shows a void at the center of the large grassy lot, at the end of what is now the whisper of a driveway. The old house on the edge of the Watchung Reservation nature preserve  my old house  had kept families safe and warm since the year James Madison was elected president.

Earlier this year, that house was erased, without a care for my heart.

My parents, now gone, bought the place on Glenside Avenue in Summit in 1968. (They sold it in the 80s after we kids left.) Property records say it was built in 1808. It was ancient. The floors were not level and Dad discovered corn cobs in the walls for insulation. I suspect the recent demolition unleashed a torrent of cobs.

And there would have been sobs, had I known that house had an expiration date. I didnt cry when I got Mikes photo, but there was a creeping sense of heartbreak. Followed by a low hum of bewilderment: all that stuff on Glenside Avenue, in and around that home with the clanging radiators and the spooky basement and the big kitchen where my mother filled the air with singing and the fragrance of southern cooking  all of that really happened, didnt it?

Memories are weird. One second, theyre vivid and sweet; the next second, theyre blurry and you have doubts about their veracity. One moment, theyre solid, like the huge slab of rock that covered a primordial well behind our old house; then, theyre turning to mist and youre not sure you would swear to them in a court of law. But memories, however indistinct, are the portal to the world that was, and theyre a gift.

One night in the early 70s, at the height of the Cold War, I lay awake, looking through the window at strange flashes of light in the direction of New York City, 23 miles to the east. Petrified, I thought: this is it  the Soviets are taking out Manhattan and well all be dead in the morning. Not an unreasonable thought for a 14-year-old who had explored the remains of a Nike missile base just down Glenside Avenue.

It was heat lightning, I guess, not Brezhnev.

Another strange flashing light drew us all down to the kitchen one night. A pot of oil had caught fire on the stove, the flames rising in a column toward the ceiling. My mother, bare-handed and envisioning a fiery end to this old house, and to us, grabbed the pot by the handle and ran it outside. The oil sloshed onto her hands. It took some time for her burns to heal.

Perhaps, your flashbacks are like mine. Mowing. Ping-Pong. Arguments. Crying. Pimiento cheese sandwiches. No A/C. Ella and Sinatra on the console. Mom, in her South Carolina lilt, calling me Honey and Dad calling me Rimbert. Homemade banana ice cream. (Dad insisted, almost always, that we make banana. He said if we made peach, which I wanted, the fruit bits would freeze. We did try peach, once. I was vindicated: the peach bits stayed supple. He acknowledged it, grudgingly. Then, we kept making banana.)

Sometimes I wonder who slept in my room, pondering the world, in 1868 or 1928. Did they fret about loved ones at war? How great was the struggle during the Depression? And what about this piece of earth before 1808: Perhaps Lenape families lived at this spot near Blue Brook and Surprise Lake (or whatever they called those waters). No doubt the Lenape kids enjoyed the woods and hills I enjoyed. Maybe they made banana ice cream.

C.S. Lewis famously observed that we have loves and joys in this life that are sweet but somehow incomplete. Most people, if they had really learned to look into their own hearts, would know that they do want, and want acutely, something that cannot be had in this world. This feeling, this longing, suggests, Lewis said, that we were made for another world.

I think its like that with the idea of home. I could be wrong. My own interpretive grid (we are all interpreters of our lives) was demolished and rebuilt when, in college, I left an anemic agnosticism behind for the Christian faith. So forgive me for waxing theological: I submit that the treasured memories of home prefigure a future habitation where the yearnings and joys weve known here are maximized and fulfilled. I realize that many among us dont have happy memories of home that one would want maximized; all the more reason, I think, to hope for an archetypal home up yonder.

And if indeed home suggests heaven, its worth pointing out that the common after-life tropes involving celestial harp-playing and a lot of floating around have little to do with Scripture. The denouement of the Bible is actually quite earthy: a new heaven and a new earth are forecast. The ultimate restoration. Earth 2.0. This makes me wonder whether, in that remade world, we might find a supremely improved New Jersey (if thats possible), and a house like the one on Glenside Avenue, but with silent radiators and perfectly level floors. Who can say?

For now, take frequent inventory of your memories. Write a memoir. Take a lot of pictures. And talk to your kids about it all; I missed my opportunity to ask my parents several questions about that old house. I cant believe its gone.
A Pennsylvania man who suffered a medical emergency in the White Mountains of New Hampshire has died despite extensive efforts by rescue crews.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department said 21-year-old Jason Apreku of Stroudsburg was hiking with friends Friday when he collapsed on Mount Madison.

His friends called for help and began CPR while an Army National Guard helicopter was dispatched from Concord.

Severe wind kept the helicopter from reaching the hiker, however, and he later died.

Crews carried his body to a hut in below-freezing temperatures, and a helicopter brought him and the rescuers off the mountain Saturday morning.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania has accused the Central Bucks School District administration and lawyers of lying about facts in a report released last spring.

An amended complaint filed Monday says teacher Andrew Burgess is reporting discrimination.

The lawsuit filed in April against the district writes that Burgess says that the district retaliated against him for advocating for a transgender student.

The complaint goes on to say the District attacked Burgesss character, made false representations about him, and blamed him for the negative public attention the District had received.

The complaint alleges the district says Burgess did not get the students parents permission to file a complaint.

Burgess was suspended, he says.

69 News reached out to the Central Bucks School District for comment and have not heard back.
STROUNDSBURG, Pa. - The Monroe County Office of the District Attorney is trying to locate a New Jersey man they say is wanted for charges related to drug delivery resulting in death.

Authorities say in March, 33-year-old Steven Nitschke of Stroudsburg was found dead of an apparent drug overdose. An autopsy and toxicology tests revealed the cause of death to be fentanyl toxicity.

Investigators are seeking help from the community to locate 39-year-old Edwin Burgos of New Jersey. Police allege that Burgos, a coworker of Nitschke, delivered what he said was heroin to Steven just hours before he was found dead.

Police say the whereabouts of Burgos are unknown at this time but that he is known to frequent the East Stroudsburg area near the Eagle Valley Shopping Center.

Anyone with information on the location of Burgos is asked to call police.
Allentown, PA (18103)

Today

Partly sunny, very warm, and more humid; spotty late shower or t-storm possible, especially north, however most remain dry..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy. There might be a stray early shower or t-storm but most should stay dry. It will turn less humid overnight.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke positively about the summit in Saudi Arabia, which was held earlier this month to discuss the implementation of the Formula for Peace for Ukraine. The politician said that the diplomatic meeting was extremely important, but it was too early to draw conclusions.

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"In fact, this is just the beginning," - indicated the German chancellor on air ntv. He added that such meetings with such a large number of international participants had never been held before, especially welcoming the presence of China.

Scholz believes that Ukraine's allies should continue to seek a negotiated settlement to the military conflict. Of course, this is not to say that military aid to the Ukrainian army, forced to defend and liberate its own territories, should be cut.

"I am only pointing out that we should continue these negotiations because they very specifically increase the pressure on Russia. Moscow must realize that it is on the wrong track and must withdraw its troops, and then peace will be possible," the German state leader concluded.

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL reported that, according to the official Kyiv, the negotiations on the Ukrainian peace formula, which took place in Saudi Arabia, became a breakthrough for Ukraine. Our state showed that it is possible to rally global support around the plan proposed by President Zelensky to end the war started by Russia.

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Importantly, China's representative at this meeting demonstrated that it does not want to be Russia's ally. Beijing has made it clear that it is ready to participate in further international negotiations to end Russia's war in Ukraine.
Genomics research in Africa will improve global health

African populations are the most genetically diverse in the world, with thousands of different ethnolinguistic groups across the continent. Harnessing Africas unprecedented genetic diversity could provide clues to physiological adaptation and mechanisms of disease, and identify new drug targets. Yet, Africa remains underrepresented in genomic studies. Nephrologist Dr June Fabian, research director at the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre, noted that because of the lack of data, care for African patients can be compromised, with significant consequences in already constrained public health systems. Furthermore, the benefits of focusing on genomics research in Africa extend to global populations, all of whom have their origins in Africa.

"We have had a Eurocentric lens on precision medicine which discounts the broad genomic diversity on this continent," said June. Precision medicine individualises diagnosis and treatment for improved health. It considers genetic, biological and phenotype variations, which have been well-researched in the Global North. However, these genomic profiles cannot be applied to all healthcare contexts. Now, African clinicians and researchers are advocating for medical treatment beyond a "one size fits all" approach.

Professor Michele Ramsay, director of the Wits Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience, and June presented their lecture "Unlocking the Potential of Genomics for Precision Medicine" at the Wits School of Public Health Auditorium on Tuesday, 1 August 2023.

Building local research capacity could answer critical questions about non-communicable and rare diseases in Africa

Ramsay said there was an urgent need for local data and research to make medical treatments and treatment approaches fit for purpose on the continent. "The underrepresentation of African genomics in reference and disease-associated databases make it difficult to interpret the potential phenotypic consequences of DNA sequencing data."

The good news is that Wits is building the necessary research and clinical capacity. One example is an African longitudinal study cohort with over 12,000 older adults from four sub-Saharan African countries. The study, referred to as the Africa Wits-INDEPTH Partnership for Genomic Research (AWI-Gen), examines genetic and environmental contributions to cardiometabolic diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, kidney disease and diabetes. It is a partner of the Human Heredity and Health in Africa, the Data Science for Health Discovery and Innovation in Africa (DS-I Africa) and other international consortia.

"We use this data to demonstrate population sub-structure in Africa and its impact on disease-associated traits. In particular, we're looking at the genetic factors in cardiometabolic diseases and their interactions with environmental factors and behaviour. Since they all contribute to health and disease, we need more comprehensive data and innovative analysis approaches to understand them better," said Michele.

Indeed, there has been a significant increase in non-communicable diseases in Africa in the wake of increased urbanisation and Western lifestyles (in parallel with the persistent burden of infectious diseases). African genomic data will be a critical piece of the puzzle that seeks to understand the complex interplay between genetics, lifestyle and the environment. "African genome diversity can help to interpret the impact of genetic variation on the phenotype," she said.

Unlocking the potential of genomics in Africa can drive research and innovation in precision medicine. It can foster collaborations between African scientists, international researchers, and pharmaceutical companies, leading to advancements in diagnostics, therapeutics and preventative strategies. This will undoubtedly improve healthcare globally.

Steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome in South African children  why we need African genomic data

June discussed her research on chronic kidney disease in African populations. One study focuses on genetic mutations that cause a steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome in black South African children with focal glomerulosclerosis (a condition in which scar tissue develops in the kidney, causing impaired function). Screening for this mutation helps clinicians to identify a subgroup of children that dont respond to treatment, thus sparing them from unnecessary side effects.

Fabian's other study examines the association between apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) genetic variation and kidney function in African populations. Variants of the APOL1 gene were first identified in African Americans and traced back to West Africa, where the variants protect against African sleeping sickness. The downside of these variants is that they also cause kidney disease, explaining the increased risk for kidney disease in those of African ancestry. June and Michele found that patterns of APOL1-associated kidney disease in African populations differ from that in the USA highlighting the

need to validate research in African populations, rather than assume findings are the same.

Political will and equitable access are key to improving African-centered healthcare

Professor Amanda Krause, head of the Division of Human Genetics at the National Health Laboratory Services and Wits School of Pathology, responded to Professor Ramsay and Dr Fabian's presentations. "The overarching message of this lecture is that we need to translate this research potential into clinical settings." This capacity building requires political will (including government and multinational funding), equitable access, health systems infrastructure, drug development and clinical trials, and committed industry partnerships.

Krause echoed the concluding statement from the lecture: "To improve individual and public health outcomes, genomics research must be done in African populations, led by African investigators". New information uncovered by African genomics will undoubtedly lead to improved outcomes for Africans and populations worldwide.

Professor Shabir Madhi, Dean of Wits Faculty of Health Sciences commended Michele and June on their necessary research, particularly at the start of National Women's Month in South Africa. "We have a powerhouse of female researchers doing this work. We're immensely grateful and proud," he concluded.

-Ends-

Professor Michele Ramsay

Dr June Fabian

Caption (left to right)

Professor Maria Papathanasopoulos, Professor Michele Ramsay, Dr June Fabian, Professor Amanda Krause, Professor Shabir Madhi
Flanigans Enterprises, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:BDL  Get Free Report) was the target of a large increase in short interest during the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 2,800 shares, an increase of 86.7% from the July 15th total of 1,500 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 2,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.1 days. Currently, 0.5% of the companys stock are short sold.

Flanigans Enterprises Stock Down 2.8 %

BDL stock traded down $0.87 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $29.89. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,465 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,422. The company has a current ratio of 2.19, a quick ratio of 1.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30. Flanigans Enterprises has a twelve month low of $25.00 and a twelve month high of $33.33. The firm has a market capitalization of $55.60 million, a P/E ratio of 9.86 and a beta of 0.69.

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Flanigans Enterprises (NYSEAMERICAN:BDL  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 16th. The company reported $1.02 earnings per share for the quarter. Flanigans Enterprises had a return on equity of 7.64% and a net margin of 3.38%. The company had revenue of $43.80 million during the quarter.

Flanigans Enterprises Increases Dividend

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Flanigans Enterprises

The business also recently disclosed an annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 26th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 12th were issued a $0.45 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 1.5%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 9th. This is an increase from Flanigans Enterprisess previous annual dividend of $0.30. Flanigans Enterprisess dividend payout ratio is presently 14.85%.

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. EA Series Trust acquired a new stake in Flanigans Enterprises in the 2nd quarter valued at about $303,000. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Flanigans Enterprises by 61.5% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 19,502 shares of the companys stock valued at $677,000 after buying an additional 7,427 shares during the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors bought a new position in shares of Flanigans Enterprises during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $114,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in shares of Flanigans Enterprises by 3.5% during the 3rd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 60,984 shares of the companys stock worth $1,556,000 after acquiring an additional 2,039 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BlackRock Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Flanigans Enterprises by 41.1% during the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 3,033 shares of the companys stock worth $93,000 after acquiring an additional 884 shares during the last quarter. 10.50% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Flanigans Enterprises Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Flanigan's Enterprises, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates a chain of full-service restaurants and package liquor stores in South Florida. It operates in two segments, Package Stores and Restaurants. The company operates package liquor stores under the Big Daddy's Liquors name, which offer private label liquors, beer, and wines; and restaurants under the Flanigan's Seafood Bar and Grill service mark that provide alcoholic beverages and full food services.

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1834 Investment Advisors Co. grew its holdings in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO  Free Report) by 7.0% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 194,599 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 12,773 shares during the period. Altria Group makes up about 1.0% of 1834 Investment Advisors Co.s holdings, making the stock its 26th biggest position. 1834 Investment Advisors Co.s holdings in Altria Group were worth $8,683,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Ruedi Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. Ellevest Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 346.7% in the 1st quarter. Ellevest Inc. now owns 670 shares of the companys stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 520 shares during the period. NewSquare Capital LLC grew its holdings in Altria Group by 153.8% during the 1st quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 731 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 443 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dark Forest Capital Management LP acquired a new stake in Altria Group during the 4th quarter valued at $34,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 58.38% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the company. Citigroup lowered their target price on Altria Group from $49.50 to $47.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 17th. StockNews.com upgraded Altria Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, July 4th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $46.00.

Altria Group Stock Performance

Shares of MO traded down $0.13 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $43.60. The stock had a trading volume of 2,475,838 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,718,791. The firm has a market cap of $77.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.48, a P/E/G ratio of 2.34 and a beta of 0.59. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $44.93 and its 200 day simple moving average is $45.57. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $40.35 and a 12-month high of $51.57.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The company reported $1.31 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $1.31. The business had revenue of $5.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.43 billion. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 225.61% and a net margin of 27.40%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.26 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 4.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 15th were issued a $0.94 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, June 14th. This represents a $3.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 8.62%. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 98.69%.

Altria Group Profile

(Free Report)

Altria Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company provides cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; cigars and pipe tobacco principally under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco products and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; and on! oral nicotine pouches.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO  Free Report).

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Altman Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:MFG  Free Report) during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 404,223 shares of the banks stock, valued at approximately $1,156,000.

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of MFG. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Mizuho Financial Group by 37.1% during the 1st quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 26,174 shares of the banks stock worth $67,000 after purchasing an additional 7,076 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its position in shares of Mizuho Financial Group by 50.8% during the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 29,691 shares of the banks stock worth $75,000 after buying an additional 10,008 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James & Associates lifted its position in shares of Mizuho Financial Group by 236.2% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 187,439 shares of the banks stock worth $482,000 after buying an additional 131,695 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its position in shares of Mizuho Financial Group by 23.7% during the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 295,682 shares of the banks stock worth $760,000 after buying an additional 56,594 shares during the last quarter. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. lifted its position in shares of Mizuho Financial Group by 25.4% during the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 547,629 shares of the banks stock worth $1,407,000 after buying an additional 110,837 shares during the last quarter. 0.62% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Mizuho Financial Group Trading Down 1.2 %

Mizuho Financial Group stock traded down $0.04 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $3.22. The stock had a trading volume of 129,992 shares, compared to its average volume of 989,023. The company has a quick ratio of 0.94, a current ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.39. The stock has a market cap of $40.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.81, a P/E/G ratio of 0.90 and a beta of 0.49. Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. has a one year low of $2.10 and a one year high of $3.47. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $3.15 and its 200-day simple moving average is $3.06.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Mizuho Financial Group ( NYSE:MFG Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Monday, May 15th. The bank reported $0.04 EPS for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $11.12 billion during the quarter. Mizuho Financial Group had a return on equity of 6.80% and a net margin of 9.91%. On average, equities analysts predict that Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. will post 0.35 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Several brokerages recently weighed in on MFG. StockNews.com began coverage on Mizuho Financial Group in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Mizuho Financial Group from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, July 20th.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Mizuho Financial Group

Mizuho Financial Group Company Profile

(Free Report)

Mizuho Financial Group, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in banking, trust, securities, and other businesses related to financial services in Japan, the Americas, Europe, Asia/Oceania, and internationally. It operates through Retail & Business Banking Company, Corporate & Institutional Company, Global Corporate Company, Global Markets Company, Asset Management Company, and Others segments.

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Altman Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS  Free Report) during the first quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor purchased 14,709 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,353,734,000. Novartis makes up approximately 1.2% of Altman Advisors Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 28th biggest holding.

Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Novartis by 18.3% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 1,556,539 shares of the companys stock valued at $136,587,000 after acquiring an additional 240,710 shares during the period. Dakota Wealth Management lifted its holdings in shares of Novartis by 3.9% during the first quarter. Dakota Wealth Management now owns 4,869 shares of the companys stock valued at $427,000 after acquiring an additional 185 shares during the period. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Novartis by 42.4% during the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 10,996 shares of the companys stock valued at $965,000 after acquiring an additional 3,272 shares during the period. Baird Financial Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Novartis by 4.5% during the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 95,477 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,379,000 after acquiring an additional 4,122 shares during the period. Finally, Zions Bancorporation N.A. lifted its holdings in shares of Novartis by 22.8% during the first quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 3,528 shares of the companys stock valued at $309,000 after acquiring an additional 655 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.07% of the companys stock.

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Novartis Trading Down 0.1 %

NVS stock traded down $0.11 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $103.48. The stock had a trading volume of 333,399 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,013,040. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $100.98 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $95.60. The company has a quick ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. The firm has a market cap of $219.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.67, a PEG ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 0.54. Novartis AG has a twelve month low of $74.09 and a twelve month high of $105.61.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Novartis ( NYSE:NVS Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 19th. The company reported $1.83 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.68 by $0.15. The firm had revenue of $13.62 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.32 million. Novartis had a return on equity of 25.12% and a net margin of 14.76%. The companys revenue was up 6.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.56 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that Novartis AG will post 6.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

NVS has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. BTIG Research lifted their price objective on Novartis from $75.00 to $85.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Novartis in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a strong-buy rating for the company. HSBC assumed coverage on Novartis in a report on Friday, July 14th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised Novartis from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $82.25.

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Novartis Company Profile

(Free Report)

Novartis AG researches, develops, manufactures, and markets healthcare products in Switzerland and internationally. The company operates through two segments: Innovative Medicines and Sandoz. The Innovative Medicines segment offers prescription medicines for patients and physicians. It also provides cardiovascular, ophthalmology, neuroscience, immunology, hematology, and solid tumor products.

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Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:AIT  Get Free Report) saw a large increase in short interest during the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 470,700 shares, an increase of 20.2% from the July 15th total of 391,500 shares. Approximately 1.2% of the companys shares are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 167,400 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.8 days.

Applied Industrial Technologies Stock Up 0.7 %

Shares of NYSE:AIT traded up $1.08 during trading on Friday, hitting $152.60. The stock had a trading volume of 286,148 shares, compared to its average volume of 164,055. Applied Industrial Technologies has a 12 month low of $96.43 and a 12 month high of $156.53. The company has a market capitalization of $5.90 billion, a PE ratio of 17.26 and a beta of 1.21. The firms fifty day moving average is $141.82 and its 200 day moving average is $138.00. The company has a quick ratio of 2.04, a current ratio of 3.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41.

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Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE:AIT  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 10th. The industrial products company reported $2.35 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.17 by $0.18. The company had revenue of $1.16 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.12 billion. Applied Industrial Technologies had a return on equity of 25.62% and a net margin of 7.86%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 9.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.02 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Applied Industrial Technologies will post 9.2 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Applied Industrial Technologies Dividend Announcement

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 31st. Investors of record on Tuesday, August 15th will be paid a $0.35 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 14th. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.92%. Applied Industrial Technologiess payout ratio is currently 15.84%.

AIT has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. KeyCorp upped their price target on Applied Industrial Technologies from $162.00 to $182.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Applied Industrial Technologies in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating for the company. Finally, Robert W. Baird increased their target price on Applied Industrial Technologies from $161.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday.

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Insider Activity

In other Applied Industrial Technologies news, CEO Neil A. Schrimsher sold 1,655 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $130.01, for a total transaction of $215,166.55. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 316,563 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $41,156,355.63. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 2.20% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Applied Industrial Technologies

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $2,381,000. FinTrust Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Applied Industrial Technologies during the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Point72 Middle East FZE purchased a new stake in Applied Industrial Technologies during the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. State of Wyoming purchased a new stake in Applied Industrial Technologies during the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, Cerity Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Applied Industrial Technologies during the 1st quarter valued at $545,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.64% of the companys stock.

About Applied Industrial Technologies

(Get Free Report)

Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc distributes industrial motion, power, control, and automation technology solutions in North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. It operates through two segments, Service Center Based Distribution, and Fluid Power & Flow Control. The company distributes bearings, power transmission products, engineered fluid power components and systems, specialty flow control solutions, advanced automation products, industrial rubber products, linear motion components, automation solutions, tools, safety products, oilfield supplies, and other industrial and maintenance supplies; and motors, belting, drives, couplings, pumps, hydraulic and pneumatic components, filtration supplies, valves, fittings, process instrumentation, actuators, and hoses, filtration supplies, as well as other related supplies for general operational needs of customers' machinery and equipment.

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RB Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Free Report) by 10.0% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 7,984 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after acquiring an additional 726 shares during the quarter. RB Capital Management LLCs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $553,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Orion Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 10.2% in the 1st quarter. Orion Capital Management LLC now owns 2,700 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $187,000 after acquiring an additional 250 shares during the last quarter. Banco Santander S.A. grew its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1,719.8% in the 1st quarter. Banco Santander S.A. now owns 51,665 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $3,581,000 after acquiring an additional 48,826 shares during the last quarter. Hartford Investment Management Co. grew its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 16.5% in the 1st quarter. Hartford Investment Management Co. now owns 180,244 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $12,493,000 after acquiring an additional 25,547 shares during the last quarter. 1834 Investment Advisors Co. grew its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 4.9% in the 1st quarter. 1834 Investment Advisors Co. now owns 113,464 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $7,864,000 after acquiring an additional 5,346 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Citizens Business Bank grew its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 8.0% in the 1st quarter. Citizens Business Bank now owns 6,689 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $464,000 after acquiring an additional 497 shares during the last quarter. 74.57% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Transactions at Bristol-Myers Squibb

In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, EVP Robert M. Plenge sold 732 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.14, for a total transaction of $44,754.48. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 6,584 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $402,545.76. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 0.08% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Price Performance

NYSE BMY traded up $0.30 during trading on Monday, reaching $61.53. 4,952,565 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 8,474,416. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.39. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $63.43 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $67.00. The company has a market cap of $128.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.28, a P/E/G ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 0.42. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 1-year low of $59.71 and a 1-year high of $81.43.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.75 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.99 by ($0.24). The business had revenue of $11.23 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.81 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 50.51% and a net margin of 17.62%. The firms revenue was down 5.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.93 earnings per share. As a group, analysts anticipate that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 7.48 EPS for the current year.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, August 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 7th were issued a $0.57 dividend. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.71%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, July 6th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs payout ratio is currently 60.64%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

BMY has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Morgan Stanley restated an underweight rating and issued a $59.00 target price on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Wednesday, July 19th. HSBC started coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Friday, July 14th. They issued a reduce rating and a $56.00 target price for the company. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $78.00 to $65.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, July 28th. Barclays decreased their target price on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $64.00 to $62.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, July 28th. Finally, Daiwa Capital Markets started coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Wednesday, June 28th. They issued an outperform rating and a $70.00 target price for the company. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $71.14.

View Our Latest Stock Report on Bristol-Myers Squibb

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Profile

(Free Report)

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, and neuroscience diseases. The company's products include Eliquis, an oral inhibitor for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in NVAF, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for anti-cancer indications; Pomalyst/Imnovid indicated for patients with multiple myeloma; Orencia for adult patients with active RA and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia.

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Forge First Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Brookfield Business Partners L.P. (NYSE:BBU  Free Report) by 5.8% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 471,183 shares of the business services providers stock after purchasing an additional 25,940 shares during the period. Brookfield Business Partners comprises 3.9% of Forge First Asset Management Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 6th biggest holding. Forge First Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Brookfield Business Partners were worth $8,704,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its holdings in shares of Brookfield Business Partners by 293.7% during the 1st quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 11,611 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $216,000 after purchasing an additional 8,662 shares during the last quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. grew its position in Brookfield Business Partners by 20.8% during the 1st quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 40,178 shares of the business services providers stock worth $740,000 after purchasing an additional 6,905 shares during the last quarter. National Bank of Canada FI increased its position in shares of Brookfield Business Partners by 44.5% in the 1st quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 76,329 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $1,400,000 after acquiring an additional 23,520 shares during the period. 1832 Asset Management L.P. raised its stake in Brookfield Business Partners by 17.9% in the 4th quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. now owns 1,576,618 shares of the business services providers stock worth $26,739,000 after acquiring an additional 238,803 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted its position in Brookfield Business Partners by 5.1% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 124,638 shares of the business services providers stock worth $2,114,000 after acquiring an additional 6,067 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 77.59% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, National Bankshares decreased their target price on shares of Brookfield Business Partners from $35.00 to $33.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, August 8th.

Brookfield Business Partners Price Performance

NYSE BBU traded down $0.23 on Monday, hitting $17.23. The company had a trading volume of 9,186 shares, compared to its average volume of 12,579. Brookfield Business Partners L.P. has a 12-month low of $15.29 and a 12-month high of $26.50. The companys fifty day moving average price is $18.27 and its 200-day moving average price is $18.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.52, a current ratio of 1.13 and a quick ratio of 0.83. The company has a market capitalization of $1.29 billion, a PE ratio of 873.44 and a beta of 1.28.

Brookfield Business Partners Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 29th. Investors of record on Thursday, August 31st will be issued a $0.0625 dividend. This represents a $0.25 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.45%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, August 30th. Brookfield Business Partnerss dividend payout ratio is currently 1,250.63%.

Brookfield Business Partners Profile

(Free Report)

Brookfield Business Partners L.P. is a private equity firm specializes in acquisition. The firm typically invests in business services, construction, energy, and industrials sector. It prefers to take majority stake in companies. The firm seeks returns of at least 15% on its investments. Brookfield Business Partners L.P.

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Canadian Natural Resources Limited (TSE:CNQ  Get Free Report) (NYSE:CNQ) Senior Officer Troy John Peter Andersen sold 9,500 shares of Canadian Natural Resources stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$82.75, for a total value of C$786,128.80.

Canadian Natural Resources Stock Down 0.1 %

Canadian Natural Resources stock traded down C$0.05 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching C$83.17. 4,869,111 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,816,448. Canadian Natural Resources Limited has a 12-month low of C$61.23 and a 12-month high of C$84.25. The firm has a market cap of C$90.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.76, a PEG ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 2.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 35.40, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a current ratio of 0.69. The business has a fifty day moving average of C$75.97 and a 200 day moving average of C$76.87.

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Canadian Natural Resources Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 5th. Investors of record on Friday, September 15th will be paid a $0.90 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 14th. This represents a $3.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.33%. Canadian Natural Resourcess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 42.30%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

CNQ has been the subject of several recent research reports. ATB Capital reduced their target price on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from C$94.00 to C$90.00 in a research note on Monday, April 17th. UBS Group set a C$90.00 price objective on shares of Canadian Natural Resources and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, July 12th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from C$95.00 to C$97.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 9th. Desjardins lowered their price objective on Canadian Natural Resources from C$97.00 to C$95.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, July 25th. Finally, National Bankshares cut Canadian Natural Resources from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating and cut their target price for the stock from C$93.00 to C$90.00 in a research note on Friday, August 4th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of C$89.35.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Canadian Natural Resources

About Canadian Natural Resources

(Get Free Report)

Canadian Natural Resources Limited acquires, explores for, develops, produces, markets, and sells crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs). The company offers light and medium crude oil, primary heavy crude oil, Pelican Lake heavy crude oil, bitumen (thermal oil), and synthetic crude oil (SCO).

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Citizens Business Bank increased its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Free Report) by 8.0% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 6,689 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after purchasing an additional 497 shares during the quarter. Citizens Business Banks holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $464,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. True Wealth Design LLC purchased a new position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. GoalVest Advisory LLC acquired a new stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 1st quarter valued at about $29,000. Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. acquired a new stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. Live Oak Investment Partners acquired a new stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter valued at about $33,000. Finally, Strengthening Families & Communities LLC grew its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 90.0% in the 1st quarter. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC now owns 475 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $656,000 after acquiring an additional 225 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.57% of the companys stock.

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Bristol-Myers Squibb Price Performance

Bristol-Myers Squibb stock traded up $0.43 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $61.66. The companys stock had a trading volume of 2,919,761 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,460,112. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $63.43 and its 200-day moving average price is $67.00. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 12 month low of $59.71 and a 12 month high of $81.43. The company has a market capitalization of $128.81 billion, a PE ratio of 16.28, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 0.42.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Announces Dividend

Bristol-Myers Squibb ( NYSE:BMY Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 27th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.99 by ($0.24). The company had revenue of $11.23 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.81 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 50.51% and a net margin of 17.62%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs quarterly revenue was down 5.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.93 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 7.48 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, August 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 7th were issued a dividend of $0.57 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, July 6th. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.70%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs payout ratio is presently 60.64%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, EVP Robert M. Plenge sold 732 shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.14, for a total transaction of $44,754.48. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 6,584 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $402,545.76. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.08% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

BMY has been the topic of a number of research reports. Daiwa Capital Markets initiated coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Wednesday, June 28th. They issued an outperform rating and a $70.00 price objective on the stock. Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $64.00 to $62.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, July 28th. Cantor Fitzgerald lowered their price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $88.00 to $85.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, July 19th. SVB Securities started coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Monday, July 10th. They set a market perform rating and a $66.00 price target on the stock. Finally, SVB Leerink reaffirmed a market perform rating on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $71.14.

View Our Latest Research Report on Bristol-Myers Squibb

Bristol-Myers Squibb Profile

(Free Report)

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, and neuroscience diseases. The company's products include Eliquis, an oral inhibitor for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in NVAF, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for anti-cancer indications; Pomalyst/Imnovid indicated for patients with multiple myeloma; Orencia for adult patients with active RA and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia.

Read More

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Commonwealth Bank of Australia (OTCMKTS:CMWAY  Get Free Report) was the target of a large decrease in short interest in July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 21,200 shares, a decrease of 35.8% from the July 15th total of 33,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 32,900 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.6 days.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia Trading Down 0.7 %

Shares of OTCMKTS:CMWAY traded down $0.47 on Friday, hitting $67.71. 14,841 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 26,711. The firms 50-day moving average is $67.83 and its 200 day moving average is $67.71. Commonwealth Bank of Australia has a 1-year low of $58.14 and a 1-year high of $78.96.

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Commonwealth Bank of Australia Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 21st will be given a dividend of $1.547 per share. This is a boost from Commonwealth Bank of Australias previous dividend of $1.43. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 18th.

About Commonwealth Bank of Australia

Commonwealth Bank of Australia provides integrated financial services in Australia, New Zealand, and internationally. It operates through Retail Banking Services, Business Banking, Institutional Banking and Markets, and New Zealand segments. The company offers transaction, savings, and foreign currency accounts; term deposits; personal and business loans; overdrafts; equipment finance; credit cards; international payment and trade; and private banking services, as well as home and car loans.

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Sprucegrove Investment Management Ltd. lessened its stake in shares of Copa Holdings, S.A. (NYSE:CPA  Free Report) by 7.7% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,980,735 shares of the transportation companys stock after selling 247,600 shares during the quarter. Copa makes up approximately 15.0% of Sprucegrove Investment Management Ltd.s holdings, making the stock its 2nd largest holding. Sprucegrove Investment Management Ltd. owned 7.56% of Copa worth $275,271,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Financial Management Professionals Inc. purchased a new stake in Copa in the 1st quarter valued at about $29,000. State of Wyoming purchased a new stake in Copa in the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Captrust Financial Advisors grew its holdings in Copa by 136.8% in the 1st quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 689 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $58,000 after buying an additional 398 shares during the period. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. grew its holdings in Copa by 16.2% in the 1st quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 1,083 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $92,000 after buying an additional 151 shares during the period. Finally, Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC grew its holdings in Copa by 292.7% in the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 1,292 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $107,000 after buying an additional 963 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.98% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have commented on CPA. HSBC lowered their price target on Copa from $143.00 to $138.00 in a report on Tuesday, June 13th. StockNews.com lowered Copa from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, May 26th. Raymond James lifted their price objective on Copa from $138.00 to $155.00 in a research note on Monday, July 3rd. Barclays lifted their price objective on Copa from $120.00 to $150.00 in a research note on Friday, May 12th. Finally, TD Cowen reduced their price objective on Copa from $130.00 to $125.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of $130.50.

Copa Stock Up 1.5 %

Shares of CPA traded up $1.46 during trading on Monday, reaching $99.15. The companys stock had a trading volume of 292,083 shares, compared to its average volume of 501,153. The company has a fifty day moving average of $111.83 and a two-hundred day moving average of $100.05. Copa Holdings, S.A. has a twelve month low of $65.01 and a twelve month high of $121.20. The company has a market cap of $3.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.27, a P/E/G ratio of 0.32 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a quick ratio of 1.03, a current ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83.

Copa (NYSE:CPA  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, August 9th. The transportation company reported $3.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.25 by $0.67. Copa had a return on equity of 40.41% and a net margin of 10.17%. The company had revenue of $809.19 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $798.96 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.32 EPS. Copas quarterly revenue was up 16.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Copa Holdings, S.A. will post 14.26 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Copa Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 13th. Investors of record on Friday, September 29th will be paid a dividend of $0.82 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 28th. This represents a $3.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.31%. Copas payout ratio is currently 37.83%.

About Copa

(Free Report)

Copa Holdings, SA, through its subsidiaries, provides airline passenger and cargo services. The company offers approximately 327 daily scheduled flights to 78 destinations in 32 countries in North, Central, and South America, as well as the Caribbean from its Panama City hub. As of December 31, 2022, it operated a fleet of 97 aircraft comprising 67 Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft, 9 Boeing 737-700 Next Generation aircraft, 1 Boeing 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter, and 20 737-MAX aircraft.

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Crystalline Management Inc. lessened its stake in Euronav NV (NYSE:EURN  Free Report) by 52.8% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 97,224 shares of the shipping companys stock after selling 108,665 shares during the quarter. Euronav comprises 1.1% of Crystalline Management Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 23rd biggest position. Crystalline Management Inc.s holdings in Euronav were worth $1,530,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Lester Murray Antman dba SimplyRich boosted its position in shares of Euronav by 4.1% in the first quarter. Lester Murray Antman dba SimplyRich now owns 35,860 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $602,000 after acquiring an additional 1,425 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. boosted its stake in Euronav by 43.8% in the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 5,160 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $80,000 after purchasing an additional 1,572 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC lifted its stake in Euronav by 5.3% during the 1st quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 31,861 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $337,000 after acquiring an additional 1,617 shares during the period. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank increased its position in shares of Euronav by 6.6% during the 4th quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 29,981 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $502,000 after purchasing an additional 1,846 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vident Investment Advisory LLC increased its holdings in Euronav by 20.0% in the 4th quarter. Vident Investment Advisory LLC now owns 13,859 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $236,000 after acquiring an additional 2,313 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 71.63% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the company. StockNews.com upgraded Euronav from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 9th. DNB Markets upped their target price on Euronav from $20.50 to $23.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price target on Euronav from $22.00 to $20.00 in a report on Monday, July 10th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised Euronav from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $20.00 target price for the company in a research note on Thursday, May 11th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $21.20.

Euronav Trading Up 0.1 %

Shares of NYSE EURN traded up $0.01 on Monday, hitting $17.61. The companys stock had a trading volume of 376,693 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,791,834. Euronav NV has a 12-month low of $12.94 and a 12-month high of $21.00. The company has a quick ratio of 1.55, a current ratio of 1.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $15.84 and a 200-day moving average of $16.46.

Euronav (NYSE:EURN  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 11th. The shipping company reported $0.78 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.81 by ($0.03). Euronav had a return on equity of 19.29% and a net margin of 39.00%. The company had revenue of $305.14 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $306.55 million. Equities research analysts anticipate that Euronav NV will post 2.73 EPS for the current year.

Euronav Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 19th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, September 7th will be paid a dividend of $0.56 per share. This represents a $2.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 12.72%. This is an increase from Euronavs previous quarterly dividend of $0.03. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, September 6th. Euronavs dividend payout ratio is 23.45%.

About Euronav

(Free Report)

Euronav NV, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the transportation and storage of crude oil worldwide. The company offers floating, storage, and offloading (FSO) services. It also owns and operates a fleet of vessels. The company was incorporated in 2003 and is headquartered in Antwerp, Belgium.

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Signet Investment Advisory Group Inc. reduced its position in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 1.8% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 8,310 shares of the companys stock after selling 151 shares during the period. Eli Lilly and Company comprises about 2.0% of Signet Investment Advisory Group Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 17th biggest holding. Signet Investment Advisory Group Inc.s holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $2,854,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. lifted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 4.8% in the 1st quarter. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. now owns 82,966 shares of the companys stock valued at $28,449,000 after purchasing an additional 3,768 shares during the period. Ausdal Financial Partners Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 28.1% in the 4th quarter. Ausdal Financial Partners Inc. now owns 3,093 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,132,000 after purchasing an additional 679 shares during the period. Cannell & Co. lifted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 1.5% in the 4th quarter. Cannell & Co. now owns 2,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $732,000 after purchasing an additional 30 shares during the period. Patten & Patten Inc. TN raised its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 44.2% during the first quarter. Patten & Patten Inc. TN now owns 17,177 shares of the companys stock worth $5,899,000 after acquiring an additional 5,266 shares during the period. Finally, Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd acquired a new position in Eli Lilly and Company during the first quarter worth $859,000. 87.25% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have weighed in on LLY. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $510.00 to $600.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 9th. Credit Suisse Group upped their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $490.00 to $580.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 9th. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $408.00 to $615.00 in a research report on Tuesday, August 8th. 22nd Century Group restated a maintains rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Tuesday, June 27th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $560.00 to $617.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 9th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and nineteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $517.00.

Insider Buying and Selling at Eli Lilly and Company

In other Eli Lilly and Company news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 3,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $528.13, for a total value of $1,584,390.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 100,696,849 shares of the companys stock, valued at $53,181,026,862.37. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other news, EVP Johna Norton sold 1,647 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $444.29, for a total transaction of $731,745.63. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 31,761 shares of the companys stock, valued at $14,111,094.69. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 3,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $528.13, for a total transaction of $1,584,390.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 100,696,849 shares in the company, valued at approximately $53,181,026,862.37. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 754,417 shares of company stock valued at $357,553,862 over the last 90 days. 0.13% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Eli Lilly and Company Trading Up 2.2 %

Shares of LLY traded up $11.40 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $539.68. The stock had a trading volume of 782,551 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,058,564. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.63, a current ratio of 1.13 and a quick ratio of 0.87. Eli Lilly and Company has a 52-week low of $296.32 and a 52-week high of $540.13. The businesss fifty day moving average is $458.58 and its 200 day moving average is $399.28. The firm has a market cap of $512.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 73.47, a P/E/G ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 0.35.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, August 8th. The company reported $2.11 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.98 by $0.13. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 22.01% and a return on equity of 65.00%. The company had revenue of $8.31 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.58 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.25 earnings per share. Eli Lilly and Companys revenue for the quarter was up 28.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Eli Lilly and Company will post 9.85 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Eli Lilly and Company Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 8th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, August 15th will be given a $1.13 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 14th. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.84%. Eli Lilly and Companys payout ratio is currently 62.87%.

Eli Lilly and Company Company Profile

(Free Report)

Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. It offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; and Jardiance, Trajenta, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes.

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F&G Annuities & Life, Inc. (NYSE:FG  Get Free Report) traded up 4% during trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $31.05 and last traded at $31.05. 55,417 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 73% from the average session volume of 203,016 shares. The stock had previously closed at $29.85.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the company. Stephens reiterated an equal weight rating and issued a $19.00 price objective on shares of F&G Annuities & Life in a report on Wednesday, August 9th. Barclays lowered their price target on F&G Annuities & Life from $22.00 to $20.00 in a report on Friday, May 5th.

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Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on FG

F&G Annuities & Life Stock Up 4.1 %

F&G Annuities & Life Dividend Announcement

The company has a current ratio of 0.17, a quick ratio of 0.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $24.24 and a 200-day moving average of $20.98.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 29th. Investors of record on Friday, September 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 14th. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.57%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of FG. State of Wisconsin Investment Board acquired a new position in F&G Annuities & Life during the second quarter valued at approximately $244,000. State Street Corp boosted its position in F&G Annuities & Life by 30.5% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 393,658 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,755,000 after purchasing an additional 91,942 shares during the last quarter. Bleakley Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in F&G Annuities & Life during the second quarter valued at approximately $270,000. Nuveen Asset Management LLC boosted its position in F&G Annuities & Life by 216.0% during the second quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC now owns 153,763 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,810,000 after purchasing an additional 105,109 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC acquired a new position in F&G Annuities & Life during the second quarter valued at approximately $2,716,000. 95.12% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About F&G Annuities & Life

(Get Free Report)

F&G Annuities & Life, Inc provides fixed annuities and life insurance products in the United States. It serves retail annuity and life customers, as well as institutional clients. The company portfolio includes fixed indexed annuities, multi-year guarantee annuities, and pension risk transfer solution, as well as indexed universal life insurance and institutional funding agreements.

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Finer Wealth Management Inc. lifted its position in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Free Report) by 7.9% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 79,770 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after purchasing an additional 5,864 shares during the period. Pfizer comprises approximately 2.8% of Finer Wealth Management Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 9th biggest holding. Finer Wealth Management Inc.s holdings in Pfizer were worth $3,255,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in PFE. Front Street Capital Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Pfizer by 4.3% during the 1st quarter. Front Street Capital Management Inc. now owns 5,168 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $268,000 after buying an additional 215 shares in the last quarter. Synergy Asset Management LLC grew its position in shares of Pfizer by 3.3% during the 4th quarter. Synergy Asset Management LLC now owns 7,287 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $373,000 after buying an additional 236 shares in the last quarter. Motco grew its position in shares of Pfizer by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Motco now owns 31,376 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,608,000 after buying an additional 236 shares in the last quarter. RKL Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of Pfizer by 1.7% during the 4th quarter. RKL Wealth Management LLC now owns 14,450 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $740,000 after buying an additional 245 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Gradient Capital Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Pfizer by 1.1% during the 4th quarter. Gradient Capital Advisors LLC now owns 23,022 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,180,000 after buying an additional 248 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 67.80% of the companys stock.

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Pfizer Stock Up 0.8 %

NYSE PFE traded up $0.30 during trading on Monday, hitting $36.34. The companys stock had a trading volume of 3,278,370 shares, compared to its average volume of 24,275,477. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 2.12 and a quick ratio of 1.82. Pfizer Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $34.65 and a fifty-two week high of $54.93. The company has a market cap of $205.17 billion, a PE ratio of 9.59, a P/E/G ratio of 1.21 and a beta of 0.60. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $37.10 and its 200-day simple moving average is $39.30.

Pfizer Dividend Announcement

Pfizer ( NYSE:PFE Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.67 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.57 by $0.10. Pfizer had a return on equity of 28.36% and a net margin of 27.55%. The firm had revenue of $12.73 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $13.36 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.04 earnings per share. The companys revenue was down 54.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Pfizer Inc. will post 3.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 5th. Investors of record on Friday, July 28th will be issued a dividend of $0.41 per share. This represents a $1.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.51%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 27th. Pfizers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 43.62%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on PFE shares. Daiwa Capital Markets downgraded Pfizer from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $38.00 price target on the stock. in a research report on Thursday, May 11th. Truist Financial cut their target price on Pfizer from $64.00 to $62.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group cut their target price on Pfizer from $40.00 to $38.00 in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. BMO Capital Markets cut their target price on Pfizer from $45.00 to $44.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. Finally, Credit Suisse Group lowered Pfizer from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and cut their target price for the company from $47.00 to $40.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 29th. Twelve research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $46.35.

View Our Latest Stock Report on Pfizer

About Pfizer

(Free Report)

Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands.

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Sawgrass Asset Management LLC trimmed its position in shares of General Dynamics Co. (NYSE:GD  Free Report) by 2.5% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,424 shares of the aerospace companys stock after selling 112 shares during the period. Sawgrass Asset Management LLCs holdings in General Dynamics were worth $1,010,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in GD. Certified Advisory Corp acquired a new stake in shares of General Dynamics during the 1st quarter worth $25,000. Pacifica Partners Inc. increased its holdings in shares of General Dynamics by 833.3% during the 1st quarter. Pacifica Partners Inc. now owns 112 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of General Dynamics during the 1st quarter worth $28,000. Live Oak Investment Partners acquired a new stake in General Dynamics in the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. Finally, Princeton Global Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in General Dynamics in the 1st quarter valued at $31,000. 86.02% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other General Dynamics news, SVP Marguerite Amy Gilliland sold 13,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $225.46, for a total value of $3,043,710.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 44,157 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,955,637.22. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 1.50% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts recently issued reports on the company. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on General Dynamics from $248.00 to $250.00 in a report on Thursday, July 27th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of General Dynamics in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price objective on shares of General Dynamics from $280.00 to $270.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 27th. Credit Suisse Group decreased their price objective on shares of General Dynamics from $239.00 to $220.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 27th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of General Dynamics from $244.00 to $258.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, July 28th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $262.38.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on GD

General Dynamics Stock Down 0.2 %

Shares of GD stock traded down $0.45 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $226.54. 268,804 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,203,809. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a current ratio of 1.39. General Dynamics Co. has a one year low of $202.35 and a one year high of $256.86. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $217.22 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $220.58. The stock has a market capitalization of $61.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.64, a P/E/G ratio of 2.02 and a beta of 0.83.

General Dynamics (NYSE:GD  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The aerospace company reported $2.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.59 by $0.11. General Dynamics had a net margin of 8.24% and a return on equity of 18.01%. The firm had revenue of $10.15 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.45 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.75 earnings per share. General Dynamicss revenue was up 10.5% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts predict that General Dynamics Co. will post 12.64 EPS for the current fiscal year.

General Dynamics Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 6th will be issued a $1.32 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 5th. This represents a $5.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.33%. General Dynamicss dividend payout ratio is currently 43.35%.

About General Dynamics

(Free Report)

General Dynamics Corp. is a global aerospace and defense company, which engages in design, engineering, and manufacturing to deliver state-of-the-art solutions. It operates through the following business segments: Aerospace, Marine Systems, Combat Systems, and Technologies. The Aerospace segment designs, manufactures, and sells business jets.

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Getty Images Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:GETY  Get Free Report)s share price was down 5.7% during trading on Monday . The company traded as low as $4.35 and last traded at $4.44. Approximately 268,801 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 56% from the average daily volume of 617,049 shares. The stock had previously closed at $4.71.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

GETY has been the topic of a number of research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. initiated coverage on shares of Getty Images in a report on Monday, May 8th. They set a neutral rating and a $6.00 target price on the stock. Wedbush increased their price objective on shares of Getty Images from $6.00 to $7.70 in a research note on Friday, May 12th. Benchmark lifted their target price on Getty Images from $7.00 to $8.00 in a research note on Friday, May 12th. Finally, Imperial Capital assumed coverage on Getty Images in a research report on Friday, April 28th. They set an in-line rating and a $6.25 price target on the stock. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $6.99.

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Getty Images Trading Down 3.2 %

The firms 50-day simple moving average is $4.99 and its 200 day simple moving average is $5.51. The stock has a market cap of $1.81 billion, a P/E ratio of -16.22 and a beta of 2.46. The company has a current ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.41.

Getty Images (NYSE:GETY  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 11th. The company reported $0.01 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.05 by ($0.04). The firm had revenue of $235.64 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $229.50 million. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Getty Images Holdings, Inc. will post 0.13 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Getty Images

In other news, SVP Cho Mikael sold 65,971 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $5.00, for a total value of $329,855.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 125,000 shares in the company, valued at $625,000. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, CFO Jennifer Leyden sold 30,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $5.03, for a total transaction of $150,900.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 335,827 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,689,209.81. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, SVP Cho Mikael sold 65,971 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $5.00, for a total transaction of $329,855.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 125,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at $625,000. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 176,893 shares of company stock valued at $882,574 in the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 13.00% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Getty Images

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Koch Industries Inc. grew its position in Getty Images by 0.3% during the 2nd quarter. Koch Industries Inc. now owns 80,733,607 shares of the companys stock worth $393,980,000 after purchasing an additional 234,354 shares in the last quarter. Carlyle Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Getty Images in the 4th quarter worth about $66,061,000. Zazove Associates LLC boosted its position in Getty Images by 40.0% during the 1st quarter. Zazove Associates LLC now owns 401,978 shares of the companys stock worth $2,046,000 after acquiring an additional 114,757 shares during the period. EULAV Asset Management purchased a new position in Getty Images during the 2nd quarter valued at about $1,952,000. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can purchased a new position in Getty Images during the 2nd quarter valued at about $2,012,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 43.55% of the companys stock.

Getty Images Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Getty Images, Inc operates as a creator and distributor of award-winning still imagery, video, music, and multimedia products. The company provides other forms of premium digital content including music. Its award-winning photographers and imagery help customers produce inspiring work which appears every day in the world's most influential newspapers, magazines, advertising campaigns, films, television programs, and books.

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Shares of Gray Television, Inc. (NYSE:GTN.A  Get Free Report) gapped up prior to trading on Monday . The stock had previously closed at $9.02, but opened at $9.53. Gray Television shares last traded at $9.53, with a volume of 500 shares.

Gray Television Price Performance

The stock has a market cap of $915.26 million, a P/E ratio of 4.09 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.01, a current ratio of 1.43 and a quick ratio of 1.43. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $9.22 and its 200 day moving average price is $9.32.

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Gray Television (NYSE:GTN.A  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, August 4th. The company reported ($0.10) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.19) by $0.09. Gray Television had a return on equity of 13.07% and a net margin of 7.43%. The company had revenue of $813.00 million during the quarter.

Gray Television Announces Dividend

Gray Television Company Profile

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 15th will be given a dividend of $0.08 per share. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.33%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 14th. Gray Televisions dividend payout ratio is presently 13.73%.

(Get Free Report)

Gray Television, Inc, a television broadcast company, owns and operates television stations and digital assets in the United States. As of February 28, 2019, it owned and operated television stations in 91 television markets broadcasting approximately 400 program streams, including approximately 150 channels affiliated with the CBS Network, the NBC Network, the ABC Network, and the FOX Network.

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Everest Group (NYSE:EG  Get Free Report) is one of 93 publicly-traded companies in the Fire, marine, & casualty insurance industry, but how does it compare to its competitors? We will compare Everest Group to similar companies based on the strength of its profitability, dividends, earnings, valuation, analyst recommendations, risk and institutional ownership.

Profitability

This table compares Everest Group and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Everest Group 9.14% 14.92% 3.26% Everest Group Competitors -2.11% -14.87% -0.19%

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent ratings and target prices for Everest Group and its competitors, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Everest Group 0 0 2 1 3.33 Everest Group Competitors 584 2942 2730 164 2.39

Dividends

Everest Group currently has a consensus target price of $429.00, indicating a potential upside of 20.50%. As a group, Fire, marine, & casualty insurance companies have a potential upside of 1.64%. Given Everest Groups stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, research analysts plainly believe Everest Group is more favorable than its competitors.

Everest Group pays an annual dividend of $6.60 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.9%. Everest Group pays out 22.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Fire, marine, & casualty insurance companies pay a dividend yield of 1.3% and pay out 10.1% of their earnings in the form of a dividend.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

94.4% of Everest Group shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 55.4% of shares of all Fire, marine, & casualty insurance companies are held by institutional investors. 1.4% of Everest Group shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 14.4% of shares of all Fire, marine, & casualty insurance companies are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Everest Group and its competitors top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Everest Group $12.06 billion $597.00 million 11.86 Everest Group Competitors $14.37 billion -$204.79 million -21,612.85

Everest Groups competitors have higher revenue, but lower earnings than Everest Group. Everest Group is trading at a higher price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more expensive than other companies in its industry.

Volatility and Risk

Everest Group has a beta of 0.61, suggesting that its share price is 39% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Everest Groups competitors have a beta of 0.61, suggesting that their average share price is 39% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Everest Group beats its competitors on 11 of the 15 factors compared.

About Everest Group

(Get Free Report)

Everest Group, Ltd., through its subsidiaries, provides reinsurance and insurance products in the United States, Bermuda, and internationally. The company operates through Reinsurance Operations and Insurance Operations segments. The Reinsurance Operations segment writes property and casualty reinsurance; and specialty lines of business through reinsurance brokers, as well as directly with ceding companies in the United States, Bermuda, Ireland, Canada, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The Insurance Operations segment writes property and casualty insurance directly, as well as through brokers, surplus lines brokers, and general agents in the United States, Bermuda, Canada, Europe, South America, France, Germany, Spain, Canada, Chile, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the Netherlands. The company also provides treaty and facultative reinsurance products; admitted and non-admitted insurance products; and property and casualty reinsurance and insurance coverages, including marine, aviation, surety, errors and omissions liability, directors' and officers' liability, medical malpractice, mortgage reinsurance, other specialty lines, accident and health, and workers' compensation products. In addition, it offers commercial property and casualty insurance products through wholesale and retail brokers, surplus lines brokers, and program administrators. The company was formerly known as Everest Re Group, Ltd. and changed its name to Everest Group, Ltd. in July 2023. The company was founded in 1973 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda.

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Wade G W & Inc. increased its position in iShares Global Energy ETF (NYSEARCA:IXC  Free Report) by 0.4% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 718,789 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 2,899 shares during the quarter. iShares Global Energy ETF comprises about 1.0% of Wade G W & Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 21st biggest position. Wade G W & Inc. owned 1.50% of iShares Global Energy ETF worth $27,141,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. CENTRAL TRUST Co purchased a new position in shares of iShares Global Energy ETF in the 1st quarter worth $28,000. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. raised its position in shares of iShares Global Energy ETF by 0.8% in the 1st quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 97,526 shares of the companys stock worth $3,683,000 after buying an additional 745 shares during the period. Parallel Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of iShares Global Energy ETF in the 1st quarter worth $1,060,000. Oversea Chinese Banking CORP Ltd purchased a new position in shares of iShares Global Energy ETF in the 4th quarter worth $15,732,000. Finally, Kestra Advisory Services LLC raised its position in shares of iShares Global Energy ETF by 11.9% in the 4th quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC now owns 120,300 shares of the companys stock worth $4,690,000 after buying an additional 12,748 shares during the period.

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iShares Global Energy ETF Trading Down 0.7 %

NYSEARCA:IXC traded down $0.29 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $40.08. The company had a trading volume of 135,333 shares, compared to its average volume of 570,730. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $37.75 and a 200-day simple moving average of $38.04. iShares Global Energy ETF has a 1 year low of $31.91 and a 1 year high of $42.11. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.37 and a beta of 1.13.

iShares Global Energy ETF Profile

iShares Global Energy ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares S&P Global Energy Sector Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P Global Energy Sector Index (the Index). The Index is a subset of the S&P Global 1200 Index, and measures the performance of companies that S&P deems to be part of the energy sector of the economy.

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iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (BATS:EFV  Get Free Report) shares hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as $49.03 and last traded at $49.40, with a volume of 1505598 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $49.71.

iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Trading Down 0.6 %

The firm has a market capitalization of $16.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.51 and a beta of 0.84. The businesss fifty day moving average is $49.37 and its 200 day moving average is $49.11.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Sowell Financial Services LLC raised its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 5.7% during the second quarter. Sowell Financial Services LLC now owns 33,872 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,658,000 after acquiring an additional 1,826 shares during the period. IFP Advisors Inc boosted its position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 0.6% in the second quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 97,200 shares of the companys stock worth $4,757,000 after buying an additional 627 shares during the period. Resurgent Financial Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 9.4% in the second quarter. Resurgent Financial Advisors LLC now owns 6,464 shares of the companys stock worth $316,000 after buying an additional 553 shares during the period. MML Investors Services LLC boosted its position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 13.7% in the second quarter. MML Investors Services LLC now owns 2,699,883 shares of the companys stock worth $132,132,000 after buying an additional 324,342 shares during the period. Finally, First Foundation Advisors acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at about $525,000.

iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Company Profile

iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Value Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI EAFE Value Index. The Index is a subset of the MSCI EAFE Index and constituents of the Index include securities from Europe, Australasia (Australia and Asia), and the Far East.

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Wade G W & Inc. boosted its holdings in iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWO  Free Report) by 2.6% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 51,514 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after acquiring an additional 1,319 shares during the period. Wade G W & Inc. owned 0.13% of iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF worth $11,684,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Stegner Investment Associates Inc. grew its stake in iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF by 2.5% in the 1st quarter. Stegner Investment Associates Inc. now owns 1,836 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $416,000 after acquiring an additional 44 shares during the last quarter. HM Payson & Co. boosted its stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF by 2.1% during the 4th quarter. HM Payson & Co. now owns 2,223 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $477,000 after purchasing an additional 46 shares during the last quarter. Clear Investment Research LLC boosted its stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF by 3.2% during the 1st quarter. Clear Investment Research LLC now owns 1,501 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $340,000 after purchasing an additional 46 shares during the last quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF by 2.9% during the 4th quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,762 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $378,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the last quarter. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI boosted its stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF by 30.3% during the 1st quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 215 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $49,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the last quarter.

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iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF Trading Down 0.1 %

Shares of iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF stock traded down $0.24 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $240.60. 232,859 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 421,067. iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF has a twelve month low of $201.72 and a twelve month high of $255.10. The stock has a market capitalization of $10.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.55 and a beta of 1.15. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $243.34 and a 200 day simple moving average of $233.33.

iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF Company Profile

iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the Russell 2000 Growth Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of the small-capitalization growth sector of the United States equity market.

Further Reading

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Johnson Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (BATS:USMV  Free Report) during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 3,300 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $240,000.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of USMV. Hilltop Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 0.7% during the 1st quarter. Hilltop Partners LLC now owns 30,744 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,236,000 after acquiring an additional 228 shares during the last quarter. Spire Wealth Management increased its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 32.4% during the 1st quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 186,048 shares of the companys stock valued at $13,533,000 after acquiring an additional 45,577 shares during the last quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 233.7% during the 1st quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC now owns 3,480 shares of the companys stock valued at $253,000 after acquiring an additional 2,437 shares during the last quarter. Wintrust Investments LLC boosted its stake in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 17.2% during the 1st quarter. Wintrust Investments LLC now owns 33,005 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,401,000 after purchasing an additional 4,843 shares during the period. Finally, Alaska Wealth Advisors bought a new stake in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $151,000.

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iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF Stock Up 0.4 %

Shares of USMV stock traded up $0.29 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $75.13. The stock had a trading volume of 1,427,138 shares. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $74.09 and its 200 day simple moving average is $72.94. iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF has a one year low of $47.44 and a one year high of $55.45. The firm has a market cap of $28.82 billion, a PE ratio of 20.17 and a beta of 0.75.

iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF Company Profile

The iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (USMV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Minimum Volatility (USD) index. The fund tracks an index of US-listed firms selected and weighted to create a low-volatility portfolio subject to various constraints. USMV was launched on Oct 18, 2011 and is managed by BlackRock.

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Keeley Teton Advisors LLC decreased its holdings in shares of National Storage Affiliates Trust (NYSE:NSA  Free Report) by 0.6% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 128,103 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 764 shares during the period. Keeley Teton Advisors LLCs holdings in National Storage Affiliates Trust were worth $5,352,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Principal Financial Group Inc. raised its holdings in National Storage Affiliates Trust by 0.9% during the first quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 358,519 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $14,979,000 after buying an additional 3,027 shares during the last quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC raised its holdings in National Storage Affiliates Trust by 43.0% during the first quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC now owns 48,959 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,046,000 after buying an additional 14,726 shares during the last quarter. GW&K Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in National Storage Affiliates Trust by 41.5% during the first quarter. GW&K Investment Management LLC now owns 784,627 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $32,781,000 after buying an additional 230,038 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its holdings in National Storage Affiliates Trust by 1.5% during the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 860,883 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $35,968,000 after buying an additional 12,499 shares during the last quarter. Finally, OVERSEA CHINESE BANKING Corp Ltd acquired a new position in National Storage Affiliates Trust during the first quarter worth $798,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.33% of the companys stock.

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National Storage Affiliates Trust Stock Performance

NSA traded down $0.60 during trading on Monday, hitting $31.89. 572,607 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 761,974. The firm has a market cap of $2.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 6.42 and a beta of 0.70. The stocks fifty day moving average is $34.87 and its 200 day moving average is $38.30. The company has a quick ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 0.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.78. National Storage Affiliates Trust has a one year low of $30.91 and a one year high of $58.31.

National Storage Affiliates Trust Increases Dividend

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 30th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 15th were given a dividend of $0.56 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, June 14th. This represents a $2.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.02%. This is a positive change from National Storage Affiliates Trusts previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. National Storage Affiliates Trusts dividend payout ratio is presently 215.39%.

NSA has been the topic of several research reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of National Storage Affiliates Trust in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on shares of National Storage Affiliates Trust from $36.00 to $34.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, August 9th. Bank of America lowered shares of National Storage Affiliates Trust from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $48.00 to $38.00 in a research note on Monday, May 8th. Stifel Nicolaus lowered shares of National Storage Affiliates Trust from a buy rating to a hold rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $47.00 to $35.00 in a research note on Tuesday, August 8th. Finally, Truist Financial reduced their target price on shares of National Storage Affiliates Trust from $44.00 to $40.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 15th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $41.60.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on National Storage Affiliates Trust

Insider Activity at National Storage Affiliates Trust

In other National Storage Affiliates Trust news, insider Arlen Dale Nordhagen bought 25,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, May 26th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $36.92 per share, for a total transaction of $923,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 4,012,684 shares of the companys stock, valued at $148,148,293.28. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. 13.00% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

National Storage Affiliates Trust Company Profile

(Free Report)

National Storage Affiliates Trust is a real estate investment trust headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado, focused on the ownership, operation and acquisition of self storage properties predominantly located within the top 100 metropolitan statistical areas throughout the United States. As of March 31, 2023, the Company held ownership interests in and operated 1,117 self storage properties located in 42 states and Puerto Rico with approximately 72.8 million rentable square feet.

Further Reading

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Keeley Teton Advisors LLC reduced its position in nVent Electric plc (NYSE:NVT  Free Report) by 1.9% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 101,845 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,976 shares during the period. Keeley Teton Advisors LLC owned 0.06% of nVent Electric worth $4,373,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. raised its stake in nVent Electric by 9.2% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 10,999 shares of the companys stock valued at $383,000 after acquiring an additional 923 shares during the last quarter. AlphaCrest Capital Management LLC raised its stake in nVent Electric by 36.8% during the 1st quarter. AlphaCrest Capital Management LLC now owns 11,498 shares of the companys stock valued at $400,000 after acquiring an additional 3,093 shares during the last quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. raised its stake in nVent Electric by 15.4% during the 1st quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 43,511 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,514,000 after acquiring an additional 5,807 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can raised its stake in nVent Electric by 10.6% during the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 21,601 shares of the companys stock valued at $768,000 after acquiring an additional 2,072 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS increased its position in nVent Electric by 10.5% during the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 61,657 shares of the companys stock worth $2,144,000 after purchasing an additional 5,879 shares during the period. 86.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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nVent Electric Price Performance

Shares of NVT traded up $0.15 on Monday, reaching $53.86. The stock had a trading volume of 378,928 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,142,327. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.93 billion, a PE ratio of 19.75 and a beta of 1.33. The company has a quick ratio of 1.32, a current ratio of 2.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $51.27 and a 200 day moving average of $45.92. nVent Electric plc has a twelve month low of $30.48 and a twelve month high of $56.34.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

nVent Electric ( NYSE:NVT Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 28th. The company reported $0.77 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.68 by $0.09. nVent Electric had a return on equity of 16.85% and a net margin of 15.14%. The business had revenue of $803.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $809.05 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.57 EPS. The companys revenue was up 10.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts expect that nVent Electric plc will post 2.9 EPS for the current year.

Several equities analysts have issued reports on NVT shares. William Blair started coverage on nVent Electric in a research report on Thursday, July 27th. They set an outperform rating on the stock. Seaport Res Ptn reiterated a neutral rating on shares of nVent Electric in a research report on Monday, August 7th. Barclays boosted their target price on nVent Electric from $55.00 to $69.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, July 31st. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on nVent Electric from $57.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, July 31st. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on nVent Electric from $55.00 to $58.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 30th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $55.25.

View Our Latest Report on NVT

Insider Activity at nVent Electric

In related news, CAO Randolph A. Wacker sold 1,519 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $55.21, for a total value of $83,863.99. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 20,366 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,124,406.86. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other nVent Electric news, CAO Randolph A. Wacker sold 1,519 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, August 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $55.21, for a total transaction of $83,863.99. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 20,366 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,124,406.86. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Joseph A. Ruzynski sold 4,711 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.66, for a total value of $257,503.26. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 38,440 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,101,130.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 33,523 shares of company stock valued at $1,588,842. 2.40% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

About nVent Electric

(Free Report)

nVent Electric plc designs, manufactures, markets, installs, and services electrical connection and protection products worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Enclosures, Electrical & Fastening Solutions, and Thermal Management. The Enclosures segment provides solutions to connect and protect critical electronics, communication, control, and power equipment; physical infrastructure solutions to host, connect, and protect server and network equipment; indoor and outdoor protection for test and measurement and aerospace and defense applications in industrial, infrastructure, commercial, and energy verticals; and metallic and non-metallic enclosures, cabinets, sub racks, and backplanes.

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GDI Integrated Facility Services (OTCMKTS:GDIFF  Free Report) had its price objective reduced by National Bank Financial from C$53.00 to C$51.50 in a research note released on Thursday morning, FlyOnTheWall reports.

Separately, Scotiabank decreased their target price on GDI Integrated Facility Services from C$54.00 to C$50.00 in a research note on Thursday.

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GDI Integrated Facility Services Trading Down 4.6 %

About GDI Integrated Facility Services

OTCMKTS GDIFF opened at $33.56 on Thursday. The companys fifty day moving average price is $32.94 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $33.56. GDI Integrated Facility Services has a 12 month low of $31.24 and a 12 month high of $37.21.

(Get Free Report)

GDI Integrated Facility Services Inc operates in the outsourced facility services industry. The company operates through Janitorial Canada, Janitorial USA, and Technical services segments. It offers janitorial services, such as floor cleaning and finishing, window washing, furniture polishing, and carpet cleaning and dusting, as well as other building services, including lawn maintenance, snow removal, and others.

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Nicolet Bankshares Inc. grew its holdings in The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW  Free Report) by 13.7% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 6,198 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 748 shares during the quarter. Nicolet Bankshares Inc.s holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $325,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Beacon Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Charles Schwab during the first quarter worth approximately $25,000. Your Advocates Ltd. LLP acquired a new position in Charles Schwab in the 1st quarter valued at $25,000. Carolina Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in Charles Schwab by 54.8% in the 1st quarter. Carolina Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 565 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 200 shares during the period. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC acquired a new position in Charles Schwab in the 1st quarter valued at $30,000. Finally, Rocky Mountain Advisers LLC increased its stake in Charles Schwab by 704.2% in the 1st quarter. Rocky Mountain Advisers LLC now owns 571 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 500 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.77% of the companys stock.

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Charles Schwab Stock Performance

SCHW stock opened at $63.35 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80. The company has a market capitalization of $112.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.68, a P/E/G ratio of 3.68 and a beta of 0.91. The Charles Schwab Co. has a 12 month low of $45.00 and a 12 month high of $86.63. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $59.61 and a two-hundred day moving average of $60.59.

Charles Schwab Announces Dividend

Charles Schwab ( NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, July 18th. The financial services provider reported $0.75 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.71 by $0.04. Charles Schwab had a net margin of 33.15% and a return on equity of 27.54%. The firm had revenue of $4.66 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.61 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.97 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 8.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.28 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 25th. Investors of record on Friday, August 11th will be given a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.58%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 10th. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 29.15%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Charles Schwab

In other Charles Schwab news, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 77,640 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $51.76, for a total value of $4,018,646.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now owns 59,771,278 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,093,761,349.28. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 77,640 shares of Charles Schwab stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $51.76, for a total transaction of $4,018,646.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now owns 59,771,278 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,093,761,349.28. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 75,760 shares of Charles Schwab stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $66.60, for a total transaction of $5,045,616.00. Following the sale, the chairman now owns 59,672,778 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,974,207,014.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 225,447 shares of company stock worth $13,866,915. 6.60% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $62.00 to $70.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 19th. Redburn Partners lowered shares of Charles Schwab from a neutral rating to a sell rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price objective on shares of Charles Schwab from $70.00 to $74.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 19th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $64.00 to $66.00 in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Finally, JMP Securities boosted their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $73.00 to $77.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 19th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $72.09.

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Charles Schwab Company Profile

(Free Report)

The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services.

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Reaves W H & Co. Inc. lifted its position in WEC Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:WEC  Free Report) by 30.0% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 899,729 shares of the utilities providers stock after buying an additional 207,451 shares during the period. WEC Energy Group makes up about 3.1% of Reaves W H & Co. Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 12th largest position. Reaves W H & Co. Inc.s holdings in WEC Energy Group were worth $85,285,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Hartford Investment Management Co. lifted its stake in WEC Energy Group by 16.3% during the 1st quarter. Hartford Investment Management Co. now owns 26,624 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $2,524,000 after acquiring an additional 3,737 shares during the period. 1834 Investment Advisors Co. raised its position in WEC Energy Group by 55.0% during the first quarter. 1834 Investment Advisors Co. now owns 9,591 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $909,000 after acquiring an additional 3,403 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. raised its position in WEC Energy Group by 0.6% during the first quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 1,920,979 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $182,090,000 after acquiring an additional 11,322 shares during the period. Nicolet Bankshares Inc. raised its position in WEC Energy Group by 1.4% during the first quarter. Nicolet Bankshares Inc. now owns 23,549 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $2,232,000 after acquiring an additional 318 shares during the period. Finally, Spire Wealth Management raised its position in shares of WEC Energy Group by 23.2% in the first quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 1,854 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $176,000 after buying an additional 349 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.68% of the companys stock.

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WEC Energy Group Trading Down 0.7 %

WEC stock traded down $0.63 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $86.14. 334,625 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,346,323. The company has a quick ratio of 0.45, a current ratio of 0.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30. The firm has a market capitalization of $27.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.23, a PEG ratio of 3.27 and a beta of 0.40. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $89.56 and a 200-day simple moving average of $91.67. WEC Energy Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $80.82 and a 12-month high of $108.20.

WEC Energy Group Announces Dividend

WEC Energy Group ( NYSE:WEC Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The utilities provider reported $0.92 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.85 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $1.83 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.05 billion. WEC Energy Group had a net margin of 14.57% and a return on equity of 11.48%. WEC Energy Groups revenue was down 14.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.91 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts predict that WEC Energy Group, Inc. will post 4.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 14th will be paid a dividend of $0.78 per share. This represents a $3.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.62%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 11th. WEC Energy Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 72.73%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

WEC has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. 888 reiterated a reiterates rating on shares of WEC Energy Group in a research report on Friday, June 30th. KeyCorp cut their price objective on shares of WEC Energy Group from $103.00 to $102.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of WEC Energy Group from $99.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of WEC Energy Group from $106.00 to $104.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Finally, Bank of America cut their price objective on shares of WEC Energy Group from $106.00 to $103.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $98.80.

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WEC Energy Group Profile

(Free Report)

WEC Energy Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides regulated natural gas and electricity, and renewable and nonregulated renewable energy services in the United States. The company operates through six segments: Wisconsin, Illinois, Other States, Electric Transmission, Non-Utility Energy Infrastructure, and Corporate and Other.

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Richelieu Gestion PLC raised its holdings in shares of Avery Dennison Co. (NYSE:AVY  Free Report) by 1.9% in the first quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 8,352 shares of the industrial products companys stock after buying an additional 155 shares during the quarter. Richelieu Gestion PLCs holdings in Avery Dennison were worth $1,494,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Savant Capital LLC boosted its stake in shares of Avery Dennison by 3.3% in the 1st quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 1,842 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $330,000 after buying an additional 58 shares during the last quarter. AMI Asset Management Corp raised its holdings in Avery Dennison by 1.3% in the 1st quarter. AMI Asset Management Corp now owns 4,508 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $807,000 after purchasing an additional 59 shares during the period. Czech National Bank raised its holdings in Avery Dennison by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 9,539 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,707,000 after purchasing an additional 61 shares during the period. ETF Managers Group LLC raised its holdings in Avery Dennison by 1.5% in the 1st quarter. ETF Managers Group LLC now owns 4,184 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $749,000 after purchasing an additional 62 shares during the period. Finally, Raymond James Trust N.A. raised its holdings in Avery Dennison by 1.2% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 5,378 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $963,000 after purchasing an additional 62 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 90.27% of the companys stock.

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Avery Dennison Price Performance

Shares of Avery Dennison stock traded down $0.87 during trading on Monday, reaching $184.09. 85,058 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 552,209. The company has a market capitalization of $14.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.65, a P/E/G ratio of 3.29 and a beta of 0.95. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $174.91 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $175.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.44, a current ratio of 1.09 and a quick ratio of 0.71. Avery Dennison Co. has a 52-week low of $157.28 and a 52-week high of $204.37.

Avery Dennison Dividend Announcement

Avery Dennison ( NYSE:AVY Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The industrial products company reported $1.92 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.05 by ($0.13). The company had revenue of $2.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.17 billion. Avery Dennison had a return on equity of 31.13% and a net margin of 6.66%. The companys revenue was down 10.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.64 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Avery Dennison Co. will post 8.04 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 20th. Investors of record on Wednesday, September 6th will be given a $0.81 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 5th. This represents a $3.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.76%. Avery Dennisons dividend payout ratio is currently 46.69%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Avery Dennison

In other Avery Dennison news, insider Francisco Melo sold 4,800 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $186.00, for a total transaction of $892,800.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 16,905 shares in the company, valued at $3,144,330. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts recently commented on the company. BMO Capital Markets decreased their target price on Avery Dennison from $210.00 to $200.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 26th. Bank of America decreased their price target on Avery Dennison from $207.00 to $189.00 in a report on Monday, July 10th. Argus decreased their price target on Avery Dennison from $220.00 to $200.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 26th. Loop Capital decreased their price target on Avery Dennison from $208.00 to $201.00 in a report on Thursday, June 8th. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on Avery Dennison in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $202.11.

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About Avery Dennison

(Free Report)

Avery Dennison Corporation operates as materials science and digital identification solutions company. It provides branding and information labeling solutions, including pressure-sensitive materials, radio-frequency identification (RFID) inlays and tags, and various converted products and solutions. The company designs and manufactures a range of labeling and functional materials that enhance branded packaging, carry or display information that connects the physical and the digital, and improve customers' product performance.

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Christian Dior SE (OTCMKTS:CHDRY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest in the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 100 shares, a decline of 50.0% from the July 15th total of 200 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.0 days.

Christian Dior Trading Up 0.5 %

Shares of Christian Dior stock traded up $0.98 on Friday, reaching $216.98. 12 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 65. Christian Dior has a twelve month low of $136.76 and a twelve month high of $243.35. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $216.26 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $218.07.

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Christian Dior Company Profile

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Christian Dior SE, through its subsidiaries, engages in the production, distribution, and retail of fashion and leather goods, wines and spirits, perfumes and cosmetics, and watches and jewelry worldwide. The company offers its fashion and leather goods under the Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Celine, Loewe, Givenchy, Kenzo, Berluti, Pucci, Loro Piana, Rimowa, and Off-White brand names; and wines and spirits under the Hennessy, Moet & Chandon, Dom Perignon, Veuve Clicquot, Krug, Chateau d'Yquem, Belvedere, Glenmorangie, Newton Vineyards, Bodega Numanthia, Chateau d'Esclans, Armand de Brignac, and Joseph Phelps brands.

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EnLink Midstream, LLC (NYSE:ENLC  Get Free Report) saw a large growth in short interest in July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 13,860,000 shares, a growth of 11.5% from the July 15th total of 12,430,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 2,730,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 5.1 days. Approximately 6.0% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

EnLink Midstream Stock Down 0.9 %

NYSE:ENLC traded down $0.11 on Monday, hitting $11.88. 256,194 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,430,821. The company has a market cap of $5.48 billion, a PE ratio of 16.20 and a beta of 2.53. EnLink Midstream has a 1 year low of $8.04 and a 1 year high of $13.58. The company has a current ratio of 0.98, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.67. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $10.96 and a 200-day moving average price of $10.80.

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EnLink Midstream Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 11th. Investors of record on Friday, July 28th were issued a dividend of $0.125 per share. This represents a $0.50 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.21%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, July 27th. EnLink Midstreams dividend payout ratio is currently 67.57%.

Insider Transactions at EnLink Midstream

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

In related news, EVP Alaina K. Brooks sold 131,586 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $12.13, for a total transaction of $1,596,138.18. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 540,719 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,558,921.47. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link . In related news, EVP Alaina K. Brooks sold 131,586 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $12.13, for a total transaction of $1,596,138.18. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 540,719 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,558,921.47. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website . Also, EVP Alaina K. Brooks sold 35,023 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $12.00, for a total transaction of $420,276.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 465,486 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,585,832. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 206,609 shares of company stock valued at $2,488,014. Corporate insiders own 0.84% of the companys stock.

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Renaissance Technologies LLC acquired a new stake in EnLink Midstream during the second quarter valued at $154,000. BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of EnLink Midstream by 5.0% during the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 3,091,459 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $32,769,000 after buying an additional 147,090 shares during the last quarter. Cbre Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC bought a new stake in shares of EnLink Midstream in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $118,000. Kestra Advisory Services LLC acquired a new position in EnLink Midstream in the second quarter worth approximately $186,000. Finally, The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company raised its position in EnLink Midstream by 5.0% during the second quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 58,548 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $621,000 after acquiring an additional 2,788 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 44.94% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. StockNews.com assumed coverage on EnLink Midstream in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on EnLink Midstream from $11.00 to $12.00 in a report on Friday, August 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on shares of EnLink Midstream from $13.00 to $12.00 in a report on Wednesday, June 28th. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on shares of EnLink Midstream from $18.00 to $17.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 25th. Finally, UBS Group assumed coverage on shares of EnLink Midstream in a research report on Monday, June 26th. They issued a buy rating and a $14.00 price target for the company. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $13.88.

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EnLink Midstream Company Profile

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EnLink Midstream, LLC provides midstream energy services in the United States. It operates through five segments: Permian, Louisiana, Oklahoma, North Texas, and Corporate. The company is involved in gathering, compressing, treating, processing, transporting, storing, and selling natural gas; fractionating, transporting, storing, and selling natural gas liquids; and gathering, transporting, stabilizing, storing, trans-loading, and selling crude oil and condensate, as well as providing brine disposal services.

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Springfield Properties Plc (LON:SPR  Get Free Report)s stock price hit a new 52-week low on Monday . The stock traded as low as GBX 58 ($0.74) and last traded at GBX 59.50 ($0.76), with a volume of 100757 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at GBX 58.50 ($0.75).

Springfield Properties Price Performance

The company has a market capitalization of 70.51 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 423.57 and a beta of 1.17. The company has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 71.20 and a 200-day moving average price of GBX 80.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 64.84, a quick ratio of 0.48 and a current ratio of 4.14.

Springfield Properties Company Profile

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Springfield Properties Plc, together with its subsidiary, engages in the house building business in the United Kingdom. The company operates in Private Housing and Affordable markets. It is also involved in hiring plants and machineries, property development, buying and selling real estate and residential property, manufacturing timber kit, and management services.

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Crew Energy (OTCMKTS:CWEGF  Free Report) had its price objective raised by Stifel Nicolaus from C$8.00 to C$9.25 in a research note released on Thursday morning, FlyOnTheWall reports.

CWEGF has been the topic of several other research reports. Scotiabank lowered their price target on shares of Crew Energy from C$8.50 to C$8.00 in a report on Thursday, April 13th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on shares of Crew Energy from C$7.00 to C$8.00 in a report on Thursday. National Bank Financial lifted their price target on shares of Crew Energy from C$6.00 to C$6.50 in a report on Thursday. TD Securities boosted their target price on shares of Crew Energy from C$6.50 to C$7.50 in a report on Thursday. Finally, Raymond James upped their target price on shares of Crew Energy from C$6.50 to C$7.50 in a research report on Thursday.

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Crew Energy Stock Down 0.9 %

About Crew Energy

Shares of OTCMKTS:CWEGF opened at $4.75 on Thursday. Crew Energy has a 1-year low of $3.00 and a 1-year high of $5.37. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $4.09 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $3.70.

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Crew Energy Inc engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGL) in Canada. Its principal properties include Montney oil and liquids-rich natural gas assets comprising Septimus, West Septimus, Groundbirch, and Tower in northeast British Columbia.

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Total Energy Services (OTCMKTS:TOTZF  Get Free Report) had its price objective lowered by Stifel Nicolaus from C$15.00 to C$14.00 in a note issued to investors on Monday, FlyOnTheWall reports.

Total Energy Services Price Performance

Shares of TOTZF traded down $0.44 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $7.12. 1,000 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,465. Total Energy Services has a one year low of $4.40 and a one year high of $7.84. The business has a 50-day moving average of $6.87 and a 200 day moving average of $6.50.

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Total Energy Services Company Profile

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Total Energy Services Inc provides various products and services to the oil and natural gas industry primarily in Canada, the United States, and Australia. It operates through four segments: Contract Drilling Services, Rentals and Transportation Services, Compression and Process Services and Well Servicing.

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The Sage Group plc (OTCMKTS:SGPYY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decrease in short interest in July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 5,300 shares, a decrease of 29.3% from the July 15th total of 7,500 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 10,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.5 days.

The Sage Group Stock Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS SGPYY traded down $0.72 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $47.88. 6,609 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 8,838. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $46.38 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $41.45. The Sage Group has a twelve month low of $29.91 and a twelve month high of $49.11.

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The Sage Group Cuts Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 7th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 2nd were issued a dividend of $0.2778 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 1.93%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, June 1st.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts recently issued reports on SGPYY shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of The Sage Group from a neutral rating to an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 28th. Barclays increased their price target on shares of The Sage Group from GBX 810 ($10.35) to GBX 850 ($10.86) in a research report on Thursday, July 6th.

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The Sage Group Company Profile

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The Sage Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides technology solutions and services for small and medium businesses in North America, Northern Europe, and internationally. It offers cloud native solutions, such as Sage Intacct, a cloud accounting software products and financial management software; Sage People, a HR and people management solution; Sage 200, a finance and business management solution; Sage X3, a business management solution; Sage Accounting, a solution for small businesses, accountants, and bookkeepers to manage customer data, accounts, and people; Sage Payroll for small businesses manage their payroll; and Sage HR for small and mid-sized businesses for record management, leave management, staff scheduling, and expenses services.

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Citizens Business Bank cut its holdings in shares of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV  Free Report) by 5.5% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 22,375 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 1,292 shares during the period. Citizens Business Banks holdings in Travelers Companies were worth $3,835,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its position in shares of Travelers Companies by 11.9% during the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 7,820,386 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $1,466,244,000 after acquiring an additional 829,918 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Travelers Companies by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 4,409,763 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $825,601,000 after acquiring an additional 19,767 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley grew its position in shares of Travelers Companies by 19.6% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 3,284,693 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $615,847,000 after acquiring an additional 539,294 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Travelers Companies by 2.3% during the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,411,106 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $257,853,000 after acquiring an additional 31,165 shares during the period. Finally, Nuance Investments LLC grew its position in shares of Travelers Companies by 6.3% during the 1st quarter. Nuance Investments LLC now owns 1,382,852 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $237,035,000 after acquiring an additional 81,662 shares during the period. 81.06% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Michael Frederick Klein sold 10,000 shares of Travelers Companies stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $175.05, for a total transaction of $1,750,500.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 14,080 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,464,704. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 1.29% of the companys stock.

Travelers Companies Price Performance

TRV traded down $0.40 during trading on Monday, reaching $166.46. The companys stock had a trading volume of 207,627 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,380,331. The company has a quick ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $172.28 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $176.20. The Travelers Companies, Inc. has a 1 year low of $149.65 and a 1 year high of $194.51. The company has a market cap of $38.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.77, a PEG ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 0.59.

Travelers Companies (NYSE:TRV  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 20th. The insurance provider reported $0.06 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.05 by ($1.99). The firm had revenue of $10.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.97 billion. Travelers Companies had a net margin of 5.77% and a return on equity of 10.75%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 10.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.57 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that The Travelers Companies, Inc. will post 12.01 EPS for the current year.

Travelers Companies announced that its board has authorized a stock buyback plan on Wednesday, April 19th that authorizes the company to repurchase $5.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the insurance provider to buy up to 12.2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are often a sign that the companys board believes its shares are undervalued.

Travelers Companies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 8th will be given a dividend of $1.00 per share. This represents a $4.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.40%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 7th. Travelers Companiess payout ratio is presently 42.60%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently issued reports on TRV. StockNews.com cut Travelers Companies from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, June 19th. Piper Sandler lowered their price objective on Travelers Companies from $208.00 to $176.00 in a report on Thursday, July 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Travelers Companies from $185.00 to $194.00 in a report on Thursday, July 6th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an equal weight rating and issued a $185.00 price objective on shares of Travelers Companies in a report on Friday, July 21st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Travelers Companies from $183.00 to $185.00 in a report on Thursday, July 20th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Travelers Companies has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $196.08.

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Travelers Companies Company Profile

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The Travelers Companies, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides a range of commercial and personal property, and casualty insurance products and services to businesses, government units, associations, and individuals in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Business Insurance, Bond & Specialty Insurance, and Personal Insurance.

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Thornburg Investment Management Inc. reduced its stake in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO  Free Report) by 25.7% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 866 shares of the medical research companys stock after selling 299 shares during the quarter. Thornburg Investment Management Inc.s holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific were worth $499,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Institute for Wealth Management LLC. raised its stake in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific by 1.8% during the 4th quarter. Institute for Wealth Management LLC. now owns 1,024 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $564,000 after acquiring an additional 18 shares in the last quarter. Connecticut Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific by 3.0% during the 1st quarter. Connecticut Wealth Management LLC now owns 614 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $354,000 after purchasing an additional 18 shares during the last quarter. Sage Rhino Capital LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific by 2.6% during the 1st quarter. Sage Rhino Capital LLC now owns 723 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $417,000 after purchasing an additional 18 shares during the last quarter. Savant Capital LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 3,627 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $1,997,000 after purchasing an additional 18 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Crumly & Associates Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific by 1.5% during the 1st quarter. Crumly & Associates Inc. now owns 1,274 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $734,000 after purchasing an additional 19 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.33% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at Thermo Fisher Scientific

In related news, CFO Stephen Williamson sold 14,100 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $550.00, for a total value of $7,755,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 27,393 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $15,066,150. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In related news, CFO Stephen Williamson sold 14,100 shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $550.00, for a total value of $7,755,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 27,393 shares in the company, valued at approximately $15,066,150. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Marc N. Casper sold 1,600 shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $550.60, for a total transaction of $880,960.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 135,330 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $74,512,698. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 25,700 shares of company stock valued at $14,125,960. 0.32% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

TMO has been the subject of several analyst reports. Barclays increased their price objective on Thermo Fisher Scientific from $590.00 to $625.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, July 27th. KeyCorp decreased their price objective on Thermo Fisher Scientific from $710.00 to $640.00 in a report on Thursday, May 25th. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on Thermo Fisher Scientific from $670.00 to $620.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 27th. Robert W. Baird cut their target price on Thermo Fisher Scientific from $664.00 to $625.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 27th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Thermo Fisher Scientific from $505.00 to $520.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, July 28th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Thermo Fisher Scientific presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $633.50.

View Our Latest Stock Report on TMO

Thermo Fisher Scientific Price Performance

NYSE:TMO opened at $543.78 on Monday. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has a 52 week low of $475.77 and a 52 week high of $609.85. The company has a quick ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 1.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. The stock has a market capitalization of $209.87 billion, a PE ratio of 37.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.56 and a beta of 0.77. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $533.53 and its 200-day moving average price is $546.79.

Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE:TMO  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The medical research company reported $5.15 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $5.43 by ($0.28). Thermo Fisher Scientific had a net margin of 13.14% and a return on equity of 18.59%. The business had revenue of $10.69 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.99 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $5.51 earnings per share. Thermo Fisher Scientifics revenue was down 2.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts expect that Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. will post 22.37 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 13th. Investors of record on Friday, September 15th will be paid a $0.35 dividend. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.26%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 14th. Thermo Fisher Scientifics dividend payout ratio is presently 9.57%.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Profile

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Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc provides life sciences solutions, analytical instruments, specialty diagnostics, and laboratory products and biopharma services in the United States and internationally. The company's Life Sciences Solutions segment offers reagents, instruments, and consumables for biological and medical research, discovery, and production of drugs and vaccines, as well as diagnosis of infections and diseases; and solutions include biosciences, genetic sciences, clinical next-generation sequencing, bio production to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, agricultural, clinical, healthcare, academic, and government markets.

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Till Capital (OTCMKTS:TILCF  Get Free Report) is one of 89 publicly-traded companies in the Fire, marine, & casualty insurance industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its peers? We will compare Till Capital to related companies based on the strength of its analyst recommendations, profitability, valuation, institutional ownership, earnings, risk and dividends.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Till Capital and its peers revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Till Capital $6.76 million -$4.20 million -2.15 Till Capital Competitors $15.10 billion -$207.87 million -22,963.17

Till Capitals peers have higher revenue, but lower earnings than Till Capital. Till Capital is trading at a higher price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more expensive than other companies in its industry.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Till Capital N/A -7.34% -2.51% Till Capital Competitors -1.89% -0.82% -0.01%

Analyst Recommendations

This table compares Till Capital and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for Till Capital and its peers, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Till Capital 0 0 0 0 N/A Till Capital Competitors 568 2891 2671 162 2.39

As a group, Fire, marine, & casualty insurance companies have a potential upside of 1.65%. Given Till Capitals peers higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Till Capital has less favorable growth aspects than its peers.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

56.5% of shares of all Fire, marine, & casualty insurance companies are held by institutional investors. 27.5% of Till Capital shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 13.7% of shares of all Fire, marine, & casualty insurance companies are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Risk & Volatility

Till Capital has a beta of -0.43, indicating that its stock price is 143% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Till Capitals peers have a beta of 0.63, indicating that their average stock price is 37% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Till Capital peers beat Till Capital on 6 of the 10 factors compared.

About Till Capital

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Till Capital Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the mineral exploration activities. The company explores for silver, gold, copper, and other deposits. It owns various mineral royalties and exploration property option agreements. The company also holds an interest in the Copper King property. The company was incorporated in 2012 and is based in Vancouver, Canada.

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Banco Santander S.A. lowered its position in shares of Visa Inc. (NYSE:V  Free Report) by 9.3% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 215,288 shares of the credit-card processors stock after selling 22,073 shares during the quarter. Visa comprises 0.7% of Banco Santander S.A.s portfolio, making the stock its 13th largest position. Banco Santander S.A.s holdings in Visa were worth $48,539,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Steigerwald Gordon & Koch Inc. raised its position in shares of Visa by 1.2% during the 1st quarter. Steigerwald Gordon & Koch Inc. now owns 77,046 shares of the credit-card processors stock worth $17,371,000 after purchasing an additional 951 shares during the period. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC raised its position in shares of Visa by 1.2% during the 4th quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 799,904 shares of the credit-card processors stock worth $166,188,000 after purchasing an additional 9,534 shares during the period. Forsta AP Fonden raised its position in shares of Visa by 25.8% during the 4th quarter. Forsta AP Fonden now owns 476,286 shares of the credit-card processors stock worth $98,953,000 after purchasing an additional 97,600 shares during the period. Keystone Financial Services grew its holdings in Visa by 4.1% in the 4th quarter. Keystone Financial Services now owns 2,388 shares of the credit-card processors stock worth $550,000 after buying an additional 93 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Point72 Europe London LLP grew its holdings in Visa by 56.4% in the 4th quarter. Point72 Europe London LLP now owns 24,871 shares of the credit-card processors stock worth $5,167,000 after buying an additional 8,971 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.92% of the companys stock.

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Visa Stock Up 1.2 %

Shares of V traded up $2.94 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $242.98. 1,947,700 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,182,152. The company has a quick ratio of 1.49, a current ratio of 1.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $234.66 and a two-hundred day moving average of $229.30. The stock has a market cap of $452.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.46, a P/E/G ratio of 1.84 and a beta of 0.97. Visa Inc. has a twelve month low of $174.60 and a twelve month high of $245.37.

Visa Announces Dividend

Visa ( NYSE:V Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 25th. The credit-card processor reported $2.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.11 by $0.05. Visa had a net margin of 51.94% and a return on equity of 49.42%. The business had revenue of $8.12 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.06 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.98 EPS. Visas quarterly revenue was up 11.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Visa Inc. will post 8.66 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 11th will be issued a $0.45 dividend. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.74%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 10th. Visas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 22.84%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on V shares. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on Visa from $272.00 to $284.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on Visa from $270.00 to $280.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, July 19th. Mizuho increased their price objective on Visa from $240.00 to $255.00 in a report on Monday, July 31st. KeyCorp increased their price objective on Visa from $250.00 to $260.00 in a report on Monday, April 24th. Finally, 22nd Century Group reaffirmed a maintains rating on shares of Visa in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and fifteen have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Visa presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $270.32.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on V

Insider Buying and Selling at Visa

In other Visa news, CEO Ryan Mcinerney sold 8,150 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $240.00, for a total value of $1,956,000.00. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, CEO Ryan Mcinerney sold 8,150 shares of Visa stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $240.00, for a total transaction of $1,956,000.00. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Rajat Taneja sold 22,700 shares of Visa stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $240.21, for a total value of $5,452,767.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 232,112 shares in the company, valued at approximately $55,755,623.52. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 57,600 shares of company stock valued at $13,828,767 in the last 90 days. 0.21% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Visa Company Profile

(Free Report)

Visa Inc operates as a payments technology company worldwide. The company operates VisaNet, a transaction processing network that enables authorization, clearing, and settlement of payment transactions. It also offers credit, debit, and prepaid card products; tap to pay, tokenization, click to pay; Visa Direct, a real-time payments network; Visa B2B Connect, a multilateral B2B cross-border payments network; Visa Treasury as a Service, a cross-border consumer payments business; and Visa DPS that provides a range of value added services, including fraud mitigation, dispute management, data analytics, campaign management, a suite of digital solutions, and contact center services.

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Tourists visit the Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, Aug. 2, 2023. [Xinhua/Pema Yangtso]

XINING, Aug. 13 (Xinhua)  During her summer vacation, Gao Yong'e had just one day in Xining, the capital city of Qinghai Province in northwest China, and she knew exactly where she was going to go: the Tibetan Culture Museum.

"I wanted to spend the day learning and experiencing the rich and diverse traditional culture of my country," said the 31-year-old, who hails from Anhui Province in east China.

In the museum, Gao's camera raced to capture the array of treasures  from Tibetan costumes to glass incense bottles, and even the ancient coins that once traversed historic trade routes. Inspired by the sheer beauty and historical significance, Gao clicked away in a blur.

The Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum boasts a collection of more than 50,000 works, spanning Tibetan medicine, literature, calligraphy, folk culture, art, and astrology. Many items are national-level cultural relics.

"The number of visitors to the museum has reached a historic high during the summer vacation. In July alone, nearly 200,000 people visited the museum, while the daily flow of tourists reach over 6,000 since August," said Dorje Gyal, deputy director of the museum.

"We hire out all the audio guides within an hour of opening each day, and there is an overwhelming demand for guided tours," he added.

Aside from exhibitions, the museum also features interactive activities, such as thangka painting and traditional costume photobooths, so visitors can get hand-on when exploring the vast collection.

Tourists visit the Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, Aug. 2, 2023. [Xinhua/Pema Yangtso]

Sun Xinyi and her mother made the museum their final stop after enjoying the breathtaking natural landscapes in the plateau province. "The unique Tibetan culture is an important part of our Chinese culture, therefore, we should learn and understand it well," the nine-year-old said.

"Currently, more and more young people are enthusiastic about museums, consciously seeking to understand the profound historical heritage of our country. This is due to their identification with traditional culture, and this identification leads to their fondness," said Dorje Gyal. "The 'museum tourism fever' enriches cultural and tourism activities, demonstrating the charm and confidence of traditional Chinese culture."

Data from the provincial culture and tourism department showed that, in the first half of the year, Qinghai received nearly 18.22 million visitors, achieving tourism revenue of 16.23 billion yuan (about 2.27 billion U.S. dollars), representing a year-on-year increase of 98 percent and 146 percent compared to 2022.

Qinghai has a total of 41 museums, including 25 at the national level.

(Source: Xinhua)
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...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT THURSDAY... * WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions with heat index values of 105 to 115 expected. * WHERE...Southern Illinois and southeast Missouri along with the westernmost portions of southwest Indiana and western Kentucky. * WHEN...From noon today to 10 PM CDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Extreme heat and humidity will significantly increase the potential for heat related illnesses, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...This will likely be the worst heat wave we have experienced this summer in terms of duration. The multiple day aspect of this excessive heat will add to the impact. 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. &&
The Democratic Socialists of Americas 2023 convention provides an opportunity to take stock of the role the organization has played in the period beginning in 2015-16, when an initial but powerful radicalization of workers and youth spurred growing interest in socialism and drove 13 million people to vote for self-proclaimed socialist candidate Bernie Sanders.

From the time of Sanders presidential election campaign through the election of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Congress in 2018, thousands of young people joined the DSA believing it to be an anti-war, socialist organization hostile to the hated Democratic Party. Its paper membership rose from a few thousand to over 90,000, and the organization continues to bill itself as the largest socialist organization in the country.

But events have exposed the real role of the DSA as a faction of the Democratic Party. Sanders bowed out respectfully from the 2020 election and endorsed right-wing Joe Biden, and it is now impossible to deny that Ocasio-Cortez is simply a run-of-the-mill Democrat. The DSAs congressional slate voted to support and provide tens of billions of dollars for the US/NATO war against Russia and to illegalize a potential railroad strike. Its state and local officials also function as loyal Democrats, voting to raise rents, support police budgets, etc.

The DSA has not pressured the Democrats to the left; it has only served to provide the Democrats with a phony left veneer as the Biden administration escalates imperialist war and wages ruthless attacks on the working class.

The convention revealed that the DSA now stands so exposed as a pro-imperialist, pro-capitalist faction of the Democratic Party that it confronts an existential crisis, which has substantially undermined its ability to block the growth of an independent socialist movement outside of and hostile to the two-party system.

A crisis of waning spirit, bureaucratic confusion, and political inaction

A compendium distributed to delegates at the DSA convention says that its membership is in free fall, and that DSA has only 22,000 members who pay dues each month, a collapse from an earlier claim to have almost reached 100,000 members. The compendium also contains statements written by candidates for the DSA political committee which reveal the advanced character of the crisis inside the DSA.

One of the DSA members elected to its political committee wrote in her candidacy statement that the DSA confronts a crisis of waning spirit, bureaucratic confusion, and political inaction. Another candidate who won election to the PC wrote, our organization is facing a lot of specific challenges: declining membership, a budget crisis, high degrees of factional tension, and a missing middle leadership layer, which leaves us under-capacity and contributes to ever-increasing burnout. The new co-chair of the YDSA declared that the YDSA is in a crisis.

Other candidates for leadership refer to a slow-moving crisis, a fast-moving crisis, and an identity crisis, and describe an organization dominated by levels of burnout ranging from chronic burnout to a massive amount of burnout. (By burnout, they mean disillusionment with the DSAs openly right-wing character). One candidate wrote that the DSA has seen its leadership nearly collapse and that this has had a devastating effect on the morale of our members. The DSAs credibility, the candidate wrote, has been damaged in the eyes of not only our members, but the broader working class.

Other candidates report that branches are suffering near-fatal collapse, forcing the dissolution of most committees, while other chapters are on the brink of dissolution. One candidate wrote, We are seeing the numbers of dues paying members decrease and we are seeing some local DSA chapters struggle to remain active or dissolve entirely. If we dont work to reverse this trend, we could lose the organization.

The rapid decline in membership has also produced a serious budgetary crisis. A memo written by the DSA leadership for the convention announced that we will spend over $1.6 million more than we will raise, which puts us on track to deplete most of our current savings over the next year. Multiple candidates for the political committee refer to a budgetary crisis that has come to the surface.

DSA convention ratifies support for Democratic Party

The source of the crisis derives from the essential function the DSA plays in capitalist politics. The DSAs role is to legitimize and promote the Democrats. The DSAs challenge in accomplishing this task is to mix the most modest verbal criticisms of the Democratic Party establishment with staunch opposition to any effort to break from the 200-year-old party of reaction. The ultimate goal is to block an independent movement against the two parties and the capitalist system.

This can only be successful to the extent that the DSA and its representatives retain some left legitimacy, a pretense of criticizing the Democrats while actually functioning as a faction of the Democratic Party. The convention shows that this process has now broken down.

Delegates at its convention in Chicago this month overwhelmingly resolved that it is not advisable for us to form an independent political party with its own ballot line at this moment, and rejected an amendment that would have stated that it is DSAs expectation that socialists in elected office will vote and act in accordance with core principles of the socialist movement, like opposing imperialist war and strikebreaking.

This is a pledge of allegiance to the Democratic Party and declaration of hostility to socialism and the working class. At its conventionthe DSAs highest leadership bodythe organization took the position that it is perfectly acceptable to vote for imperialist war, give billions to weapons manufacturers and crush strikes, but one cannot break from the Democrats.

Having set these boundaries, the Democratic Party officials who run the DSA also set the table for supporting the Democratic Party in the 2024 elections. Delegates voted not to criticize DSA elected officials who endorse and support right-wing Democrats, and also voted to dedicate themselves to electoral work on the Democratic ballot line through the 2024 election. They voted to promote the democratic leadership of the UAW and Teamsters, two bureaucracies presently preparing to force sellout contracts on hundreds of thousands of autoworkers and UPS workers.

Putting on an act

As the DSA continues to expose its true role, its attempts to present itself as left acquire an increasingly comical character. For example, delegates passed a resolution titled Act Like an Independent Party, which pledged that someday, somewhere over the rainbow, the DSA will wake up where the clouds are far behind them and break with the Democratic Party. But until then, the organization must put on an act, the resolution says. Wherever possible, the DSA should establish an independent identity from the Democratic Party. Then, in the days after the convention, a prominent DSA faction issued a public endorsement of Joe Bidens 2024 campaign.

The DSA convention was not able to explain what conditions must come to fruition before the hypothetical break may occur, or why it must remain a faction of the Democratic Party at this moment, when nuclear war and climate catastrophe threaten the future of humanity, when strikes and mass protests are breaking out all over the world and when the Democratic Partys protection of their colleagues in the Republican Party facilitates Donald Trumps attempts to return to power and establish a fascist dictatorship. The real reason is that the DSAs purpose is to contain social opposition and channel it behind the Democratic Party where it can be strangled. Claims that the DSAs incoming political committee is more left-wing than the outgoing committee are merely window dressing for the conventions turn further to the right.

The only explanation the DSA gives for staying within the Democratic Party is that the working class is too backward to do anything but vote for Democrats. Typical is the statement by DSA political committee member Megan Romer, who writes that the working class is to blame for Ocasio-Cortez and other elected officials spinelessness: What we often find ourselves lacking is the social base that can provide a backbone for those elected officials to pass (or even propose) a lot of bold transformational reforms. There are 100,000 railroad workers who might conclude this turns reality on its head.

The affluent social base of the DSA

The DSA is hostile to the working class because it represents the affluent middle class, tied by a thousand threads to Wall Street and the Democratic Party. It is comprised of careerist, aspiring Democratic Party political operatives, NGO employees and trade union bureaucrats. They represent a parasitic social layer which derives its wealth and income from the exploitation of the working class.

Several candidates for DSAs political committee essentially admitted this in their candidate statements. One member of the incoming political committee explained, DSA is deeply middle class. The members of color we do have also come from privileged backgrounds. Another incoming political committee member admits that efforts to diversify DSA so as to better represent a broad cross-section of the working class have yet to significantly bear fruit. Another writes, DSA will continue to grapple with the reality that most leaders and members have come from privileged middle class backgrounds.

Its incoming political committee members describe their past political experience as follows:

I have worked as a field lead for two successful, electoral campaigns in NYC, reads one members candidacy statement. I served as the Secretary of my local AFL-CIO Central Labor Committee in Florida, reads another. A third explains, I also used my experience as a voting rights lawyer to do partisan voter protection work, including as Michigan voter protection director for Obama in 2008, for Senate campaigns, and for Obamas reelection in Florida. Another member is a campaign manager for DSA-endorsed [Democratic] Assemblymember Marcela Mitaynes and current advisor for her re-election campaigns.

Another says he campaigned for Democratic San Francisco Supervisor Dean Preston. The lawyer-candidate even says that when she clerked for a federal judge, she assisted in the drafting of opinions that affirmed criminal convictions and/or sentences. Even after publicly admitting this, she was elected to the political committee!

These are not socialists; they have nothing to do with the class struggle; they are Democratic Party hacks. Thats why they are in the leadership of the DSA.

These layers, by their own admission privileged sections of the middle class, responded to the initial WSWS article on the convention in a highly defensive and degraded manner. Unable to politically defend their prostration before the Democratic Party, DSA members and leaders resorted to ice pick memes and death threats.

This again confirms the DSAs role as a cog in bourgeois politics, policing left-wing criticism of the Democrats. In 2021, when the WSWS exposed Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for attacking left-wing criticism of Biden as privileged and racist, the DSA leadership also responded by promoting images of ice picks and praising the assassination of Leon Trotsky, who was killed by a Stalinist agent with an alpenstock on August 20, 1940.

The DSA convention and the coronavirus pandemic

It is unsurprising that in this unserious, middle-class environment, the DSA leadership conducted its convention without taking measures necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19. There was no remote participation and a resolution on covid safety was not even debated. Though masks were suggested, this rule was not actively enforced, as many photos from the convention hall show. The so-called communist caucus held a maskless, indoor party which reportedly resulted in multiple infections. The gathering of nearly 1,000 delegates at this convention has exacerbated the spread of covid in the Chicago area, which is once again on the rise.

In contrast, the Socialist Equality Party held its summer school at the same time as the DSAs convention, but the school took place online to protect its membership and stop the spread of the pandemic.

It is not accidental that the DSAs convention turned into a super spreader event. This, too, is consistent with the DSAs subordination to the Democratic Party. After all, the DSA supported the Democratic Partys back-to-work and back-to-school campaign, with Ocasio-Cortez distributing childrens backpacks and Jacobin promoting herd immunity proponent Martin Kulldorff. One DSA delegate and Minneapolis Federation of Teachers bureaucrat attacked the WSWSs coverage of the convention on Twitter and said, The WSWS rank-and-file safety committee did absolutely nothing to bring a safe return to schools, a telling admission which parrots the lie of Joe Biden and Randi Weingarten that the return was safe.

The Role of the DSA, 2016-2023

In recent years, the DSA has played a keystone role in helping the Democratic Party control and suppress the growing radicalization of workers and young people.

The ruling class responded to Sanders sudden popularity with shock and concern, not because Sanders himself posed any danger to the establishment (which views him as a longtime, dependable fixture of bourgeois politics), but because the vote reflected a breakdown of the American ruling classs century-long campaign against socialism. This poses an existential threat to the stability not only of the American political establishment, but to world capitalism as a whole.

The ruling class did not throw up its arms and head for the hills at the first sign of weakness. The Democratic Party is one of the oldest and most experienced bourgeois parties in world history, and it has a long track record of subsuming popular protest to block the development of an independent socialist movement of the working class, which is what the ruling class truly fears. The party of Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez is the party which defanged and disrupted the grange and populist movements of the 1880s and 90s, which brought the Congress of Industrial Organizations under its arm to suffocate the strike movement and block the development of a labor party, and which channeled the popular protests against the wars in Vietnam and Iraq back into the two-party system.

The DSAs history as a loyal faction of the Democratic Party has deep historical roots which primed it for this role. Its founder, Michael Harrington, was the acolyte of Max Shachtman, who had been a founding member of the Trotskyist Left Opposition in America but who travelled far to the right after breaking from the Trotskyist movement in 1940. Shachtman supported US imperialisms wars in Korea and Vietnam and became an advisor to AFL-CIO president George Meaney.

Harrington, echoing Shachtman, wanted to build a movement that would play a a pro-American, Cold War, State Department kind of role. Thats what he did in 1973 with the formation of the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee (DSOC), which then became the DSA in 1982 after the merger with the New America Movement (NAM), a split-off of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). The DSA has played the role Harrington envisioned ever since.

It is for this reason that the Democratic Party has encouraged and helped politically promote the DSA in the recent period of political radicalization. Over the last six years, the DSA has received fawning coverage in Democratic-linked publications like The Nation and The New York Times and its representatives have been transformed into media celebrities. Democratic leadership promoted Ocasio-Cortez to a leadership committee position in the House last year, and two of Wall Streets favorite politicians, Nancy Pelosi and Charles Schumer, pose with DSA leaders for friendly photos and even applaud the DSAs growth at public events.

Preparing new traps to block interest in revolutionary socialism

Revolutionary socialist politics represents the total opposite of the politics on display in DSA in the last six years and the last 40 years of its existence.

While the DSA fosters illusions in the Democratic Party and uses its ballot line, the Socialist Equality Party exposes the role of the Democratic and Republican Parties and fights to win workers from those parties on an independent socialist basis. Democratic Governors Newsom and Whitmer kept SEP Presidential candidate Joseph Kishore from the ballot in the 2020 election. While the DSA promotes the trade union bureaucracies and scrambles for well-paid staff positions, the SEP fights for the building of a network of democratic rank-and-file committees to unite workers across plants, industries and national borders.

While the DSAs leaders endorse Biden, attack left-wing criticism and support imperialist war, the SEP and its sister parties around the world have been holding anti-war meetings, often in the face of censorship campaigns and provocations by Ukrainian fascists, to mobilize the population against the US/NATO war while explaining the historical roots of the war and clarifying our opposition to the invasion of Ukraine by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The DSA helped the Biden administration present the return to school as safe, while the SEP has conducted an inquest into the response of the ruling class to the coronavirus pandemic.

The fears among DSA and Democratic Party leadership over the growth of interest in Trotskyismi.e., the Marxism of the 21st centurywas expressed most bluntly by DSA member, former YDSA chair and current Vice President of the California Democratic Party Daraka Larimore-Hall, who said in a podcast before the convention that the real danger comes from ultra-left, sectarian and Trotskyist groups like the SEP. Larimore-Hall said:

We have to rescue that full throated, leftist anti-communism that just floated away in the 1960s, explaining elsewhere, Young people need to understand how much of a mistake the vanguard Leninist viewwhich got credibility only because the Bolsheviks won in the Bolshevik revolution, not because anything that followed that is a model for anybody. We have every reason to try to make very clear what is wrong with communism.

The collapse in support for DSA means its ability to fight socialism is waning. The crisis in the DSA is a sign that powerful opportunities are emerging for the building of a genuinely revolutionary movementthe Socialist Equality Partyin every country.
Do you work at USPS? Tell us what about the NALC contract talks, the cuts to rural carriers wages, or Delivering for America by filling out the form below. All submissions will be kept anonymous.

A USPS worker leaves his truck after parking in the Canal Street station loading bay,in New York. [AP Photo/ John Minchillo]

For nearly three months, city letter carriers of the United States Postal Service (USPS) have been working without a new contract. The last deal ended on May 20, and a statutory 60-day mediation period ended on July 19, but the National Association of Letter Carriers union (NALC) has continued to meet with USPS for nearly a month without either party declaring an impasse.

The latter action would trigger binding arbitration, termed Interest Arbitration, as the final step in the process, resulting in the imposition of a new contract on terms almost certainly favorable to USPS. Given that this would deprive workers of the right to vote on their own contract, that would effectively imposed in a similar manner to the to the contract enforced last year on US railroaders. On the other hand, if no impasse is declared, negotiations can continue for a tentative contract leading to a vote by the workers.

But regardless of how the process proceeds, left in the hands of the NALC and USPS, the only possible outcome will be an attack on workers living standards. The experience of the rural letter carriers, under the National Rural Letter Carriers Association (NRLCA), is instructive. Under the new method for calculating their wages, the Rural Routes Evaluation and Compensation System or RRECS, rural letter carriers have seen their pay slashed by as much as $20,000 a year, with fewer days off.

The massive wage cuts were not the product of a glitch in the new system. It was implemented as part of the massive restructuring plan authored by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, a Trump appointee retained by Biden, which is being devised in collaboration with the postal union bureaucrats.

Called Delivering for America, it is designed to reconstruct the US Postal Service as a spoke-and-wheel, Amazon-like package delivery company. It is widely seen as a potential first step in privatizing the post office.

In order to accomplish this, massive cost-cutting is necessary. DeJoy has said as many as 50,000 jobs will be lost and 100,000 carrier routes changed and adjusted in three years.

City carriers face similar changes as the rural carriers, implemented in the name of efficiency. This includes a new method of route evaluation, involving invasive surveillance technology, to speed up and discipline letter carriers. Called Technology Integrated Alternative Route Evaluation and Adjustment Process (TIAREAP), it was adopted in two Memorandums of Understanding with NALC on May 10, 2022, for the duration of 2022 and 2023. This was implemented prior to the new contract.

The scanner and GPS technology that is central to TIAREAP tracks every movement of city carriers during the workday. It is called DSR, standing for Digital Street Review. DSR tracks every second of a carriers activity and subjects them to disciplinary charges for stationary events. Stationary events are defined as any time when productivity is interrupted. Therefore, stationary events would include stopping for 45 seconds to hydrate with a cool drink of water on a hot day, bathroom stops and stopping to exchange greetings with a patron on the route.

This was likely the disciplinary system used against Eugene Gates, Jr. a 36-year city carrier in Dallas, Texas who died of heat stroke in June. In the months before his death, Gates, who previously had a spotless record, received his first disciplinary charge of his career. The new monitoring system claimed he committed at least 1 hour and 15 minutes of stationary events that interrupted productivity.

Gates died completing his route in the sweltering heat on June 20, less than a month following the disciplinary action. The NALC union representative never offered a single genuine defense to these charges against Gates.

Sorting and Delivering Centers (S&DCs) are also being set up as part of a spoke-and-wheel delivery network modeled on the Amazon package delivery system. Letter carriers are being forced to leave Post Offices they have worked at all of their working lives and migrate to a centralized facility wherever USPS chooses, usually at a great distance.

The S&DC will be a much larger, centralized facility, potentially consolidating dozens of Post Offices with hundreds of routes. The routes will be re-evaluated and changed according to TIAREAP. The end result is that carriers unpaid commutes will be longer, their working days will be longer and more carriers will not finish their routes before dark.

In an interview with KBTX about the future S&DC in the town of Bryan, Texas, retired carrier Jamie Partridge of Community and Postal Workers United said that letter carriers are already working into the night and dark, retiring early, hiring on and then quitting, and the S&DC plan will just accelerate that process.

The first district that was reorganized around a S&DC Center was in Athens, Georgia last year. According to the Oconee Enterprise, One carrier noted that she was not able to start her 77-mile route until 11:10 a.m., leaving only five hours of daylight to deliver to 386 mailboxes during the busiest time of year.

Despite the fact that no new contract agreement yet officially exists, the National Association of Letter Carriers monthly Postal Record magazine for August has come out pre-emptively defending it. The cover story claims: There Will Be No Post Office Closures or Employee Layoffs as Part of Our S&DC Roll Outs.

In reality, over a year ago Postmaster DeJoy, speaking at the American Enterprise Institute, said that 19,000 Post Offices would be reduced to 12,000 or 13,000 by consolidating them into S&DCs. He went on to state, To get break even, I think we need to get 50,000 people out of the organization.

The Postal Record promotes the new plan in a glossy cover story and an inside five-page spread. The title is Delivering for America: Letter Carriers involvement with USPSs 10 year plan. It tells city carriers how they will be forced to move away from their Post Offices to the mandated S&DC location under contract Article 12 of the existing contract. It presents DeJoy and the USPSs Delivering for America as the unchallengable, undoubted restructuring plan that will govern the future of USPS and all city carriers.

In reality, workers can fight back, but only by taking their fight out of the control of the NALC bureaucracy. This means forming a new alternative structure that workers control, a USPS Rank-and-File Committee, to fight against Post Office closures, job losses and massive wage cuts.
New Zealands spy agency, the Security Intelligence Service (SIS), has published its first unclassified national threat assessment. It alleges that amid rising tensions and geopolitical competition, the country is threatened by foreign intelligence agencies who persistently and opportunistically conduct espionage operations against New Zealand.

Front cover of New Zealands Security Intelligence Service national threat assessment. [Photo: Security Intelligence Service]

To combat this, SIS Director Andrew Hampton called on New Zealand businesses, institutions and communities [to] use this document to help them make informed decisions about risk and mitigation. He declared that we all have a role to play to protect our national security and each others wellbeing. In other words, the agency is urging people to spy on employees, workmates, neighbours and friends for any signs of unpatriotic behaviour.

New Zealands Security Threat Environment 2023, released on August 11, follows the recent release of the first part of the Labour governments Defence Policy Review and inaugural National Security Strategy. Taken together, these documents signal a major strengthening of New Zealands alignment with the US-led military and intelligence build-up to war against China.

The latest document points to increased strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific as motivating interference from China. Beijings efforts to advance its political, economic, military and security involvement in the Pacific is a major factor driving strategic competition in our home region, it says. In fact, the opposite is the casethe region is dominated by intensified US efforts to provoke a conflict with China which Washington views as the main obstacle to its imperialist hegemony.

The SIS baldly identifies as the major intelligence threat the activities of three states in particular: the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), the Islamic Republic of Iran and Russia. It focuses on purported interference by the Chinese intelligence agencies, which are accused of ongoing activity in and against New Zealand and our home region.

The report consists of sweeping generalisations and uses menacing language to create an air of anxiety and intimidation. One reads, for example, of unnamed states seeking to further their advantage through intelligence activities that include human and cyber-enabled foreign interference and espionage, seeding disinformation, and the use of economic coercion, among other methods.

Russia is singled out due to its illegal invasion of Ukraine and challenge to international normsi.e., the rules established by the US that ensure its own imperialist domination. The SIS claims Russia is seeking to interfere in international support for Ukraine through coercive measures and leveraging its dominance in energy markets.

There is, of course, no criticism of NATOs expansionist aims or its instigation of the 2014 coup in Ukraine and other provocations that sparked the war with Russia. The aim of US imperialism is to inflict a military defeat against Russia as a first step in the redivision of the world, which includes far-advanced plans for war with China.

No concrete details or substantive evidence is provided to back up any of the reports sweeping claims.

According to the SIS, a growing proportion of cyber incidents affecting major NZ institutions are linked to state-sponsored actors. Of 350 reported incidents, none of which are documented, 118 were allegedly connected to foreign states.

The agency claims that foreign states are engaging in societal interference, such as attempting to influence, disrupt or subvert New Zealands communities and non-government sectors by deceptive, corruptive or coercive means. This includes New Zealands academic sectorencompassing institutions, employees and students. Students and academics who develop views deemed subversive by the state may find themselves accused of being agents of foreign interference.

Iran is accused of reporting on New Zealands Iranian communities and dissident groups, while according to the assessment: Most notable is the continued targeting of New Zealands diverse ethnic Chinese communities. We see these activities carried out by groups and individuals linked to the intelligence arm of the Peoples Republic of China.

This accusation, again unsubstantiated, dovetails with an escalating anti-China propaganda campaign, with the pro-Labour Daily Blog, among others, regularly accusing the countrys Chinese community of being potential fifth columnists as social and economic tensions intensify.

Chinas ambassador to NZ, Wang Xiaolong, denied all the charges, declaring in a statement, we NEVER interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. Period.

The entire SIS document is drenched in hypocrisy. The most significant player interfering globally in the affairs of other countriesrivals and allies alikeis not China but the United States. Washington is currently escalating a raft of diplomatic, financial and military interventions across the Pacific, including an open threat of regime change in the Solomon Islands, to push back against Beijing.

In New Zealand, following the inconclusive 2017 election, the then US ambassador Scott Brown gave three extraordinary media interviews indicating Washingtons preference for a Labour-Greens-NZ First coalition government, which the Trump administration believed would take a tougher line against Beijing than the incumbent National Party. After Browns intervention, Labour took office with anti-Asian NZ First leader Winston Peters installed as foreign minister.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern with US Ambassador Scott Brown on 19 February 2020. [Photo: @USAmbNZ]

New Zealand remains regarded in Washington as insufficiently reliable in the stand-off with Beijing due to the Labour governments efforts to maintain critically important trading relations with China. A recent visit to Wellington by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken followed a stream of high-powered official visits over the past year, escalating pressure to further integrate New Zealand into US-led military preparations.

A major obstacle to the ruling elites war drive is deeply entrenched opposition to war in the working class, as well as increasing anti-capitalist sentiment.

The SIS expresses nervousness about the emergence of popular opposition to the established order, noting attempts to drive social changes are becoming commonplace. It refers to growing distrust for institutions, fuelled by perceptions that people are being deliberately lied to and misled; that those with power dont have New Zealands best interests at heart; and that politicians are incapable of solving the problems facing the country.

Social and economic inequalities, the report declares, are among the many factors that we expect to contribute to the radicalisation of violent extremists in New Zealand.

The report expresses concern that state-generated misinformation and disinformation is consumed by New Zealanders. This information often references political and security-related events overseas to exploit pre-existing differences in society and is generated and disseminated to discredit competing world views and values.

Significantly, the spy agency declares that foreign states may try to leverage significant social tensions or disagreements in society to their advantage. There could be attempts to cultivate political and social movements in order to influence policy.

What this means is that, as was the case during the First and Second World Wars, the growth of socialist and antiwar movements against the government will be denounced as extremism caused by enemy propaganda and interference.

What counts as extremism is determined by the state. New Zealands intelligence agencies and police failed to prevent the countrys worst terrorist atrocity, the 2019 attack on two mosques in Christchurch by fascist gunman Brenton Tarrant. For many years, since the previous Labour government joined the illegal US invasion of Afghanistan and the war in Iraq, the SIS and other state agencies routinely spied on and harassed Muslims while turning a blind eye to right-wing extremists including Tarrant and the groups with which he associated.

The deaths of the 51 victims were used by the Jacinda Ardern-led Labour government to advance stricter procedures for firearms licence applications and to promote more internet censorship mechanisms and greater resources for the intelligence agencies themselves.

The SIS security assessment should be taken as a sharp warning by the working class. New Zealands state agencies, military and political elite are gearing up for what would inevitably be a calamitous war with China, coupled with a crackdown on any struggles by working people over declining living standards. Such developments erupting elsewhere around the globe, including in the United States and France, will assert themselves in New Zealand.
A Georgia prosecutor is expected to begin Monday the formal process of presenting charges in the case against ex-President Donald Trump for seeking to illegally overturn the results of the 2020 election in that state. This could lead to a grand jury indictment as early as Tuesday, not only of Trump but of as many as 20 co-conspirators, including both close Trump aides and leading figures in the Georgia Republican Party.

It would be the fourth criminal indictment against Trump this year and the second on charges relating to his illegal efforts to overturn the election, which culminated in the violent January 6, 2021 attack on Congress by a mob of his supporters. Like the federal case filed against Trump last month, the main focus of the Georgia case is the effort by Trump to present fake electors to Congress, supposedly chosen by the voters of the state, who had actually voted by a narrow margin for Democrat Joe Biden.

Amid widespread media reports that Fulton County (Atlanta) prosecutor Fani Willis was prepared to bring charges this weekshe had earlier said that her 2-year investigation would lead to the filing of charges in the first half of Augustthere was a report on CNN that top Trump aides had been directly connected to the illegal breach of a voting system in Coffee County in the far southeast of the state.

Authorities stand near barricades at the Fulton County courthouse, Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, in Atlanta. [AP Photo/Brynn Anderson]

Unnamed prosecutors told the cable network that they were in possession of text messages and emails connecting these aides to an effort in the small rural county to prove that voting machines and software provided by Dominion Voting Systems had been used to flip votes from Trump to Democrat Joe Biden.

Several of Trumps lawyers in 2020 promoted the attack on Dominion Voting Systems, which was taken up as well by Fox News. The company, which supplies a sizable proportion of state and local election authorities in the United States, later sued Fox and won a $770 million libel judgement against the network for promoting baseless claims against it.

A local election official, identified by CNN as Misty Hampton, sent a written invitation to Trumps attorneys to come and inspect the voting system, without legal authorization. They did so on January 7, 2021, one day after the mob attack on Congress.

Hampton had already delayed certification of Bidens victory in Georgia by refusing to validate recount results. Hers was the only one of Georgias 159 counties to do so. She also posted a video criticizing the Dominion voting system, which was then used by Trump lawyers and cited at a December 18, 2020 White House meeting where several Trump supporters, including Sidney Powell and Michael Flynn, urged that Trump send in the military to seize voting machines and rerun the election in key states, at gunpoint.

The actual results in Coffee County belied such suspicions, as Trump saw his margin of victory there increase, from 5,485 votes more than Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016 to 6,067 votes more than Biden in 2020. Trump won Georgia in 2016 by 231,323 votes, or 4.7 percent, but lost in 2020 by 11,779 votes, largely because of a shift towards the Democratic candidate in the suburbs of Atlanta.

The team of prosecutors led by Willis notified 18 people last year that they were targets of her investigation, including Trump, his top election lawyer and spokesman Rudy Giuliani, and many of the 16 Georgia Republicans who served as fake electors for Trump, claiming falsely to have been elected by the voters of Georgia in papers filed with Congress.

Eight of the 16 electors have since been immunized by Willis in return for their testimony about how the fake elector scheme was organized, including the role of top Trump aides and possibly Trump himself.

Unlike several other battleground states, Trump was personally involved in efforts to overturn the Biden victory in Georgia, notoriously telephoning Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, and urging him to find 11,780 votes, enough to overcome Bidens lead in the state.

In the course of the conversation, which Raffensperger recorded and later released publicly, Trump threatened to prosecute him if he failed to comply with the demand that he steal the election and hand over Georgias 16 electoral votes to Trump. The campaign to pressure Raffensperger is believed to be one of the charges incorporated into the Fulton County indictment.

Press reports also suggest that Willis will invoke Georgias RICO (Racketeer-Influenced and Corrupt Organization) statute, similar to the federal statute that was originally directed against the Mafia but has been far more widely used against other criminal conspiracies.

The similarity to the Mafia is not accidental. The Georgia investigation includes harassment of two Georgia election workers, Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Shaye Moss, whom Giuliani in particular singled out for allegations of ballot stuffing, claiming that a surveillance video showed them quite obviously surreptitiously passing around USB ports as if they are vials of heroin or cocaine. The two were then targeted by Trump supporters with death threats that compelled them to move out of their home for a period.

Willis has herself been the target of death threats and allowed most of her staff to work remotely rather than risk coming to the office, which is under the protection of armed guards and barricades.

The state election board has found no evidence of fraud and cleared Freeman and Moss of any wrongdoing. The two have sued Giuliani for defamation, and last month he admitted that he had lied and did not contest that his factual statements were false. Nonetheless, he claimed that these lies were constitutionally protected free speecha preview of the defense now being offered for Trumps statements promoting the stolen election lie that was the precursor to the violence of January 6.

It is significant that none of the prosecutorsall Democrats or appointed by Democratshas charged Trump with any crime directly related to the January 6 attack on the Capitol. Willis is bringing charges limited to Georgia, while the federal case brought by special counsel Jack Smith focuses on the fake elector scheme and does not charge Trump with seeking to overthrow the government on January 6 or install himself as president-dictator.

In the case of the Georgia prosecution, the Department of Justice has actually blocked efforts to obtain the testimony of Jeffrey Clark, the former assistant attorney general who was an open supporter of the Trump coup plan, at one point considered by Trump as a possible selection for acting attorney general. It was Clark who, according to the federal indictment of Trump, raised the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act if there were public protests against Trump remaining in office in defiance of the 2020 election results.

This is in keeping with the general policy of Biden and the Democratic Party leadership, who have sought to minimize the significance of the events of January 6 and, in particular, to avoid examining the broader effort to support a Trump coup on the part of sections of the military-intelligence apparatus and virtually the entire House Republican caucus.

These efforts are a desperate effort to conceal the mounting crisis of the entire US political system, in which the leading candidate for the Republican presidential nomination is a political criminal who has consistently declared in two previous elections that he will not accept the result of the vote if he loses and who in 2020 mobilized fascist gangs to attack the Capitol.

At the same time, Trumps supporters in Congress and the media are making use of the evident corruption of Bidens son Hunterwhich may well extend to the president himselfto claim that the Biden crime family has sold out America to its enemies, particularly China.

An atmosphere of violence overshadows the election campaign, more than a year before the votes will be counted, if indeed they are to be counted. There are constant, escalating threats from the Republican side. Michigan state Representative Matt Maddock, a Republican whose wife claimed to be an elector for Trump in that state, told supporters that civil war would break out if the Democratic state attorney general went ahead with the prosecution of the 16 fake electors.

Someones going to get so pissed off, theyre going to shoot someone, Maddock continued, according to a recording. Or were going have a civil war or some sort of revolution. Thats where this is going. He went on to compare the treatment of Republicans to the Nazi gas chambers.
The number of confirmed dead from the horrific wildfire on the Hawaiian island of Maui last Tuesday and Wednesday rose to 93 on Sunday. It is now the deadliest such fire in the US in more than 100 years.

On Saturday, authorities said that the work of searching for and identifying the dead was still in the early stages and many more victims were expected to be found, especially in the five-square-mile zone around the town of Lahaina.

Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said that cadaver dogs had covered just 3 percent of the area and the death toll would grow, adding that none of us really know the size of it yet. Pelletier said identifying the dead is particularly difficult because we pick up the remains and they fall apart.

So far, just two of those who perished in the blaze have been identified. Pelletier told family members that DNA testing would be required to identify their loved ones.

In an interview on CBS Face the Nation Sunday morning, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell was asked by reporter Jonathan Vigliotti about the accuracy of reports he had received from several sources close to the search that the death toll could reach into the hundreds. Criswell replied, If thats what theyre telling you, I wouldnt second-guess them. Theyre the ones that know best on what theyre seeing and how many people have notnot been accounted for.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green said on Saturday that 2,200 buildings were damaged or destroyed, 86 percent of them being residential structures. The cause of the fire is still not determined, although some reports say that winds from Hurricane Dora knocked down power lines, which then ignited dry grasses to set off the blaze.

Three other fires have been reported on the island. Two are still burning, one in south Mauis Kihei area and the other in the mountainous and inland communities known as Upcountry, where more than 500 homes have been hit with fire. Another fire started on Friday evening in Kaanapali, a coastal community north of Lahaina, but authorities say it was extinguished.

The scenes posted on social media of structures leveled to the ground and burned out hulks of automobiles on Front Street in Lahaina recall the destructive force of war. Comparing the devastation to the Allied firebombing of German cities in February 1945, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency spokesperson Adam Weintraub told news media, Some of the aerial footage that weve seen from the area reminds me of the pictures from Dresden from World War II.

Wildfire wreckage is shown Friday, August 11, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii. Hawaii emergency management records show no indication that warning sirens sounded before people ran for their lives from wildfires on Maui that wiped out a historic town. [AP Photo/Rick Bowmer]

Like the Camp Fire, the next most deadly wildfire in the US, which incinerated homes and killed 85 people in Paradise, California in 2018, the Maui fire reached at least 1200F and melted aluminum engine blocks and car wheels, turning them into pools of liquid.

While the full scale and impact of the wildfire will not be known for days or weeks, it can be stated that the death and destruction from the disaster on Maui are an indictment of the capitalist ruling class and its government and ruling political parties.

Climate scientists and environmentalists had warned about a fire with such devastating consequences for two decades, but critical safety measures were not taken because they cut across capitalist interests.

Elizabeth Pickett, co-executive director of the nonprofit Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization and co-author of a Maui wildfire plan developed in 2014, told the Wall Street Journal that measures like ramping up emergency-response capacity have been stymied by a lack of funding, logistical hurdles in rugged terrain and competing priorities.

What are these other priorities? While the US government, backed by the corporate media, continuously claims there is no money to build infrastructure and take measures that will prevent such disasters from happening in the first place, there is an endless supply of funds for war and financial bailouts of the banks and corporations.

The US government, through both Democratic and Republican administrations over the past three decades, has spent trillions of dollars on imperialist wars that have killed and displaced millions of people, and, at the same time, funneled similar amounts into the financial system to ensure that money-making for billionaires on Wall Street continued without disruption.

With the wildfire in Maui, there is no longer any doubt that the refusal of the capitalist class to address climate changethe product of decades of reckless, profit-driven pumping of carbon into the atmosphereis pushing society into an existential catastrophe.

And yet, the response of the political establishment has been an astounding degree of disinterest and the shirking of any responsibility for the disaster. Aside from a three-paragraph White House statement on Thursday, President Biden has said nothing about the staggering loss of life in Hawaii.

Speaking to Jake Tapper on CNNs State of the Union program Sunday morning, US Senator from Hawaii Mazie Hirono, a Democrat, said she was not going to make excuses for the tragedy. But when asked by Tapper why officials were so unprepared for the fire, she made the astonishing comment, I think that we are doing a lot in order to provide the kind of support we need to be providing, but there will always be the call for more.

This is not the way the people of Maui see the situation. They are shocked and outraged that there were no warnings to residents as the wind-whipped flames were approaching and then engulfing Lahaina. Multiple survivors have told television reporters that there were no officials on the scene to help people escape the flames, no means of communicating with missing loved-ones or contacting hospitals or emergency agencies.

Even days after the worst of the fires had ended, thousands of people left homeless and without food were left to fend for themselves. As of Sunday there were approximately 4,500 people in need of shelter, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Pacific Disaster Center.

Reports have come in to the World Socialist Web Site that the provision of urgently needed food and money for working class residents is being organized and run entirely at the community level, by volunteers. The level of dismay, anger and distrust of the government is palpable within the population.

The island of Maui is a microcosm of the social inequality that exists across America. In recent decades, income disparity in Hawaii has accelerated. According to one study in 2022, the proportion of Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) households in Maui County, that is, individuals with an income of just over $35,000 or a family of four with an income of $72,000, has risen to 52 percent, or more than half the population. This is the highest rate in the state of Hawaii.

Maui is also the location of properties and residences owned by some of the worlds wealthiest individuals. Former CEO and founder of Amazon Jeff Bezos owns a $78 million, 14-acre estate, surrounded by thousands of acres of dormant lava fields on La Perouse Bay on Valley Isle in Maui. Oprah Winfrey, with a personal wealth of $2.5 billion, owns 2,000 acres on the island.

Other billionaires who have property on Maui include Paypal co-founder Peter Thiel, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and software tycoon David Duffield. Facebook (Meta) CEO Mark Zuckerberg ($107 billion) and Oracle CEO Larry Ellison ($141 billion) each own thousands of acres on the Hawaiian islands Lanai and Kauai, near Maui.

These billionaires and others have been buying up land and homes in Hawaii for decades, typically as vacation spots, but also as a place to park their assets. While some of these individuals are silent about the Maui catastrophe, others have come forward with charity activities for public relations purposes.

The Maui wildfire is one of a series of worsening natural disastershurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, tornados and other ecological catastrophesthat have exposed the criminal negligence of the capitalist class and its institutions. In the case of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, for example, the city of New Orleans was devastated and 1,392 people lost their lives due to the flooding that ensued and the inability and refusal of the government to carry out any effective response measures.

The conditions that have developed in Hawaii, like everywhere else on the planet, attest to the fact that what is required to stop the devastating impact of climate change is the mobilization of the working class internationally against the entire profit system. Only by taking the resources of society out of the hands of the financial elite, which puts private wealth accumulation above human life, and reorganizing them on a planned, socialist basis can the working class prevent the catastrophes created by capitalism.
With Emirati Womens Day on August 28, ETHER by Cloud Spaces is presenting Emirati women a range of products.

The biggest hub in Abu Dhabi for Emirati women in the retail industry and hosting over 120 up-and-coming and established brands, ETHER by Cloud Spaces is showcasing a diverse array of brands led by amazingly talented Emirati women, ranging from clothing, luxury perfumes, high-quality skincare and more, a release said.

Feryal Al Bastaki

Self-taught Emirati designer Feryal Al Bastakis passion for creativity led her to conceive this incredibly chic brand in 2003. Elevate ones traditional wear closet with exquisitely designed Kaftans and Abayas designed exclusively by her. Crafted from opulent fabrics and enriched with delicate hand-stitched embroidery, these traditional pieces from THE designer seamlessly blend Emirati culture with fashion.

Queen B Perfumes

This very successful perfume venture, initiated by a local woman from Abu Dhabi, Bakeetha Almansoori, uses the finest perfumery traditions to create a lavish blend of oriental and Emirati notes.

Each scent at Queen B Perfumes has carefully been put together with love and passion, ensuring that every wearer experiences ultimate pleasure and indulgence. Whether one is a connoisseur of perfumes or simply love to surround oneself with divine scents, Queen B is ones perfect destination for all the fragrance needs.

Healthy skin

Let Healthy Skin is the go-to for all ones skincare and haircare needs. Made using 100% natural and organic ingredients, this ethical cruelty-free brand, formulated by Sawsan Alshateri, will transform the skin in the most unbelievable ways. Whether one needs a daily moisturiser or a deep-conditioning hair mask, Healthy Skin has got one covered. Their products are suitable for all skin types and all ages, men, women, and even pregnant women.

Ombre

Founded in 2021 by another inspiring Emirati entrepreneur, Hamda Alwadhi, Ombre is a must-visit store if one is looking for trendy yet modest ready-to-wear fashion and outstanding couture pieces for women and kids.

Featuring limited edition collections, on-point trends, and uniquely curated pieces, Ombre sets the bar high for style and sophistication. Offering bespoke tailoring and alteration services, Ombre ensures to make one shopping experience unforgettable.

With so much on offer to truly bring ones shopping game to another level, ETHER by Cloud Spaces should be ones only choice this Emirati Womens Day. Some of the other exciting Emirati women-owned brands available at ETHER by Cloud Services include Pushed, Allilac Perfume, Elan Flowers Boutique and Matia Natural.-- TradeArabia News Service
To discuss joining the autoworkers rank-and-file committee network, fill out the form at the end of this article. Sign up for text message updates on the Big Three contract fight by texting AUTO to (866) 847-1086.

Warren Truck workers

Last week officials from Stellantis Warren Truck Assembly (WTAP), located just north of Detroit, released a statement that two workers at the plant had contracted Legionnaires disease, a potentially deadly form of bacterial pneumonia.

The fact that two workers at WTAP have contracted Legionnaires disease indicates that the more than 3,500 workers at the plant may have been exposed to the bacterium which causes the disease, either within the factory or somewhere else within the community.

Legionnaires disease is caused by the Legionella bacterium infecting the lungs. Infections typically spread through breathing contaminated water mist, most often from air conditioning or other water systems, or by accidentally breathing contaminated water while drinking. Symptoms include muscle pains, fever, headache, coughing or shortness of breath.

The last decade has witnessed a substantial increase in reported cases of Legionnaires throughout the state of Michigan, and more recently the unhindered spread of COVID-19 throughout factories and the broader community as the companies, politicians and United Auto Workers officials abandoned any semblance of workplace safety or public health policies.

In its statement, the companywhich manufactures Jeep, Ram, Chrysler and numerous other brandsasserted that they did not yet know the source of the infections. It continued, However, out of an abundance of caution for the safety and welfare of our employees, we have mobilized a team to begin testing water sources, and are following appropriate and established protocols at the plant. As part of our thorough investigation, we will contact and cooperate with all proper agencies as necessary.

The health status of the infected workers was not immediately clear.

Following the incident Stellantis officials told news station FOX 2 that the company shut down three water test operations and carried out a deep clean.

A member of the Warren Truck Rank-and-File Committee told the WSWS, I havent heard anything since they reported that there were cases, when the company said they dont know if they contracted it from work or somewhere else. Of course they will say that, they dont want to take the blame if in fact they did contract it in the plant.

People do drink out of their water dispensers. Ive never seen anyone come in and change the filter, or clean it.

At one point they had to shut down an ice machine because they had had mold in it. That lets you know how often they change the hoses, the filters, any of that stuff.

Other workers at WTAP also told a WSWS reporting team that they remain skeptical about the companys claims. They stated that they were never contacted by any officials from the UAW about the Legionnaires cases among workers at the plant.

UAW Local 140, which covers WTAP workers, has yet to issue a statement on the spread of Legionnaires disease on their website.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about one out of 10 people who gets sick from Legionnaires disease will die.

The number of Legionnaires cases in the US have grown substantially over the last two decades, with major outbreaks occurring in Michigan prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CDC has reported that between 2000 and 2018 the reported cases of Legionnaires disease increased by nearly 900 percent, but specified that it is unclear if the increase is the result of a greater spread of the disease or an increase in reporting.

Over a two-week period in July 2021, Michigan health officials reported a 569 percent increase in reported cases of the disease from the previous year. From July 1 to 14, the state had 107 cases in 2021 compared to 16 cases over the same period in 2020 and 41 cases over the same period in 2019.

Flint, Michiganwhose water system was devastated through a bipartisan plan that resulted in lead leaching into the water supplyexperienced an outbreak of Legionnaires disease impacting 90 people between 2014 to 2015. Officials eventually tied the outbreak, which killed 12 people, to a water tower at McLaren Flint Hospital.

There have also been a number of incidents of Legionella being found in auto plants in recent years, both in Michigan and others states.

In 2019, officials from the Ford Dearborn Truck plant, located outside of Detroit, announced that Legionella bacteria was discovered within the factory. Business Insider later reported that the bacteria was found in three separate locations, two bathrooms and a medical department. When a WSWS reporter contacted a UAW official about the spread of the bacteria, they were informed that the union had not sent any notifications to workers about the infection.

Ford officials in 2017 had previously discovered the bacteria inside a cooling tower at the Kansas City Assembly Plant (KCAP) in Missouri. The discovery of the bacteria came only after a worker at the plant contracted Legionnaires disease and had to be put into a medically induced coma. Ford officials then issued a statement, which bears a striking resemblance to the one made by Stellantis, that they regularly test for Legionella out of an abundance of caution and that all test results have been negative throughout the entire year.

Ford officials later contradicted themselves, claiming they had discovered a very low amount of Legionella, but dismissed the danger this posed to workers.

The infection of two workers with Legionnaires disease at Stellantis has also coincided with a surge of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. CDC data reported COVID-19 hospitalizations nationally have climbed from 6,450 to 9,056 admissions per week over the previous month. Last Tuesday, Michigan health officials reported a doubling of new COVID-19 cases from the previous week, as new cases rose from 761 to 1,864.

The spread of COVID-19 and Legionnaires disease throughout factories and working class communities is the result of a deliberate ruling class policy of neglecting even the most basic public health measures, which would inevitably come into conflict with the profits of the auto companies and their backers on Wall Street. Managers, politicians and UAW bureaucrats have all sought to keep workers on the job regardless of the unsafe conditions.

In 2021, Stellantis claimed no workplace-related deaths the previous year, despite at least six WTAP workers succumbing to COVID-19 in 2020, more than were reported at any other auto plant in the US.

This official indifference points to the need for workers to take their safety into their own hands. Rank-and-file committees, encompassing workers on the shop floor, will provide a means for workers to ensure their health and safety are not subordinated to profit, and that production is shut down when workers deem it to be unsafe.

The WSWS encourages autoworkers at WTAP to join the Warren Truck Rank-and-File Committee, and for workers at other factories to join the Autoworkers Rank-and-File Committee Network to organize against unsafe conditions, layoffs and concession contracts.
The Steinhardt School of Education at New York University (NYU) hosted a series of whites-only anti-racist workshops from February to June in what amounted to a quiet practice of segregation at a major American university.

The online program, organized by the Education Justice Research and Organizing Collaborative (EJ-ROC) at NYU Metro Center, was described on a page that has since been taken down from NYUs website as designed specifically for white public school parents in New York City.

Anyone who has even a passing familiarity with the Civil Rights movement and the struggle against segregation in the American South should immediately recognize the fundamental contradiction between the phrases whites-only and anti-racist. Given this apparently obvious paradox, the reader could be forgiven for assuming that the organizers are simply ignorant of this history or are otherwise very confused.

But NYU did not approve this program by accident, and this workshop series is not a matter of a few mistaken individuals. It demonstrates that the logic of identity politicsthe middle-class politics of race, gender, sexual orientation and so onis not to eliminate prejudice, but to enshrine prejudice as the central axis of society.

In a leaked video of the first session, a parent in attendance says, I am not completely convinced why it is so important to meet only as white people It seems a little counterintuitive to me.

The purpose is to create a space where we can talk about our racism with each other, responds Barbara Gross, the associate director of the EJ-ROC, without burdening the people of color in our lives.

People of color are dealing with racism all the time, she adds. Its a harm on top of a harm for them to hear our racist thoughts.

The EJ-ROC also circulated a leaflet by another organization, the Alliance of White Anti-Racists Everywhere-Los Angeles (AWARE-LA), which argues, A white space serves as a resource to people of color who want to work with white people but dont want to have to spend all their energy dealing with the racism of white people.

The idea that white people are inherently racist, and that therefore people of color must be protected from their racist thoughts, is thoroughly reactionary and serves to legitimize the far-right conception that different races of humans stand irreconcilably opposed to one another.

The AWARE-LA leaflet justifies its segregationist practice with quotes from Black nationalist figures and organizations of the 1960s. It quotes an interview with Malcolm X conducted by Jack Barnes and Barry Sheppard and published in Young Socialist in 1965:

Whites who are sincere should organize themselves and figure out some strategies to break down the prejudice that exists in white communities. This is where they can function more intelligently and more effectively, in the white community itself, and this has never been done.

Young Socialist was a publication of the Young Socialist Alliance, the youth group of the Socialist Workers Party (SWP). The SWP broke from the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI)the Fourth International founded by Leon Trotsky, which today publishes the World Socialist Web Sitein 1963. In breaking with the International Committee, the SWP capitulated to Pabloism, a revisionist tendency that emerged within the Fourth International after World War II, which rejected the program of world socialist revolution and wrote off the working class as a revolutionary force.

The predecessor to the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) in the United States, the Workers League, was founded by members of the SWP who fought against the SWPs shameful capitulation to Pabloism and national opportunism. The Historical and International Foundations of the Socialist Equality Party (US) summarizes the period:

The growing opposition to the war in Vietnam among masses of students, the eruption of violent protests by African-American workers and youth in major cities, and the militant strikes by substantial sections of the working class were indications of the crisis of American capitalism. The Socialist Workers Party, repudiating its Trotskyist heritage, responded to these developments by adapting to petty-bourgeois tendencies that dominated these movements. Its opportunism found expression in its promotion of Black nationalism as an alternative to the struggle for the unity of the working class on the basis of a socialist program. The SWPs espousal of Black nationalism, including the demand for a separate Black nation, reflected its dismissal of the American working class as a revolutionary force. This perspective expressed the influence of the New Left, which derived much of its theoretical inspiration from the anti-Marxist conceptions of Herbert Marcuse, a leading representative of the Frankfurt School, who characterized the working class as a proto-fascist element in American society.

Modern identity politics, which is a cornerstone of both the curriculum at NYU and the electoral strategy of the Democratic Party, evolved from this very concoction of postmodernism and Black nationalism, combined with the promotion of politics based on gender and sexual identity.

In the past half-century, identity politics and affirmative action have served as mechanisms by which small fractions of traditionally marginalized groups have been elevated into the upper-middle class.

Tom Carters lecture to the 2021 school of the Socialist Equality Party (SEP), The ideological foundations of Critical Race Theory, sharply describes the reality of upper-middle-class identity politics and the sort of anti-racist workshops that the EJ-ROC held at NYU:

There is good money to be made for those who have hitched their wagons to this tendentious nonsense. [Robin DiAngelo] recently charged $12,000 for just one seminar at the University of Kentucky and $20,000 for one three-and-a-half-hour workshop at the University of Connecticut. She typically charges between $10,000 and $15,000 per event. Tim Wise, author of the book White Like Me, likewise charges a speaking fee in the $10,000 to $20,000 range

These pricey workshops for white people resemble nothing so much as the gay conversion therapy practiced by Christian fundamentalistsin that the whiteness, like the homosexuality, can never be completely purged, but can only be meditated upon as a perpetual source of shame and guilt for the person so unlucky as to have been born in such a sinful condition.

Racial segregation is not foreign to NYU. Three years ago, a small student group called Black Violets circulated a petition that called for Black student housinga safe space free of the constant burden of educating  uninformed peers about racism.

The university administration warmly welcomed the proposal for segregated housing despite the petitions relatively few signatures, and the Black Violets Themed Engagement Community was established in Brittany Hall.

There are doubtless many students at NYU who, out of a genuine desire to change society, come into contact with identity politicsand, just as surely, there are many who feel instinctively that something about it is not quite right.

But there is no way to answer the claims of identity politics or oppose it on a progressive basis without an historical understanding of its roots.

For this reason, the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) at NYU has made clarifying, exposing and fighting identity politics a central aspect of its work.

The IYSSE at NYU holds "Race, Class, and the Fight for Socialism" with Tom Mackaman and Larry Porter in 2019.

In 2019, the IYSSE at NYU held a public meeting titled Race, Class, and the Fight for Socialism in opposition to the New York Times 1619 Project and its racialist falsification of American and world history. David North summed up the 1619 Project during the 2023 Summer School of the SEP:

Committing enormous resources to this project, the most influential bourgeois corporate newspaper in the United Statesthe media flagship of the American state, the intelligence agencies, and the academic establishmentannounced that it was initiating a fundamental revision of the narrative of American history. Neither the American Revolution nor the American Civil War were to be seen any longer as progressive historical events. The 1619 Project would decisively expose the Revolution as a desperate and cynical rebellion of slave owners, determined to thwart the efforts of the British Empire and the heroic Lord Dunmore to advance the cause of emancipation.

The World Socialist Web Site led the opposition to the 1619 Project and posted interviews with a number of prominent historians. Without the progressive conquests of the American Revolution and the Civil War, the WSWS explained, there could be no talk of socialist revolution today.

Nikole Hannah-Jones, the primary author of the 1619 Project, was hastily invited to appear alongside NYU President Andrew Hamilton at an event the day before the IYSSEs meeting. Clearly, this event was organized in direct response to the IYSSE.

The NYU administrations panicked response to the IYSSE reflected the desperation of the Democratic Party and the ruling class more broadly. As Carter explains,

The [ruling classs] volte face to embrace racial sectarianism has a short-sighted and desperate character. Unable to make a popular appeal on the basis of a genuine improvement in living and working conditions for masses of people, the Democrats have to resort to emotional appeals to various forms of prejudice, envy and mistrust. But the incessant talk of white privilege and white fragility  will have the effect of driving workers into the arms of the far right and, in fact, undermining the real struggle to expose and eliminate prejudice.

Marxism insists that the history of human society is the history of class struggle and that the future depends on whether the working class can overthrow the capitalist class and establish a socialist society.

As Trotsky wrote in the founding document of the Fourth International, The Transitional Program: The historical crisis of mankind is reduced to the crisis of the revolutionary leadershipthat is, on the building of a revolutionary party that can lead the working class to power.

On the contrary, postmodernism denies the existence of objective history, and identity politics centers the subjective experience of people of various identities. These irrational ideologies reflect the efforts of the ruling class to divert genuine social opposition into the dead end of reformism, which invariably transforms its adherents into rabid supporters of capitalism and imperialism.

Above all, the ruling classs promotion of prejudice serves to undermine the organic striving of the working class for unity. Science has long disproved the concept of race as a biological category, but racism and prejudice persist precisely because the ruling class recognizes them as useful tools for undermining working-class solidarity and intentionally promotes them to the tune of millions and millions of dollars. Herein lies the significance of the fact that the EJ-ROC workshop targeted public-school parents.

The famous slogan of the Communist Manifesto is Workers of the world, unite!not Races of the world, divide! Students at NYU who are interested in genuine opposition to backwardness and in the fight for the socialist transformation of society should contact and join the IYSSE at NYU.
Some time after 6:00 a.m. last Wednesday morning in Provo, Utah, dozens of FBI agents executed a search warrant on the home of 75-year-old Craig D. Robertson, a heavily armed and self-declared MAGA TRUMPER. The raid ended with Robertson being shot and killed by FBI agents.

Craig Robertson with his "ghillie" suit and sniper rifle. [Photo: Craig Robertson/Department of Justice]

Prior to the raid, Robertson had repeatedly threatened to assassinate President Joe Biden, who was scheduled to appear in Salt Lake City, a 45-minute drive from Provo, later that day.



This was the second time FBI agents had visited Robertsons suburban home in the past five months. The Department of Justice complaint against Robertson asserted that the FBI had been investigating him since March 19 of this year, after Truth Socialthe Twitter/X clone owned by ex-President Donald Trumptipped off the FBI that Robertson had made specific threats to kill Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr.



ALVIN BRAGG, declared @winston4eagels, Robertsons profile name on multiple social media sites, (H)eading to New York to fulfill my dream of [eradicating] another of George Soros two-bit political [hack] DAs. Ill be waiting in the courthouse parking garage with my suppressed Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm to smoke a radical fool prosecutor should never have been elected.



Bragg, who is currently prosecuting Trump over hush money payments made by his election campaign to a porn film actress in 2016, is one of several Democratic African American prosecutors against whom Trump has repeatedly incited violence in campaign advertisements and speeches. Virtually all of Robertsons anticommunist, racist and threatening posts, deemed sufficiently criminal by the FBI to charge him with three felonies, are more vulgar versions of threats regularly made by Trump against his political enemies over the last eight years.



No government agents were reportedly injured during the shooting. According to eyewitness accounts gathered by Deseret News, Robertson, an Air Force veteran from the Vietnam era, refused to come out of his home after dozens of FBI agents surrounded it and demanded over a megaphone that he come out with his hands up. The witness saw FBI agents attempt to break down the front door with a battering ram, which was unsuccessful. FBI agents then used a tactical vehicle to break Robertsons front window.



According to the neighbors account in Deseret News, shortly after the window was breached, six shots could be heard in quick succession. The eyewitness said he (or she) saw FBI agents drag Robertsons body out of his home and onto the sidewalk, where they attempted to render first aid. Shortly thereafter, paramedics arrived and unsuccessfully tried to revive Robertson.



Unnamed senior officials have told major press outlets, including NBC and the New York Times, that Robertson was armed with one of the 20 guns he allegedly owned, and that he had pointed it at agents before he was shot and killed. The shooting occurred some 10 hours prior to President Joe Bidens arrival in Salt Lake City for a speech at the Veterans Administration hospital.



At the time of the shooting, Robertson was facing three felony counts, including making threats against the president and against the FBI agents who were investigating him. In the complaint against Robertson, the FBI flagged several threatening social media posts made in the last year.



THE TIME IS RIGHT FOR A PRESIDENTIAL ASSASSINATION OR TWO. FIRST JOE THEN KAMALA! Robertson wrote on his Facebook account last year. On Sunday, some 72 hours before Bidens arrival, Robertson again posted on his public Facebook account, I HEAR BIDEN IS COMING TO UTAH, DIGGING OUT MY OLD GHILLE [sic] SUIT AND CLEANING THE DUST OFF THE M24 SNIPER RIFLE. Robertson also made, and re-posted, several Facebook posts warning FBI agents that he would have a loaded gun handy in case you drop by again.

Robertson, appropriating Trump's fascist rhetoric, threatened to assassinate Biden and "eradicate the Marxist left" in the days and hours leading up to the FBI raid on his home. [Photo: Craig Robertson]

While the FBI only began investigating Robertson this year, Robertson had made posts going back to 2019 in which he threatened to kill Democrats and left-wing individuals with semi-automatic rifles.



On July 23, 2019, he posted on his Facebook account a picture of four loaded semi-automatic rifles with scopes, captioned, Thought I would load up for a trip to DC and Help Trump really clean up the swamp. So many Democrats and so little Time!!! Besides I need the practice on some barely moving targets, haha. -feeling fantastic.

Robertson threatened Democrats in July 2019 Facebook post. [Photo: Craig Robertson]

Robertsons killing has already prompted outrage from the same forces that organized and carried out Trumps failed coup, including Stop the Steal organizer Ali Alexander, who said the shooting was proof that the FBI is now killing all online critics of Biden. On Friday, neo-Nazi Jack Posobiec posted on Truth Social that The Left wants what happened to Craig Robertson and Ashli Babbitt to happen to every Trump supporter.



Since Trump embarked on his campaign for president in 2015, his constant violent and right-wing rhetoric, modeled after Adolf Hitler, coupled with his embrace of white supremacists and fascists, as seen after the right-wing rampage Charlottesville, Virginia, six years ago, has incited thousands of his supporters to carry out attacks against his political enemies. With support from right-wing billionaires, Republican Party politicians and elements in the police-military and intelligence apparatus, along with a faction on the US Supreme Court, Trumps embrace and cultivation of right-wing violence culminated in the failed January 6 coup.



Political violence in the US is at its worst since the 1970s, Reuters reported on August 9, 2023. Citing research by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project by Rachel Kleinfeld of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and criminologist Gary LaFree from the University of Maryland, Reuters determined that at least 39 people had been killed in the course of 18 fatal political attacks since January 6, 2021. Of these 18 attacks, Reuters categorized 13 as right-wing, four as non-partisan and one as left-wing.



In total, Reuters found that there have been at least 213 cases of political violence, with roughly 66 percent of these cases involving violence against a person, while the other third were mainly property damage.



Much of todays political violence, wrote the news agency, is aimed at peopleand most of the deadly outbursts ... have come from the right. Threats against election workers soared, Reuters noted, after Trump lost the 2020 election, prompting election offices across the country to install bulletproof glass and security doors.



Encouraged by Trump and his far-right allies in the Republican Party and sections of the mediaand abetted by police departments and federal agencies that are filled with sympathetic elementsmilitia groups, antisemites and neo-Nazis have continued to instigate violence at libraries, school board meetings and LGBTQ spaces on a near-daily basis.



Following Special Counsel Jack Smiths indictment of Trump for attempting to overthrow the 2020 election and a bevy of charges against Trumps fraudulent electors, Trump and his allies have doubled down on far-right threats.



This past June, top Stop the Steal co-conspirator and Arizona Republican Representative Andy Biggs posted on his Twitter account: Eye for an eye.

The New York Times reported that aspiring Trump vice presidential candidate Kari Lake, speaking at a Georgia Republican convention in June, said: If you want to get to President Trump, you are going to have go through me, and you are going to have to go through 75 million Americans just like me. And Im going to tell you, most of us are card-carrying members of the [National Rifle Association].



This past Friday, The Messenger reported that Michigan State Representative Matt Maddock threatened a civil war during a recent fundraiser for 16 people, including his wife, who were part of the fraudulent elector scheme in Michigan. He said, If the government continues to weaponize these departments against conservatives and the citizens ... you know whats going to happen to this country. ... Someones going to get so pissed off, theyre going to shoot someone. Thats whats going to happen. Or were going to have a civil war or some sort of revolution.



Campaigning with Trump at the Iowa State Fair over the weekend, Florida Representative Matt Gaetz, one of several elected Florida Republicans who have thrown their support behind Trump, opined that it was only through force that Republicans could make change in a corrupt town like Washington D.C.
On his social media feed on X, formerly Twitter, Lai wrote that he was happy to arrive in the Big Apple, and that he was "looking forward to seeing friends & attending transit programs in #New York."

Before departing, Lai spoke to reporters but barely mentioned the United States. Arriving at his hotel in New York, he was greeted by dozens of supporters, who waved U.S. and Taiwan flags, as well as the green and white banner of his ruling Democratic Progressive Party. As the crowd shouted, "Go Taiwan!" "Go Vice President!" others waved flags that read "Keep Taiwan Free." One supporter held a sign that said: "Against War on Taiwan."

Lai, a Harvard-educated doctor turned politician is the front-runner in Taiwan's upcoming presidential elections. He has previously described himself as a "practical worker for Taiwan independence," but on the campaign trail he has stressed that he is not seeking to change the current situation. He has also expressed willingness to be friends with China.

In its Sunday statement, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said: "China deplores and strongly condemns the US decision to arrange the so-called stopover," adding that Beijing firmly opposes "the U.S. government having any form of official contact with the Taiwan region." Lai, the statement added, "clings stubbornly to the separatist position for 'Taiwan independence,'" and that he is a "troublemaker through and through."

China's foreign ministry was quick to voice its opposition to a transit stop in the United States by Taiwan's Vice President William Lai as he travels to Paraguay, warning Sunday that it could take "resolute and strong measures" in response to the visit.

Analysts say that during Lai's stopovers, Taipei and Washington will try to ensure that they do not further exacerbate U.S.-China tensions, but the visit comes as challenges to relations between the worlds two biggest economies continue to mount.

"Taiwan and the U.S. will try to make this trip meaningful for Lai but not in a way that pokes the bear," Lev Nachman, a political scientist at National Chengchi University in Taiwan, told VOA.

Taiwanese presidential candidates have visited the U.S. during election campaigns in the past but experts say Lai's role as Taiwan's sitting vice president will make Washington handle his transit more carefully because it does not want to be perceived as endorsing Lai.

"The U.S. can neither treat Lai too well nor too badly, so letting him transit through New York and San Francisco is a compromise in my opinion," Chen Fang-yu, a political scientist at Soochow University in Taiwan, told VOA.

Chen added that at a time when Washington hopes to have more military and diplomatic engagement with China, with Washington inviting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to visit Washington next month, it will try to make Lais stopovers "less formal" to avoid triggering any overreaction from Beijing. "Diplomatically, the U.S. would like to avoid too many surprises," he said.

Lai will be in New York for just about a day before heading on to Paraguay on Sunday. Taiwanese authorities have revealed few details of Lai's itinerary, but sources with knowledge of the arrangement told VOA that he may hold events with the Taiwanese-American community.

After his arrival on Sunday, Laura Rosenberger, the chair of the American Institute in Taiwan -- a U.S. government-run nonprofit that manages unofficial relations with Taiwan -- confirmed on X that she would be meeting with Lai when he transits back through San Francisco Wednesday before returning to Taiwan.

Lai made similar transit stops in the U.S. in January 2022 as part of his trip to Honduras. During those stopovers, he conducted online meetings with former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Tammy Duckworth and met with members of the Taiwanese community. This time, it is unclear whether he will have such high-level discussions and how Beijing may respond to any of his activities.

 Beijing's Response

China views Taiwan as an inseparable part of its territory and has long opposed high-level engagement between officials from Taiwan and other countries. Over the past year, China staged two large-scale military exercises around Taiwan in response to visits, once after Pelosi's visited to Taipei last August and again in April when Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen met with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California.

Following Tsai's stopover in California and meeting with McCarthy and other U.S. lawmakers, Beijing staged a multiday, blockade-style military exercise around Taiwan.

This time, experts think Beijing will launch a military response to Lai's stopovers in the U.S., but the scale will depend on how "official-looking" his trip is. "This includes who he meets with, what he says, and how public those meetings are," Amanda Hsiao, senior China analyst at the International Crisis Group, told VOA.

As Taiwan gears up for the presidential election, Hsiao said she thinks Beijing will try to moderate its response to Lai's transit stops, as any reaction deemed too provocative could help increase Lai's chance of winning the election. However, she added that Beijing also worries about sending the wrong signal if its responses are deemed too weak. "They may respond with a small-scale military exercise, and it can simply be an increase in what they already do on an almost daily basis," she said.

China has deployed 79 military aircraft and 23 naval vessels to areas near Taiwan since Sunday, according to Taiwan's National Defense Ministry. Among them, 25 military craft have crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait or intruded Taiwan's southwestern and southeastern air defense identification zone.

 Making a Good Impression

For Lai, the trip is an opportunity to make a good impression and his positions both on relations with China and the U.S. clear.

Before departing for the trip, in an interview with Taiwanese broadcaster SETN, Lai emphasized that Taiwan is not a part of China, expressed his willingness to "be friends" with China, and highlighted the importance of Taiwan's relationship with the U.S. "Pushing away our best partner, the U.S., would be unwise," he said.

Analysts say Lai has largely inherited the "four commitments" put forward by Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen in 2021, which focus on defending Taiwan's democratic system, safeguarding Taiwan's sovereignty, pushing back against pressure from China, and letting Taiwan's people determine the island's future.

"Tsai's approach has earned international recognition so it's a safe approach for Lai and the Democratic Progressive Party," Chen from Soochow University told VOA. Nachman from National Chengchi University said he thinks Lai should continue to try to make a good impression on the U.S. government. "He needs to prove that he can be 'Tsai Ing-wen 2.0' and this trip is one of the big tests," he told VOA.
"It's going to rise," Gov. Josh Green remarked Saturday as he toured the devastation on historic Front Street. "It will certainly be the worst natural disaster that Hawaii ever faced... We can only wait and support those who are living. Our focus now is to reunite people when we can and get them housing and get them health care, and then turn to rebuilding."

The inferno that swept through the centuries-old town of Lahaina on Maui's west coast four days earlier torched hundreds of homes and turned a lush, tropical area into a moonscape of ash. The state's governor predicted more bodies will be found.

The new death toll Saturday came as federal emergency workers with axes and cadaver dogs picked through the aftermath of the blaze, marking the ruins of homes with a bright orange X for an initial search and HR when they found human remains. Dogs worked the rubble, and their occasional bark -- used to alert their handlers to a possible corpse -- echoed over the hot and colorless landscape.

At least two other fires have been burning in Maui, with no fatalities reported thus far: in south Maui's Kihei area and in the mountainous, inland communities known as Upcountry. A fourth broke out Friday evening in Kaanapali, a coastal community in West Maui north of Lahaina, but crews were able to extinguish it, authorities said.

The newly released figure surpassed the toll of the 2018 Camp Fire in northern California, which left 85 dead and destroyed the town of Paradise. A century earlier, the 1918 Cloquet Fire broke out in drought-stricken northern Minnesota and raced through a number of rural communities, destroying thousands of homes and killing hundreds.

A raging wildfire that swept through a picturesque town on the Hawaiian island of Maui this week has killed at least 89 people, authorities said Saturday, making it the deadliest U.S. wildfire of the past century.

Those who escaped counted their blessings, thankful to be alive as they mourned those who didn't make it. Retired fire captain Geoff Bogar and his friend of 35 years, Franklin Trejos, initially stayed behind to help others in Lahaina and save Bogar's house. But as the flames moved closer and closer Tuesday afternoon, they knew they had to get out. Each escaped to his own car. When Bogar's wouldn't start, he broke through a window to get out, then crawled on the ground until a police patrol found him and brought him to a hospital.

Trejos wasn't as lucky. When Bogar returned the next day, he found the bones of his 68-year-old friend in the back seat of his car, lying on top of the remains of the Bogars' beloved 3-year-old golden retriever Sam, whom he had tried to protect.

Trejos, a native of Costa Rica, had lived for years with Bogar and his wife, Shannon Weber-Bogar, helping her with her seizures when her husband couldn't. He filled their lives with love and laughter. "God took a really good man," Weber-Bogar said.

Bill Wyland, who lives on the island of Oahu but owns an art gallery on Lahaina's historic Front Street, fled on his Harley Davidson, whipping the motorcycle onto empty sidewalks Tuesday to avoid traffic-jammed roads as embers burned the hair off the back of his neck.

Riding in winds he estimated to be at least 112 kph, he passed a man on a bicycle who was pedaling for his life. "It's something you'd see in a Twilight Zone, horror movie or something," Wyland said. Wyland realized just how lucky he had been when he returned to downtown Lahaina on Thursday. "It was devastating to see all the burned-out cars. There was nothing that was standing," he said. His gallery was destroyed, along with the works of 30 artists.

Emergency managers in Maui were searching for places to house people displaced from their homes. As many as 4,500 people are in need of shelter, county officials said on Facebook early Saturday, citing figures from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Pacific Disaster Center. Flyovers by the Civil Air Patrol counted 1,692 structures destroyed -- almost all of them residential. Nine boats sank in Lahaina Harbor, officials determined using sonar.

The wildfires are the state's deadliest natural disaster in decades, surpassing a 1960 tsunami that killed 61 people. An even deadlier tsunami in 1946, which killed more than 150 on the Big Island, prompted development of a territory-wide emergency alert system with sirens that are tested monthly.

Hawaii emergency management records do not indicate the warning sirens sounded before fire hit the town. Officials sent alerts to mobile phones, televisions and radio stations, but widespread power and cellular outages may have limited their reach. Fueled by a dry summer and strong winds from a passing hurricane, the wildfires on Maui raced through parched brush covering the island.

The most serious blaze swept into Lahaina on Tuesday and destroyed nearly every building in the town of 13,000, leaving a grid of gray rubble wedged between the blue ocean and lush green slopes.

Front Street, the heart of the historic downtown and Maui's economic hub, was nearly empty of life Saturday morning. An Associated Press journalist encountered one barefoot resident carrying a laptop and a passport, who asked where the nearest shelter was. Another, riding a bicycle, took stock of the damage at the harbor, where he said his boat caught fire and sank.

Later in the day, search crews fanned out under the hot Maui sun in search of bodies, some with axes and tools to clear debris. Cadaver dogs took breaks in blue kiddie pools filled with water before going back to work. One dog searched a strip mall that was still standing, going business to business, while another walked down the street with its handler.

Maui water officials warned Lahaina and Kula residents not to drink running water, which may be contaminated even after boiling, and to only take short, lukewarm showers in well-ventilated rooms to avoid possible chemical vapor exposure.

The wildfire is already projected to be the second-costliest disaster in Hawaii history, behind only Hurricane Iniki in 1992, according to disaster and risk modeling firm Karen Clark & Company.

The danger on Maui was well known. Maui County's hazard mitigation plan updated in 2020 identified Lahaina and other West Maui communities as having frequent wildfires and several buildings at risk. The report also noted West Maui had the island's second-highest rate of households without a vehicle and the highest rate of non-English speakers. "This may limit the population's ability to receive, understand and take expedient action during hazard events," the plan stated.

Maui's firefighting efforts may have been hampered by limited staff and equipment. Bobby Lee, president of the Hawaii Firefighters Association, said there are a maximum of 65 county firefighters working at any given time, who are responsible for three islands: Maui, Molokai and Lanai.

Riley Curran said he fled his Front Street home after climbing up a neighboring building to get a better look. He doubts county officials could have done more, given the speed of the onrushing flames. "It's not that people didn't try to do anything," Curran said. "The fire went from zero to 100." Curran said he had seen horrendous wildfires growing up in California. But, he added, "I've never seen one eat an entire town in four hours."
SAG-AFTRA just made a big change to which projects and producers can sign its interim agreements, terms by which hundreds of projects have already agreed and put a handful of actors back to work.

The actors guild announced Monday that, on the advisement of the writers guild, it will now exclude WGA-covered projects produced in the U.S. from signing the interim agreements. The WGA thus far has not granted any interim agreements, meaning that theres been no development or writing on projects, even those from independent producers.

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We have been advised by the WGA that this modification will assist them in executing their strike strategy, and we believe it does not undermine the utility and effectiveness of ours. It is a win-win change, SAG-AFTRA wrote. This means that, going forward, for productions taking place in the USA, SAG-AFTRA will only grant Interim Agreements for non-WGA-covered projects. And our staff will continue to investigate each application for an Interim Agreement to ensure only true independent productions are included.

The guild did not specify that WGA-covered films already been deemed eligible for interim agreements will now be rescinded, and a SAG-AFTRA rep did not respond to a request for comment clarifying that point. Companies such as A24 or MRC (neither of which are AMPTP companies) have already signed the interim agreement for specific projects, and other movies, such as a Guy Ritchie film, have agreed to casting-specific interim agreements.

Its also unclear if WGA-covered movies set to premiere at the fall film festivals like Toronto and Venice will also now not be eligible for the interim agreements. With the exception of indie films that have signed the interim agreements, actors are barred from promoting work made with struck companies. A handful of movies, like Luc Bessons DogMan and Michael Manns Ferrari, were granted permission to promote their projects at the festival after signing the interim agreement.

We created the Interim Agreements for several reasons, all of which are aimed at protecting the interests of our members and members of sister unions, so that journeymen performers and crew may continue to work and pay their bills while demonstrating to the AMPTP that independent producers are eager to work with our members under these terms, SAG-AFTRA continued in the statement. The strike action is evolving each day. We are adapting in real time to continue protecting our members while collaborating with our sister unions in fighting for our common cause.

With the WGA not granting any interim agreements, SAG-AFTRAs interim agreements have been controversial. Sarah Silverman publicly called out actors working, even with the interim agreements, as scabbing, and she later softened her stance after a conversation with SAG-AFTRA leadership Fran Drescher and Duncan Crabtree-Ireland.

The guild since then has referred to the interim agreements as a vital part of our strategic approach to negotiations with the AMPTP and shouldnt be considered waivers or a free pass. Producers must agree to the same terms proposed to (and previously rejected by) the AMPTP. Those include a streaming revenue-sharing proposal that, as Crabtree-Ireland previously clarified to IndieWire, would require the studios or streamers to agree to those terms if those movies or shows were acquired for distribution and platformed while the strike is still ongoing.

Movies that have been granted interim agreements thus far have been those in the midst of production or scheduled to start shortly after the strike began. And Crabtree-Ireland previously told IndieWire that the guild continues to receive a steady stream of applications from independent producers looking to agree to the terms.

The news about the change to the interim agreements comes as the WGA is mulling the latest counter-proposal from the AMPTP, bringing the two sides back to the table for the first time since over 100 days ago when the writers strike first began.

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The crew reported a possible pressurization issue in the cabin but landed safely," according to the Federal Aviation Administration

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An American Airlines flight dropped over 15,000 feet In three minutes on Thursday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Flight 5916, headed from Charlotte, North Carolina to Gainesville, Florida, "landed safely at Gainesville Regional Airport in Florida around 4:55 p.m. local time, the FAA said in a statement, noting that the crew reported a possible pressurization issue.

Ive flown a lot. This was scary. Kudos to our amazing flight crew- cabin staff and pilots on @AmericanAir 5916. The photos cannot capture the burning smell, loud bang or ear pops. Good to be on the ground. #AA5916 #CLT #GNV pic.twitter.com/P8pPrvOQDQ  Harrison Hove (@HarrisonHove) August 10, 2023



Something failed midflight and depressurized the cabin," passenger and University of Florida professor Harrison Hove, wrote on Twitter (now known as X). The burning smell can apparently be attributed to using the oxygen canisters. The wing flaps came out to immediately lower our altitude so there would be more oxygen. It was terrifying but turned out ok.

Harrison told WBTV the burning smell is what perpetuated his fear. Thats when I get really nervous, he said, adding Those initial moments were really scary, really freaky, because your mind wanders and you have a void of information.

The flight plunged almost 20,000 feet in 11 minutes, as shown by data from FlightAware. The descent began 39 minutes after takeoff, lasting 2 hours and 8 minutes in total, according to the flight records, which showed the most drastic drop occurring at the 42-minute mark and continued for six minutes. The flight lost 18,600 feet of altitude.

Ive flown a lot. This was scary, Harrison wrote in another Tweet. Kudos to our amazing flight crew- cabin staff and pilots on @AmericanAir 5916. The photos cannot capture the burning smell, loud bang or ear pops. Good to be on the ground."

An American Airlines spokesperson told FOX Business that the plane safely descended to a lower altitude after receiving a report of the possible pressurization issue.

Related: Fighter Jet Crashes During Thunder Under Michigan Air Show, Forcing Pilots to Eject

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We apologize to our customers for any inconvenience and thank our team for their professionalism," the spokesperson said.

Related: Lahaina Man Recounts Race Through a Wall of Fire That Leveled the Hawaiian Tourist Town

The FAA will investigate, according to the release.

American Airlines did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment.



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Taylor Swift performs onstage during "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour " at Ford Field on June 09, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. Scott Legato/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

A professor in Belgium is kicking off a course this fall titled "Literature: Taylor's Version."

Elly McCausland plans to use Swift's work as a reference point to study other works of literature.

She told The Guardian Shakespeare addresses "a lot of the same questions as Taylor Swift is today."

This writer has long thought of Taylor Swift as a great American poet in her own right, but it seems like a literature professor in Belgium shares those sentiments.

Elly McCausland, an assistant professor at Belgium's Ghent University, is kicking off a course this fall titled "Literature: Taylor's Version," and it's truly the stuff of any college-aged Swift fan's wildest dreams.

McCausland  a self-professed Swiftie, told The Guardian she plans to use the course as a jumping-off point, to compare how the ideas and core themes in Swift's pop songs can also be found in everything from Sylvia Plath to Shakespeare.

"I've never had so many emails from excited students asking if they can take the course," McCausland told The Guardian. She added that "non-students" have also reached out to her to see if they can participate in the course.

"There will be critics who think it's sort of frivolous and silly," she added. "The primary focus is literature, but also I want us to think critically about Swift."

It probably isn't too hard to imagine someone quoting "Look What You Made Me Do" or "Anti-Hero" in an SAT essay about the fall of the tragic heroine or penning a graduate thesis comparing and contrasting the use of color motifs in "Maroon" and "Red." So I'm just glad at least one professor's staying ahead of the curve, and getting Swifties excited about hitting the books.

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Drake sent a stern message to a male concertgoer after he began tussling with a female fan over a towel that the rapper threw into the crowd.

In viral footage that was shared on social media, the Knife Talk rapper is seen heading backstage after performing at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California, on Saturday.

The Grammy winner then wipes his face with a towel before throwing it into the crowd.

A woman caught the catapulted towel, but a man next to her kicked off a game of tug of war with her in an attempt to claim the towel.

In a separate video, the Canadian rapper, visibly upset, yells at the male fan, scolding him for fighting with the woman over the towel.

Imma send someone up there, Drake says to him, before being led away by his security team.

Fans on X, formerly known as Twitter, reacted to the OVO Sound founder reprimanding the man over his inappropriate behavior.

just watched grown ups fight over drakes towel. I admit I love drake but not to that extent tho.  CHIEF? (@tweetlikerichie) July 12, 2023

Imagine getting yelled at by Drake because you fighting a shorty over his towel sweat.  https://t.co/eQ21g9Yb49  Malachi (@Theboymala) August 13, 2023

Please dont fight over Drakes towel. Its just not necessary.  Eltom Cody (Elton Cray) (@William10161992) August 14, 2023

Last month, Drake went viral yet again over his hilarious reaction to a woman throwing her 36G bra on stage during a New York show for his Its All a Blur Tour with 21 Savage.

36G? Drake, whos known legally as Aubrey Graham, said after picking up the bra and inspecting it. Locate this woman immediately.

The moment kicked off an ongoing trend of women throwing their bras on stage for the musician.

His 5-year-old son, Adonis Graham, attended the same concert on Saturday where the towel brawl took place. Drake had told his female fans at that concert to keep their bras on out of respect for his son.

I cant talk about titties tonight in LA because my son is at the show for the first time ever, the songwriter said in a video from the show that was shared on TikTok.

Were gonna keep it PG tonight, he added. Yall keep your bras on.

Drake shares Adonis with French artist Sophie Brussaux.

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The woman was approaching a free sample area when she slipped and broke her ankle, according to the complaint

Paul Marotta/Getty A New Hampshire woman is suing Eataly after slipping on a piece of prosciutto at its Boston store.

Eataly Boston is being sued by a woman who alleges that she slipped on a piece of prosciutto on the floor of the Italian specialty foods market and broke her ankle.

According to the complaint obtained by PEOPLE, Alice Cohen of Gilford, NH is seeking damages that could exceed $50,000.

The incident took place on Oct. 7, 2022, when Cohen was shopping at Eataly Boston at the Prudential Center and "approached an area of the premises where food samples were being offered to patrons." She slipped on a piece of the dry cured ham, sustaining a left ankle injury and fracture, according to the complaint.

Cohen alleges in the lawsuit, which was filed on Friday, that Eataly failed to "ensure that the floor was free from unnecessarily dangerous conditions" and failed to "adequately prevent and remove hazards from the premises."

"As a direct, proximate and foreseeable result of the negligence of Eataly Boston, Alice Cohen sustained bodily injuries, a loss of enjoyment of life, pain and suffering and incurred necessary medical expenses for medical care and attention," the complaint state.

Cohen and her husband, Ronald, are suing for "an amount sufficient to compensate them fully and fairly for all injuries and damages, including physical and emotional pain and suffering, loss of consortium." (Consortium is a legal term for the loss of companionship.)

Related: Truck Accident Spills Cheese on Highway Causing 'Nacho Ordinary' Traffic Jam

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A representative for Eataly did not respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

The company operates eight locations in the U.S. in major cities including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Eataly's three-story Boston location, which opened in November 2016, features several restaurants, a pastry lab, a coffee shop, a butcher, a gelato counter and a wide array of retail products.



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"At first, I couldn't understand the bad things the main character did, but I think I was able to relate to her deep inside my heart," Moon said in an interview with the Chosun Ilbo.

The film, which was invited to the Generation Kplus section of the Berlin International Film Festival last year, opened last month in Korea. Despite opening in a limited number of theaters, the movie attracted more than 10,000 viewers recently. Moon Seung-a, the 14-year-old star of "The Hill of Secrets," chose to live like the main character in order to understand the role better.

The movie "The Hill of Secrets" delves into the mind of a teenager caught between honesty and deceit.

"Because I started working at a young age, I too have said things to make me look better during interviews and conversations with movies audiences. I wondered if it would be better to look cool instead of being honest," she added.

Moon first became interested in acting after winning a contest looking for child models and won free acting lessons as a prize. She then looked for other free lessons to learn the craft. "I never went to the same class for more than three months," she said. "The good thing is that I got to take a variety of acting lessons, but the bad thing is that my acting was uneven."

Director Lee Ji-eun said, "When I first met her at the audition, what attracted me was her unpretentious voice and how she conveyed her thoughts naturally. Rather than me leading everything, I felt it would be fun to make the movie together with her."

Moon, who once dreamed of becoming a K-pop idol, said, "I started acting because I wanted to be famous, but now I'm glad I can show my natural side without having to look pretty."

"I think playing a soft but strong character suits me better than a boisterous one," she added, "'The Hill of Secrets' is a movie that builds up your emotions and makes you cry in the end instead of being a tear-jerker."

The young actress also appeared in an American independent film, "Past Lives" directed by Korean American Celine Song, which had its acclaimed world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January.
A single-engine Super Petrel Amphibious Plane crashed into Lake Hickory on Sunday after clipping a power line, per multiple reports

wcnc

Two people have died after a plane crashed into a North Carolina lake on Sunday, multiple outlets reported.

A single-engine Super Petrel Amphibious Plane crashed into Lake Hickory near Selkirk Drive around 11:30 a.m. after clipping a power line, according to CBS affiliate WBTV and NBC affiliate WCNC.

The crash occurred shortly after the plane took off from the Hickory Regional Airport, and both the pilot and his passenger died as a result of the crash, the outlets reported.

North Carolina State Highway Patrol has identified the victims as Jeffrey Ray Cooley, 63, of Granite Falls, and Brian Frank Miller, 49, of Hickory, per the outlets.

Related: American Airlines Plane Drops 15,000 Feet In 3 Minutes: 'It Was Terrifying'

Joe Brannock, Cooley's friend and fellow pilot, said Cooley was familiar with the lake, having flown around it several times before.

Jeff was a very experienced pilot, a very capable pilot and I have no doubt he was doing whatever he could do until the very end, said Brannock, per WBTV.

Related: 3 Injured After Plane Attempts Emergency Landing and Crashes on Ohio Middle School Football Field

About 18,000 customers in both Caldwell and Catawba counties lost power due to the crash, WBTV and WCNC reported.

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Power was restored about two hours after the crash, according to WCNC.

The Federal Aviation Authority is investigating the crash, CNN and The News and Observer reported.

The National Transportation Safety Board is also investigating the crash, per WCNC.

The Hickory Fire Department and North Carolina State Police did not immediately return PEOPLE's request for comment

Related: Fighter Jet Crashes During Thunder Under Michigan Air Show, Forcing Pilots to Eject

Lake Hickory spans more than 4,200 acres and has more than 105 miles of shoreline, according to the city of Hickorys website.

The lake was formed in 1927 when the Oxford Dam was built along the Catawba River, according to a 2020 Facebook post shared by the city.

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In 2010, Auristela Nunez traveled with a friend, a boombox and a Gang Starr CD to breakdance at the Illinois Centennial Monument in Logan Square, nicknamed the Eagle.

We were playing it on repeat, and we were breaking and people were like Hi, are you going to be here next week, and I was like I guess, Nunez, 47, of Hampshire, said.

Nunez, who goes by Lady Champ, said she then started going to the monument to dance every Sunday, the same spot she used to visit when she skipped classes in high school. More and more people showed up each week, she said. She eventually found a DJ willing to play music and said they set a date in August to appreciate hip-hop and counteract the bad reputation the genre was getting in the media.

On Sunday, dozens of hip-hop lovers competed in breakdancing and graffiti painting at this years Battle 4 The Eagle. Renegades of Funk, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting Chicago hip-hop culture, celebrated 50 years of hip-hop at the event, which included free food, music and art. Kids warmed up before dancing in the square in front of a cheering crowd. Colorful graffiti posters also decorated the park.

Im happy, honored that we can celebrate hip-hop every year without any fights, any problems, any arguments, Nunez said. All ages, all races, all genders, everybody is accepted.

The start of hip-hop dates back to DJ Kool Hercs inventive performance at a back-to-school party at a Bronx apartment building on Aug. 11, 1973. This weekend, people across the country celebrated the genre, now one of the most dominant in music.

While Chicago might be known for its style of urban blues and for inventing house music, hip-hop also has rich ties to the city. In fact, the first hip-hop record was produced in Chicago in 1980. Some of the most influential rappers from Common to Kanye West to Lil Durk also got their start in Chicago.

Julio Calderon, who goes by DJ Illanoiz, knew Lady Champ from high school and offered to help out in the early days of the battle. Because Chicago is in the middle of the country, he said, its experienced influences from the East Coast, West Coast and the South.

Im lucky to be a part of it; its my life, Calderon said.

Well give it to New York, but Chicago had a big part. Because we were a big city, a lot of people went to New York to learn and a lot of stuff got brought back here, said AJ Garcia, the social media manager for Renegades of Funk.

Garcia said Battle 4 The Eagle celebrates all four elements of hip-hop  DJing, rapping, graffiti painting and breakdancing. Competition winners get cash prizes along with a trophy. While hip-hop might have been seen as a fad at first, Garcia said its clear the genre is here to stay, and it can help bring the community together.

Logan Square has its own history associated with hip-hop, Garcia said. Hip-hop artists and community members have met up and battled at the Eagle since the 1970s, viewing it as a safe spot from gang violence.

Co-founders BboyB and Breaker Ray gave out the eagle trophy for the first time in 2004 after Breaker Ray saw an eagle trinket in a store. The duo decided to host a battle in the park they frequented as kids.

At that time we didnt have the floor or anything, Garcia said. It was just a bunch of kids.

Garcia said the event has grown significantly since it was just a few people and a boombox. People from other states and even other countries come to battle at Logan Square. Garcia said because of gentrification, many people who grew up in Logan Square cant afford to live there anymore, so Battle 4 The Eagle helps keep the culture alive.

Its the biggest secret that no one knows that people do know, Garcia said. Everybody in the community knows about us, but outside they dont.

I can show my kids that this is what I used to do back in the day, he added.

Marla Isaacs, 41, of Skokie, listened to music while watching kids dance from a lawn chair at the event. She said shes loved hip-hop for her whole life, and on its 50th anniversary shes happy its getting the recognition it deserves.

Theyre doing a great job  Im loving it, Im loving it, she said. I love the graffiti wall, its a wonderful day.

rjohnson@chicagotribune.com
Idahos Teacher of the Year, Karen Lauritzen, has moved out of the state for a new job following intense right-wing harassment over her support of the LGBTQ+ community and Black Lives Matter.

Lauritzen received the statewide honor last September, after 21 years of teaching. However, the day after the fourth-grade teacher was announced as Teacher of the Year, she was met with right-wing attacks from social media users and conservative media. The Idaho Tribune went so far as to accuse her of being a left-wing activist who promotes transgenderism.

Lauritzen told the Boston Globe that this response was based on her liking posts supporting the LGBTQ+ community and Black Lives Matter on her personal social media accounts; she does not teach LGBTQ+ subjects in her class curriculum. Soon, her personal life was affected as parents in her community began emailing her to accuse her of teaching inappropriate content  although discussions of sexuality in her curriculum were already prohibited by her school district  and complain about Lauritzen teaching lessons about certain subjects, including the United Nations.

I should have felt celebrated and should have felt like this is a great year, and honestly it was one of the toughest years I have ever had teaching, not only with my community, but with parents questioning every decision I made as well, she told The Globe.

Even if I have certain beliefs myself, that doesnt mean that I teach kids, Lauritzen continued. Its not my job to indoctrinate or make kids little versions of myself. Its to make kids into the best versions of themselves.

Since she began facing online harassment last fall, the 44-year-old has moved to Illinois, where she now works at a university teaching prospective teachers. Lauritzen isnt the only Teacher of the Year recipient whose tenure was cut short as public education becomes increasingly politicized. Kentuckys 2020 Teacher of the Year Willie Carver, an out gay man in a rural school district, was targeted by online trolls, social media posts, and even school board speakers following his appointment. Eventually, he left his job teaching high school English and French to work as an academic advisor at a university.

Republican presidential candidate and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis

Florida Just Approved Educational Materials Featuring Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson

The curriculum materials were created by a rightwing group.

As The Globe notes, most U.S. states Teacher of the Year selection process use a similar format involving nominations, essay questions, interviews, and more. However, in more recent years, some states processes have grown increasingly political. For instance, Arkansas contest form was reportedly recently updated to ask teachers to explain how Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders recent laws targeting the restriction of critical race theory and the LGBTQ+ community had a positive impact on students.

As teachers continue to deal with harassment and even the threat of firings in states pursuing the censorship of LGBTQ+ and critical race topics in curriculum, the United States is facing a serious teacher shortage. In February, a National Education Association poll found that 55% of teachers plan to leave the profession sooner than planned, up from 37 percent in August of 2021.

[Teachers dont feel valued, Lauritzen told The Globe. And if you cant pay them well, they at least need to feel that you value their judgment, theyre doing good things, and [they] have childrens best interest at heart. And when you take that away  whats left?

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Iowa State Fair food may be fried and bland, but the Republicans were spicy this year.

The unofficial GOP presidential primary election stop drew all the hopefuls. It ranged from Donald Trump buzzing the fairgrounds on Trump Force One to Ron DeSantis taking his daughter on a bumper-cars caper, with Vivek Ramaswamy even rapping to an Eminem song adding to the grand old spectacle.

Youve got to be hungry, but not too thirsty, NewsNation political analyst Chris Stirewalt said  but it was the hot hot hate that took center stage in Des Moines.

What were seeing between Trump supporters and DeSantis supporters, Stirewalt continued, is revealing a deep hostility. The deep enmity between the two camps.

Their differences have been mounting, especially in Iowa: Trump has openly criticized Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican whom he accuses of tacitly endorsing DeSantis. Iowa governors have traditionally remained neutral before their states caucuses, and Reynolds has pledged to do the same.

Reynolds is a hugely popular figure in Iowa  crossing her has put DeSantis supporters even more at odds with Trumps base, especially in the Hawkeye State.

And the heckling, Stirewalt continued. Ron DeSantis is right about one thing, at least  which is Kim Reynolds, the governor of Iowa, is extraordinarily popular.  If youre seen as dissing Kim Reynolds, thats not a good way to be  those hecklers werent just heckling Ron DeSantis. They were heckling Kim Reynolds  and that will not play well with Iowa Nice.

Stirewalt, a former Fox News politics editor who immediately defended the networks call for Arizona in the 2020 election, gave high marks to Ramaswamys uh, performance of Eminems Lose Yourself over the weekend.

Youve got to do something to get attention, he said. That moment for Vivek Ramaswamy really sort of encapsulates his opportunity and his challenge. OK, you rap at the state fair, you will get attention. You will get on TV. Your name identification will go up, and thats sort of been his story to this point.

NewsNation Prime anchor Natasha Zouves asked whether Ramaswamy could be lining up for a vice president nod.

The best way to lose a VP slot is to run for it, right? Stirewalt said. If you want to be somebodys running mate, youve got to play to win  and maybe you get it in the end anyway. We remember how Kamala Harris became Joe Bidens running mate.  You dont get there by sucking up.

Watch the entire exchange in the video above.

The post Iowa State Fair Revealed Deep Hostility Between Trump and DeSantis Supporters, Chris Stirewalt Says (Video) appeared first on TheWrap.
The post Magoo, Rapping Partner of Timbaland, Dead at 50 appeared first on Consequence.

Melvin Barcliff, better known as the rapper Magoo of the duo Timbaland & Magoo, has died at 50 years old.

Digital Black, a member of the Timbaland-affiliated R&B group Playa, announced Magoos death. Man cant believe this RIH Magoo damn big bro wasnt ready for this at all #superfriends, Digital Black wrote in the caption of an Instagram post with a photo of Timbaland & Magoos first album, Welcome to Our World. Playa contributed to multiple tracks on the project, including Luv 2 Luv U.

R&B star Ginuwine and fellow Playa member Smoke E. Digglera also confirmed Magoos death. Ginuwine wrote, this dude, always pushed me I will mis you maganooo thats what we called him .. totally one of the best ever in my eyes always pressing forward I know we didnt talk alot but the love was and will be always there my brotha. Meanwhile, Smoke shared audio of Magoo talking about their early days living together with Digital Black and late Playa member Static Major.

Timbaland and Magoo first met when they were teenagers in Norfolk, Virginia, and formed their group in 1989. They later became part of an R&B collective originally known as Da Bassment Cru alongside Missy Elliott, Ginuwine, and Playa under the tutelage of DeVante Swing of Jodeci, which turned into a more loosely formed crew called The Superfriends.

After signing to Blackground Records, Timbaland & Magoo released their debut album, Welcome to Our World, in 1997. Eventually going Platinum, it featured the duos highest-charting hit, Up Jumps Da Boogie, a collaboration with Missy Elliott and Aaliyah that topped the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart and reached No. 12 on the Hot 100.

The duo would go on to release two more albums, 2001s Indecent Proposal and 2003s Under Construction, Pt. II.

In August 2021, Timbaland & Magoos albums were brought to streaming services for the first time as part of Blackgrounds new distribution deal with EMPIRE Records.

Timbaland honored his friend and collaborator in an Instagram post: This one hits different, he wrote in the caption of a video of the pair performing together. Tim and Magoo forever. Rest easy my king.

Elliott shared a tribute post on her own Instagram, recalling how she and Magoo met and began working together: This is just heartbreaking, she wrote, along with a clip of the music video to her 1998 song Beep Me 911, which she co-wrote with him and Timbaland. I am so lost for words.

Magoo, Rapping Partner of Timbaland, Dead at 50

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More than 30 news organizations have banded together to condemn Fridays police raids on the Marion Country Record in Marion, Kansas. The journalism group, which is being led by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, wrote in part, Newsroom searches and seizures are among the most intrusive actions law enforcement can take with respect to the free press, and the most potentially suppressive of free speech by the press and the public.

Emily Bradbury, the executive director of the Kansas Press Association, pledged her groups support of the news organizations. As she bluntly told The Washington Post, This shouldnt happen in America. Freedom of the press is fundamental to our democracy.  Were not going to let this stand on our watch.

Bradbury added, No matter what side of the aisle youre on, everyone should be concerned [about] government overreach and trying to silence investigative work.

More than 30 news organizations and press groups today condemned the police raid on the newspaper. Latest from @bySofiaAndrade and me: https://t.co/MJA2TQRD5T  Paul Farhi (@farhip) August 13, 2023

Police raids of this nature dont happen often in the United States and many believe the raid was illegal. This particular raid may also have had a catastrophic impact on Joan Meyer, the 98-year-old co-owner of the Record. Meyer died on Saturday, one day after raids were carried out on the newspapers offices and Meyers home.

The raid on the family-owned weekly paper is believed to have been the result of an ongoing legal case between Kari Newell, a local restaurant owner, and her estranged husband. On Monday, Newell appeared at a city council meeting and alleged that the Record had illegally obtained drunken driving information about her and that the outlet had shared that information with vice mayor Ruth Herbel.

The Record had been given information that indicated Newell was driving without a valid license but had decided against publishing anything about the matter. Newell has asserted that she believes her ex-husband is the person who gave the information to the Record in the first place.

According to the Post, at the time of the raid, the Record had also been conducting an investigation into Police Chief Gideon Cody on allegations of sexual misconduct at his former job. The paper had not run any information about the investigation, but the records are among the information that Marion police seized.

The exact reason for the raid remains unknown, and so far an affidavit hasnt been released by a Marion judge. On Saturday, the citys police department released a lengthy statement on Facebook addressing questions that have been raised about why the raid was carried out.

The post read in part, The Marion Kansas Police Department believes it is the fundamental duty of the police is to ensure the safety, security, and well-being of all members of the public. This commitment must remain steadfast and unbiased, unaffected by political or media influences, in order to uphold the principles of justice, equal protection, and the rule of law for everyone in the community.

The statement concluded, The victim asks that we do all the law allows to ensure justice is served. The Marion Kansas Police Department will nothing less.

The post Marion County Record Newspaper Raid Condemned by Washington Post, New York Times, Over 30 More News Orgs appeared first on TheWrap.
Princess Maria Chiara was linked to Prince Christian of Denmark after they were photographed together at the Monaco Grand Prix

carolinadebourbon/Instagram Prince Christian of Denmark and Princess Maria Chiara of Bourbon Two Sicilies.

Princess Maria Chiara of Bourbon Two Sicilies seems to be living a real-life fairytale!

The 18-year-old princess is the younger daughter of Prince Charles, Duke of Castro, and his wife, Princess Camilla. Chiaras father is the head of the Royal House of Bourbon Two Sicilies, the Family who reigned over the South of Italy for over 150 years, according to her royal bio.

Dating speculation ignited this spring when Princess Chiara posed close next to Prince Christian of Denmark at the Monaco Grand Prix in May with a hand on his shoulder  inspiring a deep dive into the influencer princess who might be coupled up with the future Danish king.

Princess Maria Chiara, Duchess of Noto and Capri, was born in Rome in 2005. She and her elder sister, Princess Maria Carolina, were educated by private tutors, are fluent in six languages and live between Paris, Monte Carlo and Rome, their royal bios state. The sisters  who go by their middle names and hold HRH titles  are both active on Instagram, giving a glimpse into their glittering lives.



Related: Prince Christian of Denmark's 18th Birthday Plans Revealed  with New Photos! How Future King Will Celebrate

Chiara and Carolina, 20, mix public events with their parents  such as meeting the president of Hungary, attending the Festa dei Gigli (Feast of Lilies) and awarding scholarships for the Constantinian Order of Saint George, the family foundation  with plenty of fun. Princess Chiara kicked off the summer on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival and has since posted glamorous photos from Monaco, Spain, Saint-Tropez and more.



While Princess Chiara has yet to post a photo with Prince Christian (her sister shared the shot of them with friends in a private box in Monaco), she could be a well-rounded partner for the young prince. Her royal bio states that she loves fashion, modelling, photography, painting and singing, and attends a drama school to study acting and dramatic arts.

The princess has previously interned for the Monaco Red Cross and Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, and she works with WWF International as an ambassador for France and Italy.

Tatler notes that the teens have been family friends for years, as Chiaras dad is the godfather of Christians youngest sister, Princess Josephine. Christian is the eldest son of Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, and he followed in the line of succession by his three younger siblings: Princess Isabella, 16, and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, 12.

There could be an ideal event on the royal calendar for Prince Christian and Princess Chiara to make a public debut as a couple  his 18th birthday.

carolinadebourbon/Instagram Princess Maria Carolina, Prince Christian of Denmark and Princess Maria Chiara at the Monaco Grand Prix in May 2023.

Last week, the Danish Royal House shared the official plans along with three new portraits. Prince Christian is second in line to the Danish throne behind his father, Crown Prince Frederik, while his grandmother is Queen Margrethe, and the court will mark the milestone will two events held one month apart.

On Sunday 15 October 2023, His Royal Highness Prince Christian turns 18. Authority Day is celebrated with a changing of the guard at Amalienborg, where the Prince, together with his family and Her Majesty the Queen, appear on the balcony of Frederik VIII's Palace. In the evening, the Queen hosts a gala dinner where the guests reflect Prince Christian's own generation, the Danish Royal House said.

Marc Piasecki/FilmMagic Princess Maria Chiara at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2023.

Related: Crown Princess Mary Reveals World Cup Allegiance When Denmark Faces Her Home Country of Australia

The gala that evening at Christiansborg Castle will welcome reps from some of Denmarks youth organizations plus young people who have distinguished themselves in the world of sport, art and culture.

Extending the guest list, the Royal Palace will work with local municipalities to coordinate invitations for around 200 young people from the Danish Commonwealth, allowing each of Denmarks municipalities, Greenland and the Faroe Islands to invite two 18-year-old guests to the party.



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The festivities continue one month later and take a more formal turn. On Nov. 14, Prince Christian will attend a meeting of the Council of State (which is comprised of government ministers) and declare that he wishes to comply with the Danish constitution.

Prince Christian will then be able to be appointed as head of state. Prince Christian will not get a seat in the Council of State until a change of throne has taken place, the Danish Royal House said of the important step.

Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Prince Christian of Denmark in September 2022.

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Workers were installing posts this summer when they discovered the foundation for the 142-year-old observatory

Michigan State University Communications Michigan State University announced the the discovery of a 142-year-old observatory that was buried on campus.

Michigan State University (MSU) students didnt have to travel far and wide to experience a major archaeological discovery as part of their coursework.

Earlier this month, MSU announced that the foundation of what was once the schools first observatory, built in 1881, was discovered this summer.

People are really curious about the past. Theyre very invested in this campus and its history and being able to share a little bit of its history and my knowledge with people is just very rewarding, said Stacey Camp, director of Campus Archaeology Program (CAP) and associate professor of anthropology at MSU, per a video shared by the university.

At the time, workers from MSUs infrastructure division were installing hammock posts near the students' residence halls when they hit upon a very hard surface under the ground. It prompted them to contact CAP.

Upon further surveying and research on the site, CAP confirmed that it was indeed the observatorys foundation that the infrastructure division encountered.

It gives us a sense of what early campus looked like in the late 19th century, Ben Akey, an MSU campus archaeologist and anthropology doctoral student, said in a news release. The original campus observatory was built and used at a time when Michigan Agricultural College  what would become MSU  was a radically different institution with only a handful of professors and a relatively small student body.

Related: Asteroid Discovered Hiding in Sun's Glare Could Be a 'Planet Killer' for Earth  But Not Anytime Soon

The late Professor Rolla Carpenter, an alum of Michigan State Agricultural College who returned to the school to teach astronomy and other subjects, constructed the observatory 142 years ago, per the university.

In the early days of MSUs astronomy program, Carpenter would take students to the roof of College Hall and have them observe from there, but he didnt find it a sufficient solution for getting students experience in astronomical observation, said Akey, per the news release. When MSU acquired a telescope, Carpenter successfully argued for funding for a place to mount it: the first campus observatory.

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Akey also told The Washington Post that the old observatory, where a telescope was housed and astronomy classes were conducted, was probably demolished sometime in the 1920s. Michigan States current observatory, constructed in 1969, is located south of the campus at the intersection of Forest and College roads.

Related: Coast Guard Says 'Debris Field' Discovered Near 'Titanic' amid Search for Missing 'Titan' Sub

Next summer, the site will be open as a dig for MSUs undergraduate students to earn course credit and for them to gain experience in excavation. We anticipate having 18 to 20 students work on the project and get great experience doing archaeology, said Camp in the news release, adding: I love watching students connect with artifacts and try to tell a bigger story about humankind with those objects.

Both Akey and Camp told the Post that the site's additional excavation could further enlighten people about MSUs astronomy studies and early campus life from that era.

I think it really demonstrates our very humble beginnings, Camp said. And how weve now come so far, where we have all kinds of amazing scientists here on campus and a planetarium.



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Editor's Note: This story has been updated to correct the amount of the discount offered to service workers, such as nurses, EMTs, law enforcement officers and firefighters. The discount is 20%.

Chewy mochi donuts topped with Nutella.

Crispy corn dogs wrapped in ramen and Hot Cheetos.

Boba tea available in nearly every flavor.

A little taste of South Korea came to Manalapan last November, when Marlboro residents and New York City natives Michael Khodos and Aleksander Viner opened a trendy Mochinut location in Manalapan.

While Mochinut is a franchise, all locations are owned and operated differently. The menu in Manalapan will make you feel like you just stopped at a food cart in Seoul.

Rice hot dogs come in a large variety, the three in photo are from top Original, Potato, and Hot Cheetos. Mochinut in Manalapan offers Mochi Donuts made with sweet rice flour for a chewy texture, Rice Hotdogs ( a Korean Corn Dog made with rice flour batter that comes with choice of sausage, mozzarella and various toppings and Boba Drinks, a tea based drink consisting of chewy tapioca balls.

We wanted to bring something different to Manalapan," Khodos said. "We had been researching different places, and there was nothing [like this] out here. Corn dogs, mochinuts  its something different.

Everything is light," Viner added. "Its made out of rice flour  (The mochinuts are) crispy, chewy, and very light on the stomach.

There are 75 rotating flavors of mochinut, with 16 on the shelf daily. Khodos said that Oreo and Nutella seem to be the most popular, as are Kit Kat, Snickers, mango, ube and black sesame.

More Ice Cream: Jersey Shore fun spot offers outdoor games, a coffee bar and lots of ice cream

Matchi donut. Mochinut in Manalapan offers Mochi Donuts made with sweet rice flour for a chewy texture, Rice Hotdogs ( a Korean Corn Dog made with rice flour batter that comes with choice of sausage, mozzarella and various toppings and Boba Drinks, a tea based drink consisting of chewy tapioca balls.

'Baywatch' and burgers: Swim Crush opens on Asbury Park boardwalk with rum buckets, frozen cocktails and burgers

For many visitors, this is the first time theyve tried Korean-style cuisine, the owners said. The original Korean corn dog is coated in crispy ramen. You also can get one coated in Hot Cheetos (for a spicy kick) or potato. In addition to a full beef hot dog, you can order one with half beef and half mozzarella, or full mozzarella.

Mochinut's coconut milk ice cream comes in melon, strawberry, butter cream and vanilla. This dairy free, soft-serve treat is amazing  and you can make a sundae by topping it with a mochinut.

Boba tea aficionados can try flavors like brown sugar, matcha green tea, strawberry and more.

Bring your boat: Ahoy! Try these 12 dock-and-dine restaurants at the Jersey Shore

Mochinut in Manalapan offers Mochi Donuts made with sweet rice flour for a chewy texture, Rice Hotdogs ( a Korean Corn Dog made with rice flour batter that comes with choice of sausage, mozzarella and various toppings and Boba Drinks, a tea based drink consisting of chewy tapioca balls.

Service workers, such as nurses, EMTs, law enforcement and fire fighters, get 20 percent off, owners said.

While they both hold New York City close to their hearts, they're happy to be part of the Manalapan community.

"We love seeing new faces," Viner said. "Well keep up with the new flavors, and keep surprising our clients."

Go: 335 Route 9, Manalapan; 732-792-3730, mochinutmanalapan.com.

Gabriela L. Laracca joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2021 and eagerly brings her passion for cuisine and culture to our readers. Send restaurant tips to glaracca@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Find out where to get your taste of the Hot Cheetos trend at the shore
TV stations chief Wendy McMahon will take over as head of CBS News, replacing Neeraj Khemlani, whose exit was revealed Sunday.

Paramount Global-owned CBS News announced Monday that McMahon is adding the company's news and CBS syndication units to her portfolio. Khemlani will remain with the company as a content producer.

McMahon and Khemlani had served as co-heads of CBS News and Stations since May 2021.

They were brought in after an executive house-cleaning at the CBS stations division that followed a Los Angeles Times investigation into how previous management allegedly bullied female managers and blocked efforts to hire and retain Black journalists.

Read more: As the nation struggles with racism, CBS News veteran Michelle Miller gets personal

McMahon's new role is president and chief executive of CBS News and Stations and CBS Media Ventures. She will take over the syndication operation  which distributes such shows as "Jeopardy!" and "Inside Edition"  from Steven LoCascio, who is retiring.

Ingrid Ciprian-Matthews, a 30-year veteran at the network, will become president of CBS News and report to McMahon. Ciprian-Matthews was most recently served as executive vice president in charge of newsgathering.

McMahon joined CBS from ABC, where she ran the network's television stations. Before that, she was senior vice president responsible for digital content and product technology for the stations.

McMahon previously served as a vice president for programming and creative services at KABC-TV Channel 7, the top-rated station in Los Angeles.

McMahon is credited with boosting the station division, which had been demoralized for years under previous leadership. She expanded the local news streaming operations for the outlets.

Neeraj Khemlani had served as co-head of CBS News and Stations since May 2021. (Evan Agostini / invision/AP)

Khemlani, a former "60 Minutes" producer and executive for Hearst Corp., brought financial stability to CBS News during his tenure. But he was privately criticized by some co-workers for being blunt in his interactions inside the division. Some of those complaints were reported by the New York Post, which led to speculation that his days were numbered.

Khemlani's brusque behavior was the subject of a human resources investigation completed in December, according to people familiar with the situation who were not authorized to comment. No actions followed the inquiry, but it was clear Khemlani had worn out his welcome at CBS News.

Khemlani's transition to a new role was under discussion with CBS Chief Executive George Cheeks for several months and its timing is not related to any human resources issue, said another person briefed on the matter.

CBS News declined to comment on the HR probe.

Khemlani oversaw the revamp of the network's morning show, "CBS Mornings." He beefed up the CBS News streaming channel, adding programs and getting the network's big-name on-air talent involved.

Khemlani also succeeded in attracting new names to the division, including Nate Burleson, co-host of "CBS Mornings"; Cecilia Vega, who left ABC News to join "60 Minutes"; investigative journalist Lisa Ling and former Washington Post reporter Robert Costa.

Khemlani was under pressure to reduce costs in the news division, which had fallen into the red before he arrived, as CBS deals with declining traditional TV audiences, which result in lower ad revenues.

Read more: Journalist Lisa Ling lands at CBS News after 9 years at CNN

Cheeks, who hired Khemlani, praised him for his performance at the company in a memo sent to staff Sunday.

"Neeraj will leave CBS News with our broadcasts stronger and our streaming footprint bigger and better," Cheeks wrote. "The talent he recruited to the division the past few years is best in class. He has put new business plans in place to drive more revenue, which is essential in a challenging environment for all media companies."

Times staff writer Meg James contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Over the past decade, the Sahel region  the strip of land located south of the Sahara, which runs through Africa from east to west  has become one of the most inhospitable and unstable regions in the world. Against a backdrop of extreme poverty and climate change, the jihadist violence that erupted in Mali in 2012 has been spreading in the face of the inability of governments too weak to protect their own populations. As a result of this, recurring coups in the regions nations have brought military regimes to power. Driven by a wave of anti-Western sentiment, these colonels, generals and captains have sought the support of Russia.

The recent military coup in Niger isnt an isolated event. It has followed the pattern of its neighbors: Mali and Burkina Faso. With the difference that, on this occasion, the possibility of a regional conflict is closer than ever.

In the 1980s, Brazilian photographer Sebastiao Salgado was already stunned by the hunger and poverty of the Sahel. He transferred his emotions and observations into a book, The End of the Road, which collected his black-and-white images of starving children and despair. That was 40 years ago, but since then, things havent improved. Now, theres the added element of climate change, which translates into irregular rains and drought.

The misery of the Sahel  which in turn produces a strong feeling of injustice  fuels violence and instability, which have been spreading like an oil stain. This is despite the existence of natural resources that supply the Global North. The activity leaves few benefits for the local population.

Its the African paradox, says Abdoulaye Mar Dieye, special coordinator for development in the Sahel at the United Nations. This region is overflowing with gold, uranium and other precious metals, and yet, the poverty is tremendous. Its a painful contradiction. Logically, the population is angry and wants a quick change. The slightest disturbing effect  such as the discontent of an army general  causes an explosion. The West has failed the Sahel: we havent invested enough. Theres cooperation and thats fine, but we havent generated any transformation, theres no employment, no infrastructure, no industry, the diplomat laments. All the countries of the Sahel are among the 20 poorest in the world, according to the Human Development Index.

The jihadist insurgency  which has caused more than 30,000 deaths and four million refugees and displaced persons  feeds on this poverty and finds young followers, who feel as if they have no future. It began in northern Mali in 2012 and, by 2015, had spread to neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger. Neither the presence of a United Nations mission (MINUSMA) nor the creation of a regional military force (the G-5 of the Sahel), nor the robust French operation Barkhane  which saw almost 5,500 French troops on the ground  have been able to stop the terrorist advance. It has been carried out, above all, by the JNIM, which is dependent on Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State Sahel Province. Today, even countries further south  such as Benin, Togo or the Ivory Coast  are seriously threatened.

As during the four coups that shook Mali and Burkina Faso between 2020 and 2022, the military responsible for the uprising in Niger on July 26 cited insecurity as one of their main reasons for overthrowing the government of President Mohamed Bazoum. However, of the three states of the Sahel infiltrated by terrorism, Niger was the one that was best managing to confront it, thanks to a discreet but daring policy of dialogue with local communities and the reintegration of terrorists into society. Bazoum had excellent vision  he was going in the right direction, but he has had to pay for old sins, Dieye notes.

The underlying malaise is systemic. Its not the fault of democracy, nor of France, nor the West, China, Russia or anyone else, affirms Gilles Yabi, head of the African think tank Wathi. If we cannot have dignified attention in a ministry, maintain a minimum of cleanliness in public buildings, start a meeting without waiting one or two hours for a minister to arrive, or issue an administrative document to users without making them waste half-a-day. Only by working every day to transform the functioning of our states will we build the foundations of stability and prosperity. Of course, [this wont be achieved] by having a new coup every year and making legitimately frustrated masses of young people  deprived of education, of perspectives and showered with false information and manipulations  believe that sovereignty and dignity are won with slogans.

A protest by supporters of the coup in Niger, in front of a French military base in Niamey, the capital, on August 11, 2023. STRINGER (REUTERS)

For the first time in this long series of coups, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has gone beyond economic sanctions and has decided to wield the threat of military intervention. Niger is the last drop in the bucket. If we allow the coup plotters to take power, no democratic government will be safe in the region. It was necessary to send a message of firmness, of an end to impunity. We continue to think that showing our teeth can work, but the military junta is closed to dialogue and puts us in a very difficult position. Pulling out the stick and not using it would totally discredit us, an African diplomat emphasizes.

Until July 26, Niger was the best ally of the West and the European Union in the central Sahel. The nations collaboration on defense and security matters  with U.S. and French bases on their soil  and cooperation on immigration control bolstered its standing. In addition to this collaborative relationship, Niger has uranium: key to keeping nuclear power plants running. The country has the largest reserves of this raw element and is the main supplier of the EU, specifically France. A few hours after taking power, the coup leaders announced the suspension of these exports. But the truth is that the uranium  extracted by the French company Orano  has continued to flow out of the country. The Western atomic energy industry has a special interest in Niger remaining an ally, to ensure that these reserves arent exploited by other countries, such as Russia.

The shadow of Moscow has hung over the instability of the Sahel, ever since the Malian military junta decided to break its ties with France and hire Wagners mercenaries as new partners in the fight against terrorism. Yevgeny Prigozhins men  already present in the Central African Republic, Libya and Mozambique  arrived in Mali at the end of 2021. Theyve occupied the space vacated by the French Barkhane operation, which was expelled from the country by the military junta. In neighboring Burkina Faso, meanwhile, the ruling military has not brought the Wagner Group in, but has strengthened its military ties with Russia. The fear now, prevalent in Western foreign ministries, is that Niger will also fall into the orbit of Vladimir Putin, as shown by the first gestures of the coup leaders and the Russian flags that have appeared in the pro-junta demonstrations.

Faced with the military intervention of ECOWAS  led by troops from Nigeria, Senegal and the Ivory Coast  the two military regimes that govern Burkina Faso and Mali have already announced their support for the coup plotters in Niger. The possibility of the region being split in two and a war between armies being waged is closer than ever. The military option is the worst of all options, Dieye concludes, because it will not destabilize just the Sahel, but all of Africa and the world. In the event of a conflict, a large wave of migration to Europe is to be expected.

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Good morning. Heres all you need to know about what went on in the world of music over the weekend:

Yes, youre reading this correctly: Foo Fighters joined forces with  Michael Buble on Saturday at Outside Lands in San Francisco.

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Run-D.M.C. played allegedly its final set to close the massive Hip-Hop 50 concert at Yankee Stadium.

Lorde debuted a pair of new songs at a festival in the U.K.

Rod Stewart paid tribute to the Bands Robbie Robertson at a show in Seattle, while Bob Dylan shared a statement honoring his longtime friends life.

The Weeknd said hes not doing any more features  unless Daft Punk reunites.

Brazilian legend Arthur Verocai played his first proper New York show Friday at Lincoln Center, backed by a full orchestra for a performance of his revered 1972 self-titled album.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.
World premieres of Netflixs All the Light We Cannot See, Amazons Expats starring Nicole Kidman, and Euphoria creator Ron Leshems Hebrew-language drama Bad Boy were unveiled as part of the Toronto Film Festivals Primetime program on Monday.

TIFF, making a big step up this year for the sidebar of international prestige TV series, will show the first two episodes of All the Light We Cannot See, a limited series starring Mark Ruffalo and Hugh Laurie, written by Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders) and directed by Shawn Levy (Stranger Things).

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And The Farewell director Lulu Wang is returning to Toronto with Amazons Expats, with Kidman and Sarayu Blue in a drama about a group of close-knit women expatriates in Hong Kong. Theres also first looks for U.K. Channel Fours Alice & Jack, a romantic comedy that stars Domhnall Gleeson and Andrea Riseborough.

Also bowing at TIFF is the Israeli crime drama Bad Boy from Leshem and director Hagar Ben-Asher (Bosch, City on a Hill), with the Hebrew-language title arriving in Toronto without U.S. distribution.

Primetime programmer Geoff Macnaughton told The Hollywood Reporter that North American TV audiences are following TIFF and other film festivals in increasingly embracing foreign-language subtitles, thanks to the success of Money Heist and Call My Agent and other series on streaming platforms.

In the last few years, audiences have become much more accepting of what they watch. It speaks to how the world rights are taken by streamers and international series like The Squid Game are finding an audience. You could find a foreign-language success story on any platform and streamers are less risk averse, Macnaughton argued.

TIFF is also expanding its Primetime sidebar for serialized storytelling this year just as the global drama bubble bursts and indie TV producers are chasing new financing models. Indie TV producers are also eyeing the Toronto Film Festivals imprimatur of cinephiles and global star power by screening here before imminent broadcast or streaming releases.

In response to the popularity of prestige international series on streamers, TIFF has booked nine series into Primetime this year, up from seven last year. That also includes a North American premiere for Paramount+s Bargain, a Korean battle of survival from Korean hitmaker Byun Seung-min (B.P., The Cursed) as innocent bystanders find themselves stuck in an underground auction house for human organ trafficking when an earthquake traps criminals and victims alike.

The Korean dystopian thriller, which earned the best screenplay prize at Canneseries, is a follow-up to the 2015 short film Bargain by director Lee Chung-hyun that played in Toronto. Its a wild ride. Its like nothing Ive ever seen. its so much fun, Macnaughton said of the Bargain series.

Primetime will also give world premieres to two CBC series, Leslie Norvilles Black Life: Untold Stories, a CBC docuseries that surveys the history of the Black experience in Canada; and Kim OBomsawins Telling Our Story, about the struggles and revival of the countrys original 11 First Peoples nations.

And theres a world bow for the Crave streaming comedy Brie Mack Gets a Life, from creator and showrunner Sasha Leigh Henry. Malaika Hennie-Hamadi plays a 25-year-old Black woman and university graduate in a mainly white world, a journey made both difficult and tolerable by Black Attack, her invisible hype girl played by Hannan Younis who helps her navigate lifes frustrations and hurdles.

The Toronto Film Festival is set to run from Sept. 7-17.

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Christian Petzolds Afire and Wim Wenders Anselm are among movies on Germanys longlist for the Best International Film Oscar.

National agency German Films received 12 submissions in the category with an independent jury deciding which film to move forward with on August 22 and 23 in Munich.

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The following twelve German films were submitted to German Films by German producers:

The German Oscar selection committee is due to be announced in the next few days.

The 15-title shortlist of films submitted from the various countries will be announced on December 21, 2023. The five nominated titles that will ultimately enter the race will be released on January 23, 2024. The Oscars ceremony will take place on March 10, 2024.

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis urged The Walt Disney Co. to drop its lawsuit against him, while telling CNBC that he has moved on from his battle with the company and that it should drop the lawsuit against him.

Last Call host Brian Sullivan asked DeSantis why he doesnt just pick up the phone and call Disney CEO Bob Iger to resolve the dispute. Weve basically moved on, DeSantis said. They are suing the state of Florida. They are going to lose that lawsuit. So what I would say is, Drop the lawsuit. You have the state that even CNBC ranks as number one of all 50 states for economy.

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Disney sued DeSantis in April, claiming that the governor violated the companys First Amendment and other constitutional rights. DeSantis led an effort to strip the company of control of a special district that covers its Florida theme parks, in what Disney said was retaliation after it opposed a parental rights bill, known by detractors as the dont say gay law, last year.

DeSantis told CNBC that the special district was a case of giving extraordinary privileges to one special company at the exclusion of everyone else. But Disneys lawsuits includes numerous examples where the governor engineered efforts to target the company specifically, including legislation aimed at regulating its monorail system, while boasting that the company has been silent on social issues.

In an interview in May, DeSantis said, Since our skirmish last year, Disney has not been involved in any of those issues. They have not made a peep. That, ultimately, is the most important, that Disney is not allowed to pervert the system to the detriment of Floridians.

A Disney spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on DeSantis latest statements.

DeSantis had been making his fight with Disney a part of his presidential campaign. On the campaign trail, he has accused the company of embracing efforts to get sexualized content in the programming for the young kids. Iger called that claim preposterous.

The special district was set up more than 50 years ago as Disney was developing its Florida property. It was designed to give the company control over development decisions as well as taxing and bonding authority.

Earlier this year, DeSantis appointed a new slate of directors to the board of the special district, now renamed the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. The board filed its own lawsuit against Disney in state court, seeking to invalidate development agreements Disney made with the special district in the weeks before control passed to the state.

Even though DeSantis has highlighted his battle with Disney and other cultural issues in his campaign, his poll numbers have sagged as front-runner Donald Trump has maintained a large lead nationally and in key early primary states.

Iger has called DeSantis anti-business and anti-Florida. In the CNBC interview, DeSantis said that no one has made Disney more money recently than me because during Covid, they were open in Florida. They were locked shut in California. We said, We want you guys to operate because we understood how important it was that their cast members in Central Florida had the ability to make ends meet. In fact, when Disney closed their parks, I didnt tell them to close. They did it voluntarily.

I am not fine with giving extraordinary privileges to one special company at the exclusion of everybody else, FL Gov. DeSantis tells @SullyCNBC on Disney.



Tune in for more tonight on @LastCallCNBC. https://t.co/gTePS19Ph6 pic.twitter.com/tzZnTD4y0s  CNBC (@CNBC) August 14, 2023

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A handout photo made available by the press office of the Colombian Presidency shows Colombian President Gustavo Petro (C) during the launch of farm reforms in Sincelejo, Colombia, on Thursday. Petro affirmed he will continue his mandate until 2026 despite money laundering charges against his son, Nicolas Petro Burgos. Photo by EPA-EFE

Aug. 5 (UPI) -- A Colombian court has granted bail for Nicolas Petro Burgos, the son of President Gustavo Petro, and his ex-wife Daysuris Vasquez, after the pair agreed to cooperate with a money laundering investigation.

Nicolas Petro and Vasquez were arrested a week ago in connection with a money laundering case. Petro is charged with money laundering as is Vasquez, who has been charged with privacy violations.

Investigators are also examining allegations that the pair fraudulently obtained contracts and gave out bribes for political influence.

The investigation was prompted by comments Vasquez made during an interview, claiming Nicolas Petro had received had pocketed a contribution to his father's campaign from drug smuggler Santander Lopesierra.

Prosecutors say the younger Petro told them that while he had kept some of the money, some had been transferred to the campaign. They also said Petro "provided relevant information that the prosecution did not know about the latest presidential campaign," and that he had "committed to provide documentation, technical evidence and audios to support the information provided."

The court has forbidden Nicolas Petro and Vasquez from leaving the Colombia or the city of Barranquilla, where they were arrested.

Prosecutors say the pair have agreed to cooperate with investigators and Petro will resign his post on a provincial assembly.
Top Boy: Final Season Trailer Drops

The long-awaited trailer for Netflixs final season of Top Boy has dropped. Ronan Bennetts hit series will launch its last run on September 7, described as No. Loose. Ends The Final Chapter on Twitter this morning. Top Boy has been airing on British screens for a decade  starting with two seasons on Channel 4 before it was canceled and picked up by Netflix in 2019. Cast including Ashley Walters and Kane Robinson  who was BAFTA-nominated for the previous season  will return for Season 5 as the show continues to follow the lives of people living on Hackneys fictional Summerhouse Estate. Trailer can be viewed here.

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Netflix Launches Training Program For Female Filmmakers In Middle East

Netflix has launched a training program for emerging female talent in Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE. The streamer has tied with the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture on the program, which aims to introduce the creative filmmaking process and the different roles women can play behind the camera. Around 45 women who have recently graduated from film studies courses in the region are being targeted. Beginning in November with three days of workshops in Cairo, Dubai, and Jeddah, participants will be introduced to scriptwriting and the creative process of filmmaking by established female filmmakers from the Arab region. The participants will then visit Netflixs Europe production hub early next year. At Netflix, we are passionate about amplifying womens voices behind the camera, said Nuha el Tayeb, Director, Content Middle East, Africa and Turkey. That includes a commitment to authentic storytelling which is intrinsically linked to developing the regions talent pipeline.

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The post A Week at ya, the Greenest  and Maybe Happiest  Music Festival in the World appeared first on Consequence.

Its not terribly surprising that a music festival hosted in late summer in Oslo, Norway would be idyllic. ya Festival, the annual gathering at the capital citys Toyenparken, has been running since 1999 and grown from a more local-focused affair into an event worthy of global attention. The 2023 lineup boasted the presence of worldwide names like Pusha T and indie favorites boygenius, alongside an era-shifting set from Lorde and beloved Norwegian star Sigrid.

What might be more surprising for those who havent ever experienced Norways remarkable infrastructure firsthand is the dedication to sustainability: ya Festival operates entirely free of fossil fuels. A staggering 98% of its power is renewable, thanks to the countrys reliance on hydropower, courtesy of a terrain dotted with mountains and fjords. Whats more, any construction required to get the festival up and running each year is managed by machinery that runs on biofuels, which burn cleaner than gasoline.

Because the festival is just a mile northeast of the city center, almost all attendees can travel without cars along Oslos stellar public transportation; people have the choice of taking a quick, clean subway ride, hopping on one of the charming trams, or walking through the neighborhood dotted with markets. Bicycles lined the block surrounding the park.

In 2022 the festival received the Eco-Lighthouse National Award, an acknowledgment for sustainability efforts across industries. It joined a shelf already dotted with accolades from the European Festival Awards and A Greener Festival.

Mia Frogner, a representative for ya, explains: We have a set of environmental guidelines that everyone who works with us have included in their contract, which says, among other things, that we have a ban on single use plastics, no giveaways, no confetti, a sustainable food policy, and information about our climate emission reporting that everyone has to deliver data to.

Compare this to the experience required to attend Coachella, the California event that cannot be reached via public transportation and reportedly generates more than 1,600 tons of waste a year. Onsite at ya, staff members patrol the grounds to pick up any stray litter, while receptacles are divided into food waste, general trash, food container and utensil recycling, and specific bins for beer cups, which are washed each day and re-used. Thats somehow still not all  at the end of each day, everything is sorted by hand, and 75% of all waste is then recycled. Almost half of the food offerings at the various trucks and stands were vegetarian, and vegan options abounded.

oya festival 2023 blur lorde pusha t billy strings boygenius

Blur at ya Festival, photo courtesy of festival

Then, theres the music itself, and the reason the local crowd  which displays a wide range of ages and demographics  is here. Festival organizers make an effort to achieve a 50/50 split between male and female acts, and the 2023 lineup genuinely offered something for everyone. People also seemed content to wander between the four main stages, whether they know the artist beforehand or not, to catch the vibe.

As someone who has lived in Nashville for a decade, it was a genuine thrill watching a largely Norwegian crowd vibing with the folk and bluegrass that Billy Strings and his incredible band of musicians were putting down. Balming Tiger, the first South Korean act to appear at the festival, transcended language barriers with their explosive set and interactive choreography.

Elsewhere, Caroline Polacheks ethereal live vocals floated across the Scandinavian landscape like a siren song, beckoning people from across the festival grounds into her orbit. Ayra Starr delighted attendees with a set blending Afrobeats and Nigerian R&B that had everyone moving; Boldy James & The Alchemist and duo DOMi and JD Beck also impressed. None of the evenings onsite ran especially late  by 11pm, the music moved to clubs dotted throughout the city for smaller, late-night sets in more intimate atmospheres together dubbed yanatt  so if people wanted to stay and enjoy the nostalgia of Devo or the quirky, high velocity set from Blur, they were still home by midnight.

oya festival 2023 blur lorde pusha t billy strings boygenius

ya Festival, photo courtesy of festival

The festival is lovingly rounded out with a hefty slew of rising Norwegian acts, and the versatility on display when it comes to genre was on full display on this years lineup. Regardless of notoriety or status, many of these acts pulled the largest crowds; a DJ set from Trym Svdsnes or the theatrical dramatics of ARY pulled in just as many happy listeners as the dreamy, instrument-driven stylings of Susanne Sundfr.

To Frogner and her colleagues at ya, the idea of a sustainable future encompasses much more than the green angle. We are never done with our sustainability work, and we are focusing equally on EDI and social sustainability in addition to the environmental actions, she explains. This work is not new to us  we are now integrating it into our sustainability actions and organizational structure. We want to contribute to making the cultural sector and the society itself more sustainable, diverse, and safe.

Festivals outside of America tend to have a different energy, and ya, despite its growing size, has retained the atmosphere of a small-town gathering in all the best ways. Its currently hovering in an ideal sweet spot where artists from around the world are becoming more and more interested in appearing, but families can still bring curious children to something adjacent to a night in the park. People werent there to be seen, or to post on Instagram  and in fact, it was noticeable how infrequently people held their phones above their eyelines at all.

People were there because they love to listen to great music. And for all the reasons festival organizers around the world should look to ya as an example to emulate, that one might just be the most important.

A Week at ya, the Greenest  and Maybe Happiest  Music Festival in the World

Mary Siroky

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Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, co-chairmen of British production powerhouse Working Title, plus Hans Zimmer and his long-time business partner Steven Kofsky have formed a partnership to purchase Londons legendary Maida Vale studios, considered a seminal part of U.K. music history.

First bought by the BBC in 1933, the studios have welcomed the likes of David Bowie, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and Dusty Springfield to record in the building over the decades, and it became a home for the BBC Performing Group. In 2018, the BBC announced the closure of the site with plans to vacate in 2025, part of its plan to move the music studios and perfuming groups to a purpose-built space in east London.

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Following the purchase, terms of which were not disclosed, the new owners say they plan to keep the original facade of the building, which will remain as a studio space but undergo a multi-million-pound refurbishment plan for its existing studios. There will also be the creation of a not-for-profit educational facility, and a long-term commitment to providing local jobs, innovation and investment.

Maida Vale Studios has been synonymous with artistic excellence for generations, said Bevan and Fellner. The venue has become part of the fabric of the U.K.s pioneering cultural industry, from helping to nurture new and ground-breaking artists, to housing some of the worlds most legendary musicians.

They added: Through our redevelopment plans we will future-proof the historic site, continuing its presence in the local community with a new education facility, whilst creating a world-class studio space for the next generation of composers, producers, editors and engineers.

Zimmer noted that the first time he worked for the BBC was at the Maida Vale Studios some 45 years, saying he was an awestruck kid who was honored to play on one of his first sessions there.

I still remember the strong pull, the desire to touch the walls, as if that would somehow allow me to connect to the artists whose extraordinary music had resonated against these walls on a daily basis. This was a place of revolutionary science in the service of art, this was a place that inspired you to give your best, where music was performed around the clock and art was taken seriously. For the people by the people. This was the place that kept a struggling musician like me from giving up.

The multi-Oscar-winner said that around the time he first worked at Maida Vale, he began working with Bevan and Fellner at Working Title, something that gave him his career in Hollywood, where Kofsky became his partner.

He and I made sure to drag the work from as many Hollywood films as possible back to Britain. So now I want to close the circle: make Maida Vale Studios a place that inspires, teaches, technologically serves the arts and humanity  and gives the next generation the same opportunities I was given: to create and to never give up.

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Composite image showing Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk in profile, as though staring at each other from close proximity

Elon Musk "isn't serious" about holding a cage fight and "it's time to move on", Mark Zuckerberg has said.

In a post on his social media site Threads, the Meta boss said he had offered Mr Musk "a real date" but the rival entrepreneur had made excuses.

Mr Musk had earlier on Sunday suggested on his own messaging site X, formerly known as Twitter, that he was willing to fight as early as Monday.

The billionaires agreed to the bout in June, sparking huge media attention.

But despite egging each other on for months, the rivals have yet to secure a date, raising doubts the fight will ever go ahead.

The war of words was complicated by the launch of Threads in July, with the rival messaging app to X attracting more than 100 million sign-ups in less than a week.

That number has fallen back, and X remains comfortably ahead with around 350 million users - but Mr Musk has threatened to sue Facebook for "unlawful misappropriation of Twitter's trade secrets".

Meta denies the claims.

Last week, Mr Zuckerberg said he had proposed 26 August for the cage fight. Then in a twist on Friday, Italy's culture minister said that he had spoken to Mr Musk about hosting the showdown in the country as a charity event.

Mr Musk suggested it would have "an ancient Rome theme".

On Sunday, however, the Meta boss posted on Threads: "Elon won't confirm a date, then says he needs surgery, and now asks to do a practice round in my backyard instead.

"If Elon ever gets serious about a real date and official event, he knows how to reach me. Otherwise, time to move on. I'm going to focus on competing with people who take the sport seriously."

Responding on X, however, Mr Musk called the Meta boss a "chicken".

Earlier, Mr Musk had posted a text message exchange on the messaging platform purportedly between himself and Mr Zuckerberg.

This is the full message: pic.twitter.com/UzbKoIkFOc  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 13, 2023

In it he tells the Meta boss that he will be in Palo Alto, home to Meta's headquarters, on Monday and that the fight could be held in Mr Zuckerberg's Octagon, which is the eight-sided ring in which cage fights are held.

Mr Musk continued: "I have not been practicing much, apart from a brief bout with Lex Fridman [the computer scientist and podcast host] today.

"While I think it is very unlikely, l given our size difference, perhaps you are a modern day Bruce Lee and will somehow win."

Elon Musk, 52, and Mark Zuckerberg, 39 are two of the world's most high-profile technology billionaires.

The bizarre idea to fight each other started in June, when Mr Musk tweeted that he was "up for a cage fight" with Mr Zuckerberg.

The Meta boss, who already has mixed martial arts (MMA) training and has recently won jiu-jitsu tournaments, simply responded with "send me location".
During the coronavirus pandemic, Shreya Nallamothu, now 16, said she, like so many others, began to spend more time on social media, where she saw countless parents who documented their own lives and their kids' lives on different platforms.

"The more I fell down that rabbit hole, I kept seeing cases of exploitation," Shreya, a high school junior from Normal, Illinois, told "Good Morning America," adding that she specifically was struck by seeing kids who she thought were not old enough to know the full ramifications of their online presence.

"Especially for very young children who maybe don't understand what talking to a camera means and they're not able to conceptualize what a million people looks like, they don't understand what they're putting out into the internet for profit and that it's not going to be able to go away and that their parents are making money off of it," she added.

On Friday, Shreya's home state of Illinois became the first state into the country to enact a law ensuring that children who are shown on social media are paid for their work.

PHOTO: Shreya Nallamothu poses for a photo in Bloomington, Ill., May 9, 2023. (Claire Savage/AP)

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law S.B. 1782, legislation that "creates a private right of action for child influencers against their parents that featured them in videos and did not properly compensate them," according to the governor's website.

The bill was sponsored by state Sen. David Koehler of Peoria, who credits Shreya with bringing him the idea for the legislation.

Shreya said she reached out to Koehler's office last year after realizing no states at the time had any legislation protecting kid influencers.

"When I went into it, I wasn't 100% sure what I was doing. I didn't go into it expecting to pass a bill within a year," she said. "I'm very grateful for Sen. Koehler and his team for paying attention to a constituent."

The new law, which goes into effect Jan. 1, 2024, adds kids on social media to the state's Child Labor Law. It requires that children age 16 and under be compensated if, within a 30-day period, they are in at least 30% of a video or online content for which the adult, whether a parent or caregiver, is being paid. The person making the videos in which the child appears is responsible for setting aside gross earnings in a trust account for the child to receive at age 18.

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MORE: 'Mom-fluencers' are cashing in on lucrative brand deals  but not without some controversy

The law does not include an enforcement mechanism by the state, but instead relies on the parent or caregiver to set aside the earnings for their child and gives the child an avenue for legal action, if necessary, upon becoming an adult.

"This new digital age has given us tremendous opportunities to connect with one another, but it's also presented legal issues that have never existed before," Koehler said in a statement. "We need to work with our children to see the problems they face and tackle them head-on before any further harm is done."

Jessica Maddox, a University of Alabama professor of digital media who studies social media platforms and culture, including influencers, called the legislation in Illinois "long overdue."

"I am extremely pleased that Illinois has become the first state to pass child influencer protections. This is long overdue in the United States," Maddox told "GMA." "I hope other states follow suit very soon ... and I hope that gaining legislation isn't the end, but truly the beginning of the conversation."

Maddox noted that she hopes future legislation passed by Illinois or other states includes additional provisions, like allowing a person at age 18 to petition to have content of themselves removed from social media platforms.

"If we are going to make meaningful change around children of influencers and child influencers in this country, platforms need to be part of the conversation as well, to make sure they are not inadvertently harming or profiting off children of influencers as well," she said, adding, "I think it's just a matter of where platforms are willing to put their resources and willing to put their attention."

MORE: Mom influencer opens up about why she erased her kids' faces from social media

According to Maddox, the work of social media influencers and vloggers -- or video bloggers -- is as of now a "gray area" in the U.S. that has not provided much protection to date.

"These are actual jobs, possible ways of earning income, that need protection," she said. "Since there aren't unions, there isn't systemic protection in terms of laws, that is why Illinois law is super important for setting the precedent that this type of labor needs to be protected, especially for minors."

PHOTO: A stock photo shows a mother setting up a ring light and a mobile phone for live streaming with her son. (STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images)

The types of "sharenting" content that have emerged as a lucrative business online over the past decade include everything from "family vlogs" that document a family's day-to-day life to branded campaigns that feature kids advertising a particular brand of clothing, for example.

Maddox said she is "optimistic" that the new law in Illinois will lead to changes in content creation.

"I commend it for being the first, and the Illinois state legislature for championing this issue and pushing it through," she said. "I am hopeful that this does lead to not just meaningful change, but also self-reflection for people that do make content online, whether they are a minor or an adult, or what they're doing and how they can be smart and responsible and ethical in their content creation."

Illinois becomes 1st state to regulate kid influencers: What to know about the law originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com
During his brief 10 months in office, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has implemented a distinctly right-wing agenda. The Conservative Party leader has championed controversial measures like stricter immigration policies, expanding gas and oil concessions in the North Sea, and vetoing Scotlands gender self-determination law. Sunaks recent decisions go against his previously moderate image and are viewed by analysts as an effort to boost poll numbers, given the Labor Partys current lead. But Sunaks shift to the right is also driven by long-held ideological positions.

Sunak, a protege of David Cameron, the prime minister who sponsored the Brexit referendum, risked his political career in 2016 when he supported the U.K.s exit from the European Union. However his pursuit of fiscal prudence in last years Conservative Party primaries faltered against Liz Truss, who appeased the partys ranks by making the promises they wanted to hear.

Sunak, who was the finance minister until July 2022, was labeled a loser and a centrist, two highly undesirable traits for the current Tory base. Meanwhile, even though Truss only supported Brexit after the 2016 referendum, she was able to garner support from the right-wing faction of the party over Sunak. Truss won the primaries, but her term as prime minister was short-lived, lasting only 45 days.

Trusss precipitous fall caused by her disastrous tax cut solidified Sunak as her ideal replacement, a proven leader known for his calm competence. Sunaks support for fiscal responsibility and measured approach further strengthened his moderate credentials. However, after being in office for 10 months, this perception is now starting to fade away. The Economist recently described him as the most right-wing Conservative leader of his generation, in an article that summed up the dissonance between perception and reality with the ironic headline: No, really. Rishi Sunak is a right-winger.

Pablo de Orellana, an expert on far-right political movements with a doctorate in international relations from Kings College London, said: Under Boris Johnsons leadership, the party leaned more toward the right, particularly in terms of populist ideas such as birthright and nationalism, rather than economic aspects. Rishi Sunak, on the other hand, is attempting a blend of both approaches. While he subscribes to the belief in absolute deregulation and the banking sectors capacity to drive economic growth, he also recognizes the need to adopt right-wing populist policies for gaining legitimacy.

Sunaks understated style, meticulousness, and relative youth (43) have somewhat obscured his convictions, making him appear more centrist in nature. Hes made a deal with the devil. Since taking office, Sunak has aligned himself with the far-right wing of the Conservatives. He believes that populist ideas rooted in the new right will secure votes, said de Orellana.

Since winning a Parliament seat in 2015, Sunak has been open about his political ideas. As a former Goldman Sachs banker and member of the liberal wing of the party, he expressed admiration for Nigel Lawson, whose fiscal doctrine underpinned Thatcherism. Sunak is now seen as Lawsons natural successor, but some conservatives criticize Sunak for his hesitancy to support lower taxes due to the uncertainty caused by Brexit and significant public spending during the pandemic.

In 2022, during his battle with Truss to replace Boris Johnson, lingering doubts about his conservative credentials led him to publicly deny being a closet socialist. His denial added to the perception of him as a centrist, but his real stance has become cloudier since taking office. In early August, before going to California on his first vacation in four years, Sunak voiced his disagreement with measures by local authorities to curb pollution, like establishing restrictions on traffic in neighborhoods. I am on the side of the drivers, he declared.

Cameron was the first Tory leader to strongly support environmental issues. Theresa May followed by signing a zero-emissions commitment by 2050 into law. In July, Sunak announced controversial offshore oil and gas concessions in the North Sea and blocked a Scottish gender self-determination measure.

Pablo de Orellana attributes this drift to both ideology and strategy. To better understand his ideological conviction, one can look at his support for Brexit. He advocated for financial deregulation to position the U.K. as a European Singapore. However, he now believes that right-wing backing is crucial to implementing his vision. But de Orellana also sees an element of survival in Sunak. He feels extremely insecure. Since he didnt win the general election and isnt the face of the party, he must seek to gain legitimacy from the previous election victory [won by Johnson in 2019].

Sunaks conservative agenda and the European Court of Human Rights have clashed over his policy of sending irregular migrants to Rwanda, which was upheld by the British Supreme Court. There has also been criticism of a proposal to establish a floating prison in the south of England for housing asylum seekers. These conflicts are symbolic of the new right, said de Orellana.

Sunaks right-wing drift presents a dilemma. When he became the third prime minister within six weeks last October, his reputation for restraint and economic acumen worked in his favor. Following the chaos of Johnson and the disappointment of Truss, Sunaks low-key profile elevated him in the polls and made him more popular than his own party.

After 13 years in power, the Conservative Party is showing some public opinion wear and tear, whereas the youngish Sunak projected discipline and competence. But he has surrounded himself with people who are not at all moderate by Conservative standards, said de Orellana. Labor landed a resounding blow on the Conservatives during the municipal elections in May, so the upcoming general elections in January 2025 already have Sunak on high alert.

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There's nothing like packing all of your friends or family into the car for an epic road trip. Just ask Ree Drummond: Her family took a nine-hour road trip to the Colorado mountains over Christmas vacation last year. (Her advice? Take stretch breaks and bring coffeelots of coffee. )

But while some road trips are about the destination, others are all about the journey. Our list of the best scenic drives in the U.S. covers drives with breathtaking ocean and mountain views, with plenty of amazing overlooks, hiking, and photo ops along the way. There are even a couple of drives that will make you feel like you're floating across sparkling blue waters (hello, Overseas Highway in Florida!) or taking a "highway to the sky" (the unofficial nickname for Trail Ridge Road in Colorado, America's highest continuously paved highway). You'll also find some of the best places to see fall foliage on this list, like Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire and Blue Ridge Parkway in the Carolinas and Virginia. No matter which trip you choose, you can be sure you're in for miles and miles of unforgettable natural beauty. Oh, and don't forget your favorite road trip snacks so you can enjoy every moment on a full stomach!

Blue Ridge Parkway, the Carolinas and Virginia

For spectacular views of national forests and the Appalachian mountains, hit the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway through Virginia and the Carolinas. If you plan your trip in the fall, you'll be treated to some truly stunning fall foliage.

Pierre Leclerc Photography

Beartooth Highway, Montana and Wyoming

Beartooth Highway is known for its stunning scenery, rugged terrain, and abundance of wildlife. There will be plenty of lookout points along the way to take in the gorgeous viewsand take photos, of course!

Yves Marcoux / Design Pics

Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire

Natural beauty abounds on the iconic Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire. It's also considered one of the best fall foliage viewing areas in the world.

Craig Zerbe

Overseas Highway, Florida

On this world-famous 113-mile drive, you'll traverse 42 bridges that connect the Florida Keys to the Florida mainland. You'll feel like you're floating across the sparkling blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.

Artur Debat

Pacific Coast Highway, California

Take an epic West Coast road trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles for crisp ocean breezes, wide-open spaces, and breathtaking scenery. You'll want to make pitstops in beautiful seaside towns like Monterey, Pebble Beach, Malibu, and Santa Barbara, to name a few.

Doug Meek

Route 66, California

Get your kicks on Route 66! This iconic highway includes the best scenery the Golden State has to offer, from the wide-open spaces of the Mojave Desert to the sea views of Santa Monica.

Stewart Leiwakabessy

Scenic Byway 12, Utah

This stunning scenic byway connects Capitol Reef National Park with Bryce Canyon National Park. Along the way, you'll enjoy views of sandstone canyons, dramatic cliffs, and towering rock formations.

Peter Unger

Hana Highway, Maui

Breathtaking waterfalls, black sand beaches, and lush greenery await you on the dazzling and winding road to Hana. You'll even take a dip in the Pools of 'Ohe'o (aka Seven Sacred Pools), against a gorgeous backdrop of bamboo jungle and dramatic cliffs.

wingmar

Going-to-the-Sun Road, Montana

Going-to-the-Sun-Road is known as one of the most beautiful and adventurous roads in the world. Follow its cliffside curves through the snow-dusted mountains and valleys of Glacier National Park.

Different_Brian

Skyline Drive, Virginia

Coast along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Shenandoah National Park. This gorgeous drive boasts plenty of incredible hiking along the way, including a section of the Appalachian Trail.

zrfphoto

Talimena Scenic Drive, Oklahoma and Arkansas

Wind through 54 miles of lush scenery and unparalleled views amid the beautiful Ouachita National Forest. The best time to take this drive is from late October to early November, when you'll enjoy fiery red and gold trees.

zrfphoto

Highway 101, California, Oregon, and Washington

Soak in rugged coastal views and towering redwoods as you cruise down Highway 101 through California, Oregon, and Washington. This stretch is known for its blend of wine country and beaches so you're sure to get your fill of both!

Feng Wei Photography

Lake Shore Drive, Chicago

Architecture lovers will enjoy this 15-mile urban drive around the city of Chicago. Get the best of both worlds with green space, beaches, and Lake Michigan on one side and a mix of parkland and striking skyscrapers on the other.

Perry Spring

Bluebonnet Trail, Texas

Anyone who loves flowers has to try this scenic trail, which is the oldest one in Texas. You'll enjoy endless views of pretty blue wildflowers as you drive through gorgeous fields, prairies, and parks.

Ronnie Wiggin

Trail Ridge Road, Colorado

Climbing as high as 12,183 feet, this road holds the honor of being America's highest continuously paved highway. Also known as the "Highway to the Sky," it winds through stunning mountain peaks, high-alpine tundra, and some of Rocky Mountain National Park's best views.

130920

Anchorage to Valdez Highway, Alaska

There's so much to explore on the adventurous drive from Anchorage to Valdez! It's dotted with mountain ranges, glaciers, and a rugged canyon featuring waterfalls and an old railroad tunnel.

Cavan Images

Cherohala Skyway, Tennessee and North Carolina

Cherohala Skyway is known for its beautiful mountain views, scenic overlooks, and pristine waterfalls. It's also popular among motorcyclists and was featured as one of the Discovery Channel's Top 10 Motorcycle Rides in North America.

JillLang

Lemhi Pass, Montana and Idaho

Calling all American history buffs! Lemhi Pass was famously visited by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on their epic journey across the American West, and in fact was the highest point their party reached. To this day, this remote mountain pass offers drivers beautiful natural views similar to what Lewis and Clark witnessed on foot.

knowlesgallery

Ocean Drive, Newport, Rhode Island

Take in stunning coastal views and Newport's opulent historic mansions on this famous 10-mile drive. Be sure to make a stop at Fort Adams State Park, where you can tour the largest coastal fort in the country.

jmoor17

Park Loop Road, Maine

Park Loop Road is one of the best scenic drives in the country as well as a fantastic way to explore Acadia National Park. You'll enjoy views of rocky coastline, ocean, lakes, mountains, and forest all in one 27-mile trip.

PictureLake

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Vacation travel to West Maui is strongly discouraged for the near future," the Hawaiian Tourism Board warned in a statement.

Matt McClain/The Washington Post via Getty Images

As the rescue and recovery effort continues in the aftermath of wildfires that swept portions of the island of Maui, the local tourism board and airlines are asking travelers to reconsider their travel to the island.



Vacation travel to West Maui is strongly discouraged for the near future. Visitors in West Maui have largely heeded the call to leave the island. About 46,000 people have flown out of Kahului Airport since Wednesday, the Hawaii Tourism Authority shared in a news release.

This urgent request comes as the death toll of those killed in the fire tragically rose to 96, marking it as the deadliest wildfire in the United States in over a century, according to The Associated Press.



A similar message is being sent from Hawaiian Airlines, which is encouraging travelers to reconsider traveling to Maui.



Due to the ongoing wildfires on Maui, an emergency proclamation has been issued in the State of Hawaii, and all non-essential travel to Maui is strongly discouraged, Hawaiian Airlines shares on their homepage.



Hawaiian Airlines is also offering travel waivers, and rebooking assistance to passengers with travel plans to the affected area. The airline is asking for people to postpone calling the telephone numbers unless they have immediate needs to help accommodate urgent concerns.



American Airlines is waiving change fees for flights to Hawaii (Honolulu, Kahului / Maui, Kona, and Lihue / Kauai) for travel between August 9 through August 18.



United Airlines has also issued a travel advisory for travel to Maui between August 11, 2023 and August 31, 2023 for tickets purchased before August 9, 2023.



Delta Air Lines has provided a travel waiver for flights to Maui between August 9, 2023 through August 20, 2023 with rebooking by August 31, 2023.



Hollywood actor and Hawaiian native Jason Momoa also shared a stern post on social media with a photo that said DO NOT TRAVEL TO MAUI.



Do not convince yourself that your presence is needed on an island that is suffering this deeply," Momoa wrote in the caption of the post. "Mahalo to everyone who has donated and shown aloha to the community in this time of need,



For those looking to provide assistance or support to victims and people affected by the wildfires, the Hawaiian Tourism Authority has set up the Maui Strong website which provides resources and organizations seeking support, and also the latest news and emergency information for those affected. Travel + Leisure has also compiled a list of organizations to donate to.



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Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.
This Airline Is Launching Nonstop Flights to Portugal From These North American Cities  Here's When

Azores Airlines will launch flights from Boston, New York, and Toronto to Porto in June.

A Portuguese airline will be soon be making its way to North America with new routes to three major cities next year.

Azores Airlines is launching new routes to Boston, New York and Toronto from Porto in the summer of 2024, SATA Group, the airline's parent company, confirmed to Travel + Leisure.

Each of the new routes will be serviced by an Airbus A321neo, with weekly service beginning June 1, 2024 for Toronto, June 3, 2024 for New York, and June 4, 2024 for Boston, trade outlet Aviationweek.com reported.

Azores Airlines operates flights to North America from the Azores, however this will be the first time that the airline will be flying out of mainland Portugal, the site noted.



Alexander Spatari/Getty Images



In June 2023, Azores Airlines announced that they have provided air travel for over one million passengers, which is a record for the time period, and the airline expects the demand to continue throughout the year, according to a company blog post.



Travel website Hopper previously shared an analysis with Travel + Leisure that considering destinations like Porto could help travelers save lots of money on airfare.



Travelers can find deals to destinations across Europe by shifting from expensive and popular destinations to those somewhat off the beaten track, a Hopper spokesperson shared in a statement to T+L. Airfare to Venice, Munich, Amsterdam and Naples is averaging around $1,400 per ticket, compared to trips to Reykjavik, Dublin and Porto are just around or under $1,000 per ticket. Flexibility on your destination can pay off!



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Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.
About a week ago we covered Ben Gravy surfing storm waves in Belgium. Before that he surfed a ferry boat wake in Germany.

So what'd the self-proclaimed novelty wave surfer do next? Well, since he's on a mission to catch a wave in every country in the whole world, he crossed the nearest border for another session.

That meant chasing a hurricane into the Netherlands. The good news is that he "SCORED!"

The chaser of weird waves captioned his latest edit above:

"This trip to Europe has been eye opening to say the least! Storm Surfing in Belgium & then subsequently chasing that same hurricane into The Netherlands & getting a little dose of the surf culture here on the North Sea has been so much fun. I can relate to these surfers heavily, because of spending my life surfing in New Jersey. We have very similar conditions...very challenging! haha. Thanks for all of the stoke & support for what I do! FOR THE DREAM!! - Ben"

The vid kicks off with Gravy and his videographer, JT, arriving at the beach to find windy, small waves.

"We are going surfing in the Netherlands. It's on," Gravy says.

He then surfed some small rights on a soft top, despite his recent claims he's stopped riding them.

In classic Gravy style, he's super stoked post-session even with the less-than-perfect surf.

"Absolutely went off! It was like chest high at one point. There were rights everywhere, wedges, firing!"

We love Gravy's enthusiasm.

After the session, JT says someone told him told him it's the biggest day they've had all year.

Gravy responded, "That one guy out there was saying this is the best swell in the whole summer so far. And we made it dude!"

"We're off to Switzerland!"

***

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Whether you're a professional surfer or just an amateur, we want to see your best footage and help you share it with the world. Submit your video for a chance to be featured on SURFER and our social channels. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch high-quality surf videos.
Complete your trip without a memorable meal at a waterfront restaurant.

Courtesy of Latitudes

Theres waterfront diningand then theres a table outside in the Florida Keys, where views of the surrounding sapphire-hued water are served up alongside some of the most flopping-fresh seafood in the country. A trip to Key West, at the end of the road in the Florida Keys and Americas closest-to-the-Caribbean vacation destination that can be reached overlandisnt complete without a memorable meal at a waterfront restaurant with something frosty in hand in the prettiest tropical scenery all around.

Bring your appetite (and your sunglasses) and read on for some of the best Key West restaurants on the water to be sure to book during your next escape to the southernmost locale in the continental United States.

Related: The 20 Best Things To Do In Key West

Half Shell Raw Bar

No frills Florida seafoodmuch of it best served on the half shell and raw atop piles of icesteals the show at this rustic restaurant in the Key West Historic Seaport, a short stroll from Duval Street. Pull up a seat at a picnic table at Half Shell Raw Bar and dig into oysters served raw or Rockefeller style, clams on the half shell and peel and eat Florida shrimp. The Half Shell Conch Ceviche is another must-try if you cant get enough of everything from the ocean. Fishing boats bob in the marina out front, where tarpon often lurk in the shallows waiting for handouts. So be sure to stroll out on the docks for a closer look after your meal.

Courtesy of Half Shell Oyster Bar

Hogfish Bar & Grill

Its a short drive from downtown Key West to Stock Island, the key just east, where one of the best waterfront restaurants in all of the Florida Keys awaits at Hogfish Bar & Grill. Fronting the working shrimping docks on this island known for angling, this restaurant has become a fast favorite for sampling a Florida Keys delicacydiver-speared hogfish, a light and flaky fish that comes served here fresh atop Cuban bread as a sandwich or in Baja-style tacos. Dont miss trying the local Key West pink shrimp, too. Every Sunday, theres a shrimp boil that serves up mountains of them alongside ample andouille sausage, red potatoes, cornbread, and corn on the cob.

Courtesy of Hogfish Bar & Grill

Latitudes

For the most romantic waterfront restaurant in Key West, catch the private boat shuttle to reach the exclusive island of Sunset Key and dine at a table angled perfectly for sunset and set right in the sand at Latitudes on Sunset Key. Sweeping views of the Gulf of Mexico at tables illuminated by flickering torch light are the backdrop for enjoying island classics for lunch and dinner that might include chargrilled octopus, pan seared yellowtail snapper or Key West pink shrimp carbonara.

Courtesy of Latitudes

Related: 15 Of The Best Hotels In Key West

Salute! On the Beach

Within steps of the famous Southernmost Point buoy that tells visitors theyre roughly 90 miles from Cuba, Salute! On the Beach is a longstanding favorite Key West restaurant right on the water and beach. Italian cuisine that imparts influences from the Caribbean and tropical island lifestyle is the calling card here, with things like Caprese salad and cheeseburgers with prosciutto chips on the menu. Be sure to make it a sweet finish with a slice of Key lime pie from Salute!s sister restaurant, Blue Heaven, which can be ordered off the menu here, too.

Courtesy of Salute

Southernmost Beach Cafe

This popular Key West waterfront restaurant at the Southernmost Beach Resort serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner with the beach as a backdrop. Key West-style comfort food stars, with tons of fresh seafood and dishes like Key West conch chowder, conch fritters, whole snapper, and the "Drunken Scallops" among the standbys. Dont miss the spiny lobster when its on the menu. And come from the fabulous fruity cocktails at Southernmost Beach Cafelike the Key Lime coladatoo.

Southernmost Beach Cafe

Four Flamingos: A Richard Blais Key West Kitchen

Key Wests newest celebrity restaurant opened on the waterfront in May 2023 and is helmed by the first-ever winner of Bravo's Top Chef All Stars. Come to Four Flamingos: A Richard Blais Key West Kitchen to indulge in the fresh catch from local waters prepared with his signature salt-lime dust topping as well as the cheerful cocktails, made with nostalgic ingredients, like cotton candy. The restaurants dockside location at the Hyatt Centric Key West Resort & Spa puts waterfront views all around you as you dine for the ultimate Florida Keys meal with a sense of both place and taste.

Louies Backyard

Gourmet mealsserved within the surrounds of an erstwhile Victorian residence on the water near the Southernmost Pointmake for a special night out in Key West at Louies Backyard. This is the spot to try some of the most typical Key West seafood, including freshly-hooked snapper, grouper and hogfish, all with panoramic ocean views from multi-level decks. The restaurants beloved watering hole, the Afterdeck Bar, sits right alongside the Atlantic Ocean and is a prime spot for a rum-spiked cocktail with views.

Louie's Backyard

The Docks Stock Island

This relatively new Key West waterfront restaurant on neighboring Stock Island is a must-try for sustainably-sourced seafood proffered with seriously sublime views. Overlooking Stock Islands working marina, The Docks Stock Island shines a spotlight on locally-caught fish from the Keys Fresh Seafood Market and serves up incredible craft cocktails, too. Open for lunch and dinner, the restaurant skews upscale with its vibe and offers outdoor seating with some of the best sunset views in the Florida Keys.

Courtesy of Docks

Hot Tin Roof

Ocean Key Resort and Spas signature waterfront restaurant beckons for alfresco dining on a sublime veranda overlooking the harbor right in the heart of downtown Key West. Perfect for a romantic dinner in Old Town within stumbling distance of all the bars on Duval Street, Hot Tin Roof's Latin vibes are complemented by a menu that mixes Caribbean and Floridian flavors, dubbed conch fusion. Among the must-try dishes are the blackened shrimp mac and cheese and crispy yellowtail snapper with maduros and cilantro dipping sauce. Save room for the ridiculously rich Cuban bread pudding for dessert.



Courtesy of Hot Tin Roof

Related: The Best Key Lime Pie In Florida, According To Our Readers

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Read the original article on Southern Living.
Following Denvers extremely popular e-bike voucher program, Colorado is launching a state-wide program. Beginning August 16, the Colorado Energy Office will accept the first round of applications. The overall goal is for people to use their cars less, and get more exercise.

Colorado Public Radio reported that climate change is a heavy factor in the rebate program. From a climate perspective, were really hoping people ride their bike rather than travel in a single-occupancy vehicle, said Sarah Thorne, a senior program manager at the Colorado Energy Office.

The initial round of rebates will be available to residents with an income at or below 80 percent of their area median income . This group can receive the largest discount on an e-bike, with a $1,100 rebate. Then those earning 80 to 100 percent of their area median income qualify for a $500 rebate. Anyone earning more than 100 percent is not eligible for a rebate.

The program is aimed not only at getting more people on e-bikes for commuting and errands, it also wants to ensure riders stay safe, enjoy the bikes, and realize that an e-bike really can replace a car. Thats why all applicants can also receive an additional $300 if they purchase a cargo e-bike. And an extra $100 is available to cover the cost of bike accessories such as a lock and helmet.

A link for the program portal will go live on this website at 9 a.m. on August 16 and will stay open until 1 p.m. on August 21. Once the application period closes, the state will randomly choose about 2,000 recipients and e-mail the selected participants.

Chosen residents will have 48 hours to submit proof of address and income status. Participants should expect to show a recent tax return, a pay stub, or proof of enrollment in several government assistance programs.

The next step is to choose a bike. Participants can redeem the point-of-sale rebate at more than 100 e-bike retailers across the state. Colorado Public Radio also lists eight online sellers who are eligible to receive the rebates as well, but can only take orders over the phone to avoid potential fraud.

The program hopes to see 7,000 residents purchase e-bikes, which will continue running until the $6.6 million in funding allocated runs out. In addition to this program, beginning April 1, 2024, Colorado residents will also be eligible for a $450 discount on e-bikes at qualifying retailers.

Well be eager to see which other states follow suit to get more residents on e-bikes and spending less time in cars.

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Crocodiles Love the Sound Of Crying Babies and Everyone Has Questions

On Thursday, August 10, Science Magazine shared an article explaining a new study conducted that showed crocodiles are very attracted to the sound of crying infants and other primates. The most disturbing fact was the more distressed the crying sounded, the more interested these large semiaquatic reptiles were.

Here's the following article shared on Facebook.

Published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the Royal Society's main biological-research journal, the research showed that when scientists played the crocodiles audio recordings of infants (including baby bonobos, chimpanzees, and humans) crying the crocodiles were drawn to those that seemed the most distressed.

The reactions could be interpreted as a predatory instinct by the reptiles, but the researchers said it may also suggest a maternal instinct in female crocodiles.

Facebook users reacted to this news and @June comments, "Crying primates (human beings) sound like dying animals so, yeah, makes sense. We are animals after all." @Aidan says, "Biologist part of me: "Oh, that's a super-cool, highly adaptive trait!" Human part of me" "Yikes!"

Researchers used loudspeakers to play the cries to about 300 Nile crocodiles at Crocoparc in Agadir, Morocco. Many of the crocodiles responding quickly.

The higher the infant's distress level, the more the crocodiles would respond.

"Our experiments obviously do not mean that crocodiles cannot be attracted by other signals than distress calls  they are opportunistic hunters," the authors wrote in the study. "But they suggest that the readiness of these animals to react increases with the presence of acoustic features marking a level of distress."

According to National Geographic, Africa's largest crocodilian can reach a maximum size of about 20 feet and can weigh up to 1,650 pounds.

Newsweek reported, Crocodile attacks are all too common in regions populated by the reptiles, with some estimates saying that around 1,000 people are killed every year by the creatures.

In 2019 alone, Nile crocodiles killed at least 48 people in Africa, according to CrocBITE, a global crocodilian attack database. Over half of Nile crocodile attacks are thought to be fatal.

Well, sounds like a rather good reason to leave your baby with a caregiver if you plan on visiting an area with crocodiles!

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Young people in Ghana who wish to enter the garment sector will be able to do so thanks to an initiative of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) and 20 local clothing companies offering training programs in the industry.

A new module called Youth in Garment and Textiles, launched Aug. 14, offers newly created employment opportunities to young people in Ghana who are interested in developing professional tailoring and dressmaking skills.

More from Sourcing Journal

The module will bridge skill gaps and create sustainable jobs that will contribute to the growth of Ghana in West Africa. It will teach skills related to tailoring and dressmaking, in addition to fabric selection, cutting techniques, sewing, garment construction, pattern draping and alterations.

The program also calls on existing apparel start-ups to help train students with programs that include on-the-job classes taught by garment and textile partner companies, and apprenticeships with micro- and small-scale seamstresses and tailors. There are approximately 2,000 trainees shortlisted and 500 master craftspeople who will be training them.

The garment and textile industry plays a significant role in Ghanas economy, and contributes to job creation, export revenue and the preservation of the countrys highly regarded textile tradition. According to the Youth Employment Agency, this new module will be a way to create long-lasting jobs for young people.

Young people in Ghana and Kenya, on the Eastern coast of Africa, have also participated in a program funded by Prada, the Italian luxury goods company, with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Benefitting 30 young women from Ghana and 15 from Kenya, the program Fashion Expressions: The Stories She Wears, was instituted to impart practical knowledge and skills relevant to the fashion industry in addition to promoting womens empowerment and sexual and reproductive health. Called the first initiative of its kind, it was launched in October 2022.

Click here to read the full article.
Talent runs in the family.

getty

It seems that Gwen Stefanis eldest son, Kingston Rossdale, is following in his moms footsteps (with a little help from his step-dad, Blake Shelton).

On Saturday, the budding 17-year-old star, whom Gwen shares with ex-husband Gavin Rossdale, was spotted taking the stage at Sheltons bar and live music venue, Ole Red in Tishomingo, Oklahoma, for the very first time. In a clip shared to TikTok, Rossdale briefly chatted with the crowd before launching into what appeared to be an original song while wearing an oversized green T-shirt, blue jeans, and sneakers.

Kingston finished the song with a word of thanks to the crowd, yelling, Love you guys, thank you for being here! Thank you, it means everything to me, really. I hope you guys had a great night, enjoy yourselves! before Shelton joined the teenager on stage to congratulate him on the performance with a sweet hug.

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"Full video of Gwen Stefani & Gavin Rossdales son Kingston PERFORMING at Ole Red in Tishomingo, OK. #blakeshelton #gwenstefani, the TikTok user captioned the 3-minute clip.

Related: Gwen Stefani Channeled the '80s With a Fringe Jumpsuit and Mesh Bolero

While his debut performance was certainly noteworthy, Kingston wasnt the only member of his family to take the Ole Red stage over the weekend. A day prior, the same TikTok user shared a clip of Shelton and Stefani joining forces to sing a rendition of Gwens hit, Dont Speak.

POV: you live in the same small town as Blake Shelton & Gwen Stefani and get to see them perform together EVERY YEAR, the user captioned the clip, later adding, How sweet is this, [Blake] scooting back so Gwen can be center-stage.

The couple resides on a 1,300-acre ranch in the small town, where they tied the knot back in 2021.

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Read the original article on InStyle.
When thinking of Aruba, its capital Oranjestad is likely the first place to come to mind. Beyond this popular city lies a hidden gem waiting to be explored: San Nicolas and its Black-owned Kulture Cafe.

Tucked away on the southern coast of the island, San Nicolas is a town brimming with history, culture and character. From its colorful street art and rich architectural heritage to its diverse, multicultural population, San Nicolas invites visitors to dive deeper into the authentic soul of Aruba beyond the tourist hotspots.

In the charming town of San Nicolas, entrepreneur Nick Gordon is making waves with Kulture Cafe. Born in Jamaica and raised in Aruba, Gordon, along with his wife set out to create a cultural hub in the heart of their hometown. Since its opening in 2019, Kulture Cafe has become a go-to spot for locals and visitors alike. It offers an array of delicious and healthy menu options and a warm community atmosphere.

Gordons inspiration to open a cafe in San Nicolas stemmed from his desire to contribute to the revitalization of the historic arts district. As a student, he bartended and waited tables, allowing him to gain an appreciation for the culinary arts. Being a graduate of the University of Aruba with a degree in accounting and finance, he recognized the potential in the area and saw an opportunity to fulfill his vision.

My entrepreneurial journey started with the idea of bringing something different to the city of San Nicolas, he said.

The cafe is situated in the former Nicolaas Store, a historic building constructed in 1940. The buildings rich history and prime location perfectly aligned with Nicks vision for a unique and vibrant cafe.

Today, Kulture Cafe stands as a testament to the towns commitment to preserving its unique cultural heritage. The cafe not only serves as a gathering place for enjoying coffee, tea and delicious food. It also houses the Community Museum, further immersing visitors in the distinct charm of San Nicolas. The restaurant regularly hosts culinary events, including dinners featuring guest chefs from across the island whipping up their specialty dishes.

When it comes to the menu, Kulture Cafe offers a variety of mouthwatering options to suit different tastes. One of the eaterys signature dishes is the salmon avocado toast. The menu boasts numerous vegan dishes, including their vegan bowl filled with various fresh fruits and veggies.

For those seeking local flavors, Kulture Cafe also serves traditional Aruban dishes, such as oxtail stew and tuna fish cakes. If youre in the mood for something sweet, dont forget to try their homemade bakery items, like key lime pie and croissants, and their irresistible milkshakes.

The cafe offers fresh juices and locally made infused waters that are perfect for quenching your thirst. Standouts include the sage and lime water and the homemade lemonade.

Visitors rave about their Kulture Cafe experiences from the attentive and friendly staff to the generous portions of food served. The cafe offers a wide selection of breakfast dishes, alongside an expansive coffee and tea menu. Situated in the heart of town with murals as a backdrop, Kulture Cafe truly captures the spirit of San Nicolas.

Whether youre craving a quick bite, a refreshing beverage or authentic Aruban cuisine, Kulture Cafe is the place to be. Step into this Black-owned hidden gem and treat yourself to an unforgettable culinary experience in a historic setting as you immerse yourself in the finest that San Nicolas has to offer.
In Saint Petersburg, the gigantic PMC Wagner Center sign no longer hangs in the majestic building at 15 Zolnaya Street (or Ash Street, in English). The mercenaries short-lived mutiny against the Kremlin  which took place on June 23 and 24  couldnt be punished by Vladimir Putin, since the organization continues to be essential for his interests. However, he has forced its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, to alter the objectives of his private military company.

As the address of its public headquarters insinuates, only ashes remain from the memory of the paramilitary army, which made headlines in the Ukrainian town of Bakhmut. Now, the old Wagner  which was created by Moscow a decade ago to undertake covert operations in far-away lands  has been reborn. Following Ukraine, Africa and its natural resources have become the main objectives of the paramilitary group.

Although he was forced to leave the Ukrainian trenches, the insurgent Prigozhin hasnt lost his commercial interests in Russia, despite having demanded the dismissal of the Ministry of Defenses high command in the middle of a war. Several companies belonging to Putins former cook  known for having built his empire from the catering business  have still been awarded contracts worth 4.4 billion rubles (or about $45 million) to provide services to school cafeterias across Moscow, as revealed by the Dossier Center.

However, it has been Africa, and specifically Niger, that has led Prigozhin to return to the public eye after the failed mutiny. He was first seen at the end of July in Saint Petersburg, on the occasion of the Africa-Russia summit. The head of the Russian House cultural center in the Central African Republic, Dmitri Sytri, posted a photo on Facebook on July 27, in which a smiling Prigozhin is seen shaking hands with a delegate from that country at the Trezzini Hotel, where the summit was held. According to the newspaper Fontanka, he received representatives from Niger, Mali and the Central African Republic.

The latter two countries are among the Wagner Groups main clients. The firm offers its mercenaries services in exchange for the exploitation of natural resources. Russian paramilitaries are in several African countries, but are particularly active in the Central African Republic, Mali, Sudan and Libya.

On August 8, Prigozhin once again made a public statement, in which he mocked the United States for its attempts to negotiate a way out of the coup in Niger. I am proud of the guys from the Wagner Group. When [theyre around] the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda seem like obedient children The U.S. now recognizes a government that it didnt recognize yesterday, just because it didnt meet with Wagner in that country, the businessman sneered, referring to the meeting between U.S. Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland and the new military leaders of the African country. Concern in Washington (and in the European Union) about his the possible support he may have given to Nigers coup plotters has encouraged him to return to the public scene.

Niger is listed as one of the groups short-term priorities. According to three different sources who spoke with AP, the rebel general Salifou Modi traveled to Mali on August 2, allegedly to ask for support from a representative of Wagner. A day later, Prigozhin published an audio recording, in which he affirmed that the rebellion had his blessing. Changes were needed in Niger. This is a liberation struggle, he said.

Wagner is no longer here

After the mutiny and the mediation of the Aleksandr Lukashenko regime, the mercenaries fled to Belarus. The Belarusian National Resistance Center  an opposition entity  has denounced the establishment of several military camps in the country, with the presence of around 6,000 soldiers carrying light weapons. The Baltic countries and Poland have strengthened the surveillance of their borders, while Ukraine is also keeping a close watch.

Gone is the splendor of the headquarters in Saint Petersburg, which Prigozhin inaugurated at the beginning of November last year, when his group gained prominence as a parallel army in the war in Ukraine. The building was going to house the administrative apparatus of the mercenaries and would offer free rent to patriotic technology companies, according to Prigozhin. He is also the owner of the Patriot Group, which includes the troll factory that heated up the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign with various means of propaganda. However, this company didnt survive the riot; it was closed in early July.

Wagner is no longer here, a receptionist kindly replies at the entrance to the building. The building is owned by the Morskaya Stolitsa company. If you wish, you can rent a space here, she adds, after offering a catalog with the benefits and prices of each floor of office space.

Even though its August, both the parking lot and its floor-to-ceiling windows reveal an unusually empty building. In the six months prior to the uprising, all kinds of pro-war initiatives moved in. Among them, the so-called Z-bloggers, who create propaganda in favor of the invasion of Ukraine; the Oktagon drone school; a volunteer recruitment center; and the Wagnerenok youth movement. The independent media outlet Bumaga contacted these organizations and confirmed that they have not ceased their activities, although theyre in the process of relocating. The members of the club are taking a break. In September, we will resume activities, the head of the Wagnerenok youth movement Alexander Troni told Bumaga.

The same goes for almost all of Wagners mercenary recruitment points. On July 30, the company announced that they were temporarily closing. A day later, however, Prigozhin clarified that the company might need people in the near future because it continues its activities in Africa, as well as in training centers in Belarus. The online magazine Vazhnye Istorii has revealed that the group still recruits candidates for Africa, at centers in the Siberian cities of Omsk and Novosibirsk.

Mercenaries in exchange for African resources

The mercenary company was born as an extension of the Russian armys intelligence service (the GRU) to carry out armed interventions, without the need for Moscows public involvement. For example, its soldiers claimed to be Russian volunteers when they stormed into eastern Ukraine in April and May 2014, just before the Donbas War began. However, Wagners main source of funding comes from the natural resources offered by certain regimes in Africa, in exchange for their fighting power. This is especially the case in the sub-Saharan zone, which is now vital for the Kremlin due to the pressure of sanctions on the Russian economy.

Through Wagner, Moscow tries to occupy Africa, taking advantage of the space left behind by Europe, especially France, a major colonial power on the continent. I need to protect the institutions of the republic. I asked everyone for help. Should I refuse the help of those who wanted to help us? stressed the president of the Central African Republic, Faustin-Archange Touadera, in an interview with NBC in early June. In exchange for supporting him against his countrys rebels, Wagner was granted access to the CARs natural resources. Three Russian journalists were killed in 2018 while investigating these movements.

Moscow cannot afford to lose the political, military and economic benefits that Wagner provides, stresses an analysis from the U.S. Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). According to the centers estimates, in the Central African Republic alone, Wagner obtains more than $1 billion a year. This is thanks to the protection it offers the authorities, in exchange for important concessions, such as the Ndassima gold mine.

Aware of the importance of this financing, the U.S. has launched a new wave of sanctions this summer against the gold mines that feed the Wagner Group in the Central African Republic and Mali, as well the entities that supposedly contribute to laundering the firms money in the United Arab Emirates. The U.S. will continue to target the revenue streams of the Wagner group to undermine its expansion and violence in Africa, Ukraine and elsewhere, the U.S. Department of the Treasury warned, three days after Prigozhins failed mutiny in June.

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Jennifer Lopez is fresh off a glamorous trip to Europe, where she hit up France and Italy (because why pick just one when you're J.Lo and can do both?). Naturally the trip involved a lot of looks and a lot of chic swimsuitsone of which she appears to have incorporated into her 'fit for a shopping trip in Capri.

Jennifer was spotted wearing what looks to be a strappy black swimsuit top, which she paired with high wasted white trousers, an open button-down shirt, and a hat. She rounded out the look with some over-sized sunglasses for good measure.

Cobra Team / BACKGRID

Unclear if Ben Affleck was on any portion of this trip with J.Lo, but the couple just celebrated her 54th birthday with a big party at their new home.

Reminder that these two have been going strong since reconnecting in 2021, and last year J.Lo told People "I've never been better. It's just that we're all in a very beautiful moment. I feel so lucky and happy and proud to be with him. It's a beautiful love story that we got a second chance."

She added that "Before we kind of put [our relationship] out there and we were naive and it got a little trampled. We both were like, 'Wow, we're so happy and we don't want any of that to come into play again.' We're older now, we're smarter, we have more experience, we're at different places in our lives, we have kids now, and we have to be very conscious of those things. We're so protective because it is such a beautiful time for all of us."

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Wildfires have destroyed historic sites, museums, homes, and other buildings in the town of Lahaina on the Hawaiian island of Maui. At the time of publication, local fire departments had reported 55 deaths.

The wildfires spread quickly on August 8, with more than 271 structures impacted in the area, according to flyovers by the US civil air patrol and the Maui fire department. Strong winds in the region from a distant hurricane, dry air underlying drought conditions, as well as deforestation and the introduction of non-native, fire-prone grasses were cited by a Weather Channel meteorologist and a study for an increase in the regions susceptibility to fire.

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The wildfires on Maui have ripped through the town of Lahaina with devastating consequences and we are immensely saddened by the loss of life, homes, and historical and cultural sites, Jonathan Yukio Clark, director of the Schaefer International Gallery at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center, told the Art Newspaper on August 10. A number of cultural sites located in the town of Lahaina were destroyed in the fire, but it will take time to know the full impact and specifics.

The Lahaina Restoration Foundation, which is responsible for 14 major historic structures in the historic town, has lost several of its sites to the fire.

These include the two-story Wo Hing Temple Museum, built in 1912 as a religious and social hall for the islands Chinese immigrants, and a 150-year-old banyan tree.

An aerial photo taken on August 10 by the AFP showed that only the exterior envelope remained of the Old Lahaina Courthouse, which also housed the Lahaina Heritage Museum. The museum provided visitors with a comprehensive look at the history of the town, including its indigenous roots before colonization and its evolution through missionary efforts, as well as the effect of the whaling industry, plantations, and tourism.

The Baldwin House, which dates back to 1834 and is widely believed to be the oldest home still standing on Maui, also burned down.

According to ABC News, other historic sites affected by the fires include the Waiola Church and Lahaina Hongwanji Mission, where several monarchs are buried, and the 122-year-old Pioneer Inn.

Many homes, businesses, and historic places have been damaged and destroyed, Lahaina Restoration Foundation executive director Theo Morrison told the Art Newspaper in a statement. We need to come together now to make sure our town recovers from this. The foundation has launched a campaign to raise funds for Lahainas recovery effort.

Lahainas Front Street, where the Wo Hing Temple Museum once stood, was a major tourist attraction before it was also destroyed in the wildfire. The Na Aikane o Maui Cultural Center, which hosted events for artists and allowed visitors to see Polynesian artifacts and local historical documents, was also located on Front Street.

This has been a terrible event for Maui and we are all grieving the loss of life and the destruction of the beautiful historic town of Lahaina, Maika Pollack, the director and chief curator at the University of Hawaiis John Young Museum of Art, told the Art Newspaper. Its a town of great importance to the cultural history of Hawaii.

On August 10, President Joe Biden declared the situation a major disaster, opening up the availability of federal aid to residents in Maui County. The governors office has issued a state of emergency until August 31 and discouraged nonessential air travel to Maui.

This proclamation is to discourage travel to the affected areas so we can prioritize our scarce resources for Maui residents who desperately need assistance, Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke said in a press statement.

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Ive never lived in a home that wasnt crawling with animals. Growing up on a horse farm outside St. Louis, I lived in a house perpetually filled with a variety of petsdogs, cats, ferrets, guinea pigs, lizards, hamsters, birds. Say what you will about my moms and dads parenting choices, but I clearly come by my love of animals honestly. It made sense, then, that I already had a beloved cat by the time I moved to New York 10 years ago: a cheeky, people-loving sphynx named Wilson. How could I not? I was woefully unprepared, however, for his unexpected passing a few months ago while I was out of town for work, and the grief that consumed me after I returned home to an empty apartment.

Wilson came into my life three weeks after I graduated college when my mom and I road-tripped down to Atlanta to visit a breeder she had found through her work at a vet clinic. For 13 hours, I eagerly awaited meeting my little man for the first time, and sure enough, he promptly fell asleep on my chest during the drive home, his tiny naked head and oversized ears melting my heart with every mile. I was smitten, and we quickly became inseparable, flying from Missouri to our new home in New York a year later.

Anyone who has a petespecially when its one of your first pets as an adult, separate from your childhood furry friendsunderstands how special this bond can be. Wilson saw me through some of the most formative years of my life, including new jobs and job losses, breakups and new loves, and half a dozen apartments in between. I was never alone, and certainly never lonely, with him prancing across the floor and snuggling into bed with me, his hairless, squishy body curling into mine. You get used to that unconditional love, something we all need and so rarely encounter elsewhere. That is until an unexpected phone call turned my entire pet parent life upside down.

From 3,500 miles away, while abroad on a work trip, I made the compassionate choice every pet owner dreads and had to say goodbye to my sweet boy and best friend over FaceTime. Upon my return home, I faced his absence everywhere I looked. The lack of morning meows and scattering of loose cat toys sent me reeling with grief. I missed seeing him every morning and whispering goodnight to him every evening, and with each kind condolence message that came my way, or shared story about someones own pet loss, I wondered how I could possibly process my sadness.

Like a true millennial, my period of mourning felt like an appropriate time to get a tattoo.

Im no stranger to body arton my last count I have 17 tattoos on my arms, leg, back, and ribs, plus three cover-upsbut I had mixed feelings about pet tattoos in general. Wouldnt I feel bad about not commemorating each and every one of my past pets if I did so with Wilson? But as I looked around at my friends and fellow tattoo fans, I realized how increasingly common pet tattoos have become over the last few years.

By keeping my cat on my body forever, perhaps the grief weighing down my chest could evolve into something equally meaningful and beautiful.

Theres always a bump in specific requests when I share new pet portrait work, says Justin Wayne, a tattoo artist at Atelier Eva in Brooklyns Williamsburg neighborhood who specializes in fine-line black and gray work. Clients tend to gravitate towards delicate, fine-line representations of their pet portraits. I love to tattoo them.

As luck would have it, I had also recently spotted Esquire and Mens Health grooming editor Garrett Munces trio of dog tattoos and was floored by how stunningly realistic they looked (he visited Wayne for two of the designs).

In the case of my first dog tattoo, I waited until after she died, Munce says via email. That was more of a memorial to her. In the case of the two newer ones, I just am so completely obsessed with my pugs Elvira and Morticia that I didnt want to wait until they died. I already think about them every second of every day, so I thought, Why not?

Although memorial tattoos have traditionally honored a loved one after theyve passed, pet owners are increasingly exploring portraits while their best buds are still alive. She is my soul dog in a way that I never expected. I always knew Id get a tattoo of her, says attorney Shannon Ferrie, who visited artist Hannah Kang at Vestige Tattoo in Williamsburg for a photorealistic tattoo of her boxer mix, Gracie. I feel really absurd walking my dog with my tattoo of her showing, but Im obsessed with her so everyone might as well know it.

My outlook on new tattoos usually prioritizes the artistsometimes you just want a cool flower design rather than something meaningfulbut after seeing how stunning a fine-line photo-realistic pet portrait could be, it felt like a fitting tribute to my cat, who absolutely demanded my attention as soon as I walked through the front door. By keeping him on my body forever, perhaps the grief weighing down my chest could evolve into something equally meaningful and beautiful.

Tattoos were a huge part of my healing process, says Bustle senior fashion editor Kelsey Stiegman, who lost her chihuahua and miniature dachshund mix, Ellie, last year. I got Ellies portrait done by Evantattoo to represent the permanence of my love for her and my grief. She was my world and I missed being able to look down and see her whenever I wanted.

After checking out a few different artists on Instagram, I decided that Wayne was the ideal fit to render Wilson on my arm forever (like Stiegman and Munce, I also wanted the tattoo in a location that was easy to see everyday). Truly the most difficult part of the process was picking a photo that perfectly captured his essence. Clients tend to look for emphasis on their pets unique fur pattern, the sparkle in their eyes, and ways to bring out their personality through framing or subtle characteristics, says Wayne. Once I compiled a few reference photos, I sent them over so he could complete the design, and a week later, it was time to memorialize Wilson in ink.

Choosing someone who understands your vision and the tattoos significance is important. Recruiter and beekeeper Giorgia Elizabeth Rossini is grateful she picked an artist who was emotionally supportive throughout the process. When I went to my tattoo artist Bee Amour in Amsterdam, we talked about my dog Mollywho passed away when she was 16and we even had a little cry together when I saw the first sketches, says Rossini. I felt so understood and I knew Id picked the right person to tattoo her.

Anastasia Sanger, a video producer at Conde Nast Glamours parent company, got a cattoo of her cat Cooper and wanted something to reflect her personal vibe and aesthetic. She found Sarah Jurgielewicz, an artist in Brooklyns Ridgewood neighborhood, on Instagram. I loved her style immediately and could tell shes a cat person, Sanger says. She loved my promptI specifically asked for my cat drawn as a sickly Victorian princeso I knew for sure it was a great fit.

Even the increasingly popular stick-and-poke tattoo style is fair game when it comes to getting your pet tattooed. Vintage store owner Hailey Clemens commemorated her own sphynx, Frank, in 2020 and chose the method for its imperfection. I loved the rawness and edginess of Hannah Claire Grants tattoo style, she says. I wanted the tattoo to look realistic and not cartoonish, but I still wanted there to be some rough edges to it. She was the perfect fit.

With so many style offerings and increasing acceptance towards tattoos in the workplace, younger generations are more than willing to commemorate their beloved animals in ink forever. I think the growing trend in pet portraits has a lot to do with style trends, says Munce, who has dozens of tattoos. Fine-line work, photo-realistic tattoos, and natural themes are all trends that lend themselves perfectly to pet portraits. You could also make the case that since childless millennials love treating their pets as their children, pet portraits merge two things millennials lovetattoos and their petsso it makes sense.

Stiegman agrees, adding that younger people are more open to embracing the way that they feel. Younger generations have done a great job at normalizing emotion, even though in the past, vocalizing those feelingslike love, depression, heartbreakwould be considered a weakness, she says. Theyre not embarrassed to represent those feelings in a tattoo.

The process of getting tattooed is obviously marked with physical pain, but my session with Wayne felt significant in more ways than I expected. Over the hour and a half it took to complete the design, I watched as Wilsons face came to life on my tricep, miraculously rendered in minimalist black and gray lines. By the time we finished, I could feel a few tears bubbling up behind my eyes.

Even now, I look down at my arm first thing in the morning to say hello to my sweet boy, grief and love coalescing as the weeks tick by without him. His portrait is a deeply meaningful addition to my tattoo collection, and a fitting reminder that my life with him was immeasurably precious.

If youre waiting for a sign to commemorate your furry best friend, take it from this forever cat mom and book that appointment ASAP. Trust me, youll be grateful to, once again, always have them by your side.

Hannah Baxter is a writer, creator, and consultant based in New York City. Follow her on Instagram @hannahbaxward.

Originally Appeared on Glamour


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In 1956, physicist David Pines theorized the existence of a massless, neutral plasmon called a demon that could help explain the superconductivity of some exotic materials.

Now, scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champlain have found evidence of this theorized demon in the metal strontium ruthenate.

Because this demon likely exists at room temperatures, this discovery could help scientists better understand high-temperature superconductors.

Condensed matter physicists from the University of Illinois have successfully summoned a demon, but probably not the one youre picturingthink less fire and brimstone and more quantum mechanics trickery. The demon, in this case, actually stands for distinct electron motion with the physics favorite suffix -on added for good measure.

Theorized by physicist David Pines in 1956, this demon (also known as Pines Demon) is a plasmona discrete wave rippling through plasma electronsthat is massless and has a neutral charge. As youd probably imagine, something thats both massless and neutral isnt exactly easy to detect.

But a new paper published by scientists at the University of Illinois showcases how they stumbled upon this demon plasmon by accident. At first, the team was only analyzing the metal strontium ruthenate to figure out why it contained similar properties to high-temperature superconductors (around -130 degrees Celsius) without actually being one. Then, they spotted a quasiparticle that was too slow to be a surface plasmon but too fast to be an acoustic phonon.

At first, we had no idea what it was. Demons are not in the mainstream. The possibility came up early on, and we basically laughed it off, co-author Ali Husain said in a press statement. But, as we started ruling things out, we started to suspect that we had really found the demon.

To find the demon, the team fired electrons off a crystal of the metal strontium ruthenate and measured energy gain with an incredibly high precision. Using this energy data, scientists could then track the demons momentum within the material until finally discovering that the quasiparticle closely matched Pines 67-year-old predictions of a massless electronic mode, or demon. The results were published this week in the journal Nature .

It speaks to the importance of just measuring stuff, Peter Abbamonte, physics professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champlain and co-author, said in a press statement. Most big discoveries are not planned. You go look somewhere new and see whats there.

The discovery of a demon is particularly important for understanding superconductors. Because this quasiparticle is massless, it can form with any energy and potentially at any temperature.

The standard theory of superconductors, known as the BCS theory, attributes superconductivity to an interaction between electrons and phonons, the natural vibrations given off by an atomic crystal lattice. However, the BCS Theory cant always explain the zero energy resistance of high-temperature superconductors, which suggests some materials achieve superconductivity through other means. One of these means could be this newly discovered demon quasiparticle, as theyve been theorized to play a role in a semimetals transition into superconductivity.

The first step in any breakthrough is to first face your demonshopefully, the same can be said for superconductors as well.

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A woman revealed the heartless response she received from her manager after admitting that she was going through a bit of a rough time.

In a screenshot of text conversations between her and her manager, Lailette shared that she had been letting her boss know that she wouldn't be able to come into her shift because she was going to be putting her dog down soon. Instead of offering sympathy, Lailette's manager was insensitive about the entire ordeal.

Her manager asked if she would be able to put her dog down on a different day so that it wouldn't interfere with her shift.

In the conversation posted to Lailette's Twitter, she had tried to tell her Starbucks supervisor that she may need a cover for her shift because her dog was being put down and she would be too distraught to come into work the following day.

"I'm sorry to do this but I'm trying to find coverage for my Sunday shift. I have to put my dog down on Saturday night and I will be an absolute mess. She's my best friend," Lailette texted her boss, adding that she wanted to let them know ahead of time about her situation.

RELATED: Manager Forces Employees To Take 2-Hour Unpaid Breaks & Then Clock Back In Because He Doesn't Want To Pay Overtime

starbucks supervisor tells employee to reschedule putting her dog down so she doesn't miss her shift

Photo: @lai_lette / Twitter

Instead of being understanding about Lailette having to through such an emotional experience and even offering her condolences, her manager was only worried about Lailette missing her shift. Her boss informed her that she had "plenty of notice" so her time off would not be approved.

On top of that, she asked Lailette: "Is there a way you could do it on a night where you don't work the next day?" Lailette promptly responded that she understood how much of an inconvenience this is, but that it's her family dog who is extremely sick and she can't just switch the appointment to come into work.

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starbucks supervisor tells employee to reschedule putting her dog down so she doesn't miss her shift

Photo: lai_lette / Twitter

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Due to her manager's response, Lailette decided she had no desire to work at Starbucks anymore, promptly letting her manager know she was also quitting. "This is also me putting in my two weeks officially. I've worked for this company for 2.5 years and I appreciate what it's done for me but I'm ready to move on."

The manager's lack of concern and empathy proves that employees have no problem quitting if a work environment is toxic.

An unsympathetic and toxic boss can have a significant negative impact on an employee's motivation, job satisfaction, and overall well-being. In a recent survey of 957 people who were openly looking for jobs, when asked why they had left their previous positions, 76% of them blamed a "toxic" boss for being the reason.

A work environment with little empathy and support for employees during challenging times is also likely to lead to high turnover rates, and people quitting when they don't feel respected or heard, as Lailette did.

Employees want to feel valued and cared for, and when they don't receive that support, they may seek opportunities elsewhere.

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In the comments section, many people shared the same frustrations with Lailette's unsympathetic manager and praised her for leaving such a toxic work environment.

"Go to bat for your employees and they will return the favor tenfold. People will appreciate the kindness you show them in their hour of need, but they will never forget (rightfully so) when you fail to show mercy," one Twitter user wrote.

Another user added, "What an absolute disgrace, I am so sorry you had to go through that."

This real-life example emphasizes the importance of fostering a culture of compassion and understanding within organizations and companies. To build thriving workplaces, managers need to prioritize empathy, support, and understanding when dealing with their employees' personal challenges.

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Nia Tipton is a Chicago-based entertainment, news, and lifestyle writer whose work delves into modern-day issues and experiences.

This article originally appeared on YourTango
It took years for Nazmul Haque Helal to amass the assortment of bottles at Lincoln Fine Wines in Los Angeles. But it took just a few hours for thieves to make off with hundreds of the stores prized labels.

Earlier this summer, someone broke into the Venice wine shop and stole 800 bottles, worth about $600,000 in total. Now more details of the heist have come to light, as police and investigators search for the people who robbed the business, the Los Angeles Times reported recently.

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The blood, sweat and tears that went into these bottles. . .to see them taken, for us at the store, it was a violation, Nick Martinelle, the manager of Lincoln Fine Wines, told the newspaper. Inside that bottle is a work of art, a unique thing that will never be replicated because wine is a living, breathing thing.

In the early-morning hours of June 30, an unidentified person entered the stores cellar by cutting a hole through the roof. Over the course of three and a half hours, the thief grabbed an enormous amount of wine, passing it off to someone else on the rooftop, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Detectives believe that another two people could have been involved: someone receiving the wine on the ground and a getaway driver.

The wines stolen included about 75 bottles worth more than $1,000 each and about 400 bottles from Bordeaux and Burgundy. Helal and the LAPD believe that the thieves knew what inventory they wanted to take, and Helal thinks they were aided in their quest by a true oenophile. For example, the thief passed over expensive California wines in favor of those from France, and instead of grabbing pricey bottles of Krug Champagne, he went for an $800 bottle of Guillaume S. Selosse Champagne, which not that many people knowonly wine people would, Helal said.

Particularly notable is that the suspects ran off with a Nebuchadnezzar of Billecart-Salmon Brut Reserve Champagne, an extremely rare, 15-liter format. A spokesperson for the label told the L.A. Times that only eight to 10 of those bottles are sent to California each year. If that bottle were to show up for resale, it would be suspicious, so industry insiders believe the thieves may opt to simply pop it themselves.

Otherwise, its likely that the stolen bottles will be sold overseas or doled out slowly to retail stores and auction houses. Stolen wine can be difficult to track, given that many bottles dont include serial numbers or other means of identification. Still, the LAPD is working to identify the suspects, and Helal is offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest.

While the wine thieves may one day be found, the wine itself may be uncorked before anyones able to retrieve it.

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Two men were taken to hospital after being stabbed in a homophobic attack outside a nightclub in south-west London on Sunday night.

A manhunt has now been launched and detectives have urged witnesses to come forward if they saw the incident, which happened in front of the Two Brewers on Clapham High Street at around 10.15pm.

The victims, in their 20s and 30s, were taken to hospital and have been discharged.

The Metropolitan Police said the two men were approached by a man with a knife who stabbed them before fleeing on foot. Inquiries to find the suspect are ongoing and the attack is being treated as a hate crime.

Scotland Yard said it was searching for the suspect, and that the incident was being treated as homophobic.

Det Insp Gary Castle said: We are acutely aware of the shock this attack will cause members of the LGBT+ community, and want to reassure people that an urgent investigation is ongoing to locate the person responsible.

We recently announced the reinstatement of LGBT+ community liaison officers for each of our 12 basic command units in London to support and advise on investigations where homophobia is a motive, and to ensure the community has a dedicated point of contact to address any concerns they may have.

Mary Mac, a drag performer who was at the Two Brewers on Sunday, wrote on Twitter:

Its shocking and disgusting that in 2023 this is becoming frighteningly more frequent. The team at The Two Brewers were incredible in dealing with this and keeping us inside the venue safe, glad the victims have been discharged and hope they are with loved ones now to help. https://t.co/5l3AjpkB4U  Mary Mac (@marymacofficial) August 14, 2023

A spokesman for Two Brewers said security has been boosted in the aftermath of the stabbing, adding: We are fully supporting the police in their investigation regarding this unprovoked attack, and our thoughts are with the victims and their families.

We would like to reassure the LGBTQIA+ community that the safety and security of our guests remains our number one priority. Our CCTV has been handed over to the police and enhanced security measures have now been put in place.

Sadiq Khan, the London Mayor, called the stabbings abhorrent and said: Its a huge relief the victims are out of hospital  my thoughts remain with them and their loved ones. If you have any information, please do not stay silent.

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The times they are a changin,' even in the Mentawais.

On my first trip there at 17 in 1999, we were the only foreigners on the overnight ferry from Padang to our home for 10 days, a small Indonesian fishing boat. It was the same routine for three more trips. On one, a friend stayed to start Kandui Resort.

During my last trip in 2009, while six months pregnant, travel had gotten a little easier. From Padang, we took a Cessna to Sipura Rokot Airport (SRA), then a small motor boat to Kandui through weather and a swell reminiscent of The Perfect Storm (their speedboat was down). Now, access to the Mentawais will be borderline luxe.

In the video above, The Washington Post's Michael Robinson Chavez reports that a new airport is under construction in the Mentawais. In the article, he wrote:

"For tourists, the Mentawais  or Ments  have been reachable only by boat, but that will soon change. An airport expansion on Sipura is expected to be completed this year, and a 1,500-meter runway will allow passenger jets to land. The growing tourism economy stands to benefit, but with it comes more foreign investment. Locals will compete for business with interests from mainland Indonesia and Singapore.

According to CAPA Centre for Aviation, a $38.4 million renovation is revamping SRA into the New Mentawai Airport which can accommodate an annual capacity of 53,881.

Whoa.

CAPA's website says:

"The airport will replace Sipora Rokot Airport. It will aim to boost inter-regional connectivity around the Mentawai Islands and is expected to enhance the tourism sector in the islands."

Sounds like it'll also enhance the number of people in the lineup.

SRA's current runway and passenger terminal are being expanded, and a cargo terminal and other supporting facilities are being constructed.

While SRA accommodated Grand Caravan aircrafts, aka Cessnas with 10 to 14 seats, it will now facilitate commercial ATR 72 aircrafts with 44 to 78 seats.

The gentrification of the Mentawais has hit a new level.

***

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Over the past week, Maui has been reeling from wildfires that spread across the island. As of writing, the death toll has reached 96 and is expected to rise as search teams work through the rubblemaking the Maui fires the deadliest to occur in the United States in the past century, according to CNN. As of Monday afternoon, containment sat at 80 percent, ABC7 reported, and the fires have already led to billions of dollars in damage, Hawaii Governor Josh Green estimated. In addition, the destruction of homes will make the states housing shortage even worse.

Given that Maui is a tourist hot spot, locals and officials are encouraging travelers on the island to return home, so that housing and resources can be freed up for residents affected by the fires. Those who have planned travel to Hawaii are also being asked to postpone their trips, and the Hawaii Tourism Authority has recommended that for travel to West Maui in particular.

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If youre wondering how else to help those impacted by the Maui fires, weve rounded up a number of reputable organizations accepting donations:

The Hawaii Community Foundations Maui Strong Fund is supporting rapid-response efforts on the island and working with local nonprofits to meet community needs.

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The American Red Cross is on the ground, working with partners to provide accommodations, food, and emotional support. About 250 trained Red Cross disaster workers are staffing seven emergency shelters on Maui and Oahu, providing more than 3,600 overnight stays as of Monday afternoon. Evacuees can also stop by to receive a hot meal, charge their phone, and get other support.

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Maui United Way is taking donations for direct relief to families and nonprofits. The organization was founded in 1945 and typically focuses its efforts on education, income, and health.

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Aloha United Way has established a Maui Fire Relief Fund with 100 percent of proceeds going to Maui United Way. We want the people of Maui to know that they are not alone in the recovery journey ahead, John Fink, the organizations president and CEO, said in a statement. Aloha United Way is actively coordinating efforts with Maui United Way to provide immediate relief to those affected by the fires, and we encourage those who can offer support to join us by making a donation.

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The Maui Food Bank is collecting and providing meals to those on the island. The organization says that every $1 donated can support four meals for those who are hungry.

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The Salvation Armys Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division is working to feed evacuees at Maui County, American Red Cross, and other shelters. As of Saturday, the group was feeding and coordinating 7,200 meals a day. During emergencies, the best way the public can help is to provide monetary donations which allows the delivery of the exact relief supplies a community needs, Victor Leonardi, the divisional director of emergency services and safety for the region, said in a statement.

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The Maui Humane Society has set up a Fire Relief Fund to help injured and displaced animals, and is trying to reunite owners and their pets.

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The Public Schools of Hawaii Foundation is working with the state Department of Education to help Hawaiis public-school communities. Through October 1, all money received will go to Maui public schools affected by the fires.

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The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement is matching every dollar up to $1.5 million for victims of the Maui fires.

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As Del Valle Middle School students returned to school for the first day of class Wednesday, they chatted with friends or pored over their schedules.

For eighth grader Taraji Gratten-Crowder, 13, the beginning of the school year is exciting.

Im feeling nervous but happy at the same time, she said. Im glad to be back with my friends.

Shell be taking all honors classes this year, she said, beaming. Shes getting better at math, but shes most looking forward to reading and writing this year, she said.

For all students, the middle school is new, one of the projects from the 2019 bond referendum. The school is one way the district is working to address growth. Administrators expect enrollment to balloon from about 11,000 students in 2020 to roughly 17,000 by 2031, according to district data.

Sixth graders Alexia Argueta, left, and Estrella Cabrera share a happy moment as they arrive for the first day of classes at Del Valle Middle School on Wednesday.

While school districts around Austin are racing to keep pace with the students pouring through their doors, the Austin district's enrollment continues to decline as affordability and competition with other public schools drives students away.

Many districts saw their growth trajectories disrupted during the pandemic, Round Rock district Superintendent Hafedh Azaiez said.

Now the numbers are starting to inch back up, but Round Rock is seeing steady increases in students, rather than exponential growth, he said.

The district, with about 47,000 students, has grown only slightly in the past decade, compared with 30% growth between 2003 and 2013, according to Texas Education Agency data.

I think they're being very cautious and cautiously optimistic, Azaiez said. For us in Round Rock, for the past two years, our property values went up by a lot. It's becoming harder and harder for a young couple with kids to move into the area.

More: How Austin suburbs went from one-school towns to booming districts

Austin district officials understand that all too well. Between 2011 and 2022, Austins enrollment went down almost 14%, from 86,528 to 74,602 students, according to TEA data.

Most of the losses have happened in the citys eastern swath and among Hispanic and Black children, said Katie Casstevens, executive director of student enrollment and attendance.

Housing prices have tripled, Casstevens said. The dynamics of the city are changing rapidly.

Maria Montabo kisses her daughter Angelina, a sixth grader, at Del Valle Middle School on Wednesday.

Once families have more than one child, many are interested in finding a home with more space thats within their budget, which often means moving outside the Austin districts boundaries, she said.

While the number of students in the Austin district is dropping, the numbers of children in Austin and Travis County are continuing to climb, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the city of Austin.

The numbers of Black children and the youngest Hispanic children in Austin have declined, but the number of school-age Hispanic children has increased, said Lila Valencia, the city of Austin's demographer.

We are seeing growth in the child population overall, and we're particularly seeing it among families who can be resilient, who have the economic resilience to withstand economic downturns, things that are more volatile like housing prices, Valencia said.

Thats not true of all families, of course, she said, and high costs of living are driving out many of them.

It's affecting really young families, families of young children, because they're the ones maybe moving out, Valencia said.

Students get their first look at Del Valle Middle School, one of the projects from the 2019 bond referendum.

A lot of the growth happening in Austin suburbs right now could be attributed to the families that moved to the area 20 years ago, she said. Now those children are grown up, staying in the area and having their own children, she said.

The Austin district is working to encourage more families to keep their students in the district by engaging more directly with families, training school staffers to be better resources and updating the online enrollment system, which can be confusing, Casstevens said.

About 81.4% of the students who attend public schools and live within the districts boundaries actually go to Austin district schools, a rate thats remained stable for about four years, Casstevens said.

Those students could also attend a public charter school or transfer into a neighboring traditional school district.

Overall, there are fewer public school children within the Austin district boundaries than there were 10 years ago  87,351 this year compared with 92,645 in 2012, according to district data.

The Round Rock district is trying to attract students by highlighting its school programs, Azaiez said.

The district is beginning work on a long-range master plan to map out proposals to accommodate continued growth, he said.

Districts final enrollment for the 2023-24 school year wont be finalize until fall, which is typical.

Students check out their class schedules as they arrive Wednesday at Del Valle Middle School.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Amid suburban growth, Austin declines among Central Texas districts
During Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, 18-year-old Oleg Strelets said he experienced psychological distress and struggled with sleep. I was stressed out because I thought the war might come here, he said. Strelets, who was underage at the time, lived with his family on the outskirts of Kyiv when Russian troops were threatening the capital. In March 2022, he left the country for the first time and went to Poland. He returned home when the situation stabilized and the Russians withdrew from his city. Less than a year later, Strelets, a student and musical composer, left for Krakow (Poland) and never came back. Hes over 18 now and legally eligible for military service. Many other 18-year-old Ukrainians are also trying to avoid conscription and have left to build new lives away from the war.

Under Ukraines martial law, men aged 18-60 who are deemed fit for combat are restricted from leaving the country. However, there are some exemptions: having three or more children, holding a military disability certificate, having dependents to care for, or being a higher education student living abroad. Strelets, a curly-haired young man with a pointy goatee, has none of these exemptions and readily admits he was unprepared for war, unlike some of his friends who are willing to go fight on the front lines. I was really afraid, you know? he tells us in a video call from Krakow. It was sad coming to Poland, but I just wasnt ready to stay.

However, it was ultimately his parents, who are from the Donbas (eastern Ukraine) region, who made the decision. During the initial weeks of the invasion, Strelets parents prohibited him from going outside. He had loud and heated arguments with his mother until she firmly told him to go to Poland. Strelets now lives with a woman and her two children. He gets help from his parents and the Polish government because of his refugee status, although progress on the latter is slow. If the war ends or if I dont feel right in Poland, Ill just head back home, he said. But he also repeated that he wouldnt pick up a rifle.

A year and a half after the invasion, the Ukrainian trenches are populated by professional soldiers and volunteers. Martial law allows for the draft, but recruitment drives have been successful enough to obviate the need for mandatory conscription. The intensity of the Russian offensive, especially in provinces like Kharkov, along with the demands of the Ukrainian counteroffensive in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, suggest that Kyiv will need additional recruits in the near future. However, this could be challenging considering Russias population advantage of 100 million over Ukraine. Official statistics indicate that over 200,000 Ukrainian boys will turn 18 this year.

Bogdan, a 16-year-old boy from Krivoy Rog, Ukraine.

Radion will reach legal age next year. The tall young man has a plan  he wants to study in Ukraine. But before I turn 18, Ill see what the situation is, and if [the war] keeps going like this, I might head to Europe, maybe even Berlin. Radion chooses not to disclose his last name as a precaution because he is strongly critical of how the war is being conducted. Ive heard lots of stories, and I know Ill die if Im sent to the front lines.

Radion might not be aware, but on August 7, the Ukrainian Parliament began discussing a law that could potentially bar young people aged 16-18 from crossing the nations borders without an authorized adult. The purpose of this law is to protect them from possible exploitation. If Radion chooses to stay, his plan is to attend the prestigious Kyiv National University-Mohyla Academy and study ecology. Although not initially passionate about the subject, his perspective has gradually changed over time. The youngest in his family, Radion comes from Krivoy Rog, the city in central Ukraine where President Zelenskiy was born. At first, I believed what the government was saying, that we were beating the Russians, you know? But now, I think theyre just killing each other. I mean, Im not saying that everything is propaganda, but maybe, like, 80% of what they say... He says his friends share his way of thinking.

Corruption

Radion has another way of fighting the Russian invaders. He openly admits to engaging in a profitable scam using social media to trick Russian soldiers into cryptocurrency investments. He and other young people havent lost respect for those serving on the frontlines because of their profession or sense of duty. Nonetheless, there is no shortage of people looking to avoid enlistment, even if it means paying for it. In response, the Ukrainian president has recently ordered the immediate removal of all regional recruitment chiefs, in light of 112 cases of potential corruption where recruits offer bribes to military officials who declare them unfit for service so they can leave the country.

Bogdan is almost 17 and just completed high school. He has already applied to a police academy, following in his mothers footsteps. I want to understand the law and know how to apply it in different scenarios, he said in a phone conversation from Krivoy Rog. At one point, he considered volunteering for military service, but now he prefers to serve by joining the police force, even if it means being stationed on the border with Russia. Becoming a police officer would exempt him from being called up for military service.

A serious young man who seems more mature than his age, he also feels what many young people are saying  things are not going well in the war. I dont want to go because there are so many people who have gone and died, he said. Only one of his friends is interested in joining, but is unable to due to a health condition. A lot of people want to leave [the country] before theyre 18, or they want to keep studying, he said.

Dmitro (19) at his home in Petropavlivska, on the western outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine.

Heading southwest from the center of Kyiv, city streets quickly give way to green countryside. On the porch of a charming country house in the Petropavlivska municipality, we find Dmitro Ivanov, a 19-year-old musical prodigy who has mastered the piano and several other instruments. As he talks, his fingers gracefully dance along the keys. The mere thought of joining the army seems utterly alien to him, evoking a hearty chuckle. Im not afraid of being recruited, he said, because I trust that they wont do it because of my musician status. But that is not a qualified exemption under Ukraines martial law.

Dmitro was born in Sumy, in the northeast, close to the Russian border, but grew up in various cities like Mykolaiv and Lviv. He shares a story about a time when he unintentionally violated the curfew and found himself at the police station. He heard police talking to other young men about joining the military. But they didnt even ask me because I look like Im 15, he recalls amused. Then his face turns serious. We are free human beings, and they cant force us to go to war, he said, and if I want to make music, then let me make music. Dmitro does not believe in this war. It is just business, he says in English. Its all about business, but Dmitro doesnt mind other people going to war. But when the government tries to manipulate your mind and make you pick up a weapon, that really makes me angry.

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Area teachers, parents and students participated in the Our Schools Deserve Funds Now protest in downtown Asheville in 2020. Local educators are now protesting a N.C. bill to expand private school vouchers, which they say will take money away from public schools.

ASHEVILLE - As the private school voucher program has sparked controversy across North Carolina, private school attendance is up 10% compared to last year. Opposition to expand vouchers in the Opportunity Scholarship Program has grown since it was introduced this year, but will this be enough for the bill aiming to expand the program to be removed from the Senate's state budget proposal?

The Office of State Budget and Management technical analysis showed that the proposed voucher expansion would take around $200 million out of the public school system. This would result in sending more than a quarter of a billion dollars to private schools.

There are 37 private schools in Buncombe County with 4,173 students attending them, according to a 2022-23 report from the North Carolina Department of Administration for Non-Public Education.

There are 22,079 students who attend BCS, and 4,101 who attend Asheville City Schools.

In Buncombe County there were 699 recipients of the Opportunity Scholarship Program in 2022-23, according to the North Carolina State Education Assistant Authority  putting it in the top 10 counties of most recipients in the state. As of May there have been 490 new applicants in the county.

There are now 126,768 students attending private schools in North Carolina, according to a statewide report. The number of private schools in the state has almost doubled since the 1991-92 school year.

This number could keep growing if the voucher program becomes law in September, when the state budget is expected to pass.

Backers of the bill put the allocation of the money for the voucher program in the 2024 fiscal year budget as well as the policy change.

Where does the money go?

HB823 and SB406 both known as "Choose Your School, Choose Your Future" bills, would make all N.C. K-12 students eligible for opportunity scholarships, with grant amounts based on household income, beginning in 2024-2025.

According to the NCSEAA website an "Opportunity Scholarship is an income-based program for students who have previously attended public school and plan to attend a direct payment school for the 2023-24 school year."

Out of the 37 private schools in Buncombe County there are 23 listed as a direct payment school on the NCSEEA website.

One of the major changes to the Opportunity Scholarship Program is students are no longer required to have previously attended a public school to qualify for a voucher.

"That means if you're a rich kid who has been in private school forever, you can now get a voucher," Kristopher Nordstrom, a senior policy analyst with the Education and Law Project at the North Carolina Justice Center told the Citizen Times Aug. 11.

The Asheville School campus seen in April 2021 in West Asheville. Private school attendance across the state has increased by 10% over the last year.

If the eligibility requirements were kept the same, there wouldn't be enough demand, according to Nordstrom.

Since 2015, 449 vouchers have been awarded to schools that failed to report their enrollment to the Department Non-Public Education in N.C., a report from Nordstrom said.

"We're looking at over 90% of the voucher money going to private religious schools, and a third of those teaching our children things that are in opposition to what we as a community have decided is important for our children to know to be active and engaged members of our society as they grow up," Lissa Pederson, vice president of the Buncombe County Association of Educators told the Citizen Times Aug. 11.

Out of the 126,768 students who attended private schools in the 2022-23 school year, about 68% of them attended religious schools, according to the report from the NCDOA.

The report states there are 319 independent schools, but the majority are religious schools, with 565 across the state.

Pederson is citing a study done from the Duke University law school between 2014-2020 that reveals the negative impacts vouchers can have on public schools  especially in regard to the lack of oversight on learning outcomes.

"The public has no information on whether the students with vouchers have made academic progress or have fallen behind," the study said.

A report released early this year showed an achievement gap where Black Buncombe County and Asheville City school students are significantly less likely to hit performance metrics and are more likely to be disciplined at school than their white peers.

A 'giveaway'

Shanna Peele, president of Buncombe County Association of Educators, is a mother of three children in the Asheville City Schools district and says that this bill is not about supporting working-class families.

"It's really about giving more money to people who already have the means to send their children to private schools," Peele told the Citizen Times.

"For me as a parent, it's going to create a more segregated school system. My children will have less opportunities in the public schools because of the money it's going to suck out of public schools."

As county and city schools struggle for funding, Chair of the Board of Education at Asheville City Schools, George Sieburg told the Citizen Times Aug. 11 that the ACS Board does not approve of this bill.

"We're putting taxpayer dollars into programs and schools that we don't have a lot of say on how they operate," Sieburg told the Citizen Times Aug. 11 in response to private school vouchers.

"It takes away much needed funds from public education. It puts it in the hands of schools that don't have the same kind of accountability that public schools do, and that creates a real equity issue," Sieburg said.

"We're putting taxpayer dollars into programs and schools that we don't have a lot of say on how they operate."

Democratic state Sen. Julie Mayfield, who represents Asheville, told the Citizen Times that the philosophy behind the bill is that state money should follow a child.

Mayfield explained that the GOP's reasoning is, "If the child goes to public school, the state allocation of funding for that child goes to the public school. But if the child goes to private school, that child is still entitled to state funding for their education."

Why would taxpayers have to pay for wealthy families to send their children to private school when they can already afford it, she asked.

Democratic Sen. Julie Mayfield told the Citizen Times that the philosophy behind the bill, is that state money should follow the child.

"This is an absolute giveaway. You could be a millionaire in our state, and you already send your kid to private school, then all you're doing is getting a tax break," Pederson said.

"You're getting money directly funded by our taxpayers, to give you something you're already doing."

The bigger conversation

At a June roundtable discussion in Asheville with Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, the voucher bill was the main topic of conversation, as many are concerned what this will do for public school funding.

The state House and the Senate are pushing private school vouchers "on steroids," Cooper said.

Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper led a roundtable discussion with local educational leaders at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College on June 30 to discuss how education bills will impact local school districts.

They have set aside billions of dollars to fund money into private schools  making it so that there's no income limit for people who could get these vouchers.

"With the Senate budget, a millionaire would be able to keep a child in a private school and get thousands of dollars from the state while a veteran teacher is going to get a $250 raise. That is the Senate's priority. The house is better, but it's not a whole lot better," he said.

Cooper told those at the roundtable that the legislature has received 36 resolutions from county boards across the state that are asking to protect public education  rural schools will be impacted the most.

County and city schools could lose over a combined amount of $5 million in fiscal year 2026-27, which puts them down 3% in state funding from fiscal year 2022-23, according to an impact analysis from the Office of State Budget and Management.

Public Schools First N.C. said in a fact sheet that vouchers were originally created in response to Brown v. Board of Education.

"White families who wanted to keep their children in segregated schools were granted vouchers to attend private schools," the fact sheet said.

2022-23 Opportunity Scholarship Applicant data

58% white.

25% Black.

14% Hispanic.

More: New Asheville City Schools superintendent talks achievement gap, putting students first

How does it work?

The North Carolina General Assembly created the Opportunity Scholarship Program in 2013. It was supposed to provide an opportunity for some North Carolina families to choose private education, and they could do that with a scholarship, commonly known as vouchers.

These vouchers first became available in the 2014-15 school year and have continued to be available since then. When it first started the General Assembly appropriated $10 million, according to a study done by the law school at Duke University. Ed Choice reported that the total funding increased to $84.8 million for 202122 and to $94.8 million for fiscal year 202223 and starting in 202324, funding will be appropriated at around $120 million and increase yearly by $15 million.

HB823 and SB406 state that students would be awarded the voucher on a sliding scale, where the lowest-income applicants would receive scholarships up to 100% and the highest wage earners could receive awards up to 45%.

Republican lawmakers in North Carolina pushed for this bill that will significantly expand the school voucher program, providing universal vouchers for private school tuition, including private religious schools. The bill would make all students eligible for the states Opportunity Scholarship Program, funded by taxpayers, which some critics say would move students out of public schools and take more funds away from public school districts.

More: NC private school voucher bill proceeds as Asheville public schools struggle for funds

More: Gov. Cooper says WNC schools will lose $8 million with GOP school voucher bill

McKenna Leavens is the education reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at mleavens@citizentimes.com or follow her on Twitter @LeavensMcKenna. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: NC private school voucher bill set to expand draws opposition
Oregonians love to complain about all the Californians moving into the state. But it turns out, a few other states may have more reason to gripe.

According to moving information tech company moveBuddha, 4.36% of California's moves so far this year have been to Oregon. But several other states are getting a higher portion of Californians:

Florida: 7.49%

Washington: 6.77%

New York: 6.77%

Arizona: 4.91%

So who else is moving to Oregon? According to moveBudha's analysis based on searches made by people planning a move or looking to hire a moving company, there's also high interest in Oregon from residents of Nevada, Denver and Austin.

U.S. Census data from 2016 to 2020 shows Marion, Lane and Polk counties' new residents are most often from other Oregon counties, California, Arizona and Hawaii.

And where are Oregonians moving? Hawaii, Arizona, Montana, California, Colorado and Idaho are popular.

Generally, data indicates people are looking for more affordable cities and areas with more open space  continuing to reflect changes seen during the pandemic and the continuation of remote work. The southeastern United States is popular, and there's been a spike in interest in Hawaii.

Oregon last year held steady, with about 100 moves into the state for every 100 moves out of it. In 2021, there were 106 moves into the state for every 100 moves out of it, and in 2000 there were 150 moves into the state for every 100 moves out of it.

California, Louisiana, Illinois and New York were among the states that lost more people than they gained. Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maine and Vermont were among the biggest gainers of people.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Are Californians all moving to Oregon? What the data shows
A homicide investigation is underway after a mother found a dead womans body in her sons room, California police said.

The woman thought she smelled gas coming from her sons bedroom in their Los Angeles home Sunday, Aug. 13, and checked inside, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson told McClatchy News.

She found what she believed was a dead body and called 911, according to police.

When officers arrived at the home, police said they found a body wrapped in plastic. The woman, believed to be in her 20s, was pronounced dead on scene.

Police said they are looking for the womans 26-year-old son, whom they have identified as a suspect.

Naked body found stuffed inside barrel floating around in California lagoon, cops say

Man charged after body found in shopping cart outside grocery store, CA officials say

Womans body found in container after family gets odd texts, New York police say
Hundreds of people were killed in the space of a few hours at Rabaa

Ten years ago, hundreds of people, mostly civilians, were killed when Egyptian forces violently dispersed a sit-in protest by supporters of the recently ousted Islamist president. The crackdown on followers of Mohammed Morsi was one of the bloodiest incidents of its kind, and one of Egypt's darkest moments. As BBC Arabic's Sally Nabil reports from Cairo, memories of that day are still raw.

"I wish I was never alive today," says Amr, who took part in the sit-in that lasted for nearly 50 days, in Rabaa al-Adawiya Square, in the east of the capital.

Amr was only 20 years old when he saw "bulldozers crushing tents, and sweeping whatever came in their way".

"Humanity was killed in Egypt on that day," he says.

Amr was arrested a few months after Rabaa, accused of damaging public property and disrupting public order amongst other things. He spent nearly five years in jail, before fleeing Egypt in late 2018 and settling in the UK.

He says he took part in the sit-in because he feared his country would end up in the hands of the army generals.

Amr fled to the UK after being jailed for some five years

The violent dispersal of the sit-in at Rabaa and of another one at Nahda Square on the same day were not only unprecedented tragedies in Egypt's recent history, but were also gamechangers that reshaped the future of the Arab world's most populous country.

When Mohammed Morsi, a leading figure in the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood group, was elected in 2012, he was the first civilian to make it to the presidential palace, and via a democratic process. It was an extraordinary triumph for his supporters.

One year later though, anti-Morsi protestors took to the streets demanding his resignation. They accused him of following an Islamist agenda and failing to be president for all Egyptians. The army, a dominant political player over the past 70 years, was watching.

Following the protests, the Minister of Defence, Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, removed Mr Morsi from power, bringing an abrupt end to the short-lived civilian rule. Mr Sisi himself was elected president a year later and has held the post ever since.

'Bodies everywhere'

The Egyptian authorities have always claimed they repeatedly called on the Muslim Brotherhood leaders to end what they called an "illegal" sit-in, but that they were ignored. The state saw Rabaa al-Adawiya square as a rebellious zone that had to be dealt with.

It never occurred to Amr that live ammunition would be used. He thought police forces would resort to much softer tactics like water canon or even tear gas. He said he could not believe how so many lives were lost because of political divisions.

"Dead bodies were everywhere," he recalls. "We couldn't keep count. We couldn't help one another."

His breathing grows heavy as he gives his account of the day.

"A long queue of civilians, including women and children, were raising up their hands, and leaving the sit-in, when they were shot dead by snipers. I saw them with my own eyes."

The authorities said they opened safe corridors for people to leave, before they sent in troops. But in a report, published one year after the dispersal, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said security forces "besieged demonstrators for most of the day, attacking from each of the five main entrances to the square and leaving no safe exit until the end of the day."

Egypt says more than 600 people, mostly civilians, were killed. However, other counts made by the Muslim Brotherhood, now banned in Egypt, speak of more than 1,000. HRW said at least 817 people lost their lives.

The majority of casualties came from the Muslim Brotherhood camp, but some policemen were also killed. Violence continued for days after the dispersal.

'The living martyr'

The mother of one of those officers still feels the pain of the loss of her son.

Mustafa, says his mother, Wafaa, emerged from the chaos of 14 August unscathed. Two days later, he was shot three times in a gun battle as he was heading to a police station in southern Cairo.

Wafaa says the killing of her son, a policeman, devastated the family

Mustafa was in his 20s when he died in 2016, after being in a coma for three years. During this time, Wafaa never left his bedside in the intensive care unit.

"People who knew him called him the living martyr", she says.

She controls her tears as she talks to me about her eldest and closest son.

"We've been devastated, everything is tasteless without him, we are not alive."

There is not a single wall in the family's house that does not have Mustafa's photo hanging on it. Wafaa tries to find some solace in her eldest grandson, who was named after his late uncle.

Since Mustafa died, his parents have suffered ill health, which they blame on their grief.

When I ask Wafaa about the Muslim Brotherhood's claim that the protests were peaceful, she is blunt in her response.

"They are a bunch of liars," she says angrily.

Human Rights Watch said the killing in Rabaa "not only constituted serious violations of international human rights law, but likely amounted to crimes against humanity".

The Egyptian authorities have denied all these charges vehemently. The Ministry of Interior said participants in the Rabaa sit-in were armed and posed a serious threat to law and order.

"Up till today, when I hear police sirens or a helicopter hovering, I can hardly breathe. I instantly remember," says Amr, who was arrested a few months after the sit-in and spent about five years in jail.

He says his whole family have been going through trauma since 2013. His younger brother, who has an amputated leg, is still behind bars, accused of belonging to a terrorist group, and his late father was also locked up for a couple of years, accused of protesting without permission.

"Even if I have a chance to return to Egypt, the life I once had is gone," he says.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has told its hundreds of employees in San Francisco that its too dangerous to come in to the office.

HHS Assistant Secretary for Administration Cheryl R. Campbell issued the stay-home recommendation in an Aug. 4 memo to regional leaders, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

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In light of the conditions at the (Federal Building) we recommend employees  maximize the use of telework for the foreseeable future, Campbell wrote in the memo, a copy of which was obtained by The Chronicle.

The move underlines the spiral downward in the city, which has seen many companies abandon their outlets and workers shun coming in to offices in the city. The continued lack of foot traffic  exacerbated by open drug use among the street population  has many observers saying San Francisco is in a doom loop, in which negative events trigger more negative events, leading to an endless decline in quality of life.

The HHS memo underlines the dangers outside of the Nancy Pelosi Federal Building on Seventh Street in the south of Market district. The 18-story tower at the corner of Seventh and Mission houses several federal agencies, including the departments of Labor and Transportation, as well as Pelosis office. It is unclear if the other agencies have issued similar advisories.

The area is reportedly also home to one of the citys most brazen open-air drug markets on a daily basis.

Ironically, the memo from HHS came to light as President Joe Bidens White House Chief of Staff called on more federal workers to return to the office.

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Canandaigua had a Hollywood moment Thursday when Jennifer Garner showed up at the Wegmans on Eastern Boulevard.

The actress wasnt there as a film star. She visited in her role as co-founder of Once Upon a Farm, a line of organic baby food and childrens snacks, to meet with company representatives, a Wegmans spokesperson said.

Garner, who rose to fame on the ABC action-thriller series Alias and has gone on to star in movies as varied as 13 Going on 30, Juno and Dallas Buyers Club, did not do a public meet-and-greet at the store, the spokesperson said.

Jennifer Garner was at the Canandaigua Wegmans on Thursday. A spokesperson said the actress was there in her role as the co-founder Once Upon a Farm, a line of organic baby food and children's snacks.

But on Thursday afternoon, news of Garner's visit  and a selfie she took with a fan  made the rounds on Facebook. Reportedly, she spotted a guy in a Buffalo Bills shirt, shouted, "Go, Bills!" and the selfie ensued.

Thursday evening, a Wegmans employee wrote on Facebook about working a special luncheon for Garner and her Once Upon a Farm team, describing the experience as "surreal" and Garner as "funny, kind and compassionate." The post included a photo of Garner with the employee and of the food served at the event.

Garner arrived at the Rochester airport around 5 p.m. Wednesday. Fairport resident Ray Martino spotted her at a baggage carousel while picking up his daughter Olivia Blodgett and her family, who had just flown in from Portland, Oregon.

Martino's granddaughter Clementine Rosemary Blodgett, 5, whom Martino described as very outgoing, struck up a conversation with the film star. The little girl introduced herself and asked Garner what her name was, "She said, 'My name's Jen,'" Martino said.

Actress Jennifer Garner poses with Clementine Rosemary Blodgett, 5, at the Rochester airport. Garner was in the area to visit the Wegmans in Canandaigua.

Martino and his daughter thought Garner looked familiar but couldn't quite place her. I said, "This looks like someone I know," Martino said. But, "You don't see too many celebrities in Rochester. I hate to say it."

However, it didn't take long for them to realize her identity, which she confirmed.

"She was very nice to Clementine"  and to the whole family, Martino said. When he asked her what she was doing in town, "She said, 'I'm just here to do a little business."

According to The Hollywood Reporter, after a nearly 20-year hiatus, Garner will reprise her role of Marvel Comics Elektra in Deadpool 3, which is scheduled for release on May 3, 2024.

Wegmans, whose organic farm is in Canandaigua, already carries the Once Upon a Farm line, which Garner co-founded in 2018. The following year, it became the first refrigerated baby food available to families eligible for WIC, the federal governments Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, Forbes reported.

The brand, whose products include fruit and vegetable blends, smoothies and yogurt, and overnight oats in squeezable pouches, donates a portion of its proceeds to Save the Children.

Reporter Marcia Greenwood covers general assignments. Send story tips to mgreenwo@rocheste.gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @MarciaGreenwood.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Jennifer Garner visits Wegmans in Canandaigua NY: Why was she there?
In the wake of the recent police raid on a newspaper in Marion, Kansas, perhaps a quick review of federal law is in order.

Congress passed the Privacy Protection Act of 1980 to protect journalists in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Courts 1978 decision in Zurcher v. Stanford Daily. In that case, the student newspaper of Californias Stanford University published a staff members photographs of a demonstration that got out of hand. Zurcher was the citys chief of police.

Student demonstrators had occupied the administrative offices of Stanford University Hospital, barricading the adjacent hall at both ends. When police tried to forcibly enter from the west, students armed with clubs attacked nine policemen stationed at the east end. All nine officers were hurt.

Most reporters had been at the west end, but one Stanford Daily photographer had been at the east. After the paper published the pictures, four policemen, armed with a search warrant, created chaos as they dumped wastebaskets and rifled through the papers photo lab, desks and filing cabinets. They sought photographs, negatives and film, but left empty-handed because their search turned up only pictures that the paper had already published.

The newspaper and its staff members sued, claiming violation of their rights under the First and Fourth Amendments. The Supreme Court upheld the search.

Journalists nationwide were appalled. In the wake of Zurcher v. Stanford Daily, Congress passed the Privacy Protection Act of 1980. Lawmakers thus gave journalists a form of privacy protection denied to them by the Supreme Court.

This legislatively bestowed protection means nothing, however, if journalists and the authorities are not aware of the law.

This law clearly applies to federal, state and local authorities. Quite simply, the law generally forbids officers from performing a knock-and-enter search of a newsroom with a search warrant. This law also applies to motel rooms and elsewhere if a journalist has set up his or her news operations there. Under the law, an officer can only search a news office with a search warrant if 1) probable cause exists to believe the reporter was involved in the crime, 2) there is danger of bodily harm or loss of life, or 3) there is danger the material will be destroyed. Otherwise, the police have to get a subpoena duces tecum  a subpoena for documents  that requires the journalist to produce the specified material at a designated time and place.

From a journalists point of view, subpoenas have two major benefits as compared with search warrants. First, a subpoena does not permit police to search newsrooms, thus safeguarding privacy and avoiding disruption of news operations. Second, the subpoena process provides an opportunity for a legal challenge to the propriety of surrendering information before the reporter turns over information. If a journalists challenge is unsuccessful and he or she fails to respond to the subpoena, then authorities do have a fourth ground under the act upon which to obtain a search warrant: failure of the journalist to respond to the subpoena.

The Privacy Protection Act also allows journalists to collect damages. The legislation says that a person aggrieved by a search or seizure in violation of the act may sue and collect damages of not less than $1,000 plus reasonable attorneys fees and other reasonable litigation costs. The suit may be brought against the United States, against a state which has waived its sovereign immunity  or against any other governmental unit, all of which shall be liable for violations of this act by their officers or employees. (Note that law enforcement does have a good faith defense, but the government does not.)

News organizations claims of damages may be hard to prove

In some cases, it may be hard to prove that a news organization has suffered any actual damages. Perhaps, in fact, the authorities have only confiscated the materials they wanted and have left everything else undisturbed. For such cases, the act provides for liquidated damages of not less than $1,000.

Perhaps more important for journalists than the minimum $1,000 in damage awards, however, is the possibility of recovering reasonable attorneys fees and court costs if the journalists prevail. The case of Minneapolis Star & Tribune Co. v. United States (1989) is one example:

In Minneapolis on Dec. 22, 1986, one journalist was taking photographs and another was making a videotape from the sidewalk and parking lot in front of a convenience store as agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation were making arrests for narcotics inside the store. One of the agents demanded the journalists film and tape and threatened to jail them if they failed to comply. Undercover agents were making the arrest, he said. In response, the journalist doing the videotaping offered to edit the tape. But the agent confiscated the journalists film, tape and equipment.

Three hours later, the journalists property was returned to them. The television station met its deadline to air the tape on its nightly news, and the newspaper ultimately decided that the photographs were not newsworthy enough to publish. In short, the news organizations did not sustain provable damages, but a federal court awarded them the minimum liquidated damages and, ultimately, a total of $80,243 in attorneys fees and court costs.

Fortunately for journalists, Congress can grant them greater rights than they possess under the First Amendment  but unfortunately, there can be a wide gulf between having rights and exercising them. And so it is with journalists right to be spared knock-and-enter searches. Journalists must know the law and try to protect themselves from illegal searches.

The Privacy Protection Act gives special protection to journalists. This law is outside the routine for most prosecutors and judges, who are accustomed to just doing business as usual. That is why journalists may literally have to inform the police, prosecutor and judge of the existence of this special safeguard they have when they are functioning as a journalist.

Journalists should keep a copy of the Privacy Protection Act in their newsrooms  just in case.

Attorney Sandy Davidson is a retired media law professor at the University of Missouri.
A new gray wolf pack was discovered in Tulare County, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Friday.

This is the states southernmost pack and is at least 200 miles from the nearest known pack in northeastern California, according to the agency.

In July, the department received a wolf sighting report from a location in the Sequoia National Forest.

The department investigated the sighting, found wolf tracks and other signs wolves were present. A dozen scat and hair samples were collected for genetic testing. A DNA analysis confirmed that the 12 samples were gray wolf, CDFW officials stated.

The new pack consists of at least five animals not previously detected in California, including one adult female, who is a descendant of Californias first documented wolf in the state in recent history, OR-7, and four offspring, two females and two males.

In late 2011, OR-7 crossed the state line to become the first wolf in nearly a century to make California part of his range before returning to Oregon to form the Rogue Pack.

None of the samples collected came from an adult male. However, the genetic profile from the offspring indicate that the breeding male is a descendant of the Lassen Pack, wildlife officials said.

In July 2023, California Department of Fish and Wildlife received a wolf sighting report from a location in the Sequoia National Forest.

Gray wolves in California

Gray wolves are native to California but were wiped out in the state by the 1920s. Fish and Wildlife say there's evidence the Central Valley was once among the primary homes for gray wolves.

"Although gray wolves formerly inhabited California, their historic abundance and distribution is unclear. While there are many anecdotal reports of wolves in California, specimens were rarely preserved," officials wrote in a report on wolves in 2011, the years wolves were stripped of protections. "Wolves probably occurred in the Central Valley, the western slope of the Sierra Nevada foothills and mountains, and the Coast Ranges of California until the early 1800s, although their population size is unknown and may have been small."

Though people nearly hunted wolves to extinction in the Continental U.S., northern gray wolves returned to the Great Lakes, the northern Rockies, the Pacific Northwest and in small numbers in California.

Just as the U.S. was making progress to protect gray wolves, protections were stripped.

In 2011, Congress ended protections in the northern Rockies, and in 2020 the Trump administration stripped wolves of their critical Endangered Species Act protections across the country.

On Feb. 10, 2022, a judge ruled that fish and wildlife officials prematurely removed federal Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves.

The decision restored protections for thousands of wolves.

In July 2023, California Department of Fish and Wildlife received a wolf sighting report from a location in the Sequoia National Forest.

Or-93

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife reported a young gray wolf known as OR-93 died after he was struck by a vehicle in Kern County in the fall of 2021.

The agency said the radio-collared wolf was found dead on Nov. 10 off Interstate 5 near the town of Lebec, the middle of the Grapevine connecting the Central Valley and Southern California. He was quickly identified as OR-93 because of his collar and an investigation and necropsy results determined he died from trauma consistent with vehicular strike.

The young male  possibly the first gray wolf in nearly a century spotted as far south as Ventura County  was born in northern Oregon in 2019 and crossed into California in January 2021.

OR-93 was documented traveling the farthest south since wolves returned to the state. He traveled more than 900 miles over three months, traversing Modoc, Lassen, Alpine and a half-dozen other counties before crossing Highway 99 and Interstate 5.

The last documented wolf that far south was captured in San Bernardino County in 1922, the department said.

Gray wolf facts:

The first pack was the Shasta Pack in 2015 (no longer active).

Today there are three confirmed packs in northern California: Whaleback Pack (Siskiyou County), Lassen Pack (southern Lassen/northern Plumas counties), Beckwourth Pack (Plumas and Sierra counties).

Wolves play a key role in keeping ecosystems healthy. They help keep deer and elk populations in check, which can benefit many other plant and animal species.

The carcasses of their prey help to redistribute nutrients and provide food for other wildlife species, like grizzly bears and scavengers.

Wolves are protected under Californias Endangered Species Act and are federally protected in California under the federal Endangered Species Act.

It is illegal to intentionally kill or harm wolves in the state.

If you come across a gray wolf:

Do not run, they're faster than you. Maintain eye contact.

Act aggressively, make noise while retreating slowly.

If the wolf does not retreat, continue acting aggressively by yelling or throwing objects.

For more information and to report potential sightings, visit CDFWs Gray Wolf Program website.

USA Today and Ventura County Star contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Rare, new gray wolf pack found in Tulare County includes female, 4 pups
Proving striking looks and great taste run in the family, Gigi and Bella Hadids older sister Alana Hadid made her runway debut at Copenhagen Fashion Week.

After opening the Saks Potts show on Monday, Alana, 38, walked the Munthe show in the capital of Denmark yesterday, looking stunning in two contrasting looks. The first was a transparent mesh dress with a floral embroidery lined with tiny colorful beads. She wore the sleeveless piece over a lingerie set in the same black, beige, and white floral pattern, plus black leather sandals.

Her second runway look was a black leather minidress with little flower-shaped cutouts throughout. Alana wore it with the same black sandals and carried a furry brown, cream, and black bag.

Her makeup look was natural, and she wore her straight hair down.

Matt Jelonek - Getty Images

Matt Jelonek - Getty Images

Alana is the daughter of Mohammed Hadid and his ex-wife Mary Butler. Her siblings include sister Marielle, 42, and half siblings Gigi, 28, Bella, 26, and Anwar Hadid, 24.

Alana is a fashion designer and co-founder of Los Angeles unisex brand La Detresse. She is also now the fifth model in the family. Gigi and Bella, of course, are fashion royalty, Anwar has done modeling of his own as well, and Yolanda Hadid (mom to Gigi, Bella, and Anwar) was a major model in her youth.

Alanas runway debut comes just as sister Bella is making her comeback. The Kin Euphorics co-founder went on medical leave for about five months to get treated for Lyme disease, and just today shared videos on TikTok of her big return to work.

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Mayor Brandon Johnson on Monday introduced Chicago police Chief Larry Snelling as his pick for the Police Departments next superintendent, Johnsons first major public safety decision that will set the tone on how his administration will tackle crime for the next four years.

Snelling, 54, was one of three finalists put to Johnson last month by the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, a new city body created in 2021. In a news conference at City Hall, the mayor emphasized Snellings experience and deep Chicago roots.

Chief Larry Snelling is a proven leader who knows and holds dear the soul of Chicago, Johnson said. He commands the highest respect of his brothers and sisters in the department, and Im fully confident in his ability to unify and strengthen these critical public servants.

The other finalists were Angel Novalez, CPDs chief of constitutional policing and reform, and Shon Barnes, chief of police in Madison, Wisconsin.

Snelling began his remarks Monday by introducing himself as an Englewood native who fully supports the mayors belief in tackling the root causes of violence. Johnson during his mayoral campaign stressed the importance of tapping a lifelong Chicagoan for the job following the mixed tenure of David Brown, former Mayor Lori Lightfoots embattled police superintendent who hailed from Dallas.

Addressing reporters, Snelling said the job of public safety should not solely fall on law enforcement but rather be shared between police and the community.

The Police Department and our community members are not two separate institutions, because they cant be. We have to work together by listening and learning from each other, Snelling said. I share the mayors vision of public safety being supported by the full force of government to address root causes of violence to keep our beautiful city safe. And I want to be clear about my belief in the mayors vision in the full force of government. We cannot do this alone as a police department.

At the same time, Snelling sought to underline the importance of building officer morale, which frayed further during the pandemic and recent waves of crime and civil unrest.

For our officers who risk their lives every day to protect our residents, I know what you sacrifice on a daily basis, Snelling said. I know the sacrifices that your family makes when you go out to the street to keep this city safe.

Snelling credited the other finalists as well as interim Superintendent Fred Waller, but he also nodded to ongoing issues facing the department, including the hundreds of migrants who are staying at Chicago police stations as they await shelter. Concerns have ranged from unhygienic conditions for those families to allegations of sexual misconduct between officers and migrants, the latter of which remains unsubstantiated amid an ongoing investigation.

I dont have a timeline on that right now, Snelling said about when the asylum-seekers will be moved out of the lobbies. But I can guarantee you that as long as those migrants are in our stations, theyre going to be treated with respect and dignity, like any human being should be.

If approved as superintendent, Snellings top three priorities would be, in order: officer wellness and training, curbing violence and improving community relations.

We really have to touch on violence, Snelling said. One of the things that I will tell you is that what I believe that weve forgotten everywhere are the victims of crime, the trauma that those victims deal with. We cannot forget about the victims.

Before he faces a final City Council vote, Snelling will take part in a series of community forums where citizens will be able to ask questions about his policing and crime-fighting strategies. Those meetings have yet to be scheduled.

Upon his presumed confirmation, one of the most daunting challenges Snelling will face is lagging compliance with the Police Departments federal consent decree, a series of sweeping reforms mandated after the video of Laquan McDonalds murder was released.

Since the decree was entered in 2019, CPD has struggled to make sustained progress. Earlier this year, an independent monitor said the department was in full compliance with just 5% of the decrees provisions.

Snelling suggested his approach on chipping away at that tall task will focus on the quality of the training above all else.

My focus is to make sure these officers get the best possible training that they can have so that they can police constitutionally, Snelling said Monday. We cant just simply believe that the consent decree, without true enforcement of it, is going to change the department. In order to change this department and produce the best possible officers that we can put out there, our training has to be robust, and it has to work for our officers.

The most concrete change Snelling floated during his announcement Monday was reforming the departments promotional procedures. City records show that Snelling twice received promotions through the CPDs merit system, which was aimed at bolstering gender and racial diversity among the ranks of Chicago police supervisors but has faced near-constant criticism for rewarding political loyalty.

Asked Monday if the merit system would remain in place under his leadership, Snelling said it would but there will be a more stringent process.

To be totally honest, I would like to see the entire promotional process changed to take merit into account for promotion, and not just a test, Snelling said. This will give everybody a great opportunity of being promoted. We have to make sure that when we make promotions, we have the right people in the right places. Of course were looking for diversity, but to insist that a merit promotion is just about diversity is problematic.

Snelling would take over after the tumultuous era of Brown, Lightfoots hand-picked superintendent who struggled mightily with department morale amid spiking crime and officer suicides. Johnson too came under fire over public safety during the mayoral race due to his critiques of law enforcement following the 2020 Minneapolis police murder of George Floyd, but toward the end of his campaign Johnson had walked back some of his most strident rhetoric.

On Monday, Snelling said he would prioritize the rank-and-files emotional well-being while condemning the things that are said to these officers now, the disrespect, thats huge.

We have to evaluate and reevaluate our officers mental health, Snelling said. We have to be cognizant of what were doing to these officers when were canceling days off. We have to give them notice if that happens, because obviously there are going to be times when it happens.

Regarding the dynamic between police and neighborhood anti-violence groups, Snelling said he planned to speak with leaders of those groups to maximize their reach. The use of such street outreach programs to combat shootings by employing at-risk youth to mediate violence and seek social services has grown in popularity among urban governments, including in Chicago, but some within law enforcement are skeptical on their efficacy.

Ive seen outreach (workers) and some violence interrupters do some great work, Snelling said. However, every program that we have, there are going to be flaws. There are flaws everywhere. It doesnt matter what job you work. Can it be improved upon? Absolutely.

Snelling joined CPD in 1992 and has spent much of his career as an instructor in the CPD training academy. Records from the citys Department of Human Resources show was promoted to sergeant and lieutenant via the departments much-maligned merit system. He also served as commander of the Englewood District, as well as deputy chief of Area 2 before he was promoted to chief of the bureau of counterterrorism in October 2022.

Given his experience as an instructor, Snelling is widely considered to be the CPDs foremost expert on use-of-force scenarios. Hes been called to testify as an expert witness in more than two dozen court cases  criminal, civil and administrative  in recent years, including several cases that stemmed from the Laquan McDonald shooting video.

Johnsons decision to hire Snelling comes about a year before Chicago is to play host to the Democratic National Convention, a large-scale event in which the Police Department is expected to play a significant role. At an unrelated news conference in Springfield on Monday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker noted that Snelling has been in every single security meeting about the DNC alongside Illinois State Police and other law enforcement. Pritzker said Snellings involvement in those meetings is probably because of his existing role at CPD, an apparent nod to Snellings post as chief of the departments counterterrorism bureau.

I mean, the security is significant for the Democratic National Convention and Larry Snelling is very well-versed in it, Pritzker said during a bill-signing event at the Illinois Department of Agriculture headquarters, flanked by Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and others. And so I think hell be a tremendous benefit and bonus for security at the DNC (now) that hes actually going to be in charge of CPD.

Chicago Tribunes Jeremy Gorner contributed from Springfield.

scharles@chicagotribune.com

ayin@chicagotribune.com
Opinion articles written in the style of their author. These texts are to be based on verified facts and must be respectful towards people, even though their actions may be criticized. All opinion articles written by individuals from outside the staff of EL PAIS shall feature, along with the authors name (regardless of their greater or lesser renown), a footer stating their office, academic title, political affiliation (if any) and main occupation, or the occupation related to the topic being assessed

Its logical that, whoever lies more than they blink, should be able to claim their right to lie. This is the case of Donald Trump: a character so deceitful that, from the day he launched himself into politics, he has forced the media to invest substantial resources into verifying his false statements and accounting for all his mistruths.

Added to the long count of lies are the legal processes hes facing, with three grand juries (soon to be four) and corresponding criminal charges. In total, there are 78 crimes hes being accused of: 34 in relation to the bribery of a porn artist, 40 for withholding and concealing top secret documents and four more related to his attempt to nullify the 2020 presidential election and remain in the White House, despite having lost to Joe Biden.

On January 2, 2024, the trial for electoral interference will be held in Washington, D.C. On March 25, the show will move to Manhattan, with the focus being the illegal payments he allegedly made to his occasional lover. After that, a third trial will begin on May 20, in Florida, in relation to the violation of the Espionage Act.

The fact that these court dates overlap with the Republican primary campaign will serve as fuel for Trump to fundraise and continue feeding the engine of resentment that has put him at the top of the polls. At the moment, hes 35 points ahead of his closest challenger for the Republican nomination (Florida Governor Ron DeSantis) and tied with Biden for the 2024 general election.

Only the fanatics believe that he won the last election and that his opponents cheated. They also think that President Biden wants to send Trump to jail, in order to prevent him from winning in 2024. Not even the other Republican candidates believe this, although there are many Americans who want to vote for him precisely because they like his lies and relish his insults and attacks on Biden, the judges and the prosecutors. However, it wont be easy to explain away or hide from so many lies when he faces the juries that will have to determine if hes guilty.

To defend him, Trumps lawyers invoke the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects free speech. In his parallel world, the lies he tells are truths in which he firmly believes, while his orders to modify the electoral result to hold onto the presidency were simply aspirations or wishes that he freely expressed. With this excuse, he wants to evade responsibility for the orders he gave and actions he took to distort the election results and proclaim himself the winner. As if the words of someone who was still president  pronounced on the verge of a coup  had no consequences.

Trump claims that he had impunity as president (and still has it, as a former president), while also insisting that his universal right to lie is protected by the sacred freedom of speech. If such acts go unpunished, others will want to repeat his feat, and not only in the United States.

Wherever we live, cant we recognize the actions of compulsive liars, convinced of their own falsehoods? Cant we see that theyre proud to defend their declaration of breaking with the constitutional order, as if such an action was merely the free speech of legitimate political aspirations?

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un presides over a military parade celebrating the 70th anniversary of the victory in the Fatherland Liberation War (Korean War) on Thursday. File Photo by KCNA/UPI

July 29 (UPI) -- North Korea's Foreign Ministry this week vowed that the country would "annihilate" the United States, adding that the U.S. would be terminated this century.

"Should the U.S. choose to offend our Republic, we will annihilate them by using all our military power that we have gathered so far," the North Korean diplomats said in a statement Thursday, the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice.

"The Korean War in the last century marked the beginning of the downfall of the U.S. Now, the 21st century would see the irrevocable termination of the U.S. The rulers of the U.S. are well advised to forget, on no account, the lessons of history."

The conflict-ending truce was reached between North Korea, China -- which had supported North Korea -- and the United States, which had supported South Korea in the war. South Korea did not agree to the armistice.

The armistice allowed for the establishment of the demilitarized zone between North Korea and South Korea and the repatriation of prisoners of war. U.S. troops have since been staged in South Korea to help prevent another war and defend its ally in the case one begins.

North Korea has a long history of provoking conflict with its southern neighbor in the decades since the armistice from kidnapping and assassinations of high-profile South Koreans to hijacking South Korean airliners in 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. The reclusive nation also attacked U.S. military planes and ships through the years.

With the collapse of the Soviet Union, North Korea lost a significant contributor to its economy. Now, with the war in Ukraine and rising tensions between the East and the West, North Korea has sought to strengthen its ties with China and Russia.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and top Chinese officials reaffirmed the close military ties between the two communist nations, the Foreign Ministry said Saturday.
An Ohio man was fatally crushed between an SUV and a pickup truck, and the driver says his prosthetic leg is to blame, Columbus police told news outlets.

The incident happened at about 8:20 p.m., Aug. 12, on Ohios northeast side, according to a news release.

The victim was sitting on a stool near a Chevrolet Silverado, when a driver in a Chevy Tahoe reversed without noticing the pedestrian behind him, the release said.

The pedestrian, identified as a 47-year-old man, was pinned between both vehicles and died at the scene, police told the Columbus Dispatch.

The driver, a 51-year-old man, told investigators that his prosthetic leg got stuck while the SUV was in reverse, WSYX reported.

The cause of the fatal traffic crash remains under investigation, police said.

Flying debris from malfunctioning engine kills woman during tractor pull, PA cops say

Teen riding minibikes with brother is killed by cable tied across path, Vegas cops say

Google Street View car evades police at 100 mph, crashes into creek, Indiana cops say
An attorney for a Kansas newspaper raided by Marion police warned Chief Gideon Cody on Sunday that in treating the local paper as a drug cartel or a street gang he had violated the constitutions of both Kansas and the United States.

Bernie Rhodes, a Kansas City lawyer who represents the Marion County Record, in a letter to Cody demanded police not review any information on computers, phones and other devices seized during the search on Friday of the newspapers office and the home of the owners. One of the co-owners, 98-year-old Joan Meyer, died the day after the raid but not before condemning it in strong terms.

As Joan Meyer said less than 24 hours before she died, These are Hitler tactics. She is right, wrote Rhodes, who also represents The Star.

Rhodes wrote that under Kansas journalist shield law, the paper is entitled to a hearing before the authorities review any of the information seized. The law extends to any information taken, not just confidential sources, he wrote.

The scorching letter is a potential prelude to a legal challenge of the search. The Record has indicated it plans to bring a federal lawsuit, and Rhodes wrote that he was offering Cody the opportunity to mitigate my clients damages from the illegal searches you personally authorized, directed and conducted on Friday.

Attorney's letter to Marion, Kansas, police chief by Ian Cummings on Scribd

A search warrant shows police were looking for evidence that a reporter had run an improper computer search to confirm an accurate report that a local business owner applying for a liquor license had lost her drivers license over a DUI.

In a statement, the Marion Police Department defended the search in general terms. The department said that federal law requires law enforcement in most cases to seek a subpoena for information from journalists instead of a search, unless they themselves are suspects in the offense that is the subject of the search.

But Rhodes wrote that federal law allows access to a drivers license status for research activities as long as the information isnt published, redisclosed or used to contact individuals. Because the paper didnt publish any information from the website, the search had a valid research purpose.

Cody is a former Kansas City Police Department captain, who left the agency after 24 years to become chief in Marion earlier this year. Record owner and publisher Eric Meyer said the paper had investigated Codys background and his time in Kansas City but ultimately didnt publish a story.

I can assure you that the Record will take every step to obtain relief for the damages your heavy-handed actions have already caused my client. As I stated at the beginning, this letter offers you an opportunity to mitigate those damages going forward, Rhodes wrote.

If I were you, I would jump at this opportunity.

The Stars Glenn Rice and Judy Thomas contributed reporting
It took less than two minutes for Journee Freeman and Stevie Stinebaugh to prove they had lost little, if any, of the great reading strides they had made in kindergarten last year.

The two Berryton Elementary first-graders wasted no time sorting through the 21 consonants and five vowels on their alphabet arc poster boards, matching tactile foam shapes with the names and sounds they had learned to associate with each letter.

For Journee and Stevie, it was a happy little activity that they've made into a fun exercise that lets them practice the alphabet.

For school reading specialist Karen Brantingham, it was proof that a year of training and applied instruction in the science of reading is making a difference.

Journee Freeman, a first-grader at Berryton Elementary, places foam letters on an alphabet arc Friday morning. Reading teachers use the tactile models to help connect students' visual learning of letters to other senses, such as touch.

"Its been a humbling experience (taking the training)," Brantingham said. "Ive been teaching for 29 years, and I didnt have that in my toolbox? Its humbling. But nobody knew, and when you know better, you do better."

Brantingham and nearly 8,000 other Kansas elementary schoolteachers have in the past two years received at least some training under a $15 million state program to retrain educators in the way they teach students to read and write.

But that's only about half about the number of elementary school teachers who are eligible for the training, and education commissioner Randy Watson said teachers and schools across the state need to move more urgently to help students recover skills they lost or never picked up during the pandemic.

"We shouldnt waste another day, when we have kids in school now, and we have federal money that the state board is using to help from a learning loss perspective," Watson told The Capital-Journal.

KSDE is embracing the 'science of reading'

In broad strokes, the "science of reading" refers to modern research that shows educators not just what to teach in literacy education, but also how young students make connections in their brains in using and applying early literacy skills.

So-called "reading wars" over the past several decades have often led to different conclusions as to the best way of teaching kids to read, with many including the same concepts but with different levels of priorities.

Karen Brantingham, reading specialist at Berryton Elementary School, shows an alphabet arc she learned to use after taking the state-funded LETRS literacy training.

For example, most older teachers in Kansas were taught mixtures of whole language and balanced literacy, which generally put a bigger focus on the meaning of words and texts and students' ability and enthusiasm to comprehend them.

But critics of those approaches argued that they did not place enough of an emphasis on fundamental skills like phonics and phonemic awareness  or the ability of students to read, identify and use basic letters and sounds in words.

More: Universal free school lunches ended, but some Kansas schools see a way to keep food coming

The "science of reading" prioritizes those skills in literacy instruction. Students get systematic and explicit instruction in putting together letters and sounding them out, and teachers structure their lessons to make sure students are strong in those skills before moving on to other reading skills like fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.

At the start of the pandemic, the Kansas State Board of Education funded a $15 million program to pay for any Kansas elementary school educator to receive training in the science of reading, through a national program called Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS).

For veteran teachers like Brantingham, the concepts in the LETRS training weren't necessarily anything new. Much of the training involved concepts she's learned on the job and as a college student more than 30 years ago.

But some pieces, and the priorities given to different skills, were eye-opening, she said.

"I did not realize how important it is for them to rapidly recall letter names and sounds," Brantingham said. "For years, we thought that the kids knowing the letters was enough, but just getting there is not enough. It needs to be automatic recognition, for them to process the alphabetic principles."

Kansas teachers need to move more urgently on science of reading, commissioner says

The Kansas State Board of Education, as one of its goals, earlier this year challenged schools across the state to move more kids out of level 1 on the Kansas state assessment. Students who score in that category, per assessment definitions, show a limited ability to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary for success after high school.

While that score is based on a single test taken in the spring, Watson has often pointed out that students who score at level 1 early in their academic careers struggle to reach other success in later years of school.

Karen Brantingham, reading specialist at Berryton Elementary School, holds up the first volume from the LETRS language arts program Friday morning. The two-year literacy training teaches educators the science of how students learn to read, and how to best teach those skills.

Reading skills are crucial to getting students out of Level 1, since most other learning is based on a student's ability to read and comprehend the texts they are given, Watson said.

Literacy education then, he said, has to be at the forefront of Kansas schools' efforts to improve academic achievement, especially after many students lost learning opportunities during COVID.

More: Academic improvement is first and center in Kansas State Board of Educations proposed goals

The rate of Kansas students achieving at levels 3 and 4  levels showing effective and excellent skills  on the state English language arts assessment fell to a low of 32.1% in spring 2022, although preliminary data from this spring shows the beginnings of a rebound.

Watson said elementary schools and teachers need to move more urgently on literacy, especially since only about half of eligible teachers have taken or begun the two-year LETRS training. The federal funding backing the state's offer of LETRS training expires in just over a year.

"COVID is no longer with us, and in September 2024, guess what happens to that money?" Watson asked the state education board. "Its gone. Just a year from now, its gone. Theres $9 million left to be spent training teachers, and I have to have a belief we can do the work. We cant change beliefs, but we can help impact that."

Much of the hesitation is believed to be from teachers who are finding it difficult to sign up for a relatively intense two years of training, state officials said.

More: Can Kansas high school bands, choirs and orchestras rebound from COVID-driven drop-off?

For many teachers, taking the training requires much more than personal will. It requires availability of substitute teachers to cover while they're gone, at a time when schools are struggling to staff support positions. It requires an additional few hours every week for two years, when time is in short supply between lesson planning, teaching and grading. It requires administrative support, when principals and superintendents are managing any number of other school issues.

"Its free," Watson stressed. "Its two years of training, and its hard. This is intense training. But if were going to have every student be literate, be able to read and be functional above level 1, weve got to believe that we can do the work with every kid. Thats No. 1. Then we have to have the skill to it, and then we have to have the will to put that skill into action every single day, choose the right curriculum and do those things."

Berryton Elementary first-graders Journee Freeman, left, and Stevie Stinebaugh complete their alphabet arcs as Karen Brantingham watches over the two Friday morning.

Some Kansas school districts, though, have embraced the training, like Shawnee Heights USD 450, where Brantingham works.

There, the district paid teachers an additional $1,200 stipend for each year of the training they completed. Twenty-two teachers completed LETRS last year, with a further 45 undergoing the training this year.

Brantingham, a seasoned reading specialist, knows the science of reading training won't be a magic solution for all students. Nothing in education ever is.

But she's confident she and her fellow teachers are open to learning new approaches and always doing better by their students."

"Nobody teaches in isolation anymore," Brantingham said. "We teach together, and we watch each other teach. We collaborate. Theres nothing done quietly in your room with the door shut. Its a lot easier to see the good stuff that is going on, and I have to believe there are teachers who will change and shift when they need to."

Rafael Garcia is an education reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached at rgarcia@cjonline.com or by phone at 785-289-5325. Follow him on Twitter at @byRafaelGarcia.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas' LETRS science of reading is training teachers in literacy
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Today

Windy with thunderstorms likely. Some may be locally heavy, especially during the morning hours. High 87F. Winds SE at 25 to 40 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Winds could occasionally gust over 50 mph.

Tonight

Cloudy and windy this evening, becoming partly cloudy after midnight. Low around 75F. SSE winds at 25 to 35 mph, decreasing to 15 to 25 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 50 mph.

Tomorrow

Mostly sunny. High 92F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.
The Moon will be the seventh continent of the Earth, the only one whose riches and resources are yet to be conquered and exploited. This idea, formulated more than half a century ago in the Soviet Union (the Russians consider Eurasia a single continent), has been revived with the imminent arrival of the first missions to the south pole of the Moon. Here, the space powers will compete for the new lunar gold: water.

Moon landings by country USA USSR / Rusia Japan India China Location for future missions Orthographic view of the visible face of the Moon Sea of Serenity Copernicus crater Sea of Clouds VIPER Moon-25 Artemis 3 Source: NASA, Roscosmos, JAXA, CNSA. Moon landings by country USA USSR / Rusia Japan India China Location for future missions Orthographic view of the visible face of the Moon Sea of Serenity Copernicus crater Sea of Clouds VIPER Moon-25 Artemis 3 Source: NASA, Roscosmos, JAXA, CNSA. Moon landings by country Japan USA India USSR / Rusia China Location for future missions Orthographic view of the visible face of the Moon Chang'e 3 Chang'e 5 Moon 17 Moon 2 Sea of Showers Sea of Serenity Moon 21 Apollo 15 Moon 13 Moon 15 Apollo 17 Copernicus crater Ranger 6 Moon 8 Moon 7 Moon 24 Surveyor 2 Moon 18 Ranger 8 Moon 20 Moon 9 Surveyor 6 Apollo 11 Moon 5 Surveyor 3 Moon 16 Surveyor 5 Apollo 14 Chang'e 1 Surveyor 1 Apollo 16 Apollo 12 Sea of Fecundity Ranger 7 Ranger 9 Slim Sea of Clouds VIPER Surveyor 7 Chandrayaan 2 Moon-25 Chandrayaan 1 LCROSS Chandrayaan 3 Artemis 3 Many missions Source: NASA, Roscosmos, JAXA, CNSA.

Russia has announced that its probe Luna-25, the first the country has sent to the Moon in more than 40 years, will land between August 21 and 24. Indias Chandrayaan-3 will land on the Moon on August 23 or 24. The battle for who makes it first will come down to a matter of days, or even hours.

We will wait for the 21st, said Yuri Borisov, the chief of the Russian space agency, in a statement reported by Reuters. The landing at the pole will be completely automatic, and a lot depends on the probe reaching the predetermined zone, which is a little uneven. I hope that a highly precise soft landing on the moon will take place, added Borisov. We hope to be first.

Russias main advantage is that its spacecraft is able to hold out at the hostile south pole for a year or more. The probe will remain fixed at its landing point, north of the Boguslavsky crater, which is 60 miles (97 kilometers) in diameter. This is where there is a high probability of finding water.

If there is frozen water in the upper layer of the lunar surface near the landing site, the scientific instruments on board Luna-25 will be able to detect it, Olga Zakutniaya, spokesperson for the Institute of Russian Space Research (IKI), who is responsible for the scientific part of the mission, tells EL PAIS. However, she continues, even in its polar regions, our satellite is a very dry place compared to Earth. The Russian LEND instrument aboard NASAs [orbital probe] LRO has shown that the water content in the upper layer of the surface, down to a depth of one meter, does not exceed 5% in weight, but only in the regions that are richest in water. The average content is lower and the regions with the greatest presence of water are unevenly distributed. This poses major challenges for the future when it comes to finding ways to harness that water to generate hydrogen for fuel, oxygen for breathing, drinkable water.

If the Luna-25 manages to land successfully, the experiments will begin immediately, but the results will take between four and six months, explains Zakutniaya. The ship must hibernate during the frigid lunar nights, which last just over 14 Earth days. These results will also provide another key piece of information. Lunar dust is extremely harmful both for robotic probes and future astronauts, so with the data from this mission we will develop plans to combat its effect, says the IKI spokesperson. Russia plans to send successive robotic missions to the Moons south pole to lay the groundwork for the arrival of astronauts, a project that has not yet been approved by the Putin government.

Image of the Moon taken by the 'Chandrayaan-3' probe. ISRO

The race to reach the south pole is David and Goliath battle, with India the clear underdog. The Indian probe Chandrayaan-3 is carrying fewer scientific instruments and will only run until the sun sets after the first lunar day. Unlike Russia, which has already managed to land robotic spacecraft on the Moon, India is coming out of the failure of Vikram, a lander that was traveling on board the orbiter Chandrayaan-2 in 2019 and failed to land successfully. Authorities at the Indian Space Research Orgnisation (ISRO) say they have learned from their mistakes and hope that this time the spacecraft will land successfully at a speed similar to that of a person walking. Its great asset is that he has on board the Pragyan (meaning wisdom in Sanskrit), a small mobile vehicle that will allow it to explore the environment near the landing point at the south pole, and analyze the composition of the soil and the rocks.

The Indian space agency says that there are already six orbital probes in use on the Moon and another two that have been abandoned. According to the agency, Chandrayaan-2 has already had to perform three maneuvers to avoid collisions with other ships. The Indian team hope that as the Moon is filled with more ships, both public and private, there will be better coordination to avoid these risks.

Just as Russia and India are fighting to be the first to land at the south pole, Japan will join the race by launching its Slim mission, a small device developed by the Japanese space agency that is scheduled to take off on August 26. In this case, its goal is to land far from the pole, in the equatorial zones of the Moon.

The highlight of the lunar gold rush is the crewed mission to the Moon, set to be launched by the United States and its allies. Earlier this week, the head of NASA, Bill Nelson, gave a press conference that seemed designed to coincide with the launch of the Russian mission Luna-25, which was carried out successfully on Friday. His main message was that the dates for the manned Artemis 2 and 3 missions have not been changed, despite the fact that the rocket needed for one of them, SpaceXs Starship, blew up on its first test. Artemis 2, which will be crewed by three Americans and one Canadian, will depart in late 2024 for a flyby of the Moon. The next mission, set for December 2025, will see the first woman and first Black astronaut set foot on the Moon, 50 years after the first crewed missions to the satellite. The goal is to land at the south pole.

Nelson agrees that there is a space race, although says Americas main rival is not Russia or India, but China. I dont want China to get to the south pole first with humans, and then say, This is ours, stay out, said Nelson, who is a former member of Congress. Through the Artemis accords, the United States is establishing itself as the world arbitrator that will monitor that the resources of the Moon are accessible to all signatories. So far, 28 countries have signed the accords. Despite the Ukraine war and his distance from the Putin regime, Nelson was surprisingly supportive of the Russian mission. We wish them luck, he said of Luna-25.

In 2024, NASA also hopes to launch several robotic missions, including a mobile exploration rover, that will pave the way for astronauts and the Artemis Base Camp, the first human settlement on the south pole of the Moon. From there, the astronauts will explore the environment using different mission-conditioned vehicles, first for several days and later for weeks. It will be the start of public-private projects that will be developed this decade, and begin the exploitation of water and minerals on the Moon. Lunar surface and orbital bases will be the test sites for future missions to Mars, with a one-way trip lasting a year.

Veteran Russian scientist Mikhail Marov, a specialist in exploration of the solar system, hoped that space exploration may lead to greater global cooperation. One hundred and twleve years ago, in 1911, the study of the Earths south pole began, he wrote in a special issue of the Astronomical Bulletin magazine dedicated to Luna-25. Half a century later, Antarctica is home to several thousand people from almost 30 countries, who constantly carry out large-scale scientific research there. In the modern era, the beginning of the development of the south pole of the Moon may become an analogue of this process.

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Atentie la Orientul Mijlociu - Un imperiu arab renaste

In spatele ambitiilor fotbalistice ale Riadului se afla mai mult de-atat: un rol de adevarata superputere regionala, cu care ne vom intalni din ce in ce mai des Nu stiu daca fostul antrenor al nationalei, Roberto Mancini, a acceptat sau nu oferta de a merge sa lucreze in Arabia Saudita. [citeste mai departe]
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accepted Prime Minister Viktor Orban's invitation to pay a working visit to Budapest on August 20, the prime minister's press chief said.

The Hungarian-Turkish summit will be held at Orbans office, and issues on the agenda include security, the defence industry and economic affairs.



The sides will also prepare groundwork for the next meeting of the Hungarian-Turkish high-level strategic cooperation council to be held at the end of this year.



Orban and Erdogan last met at the NATO summit in Vilnius last month to discuss Swedens accession to the alliance. At a meeting in Ankara in March, the two leaders discussed the war in Ukraine and energy security issues.



Orbans press chief said after their meeting that both Hungary and Turkiye had an interest in a just peace reached through diplomatic means as quickly as possible.



Erdogan thanked Hungary for the solidarity it showed in the aftermath of the February earthquake in Turkiye and for its enormous help, especially the heroic efforts of Hungarian search and rescue teams.



Orban asked Erdogan to ensure that Turkiye continues to be a reliable partner in the delivery of natural gas from the east.



MTI Photo: Tamas Kovacs
David McCormick, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, speaks during a campaign stop in Lititz, Friday, May 13, 2022.

David McCormick had a clear explanation for why his fellow Republican, Dr. Mehmet Oz, lost a critical Pennsylvania Senate seat: Voters viewed the daytime television celebrity as an interloper from New Jersey with limited ties to the state he hoped to represent.

People want to know that the person that theyre voting for gets it, McCormick, who narrowly lost to Oz in a GOP primary, said in March when asked to offer a postmortem of the general election defeat. And part of getting it is understanding that you just didnt come in yesterday.

As Republicans aim to gain the one seat they need to retake the Senate in next years elections, McCormick is a top recruit. And before his anticipated campaign, hes working to avoid Ozs fate, frequently noting his upbringing in Pennsylvania, his ownership of a home in Pittsburgh and a family farm near Bloomsburg.

I live in Pennsylvania, McCormick said during a March appearance on Texas Sen. Ted Cruzs podcast.

But the reality is more complex. While McCormick does own a home in Pittsburgh, a review of public records, real estate listings and footage from recent interviews indicates he still lives on Connecticuts Gold Coast, one of the densest concentrations of wealth in America. The former hedge fund CEO rents a $16 million mansion in Westport that features a 1,500-bottle wine cellar, an elevator and a private waterfront resort overlooking Long Island Sound.

The trappings of a wealthy enclave, well outside Pennsylvania, offer a jarring contrast with the political identity McCormick has sought to cultivate, which emphasizes his upbringing buck hunting, his Army service and his desire to serve his home state.

Whether voters care will be tested anew should McCormick formally launch a campaign to unseat three-term Democratic Sen. Bob Casey in the 2024 election, which will help determine partisan control of the chamber. Recent Senate history suggests that even favorite sons can be stung when loose ties to home become a campaign issue.

Chris Borick, a professor of political science at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, said McCormick has more legitimate connections to Pennsylvania than Mehmet Oz. But he questioned the decision to spend significant time out-of-state, particularly given the decisive role that residency played in the 2022 matchup between Oz and Democratic Sen. John Fetterman.

He spent a big chunk of time working for Wall Street and living in Connecticut, Borick said of McCormick. Theres nothing wrong with that choice  unless you want to be a U.S. senator from Pennsylvania.

He added, As someone who is aware that he is going to have to confront this, its questionable to not really devote yourself.

A spokeswoman for McCormick, Elizabeth Gregory, declined to make him available for an interview and would not say how much of his time he spends at his Connecticut mansion, which also boasts a spa, pool and heated pavilion nestled in an area that real estate listings describe as a summer playground of Americas wealthiest families.

Dave has called Pennsylvania home for 30 years and served our country outside of Pennsylvania for an additional 13, she said. Its the place he mailed letters back to when he served in Iraq and the place where three of his daughters were born.

She said, While he maintains a residence in Connecticut as his daughters finish high school, Daves home is in Pittsburgh and for the last 10 years he has owned a working farm in his hometown of Bloomsburg, which has been in the family for decades.

McCormick was raised in that Susquehanna River town, where his father was a local college president. Political ads emphasize a biography of high school sport, hunting and trimming Christmas trees on his familys farm.

His career since leaving Pennsylvania has been considerably more gilded.

After graduating West Point, McCormick served as an officer in the Gulf War and later earned a doctorate from Princeton. During the heady days of the dot-com bubble, McCormick was CEO of the internet auctioneering house FreeMarkets  amassing wealth as he steered the Pittsburgh-based company to a nearly $500 million acquisition deal in 2004.

He served several years in President George W. Bushs administration, including a stint as a top deputy to then-Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson. Afterward, he joined the upper executive ranks of the global hedge fund behemoth Bridgewater Associates, eventually climbing to CEO. In 2022, McCormick and his wife, Dina Powell McCormick, a former Goldman Sachs executive, held a net worth that ranged between $95.7 million and at least $196.7 million, and included homes in Dallas and the Colorado Rockies, according to an analysis of a candidate financial disclosure he filed with the Senate last year.

Once McCormick set his sights on the U.S. Senate, he began to make some well-timed adjustments.

Three months before launching his first Senate run in January 2022, McCormick sold his familys $6.5 million home in Fairfield, Connecticut. That was followed by the $2.8 million purchase of a stately Tudor-style home in Pittsburghs Squirrel Hill North neighborhood, records show.

Around the same time, the Connecticut mansion, which he now lists as his home address in some public documents, was taken off the rental market.

McCormick has also not received a homestead tax exemption on his Pittsburgh home, a tax break reserved for an individuals primary place of residence. He voted in a Pennsylvania election for the first time in 16 years during the 2022 Republican primary, when he was on the ballot, voting records show.

When McCormick delivered his concession speech after losing to Oz by just over 900 votes, he was unequivocal about where he lived.

Were not going anywhere. This is my home. This is our home, McCormick said. This is where my dreams were launched, and this is where we plan to have a future.

Meanwhile, his children continued to attend a $53,000-a-year Connecticut private school where one is still enrolled, according to the schools website.

In January, as McCormick started to eye another run, he shed his $13.4 million condo on Manhattans Upper East Side. A document signed by McCormick that was filed in connection with the sale was notarized in Westport, Connecticut, and lists the nearby beachfront home as his address.

This spring, McCormick participated in a series of virtual interviews from the kitchen of his Westport home. Distinguishing features in the background match pictures that were posted publicly before the McCormicks moved in.

A $5,000 campaign contribution made in late March also lists the beachside house as McCormicks home.

McCormicks wealth, which he can channel into his political aspirations, makes him an attractive potential candidate to the Republican Washington establishment, which is cheering him to run again.

But it also presents an opportunity for Democrats, who are likely to seize on his ties to Wall Street in what is expected to again be one of the most competitive Senate matchups in the country.

This is all dress up, said J.B. Poersch, the head of Senate Democrats TV spending campaign arm. Covering up for the years that he spent as a hedge fund-monger appears to be just as important as pretending that he fits in.

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A legal nonprofit that has targeted colleges and universities offering preferential treatment based on race accused the University of Nebraska-Lincoln of racial discrimination for creating and supporting a residency program for Black filmmakers.

The Equal Protection Project, which was involved in the U.S. Supreme Court case challenging Harvard Universitys race-conscious admission policies, filed the complaint dated Sunday against UNL with the U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights.

In its complaint, the Equal Protection Project alleges a partnership between UNLs Johnny Carson School of Emerging Media Arts and the New York City-based nonprofit Black Public Media violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment as well as the Civil Rights Act.

The Black Public Media Residency program between the two entities was a partnership to serve "Black filmmakers, artists and creative technologists" by offering them access to and training on emerging technology equipment and software.

The residency program, which ran for several weeks in July in both 2022 and 2023, "seeks to develop the talent of producers of color," specifically projects where "a person of African descent is in a key creative position" such as writer, director or producer.

William Jacobson, a Cornell University professor and the founder of conservative blog Legal Insurrection, which launched the Equal Protection Project in February, said requiring at least one person on the team of creatives to be Black diminished the opportunities for others.

"The racial discrimination of the (UNL) program is particularly pernicious because it requires that student teams organize themselves around race, with one team member required to be Black," Jacobson said in a statement. "This puts students in the position of choosing among their peers focused on race. Making students complicit in the discrimination is offensive and troubling."

Three filmmakers and artists  Eboni Zamani of Philadelphia, J. Bird Lathon of Clarksville, Tennessee, and Conrad Burgos of Buffalo, New York  were selected for the second year of the residency program funded through a $40,000 award from the National Endowment for the Arts, which ran between July 10-21.

Because UNL receives federal funding, it is required to follow Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 banning discrimination on the basis of race, the complaint states, even if the discrimination advances "a benign 'intention' or 'motivation.'"

"Thus, regardless of UNLs reasons for creating, sponsoring and promoting the BPMR, it violated Title VI by doing so," the complaint states. "And, because UNL is a public institution, its creation, sponsorship and promotion of the BPMR also violates the Equal Protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment."

The complaint also refers to the Students for Fair Admissions case decided in June by the Supreme Court, which found that racial categories were often overly broad and did not further the educational goals of an institution.

The Equal Protection Project asks the Office of Civil Rights to "investigate the blatantly discriminatory" program and implement penalties, including "imposing fines, initiating administrative proceedings to suspend, terminate, or refuse to grant or continue federal financial assistance."

Jacobson also said the NU system should "appoint a special investigator" to look for other programs that provide preferential treatment on the basis of race.

In a statement Monday afternoon, a university spokeswoman said NU has not received a copy of the complaint from the Office for Civil Rights.

"When we do, we will respond appropriately," the university said in its statement.

According to the Department of Education, the Office for Civil Rights will review the complaint to determine whether it has legal authority to investigate or if the allegations raised have been resolved.

If investigators determine there are grounds to proceed, investigators can review documentary evidence, interview the parties involved or conduct a site visit to evaluate the allegations.

The office will then decide whether there is a preponderance of evidence to support a conclusion that UNL violated the law, or if there is insufficient evidence to support that finding.

The action against UNL is the latest in a series of actions taken by the Equal Protection Project this summer against colleges and universities that offer residencies, internships or other programs that give preference to racial minorities or other underrepresented groups.

The EPP filed a civil rights complaint against the State University of New York at Buffalos School of Law for its Discover Law Undergraduate Scholars Program, a four-week residential program for 20 high-performing students that gives preference to students of color and first-generation students.

In early June, the organization also targeted an internship program offered by the University of Minnesota for Black and Native students that has been in place since the 1980s, the MinnPost reported.

The University of Minnesota quickly renamed and relaunched the program, eliminating the preferences for students from minority groups, but that didnt assuage EPP or state lawmakers who criticized the program as discriminatory.

The Equal Protection Project also filed a complaint against Missouri State University earlier this year, alleging the small business boot camp for women and people of color was discriminatory against white males.

Top Journal Star Photos for August
An American Airlines flight recently dropped 15,000 feet in mere three minutes, creating panic inside the cabin of the aircraft. The flight was en route Gainesville from Charlotte, North Carolina in the US when it encountered a possible pressurisation issue, which left passengers "terrified", media reports said. Dropping 15,000 feet in 3 minutes is an unusually fast pace of descent for any aircraft and as per flight records, the biggest drop happened about 42 minutes after the plane was in flight and lasted six minutes.

The records further stated that the flight descended a total of 18,600 feet, more than half the flying altitude of the flight, which is usually between 30,000 to 33,000 feet above the sea above. The crew of the Florida bound flight reported a possible pressurisation issue, Fox 35 News quoted Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) spokesperson as saying.

University of Florida professor Harrison Hove, who was onboard the plane, took to the social media to share harrowing experience. Sharing photos on X, he said: "I've flown a lot. This was scary." In the photos oxygen masks are seen hanging in the plane with many passengers, including him, trying to breathe with its help, reported IANS.



"Kudos to our amazing flight crew-cabin staff and pilots on American Air 5916. The photos cannot capture the burning smell, loud bang or ear pops," the caption read. He praised flight crew and pilots, saying they kept the passengers "informed and calm."

"Something failed midflight and depressurised the cabin. The burning smell can apparently be attributed to using the oxygen canisters. The wing flaps came out to immediately lower our altitude so there would be more oxygen. It was terrifying but turned out ok."
New Delhi: Diversified entity ITC Ltd on Monday said shareholders will get one equity share of ITC Hotels for every 10 shares held in the demerged company (ITC Ltd), according to the entitlement ratio. At the board meeting of ITC Ltd held on Monday, it was decided that issuance of equity shares by the resulting company ITC Hotels Ltd to the shareholders of the demerged entity will be in the ratio of 1:10, as per a regulatory filing by the firm.

The company said the scheme of demerger comprising hotels business of the demerged company into the resulting entity is on a going concern basis. Giving the rationale for the demerger, ITC said it is a diversified company engaged in various businesses including hotels.

The hotels business of ITC has matured over the years and is well poised to chart its own growth path and operate as a separate listed entity in the fast-growing hospitality industry, whilst continuing to leverage ITC's institutional strengths, strong brand equity and goodwill, it said in the filing to the bourses.



The firm said the demerger would be in the best interests of the two companies and their respective shareholders and other stakeholders. ITC Hotels will have the ability to raise capital from equity and debt markets for funding its growth requirements. Following the demerger, there will be no change in the shareholding pattern of ITC.

Post the implementation of the scheme of arrangement, the shareholders of ITC Ltd will directly hold 60 per cent in ITC Hotels Ltd, and the balance 40 per cent by ITC. The scheme will also unlock the value of the hotels business for the existing shareholders of ITC Ltd through independent market-driven valuation of their shares, which will be listed on the BSE and NSE in the next few months.
New Delhi: A beheaded body of a 12-year-old student was found inside the hostel of a Madrassa in the Cachar district of Assam on Sunday. The incident took place at the Darus Salam Hafizia Madrasa in the Dholai area, and his body was found by one of the six roommates.

"There were seven students, including the deceased, inside the hostel room. His roommate saw the beheaded body when he woke up in the morning," an official said.

The police has arrested the Imam of the Darus Salam Hafizia Madrasa on the basis of statements of eyewitnesses. The police said that Imam was apparently angry as the deceased student used to go out of the Madrassa hostel without informing him. The Imam, however, has refuted the charges.



According to police, the deceased student was enrolled in the Madrasa around three months ago.

Meanwhile, the body has been sent to Silchar Medical College and Hospital for post-mortem.

The institute has been sealed by the authorities pending investigation of the case.
New Delhi: Over 68,000 Army soldiers, around 90 tanks and other weapon systems were airlifted by the Indian Air Force to eastern Ladakh from across the country for rapid deployment along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) after the deadly clashes in the Galwan Valley, top sources in defence and security establishment said.

The IAF deployed its Su-30 MKI and Jaguar jets in the region for round-the-clock surveillance and intelligence gathering on the enemy build-up, apart from putting several squadrons of combat aircraft in "offensive posturing" in the wake of the clashes on June 15, 2020, that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades, they said.

The troops and weapons were ferried by the transport fleet of the IAF within a "very short period of time" for quick deployment in various inhospitable areas along the LAC under a special operation, the sources said while highlighting how the force's strategic airlift capability has increased over the years.



In view of the escalating tensions, the IAF had also deployed a sizeable number of remotely piloted aircraft (RPAs) in the region to keep a hawk-eye vigil on Chinese activities, they said. The IAF aircraft airlifted multiple divisions of the Indian Army, totalling over 68,000 troops, more than 90 tanks, nearly 330 BMP infantry combat vehicles, radar systems, artillery guns and many other equipments, they said.

The total load carried by the transport fleet of the IAF, which included C-130J Super Hercules and C-17 Globemaster aircraft, was 9,000 tonnes and displayed the IAF's increasing strategic airlift capabilities, they added.

Following the clashes, a plethora of fighter jets, including Rafale and Mig-29 aircraft, were deployed for combat air patrol while various helicopters of the IAF were pressed into service for the transport of prefabricated structures, ammunition and spares of military equipment to mountainous bases.

The sources said the range of surveillance by Su-30 MKI and Jaguar fighter jets was around 50 km and they ensured that the positions and movements of Chinese troops were accurately monitored.

The IAF also quickly enhanced its air defence capabilities and combat readiness by installing various radars and bringing a range of surface-to-air guided weapons to frontline bases along the LAC in the region, they said.

The strategy was to strengthen military posture, maintain credible forces and monitor the enemy build-up to effectively deal with any situation, the sources said, referring to India's overall approach.

The IAF platforms operated in extremely difficult circumstances and accomplished all their mission goals, said a source without sharing further details.

The overall operation demonstrated the IAF's growing airlift capability compared to what it was during 'Operation Parakram', said another source. Following the terrorist attack on Parliament in December 2001, India had launched the 'Operation Parakram' under which it mobilised a huge number of troops along the Line of Control.

The government has been giving a major push to infrastructure development along the nearly 3,500 km long LAC following the eastern Ladakh faceoff. The Army has also taken a series of measures since the Galwan Valley clashes to enhance its combat capabilities. It has already deployed a significant number of easily transportable M-777 ultra-light howitzers in mountainous regions along the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh.

The M-777 can be transported quickly in Chinook helicopters and the Army now has the flexibility of quickly moving them from one place to another based on operational requirements. The Army has also powered its units in Arunachal Pradesh with a sizeable number of US-manufactured all-terrain vehicles, 7.62MM Negev Light Machine Guns from Israel and various other lethal weapons.

The Indian and Chinese troops are still locked in the over three-year confrontation in certain friction points in eastern Ladakh even as the two sides completed disengagement from several areas following extensive diplomatic and military talks. The ties between India and China nosedived significantly following the fierce confrontation in the Galwan Valley.

Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the LAC in the region. A fresh round of high-level military talks between the two sides is scheduled to take place on Monday. In the dialogue, India is set to press for early disengagement of troops from the remaining friction points.

On July 24, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi on the sidelines of a meeting of the five-nation grouping BRICS in Johannesburg. The eastern Ladakh border standoff erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong Lake area.
New Delhi: India and China are set to hold their next round of military commander-level talks on August 14. This would be the 19th round of talks since June 2020, news reports said. The talks are said to take place at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Indian side.

The latest round of Corps Commander level talks will take place almost four months after the last military dialogue was held on April 23.

The 19th round of military talks will take place in the run-up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending the BRICS Summit in South Africas Johannesburg on August 22-24. The possibility of a meeting between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the summit has not been ruled out, people aware of the matter said. Also, the Chinese leader is expected to be in New Delhi for the G20 summit in September.



Despite four rounds of disengagement from Galwan Valley, Pangong Tso, Gogra (PP-17A) and Hot Springs (PP-15), the Indian and Chinese armies still have more than 60,000 troops each and advanced weaponry deployed in the Ladakh theatre. It, however, ended in a stalemate. Since then there has been a series of high-level contacts between the two sides.

The Indian delegation is likely to be headed by Lt Gen Rashim Bali, Commander of the Leh-headquartered 14 Corps. The Chinese team is expected to be led by the commander of the South Xinjiang Military District, the newspaper reported.

The Indian delegation at the talks is going to seek completion of the disengagement process in the remaining friction points at the earliest, said one of the persons cited above, one of the people familiar with the matter told PTI on Saturday, August 12.

During the 18th round of talks, held on April 23, the Indian side had strongly pressed for resolving the lingering issues at Depsang and Demchok.
New Delhi: Torrential rains on Monday ravaged Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, destroying buildings and causing landslides and leaving over 50 people dead. At least 48 people were killed in Himachal Pradesh, with 14 of them in two Shimla landslips including one at a temple as rains wreaked havoc in the hilly state. In Uttarakhand, heavy rains triggered landslides which breached the national highways to Badrinath, Kedarnath and Gangotri shrines. The downpour also led to the suspension of the Char Dham yatra for two days.

Rain Wreaks Havoc In Himachal Pradesh

Heavy rains battered Himachal Pradesh since Sunday, triggering landslides that blocked several roads, including the key Shimla-Chandigarh highway. As many as 752 roads are currently blocked in the state.



As per the latest updates, at least 48 people have died in rain-related incidents in Himachal Pradesh, including 19 in the Mandi district.

In Solan district's Jadon village, seven members of a family were killed in a cloudburst on Sunday night.

In the Balera panchayat of the district, two children died as their makeshift house collapsed in a landslide, while a woman died in a landslide in Banal village of Ramsheher tehsil. Six bodies were also recovered at Sambhal near Pandoh.

Several parts of the state capital was without electricity since Sunday night as landslides and uprooted trees damaged power lines.

The weather department has issued a yellow warning for heavy rains on Tuesday and predicted a wet spell in the state till August 18.

So far, the state has suffered losses to the tune of Rs 7,171 crore since the onset of the monsoon on June 24, as per the state emergency operation centre.

As many as 170 incidents of cloudburst and landslide have been reported in the state in the current monsoon season and about 9,600 houses partially or completely damaged.

Rain Fury In Uttarakhand

Heavy rains also battered Uttarakhand on Monday, destroying buildings and causing landslides. It left at least three people dead and five others missing. A private defence training academy on the outskirts of Dehradun also collapsed amid the incessant rains.

Rudraprayag district disaster management officer Nandan Singh Rajwar said a landslide hit a camp at Lincholi near Kedarnath, killing one person from Nepal.

Two bodies were also recovered from rain-fed streams near Shiv Mandir and Miranagar areas in Rishikesh.

Four-five people were missing after a landslide in the Laxmanjhula area of Pauri district.

Most of the rivers were overflowing due to the rain with the Ganga flowing above the danger mark in Tehri, Haridwar, and Rishikesh.

The Badrinath National Highway is blocked at a number of places due to landslide debris.

In the Chamoli district, a flood-like situation has developed along the banks of a dozen rivers, including Alaknanda and its tributaries Pindar, Nandakini, and Birhi.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami held a meeting with senior officials to review the rain situation in the state and decided to suspend the Chardham yatra for two days.
Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav: On the occasion of Independence Day, the entire nation honors Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Anita Bose Pfaff, Netaji's daughter, who was at the time residing in Germany, urged the Indian government to return Netaji's remains to India. According to Anita Bose, nothing in Netaji's life was more significant than the nation's freedom. The cause of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's disappearance is currently unknown. Many reported that Netaji perished in an airplane accident. One of the Japanese officials later collected his remains, which were kept at the Renkoji Temple in Tokyo. Three generations of priests have since cared for Netaji's remains (Asthiya).

Appeal For DNA Testing

The daughter of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose has stated that it is time for the ashes of her father to be returned to India and that, if technically possible, DNA testing can help soothe the concerns of skeptics who continue to query the circumstances of his death in 1945. Anita Bose, 79, stated that she is ready for a DNA examination of the ashes of Netaji that are kept in a temple in Tokyo, Japan. Additionally, she stated that the Japanese government and temple priests had no issues with the trial and were prepared to hand over the 'Asthiya'.



Bring Netaji Home

Nothing was more significant in Netaji's life than the independence of his nation, Anita Bose said in her speech, which she addressed to the people of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. So this is the right moment to at least bring his remains back to Indian soil. She exhorted the populace to make an attempt to return Netaji's ashes to his Motherland. Dr. Anita Bose Pfaff told ANI, "I request all Indians to support me in repatriating Netaji's remains." The fact that he did not live to see a free India is extremely regrettable. If his remains could ever be returned to his Motherland, it would at least be a wonderful replacement, she continued.

Netaji's Death: An Unsolved Mystery

Nearly eight decades after Netaji allegedly passed away on August 18, 1945, Subhas Chandra Bose's demise is still unknown. Many people think he died in a plane crash in Formosa, then under the Japanese administration (now Taiwan), while others disagree. A number of Netaji's Indian relatives also made repeated requests to the government to find out Netaji's whereabouts after he left Taiwan. Anita Bose Faf, an economist of Austrian descent, is the only child of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Emilie Schenkl. When Netaji relocated to Southeast Asia from Germany to resist the British, she was just four months old.

The three states that were founded on the Indian subcontinent commemorate the day that India was able to free itself from colonial domination 75 years ago. Subhas Chandra Bose, one of the most well-known figures in the independence movement, has not yet visited his native country. Throughout his life, Netaji, as his fellow soldiers in the Indian National Army (INA) affectionately and respectfully referred to him, battled for independence both domestically and overseas. His mental tranquility, a family life, a job, and eventually his life were all sacrificed in this fight.
New Delhi: Actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha on Monday said he would love to see West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as the next Prime Minister of the country. Sinha, who is a member of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), headed by Banerjee, made the statement in response to a query as to how he saw Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as a prospective Prime Ministerial candidate.

"It would be very good for the country that at a time when we also have a woman as the President, we had a woman as the Prime Minister too. A firebrand leader like Mamata Banerjee, who has a mass base, would fit the bill," he told the news agency PTI in an interview.

Sinha, who represents Asansol in the Lok Sabha, however, hastened to add "who would be the Prime Minister is a decision that would be taken at an appropriate time. My point is to underscore that we, in INDIA, have no dearth of talent".



"We have youth icon Rahul Gandhi, in whom the nation sees its future. We have the modern day Chanakya - Sharad Pawar. And of course, we have firebrand mass leader Mamata Banerjee. In contrast, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA has none except Prime Minister Narendra Modi," asserted the actor-turned-politician.

Sinha, who quit the BJP four years ago and remained with the Congress for a brief period before joining the TMC, also asserted, "It does not behoove the Prime Minister to mock our alliance with the use of terms like 'ghamandia' (proud)".

"He speaks of issues like corruption and nepotism to criticize the opposition coalition. As a former NDA insider, I wager that the BJP and its allies are second to none when it comes to nepotism. And their stand on corruption got exposed when they allied with those accused of corruption in Maharashtra by the PM," said Sinha.

"As I have said, we have no dearth of talent. The BJP should worry for itself. The PM keeps saying he is a 'fakir' (mendicant) who may pick up his 'jhola' (humble belongings) and leave. If he indeed does so, how will the BJP ensure that the show goes on?" the former BJP leader queried sarcastically.

Shatrughan Sinha on Rahul Gandhi's flying kiss controversy

On the flying kiss controversy, Shatrughan Sinha said he was surprised at the allegation levelled against Rahul Gandhi by Union minister Smriti Irani "who respects me a lot as a senior in the acting profession, though unlike me, she never made it to films and remained confined to TV serials".

"I too was present in the House at the time. No such gesture was made. I wonder why Irani, who has matured over the years, made such an allegation," said the superstar of yesteryears, adding, with a hint of mischief, the Urdu couplet "kuchh tho majbooriyan rahi hongi, yunhi koi bewafa nahin hota (there must have been some pressing compulsions, one does not become unfaithful just like that)".

Sinha also criticised the Prime Minister over his speech in Parliament, given in reply to the no-confidence motion.

Reciting the couplet "bahut der kar di meherbaan aate aate", to underscore it was too little and too late, Sinha remarked, "It appeared the PM was engaged in a contest with his Home Minister (Amit Shah) who spoke for two hours. So the PM gave a speech that was even longer. It was a sure cure for insomnia".

Often known by the nickname 'Shotgun', Sinha, known for his gift of the gab, recited another verse that he frequently uses to deride the Narendra Modi government, "Tu idhar-udhar ki na baat kar, ye bata ki kaarwan kyon luta, mujhe rahzanon se gila nahin teri rahbari ka sawaal hai (don't meander, tell me why did the caravan was robbed. I don't resent the robbers but I am worried about your credibility as the ruler)".

Shatrughan Sinha backs Nitish Kumar, Tejashwi Yadav

The former Patna Sahib MP, who represented the seat covering his hometown for two consecutive terms, until losing it in 2019, asserted that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav were "absolutely right" in taking exception to Modi's claim that a new AIIMS has been set up in Darbhanga.

"The PM's claim may go down in history as yet another goof up by the leader who famously spoke of Alexander reaching the shores of the Ganges and Kabir and Nanak meeting in Gorakhpur. Of course, becoming the Prime Minister does not make you a scholar. But I wonder what type of people brief him. I also wonder whether he listens carefully when he is briefed about issues," said Sinha.

"It is a fact that six new AIIMS were set up when we were around," said Sinha, in an indirect reference to his short tenure as Union Health Minister under Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

He also deplored Modi's 'khooni khel' (game of blood) jibe at Banerjee claiming it "betrayed the frustration over the thrashing received by the BJP in Panchayat polls, which saw the TMC registering a record win".

"The PM got so upset when he was called 'maut ka saudagar', but he wants to get away by saying whatever he pleases," alleged Sinha, referring to the remark made by the then Congress president Sonia Gandhi when Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat.

"We adore Mamata Banerjee and call him didi (sister). What an ugly thing to say about her at a time when the country is gearing up for Raksha Bandhan festivities," Sinha added with a rhetorical flourish.
Vandana Shiva, a name that irks many big names from technologically and scientifically advanced industries is a world-known environmentalist whose emblem is the seed as she underscores the vital role of seeds in all creation, cautioning against the perception of seeds as mere machines. Many of you have come to know about the environmentalist from the shorts on YouTube, reels on Instagram and short clips on various other social media platforms where she is seen taking aim at MNCs, and chemical industries for producing genetically modified crops, emphasising the use of agrochemicals.

She is also popular for taking shots at multi-billionaires and business tycoons like Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos for manipulating the markets, putting "indirect pressure on small local businesses" and dodging taxation in India.

For nearly fifty years, Shiva has been at the forefront of the environmental justice movement in India. Revered as one of the planet's most formidable eco-advocates, she has strived to safeguard forests, shut down polluting mines, unveil the hazards of pesticides, advocate for global organic farming, champion ecofeminism, and confront influential chemical conglomerates.



Vandana Shiva: Education, Career, Personal Life

Her indomitable spirit of resistance can be traced back to her parents, who held feminist ideals ahead of their time. Born and raised in the mountainous state of Uttarakhand, where her father transitioned from the military to forestry after India's independence in 1947, Shiva grew up with an unwavering belief in her equality with men. Her identity was deeply intertwined with the forests, and from an early age, the intricacies of natural laws fascinated her.

Around the age of six, Shiva stumbled upon a collection of quotes by Albert Einstein in a small, musty forest lodge library. This encounter ignited an unwavering determination to become a physicist. Despite the absence of scientific education in her rural convent school, Shiva's parents nurtured her curiosity and facilitated her learning. By her twenties, she had completed her quantum physics Ph.D. at a Canadian university.

At seventy years of age, Shiva  a divorcee with a son  has steadfastly rejected the patriarchal norms prevalent in 1950s India. She has authored over twenty books and, when not traversing the globe for workshops or speaking engagements, divides her time between her Delhi office and her organic farm nestled in the Himalayan foothills.

However, as logging, dam construction, and development exacted a toll on Uttarakhand's forests, and local women joined the Chipko movement to oppose it, Shiva experienced a transformative realization upon returning to India. She began questioning why new technology and development seemed to exacerbate the impoverishment of local communities and the degradation of landscapes, a realization that veered her away from quantum physics.

Vandana Shiva's Aim To Protect Nature through Natural Seeds

Establishing her research foundation in 1982, Shiva delved into the intersection of science, technology, and ecology. She embarked on documenting India's "green revolution" of the late 1960s, a government-led initiative aimed at enhancing crop yields and averting famine through technology, mechanization, and agrochemicals. She founded Navdanya in 1991, a project aimed at preserving India's indigenous seeds and promoting their adoption among farmers. Shiva's outspoken and unwavering stance on GM organisms and globalization has earned her both admirers and detractors.

She contends that the belief in our ability to manipulate life and tamper with the intricate DNA of living beings without repercussions is a dangerous misconception. Central to her life's mission is the protection of natural seed varieties, resisting their alteration into genetically modified, commercially controlled versions.

Vandana Shiva Guiding Farmers Back To Organic Farming

Notwithstanding the ongoing battle against chemical corporations, Shiva regards her most significant contribution as her journeys through India's villages. Here, she collects and preserves seeds, including an impressive 4,000 rice varieties, establishes over a hundred seed banks, and guides farmers back to organic farming methods.

The essence of life, according to Vandana Shiva, is close at hand and easily observable. Yet, within a society engrossed in a whirlwind of technological progress, bioengineering, and attempts at self-improvement, she expresses concern that we are unintentionally on a path to its destruction.
Donald Trump at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday. SCOTT MORGAN (REUTERS)

Its another decisive week for Donald Trump. In the coming days, the frontrunner to win the 2024 Republican presidential nomination could face his fourth indictment in less than five months over his alleged efforts to interfere in the 2020 presidential election in Georgia. For the past two and a half years, Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis has been investigating how Trump and his allies pressured senior state officials to find the votes he needed to win in the state. Now Willis will present the case to a grand jury in Atlanta, with two key witnesses, who previously received subpoenas, set to testify on Tuesday. It is the clearest indication that Willis will present her case before a jury ahead of schedule.

The criminal probe in Georgia is a state investigation, just as the New York indictment filed against Trump into hush money paid to a porn star during the 2016 presidential election involves state charges. In the other two indictments against Trump  for withholding classified papers at Mar-a-Lago and for election subversion  the former president is facing federal charges.

Although Willis has avoided commenting on a specific date, sources from her office said on Saturday that she will seek charges by the end of the week. Security measures have visibly increased around the county courthouse, and her team have been working remotely for the past few weeks to limit the risk of possible attacks.

If Trump is charged in Georgia, it would be his fourth indictment in less than five months, and the second stemming from his efforts to overturn Joe Bidens 2020 victory. He was charged August 1 in Washington federal court with orchestrating a multistate conspiracy to reverse the election results, as a result of the investigation led by special counsel Jack Smith, who is also leading the investigation into the classified documents that Trump took to his Florida residence in Mar-a-Lago.

The Georgia indictment may list 20 other defendants. The events date back to the period between November 2020 and early January 2021, when, on Trumps orders, people from his circle, including his former lawyer Rudy Giuliani, maneuvered to overturn the vote in Georgia, which Joe Biden won by a narrow margin. Giuliani recently admitted that he had lied when he claimed that two Georgia election workers committed ballot fraud.

The two witnesses called to testify Tuesday are Republican Geoff Duncan, the former lieutenant governor of Georgia, who has criticized Trumps false allegations of voter fraud, and freelance journalist, George Chidi. Both confirmed on Saturday that they have been subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury on Tuesday in Atlanta. Ill certainly answer whatever questions are put in front of me, Duncan told CNN. Like Duncan, other senior official in the Republican-governed Georgia rejected Trumps requests, including Governor Brian Kemp, who was reelected last year after becoming one of the most outspoken critics of the false voter fraud allegations.

The main evidence in the indictment is the recording of a call that Trump made on January 2, 2021, to Republican Brad Raffensperger, the Georgia secretary of state. In the audio, Trump is heard saying: I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than the number won by Biden. Trump, who was still president at the time, berated Raffensperger and threatened him with vague criminal consequences if he refused to act. But the secretary of state rejected Trumps request, arguing that it was based on disproven conspiracy theories. Raffensperger made it clear to Trump that Bidens victory in Georgia by a margin of 11,779 votes had been legitimate. The data you have is wrong, he told Trump.

In addition to the phone call, Willis has examined a breach of election machines in a rural county and a plot to use fake electors in a bid to capture the states electoral votes for Trump rather than Biden in Georgia, a swing state that was decisive to Bidens win. Journalist Chidi wrote about a secret meeting of those electors at the state capitol in December 2020, which is why he has been called to testify.

As with the other cases against him, Trump claims the Georgia investigation is a witch hunt. The former presidents legal troubles may be deepening, but he remains the favorite to win the Republican nomination for the White House in 2024.

On Saturday, he traveled to Iowa, which is where the primaries will kick off in January. At the Iowa State Fair  a mix of politics and country music, with barbecues, pig roasts and lots of American flags  Trump outshone the other Republican presidential hopefuls at the event: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Trumps closest rival, who is still trailing by 34 points, and Vivek Ramaswamy. Both only managed to attract the attention of a few hundred supporters. Former U.S. ambassador Nikki Haley, who is also in the race, was also at the event, which is a mandatory stop for candidates hoping to win the midwestern state.

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New Delhi: Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg on Sunday traded barbs at each other before their upcoming cage fight at an epic location in Italy, with the Tesla CEO challenging Meta Founder to fight in his backyard on Monday. Musk posted a chat with Zuckerberg on X (formerly Twitter), saying he will be in Palo Alto (California) on Monday and offered to fight on Zuckerberg's Octagon.

Zuckerberg apparently messaged Musk: If you still want to do a real MMA fight, then you should train on your own and let me know when you're ready to compete. (Also Read: Gautam Adani's Superb Luxury Car Collection Makes Heads Turn)

I don't want to keep hyping something that will never happen, so you should either decide you're going to do this and do it soon, or we should move on, Zuckerberg said. (Also Read: Love & Profits: Turn Your Passion For Pairing Hearts Into Earnings And Earn Upto Rs 50,000 Per Wedding)



Musk replied: 1 have not been practicing much, apart from a brief bout with Lex Fridman today. While I think it is very unlikely, given our size difference, perhaps you are a modern-day Bruce Lee and will somehow win.

American author-journalist Walter Isaacson first posted that Musk is asking Zuckerberg to fight at his home in Palo Alto, California.

In a tweet, Isaacson who has been the President and CEO of the Aspen Institute, a nonpartisan policy studies organisation, said: I got this text message from Elon Musk at 4:44am CT showing a screenshot of some text messages in which he tells Zuckerberg they should fight this Monday at Zuckerbergs home in Palo Alto.

Zuckerberg later posted on Threads that I think we can all agree Elon isn't serious and it's time to move on.

I offered a real date. Dana White offered to make this a legit competition for charity. Elon won't confirm a date, then says he needs surgery, and now asks to do a practice round in my backyard instead, said the Meta Founder.

If Elon ever gets serious about a real date and official event, he knows how to reach me. Otherwise, time to move on. I'm going to focus on competing with people who take the sport seriously, Zuckerberg added.

Meta Founder and CEO earlier said he was "not holding his breath" for Musk to agree to a fight date. Musk had said he has been in contact with the Italian prime minister and minister of culture about hosting the event.

However, Zuckerberg said no date has been agreed. Zuckerberg, 39, holds a blue belt in jiu-jitsu and recently won gold and silver medals in a tournament.
NEW DELHI: On the occasion of its 77th Independence Day, the neighbouring nation's youths from Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) have called for observing August 14 as a "Black Day," expressing their discontent with the actions of the Pakistani government. Simultaneously, the Baloch community has labelled August 15 as a "Great Day," according to a report by news agency ANI. It's noteworthy that India and Pakistan parted ways on August 14, 1947, after centuries of British colonial rule.

India, in its pursuit of creating a secular state, embraced all religions, whereas Pakistan chose to identify itself as an "Islamic Republic," emphasizing its Muslim identity. Despite Balochistan being an integral part of India, the Pakistani authorities have mandated the hoisting of their national flag on all monuments. Nevertheless, numerous political activists and youth groups are commemorating the day as a "dark chapter" in their lives.

It's worth highlighting that Pakistan has been enforcing stringent laws against Baloch individuals, even imprisoning them for expressing critical views of the government through posts on social media.



Recently, in Muzaffarabad, the capital of PoK, several political activists were arrested on August 11 for sharing anti-Pakistan content on social platforms. Subsequently, they were subjected to mistreatment at a local police station, coerced into denouncing their actions, and compelled to post pro-Pakistan statements online.

Balochistan Is Not Pakistan.



While Pakistan celebrate 14th August as Independence day, so Baloch conisder 14th as a black day.



Do share, if you support for Free Balochistan #FreeBalochistan#14AugustBlackDay pic.twitter.com/QJVSSaBO0y  Fazila Baloch (@IFazilaBaloch) August 14, 2023

Balochistan Appeals to the Pakistani Government To Halt Chinese Investments

Moreover, the Baloch community has been actively protesting against Chinese investments in their region, particularly given the significant unemployment rates. They are opposing the government's collaboration with the Chinese government for job creation and other development initiatives. Just recently, a rebel group targeted a convoy of Chinese engineers in Balochistan, resulting in the demise of two militants.

Claiming responsibility for the attack, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) announced the successful conclusion of the third phase of "Operation Zir Pehazag." The BLA's statement conveyed a strong message to China, highlighting their perspective of Balochistan as an "occupied territory" and expressing their opposition to Beijing's ventures, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in the area.

"We have consistently urged China to reconsider its activities in Balochistan," the statement emphasized. The BLA views such endeavours as exploitative actions and asserts that any foreign investments in the region should only proceed once Balochistan achieves independence.
Celebrating the Independence Day 2023, Indian budget air carrier SpiceJet has announced an airfare sale for its flyers. Spicejet has unveiled a sale where flyers can buy air tickets starting at Rs 1,515, which also covers all applicable taxes, to celebrate the Independence Day on August 15. The airline, on microblogging website X (Twitter), said that this offer encompasses an added bonus in the form of a complimentary flight voucher valued at Rs 2,000. Further, customers availing this offer are entitled to secure their seats by paying a fee of Rs 15.

"Give flight to your freedom with SpiceJet's Independence Day Sale. Unbeatable airfares starting at just 1515 (inclusive of all taxes). Book your tickets now and avail exciting offers  Get a free flight voucher worth 2000 and reserve your preferred seats for just 15," SpiceJet mentioned on Twitter.

Give flight to your freedom with SpiceJet's Independence Day Sale. Unbeatable airfares starting at just 1515 (inclusive of all taxes). Book your tickets now and avail exciting offers  Get a free flight voucher worth 2000 and reserve your preferred seats for just 15. pic.twitter.com/8J8Uru5HkM  SpiceJet (@flyspicejet) August 14, 2023

Meanwhile, the US aviation watchdog FAA has issued a warning about potential overheating issue in certain CFM engines powering the Boeing 737 MAX planes, reported AP. Domestic budget air carriers SpiceJet and Akasa Air currently operate the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft with these engines in India.

Around 29 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft are operating in the country. SpiceJet, Akasa Air and Air India have 737 MAX planes on order as well. American aircraft maker Boeing said it has identified the measures to mitigate the issue.
New Delhi: Yash Raj Films' next release is going to be 'The Great Indian Family' (TGIF) starring Vicky Kaushal. The Vijay Shankar Acharya directorial is set to release theatrically on September 22 this year. Vicky Kaushal, who is currently on a huge high after his last hit Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, is helping this family entertainer. The film is set in the heartland of India and will revolve around the madness that ensues within Vickys family due to some sudden developments that are beyond anyone's control!

Vicky gave audiences a sneak peek into his madcap family in a hilarious release date announcement video today that sets up the film to be a fun watch for everyone! Watch the video here:

Vicky Kaushal is one of the most loved actors in our country today, given his brilliant performances in films like 'Uri', 'Masaan', 'Raazi', 'Sanju', 'Sardar Udham', 'Manmarziyaan', 'Zara Hatke Zara Bachke', to name a few!

His choice of films has shown how he is constantly inclined to choose some of the best content that is being made by the Hindi film industry today. Thus, TGIF is certainly going to be a film to watch out for by audiences who want to see good cinema being headlined by an actor like Vicky Kaushal!
New Delhi: Actor Yami Gautam is on a roll. Her performance as a lawyer in 'OMG 2' has been appreciated by many. Recently, a fan on social media penned a note filled with praises for Yami. However, the user said that she has been under-utilised by filmmakers in the industry.

"It's amazing how every time Yami Gautam manages to SURPRISE us with her performance! #OMG2 is no exception. She owns every frame she's in! Even her silence speaks a lot. I hate the term underrated'. I'd just say she's under-utilised by our filmmakers," the netizen wrote.

Some people find success overnight, some people have to prove themselves persistently for years.

Some people are great at marketing their talent (or lack of it), some people only want their talent to speak.

As an actor I just know how to act and work exceptionally hard on https://t.co/UKZMlkHbx6  Yami Gautam Dhar (@yamigautam) August 13, 2023

Yami took notice of the tweet and responded with a long post, where she expressed her thoughts about the majority of the industry relying on "marketing".

"Some people find success overnight, some people have to prove themselves persistently for years. Some people are great at marketing their talent (or lack of it), some people only want their talent to speak. As an actor I just know how to act and work exceptionally hard on identifying good scripts and versatile characters, thats my talent. I dont understand or get involved much with marketing of my talent," she wrote.

"Unfortunately for majority of our industry everything relies on marketing of a person or project and not on the depth of a script or character. May be thats the reason why people feel I am under-utilised. Anyways, Thanks so much Aavishkar for your kind words, its truly very encouraging. I will get there eventually, slowly but steadily, one film at a time," Yami added.

In 'OMG 2', Yami shared screen space with Akshay Kumar and Pankaj Tripathi. The film is a sequel to Paresh Rawal and Akshay Kumar-starrer 'OMG: Oh my God', which was released in 2012.
New Delhi: Actor Sushmita Sen thanked all her transgender co-stars of her upcoming web series Taali. Taking to Instagram on Sunday, Sushmita shared stills from the series along with a sweet note.

The note read, The power of inclusion!!!! Thank you for including me!!!!My heartfelt gratitude to all the transgender co-actors in Taali for their humanity, love, acceptance & blessings!!!Thank you #bubli for cooking me the delicious mealsMy dearest #Alizeh, for guiding me throughout the performanceto #silk #bhavika oh the list is endless!!! It has been a pleasure to share the screen with you allyou truly are gifted Actors & awesome people!!!#lovethesmiles. Congratulations for #Taali. Its not enough to believe in a better world, we must help create it I love you guys!!! #duggadugga.

On Wednesday, proud mother Sushmita shared with fans that her elder daughter Renee has lent her voice and chanted the 'Mahamrityunjaya' mantra in her upcoming web series.

Taking to Insta, Sushmita treated fans with interesting news related to her film. Sharing the picture of Renee, Sushmita penned a sweet note, which read, Life comes a full circle!!! My baby girl @reneesen47 graces her voice to rendering this powerful Mantra #mahamrityunjaya. Her voice & my facetogether in the trailer of Taali. I of course have goosebumps every time I listen to it!!! Thank you Shona, for choosing to be a part of this very special Tributeand for doing it with so much love! you make me proud!

She added, Thank you all for the avalanche of love & inclusion with which you have received #Taali. I am truly overwhelmed to say the least!!! A big shout out to @shreegaurisawant & our Transgender community for keeping the faith with so much courage! I love you guys!!! #duggadugga.

As soon as the video was posted, the actors fans and industry members flooded the comment section with heart emojis.

Recently, the makers unveiled the trailer of inspiring series that awestruck the audience with the impressive transformation of the actor as the transgender activist.

Sushmita took to Insta and shared the trailer video. Sharing the video, she wrote, "Gauri aa gayi hai. Apne swabhimaan, sammaan aur swatantrata ki kahaani lekar. #Taali - Bajayenge nahi, bajwayenge!"

Taali trailer shed light on the trials and tribulations of Shreegauri Sawants life, her daring transformation from Ganesh to Gauri and the discrimination she was subjected to because of that; her fearless journey towards motherhood, and the audacious battle that led to the inclusion and identification of the third gender on every official document in India. Coupled with an inspirational storyline, the series hits the right chords with some thought-provoking dialogues.

Sushmita Sen commented on her powerful portrayal of Shreegauri Sawant in a statement, "When I was first approached for Taali, in my mind it was an instant yes, however, I took six and a half months to come on-board officially. I knew I wanted to be absolutely prepared, well-read and researched to take up a critical and significant responsibility like this one. Shreegauri Sawant is an admirable human being, I connect with her on so many aspects, and Im fortunate to have got the opportunity live through her incredible life, through this series. The road ahead to inclusivity is a long one, and Im certain Taali is a force that will help spearhead this shift in the consciousness.

Created by Arjun Singgh Baran and Kartk D Nishandar, directed by National award-winning director Ravi Jadhav, written by Kshitij Patwardhan, and produced by Arjun Singgh Baran, Kartk D Nishandar (GSEAMS Production) and Afeefa Nadiadwala.

Sushmita's fierce and bold avatar in and as Shreegauri Sawant has already built anticipation among the audience.

Born as Ganesh and raised in Pune, Shreegauri Sawant is a transgender activist from Mumbai. She was one of the petitioners in the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) case of 2013, in connection with which the Supreme Court recognised persons belonging to the transgender community as the third gender. The landmark verdict was delivered in 2014.

Taali will stream on Jio Cinema from August 15.

Apart from this project, Sushmita will also be seen in Disney+ Hotstar's 'Aarya Season 3'.
Nuh: Haryana government has issued an order regarding the exemption of time during curfew on August 14 and 15 in Haryana's Nuh district. The order issued by the District Magistrate stated, "I, Dhirendra Khadgata, IAS, District Magistrate, Nuh do hereby lift the curfew for the movement of the public from 06.00 am to 08.00 pm (14.00 hours only) on 14.08.2023 and 15.08.2023."

The order further mentioned that Superintendent of Police, Nuh should ensure the proper implementation of orders adding that it is essential for any person to be allowed to move to seek urgent medical aid.

"Superintendent of Police Nuh shall ensure the proper implementation of these orders. In exceptional cases, where the undersigned or concerned SDM is satisfied that it is essential for any person or persons to be allowed to move during curfew hours to seek urgent medical aid, may permit such person(s) for the purpose by issuing him/them curfew passes", the order said.

Earlier on Friday, the Haryana Government had extended the suspension of mobile internet and SMS services in the Nuh district till August 13.

The order passed by the Haryana Home Secretary stated that the conditions in the district are still "critical and tense".

"Whereas it has been brought to my notice by Deputy Commissioner Nuh that the law and order situation has been reviewed and the conditions are still critical and tense in the district," the statement said.

Nuh district has witnessed violence following clashes between two groups broke out after a religious procession passing through the district came under attack, leaving two home guards dead and dozens of peopleincluding around 20 policemeninjured in the frenzy of violence that followed.
Individuals with Covid-19 may experience small, temporary changes in menstrual cycle length, according to a new study. Researchers emphasise changes are minor and typically return to normal in the next menstrual cycle. In the study, published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, researchers analysed menstrual cycle data from more than 6,000 individuals in 110 countries using Clue, a menstrual and reproductive health platform.

Among unvaccinated participants reporting Covid illness, researchers found, on average, a 1.45-day increase in menstrual cycle length compared with participants' previous cycle length average. These increases were consistent with changes reported among the cohort who had received a Covid vaccination. Researchers emphasise that in both cohorts, changes resolved in the first cycle after vaccination or illness.

In addition, they noted that the immune and reproductive systems are known to interact with each other, so while these findings aren't surprising, they should validate the public's experiences and provide reassurance that if changes in flow occur during or after Covid infection, they are likely to be small and temporary.



Also read: Breastfeeding Reduces Risk Of Heart Problems In Mothers: Study

"Changes to your menstrual cycle can be concerning and even frightening," said Blair Darney, Associate Professor of Obstetrics and gynaecology from Oregon Health & Science University. "We want this research to reassure individuals that on a population level, these changes are not typically a cause for concern," Darney added.

Cycle changes are likely due to temporary, disease-related activation of immune response, but because individuals naturally experience variations in menstrual cycle duration and bleeding patterns, researchers say that it is challenging to isolate Covid as a sole cause.

The research team also notes that the study was not focused on individuals known to be experiencing long Covid. The physician-scientists also advise that individuals who notice prolonged changes in menstruation should seek guidance from their clinician.

Looking forward, researchers hope to learn more about the biological mechanism of these changes and will continue to leverage data from cycle tracking apps to investigate other reported variations in menstruation following vaccination, including missed cycles, unexpected vaginal bleeding and pain.
Shimla: In view of the incessant rains, the Himachal Pradesh government has issued an order informing that all educational institutions in the state will remain closed on August 14. Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has taken this decision in view of the safety of the students due to heavy rains. On the orders of the Chief Minister, the Education Secretary has issued a notification to keep all government, private schools and colleges closed on August 14.

"Keeping in view the incessant rains in the whole of Himachal Pradesh and considering the safety and security of students, the Government of Himachal Pradesh orders to keep all Schools and Colleges (Government as well as Private) closed on August 14, 2023," the notification stated.

A later notification from the Education Secretary mentioned, "Keeping in view the incessant rains in the whole of Himachal Pradesh and considering the safety and security of students, the Government of Himachal Pradesh orders to keep all ITIs, Polytechnic, Engineering and Pharmacy Colleges (Government as well as Private (closed on August 14, 2023."



Himachal Pradesh University has also cancelled all the ongoing examinations of Post Graduate classes scheduled on August 14. "Himachal Pradesh University cancels all the ongoing examinations of Post Graduate classes including B. Ed. exams scheduled on August 14 only, in view of heavy rainfall in the state," it said.

The Chief Minister also took feedback from all the District Collectors (DC) about the damage caused due to heavy rains in the districts. He also got information about the closure of the road routes.

He also learned about the damage caused by landslides and damage to houses. The CM has instructed the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary as well as all DCs to keep a close watch on the situation created due to heavy rains. The administrative staff should be alert and maintain smooth arrangements for roads, electricity and water, he said.

More Rainfall Likely

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday predicted moderate rainfall in thirteen districts and heavy rainfall at one or two places in the state for the next twenty-four hours.

IMD Shimla issued the forecast at 3:00 PM today and said, "In the next 24 hours, there is a possibility of moderate rain in Bilaspur, Chamba, Hamirpur, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur, Solan, Una, Kinnaur, Lahaul, Spiti and heavy to very heavy rain at one or two places."

Due to heavy rain, a flood-like situation continues to prevail in the Balh Valley of Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh on Sunday. Many tourists are stranded due to the situation, said officials.

Meanwhile, IMD forecasted widespread light to moderate rains in many districts of the state including Shimla district from August 12-14.

Amid incessant rainfall, repeated instances of landslides and rockslides have been witnessed in several districts of the hill state, said the officials on Saturday.

The Himachal Pradesh police have issued an advisory to citizens asking them to avoid unessential travel and travel at night in areas where roads are not proper as the landslides and rockslides are not visible.

The Weather Department on Saturday issued an orange alert for eight districts of the state. "The rain is forecasted for most of the places. We have issued orange alerts of heavy rainfall in Solan, Shimla, Sirmaur, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi and Una districts of the state," said Deputy Director of IMD, Bui Lal.

He added that in the past 24 hours, the majority of the locations in the Kangra, Solan, Mandi, Bilaspur, and Hamirpur districts received considerable rainfall over the previous 24 hours. "Palampur recorded 102 mm, Sujanpur Tira received 92 mm, Bijhi and Mandi received 90 mm of rainfall," he said further.
KYODO NEWS - Aug 14, 2023 - 17:43 | Sports, Olympics, All

Ukraine is ready to participate in the Paris Olympics next summer even if neutral athletes from Russia and Belarus take part, Vadym Huttsait, head of the war-torn country's Olympic committee, said in a recent interview with Kyodo News.

Earlier this year, Ukraine hinted it could withdraw from the 2024 games if Russian or Belarusian athletes are allowed to compete, even under a neutral flag.

"Our athletes need to be at the Olympics," Huttsait said. "Our flag will be at the opening ceremony, at the competitions, our athletes will represent our state so that everyone in the world will see that Ukraine is, was and will be."

The International Olympic Committee said in January it would consider allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to return to international competition under certain conditions, including by competing as neutral athletes.

The National Olympic Committee of Ukraine objected to the idea at the time, arguing athletes from the two countries should be excluded completely and suggesting a boycott if they are allowed to participate.

But with a year to go to the games, the IOC on July 26 sent invitations to all countries except Russia and Belarus. Huttsait said the move made Ukraine finalize its participation in Olympic qualifying events.

"We do not pay attention to these athletes, because for us it is not clear at all who these athletes are, because (they are) under a neutral flag," he said before clarifying Ukraine may still pull out.

"If the Russian federation and the Belarusian federation will participate under their own flag -- we will not participate in this Olympics."

The 51-year-old, who won the team sabre gold in fencing at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics as part of the Unified Team representing the former Soviet Union, claimed more than three thousand athletes are defending his country.

Huttsait added that 340 of Ukraine's athletes and coaches have already died and 343 sports facilities have been partially or completely destroyed since the war started in February last year.

"Our athletes cannot prepare in peace," he said. "It is difficult psychologically...there is no athlete who has not each of the athletes killed or friends, or relatives, or parents, or members of their team."
Overcoming challenges, a tribal girl student hailing from a remote village in the Kothagudem district has displayed remarkable academic prowess and secured admission to IIT Patna in Bihar. Korsa Lakshmi, born to Kannayya and Shanthamma, a Koya tribal couple from Katayagud village in Dummugudem mandal, defied her family's illiteracy. Her father sustains their livelihood by selling ice popsicles door to door in nearby villages, while her mother tends to their home.

Despite her parents' lack of education, they were determined to provide their daughter with the opportunity to excel in life. They enrolled her at the local Gurukul, where she pursued her education from grade 7 through Intermediate. Lakshmi's commitment to her studies resulted in a perfect 10/10 GPA in her SSC exams.

In the academic year 2021-23, Lakshmi achieved an impressive score of 992 out of 1000 in her Intermediate (MPC) exams. Her preparation for the JEE Mains and Advanced was conducted under the guidance of skilled instructors at the Bhadrachalam Tribal Gurukul Centre of Excellence (CoE).



Her dedication bore fruit when she secured the 1371st rank in the recent JEE Advanced examination, securing her a seat in the B Tech (EEE) program at IIT Patna. Her accomplishments stand as a beacon of inspiration for young girls everywhere, demonstrating that the pursuit of excellence knows no bounds, even in the face of challenging family backgrounds.

As per the local reports, Lakshmi's educational journey received support from ITDA Bhadrachalam. Prateek Jain, the Project Officer of ITDA, and David Raju, the Regional Coordinating Officer of Tribal Gurukuls and ITDA APO (General), commended her exceptional performance in the IIT exams. According to Telangana Today, Prateek Jain presented Lakshmi with an iPad valued at Rs.80,000 and a high-end mobile phone as a gesture of recognition. Additionally, Bhadrachalam ITDA covered her admission fee of Rs.74,531, ensuring she could seamlessly join her chosen course.

Prateek Jain highlighted that special training is being provided to tribal students at the Bhadrachalam Tribal Gurukul, aimed at empowering them to excel in competitive exams like JEE Mains and others. The educational quality at this institution is on par with that of esteemed corporate educational establishments.

Guided by experts from the Tribal Gurukul Society in Hyderabad, JEE Mains and NEET classes are in full swing at the Gurukul CoE. The students receive consistent monitoring and encouragement to pursue higher education, reflecting the ITDA's commitment to their academic growth.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the nation in celebrating the 77th Independence Day from the iconic Red Fort in Delhi on Tuesday. A number of new initiatives will be witnessed during this year's Independence Day celebrations.

This year's Independence Day will also culminate the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' celebrations, which began from the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, Gujarat in March 2021.

All about Independence Day ceremony this year

Upon his arrival at the Red Fort, Prime Minister Modi will be received by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, following which he will inspect the Guard of Honour. The Guard of Honour contingent for Modi will consist of one officer and 25 personnel each from the Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Delhi Police, and one officer and 24 personnel from the Indian Navy. The Guard of Honour will be commanded by Major Vikas Sangwan.

The Army contingent in the Prime Minister's Guard will be commanded by Major Indrajeet Sachin, the Naval contingent by Lieutenant Commander MV Rahul Raman and the Air Force contingent by Squadron Leader Akash Ganghas. The Delhi Police contingent will be commanded by Additional DCP Sandhya Swami.

ALSO READ | Happy Independence Day 2023: Check Wishes, Quotes, And Slogans To Share On August 15

After inspecting the Guard of Honour, Modi will proceed to the ramparts of the Red Fort where he will be greeted by Rajnath Singh, Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Pande, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari.

Major Nikita Nair and Major Jasmine Kaur will then assist the prime minister in unfurling the national flag.

The Army band, consisting of one JCO and 20 other ranks, will play the national anthem during the unfurling of the national flag.

It will be synchronised with the 21 Gun Salute by the valiant gunners of the elite 8711 Field Battery (Ceremonial). The ceremonial battery will be commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Vikas Kumar and the Gun Position Officer will be Naib Subedar (AIG) Anoop Singh.

The National Flag Guard comprising five officers and 128 Other Ranks from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Delhi Police will present Rashtriya Salute at the time of unfurling of the national glag by Prime Minister Modi. Major Abhinav Detha from the Army will be in command of this Inter-Services Guard and Police Guard.

As soon as the national flag is unfurled, flower petals will be showered at the venue by two Advanced Light Helicopters Mark-III Dhruv of the Indian Air Force in the Line Astern Formation. The captains of the helicopter will be Wing Commander Amber Agarwal and Squadron Leader Himanshu Sharma.

After the showering of flower petals, Modi will deliver his 10th consecutive Independence Day address, which will also be his last before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

ALSO READ | A Look At PM Narendra Modi's Independence Day Attires Since 2014

At the conclusion of the speech of the prime minister, the cadets of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) will sing the national anthem.

Independence Day: 1,800 people invited as 'special guests'

Around 1,800 people from different vocations, with their spouses, have been invited from across India to be a part of the Independence Day celebrations at Red Fort as special guests. The initiative has been taken in line with the Modi Government's vision of 'Jan Bhagidari'.

These special guests include over 400 Sarpanches of more than 660 vibrant villages, 250 from farmer producer organisations scheme, 50 participants each of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, 50 construction workers of the Central Vista Project, including the New Parliament Building, 50 each Khadi workers, those involved in construction of border roads, making of Amrit Sarovar and Har Ghar Jal Yojana and 50 each primary school teachers, nurses and fishermen.

ALSO READ | 77th Independence Day: 7 Films To Invoke Patriotism

75 couples from each state and Union Territory, in their traditional attire, have also been invited to witness the grand ceremony at Red Fort. Some of these special guests will also visit the National War Memorial during their stay in the national capital.

77th Independence Day: Selfie points installed at 12 locations

Selfie points dedicated to different schemes and initiatives of the Modi government have been installed at 12 locations, including the National War Memorial, India Gate, Vijay Chowk, New Delhi Railway Station, Pragati Maidan, Raj Ghat, Jama Masjid Metro Station, Rajiv Chowk Metro Station, Delhi Gate Metro Station, ITO Metro Gate, Naubat Khana and Sheesh Ganj Gurudwara.

The schemes and initiatives include Global Hope: Vaccine & Yoga; Ujjwala Yojana; Space Power; Digital India; Skill India; Start-up India; Swachh Bharat; Sashakt Bharat, Naya Bharat; Powering India; Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and Jal Jeevan Mission.

77th Independence Day 2023: Selfie contest

As part of the 77th Independence Day celebrations, an online selfie contest is also being conducted by the Ministry of Defence from August 15-20. People need to take selfies at one or more of the 12 installations and upload them on the MyGov platform to take part in the contest.

Twelve winners, one from each installation, will be selected on the basis of the online selfie contest. The winners will be given prize money of Rs 10,000 each.
New Delhi: As India celebrates its 77th Independence Day today, Google has joined in the festivities with an intricate and visually captivating Doodle. Illustrated by Namrata Kumar, a talented artist from New Delhi, the Doodle pays homage to India's diverse textile craft forms, underscoring their profound connection to the country's cultural identity.

The creative process behind this masterpiece involved meticulous research and selection. Kumar's journey began by identifying an array of textile craft forms that span across India's regions. She aimed to achieve a balanced representation of techniques, including embroidery, weaving, printing, and dyeing, while ensuring the colors and patterns remained true to their essence. The final patchwork is a harmonious amalgamation of these distinct craft forms, capturing the rich heritage that textiles hold within India.

"I wanted to shed light on the artistic brilliance of India's textile traditions and create something that resonates with audiences through the Google Doodle platform," Kumar shared in an exclusive interview. Her passion for textiles was deeply ingrained from her mother's profession as a textile designer, and this project provided the perfect opportunity to celebrate the craftsmanship of artisans, weavers, dyers, and embroiderers who contribute to India's creative spirit.



The designer had used the textiles of:

Kutch embroidery, Gujarat

Pattu weave  Himachal Pradesh

Jamdani weave  West Bengal

Kunbi weave textile  Goa

Fine ikat  Orissa

Pashmina kani woven textile  Jammu & Kashmir

Benarsi weave  Uttar Pradesh

Paithani weave  Maharashtra

Kantha embroidery  West Bengal

Naga woven textile  Nagaland

Ajrakh block printing  Kutch Gujarat

Apatani weave  Arunchal Pradesh

Phhulkari embroidery  Punjab

Leheriya resist dyed textile  Rajasthan

Kanjeevaram weave  Tamil Nadu

Sujni embroidery  Bihar

Bandhni resist dyed textile  Gujarat and Rajasthan

Kasavu weave textile  Kerala

Ilkal handloom weave  Karantaka

Mekhla chandor weave  Assam

Kalamkari bloc print  Andhra Pradesh

The Doodle encapsulates the essence of these celebrations, intertwining tradition with modernity. As the world increasingly shifts to digital platforms, the Doodle also offers an exciting Augmented Reality experience on Google Arts and Culture, allowing users to engage with the artwork in a dynamic way.

Namrata Kumar's artistic tribute serves as a reminder of India's remarkable journey to independence and its ongoing celebration of diverse cultural heritage. This Doodle is a testament to the power of art and technology in conveying historical significance and fostering a sense of unity. On this 77th Independence Day, India and the world unite in celebrating the nation's vibrant past, present, and future.
New Delhi: The country has been urged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to use "Tiranga" as the display image on social media. The Prime Minister urged citizens to turn "Har Ghar Tiranga" into a widespread movement by using the national flag as their social media profile image. PM Modi changed the DP of all his social media platforms to Tiranga. Following suit, others also started changing their profile pictures.

Here is a detailed, step-by-step procedure to help you change/create your DP if you are unsure of how to change the image on it.





How To Create/Change Best Tiranga DP This Independence Day On Facebook?

- Open your Facebook

- Click on your Dp (profile picture)

- Now, click on choose frame option

- Click on the flag options

- Click on the Indian flag option

- Adjust or fix it as per your choice

- Now you can click on the save button option

- Now, Indian flag in your DP will start reflecting

If you want to make Indian flag your DP on other social media platforms, then you have to save it from Facebook. And the process that can be followed is first you have to click on three dots at the right corner of your profile picture. Then click on the save button option. You the Indian flag DP saved in your device.

How To Create/Change Best Tiranga DP This Independence Day On Instagram?

- Open your Instagram

- Click on the profile icon at the bottom right corner

- Click on the edit profile option

- Click on the change profile photo

- Click on the new profile photo option

- Click on the newly downloaded photo of Indian flag

- Now, Indian flag DP starts reflecting in your account

How To Create/Change Best Tiranga DP This Independence Day On WhatsApp?

Open your WhatsApp

- Click on the profile picture

- Click on the camera icon

- Click on the newly downloaded photo of indian flag

- Click on the Done option

How To Create/Change Best Tiranga DP This Independence Day On Twitter?

- Open your Twitter

- Click on your profile picture

- Click on the edit option

- Click on the newly downloaded photo of Indian flag

- Upload the same photo

- Click on the save option

- Now your DP will be changed
KYODO NEWS - Aug 14, 2023 - 22:09 | All, Japan

The cremated remains of Japan's wartime Prime Minister Hideki Tojo and other executed Class-A war criminals were secretly scattered in the ocean to prevent them from being deified by the Japanese people, recently discovered declassified U.S. documents showed.

The documents provide the first official confirmation of the reason behind the American military's decision in 1948, driven by concerns over the potential revival of Japan's "ultra national spirit" after its World War II defeat.

Similar to how the remains of executed war criminals of Nazi Germany convicted at the 1945-1946 Nuremberg trials were dispersed in a river, the "final disposition of the remains of executed (Japanese) war criminals should forever remove the possibility of their becoming the objects of enshrinement as heroes or martyrs," one of the documents stated.

The declassified documents, obtained by Kyodo News from the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, were composed by the U.S. Far East Command under Gen. Douglas MacArthur in 1948 following the conclusion of the Tokyo war crimes tribunal in April that year.

In one of the documents titled "Staff Study" and dated July 21, 1948, Major Michael Rivisto of the Far East Command's Quartermaster Section in Tokyo recommended that the remains of executed war criminals be disposed of secretly to "forever prevent their use in anyway to foster resurgence of the ultra national spirit in Japan."

The document was sent to the U.S. Department of the Army by Rivisto on July 27, requesting instructions or concurrence to the proposal, with the department responding on Aug. 4 that it would entrust the matter to the local unit.

Rivisto further proposed in a document dated Aug. 6 that the cremated remains of all classifications of executed war criminals be secretly disposed of due to the "pre-war propensity of the Japanese to enshrine those who gave their lives for the Emperor regardless of rank."

Based on this advice, MacArthur decided on Aug. 13 to dispose at sea the ashes of Tojo and six other Class-A war criminals, who were sentenced in November and executed on Dec. 23 at Sugamo Prison in Tokyo.

Their ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean by the U.S. Eighth Army after being cremated in Yokohama.

Regarding the disposals of the remains, William Sebald, chief of the Diplomatic Section at the General Headquarters of the Allied Powers, which occupied Japan after the war, had previously written in his book that the cremated remains would be scattered as their graves could have been deified.

Sebald was also present at the executions of the Class-A war criminals.

Hidetoshi Tojo, a great-grandchild of former premier Tojo, said there is no surprise about the U.S. military having scattered war criminals' ashes in the Pacific.

Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo enshrines more than 2.4 million war dead, regardless of whether there are remains or not, he said. "I feel a difference in religious views in the U.S. way of thinking."
KYODO NEWS - Aug 14, 2023 - 21:54 | All, Japan, Travel/Tourism

Some shinkansen bullet train services and flights are set to be canceled as a strong typhoon remains on course to make landfall on the Pacific coast of western Japan on Tuesday, affecting many people during the annual Bon holidays, the weather agency and operators said.

With Japan bracing for the arrival of Typhoon Lan, Central Japan Railway Co. said all of its services on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line between Nagoya and Shin-Osaka stations will be canceled Tuesday, as will West Japan Railway Co. for its bullet train services between Shin-Osaka and Okayama stations.

JR Central has said shinkansen services between Tokyo and Nagoya stations will be greatly reduced Tuesday and the bullet trains will mostly operate without seat reservations.

Although service suspensions were not planned for Monday and Wednesday, the operator warned passengers of the possibility of sudden changes.

Japan Airlines Co. said 19 flights, including to and from Itami airport in western Japan, had been canceled on Monday, with 240 flights on Tuesday also canceled, affecting around 24,800 people.

All Nippon Airways Co. said 310 flights will be canceled Tuesday, with most to and from Itami airport.

Meanwhile, Universal Studios Japan's theme park in Osaka will be closed Tuesday, its operator said, adding that although the park plans to be open on Wednesday, the opening time may be delayed.

At 5 p.m., the typhoon was located around 150 kilometers southeast of Cape Shionomisaki in Wakayama Prefecture and moving northwestward.

It had an atmospheric pressure of 970 hectopascals with winds packing up to 180 km per hour, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

The typhoon's approach coincided with the return rush of Bon holidaymakers.

Many people were traveling during the major vacation period for the first time since COVID-19 was legally downgraded to the same category as seasonal flu.

On Sunday, some train stations, airports and roads were congested with people opting to travel home from their Bon holidays earlier than planned.

Related coverage:

Western, central Japan brace as Typhoon Lan to make landfall Aug. 15
KYODO NEWS - Aug 14, 2023 - 13:09 | All, Japan, World

Japan and the United States will jointly develop a new type of missile to intercept hypersonic projectiles being developed by countries such as North Korea, China and Russia, government sources said Monday.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and U.S. President Joe Biden are expected to agree on the plan during their bilateral talks at the Camp David retreat near Washington on Friday, according to the sources.

It will be the two nations' second joint development of an interceptor missile following the Standard Missile-3 Block 2A, the successor to SM-3 Block 1A developed solely by the United States.

Japan and the United States are aiming to beef up their alliance's deterrence capabilities in response to Pyongyang's repeated ballistic missile tests and rapid advance of its missile technologies, and Beijing's intensifying military activities in the Indo-Pacific region including joint exercises with Moscow.

Hypersonic missiles, which travel at a top speed of over Mach 5, five times the speed of sound, are hard to shoot down and track by radar.

The new missiles will be designed to bring down hypersonic projectiles before their landing phase. Some types of hypersonic missiles are capable of flying on irregular trajectories just before landing to fend off interceptors, the sources said.

Japan had originally planned to address the threat of hypersonic weapons by improving its Ground Self-Defense Force's Type-03 medium-range, surface-to-air guided missiles, which mainly target incoming aircraft, and by using the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Standard Missile-6 interceptors.

But as these SDF interceptors are intended to hit enemy weapons in the landing phase, Japan needs to acquire the ability to shoot them down while they are gliding, according to the sources.

The United States has already started the development of Aegis destroyer-fired interceptors to hit hypersonic weapons in the gliding phase, and this may be linked with the envisaged bilateral project, the sources said.

At a meeting in Tokyo in June, Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada and his U.S. counterpart Lloyd Austin pledged to deepen cooperation on joint development of an interceptor to use against hypersonic technology.

On Friday, Kishida and Biden are also set to hold a trilateral summit with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol at Camp David.
Imran Zakeria, an associate professor at the Regional Research Center of the Academy of Sciences of Afghanistan, talks about his experience of studying in China in Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 9, 2023. (Xinhua)



"I had an amazing academic and social environment in China and got a lot of love, respect and assistance from Chinese people during my stay from 2016 to 2018," said Abasin Danis, an Afghan youth who obtained a master's degree in civil engineering Obtained from the Southeast University in China.

KABUL, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- With a master's degree in civil engineering Obtained from the Southeast University in the eastern Chinese city of Nanjing, Abasin Danis returned to his native land in Afghanistan five years ago and became a project manager under the Ministry of Public Works.

For decades, and especially since the pull-out of the U.S. army in August 2021, numerous batches of Afghan students traveled to neighboring China for higher education.

Now, Danis, 36, mainly participates in planning and reconstructing roads all over Afghanistan, most of which were bombed beyond recognition during the two-decade-long war.

To date, almost everything needs restoring in the war-ridden country, and many Afghans who used to study in China, like Danis, are active in all walks of life, joining the like-minded to nation-rebuild with the expertise they acknowledged in China, whereby they also help enhance the friendly relationship between the countries.

Danis said that studying in China guided his life in the right direction and threw a light on his career making. "The linking roads between the districts of the provinces, as well as the national highways between provinces and the capital, play an important role in building the infrastructure of the country, and it also has a direct impact on people's life and the GDP of the country," he said.

"I had an amazing academic and social environment in China and got a lot of love, respect and assistance from Chinese people during my stay from 2016 to 2018," he added.

Imran Zakeria, an associate professor at the Regional Research Center of the Academy of Sciences of Afghanistan, said he went to different provincial-level regions of China seven times from 2015 to 2017 for academic exchanges.

Imran Zakeria, an associate professor at the Regional Research Center of the Academy of Sciences of Afghanistan, talks about his experience of studying in China in Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 9, 2023. (Xinhua)



Those experiences encouraged Zakeria to apply for a master's degree at a Chinese university. Sponsored by the China Scholarship Council in 2018, he chose Central China Normal University based in Wuhan City to study international relations.

Zakeria was also among one of the overseas students who stayed in Wuhan during the outbreak of the COVID-19 cluster early in 2020.

"I want to say that I'm extremely thankful for the university officials, and especially the international office... They provided us with doctors as well, and even like some students, they were in isolation, but they have also been provided with psychological doctors as well," Zakeria said while recalling the hardships he went through with Chinese friends.

Receiving an interview with Xinhua outside his office, Zakeria said his connections to China propelled him to focus on studies of Chinese politics and policies. He is also active in public diplomacy and contributing to the exchanges between authorities and the people of Afghanistan and China.

For Khalil Ahmad Hijrat, a cardiologist and Health Director of the Afghan Red Crescent Society, the country's major charity, life in China comprised most of his youth.

In 2007, Hijrat began his undergraduate and postgraduate studies at Nanjing Medical University and Southeast University, successively. He is now still a Ph.D. student at Southeast University, though the epidemic postponed his study.

"The Health Directorate of the Afghan Red Crescent Society has around 225 health facilities... We have 36 routine immunization teams working for polio eradication. We have 65 emergency mobile health teams working in Afghanistan in case we have a disaster, so for the management of the disaster in the health field, we work there," said Hijrat.

Once working as a resident doctor at the Zhongnan Hospital of Southeast University, he highly commended the high-end technology and quality medical education in Chinese hospitals and medical schools.

As a heart surgeon, Hijrat also focuses on diagnosing and treating congenital heart diseases in children. According to Hijrat, his department is currently responsible for eight medical projects, the most important of which is saving children with such conditions.

"Until now, we have registered around 26,000 patients, and around 13,000 patients have been operated (for heart surgeries) inside and outside the country," he said, adding that the charity is the only organization in Afghanistan that receives all children with congenital heart diseases free of charge.

Hijrat told Xinhua that he had yet to decide when to return to China to continue his study. He explained that he was working around the clock in Afghanistan, and crowds were waiting for assistance and aid from many willing to devote themselves to nation-rebuilding like him.
BEIJING, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Most of the capital goods monitored by China's statistical authorities registered higher prices in early August compared with late July, official data showed Monday.

Of the 50 major goods classified in nine categories, including seamless steel tubes, gasoline, coal, fertilizer and some chemicals, 31 reported higher prices in the period, 15 saw price declines, while the prices of four remained unchanged, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Specifically, the price of liquefied petroleum gas went up 12.4 percent in early August compared with late July, while the price for liquefied natural gas decreased by 5.1 percent.

During the same period, hog prices rose 14.6 percent, according to the NBS data.

The figures, released every 10 days, are based on a survey of nearly 2,000 wholesalers and distributors in 31 provincial-level regions across the country. 
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The number of jobs in Malaysia rose 2.4 percent year-on-year to 8.83 million in the second quarter of 2023, official data showed Monday.

The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) said in a statement that the positive trajectory of Malaysia's labor market persisted into the second quarter of 2023, witnessing a further rise in labor demand.

With an additional 208,100 jobs in the economic sector, it said the total employment reached 8.83 million, surpassing the previous year's figure of 8.62 million during the same period.

Following to this, an upward trend in the number of filled jobs was observed with an increase of 2.5 percent to record 8.64 million jobs in the second quarter of 2023.

Meanwhile, the number of job vacancies experienced negative growth, declined by 0.9 percent to 189,600 vacancies.

During this period, the rates of filled jobs and job vacancies were at 97.9 percent and 2.1 percent respectively, reflecting a balanced and competitive labor market.

"Overall labor demand in the economic sector in this quarter continued to show a positive trend despite global recession risks, leading to an increase in job opportunities and reinforcing the strength of Malaysia's labor market," said the DOSM. 
BEIJING, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- China will enhance credit support for infrastructure reconstruction and upgrading in disaster-stricken areas to help people and businesses tide over difficulties, the National Administration of Financial Regulation (NAFR) said on Monday.

Transportation, telecommunication, gas and power supply, water conservation, and waterlogging prevention projects will be provided more lending support, the NAFR added.

Banks are encouraged to develop special credit products to help small and micro companies, individual businesses, farming and breeding enterprises, and rural households in the affected areas, according to the NAFR.

Insurance companies are encouraged to provide long-term capital for key projects in infrastructure and public services, the NAFR said.

It has called on financial institutions across the country to address the needs of those in the disaster-hit areas to mitigate the impact of flooding on social and economic development and people's lives. 
WELLINGTON, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- All non-organic bread-making wheat flour in New Zealand will be fortified with folic acid from Monday to prevent birth defects.

The measure is to prevent neural tube defects, such as spina bifida. In New Zealand, these occur in about 10.6 per 10,000 live births and are associated with lifelong disability.

With the announcement that folic acid will be added to bread-making flour, New Zealand has joined more than 70 countries that already require folic acid to be added to a food staple to prevent neural tube defects, said Kathryn Bradbury, senior research fellow at the University of Auckland's School of Population Health.

Studies have shown that folic acid supplements can reduce the occurrence of these neural tube defects during pregnancy by up to 70 percent.

Folic acid supplements must be taken before conception to be fully effective, but more than half of pregnancies in New Zealand are unplanned.

"Adequate folate intake in pregnancy is also a health equity issue," said Louise Brough, senior lecturer in Nutrition Science at the Massey University, adding Maori, Pacific people, young mothers and those on lower incomes are less likely to take folic acid supplements, especially preconception due to high levels of unplanned pregnancy.

A 2011 New Zealand survey showed only one-third of women consumed folic acid supplements prior to pregnancy.

Bread is an excellent vehicle for providing folate as it is widely consumed throughout New Zealand, with higher intakes among those on lower incomes, Brough said.

Fortification of bread with folic acid became mandatory in Australia in 2009, and it is estimated that neural tube defects were reduced by 14 percent among all women, but by 74 percent among Aboriginal Australians, she said.

There are also concerns around "mass medication" and the effects of higher folic acid intake on other population groups, Brough said. However, she said flour has been fortified with folic acid in the United States for over two decades and neural tube defect-affected pregnancies have reduced, without any demonstrable adverse outcomes in the population.

"Folate, also known as vitamin B9, is an important vitamin that many of us do not get enough of," said Associate Professor Lynne Chepulis of the University of Waikato.

There is good evidence that folic acid supplementation is still highly beneficial outside of pregnancy, such as in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and even some cancers, Chepulis said, adding optimal folate levels are needed throughout life, but particularly, during periods of rapid growth.

Emeritus Professor Elaine Rush of the Auckland University of Technology called for conducting a national nutrition survey to enable the fortification of bread with folic acid to reach the target consumers, such as women of childbearing age, which can also inform the fortification of other foods, such as rice. 
SYDNEY, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Police in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) said on Monday that a man was uninjured after a single shot was fired at him in Sydney's west.

According to a statement by NSW Police Force, officers were called to Stanley Street in Fairfield Heights, a suburb located about 30 km west of Sydney's central business district, at about 4:30 p.m. local time on Sunday.

Upon arrival, police were told that a 20-year-old man approached a parked car when a firearm was produced and a single shot fired.

The man was not injured and ran from the scene as an individual exited the vehicle chasing him. A short time later, the vehicle drove from the scene.

Police noted that the bullet passed through the front door of a nearby home and the single occupant of the property was unscathed.

Initial inquiries led police to believe the incident was targeted.

A silver Mercedes sedan was also found alight in Chowne Place at Yennora, about a 10-minute drive from the shooting scene. The vehicle was towed for further examination to determine if the incidents are linked.

With crime scenes established and inquiries continuing, detectives are currently appealing for information about both incidents. 
SEOUL, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), inspected some major munitions factories on Friday and Saturday, and urged the country's armed forces to step up war preparations, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Monday.

During the inspection, Kim asked the tactical missile factory to drastically boost its existing capacity, and urged the factory that produces tactical missile transporter-erector-launchers to speed up the production of modern and highly efficient launching vehicles, said the report.

Kim drove a newly-developed armored multi-purpose vehicle when inspecting the country's armored fighting vehicles factory, and during his inspection of the large-caliber controllable rocket artillery shell factory, he requested an "exponential increase" in shell production to enhance the combat capabilities of the frontline forces, it said.

Kim also demanded that the country's armed forces should possess overwhelming capabilities to respond to any war at any time, and to be on high alert, it added.

According to previous KCNA reports, the Central Military Commission of the Worker's Party of Korea recently convened an enlarged meeting, discussing ways to intensify war preparations in response to the grave situation on the Korean Peninsula. Before the meeting, Kim also inspected some crucial military-industrial facilities in the country. 
A Nepali student speaks at the awarding ceremony for Chinese government scholarships in Kathmandu, Nepal on Aug. 14, 2023. A total of 71 Nepali students were awarded Chinese government scholarships on Monday for studies in Chinese universities in the 2023/2024 academic year. (Photo by Hari Maharjan/Xinhua)

KATHMANDU, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- A total of 71 Nepali students were awarded Chinese government scholarships on Monday for studies in Chinese universities in the 2023/2024 academic year.

While some Nepali students shared their learning and living experiences in China at the awarding ceremony held in Kathmandu, Sakcham Shrestha noted that he was more than excited for being admitted into the Wuhan-based Huazhong University of Science and Technology for the study of software engineering.

"This opens a gateway for people who are trying to seek those ideas," he said.

Ashok Rai, Nepal's minister for education, science and technology, encouraged Nepali students to learn from China's progress in science and technology, saying, "Your success is linked to the success of our country."

Addressing the awarding ceremony, the Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song referred to the Nepali students as "the witnesses, beneficiaries, builders and communicators" of the China-Nepal friendship. 

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song (C) hands over an admission letter to a Nepali student at the awarding ceremony for Chinese government scholarships in Kathmandu, Nepal on Aug. 14, 2023. A total of 71 Nepali students were awarded Chinese government scholarships on Monday for studies in Chinese universities in the 2023/2024 academic year. (Photo by Hari Maharjan/Xinhua)

Nepali Minister for Education, Science and Technology Ashok Rai (C) hands over an admission letter to a Nepali student at the awarding ceremony for Chinese government scholarships in Kathmandu, Nepal on Aug. 14, 2023. A total of 71 Nepali students were awarded Chinese government scholarships on Monday for studies in Chinese universities in the 2023/2024 academic year. (Photo by Hari Maharjan/Xinhua)
KABUL, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan caretaker government's security forces have arrested more than two dozen suspected suicide bombers over the past two years, the administration's Ministry of Interior Affairs spokesman Abdul Matin Qani said Monday.

The security forces arrested the 25 suspects from Kabul, Kandahar, Mazar-i-Sharif, Badakhshan and other regions, Qani said.

All the arrested individuals planned to conduct suicide attacks in Afghanistan. 
JAKARTA, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Rescue teams are still searching for a speedboat with seven people on board which has been missing in Indonesia's western coastline since Sunday evening, a local official said on Monday.

"Seven people were reported missing, consisting of four Australian citizens and three Indonesian citizens," said Octavianto, chief of the search and agency (SAR) agency in Nias Island, North Sumatra province.

Octavianto said that SAR agencies in nearby regions have deployed personnel to search for the missing speedboat and victims amid severe weather.

Maritime accidents are common in Indonesia, a Southeast Asian archipelago of around 17,000 islands, due to lax safety standards and unexpected weather conditions. 
Voters cast their ballots at a polling station in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Aug. 13, 2023. Argentina held presidential primary elections on Sunday to elect the candidates for the general elections scheduled for Oct. 22. (Photo by Martin Sabala/Xinhua)

BUENOS AIRES, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Argentina held presidential primary elections on Sunday to elect the candidates for the general elections scheduled for Oct. 22.

Polling stations set up at 17,431 public and private schools throughout the country closed at 6 p.m. local time (2100 GMT), the National Electoral Chamber said.

Some 35,394,425 Argentines were called on to vote (voting is mandatory in Argentina) and by 5 p.m. local time (2000 GMT) 61.5 percent of voters had cast their ballots, the election body said.

Voters could choose from 17 presidential hopefuls and their running mates for the 2023-2027 presidential term.

Any ticket that garners a minimum of 1.5 percent of the valid votes will be able to participate in the general elections. 

A voter casts a ballot at a polling station in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Aug. 13, 2023. Argentina held presidential primary elections on Sunday to elect the candidates for the general elections scheduled for Oct. 22. (Photo by Martin Sabala/Xinhua)
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- More Lahaina wildfire survivors complained to local media on Sunday that the government's relief efforts were moving too slowly after the devastating hurricane-driven wildfires claimed 96 lives as of late Sunday.

The deadliest U.S. wildfire in over 100 years is another tragic warning to the world community. Yet indigenous U.S. communities are suffering more than others.

Local and federal authorities are being criticized for failed alarm systems, lacking communication, and lagging relief efforts as the death toll is projected to keep rising.

Local residents said that their families lost everything in the disaster on Aug. 8 and have had no access to food since then due to U.S. government agencies blocking roads leading to Lahaina, preventing aid and donations from getting to the devastated area. They urged Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen and Hawaii Governor Josh Green to open the roads for relief.

As federal and local agencies failed to react, local civil society groups are at the forefront of life-saving efforts. In many cases, evacuees "have leaned on church groups, community organizations, and volunteers to track down missing relatives, get rides to shelters or access supplies brought in on private boats and airplanes," said a story published on Sunday by The New York Times.

"We said, 'If something ever happened here, we're 72 hours away from help ever coming,'" said John Pelletier, chief of the Maui Police Department. "And I think we proved that that's probably pretty accurate."

The chief also disclosed that canine teams searching for cadavers only began working on the island on Saturday, and had searched only about 3 percent of the impacted area as of that day.

Besides the lagging rescue and relief work, questions about Hawaii's emergency siren warning system have also been raised, as the sirens sat silent during the deadly wildfires.

The Hawaii emergency administration confirmed this on Friday. Alerts were sent via mobile devices, radio and television, and the opt-in resident alert system, yet widespread power and signal outages cut off most communication to the stricken area. It was not clear whether the alerts were sent before the island was hit with widespread outages.

Survivors told local media that the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (EMA) posted on a social media platform that the local Maui EMA had announced the immediate evacuation for an inland subdivision in Lahaina nearly 10 hours after the flames started and 2 hours after the fire escaped containment in Lahaina.

In regard to these complaints, Green said Friday that he could not say for sure if Maui's emergency siren system was activated properly ahead of the deadly wildfires.

Meanwhile, some analysts also attributed the wildfire tragedy to the factor of colonialism that has drastically changed the ecosystem on Maui Island.

"The fires of today are in part due to the climate crisis, a history of colonialism in our islands, and the loss of our right to steward our 'aina and wai' (land and water)," said Carmen Lindsey, chairwoman of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and she identified colonialism and environmental injustice as reasons behind the catastrophe.

Since tourism outperformed sugarcane and pineapple plantations in profits in the 1990s in Hawaii, corporations gradually abandoned plantations and left land untended. Without active treatment, vegetation like guinea grass, molasses grass, and buffel grass brought by settlers as livestock forage destroyed the flame-resistant local ecosystem. These unmanaged fast-growing and drought-resistant plants produce what scientists call the "grass-fire cycle."

"The gross mismanagement of land by greedy developers and land speculators destroyed our natural landscape and buffers and enabled the rapid spread of the fire," Kaniela Ing, a Kanaka Maoli environment activist and former Hawaiian legislator, tweeted on Wednesday.

Local officials believed that the current fire could end up being the deadliest disaster in local history.

Maui has been revered by its Indigenous peoples as a sacred place for generations. In the 19th century, Lahaina served as the home and burial place of the Hawaiian royal family and became the first capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom.

Na'Aikane o Maui Cultural Center in Lahaina, with its precious indigenous cultural documents, art, and artifacts, was lost to the flames along with hundreds of other structures.

"Lahaina holds some of the most historically significant cultural properties and highest-ranking sacred remains of our ancestors," said Lindsey in the statement. "We have watched our precious cultural assets, our physical connection to our ancestors, our places of remembering -- all go up in smoke." 
HEFEI, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- A topic about the scenic spot Huangshan Mountain in east China refusing to provide hot water for hungry tourists to cook instant noodles has recently gone viral on social media. Surprisingly, this action quickly gained understanding and support from the public.

Some tourists complained online that they failed to get hot water for cooking instant noodles since it was banned by local authorities. Many internet users thought these regulations were unreasonable.

However, their attitude took a U-turn after the management committee of the Huangshan Mountain Scenic Area provided a detailed explanation -- instant noodles are not recommended along the routes on the mountain, as the discarded food and soup could result in soil salinization, environmental pollution, and vegetation damage. Leftovers eaten by wild animals could also have negative impacts. The management committee clarified that tourists can access hot water at rest zones and hotels on the mountain.

"This is considerate. We should follow the regulations while enjoying the landscape." "I support these regulations, and we should all attempt to protect the environment." Many internet users shared their understanding online.

It is just one of the numerous ecological and environmental protection measures rolled out at this UNESCO World Heritage Site over the past decades.

The Guest-Greeting Pine, a must-visit landmark on Huangshan Mountain, has been considered a significant cultural symbol of Chinese hospitality. Its most recognizable feature is a long branch extending like an outstretched arm in a welcoming gesture.

Never being a writer, Hu Xiaochun has already written down about 1.4 million characters in 84 volumes of diaries recording the Guest-Greeting Pine over the past decade.

In the 1980s, a post to oversee the Guest-Greeting Pine was created, responsible for the daily care and observation of the remarkable millenary tree.

As the 19th guardian of the pine, Hu has accompanied the pine for 13 years. His routine involves patrolling around the pine every two hours during the day, and meticulously recording its condition and surroundings.

Apart from Hu, the scenic spot has a group of "Spidermen" cleaning garbage from the steep cliffs by hanging themselves by a rope. Sometimes, they also help tourists retrieve mobile phones and wallets that they accidentally dropped down the cliffs.

Li Peisheng is one of the members. After professional training, he has been doing this job for over two decades.

China has been awarding grassroots heroes as "Good Samaritans of China" since 2008. Li and Hu made the list of awardees in 2012 and 2021, respectively, for their longtime and dedicated efforts in their work.

The two workers said that they found positive changes on the mountain.

"Over twenty years ago, the scenic area received an annual number of tourists of approximately 800,000, and we had to descend cliffs to collect garbage seven or eight times per day. Nowadays, the tourist influx is over 3 million. However, littering has significantly decreased since the tourists' environmental protection awareness has constantly improved," Li said.

Advanced technologies now apply, and protection rules have been tailored to protect ancient trees and wildlife and monitor the climate on the mountain in recent years.

Thanks to these efforts, more new wildlife species have been spotted there in recent years.

From January to July this year, over 2.5 million tourists visited the Huangshan Mountain Scenic Area, an increase of 29.5 percent over the same period in 2019. More efforts have been made to balance the massive visitor flow with ecological preservation.

Ge Xufang, with the Huangshan Mountain Scenic Area management committee, said Huangshan is committed to reducing the environmental burden due to tourism activities. Measures include relocating offices and living facilities, building eco-friendly accommodations, and reducing domestic sewage and garbage.

To allow nature to rest and self-repair, Huangshan has adopted a rotational closure system for several famous attractions based on monitored vegetation indicators, which has promoted the recovery of the ecological environment, according to Ge. 
BEIJING, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Work Safety Committee of China's State Council will supervise the investigation into a deadly gymnasium roof collapse at a middle school in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, the Ministry of Emergency Management said on Monday.

The incident occurred on July 23 in the city of Qiqihar, killing 11 people. 
KHARTOUM, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Clashes have renewed between the Sudanese Army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in western Sudan's South Darfur State amid continued tribal violence in the state, according to eyewitnesses and local media.

There were conflicting reports about the deaths and injuries resulting from the military clashes and tribal violence in the state.

The RSF said in a statement on Sunday that over 43 civilians, including eight children and women, were killed in the Sudanese army's "indiscriminate" shelling on a number of neighborhoods in Nyala, the capital city of South Darfur state.

The Sudanese army has not yet commented on the accusation. But according to local media and eyewitnesses, many people had lost their lives in the escalated tribal fighting in the South Darfur state.

"Since Friday, tribal fighting has been taking place between the Salamat and Bani Halba tribes," an eyewitness from Nyala told Xinhua on Sunday.

"This morning, the conflict escalated between the two tribes, resulting in large numbers of deaths and injuries, " said the eyewitness who required anonymity, adding the exact number of the victims could not be counted due to the security situation.

Meanwhile, the independent Sudan Tribune news portal reported on its website that the tribal fighting, which has been going on for three days, has led to the killing and injuring of no less than 47 people.

The website quoted military sources as saying that the reason behind the conflict between the two tribes was that they accused each other of stealing livestock, besides the Salamat tribe's refusal to bow to RSF pressure to push the tribes to declare their absolute support for paramilitary forces in the war.

In June, the Bani Halba, one of the main Arab tribes in South Darfur state, declared its support for the RSF in its war against the Sudanese army.

Adam Abbakar Ishaq, a leading figure in Nyala's local resistance committees, said that the mobilization by the two tribes threatens a humanitarian catastrophe.

"Both tribes are mobilizing more fighters amid unprecedented security chaos and complete absence of official authorities," he told Xinhua by phone.

Sudan has been witnessing deadly clashes between the Sudanese army and the RSF in Khartoum and other areas since April 15, resulting in at least 3,000 deaths and more than 6,000 injuries, according to figures released by the Sudanese Health Ministry. 
COLOMBO, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka earned 219 million U.S. dollars from tourism in July, a top tourism official said on Monday, citing Central Bank of Sri Lanka data.

Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Chairman Priantha Fernando told the media that 143,039 tourists visited the country last month, compared to 47,293 visitor arrivals a year earlier, which generated some 85 million dollars in tourism income.

He added that 1.09 billion dollars were earned from tourism in the first seven months of this year, compared to 764.6 million dollars recorded a year earlier.

According to him, 51,594 tourists arrived between Aug. 1 and 10, and Sri Lanka has received over 800,000 tourists so far this year.

Sri Lanka's tourism industry is aiming to attract 2 million visitors in 2023, compared to the previous target of 1.5 million.

Tourism, as one of Sri Lanka's leading foreign exchange earners, has suffered a setback due to the COVID-19 pandemic and economic and political crises in the South Asian country. 
BEIJING, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday evening issued an orange alert for mountain torrents.

From 8 p.m. Monday to 8 p.m. Tuesday, mountain torrents are highly likely to occur in southern parts of Gansu and southeastern parts of Qinghai, according to the alert, which was issued by the Ministry of Water Resources and the China Meteorological Administration.

The two departments also issued a yellow alert for mountain torrents in certain areas of Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai.

Local authorities are advised to strengthen real-time monitoring and flood warning procedures amid measures to prepare for evacuation.

China has a four-tier weather-warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue. 
VLADIVOSTOK, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- A family of five belugas were rescued by fishermen in northern Kamchatka of Russia's Far East, local media reported on Monday.

Minister of Natural Resources of Kamchatka Alexei Kumarkov told RIA Novosti the incident happened last Thursday, when fishermen spotted four adult belugas and one calf on the shore of the Sea of Okhotsk. The animals were washed up by the tide and could not move. The fishermen poured water over them for several hours until the tide came back and they were able to swim away.

In the video recorded by the fishermen themselves, the animals are lying on the sandbar next to each other, making different sounds, and some of them have a liquid resembling tears coming out of their eyes.

The Beluga belongs to the order of cetaceans and is a member of the narwhal family. Males are slightly larger than females. They have a body length of 6 meters and a weight of about 2,000 kilograms.

The habitat of different populations of beluga is the Arctic waters of the Sea of Okhotsk, White Sea, Kara Sea, and Arctic Ocean. Today, the world population of belugas has increased from 160,000 to 180,000 individuals. About 50 percent of belugas live near Russian shores. 
TEHRAN, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- At least one person was killed and eight others injured on Sunday in a "terrorist" attack on the Shah Cheragh shrine in Iran's southern Fars province, the official news agency IRNA reported.

In the evening, several staff and worshipers were caught under the gunfire of an armed assailant who attempted to break into the shrine at a main gate, IRNA reported, citing Deputy Governor of Fars Province Esmail Qezel Sofla.

He said the "terrorist" has been arrested and is under interrogation, adding that all the injured have been transferred to the hospital.

According to the Iranian Students' News Agency, the person killed in the attack was one of the staff working at the shrine.

The shrine encountered a similar "terrorist" attack in October last year, in which 13 worshippers, including a woman and two children, were killed and 30 others injured. 
NEW DELHI, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- At least 21 people were killed and several others were feared missing in rain-related incidents in India's northern hilly state of Himachal Pradesh, officials said Monday.

"In the last 24 hours, heavy rains have claimed many lives. As of now, 21 deaths have been confirmed," Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said.

Sukhu has visited the affected areas to take stock of the situation.

According to officials a landslide at a Shiv temple in Summer Hill locality of Shimla claimed five lives. Several other people are feared missing, believed to be trapped under the debris.

Four others were reported dead in a landslide in Phagli of Shimla.

In Solan district, seven members of a family were killed in a cloudburst. Likewise, two people were killed after a landslide struck a house in Mandi. In another incident, two people died after a house collapsed in Bambola village of Mandi. A death has been reported due to a landslide in Balera village of Solan district.

Sukhu has appealed to people to stay indoors and avoid going near drains or rivers.

In an interview with a local television news channel, he also asked people to move away from landslide-prone areas and requested tourists not to visit the state for the time being.

Himachal Pradesh has been the worst affected since the beginning of the monsoon in late June in the South Asian country. Flash floods and landslides were triggered by heavy rainfall, causing losses of human life and property. According to the government, until Sunday evening 257 people have been killed.

Authorities have ordered the closure of all schools, colleges and other educational institutions in the state on Monday due to the bad weather.

The state emergency operation center said 752 roads have been closed in the state because of the calamities as a result of heavy rainfall.

According to the India Meteorological Department moderate to heavy rainfall is likely to continue in the state in the next two days. 
MANILA, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- An organization fighting for justice for Philippine wartime sexual slavery victims of the Japanese troops on Monday slammed Japan's efforts to boost its military role in the Philippines while continue refusing to apologize for its wartime crimes.

"The memories of the abuses suffered by Filipinos, especially women, in World War II have not healed. Japan who has still refused to acknowledge its wartime crimes yet is now serving as the U.S. military partner in its Indo-Pacific framework," the Lila Pilipina said in a statement.

"Lila Pilipina" means League of Filipino Grandmother in Tagalog, major language of the Philippines. According to the non-profit organization that helps these victims seek justice, more than 1,000 Filipino women were forced to serve as sex slaves for the Japanese aggressors when Japan occupied the Philippines from December 1941 until its defeat in August 1945.

Until the early 1990s, nearly 300 Filipino women finally took the courage to come out in the open to tell their wartime ordeal.

In 2012, the day of Aug. 14 was designated the International Memorial Day for "Comfort Women" by the 11th Asian Alliance Conference for "Comfort Women."

After three decades of fighting for their rights, there are now only a few survivors, most in their 90s and sick, while Japan continues to ignore the aging women's plight and demands on compensation and justice.

Lila Pilipina slammed Japan's efforts for reaching a military agreement with the Philippines that will allow Japanese troops and war materiel to move unhampered in the country.

"It is a violation of both the Japanese and Philippine Constitutions that both renounce war as instruments of national policy," the group added.

Lila Pilipina has participated in national and global efforts to prevent and oppose militarism, armed invasion, and their attendant war crimes. The group, together with other wartime victim groups, rallied Monday before the Congress in Metro Manila, demanding the lawmakers pass a bill to declare Aug. 14 as the "National Memorial Day for Comfort Women."

The group vowed to "vigorously oppose imperialist wars of aggression, bearing in mind the sufferings that our nation and Filipino women victims of military sexual violence endured during World War II." 
Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao (L) and Angolan Minister of State for Economic Coordination Jose de Lima Massano are pictured during the Second Meeting of the Steering Commission for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Angola, in Luanda, the capital of Angola, on Aug. 13, 2023. The Second Meeting of the Steering Commission for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Angola was held Sunday in Luanda, the capital of Angola.

During the meeting, co-chaired by Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao and the Minister of State for Economic Coordination of Angola Jose de Lima Massano, both countries jointly announced the conclusion of negotiations on the China-Angola Bilateral Investment Agreement and exchanged views on pragmatic cooperation in various areas, including trade, investment, infrastructure, industrial development, and human resources. (Photo by Julio Kikebu/Xinhua)

LUANDA, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Second Meeting of the Steering Commission for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Angola was held Sunday in Luanda, the capital of Angola.

During the meeting, co-chaired by Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao and the Minister of State for Economic Coordination of Angola Jose de Lima Massano, both countries jointly announced the conclusion of negotiations on the China-Angola Bilateral Investment Agreement and exchanged views on pragmatic cooperation in various areas, including trade, investment, infrastructure, industrial development, and human resources.

Wang said that under the strategic leadership of the leaders of both countries, the economic and trade cooperation between China and Angola has yielded fruitful results. China is prepared to collaborate in strategizing for the upcoming phase of bilateral economic and trade cooperation, enhancing the scope of trade and investment cooperation, strengthening the achievements in infrastructure partnership, and broadening engagement across sectors such as energy, mining, manufacturing, agriculture, and fisheries.

He also highlighted the goal of fostering high-quality development in bilateral economic and trade cooperation and infusing new energy into advancing the strategic partnership between China and Angola.

Massano said that China is a dependable partner for economic and trade cooperation for Angola. The Angolan side is eager to work hand in hand with China to strengthen further pragmatic cooperation in the economy and trade between Angola and China.

Angola welcomes more Chinese companies to invest and establish themselves in Angola, actively participate in Angola's economic diversification process, and continuously deepen the China-Angola strategic partnership, Massano said. 
BEIJING, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- This year's edition of the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), one of the world's largest and most comprehensive fairs for trade in services, is scheduled to take place in Beijing from Sept. 2 to 6.

According to the press conference held on Sunday, the fair will be held in the China National Convention Center and Shougang Park, covering an exhibition area of 155,000 square meters.

Themed "openness leads development, cooperation creates a win-win future," the 2023 CIFTIS is expected to see 202 varied events including forums, negotiations, and summits.

Zhou Ling, deputy director of Beijing's international service trade center, said that the upcoming fair will encompass a wide array of topics, such as telecommunications, information services, financial services, health and sanitation services, and environmental services.

A total of 75 countries and international organizations have already confirmed their participation. Over 70 renowned enterprises and institutions are poised to showcase their accomplishments, and more than 1,800 companies are gearing up to participate in both offline and online exhibitions.

The United Kingdom, the guest country of honor of the 2023 CIFTIS, will assemble its largest-ever delegation for the fair this year. 
China strongly condemns U.S. decision to arrange so-called "stopover" for Lai Ching-te

Xinhua) 08:11, August 14, 2023

BEIJING, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- China on Sunday deplored and strongly condemned the U.S. decision to arrange the so-called "stopover" for Lai Ching-te, saying that China firmly opposes any visit by "Taiwan independence" separatists to the United States in any name or under whatever pretext.

It was reported that deputy leader of China's Taiwan region Lai Ching-te set off for Paraguay on Aug. 12 to attend the inauguration of Paraguay's new president, and has arrived in New York for a "stopover".

When asked to comment on relevant reports, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that China firmly opposes any form of official interaction between the United States and the Taiwan region.

"We firmly oppose the U.S. government having any form of official contact with the Taiwan region," said the spokesperson.

The spokesperson said that Lai Ching-te clings stubbornly to the separatist position for "Taiwan independence". He is a troublemaker through and through. The U.S. and the Taiwan authorities arranged for Lai to engage in political activities in the United States in the name of having a "stopover". This seriously violates the one-China principle, gravely undermines China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The fact once again shows that the fundamental cause of the continued tensions in the Taiwan Strait is the Taiwan authorities' attempt to solicit U.S. support for "Taiwan independence" and that the United States is bent on using Taiwan to contain China.

"The Taiwan question is the core of the core interests of China, the bedrock of the political foundation of China-U.S. relations, and the first red line that must not be crossed in China-U.S. relations," said the spokesperson, urging the United States to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, deliver on its commitment of not supporting "Taiwan independence" or "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan", stop all forms of official interaction with Taiwan, stop conniving at and supporting "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and their separatist activities and stop fudging and hollowing out the one-China principle.

"China is closely following the developments of the situation and will take resolute and strong measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity," said the spokesperson.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
TEHRAN, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian will pay a visit to Riyadh in the near future at the invitation of his Saudi counterpart, Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said Monday.

He made the remarks at a weekly press conference in the capital Tehran while commenting on the latest developments in relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

It is a reciprocal visit to Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud's visit to Tehran in June, Kanaani added.

He noted that during the imminent visit, regional and international issues and the expansion of bilateral economic cooperation will be discussed.

The spokesman said relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia are progressing step by step, saying the Saudi embassy in Tehran and consulate general in the northeastern city of Mashhad have resumed their operations based on the agreement between the two countries.

Iran and Saudi Arabia announced in April the resumption of diplomatic relations with immediate effect, seven years after Riyadh cut diplomatic ties with Tehran in 2016 in response to the attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran after the kingdom executed a Shiite cleric.

In early June, Iran reopened its embassy in the Saudi capital of Riyadh as well as its consulate general and representative office to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Jeddah. 
SEOUL, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Seodaemun-gu (district) of Seoul, the capital city of South Korea, hosted a concert titled "Song of Hope and Joy" on Monday evening to celebrate the upcoming 78th anniversary of the Korean Liberation Day.

The concert is part of "Seodaemun Independence Festival" held to commemorate Aug. 15, the day in the year of 1945 when the Korean Peninsula was liberated from Japanese colonial rule. The festival, which started from Saturday and will last till Tuesday, includes concerts, taekwondo performances and a series of other celebrations.

In addition, a special exhibition, which focuses on the historical moment on Aug. 15, 1945 when the Korean Peninsula was liberated after Japan announced surrender without condition, was held at Seodaemun Prison History Hall in Seoul from Saturday.

Seodaemun Prison History Hall was used to imprison independence fighters in the peninsula until it was liberated from Japanese colonial rule.

Patriots suffered humiliation and repression in the Seodaemun Prison when the Korean Peninsula was occupied by Imperial Japan, and they were released after Japan announced surrender, Lee Sung-heon, mayor of Seodaemun-gu, told Xinhua.

The exhibition was held to rekindle the joy of the country's liberation, so that people may cherish the hard-won national independence, Lee added. 
BEIJING, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- More than 300 scholars on Tibetology from China and overseas gathered in Beijing on Monday for the opening of a key international seminar promoting Tibetan studies.

The seminar, the seventh of its kind since 1991, will be held until Wednesday, according to the China Tibetology Research Center (CTRC), an organizer of the event.

As one of the largest international academic events in Tibetan studies, the seminar is an important platform for academics in Tibetology at home and abroad to showcase the latest research findings and deepen exchanges and cooperation, according to CTRC.

During the event, scholars will discuss various topics such as education, Tibetan Buddhism, social transformation and change, and architecture and living conditions on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

"At present, Tibet enjoys economic development, social stability, ethnic unity and religious harmony," said Lin Rui, deputy head of China Association for Preservation and Development of Tibetan Culture, during the opening ceremony. "The Tibetan people, together with the people of all ethnic groups in China, are moving forward with determination on the new journey towards Chinese modernization."

The preservation and inheritance of Tibetan culture have been secured like never before, Lin said, citing the extensive use of Tibetan language and characters, as well as the protection and utilization of cultural relics and historical sites.

"In the new era, Tibetan culture exudes new charm, shows new characteristics and heralds great prospects," Lin said.

Chen Zongrong, deputy director-general of CTRC, pointed out that great progress has been made in Tibetan studies in China since the last edition of the seminar in 2016.

At present, there are more than 100 Tibetology institutions engaged in research, education and publishing, and more than 5,000 professionals engaged in Tibetan studies.

Chinese scholars on Tibetology have been expanding the depth and scope of their studies by drawing on research findings of other disciplines, as well as exploring new materials, issues and research paradigms, Chen added.

He also underlined the increasing usage of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence and digitalization, in Tibetan studies.

"This is not only refreshing but also of high academic value. It greatly enriches the Tibetan studies and expands the depth of research," Chen said.

Scholars attending the seminar have expressed a willingness to deepen exchanges and cooperation on Tibetan studies with their colleagues from across the world.

Birgit Kellner, director of the Institute for the Cultural and Intellectual History of Asia (IKGA) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, noted that Sanskrit manuscripts preserved in Tibet have great historical and cultural value.

In recent years, CTRC has signed a cooperation agreement with IKGA to jointly carry out the research on Tibetan Sanskrit manuscripts and achieved a series of remarkable results.

Kellner expressed the hope to maintain close exchanges with Chinese researchers and further promote international academic cooperation in Sanskrit manuscripts research. 
BEIJING, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- China's Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) has ordered the arrest of Hao Hongjun, a former senior municipal political advisor for Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province, for suspected bribe-taking, the SPP said Monday.

Hao was former chairman of the Dalian Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

The case was transferred to procuratorial authorities for examination and prosecution following the conclusion of an investigation by the National Commission of Supervision.

The handling of the case is underway. 
BEIJING, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese military spokesperson on Monday urged Japan to cease interfering in China-Russia joint maritime patrols that do not target any third party.

Wu Qian, spokesman for China's Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in response to a question regarding the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force's tracking and monitoring of China-Russia joint maritime patrol vessels.

The Chinese and Russian armed forces carried out joint maritime patrols in designated waters in the western and northern Pacific Ocean following their annual cooperation agenda. These patrols do not target any third party and are irrelevant to current global or regional situations, Wu said.

During the patrols, vessels of the two militaries strictly abided by international laws and sailed in high seas throughout their voyages, he added.

The Japanese side's interfering moves are perilous and could easily lead to misjudgments and accidents, Wu added.

"We urge the Japanese side to stop meaningless interference and refrain from irresponsible words and deeds that harm the healthy China-Japan bilateral ties and undermine regional peace and stability," Wu said.

He also noted that cooperation between Chinese and Russian troops is conducted in an open and transparent manner and aims to jointly safeguard international justice and uphold peace and security. Enditem
China successfully launched a Kuaizhou-1A carrier rocket to send five new satellites into space from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Monday.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service
HARBIN, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong has called for efforts to strengthen agricultural disaster relief and mitigation as well as epidemic prevention.

Liu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during his inspection tour in Heilongjiang Province from Sunday to Monday.

Liu urged efforts to stabilize and increase grain production, and ensure that there are no epidemics after disasters and that there is no return to poverty on a large scale.

During his tour, Liu went to Wuchang City and Shangzhi City, which were seriously affected by the floods, to inspect the agricultural disaster relief and the damage to water conservancy facilities.

Liu also walked into farmland and toured a science park in Suihua City, and visited farmers affected by flooding. 
Students practice Baduanjin Qigong during a traditional Chinese medicine lecture at the University of Namibia in Windhoek, Namibia, on Aug. 14, 2023. The Chinese medical team in Namibia on Monday delivered a lecture on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to students from the University of Namibia, enabling them to have a better understanding of the TCM techniques. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng)

WINDHOEK, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese medical team in Namibia on Monday delivered a lecture on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to students from the University of Namibia, enabling them to have a better understanding of the TCM techniques.

During the lecture at the university's Confucius Institute, the Chinese doctors delved into the intricate details of TCM, in a move meant to enlighten and educate students more on the benefits as an alternative to other modern forms of treatments.

The Chinese team explained the uses of techniques like acupuncture and how and why it is administered, and how other techniques are combined to be more effective, like incorporating moxibustion with acupuncture as a natural means of treatment for various ailments.

The doctors also zoomed in on the benefits of TCM, saying it is considered to be milder and does not have strong side effects as some other medicine does.

During the lecture, the students had the opportunity to experience some of the techniques which included acupuncture, massages, moxibustion, and cupping.

Kaputuaza Mbuende, a sophomore, told Xinhua that the whole experience was fascinating. "This was my first experience to have acupuncture and I learned a lot from the history of the techniques," he said.

According to Mbuende, a couple of months ago he broke his forearm and since then it has been difficult to move some of his fingers due to the nerve damage caused by his injury.

"To be honest, after my (TCM) experience, I felt it easier to wiggle some of my fingers. It does work," he said, adding that he is going to embark on an extensive program to use TCM for his healing journey.

Monica-Clare Nyango, a student at the institute, said she was hesitant at first to try acupuncture as well as cupping as this was her first time experiencing the techniques.

"I feel relaxed, really at ease and I did enjoy all the procedures," she said after receiving some of the techniques. "I will recommend this form of therapy for pain relief and treatment of other forms of ailments."

China to date has sent a total of 15 medical teams to Namibia since its first mission in 1996. The medical teams have been committed to ensuring the health of the Namibian people while also maintaining the friendship between the two countries. 

Students practice Baduanjin Qigong during a traditional Chinese medicine lecture at the University of Namibia in Windhoek, Namibia, on Aug. 14, 2023. The Chinese medical team in Namibia on Monday delivered a lecture on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to students from the University of Namibia, enabling them to have a better understanding of the TCM techniques. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng)

A student receives the moxibustion therapy during a traditional Chinese medicine lecture at the University of Namibia in Windhoek, Namibia, on Aug. 14, 2023. The Chinese medical team in Namibia on Monday delivered a lecture on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to students from the University of Namibia, enabling them to have a better understanding of the TCM techniques. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng)

A student receives the moxibustion therapy during a traditional Chinese medicine lecture at the University of Namibia in Windhoek, Namibia, on Aug. 14, 2023. The Chinese medical team in Namibia on Monday delivered a lecture on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to students from the University of Namibia, enabling them to have a better understanding of the TCM techniques. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng)
This photo taken on Aug. 13, 2023 shows the landslide site at a jade mine in Hpakant, Myanmar's Kachin state. Two were killed, and over 30 have gone missing in a jade mine landslide in northern Myanmar's Kachin State on Sunday, local police said Monday. (Str/Xinhua)

YANGON, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Two were killed, and over 30 have gone missing in a jade mine landslide in northern Myanmar's Kachin State on Sunday, local police said Monday.

The landslide took place at around 3 p.m. local time on Sunday in a jade mine near Ma Na Village in Hpakant township of Kachin State, a Hpakant township police officer told Xinhua.

"Two dead bodies were retrieved. The others remained missing. There are about eight people who sustained injuries," the police officer said.

Ko Thein Than Htike, a rescue worker in Hpakant township, told Xinhua that it is difficult to determine the exact number of the people who went missing as they are migrant workers.

Deadly landslides are frequent in Kachin state, especially in Hpakant mining region.

Many locals make their living by jade scavenging in the region and most of the landslides are caused by the partial collapse of tailings heaps and dams.

A major fatal landslide occurred at a jade mining site in Hpakant township in July 2020, leaving 174 dead and 54 others injured. 

People gather around the landslide site at a jade mine in Hpakant, Myanmar's Kachin state, Aug. 13, 2023. Two were killed, and over 30 have gone missing in a jade mine landslide in northern Myanmar's Kachin State on Sunday, local police said Monday. (Str/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Aug. 13, 2023 shows the landslide site at a jade mine in Hpakant, Myanmar's Kachin state. Two were killed, and over 30 have gone missing in a jade mine landslide in northern Myanmar's Kachin State on Sunday, local police said Monday. (Str/Xinhua)

Rescuers work at the landslide site at a jade mine in Hpakant, Myanmar's Kachin state, Aug. 14, 2023. Two were killed, and over 30 have gone missing in a jade mine landslide in northern Myanmar's Kachin State on Sunday, local police said Monday.

The landslide took place at around 3 p.m. local time on Sunday in a jade mine near Ma Na Village in Hpakant township of Kachin State, a Hpakant township police officer told Xinhua. (Str/Xinhua)

Rescuers work at the landslide site at a jade mine in Hpakant, Myanmar's Kachin state, Aug. 14, 2023. Two were killed, and over 30 have gone missing in a jade mine landslide in northern Myanmar's Kachin State on Sunday, local police said Monday.

The landslide took place at around 3 p.m. local time on Sunday in a jade mine near Ma Na Village in Hpakant township of Kachin State, a Hpakant township police officer told Xinhua. (Str/Xinhua)

People gather around the landslide site at a jade mine in Hpakant, Myanmar's Kachin state, Aug. 13, 2023. Two were killed, and over 30 have gone missing in a jade mine landslide in northern Myanmar's Kachin State on Sunday, local police said Monday.

The landslide took place at around 3 p.m. local time on Sunday in a jade mine near Ma Na Village in Hpakant township of Kachin State, a Hpakant township police officer told Xinhua. (Str/Xinhua)

Rescuers work at the landslide site at a jade mine in Hpakant, Myanmar's Kachin state, Aug. 14, 2023. Two were killed, and over 30 have gone missing in a jade mine landslide in northern Myanmar's Kachin State on Sunday, local police said Monday.

The landslide took place at around 3 p.m. local time on Sunday in a jade mine near Ma Na Village in Hpakant township of Kachin State, a Hpakant township police officer told Xinhua. (Str/Xinhua)
RIGA, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins announced on Monday that he would resign amid differences with coalition partners.

Karins, who is the leader of the center-right New Unity, blamed the centrist United List and conservative National Alliance for thwarting attempts to improve the government's performance.

"A new government is needed," Karins told a press conference, adding that he would hand in his resignation to President Edgars Rinkevics on Thursday.

Karins also said that he would not seek reappointment as prime minister.

The move comes as a U-turn after his announcement last week that he will start consultations on forming a new cabinet with two opposition parties -- the center-left Progressives and centrist Greens and Farmers. Earlier, New Unity's existing current partners did not agree to a government reshuffle within the coalition.

New Unity plans to name its prime minister candidate on Wednesday.

Karins, a former economy minister and member of European Parliament, became the country's prime minister in 2019 as a compromise candidate heading a five-party coalition in which New Unity was the smallest member. After New Unity won the parliamentary election last year, Karins managed to form a three-party government with a slim majority. But the new coalition was marred by disagreements. 
SENJ, Croatia, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The presence of a Chinese team at the 50th International Senj Summer Carnival is a proof that those Chinese builders have close ties with local community, said Viktor Samarzija, director of the Senj Tourist Board, in an interview with Xinhua on Monday.

"We are extremely pleased that the Chinese team participated in our carnival for the second year. It is an honor for us to host them," Samarzija said.

China's Norinco International Cooperation Ltd. (Norinco International), together with the Chinese embassy in Zagreb and the Confucius Institute at the Zagreb University, participated in a parade on Saturday, the highlight of the week-long carnival starting on Aug. 7.

The carnival, which featured concerts, exhibitions, parades and fireworks this year, has been the largest of its kind in Croatia. Some 50 groups of over 2,000 people from Croatia and Slovenia, Italy, Austria and other countries participated, attracting tens of thousands of spectators.

The Chinese team, while showcasing costumes of ancient China, also constantly interacted with the crowds and won rounds of applauses.

Norinco International is the contractor and builder of Croatia's Senj Wind Farm, located on the Adriatic coast of western Croatia and inaugurated in December 2021. The wind farm produces about 530 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green electricity each year and reduces Croatia's carbon dioxide emissions by about 460,000 tonnes per year.

Referring to the Chinese builders as "extremely cultured and unobtrusive people," Samarzija said they "perfectly integrated into our society and the proof of that is this carnival gathering where we exchange the customs and wealth of our two cultures with each other."

Samarzija said the Senj Wind Farm is of "great importance" in both boosting local employment and generating economic profits.

According to the Chinese embassy, while under construction, the wind farm project employed over 260 local residents and had contracts with more than 40 local subcontractors, suppliers and service providers.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic has hailed the Senj Wind Farm as a project key to the clean and renewable energy sector in the city and the country as a whole.

The Chinese presence here is also "a proof of a close relationship" between the Chinese and the local community, Samarzija said.

As Senj's tourism director, Samarzija extended his welcome to tourists from China. Senj, dubbed as the pearl of the North Adriatic, is known for its natural beauty, long history of over 3,000 years as well as its rich cultural heritage, he said. 
ALGIERS, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen on Monday called his Algerian counterpart Ahmed Attaf, and expressed his "regrets and apologies" for the burning of the Islamic holy book of Quran in the Danish capital Copenhagen.

The Danish diplomat said these acts were "intolerable and unacceptable," and had run contrary to Denmark's traditions of hospitality, openness and tolerance, the Algerian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Rasmussen told Attaf that the Danish government was about to finalize the text of a bill that would put an end to such practices, adding it will be submitted to the Danish parliament for deliberation in four weeks.

Denmark and Sweden have seen a string of protests over the past weeks in their capitals, in which copies of the Quran were burned or otherwise damaged in front of the embassies of Muslim countries, sparking outrage in the Muslim world. 
Chinese piano maestro Liu Shikun plays piano at a ceremony of the Most Outstanding Asian Artist Lifetime Achievement Award in New York City, the United States, Aug. 12, 2023. Liu Shikun, an 84-year-old Chinese piano maestro, has been honored with the Most Outstanding Asian Artist Lifetime Achievement Award in New York City over the weekend. (Chinese American Arts Council/Sandy Fan/Handout via Xinhua)

NEW YORK, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Liu Shikun, an 84-year-old Chinese piano maestro, has been honored with the Most Outstanding Asian Artist Lifetime Achievement Award in New York City over the weekend.

Born in 1939 into a family of wealthy merchants and music enthusiasts in Tianjin, Liu started playing the piano at the age of three. He is an outstanding composer, a distinguished arts educator and also a pioneer in U.S.-China cultural exchange.

"I have received numerous awards in the past, but this award holds a profound meaning for me and has made me feel particularly honored," said Liu in his acceptance speech at a ceremony presented by the Chinese American Arts Council (CAAC).

Chinese Consul General in New York, Huang Ping, who jointly presented the award to Liu with Alan Chow, the CAAC founder and director, highlighted how Liu's artistic achievements serve as a bridge of friendship between different cultures.

Established in 1981, the Most Outstanding Asian Artist Lifetime Achievement Award is one of the most significant honors in the United States dedicated to recognizing excellence in the Asian arts community. 

Chinese piano maestro Liu Shikun speaks at a ceremony of the Most Outstanding Asian Artist Lifetime Achievement Award in New York City, the United States, Aug. 12, 2023. Liu Shikun, an 84-year-old Chinese piano maestro, has been honored with the Most Outstanding Asian Artist Lifetime Achievement Award in New York City over the weekend. (Chinese American Arts Council/Sandy Fan/Handout via Xinhua)
WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Five people were killed and three others injured after a house explosion in U.S. Pennsylvania on Saturday, authorities said on Sunday.

First responders from the police and fire department arrived on scene after a report of the house explosion in Plum, a borough in western Pennsylvania's Allegheny County at around 10:23 a.m. Saturday local time (1423 GMT), according to a Facebook post of the county.

The post added that there were three structures destroyed and at least a dozen more damaged in some way.

Plum Borough Police Chief Lanny Conley said at a press conference Sunday morning that medical examiners had determined four adults and one adolescent child died from the explosion.

County Emergency Services officials told reporters that two people had been released from the hospital, while one remained in critical condition.

Gas and electrical services were temporarily shut off in the affected area out of an abundance of caution.

Officials said the cause of the house explosion is still under investigation. 
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- As the death toll rose to 96 in the wildfires in Hawaii's Maui Island as of Monday, a lawsuit has been filed against the U.S. state's main electric provider in connection with the disaster.

A class-action lawsuit was filed on Saturday against Hawaiian Electric, alleging a downed power line on Maui caused the deadliest wildfire in modern U.S. history.

The fires have caused at least 96 deaths and destroyed more than 2,000 structures as of Monday, with an unknown number of people unaccounted for, according to the update information from the authority.

The cause of the fires has not been determined, but plaintiffs said in the 37-page document that the utility company's equipment could be a possible source of ignition.

Hawaiian Electric, which operates the utility that serves Maui, had come under scrutiny for not turning off power despite weather forecasters' warnings that dry, gusty winds could create critical fire conditions.

The plaintiffs said the destruction "could have been avoided" if the utility company shut down its power lines before the high winds hit the island.

"By failing to shut off the power during these dangerous fire conditions, defendants caused loss of life, serious injuries, destruction of hundreds of homes and businesses, displacement of thousands of people, and damage to many of Hawaii's historic and cultural sites," said the complaint.

Hawaiian Electric spokesperson Jim Kelly told NBC News and other news outlets that the company would not comment on pending litigation, saying its immediate focus is supporting emergency response efforts and restoring power.

Shares of Hawaiian Electric plunged 39 percent on Monday amid Wall Street concerns over the company's potential liability in the Maui wildfires.

The Maui wildfires are the deadliest in the United States in more than a century, surpassing California's 2018 Camp Fire which claimed 86 lives, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

Last year, California's largest utility Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) reached a 117 million U.S. dollars settlement agreement in connection with the 2017 North Bay fires and the 2018 Camp Fire.

The 2017 fires were sparked by downed power lines owned by PG&E, and the Camp Fire was sparked by faulty electrical equipment operated by the same company, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

PG&E was driven into bankruptcy in 2019 and since then, power companies in California, Oregon and Nevada have decided to preemptively shut off power when high, dry winds could spark catastrophic fires. 
Chinese defense minister to visit Russia and Belarus this week 14 August, 05:50 PM Chinese defense minister to visit Russia and Belarus this week (Photo:Sputnik/Pavel Bednyakov/Pool via Reuters)

Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu is set to visit Russia and Belarus this week at the invitation of their defense ministers Sergei Shoygu (RU) and Viktor Khrenin (BY), the Chinese Defense Ministry announced in a press release on Aug. 14.

Li is scheduled to deliver a report at the 11th Moscow International Security Conference. The visit by the defense minister is expected to last from August 14 to 19.

During his time in Russia, Li will engage in a series of high-level meetings, while in Belarus, he is expected to inspect some of the countrys military units.

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Li assumed the position of Chinas defense minister in March of this year. In a previous diplomatic engagement, he traveled to Russia in April where he held discussions with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.

China released a position document on Feb. 24, outlining its stance on Russias full-scale war against Ukraine, consisting of 12 points.

The document emphasized the importance of respecting territorial integrity, and advocated for negotiations and the cessation of hostilities, but opposed the use of sanctions. Notably, the document did not explicitly mention the necessity for Russia to withdrawal from Ukrainian territory.

China will maintain an independent and impartial stance in its efforts to find a political resolution to Russias war against Ukraine, Chinas Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, told his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, on Aug. 8.

Will you support Ukraines free press? Dear reader, as all news organizations, we must balance the pressures of delivering timely, accurate, and relevant stories with requirements to fund our business operations. As a Ukrainian-based media, we also have another responsibility  to amplify Ukraines voice to the world during the crucial moment of its existence as a political nation. Its the support of our readers that lets us continue doing our job. We keep our essential reporting free because we believe in our ultimate purpose: an independent, democratic Ukraine. If youre willing to support Ukraine, consider subscribing to our Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.

Please help us continue fighting Russian propaganda. Truth can be hard to tell from fiction these days. Every viewpoint has its audience of backers and supporters, no matter how absurd. If conscious disinformation is reinforced by state propaganda apparatus and budget, its outcomes may become deadly. There is no solution to this, other than independent, honest, and accurate reporting. We remain committed to empowering the Ukrainian voice to push against the muck. If youre willing to stand up for the truth  consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. Thank you very much.

Will you help tell Ukraines story to the world? Twenty years ago, most people hadnt even heard of Ukraine. Today, the country is on everyones lips and everyones headlines. War pushed us on the front page. But there are many other things we do that we are proud of  from music and culture to technology. We need your help to tell the world Ukrainian story of resilience, joy, and survival. If youre willing to back our effort, consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.

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Come Back Alive, United24, Monobank launch campaign to fund 10,000 kamikaze drones 14 August, 08:15 PM Fee for FPV drones Operation Unity (Photo:@United24)

The Come Back Alive (CBA) foundation, an organization dedicated to providing fundraising support to the Ukrainian military, has teamed up with the United24 fundraising platform and Monobank to raise UAH 235 million ($6.3 million) for 10,000 kamikaze drones, according to a press release on Aug 14.

Of the 10,000 FPV drones, a portion worth UAH178 million ($4.8 million) will be procured from foreign sources, while the assembly of components within Ukraine will account for the remaining UAH 57 million ($1.5 million).

Operation Unity is our response to one of the most frequent requests from the military today  combat drones, said CBA head Taras Chmut.

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Together with the fundraising platform United24 and Monobank, we are not only acquiring 10,000 FPV drones, but each of them will be equipped with combat-ready components, including thermobaric and cumulative-fragmentation ammunition.

These kamikaze drones have proven effective on the battlefield, destroying dozens of enemy armored vehicles and neutralizing hundreds of occupiers.

Contributors to the initiative will have the chance to participate in a special raffle. Prizes include a combat flag raised in the recently liberated village of Pyatykhatky in Zaporizhzhya Oblast, meetings with United24 ambassadors, 100 platinum monobank cards, five of which hold UAH 100,000 each ($2,700), and more.

Since the start of the full-scale war, more than UAH 25 billion ($673 million) has been collected for charity through Monobank, said Oleh Horokhovskyi, the banks co-founder.

Meanwhile, we see how much harder it has become for both the charitable organizations and the funds that support Ukraine during this major conflict. Therefore, we are not only uniting our efforts but also adding valuable incentives to the fundraising campaign, as our way of saying thank you to all those who continue to support the Ukrainian military.

Will you support Ukraines free press? Dear reader, as all news organizations, we must balance the pressures of delivering timely, accurate, and relevant stories with requirements to fund our business operations. As a Ukrainian-based media, we also have another responsibility  to amplify Ukraines voice to the world during the crucial moment of its existence as a political nation. Its the support of our readers that lets us continue doing our job. We keep our essential reporting free because we believe in our ultimate purpose: an independent, democratic Ukraine. If youre willing to support Ukraine, consider subscribing to our Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.

Please help us continue fighting Russian propaganda. Truth can be hard to tell from fiction these days. Every viewpoint has its audience of backers and supporters, no matter how absurd. If conscious disinformation is reinforced by state propaganda apparatus and budget, its outcomes may become deadly. There is no solution to this, other than independent, honest, and accurate reporting. We remain committed to empowering the Ukrainian voice to push against the muck. If youre willing to stand up for the truth  consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. Thank you very much.

Will you help tell Ukraines story to the world? Twenty years ago, most people hadnt even heard of Ukraine. Today, the country is on everyones lips and everyones headlines. War pushed us on the front page. But there are many other things we do that we are proud of  from music and culture to technology. We need your help to tell the world Ukrainian story of resilience, joy, and survival. If youre willing to back our effort, consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.

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Community seizes motorcycle after man uses it to terrify villagers as it sounds like a Shahed drone 14 August, 02:55 PM The man was driving at night without a muffler and with the headlights off (Photo:Serhiy Syrota/Facebook)

The physical damage and destruction caused by relentless Russian air raids is well documented, but the psychological impact is taking its toll as well, as exemplified by an incident in the village of Irzhavets, Chernihiv Oblast, on August 11.

The residents of the village took it upon themselves to seize a motorcycle from their neighbor, Serhiy Chmyr, because it sounds like an Iranian Shahed drone, village council head Serhiy Syrota said on Aug. 11.

The man rode his motorcycle through villages with headlights off, while the sound of the engine resembled the sound of Iranian-made Shahed attack drones, which Russia constantly launches against civilian objects in Ukraine, Syrota said.

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"Chmyr repeatedly and deliberately ignored my requests, including personal ones, to stop. During the hours of darkness and curfew, he rode on his motorcycle through Irzhavets, Huzhivtsi, and Parafiivtsi without headlights, turn or stop signals, or with a helmet and license plate.

As the police had failed to take action against Chmyr, the village decided to act collectively instead, Syrota said.

"We ended it today. I want to warn everyone who violates the traffic rules, ignores the curfew, and believes the war to be somewhere far away, so they can drink, get high, and have fun... Wewill not allow that... A vehicle has been seized from the offender and we will transfer it to the police," Syrota said.

Will you support Ukraines free press? Dear reader, as all news organizations, we must balance the pressures of delivering timely, accurate, and relevant stories with requirements to fund our business operations. As a Ukrainian-based media, we also have another responsibility  to amplify Ukraines voice to the world during the crucial moment of its existence as a political nation. Its the support of our readers that lets us continue doing our job. We keep our essential reporting free because we believe in our ultimate purpose: an independent, democratic Ukraine. If youre willing to support Ukraine, consider subscribing to our Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.

Please help us continue fighting Russian propaganda. Truth can be hard to tell from fiction these days. Every viewpoint has its audience of backers and supporters, no matter how absurd. If conscious disinformation is reinforced by state propaganda apparatus and budget, its outcomes may become deadly. There is no solution to this, other than independent, honest, and accurate reporting. We remain committed to empowering the Ukrainian voice to push against the muck. If youre willing to stand up for the truth  consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. Thank you very much.

Will you help tell Ukraines story to the world? Twenty years ago, most people hadnt even heard of Ukraine. Today, the country is on everyones lips and everyones headlines. War pushed us on the front page. But there are many other things we do that we are proud of  from music and culture to technology. We need your help to tell the world Ukrainian story of resilience, joy, and survival. If youre willing to back our effort, consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.

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Former top SBU official sentenced to 12 years in prison for treason 14 August, 06:05 PM Former top SBU official sentenced to 12 years in prison for treason (Photo:)

A court in Kyiv has sentenced a former major general of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), Valeriy Shaytanov, to 12 years in prison for treason, the agency reported on Aug. 14.

The court also found Shaytanov guilty of planning to carry out a terrorist attack, as well as the illegal possession of ammunition.

Shaytanov was a Russian agent who went by 'Bobyl and actively collaborated with Russias Federal Security Service (FSB). His handler was named in court as Colonel Igor Egorov.

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The colonel, who went by the alias Elbrus, was one of the primary organizers of Russian terrorist activities in Ukraines Donbas in the summer of 2014.

Shaytanov was found to have collected and passed on information about secret Ukrainian military operations in Donbas, as well as about SBU officers and counterintelligence agents.

He is also suspected of involvement in the attempted murder of Adam Osmayev, the leader of Chechen volunteers fighting for Ukraine against Russia.

Osmayev survived several assassination attempts in June and October 2017. The latter killed his wife, Amina Okuyeva, while Osmayev himself received a leg wound.

Will you support Ukraines free press? Dear reader, as all news organizations, we must balance the pressures of delivering timely, accurate, and relevant stories with requirements to fund our business operations. As a Ukrainian-based media, we also have another responsibility  to amplify Ukraines voice to the world during the crucial moment of its existence as a political nation. Its the support of our readers that lets us continue doing our job. We keep our essential reporting free because we believe in our ultimate purpose: an independent, democratic Ukraine. If youre willing to support Ukraine, consider subscribing to our Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.

Please help us continue fighting Russian propaganda. Truth can be hard to tell from fiction these days. Every viewpoint has its audience of backers and supporters, no matter how absurd. If conscious disinformation is reinforced by state propaganda apparatus and budget, its outcomes may become deadly. There is no solution to this, other than independent, honest, and accurate reporting. We remain committed to empowering the Ukrainian voice to push against the muck. If youre willing to stand up for the truth  consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. Thank you very much.

Will you help tell Ukraines story to the world? Twenty years ago, most people hadnt even heard of Ukraine. Today, the country is on everyones lips and everyones headlines. War pushed us on the front page. But there are many other things we do that we are proud of  from music and culture to technology. We need your help to tell the world Ukrainian story of resilience, joy, and survival. If youre willing to back our effort, consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.

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Soldier beaten at Odesa Oblast military base, DBR investigating 14 August, 05:10 PM Soldier beaten at Odesa Oblast military base, DBR investigating (Photo:DBR)

An investigation has been launched by the State Bureau of Investigation (DBR) after images emerged depicting the beating of a soldier at a military base in Odesa Oblast, the DBR announced on Telegram on Aug. 14.

A soldier was taken to hospital with a head injury after an assault at his military unit. The DBR received this information two days ago, the bureau said.

Investigators have conducted a search of the military base, seizing video relevant to the investigation, and are interviewing witnesses as well as the victim, the DBR said.

Video of day

The victim has identified a soldier responsible for maintaining order at the base as the main perpetrator of the assault.

Photo: DBR

Photo: DBR

Will you support Ukraines free press? Dear reader, as all news organizations, we must balance the pressures of delivering timely, accurate, and relevant stories with requirements to fund our business operations. As a Ukrainian-based media, we also have another responsibility  to amplify Ukraines voice to the world during the crucial moment of its existence as a political nation. Its the support of our readers that lets us continue doing our job. We keep our essential reporting free because we believe in our ultimate purpose: an independent, democratic Ukraine. If youre willing to support Ukraine, consider subscribing to our Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.

Please help us continue fighting Russian propaganda. Truth can be hard to tell from fiction these days. Every viewpoint has its audience of backers and supporters, no matter how absurd. If conscious disinformation is reinforced by state propaganda apparatus and budget, its outcomes may become deadly. There is no solution to this, other than independent, honest, and accurate reporting. We remain committed to empowering the Ukrainian voice to push against the muck. If youre willing to stand up for the truth  consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. Thank you very much.

Will you help tell Ukraines story to the world? Twenty years ago, most people hadnt even heard of Ukraine. Today, the country is on everyones lips and everyones headlines. War pushed us on the front page. But there are many other things we do that we are proud of  from music and culture to technology. We need your help to tell the world Ukrainian story of resilience, joy, and survival. If youre willing to back our effort, consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.

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Ukraine may suspend visa-free deal for Israelis, not terminate it  UA Ambassador to Israel 14 August, 04:40 PM Yevhen Korniichuk (Photo:Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Israel)

Ukraines Ambassador to Israel, Yevhen Korniichuk, has firmly denied speculation that Ukraine intends to scrap the visa-free arrangement for Israeli visitors during an interview with Radio Liberty on Aug. 14.

He clarified that the discussions revolved around suspending the visa-free arrangement, not terminating it.

Its not about canceling the visa-free regime. The issue under consideration was the suspension of it. No one was planning to cancel the intergovernmental agreement.

He did, however, openly acknowledge significant concerns and challenges, noting that this matter is under careful consideration at the highest levels of Ukraines political leadership.

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Recently, on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, the question arose again about the advisability of diverting a large number of our government officials during military operations to ensure the safety of pilgrims, Korniichuk said.

He said that around 30,000 Israeli pilgrims plan to visit Uman this year. However, due to the absence of air defense systems, Ukraine cannot safeguard them from potential Russian attacks.

21 people, including several children, died after a Russian missile attack on civilians in Uman in April 2023.

Korniichuk pointed out that if, for some reason, Israel doesnt want to provide weapons for the defense of Ukrainian citizens, they should consider protecting their own.

Another point of contention is the increasing number of Ukrainians being deported without explanation, from Israel, he said, adding that he is actively addressing the issue and engaging in open discussions with the Israelis to find a solution.

An NV report on Aug. 11, citing sources, indicated that the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine plans to revoke the visa-free regime for Israeli citizens and also seek the exclusion of Israels representative from defense ministers diplomatic meetings in the Ramstein format.

Among the reasons cited were the unfriendly treatment of Ukrainians visiting Israel and the termination of the medical insurance program for Ukrainian refugees in the country.

Read also: Israeli cargo vessel breaches Russian blockade in the Black Sea

There are suspicions, according to NVs sources, that important information from the Ramstein meetings is being leaked to third parties by Israelis.

Will you support Ukraines free press? Dear reader, as all news organizations, we must balance the pressures of delivering timely, accurate, and relevant stories with requirements to fund our business operations. As a Ukrainian-based media, we also have another responsibility  to amplify Ukraines voice to the world during the crucial moment of its existence as a political nation. Its the support of our readers that lets us continue doing our job. We keep our essential reporting free because we believe in our ultimate purpose: an independent, democratic Ukraine. If youre willing to support Ukraine, consider subscribing to our Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.

Please help us continue fighting Russian propaganda. Truth can be hard to tell from fiction these days. Every viewpoint has its audience of backers and supporters, no matter how absurd. If conscious disinformation is reinforced by state propaganda apparatus and budget, its outcomes may become deadly. There is no solution to this, other than independent, honest, and accurate reporting. We remain committed to empowering the Ukrainian voice to push against the muck. If youre willing to stand up for the truth  consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. Thank you very much.

Will you help tell Ukraines story to the world? Twenty years ago, most people hadnt even heard of Ukraine. Today, the country is on everyones lips and everyones headlines. War pushed us on the front page. But there are many other things we do that we are proud of  from music and culture to technology. We need your help to tell the world Ukrainian story of resilience, joy, and survival. If youre willing to back our effort, consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.

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Its looking like a busy Economic Development Growth Engine for Memphis and Shelby County (EDGE) agenda for this week's Wednesday meeting.

The development team behind the 100 N. Main project is seeking a $5 million commercial loan from the EDGE industrial development board. The loan will be used to help finance the internal demolition phases of the project, according to the loan application.

In January 2022, 100 N. Main Development Partners won the redevelopment bid to renovate the historic 37-story 100 N. Main building in Downtown Memphis. The development team includes Jay Lindy, Michael McLaughlin, Billy Orgel, Adam Slovis and Kevin Woods. The building opened in 1965 and has been vacant since 2014.

The 100 N. Main project is seeking a $5 million commercial loan from the EDGE industrial development board.

Earlier this year on Jan. 25, the Downtown Mobility Authority, an affiliate board of the Downtown Memphis Commission, approved a request for $7 million to assist in financing the cleanout and remediation of the building.

The $7 million cleanout was expected to take between 12 to 14 months and be conducted over the course of three phases. The initial phase would remove all trash and furniture along with elevator repair. The next two phases, at an estimated $5.5 million cost, would handle hazardous material removal, abatement and select interior demolition. The first phase began in February.

During that Jan. 25 meeting, the Downtown Mobility Authority also approved a development agreement for the site including a $10 million purchase price. 100 N. Main Development partners will purchase the 2-acre site and building from the Downtown Mobility Authority. That purchasing agreement is split in two phases: an initial $5 million payment for the tower and parking garage, followed by a second $5 million payment once later construction phases on the project begin.

The initial $5 million was expected to be paid once renovation work had begun. If the renovation began prior to the development agreement being signed 100 N. Main Development Partners would be reimbursed $3.75 million for expenses during the cleanout period, reducing the total purchase price to $6.25 million.

Story continues

A look inside 100 N. Main on Nov. 8, 2021.

The 100 N. Main development is expected to cost upward of $261 million and, once finished, will include a restaurant, condos, 205 apartments, a 160-room hotel and office space.

MEMPHIS DEVELOPMENT: Inside the Porter-Leath Home: After sale, what's next for historic Memphis property?

Northside High School redevelopment

Also, on the agenda for the upcoming EDGE board meeting is a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) amendment for the Northside High School renovation located at 1212 Vollintine Ave.

In February 2022, the EDGE board approved a 15-year PILOT for the Northside Renaissance Developments proposed renovation of the former high school site. The development team, which includes The Works Inc. and ComCap Partners, is seeking an additional five years on the term.

Per the application, the Works Inc. was seeking a new market tax credit structure with the initial PILOT and is now seeking a 20-year community builder PILOT. If the amendment is approved, the new 20-year term would require approval from both the Memphis City Council and Shelby County Commission. (The EDGE board is only allowed to approve PILOT incentives up to 15 years.)

The former Northside High School is slated for redevelopment.

With the term changes, a new addition to the projects scope was also included in the application. A condominium structure will now be included in part of the project. The proposed condos will take up approximately 33% of the building, according to the application.

In July 2022, The Works Inc. announced a rebranding of the former high school site called, Northside Square. The project would convert the 270,000-square-foot high school into a mixed-use space including an event space, office space, vocational training facility, 42 affordable housing units and a Northside High School Hall of Fame. The $72 million project is expected to open in 2024.

Northside Renaissance purchased the building and 10.76-acre site in May 2021 for $400,000, according to the Shelby County Register of Deeds. The site has been vacant since 2016.

Memphis-based LRK is the architect for the project and Memphis-based Grinder Taber Grinder is the general contractor.

American Residential Services seeks jobs PILOT & PILOT extension for RDX Trucking

Memphis-based American Residential Services and Rescue Rooter are seeking a 10-year Fast Track PILOT for a $1.2 million expansion at its 965 Ridge Lake Blvd. 36,480-square-foot headquarters in East Memphis.

According to the application, the expansion will include 50 direct jobs and 75 indirect jobs. Those 50 direct jobs are split with 44 office jobs with an average base salary of $92,560 and six management jobs with an average base salary of $350,000. All 50 jobs will include benefits.

MANE STREET MEMPHIS: New $34M development in the Edge, Chisca gets earthquake proof

On Monday, the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development announced the company would invest $2.75 million in the expansion.

It wasn't immediately clear why the cost of the expansion varied.

Additionally, Memphis-based trucking company RDX is seeking an extension that would bump its PILOT closing deadline from Dec. 31, 2023, to March 31, 2024. This would be the second such extension. The EDGE board previously awarded an extension for the incentives closing date in September 2022.

In 2020, RDX was awarded a six-year PILOT for the construction of its new $8.6 million facility at 4504 American Way. The 11,516-square-foot facility opened in October 2022.

The EDGE board will meet at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Junior Achievement of Memphis and Mid-South building located at 516 Tillman St.

Neil Strebig is a journalist with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at neil.strebig@commercialappeal.com, 901-426-0679 or via X,@neilStrebig.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: 100 N. Main, Northside High School projects seek incentives
In this article, we look at the 20 most religious countries in the world. You can skip our detailed analysis on religious commitment by country, and head over directly to the 5 Most Religious Countries in the World.

The PEW Research Center in 2018 identified how religious commitment varies by country and region among people of all age groups. The four standard measures they surveyed respondents over were: affiliation with religion, importance of religion in their lives, whether they pray daily, and whether or not they attend a weekly religious service.

Globally, 88% of the population was affiliated with religion. 54% of the world regards religion as very important in their lives. 49% pray daily, and 39% attend a weekly worship service. Africa is the most religious region in the world, followed by the Middle East, South Asia, and Latin America. In contrast, Europe and America have generally less religious people.

Based on our analysis from the data sourced from PEW, Nigeria is the most religious country in the world, while China is the worlds least religious nation, where only 3% of the population regarded religion as very important, and just 1% prayed daily and attended a religious service once a week.

Religiosity and Economic Growth

A study by J. Callen and X. Fang of the University of Washington, titled Religion and Stock Price Crash Risk, found evidence that companies headquartered in counties that were more religious than others had lower levels of stock price crash risk because as a set of social norms, religion helps curb bad-news-hoarding activities by managers. Findings of the National Bureau of Economic Research in a research published by Robert J. Barro and Rachel M. McCleary also stated that there is a positive relationship between religiosity and economic growth, as religious beliefs influence traits and behaviors' that enhance economic performance. Religion establishes ethical norms and social standards that are conducive to a stable economy.

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On the other hand, a study in Science Advances has stated that secular countries can expect prosperity, as a decline in religiosity influences economic growth. Researchers from the University of Bristol in the UK, and University of Tennessee worked on this research which measured the importance of religion in 109 countries between 1900-2000. However, Damian Ruck, one of the lead researchers said that the relationship between secularism and economic progress is not causal; development would only occur if secularism is accompanied with human rights. He also added that this study was not to suggest that religious countries cannot become prosperous.

Religion in the Corporate World

There are many companies in the US that are considered to have religious influences, which in most cases, they inherited from the values of their founding fathers, or were developed over time. Chick-fil-A, for instance, is a large American fast food chain that stays closed on Sunday. The companys website mentions that this decision was taken by its founder in 1946 to allow employees a day off to rest or worship.

Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE:TSN) is another such company that embraces workplace spirituality. Its core values talk about being a faith-friendly organization. Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE:TSN) also has a chaplain program that provides pastoral care to employees in need. It is one of the largest food companies in the United States and the second largest exporter of beef in the country. Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE:TSN) is forecasted to generate sales of over $50 billion in 2023.

Alaska Airlines, owned by the Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK) for decades, used to provide prayer-cards with its in-flight meals. This was a tradition the airline went on with from the 1970s until 2012 when it decided to end the practice. Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK) said it made the decision to stop providing prayer-cards with meals to respect the diverse religious beliefs of the airlines passengers and employees. Alaska Airlines is the fifth largest airline in North America. Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK) recorded a revenue of $9.1 billion in 2022.

Methodology

We have ranked the 20 most religious countries in the world using a 2018 report by the PEW Research Center that surveyed respondents in over 100 countries on four metrics  their affiliation with a religion, whether they attended a weekly religious service, if they pray daily, and if they considered religion very important or not. Equal weightage has been assigned to all metrics, and their percentages were summed to get an aggregated score. We have listed the most religious countries in the world based on these scores, in ascending order. In the case where two or more countries had the same score, we outranked one over the other using the metrics related to the percentage of people in these countries that consider religion very important.

20 Most Religious Countries in the World

Lets now head over to the list of the most religious countries in the world.

20. Tanzania

Affiliation with religion: 99%

Weekly worship attendance: 82%

Percentage of people who pray daily: 56%

Perception of religion as very important: 93%

Score: 3.30

Tanzania is a country in East Africa with over 63 million people that are predominantly Christian, but has a sizable Muslim minority which makes up for nearly a third of the countrys overall population.

19. Congo

Affiliation with religion: 96%

Weekly worship attendance: 78%

Percentage of people who pray daily: 69%

Perception of religion as very important: 88%

Score: 3.31

Located in Central Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is next on our list. 88% of the respondents in the country regarded religion as very important, according to the PEW Research Survey.

18. Rwanda

Affiliation with religion: 99%

Weekly worship attendance: 80%

Percentage of people who pray daily: 62%

Perception of religion as very important: 90%

Score: 3.31

An estimated 99% of Rwandas population affiliated themselves with a religion and 80% attend a weekly religious service. Over 70% of Rwandas population is Christian, while about a quarter of them follow indigenous beliefs.

17. Uganda

Affiliation with religion: 100%

Weekly worship attendance: 82%

Percentage of people who pray daily: 66%

Perception of religion as very important: 86%

Score: 3.34

Uganda is a Christian-majority country in East Africa. It ranks among the most religious countries in the world, with 86% of the respondents considering religion as a very important part of their lives.

16. Guatemala

Affiliation with religion: 94%

Weekly worship attendance: 75%

Percentage of people who pray daily: 82%

Perception of religion as very important: 89%

Score: 3.40

Guatemala is located south of Mexico, and is popular for its ancient Mayan sites. 94% of the population in Guatemala is affiliated with a religion. The country is majority Christian, with three-fourths of the respondents saying they attend a weekly religious service.

15. Cameroon

Affiliation with religion: 98%

Weekly worship attendance: 70%

Percentage of people who pray daily: 82%

Perception of religion as very important: 90%

Score: 3.40

Known for its wildlife, Cameroon is a country in Central Africa where 90% of the population regard religion as very important. Nearly 70% of Cameroons population is Christian, while about 21% identify themselves as Muslim.

14. Chad

Affiliation with religion: 97%

Weekly worship attendance: 77%

Percentage of people who pray daily: 83%

Perception of religion as very important: 86%

Score: 3.43

Chad is a landlocked country in Central Africa. 83% of the population in Chad pray daily, while 77% attend a weekly religious service. It ranks 14th on the list of the most religious countries in the world.

13. Ethiopia

Affiliation with religion: 100%

Weekly worship attendance: 82%

Percentage of people who pray daily: 65%

Perception of religion as very important: 98%

Score: 3.45

Next on the list is Ethiopia. It is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, and ranks fifth in the list of 20 Countries with the Highest Rate of Economic Growth in 5 Years. Ethiopia is a highly religious country, with Christianity being the religion of the majority. Muslims also form a sizable minority of the overall population.

12. Kenya

Affiliation with religion: 100%

Weekly worship attendance: 81%

Percentage of people who pray daily: 79%

Perception of religion as very important: 87%

Score: 3.47

100% of the Kenyans surveyed by PEW associated themselves with a religion. More than 85% of the population is Christian. 87% of all Kenyans consider religion as very important in their lives.

11. Ghana

Affiliation with religion: 99%

Weekly worship attendance: 84%

Percentage of people who pray daily: 76%

Perception of religion as very important: 89%

Score: 3.48

Ghana is located in West Africa, and is home to nearly 33 million people. It is a Christian majority country where they make up for nearly three-fourths of the population. 76% of Ghanaians pray daily and 84% attend a weekly religious service for worship.

10. Liberia

Affiliation with religion: 100%

Weekly worship attendance: 79%

Percentage of people who pray daily: 80%

Perception of religion as very important: 90%

Score: 3.49

Liberia is the 10th most religious country in the world. Four-fifths of Liberians identify themselves as Christian, while 10% of the population is Muslim. Religion is an important part of the lives of the majority of Liberians.

9. Afghanistan

Affiliation with religion: 100%

Weekly worship attendance: 61%

Percentage of people who pray daily: 96%

Perception of religion as very important: 92%

Score: 3.49

Afghanistan is located at the crossroads of South and Central Asia. The country has had a theocratic government since 2021. Approximately 99.7% of Afghanistans population is Muslim.

8. Indonesia

Affiliation with religion: 100%

Weekly worship attendance: 72%

Percentage of people who pray daily: 84%

Perception of religion as very important: 93%

Score: 3.49

Indonesia is the largest Muslim-majority country in the world. It is also the worlds fourth most populous country. 93% of Indonesians consider religion as very important. Indonesia is projected to be among the top five largest economies in the world by 2050.

7. Zambia

Affiliation with religion: 99%

Weekly worship attendance: 86%

Percentage of people who pray daily: 78%

Perception of religion as very important: 91%

Score: 3.54

95.5% of Zambias population is Christian. The southern African nation is one of the most religious countries in the world with 91% of the population regarding religion as very important in their lives. 86% of Zambians attend a weekly religious service, while 78% worship daily.

6. Mali

Affiliation with religion: 100%

Weekly worship attendance: 79%

Percentage of people who pray daily: 81%

Perception of religion as very important: 94%

Score: 3.54

Mali is a country in West Africa, where Muslims make up for nearly 95% of the overall population. It is one of the most religious countries in the world, with more than four-fifths of the population praying daily.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Most Religious Countries in the World.

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Disclosure: None. 20 Most Religious Countries in the World is originally published on Insider Monkey.
In this article, well discuss the 20 universities providing best robotics courses in 2023. If you want to skip the details about current university trends with robotics courses and why theres a sudden boom in robotics and AI education, then go directly to the 6 Universities Providing Best Robotics Courses in 2023.

In this era of ever-increasing complexity and transformative advancements in science and technology, every facet of our lives, from individual routines to corporate operations, is being revolutionized. The recent surge in artificial intelligence (AI) has raised a pertinent question: Is robotics in demand in the future? As technology relentlessly evolves, the requirement for proficient technicians to program, sustain, and mend robots is projected to surge. Globally, the robotics sector employs approximately 150,000 individuals, engaging them in roles encompassing engineering and assembly tasks.

As robots and AI change jobs, the next question is: Which country is best for robotics? Many countries are investing in teaching and researching robots. Japan is a top choice because it has all kinds of robots including humanoids, entertainment robots, and more. Certainly, apart from Japan, there are other countries that provide great opportunities for international students to study and work in the field of robotics. Many nations are focusing on developing strong robotics education and research. These countries offer a range of universities and programs for students interested in this rapidly growing field.

Moving forward in our analysis, it's important to highlight key players in the education field. Notable among them are Udemy, Inc. (NASDAQ:UDMY), and Coursera, Inc. (NYSE:COUR). These entities have significantly contributed to shaping the landscape of education.

Udemy, Inc. (NASDAQ:UDMY) stands out with its comprehensive array of robotics courses tailored to students at all skill levels, spanning from beginners to advanced learners. These courses encompass diverse subjects, such as programming Robot Operating Systems, configuring robotics system components, and the intricacies of robot design and development. Evidencing its impact, Udemy, Inc. (NASDAQ:UDMY)'s robotics courses have garnered the attention of over 478,889 learners.

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Coursera, Inc. (NYSE:COUR). is another leading online learning platform with an extensive array of robotics courses for all skill levels. In a CNBC interview on July 28, CEO Jeff Maggioncalda highlighted Coursera's pivotal role in education, particularly within AI. He emphasized the substantial market of college tuition, approximately $2 trillion, and the feasibility challenges some face in obtaining degrees. Coursera, Inc. (NYSE:COUR)'s collaboration with universities creates online degree programs, providing affordable college education. Maggioncalda identifies a promising niche in the online degree market.

Renowned institutions such as Northwestern University, Stanford University, and the University of Pennsylvania utilize Coursera's platform to provide robotics courses. For instance, students seeking machine learning knowledge can enroll in "The Machine Learning Specialization," a collaborative effort between DeepLearning.AI and Stanford Online. This program offers a beginner-friendly approach, imparting essential machine learning concepts and their real-world applications.

If you're curious about the universities providing the best robotic courses in 2023, continue reading the full article. Discover the top 6 universities providing the best robotics courses in the next section.

20 Universities Providing Best Robotics Courses in 2023

Pixabay/Public Domain

Our Methodology

For our list of 20 universities providing the best Robotics courses in 2023, we consulted reliable sources including College Reporters and successfulstudents.org. We then ranked each university based on the number of top robotics courses, program quality, and faculty expertise. We then assign scores to each university on a scale of 1(average) to 10(best). We assigned more weight to universities with greater faculty expertise. The list is ordered in ascending order.

If youre curious, also explore the 30 Oldest universities in the World.

20 Universities Providing the Best Robotics Courses

Here is the list of 20 Universities Providing the Best Robotics Courses.

20. Stevens Institute of Technology

Overall Score: 6.5

Stevens Institute of Technology stands out for its top robotics courses and programs. Their Master of Engineering in Robotics delivers comprehensive education. The Robotics Master's Program engages students in robotics research projects. The Electrical and Computer Engineering department at Stevens focuses on wireless communications, mobile computing, machine learning, and robotics research.

19. Brown University

Overall Score: 6.8

Brown University offers 2,000+ courses and an open curriculum for flexible education. It excels in research, cultivating scholars to tackle global challenges. Renowned for its robotics education, Brown combines theory, research, and application, focusing on human-robot interaction, perception, and programming. Brown University offers a course named "Introduction to Robotics" every year that focuses on programming a small quad-rotor helicopter.

18. Northeastern University

Overall Score: 6.9

Northeastern University prioritizes experiential learning, global connections, and research. With 90+ concentrations, it offers undergraduate and graduate programs. Its Master of Science in Robotics, grounded in Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering, elevates careers. Highly flexible, it accommodates part-time, non-thesis study, and allows concurrent completion of an engineering leadership certificate.

17. University of Southern California

Overall Score: 7

The university is a leader in using robotics for healthcare and helping vulnerable populations, as well as using networked robots for scientific discovery. USC has a special Robotics and Autonomous Systems Center (RASC) in the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. RASC focuses on making strong and independent systems using science and technology. Students can access advanced research and resources in robotics there.

16. University of Pennsylvania

Overall Score: 7.3

The University of Pennsylvania is now recognizing the expanding role of robotics and has expanded its program and courses in this field. Penn houses the General Robotics, Automation, Sensing, and Perception (GRASP) Laboratory. Here, students engage in robotics research, testing, and fabrication. GRASP includes subsidiary labs for diverse testing like underwater and flight trials.

15. Grand Canyon University

Overall Score: 7.4

Grand Canyon University's expansions have solidified its status as a top Arizona school. Boasting an engaging campus life and esteemed faculty, it nurtures skilled graduates. The Engineering program, emphasizing robotics, readies students for industry leadership. The university has practical courses in programming, computational sensing, and systems engineering in modern labs.

14. Columbia University

Overall Score: 7.5

Columbia University, a prestigious NYC research institution, boasts 300+ programs across 116 departments. It offers short courses, degrees, and graduate programs in human-robot interaction, automation science, and robotics engineering. The university houses research labs and centers for hands-on learning and collaboration. Its Robotics Club invites students to engage in robotics engineering, autonomous systems, and AI projects, including building mobile robots and testing underwater vehicles.

13. Oregon State University

Overall Score: 7.6

OSU provides diverse robotics courses like Intro to Robotics, Robot Dynamics, and Robotics Research. The Master's in Robotics offers comprehensive education. OSU emphasizes research opportunities, contributing to the field. Students can take advantage of OSU's Applied Robotics course which focuses on designing, building, and demonstrating a robotic system, including all sensing, computation, and actuation components.

12. University of Michigan

Overall Score: 7.7

The University of Michigan educates future leaders, emphasizing robotics. The Robotics Department envisions widespread integration of robotics in daily life and complex tasks, like ocean mapping. With a variety of courses, undergrad and grad programs, it teaches robotics design and systems analysis. The curriculum includes group projects to enhance communication and leadership skills, along with ample opportunities for participation in forums and competitions

11. Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Overall Score: 7.8

WPI's robotics program merges computer science, mechanical and electrical engineering. It offers students a comprehensive interdisciplinary education. The universitys Hands-on experiences bridge theory and real-world challenges. WPI's Robotics Engineering program is ABET-accredited, known for its pioneering interdisciplinary approach, research opportunities, and global recognition as a top robotics university.

10. Johns Hopkins University

Overall Score: 7.9

Johns Hopkins University, the oldest private research school, is known for its excellent education. In the Mechanical Engineering Department, they use robotics to solve real-world problems. The classes use computer science, system development, and robotics research. They offer degrees in fields like Haptics and Medical Robotics, Human-Machine Collaborative Systems, and Extreme Environments.

9. Stanford University

Overall Score: 8

Stanford University offers courses like Experimental Robotics, Advanced Robotics Topics, and Computer Vision, covering kinematics, dynamics, control, perception, and machine learning. Research labs like Stanford Robotics, AI, and Vision and Learning provide hands-on experience to students through real-world projects.

8. California Institute of Technology

Overall score: 8.1

Caltech is known for its excellent robotics courses because it focuses on different areas of research and learning. The university is really good at engineering and practical science, and its robotics courses help students learn a lot about robots. Students can choose what they want to study within robotics.

Renowned faculty, and leaders in their respective domains, lead Caltech's robotics programs, contributing to pioneering research in robotics and AI. The university also boasts cutting-edge research facilities, enabling students to gain practical, hands-on experience in crafting and advancing robotics systems

7. Georgia Institute of Technology

Overall Score: 8.2

Georgia Institute of Technology offers an interdisciplinary path for robotics enthusiasts seeking a graduate program. The Master of Science program enhances students theoretical knowledge and problem-solving skills for related industries.

Moreover, seminars on aerospace engineering, robotics technology, and research projects enrich the academic experience. The university also has the Robotics Graduate Student Organization (RoboGrads) that fosters a social network among students.

Click to continue reading and see the 6 Universities Providing Best Robotics Courses in 2023.

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Disclosure: None. 20 Universities Providing Best Robotics Courses in 2023. is originally published on Insider Monkey.
In this article, we will list the top recipients of US foreign assistance and discuss how foreign aid impacts economies. If you want to skip our thoughts on US's foreign aid policy, head straight to 10 Countries That Receive the Most Foreign Aid From the US.

The United States, the world's largest economy, has a longstanding tradition of providing foreign aid for humanitarian causes and economic development. This aid holds more than just a moral dimension, as it harbors tangible economic and business implications. For instance, by assisting countries that receive the most foreign aid from the US in developing their infrastructure and economies, the country strategically creates avenues for its businesses.

Notably, some of America's top trade partners were once beneficiaries of US foreign aid. South Korea, for example, used to get substantial aid from the US when it was mired in poverty after the Korean War. According to USAID, S. Korea has been a model user of foreign assistance as the nation joined the OECD's Development Assistance Committee in 2010 after surging from post-war destruction. If it weren't for the $13 billion aid South Korea got from the US between 1945-1995, becoming an industrial nation and maintaining an average GDP growth rate of 4.9% between 1988 and 2022 might have been more difficult.

Foreign aid also facilitates access to resources, as many recipient countries are abundant in minerals, oil, or other commodities that are crucial to the US economy, but they don't have enough means to benefit from their natural treasures. Aiding a country's economy can also indirectly reduce the volatility of its currency, makes trade more predictable and safeguards American companies from the whims of fluctuating foreign exchange rates.

Although the economic benefits of foreign aid are clear, its perception among the American public is inconsistent. The Borgen Project reports that, on average, Americans believe that nearly 25% of the US budget is allocated to foreign aid, and it should be reduced to 10%. But in reality, less than 1% of the federal budget is dedicated to non-military aid (which translates to $73 per American).

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Notably, detractors voice concerns over potential misallocations due to corruption, the risk of fostering dependency in recipient nations, and the debate over whether such funds would yield better returns if invested domestically. But despite this, President Joe Biden's Budget Request for the State Department and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is $63.1 billion, $3 billion higher than FY 2023. This $63.1 billion budget will be used for foreign assistance and diplomatic engagement through USAID.

Some of the Hungriest Countries In The World are among the nations that receive the most foreign aid from the US; read our article on it for further details.

Corporations Helping The Foreign Assistance Sector

Several large corporations work in sectors related to foreign aid and development, either directly or through their subsidiaries. They often collaborate with government agencies, NGOs, and international organizations. For instance, Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT), in partnership with governments and NGOs, contributes resources, technology, and expertise to help mitigate the impacts of natural disasters and crises. Although Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) is a renowned defense contractor, the company also provides information technology services, including some geared towards development and governance initiatives in foreign countries. Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) works with more than 50 countries worldwide to help them protect their national interests while strengthening their economies, industries, and communities from within.

Likewise, Tetra Tech, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTEK) works on projects related to resource management, energy, and international development, among others. Tetra Tech, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTEK) offers solutions for clean water and sanitation projects in developing nations as it often partners with agencies like USAID. Tetra Tech, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTEK) contributes expertise for sustainable resource management and climate resilience as part of foreign aid objectives in countries facing ecological challenges.

If we talk about companies that donate in the wake of natural disasters anywhere in the world, Amazon Com Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN) has helped Turkey and Syria after a strong earthquake jolted the region earlier this year. Amazon Com Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN) prepared donations of relief items, including food, baby food, blankets, medicines, and tents, in shipments departing its warehouse in Istanbul. Other causes that Amazon Com Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN) donates include hunger relief, reducing homelessness, and nature conservation.

Learn about 26 Companies That Donate to Nonprofits to see which big shots pledge to spend their resources responsibly.

Let's now find which countries get the most aid from the USA.

30 Countries That Receive the Most Foreign Aid From the US

30 Countries That Receive the Most Foreign Aid From the US

Our Methodology

We found the top recipients of US foreign assistance from the Foreign Assistance Gov database that regularly updates the country's spending on other nations. To provide a broader perspective of the US foreign aid disbursement ranking, we checked the said nations' aid in the past 5 years (from 2018-2022) and ranked them accordingly. As the geopolitical horizon keeps changing, the countries getting the most aid from the US don't stay the same for long.

But as per the last 5 years' records, here are 30 countries that receive the most foreign aid from the US:

30. Mali

Aid From The US In The Past 5 Years: $1.15 billion

Mali faces threats from extremist groups in its northern and central regions that hinders economic growth. Therefore, the US gives foreign aid to Mali that primarily supports counterterrorism initiatives and strengthens governance. Mali's current per capita GDP is $833, and 14.5% of people in the country live below the poverty line.

29. Mexico

Aid From The US In The Past 5 Years: $1.29 billion

Mexico, along with having the highest number of immigrants in the US, is also among the biggest US aid beneficiary countries. US aid to Mexico often focuses on strengthening the rule of law and reducing drug trafficking, as these issues result in violence and unrest. The aid also aims to enhance bilateral trade and investment ties on both sides of the border.

28. Haiti

Aid From The US In The Past 5 Years: $1.39 billion

Haiti is plagued by natural disasters and political instability. Economic challenges that stem from these issues keep Haiti the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. That's why the US provides aid to lift Haiti's democratic institutions, improve health and education, and build resilience against natural disasters. Emergency food assistance and crisis assistance are the two main aid categories that Haiti gets.

27. Niger

Aid From The US In The Past 5 Years: $1.47 billion

When a country's over 50% population survives on less than $2.15 a day, it truly needs a helping hand, which is why Niger is amongst the countries that receive the most aid from the US. The money disbursed to Niger focuses on enhancing its security capabilities and promoting sustainable agriculture. Also, USAID addresses crucial health challenges like malnutrition and maternal-child health in the country.

26. Senegal

Aid From The US In The Past 5 Years: $1.48 billion

Senegal has cooperated with the US on various regional issues because of its democratic stance. But given that 39% population lives below the poverty line in Senegal, it requires assistance, which is why it gets a significant portion of US international aid distribution by country. American aid helps strengthen Senegal's democratic institutions and supports its health sector in combating infectious diseases.

25. Zimbabwe

Aid From The US In The Past 5 Years: $1.62 billion

Zimbabwe was once the breadbasket of Africa, but it now faces political unrest and economic decline. Therefore, to overcome human rights concerns in the country, US aid helps with democratic governance and addressing health crises, especially HIV/AIDS. Notably, the country received around $40 million from the US in 2022 alone to combat HIV/AIDS.

24. Pakistan

Aid From The US In The Past 5 Years: $1.63 billion

Pakistan's strategic importance comes from its location and role as a frontier state in war on terror. These aspects have made it a significant recipient of US aid to strengthen civilian governance, improve education and health, and counter extremist narratives. There has been a decline in aid from the US to the country in recent years. However, the US has disbursed significant aid to Pakistan post the 2008 earthquake in the country.

23. Philippines

Aid From The US In The Past 5 Years: $1.78 billion

The Philippines is one of the countries that receive the most in US foreign aid. It is a longstanding ally in Southeast Asia that faces natural disasters, territorial disputes, and internal insurgencies. US aid helps enhance the country's disaster response capacity and combat threats from extremist factions. Other causes for which the US aids the Philippines are family planning and educating the masses.

22. Zambia

Aid From The US In The Past 5 Years: $2.02 billion

Zambia is in a health crisis as HIV/AIDS, malnutrition, and malaria have alarmingly high rates in the country. Therefore, the US gives foreign aid to get Zambia out of these health challenges. In 2022, the US gave $61 million to strengthen Zambia's health supply chain.

21. Sudan

Aid From The US In The Past 5 Years: $2.36 billion

Sudan is emerging from decades of conflict and civil war and is in a transitional phase. Foreign help is pivotal in supporting the country's transition to establish lasting peace and address humanitarian needs. Also, 15.3% of Sudanese people live in extreme poverty and combat hunger more often than not, so Sudan is amongst the largest US foreign aid recipients.

20. Bangladesh

Aid From The US In The Past 5 Years: $2.46 billion

Although Bangladesh has seen impressive growth since its independence in 1971, the country suffers from natural disasters, rapid urbanization, and political tension. US assistance aids in disaster preparedness and health issues that are related to maternal-child health and infectious diseases.

19. Mozambique

Aid From The US In The Past 5 Years: $2.75 billion

Mozambique is one of the countries receiving the most foreign aid from America. The country has the 5th highest poverty rate in the world, currently standing at 64.6%. Which means almost two-thirds of its population is facing food insecurity and health crisis. The country is also struggling with the aftermath of civil war and infectious diseases. Therefore, Mozambique benefits from US aid for health improvements and to overcome food insecurity.

18. Tanzania

Aid From The US In The Past 5 Years: $2.88 billion

Tanzania's GDP is $85 billion, and nearly 44.9% of its population deals with extreme poverty. US foreign aid in the country supports conservation initiatives and enhances public health infrastructure.

17. South Africa

Aid From The US In The Past 5 Years: $3.310 billion

South Africa grapples with stark income disparities and system injustice, which push a huge number of people to live in poverty. To ease this humanitarian issue, the US has disbursed $3.310 billion to South Africa between 2018 and 2022.

16. Colombia

Aid From The US In The Past 5 Years: $3.32 billion

Colombia is also recovering from decades of internal conflict with armed groups and works closely with US aid to support peace processes. Other efforts the US is doing in the country are to counter narcotics trafficking and strengthen human rights observance.

15. Uganda

Aid From The US In The Past 5 Years: $3.77 billion

Uganda's resources are feeble compared to its rapidly growing population growth rate. Along with humanitarian food assistance, the US helps Uganda with combating HIV/AIDS and strengthening health infrastructure so the country can reach its full population potential.

14. Somalia

Aid From The US In The Past 5 Years: $3.870 billion

Somalia is the 4th poorest country in the world in terms of poverty rate, as its 70% population survives on less than $2.15 a day. The country has a long history of instability and threats from extremist groups, so it benefits from US aid aimed at restoring some form of stability.

13. Syria

Aid From The US In The Past 5 Years: $3.93 billion

Syria is ravaged by a protracted civil war and is in the middle of the worst humanitarian crisis of the present times. Therefore, the US has given foreign aid of approximately $3.93 billion to the country in the past 5 years to help it overcome hunger and disease spread.

12. Kenya

Aid From The US In The Past 5 Years: $4.12 billion

The extreme poverty rate in Kenya is 24.9% because of persistent unemployment and illiteracy. East Africa's anchor also combats threats from terrorism and health crises like HIV/AIDS. As a result, monetary assistance from the US boosts counterterrorism efforts and promotes health and education in the poverty-stricken country.

11. Democratic Republic of Congo

Aid From The US In The Past 5 Years: $4.19 billion

DR Congo has the 6th highest poverty rate worldwide, which puts it in a state of persistent food and health insecurity. Notably, the country has vast natural resources but still faces challenges from internal conflicts and health crises. US aid seeks to restore stability and address human rights issues in the country.

Click to continue reading 10 Countries That Receive the Most Foreign Aid From the US.

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Disclosure: None. 30 Countries That Receive the Most Foreign Aid From the US is originally published at Insider Monkey.
(Bloomberg) -- National Investment & Infrastructure Funds long-drawn hunt for a new Chief Executive Officer is raising concerns among investors, according to people familiar with the matter, potentially posing a risk to the governments plans for the business.

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The board of Indias state-backed fund has tapped recruitment firm Russell Reynolds to conduct a search, but theres been scant progress about 11 months after Sujoy Bose prematurely left, said the people, asking not to be identified discussing a private matter. Some external candidates have been cautious due to uncertainty around the funds strategy and the extent of government influence, said the people.

NIIF, as the fund is known, counts a clutch of global and domestic investors as backers, including Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and Temasek Holdings Pte. Some investors are closely watching the process, and further delays could impact their willingness to commit to new fundraising by NIIF, they said.

For now, the heads of various NIIF units, including Master Fund, Fund of Funds and Strategic Opportunities Fund, are steering their individual businesses, though a cohesive investment strategy for the $4.3 billion fund is lacking, the people said. Delays in recruiting a new CEO may start to hit the growth of NIIF, through which the government hopes to raise billions of dollars to improve the nations infrastructure, they said.

NIIF and Russell Reynolds didnt respond to a request for comment. A finance ministry spokesperson didnt respond to a text message seeking comment.

In May, the company named its chief operating officer Rajiv Dhar as CEO on an interim basis till a permanent replacement is found for Bose. Bose announced his intention to step down in September, a few years before the end of his term, in what many saw as evidence of the governments frustration over the funds performance.

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Indias Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman last year said she would like the firm to be more robust and would review it.

NIIF is Indias first major attempt to develop a capital-raising structure on home soil, and is majority-owned by global investors. The Indian government, with a 49% stake, is its largest shareholder. The fund primarily invests in local companies that build power plants, airports and roads, and provides long-tenure loans through its new shadow bank unit.

--With assistance from Ruchi Bhatia.

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Owners Brian and Lisa Anderson stand inside Anderson Pens at 1000 W. Wisconsin Ave., Suite 5, in Appleton. They recently made the decision to move out of downtown Appleton's City Center Plaza on College Avenue because new developers have plans to renovate the building and raise the rent.

APPLETON  Longtime City Center Plaza tenants have expressed frustration, and several have moved, after developers Dark Horse Development and Boldt Co. announced plans to transform the complex into Fox Commons.

Tenants have cited increases in rent, uncertainty around renovations being done to the building and lack of communication from developers as reasons for moving.

Alex Brewer, Boldt's vice president of real estate, said his team has worked to answer questions and help them make informed decisions. He also said some tenants were paying significantly below market rate and, especially with the renovations, the propertys value will increase.

"Improving it does call for probably some updated economics in terms of the rent that has to be charged to honestly help with the financing that we're trying to put forth and the investment we're trying to put forth into the property," he said.

Brewer said Boldt and Dark Horse planned to close on the property Monday.

Here are updates on some of the plaza's former businesses, what else plans to move in and some that have stayed.

Anderson Pens moved to Appletons west side due to lack of communication and increased rent

Lisa Anderson, who owns Anderson Pens with her husband Brian, said in an interview with the Post-Crescent that they felt pressured by Dark Horse and Boldt to make a decision regarding their business without concrete answers to their questions and ultimately chose to move.

"It was just really hard to make an informed decision when we were being pushed," she said. "They were providing no information as to what this was going to look like."

Anderson said they decided to move when they realized their rent would more than double.

Anderson Pens closed June 17 in City Center Plaza before moving to 1000 E. Wisconsin Ave., Suite 5, in Appleton. The new store opened June 28.

Anderson said the move has been positive, resulting in more square footage and accessible parking, something she said was lacking at City Center Plaza.

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"We never wanted to move," Anderson said. "We would have stayed, but after a while it was just clear that this was not going to work."

City Center Plaza on August 8, in downtown Appleton, Wis.

Prevea Health, Lawrence University among those planned to move into new Fox Commons

According to the Fox Commons website, Dark Horse Development and Boldt took over City Center Plaza to transform the building into a pedestrian corridor connecting the North College Neighborhood to the core of downtown.

"It started with a vision by Dark Horse Development to reimagine the City Center Plaza on College Avenue, with the goal of bringing new life to the heart of downtown Appleton by creating a thriving urban hub," the website reads.

The renovation is expected to cost roughly $33.6 million. In June, the city of Appleton awarded $4.4 million in public funds to the project.

Fox Commons will have three anchors moving into the building including Prevea Health, Mosaic Family Health and Lawrence University, which will expand its off-campus housing in the building with 60 apartments. There is also 20,000 square feet of space for lease on the ground floor, which Brewer said could be used for a number of businesses, depending who is interested.

The website lists rent for spaces inside the development between $17.50 and $21.50 per square foot, excluding "utilities, insurance, housekeeping, maintenance, property management and real estate taxes."

Changes at City Center Plaza have left some tenants unsure whether to move

Pat Murray of Murray Photo & Video Inc. has been in the City Center Plaza for more than 30 years and said he is nearing retirement. Because of Fox Commons plans for new tenants, he will need to move to the other end of the building to make room for Prevea Health and the new space will have "a much higher rent than we've been paying."

However, he doesn't want to move out of City Center Plaza and commit to a new lease.

"I can't really get into a five-year lease anymore," Murray said. "Do I really want to move and start over?"

He added that he has concerns around construction of the building if he chooses to stay.

"Can we even survive the construction?" He asked. "Especially with them renovating the exterior of the building, that's going to make it very difficult for our customers to come in. So, we're uncertain about all those things."

Murray said the best outcome for his business is selling it to a new owner who is willing to take on the business in the Fox Commons or in a new location.

Brewer said they are still in discussions with five tenants in City Center Plaza to determine if they will remain when the building becomes Fox Commons.

Manager Lisa McGinnis stocks new fleece jackets Wednesday at J. Hawkinson Clothiers, 5114 W. Michael's Drive in Grand Chute. The store recently moved out of downtown Appleton's City Center Plaza.

J. Hawkinson Clothiers moved to Grand Chute

Sue Hawkinson, owner of J. Hawkinson Clothiers, opened in a new location on July 31 at 5114 W. Michael's Drive in Grand Chute after renting in the City Center Plaza for more than three decades.

She attributed the move to uncertainty about the changes happening at City Center Plaza, including being unsure how construction would impact her business.

However, Hawkinson said the new space has been a great fit. The store is located between Manderfield's Home Bakery and Shinery Moonshine Company and has ample parking, something Hawkinson said was missing from the old store.

"The thing that I love about it more than anything is that we have handicapped parking," she said.

Hawkinson said her customers struggled to find parking in the past and many of her customers have been excited to have an easier time visiting. While her business is the same, she has been able to add a few expanded clothing lines.

"There's just a freshness, a rebirth," Hawkinson said. "We're still providing quality product, excellent service. Those are the things that we built a business on."

More: Never heard of Dark Horse? Here's what to know about the young developers taking on Fox Commons

Aunty's Cafe will reopen in Greenville this fall

Aunty's Cafe closed on May 26, according to a post of the restaurant's Facebook page.

"Due to the renovations and changes that will be happening in the (City Center Plaza) this summer, we have ultimately made the hard decision to close this location permanently," the post read.

Ge Lor, a co-owner of the business with his wife Tia Lor, said a new Aunty's Cafe location will open in Greenville at W6318 Wisconsin Ave., at the corner of West Wisconsin Avenue and County CB.

Lor said the building is undergoing renovations, but they hope to open in September.

Hazelmade Art Studio moved to new space in Appleton

In an April 17 post to its Hazelmade Art Studio Facebook page, Hazelmade Art Studio's owner Karen Ebben announced plans to move. It has since leased space at 3003 N. Richmond St., Suite C, in Appleton.

"This space was my dream-come-true. It will always hold a special place in my heart," the post read. "Now to look forward to the future of Hazelmade, as I continue to live out my dream job in a new (and let's be honest  smaller) studio."

Hazelmade opened in 2022 in City Center Plaza, but Ebben previously ran the art studio from her house for a number of years.

She did not immediately respond to the Post-Crescents request for further comment.

Alexandria Bursiek Kloehn is a business reporter for the Appleton Post-Crescent. You can reach her at abursiekkloehn@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Anderson Pens, Aunty's Cafe, others move as City Center Plaza plans develop
Key Insights

Given the large stake in the stock by institutions, B&M European Value Retail's stock price might be vulnerable to their trading decisions

A total of 8 investors have a majority stake in the company with 50% ownership

Ownership research along with analyst forecasts data help provide a good understanding of opportunities in a stock

To get a sense of who is truly in control of B&M European Value Retail S.A. (LON:BME), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. We can see that institutions own the lion's share in the company with 60% ownership. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company.

Because institutional owners have a huge pool of resources and liquidity, their investing decisions tend to carry a great deal of weight, especially with individual investors. As a result, a sizeable amount of institutional money invested in a firm is generally viewed as a positive attribute.

Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about B&M European Value Retail.

See our latest analysis for B&M European Value Retail

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About B&M European Value Retail?

Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing.

We can see that B&M European Value Retail does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see B&M European Value Retail's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story.

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Institutional investors own over 50% of the company, so together than can probably strongly influence board decisions. Hedge funds don't have many shares in B&M European Value Retail. Capital Research and Management Company is currently the company's largest shareholder with 9.5% of shares outstanding. With 8.9% and 7.0% of the shares outstanding respectively, Orbis Investment Management, Ltd. and SSA Investments S.a. r.l. are the second and third largest shareholders.

We did some more digging and found that 8 of the top shareholders account for roughly 50% of the register, implying that along with larger shareholders, there are a few smaller shareholders, thereby balancing out each others interests somewhat.

While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too.

Insider Ownership Of B&M European Value Retail

The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it.

Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group.

Our data suggests that insiders own under 1% of B&M European Value Retail S.A. in their own names. We do note, however, it is possible insiders have an indirect interest through a private company or other corporate structure. Keep in mind that it's a big company, and the insiders own UK375k worth of shares. The absolute value might be more important than the proportional share. It is always good to see at least some insider ownership, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been selling.

General Public Ownership

The general public-- including retail investors -- own 33% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run.

Private Company Ownership

We can see that Private Companies own 7.0%, of the shares on issue. It might be worth looking deeper into this. If related parties, such as insiders, have an interest in one of these private companies, that should be disclosed in the annual report. Private companies may also have a strategic interest in the company.

Next Steps:

It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand B&M European Value Retail better, we need to consider many other factors. To that end, you should be aware of the 2 warning signs we've spotted with B&M European Value Retail .

If you would prefer discover what analysts are predicting in terms of future growth, do not miss this free report on analyst forecasts.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / August 14, 2023 / Aclara Resources Inc. ("Aclara" or the "Company") (TSX:ARA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Bonzi Yokomizo as General Manager of the wholly owned Brazilian subsidiary ("Aclara Resources Mineracao Ltda"), effective Aug 10, 2023

"We are delighted to welcome Bonzi Yokomizo as our new General Manager for Brazil," said Ramon Barua, CEO and Director of Aclara. " With over 30 years leading global mining projects, Bonzi's expertise is a cornerstone for Aclara. His exceptional understanding of Greenfield and Brownfield projects, coupled with his recent achievement in commissioning Brazil's inaugural ionic clay heavy rare earths mine, will play a pivotal role in driving the success of Aclara's projects in Brazil. Bonzi's remarkable skill in building and leading diverse teams, combined with his extensive in-country experience, brings a dynamic synergy that fosters innovation, drives operational excellence and ensures a robust foundation for Aclaras strategic growth in Brazil and beyond."

Mr. Yokomizo joins Aclara with a long history leading large-scale mining projects across the globe, including the Americas (Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Canada), Africa (Mozambique and Malawi), and the UK. His most recent role was Chief Projects Officer at Serra Verde, an ionic clays heavy rare earths mining project located in the State of Goias, Brazil, where he was instrumental in driving engineering for the project implementation, construction, and commissioning.

Prior to his tenure at Serra Verde, Bonzi held senior leadership positions at various world-class mining companies such as Anglo Gold Ashanti, Yamana Gold, Vale, and Votorantim. Notably, he has demonstrated prowess in overseeing complex projects, such as the Jack Pine oil sands project expansion with an estimated capex of $12.5 billion, Rio Colorado potash project with an estimated capex of $9.0 billion, Coal project with an estimated capex of $5.0 billion, and the Montes Claros de Goias Nickel project with an estimated capex of $1.5 billion, among others.

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Mr. Yokomizo has consistently demonstrated the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, navigate complex challenges, and deliver projects on time and within budget. His strategic vision, combined with a hands-on approach, has positioned him as a respected leader in the mining industry.

As the Company continues to expand its operations and pursue new avenues of growth, Mr. Yokomizos's appointment signifies a strategic move to further enhance the company's project management capabilities to become a strategic leader in the heavy rare earths sector.

About Aclara

Aclara Resources Inc. (TSX:ARA) is a development-stage company that focuses on heavy rare earth mineral resources. Its primary project is located in the BioBio Region of southern Chile. The company is dedicated to developing its mineral resources through a project known as the Penco Module. This module encompasses an area of approximately 600 hectares and contains ionic clays that are rich in heavy rare earth elements.

Currently, Aclara Resources is primarily focused on the development, construction, and future operation of the Penco Module. The goal is to establish a processing plant that will produce a heavy rare earth concentrate. This concentrate will be generated by processing clays obtained from nearby deposits.

Aclara's extraction process offers several environmentally attractive features. It does not involve blasting, crushing, or milling. Additionally, it does not generate tailings, eliminating the need for a tailings storage facility. The company utilizes 100% recycled water and minimizes water consumption through high levels of water recirculation. The ionic clay feedstock is amenable to leaching with a fertilizer, and harmful radionuclides are not produced. 3

Simultaneously, alongside the development of the Penco Module, the company intends to identify further opportunities for increasing rare earth element production. This will involve intensive greenfield exploration programs and the development of additional project "modules" within the company's concessions.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, which reflects the Company's current expectations regarding future events, including statements with regard to, among other things, management's expectations as to the accretive value to the Company from the appointment of Mr. Yokomizo as General Manager for Brazil. Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the factors discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form dated as of March 28, 2023 filed on the Company's SEDAR profile. Actual results and timing could differ materially from those projected herein. Unless otherwise noted or the context otherwise indicates, the forward-looking information contained in this news release is provided as of the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required under applicable securities laws.

For further information, please contact:

Ramon Barua

Chief Executive Officer

investorrelations@aclara-re.com

SOURCE: Aclara Resources Inc.





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/773880/Aclara-Appoints-General-Manager-for-Brazil




(Bloomberg) -- Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. indicated its prepared to boost its informal offer for Covestro AG to about 11.6 billion ($12.7 billion) on the condition the German chemicals group agrees to enter formal talks, people with knowledge of the matter said.

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The state-backed energy giant has verbally signaled to Covestro that it could come back with a new, written proposal of 60 per share, should such a bump get negotiations started, the people said. An offer at that level would represent a premium of about 29% to Covestros closing share price on Friday.

Covestros management and supervisory board are considering their options and may respond as soon as this week, the people said. Shares in Covestro rose as much as 8.8% on Monday. The stock was up 5% at 2:23 p.m. in Frankfurt, giving the company a market value of about 9.4 billion.

Any such move by Adnoc would improve previous informal bids of 55 and 57 per share. The most recent of these, submitted in July, is still seen as too low by Covestro, according to the people. Both companies and their advisers have continued to discuss the merits of a transaction, they said.

As well as price, Adnoc has been trying to address other Covestro concerns about a transaction, including how it would help the German companys management develop the specialty chemical operations, Bloomberg News reported previously.

Deliberations are ongoing and Adnoc has made no final decision about if, or by how much, to increase an offer for Covestro, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing confidential information. Representatives for Adnoc and Covestro declined to comment.

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Deal Hunt

Adnocs Chief Executive Officer Sultan Al Jaber is hunting for deals to better compete with Saudi Aramcos Sabic chemical unit, and to develop the companys own downstream and renewable energy operations. Adnoc is in separate talks with Austrias OMV AG about a potential merger of two companies they back, Borouge Plc and Borealis AG, to form a chemicals and plastics giant worth more than $30 billion.

The potential transactions dovetail with a wider plan by the United Arab Emirates to attract investment and technology, as well as build new industries and manufacturing capabilities. Separately, Adnoc has started delivering liquefied natural gas to Germany, stepping in to help the country wean itself off of Russian supplies.

Still, Covestros Chief Executive Officer Markus Steilemann recently expressed some concern about the trend of more assets being bought or financed by entities backed by autocratic states. You just have to think about what it means for the entire western world if this trend continues unabated and conflicts break out, he said in an interview with German business newspaper Handelsblatt this month.

Covestro said earlier in August that it expected full year-profit to come in at the lower half of a guided range of 1.1 billion and 1.6 billion, citing waning global demand. Fellow German chemicals firms BASF SE, Evonik Industries AG and Lanxess AG have all warned of a worsening outlook for the rest of the year, blaming subdued global industrial output and slow demand for consumer products.

(Adds shares in third paragraph.)

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The AI revolution is about the crash into the global economy and upend millions of jobs. Arantza Pena Popo/Insider

A tidal wave is about to crash into the global economy.

The rise of artificial intelligence has captured our imagination for decades, in whimsical movies and sober academic texts. Despite this speculation, the emergence of public, easy-to-use AI tools over the past year has been a jolt, like the future arrived years ahead of schedule. Now this long-expected, all-too-sudden technological revolution is ready to upend the economy.

A March Goldman Sachs report found over 300 million jobs around the world could be disrupted by AI, and the global consulting firm McKinsey estimated at least 12 million Americans would change to another field of work by 2030. A "gale of creative destruction," as economist Joseph Schumpeter once described it, will blow away countless firms and breathe life into new industries. It won't be all bleak: Over the coming decades, nongenerative and generative AI are estimated to add between $17 trillion and $26 trillion to the global economy. And crucially, many of the jobs that will be lost will be replaced by new ones.

The crescendo for this technological wave is surging, and we are at just the beginning of this upheaval that will ripple through the labor market and global economy. It's likely to be a transformation as influential as the industrial revolution and the rise of the internet. The changes could boost living standards, improve productivity, and accelerate economic opportunities, but this rosy future is not guaranteed. Unless governments, CEOs, and workers properly prepare for the upsurge with urgency, the AI revolution could be painful.

We didn't see the internet coming, but AI is within view

The adoption of groundbreaking technology is often hard to predict. Take the internet: In 1995, Newsweek published an article titled, "Why the Web Won't Be Nirvana," making the case that books and airline tickets would never be purchased over the internet. Later that year, Bill Gates was asked by an unconvinced David Letterman, "What about this internet thing?" Even three years later, as adoption grew, the economist Paul Krugman famously declared that the internet's influence would be no greater than that of the fax machine. In hindsight, it's clear that the internet's effects couldn't have been any more miscalculated.

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Part of the reason for the initial skepticism was that the influence of the internet was uneven and slow at first but quickly grew as more people learned how it worked. "The rule for exponential curves is that they changed the world slowly at first, and then suddenly," Erik Brynjolfsson, a Stanford University innovation economist, told me.

The arrival of AI presents similar unknowns  but the growth curve is becoming clear much quicker. In 2017, McKinsey estimated that robust large language models such as GPT-4 would be developed by 2027. But they are already here. And seemingly overnight, OpenAI's generative AI was integrated into Microsoft products, and in the span of a few months, corporate giants including Amazon, AT&T, Salesforce, and Cisco have rushed to incorporate enterprise-grade AI tools. McKinsey's latest report predicted that somewhere between 2030 and 2060, half of today's work tasks would be automated. Their best guess as to when this will happen  2045  is almost a decade earlier than previously estimated. Things are changing fast.And as adoption picks up, so will the downstream effects of the technology. The World Economic Forum estimated 83 million jobs worldwide would be lost over the next five years because of AI, with 69 million jobs created  that leaves 14 million jobs that will cease to exist during that timeframe. Even the people who do retain their jobs will experience a massive shift in how they do their work: The World Economic Forum says that 44% of workers' core skills are expected to change in the next five years.

Stanford economist Erik Brynjolfsson

Past automation technologies had the most effect on low-skilled workers. But with generative AI, the more educated and highly skilled workers who previously were immune to automation are vulnerable. According to the International Labor Organization, there are between 644 and 997 million knowledge workers globally, between 20% and 30% of total global employment. In the US, the knowledge-worker class is estimated to be nearly 100 million workers, one out of three Americans. A broad spectrum of occupations  marketing and sales, software engineering, research and development, accounting, financial advising, and writing, to name a few  is at risk of being automated away or evolving.

This doesn't mean, however, that there will be a flood of unemployed workers begging for any job. AI will lead to net job creation over the long run, and some roles that seem like they will be affected may actually grow in demand. For instance, ATMs increased the number of bank tellers.

"I do not think we'll see mass unemployment," Brynjolfsson, who anticipates AI spreading faster than other general-purpose technologies, told me. "But I do think we'll see mass disruption, where a lot of wages for some jobs will fall, wages for other jobs will rise, and we'll be shifting around into demand for different kinds of skills. They'll have to be a lot of reallocation of labor and rescaling of labor with winners and losers."

This shift will be so massive that we won't miss many of the jobs that disappear. Before the industrial revolution, the job of a human alarm clock was to wake up workers in the early-morning hours by tapping a broomstick on their window. Thanks to alarm clocks, no one misses this job today. Similarly with AI, there will be jobs that will be conveniently forgotten about.

Permanent mass unemployment can safely be ruled out, but in the short term, the transition will be messy. If one-quarter of tasks across all US occupations were automated by AI, and one-third of workers' workload replaced, it would take only a small segment of the broad white-collar class to simultaneously experience job losses or transitions for it to have a dire impact on the broader economy. This sort of monumental reshuffling requires preparation on the part of governments and businesses. In its most recent employment outlook, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development declared that this AI revolution was creating "an urgent need to act now" to help the economy adapt.

Productivity boom

In 1987, the economist Robert Solow famously declared: "You can see the computer age everywhere but in the productivity statistics." Solow's "productivity paradox" spotlighted a key puzzle of the emerging computer age. Even with heavy investments in information technology and computing  which were supposedly making workers more productive  official statistics showed that workers were not producing more per hour.

Robert Gordon, a macroeconomist and self-styled "prophet of pessimism," provocatively suggested that the ho-hum productivity figures proved that new technology today was less radical than in the past and that as a result, the world's advanced economies had entered a point of stagnation. The most impactful technologies  the car, the toilet  have already been invented, he argued, and everything else only incrementally improves productivity. Along the same lines, other economists have suggested that the growth rate of new ideas is slowing.

These arguments may seem like a compelling reason to doubt the productivity gains of AI at first, but there's good reason to think that the latest revolution could produce more rapid gains. The internet's mass adoption required software, network protocols, infrastructure, and devices  it took awhile for every home and office to have computers and internet access.

Today, AI's adoption could happen much faster since the technological infrastructure is already in place. Plus, in contrast to hype cycles around crypto or the metaverse, AI is entering maturity. Its user experience makes it uncomplicated, and it already has practical uses, which is why hundreds of millions of people are already integrating the tech into their day-to-day workflows. This is starting to push the technology into companies.

It's also not AI on its own that's game-changing; layering AI on top of preexisting tech can unlock exponential gains  just as the combination of the internet, GPS technology, and smartphones changed our world. Laser weeders that use AI, GPS, and tractor technology can now comb through crop fields in seconds to zap weeds, eliminating the need for herbicides or large hand-weeding crews. And AI embedded within advanced imaging tools have the potential to diagnose and treat cancer.

If the internet made the world flat, then AI makes the world faster. One recent study conducted by Brynjolfsson and his colleagues quantified the productivity of over 5,000 customer-service agents who used generative-AI technology. The results were encouraging: Call-center operators became 14% more productive, and less experienced workers improved their productivity as much as 30%. A study out of MIT found software developers completed tasks 56% faster with generative-code-completion software, and yet another study found that professional-document writing was 40% faster using generative AI.

The small and large compounding effects of productivity growth across many industries are central to the growth trajectory and the long-run effects of AI. Goldman Sachs estimated that over 10 years, generative AI alone could raise annual US labor-productivity growth by just under 1.5 percentage points, "roughly the same-sized boost that followed the emergence of prior transformative technologies like the electric motor and personal computer." If that proved true, it would lead to an annual increase of 7% in global GDP, while contributing $2.6 trillion to 4.4 trillion to the global economy  about the equivalent of the UK economy.

Brynjolfsson, a "mindful optimist," is confident that these productivity gains will accumulate  and show up in the official stats. He told me that he had a bet with Gordon, the pessimist, that productivity growth over the coming years would outpace the 1.4% annual growth projected by the Congressional Budget Office. "In fact, I think it's going to be closer to double that," he said.

While estimates for productivity reflect how workers within firms will become more efficient at their jobs, it also assumes that laid-off workers will find new jobs. As productivity rises, total economic output will increase and GDP will rise. This will create a virtuous cycle, as companies will need to expand operations to keep up with this increased demand, which means they will need more workers. Plus, labor-productivity growth has been shown to raise real incomes, benefiting workers and households. Simply put: Technological innovation, even as it may lead to worker displacement, will help workers in the long run. A widely cited study by the economist David Autor and colleagues found 60% of workers today had jobs that did not exist 80 years ago, suggesting that 85% growth in employment was a result of technology innovation.

Future proofing  faster and smarter

That's all great news, but the turbulence of the AI revolution can't be ignored. The rapid pace of AI advancement and adoption makes this shift markedly different from past industrial revolutions. It's not as simple as textile workers being replaced by mechanized looms  workforce transformations are happening to varying degrees across occupations. And this pace of change is bound to outrun any changes in education and workforce preparation designed to keep up with the tech.

America's already antiquated workforce education system already fails to address modern workers' needs, let alone what they may need as AI takes hold. Maria Flynn, the CEO of the Washington think tank Jobs for the Future, said the US was encumbered by a "patchwork of programs that don't blend into a nice-looking quilt." In fact, there are 43 federal employment-training programs whose total budget is $20 billion, or less than 0.1% of US GDP. This is an alarmingly trivial amount for an economy of $25 trillion GDP and over 150 million workers.

To ease the pain of the labor-market upheaval, the US needs to invest more in its workforce  and fast. One approach is to adopt Denmark's model of job security and retraining, known as "flexicurity." The system helps avoid structural unemployment by making it easy for employers to let go of workers and by providing a substantial cushion for those laid off. The program provides unemployment benefits for two years at as much as $2,860 a month for people who are laid off, as well as one-on-one job counseling with retraining opportunities. As a result, the Danes are unemployed for much less time compared with workers in similar countries.

The US once had a similar program, the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, which was established in 1974 and administered by the Department of Labor for workers affected by trade and production in other countries. "It was an entitlement program so that any worker who met certain conditions  that their job was displaced due to trade  had an entitlement to receive a package of income support and retraining support," Flynn told me. An expansive and well-funded program geared toward the AI labor-market shift would help ease turbulence for workers by providing relocation grants and wage insurance to temporarily bridge the wage gap when workers find employment in lower-paying jobs.

To retrain people for an AI-based economy, the US could look to Singapore. There, workers above the age of 25 are given $500 in credits to access 24,000 courses in anything from data science to business, and a public-private retraining program makes sure skills training is matched to employers' job classifications. Every year, over 660,000 people make use of the country's national retraining program. For those concerned about productivity lags, these kinds of large-scale upgrades to education and training have the potential to fill in the gaps of a major workforce transition. Singapore's efforts have helped step up the annual labor-productivity growth rate to a respectable 3%.

All these public-sector policies would still need to be complemented by private-sector investment in retraining. In an MIT survey of workers, 50% of respondents reported receiving formal skills training by their employers. Incentivizing retraining through tax credits  such as those in New York and Georgia  could spur employers into action and ensure everyone is ready for the AI revolution.

Technology can't be uninvented  disruptive catalysts such as AI require the proactive pursuit of adapting to that change. And making workers resilient to large shocks requires recognizing that this technological wave can temporarily wipe out a large portion of the workforce, or it can be smoothly surfed to calm waters.

Emil Skandul is a writer on technology and urban economics, and a Tony Blair Institute fellow.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Inflation is still working its way through the economy, yet food prices are outpacing inflation. In July, consumer prices rose 3.2% increase compared to the previous year, which was slightly below the 3.3% projected. The Core CPI increased 4.7% rise year-over-year and saw a 0.2% incremental rise from the previous month. However, food prices in July rose by 4.9% versus last year including a slight increase of 0.2% compared to June.

The Role of Grocery Stores in the Economy

Grocery stores are the primary source of goods for most areas large cities and small town alike, providing a centralized location where people can access a wide variety of food and essential products. The Federal Reserve is likely to keep raising interest rates, and while the economy may slow in other areas, people still buy food. That means they still shop at the grocery store.

Proposed Merger of Albertsons and Kroger

Albertsons Companies Inc (NYSE:ACI) and The Kroger Co (NYSE:KR) want to link up and form a single grocery store giant to rival Walmart. However, Albertsons Companies Inc (NYSE:ACI)s stock price remains undervalued giving investors a really tasty opportunity.

About Albertsons

Albertsons Companies Inc (NYSE:ACI) is one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States, with a strong local presence and national scale. Founded by Joe Albertson in 1939 in Boise, Idaho; the company has grown over the decades through a combination of organic growth and acquisitions.

Albertsons Companies Inc (NYSE:ACI) operates multiple well-known grocery store chains in addition to the flagship Albertsons brand. Some of these chains include Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's, Acme, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Carrs, and Safeway in 2015, which expanded its footprint considerably.

Albertsons' Product Range and Digital Capabilities

Grocery stores are the staple of life in urban and rural areas alike. They offer a variety of products, ranging from fresh produce, meats, and dairy to general grocery and pharmacy items. Many locations also feature in-house bakeries, delis, and floral departments. More importantly, Albertsons Companies Inc (NYSE:ACI) also has a significant private label presence, offering a wide range of products under its store brands.

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The company has also been improving its digital capabilities, responding to a shift in consumer preferences for online grocery shopping. They've launched and expanded services like home delivery, drive-up and go (curbside pickup), and online ordering.

How It Makes Money

Retail sales makes up the bulk of Albertsons Companies Inc (NYSE:ACI)'s revenue and includes sales of groceries, general merchandise, health and beauty products, pharmacy items, fuel, etc. at its store locations. Retail sales accounted for over 90% of total revenue in 2022. Albertsons Companies Inc (NYSE:ACI) also operates pharmacies within many of its stores. Pharmacy sales represent prescription medication sales and related services. This accounted for around 5% of total revenue.

Like The Kroger Co (NYSE:KR), some of the company stores (across brands) have fuel stations where customers can purchase gas. Fuel sales made up 1-2% of revenue, but is a driver for in store shopping and customer loyalty to a small degree. Real estate revenue, third party delivery fees (a small but growing portion of revenue), and other ancillary businesses round out the results.

About the Deal

The The Kroger Co (NYSE:KR)-Albertsons Companies Inc (NYSE:ACI) merger would combine the nations two largest supermarket retailers to create a company with north of $210 billion in revenue across nearly 5,000 stores, 66 distribution centers, 52 manufacturing plants, 3,972 pharmacies, 2,015 fuel centers, served by 710,000 workers in 48 states and the District of Columbia.

The The Kroger Co (NYSE:KR) and Albertsons Companies Inc (NYSE:ACI) deal was expected to close early 2024, analysts and other industry observers have stated that antitrust approval will likely take longer on such a large transaction and could last as long as two years. There are plenty of competitors in this market, so theres no reason for the deal to fail in my opinion. Walmart dwarfs the other grocers by market share, but the combination of The Kroger Co (NYSE:KR) and Albertsons Companies Inc (NYSE:ACI) would push the companys share into the same ballpark and well ahead of Public, HEB, and Whole Foods.

Investment Opportunities Amid the Deal

With the time it might take, investors have an opportunity to load up on the stock. If the deal is not allowed to move forward to completion, shares in Albertsons Companies Inc (NYSE:ACI) could still move higher based on financial results and valuation.

Albertsons Companies Inc (NYSE:ACI) Is Undervalued

With earnings expectations of $3 per share and growing into the next decade, coupled with a stock price traded at less than $22 currently, the deal doesnt need to go through for the company to become more valuable for shareholders. Albertsons Companies Inc (NYSE:ACI) carries around $7.3 billion in long-term debt and another $5.9 billion in capital leases. However, it generates upwards of $3 billion in cash from operations within a business that is a basic necessity to our daily lives. Grocery stores are not going anywhere and thanks to private labelling have been able to improve profit margins over the years.

Albertsons' Financial Performance and Future Projections

Albertsons Companies Inc (NYSE:ACI)'s first quarter (ending June 17) demonstrated its ability to navigate well amid an intensifying competitive landscape, but again people have to buy groceries and no company (not even the Whole Foods or Trader Joes) has complete brand loyalty. First-quarter revenue lifted 3% year over year, driven by same-store sales growth of 4.9%, helped by a 22% increase in online revenue.

Analysts expect revenue to grow at a sustainable 2% per year. That would put total sales in the $90 billion range by 2030. Under similar profit margins as today, that would put the earnings per share around $3, a forward price multiple of 7 times earnings. That seems like a bargain price for a leader in an industry that is critical to the successful functioning of our society.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


Transparency Market Research

Rise in the prevalence of senile dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease due to rapidly aging population is driving the global Alzheimer's disease biomarkers industry. Introduction of specific biomarkers, such as peptides and genes, for diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is likely to be major business catalyst.

Wilmington, Delaware, United States, Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Transparency Market Research Inc. - The global Alzheimers disease biomarkers market is expected to be valued at US$ 953.54 million in 2023 and is likely to expand at a 7.5% CAGR until 2031. By 2031, the market is expected to be valued at US$ 1.7 billion.



Aging is the most significant risk factor for dementia. As a person gets older, the risk of developing dementia rises significantly. Senile dementia is caused by diseases that result in brain damage such as Alzheimers disease or vascular disease. Hence, increase in geriatric population is expected to propel the Alzheimers disease biomarkers market demand in the near future.

Dont miss out on essential insights  Get your sample copy now: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=44970

Competitive Landscape

The global Alzheimers disease biomarkers market is fragmented, with the presence of large number of players. Most of the companies are making significant investments in research & development activities, primarily to develop innovative biomarkers such as digital biomarkers products.

Leading players have adopted strategies such as product portfolio expansion and mergers & acquisitions in order to gain a competitive advantage. Some prominent market players include:

Enzo Life Sciences, Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., AnaSpec, Inc., Merck KGaA, Cell Signaling Technology, Inc., Fujirebio, Imagilys, NanoSomiX, QIAGEN, 23andMe, Inc., Quanterix, CN Diagnostics, and Quest Diagnostics are the prominent players operating in the marketplace.

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Key Market Developments

On July 27, 2022 , Quanterix Corporation announced the validation of a laboratory developed test (LDT) to quantitatively measure phospho-Tau 181 (pTau-181) in plasma as an aid in Alzheimer's disease diagnostic evaluation (AD). Quanterix' LDT, the first pTau-181 plasma test approved for clinical use in the U.S., is a quantitative immunoassay designed to measure pTau-181 concentrations in human plasma. The test results are intended to be used in adults with cognitive impairment who are being evaluated for Alzheimer's disease and must be interpreted in conjunction with other diagnostic tools.

In March 2022, Fujirebio introduced Lumipulse G-Amyloid 1-42 Plasma and Lumipulse G-Amyloid 1-40 Plasma assays for the fully automated LUMIPULSE G immunoassay systems. These CLEIA (chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay) assays allow for the quantitative measurement of amyloid1-42 and amyloid1-40 in human plasma in just 35 minutes. Furthermore, blood-based testing can become an even simpler, more accessible, and scalable approach to assist in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

According to Harvard Chan School (2020), 47 million people are living with dementia across the globe. The number is expected to triple in the next 30 years due to the rapidly aging population. As per Alzheimer's Society 2022, around two in every 100 people aged 65 to 69 suffer from dementia. The risk rises with age, roughly doubling every five years. This means that nearly 33 in every 100 people over the age of 90 years are afflicted with senile dementia.

Key Takeaways from the Market Study

As of 2022, the Alzheimers disease biomarkers market was worth US$ 887.05 million

A Y-o-Y growth rate of over 7% is expected for the market from 2022 to 2023

From 2023 to 2031, the market for Alzheimers disease biomarkers is forecast to expand nearly 1.8x

By type of biomarker, CSF biomarkers are expected to be the key determinants of Alzheimers disease

Based on the detection technique, the immunoassays segment is likely to account for a significant share



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Alzheimers Disease Diagnostics Market Growth Drivers

The direct effects of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) could include unconsciousness, inability to recall the traumatic event, depression, confusion, difficulty in learning & remembering new information, difficulty in speaking coherently, unsteadiness, lack of coordination, and vision or hearing issues. Certain types of TBI could increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease or another type of dementia years after the injury.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 223,135 TBI-related hospitalizations and 64,362 TBI-related deaths were reported in the U.S. in 2019 and 2020, respectively. According to data, more than 611 TBI-related hospitalizations and 176 TBI-related deaths are reported every day.

A study conducted by Stanford Medicine found that smoking increases the risk of mental decline and senile dementia significantly. People who smoke are more likely to develop atherosclerosis and other types of vascular diseases, which could be the underlying causes of dementia.



Regional Analysis of the Alzheimers Disease Biomarkers Market

North America held the largest share of around 35.0% in 2021. It is expected to record significant market progress during the forecast period. North America's dominance is ascribed to the increase in the incidence of major neurological diseases in the region.

Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing region during the forecast period. The business in the region is anticipated to grow at a rapid pace from 2022 to 2031 due to the high incidence rate of the Alzheimers disease, dementia, and Parkinsons disease.

Key Segments Profiled

Type of Biomarker

CSF Biomarkers Amyloid Beta Tau Protein Others

Genetic Biomarkers Apolipoprotein E Others

Blood Biomarkers

Detection Technique

Molecular Diagnostics

Immunoassays

End-user

Hospitals & Clinics

Diagnostic Laboratories

Others



Region

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Rest of the World

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About Transparency Market Research

Transparency Market Research, a global market research company registered at Wilmington, Delaware, United States, provides custom research and consulting services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insights for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools & techniques to gather and analyses information.

Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.





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(Bloomberg) -- Bankers, money managers and other financial market participants are starting to loathe the label ESG  but theyre also sticking with the strategy, according to a Bloomberg survey.

Most Read from Bloomberg

About two-thirds of respondents in a survey of roughly 300 Bloomberg terminal users said the anti-ESG movement that started in the US last year will force firms to stop using those three letters in conversations with clients. However, theyll continue to incorporate environmental, social and governance metrics in their business, they also said.

When it comes to the three-letter acronym ESG  people dont want to talk about it as much because of the news flow from the US, said Alex Bibani, a senior portfolio manager at Allianz Global Investors in London. But from an investment perspective and what we do internally, it has never been more important.

The finance industry is now grappling with a second year of attacks on ESG by key members of the Republican Party, including threats of litigation from state attorneys general, as well as outright bans on the strategy in some US states.

As recently as May, Florida Governor and presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis signed a sweeping anti-ESG bill he says targets the woke bias of the finance industry. And in June, BlackRock Inc. CEO Larry Fink said he doesnt want to use the term ESG anymore, after it was weaponized.

Read More: McDonalds Removes ESG Abbreviation From Parts of Its Website

While political attacks may end up shaping the nomenclature, theyre unlikely to change the finance industrys approach in tackling some key components of ESG such as climate change, according to the Bloomberg survey. Only 18% of respondents who identified themselves as using ESG in their work said the backlash against the label was stopping them from incorporating climate factors in their decision making. Instead, they pointed to climate data challenges as a bigger hurdle.

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For ESG investors, 2023 has been filled with big swings, Coco Zhang, ESG researcher at ING Groep NV, and Padhraic Garvey, INGs regional head of research for the Americas, said in a note. But global sustainable finance remains in rude health, they said. That includes exceptional growth in green issuance, which is among reasons to get more upbeat about the future.

And while Republican-led efforts to roll back sustainable investment practices through legislation have been dominating the public perception of ESG in the United States, Stephan Kippe, head of ESG research at Commerzbank AG, says that a closer look however reveals that the vast majority of anti-ESG legislation so far has failed to become law.

The term ESG has only existed for about two decades after being created through a United Nations-led initiative. The goal was to come up with a framework that would persuade profit oriented financial firms to pay attention to the environment, to societal risks and issues of governance. The construct was supposed to drive home the point that ignoring such risks and opportunities would ultimately lead to losses.

But since then, ESG has had a bumpy ride. After a pandemic-fanned boom, the acronym collided with an energy crisis, leading to huge losses among ESG funds that had shunned fossil fuels. At the same time, questions have been raised around the cottage industry of consultancies and data providers all feeding off ESG, much of which is still unregulated.

Sustainable investing purists have also voiced dismay at the way in which the ESG label is often used, warning that its application has become so broad as to be rendered largely meaningless. Thats as some estimates have suggested that financial market participants were collectively sitting on about $40 trillion in ESG assets.

In the European Union, regulators and legislators have moved much faster than their peers in other jurisdictions, carving out frameworks that are intended to reinvent capitalism. In an interview last month, the EUs commissioner for financial markets and services, Mairead McGuinness, said firms that dont take ESG seriously will face a bleak future in Europe.

Profit is important but were now saying its not the only thing that matters, she said.

That view is deeply at odds with responses in the Bloomberg survey, however. Some 85% of respondents who identified themselves as being engaged with ESG said financial performance is the most important factor to consider when investing. Only 39% said the same of ESG, which was the lowest reading in the survey.

The survey also showed that an overwhelming majority of finance industry professionals dont want the government to interfere in how private investors allocate their money. Of financial market participants who use ESG in their daily work, 89% of respondents said governments should stay away from such decisions, while 98% of respondents who dont use ESG said the same.

Its a sentiment thats playing out on Wall Street. As recently as Aug. 10, the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, whose members include BlackRock, State Street Corp. and Vanguard Group Inc., filed a lawsuit against Missouri Secretary of State Jay Aschcroft (a Republican), after he placed ESG investing limits on firms.

The Bloomberg survey was based on responses from 304 terminal users, of which 69% said they use ESG in their jobs. Some 62% of respondents were based in North America, while 26% were based in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The rest were spread across Asia Pacific and Latin America.

(Adds Commerzbank analyst comment in eighth paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Key Insights

Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Barnes Group fair value estimate is US$69.82

Current share price of US$38.35 suggests Barnes Group is potentially 45% undervalued

The US$42.67 analyst price target for B is 39% less than our estimate of fair value

Does the August share price for Barnes Group Inc. (NYSE:B) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow.

Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you.

View our latest analysis for Barnes Group

What's The Estimated Valuation?

We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate:

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10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$145.0m US$178.0m US$196.2m US$209.8m US$221.3m US$231.2m US$239.9m US$247.8m US$255.2m US$262.1m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x4 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 6.91% Est @ 5.48% Est @ 4.48% Est @ 3.78% Est @ 3.29% Est @ 2.95% Est @ 2.71% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 8.0% US$134 US$153 US$156 US$154 US$151 US$146 US$140 US$134 US$128 US$121

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$1.4b

After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (2.2%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 8.0%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = US$262m (1 + 2.2%)  (8.0% 2.2%) = US$4.6b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$4.6b ( 1 + 8.0%)10= US$2.1b

The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is US$3.5b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of US$38.4, the company appears quite undervalued at a 45% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent.

dcf

Important Assumptions

The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Barnes Group as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 8.0%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.170. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

SWOT Analysis for Barnes Group

Strength

Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry.

Debt is well covered by earnings.

Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows.

Weakness

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Machinery market.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the American market.

Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%.

Threat

Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow.

Annual revenue is forecast to grow slower than the American market.

Next Steps:

Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. Why is the intrinsic value higher than the current share price? For Barnes Group, we've compiled three additional factors you should assess:

Risks: Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 1 warning sign with Barnes Group , and understanding this should be part of your investment process. Management:Have insiders been ramping up their shares to take advantage of the market's sentiment for B's future outlook? Check out our management and board analysis with insights on CEO compensation and governance factors. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every American stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
(Bloomberg) -- Beijing is poised to implement sweeping new regulations for artificial intelligence services this week, trying to balance state control of the technology with enough support that its companies can become viable global competitors.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The government issued 24 guidelines that require platform providers to register their services and conduct a security review before theyre brought to market. Seven agencies will take responsibility for oversight, including the Cyberspace Administration of China and the National Development and Reform Commission.

The final regulations are less onerous than an original draft from April, but they show China, like Europe, moving ahead with government oversight of what may be the most promising  and controversial  technology of the last 30 years. The US, by contrast, has no legislation under serious consideration even after industry leaders warned that AI poses a risk of extinction and OpenAIs Sam Altman urged Congress in public hearings to get involved.

China got started very quickly, said Matt Sheehan, a fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace who is writing a series of research papers on the subject. It started building the regulatory tools and the regulatory muscles, so theyre going to be more ready to regulate more complex applications of the technology.

Chinas regulations go beyond anything contemplated in Western democracies. But they also include practical steps that have support in places like the US.

Beijing, for example, will mandate conspicuous labels on synthetically created content, including photos and videos. Thats aimed at preventing deceptions like an online video of Nancy Pelosi that was doctored to make her appear drunk. China will also require any company introducing an AI model to use legitimate data to train their models and to disclose that data to regulators as needed. Such a mandate may placate media companies that fear their creations will be co-opted by AI engines. Additionally, Chinese companies must provide a clear mechanism for handling public complaints about services or content.

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While the US historically hands-off approach to regulation gave Silicon Valley giants the space to become global juggernauts, that strategy holds serious dangers with generative AI, said Andy Chun, an artificial intelligence expert and adjunct professor at the City University of Hong Kong.

AI has the potential to profoundly change how people work, live, and play in ways we are just beginning to realize, he said. It also poses clear risks and threats to humanity if AI development proceeds without adequate oversight.

In the US, federal lawmakers have proposed a wide range of AI regulations but efforts remain in the early stages. The US Senate has held several AI briefings this summer to help members come up to speed on the technology and its risks before pursuing regulations.

In June, the European Parliament passed a draft of the AI Act, which would impose new guardrails and transparency requirements for artificial intelligence systems. The parliament, EU member states and European Commission must negotiate final terms before the legislation becomes law.

Beijing has spent years laying the groundwork for the rules that take effect Tuesday. The State Council, the countrys cabinet, put out an AI roadmap in 2017 that declared development of the technology a priority and laid out a timetable for putting government regulations in place.

Agencies like the CAC then consulted with legal scholars such as Zhang Linghan from the China University of Political Science and Law about AI governance, according to Sheehan. As Chinas draft guidelines on generative AI evolved into the latest version, there were months of consultation between regulators, industry players and academics to balance legislation and innovation. That initiative on Beijings part is driven in part by the strategic importance of AI, and the desire to gain a regulatory edge over other governments, said You Chuanman, director of the Institute for International Affairs Center for Regulation and Global Governance at the Chinese University of Hong Kong in Shenzhen.

Now, Chinas biggest AI players, from Baidu Inc. to Alibaba Group Holding and SenseTime Group Inc., are getting to work. Beijing has targeted AI as one of a dozen tech priorities and, after a two-year regulatory crackdown, the government is seeking private sector help to prop up the flagging economy and compete with the US. After the introduction of ChatGPT set off a global AI frenzy, leading tech executives and aspiring entrepreneurs are pouring billions of dollars into the field.

In the context of fierce global competition, lack of development is the most unsafe thing, Zhang, the scholar from China University of Political Science and Law, wrote about the guidelines.

In a flurry of activity this year, Alibaba, Baidu and SenseTime all showed off AI models. Xu Li, chief executive officer of SenseTime, pulled off the flashiest presentation, complete with a chatbot that writes computer code from prompts either in English or Chinese.

Still, Chinese companies trail global leaders like OpenAI and Alphabets Google. They will likely struggle to challenge such rivals, especially if American companies are regulated by no one but themselves.

China is trying to walk a tightrope between several different objectives that are not necessarily compatible, said Helen Toner, a director at Georgetowns Center for Security and Emerging Technology. One objective is to support their AI ecosystem, and another is to maintain social control and maintain the ability to censor and control the information environment in China.

In the US, OpenAI has shown little control over information even if its dangerous or inaccurate. Its ChatGPT made up fake legal precedents and provided bomb-building instructions to the public. A Georgia radio host claims the bot generated a false complaint that accused him of embezzling money.

In China, companies have to be much more careful. This February, the Hangzhou-based Yuanyu Intelligence pulled the plug on its ChatYuan service only days after launch. The bot had called Russias attack on Ukraine a war of aggression  in contravention of Beijings stance  and raised doubts about Chinas economic prospects, according to screenshots that circulated online.

Now the startup has abandoned a ChatGPT model entirely to focus on an AI productivity service called KnowX. Machines cannot achieve 100% filtering, said Xu Liang, head of the company. But what you can do is to add human values of patriotism, trustworthiness, and prudence to the model.

Beijing, with its authoritarian powers, plays by different rules than Washington. When Chinese agencies reprimand and fine tech companies, the corporations cant fight back and often publicly thank the government for its oversight. In the US, Big Tech hires armies of lawyers and lobbyists to contest almost any regulatory action. Alongside the robust public debate among stakeholders, this will make it difficult to install effective AI regulations, said Aynne Kokas, associate professor of media studies at the University of Virgina.

In China, AI is beginning to make its way into the sprawling censorship regime that keeps the countrys internet scrubbed of taboo and controversial topics. That doesnt mean it is easy, technically speaking. One of the most attractive innovations of ChatGPT and similar AI innovations is its unpredictability or its own innovation beyond our human intervention, You, from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said. In many cases, its beyond control of the platform service providers.

Some Chinese tech companies are using two-way keyword filtering, using one large language model to ensure that another LLM is scrubbed of any controversial content. One tech startup founder, who declined to be named due to political sensitivities, said the government will even do spot-checks on how AI services are labeling data.

What is potentially the most fascinating and concerning time-line is the one where censorship happens through new large language models developed specifically as censors, said Nathan Freitas, a fellow at Harvard Universitys Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society.

The European Union may be the most progressive in protecting individuals from such overreach. The draft law passed in June ensures privacy controls and curbs the use of facial recognition software. The EU proposal would also require companies to perform some analysis of the risks their services entail, for, say, health systems or national security.

But the EUs approach has drawn objections. OpenAIs Altman suggested his company may cease operating within countries that implement overly onerous regulations.

One thing Washington can learn from Chinese regulators is to be targeted and iterative, Sheehan said. Build these tools that they can keep improving as they keep regulating.

--With assistance from Emily Cadman, Alice Truong and Seth Fiegerman.

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
FILE PHOTO: A person is seen inside an IndiGo airlines ticketing office at Chhatrapati Shivaji International airport in Mumbai

Boeing front-runner in wide-body jet talks with IndiGo -sources FILE PHOTO: A person is seen inside an IndiGo airlines ticketing office at Chhatrapati Shivaji International airport in Mumbai

By Aditi Shah

NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Boeing has emerged as the front-runner to secure an order for around 25 wide-body planes from IndiGo, industry sources told Reuters on Monday, as India's biggest airline deepens its international expansion with new destinations.

IndiGo is in talks to buy Boeing's 787 family of twin-aisle aircraft, which has been pitted against Airbus A330neo jets, said the sources who are familiar with the matter.

No decision has been finalised, the sources said, requesting anonymity as the negotiations are confidential.

IndiGo said it does not comment on speculation. Boeing declined to comment. Airbus said it never comments on discussions it may or may not be having with existing and prospective customers.

Reuters first reported in March that IndiGo was in talks with Airbus and Boeing for the wide-body jets.

The recent talks come weeks after IndiGo placed a record order for 500 Airbus narrow-body jets, shadowing an earlier record deal by rival Air India for 470 Airbus and Boeing planes.

Indian carriers are trying to keep pace with the world's fastest-growing aviation market, where demand for air travel has surged post-COVID, sending industry records tumbling even as plane manufacturers are struggling to meet output goals.

The drive by IndiGo, which has 58% share of India's domestic market, also comes at a time when it is aiming to double its capacity by the end of the decade and expand its network, especially in international markets.

IndiGo recently launched new flights to destinations in Africa, West Asia and Southeast Asia, and is also growing its presence in Europe through its codeshare partnership with seven carriers including Turkish Airlines and KLM.

So far, IndiGo has been an exclusive buyer of Airbus narrow-body jets and a deal for wide-body planes would be a departure from that strategy. Earlier this year it began international operations with a Boeing 777, its first twin aisle aircraft taken from partner Turkish Airlines, which provides the pilots.

(Reporting by Aditi Shah; editing by Jason Neely and Conor Humphries)
By Gabriel Araujo

SAO PAULO (Reuters) -Brazilian planemaker Embraer on Monday shot past market estimates for second-quarter results, with its chief executive voicing optimism about upcoming quarters for the company.

Francisco Gomes Neto said in an interview there is a "good chance" Embraer will deliver 80 or more commercial aircraft next year, up from a higher-end forecast of 70 in 2023, and return to a level of 100 or more by 2025, or 2026.

The world's third-largest plane manufacturer - after Airbus and Boeing - last topped 100 deliveries in 2017, before hitting snags in an attempted deal with Boeing and then COVID-19-related hold-ups.

"Despite the supply chain challenges, we are very optimistic about this year after a good Q2," Gomes Neto said. "We expect Q3 to be good as well and an even better Q4, with new deals in the commercial and defense units expected in the second half."

The Brazilian company had previously disclosed deliveries of 47 aircraft in the quarter, seen as a positive sign by analysts who believe Embraer will meet its target this year of delivering up to 200 jets overall - both commercial and business.

"We're working hard so next year we can better spread out production and deliveries throughout the year, which will further improve the company's performance," Gomes Neto added.

He said the company has already signed a deal with an undisclosed client that will increase its backlog by $700 million in the third quarter.

Shares in Embraer rose as much as 5.7% immediately after the earnings report before paring gains in a volatile session. Brazil's benchmark stock index Bovespa dropped more than 1%.

The planemaker reported a 25% increase in second quarter adjusted net profit to $57.9 million, more than double the $24.3 million forecast by analysts polled by Refinitiv.

Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) came in at $148.9 million, up 20% from the previous year and above the market consensus of $116.2 million.

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JPMorgan analysts highlighted its EBITDA margin of 11.5%, up 10 percentage points quarter-on-quarter, as particularly strong.

Embraer maintained its outlook for the year, with net revenue forecast to rise by as much as 27% to between $5.2 billion and $5.7 billion.

Embraer's quarterly figures and backlog indicate "strong results for the year," analysts at BTG Pactual said.

(Reporting by Gabriel Araujo; editing by Jason Neely, Barbara Lewis and Sharon Singleton)
Quite a few insiders have dramatically grown their holdings in Australian Agricultural Company Limited (ASX:AAC) over the past 12 months. An insider's optimism about the company's prospects is a positive sign.

Although we don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing.

See our latest analysis for Australian Agricultural

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Australian Agricultural

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by insider Bryan Glinton for AU$23m worth of shares, at about AU$1.91 per share. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, even at a higher price than the current share price (being AU$1.49). It's very possible they regret the purchase, but it's more likely they are bullish about the company. We always take careful note of the price insiders pay when purchasing shares. As a general rule, we feel more positive about a stock if insiders have bought shares at above current prices, because that suggests they viewed the stock as good value, even at a higher price.

While Australian Agricultural insiders bought shares during the last year, they didn't sell. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!

Australian Agricultural is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying.

Insiders At Australian Agricultural Have Bought Stock Recently

Over the last three months, we've seen a bit of insider buying at Australian Agricultural. Independent Non-Executive Director Marc Blazer shelled out AU$30k for shares in that time. It's great to see that insiders are only buying, not selling. But in this case the amount purchased means the recent transaction may not be very meaningful on its own.

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Insider Ownership Of Australian Agricultural

I like to look at how many shares insiders own in a company, to help inform my view of how aligned they are with insiders. A high insider ownership often makes company leadership more mindful of shareholder interests. Australian Agricultural insiders own 71% of the company, currently worth about AU$636m based on the recent share price. Most shareholders would be happy to see this sort of insider ownership, since it suggests that management incentives are well aligned with other shareholders.

What Might The Insider Transactions At Australian Agricultural Tell Us?

We note a that there has been a bit of insider buying recently (but no selling). That said, the purchases were not large. However, our analysis of transactions over the last year is heartening. With high insider ownership and encouraging transactions, it seems like Australian Agricultural insiders think the business has merit. So while it's helpful to know what insiders are doing in terms of buying or selling, it's also helpful to know the risks that a particular company is facing. While conducting our analysis, we found that Australian Agricultural has 2 warning signs and it would be unwise to ignore these.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Generally, when a single insider buys stock, it is usually not a big deal. However, when several insiders are buying, like in the case of Cadiz Inc. (NASDAQ:CDZI), it sends a favourable message to the company's shareholders.

While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares.

Check out our latest analysis for Cadiz

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Cadiz

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by insider Maria Jelescu-Dreyfus for US$350k worth of shares, at about US$3.50 per share. Although we like to see insider buying, we note that this large purchase was at significantly below the recent price of US$4.19. Because it occurred at a lower valuation, it doesn't tell us much about whether insiders might find today's price attractive.

While Cadiz insiders bought shares during the last year, they didn't sell. They paid about US$2.98 on average. We don't deny that it is nice to see insiders buying stock in the company. But we must note that the investments were made at well below today's share price. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date!

Cadiz is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Insiders At Cadiz Have Bought Stock Recently

Over the last three months, we've seen significant insider buying at Cadiz. Overall, three insiders shelled out US$468k for shares in the company -- and none sold. This makes one think the business has some good points.

Does Cadiz Boast High Insider Ownership?

Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. Insiders own 4.9% of Cadiz shares, worth about US$14m. We've certainly seen higher levels of insider ownership elsewhere, but these holdings are enough to suggest alignment between insiders and the other shareholders.

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So What Does This Data Suggest About Cadiz Insiders?

It's certainly positive to see the recent insider purchases. We also take confidence from the longer term picture of insider transactions. But we don't feel the same about the fact the company is making losses. Insiders likely see value in Cadiz shares, given these transactions (along with notable insider ownership of the company). In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing Cadiz. To that end, you should learn about the 4 warning signs we've spotted with Cadiz (including 2 which shouldn't be ignored).

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Key Insights

Isetan (Singapore)'s estimated fair value is S$3.22 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Isetan (Singapore)'s S$3.00 share price indicates it is trading at similar levels as its fair value estimate

Peers of Isetan (Singapore) are currently trading on average at a 356% premium

Does the August share price for Isetan (Singapore) Limited (SGX:I15) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's value. The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model is the tool we will apply to do this. Don't get put off by the jargon, the math behind it is actually quite straightforward.

We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model.

See our latest analysis for Isetan (Singapore)

What's The Estimated Valuation?

We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Seeing as no analyst estimates of free cash flow are available to us, we have extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the company's last reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate:

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10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (SGD, Millions) S$11.0m S$9.90m S$9.28m S$8.92m S$8.74m S$8.66m S$8.66m S$8.71m S$8.80m S$8.91m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ -14.92% Est @ -9.85% Est @ -6.30% Est @ -3.82% Est @ -2.08% Est @ -0.86% Est @ -0.01% Est @ 0.59% Est @ 1.01% Est @ 1.30% Present Value (SGD, Millions) Discounted @ 8.0% S$10.2 S$8.5 S$7.4 S$6.6 S$6.0 S$5.5 S$5.1 S$4.7 S$4.4 S$4.1

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = S$62m

The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (2.0%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 8.0%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = S$8.9m (1 + 2.0%)  (8.0% 2.0%) = S$152m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= S$152m ( 1 + 8.0%)10= S$70m

The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is S$133m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of S$3.0, the company appears about fair value at a 6.7% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent.

dcf

The Assumptions

We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Isetan (Singapore) as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 8.0%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.199. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

SWOT Analysis for Isetan (Singapore)

Strength

Currently debt free.

Weakness

Earnings declined over the past year.

Opportunity

Current share price is below our estimate of fair value.

Lack of analyst coverage makes it difficult to determine I15's earnings prospects.

Threat

No apparent threats visible for I15.

Looking Ahead:

Although the valuation of a company is important, it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. For Isetan (Singapore), we've put together three essential factors you should assess:

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Singaporean stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Key Insights

SKP Resources Bhd's estimated fair value is RM0.91 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Current share price of RM0.96 suggests SKP Resources Bhd is potentially trading close to its fair value

The RM1.19 analyst price target for SKPRES is 31% more than our estimate of fair value

Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of SKP Resources Bhd (KLSE:SKPRES) by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. There's really not all that much to it, even though it might appear quite complex.

We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you.

View our latest analysis for SKP Resources Bhd

Is SKP Resources Bhd Fairly Valued?

We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars:

Story continues

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) RM313.0m RM131.4m RM119.0m RM113.3m RM110.7m RM110.1m RM110.8m RM112.5m RM114.9m RM117.9m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x3 Analyst x1 Est @ -4.81% Est @ -2.30% Est @ -0.55% Est @ 0.68% Est @ 1.54% Est @ 2.14% Est @ 2.57% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 11% RM282 RM107 RM86.8 RM74.4 RM65.4 RM58.6 RM53.1 RM48.6 RM44.7 RM41.2

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM861m

After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (3.6%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 11%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = RM118m (1 + 3.6%)  (11% 3.6%) = RM1.6b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM1.6b ( 1 + 11%)10= RM567m

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is RM1.4b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of RM1.0, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out.

dcf

Important Assumptions

The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at SKP Resources Bhd as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 11%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.103. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

SWOT Analysis for SKP Resources Bhd

Strength

Debt is not viewed as a risk.

Weakness

Earnings declined over the past year.

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Electronic market.

Opportunity

Annual revenue is forecast to grow faster than the Malaysian market.

Good value based on P/E ratio compared to estimated Fair P/E ratio.

Threat

Dividends are not covered by cash flow.

Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the Malaysian market.

Moving On:

Although the valuation of a company is important, it is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. For SKP Resources Bhd, we've put together three fundamental elements you should assess:

Risks: Case in point, we've spotted 1 warning sign for SKP Resources Bhd you should be aware of. Future Earnings: How does SKPRES's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Malaysian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Carmex lip balm maker Carma Laboratories Inc. is proceeding with plans for a new Franklin headquarters.

The Franklin company that makes Carmex lip balm is proceeding with plans to build a new headquarters in that community.

Carma Laboratories Inc. is to develop a 225,000-square-foot building near the northeast corner of West Ryan Road and South 76th Street.

That's according to new city documents filed ahead of Tuesday's Common Council meeting.

The council plans to enter a closed session to discuss a possible tax incremental financing district to help finance the Carma Labs headquarters.

That proposal calls for the city to spend an estimated $1.8 million to pay for new sewer, water, road and sidewalk improvements at the development site. The cash would come from the new building's property taxes.

The council also is to conduct a conceptual review of the project. That will provide Carma Labs with feedback on the proposal before it proceeds with more detailed designs.

Additional details, including a construction timeline and the proposed development's cost, aren't yet available, said Ann Knabe, a company representative.

Carma Laboratories, with around 300 employees, is based at 5801 W. Airways Ave., in Franklin Business Park.

The company in 2020 announced it was planning a new Franklin headquarters  without naming a location.

Later that year, a state Department of Natural Resources filing showed plans for a 30,000-square-foot headquarters office building and an 85,000-square-foot industrial building on part of a 41-acre site at 9410 S. 76th St.

That address, along with the address of 7520 W. Ryan Road, would be part of the proposed TIF district.

Carma Labs was founded in 1937 by Carmex lip balm inventor Alfred Woelbing. The company still produces the original formula balm along with flavored options.

Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@jrn.com and followed on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Carmex lip balm maker plans new Milwaukee-area headquarters
Chevron Corporation's ( NYSE:CVX ) dividend will be increasing from last year's payment of the same period to $1.51 on 11th of September. This takes the annual payment to 3.7% of the current stock price, which is about average for the industry.

Check out our latest analysis for Chevron

Chevron's Dividend Is Well Covered By Earnings

While it is always good to see a solid dividend yield, we should also consider whether the payment is feasible. Before making this announcement, Chevron was easily earning enough to cover the dividend. As a result, a large proportion of what it earned was being reinvested back into the business.

EPS is set to fall by 10.1% over the next 12 months. If the dividend continues along recent trends, we estimate the payout ratio could be 43%, which we consider to be quite comfortable, with most of the company's earnings left over to grow the business in the future.

Chevron Has A Solid Track Record

The company has a sustained record of paying dividends with very little fluctuation. The dividend has gone from an annual total of $3.60 in 2013 to the most recent total annual payment of $6.04. This implies that the company grew its distributions at a yearly rate of about 5.3% over that duration. The dividend has been growing very nicely for a number of years, and has given its shareholders some nice income in their portfolios.

The Dividend Looks Likely To Grow

Investors who have held shares in the company for the past few years will be happy with the dividend income they have received. It's encouraging to see that Chevron has been growing its earnings per share at 20% a year over the past five years. Rapid earnings growth and a low payout ratio suggest this company has been effectively reinvesting in its business. Should that continue, this company could have a bright future.

We Really Like Chevron's Dividend

Overall, a dividend increase is always good, and we think that Chevron is a strong income stock thanks to its track record and growing earnings. The distributions are easily covered by earnings, and there is plenty of cash being generated as well. If earnings do fall over the next 12 months, the dividend could be buffeted a little bit, but we don't think it should cause too much of a problem in the long term. Taking this all into consideration, this looks like it could be a good dividend opportunity.

Market movements attest to how highly valued a consistent dividend policy is compared to one which is more unpredictable. At the same time, there are other factors our readers should be conscious of before pouring capital into a stock. For instance, we've picked out 1 warning sign for Chevron that investors should take into consideration. Is Chevron not quite the opportunity you were looking for? Why not check out our selection of top dividend stocks.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Mayor Brandon Johnson has selected Larry Snelling, the Chicago Police Departments chief of the bureau of counterterrorism and a longtime instructor at the training academy, to serve as the next permanent superintendent.

A South Side native who joined the department in 1992, Snelling, 54, is considered to be CPDs preeminent expert on firearms and use-of-force tactics. His ascent to the top position will require approval by the full City Council.

Chief Snelling is a proven leader who has the experience and the respect of his peers to help ensure the safety and well-being of city residents, and address the complex challenges we all face related to community safety, Johnson said in a press release Sunday.

A press conference introducing Snelling as the choice for the citys next top cop is expected late Monday morning.

It is a tremendous honor to answer the call to serve my hometown and the people of Chicago as superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. It is also a tremendous responsibility, and one that I do not take lightly, Snelling said in a statement.

While I am humbled by this moment, I stand ready to lead and uphold Mayor Johnsons three Cs of competence, compassion and collaboration, and keep that vision at the forefront in addressing safety on every street, every block and in every neighborhood, he added.

Snelling was chosen over two other finalists, CPD Chief of Constitutional Policing and Reform Angel Novalez, and Shon Barnes, the chief of police in Madison, Wisconsin.

Anthony Driver Jr., the president of the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, the body that submitted the three finalists to Johnson last month, issued a statement Sunday.

Chief Snellings remarkable career and long tenure with the Chicago Police Department make him an exceptional choice for the role of Superintendent, Driver said. His proven leadership as chief of the bureau that focuses on criminal networks and narcotics, his dedication to cultivating robust community relations, and his fervent commitment to elevating professional standards within the Department set him apart as a proven leader.

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His selection to become the 64th leader of Chicago Police Department caps off a rapid rise through the ranks for Snelling, who, less than five years ago, was just a sergeant.

Snelling will helm the countrys second-largest police department as swaths of the city, particularly disadvantaged communities of color, continue to be plagued with high levels of gun violence. Fatal and nonfatal shootings are down in recent years, but still outpace pre-pandemic totals.

Meanwhile, as CPD continues to struggle in its efforts to comply with a federal consent decree, a recent survey found that a growing share of residents harbor deep distrust of the citys police officers and public perception of the department continues to worsen amid low officer morale and skyrocketing overtime costs.

Snelling has spent more than half of his career as an instructor at CPDs training academy .

He has twice been honored with the departments Life Saving Award, has received four department commendations, 57 honorable mentions and 13 physical fitness emblems of recognition, according to his city employee personnel file. Snelling received a bachelors degree in Adult Education and Leadership from DePaul University in 2014.

His 18 years at the police academy made him CPDs foremost authority on use-of-force, the use of firearms and report writing. According to his resume, Snelling is certified to teach courses on active shooter scenarios, the use of Tasers, firearms and batons, as well as personal fitness. Aside from teaching police procedures, hes also a certified CrossFit instructor.

As a result of his expertise, Snelling has been called to testify as an expert witness in more than two dozen civil and criminal cases involving police officers.

Among those cases was the 2018 criminal trial of three CPD officers who were accused of conspiring to cover up the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald four years earlier. Those three officers were ultimately acquitted in a bench trial.

Snelling also testified in the police board proceedings of four officers who faced administrative charges also stemming from the 2014 McDonald shooting on the Southwest Side. All four were eventually fired.

While on the witness stand, Snelling was asked why McDonald, who was armed with a knife, should not have been considered an armed assailant. According to Illinois Appellate Court records, Snelling said:

A subject becomes an assailant when that subject commits an act of furtherance other than just being armed. Police officers come in contact with people who are armed all the time, he said, If there was a movement in furtherance toward the officer that you could actually see in the video, then it would rise to the level of deadly force, but I cant see it in the video.

A sergeant as recently as 2019, Snellings ascent through the ranks has been quick. Hes gained admirers along the way, too.

You have to have a police superintendent thats willing to work with these community organizations and give them the power that they deserve, Darryl Smith, the president of the Englewood Political Task Force, said during the CCPSAs April 19 forum at St. Sabina Church in Auburn Gresham. You can not police from a book. You have to talk to the people that are out here every day, dealing with this every day, and my choice is Chief Larry Snelling.

Smith was just one of dozens of city residents who urged the CCPSA to nominate candidates with longstanding ties to the CPD and the city.

Pending his approval by the full City Council, Snelling will replace former CPD superintendent David Brown, who was tapped for the job by former Mayor Lori Lightfoot in April 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic was still in its infancy. Browns tenure as head of the CPD was marked by a spike in violent crime, several incidents of civil unrest and looting, and low officer morale. Brown, who was previously the chief of police in Dallas, his hometown, announced his resignation as CPD superintendent in March after Lightfoot failed to qualify for the mayoral runoff election.

After Johnson was sworn in as mayor last April, he selected Fred Waller, CPDs former chief of patrol, to serve as interim superintendent during the search for Browns permanent replacement.

Records from the citys Department of Human Resources show that Snelling joined CPD in 1992 after working as a waiter at a restaurant in Hyde Park. For the first two years of his career he was a patrol officer in the Englewood and Morgan Park districts on the South Side. From 1994 to 1998, he was back in Englewood, this time as a tactical and gang team officer.

CPD records show that Snelling was the subject of two sustained misconduct complaints in the mid-1990s. He was suspended for a total of seven days in those two cases, according to CPD internal affairs records.

Snellings first sustained complaint came in 1994.

Around 7 a.m. on May 12, 1994, Snelling and another officer were assigned to take two male arrestees from the Englewood District station to the Chicago Lawn District station a few miles west. During the ride, one of the men tried to strike up a conversation with Snelling and his partner but he was rebuffed, according to CPD internal affairs records.

The passenger officer, with badge #9919, now known as Larry Snelling, became angry with him and asked him Do you take me as a joke (expletive) ; do you think you know everything? CPD investigators wrote of the allegations.

The officer who was driving then pulled the van over, and he and Snelling got out and opened the side door, records show. It was then that Snelling allegedly struck the man, who was arrested for domestic battery, in the face.

Records show Snelling denied that he hit the man or called him an expletive.

Snelling was implicated in a far more serious disciplinary case a year later when he allegedly pointed his gun at another driver  also an off-duty police officer  who was traveling through Englewood. And though he again denied wrongdoing, Snelling was eventually found to have violated CPD rules that prohibit unlawful use or display of a weapon and engaging in any unjustified verbal or physical altercation with any person while on or off duty.

Snelling admitted to investigators that he was driving his Jeep on Garfield when he had a traffic altercation. Snelling said he called the driver of the Cadillac an idiot after the driver nearly struck his Jeep. And though he had his gun in his waistband, Snelling denied that he pointed it at anyone. He also said that he didnt refer to the driver with a racist term or call him an expletive.

Internal affairs investigators said Snellings explanation didnt hold water, and the two allegations against him were sustained, CPD records show.

Snelling took a leave of absence from the department from 1998 to 2000 when he was a regional security director for AT&T. Upon his return to the department in 2001, he was once again assigned to the training academy where he was a physical skills instructor until 2010.

In August of that year Snelling was promoted to sergeant. The promotion came by way of the CPDs much-maligned merit system, which was launched in the mid-1990s as a way to bolster racial and gender diversity among the police departments supervisors.

A merit promotion is awarded to an officer after they are nominated by a member of the CPDs command staff and approved by the departments merit board. Though noble in intent, the merit promotions system has been long seen as a way to reward political cronyism within CPDs ranks.

The U.S. Department of Justice investigated the department in the wake of the release of the McDonald shooting video in 2015. In their summary report, federal investigators said: Many of the officers we spoke with, minority and non-minority alike, told us they feel merit promotions are not truly based on merit, but rather the clout you hold in the department or who you know.

Snellings two merit nominators  retired CPD deputy chief Matthew Tobias and retired Lt. Daniel Godsel  did not respond to interview requests.

After he was promoted to sergeant in 2010, Snelling was once again assigned to the Morgan Park District, but records show he was there for only a year. In 2011, he was back at the CPD training academy where he remained until May 2019 when he received another merit promotion to the rank of lieutenant. He then returned to the Englewood District.

In February 2020, eight months after he was promoted to lieutenant, Snelling was promoted to commander of the Englewood District. The following summer, as cities across the country were gripped by civil unrest after the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, a police shooting in the Englewood District left the neighborhood on edge.

On Aug. 9, 2020, someone called 911 to report a male with a gun was near a park at 57th and Racine. Officers assigned to the CPDs Community Safety Team responded to the call, and upon arrival they saw 20-year-old Latrell Allen. Allen ran off, but officers caught up with him in a nearby alley. Allen allegedly fired several shots at officers, who returned fire and shot Allen in the shoulder. Allen was charged with attempted murder and a Cook County jury found him guilty earlier this summer.

After the shooting, former police superintendent David Brown said that misinformation about the circumstances of the shooting led to a round of looting throughout the citys downtown area. Police reform advocates planned to protest the shooting outside the Englewood District station on 63rd Street, but they were met by longtime neighborhood residents who chastised them for making their plans without first informing members of the Englewood community.

Four months after the shooting, in December 2020, Snelling was promoted to Deputy Chief of Area 2, which covers the four CPD patrol districts on the citys Far South Side. Snelling was named the Chief of CPDs Bureau of Counterterrorism  which oversees narcotics and gang investigations, as well as SWAT team operations  in October 2022 after his predecessor, Ernest Cato III, abruptly retired from the department.

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(Bloomberg) -- Chinas latest attempt to reverse the nations foreign investment slump includes pledges to offer overseas firms better tax treatment and make it easier for them to obtain visas, as officials try to allay fears about doing business in the worlds second-largest economy.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The 24-point plan from the State Council  Chinas cabinet  also promises to relax regulations on transferring data overseas, among other measures. The policies are intended to address long-standing concerns held by foreign companies about their ability to fairly compete in the government procurement process and protect their intellectual property, among other things.

Beijing earlier this year declared 2023 as the Year of Investing in China. But that campaign was quickly met with skepticism among foreign companies, which expressed concerns about the difficult business environment, unpredictable policy making, worsening geopolitics and the health of the domestic economy.

In a survey published this spring by the American Chamber of Commerce in China, most companies that responded said they didnt see the country as a top 3 investment priority. Other indicators have shown a rapid slowdown of investment by overseas firms this year.

The State Council plan published Sunday includes a government pledge to accelerate foreign projects related to the biopharmaceutical industry, as well as to increase the trial area for certain telecommunication services. Qualified foreign companies will also be encouraged to set up investment units and regional headquarters.

The government will also make it more convenient for employees of foreign companies to apply for visas and residence permits, and it will increase fiscal and taxation support for those businesses, according to the statement.

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These new policies could go a long way to improving business confidence if they are implemented in timely, coordinated and consistent manner, the European Union Chamber of Commerce said in a statement. The publication of detailed implementation guidelines will be an extremely important part of this process.

Earlier this month, President Jens Eskelund told Bloomberg News that foreign businesses were experiencing promise fatigue, as they remain skeptical about whether the government will deliver meaningful policy support.

The chamber has called for China to open up more sectors of the economy to foreign businesses, ensure they have fair competition with state-owned firms and de-politicize the business environment, according to its most recent position paper in September 2022.

Many of the topics from the Sunday announcement  including preferential tax policies, data transfers and support for companies focused on research and development  have been on our list of areas needing policy improvement, said Michael Hart, president of AmCham China.

The next area to watch is the actual implementation of announced policies which is sometimes where the real challenges lie, he added.

The government will continue to reduce the number of sectors that ban investment from foreign firms, Chinas Assistant Minister of Commerce Chen Chunjiang said at a press conference Monday afternoon to explain the new policy.

Authorities will also relax restrictions on strategic investments into listed Chinese firms, Chen added.

Pharmaceutical Focus

The part of Sundays proposal focused on the pharmaceutical industry is notable given the size of Chinas drug market, the second-largest in the world. Its very attractive to foreign drug companies, which have been increasing their footprint in the country since its pandemic restrictions ended.

Last month, American firm Moderna Inc. said it would push toward producing messenger RNA vaccines for China. This month, UK-based AstraZeneca Plc signed a cooperation agreement with a Chinese company to work on mRNA technology.

However, a widening campaign against corruption in the drug sector may make it harder for the government to achieve its goal of attracting investment.

The nations top graft buster said last month that authorities would conduct a year-long, nationwide crackdown to root out corruption in the pharmaceutical sector. At least 155 officials at hospitals nationwide were being probed for allegedly violating laws and regulations as of late July.

An extension of that campaign to drug companies would add to the growing anxiety among foreign companies. Theyre already experiencing concern this year after a Japanese pharmaceutical executive was arrested, and after the country passed a new anti-spying law. A crackdown on foreign consulting firms has also sparked worries.

Another area of interest in Sundays statement was a promise to streamline cross-border data flows. That might make it easier for foreign firms to export personal data from China.

The increasing difficulty of moving such data out of China has been of rising worry to foreign firms. The restrictions risk making the country a data island, according to a report last year from the US-China Business Council.

Most large foreign firms have submitted the documents needed to be licensed to export data, but the approval process is going very slowly, according to Rich Bishop, co-founder and CEO of AppInChina, which helps international companies publish software in China.

He added, though, that Sundays statement indicates authorities will take steps to improve that process.

--With assistance from Jing Jin and Sarah Zheng.

(Updates with statement from the European Chamber of Commerce in China.)

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(Bloomberg) -- China has started booking cargoes of Australian barley after Beijing scrapped onerous tariffs on the trade earlier this month.

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Traders have booked at least four cargoes of the Australian grain for shipping from September to October, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Beijing removed the import tariffs on Aug. 5 citing changes in the Chinese market, signaling improving ties between the trading partners.

China was Australias largest export market for barley before Beijing imposed tariffs of more than 80% in May 2020, with a souring of relations impacting the trade of other commodities including coal and wine. That led to an increase in shipments to other countries such as Saudi Arabia, Japan and Vietnam.

Australian barley arriving in China for animal feed use was quoted at $280 to $300 a ton, compared with domestic corn at nearly $400, according to traders. There is a price advantage to supplies from Australia, they added.

The trade was worth as much as A$1.5 billion ($970 million) to Australia in 2017-18 before the implementation of tariffs eventually cut that market to zero, according to data from the nations agriculture department. China shifted to buying more from France, Canada and Argentina after the duties.

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From brokering a deal between rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran to offering to intervene in the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, China's diplomatic efforts in the Middle East have raised Beijing's profile as a player in the region.

These efforts have been at the state level and carried out through the Chinese foreign ministry and state leaders.

But China has also been engaging the region on another level, attempting to promote its own governance model as an alternative to the West by fostering engagement between the Communist Party and political organisations from across the Arab world.

Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.

Observers said party-to-party diplomacy could help China achieve stable, long-term influence in Arab countries by engaging with ruling and opposition parties while expanding China's regional impact, exporting its governance system and building support on controversial matters such as the legitimacy of one-party rule and Beijing's policies in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

Jesse Marks, a former Fulbright fellow at the Jordan Centre for Strategic Studies, said the Communist Party's main pursuit in the Middle East was alignment.

"Party-to-party diplomacy has several objectives, from normalising a one-party system among China's partners to cultivating and developing ideological political partners in countries of strategic interest," he said.

"In the case of the Middle East, party-to-party diplomacy has been employed to cultivate ideological partners or, at least, reinforce mutual respect for China's core principles, especially one-party rule."

The international department of the Central Committee, the Communist Party's top leadership body, oversees party diplomacy. Established in 1951, the department was largely tasked with handling ties with communist parties of other countries - especially the Soviet Union.

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Its mission gradually changed after Beijing and Moscow split over ideological differences in the 1960s, and it started to engage with more parties across the political spectrum as China transformed into an economic powerhouse.

One of the party's latest diplomatic efforts in the Arab world was in July, when the department held a party-to-party dialogue in Yinchuan, capital of the Ningxia Hui autonomous region - an area of northwestern China where Muslims account for about a third of the population.

More than 60 party leaders and think tank representatives from 19 Arab countries were invited to the dialogue, which has been held every two years since 2016.

Unlike the Gulf's monarchies, where party politics is largely prohibited, developing Arab countries - stretching from the eastern Mediterranean to North Africa - showed great interest in the Communist Party's invitation, with representatives from Syria, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco and Djibouti among those taking part.

At the dialogue, one of the topics of discussion was Chinese President Xi Jinping's Global Civilisation Initiative, outlined by Xi in March, which aims to "replace conflict with conversation and exchange" and "oppose hegemony, power politics" - ideas that won praise from many attendees, according to the international department.

The exchange of ideas is typical of the party's diplomatic engagement with the Arab world, according to Sun Degang, a researcher at Fudan University.

"Unlike China's governmental diplomacy [to Arab countries], party-to-party diplomacy is not entirely constrained by diplomatic protocol. It places more emphasis on policy and idea exchanges," he wrote in a paper published in the Chinese journal Arab World Studies.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (right) welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping (centre) at the royal palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in December. Photo: Xinhua via ZUMA Press alt=Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (right) welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping (centre) at the royal palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in December. Photo: Xinhua via ZUMA Press>

In 2019, Song Tao, then head of the international department, made clear in an article in party mouthpiece People's Daily that the party should "unite all the powers that can be united".

"The party's foreign work should ... secure more comprehenders, supporters, and peers for the [Communist Party] and the socialist system with Chinese characteristics," Song wrote in Qiushi, the party's authoritative theoretical journal, in 2021.

Together with parties in Arab countries, the Communist Party has issued multiple joint statements touching on sensitive issues including Hong Kong, Xinjiang, Taiwan and the South China Sea.

In August 2021, together with 28 political parties and social organisations in the Arab world, the department called for opposing the "politicisation of the traceability of the coronavirus" in the face of pressure from the West.

Four months later, as the United States enacted the Uygur Forced Labour Prevention Act, the department again joined 33 political parties and social organisations from 15 Middle Eastern countries to oppose it.

The Communist Party is also promoting its governance model to Arab countries as a path to development.

According to Sun, most of the countries in the region with active party politics face economic and political development obstacles similar to those that once plagued China, making the Communist Party's governance model attractive.

"China and the Arab countries are developing countries, and they all face the arduous tasks of reform, development and stabilisation. As the ruling party, the Communist Party has accumulated a wealth of experience in the management of the country, and this basic experience is of great relevance to Arab countries," Sun's paper said.

He added that some countries in the Arab world had yet to emerge from turmoil and conflict, such as Syria and Libya, while others were in a period of transition and faced currency devaluation, fiscal deficits and political instability, such as Iraq and Egypt.

Parties from Arab states ranging from Mauritania and Tunisia to Lebanon and Syria have attended webinars hosted by the Communist Party to learn about its governance.

Lina Benabdallah, an associate professor studying China's party diplomacy at Wake Forest University, said the developing world's new generation of political party leaders had looked to the Communist Party as a model.

"Another generation of political party leaders is also inspired by the [Communist Party's] leadership, development efficiency and legitimacy. From China's side, there are real opportunities to forge very strong ties to these elites who are either now - or might later be - in power," she said.

But Marks added that Arab countries still had a long way to go to benefit from the party's governance model, which he described as being characterised by centralised control of the economy and strong social regulations.

"The idea of a centrally led economy is desirable to many in the region, but the central challenge is that Arab governments - with the exception of a few - are not sufficiently equipped to manage such an economy. Social control is an expensive process, and governments lack money."

In 2017, Xi said the party wanted to engage other political parties to take a more active role in tackling world problems, and not to export the "China model".

"[China] will proactively push forward the construction of a global network of partners and will proactively push for political solutions for international hot issues and difficult problems," Xi said. "We will not require other countries to copy what we do."

In his speech delivered in March at the Communist Party in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-level Meeting, a major forum for party-to-party diplomacy, Xi said developing countries had the right and ability to independently explore a modernisation path based on their national realities.

Peng Peng, executive chair of the Chinese think tank Guangdong System Reform Research Society, said that by connecting with different parties, the Communist Party could constrain anti-China tendencies in Arab countries.

"Some political parties have been anti-China or anti-communist, so exchanges with more than one political party [in a country] can be utilised to form a restraining force, and are also conducive to mutual understanding."

Since the national independence wave swept the Arab world during the last century, there has been considerable ideological turnover in the region as countries explore the best path to development.

As a result, parties from across the political spectrum - from nationalism to communism to conservative Islamic politics - split power in these countries.

A Chinese professor, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said China's party diplomacy aimed to prevent a power vacuum that could be exploited by the West.

According to the scholar, while left-wing, pro-socialist parties are no longer the Communist Party's main focus for building party-party ties, they are still its closest diplomatic partners.

"There are a lot of pro-socialism parties in the Arab region, but in the end, we find that it's the conservative and Islamic parties that have a real impact on the countries," he said. "If you don't reach out to them, the West will."

Wang Jin, an associate professor with the Institute of Middle East Studies at China's Northwest University, added that party-to-party diplomacy could also have cross-border influence in the Arab world.

"There are political parties that have influence not only in one country [in the Arab world]. There may be several countries that have the same political party or a closely related party organisation," Wang said.

China has become more proactively involved in the Middle East, having brokered a deal for the normalisation of ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and it has offered to play a similar role in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Wang added that by communicating with different parties in the region, China could find more possibilities for handling these conflicts.

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2023 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2023. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
Pedestrians in Beijing walk by the national flag of China. Kevin Frayer/Getty Images

China's sputtering growth and property market hurdles have led to comparisons with Japan's troubles in the 1990s.

JPMorgan strategists said China risks "Japanification" if it doesn't stabilize its housing sector.

But key differences remain and China's economy isn't yet at the level of Japan's crisis 30 years ago.

China's stumbling economy is drawing comparisons to Japan's from three decades ago, but experts say key differences separate the two.

Beijing hasn't yet been able to steer the world's second largest economy into the post-pandemic rebound many had anticipated, and it counts a wobbling property market, deflation, and unfavorable demographics among its current hurdles.

China's National Bureau of Statistics reported that the consumer price index dropped 0.3% annually in July, tipping the economy into deflation and fueling reminiscences of Japan in the early 1990s. Recent data has even pushed Beijing to tell economists not to paint recent data in an unfavorable light or talk about deflation, the Financial Times reported.

The Japanese economy three decades ago, however, faced a spell of weak growth, a decline in asset prices, and housing trouble that on balance was worse than China's current scenario, according to experts.

Only this year have Japan's stock markets returned within range of the highs seen in 1990. The Nikkei 225 breached the 30,000 mark in May for the first time in over three decades.

David Dollar, a senior fellow and China expert at the Brookings Institute, told Insider that China faces "serious" economic issues but they are not yet as dire as what Japan saw.

"People quickly go to a comparison with Japan, and whatever bubbles exists in China now versus the scale of Japan's," Dollar said, noting that he doesn't think the analogy is fully justified even as growth in China slips.

JPMorgan strategists cautioned that China must stabilize its real estate market and address its aging population if it wants to avoid following in Japan's footsteps.

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"An alarming signal is that secondary home prices have started to fall again in some cities in recent months, after a tentative recovery in 1Q23," the bank said. Strategists also pointed out that in 2019, China had 12.6% of its population aged 65 or older, in line with 1991 Japan's 12.7%.

However, they noted that China has advantages working in its favor that Japan did not have. China has a comparably lower urbanization rate, which implies a higher upside for a renewed productivity boom and more room for housing demand.

The country also produces more STEM graduates and boasts a far larger domestic market and more robust manufacturing sector than Japan did in the 1990s.

Importantly, the firm doesn't view China's property sector as being nearly as overvalued as Japan's was when its economic bubble burst, a point that Brookings' Dollar echoed.

"Remember," Dollar said, "Tokyo used to be worth more than the whole United States. Real estate prices in Japan fell about two-thirds, and the stock market still has never got back to where it was in 1989. I just don't think we have the same real estate or stock bubble in China."

Read the original article on Business Insider
A view shows the logo of Chinese automobile manufacturer Geely at a dealership in Moscow

BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese automaker Geely Holding Group on Monday unveiled a premium intelligent technology brand JI YUE, which stems from Geely's cooperation with Baidu Inc on "automotive robotics", and introduced its first model.

JI YUE 01, the flagship model under the new brand will be produced by Geely and is expected to debut in the last quarter of this year, the company said.

Baidu will provide its know-how in smart cockpits, autonomous driving and artificial intelligence technologies, which will be applied in JI YUE cars, Geely added.

"Beyond overseeing sales, services, and marketing for the 01, JI YUE will also build and develop its own charging network in China to meet consumer demand for smart intelligent electric vehicles," according to the statement.

Also on Monday, China's industry ministry website showed three electric vehicles under the JI YUE brand were seeking regulatory approvals.

Geely had co-funded an electric vehicle venture Jidu with Baidu. The brand in June launched a "robot" concept car, marking the first vehicle co-developed by the automaker and Baidu,as global tech companies scramble to develop smart cars.

(Reporting by Zhang Yan, Ella Cao in Beijing, Meg Shen in Hong Kong; Editing by Tomasz Janowski)
Integration of Interac e-Transfers makes cryptocurrencies easily accessible to millions of Canadian customers

TORONTO, August 14, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Coinbase announced its Canadian expansion with a series of new offerings that demonstrate its commitment to Canada as a priority Go Deep market.

Through its partnership with Peoples Trust Company, part of Peoples Group, Coinbase is now providing access to Interac e-Transfers * to 100% of Canadian Coinbase users, making it secure and simpler than ever to move money in and out of your account. This will make cryptocurrencies more accessible to millions of Canadians.

Interac availability was the most requested feature by Canadian users, and todays news demonstrates Coinbases plan to build a platform that is for Canadians, by Canadians. Depositing funds to Coinbase using Interac is free and almost instant. In the last month, over 50% of deposits have been made through Interac e-transfer.

Starting today, Canadian Coinbase users can also maximize the full potential of crypto with the best of Coinbase through membership with Coinbase One. Free for all users for 30 days, Canadians now have access to zero trading fees, boosted staking rewards, priority 24/7 support, and more.

"Canada is well positioned to be a global leader in the cryptoeconomy thanks to the high levels of crypto awareness, a passionate local tech ecosystem, and the progress towards a strong regulatory framework," said Nana Murugesan, Vice President, International and Business Development, Coinbase. "As Coinbases next Go Deep Market, we are making significant investments to help Canadians access the benefits of cryptocurrency."

Coinbase sees Canada as its next Go Deep Market. Canada is the second-most crypto-aware country across Coinbases international markets, and an Ontario Securities Commission survey found that over 30 per cent of Canadians said they will buy cryptocurrency within the year, more than double those who say they currently own crypto assets. This presents a significant opportunity for growth in the Canadian market.

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These announcements are the latest of several commitments Coinbase has made to grow in Canada.

In March, Coinbase signed an enhanced Pre-Registration Undertaking (PRU), and continues working with regulators and policymakers on a strong digital currency regulatory framework for Canadians.

Hired Lucas Matheson as Coinbases Canadian Country Director. Lucas is passionate about the potential of cryptocurrencies to transform the financial landscape and wants to help make cryptocurrencies more accessible in Canada.

Built a tech hub with almost 200 full-time employees who are helping build Coinbase products. This makes Canada Coinbase's largest tech hub outside the U.S. Coinbase is also one of Canadas largest crypto employers.

Coinbase Ventures has been active across Canada, investing in several Canadian start-ups to promote local innovation and entrepreneurship, and develop technology that will advance the global crypto economy. Canadian portfolio companies include Dapper Labs, Minerva AI, Axelar, Horizon Blockchain Games, and Zapper.

"At Coinbase, our mission is to update the financial system and bring greater economic freedom to the world," said Lucas Matheson, Canada Country Director, Coinbase. "Were thrilled to be leading this push and helping drive innovation in Canadas financial system."

Supporting Quote From Peoples Group

"Peoples Group is pleased to partner with industry leader Coinbase, to enable this money movement tool for their Canadian customers and expand payment possibilities," said David Furlong, Chief Operating Officer of Peoples Group.

About Coinbase

Coinbase is building the cryptoeconomy  a more fair, accessible, efficient, and transparent financial system enabled by crypto. Coinbase started in 2012 with the radical idea that anyone, anywhere, should be able to send and receive Bitcoin easily and securely. Today, Coinbase offers a trusted and easy-to-use platform for accessing the broader cryptoeconomy.

About Peoples Group

Peoples Group has been providing a tailored suite of financial solutions and delivering world-class customer interactions, since 1985. We have grown substantial market share in the insured commercial lending space and are the leading issuer of prepaid payment cards as well as an innovative merchant acquirer. We are an entrepreneurial organization that excels at customizing solutions to fit the needs of our clients. As a trusted partner of many FinTechs, we have a proven track record of giving them the tools and guidance to realize their success.

For more information, please visit peoplesgroup.com

* Interac e-Transfer is a registered trademark of Interac Corp. Used under license.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230814475027/en/

Contacts

For media inquiries please contact:

Amit Shilton, Senior Director, Corporate and Technology

Agnostic

ashilton@thinkagnostic.com
Coinstore

Singapore, Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 1. What is the project, and what problem does it solve?

Centurion Invest is a global ecosystem with regulated licenses and operations in Europe (Lithuania and Estonia) and offices in Middle East, Africa, Canada, Southeast Asia and LATAM. At Centurion Invest, the core mission is to empower financial freedom leveraging mass adoption of Cryptocurrency & Blockchain. The Fintech Platform is an ecosystem bridging Fiat to Crypto and offering unlimited range of services and financial solutions : CI Exchange(Crypto Trading platform), CIX Crypto VISA Card, CI360 (Entreprise Payments Solution), CI Pay(Seamless Peer to Peer Payment solution).

2. What are the utilities of CIX token?

The Centurion Invests ecosystem is powered by $CIX, a deflationary ERC20 token. When you use $CIX, youll enjoy various perks such as loyalty rewards, referral bonuses, airdrops, staking rewards (APR upto 80%), trading fee reductions( up to 25%), priority Launchpad access, cash backs through the CIX Card, merchant rebates, and Visa crypto global card.

3. What parts does the project ecosystem include?

The Centurion Invest ecosystem consists of a vast catalog of products.

CI Exchange  Trade anywhere anytime,

CIX Global Crypto VISA Card  Inclusive & borderless solution,

CI360  Grow your payment acceptance through blockchain technology,

CI Academy  Learn the Basics of Blockchain,

CI Labs  Bootstrap, Incubate, accelerate your Project,

CI Earn  Generate Passive income with Daily payout,

CI Pay  Send, receive, pay & get paid Instantly around the world,

CI Magnet  Monetize your Network & Become a Digital asset specialist,

CIX Token  Utility payment token at the heart of the ecosystem.

4. The token economics (distribution):

TOKEN NAME: CENTURION INVEST TOKEN

TOKEN TICKER: CIX

ISSUING ENTITY: CIX LABS

TOKEN TYPE: ERC-20

TOKEN TOTAL SUPPLY: 2,400,000,000 CIX

DISTRIBUTION MECHANISMS: IEO Issuing Mode

Decimals: 18

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Token Distribution:

20% Founder

6% Board Members

6% Management Team

4% Employees

1% Airdrops

1% Users Inventive & Loyalty

4,75% Reserve

6,25% Bonus Reserve

8% First Phase: Pre sale (October)

10% Second Phase: Private sale (Nov-Dec)

18% Third Phase: Public sale (25/05/22  31/08/22)

15% Ecosystem

5. Project Development Roadmap

The Centurion Invest project is constantly evolving, with a roadmap that includes expanding operations across various regions worldwide, including the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Canada, Southeast Asia, and LATAM. The project is backed by NYC renowned VC GEM Digital, aiming to continue improving its ecosystem and offerings, such as launching new products, improving existing services, and expanding its partnerships with leading players in the industry.

Centurion Invest Token (CIX) Overview

Token Name: CIX

Total Supply: 2,400,000,000

Token Type: ERC-20

Coinstore.com Listing

Trading Pair: CIX/USDT

Trade Time: April 17th

Withdrawal Time: April 17th

Centurion Invest Official Social Media

https://linktr.ee/centurion_invest



Centurion Invest Media Contact

Chiri Choukeir, Community and Growth Manager | chiri-at-centurionco.com



Arij Ridene, Content Writer | arij-at-centurionco.com

About Coinstore.com



Accessibility. Security. Equity.

As a leading global platform for cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, Coinstore.com seeks to build an ecosystem that grants everyone access to digital assets and blockchain technology. With over 2.5 million users worldwide, Coinstore.com aims to become the preferred cryptocurrency trading platform and digital service provider worldwide.

Coinstore.com Social Media

Twitter | Discord | Facebook | Instagram | Youtube | Telegram Discussion | Telegram Announcement



https://api.blockchainwire.io/uploads/Coinstore/release_file/CIX1.jpeg

CONTACT: Coinstore Media Contact Bommi Hua, Marketing Manager | Bommi.hua-at-coinstore.com Jennifer Lu, Co-Founder | Jennifer.lu-at-coinstore.com




Key Insights

The projected fair value for Comet Holding is CHF366 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Comet Holding is estimated to be 36% undervalued based on current share price of CHF234

Analyst price target for COTN is CHF251 which is 31% below our fair value estimate

Does the August share price for Comet Holding AG (VTX:COTN) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's value. One way to achieve this is by employing the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. There's really not all that much to it, even though it might appear quite complex.

Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model.

Check out our latest analysis for Comet Holding

The Method

We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate:

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10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (CHF, Millions) CHF61.0m CHF88.5m CHF109.5m CHF127.6m CHF142.5m CHF154.1m CHF162.9m CHF169.4m CHF174.1m CHF177.5m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x4 Analyst x4 Est @ 23.72% Est @ 16.61% Est @ 11.63% Est @ 8.14% Est @ 5.70% Est @ 3.99% Est @ 2.80% Est @ 1.96% Present Value (CHF, Millions) Discounted @ 5.6% CHF57.8 CHF79.4 CHF93.0 CHF103 CHF109 CHF111 CHF111 CHF110 CHF107 CHF103

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = CHF984m

The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 0.01%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 5.6%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = CHF178m (1 + 0.01%)  (5.6% 0.01%) = CHF3.2b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= CHF3.2b ( 1 + 5.6%)10= CHF1.9b

The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is CHF2.8b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of CHF234, the company appears quite undervalued at a 36% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

dcf

The Assumptions

We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Comet Holding as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 5.6%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.112. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

SWOT Analysis for Comet Holding

Strength

Debt is not viewed as a risk.

Weakness

Earnings declined over the past year.

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Electronic market.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the Swiss market.

Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value.

Threat

Dividends are not covered by cash flow.

Revenue is forecast to grow slower than 20% per year.

Moving On:

Although the valuation of a company is important, it is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. Why is the intrinsic value higher than the current share price? For Comet Holding, we've put together three relevant elements you should look at:

Risks: As an example, we've found 1 warning sign for Comet Holding that you need to consider before investing here. Future Earnings: How does COTN's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Swiss stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 14, 2023) - Compass Gold Corp. (TSXV: CVB) (Compass or the Company) provides an update on the recent trench sampling program at the Tarabala prospect, located on the Company's Sikasso Property in southern Mali (Figure 1).

Highlights

Four trenches, 5-m deep and totalling 208 m in length, have been completed at Tarabala and Massala

979 samples have been submitted to the assay laboratory, and all results are expected in late August

Metallurgical studies will begin once the assays have been reviewed

Further trenching is planned following the rainy season

Compass CEO, Larry Phillips, said, "We are pleased that we were able to complete our initial surface trenching program at Tarabala and Massala during the early part of the rainy season. The trenches at Tarabala are only two of the seventeen planned to define the shallow mineralization over a distance of 800 m at a depth of 5 m. The results of the initial work should provide a reliable indication of grades and widths of the mineralized sections before proceeding with further trenching after the rainy season. Depending on the assay results, bulk samples from these initial trenches would be submitted for metallurgical analysis before the next phase of trenching. The metallurgical test work would investigate the gold recovery rates and indicate the most appropriate processing methods for a potential small-mining operation at Tarabala."

Dr. Madani Diallo, Director and Country Manager, added, "Our Malian field team has once again shown their professionalism by safely completing the trenching program during the early rainy season. I look forward to receiving the assay results and the subsequent metallurgical testing. With positive findings, we will be ready to complete the surface resource sampling when the rainy season concludes in October."

Next Steps

Once the trench channel assay results have been received and assessed, Compass plans to send a series of large (50-60 kg) samples for metallurgical test work at SGS (Lakefield) in Canada. The test work would include metallic screen fire assaying to check gold grades, and a series of gravity and chemical tests would determine gold recovery rates and the appropriate method of processing.

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Provided the results received are positive, the Company plans to excavate an additional fifteen 5-m deep and up-to-100-m-long trenches starting in November when the rains abate. The assay results from this program, combined with the planned metallurgical study, would be used to perform a resource estimate on the near-surface mineralization and provide the relevant information concerning the potential for a near-surface small mining operation at Tarabala.

Figure 1: Location of Tarabala and Massala prospects where trenching was completed. Additional artisanal workings along the Tarabala and Massala faults are also displayed.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1861/177054_798b48cef45baafd_001full.jpg

Recent Tarabala and Massala Trench Sampling Program

Two trenches were excavated at the Tarabala prospect to test the surface exposure of the mineralized structure encountered during previous drilling. Bedrock drilling identified a wide zone (up to 25 m) of mineralization at the prospect, e.g., 16 m @ 1.51 g/t Au (SAAC02) and 19 m @ 1.68 g/t Au (SARC022.)

A total of 17 trenches, 5 m deep and up to 100 m in length, over a distance of 800 m with a spacing of 50 m, were planned at the prospect. Only two trenches could be completed at the start of the rainy season. Trench 1 was excavated in a plateau area characterized by a hard iron-cemented crust (termed cuirass or hard cap), whereas the second trench was to the south of the eroded plateau and excavated in much softer laterite.

Two trenches were also excavated at the Massala prospect, 4 km to the north of Trench 1 (Figure 2). The trenches were located to test the surface expression of a mineralized zone identified by drilling, including 24 m @ 2.35 g/t Au (SAAC123). Previous drilling at Massala identified at least six gold-bearing veins in a 900 m wide zone over a distance of 1.7 km. Like Tarabala, trenching was performed in the hard cap as well as in the saprolite. Local artisanal miners reported coarse-grained (2-3 mm) gold grains being recovered from the hard cap.

A total of 979 1-m channel samples were collected continuously along the length of the trench at 1 m depths, and vertical channel samples were also collected. The samples are currently being analyzed for gold using a cyanide-leach (LeachWELL) assay method. Results for all four trenches are expected to be ready in late August.

Figure 2: Map showing the location of the recently completed trenches at the Tarabala and Massala prospects.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1861/177054_798b48cef45baafd_002full.jpg

Technical Details

Both trenches at Tarabala and both trenches at Massala were excavated to a depth of 5 m. Trench lengths varied from 50 to 60 m at Tarabala, and 28 to 70 m at Massala to account for the width of the mineralization projected to surface from the previous drilling programs at both prospects. The total length of the trenches was 208 m. Continuous horizontal channel samples were collected every metre for the length of the trench. One metre vertical channel samples were collected from 0 to 5 m depth, at a maximum of 5 m along the trench. Sometimes the interval was reduced in areas of obvious mineralization characterized by veining and discolouration.

The excavation was performed by a local contractor under the supervision of Compass geologists. All samples were prepared by Compass staff, and an appropriate number of standards, duplicates and blanks were submitted and analyzed for gold using cyanide-leach (LeachWELL) analysis at ALS (Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso).

About Compass Gold Corp.

Compass, a public company having been incorporated into Ontario, is a Tier 2 issuer on the TSX- V. Through the 2017 acquisition of MGE and Malian subsidiaries, Compass holds gold exploration permits located in Mali that comprise the Sikasso Property. The exploration permits are located in three sites in southern Mali with a combined land holding of 1,173 sq. km. The Sikasso Property is located in the same region as several multi-million-ounce gold projects, including Morila, Syama, Kalana and Komana. The Company's Mali-based technical team, led in the field by Dr. Madani Diallo and under the supervision of Dr. Sandy Archibald, P.Geo, is conducting the current exploration program. They are examining numerous anomalies first noted in Dr. Archibald's August 2017 "National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report on the Sikasso Property, Southern Mali."

Qualified Person

This news release has been reviewed and approved by EurGeol. Dr. Sandy Archibald, P.Geo, Compass's Technical Director, the Qualified Person for the technical information in this news release under National Instrument 43-101 standards.

ForwardLooking Information

This news release contains "forwardlooking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the Company's planned exploration work and management appointments. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forwardlooking information. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by such information. The statements in this news release are made as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forwardlooking information except as required by applicable law.

For further information please contact:

Compass Gold Corporation

Larry Phillips - Pres. & CEO

lphillips@compassgoldcorp.com

T: +1 416-596-0996 X 302



Compass Gold Corporation

Greg Taylor - Dir. Investor Relations & Corporate Communications

gtaylor@compassgoldcorp.com

T: +1 416-596-0996 X 301

Website: www.compassgoldcorp.com

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/177054
Glen Gilzean, the head of Gov. Ron DeSantis Disney World oversight district, has continued to serve as the chairman of Floridas ethics commission, despite a state law that members of the government watchdog panel cannot hold public employment.

Florida law specifies that no member may hold any public employment and serve on the ethics board. Gilzean was hired by the governor-appointed Central Florida Tourism Oversight District in May, drawing a $400,000-a-year salary from the special taxing district.

The Florida Bulldog, an investigative news website, revealed Gilzeans potential conflict of interest, which had gone publicly unnoticed. Gilzean attended ethics commission meetings in June and July, videos of those meetings show.

Gilzeans dual roles as ethics commissioner and government administrator appear to violate state law, said Michael Barfield, director of public access initiatives for the Florida Center for Government Accountability.

The legal requirements are there for a reason, and that is for transparency and to prevent conflicts of interest, he said. You cant be sitting in a watchdog capacity in the position of the ethics commission and at the same time be  subject to the authority of the ethics commission. That is an inherent conflict of interest.

A tourism district spokesman referred questions Monday to the Commission on Ethics. A spokeswoman for the Commission on Ethics did not respond to an email and phone message seeking comment.

Gilzean could not be reached by phone. A DeSantis spokesman also did not respond to an email seeking comment.

The nine-member ethics commission is tasked with investigating complaints of breach of the public trust by public officers and employees. With a staff of about 25 employees, the commission describes itself as the guardian of the standards of conduct for officers and employees of Florida.

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Board members, appointed by DeSantis and the leaders of the Florida House and Senate, do not receive a salary from the state.

DeSantis first appointed Gilzean to the ethics commission in 2019. He was elected chairman in January. His term on the commission expires in June 2024.

Urban League plans future as ex-leader joins DeSantis Disney board

The commission has handled high-profile matters involving Florida politicians. On April 26, the commission dismissed an ethics complaint filed against the governor by allies of former President Donald Trump, DeSantis foe in the 2024 presidential GOP primary.

The super PAC MAGA Inc. filed the complaint, alleging that DeSantis had misused his office to boost his national profile.

The commission rejected that complaint in an order signed by Gilzean concluding it does not provide an adequate factual basis for this allegation.

On May 10, the governor-appointed tourism oversight districts board hired Gilzean. Formerly known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District, the tourism district has played a key role in DeSantis battle with Disney, which started last year over what critics called the dont say gay law. Disney opposed that law, which limits classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools.

DeSantis board pays new leader more because of Disney lawsuit

The district oversees fire protection, planning, roads and other government services for Disney World.

In February, state lawmakers put DeSantis in charge of picking the five board members of the Disney-controlled Reedy Creek districts board, subject to confirmation by the GOP-controlled Senate. Later that month, DeSantis replaced the five Disney-friendly members with his Republican allies.

In May, board member Michael Sasso resigned when another potential conflict-of-interest issue arose. DeSantis named Sassos wife, Judge Meredith Sasso, to the Florida Supreme Court.

Sasso resigned on May 22, a day before his wife was appointed to the states high court.

The tourism oversight district has sued Disney in state court over development agreements approved ahead of a state takeover. Disney also has a lawsuit against the district, DeSantis and state officials pending in federal court.

In an interview with CNBC Monday, DeSantis urged Disney to drop its federal lawsuit alleging government retaliation, contending the state has basically moved on from issues involving changes to the Reedy Creek district.
Investors are often guided by the idea of discovering 'the next big thing', even if that means buying 'story stocks' without any revenue, let alone profit. But as Peter Lynch said in One Up On Wall Street, 'Long shots almost never pay off.' Loss making companies can act like a sponge for capital - so investors should be cautious that they're not throwing good money after bad.

If this kind of company isn't your style, you like companies that generate revenue, and even earn profits, then you may well be interested in Descartes Systems Group (TSE:DSG). While this doesn't necessarily speak to whether it's undervalued, the profitability of the business is enough to warrant some appreciation - especially if its growing.

View our latest analysis for Descartes Systems Group

How Fast Is Descartes Systems Group Growing?

The market is a voting machine in the short term, but a weighing machine in the long term, so you'd expect share price to follow earnings per share (EPS) outcomes eventually. Therefore, there are plenty of investors who like to buy shares in companies that are growing EPS. Recognition must be given to the that Descartes Systems Group has grown EPS by 38% per year, over the last three years. Growth that fast may well be fleeting, but it should be more than enough to pique the interest of the wary stock pickers.

It's often helpful to take a look at earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) margins, as well as revenue growth, to get another take on the quality of the company's growth. EBIT margins for Descartes Systems Group remained fairly unchanged over the last year, however the company should be pleased to report its revenue growth for the period of 14% to US$506m. That's encouraging news for the company!

In the chart below, you can see how the company has grown earnings and revenue, over time. Click on the chart to see the exact numbers.

In investing, as in life, the future matters more than the past. So why not check out this free interactive visualization of Descartes Systems Group's forecast profits?

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Are Descartes Systems Group Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

Investors are always searching for a vote of confidence in the companies they hold and insider buying is one of the key indicators for optimism on the market. This view is based on the possibility that stock purchases signal bullishness on behalf of the buyer. Of course, we can never be sure what insiders are thinking, we can only judge their actions.

We do note that, in the last year, insiders sold US$1.0m worth of shares. But that's far less than the US$3.4m insiders spent purchasing stock. This bodes well for Descartes Systems Group as it highlights the fact that those who are important to the company having a lot of faith in its future. We also note that it was the President & COO, John Pagan, who made the biggest single acquisition, paying CA$3.3m for shares at about CA$104 each.

The good news, alongside the insider buying, for Descartes Systems Group bulls is that insiders (collectively) have a meaningful investment in the stock. Indeed, they hold US$29m worth of its stock. That shows significant buy-in, and may indicate conviction in the business strategy. Even though that's only about 0.3% of the company, it's enough money to indicate alignment between the leaders of the business and ordinary shareholders.

Should You Add Descartes Systems Group To Your Watchlist?

Descartes Systems Group's earnings per share have been soaring, with growth rates sky high. What's more, insiders own a significant stake in the company and have been buying more shares. This quick rundown suggests that the business may be of good quality, and also at an inflection point, so maybe Descartes Systems Group deserves timely attention. However, before you get too excited we've discovered 1 warning sign for Descartes Systems Group that you should be aware of.

Keen growth investors love to see insider buying. Thankfully, Descartes Systems Group isn't the only one. You can see a a free list of them here.

Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Key Insights

The projected fair value for Boustead Singapore is S$0.65 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Current share price of S$0.84 suggests Boustead Singapore is potentially 29% overvalued

Boustead Singapore's peers seem to be trading at a higher premium to fair value based onthe industry average of -63%

Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of Boustead Singapore Limited (SGX:F9D) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. We will use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model on this occasion. Before you think you won't be able to understand it, just read on! It's actually much less complex than you'd imagine.

We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you.

Check out our latest analysis for Boustead Singapore

Step By Step Through The Calculation

We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value:

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10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (SGD, Millions) S$36.1m S$29.6m S$29.9m S$23.2m S$19.7m S$17.8m S$16.7m S$16.0m S$15.7m S$15.5m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ -22.27% Est @ -15.00% Est @ -9.90% Est @ -6.34% Est @ -3.84% Est @ -2.10% Est @ -0.87% Present Value (SGD, Millions) Discounted @ 7.3% S$33.7 S$25.7 S$24.2 S$17.5 S$13.9 S$11.7 S$10.2 S$9.1 S$8.3 S$7.7

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = S$162m

After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (2.0%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 7.3%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = S$16m (1 + 2.0%)  (7.3% 2.0%) = S$299m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= S$299m ( 1 + 7.3%)10= S$148m

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is S$310m. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of S$0.8, the company appears slightly overvalued at the time of writing. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

dcf

The Assumptions

We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Boustead Singapore as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 7.3%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.060. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

SWOT Analysis for Boustead Singapore

Strength

Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry.

Debt is not viewed as a risk.

Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows.

Weakness

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Construction market.

Expensive based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value.

Opportunity

Annual revenue is forecast to grow faster than the Singaporean market.

Threat

No apparent threats visible for F9D.

Moving On:

Although the valuation of a company is important, it is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. What is the reason for the share price exceeding the intrinsic value? For Boustead Singapore, we've compiled three essential elements you should further examine:

Risks: For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Boustead Singapore that you should be aware of before investing here. Future Earnings: How does F9D's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Singaporean stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
JUSTIN LANE/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock / JUSTIN LANE/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Former President Donald Trumps legal woes could extend into his campaign finances amid reports that his post-2020 election donation funds could be frozen. If so, it would deal a blow to both Trumps 2024 presidential run and his legal defense against federal indictments.

Heres How Much Every Living US President Is Worth: Where Does Biden Rank?

Discover: 3 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000

The issue surfaced during ongoing investigations of Trump by Special Counsel Jack Smith, Newsweek reported last week, citing comments from former FBI general counsel Andrew Weissmann. According to Weissmann, Smiths office is questioning people in connection to the money raised by Trumps Save America political action committee after he lost the 2020 presidential election.

Barack Obamas Net Worth in 2023: How He Made His Money

In a recent interview with MSNBC, Weissmann said that if Trumps fundraising finances become a part of Smiths federal investigation, it could lead to pretrial forfeiture. This would result in the money being frozen, Newsweek reported.

Tens of millions of dollars given to Trumps PAC were reportedly spent on his and other Trump-linked defendants legal fees this year, according to Weissman.

There could be other funds that are available, but if they are funds that have been obtained by fraud  obviously the government would have to prove that  you can get pretrial seizure orders, he said.

It is unclear exactly where frozen campaign and election donation funds go. Whats known is that if federal authorities freeze the funds, Trump and his team wont be able to access them.

Although PAC money purportedly goes to political causes like electing or defeating candidates or supporting/opposing ballot initiatives, much of the money donated to Trumps Save America PAC has been used to pay his legal bills, The Washington Post reported.

According to the Post, the PAC had more than $100 million at the beginning of last year. But that figure has dwindled down to about $3.6 million in cash on hand after it became the vehicle used to pay millions of dollars in legal bills for the former president, his aides and his associates.

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Its not unusual for PACs and similar funds to raise more money than they need to finance campaigns. Leftover money can be transferred to other candidates races, political parties, PACs, charities and even potential recounts, NBC News reported. If candidates plan to run for office again, they can use leftover funds for another campaign.

Its really only the people who are ending their kind of public life who really donate it to charity, Northwestern law professor Michael Kang told NBC News. The other candidates are just taking a break, and theyll probably retain that money in some form or deploy it politically in ways that are useful for their career.

Candidates are not supposed to use leftover campaign money for personal use, but its not always easy determining what constitutes personal use.

You couldnt use it just to buy pizza dinner on a Saturday night with your family, Kang said, though he added that you might be able to spend funds on a pizza dinner for campaign staff at work.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Donald Trumps Election Money To Be Seized If Obtained by Fraud  Where Do Frozen Campaign Funds Go?
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DoubleTree by Hilton Putrajaya Lakeside officially unveiled its DoubleTree Studio Residency, a program that will be taking place for a year-long in collaboration with Segaris Art Center.

Left to Right: Jamie Mead, Senior Director of Operations - South East Asia; Dato Kamil Khalid Ariff, Chairman of Putrajaya Holdings; Datuk Md Shah Mahmood, Group CEO of KLCC Holdings; Zena Khan, Art Curator/Researcher; Aisyah Ahmad, General Manager of Segaris; Ian Barrow, General Manager of DoubleTree by Hilton Putrajaya Lakeside; DoubleTree Studio Residency Artists - Syahimi Jamaluddin, Haziq Syawal and Fadzril Fakaruddin; & Daniel Alcaraz, Area General Manager

The program invites three promising local artists to reside at DoubleTree by Hilton Putrajaya Lakeside, which recently celebrated its Grand Launch of its completion of refurbishment on 28th July 2023, for four months each, providing them with dedicated studio space to work on their art. The artists' creations will be prominently featured during the monthly Seni Weekends, held at the hotel, and there will also be interactive workshops for guests to participate in, giving them an opportunity to get to know the artists better.

The DoubleTree Studio Residency is geared towards establishing a sustainable ecosystem that fosters stronger cultural connections between DoubleTree by Hilton Putrajaya Lakeside and emerging mid-career artists. It serves as a valuable platform for the chosen local talents, offering them first hand exposure to showcase their artwork and receive valuable feedback from seasoned professionals in the art industry, paving the way for their future growth and success.

Culture is one of the key pillars that DoubleTree by Hilton Putrajaya Lakeside is built on and the DoubleTree Studio Residency is one of the key programs that the hotel has come up with to do its part to honor and promote Malaysia's cultural heritage among the younger generation. The residency is also part of Hilton's Travel with Purpose program, a global Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy that is aimed at creating positive environmental and social impact among communities across the globe.

"Nestled in the vibrant heart of Putrajaya, DoubleTree by Hilton Putrajaya Lakeside is on a mission to embrace the essence of Malaysian culture. The DoubleTree Studio Residency, a thrilling collaboration, promises to leave an indelible mark on the local art scene. Here, talented artists will weave the tapestry of the country's heritage through their art, offering a captivating glimpse into Malaysia's soul. Not only will it enrich our hotel's allure for international travelers, but it will also beckon them to savor an authentic Malaysian experience, where creativity and culture intertwine in perfect harmony," said Jamie Mead, Senior Director of Operations - South East Asia.

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DoubleTree Studio Residency Artist - Fadzril Fakaruddin

Led by Segaris Art Center, a contemporary gallery for UiTM art graduates, the DoubleTree Studio Residency program welcomes three talented artists: Fadzril Fakaruddin, Haziq Syawal, and Syahmi Jamaluddin. During their stay at DoubleTree by Hilton Putrajaya Lakeside, they'll enjoy exclusive access to the hotel's grounds, archives, materials, and receive invaluable guidance from local art experts, nurturing the growth of their artistic endeavors.

Seni Weekend will officially kick-start on 12th August 2023 and each weekend will revolve around vibrant acts of Seeing, Listening, and Doing through workshops and interactive sessions that guests can participate in and unleash their creative persona. At the same time, this will also be a chance for guests to connect with the selected artists on a personal level.

To find out more about the DoubleTree Studio Residency or to book your slot to Seni Weekend, please visit our EatDrinkHilton.com

About DoubleTree by Hilton Putrajaya

Perched on the southern end of Putrajaya Lake, DoubleTree by Hilton Putrajaya offers fourteen accommodation types. All rooms are non-smoking with complimentary Wi-Fi for Hilton Honors members, a flat-screen TV, and 24-hour room service. Guests can enjoy the Splash Pool for children or visit the fully equipped fitness center for a workout.

The hotel's dining options include Makan Kitchen, an all-day dining restaurant serving authentic Malaysian and specialty dishes, and THE KOFFEE, offering aromatic coffee and pastries.

With 22 meeting rooms spanning a total of 3,773 square meters, DoubleTree by Hilton Putrajaya is an ideal venue for various functions and events. The Grand Ballroom can accommodate up to 400 guests and can be divided into smaller rooms. The Temenggor meeting room offers a stunning view of Putrajaya Lake.

About DoubleTree by Hilton

DoubleTree by Hilton is a fast-growing, global portfolio of 660 hotels with more than 150,000 rooms across 51 countries and territories. For more than 50 years, DoubleTree by Hilton has continued to be a symbol of comfort for business and leisure travelers around the world, from welcoming guests with its signature, warm DoubleTree chocolate chip cookie, to serving the local community. DoubleTree by Hilton offers contemporary accommodations and amenities, including unique food and beverage experiences, state-of-the-art fitness offerings and meetings and events spaces. Experience a positive stay at DoubleTree by Hilton by booking at doubletree.com or through the industry-leading Hilton Honors app . Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits. Learn more about DoubleTree by Hilton at stories.hilton.com/doubletree , and follow the brand on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/doubletree-by-hilton-putrajaya-lakeside-resort-unveils-studio-residency-to-empower-malaysian-artists-301898706.html

SOURCE Hilton (Malaysia)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, August 14, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dubai International Chamber, one of three chambers operating under Dubai Chambers, has played a key role in driving the growth of another international business success story. The chamber has helped propel ONE MOTO  a Dubai-based company that aims to sustainably solve last mile logistics problems through its range of innovative Electric Vehicles (EVs)  into several markets across Latin America.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230814256408/en/

Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President & CEO of Dubai Chambers (Photo: AETOSWire)

Dubai International Chamber successfully established a connection between ONE MOTO and Santiago Motors in Chile to broker a new nationwide sales deal for the ambitious UAE start-up, which will see the Chilean automotive company sell ONE MOTOs electric vehicles across its national sales network.

Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, commented: "We are pleased to assist this sustainable, hi-tech company in accessing new markets. Our work in Latin America underlines the importance of this dynamic region, and we look forward to continuing to leverage the exciting opportunities available for the mutual benefit of all stakeholders."

The chamber is now supporting ONE MOTOs plans to expand into seven additional LATAM markets. This growth will also contribute towards achieving ONE MOTO founder Adam Ridgways personal philanthropic goal of creating one million jobs across the region.

Ridgway, who launched the company to help decarbonise mobility in both the commercial and personal sectors, commented: "The greatest asset weve had in our arsenal of support has been Dubai Chambers. The time offered, together with unwavering encouragement and expert guidance has enabled us to expand into 12 territories within just two years of operation."

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Dubai International Chambers currently operates four international representative offices in Latin America. This network is continuing to grow following the launch of the Dubai Global initiative, which aims to establish 50 representative offices for Dubai in five continents by 2030.

About:

Dubai International Chamber, one of three chambers operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, was established to promote Dubai as a global business hub, attract multinational companies, and expand the emirates trade ties with promising markets. The chamber has a mandate to meet His Highness Sheikh Mohammeds ambition to increase Dubais foreign trade from AED 1.4 trillion to AED 2 trillion by 2026.

www.dubaichamberinternational.com/en/home

Follow us on:

www.facebook.com/DxbChamberIntl

www.twitter.com/dxbchamberintl

www.linkedin.com/company/dubai-international-chamber

www.youtube.com/DubaiChamberTV

www.instagram.com/dxbchamberintl

*Source: AETOSWire

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230814256408/en/

Contacts

Mohamad Mouzehem

PR & Corporate Communications, +97142028537

Email: mohamad.mouzehem@dubaichamber.com
It's common for many investors, especially those who are inexperienced, to buy shares in companies with a good story even if these companies are loss-making. Unfortunately, these high risk investments often have little probability of ever paying off, and many investors pay a price to learn their lesson. Loss making companies can act like a sponge for capital - so investors should be cautious that they're not throwing good money after bad.

Despite being in the age of tech-stock blue-sky investing, many investors still adopt a more traditional strategy; buying shares in profitable companies like Parker-Hannifin (NYSE:PH). While profit isn't the sole metric that should be considered when investing, it's worth recognising businesses that can consistently produce it.

View our latest analysis for Parker-Hannifin

How Quickly Is Parker-Hannifin Increasing Earnings Per Share?

If a company can keep growing earnings per share (EPS) long enough, its share price should eventually follow. That means EPS growth is considered a real positive by most successful long-term investors. Shareholders will be happy to know that Parker-Hannifin's EPS has grown 20% each year, compound, over three years. As a general rule, we'd say that if a company can keep up that sort of growth, shareholders will be beaming.

It's often helpful to take a look at earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) margins, as well as revenue growth, to get another take on the quality of the company's growth. While we note Parker-Hannifin achieved similar EBIT margins to last year, revenue grew by a solid 20% to US$19b. That's encouraging news for the company!

In the chart below, you can see how the company has grown earnings and revenue, over time. To see the actual numbers, click on the chart.

The trick, as an investor, is to find companies that are going to perform well in the future, not just in the past. While crystal balls don't exist, you can check our visualization of consensus analyst forecasts for Parker-Hannifin's future EPS 100% free.

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Are Parker-Hannifin Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

Since Parker-Hannifin has a market capitalisation of US$53b, we wouldn't expect insiders to hold a large percentage of shares. But thanks to their investment in the company, it's pleasing to see that there are still incentives to align their actions with the shareholders. We note that their impressive stake in the company is worth US$274m. This comes in at 0.5% of shares in the company, which is a fair amount of a business of this size. This should still be a great incentive for management to maximise shareholder value.

It means a lot to see insiders invested in the business, but shareholders may be wondering if remuneration policies are in their best interest. Our quick analysis into CEO remuneration would seem to indicate they are. The median total compensation for CEOs of companies similar in size to Parker-Hannifin, with market caps over US$8.0b, is around US$12m.

Parker-Hannifin's CEO took home a total compensation package worth US$7.1m in the year leading up to June 2022. That seems pretty reasonable, especially given it's below the median for similar sized companies. CEO remuneration levels are not the most important metric for investors, but when the pay is modest, that does support enhanced alignment between the CEO and the ordinary shareholders. Generally, arguments can be made that reasonable pay levels attest to good decision-making.

Does Parker-Hannifin Deserve A Spot On Your Watchlist?

If you believe that share price follows earnings per share you should definitely be delving further into Parker-Hannifin's strong EPS growth. If you still have your doubts, remember too that company insiders have a considerable investment aligning themselves with the shareholders and CEO pay is quite modest compared to similarly sized companiess. Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to investing but it definitely makes Parker-Hannifin look rather interesting indeed. You should always think about risks though. Case in point, we've spotted 2 warning signs for Parker-Hannifin you should be aware of.

Although Parker-Hannifin certainly looks good, it may appeal to more investors if insiders were buying up shares. If you like to see insider buying, then this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying, could be exactly what you're looking for.

Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Musk has emerged as the dominant player in rocket launches thanks to the economical, reusable Falcon 9 designed by SpaceX - Getty Images

In the tropical heat on the coast of French Guiana sits a 200ft tall rocket.

Ariane 6, which was designed to carry forward the space ambitions of the European Union, has been undergoing tests at the blocs official space port at Guiana Space Centre.

While thousands of miles from Brussels, French Guiana is an overseas territory of France and offers Europe a gateway to orbit.

However, the project is already three years behind schedule and not expected to yield results until next year at the earliest.

The delays come at a crucial time in the new global space race: Russia is now cut off from the Wests space operations, while China is in the ascendance.

Europe has been left without a functional rocket launch capability for the first time in decades, just as space becomes increasingly contested.

As a result, Brussels has been forced to negotiate with Elon Musks SpaceX for use of the billionaires rockets to launch its sensitive Galileo spacecraft, which are satellites forming part of a sovereign navigation system.

We have been negotiating with them for a number of launches, says Toni Tolker-Nielsen, director of space transportation at the European Space Agency (ESA).

The agency expects to contract out four missions to SpaceX. Yet reliance on the Tesla billionaire will be uncomfortable.

Concerns about the dominance of Starlink, SpaceXs constellation of internet satellites, have contributed to the EUs decision to invest in its own rival network, the New York Times reported recently. Thierry Breton, a European commissioner, told the paper: The EU cannot afford to be reliant on others.

The Ariane 6 was designed to replace the ESAs ageing Ariane 5 rocket, which has been in operation since 1996 - JODY AMIET/AFP

In French Guiana, the Ariane 6 rocket currently at the spaceport will never fly. The current vessel is instead there only for launch checks and testing of its engines.

The Ariane 6 was designed to replace the ESAs ageing Ariane 5 rocket, which has been in operation since 1996. Europes workhorse rocket was one of the more reliable launchers on the market with a 96pc success rate.

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Development on the Ariane 6 began in earnest in 2014 and an initial deadline for its first launch was set for 2020.

But the timeframe for the 4.4bn (3.8bn) project has slipped, admits Tolker-Nielsen.

Europes space agency had hoped its latest generation of rocket, which cost between 75m and 115m per launch and can carry 21,000 kg, would be available for missions later this year, with several critical satellites poised for launch.

However, last week  after much speculation within the industry  Airbus and Safran, who are jointly developing the rockets, and the ESA pushed that deadline back yet again.

The inaugural launch is now targeted for 2024, said Josef Aschbacher, director general of ESA.

After the Ariane 5 flew its final mission on July 5, the bloc has now found itself without dedicated satellite launch capability for the first time since the 1980s. Critically, it is without a heavy lift vehicle that can compete with SpaceX and carry satellites for its Galileo constellation  Europes answer to GPS  into orbit.

Under normal circumstances, the delay would be a frustration but not a disaster in the challenging world of space travel.

However, a series of other setbacks mean the EU is at risk of losing significant ground in the new space race.

Last December, Europes smaller Italian-made Vega-C rocket suffered an anomaly on its second satellite mission, losing two satellites. The system has been grounded while an investigation is ongoing and modifications take place.

The war in Ukraine has cut off Europes access to Russias Soyuz rocket programme - Bill Ingalls/NASA/Getty Images

Meanwhile, the war in Ukraine has cut off Europes access to Russias Soyuz rocket programme, another launcher used by ESA in the past.

Soyuz was the back-up for Ariane 6, says Tolker-Nielsen. With the Ukrainian war, we stopped launches of Soyuz, obviously. All this means that we, momentarily, do not have European access to space. It puts us in a difficult situation.

Tolker-Nielsen says ESA has held talks with ISRO, the Indian space agency, and JAXA, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency.

But it is talks with Musks SpaceX, which has become the worlds most prolific rocket business, that have progressed the most.

The availability of Falcon 9 makes it a very good choice, Tolker-Nielsen says.

Musk has emerged as the dominant player in rocket launches thanks to the economical, reusable Falcon 9 designed by SpaceX. Private US companies such as Jeff Bezoss Blue Origin are also gaining ground.

The ESA hopes to use SpaceX for two scientific missions, one of which launched in July.

The EU will also lean on Musk for two launches of its security-critical Galileo system in a break with tradition. Typically, the system can only be launched from European territory under security rules. The SpaceX launches will still require final sign off from the European Commission, a spokesman said.

Necessity has forced Brussels to sign a security agreement with the US to protect the integrity of the satellites and the Galileo constellation, according to a draft proposal seen by Politico earlier this year.

For Galileo it was necessary to establish a security agreement, says Tolker-Nielsen.

The backdrop is growing nervousness about the power yielded by the mercurial Musk in space. European officials are said to have raised the issue of Starlinks dominance of space-based internet technology with US counterparts, according to the New York Times.

Unease is growing over the power yielded by the mercurial Elon Musk in space - Chesnot/Getty Images

The need to rely on the US may be embarrassing for Brussels, but the delays to the programme are not wholly unusual for the space sector.

A delay of years is in no way atypical, says Carissa Christensen, chief executive of space analysis firm BryceTech.

SpaceX has routinely missed deadlines by years, it should be pointed out. However, she adds it is a tricky time to end up without capacity. Satellite launch capacity is in high demand, meaning those searching for a berth may face long waits.

The Ariane programme has been held up variously by design changes and the Covid pandemic. Most recently, technical hitches have slowed progress.

A leak on the ground infrastructure of a hydrogen reservoir postponed testing last month. A second test later in July ended before a hot firing of its Vulcan rocket could take place due to a shortage of liquid oxygen.

Tests will now be rerun on August 29, with further trials in September. If all goes well, it should pave the way for the first missions next year.

Relying on Musk may be humbling but the ESA will be keen to get the testing right, rather than rush into using its own capacity before it is fully ready.

The first flight of the Ariane 5 in 1996 ended in disaster. Botched code that had been reused from a previous rocket caused the mission to end after 40 seconds in a spectacular fireball, costing Europe $370m.

Even if it does get up and running next year, it will take some time for the Ariane programme to ramp up its number of launches to compete with SpaceX.

Tolker-Nielsen says Arianespace, the company behind the rockets, is aiming for two missions in 2024, followed by six in 2025, eight in 2026, then up to 10 per year.

The programme is already a commercial success, he says, with companies including Amazon pre-booking space on future rockets.

In the meantime, Brussels must rely on Musk for access to the stars.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
The financial markets always change, but the world of e-commerce consistently shows dynamism and growth potential. As investors look for opportunities that match changing consumer trends and digital advancements, they focus on these tech-savvy ventures.

E-commerce stocks that the market undervalues can be hidden gems. These overlooked stocks might offer significant future returns. With the growing speed of online shopping and a rising preference for digital transactions, the e-commerce sector's growth potential is clear. Research and Markets report that the global e-commerce market hit $16.6 trillion in 2022 and forecast it to rise to $70.9 trillion by 2028.

Considering the context, investors might think about high-quality e-commerce stocks. However, the criteria for evaluating stocks vary among investors. I used the GuruFocus's All-In-One screener to examine three key metrics: the forward Price-to-Earnings (PE) Ratio that assesses future earnings against the current stock price; the 3-Year Revenue Growth Rate, showing the company's revenue increase over three years; and the 3-Year Free Cash Flow (FCF) Growth Rate, representing the yearly growth in free cash flow over the same period. The stocks on this list surpass the competition based on these three metrics, which is why they have been selected for analysis in this piece.

As digital shopping shapes consumer habits, focusing on these forward-thinking companies might be wise for investors aiming for short-term stability and long-term value growth.

Alibaba





In the shifting world of e-commerce stocks, Alibaba (BABA, Financial) emerges strong despite recent market changes. The stock dipped just over 8% in the last six months, marking it undervalued in e-commerce stocks. But Alibaba's June 2023 earnings paint a brighter picture.

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Alibaba reported a significant earnings beat, with revenues jumping by nearly 14% year-over-year - their most significant growth since September 2021. Besides top-line growth, the company's net profit margin soared by 32.67%, showcasing efficient financial management. Operational costs were kept in check, evident from the 78.49% rise in operating income. Moreover, the diluted EPS grew by a staggering 56.6%, surpassing expectations by 20.10%.

This strong quarter underscores Alibaba's growth in e-commerce and its adaptability in a volatile market. Post the 14% revenue surge, its stock rebound attests to this adaptability.

From a valuation standpoint, Alibaba appears favorable. With a forward PE ratio of 10.82, BABA seems undervalued compared to 72.55% of the 204 companies in the Retail - Cyclical industry. This industry's PE metrics range from 942.06 at the high end to 3.2 at the low, with a median of 16.12.

Over the past three years, BABA has seen a 20.6% growth in revenue per share. This rate puts them ahead of 82.50% of the 1046 companies in their sector. It emphasizes Alibaba's growth and competitive advantage in the e-commerce arena. Additionally, the company boasts an 8% three-year free cash flow growth per share, outpacing 58.14% of 719 companies in the same industry. This growth signifies Alibaba's capability to produce more operational cash, which is crucial for expansion and financial undertakings.

In searching for promising e-commerce stocks, Alibaba's performance and impressive earnings stand out, highlighting its potential as an undervalued buy in the sector.

JD.com





E-commerce stocks have experienced a lot of turbulence this year, yet JD.com (JD, Financial) is an attractive prospect for investors. Even though its stock has seen a 35.01% decline year-to-date, an in-depth examination of its recent earnings unveils an enduring growth trajectory. In the first quarter of 2023, JD.com witnessed a 1.38% year-over-year increase in revenue, reaching 242.96 billion yuan. What's particularly striking is its net income, which surged by an astounding 309.33%, hitting 6.26 billion yuan, and its diluted EPS grew by 304.17%. These figures underscore JD.com's ability to flourish even in challenging times.

However, JD.com faced a hiccup in March 2023 when its EPS fell short of estimates. This shortfall can be attributed to global political sentiments and regulatory decisions impacting Chinese investments. Nonetheless, JD.com remains proactive. Its alliance with the French Luxury Group SMCP to unveil flagship stores for brands like Sandro and Maje exemplifies its ambition to diversify and stay competitive.

Despite the broader market's skepticism towards Chinese stocks, JD's current valuation points to it being undervalued. Its Forward PE Ratio is 12.12, ranking it above 63.73% of its industry counterparts. Moreover, JD's 3-Year Free Cash Flow Growth Rate is an impressive 27.6%, outpacing 77.61% of the 719 companies in the Retail - Cyclical sector. This indicates JD.com's proficiency in yielding surplus cash, with potential avenues for reinvestment or offering rewards to shareholders. Furthermore, JD's 3-Year Revenue Growth Rate within the same industry is 19.4%, outshining 81.55% of its competitors.

JD.com's strategic plans, combined with recent innovations such as the world's largest intelligent logistics park and its stellar Q1 results, position it as an undervalued titan in e-commerce. Furthemore, when measured against its competition, the stock clearly stands out. For those investors scouting for a unique opportunity in this vibrant sector, JD.com certainly warrants attention.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


Exodus Markets Emerges as a New Agency in Digital Innovation

Singapore, Singapore--(Newsfile Corp. - August 14, 2023) - Exodus Markets, a prominent player in the digital transformation landscape, has introduced a series of new initiatives, guided by its CEO, Kezy Chong. The organization is committed to encouraging new ideas and creative thinking, leading the company to creating websites, advertising efforts, and brands.

The recent launch of a comprehensive suite of services by CEO Kezy Chong includes:

Digital Strategy: Leveraging in-depth Consumer Insights & Trends, Go-To-Market Planning, Data Science & Analytics, and Product Strategy & Roadmapping to craft intelligent strategies aligned with the evolving digital realm.

Branding Services: Exodus excels in enhancing brands through Brand Strategy, Identity & Positioning, Visual Language, Messaging, and Implementation & Guidelines.

User Experience: The agency strategically designs engaging User Experiences, focusing on Experience Strategy, Interface Design, Design Systems & Style Guides, and Product Prototyping & Optimization.

Web & App Development: Exodus's skilled developers craft interactive Websites and Apps, covering Technical Discovery & Architecture, Website Development, eCommerce, Mobile & Web App Development, and CRM Platforms.

The company provides a strong track record of paving the way in digital changes. With its new initiatives, the company tends to actively changing how brands connect with their customers. Their dedication to doing things well and their strong knowledge of how people act is helping them come up with smart plans that works for today's customers.

With the new developments, Exodus Markets has become a pioneering agency, and functions as a forefront of devising tactics and crafting brands that resonate with the modern consumer landscape. Consequently, Exodus Markets brings together a team of different experts like planners, creators, and designers. They work closely with their clients and user data, careful planning, research powered by Artificial Intelligence (A.I) and creative thinking. This mix results in making memorable brand experiences and campaigns that have a big impact on the industry and stay in people's minds.

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About the Company - Exodus Markets Limited

Exodus Markets Limited is a rising digital transformation agency that propels brand growth and innovation. With an experienced team and visionary strategist Kezy Chong at the helm, the agency boasts a track record of exceptional results. Exodus Markets empowers forward-thinking brands to harness the potential of digital to achieve their business goals.

Intending users and potential clients must visit the following website: https://www.exodus-markets.com/ for further details on Exodus Markets Limited.





Exodus Markets Limited

Media Details:

Contact Name: Cindy Foong

Company Name: Exodus Markets Limited

Company Website: https://www.exodus-markets.com/

Contact Email: admin@exodus-markets.com

Address: Ocean Financial Centre, 10 Collyer Quay, Singapore

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/175897
MANILA, Philippines, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Philippine Furniture Furnishings Market (PFFM) 2023 was recently concluded after a fruitful and successful three-day run in Manila.

PFFM 2023 Opening Ceremony took place at the SMX Convention Center, Manila with the attendance of Guests of Honor, Supporting Associations and the Organizer.

PFFM, a furniture import sourcing trade show which is the first of its kind in the Philippines, was held on 5 - 7 July 2023 at SMX Convention Centre Manila, Pasay City.

PFFM is an effective and efficient trading platform for new business opportunities in the Philippines' market, bringing together diverse choices of high-quality furniture and furnishing products from the Asian region. It showcases the best-selling furniture, the latest trends and market demands, offering brand visibility and cost-effective business under one roof.

Four countries - China, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines - were represented in the event which saw the participation of 52 exhibitors and attracted 2,536 visitors from 18 countries and regions over the three days. The event provided great opportunities for networking with potential business partners from Asian countries.

Organized by Derrisen Sdn Bhd, PFFM had the collaboration and support of various associations in the Philippines, namely:

Association of Purchasing Managers of Hotels and Restaurants of the Philippines (APMHRP)

Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines (HRAP)

Philippine Hotel Owners Association, Inc. (PHOA)

Philippine Retailers Association (PRA)

Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA)

United Architects of the Philippines (UAP)

The opening ceremony was attended by several guests of honor who each gave messages, words of support, and congratulations to the show organizer.

"We wholeheartedly support PFFM 2023 and wish the organizers great success in fostering innovation, forging connections, and shaping the future of the furniture industry. We can expect a lot of products at this event, which exemplify ingenuity and creativity," said Mr. Peter Eric D. Pardo, Chief of Staff at the Office of the City Mayor, Local Government of Pasay.

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Meanwhile, H.E. Dato' Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino, the Ambassador of Malaysia to the Philippines encouraged everyone to visit the exposition.

"During this exposition, I hope you can create networks and build a stronger market for the furniture and furnishing industries," he said.

Other special guests at the opening ceremony were Ms. Michelle Dee, Miss Universe Philippines 2023 and Ms. Krishnah Gravidez, Miss Charm Philippines 2024.

VIP Buyers who visited the show included All Home, San-Yang/Furniture Republic, Our Home, SM Home, BLIMS Lifestyle Group and different Hotel property purchasing managers.

During the second day of the trade show, a Networking Night was held at the Convention Centre that brought together all participants to mingle and get to know one another.

"I hope that PFFM will grow bigger and bring more furniture manufacturing companies from other Asian countries to the Philippines to make sourcing easier here," said Mr. Tony Sy, General Manager of San-Yang Intertrade Corp.

Mr. Jake Zheng, Sales Director of Henglin Home Furnishing Co Ltd China, said: "If you're interested in the Philippine market, this is the perfect fair for you to understand the customers and target market."

Mr. Samie Lim, Chairman of BLIMS Lifestyle Group, Inc, shared the same sentiment and said PFFM 2023 is an important and valuable event that gave the opportunity for buyers to attend and be exposed to the world-class furniture.

"We are delighted by the success and excitement generated by PFFM 2023," said Ms. Jo Teh, Project Director of Derrisen. "The event has certainly encouraged more business connections between the local players and international participants in the furniture and furnishing industry."

"PFFM will continue to provide an excellent platform for current and future players in the industry to explore new business and networking opportunities," she added.

The next PFFM will be held on 4 - 6 July 2024 at SMX Convention Centre, Manila, Philippines. For information on participation, please contact: info@derrisen.com.

Note to Editor:

About Derrisen Sdn Bhd

A Malaysian-based company specializing in organizing business events for the trade industry, Derrisen is helmed by a passionate and professional team of event strategists dedicated to providing a catalyst for the industry's growth and development. It has years of combined expertise in project management, operations, sales, and marketing as well as experiences in managing various leading industry and lifestyle portfolios in the region.

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Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of the collapsed crypto exchange FTX, was jailed Friday and his bail revoked ahead of his upcoming trial for fraud, which is scheduled for October 2. The sentencing judge ruled that Bankman-Fried attempted to influence witnesses in the case brought against him for his part in the collapse of FTX in November last year.

See related article: Bankrupt FTX recovers US$7.3 billion in assets, considers resurrection of operations

Following the court hearing in New York, Bankman-Fried was detained and taken to the citys Metropolitan Detention Center. He was previously under house arrest at his parents home in California after paying his US$250-million bail in December 2022.

In a court filing issued on July 28, U.S. prosecutors asked Federal District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan to revoke Bankman-Frieds bail and issue an order to jail the defendant, claiming that Bankman-Fried had attempted to influence at least two witnesses in his case.

At Fridays hearing, Kaplan ruled that Bankman-Fried had likely told the witnesses to back off and hedge their cooperation with the government in acts that amounted to witness tampering.

He (Bankman-Fried) has already  without violating any other bail condition save that he not commit another crime  gone up to the line over and over again, Kaplan said when making his decision.

The witnesses named by prosecutors were former FTX general counsel Ryne Miller and Caroline Ellison, the CEO of FTX sister firm Alameda Research and Bankman-Frieds former girlfriend.

The witness tampering allegations against Bankman-Fried include leaking Ellisons private diaries to a New York Times reporter in an attempt to portray Ms. Ellison in an unfavorable light, Kaplan said.

Bankman-Frieds legal team said they would appeal the bail decision. They made an initial motion at the court to delay Bankman-Frieds detention until the appeal is heard. However, Kaplan rejected it.
A serendipitous meeting more than 10 years ago between a telecoms titan and a former Vietnamese refugee at Hong Kong's exclusive Causeway Bay yacht club sowed the seeds for an insurance company that today covers against risks in seven countries along the ancient Silk Road.

Richard Li Tzar-kai, the chairman of Hong Kong's telecoms group PCCW and the younger son of the city's wealthiest man, Li Ka-shing, said at the time that he wanted to marry the "two loves" - the internet and e-commerce, as well as life insurance - of his professional life, according to FWD's CEO Huynh Thanh Phong.

On Monday, FWD marks its 10th anniversary, and Huynh can vividly recall his pivotal conversation with Li, their meeting serving as a catalyst for the founding of the only home-grown Hong Kong-based pan-Asian insurer.

Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.

The purpose of the meeting was to talk about an investment Huynh had made in Vietnam years earlier, Huynh recounted in a recent interview with the Post. The discussion, however, turned to the establishment of a pan-Asian insurance company.

FWD's CEO Huynh Thanh Phong. Photo: Edmond So alt=FWD's CEO Huynh Thanh Phong. Photo: Edmond So>

Recognising the prevalence of national champions, they identified a gap in the market - the absence of a successful pan-regional insurer. "We looked at each other and came to the conclusion that it was the right time to [set up such a firm]," Huynh said.

Li confided in Huynh about his two passions at the meeting. "I have two loves, the internet and e-commerce and life insurance, but they have never met," Huynh cited Li as saying.

Li was no newcomer to the insurance world, having bought Top Glory Insurance in 1994 and rebranding it as Pacific Century Insurance, before selling it to Fortis Group in 2007, earning a significant return on his investment.

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To combine Li's twin passions, they resolved to create a company that would harness the latest technology. Hong Kong, with its established regulatory environment and wealth of talent, especially in risk management, was picked as FWD's core market and headquarters.

"Leverage the latest technology and simplify everything we do for our customers - I think, that was the playbook," he said.

This strategy has been FWD's guiding principle for the past decade and will continue to shape its future trajectory, as the company aims to become the top-ranked foreign player in Asean countries in the coming decades, Huynh said.

"We want to build a company that is simple and straightforward," he added. "When you make a claim, the company just makes it really easy," Huynh said, expressing his dislike of the litany of questions other insurers usually ask during their claims process.

Using technology, FWD has achieved a streamlined claims process that requires just a couple of clicks in most regional markets, according to Huynh. "In Hong Kong, you can even receive payments at a 7-Eleven," he added.

In August 2013, the first FWD signage appeared on the rooftop of Hong Kong's Excelsior Hotel in Causeway Bay. Photo: Handout alt=In August 2013, the first FWD signage appeared on the rooftop of Hong Kong's Excelsior Hotel in Causeway Bay. Photo: Handout>

Li bought ING Group's insurance and pension units in Hong Kong, Macau and Thailand for US$2.1 billion as a starting point. And 10 years ago on Monday, after Typhoon Utor brushed past the city, FWD was officially launched with its signage appearing on the rooftop of the Excelsior Hotel in Causeway Bay. Its Chinese name represents safety and wealth protection.

FWD has expanded to 10 markets across Asia, including seven countries: Cambodia, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia. It has more than 10 million customers with total premiums worth US$6.3 billion.

"FWD is 10 years young, and we have only just begun," Huynh said. On Monday, he announced a charitable initiative for local communities in these 10 markets as part of the insurer's 10th anniversary celebrations.

A file photo of FWD's brand launch ceremony in August 2013. Photo: Handout alt=A file photo of FWD's brand launch ceremony in August 2013. Photo: Handout>

FWD holds a unique position as a home-grown Hong Kong-headquartered insurance firm, said Fred Ma Si-hang, FWD's chairman.

On a recent trip to Asean countries aimed at strengthening Hong Kong's role, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, the city's leader, visited FWD's Indonesian office to gain insights into its business development in the region.

"Lee stayed in the office for one-and-a-half hours, [longer than the] original plan of 45 minutes, showing his interest in the company," said Ma, who together with Li, greeted the leader during his visit.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, Hong Kong's leader, right, during a visit to the offices of FWD with Richard Li in Jakarta on July 26 this year. Photo: Handout alt=Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, Hong Kong's leader, right, during a visit to the offices of FWD with Richard Li in Jakarta on July 26 this year. Photo: Handout>

The insurer is firmly convinced that digitalisation is the key to capturing markets in Asia-Pacific that are estimated to be worth US$2 trillion. The region is home to 60 per cent of the world's youth population, or 750 million people aged 15 to 24 years old.

"In the next 10 years, we will deepen our presence in all of these markets across Asia, and that would make us a top-three insurance company [in Asia] sooner rather than later," Huynh said, highlighting that the business relies on organic growth, rather than mergers and acquisitions (M&As).

As part of the expansion, the company refiled its application to list on the Hong Kong stock exchange in March. "For the next 10 years, continuing to be financially strong and facilitating full capital market access will always be key considerations for our board," he said, without disclosing details of FWD's listing plans.

"If you look back, we started pretty much from scratch 10 years ago. We bought ING as a starting point. But if you look across Southeast Asia, most of the operations we built out are either completely new, or we bought something very small.

"Some of the M&A is really about how to get into a new partnership around the region."

As far as China is concerned, Huynh said the mainland has always been a part of FWD's pan-Asia plan, but the process takes time.

FWD has expanded to 10 markets across Asia and has more than 10 million customers with total premiums worth US$6.3 billion. Photo: Edmond So alt=FWD has expanded to 10 markets across Asia and has more than 10 million customers with total premiums worth US$6.3 billion. Photo: Edmond So>

"Life insurance is well regulated," he said. "You have to demonstrate your commitment and show a track record and then apply for a licence. In some countries it's quick and in other countries it takes longer."

While Hong Kong can be an important base to draw mainland Chinese customers coming from southern China, Huynh said the city's market itself has a lot of potential.

"When Richard and I talked about how we would build FWD, we knew we needed a home base that was very well established and especially well regulated," he said. "That is really important. And of course, a place where we can get the right talent.

"When it comes to risk management and actuarial talent, as well as finance and accounting, it's very hard to beat Hong Kong."

Huynh's ties with the city go back to 1979, when he arrived in Hong Kong aged 13 as a refugee of the Vietnam war.

"Hong Kong is very special for me," he said, recalling his four or five month stay in the city with fondness. "On Christmas Eve, people would come to the camp gates and sing Christmas carols.

"Hong Kong people touched my heart."

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2023 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2023. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
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GCC Hospitality Market

GCC Hospitality Market

Dublin, Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "GCC Hospitality Market: Analysis & Forecast to 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This comprehensive report provides detailed insights into the hospitality industry in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. The report covers various enterprises and services in the GCC hospitality industry related to travel, tourism, and lodging. These include hotels, resorts, serviced apartments, restaurants, cafes, theme parks, tour operators, travel agencies, airlines, and other businesses catering to tourists and travelers from the GCC and around the world. The GCC hospitality market was valued at US$25.61 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach US$37.62 billion by 2028.

Key highlights from the report include:

Market Size and Growth: The GCC hospitality market was valued at US$25.61 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach US$37.62 billion by 2028. The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.62% during the forecast period of 2023-2028.

Market Segmentation: The GCC hospitality market is divided into two segments - Hotels and Serviced Apartments. The hotel segment dominated the market in 2022 due to government initiatives encouraging investments in the hospitality industry. However, the serviced apartment segment is expected to have the highest CAGR in the future as travelers seek more flexible and personalized lodging options.

Regional Analysis: Saudi Arabia enjoyed the highest market share in the GCC hospitality market in 2022, followed by the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and Kuwait. Saudi Arabia has implemented liberalization policies and social reforms to boost its tourism industry.

Growth Drivers: Rising travel spending, mounting hotel supply, increased tourism, GDP growth in GCC countries, upgrading of transport infrastructure, eased visa regulations, and hosting mega events are some of the key growth drivers for the GCC hospitality market.

Challenges: The hospitality sector in the GCC faces challenges related to supply chain concerns, labor shortages, economic factors, and seasonality.

Trends: Serviced apartments have emerged as a major trend in the GCC hospitality market, providing a popular lodging option for business travelers. Other trends include digitalization, government initiatives, and religious tourism.

Competitive Landscape: The GCC hospitality market is moderately fragmented, with several key players in different regions. Mergers and acquisitions have been observed as companies seek strategic expansion.

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Company Profiles:

The report provides profiles of key players of GCC hospitality market including:

Seera Holding Group

Gulf Hotels Group B.S.C.

Abdul Mohsen AI Hokair Group

Abu Dhabi National Hotels Company PJSC

National Hotels Company

National Corporation for Tourism and Hotels

Al Sraiya Hotels & Hospitality Group

Dur Hospitality Co.

Katara Hospitality

Kingdom Holding Company

Safir Hotels & Resorts

IFA Hotels and Resorts

Landmark Group (CityMax Hotels)

Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 136 Forecast Period 2023 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $27.31 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $37.62 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 6.6% Regions Covered Middle East



Key Topics Covered:

1. Executive Summary



2. Introduction

2.1 GCC Hospitality: An Overview

2.1.1 GCC Hospitality Overview

2.1.2 GCC Hospitality Segmentation



3. GCC Market Analysis

3.1 GCC Hospitality Market: An Analysis

3.2 GCC Hospitality Market: Segment Analysis



4. Regional Market Analysis



5. Impact of COVID-19



6. Market Dynamics

6.1 Growth Drivers

6.1.1 Rising Travel Spending

6.1.2 Mounting Hotel Supply

6.1.3 Increased Tourism

6.1.4 Augmenting GDP of GCC Countries

6.1.5 Upgrading Of Transport Infrastructure

6.1.6 Eased Visa Regulations

6.1.7 Mega Events

6.2 Challenges

6.2.1 Supply Chain Issues and Labor Shortages

6.2.2 Economic Factors

6.2.3 Seasonality

6.3 Market Trends

6.3.1 Rising Demand of Serviced Apartments

6.3.2 Digitalization

6.3.3 Government Initiatives

6.3.4 Religious Tourism



7. Competitive Landscape

7.1 GCC Hospitality Market Players by Recent Developments

7.2 GCC Hospitality Market Players: Merger and Acquisition Comparison

7.3 GCC Hospitality Market Players: Hotel Brands Comparison

7.4 GCC Hospitality Market Players: Type Comparison



8. Company Profiles

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/v64nay

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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ACCRA, Ghana, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Consultations on Ghana's much-anticipated energy transition and investment plan took place in Accra last week, as diverse stakeholders from government, the private sector, youth and civil-society organizations offered feedback on the plan ahead of its launch.

Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana; Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All; and others discussed the forthcoming energy transition and investment plan for Ghana on 11 August.

This energy transition and investment plan is expected to serve as the government's main roadmap for achieving universal energy access and net-zero carbon emissions, as expressed under the country's current Energy Transition Framework and Nationally Determined Contributions, while fostering economic growth and protecting jobs.

Ghana has set goals to diversify its energy portfolio, increase the role of renewables and reduce energy intensity. All of these will need to be done in parallel and the upcoming energy transition and investment plan provides a detailed view of what is needed in terms of technical assistance and investment across key sectors.

By mapping out these needs, the plan will serve as the main tool for the government to engage the international community and investors for support. The Government of Ghana is developing the plan with technical support from Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL).

Ghanaian President Akufo-Addo and Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All, and Co-Chair of UN-Energy, met in Accra to discuss the plan's findings and recommendations, ensuring it is backed from the highest levels of government.

Ogunbiyi also participated in an inter-ministerial committee meeting, where she briefed ministers on how the plan is designed to support the work of various ministries, including environment, transportation, industry, and others.

At additional stakeholder engagement events, the private sector, civil-society organizations, youth and other advocacy groups were given the opportunity to weigh in on what they would like to see the plan prioritize. Among the points raised was the need for equitable access to the social and economic opportunities generated by the plan, such as jobs, particularly for women and youth.

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Feedback from all consultations is guiding the plan's finalization, with its launch expected to happen this fall.

A similar plan was launched in Nigeria last year and a dedicated Energy Transition Office has been established to drive the plan's activation, having already secured USD 3.6 billion for its underlying projects.

Supporting quotes:

"Ghana is committed to a clean, equitable energy transition that harnesses the full potential of renewable sources and energy efficiency. However, ambition alone will not transform our energy systems, which is why we embarked on creating an energy transition and investment plan that details what is needed to reach our goals. I look forward to working with international partners to realize the many opportunities presented in this plan."

His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana

"It was a pleasure to meet with President Akufo-Addo, government ministers, local community groups and youth this week and hear first-hand how committed they are to a just and equitable energy transition. Their commitment has translated to an ambitious energy transition and investment plan that builds a case for changes across Ghana's entire energy system. These changes present a tremendous opportunity for partners and investors from around the world to contribute to climate action and sustainable development in Ghana."

Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All, and Co-Chair of UN-Energy

About Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL)

Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) is an independent international organization that works in partnership with the United Nations (UN) and leaders in government, the private sector, financial institutions, civil society and philanthropies to drive faster action towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7)  access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030  in line with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. We work to ensure a clean energy transition that leaves no one behind and brings new opportunities for everyone to fulfill their potential.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2184926/SEforALL_Ghana.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2007953/Sustainable_Energy_for_All_Logo.jpg

Sustainable Energy for All Logo (PRNewsfoto/Sustainable Energy for All)

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SOURCE Sustainable Energy for All (SEforAll)
Transparency Market Research

The worldwide dock door market is being driven by expansion in the e-commerce and logistics industries as well as a rise in demand for product protection in warehouses

Wilmington, Delaware, United States, Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Transparency Market Research Inc. - The global market for dock door was estimated to have garnered a global market valuation around US$ 5.5 billion in 2022. The market is anticipated to grow with a slowly expanding 5.4% CAGR from 2022 to 2031 and by 2031, the market is likely to gain US$ 8.7 billion.



During the forecast period, an increase in the number of small and medium-sized businesses is anticipated to boost demand for dock doors. Particularly in countries like South Africa, India, and Russia, SMEs are expanding quickly.

There are now more startups in India as a result of programs like Make in India along with Startup India. These firms are utilizing internet marketplaces for commercial purposes, which is boosting the shipping and logistics industry.

Market dynamics are also being influenced by growth in the global e-commerce industry. In the e-commerce industry, automation is essential. Big firms like Amazon, Walmart, and other large retailers are increasingly integrating automated technology into their operations to improve accuracy, efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness. Global expansion in the shipping and industrial sectors is thus boosting demand for dock doors.

Internet access and smartphone use are expanding rapidly over the world. Product purchases made by consumers via the digital distribution channel are rising. It is projected that a rise in customer technical knowledge will have a favorable effect on the shipping industry. In turn, this is probably going to increase demand for dock doors.

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Connect with our team of research specialists and unlock the optimal solution for driving your business growth

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Market Snapshot:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue US$ 5.5 Bn Estimated Value US$ 8.7 Bn Growth Rate - CAGR 5.4% Forecast Period 2023-2031 No. of Pages 130 Pages Market Segmentation By Product Type, End-use Industry, Capacity, Distribution Channel Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, South America Companies Covered ASSA ABLOY, Pentalift Equipment Corporation, Garlock Safety Systems, NORDOCK, Blue Giant, Koke Incorporated, Shanghai FastLink Door Co., Limited, Rite Hite, Pioneer Dock Equipment, Hormann, DoorHan Group Of Companies

Key Findings of Market Report

During the forecast period, an increase in the number of small and medium-sized businesses is anticipated to boost demand for dock doors.

Market dynamics are also being influenced by the expansion of the global e-commerce industry. In the e-commerce industry, automation is essential.

Internet access and smartphone use are expanding rapidly over the world.

Dock doors are made to stay in touch with the trailer's surface at the door as well as compress to provide a tight seal.

Market Trends For Dock Door

Dock equipment, such as dock seal as well as shelter, is made to build a wall that separates the warehouse's interior from the outside world. Dock doors are made to compress to provide a tight seal around the door while staying in contact with the exterior of the trailer at the door.

Applications for dock doors are expanding across a range of end markets, including the automotive and logistics sectors. This is largely attributable to the growing advantages of dock doors in ensuring the security of storage goods.

Dock doors with tight sealing help keep pests like wasps out of warehouses. Dock doors shield warehouse goods from erratic weather conditions as well. Dock doors are thus being used more frequently in warehouses along with manufacturing facilities.



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Global Dock Door Regional Market Outlook

North America is anticipated to hold a sizable portion of the market over the forecast period. In 2022, it dominated the market for dock doors globally.

The need for floating dock doors throughout North America is increasing as a result of the shipping industry's expansion. Increased use of cutting-edge technologies and the presence of well-known producers are also promoting market development in the area.

The dock door market in Asia Pacific is expected to grow steadily throughout the projected period, due to the region's expanding logistics industry.



Global Dock Door Market: Key Players

The majority of dock door producers are making significant investments in thorough research and development efforts to create goods with cutting-edge technology.

ASSA ABLOY, Pentalift Equipment Corporation, Garlock Safety Systems, NORDOCK, Blue Giant, Koke Incorporated, Shanghai FastLink Door Co., Limited, Rite Hite, Pioneer Dock Equipment, Hormann, and DoorHan Group Of Companies are a few of the leading companies in the dock door market. To take advantage of potential income prospects, these businesses are keeping up with the most recent dock door industry developments.

Some developments by the key players in the global market for dock door are:

The Miner Corporation successfully acquired Great Lakes Dock & Door in October 2021. This full-service firm specializes in servicing, maintaining, selling, and repairing specialty door systems as well as loading dock equipment in Michigan along with Ohio in the United States.



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Global Dock Door Market Segmentation

Product Type Rolling Door Sectional Door High-speed Door Knock Out Door

End-use Industry Automotive Construction Logistics Others

Capacity Medium Duty Heavy Duty Extra Heavy Duty

Distribution Channel Direct Indirect

Region North America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa South America





About Transparency Market Research

Transparency Market Research, a global market research company registered at Wilmington, Delaware, United States, provides custom research and consulting services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insights for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools & techniques to gather and analyses information.

Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

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Michelle Martin's background in business communications, financial institutions, and investor education not only reflects her expertise and proficiency but also her genuine commitment to educating investors, especially millennials and young Gen Z. Michelle will play a key role in unraveling emerging business models and trends, upholding investors' trust in Global One Media as a reliable source of factual information in a highly connected world.

SINGAPORE / ACCESSWIRE / August 14, 2023 / Global One Media, a leading investor-focused digital marketing agency is proud to welcome Michelle Martin, an award-winning lead news anchor and financial journalist from Singapore, to host their popular 'Stocks to Watch' interview series.

Global One Media Welcomes Award-Winning Broadcaster as Host for Its 'Stocks to Watch' Series

Michelle Martin's illustrious career spans over 20 years of distinguished service, collaborating in various capacities with government agencies, educational institutions, news networks, and multinational corporations in Singapore. Michelle has worked for Singapore's top media houses, including the national public broadcaster Mediacorp and SPH Media. She has also worked with iconic institutions such as the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). Her varied portfolio also spans work with private sector organizations like HSBC, Cannon and the Property Guru Group.

"Investor education is a passion, and I'm excited to continue to broaden access and inclusivity to capital markets by helming Global One's exclusive interviews with publicly listed companies," Michelle stated. She currently shares her financial wisdom every weekday from 9 am to 12 pm SST on Singapore's MONEY FM 89.3, hosting her hit business radio show, Your Money with Michelle Martin. Michelle's formidable background in business communications, financial institutions, and investor education not only reflects her expertise and proficiency but also her genuine commitment to educating investors, especially millennials and young Gen Z.

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Global One Media's 'Stocks to Watch' series is a trusted platform where both stockholders and stakeholders can share knowledge and discuss trends. The platform enables young investors to understand capital market movements and make informed decisions. The show already features stalwarts such as Emmy-winner Ashleigh Barry. As one of Global One Media's celebrated hosts for the series, Michelle will anchor video interviews and podcasts, and hold in-depth conversations with executives from pioneering small and mid-cap companies. Michelle will play a key role in unraveling emerging business models and trends, upholding investors' trust in Global One Media as a reliable source of factual information in a highly connected world.

Global One Media's Stocks to Watch series is available on YouTube and TikTok and also through Amazon Music, Apple Music, Audible, Google Podcast, Podomatic, and Spotify. The Stocks to Watch series recently garnered the #1 spot in the podcast category for 'Investing'.

"Michelle is a 20-year veteran of the talk-radio industry and daily host on personal finance issues in Singapore and Asia. As Global One Media continues to expand its footprint in the Asia-Pacific region, our clients and viewers can now gain from Michelle's deep knowledge and seasoned expertise in the finance and media industries," commented Bastien Boulay, Managing Partner at Global One Media.

Michelle Martin made her debut on the Stocks to Watch series with her interviews with Tokens.com, Plurilock, Tarku Resources, NevGold, Alta Copper, P2Gold and Marksmen Energy. Find the rest of the series' exciting content here.

About Global One Media

Global One Media is an innovative investor-focused digital marketing agency solving the needs of publicly traded companies. We deliver creative and effective solutions for digital market awareness and brand positioning across all industries, specializing in investor engagement and growth marketing for listed and pre-IPO companies. Using our 'Stocks To Watch' global network and community-driven channels, we help public companies dominate their sector amid the digital and social media landscape, tell their story in an engaging manner, and reach millions of investors around the world.

Key services offered include: Strategic Advisory | Social Media Management | Content Creation | Video & Podcast Interviews | Influencer Marketing | Design | Email Marketing | Website Development | Investor Webinars & Virtual Events

For more information about Global One Media, please visit www.globalonemedia.com.

For all press, media inquiries or a full suite of high-resolution photos, please contact Global One Media at info@globalonemedia.com.

Contact Information

Dito Ramadhan

Digital Marketing Manager

dito@globalonemedia.com

+1 (514) 695-0351

SOURCE: Global One Media

.





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The end of earnings season always offers an opportunity to figure out what lies in store for the following months. With the Q2 results for companies in the energy sector now available, its time to look toward the key investment themes ahead in the space.

Thats exactly what Goldman Sachs analysts have been doing. While the energy team remains constructive on Energy Service companies as a whole, moving forward, they see the importance of idiosyncratic self-help drivers as a key theme that will drive outperformance.

We believe there are a number of attractive buy-rated stocks that can drive sequential growth, margin expansion and multiple expansion even in a range bound commodity environment with Brent near $80/bbl, the team explained in a recent note.

Against this backdrop, the Goldman Sachs experts have pinpointed two specific names that offer such idiosyncratic opportunities. In fact, they are not alone in their endorsement of these stocks. According to the TipRanks platform  they are both rated as Strong Buys by the Streets analysts. Lets take a closer look.

Weatherford International (WFRD)

For investors with a keen interest in the energy sector, oilfield services unfold as a lucrative realm. These companies offer vital services that major producers rely upon to finalize well projects, implement specialized equipment, extract oil and gas from beneath the earths surface, and proficiently store the resulting products. While exploration and production outfits often claim the spotlight, a substantial capability gap exists between the discovery of subterranean oil reserves and the operational management of the wells responsible for extraction. This is precisely the niche where companies like Weatherford come into play, adeptly bridging the critical gap and ensuring the smooth continuity of operations.

Weatherford can trace its business roots back more than 80 years, and has a built-up wealth of experience. Today, the company operates in 75 countries on six continents, and brings digital-age, high-end automation technology into the traditional heavy industry of the oil field. Among Weatherfords unique tech advantages is its single-trip offshore completion system, that allows both upper and lower installations to be completed in the same venture for greater efficiency and faster startups of offshore oil projects. The company also makes extensive use of RFID-enabled technology in its installations  again, an innovation that improves efficiency.

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The companys ability to deliver results has led to strong financial performance over the past several quarters  which in turn has pushed up the firms share price. The stock has risen 70% so far this year, riding on the companys solid results.

Looking at those results, we find that Weatherford reported $1.27 billion at the top line in 2Q23. This was up 7% year-over-year and beat the forecast by $38.5 million. The companys cash generation has been improving over the past year too. In Q2, Weatherford generated $201 million in cash from operations, and an adjusted free cash flow of $172 million. These figures were up y/y from $60 million and $59 million respectively. In the companys bottom line, EPS, at $1.14 per share, was 4 cents below expectations.

Looking ahead, Weatherford bumped up its expectations for the full-year 2023. The company is now projecting mid-to-high teens revenue growth for this calendar year, along with more than $400 million in adjusted free cash flow.

Evidently, investors were willing to forgive the earnings miss and focus on the plethora of other positive metrics. This is a stance shared by Goldman Sachs analyst Ati Modak, who sees Weatherfords increasing full-year guidance and ability to deliver offshore efficiencies as key points.

WFRD was among the only companies that revised guidance this earnings season, which we believe is a reflection of company specific drivers and increasing visibility around the strength of the business. We also believe that the additional deleveraging of the remaining secured notes and the potential initiation of a dividend are positive catalysts for the stock, Modak opined.

WFRD is one of the few high international exposure service stock ideas that allow investors to gain exposure to secular themes of spare capacity expansion and momentum in offshore. As such, we believe that with continued execution and strength in earnings revisions, the stock should ultimately re-rate higher, Modak went on to say.

Accordingly, Modak rates WFRD shares a Buy, and his price target of $101 implies a 16% upside for the coming 12 months. (To watch Modaks track record, click here)

Overall, Weatherford has a Strong Buy consensus rating based on 5 unanimously positive recent analyst reviews. The stock is selling for $86.77 and its average price target, at $103, is slightly more bullish than the Goldman view, suggesting ~19% gain on the one-year horizon. (See Weatherford stock forecast)

Baker Hughes Company (BKR)

Next up is Baker Hughes, another leader in oil field services. This company works with advanced industrial tech, developing and deploying the latest advances to smooth the path for industrial firms looking to streamline clean and reliable energy solutions. Baker Hughes provides services directly at the oil patch, in petroleum and natural gas production, as well as in supporting areas such as natural gas liquefaction and gas turbines.

Baker Hughes has a global reach, with some 55,000 workers on the job in over 120 countries. Oil fields are known as dangerous workplaces, but Baker Hughes was able to report 217 perfect HSE days last year  that is, days without accidents causing harm to people, equipment, or the environment.

In July, Baker Hughes reported its 2Q23 results, and showed beats across the board. The revenue total came to $6.3 billion at the top line, beating the forecast by almost $49 million and growing 25% year-over-year. The bottom line, a non-GAAP EPS reported at 39 cents, was 6 cents better than the estimates.

Solid financial results also brought solid cash flows. Baker Hughes generated $858 million in cash from operations during Q2, for an 86% y/y gain. This included $623 million in free cash flows, which was up from just $147 million in the prior year Q2.

The company also maintained its dividend, declaring on July 27 a 20-cent per common share payment. This was up 5% from the previous quarter, and up 11% y/y. The 80-cent annualized common share dividend gives a yield of 2.25%.

This stock has caught the attention of Goldman Sachs 5-star analyst, Neil Mehta, who notes its strengths as a cash cow and as a defensive move.

The companys operational turnaround takes shape, driving improvement potential in EBITDA margins and free cash flow conversion, in addition to a strong macro in both its segments We continue to see BKR as an attractive defensive stock with elements of a turnaround story and exposure to strong macro that should drive estimate change potential over time, Mehta opined.

Quantifying his stance, Mehta puts a Buy rating on BKR shares, and he sets his price target at $42. That target indicates room for ~19% one-year upside potential from current levels. (To watch Mehtas track record, click here)

Overall, there are no fewer than 18 recent analyst reviews of Baker Hughes shares, and they break down 16 to 2 in favor of Buys over Holds  for a Strong Buy consensus rating. The stock is currently priced at $35.33 and holds a $40 average price target, suggesting it will gain 13% in the year ahead. (See BKR stock forecast)

To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.
NORTH HAVEN, Conn., August 14, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GoNetspeed today announced that construction has officially begun to deliver access to high-speed, 100% fiber internet throughout the Town of North Haven. Through GoNetspeeds fully funded $4.2 million investment in North Haven, many residents and businesses will soon have the opportunity to experience fast, reliable internet and voice service for their home or business, free of taxpayer dollars.

As construction expands throughout the area, the first customers will be eligible for service installation as early as next month. Construction is expected to be completed by this fall when more than 4,300 homes and businesses throughout North Haven will have the opportunity to experience GoNetspeed's symmetrical fiber internet speeds that allow customers to upload just as fast as they download. Residents and businesses interested may visit gonetspeed.com to sign up for priority installation once service is available in their area.

"Many communities are being held back due to the limitations of their internet service provider. GoNetspeed is honored to soon be the solution for many towns, including North Haven," said Tom Perrone, GoNetspeed Chief Operations Officer. "By constructing a new option for residents and businesses, individuals can make a choice that suits their lifestyle and the increased demand for better, faster, and more reliable service that will continue to grow with North Haven as the community develops."

GoNetspeed continues to ensure that more communities throughout Connecticut have access to a high-speed 100% fiber internet infrastructure. Currently, more than 30 communities across the state have access to GoNetspeeds service, along with many communities that are well on their way to having access to GoNetspeeds fiber internet.

With a legacy of innovation and a commitment to customer service, GoNetspeed is excited to accelerate the expansion of its fiber networks throughout nine states, including Connecticut. GoNetspeed continues to deliver more fiber, more access, more speed, and better reliability to residents and businesses throughout our footprint. With access to 100% fiber internet, customers have access to symmetrical upload and download speeds, ranging from 500 Mbps to 1 Gbps (1,000 Mbps). Learn more about GoNetspeed at gonetspeed.com.

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About GoNetspeed:

GoNetspeed, a high-speed fiber internet provider, serving residential and business customers in Maine, Alabama, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and West Virginia, formed a partnership with Oak Hill Capital ("Oak Hill") in January 2021, allowing GoNetspeed to accelerate the expansion of its fiber network throughout the Northeastern U.S. Adding thousands of new service areas every year, GoNetspeed is one of the largest independent internet providers in the east. For more information about GoNetspeed, or to inquire about service in your residence, business or community, visit gonetspeed.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230814659562/en/

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Scientific Paper Presented at Research Symposium

JACKSON CENTER, PA / ACCESSWIRE / August 14, 2023 / Halberd Corporation's (OTC PINK:HALB) Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) mitigation research on Halberd's patent-pending nasal spray continues at Mississippi State University (MSU). MSU students, Jourdan, L.K., Broadaway, S. Cassen, et. al. authored and presented a paper on this project at the recent Mississippi State University Shackouls Honors College Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium, on August 2, titled "MODEL FOR THERAPEUTIC DEVELOPMENT IN TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY."

The research, headed by Dr. Russell Carr of the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine (MSU CVM), is designed to quantify and correlate bio-markers of TBI in animal models and to measure Halberd's nasal spray mitigation of the negative effects of TBI. The operative scientific assumption is that the maximum efficacy occurs when administered within hours of the traumatic injury event.

Halberd's nasal spray employs a proprietary blend of three active ingredients designed to timely address and block the excess production of certain identified inflammatory cytokines and neurotransmitters triggered by head trauma. Excess quantities of these elements are associated with irreversible brain injury.

Dr. Mitchell Felder, the principal inventor and Halberd's Chief Scientist, emphasizes the necessity of early administration of the nasal spray, perhaps within 10 minutes of head trauma for maximum efficacy. This mandates something simple and easy to administer, thus, a simple nasal spray applicator design.

According to the CDC, "In 2019, for example, CDC estimated that the economic cost of [head trauma] injury was $4.2 trillion, including $327 billion in medical care, $69 billion in work loss, and $3.8 trillion in value of statistical life and quality of life losses"1. The potential market for a product that proactively treats and prevents TBI through the timely suppression of specific excess neurotransmitters and inflammatory cytokines associated with brain trauma is enormous. Currently, no other product on the market addresses this need, let alone in the requisite timely manner. If the MSU test results are positive, this will be a significant step towards realizing Halberd's first therapeutic product, with enormous economic and humanitarian potential, particularly for the military and those in contact sports.

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To get the latest news on Halberd's exciting developments, subscribe by submitting this.

(https://halberdcorporation.com/contact-us/)

For more information please contact:

William A. Hartman

w.hartman@halberdcorporation.com

support@halberdcorporation.com

www.halberdcorporation.com

Twitter:@HalberdC

About Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM).

Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine (MSU CVM) was founded in 1974 The CVM has a total of six locations and serves all 82 counties in Mississippi as well as the entire Southeastern United States. The College's main campus is in Starkville and includes the Wise Center, which houses its main teaching hospital, the Animal Health Center. The MSU CVM Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences faculty and staff represent the basic scientific disciplines required for education of veterinarians. MSU CVM is committed to an ethical approach to treating animals with a genuine passion and drive.

About Halberd Corporation.

Halberd Corporation (OTC PINK:HALB), is a publicly traded company on the OTC Market, and is in full compliance with OTC Market reporting requirements. Since its restructuring in April of 2020, Halberd has obtained exclusive worldwide rights to three issued patents and has filed 22 related provisional, PCT, or utility patent applications to enhance its value to its stockholders and to attract the interests of potential development partners.

Safe Harbor Notice

Certain statements contained herein are "forward-looking statements" (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). The Company cautions our readers that statements, and assumptions made in this news release constitute forward-looking statements and makes no guarantee of future performance. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at the time the statements are made. These statements may address issues that involve significant risks, uncertainties and associated estimates made by management. Actual results could differ materially from current projections or implied results. Halberd Corporation undertakes no obligation to revise these statements following the date of this news release.

(C) 2023, Halberd Corporation.

1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK580076/#_pz54-2

SOURCE: Halberd Corporation





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Key Insights

Institutions' substantial holdings in Hays implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price

50% of the business is held by the top 8 shareholders

Analyst forecasts along with ownership data serve to give a strong idea about prospects for a business

Every investor in Hays plc (LON:HAS) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. With 88% stake, institutions possess the maximum shares in the company. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company.

Given the vast amount of money and research capacities at their disposal, institutional ownership tends to carry a lot of weight, especially with individual investors. Hence, having a considerable amount of institutional money invested in a company is often regarded as a desirable trait.

Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Hays.

View our latest analysis for Hays

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Hays?

Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing.

Hays already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Hays' historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story.

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Since institutional investors own more than half the issued stock, the board will likely have to pay attention to their preferences. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Hays. Silchester International Investors LLP is currently the largest shareholder, with 17% of shares outstanding. Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC is the second largest shareholder owning 8.9% of common stock, and BlackRock, Inc. holds about 5.0% of the company stock.

On further inspection, we found that more than half the company's shares are owned by the top 8 shareholders, suggesting that the interests of the larger shareholders are balanced out to an extent by the smaller ones.

Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too.

Insider Ownership Of Hays

The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves.

Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group.

Our most recent data indicates that insiders own less than 1% of Hays plc. Keep in mind that it's a big company, and the insiders own UK3.5m worth of shares. The absolute value might be more important than the proportional share. Arguably, recent buying and selling is just as important to consider. You can click here to see if insiders have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

The general public-- including retail investors -- own 11% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Next Steps:

I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Take risks for example - Hays has 1 warning sign we think you should be aware of.

If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
(Bloomberg) -- Hedge funds and private equity firms are laying the groundwork for a legal clash with the US Securities and Exchange Commission over its bid to tighten rules on disclosing fees and dealing with investors.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The Managed Funds Association recently told members that the trade group could sue the SEC within two weeks of the new regulations being finalized, unless theyre softened significantly from what the agency proposed in February 2022. The email message, which was obtained by Bloomberg News, spotlights rising industry angst around a cornerstone of Chair Gary Genslers regulatory agenda.

As proposed, the new rules would require hedge funds and private equity firms to disclose details of what they charge investors, while blocking certain types of fee arrangements. It would also be easier for pensions and endowments to successfully sue managers over investment decisions.

Trade groups and investment firms, including Citadel and Andreessen Horowitz, have sent the SEC comments opposing the plan since the regulator released its initial proposal.

The SEC hasnt announced a date to implement the plan, but a near-final version is now circulating between the offices of the agencys five commissioners, according to people familiar with the status, who asked not to be identified discussing non-public matters. That typically means a final vote could come in a month, or less.

MFA has been preparing to defend members through litigation, the group said in its recent note to members. As a part of MFAs litigation strategy, we have gathered a coalition of impacted trade groups to join our potential suit against the SEC.

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The group said that suing depends on an internal approval process and whether the final version ultimately fails to blunt aspects of the plan that MFA opposed. Its members include many of the biggest hedge fund and private equity firms in the world.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and private equity-funded American Investment Council have spoken with the MFA and other trade groups about common concerns about the proposed rules, said people with knowledge of the discussions, who asked not be identified discussing the deliberations. Various trade groups are waiting for the final details before deciding how to mobilize.

Tom Quaadman, executive vice president for the U.S. Chamber of Commerces Center for Capital Markets Competitiveness, said that his organization would review the final rule before making any decisions on potential lawsuits. In its current form, the proposal is unworkable for many private fund advisers, he added. A representative for AIC declined to comment.

In a statement, the SEC said it undertakes rulemaking consistent with its authorities and laws governing the administrative process. The agency didnt address the MFAs plans.

Tweaks and Changes

Under the SECs rulemaking process, a majority of the agencys five commissioners vote to propose regulatory changes. After taking into account comments from industry, academia, lawyers and the general public, the regulators staff makes tweaks and then the commission holds a second vote months or years later to finalize a version of the plan. The agency is nearing that final stage.

Since taking office in 2021, Gensler, the SEC chair, has been focused on bringing more transparency to hedge funds and private equity firms. He has also often argued that their fees are opaque, while their footprints across markets demand heightened scrutiny.

Read More: Hedge Fund 2-and-20 Fee Structure in SEC Chiefs Crosshairs

The private equity industry has ballooned in the past decade as pensions, endowments and insurers have reached further beyond stock and bond funds into more complex and illiquid investments in search of yield. Buyout firms and nonbank lenders, which grew on the back of lighter regulations than the mutual fund industry, now face more scrutiny from US financial watchdogs over how they are protecting investors and the costs of their reach.

The SECs 2022 proposal called for lowering the legal threshold investors must meet for successfully suing fund managers. Lawyers for the industry say that such a change would likely lead to an up-tick in litigation against fund managers.

Special Redemptions

It would also prohibit funds from giving certain investors special redemption abilities and require earlier disclosure of preferential treatment. So-called accelerated monitoring fees, which involve charging lump sums when a portfolio company is sold ahead of schedule, would be banned.

The rules, if adopted as proposed, would be the first time the SEC has used an authority it got after the financial crisis to force certain disclosures from money managers to their investors, according to Gregory Larkin, a partner at Goodwin Procter in Washington.

One of the key litigation points for private funds will be whether the SEC allows pre-existing fund arrangements to remain, said Larkin. The proposal wouldnt have allowed that.

Everyone is watching, he said. Weve certainly said that if its adopted as proposed, the likelihood of litigation is super high and that creates a lot of uncertainty.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
The excitement of investing in a company that can reverse its fortunes is a big draw for some speculators, so even companies that have no revenue, no profit, and a record of falling short, can manage to find investors. Sometimes these stories can cloud the minds of investors, leading them to invest with their emotions rather than on the merit of good company fundamentals. Loss-making companies are always racing against time to reach financial sustainability, so investors in these companies may be taking on more risk than they should.

So if this idea of high risk and high reward doesn't suit, you might be more interested in profitable, growing companies, like Manx Financial Group (LON:MFX). Even if this company is fairly valued by the market, investors would agree that generating consistent profits will continue to provide Manx Financial Group with the means to add long-term value to shareholders.

View our latest analysis for Manx Financial Group

How Quickly Is Manx Financial Group Increasing Earnings Per Share?

Generally, companies experiencing growth in earnings per share (EPS) should see similar trends in share price. That makes EPS growth an attractive quality for any company. Shareholders will be happy to know that Manx Financial Group's EPS has grown 23% each year, compound, over three years. If the company can sustain that sort of growth, we'd expect shareholders to come away satisfied.

Careful consideration of revenue growth and earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) margins can help inform a view on the sustainability of the recent profit growth. Not all of Manx Financial Group's revenue this year is revenue from operations, so keep in mind the revenue and margin numbers used in this article might not be the best representation of the underlying business. While we note Manx Financial Group achieved similar EBIT margins to last year, revenue grew by a solid 39% to UK25m. That's progress.

You can take a look at the company's revenue and earnings growth trend, in the chart below. For finer detail, click on the image.

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Manx Financial Group isn't a huge company, given its market capitalisation of UK24m. That makes it extra important to check on its balance sheet strength.

Are Manx Financial Group Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

Theory would suggest that it's an encouraging sign to see high insider ownership of a company, since it ties company performance directly to the financial success of its management. So those who are interested in Manx Financial Group will be delighted to know that insiders have shown their belief, holding a large proportion of the company's shares. Owning 36% of the company, insiders have plenty riding on the performance of the the share price. Those who are comforted by solid insider ownership like this should be happy, as it implies that those running the business are genuinely motivated to create shareholder value. Of course, Manx Financial Group is a very small company, with a market cap of only UK24m. That means insiders only have UK8.8m worth of shares, despite the large proportional holding. That might not be a huge sum but it should be enough to keep insiders motivated!

Does Manx Financial Group Deserve A Spot On Your Watchlist?

You can't deny that Manx Financial Group has grown its earnings per share at a very impressive rate. That's attractive. Further, the high level of insider ownership is impressive and suggests that the management appreciates the EPS growth and has faith in Manx Financial Group's continuing strength. Fast growth and confident insiders should be enough to warrant further research, so it would seem that it's a good stock to follow. We should say that we've discovered 2 warning signs for Manx Financial Group (1 is significant!) that you should be aware of before investing here.

Although Manx Financial Group certainly looks good, it may appeal to more investors if insiders were buying up shares. If you like to see insider buying, then this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying, could be exactly what you're looking for.

Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Oscar Kwon, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, speaks Monday, August 14, 2023 during a special ceremony at the Georgia Ports to mark the arrival of the first shipment of equipment for the Hyundai Metaplant.

The first shipment of equipment for Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) arrived Monday at the Port of Savannah.

HMGMA and the Georgia Ports Authority held a ceremony to commemorate another significant step in the journey of the largest economic development in state history. The shipment contained a crane for the stamping facility.Carter Infinger, Bryan County commissioner and chairman of the Savannah Joint Development Authority, called it a big day and said the plant will bring generational change for the community.

This is a huge milestone not only for Hyundai but for the JDA, said Infinger. Look at the plant today. We have buildings coming out of the ground. I cant thank Hyundai enough for coming to our area. Theres going to be plenty of opportunities for jobs.In May 2022, Hyundai Motor Company announced it would invest $5.5 billion in an EV battery and manufacturing plant in Bryan County. According to Infinger, HMGMA is still on pace to open in 2025.

Oscar Kwon, HMGMA president and CEO, presents Kent Fountain, chairman of the Georgia Ports Authority Executive Board, with a model of an electric car during a special ceremony to mark the arrival of the first shipment of equipment for the Hyundai Metaplant on Monday, August 14, 2023 at the Georgia Ports.

Oscar Kwon, CEO and president of HMGMA, was on hand for the celebration and spoke of how monumental the metaplant is.

Ive been working on this project since the beginning of last year," said Kwon, "and Im very appreciative to see the progress of the metaplant site. We are making steady progress. We look forward to sharing important milestones in the future.Latrice Williams is a general assignment reporter covering Bryan and Effingham County. She can be reached at lwilliams6@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Hyundai, Georgia Ports Authority celebrate shipment for metaplant
CHINA AND India are not on the friendliest of terms. In 2020 their soldiers clashed along their disputed border in the deadliest confrontation between the two since 1967then clashed again in 2021 and 2022. That has made trade between the Asian giants a tense affair. Tense but, especially for India, still indispensable. Indian consumers rely on cheap Chinese goods, and Indian companies rely on cheap Chinese inputs, particularly in industries of the future. Whereas India sells China the products of the old economycrustaceans, cotton, granite, diamonds, petrolChina sends India memory chips, integrated circuits and pharmaceutical ingredients. As a result, trade is becoming ever more lopsided. Of the $117bn in goods that flowed between the two countries in 2022, 87% came from China (see chart).

Indias prime minister, Narendra Modi, wants to reduce this Sino-dependence. One reason is strategicrelying on a mercurial adversary for critical imports carries risks. Another is commercialMr Modi is trying to replicate Chinas nationalistic, export-oriented growth model, which means seizing some business from China. In recent months his governments efforts to decouple parts of the Indian economy from its larger neighbours have intensified. On August 3rd India announced new licensing restrictions for imported laptops and personal computersdevices that come primarily from China. A week later it was reported that similar measures were being considered for cameras and printers.

Officially, India is open to Chinese business, as long as this conforms with Indian laws. In practice, Indias government uses a number of tools to make Chinese firms life in India difficult or impossible. The bluntest of these is outright prohibitions on Chinese products, often on grounds related to national security. In the aftermath of the border hostilities in 2020, for example, the government banned 118 Chinese apps, including TikTok (a short-video sensation), WeChat (a super-app), Shein (a fast-fashion retailer) and just about any other service that captured data about Indian users. Hundreds more apps were banned for similar reasons throughout 2022 and this year. Makers of telecoms gear, such as Huawei and ZTE, have received the same treatment, out of fear that their hardware could let Chinese spooks eavesdrop on Indian citizens.

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Tariffs are another popular tactic. In 2018, in an effort to reverse the demise of Indian mobile-phone assembly at the hands of Chinese rivals, the government imposed a 20% levy on imported devices. In 2020 it tripled tariffs on toy imports, most of which come from China, to 60% then, at the start of this year, raised them to 70%. Indias toy imports have since declined by three-quarters.

Sometimes the Indian government eschews official actions such as bans and tariffs in favour of more subtle ones. A common tactic is to introduce bureaucratic friction. Indias red tape makes it easy for officials to find fault with disfavoured businesses. Non-compliance with tax rules, so impenetrable that it is almost impossible to abide by them all, are a favourite accusation. Two smartphone makers, Xiaomi and BBK Electronics (which owns three popular brands, Oppo/OnePlus, Realme and Vivo), are under investigation for allegedly shortchanging the Indian taxman a combined $1.1bn. On August 2nd news outlets cited anonymous government officials saying that the Indian arm of BYD, a Chinese carmaker, was under investigation over allegations that it paid $9m less than it owed in tariffs for parts imported from abroad. MG Motor, a subsidiary of SAIC, another Chinese car firm, faces investment restrictions and a tax probe.

A convoluted licensing regime gives Indian authorities more ways to stymie Chinese business. In April 2020 India declared that investments from countries sharing a border with it must receive special approvals. No specific neighbour was named but the target was clearly China. Since then India has approved less than a quarter of the 435 applications for foreign direct investment from the country. According to Business Today, a local outlet, only three received the thumbs-up in Indias last fiscal year, which ended in March. Last month reports surfaced that a proposed joint venture between BYD and Megha Engineering, an Indian industrial firm, to build electric vehicles and batteries failed to win approval over security reasons.

Luxshare, a big Chinese manufacturer of devices for, among others, Apple, has yet to open a factory in Tamil Nadu, despite signing an agreement with the state in 2021. The reason for the delay is believed to be an unspoken blanket ban from the central government in Delhi on new facilities owned by Chinese companies. In early August the often slow-moving Indian parliament whisked through a new law easing the approval process for new lithium mines after a potentially large deposit of the metal, used in batteries, was unearthed earlier this year. Miners are welcome to submit applications, but Chinese bidders are expected to be viewed unfavourably.

In parallel to its blocking efforts, India is using policy to dislodge China as a leader in various markets. Indias $33bn programme of production-linked incentives (cash payments tied to sales, investment and output) has identified 14 areas of interest, many of which are currently dominated by Chinese companies.

One example is pharmaceutical ingredients, which Indian drugmakers have for years mostly procured from China. In February the Indian government started doling out handouts worth $2bn over six years to companies that agree to manufacture 41 of these substances domestically. Big pharmaceutical firms such as Aurobindo, Biocon, Dr Reddys and Strides are participating. Another is electronics. Contract manufacturers of Apples iPhones, such as Foxconn and Pegatron of Taiwan and Tata, an Indian conglomerate, are allowed to purchase Chinese-made components for assembly in India provided they make efforts to nurture local suppliers, too. A similar arrangement has apparently been offered to Tesla, which is looking for new locations to make its electric cars.

Some Chinese firms, tired of jumping through all these hoops, are calling it quits. In July 2022, after two years of efforts that included a promise to invest $1bn in India, Great Wall Motors closed its Indian carmaking operation, unable to secure local approvals. Others are trying to adapt. Xiaomi has said it will localise all its production and expand exports from India which, so far, go only to neighbouring countries, to Western markets. Shein will re-enter the Indian market through a joint venture with Reliance, Indias most valuable listed company, renowned for its ability to navigate Indian bureaucracy and politics. ZTE is reportedly attempting to arrange a licensing deal with a domestic manufacturer to make its networking equipment. So far it has found no takers. Given Indias growing suspicions of China, it may be a while before it does.

 2023 The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved.

From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on https://www.economist.com/business/2023/08/14/can-india-inc-extricate-itself-from-china
Palm oil plantation in Riau province as Indonesia has announced the ban on palm oil exports effective this week

By Rajendra Jadhav and Brijesh Patel

MUMBAI (Reuters) - India's palm oil imports in July jumped 59% from the previous month to 1.08 million metric tons, the highest in seven months, as refiners took advantage of lower prices to increase purchases, a trade body said on Monday.

Higher imports by India, the world's biggest buyer of vegetable oils, would help top producers Malaysia and Indonesia bring down stocks and support Malaysian prices.

Imports of soyoil fell by around 22% to 342,270 tons and those of sunflower oil were up 71% at 327,259 tons, the Mumbai-based Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA) said in a statement.

India's edible oil imports in July rose to a record 1.76 million tons as refiners built up stocks for upcoming festivals given uncertainty over supplies from the Black Sea, dealers said.

The discount of crude palm oil prices to crude soyoil widened to over $150 per ton, prompting refiners to switch to palm oil, said a Mumbai-based dealer with a global trade house.

"This trend would continue even in coming months. We are expecting around 1 million tons of imports in September," the dealer said.

The country's total edible oil imports in the 2022/23 marketing year ending on Oct. 31 could jump to a record 15.5 million tons, the SEA said in a statement.

India buys palm oil mainly from Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, while it imports soyoil and sunflower oil from Argentina, Brazil, Russia and Ukraine.

(Reporting by Brijesh Patel in Bengaluru; editing by Jason Neely and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
India's ambitious push for self-sufficiency in mobile phone assembling is yielding results. India shipped 2 billion domestically assembled smartphones and feature phones between 2014 and 2022 as part of its Make in India initiative, according to a new research, as the world's second largest handset market pushes to become self-reliant with its growing manufacturing infrastructure.

A staggering 98% of all mobile phone shipments within the Indian market in 2022 were domestically produced and 16% of the production was exported, according to Hong Kongheadquartered market and research firm Counterpoint, compared to a mere 19% in 2014, the year Prime Minister Narendra Modis administration assumed office.

It took India just two years to assemble the last 500 million smartphones and feature phones, Counterpoint said, a milestone that has cemented India's position as the world's second-largest mobile phone producer.

In recent years, New Delhi has opened its wallet to provide incentives to firms in a bid to spur domestic production.

"The government now intends to capitalize on its various schemes to make India a 'semiconductor manufacturing and export hub.' Going forward, we may see increasing production, especially for smartphones, as India gears to bridge the urban-rural digital divide and also become a mobile phone exporting powerhouse," said Tarun Pathak, research director at Counterpoint, in a statement.

About 200 smartphone and feature brands are assembling in India today, up from just two before 2014, he told TechCrunch. India is assembling roughly 1.8 times more smartphones than Vietnam and about a quarter of China's output, he said. China, India, and Vietnam are the top three smartphone manufacturers.

"India has come a long way in mobile phone manufacturing," said Pathak. "Local value addition in India currently stands at an average of more than 15%, compared to the low single digits eight years ago. Many companies are setting up units in the country for manufacturing mobile phones as well as components, leading to growing investments, increasing jobs and overall ecosystem development."

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India has also benefited as many Western companies scramble to look for a backup to China as the world's factory floor. Even though India is drawing hardware companies to increase their footprint in the nation, current administration officials contend that the South Asian market might have been better off if the preceding ruling parties had performed more diligently.

A senior Indian minister last month blamed the previous governments' strategic and political vision and a big dose of incompetence as significant contributors to the countrys underdeveloped semiconductor industry. India has missed the bus repeatedly on electronics and semiconductors. There was a lack of strategic and political vision and a big dose of incompetence, said Rajeev Chandrasekhar, deputy minister for IT.

Fairchild semiconductors, which is the precursor to Intel, came to India in 1957 for a packaging unit and we chased them away. That packaging unit went on to become Asias largest packaging hub in Malaysia. We set up a fab for silicon and germanium transistors that had shut down. Indias major VLSI facility, Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL), perished, as a mysterious fire in 1989 halted production until 1997. In 1987, India was just two years behind the latest chip manufacturing technology. Today, we are 12 generations behind  this is how far behind as a nation on semiconductors, he said.
Key Insights

Given the large stake in the stock by institutions, Tate & Lyle's stock price might be vulnerable to their trading decisions

51% of the business is held by the top 19 shareholders

Insiders have sold recently

A look at the shareholders of Tate & Lyle plc (LON:TATE) can tell us which group is most powerful. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are institutions with 85% ownership. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk).

And institutional investors endured the highest losses after the company's share price fell by 3.6% last week. The recent loss, which adds to a one-year loss of 7.8% for stockholders, may not sit well with this group of investors. Institutions or "liquidity providers" control large sums of money and therefore, these types of investors usually have a lot of influence over stock price movements. As a result, if the downtrend continues, institutions may face pressures to sell Tate & Lyle, which might have negative implications on individual investors.

Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Tate & Lyle.

Check out our latest analysis for Tate & Lyle

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Tate & Lyle?

Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices.

We can see that Tate & Lyle does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Tate & Lyle's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story.

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Since institutional investors own more than half the issued stock, the board will likely have to pay attention to their preferences. Tate & Lyle is not owned by hedge funds. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC with 10% of shares outstanding. For context, the second largest shareholder holds about 5.1% of the shares outstanding, followed by an ownership of 4.5% by the third-largest shareholder.

A closer look at our ownership figures suggests that the top 19 shareholders have a combined ownership of 51% implying that no single shareholder has a majority.

While studying institutional ownership for a company can add value to your research, it is also a good practice to research analyst recommendations to get a deeper understand of a stock's expected performance. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future.

Insider Ownership Of Tate & Lyle

While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO.

Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group.

Our most recent data indicates that insiders own less than 1% of Tate & Lyle plc. Keep in mind that it's a big company, and the insiders own UK20m worth of shares. The absolute value might be more important than the proportional share. It is good to see board members owning shares, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying.

General Public Ownership

The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 13% stake in Tate & Lyle. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run.

Next Steps:

While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Tate & Lyle , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

If you would prefer discover what analysts are predicting in terms of future growth, do not miss this free report on analyst forecasts.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Finding a business that has the potential to grow substantially is not easy, but it is possible if we look at a few key financial metrics. Firstly, we'll want to see a proven return on capital employed (ROCE) that is increasing, and secondly, an expanding base of capital employed. Ultimately, this demonstrates that it's a business that is reinvesting profits at increasing rates of return. Having said that, from a first glance at California Water Service Group (NYSE:CWT) we aren't jumping out of our chairs at how returns are trending, but let's have a deeper look.

Understanding Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)

For those that aren't sure what ROCE is, it measures the amount of pre-tax profits a company can generate from the capital employed in its business. The formula for this calculation on California Water Service Group is:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.029 = US$104m  (US$4.0b - US$363m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2023).

Thus, California Water Service Group has an ROCE of 2.9%. Ultimately, that's a low return and it under-performs the Water Utilities industry average of 4.5%.

View our latest analysis for California Water Service Group

roce

In the above chart we have measured California Water Service Group's prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important. If you'd like, you can check out the forecasts from the analysts covering California Water Service Group here for free.

How Are Returns Trending?

When we looked at the ROCE trend at California Water Service Group, we didn't gain much confidence. Around five years ago the returns on capital were 5.9%, but since then they've fallen to 2.9%. However it looks like California Water Service Group might be reinvesting for long term growth because while capital employed has increased, the company's sales haven't changed much in the last 12 months. It may take some time before the company starts to see any change in earnings from these investments.

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On a related note, California Water Service Group has decreased its current liabilities to 9.1% of total assets. So we could link some of this to the decrease in ROCE. What's more, this can reduce some aspects of risk to the business because now the company's suppliers or short-term creditors are funding less of its operations. Since the business is basically funding more of its operations with it's own money, you could argue this has made the business less efficient at generating ROCE.

The Bottom Line

Bringing it all together, while we're somewhat encouraged by California Water Service Group's reinvestment in its own business, we're aware that returns are shrinking. And with the stock having returned a mere 39% in the last five years to shareholders, you could argue that they're aware of these lackluster trends. Therefore, if you're looking for a multi-bagger, we'd propose looking at other options.

One final note, you should learn about the 3 warning signs we've spotted with California Water Service Group (including 2 which are significant) .

While California Water Service Group isn't earning the highest return, check out this free list of companies that are earning high returns on equity with solid balance sheets.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
By Deborah Mary Sophia

(Reuters) -Kraft Heinz's CEO Miguel Patricio will step down from the role and be succeeded by Carlos Abrams-Rivera, the president of its North American business, starting next year, the packaged food maker said on Monday.

Patricio joined Kraft Heinz in July 2019 as the company bet on a marketing veteran to help reverse years of muted sales and market share losses to brand-name competitors and private-label players.

In February of that year, the company had recorded a $15.4 billion write-down related to its Kraft and Oscar Mayer brands.

Patricio, who had previously spent two decades at Budweiser owner Anheuser-Busch InBev, oversaw Kraft Heinz's efforts to revitalize brands including Oscar Mayer by ramping up investments.

Kraft Heinz also divested its nuts business under Patricio to reduce exposure to private-label competition, while stepping up marketing spend and streamlining its supply chain.

Abrams-Rivera will take on the added responsibility as president of Kraft Heinz, effective immediately, while Patricio will remain non-executive chair of the board, the company said.

Abrams-Rivera joined Kraft Heinz in early 2020 and is credited with steering the company's North American business through the pandemic, having previously held key roles at Campbell Soup and Mondelez International.

"The announcement was a bit sudden to us, given that Patricio's only been here since 2019," CFRA Research analyst Arun Sundaram said.

"But I also think this is a good time for a transition because there are new challenges that the company will be facing over the near- and medium-term."

Abrams-Rivera takes the helm when demand is easing for Kraft Heinz's packaged meals and condiments as higher prices force consumers to shun branded products and turn to cheaper alternatives, tasking the new CEO with boosting volumes and winning back market share.

Sundaram said he sees mergers and acquisitions as "an important driver" for Kraft Heinz. "I do think we'll see some acquisitions in the near- to medium-term," he added.

Kraft Heinz, also known for Philadelphia Cream Cheese and Jell-O, earlier this month left its annual forecasts unchanged after missing estimates for quarterly sales.

(Reporting by Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty, Varun H K and Sriraj Kalluvila)
(Bloomberg) -- The nations second-largest K-12 district is kicking off the new school year with a municipal bond offering while it contends with attacks from hackers, a dwindling student body and soaring labor costs.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The Los Angeles Unified School District, which begins the school year Monday, plans to borrow about $384 million to tackle cyberattacks, school safety and climate change, according to the bond offering prospectus. The series of bonds carries a sustainability label.

The district is constantly facing a variety of persistent and evolving cybersecurity threats, said the prospectus, which details previous incidents, including a ransomware attack last year that exposed some student data.

With more than 400,000 students, the Los Angeles school system trails only New York City in enrollment. The district sprawls over 710 square miles  or more than twice the land mass of New York City  encompassing most of the city and pieces of the rest of Los Angeles County.

More than $166 million, the biggest chunk of the bond proceeds, will go to cybersecurity, while $146 million will fund security, including video surveillance systems, at its more than 1,200 campuses, bond documents say.

The reality is that many of our students encounter violence, unacceptable violence, at various levels on a near-constant basis, superintendent Alberto Carvalho said in opening school-year remarks earlier this month, adding that gun violence is at epic proportions.

In 2021, the board of education for LAUSD approved a 35% cut in school police staff after activists pushed for redeployment of money for other services. This year to address safety issues, the district introduced a new school-safety program and an app to anonymously report incidents.

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The latest bond offering follows one in November when LAUSD issued $500 million of general obligation debt. A bond due in 2047 from that series with a 5.25% coupon last traded at a yield of about 3.8% or roughly 15 basis points over the benchmark, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

The new series of bonds, which are backed by lease payments and rated A2 by Moodys and A- by Fitch, is expected to be priced on Aug. 17. Some of the proceeds, approximately $81 million, will be used to purchase 180 electric buses and upgrade its bus yards for EV charging, according to the prospectus, while a small portion of the bond sale will go to improving student enrollment.

Like other major school districts, Los Angeles is grappling with an outflow of families who are moving to less expensive areas and a high portion of students living in poverty, according to Fitch Ratings director Divya Bali.

Bali said LAUSD has worked to stabilize enrollment, going door-to-door to reduce absenteeism and reaching out to parents of newborns in maternity wards with gifts of onesies to tell them about the states transitional kindergarten program that offers a second year of learning for children with birthdays in the latter part of the year.

The district, which is also having a difficult time retaining teachers, is also facing higher labor expenses, with growing pension and benefit costs. After a three-day strike by support staff in March, the district and teachers recently agreed to a new contract that includes a 21% wage increase through 2025.

The resolution of the teachers contract is a welcome development, said Dora Lee, director of research at Belle Haven Investments, which holds LAUSD debt. Labor contracts have always been a major issue for the district, so the fact that they have an agreement in place through 2025 offers some near-term stability, she said.

Even with higher labor costs, Los Angeles has a strong track record of aligning revenues and expenses, and managing to their situation, Bali said. We expect that to continue to be the case going forward.

--With assistance from Brad Skillman.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Transparency Market Research

Rise in incidence of the Lyme disease and growth in awareness about diagnostic tests are key Lyme disease diagnostics market drivers. The number of people affected with the Lyme disease is rising, particularly in regions with high prevalence of ticks.

Wilmington, Delaware, United States, Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Transparency Market Research Inc. - The global Lyme disease diagnostics market is expected to total US$ 1.56 billion in 2023 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 3.8% until 2031 .



Lyme disease diagnostics is a rapidly growing market in the healthcare industry. Lyme disease, caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, is a tick-borne illness that spreads to humans through infected black-legged ticks. Typical symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness, and skin rash, which can have serious health implications if left untreated.

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Competitive Landscape

The market for lyme disease diagnostics is characterized by the presence of a significant number of players. TMRs report includes the following diagnostics service providers:

Some of the key players operating in the global market are LabCorp, Quest Diagnostics, Abbott Laboratories, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., bioMerieux SA, DiaSorin S.p.A, T2 Biosystems, Inc., F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Meridian Bioscience, Inc., Quidel Corporation, and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. These companies are following the latest Lyme disease diagnostics market trends to avail lucrative growth opportunities.

Key Market Developments

In April 2023 , Abbott Laboratories announced a collaboration with the Climate Amplified Disease and Epidemics (CLIMADE) consortium, a group of more than 100 scientists from public health departments and other industries. These global scientists are striving to assess and potentially mitigate the impact of climate change on disease outbreaks using data science technology and diagnostic testing.

In July 2022 , T2 Biosystems Inc. announced that the FDA granted Breakthrough Device Designation for the companys T2Lyme Panel. The T2Lyme Panel is a direct-from-blood molecular diagnostic test introduced to detect the Lyme disease-causing bacteria, including Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia garinii, and Borrelia afzelii. The test runs on the FDA-cleared T2Dx Instrument.

In June 2022, Quidel Corporation announced a multifaceted partnership with Global Lyme Alliance in an effort to significantly raise public awareness about Lyme disease, which affects nearly 500,000 people in the U.S. annually. Quidel Corporation developed the first rapid point-of-care diagnostic Lyme disease test with FDA approval.



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Prevalence of the Lyme disease has been rising, especially in regions with high tick populations. This has led to an increase in awareness about the disease and the need for early detection and treatment. Demand for accurate and efficient diagnostic tools is rising across the globe owing to the growth in the incidence of Lyme disease.

There are just a few accurate tests for diagnosis of the Lyme disease. Furthermore, continual mutations and genotypic variations in the bacteria are augmenting the chances of their prevalence among the population across the globe. Rise in incidence of the disease is encouraging research and development activities in the field of Lyme disease detection technology. As a result, the global Lyme disease diagnostics market is experiencing steady growth.

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Key Takeaways from the Market Study

As of 2022, the Lyme disease diagnostics market was valued at US$ 1.5 billion

From 2022 to 2023, a y-o-y growth rate of 4% is expected for the Lyme disease diagnostics market

By diagnostic test, serological tests such as ELISA and western blot tests, are expected to remain prominent

Lyme disease diagnostics via blood sample testing to be the most common approach

Lyme disease testing to be most prevalent through diagnostic laboratories

From 2023 to 2031, the lyme disease diagnostics market is slated to expand 1.3x

Lyme Disease Diagnostics Key Market Drivers

According to the CDC, confirmed cases of the Lyme disease in the U.S. rose to 44.0% from 1999 to 2019. Lyme disease is more prevalent in North America and Europe. According to an article published by BMJ Global Health (June 2022), more than 14.0% of the worlds population is suffering from the tick-borne Lyme disease, indicated by the presence of antibodies in the blood. This rising prevalence is expected to bolster demand.

The growth of the market can also be attributed to the rising healthcare expenditure by the government and private organizations. They are investing more in the development of diagnostic centers and healthcare facilities. Various organizations are also taking initiatives to further raise awareness about the disease and the available treatments.

Regional Profile of Lyme Disease Diagnostics

North America is likely to constitute a large share of the global industry in the near future. The increase in the incidence of Lyme disease, specifically in the U.S., and the presence of a well-established healthcare system are contributing to the Lyme disease diagnostics market growth in the region.

The Lyme disease diagnostics market size in Asia Pacific is likely to increase at a steady pace during the forecast period, owing to expansion in the healthcare infrastructure, rise in prevalence of Lyme disease, growth in R&D efforts, and surge in government initiatives to promote screening programs.

Key Segments Profiled

Diagnostic Test

Serological Test ELISA Western Blot

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Test

Others (Culture Test, Antigen Test, etc.)



Sample

Blood

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

Others (Joint Fluid, Urine, etc.)



End-user

Hospitals

Diagnostic Laboratories

Others (Clinics, Research Institutes, etc.)



Region

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East & Africa



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About Transparency Market Research

Transparency Market Research, a global market research company registered at Wilmington, Delaware, United States, provides custom research and consulting services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insights for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools & techniques to gather and analyses information.

Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

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By Paritosh Bansal

(Reuters) - Fund managers are worried the Biden administration's move to restrict some outbound U.S. investment to China will further fuel anti-Beijing sentiment in Washington and prompt more limitations.

The executive order regulates U.S. investments in China in sensitive technologies. Investors, advisers and an administration official said it is tailored around national security and reflects months of consultations with industry and other stakeholders.

Even so, the order, while narrow in scope as expected, is unprecedented. It sets a new framework for outbound capital controls, making it easier to add areas to it in the future.

It is also spurring rhetoric in Washington. Some lawmakers are calling for more restrictions, with a congressional panel opening a probe into asset manager Blackrock and index provider MSCI over Chinese investments.

For U.S. investors trying to navigate the geopolitics, the noise in Washington is making it hard to determine what they should be doing in China. The executive order along with anti-China moves by lawmakers and agencies means the overall policy is unclear and riddled with landmines. China is making it harder for businesses, too. The uncertainty is likely to hit investment flows further and add to the urgency of contingency planning.

"The executive order in and of itself is establishing a framework for further action," said Anthony Rapa, co-chair of law firm Blank Rome's international trade practice group. "It will be very important to monitor how this executive order is being received in Congress."

An administration official said there were no immediate plans to add additional sectors or countries to the order.

A top executive at a major asset manager said the thinking in Washington is unresolved, torn between the urge to not do any business with China and the belief that trade is good.

This person, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, described the environment from business perspective as "a combination of confusion and fear," with policy debates expressed by "punching companies in the nose."

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DIFFERENT ASKS

Take the case last week of letters excoriating Blackrock and MSCI from the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.

The House committee, which does not write legislation but has subpoena power, takes issue with what are legal, passive investments in companies flagged across several government blacklists with different policy objectives. That's at odds with the Biden order, which contemplates excluding passive investments and focused only on national security.

A former diplomat and an investor said the exclusion of passive investments in the executive order was an industry ask.

The executive order affects venture funds and private equity firms that invest in Chinese companies in semiconductors and microelectronics, quantum information technologies and artificial intelligence.

That's narrow enough for many fund managers to keep operating in China without any impact, top executives from two major firms with China business said. But if restrictions were to broaden it would be a different story.

In its letter to Blackrock, the House committee, for example, mentioned 20 Chinese companies. Hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars are invested in just those stocks via index funds managed by Blackrock, Vanguard and other investment firms, data shows.

NAME AND SHAME

To some investors and advisers, China hawks in Congress are taking the approach of naming and shaming companies rather than engaging in substantive policy debate.

The House committee, for example, singled out Blackrock even though multiple other funds have exposure to China. Morningstar data on U.S. open-end funds' Chinese holdings shows Vanguard has the largest exposure with $79.3 billion against Blackrock's $52.7 billion.

The former diplomat and the fund executive said they felt Blackrock had been singled out because launching an investigation into the world's largest asset manager would garner more publicity for the committee's work.

A source close to the committee said they started with Blackrock after witness testimony and reports showed the asset manager had "deep ties" to China and advocated for investment there. The investigation is at the beginning stages, they said.

Blackrock has denied any wrongdoing, while MSCI said last week it was reviewing the committee's inquiry.

MORE RESTRICTIONS

Some of the investors said the administration's approach in framing the executive order had been more consultative. It might have also bought the industry more time and influence by releasing the order now and inviting public comments.

A similar measure, which includes more investment areas but doesn't call for prohibition, is moving through Congress. The former diplomat and one fund executive who monitors legislation said that might now stall.

But the push to broaden the restrictions is coming from multiple fronts. At least two other bills to curb investments have been introduced in Congress.

Policymakers have broader concerns that they might want to address. In the early iterations of the order, some administration officials wanted to include life sciences and biotechnology, the former diplomat said. Other issues such as human rights are also high on the agenda for lawmakers.

U.S. Representative Maxine Waters, Biden's fellow Democrat, said on Friday the executive order and rulemaking on outbound investment must be "broadened and strengthened."

"More needs to be done," she said.

(Reporting by Paritosh Bansal; Additional reporting by Andrea Shalal in Washington and Laura Matthews in New York; Editing by Anna Driver)
FILE PHOTO: Containers are seen at the Yangshan Deep-Water Port in Shanghai

By Jamie McGeever

(Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever, financial markets columnist.

As waves of volatility crashed over emerging markets on Monday, most notably in Argentina and Russia, the focus on Tuesday once again returns to the root of much of the deeper anxiety and uncertainty around EM: China.

Investment, retail sales, unemployment and industrial production figures for July will be released against a worrisome backdrop of deflation, slowing growth, market weakness and growing contagion risks from an imploding property sector.

As if that were not enough for Asian markets on Tuesday, minutes of the Reserve Bank of Australia's last policy meeting, Australian wage growth data, and second quarter GDP growth figures from Japan will also be released.

Currency markets are also on intervention watch from Japanese authorities, with the yen falling through the 145 per dollar area and anchored around its weakest level against the euro since 2008.

If recent Chinese economic numbers are any guide, the latest batch on Tuesday is liable to disappoint. Reuters polls of economists suggest annual growth in investment and industrial output will remain steady from June's levels, while retail sales growth will rise to 4.5% from 3.1%.

Authorities have so far resisted the growing clamor for large-scale fiscal or monetary stimulus. One of the reasons is the currency - it is already extremely weak and investors are shunning Chinese assets. Beijing will not want to add fuel to either fire.

The offshore yuan slumped on Monday to its lowest level this year, approaching the 7.30 per dollar mark, and the yuan's official onshore exchange rate is the weakest in a month.

Tuesday's data dump comes a day before the central bank delivers its latest monthly monetary policy decision. A Reuters survey of economists says rates on the bank's medium-term policy loans will be left unchanged, although another round of notably weak economic indicators could shift the dial.

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Some investors are slashing their exposure to China. Regulatory filings show that some major U.S.-based hedge funds cut their holdings of Chinese companies in the second quarter.

China's blue chip CSI 300 index slipped 0.7% on Monday, following Friday's 2.3% slide - the biggest fall since October - contributing to weakness across the continent and the EM complex.

MSCI's Emerging Market and Asia ex-Japan indices both fell 1.3% on Monday, following 1% falls on Friday. With the U.S. dollar and U.S. Treasury yields marching higher, global financial conditions are tightening and there doesn't appear to be any respite for emerging markets on the immediate horizon.

Here are key developments that could provide more direction to markets on Tuesday:

- China retail sales, unemployment, investment, industrial production (July)

- RBA minutes

- Japan Q2 GDP

(By Jamie McGeever; Editing by Marguerita Choy)
Shawcor Ltd., dba Mattr Infratech

TORONTO, Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Shawcor Ltd., dba Mattr Infratech (Mattr or the Company) (TSX: MATR) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell a substantial part of its pipe coating division (Pipeline Performance Group or PPG) to Tenaris S.A. (Tenaris) (NYSE and Mexico: TS and EXM Italy: TEN), including its wholly owned operations in Canada, the US, Mexico, Norway, the UAE and Indonesia, several mobile concrete coating plants, its joint-venture interest in Azerbaijan, its world-class research and development capabilities in Toronto and Norway, and a broad portfolio of intellectual property.



A conference call/webcast to discuss this pending transaction will be held on Tuesday, August 15th, 2023 at 12:00pm ET. Mattr will use a presentation to accompany its conference call. Please visit the Mattr Investor Centre website at mattr.com or use the following link for further details: https://register.vevent.com/register/BIac53e436cf8a4047ac63067a2d70c186

The transaction will involve a mixture of legal entity and asset sales, and is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, which the Company currently anticipates will be completed within approximately six months. The company will retain all earnings from the business until the transaction closes, and upon closing, the Company expects to receive gross sale proceeds of approximately $166 million USD, or approximately $220 million CAD at current exchange rates, on a cash-free, debt-free basis, subject to normal working capital adjustments.

The perimeter of the transaction does not include entities of the PPG business in Malaysia, Italy, the United Kingdom and Brazil, which the Company remains committed to exit at the appropriate time.

Once complete, the transaction announced today, combined with the previously completed sale of PPGs Socotherm Argentina and UK specialty coating businesses, and a few remaining non-material actions, will conclude our strategic review process, said Mike Reeves, Mattrs President and CEO.

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Aligned with the Companys actions over the last two and half years to simplify its portfolio, lower its volatility and increase its full-cycle margins, this announcement positions Mattr to accelerate its pursuit of focused, high-return growth in our remaining core businesses. While it will take several months to complete the pending transaction, I would like to take this opportunity to thank every member of the PPG team for their many contributions to the history and success of our organization.

Effective August 15, 2023, the PPS segment, except those entities excluded from the transaction, will be accounted as held for sale and financial reporting will transition to discontinued operations. The Company currently allocates approximately $8 million CAD of its annual corporate costs to the PPS segment. Upon transition of a substantial portion of the segment to discontinued operations, these costs will instead be reflected within the Companys corporate division and, upon completion of the transaction, will be partially offset by income tied to a transition services agreement. The Company is committed to lowering these costs over time.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC served as the Companys exclusive financial advisor for this transaction.

About Mattr

Mattr is a growth-oriented, global materials technology company broadly serving critical infrastructure markets, including transportation, communication, water management, energy and electrification. The Company operates through a network of fixed and mobile manufacturing facilities. Its three business segments, Composite Technologies, Connection Technologies and Pipeline & Pipe Services enable responsible renewal and enhancement of critical infrastructure while lowering risk and environmental impact.

For further information, please contact:

Meghan MacEachern

Director, External Communications & ESG

Telephone: 437.341.1848

Email: meghan.maceachern@mattr.com

Website: www.mattr.com

Forward Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Words such as "may", "will", "should", "anticipate", "plan", "expect", "believe", "predict", "estimate" or similar terminology are used to identify forward-looking information. This forward-looking information is based on assumptions, estimates and analysis made in the light of the Company's experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that are believed by the Company to be reasonable and relevant in the circumstances. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those predicted, expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is provided as of the date of this news release and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

Source: Shawcor Ltd., dba Mattr Infratech




MarketsandMarkets Research Pvt. Ltd.

Chicago, Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Medical Composites Market size is expected to reach USD 1,478 million by 2025, projecting a CAGR of 9.9% between 2020 and 2025, as per the recent study by MarketsandMarkets. Applications of medical composites are increasing in diagnostic imaging, composite body implants, surgical instruments, and dental applications due to their exceptional properties. The increasing demand for medical composites from diagnostic imaging applications drives the medical composites market

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=181559256

Browse in-depth TOC on "Medical Composites Market 

126 - Market Data Tables

32 - Figures

163 - Pages

List of Key Players in Medical Composites Market :

3M (US), Toray Industries, Inc. (Japan) CeramTec GmbH (Germany) Dentsply Sirona (US) Royal DSM N.V. (Netherlands) SGL Carbon (Germany) Isotek AG (Switzerland)

Key Findings of the Study:

Carbon fiber type of medical composites comprises a major share of the medical composites market in terms of value and volume.

The diagnostic imaging application accounts for the largest market share in the global medical composites market during the forecasted period in terms of value and volume.

North America is expected to account for the largest market share in the medical composites market during the forecast period.

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The diagnostic imaging is the largest application of medical composites in terms of value. This is due to the exceptional properties of medical composites over traditional materials that enable its usage in a diagnostic imaging application. The properties include radiolucency, thermal resistance, and absorption of low levels of radiant energy. These characteristics minimize signal attenuation to enable the capturing of clear images for use in medical diagnostics. Composites are highly compatible with X-ray, CT, and MRI scans, enabling better post-operative monitoring of the fractured part. Upcoming applications such as tissue engineering, microspheres, and wheelchairs will further drive the medical composites market.

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The US is the largest market for medical composites in the world, in terms of both value and volume. The trend is expected to be the same during the forecast period. The high demand for medical composites from the US is due to the growing diagnostic imaging and composite body implant applications. North America witnessed high growth in MRI and CT scanning equipment in recent years, and this is expected to significantly contribute to the growth of the medical composites market as they are extensively used in these diagnostic equipment. With Germany, the US, Spain, India being the most affected countries, the entire supply chain in the medical composites industry is disrupted globally. The lockdown of international borders has reduced the growth of the medical composites market in Europe and North America.

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Medical composites are segmented based on fiber type into carbon fiber, ceramic fiber, and other composites. The carbon fiber composites type holds the largest share in the global medical composites market. This share can be attributed to the increased use of composite products in applications such as wheelchairs, X-ray machines, nuclear scanning machine composite components, artificial limbs, and body implants. Their wide usage is attributed to their excellent properties such as low weight, radiolucency, high strength, and better aesthetics.

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CONTACT: About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com




Michael Burry, who famously shorted subprime mortgages ahead of the 2008 financial crisis, closed out the majority of his regional bank trade in the second quarter, filings with SEC revealed Monday.

Burry's hedge fund Scion Asset Management zeroed out stakes in Western Alliance (WAL), Huntington Bank (HBAN), PacWest (PACW), and First Republic (FRCB) during the second quarter.

First Republic was seized by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and sold to JPMorgan & Chase at the beginning of May. PacWest agreed to merge with rival Bank of California (BANC) in late July in a deal set to close next year.

In the first quarter, Burry spent more than $23 million betting on financial stocks during a quarter in which Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), Signature Bank, and Silvergate all went under in a matter of days.

Scion also closed out positions in Capital One (COF) and Wells Fargo (WFC), both of which were opened during the first quarter of this year.

Scion also trimmed 76% of its holdings in New York Community Bancorp (NYCB), the regional lender which acquired $38.4 billion in assets belonging to Signature Bank from the FDIC in a $2.7 billion deal.

During the second quarter, the SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF (KRE) fell about 7%, lagging the broader Financial (XLF) sector and the S&P 500, which rose 5.4% and 8.4%, respectively, over the same period.

Shares of Western Alliance rose about 5.5% during the second quarter, while Huntington stock fell about 2% and PacWest dropped 13%, a move that came before the company's merger announcement.

During the second quarter, Scion also sold out of its positions in Chinese e-commerce and tech companies Alibaba (BABA) and JD.com (JD).

Scion did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the investments.

Burry gained fame for his moves during the 2008 crisis, in which he predicted and then profited from a collapse in residential real estate prices as early as 2007. He was portrayed as a central figure in Michael Lewis's 2010 book "The Big Short." Christian Bale later portrayed him in a 2015 film adaptation of the Lewis book.

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Michael Burry attends the "The Big Short" New York premiere at Ziegfeld Theater on November 23, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage)

Other notable investors including major hedge funds Bridgewater Associates, the world's biggest, and quantitative trading pioneer Renaissance Technologies adjusted their banking exposure in the second quarter.

Bridgewater sold its remaining positions in regional banks US Bancorp (USB), M&T Bank (MTB), and First Horizon Bank (FHN) after getting rid of 15 other positions in US lenders in the first quarter. It did, however, raise its holdings in Citigroup (C) and investment bank Jefferies (JEF) while also opening a small position in Capital One and nearly doubling its stake in Bank of New York Mellon (BK), according to filings from Friday.

Renaissance Technologies was a net buyer of banks in the second quarter, according to its filing. The firm opened a sizable position in Bank of America (BAC) as well as a smaller position in San Antonio, Texas-based regional lender Cullen Frost (CFR) while cutting its exposure to Bank of New York Mellon and Deutsche Bank AG (DB).

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Nigel Farage revealed last month that his business and personal accounts had been closed as a result of his political beliefs - Gareth Fuller/PA Wire

Nigel Farage has been asked to give evidence to the City watchdog as part of a major investigation into the so-called debanking of customers.

The former leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party is among a raft of politicians to have been approached for testimony about their experiences with lenders.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) on Monday sent a letter to MPs, peers and the chairs of parties polling at more than 5pc  including Mr Farages Reform UK. Senior civil servants and senior ranks of the armed forces have also been contacted.

The FCA said responses will inform an upcoming review of its politically exposed persons (PEP) regime, which is expected to report back by June next year.

It comes after a scandal over Mr Farages treatment by the private bank Coutts, which is a subsidiary of NatWest.

The former Brexit campaigner revealed last month that his business and personal accounts had been closed as a result of his political beliefs after petitioning Coutts for internal records on himself.

The discovery sparked a furore over the practice of debanking and led to the resignations of both NatWest chief executive Dame Alison Rose and Peter Flavel, the head of Coutts.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt unveiled new laws to combat debanking last month, which will force lenders to explain and delay any decision to close accounts. He also urged the FCA to investigate the practice of blacklisting customers for their political beliefs.

The FCA has launched a review into its rules around how banks treat so-called politically exposed persons (PEPs) to consider whether they should be updated.

The watchdog has also written to more than 25 of Britains largest banks and building societies asking them to reveal how many accounts have recently been closed, suspended or denied and the reasons why.

NatWest chief executive Alison Rose was forced to step down from her role in the wake of the debanking scandal - Daniel Leal/Pool via REUTERS

Banks have been given two weeks to hand over the information, which will then be analysed and published by mid-September.

A spokesman for the FCA said: We are reviewing how financial services firms have applied the Politically Exposed Persons regime and whether any changes are needed for UK PEPs.

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We are keen to hear directly from UK PEPs on their experiences, including any problems they have encountered  so were proactively reaching out to parliamentarians and other UK PEPs at an early stage.

We will publish the full terms of reference for the review in September and report back by June next year.

The GB News presenter is currently in talks with Coutts about keeping his accounts open, but he has accused NatWest of kicking his complaint into the long grass by carrying out an internal review with no deadline.

Mr Farage has said he was the victim of an establishment stitch-up and called for Dame Alison and NatWest chairman Sir Howard Davies to be stripped of their honours.

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Freehold, New Jersey--(Newsfile Corp. - August 14, 2023) - Peter Grandich, financial author, is pleased to share a recent interview centered around Northern Superior Resources Inc. (TSXV: SUP) (OTCQB: NSUPF). In this conversation, Mr. Michael Gentile, director and largest shareholder, delves into the company's strategy and the recent resource estimate published on the Philibert project, in Quebec, Canada.

Northern Superior recently announced a compelling resource estimate on Philibert, one of its key projects, and continues to transform the Chibougamau Gold Camp in Quebec. The company also recently announced the spin-off of its Ontario assets, including the well-known TPK project, into an independent public company where it will remain the largest shareholder.

Peter Grandich commented: "Michael truly distinguishes himself as one of the sector's most astute investors, with a track record of securing a series of highly impressive investments. Rarely have I observed Michael exhibiting a level of focus on a particular opportunity, such as his current engagement with Northern Superior."

The interview refers to an article, which can be found here:

https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/08/33628231/with-a-new-world-class-mining-camp-has-northern-superior-just-made-itself-very-valuable-to-iamgold

Interview with Michael Gentile:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=s1y_yWYUa6o

Follow Peter Grandich

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@peter-grandich

X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/petergrandich

Contact: peter@petergrandich.com

About Michael Gentile

Mr. Gentile is considered one of the leading strategic investors in the junior mining sector, owning significant positions in over 20 small-cap mining companies. Mr. Gentile is currently a strategic advisor to Arianne Phosphate (DAN-V), Geomega Resources (GMA-V) and a director of Northern Superior Resources (SUP-V), Roscan Gold (ROS-V), Radisson Mining Resources (RDS-V) and Solstice Gold (SGC-V). Mr. Gentile recently co-founded Bastion Asset Management, an investment management firm based out of Montreal, Quebec and was previously a Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager with Formula Growth Limited.

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About Peter Grandich

Peter Grandich entered Wall Street in the mid-1980s with neither formal education nor training, and within three years was appointed Head of Investment Strategy for a leading New York Stock Exchange-member firm. He would go on to hold positions as Chief Market Strategist, Portfolio Manager for four hedge funds and a mutual fund that bore his name. His abilities have resulted in hundreds of media interviews, including Good Morning America, Fox News, CNBC, Wall Street Journal, Barron's, Financial Post, Globe and Mail, US News & World Report, New York Times, Business Week, MarketWatch, Business News Network and dozens more. He has spoken at investment conferences around the globe, edited numerous investment newsletters and was one of the more sought-after financial commentators.

Grandich has been a member of the National Association of Christian Financial Consultants, The New York Society of Security Analysts, The Society of Quantitative Analysts and The Markets Technician Association. He served on the Boards of Athletes in Action, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Good News International Ministries and Catholic Athletes for Christ. Through Athletes in Action, Grandich assisted with Bible study and chapel services for the New York Giants and New York Yankees from 2002 to 2016.

His autobiography, Confessions of a Wall Street Whiz Kid, was first published in the fall of 2011. The second edition was released in 2014, while the third edition, Confessions of a Former Wall Street Whiz Kid, was issued in October 2015. The fourth edition of the book was later released in April 2019, and the fifth edition was issued in May 2021. The fifth edition of the book is currently available on Amazon.com.

Grandich was the editor and publisher of The Grandich Letter from 1984 to 2014. He was also Senior Commentator for Moneytalks.net from 2013 to 2015. In 2013, Grandich founded the Athletes & Business Alliance (ABA), a private organization of professional athletes and business executives who exchange ideas and build relationships with an emphasis on capitalizing on the talents of all involved. A symbiotic organization, ABA is a network of accomplished individuals in an environment where one can develop personal associations with a structured and supportive system of giving and receiving business. The ABA boasts a select membership of diverse senior-level executives, high net worth business owners, and both active and retired pro athletes. By invitation only, high-level corporate and business decision-makers and prominent athletes intermingle. To achieve success, businesses must utilize effective marketing tools, secure new customers to generate repeat business and provide superior customer service that engenders loyalty. The ABA provides an environment to do this and more.

Disclaimers and Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This interview or any comments made within or elsewhere by the interviewer, Peter Grandich, an interviewee, or an affiliate shall not be considered investment advice; anyone interested is invited to consult with a certified financial advisor. Northern Superior Resources Inc. (or the "Company') is a sponsor of Peter Grandich's blog which is operated from the United-States under the direction of Mr. Peter Grandich. The article provided herein has originated from a relationship of Outside the Box Capital Inc., which has been retained by the Company for marketing services as per the Company's press release dated March 8, 2023.

The interview contains forward-looking information and statements (collectively, "Forward-Looking Statements") that involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made herein. When used in this document, the words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify Forward-Looking Statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company's ability to convert inferred resources into measured and indicated resources; parameters and methods used to estimate the mineral resource estimate (the "MRE") at the Philibert Project; the prospects, if any, of the Philibert Project and its other projects in the area; and the significance of historic exploration activities and results. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include the results of exploration activities, the Company's financial position and general economic conditions, the ability of exploration activities to accurately predict mineralization; the accuracy of geological modelling; the ability of the Company to complete further exploration activities; the legitimacy of title and property interests in the Philibert Project and its other projects in the area; the accuracy of key assumptions, parameters or methods used to estimate the MRE; the ability of the Company to obtain required approvals; the evolution of the global economic climate; metal prices; environmental expectations; community and non-governmental actions; the Company's ability to secure required funding; and other risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators available at www.sedarplus.ca.

The Forward-Looking Statements contained in this interview are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. All Forward-Looking Statements are made as of the date of this news release and neither Peter Grandich nor the Company undertake to update or revise any such statements contained in the interview to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/177057
A laborer starts to unpack a small pallet of building supplies at the forthcoming location of Teaspoon in Evans, Aug. 11, 2023. The opening of the boba tea shop has recently been pushed back.

A national boba tea chain is opening in the Augusta area a little later than expected; south Augusta coffee lovers can win prizes just by visiting a newly-opened shop; a Dearing dairy is earning international recognition; and, new federal funding has been earmarked to help local entrepreneurs.

Here's a brief look at openings, closings and other changes in Augusta-area business:

Teaspoon

TEA TIME: A California-based chain specializing in boba tea is pushing back its soft opening date in Columbia County originally set for mid-August.

As Teaspoon is completing the buildout of its new location at 623 Mullins Colony Dr., Evans, franchisees Dr. Troy Austin and Skyler Bird are postponing opening day while interviews are scheduled for aspiring employees.

In order to ensure that our future staff members receive the proper training and learn how to perfect Teaspoons specialty drinks, our owners have decided to push back the opening of Teaspoon Augusta, Teaspoon Augusta posted on social media Aug. 10. This was an easy decision due to the owners and managements desire to provide the absolute best experience and beverages for our customers.

Planned Teaspoon locations in the Augusta area and in Athens will be the chains first stores in Georgia. The overwhelming majority of Teaspoons are in California. There are 38 locations nationwide and 29 more are being planned in an aggressive expansion strategy.

Teaspoon serves a variety of blended beverages containing tea, coffee or fruit juices. Desserts such as cakes, brownies and macarons also are available.

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7Brew

DO YOU PREFER COFFEE? A recently-opened coffee kiosk in south Augusta will give a customer a chance to win free coffee for a year.

7Brew held a grand opening Aug. 11 for its new location at 2915 Peach Orchard Rd. under the management of Isaac Mincks. The Augusta areas first 7Brew opened in March at 105 Charlestowne Way, off Washington Road.

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At the ribbon-cutting on Peach Orchard, the two stores also donated a combined $2,000 to the Childrens Hospital of Georgia.

On Aug. 19, the new location will play host to a Swag Day, when the first customer in each drive-thru line will win free coffee for a year, and every customer that purchases a large drink will receive a free T-shirt.

The Peach Orchard 7Brew might face stiff competition. Directly across the street is Dunkin Donuts, 2930 Peach Orchard, and less than a mile away is Starbucks, 3120 Peach Orchard.

Hillcrest Farms

MILKING IT: An area dairy is a finalist for an international award for its sustainable farming practices.

Hillcrest Farms in Dearing is on the short list to win the 2023 International Dairy Federation Innovation Awards. The awards honor the best in the dairy industry and recognize new processes, practices and products.

Hillcrest has set the blueprint for how other farms can use teamwork and collaboration in striving for better sustainable practices, said Geri Berdak, CEO of the Dairy Alliance, a nonprofit advocacy group for the dairy industry.

In 2019, Hillcrest became Georgias first dairy farm to milk its cows with robotic milkers that replaced traditional milking parlors. The robotic approach allows cows to set their own milking times, reducing animal stress and improve milk yields.

Greater Augusta Black Chamber of Commerce

FINDING THE FUNDING: A local group dedicated to nurturing Black entrepreneurs has been awarded federal money to help fund a yearlong training program.

The Greater Augusta Black Chamber of Commerces Step Up Program is a 12-month series designed to help prospective and current business owners with resources to successfully start and sustain their businesses.

U.S. Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock of Georgia secured $250,000 for the chamber through a 2022 government funding package.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Now Opening: Win a year of free coffee; new boba tea opening postponed
While GrafTech International Ltd. (NYSE:EAF) might not be the most widely known stock at the moment, it received a lot of attention from a substantial price movement on the NYSE over the last few months, increasing to US$5.29 at one point, and dropping to the lows of US$4.05. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether GrafTech International's current trading price of US$4.30 reflective of the actual value of the small-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Lets take a look at GrafTech Internationals outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change.

View our latest analysis for GrafTech International

Is GrafTech International Still Cheap?

Good news, investors! GrafTech International is still a bargain right now according to my price multiple model, which compares the company's price-to-earnings ratio to the industry average. Ive used the price-to-earnings ratio in this instance because theres not enough visibility to forecast its cash flows. The stocks ratio of 8.59x is currently well-below the industry average of 19.42x, meaning that it is trading at a cheaper price relative to its peers. However, given that GrafTech Internationals share is fairly volatile (i.e. its price movements are magnified relative to the rest of the market) this could mean the price can sink lower, giving us another chance to buy in the future. This is based on its high beta, which is a good indicator for share price volatility.

What kind of growth will GrafTech International generate?

Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Buying a great company with a robust outlook at a cheap price is always a good investment, so lets also take a look at the company's future expectations. With profit expected to grow by a double-digit 14% over the next couple of years, the outlook is positive for GrafTech International. It looks like higher cash flow is on the cards for the stock, which should feed into a higher share valuation.

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What This Means For You

Are you a shareholder? Since EAF is currently trading below the industry PE ratio, it may be a great time to increase your holdings in the stock. With an optimistic profit outlook on the horizon, it seems like this growth has not yet been fully factored into the share price. However, there are also other factors such as capital structure to consider, which could explain the current price multiple.

Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping an eye on EAF for a while, now might be the time to make a leap. Its prosperous future profit outlook isnt fully reflected in the current share price yet, which means its not too late to buy EAF. But before you make any investment decisions, consider other factors such as the strength of its balance sheet, in order to make a well-informed assessment.

So while earnings quality is important, it's equally important to consider the risks facing GrafTech International at this point in time. To that end, you should learn about the 3 warning signs we've spotted with GrafTech International (including 1 which is significant).

If you are no longer interested in GrafTech International, you can use our free platform to see our list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
It wasn't more than a year ago that commercial real estate investors found a quiet and underpublicized sector they could buy into with little risk and little churn. But today, quiet is not an adjective for the self-storage investment market.

A combination of huge transactions and dropping rent prices in the sector have upended what was considered an easy and tranquil alternative investment to troubled office space and multifamily housing.

This month, the sector's fireworks reached maximum visibility when it was announced that the publicly-traded real estate investment trust (REIT) Public Storage acquired Simply Self Storage from Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust Inc. for $2.2 billion. The portfolio includes 127 properties totaling 9 million square feet in 18 states.

Privately held Spartan Investment Group CEO Ryan Gibson says there was more to that purchase than reported.

"It's important to first look at the hostile bid Public Storage first made of Life Storage and got outbid for by Extra Space," he told Benzinga. "Then Blackstone had a ton of redemption calls, and they were cited as wanting to sell that arm (self-storage) to satisfy those calls. They made a $600 million profit from an investment they made only three years ago."

Check out:

Elon Musk has reportedly bought 6,000 acres of land just outside of Austin. Heres how to invest in the citys growth before he floods it with new tech workers.

Investing in real estate just got a whole lot simpler. With as little as $100, average investors are becoming landlords thanks to this Jeff Bezos-backed startup.

Gibson and Colorado-based Spartan recently launched a new tax-differed investment vehicle for 1031 exchange investors to invest in self-storage. But some investors looking at self-storage real estate are wondering whether the once-red-hot sector needs more room for growth with occupancy declines and new customer discounts on rent.

Chris Marr, president and CEO of publicly-traded self-storage REIT CubeSmart, said his group is slowing down.

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"Currently, many of the acquisition opportunities available in the market are of inferior quality and would be dilutive to our current portfolio quality," he said. "As a result, we are being patient and disciplined, waiting to deploy capital until we are confident in the ability to realize attractive risk-adjusted returns. As buyer and seller expectations adjust, there will be attractive opportunities to deploy capital, and we will be ready."

Spartan's Gibson has similar sentiments and said his group, as well as being more cautious, is shunning acquisition investment and finding building from scratch a better alternative.

"Right now, we are looking at our fund and have found that we can build for less than we can buy," he said. From an investor standpoint, he says that whether building or buying active properties, you need to be wary of the units' condition and the local economy.

"If I'm an investor, the long-term fundamentals in the space are good, but you have to give a critical eye to the demographics of about three miles around the property. Where you build and buy is where your customers are going to be. I'd want to make sure the market is strong in that area. From our standpoint, we do our homework, and we know the markets we're investing in." In its July report, Yardi Matrix said the national rent in June for a 1010 non-climate-controlled storage unit declined by 1.5% year over year to $129. The average rent on similar-sized climate-controlled units also declined by 2.4% to $145. Yardi blamed some of those declines on over-supplied self-storage operations in cities, including Las Vegas, Phoenix and Philadelphia.

Read next:

Don't miss real-time alerts on your stocks - join Benzinga Pro for free! Try the tool that will help you invest smarter, faster, and better.

This article A Once Placid Self-Storage Sector Is Making Public Noise While Some Investors Shun Established Properties To Build Their Own originally appeared on Benzinga.com

.

 2023 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
SANTIAGO, Chile, August 14, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Parque Arauco S.A. (PARAUCO.SN) announced the initiation of the first phase of the reconfiguration and expansion project for its main asset in Peru, Megaplaza Independencia, requiring a USD 33 million investment.

Eduardo Perez Marchant, CEO of Parque Arauco, noted, "The normalization of our activity levels and the return of our financial ratios to optimal levels enable us to resume our growth path. This growth rests upon three pillars: an expansion pillar for our main assets, a growth pillar for new retail properties, and a growth pillar for residential rental expansion (multifamily). With great enthusiasm, we are announcing the expansion of our primary asset in Peru. This project complements the already announced expansion of our main asset in Chile, Parque Arauco Kennedy, as well as the recent announcement of the commencement of construction for Parque La Molina in Peru, our second lifestyle format shopping center in addition to Larcomar."

Parque Arauco currently owns 55 real estate assets across Chile, Peru, and Colombia, encompassing a total commercial area of 1,123,500 m. Of this space, 47% is situated in Chile, 35% in Peru, and 18% in Colombia. Megaplaza Independencia stands as Parque Arauco's most relevant asset in Peru, boasting 109,500 m of leasable space. It ranks as the second most important asset for Parque Arauco in terms of area, following Parque Arauco Kennedy. Megaplaza Independencia hosts major brands in Peru, including Falabella, Ripley, Oechsle, Tottus, Sodimac, H&M, and Zara, and attracts more than 2 million visits per month.

The initial phase of the project entails the establishment of the largest gastronomic district in Lima's northern region and the construction of a large central plaza which will contribute positively to the community. The project also involves the creation of a new area for telecommunications service providers and improvements to internal foot traffic. This first phase requires an investment of PEN 123 million (approximately USD 33 million) and should contribute an EBITDA of PEN 11.5 million (approximately USD 3 million) by the third year. Project execution is set to start during the second half of 2023, with a gradual opening until completion during the second half of 2026. Subsequent phases, which will involve additional retail space alongside residential rental expansion (multifamily), will be communicated at a later stage, once the project has progressed further in securing the necessary construction permits.

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Alejandro Camino, General Manager of Parque Arauco Peru Division, commented, "This initial phase of reconfiguration and expansion is part of an ambitious masterplan in collaboration with Gensler, a global architecture and design firm, and BL Arquitectos, aimed at enhancing the substantial inherent value we see in this asset as an urban nucleus. We are convinced that this new investment in our iconic asset Megaplaza Independencia will contribute improving the lives of the people in Lima Norte, zone in which our mall plays a fundamental role in providing a spacious and secure public space for the community, underscoring our commitment to continue contributing to Peru's development."

About Parque Arauco

Currently, Parque Arauco owns a total area of 1,123,500 m of Gross Leasable Area (GLA) in Chile, Peru, and Colombia. The company inaugurated its first shopping center in Chile in 1982, entered the Peruvian market in 2005, and expanded into Colombia in 2008. For further details, please visit the company's website: www.parauco.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230809348838/en/

Contacts

Lauren Brown

Head of Investor Relations

Lbrown@parauco.com

(56 2) 2299 0608
Xinhua president meets AP counterpart

Xinhua) 08:31, August 14, 2023

President of Xinhua News Agency Fu Hua meets with Daisy Veerasingham, president and CEO of the Associated Press (AP), in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

BEIJING, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- President of Xinhua News Agency Fu Hua met with Daisy Veerasingham, president and CEO of the Associated Press (AP), here on Sunday.

Noting the long-term friendly and cooperative relationship Xinhua and AP have maintained, Fu expressed the hope that the two sides will further strengthen communication and exchanges, and continue to report China-U.S. relations comprehensively, objectively and accurately.

Fu called on the two sides to further consolidate and enhance cooperation in text news exchange and photo distribution, and continue to deepen cooperation on commercial promotion.

During the meeting, Fu talked about the progress of the fifth World Media Summit, which will be held later this year. He said that Xinhua stands ready to work with AP to promote the development of the summit and make it an effective platform for global media exchanges and mutual learning.

For her part, Veerasingham commended the history of cooperation between AP and Xinhua for more than 50 years. She said that AP is open to discussions with Xinhua in areas including news exchanges and commercial promotion.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
People coaxed AI into saying 9+10=21 and giving instructions for spying. It shows how these systems are prone to flaws and bias. Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Participants at a hacking conference tricked AI into producing factual errors and bad math.

They wanted to show this technology is prone to bias. One participant said she was especially concerned about racism.

AI experts have been sounding the alarm about the dangers of AI bias for years.

A group of hackers gathered over the weekend at the Def Con hacking conference in Las Vegas to test whether AI developed by companies  such as OpenAI and Google  could make mistakes and are prone to bias, Bloomberg reported Sunday.

And they found at least one bizarre bad math problem, among other factual errors.

As part of a public contest for hackers, Kennedy Mays, a 21-year-old student from Savannah, Georgia, tricked an AI model into claiming that nine plus 10 equals 21.

She achieved this by getting the AI to do so as an "inside joke" before the AI eventually stopped offering any justification for the incorrect calculation.

A Bloomberg reporter participating in the event tricked an AI model into giving instructions for spying after a single prompt, eventually leading the model to suggest how the US government could spy on a human rights activist.

Another participant got an AI model to falsely claim Barack Obama was born in Kenya  a baseless conspiracy theory popularized by right-wing figures.

An undisclosed number of participants received 50 minutes each per attempt with an unidentified AI model from one of the participating AI companies, according to VentureBeat and Bloomberg. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy helped in organizing the event.

Mays told Bloomberg she was most concerned about AI's bias towards race, saying that the model endorsed hateful and discriminatory speech after being asked to consider the First Amendment from the viewpoint of a member of the Ku Klux Klan.

An OpenAI spokesperson told VentureBeat on Thursday that "red-teaming," or challenging one's systems through an adversarial approach, was critical for the company as it allows for "valuable feedback that can make our models stronger and safer" and "different perspectives and more voices to help guide the development of AI."

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These errors aren't a one-off concern. AI experts have been sounding the alarm on bias and inaccuracy in AI models, despite AI making headlines for acing law school exams and the SATs. In one instance, tech news site CNET was forced to make corrections after its AI-written articles made numerous basic math errors.

And the consequences of these errors can be far-reaching. For instance, Amazon shut down its AI recruitment tool as it discriminated against female applicants, Insider reported in 2018.

Def Con and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider, sent outside regular business hours.

Read the original article on Business Insider
When a single insider purchases stock, it is typically not a major deal. However, when multiple insiders purchase stock, like in IPH Limited's (ASX:IPH) instance, it's good news for shareholders.

While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether.

See our latest analysis for IPH

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At IPH

In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when Non-Executive Chairman Peter Warne bought AU$347k worth of shares at a price of AU$8.77 per share. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, even at a higher price than the current share price (being AU$7.77). It's very possible they regret the purchase, but it's more likely they are bullish about the company. In our view, the price an insider pays for shares is very important. As a general rule, we feel more positive about a stock if insiders have bought shares at above current prices, because that suggests they viewed the stock as good value, even at a higher price.

In the last twelve months IPH insiders were buying shares, but not selling. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!

IPH is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying.

Insider Ownership

Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Our data indicates that IPH insiders own about AU$9.4m worth of shares (which is 0.5% of the company). We do note, however, it is possible insiders have an indirect interest through a private company or other corporate structure. Whilst better than nothing, we're not overly impressed by these holdings.

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So What Does This Data Suggest About IPH Insiders?

There haven't been any insider transactions in the last three months -- that doesn't mean much. However, our analysis of transactions over the last year is heartening. We'd like to see bigger individual holdings. However, we don't see anything to make us think IPH insiders are doubting the company. In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing IPH. At Simply Wall St, we found 3 warning signs for IPH that deserve your attention before buying any shares.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Cybersecurity breaches are an increasingly common threat to the trucking industry that cause devastating financial harm that is often hard to come back from.

Almost all breaches end in a lawsuit. On average, those lawsuits are upwards of $10 million per company just to get back on your feet, said Antwan Banks, director of enterprise security at the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA), not to mention how much business you may lose because of loss of brand recognition.

The NMFTA is a nonprofit membership organization representing the interests of less-than-truckload carriers. It provides cybersecurity support for the industry as well as critical services like classification standards, identification codes and digital operation standards. The organization is committed to providing motor carriers with cybersecurity expertise and resources that the industry can use to protect from cyberattacks.

With such high stakes, motor carriers of all sizes must take action before breaches can occur.

Banks sat down with FreightWaves to discuss what carriers need to know about the differences between enterprise and asset networks and how they can improve their cybersecurity.

Enterprise vs. asset networks

Enterprise and asset (also referred to as vehicle or fleet) networks are made up of different devices and components.

Enterprise networks comprise a companys back-office systems, like servers, laptops and desktops. Asset networks, also referred to as fleet or vehicle networks, include telematics systems, Controller Area Networks and connectors.

Banks said that they require two different kinds of skill sets as they each involve different equipment. However, due to the interconnectivity of asset and enterprise networks, companies should have strong enterprise security in order to protect their asset networks. If bad actors gain access to an enterprise network, they could use a tactic called pivoting to hop between networks.

[Hackers] are gonna take advantage of that trust relationship to jump from the enterprise network over to the fleet network and that way  if theyre trying to encrypt ransomware, they can deliver the payload for the ransomware to the fleet side. If theyre trying to stop a truck, or slow down a truck, they can execute their malicious activities, Banks said.

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Email phishing is the most common way hackers gain network access. Other tactics like voice phishing, water holding and new AI voice impersonations all also pose major threats to enterprise systems.

How to protect against cyberthreats

The No. 1 thing Banks recommends companies do to protect against breaches is user awareness training.

A company can spend tens of millions of dollars on the latest and greatest cybersecurity, but if their user is socially engineered and clicks on a phishing email, then theyre going to bypass all that security, Banks said.

Patching vulnerabilities is also paramount because hackers are looking for weak points to exploit. Old and outdated systems that cant be patched should be protected with compensating controls, Banks added.

Proactively monitoring your network to identify anything unusual is critical to get ahead of issues.

The last way you want to find out that your network has been hacked is when it has been locked and encrypted, Banks added.

To learn more about cybersecurity threats impacting the trucking industry, the public can attend the NMFTAs Digital Solutions Conference in Houston from Oct. 22-25. The conference will focus on cybersecurity threats facing vehicle and enterprise networks within the trucking industry. Attendees will hear from experts in the field from organizations like the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration.



Click here to learn more about the NMFTA.

The post How to protect your business from enterprise and vehicle network breaches appeared first on FreightWaves.
QUEBEC CITY, August 14, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(TSX: HEO)  H 2 O Innovation Inc. ("H 2 O Innovation" or the "Corporation") is proud to announce that it has recently obtained the ISO 9001:2015 certification for its PWT facility located in Vista, California, ensuring quality management in all processes around its specialty chemicals manufacturing.

The ISO 9001:2015 standard establishes requirements for reliable quality management systems to ensure that companies, regardless of their type or size, follow the same guidelines and practices. This international standard enables a company to provide products and services that consistently meet customer and regulatory demands. It also provides guidance to enhance customer satisfaction through the effective implementation of the quality management system and continuous improvement processes.

To obtain this certification, the team in Vista underwent a series of rigorous evaluations and audits to validate the coherence of the documentation and the consistency of the manufacturing processes, among other stringent criteria. These requirements are generic and prevent employees from making changes without approval throughout the processes.

Furthermore, part of the International Organization for Standardizations (ISO) mission is not only to support its members to maximize the benefits of international standardization, but also to help meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). More specifically, ISO 9001:2015 contributes to the SDGs #1 (No Poverty), #9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), #12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and #14 (Life Below Water). "Supporting the SDGs aligns perfectly with our mission and vision when it comes to sustainability. Obtaining this certification, knowing that ISO is actively contributing to these objectives, reinforces our commitment to driving positive change around the world," said Frederic Dugre, President, Chief Executive Officer and co-Founder of H 2 O Innovation.

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About H 2 O Innovation

Innovation is in our name, and it is what drives the organization. H 2 O Innovation is a complete water solutions company focused on providing best-in-class technologies and services to its customers. The Corporations activities rely on three pillars: (i) Water Technologies & Services (WTS) applies membrane technologies and engineering expertise to deliver equipment and services to municipal and industrial water, wastewater, and water reuse customers, (ii) Specialty Products (SP) is a set of businesses that manufacture and supply a complete line of specialty chemicals, consumables and engineered products for the global water treatment industry, and (iii) Operation & Maintenance (O&M) provides contract operations and associated services for water and wastewater treatment systems. Through innovation, we strive to simplify water. For more information, visit www.h2oinnovation.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230814256528/en/

Contacts

Marc Blanchet

+1 418-688-0170

marc.blanchet@h2oinnovation.com
The New Joint MS-MBA Degree Everyone Is Raving About

Tony Rinaldo photo

Employers have spoken. They want recruits with both poet and quant skills  financial managers from the STEM mold who are skilled in investment strategies and management. They want people fluent in data and digital literacy who also possess critical thinking skills, emotional intelligence, and creativity.

A new offering at Yale School of Management aims to be the program that gives the talent pool all that and more. Yale SOM will pair its STEM-eligible Master of Asset Management with its full-time MBA in a new joint MBA/MMS program. Students in the dual-degree program will complete the first year of the MBA program, including the MBA core curriculum, then complete the asset management coursework during the second year. At the end of two years, graduates will have both degrees in hand.

In addition to the rigorous coursework of the top-10-ranked Yale MBA, students in the new joint program will receive training in all aspects of asset management, including investment selection, asset allocation, portfolio management, and risk management, with a focus on forward-looking quantitative methods and new technologies in this rapidly changing field, writes Julie Dahlquist, senior associate director of admissions for Yale SOM. All that and  like the Asset Management Masters  the new program is STEM-eligible, Dahlquist writes.

JOINT DEGREE IS A BOON TO INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS SEEKING TO STAY IN THE U.S.

The New Joint MS-MBA Degree Everyone Is Raving About

Yale MS/MBA student Jasmine Peng: Joint degree provides MBA students with the flexibility to have a concentration tailored to their interests and masters students with the opportunity to broaden their knowledge beyond their areas of expertise

Admission decisions for each program will be made independently: The criteria for acceptance are distinct between the two degrees. To complete the MBA/MMS joint degree in two years, applicants must be admitted into both programs simultaneously, or MBA students must apply and be accepted into the MMS Asset Management during the first year of their MBA.

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However, the joint degree program doesnt work the other way around: A student accepted into the MMS Asset Management cannot convert completion of that degree program into the credit for one year of an MBA. Those students would require three years to complete the two degrees.

Dahlquist sent a message this week to admissions consultants and others touting the Asset Management degrees eligibility for a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math designation  an important distinction for a program that wants to appeal to international students hoping to stay in the United States post-graduation. The Asset Management program offers graduates without H-1B visas two degrees and up to three years of work in the U.S. while they try to secure a visa.

Importantly, the school declares in a program tear sheet posted online that because both the Asset Management degree and the joint MBA/MMS are STEM-eligible, students on Yales visa sponsorship must abide by the employment regulations of their visa type, including any limitations on hours per week. At this time, international students are eligible for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) if completing an internship or project at external organization.

YALES JOINT MBA/MMS AM: EASILY THE BEST CHOICE

Applications to the joint MBA/MMS open this month; the deadline to apply to join the Class of 2025 is January 10, 2024. Tuition is about $164,000  $82,200 for the first year of the Yale MBA, when an Asset Management/MBA student will take the SOM MBA core curriculum, and the same amount for the second year that is devoted to AM coursework, rather than the wide range of electives regular MBAs would get to take. Its important to note that Yale estimates living expenses, program fees, books, etc. to come to more than $30K for students in the nine-month asset management program, and just over $28K for one year in the MBA.

Dahlquist says the program is intended for students who plan to pursue a career within the asset management industry, especially in financial management positions  anything from investment analysis to philanthropic portfolio management. Jasmine Peng, joint MBA/Masters in Asset Management Class of 2024, says its worth the cost of admission.

I chose Yale SOM because the variety of joint-degree options that SOM offers is what truly makes it unique, Peng says. It provides MBA students with the flexibility to have a concentration tailored to their interests and masters students with the opportunity to broaden their knowledge beyond their areas of expertise. Thanks to the joint-degree options, we have such a great diversity of backgrounds that we are always learning from each other.

Personally, I aspire to be an investor with a deep understanding of business, so a joint degree of MBA and Masters in Asset Management was easily the best choice!

YALES MMS/AM: QUANTITATIVELY INTENSE

Yales Master of Asset Management had a fraught birth. The program was originally slated to launch in 2020 but was pushed back to 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic. But since its launch two years ago, the program has proven a popular avenue for early-career students in much the same way as a master in management or other specialized degree that doesnt require as much work experience, or time commitment, as a full-time residential MBA. One admissions consultant calls it the gold standard and says she has clients who have turned down MIT and other prestigious programs in favor of it.

The Masters in Asset Management is a quantitatively intense nine-month program that was developed by the late David Swensen 80 PhD, Yales former chief investments officer and the pioneer of the Yale Model and Tobias Moskowitz, Dean Takahasi 80 B.A., 83 M.P.P.M. professor of finance and a principal at AQR Capital Management, Dahlquist writes. Focusing on ethical and responsible investing, they designed a unique program dedicated to the merging of academic theory and practice.

As the programs online tear sheet describes, Students in the program receive training in all aspects of asset management, including investment selection, asset allocation, portfolio management, and risk management, with a focus on forward-looking quantitative methods and new technologies in this fast-developing field. A highlight of the program is the Colloquium in Asset Management, which brings leading executives, investors, and practitioners to campus for candid discussions about the industry.

Students will also be required to gain practical experience by completing a minimum of 40 hours of one or more of the following activities: completing an internship or project related to asset management for an external organization, assisting a Yale SOM finance professor with research related to the study of asset management, or undertaking an alternative activity pre-approved by the faculty director. Students also take a variety of required fundamental subjects and elective classes, most of which were developed specifically for the Yale SOM Masters in Asset Management program.

DUAL PROGRAM WILL HELP QUANTS DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS

The new MBA/MMS program is a response not only to what employers want, but what students want to learn. According to a Yale spokesperson, it started organically with second-year MBA students wanting to take the Asset Management electives, and then it worked its way into a joint degree. For SOM MBAs looking to STEM certify, and get a leg up in the industry, its an attractive choice.

Observers expect, given market demand, that Yales new joint degree program will be popular with both students and employers. But its also likely to be difficult to get into. The acceptance rate for Yales MBA program typically hovers around one-quarter of applicants, placing it among the most selective B-schools in the U.S.; in 2022 it was 27.6%, up 4 percentage points from the previous year. If anything, the Master of Asset Management may be even harder to get into. Lindsay Sage, founder of graduate business admissions consulting firm Sage Admit, says she has steered clients into the AM program with the understanding that they will need to prove they are qualified to be there.

Its incredibly intense, quant-heavy, Sage tells P&Q. They want computer science or math majors; finance majors wont cut it. They want the perfect 170Q, but more importantly, they want substantial coursework in math and computer science. The professors teach to this level and the recruiters expect it. Its a nine-month program  the first semester is super intense, even my 4.0 dual math/ finance major was struggling. In my experience they are pulling from the same cohort as MITs MSF, CMUs MSCF, or Columbias MSFE. Its a very intimate program, with just 43 students versus MITs MSF (which is triple the size). For this reason Ive had clients turn down MIT for this program, which I thought was nuts at first!. Its become the gold standard.

Im excited for the joint Masters/MBA because while the students of the masters gain technical skills, they are lacking the clear business fundamentals that the MBA will provide. The dual program will give them more time to adequately develop their leadership skills, and would open more doors to recruiting, rather than just quant-heavy positions.

A WIN FOR YALE

Betsy Massar, the founder of Master Admissions who spent a decade in the asset management industry before becoming an MBA consultant, echoes Sage in saying the new program is very exciting as a joint degree opportunity. Lots of students are looking at that as a way to specialize and enhance their profiles. Yale Is the granddaddy of alternative investments for institutions, so getting a degree from Yale SOM joint with a Master of Asset Management should be an advantage.

The standalone Master of Asset Management is one thing and it is a strong specialized degree. But that cohort wont get the same experience as being able to collaborate across industries and backgrounds with other students in the MBA program.

I think its a win for Yale, especially with its connection to so many investment management firms in places like Greenwich and Westport, Connecticut.

DONT MISS THIS IS WHAT IT COSTS TO GET AN MBA FROM A TOP BUSINESS SCHOOL and CHANGES ARE COMING TO B-SCHOOLS MBA CLASS PROFILES. HERES WHY

The post Rave Reviews & High Expectations For This New Joint MS-MBA Degree appeared first on Poets&Quants.
Realforce AB

GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The future looks bright for Realforce (formerly Adfenix) with funding from Spiltan Invest, Industrifonden, Starbright Invest and former owners and employees.



Realforce aims to simplify the complexities of marketing for the real estate industry, serving customers across Europe, the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia/ New Zealand.

In an industry with a history of being slow to tech adoption, their mission to bring market-leading MarTech is no small feat. While their early competitors diverted their attention to other markets, Realforce remained committed to real estate, addressing one industry-unique challenge after another.

This significant financial and strategic contribution from heavyweight investors, allows Realforce to expand its platform, with a product launch scheduled for later this year.

Goran Pallmar, Investment Manager and Deputy CEO at Spiltan Invest, and Ingunn Ukvitne, Investment Associate, said:

We have followed Realforce for a long time and can state that the company has developed in the right direction. Realforce has, in our eyes, made the investments required for it to become a leader in its industry on the Nordic and American markets.

Andre Hegge, Co-Founder and CEO of Realforce, added:

This vote of confidence from Spiltan, and all our investors, is recognition of the potential that we have long believed exists in real estate: to revolutionise a multi-million dollar industry by simplifying daily tasks through the use of innovative technology. This capital gives us the opportunity to further innovate, whilst ensuring the security of our platform, regardless of market conditions.

About Spiltan Invest

Spiltan Invest is an investment company that invests in listed and unlisted Swedish growth companies. Spiltan currently owns a portfolio valued at approximately SEK 10 billion, which consists of tech, finance, real estate and industry. Some of the listed holdings are Paradox Interactive, KlaraBo and Teqnion. Among the unlisted holdings are Spiltan Fonder, Flattered, Collaboration Art, P&E Fastigheter and Carbomax.

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More information is available at www.spiltan.se .

About Realforce (previously Adfenix)

Realforce delivers a data-backed, full-service marketing operations platform designed for the real estate industry. It is trusted by many of the worlds largest real estate brands.

Founded in Sweden in 2014 by co-founders Andre Hegge and Gabriel Kamienny, today Realforce has offices in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmo, Phoenix, and London.

More information is available at: www.realforce.com

CONTACT: Contact: Rebecca Poynton Head of Content, Realforce rebecca.poynton@realforce.com +44 (0) 7904 528768




Royal Farms

BALTIMORE, Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Royal Farms is helping students have a productive school year by donating bookbags and school supplies to The Preston Mitchum, Jr. Foundations annual Back-to-School Drive campaign. The PMJ Foundation helps to provide shelters with necessities for less fortunate individuals and families.



Royal Farms donation will support The PMJ Foundations efforts in providing more than 3,000 bookbags to school-aged children in need of school supplies and clothing. The annual Back to School Rally will be held on the 3rd week in August.

The PMJ Foundation has been giving back to the Baltimore community since 2002. Our volunteers and members truly feel blessed to be able to have the opportunity to support Baltimore's most needy families. - Preston Mitchum Jr.

Royal Farms is proud to team up with The PMJ Foundation again to help support students ability to return to school ready and prepared to learn. Royal Farms is committed to the communities we serve and fueling the future through supporting the students in our communities. Said Frank Schilling, Director of Marketing and Merchandising.

Back to school time coincides with Royal Farms annual Chickenpalooza charity event ending on August 31, 2023. Royal Farms will be donating .10 cents of every 2-piece chicken box sold to a local charity in each of the states that they operate. The festive chicken boxes have a QR code that will link to a website where customers can vote where they want to see each donation to go.

Four lucky entrants will win free chicken for a year through the Chickenpalooza sweepstakes. There is no purchase necessary to enter the sweepstakes. Free chicken for a year prize will be awarded as eight $100 Royal Farms Gift Cards. To enter to win the contest and view official rules and guidelines, please visit www.royalfarms.com/chicken-palooza.

About Royal Farms

Royal Farms is a renowned operator of fast and friendly neighborhood convenience stores with nearly 300 locations throughout the Mid-Atlantic. Royal Farms opened its first store in Baltimore, MD in 1959 under the name White Jug. Today, the chain has locations in Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina. Royal Farms has been satisfying customers hunger for Real Fresh food served Real Fast. The Royal Farms Kitchen is well known for its Always Fresh, Never Frozen World-Famous Royal Farms Chicken that is lightly hand-breaded and pressure-cooked in Trans Fat Free cooking oil to golden brown perfection. Royal Farms Western Fries are hand-cut from fresh Idaho potatoes, hand-breaded, and cooked right in store. Most locations are open 24 hours, 365 days a year. For more information about Royal Farms, visit: www.royalfarms.com.

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Contact:

Aliyah Atayee

aatayee@royalfarms.com




BANGKOK, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Travel Daily Media (TD), Asia's leading travel industry news platform, is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated Travel Daily Media  Inspiring Women in Travel - Asia (IWTA) Awards 2024. The prestigious awards ceremony will take place on 9 March 2024, and is set to be bigger, better, and more inspiring than ever before.

Following the resounding success of the 2023 edition, which attracted an overwhelming response from the travel community, the TD-IWTA Awards 2024 promises to be an unforgettable evening that celebrates and recognizes exceptional women in the travel and hospitality industry. The 2023 event held last June 24 saw a record-breaking attendance, and the event owe its success to the unwavering support of its generous sponsors who believed in the importance of empowering women in the travel industry.

Ponant Cruises, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Shiji, Myanmar Airways International, Thaiger, and Abercrombie & Kent were among the esteemed sponsors that played a crucial role in the success of the TD-IWTA 2023.

Other sponsors of the previous event are Paulaner, Regent Seven Seas, Hotel Beds, TBO.com, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, Air Astana, Rival, Cebu Pacific, Intrepid, Campbell PR, B-Concept. Meanwhile, Cision  PR Newswire is TD-IWTA Awards' official news distribution partner. Their dedication and commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion in the travel sector set the stage for the forthcoming edition, as we look forward to partnering with even more forward-thinking organizations that share our vision.

The TD-IWTA Awards 2024 will feature an array of exciting categories, recognizing outstanding women leaders across various segments of the travel industry. From visionary CEOs and trailblazing entrepreneurs to inspiring mentors and community champions, the awards will showcase the remarkable contributions of women who have shattered barriers and transformed the travel landscape.

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"We are thrilled to announce the second iteration of TD-IWTA Awards 2024. The previous event exceeded all of our expectations, and we are dedicated to making the upcoming event even more impactful. The travel industry is evolving, and women are playing an instrumental role in driving this transformation. The TD-IWTA Awards is our way of acknowledging their exceptional achievements and fostering a more inclusive and diverse industry," said Gary Marshall, CEO, Travel Daily Media.

To further amplify the impact of the IWTA Awards, Travel Daily Media will continue the "IWTA Stories" in the lead-up to the event. This inspiring initiative will showcase the personal journeys and professional triumphs of women in the travel industry, offering a platform for women to share their experiences, challenges, and successes in the travel industry. These stories will serve as a source of motivation and empowerment for aspiring women professionals and encourage the community to rally behind the cause of gender equality.

The IWTA Stories and TD-IWTA Awards are both invaluable resources for women in the travel industry. The stories provide a platform for women to share their journey and inspire others. The events also provide opportunities for women to network and celebrate one another.

If you are an inspiring woman in the travel industry, we encourage you to participate in the IWTA Stories. You can nominate yourself or someone you know by visiting the Travel Daily Media website.

As we eagerly anticipate the TD-IWTA Awards 2024, Travel Daily Media invites individuals, companies, and organizations across the travel industry to join us in this meaningful celebration of diversity, excellence, and empowerment.

For sponsorship opportunities or to learn more about the TD-IWTA Awards 2024, visit www.tdiwtaawards.com or follow TD-IWTA Facebook Page.

About Inspiring Women in Travel - Asia (IWTA)

Inspiring Women in Travel - Asia (IWTA) is a community of women in the travel industry who are passionate about supporting each other and advancing the careers of women in the industry. IWTA Stories highlights interviews the most inspiring women and hold roundtable discussions on the women issues in the sector. TD-IWTA Awards is an annual event honoring the most inspiring women in the travel industry.

About Travel Daily Media (TD)

Travel Daily Media is a leading travel industry publication providing the latest news, insights, and analysis for travel professionals across the globe. With a focus on industry trends, innovation, and developments, Travel Daily Media is committed to promoting and supporting the growth of the travel and tourism sector.

Cision

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SOURCE Travel Daily Media
TAIPEI, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SINBON Electronics, an electronic interconnect design and integration service provider, was recently awarded the HR Asia's "Best Companies to Work for in Asia Award" for 2023 in Taiwan. This prestigious recognition acknowledges SINBON's efforts in creating a well-being environment for its employees while also striving to provide a platform for career development to its talented people.

SINBON Electronics Honored with HR Asia's Best Companies to Work for in Asia 2023

HR Asia's "Best Companies to Work for in Asia Award" is one of the most authoritative and significant awards in the field of human resources management in the Asia-Pacific region. This year's theme, "Diversity thrives, inclusion prevails," incorporates values such as diversity, equality, and inclusiveness, emphasizing the importance of respecting and accepting individual differences among employees. It also highlights the value brought by individual uniqueness while promoting workplace equality through an inclusive environment.

SINBON actively integrates these values into its corporate culture, believing that top talents come from diverse regions and backgrounds. We will offer customized training programs for employees from different countries. It also emphasizes on promoting local executives in overseas locations. Furthermore, SINBON prioritizes the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, adopting principles of openness, inclusivity, diversity, respect, and equality. This approach ensures fair and smooth career advancement pathways, gradually realizing the vision of diversity and inclusivity.

San Li, Assistant Manager of the Human Resources Department, saying with gratitude, "We are grateful for the recognition by HR Asia's judging panel. We will continue to 'Stay humble, and continue to be responsible." Thereby, SINBON remains committed to providing a fair, safe, and well-equipped work environment, respecting workplace rights, and implementing information security measures to foster a fully protected human rights environment.

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The SINBON's 2022 Sustainability report is now available at our official website: https://www.sinbon.com/csr/report

About SINBON

Established in 1989 in Taiwan, SINBON is a world-leading provider of integrated design and production services of bespoke interconnect solutions. SINBON has widely established operations in Taiwan, China, Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, Hungary, and the United States. For more information, please visit www.sinbon.com, or reach out to us at inquiry@sinbon.com.

Cision

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SOURCE SINBON Electronics
Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd (SGX:S63) has announced that it will pay a dividend of SGD0.04 per share on the 1st of September. This makes the dividend yield 4.2%, which will augment investor returns quite nicely.

Check out our latest analysis for Singapore Technologies Engineering

Singapore Technologies Engineering's Payment Has Solid Earnings Coverage

If the payments aren't sustainable, a high yield for a few years won't matter that much. Prior to this announcement, Singapore Technologies Engineering's dividend was making up a very large proportion of earnings and perhaps more concerning was that it was 130% of cash flows. Paying out such a high proportion of cash flows certainly exposes the company to cutting the dividend if cash flows were to reduce.

Over the next year, EPS is forecast to expand by 55.8%. Assuming the dividend continues along the course it has been charting recently, our estimates show the payout ratio being 65% which brings it into quite a comfortable range.

Dividend Volatility

The company has a long dividend track record, but it doesn't look great with cuts in the past. The annual payment during the last 10 years was SGD0.155 in 2013, and the most recent fiscal year payment was SGD0.16. Dividend payments have grown at less than 1% a year over this period. The dividend has seen some fluctuations in the past, so even though the dividend was raised this year, we should remember that it has been cut in the past.

Dividend Growth May Be Hard To Achieve

Growing earnings per share could be a mitigating factor when considering the past fluctuations in the dividend. Although it's important to note that Singapore Technologies Engineering's earnings per share has basically not grown from where it was five years ago, which could erode the purchasing power of the dividend over time. Singapore Technologies Engineering's earnings per share has barely grown, which is not ideal - perhaps this is why the company pays out the majority of its earnings to shareholders. When a company prefers to pay out cash to its shareholders instead of reinvesting it, this can often say a lot about that company's dividend prospects.

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The Dividend Could Prove To Be Unreliable

Overall, it's nice to see a consistent dividend payment, but we think that longer term, the current level of payment might be unsustainable. The track record isn't great, and the payments are a bit high to be considered sustainable. We don't think Singapore Technologies Engineering is a great stock to add to your portfolio if income is your focus.

Companies possessing a stable dividend policy will likely enjoy greater investor interest than those suffering from a more inconsistent approach. Meanwhile, despite the importance of dividend payments, they are not the only factors our readers should know when assessing a company. As an example, we've identified 2 warning signs for Singapore Technologies Engineering that you should be aware of before investing. If you are a dividend investor, you might also want to look at our curated list of high yield dividend stocks.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
(Bloomberg) -- SoftBank Group Corp. is in discussions to purchase the 25% stake in Arm Ltd. it doesnt directly own from Vision Fund 1, the $100 billion investment fund it raised in 2017, Reuters reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

Most Read from Bloomberg

If the negotiations lead to a deal, investors in the fund including Saudi Arabias Public Investment Fund and Abu Dhabis Mubadala would be positioned for an immediate windfall, Reuters said.

The chip designer is targeting an initial public offering at a valuation of between $60 billion and $70 billion as soon as September, Bloomberg reported earlier this month. Several tech companies, including Amazon.com Inc., Intel Corp. and Nvidia Corp., have held talks to become anchor investors in the IPO, people familiar with the matter have said.

Read more: SoftBanks Arm Targets $60 Billion Value in September IPO

Raine Group is advising SoftBank on the negotiations, Reuters reported. Founder and Chief Executive Masayoshi Son recused himself from VF1s deliberations on the matter so that the fund makes a decision independently in the interest of its investors, the people told the news service.

SoftBank, VF1 and Arm declined to comment to Reuters. Raine did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the news service.

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Vantage Market Research, The North Star for the Working World

WASHINGTON, Aug. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As per Vantage Market Research, the Global Stem Cell Therapy Market has been steadily growing due to the increasing importance of medical advancements and technical developments. Both established countries like the United States and developing nations like China and India, where there is an increased emphasis on preventing chronic diseases and preserving overall health cost-efficiently, are particularly in need of effective healthcare solutions. This focus has increased interest in Stem Cell Therapy as a novel and effective strategy for treating various illnesses. Stem Cell Therapy can speed up enrolling patients in clinical trials and determining their eligibility while lowering waiting times and guaranteeing positive results.



According to Vantage Market Research, the global Stem Cell Therapy Market is estimated to be valued at USD 831.9 Million by 2030 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 17.2% from 2023 to 2030. The Stem Cell Therapy market grew to USD 235.4 million in 2022.

The stem cell therapies market plays a crucial role in the healthcare sector, particularly in times of infectious disease outbreaks such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The development of medicines and vaccines can take a potential new direction due to Stem Cell Therapy. Researchers can investigate ingenious and practical solutions by utilizing the regeneration capacity of stem cells. The market for Stem Cell Therapy has developed so that it improves efficiency, patient outcomes, and the state of healthcare as a whole, especially in treating newly emerging infectious diseases and other serious health issues.

Get Access to Free Sample Research Report with Latest Industry Insights @ https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/stem-cell-therapy-market-2236/request-sample

Key Highlights

By Type, the Allogeneic Stem Cell Therapy segment will increase the Market over the forecast period 2023 to 2030

By Cell sources, the Adipose tissue segment dominated the largest market share globally during the forecast period 2023 to 2030

By Therapeutic Applications, Musculoskeletal Disorder holds the largest share across the globe in the forecast period 2023 to 2030

In 2022, North America dominated the market with the highest revenue share of 42.30%

Asia-pacific will grow at a high CAGR from 2023-2030



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The Stem Cell Therapy industry provides a wide variety of solutions to satisfy healthcare stakeholders' changing demands and needs. To meet various therapeutic indications and patient needs, numerous Stem Cell Therapy methodologies and procedures are available. Researchers and doctors can choose from various stem cell sources, including adult stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and embryonic stem cells, to tailor treatments to individual patients' needs. To meet the changing needs of the healthcare sector, the market is constantly introducing new goods and therapies due to continued innovation and research. This competitive environment encourages advancements and gives consumers a wide range of possibilities to customize Stem Cell Therapy treatments following their particular circumstances and treatment objectives.

Top Companies in The Global Stem Cell Therapy Market

Advanced Cell Technology Inc. (U.S.)

Caladrius Biosciences (U.S.)

Angel Biotechnology (Scotland)

Bioheart Inc. (U.S.)

Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics (U.S.)

Celgene Corporation (U.S.)

Cellartis AB (Sweden)

CellGenix GmbH (Germany)

Cellular Engineering Technologies Inc. (U.S.)

Gamida Cell (Israel)

Genea Biocells (U.S.)

Osiris Therapeutics (U.S.)

PromoCell GmbH (Germany)

STEMCELL Technologies Inc. (Canada)

Tigenix Waisman Biomanufacturing (U.S.)

Kite Pharma (U.S.)

Lonza (Switzerland)





To Know an Additional List of Key Players, Request Here to Download a Free Report PDF Brochure: https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/stem-cell-therapy-market-2236/request-sample

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Factors affecting the growth of the Stem Cell Therapy Market Industry

Several factors can affect the growth of the Stem Cell Therapy industry. Some of these factors include:

Growing Incidence of Chronic Diseases: A significant factor propelling the Stem Cell Therapy market is the growing prevalence of chronic diseases like cardiovascular disorders, neurological diseases, autoimmune diseases, and orthopedic injuries. Stem Cell Therapy provides possible regenerative tissue repair and functional restoration solutions. These diseases place a considerable burden on healthcare systems around the world. Growing Awareness and Acceptance: The potential advantages of Stem Cell Therapy are becoming more widely known among patients and healthcare professionals, positively impacting the market expansion. The need for stem cell therapies is driven by patients looking for alternative therapy alternatives, particularly for illnesses with few available therapeutic options. Medical practitioners are increasingly adopting and integrating stem cell therapies into standard medical practices as they become more and more aware of the therapeutic potential of stem cells. Favourable Regulatory Environment: Patient safety and therapy efficacy are guaranteed by implementing regulatory frameworks and recommendations for Stem Cell Therapy. The commercialization of stem cell therapies is supported by a supportive regulatory framework that promotes market confidence, attracts investment, and supports the market. Ethical Consideration and Public Perception: For the industry to develop, it is essential to address ethical issues raised by stem cell research and therapy. Concerns about ethics are lessened by advancements in the ethical procurement of stem cells, such as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). How the general public views and uses Stem Cell Therapy impacts the market's expansion.

Top Trends in Global Stem Cell Therapy Market

Several significant factors influence the growth and development of the global Stem Cell Therapy industry. With continuous research and clinical studies examining its potential in treating a wide range of ailments, including neurological disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and orthopedic injuries, there is an increased focus on expanding the uses of stem cell treatment outside traditional domains. v. The market is also experiencing increased funding and investments from the public and private sectors, spurring research and quickening the commercialization of stem cell therapies.

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Recent Development of the Global Stem Cell Therapy Market

February 2021: American CryoStem collaborated with BioTherapeutic Labs Corp to research and develop stem cells. The primary purpose of this collaboration was to develop and improve protocols utilizing CRYOs ATCell and BTLs human umbilical cord-based product lines.

August 2022: Global Blood Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing, and delivering life-changing treatments like sickle cell disease. Pfizer Inc. announced that the two companies have entered into a binding agreement. The acquisition strengthens the company's commitment to SCD by bringing expertise, a premier portfolio, and a pipeline that can address the full spectrum of critical needs. It also complements and further enhances Pfizer's more than 30-year history in rare hematology. Pfizer wants to expand on the mutual commitment and involvement of the two companies with the SCD community.

Stem Cell Therapy Market Drivers

Several key factors drive the Stem Cell Therapy market. The rising prevalence of chronic diseases like cancer, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular diseases drives demand for innovative treatments. The therapeutic uses of stem cell treatment are growing due to improvements in stem cell research and technology, including better isolation and differentiation methods. Additionally, the market is growing due to increased public and commercial sector support for stem cell research and development. Additionally, the industry is developing due to favorable regulatory frameworks, rising regenerative medicine awareness, and multinational partnerships. The ability of Stem Cell Therapy to offer individualized and regenerative treatments furthers its uptake in the medical field.

Market Restraints

The Stem Cell Therapy sector has potential for growth and some market restraints. The high expense of Stem Cell Therapy continues to be a major obstacle, preventing a larger patient population from accessing it. These therapies are expensive in part because of the intricate procedures, specialized settings, and personalized nature of their treatments. The use of stem cells can be hampered by regulatory and ethical issues, which can impede commercial expansion. Stricter laws and differing regulations in various nations and areas may impact stem cell therapies' creation, commercialization, and uptake. Additionally, greater research and clinical proof are needed to confirm the long-term efficacy and safety of several stem cell therapies, which makes patients and healthcare professionals wary about using them.

Market Opportunities

There are numerous opportunities for development and growth in the Stem Cell Therapy market. Stem Cell Therapy is increasingly used to treat various illnesses and injuries, including neurological problems, cardiovascular ailments, and orthopedic injuries. The expansion of the market is made possible by the therapeutic indications' diversification. Technology developments like enhanced cell culture techniques and tools for gene editing present chances to increase the efficacy and security of Stem Cell Therapy. Additionally, rising R&D expenditures and supporting regulatory frameworks foster innovation and the commercialization of innovative stem cell treatments. Collaborations between business stakeholders, academic institutions, and research organizations can present chances for information exchange, resource pooling, and cooperative research projects.

Browse market data Tables and Figures spread through 143 Pages and in-depth TOC on Stem Cell Therapy Market Forecast Report (2023-2030).

Report Segmentation of the Global Stem Cell Therapy Market

Type Analysis

Allogeneic transplants dominate the industry and is anticipated to increase the fastest. The potential of allogeneic transplants to give the patient a new immune system is one of the leading causes of this increase. In addition to supplying the required stem cells, donor cells that engraft in the recipient also aid in developing a healthy immune system, which is essential for battling the disease.

Cell Source Analysis

Adipose tissue has significantly contributed to the Stem Cell Therapy market. Many essential elements, including the simple isolation procedures connected with adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs), are responsible for this market's supremacy. Adipose tissue is a desirable source of stem cells due to the ease with which it may be retrieved from patients during less invasive harvesting procedures like liposuction.

Therapeutic Application Analysis

The musculoskeletal disorder category will grow faster for the Stem Cell Therapy market. Musculoskeletal disorder conditions, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, cartilage degeneration, ligament injuries, and failed orthopedic implants, are prevalent in people of all ages. Stem Cell Therapy uses the regenerative abilities of stem cells to repair and regenerate damaged musculoskeletal tissues, making it a promising treatment option for many disorders.

Market Segmentation

By Type

Allogeneic Stem Cell Therapy

Autologous Stem Cell Therapy

By Cell Source

Adipose Tissue-derived MSCs (mesenchymal stem cells)

Bone Marrow-derived MSCs (mesenchymal stem cells)

Others Cell Sources



By Therapeutic Application

Musculoskeletal Disorders

Wounds & Injuries

Surgeries

Inflammatory & Autoimmune Diseases

Neurological Disorders

Other Therapeutic Application

By Region

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East & Africa



Read Full Report with TOC @ https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/stem-cell-therapy-market-2236

Scope of the Report:

Report Attributes Details Market Size in 2022 USD 235.4 Million Revenue Forecast by 2030 USD 831.9 Million CAGR 17.2% from 2023 to 2030 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 to 2030 Key Players Advanced Cell Technology Inc., Caladrius Biosciences, Angel Biotechnology, Bioheart Inc., Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics, Celgene Corporation, Cellartis AB, CellGenix GmbH, Cellular Engineering Technologies Inc., Gamida Cell, Genea Biocells, Osiris Therapeutics, PromoCell GmbH, STEMCELL Technologies Inc., Tigenix Waisman Biomanufacturing, Kite Pharma, Lonza Customization Options Customized purchase options are available to meet any research needs. Explore customized purchase options https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/stem-cell-therapy-market-2236/customization-request

Regional Analysis

The North American region dominated the market for stem cell therapies worldwide. This supremacy results from numerous things, like the well-established healthcare system in North America, with cutting-edge medical facilities and experience in stem cell research and therapy. Reputable academic institutions, pharmaceutical firms, and research organizations active in creating and marketing stem cell therapies can be found in the area. Also, due to significant R&D investments, the United States has been at the forefront of stem cell research. Large patient populations, high healthcare costs, and supportive reimbursement practices contribute to the North American market's expansion and hegemony.

The market for Stem Cell Therapy was predicted to grow quickly in Asia. v, including a sizable and expanding population in the area, which offers a sizable patient pool and commercial potential. Significant expenditures have been made in stem cell research and development by nations like China, Japan, and South Korea, promoting progress in the area. Additionally, the regulatory climate for stem cell therapies is favorable in some countries in the Asia Pacific area, facilitating faster approval and commercialization. A rising incidence of chronic diseases in the area is another factor driving demand for cutting-edge therapies like Stem Cell Therapy.

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Unfortunately, you dont have to look hard to see the devastating effects that a natural disaster or wildfire can have on large areas of the United States.

Jaspreet Singh: 5 Assets To Buy So You Never Have To Work Again

Also: What To Do If You Owe Back Taxes to the IRS

While the cause of the ongoing fires that have displaced and killed many residents and destroyed parts of the Hawaiian island of Maui has not yet been determined (about 85% of U.S. wildfires are caused by humans, according to the National Park Service), the total insured loss from the wildfires is expected to be the second-largest in Hawaiis history, according to Reuters.

A natural disaster can happen at any time, but they are occurring more frequently and are regrettable reminders of the importance of home insurance. As personal financial expert, bestselling author and popular podcast host Suze Orman said, skimping on insurance coverage or, perish the thought, going without it completely could be a costly mistake.

But its also a costly expense. As natural disasters, supply chain problems and construction costs have mounted, so too have the cost of premiums offered by private companies. Protecting your home now costs about $2,000 a year, noted Orman. MarketWatch stated that the average cost for August 2023 is $2,417 per year. Some companies are refusing to sell even basic policies in some parts of the U.S. deemed dangerous areas, per The New York Times.

Homeowners insurance is a crucial investment for protecting one of your most valuable assets  your home. It provides financial protection against a range of potential risks and hazards that could lead to damage or loss. When it comes to protection, especially protecting such a valuable asset, we can hope for the best, but our financial security depends on planning for the worst, said Orman. Please do your best not to skimp on your homeowners insurance.

While having a current insurance policy that gives you adequate property protection and liability coverage will bring you peace of mind, Orman suggests that homeowners have more than enough protection and opt for a policy with extended replacement cost (which pay out as much as 125% of your stated limit) and avoid those that base its customer claims on actual cash value of damaged property (which only covers the depreciated value of a replacement).

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Grant Cardone: Nobody Becomes Wealthy Because of a Salary  Heres What You Need To Focus On Instead

Budgeting a substantial amount every month toward home insurance wont be easy, but you should make it a top priority in your financial life, per Orman. When selecting homeowners insurance, its important to assess your needs and risks carefully. Dont just opt for the cheapest policy without considering the coverage limits, deductibles and any additional endorsements you might need. More protection is better than less, especially when it comes to providing protection for your home and belongings.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Suze Orman: You Cant Afford to Skimp on This Budget Item
Elon Musk

Tesla has renewed its price war in China just days after its biggest rival in the country vowed to demolish Western rivals.

Elon Musks car maker on Monday reduced the price of two versions of its popular Model Y electric car by about 4pc.

It is at least the second round of price cuts in China so far this year and means some vehicles have been discounted by as much as 16pc.

The latest round of reductions follows flagging sales and intense competition from local electric car makers.

Sales of Teslas Chinese-made cars, which are built at its factory in Shanghai, fell 31pc in July from a month earlier.

Last week, Chinese electric car maker BYD urged domestic players to wage war on Western rivals and demolish their competition.

BYD, which is backed by Warren Buffett, overtook Tesla as the worlds top electric car maker including plug-in hybrids last year.

Evidence of an escalating price war in the worlds biggest car market has worried investors. Tesla shares dropped almost 2pc in US pre-market trading, while BYD fell 9pc in Hong Kong.

Demand for electric cars in China has flagged since Beijing paused generous incentives last year, leaving manufacturers squabbling for sales in a smaller market.

Tesla has knocked 14,000 yuan (1,520) off the price of its Model Y Long Range and Performance version in its latest round of price cuts, with the vehicles now priced at 299,000 yuan (32,500) and 349,900 (38,000) respectively.

The electric car maker has also extended an offer on discounted insurance for its Model 3 Sedan until the end of the month, a perk worth 8,000 yuan (870).

Chris McNally, an analyst at Evercore ISI, said the Chinese price cuts may lead to similar select cuts in the US and Europe.

Tesla has partly blamed slowing sales in China on a drop in production as it upgrades its plants to produce new vehicles, including an upgraded Model 3.

Chinese manufacturers are looking West for export opportunities as the domestic market becomes saturated.

The boss of Vauxhall-owner Stellantis last month warned of an invasion of Chinese electric cars. Carlos Tavares warned of a brutal scenario where Western manufacturers must compete with cheaper Chinese-made cars while also having to invest billions into electrification.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
TGS ASA

OSLO, Norway (14 August 2023)  TGS, a leading global provider of energy data and intelligence, announces that it has secured funding for a series of multi-client projects in Southeast Asia, which are anticipated to commence in late Q4 2023.

The program covers six months of new 2D and 3D seismic data acquisition, over 6,600 kilometers of legacy 2D seismic data reprocessing and 300,000 square kilometers of 2D-cubed processing, tied together by a Facies Map Browser (FMB) product that enables fast-track exploration of a regional hotspot. These projects complement TGS existing library across India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Timor-Leste, encompassing 18,450 kilometers of 2D data, 70,237 square kilometers of 3D data, and 1,940,030 square kilometers of 2D-cubed data.

Kristian Johansen, CEO at TGS, commented: This program demonstrates our commitment to investing in energy data in Southeast Asia. The energy demand is increasing in line with the regions rapid economic growth, driven by growing populations and rising incomes. This growth brings with it a number of challenges as governments and E&P companies strive to supply this energy affordably and sustainably. Clients can remain confident that TGS is dedicated to supporting them through these challenges with all their exploration, production and CCS activities.

About TGS

TGS provides scientific data and intelligence to companies active in the energy sector. In addition to a global, extensive and diverse energy data library, TGS offers specialized services such as advanced processing and analytics alongside cloud-based data applications and solutions.

Forward Looking Statement

All statements in this press release other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, which are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict and are based upon assumptions as to future events that may not prove accurate. These factors include volatile market conditions, investment opportunities in new and existing markets, demand for licensing of data within the energy industry, operational challenges, and reliance on a cyclical industry and principal customers. Actual results may differ materially from those expected or projected in the forward-looking statements. TGS undertakes no responsibility or obligation to update or alter forward-looking statements for any reason.

Story continues

For more information, visit TGS.com or contact:

Sven Brre Larsen

Chief Financial Officer

investor@tgs.com




The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued multiple recalls last week, including more than 160,000 Toyota vehicles for increased risk of fire due to a possible fuel leak.

Chrysler also recalled nearly 45,000 vehicles for a potential airbag deployment problem caused by the car's B-Pillar trim.

Car owners can check USA TODAYs automotive recall database or search NHTSAs database for new recalls. The NHTSA website also allows you to search for recalls based on your vehicle identification number, or VIN.

Here are the vehicle recalls published by the NHTSA from August 8 to August 12:

Previous week: Kia, Hyundai among more than 200,000 vehicles recalled last week: Check car recalls here.

Toyota recall: Tundra, Tundra Hybrid vehicles

Toyota is recalling around 168,000 of its 2022 and 2023 model year Toyota Tundra and Tundra Hybrid pickups due to a possible fuel leak that could cause a fire.

The trucks are equipped with a plastic fuel tube which could move and rub against a brake line and develop a fuel leak, Toyota said in a recall notice Thursday.

People experiencing this issue can have the fuel tube replaced by a Toyota dealer with an improved part and additional clamps at no cost.

Recalled Toyota vehicles:

2022 Toyota Tundra

2022 Toyota Tundra Hybrid

2023 Toyota Tundra

2023 Toyota Tundra Hybrid

Toyota is recalling about 168,000 2023 and 2022 Toyota Tundra and Tundra Hybrid trucks out of concern for possible fuel leaks, which could cause a fire. Shown here: the 2022 Toyota Tundra on display during Motor Bella at M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan on Sept. 21, 2021.

More: Toyota recalls: Toyota Tundra, Hybrid pickups recalled for fuel leak, fire concerns

Chrysler recall: Jeep Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer vehicles

Chrysler is recalling 44,708 of its 2022-2023 Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer vehicles for a potential issue with the interior trim.

"The upper B-pillar interior trim may not be fully seated and could interfere with the side curtain air bag (SABIC) deployment," the NHTSA said.

Chrysler dealers will inspect and replace the trim pieces, if necessary, at no cost to the owner. Notification letters are expected to be mailed Sept. 22.

Recalled Chrysler vehicles:

2022-2023 Jeep Grand Wagoneer

2022-2023 Jeep Wagoneer

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Subaru recall: Crosstrek, Impreza vehicles

Subaru is recalling 35,357 of its 2024 Crosstrek and Impreza vehicles due to a potential short circuit risk leading to a loss of power in the car, the NHTSA said.

"Due to insufficient clearance, the instrument panel harness may contact the steering beam bracket, damaging the wire insulation and causing a short circuit." it said.

Subaru dealers will inspect the vehicle's harness and install an additional clamp on the steering beam bracket, and, if necessary, add protective tape or replace the instrument panel harness if damage is found. Owners can expect notification letters to be mailed on Oct. 3.

Recalled Subaru vehicles:

2024 Subaru Crosstrek

2024 Subaru Impreza

Mazda recall: CX-90 vehicles

Mazda is recalling 17,600 of its 2024 CX-90 vehicles because the software that detects when people are approaching the vehicle may be missing, the NHTSA said.

"Software in the Approaching Vehicle Audible System (AVAS) Information Sound Box (ISB) amplifier may be missing, which can cause inaccurate, external pedestrian warning sounds," it said.

Mazda will mail notification letters to owners by Oct. 3. Customers can bring their vehicles to Mazda dealers for a free software update as necessary.

Recalled Mazda vehicles:

2024 Mazda CX-90

General Motors recall: Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra vehicles

General Motors is recalling 3,893 of its 2024 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra vehicles because the steering gear shaft could fracture and disconnect from the steering arm, resulting in a loss of steering control and increasing the risk for a crash, the NHTSA said.

General Motors will mail notification letters to owners by Sept. 18. Dealers can inspect and replace the steering gear, if necessary, free of charge for customers.

Recalled General Motors vehicles:

2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500

2024 Chevrolet Silverado 3500

2024 GMC Sierra 2500

2024 GMC Sierra 3500

Hyundai recall: Genesis GV60 vehicles

Hyundai is recalling 168 of its 2023 Genesis GV60 vehicles because the seatbelt might not fasten or extend properly, the NHTSA said.

"The automatic locking retractor for the front passenger-side seat belt may prohibit the seat belt from fastening and/or extending properly," it said.

Hyundai will mail notification letters to owners by Oct. 3. Customers can bring their vehicles to Hyundai dealers to have their front passenger-side seat belt replaced for free.

Recalled Hyundai vehicles:

2023 Genesis GV60

Mercedes-Benz recall: Maybach S580, Maybach S680 vehicles

Mercedes-Benz is recalling 73 of its 2022-2023 Maybach S580 and Maybach S680 vehicles because of an improperly secured ground connection that can lead to an increased risk of crash or risk of fire if the ground connection overheats, the NHTSA said.

"The 12-Volt ground connection in the trunk may not be secured properly, which can impair the electronic stability program (ESP) or result in the ground connection overheating," it said.

Mazda will mail notification letters to owners by Oct. 3. Customers can bring their vehicles to dealers for a free inspection.

Recalled Mercedes-Benz vehicles:

2022-2023 Maybach S580

2022-2023 Maybach S680

Hyundai recall: Tucson vehicles

Hyundai is also recalling 30 of its 2024 Tucson vehicles due to incorrect tire and loading information being included that states there may be a spare tire in the vehicle, the NHTSA said.

Hyundai will mail notification letters to owners by Oct. 3. Customers can bring their vehicles to Hyundai dealers for a free inspection and tire replacement as necessary.

Recalled Hyundia vehicles:

2024 Hyundai Tucson

Mercedes-Benz recall: AMG EQE, EQE 500, EQE 350 vehicles

Mercedes-Benz is recalling 10 of its 2023 AMG EQE, EQE 500, and EQE 350 vehicles because the absorbers in the vehicle's roof frame could be secured improperly and detach during window air bag deployment, the NHTSA said.

Notification letters will be mailed to owners by Oct. 3. Customers can bring their vehicles to Mercedes-Benz dealers for a free absorbers replacement as necessary.

Recalled Mercedes-Benz vehicles:

2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG EQE

2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 500

2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Recall check: Toyota, Chrysler, Subaru among 270,000 cars recalled
(Bloomberg) -- The US 10-year yield rose to the highest level since November as traders pared expectations for Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts next year.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The 10-year Treasury yield rose as much as 6 basis points to 4.213%, exceeding its Aug. 4 high of 4.204%.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
We tested the new TikTok Music streaming app in Singapore to see how it compared to other streamers. TikTok, Tyler Le/Insider

TikTok Music sets itself apart from Spotify with a greater emphasis on social listening.

It's user-friendly, but the "For You" feature at its core generated more misses for us than hits.

The app launched in Singapore on July 19. A US release date has not yet been announced.

TikTok has become a force in the music industry, driving new hits through video trends and pushing old tracks to the top of the song charts. Now, it's using that influence to kick-start its own music-streaming app, TikTok Music.

The company's new app is currently only available to users in Brazil, Indonesia, Australia, Mexico, and Singapore.

Insider signed up for an early look at the Singapore version that's being tested in a closed beta.

After spending hours exploring the platform, we found TikTok has leaned heavily into some of the same features that made its video app popular.

Like TikTok's interface, TikTok Music includes a "For You" feed of recommended content. It also incorporates social features, such as the ability to comment on songs and react to what other users are saying. This sets it apart from leading streamers like Spotify and Apple Music, which have limited in-app social features.

"We find in our consumer surveys that younger consumers are more interested in having a more social streaming experience," Tatiana Cirisano, a music-industry analyst and consultant at the research firm MIDiA Research, told Insider. "Spotify is starting to offer more things in that vein, but I just see it as an opportunity that's ripe for TikTok's taking."

TikTok may also be uniquely positioned to capture younger users as they start to enter the marketplace.

"If they've grown up with TikTok before they are actually spending money on any subscriptions, and then TikTok Music is out there, that could be pretty scary for Spotify and some of these other players if they're thinking about the next generation," Cirisano said.

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It's still very early days for TikTok Music, and its rivals have a big headstart  Apple Music and Spotify are each in more than 100 countries.

But other relative newcomers like YouTube Music have shown there's room to break into music streaming, particularly for platforms that can leverage another popular app to drive sign-ups. YouTube reached 73 million music subscriptions in Q4 2022, up from 23 million three years earlier, per data compiled by MIDiA.

TikTok has not yet said when TikTok Music will roll out to other countries including the US. A spokesperson told Insider in July it will have "more news to share" on that front in the coming months.

In our tour of the app in Singapore, we found TikTok Music stood out from its peers with unique social features and a Shazam-style song identifier.

Yet, we felt TikTok Music's "For You" song recommendations in its discovery feed missed the mark  a surprising deficiency given its sister app is known for having an industry-leading content-recommendation algorithm  although the music app did excel at making song mixes.

TikTok Music requires users to sign up for a subscription  and having a TikTok account is not optional

Screenshots of the TikTok Music sign-up process. TikTok Music

Immediately upon launch, the app prompts users to sign in via TikTok. We were required to have an account on the short-form video app to even use TikTok Music.

Breaking away from Spotify and other platforms that offer both free ad-supported and paid options, TikTok Music is subscription-only. In Singapore, where users are getting a three-month free trial as part of its current closed beta program  there is no option for a free tier that comes with advertising.

That could be because TikTok's parent company ByteDance has struggled to convert free users to paying customers in the past. It tested a free tier in its other music-streaming app, Resso, and very few users paid for the app, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Once we finished logging into TikTok Music, the app showed a list of recommended artists to follow based on the TikTok account.

The app's 'For You' page looks straight out of TikTok

Screenshots of the For You page on TikTok Music. TikTok Music

Right from the start, it's clear that TikTok Music takes inspiration from its sister app and emphasizes music discovery.

The first thing we saw after signing up was the app's "For You" feed.

Anyone familiar with TikTok will feel right at home with the vertical, algorithm-driven feed  simply scroll to see what's next.

In the span of a minute, Insider scrolled through an odd mix of songs ranging from the Russian version of "Holding Out For A Hero" from the "Tetris" movie soundtrack to the parody song "Wet Diaper (Goo Goo Gah Gah)" from Showtime's "Ziwe."

Despite scrolling for hours, it never quite felt like the algorithm achieved the same addictive, mindless, and time-consuming groove that the TikTok app does. Perhaps an endless vertical scroll just isn't suited to music.

The algorithm is as opaque here as it is on TikTok, but there are noteworthy changes

Screenshots of TikTok Music's history page, music identifier, and party mode. TikTok Music

TikTok offers the ability to choose between "Fresh" or "Familiar" music on the For You page. This adjusts the user experience to allow for discovering new songs versus hearing more familiar tracks.

However, that's really the only form of control a user has over the app's algorithm, as they can't control other factors like genre or mood. Users need to make their own playlists or request a "similar mix" from a particular song in order to guarantee they'll hear certain types of music.

The app has a dedicated history page that makes it easy to keep track of songs while jumping between playlists. It also has a built-in music identifier that can recognize songs playing around a user. The feature basically renders Apple-owned Shazam obsolete if this is your primary music app.

TikTok Music also has a useful trick for social gatherings, offering a party mode that allows you to pump up the volume even higher and to use your phone's flashlight function as a strobe light.

TikTok puts a greater emphasis on social listening than other streaming apps we've used

Screenshot of TikTok Music's social features. TikTok Music

TikTok Music features a comments section for every song, reminiscent of comments from the main TikTok app. Unlike other streaming apps, the comments don't seem like an afterthought  top comments are featured alongside a song's cover art.

So far, we found that only the most popular of songs on the app had active comment pages, but it's easy to see how drastically the app differs from other music streamers with its emphasis on social listening.

The app also provides an built-in translation feature for comments, which is useful considering TikTok Music's diverse global audience.

It also sets itself apart from Spotify by offering a richly detailed interface for song sharing, letting users choose and customize various visual styles before sending songs privately or posting to other social media platforms.

The app's music selections are heavily influenced by TikTok users

Screenshots of the Discover page on TikTok Music. TikTok Music

The app's heavy TikTok influence is instantly apparent here, coloring not just its design, but also the music it serves up. The "Discover" page is filled with rows of playlists based on what's currently popular on TikTok, alongside other playlists.

TikTok has also started showing users popular songs on its main video app, recently testing a new feature that reveals "Hot 50" and "Viral" music charts to some users.

Beyond that, the usual fare of curated and automatically generated playlists fill TikTok Music's Discover page.

TikTok's core interface might look familiar to Spotify or Apple Music users, but its music mixes stand out

Screenshots of "Similar Mix" playlists on TikTok Music. TikTok Music

Those familiar with Spotify or Apple Music won't raise an eyebrow at much of TikTok Music's interface. Even its artist pages look straight out of Spotify.

One big difference though is how much more specific the app's targeted recommendations felt. You can start a "similar mix" for a particular song, and the results absolutely blow Spotify and Apple Music out of the water.

We were genuinely impressed that TikTok Music's similar mix of Illenium's "With All My Heart" made a playlist of EDM-infused songs about life after or in love, which were so lyrically similar they might as well have all been written by Christina Perri.

Ditto for being able to create a playlist of extremely emo instrumental synth rock with a song from the progressive-rock group Archive.

Importing your music from Spotify or Apple Music could cost extra

Screenshot of a third-party music importing platform. TikTok Music

For all its charm, TikTok Music has one big obstacle. The process of importing music from your listening app of choice takes you to a third-party platform, TuneMyMusic. Here, you are limited to importing 500 songs unless you're willing to shell out for a premium subscription to TuneMyMusic, which costs $4.50 a month.

As listeners who have way more than 500 songs saved across dozens of playlists, we were frustated by having to choose between paying or starting anew.

Read the original article on Business Insider
By Bianca Flowers

CHICAGO (Reuters) - The United Steelworkers (USW) international president said on Monday that the union supports North American steel producer Cleveland-Cliffs' bid to acquire rival, United States Steel Corp, adding that the company is the best strategic buyer.

Cleveland-Cliffs said on Sunday that it offered to buy U.S. Steel in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $35 per share, which represented a premium of 43% to U.S. Steel's last closing price.

Cliffs went public with its offer after U.S. Steel rejected the bid as being "unreasonable" and instead announced a formal review process, saying the company received multiple bids for parts or all of its business.

"Cliffs is committed to the blast furnace segment of the steel market and U.S. Steel is not," the union's international president, Thomas Conway told Reuters in an interview. "I think they are committed to the steel industry and success."

The United Steelworker's collective bargaining agreement with U.S. Steel outlines that the company has to take union leadership voices into account for acquisition bids.

U.S. Steel has said that it received "multiple unsolicited proposals." Conway said that no other bidders have come forward to court the unions' support.

(Reporting by Bianca Flowers in Chicago; Editing by Tomasz Janowski)
The board of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) has announced that it will pay a dividend on the 29th of September, with investors receiving $1.30 per share. The dividend yield will be 2.3% based on this payment which is still above the industry average.

Check out our latest analysis for Union Pacific

Union Pacific's Earnings Easily Cover The Distributions

A big dividend yield for a few years doesn't mean much if it can't be sustained. The last dividend was quite easily covered by Union Pacific's earnings. This means that a large portion of its earnings are being retained to grow the business.

Over the next year, EPS is forecast to expand by 28.2%. If the dividend continues along recent trends, we estimate the payout ratio will be 41%, which is in the range that makes us comfortable with the sustainability of the dividend.

Union Pacific Has A Solid Track Record

The company has an extended history of paying stable dividends. Since 2013, the dividend has gone from $1.38 total annually to $5.20. This means that it has been growing its distributions at 14% per annum over that time. We can see that payments have shown some very nice upward momentum without faltering, which provides some reassurance that future payments will also be reliable.

Dividend Growth May Be Hard To Come By

Investors who have held shares in the company for the past few years will be happy with the dividend income they have received. However, things aren't all that rosy. It's not great to see that Union Pacific's earnings per share has fallen at approximately 5.3% per year over the past five years. Declining earnings will inevitably lead to the company paying a lower dividend in line with lower profits. However, the next year is actually looking up, with earnings set to rise. We would just wait until it becomes a pattern before getting too excited.

Our Thoughts On Union Pacific's Dividend

Overall, a consistent dividend is a good thing, and we think that Union Pacific has the ability to continue this into the future. With shrinking earnings, the company may see some issues maintaining the dividend even though they look pretty sustainable for now. Taking all of this into consideration, the dividend looks viable moving forward, but investors should be mindful that the company has pushed the boundaries of sustainability in the past and may do so again.

Market movements attest to how highly valued a consistent dividend policy is compared to one which is more unpredictable. Meanwhile, despite the importance of dividend payments, they are not the only factors our readers should know when assessing a company. For example, we've picked out 1 warning sign for Union Pacific that investors should know about before committing capital to this stock. Is Union Pacific not quite the opportunity you were looking for? Why not check out our selection of top dividend stocks.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
FILE- Union Pacific Chairman, President, and CEO Lance Fritz smiles after a news conference at the Durham Museum in Omaha, Neb., on Feb. 17, 2017. Union Pacific announced Wednesday, July 26, 2023, it has replaced Fritz with its former chief operating officer Jim Vena as the new CEO. The Soroban Capital Partners hedge fund that holds a $1.6 billion stake in Union Pacific had been urging the railroad to hire Vena because of his expertise in streamlining operations.(AP Photo/Nati Harnik, File)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP)  Union Pacific's new CEO Jim Vena started Monday by promising to improve safety and service to help the railroad grow, but he cautioned that the road ahead won't be an easy one.

Some of the Omaha, Nebraska, railroad's biggest unions are already lukewarm on Vena's hiring because he is a strong proponent of the lean operating model UP and the rest of the industry have been using in recent years that led to widespread job cuts. Vena helped oversee Union Pacific's initial implementation of that precision scheduled railroading model when he served as the railroad's chief operating officer for two years starting in 2019.

Vena suggested more changes are coming at the railroad in a note to all of UP's staff Monday where he emphasized his experience working his way up through the industry after starting as a brakeman, but he didn't offer any specifics. He was hired last month after a hedge fund pressured the railroad to oust Lance Fritz because it was disappointed with Union Pacific's performance during his tenure.

I know you have many questions about what will happen and how it will impact you, Vena said in his letter. I share some of those questions, and I will learn a lot from you as I travel the system. What I can tell you is that we will become the safest railroad in the world. I can tell you we will improve our service product, and we will become more efficient and more reliable  for ourselves, our customers, our communities and our shareholders.

The five general chairpersons who lead the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers union that represents conductors on Union Pacific said after Vena's hiring that they blame him for much of the deterioration in workers' quality of life because of the changes he made in the name of higher profits.

He orchestrated huge furloughs and cuts to every department in transportation, which resulted in the crew shortages we have yet to recover from, the SMART-TD union officials wrote in their letter. Vena put this railroad on a long-term path of destruction for a short-term return on investment for Wall Street tycoons. Watching Union Pacific place this albatross as CEO for the foreseeable future is heartbreaking for those of us who have worked hard to bring Union Pacific back from the brink.

Story continues

The SMART-TD union canceled several of its scheduled negotiating sessions with the railroad over the next couple months because of the concerns about Vena's leadership and his willingness to address worker concerns.

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen union also expressed reservations about Vena's hiring at the time it was announced.

Union Pacific is one of the nations largest railroads with a network of 32,400 miles (52,000 kilometers) of track in 23 Western states.
The United Family of supermarkets present a check to the Community Foundation of West Texas on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023.

The United Family of supermarkets donated $70,000 as part of the companys Panhandle Disaster Relief donate-at-the-register campaign.

Of that $70,000, the Community Foundation of West Texas received $29,173.20 and $40,826.82 went to the Amarillo Area Foundation, according to a news release from United. The funds will allow both organizations to help people impacted by natural disasters across the region.

We are deeply thankful to our guests for answering the call and helping us raise these funds for our communities, said Sidney Hopper, president of The United Family. This is a true example of Texans helping Texans, and we are proud to have been a small part of making that happen. We will always be ready to help our communities through the tough times.

This campaign started in July, after severe flooding and tornadoes impacted Matador, Perryton, Amarillo, and several surrounding counties.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: United supermarkets gift $70,000 to West Texas, Amarillo nonprofits
Global Market Insights Inc.

Unmanned surface vehicle industry size is expected to register 5% CAGR between 2023 and 2032 propelled by the growing demand for Integration of AI in unmanned naval vehicles.

Selbyville, Delaware, Aug. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Unmanned Surface Vehicle Market value will surpass USD 1 billion by 2032, as per a recent study by Global Market Insights Inc.

As per the report, considerable investments in the oil & gas industry globally are creating ample opportunities for industry growth. Unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) are used for remote sensing and surveillance in the oil and gas industry. They can monitor maritime traffic, detect unauthorized vessels or security threats, and provide real-time situational awareness. USVs equipped with advanced sensors, cameras, and communication systems enhance security measures, protect critical infrastructure, and assist in risk management. Owing to these remarkable attributes, the product application scope has grown significantly over the years and is further expected to witness an upward trend in the foreseeable future.

Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/5741







Demand for surface USVs to gain momentum

Based on type, the unmanned surface vehicle market size from the surface segment is expected to depict over 5% CAGR from 2023 to 2032, claims the report. Unmanned surface vehicles can operate continuously without the limitations of human fatigue or shift changes. They can carry out tasks with high precision and consistency, which leads to increased operational efficiency and productivity. USVs can cover large areas, perform repetitive tasks, and collect data consistently over extended periods, thus, contributing to improved mission effectiveness.

Commercial Segment to dominate the application spectrum

In terms of application, the unmanned surface vehicle market share from the commercial segment will grow considerably over 2023- 2032, as per the report. Unmanned surface vehicles eliminate the need for crew members, onboard facilities, and associated operational expenses. Owing to the cost savings associated with these vehicles, they find widespread applications in the offshore energy industry, particularly in activities related to oil and gas exploration, wind farm operations, and underwater pipeline inspections. They can be deployed for remote monitoring, maintenance, and inspecting offshore structures to reduce the need for manned vessels and enhance safety and cost-effectiveness.

Story continues

Versatility of catamaran USVs to favor their adoption

Based on the hull, the report cites that the unmanned surface vehicle market revenue from the catamaran segment will cross USD 450 million by 2032. Catamaran USVs can be easily customized and adapted to specific mission requirements. Their larger deck area and payload capacity provide flexibility for integrating various sensors, equipment, or mission-specific modules. This versatility allows catamaran USVs to be utilized in a wide range of applications, such as hydrographic surveys, maritime security, environmental monitoring, offshore inspections, and more.

Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @ https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/5741



North America to dominate the market share

North America unmanned surface vehicle market share is poised to be worth over USD 500 million by 2032, claims the report. Increasing demand for maritime security and surveillance, and the rising adoption of USVs in various commercial applications will strengthen the regional market outlook. Moreover, the region is home to key USV manufacturers such as L3Harris Technologies and Teledyne, Inc., among others emphasizing product innovations to sustain their leadership. The robust strategic landscape across the region will stimulate industry revenue streams through 2032.

Unmanned Surface Vehicle Market Players

Kongsberg Maritime, Liquid Robotics, Inc., OceanAlpha, Fugro, L3Harris Technologies, Inc., Maritime Robotics AS, and SAAB AB, among others

Unmanned Surface Vehicle Market News:

In April 2023, Fugro, a leading surveying services company, announced that its 12 m Blue Essence uncrewed surface vessel secured full navigation licensing from the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure.

Growing technological developments in the North America region

Regionally, North America organic electronics market is expected to hold a significant revenue share by 2032, driven by technological advancements and favorable government initiatives. The region has been at the forefront of R&D in the field of organic electronics, leading to the commercialization of innovative products. Furthermore, government support in the form of funding programs and favorable regulations has encouraged the adoption of organic electronics in various sectors, including healthcare, consumer electronics, and automotive. The growing demand for energy-efficient solutions and the presence of major manufacturers further contribute to the market expansion in North America.

Some of the leading players in the global organic electronics market are AGC INC, Merck KGaA, Samsung Display (Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.), Covestro AG, JOLED Inc., Konica Minolta, Inc., DuPont, LG DISPLAY CO., LTD., Novaled GmbH, Sony Corporation, Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., Panasonic Holdings Corporation, UNIVERSAL DISPLAY, Visionox Company, and OSRAM GmbH.

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Warren Buffett is perhaps the most famous investor in the world. Having earned the appellation The Oracle of Omaha thanks to his investing success through his company Berkshire Hathaway, Buffett now stands as the fifth-wealthiest person in the world, with a net worth just north of $119 billion.

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Learn: 3 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000

Whenever Buffett speaks, investors around the world listen, as he dispenses financial wisdom via his trademark down-home, folksy style. If youre looking to get some investment ideas for your own portfolio, it might be worthwhile to take a look at the sectors that Buffett actually invests in  listed below  to see if theyre a match for your own financial objectives and risk tolerance.

Financials

Financials have long been associated with Berkshire Hathaway, which has held shares in American Express for 29 years. Berkshires $25 billion position in American Express  representing more than 20% of that companys outstanding shares  represents 6.9% of Berkshires entire equity portfolio.

Thats nothing compared to Buffetts position in Bank of America, though, valued at over $32 billion and making up 8.9% of Berkshires portfolio. Numerous other financial names are sprinkled throughout the Berkshire portfolio, from Ally and Capital One to Citigroup, Mastercard, Visa and more.

Energy

Buffett has long been a fan of the energy sector, but he made headlines once again in 2022 when Berkshire Hathaway began aggressively buying stock in Occidental Petroleum, asking for and receiving regulatory approval to purchase up to 50% of the companys shares. As of June 28, 2023, Berkshire Hathaway held 25.1% of Occidentals outstanding shares. This represents 4.1% of Berkshires entire portfolio.

Berkshire Hathaway also holds a $20 billion position in Chevron, making up 5.6% of the companys portfolio. In other words, just these two stocks already make up nearly 10% of Berkshires entire portfolio, and Buffett seems intent on picking up even more Occidental Petroleum.

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Consumer Staples

One of Buffetts most famous quotes is, I think happiness makes an enormous amount of difference  in terms of longevity. Im happier when Im eating hot fudge sundaes or drinking Coke. Buffett has long put his money where his mouth is, as Coca-Cola is Berkshire Hathaways oldest position, dating back 34 years.

Berkshires $24 billion position represents 6.8% of Berkshires entire portfolio and 9.2% of Coca-Colas outstanding shares. Berkshire also owns 26.5% of Kraft Heinz, with its $11 billion position representing 3.1% of Berkshire Hathaways portfolio. Collectively, consumer staples make up about 10% of the companys investment portfolio.

Technology

Buffett has been famously ignorant of technology for his entire investment career. As one of Buffetts ongoing mantras is that he wont invest in things he doesnt understand, the Berkshire Hathaway portfolio is notably missing the big tech names that typically dominate the news headlines, and even the market itself. However, something changed significantly in 2016, when Berkshire Hathaway first began picking up shares of Apple.

In one sense, Apple is the ultimate tech stock, as its groundbreaking innovations like the iPhone, the Mac and the iPad have helped make Apple the most valuable company in the entire world. But Buffett actually views Apple as a consumer products company  and he loves it. According to Buffett, Americans have such a cultish loyalty to their iPhones that they would be more likely to give up their second car than their iPhone.

Buffett has said that Apple is a better business than any we own at the companys most recent annual meeting, and his portfolio backs up that sentiment. Apple makes up a whopping 45.1% of Berkshires entire portfolio, a position valued at roughly $163 billion. Berkshire also has a not-insignificant $4 billion position in HP Inc. Thus, technology is now Buffetts favorite sector to invest in ironically, although he would not classify it as such.

Should You Follow Buffetts Lead?

No one portfolio is suited for all investors, as they each have their own financial objectives and tolerance for risk. Overall, Buffetts portfolio  while top-heavy  holds a heavy dose of more conservative, blue-chip companies that are dominant in their industries. Financials, consumer staples and energy companies generally pay sizable dividends and are less volatile than more speculative areas of the market, and this may or may not match what youre looking for in your portfolio. And while Apple, for example, is a Wall Street darling and has proven to be an excellent stock to own over the long run, this doesnt necessarily mean that you should make that one stock 45% of your entire position, as is the case with the Berkshire Hathaway equity portfolio.

Consider Berkshire Hathaways portfolio to be a good starting point to learn about what makes a company attractive to a long-term value investor like Buffett, then see if the individual holdings match your own personal tolerance for risk and performance expectations.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Warren Buffetts 4 Favorite Sectors To Invest In  Should You Do the Same?
A juvenile crested caracara forages in a pasture off of State Road 82 in Florida on Tuesday, April 17, 2023.

Weeks after proposing a bill aimed at halting federal protections of the dunes sagebrush lizard, U.S. Rep. August Pfluger, R-San Angelo, has now filed new legislation that seeks permission for livestock producers to kill, injure or capture the Crested Caracara, which he identified as "invasive avian predators."

Co-led by fellow Texas U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, the legislation is supported by the American Sheep Industry and the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers Association, according to a release from Pfluger's office.

In the past two decades, destructive Caracara birds of prey have taken up residence throughout Texas and into Louisiana. Lamb producers in our district have seen a significant increase in the number of lambs killed by Caracaras in recent years," Pfluger said in the release. "Since these predators are protected, it is currently illegal for producers to kill one without prior authorization from the Department of Interior. We should not be protecting tropical birds of prey that are attacking American livestock. My legislation restores the ability of livestock producers to protect their herds from Caracaras."

Citing increased depredation on lambs from Caracaras, Pfluger's legislation seeks to help mitigate the issue, according to the release. Currently, the bird species is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which prohibits the killing, capturing, selling, trading and transport of the species without prior authorization the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Pfluger's legislation would allow livestock producers to kill, capture, transport, disperse or injure a crested caracara that is posing a threat to sheep livestock. Covered individuals are defined within the legislation as a livestock producer or an employee of a livestock producer.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: West Texas Congressman introduces bill targeting Crested Caracara
North American real estate investment trust Medical Properties Trust Inc. (NYSE:MPW) shed up to 4% of its market value on Monday morning after RBC Capital downgraded its outlook on the asset.

Michael Carroll spoke on behalf of RBC's sell-side recently, stating the bank believes "management will need to be more proactive in reducing leverage and improving liquidity via dispositions, and a near-term dividend cut is likely needed." He also added that RBC will be "incrementally more concerned if these don't occur."

Although RBC Capital's stance is understandable, it seems slightly reactive to a singular event, namely the REIT's second-quarter earnings report. As such, I decided to assess the matter in more depth.

Let's traverse into a deeper conversation about Medical Properties Trust.

Second-quarter earnings and outlook





Medical Properties Trust's second-quarter earnings settled above expectations. However, investors were troubled by its outlook as management tightened estimates, concurrently raising speculation about a dividend cut.

During Medical Properties Trust's second quarter, the entity achieved normalized funds from operations per share of 48 cents, topping estimates by 11 cents. Furthermore, the company achieved quarterly revenue of $337.4 million, falling just short of the $348.4 million consensus.

Following its core earnings release, Medical Properties Trust dropped its full-year guidance, which shocked the market as the company has lost more than 10% of its value ever since. According to the REIT's renewed full-year guidance, it will likely achieve net income per share of 33 cents, 4 cents lower than its initial guidance.

Cost of capital concerns





One of the primary analytical talking points from Medical Properties Trust's earnings is the juxtaposition between the cost of capital and dividend sustainability.

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As shown in the diagram below, Medical Properties Trust is battling exceptionally high borrowing costs relative to other mature REITs. Moreover, the vehicle's dividend yield of 14.36% is high, yet can be sustained during a period of elevated borrowing costs as Medical Properties Trust has a low payout ratio; however, maintaining its dividend might, as a result, stem a higher cost on equity capital due to elevated residual claims risk.

If Medical Properties Trust's equity risk premium rises, its fair market value will likely depreciate.

Why Medical Properties Trust Fell on Monday Morning

Source: Medical Properties Trust

Portfolio updates





Let's take a look at Medical Properties Trust's latest portfolio updates.

For those unaware, the company's largest operating partner is Stewards Health Care Systems, which specializes in general acute health care facilities. Although generally a fruitful relationship, Steward is considered a drag on the rest of the portfolio as it runs the REIT's concentration risk high.

Why Medical Properties Trust Fell on Monday Morning

Source: Medical Properties Trust

However, short-term positives have emerged as Steward recently refinanced its revolving credit facility after paying back debt five months ahead of schedule, in turn improving the outlook on counterparty risk between Steward and Medical Properties Trust. As part of Steward's refinancing, Medical Properties Trust committed $140 million in capital to the tenant as part of a syndicated loan, which includes Sound Point Capital Management and Brigade Capital Management.

Many seem concerned about the Medical Properties Trust-Steward credit agreement. However, I believe it unlocks additional value as a high-yield diversification strategy.

Other downgrades on Wall Street





In addition to RBC Capital's downbeat announcement, Medical Properties Trust received numerous bearish calls from Wall Street analysts. For instance, Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) recently assigned an underweight rating to Medical Properties Trust, citing increasing tenant concentration as a critical risk amid a looming recession.

Furthermore, Jonathan Hughes from Raymond James slashed his outlook, stating that the firm "believes MPW management will be spending years trying to regain its cost of capital, subsequently impacting the ability to grow, and it can no longer recommend even a neutral rating."

Although sell-side analysts' analyses are questionable at times, their announcements have a significant effect on market sentiment. As such, I believe investors would be wise considering Wall Street analysts' net bearish outlook on Medical Properties Trust.

Valuation





Liquid real estate analysts generally utilize two interchangeable valuation metrics to determine the fair value of a real estate investment trust. The first is the price-to-funds from operations multiple, which is the easiest to interpret. In contrast, the second, the price-to-adjusted funds from operations multiple, is used by analysts trying to make economic sense of a REIT's valuation.

Medical Properties Trust's price-to-funds from operations ratio of 4.74 is well-placed as it ranks within the 90th sector percentile. In addition, its price-to-adjusted funds from operations ratio of 5.73 is equally alluring as it is below its five-year cyclical average of 14.55.

Why Medical Properties Trust Fell on Monday Morning

Relative valuation is often an abstract concept as it attempts to draw conclusions based on the interface of an asset's accounting metrics. Nevertheless, it is a methodological process that has proven to be a key indicator. Thus, Medical Properties Trust's alluring price multiples present a sense of encouragement.

Final word





RBC Capital's take on Medical Properties Trust seems warranted, given its lackluster capital structure and obligation to sustain its dividend payout, which might coalesce and result in an elevated idiosyncratic equity risk premium. Moreover, lower earnings guidance and a barrage of downgrades on Wall Street add significant headwinds to the REIT's market value.

Although positives such as a new high-yield credit endeavor and compelling valuation multiples exist, Medical Properties Trust seems up against it going into the back end of 2023.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


Your guide to filing an auto insurance claim after a car accident or other damage.

Getting in a car accident can be one of the most stressful experiences of your life. According to the American Psychological Association, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of post-traumatic stress disorder within the general population.

While you cant go back in time to avoid an accident thats already happened, there are ways you can approach the claims process that make the situation a bit easier. Whether youre filing a claim with your own insurance company or with another drivers carrier, heres what you need to know to get the best possible outcome.

Filing an accident claim with your car insurance company

Whether youre in a fender bender or a serious crash, its critical to start the claims process quickly. Your first call should be to your own car insurance company. At the very least, your carrier needs to know that you were involved in an accident and that the vehicle they insure has been damaged or totaled.

Filing with your insurance company first

If you are at-fault for the accident, your insurance company will be responsible for paying out any valid claims for property damage or bodily injury, up to your coverage limits. They will want to take a statement from you about the accident, gather information about the drivers and vehicles involved and take down any documentation you may have, such as an accident report.

Even if youre not at-fault, though, contacting your own carrier is still important, especially if you have full coverage car insurance. Thats because your carrier can initiate your car insurance claim against the at-fault drivers company for you and start providing you with services like a rental car, medical payments coverage, and any other optional benefits you chose when you bought your policy  even before the other drivers carrier accepts responsibility.

Your carrier will later recoup those costs from the other insurance company, once fault has been established and accepted.

Staying in the loop

Youll be assigned a claims adjuster, who will take down any relevant information about the accident and keep you updated about the status of payments, your vehicles repairs, your rental car term and more. If there are injuries involved, you may be assigned a second adjuster for that portion of your claim.

The process of gathering insurance information, understanding policy details like your deductible and figuring out repair costs can be intimidating  especially if youre responsible for an accident. But its important to cooperate with the insurance companys investigation. This will allow things to move along as quickly as possible, so that vehicles can be repaired and claims paid out sooner than later. If you refuse to cooperate or offer information, your policy could even be marked for nonrenewal.

Your adjuster will likely reach out multiple times with updates and questions. If extensive repairs are required or your vehicle is deemed a total loss, expect additional representatives to contact you.

Read more: How to file a diminished value claim after an accident

How to file a car accident claim against another driver

If another driver is responsible for an accident, their liability coverage will kick in to pay for your vehicles damage and any injuries youve incurred, up to the chosen policy limits.

If the accident results in only minor damage or fault for the crash is obvious  and youre sure that you and your passengers walked away without any injuries  you might be safe to contact the other drivers carrier directly and begin the claims process. You should get a photo of the other drivers insurance card, which will have a claims phone number. If not, search online to find the carriers claims number.

The carrier will ask for the other drivers information to pull up the policy, and your information to begin the claim. Expect them to ask for your drivers license number, license plate number, birthdate, name, address, contact information and more.

Now, heres why you need to be cautious when talking with the other drivers car insurance company  especially if you think you may be injured. Youll likely be asked to record an official statement about the accident, including how it occurred and what happened afterward. Anything you say in this recording could later be used against you; if you leave out details, misspeak, or even just say youre "doing all right" when the agent first greets you, you may have trouble getting fairly compensated for an injury that presents itself later on.

Even if the other drivers carrier ultimately accepts liability, their interest will be in limiting the money they must pay for things like repair costs and medical bills, not in making you whole.

What happens in a no-fault state?

Some states are known as no-fault states. Drivers in these states are required to purchase no-fault auto insurance coverage, sometimes called personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. This no-fault insurance is designed to cover you and your passengers injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, funeral expenses, and more, regardless of who is at-fault for the accident.

This is in contrast to other "typical" insurance states (also known as tort states), where expenses related to injuries and other personal expenses are covered by the liable drivers policy. Some carriers will allow you to opt-in to PIP or medical payments (medpay) coverage even if you arent in a no-fault state; this optional coverage can then be used to pay for lost wages, insurance deductibles, prescriptions, and medical care following an accident, so you arent forced to unexpectedly cover these out-of-pocket.

No-fault insurance is not designed to cover vehicle damages, theft, repairs, etc. Instead, these expenses are covered by the at-fault drivers liability coverage or your own collision policy.

Important considerations for every car insurance claim

Before leaving the scene of an accident, regardless of who is at fault, its important to gather certain information and documentation. These will help ensure that the right carrier takes responsibility and that any claims are paid accurately and promptly.

Be sure that you have:

Photos of the vehicles involved and any damage

Details of the vehicles involved (year, make, model, color)

Information about the road and weather conditions at the time of the accident

Photos of the road, intersection, etc. where the accident occurred

The other drivers information, including their policy number

A copy of your police report, if one was taken, and the reporting officers name and badge number

The tow companys information, if your vehicle was taken from the scene

Managing injuries

If there are any injuries, youll want to document those (even if that just means noting injuries that other drivers appear to have). If you or your passengers are injured, get medical attention at the scene or visit a hospital or urgent care facility following the accident.

Its imperative that if you think youre injured at all, you seek some form of medical attention in the hours following the accident. Dont wait weeks to see a doctor! Be sure to get records of everything, too. Note your medical appointments, keep visit summaries and take detailed notes of your pain, if applicable.

Negotiating a settlement

If another driver is responsible for an accident, you can expect a settlement offer that will cover your property damage and losses, injuries resulting from the accident, and sometimes, additional funds for your pain, suffering, lost wages, and more.

How difficult it is to get that settlement  or settle on a fair dollar amount  can vary, though.

Your settlement offer will depend on the details of the accident as well as the responsible drivers coverage limits. A carrier wont willingly offer you a larger settlement than those limits, even if your losses are greater.

It may benefit you to seek legal advice from an attorney in your area. Most consultations are free of charge and can give you an idea of your options, especially if your case is complex. If necessary, an attorney can negotiate with the at-fault partys insurance carrier to get a fair settlement, or even file a lawsuit to get you the money you need.

Types of insurance coverage and what they pay for in an accident

Before you find yourself facing a car insurance claim, its important to understand the different types of insurance coverage available, what each is intended to pay for, and what your own policy protects. This will help ensure that you always have the coverage you need, long before you actually need to file a claim.
Product Description

Company Profile





Certifications

In 2010,was established by Ms. Iris and her two partners(Mr. Tian and Mr. Yang) in Tongxiang city(Zhejiang province, China), all three Founders are engineers who have more than averagedof experience. Then because the requirements of business expansion, in 2014, it moved to the current Xiaoshan Industrial Zone (Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province, China).Through our well-known brand, Hengnie Machinery delivers agricultural solutions to agriculture machinery manufacturer and distributors worldwide through a full line of. Products can beas request.We, Hengnie machinery established a complete quality management system and sales service network to provide clients with high-quality products and satisfactory service. Our products are sold inin China andin the world, our main market is the











Our Factory





Sample Room





Why choose us?

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5) Shipment: We are close to Ningbo and Shanghai ports, to provide the fastest shipping service.



Packaging & Shipping

FAQ

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A: We're factory and providing gearbox ODM & OEM services for the European market for more than 10 years



Q: Do you provide samples? is it free or extra?

A: Yes, we could offer the sample for free charge but do not pay the cost of freight.



Q: How long is your delivery time? What is your terms of payment?

A: Generally it is 40-45 days. The time may vary depending on the product and the level of customization.

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If you have another question, please feel free to contact us.
Independent Records long-playing success story could be coming to an end in Colorado Springs.

The retailer, one of the last locally owned record stores in the Pikes Peak region and whose eclectic mix of music, books, movies, games, gifts, marijuana paraphernalia and other merchandise made it a staple for generations of loyal customers, is poised to close permanently unless a buyer is found to keep the business going.

Independent Records marked its 45th anniversary Sunday.

There would be a hole in our employees' lives for sure, there would be a hole in the community, said store manager and 14-year employee Hollie Sherwood about Independent Records pending closure. Weve had a lot of people crying, just very upset.

Brothers Orville and Lewis Lambert opened Independent Records in 1978 at 3030 E. Platte Ave. in Colorado Springs after moving from California.

Over the decades, Independent Records grew into one of the areas most popular music and record stores and survived and even thrived as larger national record store retailers closed. The Lamberts expanded Independent Records' footprint and as recently as 2015 had seven locations in the Springs and Pueblo.

In recent years, however, Orville Lambert conceded that Independent Records was suffering financially. It shuttered nearly all its locations, though the original flagship store on Platte Avenue remained open.

FUNDRAISING EVENT A concert with local bands that will help raise funds for a possible purchase of Independent Records will take place from 4:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18, at the store, 195 N. Academy Blvd.

The Lamberts eventually sold the Platte property to a car wash chain in April 2021 for $1.5 million and leased back the site while they looked for a new store location. The main retail building and a next-door annex on the site later were razed and Independent Records moved in December to 195 N. Academy Blvd.

But Orville Lambert fell ill and priorities shifted from the business to his health, Sherwood said. The need for Lamberts retirement became immediate  before a buyer was secured for the business, she said.

The news about the closing came in on July 28, Sherwood said. He had been trying to sell the business for months, but hes been too ill.

Independent Records website says a going-out-of-business sale began July 29.

Were trying to get somebody in here to buy it, to keep it running. We have until Sept. 1  roughly three weeks," Sherwood said of a timeline for the store's pending closure.

Sherwood said shes been particularly hard hit by the possible closure. The opportunity to work at Independent Records came into her life amid a time of transition, Sherwood said, adding she cant imagine the community and her life without it.

Ive never not liked a job I had, but Ive never loved a job like this, she said.

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Something for everyone

Walking into Independent Records in Colorado Springs is like stepping back in time  a scene of organized chaos carrying nostalgic bliss. Cases of vinyl records, CDs and DVDs line the building from wall to wall, featuring artists from across a range of decades.

A longtime favorite for music lovers and vinyl enthusiasts across southern Colorado, the closure of Independent Records no doubt would leave a gaping hole in the vinyl scene in Colorado Springs and the community that surrounds it.

Matt Gehrung, whos headed purchasing for Independent Records for 22 years, has a passion for bringing music to the store to fit everyone's needs and tastes.

What we do is not crucial in a practical sense, but it is crucial to people's souls to have an escape from what life throws at them. What we offer is that escapism, said Gehrung, whos worked for the store for a total of 26 years.

He got his start in the stores warehouse and worked his way up. Gehrung said hes developed a passion for the industry through that time and is proud of the work hes done.

One of the former owners used to say that we are art dealers  we are putting art in the hands of people, and that art can drastically change someone's life for the better, Gehrung said. Were not a charitable organization, but what we do ultimately puts a smile on people's faces.

In pursuit of creating an inclusive environment for all music lovers, Gehrung ensures the store carries something for everyone.

Weve always tried to take the best care of everyone who shops here, he said. Weve always tried to be of the people. We've never been an elitist shop by any means; I'd never judge anyone for their taste in music."

Ive heard from numerous communities throughout The Springs that we provide a safe space, and truly have something for everyone.

Sherwood and Gehrung said the business ran into trouble during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was a familiar tale for business owners of the time. Even before the pandemic, Independent Records closed some of its locations. In all, six of the seven locations closed in the past five years.

At the same time, the move from the original location on Platte Avenue posed problems from which Independent Records hasnt totally recovered, Sherwood said.

After moving to this location, we never were fully able to catch up, she said. We werent able to buy new products for some time, and some people never caught onto the fact that we moved  we couldnt do any advertising.

To save the business, Sherwood has set up a Go Fund Me campaign to raise money to allow her, alongside Gehrung, to co-invest in the company with the help of a buyer; money raised would go toward buying the store or helping a future buyer with the purchase.

With a steep goal of raising $100,000 by the first week of September, their online fundraising effort has collected about $1,500 as of Monday afternoon. Customers also can donate inside the store.

I just cant imagine this place not in my life, and I cant imagine the community without it, Sherwood said with tears in her eyes, We want to save the store in some capacity. It can be done  its so doable. We just dont have much time.

People who dont have other means of expression come here and buy music, surrounded by their people. Our connection with them is super important, Gehrung said, Everyone is represented here. I cant imagine our customers not in our lives every day.
For Elizabeth, the moment still burns in her memory when the sexual trauma she suffered during her military service was thrown in her face during her childrens custody case. What was meant to be a seemingly straightforward evaluation of a 13-minute change in her kids commute time turned into a nightmarish scrutiny of her worst trauma and fitness as a mother.

It is worrisome that she continues to be treated for PTSD from events that occurred over a decade ago and were not life-threatening, read the parental evaluation report of Elizabeth and her ex-husband written by psychologist Terri Finney. This gives rise to the hypothesis that her mental health issues have become more personality issues and as such are permanent to her psychological functioning.

The biting assessment came in a report in her custody case after Elizabeth moved 20 miles from Englewood to Castle Rock. She still struggles to understand why the parental responsibility evaluator used the sexual trauma from her military service to question her fitness as a mother. She remains bewildered how such a fundamental misunderstanding of PTSD  according to an expert she consulted  could end up putting her ability to tuck her children in bed at night in jeopardy.

Everything about that statement is appalling, said Elizabeth, whose actual name is not being used in this article at her request. It's reckless. Why would you say that? That had no place in there.

A magistrate in Denvers small claims court ruled in May that the work by Finney  who at that point had been appointed as a parental responsibility evaluator, or PRE, in hundreds of cases, by her own estimation  fell short of the district court order appointing her in Elizabeths custody case, and she had breached her contract.

Deficiencies in the report highlighted by Elizabeth are emblematic of problems discovered in other custody evaluation cases reviewed by The Gazette. Elizabeths evaluator drew conclusions about parenting based on assumptions made without deeper investigation, showed apparent bias against Elizabeth and took one parents statements at face value while questioning the others credibility without proof, according to an expert Elizabeth hired.

Colorados system of deciding contentious child custody cases is fraught with such problems. An investigation by The Gazette found dozens of cases of incompetent, inaccurate and biased custody evaluations, several of which put children at serious, even life-threatening risk.

The Gazettes probe of Colorados network of parental evaluators reveals a system with little practical oversight or accountability, and the measures that do exist operate largely shielded from public scrutiny. Evaluators reports are sealed unless a judge grants their release for a narrowly allowed purpose. If someone submits a complaint against their evaluators professional license to the Department of Regulatory Agencies, its kept confidential unless DORA decides the complaint is founded  but if the agency dismisses it, officials dont state why.

What were seeing when there are problematic parental responsibility evaluators, in best-case scenarios, are harmful consequences, and in worst case scenarios, its deadly consequences, said State Rep. Meg Froehlich, a Democrat from Greenwood Village, who successfully pushed new legislation last year requiring, for the first time ever, new training and court standards for parenting evaluators.

Licensed mental health professionals, evaluators have seen their influence in Colorado courts grow exponentially over the years. Their use has grown in part because a directive from the chief justice of the Colorado Supreme Court 10 years ago limited the role of a separate group of court-appointed personnel  child and family investigators (so-called CFIs)  who also make custody recommendations but at a far lower, capped cost to parents. The directive barred child and family investigators from conducting psychological testing, limiting that role to parental evaluators, who must hold a license to practice psychology, marriage therapy, social work, professional counseling or addiction counseling.

The fees for child and family investigators are capped at $3,250 for a report and testimony, except for extenuating circumstances. That cap means parents wanting a more in-depth review who are able to pay the tens of thousands of dollars parental evaluators can charge may ask a judge to appoint one, as well as seek a court order to split the cost with the other parent. Roughly 50 parental responsibility evaluators are eligible for court appointments in the state, while hundreds of child and family investigators are available.

Evaluators  who work for profit, sometimes charging as much, or more than divorce attorneys  can hold great sway in the outcome of emotionally charged cases in which the stakes are the childrens safety and well-being. Parents, even if indigent, are responsible for the court-ordered costs of evaluator reports. State funds can help defray the costs of the less costly assessments from child and family investigators.

Froelich said the clamor from critics of evaluators in Colorado is so pronounced that she will now push for a new law to require domestic violence training for judges so they know the hazards of relying on evaluators who ignore documented abuse. While passage of such a law would qualify Colorado for federal aid, judges raise constitutional objections over the legislative branch issuing mandates to the judicial branch.

Elizabeth counts herself lucky because she didnt end up losing any custody of her two children as a result of her evaluation. Shes still tucking them into bed four nights each week. But other parents say theyre still struggling to restore parental rights they lost to abusive former partners due to the troubled parenting evaluation system state and court officials have been slow to fix.

Once a judge adopts an evaluators recommendations in custody rulings, parents face steep odds in reversing those orders. Old evaluation reports have ramifications even after state regulators find them so deficient that theyve barred the evaluators who prepared them from continuing to do evaluations.

Consider the case of Gene Gross, a Denver psychologist. Six parents in 2021 had one of the rare successes in convincing officials with the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies that Gross had conducted extreme and biased parenting evaluations that misled judges.

I am in anguish every day, wrote one mother, a registered nurse, in her complaint. At that point, she had expended her retirement and savings and gone into debt trying to overturn what she termed a flawed custody ruling that hinged on Gross recommendations.

Her breastfeeding infant had been removed from her care. The mother believed the father of her child was such a threat that she had fled Idaho to Colorado with their unborn child after she became pregnant during a brief, six-week relationship. Once in Colorado, she filed a court motion asking a judge to determine custody issues, thinking that would protect her.

Instead, the custody judge found compelling and credible Gross testimony that the mothers fears about her childs father were delusional and an indicator the mother would eventually villainize her daughter. It was a prediction Gross made without seeing the mother and child together or talking to the mothers therapist.

The judges ruling gave the father primary custody and forced the mom to move back to Idaho so she could be near her infant daughter. Once there, she renewed her efforts in Idahos courts to reverse the custody arrangements while the father filed a motion to change the childs name.

I worry about the emotional trauma that my daughter is going through, the mother wrote in her complaint to Colorados Department of Regulatory Agencies. I feel stripped of a voice. My credibility has been robbed. I am now in an excruciating waiting period for costly legal actions that may or may not fix this awful situation.

DORA regulators found Gross custody evaluation in her case and that of four others, including one where Gross asked a childs school teacher whether a divorcing wife had complained of her husbands penis size, were so reckless that Gross posed a threat to the public unless he was stopped.

The woman, now in Idaho, still struggles to overcome Gross evaluation despite a pending recent criminal misdemeanor charge alleging that the father recently injured their child, now 3. Prosecutors filed the charge against the father in February after doctors reported he grabbed the toddlers arms so hard that he left the imprint of his grip.

The criminal charge against the father still hasn't convinced the new custody judge in Idaho that Gross got it wrong. A new hearing on the mothers custody efforts is scheduled to take place after a trial in November on the fathers pending child injury charge.

I am paralyzed in fear thinking about what will continue to happen to me and my daughter if Dr. Gross continues his negligence in our lives, the mother wrote to Colorado regulators.

In 2021 after the state licensing board for psychology suspended his practice, Gross permanently relinquished his license to practice psychology in Colorado, which is required to do parental evaluations. He did not respond to requests for comment.

Gazette inquiry finds deep flaws

It was only last year that the legislature required any oversight of parental responsibility evaluators by the State Court Administrators Office. But there are still hurdles for parents who want to file a complaint with that office over an evaluation. The State Court Administrators Office has just one person to administer the statewide evaluator and child and family investigator program and does not have adequate staff to investigate complaints, a spokesperson for that office said. To file a complaint, in most instances, parents must be armed with a finding by a judge that the evaluator failed to adhere to the courts order of appointment or violated a practice standard.

It is crazy when you really think about it, that there is not more regulation around the practice of doing these types of evaluations, said Christine Garcia, a psychotherapist and co-owner of Childrens Wellness Center of Colorado. She pointed out that some other types of specialized work therapists do are regulated, such as oversight by the Sex Offender Management Board of practitioners who provide therapy to sex offenders. The Domestic Violence Offender Management Board also oversees providers offering therapy to domestic violence offenders, she stressed.

They have to have extra training; they have to have an extra approval or credential to do that, they have to keep up with that credential. Its more than just what we have to do as general mental health practitioners, Garcia said.

State and court officials have reacted slowly in addressing the troubled system, even as evaluators have based their work on disputed psychiatric theories, ignored conflicts of interest and accrued allegations of sexual harassment and domestic violence in their personal lives. The Gazette found parental evaluators and child and family investigators continued operating for years before any consequences despite alleged drug use, price gouging and deception in court.

Evaluators and child and family investigators continued getting court appointments even after they ignored criminal convictions against parents, misrepresented in court their credentials and, in one case, released the address of a domestic violence victim to her abuser, The Gazette found. One CFI went so far as to file false court documents that claimed her husband was the father of a newborn as part of her primal need to adopt the infant. A judge vacated the adoption after the true father showed up claiming parental rights. The CFI's license to practice law was suspended for three years and then restored in 2017.

The reason it (the parental evaluator system) continues is that courts feel a compelling need for support, said Joan Meier, a national expert in domestic violence who has written extensively on custody evaluation systems.

They really want someone with so-called expertise to come in and tell them whats good for kids and whats not good for kids, she added. I dont really think these evaluators are doing that. Theyre misleading courts a lot. Theyre irresponsible and incompetent in a lot of ways, and theyre biased around the issues of abuse and alienation.

In one notorious case, a mother said a Centennial counselor and long-time parental evaluator who worked as a court-appointed childs therapist in a custody case was key in a system-wide failure that led to the death of her son. She said that while working as her sons individual therapist, the counselor aligned himself with the father who engaged in child abuse and alienation and ultimately killed the 10-year-old in 2019. The counselor 10 years prior had settled in mediation a lawsuit alleging he sexually harassed a female assistant. The counselor's professional liability insurance had been dropped in 2019 due to controversies. He is still practicing as an evaluator.

In another case from a different evaluator, a disputed psychological assessment of a mother justified the removal of her infant to foster care, where the infant was repeatedly raped and almost drowned. The psychologist in that case used family drawings she had the mother do to justify her assessment that the mother likely suffered from histrionic and dependent personality features. The evaluator found that the drawings suggest that she may tend to relate to the baby as a fantasy object rather than as a real child and project on to her unresolved feelings and issues.

The infant was returned to the mother months later and, now a teenager, has struggled throughout her life with post-traumatic stress disorder and has been in and out of psychiatric hospitals as she tries to cope with the damage inflicted on her in the foster home.

'A crisis situation in Colorado'

Those expressing concern include one longtime parental evaluator whose expertise state officials rely on to help provide guidance on mental health ethics.

I would argue that the status of child and family investigators and parental responsibility evaluators is in a crisis situation in Colorado, said Andrew Loizeaux, who has done more than 400 parental evaluations in Colorado and 60 work product reviews over the past three decades and provides expert testimony for state regulators and the Attorney Generals Office.

Too many evaluators in the field rely on their initial suppositions and that colors their reports that follow, Loizeaux said. As a result, they can end up ignoring domestic violence and signs of abuse of children. Parents can end up losing parenting time for trying to point out actual dangers because an evaluator assumes they are lying, he said.

Loizeaux said some evaluators in the state simply default to recommending 50/50 custody arrangements and joint decision making for children, citing research that suggests thats the best outcome for children.

The problem with that approach, according to Loizeaux, is that high-conflict divorces often arent typical. Children could be in peril due to an abusive parent.

In this community, he said of the evaluators, theres a lot of scuttlebutt and a lot of gossip about who is doing a good job and who is not. People have reputations for doing this well or not doing this well. And for being a hired gun or not being a hired gun.

Faulty evaluations can have serious ramifications, according to one man who said he lived through the experience when his parents were divorcing as he was going into the sixth grade. He said a flawed custody evaluation ended up convincing a judge to rule in favor of a 50/50 custody arrangement that returned him to a father who had been abusive.

Now 25, he recalled that an evaluator disregarded reports that his father held him under water after threatening to drown him and had punched him repeatedly. The evaluator still ended up reporting to the judge that the father remained a fit parent, he said.

I remember feeling let down by the system, and that it placed me in a situation where I had to be careful because I was placed back into an abusive home, he said during a recent interview.

He said he resorted to locking himself in his room to escape his fathers explosive temper. He struggled with thoughts of suicide throughout his teen years, spent bouncing back and forth between Lakewood and Evergreen, and has sought therapy to help him cope with depression he attributes to his upbringing. He said that even though his father stopped physically harming him, he still believes the custody arrangement should have favored his mother.

It felt like I was walking on eggshells, he said of his time with his father. I felt like it was going to happen again. Sometimes at the house, there was shouting, and I was like, Okay, am I going to get hit again?

He said the damage inflicted continues to cause issues, ranging from insomnia to ongoing nightmares. Hes convinced Colorado needs to improve how custody evaluations are done, so much so that last year he became one of the critics who successfully pushed state legislators to change state law to require parental evaluators in the state to undergo new training in domestic violence and child abuse.

In New York, high-profile deaths of children linked to controversial custody evaluations that returned children to abusive parents prompted scrutiny and creation of a commission on the parental evaluation industry, co-chaired by a former New York Supreme Court justice. A majority of that commission in a final report released this year favored eliminating evaluators in custody disputes, saying their reports are biased and harmful to children and lack scientific legal value.

Domestic violence expert Meier, a member of that commission and a George Washington University Law School professor, said not only are evaluators doing more harm than good, theyre doing so at tremendous financial cost to parents.

Its become this whole cottage industry that people make entire livings off of, she said. They charge incredible amounts, and they bankrupt litigators.

Divorce lawyers say that parental evaluators can charge as much as $70,000 for their work on one case. Failure to pay also has consequences. Evaluators, some of whom maintain non-disparagement clauses in their contracts with parents, can charge as much as $450 an hour if they go to court for non-payment.

Elizabeth prevails over evaluator

When Elizabeth read her evaluators report highlighting her sexual trauma while serving in the military, it made her doubt her whole perception of reality. She started to believe the things the report said about her as a mother. It was difficult not to start thinking she had to give up her children for their own well-being.

At that point, everything in my brain stopped. I literally didn't know right from wrong; truth from fable, she said. And then when I got to the end (I thought) its my fault that I will end up losing parental rights.

The judge in Elizabeths case ultimately did not adopt the recommendations in the evaluation from psychologist Finney. Elizabeth isnt sure why, exactly, since the judge communicated the decision not to modify her custody arrangement only in a minute order.

Elizabeth has since 2018 worked with a veterans therapist to process her past sexual trauma. She said that only within the last several months has she been able to start understanding that what she went through wasnt her fault. Seeing her evaluators characterization of her as a mother along with the reference to her trauma caused Elizabeth to regress in the progress shed made with her therapist, she said.

Finney is not on the state's list of certified PREs as of July this year, according to records from the judicial branch. She did not respond to requests for comment, though in the small claims case she testified that she thought her parental evaluation was well-founded. Despite Finneys remarks about Elizabeths sexual trauma in her evaluation, Finney testified in the small claims case that she didnt believe Elizabeths mental health affected her parenting. She also suggested Elizabeth was projecting made-up medical problems onto her children when she sought advice for her daughters recurring stomach problems and expert opinions for her sons special education needs.

As Elizabeth talks about her case, her service dog flops down by her chair and keeps a watchful eye on her, laying her nose across her lap when she senses her owners distress.

When Elizabeth won her small claims case in May against Finney for breach of contract, she prevailed in a little-used tactic in challenging her evaluators work. Other parents The Gazette spoke to saw it as a rare instance of carving out accountability for evaluators in a system they say offers few options.

The real worry is how many reports have been written and continue to be produced by Dr. Finney with her self-created strategy of  quote I just come up with it unquote  as she stated under oath in family court, Elizabeth, who represented herself in her small claims case, said in her closing argument to the magistrate. How many parents have appeared at trial in an attempt to prove that this report isnt an accurate depiction of the familys dynamic? How many magistrates relied on her expert opinion to rule on the future of the children?

'The light of my world'

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Finney also received a PRE appointment in the case of Erin's ongoing custody dispute over her now 13-year-old daughter. Erin shared 50-50 custody of her daughter with her ex-husband until 2020. A few months after Finney filed her report, a judge awarded Erin's ex-husband sole decision-making authority and more custody.

Erin -- who is using her real first name -- had her parenting time reduced to every other weekend with their daughter. The decision about the allocation of responsibilities aligned with Finney's recommendations.

This occurred after a judge in Jefferson county had twice denied requests by Erin's ex-husband, in 2018 and 2019, to modify custody in his favor based on endangerment claims he made. Their custody dispute has dragged on for more than a decade. Late last year, Erin's parenting time was reduced to supervised visitation only.

Erin said Finneys PRE report depicts her as a manipulative and spiteful mother trying to keep their daughter away from her father unreasonably. But in person, Erins demeanor is clear-headed and calm. She said shes singularly determined by her fierce love for her daughter.

You have an evaluation, and it paints a picture of you which you know not to be true, said Erin. And it reads exactly as if your ex-partner, who you have spent 11 years with under constant attack, has written the report.

In a complaint filed to DORA, Erin alleges Finney in her evaluation didnt review key pieces of evidence she provided, including police records of what she said was domestic abuse by her ex-husband and information from medical professionals. Erin said the report took her ex-husbands statements at face value without verifying them and made recommendations about decision making and modification of parenting time beyond the scope of her role as an evaluator.

She has also filed a case against Finney for breach of contract in Denver's small claims court.

Erin is troubled by what she said was Finneys omission of key details of a violent 2011 incident. Erin said her ex-husband strangled her while she held their daughter, then 18 months old, and it left her with post-traumatic stress disorder. She shared a record of the incident from the Denver Police Departments computer-aided dispatch system, which she said captured a neighbors report of Erin repeatedly calling for help. The neighbor reported a womans voice, believed to be coming from Erins home, shouting Call 911! Erin said she also screamed Hes going to (expletive) kill me!

I lose consciousness for a minute, and I don't know where my daughter is, Erin said. I don't know if I dropped her. I don't know if he has her. I have never been so scared in my life.

She said Finneys report repeats her ex-husbands version of the event without including the dispatch record of the neighbors call. The PRE report includes Erin's statements that she suffers from depression, anxiety and PTSD, but Finney opines that Erin's difficulty managing her emotions is a result of permanent personality characteristics rather than PTSD.

That day (in 2011) changed my entire life, Erin said, her voice trembling. PTSD is literally a brain injury.

Her ex-husband getting full custody of their daughter was Erins worst fear, and now its happened. So now that shes survived her worst fear turning into reality, shes no longer afraid of what else might come.

Shes the light of my world," Erin said of the daughter she calls her miracle, born after reproductive health complications left her with a small chance of getting and staying pregnant.

"I want her to grow up knowing her mom did everything that she could to fight for her."

'The court is responsible'

For decades, critics have urged Colorados judicial branch to do more to ensure the quality of these court appointed evaluators, but the judiciary has been slow to regulate the profession.

In 2002, a blue-ribbon judicial branch commission on families in the Colorado courts urged the judiciary to develop an assessment process to ensure those receiving appointments in divorce cases are meeting established standards. That commission also urged the judiciary to create a system that allows for removal of individuals who are not competent and develop an appropriate process for identifying individuals who are not performing competently.

In 2012 Michael Bender, then-chief justice of the Colorado Supreme Court, rejected a recommendation from a judicial committee urging creation of additional regulatory oversight at the state court administrators office for child and family investigators, though he agreed to create a statewide roster among other changes. "The costs associated with expanding regulatory oversight are undefined and the current economic climate limits the availability of resources, Bender wrote in a letter explaining his reasoning.

The judicial committee had recommended a centralized complaint office or "super board" for child and family investigators because judicial district administrators reported "they do not have the requisite skill or expertise" to investigate complaints of mental health professionals serving in that role. In addition, officials at the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), which licenses mental health professionals, reported at that time that they dismissed roughly 60 CFI complaints annually due to lack of jurisdiction, expecting court officials would handle those complaints.

It wasnt until this year that the state court administrators office adopted any standards or oversight for parental responsibility evaluators. The court administration finally acted because legislators demanded it last year by passing HB 21-1228, sponsored by Froelich, the Democrat from Greenwood Village, and Sen. Jim Smallwood, a Republican from Parker. The law requires the judicial department to establish a complaint process for parental responsibility evaluators. The legislation also required evaluators and child and family investigators to complete six hours of training on domestic violence and six hours of training on child abuse. Every two years thereafter, they must complete an additional four hours of renewed training on domestic violence.

The law also required the state court administrators office to create an eligibility roster for parental responsibility evaluators, standards for their court practice and a new complaint process. Still, the system the court administrators office adopted this year has hurdles for those wanting to file a complaint. Complaints wont be investigated without a finding from a judge that the evaluator failed to follow a court order or violated a standard of practice, though there are exceptions to that requirement for pressing cases where an evaluator committed a crime or failed to keep up with the new training.

The rationale for requiring judicial officers and judicial districts to monitor the work of CFI and PRE is because the court is responsible for managing the case and the trial processes, said Rob McCallum, a spokesperson for the State Court Administrators Office, in a prepared statement. The court and local officials are in the best position to understand the facts of the case, the credibility of the parties, and best positioned to understand the demographic, economic and geographic realities in their communities.

However, studies suggest that the states new minimal training requirements wont solve all issues. A guidebook the State Justice Institute developed for the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges noted that expertise in the mental health field does not automatically make a parental evaluator competent to assess the presence of domestic violence.

Even though some jurisdictions are now requiring custody evaluators to take a minimum amount of training in domestic violence, that basic training by itself is unlikely to qualify an evaluator as an expert, or even assure basic competence, in such cases, the guidebook states.

The guidebook recommends that court jurisdictions have designated evaluators with expertise in domestic violence issues available for appointment in custody cases with allegations of violence.

Two studies funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, one in 2011 and one in 2012, found evaluators often discount violence, with one review finding they ignored documented evidence in roughly one out of every five cases where such documentation exists. Even in the presence of severe violence and controlling behavior, evaluators reported they would most likely recommend unsupervised visits for the father, the latter study found.

And, in 2019, a study published in the Journal of Child Custody of 27 custody cases that were reversed due to later reports of child abuse found flawed parental evaluation reports that pathologized mothers when they reported child abuse played a significant role. The abuse often became increasingly severe and the childrens mental and physical health frequently deteriorated, the study found.

Attacking 'the hard-working psychologist'

While the judiciary in Colorado has struggled to put in place oversight for custody evaluators, those working in the field have benefited.

In 2015, Wilbert Miles, a psychologist in Denver, issued a rebuttal report at the request of the father to another parental evaluation and made custody recommendations in a divorce case despite making no attempt to interview both parents or the child, according to a complaint filed with state regulators.

State law guiding parental responsibility evaluators requires them to interview and assess all parties to a dispute before making any specific custody recommendations, unless one of the parties cant be reached or refuses to cooperate. In this case, the parents were readily available, but Miles still failed to interview either parent, records show, although he entered the case at the father's behest.

Miles would continue to do custody evaluation work for nearly three more years before he finally admitted in a stipulation with the state Board of Psychology in November of 2018 that he made parenting responsibility recommendations in that 2015 divorce case without sufficient information to substantiate those recommendations. He signed an agreement in November 2018 with the licensing board promising that he no longer would issue parenting or custody recommendations in Colorado

Miles still stands by his work in the disputed case. He said his work shouldnt have caused concern since he was rebutting another evaluators report and didnt think he needed to do a full assessment of the parents. He said he settled with the licensing board because it sometimes takes a fortune to fight the system.

In the interim, before he agreed to stop working as an evaluator, Miles made another controversial custody recommendation in a 2017 divorce case when he found there was no evidence that five children were in any physical or emotional danger from a father whose wife was divorcing him.

The father in that case had choked his wife while she was eight months pregnant to the point she believed he would kill her, according to court records and testimony. The father, who had been convicted of armed robbery, also advocated polygamy as a solution to his addiction to pornography. The fathers children reported to child protective workers that he had left marks on them when he engaged in physical punishment.

After the judge lifted a requirement that the father only be allowed to see his children while under supervision, new allegations of physical child abuse surfaced in 2021, substantiated by a child services caseworker. The judge reversed course and restricted the father to four hours per week parenting time at a licensed supervision facility. In a recent interview, Miles said he did not recall that case and is totally against domestic violence.

Another evaluator also kept getting court appointments despite a finding that her work was deficient.

In May 2014, the 14th Judicial District covering Grand, Moffat and Routt counties found Alice Suzanne Horning-Rieder, a licensed professional counselor from Paonia, violated professional standards while working as a court-appointed child and family investigator. The exact details remain withheld from the public, but a complaint log maintained by the state court administrators office shows that Horning-Rieder was sanctioned for violating standards related to training, objectivity and professionalism, as well as for the sufficiency and adequacy of her investigations.

A 2014 letter of admonition from the state licensing board for counselors sheds some light. She had neglected to disclose to the court while working as a court-appointed child and family investigator (CFI) the past domestic violence charges and conviction of one of the parties in a custody case, the admonition states. The state court administrator's officer found her work in the case so deficient it removed her from the list of child and family investigators eligible for CFI court appointments for one year.

She convinced the state licensing board to only admonish her and allow her to keep her license required to work as a counselor in Colorado by arguing she had immunity for acting in a court-appointed role, and also had not been providing any clinical services while evaluating the parents.

I have been de-listed by the Fourteenth Judicial District and cannot conduct future CFI evaluations, she promised in a letter to the licensing boards director.

Despite Horning-Rieders de-listing, judges continued appointing her to custody evaluations. Shes received such appointments at least 10 other times since the state court administrators office barred her from CFI work, according to a resume she submitted in a 2019 custody case. She worked as a parental responsibility evaluator (PRE) in those cases, a role that allowed her to charge parents even more money and carried greater influence than her previous work as a CFI.

Horning-Rieder generated controversy again after a Montrose County judge appointed her in 2019 to make parenting recommendations for a 4-year-old girl whose parents were divorcing. Horning-Rieder never interviewed the husbands two former wives who confirmed he had a history of domestic violence, testimony shows.

The new wife had pointed to bombs and explosives police found on their property as corroborating her contention the husband had made veiled threats he had the means to kill her. Horning-Rieder admitted from the witness stand that she had left out of her final evaluation report many statements from other witnesses supporting the new wifes allegations of violence and abuse from her husband. In contrast, Horning-Rieder included in the report witnesses supporting the husband. Horning-Rieder said an accidental cut and paste computer problem was the cause of the omission of the wifes witnesses.

Sadly, computers can seemingly have their own life at times, Horning-Rieder testified.

In the end, Montrose County District Court Judge D. Cory Jackson primarily sided with the mother, ruling the fathers allegations, brought up late in the divorce, that a friend of the mother had sexually abused the child were not founded. The judge found the sex abuse allegations relevant only because they showed the parties have great difficulty in communicating.

The judge ruled the father had committed domestic violence against the mother and limited the fathers parenting time to every other weekend during the school year, though he later amended the ruling to clarify that if the father moved back to Montrose County from the Durango area hed grant him additional parenting time.

Horning-Rieder in an interview said she currently has 10 other parenting evaluations underway, but she said officials in the state court administrators office recently told her to stop accepting additional court appointments for such work until she can resolve questions about her letter of admonition and the 14th Judicial District restriction barring her from CFI work for one year. The State Court Administrators Office confirmed her application for placement on the evaluator roster list is under review.

Everyone wants to attack the hard-working psychologist, Horning-Rieder said. Its pretty thankless work. You have all this pretty salacious, intense stuff, almost made for primetime TV, and your focus is whats in the best interest of the child.

Grieving for a murdered child

In 2009, Lon Kopit, a longtime parental evaluator and licensed counselor in Centennial, had his own court battle that ended with him secretly settling a lawsuit alleging that he, at the age of 59, sexually harassed a 25-year-old female assistant at his parenting evaluation office.

The assistant claimed the counselor repeatedly groped her, forcibly kissed her, suggested they go shopping together at Victorias Secret and had set up overnight seminar trips in which he booked a single hotel room for the two of them with one bed. Kopit declined comment, though in court documents, before the mediation settlement, he denied any sexual harassment.

A grieving mother says Kopit was one of many fateful shortfalls in the case of her son Ty Tesoriero, a 10-year-old Douglas County boy killed in 2019 by his father, Anthony Tesoriero, the morning after a contentious custody hearing. The judge had indicated she would likely grant significantly more time to Tys mother, Jing Tesoriero, a change from their 50-50 arrangement. Anthony Tesoriero shot Ty in the early hours of Sept. 21 before turning the gun on himself.

Kopit took on a role as Tys therapist in August 2017. In his response to a DORA complaint filed against him following Tys death, Kopit repeatedly asserted he never saw any signs of threats to Tys safety.

Jing said she objected to the court appointment of Kopit as Tys therapist because he had previously served as Tys fathers therapist, and she didnt think Ty would be fully open with Kopit as a result. By that point her ex-husband had a pattern of threatening professionals involved in the case, making other therapists hesitant to take the appointment.

With the pressure that Ty was getting from Anthony, I just felt like Ty thought Kopit was Anthonys friend, or theyre on the same team, and Ty wouldnt be honest with (Kopit) if theres any kind of concern, Jing said.

Jing felt Kopit didnt take her seriously when she reported concerns to him on more than one occasion that Tys father was abusing him. Kopit ignored red flags and signs Ty was suffering while he was with his father, she said.

Dr. Kopit should have been the one last person Ty could trust, Jing wrote in a complaint she filed with the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies. Dr. Kopit failed to save my child when he could have.

The agency resolved the complaint, through the state board of licensing, by admonishing Kopit for failing to comply with any requirements pertaining to mandatory disclosure of information to clients.

There is seemingly no type of red flag the custody case for Ty didnt raise. The Department of Human Services received numerous reports since 2016, including statements by Ty that his father choked him, statements that Tesoriero threatened to harm him if he didnt say his mother had mistreated him. Jing filed similar assertions that she said Ty had relayed to her.

DHS frequently found there was not enough information from the reports for the agency to continue investigating, and Jing said she has had trouble understanding that decision.

Jing filed for a protection order against Tesoriero in 2015 after they broke up, alleging among other abuse that Tesoriero threatened her with a gun, while Ty was in the house, and said he could become homicidal and suicidal. The night of Tys death, his father threatened that anyone who tried to take Ty away from him  including DHS workers or law enforcement  would be killed, according to a fatality report done by DHS.

Jing has struggled to talk about Ty as she adjusts to life without him.

Shes kept a lot of his toys for her two toddler daughters. She told her 4-year-old that Ty is in heaven, but said the little girl has had trouble grasping that means her brother isnt coming back.

And the seemingly casual question How many kids do you have? is no longer simple. A screensaver photo of Ty on Jing's phone has drawn questions from acquaintances who know about her two toddler daughters but not about him. Sometimes Jing says she has three kids, other times two.

It depends on who I talk to. I dont want to talk to strangers a lot about that.

Her family feared Tesoriero planned to kill all of them the night he murdered her son, and Jing believes Tys death  and his father's subsequent suicide  may have saved their lives.

To a point, I feel like Ty saved all of our lives, she said. Ty just took it for us.

*Sources referred to only by their first names are pseudonyms used at their request and due to the sensitivity of the matters involved.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has urged his Brazilian counterpart Carlos Favaro to address timely disease reporting in Brazil in order to continue to access the U.S. market. The concern about timely disease reporting is certainly incredibly important but reflects only one of several concerns many cattlemens groups have communicated.

In his August 7 letter to Carlos Favaro, Brazilian Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply, Vilsack doubled down on the responsibility of the U.S. and Brazil, the worlds two largest cattle-producing countries, to protect cattle herd health, but he did not close the countrys access to U.S. beef imports.

Recent bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) detections in Brazil grabbed the attention of the U.S. in 2021 after Brazil revealed two cases of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, more commonly known as Mad Cow Disease. According to releases from the USDA, the cases were discovered in June and not reported until November. Conversely, the United Kingdom and Germany both reported cases to the World Organization of Animal Health within days of occurrence that same year. My February 27, 2023, column might be helpful as reference but to summarize, Brazil has demonstrated a pattern of refusal to report BSE cases for months or even years. The limited number of cases themselves (single cases in 2012, 2014, and 2019) may not indicate health issues in the Brazilian cowherd, the pattern of delayed reporting hints at a disorganized food safety and animal health reporting system.

Following the most recent delay in reporting, Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Jon Tester (D- MT) revived their 2021 legislation early this year to suspend Brazilian beef imports to the U.S. until a robust review of the commoditys impact on food safety and animal health. Within a matter of hours, Brazil again  for the third time since 2021  reported a case of atypical BSE. Tester and Rounds bill was introduced and assigned to the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry committee on Feb. 16, 2023, and it hasnt moved an inch.

In a recent call with Sec. Vilsack, representatives from the three largest cattle producer trade groups made clear their concerns about Brazils habit of delayed reporting, its practice of forced labor, and its illegal deforestation of the Amazon rainforest. Not only are the practices unethical, but they also take U.S. producers off the level playing field when it comes to producing the final product for consumers. Most concerning is the lack of commitment to food safety demonstrated in Brazil.

One of the Big Four, JBS, of course, is wholly Brazilian-owned, while together with Cargill, Tyson Foods, and National Beef Packing (in which Brazilian-owned Marfrig owns a 31% interest) they control 80% of the meat packing in the U.S. While Im sure Vilsack is hesitant to play hardball with these companies, his letter to Favaro mentioned only the concerns about delayed BSE reporting and did not close the U.S. market to Brazilian beef imports, or communicate the urgency communicated to him by the trade organizations on their call. At this writing, the United States Cattlemens Association was johnny on the spot issuing a statement that they remain adamant that the U.S. should immediately halt any further Brazilian beef imports until they address and resolve the concerns communicated to Vilsack.

Brazil plays a major role in the protein business in the U.S. and right here in Colorado. Brazilian-owned JBS-USA began in 1953 when founder Jose Batista Sobrinho began processing beef at a 500 head per day plant in west central Brazil. In 2007, Wesley Mendonca Batista arrived in Greeley, after the family acquired Swift and Company. According to reporting in Forbes over a decade ago, Mendonca Batista arrived wearing boots and jeans, spoke no English, and got his hands dirty, demonstrating to butchers on the line how to carve every cent off the proverbial bone.

In 2018, Wesley and his brother Joesley Batista spend time behind bars in Brazil awaiting trial on allegations of insider trading. The brothers are now free, and JBS is worth considerably more today. The Batista name is often mentioned in headlines about bribery of government officials, major acquisitions, and major debt. JBS has significantly beefed up their government relations game in Washington. as well, announcing the hiring of Vilsacks former chief of staff during his first appointment Karla Thieman in June of 2022, bringing on additional government relations staff, and contracting with a lobbying powerhouse.

The Brazilian cowherd is comprised of 232 million head and Brazil is the largest exporter of beef in the world, accounting for 20% of total global exports according to the USDA. As I earlier reported, China has historically been the largest importer of Brazilian beef, even with a since lifted, three-month embargo driven by BSE concerns, along with Hong Kong, South Africa, Iran, and Iraq, among others. Brazil is also the largest producer of halal meat, which opens tremendous demand in heavily populated Muslim markets where incomes are climbing and with it, demand for beef.

Rachel Gabel is a longtime agriculture writer and the assistant editor of The Fence Post Magazine.
One person died and two people were seriously injured after they fell around the Longs Peak area of Rocky Mountain National Park on Friday and Sunday, a spokesperson said.

Editors note: Tuesday, the Boulder County Coroner identified Jadyn Weiss, 21, of Severance, as the climber who fell to her death Sunday in the Flying Dutchman couloir.

Colorado was identified by the Boulder County Coroner on Tuesday as the female who died after falling approximately 300 feet. The cause and manner of death are pending further investigation, the Boulder County Coroner's office said.

Late afternoon on Friday, a 64-year-old male from College Station, Texas took an approximate 60-foot tumbling fall above the Ledges on the Keyhole Route on Longs Peak. A bystander provided critical care to him until park rangers arrived on scene. Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue team members provided advanced medical care.

Because of the location and severity of the man's injuries, park rangers asked for assistance from a Colorado Air National Guard helicopter from Buckley Air Force Base to extricate him via a hoist operation, using a winch operated cable.

The man was transferred to a Flight for Life air ambulance at Upper Beaver Meadows and flown to Medical Center of the Rockies. RMNP Search and Rescue Team members hiked out and reached the Longs Peak Trailhead at midnight on Friday night.

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On Sunday afternoon, a 21-year-old female from Severance, Colorado died after an approximate 300-foot fall. A 25-year-old male from San Angelo, Texas also fell approximately 300 feet and suffered critical injuries. The two individuals fell while descending in the Flying Dutchman couloir.

This couloir is located inside Rocky Mountain National Park between Longs Peak and Mount Meeker.

Park visitors in the area contacted park rangers via cell phone in addition to activating a personal locator beacon. Bystanders provided initial care to the seriously injured male. Park rangers, a park paramedic and an Estes Park Health paramedic provided advanced medical care on scene.

Because of the severity of the 25-year-old male's injuries, park rangers again asked for assistance from a Colorado Air National Guard helicopter from Buckley Air Force Base. The man was transferred to a Flight for Life air ambulance at Upper Beaver Meadows and flown to Medical Center of the Rockies.

As is standard protocol, the death incident is under investigation, the spokesperson said.

Recovery operations for the deceased female were hampered by weather Sunday. But Monday morning, her body was recovered with help from a Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control helicopter and helitack crew. Her body was flown to Upper Beaver Meadows and then transferred to Boulder County Coroner's Office.

The woman's name will be released after positive identification has been made and next of kin are notified, authorities said.
A former Cripple Creek detective was given a 60-day jail sentence by a Teller County Judge on Monday after pleading guilty to charges stemming from an inappropriate sexual relationship with an alleged victim in a sex trafficking case, and attempting to cover up the relationship after the fact.

In June former Cripple Creek detective Alexander Kenoyer, 36, pleaded guilty to two charges: Attempt to influence a public servant, a class-4 felony, and public indecency, a petty offense.

According to the affidavit for the incident, Kenoyer's relationship with the victim began over text message in 2021 and the two first met to have sex at a local hotel in November of that year.

The affidavit states that sexually explicit text messages between the two were intertwined with the woman occasionally asking about her case and for legal advice. Texts also revealed alleged sexual contact between the two in Kenoyer's office at the Cripple Creek police station and in his police vehicle.

The relationship ended when Kenoyer refused to leave his wife. A short time later, the Police Department and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation launched a probe into his misconduct and Kenoyer asked the victim to lie to law enforcement on his behalf in an attempt to save his job.

The victim appeared at Kenyoer's sentencing hearing on Monday via Webex and asked for Judge Scott Sells to impose the maximum possible sentence allowable under the plea deal.

The victim spoke at length about how Kenoyer took advantage of her when she was in a vulnerable place, noting that her sexual relationship with Kenoyer began less than a week after she filed her police report at the Cripple Creek Police Department.

"He (Kenoyer) saw me as a target, a toy and an easily influenceable member of society he could use," the victim said during her impact statement. "He convinced me that he cared for me."

The victim went on to state that Kenoyer posted sexually explicit images and videos of her on the internet without her consent, and that to this day many of those photos and videos remain on the internet.

Prosecutor Kelson Castain informed the court after the victim's statement that the District Attorney's Office was aware of the presence of the sexually explicit content containing the victim, but that there is currently no evidence Kenoyer was the one who posted the images and videos online, noting it could have been the result of an online hack. However, Castain stated new criminal charges could be filed against Kenoyer if evidence arises that he was the one responsible for posting the images and videos to publicly accessible websites.

During his statement Castain also advocated for Sells to issue the maximum possible sentence to Kenoyer, echoing many of the points made by the victim regarding Kenoyer abusing his power on a vulnerable woman, but also added that this isn't new for Kenoyer.

Castain stated that Kenoyer had used his position as a law enforcement official to have a sex with a woman involved in a traffic incident years prior to the more recent allegations.

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Castain stated that Kenoyer had sexual intercourse with this woman while on duty only hours after the incident, and that he allegedly apologized to his superiors after they were informed of the incident and said: "It's an abuse of the position I hold as an officer."

"The lessons he (Kenoyer) supposedly learned previously have not sunk in yet," Castain said of Kenoyer's previous actions. "I'm asking for a jail sentence. ... (Kenoyer) needs to be held accountable."

In rebuttal, Kenoyer's attorney Patrick Mika didn't deny that Kenoyer's actions deserved consequence, but stated that Kenoyer just made bad decisions "isolated to to those two particular events," and that it shouldn't take away from the good that Kenoyer did as a member of law enforcement.

"We are humans, we make bad decisions," Mika said. "He had a difficult and high pressure job. ... He has performed his job, by most accounts, professionally."

Prior to Judge Sells issuing his sentence, Kenoyer himself apologized to the victim and the community for his actions.

"I want to express how sorry I am for the hurt I caused," Kenoyer said to the court.

While Judge Sells acknowledged that people make mistakes and applauded Kenoyer for completing his court mandated 100 hours of community service, Sells stated that it doesn't make up for his actions.

"You absolutely took advantage of her," Sells said directly to Kenoyer. "You made a concise decision to mislead the chief of police, you made a concise decision to mislead your co-workers."

Sells went on to impose the maximum possible sentence allowable under the plea agreement of 60 days in jail, with credit for two days time served, and two years of supervised probation upon release.

"I'm imposing a jail sentence because your actions absolutely cry out for it," Sells said.

Kenoyer is required to report to the Teller County jail on Thursday to begin his sentence. Sells stated he had no problem with Kenoyer serving his sentence in Park County jail due to concerns over his safety as a former law enforcement official in Teller County.
Power Technical, a public school designed for students exploring career opportunities in trades or engineering fields, is kicking off the 2023-2024 academic year in a new, expanded location not far from its previous digs in east Colorado Springs.

Since it opened in 2016, PTEC had been housed in a modest building on Canada Drive. But according to James Irwin Charter Schools Chief Executive Officer Rob Daugherty, the plan has always been to move to a bigger campus as enrollment grew.

We knew that, when the time came, we would need to either build or buy another building to meet the growing needs of this school, Daugherty said, noting that the previous building housed 370 students in a space meant for about 340.

District 49s board of education voted unanimously on Thursday to open a James Irwin elementary school in PTECs former building.

Daugherty had originally intended to build on PTECs existing campus to expand it to 100,000 square feet, but the project proved to be cost-prohibitive. Then, in November 2021, he was driving near Waynoka Place when he saw what would become the schools new home.

I saw a (For Sale) sign going up on the old Lockheed Martin building, Daugherty said. So I called my broker and said, Weve gotta take a look at that building.

The result, after a 14-month rebuild, is a 94,000-square-foot campus with 26 academic classrooms and nine state-of-the-art Career and Technical Education workshops, including welding, woodworking and construction rooms.

But there was a time, not long ago, when PTEC was, according to James Irwin Director of Advancement Linda Carroll, a charter application looking for a school district to call home.

Nobody wanted a trade school before District 49 expressed an interest, Carroll said. Now, we see a lot of districts opening their own CTE programs.

PTEC offers an educational program that begins in sixth grade and can culminate in a tuition-free associate degree, in a skilled trade, from Pikes Peak State College. Ideally, the school will serve as a feeder system for several professions that are starving for skilled workers, Daugherty said.

We need more skilled trade workers. Most people know that, he said. But most people dont know the pathways to learning the basics of those trades. Thats what we want to provide here at PTEC.

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Even if some students decide on a career path completely unrelated to the skilled trades, they will graduate from PTEC with a valuable set of skills, officials said.

Regardless of what these students end up doing for a living, theyre going to leave here with valuable life skills, Daugherty said. Theyre going to know how check the oil in their vehicle, do basic maintenance on it and change a tire so they wont be stranded on the side of a road waiting for AAA. Theyll know how to do repairs around the house. Theyll understand the value of working with your hands.

Angelo Jaramillo, PTECs construction instructor, teaches a yearlong homebuilding course that combines many of the skills learned in the schools workshops. Students at all grade levels participate, and the end result is a 1,200-square-foot home that will be transported from the campus and sold. About 70% of the construction work is performed by the students, Jaramillo said.

Were not just teaching them trades, although that part is important, he said. Were teaching kids to take pride in what theyre doing. When my students ask to take pictures of the project, so they can show their families, thats when I know Ive done my job.

PTEC will begin the new school year with just over 400 students, according to Carroll. But officials hope to increase enrollment by about 100 students per year until they reach a capacity of 750-800 students.

With the need for skilled trades, not only do I not see a problem filling this building, I think we could fill another one somewhere down the road, whether thats in Colorado Springs, Pueblo or somewhere in northern Colorado.

Daughertys long-range goal, he said, is to create a model for CTE instruction that can be emulated on a regional, or even national level.

If we could replicate this in every major city across the country, wed go a long way toward solving our shortage of skilled trade workers, he said.
A legislator vowed to push for new laws as well as a state audit to prevent unqualified parental evaluators from continuing to put Colorado children in peril amid growing criticism from parents who say the evaluation industry has mired their custody cases in turmoil.

State Rep. Meg Froelich, a Democrat from Greenwood Village, spoke out following the recent disclosure in The Gazette of the latest scandal to hit a parenting evaluator  this one involving a state investigation into whether Shannon McShane conned state and court officials into believing she was eligible for court appointments.

The Gazette reported on July 27 that state investigators had determined McShane, a former evaluator accused of extreme bias and shoddy work in up to 30 cases, had falsified her Ph.D. and impersonated a state regulator and federal diplomatic officials.

Theres just still more work to do because we keep hearing about these folks who are just terrible, Froelich said of evaluators accused of favoring abusive parents to the detriment of protective parents. Theyre bad. Theyre bad, and the outcomes are deadly.

Froelich said she will push for additional legislation to bolster new laws she shepherded through the General Assembly in the last two years that were meant to put new guardrails around the use of parenting evaluators, court-appointed professionals who charge parents tens of thousands of dollars per case for custody recommendations that can sway judges overseeing high-conflict court cases.

The lawmakers push for an audit to probe whether Colorado needs to do more to eliminate unqualified parental evaluators coincides with nearly a dozen parents reaching out to The Gazette following the newspapers report on McShane. They questioned why state and judicial officials allowed McShane to continue causing havoc in their custody cases even as controversy grew over her disputed custody recommendations.

I feel sick to my stomach because clearly the Colorado courts do not understand how important this role is to children, said one Colorado Springs mother, who said she dealt with bias from McShane during her custody dispute. It baffles me. Children are the most important, precious members of our society. You think they would want to get it right. I feel like theyre trying to sweep it under the rug.

The mother said McShane abruptly turned against her last year after the mother obtained a permanent protection order against her ex-husband after he broke into a bedroom that he had agreed in court documents he would refrain from entering. A camera the woman had set up to protect herself filmed the husband ripping open her robe in an attempt to expose her nude body as he tried to grope her while their 1-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son were across a nearby hallway, she said in court documents.

The day before that encounter, according to the womans filing for a protective order, her ex had come to the house while she was in the kitchen and had shoved his hand down her pants and into her underwear so he could grope her. She said in a court filing that he went on to pull her top down while pushing his entire body weight onto her, trapping her against a counter.

The woman, who asked that her name not be divulged due to the sensitivity of the issues, said McShane found her request for a protection order and her report that her husband had violated the permanent protection order a judge issued in the case to be a manipulative, abusive tactic that reflected poorly on her parenting skills. She said McShane also falsely accused her in conversations with her therapist of dropping a barbell on her own face to harm herself.

The woman blames what she described as a botched custody recommendation from McShane that she said cost her and her ex-husband $9,000 as eventually thwarting her efforts to relocate herself and her children outside Colorado to another state to live near her family.

McShanes report ended up getting tossed from the case, but the judge told the mother that if she wants to move out of Colorado with the children, she will have to start the process over, perhaps requiring the appointment and cost of a new parental evaluator. The woman said McShane has never repaid the money she received for the evaluation.

McShane surrendered her psychology license in July after state investigators with the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies found she had falsified her credentials.

Investigators with the agency said in a report obtained by The Gazette that in addition to discovering McShanes Ph.D. was fake, documents submitted to the state agency purporting to show she had the requisite hours of training while working at the Colorado Department of Corrections to become licensed to practice psychology in Colorado also were forged.

Records also show an investigator with the diplomatic security service for U.S. foreign embassies found that McShane had impersonated a state regulator and diplomatic security agents in a failed attempt to prevent the discovery of her fraudulent academic records. That investigator in March reported McShane for potential prosecution to the Denver District Attorneys Office, which confirmed receiving a referral about McShane.

Officials in the State Court Administrators Office have declined comment.

McShane has denied wrongdoing and said she surrendered her psychology license in Colorado to avoid a protracted dispute with state regulators. She also said an earlier revocation of her Texas real estate license in 2018 occurred because she was never told she faced accusations of fraud there for failing to forward rental payments on properties she was managing to the property owners.

Despite McShane claiming she did not have a chance to defend herself on the issues in Texas, records from regulators in that state show they sent by certified mail to McShanes address a notification of the fraud complaint pending against her. Records show the receipt of the notification was acknowledged by a signature from a person living at McShanes address. Regulators in Texas also followed up by sending McShane emails. McShane said she had moved and "none of the notifications reached her."

McShane defended her court-appointed parenting evaluations in Colorado and said critics should realize the parenting evaluation process is an adversarial one, and there are winners and losers. She said she properly evaluated domestic violence issues.

McShane kept her Colorado psychology license for more than eight months despite Magistrate Judge Matt Bradley of the 13th Judicial District in northeast Colorado in November ruling that McShanes work was so biased and flawed that he barred her from ever working again for the courts in six northeast Colorado counties.

Instead of taking prompt action after the magistrate reported her to the State Court Administrators Office, state court administrative officials also allowed McShane to continue making disputed court-appointed child custody recommendations in up to 30 other cases in other Colorado judicial districts.

Court administrators finally barred her from doing such work in all judicial districts in the state in March  four months after her sanction in the 13th Judicial District  after receiving a new complaint alleging that McShane had accused in emails a father she was evaluating of being worse than a murderer she claimed to have counseled who had put his enemies through a woodchipper.

In that case, McShane unsuccessfully pushed to lift parenting supervision requirements a judge had imposed on the mother after the judge found the mother had bitten her 3-year-old sons hand, dislocated his shoulder and punched her 6-year-old son.

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McShane did not surrender her state psychology license until state regulatory investigators determined she had submitted fake transcripts purporting to show she had a Ph.D. from the University of Hertfordshire in England. McShane has vowed in emails to a listserv for parental evaluators in Colorado that she will continue making court-appointed custody recommendations in Texas, where she received a license to practice psychology in March.

A magistrate ruled in another custody case that McShane fixated on whether a fathers nickname of Sleepy Melo meant he was a member of a violent gang when he was not. That father temporarily lost custody of his children  then aged 12, 9 and 10  after McShane warned he posed an imminent threat.

The magistrate, four months after removal of the children, found that McShane had improperly impugned a loving father when McShane successfully urged relocating the children to live with their mother, who had been living in California for four years. The magistrate noted that McShane, in contrast, failed to investigate the mothers new husband who actually had been a gang member.

McShane was kicked off another court case last year after a mother filed court documents showing McShane had explored suing the mother for defamation after the mother claimed McShane told her she needed to lose weight. Emails show McShane told her lawyer she brought up the weight issue because witnesses had made disparaging remarks about the womans weight and because she wanted to know whether the woman had made plans for how the child would be cared for if she died.

In another case, McShane was not persuaded by reports that a father had been adjudicated as delinquent as a teen for sexually assaulting a 5-year-old boy and an 8-year-old girl and had physically struck the mother of his 2-year-old child seeking to relocate herself and her child from Longmont to South Dakota, court records show. Recordings show that the father of the child in the custody dispute boasted to his ex that McShane had befriended his mother and liked drinking wine with his mother.

I was a victim of domestic violence, said the woman, whose custody case was in Weld County. I had over six hours of footage given to her. She testified in court that I made it all up, and the way he hit me wasnt abuse because I caused it.

The judge in that case ruled the mother could move with her child out of state. The mother still hasnt recovered the $7,000 she paid McShane to make custody recommendations in the case. McShane said the father in the case later recanted his boasts that she had befriended his mother. "I am not, nor was I 'friends' with any party's parent," she said.

At least one parent accusing McShane of bias in her case is in discussions with Henry Baskerville, a lawyer who filed a lawsuit on behalf of six parents alleging former parenting evaluator Mark Kilmer favored abusive parents in his custody recommendations. That lawsuit seeks class-action status on behalf of up to 60 parents Kilmer had evaluated.

Baskerville is considering expanding the litigation to include other potential class members who claim they were harmed by biased custody recommendations from McShane and other unqualified parenting evaluators.

The mother who wants to file a class-action against McShane said McShane falsely accused her of regularly sleeping nude with her son and of inappropriately watching him bathe while consistently downplaying reports of alcoholism and drug addictions by the father.

Another Colorado Springs woman said McShane favored her ex-husband, who had pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of domestic violence after the woman accused her ex of strangling her. McShane recommended that the woman undergo a forensic psychological test, which would cost her $10,000, to determine whether she was a sound parent.

That woman said McShane victimized her and traumatized her 5-year-old son. She said her child became so distraught he refused to let her out of his sight.

He wanted me to sleep on the couch, in the living room, because its right outside his bedroom door, the mother said. Thats the level of fear he felt. Thats how real it was for him that he was never going to see me again.

Two years ago, Froelich, the legislator, successfully convinced lawmakers to require new domestic abuse training for evaluators. That legislation also required state court administrators to set up professional standards for court practice of evaluators.

But Froelich said she remains concerned that state court administration officials and officials with the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies still havent come up with a coordinated and effective approach to investigate complaints from parents, including those who say they lost custody of their children to abusers due to biased evaluators who charged them high fees.

Officials with the Department of Regulatory Agencies oversee the licensing of professionals, such as psychologists, who work as evaluators while the State Court Administrators Office maintains the rosters of individuals eligible for court appointments as parenting evaluators and as child and family investigators.

Dozens of parents who spoke to The Gazette complained that court administration officials and state regulatory officials at DORA havent taken complaints involving parenting evaluators seriously. They added that court administrators and state officials cant seem to decide who should have jurisdiction over ensuring evaluators are qualified to make custody recommendations.

State DORA regulators often defer to the courts on the soundness of court-appointed work, saying fitness for court work isnt a licensing issue, according to parents. And, they say, court administration officials usually wont consider a complaint unless a judge has already sanctioned an evaluator.

Even when a judge has sanctioned an evaluator and barred them from doing work in their judicial district, state court administrative officials have allowed evaluators to continue accepting court appointments in other judicial districts throughout the state, as McShane was allowed to do, The Gazette found.

I need to bring additional legislation to empower DORA and the court administrators, either whether its to talk more to each other or to just be empowered on their own, Froelich said.

Froelich added she already has informally talked to members of the legislative audit committee  composed of four representatives and four senators  about requesting a special audit by the office of the State Auditor Kerri Hunter into how the state and courts handle complaints alleging unfit and biased evaluators. She said she will draft a formal request to the committee for such an audit.

I definitely think audits are intended to examine systems and to say these systems are not working and to find out what would you recommend for a better way to reconcile these flaws in the way that has been proceeding, Froelich said.

We need more empowerment of both the court administrators and DORA to act in the interest of the child, Froelich said. Were trying to codify the interest of the child as the motivating factor in all these evaluations. It really isnt. It is which parent seems the most distressed or whos bringing the most litigation forward.
By Rachel Nostrant

(Reuters) - Six white former Mississippi law enforcement officers pleaded guilty on Monday to state charges for brutally assaulting two Black men in January, including shooting one in the mouth, court documents showed.

The six officers, who called themselves the "Goon Squad" because of their willingness to use excessive force, according to the documents, entered their pleas in Rankin County Court in Brandon. The charges included aggravated assault, burglary, home invasion and hindering prosecution.

Five of the defendants were Rankin County sheriff's deputies and one was a police officer in Richland, Mississippi. They pleaded guilty Aug. 3 to federal charges including civil rights conspiracy for the same incident. Each potentially faces decades in federal prison and hefty fines.

According to federal prosecutors, the defendants - Brett McAlpin, Christian Dedmon, Hunter Elward, Joshua Hartfield, Jeffrey Middleton and Daniel Opdyke - entered a home on Jan. 24 in Braxton, near Jackson, without a search warrant.

For nearly two hours, the officers physically and sexually assaulted Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker while screaming racial slurs at the handcuffed men, according to court documents.

Dedmon then stuck a pistol in Jenkins' mouth in a "mock execution" that went wrong when he pulled the trigger, court records showed. Jenkins' jaw was shattered and his tongue lacerated.

Monday's guilty pleas were entered as part of a global plea agreement, according to the Rankin County Court clerk, in conjunction with the federal case. The men will serve their sentences in the two cases concurrently.

Today, a strong message has been sent: Abuse of power will not be tolerated in Mississippi," Attorney General Lynn Finch said in a statement on Monday.

The Richland Police and Rankin Count Sheriff's Departments did not respond to requests for comment.

Jeffrey Reynolds, an attorney for Daniel Opdyke, said by email that state sentencing would take place after the federal sentencing hearing on Nov. 16.

(Reporting by Rachel Nostrant in New York; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
By Bhanvi Satija and Pratik Jain

(Reuters) -The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday granted accelerated approval to Pfizer's therapy for treating patients with a type of blood cancer that is difficult to treat, the company said.

The health regulator's decision allows use of the therapy, branded as Elrexfio, in patients with multiple myeloma that is hard to treat or has come back after receiving four or more prior lines of certain classes of treatments.

Elrexfio, or elranatamab, is administered under the skin and belongs to a class of therapies known as bispecific antibodies, that helps the body's immune system to kill cancerous cells by bringing a cancer cell and an immune cell together.

Elrexfio will be sold in the United States at a list price of $7,556 and $13,051 for the 44 mg and the 76 mg vial, respectively, Pfizer said.

The list price of the therapy is expected to be $41,500 per month, the company said, adding that it expects the monthly price to be lower at about $26,000 as patients move to bi-weekly dosing.

Pfizer has said the therapy could have more than $4 billion in potential peak revenue.

Elrexfio's average treatment duration was eight months in the mid-stage trial and the company expects the therapy will be available in the weeks following approval.

Multiple myeloma is a common type of blood cancer, which develops in the bone marrow and can spread throughout the body. Several patients see a relapse after stopping treatment, making it an area of unmet need that drugmakers can tap into.

Other similar antibody therapies in the market include Roche's Columvi, Abbvie's Epkinly and Johnson & Johnson's Talvey, which was approved last week.

Elrexfio can be used "off-the-shelf" and can be delivered on an ongoing basis by healthcare providers in hospitals and clinics, the company said on Monday.

The FDA approval is based on data from a mid-stage study that showed that 58% of patients treated with Pfizer's therapy had no signs of cancer or had seen a significant decrease in cancer cells in the body.

Pfizer said it will continue testing the therapy in ongoing late-stage trials to expand its use in earlier lines of treatment for patients.

The therapy's approval comes with a boxed warning for neurologic toxicity and cytokine release syndrome, a condition where the immune system reacts more aggressively.

(Reporting by Bhanvi Satija, Leroy Leo and Pratik Jain in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta)
By Boureima Balima and Felix Onuah

NIAMEY (Reuters) -Thousands of people gathered in Niger's capital on Friday to demonstrate in favour of last month's coup as regional leaders were considering military intervention to restore civilian rule.

Since the July 26 military ouster of elected President Mohamed Bazoum, many Nigeriens have joined junta-organised rallies to show support for the generals, criticise Western powers and laud Russia, which is vying for influence with the West in the region.

The peaceful crowd on Friday numbered in the thousands, according to a Reuters witness. The rally began at a French military base in the capital Niamey then protesters with signs and flags spread onto surrounding streets.

"Long live Russia," one protester's sign read. "Down with France.... Down with ECOWAS," referring to the Economic Community of West African States. At a summit on Thursday, the body ordered the activation of a standby force that could intervene to reinstate Bazoum.

The military takeover was the seventh coup in West and Central Africa in three years, and demonstrations in Niger have mirrored street scenes in neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso after coups between 2020 and 2022.

Popular anger is targeted at former colonial power France, whose forces were kicked out of Mali and Burkina Faso after the coups there and whose presence in Niger is under threat. Protesters in Niger attacked the French embassy.

"I am here to request the departure of the French forces," said protester Salamatou Hima on Friday. "We are free and we have the right to demand what is beneficial for our country."

The military coup was triggered by internal politics but has repercussions far beyond Niger's borders, raising the spectre of deepening conflict in a strategically important region. Uranium-rich Niger, one of the world's poorest countries, has been an ally for the West in the fight against Islamist militants in the Sahel region.

U.S., French, German and Italian troops are stationed in Niger to repel local affiliates of al Qaeda and Islamic State that have killed thousands and displaced millions across the Sahel.

STANDBY FORCE

Regional army chiefs were expected to meet in coming days. It was not yet clear how long the ECOWAS standby force would take to assemble, how big it would be and if it will actually invade. The organisation stressed that all options were on the table and it still hoped for a peaceful resolution.

Security analysts said the force could take weeks to set up, potentially leaving room for negotiations.

Ivory Coast is the only country so far to specify how many troops it would send, promising a battalion of 850 on Thursday.

Benin and Sierra Leone said on Friday they would contribute troops but did not say how many. Senegal said last week it would contribute troops if there were an intervention.

Most other countries in the 15-nation ECOWAS have so far either declined to comment or not yet taken a decision.

At Friday's rally, protester Ali Hassane vowed to defend his country. If the ECOWAS force invades, "it's us civilians who are going to fight," he said.

Russia's foreign ministry said it supported ECOWAS efforts to mediate but warned against any military intervention in Niger, saying it could destabilise the country and region.

France said it fully backed conclusions of the ECOWAS summit but did not outline any concrete support it would give to a potential intervention.

Niger's junta has yet to react to the prospect of a forceful intervention by ECOWAS. But it has rebuffed repeated calls for dialogue from the international community and named a new government hours before the summit.

Military governments in neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso, have said they will defend the junta in Niger.

WORRY ABOUT BAZOUM

Meanwhile, the African Union, the European Union, the United States and the United Nations all said they were increasingly worried about Bazoum's detention conditions.

The U.N. Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Friday said the conditions were "rapidly deteriorating" and could amount to a violation of international human rights law.

Human Rights Watch said it had spoken to Bazoum this week and that he had told them that his family's treatment in custody was "inhuman and cruel".

"My son is sick, has a serious heart condition, and needs to see a doctor," HRW quoted Bazoum as telling it.

Bazoum's daughter Zazia Bazoum, who is in France, told Britain's Guardian newspaper the junta was keeping him in deplorable conditions to pressure him to sign a resignation letter. Reuters could not independently confirm the conditions of his detention.

(Additional reporting by Pap Saine in Banjul, Ange Aboa in Abidjan, Alberto Dabo in Bissau, Alphonso Toweh in Monrivia, Diadie Ba in Dakar, Pulcherie Adjoha, and Edward McAllister, Anait Miridzhanian, Nellie Peyton, David Lewis, Gareth Jones, Umaru Fofana; Writing by Ingrid Melander, Edward McAllister and Sofia Christensen; Editing by Angus MacSwan, Hugh Lawson and Cynthia Osterman)
Former President Barack Obama's developing role in President Joe Biden's 2024 reelection effort was highlighted in a new tweet from Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff on Sunday.

"Do you want to meet Presidents @JoeBiden and @BarackObama?" he asked. "Chip in whatever you can to support Joe and Kamala's campaign and you'll be automatically entered for a chance a win."

HERE'S WHY BIDEN IS TARGETING AI, SEMICONDUCTORS AND QUANTUM COMPUTERS IN CHINA

The tweet directed viewers to a landing page from ActBlue for the Biden Victory Fund, the president's joint fundraising committee.

According to the fund's page, by donating people have the chance to win a trip to meet Obama and Biden  who once served as Obama's vice president. The travel and hotel stay will be covered, and the winner will get to meet both men, memorializing it with a photo.

Obama reportedly promised to do everything in his power to boost Biden to reelection during a lunch meeting at the White House in June, per the Washington Post.

During the meeting, he also allegedly warned Biden of former president Donald Trump's political prowess and stranglehold on the Republican Party. Trump is the front-runner in the Republican primary race, besting each competitor by double digits.

In a statement to the Washington Post, Obama Senior Adviser Eric Schultz said, "We place a huge emphasis on finding creative ways to reach new audiences, especially tools that can be directly tied to voter mobilization or volunteer activations."

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"We are deliberate in picking our moments because our objective is to move the needle," he added.

As Biden enlists the help of prominent Democrats across the country, the help of Obama is likely the most beneficial. Obama, who survived his own reelection bid in 2012, is the most famous former president, according to a 2023 survey from YouGov.

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He is also the eighth most popular, behind only former presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, George Washington, John F. Kennedy, and most popular, Abraham Lincoln.

Obama is also the most popular politician in the country, per YouGov's second quarter of 2023 rankings. Biden's Vice President Kamala Harris is sixth on the list, and the current president himself is 11th.

Original Location: Barack Obama's role in Joe Biden's 2024 reelection bid takes shape

Washington Examiner Videos
The Biden administration released new guidelines Monday that encouraged colleges and universities to rethink the practice of legacy admissions in order to achieve diversity and comply with the Supreme Court's ruling banning affirmative action.

The guidelines were jointly created by the Department of Justice and the Department of Education and are billed as resources for colleges and universities to "understand the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina," two cases in which the court ruled that race considerations in admissions violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

UP FOR DEBATE: WHERE TRUMP, DESANTIS, AND REST OF REPUBLICAN 2024 FIELD STAND ON KEY ISSUES

"This is a moment of great urgency in higher education," Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said on a call with reporters Monday. "The Supreme Court's decision to end affirmative action has taken away a tool that colleges have used for decades to build diverse campus communities and create equitable opportunities for students of all backgrounds. ... When individual states have banned affirmative action in the past, fewer students of color applied and fewer students of color were admitted. We cannot afford that kind of backsliding on a national scale, not when our nation is more diverse than ever."

The new guidelines were released in the form of a Q&A document, alongside a "Dear Colleague" letter signed by Assistant Secretary of Education for Civil Rights Catherine Lhamon and Kristen Clarke, the assistant U.S. attorney general for the DOJ's Civil Rights Division.

The two officials urged colleges to "review their policies to ensure they identify and reward those attributes that they most value, such as hard work, achievement, intellectual curiosity, potential, and determination" and noted there are several ways that they can achieve a racially diverse student body, including by reviewing legacy admissions.

Legacy admissions, which take an applicant's family history with the school into consideration, have drawn increased scrutiny since the court's decision. Eliminating the practice, the Biden administration said, could be a means to help secure racial diversity by not advantaging "privileged" applicants who would otherwise take the place of a minority applicant.

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"Colleges and universities can examine admission preferences, such as those based on legacy status or donor affiliation, that are unrelated to a prospective applicant's individual merit or potential, that further benefit privileged students, and that reduce opportunities for others who have been foreclosed from such advantages," the two officials said in their letter.

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Multiple schools, including Virginia Tech, have announced they would no longer provide an advantage in admissions for legacy applicants. Meanwhile, the University of Virginia has said it would continue the practice.

The Department of Education recently announced it had launched a civil rights investigation into Harvard's practice of legacy admissions after advocacy groups complained that the practice hurt the prospects of minority applicants.

Original Location: Biden administration urges colleges to diversify despite Supreme Court ruling: 'Great urgency'

Washington Examiner Videos
The United States Coast Guard is searching for four divers who went missing 50 miles off the coast of Cape Fear, North Carolina.

The divers, all men, dove from the pleasure craft Big Bill's, approximately 63 miles east of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, at about noon on Sunday, the Coast Guard said. As night approached and then arrived, the men had not resurfaced.

REP. GREG STEUBE INTRODUCES IMPEACHMENT ARTICLES AGAINST PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN

The agency said its branches communicated with one another once they learned the men were not accounted for, and they launched a "multi-asset search and rescue effort."

The coordinated plan has included: An "MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew; an HC-130 Hercules aircraft crew; an HC-130 aircraft crew; a 47-foot motor lifeboat crew; the Coast Guard Cutter Sailfish; an 87-foot patrol boat," and "the Coast Guard Cutter Yellowfin, an 87-foot patrol boat."

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The rescue crews have come from North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and New Jersey.

The men are believed to be south of Cape Fear. The Coast Guard said crews will continue searching throughout the night.

Original Location: Coast Guard searching for 4 missing divers off North Carolina coast

Washington Examiner Videos
A national poll showed former President Donald Trump once again dominating the Republican presidential primary field and showed the continuing rise of Vivek Ramaswamy, who is virtually tied in second place with Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL).

Nearly half of the Republican primary voters polled, 48%, are backing Trump, the current GOP front-runner, in his third bid for the White House, while Ramaswamy received 11% support and DeSantis garnered 10% of GOP support, according to a Kaplan Strategies survey.

UP FOR DEBATE: TRUMP, DESANTIS, AND OTHER 2024 GOP HOPEFULS' STANCE ON SECOND AMENDMENT

Former Vice President Mike Pence followed with 8% support compared to former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who are both tied at 4%. The poll also showed that 13% of those surveyed were undecided on which candidate to support.

"Since our prior poll a few weeks ago, we've observed President Trump's unwavering stronghold. Vivek Ramaswamy's ascent to second place and Governor DeSantis's pursuit, closely followed by Vice President Pence's advances, have shaped the dynamics. The forthcoming debate is anticipated to illuminate the primary contender landscape, providing greater clarity," pollster Doug Kaplan said.

The poll surveyed 800 likely GOP primary voters from Aug. 9-10 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

Ramaswamy's second-place position comes as he's seen a steady increase in his poll numbers. A FiveThirtyEight poll average tracker showed Ramaswamy receiving a paltry 1.3% in March. But as he's vocally expressed his support for Trump during his multiple indictments, Ramaswamy's poll numbers have increased. The FiveThirtyEight average composite showed Ramswamy at 7.3% as of Aug. 11, in third place behind Trump at 52.7% and DeSantis at 14%.

A RealClearPolitics poll average has Ramaswamy again in third place at 6.1% behind Trump at 54.2% and DeSantis at 15.1%. In March, Ramaswamy was averaging at just 0.5% support among GOP primary voters. Now, Ramaswamy, a political novice, is beating out far more established candidates such as Pence, Christie, and Haley.

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On the campaign trail, Ramaswamy has faced questions about whether he would consider becoming Trump's running mate, which he has pushed back against.

Last week, he told NewsNation that he's not interested in becoming Trump's No. 2. "I don't do well in a No. 2, so I'd be about as likely to accept it as he would be to accept my offer to be my vice president," Ramaswamy told NewsNation's Dan Abrams. "It's a no."

Original Location: DeSantis and Ramaswamy battling for second place in poll while Trump dominates

Washington Examiner Videos
A freshman Republican lawmaker is renewing calls for Attorney General Merrick Garland to withdraw a memo aimed at combating alleged violence against school teachers, pointing to testimony from other Biden administration officials that indicate its language was "unjustified."

In a letter sent to Garland on Monday, Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA) pressed the attorney general to "immediately rescind" the school board memo that was issued nearly two years ago, reiterating previous claims from GOP lawmakers that the directive unfairly targeted conservative parents. Congressional Republicans have repeatedly demanded Garland repeal the memo since its publication, but Garland has refused to do so.

FBI AGENT CORROBORATES WHISTLEBLOWER CLAIM IN NEW HUNTER BIDEN TRANSCRIPT

"Director Wray left no doubt that this memo was entirely without justification," Kiley wrote. "Based on the lack of evidence to support the action you took  and the fact that even the requesting organization with which the Biden administration had direct communication has walked back their allegations, I am calling on you to immediately rescind the directive."

Garland issued the memo in October 2021, ordering federal agencies to meet with local law enforcement officials to discuss a "disturbing trend" of threats against school officials over issues such as COVID-19 policies and school curricula. The memo came after a request from the National School Boards Association for the Justice Department to address such threats.

However, the NSBA later apologized for its request to the Biden administration, noting "there was no justification for some of the language included in the letter."

House Republicans later opened an investigation into the memo shortly after taking control of the lower chamber in January, releasing a report in March that found there was "no legitimate basis" for the directive. Instead, GOP lawmakers argued the memo was released for political purposes.

Kiley specifically cited recent testimony from FBI Director Christopher Wray in front of lawmakers last month, during which the top government official conceded there was no "compelling evidence" for Garland's memo.

"This committee's investigation concluded that the Justice Department's own documents demonstrated there was no compelling justification for the attorney general's directive," Kiley said during the July 12 testimony. "Do you have any reason to dispute that conclusion?"

"No," Wray responded.

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Garland has previously defended the memo, telling Senate lawmakers earlier this year he would not rescind the letter because it was "aimed at violence and threats of violence against a whole host of school personnel."

"It was not aimed at parents making complaints to their school board," he said. "And it came in the context of a whole series of other kinds of violent threats and violence against other public officials."

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Democrats have also defended the memo, dismissing House Republicans' claims that the memo was politically motivated.

"Jim Jordan has cherry-picked a few sentences from hundreds of pages of documents to manufacture a book report on a debunked conspiracy theory," Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY), the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, said of the report. "As with all of his recent work, he has produced little or no new evidence to support his claims."

Original Location: GOP lawmaker renews calls for Garland to withdraw unjustified school board memo

Washington Examiner Videos
Russian President Vladimir Putin's top proxy in Crimea wants to stiffen criminal penalties against people who publish bad news from the front lines, calling them "willing or unwitting accomplices" of Ukraine's forces.

"I urge everyone to show responsibility and remember the consequences of rash acts that undermine security, harm our Armed Forces and help the enemy in military operations, in carrying out terrorist attacks on Russian territories, in the information war," Putin appointee Sergey Aksyonov, who heads the occupation administration in Crimea, wrote on social media on Monday.

US OIL AND GAS RIGS DOWN BY 14% FROM LAST YEAR DESPITE HIGH OIL PRICES

Aksyonov announced an intent to propose federal legislation "toughening responsibility" for social media posts and other discussion of military developments, including "the results of the terrorist attacks," as Russian authorities prefer to describe Ukrainian strikes on key supply routes such as the Kerch Bridge. That initiative dovetails with reports that Russian authorities are targeting the community of "military bloggers" who have risen to prominence in the Russian information system for their relatively candid assessments of the war.

"When you see that another military blogger has been attacked with a network of unknown channels with 1,000-5,000 subscribers each, know that this is an order from the [Russian Ministry of Defense]," Russian military blogger Roman Saponkov wrote on Monday in a post translated by the WarTranslated project. "Most likely, the blogger wrote something that has a bad effect on his office career in the rear."

The tension surfaced after a difficult weekend in the physical and "information" war in Ukraine. A purported video of a Russian officer who reportedly went missing in action surfaced on Sunday, with the officer in Ukrainian custody and calling for his fellow soldiers "to stop this pointless bloody war on Ukrainian territory." Ukrainian forces made another attempt to bombard the Kerch Strait Bridge linking the occupied Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea to the Russian mainland. Ukrainian defense officials also claimed "certain successes" in the fight for Urozhaine, with some pro-Russian voices going so far as to write that Russian forces have surrendered the Donbas town.

"ISW has not observed confirmation that Russian forces have completely withdrawn from Urozhaine and Russian forces likely currently maintain positions in at least the southern part of the settlement," a team of analysts at the Institute for the Study of War cautioned on Sunday afternoon.

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Putin has maintained a fraught relationship with the military bloggers, who cut an unusual figure in Russian media as right-wing supporters of the war whose disappointment and frustration at military setbacks produces sometimes-sharp criticism of Russian authorities. Putin hosted a group of war correspondents at the Kremlin in June, but Russian officials also arrested one of the most prominent commentators, Igor Girkin, after he referred to Putin as a "lowlife" in June.

"Crimea will initiate at the federal level ... legislation in terms of toughening responsibility for the dissemination ... of photos and videos of the location and operation of military and strategic facilities, air defense and other defense systems, and also the results of the terrorist attacks committed by the Kiev regime," Aksyonov said. "I believe that those who do this are willing or unwitting accomplices of the enemy, regardless of their motives  whether it is the desire to 'hype,' stupidity or malicious intent."

Original Location: Russia tries to clamp down on bad news from Ukraine war front lines

Washington Examiner Videos
All eyes will be on Georgia prosecutor Fani Willis next week when she is expected to announce criminal charges against former President Donald Trump for his alleged attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Willis, who has nearly two decades of service under her belt and is the first black woman to lead the Fulton County District Attorney's Office, says she's ready for what could be the highest-profile case of her career.

UP FOR DEBATE: WHERE TRUMP, DESANTIS, AND REST OF REPUBLICAN 2024 FIELD STAND ON KEY ISSUES

She has already been on the receiving end of disparaging remarks by Trump and his allies, with the latest being a 60-second attack ad called "The Fraud Squad" that refers to her as "Biden's newest lackey" and alleges she had an affair with a gang member she was prosecuting.

From left to right: Former President Donald Trump and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. (AP Photos)

Willis has purportedly instructed her staff to stand down, not respond, and let the facts play out, but those who know her, including rival attorneys, are coming to her defense.

"Look, I might find myself on the other side of an indictment in her office, and I may very well disagree with her staff that we might battle out in court, but this is what I know to be true and clear, and that is she walks with integrity and she's professional," lawyer Gabe Banks, who has known Willis for 15 years, told WSB-TV. He added that "there's no merit to any assertion that she's had any relationship other than a professional relationship as a lawyer with some alleged gang member."

Melissa Redmon, who worked in the Fulton County District Attorney's Office at the same time as Willis, told the BBC that Willis has "a reputation of always being prepared."

"Given the type of cases she prosecuted, that took a tremendous amount of dedication," she said.

Willis, who was born in Inglewood, California, and moved to Washington, D.C., when she was in first grade, has led more than 100 jury trials, handled hundreds of murder cases, and has held a conviction rate close to 90% ever since she took over as Fulton County's chief prosecutor.

Willis has said her love of law started at an early age when her father, a member of the Black Panthers and a criminal defense attorney, brought her to the courthouse with him. She even subbed in as his pint-sized file clerk when she was in elementary school.

At Howard University, she studied political science and graduated cum laude in 1993 before moving to Atlanta to attend law school. On the day she took the state bar exam, she met Fred Willis, a videographer. The two hit it off, got married, and had two daughters together before divorcing in 2005.

Willis would then spend more than a decade as a prosecutor in Fulton County. For eight years straight, she focused on murder cases.

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"I wore a pager and got up in the middle of the night and walked over bodies," she told the New York Times. "And I know what kind of pain it causes when you lose someone."

Before Trump, her highest-profile case was against a group of Atlanta public school educators who allegedly cheated on standardized tests in an effort to protect their jobs and receive bonuses from administrators. The trial, which lasted eight months, still holds the record for the longest criminal trial in Georgia history. Willis was criticized and labeled a "sellout" for going after teachers from a struggling school district, but she stood firm.

She oversaw the death penalty case against the shooter in the 2021 Atlanta spa shootings and has also indicted popular rapper Young Thug under Georgia's RICO Act.

If Willis brings charges against Trump, she will be joining a small group of prosecutors that includes special counsel Jack Smith and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg to have also gone after the former president for wrongdoing. Trump has already been charged in three criminal cases. In New York, he faces 34 felony counts concerning hush money he allegedly paid a porn star. In Florida, he faces 40 criminal counts related to classified documents. In Washington, D.C., he faces four criminal charges, including conspiracy to defraud the United States, for his alleged role in trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

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Trump has maintained his innocence and has claimed multiple times he is the victim of a political witch hunt.

Willis launched her investigation into Trump in February 2021, just days after news broke that the former president had called Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, and pressured him to "find" the votes needed to secure a win against President Joe Biden. In May 2022, Willis convened a special grand jury, which interviewed 75 witnesses, including former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani.

Original Location: Trump indictment: Who is Fani Willis, the Georgia prosecutor facing the biggest case of her life?

Washington Examiner Videos
The first Republican presidential debate is fast approaching on Aug. 23, when candidates will hope to close the gap on former President Donald Trump and separate from the rest of the pack. In this series, Up For Debate, the Washington Examiner will look at a key issue or policy every day up until debate day and where key candidates stand. Below is a list of each breakdown published by the Washington Examiner on driving issues for the field  including spending and debt, abortion, the economy, impeaching Joe Biden, the border, and energy and climate change.

Spending and debt

Many of the Republican candidates for president have hit out at President Joe Biden for adding to the national debt since being sworn into office. Notably, Biden and Democrats oversaw a rash of spending early on in the form of pandemic relief and continued that with other legislation.

It is bound to be a big topic at the first debate and throughout the campaign.

Impeachment of Joe Biden

Republican members of the House Oversight Committee suggested that a Biden impeachment inquiry was necessary after Devon Archer, a business associate of Hunter Biden, testified behind closed doors with the committee. But the movement has divided more centrist Republicans who represent districts that Biden won and would face tough reelection bids in 2024 if impeachment charges were brought up, threatening the Republican House majority.

Some of the Republicans running for president have not hesitated, however, to support the more conservative wing of their party in moving to impeach Biden.

Reforming the FBI and DOJ

Republican 2024 candidates have almost unilaterally used the term "weaponized" to describe the Department of Justice during this election cycle. Some have elevated concerns that the DOJ and FBI labeled parents of students "domestic terrorists," discriminated against certain traditional Catholics, or coordinated with social media companies to censor protected speech.

But more than any other issue, all of the candidates have been forced, on multiple occasions, to take a position on the DOJ's decision to prosecute the primary front-runner, former President Donald Trump.

Abortion

Abortion has already splintered the GOP primary field, giving candidates a talking point when it comes to distinguishing themselves in the first Republican debate of the 2024 presidential election cycle.

In many issues, analysts see the field as divided into Trump and non-Trump categories, but candidates have positioned themselves on the abortion debate on a scale of whether there is a federal role in it or whether it is a state issue.

Energy and climate change

Energy and climate priorities will be a key focus in the 2024 Republican primary race as the candidates look to position themselves on oil and gas production, energy security, and sustainability topics such as environmental, social, and governance, or ESG, spending.

While the candidates espouse a wide range of views on these topics, each hopes to present himself or herself as a clear alternative to President Joe Biden, whose policies, they argue, are crippling economic growth, pushing up consumer prices, and threatening U.S. competitiveness while driving an outsize reliance on China for manufacturing and production.

Foreign policy

Chinese General Secretary Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin have demonstrated their belief that geopolitical power is up for grabs. The so-called "new world order" that George H.W. Bush inaugurated after the Cold War  in which peerless American power would ensure "the rule of law supplants the rule of the jungle"  has given way to Russia's war in Ukraine, China's threats toward Taiwan and assertion of sovereignty over vast swathes of international shipping lanes, and simmering risk of nuclear proliferation among rogue states.

Republican presidential candidates must navigate the paradoxes of a GOP voter base convinced that the U.S. needs to project more strength, take on fewer commitments, but uphold traditional alliances and friendships, especially with Israel. Former President Donald Trump threaded that political needle in 2016, but his iconoclastic approach has left room for rivals to appeal to more traditional GOP voters.

"The peace through strength' crowd ... the shining city on a hill [crowd], that is up for grabs," a GOP campaign data strategist said. "It won't get you the nomination, but it might get you ten to 12%, which is a substantial number."

Immigration and the border

Homeland security and the global migration phenomenon will be leading topics during the first debate of the GOP primary season.

Between President Joe Biden's first full month in office in February 2021 and June 2023, federal law enforcement at the nation's land, air, and sea borders have encountered 6,666,409 people who attempted to enter the United States unlawfully, according to public data on Customs and Border Protection's website. Exactly 5,094,425 of the larger number were apprehended by Border Patrol agents after they crossed illegally between ports of entry on the U.S.-Mexico border.

The Department of Homeland Security also recorded an additional 1.5 million noncitizens who evaded arrest, or "gotaways." Both numbers blow past any other period in the Border Patrol's century existence and have drawn the attention of Republican voters.

The Second Amendment

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Republicans have vehemently called out the Biden administration's firearms policies since he took office, a subject likely to garner steam from GOP candidates preparing for their debate stage debut. Numerous GOP candidates have criticized President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party for being "gun control extremists," as Biden touted using executive orders 21 times to implement gun reform by July of last year.

While some Republican lawmakers have embraced bipartisan gun restrictions in recent years, groups like the NRA have continued their lobby against such steps, coinciding with now 26 states in the union that allow so-called "constitutional carry," or carrying without a permit, in addition to a sweeping ruling protecting Second Amendment rights at the Supreme Court in 2022.

Education

Coming Aug.15

Taxes

Coming Aug. 16

Big Tech

Coming Aug. 17

LGBT issues

Coming Aug. 18

Defense and the military

Coming Aug. 19

Crime

Coming Aug. 20

Artificial Intelligence

Coming Aug. 21

Election integrity

Coming Aug. 22

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Size of the federal government

Coming Aug. 23

Original Location: Up for Debate: Where Trump, DeSantis, and rest of Republican 2024 field stand on key issues

Washington Examiner Videos
Republican 2024 presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy painted the picture of his first few days in office and left out the Biden family.

Ramaswamy previously committed to pardoning former President Donald Trump and the peaceful protesters with charges involving Jan. 6. However, he insisted he won't spend his days in office pursuing legal charges against President Joe Biden or his son Hunter. The entrepreneur-turned-candidate defended his position while addressing an article that claimed he would pardon Hunter Biden, as the reporter "misquoting" him.

UP FOR DEBATE: WHERE TRUMP, DESANTIS, AND REST OF REPUBLICAN 2024 FIELD STAND ON KEY ISSUES

"But what I said, let me fast-forward to January 21, 2025: My second day in office," Ramaswamy said on Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Baritomo. "After we issued those pardons and set into motion shutting down the FBI, not just reforming, actually restoring the integrity of our government. The question is, is the next thing that I then want to do after we sent our nation forward, is it to then focus my agenda on persecuting or prosecuting Joe Biden or his family? My answer to that is no."

Instead, Ramaswamy said he would rather be focused on ending the war in Ukraine if elected president. He lamented the enormous amount of financial aid that has been sent to Ukraine since Biden took office. The United States sent roughly $113 billion to the country last year alone.

"No, I'm not going to be guided by vengeance and grievance; I'm going to be guided by integrity. But the first step to getting there can be no reconciliation without truth," Ramaswamy said. "We have to get to the bottom of  including that bribe  I believe paid to the Biden family, how that is tied to our war in Ukraine and the support in Ukraine, get to the bottom of that first."

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Ramaswamy has qualified for the first GOP debate slated for Aug. 23 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He has also signed the loyalty pledge, committing not to run as a third-party candidate should he not win the Republican nomination.

Ramaswamy is facing off against twelve other Republican candidates for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination as the youngest candidate. During a Spaces conversation on X, formerly known as Twitter, Ramaswamy revealed that 40% of his contributors made their first donation to the Republican Party in supporting him.

Original Location: Vivek Ramaswamy won't 'prosecute the Joe Biden family' if elected

Washington Examiner Videos
The White House has largely avoided publicly answering questions from reporters for more than two weeks as potential legal headaches for President Joe Biden continue to mount.

Biden started August vacationing at his family home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, before briefly returning to Washington, D.C., on Monday, Aug. 7. The president did hold a public event that day, a ceremony honoring the 2022 World Series champion Houston Astros, but the White House did not hold a briefing before Biden departed for Arizona.

INFLATION COMPLICATES BIDEN'S PATH BACK TO THE WHITE HOUSE

He then traveled to New Mexico and Utah later in the week, and though the president returned to Washington, D.C., Thursday evening, the White House again chose not to hold a briefing on Friday.

The last official briefing with White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre took place on July 27, the day before Biden took an economy-focused trip to Maine.

Jean-Pierre has held two 10-15 minute gaggles aboard Air Force One over the past two-plus weeks, with one occurring on the July 28 flight to Maine and the second occurring on August 7 on the flight to Arizona.

It isn't unusual for a president, especially one seeking reelection, to vacation and load up on travel during the summer months. However, the lack of a briefing on Friday, the same day Attorney General Merrick Garland announced that David Weiss would be elevated from lead prosecutor to special counsel overseeing federal investigations into Hunter Biden's tax and business affairs, is raising eyebrows.

MAGA Inc. spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, a former press aide in the Trump White House, suggested to the Washington Examiner that the Biden administration is hiding the president's involvement in his son's past business dealings:

"If Joe Biden never discussed business with his son, and he is mentally fit enough to serve as President, and he truly believes his policies are helping America  why won't he take questions from reporters? Because all three of those statements from the Biden White House are lies and they know it. Contrary to the Trump White House, where the American people watched Donald Trump take questions from the press and speak directly to them every single day. Liars hide. Honest people fight for the truth."

It's worth noting that former President Donald Trump's third White House press secretary, Stephanie Grisham, went nearly an entire year, July 2019 to April 2020, and the entire length of her tenure in the position without holding a press briefing.

The White House declined to comment Friday about Weiss's elevation to special counsel, but the president himself shot down a question from Fox News on Wednesday in New Mexico about recent congressional testimony from Devon Archer, a former business associate of Hunter Biden.

Archer alleged that on multiple occasions, Joe Biden sat in on business calls with his son and that Hunter Biden sold prospective business partners on the "illusion" of access to then-Vice President Joe Biden.

"I never talked business," the president responded Wednesday when pressed about Archer's testimony. "I knew you'd have a lousy question."

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Garland announced his decision to elevate Weiss, who had been serving as the lead prosecutor in Hunter Biden's tax and firearms case, Friday afternoon after Weiss himself requested the restructuring.

"Upon considering his request, as well as the extraordinary circumstances relating to this matter, I have concluded that it is in the public interest to appoint him as special counsel," he said in a statement.

The president's son had previously entered into a plea agreement regarding his tax and gun charges, but that arrangement was thrown out at his plea hearing in July when sides could not agree on terms for future immunity. Prosecutors informed the judge that day that the younger Biden was still the subject of an ongoing investigation, potentially for violations of the Foreign Agent Registration Act.

Weiss confirmed in an additional filing Friday that the federal government and Hunter Biden's defense team "are at an impasse and are not in agreement on either a plea agreement or a diversion agreement."

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Meanwhile, the president is also dealing with a pending legal issue stemming from his mishandling of classified documents. Joe Biden turned over dozens of documents to the Justice Department between November of 2022 and January of 2023 that had been improperly stored at his homes and offices. Some of those documents related to his time in the Obama administration, but some even dated back to his nearly four-decade-long career in the Senate.

Garland previously appointed Robert Hur to serve as special counsel overseeing that investigation. Hur and Biden's legal team were reportedly discussing terms this week for the president to sit for an in-person interview into the matter in the near future.

Original Location: White House avoiding questions from press as Biden investigations stack

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Former President Donald Trump could be in a position next year where he is reelected president, convicted of federal crimes, and able to pardon himself.

But if Trump is convicted of state crimes in New York or Georgia, he would, as president, have little control over the penalties.

UP FOR DEBATE: WHERE TRUMP, DESANTIS, AND REST OF REPUBLICAN 2024 FIELD STAND ON KEY ISSUES

The 2024 Republican front-runner faces 40 counts in the federal case in Florida related to classified documents, four counts in the federal case in Washington, D.C., related to the 2020 election, and 34 counts in the local case in Manhattan related to hush money payments.

In Georgia, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is widely expected to present her case against Trump and potentially several others to a grand jury as early as next week. Trump could face charges that include racketeering for seeking to reverse the 2020 election in Georgia, which he lost by a narrow margin.

At present, he could see a maximum penalty of several hundred years in prison for the current charges against him if convicted, though judges would determine the appropriate sentence.

Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University, noted that Trump should also have a right to the full range of appeal options in each case.

"All of the cases involve novel or controversial elements," Turley said. "It does not serve the country well to have those lingering questions when a court is ordering the incarceration of a former or sitting president."

If he does become president again, many legal scholars appear to agree that the Constitution does not limit Trump from pardoning himself of federal convictions, but opinions become more varied on whether he can serve as president while in prison and whether he can therefore issue pardons from behind bars.

None of these scenarios have historic precedent, but regardless of what happens at the federal level, Trump's powers over the state judicial systems have clear limitations.

In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, would have the sole authority to pardon Trump.

In Georgia, Trump would have to apply for a pardon through a five-member state board five years after he has been indicted, convicted, and completed any sentences.

Turley said that, in his view, while the New York prosecution is an "utter mess" and that a conviction would be met with potentially years of "very significant challenges," Georgia is more of an unknown.

"If Georgia is based largely on the famous phone call with Georgia officials, it would be a relatively weak prosecution," he said. "The question is whether they have additional witnesses or evidence to present."

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Alan Dershowitz, a retired Harvard Law School professor who has defended a number of controversial clients, including Trump during his first impeachment, echoed Turley's sentiments while speaking on his podcast the Dershow, this week.

He called the New York case the "worst indictment" he has "ever seen," but he conceded that Georgia is a "very weak case unless there's more to it."

Should he be convicted there, Dershowitz said that one avenue Trump could pursue outside of seeking a pardon through the state board would be to argue the indictment, if it occurs, would be related to a federal election.

"It's a state indictment about a federal matter," Dershowitz said. "He might be able to get it dismissed from a state court, saying it's really a federal matter."

One final scenario, which would only apply in federal cases, could involve President Joe Biden preemptively pardoning Trump, similar to how President Gerald Ford pardoned President Richard Nixon after Watergate.

However, Biden is unlikely to have an interest in pardoning his political rival, especially while the legal processes in each case are underway.

Dershowitz asked, "Would it be better for America, would it be better to try to unify the country the way President Ford unified the country at great personal sacrifice to himself?"

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Dershowitz added, though, that maybe Trump would rather be acquitted than pardoned.

"Pardon implies maybe he was guilty," he said.

Original Location: Why looming Georgia case could be most damaging to Donald Trump

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Strong commitment to justice

Im writing in response to your July 31 editorial, Restore justice to Denver DAs office. Let me assure your readers that, contrary to your headlines suggestion, the commitment to justice (for all) has never been stronger in the Denver District Attorneys office. The attorneys in my office are in court every day arguing for appropriate bonds, handling motions and trying cases. Last year alone,

we filed more than 12-thousand criminal cases  obtaining convictions in the vast majority of them  and we are on pace to file even more cases this year.

It has been well-documented that crime increased significantly in major cities across the United States during the Covid pandemic. Denver, unfortunately, was no exception. The reasons for the increase are still not exactly clear  and may never be  but it seems plain to many, if not most, criminologists that the primary factors were the unprecedented social and economic disruptions caused by the pandemic.

The idea, as stated in your editorial, that my approach to crime-fighting has somehow contributed to the increase in crime is simply not supported by the evidence. (Its worth noting that at least one major national study  by the Brennan Center for Justice  showed that, during the pandemic, crime increased in major U.S. cities regardless of the political affiliation or policies of a citys leaders.)

I should also point out that many major crime categories in Denver (including murder, robbery, sexual assault, stolen cars, theft from motor vehicles and public disorder) are now showing declines compared to this time last year.

Overall violent crime and property crime are both down, as well. We still have a ways to go to get to the relatively low crime levels of my first three years in office, but I have no doubt that we will, in fact, get there  and sooner rather than later.

My goals have remained the same since the first day I took office: to make Denver a safer city, to seek justice for crime victims and their families, and to make our criminal justice system as equitable as possible for everyone involved. Backed by my offices incredibly dedicated prosecutors, investigators and support staff, and partnering with the community and the Denver Police Department, I will continue working to achieve those goals during my remaining time in office.

Beth McCann, District Attorney

Denver

Continuing deterioration

Watching the new Denver Mayor manipulate his first homeless camp clean up looks like more lipstick on a pig. Nothing new here. The recent article in the Gazette mentions the cost per person for the homeless. The number is a staggering $44,000.00. Taxpayers of Colorado are paying for that each and every day. With a little fact-finding research, I was able to see how much money is spent on each public-school student in Colorado. Some interesting facts, pretty much $7,500.00 to $25,000.00 statewide. Low side of course is in El Paso County, high of course in Pitkin County (Aspen).

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In the same daily publication of the Gazette is a lengthy article describing how the politics in Colorado have changed from a conservative state to liberal progressive state. Its very interesting how there can be a direct correlation to the change in politics and the deteriorating way of life in Colorado.

Denver and Aurora have been affected the worst by the shift in Politics. As a lifelong native I cant seem to find any redeeming value from the new regime. All I see is higher cost of living, no accountability, more crime, more serious crime, more car thefts, more fentanyl deaths, more automobile deaths, and higher taxes and less services. DPS Schools are horrible, and the Aurora Schools are worse. they are just babysitting the kids and enriching the unions. With all the homeless giveaways the homeless population will continue to grow. It appears that this situation will continue to deteriorate.

When are the voters in Denver, Aurora and the front range going to make a change and demand accountability? Seems to me its at breaking point. You think it cant get worse however unless there is a change it will get much worse.

Trig Travis

Denver

Address credit card fees

Policymakers in Washington are currently pushing legislation that would inject competition into the credit card marketsomething that is sorely needed. Currently, Visa and Mastercard  along with the big banks  are leveraging their considerable market share to hold Colorado merchants hostage.

Every time a customer swipes, inserts, or taps a credit card, businesses are on the hook to pay whats called a swipe fee. And as a business operator, I can tell you firsthand that these charges add up quickly. Nationally, nearly $130 billion was collected in swipe fees in 2022a 20 percent jump compared to the year before.

The Credit Card Competition Act will help address the skyrocketing swipe fees by injecting competition into the credit card market. When merchants have more options on how to process customer transactions, the credit card companies will be forced to competean environment that will drive down prices, which some have estimated could translate to $15 billion in savings annually.

I urge Colorados elected leaders in Washington to support the bill.

Rich Spresser

Denver
Decades of records belonging to Colorado students could be at risk following a massive data breach at the states Department of Higher Education.

Officials are continuing to investigate a cybersecurity ransomware incident that occurred between June 11 and June 19, exposing students names, social security numbers, student identification numbers and other education records, CDHE announced.

The department has already begun notifying potentially impacted individuals by mail or email to the extent CDHE has contact information. As the investigation continues, CDHE encourages potential victims to sign up for complimentary two-year credit monitoring and identity theft protection services through Experian. Specifics on this protection measure can be found at cdhe.colorado.gov/notice-of-data-incident. Enrollment for these services ends Nov. 30.

The following groups are potentially at risk:

Those who attended a public institution of higher education in Colorado between 2007-2020.

Those who attended a Colorado public high school between 2004-2020.

Those who held a Colorado K-12 public school educator license between 2010-2014.

Those who participated in the Dependent Tuition Assistance Program from 2009-2013.

Those who participated in Colorado Department of Educations Adult Education Initiatives programs between 2013-2017.

Those who obtained a GED between 2007-2011.

CDHE is working with third-party specialists to investigate this breach. The department is also reviewing its policies and procedures and working to implement additional cybersecurity safeguards to further protect its systems, according to the news release. The department declined to comment on the incident .

Those who fall into the at-risk groups should remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud and review account statements and monitor free credit reports to detect suspicious activity and errors.

CDHE attributes the delay between the incident and notifying the greater public to gathering information and following statute.

Since first learning of the incident, CDHE has been working diligently to gather information about the incident from its investigation and determine what information may have been affected. Based on such efforts, CDHE is providing notice, via email, letter, and its website, as soon as it is reasonably able to do so and consistent with Colorado law and the required timeframe, a spokesperson stated via email.

For questions, CDHE has a hotline at 833-301-1346 between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Colorado's second-highest court agreed last week that a suspect was both in custody and subject to interrogation, meaning Denver police needed to provide a Miranda warning for his statements to be admissible at trial.

However, the three-judge panel for the Court of Appeals simultaneously found Dalani D. Bland's comments to police about a bar fight did not affect the outcome of his trial, in which a jury found Bland guilty of assault.

Although a trial judge believed police only asked Bland about what happened in order to investigate the assault, not to elicit incriminating information, the panel concluded the circumstances were not so benign.

"Because the officers repeatedly asked Bland to tell his side of the story and what happened while he was handcuffed, we conclude that an interrogation occurred, and that the absence of Miranda warnings rendered Blands statements about the incident inadmissible," wrote Judge Rebecca R. Freyre in the Aug. 10 opinion.

Bland and a friend were drinking at a bar along the 16th Street Mall one night in February 2018 when they encountered the victim and his wife. There was no dispute the victim pushed Bland over a table, but there was inconsistent testimony about whether Bland provoked the victim or if the victim said something racist without instigation.

The victim's party left the bar first. Bland was reportedly "amped up" about the scuffle and wanted to kill the victim. Bland approached the victim's party at a light rail station and raised a knife. The victim and Bland struggled, with Bland stabbing the victim repeatedly.

Responding police officers encountered Bland nearby and ordered him to the ground. Bland resisted their commands and police physically subdued and handcuffed him. An officer reported they had a suspect "in custody."

According to body-worn camera footage, an officer then asked Bland where he was injured and invited him to "tell us your side of the story." The officer repeatedly asked Bland to "tell us what's happening," but Bland initially chose not to answer.

Finally, Bland responded that he was "looking for somebody who f-----g hit me in a bar. So, I walked out, I walked by the light rail and then they just started beating me up."

Bland told a similar story to medical first responders, specifically that he defended himself from an attack.

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Prosecutors charged Bland with attempted murder and assault. Bland's attorneys sought to exclude the statements Bland made to the officer.

Under the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision in Miranda v. Arizona, police must warn a suspect of their rights to consult with an attorney and to remain silent before interrogating them in custody. Exclusion of the statements is the typical penalty for violating Miranda.

Then-Denver District Court Judge William D. Robbins disagreed Bland was in custody, even though he was handcuffed and surrounded by officers. Robbins also deemed the officer's questioning to be "investigatory and not interrogation."

A jury convicted Bland of assault but acquitted him of attempted murder.

On appeal, the government did not dispute Bland was in custody, but maintained the questioning did not amount to interrogation that was designed to elicit incriminating information.

During oral arguments, Judge Karl L. Schock wondered about the prosecution's suggestion that, "even if a question is reasonably likely to elicit an incriminating response, if thats not the purpose of the question there is no Miranda violation."

"The Miranda warning provides a lifeline to defendants in Mr. Blands situation," argued public defender Jessica A. Pitts, representing Bland. "That no matter how coercive and overwhelming the police presence is, you get the right to call a lawyer and you do not have to answer the police officer's question, even if he asks six times."

The panel concluded Bland was both in custody and subject to interrogation. Freyre wrote that some of the officer's questions  asking for Bland's name, inquiring about his injuries  did not require a Miranda warning.

"But when those questions changed and sought Blands side of the story, asked repeatedly what had happened, asked if hed been in a fight with somebody, and asked to just tell them 'whats happening'," she wrote, "they transformed from informational questions into an interrogation, because Blands responses were reasonably likely to elicit an incriminating response."

However, the panel did not believe Bland's statements contributed to his conviction because they suggested he acted justifiably in self-defense and because there was other evidence of Bland's guilt. Although Freyre acknowledged that several factors indicated police pressured Bland to talk, she wrote that the comments were ultimately a product of Bland's decision to "voluntarily tell his side of the story."
A Lincoln County judge improperly denied an incarcerated man the opportunity to justify his possession of contraband weapons behind bars, Colorado's second-highest court ruled last week in reversing the conviction.

Colorado law provides for a "choice-of-evils" defense. A person can avoid conviction if they show they were facing imminent harm and engaged in criminal conduct as an emergency measure, without another path available to avoid the harm.

Edward A. Clutts was incarcerated at Limon Correctional Facility for a sex offense when he disclosed to an employee that he had created his own weapons  bars of soap inside socks. Clutts alleged the "White boys," potentially meaning White supremacist prison gangs, were targeting sex offenders. His cellmate was reportedly ordered to "take care of" Clutts.

Clutts said he kept the makeshift weapons for his own protection. Instead, prosecutors charged him with felony possession of contraband. A jury convicted Clutts and he received four additional years in prison.

Clutts had attempted to invoke the choice-of-evils defense, noting sex offenders are often the target of violence.

"During his time in prison, he has been harassed and assaulted because of his sex offender status. He has also informed prison guards to no avail," wrote Deputy State Public Defender Matt Mulch. "Mr. Clutts has virtually no rights and essentially no means to protect himself."

Case: People v. Clutts Decided: August 10, 2023 Jurisdiction: Lincoln County Ruling: 3-0 Judges: John Daniel Dailey (author) Christina F. Gomez Alex J. Martinez Background: 'Agree to disagree': Students weigh in on appeals court cases argued at Denver school

District Court Judge Cynthia Mares declined to let a jury evaluate the choice-of-evils defense. She believed Clutts failed to show how possessing the makeshift weapons was justified, as there was no clear harm facing Clutts.

"He does not assert a specific impending occurrence of imminent danger or some other act of violence," Mares wrote. "Instead, the defendant attempts to assert a generalized concern based on his status as a sex offender in a DOC facility, implying the possibility that he may encounter future difficulties."

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Clutts appealed, pointing to testimony that alleged prison guards intentionally put Clutts in danger of gang attacks. The Colorado Attorney General's Office insisted that Clutts had not pursued other, non-criminal means of avoiding harm, and that his concerns only related to "normal conditions" of confinement.

"Defendants allegations amounted to little more than amorphous threats that are always present in a prison setting," wrote Senior Assistant Attorney General William G. Kozeliski.

A three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals agreed with Clutts. In analyzing whether any evidence supported the choice-of-evils defense, Mares had brushed aside the allegation that Clutts' cellmate had specific orders from the "White boys" to harm Clutts.

"Viewing that evidence in the light most favorable to Clutts," wrote Judge John Daniel Dailey in the Aug. 10 opinion, "a serious threat to Cluttss well-being was, then, not only present but ongoing."

Although Clutts did not fill out the form designated for prisoners who are worried about safety threats, the panel noted Clutts did inform an employee that he had created weapons to protect himself. By essentially turning himself in, the panel believed Clutts had satisfied the requirement to pursue alternatives to criminal conduct.

"In our view, a jury could well find that Clutts initiated a viable and reasonable course of action by notifying prison authorities of his predicament," Dailey wrote.

The panel ordered a new trial.

The case is People v. Clutts.
Outside investors are taking an out-sized interest in downtown Corvallis real estate, and the reasons are myriad, industry experts say.

Commercial broker Bjorn Beer recently facilitated two big deals: the sale of the Crees Building, AKA the building with the Inkwell Stores, to a Portland-based investor, as well as sale of the WVT COVID Testing Lab building at 366 SW Washington Ave.

Years of anti-growth posture, he said, makes the properties that are available attractive, include to those beyond the mid-Willamette Valley.

"Paradoxically, the anti-growth policies of the past few decades have made Corvallis an even more attractive place for out-of-town investors, if they can find the inventory for sale," Beer wrote in an email.

Opportunities are also opening up due to changes in inheritance patterns, according to business owner and brief Corvallis Councilor Christina Jancila.

Prior to COVID, and especially downtown, a lot of real estate was family-owned. It went back 50 years, 75 years, said Jancila, who owns Marie Jane's Cannabis Connection and just sold the WVT COVID Testing Lab building.

But now that the real estate owners are retiring, their children, very few are taking over the family business. So, what happens is that the real estate owners are selling their business, and it is outside sources coming into Corvallis to buy this real estate, she said.

Out-of-town investors

Jeff Foley, Crees Buildings new owner, spent time considering the purchase. Corvallis emerged from a shortlist of towns that included Salem, Eugene and Bend.

Although were out of the pandemic, there are a lot of areas in the Pacific Northwest that are still dealing with the impacts, Foley wrote in an email. Corvallis seems to have weathered the effects better than other areas I considered.

The Crees Buildings first floor and basement are occupied by Inkwell Home Stores and nearly all of its office spaces on the second floor are occupied. Its location and what Foley called a certain charm and feel that is really unique are also reasons why he viewed this as an exciting purchase with reduced risk.

My mindset is to be a good steward for the building while providing a place where businesses can thrive and grow, Foley wrote.

Aside from regular improvements to the building, Foley said theres a plan to install rooftop solar panels and battery storage in the building. This will lower the carbon footprint on the 97-year-old building while still providing cost effective energy for all the businesses operating there.

A native Oregonian, Foleys ties to Corvallis comes from members of his immediate family who are alumni of Oregon State. His oldest son is applying there this fall. And 20 years ago, his father was director of the Oregon State Alumni Association.

Its a town Im happy spending more time in, which I think is important when keeping an eye on your investment, Foley said. He plans to purchase two more buildings in the next two to three years.

Doing business downtown

Prior to the pandemic, there were growing concerns about the health and vitality of the Corvallis downtown area, according to the Corvallis Benton County 21-23 Economic Development Plan.

"Downtowns continue to face rapid changes in retail practices, parking challenges, and vacancies, which is true for all downtowns in the county," the plan says.

Business owners who spoke to Mid-Valley Media agreed, pointing out lack of sufficient parking space and increasing rent/utility costs as among these concerns.

Kourtni Rader, owner of Seoul Sisters Boutique and like many other small business owners in the area, was unsure if her business would survive the lockdown closures when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020.

Her landlord offered her grace to pay what she could afford  and after the store reopened two months later, that offer still stood.

I was extremely fortunate, Rader said, adding that she was aware of small businesses who struggled to keep the lights on despite accessing funding assistance such as the Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP loans.

Rader, whose current lease dictates the percentage rents may climb, said that increase remains reasonable compared to others, and the no-surprise tact means it does not burden her business.

She credits this to the property owner, a local who envisions that the businesses which run out of his spaces will be there for the long haul.

Ann Schneider, who owns Tried and True Coffee, said her rent has seen small bumps up over the years. She estimates a $200 to $300 increase in the last nine years, partly as a result of how small the store is  a mere 400 square feet.

Jancila, who runs Marie Janes, estimates downtown commercial rents have increased by anywhere from 11% to 20% annually since 2020. It may not seem like much, she explained, but for the many small and local businesses downtown, it can be a substantial overhead cost.

Much of the movement stems from an increase in the cost of utilities, mortgages, levies and taxes for property owners who have no choice but to shift onto business owners, Jancila said.

For those coming to the end of a long-term lease can be shocked to suddenly have to pay what the current market dictates, Jancila said, which can be as high as a 20% increase.

Its a very difficult situation when you have tenants say, 'I cannot afford to pay the rent, Im just not pulling in enough money right now,' said Jancila, who is also a property owner.

If you look downtown, you have a lot of vacancies, she added. It is a difficult economic situation here, especially downtown.

A number of the vacancies is office space that emptied out as more companies learned from the pandemic their staff could work from home.

More outside investments could mean conversion of these office spaces into retail spaces, or more high-quality office options, which the downtown needs, Beer said, especially as new businesses crop up.

It is the only thing that can keep rents low, according to Beer. Its the law of supply and demand.

Seasonal nature

While an attractive location that pulls in visitors and residents frequently, downtown Corvallis businesses face another challenge: its seasonal nature.

According to Jancila, this is evident during holidays, like Thanksgiving and Christmas, when students suddenly disappear. But in the summers the phenomenon is even more pronounced, she said, because a lot of locals vacation elsewhere.

Although there are a lot of people in Corvallis that complain about students and their housing, businesses need their revenue, she said.

Schneider says she is trying to assess her business downtown locations client base given that the traffic ebbs and flows, with a busy two days and lean patronage the rest of the week.

Plugging gaps

The business environment in downtown Corvallis is unique because it comprises mostly small and local businesses that contribute to the local economy. There are few chains.

Yet another challenge has come in the form a group designed to champion local business disbanding. The Downtown Corvallis Association called it quits in February 2022.

Rader said though the Chamber of Commerce attempted to absorb some of the DCAs responsibilities, its absence has been felt among many small and local businesses that had relied on it to represent their needs at city and county levels.

Some owners have since come together to form a Downtown Committee within the Chamber of Commerce, Schneider said, to, among other goals, take over the Main Street accreditation process  a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation that helps revitalize downtowns  something the DCA was working to clinch prior to its dissolution.

A Main Street accreditation will stamp the downtowns important economic contribution to the city and reinforce its unique community character, according to the organization. It will also open businesses to a wider range of funding opportunities and tools for success.

Communication between local government and the businesses community  and among themselves  leaves much to be desired, Jancila said. Rader and Schneider agree that there is more work to be done in this regard.

We dont really have a good way to communicate with all the businesses downtown, Schneider said.

As someone who runs a number of businesses, Jancila said that there is little time to go digging for information. Oftentimes, news is passed down by word of mouth.

In an email, Jerry Sorte, Corvallis' economic development supervisor, said city officials do understand the time limitations of small and local business owners; that's why they take to multiple channels to get information out, especially when grants are available.

These include news releases through the Corvallis and Benton County newsletter and online channels, the Corvallis, Philomath and TriCounty chambers of commerce, and through organizations like the NAACP and Casa Latinos Unidos.

To address parking issues, Sorte wrote that the city has changed parking rules to eliminate off-street parking requirements and puts customer needs over other parking demands through a public parking program.

Theres also a property tax exemption for people building multiple units to encourage more vertical development of mixed-use buildings downtown.

Unique culture

Business owners worry that outside investors might not understand nor be interested in preserving the unique culture of Corvallis' downtown hub.

Foley, who spoke with some businesses as well as the city's Economic Development team prior to buying the Crees Building, takes this culture to mean the the eclectic mix of business and local companies that give Corvallis its uniqueness and feel, he said.

The concern would be if out of town investors bought up enough real estate to increase rents to such a degree that it drove out the small businesses that make downtown what it is, Foley said, echoing a similar concern of Raders.

On the other hand, the market forces don't necessarily care whether investors in commercial property are local or outsiders, he added.

Overall, I believe that if a city isnt growing, its dying. Seeing investors interested in Corvallis and being willing to spend money buying real estate is a positive sign that the city is thriving and growing, Foley said by email.

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As chair of the Downtown Committee, Schneider said there are plans to bring more events downtown, establish a good relationship with Oregon State University so attract more people downtown and address other issues that can improve the area for small and local businesses to thrive.

I heard someone say a long time ago that the status of your city is based off of how well your downtown is doing, Schneider said. Theres a lot of room for us to grow right now in our downtown.

Related stories:
The Annual Fall Field Day at the ISU Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm will begin at 12:00 p.m. with a complimentary meal, sponsored by the Iowa Soybean Association, and run until 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 31, according to a press release.

At 1:00 p.m., Sotirios Archontoulis, Iowa State University associate professor of agronomy, will provide his insights on what the effects of drought and smoke have on corn and soybean.

Lee Burras, Iowa State University Morrill professor of agronomy, will discuss how the soil profile affects rooting depth and yield by the utilization of a soil pit. Company representatives from Bayer and Pioneer Hybrids, will provide updates and management considerations on short stature corn. Erin Hodgson, Iowa State University extension entomologist, will give a corn rootworm research and management update.

The field day is free and open to the public. It starts at the Borlaug Learning Center Headquarters on the ISU Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm. Directions: From Nashua at the Jct. of Hwy 218 (Exit 220) and Co. Rd. B60, go west on B60 1.1 miles to Windfall Ave., then south 1 mile to 290th St., then east 0.2 miles to the farm.

CCA credits will be available. RSVP at neira@iastate.edu by Monday, August 28. For more information about the event, call Terry Basol at 641-426-6801 or Josh Michel at 563-581-7828.
A woman was injured Sunday morning in Cerro Gordo County after a collision at a rural intersection.

According to a press release from the Cerro Gordo Sheriff's Office, deputies were dispatched to the intersection of 340th Street and Raven Avenue for a two vehicle crash involving personal injuries.

The release states a 2015 Chevy Silverado was being driven southbound on Raven Avenue by 60-year-old Kathy Brau of St. Olaf, Iowa. Scott Shafer, 51, of Plymouth was driving a 1999 Chevy Silverado westbound on 340th Avenue he failed to stop at a stop sign and collided with Brau at the intersection sending both vehicles into the ditch.

Shafer was uninjured, but Brau was transported to MercyOne North Iowa by the Mason City Fire Department with unknown injuries. Shafer was cited for failing to stop at a stop sign and failure to maintain control.

Plymouth EMTs assisted at the scene.

Today in history: Aug. 14 1935: The Social Security Act 1941: The Atlantic Charter 1945: Harry Truman 1948: Summer Olympics 1980: Lenin Shipyard 1997: Timothy McVeigh 2011: Keegan Bradley 2015: Cuba 2016: Ryan Lochte 2016: Usain Bolt 2020: James Thompson
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BALTIMORE  Just over a week after Henrietta Lacks descendants settled a lawsuit against a biotech company they accused of unjustly profiting off her cells for generations, the familys attorneys have filed another claim against a different corporation.

The new lawsuit, which targets California-based biopharmaceutical company Ultragenyx, was filed Thursday in Baltimore federal court, the same venue as the recently settled case. Lawyers for the family have said they plan to bring a series of lawsuits against various entities that continue to reap rewards from the racist medical system that took advantage of Lacks.

A Black mother of five from Southside Virginia  she was born in Roanoke but grew up in neighboring Halifax County  Lacks and her family were living outside Baltimore when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 1951. Doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital saved a sample of her cancer cells collected during a biopsy  without her knowledge or consent.

She died at age 31 in the hospitals colored ward, but her genetic material lived on, the first human cells to continuously grow and reproduce in lab dishes. HeLa cells have since become a cornerstone of modern medicine, enabling countless scientific and medical innovations, including the development of the polio vaccine, genetic mapping and even COVID-19 shots.

The complaint says Ultragenyx has made a fortune by using HeLa cells to develop gene therapy products.

Medical research has a long, troubled racial history, attorneys for the family wrote. The exploitation of Henrietta Lacks represents the unfortunately common struggle experienced by Black people throughout American history. Indeed, Black suffering has fueled innumerable medical progress and profit, without just compensation or recognition.

A spokesperson for Ultragenyx didnt immediately respond to an email seeking comment Thursday evening.

At the time doctors harvested cells from Lacks cervical tumor, it was not illegal to do so without a patients permission. But lawyers for her family accuse Ultragenyx of continuing to commercialize the results long after the origins of the HeLa cell line became well known  an unjust enrichment claim that largely mirrors the recently settled lawsuit against Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., which was filed in 2021. The terms of that settlement havent been disclosed.

The agreement came after several hours of closed-door negotiations earlier this month. Some of Lacks grandchildren were among the family members who attended the talks in Baltimores federal courthouse. They held a news conference the following morning on what would have been Lacks 103rd birthday, saying justice had finally been won.

Her cells have had a massive impact on modern medicine because unlike most, they survived and thrived in laboratories, allowing researchers anywhere to reproduce studies using identical genetic material.

The remarkable science involved  and the impact on the Lacks family, some of whom had chronic illnesses and no health insurance  were documented in a bestselling book by Rebecca Skloot, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, which was published in 2010. Oprah Winfrey portrayed her daughter in an HBO movie about the story.

Johns Hopkins said it never sold or profited from the cell lines, but many companies have patented ways of using them.

The lawsuit filed Thursday claims Ultragenyx leadership failed to seek permission from Lacks descendants after realizing where HeLa cells came from.

Ultragenyxs choice to continue utilizing HeLa cells despite the cell lines origin and the concrete harm it inflicts on the Lacks family can only be understood as a choice to embrace a legacy of racial injustice embedded in the U.S. research and medical systems, attorney Ben Crump said in a statement. Like anyone else, Black people have the right to control their bodies.

Crump, a civil rights attorney, has become well known for representing victims of police violence and calling for racial justice, especially in the aftermath of George Floyds murder. After the recent settlement, Crump said the family was planning to file more lawsuits.
A federal appeals court reluctantly agreed Friday that it no longer has the power to stop the Mountain Valley Pipeline.

The last remaining legal challenges of permits issued for the hotly debated pipeline were dismissed by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled that a law passed by Congress fast-tracking the project left it with no other choice.

Here, Congress has removed our jurisdiction to hear the merits of the present petitions, a three-judge panels unanimous opinion stated.

Late last month, the U.S Supreme Court lifted a stay imposed by the Fourth Circuit, allowing construction of the long-delayed natural gas pipeline that runs on a route ending in Chatham to resume.

But until Friday, there was a chance  or at least a hope for pipeline opponents  that the lower court would agree with arguments made by environmental groups: that Congress violated the separation of powers outlined in the U.S. Constitution by encroaching on the authority of the courts.

That question is no longer one for the Fourth Circuit, which in the past has repeatedly stuck down Mountain Valleys government permits, ruling they did not adequately protect the environment.

While conceding it no longer has jurisdiction, the court questioned how that came to be.

There can be no mistake, Judge Roger Gregory wrote in a concurring opinion, that the court was bound by a law he called a blueprint for the construction of a natural gas pipeline by legislative fiat.

Part of a broader law that raised the U.S. debt ceiling to avert a government default, a provision called Section 324 ordered federal agencies to approve all remaining permits for the pipeline and removed the Fourth Circuits authority to hear any challenges.

Gregory expressed fears that Congress had undermined the Constitution and, in the process, it has made the court an accessory to its deeds.

If that is so, I wonder if Section 324 is a harbinger of erosion not just to the environment, but to our republic, Gregory wrote. That, only our Supreme Court can decide.

Judge Stephanie Thacker raised similar concerns in her own concurring opinion.

Congresss use of its authority threatens to disturb the balance of power between co-equal branches of government, Thacker wrote. This case makes clear that the line is fine and perhaps were are getting far too close to tipping the balance of power.

Mountain Valley and its supporters argue that a project vital to the countys energy security had been caught up for far too long in a regulatory and legal abyss.

Congress and President Biden declared the timely completion of construction and operation of the Mountain Valley Pipeline as being in the national interest, Mountain Valley spokeswoman Natalie Cox said Friday, adding that the pipeline should be completed this year.

The law is valid, its supporters say, in part because it allows any challenge of its constitutionality to be filed with a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C.

After the legislation was signed by President Joe Biden, Mountain Valley asked the Fourth Circuit to dismiss both cases.

The pipeline, which passes through the New River and Roanoke valleys, has long been opposed by those who say muddy runoff from construction is polluting nearby streams and rivers.

And once the project is completed, opponents say, the natural gas it will carry will only worsen what is already a global climate change crisis.

We are deeply saddened and concerned that Mountain Valley has been granted the ability to sidestep critical conservation protections and silence the voices of community members in harms way, Jamie Williams, president of The Wilderness Society, said in a statement.

The Wilderness Society, one of the groups involved in the case, has not made a decision yet on whether it will appeal to the nations highest court, a spokesperson said.
Warrants have been issued for an Axton man in relation to a homicide that occurred Friday in the Sandy Level community.

Akeem Laquan Clark, 33, of Axton, is wanted for on charges of second-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm after having been convicted of a felony in the death of Antwain Royqwell-Garifield Hampton, 24, of Hampton Circle in Axton, a news release issued Saturday night stated.

At 5:09 p.m. Friday, Hampton was transported to Sovah Health-Danville by a friend where Hampton died of a gunshot wound, Henry County Sheriff Wayne Davis said.

Investigators say they determined that Hampton and Clark were at a residence at 7064 Axton Road in Axton when an altercation occurred between the men and Clark produced a firearm and shot Hampton, according to the release.

Investigators with the Pittsylvania County Sheriffs Office learned first of the incident when they responded to the hospital and spoke with the friend.

Investigators in Pittsylvania County then notified the Henry County Sheriffs Office and gave them the address of a mobile home in Axton where the friend told them the altercation and subsequent shooting occurred, the release stated.

The Henry County Sheriffs Office SWAT Team arrived at the residence, surround it, and then executed a search warrant. The home was not occupied when police arrived, a release earlier on Saturday stated.

According to the Henry County Geographic Information System, the property is owned by Reaco Dalton of the home.

Davis said on Friday that investigators believe the homicide occurred at the mobile home.

Anyone with information regarding this incident or the whereabouts of Clark is asked to contact the Henry County Sheriffs Office at 276-638-8751 or Crimestoppers at 276-632-7463. The Crimestoppers Program offers rewards up to $2,500 for information related to crime. The nature of the crime and the substance of the information determine the amount of reward paid.
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi and Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU) announced a strategic collaboration aimed at revolutionizing patient care through the implementation of a patient grievance redressal system. AIIMS said that a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between the AIIMS and USAR (University School of Automation and Robotics) and USDI (University School of Design and Innovation) from GGSIPU. It said that the collaborative effort underscores the commitment of both institutions to drive positive change in the public healthcare sector.This landmark partnership marks a significant step towards enhancing transparency, accountability, and patient satisfaction within the healthcare domain, AIIMS Director Dr M Srinivas said. He said that it reflects our collective commitment to patient-centric healthcare. By harnessing innovation and expertise, we aim to set a new benchmark for patient care and satisfaction. This collaboration is the innovative 'patient grievance redressal system', which has been conceptualized to address patient concerns and feedback comprehensively. This initiative is particularly noteworthy as it is the first of its kind, demonstrating a pioneering approach to patient care.Dr. Mahesh Verma, Vice Chancellor of GGSIPU, said, "Our collaboration with AIIMS exemplifies the power of academia to effect positive change in society. We are proud to contribute to AIIMS' mission of providing exceptional healthcare services." Initially, the patient grievance redressal system will be implemented in the Mother and Child Block of AIIMS, with plans to extend its coverage to other dept, blocks, and centers across the institution in subsequent phases, the statement said.The comprehensive scope of the patient grievance redressal system covers an array of services, including patient treatment, clinical practice, nursing care, implementation of welfare schemes, sanitation, security, infrastructure, and facilities management. By integrating these facets into a unified system, both AIIMS and GGSIPU are dedicated to elevating standards of care, good governance, and transparency in healthcare delivery.
DECATUR  Garfield Learning Academy students have a surprise waiting for them when school starts on Monday.

They'll have access to the same lunch menu that Stephen Decatur Middle School students have.

Before, they just had to eat what they were served, said Principal Dianne Brandt. Here, they'll have choices.

Garfield students will be able to choose from a la carte items like pizza, hamburgers, grilled chicken, sandwiches, fruits and vegetables. They'll go to the lunch counter in the Galleria to get their food and bring it back to their own, separate area to eat it.

The school is an alternative learning program for students in grades K-12 who have had difficulty being successful in their home schools, Brandt said. Usually that is due to behavior, and students have individual behavior goals to meet. As they meet goals, they get increased privileges, and when they meet all their goals, they can usually return to their home schools.

This is the second move in two years for Garfield, which was housed at the former Harris School building, 620 E. Garfield Ave., and was then known as the Harris Learning Academy. That building is now the location of the Social/Emotional Learning Academy. When that program took over the Harris building, the Garfield program moved to the building at 300 Meadow Terrace Place and changed its name to Garfield Learning Academy.

It was simpler to move Garfield, which serves about 65 students in an average year, officials said. Garfield is moving to Stephen Decatur Middle School, which was originally built to be a high school and had the extra space to accommodate Garfield students. The Garfield program will have its own entrance and new walls to create a separate space, apart from the Stephen Decatur students.

Teachers have already been working in classrooms. Their first official day back to work was Aug. 10. Making the new space feel welcoming and comfortable for students is an important part of making the transition smooth, Brandt said.

A lot of it is the staff, she said. The staff is what makes it home. We have a solid core group of teachers that have been with the program for several years, and they just keep coming back, because of their love for this kind of student, students that need that extra care, that extra love.

Those teachers are working hard to make their rooms inviting, she said, even if the rooms are a bit smaller than they had at the building on Meadow Terrace Place.

We want the students to feel safe, and feel like this is their home, also, Brandt said. Providing a space for everyone, that's what we're working on.

Garfield teachers and parents have spoken at recent board meetings to say they feel forgotten and pushed aside while all the attention is on Dennis families.

For a lot of our kids, (the alternative education program) is the first time they feel like they are listened to and heard, said teacher Krista Hudson. They feel a part of the school. For a lot of them, for whatever reason, they just aren't feeling they fit in, they're not where they should be or want to be (in school). They want consistency and they keep taking consistency away from them.

At the school's new home in Stephen Decatur, one large science lab was split into two classrooms with a newly-built wall, to make classrooms for high school science and math. Next door, a single classroom was partitioned to make two rooms, for English and social studies. The high school students will be together on that hall, while younger students are together in another area.

Cameron Mabry, who teaches high school science, has already been working in his new classroom to create the calming atmosphere he prefers for his students. Instead of harsh overhead lights, he uses lamps. The new classroom is smaller than the one at Garfield, but Mabry said he's going to make it work.

I'm just trying to decorate the room the best I can, with the quick transfer from the (other) school, he said. For me, just trying to make it as comfortable as I can. I like the lighting to be dim. The staff has been great with trying to accommodate us.

 Class is in: These former Decatur school buildings are still in use Brush College School Durfee School Jones School Lakeview High School Roosevelt Jr. High Salem School Spencer School St. James School
Following a North Carolina Supreme Court ruling earlier this year, voters will be expected to show a photo ID at the polls.

Acceptable forms of identification include drivers licenses, passports and military IDs, among others. Voters casting ballots by mail can submit a photocopy of an acceptable photo ID along with their ballot, according to the N.C. State Board of Elections.

Prospective voters who lack a common form of ID can get an ID card made at the Division of Motor Vehicles or the Catawba County Board of Elections. There is no cost for the ID.

The process for getting a specialized voter ID from those agencies involves going to the agency and signing a form providing the voters name, date of birth and last four digits of the voters Social Security number.

The agency would then confirm the information provided in the state system. The voter would then be photographed, and the ID card printed at the office.

The deadline to get the specialized voter ID for the November election is Nov. 4. The date coincides with the end of early voting.

The deadline to register for Election Day voting is Oct. 13. Same-day registration will be available during the early voting period.

Colleges, universities and local governments can also apply to have their IDs formally recognized as valid voter IDs by the North Carolina State Board of Education.

The deadline for these institutions to apply for the 2023 elections was June 28. Nearly 80 institutions across the state applied, according to data from the state board.

So far, the state board has approved IDs from the following Hickory-area institutions for voting: student and employee IDs from Appalachian State University, Caldwell County government employee IDs, Caldwell County Sheriffs Office employee IDs, Caldwell County Community College & Technical Institute student IDs, Lenoir-Rhyne University student IDs and N.C. School for the Deaf employee IDs.

Board-approved IDs will also be valid for the 2024 election. While the application window for the 2023 elections has closed, institutions will have a chance at a later date to have their official IDs recognized for voting purposes.

There will be additional opportunities to apply for ID approval before the 2024 elections, State Board of Elections Public Information Officer Patrick Gannon said.
All who believe that we need to do away with fossil fuels, please charge your vehicles only by windmill and solar energy because energy companies rely on fossil fuels.

All who believe that Bidenomics is working, apparently do not have to live on a budget or you are just a denier of the truth.

All who believe that books should not be banned, then you are pretending to care about our children. I remember when Playboy magazine was not on display. It was behind the counter, and you had to ask the clerk in order to buy it and that was only for adults.

All who believe there was no election interference in 2020, then you refusing to believe that Hillary and her team of Democrats created the Russian Hoax, they conjured up lies of two failed impeachments all the while the corrupted Biden, Hillary, and administrations including RINOs were doing exactly what they accused Trump and his family of doing. The power the left now possesses is only to go after Trump that opened the Pandora Box of their corruption.

All who believe that China, Russia, and Ukraine gave millions of dollars to the Bidens for doing "nothing" are choosing to live an illusion of lies being told by the mainstream media. Before Trump got into politics, his enemies liked him. Read Trump's latest book on all the letters his now enemies wrote and praised him for before politics.

All who believe that our country is not compromised by the Biden corruption need to research how China, etc. is taking our country to the cleaners.

All who believe that illegal immigration is good need to open up their houses to all these homeless illegals no matter their disease, drugs, or background and feed them, clothe them, furnish their healthcare, and don't forget the cell phone.

All who believe this Ukraine war is not because of our weak president, then ask yourself why now! Biden is compromised!

And the list goes on and on.

Sandra Bolick

Conover
" " This is Sessho seki, the "killing stone" on the plains of Mount Nasu in Japan after it split March 5, 2022. Miyuki Meinaka Wikimedia Commons (CC By SA 4.0)

In early March 2022, all hell broke loose on the internet when a Japanese-language tweet went viral. The tweet from user @Lily0727K featured a picture of a sizable dark stone at a sightseeing spot in Japan that had fractured into two pieces  along with the following translated text via Google:

"I came alone to the killing stone, where the legend of the nine-tailed fox remains."

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After some additional details, the tweet ominously concludes: "If it's a manga [Japanese comic book or graphic novel], it's a pattern that the seal is broken and it's possessed by the nine-tailed fox, and I feel like I've seen something that shouldn't be seen."

The "nine-tailed fox" is a reference to the devious fox spirit, known in Japan as Tamamo-no-Mae. As news outlets reported at the time, Tamamo-no-Mae had allegedly been trapped for centuries in a volcanic rock on the plains of Mount Nasu in Japan. The stone was called Sessho seki, or the "killing stone" in English.

With the stone split in half, internet denizens and scholars began to speculate about what might happen now that the spirit of Tamamo-no-Mae was potentially let loose in the Japanese countryside, free to terrorize unsuspecting citizens.

But it seems there's more to this story than the media initially reported.

"I was a bit dismayed at how so many Western media sites got the facts wrong and didn't seem to look beyond Twitter for the actual story behind the superstition," says Matthew Meyer, a folklorist based in Japan who runs yokai.com, which is an illustrated database of Japanese ghosts and monsters.

As it turns out: An evil spirit probably didnt escape from the stone after all.

"Tamamo-no-Mae was never 'trapped' in the stone. She was the stone," Meyer says.
Carol and Paul Schaap Carol Schaap, who died on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023, at age 85, is remembered at Hope for having a transformative impact on the campus and multiple college programs, spanning academics, co-curricular experiences, faith formation and financial aid.

Across the past two decades, Carol Schaap and her husband, Dr. A. Paul Schaap, who survives her, have provided major gifts for facilities including the A. Paul Schaap Science Center, the Jim and Martie Bultman Student Center, and the Saint Anne Oratory at the Carol C. Schaap Chapel; and for endowment in support of faculty and student collaborative research in the natural and applied sciences. The funding has been in addition to the significant contributions they have faithfully made annually to the Hope Fund for more than 40 years to support students and financial aid/access to a Hope education.

Carols profound spirit of generosity, faith and love of students were evident to all who knew her, said Hope College President Matthew A. Scogin. Her legacy will continue to impact students' lives here on campus and is a testament to who she was. We are honored to have known Carol and extend our deepest sympathy to Paul and all the family and friends mourning Carols loss.

The qualities highlighted by Scogin were indeed evident to Jeff Puckett, vice president of philanthropy and engagement at Hope, who admires the commitment to making a lasting difference to others that he noted has been the foundation of the breadth and depth of the initiatives that the Schaaps have supported through the years.

Carol was an amazing human being. I was always struck by the integrity of her leadership and a spirit of care and community that was uniquely hers but shared steadfastly with her husband, Paul. She genuinely cared for others, Puckett said. She understood the power of generosity and its ripple effect. Carol never just gave to a project, she and Paul gave through the project. Their breadth of philanthropy at Hope  financial access for students, academic excellence, institutional sustainability, collaborative student/faculty research, faith formation, and so many other areas  is a humbling testament to the countless lives Carols consequential life changed for the better.

The Grosse Pointe Park couples connection to the college was initially through Dr. A. Paul Schaap, who graduated from Hope with a chemistry major in 1967. Paul Schaap subsequently earned a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Harvard University and then taught and conducted research at Wayne State University. His research focused on the study of dioxetanes (high-energy chemical compounds which can be triggered to generate chemiluminescence or light). While continuing his teaching and research efforts at Wayne State, he formed Lumigen Inc. in 1987 to commercialize the dioxetanes which had been developed in his research laboratory. Paul Schaap received a Distinguished Alumni Award from Hope in 2006, and was a member of the colleges Board of Trustees from 2007 to 2019.

Carol Schaap was on the staff at Wayne State University for approximately 30 years beginning in 1961, having previously been a secretary with the FBI and Parke Davis. She held a variety of secretarial positions during her time at the university, including first as secretary to the chair of the Chemistry Department and finally as executive secretary to the president. She and Paul met while both were employed at Wayne State, and were married on March 16, 1976. Additional information about Carol, including a biographical sketch and further insight into her interests, is available in her obituary, located at www.verheyden.org. As shared in the obituary, She was a force, a pillar of strength, a beacon of resilience, and a source of unending warmth and love. As we remember Carol, let us strive to embrace her values and her spirit, to carry forward her legacy of love, laughter and generosity.

The Schaaps impact at Hope is most visible  literally  through the colleges A. Paul Schaap Science Center, where thousands of students have learned across the past 20 years. Less apparent but no less significant is the difference that they have made within the facility, where endowments they established are providing funding in perpetuity for research, enhancing original discovery by Hopes faculty scientists and the students who work with them through the colleges nationally acclaimed model of teaching science through participation in mentored research.

Paul and Carol Schaaps support has had legacy impact, in that the Schaap Science Center has enabled, promoted and sustained top-notch science education and laboratory-based research at Hope College, said Dr. Jon Peterson, dean for natural and applied sciences at Hope. In addition, Schaap endowment support has provided faculty research opportunities typically unavailable to scientists at liberal arts colleges.

The A. Paul Schaap Science Center houses the colleges departments of biology, chemistry, geological and environmental science, nursing and psychology, as well as the biochemistry, molecular science and neuroscience programs, and the office of the dean for the natural and applied sciences. The center includes an 85,900-square-foot building that was newly constructed and opened for the beginning of the 2003-04 school year, and the original 72,800-square foot Peale wing, which had opened in 1973 and was renovated after the new building was completed. The facility was named in honor of Paul Schaap on May 5, 2006, in recognition of a leadership gift the couple made on behalf of the project.

The couples endowment support includes the Schaap Research Fellows program, which began in 2013 and funds scholarly activity for faculty in the Department of Chemistry. Another endowment underwrites the colleges biennial Schaap Chemistry Symposium, a summertime event that debuted in 2017 and features research talks by students and scientists from Hope and other institutions from around the country. The symposium was held most recently this past June.

We are incredibly thankful for all that Paul and Carol have done for Hope College and for their exceedingly generous support of the chemistry program, said Dr. Elizabeth Sanford, professor of chemistry and department chair. It enables us to be distinctive: We are able to engage more students in undergraduate research; we are able to access a higher level of instrumentation to take research to new levels; we are able to attract and retain outstanding faculty with the Schaap Fellows Program; we are able to sponsor the Schaap Symposium that demonstrates to a national audience what Hope students and faculty are capable of in the unique partnership of undergraduate research.

Paul and Carols generosity helps us to transform potential into reality, Sanford said. It allows us to say, Yes, we can do that.

Following their support of the science center, Carol and Paul Schaap were among the national co-chairs of the colleges A Greater Hope comprehensive campaign, which was developed as a $175 million effort and initiated in 2007, and successfully concluded in 2015 having raised more than $203 million in gifts and pledges from more than 21,000 donors.

The campaigns major initiatives included the 42,000-square-foot Jim and Martie Bultman Student Center, named for Hopes 11th president and his wife, which opened for the start of the 2017-18 school year as the colleges first dedicated student-center space in more than 35 years. The buildings Schaap Auditorium, which hosts a variety of campus events, is named in honor of Carol and Paul Schaap in recognition of their support of the project.

Most recently, they provided a leadership gift for the Saint Anne Oratory at the Carol C. Schaap Chapel, which serves as a worship space for Catholics on Hopes campus and is located in Graves Hall. Carol Schaap was a faithful Catholic her entire life, and although Paul is not himself Catholic, the couple attended Mass together for the nearly 50 years that they were married.

The chapel  made possible through the generosity of more than 30 benefactors  opened in March 2022 following a Mass of Blessing by The Most Reverend David J. Walkowiak, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids, and is in renovated space that had previously housed the colleges Schoon Meditation Chapel since 1962. Its quickly become a treasured space for worship and reflection.

Several students have commented to me that of all the places on campus theyve tried to pray, there is just something about St. Annes that always draws them there  a kind of intimacy with God they dont find elsewhere, said Fr. Nicholas Monco, O.P., who is chaplain of the Saint Benedict Institute, an intellectual and spiritual ministry of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church that serves Hope College.

One of the reasons I value this space is because I really do think it was the will of God that this beautiful space be here, he said. "It happened because the moment Paul heard about the idea it touched his heart and he thought the best gift he could give to his wife was a beautiful place where others could encounter God, just as she had. It says a lot about the sort of person Carol was that her devoted husband thought this gift given to others would be one she'd appreciate the most. That this happened on the feast day of St. Benedict was a sign for me that God had decided to bless us through Paul and Carol, with this space."

There will be a funeral mass for Carol on Saturday, Aug. 26, at 10 a.m. (gathering time at 9:30 a.m.) at St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church (157 Lake Shore, Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan 48236).

In addition, later this fall Fr. Nicholas Monco, O.P., will conduct a special Mass in the colleges Carol C. Schaap Chapel to celebrate Carols life.
Global technology, engineering, and consulting service provider Expleo Solutions Limited announced to bolster its workforce by hiring 5,000 skilled tech professionals by 2025 in India. Expleo's newly appointed tech professionals will be stationed across the company's prominent development centers in key Indian cities such as Bengaluru, Chennai, Coimbatore, Pune, and Mumbai. Presently, Expleo boasts a robust workforce of over 17,000 individuals worldwide, with approximately 4,700 dedicated professionals based in India.According to the Chennai-based firm, the new recruits will be strategically positioned to contribute to software development, automation, engineering, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and data science domains. Through their expertise, they will be instrumental in challenging the traditional norms prevailing in sectors such as automotive, banking, financial services, aerospace, healthcare, and life sciences. Moreover, the new recruits would work in the areas of software development, automation, engineering, AI, cloud, and data science to challenge the status quo in the automotive, banking, financial services, aero, healthcare, and life sciences industries.Expleo's recruitment drive would encompass both fresh graduates and seasoned professionals who possess the capabilities to meet diverse customer demands. The company's commitment to enhancing its talent pool and expanding its Indian operations is in alignment with Expleo's overarching global growth strategy. With this strategic recruitment drive, the company said that it is poised to elevate its capabilities and propel industries forward into the digital age.
Global electronics firm Panasonic Holdings has begun a lawsuit against Chinese smartphone companies Oppo and Xiaomi over some 4G patents which it refers to as "standard-essential patents for cellular communications".

The company said in a statement on Wednesday [9 August] that it would also launch action in Germany, the UK, the European Unified Patent Court and China.

Panasonic said it had undertaken negotiations with the two Chinese companies for a number of years but had reached no resolution on the issue.

The statement said: "Panasonic is a recognised technical contributor to the WCDMA and LTE standards and holds substantial SEPs resulting from its contributions.

"Through good-faith bilateral discussions, Panasonic has successfully concluded licences with companies that compete globally with Xiaomi and Oppo.

"These licences enable Panasonic to sustain its global research initiatives to improve quality of life and to advance society, the foundational purposes that drive its corporate missions."

It said this was the first time it had found it necessary to launch actions over its cellular communications SEPs.

Last year, Finnish telecommunications equipment vendor Nokia sued Oppo over a patent, with the end results being that the sale of some Oppo and OnePlus models were banned from sale in Mannheim.

This ruling, by a regional court in the southwestern German city, was the second in as many months and said Oppo's use of some 5G and 4G technologies infringed Nokia's patents.

The first ruling was issued in June. Oppo and OnePlus are both owned by Chinese firm B.B.K. Electronics which also owns the vivo, realme and iQoo brands.

In July 2021, Oppo and OnePlus announced an alignment of the development of the two skins that the devices use  ColorOS and OxygenOS  over Android. But that plan was abandoned in March 2022.

Oppo and OnePlus are both owned by Chinese firm B.B.K. Electronics, which also owns the smartphone brands vivo, realme, and iQoo.

iTWire has contacted Oppo and Xiaomi for comment.
GUEST RESEARCH: 2023 began with consumers showing strong demand for travel despite economic headwinds that may strain vacation budgets this year.

With International tourism well on its way to pre-pandemic levels, it comes as no surprise that millions of travel enthusiasts from all across the globe are flocking to overseas destinations this summer.

However, airlines, hotels and holiday booking platforms arent the only ones profiting from the revival of global travel. Scammers are also looking to make a quick buck by exploiting eager vacationers trying to save money when booking travel deals.

While travel-themed spam emails sneak into the inboxes of global users year-round, summer is an extremely busy time for cybercrooks who take advantage of holidaymakers rushing to book their next vacation.

In our attempt to keep consumers informed and safe all year round, researchers at Bitdefender Antispam Lab have been monitoring the flux of travel-themed correspondence ending up in users inboxes to give potential travellers a sense of what they can expect and how they can protect their identity and money from fraudulent travel emails.

Heres what we found

Global travel-themed spam has remained consistent throughout the past three months, according to researchers, with no significant month-over-month spikes between May and July.

Researchers also found that only 38% of analyzed travel-themed spam emails received during our three-month analysis were marketing lures, with the remaining 62% marked as scams.





Globally, Europe received the most travel-themed spam between May and July 2023, with 42% of the total, followed by North America with 40%.

The US, though, retains the number one spot as the most-targeted country, receiving 39% of the entire global travel-themed spam emails. Ireland (16%), the UK and Germany (6% each), India and South Africa (5% each), Sweden (4%), Australia, Denmark and France (3% each) follow the US.

The source of these spam emails varies, but the US takes the lead, with 40% of travel-themed spam originating from IP addresses in the country. The remaining spam originates from countries in Europe, Asia and Africa.

Now lets take a closer look at the subject lines in this unsolicited correspondence to get the gist of what spammers have been trying to achieve this summer

An analysis of the most used keywords in a sample batch of 1,000 travel-themed spam emails reveals that about 20% of the correspondence included the words free gift or survey in the email subject line, 8% included the keyword booking, and 5% mentioned Southwest Airlines (although other airlines have also been mentioned)

On this note, we would like to emphasise that all of the analyzed samples containing free gift, survey or Southwest in the subject lines were giveaway scams and not legitimate marketing lures. While looking at other giveaway spam emails mentioning other airline carriers, our researchers noticed a similar pattern  all unsolicited travel-themed correspondence mentioning gift cards, vouchers, and surveys from well-known airlines such as American Airlines and United Airlines and Ryanair were also scams.

Subject lines include:

 unlock your free gift complete our survey now

 you have 1 new united airlines survey reward ready to claim

 answer our survey questions and get a chance to win flights for your summer travels

 you have won an 500 southwest airlines gift card

 shopper you can qualify to get a 50 southwest gift card

 united is giving you a pair of free domestic round trip tickets

 congratulations you can get a 100 american airlines gift card

Other popular email subjects we found:

 Rentals and vacation deals for Las Vegas or all-inclusive cruises

 Booking confirmations

 Ads for hotel and resort deals

Samples of fraudulent emails can be found below:

Safety tips

Since the dawn of the internet, fraudsters have propagated their swindles to trick victims into handing over money and sensitive information via all forms of communication, whether email, text, phone, social media posts and direct messaging platforms.

Email-based travel spam has intensified this summer as millions of consumers are planning a long-awaited vacation. While we can expect a small decrease in the flux of travel spam in the coming months, spammers will surely up their game in anticipation of the winter holidays.

So, whether youve already booked your flights or are still planning your next vacation, we urge you to continue to watch out for unsolicited messages and protect your data and money by following these simple rules:

 Ignore all unsolicited correspondence and never click links or download attachments. If youre sure a message is genuine, head directly to the company website from your browser to check for deals and promotions.

 Check URLs to ensure youre not directed to look-alike domains do this from your browser instead of your phone or tablet

 Use secure payment methods when paying for travel deals or bookings  payment via wire transfers, crypto or gift cards is a huge red flag

 Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true and any survey participation giveaways that promise you money, frequent flyer miles or other gifts

 Install a security solution on your devices that to block malicious or fraudulent links and websites
GUEST CASE STUDY:Manhattan Associates announced today that it had worked with leading Indonesian retailer Matahari to modernise its distribution centre network with Manhattan Associates' market-leading WMS technology.

Matahari Putra Prima (MPPA) Retail Group is one of the largest retailers in Indonesia, and the country's fast-moving consumer goods leader. Since it was established in 2004, the company has grown to include brands like Hypermarket, Foodmart and Foodmart Express, HyFresh, and Primo convenient stores. With hundreds of stores and 13,000 different SKUs, MPPA needed to optimise its logistics infrastructure and network. This led the company to develop five strategic distribution centres that would serve its retail network and fulfil direct customer demand.

Unlocking the potential of its fulfilment centres

To ensure that its distribution centres (DCs) worked in concert to serve stores quickly and accurately, MPPA required a warehouse management system (WMS) that provides enterprise-wide inventory visibility and manages supply chain fulfilment operations from the warehouse to the store shelf.

"MPPA chose Manhattan's WMS to unlock the potential of its fulfilment centres and advance warehouse operations beyond basic picking, packing, and shipping to improve the flow of goods and information through its vast DC and store network," said Manhattan Associates SEA managing director Richard Wright.

According to MPPA director of logistics Leon Bivolaru "Manhattan's WMS was also chosen for its ability to be integrated with MPPA's main and back-office financial systems and other legacy applications, whilst also reducing human intervention and reliance on intuition as much as possible."

Leveraging next-generation voice technology

MPPA has reengineered many key DC processes to ensure its supply chain operations are as accurate and effective as possible. This includes the introduction of voice picking. By using voice picking technology, a picker's hands are free, so they can focus on collecting the goods. All instructions are voice-based, and the system and picker can communicate with each other without any manual hand-based inputs. MPPA has seen an increased picking efficiency of 15%20% since adopting voice picking technology.

A cloud-first future

In 2020, MPPA made the decision to have Manhattan's WMS hosted in a data centre located in Japan. By moving to the cloud, the company has realised greater application stability and uptime running at their three DCs across the Java Mainland and Surabaya. They no longer need to be concerned about daily server maintenance, back-ups, continuity, and sustainability  everything is now managed entirely by Manhattan Associates.

"For its growing e-commerce business, MPPA leverages Manhattan's WMS to determine the best fulfilment DC to increase efficiency, shorten fulfilment cycles, and maximise throughput. It intelligently optimises every shipment in real-time across all transportation options and allows MPPA to focus solely on how to deliver goods from DC to stores fast and accurately," commented Wright.

MPPA's commitment to innovation and improving key supply chain processes to meet store and customer demand has resulted in a state-of-the-art DC network, supported by advanced technology that will scale and evolve in line with its business needs  now and into the future.

Receive up-to-date product, customer and partner news directly from Manhattan Associates on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

About Manhattan Associates

Manhattan Associates is a technology leader in supply chain and omnichannel commerce. We unite information across the enterprise, converging front-end sales with back-end supply chain execution. Our software, platform technology and unmatched experience help drive both top-line growth and bottom-line profitability for our customers.

Manhattan Associates designs, builds and delivers leading edge cloud and on-premises solutions so that across the store, through your network or from your fulfilment centre, you are ready to reap the rewards of the omnichannel marketplace. For more information, please visit www.manh.com.
TOLEDO  A man charged with murder in Cumberland County has opted to keep his legal counsel, though the attorney also represents a potential witness on an unrelated matter.

Lance Newcomb, 24, of Robinson made this decision during a hearing Monday morning in his case, in which he is charged with first-degree murder and concealment of a homicide regarding the shooting death of Ryan Waggoner, 55, of rural Lerna in Cumberland County.

Judge Jonathan Braden asked Newcomb if he wanted to keep Public Defender Shon Park as his legal counsel after this attorney noted that he is also representing potential witness Alexis Sargent.

Newcomb, who is in the custody of the Cumberland County jail, conferred with his attorney for several minutes in a meeting area adjacent to the courtroom before returning and relaying his decision to the judge.

"I would like to request that Mr. Park remains my attorney," Lance Newcomb said.

Park is representing Sargent, 32, on charges of possessing drug paraphernalia and less than 5 grams of methamphetamine, charges that were filed in late May in Cumberland County. She has pleaded not guilty to these charges. Sargent is free on bond and has a pretrial conference set for Sept. 18.

Newcomb's court appearance Monday morning had been scheduled to be his preliminary hearing, which has now been continued to Aug. 21. At the preliminary hearing, the judge will determine if there is probable cause for the case against him to proceed.

Waggoner was reported missing on June 9 from his northwest Cumberland County home. The Illinois State Police's investigation led to the June 29 arrests of Newcomb; his mother, Angela Newcomb, 58, of Robinson; and Hiley Schulte, 52, of Oblong in Crawford County.

Both Angela Newcomb and Schulte have been charged with concealment of homicidal death. Angela Newcomb also has been charged with obstruction of justice.

Remains found in southwestern Crawford County, near the Embarras River, were identified on July 6 as belonging to Waggoner.

The Crawford County state's attorney initially filed a concealment charge against Lance Newcomb but opted not to pursue the matter further after the Cumberland County State's Attorney Bryan Robbins subsequently filed charges in this case.

Angela Newcomb, who is free on bond, has pleaded not guilty to the charges she is facing and has a pre-trial conference set for Aug. 23. Schulte, also free on bond, has not entered a plea yet as she awaits an Aug. 23 court appearance and Sept. 18 preliminary hearing.
China, Cambodia vow to enhance comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation

Xinhua) 08:33, August 14, 2023

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister-designate Hun Manet met with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi here on Sunday, with the two sides pledging to promote the China-Cambodia comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation.

Hun Manet said the realization of peace and stability in Cambodia has benefited from China's strong support, and the rapid development it has achieved is inseparable from China's selfless help.

He thanked China for attaching great importance to promoting the Cambodia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation.

Hun Manet said the new government of Cambodia will maintain the continuity and stability of its domestic and foreign policies in accordance with the major policies formulated by the ruling party, unswervingly develop the friendship with China, and consistently carry forward the traditional friendship between Cambodia and China.

"We look forward to intensifying high-level exchanges with China, strengthening strategic coordination, negotiating and signing a new version of the action plan for building a Cambodia-China community with a shared future as soon as possible," he said.

He added that the kingdom is committed to promoting practical cooperation with China in agriculture, manufacturing, trade and investment, tourism, and cultural exchanges, so as to build a better Cambodia-China community with a shared future.

Hun Manet said issues related to Taiwan, Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong are all China's internal affairs, and Cambodia will continue to firmly abide by the one-China principle.

For his part, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, congratulated Hun Manet on being elected as the leader of Cambodia's new leadership with a high number of votes.

He said China and Cambodia are good friends sharing weal and woe and ironclad brothers with sincerity and mutual trust.

The traditional friendship between China and Cambodia, which has been carefully cultivated by generations of leaders of the two countries, has stood the test of changing international circumstances and remains unbreakable, he added.

Wang said facts have proved that Cambodia's friendly policy toward China is fully in line with Cambodia's fundamental and long-term interests.

He added that China is willing to forge close ties with Cambodia's new government, stay true to the original commitments, continue to advance their friendship, and work together to deepen and consolidate the China-Cambodia comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation, so as to open a new era of the high-quality, high-level, and high-standard China-Cambodia community with a shared future.

Wang Yi said China is willing to work with Cambodia to prepare for high-level exchanges in the next stage, better synergize the Belt and Road Initiative with the Pentagon Strategy proposed by the Cambodian government, and help Cambodia accelerate industrialization and agricultural modernization.

The two sides should strengthen the exchanges and experience sharing in state governance, promote law enforcement and security cooperation, ensure the success of the "China-Cambodia Friendship Year" series of activities, expand the exchanges in culture, youth and sister cities between the two countries, and further consolidate public support for China-Cambodia friendship, he added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
A former employee of Klaussner Furniture Industries Inc. has filed suit against the company, saying the defunct manufacturer wont meet its wage and compensation obligations.

Klaussner abruptly and immediately shut down operations on Aug. 7, letting go of 893 workers in one of the Triads largest manufacturing closings since the turn of the century

Klaussner, based in Asheboro, had been in business since 1963. The manufacturer was acquired in 2017 by private investment firm Monomoy Capital Partners.

The defunct manufacturer cited in a WARN notice to the N.C. Commerce Department an inability to access additional funding from its lender. Job eliminations began Aug. 7 and are slated to continue through Aug. 21.

Plaintiff Trey Chavis filed his lawsuit Thursday requesting class-action status and a jury trial.

Chavis was employed at its plant at 405 Lewallen Road in Asheboro, which at 558 had the largest workforce impact, according to the WARN notice.

The majority of companies going out of business or conducting job cuts affecting at least 50 employees typically file a WARN notice in which they provide at least a 60-day notice of closing and agree to pay 60 days worth of wages and benefits to affected workers.

The filing also serves to alert local and state employment agencies to begin providing assistance to workers who will be unemployed.

Chavis expressed his concern that Klaussner would not meet its WARN compensation obligations to former employees since it failed to give the required 60-day notice of the shutdown.

As of the time of filing the complaint, Chavis said employees have not been paid their earned wages, salary, commissions, bonuses and accrued holiday and vacation pay. They also have not been provided with company-supplied access to COBRA insurance.

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court in Delaware, where Klaussner is incorporated.

Besides the Lewallen plant, Klaussner listed the following breakdown per facility: 127 at its 905 N.C. 49 South, Asheboro, plant; 64 at its 440 U.S. 220 South plant, Asheboro; 58 at its 58 Industrial Road, Candor, plant; 38 at its 907 N.C. 49 South plant, Asheboro; 26 at its 2206 Dumont St., Asheboro. plant; and 15 at its 4402 U.S. 220 South, Asheboro, plant.

Klaussner comments

Klaussner posted on its website the shutdown is the result of challenging and unexpected business circumstances impacting our operations.

Klaussner said the tipping point for the decision was that its lending source unexpectedly refused to continue to fund the companys operations. This outcome was not reasonably foreseeable, but due to these unexpected circumstances, Klaussner can no longer sustain its operations.

As a result, Klaussner has made the difficult decision to permanently cease operations and is providing as much notice as possible.

Klaussner said it is working to provide information and resources to assist with next steps for displaced employees as it becomes available. The information will be communicated directly to employees via the contact information we have on file.

Chavis complaint disputes that Klaussner can avoid its WARN obligations by using a defense of unforeseeable business circumstances or faltering company.

WARN challenges

The Klaussner shutdown decision comes nine months after the abrupt and stunning closing of United Furniture Industries Inc.s Triad facilities in November as United also was unable to secure additional financing.

United made promotional- to mid-priced upholstered furniture in the U.S. under its brand and the Lane Home Furnishings brand. The manufacturer also imported wooden bedroom and dining furniture.

After more than eight years of operations at the historic Weeks plant in northwest Winston-Salem, United unexpectedly shut down all of its plants on Nov. 22, ending employment and health insurance benefits for 530 Triad employees and about 2,700 companywide.

At that time, United had a combined 245 employees in Archdale and Trinity, 220 in Lexington and between 50 and 70 in Winston-Salem.

A total of 12 former United employees, including five from North Carolina, have filed an amended complaint in their attempt to force the defunct manufacturer to meet WARN requirements for final compensation and benefits for about 2,700 employees.

The plaintiffs also are requesting unpaid commissions, bonuses, accrued holiday pay, accrued vacation pay, and pension and 401(k) contributions, and other ERISA benefits. They claim none of those compensations has been made since the abrupt shutdown.

According to N.C. law, the defendants may be liable for civil penalty of up to $250 per employee with a maximum per employee of $2,000 per violation of WARN Act requirements.

However, the WARN Act lacks enforcement teeth, with several studies showing it has lots of loopholes, and virtually no enforcement authority from federal, state and local officials.

Derek Henderson, the federal bankruptcy trustee for United, opposed the WARN lawsuits.

He claims former employees are barred from claims by the unforeseeable business circumstances exception in the act.

Henderson summed up his opposition to the WARN lawsuits by saying that although United did not provide a notice in November, he denies that United violated the act and/or any state law because the shutdown and layoffs were due to unforeseen business circumstances, as well as the inability to obtain financing.

These efforts at refinancing and to provide alternate means for its continuing in business were suddenly and abruptly rejected, leaving the debtor with no choice but to cease operations.
YogaSix, a boutique yoga brand, said Monday it will open two studios in Greensboro through a franchise agreement.

It will be YogaSix's first studios in the Triad. The company did not say when the studios would open.

The closest locations are in Cornelius and Chapel Hill.

The company features six formats  Y6 101, Y6 Restore, Y6 Slow Flow, Y6 Hot, Y6 Power and Y6 Sculpt Flow  that are "meant to encompass every fitness level, whether the focus is on deep stretching, stress relief or breaking a sweat."

The company is based in Irvine, Calif. For more information about YogaSix, go to https://www.yogasix.com/franchise.

Richard Craver
The Forsyth County Sheriffs Office and two other law enforcement agencies are apparently unopposed to allowing a Charlotte woman to see their police body-camera footage of an officer involving shooting that killed her husband last year.

Malika Weah filed her petitions on June 13 and July 18 to have the police body-camera footage disclosed by the Winston-Salem Police Department, Forsyth County Sheriffs Office, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and the Greensboro Police Department, court records show.

Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough Jr. of Forsyth County, and attorneys for the Greensboro and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police departments indicated that they are unopposed to the disclosure of its officers body-camera recordings to allow Malika Weah to see their depictions of the shooting that led to her husbands death.

However, because neither Malika Weah nor her attorney attended a recent court hearing on the matter, her petitions were dismissed. She can refile.

Alexander Weah, who was originally from Liberia, was shot to death Aug. 5, 2022, when five law enforcement officers fired their guns as part of an attempt to serve an arrest warrant for murder on Weah.

Weah was wanted on charges that he fatally shot a man, James Michael Hinson, on Aug. 3 in Charlotte. In November 2022, District Attorney Jim ONeill of Forsyth County cleared all five officers of any criminal liability in the shooting.

At that time, ONeill said that after law enforcement officers approached, Weah ran and then pulled out a gun from his waistband and fired at officers, striking one of them twice  Greensboro police officer Michael J. Ambrosio.

The officers returned fire and killed Weah, ONeill said.

Weah died from gunshot wounds to this head, torso and extremities, according to a death certificate that Malika Weah provided to the Winston-Salem Journal.

Talaya Hinson, whose estranged husband Alexander Weah was accused of killing and who was dating Alexander Weah, told the Journal that officers fired first, hitting Weah twice in the back before Weah fired one shot.

The officers then fired multiple shots at Weah, killing him, Talaya Hinson told the Journal. She later told the Journal that Weah was going to turn himself in to authorities the day he was shot.

ONeill has said that Hinsons account was inaccurate and contradicted the body-camera footage, physical evidence and witness statements.

Judge Aaron Berlin of Forsyth Superior Court dismissed with prejudice the Winston-Salem Police Department from the case on July 31, court records show.

Berlin also dismissed without prejudice Malika Weahs petitions to the Forsyth County Sheriffs Office, the Greensboro Police Department and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department to see their body camera footage of last years incident that resulted in the death of Alexander Dekontee Weah, 23, of Charlotte.

Berlins order isnt a final decision, and Weah could refile her petitions to those agencies to see their video recordings of the incident.

Berlins order dismissing the Winston-Salem Police Department from the case is a permanent decision.

Lori Sykes, an assistant city attorney for the WSPD, said that Berlin dismissed the agency from the case because no police officers responded to the incident. Sykes declined to comment further.

Malika Weah, Alexander Weahs widow, said she is displeased with Berlins orders.

These past two weeks have been emotional for me and our daughter, Weah said. (Aug. 5) made a year that he (Alexander Weah) had been gone, and Im still nowhere close to knowing exactly what happened. I am still getting the runaround.

In his orders, Berlin said he reviewed the videos regarding the incident from the sheriffs office and the Greensboro and Charlotte-Mecklenburg police departments. Berlin also ordered that the video footage be returned to those agencies.

Winston-Salem police didnt respond to the incident on Aug. 5, 2022, and the agency doesnt have any video footage about it, Berlin wrote in his orders.

Judge Robert Broadie of Forsyth Superior Court held an initial hearing on June 26 regarding Malika Weahs petitions. Broadie continued the hearing to July 31.

However, Malika Weah and her attorney, Cedric Perry of Rocky Mount didnt attend that session. Berlin was unable to conduct a hearing because Weah and Perry werent present, Berlin said in the court order.

Weah said she got to the courtroom at 12:15 p.m. on July 31, and that she was mixed up about the July 31 court date. Perry also wasnt available to appear on that day in Forsyth Superior Court, Weah said.

Weah said she will speak to Perry about what her next step will be, but she is considering refiling her petitions to see the video footage from the sheriffs office as well as the Greensboro and Charlotte-Mecklenburg police departments.

I want to know exactly what took place, Weah said. I want to pursue that to have some type of closure.

Perry couldnt reached for comment.

Kimbrough said he will support a judges ruling that allows Malika Weah to see its video footage of the deadly shooting.

Im for transparency, Kimbrough said.

Forsyth County sheriffs deputies assisted Greensboro and Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers at the scene last year.

Andrea Harrell, a senior assistant attorney for the city of Greensboro, said that if Malika Weah had appeared at the July 31 court session, Harrell wouldnt have objected to allowing Weah to see the Greensboro officers body-camera footage.

Harrell said she has seen that footage, but she declined to describe it to a Journal reporter.

Brittany Howze, the senior attorney city attorney in Charlotte who handles police matters, filed a notice to Berlin that the CMPD wouldnt have objected in the disclosure of its video recording of the incident to Weah.

Howze also couldnt be reached for comment.

The CMPD declined to comment on Weahs petitions, said Michael Allinger, a CMPD spokesman.

The Winston-Salem Journal and the News & Record in Greensboro previously filed a petition to have the body-camera footage and any other recordings released publicly. A Forsyth County judge denied that request.
My teacher's brick

My teacher had a brick.

Last year, when I was in 10th grade, I heard the crazy rumor that my Spanish teacher had a brick. Jokingly, I thought it might be to silence the class clown, but my teacher was too nice for that.

I will never forget the day I found out the truth about that brick. You see my teacher had that brick to save my life. She had it in case an active shooter burst into our classroom. Her plan was to throw that brick through the window and give us a chance to run. She was willing to die while we escaped and got to live our own lives.

This did not sit right with me, and it should not sit right with you. The question is: What can we do to improve school safety? I feel that North Carolina should have a red-flag law. Such a law temporarily takes a gun away from someone who may hurt him or herself or others.

Our teachers deserve more than bricks.

Wesley Lean

Colfax

The Kennedys

Froma Harrop's syndicated article about the Kennedys ("The Kennedy story was never that hot," Aug. 11) demonstrates an ignorance in understanding the power of stories.

We tell stories to promote the good of our short time on this Earth. Those of us who were inspired by the Kennedys to ask not what we can do for ourselves but what we can do for others will always be thankful for their love for this country.

Yes, they have had their faults and Bobby Jr. may not be playing with a full deck, but to dig up dirt about "storied Kennedys" is unkind and shows a remarkable ignorance about human beings who build rather than insult and destroy.

Henry McCarthy

Winston-Salem

Pay now. Or later.

A recent letter from a founder of Read Write Spell ("How to help," Aug. 6) concerned third graders who cannot read at grade level. These 60% won't be at grade level in the ninth grade also and probably won't graduate and will be spending time in jail (an estimated 85%).

Who is paying for this incarceration (about $50,000 year per jailed person)? You and I. Would it not be prudent to spend money now to pay for the training?

Raising teacher pay $5 per week will not attract more to enter this noble occupation.

Please advocate for more funding by our legislature, city and county and respond to the author's invitation to help tutor.

It's a pay-now-or-pay-later issue. Please help.

Woody Clinard

Winston-Salem

The real danger

In an Aug. 10 Readers Forum letter entitled Nation in decline, the author blames Joe Biden for the decline. If indeed we are in decline, it started because of the authoritarian personality of the former president. Had criminal defendant Donald Trump been successful in his illegal attempt to remain in power, this country would no longer be a democracy. Because of the courts voting against Trumps accusations of 2020 election fraud, and Mike Pence having the courage to disobey Trump and count the electoral votes, Trump might have remained in power and our democracy would be over.

But the danger is not over. Criminal defendant Trump is the overwhelming favorite to win the Republican nomination for president in 2024.

Trump continues to exhibit his dictatorial tendencies in various ways. He denies the legitimacy of Bidens presidency. He has vowed to persecute and prosecute his political enemies. He calls the free press the enemy of the people. He is prone to spread lies to hold on to power. He unmercifully degrades political opponents.

I can go on, but allow me close by quoting prominent conservative Republicans. Chris Christie told the Financial Times, that Trump wants to be Putin in America. In a TV ad, Liz Cheney says, Donald Trump is a risk America can never take again.

On "CNN This Morning," former Federal Appeals Court Judge Michael Luttig was asked if Trump is still a clear and present danger to American democracy. Luttig answered, More so today than he was last summer.

Rudy Diamond

Lewisville

If he won ...

Here is how Donald Trump can prove beyond doubt that he believes he won the 2000 election: He can disqualify himself for the coming election by citing the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution: No person can be elected to the office of President more than twice.

If he really thinks he was elected in 2000, then he cannot try to be elected three times.

Roger Bullard

Winston-Salem
ARDS was first described more than 50 years ago and has since been recognized as one of the most common diseases in patients in the ICU, with an exceptionally high mortality.1 ARDS places a significant burden on ICUs, contributing to about 10% of all ICU admissions and 23% of all patients requiring mechanical ventilation during hospital admission.1 ARDS has been extensively researched over the years because of its high prevalence. In 1994, the ARDS Network (ARDSNet) was established to create protocols and guidelines for treating ARDS.

Although much has been learned about this disease and its management, ARDS still carries a significant mortality, which correlates to severity of disease.1 Inhospital mortality for mild, moderate, and severe disease was about 35%, 40%, and 46%, respectively in 2014.1 Because ARDS is a significant complication of COVID-19 infection, discussion of ARDS management has returned to the spotlight with increased appreciation of its pervasiveness in the ICU, its complexity, and its lethality.

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

ARDS is a form of severe lung injury that develops after an insult (pulmonary or extrapulmonary) to the body. Pneumonia accounts for 35% to 50% of cases; sepsis, 30%; aspiration, 10%; and trauma, 10%.2 Other insults such as transfusion reactions and surgeries have been observed.3,4 There have been very few cases in which no inciting insult has been identified.2

The pathogenesis of ARDS begins with an inappropriate host inflammatory response to an inciting event, causing damage to the alveolar endothelium. This results in porous membranes that inhibit appropriate gas exchange between the pulmonary vasculature and the alveoli. However, this process appears to be more complicated than initially thought. The epithelium of normal, healthy alveoli is semipermeable to allow for homeostasis of hydrostatic and oncotic pressures, which promotes exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. In ARDS, this system is disrupted by an inappropriate inflammatory response (Figure 1).

Although multiple mechanisms likely contribute to the pathological cascade of events, the best understood mechanism involves the activation of neutrophils. When neutrophils are triggered, an inflammatory cascade is initiated, releasing cytokines, procoagulant molecules, oxidants, proteases, and other toxic mediators. These toxic metabolites cause damage to the lung endothelium and alveolar epithelium, which degrades the integrity of their semipermeable membranes. These damaged membranes become porous, allowing proteins to cross into the interstitium, altering the oncotic pressures and, therefore, increasing interstitial fluid.5 The development of protein-dense pulmonary edema and alveolar inflammation impairs gas exchange and decreases lung compliance. This catastrophic cascade also contributes to endothelial dysfunction, induction of pulmonary vasoconstriction, formation of microvascular emboli, and potential vascular remodeling, resulting in pulmonary hypertension.6

The progression of ARDS is staged based on pathological findings and divided into acute, subacute, and chronic phases. Although staging is based on histological samples which are not commonly obtained, understanding of the progression and clinical context can be used to assess disease progression. The acute phase, also known as the exudative stage, is present within the first 6 days of disease, and characterized by pulmonary edema and endothelial and epithelial damage. Days 7 through 14 correlate with the subacute phase, also known as the fibroproliferative stage, in which edema improves and epithelial repair with collagen and fibroblasts begins. The chronic phase, also known as the fibrotic stage, typically occurs after 14 days and is characterized by clearance of acute neutrophilic infiltration with residual fibrosis. Not all patients progress to fibrosis and in some, ARDS resolves without residual lung damage.5

DIAGNOSIS

ARDS typically is a clinical diagnosis based on patient history and exclusion of other possible causes. Patients commonly present with hypoxemia and normal or nonspecific chest radiograph findings of bilateral opacifications, leaving a wide differential diagnosis. Most specifically, cardiogenic pulmonary edema can present very similarly in terms of symptoms and chest radiograph findings. If other possible differential diagnoses are either ruled out or of low suspicion, then ARDS can be diagnosed based on the Berlin criteria:

Presentation within 1 week of clinical insult

Bilateral opacification on chest radiograph

Symptoms that are not better explained to be cardiac in origin

PaO 2 /FiO 2 less than 300 mm Hg.7

Staging of severity is based on the PaO 2 /FiO 2 ratio (P:F), with mild disease defined as 200 to 300 mm Hg, moderate disease as 100 to 200 mm Hg, and severe disease as less than 100 mm Hg.7 Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) may affect the specificity and reliability of P:F, altering its utility as a diagnostic calculation. Therefore, the above staging is only applicable to patients mechanically ventilated on at least 5 cm H 2 O of PEEP.7

Patients with a low P:F ratio require high FiO 2 settings secondary to their decreased ability to absorb oxygen. In addition to hypoxemia seen on arterial blood gases, patients also typically have hypercarbia. Just as oxygen absorption is impaired, the damaged alveoli and vascular epithelium struggle to expel carbon dioxide, resulting in respiratory acidosis.

MANAGEMENT

The best evidence for reduction of mortality in ARDS management centers on prone positioning and mechanical ventilation, but other supportive measures such as glucocorticoids, conservative fluid management, and respiratory support with noninvasive ventilation (NIV) are widely used. If possible, treat the inciting event.

Prone positioning has recently gained the spotlight in the supportive management of patients with COVID-19, but studies demonstrating its effectiveness were published years before the pandemic began. Proning was an underused practice in many hospitals before the COVID-19 pandemic, likely because of its logistic complexity and clinicians' overall lack of experience with managing a prone patient. Early prone positioning for at least 16 consecutive hours has been proven to reduce mortality rates in patients with severe ARDS and P:F less than 150 mm Hg, and is presumed to be more effective in more severe disease.8 Prone positioning is believed to improve ventilation-perfusion matching with less gravity-dependent atelectasis, help secretions drain, and reduce ventilator-induced lung injury.8 Recent studies evaluating COVID-19 and prone positioning describe improvement in P:F for patients on noninvasive ventilation and reduced mortality for those mechanically ventilated.9,10 Complications of prone positioning include pressure ulcers, dependent edema specifically of the face, and dislodgement of endotracheal and invasive tubing.8

Although noninvasive ventilation measures such as standard nasal cannula, heated high-flow nasal cannula, and bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) may be satisfactory for management of mild disease, many patients with ARDS ultimately require mechanical ventilation. The ARDSNet protocol supports lung-protective ventilation with low tidal volumes of 6 mL/kg of ideal body weight with allowance up to 8 mL/kg if necessary, as long as plateau pressures remain less than 30 cm H 2 O. This method of mechanical ventilation has been proven to reduce mortality and increase ventilator-free days.11 Plateau pressures are measured during a held inspiration and represent the pressure seen on the alveolar level when flow resistance is absent. Maintaining peak plateau pressures below 30 cm H 2 O is important in patients with ARDS to reduce barotraumaexcessive stretching and rupture of alveoli caused by high pressure gradients between the alveoli and interstitial space. ARDSNet also created PEEP-to-FiO 2 guidelines as part of its ventilator protocol.12

These ventilation goals can be achieved with either pressure control or volume control modes. Pressure control uses variable tidal volume to reach a set pressure. This generally is considered more lung-protective than volume control ventilation and the superior method for alveolar recruitment. On the other hand, volume-control ventilation settings apply various pressures to achieve a set tidal volume. Disadvantages to volume-control mode include higher rates of patient-ventilator dyssynchrony and theoretical inferiority of alveolar recruitment compared with pressure control. Ventilator dyssynchrony also can cause high variance in tidal volumes, plateau pressures, desaturations, and overall patient agitation.

Alternate modes of ventilation for difficult-to-oxygenate patients also have become more commonly used during the pandemic. Airway pressure-release ventilation (APRV) is a continuous bilevel pressure mode in which high pressures are held for a longer length of time, with quick releases to low pressure with the intention to maximize alveolar recruitment (Figure 2). Although some studies evaluating APRV in patients with ARDS consider this mode a suitable alterative to standard lung-protective ventilation, the data are quite variable and few studies compare APRV directly to low tidal volume ventilation.13 APRV also requires its own knowledge and skill set. For this reason, clinicians who are less familiar with APRV may be less inclined to use this setting. Ultimately, APRV generally is used as a mode for patients with hypoxemia refractory to standard low tidal volume ventilation.

FIGURE 2.: APRV waveformReprinted with permission from Frawley PM, Habashi NM. Airway pressure release ventilation: theory and practice. AACN Clin Issues. 2001;12(2):234-246.

High-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) uses an oscillator pump to deliver very high respiratory rates with tidal volumes lower than anatomical dead space to provide a constant mean airway pressure. Figure 3 demonstrates the waveform of HFOV compared with conventional ventilation. However, summary of the evidence in HFOV for ARDS recommends against routine use of this mode of ventilation because of lack of reduction and possible increase in hospital mortality.14 Anecdotally, HFOV has been used during the COVID-19 pandemic as a last-ditch, salvage method of ventilation for patients with refractory hypoxemia.

FIGURE 3.: HFOV waveform compared with conventional ventilation waveformReprinted with permission from Chan KPW, Stewart TE, Mehta S. High-frequency oscillatory ventilation for adult patients with ARDS . Chest J. 2007;131(6):1907-1916

Sedation and analgesia are essential for patients on mechanical ventilation, to maintain ventilator compliance and reduce oxygen consumption. Some patients also may need neuromuscular blockade to induce paralysis and improve oxygenation.15 However, sedation, analgesia, and neuromuscular blockade should be used with caution.

Additional supportive measures such as the use of corticosteroids generally is reserved for patients with moderate to severe ARDS who are early in the disease course and need oxygen support.16 Dexamethasone is reserved for patients with ARDS who require oxygen supplementation because no clinical benefit has been found in patients who were not on respiratory support.17 The main complication of corticosteroid use in patients with ARDS is hyperglycemia, which combined with hyperglycemia of critical illness commonly seen in patients in the ICU may be profound.

Fluid management is of high importance in the management of ARDS due to the propensity for patients to develop pulmonary edema. Conservative fluid management with diuretics and restricted fluid intake has been shown to reduce number of patient days on the ventilator and in the ICU.18 Controversy continues about the possible detrimental effects of conservative fluid management on end-organ failure in patients with ARDS, particularly its toll on kidney function. However, current evidence demonstrates that conservative fluid management does not increase the rate of acute kidney injury and does not increase mortality when serum creatinine is adjusted for fluid status.19

For patients who still fail to oxygenate or ventilate on traditional supportive measures for ARDS, maximum lung support can be achieved with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Venous-venous ECMO is used to bypass the lungs and is reserved for patients with severe, refractory ARDS who have not responded to standard supportive therapies. Current evidence indicates that early use of ECMO for patients with severe ARDS decreases 90-day mortality compared with conventional ventilatory support.20 The only absolute contraindication to ECMO support is preexisting conditions that are incompatible with meaningful recovery, such as anoxia or other types or irreversible organ failure, that limit survival. Potential major complications include bleeding and thromboembolism. ECMO is resource-intensive and not available in all hospitals. Ultimately, the decision to cannulate a patient for ECMO is up to the clinician, with careful consideration of the patient's condition and possible outcomes.

PREVENTION

As research in ARDS management advances, the focus now includes prevention and early treatment. The PETAL Network (Prevention and Early Detection of Acute Lung Injury) was created in 2016 by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. This network contributes to the development of evidence-based knowledge of ARDS prevention and early treatment by creating and conducting randomized controlled studies. Active studies are evaluating the early use of neuromuscular blockading agents and the use of vitamin D on patient outcomes. In 2020, the PETAL Network has transitioned its efforts entirely to COVID-19 research, evaluating hydroxychloroquine and collecting comprehensive retrospective and prospective data on hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

CONCLUSION

ARDS makes up a significant portion of ICU admissions with increasing incidence as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Despite extensive research, mortality still remains high; therefore, prompt recognition by clinicians is vital. Diagnosis of ARDS may be hidden beneath the inciting event, precipitating its cause and can present similarly to a multitude of other diseases, so it must always be on the differential for patients with hypoxemia.
Jim Jasa intentionally blew up his own house to kill himself and his wife, Jeanne Jasa, on Aug. 14, 2017, in an explosion that shook the city and rained debris across southeast Lincoln, Police Chief Jeff Bliemeister said Oct. 11, 2018.

The chief described the case as a murder-suicide  a conclusion that followed 13 months of work by investigators from multiple agencies  but he didn't release further details on their findings, citing an ongoing tort claim against the city filed by Jeanne Jasa's children.

"We express our deepest condolences to the Jasa family," Bliemeister told reporters during a morning news conference.

The natural gas explosion on Aug. 14, 2017, fatally wounded the couple, obliterated the Jasas' home at 5601 S. 78th St., damaged 33 other homes and led to a prolonged police and fire investigation into its cause.

Investigators quickly ruled out problems with gas delivery or other issues on the part of natural gas provider Black Hills Energy, and instead focused on the Jasas themselves, who were the only two people inside when the explosion happened.

Evidence was analyzed at a federal fire investigation laboratory in Maryland, and other outside experts were consulted.

Still, precisely how police reached their conclusion remains unclear.

The Jasas' two adult children were given an overview of the case and an invitation to discuss it in further detail, said Omaha attorney Brian Jorde, who represents daughter Amy Roche, the personal representative for Jeanne Jasa's estate.

"I didnt hear anything that jumped out at me that really changed my opinion," Jorde said in an interview Oct. 11, 2018.

He declined to detail the evidence police cited, saying he wanted to respect the process as police have agreed to limit what they're sharing.

But he pointed to why he still had questions about the incident.

Neither of the Jasas could be interviewed by police before they died, Jorde said.

The explosion destroyed the home but also much of the evidence, he said, and he's not sure why two months after the death certificates were issued listing the manner of death as undetermined there was now a change.

"We're going to sit down and get all the information," he said.

The Journal Star submitted public records requests Oct. 11, 2018, for the case file and related investigative reports, since the case is now closed. Those requests are still under consideration.

As police notified the Jasas' family, they also knocked on doors in the neighborhood to inform residents affected by the blast about the case's conclusion.

"They deserved to know what our investigation found, Bliemeister said.

The home south of the Jasas was razed because of the damage. Four other homes had damage so significant the residents were displaced for several months.

But neighbors contacted by police Oct. 10, 2018, told the Journal Star they weren't given any details about the murder-suicide determination.

"I tried to press him a little bit," Kelly Beatty said of the investigator who dropped by his house Wednesday. "And he said, 'Well I cant go into that.'"

The investigation moved along quietly, with few updates beyond news of the Jasas' deaths.

Jeanne Jasa, 66, died 15 days after the explosion, on Aug. 29, 2017. Her husband, 67, died May 2, 2018.

On Sept. 24, 2018, the agencies involved met to conduct a final review of the case, the chief said.

Their review of the evidence and timeline concluded Jim Jasa intended to kill himself in the blast, Bliemeister said.

Nothing has surfaced that would suggest that (Jeanne) had any knowledge of this preceding that day in August," the chief said at a news conference.

Lancaster County Attorney Pat Condon, who serves as the coroner, said the death certificates were issued first with an undetermined manner of death for both of the Jasas so they could be finalized to be used in estate matters, and the decision to change them came after further investigation.

Bill Moody, the city's chief fire investigator, said a review of the house's gas records didn't show any concerning trends or give him any indication the usage should have been more closely monitored.

The explosion's size indicates the gas that caused the blast, which has a chemical marker that smells like rotten eggs, had been leaking for hours, Moody has said.

In this particular case it just pretty much disintegrated the entire structure, Moody said Oct. 11, 2018.

The Jasas, who married in 1972, bought the one-story home in 1997.

Jeanne Jasa worked for more than 20 years in Lincoln Public Schools' behavioral skills program before retiring in 2013 to spend more time with her grandchildren, her friends said last year.

Jim "Jimmy" Jasa was a retired foreman with Burlington Northern Railroad.

The tort claim filed by Jeanne Jasa's children accuses the city, Lancaster County and Black Hills of negligently causing her death.

At the time, Jorde said the absence of criminal charges against anyone in the case "leads us to believe the city/county does not believe this explosion was anything other than a terrible accident that never should have occurred."

The claim seeks at least $2 million in damages for Jeanne Jasa's pain and suffering, at least $2 million for her wrongful death and at least $75,000 for her medical bills.

On Oct. 15, 2018, the Jasas' children dropped their claims faulting the city of Lincoln, Lancaster County and Black Hills Energy for the August 2017 house explosion that killed their parents.

Words don't really exist to adequately describe what the Jasas' children have experienced in the last year, the attorney said.

They're grieving over their loss, he said, "and now have this kind of cloud hanging over it."

Six years ago: Explosion levels house in southeast Lincoln, killing two
Police arrested two men Saturday in connection to the death of a 23-year-old Lincoln man, who was found dead in his west Lincoln home Saturday afternoon in what police suspect was a fentanyl overdose.

Trey Hollamon was found dead at about 12:30 p.m. Saturday in his bedroom near Northwest 48th and West Holdrege streets, Lincoln Police Investigator Jay Denzin said in court filings Monday.

Investigators found a rolled-up $2 bill in Hollamon's bedroom with blue powder residue on it, leading police to believe the 23-year-old died from a fentanyl overdose, Denzin wrote in the court filings.

The investigation into the Hollamon's death quickly led the Lincoln-Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force to a bowling alley near 48th and Holdrege streets  miles away from the overdose victim's house  where officers found two men who allegedly played a role in selling Hollamon the drug thought to have killed him, Denzin wrote.

Investigators arrested 23-year-old Aidan Glenn and 30-year-old Michael Smith after holding the pair at gunpoint in the bowling alley parking lot at around 10:15 p.m. Saturday, Denzin wrote.

Police believe Glenn purchased fentanyl pills from Smith on Friday before reselling a pill to Hollamon, according to the probable cause statement for Smith's arrest.

When investigators apprehended both men Saturday night, they found two fentanyl pills in Glenn's Ford Focus, Denzin wrote in the probable cause statement.

Smith, meanwhile, had another 45 fentanyl pills and a bottle of promethazine syrup in his Kia Optima, Denzin wrote. He also had $3,782 in cash on his person, Denzin wrote.

In an interview with police, Smith denied having any involvement with the drugs.

Police arrested Glenn on suspicion of possession with intent to deliver a hazardous drug. Smith was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to deliver a hazardous drug and possession of money while violating a drug law.

Investigators also arrested a 21-year-old woman who had gone to the bowling alley with Glenn, according to court filings.

She allegedly possessed a piece of foil with a partially burned fentanyl pill inside and a small bag of cocaine, Denzin wrote. The Journal Star generally does not identify defendants accused only of drug possession.

Police took all three to the Lancaster County Jail. Glenn and Smith remained in jail as of Monday morning, according to booking records.

Judge Thomas Zimmerman set Glenn's and Smith's percentage bonds at $500,000 amid their initial court appearances Monday afternoon. Both men must pay $50,000 to be released from jail on bond.

Fentanyl, a powerful opioid thought to be among the leading killers of Americans ages 1-45 in 2021, was tied to at least 19 overdose deaths in Lincoln in 2021, according to city data.

Narcan, a drug that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, can be purchased and deployed by anyone and is available for free at numerous area pharmacies, a list of which is published at stopodne.com.

Most dangerous cities in Nebraska Dangerous Cities in Nebraska 6. South Sioux City 5. Scottsbluff 4. North Platte 3. Lincoln 2. Grand Island 1. Omaha A note about the numbers
Investigators with the Lincoln Police Department last week seized THC products for testing from five local dispensaries that previously failed compliance tests, police officials said, in a crackdown replicated in other parts of the state on an ambiguous market that operates, in part, within a legal loophole.

The dispensaries  The Cannabis Factory, Kind Life Dispensary and three 50 Shades of Green locations  offer various THC products, including Delta-8, a federally legal hemp-derived cannabinoid that has been sold in the city for more than two years.

Though marijuana remains illegal in Nebraska even for medical use, a provision in the 2018 Farm Bill federally legalized the regulated production of hemp. The law requires that the plant contain no more than 0.3% of Delta-9 THC, but no limits were placed on the hundreds of other cannabinoids present in hemp, including Delta 8, essentially creating a loophole for businesses to sell it.

Lincoln police investigators performed "spot checks" on 10 local dispensaries in January, February and March in response to resident concerns over advertisements that suggested the stores were selling illegal-grade THC products, said Erika Thomas, a spokeswoman for LPD.

Five of the 10 dispensaries were found to be selling THC products that weren't compliant with the state statute, Thomas said.

Lincoln-Lancaster County Narcotics investigators in June performed follow-up spot checks, which yielded the same results, prompting the unit to serve search warrants on the five stores Aug. 7, Thomas said.

Investigators seized plant materials, edibles, drug paraphernalia and financial records as part of the department's probe into the stores, Thomas said. The warrants themselves haven't yet been made public, according to District Court records.

Though Thomas insisted that the Police Department's raid of the local dispensaries came in response to concerns raised by Lincoln residents, their seizure of THC products is part of a statewide crackdown of such shops that spilled into public light Monday.

In Sarpy County, investigators in recent months purchased THC products from Cannabis Factory stores in Gretna and Bellevue and a 50 Shades of Green store in Papillion, Sheriff Jeffrey Davis said in a news release Monday.

"Most products tested were above 5% THC and some items tested 15% THC," said Davis, who noted that the legal limit is less than .5%.

Davis said his office worked with six other law enforcement agencies across Southeast Nebraska during their investigation into the stores, including the Nebraska Attorney General's Office, the State Patrol, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office and police departments in Lincoln, Omaha, Papillion, Bellevue.

"The number one issue that all of us agree on is consumer protection," Davis said, noting that the Attorney General's Office would ultimately determine if any criminal charges will be filed in the Sarpy County cases.

The Cannabis Factory and 50 Shades of Green are both based in Omaha, where police officials deferred questions on the cross-jurisdictional investigation to the Attorney General's Office.

A spokeswoman for Attorney General Mike Hilgers said Monday the office does "not confirm or deny the existence of investigations," declining further comment.

In Lincoln, all five stores that were subjected to the warrants remain open. The locations raided by police were: The Cannabis Factory at 122 S. Antelope Valley Parkway, Kind Life Delta-8 THC Dispensary at 2525 Pine Lake Road and three 50 Shades of Green storefronts at 330 N. 48th St., 1903 O St. and 1010 South St.

Police haven't cited or arrested any of the stores' operators, Thomas said. It's unclear what legal ramifications they might face.

Asked if customers of the shops who might have unknowingly purchased illegal THC could be prosecuted, Thomas said "anyone in possession of a controlled substance could be subject to prosecution," deferring further questions to prosecutors.

Thomas said there are at least 75 smoke and vape shops operating in Lincoln and police plan to perform similar spot checks on additional stores in the coming weeks.

In a joint statement, Lyle Wheeler and Tiffany Thompson, counsel for Omaha-based 50 Shades of Green, said the business is cooperating with law enforcement and "has not been made aware of any particular product that is illegal or in violation" of state law.

And, the attorneys said, 50 Shades of Green voluntarily submitted a sample of each of its products for testing to an independent lab.

"To date, there have been no indications of any violations under the re-testing," the attorneys said. "Again, 50 Shades is making every effort to maintain the trust of its customers and the safety of the community. Our client welcomes discussion on further regulation and legislation."

The Cannabis Factory, an Omaha-based LLC that operates nine dispensaries across Nebraska, sells Delta 8 THC, Delta 10 THC and THCP, which the business' website describes as "a cannabinoid with more than 30 times the potency of conventional Delta 9 THC from marijuana."

An administrative assistant at The Cannabis Factory, who declined to provide her name, said Friday police hadn't zeroed in on any particular product the chain offers, instead seizing various products for testing.

The employee said The Cannabis Factory receives their products from federally licensed hemp dealers who provide a certificate of authenticity with each order, ostensibly ensuring the products sold in Nebraska are compliant with federal law.

While The Cannabis Factory's location near downtown Lincoln remains open, the assistant said additional stock of the seized products was being kept off the shelves as the Police Department's investigation continues.

Tom Whitmore, an Omaha-based lawyer who is listed as The Cannabis Factory's registered agent in state business records, did not return a phone call seeking comment. And Kind Life Dispensary did not return an email seeking comment.

An influx of dispensaries in Lincoln drew attention in 2021, when the sale of Delta 8 first caught fire locally as 50 Shades of Green opened up its first Lincoln location on the southeast corner of O Street and Antelope Valley Parkway.

Delta 8 had already been on the market prior to the chain's arrival, quietly sold in CBD shops around the city.

But when 50 Shades of Green set up shop here in May 2021 and sent out ads to city residents, Lincoln police were flooded with inquiries from residents confused and concerned about the newly marketed commodity, police officials said then.

At the time, police insisted they weren't concerned by the shops.

"To my knowledge, they're not doing anything illegal," Capt. Ryan Dale, the head of the Lincoln-Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force, told reporters in June 2021.

Dale said then that the narcotics unit had made contact with the business, as it does with every CBD shop in Lincoln, to develop a line of communication with the store if operators ever have questions about the legality of products.

Asked Monday if operators knew they were selling THC products that were noncompliant with state law, Thomas declined to say.

"I can't speak for the owners of these stores," she said.

Most dangerous cities in Nebraska Dangerous Cities in Nebraska 6. South Sioux City 5. Scottsbluff 4. North Platte 3. Lincoln 2. Grand Island 1. Omaha A note about the numbers
One person was taken to an Omaha hospital in critical condition following a shooting Sunday afternoon.

The incident occurred at about 3:40 p.m., according to a Douglas County 911 dispatcher. Omaha police responded to the area of 42nd and D streets and located a person suffering from a gunshot wound who was taken to the Nebraska Medical Center.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact the Omaha Police Department at 402-444-5656 or anonymously contact Omaha Crime Stoppers at 402-444-STOP, at www.omahacrimestoppers.org or on the P3 Tips mobile app.

Top Journal Star photos for August 2023
Nebraskas congressional delegation appears poised to deliver hundreds of millions of dollars to the state now that four of the five members have embraced the often-criticized practice of earmarking.

Led by U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, the all-Republican delegation is on track to get more federal money for the 2024 fiscal year than the state has seen in a dozen years or more.

Fischer has lined up more than $120 million for Nebraska in her debut year on the influential Senate Appropriations Committee, which also marked the first time she has sought earmarks. The states three representatives combined for more than $82 million in House appropriations bills.

Her role has been critical in boosting the states success at getting what the Senate officially calls congressionally directed spending and the House calls community project funding.

Among her largest earmarks are $25 million for the University of Nebraska-Lincolns long-planned federal agricultural research center, $21.2 million for planning, design and construction of various buildings at Offutt Air Force Base and $12.8 million to build more four-lane miles of the Heartland Expressway in Scotts Bluff and Morrill counties.

A recent CQ Roll Call analysis found that Nebraska achieved the fifth-largest increase in dollars per capita this year, both on the House and the Senate sides.

On the House side, the state ranked fourth-highest for earmarks per capita, up from 37th last year. The analysis attributed much of the change to the GOP taking over the majority in the House, which boosted earmarking success for Republicans generally.

On the Senate side, Nebraska ranked 16th per capita, after being one of 12 states shut out of Senate earmarks last year. Neither Nebraska senator requested earmarks during 2021 and 2022.

It remains to be seen how much will wind up in the final spending bills, but earmarks from both houses typically carry through the reconciliation process after duplicates are removed.

Heath Mello, president and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, celebrated the results so far.

The Greater Omaha Chamber has long held the position that when members of Congress advocate for federal funding for city and regional priorities, we gladly partner with them to organize support for this crucial work, he said, adding that Fischers spot on the Appropriations Committee offers enormous opportunities.

Her strong leadership and skilled advocacy for congressional-directed spending gives more influence to Midwestern states like Nebraska and will have a transformational impact on Omaha and communities across our state, Mello said.

But Doug Kagan, with Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom, took a dim view of the designated spending.

Generally, our taxpayer group is against earmarks. Period. he said. Even if they are coming to Nebraska. Its taxpayer money.

Paul Landow, a longtime Democratic political operative from Omaha, said the value of earmarking often depends on who is doing the judging. Nebraskas last congressional representative to use earmarking extensively was former Sen. Ben Nelson, a Democrat whose two terms in the Senate ended in 2013.

Sen. Nelson faced partisan criticism for using congressional earmarks to bring money back to Nebraska, but now that the program has been reinstated, Sen. Fischer seeks earmarks without denunciation, Landow said.

If the earmarks are used to pay for worthy and needed projects, there is no harm because they would be funded sooner or later anyway, he said. But if the project is not essential, the earmark is a waste of taxpayer dollars.

Fischer said she began requesting earmarks this year because of her Appropriations Committee position and because she has gained confidence that new guardrails will curb past abuses. Congress banned earmarks in 2011. They were reinstated with new restrictions in 2021.

Being a member of the committee is definitely a benefit, she said. Nebraskas at the table. Ive fought to ensure that funding comes back home to Nebraska and contributes to important work.

Former Sen. Ben Sasse opposed the practice and was one of 15 GOP senators who signed a 2021 letter vowing they would not participate in an inherently wasteful spending practice that is prone to serious abuse. In a statement at the time, he criticized the swamp politics of earmarks that feed the nations addiction to debt.

His successor, Sen. Pete Ricketts, has taken a similar position. Ricketts was appointed to the Senate in January after Sasse resigned to become president of the University of Florida system.

Washington spending is out of control. I wont be seeking earmarks until I feel government spending is under control, he said, pointing to his record of holding state spending increases to an average of 2.8% while he was governor.

In the past, congressional earmarking sometimes led to more than just extra government spending. Multiple lawmakers served prison sentences for bribery and kickbacks before earmarking was banned.

The practice was reinstated after many argued that the ban merely gave the power of the purse to party leaders and the executive branch and offered lawmakers less incentive to work across party lines.

New rules seek to prevent the past problems. Those include requirements to post requests on each members website before a vote and to identify the entity that would receive the money. For-profit entities cannot get earmarks and members have to certify that they and their families have no financial interest in projects.

Major earmarks for Nebraska Here are some major earmarks secured by Nebraska's congressional delegation: * $25 million, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, construct ARS National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Precision Agriculture, Fischer * $12.865 million, Scotts Bluff and Morrill counties, Heartland Expressway four-lane expansion, Fischer * $10 million, Cedar and Knox counties, construct rural water project, Fischer * $8.5 million, Jefferson County, PWF road safety and rehabilitation, Smith * $7 million, Offutt Air Force Base, build and replace vehicle search area, Fischer * $7 million, Eppley Airfield, federal inspection services facility, Bacon * $7 million, Omaha, Burt Street project, Bacon * $7 million, North Platte Airport, passenger terminal replacement, Fischer * $6.57 million, Ogallala Airport runway reconstruction, Fischer * $5.4 million, Gage County, Gage County road projects, Smith * $5 million, Offutt AFB, plan and design a new laboratory for the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Fischer * $5 million, Offutt AFB, plan and design a base operations/mobility center, Fischer * $4.95 million, Kearney Regional Airport terminal apron rehabilitation, Fischer * $4.4 million, Lincoln, Downtown corridors project, Flood * $4.169 million, Omaha, North 24th Street Business Improvement District light project, Bacon * $4 million, Lancaster County, Fletcher Avenue grading and resurfacing, Flood * $4 million, Metropolitan Utilities District, replace 625 lead service lines, Fischer * $3.5 million and $500,000, Omaha Police Department, enhance air support response, improve bomb response, Fischer * $3.5 million, Offutt AFB, plan and design a maintenance facility and warehouse, Fischer * $2.7 million, Offutt AFB, plan and design a logistics readiness squadron transportation facility, Fischer

Top Journal Star photos for August 2023
RACINE  The Racine Unified School District Board is expected to vote later this month on a transfer that would result in RUSD owning a park and the City of Racine owning three school buildings.

The RUSD Board during a work session last Monday discussed a property exchange that would end with Racine Unified owning Franklin Park and the City of Racine owning Janes, Red Apple and Winslow schools.

The City of Racine also would receive a parking lot near Janes Elementary and land near Julian Thomas Elementary. The land would be part of the citys plan to redevelop the Lincoln-King neighborhood.

In addition, the city would have the right of first refusal to purchase Dr. Jones Elementary, which closed earlier this year.

The RUSD Board is scheduled to consider the property exchange during its Aug. 21 meeting.

The Racine City Council voted 10-1 on July 17 to approve the transfer.

If approved by the RUSD Board, the property exchanges will be on a staggered timeline, according to the proposed transfer agreement.

The city would acquire Winslow by July 1, 2024, Red Apple by Sept. 1, 2025, and Janes and the adjacent parking lot by July 1, 2026.

Dates have not been set yet for when the city will acquire the land near Julian Thomas or for when RUSD will acquire Franklin Park.

According to Reynolds, the timeline of RUSD owning Franklin Park depends on the closing date of the property transfer.

RUSD and the city need to mutually decide on a closing date, which must occur no later than Dec. 31, 2023, according to the proposed agreement.

Under the proposed agreement, the City of Racine cannot turn the RUSD buildings into schools. For example, the city cannot sell a building to a private school district.

During the July 17 City Council meeting, Racine Mayor Cory Mason said he anticipates the city will redevelop the school buildings to have mixed-use residential capacity.

Thats the presumption, but theres no specific plans on any of the buildings just yet, Mason said.

RUSD plans to transfer ownership of the schools because they would be expensive to upgrade, maintain or demolish.

According to Peter Reynolds, RUSD chief operations officer, in terms of 2019 dollars, it would cost about $21 million to update the current Red Apple building and about $13 million to update Janes.

There would be a significant financial burden for the district to continue to retain those buildings, Reynolds said Monday. The ability to trade these with the city allows us to remove those from our budget.

RUSD students will use Janes Elementary during the upcoming school year and Red Apple Elementary for the next two school years.

The Winslow school building, 1325 Park Ave., closed in 2017.

Janes, 1425 N. Wisconsin St., was closed during the 2022-23 school year but will host Jerstad-Agerholm elementary students in 2023-24 because of renovation work at Jerstad.

Under the proposed transfer, the city would own the current Red Apple school at 914 St. Patrick St., which is scheduled to close in June 2025.

Red Apple is scheduled to expand into a K-8 school at a new location at 1012 Center St. The new building is expected to open in August 2025 and focus on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics education.

The school district wants to own Franklin Park because it is next to the future Red Apple site.

The park likely will be used for parking space, STEAM learning, recess and physical education, according to Reynolds.

Reynolds said RUSD plans to fence in Franklin Park, but community members would still be able to use the park when school is not in session.

Reynolds also said Franklin Park, which covers about 3.8 acres, might be the future site of a district-wide STEAM center.

As part of the proposed agreement, if RUSD no longer wants to own Franklin Park, it would return the park to the city.
BURLINGTON  The new owners of the St. Francis Friary have unveiled a $9.7 million plan to renovate the historic site and create a gathering place for religious followers and others wishing to retreat from the world.

The Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest said buildings on the 100-acre complex need interior renovation, heating and air-conditioning upgrades, kitchen remodeling, church organ repair or replacement, and other improvements.

With a projected cost of $9.7 million  which includes buying the property  the nonprofit Catholic group from Chicago is soliciting donations to meet its goals.

But the group also said the 90-year-old friary is structurally sound, and the buyers hope to embark on renovation work this year so that youth camps and other organized events can begin soon.

The institute said its newly named Sacred Heart Retreat Center will welcome faithful friends and newcomers alike with activities possible by the end of 2024.

We need a property where people will immediately find themselves at home, the group said in an announcement posted to its website. The announcement described providing a framework for people wishing to retreat from the world for a time.

The detailed plans for the former St. Francis Friary, 2457 Browns Lake Drive, are stirring excitement among members of the Catholic community in the area.

Karen Ann Mahoney of Kenosha recalled growing up in Burlington and visiting the friary for prayers, festivals and other activities.

The new Sacred Heart Retreat Center likely will draw followers throughout the Midwest and become a tourist attraction that will benefit the Burlington community, Mahoney said.

I think itll be a wonderful hub for Catholics in the area, she said. I love it.

Leslie Hazinski of Beach Park, Illinois, said she, too, is happy to see the buyers making plans to reuse the friary as place of religious worship.

Hazinski said she has visited the site and probably will return to see the new retreat center.

Its good that they can keep it going, she said. I think its probably going to help us be better Catholics.

The friary was built in 1931 by a Polish Catholic order of friars who moved from Pulaski, near Green Bay. A friary is similar to a monastery, except that monks generally live a reclusive lifestyle, while friars tend to be more outwardly engaged in a community.

The friary grew in popularity as a venue for weddings and other events, but as the friars aged, they found it difficult to maintain the grounds and decided to sell 146-acre property.

The friary is on the National Register of Historic Places.

In early 2022, Kenosha-based Bear Real Estate announced plans to purchase the site and redevelop it with a mix of residential and commercial development. Bear Real Estate, however, decided instead to resell the property for $3.5 million to the Institute of Christ the King.

The institute completed its purchase of about 100 acres in May, leaving 15 acres for the friars to maintain a place of residence and another parcel retained by Bear Real Estate.

Officials with the institute could not be reached for comment about their renovation plans.

Burlington city officials said they have not seen any permit applications or proposals from the new property owners.

But in the announcement, institute leaders laid out detailed descriptions of the work they intend to perform  and the costs  to transform the site into the Sacred Heart Retreat Center.

The work is planned in three phases.

The first phase, which is expected to cost $900,000, includes remodeling a commercial kitchen, updating floors and windows, and taking other steps to create an immediately functional space for visitors and volunteers.

The second phase, which is expected to cost $3.8 million and is planned for 2024, includes updating heating and air-conditioning, renovating bathrooms, and renovating and refurnishing the main friary building.

The third phase, which is expected to cost $5 million, includes restoring the main chapel, renovating an auditorium, repaving the driveway and parking lots, and paying off the final $2.8 million in mortgage and startup loans for the property purchase.

We have a mind to accomplish this task, and we firmly believe that people around the nation will see the great value of this mission, the announcement stated. It is with a spirit of courage and trust in divine providence that we are moving forward.

Burlington's St. Francis Friary history, in photos St. Francis Friary St. Francis Friary in Burlington 146-acre complex may be redeveloped 2000 Balloons for Franciscans Running at the friary Running at the friary Grotto at St. Francis Grotto at St. Francis A clown pastor Mass at the friary Katrina evacuees find refuge at St. Francis Friary in Burlington Katrina evacuees find refuge at St. Francis Friary in Burlington Katrina evacuees find refuge at St. Francis Friary in Burlington Katrina evacuees find refuge at St. Francis Friary in Burlington Katrina evacuees find refuge at St. Francis Friary in Burlington Katrina evacuees find refuge at St. Francis Friary in Burlington Katrina evacuees find refuge at St. Francis Friary in Burlington Rev. Jerry Zawada A Franciscan crafter Supporting St. Francis 2002 2011
1. Yes. As long as the basic ordinance is still intact, its smart to adjust to the local market.

2. Yes. If part of the ordinance isnt workable, it doesnt make sense to force the issue.

3. No. City staff worked hard on those design standards; its not fair to scrap them now.

4. No. Developers and builders shouldnt get to set their own rules. Keep the standards intact.

5. Unsure. Its best if the city and developers work together, but the city has the last word.

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The Sister Cities Association of Kenosha and the City of Wolfenbuttel, will mark their 53rd anniversary this week with a visit of the international exchange group from Germany.

Representatives of Kenoshas sister city will arrive Wednesday for a week-long visit, tours and exchanges with the community.

Wolfenbuttel, Germany, has been a sister city of Kenosha since 1970 when it write a letter to the city asking if it wanted to unite. In honor of the relationship, Kenosha created Wolfenbuttel Park along the lakefront south of Downtown.

Over years of exchanges between Kenosha and the City of Wolfenbuttel both cities have come to form a deeper understanding of each other and formed many lasting friendships, according to the Sister Cities Association of Kenosha.

This years visit will be from Aug. 16-23 and will celebrate the two cities 53rd anniversary. There was a planned exchange with citizens of Wolfenbuttel in 2020 to celebrate the 50th anniversary but it was postponed due to the pandemic.

The groups itinerary for their Kenosha visit is filled with a number of highlights, including a welcome reception Wednesday evening at the Kenosha Public Museum; walking tours, attending the HarborPark Jazz Rhythm & Blues fest on Saturday, and a day in Chicago on Monday. A series of tours include a lighthouse visit, Gateway Technical College, Ukes Harley-Davidson, Library Park, a Kenosha fire station, the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha, Simmons Field, the Kenosha Velodrome, Washington Bowl, the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and Carthage College.

A farewell/celebration dinner will be held Tuesday, Aug. 22, at Carthage College.

To learn about joining the Sister Cities Association of Kenosha, email kenoshasistercities@gmail.com or message the group on Facebook www.facebook.com/KenoshaSisterCities. Annual dues are $10 per person.
RACINE  State artists age 18 and older can participate in the upcoming Watercolor Wisconsin 2023 competition at Racine Art Museum.

The juried, statewide event offers the chance for artists to exhibit in an accredited museum.

Watercolor Wisconsin 2023 runs Dec. 13 to Aug. 13, 2024, at the museums Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts.

Organized by the museum since 1966, Watercolor Wisconsin honors the depth and breadth of watercolor in the state.

There is an entry fee of $35, which is waived for anyone with a current museum membership.

Digital image entries and shipments of physical work to RAM, 441 Main St., Racine, must be received by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 27.

In-person delivery of entries will take place at Wustum, 2519 Northwestern Ave., Racine, on Friday, Sept. 29, and Saturday, Sept. 30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Jurors for this years exhibition are Allison Peters Quinn and Beth Shadur.

Quinn is a curator and writer based in Chicago where she is the director of exhibitions and residency program at Hyde Park Art Center. Her work over the past 10 years has focused on projects that address intersections between art, public space, and civically minded practices. Quinn held the International Curator Residency at Fire Station Artists Studios in Dublin and is the recipient of a Ramapo College Curatorial Prize.

Shadur is an artist who has exhibited nationally and internationally in solo and group exhibitions. She has created over 150 murals as public, private, and community art projects in both the United States and Great Britain. Since 2012, Shadur has served as the gallery director at Prairie State College in Chicago Heights, Illinois. She also serves on the board of trustees of the Illinois State Museum and the Board of the National Watercolor Honor Society.

Online entry and a downloadable exhibition prospectus are available at ramart.org.

From Bernie's mittens to a Martian encounter to Frida Kahlo, a preview of the RAM's 2021 Peeps exhibition Funhouse Kew Peeps Tribute to Wayne Thiebaud Topeepary Garden Peepseveranceor the Evidence of the Little Green Man Dancing With My Peep Peeping Kahlo Peeps Among Posies Greetings from Racine Robert Indiana Loves Peeps In the Style of Romare Bearden Peeped Peeanos PEEP THE BERN RBG: Rest in PEACE, POWER, & PEEPS
Australian, Russian Professors Warn New Japan-Australia Defense Pact Brings the Region Closer to War

Aug. 13, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)The Japan-Australia Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) was signed in January 2022 in order to strengthen deterrence against China, according to a document released by the Japanese Ministry of Defense, DEFENSE of JAPAN 2023. The RAA went into effect on Aug. 13, 2023.

The defense document has an introduction by Japanese Defense Minister Hamada Yasukazu, who writes:

China is rapidly enhancing its military capability qualitatively and quantitatively, including nuclear and missile forces, while continuing and amplifying its unilateral changes to the status quo by force and such attempts in the East China Sea and the South China Sea.... Chinas current external stance, military activities, and other activities have become a matter of serious concern for Japan and the international community, and present an unprecedented and the greatest strategic challenge.

Professor Joseph Siracusa, at Curtin University in Perth, Australia told Sputnik Sunday, Aug. 13:

The agreement looks forward to deepening defense cooperation, intelligence sharing, economic security cooperation, climate and energy security. But its not designed to replace the Japanese-American mutual military alliance or the Australian ANZUS treatythis sort of supplementarythey call them here minilateralismsbut it is just bilateral agreements that reinforce the deepening ties.... What America is trying to do is get everybody in this part of the world to choose between Beijing and Washington, said Siracusa. When it comes to Tokyo and Canberra theres no discussion. Theres going to be no discussion. If there were a war Monday morning, [theyd] both be inthats the end of the discussion.... Its literally a devolution of sovereignty to a doctrine or some other place. You know, Australia is literally one step away from joining NATO. They could become a member of NATO tomorrow, but God knows what NATOs doing in this part of the world. It suggests profound changes,

concluded Siracusa.

Professor Siracusa is the Dean of Global Futures at Curtin University, and a political commentator. Some of his recent postings include,

Biden Never Even Tried To Prevent the Most Avoidable War in History; Existential Threat Posed to our lives by Nuclear Weapons Is as Real Now as It Was When Oppenheimer Built the Bomb, and Joe Biden Is Making a Deadly Mistake by Shrugging Off Putins Threat To Break the Nuclear Stalemate That Has Prevailed Since Hiroshima.

His warnings were echoed by Igor Istomin, lead research fellow at the Center for Advanced American Studies, at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO):

Historically, the United States has built its policy in the region on the basis of the so-called wheel and spoke concept. It meant that the United States was a center around which bilateral alliances were built: a separate alliance with Japan, a separate alliance with South Korea, a separate alliance with Australia and New Zealand, and a number of others.

Istomin also remarked,

And now it is clear that as China rises, the U.S. does not have enough resources and therefore it is encouraging the development of ties between these spokes in the wheel. These countries also understand that the United States will not be able to help them all and not to the extent they would like in the event of a conflict, so they build these agreements,

Sputnik reported,
EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR MONDAY AUGUST 14, 2023

Building Two Opposing Blocs Will Only Lead to War

Aug. 13, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)The world is observing two diametrically opposite approaches to preparing the next era of mankind. The failed colonial and neo-colonial system is frantically trying to preserve the unipolar world under U.S.-U.K. leadership, through provoking wars wherever possible, while the BRICS countries and the overwhelming majority of nations in the Global South are preparing to end colonialism once and for all, while building a new era of cooperation in scientific and industrial development of all nations.

With the Ukrainian counter-offensive now widely acknowledged as having been a colossal and bloody failure, the Biden response is to prepare for $21 billion more in military hardware and financial support for Ukraine, to keep the slaughter going at all costs. Zelenskyy has just fired all his recruitment officers for running a massive scheme to sell fake medical exceptions, to paying customers of course, to escape being drafted. But still the bloodletting goes on.

Russia has now returned to the offense, closing in on a key city in the Kharkiv region. Meanwhile, Aleksandr Lukashenko, the President of Belarus, has moved to restore diplomatic relations with Poland, insisting that they are neighbors and fellow Slavs, despite Polands threat to move 10,000 troops to the Belarus border.

A similar failure of the imperial war drive is occurring in Africa. The Niger coup, described across the West as a dirty military attack against democracy, is seen in most of Africa for what it really isa further expression of the mounting rejection of the colonial powers and colonialism itself. Niger is the fourth Francophone countryMali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Nigerto overthrow puppet regimes under the control of NATO powers and ordering the removal of French colonial troops in their countries. Even the deployment of U.S. heavy hitters Tony Blinken and Victoria Nuland to Niger, with threats of military action to restore the deposed government, had no effect in weakening the anti-colonial resolve. The effort to coerce ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) into taking military action has (thus far) failed, with both political and social forces rejecting war.

This is not ideological, not democracy vs autocracy as Joe Biden likes to say, but rather it is development and sovereignty vs colonialist domination. As part of the Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg last month, with 49 African nations represented, a session titled Nuclear Technologies for the Development of the African Continent unanimously agreed that the continent has a better option in nuclear energy to light up Africa, and that the continent needs regional cooperation to pursue aggressive reformation of their different power sectors with nuclear energy.

The African leaders recall that in a 2018 BRICS meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin promised that Russia would light up Africa by providing electricity, not from oil and gas, but through helping African nations to build nuclear power plants.

The case of Niger is exemplary: While the country is one of the worlds leading suppliers of uranium for nuclear power plants around the world, more than 80% of the Niger population has no electricity, and of course no nuclear power plants of its own!

Asia is also experiencing the two opposite approaches to the creation of a future paradigm. Japan and Australia, both backed by Washington, launched a new Reciprocal Access Agreement today, which was originally signed in January 2022, in order to strengthen deterrence against China, according to a document released by the Japanese Ministry of Defense.

The U.S. is also doing all in its power to disrupt the unity of the 10 nations of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asia Nations) through their successful inducement of Philippines President Marcos Jr. to pick a fight with China over disputed islands in the South China Sea, while Marcos is also allowing the U.S. to build four new U.S. marine bases on the northern coast, across from China.

But China is not countering this U.S. militarism with its own militarism (despite the media-hyped claim in the West that Chinas aggression in the region is the cause of U.S. anti-China hysteria), but rather through development, through the Belt and Road Initiative. Foreign Minister Wang Yi completed today a four-day visit to three ASEAN countries, Singapore, Thailand and Cambodia, where Chinese investments in railroads, roads, ports and industrial development were the primary topics of interest, along with diplomatic efforts to reach a Code of Conduct to establish peace and cooperation in the South China Sea.

The once-almighty colonialist forces are now on the defensive, as the Western economies are falling into de-industrial decline, while the BRICS nations are growing and taking their success story to the nations of the Global South. The BRICS Summit coming up in South Africa from Aug. 22-24, will be considering three crucial topics: how to deal with the 23 nations that have applied to join the grouping; the establishment of a non-dollar financial system for world trade; and the industrialization of Africa. The vast majority of the worlds countries and populations are looking to the BRICS, not to the City of London or Wall Street, for their future.

Nonetheless, despite this bright potential, the dying dinosaur of the former colonial powers is not yet willing to confront the truth that the 500-year colonial era no longer exists. Some of the aging and deranged leaders of these failed states would rather risk nuclear war, and its likely annihilation of the human race, than acknowledge this new reality.

Bringing the emerging International Peace Coalition launched by Helga Zepp-LaRoouche and the Schiller Institute together with the revolutionary ferment in the Global South is the necessary means of preventing such a tragedy, and creating a new architecture for security and development of all nations.
Scientists have discovered fossils that might have belonged to the heaviest animal in Earths history.

The blue whale holds the current record as the largest creature to live on Earth. But a collection of bones found in Peru might break that record.

Researchers recently introduced the whale species in a study in the publication Nature. It is called Perucetus colossus, or the colossal whale from Peru. Each back bone, or vertebra, weighs more than 100 kilograms. The animals ribs measure nearly 1.4 meters long.

Mario Urbina discovered the bones in 2012. He is with the University of San Marcos Natural History Museum in Lima. An international team spent years digging them out from the side of a rocky hill in the Ica desert.

The area was once underwater and is known for its rich collection of ocean fossils. The find resulted in 13 backbone vertebrae, four ribs and a hip bone. The large fossils date back to around 39 million years ago.

Alberto Collareta is a paleontologist at Italy's University of Pisa. He was a lead writer of the study. He told The Associated Press the fossils were unlike anything Ive ever seen.

Hans Thewissen is a paleontologist at Northeast Ohio Medical University who did not take part in the research. He said, Its just exciting to see such a giant animal thats so different from anything we know."

After the digging operation, the researchers used 3D scanners to study the surface of the bones and also looked inside. The researchers used the huge but incomplete skeleton to estimate the whale's size and weight, said Eli Amson. He is a paleontologist at the State Museum of Natural History in Stuttgart, Germany.

The team estimates the ancient creature weighed somewhere between 85 and 340 metric tons. The biggest blue whales found have been within that range, at about 180 metric tons.

The body of Perucetus colossus stretched about 20 meters long. Blue whales can be longer, with some growing to more than 30 meters. This means the newly discovered whale was "possibly the heaviest animal ever, said the University of Pisas Collareta. But, he added, it was most likely not the longest animal ever.

The research team said one reason the animal weighs more is because its bones are much denser and heavier than a blue whales bones. Those super-dense bones suggest the whale may have spent its time in less deep, coastal waters, the scientists said. Other animals that stay close to the coast, like manatees, have heavy bones to help them stay close to the seafloor.

Amson, from the State Museum of Natural History in Germany, said that without the skull, it is hard to know what the whale was eating to support such a huge body. It is possible that the large creature sought food along the seafloor, the researchers said. Or it could have eaten up tons of smaller sea life in the ocean.

Thewissen added that he would not be surprised if this thing actually fed in a totally different way that we would never imagine.

Im Bryan Lynn.

The Associated Press, Reuters and Nature reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English.

Quiz - Ancient Whale May Be Heaviest Animal Ever Found Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

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Words in This Story

fossil  n. something (such as a leaf, skeleton, or footprint) from a plant or animal that lived in ancient times and that you can see in old rocks

species  n. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants

colossal  adj. very large

paleontologist  n. a person who studies fossil animals and plants

giant  adj. extremely big

scanner  n. a device that images things to see what is inside

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Several organizations are racing to save the reef that runs along the Florida Keys.

A summer heat wave has already led to historic coral bleaching. Coral bleaching is the process by which coral becomes white because of high water temperatures or pollution.

Up and down the islands that form the Florida Keys, coral rescue groups, universities and the government are working to save the coral. Experts say the bleaching event threatens the health of the third-largest reef area in the world. They have been working long days for many weeks to get as much coral as they can onto land.

In mid-July, water surface temperatures averaged 33 degrees Celsius off the lower Florida Keys. That is well above the average of 29.5 degrees, says the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA.

The hot water resulted in nearly 100 percent bleaching along some parts of the reef. The bleaching caused the corals to lose their zooxanthellae. That is the algae that gives them color and nutrition. If they do not recover their zooxanthellae, they will die.

Were already seeing not just bleaching, but actual coral death out on the reef because the temperatures were so hot, said Cynthia Lewis. She is director of the Keys Marine Lab, a research institute on the island of Long Key, about 160 kilometers south of Miami.

In Miami, rescue groups have already brought more than 1,500 pieces of coral.

Coral bleaching happens naturally when waters warm greatly. It happened in 2016 in the Florida Keys. But Lewis said the current situation is urgent for coral, which is very important to Floridas economy, coastal protection and marine life.

Recent cloudy and rainy days helped lower water temperatures slightly. But it will likely be late October or November before the coral samples can be returned to the reef, Lewis said.

The Florida Coral Reef stretches about 563 kilometers from the Dry Tortugas in the Gulf of Mexico to St. Lucie Inlet, about 185 kilometers north of Miami.

The reef is a first line of defense against coastal erosion and flooding from storms, Lewis said. It helps support fishing and the tourism industry. Coral also contains such an amazing amount of diversity and life in the ocean around them, Lewis added.

Reef Renewal is a group that has worked to move endangered coral into land-based centers. More recently, the group has worked to save coral in several of their own underwater facilities in shallower water by moving them to deeper, cooler water.

Reef Renewal founder Ken Nedimyer called the coral bleaching hard to watch and hard to experience. He said his group knew that coral stress would increase under climate change. But he and others did not think it would happen so soon.

Back at the Keys Marine Lab on Long Key, the collected pieces of coral are put in cooling containers that hold between 40 and 400 gallons of seawater. The 29-degree water makes for much happier coral, said marine biologist Emily Becker.

The work goes beyond saving the coral. Becker and others are studying different kinds of coral to see which ones survive temperature stress and disease better. They hope to "build a better reef with more resilient corals, she said.

Scientists from the University of Miami have created a research site off of Key Biscayne to do such work.

Jamison Gove is the co-writer of a new article in Nature about how Hawaii coral reefs survived a 2015 ocean heat wave.

The oceanographer said reefs that returned best after Hawaiis heat wave were those that had both the most fish and the least sewage. But he said local efforts will not save reefs if people do not reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Im Dan Novak.

Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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Words in This Story

bleach  n. whiten by exposure to sunlight or by a chemical process.

erosion  n. the gradual destruction of something by natural forces

tourism  n. the activity of traveling to a place for pleasure

diversity  n. the quality or state of having many different forms, types, ideas, etc.

facility  n. something that is built for a specific purpose

stress  n. a state of mental tension and worry caused by problems in your life, work, etc.

resilient  adj. able to become strong, healthy, or successful again after something bad happens

sewage  n. waste material that is carried away from homes and other buildings in a system of pipes

emission  n. the act of producing or sending out something from a source
Anne Neuberger is the U.S. government's deputy national security advisor for cyber and emerging technology.

She told Reuters news agency, "Cybersecurity is a race between offense and defense." She said bad actors are already using AI to identify weaknesses in systems and to build malicious software.

A number of U.S. organizations, in healthcare, manufacturing and government, have been targets of hacking in recent years. Officials have warned about such threats, especially from foreign actors.

Canada's cybersecurity chief Sami Khoury made similar comments last month. He said his agency had seen AI being used for everything from creating phishing emails and writing malicious computer code to spreading disinformation.

The White House said the two-year competition includes around $20 million in awards. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) will lead the competition. DARPA is the U.S. government body in charge of creating technologies for national security.

The technology companies Google, Anthropic, Microsoft, and OpenAI will make their systems available for the competition, the government said.

The event signals official attempts to deal with an emerging threat that experts are still trying to fully understand. In the past year, U.S. businesses have launched a number of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT. These tools permit users to create videos, images, texts, and computer code. Chinese companies have launched similar tools.

Experts say such tools could make it far easier to carry out large hacking campaigns or create false identities on social media to spread lies and propaganda.

Neuberger said the goal of the DARPA AI competition is to build a larger community of cyber defenders who use AI to help increase Americas cyber defenses.

The Open Source Security Foundation, a group of experts trying to improve open source software security, will also be involved in the competition. It will make sure the "winning software code is put to use right away," the U.S. government said.

Im John Russell.

Zeba Siddiqui reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English.

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Words in This Story

infrastructure  n. the basic equipment and structures that are needed for a country function properly malicious  adj. having or showing a desire to cause harm to another person

hack  v. the act of secretly getting access to a computer system in order to get information, cause damage, etc.
COZAD  If you make your way by Cozad High School and the Cozad Elementary, you will notice immense progress happening at both facilities.

While construction is still in progress, some updates will be completed this fall.

Ground was broken in October 2022 at Cozad High School and Cozad Elementary School for building updates. A $26 million bond issue for the district updates was passed in March 2022.

The high school and elementary school received new roofing and HVAC systems as well as fire sprinklers and lighting.

Secure entrances for both schools were added to improve safety for students and staff.

Cozad High School added a new gymnasium and locker rooms on the west side of the existing building. District offices are being added to the south of the new gym.

Two classrooms added to the south of the building will be used for science and art.

Additional updates to the high school are for the teachers lounge and bathrooms.

The elementary school added four new kindergarten classrooms and a preschool to the east side of the existing building.

Internally, the whole school received new flooring as well as changes to the library and front office. The front office will now be at the front of the building, where the library previously was, and the library is now in place of the front office.

The previous playground was torn out and is being replaced with new equipment for students to enjoy.

A multipurpose room was added to give more room for students during lunch hours, and a full-service kitchen was implemented.

Improvements also were made to the staff parking lot at the elementary school.

Cozad Superintendent James Ford said, We are really excited for all the new things that are coming along and its been long overdue.

All projects at both schools are expected to be completed by August 2024, except the high school gym, which is set to be completed in late spring of 2024.
Nathan B. Oman (William & Mary Law School) has posted 'A Welding Link of Some Kind': A Minimalist Theology of Same-Sex Marriage Sealings (in Nathan B. Oman, Law and the Restoration: Law and Latter-day Saint History, Thought, and Scripture (Salt Lake City, Utah: Kofford Books, Forthcoming)) on SSRN. Here is the abstract:

This is a theological essay that explores the possibility of same-sex marriage sealings within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Sealings refer to rituals in Latter-day Saint temples that marry couples "for time and eternity." This essay canvases the history of Latter-day Saint sealing rules and practices and argues that when viewed in their entirety, it is difficult to map these practices on to a particular model of family structure. Based on teachings by Church founder Joseph Smith, the essay offers a theological account of sealing practices that seeks to account for their historical totality. It then argues that within this broader vision, same-sex marriage sealings could be consistent with Latter-day Saint theology.
The Chief Executive (CE), Ho Iat Seng, has said a proposal to increase government workers salaries was sent to the Committee for Evaluation of the Remuneration of Civil Servants two months ago.

Ho was responding to lawmakers questions about the topic during Fridays Legislative Assembly plenary session dedicated to a question-and-answer session with members.

Although the CE did not state the increase in percentual terms, he said next year [would] be  good timing for a salary increase.

We already presented a proposal to the Committee for Evaluation of the Remuneration of Civil Servants some two months ago. I believe [2024] is a good year for salary increase but I am not the one deciding over that matter. There is a mechanism to decide on this and the workers are also part of it, the CE said, adding also that a different proposal to raise the minimum wage is also in discussion at the Standing Committee for the Coordination of Social Affairs.

At the same opportunity, the CE also called on the gaming concessionaires, which are the six major employers besides the government, to follow suit and take this opportunity to increase their workers salaries.

Although Ho admitted that is not up to the government to push private entities in any way or interfere in their internal decisions, he hopes those major companies can assume their social responsibilities.

I can only negotiate with the gaming concessionaires and hope that post-pandemic they can assume their social responsibilities. We can and will follow up on this matter, but we cannot order them to do so. This we cannot do, as the government cannot interfere in the market, the CE remarked.
Works for the 2.74km northern section of the East Line that forms part of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) network in Macau has commenced.

In February, the Public Works Bureau (DSOP) received six bids for the construction of the section north of the LRT East Line that will connect Pac On in Taipa to Border Gate, passing through the Zone A of the new landfills.

The DSOP has also indicated it hopes the construction can start as early as the second half of this year.

The contract was signed with a joint venture led by China Civil Engineering that also includes Nanguang Real Estate, China Railway 16th Bureau, China Railway Fourth Academy and others.

According to the plan, the new section has three stations.

The northern part of the East Line is a section that starts at the Border Gate and goes to the fourth LRT station located midway into the Zone A of the new landfills with a total length of 2.9 kilometers.

The underground northern section of the East Line will run entirely in a twin-bore tunnel to be excavated using tunnel boring machines (TBMs).

The northern section is expected to relieve congestion at the northern border crossing into mainland China, to the benefit of both tourists and local residents.

The northern section of the East Line is the third LRT project undertaken by China Civil Engineering in Macau.

This is also the contractors second LRT project to include the construction of an undersea tunnel.

The government expects the East Line of the LRT will be completed and ready to begin operating in 2028. Staff Reporter
For a vast number of book writers, artificial intelligence is a threat to their livelihood and the very idea of creativity. More than 10,000 of them endorsed an open letter from the Authors Guild this summer, urging AI companies not to use copyrighted work without permission or compensation.

At the same time, AI is a story to tell, and no longer just in science fiction.

As present in the imagination as politics, the pandemic or climate change, AI has become part of the narrative for a growing number of novelists and short story writers who only need to follow the news to imagine a world upended.

Im frightened by artificial intelligence, but also fascinated by it. Theres a hope for divine understanding, for the accumulation of all knowledge, but at the same time theres an inherent terror in being replaced by non-human intelligence, said Helen Phillips, whose upcoming novel Hum tells of a wife and mother who loses her job to AI.

Weve been seeing more and more about AI in book proposals, said Ryan Doherty, vice president and editorial director at Celadon Books, which recently signed Fred Lunzkers novel Sike, featuring an AI psychiatrist.

Its the zeitgeist right now. And whatever is in the cultural zeitgeist seeps into fiction, Doherty said.

Other AI-themed novels expected in the next two years include Sean Michaels Do You Remember Being Born?, in which a poet agrees to collaborate with an AI poetry company; Bryan Van Dykes In Our Likeness, about a bureaucrat and a fact-checking program with the power to change facts; and A.E. Osworths Awakened, about a gay witch and her titanic clash with AI.

Authors are invoking AI to address the most human questions.

In Sierra Greers Annie Bot, the title name is an AI mate designed for a human male. For Greer, the novel was a way to explore her characters urgent desire to please, adding that a robot girlfriend enabled her to explore desire, respect, and longing in ways that felt very new and strange to me.

Some authors arent just writing about AI, but openly working with it.

Sean Michaels centers his new novel on a poet named Marian, in homage to poet Marianne Moore, and an AI program called Charlotte. He said the novel is about parenthood, labor, community, and also this technologys implications for art, language and our sense of identity.

Believing the spirit of Do You Remember Being Born? called for the presence of actual AI text, he devised a program that would generate prose and poetry, and uses an alternate format in the novel so readers know when hes using AI.

In one passage, Marian is reviewing some of her collaboration with Charlotte.

The preceding days work was a collection of glass cathedrals. I reread it with alarm. Turns of phrase I had mistaken for beautiful, which I now found unintelligible, Michaels writes. Charlotte had simply surprised me: I would propose a line, a portion of a line, and what the system spat back upended my expectations. I had been seduced by this surprise.

And now AI speaks: I had mistaken a fit of algorithmic exuberance for the truth.

[Abridged]

Hillel Italie, MDT/AP
The government is preparing to forecast another deficit in 2024, the Chief Executive (CE), Ho Iat Seng, admitted at the Legislative Assembly (AL) Friday, where he was to participate in the last Q&A session with the lawmakers of this legislative year.

At the session, responding to an inquiry from lawmaker Ella Lei, the CE said next years budget is still expected to have greater expenses than revenues, hinting the budget could be some MOP10 billion short of being balanced.

This is despite the governments forecast of about MOP200 billion in gaming revenue, which is expected to grow 53.85% compared to 2023.

The CEs statement has a direct consequence upon the residents Central Provident Fund accounts. The government ended the regular annual transfer of MOP7,000 in 2020 as these fund injections are attached to the governments accounts surplus.

The CE said that despite next years budget still being in the red, the government is not cutting any population livelihood benefits, which will remain untouched for 2024.

The topic seems to anticipate debate to come later this year when the CE will present the Policy Address for 2024 (LAG24), as several lawmakers have previously called for the resumption of the injection of the money into the provident fund accounts to support those of an older age (above 65 years old), who can withdraw such funds immediately.

While the policies of Hos predecessor, ChuI Sai On, focused on the accumulation of funds in the government accounts with some of the surplus to be invested and some to be shared among the population via subsidies and providence funds.

Hos government meanwhile directs the spending of government earnings, especially those from the gaming industry, into building new facilities.

During the Q&A session, the CE took questions from 31 members of the AL.

Other topics discussed included consumer prices, employment, education, and talent development policies, preparations for the national games, development of the cultural and tourism industry, population support policies, protection of consumer rights, the wealth partaking scheme, caring for the elderly and for the disadvantaged, public administration reform, e-government, transportation and environmental protection.
One week after a deadline passed for mutinous soldiers in Niger to reinstate the countrys ousted president or face military intervention, the junta has not acquiesced. No military action has been taken and the coup leaders appear to have gained the upper hand over the regional group that issued the threat, analysts say.

The West African regional bloc ECOWAS had given the soldiers that overthrew Nigers democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum until last Sunday to release and reinstate him or they threatened military action. On Thursday, the bloc ordered the deployment of a standby force to restore constitutional rule in Niger, with Nigeria, Benin, Senegal and Ivory Coast saying they would contribute troops.

But its unclear when, how or if the troops will deploy. The move could take weeks or months to set into motion, and while the bloc decides what to do the junta is gaining power, some say.

It looks the putschists have won and will stay  The putschists are holding all the cards and have cemented their rule, said Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.

ECOWAS is unlikely to intervene militarily and risk dragging Niger into civil war, he said, adding that ECOWAS and Western countries would instead likely press the junta to agree to a short transition period.

Europe and the United States will have little choice but to recognize the junta in order to continue the security cooperation in the region, Laessing said.

The July 26 coup is seen as a major blow to many Western nations, which saw Niger as one of the last partners in the conflict-riddled Sahel region south of the Sahara Desert that they could work with to beat back a growing jihadi insurgency linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. The U.S. and France have more than 2,500 military personnel in the region and together with other European countries have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in military assistance and training Nigers forces.

There was still little clarity about what would happen days after ECOWAS announced the standby force deployment.

A meeting of the regions defense chiefs was postponed indefinitely. The African Union is expected to hold a meeting on Monday to discuss Nigers crisis. The groups Peace and Security Council could overrule the decision if it felt that wider peace and security on the continent was threatened by an intervention.

The delay of the defense chiefs meeting to discuss the standby force shows that ECOWAS views the use of force as a last resort, said Nate Allen, an associate professor at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies.

Given the likely challenges an intervention would face, (the use of force would) require a high degree of consensus and coordination not just within ECOWAS, but within the African Union and international community writ large, he said.

But those with ties to the junta say they are preparing for a fight, especially since the soldiers are unwilling to negotiate unless ECOWAS acknowledges its leader, Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, who overthrew the president, as the new ruler.

ECOWAS is demanding that (the junta) immediately release president Bazoum and restore him as head of state. Is this a joke? said Insa Garba Saidou, a local activist who assists Nigers new military rulers with their communications and says he is in direct contact with them. Whether Bazoum resigns or not, he will never be Nigers president again.

As time drags on, there is mounting concern for Bazoums safety, who has been under house arrest with his wife and son since the coup. Those close to him say his situation is deteriorating with no water, electricity and a lack of food. Nigers junta told a top U.S. diplomat that they would kill the deposed president if neighboring countries attempted any military intervention to restore his rule, two Western officials told The Associated Press.

Most Nigeriens are trying to go about their lives as the standoff continues between the coup leaders and regional countries.

For the most part, the streets in the capital, Niamey, are calm with sporadic pockets of pro-junta demonstrations. On Friday hundreds of people marched toward Frances military base demanding the French leave while waving Russian flags.

Mercenaries from the Russian-linked Wagner group already operate in a handful of other African countries and are accused of committing human rights abuses. Earlier this month during a trip to neighboring Mali, which is also run by a military regime and cooperates with Wagner, the junta reportedly asked the mercenaries for help.

But many Nigeriens dont have time for protests and are more focused on feeding their families.

The country of some 25 million people is one of the poorest in the world and the harsh travel and economic sanctions imposed by ECOWAS are taking a toll.

Moussa Ahmed, a food seller in Niamey, said the prices of food items such as cooking oil and rice have increased by 20% since the coup and there isnt enough electricity to power the fridges in his shop. Niger gets up to 90% of its power from neighboring Nigeria, which has cut off some of its supply.

Aid groups operating in the country that were grappling with the challenges of helping more than 4 million people who need humanitarian assistance say the crisis will exacerbate an already dire situation. SAM MEDNICK, NIAMEY, MDT/AP
The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) and a Macau trade delegation have showcased Macaus elements of Tourism+ to Singaporeans at the Singapore Expo Hall. The office held a travel trade networking event concurrently to attract Singaporean visitors to Macau, as part of the effort to tap into international visitor markets for tourism and economic revival. Singapore is already among Macaus top 10 visitor source markets, according to visitor arrivals in June. In 2019, Macau welcomed 115,742 visitors from Singapore.

Related
Chinas plans to build a new embassy near the Tower of London have stalled following local opposition to what would be the biggest diplomatic compound in Britain.

The borough of Tower Hamlets, the local government council in London responsible for the area, blocked the project in February, citing concerns about the increased risk of terror attacks, protests and traffic in an area visited by millions of tourists each year.

Chinese authorities had until last week Thursday to appeal the decision to the U.K. government but did not, Tower Hamlets said.

If the applicant wanted to appeal through the public inquiry procedure then they would have already needed to have given notice to us as the local planning authority, Tower Hamlets said in a statement. We havent received any such notification from the applicant.

Chinas plans called for comprehensive redevelopment of a 5.2-acre site that was home to the Royal Mint from 1811 to 1968, demolishing some of the existing buildings and restoring others. The new embassy compound would include some 57,000 square meters of floor space, including offices, a cultural exchange building and 225 apartments.

Thats about 18% bigger than the new U.S. embassy in London, which opened in 2018 with 48,000 square meters of space.

While Tower Hamlets planning officials recommended authorizing the project, the borough council voted on Feb. 10 to refuse planning permission.

The Chinese Embassy in London called on the British government to intervene.

It is the international obligation of the host country to provide facilitations and support for the construction of diplomatic premises, the embassy in a statement. We urge the U.K. side to fulfill its relevant international obligations.

British authorities did not comment on the Chinese Embassy proposal, which in theory could come before the central government, where the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities oversees the planning system.

But the government said it takes its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations extremely seriously and we will continue to do so, and stressed that planning decisions are made by local councils, which give applicants the opportunity to appeal.

There is growing concern in the U.K. about Chinese investments in critical infrastructure, as well allegations that it has attempted to influence British politicians and university researchers.

The Tower Hamlets council said the proposed embassy compound would strain local police resources, increase road congestion and have a negative impact on the area surrounding Tower of London.

The proposed embassy would result in adverse impacts on local tourism, due to concerns over the effect of potential protests, acts of terrorism and related security mitigation measures on the sensitive backdrop of nationally significant tourist attractions, the council said in announcing its decision. DANICA KIRKA, LONDON, MDT/AP
Taiwans no. 2 left this weekend on a trip to Paraguay to reinforce relations with his governments last diplomatic partner in South America at a time when China is stepping up efforts to isolate the self-ruled island democracy.

William Lais trip includes stops in San Francisco and New York City, which Beijing criticized Washington for allowing. Taiwan is part of Chinas territory and Beijing says it has no right to conduct foreign relations.

Lai was due to attend the inauguration of Paraguayan President-elect Santiago Pena tomorrow.

Lai said he would meet officials of other governments so that the international society understands Taiwan is a country that persists in its democracy, human rights and freedom and actively takes part in international affairs.

Paraguay is part of a dwindling group of 12 governments that have diplomatic relations with Taiwan. They are mostly small, poor countries in Africa and the Caribbean. Taiwan lost a partner this year when Honduras switched official recognition to Beijing.

Chinas vastly larger economy and population mean most governments have official relations with Beijing, though many, including the United States, maintain informal relations with Taiwan.

Pena visited Taiwan in July and told leader Tsai Ing-wen his country would stand with the people of Taiwan during his five-year term.

President Xi Jinpings government has stepped up efforts to intimidate Taiwan by flying fighter jets and bombers near the island and firing missiles into the sea. Some American and European politicians have responded by flying to Taiwan in a show of support.

Taiwanese officials usually stop in the United States en route to and from Latin America and meet with U.S. officials, which irritates Beijing.

The Taiwanese government gave no indication Lai was due to meet American officials.

Lai was scheduled to have lunch Sunday [early today, Macau time] in New York City with Taiwanese living there before leaving for Paraguay. En route home, he planned to stop in San Francisco for a dinner with Taiwanese there.

The Chinese foreign ministry said earlier it would monitor developments and was ready to take resolute and forceful measures to defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

China launched war games around Taiwan in April after Tsai met House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles while traveling home from Central America. TAIJING WU, TAIPEI, MDT/AP
WAR IN UKRAINE

KYIV, Ukraine  Seven people  including a 23-day-old girl  were killed in Russian shelling in Ukraine's southern Kherson region on Sunday, the country's Internal Affairs Ministry said.

Artillery shelling in the village of Shiroka Balka, on the banks of the Dnieper River, killed a family  a husband, wife, 12-year-old boy and 23-day-old girl  and another resident.

Two men were killed in the neighboring village of Stanislav, where a woman was also wounded.

The attack on Kherson province followed Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar's comments on Saturday attempting to quell rumors that Ukrainian forces had landed on the occupied left (east) bank of the Dnieper in the Kherson region.

"Again, the expert hype around the left bank in the Kherson region began. There are no reasons for excitement," she said.

Kherson regional Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said Sunday that three people had been wounded in Russian attacks on the province on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Ukrainian military officials said Saturday evening that Kyiv's forces had made progress in the south, claiming some success near a key village in the southern Zaporizhzhia region and capturing other unspecified territories.

Ukraine's General Staff said they had "partial success" around the tactically important Robotyne area in the Zaporizhzhia region, a key Russian stronghold that Ukraine needs to retake in order to continue pushing south towards Melitopol.

"There are liberated territories. The defense forces are working," General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, commander of Ukraine's southern forces, said of the southern front.

Battles in recent weeks have taken place on multiple points along the over 600-mile front line as Ukraine wages a counteroffensive with Western-supplied weapons and Western-trained troops against Russian forces who invaded nearly 18 months ago.

Ukrainian troops have made only incremental gains since launching a counteroffensive in early June.

Meanwhile, a Russian warship on Sunday fired warning shots at a Palau-flagged cargo ship in the south-western Black Sea, the first time Russia has fired on a merchant ship beyond Ukraine since exiting a landmark UN-brokered grain deal last month.

According to Russia's Defense Ministry, the Sukru Okan was heading northward to the Ukrainian Danube River port of Izmail.

"The captain of the dry-cargo ship did not respond to the request to stop for inspection for the carriage of prohibited goods. To force the ship to stop, warning fire was opened from automatic small arms from a Russian warship," Russia's Ministry of Defense wrote on Telegram, adding that the ship later stopped and allowed an inspection team to board.

Four weeks ago, Moscow withdrew from a key export agreement that allowed Ukraine to ship millions of tons of grain across the Black Sea for sale on world markets.
Diane Milligan's "many positive experiences" with a Madison Verizon store ended in December when it refused to provide her with a promised $800 credit in return for phone and phone plan upgrades.

Milligan, 56, of Madison, traded in an iPhone 12 for an iPhone 14 at the Verizon store at 781 University Ave. in a deal that committed her to a more expensive phone plan but also provided the $800 credit for trading in the iPhone 12.

But then the credit didn't show up on her bill, she said, even as Verizon was expecting her to pay off the iPhone 12 she no longer had.

"The store accused me of not actually leaving the phone with them," she said  an accusation debunked after the store checked its own video surveillance footage. It also located the phone in storage, she said.

Still, "they will not give me the $800 credit," Milligan said. "Apparently it comes down to an issue of who should pay: their independent retail store or Verizon."

Milligan said she'd been to the store some 10 times, only to be bumped by the store manager to his manager, Michael Stormoen, who works for the independent but Verizon-authorized retailer Mobile Generation, which according to its website has 25 locations in Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois.

SOS left a message with Stormoen at Mobile Generation's Plover store and emailed Verizon corporate spokesperson Andy Choi on Aug. 2. Stormoen didn't respond, but Choi said he'd look into the matter and on Aug. 3 Milligan emailed to say "Verizon Corporate's executive office called me back and agreed to give me retroactive credit and credit for the rest of the promotional period without making me upgrade the line to include services I don't want."

That credit is only half of what she was promised, or $400, but she also doesn't have to pay for a more expensive plan she didn't really want anyway.

"I have a straight-up $400 credit without strings," she said.

Choi said he could not discuss details of Milligan's account, and Stormeon, who responded to a second message left Aug. 8, declined to comment.
CHICAGO  Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a law banning firearms advertising that officials determine produces a public safety threat or appeals to children, militants or others who might later use the weapons illegally  opening the door for lawsuits against firearms manufacturers or distributors.

Pritzker on Saturday signed the Firearm Industry Responsibility Act, making Illinois the eighth state to approve legislation that rolls back legal protections for firearms manufacturers or distributors. The legislation comes after the deadliest six months of mass killings recorded in the United States since at least 2006  all but one of which involved guns.

Pritzker signed the bill alongside lawmakers and gun control advocates at Gun Sense University, an annual training conference of more than 2,000 Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers and survivors, hosted by Everytown for Gun Safety.

"We hold opioid manufacturers accountable. Vaping companies accountable. Predatory lenders accountable. Gun manufacturers shouldn't get to hide from the law  and now, they won't be able to," Pritzker said in a statement.

The law took effect immediately.

Attorney General Kwame Raoul, a key backer of the law, said "by signing this legislation, Gov. Pritzker has taken an important step to protect consumers and increase public safety."

Democratic state Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, the bill's House sponsor, said any companies participating in "depicting guns as tools for carnage" will face serious penalties.

Opening the door to such court challenges is part of ongoing efforts by Democratic lawmakers in Illinois and elsewhere to eliminate gun violence, made more complicated by the U.S. Supreme Court's expansion of gun rights a year ago. Pritzker also signed a ban on semi-automatic weapons this year, a law that gun-rights advocates continue to challenge in federal court.
MARION, Kan.  A small central Kansas police department is facing a firestorm of criticism after it raided the offices of a local newspaper and the home of its publisher and owner  a move deemed by several press freedom watchdogs as a blatant violation of the U.S. Constitution's protection of a free press.

The Marion County Record said in its own published reports that police raided the newspaper's office on Friday, seizing the newspaper's computers, phones and file server and the personal cellphones of staff, based on a search warrant. One Record reporter suffered an injury to a finger when Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody wrested her cellphone out of her hand, according to the report.

Police simultaneously raided the home of Eric Meyer, the newspaper's publisher and co-owner, seizing computers, his cellphone and the home's internet router, Meyer said. Meyer's 98-year-old mother  Record co-owner Joan Meyer, who lived in the home with her son  collapsed and died Saturday, Meyer said, blaming her death on the stress of the raid of her home.

Meyer said he believes the raid was prompted by a story published last week about a local restaurant owner, Kari Newell. Newell had police remove Meyer and a newspaper reporter from her restaurant early this month, who were there to cover a public reception for U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner, a Republican representing the area. The police chief and other officials also attended and were acknowledged at the reception, and the Marion Police Department highlighted the event on its Facebook page.

LaTurner's office did not immediately return phone messages left Sunday at his Washington and district offices seeking comment.

The next week at a city council meeting, Newell publicly accused the newspaper of using illegal means to get information on the status of her driver's license following a 2008 drunken driving conviction and other driving violations. The newspaper countered that it received that information unsolicited and verified it through public online records. It eventually decided not to run a story, because it wasn't sure the source who supplied it had obtained it legally. But the newspaper did run a story on the city council meeting, in which Newell herself confirmed she'd had a DUI conviction and that she continued to drive even after her license was suspended.

Meyer also noted that the newspaper was looking into the police chief's background and why he left the Kansas City, Missouri, police department before being hired in April as chief.

A two-page search warrant, signed by a local judge, lists Newell as the victim of alleged crimes by the newspaper. When the newspaper asked for a copy of the probable cause affidavit required by law to issue a search warrant, the district court issued a signed statement saying no such affidavit was on file, the Record reported.

Newell declined to comment Sunday.
REDISTRICTING

If state Rep. Jimmy Anderson wants to visit residents in some of the northern neighborhoods he represents, he first must leave his own district  twice.

From his Fitchburg home in suburban Madison, Anderson must exit his 47th Assembly District, pass through the 77th District, reenter the 47th District, then head north through the 48th District to finally reach a cluster of homes assigned like a remote outpost to his district.

Unusual? Yes. Inconvenient? Yes.

Unconstitutional? Perhaps. Though the Wisconsin Constitution requires legislative districts "to consist of contiguous territory," many nonetheless contain sections of land that are not actually connected. The resulting map looks a bit like Swiss cheese, where some districts are dotted with small neighborhood holes assigned to different representatives.

Wisconsin's nationally peculiar practice of detached districts is cited as one of several alleged violations in a recent lawsuit seeking to strike down current Assembly and Senate districts and replace them before the 2024 election.

Like similar cases in states ranging from North Carolina to Utah, the Wisconsin lawsuit also alleges partisan gerrymandering is illegal under the state Constitution's guarantee of equal protection and free speech.

Though such claims have had mixed results nationally, Democrats hope the Wisconsin Supreme Court's new liberal majority will deliver a resounding rejection of gerrymandering that has given Republicans a lopsided legislative majority.

But the challenge to noncontiguous districts could provide judges a way to decide the case without ever addressing whether partisan gerrymandering is illegal.

"It could be that this gives the court a completely neutral basis for deciding the maps are no good," said Kenneth R. Mayer, a UW-Madison political science professor.

A state on tilt

Wisconsin's Assembly districts rank among the most tilted nationally, with Republicans routinely winning far more seats than would be expected based on their average share of the vote, according to an Associated Press analysis. In other states, such as Nevada, Democrats have reaped a disproportionate advantage from redistricting.

Most states are guided by at least four traditional principles for reshaping state legislative districts after each decennial census. Those include districts being nearly equal in population, compact and contiguous and following the boundaries of cities and counties. "Contiguous" generally is understood to mean all parts of a district are connected, with some logical exceptions for islands.

In some states, mapmakers have gotten creative by using narrow strips of roads or rivers to connect otherwise distinct parts of a district. But few have gone so far as Wisconsin in treating contiguous as a loose synonym for "nearby."

Wisconsin's detached districts are "profoundly weird," said Justin Levitt, a professor at Loyola Marymount University Law School in Los Angeles who created the All About Redistricting website.

Anderson's legislative district, for example, includes more than a dozen remote territories scattered around the Madison area that are disconnected from the district's main portion in Fitchburg, McFarland and Monona. That makes door-to-door canvassing particularly challenging for Anderson, who uses a wheelchair that must be repeatedly loaded and unloaded from a van.

The situation also is confusing for his remote constituents whose neighbors are represented by someone else, Anderson said.

"It just doesn't serve the people that live in those little bubbles to not have the same kind of community cohesion and interests being represented," he said.

'It's ridiculous'

Gabrielle Young, 46, lives in one of the "land islands" Anderson represents. But until she was contacted by lawyers filing the redistricting lawsuit, Young said she had no idea Anderson had to travel through another district to campaign in her neighborhood. Young agreed to serve as a plaintiff in the lawsuit alleging the disconnected districts violate the state constitution.

"I could have gone the rest of my life living here not realizing it was happening, but that doesn't make it OK," she said. "It's ridiculous."

Among other things, the lawsuit cites an 1892 case in which the Wisconsin Supreme Court stated districts "cannot be made up of two or more pieces of detached territory." Yet the practice proliferated over time, with 55 of the 99 Assembly districts and 21 of the 33 Senate districts now composed of disconnected portions, according to the lawsuit.

"Clearly, at some point, things sort of went awry," said Mark Gaber, senior director of redistricting at Campaign Legal Center, a Washington, D.C.-based group that helped bring the lawsuit.

"It seems pretty clear to me that you have to enforce the words as they are written," Gaber added.

That has not always been the case.

Competing maps

In 1992, a federal judicial panel considering a Wisconsin redistricting lawsuit essentially endorsed detached legislative districts. Wisconsin's Democratic-led Legislature and Republican governor had failed to agree on new districts following the 1990 census. The court was left to pick among various plans submitted by the parties. Republican plans proposed districts with literal contiguity, but the judges opted for a Democratic approach that did not.

The federal judges said legislative districts containing disconnected "islands" of land were similar to towns that had been legally permitted to annex noncontiguous areas.

"Since the distance between town and island is slight, we do not think the failure of the legislative plan to achieve literal contiguity a serious demerit," the judges wrote in 1992.

The political roles are reversed 30 years later. Republicans, who now control the Legislature, proposed Assembly and Senate maps with disconnected districts that the Wisconsin Supreme Court adopted last year. Democrats, who control the governor's office, are backing the legal challenge.

"The districts are constitutional because they are legally contiguous," Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said in a statement to The Associated Press, alluding to prior court rulings. He declined further comment.
During the final bows after the Sun Prairie Civic Theatre's production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Cinderella Sunday, a fairy tale came to life.

The actor who played the prince got down on one knee and proposed marriage to the actress who played Cinderella.

"Two years ago, I was awake at night hoping, praying to God, that someone would come into my life and love all the things that I love and do all the things that I do and be my everything. And yes, I found her. She is my angel," Gabe Hanna said on stage before asking Ella Rose Kleefisch to marry him.

The crowd went wild, especially the friends and family of the couple who packed the first two rows.

"Those two miraculously found each other," said Joel Kleefisch, Ella's father. "They've got so many of the same interests. They're blessed with angelic singing voices and a love of theater, and for them to be cast as Cinderella and Prince Charming is art imitating life imitating art."

Another life-imitating-art aspect of the story is that in this version of Cinderella, the title character often goes by Ella and is listed as Ella in the program.

Hanna, 24, who grew up in Janesville and graduated from UW-Madison in 2020 with a degree in theater and drama, said he met his now-fiancee, 20, two years ago through the dating app Bumble.

"It was in the midst of Covid, and we were, I guess, both down on our luck finding somebody that we wanted to share parts of our lives with," he said. "We wanted to meet new people. We wanted to potentially find somebody to go on this journey of dating, if not finding somebody to fall in love with."

He said they found each other's profiles online. "I guess you can say we both swiped right."

Hanna said they started talking, connected well, and went on their first date. The second date went even better, and three dates later, he asked her to be his girlfriend, "and now the rest is history."

He said being cast opposite one other in the leading roles, rehearsing and performing, made for a romantic summer. "It's been a dream knowing that I was going to do this and trying to keep this secret was even more of a delight."

Ella Kleefisch, who will be a junior at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, majoring in communications with a minor in museum studies, said Hanna hid his plan well. "I definitely was not expecting it this soon ... I was absolutely flabbergasted, for sure."

She is the daughter of Rebecca Kleefisch, who served as Wisconsin's lieutenant governor from 2011 to 2019 under Gov. Scott Walker.

Joel Kleefisch, speaking Monday on his and Rebecca's 24th wedding anniversary, spent 14 years in the Wisconsin State Assembly starting in 2005. He now co-hosts "The Fowl Life," a national television show on the Outdoor Channel, and is a lobbyist for the outdoor industry and the disabled community.

"It's so great," he said of the proposal and engagement. "I was bawling like a baby."

He said he knew in advance because Hanna sought his advice about the engagement ring, buying it from the same Milwaukee jeweler that Kleefisch used for Rebecca's ring.

Besides sharing a love of theater, Ella Kleefisch said she and Hanna share a strong religious faith and political views. But politics, she said, doesn't play too large a role in their lives.

"That's definitely not the emphasis that we have in our relationship," she said. "It's not like politics is our main conversation topic. We also have the same beliefs about loving people and the same beliefs about gratitude."

The couple has maintained a partial long-distance relationship and will continue to do that for now. Hanna lives in Janesville and works in Madison.

"It's all so fresh, so we don't know exactly when we're getting married yet," she said. "We're very adamant about ensuring that the other person is the priority, and we talk every single day when we're apart. We're pretty good about that."
Walking into African Market and AM Beauty Supply, visitors first see walls covered with packaged hair bundles and shelves lined with wigs of all shades and shapes sitting on mannequin heads.

Theyll notice a modest selection of produce and food commonly used in African cooking, such as plantains and palm oil. And its impossible to miss the stores owner, Agatha Morris, standing behind the register with the vibrant smile that so many of her customers have grown to love.

Almost every African person in Madison knows me and my family, Morris said with a laugh. Ive met a lot of good people who I can say good things about and they can also say good things about me. Some even call me sister.

Over the years, Morris, along with her husband, Benjamin Morris, and their three children, has run a place of business that represents much more than the products on its shelves. It has become a supportive gathering place for many African women in Madison.

But after almost 20 years of business, African Market and AM Beauty Supply will close at the end of August after two consecutive years of declining sales. It has been a long road for the family as theyve also dealt with shoplifters and violent break-ins.

Its been a journey, Morris said. Weve dealt with the good, the bad and the ugly.

Morris and her husband immigrated to Madison from Ghana in 1998. In 2003, Morris began selling African and Caribbean food to local residents. Then, she started to sell hair from Africa that could be used for braiding and encountered a demand for more hair-related products. The Morrises opened a storefront at 805B S. Gammon Road a year later and the African Market and AM Beauty Supply became a second home for the family.

For 20 years, its been like a home to me, Morris said. So Im gonna miss that. Im so used to getting up and getting ready to come in every morning.

The hair that Morris sells is typically used for braids or extensions. She also offers wigs and hair products geared toward curly hair textures. A regular customer, Elizabeth Gendvilas, first came to the store more than 15 years ago due to a medical condition that led to hair loss. Finding African Market and AM Beauty Supply helped her gain greater confidence in her appearance.

It gave me a bit of normalcy, she said. Since Agatha is so compassionate and outgoing, she made me feel like I was back in society again.

Over the years, Morris has seen firsthand the power that hair can hold, especially for women of color and those struggling with hair loss.

In my language, they say a womans glory is your hair, Morris said. I will tell women that I dont have magic to grow their hair, but I tell them to do this and that and theyll come back and tell me its working. Then I feel like Ive made their dreams come true.

After years of declining sales and balancing another full-time job on top of running the store, Morris knew it was time to say goodbye.

After the stores closure, Morris looks forward to taking a break, and shes not opposed to potentially selling some of her products on a smaller scale. Since announcing the stores closure, Morris has received an outpouring of support from longtime customers and community members.

I have a lot of loyal customers, she said. I didnt even know until I announced that I was closing and people were getting really sad that I was making that much of an impact.
September is National Student Parent Month, and were getting ready to celebrate student parents across Wisconsin who are balancing family responsibilities with college.

Jillian Stacey recently earned her masters in social work from UW-Milwaukee while taking care of her two young children. She talked to us about the challenges of being a student parent and offered insights: Revisit your why and revisit it often. I had many times I wanted to give up, but I would look at my children and remember my why, and it got me through.

According to the Institute for Womens Policy Research, more than one in five college students  or 22% of undergraduates  are parents. Nearly a third of graduate students are parenting. Many of these student parents are women, single mothers, first-generation college students and students of color.

Student parents earn comparable or better grades than other groups of students, but they complete college at a lower rate. Lets look at some barriers faced by student parents  and how institutions, such as the UW-Madison Office of Child Care and Family Resources, can support them.

Child care

Often the number one issue faced by student parents, child care can be unaffordable or not available in and around campus. On-campus child care centers or partnerships with child care providers to offer affordable and convenient services are essential to student parents. Emergency backup child care can help student parents get to classes, work and other school-related activities.

Stacey adds that parents should give themselves grace: [Going to school] requires a lot of flexibility in the way you parent. Ideally, screen time would not have been a big thing in my house, but in order to get some work done, I had to use it as a tool. You have to let go of what is ideal and tap into the reality you have at the moment.

Financial support

Although more than 50% of student parents are employed, two-thirds of them live in or near poverty, as do nearly 9 in 10 single mother students. Schools and colleges could offer more financial aid to student parents. Subsidized or discounted child care services make a difference, as do emergency funds that student parents can access during challenging times.

Stacey said its important to talk to financial aid advisers: I had excellent people to walk me through my options as a grad student who had child care bills on top of all my other expenses. Have them lay it all out on the table. Take the loans, or do what you have to do to lighten your load, and do it guilt-free.

Belonging

Universities and colleges can facilitate belonging among student parents in a variety of ways. They can establish units that specifically serve this population, such as the Office of Child Care and Family Resources. Faculty can create flexible attendance policies, share resources and promote a culture of open communication.

Stacey suggested providing student parents with mental health support, adding, Postpartum depression, anxiety, mom guilt and so many other things tied to parenting can be so hard to navigate. She said she also benefited from peer communities: I powered through many papers in my support networks homes while my children played their lives away in the other room.

When passing the National Student Parent Month resolution, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran said, Being a parent while juggling homework and classes requires tenacity and endurance.

So true. If you are a parent going to college, we commend you!
Evictions in Dane County and Wisconsin are on pace to reach or surpass pre-pandemic levels.

And housing experts say that a lack of rental assistance money after Wisconsins emergency program stopped taking applications earlier this year could make things worse.

As evictions rise, renters no longer have a reliable safety net they can rely on as living costs rise faster than wages, experts also say.

In 2019, there were 27,026 eviction filings in the state, according to the Department of Administrations eviction data project, which started in May. Last year, that number was 17,727. So far this year, there have been 25,019 eviction filings.

Dane County alone had 2,015 eviction filings in 2019, according to DOA data. That dropped to 1,674 last year. This year, between January and June, there were 1,317 filings.

The states emergency rental assistance program was set up with federal money to help renters struggling with their payments during the COVID-19 pandemic. But money is running out and the state stopped taking applications for the program in January.

What the emergency rental assistance proves is that you can stabilize housing and get better outcomes across a range of life situations, said UW-Madison urban planning professor Kurt Paulsen. Youre better able to focus on a job or school and deal with whatever problems life throws at you.

The federal government should consider re-upping the idea of assistance for eviction or homelessness.

For Dane County residents, emergency rental assistance is still available through the Tenant Resource Center, on Williamson Street, through its Eviction Diversion and Defense Partnership, which has existed since the fall of 2021, said Bryan Antimo, EDDP program manager.

Those groups include Madison legal service Community Justice Inc., Legal Action of Wisconsin and UW-Madisons law school, as well as the the Peoples Law Center, a Madison nonprofit that helps renters facing eviction for whom English is not their first language.

But renters must be going through the eviction process or have faced an eviction in the past six months to be eligible to receive the EDDPs financial aid, Antimo said.

Everyone is just waiting for more funds to come, said Chrisbelly Antimo, TRC housing counseling services manager. She said its stressful to have to turn away renters who dont fit the TRCs criteria for receiving financial aid.

The Tenant Resource Center has $5 million to help renters and a commitment from the city of Madison and Dane County to remain funded through 2025, said interim director Hannah Renfro. It is unclear how much money the agency will receive, but Renfro said both government entities have been great to work with.

There is a very deep interest in looking at long-term housing stability, she said.

State aid

At the state level, the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families has an emergency housing assistance grant program that provides payment to families with children facing a housing emergency, including impending homelessness and domestic violence, natural disaster, fire, or an emergency crisis, according to the DCF website.

But you can only receive the assistance every 12 months, said Legal Action of Wisconsin staff attorney Heidi Wegleitner. The grants often amount to about $500. Legal Action of Wisconsin is funded to serve 39 Wisconsin counties in housing and other civil legal aid matters, said Wegleitner, who represents renters facing eviction and trying to access federal housing benefits.

The maximum payment a family can receive is $645 for a group of five, according to the DCF website.

Its devastating, Wegleitner said of the consequences of the state no longer having a rental assistance program. People have nowhere to turn.

Uncertain outlook

Andy Heidt, housing policy and programs manager for the Wisconsin Community Action Program Association, said there are no state or federal replenishments to the Wisconsins emergency assistance program planned at this time.

Previously, WISCAP and the Department of Administration, with partnering agencies in 66 counties, disseminated the $260 million of the states emergency rental assistance funds that came from the U.S. Department of the Treasury as pandemic relief, Heidt said.

Agencies without the funds continue to provide services to help renters find stable housing, he said. Such services can include case management, legal and lease application assistance, and connections to local services and supports.

The counties of Dane, Milwaukee, Brown and Waukesha received their own allotments of federal funds, totaling roughly $270 million, Heidt said.

In Dane County, the TRC, Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin and Urban Triage together distributed roughly $84 million to renters needing emergency aid up until earlier this summer when the county stopped taking applications.

Applications that were already filed for rental assistance will be processed in the order they were received.

Heidt thinks theres potential for local, state and federal housing assistance programs in the future, but none of this happens fast.
Over the last few years there has been a rise in dog bites, some of which have been fatal and multiple studies are connecting the uptick in incidents to the pandemic. One study, published last summer, found that dog bite injuries nearly tripled pediatric ER visits over several months in 202
Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes will not serve as Chicagos next top cop, bringing to an end weeks of uncertainty over whether Madisons chief of only 2 years would depart to lead law enforcement in the countrys third-largest city.

Chicago police counterterrorism head Larry Snelling has been selected for the job, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said Sunday.

Barnes, Snelling and Angel Novalez  another current Chicago police official  were narrowed down from a list of five semi-finalists in mid-July.

If Barnes had left Madison, the city would have had to find its fourth police chief in a decade.

"Every day, I feel blessed to work for the Madison Police Department," Barnes said in a statement late Sunday. "These feelings never changed, even as I applied for the superintendent position in Chicago."

"My life's work has been about public safety and building relationships in the cities I serve," the chief said. "The idea of getting to do this for the second largest police department in the country was a dream. As a dad, I had to take the same advice I give my kids - follow your dreams."

As Madisons police chief, Barnes has touted reductions in auto thefts and gunfire incidents in the city as well as new efforts to improve the departments community policing initiatives. Earlier this month, the City Council finally approved a long-debated body camera pilot program from the department, an aim of Barnes since the early months of his tenure.

Despite his aspirations to lead Chicago police, Barnes had previously told the newspaper Isthmus that he planned to stay in Madison for the long haul.

Barnes continues to have ties to Chicago, where he helmed the citys Civilian Office of Police Accountability for a year before taking the role of chief in Madison. Barnes wife continues to serve as dean of the College of Science and Health at DePaul University.

Editor's Note: This story has been updated to include a statement from Chief Barnes.
An apparent murder-suicide involving two Madison women found dead in a vehicle is being investigated by authorities in Richland County and Madison.

Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said in his blog Monday that a 60-year-old woman and a 25-year-old woman were reported missing about 3:15 p.m. Sunday after not returning home from a day at Devil's Lake State Park in Sauk County.

The women had gone on a hike at the park and a family member reported them missing. A cellphone ping pointed officers toward the Lone Rock area in Richland County, Madison police spokesperson Stephanie Fryer said in a statement.

The Richland County Sheriff's Office, which is leading the investigation, said in a statement that a vehicle containing the two women was found in the state Department of Natural Resources' Smith/Cruson Slough Day Use Area just off Highway 14 near Lone Rock.

The 25-year-old woman was found with a gunshot wound and the 60-year-old woman with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the sheriff's office said.

The sheriff's office added that nothing else suspicious was found at the scene. The names of the women were being withheld until family members can be notified, the sheriff's office said, adding that more information may be released later.

Lone Rock is about 45 miles west-northwest of Madison, and about 15 miles south of Richland Center.
UW-Madison Provost Charles Isbell Jr.'s new office overlooking Bascom Hill isn't fully unpacked, but it's already full of personality.

Isbell, who was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, but considers himself an Atlanta native after moving there at age 3, is decorating his new UW-Madison office with relics of his life's work  a large frame plotting out interactions in an online social communication experiment he designed; autographed photos of his Georgia Tech Ph.D. students wearing the same Funkadelic-style music hat and glasses, an ode to his former research group, named pfunk, and his love of funkadelic music.

He keeps fuzzy rearview mirror dice in a cabinet, the same ones he gave his Ph.D. students when they passed their dissertations, because they represented probabilistic function and "nothing is funkier."

Isbell, who has spent his career researching human-based machine learning at AT&T Labs and Georgia Tech, joined UW-Madison as its new provost on Aug. 1. As the chief academic officer overseeing all educational programs and faculty, the provost often is considered to be a universitys No. 2 official, behind the chancellor.

Isbell succeeds former provost Karl Scholz, who announced his intention to return to the Department of Economics faculty last winter before being hired as the University of Oregon's next president.

Most recently the dean of Georgia Tech's College of Computing, Isbell brings with him a plethora of research and administrative experience, made possible as he juggled his professorships with associate dean responsibilities. A decorated computer scientist, Isbell is credited with launching Georgia Tech's online computer science master's degree program and founded the Constellations Center for Equity in Computing, a program connecting K-12 students of all backgrounds to a computer science education.

Isbell knew as young as age 8 1/2 that building computers and researching machine learning was what he wanted to do  even if he didn't have the words to describe artificial intelligence.

"I was driven by science fiction and reading comic books," he said. "The idea of building a thing that was smart and that did what I asked it to do, that really drove me to computing and it drove me to AI and machine learning."

Outside of his research work, Isbell is still a collector of comic books  with 23,000 in his collection  a hip-hop connoisseur who at one point ran an online awards show and an avid ultimate frisbee player. He's a father of two, with his daughter following his footsteps attending Georgia Tech and a son who's deeply interested in history.

The Wisconsin State Journal sat down with Isbell last week to talk about his new role and vision for the university.

Responses have been edited for length.

Why join UW-Madison after decades at Georgia Tech?

What UW Madison has going for it, among other things, is that it is a broad university. It has an (Education) school, a pharmacy school, has a med school, has a law school, has engineering. It touches every aspect of the sorts of things that we want to do in education and has excellence in almost all of the things that you can imagine that sort of matter for educating people, for the things that are going to be underlying the solutions, that are going to deal with the large problems that we're all going to be facing over the next couple of decades.

This is one of the small number of places, I believe, that both embraces its public mission on the one hand, but also has the potential to shape the solutions to those problems, large (and) broad, and it's willing to do some interesting things. And insofar as it is willing to take calculated risks, and to take seriously the stuff that it can do, the things that it can do, this is the kind of place where I want to be.

How should higher ed be preparing for the future?

How do you reach more and more people and bring them into the conversation? How do you make certain that they're educated in a way that allows them to be good citizens? How do you respect their particular histories and experiences and allow them to bring that to a place like this, so that we're all richer for the experiences? That's not easy  it's easier said than done, for sure. But it's fundamentally important. We all learn from different experiences that different people have. This is what diversity is, this is what it means, to bring a variety of voices in experiences, backgrounds, desires, goals, and it transforms the people who are here.

There's also a kind of separate problem, which is the world is moving ridiculously fast  far faster than human beings can kind of think about. There's all these things about technology, all these things that are kind of being disrupted. And it's not just the people who are 19 years old you have to worry about, it's the ones who are 45, 55, who have to come back to retrain, to relearn. So, this is a question not just of "How do you educate the people who are going to be here?" but "How do you make certain you're supporting all the ones who will never be here or the ones who are going to need to come back later?" That's the conversation that we have to have, in the face of rapidly changing demographics. And in the face of a questioning citizenry who want to understand what the university is doing for it.

Computer, Data and Information Sciences is one of UW-Madison's fastest-growing schools. How do you think your background could help sustain current and future growth?

First off, the growth is going to happen whether I'm here or not. And that's because that kind of technology and way of thinking is beginning to permeate not just, you know, what you do for living, but also the way research is done, the way questions are asked and the way scholarship is pursued. ... You're going to use these tools in order to do analysis of data that would have been impossible to do in any one person's lifetime. And from that, you will be able to build insights into who we were and who we're going to be.

And so, it's not that computing, as I tend to think of it, is more important than anything else  because you're also talking to someone who minored in Spanish, history and cognitive science  but it is central to the way that we were able to ask questions that we otherwise would not have been able to ask. And recognizing that is no more radical than recognizing that electricity matters or that having transportation matters or clothing matters or anything else that enables us to do things more efficiently and to do things in a sort of broader way. So, I'm hoping that way of thinking about the world, to go the way of thinking philosophically but also a way of thinking in terms of intellectual pursuits, is something that I can help to encourage and support, whatever the discipline happens to be.

Your background is very different from Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin, who comes from legal studies. How do the two of you plan to use both backgrounds to lead the universitys academic missions?

Our backgrounds are different in terms of the specific experiences we had, in terms of the way we did scholarship and kind of education we have. She's a lawyer  I listen to podcasts by lawyers  but we're also very similar in that we care about these larger questions around the purpose of higher education, where it sits. And so, I think we'll be able to work together to make that happen. What she has is an appreciation for the mission of the public university. I think she believes in those kinds of ideas. I know that I do, and I think that with that, you can kind of move from here to there. And I will say that we know both as a matter of our own personal experience, but also the literature tells us, that you want a diverse set of experiences and backgrounds and interests, and that gets you to the best possible outcome. And this university is full of that.

40 notable people who attended UW-Madison Virgil Abloh Shirley Abrahamson Stephen Ambrose Don Ameche Carol Bartz Steve Bornstein Laurel Clark Barbara Crabb Joan Cusack Ron Dayne Ada Deer Hector DeLuca August Derleth Andre De Shields Conrad Elvehjem William T. Evjue Jeff Greenfield Lorraine Hansberry Kevin Henkes Mary Hinkson bell hooks Jane Kaczmarek Robert M. La Follette Charles Lindbergh Karl Paul Link James Lovell David Maraniss Steve Miller John Morgridge Errol Morris John Muir Gaylord Nelson Joyce Carol Oates Vel Phillips George Poage Tommy Thompson Al Toon Greta Van Susteren Russell Wilson Frank Lloyd Wright
A postal carrier was sentenced to 4 years of probation on Thursday for stealing Menards rebate checks from mail in northern Wisconsin, authorities reported.

Joshua P. Copas, 38, of Cumberland, was sentenced by Judge James Peterson after pleading guilty to one count of theft of mail while a U.S. Postal Service employee, U.S. Attorney Timothy OShea said in a statement.

In early June 2022, a Cumberland woman contacted police to report a stolen Menards rebate check that she hadnt received in the mail as expected. She said when she called Menards, she learned that the check had been spent without her knowledge, OShea said.

Video showed that the check was used by Copas, who was working as a mail carrier at the time. Additional investigation linked Copas to the thefts of 30 other Menards rebate checks, all but two of which were to be delivered on his mail route from late March to late May 2022, OShea said.

The total value of the 31 stolen rebate checks was $4,547.84, and the judge also ordered Copas to pay that amount on restitution to the victims, OShea said.
If state Rep. Jimmy Anderson wants to visit residents in some of the northern neighborhoods he represents, he first must leave his own district  twice.

From his Fitchburg home in suburban Madison, Anderson must exit his 47th Assembly District, pass through the 77th District, reenter the 47th District, then head north through the 48th District to finally reach a cluster of homes assigned like a remote outpost to his district.

Unusual? Yes. Inconvenient? Yes.

Unconstitutional? Perhaps.

Though the Wisconsin Constitution requires legislative districts to consist of contiguous territory, many nonetheless contain sections of land that are not actually connected. The resulting map looks a bit like Swiss cheese, where some districts are dotted with small neighborhood holes assigned to different representatives.

Wisconsins nationally peculiar practice of detached districts is cited as one of several alleged violations in a recent lawsuit seeking to strike down current Assembly and Senate districts and replace them before the 2024 election.

Like similar cases in states ranging from North Carolina to Utah, the Wisconsin lawsuit also alleges partisan gerrymandering is illegal under the state Constitutions guarantee of equal protection and free speech.

Though such claims have had mixed results nationally, Democrats hope the Wisconsin Supreme Courts new liberal majority will deliver a resounding rejection of gerrymandering that has given Republicans a lopsided legislative majority.

But the challenge to noncontiguous districts could provide judges a way to decide the case without ever addressing whether partisan gerrymandering is illegal.

It could be that this gives the court a completely neutral basis for deciding the maps are no good, said Kenneth R. Mayer, a UW-Madison political science professor.

A state on tilt

Wisconsins Assembly districts rank among the most tilted nationally, with Republicans routinely winning far more seats than would be expected based on their average share of the vote, according to an Associated Press analysis. In other states, such as Nevada, Democrats have reaped a disproportionate advantage from redistricting.

Most states are guided by at least four traditional principles for reshaping state legislative districts after each decennial census. Those include districts being nearly equal in population, compact and contiguous and following the boundaries of cities and counties. Contiguous generally is understood to mean all parts of a district are connected, with some logical exceptions for islands.

In some states, mapmakers have gotten creative by using narrow strips of roads or rivers to connect otherwise distinct parts of a district. But few have gone so far as Wisconsin in treating contiguous as a loose synonym for nearby.

Wisconsins detached districts are profoundly weird, said Justin Levitt, a professor at Loyola Marymount University Law School in Los Angeles who created the All About Redistricting website.

Andersons legislative district, for example, includes more than a dozen remote territories scattered around the Madison area that are disconnected from the districts main portion in Fitchburg, McFarland and Monona. That makes door-to-door canvassing particularly challenging for Anderson, who uses a wheelchair that must be repeatedly loaded and unloaded from a van.

The situation also is confusing for his remote constituents whose neighbors are represented by someone else, Anderson said.

It just doesnt serve the people that live in those little bubbles to not have the same kind of community cohesion and interests being represented, he said.

Its ridiculous

Gabrielle Young, 46, lives in one of the land islands Anderson represents. But until she was contacted by lawyers filing the redistricting lawsuit, Young said she had no idea Anderson had to travel through another district to campaign in her neighborhood. Young agreed to serve as a plaintiff in the lawsuit alleging the disconnected districts violate the state constitution.

I could have gone the rest of my life living here not realizing it was happening, but that doesnt make it OK, she said. Its ridiculous.

Among other things, the lawsuit cites an 1892 case in which the Wisconsin Supreme Court stated districts cannot be made up of two or more pieces of detached territory. Yet the practice proliferated over time, with 55 of the 99 Assembly districts and 21 of the 33 Senate districts now composed of disconnected portions, according to the lawsuit.

Clearly, at some point, things sort of went awry, said Mark Gaber, senior director of redistricting at Campaign Legal Center, a Washington, D.C.-based group that helped bring the lawsuit.

It seems pretty clear to me that you have to enforce the words as they are written, Gaber added.

That has not always been the case.

Competing maps

In 1992, a federal judicial panel considering a Wisconsin redistricting lawsuit essentially endorsed detached legislative districts. Wisconsins Democratic-led Legislature and Republican governor had failed to agree on new districts following the 1990 census. The court was left to pick among various plans submitted by the parties. Republican plans proposed districts with literal contiguity, but the judges opted for a Democratic approach that did not.

The federal judges said legislative districts containing disconnected islands of land were similar to towns that had been legally permitted to annex noncontiguous areas.

Since the distance between town and island is slight, we do not think the failure of the legislative plan to achieve literal contiguity a serious demerit, the judges wrote in 1992.

The political roles are reversed 30 years later. Republicans, who now control the Legislature, proposed Assembly and Senate maps with disconnected districts that the Wisconsin Supreme Court adopted last year. Democrats, who control the governors office, are backing the legal challenge.

The districts are constitutional because they are legally contiguous, Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said in a statement to The Associated Press, alluding to prior court rulings. He declined further comment.

Though contiguity requirements have a long national history in redistricting, they have not always been explicitly defined, thus leaving room for interpretation, said Micah Altman, a research scientist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology whose specialties include redistricting.

Criteria such as contiguous and compact districts must be balanced with other principles, such as distributing the population equally and not splitting municipalities and counties among districts, he said.

Turning one knob on the system makes you have to turn down the other knob at least a bit, Altman said.

In the case of Andersons district, the disconnected sections likely have not made much difference in the partisan composition of his voters. Anderson is a Democrat, and so are the majority of Madison-area voters.

But redistricting experts say there still is potential for politicians to rig the map to their favor by drawing remote sections of districts.

When you allow mapmakers to draw districts that are noncontiguous, you give them even more flexibility to perpetrate abuse, Levitt said.
Lorenzo Santos, Racine County emergency manager and chair of the Young Democrats of Wisconsin, plans to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil for Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District next fall.

Santos, a Racine resident and graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, said in a statement he is running "because weve seen fundamental civil and human rights systematically taken away these past few years."

"Im not going to stand by and let that continue to happen," Santos said.

Santos is the first Democratic candidate to formally launch a challenge against Steil, who defeated challenger Ann Roe by more than nine percentage points in last year's November election.

Santos, who plans to officially launch his campaign Saturday at Littleport Brewing Company in Racine, said his campaign will focus on issues ranging from abortion and voting rights to jobs, education, gun control and climate change.

"I believe in a womans right to choose, that in the richest country on Earth, anyone that wants health care should have it, that voters should choose their elected officials, not the other way around, that we should pay workers a fair wage, provide our children with a quality education and keep them safe while theyre getting one," Santos said.

Steil, of Janesville, was first elected to Congress in 2018. While the southeast Wisconsin district  which covers Racine and Kenosha counties, as well as portions of Rock, Milwaukee and Walworth counties  has traditionally leaned Republican in past elections, Democrats have eyed the district as a potential pickup next year.

Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District saw its margin fall from a 10-point Republican lean to a 2-point GOP advantage under new maps adopted last year.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in April named Steil's district, as well as the 3rd Congressional District held by Prairie du Chien Republican Derrick Van Orden, as Democratic targets next fall.

The University of Virginia Center for Politics' Sabato's Crystal Ball listed both the 1st and 3rd congressional districts as "likely Republican" in June.

Steil announced last month he had raised more than $900,000 in the second quarter of 2023. The Janesville Republican had more than $2.85 million on hand by the end of June.

Steil's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.
Thirty-six million dollars could pay for 450 teachers in Wisconsin.

It could fix more than 700,000 potholes.

Or it could help 12,000 struggling families stay in their apartments or homes, avoiding eviction.

And thats just the potential impact of the $36 million in tax revenue Wisconsin could collect every year from its residents now buying cannabis in Illinois. If marijuana were legalized here  as it has been in some form in every state surrounding Wisconsin  the tax collections would easily top $100 million, according to the state Legislative Fiscal Bureau.

Minnesota, for example, which legalized recreational marijuana Aug. 1, expects to receive $110 million in annual tax revenue by 2027. Thats enough money to employ and train some 5,000 young people in the Wisconsin Conservation Corps, building trails, managing wildlife habitats and completing carpentry projects.

More important than tax receipts, legalizing marijuana in Wisconsin would recognize reality: Cannabis has gone mainstream. Most Americans now live in states where it is legal, and it hasnt caused lots of problems.

Half of Wisconsin adults 21 or older live within a 75-minute drive to a recreational dispensary, according to the independent Wisconsin Policy Forum. And that was before Minnesota became the latest Midwestern state to allow it. Michigan and Illinois granted adults the freedom to use marijuana in 2018 and 2020, respectively. Iowa, the only other state that borders Wisconsin, allows medical marijuana with a prescription.

Madison area residents can drive just 45 minute down Interstate 39 to a dispensary in South Beloit, Illinois. Bringing the substance back across the border is technically a crime. Yet more than a dozen cities including Kenosha, La Crosse, Madison, Milwaukee, Oshkosh, Stevens Point and Superior have decriminalized small amounts.

Legalizing it across Wisconsin will make our state more fair for everyone by standardizing access and rules. It also will prevent excessive drug charges applied to people stopped for traffic violations or other minor offenses. Marijuana-related arrests and charges disproportionately affect people of color, which makes it harder to find and keep jobs.

Just as adults are allowed the freedom to drink alcohol responsibly, so should they be able to consume cannabis, which is arguably less dangerous if not beneficial for some.

167 million reasons to legalize marijuana in Wisconsin STATE JOURNAL VIEW: The state is losing a windfall of revenue -- $167M a year -- by sending residents to the border to buy cannabis

Consider that doctors in Wisconsin can prescribe highly addictive opioids, which are killing 1,400 people a year in Wisconsin, according to the state Department of Health Services. Yet state Republican lawmakers wont allow medical patients suffering from cancer, multiple sclerosis and other terrible diseases to use marijuana as a mild and less risky alternative for controlling pain and nausea. GOP opposition to medical marijuana is weakening, yet it remains unjustified and inhumane.

Allowing adults to purchase small amounts of cannabis at legal dispensaries for pleasure will help ensure the substance is safe and regulated for users. Unlike street drugs, which can be laced with unexpected substances such as deadly fentanyl, cannabis from dispensaries must be grown according to government health standards.

Marijuana shouldnt be sold to teenagers because it can harm their developing brains, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nor should it be sold in bright colors as gummies, which have been mistaken for candy by children.

Yet moderate use by adults is relatively safe. And some of the substantial revenue from legalized marijuana in Wisconsin could be used to address any existing or unforeseen problems.

Under reasonable proposals by Democrats including Gov. Tony Evers, only adults 21 years and older could purchase recreational marijuana in Wisconsin. State residents could possess no more than 2 ounces and six plants for personal use, with tighter restrictions on nonresidents. Motorists would be forbidden from driving while high.

Tribal governments in Minnesota appear well positioned to be the first sellers of legal cannabis there. Private companies will eventually join the market. Wisconsin should draft a licensing system to ensure a fair and open market for a diversity of entrepreneurs.

More than two-thirds of respondents to a statewide Marquette University poll last year favored legal marijuana for recreational use, while fewer than a quarter were opposed.

GOP lawmakers should listen to their constituents, legalize small amounts of the drug and put the tax receipts to work here in Wisconsin.

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 JAMES L. HOWARD JENNY PRICE
Public health to offer tobacco cessation class in Heyburn

The South Central Public Health District is offering tobacco cessation community classes in multiple locations across the Magic Valley into November, including Heyburn. Participants, 18 years or older only, will receive free nicotine patches, gun and lozenges during the five-week class to support their efforts to quit.

The Heyburn class, to be held at 485 22nd St., will be on Mondays from Oct. 16 through Nov. 13, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Cigarette smoking remains the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, killing more than 480,000 people from smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke each year.

Call 208-737-5968 to schedule a class. For more information, go online to phd5.idaho.gov/tobacco.

Idaho digital equity draft plan open for public comment

The Idaho Commission for Libraries has partnered with Boise State Universitys Idaho Policy Institute to create a five-year statewide Digital Access for All Idahoans Plan to serve as a benchmark and roadmap for achieving digital equity in Idaho.

The draft of the DAAI Plan is ready for review and public comment through Sept. 8. . To view the draft and for more information, go online to https://libraries.idaho.gov/digital-access-for-all-idahoans/.

To comment, complete the online form at https://forms.office.com/g/cAk6iLYRkQ; email digitalskills@libraries.idaho.gov; or mail to Idaho Commission for Libraries, Attn: DAAI Draft Plan Comments, 325 W. State St. Boise, 83702.

A revised plan will be available in October.

Also:

Healing Grieving Hearts will host its third annual Wings of Hope on Tuesday, Aug. 29, at 6 p.m. at Moreys Steakhouse in Burley. The free event will allow attendees to release a butterfly in memory of a lost loved one. A light dinner will follow. For information or to reserve a butterfly, call or text 208-679-9401.

will host its third annual on Tuesday, Aug. 29, at 6 p.m. at Moreys Steakhouse in Burley. The free event will allow attendees to release a butterfly in memory of a lost loved one. A light dinner will follow. For information or to reserve a butterfly, call or text 208-679-9401. The third annual Days-Gone-By festival is scheduled for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Cassia County Historical Museum, 1142 Hiland Ave. in Burley. The event is free and open to the whole family.

 The Voice
Idaho Republican Party Chairwoman Dorothy Moon is fired up, and for good reason. At least, that seems to be the consensus of the partys faithful.

She and her fellow Republicans, who strongly back former president Donald Trump, are peeved about what appears to be a two-tiered justice system. Joe Bidens Department of Justice, as Moon describes it, has issued a string of indictments against Trump  President Joe Bidens most likely opponent in next years presidential race.

Nothing fishy about that, right?

Of course, the fake news media have trained their spotlights on Donald Trump, focusing all of their energy on the allegations against him, Moon wrote in a recent opinion column.

And then theres Hunter Biden, the presidents son who apparently has never taken the silver spoon from his mouth.

Testimony by Hunter Bidens former business associate suggests Hunter used his father, during his tenure as vice president, as political influence in his business dealings. And weve all seen the video of Joe Biden admitting, in his own words, that he strong-armed a foreign government to fire the prosecutor that was investigating Hunter Biden and his company, Moon wrote. We sit and watch the DOJ give preferential treatment to the sitting presidents family, and our press shields Joe Biden from criticism.

Quote This campaign for the nomination is about one person, and not about the future  and not about pressing issues such as national security, border control and the $32 trillion national debt.

With Republicans so hopping mad over the DOJ developments, its no wonder why Trumps poll numbers keep rising. Moon is not alone with her views. Polls show that more than 80% of Republicans think indictments against Trump are politically motivated. Thats a good number of people who dislike everything about Biden, the Justice Department and liberal policies in general.

The GOPs solution is to put Trump back in the White House to straighten out everything.

Lets think more about that one. The former presidents defenders keep saying that Trump has done nothing wrong  at least not enough to put him in jail, or disqualify him for the presidency.

But what I havent heard from Moon, or any other Trump supporter, is what he has done right.

Was it right (or presidential) for Trump to sit silently at a kitchen table in the White House and watch as rioters were storming the Capitol?

Was it right (or presidential) for Trump to pressure his vice president into not certifying the results of the 2020 election, which was Mike Pences constitutional duty that day?

Was it right (or presidential) for Trump to ask (more like demand) the Georgia secretary of state to find nearly 12,000 votes (by any means) to reverse the outcome of the race?

Was it right (or presidential) for Trump to stash boxes of classified documents at his Florida home?

The list can be longer, for sure. My take is that anything positive that came from his administration  such as a robust economy and building some respect internationally  were overshadowed by his deplorable conduct since his election defeat. And, yes, he did lose that election. Its hard to imagine that the party of Ronald Reagan  known for his wit, wisdom and dignity  wants a guy like Trump back in the White House.

This campaign for the nomination is about one person, and not about the future  and not about pressing issues such as national security, border control and the $32 trillion national debt. Its about re-living the 2020 election and all those indictments from Bidens Justice Department which, in the eyes of the GOP faithful, apparently is a far bigger threat than Russia or China.

If Trump wins the presidency, we can look forward to an endless string of court proceedings over those indictments, perhaps in addition to an impeachment or two if Democrats regain control of the House.

Republicans have an impressive list of candidates who are ready to take on Biden and talk about their vision for the future. I dont see how the country can take four more years of Donald Trump.

By the way things are looking, thats what were going to get.
During the last legislative session, Secretary of State Phil McGrane pushed legislation to move the presidential primary from March to May. Unfortunately the bill was poorly drafted and what it really did was to ELIMINATE Idahos presidential primary entirely.

Despite this flaw, the governor signed the bill which disenfranchised every Idaho citizen from expressing their preference for the nominee for the general election in November.

Primaries arent like regular elections where the winner takes office. A primary is a political party matter where the Republicans, Democrats, Constitution, and Libertarian parties select their candidates to compete in the general election. Because of this, if the state does not conduct the primary it falls to the party to make the selection.

OUR VIEW: Republicans and Democrats can (and do) work together. Yes, really. OUR VIEW: The Times-News Editorial Board met this week with Rep. Mike Simpson and Sen. Mike Crapo  and this common theme caught our attention.

In the Republican Party, the primary process is used to allocate delegates to the Republican National Convention. It is at the convention where the Republican nominee will be chosen, elected by the delegates.

At the recent meeting of the Idaho Republican Party, the State Central Committee voted for the party to hold a Presidential Preference Caucus if the Legislature fails to repeal the law that deleted the presidential primary. Since it is unlikely that the Legislature will call an emergency session before the Oct. 1 deadline then the Republican Party will be holding a caucus on March 2, 2024, to select delegates to the RNC.

Quote ... we will have a single round of voting and if no candidate gets a majority of the votes, then the delegates will be allocated proportionately. This is called a Firehouse Caucus, because they are frequently conducted in firehouses.

We have been here before. In 2012, the IDGOP held a caucus that some of you may have participated. We attempted to have a winner-take-all caucus, where the winner would get all 32 delegates allocated to Idaho. This required multiple rounds of voting which went late into the evening. It was exhausting and many participants were unhappy, myself included. We arent going to do THAT again.

Instead we will have a single round of voting and if no candidate gets a majority of the votes, then the delegates will be allocated proportionately. This is called a Firehouse Caucus, because they are frequently conducted in firehouses.

In order to re-enfranchise as many voters as possible, the caucus will be held simultaneously at multiple locations. Like regular voting, each precinct will be assigned a caucus location. If you wish to participate in the caucus you must be a qualified elector (registered voter in the county and your precinct) and you must affiliate with the Republican Party no later than the end of the this year. There will be no mail-in or absentee voting. You will be receiving a post card in the mail with instructions.

What will the caucus be like?

The rules are not finalized but likely, on Saturday, March 2, you will go to the caucus location assigned to your precinct.

Once there, you will present your photo ID and sign a poll book next to your name. You will be issued a token or wrist band or hand stamp that will serve as your credential. At the scheduled time, the voter check-in will close and a few minutes after that the candidate presentations will start. Each candidate will have up to five minutes to address the caucus. Presentations will be by a campaign designated person or via videoconference. Once all the presentations are done, then voting will begin. Voters will trade their token or wrist band for a ballot and then mark and cast their ballot into a sealed ballot box.

After casting their ballot, the voter is free to go or stay and witness the tabulation. Once all the ballots are cast, the ballot box will be opened in front of multiple witnesses and the ballots tabulated.

The tabulation process will separate the ballots by candidate and then each stack will be hand-counted twice or more until the same results are obtained. The tabulation results will be entered onto a tabulation sheet and signed by the tabulators and the caucus captain. The caucus captain will then report the results to the IDGOP main office and seal the ballots and tabulation sheet in an envelope or box and send, via secure carrier, to the IDGOP main office where they will be canvassed over the next few days to verify the results.

This process will happen at many locations all over the state and they will be conducted simultaneously so that everyone will get the results simultaneously and after voting has finished.

Depending on the number of precincts served at a particular caucus location and the level of voter participation, the time commitment from the voter should be one to two hours.

Holding the caucus on March 2 means that Idaho will be only the fifth state to express its preference before Super Tuesday, so candidates should be very interested in visiting Idaho, listening to Idaho voters and addressing Idaho issues so they can score a victory going into Super Tuesday.

The Idaho Republican Party is committed to re-enfranchising as many Idaho Republican voters as possible.

Its just common sense.
State and regional news tends to be highly siloed. Apart from national news, we tend to hear little about whats happening in other states, which leads to thinking little about them. Sometimes what happens out of state matters to Idaho  and vice versa.

What happens in Idaho doesnt always stay in Idaho.

As Idaho is learning  in court.

Quote Our borders are porous. We may think that our states are stand-alone and can easily go our own way. But thats true only to a point. We do have an effect on each other, like it or not.

Idaho is now under the irritated attention of a bunch of jurisdictions, including the states of Washington, Oregon, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island and the District of Columbia, all places where abortion remains (in general, at least) legal.

The subject of irritation: One of Idahos new abortion laws. In the wave of lawsuits against it, this particular case should get some attention.

The new Idaho law in question imposes a number of restrictions related to abortion, including criminalizing some adult involvement with interstate travel for minors that involves abortion legal in another state. (It also may, depending on how you read it, chill speech concerning abortion and other subjects; that is the subject of another lawsuit.)

ANOTHER VIEW: Heres who to blame for Idahos expanding maternal health care desert ANOTHER VIEW: Idaho faces a metastasizing maternal health care desert  and we can trace it to the callous attitude of a conservative Legislature, writes the Lewiston Tribune Editorial Board.

The lawsuit drawing in the crowd of states was filed in federal court by the Northwest Abortion Access Fund and the Indigenous Idaho Alliance, and on behalf of a lawyer who works with minors on subjects including abortion. But on Aug. 2, they got support from an amicus brief in which all of those states in the last paragraph (plus the district) weighed in.

The brief originated with Robert Ferguson, the Washington state attorney general, who was quickly joined by others. (The brief itself is not long and worth reading.) The states, like the plaintiffs, asked that the Idaho law be blocked, at least in part.

Part of the brief hinges on an interpretation of the abortion law by Idahos attorney generals office, in a March 27 letter which has been withdrawn (though not reversed or repudiated). The provision concerns helping an Idahoan obtain an abortion which isnt legal in Idaho, in another state.

The legal logic involved in the law becomes rapidly more complex than its drafters may have anticipated.

The other states, for example, said that in finding that referrals for out-of-state abortions are prohibited by Idaho law, the Attorney General necessarily concludes that the out-of-state abortions themselves violate Idaho law. The Constitution forbids such an interpretation of state law.

There is much more. For example:

First, any residents of other states traveling to, or temporarily residing in, Idaho and seeking healthcare services could be affected. Second, as the provider of health insurance for state employees and their children, who may be temporarily visiting or residing in Idaho, Amici States have a direct financial interest in preventing increased risk to patients and cost of medical care resulting from undue delays or impeded continuity of care.

Finally, healthcare providers licensed in multiple states including Idaho would reasonably fear Idahos apparent reading of its laws, producing a chilling effect on the lawful provision of healthcare in other states. For example, a healthcare provider licensed in both Idaho and a neighboring state, such as Washington or Oregon, may be reluctant to provide abortion services in Washington or Oregon for fear of being subjected to licensing enforcement action in Idaho, potentially resulting in the restriction of their Idaho license or the imposition of fines.

The states also spoke about residents of their states passing through Idaho and being affected by the law  which would be the case. Travel to another state, and youre bound to live by their rules. But abortion can be a little different, the states suggested. For example:

... any pregnancy and miscarriage complications can require time-sensitive treatment, including abortion care, to stabilize emergency conditions. In such circumstances, any failure or delays in providing necessary abortion care puts the pregnant patients life or health at risk.

Our borders are porous. We may think that our states are stand-alone and can easily go our own way. But thats true only to a point. We do have an effect on each other, like it or not.
Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui, Jr. signed a historic multi-sectoral memorandum of agreement with nine business/professional groups on August 8, 2023 to improve taxpayer service. This is in line with his mission to make the BIR a service-oriented agency, not merely a goal-oriented one.

This MOA is a historic day for the BIR and the country. In order to make the Philippines a top investment destination, we need to work hand-in-hand with the private sector. We will engage in dialogue with them. I want a BIR that is a service-oriented agency. The more we help make the country business-friendly, the more investments it will create. Ultimately, the more taxes we will collect, Lumagui said.

The Bureaus ninemulti-sectoral partners are: the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) headed by its President George T. Barcelon; Tax Management Association of the Philippines (TMAP) headed by President Atty. Suzette A. Celicious-Sy; Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) headed President Atty. Benedicta Du-Baladad, as represented by Governor Benjamin R. Punongbayan; Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX) headed by President Wilson P. Tan, as represented by Vice President Michael Arcatomy H. Guarin; the Philippine Institute of Certified of Public Accountants (PICPA) headed by President Atty. Randy B. Blanza; Association of Certified Public Accountants in Public Service and Practice (ACPAPP) headed by President Romualdo V. Murcia III; Association of Certified Public Accountants in Commerce and Industry (ACPACI) headed by President Anna Lissa C. Chua-Dycaico; Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT) headed by Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis, Jr.; and the Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines (JFC) represented by Primary Delegate Atty. Mimi Lopez-Malvar.

PCCI President George T. Barcelon I would like to congratulate the BIR for successfully establishing the multi-sectoral group partnership formalized in this MOA signing, this truly is a ground breaking event as this MOA is signed by numerous organizations and PCCI is truly honored to be part of this group. By facilitating cooperation between business and government we taking the necessary steps to building a better nation.

Thank you, Commissioner, and those forming the Technical Working Group as well as the partners for creating this and we assure you of our support TMAP President Atty. Suzette A. Celicious-Sy.

On behalf of President Benedicta Du-Baladad, the board of governors and the members of MAP we wish to express our congratulations to BIR for putting together this multi-sectoral group and work with the BIR in certain activities as stated in the MOA, to help enhance the Bureaus effectiveness in increasing its tax collection., MAP Governor Benjamin R. Punongbayan.

In behalf of my President Wilson P. Tan and in behalf of FINEX we are happy to support. If you listen to our messages outside there are two (2) important things for the Philippines, one is Corporate Governance and the other one is the Competitiveness of the Nation, so definitely setting up this multi-sectoral as far as corporate governance is concerned, it definitely helps with the coordination and the communication, both are pillars for having a strong corporate governance said FINEX Vice President Mr. Michael Arcatomy H. Guarin.

We also express our congratulations to the BIR for spearheading this kind of event. Our organization has been one in the forefront of tax administration of the country. The BIR can count on us Sir on this endeavor and look forward to more cooperation between PICPA and BIR. PICPA President Atty. Randy Blanza.

The initiative of BIR is very important as it provides a clear channel to raise suggestions towards comprehensive, relevant and lawful policies and regulations and effective tax administrationThe MOA solidifies our mutual dedication to enhance tax compliance and promote a fair and equitable tax system in our country. ACPAPP President Romualdo V. Murcia III.

It is an honor for us to be part of this multi-sectoral group, in behalf of the Board of Directors, past Presidents of ACPACCI and the Committee, we are look forward Sir in working hand-in-hand with you in addressing relevant tax issues. ACPACCI President Anna Lissa C. Chua-Dycaico.

Thank you, Mr. Commissioner, for making this happen. We look forward for a successful partnership under this undertaking. And just for the record, we continue to push for reforms to help make our e-Export more competitive, this includes the VAT Zero-Rating implementation, again thank you! PHILEXPORT President Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis, Jr.

We are so honored to be invited to this MOA (signing) and consider this as a landmark partnership between government and private sectorWe do look forward in maximizing this opportunity to help the BIR meet its objective and help the companies we represent comply with simplified, transparent and equitable tax regulations as a result Again, congrats to the BIR for this remarkable initiative and we hope this is just a start of a stronger public-private partnership for the good of the country and of the Philippines! JFC Primary Delegate Atty. Mimi Lopez-Malvar.

Prior to the signing of the MOA, Commissioner Lumagui formed a committee called Partnership with Multi-Sectoral Group or PMSG last April 3, 2023 comprising of Technical Working Groups (TWGs) from the Project Management and Implementation Service (PMIS), Legal Group, Large Taxpayers Service, Operations Group and the Information Systems Group (ISG).

The MOA will integrate the BIR TWG with the nine (9) multi-sectoral working group to engage in regular dialogue and consultations for drafting revenue issuances to ensure compliance by taxpayers and enhance tax administration.

The MOA with the multi-sectoral group marks a historic collaboration and accomplishment for the BIR.

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The PLDT Group vowed to work closely with the Armed Forces of the Philippines to bolster the countrys cybersecurity infrastructure against attacks, including those believed to be state-sponsored.

PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications chairman Manuel Pangilinan said during the Philippine Air Forces Castle Siege 2 cybersecurity exercise that cybersecurity stakeholders should establish and improve communication lines.

Whether its sharing threat intelligence, best practices, joint simulation exercises, we need to come together in order to protect our shared cyberspace together. The quality of attacks has leveled up in sophistication, Pangilinan said.

The Philippines is now being bombarded with cyber-attacks daily. PLDT said that in the first half of the year, the group thwarted more than 5.5 billion cyber-attacks and attempts to breach its digital network.

Pangilinan underscored the importance of upskilling cyber warriors. Plans and strategies work best if we have the right teams and the right personnel to back these up. We need to bolster the ranks of our cyber warriors, he said.

Meanwhile, GCash, the mobile wallet of Globe Telecom, lauded the successful operations of the Department of Justice, the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group against cybercriminals.

GCash is supportive of the operations of the DOJ, NBI and PNP-ACG in going after perpetrators. We are an active partner of our law enforcement agencies as we exchange technical knowledge and expertise on the latest cybersecurity measures, said Atty. Maria Corazon Alvarez-Adriano, chief legal officer of GCash.

The DOJ, NBI and PNP-ACG conducted a series of raids and arrests of alleged cybercriminals in the past months. They arrested suspected perpetrators of various crimes like love scams and task scams and confiscated SIM cards purportedly used for dubious purposes.

The authorities are working on the arrest of the suspects linked to the illegal operations a big win in the shared fight against scammers, fraudsters and other cybercriminals.

GCash is also pushing for the passage of a bill that would criminalize the buying and selling of so-called mule accounts which are used by criminals to hide their identities when transferring illicit money.

GCash continues to invest in best-in-class security technologies and innovations. It recently reached 100-percent rollout for industry-first security feature, DoubleSafe, to ensure that the person accessing an account is the same as the one who registered in GCash by using face ID technology.

With the DoubleSafe Face ID feature, even if the users inadvertently give out their MPIN or OTP, their account cannot be accessed from a new device without scanning the owners face, said Miguel Geronilla, GCashs chief information security officer.

GCash remains steadfast in educating its customers and the general public on how they can better protect themselves from scammers.

Through educational materials under the GSafeTayo campaign, GCash encourages users to be wary of Phishing sites and links that spoof official portals of financial institutions and online shopping websites.

Customers are also advised to transact only through GCashs official channels and remember that it will never send personal messages to address concerns or ask for users MPIN, OTP or other personal information.

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Kano, Nigeria  The leader of Nigers military regime is ready to consider a diplomatic solution to its stand-off with West African bloc ECOWAS, the head of a religious delegation of mediators said Sunday.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has not ruled out using force against the army officers who toppled Nigers elected leader Mohamed Bazoum on July 26.

ECOWAS has approved the deployment of a standby force to restore constitutional order in Niger as soon as possible but remains committed to finding a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

Coup leader General Abdourahamane Tiani said their doors were open to explore diplomacy and peace in resolving the matter, said Sheikh Bala Lau, a day after his Nigerian Muslim delegation held talks in the capital Niamey.

Tiani claimed the coup was well intended and that the plotters struck to starve off an imminent threat that would have affected Nigeria as well as Niger, the statement added.

But Tiani said it was painful that ECOWAS issued an ultimatum to restore Bazoum without hearing their side of the matter, according to Laus statement.

Tiani also apologised for not according sufficient attention to an ECOWAS delegation to Niger led by former Nigerian leader Abdulsalami Abubakar, saying the treatment was due to anger over the ultimatum.

The Muslim leaders visited Niamey with the blessing of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who is also head of ECOWAS.

The bloc scrapped a Saturday crisis meeting on the coup for technical reasons.

Bazoum, 63, and his family have been held at the presidents official Niamey residence since last months coup.

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NEW YORKTaiwanese Vice President William Lai vowed on Sunday to resist annexation in a speech given during a weekend trip to the United States that China has opposed.

Lai is the frontrunner in Taiwans presidential elections next year, and is making transit stops in the United States en route to and from Paraguay, where he will attend the inauguration of president-elect Santiago Pena.

His trip has already roused anger from Beijing, which claims democratic Taiwan as part of China, and which particularly dislikes Lai, accusing him of espousing separatist views.

At a New York luncheon on Sunday (Monday in Manila), Lai reiterated he would continue to uphold the core tenets of the administration of President Tsai Ing-wenalso hated by Beijing for refusing to accept that Taiwan is a part of China.

I will continue our commitment to resist annexation or encroachment upon our sovereignty, he said in a speech carried by Taiwanese channel TTV News.

China had said earlier on Sunday that it was closely monitoring troublemaker Lais visits, and vowed to take resolute and forceful measures to safeguard national sovereignty.

In a video released by Taiwans presidential office, Lai also reiterated that they must uphold the value of democracy and freedom.

At this critical moment, we promise again here and now that no matter how great the threat of authoritarianism is to Taiwan, we will never be afraid or back down, Lai told an audience that included representatives of the American Institute in Taiwan the de facto US embassy for the island.

Taiwan had sought to downplay Lais US trip as routinehe is expected to continue on to Paraguay, then stop in San Francisco on his way back to Taiwan.

Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office on Sunday accused him of going to the US to betray Taiwan for his own selfish personal gain.

William Lai continues to stubbornly defend the idea of Taiwanese independence in an attempt to wrangle votes, said spokeswoman Zhu Fenglian.

Taiwan independence is incompatible with peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

In recent years, China has stepped up military and political pressure on Taiwan, conducting near-daily incursions by warplanes and naval vessels around the island.

In April, when Taiwanese President Tsai met US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California, China staged three days of military exercises simulating a blockade of Taiwan.

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The Chinese Embassy on Monday again urged the Philippines to meet China halfway over the maritime dispute through diplomatic dialogues but insisted that the country tow away the BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal, which is well within the Philippines exclusive economic zone.

Chinese Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Zhou Zhiyong made the statement more than a week after the Chinese Coast Guard used water cannons against Philippine vessels trying to resupply Filipino soldiers on Ayungin Shoal.

In a forum, Zhou insisted that Ayungin Shoal, which he called Renai Reef, is part of Chinas Nansha Islands.

The embassy official said that China and the Philippines are neighbors that cant move away from one another, thus disputes between both countries should be managed through dialogue and consultations.

China has repeatedly expressed its willingness to resolve differences with the Philippines through bilateral dialogues. We hope that the Philippines side will abide by the existing consensus and cherish the hard-won situation in our bilateral relations. Meet the Chinese side halfway and find an effective way of managing the situation on the sea through diplomatic consultations, Zhou said.

The Chinese embassy official also said that China has lodged solemn representations immediately requesting the Philippine side to tow away the vessel, referring to the BRP Sierra Madre. He insisted that the Philippines agreed to remove the ship that has been grounded in Ayungin Shoal since 1999.

The Philippine side also made explicit commitments to do so. The representations were put on record and well documented, Zhou said.

Its been 24 years and the Philippines side has yet to honor its commitment. The Chinese side, however, has always exerted the utmost restraint, with a view to maintaining the relations with the Philippines and safeguarding regional peace and stability, he added.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last week denied that the Philippines had promised China to remove BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal and said if such an agreement existed he would rescind it.

Zhou also said the Philippines and China in 2021 conducted discussions to manage the dispute over Ayungin Shoal, reaching a consensus for the conduct of the resupply mission on the BRP Sierra Madre.

But beginning early this year, he noted, the Philippine government refused to acknowledge and implement the existing consensus and started to take a series of unilateral actions.

Zhou said that China also sent a draft proposal to the Philippine side to address the matter, but it has yet to receive a formal response from Manila.

To prevent any incidents from occurring, the Chinese side has lodged representations both in Beijing and Manila to the Philippine side, requesting the Philippines to return to the track of honoring the existing consensus and refrain from taking unilateral actions before any new understanding is reached between us, he said.

Regrettably, in defiance of the repeated situation and warning from the Chinese side, the Philippine side insisted on transporting construction materials to the grounded vessel for overhaul and reinforcement with the intent of permanently occupying Renai Reef. The above is the cause of this incident, he said.

He was referring to how China Coast Guard did use water cannons and tried to block resupply vessels from reaching Ayungin Shoal on Aug.5.

Its actions have been widely condemned by the international community.

According to the embassy official, China has made temporary and special arrangements for 24 years for the Philippine vessels to conduct resupply missions for troops stationed on BRP Sierra Madre by only bringing food and other daily necessities out of humanitarian consideration.

Meanwhile, the Chinese side has also made it clear that we are firmly against transportation of large-scale construction materials to the grounded warship with the purpose of permanent occupation through reinforcements, he added.

The grounding of the BRP Sierra Madre was done in part to counteract Chinas illegal seizure of Mischief Reef, which the Philippines also claims.

The Philippines says both Ayungin Shoal and Mischief Reef are within its exclusive economic zone.

A note verbale was sent to China following the August 5 incident in Ayungin Shoal.

Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte, meanwhile, scoffed at Beijings latest offer of a dialogue to settle their maritime row, calling this a mere obfuscatory tactic to blot out its water cannon attack on Philippine vessels en route to Ayungin Shoal.

Villafuerte also backed a proposal that the next resupply mission be undertaken during planned joint patrols with the United States and other allies that want to preserve freedom of navigation in the West Philippine Sea.

Villafuerte made the statement after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi over the weekend called for calm and urged Manila to engage Beijing in new discussions to defuse tensions following the Ayungin incident.

The official news agency Xinhua quoted Wang as saying while on a tour of Malaysia and Singapore that the Philippines must work with China on seek(ing) an effective way to defuse tensions in the South China Sea.

Xinhua reported that Beijing has repeatedly expressed its willingness to resolve its differences with Manila, in the hope that the Philippines would abide by a consensus reached in the past.

Villafuerte, president of the National Unity Party, is optimistic that our foreign affairs and military officials know that their Chinese counterparts have long been speaking with forked tongues when it comes to WPS concerns, and will certainly not fall for this trap of getting back to the negotiating table.

Meanwhile, the Philippines-Australia (PH-Aus) Military Exercise Alon 2023 officially kicked off on Aug. 14.

AFP Public Affairs Office (AFP-PAO) chief Lt. Col. Enrico Gil Ileto said in a statement that the maneuvers began on the flight deck of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) landing helicopter dock HMAS Canberra.

Ileto said the maneuvers, also known as Exercise Alon 2023 are part of the Indo-Pacific Endeavors activities for this year and the first bilateral amphibious exercise between Australia and the Philippines.

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New York, United States  Taiwanese Vice President William Lai vowed on Sunday to resist annexation in a speech given during a weekend trip to the United States that China has opposed.

Lai is the frontrunner in Taiwans presidential elections next year, and is making transit stops in the United States en route to and from Paraguay, where he will attend the inauguration of president-elect Santiago Pena.

His trip has already roused anger from Beijing, which claims democratic Taiwan as part of China, and which particularly dislikes Lai, accusing him of espousing separatist views.

At a New York luncheon on Sunday, Lai reiterated he would continue to uphold the core tenets of the administration of President Tsai Ing-wen  also hated by Beijing for refusing to accept that Taiwan is a part of China.

I will continue our commitment to resist annexation or encroachment upon our sovereignty, he said in a speech carried by Taiwanese channel TTV News.

China had said earlier on Sunday that it was closely monitoring troublemaker Lais visits, and vowed to take resolute and forceful measures to safeguard national sovereignty.

In a video released by Taiwans presidential office, Lai also reiterated that they must uphold the value of democracy and freedom.

At this critical moment, we promise again here and now that no matter how great the threat of authoritarianism is to Taiwan, we will never be afraid or back down, Lai told an audience that included representatives of the American Institute in Taiwan  the de facto US embassy for the island.

Taiwan had sought to downplay Lais US trip as routine  he is expected to continue on to Paraguay, then stop in San Francisco on his way back to Taiwan.

Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office on Sunday accused him of going to the US to betray Taiwan for his own selfish personal gain.

William Lai continues to stubbornly defend the idea of Taiwanese independence in an attempt to wrangle votes, said spokeswoman Zhu Fenglian.

Taiwan independence is incompatible with peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

In recent years, China has stepped up military and political pressure on Taiwan, conducting near-daily incursions by warplanes and naval vessels around the island.

In April, when Taiwanese President Tsai met US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California, China staged three days of military exercises simulating a blockade of Taiwan.

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Receiver operating characteristics curves for training and validation sets resulting from the rule-based approach. Credit: Health Services Research (2023). DOI: 10.1111/1475-6773.14210

In the rush to harness artificial intelligence and machine learning tools to make care more efficient at hospitals nationwide, a new study points to another possible use: identifying patients with non-medical needs that could affect their health and ability to receive care.

These social determinants of healtheverything from transportation and housing to food supply and availability of family and friends as supportscan play a major role in a patient's health and use of health care services.

The new study focuses on a patient population with especially complex needs: people with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia. Their condition can make them especially reliant on others to get them to medical appointments and social activities, handle medications and finances, shop and prepare food, and more.

The results of the study show that a rule-based natural language processing tool successfully identified patients with unstable access to transportation, food insecurity, social isolation, financial problems and signs of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

The researchers found that a rule-based NLP toola kind of AI that analyzes human speech or writingwas far superior to deep learning and regularized logistic regression algorithms for identifying patients' social determinants of health.

However, even the NLP tool did not do well enough at identifying needs related to housing or affording or taking medication.

The study was led by Elham Mahmoudi, Ph.D., a health economist at Michigan Medicine, the University of Michigan's academic medical center, and Wenbo Wu, Ph.D., who completed the work while earning a doctorate at the U-M School of Public Health and is now at New York University. Mahmoudi and two other authors are in the Department of Family Medicine.

They and their colleagues compared the SDOH-spotting capabilities of three different AI techniques, first training them on a set of 700 patient records to teach them the kinds of words and phrases to look for, and then using them on 300 records and judging the results.

The tools only looked at the anonymized contents of emergency department and inpatient social worker notes made between 2015 and 2019 in the electronic health records of 231 patients with dementia.

Mahmoudi says the team is now working to prospectively validate the NLP algorithm against the SDOH questionnaire that has recently begun to be provided to all primary care patients at Michigan Medicine. That will allow them to compare what the computer program finds and what patients say in response to questions about their situation.

"We are also preparing a pilot program that will evaluate the feasibility of an intervention that addresses these social determinants of health, and connect identified people with community resources," said Mahmoudi. "In the meantime, we hope our current results show that this algorithm can be used by clinicians, case managers and social workers to proactively address the social needs of patients with dementia, and potentially other vulnerable patient populations."

In addition to Mahmoudi and Wu, the study's authors are Kaes J. Holkeboer and Lorrie Carbone LMSW of the U-M Department of Family Medicine, and Temidun O. Kolawole of Johns Hopkins University.

More information: Wenbo Wu et al, Natural language processing to identify social determinants of health in Alzheimer's disease and related dementia from electronic health records, Health Services Research (2023). DOI: 10.1111/1475-6773.14210 Journal information: Health Services Research
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Many medical studies record a patient's race using only the broad categories from the U.S. Census, which may conceal racial health disparities, a new study reports.

Researchers evaluated the performance of clinical risk scores for people of different races in an emergency department (ED). A clinical risk score summarizes the severity of a patient's symptoms into a single numberthe higher the score, the greater the risk of severe health outcomes.

The researchers looked at broad race categories, like "Asian," and more specific subgroups, like "Chinese" and "Indian." The risk scores performed much better for some subgroups than others, but lumping groups together under broad race categories hid those differences.

"Any time you have a predictive risk score that works better for some groups than for other groups, that's potentially a problem, because it means that the errors in that risk score may have a bigger impact on some groups than on others," said senior author Emma Pierson, assistant professor of computer science in the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute at Cornell Tech, and in the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science.

Often, there were greater differences among subgroups within the same race category than between the broad race categories themselves. Clinical risk scores can influence what kind of care a patient receives, and so performance differences could cause some groups to be systematically denied care.

"To the best of our knowledge, we present the first analysis of disparities in risk scores in health care that looks at this granular level," said Rajiv Movva, a doctoral student in the field of computer science and co-first author on the study. "Optimistically, if you do this more granular analysis, you can better describe your population and also think more carefully about possible interventions."

Movva presented the study, "Coarse race data conceals disparities in clinical risk score model performance," on Aug. 11 at the Machine Learning for Healthcare 2023 meeting.

In the new study, researchers looked at two commonly used clinical risk scores for triaging the most at-risk patients. They also used patient demographic and health information to develop their own risk scores using machine learning to predict a patient's risk of hospitalization, death or transfer to the ICU, or a quick return to the emergency room after discharge. The data came from an existing dataset of about 418,000 emergency room visits to a Boston hospital.

When it came to risk score performance, some subgroups were consistently outliers. Brazilians and Russians in the white group; Africans, Caribbeans and Cape Verdeans in the Black group; and Koreans and Southeast Asians in the Asian group all had risk score results that often differed from the group averages.

The researchers also found evidence of the "healthy immigrant effect"an observation that immigrants often have better health than people with a similar background who were born in the U.S. For example, people who identified as "Black" had more health problems than people who identified as "Black-African" or "Black-Caribbean," and thus may have been more likely to be immigrants.

Disparities in how the risk scores performed for the subgroups could be traced to different patterns of symptoms and health outcomes. One reason for these differences may be social and environmental factors the subgroups share, the researchers said.

While this study focused on emergency visits, the researchers expect this phenomenon occurs across the field of algorithmic fairnessthe study of understanding and correcting biases in computer modelswhich historically has used broad race categories.

"The findings suggest that there is much more work to be done in terms of examining performance disparities across groups when we have better descriptions of the groups themselves," said Divya Shanmugam, co-first author and doctoral student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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The pendulum of opioid prescribing for pain has swung sharply in the last decade, as the epidemic of opioid overuse, addiction and overdose led policymakers and health care providers to ratchet back on the prescriptions patients receive.

But for about 5 million Americans who have taken prescription opioids for years to address their chronic pain, that pendulum swing has led to trouble getting refills, finding new providers when their former ones retire or relocate, or getting access to multimodal pain care that goes beyond pills.

In a new paper in the Journal of Pain Research, researchers from the University of Michigan describe the consensus of a wide range of experts about how to help patients with chronic pain get adequate pain care, and coverage for the cost of that care.

Specifically, the experts call for restructuring the insurance models under which health care providers get reimbursed for caring for people with chronic pain, enhancing education of health care providers in chronic pain care as well as identifying and treating opioid use disorder, and addressing racial inequities in care which are often rooted in stigma around pain and opioid use.

The experts, who came from many fields and many areas of Michigan, reviewed research on the issue and brought their own experience to a deliberative process known as a modified Delphi panel.

This allowed them to come to consensus on the most-needed and most-achievable changes, says study senior author Pooja Lagisetty, M.D., M.S., an assistant professor of internal medicine at Michigan Medicine, U-M's academic medical center, and the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System.

In addition to the new paper, Lagisetty was recently interviewed about current issues in opioids and care for chronic pain and opioid use disorder for the Michigan Medicine research podcast The Fundamentals.

She, and the experts involved in the newly published paper, emphasize the importance of helping patients who have taken opioids for long periods of time get access to the gold-standard for chronic pain care.

Called multi-modal pain care, it involves not just oral pain medications but physical therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, injected pain therapies and integrative medicine techniques including acupuncture and chiropractic care.

This requires both training and payment for the multiple types of health care professionalsphysicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, psychologists, physical therapists, social workers and otherswho can team up to provide such care.

"In order to encourage more clinics to offer multimodal pain care and increase access for patients who currently don't receive it, insurance companies and government health coverage programs such as Medicaid need to change how they pay for it," says Lagisetty.

"We are starting to see some change, most notably at the VA and in insurance coverage of physical therapy, but more is needed in order for patients and providers to have time to develop individualized approaches, overcome stigma around providing opioid-related care, and for clinics to begin offering non-medication services."

Lagisetty notes that the new physician payment rule proposed for Medicare appears to pave the way for reimbursement for more comprehensive pain management care. But increasing access also requires training more providers in how to provide such care effectively.

Such care is in line with the opioid-related guidelines released last fall by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which emphasize patient-centered care and an individualized, rather than broadly mandated, approach to prescribing opioids to patients.

The prior CDC guidelines were issued in 2016 in reaction to the role of prescription opioids in fueling addiction and overdose. Although intended as guidance rather than rules, they became the basis for policies and clinical practices that inadvertently closed doors to care for chronic pain patients, Lagisetty notes.

Without access to care and medication, patients may seek prescription and non-prescription opioids through unauthorized channels, leading to worsened risks of addiction, overdose and mental health, she adds. The lack of availability of care for opioid use disorder, which traces its roots to stigma and administrative hurdles, makes the issue worse, she says.

More information: Adrianne Kehne et al, Improving Access to Care for Patients Taking Opioids for Chronic Pain: Recommendations from a Modified Delphi Panel in Michigan, Journal of Pain Research (2023). DOI: 10.2147/JPR.S406034
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Effects of blocks on SCRs during the test phase, Note. Early block corresponds to the first three stimuli associated with a painful expression and the last three stimuli associated with a painful expression represent the later block. Credit: Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research (2023). DOI: 10.1111/acer.15129

People with alcohol use disorder (AUD) are less able to learn from others' negative experiences, potentially rendering them more vulnerable to maintaining their dangerous drinking or relapsing, according to the first study of its type. The study explored social cognition, processes that enable us to understand and interact with others, and specifically social learning, our ability to learn by observing others' experiences.

This might include, for example, seeing others suffering from the negative consequences of heavy drinking and comprehending that heavy drinking could harm us too. Previous research has shown that people with severe AUD have an impaired ability to interpret facial expressions and possibly identifying others' pain, pointing to struggles with social learning.

For the new study in Alcohol: Clinical & Experimental Research, researchers in France used a social fear learning task to compare responses to other people's expressed pain among participants with severe AUD and healthy controls. A better understanding of the psychological and social influences involved in dangerous alcohol consumption can potentially inform more effective prevention and treatment efforts.

Investigators worked with 30 people with severe AUD and 30 healthy participants, evaluating them for cognitive function, alcohol use, concern for others and perspective taking, and anxiety and depression symptoms. All participants performed an established social fear learning task, assessing how well certain stimuli are associated with a negative consequence.

Specifically, study participants observed a demonstrator exposed to an initially neutral stimulusa blue circlereceiving an uncomfortable electric shock and reacting as if in pain versus being exposed to an alternative stimulusa green circlethat was not followed by an electric shock or "pain."

While watching, the participants expected to experience the same electric shock afterwards (they did not). Researchers asked participants to rate their distress and compassion for the demonstrator and how unpleasant they judged the shock to be, as well as their distress and compassion for demonstrators on video receiving painful auditory stimulations. Physiological responses were measured using skin conductance tests. The researchers used statistical analysis to explore associations between the two groups' reactions.

All study participants reacted to demonstrators expressing pain after receiving electrical stimulation, but those with AUD responded relatively weakly, suggesting that their threat perception was less robust than in healthy controls. This may be a consequence of people with AUD struggling to process negative facial expressions.

Those with AUD also evaluated the demonstrator's emotional experience as less unpleasant compared to healthy participants, suggesting that they are less responsive to others' painful experiences. While the healthy control group reacted more strongly to the blue circle than the green circle when these circles were presented alone, showing social learning, the participants with severe AUD did not appear to link the blue circle with the electric shock.

Empathy-related measurements were mostly not correlated with participants' responses, and depression and anxiety (higher among people with AUD) were not correlated at all.

The study is the first to reveal that people with severe AUD have social difficulties, including impaired social fear learninga reduced ability to learn from another's negative experience and difficulty linking a causal event with its social consequence. The findings underline the importance of understanding the role of social mechanisms in AUD.

Clinically, social learning interventions may help with treatment and relapse prevention. Additional research is needed, for example, on negative experiences associated with alcohol itself and whether social learning deficits are a cause or consequence of heavy alcohol use.

More information: Nahid Bakkali et al, Learning from others' experience: Social fear conditioning deficits in patients with severe alcohol use disorder, Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research (2023). DOI: 10.1111/acer.15129 Journal information: Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research
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To support transgender and gender-diverse people, governments should consider publicly funding hair removal and other minimally invasive procedures, authors argue in a commentary in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

"Minimally invasive procedures such as hair removal and facial injectables may support the process of transition in a timely fashion; evidence supports their therapeutic benefits in the field of gender-affirming care," write Drs. Katie Ross and Sarah Fraser, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The 2022 World Professional Association for Transgender Health Standards of Care Version 8 (WPATH SOC8) recommends that hair removal and facial surgeries, in addition to hormone therapy, are appropriate components of gender-affirming care.

Although hormones and surgery are common in helping people transition, hair removal and facial transformation are important for many people in gender transition. These relatively low-risk options are more accessible than surgical care with long wait-lists, and can be complementary to other approaches.

"Public funding for such procedures, which are currently funded in only 2 jurisdictions in Canada, warrants serious consideration in all provinces and territories," they conclude.

More information: Katie Ross et al, Minimally invasive procedures in gender-affirming care: the case for public funding across Canada, Canadian Medical Association Journal (2023). DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.221875 Journal information: Canadian Medical Association Journal
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Spike-specific IgG, neutralizing antibodies, and CD4 and CD8 T-cells after ipsilateral and contralateral administration of the second dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine. (a) Spike-specific IgG levels, IgG-avidity, and neutralizing activity (dilution 1:16) were determined from all individuals (n = 301) after ipsilateral (n = 145) and contralateral (n = 156) vaccination. (b) Spike-specific CD4 and CD8 T-cells as well as (c) SEB-reactive CD4 and CD8 T-cells were quantified in a subset of individuals (ipsilateral n = 64; contralateral n = 79) after stimulation based on expression of CD69 and IFN. Stippled lines denote detection limits as defined by the manufacturer (panel a) or as established in previous studies (panel b).6Schmidt T. Klemis V. Schub D. et al.Immunogenicity and reactogenicity of heterologous ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/mRNA vaccination.Nat Med. 2021; 27: 1530-1535CrossrefPubMedScopus (214)Google Scholar,12Schub D. Klemis V. Schneitler S. et al.High levels of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells with restricted functionality in severe courses of COVID-19.JCI Insight. 2020; 5e142167CrossrefPubMedScopus (64)Google Scholar Percentages in panel b refer to individuals with specific CD4 and CD8 T-cell levels above detection limit of 0.03%. Statistical analysis was performed using the non-parametric MannWhitney test. Bars represent medians with interquartile ranges. (d) Correlation matrix of spike-specific IgG levels, spike-specific neutralizing antibodies, and spike-specific CD4 and CD8 T-cells. Correlation coefficients (including p-values) were calculated according to two-tailed Spearman and displayed using a color code. SEB, Staphylococcus aureus Enterotoxin B. A separate presentation of the data of this figure for female and male study participants is shown in Figure S1. Credit: eBioMedicine (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104743

Before we get vaccinated, most of us tend to ask: Will it hurt? Will I get a fever? Will the injection site be painful afterwards? But the question of whether repeat vaccinations are best given in the same arm, or first in the right arm and then in the left (or the other way round) is probably not a question anyone has asked up until now. That this question is significant is thanks to the work of a young research scientist at Saarland University in Germany.

"The question seems so banal, so trivial that nobody before has thought to ask it," says Professor Martina Sester at the start of our conversation about the work of her doctoral student Laura Ziegler. What might at first sound like a bit of a put down is anything butand it soon becomes clear that Sester values the fact that her doctoral student took the time to address this easily overlooked question.

Scientists like Martina Sester, Professor of Transplant and Infection Immunology at Saarland University, and Laura Ziegler, who are interested in examining the effectiveness of vaccinations and vaccines, are far more likely to ask questions like: How does the vaccine move through the body? Does it travel directly or indirectly to the target site, and does it do any damage to normal body cells on the way? Is this vaccine more effective than that one, and which has the longer immune response?

But so far no one has addressed the simple question of whether it's better for a doctor to give sequential vaccination shots in the same arm or to deliver one in the left arm and one in the right.

That may now be about to change. "Our study indicates that ipsilateral vaccinations generate a stronger immune response than contralateral vaccinations," explains Laura Ziegler. In an ipsilateral vaccination the vaccine is injected twice into the same arm. In a contralateral vaccination, the primary vaccination is delivered to the left arm while the booster is injected into the right arm, or vice versa. Germany's COVID-19 vaccination campaign provided an ideal setting in which to study this question. Laura Ziegler and Martina Sester were able to create a reliable dataset of 303 individuals who received the mRNA vaccine from Biontech as their primary and booster shots at the start of Germany's COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

The most striking result was that two weeks after the booster shot the number of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, often referred to as 'killer T cells,' was significantly higher in those individuals who had been injected in the same arm. "In the ipsilateral subjects, we were able to detect the killer T cells in 67 percent of cases. In contrast, we detected CD8+ T cells in only 43 percent of the contralaterally vaccinated subjects," explains Laura Ziegler. That may suggest that that ipsilateral vaccination is more likely to provide better protection should the vaccinated person become infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

"The number of antibodies, however, was not greater," says Martina Sester. Unlike the killer cells, the antibodies do not immediately destroy the virus. Instead, they dock onto the virus preventing it from causing further harm or making it easier for macrophages to find the virus and then engulf and degrade it.

"What's interesting is that the antibodies in the ipsilaterally vaccinated subjects were better at binding to the viral spike protein," explains Sester. So the antibodies in those persons who were vaccinated in the same arm were better at doing their job than the antibodies in the contralateral subjects, who were given injections in both arms.

So far there have been hardly any studies looking into the significance of where primary and booster vaccination shots are applied. "As dramatic as the pandemic was, it has provided us with reliable data that enables us to address questions of this kind," explains Professor Sester.

At the early stage of the vaccination campaign, there were a very large number of volunteers who had not had any contact with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Had their immune systems already been in contact with the pathogen, this would have affected the results of the study.

As it was, all 303 immune systems had identical starting conditions with respect to COVID-19. For medical scientists like Laura Ziegler and her supervisor Professor Martina Sester, the pandemic provided a unique opportunity to examine questions about immune response mechanisms.

As Laura Ziegler only analyzed data from individuals who had received two shots of the Biontech SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, the 23-year-old researcher is suitably cautious about generalizing the conclusions of her study. Further work is required before we know whether the study has implications for other sequential vaccinations, such as flu vaccinations or vaccinations against tropical diseases.

But it does seem possible that some vaccinations will generate a stronger immune response if the injections are delivered into the same armmaking the apparently naive question posed at the beginning of the study suddenly seem not quite so banal after all.

The paper is published in the journal eBioMedicine.

More information: Laura Ziegler et al, Differences in SARS-CoV-2 specific humoral and cellular immune responses after contralateral and ipsilateral COVID-19 vaccination, eBioMedicine (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104743 Journal information: EBioMedicine , JCI Insight
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Wildfires and farming may pose threats to cognitive health, according to new research from the University of Michigan.

Increasingly, evidence shows exposure to air pollution makes the brain susceptible to dementia. And now the findings of Boya Zhang and Sara Adar, environmental epidemiology researchers in U-M's School of Public Health, point to a strong likelihood that agriculture and wildfires, with their release of a range of harmful emissions at high concentrations, need to be more closely studied and monitored for their risks to public health, specifically dementia.

"We saw in our research that all airborne particles increased the risk of dementia but those generated by agricultural settings and wildfires seemed to be especially toxic for the brain," said Adar, associate chair of the Department of Epidemiology in the School of Public Health. She currently leads several large cohort studies on the impacts of exposures on cognitive aging and dementia.

"Our findings indicate that lowering levels of particulate matter air pollution, even in a relatively clean country like the United States, may reduce the number of people developing dementia in late life," Adar said.

Adar and Zhang's paper, "Comparison of Particulate Air Pollution From Different Emission Sources and Incident Dementia in the U.S.," appears in the JAMA Internal Medicine.

Zhang, a research fellow who focuses on the effects of air pollution on cardiopulmonary disease and cognitive aging, said, "This work suggests that particulate matter air pollution from agriculture and wildfires might be more neurotoxic compared with other sources. However, more research is needed to confirm these effects, especially for these two sources which have received less attention in prior research."

"Given that the development of dementia could take a long time, this study mainly aimed to provide evidence for policymakers to reduce exposures to these sources of emissions," Zhang said.

The findings come as unusually poor air quality is regularly triggering alerts in the U.S. The alerts are aimed at protecting the public from the unseen, swirling mix of microscopic toxins in air pollution, specifically fine particulate matter or PM2.5. It is one of the most concerning elements of air pollution.

At less than 2.5 microns in size, PM2.5 is less than the width of a human hair. Because it's so small, it can enter the brain through the nose directly or cross the blood-brain barrier in other ways. PM2.5 is also known to affect the lungs, heart, and in emerging research, the brain and cognitive function.

"These findings are quite timely given the increasing frequency of wildfire smoke in our

communities," Adar said. "Our data suggest that in addition to some of the more obvious health impacts of wildfire smoke like irritation to our throats and eyes along with breathing difficulties, high smoke days might also be taking a toll on our brains."

The record number of air quality alerts in the U.S. this year are due in large part to smoke from wildfires burning in Canada since May. The effect of wildfire is not new in the U.S., especially given the fires in the western part of the country.

Adar, a long-time environmental epidemiologist, said that wildfire smoke is becoming a more widespread stressor with many cities experiencing 30-plus days each year impacted by smoke. Given the extremely high levels of exposure to the public, wildfires are thought to contribute up to 25% of fine particulate matter exposures over a year across the U.S. and as much as 50% in some western regions of the country, Adar said.

"While individual wildfires may be short-lived, these events are becoming more frequent in our communities due to warmer temperatures, drier conditions, and longer fire seasons. As we've seen, wildfire smoke can also travel very far distances," Adar said.

Their findings are based on research into the development of dementia among nearly 30,000 adults from across the U.S. over an 18-year period. The data comes from the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally-representative collection of cohorts of older adults who have been followed since 1992. Pollution estimates in Adar and Zhang's study were based on home addresses of participants. Participants have been interviewed biennially about their cognition, overall health, and health behaviors until death or loss of contact for the survey.

They observed that higher levels of particulate matter air pollution, especially from agriculture and wildfires, were associated with greater risks of dementia. The findings could not be explained by other factors such as individual, neighborhood, socioeconomic status, occupation, or hometown or region of the country.

"With the knowledge of which sources are more toxic than others, it may be possible to design interventions for specific sources as a more effective way to decrease the burden of dementia," Zhang said.

Dementia is currently the seventh leading cause of death and one of the major causes of disability and dependency for older people, according to the World Health Organization.

The research specifically sought to test the hypothesis that a variation in emission sources could explain which are most toxic, but measuring the emissions with their distinct physical and chemical characteristics is challenging.

Past studies analyzing exposures to source specific fine particulate matter meant researchers mainly investigated relationships with the total mass of fine particulate matter in the air.

"In our study, we used a sophisticated prediction model that includes information about the chemical transformations and dispersion of pollution from different sources to estimate the levels of source-specific particulate matter air pollution at participants' residential addresses," Zhang said. "This approach is beneficial because it not only accounts for pollution directly emitted by a source but also pollution generated through reactions with other chemicals in the air."

Since the average level of exposure to PM2.5 for the people studied was less than the National Ambient Air Quality Standard, this is not just an issue of extreme pollution events, the researchers say, though it's clear that the air quality from wildfire events is worsening. This research suggests that it's not just sending people with respiratory ailments to the hospitals but there may also be longer lasting effects to the body. With the changing climate, it's likely that these threats to health will increase.

More information: Boya Zhang et al, Comparison of Particulate Air Pollution From Different Emission Sources and Incident Dementia in the US, JAMA Internal Medicine (2023). DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2023.3300 , jamanetwork.com/journals/jamai  /fullarticle/2808088 Journal information: JAMA Internal Medicine
A Montana district court judge ruled Monday that a state law barring its agencies from considering the impacts of climate change when issuing permits is a violation of the state Constitutions right to a clean and healthful environment.

The ruling comes two months after the conclusion of a seven-day trial in Helena that attracted national attention as one of the first to challenge a states fossil fuel policies on constitutional grounds. A group of 16 young Montanans filed the lawsuit in 2020, alleging that Montanas laws supporting fossil fuel development are contributing to climate change, the impacts of which are violating the plaintiffs constitutional rights.

Montanas (greenhouse gas) emissions and climate change have been proven to be a substantial factor in causing climate impacts to Montanas environment and harm and injury to the youth plaintiffs, Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Kathy Seeley wrote in the order.

She continued, Plaintiffs have a fundamental constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment, which includes climate as part of the environmental life-support system.

The state Legislature is specifically tasked with protecting that environmental life-support system under Montanas Constitution. In the legislative session that concluded earlier this year, Republican lawmakers amended the Montana Environmental Policy Act, or MEPA, to prohibit consideration of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change in permitting decisions. MEPA guides the environmental review process for permits, such as those granted for coal mine expansions or new power plants.

That prohibition within MEPA, passed as Senate Bill 557, is now invalid, under Seeleys decision.

The youth plaintiffs were represented by Our Children's Trust, an environmental organization that has filed dozens of similar lawsuits in other states. The lawsuit names Montana, the governor, attorney general and several state agencies as defendants.
A coalition of Indigenous tribes is increasing pressure on the Canadian government to respond to their concerns over transboundary water pollution coming from Teck Resources coal mines in British Columbia.

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes in Montana, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho and the transboundary Ktunaxa Nation sent reminders on Aug. 11 that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had pledged to meet this summer with U.S. President Joe Bidens administration on reducing and mitigating the impacts of selenium and other mine-related contaminants getting into the Elk and Kootenai rivers. Selenium in particular has been connected to significant declines in fish reproduction in the river system, along with massive fish kills near the mine site itself, although a disputed Teck study concluded that ice, not selenium was responsible for the 2017 die-off.

We continue to see impacts of coal mining more than a hundred kilometers downstream of these coal mines, Vice Chairman of the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho Gary Aitken Jr. wrote in an email on Friday. We see our fish populations declining despite our own hatchery efforts to sustain them. We see our waters becoming worse. While pollution loads continue to increase, we see less than 20% of the selenium load being removed, despite nine years of implementation of a provincial plan to reduce and mitigate water quality concentrations. We are watching our river suffer as the regulators stand by and watch.

The contamination is traced to four mountaintop-removal coal mines and other legacy coal production areas operated to Teck Resources in southern British Columbia north of Eureka. Canadian and U.S. government research found selenium levels more than 100 times levels considered safe for aquatic life in the Fording River downstream of the mines. In 2021, Teck paid a Canadian national-record $60 million (CA) fine for water contamination. It was fined another $2.2 million (CA) in 2023 for releasing effluent into the Columbia River.

On July 20, the Ktunaxa Nation submitted a proposal to officially involve the International Joint Commission to conduct an independent, transparent and accountable scientific assessment of pollution in the watershed and perform ongoing monitoring  implement solutions, restore the waters and address current violations of the Boundary Waters Treaty, the U.S. Clean Water Act and the Canadian Fisheries Act.

Canada and the U.S. created the IJC over a hundred years ago, under the Boundary Waters Treaty, to address transboundary water issues exactly like this one, CSKT Chairman Tom McDonald said in a statement on Friday. Our solution includes this IJC process because it is transparent, inclusive, and accountable. Weve also included an action plan in addition to the IJC process because we recognize there is an immediate need for action to begin restoring these waters that are so central to the Ktunaxa people. Now all we need is for Canada and the U.S. to sign onto the Ktunaxa proposal so we can get to work.

According to a Ktunaxa tribal statement, Canada and the U.S. were poised to refer the mining contamination issue to the IJC, but Canada abruptly halted further engagement, leaving both Ktunaxa and the U.S. hanging.

But new leadership in British Columbia has resulted in a surprising but long overdue turn of events, the statement continued on Friday. Following the transboundary Ktunaxa proposal last month, British Columbia sent a letter to the Canadian federal government indicating that the Province is now receptive to IJC involvement in the Kootenai/y watershed.

Former British Columbia Premier John Horgan joined the board of a spin-off coal company that might have taken over Tecks coal operations shortly after leaving government. BCs Green Party leadership subsequently called for amendments to the provinces conflict of interest rules to prevent such moves, according to the Globe and Mail.

Teck Resources is Canadas largest diversified mining company, and this year has been evaluating a plan to sell off its coal operations from its base metal mines in order to expand copper and zinc activity, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Co. That plan got kinked last spring when Swiss-based Glencore made a $25 billion (CA) hostile takeover bid of Teck.

In a statement released Monday afternoon, Teck spokesman Chris Stannell said the company has spent $1.4 billion (CA) toward water quality research and construction of treatment facilities, and plans to invest another $550 million by the end of 2024. It also claims its treatment system is removing between 95% and 99% of selenium from treated water and that concentrations are decreasing downstream, and that fish populations have been increasing in the Upper Fording River.
After our hefty breakfast in Taichung, we really didn't feel like lunch before or during our train to Chiayi. Our main reason for heading to Chiayi was to visit Alishan. I was somewhat confused as to why I wasn't able to get train tickets to Alishan ahead of time and even more confused as to why I wasn't able to get THSR (high speed rail) and even any train tickets when we left Chiayi. I ended up coming across something referring to Qingming Festival, which I mentioned to the Missus. Turns out that during the 15th day after the spring equinox families visit the tombs of their ancestors and proceed to clean the site and make offerings. In Taiwan, the whole week is taken off. Everyone is traveling, so transport is in high demand. What we ended up doing once arriving at Chiayi Station, was to head directly to the 7-11 where Alishan bus tickets were sold. We bought two tickets for the following morning.

We were staying at the Orange Hotel, which was kind of dated and noisy, but was centrally located and overlooked the Central Square. Of course, right after checking in the Missus needed to get Her tea fix.

Tea and boba drinks were priced ridiculously low; like 30 TWD ($1/US) at many places.

And just within a block of where we were staying were no less than six shops! The young lady at this shop was especially friendly and while chatting with the Missus even made a recommendation we'd go to later on during our stay.

We got used to having 2-3 of these a day. The Missus got really spoiled by this....to the point where She considered tea priced at 35 TWD ($1.10/US) to be too expensive! Ten cents more?!?!?

Once our thirst was quenched we decided to head out for a late lunch - early dinner. There was a specialty of Chiayi that I really wanted to try. So we headed on out. I had a list of places, but the first one was closed, probably due to the holiday. As we walked on over to another shop I had on my list we passed this temple.

All the temples we came across in Taiwan were fascinating, ornate, and beautiful. And all are important to the local community. This one is Chiayi Cheng Huang Temple, which was built in 1715. It is dedicated to the "City God", Cheng Huang. For more history, information, and wonderful stories about this temple, please check out this web page.

It seemed like every corner in every city or village was packed with places like this in Taiwan. History, culture, and lore abounds......

Sometimes I wish I knew the places we'd stumble across so I could do more research ahead of time, but you really can't dictate the future. I didn't know that our first choice of a restaurant would be closed and we'd head on to our second choice. Which featured quite a line!

There's a specific dish that I'd read about, for which Chiayi is famous; turkey rice, yes turkey rice. According to several sources, online and in print, and of course the ever popular Street Food series, turkey was brought in by the military following World War II (Shades of SPAM in Hawaii). Due to post war hardships, turkeys being larger and cheaper to raise than chickens became popular in Central Taiwan. I'm sure there are several origin stories.

Anyway, there was a pretty long line when we arrived, but as we quickly learned in Taiwan, lines are a good thing and usually move pretty quickly. Within fifteen minutes we were stationed at the door of the restaurant; Ah Hong Shi.

And before you knew it we were seated. Tables had dividers so a four top could be converted into a two top.

You are given a slip of paper and mark off what you want to order and hand it to the Server. The Missus's Chinese reading and writing skills sure came in handy during this trip. We placed our order and items started arriving in no time.

Of course the Missus got the Pidan with Tofu.

For some reason, I found that the century egg in Taiwan had a much stronger, almost cheesy flavor, and the ammonia like finish was more pronounced. That tofu was very "beany".

We enjoyed the Bittermelon.

This was very puckery and bitter. We enjoyed it.

The Bamboo Shoots were earthy with a mild nutty-sweetness.

Loved the crunchiness as well.

And then the dish I was waiting for, the Turkey Rice. The Missus, is not a fan of Turkey in the States as it is often bland, dry, really lacking in flavor, so She was not particularly excited about trying Chiayi Turkey Rice. This totally changed Her mind.

Topped with lovely fried shallots and pickled daikon (aka Takuan), the turkey was so tender, full of earthy, well.....turkeyness. Think about having moist and tender turkey with the flavor dialed up to 100 on a scale of one to ten. The perfectly cooked rice was saturated with the sauce of the turkey. Man, this was so good!

At the time of ordering, the Missus was still not sure about getting Turkey Rice and decided to cover our bets by ordering the Lu Rou Fan, the braised pork on rice.

Loved the varying texture of the pork; fatty belly, pieces of offal and such. The braising liquid was soy based, leaning on the saltier side of the spectrum. This was good, though we'd have better later on this trip.

For me; this was all about the Turkey Rice! And, ahem, "Rice-ly so".

Folks don't dally at places like this. You eat, take your bill, pay at the counter, and get the heck out of Dodge.

After all, look at who're waiting their turn!

Ah Hong Shi Turkey Rice

No. 108 Guanghua Rd.

East District, Chiayi City, Taiwan



Chiayi Turkey Rice!
Shawn Hamm, DO, MPH, has been appointed the New Physician in Practice Advisor to the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Board of Trustees.

As a Presidential Advisor to Dr. Ira P. Monka, the newly installed President of the AOA, he will help provide insight and guidance on issues impacting the osteopathic medicine profession from the perspective of physicians who are within the first five years of practice following residency. In addition, Dr. Hamm will serve in an advisory role with the AOAs Bureau on Emerging Leaders, with a focus on supporting and mentoring new physicians in practice in their leadership roles.

The board of trustees is the administrative body of the AOA, which represents more than 178,000 osteopathic physicians and medical students across the U.S., many of whom practice here in Burke County and at UNC Health Blue Ridge. The board of trustees is responsible for duties that include management of the associations finances; appointments to bureaus, councils and committees; decisions on all questions of ethical/judicial issues; and review and approval of amendments to the constitution, bylaws and regulations of affiliated organizations.

Dr. Hamm, who joined UNC Health Blue Ridge and Valdese Medical Associates in 2021, has been an active member of the AOA since 2014 and previously served on the Bureau of Emerging Leaders and the Bureau of Federal Health Programs as a new physician in practice. His appointment to the AOA Board of Trustees is a culmination of many years of service and brings national recognition here to our community in Burke County.

This is an incredible honor that highlights how dedication and perseverance throughout medical school, residency, and the first years of clinical practice can open doors for early career advancement and opportunities thought to be out of reach for many years to come. I look forward to having a seat at the table to improve the osteopathic medicine profession at the national level so that ultimately our patients and communities will benefit here at home, says Dr. Hamm.

He earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree from the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dothan, AL, and a Master of Public Health (MPH) from the Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL. He completed his family medicine residency at Ascension St. Vincents Medical Center Riverside, Jacksonville, FL. Clinical interests include full-scope family medicine, serving all ages from newborns to adults, preventive medicine, quality and population health, public health, teaching medical students and offering osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMT) in clinic.

He was recently named Rotarian of the Year by the Rotary Club of Valdese and is the medical director at the Burke County Health Department.
Butte-Silver Bows chief executive wants to steer $100,000 to the Butte Rescue Missions emergency homeless shelter this year but says voters should decide any ongoing appropriations from the county.

J.P. Gallagher says the shelter serves a vital need so he supports a $100,000 allocation this year by tapping federal dollars the county has received. The money is included in a proposed county budget pending before commissioners.

But if were going to continue that  I think we probably go to the taxpayers and say, Do you think its an appropriate use of the money? Gallagher told The Montana Standard.

The Mission had asked for $250,000, saying it would cover about half of the emergency shelters annual operational costs and strengthen the Missions ties to the community and local government.

Unlike the other, larger shelter on the Missions campus on East Platinum Street, the emergency, low-barrier unit accepts even those who are drunk or high on drugs as long as they arent endangering themselves or others.

Brayton Erickson, co-director at the Mission, says emergency shelters in some cities shut down in the summer and he doesnt want that to happen here. Without one, people often end up in jail or the hospital emergency room, he told commissioners in April.

Gallagher agreed with that in April and agrees with that now.

It takes more money to run that shelter but it fills a need in our community, Gallagher said.

Gallagher says hes comfortable proposing a $100,000 allocation this year and the money is available from one-time federal American Rescue Plan Act funds the county has yet to spend or earmark.

But he thinks any ongoing funding from the county should be put before voters in a mill-levy proposal. He pointed to a one-mill levy voters approved in 2022 for the 15-90 Search and Rescue Team.

When voters approve such measures, theyre largely voting to tax themselves since the funding comes from increased property taxes.

It could be one mill, two mills, three mills  whatever we decide the ask should be  then we take it to the taxpayers and say, Is this an appropriate use of funds? Gallagher said.

Butte-Silver Bow commissioners get final say on the budget and they have yet to finalize and approve one for the fiscal year that began July 1. That will likely come in the next few weeks and changes can be made before then.

The proposed allocation is $150,000 short of what the Mission sought in this county budget but Erickson said the organization is unlikely to make a late pitch for more.

It sounded like, after talking to J.P., there wasnt quite enough in the budget to pencil in $250,000, Erickson said Monday. Id love to do more with additional funds but if thats whats in the budget, thats great.

The Mission gets the vast majority of its support through individual donations, grants and foundations, in-kind food contributions and money from churches, companies and fundraising events.

It works with numerous community partners too, including Action Inc., New Hope Clinic, Montana Food Bank Network, Butte Police and Butte-Silver Bow government.

But Erickson told commissioners in April that the emergency shelter provides services no other entity does in Butte.

So we are looking for any sustainable funding that will help us carry that load into the summer months and ultimately reduce the impact (of homelessness) on the community, he said then.

Erickson said Monday that $100,000 would be very helpful this year but it was too early to know if the Mission would pitch a future mill-levy ballot initiative. The Mission does have people familiar with the process if it decides to pursue it, he said.
Chicken with chunky mango salsa makes a sweet and spicy dinner. To cube mango: slice off each side of the mango as close to the seed as possible. Take the mango half in your hand, skin side down. Score the fruit in a crisscross pattern through to the skin. Bend the skin backwards so that the cubes pop up. Slice the cubes away from the skin. Score and slice any fruit left on the pit. Helpful ...
The last words from Breasia Terrell to her mother were typed out in a text message.

Goodnight Mom, the 10-year-old wrote when she used Henry Dinkins' cell phone to text Aishia Lankford between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. on July 9, 2020.

Moments later, Lankford replied to her daughter: Goodnight. I love you Brea. Thank you.

Hours later  in the early morning of July 10, 2020  Breasia disappeared.

Dinkins' bench trial entered its second day Friday at the Scott County Courthouse in Davenport. He is accused of abducting and killing Breasia and faces life in prison if Judge Henry Latham finds him guilty of first-degree kidnapping and murder.

Former Davenport police officer Dustin Garner, a member of the Special Victims Unit when Breasia was reported missing, testified Friday to collecting the text messages between the mother and daughter, as well as other messages on the cell phones used by Lankford and Dinkins.

Garner was one of five witnesses called to the stand Friday by Scott County Attorney Kelly Cunningham and Assistant County Attorney Liz ODonnell. The last to testify was Breasia's 11-year-old brother, identified in the courtroom as "D.L."

"Brea was gone"

Breasia's younger brother, identified as D.L., testified that he called his sister "Brea." He said they were "really close," and he covered his face with his hands after he offered the description.

He was eight years old when the two stayed the night with Dinkins, D.L.'s father.

Questioned by O'Donnell, D.L. testified that Dinkins showed up at his grandmother's house on July 9, 2020. He said he wanted Brea and his older brother, identified as C.S., to stay with him at his "dad's house." Only Breasia was allowed to go.

Dinkins took D.L. and Breasia in his black Camaro to the apartment he shared with Andrea Culberson. He played Grand Theft Auto in the living room while Breasia, Dinkins and Culberson were on the bed in the apartment's only bedroom.

D.L. testified that it "was weird," because his father left him alone. He told the court that his mother dropped clothes off for both children, including pajamas. He said Breasia tried to bring the family dog back to the apartment, but she wasn't allowed.

D.L. then testified to the next "weird thing" that happened: After both children had taken separate showers, they were each given one of Dinkins' T-shirts to wear to bed. He said the shirts were long on them, "going to about my knees."

In response to questions from O'Donnell, and just before the court adjourned for the weekend, D.L. told the court that Breasia fell asleep before him and that after he fell asleep he felt "a kick" on his leg. He testified that the two had shared a bed before and Breasia never kicked him.

He said he woke up later and "Brea was gone." He also testified that he felt that Dinkins "took her, because he was gone." He told the court Culberson was awake and looking out the window in the bedroom. That window faced the parking lot.

D.L. testified that Dinkins returned "when there was a little bit of daylight" and his father was "acting a little weird." He said Dinkins "grabbed something out of the closet and left."

D.L. then said Dinkins returned a second time, then left. He said his father returned a third time.

"He came for me," D.L. told the court.

His testimony is scheduled to resume at 9:30 a.m. Monday.

A 4XL T-shirt

Sgt. Geoffrey Peiffer, who had testified Thursday, returned to the stand during the second day of testimony Friday. Peiffer said Breasia wore a size 4XL T-shirt to bed the night before she disappeared from the apartment.

She was reported missing on the morning of July 10, 2020, and Dinkins was immediately considered a person of interest in the case. Her remains were recovered near a small pond in rural Clinton County on March 22, 2021. Dinkins was charged with first-degree kidnapping and murder in early May of 2021.

Peiffer testified that when Breasias remains were recovered, investigators found a 4XL T-shirt nearby.

That testimony came after Dinkins' attorney, Chad Frese, cross-examined Peiffer, raising the issue of an investigation of a murder in Clinton that was committed roughly 10 days after Breasia disappeared.

Frese noted a bloody childs T-shirt was found in the trunk of a car and that shirt was roughly the size of shirt worn by Breasia. Peiffer said the evidence never was considered connected to Breasias disappearance. After Frese suggested the evidence was never tested, Peiffer said the shirts from Clinton were tested, and the blood did not match Breasia's.

Frese then asked Peiffer if Breasias blood was ever found in Dinkins Impala, Camaro or mobile trailer.

Peiffer answered no.

Frese asked if any trace evidence of Breasia, including blood, hair or other fluids, was ever found in the case. The witness again answered no.

Photos: Breasia Terrells Garden at Monroe Elementary School
CHICAGO (AP)  Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson on Sunday stayed within the ranks and named Larry Snelling, the police department's counterterrorism head, as his choice for police superintendent of the nation's third-largest city.

The announcement comes after a monthslong search led by the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability. The selection of Snelling, 54, to head the department is subject to City Council approval.

Snelling will succeed David Brown, who in March announced that he would step down the day after Chicagos mayoral primary election in which crime was a central issue. Then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot lost that primary, and Johnson went on to win the mayoral race in April.

Today, a new chapter begins in our journey to create a better, stronger and safer Chicago, Johnson said in a news release. Chief Snelling is a proven leader who has the experience and the respect of his peers to help ensure the safety and well-being of city residents, and address the complex challenges we all face related to community safety.

Snelling was raised on the city's South Side and attended its public schools. He has a bachelors degree in adult education from DePaul University and joined the department in 1992 as a patrol officer.

It is a tremendous honor to answer the call to serve my hometown and the people of Chicago as superintendent of the Chicago Police Department, Snelling said in a statement. It is also a tremendous responsibility, and one that I do not take lightly.

In order to continue to make progress as a department, we must embrace innovation, continue to strengthen morale, and go further in strengthening bonds of trust between police and community, Snelling said.

He has been chief of the departments bureau of counterterrorism, which coordinates with the Office of Emergency Management and Communication and other city agencies, since 2022.

While crime in Chicago often focuses on murders and shootings, the numbers so far in 2023 are down in both categories by 5% and 10%, respectively, according to the most recent department crime statistics. However, overall major crime rates are up 35% so far this year over 2022.

Snelling was one of three finalists nominated by the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability. The other two finalists were Shon Barnes, the police chief in Madison, Wisconsin; and Angel Novalez, Chicago police chief of constitutional policing and reform.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has named Larry Snelling, the police departments counterterrorism head, as his choice for police superintendent of the nations third-largest city. The announcement on Sunday comes after a monthslong search led by the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability. The selection of Snelling, 54, to head the department is subject to City Council approval. He will succeed David Brown, who in March announced that he would step down the day after Chicagos mayoral primary election, in which crime was a central issue. Then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot lost that primary, and Johnson went on to win the mayoral race the next month.
A group of doctors at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) has successfully re-implantated a mans amputated hand through an extensive 11-hour surgical procedure.

The 35-year-old patient, identified as BK, suffered the injury in a reported domestic altercation on August 8th at his residence in Sigowet, Kericho County. Following the incident, he was subsequently transferred from Sigowet Sub-county Hospital to MTRH for specialized care.

According to a statement issued by Dr. Wilson Aruasa, the Chief Executive of MTRH, the patient suffered an injury to his left hand. He arrived at MTRH at 4 p.m., bringing his severed limb preserved in a refrigerated container.

Dr. Aruasa explained that after being admitted to the operating room, two surgical teams collaboratively undertook the re-implantation procedure for the severed limb, concluding the operation at 3 a.m.

The patient is doing well post-operatively. Today August 13, he was moved from ICU to the general orthopaedics (male) ward where he will continue with daily reviews or initiation of occupational therapy rehabilitation, said Dr Aruasa.

The hand is vitally and successfully re-established with good Doppler ultrasound findings.

Guided by a team of 14 skilled professionals, the surgical endeavor was under the leadership of Dr. Paul Mwangi, a consultant in orthopedics and trauma at MTRH. The team included Dr. Harsh Vadgama, a specialist in shoulder surgery, Dr. Brian Christie and Dr. Andrew Vernadi, both plastic surgeons, as well as Dr. Gregory Wekesa(orthopedics and trauma resident).

The CEO noted that the country is home to three hand specialist surgeons, situated in Nairobi, Nakuru, and MTRH. He further mentioned that MTRH played a pivotal role in facilitating Dr. Mwangis specialized hand surgery training at the University of The Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2015/16.

Dr. Aruasa announced that MTRH will take the necessary steps to assist the patient in becoming a member of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
It's not the traditional Napoleon-style pies, nor the Chicago or St. Louis types you'll find at Croccante Artisan Pizza, an eatery on Pearl Street in downtown Napa. Instead, it's the rare-in-this-time-zone Detroit-style pizza, a square slice that's drawing in high praise from both locals and visitors.

Owned by Hakan Kostek and his wife Alice, the restaurant opens its doors in May. Its signature dish is served in an 8x10-inch rectangular pan and sliced into six squares. There are the three elements that define it, Haken said.

First, there is the caramelized cheese, baked into the crispy edges of the pizza. These are not crusts that will not be discarded on the plate, and families may squabble over who gets the corner pieces.

Second, it has a fluffy and almost buttery crust made from imported Italian flour that Hakan ferments for three days. He says this fermentation process makes it a lighter, more easily digestible crust.

Third, the pizza is topped with high-quality ingredients, including homemade sauces, locally sourced organic vegetables, house-made meatballs, and local cheeses.

The restaurant offers a wine menu that features local vintages or patrons are free to bring their own. (Mondays are free corkage days.) In addition to pizza, the menu offers fresh salads, meatballs, and garlic knots. Where possible, the couple sources their ingredients from the nearby Napa Farmers Market, many vendors of which they know personally from their years of selling freshly baked loaves, German-style pretzels, and pizza under the Napa Baking Company banner.

Hakan is from Turkey, but proudly identifies as Kurdish. He grew up covered in flour. "When I was young, I played with dough and flour in my uncle's bakery" in their small town in the northern part of the country.

"I loved the smells," he said.

Later, his family moved to Istanbul, and his father opened two bakeries. Kostek was studying to become a public school teacher, but he was also working alongside his father.

He met his wife while at school, and upon graduation, they both began teaching jobs in Istanbul. But Hakan quickly realized his passion was baking and returned to the family bakeries. Alice continued her teaching job, they had a baby, and it seemed their paths were set as a teacher and baker in Istanbul.

"Until one day, a friend suggested we try the lottery for a green card to go to America," says Alice.

On a whim, they applied. Weeks and months went by.

"We'd actually forgotten about it  but then, out of the blue, we got the green card!" she said.

They ended up in Napa because of another Kurdish friend living here. That friend introduced Hakan to Yusuf Topal, who hired him for his Mediterranean and Turkish restaurant, Tarla.

Meanwhile, Alice got a job as a checker, first at Lucky's and then at Whole Foods. Even at Tarla, Hakan yearned to be baking and continued the art in their home kitchen. He eventually moved on to a job as a baker at Model Bakery.

"I learned so much there; it was a wonderful experience," he said.

After a few years of learning and settling into life in Napa, he was ready to branch out on his own. The couple started the Napa Baking Company and began selling at Napa Farmers Market and to a regular clientele of local restaurants  his German-style pretzels were especially popular with the breweries.

At first, he was baking at home, but as the business grew, he moved to a commercial kitchen, borrowing space from Melissa Teaff (Catering). Meanwhile, he continued to perfect his bread and pizza recipes with a dream of opening a brick-and-mortar bakery.

"I've had amazing experiences working for others here, but I've always wanted to do something on my own," Hakan said.

With good timing, patience, and hard work, the Kosteks secured the empty restaurant right across from the Napa Farmers Market on Pearl Street (formerly Bui Bistro).

The outside seating area is shaded by the beautiful leafy trees that line the street, red and white tablecloths deck the tables, and each table has fresh flowers that Alice buys at the farmers market.

"I told Hakim that if we open this restaurant, I have to be able to put fresh flowers on every table no matter what," she says.

According to the couple, the effect is subtle but immediate  the guest knows they are in an establishment that cares about the entire experience.

Some of the first guests to come in during the opening weeks were Kostek's former employers and co-workers of Tarla, Melissa Teaff, and Model Bakery, who Alice and Hakan now consider friends.

It seems everyone the couple meets becomes friends for life and wants the best for them.

"We believe in hospitality and making people feel welcome," says Alice.

Croccante is located at 976 Pearl St. They are open daily 11 a.m to 9 p.m. (except Tuesdays).
The Napa Town & Country Fairs famed Junior Livestock Auction broke its own record, organizers said, raising $2.22 million from the various hogs, lambs, goats, sheep, cattle, turkeys, rabbits and chickens up for bid.

Last years auction brought in $1.89 million, which heralded the return of the event to its traditional time and place at the fair. The 2021 auction, which was a standalone event due to pandemic-related concerns, brought in $1.45 million.

The Junior Livestock Auction is one of the Napa Town and Country Fairs most enduring traditions, Napa Valley Expo CEO Corey Oakley said in a press release. The auction is the culmination of a year-long agriculture program involving more than 300 young people who are members of 4-H and FFA. The money they earn from auctioning their animals provides an important agri-business experience, as well as helping them achieve their educational goals.

Money from the event goes to support the 4-H and Future Farmers of America programs in the county, as well as to the participants to compensate them for their efforts and costs of raising the animals.

Oakley said 47 more lots qualified for the auction compared to 2022. Though short of the numbers seen prior to the pandemic, he said he was happy about the upward trend.

The highest-selling animals in each category were:

Hogs: Kyle Odell, Napa FFA - Reserve Grand Champion Market Hog at $52 per pound

Sheep: Bella Timm, Berryessa 4-H - Grand Champion Market Lamb at $65 per pound

Beef: Jillian Harnois, Valley Ranchers 4-H - Grand Champion Market Beef at $48 per pound

Goats: Xavier Pequeno, Valley Ranchers 4-H at $150 per pound

The 2024 Napa Town & Country Fair is scheduled for Aug. 8-11, with the Junior Livestock Auction planned for Aug. 10 at 9 a.m.

PHOTOS: 2023 Junior Livestock Auction at the Napa Town & Country Fair
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia received the EU Ambassador

Azerbaijani units fired from fire arms towards the Armenian combat outposts in the vicinity of Verin Shorzha

Ararat Mirzoyan will participate in a strategic conference in Slovenia

Azerbaijani Armed Forces open fire on Armenian positions in Akhpradzor section. Armenian Defense Ministry

Greek authorities have rescued about 60 migrants traveling by boat from Turkey to Aegean islands

Iran will launch a locally manufactured Tolou-3 satellite into orbit by the second half of March

Azerbaijani Defense Ministry tries to justify its regular fire to disrupt wheat harvesting. Artsakh Defense Army

The Azerbaijanis once again targeted the 'Syunik' civil airport. Gor Tsarukyan

Artsakh State Minister: Azerbaijani Armed Forces hold at gunpoint the only wheat field in Sarushen community

Azerbaijan refuses to allow the body of the Artsakh girl to be taken to her homeland. MFA

Armenia PM is informed about plans to invest another $15M in Agarak Copper-Molybdenum Combine

Azerbaijan does not allow body of young woman who died in tragic Armenia road accident to be sent back to Karabakh

Azerbaijan plans to try abducted Karabakh resident Vagif Khachatryan

Dollar, euro drop in Armenia

Armenia deputy PM, Poland envoy confer about regional developments

Central Electoral Commission registers electoral lists of political forces to run in Yerevan municipal elections

Karabakh MoD: Azerbaijan statement, video footage are utter falsehood

Ambassador Kvien emphasizes US support for Armenia sovereignty, security (PHOTOS)

Karabakh MFA: We expect UN Security Council member countries to demonstrate consistency, principled stance

Armenia ex-FM: Perhaps international community keeps open possibility of changing today's negotiation agenda

Armenia MoD: Azerbaijan disseminates another disinformation

London Coptic Church leader, UK Armenian Apostolic Church primate discuss crisis in Karabakh

11 medical patients from Karabakh are transferred to Armenia through Red Cross

MFA official: China is closely following of North-South international corridor current operation

Armenia battalion deputy commander is charged with causing soldier to commit suicide

Armenia MFA: It is evident that Azerbaijan continues distorting international community appeals

Armenia FM stresses to UN deputy secretary general urgency of reopening Lachin corridor

US ambassador to Armenia visiting Jermuk town (PHOTOS)

Artsakh President meets with group of militia fighters

Karabakh President receives Free Motherland-UCA Faction MPs

Presidential advisor: Azerbaijan cut fiber optic internet cable, disrupting Karabakh's stable internet connection

Azerbaijan fires on tractor working in Karabakh village field

Ardshinbank recognized as Retail Bank of the Year in Armenia by Asian Banking & Finance magazine

Azerbaijan fires in direction of Armenias Kapan city airport

EU Special Representative for South Caucasus meets with some other European officials, in Yerevan cafe

Newspaper: What to expect after UN Security Council emergency meeting on Lachin corridor issue?

France cities, regions want to deliver humanitarian aid to besieged Karabakh

China interested in development of relations with Armenia

Ambassador to Armenia on Zangezur corridor: Chinese initiative has nothing to do with it

Armenia MoD: Azerbaijan fired in direction of Yeraskh village

Mher Grigoryan, Toivo Klaar discuss humanitarian crisis in Karabakh

Fan Yong: China is concerned about situation around Lachin corridor

Armenia FM to Romania colleague: Karabakh crisis resolution requires international community to take clear steps

Dollar gains, euro loses value in Armenia

Ocampo: Armenians should not be side victims of Ukrainian conflict

Chaarat Gold announces selling Kapan mine in Armenia for $54.5M

Azerbaijan again fires at combine harvester working in Karabakh village field

Armenia ambassador-at-large: Azerbaijan is blaming Karabakh children for eating cookies on their birthdays

Demonstration in support of Karabakh held outside Israel MFA (VIDEO)

Pashinyan: Next week we will start Yerevan-Kapan regular flights

Armenia PM heads from Yerevan to Kapan by plane, tests new airline

Arman Tatoyan: Azerbaijan is preparing new fascist disaster for Armenia

Kirby: We continue to stay engaged diplomatically to encourage peaceful resolution between Armenia, Azerbaijan

Karabakh presidential advisor: UN Security Council recorded that we are starving, but what does that change?

Karabakh MoD: Azerbaijan defense ministry statement is completely false, disinformation

Azerbaijan MFA tries to distort content of UN Security Council meeting on Lachin corridor issue

Armenia ombudsperson sends letter to Azerbaijan counterpart 1 month ago, not received reply yet

MoD: Azerbaijan fires at combine harvester working in Karabakh village field

Armenia government petitions to European Court regarding soldier captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia statements about Karabakh blockade are groundless, Bayramov tells Klaar

Armenia PM: Azerbaijan is subjecting Armenians of Karabakh to genocide through starvation

Armenia ombudsperson: Azerbaijan statement that Vagif Khachatryan committed crime as part of armed group is not true

Azerbaijanis attack Armenian family outside UN headquarters in New York

Karabakh MoD: Azerbaijan violated ceasefire

Armenia MoD: Azerbaijan disseminated another disinformation

EU representative at UN: Dialogue between Karabakh Armenians and Baku should be encouraged

Azerbaijan representative speaks at UN Security Council, accuses Armenia

US representative at UN: We call for direct talks between Baku authorities and Karabakh representatives

Speech of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia at the UN Security Council urgent meeting

Russia representative at UN: We proposed parallel opening of Aghdam and Lachin corridors

Armenia MFA spox: As there is meeting at UNSC, Azerbaijan opened fire on border several times in past 3 days

President: People of Karabakh are anxiously anticipating todays special session of UN Security Council

N Koreas Kim, Russias Putin exchange letters

55 dead from clashes in Libya's capital

Armenia MoD: Azerbaijan fired at Armenian positions

Alen Simonyan, Valentina Matviyenko discuss details of humanitarian disaster in Karabakh

Photo of Armenia reservist detained by Azerbaijan appears in Azerbaijani domain of social media

OSCE Chairman-in-Office reiterates his call, asks Personal Representative Andrzej Kasprzyk to visit Lachin area

Armenia ranks 3rd in most visits to Georgia

Azerbaijan MoD announces name of captured Armenia serviceman

Azerbaijan MFA makes accusations against Armenia

Azerbaijan holds tour for foreign diplomats to familiarize them with Aghdam road being proposed to Karabakh

Group of Turkey intellectuals appeal to world regarding humanitarian disaster in Karabakh

Azerbaijan soldiers approach Armenian reservist, apprehend him: Armenia MoD releases video footage

France FM expresses concern about Azerbaijan shooting during patrol of EU monitors in Armenia

Concerned citizens staging protest in front of UN office in Armenia

Armenia FM heads for New York

MoD: Theory of Armenia reservist ending up on Azerbaijan side is being investigated

Azerbaijan announces capture of Armenia soldier

Azerbaijan praises advantages of Aghdam road to Nagorno-Karabakh

Azerbaijan MoD tries to misinform foreign embassies military attaches

Armenians prevented Ataturk statue installation in Prague, Turkish ambassador says

Armenia MoD: Reservist deserts combat position

Azerbaijan fires at grain-harvesting combine in Karabakh (PHOTOS)

Armenia to host Eurasian Intergovernmental Council special meeting

Armenians continue demonstrations outside Los Angeles consulates of UN Security Council member countries

US State Department: We urge Azerbaijan government to restore free transit through Lachin corridor

Azerbaijan accuses France of efforts to aggravate the tension in South Caucasus

Senators Menendez, Padilla send letter to US representative at UN regarding situation in Karabakh

Karabakh residents block Russian military base entrance, peacekeepers reopen it
The passengers of the tragic accident that happened at night on the Yerevan-Gyumri motorway were returning from a trip to eastern Anatolia.

Hamshen Tour confirmed to Armenian News-NEWS.am that their tour group was in the passenger minibus involved in this road accident.

No other details are given at the moment.

Earlier we reported that a tragic road accident took place on the Yerevan-Gyumri motorway, near Lanjik village, at around 12:27am Monday.

It was found out that a passenger minibus and a truck collided on the aforesaid motorway.

Eleven people were killed as a result.

Six others had sustained severe injuries and were taken to the Gyumri Medical Center.
The embassy of Iran in Armenia has extended its condolences to the families and relatives of those who died in the accident on the Gyumri-Yerevan motorway.

"It is with deep sorrow that we learned about the news of the death and injury of a number of Armenian citizens as a result of a car accident. We offer our condolences to the families and relatives of the casualties, wishing [them] patience, and speedy recovery to the injured," the embassy wrote on its Xformer Twitteraccount.

Earlier we reported that a tragic road accident took place on the Gyumri-Yerevan motorway, near Lanjik village, at around 12:27am Monday.

It was found out that a passenger minibus and a truck collided on the aforesaid motorway.

Eleven people were killed as a result.

Six others had sustained severe injuries and were taken to the Gyumri Medical Center.

Five of the injured are in the intensive care unit, four of them are in severe condition, and one is in critical condition.

The minibus passengers of this tragic accident were returning from a trip to eastern Anatolia.

Criminal proceedings have been launched under the Armenian Criminal Code article on violating the requirements aimed at ensuring road traffic safety or the rules ensuring the safety of road traffic or vehicle operation.
Commentary: Who is posing a dire threat to the global economy?

Xinhua) 09:14, August 14, 2023

U.S. President Joe Biden walks on the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, May 10, 2023.(Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua)

It seems that U.S. President Joe Biden intends to take smearing China as part of his "grand strategy" to shoot America's economic troubles.

BEIJING, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- It seems that U.S. President Joe Biden intends to take smearing China as part of his "grand strategy" to shoot America's economic troubles.

At a fund-raising event on Thursday, the top U.S. leader characterized the Chinese economy as a "ticking time bomb." Quite an interesting description. If taking a closer look at the devastating impact America's economic failures have unleashed upon the world in recent years, one might come up with a very different conclusion.

In Fact, the United States itself is presently grappling with severe economic challenges, exemplified by Fitch Ratings' recent downgrade of its credit rating. Fitch attributed this downgrade to an "erosion of governance" relative to other leading economies over the past two decades.

Echoing Fitch's point, the Wall Street Journal noted that one of the reasons for Fitch's downgrade was the absence of any political will in the United States to deal with its domestic problems.

Photo taken on March 13, 2023 shows the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, the United States. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)

Whenever confronted with criticism from both domestic and international spheres, it is a recurring pattern for the U.S. government to assuage pressure and divert public attention by hyping up all kinds of negative theories on China.

And Washington's track record of handling its economic problems would only instigate more global concerns. From the 2008 financial crisis to the recent wave of bank failures in the United States, history indicates that Uncle Sam has consistently been the spark that ignites global economic turmoil.

Undeniably, the Chinese economy is currently facing downward pressures, including such challenges as declining exports and investment. However, despite all these obstacles, China has stayed rather focused on solving problems, instead of blaming others. Already, Beijing has rolled out a range of measures to unleash its market potential, and has managed to maintain its growth trajectory.

Throughout this year, China's economy has consistently displayed signs of a relatively robust recovery. In the first half of the year, the nation's GDP expanded by 5.5 percent compared to the corresponding period last year. Domestic demand has gradually rebounded, with consumption expenditure contributing a remarkable 77.2 percent to economic growth in the first half of the year, marking a notable increase of 44.4 percentage points from the previous year.

When juxtaposed with most major developed economies, including the United States, China demonstrates not only faster economic growth but also a significant lead in its contribution to the global economy. International institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund recognize China as a vital driving force behind global economic growth.

A woman buys food at a food truck in New York, the United States, May 11, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

Indeed, the world economy is currently mired in an unprecedented predicament. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global economic climate is marked by a looming downturn. Many countries are experiencing a slowdown in growth momentum, and the expansion of global trade has been lackluster.

As the world's two largest economies, the United States and China bear a collective responsibility to join hands in boosting global recovery efforts.

Regrettably, what China has received from across the Pacific is not a cooperative hand, but an onslaught of stringent sanctions and measures intended to coerce other nations into cutting ties with China under the guise of "de-risking."

Driven by its pursuit of maintaining hegemony and prioritizing its own interests, the U.S. obsession with containing China has gravely undermined the stability of global supply chains and industrial networks, posing a significant threat to the overall well-being of the global economy.

The Economist said in a recent report that Washington is "putting the risk into de-risking," and the so-called "de-risking" measures are making "the world not safer, but more dangerous."

The world economy is like an expansive and interconnected ocean, not an isolated river, where no nation can thrive in isolation. Indulging in a blame game and solely fixating on hindering China's progress will only exacerbate the troubles faced by the already tottering global economy.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
An official message was sent to the Israeli authorities on behalf of the Noyan Tapan Center for Armenian Culture and Education in Israel.

"We call on Israel to influence the leadership of Azerbaijan and stop the attempted ethnic extermination of Armenians.

"From 2022, the Armenian population of Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)] is under a blockade [by Azerbaijan], there is no food, there is no medicine, and there is no fuel...

"If the State of Israel does not affect Azerbaijan, then the blood of these people will be on the conscience of your country as well.

"That nation, now in the phase of starvation and slow death, gave the world 24 righteous people who saved the Jews, risking their lives during the Holocaust because they had gone through the horrors of the [Armenian] Genocide (the same genocide that has not been recognized until now by the State of Israel).

"If the sanctity and virtue of life have not become empty words for our country, then Israel is obligated to intervene and save the lives of those innocent people," the aforesaid Armenian culture and education center noted in its official message.
I am shocked by the news of the tragic car accident that happened in Shirak Province, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia wrote on Facebook Monday.

"The issue of road safety is among the priorities of the government's agenda. Under the conditions of the ever-increasing number of cars [in Armenia], in 2022 the number of traffic accident casualties had decreased [in the country] compared to 2021.

"(...). The investigation [into this accident] will answer the rest of the questions.

"In order to increase the level of road traffic safety [in Armenia], additional steps are taken and will be taken, which can be more effective, including through more consistent introduction and overseeing of work, technical, road standards.

"I offer my condolences to all the relatives of all the casualties of all car accidents," the Armenian premier added.

Earlier we reported that a tragic road accident took place on the Gyumri-Yerevan motorway, near Lanjik village of Armenias Shirak Province, at around 12:27am Monday.

It was found out that a passenger minibus and a truck collided on the aforesaid motorway.

Eleven people were killed as a result.

Six others had sustained severe injuries and were hospitalized.

Five of the injured are in the intensive care unit, four of them are in severe condition, and one is in critical condition.

The minibus passengers of this tragic accident were returning from a trip to eastern Anatolia.

Criminal proceedings have been launched under the Armenian Criminal Code article on violating the requirements aimed at ensuring road traffic safety or the rules ensuring the safety of road traffic or vehicle operation.
Earlier this summer, Emory University President Gregory L. Fenves embarked on a trip to Israel, accompanied by representatives from Emory's Global Strategy and Initiatives (GSI) and Advancement and Alumni Engagement (AAE) offices, with the aim of strengthening collaborations with Israeli universities and connecting with students and alumni.

Over a four-day period, the delegation engaged in several meetings, events and university visits.

As with recent international trips for Emory, this was another opportunity to meet with colleagues at world-class universities and also connect with alumni and our students studying and interning in Israel, Fenves says. There was so much creative energy on display, and I was impressed by the enthusiasm and vision of our students, the achievements of our alums, and the superb research being conducted by Emory and Israeli scholars.

Collaborating with Hebrew University of Jerusalem

The June trip commenced with a visit to one of Israels oldest universities, Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI), co-founded by Albert Einstein in 1918. During this visit, the group met with the university's leadership to discuss key initiatives, shared research interests and institutional priorities including diversity, equity and inclusion. They also explored opportunities to enhance connections through student exchange programs and research grant collaborations.

Of note, Emory and HUJI, along with three other universities, established the Global Network Collaboration, which prioritizes education, research, leadership and innovation.

This collaboration aims to facilitate academic exchange, connect scholars and researchers, and enhance mutual learning through best practices, says Philip Wainwright, Emorys vice provost for global strategy and initiatives.

During their time at HUJI, the delegation engaged with top researchers who have collaborated with Emory faculty in various disciplines ranging from health sciences to humanities.

Notably, some of these esteemed scholars have collaborated with Emory College faculty members Ellie Schainker and Ofra Yeglin, along with Michael Broyde from Emory Law. Also, theyve worked with the School of Medicines Dr. Raymond Schinazi, who recently received an honorary doctorate from Hebrew University for his significant contributions to global health and his partnership in training the next generation of medical researchers through his initiative with the Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School.

Additionally, several members of the delegation met with Education USA to provide information about Emory and discuss recruitment strategies for Israeli students interested in studying at the university.

Emory-Israel engagement

The following day, the delegation traveled to Tel Aviv, where they held meetings with Fulbright Israel. Later that evening, in Jaffa, the The Future Starts with You 2O36 campaign event took place, bringing together students, alumni and friends of the university to learn more about the universitys comprehensive fundraising campaign. The event garnered a significant student audience, many of whom were participating in summer internships or study abroad opportunities.

Jonathan Goldsmith 04B, leader of the Emory Israel Network, opened the event with remarks that emphasized the importance of his time as an Emory student. Fenves highlighted future-focused research and initiatives at Emory, including efforts to combat cancer and make breakthroughs in AI. He acknowledged Tel Aviv's status as a global center for startups and technology companies, drawing parallels to Emorys spirit of innovation and discovery.

Strengthening ties at Tel Aviv University

The third day mirrored the first, as the delegation visited Tel Aviv University (TAU) to meet with leadership and faculty to explore opportunities for further engagement.

During the visit, Fenves signed a memorandum of understanding renewing the Halle Institute for Global Research Collaborative Research Grants. The goal of this renewal is to foster long-term collaborations and strengthen institutional relations between Emory and TAU.

Emory's partnership with TAU has already led to numerous collaborative research projects, with four TAU faculty members who presented their current work with Emory faculty during the TAU visit. These projects encompassed a wide range of topics, including lung cancer research, COVID-19 and litigation funding, vernacular transformation of an Indian epic, and mapping sound to meaning in music and speech. Over the past five years, the two institutions have had 200 joint research publications, underscoring their commitment to scholarly collaboration.

Beyond research, the universities also facilitate student exchange programs. Emorys Goizueta Business School (GBS) sends students to engage with Israeli companies and startups through the GBS Global Experience Modules, and some MBA students participate in the Doing Business in Israel program at TAU. Emory and TAU are actively exploring the revival of other exchange programs in a post-COVID-19 landscape.

The TAU visit culminated with a guided tour of the Museum of the Jewish People, located on the campus, which celebrates the rich cultural and intellectual contributions of Jewish people throughout history.

Memorable dinner in Tel Aviv

The trip concluded with a memorable sunset dinner at the Tel Aviv port, offering picturesque views of the Mediterranean. More than 30 Emory students joined the delegation for this occasion, fostering a warm environment where they shared experiences and perspectives.

Yuval Assyag, a current MBA candidate and ROMBA Fellow, expressed her gratitude for the delegation's visit, stating, It was a great honor to have President Fenves and members of leadership travel to the other side of the world to see us.

Assyag appreciated the opportunity to hear about the universitys plans for students and took pride in showing them around Israel. Fenves and his wife, Carmel Fenves, engaged with the students, moving from table to table, answering their questions and taking selfies. He made clear that the university is committed to creating opportunities for students to explore the world, discover potential career paths and embrace meaningful global experiences. Emory achieves this commitment through various programs such as the Free Passport Initiative, Pathways Center and Education Abroad.

More about Emorys unique connections to Israel

Emory places a strong emphasis on fostering academic excellence and promoting cultural understanding through various initiatives.

Emorys Institute for the Study of Modern Israel, established in 1998, stands as the first U.S. institute dedicated to the study of modern Israel. Emory actively supports academic pursuits related to Israel, with numerous faculty and students receiving Fulbright Fellowships, and through the Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies undergraduate degree program. Additionally, Emory TAMID, a nonprofit organization, connects students with Israeli start-ups and businesses, offering summer internship opportunities for undergraduates.
10:29

The frequent meetings between Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar are tarnishing the image of senior Pawar, the Shiv Sena-UBT claimed on Monday.





It is "amusing" to see Ajit Pawar is frequently meeting (his uncle) Sharad Pawar and the latter is also not avoiding it, an editorial in the Sena-UBT mouthpiece Saamana said.





"There is a hunch that BJP's 'Chanakya' is trying to create some confusion by sending Ajit to meet senior Pawar. However, such meetings tarnish the image of Sharad Pawar and it is not good," it said.





The comments came two days after a 'secret' meeting between Sharad Pawar and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, who is part of the Shiv Sena-BJP government in Maharashtra and heads the group of rebel NCP MLAs, at the residence of a businessman in Pune caused a flutter.





Sharad Pawar, whose NCP is an ally of the Shiv Sena-UBT and Congress in the state, on Sunday said his party will not go with the BJP though some "well-wishers" are trying to persuade him. He also said there was nothing wrong if his nephew Ajit Pawar meets him.





The editorial in Saamana said, "This daily game of creation of confusion has now gone beyond the minds of people. The people have become numb to it because of the current political games," the Marathi daily said.





It said Congress state president Nana Patole has described meetings between the Pawars as amusing.





"We would like to add to it by saying Ajit Pawar's decision to join hands with the BJP in the Maharashtra government has made the biggest fun of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's faction," the editorial said.





Notably, MLA Sanjay Shirsat, who is Shinde's supporter, recently claimed the chief minister works for 24 hours and hence has fallen sick.





Referring to it, the Marathi publication said, "Shinde works for 24 hours, but it does not reflect anywhere in the state. If he has lost his sleep from the fear of losing his post anytime, it cannot be termed that he is working round-the-clock."





Whenever Shinde loses sleep, he goes to his native place in Satara and takes some rest. Ajit Pawar is being blamed for his ill-health, it claimed.





Shinde's heartbeats have increased and his "mind has been unstable" since Ajit Pawar joined the government, it further claimed, adding that Ajit Pawar's frequent meetings with Sharad Pawar also started hurting their (Shinde faction's) "little brains".





"If Shirsat's claims are true, Shinde should be admitted to an ICU and kept away from meeting (Deputy CMs) Devendra Fadnavis or Ajit Pawar. Shinde should be admitted to a good hospital in Mumbai or Thane," the editorial said in sarcastic remarks.





There should be a health bulletin released about his current condition, it quipped. -- PTI
Sarah-Anne Winchester, left, a graduate art major and research assistant with SIU Carbondales University Museum along with WM Weston Stoerger, museum curator of exhibits, discuss several of the eclectic art pieces collected by Caresse Crosby that will be featured this fall. Most of the pieces have never been displayed before, including Romare Beardens Nailing on the Cross, being held by Winchester. Other works among the nearly 40 pieces include Polia Chentoffs Portrait of Caresse and Beardens The Nativity. (Photos by Russell Bailey and images courtesy of Morris Librarys Special Collections Research Center.)

SIU exhibit to showcase prominent artists and writers in Caresse Crosbys diverse collection

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill.  An exhibit highlighting art collected by socialite, publisher and early feminist Caresse Crosby  most of which has never been displayed  opens Aug. 22 at Southern Illinois University Carbondales University Museum.

Chere Caresse: Art in the Crosby Papers features nearly 40 pieces, including works by noted artists Salvador Dali, Romare Bearden and Dorothea Tanning and writers-turned-artists Henry Miller and Charles Bukowski. The exhibit, a collaboration between the museum and Morris Library, runs through the fall 2023 semester.

Noteworthy collection

Anne Marie Hamilton-Brehm, associate dean of library affairs, noted that Crosby, who died in 1970, was an important publisher and patron of the arts. Her first venture, in 1920s Paris with her husband Harry, was the Black Sun Press, known for beautifully printed editions of early modernist writers. Crosby began collecting art when she cultivated artists to illustrate volumes of the Black Sun Press. In the 1940s, alone and back in the United States, Crosby started Portfolio, an arts and literary journal which nurtured the careers of young writers and artists cast adrift by World War II.

Throughout her life Caresse Crosby was always ahead of her time, said WM Weston Stoerger, curator of exhibits. Whether it was reinventing herself, designing new inventions (as a young woman she patented an early version of the brassiere) or establishing her own publication, Caresse was never one to sit idly by. Our Chere Caresse celebrates this amazing woman's contributions to and support of the arts and literature.

Collection arrived at SIU in 1969

Harry T. Moore, a research professor in English at SIU from 1957 to 1976, was a close friend who had previously served as an editor for Portfolio and played a pivotal role in convincing Caresse to donate her materials to SIU, reassuring her that African Americans would have access to her collection, Hamilton-Brehm said.

Crosbys papers, housed in the librarys Special Collections Research Center, include manuscripts, business records and extensive correspondence with writers and artists. The art in the collection includes five early paintings by Bearden, who later became well-known for his collages depicting Black communities and religious themes, Hamilton-Brehm shared.

Although we were aware of art in her papers, when we began to examine the collection in more detail, we were excited by what we found: works by prominent surrealists, artists who became known later and even authors, she added.

Reception set for September

A free reception from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Sept. 9 will feature several speakers, including John H. Pollitz, dean of Library Affairs, and exhibit curator Aaron M. Lisec, research specialist in manuscripts at the Special Collections Research Center.

The Cramoisy Queen: A Life of Caresse Crosby by Linda Hamalian, published in 2009 by SIU Press, is available for purchase online.

Bringing artists stories to light

Hamilton-Brehm explained archives used to primarily restrict collections from public view, but archivists around the world are increasingly interested in making their collections accessible and uncovering and amplifying hidden stories, she said. The surge of interest in the work of diverse artists of the 20th century and our commitment to justice, equity, and inclusion make it imperative to bring their stories to light and recognize their courage and those who bravely promoted them.

Morris Library is considering loaning portions of the art collection to interested institutions so that people across the country can view it in person. After the exhibition ends in December, the library will lend Polia Chentoffs portrait of Crosby to the National Portrait Gallery for its exhibition Brilliant Exiles: American Women in Paris, 1900-1939, and it will also travel to two other institutions as part of that exhibition.

We also anticipate interest in the Bearden works as a traveling exhibit, she said. Any decision to loan the materials must be made conscientiously, weighing the benefits of increased visibility and educational opportunity against our obligation to preserve one-of-a-kind primary sources and art for many generations of researchers to come.

For more information, contact Hamilton-Brehm at 618-453-1452 or annemarie.hamiltonbrehm@siu.edu or contact Stoerger at 618-453-5388 or stoerger@siu.edu, or visit museum.siu.edu. University Museum hours are noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 1-4 p.m. Saturday. The museum is closed Sunday and Monday, and during all SIU breaks and holidays.

As with all exhibitions, the artwork represents the viewpoints of its creators, not SIU. SIU complies with the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act and State Officials and Employees Ethics Act.

(Editors note: Crosbys first name is pronounced ca-RESS)
SIU Carbondales criminology and criminal justice online bachelors program is ranked No. 7 nationally by Forbes Advisor. Matthew Giblin, professor, is director of the School of Justice and Public Safety. (Photo by Russell Bailey)

SIUs online criminology bachelors program earns recognition from Forbes

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill.  Southern Illinois University Carbondales criminology and criminal justice online bachelors program was recently recognized by Forbes Advisor when comparing affordability, course offerings and delivery methods.

The online program  which started in 2012  is ranked No. 7 nationally after a review of data from the National Center for Education Statistics, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, reputable professional organizations and education providers websites. The methodology also includes a review by an advisory board of professionals and educators.

We are incredibly honored to be recognized by Forbes for the quality of our online criminology and criminal justice program, Matthew Giblin, professor and director of the School of Justice and Public Safety, said.

Online program evolution

Giblin noted that even with more than 50 years of criminology and criminal justice academic programs at SIU, we continue to evolve to meet the demands of the industry and students pursuing bachelors degrees.

The online programs initial focus was on degree completion and best suited for transfer students who had already completed their general education core curriculum requirements, Giblin said. Several years later, as online offerings became more prevalent on campus, we were able to offer a fully online program from beginning to end  all 120 credit hours for the degree, he said.

The online criminology and criminal justice courses range from 30 to 40 students in each class and are offered year-round, including during the winter intercession and summer, Giblin said.

Courses are also available in a hybrid format, he said. Online students come from the Southern Illinois region, including Carbondale, Marion and West Frankfort; throughout Illinois, including Chicago, Champaign and Quincy, and across the United States, including Texas, California, Arizona and Tennessee. Tuition is the same for all U.S. residents.

All students have their own reasons for pursuing online degrees, but for many, work, family and/or financial commitments led them to study online rather than come to SIU Carbondale, Giblin said. We are thankful we can deliver our program to them wherever they are.

Online enrollment continues to grow

Over the past two years, online students have accounted for about 28% of criminology and criminal justice majors, and Giblin anticipates a significant increase in online enrollment heading into the fall 2023 semester compared to last year.

He attributes the popularity and growth of the online component to several factors, including:

It is one of fewer than 50 schools in the country offering bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees in the field.

All courses are taught by the same professors who teach face-to-face students on campus, ensuring students can be confident they are receiving the same subject matter content from the same subject matter experts as they would if they came to Carbondale.

The Saluki Step Ahead program allows qualified partnering community college graduates to seamlessly transfer into the SIU online program following an established pathway. Students receive an annual $4,000 scholarship in each of their third and fourth years in the program.

Students can apply through the SIU website or by using the Common App. Additional information on the criminology and criminal justice program is available by calling 618-453-5701, emailing Giblin at mgiblin@siu.edu or program coordinator Breanne Pleggenkuhle at bpleggenkuhle@siu.edu, or via SIU Extended Campus at onlinesaluki@siu.edu or 618-453-3430.
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Overall imports in July 2023 are estimated to be USD 67.77 billion, exhibiting a degrowth of 12.92 per cent over July 2022.

In July, however, the trade balance, meaning the difference between exports and imports, narrowed from USD 15.24 billion to USD 8.35 billion.

So far in 2023-24 (April-July), Indias overall exports is estimated to exhibit a negative growth of 5.98 per cent over April-July 2022. Overall imports in April-July 2023 are estimated to exhibit a negative growth of 11.09 per cent over April-July 2022, the ministry said.

The trade deficit in April-July 2023-24 period too narrowed from USD 46.72 billion to USD 28.26 billion, data showed.

Indias trade performance, after witnessing very high growth in 2022-23 has continued to show declining trends in July as compared to the high base of last year in the backdrop of global slowdown, it said.

After witnessing high growth in 2022-23, India's trade performance has shown declining trends compared to the high base of last year in the backdrop of global slowdown, the commerce ministry had earlier said.

India's overall exports in March ended the financial year 2022-2023 were worth USD 775.87 billion, a growth of over 14 per cent and almost USD 100 billion more than last year's figures.

In 2022-23, India's merchandise and services exports rose 6.74 per cent and 27.86 per cent to USD 450.43 billion and USD 325.44 billion, respectively.

Among various steps the government took was to launch a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme in varied sectors, including electronic goods, to make Indian manufacturers globally competitive, attract investments, enhance exports, integrate India into the global supply chain and reduce dependency on imports. These seemed to have reaped dividends. (ANI)
Actor Sushmita Sen thanked all her transgender co-stars of her upcoming web series Taali. Taking to Instagram on Sunday, Sushmita shared stills from the series along with a sweet note. The note read, The power of inclusion!!!! Thank you for including me!!!!My heartfelt gratitude to all the transgender co-actors in Taali for their humanity, love, acceptance & blessings!!!Thank you #bubli for cooking me the delicious mealsMy dearest #Alizeh, for guiding me throughout the performanceto #silk #bhavika oh the list is endless!!! It has been a pleasure to share the screen with you allyou truly are gifted Actors & awesome people!!!#lovethesmiles. Congratulations for #Taali. Its not enough to believe in a better world, we must help create it I love you guys!!! #duggadugga. https://www.instagram.com/p/Cv45nSJNHUi/? On Wednesday, proud mother Sushmita shared with fans that her elder daughter Renee has lent her voice and chanted the 'Mahamrityunjaya' mantra in her upcoming web series. Taking to Insta, Sushmita treated fans with interesting news related to her film. Sharing the picture of Renee, Sushmita penned a sweet note, which read, Life comes a full circle!!! My baby girl@reneesen47graces her voice to rendering this powerful Mantra#mahamrityunjaya. Her voice & my facetogether in the trailer of Taali. I of course have goosebumps every time I listen to it!!! Thank you Shona, for choosing to be a part of this very special Tributeand for doing it with so much love! you make me proud! She added, Thank you all for the avalanche of love & inclusion with which you have received #Taali. I am truly overwhelmed to say the least!!! A big shout out to @shreegaurisawant & our Transgender community for keeping the faith with so much courage! I love you guys!!! #duggadugga. As soon as the video was posted, the actors fans and industry members flooded the comment section with heart emojis. Recently, the makers unveiled the trailer of inspiring series that awestruck the audience with impressive transformation of the actor as the transgender activist. Sushmita took to Insta and shared the trailer video. Sharing the video, she wrote, "Gauri aa gayi hai. Apne swabhimaan, sammaan aur swatantrata ki kahaani lekar. #Taali - Bajayenge nahi, bajwayenge!" Taali trailer shed light on the trials and tribulations of Shreegauri Sawants life, her daring transformation from Ganesh to Gauri and the discrimination she was subjected to because of that; her fearless journey towards motherhood, and the audacious battle that led to the inclusion and identification of the third gender on every official document in India. Coupled with an inspirational storyline, the series hits the right chords with some thought-provoking dialogues. Sushmita Sen commented on her powerful portrayal of Shreegauri Sawant in a statement, "When I was first approached for Taali, in my mind it was an instant yes, however, I took six and a half months to come on-board officially. I knew I wanted to be absolutely prepared, well-read and researched to take up a critical and significant responsibility like this one. Shreegauri Sawant is an admirable human being, I connect with her on so many aspects, and Im fortunate to have got the opportunity live through her incredible life, through this series. The road ahead to inclusivity is a long one, and Im certain Taali is a force that will help spearhead this shift in the consciousness. Created by Arjun Singgh Baran and Kartk D Nishandar, directed by National award-winning director Ravi Jadhav, written by Kshitij Patwardhan, and produced by Arjun Singgh Baran, Kartk D Nishandar (GSEAMS Production) and Afeefa Nadiadwala. Sushmita's fierce and bold avatar in and as Shreegauri Sawant has already built anticipation among the audience. Born as Ganesh and raised in Pune, Shreegauri Sawant is a transgender activist from Mumbai. She was one of the petitioners in the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) case of 2013, in connection with which the Supreme Court recognised persons belonging to the transgender community as the third gender. The landmark verdict was delivered in 2014. Taali will stream on Jio Cinema from August 15. Apart from this project, Sushmita will also be seen in Disney+ Hotstar's 'Aarya Season 3'. (ANI)
With patriotic fervour and nationalistic spirits high in the air ahead of the Independence Day celebrations in the country, a Tiranga Yatra was organized by the BJP in Ambala Cantonment on Sunday in the district. The Tiranga Yatra led by Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij saw the participation of thousands of residents in Ambala. People showered the procession with flowers as it made its way from Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Park past a number of markets and concluded at the PWD Rest House. While speaking to the media today, Minister Anil Vij said, "The atmosphere seems patriotic ahead of Independence Day on August 15. On the appeal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, many patriotic programs including the Tiranga Yatra is being organized by the BJP across the country. Meanwhile, a Tiranga Yatra has been organized by the BJP in Ambala Cantonment today, during which thousands of Ambala residents have participated." Today on the call of Prime Minister Modi in every village, in every city, in every metropolitan city, Tiranga Yatra is being taken out in the whole country. The language may be different, the region may be different, the traditions may be different, but the tricolour is the pride of all. May our tricolour fly high, he added further. The Minister added, "When we came to power, we were at number 10 in the economy, today we are at number 5. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised that over the next five years, we would join the first three places, and by the year 2047, our nation will be a developed one. He has also urged the populace to take part in the #HarGharTiranga movement." Taking a dig at the Opposition, Vij said that protesting is a part of democracy, but collaborating with the enemies to betray is another thing. He further said that our opposition leaders speak the language of other hostile countries, which is sad. The Haryana Home Minister appeared in the colours of patriotism and held the tricolour in his hand during the entire journey. He along with the general public raised slogans of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and 'Vande Mataram' with enthusiasm. Earlier in the day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah flagged off the 'Tiranga Yatra' in Gujarat's Ahmedabad. During the program, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel was also present. A fervour of patriotism and nationalism was witnessed during the massive Tiranga Rally. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday urged the people of India to participate in the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' movement from August 13 to 15 this year. PM Modi said that the Indian flag symbolises the spirit of freedom and national unity and urged the people to upload their photographs with the Tiranga on the Har Ghar Tiranga website. PM Modi tweeted, "The Tiranga symbolises the spirit of freedom and national unity. Every Indian has an emotional connect with the Tricolour and it inspires us to work harder to further national progress. "Meanwhile, around 1,800 special guests from all over India will be attending the Independence Day Flag hoisting by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Red Fort. India will be celebrating its 76 years of Independence on August 15 and will be onto its 77th year of Independence. (ANI)
Jana Sena Party (JSP) chief Pawan Kalyan on Sunday said that he will try to convince Union Minister Amit Shah not to privatize the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. Kalyan organized a huge public meeting in Gajuwaka on Sunday as part of the third phase of the Varahi Vijaya Yatra. Hitting out at the Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, Kalyan said that people made him the CM not to sell public properties like Gangavaram port shares and Circuit House. "Why did the people make him CM to sell public property like Gangavaram port shares and circuit house? I will show how a revolutionary becomes a political leader," he said. Pawan Kalyan said that he is ready to quit films, but that is the fuel to run his party, so he is unable to do so. He said that stardom did not come by his will and that he will achieve the post of CM by working hard. Pawan Kalyan lashed out at Visakha MP MVV Satyanarayana and said that a rowdy sheeter was won as Vizag MP. He asked if such an MP can go to the Prime Minister and save the steel plant. He said that there is an opinion among Delhi leaders that Andhra MPs are looters. "I will try to convince the central leaders for the preservation of the steel plant. If the worker unions and parties of the steel plant come together, I will take responsibility until the iron ore is allocated for the steel plant its own mines," he said. "Do YSRCP leaders have the guts to display placards in Parliament..? I told Amit Shah not to privatize the steel plant. Those who fight for the people should be elected. YSRCP MPs learn by watching Odisha and Tamil Nadu MPs. Why is the state unable to develop industries?" Pawan asked. Pawan said that Visakhapatnam Steel Plant came only after many struggles and many people sacrificed their lives. He reminded that the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant is like the heart of the state and half of the land allottees have not even received compensation. (ANI)
As a part of the Independence Day celebrations at Red Fort, around 1,800 people from different vocations, with their spouses, have been invited from across the country as Special Guests, said an official release. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will lead the Nation in celebrating the 77thIndependence Day from the iconic Red Fort in Delhi on August 15, 2023. The initiative has been taken in line with the Governments vision of Jan Bhagidari. According to the release, 75 couples from each State/Union Territory, in their traditional attire, have also been invited to witness the ceremony at Red Fort. These Special Guests invited to attend the celebrations at Red Fort include over 400 Sarpanches of more than 660 vibrant villages; 250 from Farmer Producer Organisations scheme; 50 participants each of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana. 50 Shram Yogis (construction workers) of the Central Vista Project, including the New Parliament Building; 50 each Khadi workers, those involved in the construction of border roads, making of Amrit Sarovar and Har Ghar Jal Yojana as well as 50 each primary school teachers, nurses and fishermen are also invited. Some of these Special Guests are scheduled to visit the National War Memorial and call on Raksha Rajya Mantri Ajay Bhatt as part of their stay in Delhi. This years Independence Day will culminate the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, which were launched by the Prime Minister from Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on March 12, 2021, and will, once again, usher the country into Amrit Kaal with renewed vigour to realise Narendra Modis dream of making India a developed country by 2047. A number of new initiatives have been taken to celebrate the 77th Independence Day. A large number of guests have been invited as compared to last year. Selfie points dedicated to different schemes & initiatives of the government have been installed at 12 locations, including National War Memorial, India Gate, Vijay Chowk, New Delhi Railway Station, Pragati Maidan, Raj Ghat, Jama Masjid Metro Station, Rajiv Chowk Metro Station, Delhi Gate Metro Station, ITO Metro Gate, Naubat Khana and Sheesh Ganj Gurudwara. The schemes/initiatives include Global Hope: Vaccine & Yoga; Ujjwala Yojana; Space Power; Digital India; Skill India; Start-up India; Swachh Bharat; Sashakt Bharat, Naya Bharat; Powering India; Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and Jal Jeevan Mission. As part of the celebrations, an online selfie contest will also be conducted by the Ministry of Defence on the MyGov portal from August 15-20. People are encouraged to take selfies at one or more of the 12 installations and upload them on the MyGov platform to take part in the contest. Twelve winners, one from each installation, will be selected on the basis of the online selfie contest. The winners would be given prize money of Rs 10,000 each. (ANI)
As the country gets ready to immerse in the 77th Independence Day celebrations this August 15th, bike rallies, Har Ghar Tiranga and Meri Maati Mera Desh programs are being organised all over the country. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Sunday participated in a bike rally on the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign. "Glad to participate in a bike rally on Har Ghar Tiranga campaign," CM Saha said in his tweet. Asansol railway station has also been illuminated with tri-colour lights in view of Independence Day. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated the light and sound show organised at Dighalipukhuri in Guwahati on Sunday ahead of the 77th Independence Day. He also urged the citizens to participate in Har Ghar Tiranga and Meri Maati Mera Desh programs. "I would urge citizens to take part in Har Ghar Tiranga and Meri Maati Mera Desh programs and make them a success," CM Sarma said. Earlier in the day, with patriotic fervour and nationalistic spirits high in the air ahead of the Independence Day celebrations in the country, a Tiranga Yatra was organized by the BJP in Ambala Cantonment in the district. The Tiranga Yatra led by Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij saw the participation of thousands of residents in Ambala. People showered the procession with flowers as it made its way from Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Park past a number of markets and concluded at the PWD Rest House. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also flagged off the 'Tiranga Yatra' in Gujarat's Ahmedabad on Sunday. During the program, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel was also present. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday urged the people of India to participate in the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' movement from August 13 to 15 this year. PM Modi said that the Indian flag symbolises the spirit of freedom and national unity and urged the people to upload their photographs with the Tiranga on the Har Ghar Tiranga website. PM Modi tweeted, "The Tiranga symbolises the spirit of freedom and national unity. Every Indian has an emotional connect with the Tricolour and it inspires us to work harder to further national progress." Meanwhile, around 1,800 special guests from all over India will be attending the Independence Day Flag hoisting by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Red Fort. India will be celebrating its 76 years of Independence on August 15 and will be onto its 77th year of Independence. (ANI)
According to the police, the deceased has been identified as Surekha Agarwal.

The police noted that the incident happened in the early hours of Sunday when the husband of the deceased, Madhan Mohan Agrawal was going out for a morning walk.

"At around 6:30 am, three people came and pushed him inside and barged into his house with the intention of robbery," said the police.

"The accused tied the hands and taped the mouth of the old couple, and looted gold jewellery from their house and fled," added the police.

The police said that after the robbers left the house, victim Mohan Agarwal somehow informed the neighbours about the incident and they called the police.

Upon receiving the information, the police reached the spot and took the couple to Nair Hospital, where doctors declared Surekha Agarwal dead.

Informing about the investigation, the police said that a case of robbery and murder has been registered against the three accused.

Further investigation into the matter is underway. (ANI)
Chamoli District Magistrate, Himanshu Khurana told ANI that Due to heavy debris falling from the mountain in Pipalkoti, many vehicles were buried under the debris and the roads have been closed.

The district magistrate said that at present there are vehicles buried under the debris and information has been received about one person buried under the debris in Pipalkoti.

Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly Speaker Ritu Khanduri Bhushan took stock of disaster-affected areas in Kotdwar in the State on Sunday.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had yesterday issued a red alert and predicted heavy rainfall with lightning in six districts of the state for the next twenty-four hours.

It also forecast very heavy to extremely heavy rain/ thunderstorm accompanied with lightning and very intense to extremely intense spell is likely to occur at isolated places in Dehradun, Pauri, Tehri, Nainital, Champawat and Udham Singh Nagar.

According to official estimates, 52 people had died due to rain-related incidents in this monsoon session while another 37 people sustained injuries. Heavy rains in Uttarakhand have triggered landslides and flash floods in several places.

On the instructions of the chief minister, SDRF and NDRF personnel were deployed in places badly affected by rain-related incidents. (ANI)
A leopard was caught in a cage set up by forest officials in Tirumala, following the incident in which a six-year-old was mauled to death a few days ago. The leopard was caught by forest officials on Sunday night. The girl, identified as Lakshitha, had gone missing on Friday night near the Narasimha Swamy temple in Tirumala on the Alipiri walkway and was found dead on Saturday, officials said. Lakshitha's father, Dinesh had said While climbing the Alipiri footway in Tirumala, my daughter, who was a few steps ahead, went to purchase a biscuit packet. Due to the heavy crowd of devotees, we assumed that she had gone further ahead of us, but after some time we could not find her. Later, she was found dead near the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple. The body was sent for post-mortem to the Tirupathi Government Hospital. Forest officials identified the places where the wild cat roams and set up two cages on the footway at different places. "The leopard was caught by forest officials. We will take necessary measures to protect devotees from attack by the beasts," said Dharma Reddy, Executive Officer, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams told ANI. Meanwhile, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has decided to allow pilgrims with children, aged below 15 years, to trek on both pedestrian routes only between 5 am and 2 pm. The Srivari Temple Trust Board also announced that the movement of two-wheelers on the Ghat roads will be suspended from 6 pm to 6 am. The restrictions came into force on Sunday. Stating that the decisions have been taken for the safety of the children, the TTD in a statement said, We noticed the movement of leopards last (Saturday) night at five places, including three between Alipiri and Galigopuram, at Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy (LNS) temple and at the 38th Turning. Earlier in June this year, a five-year-old boy was admitted to hospital after he was attacked by a leopard in Andhra Pradesh's Tirumala. The incident took place at the 7th mile along the Alipiri-Tirumala pedestrian route in Andhra Pradesh. (ANI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday paid tribute to people who lost their lives during partition, and said that the partition of the country on the basis of religion is a "dark chapter" in history. Shah also said that the country had to pay a heavy price fir it. "The partition of the country on the basis of religion in 1947 is a dark chapter in history. The hatred it generated has killed lakhs and displaced crores of people. The country had to pay a heavy price for this and many people are still facing the brunt of this menace. Today, on 'Partition Vibhishika Memorial Day', I bow down to all those people who lost their lives and their family members due to partition," Amit Shah took to X (former Twitter). https://twitter.com/AmitShah/status/1690916689813340160?s=20 PM Modi in 2021, announced that August 14 will be observed as 'Partition Horrors Remembrance Day' to remind the nation of the sufferings and sacrifices of Indians during the partition in 1947. India attained its freedom from British rule on August 15, 1947. Independence Day, which is celebrated on 15th August every year, is a joyous and proud occasion for any nation; however, with the sweetness of freedom came also the trauma of partition. The birth of the newly independent Indian nation was accompanied by violent pangs of partition that left permanent scars on millions of Indians. The partition caused the largest migrations in human history affecting about 20 million people. Millions of families had to abandon their ancestral villages/towns/cities and were forced to find a new life as refugees. (ANI)
A Special Court of Delhi has issued notice to the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on a regular bail plea moved by Perwez Ahmad (President, PFI Delhi), Md. Ilias (General Secretary PFI Delhi) and Abdul Muqeet (Office Secretary, PCI, Delhi) about their alleged involvement in the offence of money laundering in the guise of cash donations. The Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Shailender Malik last week issued notice to Enforcement Directorate on the regular bail plea moved by them. The court fixed a hearing on August 24, 2023, for Parvez Ahmad and on August 26, 2023, for Muhammed Iliyas and Abdul Muqeet. On July 25, 2023, the Court of ASJ Shailender Malik dismissed their default bail plea and said, I do not find any case is made out for default bail. More particularly when the judgment of Apex Court in the Ritu Chhabaria case has been stayed by Apex Court itself laying down the guidelines that every prayer for default bail u/s 167 (2) Cr.P.C. would be examined on its merits and peculiar facts and circumstances of each case. Even otherwise any observation given in peculiar facts and circumstances of one case cannot be considered to be precedent when no specific legal proposition has been laid down. As such the judgment of the Ritu Chhabaria case (supra) has been of no help to the accused/applicants. For the reasons so stated, applications stand dismissed, said the Judge. Court noted that carrying "further investigation" does, by itself mean that the earlier investigation was incomplete. The law permits investigating agencies to carry on "further investigation" given the process and activities of money laundering offences. Shailender Malik on Friday decided to send all three accused to judicial custody for fourteen days, after ED didn't seek further custodial remand of them. Advocate N. K. Matta, Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) for ED submitted that merely because the further investigation of ED is going on, it cannot be assumed that the investigation of ED remained incomplete for a claim of default bail u/s 167 (2) CrPC, noted the court. ED also submitted that section 44 Clause 2 of explanation added by way of amendment of 2019 stipulates that ED can carry out further investigation for "further evidence" as well as qua other accused persons. According to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Delhi Unit of Popular Front of India (PFI) Perwez Ahmad, President, of Delhi PFI since 2018, was part of a criminal conspiracy. He admitted to having looked after the collection of funds in Delhi. Investigation revealed that such fund collection exercise was a sham and was falsely projected to be received from PFI sympathizers whereas statements of individuals, projected as contributors, revealed that these transactions were bogus. Hence, cash from suspicious sources was nothing but proceeds of crime generated out of criminal conspiracy. It is evident that Perwez Ahmad deliberately withheld disclosure of facts and deliberately lied and tried to mislead the investigating officer during the recording of his statements under Section 50 of PMLA, 2002, said the ED in court earlier. ED earlier stated that the PMLA investigation against PFI in a matter registered in 2018 revealed that more than Rs. 120 Crore have been deposited in the accounts of PFI & related entities over the years, and that a very large part of the same has been deposited in cash. According to the ED, It recently found inputs against the PFI for "organizing a training camp with an intent to cause disturbance during Prime Minster Narendra Modi's visit in Bihar's capital Patna on July 12 last year". Besides, during the investigation, the agencies found details of numerous bank accounts of PFI. The revelation came in two separate remand copies of the ED-- one submitted before a special judge in Lucknow against Muhammed Shafeeque Payeth, resident of Kozhikode in Kerala, and another against Perwez Ahmed before a special court in Delhi. Both Payeth and Ahmed were arrested from Kerala and Delhi respectively in September last year during a first-ever largest search operation conducted by a joint team of ED and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and state police forces, arresting 106 PFI members from 15 states. (ANI)
The Patiala House Court of Delhi has taken cognizance of a chargesheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against Sahul Hameed, who was arrested from Madurai in connection with a money laundering probe against a banned organisation namely Popular Front of India (PFI). The Additional Sessions Judge Shailender Malik last week took cognizance of ED's supplementary chargesheet and issued a production warrant for accused Sahul Hameed on August 29, 2023. According to the ED, the accused was earlier in the process of collecting illegal money/terror funds from legitimate and illegitimate channels from Singapore and other places. He stated to have been deported to India. Upon receipt of inputs, he was intercepted and could not give an account of certain activities taken by him toward collecting funds for PFI. The Enforcement Directorate was represented by Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Naveen Kumar Matta along with Advocate Mohd Faizan Khan in the matter. ED counsel earlier informed the court that the statement of the accused under section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act was also recorded wherein he remained evasive in giving answers to certain material aspects collected during the investigation. Therefore ED arrested the accused. Earlier, the same court had taken cognizance of a main chargesheet (Prosecution Complaint) filed by the Enforcement Directorate against several office bearers of Popular Front of India (PFI) in a special court in Delhi. The court noted that funds were used for the purpose of unlawful activities, inciting violence, which was allegedly held in North East Delhi in February 2020. According to the ED, the accused persons have revealed that they have played an active role in bogus cash donations on behalf of PFI and in claiming and projecting PFI's unaccounted cash raised through unknown and suspicious sources as untainted and legitimate. ED stated that the PMLA investigation has revealed that as a part of a criminal conspiracy hatched by PFI office bearers over the past many years, suspicious funds from within the country and abroad have been raised by PFI and related entities and have been clandestinely remitted to India in a concealed manner and deposited in their bank accounts over the years. In March this year, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) Tribunal upheld the decision of the central government's decision to ban Popular Front of India and its affiliates. The Tribunal has dismissed the allegations levelled by the organisation that one particular community is being targeted by the government. The Tribunal while passing the judgement noted that the members of PFI and its affiliates are indulging in secessionist activities which were contrary to the social fabric of the country. In September last year, the Ministry of Home Affairs declared the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its affiliates as an Unlawful Association. The press statement issued in this regard stated that the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its associates or affiliates or fronts have been found to be involved in serious offences, including terrorism and its financing, targeted gruesome killings, disregarding the constitutional setup of the country, disturbing public order, etc. which are prejudicial to the integrity, security and sovereignty of the country. Therefore, the Ministry of Home Affairs found it necessary to curb the nefarious activities of the organization and has hence declared the Popular Front of India (PFI) along with its associates or affiliates or fronts including Rehab India Foundation (RIF), Campus Front of India (CFI), All India Imams Council (AIIC), National Confederation of Human Rights Organization (NCHRO), National Womens Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation and Rehab Foundation, Kerala as an unlawful association under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. (ANI)
Taking to 'X', (formerly known as 'Twitter'), Rahul Gandhi wrote, "India will be truly successful only when women occupy equal space in our society. Indira Fellowship seeks to empower women and transform politics. They must take their rightful place in politics and shape Indias destiny - Aadhi Aabadi, Poora Haq! Join http://indirafellowship.in".

The Indira fellowship programme is an intiative in the memory of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi which aims to empower women in the political arena, as per an official statement.

"Gender equality requires women to have a seat at the decision-making table and this fellowship aims to break down the barriers that hinder women's entry into politics. Selected participants will receive mentorship from seasoned political leaders, training modules on policy-making, grassroots campaigning, and leadership development", said the official statement.

As per the statement, the programme will be launched in September, 2023. It will be a nine-month programme.

In addition, the Congress party wrote on 'X', "#IndiraFellowship is a vision for the women of today to be the change-makers of tomorrow. If you believe you have the potential to be a leader, Register Now! https://indirafellowship.in".

It is worth mentioning that the Congress party is putting efforts to reach out to women voters.

During the Karnataka assembly elections earlier this year, Congress promised money transfer into the bank accounts of women.

After its decisive win in Karnataka, the eyes are on the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections which is scheduled to be held later this year.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, during her address in Jabalpur, promised that Rs 1,500 would be provided to women if the party is voted to power.

Additionally, Vadra also promised to provide gas cylinders at Rs 500. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan paid tribute and attended the last rite of former state home minister and water resource minister Ramdayal Ahirwar in Maharajpur, Chhatarpur district on Monday morning. CM Chouhan reached there along with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president V D Sharma and offered florals to the mortal remains of the former minister. Speaking to the reporters, CM Chouhan said, Late Ramdayal Ahirwar ji was a popular leader and a dedicated public servant. He was such a worker of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who had dedicated himself since childhood to expand the work of the party. He was a volunteer of the Sangh and a social worker. He did many remarkable works in the field of education. He was so popular that he had been an MLA six times. It was said about him that he was a permanent MLA, Chouhan said. When Maharajpur was a reserved seat for the Scheduled Castes, so he was an MLA from here for 5 times, later the party made him contest elections from Chandla constituency, and from there too he secured victory. As an MLA, he served the public with full devotion, CM said. The Chief Minister further said, I remember when I had come in 2008, he had made many demands for the development of Maharajpur, which we had accepted. He was a minister, he showed his administrative efficiency by being on the post of Minister of State for Home and Water Resources. He was our companion who was simple, gentle and who served everyone. I and the State President have come today to pay homage. I pray to the almighty to give peace to the departed soul and strength to his family to bear the sorrow, he added. CM Chouhan also said that in the memory of the former minister, he would do some work after having discussion with workers and family members in Maharajpur, which will keep his memory alive. Reportedly, the six-time MLA Ahirwar was ill for the last several days. He passed away at his home in Vishwanath colony in Chhatarpur district on Sunday. (ANI)
Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has taken a jibe at the Congress party over the FIR against Congress leaders, including party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and has said that the Congress is doing dirty politics to ensure its existence. Tomar made the remark while talking to reporters at state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office in Bhopal on Monday. Congress does not have any issue left, so they are doing dirty politics to save its existence. Making false papers, signing falsely and then making it viral to defame the Madhya Pradesh government is a sign of criminal tendency. When this is being done by those people (Congressmen), then the complaint was made at the appropriate place. This is the reason that FIRs have been lodged at many places on Priyanka Gandhis tweet, Tomar said. There is a rule of Law in Madhya Pradesh and it will work according to its own, he added. When asked about a few congress leaders said that congress is not afraid of FIR, Tomar said, Congress is not afraid to lie, that is why they ruined the country. Notably, Priyanka Gandhi shared a snap of a newspaper cutting on official X (formally known as Twitter) on Friday evening and wrote, In Madhya Pradesh, the contractors' union has written a letter to the Chief Justice of the High Court, complaining that the payment is received only after paying 50 per cent commission in the state. The corrupt BJP government in Karnataka used to collect 40 per cent commission. In Madhya Pradesh, BJP has gone ahead by breaking its own record of corruption. The people of Karnataka ousted the government of 40 per cent commission, now the people of Madhya Pradesh will remove the BJP government of 50 per cent commission from the power, She further wrote. Following which, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders in Madhya Pradesh have filed complaints against Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, MP Congress chief Kamal Nath and former Union Minister Arun Yadav's Twitter handles over a post accusing the state government in Madhya Pradesh of 'corruption', police said. According to a statement released on the official X handle of Indore Commissioner of Police (CP) late on Saturday night, local BJP's legal cell convenor Nimesh Pathak lodged a complaint with claims of a fake letter, bearing the name of a person named, Gyanendra Awasthi, was being circulated on social media with allegations that the contractors in the state were being asked to pay 50 per cent commission. Based on the complaint, a case under sections 420, and 469 of IPC has been registered at Indore's Sanyogitaganj police station, the police said. Meanwhile, state BJP Chief V D Sharma also said, I want to ask Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi and Kamal Nath who has made the letter viral and where he is. You have to answer, you have tried to defame the Madhya Pradesh government. (ANI)
A total of 50 nurses along with their family members from across the country have been invited as Special Guests to listen to Prime Minister Narendra Modis Independence Day address from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Tuesday. According to the government, they will be part of 1800 special guests from various walks of life, ranging from Sarpanches of Vibrant Villages, teachers, farmers, and fishermen, who have been invited to participate in the Independence Day Celebrations at the iconic monument on August 15, 2023. The initiative to invite people from all walks of life, across India, and be a part of the celebrations has been taken by the Government in line with its vision of Jan Bhagidari. Members of the Nursing Community have expressed their appreciation for the Union Governments initiative. Anita Tomar, Nursing Officer, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi stated, For inviting us to participate in the Independence Day celebration in New Delhi in recognition of our efforts during COVID, on behalf of the entire nursing community, I would like to thank PM Modi and the Government of India from the bottom of my heart. Apart from it, Vandana Kaushik, a Nursing Officer from Safdarjung Hospital, said, "I express my regards to the government for recognizing our efforts and dedication during Covid. I also want to thank the government for its pro-nurses attitude that it has shown through various development schemes, said. (ANI)
As India is celebrating its 77th independence day with fanfare and glee, there are some facts that you should know about the Tricolour. Every country has its own flag symbolising liberty or freedom. The Indian flag holds a magnanimous significance for it represents the diversity the country holds. It symbolizes patriotism, freedom and honour of the country. At the same time, it makes us feel nostalgic about the sacrifice made by our freedom fighters. The Indian flag is a horizontal tricolour of Saffron (Kesariya) at the top, white in the middle, and green at the bottom, all in equal proportion. It also consists of the national emblem of the country, Ashok Chakra, in the centre of the white band. The saffron colour of the national flag represents the strength and courage of the country. The white in the middle is a symbol of peace while the green colour symbolizes fertility, prosperity and auspiciousness of the land. The 'Ashok Chakra' signifies that there is life in movement and death in stagnation. The Indian Tricolour was adopted in its present form during the constituent assembly meeting that was held on July 22, 1947, a few days before the country got freedom from the British rule on August 15, 1947. The proposal for the flag was made by Mahatma Gandhi to the Indian National Congress in the year 1921. However, it was designed by Pingali Venkayy. Initially, there was a traditional spinning wheel (Charkha) in the centre of the flag. A modification took place with the inclusion of white strips in the middle. Furthermore, the traditional spinning wheel was replaced by Ashok Chakra in 1947. On January 26, 2002, a modification took place in the Indian Flag Code. Accordingly, the citizens of India were finally permitted to hoist the Tricolour over their homes, or workplaces on any day and not just National days as was the case earlier. Now, Indians can proudly display the national flag. However, there are certain rules associated with hoisting the Tricolour. One must never use the flag as pillow covers, table covers, or bedsheets. One must keep in mind that the flag should always be in the right hand of the speaker, for 'right' represents authority. Whenever the national flag is displayed, it should be totally spread out. It cannot be deliberately allowed to touch the ground. In conclusion, our national flag represents the citizens of the country. It signifies our unity and sovereignty. It must not be disrespected or looked down upon in any way. Ahead of this independence day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the citizens to take part in the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign. Taking to 'X', (formerly known as 'Twitter'), PM Modi wrote, "In the spirit of the #HarGharTiranga movement, let us change the DP (Display Picture) of our social media accounts and extend support to this unique effort which will deepen the bond between our beloved country and us". PM Narendra Modi is set to lead the Nation in celebrating the 77th Independence Day from the iconic Red Fort in the national capital. As a part of the Independence Day celebrations at Red Fort, around 1,800 people from different vocations, with their spouses, have been invited from across the country as Special Guests, said an official release. The initiative has been taken in line with the Governments vision of Jan Bhagidari. According to the release, 75 couples from each State/Union Territory, in their traditional attire, have also been invited to witness the ceremony at Red Fort. These Special Guests invited to attend the celebrations at Red Fort include over 400 Sarpanches of more than 660 vibrant villages; 250 from Farmer Producer Organisations scheme; 50 participants each of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana. 50 Shram Yogis (construction workers) of the Central Vista Project, including the New Parliament Building; 50 each Khadi workers, those involved in the construction of border roads, making of Amrit Sarovar and Har Ghar Jal Yojana as well as 50 each primary school teachers, nurses and fishermen are also invited. Some of these Special Guests are scheduled to visit the National War Memorial and call on Raksha Rajya Mantri Ajay Bhatt as part of their stay in Delhi. This years Independence Day will culminate the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, which were launched by the Prime Minister from Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on March 12, 2021, and will, once again, usher the country into Amrit Kaal with renewed vigour to realise Narendra Modis dream of making India a developed country by 2047. (ANI)
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday held separate telephonic conversations with district magistrates and took stock of the devastation in the State caused by heavy rains. Due to heavy rains in Uttarakhand since Sunday, normal life was disrupted in Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Pauri and Dehradun districts and other areas. Badrinath National Highway in the Pipalkoti area in Uttarakhands Chamoli district was een blocked due to debris triggered by a landslide, following intermittent rainfall. Several vehicles have also been buried under the debris. "Information has been received about one person buried under the debris/missing in Pipalkoti," DM Chamoli Himanshu Khurana told ANI. "Some portion of the road has been damaged due to heavy debris near Pipalkoti on the Badrinath National Highway," Chamoli Police Uttarakhand said in a tweet. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert and predicted heavy rainfall with lightning in six districts of the state for the next twenty-four hours. According to Chamoli district magistrate Himanshu Khurana, heavy damage has been caused by heavy rains in the Mayapur of Nagar Panchayat Pipalkoti. "On Sunday night in Chamoli Badrinath National Highway Mayapur Gadora, the devastation caused havoc in the Mayapur market. Many vehicles in Mayapur are feared to be buried under the debris caused by the intermittent rains," Chamoli district magistrate said. Amid incessant rainfall, the water of the Nandakini River entered houses of Kumartoli locality and drain water entered inside shops in Pipalkoti in Chamoli district on Sunday night. Meanwhile, Rudraprayag Police have issued guidelines asking people to avoid unnecessary travel. "Due to incessant rains, the Mandakini and Alaknanda rivers passing through the Rudraprayag area have become fierce, so avoid going to the banks of the river. Due to the rain, the routes are also obstructed at many places, so avoid unnecessary travel if it is not necessary," Rudraprayag Police Uttarakhand tweeted. The Alaknanda River is in full spate and has reached above the danger mark. Uttarakhand's Srinagar Kotwal Ravi Saini said that "In view of the rising water level of the river, the police have been alerting the people since night, and the people of the houses built on the banks of the river are being alerted." An official estimate earlier put the toll from rain-related incidents at 52 while another 37 people were injured. Heavy rains in Uttarakhand triggered landslides and flash floods in several places, officials said. (ANI)
The Calcutta High Court on Monday granted permission to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) regarding ragging in educational institutions following the death of a first-year student at Jadavpur University due to alleged ragging. A division bench of Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court granted permission to file a Public interest litigation regarding ragging in educational institutions. The PIL was filed by Advocate Sayan Banerjee. The matter is likely to be heard this week. A first-year student, Swarnodip Kundu, of Jadavpur University in Kolkata, died on Thursday after allegedly falling from the balcony of the university's hostel on Wednesday night. Two more students were arrested on Sunday morning in connection with the Jadavpur University student death case, taking the total number of arrests to three, said police. According to the police, the arrest was made on Sunday morning, and the arrested accused has been identified as Deepsekhar Dutta (19), a second-year Economics student at the university and a resident of the Bankura district. The second arrested accused has been identified as Manotosh Ghosh (20), a second-year student of Sociology and a resident of Hooghly. Meanwhile, the third arrested accused, Sourav Chowdhury, an ex-student of the university, was produced before a city court on August 12 and remanded to police custody till August 22. On Thursday, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose visited the hostel and said that strong action will be taken and justice will be served. Talking to the media after visiting the university hostel, the governor said, "I went to the hostel, I discussed with the students... and also the teachers, they want justice. Justice will be done. They presented before me some of the basic issues here. We'll address them... We'll do our best, we'll give them justice, and strong action will be taken..." Earlier, officials informed that the preliminary post-mortem reports point out that the student died after falling from a high place. "He suffered severe injury to the left side of the head, and his left rib and pelvis were fractured due to the impact," they said, citing preliminary postmortem reports. Kundu, a first-year student in the Bengali Department, belonged to the state's Nadia district. The teen was taken to the nearby KPC Hospital in Jadavpur in the night itself by classmates. "The student died in the hospital on Thursday morning while undergoing treatment," police said earlier. (ANI)
Addressing the nation on the eve of the 77th Independence Day celebrations, President Droupadi Murmu on Monday said that India is the mother of democracy and the country's "shining example of truth and non-violence has been successfully employed in many political struggles around the world." The President said that India had democratic institutions functioning at the grassroots since "ancient times", but long years of colonial rule wiped them out. "India is the Mother of Democracy and since ancient times we had democratic institutions functioning at the grassroots. But long years of colonial rule wiped them out. On August 15, 1947, the nation woke up to a new dawn. We not only won freedom from foreign rule, but also the freedom to rewrite our destiny," President Murmu said. "With our Independence began the era of foreign rulers withdrawing from many colonies and colonialism drew close to its end. What is special about our freedom struggle is not only the fact that its objective was achieved, but also how it was fought. Under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and a galaxy of extraordinary visionary leaders, our national movement was animated by a unique set of ideals. Gandhiji and others re-kindled the soul of India and helped the nation rediscover its civilisational values," the President said. She added, "Following Indias shining example, truth and non- violence, the cornerstone of our resistance, have been successfully employed in many political struggles around the world." In her address to the nation, President Murmu emphasized that each one of us is an equal citizen, each one of us has an equal opportunity, equal rights and equal duties in this land. The President asserted that there is one identity above all-- that is everyone is a citizen of India. She said that the Independence Day celebrations remind her of her childhood days. "We could not contain our excitement of participating in the Independence Day celebrations in our village school. When the tricolour was hoisted, we felt an electrifying energy pass through us. With our hearts full of patriotic pride, we saluted the national flag and sang the national anthem. Sweets were distributed and patriotic songs were sung, which kept playing in our minds for many days," President Murmu said. She added that she was fortunate in having an opportunity to re-live these experiences when she became a school teacher. The President added, "When we grow up, we may not remain as expressive of our joy as children are, but I am sure that the intensity of the patriotic feeling associated with the celebration of national festivals is not diminished at all. Independence Day reminds us that we are not merely individuals, but we are part of a great community of people. It happens to be the biggest and the greatest community of its kind. It is the community of the citizens of the worlds largest democracy." "What we celebrate on Independence Day is the fact that we are part of a great democracy. Each of us has many identities apart from caste, creed, language and region, we are also identified with our families and professions but there is one identity that is above all. That is our identity as citizens of India. Each one of us is an equal citizen; each one of us has an equal opportunity, equal rights and equal duties, in this land," she said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hoist the national flag from the ramparts of the iconic Red Fort on Tuesday morning to a 21-gun salute and then address the nation. (ANI)
Hailing the contribution of the women freedom fighters, President Droupadi Murmu in her address to the country on the eve of the 77th Independence Day mentioned that the country is giving emphasis to economic empowerment of women that strengthens their position in the family and society. Droupadi Murmu also gave importance to the economic empowerment of women which in turn, strengthens the position of women in the family and society. "I am happy to note that the economic empowerment of women is being given special focus in our country. Economic empowerment strengthens the position of women in the family and society," the President said. "On the eve of Independence Day, I join my fellow citizens in paying grateful tribute to the known and unknown freedom fighters whose sacrifices have made it possible for India to regain its rightful place in the comity of nations," Droupadi Murmu said in her address to the nation. Speaking about the sacrifice of women freedom fighters, Droupadi Murmu said, "Great women freedom fighters like Matangini Hazra and Kanaklata Baruah laid down their lives for Bharat-Mata." Kanaklata Barua was a freedom fighter from Assam who was only 17 years when she was shot by the British police force when she tried to hoist the Tricolour at the Gohpur police station. On the contribution of Kasturba Gandhi, President Murmu said, "Maa Kasturba matched the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi every step of the way on the difficult path of Satyagraha." "Many great women leaders like Sarojini Naidu, Ammu Swaminathan, Rama Devi, Aruna Asaf-Ali and Sucheta Kriplani had set inspiring ideals for all future generations of women, to serve the nation and the society with self-confidence," Droupadi Murmu added. The President said that women are contributing in every field of development and have made their place in many fields in which their participation was unimaginable decades ago. "Today, women are contributing extensively in every field of development and service to the country and are enhancing the nations pride. Today our women have made their special place in many such fields in which their participation was unimaginable a few decades ago," President Murmu said. Droupadi Murmu also gave importance to the economic empowerment of women which in turn, strengthens the position of women in the family and society. "I am happy to note that the economic empowerment of women is being given special focus in our country. Economic empowerment strengthens the position of women in the family and society," the President said. Noting that women's empowerment was among the ideals of the country's freedom struggle, President Murmu urged her fellow citizens to prioritise on the independence of women. "I urge all fellow citizens to give priority to women empowerment. I would like our sisters and daughters to overcome challenges with courage and move ahead in life. Development of women was among the ideals of our freedom struggle," Droupadi Murmu said. (ANI)
President Droupadi Murmu in her address to the nation on the eve of the 77th Independence Day on Monday said India has not only regained its rightful place on the world stage but it has also enhances its standing in the international order.In her second speech as President of India, Murmu said that during her visits and interactions with members of the Indian diaspora, she has observed a new confidence in the India story. "India is playing a crucial role in promoting developmental and humanitarian goals around the world. It has also assumed leadership of international forums, especially the presidency of G-20," the President said. "As the G-20 represents two-thirds of the world population, this is a unique opportunity to help shape global discourse in the right direction. With the G-20 presidency, India can nudge decision-making in trade and finance towards equitable progress," the President said in her address. She said that beyond trade and finance, matters of human development too are on the agenda. There are many global issues that concern all humanity and are not limited by geographical boundaries. "I am confident that with Indias proven leadership in dealing with global issues, member nations will be able to advance effective action on these fronts," the President said. Speaking further on India's G20 Presidency, President Murmu said, "What is notable in Indias presidency of G-20 is the way this diplomatic activity has been taken to the grassroots. There has been a first-of-its-kind campaign to encourage peoples participation. It is delightful to see, for example, students enthusiastically participating in diverse contests organised in schools and colleges touching upon the themes of G-20." "All the citizens are enthusiastic about events related to G-20," she said. In her address to the country, President Murmu said, "Independence Day is an occasion to reconnect with our history. It is also an occasion to assess our present and reflect about our way forward." "Looking at the present, we see that India has not only regained its rightful place on the world stage, but it has also enhanced its standing in the international order," she added. "This enthusiasm, along with a sense of empowerment, is possible, because the nation has been taking great strides on all fronts. Indias economy has proven to be not only resilient during turbulent times but is also a beacon of hope for others," Droupadi Murmu said. (ANI)
In her address to the nation on the eve of the 77th Independence Day celebrations, President Droupadi Murmu on Monday said that each one of us is an equal citizen, each one of us has an equal opportunity, equal rights and equal duties in this land. The President asserted that there is one identity above all-- that is everyone is a citizen of India. In her address to the nation, President Murmu said, "My heartiest greetings to all of you on our 77th Independence Day! It is a glorious and auspicious occasion for all of us. I am overjoyed to see that festivity is in the air. It is a matter of delight as well as pride for us to see how everyone children, youth and the elderly, in cities and villages, everywhere in India is excited and preparing to celebrate this festival of our freedom. The people have been celebrating Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav with great enthusiasm." She said that the Independence Day celebrations remind her of her childhood days. "We could not contain our excitement of participating in the Independence Day celebrations in our village school. When the tricolour was hoisted, we felt an electrifying energy pass through us. With our hearts full of patriotic pride, we saluted the national flag and sang the national anthem. Sweets were distributed and patriotic songs were sung, which kept playing in our minds for many days," President Murmu said. She added that she was fortunate in having an opportunity to re-live these experiences when she became a school teacher. The President added, "When we grow up, we may not remain as expressive of our joy as children are, but I am sure that the intensity of the patriotic feeling associated with the celebration of national festivals is not diminished at all. Independence Day reminds us that we are not merely individuals, but we are part of a great community of people. It happens to be the biggest and the greatest community of its kind. It is the community of the citizens of the worlds largest democracy." "What we celebrate on Independence Day is the fact that we are part of a great democracy. Each of us has many identities apart from caste, creed, language and region, we are also identified with our families and professions but there is one identity that is above all. That is our identity as citizens of India. Each one of us is an equal citizen; each one of us has an equal opportunity, equal rights and equal duties, in this land," she said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hoist the national flag from the ramparts of the iconic Red Fort on Tuesday morning to a 21-gun salute and then address the nation. (ANI)
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday said that West Bengal is poised to receive investment worth Rs 1 trillion in the maritime sector and that will make the state a maritime hub in near future. The Union Minister was speaking during the roadshow organised by Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (SMPK) for the ensuing Global Maritime India Summit, 2023 (GMIS) in Kolkata on Monday. The roadshow was attended by the captains of India Inc in the city as well as top officials, technocrats as well as social leaders with an intent to encourage their participation meaningfully to Connect, Collaborate and Create" with global investors at the forthcoming summit in New Delhi. Speaking on the occasion, Sonowal said, Inspired by the vision of Honourable Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, our ministry is organising 3rd Global Maritime India Summit, 2023 (GMIS) from 17 October to 19 October, 2023 at Bharat Mandapam with an aim to Connect, Collaborate and Create. Today, all of you have joined us on this novel exercise to enable and empower the maritime sector of India as a true multiplier force of Indias economic growth. Kolkata, with its rich maritime heritage and strategic location, plays a pivotal role in the maritime sector in enabling and empowering the eastern part of India. The maritime sector is the lifeline of the Indian economy contributing more than 90 per cent of EXIM cargo by volume and about 70 per cent by value. Highlighting the role of the private sector, Sonowal further added, Private sector is an essential partner in propelling the growth of Indias maritime sector and Public Private Partnership (PPP) has immensely contributed in the development of new ports and augmentation of capacity in the existing ports. PPP terminals, which are currently handling about 50 per cent of cargo at major ports, are striving to raise their share to 100 per cent in the coming decade." "West Bengal is poised to receive investment worth Rs 1 trillion in the maritime sector and that will make the state a maritime hub in the near future. In view of the above, active and wholehearted participation of trade and industries in the improvement and development of port infrastructure and other ancillary facilities in India is imperative. I take this opportunity to urge all of you for your earnest participation at the forthcoming GMIS to 'Connect, Collaborate and Create' with global investors and become partners of an Atmanirbhar Bharat. he added. (ANI)
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued a notice to the Chief Secretary, Government of West Bengal calling for a report on the Jadavpur University student death case within four weeks. The Commission has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary, Government of West Bengal calling for a report on the matter within four weeks. It should include the reasons for the prima facie failure of the institution to take adequate steps to prevent ragging in accordance with the UGC regulation, and the steps taken or proposed to punish the perpetrators of the ragging including its abettors and sympathizers, the NHRC said in a press release. The NHRC has also asked the State Government to mention the measures taken to spread awareness about the menace of ragging amongst the Student Community and Teaching Associations throughout the State. Observing the media reports on the incident, the NHRC said that it indicates negligence, lack of supervision and inherent failure of the college administration adding that if true, amounts to violation of the human rights of the student. The Commission has noted that the Supreme Court in the case of the University of Kerala vs Council, Principals Colleges, Kerala [(2009) 7 SCC 726] has held that heads of institutions or members of the administration mandatorily be penalised for not taking timely action against ragging for failure to sensitize teaching / non-teaching staff or employees working in the hostels and messes, the press release mentioned. A notice has also been issued to the West Bengal Director General of Police regarding the status of the criminal case registered against all the responsible students and teaching/ non-teaching staff of the college concerned as reported in the news report. A further notice has been issued to the Registrar, Jadavpur University to submit a detailed report regarding the steps taken for effective implementation of the recommendations of the Raghavan Committee report, affirmed by the Supreme Court of India, to solve the problem of ragging in the University, the press release stated. The NHRC took suo motu cognizance of a media report that a first-year student of Jadavpur University in Kolkata became a victim of ragging, and died on August 10 after falling from the second-floor balcony of the varsity's hostel. Reportedly, the fellow students of the victim had tried to bring the matter to the notice of the Dean. According to the media report published on August 11, the student had moved to the hostel barely two days before the incident on August 7 at the start of the academic session. Reportedly, he had called up his mother multiple times two days before he died expressing fear for his life and that he wanted to return home, the press release mentioned. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Monday ordered that no coercive steps shall be taken for two weeks against Hyderabad University professor Kham Khan Suan Hausing after two complaints were lodged against him in violence-hit Manipur. A bench of Chief Justice to f India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra in its order said that in order to facilitate Hausing in seeking access to the competent court for appropriate remedy no coercive steps shall be taken against him for two weeks. For two weeks from today, no coercive steps be taken against him, said the bench. The bench was hearing a plea by the professor seeking protection from arrest in two complaints. While one of the complaints alleged that he committed deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings in Manipur, the other is regarding purported wrongdoing in enrolment as a voter of the state. Professor approached the apex court seeking quashing of the criminal proceedings initiated against him in which summons were also issued for his personal presence before a district court in Imphal. The petitioner, a Kuki Professor of Political Science, also sought quashing of proceedings and summons. Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal East, Manipur, issued summons to Hausing asking him to before it on July 28, 2023, in pursuance of the criminal complaint filed against him by Manihar Moirangthem Singh, a member of the Meitei Tribes Union (MTU). The Imphal court took cognisance of the offences made under section 153A (which deals with promoting enmity between different groups), 295A (which deals with acts outraging religious feelings), 505(1) (statements conducting public mischief), 298 (deliberate intention of wounding the religious feelings of any person), 120B (criminal conspiracy) of Indian Penal Code (IPC). The complainant claimed that Professor Hausings statements in an interview to Karan Thapar have defamed the Meitei community and fueled communal enmity in Manipur. In the interview, Hausing had said that separate administration must be created for the Kuki community. The petitioner sought a record of the entire complaint including, the statement of the complainant and witnesses, a copy of the complaint, a copy of FIR lodged and orders passed by the court. He said summons were issued to him in abject ignorance of the communal tension and disturbance prevailing in the State of Manipur between the Kuki and Meitei community. The plea cited the case of a lawyer, Deeksha Dwivedi, who granted interim protection after an FIR was registered against her by the Manipur Police for offences of sedition, conspiracy to wage war, etc. The petitioner said he is similarly placed with Dwivedis case as he apprehends that amidst the communal tension of the two communities, there is a threat to his life and liberty. The petitioner submitted that on account of the widespread conflict in Manipur, he is apprehensive that there is a real and imminent threat to his life if he travels to Manipur to answer the summons. Hausing further stated in his plea that on July 6, 2023 summons were issued by the Magistrate and no case against the offences under which he was charged are made out. He said on July 13 it has also come to his knowledge that a fresh complaint dated July 10 by one Khomdrom Manikanta Singh has also been filed with the Officer-In-Charge, Imphal West Police station, Manipur alleging that Hausing is not a citizen of India and his name has been added to the electoral rolls by manipulation, fraud, forgery, and conspiracy. The violence in Manipur between the Hindu Meiteis and the tribal Kuki, who are Christians, erupted after a rally by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) on May 3. Violence has gripped the entire state for over four months now and the Central government had to deploy paramilitary forces to bring the situation under control. (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adiyanath, on Monday, paid tribute to victims on Partition Horrors Remembrance Day. "Selfishness of few pushed the nation towards the tragedy of partition. It was not a partition of a piece of land, but was a tragic decision to divide the two hearts of humanity, which cost millions of lives on this day in 1947," said Yogi Aditynath. Addressing a tribute meeting organized at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan on the occasion of Partition Horrors Remembrance Day CM said, No society can move forward by forgetting the history, that's why it should be our resolution that personal interest, family, caste, opinion, religion, region and language can never be above nation. Chief Minister said that despite the partition of the country in 1947, the infiltration from Pakistan and Bangladesh into India continued. "If they loved Pakistan so much, then they should have focused on humanity and prosperity but they didnt learn a lesson from history and the outcome is in front of everyone", he remarked. India with a population of 140 crores is moving forward with the message of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, removing the distinction of caste, creed, religion, North, South, East, West and despite facing the horrors of partition. On the other hand, the plight of Pakistan is not hidden from anyone. At the time of partition, the most fertile land for agricultural production of Punjab went to Pakistan. For some time, its economy also was in good shape. However, its negative approach had its toll on the country and today its people are fighting for a sack of five kilos of flour, CM Yogi added. Referring to the liberation of Bangladesh from the terror and barbarism of Pakistan, CM Yogi said, The land of Bengal is known for art and literature. Today's Bangladesh was once the textile hub of India He further pointed out that those who think that they will be safe on the basis of religion, East and West Pakistan were also of the same religion. The atrocities committed by West Pakistan on East Pakistan is not hidden from anyone. It is not hidden from anyone that the Pakistani army behaved cruelly with the mothers and sisters of Bangladesh. The Chief Minister pointed out that had India remained undivided after independence in 1947 then it would not have taken long for it to become a superpower for the world today. But those who had trouble with this power, they divided India. Some wanted position and some others wanted prestige, CM Yogi remarked. "This date gives us new inspiration. It inspires us to draw some lessons from those sad moments in history." Giving the example of Japan, he said, The country on which two atom bombs were dropped in 1945 has become a developed country on the principle of Nation First. Before the tribute meeting, the Chief Minister visited the memorials related to the partition at the Indira Gandhi Foundation. He also met and heard the families who suffered the tragedy of partition and also saw a short film based on the atrocities inflicted on people during the partition. Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, Union Minister Kaushal Kishore, Lucknow Mayor Sushma Kharakwal, Former Minister and MLC Mahendra Singh, MLAs Neeraj Bora, Yogesh Shukla, Jaya Devi, Amresh Kumar, Former State Ministers Mohsin Raza, Ramchandra Pradhan, Mukesh Sharma were present on the occasion. Chief Secretary Durga Shankar Mishra, Principal Secretary Tourism and Culture Department Mukesh Meshram, Principal Secretary Home Sanjay Prasad and Chief Minister's Advisor Awanish Awasthi were present. (ANI)
Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda on Monday said that tribals in border villages have protected the country for ages and they are the true patriots of the country. Tribals in border villages have protected the country for ages along with preservation of their local traditions and culture. They are the true patriots of the country," the Tribal Affairs Minister said hosting more than two hundred Sarpanches from Border Villages with their spouses at his official residence in New Delhi on Monday. Those present on the occasion included Atal Dullo, Secretary, Border Management, MHA; Anil Jha, Secretary, Tribal Affairs and Ashish Dayal Singh, Director General, Indo- Tibetan Border Police along with officers of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The guests have also been invited to attend the Independence Day celebrations at the iconic Red Fort, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) under which this event was organised, was launched as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. It envisages comprehensive development of identified villages in 46 blocks abutting the northern border in 19 districts of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Union Territory of Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh. "We are privileged to have you in our midst in the capital city. These border villages, once termed the Last Villages of India have been termed the First Villages by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi," Arjun Munda said, "India feels secure because the inhabitants of these border villages are keeping watch. Over 17 Ministers have visited and stayed overnight in these villages. Under the visionary guidance of the PM, the Government is trying to ensure the delivery of Government Programmes focusing on the Empowerment of women and youth, Connectivity with all-weather roads, provision of clean drinking water, 24x7 power to be focused on solar and wind energy, Mobile and Internet connectivity, Tourist centres, Multipurpose Center and Health and Wellness Center," the Tribal Affairs Minister said. "Further, cooperatives will be developed at the local level to manage livelihood opportunities including entrepreneurship agriculture horticulture, cultivation of medicinal herbs and other initiatives, he added. The Minister highlighted that the Government is committed to the all-round development of Border Villages under the Vibrant Villages Programme. Atal Dullo, Secretary of Border Management observed, In light of Prime Minister Narendra Modis remarks, Border Villages are not the last villages, but the First Villages. We have strived to extend our full support to the development of these villages holistically by laying emphasis on their economy, livelihood, social structure, infrastructure, education, electricity and telecommunications. On the occasion, Anil Kumar Jha, Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, gave the keynote address. Mentioning the Vibrant Villages Program, he highlighted, The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing several schemes and initiatives in the border areas, whether it is Grants under Article 275 (1), Eklavya Model Residential Schools for ST Students, Grants to NGOs, or the PM-Adi Adarsh Gram Yojna. Ashish Dayal Singh, DG, ITBP, remarked, We support the livelihood of the local vendors of the border villages by purchasing their produce. ITBP wholeheartedly supports this program launched with the aim of connecting and developing border villages in India in collaboration with the residents of these areas. Over 200 Sarpanches or Gram Pradhans from Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, UT Ladakh, and Himachal Pradesh attended the program. One Sarpanch from each state shared their views on the Vibrant Village Programme. Sarpanch of Gnathang, (Gangtok) Sikkim- Pema Sherpa, Sarpanch of Shyo Toth (Tawang), Arunachal Pradesh- Phurpa Zomba, Sarpanch of Durbuk Block (Changthang), UT Ladakh- Konchokley Namgyal, Sarpanch of Mana village, Uttarakhand- Pitambar Molfa, Sarpanch of Batsari, Tehsil Sangla, Himachal Pradesh- Pradeep Kumar appreciated the government's initiative of Vibrant Villages Programme and expressed hope that it will bring a new dawn for these villages. The Vibrant Villages Programme was approved on February 15 with the central contribution of Rs.4800 crore for the period FY 2022-23 to 2025-26 including Rs.2500 crore specifically for road connectivity. (ANI)
In a joint operation with Central agencies, Punjab Police have arrested a total of eight people, planning to disturb the peace and harmony of the border state, in two separate cases, officials said on Monday. According to Punjab Police, the arrested people include five operatives of Pakistan-based Harvinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda and US-based Goldy Brar. "In a major breakthrough, @PunjabPoliceInd has busted a terror module in a joint operation with central agency and thwarted designs to disturb peace and harmony in Punjab. 5 operatives of #Pakistan based Harvinder Rinda & #USA based Goldy Brar arrested with weapons in an intelligence-based operation of Counter-Intelligence. They were planning to commit targeted killings in #Punjab Special drives are being carried by police ahead of #IndependenceDay2023," Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav, said in a post on social media X, formerly known as Twitter. He said that preliminary investigations have revealed that apart from the weapons consignments, the accused have been receiving financial aid from the United States. "2 foreign made pistols seized. Further investigations are being carried out to unearth the entire terror network. FIR under UAPA registered by SSOC, Amritsar," he wrote on X. "In another case, arrested 3 associates (with 3 pistols) of #Czech-based Gurdev @ Jaisal, a key operative of #Canada-based terrorist Landa & Satta, who were behind the #RPG attack on PS Sarhali The accused have revealed a conspiracy to disrupt peace & harmony in Punjab," he added. Further information is awaited. (ANI)
Congress leader Nana Patole on Monday slammed Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar over the secret meeting held at Pune and said that such meetings are creating confusion among the people. Talking to the reporters, Patole said, "Such meetings are creating confusion among the people. If they are relatives, what was the need for them to meet secretly". Sharad Pawar had earlier scotched speculation following a meeting between him and Ajit Pawar, saying that it was not a secret meeting. What is wrong with meeting my nephew? How it can become secret when it was held at someones residence. I was there at his residence, he said. Patole also said that he has discussed this with (UBT Shiv Sena) party chief Uddhav Thackeray. He said, "Talks have also been held with our leader Rahul Gandhi in this regard. The Congress high command is also keeping an eye on this. This will also be discussed in the 'INDIA' alliance meeting to be held in Mumbai." Leaders of the united Opposition, under the banner of Indian National Developmental Democratic Alliance (INDIA), are scheduled to hold their third meeting in Mumbai over two days August 31 and September 1, Congress sources said. The Congress leader also informed about the Padyatra in the state starting from September 3. "Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee will start a padyatra in the state from September 3. The first phase will continue till September 17. Then the second phase will be started after Ganeshotsav," he said. Patole also launched a scathing attack on the BJP Government both in centre and state and alleged that they had looted the public money. Patole said, "This government has created new records of corruption. Due to the lack of rain where sowing has been done, the crops are drying up. The farmers have not yet been paid for the damages caused by the untimely rains. Farmers' suicides are increasing." "The government announced to provide 12 hours of electricity for agriculture, but even for 8 hours, electricity is not available. There is water but there is no electricity, so water cannot be given to agriculture. There is no grain in the ration shops. The youth do not have jobs," he added. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed an appeal against conviction and sentence under POCSO Act for raping a minor. The High Court upheld the 12 years sentence awarded to the convict in 2021 for raping a minor. He was also awarded three years sentence for kidnapping the minor. Justice Amit Bansal dismissed the appeal and said, "I find no infirmity in the judgment convicting the appellant for the offences under Sections 342/363/376 of the IPC and Section 6 of the POCSO Act." In view of the above, there is no merit in the appeal and the same is dismissed, Justice Bansal said in the judgement passed on August 14. The bench said that the appellant has not been able to shake the version of the prosecution and the prosecution has successfully proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. The High Court held that the trial court has correctly observed that injury on the private partsin cases of sexual offences depends on various factors such as depth of insertion, among others. It is not necessary that in every case there would be an injury caused. "Therefore, the mere absence of injuries cannot be a ground to hold that penetrative sexual assault did not take place," Justice Bansal observed. It also said that the Trial Court has correctly observed that the victim was very young at the time of the incident and minor contradictions cannot be a ground to disbelieve her testimony. "In my considered view, the statement of the victim recorded under Section 164 of the CrPC cannot be read in isolation and has to be considered. In the totality of the given facts and circumstances and due weightage has to be given to the age of the victim, which was four and a half years at the time of the incident," Justice Bansal observed. Appellant Ranjeet Kumar Yadav had moved an appeal seeking to set aside the judgmentpassed by the trial court on September 18, 2021, and the order on sentence passed by the Tis Hazari Court on November 26, 2021. The appellant was convicted for the offences punishable under Sections 342/363/376 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) and Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO). The appellant was sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for a period of twelve years for the conviction under Section 6 of the POCSO Act and three years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 363 of the IPC and six months of rigorous imprisonment under Section 342 of the IPC. As per the prosecution, the victim, a girl child of four and a half years, was playing in thestreet outside her house on 11th June 2017. When the mother of the victim could not find the victim, she sent her husband, the father of the victim, to look for her. The father of the victim reached the house of the appellant, who was their neighbour and knocked at the door which was locked from inside. He also called for the victim but there was no response. The father of the victim, after some time, again went to the house of the appellant and called for the victim and received her response from inside the door. After a couple of minutes, the appellant dressed in his underwear opened the door and the victim was found present inside the room. The father of the victim brought the victim back to their house and told the mother of the victim about the incident. The victim then informed her mother that the appellant took the victim to his house, gave her Mango Frooti and after removing her underwear, inserted his finger inside her private parts, the Prosecution alleged. After hearing about the unfortunate incident that happened with their daughter, the parents informed the police. The police on the basis of the statement of the mother registered the FIR under Section 376 of the IPC and Sections 4/6 of the POCSO Act at Police Station Gulabi Bagh. The statement of the victim under Section 161 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC) was also recorded and the accused was sent for his medical examination. (ANI)
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis speech on Independence Day, AIMIM leader and Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi has said that PM should condemn targeted violence against one community in the country in his speech. Talking to reporters, Owaisi said that "We condemn the violence but you are giving collective punishment to one entire community. What happened to your sabka-sath-sabka-vikas-sabka vihswas? We will be celebrating our Independence Day tomorrow and this is the message you (Prime Minister) are giving to the Muslims of Nuh. Mahatma Gandhi himself came here and asked Nuh Muslims not to go to Pakistan," he added. Owaisi also put questions on the illegal demolition drive taken place recently in Nuh, Haryana, saying there is no court or law in the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi should condemn the demolition in Nuh, Haryana. Is there no law or court in the country? This is a violation of the Supreme Court order in the Jahangirpuri case, which said that due process of law should be followed. In his Independence Day speech from the Red Fort, I hope the PM will condemn the targeted violence against one community in this country, the AIMIM leader said. Bulldozer being used in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh. Is there no law or court in the country? Then, why Home Minister Amit Shah is bringing three new laws (The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita Bill and Bharatiya Sakhshya Bill) if you yourself have become law and courts, Lok Sabha MP further said. (ANI)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday blamed the Marxists for the Jadavpur University student death case. Who are these people? They are the Marxists, Mamata Banerjee said adding that they are in cahoots with the BJP and the Congress in Bengal. Even today, they are in cahoots with the BJP and the Congress in Bengal and Trinamool is their prime enemy. They don't have an iota of shame, the West Bengal Chief Minister said speaking about the alleged perpetrators of ragging that led to the death of the Jadavpur University student Swapnadeep Kundu. In an attack at the Left, Mamata alleged that the deceased student, Swapnadeep was forced to take off his amulet since Jadavpur University is a Red fort. They don't have an iota of shame. Swapnadeep was forced to take off his amulet because 'this is a Red Fort'. They consider the university as their fiefdom. They don't allow police or CCTV cameras on the premises. There is an environment of terror in the prestigious Jadavpur University, Mamata Banerjee said. Speaking about the incident, Mamata Banerjee said, . I am extremely saddened and appalled at the incident. Jadavpur University is surely a prestigious and reputed institution but some students lack humanity. I do not blame the students there. A section of CPI(M) enthusiasts consider it their birthright to torture young students who come from rural areas. The West Bengal Chief Minister said that the deceased students father shared with her that his son used to call them and tell them about the incidents of torture faced by him. Jadavpur University student Swapnadeep Kundu's father told me that his son would call them and talk about the torture faced by him. His father told me that he could never imagine that these people will torture his son and cause his death, Mamata Banerjee said. Earlier on Sunday, speaking to ANI, student leaders from Jadavpur University claimed that installing CCTV cameras on campus is not a one-stop solution to prevent incidents of ragging. "CCTVs can only help in detecting who is the culprit. But CCTVs cannot help in stopping ragging," Subhodeep Bandyopadhyay, General Secretary of Kolkata SFI said. A first-year student, Swarnodip Kundu, of Jadavpur University in Kolkata died on Thursday after allegedly falling from the balcony of the university's hostel on Wednesday night. Kundu, a first-year student of the Bengali Department, belonged to the state's Nadia district. (ANI)
The Indian Government is bestowing well-deserved recognition upon the dedicated individuals of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), fondly referred to as "Karmyogis." 50 distinguished Karmyogis (Corporals) from the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), along with their spouses, as special guests will be participating in the 77th Independence Day Ceremony at the iconic Red Fort in Delhi. These heroes have tirelessly contributed to the monumental task of nation-building through their unwavering devotion and duty. The BRO, responsible for constructing and maintaining vital roads and infrastructure in challenging terrains, is synonymous with resilience and determination. As a gesture of appreciation, the BRO has extended a heartfelt invitation to its casual paid labourers, along with their families, to partake in the upcoming Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort, New Delhi. Their dedication has been the backbone of progress in some of the most demanding and remote regions of the nation. Voices from within the BRO resonate with a resounding "Jai Hind! Jai BRO!!" The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) stands as a beacon of commitment and excellence, dedicated to supporting India's armed forces in meeting their strategic imperatives. Anchored by a multifaceted mission, BRO's unwavering goal is to ensure the development and sustenance of crucial infrastructure that is not only cost-effective but also aligns, with international standards of quality and timeliness. With a focus on core competencies, BRO aims to achieve leadership in the development, adoption, and assimilation of cutting-edge technology. This aspiration extends to optimizing the utilization of information technology and fostering real-time, accurate, and effective decision-making processes. In times of peace, BRO plays an integral role in bolstering India's preparedness by meticulously developing and maintaining the operational road infrastructure in border areas. This not only supports the general staff but also significantly contributes to the socio-economic advancement of the border states. During times of conflict, it shoulders the responsibility of creating and maintaining roads that are indispensable for ensuring control along the Line of Control in both original and re-deployed sectors. Furthermore, the organization is primed to execute additional tasks as mandated by the government, thereby actively contributing to the overarching war effort. Embedded within BRO's ethos is a strong sense of values that underpin the organization's fabric. This cultivates a high level of self-esteem in every individual within the BRO family, fostering a remarkable synergy that fuels the organization's exceptional achievements. Beyond its military commitments, BRO extends its reach to enrich the quality of life for communities and to nurture comprehensive growth. It stands as a testament to the remarkable fusion of infrastructure development, strategic support, and societal progress. (ANI)
Four people were killed and one soldier also died in a shootout in the general area of Charmang of Bajaur district of Pakistan's Balochistan which Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) termed them as 'terrorists', reported the ARY News on Sunday. The ARY News reported that the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) informed that the security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Charmang on the reported presence of terrorists. During the conduct of the operation, intense fire exchange occurred between security forces and terrorists, the militarys media wing stated. As per the ARY news, after subduing the militants, the forces apprehended the 'terrorist' who remained alive during the operation. Weapons, ammunition, and explosives including a suicide vest were also recovered from the terrorists, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against security forces and killing of innocent citizens, especially suicide blasts, it added. The ISPR said that the soldier who died in the operation has been identified as Sepoy Muhammad Shoaib, 24. The ARY News reported, the sanitisation of the area is being carried out to eliminate any terrorists found in the area. Sanitisation of the area is being carried out to eliminate any terrorists found in the area. Security forces of Pakistan remain determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism from Pakistan, the ISPR said. Yesterday, two terrorists were killed in an intelligence-based operation in the Mazaband Range region of Kech district in Pakistan's Balochistan, Dawn reported citing Pakistan's military media wing. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in the statement said that the operation was carried out on August 10-11. The ISPR said that two terrorists were killed and another terrorist was injured. It further said that a large cache of arms and ammunition was recovered, according to Dawn. Pakistan has been witnessing a rise in terror activities, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan after the ceasefire between Pakistan's government and the outlawed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (TTP) ended in November last year. A report released in July said that Pakistan has been witnessing a steady rise in suicide attacks. Pakistan in the first seven months of 2023 experienced 18 suicide attacks, claiming the lives of 200 people and injuring more than 450 others, Pakistan-based Dawn reported citing a think tank report. (ANI)
The attack targeting the Shah Cheragh shrine in Shiraz took place on Sunday, IRNA reported. According to early reports, the attacker opened fire at people after being confronted by security guards at the gates of the shrine.

Fars Deputy Governor Esmail Ghezel Sofla called the attacker a Takfiri element. Sofla said that the person has been arrested and is being questioned by the judicial authorities, according to IRNA.

In October last year, 13 people were killed in a terrorist attack on Shah Cheragh. At the time, a gunman entered the shrine with an automatic rifle and shot at a group of pilgrims and staff, Al Jazeera reported.

According to authorities, the gunman killed 13 people and injured 40 others before being killed by security forces, according to Al Jazeera report. ISIS had claimed responsibility for the attack on the shrine. (ANI)
Coup leaders in Niger have said that they are willing to resolve a standoff with West Africa's regional bloc through diplomacy, Al Jazeera reported citing a group of senior Nigerian Islamic scholars who have held a meeting with army leaders in Niamey. The visit comes at a time when the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is considering its options to restore civilian rule in Niger, including potential military intervention. ECOWAS' decision comes after Niger President Mohamed Bazoum was ousted in a coup detat by the presidential guard. ECOWAS Chairman and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu gave approval to delegation of Islamic scholars' visit to Niamey, who had vowed to promote dialogue. The meeting between Islamic scholars and Niger's military government leader General Abdourahamane Tchiani lasted several hours, Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau, who led the delegation, said, according to Al Jazeera report. Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau said, "He said their doors were open to explore diplomacy and peace in resolving the matter. Reportedly, General Abdourahamane Tchiani stressed on historic ties between Niger and Nigeria and said that the two nations "were not only neighbours but brothers and sisters who should resolve issues amicably." Military leaders have issued no statement on the meeting. The coup leaders previous rebuffs of diplomatic efforts by ECOWAS, US and others had raised concerns over further conflict in the Sahel region of Africa, Al Jazeera reported. For now, ECOWAS is pursuing efforts for further negotiations with Niger military leaders. On Saturday, ECOWAS parliament said it will ask Tinubu, who holds the revolving chairmanship, for allowing them to travel to Niger, according to bloc's spokesperson. Meanwhile, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea have expressed support for Nigers new military authorities. On Saturday, General Abdourahamane Tchiani sent a delegation to Guinea's capital Conakry to thank country's leaders for their support. At the meeting, Guinea's interim President Mamady Doumbouya said that they are "Pan-African" and stressed that they will always support their people when they face problems, according to Al Jazeera report. On August 10, West African leaders ordered the "immediate activation" and the "deployment" of a regional standby force to restore constitutional order in the coup-hit Niger, CNN reported. Leaders from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) held a meeting in Nigeria's Abuja after the expiration of the one-week ultimatum they gave to Niger's military junta. ECOWAS leaders called for a deployment to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger, Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, said in a statement. The statement stressed a "determination to keep all options on the table for the peaceful resolution of the crisis," according to CNN. After the coup, ECOWAS announced sanctions and gave an ultimatum to Niger's ruling military junta to stand down within a week or face a potential military intervention. The deadline on August 6 expired without any change in the political situation. ECOWAS leaders have said their preference is to find a diplomatic solution to the situation and would dispatch troops as a last resort. (ANI)
Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) Chairman Akhtar Mengal on Sunday expressed his displeasure over the appointment of Senator Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar as Pakistan's caretaker Prime Minister, Geo News reported. Mengal said that such decisions created "more distance" between Balochistan National Party-Mengal and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). In a letter written to PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, Mengal stated, "You have nominated such a person as the caretaker prime minister whose appointment has closed the doors of politics for us," according to Geo News report. "Such decisions have created more distance between us and you," he added. In the letter written to Nawaz Sharif, Mengal expressed disappointment with the way PML-N was choosing to ally with the army instead of taking politicians on board, Geo News reported. He accused the PML-N of forgetting the "conspiracies and unconstitutional" actions of the former military ruler and President Pervez Musharraf. He wrote, "A solution is being sought by consulting the establishment instead of politicians," adding that the "atrocities" of military-led regimes from General Ayub to General Musharraf were not yet forgotten. Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar was named Pakistan's caretaker PM after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Leader of the Opposition in the outgoing National Assembly Raja Riaz concluded consultations on August 12. Kakar is a lawmaker belonging to Balochistan Awami Party (BAP). Speaking during a farewell ceremony before the announcement of Pakistan's caretaker PM at the Prime Minister's House, Shehbaz Sharif said that a hybrid system that works for the country's progress is better. In the letter, Mengal also raised some of the decisions of the Shehbaz Sharif government, according to Geo News report. He expressed concern over building Pak-China Gwadar University in Lahore instead of Balochistan. Mengal in his letter wrote, "Not taking allies into confidence in important decisions will perpetuate mistrust," according to the report. On Saturday, Pakistan's President Arif Alvi approved the appointment of Anwarul Haque Kakar as Caretaker Prime Minister for the country. Taking to Twitter, the President's Office said that under Article 224 A of Pakistan's constitution, Alvi appointed Anwarul Haque Kakar as caretaker PM. "President Dr Arif Alvi has approved the appointment of Anwarul Haque Kakar as Caretaker Prime Minister The President approved the appointment under Article 224 A of the Constitution," the Pakistan President's office said in a tweet. (ANI)
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called for a "drastic boost" of the country's missile production capacity. He made the statement during a two-day visit to major factories that produce strategic missiles, rocket launchers and other military weapons on Friday and Saturday, Yonhap News Agency reported citing the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Kim Jong-un's visit comes less than a week after the North Korean leader carried out a "field guidance" of major munitions factories. His visit comes at a time when South Korea and the United States plan to hold their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise later this month. North Korea has called the exercise as a reversal of an invasion of the North. North Korean leader's visit comes just days after Kim Jong-un presided over an enlarged meeting of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea. During the meeting, he called for boosting the missile production capacity, Yonhap News Agency reported. "He set forth an important goal to drastically boost the existing missile production capacity... so as to mass-produce missiles as required by the system of the expanded and strengthened frontline units and missile units and by the operational plans," Yonhap News Agency reported citing the KCNA. Kim Jong-un further said that the North Korean People's Army should be equipped with an "overwhelming military force" for "coping with any war at any moment so as to prevent the enemies from daring use their armed forces, and surely annihilate them if they launch an attack." During his visit to a factory producing tactical missile transporter-erector-launchers (TELs), the North Korean leader called for the development of "more modern and highly efficient TELs substantially conducive to the army's perfect war preparations," Yonhap News Agency reported citing KCNA. Last week, Kim Jong-un carried out a three-day inspection of major arms factories, including those that develop shells of large-calibre multiple rocket launchers and engines of strategic cruise missiles, Yonhap News Agency reported citing state media. The three-day inspection came days after Kim Jong-un attended a massive military parade marking the 70th armistice anniversary of the Korean War on July 27, according to Yonhap News Agency report. North Korean leader made the visit to the factories to "learn about the implementation of the core goal of the party's policies on munitions industry" and set forth new goals to be conducted like modernizing weapons. (ANI)
Security forces in Pakistan have killed two gunmen who attacked a convoy of Chinese workers in the countrys southwestern Balochistan province, according to the armys media affairs wing. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) released a statement confirming the attack on a convoy in Balochistan but not on the Chinese people. ISPR said that "Terrorists attacked a military convoy" in the district Gwadar, where they used small arms and hand grenades during the activity. "On 13 August 2023 at 1000 hrs, Terrorists attacked a military convoy in district Gwadar. Terrorists used small arms and hand grenades during the activity, however, due to efficient and swift response, two terrorists were sent to hell with no harm to any military or civil persons," ISPR said in its statement. "Security Forces of Pakistan remain determined to thwart efforts of the enemies of peace and prosperity in the country," it further added. The convoy, carrying Chinese people, was attacked in the southwestern province of Balochistan on Sunday, according to Chinas Consulate in Karachi. Meanwhile, in a statement, the Chinese Consulate said that no Chinese citizens were killed or injured. "At 9:17 on August 13, local time, the convoy of the Chinese project in Gwadar Port encountered a roadside bomb attack and gunfire on its way back to the port from Gwadar Airport. No Chinese citizens were injured or injured. The Chinese Consulate General in Karachi strongly condemns this terrorist act and has asked Pakistan to severely punish the perpetrators and take effective measures to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens, institutions and projects," according to the statement. "The Consulate General has activated the contingency plan as soon as possible, reminding local Chinese citizens, enterprises, and projects to be vigilant, upgrade security measures, prevent security risks, and pay close attention to the security situation to ensure safety," it added. Former president Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attack on the convoy, according to Dawn citing a statement issued by his party, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). He also called for bring in the grip of law the planners of the attack and lauded the soldiers for their retaliatory action and stressed the need to eliminate terrorists. In the past few years, an increase has been observed in attacks on Chinese citizens in Pakistan over the past few years amid a spike in incidents of militancy in the country. In July 2021, 13 people, including nine Chinese workers, died in a bus attack near the Dasu hydropower plant in the Upper Kohistan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In April last year, three Chinese teachers and their local driver were killed when a female suicide bomber had blown herself up at the entrance of the Confucius Institute on the premises of Karachi Univerity. Five months later, a young Chinese man was shot dead while a Chinese dentist couple were critically wounded when a man posing as a patient entered their clinic in a busy commercial area of Saddar in Karachi and opened indiscriminate fire on the victims, as per Dawn. (ANI)
US Congressman Ro Khanna has condemned the "unconscionable" attack by Khalistani elements on the Indian Consulate in San Francisco and stated that there is no place for a separatist movement in India. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Khanna said, "It was unconscionable there was no place for that. I condemned it very strongly. There can be no violence against an embassy against a consulate in America and there's no space for a separatist movement. Punjab is part of India and that is a settled question. We need to make sure everyone is treated equally, whether Hindu, Christian, Sikh, and Muslim but Punjab is a part of India." Khanna is in India leading a high-powered delegation of US members of Congress. Earlier, in July, a group of pro-Khalistan supporters allegedly attempted to set fire to the Indian consulate in San Francisco. There was no major damage nor any injuries and police are continuing their investigation into the incident. A video of the incident was verified by sources who told ANI that the fire was suppressed quickly by the San Francisco Fire Department. Terming the attack as nothing less than a "terror act" an official had told ANI that no major damages or staffers were harmed. The Local San Francisco police department, special diplomatic security personnel, and state and federal authorities were notified and immediately began investigating the incident. Earlier in March this year, Khalistani supporters vandalized the consulate. Meanwhile, during his India visit, US Congressman Khanna met with actor Amitabh Bachchan in Mumbai. "First of all, the meeting with Amitabh Bhachchan was such an extraordinary moment. He spent almost an hour. My phone was buzzing with texts from around the world. I mean, he's a national icon. And that was a great honour," Khanna said after his meeting with the superstar on Saturday. Khanna and Michael Waltz, who are co-chairs of the House India caucus will attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address from Red Fort on Independence Day on Tuesday. Khanna said, "It's going to be a great honour to be at the Red Fort with the Prime Minister and see India's Independence Day celebration. As you know, my grandfather spent years in jail with Lala Lajpat Rai... So to see India's Independence as a member of Congress is a great honour." Khanna and Waltz co-chair the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans. The caucus is a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers committed to strengthening the relationship between the United States and India. On their India visit, Congressmen Khanna and Waltz are joined by Reps Deborah Ross (NC-D), Kat Cammack (FL-R), Shri Thanedar (MI-D), and Jasmine Crockett (TX-D) as well as fellow Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans members Reps. Rich McCormick (GA-R) and Ed Case (HI-D). (ANI)
Poland detained two Russian citizens who were distributing propaganda materials of the Wagner Group in Warsaw and Krakow, the country's interior minister Mariusz Kamiski said on Monday. "The ABW, in cooperation with the Police, identified and detained two Russians who were distributing propaganda materials of the Wagner Group in Krakow and Warsaw. Both heard allegations, regarding i.a. espionage, and they were arrested. More information coming soon," Kamiski tweeted. North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) ally Poland's tension with Russia and Belarus has intensified since a number of Wagner fighters were stationed in Belarus following the fallout from Yevgeny Prigozhin's aborted mutiny in June. Recently, Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said that the country is planning to move nearly 10,000 troops to the border with Belarus, CNN reported. In an interview with the Polish National Radio, the Polish Defence Minister said that around 10,000 soldiers will be on the border where 4,000 will directly support the border guard and the remaining 6,000 will be in reserve. The violation of Polish space by Belarusian helicopters cannot be underestimated because of the Belarusian approach, Blaszczak said on the radio adding it was another provocation. Everything that is happening in Belarus is coordinated with the actions of Russia," CNN quoted Blaszczak as saying. Last month, Belarus' Defense Ministry announced that its forces will hold joint military exercises with Wagner fighters near the border with Poland, a NATO member. Poland Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, on July 29, claimed that over 100 troops from the Russian mercenary group, Wagner, are moving towards a thin strip of land between Poland and Lithuania. The Poland PM said that his government had received information that Wagner mercenaries went near the Grodno, a city in western Belarus close to the land, which is also known as the Suwalki gap or corridor, according to CNN. Thousands of Wagner troops are reportedly in Belarus following a failed military uprising in Russia. Morawiecki alleged that Belarus, a key ally to Russia, has been sending migrants westward in an attempt to overwhelm Polish border forces. And till now, this year, around 16,000 attempts were made by migrants to cross the border illegally, he added. The troop movements, Morawiecki added, appeared to be another element in this campaign to destabilize the border, according to CNN. They will probably be disguised as Belarusian border guards and will help illegal immigrants to enter Polish territory, destabilize Poland, but they will also probably try to infiltrate Poland pretending to be illegal immigrants and this creates additional risks, he said, according to CNN. (ANI)
Indian Ambassador to Kuwait Adarsh Swaika called on the Naval Chief of Kuwait Brigadier General Hazza Al-Alati and discussed the strengthening of Navy-to-Navy cooperation between India and Kuwait. "Amb @AdarshSwaika1 called on the Chief of Naval Forces of Kuwait H.E Brigadier General Hazza Al-Alati. Discussions pertained to further strengthening navy to navy cooperation. Ambassador thanked him for the support for the upcoming visit of Indian naval ship Vishakhapatnam," India in Kuwait tweeted. Earlier this week, on the corporation between the two countries on the security front, the Indian envoy said, "The defence and security relations have so far been limited to training and medical cooperation. Four Indian ships visited Kuwait in July and October of last year. An Indian warship (ANS Visakhapatnam guided missile destroyer) is expected to visit Kuwait in August." Ambassador Swaika also thanked the Brigadier for the support to the upcoming visit of INS Vishakhapatnam. Earlier this week, the Indian Ambassador to Kuwait, Adarsh Swaika, affirmed the depth of the bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries, according to Al-Qabas Daily. Underlining the significant contribution of the Indian community to bolstering the Kuwaiti economy, Ambassador Swaika said the bilateral memorandum of understanding regarding domestic workers was signed in June 2021, Al-Qabas Daily reported. He added that he considers Kuwaits accession as a partner in the dialogue with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) during the Indian presidency as a welcome step. The area of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has not yet covered any of the countries in the Middle East. The entry of Iran as a full member and the entry of Kuwait and the Arab Emirates will add to the organizations deliberations an essential value," the ambassador said. Most of the discussions in the organisation are related to combating terrorism and ensuring regional security, which also closely pertains to this region, the report noted. The Indian Ambassador, on Sunday, called on the Information Minister of the State of Kuwait, Abdulrahman B Almutairi. The focus of the discussions was on deepening cultural and media cooperation, including participation in cultural events, museum cooperation, media exchanges and tourism potential, according to the report. (ANI)
Eleven proclaimed offenders or absconders, who include some former military and media personnel will not get any airtime as per the direction from Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), Geo News reported on Monday. The report said that the authority took the decision citing the Sindh High Court (SHC) on constitutional petitions. Pemra said that such people cannot enjoy certain rights such as appearing on television. The list of people banned by the authority includes Moeed Peerzada, Anchorman Syed Akbar Hussain Shah, Anchorperson Sabir Shakir, Journalist Wajahat Saeed Khan, Youtuber and social media influencer Adil Farooq Raja, Journalist Haider Raza Mehdi, Journalist Shaheen Sehbai, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)Party member Ali Nawaz Awan, PTI member Murad Saeed, PTI west Punjab president Farrukh Habib and PTI Leader Hammad Azhar. The Pemra directive banned the media coverage of the above-mentioned individuals under section 27 of the Pemra Ordinance 2002, terming them proclaimed offenders. Section 27 of the ordinance states: "The Authority shall by order in writing, giving reasons therefore, prohibit any broadcast media or distribution service operator from (a) broadcasting or re-broadcasting or distributing any programme or advertisement if it is of the opinion that such particular programme or advertisement is against the ideology of Pakistan or is likely to create hatred among the people or is prejudicial to the maintenance of law and order or is likely to disturb public peace and tranquillity or endangers national security or is pornographic, obscene or vulgar or is offensive to the commonly accepted standards of decency; or (b) engaging in any practice or act which amounts to abuse of media power by way of harming the legitimate interests of another licensee or willfully causing damage to any other person." The Saturday directive added that any news, reports, statements, or tickers of these individuals on electronic media and broadcast was prohibited. (ANI)
Ahead of India's Independence Day, Australian High Commission staff dressed up in tricolour and had tricolour-themed Australian dishes. Australias High Commissioner to India took to his Twitter account and stated, "Ahead of #IndependenceDay, colleagues at the High Commission dressed up in the colours of #India and enjoyed morning tea with tricolour-themed Australian dishes. Dont miss the lamingtons! #AzadiKaAmritMahotsav #HarGharTiranga" https://twitter.com/AusHCIndia/status/1691057349832892416?t=3zw0W580V8mQh5SD3m8PMw&s=08 Earlier today, Veteran star Shabana Azmi hoisted the Indian flag in Melbourne at the 14th edition of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM). On receiving the opportunity to hoist the tri-colour on Australian soil ahead of Independence Day, Shabana said, "To be having this honour to hoist the Indian flag, the flag that Im so proud of, the flag all of us present today are proud of in Melbourne is an honour I never believed I could have. I would like to reiterate that we are here to celebrate Indian cinema in Melbourne, and I truly believe that art knows no boundaries and cinema can be an instrument for social change." On Monday, US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti met Khadi and Village Industries Commission advisor and renowned designer Ritu Beri and discussed the importance of Khadi and its connection to Indias freedom movement. The US ambassador took to his Twitter and said, "I had an inspiring conversation with renowned designer & @kvicindiaadvisor, Ritu Beri, on the history of #khadi and its poignant connection to Indias freedom movement. Every thread woven tells a story of resilience and unity." Designer Rity Beri gifted him a Khadi jacket with which he shared his delight and said, "I am excited to wear khadi, and not just that, but also to celebrate India's independence day and to look at the opportunities to celebrate the history that so many Americans that love India's struggle for independence that resonates with our struggle for independence but don't know all these details." He further thanked the designer for the remarkable Khadi jacket. (ANI)
Tel Aviv [Israel], August 14 (ANI/TPS): Israeli-Druze firefighter Sergeant Adnan Asad from the Druze village of Beit Jann, located in the north of Israel on Mount Meron, was killed on Sunday while attempting to save the life of a man who fell in a pit. Around 1 PM Sunday afternoon, the Israel Fire and Rescue Department answered a call to save a 20-year-old man who fell into a pit about 8 meters deep (27 feet) in Deir al-Asad, an Arab town in Galilee. Teams from the special rescue unit of the Karmiel fire station arrived on the scene within a short time and began a rescue operation. Upon the teams arrival, two firefighters entered the pit, but during the rescue operations contact was lost with them. So, additional rescuers who were on the scene and the fighters of the Flame Unit rescued the two firefighters and the citizen, who was said to be in a serious medical condition. The three were all evacuated to the Nahariya Hospital for medical treatment and Asad was later reported to have died of his wounds. In a sign of Israels diverse, multi-ethnic culture, a Druze (an Arab group but not Muslim) died while attempting to save the life of an Arab man and while serving in the emergency services of the Jewish State. There is no word yet on the identity of the man who was rescued or of his religion. Israels Druze have always accepted Israeli sovereignty and serve in its security forces such as the police and the IDF. Even though, like Jews, they consider themselves to be both a nation of people and a religion, they do not claim any territory as their homeland and give allegiance to whatever nation they reside in. There is no information yet as to the exact circumstances of Asads death, or if he died at the scene, in transit, or at the hospital. The fire and rescue department reported that at this time medical staff at the Nahariya hospital continue to fight for the life of the second firefighter who was seriously injured in the rescue attempt. Sergeant Adnan Asad was 40 years old at the time of his death, was married and had three children, the youngest of whom is only two months old. He served as a firefighter in the formation from 2019. Fire Commissioner Chief Eyal Caspi arrived at the hospital and is closely monitoring the situation. The families of the firefighters were informed of their situation by department officials. The fire commissioner established an inspection team led by himself to investigate the circumstances of the incident. In a statement, Israels National Fire and Rescue Authority said that it, bows its head at the fall of the warrior (firefighter) and participates in the grief of his family. (ANI/TPS)
Afghanistan universities are ready to readmit female students once again but are waiting for Taliban's decision on when it can happen or whether it happens or not, Khaama Press reported citing education officials. Earlier in December, Neda Mohammed Nadeem, Afghanistans Minister of Higher Education said that it is important to impose the ban to maintain gender segregation and he is concerned about certain subjects clashing with Islamic principles. He stated that the restriction imposed by Hibatullah Akhundzada, the supreme leader of the Taliban, will continue until further notice, reported Khaama Press. However, Mawlavi Abdul Jabbar, Ministry of Higher Education advisor said that the universities are fully prepared to welcome back to welcome female students immediately once they will receive directives from Akhundzada to lift the ban. However, he could not mention any specific timeline for the decision, according to Khaama Press. The Taliban assured that once the logistical challenges related to uniforms and transportation will be addressed, girls would be allowed to attend the classes. However, girls are denied entry into the classrooms despite such assurances. The Taliban imposed these restrictions on women from attending educational institutions in December. The decision came after another restriction on limiting girls' access to education after sixth grade. Adding to that, the Taliban is the only country to impose extensive bans on female education. Earlier in June, women and girl students in Afghanistan expressed concerns about their uncertain future as they have been banned from attending universities for about six months, reported TOLO News. Suraya Paikan, a women's rights activist said, "The education of girls is very important for Afghan society and it can have an important role in the development of the country, but unfortunately, the doors of education are closed for girls." The first set of university exams was held in 11 of the 34 provinces in Afghanistan without any girl or women students. On Sunday, Former United Kingdom Prime Minister Gordon Brown called the treatment of Afghan women and girls "gender apartheid" and urged the American government and the UK government to impose sanctions on the Taliban, people directly responsible for such policies, TOLO News reported. He criticized the restriction on Afghan women and called it a flagrant abuse of human rights and "systematic. Commenting on the current situation in Afghanistan, Brown said, "Everybody I think who studies knows that there is nothing in Islam that says that girls education should be banned ... and its gender persecution and gender apartheid." Moreover, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has criticised the imposition of restrictions on Afghan women, Afghanistan-based Tolo News reported. In the report, HRW said that Afghan women have been denied the right to education, employment, and social involvement since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. (ANI)
The Police arrested a Hindu man on charges of alleged blasphemy in the Rahim Yar Khan city of Pakistan's Punjab province, the Dawn reported. According to the First Information Report (FIR), registered on August 11, a motorcycle mechanic, a resident of Chak 75-P Tibba West, complained to the police that a Hindu man, identified in the FIR, would often give alleged objectionable statements about Muslims and Islam. The complainant alleged that on August 11, the accused arrived at the village roundabout and started making objectionable comments, which, the complainant said, he could not repeat in the FIR because that would be considered blasphemy, the Dawn reported. When the complainant and other persons tried to stop the suspect, he did not stop his action and fled from the scene. On the complaint, the police registered an FIR under Section 295-A of the Pakistan Penal Code and The Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance 1960, the Dawn reported. Police spokesperson Saif Ali Wains toldDawnthat the police had arrested the suspect and sent him to jail on judicial remand. Sources said that on the day of the incident, a mob had gathered at the roundabout of Chak-75-P. Some people tried to beat the suspect when he was being taken to the police station by the policemen. Earlier this month, on the allegation of blasphemy, a teacher was shot dead by unknown men in the Kech district in southern Balochistan, Dawn reported. According to the police, an English teacher, Abdul Rauf, was attacked near a graveyard in the Malikabad area in Turbat town of the district on Saturday when he, accompanied by some people, was going to attend a 'jirga,' a forum for resolving disputes, to explain his position to Ulemas on the matter. (ANI)
Indian High Commission in the UK on Monday hosted a photo exhibition and a ceremony to mark 'Partition Horrors Remembrance Day'. On the occasion, the Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami inaugurated an exhibition of photographs of the partition horrors. The 'Partition Horrors Remembrance Day was observed at India House in London's Aldwych. People present at the ceremony watched the photographs of the partition displayed on the screen. On the occasion, Vikram Doraiswami, High Commissioner of India to the UK, said, that India's celebration of independence was always somewhat mixed as it came at a "very high price." He said that they cannot undo what happened in history and how much pain it brought to the people. In his address, Vikram Doraiswami said, "We are of course habituated to celebrating our independence tomorrow, 15th August, with the spirit of a nation and people who found our own voice and own destiny and our own capacity to chart our own destiny in an epic freedom struggle that in many senses was unique and certainly defined the age that became the age that ended colonialism. But, our joy and our celebration of independence was always a somewhat mixed one because that independence came at a very heavy human price." Vikram Doraiswami noted that women and children suffered extra during the partition. He stated that everyone lost something during the partition. He noted that India's history puts upon the people a moral obligation to ensure that people in India live in a manner that is appropriate to the memory of all those who died and who were displaced during the partition. "We cannot undo what has happened in history but we can remember what happened. How much pain it brought to people, in particular, women and children who suffered extra during partition, all who lost either a loved one or who lost a sense of their own identity. After all, not everybody lost family but everybody lost something. And that is for all of us irrespective of which part of India we come from," the Indian Envoy said. "So, the purpose of this exercise today is to remember what our history, what our history covers and what our memory has sometimes led us to forget. It is said that those who forget the lessons of history are condemned to remember it again and again. This is the last thing we should want to remember again in a sense in the form of repetition. Our history enjoins upon us and our civilizational heritage enjoins upon us a certain moral obligation to ensure that we in India live in a manner that is appropriate to the memory of all those who died and all those who were displaced in partition and that we ensure that we never allow those tragedies to defecate. That responsibility is ours and it's ours to pass on to our subsequent generations including our children and grandchildren," he added. Taking to its official Twitter handle, Indian High Commission in UK stated, "@HCI_Londonhosted a photo exhibition & a ceremony to mark #PartitionHorrorsRemembranceDay today. Members of diaspora shared memories of the suffering of all communities during Partition, reciting poems and observing a minute's silence to mark this #DayofRememberance." One of the partition survivors who came to India during the partition shared her experience through a poem. Speaking to ANI, she said, "We were told that you are going for a few days and we will come back. We did not even take many clothes as we were told that we have to come back." She also recalled her past house and how they lived before the partition. Speaking to ANI, Brij Mohan Gupta MDE said that he came to India at the age of 13 years during the partition. He said they had a family of nine people, including uncles and aunts. He said that they had a wholesale business and a shop. He said that they came to India barefoot and their elders without a turban. He said that they gave everything, including jewellery to save his sister's life. On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi remembered those who lost their lives during the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947. "Partition Horrors Remembrance Day is an occasion to reverently remember those Indians whose lives were sacrificed in the partition of the country. Along with this, this day also reminds us of the suffering and struggle of those who were forced to bear the brunt of displacement. I salute all such people," PM Modi said in a tweet in Hindi. (ANI)
Despite Beijing's warning of his visit, Taiwan's vice president and a front-runner in Taiwans presidential race William Lai on Sunday said that the island will never yield in the face of escalating Chinese threats, CNN reported. He made a stopover in New York en route to Paraguay, where he will attend the inauguration of its new president Tuesday. In a speech to supporters at a lunch banquet in New York, Lai portrayed Taiwans long-term survival as something the international community should take an interest in. When Taiwan is safe, the world is safe, and when there is peace on the Taiwan Strait, there will be world peace, Lai said, according to Taiwans presidential office. No matter how great the threat of authoritarianism is to Taiwan, we absolutely will not be scared nor cower, we will uphold the values of democracy and freedom, according to CNN. The South American country is one of only 13 states that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, a self-governing democracy that Chinas ruling Communist Party claims as its own territory despite having never controlled it. Lais comments came after Chinas foreign ministry condemned his stopover, calling Lai a troublemaker through and through. It said China firmly opposes any official interaction between the US and Taiwan and any Taiwan independence separatists to the US. Taiwan and the US have both said that Lais transits, including a stop in San Francisco on his way back Wednesday, are routine, CNN reported. These transits of senior officials are unofficial, in keeping with our US One China policy, a senior administration official told CNN on July 16, calling such transits fairly common. Lai last transited the US in January 2022. Lai, 63, hails from the so-called deep green faction of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) known for its more openly pro-independence leanings. The Harvard-educated doctor-turned-politician has previously called himself a pragmatic worker for Taiwanese independence. That has made him particularly loathed by Beijing, which has not renounced the use of force to take the self-ruled island, CNN reported. Since winning the DPP nomination, however, Lai has adopted a more moderate line on China. Under the leadership of Xi Jinping, Beijing has ramped up economic, diplomatic and military pressure on Taiwan, particularly after the 2016 election of President Tsai Ing-wen, who won a second term in 2020, CNN reported. Under Taiwans constitution, Tsai cannot stand for a third term. Taiwans election will take place in January and could have profound consequences for international relations at a time of intense scrutiny over whether Xi might one day follow through on his vow to reunite the island with China. The DPPs historical challenger is the Kuomintang, a political outfit that was once the bitter enemy of Chinas Communist Party but has since morphed into a party that favours much closer relations with Beijing, CNN reported. Trips to the US by Taiwans officials are referred to as transits instead of visits because the US does not have formal diplomatic relations with the government of Taiwan and the stopovers come as part of an unofficial trip en route to another destination. In March, Taiwans President Tsai transited to California and met with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, despite warnings and threats from Beijing. Following Tsais trip, China launched three days of live-fire military drills around Taiwan. (ANI)
At least 26 people have been killed in an explosion in the Finote Selam region of Ethiopia amid heavy fighting between government forces and a local militia group, CNN reported. Finote Selam General Hospital CEO Manaye Tenaw said that another 50 people have been injured in the blast on Sunday, according to CNN report. He said that these victims are only those undergoing treatment at the hospital and the total number of casualties is unclear. A further 50 people were injured in Sundays blast, according to Manaye Tenaw, CEO of the Finote Selam General Hospital. These victims are only those treated at the hospital, and the total number of casualties is unclear. He further said that the hospital had already treated over 160 people in the days leading up to the explosion, as fierce fighting between government forces and a local militia known as Fano started in the Amhara region earlier this month, CNN reported. The EthiopianHuman Rights Commission (EHRC) expressed grave concern over heavy fighting between the two groups which erupted on August 3. The fighting between the two groups started following months of tension and sporadic clashes. The Ethiopian government declared a six-month state of emergency in the Amhara region on August 4 after days of clashes, CNN reported. Differences have emerged between the government and the Fano militia in recent months after the group resisted a move by the federal government to disband regional forces. Amhara nationalists have stressed that the move will jeopardize regional security. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) stated there was "heavy fighting in and around cities and towns across the Amhara region, which involved the use of heavy artillery resulting in the deaths and injuries of civilians," CNN reported. In a statement, EHRC said, "EHRC has also received credible reports of strikes and shelling including from Debre Birhan, Finote Selam, and Burie resulting in many civilian casualties and damage to residential areas and public spaces." It further said that similar reports weredocumented in Bahir Dar and Gondar. The EHRC further said that "widespread arrest of civilians who are of ethnic Amhara origin," in Addis Ababa, according to CNN. EHRC said, "While heavy fighting has subsided in major urban areas since August 9, 2023, it continues in other parts of the region and remains a major concern until a sustainable solution is in place." In a statement on Friday, the United Nations "called on all sides to respect human rights and take steps to de-escalate the situation." It further said that previous states of emergency have been accompanied by violations of human rights." In a joint statement on Friday, the Australian, Japanese, UK, New Zealand and US government also urged all parties to "protect civilians, respect human rights" and work together to address issues in a peaceful manner. (ANI)
Outgoing Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and opposition leader in the now-dissolved provincial assembly Rana Ansar on Monday agreed to propose the name of former Supreme Court judge Maqbool Baqar for the caretaker CM's post, Pakistan-based Dawn reported. Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader Murtaza Wahab made the announcement on Twitter. Wahab said that the two leaders have agreed to propose the name of Justice Maqbool Baqar as Sindh's interim Chief Minister. Murtaza Wahab tweeted, "This is to inform that the consultative process between Sindh CM and the opposition leader under Article 224(1A) took place on 12th,13th and 14th of August. Both the leaders have agreed to propose the name of Justice Maqbool Baqar sahib as the caretaker chief minister." After Murtaza Wahab's announcement, Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Rana Ansar also confirmed the development, according to Dawn report. She said that several names were considered for the post and "this name was chosen with the consensus of leadership from both sides." She said that Grand Democratic Alliance was also consulted on the matter. Speaking to reporters, Murtaza Wahab said the Sindh CM and opposition leaders recommendations to appoint Baqar as the caretaker CM had been sent to the Sindh Governor for approval. As per the news report, Murad Ali Shah and Rana Ansar were to agree on a name for the caretaker CM within three days of the dissolution of the Sindh Assembly on Friday, according to Dawn report. If they had not agreed on a name, the matter would have been referred to a committee constituted by the assembly speaker. On Friday, the Sindh Assembly in Pakistan was dissolved as the province's Governor Kamran Tessori signed and gave approval to Chief Minister Murad Ali Shahs summary for the dissolution of the provincial legislature, Pakistan-based Dawn reported. The dissolution of the Sindh Assembly comes just days before the completion of the Sindh Assembly's five-year tenure, which began on August 13, 2018. Last week, the Pakistan National Assembly was also dissolved before the completion of its term. (ANI)
[Source]

A 43-year-old toy enthusiast from Singapore is defying traditional definitions of a typical Barbie collector.

Childlike wonder: Jian Yang currently has over 12,000 Barbie dolls and an assortment of other toys, ranging from a Kylie Minogue doll to BTS members, as well as the new collectibles from the recent Barbie movie. According to Yang, he started collecting in the early '80s after receiving a doll for Christmas. While he outgrew other childhood playthings over the years, his affinity for Barbie dolls endured.

Yang's collection is now just a few thousand dolls shy of the 18,500 owned by Bettina Dorfmann from Dusseldorf, Germany, as verified by the Guinness World Records Kids on Dec. 22, 2022. Dorfmann began her collection in 1993, which by 2005 had reached 2,500 items.

Meant to be played: Yang resists the label of a traditional "collector" as he believes that placing a monetary value on toys undermines their true essence.

More from NextShark: Viral video captures moment 5-year-old is slapped out of his chair by classmate's father in China

A collector is actually someone that keeps things in boxes, in pristine condition, Yang told Vice. I take sh*t out of the box. I will change the hairstyle. Ill re-dress it. Ill drop it into the sea. I will bring it to the pool. I will do whatever I want with it.

Newsmaker: Yang made international headlines in 2013 following an interview with The New Paper and a succeeding piece on the Reuters Global Newswire. The next day, my Facebook was full (of people tagging me on Facebook) and they were all the same pictures, told Danamic in 2019. I was like Oh shitNewswire, and that was it.

In 2018, Yang went viral for creating several Barbie dresses out of tissue paper.

More from NextShark: Alumnus charged for stabbing 3 in gender studies class at Canadian university in hate attack

Behind the camera: Yang has turned his passion into a thriving career as a toy photographer, chronicling his dolls' playful adventures on Instagram account.

"When I take photos of dolls; when I cast which doll comes with me to my fabulous pretentious (sometimes pretend) life - like going to balls, going rollerblading, going on holidays - that's play to me," Yang told Femail. Explaining the unique allure of Barbie, he said that he had always been "drawn to a world of perfection. Unrealistic, unnecessary perfection. "

More from NextShark: I really regret not getting the vaccine: Comedian Christian Cabrera, known as 'Chinese Best Friend,' dies at 40

Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark!

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A 13-year-old who couldn't get an abortion is now starting 7th grade as a mom, report says

null Getty Images

A young girl in Mississippi gave birth after being sexually assaulted by a stranger outside her home, Time reported.

Because of the state's strict abortion laws, the nearest abortion provider was 9 hours away.

Her doctor said the girl had "no clue" what was happening and didn't understand pregnancy.





A 13-year-old from Clarksdale, Mississippi will start seventh grade as a new mom after being sexually assaulted and unable to get access to an abortion, Time reported.

The girl, referred to by the pseudonym Ashley in the report to protect her privacy, was raped in autumn of 2022 and told no one for weeks, her mother Regina (also a pseudonym) told Time.

Regina had noticed something was wrong when Ashley lost interest in her usual hobbies, like TikTok dances, and had symptoms such as nausea. Regina said she hadn't even talked to her daughter about how babies are made because she felt Ashley was too young to understand, according to Time.

Despite severe trauma that left Ashley almost unable to speak, Regina later learned that Ashley had been assaulted by an unknown man while she had been outside their house.

Ashley was already 10 weeks pregnant by the time her pregnancy was discovered

Regina told Time that she brought Ashley to the emergency room on January 11, 2023 because she couldn't stop vomiting. While they were there, bloodwork showed that Ashley was 10 or 11 weeks pregnant.

"She just had no clue," Dr. Erica Balthrop, a provider at the Clarksdale Woman's Clinic and the OB-GYN on call, told Time.

Regina was told that the closest abortion provider was a nine-hour drive away in Chicago. But the family couldn't afford the cost of gas, food, or lodging along with the procedure itself and time off work to complete the journey.

Instead, the family did their best to disguise the fact that Ashley was pregnant with oversized clothes until it was too obvious to hide. Then they removed her from school, saying she needed surgery for an ulcer, Time reported.

Ashley completed sixth grade on her laptop, and gave birth to her son, nicknamed Peanut, on a Saturday when she was 39 weeks pregnant. Her mother told Time that she's working to get Ashley permission to start seventh grade from home, too.

Strict abortion laws disproportionately affect high-risk mothers, experts say

Mississippi's abortion laws are some of the most restrictive in the nation. On paper, they allow exceptions in the case of rape or if the mother's life is at risk, but the process for obtaining exemptions isn't clear, Time reported.

Mississippi also has high rates of poverty and maternal mortality. Black women in Mississippi are four times as likely to die from pregnancy-related complications as white women, according to state Department of Health data . And pregnancy-related health complications are on the rise as a result of stricter bans on abortion, the Washington Post reported.

There are also few providers available in regions of the country where states have banned abortion , including Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Alabama, following the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022.

Meanwhile, stricter laws are leading to significantly more births. But most people don't even realize they're pregnant until week seven , which is already too late to get an abortion in a dozen states .

Read the original article on Insider
13 people injured when 2 airboats collide at Wild Florida

Thirteen people were injured Monday afternoon when two airboats collided at Wild Florida, the United States Coast Guard told Action News Jaxs sister station WFTV in Orlando.

The extent of their injuries is unknown.

Coast Guard officials said they were notified about the crash that happened at about 12:30 p.m. on Cypress Lake in Osceola County.

They said there were two captains and 28 passengers aboard the airboats involved in the collision.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Osceola County Sheriffs Office also responded to the crash scene.

The Coast Guard said that it will be tasked with investigating the crash as it involves commercial vessels.

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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 teenager drowned in a river after being unable to make it to shore, Washington officials said.

At 6:15 p.m. on Aug. 12, Cowlitz County officials were sent to the Cowlitz River near Lexington after getting reports of a 15-year-old struggling to swim, according to an Aug. 14 Facebook post by the sheriffs department.

Three friends were trying to cross the river and realized halfway across that the current was strong, so they turned around to get back to shore, officials said.

A bystander saw two swimmers struggling and jumped into the water and helped one of the boys, deputies said.

The 15-year-old, later identified as Zander Medina of Longview, was pulled under water, according to the release.

Deputies sent out a boat to search the area, officials said.

The dive team recovered Medinas body minutes later, deputies said.

Lexington is about 120 miles southwest of Seattle.

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Contributed

Local fire departments and BC Wildfire service battled a brush fire on the outskirts of Trail Sunday afternoon.

The fire broke out on the hillside near the Teck Resources Trail Operations plant, which is in Warfield.

One man who shared a video with Castanet said he drove down the hill to see what was going on and saw a number of people stopped at the scene, including a FortisBC truck. He was told a crew from the smelter was one of the first on the scene. Helicopters were bucketing the fire as well.

According to the BC Wildfire Service, the fire is human caused. It was listed at 0.6 hectares.

Flames and smoke were clearly visible on the hillside just above the smelter.

Mike Hudson, former manager of South Columbia Search and Rescue, told Castanet that there was a great response from Teck, Trail, Warfield, Fruitvale and Montrose fire departments.

He said that the fire departments, working in conjunction with BCWS crew, had knocked down most of the flames by shortly after 3 p.m. and all that was left were hotspots and small smouldering sections.
North Texas will step back into 1975 this fall.

The English pop rock band The 1975 is stopping by Dickies Arena on Oct. 9. The Fort Worth stop is part of the Somebody Else rockers world tour, Still at Their Very Best, which kicked off in November 2022.

Tickets for the Fort Worth show go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. Friday via Ticketmaster. Fans can purchase tickets early on the website by using code TOOTIME from noon to 10 p.m. Thursday.

The Fort Worth concert is one of three additional shows added to the bands tour. The two other newly scheduled shows are in Chicago and Newark, New Jersey.

This isnt the first time the band has been in North Texas on this tour  they visited Grand Prairie on Nov. 15, 2022.

The 1975 released their latest album, Being Funny In a Foreign Language, in 2022.
Its been a rough few years for restaurants on the southwest corner of 39th and Bell streets in midtown Kansas City.

Blue Koi Noodles & Dumplings, at 1803 W. 39th St., closed in 2021 after two decades in business. DBronx Authentic Deli and Pizzeria closed the following year, after 32 years at 3904 Bell.

On Friday, Genghis Khan Mongolian Grill, open since 1995 at 3906 Bell, announced it would join its former neighbors in the restaurant afterlife, effective immediately, due to the shortage of staffing that was needed to provide quality service and food of our standard.

It has been more than 28 wonderful years, owner Ling Chang wrote on Facebook. We sincerely appreciate the friendship, support and the patronage. It is time for the next chapter in our life. We are grateful to you!

The post was quickly flooded with so many grateful comments from customers that Genghis Khan decided to reopen Saturday for egg rolls, crab rangoon and bowls of all-you-can-eat Mongolian barbecue. Wed like an opportunity to serve you one last time and to say goodbye, Chang wrote later on Friday.

The restaurant was packed for much of Saturday, with several patrons posting photos from their final meal and other memories on Genghis Khans Facebook wall.

This place has been a part of my birthday celebrations for 20 years, one customer shared. I dont know what Ill do without that sesame chicken and crab rangoon  there was nothing like it.

Thank you for being a place that our family enjoyed gathering over the years, another said. You held our babies and watched them grow! We will miss our favorite foods (especially the chicken wings) but mostly, we will miss the warm welcome and the feeling of being treated like your family for over 20 years!

Chang did not respond to a request for comment.

Cadence Commercial Real Estate leases and manages the property that Blue Koi, dBronx and now Genghis Khan have vacated. The block is under a great deal of construction, owing to the incoming Jamestown Square apartments, a $66 million project that is bringing 226 studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units to the area.
The Navy on Monday joined the Army and Marine Corps in operating without Senate-confirmed military leaders because of Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville's hold on top military nominations.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday in a ceremony Monday morning relinquished his office as required by statute, and Adm. Lisa Franchetti took over in an acting capacity.

It's the first time in the history of the Defense Department that three military services are without Senate-confirmed leaders, according to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

"This is unprecedented. It is unnecessary and it is unsafe. And this sweeping hold is undermining America's military readiness," Austin said in remarks at Monday's ceremony.

The vice service chiefs for the Navy, Army and Marine Corps are now leading each respective service in an acting capacity and continuing certain responsibilities of their current role. All three of the vice chiefs have been nominated by President Biden for the top positions, including Franchetti, who would be the first-ever female member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff if the Senate confirms her.

Blank photo frames where military service chiefs normally are pictured at the Pentagon. / Credit: Eleanor Watson

Their nominations are part of the approximately 300 military nominations held up in the Senate.

Tuberville has put a blanket hold on top military nominations to protest the Defense Department's policy that grants leave and reimburses travel costs for service members to seek reproductive care, including abortions. Tuberville has said he will keep the hold until the Defense Department rescinds the policy or Congress passes it into law.

The Defense Department estimates the hold could impact more than 650 military nominations by the end of the year. The hold affects those 650 officers plus the officers they're replacing and filling in behind them and their families. Gen. Mark Milley told Congress in May he thinks 3,000 to 4,000 lives in total will be directly impacted by the end of the year if the hold continues.

Tuberville's hold prevents the usual unanimous consent process for confirming nominations, but it does not stop the Senate from bringing each nomination to the floor for a vote. The Senate has so far declined to take this approach because of the amount of time it could take.

The Congressional Research Service estimates that if the Senate worked on only military nominations eight hours a day, it would take more than 80 days to confirm the nominations.

With neither the Pentagon or Tuberville budging, the impasse threatens to impact the nomination of Gen. C.Q. Brown as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff  the nation's top military officer  who would take office when Gen. Mark Milley's term is up at the end of September.

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The global commercial fishing industry is a major contributor to Earths environmental crises and ecological destruction, but youre unlikely to find many sustainable or vegan seafood alternatives next to the synthetic beef and chicken in grocery stores. That lack of options may soon change, however, thanks to 3D printers, mung beans, and microalgae.

At the American Chemical Societys fall meeting this week, a team from the National University of Singapore presented the results of a newly synthesized mock seafood that could one day find its way into restaurants. After designing an ink composed of legume and microalgae proteins, alongside plant-based oils containing omega-3 fatty acids, researchers loaded their paste into a food-grade 3D printer, which then churned out small, calamari-shaped rings. The team then tossed their faux-seafood into an air fryer, and taste-tested their results. According to researchers, the end product is showing incredible promise for a new, healthy alternative to commercial seafood options.

[Related: Scientists cooked up a 3D printed cheesecake.]

Although some fishy plant-based alternatives are available to consumers right now, they frequently do not boast the same nutritional content as seafood. Plant-based seafood mimics are out there, but the ingredients dont usually include protein, explains principal investigator and professor of food science and technology, Dejian Huang. We wanted to make protein-based products that are nutritionally equivalent to or better than real seafood and address food sustainability.

https://youtu.be/ZLT4GbrTwic

To improve their imitations, Huangs team programmed their 3D printer to assemble their imitation calamari rings in concentric layers, thus allowing for a combination of different textures ranging from fatty and smooth, to chewy. This layered approach results in a more accurate mouth feel to their squid source material.

But calamari alternatives are only as good as they are sustainable, of course. Luckily, Huangs new mock seafood is designed specifically with that in mind: Microalgae is nutritious, often fishy in taste, and extremely sustainable to farm. Mung bean protein, meanwhile, can easily be harvested from the waste product of starch noodle manufacturing. Although Huangs team still wants to improve their creation before they begin consumer taste tests, they believe the results are already a promising step towards green seafood alternatives.

For Poornima Vijayan, a graduate student involved in the project, its a vital end goal. I think it's imminent that the seafood supply could be very limited in the future, she says. We need to be prepared from an alternative protein point of view, especially here in Singapore, where over 90 percent of the fish is imported.
The divers floated on a life raft while they waited to board the US Navy Destroyer ship USS Porter. US Coast Guard

Four lost divers off the coast of the Carolinas were rescued by the Coast Guard early Monday.

Coast Guard rescue crews saw flashing lights in the water after midnight, hours after the divers went missing.

They made it to shore, received medical attention, and were reunited with their families at 6:10 a.m.

Four divers who were lost at sea off the coast of the Carolinas were rescued alive early Monday after the Coast Guard spotted strobe lights bobbing in the water just after midnight.

The three men and a teenager  Ben Wiggins, 64; Luke Lodge, 26; Daniel Williams, 46; and Evan Williams, 16, a father and son  went missing after noon on Sunday, the Coast Guard said in a statement.

The divers had gone into the water about 63 miles east of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, but never resurfaced, the Coast Guard said.

Member of the Coast Guard's North Carolina sector sent out six crews to carry out the search for the divers, which stretched into the night, according to the statement.

Over 12 hours later at 12:45 a.m., an HC-130 Hercules airplane crew spotted an SOS flashing strobe light on infrared footage, US Coast Guard Petty Officer Second Class Katie Lipe told Insider.

The Coast Guard team searching for the missing divers used the information from the infrared cameras to find the divers bobbing in the water.

The C-130 flew lower and dropped a life raft for the divers as a motorized lifeboat raced to get to them, but rescuers were still two hours away, Lipe said.

In the meantime, the C-130 crew spoke with the US Navy Destroyer ship USS Porter, which was within nine miles of the divers and got to them safely.

Missing divers off the coast of North Carolina were reunited with their families early Monday. @uscgmidatlantic on X

The small lifeboat made it to the destroyer and took the divers to get medical attention and be reunited with their families at 6:10 a.m.  roughly 18 hours after they first went missing.

"Any time we launch a search and rescue case, our goal is always to reunite them with their friends and family; And in this case, that is exactly what we were able to do, which is always a great feeling for our rescue crew," US Coast Guard Petty Officer First Class Jonathan Lally said in a statement to Insider.

Lipe stressed the importance of diving with some kind of signal device as these divers did, whether that be a strobe light or flare, which are "important in the event you need to be rescued."

It was not clear, though, what kind of flashing light was used in this case. It could have been a standalone strobe light or "firefly" life vests, which contain a flashing strobe light.

She said that the divers also had a communications device on their vessel which helped to reach the Coast Guard when they were in danger.

Read the original article on Insider
Five people are dead after a house explosion over the weekend destroyed three homes and damaged several others in western Pennsylvania, officials said.

Plum Borough Police Chief Lanny Conley said at a press conference Sunday that the bodies of four adults and one adolescent were recovered in the home explosion in the borough, which is around 20 miles east of Pittsburgh.

Conley said additional information about the victims will be released by the medical examiners office.

This is certainly a sad, sad day and a sad time, for not just the folks in Plum, but all the folks in the community and in this region, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said.

Multiple 911 calls came in shortly before 10:30 a.m. Saturday with reports of a home explosion, according to Steve Imbarlina, deputy director of fire and emergency services in Allegheny County.

Imbarlina said three people were taken to the hospital, two of which have been released while the third remains in critical condition.

County spokesperson Amie Downs told The Associated Press emergency responders said people were trapped under debris after the blast leveled one house and engulfed two other homes in flames.

Imbarlina told the press that 57 firefighters were also treated on the scene for minor issues and later released to help with the response.

The Alleghany County Fire Marshalls Office will be leading an investigation into the cause of the explosion, Imbarlina said, noting it will be a long and slow process. Imbarlina said the investigation could last months, if not years, to allow for forensic testing.

Peoples Gas president Michael Huwar said the company was called to the scene shortly after the explosion and checked the area for leakage either underground or by air while also verifying consistent pressure at the companys regulation stations. Huwar said their current findings show the companys system was operating as designed.

Updated at 10:08 a.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Gilgres Santos, the father of five-year-old Eloah Passos, carries his daughter's remains for a burial at Cacuia Cemetery two days after she was killed by a stray bullet in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, Aug. 14, 2023. Passos died on Saturday, Aug. 12, while at home in the Dende favela. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)  A 5-year-old girl was buried in Rio de Janeiro on Monday, two days after she was fatally shot as shantytown residents protested against alleged police violence.

Eloah Passos died when she was hit by a gunshot at her home in the Morro do Dende, one of Rio's most violent areas. Passos neighbors allege the shot that killed her came from one of the policemen who tried to block a local protest against the death of a 17-year-old boy earlier in the day.

Rio police said in a statement they would investigate the girl's death.

The child's father, Gilgres dos Santos da Silva, 31, carried her small casket to her grave in a northern Rio cemetery as local residents applauded, cried for justice and released fireworks in respect to the girl's death.

I don't know who did it. I just know that my daughter's life was taken, da Silva told journalists after the burial.

Wendell Eduardo de Almeida, 17, was killed Saturday after he allegedly refused to stop his motorbike at a police checkpoint in the same shantytown. Rio police said he was taken down during an exchange of gunfire. The teenager was buried Sunday.

Antonio Carlos Costa, a founder of the Rio de Paz human rights non-profit organization, attended the burial showing a Brazilian flag with holes as if it had been showered with gunshots. He said 14 children were killed by stray bullets in Rio state between January of last year and August of this year.

Most of them had their lives ended as police and criminals exchanged gunfire, Costa said. He added that he wants to meet with Rio Gov. Claudio Castro to discuss the state's policing strategies.
Durham police say six suspects, including four juveniles, face charges after they stole a car with a baby inside and tried to run away.

A man told police he had left his black Honda CRV running with his 1-year-old child inside on North Roxboro Street when it was stolen around noon Monday, according to the Durham Police Department.

Fifteen minutes later, police got a call that a baby had been found at Excelsior Classical Academy at 4100 N. Roxboro St., about three minutes away.

Responding officers gave the boy to his parents unharmed, police said in a news release Monday afternoon.

Police pursued the suspects, no longer with the kidnapped child, after finding the Honda with a phone left inside it on Liberty Street in East Durham, the release stated.

The suspects fled, jumping out of their car on William Penn Plaza in northern Durham. Officers chased them and took two adults and four juveniles into custody. Charges are pending.

Voyager Academy, near North Roxboro Street, was briefly placed on lockdown until 1:25 p,m, according to police.

Police didnt provide further details.

Anyone with any information on this case is asked to call Investigator M. Strickland at 919-560-4440 ext., 29536 or CrimeStoppers at 919-683-1200. CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards for information leading to arrests in felony cases and callers never have to identify themselves.
Six former Mississippi law enforcement officers pleaded guilty Monday to all state charges against them stemming from the torture and abuse this year of two Black men, one of whom was shot in the mouth.

Their pleas Monday came after the former officers  five of them deputies for the Rankin County Sheriffs Office, the sixth an officer for the Richland Police Department  pleaded guilty this month to federal charges in connection to the same January incident, which the victims have claimed was motivated by their race.

Former deputies Christian Dedmon, Hunter Elward, Brett McAlpin, Jeffrey Middleton and Daniel Opdyke and ex-police officer Joshua Hartfield were each charged with conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice, according to a news release from the Mississippi Attorney Generals Office.

Additionally, Dedmon was charged with home invasion and Elward was charged with home invasion and aggravated assault, the release says. McAlpin, Middleton, Opdyke and Hartfield each faced an additional charge of first-degree obstruction of justice.

From top left, Former Rankin County Sheriff's deputies Brett McAlpin, Jeffrey Middleton, Christian Dedmon, Frin bottom left, Hunter Elward, Daniel Opdyke and ex-Richland Police officer Joshua Hartfield. - Rogelio V. Solis/AP

All six appeared with their attorneys in Rankin County court Monday, shackled at the wrists and wearing prison jumpsuits. The names of the county jails in which they are being held were covered by duct tape.

The former officers pleaded guilty August 3 to federal charges in the case, in which US prosecutors said the former officers kicked down the door of a home in Braxton, Mississippi, where the Black men were living and assaulted them for two hours.

The officers did not have a warrant, and some called themselves The Goon Squad because of their willingness to use excessive force and not to report it, according to a federal charging document.

The six officers were charged with a combined 13 felonies in connection with the torture and physical abuse of the two men that night, the Justice Department said in a news release.

CNN has reached out to attorneys for each of the men for comment but did not receive a response from those representing McAlpin and Dedmon. Attorneys for Middleton, Elward and Hartfield declined to comment.

An attorney for Opdyke said the former officer has admitted to his wrongdoing and will plead guilty to all charges against him in Rankin County Circuit Court on August 14.

He takes responsibility for his part in the horrific harms perpetrated on Mr. Jenkins and Mr. Parker, the victims, and is prepared to face the consequences of his misconduct, reads a statement to CNN from Opdykes attorney, Jeffery Reynolds.

Michael Jenkins, left, and Eddie Parker alleged in a lawsuit the ex-officers' conduct was motivated by the color of their skin. - CNN

The victims, Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker, filed a federal lawsuit in June, alleging the officers illegally entered their home and handcuffed, kicked, waterboarded and tased them and attempted to sexually assault them over nearly two hours, before one of the deputies put a gun in Jenkins mouth and shot him.

The deputies, in their repeated use of racial slurs in the course of their violent acts, were oppressive and hateful against their African-American victims, the lawsuit says. Defendants were motivated on the basis of race and the color of the skin of the persons they assaulted.

Parker enjoyed seeing the walk of shame during the plea hearing Monday, he told reporters afterward.

I hope this is a lesson to everybody out there. Justice will be served.

Michael Corey Jenkins, center, and Eddie Terrell Parker, right, listen as one of six former Mississippi law officers pleads guilty to state charges at the Rankin County Circuit Court in Brandon, Mississippi. - Rogelio V. Solis/AP

How the abuse and shooting unfolded

According to a federal charging document, Dedmon texted Elward, Middleton and Opdyke on January 24 about going to the property in Braxton to resolve a complaint received by McAlpin. McAlpins White neighbor told him several Black men were staying at a White womans home and reported seeing suspicious behavior.

Dedmon warned the deputies there might be surveillance cameras on the property, telling them to knock on the door instead of kicking it down if they saw any, the document stated. Otherwise, they could barge in without a warrant, the document continued.

No bad mug shots, he said, meaning, prosecutors said, the defendants could use excessive force on parts of the body that would not be seen in a mug shot, according to the charging document. Dedmon told the others Hartfield would accompany them.

Avoiding a surveillance camera above the front door, Dedmon, Opdyke and Elward broke open the carport door while Hartfield kicked open the back door, the document stated. They encountered Parker, who was living there to help take care of the woman who owned the property, and his friend Jenkins, who was staying there temporarily.

Over the next two hours, the two men were subjected to grueling violence at the hands of the White officers, the document said. They were repeatedly tased and called racial slurs, and the officers poured milk, alcohol and chocolate syrup in their mouths. Elward threw eggs at the men, and Dedmon poured grease on Parkers head, according to the document.

Eventually, Elward removed a bullet from his gun, forced Jenkins onto his knees and put the gun into his mouth, the document stated. Elward fired the gun, which did not discharge, then racked the slide, put the gun back in Jenkins mouth and pulled the trigger again, according to the document. The bullet lacerated Jenkins tongue, broke his jaw and went out through his neck.

According to the charging document, the officers then devised a cover story and discussed planting a gun Middleton had in his patrol car on Jenkins. Instead, Elward planted a BB gun, and the officers discarded one shell casing, the document stated. Hartfield threw the mens soiled clothes in the woods and took the hard drive from the homes surveillance system before throwing it in a creek, according to the document.

Activists march towards the Rankin County Sheriff's Office in Brandon, Mississippi, on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, after five former deputies and one former Richland police officer were accused of assaulting two Black men. - Rogelio V. Solis/AP/FILE

Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey announced in June deputies had been fired, though he did not say how many or their names. The Richland Police Department announced in July that Hartfield  who was off-duty at the time of the alleged assault  had resigned.

Bailey, who does not face any charges, has said he will not resign. In a statement Monday, he said he hoped the guilty pleas bring some sense of justice to Parker and Jenkins.

The Rankin County Sheriffs Office continues to evaluate and modify its policies, procedures, and training for all sheriffs office employees, Bailey said. We have asked for assistance from outside agencies and contracted with outside firms to evaluate us, make recommendations, and conduct training. These actions are taken to prevent anything like Januarys tragedy from ever happening again.

Bailey is running unopposed for reelection in November.

CNNs Emma Tucker, Ryan Young, Devon Sayers, Pamela Kirkland and Raja Razek contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
A 74-year-old man is hospitalized after a crash on Route 133 in Georgetown.

According to Georgetown police, on Monday around 9:40 a.m., officers responded to reports of a vehicle that had crashed into a tree on East Main Street (Route 133).

Upon arrival, first responders extricated the 74-year-old male driver and began life-sustaining measures before transporting him by ambulance to an area hospital for his injuries. His condition is unknown.

Initial investigation determined that the vehicle was traveling westbound on East Main Street, and according to witnesses left the roadway and collided with a tree.

The Rowley Fire Department and Newbury Fire Department Medics assisted in aid in the crash.

The crash is under investigation by Georgetown Police and the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section (CARS) Unit.

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.

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Photo: The Canadian Press An empty Kaanapali Beach is shown, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii, following wildfires that caused heavy damage in the area. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Follow live updates about wildfires that have devastated parts of Maui in Hawaii this week, destroying a historic town and forcing evacuations. The National Weather Service said Hurricane Dora, which passed south of the island chain, was partly to blame for strong winds that initially drove the flames, knocking out power and grounding firefighting helicopters.

WILDFIRE MAGNIFIES WORRIES ABOUT CHRONIC HOUSING SHORTAGE

The wildfire that laid waste to wooden homes and historic streets in mere hours last week has magnified concerns about a chronic housing shortage. Maui County estimates more than 80% of the more than 2,700 structures in hard-hit Lahaina were damaged or destroyed, and that some 4,500 residents are newly in need of shelter.

Concerns are multiplying that any homes rebuilt there will target affluent outsiders seeking a tropical haven. That would turbo-charge what is already one of Hawaiis gravest and biggest challenges: the exodus and displacement of Native Hawaiian and local-born residents who can no longer afford to live in their homeland.

Seeking to help the displaced, the West Hawai?i Realtors Association has curated a housing inventory catalog online  encompassing the entire state  in collaboration with other retail associations. The newly launched website details all available housing options in real-time and provides a platform for those willing to offer up a second home, vacation rental, or additional space for a displaced Maui resident.

Richy Palalay so closely identifies with his Maui hometown that he had a tattoo artist permanently ink Lahaina Grown on his forearms when he was 16. Lahaina is my home. Lahaina is my pride. My life. My joy, he said in a text message.

But with the median price of a Maui home is $1.2 million, that puts a single-family home out of reach for the typical wage earner. Its not possible for many to even buy a condo, with the median condo price at $850,000.

Still, Palalay vows to stay. I dont have any money to help rebuild. Ill put on a construction hat and help get this ship going. Im not going to leave this place, he said. Where am I going to go?

IN SEARCH FOR LOVED ONES, RELATIVES IN ANGUISHED WAIT

Lylas Kanemoto has been searching for her cousin, Glen Yoshino, since the inferno swept through Lahaina. Kanemoto said the family is in the process of submitting a DNA test from Yoshinos nephew in case any remains are found that might belong to her cousin. Other family members, she said, were already found dead in their car. At least we have closure for them, but the loss and heartbreak is unbearable for many. We as a community has to just embrace each other and support our families, friends, and our community to our best of our abilities, Kanemoto told the AP by text message on Sunday.

TRAVELERS URGED TO AVOID MAUI

Hawaii officials urged tourists to avoid traveling to Maui as many hotels prepared to house evacuees and first responders on the island that faces a long recovery from the wildfire that demolished a historic town and killed more than 90 people.

About 46,000 residents and visitors have flown out of Kahului Airport in West Maui since the devastation in Lahaina became clear Wednesday, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

In the weeks ahead, the collective resources and attention of the federal, state and county government, the West Maui community, and the travel industry must be focused on the recovery of residents who were forced to evacuate their homes and businesses, the agency said in a statement late Saturday.

HIRONO: WILDFIRE THREAT IN HAWAII JUST AS GREAT AS IN WESTERN U.S.

Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono, on CNNs State of the Union Sunday, said she walked through Lahaina with FEMA on Saturday to see firsthand the extent of the loss.

As she walked through the destroyed town, Hirono said she passed a line of charred cars by the ocean where it was clear to her the occupants had fled quickly  likely into the water.

We are in a period of mourning and loss, Hirono said.

Hirono said the attorney general has launched a review into why there were not warning sirens alerting people to the danger and allowing them to flee before wildfires quickly consumed the town.

Hirono said the tragedy showed that Hawaii has just as much of a wildfire threat as Western states and more attention needs to be paid to wildfire prevention on the island.

There is not enough recognition that we are going to have to combat these kinds of wildfires, Hirono said.

GOVERNOR SAYS DEATH TOLL INCREASES, POLICY REVIEW PLANNED

In a press conference Saturday, Gov. Josh Green said the number of confirmed deaths from the Maui wildfires had risen to 89, making it the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than 100 years.

Maui County later raised the confirmed death toll to 93.

There were 2,200 structures destroyed or damaged just in West Maui, and 86% of those were residential buildings, Green said.

The losses approach $6 billion in estimate," Green said, adding that it would take an incredible amount of time" to recover.

Green said officials will review policies and procedures to improve safety.

People have asked why we are reviewing whats going on and its because the world has changed. A storm now can be a hurricane-fire or a fire-hurricane," he said. "Thats what we experienced, thats why were looking into these policies, to find out how we can best protect our people.

DONATIONS ARRIVE IN KAANAPALI

On Saturday afternoon, more than a dozen people formed an assembly line on Kaanapali Beach to unload water, toiletries, batteries and other essentials from a boat that had sailed from another part of the island to drop off supplies.

The catamaran belonged to boat tour agency Kai Kanani Sailing. David Taylor, the agency's marketing director, said many of the supplies were for hotel employees on the western side of the island who lost their homes and were now living with their families at their place of employment.

The aloha still exists, he said as the group applauded when the unpacking was done. We all feel it really intensely and everybody wants to feel like they can do something.

Caitlin McKnight, who was among those helping, echoed similar sentiments. She said shed also volunteered at the emergency shelter set up at the War Memorial, where she tried to be strong for those who lost everything.

It was evident that those people, those families, people of the Maui ohana  they went through a traumatic event, she said, using a Hawaiian word for family. You could just see it in their face.

TOLL OF CONFIRMED DEAD IN MAUI WILDFIRES EXPECTED TO CLIMB

Green said he expects the death toll to rise. While walking down Front Street, he told reporters that some victims were positively identified Saturday.

I had tears this morning, Green said, adding that he was afraid of what he would see at the disaster site.

Operations were focusing on the loss of life, he added.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said it has been spray-painting cars and buildings on Front Street with an X to indicate they had received an initial check, but that there could still be human remains inside. When crews complete another pass through, if they find remains, they will add the letters HR.

As the death toll rises, its unclear how morgues will accommodate the number of victims considering there is just one hospital and three mortuaries.

The fire is the deadliest in the U.S. since the 2018 Camp Fire in California, which killed at least 85 people and destroyed the town of Paradise.

Hundreds of people remain unaccounted for.

Mike Rice has been looking for friends but has yet to hear from them. Complicating matters is the fact that they don't have cellphones. Its too early to give up hope, he said, but he has not discounted the possibility that they might have perished.

I think they could have very well made it out, said Rice, who now lives in California. They may or may not have made it. Im not going to sit around with a sense of impending doom waiting to find out.

WHERE TO PUT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE DISPLACED FROM THEIR HOMES

Starting this weekend 500 hotel rooms will be made available for displaced locals, and another 500 will be set aside for FEMA personnel, according to the governor.

The state wants to work with Airbnb to ensure rental homes are available for locals, and Green hopes the company can provide three- to nine-month rentals.

Flyovers by the Civil Air Patrol found 1,692 structures destroyed, almost all of them residential. Officials earlier had said 2,719 structures were exposed to the fire, with more than 80% of them damaged or destroyed.

There also was new information Saturday about damage to boats, with nine confirmed to have sunk in Lahaina Harbor, according to sonar.

Some 30 cell towers remained offline, and power outages were expected to last several weeks in west Maui.

LAHAINA RESEMBLES A GHOST TOWN

Some residents in Lahaina have expressed frustration about having difficulty accessing their homes amid road closures and police checkpoints on the western side of the island.

On the south end of Front Street on Saturday morning, one resident walked barefoot carrying a laptop and a passport, asking how to get to the nearest shelter. Another person, riding his bicycle, took stock of the damage at the harbor, where he said his boat caught fire and sank.

One fire engine and a few construction trucks were seen driving through the neighborhood, but it remained eerily devoid of human and official government activity.

Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen Jr. surveyed the damage in Lahaina on Thursday and said the historic town that has been reduced to charred vehicles and ash doesnt resemble the place he knew growing up.

The closest thing I think I can compare it to is perhaps a war zone, or maybe a bomb went off, he told ABCs Good Morning America on Friday. It was cars in the street, doors open, melted to the ground. Most structures no longer exist.

Regarding search and rescue efforts, he said some cadaver dogs arrived Friday.

WEST MAUI FIRE CAUSES FRIDAY NIGHT EVACUATION

Police say a new fire burning on the Hawaii island of Maui has triggered the evacuation of a community to the northeast of the area that burned earlier this week.

The fire prompted the evacuation of people in Kaanapali in West Maui on Friday night, the Maui Police Department announced on social media. No details of the evacuation were immediately provided.

Traffic was halted earlier after some people went over barricaded, closed-off areas of the disaster zone and entered restricted, dangerous, active investigation scenes, police said.

In an earlier Facebook post on Friday, police said many people were parking on the Lahaina Bypass and walking into nearby areas that were "locked down due to hazardous conditions and biohazards. Police warned that violators could face arrest.

This area is an active police scene, and we need to preserve the dignity of lives lost and respect their surviving family," the post said.

HAWAII ATTORNEY GENERAL CONDUCTS REVIEW OF DECISIONS MADE DURING MAUI FIRES

Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez's office will conduct a comprehensive review of decision-making and standing policies leading up to, during and after the wildfires, she said in a statement Friday.

My Department is committed to understanding the decisions that were made before and during the wildfires and to sharing with the public the results of this review," Lopez said. As we continue to support all aspects of the ongoing relief effort, now is the time to begin this process of understanding.

___

This story has been updated to correct the date and location of past wildfires. The Camp Fire occurred in 2018, not 2017, and the 2021 Marshall Fire was in Boulder County, Colorado, not Boulder.
Gov. JB Pritzker enjoyed a victory of sorts in Ohio this week, when voters in the Buckeye State rejected a bid to make it harder to amend its state constitution.

A successful vote would have heightened the threshold to a 60% majority, where its Republican backers had pushed primarily due to a looming vote to codify abortion rights in Ohio. The failed attempt means future attempts to amend the state constitution will still only require a simple majority.

More from Ohio: Ohio voters reject Issue 1, scoring win for abortion-rights supporters ahead of November

Per campaign finance records, Pritzker, who has long championed himself as a defender of abortion access, contributed to $250,000 to Ohioans for Reproductive Freedom PAC. He was joined on the opposite end by fellow Illinoisan and conservative megadonor, Dick Uihlein, who gave $4 million to Protect our Constitution, according to POLITICO.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker speaks about the new Behavioral Health Workforce Center during a press conference at the Memorial Learning Center in Springfield.

What went on in Ohio leading up to the vote last night was solely an effort to stop pro-choice forces from passing an amendment to their constitution. Thats all it was about, the governor said Wednesday at an unrelated news conference in Springfield on Wednesday. Im proud to have supported the vote no. Thats the side that supported choice. And it was a resounding victory.

Supporters of Issue One noted how states like Illinois already have similar thresholds to amend the constitution. The 1970 Illinois State Constitution established a three-fifths majority voting on the question or a majority of those voting in the election for an amendment to pass, doing away with the former two-thirds majority.

Samuel Witwer, president of the 1970 Constitutional Convention, described the adjusted threshold as necessary due to a dismal record of passing amendments in Illinois. The two-thirds majority was, in his words, "perhaps the worst aspect of the old constitution."

"If the convention had done nothing but propose a more liberal amending article, that alone would have made the whole convention effort worthwhile," Witwer wrote in a December 1979 article from The State Journal-Register.

Since the 1970 constitutional provision went into effect, there have been 26 proposed amendments with 15 passing. The most recent proposition, coined the Workers Rights Amendment, passed in November since 54.5% of the total ballots cast were in favor.

For the 11 proposed amendments that failed, six of them did receive a majority vote - meaning they would have passed in states like Ohio. Such was the case in 2012 when an amendment that would have made it more difficult to expand public employee retirement benefits failed despite receiving 56.1% of the vote.

Potential 2024 amendments

Before a proposed amendment can make its way to a ballot in Illinois, state lawmakers first must approve the language in a three-fifths majority in both chambers. If legislative approval is met, the proposal could go to voters in a general election after six months.

Potential amendments mulled over by legislators come 2024 include codifying abortion into the state constitution. The Reproductive Health Act currently guarantees access to abortion, but anti-abortion lawmakers in the future could reverse that with a bill only requiring a simple majority and the governor's signature.

Adding abortion to the state constitution essentially would add more steps to repeal it. The issue could also galvanize voters come next November and benefit Democrats House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch, D-Hillside noted during this year's joint convention of the Illinois Manufacturers Association and the Illinois Retail Merchants Association.

We have done a really good job in Illinois at being the place that folks across the country know is a place where we value women, we trust women, he said in April. The issue is one that is pretty clear here, especially here in Illinois. If it is on the ballot, it could potentially help Democratic turnout.

At the same convention, both Welch and House Minority Leader Tony McCombie were also asked about the potential resurgence of the graduated state income tax - a failed amendment from 2020.

More: Talk of new graduated tax proposals resurface; Gov. Pritzker not 'focused' on them

Sen. Rob Martwick, D-Chicago, floated a possibility earlier this year of a reformed income tax amendment, one that would lower taxes on middle-class Illinoisans while increasing tax revenues for the state. An appetite for a second attempt, however, has not garnered support from Welch or Pritzker.

You know, one of the things I've learned is you learn a lot in losses. And, you know, we got our butts kicked on that issue, said Welch. We have to find a different way to govern, and we've been doing that. And that different way of governing has led to eight credit upgrades and several balanced budgets and surpluses, where we have a rainy-day fund and Illinois is on the right track.

Reporter Peter Hancock of Capitol News Illinois contributed to this report.

Contact Patrick Keck: 312-549-9340, pkeck@gannett.com, twitter.com/@pkeckreporter.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Abortion rights vote in Ohio draws Illinois money, possible amendment
The temporary head of Ukraine's diplomatic mission in Armenia, Oleksandr Senchenko, drowned on the evening of Aug. 13 in Lake Sevan, the largest lake in the region.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine confirmed the reports about the charge d'affaires and expressed condolences to his relatives and friends. The ministry said it was "deeply saddened" by the death of the "experienced and highly qualified diplomat."

Senchenko worked for the ministry since 2003 and had been posted to Ukrainian diplomatic missions in Russia and Azerbaijan.

Local media reported that though rescuers were able to retrieve the diplomat from the area of water where he disappeared while swimming, paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.

Ukraine established its embassy in Armenia in 1996.

Read also: Official: Armenia not to arrest Putin under ICC warrant as it heard Russiaa concerns

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A small crowd in downtown Atlanta made sure to try and send a big message outside a federal appeals court Monday in their quest to stop the development of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center.

A group of roughly a dozen activists gathered outside of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals building in Atlanta Monday morning to hold a rally and collect signatures for a referendum proposal.

They are pushing back against the City of Atlantas recent appeal of a ruling that favored activists.

We want the people to have a voice, said Keyanna Jones with Community Movement Builders. And we dont want this court to uphold Mayor Dickenss attempt at voter suppression.

The City of Atlanta appealed a federal court decision that ruled in favor of activists in their quest to put the training center on the ballot for voters in November.

Attorneys for the city are appealing a decision that allowed DeKalb County residents like Jones and others outside of city limits to collect signatures.

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This project, Cop City, is a project that affects every facet of the way we live, Jones said.

The appeal also put a hold on a 60-day extension granted by the judge.

Activists say theyre still working to collect their 70,000-signature goal by the original deadline at the end of the week.

If this appeal doesnt go in our favor, then theyre undoing all this wonderful grassroots organizing weve dedicated our summers to, said student activist Eliza Fausset.

Late Monday morning, the judge denied a motion by the city that would have paused the extension and blocked nonresidents from being able to help with the referendum.

The proposed training center on city-owned land in DeKalb County is being called a necessity by Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens due to poor conditions at the existing training site.

The city council has approved $31 million in public funding, but critics remain skeptical.

Theres not a new facility thats necessary, Jones said. They can fix what they have.

RELATED NEWS:
In the wake of deadly wildfires in Maui, native Hawaiian actor Jason Momoa cautioned against traveling to Maui. | Victoria Will, Invision via Associated Press

In the wake of deadly wildfires in Maui, native Hawaiian actor Jason Momoa cautioned against traveling to Maui.

Maui is not the place to have your vacation right now, Momoa wrote in an Instagram post. DO NOT TRAVEL TO MAUI. Do not convince yourself that your presence is needed on an island that is suffering this deeply.

Momoas exhortation comes after wildfires broke out on Aug. 9 and rapidly spread across western Maui. These wildfires have become the deadliest ones the U.S. has experienced in over a century, per the Deseret News.

Related

The Maui Police Department confirmed 96 people have died, according to The Associated Press. People continue to be missing. Teams are searching the streets and buildings.

Around 4,500 people on the island are believed to need shelter, The Guardian reported.

I will tell you this, as a physician, it is a harrowing sight in Maui. When those providers, the police and this division, do come across scenes in houses or businesses it is very difficult for them because they know, ultimately, they will be sharing with our people that there have been more fatalities. I do expect the numbers to rise, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green told The Associated Press.

Local officials reportedly have asked tourists to not come to Maui as hotels are being used to house people who had to evacuate the area, The Guardian reported.

In the weeks ahead, the collective resources and attention of the federal, state and county government, the West Maui community, and the travel industry must be focused on the recovery of residents who were forced to evacuate their homes and businesses, the Hawaii Tourism Authority said in a statement reported by The Guardian.

A local Hawaiian resident told BBC, The same waters that our people just died in three days ago are the same waters the very next day these visitors  tourists  were swimming in. That says a lot about where their heart and mind is through all of this, and where our heart and mind is now.
DALTON  There will be new leadership in the Dalton School District, but even with all the administrative changes the goal of striving for excellence in education remains the same.

Scott Beatty returns to Dalton as superintendent, while Steve Watkins moves from being principal at Dalton Middle School to the high school. Zach McFarren will be the new assistant principal and athletic director. Paul Jackson will be the new middle school principal.

"We've had quite a bit of leadership change this past summer," Watkins said. "It's been great so far because we have a positive mindset. We're here for the students and their learning."

Beatty has worked in education for 34 years, having served previously as principal for a year and then superintendent for nine years at Dalton before moving over at Perry Local Schools. He earned his undergraduate degree at Ohio State and his graduate work at Ashland University.

New Dalton Superintendent Scott Beatty is glad to be back and is looking forward to working with the new administration at the high school and middle school this year and expects a smooth transition.

Lots of changes in education - familiar faces smooth the transition

"So much has changed in education over the last couple of years, much less the last 10 years," Beatty said. "Every district is unique in the way they handle change. Depending on the size of the district, different people have different responsibilities. There's a bit of a learning curve, but there are good people already in place here.

"With Mr. Watkins, Mr. McFarren and Mr. Jackson, they have all been here for an extended amount of time. They know the kids, they know community," he continued. "That makes the transition smoother, because they are familiar with the area."

The superintendent said he hopes to maintain the positive flow and not make any big changes. He plans to help the new administrative team in any capacity he can to help them be successful and move forward.

"There is always room to improve. You can't rest on your laurels," Beatty said. "We should always be trying to get better, whether it's in the classroom, or on the field, or on the stage. We should always try to get better or be the best, and I think the right people are in place to do that."

Beatty added that he had five children and all five of them graduated from Dalton. He has a lot of pride in the district, and he sees this return as an opportunity to give something back to the community.

High School principal moves up from middle school

Watkins looks forward to building on the foundation he began as middle school principal. He is grateful for the opportunity to take the next step as high school principal and is looking forward to fostering the relationships and sharing in the continued successes the students he oversaw in middle school enjoy in high school.

"One of the nice things having been here at the middle school for five years, I've already got a relationship with the students and their families," Watkins said. "That's been tremendous. I have built relationships with most of the staff at the high school and they've been very welcoming.

Steve Watkins

"Dalton is known for having high academic standards, as well as extra curricular activities. We are very proud of our students and all they do, and I look forward to continuing the success and maintaining those high traditions at Dalton," he continued. "I appreciate the support and confidence that our superintendent Mr. Beatty and the school board have in me with the move from the middle school to the high school."

Watkins served the past five years as principal at Dalton Middle School. He attended Norwayne High School and studied at the University of Akron. He taught algebra and science to begin his career in the Norton City Schools for six years before getting his first administrative job at Chippewa as middle school principal . He worked there for five years before moving over to Dalton.

He and his wife Melissa, a guidance counselor in the Perry Local Schools, have one daughter who attends Dalton.

Sustain the programs in place

Jackson looks forward to supporting and sustaining the programs at the middle school that his predecessor put in place.

"I have big shoes to fill, but I believe you grow into the shoes you're given. Mr. Watkins did a fabulous job with the initiatives that he and the staff put forward together over the years," Jackson said. "My goal is to support and sustain those efforts, especially in this year of transition."

Paul Jackson

The Mount Vernon Nazarene graduate began his teaching career in Mount Vernon before coming to Dalton in 2015. He taught Spanish at the high school and English as a second language throughout the district. He also did his graduate work at Ashland University, and is working on furthering his education at Concordia University in Chicago.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Dalton school district administration changes at superintendent, HS MS
New guidance out Monday from the Biden administration urges colleges and universities to continue prioritizing campus diversity as they consider applications, following the Supreme Court's highly anticipated decision banning affirmative action in admissions and overturning decades of precedent.

The civil rights divisions of the federal Education and Justice departments published a set of legal resources on the issue this week, encouraging colleges to continue collecting applicants' demographic data, consider applicants' race-related lived experiences and keep students engaged once they do enroll.

The Supreme Court's decision to end affirmative action has taken away a tool that colleges have used for decades to build diverse campus communities and create equitable opportunities for students of all backgrounds, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said on a call with reporters. When individual states have banned affirmative action in the past, fewer students of color applied, and fewer students of color were admitted. We cannot afford that kind of backsliding on a national scale.

Renewed focus on first-gen students after Supreme Court affirmative action ruling

What did the Supreme Courts decision say?

The courts June 29 majority opinion ruled the consideration of race in college admissions is unconstitutional.

Specifically, the justices concluded that the educational benefits of diversity cant be objectively measured, and that colleges had failed to justify race-conscious admissions as the means to a diverse campus.

But the 6-3 decision written by Chief Justice John Roberts also included this noteworthy caveat: Nothing in this opinion should be construed as prohibiting universities from considering an applicant's discussion of how race affected his or her life, be it through discrimination, inspiration, or otherwise.

Race-based scholarships under scrutiny following Supreme Court's affirmative action ruling

Biden administration: Discussion of race, lived experiences still allowed

The Biden administration has emphasized this caveat, and its new resources largely focus on encouraging colleges to work within it. We are explicit that admissions officers can know what they come to know in reviewing files, and that is not something that the court asked them  to unsee, said Education Department Assistant Secretary Catherine Lhamon. We are reminding schools, given the decision, to be clear that they should not use demographic data that reflects the race of student applicants to influence their admissions decisions. But admissions officers are not, by the courts decision, prevented from learning an individual applicants race.

With that in mind, the White House resources stress colleges can and should continue to practice holistic admissions. In such admissions, each student is evaluated on a case-by-case basis as an individual with multiple facets  not just on quantifiable, apples-to-apples metrics such as standardized test scores and grade point averages.

For example, a college may choose to admit a student whose guidance counselor discussed how she overcame feelings of isolation as a Latina at a predominantly white high school to join its debate team. Or, say, to admit an applicant who in her essay said learning to cook her grandmas traditional Hmong dishes prompted her passion for food and helped her appreciate her heritage and develop a sense of self.

In these scenarios, colleges are able and encouraged to consider the applicants race-related lived experiences in terms of how they demonstrate of grit or curiosity or courage, for example, rather than on the basis of their race itself.

Said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta: The Supreme Court's opinion recognized what we know to be true: that race can be relevant to a person's life or lived experience, and may impact one's development motivations, academic interests, or personal or professional aspirations.

Strategies for diversifying college campuses

There are, according to the guidance, other levers within admissions that colleges ought to consider. Perhaps they can choose to admit higher rates of first-generation students, for example, or to stop giving preference to the children of alumni. Other strategies could include making standardized test scores optional; removing prerequisite courses such as calculus (which isnt always available in low-income schools); and waiving application fees.

Beyond admissions, the guidance highlights other strategies for promoting diversity on campus.

Advocates have long pushed for colleges to spend more time recruiting in underrepresented or low-income communities, and the documents published Monday highlighted such efforts as a key avenue to increasing or retaining campus diversity.

In identifying prospective students through outreach and recruitment, institutions may, as many currently do, consider race and other factors that include, but are not limited to, geographic residency, financial means and socioeconomic status, family background, and parental education level, the guidance notes.

And while the recent Supreme Court decision has raised questions in some circles about the legality of collecting applicants demographic data, the new guidance emphasizes such information-gathering remains valid and essential. Demographic data, the guidance says, can be critical to ensuring colleges arent discriminating in their admissions practices and developing programs that meet students needs.

Lastly, the guidance underscores the importance of keeping students of color on campus once they enroll through programs such as campus cultural centers, affinity clubs and diversity offices. As long as they are open to students of all races, the resources say, they are legally admissible.

While such initiatives have in recent years come under scrutiny  and, in some instances and states, been effectively outlawed  the Biden administration says such resources are especially crucial now so students feel a sense of belonging and support once on campus.

Democrats demand more scrutiny of racial discrimination in education

Upon the resources publication, Virginia Rep. Bobby Scott, ranking member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, released a statement commending the guidance and urging ongoing scrutiny of how race unjustly permeates many other policies and practices in our educational system.

This is important because race-conscious admissions policies were able to provide a counterbalance to factors  such as inequitable K-12 schools, racially biased admissions tests, and developmental and legacy admissions  that have discriminatory impact against students of color, he said in a statement.

Scott wrote a letter to Lhamon earlier this month formally requesting such an investigation into trends such as the disproportionate suspension and expulsion of Black boys and the ongoing racial segregation of public schools. Contact Alia Wong at (202) 507-2256 or awong@usatoday.com. Follow her on X at @aliaemily.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden administration diversity tips counter college affirmative action ban
On the night of 13-14 August, the Russian occupiers attacked Odesa three times, and the Ukrainian air defence forces shot down 15 attack UAVs and 8 Kalibr cruise missiles. The debris of the downed missiles damaged a supermarket and a dormitory, and three people were injured.

Source: defence forces of Ukraine's south on Telegram

Quote: "The enemy attacked Odesa Oblast three times at night, using two waves of attack drones, a total of 15, and 8 Kalibr sea-launched missiles.

All attacks were repelled by air defence forces."

Details: It is reported that as a result of the missiles fired by the Russians at the centre of Odesa, a student accommodation building of an educational institution and a supermarket were damaged by the debris.

The blast wave also smashed windows and balconies in several buildings and damaged cars parked nearby.

It is noted that a fire broke out at two of the facilities, and firefighters are working to extinguish it.

As the defence forces reported, three employees of the supermarket were injured and received medical assistance.

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!
Russia attacked Ukraine in several waves overnight on Aug. 14 using Iranian-made kamikaze drones and cruise missiles, the Air Force reported.

Russia used a total of 15 Shahed-136/131 drones and eight Kalibr missiles, all of which were shot down, according to the report.

The drones were launched from Primorsko-Akhtarsk, a town on the Azov Sea coast in Russia's Krasnodar Krai, and the missiles flew from a ship stationed near Yalta in Russian-occupied Crimea, the military wrote.

Fragments of missiles and drones fell in Odesa, causing fires in several city locations, added the Air Force. First responders are working on the spots.

According to Odesa Oblast Governor Oleh Kiper, the debris damaged an educational institute's dormitory, a residential building, and a supermarket.

Three employees of the supermarket were injured, Kiper said in his latest update on Telegram.

The blast wave knocked out windows in several buildings and damaged cars parked nearby, the official added.

Early on Aug. 14, Ukrainian troops also destroyed a Russian attack helicopter Ka-52 near Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, according to the Air Force.

Read also: Investigative Stories from Ukraine: Russia hits Ukraine with missiles that once belonged to Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A Texas woman who went viral for delaying an American Airlines flight last month while sensationally yelling that another passenger onboard was not real has issued an apology saying her behavior was completely unacceptable.

Distressed or not, I should have been in control of my emotions and that was not the case, Tiffany Gomas said in a video posted online Sunday.

The Dallas marketing executive was filmed shouting expletives in the planes aisle while her July 2 flight from Dallas to Orlando, Florida, taxied on the runway. Gomas demanded to be let off, while pointing toward the back of the plane and shouting: That motherf**ker is not real.

You can sit on this plane and you can f**king die with them or not. Im not going to, she said in a clip of the incident posted to social media.

The disruptive passenger was removed from the flight by local law enforcement, the airline told The Dallas Morning News.

Gomas apologized for her language, particularly to those on the plane with children.

We all have our bad moments, some far worse than others, and mine happened to be caught on camera for the whole world to see multiple times, she said before appearing to choke up.

An American Airlines passenger plane is seen at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Tiffany Gomas called her conduct

An American Airlines passenger plane is seen at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Tiffany Gomas called her conduct "completely unacceptable."

While it has been really comical for everyone, and I have highly enjoyed so many of the memes, on the flip side it is very invasive and unkind, and I dont know what I would do without the love and support of my friends and family. They are loyal to a fault, and I dont know what I did to deserve them, she said.

Gomas went on to share a link to her personal website while inviting viewers to join her on her journey of promoting positive mental health and standing up against cyberbullying.

Her website on Monday featured her video apology and another message reading, Stay tuned.

Related...
JetBlue A320 aircraft. Marcus Mainka/Shutterstock

Pratt & Whitney announced last month that 1,200 engines would need to be removed for inspection.

JetBlue's COO said it was looking to lease engines to prevent disruption.

And Hawaiian Airlines' CEO said it had "spare support" including from P&W.

Airlines are scrambling to find spare parts due to an engine recall which threatens to cancel flights, the Financial Times first reported.

JetBlue, Spirit Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Wizz Air are among the fleets which will be affected, and they've been updating investors on how they plan to deal with the disruption.

Pratt & Whitney announced last month that 1,200 of its engines would need to be removed from Airbus A320neo jets for "enhanced inspection."

It said a "rare condition" had contaminated the powder metal, which could cause cracks to form on critical engine parts.

200 of the inspections should take place by mid-September, and the other 1,000 will happen in the next nine-to-twelve months, RTX's chief operating officer said.

Joanna Geraghty, JetBlue's president and chief operating officer, said in the company's Q2 earnings call that it was trying to lease additional engines to avoid disruption.

The company's chief financial officer said a "handful of engines" will have to be removed by mid-September.

Peter Ingram, the CEO of Hawaiian Airlines, told investors it had "spare support" from engines returning from the shop, or spares "supplied by Pratt & Whitney to support the operating carriers."

A Hawaiian Airlines spokesperson told Insider that it will pause its Lihue-Oakland service from September 6 to December 14, with three others to be suspended for one day a week until January 8.

They added that five of its P&W engines "have been identified for the accelerated inspections."

"We sincerely apologize to our impacted guests for the inconvenience and are working with them on alternative travel options," the spokesperson said.

A Wizz Air presentation to investors noted that 12 of its engines will be "initially affected" although it doesn't expect a reduction to profits. But Wizz is considering temporarily scrapping some routes, the FT reported.

When contacted for comment, Wizz Air directed Insider to a section of its 2023 annual report detailing the composition of its fleet, which comprises 179 aircraft.

And Spirit Airlines warned that its Q4 revenue would suffer as it would have to ground seven aircraft, adding that it will be overstaffed as a result, Reuters reported.

Inspecting and fixing the engines could take up to 60 days each, Reuters reported. RTX has promised to compensate airlines affected by the engine issues, per the FT.

An Airbus spokesperson previously told Insider the company is working with its customers and Pratt & Whitney to minimize the disruption and implement the required inspection plans.

Spirit and JetBlue did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider